South Africa: SAHPRA approves affordable, locally developed COVID-19 antigen test

The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) has approved an innovative, locally developed COVID-19 antigen detection kit.

According to the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC), this development by Medical Diagnostech will boost the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

In August, the SAMRC authorised the manufacture of rapid COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test kits by local biotech company CapeBio.

These developments could not have come at a better time in South Africa, where the fourth wave of COVID-19 infections, and the discovery of the apparently highly infectious Omicron variant, have made widespread testing increasingly important.

In mid-2020, the SAMRC rallied government, academia and industry to help reduce the country's reliance on international test kit supplies through the local development and manufacture of robust alternatives capable of producing results before patients leave the testing site.

With the guidance of the National Health Laboratory Service and others, the SAMRC, together with the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) and the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA), jointly called for applications to identify suitable projects for funding.

Following the peer review, selection and approval processes, Medical Diagnostech, along with two other local companies and a science council, received funding to develop rapid point-of-care tests for COVID-19.

However, Medical Diagnostech already had a prototype antigen detection test and needed support to increase its sensitivity and complete the testing and approvals for market entry.

SAMRC Executive Director for Grants Innovation and Product Development, Dr Michelle Mulder, welcomed the announcement.

"This investment from the SAMRC, DSI and TIA has enabled the final product development steps required to deliver an approved antigen detection test for COVID-19 that meets the minimum globally accepted performance criteria for such tests.

"The local ownership and manufacture of these test kits will not only increase South Africa's self-sufficiency in a time of high demand but also contribute to reducing the trade imbalance concerning medical devices and local economic development and job creation, said Mulder.

DSI Director-General, Dr Phil Mjwara, said the development further expanded South Africa's ability to respond to COVID-19.

"The department, together with the SAMRC, believed that with the necessary funding it was possible to locally develop rapid tests for the detection of active COVID-19."

He believes that the investment had paid off with Medical Diagnostech's COVID-19 antigen test, which will lower the cost of testing active infections.

"This technology not only benefits the country but will also be made available to the rest of Africa," he added.

TIA's Health Programme Head, Osmond Muroyiwa, said the organisation was living by its mantra that innovation must answer to the challenges of the day.

According to the Medical Diagnostech Founder and CEO, Ashley Uys, the company was busy developing an application for smartphones to interpret results from the device.

This, he said, will reduce subjectivity while creating a portal for data generation, interpretation and management, as well as statistical analysis, in compliance with the Protection of Personal Information Act.

"Medical Diagnostech has already produced initial commercial batches, and has a production capacity of 20 million units per annum, but is also in the process of scaling up," he said, adding that all test kits were produced in Cape Town.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2021-12-09. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
South Africa: SA records over 19 800 new infections on Wednesday

South Africas COVID-19 cases jumped by 19 842 on Wednesday, pushing the total number of laboratory-confirmed cases to 3 071 064.

According to the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), this increase represents a 26.8% positivity rate, with Gauteng continuing to record the highest daily infections.

The latest data shows that Gauteng registered 11 703 additional infections, followed by 1 989 in KwaZulu-Natal, 1 899 in the Western Cape and 1 103 in Mpumalanga.

Meanwhile, 36 more people lost their lives to the virus, bringing the death toll to 90 038 since the outbreak.

In addition, South Africa recorded 374 new hospital admissions in the past 24 hours.

This means there are now 4 252 patients who are receiving hospital treatment across the country.

Meanwhile, the Department of Health, administered 133 695 COVID-19 vaccines yesterday, of which 27 860 were given to children.

The latest statistics bring the total to 26 781 642 distributed jabs since the start of the rollout programme.

Also, there are now 14 980 265 or 37.3% adults who are fully jabbed, while 680 952 children have received their first shot of the Pfizer vaccine.

As of 8 December 2021, there have been 266 504 411 confirmed global cases of COVID-19, including 5 268 849 deaths, reported to the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Omicron

The WHO said the Omicron variant has now been reported in 57 countries and the number is expected to continue growing.

However, WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus said certain features of Omicron, including its global spread and a large number of mutations, suggest it could have a major impact on the course of the pandemic.

Exactly what that impact will be is still difficult to know, he said on Wednesday during a media briefing.

Emerging data from South Africa, he said, suggest an increased risk of re-infection with Omicron, but more data are needed to draw firmer conclusions.

There is also some evidence that Omicron causes milder disease than Delta, but again, its still too early to be definitive. Any complacency now will cost lives.

Ghebreyesus warned that many who survive this new variant could battle long COVID, or post-COVID condition, a disease with debilitating, lingering symptoms.

If countries wait until their hospitals start to fill up, its too late. Dont wait. Act now, he stressed.

We are running out of ways to say this, but we will keep saying it, all of us  every government and every individual  must use all the tools we have, right now.

The DG has called on countries to scale up surveillance, testing and sequencing, and share samples with the international community.

Avoid ineffective and discriminatory travel bans. Im pleased that France and Switzerland have lifted their travel bans on southern African countries, and I urge other countries to follow their lead, he added.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2021-12-09. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
South Africa: Deteriorating audit outcomes of state-owned entities a concern

Auditor-General (AG) Tsakani Maluleke says weak controls and disciplines over financial and performance management as well as compliance have caused a regression in the audit outcomes of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) over the past financial year.

Maluleke was briefing the media on the audit outcomes for national and provincial government on Wednesday.

Our report sets out the deteriorating financial health of SOEs, which has increased the financial burden on government, through bailouts and guarantees. These concerns spill over into the ability of SOEs to fulfil their mandates and directly impact on the economy and ultimately, the lived experiences of South African citizens, she said.

Maluleke said the audits of at least seven SOEs are still outstanding as there is uncertainty in the entities ability to continue operations.

She added that there is also a growing trend of late or non-submission of financial statements  tainting the ability to hold SOEs accountable and to implement consequence management.

Therefore, it is important to for the executive and oversight to pay particular attention to addressing the deficiencies at SOEs and ensure that appropriate interventions are urgently implemented to enable them to effectively fulfil their mandates. Given the urgent challenges of economic hardship, jobs and inequality in our society, this cannot be overstated.

Provincial audit outcomes and improvements

The AG revealed that the audit outcomes for six provinces have improved from the previous year.

Two provinces  Limpopo and Mpumalanga  have regressed in their outcomes with the audit status of the Free State remaining unchanged.

The AG's office recognised the improvements from last year and urged leadership structures in the provinces to continue to implement tighter financial controls.

Our report acknowledges the gradual improvement in most of the provinces and we urge the provincial leadership and the legislatures to focus on implementing sustainable solutions at the provincial departments and their public entities. [This is] so that we can continue to improve audit outcomes, continue to improve the integrity and strength of public institutions, and even get to a point where we can demonstrably improve service delivery," she said.

Maluleke emphasised that although an increase in clean audits is welcome, more needs to be done to ensure sustained improvements.

The improvements that weve seen in audit outcomes and year-on-year increases in clean audits are a feather in the cap of this administration. Some auditees are close to achieving a clean audit status and just need to get over the very last hurdles.

With this acknowledgement in mind, we believe that the point that the [AGs] office has been making that the desirability and the ability of institutions to attain this clean audit outcome is valid. - SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2021-12-09. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Hong Kong: HK Health Code system to open

The Hong Kong Health Code system will be open for registration from 9am tomorrow for members of the public to register a real-name account. The latest LeaveHomeSafe mobile app version 3.0 will also be available for update.

Upon successful registration on the Hong Kong Health Code website, users can upload their visit records in the past 31 days to the Hong Kong Health Code system through the LeaveHomeSafe mobile app version 3.0 and then login to the system to receive a Hong Kong Health Code.

The Hong Kong Health Code adopts real-name registration. Applicants are required to register personal information such as name, identity document number and date of issue, contact telephone number, residential address and upload a Hong Kong residential address proof for verification.

Applicants who are residing in Housing Authority Public Rental Housing do not need to submit the residential address proof, as the system will verify the information according to the public housing resident database.

The Government will accord priority to applications from applicants who can upload the Hong Kong residential address proof, as well as those who are residing in the Housing Authority Public Rental Housing.

Applicants who are not Hong Kong identity card holders will have to bring the letter and their identity document for identity verification at designated post offices.

The Hong Kong Health Code facilitates quarantine-free travel between Guangdong, Macau and Hong Kong. The Government has opened the Hong Kong Health Code system in advance for registration to allow members of the public to familiarise themselves with its functions earlier.

The Government reaffirmed that the sequence of registering for the Hong Kong Health Code has nothing to do with the quotas for boundary crossings and there is no hurry to apply for it.

Call 3142 2330 for enquiries.

This story has been published on: 2021-12-09. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
South Africa: President to receive State Capture Commission report in January

The Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture is expected to submit its final report to President Cyril Ramaphosa on 1 January 2022.

Addressing the media during a post Cabinet briefing, Minister in the Presidency, Mondli Gungubele, said Cabinet anticipates that in addition to exposing the perpetrators of corruption, the report would also provide proposals to strengthen they countrys systems to prevent corruption.

South Africa on Thursday joined the rest of the world in commemorating International Anti-Corruption Day under the theme Corruption-free future starts today, it starts with me.

The United Nations theme for the 2021 International Anti-Corruption Day is: Your right, your role: Say no to corruption.

Gungubele said corruption, whether large or small, remained one of the greatest challenges facing the country and holds back economic growth and social development.

Cabinet remains encouraged that the justice system continues to take decisive steps to bring those who were found to have been involved in acts of corruption to account.

As part of governments ongoing fight against corruption, he said the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) had instituted a number of cases in the High Court and Special Tribunal and the following are pending as at 31 March 2021.

This included:

56 Cases in the High Court which involves contracts in the amount of R62 billion;

64 Cases in the Special Tribunal which involves contracts in the amount of R6.99 billion. The amounts or values are the contractual amounts which were irregularly and unlawfully awarded by the state institutions and which form the subject of the litigation by the SIU.

In the financial year 2021/2022, the SIU has already frozen pension benefits of former civil servants, bank accounts and assets of individuals and business amounting to more than R43 billion.

The President has signed a total of 9 SIU Proclamations in the financial year under review.

He said Cabinet in its meeting reiterated that the success of governments fight against corruption depended on the involvement of all people in South Africa.

If you see something, say something; report corruption by dialling the National Anti-Corruption Hotline on 0800 701 701.

Cabinet reaffirmed its commitment to protect whistle-blowers, and applauded the bravery of honest public servants who expose fraud and corruption, at times at the risk of their livelihoods and lives, he said.  SAnews.gov.za

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South Africa: Government determined to address high unemployment rates

Cabinet says government remains resolute in addressing unemployment as one of the major challenges facing the country.

This was the position of Cabinet, Minister in the Presidency, Mondli Gungubele, told reporters during a post Cabinet meeting briefing on Thursday

Statistics South Africas recent QLFS results released last week showed a 0.5 percentage point increase in the unemployment rate from 34.4% in the second quarter to 34.9% in the third quarter.

This statistics, he said, were disturbing.

Government continues in its target-driven work to restore business confidence by addressing the structural constraints to economic growth, job creation and poverty eradication.

Through specific interventions such as large investments in infrastructure, it is working to support structural transformation, economic growth and job creation.

Through the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition, he said government continues to support local production, including the revival of South Africas manufacturing industry.

The annual South Africa Investment Conference (SAIC) continues to attract potential investors. Since its first inaugural conference in 2018, the SAIC has so far secured more than R770 billion in investment commitments across a wide range of economic sectors, he said.

He said Cabinet remained committed to working with all sectors to address the triple challenge of unemployment, poverty and inequality.

Government will do whatever is possible to create a conducive environment for investment in the country. It will also drive economic transformation to enable greater economic opportunities to the previously disadvantaged groups, he said.  SAnews.gov.za

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South Africa: Cabinet urges the public to take action against COVID-19

Amid the sharp rise in COVID-19 infections, Cabinet has urged the public take stronger action to fight back against the disease and its variants.

In the last 24 hours, the country recorded 19 842 cases, translating into a 26.8% positivity rate.

We have also lost 36 people to COVID-19 related complications in the last 24 hours, said Minister in the Presidency Mondli Gungubele during a post-Cabinet media briefing on Thursday.

Vaccination does not only help us fight back against the deadly pandemic by preventing serious illness, hospitalisation or even death, but it also reduces the health risks posed by future variants.

We must continue adhering to the non-pharmaceutical prevention measures of wearing a mask that covers our mouth and nose; maintaining social distancing and regularly washing our hands with soap and water or using a 70% alcohol-based hand sanitiser.

He said the public could also prevent the spread of the virus by avoiding super-spreader events such as festivals and parties.

Together we can fight back by being responsible and always acting in the best interests of protecting the health of our loved ones and our nation against COVID-19, he said.

Gungubele said Cabinet joined President Ramaphosa in applauding the countrys scientists for having alerted the world about the Omicron variant that has been spreading around the world.

Cabinet continues to support calls for the immediate lifting of unfair travel bans imposed on South Africa, he said.

To date, South Africa had administered 26.7 million vaccine doses.

Vooma Vaccination Week

The Minister said: During the extended Vooma Vaccination Week campaign from 3 to 10 December 2021, thousands of people are being vaccinated at various vaccination sites that are open throughout the country. Cabinet has urged people aged 12 and older to vaccinate without delay.

He urged members of the public to keep themselves and their loved ones safe during the upcoming festive season by simply going to your nearest vaccination site, even without an appointment, to be registered and vaccinated for free.

The health benefits of being vaccinated include a much lower risk of hospitalisation after being infected with COVID-19.

Cabinet encourages all people in South Africa to respond to the clarion call to vaccinate because statistics show that the majority of people being admitted in hospitals are unvaccinated, he said.  SAnews.gov.za

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South Africa: Seeing past the pain

Going to bars and parties are some of the things Estelle has avoided doing as a means of self-preservation.

My various incidents with sexual assault have made me wary. I avoid going to bars. I avoid loud parties and being alone around people I dont know well, especially men, says the 20-year-old student.

Estelle who has declined the use of her last name, was sexual assaulted twice in the space of less than 10 months, when she was 17.

I am allowed to grieve the violation of my privacy and my space.

The first incident of sexual assault was at a school dance. Though it was dark and no adult saw what happened, she had a friend confirm that the perpetrator had been in Estelles vicinity.

Besides that, I could adequately identify him myself. I reported the incident the next day, and it was followed up on; however, due to a supposed lack of evidence, I was encouraged to drop the claims.

Less than 10 months later, I was at a party when I was assaulted again. The worst part about this was that I had been asleep when the person started touching me and I woke up to someone I didnt know with his hands on me. I froze. I couldnt do anything. It was so hard to get myself to move, but eventually I kicked and the person ran away once he realised I was awake, she says in an interview with SAnews.

The next day, the perpetrator admitted to what he had done but Estelle decided not to press charges in part, because of what had happened previously.

I thought nobody would believe me. I thought it was my fault. Thinking back on both those incidents, I still wonder if Id been less outspoken, if Id worn a different outfit, if Id been more demure, if any of this would have happened, but the truth is that it probably would have, and it isnt my fault.

Post the 2017 incidents, Estelle who is blind, points out that she will never feel like herself again.

Ill admit that I am still scared; that the memories never go away; that I will probably never feel completely normal again. Sexual assault takes away from you; not only as a person, but [also] as it regards your freedom and the way you see yourself.

Addressing GBV

Last month crime statistics released by the South African Police Service (SAPS) showed an increase in rape, domestic violence and child murder.

The stats released just a week before the launch of the annual 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children, revealed that in just three months, between July and September 2021, a reported 9 556 people, most of whom were women, were raped. This is 7% more than in the previous reporting period.

As the fight against GBV continues, the National Assembly has passed three gender-based violence bills that will change the landscape in terms of how government departments, law enforcement and the courts deal with cases of violence against women and the vulnerable.

The three bills - namely the Criminal and Related Matters Amendment Bill, Domestic Violence Amendment Bill and the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Bill - were introduced in Parliament following a Presidential Summit against Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) held in November 2018.

Meanwhile, government has allocated at least R21 billion in support of the fight against GBVF. Since the launch of the National Strategic Plan (NSP) to Combat Gender-based Violence last year, 32 regional courts have been designated as Sexual Offences Courts in various parts of the country and about 3 500 investigating officers received specialised training on Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual crimes.

Support is also given to survivors through the provision of evidence kits at police stations and psycho-social services; the establishment of a GBVF Fund and supporting the network of Thuthuzela and Khuseleka Care Centres among others.

On whether enough is being done to address GBV, Estelle says government is doing what it can.

Too often still, women are made to feel ashamed of their various experiences with gender based violence, and I dont know that the stigma is something government could even take away. I also dont necessarily think it is up to government to change the way women and children are seen and treated. I understand that GBV is an epidemic in South Africa and that government does what it can. Would I call that effective as a survivor? I do not know.

Estelle is also urging victims not to be shamed into silence.

It is not your fault. It does not matter how you [were] dressed, how you acted, what you said. It is not your fault. And if you can talk about it, please keep talking about it, make people uncomfortable. Your story is just that, and you do not deserve to be shamed into silence, she says.

Embracing life

As the country continues observing 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children, South Africa also recently observed National Disability Rights Awareness Month which runs annually between 3 November and 3 December.

The brave BA student who is not fazed by her disability, has just completed her second year at the University of Pretoria.

Though I think that having a disability has its challenges, I think it is important to say that I am as independent as possible, and that I try not to let the fact that I have a disability stand in my way of anything I set my mind to. Life is not always easy, though the same can be said for anybody, and I just have to ensure I have the necessary accommodations to function on a level with my peers.

She also urges the public to be considerate of people with disabilities.

I may not look and/or behave like you. Some of the things I need may not ever be things you needI just ask that you understand that I, and many other disabled people, need your help to have access to basic things, because society has not yet accommodated for them, she says.

While the last few years have not been easy for her, talking about her ordeal is part of the healing process for this driven lady who is keen on pursuing a career in academics, preferably in languages.

I want to include my love for travel and teaching in one package, she says.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children campaign which will run until 10 December. SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2021-12-09. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
South Africa: GBV remains a thorn in society

Despite inroads being made with the representation of women in various sectors of society and industry, discrimination and violence remains a thorn on the side of many.

The film industry, like most industries has not been immune to the scourge of gender-based violence (GBV) in South Africa.

A 2017 Sisters Working in the Film and Television (SWIFT) anonymous qualitative survey made several findings on GBV in the industry. The Sexual Harassment and Discrimination survey found that almost 78% of women working in film and television felt discriminated against because of their gender.

It gathered a huge number of accounts of sexual harassment, discrimination and even rape on film sets. Its contents pull back the veil of magic around the world of cinema to reveal that women both on camera and behind the camera face often insurmountable obstacles to succeeding, says SWIFT Chairperson Zanele Mthembu in an interview with SAnews.

Of the women polled by the non-profit organisation, 23.7% indicated that they had been unwillingly touched while working in the industry; 65% indicated that they had witnessed sexual harassment by a perpetrator in a higher position (plus 30% in an equal position and 5% in a lower position).

Of the 54.8% of respondents who intervened to stop the harassment, 27% say that they risked their job to do so. Also 41.3% of respondents felt they had experienced discrimination based on their body image related to their body size or look.

A remaining 55.5% indicated that they had felt discriminated against based on factors such as sexual orientation, religion, family life and income bracket. Of the women polled, 68.1% believed that they had to work twice as hard and be twice as good as their male counterparts in the industry.

We believe this is only the tip of the iceberg as many women remain silent from fear of victimisation, isolation, being labelled [as] troublemakers and therefore denied job opportunities, says Mthembu.

This as the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children campaign draws to an end.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the annual global campaign, which began on 25 November and concludes on 10 December.

Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane says the country--especially men  need to take accountability for the gender-based violence and femicide plaguing the country.

Gender-based violence and femicide remains the second pandemic of our country and most of our communities have witnessed the devastating impacts of this pandemic. Our country, our women, our children are not safe, [they] dont feel safe, she says.

Economic emancipation

The Minister also emphasises that economic emancipation is also imperative to fighting the financial abuse of women. She says a government is making strides in ensuring that women are given the opportunity to find this economic freedom.

This year government launched the Womens Economic Assembly which is a platform to mobilise the private sector to partner with government to enable women owned enterprises to participate in procurement opportunities within industry and supply chains.

For most women entry into the film industry remains difficult.

It remains challenging for women to make it in the industry. The fact that today we still have mention that a director is a woman goes to show just how challenging it still is for women to make it in what to all extent and purposes is still a white male dominated industry, says Mthembu.

Mthembu also notes that a 2018 study conducted by the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) in partnership with SWIFT, revealed that black women filmmakers constitute 66.54% followed by whites at 23.79% and Indians at 2.13% and coloured women constituted 7.54%.

The NFVF is an agency of the Department of Arts and Culture that was created to ensure the equitable growth of South Africa's film and video industry. It provides funding for the development, production, marketing and distribution of films and also the training and development of filmmakers.

Additionally the study showed that discrimination seems to occur more in the film sector as opposed to television and commercials with the majority of respondents being of the view that major decisions like funding, are based on the sexual orientation of the applicant.

There have been a lot of instances where women have had to perform sexual favours before being considered for a job or funding, she says adding that key decision makers do not respect the thoughts of women as equal to their own even when the woman is more experienced.

Asked about whether enough is being done by government to address the scourge of GBV, she says that policy and laws are in place to address issues of GBV and gender discrimination but that implementation is a challenge.

What we also need is the development of a gender equality monitoring system for the audio-visual sector so that we can gauge the effectiveness of these policies.

Other steps that can be taken include continuing to raise awareness and education about sexual harassment as well as increasing psycho-social, legal, and other support for survivors of GBV and sexual harassment among others, she says.

Action against GBV must continue. SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2021-12-09. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Hong Kong: Christopher Hui inspects departments

Secretary for Financial Services & the Treasury Christopher Hui today visited the Inland Revenue Department, the Treasury and the Audit Commission to learn about the work of colleagues in different roles and to give encouragement to them.

Mr Hui first visited the Inland Revenue Department to learn about the latest progress of the Departmental Information Technology (IT) Plan and shared his views on the project.

The plan aims to enhance services to the public through the use of IT, with major initiatives including the development of a new business tax portal and a tax representative portal, enhancement of the current individual tax portal, extension of the application of workflow technology, and the application of cloud services.

Mr Hui commended the efforts of department staff in embracing IT in their work and hoped the project will be implemented smoothly.

Director of Accounting Services Susanna Cheung had an exchange with Mr Hui on the Treasury's work, including consolidating and managing government accounts as well as providing account and financial management services to other departments.

They also met frontline officers who are involved in implementing the Consumption Voucher Scheme and carrying out fund management work, thanking colleagues for their hard work and contributions.

Lastly, Mr Hui visited the Audit Commission and met Director of Audit John Chu. He then paid a visit to the Regularity Audit Division and the Value for Money Audit Division. Noting that auditing work is meticulous and complicated, Mr Hui asked about the challenges confronting colleagues and praised their high level of professionalism.

Mr Hui expressed deep appreciation to colleagues of the departments for steadfastly and diligently attending to their duties during the pandemic. He also appealed to departmental colleagues who are registered electors to vote in the upcoming Legislative Council General Election.

Mr Hui said the improvement of the electoral system ensures that the principle of patriots administering Hong Kong could be fully implemented.

He pointed out that there are a good number of candidates in sectors directly related to the Financial Services & the Treasury Bureau, including accounting, insurance, finance and financial services.

I appeal again to colleagues and all Hong Kong citizens to earnestly understand candidates' election manifestos and policy advocacy. On December 19, please cast your vote for Hong Kong - our home, to elect new Legislative Council members who have the dedication and capability to build and develop a better Hong Kong.

This story has been published on: 2021-12-09. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
South Africa: KZN employs over 900 social workers to support GBV victims

In an attempt to boost its fight against the scourge of gender-based violence (GBV) and unemployment, the KwaZulu-Natal Government has employed new social workers to provide much-needed psychosocial support to GBV victims.

Social Development MEC, Nonhlanhla Khoza said about 967 social workers are tasked with the responsibility to provide care and support to victims of gender-based violence. They are also tasked with ensuring that victims are well prepared to face their perpetrators in court in order to ensure successful prosecutions.

Khoza said that an amount of R23 220 million has been set aside for the employment of social workers who will give a much-needed boost to the work done by the department to fight the scourge.

The province is currently saddled by the scourge of gender-based violence, including rape and abuse, which leave victims shattered for life. The department has sent an application to Treasury to be allowed to employ social workers because of the high demand observed due to the high number of cases of gender-based violence.

There are about 967 social workers employed and deployed across the province, with each district receiving 80 social workers, while eThekwini receives 167 social workers due to its vastness. These social workers reported on duty from 01 December 2021 and are employed on four months contracts, said the MEC.

She added that the social workers came in handy to reinforce teams that are implementing the departments mandate, including the implementation of preventative measures, education and steps to tackle the abuse, often faced by women and children in society.

Khoza noted that the social workers are graduate social workers who have not been employed since they left university.

Some of them have used all their family savings to pay for their studies, while others were funded by government. Most of these graduates are busy with documentation such as registering with tax from South African Revenue Services (SARS) because they have never been employed before.

About 485 were captured on the Personal and Salary System (PERSAL) and will receive their payment by the end of the month.

While acknowledging that the employment of social workers is not permanent, Khoza said it is a positive effort towards dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic and the high unemployment rate.

In the future, we would like to absorb them to help us in the fight against the challenges we face in communities. Our department is central to all efforts to reduce the levels of social ills and vulnerability. Therefore, the employment of these social workers are much-needed to address the social ills, the MEC said.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2021-12-09. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Hong Kong: Civil Service College is established

The Civil Service College was established today, marking a new milestone for training and development for the civil service. Chief Executive Carrie Lam officiated at the establishment ceremony.

Addressing the ceremony, Mrs Lam said that she would look to the college to strengthen training on the relationship between the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the central authorities under the principle of "one country, two systems", the Constitution, the Basic Law and the National Security Law.

She noted that the enhancements in civil service training aims to reinforce civil servants' self-awareness of safeguarding national security, assist civil servants to better understand the country and its development, provide them with more training opportunities on positive values and attitude and cultivate the civil service as a team which is innovative and effective in communication.

She also said that as Hong Kong is embracing a new era and a new paradigm, she hopes that the civil service can display confidence and sustain professionalism in delivering services and that civil servants be proactive in taking forward their work and be united in leading Hong Kong to a better future.

Mrs Lam expressed gratitude to the staunch support from the central government and its offices in the Hong Kong SAR for the establishment of the college.

Hong Kong & Macao Affairs Office (HKMAO) Executive Deputy Director Zhang Xiaoming gave a video speech at the establishment ceremony, expressing the central government's support for the establishment of the college and the importance attached to civil service training in the Hong Kong SAR.

Mr Zhang said that the college should strive to nurture civil servants in their sense of patriotism, affection for the community, global horizons and strategic thinking.

He added that the civil service plays a critical role in achieving good administration and governance for Hong Kong and the college carries an important mission on this front.

The HKMAO will continue to provide strong support and assistance to Hong Kong in leveraging resources on the Mainland for civil service training.

Secretary for the Civil Service Patrick Nip said that he looked forward to nurturing more talent in governance for the accurate and full implementation of the principle of one country, two systems, promote with full steam Hong Kong's integration into the national development and work together to build a better future for the city.

The establishment ceremony took place in the North Point Government Offices. The third to fifth floor of the premises were formerly the Civil Service Training & Development Institute. With training facilities renovated and enhanced, it will serve as the interim accommodation of the college.

The construction of the long-term accommodation of the college will be taken forward as part of the Kwun Tong Composite Development Project. Its construction works are expected to commence next year and be completed by phases beginning from the end of 2026.

The Chief Executive proposed to establish a civil service college in the 2017 Policy Address.

The Civil Service Bureau is conducting a recruitment exercise for the Head of the College.

This story has been published on: 2021-12-09. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Hong Kong: 4.47m election poll cards sent

The 2021 Legislative Council General Election will be held on December 19. The Registration & Electoral Office has mailed poll cards to about 4.47 million registered electors to inform them of where they should cast their votes on the polling day.

The office said electors can only cast their votes at the polling station specified on their poll card.

Those who have not yet received their poll card can log in to the Online Voter Information Enquiry System for information, or call the election hotline on 2891 1001.

Electors must show their Hong Kong identity card and temporarily pull their mask aside at the ballot paper issuing desk at the designated polling station.

The polling staff will scan the elector's Hong Kong identity card with an Electronic Poll Register system tablet and issue ballot papers.

Instead of the Electronic Poll Register system, the printed copy of the final register will be used for issuing ballot papers at polling stations without satisfactory wired network coverage and the dedicated polling stations.

The office will open four mock polling stations for four days starting December 14 to help electors familiarise themselves with voting procedures.

The mock polling stations will be set up at North Point Community Hall, Kwun Tong Community Centre, Tuen Mun Tseng Choi Street Community Hall and Tai Po Community Centre.

They will be open from 4pm to 8pm on December 14 and from noon to 8pm from December 15 to 17.

A hotline 2967 0416 and a fax 2834 0934 have been set up to arrange appointments for group visits to the mock polling stations from December 14 to 17.

About 630 ordinary polling stations and not more than 24 dedicated polling stations will be open across the city on the polling day.

The polling hours for the ordinary polling stations and the three dedicated polling stations set up at police stations will be from 8.30am to 10.30pm.

For the dedicated polling stations set up at penal institutions, the polling hours will be from 9am to 4pm.

Click here for information about the election.

This story has been published on: 2021-12-09. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
RTHK: US-led anti-IS coalition ends Iraq combat mission

The US-led coalition against the Islamic State group has finished its combat mission in Iraq and will shift to a training and advisory role, the alliance and its host country said on Thursday.

The change of the mission for around 2,500 American troops stationed in the war-battered country by the end of the year was first announced by US President Joe Biden in July when he hosted Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhemi.

The Iraqi government has been under pressure from powerful pro-Iranian political groups with armed wings that have vehemently demanded all US troops leave the country.

"We are officially announcing the end of the coalition forces' combat mission," national security adviser Qassem al-Aaraji wrote on Twitter.

Aaraji was speaking after a meeting between the coalition and the Joint Operations commanders of the Iraqi security forces.

The coalition confirmed it had "completed its transition to a non-combat mission".

In a statement, it said Iraqi forces "protect Coalition personnel who are invited guests" and that while "Coalition personnel do not have a combat role, they maintain the inherent right of self-defence".

In effect, the about 2,500 US and 1,000 other coalition troops deployed in Iraq will remain in the country. They have been acting as advisers and trainers since mid-2020.

IS established a so-called caliphate across swathes of Syria and Iraq from 2014.

It was defeated in Iraq in 2017 after offensives by Iraqi forces with the support of the coalition that has included more than 80 countries, among them Britain, France and several Arab nations.

Even though Iraq declared victory against the IS jihadists in December 2017, the group's remnants still carry out attacks against security forces and civilians and in recent weeks killed several Kurdish fighters in northern Iraq. (AFP)

This story has been published on: 2021-12-09. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Have Sheriff Offices in North Carolina, possibly even Beaufort County's Sheriff Office, become too political in the discharging of their sworn constitutional duties? No, the sheriff is a constitutional officer. Yes, the Sheriff Office, on strong occasion, often reverts back to political patronage in the dispensation of their sworn constitutional duties. I feel that heavy politics, and law enforcement is a strange marriage of dutiful aspirations. 205 total vote(s) What's your Opinion?



poll#143

Should Beaufort County elected officials demand that every alleged incident of Child Rape be investigated in Beaufort County? Yes, without fail, irrespective of the parties involved; this heinous crime must be investigated, and the truth be known, and responsible parties prosecuted. No, some Beaufort County citizens are more elite than others, and these types of investigations can be most damaging to the alleged party in question. 376 total vote(s) What's your Opinion?



I have detailed in other articles how Sheriff Coleman was not truthful while under oath in a civil case involving Michael Sheppard. The county settled this case for $175,000.00. Federal court Judge Dever found Sheriff Coleman's testimony case number 4:19-cv-86-D ). Judge Dever stated in open court that he found the conduct of North Carolina Sheriff Ernie Coleman disturbing.It is the duty of a prosecutor to disclose any information or evidence that could be considered favorable to the defense in a criminal case. This disclosure must include any information that the defense could use to impeach a law enforcement officer by showing any bias or lack of credibility. This disclosure is referred to as Giglio material. The courts have found that a law enforcement officer that is not crediblecould mean the difference between being found guilty or not guilty.Prosecutors have an independent duty to discover any relative negative information on any law enforcement officer that testifies in a case. When a District Attorney learns of a law enforcement officer being untruthful in an internal investigation or while testifying in court, he may issue a Giglio letter, often referred to as ato the head of the agency. In many cases, this means the officer can no longer testify in court.Here is a quick scenario for you. Ernie is in his patrol car riding by the Food Lion on 264 East. He sees a man pull out a gun and then shoots a woman while her hands are raised above her head. A knife is found at the scene. Ernie later learns the woman is the man's estranged wife. At trial, the man says he was defending himself. He claims she had a knife in her hand and attempted to stab him just as he shot. Ernie's eye witness testimony contradicts that story. The defense produces thefrom the District Attorney's Office. In part, the District Attorney's letter would state that. The jury could find Ernie's testimony untruthful based on his past untruthful testimony in court.Ernie is a member of the NC Sheriffs' Association and has been a spokesman for that organization. Recently the Association produced a 31 page report making recommendations for more reforms. The report strongly recommends all hiring agencies and certification agencies focus onAs always with Ernie, the rules and laws are for the little people, not the High Sheriff.So, the Sheriff is a participating member of this august body of law enforcement professionals that demand accountability from all Deputies. Yet, he does not demand the same from himself. What can we expect from the Deputies when the Sheriff displays a lack of integrity? Is Ernie leading them by example down the wrong path?Who demands accountability from the Sheriff? The Commissioners are powerless. The people are powerless for another year. Will Superior Court Judge Wayland Sermons review the findings of his fellow judge and take action? Will District Attorney Seth Edwards issue a? Will Ernie be prosecuted or is that for the little people who lie? Is he really too powerful to be held accountable?Ernie vilified Michael Sheppard in the media. Many times Ernie stated the facts in the complaints were lies and he would prevail in court. Well, Ernie did not prevail. He lost both cases brought against him by two Deputies, Sheppard and Franks. In 2019 the Sheppard case was in the Top Ten stories posted by the Washington Daily News. As of today, the WDN and other media sources have failed to report on these cases, including Ernie's behavior in court, in an effort to help restore the reputation of the Deputies. Does the media fear the High and Mighty Sheriff Coleman too?I'll close with two quotes to consider:- Martin Luther King, Jr.- John Stuart Mill
Covid-19 vaccinations prepared for children from 5

Vietnam is seeking more Covid-19 vaccine sources to inoculate local children aged between 5 and 11.



According to Deputy Minister of Health Do Xuan Tuyen, to date, 97 percent of people aged from 18 in the country have been given a first Covid-19 vaccine shot, with the rate for the second shot at 70 percent. To date, roughly five million children aged from 12 to 17 have been provided with the first Covid-19 vaccine jab.

The Covid-19 vaccination in Vietnam





Tuyen added that Vietnam had targeted to finish the second shot for people from 18 years old by the end of this year. The country has started giving a third shot to adults and this is scheduled to be completed by mid-2022.



The deputy minister noted that the nation is negotiating with Covid-19 vaccine producers and suppliers for contracts to benefit children from 5-11 years old.



He said the recent higher rate of Covid-19 deaths was primarily focused on the elderly and those with underlying medical conditions.



At present, Covid-19 patients who display none or just mild symptoms are allowed to stay at home for treatment, while those with worsened symptoms are sent to hospital.
Nearly 200,000 Vietnamese citizens flown home from abroad: spokeswoman

Vietnamese authorities and representative agencies abroad have worked closely with domestic and foreign airlines to conduct over 800 flights carrying home nearly 200,000 Vietnamese citizens from over 60 countries and territories, amid the complicated developments of the COVID-19 pandemic, said Foreign Ministrys spokeswoman Le Thi Thu Hang.













Hung Yen receives 174 Vietnamese citizens returning from Myanmar (Photo: VNA)

During the ministrys regular press conference held virtually on December 9, Hang said Vietnamese citizens demand for returning home is high as the Lunar New Year festival is coming near and many Vietnamese workers and students have their visas expired.



The Foreign Ministry is working closely with ministries, agencies and localities to arrange flights carrying Vietnamese citizens home, taking into consideration the overseas Vietnamese's wish, the pandemic situation and quarantine capacity in the country, she said.



About the protection of Vietnamese citizens and enterprises in Myanmar, Hang said the Foreign Ministry and the Vietnamese Embassy in Myanmar have kept constant watch on the situation in Myanmar and Vietnamese citizens and enterprises there. A number of citizen protection and consular measures have been implemented to ensure their lives, assets, legitimate rights and interests.



The ministry and the embassy have also asked Myanmar authorities to enhance measures to ensure the safety of lives and assets of Vietnamese citizens and enterprises there in line with the two countries agreements as well as international law and practices.



As regards the repatriation of 17 Vietnamese crewmen who survived in the sinking of the Huoei Crystal vessel in the waters bordering Japan, the Republic of Korea (RoK) and the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (DPRK) on December 1, Hang said there were 18 Vietnamese crewmen aboard the Panama-registered vessel.



After hearing the news, the Vietnamese representative agencies in Japan, the RoK and DPRK immediately contacted relevant agencies in the countries to confirm the information and requested urgent search and rescue.



On December 2, a RoK ship saved 17 sailors and took them to the RoKs Mukho port, Donghae city, Gangwon province. The search for the last crewman continued until December 4 evening but without any result.



The owner of the vessel and insurance firms had contacted the crewmen and started procedures to pay insurance benefits in line with regulations. The repatriation of these victims will depend on their wish, she said./.
Looser entry regulations for fully-vaccinated travellers urged

Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam has said fully vaccinated people would not have to stay at quarantine sites when entering Vietnam.



He made the comments at a meeting with the Ministry of Health and concerned agencies on the revision of Covid-19 prevention measures on December 8.



According to the Deputy PM, the pandemic has remained complex in Vietnam, but the country has focused on boosting vaccination to reduce the rate of worsened cases and deaths.



Besides receiving people from abroad working in Vietnam, agencies need to pay attention to the repatriation demand of Vietnamese overseas, particularly when the Tet Holiday is nearing.



Dam asked the Ministry of Health to remove the regulation of keeping migrants who are fully vaccinated and test negative for Covid-19 at quarantine sites for seven days. Instead, they only need to isolate themselves at home or at accommodation of their choice for a specific period. Only those who are not vaccinated need to be sent to quarantine sites and be vaccinated there.



The Ministry of Health has to issue new guidelines on the change of these quarantine regulations no later than December 15, Dam urged.



At the meeting, a representative from the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam said that the agency had connected with the international vaccine passport system to ensure that all people who book tickets for Vietnam are fully vaccinated. Those who are not vaccinated can only buy tickets after registering to stay at a Vietnamese quarantine site.



Since the Covid-19 outbreak in Vietnam, the country has welcomed more 200,000 people from abroad to work in the country.
U.S. tramples on democracy by exporting it to other countries

18:05, December 08, 2021 By Xin Yue ( People's Daily Online

(Cartoon by Lu Lingxing)

The so-called summit for democracy, a farce planned by the U.S., is about to be staged. It will only serve to instigate division and incite confrontation in the world under the banner of democracy.

Under the pretext of promoting democracy, the U.S. has actually been interfering in the domestic affairs of other countries and pursuing hegemony and power politics. The U.S. actions have sabotaged global peace, created humanitarian crises, and led to the displacement of millions of people from other countries.

Under the pretext of exporting American democracy, the U.S. has resorted to every conceivable means to pursue hegemony, destabilizing the world by meddling in the elections of other countries, instigating chaos, subverting state power, and even waging wars.

During their time in office, almost all U.S. presidents since World War II have launched or engaged in wars all over the world. Over the past decade, the U.S. invaded more than 20 countries or manipulated state power transitions in other countries. It has engaged in or manipulated the color revolutions in countries from Central and Eastern Europe, Central Asia, Western Asia and Northern Africa.

By exporting American democracy to other countries, what the U.S. has done is actually anti-democratic and brutally interfered in the internal affairs of other countries.

The U.S. is obsessed with exporting American democracy because it gains from this process. In April 2021, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris admitted that the wars waged by the U.S., which lasted for several years, were fought for oil.

When the U.S. exercised long-arm jurisdiction by wantonly exporting weapons to some countries and unilaterally imposing sanctions against others, it always benefited from the chaos it had created.

Between 2009 and 2017, the U.S. plundered $190 billion from Europe through long-arm jurisdiction, first imposing sanctions on European companies such as Alstom and then facilitating the buyout of those companies by American companies.

Statistics released by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) in 2021 indicated that the U.S. accounted for more than one third of global arms exports in the latest five years, making it the largest arms exporter in the world.

The U.S. has failed to let American democracy bloom globally, but instead has waged wars all over the world. Since the launch of the so-called war on terrorism in 2001, the U.S. and its allies have caused at least 480,000 deaths in the Middle East, most of whom are innocent civilians. The hasty withdrawal of the U.S. army from Afghanistan in August 2021 was a sign that the U.S. policy in the country over the past 20 years had been a total failure.

At the same time, the U.S. continues to turn a blind eye to its own democratic situation. Due to the U.S. governments incompetence in handling the COVID-19 pandemic, American society is now seeing growing division between the rich and the poor, rising conflict among different ethnic monitories, and mounting populism, which all further expose the deficiencies of American democracy.

A poll conducted by the Associated Press in February 2021 indicated that only 16 percent of Americans thought American democracy was functioning well, while nearly half thought otherwise.

If the United States saw what the United States is doing in the United States, the United States would invade the United States to liberate the United States from the tyranny of the United States, Mohamad Safa, Lebanons permanent representative to the United Nations, tweeted.

Democracy is not designed to safeguard the selfish gains of certain countries. The U.S. has used all means to interfere in the democracy of other countries, but the hypocrisy of American democracy has increasingly been seen through during this process. A survey conducted by the Pew Research Center in November 2021 showed that outside the U.S., about 57 percent of respondents said they did not think U.S. democracy was a good example to learn from, while 72 percent of respondents based in the U.S. agreed with this point.

For years, the U.S. has been judging the democracy of other countries, and exporting its own democracy to them without even thinking about whether it is suited to those countries or not. The U.S. has deprived other countries of the right and freedom to explore a democratic path that suits their own national conditions, essentially promoting anti-democracy under the guise of democracy. The so-called summit for democracy is just a new tool employed by the U.S. to bring together its allies while excluding others. Todays world is no longer controlled by a few countries, and the U.S., which has trampled on and betrayed the democratic spirit and values under the pretext of promoting democracy, is bound to be resisted and opposed by the international community.

Related:

U.S. democracy summit actually seeks to divide countries in the name of democracy

U.S. in no position to give lectures on democracy

(Web editor: Hongyu, Bianji)
Xi sends congratulatory letter to 2021 South-South Human Rights Forum

Xinhua) 08:23, December 09, 2021

BEIJING, Dec. 8 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter to the 2021 South-South Human Rights Forum, which opened in Beijing on Wednesday.

Noting that human rights are a symbol of human civilization progress, Xi said putting people first and taking people's longing for a better life as the goal is the responsibility of all countries.

The Communist Party of China has always been a political party that respects and protects human rights, he stressed, adding that China stays committed to a people-centered approach, puts people's interests front and center, advances human rights through development and promotes whole-process people's democracy, he said.

China's human rights cause has made remarkable achievements, and the Chinese people now have a greater sense of gains, happiness and security in terms of human rights protection, Xi said.

Practices of human rights are varied, and countries around the world should and can choose the development path of human rights that suits their own national conditions, he added.

"China is willing to work with all developing countries to carry forward the common values of humanity, practice true multilateralism and contribute wisdom and strength to the sound development of the international human rights cause," he said.

The 2021 South-South Human Rights Forum, themed "putting people first and global human rights governance," is jointly hosted by China's State Council Information Office and the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
"Summit for democracy" will go down in history as democratic manipulation: FM spokesperson

Xinhua) 08:25, December 09, 2021

BEIJING, Dec. 8 (Xinhua) -- The true face of the United States seeking hegemony under the guise of democracy has long been exposed, and the so-called "summit for democracy" will only go down in history as democratic manipulation, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said Wednesday.

Spokesperson Wang Wenbin made the remarks at a daily press briefing when asked to comment on reports that the Hungarian government rejected a common EU position on the "summit".

Wang said Hungary's move shows once again that the U.S. instigation of division and confrontation under the pretext of democracy finds no support and is met with widespread opposition from the international community.

Despite the opposition, the United States obstinately continues to engage in political manipulation under the banner of democracy and claims it "intends to host the summit with humility," Wang added.

He noted that the United States puts together a summit in the name of democracy without consulting the international community or coordinating with the United Nations or other international bodies.

"Is this called 'humility'?" Wang asked.

He continued to point out that the United States puts half of the world's countries into a category of so-called "non-democracies" with its own yardstick, and it has launched military interventions in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Syria and other countries in the name of democracy, leading to hundreds of thousands of civilian deaths and displacing tens of millions.

"Instead of learning lessons and correcting its mistakes, the United States has even gone further to instrumentalize and weaponize democracy, by openly convening this so-called 'summit for democracy' to incite division and confrontation for its geopolitical strategy and gains. Is this called 'humility'?"

"No matter how the United States glosses over itself, its true face of seeking hegemony under the guise of democracy has long been exposed to the world. The so-called 'summit for democracy' will only go down in history as a manipulator and saboteur of democracy," he said.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
Omicron variant may change course of COVID-19 pandemic: WHO chief

Xinhua) 08:28, December 09, 2021

Photo taken on March 30, 2021 shows an exterior view of the World Health Organization (WHO) headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. (Xinhua/Chen Junxia)

While some evidence might suggest that Omicron causes milder symptoms than the earlier Delta variant, it's still early days to draw any final conclusions, WHO experts have said.

GENEVA, Dec. 8 (Xinhua) -- Certain features of the Omicron variant, including its global spread and large number of mutations, suggest it could have a major impact on the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, said the chief of the World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday.

With the Omicron variant now present in 57 countries, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned at a press briefing that it can spread more rapidly than previous variants.

A man walks past a COVID-19 test center in Manchester, Britain on Dec. 6, 2021. (Xinhua/Jon Super)

"We are now starting to see a consistent picture of rapid increase in transmission (rates), although for now the exact rate of increase relative to other variants remains difficult to quantify," he said.

"Emerging data from South Africa suggest increased risk of re-infection with Omicron, but more data are needed to draw firmer conclusions," he added.

While some evidence might suggest that Omicron causes milder symptoms than the earlier Delta variant, it's still early days to draw any final conclusions, WHO experts have said.

According to Mike Ryan, executive director of the WHO's Health Emergencies Program, although the evolutionary nature of the virus makes it more transmissible as it mutates, this doesn't necessarily make the virus less severe, as has been suggested by some "urban legends."

People walk past a board showing measures against COVID-19 in Brussels, Belgium, on Dec. 2, 2021. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)

Whether or not a mutation turns out to be milder or more lethal is a matter of chance, he said.

As studies of the latest COVID-19 variant are evolving, the WHO says it still needs days or even weeks for global epidemiological data to come in, be analyzed and then to draw any firm conclusions.

It's also still premature to say that Omicron could result in a significant reduction in vaccine effectiveness, according to WHO Chief Scientist Soumya Swaminathan.

The WHO has called on all countries to increase surveillance, testing and sequencing, and to submit more data to the WHO Clinical Data Platform using an updated online case reporting form.

A staff member works in a "Falcon" air-inflated laboratory for COVID-19 nucleic acid testing in Manzhouli, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Dec. 3, 2021. (Xinhua/Li Zhipeng)

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
East Chinese city marks 2,000 China-Europe freight train trips

Xinhua) 08:42, December 09, 2021

HEFEI, Dec. 8 (Xinhua) -- A China-Europe freight train departed from Hefei, capital of east China's Anhui Province, on Wednesday, heading for the city of Vorsino in Russia, marking the 2,000th such trip since the service started in 2014.

The train carried 100 twenty-foot equivalent unit containers loaded with refrigerators and other electrical appliances.

China-Europe freight train service in Hefei has developed rapidly in recent years, with its operation scale increasing from less than 200 trains in three years to over 600 trains in one year.

Its operation has grown in frequency from one to two trains per month to 12 to 15 trains per week.

(Web editor: Shi Xi, Liang Jun)
Senior CPC official pledges China's support for global human rights governance

Xinhua) 08:50, December 09, 2021

Huang Kunming, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, addresses the opening ceremony of the 2021 South-South Human Rights Forum in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 8, 2021. Huang read out a congratulatory letter by Chinese President Xi Jinping and made a keynote speech during the ceremony. (Xinhua/Shen Hong)

BEIJING, Dec. 8 (Xinhua) -- A senior official of the Communist Party of China (CPC) on Wednesday pledged China's efforts to improve global human rights governance together with other developing countries.

Huang Kunming, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, made the remarks when addressing the opening ceremony of the 2021 South-South Human Rights Forum.

Noting that the past 100 years has witnessed the CPC's efforts to strive for, respect, guarantee and realize human rights, Huang said China has taken a series of measures to improve people's sense of gain, happiness and security, adding that history proves China has followed a path of human rights development that conforms to the trend of the times and has Chinese characteristics.

China is willing to work with other developing countries to jointly pursue prosperity and development, promote cooperation, uphold fairness and justice, and improve global human rights governance, to facilitate a human rights endeavour that is more equal, comprehensive, balanced and progressive.

Themed "putting people first and global human rights governance," the forum is jointly hosted by China's State Council Information Office and the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

(Web editor: Shi Xi, Liang Jun)
Note to Sullivan: You are dragging US down by talking big

By Global Times editorial (Global Times) 08:51, December 09, 2021

US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said on Tuesday, "from the point of view of both deterrence and diplomacy," the US is going to take every action it can to make sure that the reunification of the Chinese mainland with the island of Taiwan by force "never happens." He made these remarks when responding to a question whether the US is prepared to deal with the situation in the Taiwan Straits and in Ukraine. Sullivan also mentioned that the US' "efforts" during the past eight months in the Indo-Pacific region were to avoid "any kind of scenario where China chooses to invade."

Recently, US senior officials have repeatedly shown their tough yet empty attitude on the situation in the Taiwan Straits. On Tuesday, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken also accused China of attempting to "reshape not only its own territory but also the global system to its benefit." Again, Blinken threatened that "if Beijing were to decide to try to change the status quo unilaterally by force, it would be a very serious mistake."

Sullivan blustered to ensure that China's reunification by force "never happens," which is particularly alarming. This is the biggest boast made by a senior US official so far. Almost no one would believe Sullivan's impromptu to a reporter would become a manifesto of US policy. This is because the US simply cannot build a deterrent to prevent the Chinese mainland from carrying out reunification by force when necessary. No one would believe the US has the true will to defend Taiwan at all costs, which goes against China's military growth and its resolution in reunification.

So far, the official attitude of Washington is to encourage the Taiwan authority to build up self-defense capabilities. The US mainly provides military support to Taiwan by selling weapons. Those weapons are generally destined to be destroyed by the People's Liberation Army (PLA) as soon as the reunification by force takes place. It is credible that the PLA will heavily attack US troops who come to Taiwan's rescue. Such credibility is increasingly overwhelming the deterrence that US troops may have.

We do not believe Sullivan will repeatedly reiterate his attitude of ensuring that reunification by force "will never happen." It is very likely that he will recall or downplay this statement because the US cannot afford the responsibility and pressure of making this official. The US is far away from "defending Taiwan" at the cost of a deadly war.

Indeed, the US does have a way of ensuring that reunification by force "never happens." That is to blow the ambitions of the Taiwan authority to promote the "Taiwan independence," to force them to return to the 1992 Consensus and meet half way with the Chinese mainland on the path of peaceful reunification and to accept the principle of "one country, two systems." If Washington supports the Taiwan authority's path of seeking secession and encourages the Taiwan authority to rely on it, then reunification by force will definitely happen. The more the US and the island of Taiwan collude, the sooner reunification by force will come.

The Chinese mainland has the will to maintain peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits. However, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authority has rejected the one-China principle after it took office in 2016, which severely undermined the political foundation of cross-Straits relations and pushed the situation in the Taiwan Straits toward serious instability. Currently, people are talking about military confrontations in the Taiwan Straits very frequently, something that was unimaginable a few years ago. The key elements and mechanisms have all changed. Perhaps the critical point of turning back has already passed.

To avoid a showdown in the Taiwan Straits, the DPP authority must retreat in big steps and the US should urge it to return to the right track when it gets lost. If the US continues to regard the Taiwan island as a pawn to contain the Chinese mainland and send wrong signals to the DPP authority, then the situation will keep on worsening. Resolving the Taiwan question by force will become the inevitable and only choice for the Chinese mainland.

Mr Sullivan, please be advised to sort out your mind carefully and think about what bargaining chips you do have in your hands to intimidate the Chinese mainland which is determined to achieve national reunification and has various strategic tools to resist blackmail. You will find your hands empty. Therefore, don't have a big mouth, Mr Sullivan, otherwise you will only create more embarrassment for your country.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
China donates 7,000 saplings to support Pakistan's efforts in environmental protection

Xinhua) 08:54, December 09, 2021

Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Nong Rong (L) plants a tree together with Pakistan's Minister for Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam during a tree donation ceremony at the Chinese embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan on Dec. 8, 2021. China donated 7,000 saplings on Wednesday to support Pakistani prime minister's 10 Billion Tree Tsunami program and help Pakistan in its fight against climate change. (Xinhua/Ahmad Kamal)

ISLAMABAD, Dec. 8 (Xinhua) -- China donated 7,000 saplings on Wednesday to support Pakistani prime minister's 10 Billion Tree Tsunami program and help Pakistan in its fight against climate change.

In a ceremony held at the Chinese embassy here, Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Nong Rong and Pakistan's Minister for Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam jointly planted a tree in the embassy's premises to mark the event.

Talking to Xinhua on the sidelines of the event, Aslam said that the donation is very significant for Pakistan, and the trees will be planted along major highways in the country, and will be tagged to show the gift of the Chinese government and the Chinese people to commuters traveling along the roads.

Commenting on the relationship between Pakistan and China in the past 70 years, Aslam said "these are 70 years of friendship, brotherhood, and one of the strongest brotherhoods that Pakistan has with any country. We share not only our past but also our future... I am very thankful to China for becoming a part of Pakistan's green vision."

Speaking with Xinhua, the Chinese ambassador said that they gifted the trees on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan.

The Chinese and Pakistani governments have been supporting each other in nature conservation, and the two sides are practicing the idea of a green Belt and Road to promote the high-quality development of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, he added.

(Web editor: Shi Xi, Liang Jun)
Americas addiction to war causes disasters for world

09:31, December 09, 2021 By Zhong Sheng ( People's Daily

Although the U.S. always justifies the wars it wages abroad with various pretexts, facts have fully proved that the U.S. is a hegemonic power with an addiction to war and the greatest source of risks to global peace and stability.

The year 2021 marks the 20th anniversary of the outbreak of the Afghan war and the 10th anniversary of the outbreaks of the wars in Libya and Syria. These wars are all a result of Americas excessive and willful use of force.

The U.S. is the biggest driver behind the escalation of conflicts in relevant countries, and is inescapably responsible for the humanitarian disasters caused by these wars.

The history of the U.S. is one of constant wars of aggression and imperial expansion, according to American historian Paul Atwood, who pointed out that war is the American way of life.

Throughout about 240 years of U.S. history, there were only 16 years when it wasnt involved in a war. After World War II, the U.S. became a superpower and found it harder to resist its desire to wage wars.

Incomplete statistics show that from the end of World War II in 1945 to 2001, a total of 248 armed conflicts happened in 153 regions in the world, among which 201, or around 81 percent, were started by the U.S.

Waging wars across the world on various pretexts, the U.S. is the real culprit threatening world peace, according to Tom Fowdy, a British political and international relations analyst.

Although some wars have ended long before, the wounds and scars they left in certain countries and the grave consequences they caused for regional security landscape can still hardly heal or be remedied.

Its estimated that at least 800,000 tons of explosive remnants of war from the U.S. remain to this day in Vietnam, which, at the current rate, would take 300 years to clean.

Since the beginning of the 21st century, the international landscape has undergone profound changes and the international community has shown a stronger desire for peace. However, the U.S. has never stopped waging wars against foreign countries.

The war machine of the U.S. has roared all the way across the planet, inflicting disasters on countries including Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, and Syria.

In the early 21st century, if any power sought world domination, coercing others and flouting rules, it was the United States, said an article published on the website of The New York Times in October 2020.

Statistics released by the Smithsonian Institution in the U.S. revealed that the wars and military operations started by the U.S. in the name of counter-terrorism since 2001 have spread to more than 40 percent of the worlds countries.

These so-called wars on terror have killed over 800,000 people, made more than 38 million people destitute and homeless, and are estimated to cost the U.S. government more than $8 trillion, suggested data from the Costs of War Project of Brown University in the U.S.

In summer this year, the chaos caused by the hasty withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan astonished the world.

The Afghan war that lasted for 20 years has brought untold sufferings to the Afghan people. More than 100,000 Afghan civilians were killed or injured by the weapons of U.S. armed forces and its allied forces, and over 10 million people lost their homes due to the war.

Eventually, the U.S. armed forces simply walked away irresponsibly, leaving the Afghan people to face the long-term sufferings inflicted by the war.

The huge disasters caused by those wars started and conflicts provoked by the U.S. abroad should have been a wake-up call for the country. However, up to now, the trigger-happy superpower still hasnt reflected upon its deeds and plucked up the courage to change its course.

In order to avoid being held accountable by the international community for those wars and conflicts, the U.S. has racked its brains in proving the justifiability of its misdeeds, creating such rhetoric as Pax Americana, human rights above national sovereignty, duty to intervene and rules-based international order.

However, no matter how hard Washington tries to beautify those wars, it can neither make up for the huge loss of life caused by wars, erase the deep wounds wars left on countless families, reverse the turmoil and disorder caused by wars in other countries, nor cover up the long-term challenges wars posed to regional security landscape.

The U.S. should reflect on the pernicious influence of its war machine, pointed out an article published recently on Al-Watan, a newspaper in Bahrain.

Peace, development, and win-win cooperation have become the prevailing trend of the times. Going against the trend, the U.S. frequently interferes in the domestic affairs of other countries on the pretext of democracy or human rights, and still indulges in hegemonism and power politics.

The international community must put the U.S. under a war origins-tracing investigation, for investigating the evil consequences of the wars willfully waged by the U.S. and holding the drivers behind the wars accountable is the requirement of international justice and the international communitys responsibility to history and future generations.

(Zhong Sheng is a pen name often used by Peoples Daily to express its views on foreign policy and international affairs.)

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
China's grain output reaches 683 bln kilograms, hits new record

09:32, December 09, 2021 By Gao Yuncai, Lu Ya'nan ( People's Daily

China saw its 18th consecutive bumper year in 2021 as the country's grain output grew by two percent, or 13.35 billion kilograms from a year ago to a record high of nearly 683 billion kilograms, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

Farmers reap rice in Qianjin township, Nanxun district, Huzhou, east China's Zhejiang province, Nov. 15, 2021. (People's Daily Online/Fu Lijia)

It marked a 7th straight year that the country reported total grain production of over 650 billion kilograms.

"The bumper harvest this year offers a solid foundation for China to ensure food security, cope with complex and volatile domestic and international environments, overcome risks and challenges, and achieve high-quality development," said Wang Minghua, an NBS official.

The steady growth in grain sowing area is a primary contributor to the harvest. Wang introduced that in 2021, local governments across the country have taken efforts to ensure that duties of grain production are fulfilled and implemented the most strict farmland protection rules, so as to prevent the use of arable land for non-farming purposes.

They also further strengthened support for grain production, and encouraged reclamation of abandoned land and the exploitation of farmland in the winter fallow season, to raise the enthusiasm of farmers, said the official.

The total grain sowing area of China increased 0.7 percent to 1.76 billion mu, or 117.6 million hectares. The number has kept rising for two years in a row.

The harvest can also be attributed to the popularization of agricultural technologies.

Rice are ripe in Hubin village, Guyang township, Dantu district, Zhenjiang, east China's Jiangsu province, Oct. 30, 2021. (People's Daily Online/Wei Xueliang)

"The production of rice this year stands at 750 kilograms per mu at least, 100 kilograms more than that in the previous years. It is the best performance in the recent years," said Jin Quan, a rice grower in Huayuan village, east China's Jiangsu province, where agricultural drones are employed for higher farming efficiency and lower consumption of pesticides and fertilizers.

This year, precise and quantitative rice cultivation technique has been applied in over 23 million mu of farmland across the province.

In Datong Hui and Tu autonomous county, northwest China's Qinghai province, high-quality seeds are making bumper harvests. "The corn and potato varieties we have bred are helping farmers get rich," said Bao Jidong, head of a local seed breeding cooperative. The new varieties have led to a significant rise in per unit yield of the crops.

Technologies are improving China's comprehensive capability in grain production, and the expanding planting area of corns, a high-yielding crop, is also driving the increase in per unit yield. A sample survey indicated that the grain output per mu was 387 kilograms this year, increasing 1.2 percent, or 4.8 kilograms from a year ago.

An agricultural drone is applying fertilizer over a paddy field in a farm in Susong county, Anqing, east China's Anhui province, Sept. 8, 2021. (People's Daily Online/Li Long)

Floods, droughts and plagues of insects have sounded alarms for grain production this year. Especially since late September, some major grain-producing areas have been hit by continuous rains, which negatively impacted the autumn harvest. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs responded swiftly and dispatched teams and experts to severely afflicted areas to offer technical guidance. The ministry also helped affected farmers to drain the fields, reap the crops and plant wheat, which mitigated the losses of them.

Wang noted that the meteorological conditions in most grain-producing areas across the country have been generally in favor of the growth and production of grain crops this year, though grain output in some regions was affected by adverse weathers.

In 2021, the yields of summer grains and early-season rice were respectively 146 billion kilograms and 28 billion kilograms, up 3.1 billion kilograms and 700 million kilograms from a year ago. The output of autumn grains also went up by nearly 9.6 billion kilograms to 508.9 billion kilograms.

A German news site said that the harvest of the populous country will alleviate the global food shortage.

Given the spreading pandemic, complicated international situation, and frequent occurrence of extreme natural disasters, the harvest of China is a reminder that agriculture is playing an even larger role in stabilizing the society and economy, and that the country remains firm in its commitment to pursuing food security, said Li Guoxiang, a researcher with the Rural Development Institute, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
China a significant contributor to WTO negotiations on services domestic regulation: MOC

Xinhua) 09:38, December 09, 2021

Journalists visit a venue of the China International Fair for Trade in Services at the China National Convention Center in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 31, 2021. (Xinhua/Lu Peng)

BEIJING, Dec. 8 (Xinhua) -- China has made significant contributions to the successful conclusion of negotiations on the Joint Statement Initiative (JSI) on Services Domestic Regulation, according to the Ministry of Commerce (MOC).

China actively participated in the negotiations and took the initiative to put forward proposals, marking significant contributions to the successful conclusion of the negotiations, a MOC official said.

In addition to initiating negotiations on the JSI on Services Domestic Regulation with all participants, China has also fulfilled its responsibilities through the concrete action of opening-up, the official noted.

The country has been carrying out reform and opening up in the service sector. It has promulgated the Foreign Investment Law and its supporting regulations, and established a management system of pre-establishment national treatment plus a negative list for foreign investment.

In July, the MOC issued a negative list for cross-border trade in services at the Hainan free trade port, improving the business environment through reform and opening-up.

China also actively promoted negotiations to reach an agreement, showing flexibility when it was necessary to seek consensus, the official said, adding that China will complete the domestic approval process as soon as possible, and work with all parties to promote an early implementation of the negotiation outcomes.

The MOC noted that the outcomes of the negotiation will play an active role in service trade development in China, the second-largest service trade market in the world.

The JSI on Services Domestic Regulation involves 67 World Trade Organization (WTO) members including China, the United States and the European Union, and about 90 percent of the world's service trade. After coming into effect, it will save about 150 billion U.S. dollars in costs for businesses participating in service trade worldwide, according to a WTO report.

The agreement will facilitate Chinese enterprises to set up commercial entities overseas, obtain business licenses and related qualifications, and provide cross-border services. It will also help reduce the cost for Chinese companies entering the international market and provide regulatory guarantees for the high-quality development of China's service trade.

The conclusion of the negotiations will help revitalize the negotiation function of the WTO, providing an important reference for future negotiations of the organization, the MOC official noted.

Besides, the inclusion of a gender equality clause in the JSI on Services Domestic Regulation for the first time will serve as a new approach for the WTO to support the economic empowerment of women, the official said.

(Web editor: Shi Xi, Liang Jun)
Chinese think tanks report reveals truths about American democracy

09:39, December 09, 2021 By Wu Gang, Wang Xiaobo ( People's Daily

The Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies, Renmin University of China, issued a research report during a press conference on Monday, raising ten questions on American democracy from ten angles, including the American system in practice, national governance, social circumstances, human rights, and freedom situation, and international influence, while telling the truths about American democracy by citing vast amounts of facts, data, and opinions of various institutions, personages, and experts in the world.

Photo shows the Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish editions of the research report titled Ten Questions for American Democracy released by Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies, Renmin University of China. (Photo/Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies, Renmin University of China)

The report titled Ten Questions for American Democracy has been published in five languages, i.e., Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish, with its Chinese edition consisting of 23,000 characters.

Representatives from the embassies of more than 30 countries in China, nearly 20 foreign media outlets in Beijing, and journalists from more than 40 domestic media organizations participated in the press conference, also serving as a seminar on the report.

Chinese and foreign attendees at the conference all believe that the U.S. should face its democracy issues, listen to the real voices of other countries, correct its wrongdoings both at home and abroad, and actually start to seek benefits for people in the U.S. and the entire world.

As the COVID-19 epidemic is running riot across the world and the global economic recovery remains sluggish, countries are faced with considerable challenges in development.

When humanity needs solidarity the most, the U.S. government, however, still demarcates ideological boundaries and causes divisions around the world, arousing the indignation of many countries.

Democracy is a right of all people, not a monopoly of several countries. It is absurd for any government to declare its monopoly on the definition or model of democracy, says the report.

Photo shows the press conference held by Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies, Renmin University of China for the release of the research report titled Ten Questions for American Democracy. (Photo/guancha.cn)

In recent years, American democracy has gradually metamorphosed. Domestically, it has become a tool for a few politicians to seek personal gains, violating human rights and tearing society apart; internationally, it has become a front and excuse for the U.S. to maintain hegemony, interfere in the internal affairs of other countries, and undermine the international order, according to the report.

Democracy means that people are masters of the country, says the report, pointing out that in todays America, minority over the majority, power serves the capital, and peoples will is difficult to truly realize are the unfortunate realities.

The report cited the conclusion of a report from Princeton University and Northwest University based on an analysis of nearly 1,800 American policies: ordinary people and groups representing the interests of the masses in the U.S. have little independent political influence; however, economic elites and organized groups representing business interests have a strong ability to control policies.

Western capitalist countries judge democracy simply by whether it has a parliamentary system and the so-called separation of powers system; such an approach that focuses on form rather than results can easily be proven wrong, said John Ross, former director of Economic and Business Policy for the Mayor of London.

Ross believes that in the discussion of democracy, the focus should be placed on the practical results, that is, the improvement of the quality of life of the people because democracy is about people living a happier and more dignified life.

By the end of 2020, more than 50 million Americans were food insecure, which was nearly 50 percent higher than that of 2019; according to the data of the Federal Reserve, as of the second quarter of 2021, the top 1 percent of Americans had about $43.27 trillion in wealth, 14.3 times that of the bottom 50 percent of Americans ($3.03 trillion); the U.S. accounts for only 4 percent of the worlds population, and yet 35 percent of firearm suicides worldwide.

Based on comprehensive data analysis, the report concluded that the U.S., despite its democratic shortcomings, is engaged in democratic diplomacy, dumping its claimed democratic model, irrespective of the needs of various countries, disregarding the society of each country, disdaining the principles of each country, and not supporting the goals of each country, which fully reflects the fallacy of the premise, framework, principle, and purpose of its democratic diplomacy.

Wang Wen, executive dean of the Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies, noted that more and more people in the world no longer approve of American democracy.

A survey conducted by the Pew Research Center shows that 57 percent of respondents from outside the U.S. said that the American democracy used to be a good example but has not been in recent years; and that another 23 percent said the U.S. had never been a good model of democracy in other countries.

American democracy has caused social disorder, deepened peoples suffering at home, created disasters and turmoil, and undermined international order abroad, over which the international community has expressed great concern.

The U.S. is a veritable refugee maker in the world today, making at least 37 million people destitute and homeless by the wars it has launched since the September 11 attacks, according to the report of Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies.

Democracy is a common value of all humanity. There is no universal democratic model in the world. Democracy is a rich and diversified path independently chosen by all countries, rather than a single routine forced to be imposed upon others, stresses the report.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
Feature: Growth opportunities in China-Europe freight train services

Xinhua) 12:50, December 09, 2021

WARSAW, Dec. 9 (Xinhua) -- Pawel Moskala, a Polish logistics veteran, has made multiple visits to the border city of Malaszewicze recently in preparation for opening a new office at the gateway to the European Union (EU).

Thanks to its location, Malaszewicze has grown into one of the most important railway transshipment port for trains from China entering into the EU. Eyeing the fast development brought by China-Europe freight train services, Moskala said he is determined to seize the growth opportunities.

"Nowadays, Malaszewicze is probably Poland's most well-known city to China and the Chinese, after the capital Warsaw, due to the rapid development of the CRE (China Railway Express)," Moskala said.

Moskala started his business as early as 2013, when the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) was proposed. "China's solid stance on the BRI has instilled in me a great deal of drive and confidence, leading me to feel that both the China-Europe logistical industry and our company's business have a bright future," he said.

The freight train has significantly reduced the time for goods to travel between China and Europe. It is more cost-effective than air transportation and faster than seaborne shipping. As a result, a growing number of enterprises are opting to ship their goods via rail.

Trade company XiangPeng was founded in 2009 in Poland, dealing in electronics import from China. "As of 2017, we began to use the CRE, and it is an excellent logistical solution," the company's general manager Zhao Dejin said.

Milk and other dairy products have become one of Poland's calling cards to Chinese consumers. Despite the pandemic, Polish dairy exports to China saw an increase in 2020 due to the stable freight train service.

"I'm happy to have a quick and reliable logistical solution like the CRE, which can expedite the delivery of Polish dairy products to China," said Agnieszka Maliszewska, director of the Polish Chamber of Milk, the country's largest dairy industry organization.

"Our firm started using the CRE last year," Szymon Makos, export manager of the District Dairy Cooperative in Lowicz said. "Each month, around 20 containers are delivered, and the percentage of freight train transportation is growing."

The EU statistics agency Eurostat said China last year overtook the United States as the EU's biggest trade partner, with bilateral trade totaling around 586 billion euros (665 billion U.S. dollars).

"The CRE is in high demand right now. Container orders are quite tough to come by. This is owing to the rapid expansion of China-EU trade, as well as China's strong exports," Moskala said.

"The CRE blue containers are becoming increasingly difficult to spot, and it is our job to make sure they continue to travel between China and Europe," Moskala continued.

Agrostop, a Polish firm based in Malaszewicze, has been offering container transportation, storage, and other services for 30 years.

"We have acquired expansion prospects and garnered quite a lot of profits in recent years owing to the rising number of CRE containers," Zdzislaw Androsiuk, the company's president said.

China-Europe freight train services are welcomed among the Polish milk manufacturers, and "I obviously recommend it," she said.

(Web editor: Shi Xi, Liang Jun)
Chinese embassy refutes groundless BBC report on Xinjiang

Xinhua) 13:21, December 09, 2021

LONDON, Dec. 9 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Embassy in Britain on Wednesday refuted unfounded BBC report related to China's Xinjiang, saying there is no so-called "forced labor" in the region, and the interviewee's allegation is a downright lie.

While responding to BBC's recent interview of a man who claimed was subjected to "forced labor" in Xinjiang, a spokesperson for the embassy said "lies, even if repeated a thousand times, are still lies."

"It is a latest example of the attempt out of ulterior political motives in recent years to deliberately slander China's policy on Xinjiang and wantonly interfere in China's internal affairs," the spokesperson said.

There is only voluntary employment and free choice in the labor market in Xinjiang, where lawful labor rights are well protected, the spokesperson said, adding that "the public opinion manipulation by certain anti-China elements to smear China, mislead the British public and disrupt China-Britain relations is doomed to failure."

Thanks to the Chinese government's unremitting efforts, Xinjiang now enjoys social stability, ethnic harmony and rapid economic growth, and will enjoy even greater development, the spokesperson said.

"We urge the relevant media to abide by the professional ethics, observe the principles of objectivity, impartiality, authenticity and accuracy, and do more meaningful things to promote communication, exchange and mutual understanding between the Chinese and British people," the spokesperson added.

(Web editor: Shi Xi, Liang Jun)
Chinese train maker rolls out panoramic train

Xinhua) 14:07, December 09, 2021

CHANGSHA, Dec. 9 (Xinhua) -- A train with panoramic view windows for mountain touring rolled off the production line Wednesday in CRRC Zhuzhou Locomotive Co. Ltd., central China's Hunan Province.

The train is to ply the railway linking the city of Lijiang with the scenic area of Yulong Snow Mountain in southwest China's Yunnan Province.

CRRC scientist Yang Ying said the rail transit vehicle meets the demand for green and low-carbon tourism development.

The cabin windows of the train are electrically adjusted according to the intensity of the sunlight. They are designed to offer passengers a field of view of 120 degrees to 150 degrees, as the train runs along the mountain slope.

Running at a maximum speed of 70 km per hour, the train has three compartments with a total passenger capacity of 351 people.

(Web editor: Shi Xi, Liang Jun)
China, Arab states to expand win-win BDS cooperation

Xinhua) 15:17, December 09, 2021

BEIJING, Dec. 9 (Xinhua) -- China and the Arab states will expand win-win cooperation in utilizing the China-developed BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS), according to the Third China-Arab States BDS Cooperation Forum.

China and the Arab states will jointly implement pilot projects in key domains in the application of BDS and GNSS (global navigation satellite system) over the 2022-2023 period, according to a cooperation action plan signed at the forum.

Both sides will facilitate the establishment of BDS/GNSS centers in the Arab states, hold training courses on satellite navigation technologies, and exchange visiting scholars. Each year, China will offer scholarships to three to five students majoring in navigation and communications from the Arab states, said the action plan.

China and the Arab states will also carry out joint BDS/GNSS tests and evaluations, and promote the application of BDS in international search and rescue, among other initiatives.

All the moves are expected to boost win-win cooperation and make BDS better serve the Arab states, said the action plan.

(Web editor: Shi Xi, Liang Jun)
Scholz takes reins from Merkel, ushers in new era for Germany

Xinhua) 15:27, December 09, 2021

German Chancellor Angela Merkel (R) talks with German Finance Minister Olaf Scholz before her speech in the Bundestag in Berlin, Germany, Aug. 25, 2021. (Xinhua/Shan Yuqi)

BERLIN, Dec. 9 (Xinhua) -- Olaf Scholz from Germany's Social Democratic Party (SPD) was sworn in Wednesday as the new Federal Chancellor, taking the baton from his predecessor Angela Merkel who bowed out from the political stage after a 16-year run.

Scholz, deputy chancellor and finance minister under former Chancellor Merkel, won 395 votes from the 736-seat Bundestag, the lower house of Parliament.

He will lead Germany's first three-party coalition composed of the SPD, the Greens, and the Free Democratic Party (FDP). His new cabinet of 16 ministers will helm a green transition, infrastructure upgrade and social welfare development amid a fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

As a new chapter in German politics unfolds, the world is watching how the 63-year-old new chancellor will live up to his commitments and what his new government means for Europe and the rest of the world.

AMBITIOUS PLANS

Scholz's new government has announced ambitious plans regarding Germany's domestic and international interests, but questions remain.

The 177-page coalition agreement signed on Tuesday places climate change as priority.

The deal pledges to phase out coal by 2030 instead of 2038, to cover 80 percent of power demand with renewables instead of the previous 65-percent target and to have at least 15 million electric vehicles on German roads by the decade's end.

As part of the agreement, the new government plans to increase the minimum wage from 9.6 euros (10.85 U.S. dollars) an hour to 12 euros (13.60 dollars) an hour, build 400,000 new housing units every year and restrict rent rises.

The new government will also focus on upgrading infrastructure, providing faster internet speeds, improving health services, and offering more training to the jobless.

One big question is how the new government will raise enough funds for all its plans without violating either its promise of no tax increases or the "debt brake" -- Germany's constitutional cap on new borrowing from 2023 onward.

Analysts here believe the state-owned development bank KfW will play the role of an innovation and investment agency, using its expanding balance sheets to leverage private investments in green energy and digitization.

SYMBOLS OF CONTINUITY

Germany's power transition is widely expected to be stable. The joint appearances of Merkel and Scholz at the Group of Twenty summit in Rome in October impressed the European media, which reported that it signaled a great deal of continuity.

Scholz once served as mayor of Hamburg and was vice chancellor for three years to Merkel, who wished him good luck at the handover ceremony on Wednesday.

As for foreign policy, Germany's new government will continue to strengthen the European Union (EU) on the global stage and will make sure that Germany is part of that process, Scholz said at a press conference on Tuesday.

"German foreign policy is a policy of continuity," he added.

Scholz's first trip outside Germany as chancellor will take him to France, just as Merkel did after her first election in 2005, and then to Brussels for meetings with top EU officials.

Observers say the smooth transition of power relies more on solidarity among the three coalition parties, which had different and sometimes opposing priorities before and during the election on issues like climate change, taxation, fiscal policy and the appointment of ministers in the new cabinet.

How to ensure unity within the new government, achieve its objectives and lead Germany in the post-Merkel era is likely to be a test of political wisdom for the new chancellor.

(Web editor: Shi Xi, Liang Jun)
"China Ambassador Awards" presented in South Africa

15:50, December 09, 2021 By Wang Lei ( People's Daily Online

JOHANNESBURG, Dec. 8 (Peoples Daily Online) -- On Dec. 7, 2021, an awards ceremony was held online that saw 39 South African teachers and kids presented with the "China Ambassador Award."

Chen Xiaodong, Chinese ambassador to South Africa, spoke highly of the relationship between the two countries. He said that through the joint efforts of China and South Africa, the cooperation in basic education between the two countries has made positive progress in teacher training, personnel exchange, Chinese language education and cooperation in school operations.

Chen expressed his warm congratulations to the 39 outstanding teachers and students of South Africa who won the "China Ambassador Award. He also encouraged them to make further efforts and progress, and strive to be friendly messengers to promote humanistic exchanges and friendship between China and South Africa, and become builders of the Sino-South African community of destiny in the new era.

Angie Motshekga, South Africa's Minister of Basic Education, stated that education cooperation between China and South Africa has grown in recent years, not only encouraging educational advancement in South Africa but also driving the growth of various economic and social spheres.

The "China Ambassador Award" is an important initiative from China that aims to support basic education and the cultivation of talents in basic disciplines in South Africa. We are deeply grateful and will continue to strengthen South Africa-China education and humanistic exchanges, Motshekga said.

The award-winning teacher Awonke Tshefu and student representative Nhlakanipho Nkosialso gave speeches, thanking China for its long-term support for education in South Africa. The award is a recognition of the outstanding teachers and students in South Africa, and will help poor students greatly and inspire more South Africans to change their fate through hard work in education, Nkosialso said.

The "China Ambassador Awards" were co-organized by the Chinese Embassy in South Africa and the Department of Basic Education of South Africa.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
Revival of the "white bear tribe"

Xinhua) 16:28, December 09, 2021

CHENGDU, Dec. 9 (Xinhua) -- Qiao Liang, Party chief of Guanba Village in southwest China's Sichuan Province, was thrilled that an infrared camera had once again captured the image of a "white bear," a name locals commonly use for pandas.

Pandas have long been a signature animal in the history of the village. As early as 1845, local documents had recorded the sighting of "white bears," subsequently earning the village the nickname "white bear tribe."

However, for a period stretching back decades, ecological balance and biodiversity in the area were severely endangered, due to rampant hunting and logging, the main sources of income for locals.

"At that time, every household had hunting guns," said villager Meng Ji. "With more villagers becoming hunters, the wildlife population decreased dramatically."

Another villager, Gao Mingbin, can still recall how locals recklessly reclaimed forests for farmland when he was a child.

"They virtually cut down whatever trees they saw," Gao said. "They burned the land out without fertilizing it and hastily planted crops such as corn, wheat and potatoes."

This style of farming caused the land to lose its fertility within three years, upsetting the local ecology.

As China gradually switched to a more sustainable way of development, villagers in Guanba also began to seek ways to develop the local economy without posing a threat to the environment.

With its minimal impact on the environment, beekeeping emerged as the primary industry of the village. The village launched a beekeeping cooperative in 2010 and had its honey certified organic.

"With the improved environment, more flowers blossomed. The honey produced per beehive increased from 4 kg to 10 kg," said beekeeper Li Xinghui. "Moreover, organic honey can sell for 10 to 15 yuan (about 1.57 to 2.36 U.S. dollars) more per kg than ordinary honey."

Many villagers benefited from the booming beekeeping industry, with 23 households alleviated from poverty and the annual income for some successful beekeepers topping 40,000 yuan.

Five years ago, Qiao led villagers in formulating a five-year plan for the village's green development, forbidding hunting, herb gathering and electric fishing, among other activities that threaten the ecology.

Villagers also identified nearly two dozen ecological threats to the environment that needed to be addressed and voluntarily formed a rangers' squad to protect the ecology.

Today, solar power provides over one-third of the village's energy, greatly reducing the use of firewood. Over 30 species of wild animals have been captured on camera in the area.

The success of the "white bear tribe" in balancing development and ecological conservation has also drawn international attention.

At a forum during the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15) in Kunming this year, Guanba Village was listed as an exemplary case for promoting biodiversity.

(Web editor: Shi Xi, Liang Jun)
China, U.S. should adopt "live and let live" approach in governance, says scholar

Xinhua) 16:29, December 09, 2021

SINGAPORE, Dec. 9 (Xinhua) -- China and the United States should adopt a "live and let live" approach in governance which would solve a major issue in bilateral relations, said a distinguished fellow at the Asia Research Institute of the National University of Singapore.

Kishore Mahbubani aired the view while virtually addressing A Dialogue on Democracy hosted by the China Public Diplomacy Association in Beijing on Dec. 2, local Chinese-language newspaper Lianhe Zaobao reported recently.

To ease contention between the United States and China, both sides should acknowledge that the American political system works very well for America, and the Chinese political system works very well for China, Mahbubani said.

"Just live and let live in the areas of governance, you can take away a major sore point in U.S.-China relations, and you can create a better and safer and less dangerous world," he said.

(Web editor: Shi Xi, Liang Jun)
Shares extended gains on Thursday, bolstered by a significant injection of cash flow into banking and securities stocks.

On the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange (HoSE), the market benchmark VN-Index gained 2.35 per cent to end at 1,446.77 points.

It had gained 1.04 per cent to end at 1,467.98 points yesterday.

The market's breadth was positive with 321 gainers and 130 losers.

As many as 631 million shares were traded on the southern bourse, worth nearly VN18 trillion (US$783.3 million).

On HoSE, foreign investors returned to net buy more than 7 million shares, with net buying value of VN349 billion.

The VN30-Index, tracking the 30 biggest stocks on HoSE, gained 0.89 per cent, to end at 1,529.61 points. Twenty-six out of 30 stocks in the VN30 basket posted gains, while three declined.

In the VN-30 group, gainers included Phu Nhuan Jewelry (PNJ), Vietinbank (CTG), PVPower (POW), Masan Group (MSN), Vietjet (VJC), FPT Corporation (FPT), HDBank (HDB), Vincom Retail (VRE) and Novaland (NVL).

The banking group outperformed and supported the gains of the market with notable gainers including Vietinbank (CTG), Tien Phong Bank (TPB), Vietcombank (VCB), Military Bank (MBB), Sacombank (STB), Eximbank (EIB) and Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam (BID).

Securities stocks outperformed as there were no losers in the sector. Petrovietnam Securities Incorporated (PSI), Guotai Junan Securities (Vietnam) Corp (IVS), Viet Nam Bank For Industry & Trade Securities JSC (CTS) and VIX Securities Joint Stock Company (VIX) all rose.

Other notable gainers included SSI Securities Inc (SSI), VNDirect Securities Co (VND), Viet Capital Inc (VCI) and Saigon-Hanoi Securities Co (SHS).

VN-Index needs to stay around 1,450 points for a little bit to accumulate strength to be able to start the journey to conquer the top of 1,500 again, said BIDV Securities CO.

As many as 21 out of 25 sector indices on the stock market posted gains, including IT, oil and gas, retail, logistics, banking, securities, insurance, wholesale and healthcare, rubber production and agriculture.

On the Ha Noi Stock Exchange (HNX), the HNX-Index rose 0.62 per cent, to 452.53 points.

During the session, investors poured over VN2.5 trillion into the market, equivalent to a trading volume of 88.3 million shares.  VNS
HEFEI, Dec. 8 (Xinhua) -- An about 2-meter-wide alley, or "Liu Chi Xiang" in Chinese, now attracts floods of visitors in east China's Anhui Province. It has a household's ancient story hidden behind it, which vividly explains the essence of tolerance and non-contention widely esteemed in China. During the reign of Emperor Kangxi in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), one of his ministers, Zhang Ying, received a letter from his family back in his hometown of Tongcheng City in Anhui one day. From the letter, Zhang learned that his family quarreled with their neighbor Wu, and Wu's family, over the two sides' house boundary. The local court struggled to reach a final verdict since both families enjoyed high prestige in Tongcheng. Zhang's family wrote the letter hoping that Zhang, a high-ranking official in the imperial palace, could force the Wu family to yield to their demands. However, Zhang wrote a poem back saying, "Writing a letter from home, miles away, just for a wall. All that fuss over one meter or two. Looking at the ten thousand mile-long Great Wall. Long gone is its builder Emperor Qinshihuang." His reply enlightened the family members as the wall was merely a temporary structure. It was the close relationship with their neighbors that mattered. They decided to move their wall about one meter back for their neighbor. In turn, the Wu family was deeply touched by their generosity and retreated another meter backward in building their wall. It created an about two-meter-wide narrow "alley" between the houses. More than 30 decades later in modern China, Tongcheng has become a national historical and cultural city, a statement released by the State Council said on Nov. 12. Among all the valuable historical sites in the city, the narrow alley is one of the most renowned attractions. It serves as enlightenment, inspiring people to observe public morals and cherish harmony, especially in disputes and conflicts. Many locals still live in tiny houses next to each other and share walls with their neighbors. Inevitable problems like noise and division of responsibility when it comes to a broken wall are commonplaces. Zhang Yun, Party secretary of Liuchixiang Community, also a descendant of Zhang Ying, has drawn on his ancestor's wisdom in mediating such daily disputes. "A good neighbor is better than a brother far away. I always cite the ancient story of my ancestor to persuade them to make compromises for each other," said Zhang Yun. In charge of a community with about 7,000 residents, Zhang Yun handles at least two disputes per month, including quarrels, family and marriage disputes, house demolitions, and the like. More than 2,400 disputes have been resolved across Tongcheng so far this year. About 98 percent are successfully handled thanks to the virtues of modesty and harmony embedded in the local culture. "It can be a waste of both time and energy if a minor case goes to court. Many disputes can be nipped in the bud if one takes a step back first," said Zhang. "I know it is hard to make a concession, especially when you feel that you are right. But if the right side can step back a little, the other side might return the favor one day in other forms," he added. Forbearance and harmony, long openly honored in the country, are evident in bilateral relations between countries as well. China has highlighted peace, harmony, and co-existence for more than 5,000 years. It has always been a builder of world peace, a contributor to global development, and a defender of the international order. Building a community with a shared future, first proposed by China, has become a banner, leading trends of the times and human progress. China has also broken new ground with its diplomatic endeavors amid profound global changes and turned crises into opportunities amid vicissitudes. Mutual respect, peaceful co-existence, and win-win cooperation are now considered vital principles in international relations in the new era. The narrow alley story has been frequently quoted by Chinese leaders when solving international disputes, said Ye Xin, curator of the city's museum. "We are repairing the old houses on both sides of the alley; not only for better preservation of the relics but also for the traditional Chinese culture behind the alley," Ye said.


The second Yangtze River Delta International Emergency Disaster Reduction & Rescue Expo will be held in Shanghai from May 12 to 14, 2022, the organizers said at a recent news briefing.

The event is part of the Yangtze River Delta regions efforts to strengthen cooperation in emergency management.

The venue of the expo in the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai) will cover an area of 100,000 square meters, up from 52,000 square meters, the exhibition area of this years expo.

Held in May, the inaugural Yangtze River Delta International Emergency Disaster Reduction & Rescue Expo attracted 435 companies as participants and more than 70,000 visitors.




BEIJING, Dec. 9  Ambassador Geng Shuang, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations (UN), sternly rebuked the erroneous remarks concerning the South China Sea made by Philippine representative at the 76th session of the UN General Assembly on Tuesday.

Addressing the UN session, Amb. Geng pointed out that the South China Sea arbitration case was unilaterally initiated by the Philippines, and the arbitration tribunal overstepped its jurisdiction and passed the ruling by flouting the law. He said the ruling is, therefore, null and void and has no binding force. "China does not accept either the ruling or any claims and actions based on it," Geng said.

Geng stated that China has sufficient historical and jurisprudential basis regarding its territorial sovereignty as well as maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea. China has always dedicated itself to properly managing differences and peacefully settling disputes with countries directly concerned through negotiation and consultation while doing its utmost to maintain the friendly relations with neighboring countries. "We hope the Philippine side does the same thing," Geng stressed.
By Guo Yuandan

A view of the Pentagon. Photo: VCG

The report on China's plan to establish its first permanent military base in the Atlantic Ocean is not true and is the latest move of the US to hype the China threat, Chinese military experts said in response to a Wall Street Journal report, which cited US officials as saying China intends to set up a military base in the African country of Equatorial Guinea.

The Wall Street Journal report, which was released on Sunday, claimed that US officials declined to describe in details of the "secret intelligence findings" but said "the reports raise the prospect that Chinese warships would be able to rearm and refit opposite the East Coast of the US," which is a threat that is setting off alarm bells in the White House and Pentagon.

It is not rare to see the US "disclose information" on China building an overseas military base and hype the "China threat." Previous reports, citing US intelligence, claimed that China was building or intended to build military bases in Sri Lanka, the border area of Afghanistan and Tajikistan, Argentina, and Abu Dhabi.

But the fact is China has only one overseas support base, which is in Djibouti and is also China's first overseas base. The base was built and put into operation in August, and in November 26, 2015, China's Ministry of National Defense had announced its negotiations with Djibouti on building a support facility. This means that if China is going to build its second overseas base, it will release information openly and in advance, analysts said.

An anonymous military expert told the Global Times that the Wall Street Journal article is not true. The US has frequently hyped information about China building overseas military bases to bloat the "China threat" theory, said the expert, noting that the US is encircling China on multiple fronts, be they politics, economy or military.

Even if China plans to build an overseas support base, it would not be comparable with the US, which owns nearly 800 military bases in more than 80 countries. It is normal for China to build a support base somewhere out of humanitarian rescue reasons, said the expert.

The Djibouti base has played a role in humanitarian rescue in places such as the Gulf of Aden and waters off Somalia, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

China has dispatched naval escort fleets to Gulf of Aden and waters off Somalia since December 2008, completing more than 1,500 escorting tasks, media reported.
A serviceman of the Ukrainian Armed Forces takes part in military drills at a training ground near the border with Crimea. /Press Service of General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine/Handout via Reuters

Russia will face "strategic and massive consequences" if it decides to attack Ukraine, warned the French foreign ministry on Wednesday.

"Strong messages were sent to Russia that a new attack on the territorial integrity of Ukraine would have strategic and massive consequences," the ministry said in a statement.

Germany's newly appointed chancellor, Olaf Scholz joined France in warning Moscow of potential "consequences" if Ukraine is threatened, saying the Nord Stream 2 could be used as leverage from his government.

In an interview with Die Welt TV, Scholz said his government will stand for "the inviolability of the borders to be respected."

The strong stance from France and Germany comes a day after U.S. president Joe Biden warned Russia's president Vladimir Putin that a Russian invasion of Ukraine would have heavy economic consequences for Moscow and force NATO troops to relocate at the Ukrainian border.

In a two-hour tense virtual summit, Biden and Putin discussed the current tensions in the Black Sea, caused by a massive build-up of 100,000 Russian troops.

U.S. President Joe Biden holds virtual talks with Russia's President Vladimir Putin amid Western fears that Moscow plans to attack Ukraine, during a secure video call from the Situation Room at the White House in Washington. /The White House/Handout via Reuters

Putin described the talks as constructive and said "Russia has a peaceful foreign policy, but has the right to defend its security," at a news conference with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Wednesday.

Putin went on to accuse NATO of threatening Russia's borders, and asked for guarantees that would prevent NATO from expanding its presence in countries like Ukraine.

On the other hand, Biden warned that Russia might not be able to conclude the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline linking the country to northern Europe, if Moscow decided to invade Ukraine, and that Putin will face sanctions "like none he's ever seen."

"We would probably be required to reinforce our presence in NATO countries to reassure particularly those in the eastern flank. In addition to that, I made it clear that we would provide a defensive capability to the Ukrainians as well," he said.

Meanwhile, The Russian Foreign Ministry released video footage of French military aircraft flying over the Black Sea and said it had deployed its own jets to intercept and "escort" the planes, according to a statement.

After telephone talks between Biden and his counterparts in France, Germany, Italy and the UK, there seems to be common ground among Western powers that a Russian offense on Ukraine wouldn't go unpunished.
By Fu Honghong and Zhao Ying

Recently, Germany participated in a JMSDF-led Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force exercise (ANNUALEX 2021). The German frigate FGS Bayern (F217) visited Japan again nearly 20 years later. In this regard, Japan has attached great importance, intending to woo more European countries for defense cooperation and seek to achieve the goal of being a political and military power.

Japan and Germany have accelerated their defense cooperation in the context of their respective "Indo-Pacific Concepts." In 2016, the Shinzo Abes administration took the lead in proposing Japan's "free and open Indo-Pacific" concept, aiming to shape the order of the Indo-Pacific region and improve Japan's international political and military status. Considering its own limited strength and the relative decline of the US power, Japan has attached great importance to wooing other countries to carry out defense cooperation to strut in borrowed plumes. Since German frigate Bayernhas departed from Germany in August, Japan has organized three joint naval drills with the frigate involved in the Arabian Sea, the Indian Ocean and waters off the Pacific coast south of Tokyo. As hyped up by the Japanese media, another European power has become its companion following the UK and France.

As for Germany, the cooperation with Japan can allow it to effectively intervene in the affairs of the Indo-Pacific region and enhance its influence therein. As the economic and political importance of the region keeps rising, the German government issued the Germany-Europe-Asia: Shaping the 21st Century Together, a policy guidelines on the Indo-Pacific region in September 2020, stating that the development of international order in the 21st century is up to the Indo-Pacific region. It also indicated that Germany has defined the Indo-Pacific region as a priority of its foreign policy. Therefore, Germany, which kept on reflecting on history and was more cautious about developing defense relations with Japan and sending troops overseas for decades after WWII, has also sent warship to conduct joint exercises with the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF).

Japan has continued to expand the scope of its defense cooperation partners, under the disguise of which it aims to turn into political and military power. However, compared to other countries like Britain and France, Germany is more rational and cautious, laying emphasis on maximizing its own interests in multi-party games, rather than tend to provoke troubles or be ready to be a tool. Although Japan and Germany are getting closer in the field of defense, it is difficult for the two parties to truly make concerted efforts considering the real needs of each party.
Only foreign visitors staying for more than 90 days will be able to get a driving license here in the future. The new policy aims to prevent foreigners, especially Chinese, from coming here on license tourism because the test is easier than in their home country.

The National Police Agency on Sunday said a revision of relevant laws is expected to be passed at the National Assembly.

Korea is a popular destination among Chinese who want to get a driving license. According to the NPA, a total of 5,997 foreigners who stayed here for less than 90 days obtained a driving license from January to November this year, 90.2 percent of them Chinese.
Following Britain's announcement that it will join the United States, Australia and others in a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympic Games in February, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Wednesday that Canada will join the boycott.

"We are extremely concerned about the repeated human rights violations by the Chinese government," Trudeau said. "That is why we are announcing today we will not be sending any diplomatic representation."

Earlier in the day, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced Britain's boycott. "There will be effectively a diplomatic boycott of the Winter Olympics in Beijing. No ministers are expected to attend, and no officials," the prime minister said in parliament. He added that athletes would still participate, as he did not believe "sporting boycotts are sensible."

Britain and Canada join the United States, New Zealand, Lithuania and Australia in deciding not to send diplomats and other government officials to the Beijing Games.


United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was exposed to the coronavirus Tuesday by a UN official who already had COVID-19 and is isolating for the next few days, diplomatic sources said.

Guterres, 72, has canceled his upcoming in-person engagements, sources told AFP.

The UN chief was to be the guest of honor of the UN Correspondents Association at its annual gala in New York City on Wednesday. On Thursday, he was to participate in a UN Security Council meeting on the challenges of terrorism and climate change, led by Niger President Mohamed Bazoum.


The samples were separated between those from six uninfected vaccinated people and six people who had been infected with COVID-19 before getting vaccinated. The researchers discovered that the samples from the second group produced stronger antibodies than those of the first group.

The results were found in laboratory tests conducted at the Africa Health Research Institute in Durban on blood samples of 12 people who had been fully vaccinated with the two-dose Pfizer vaccine. The researchers discovered a 41-fold decrease in the levels of neutralizing antibodies against omicron, a much more extensive decrease than other variants in similar experiments.

Scientists in South Africa say the new and rapidly spreading omicron variant of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 is partly able to evade antibodies produced by either a previous infection or vaccination.

Alex Sigal, the lead researcher, says the results show that vaccines and vaccine booster shots are still effective against omicron. The study, which was released online Tuesday, has not been published in a peer-reviewed scientific journal.

In a similar development, Pfizer and German-based BioNTech, the co-developer of its COVID-19 vaccine, said Wednesday that preliminary laboratory studies showed the two-dose vaccine was effective against the omicron variant after it was administered as a booster.

The companies said the samples of individuals who received the initial two-dose regimen showed a 25-fold decrease in antibodies against omicron compared to a so-called "wild-type" version of the coronavirus, while samples from people who received the booster shot showed the extra dose increased the antibodies by the same amount.

Pfizer and BioNTech are developing a new version of their COVID-19 vaccine specifically to combat the new omicron variant.

In other developments, British drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline says further studies of its experimental COVID-19 antibody treatment is effective against all 37 identified mutations of the omicron variant. Earlier studies showed that the drug, called sotrovimab, was effective against a key mutation in omicron's spike protein, the part of the virus that binds to cells in our bodies.

GSK is developing sotrovimab in collaboration with U.S.-based drugmaker Vir Biotechnology. The results of the study have not been peer-reviewed.
U.S. Republican members of the House of Representatives have come out to oppose President Moon Jae-in's quixotic plan to declare a formal end to the Korean War.

Thirty-five Republican congressmen expressed their opposition in a joint letter they sent on Tuesday to Secretary of State Tony Blinken, White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, and Sung Kim, the U.S. special representative for North Korea policy.

"We are gravely concerned that this declaration, instead of promoting peace, would seriously undermine and destabilize the security of the Korean Peninsula," they wrote.

"Opening the door for considering for the removal of U.S. troops from the Korean Peninsula before the North has fully denuclearized would have disastrous consequences for U.S. national security, erode our combined deterrence, and jeopardize the lives of tens of millions of Americans, Koreans, and Japanese," they added.

The North "has repeatedly violated binding agreements with South Korea, the U.S., and the United Nations, and continues to engage in illegal activity to skirt sanctions on its nuclear weapons program and egregious human rights abuses," they warned.

The South Korean Foreign Ministry was clearly embarrassed. In an urgent press briefing on Wednesday, a ministry spokesman told reporters that the declaration "has nothing to do with the presence of the U.S. Forces Korea and the status of the UN Command."

But he added, "It is against diplomatic protocol and etiquette and inappropriate for our government to make an official comment on activities in the parliament of a foreign country."

Congresswoman Young Kim, who led the signatories, tweeted, "I wrote to the Biden administration with 34 colleagues in opposition to a premature end-of-war declaration for the Korean War without [North Korean leader] Kim Jong-un's commitment to denuclearize & support human rights of the North Korean people."
Washington dignitaries gathered Thursday in the U.S. Capitol to pay tribute to Bob Dole, who died Sunday at 98 from lung cancer.

Dole, a Republican senator from Kansas for decades and a presidential candidate in 1996, will lie in state in the capitol dome until Friday. He is the 33rd person to be afforded the honor. "Robert Joseph Dole belongs here in this place, in this temple to liberty and temple to possibilities. Bob Dole loved this Capitol," President Joe Biden said during the ceremony.

Dole was severely wounded in World War II. His right hand was rendered useless by a battlefield injury under German gunfire in Italy. He spent years greeting voters and Washington officialdom with his left while he clutched a pen tucked in his right hand to discourage people from a normal handshake.


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The same predictions of doom and bloodshed keep coming from 'gun-control' activists. They warn us of pending disaster should Pennsylvania become the 22nd state to adopt so-called constitutional carry rules that would allow law-abiding adults who legally own a handgun to conceal-carry it without a permit. Thirty-four states, including Pennsylvania, already allow open carry without a permit.

With the U.S. Supreme Court set to decide how the Second Amendment applies to people's ability to defend themselves outside the home, the debate in states like Pennsylvania matter.

Constitutional carry laws are at the heart of New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen. During the oral arguments for the case, Chief Justice John Roberts expressed skepticism about the permit system. He noted to Brian Fletcher, the principal deputy solicitor general of the United States, that "when you're looking for a permit to speak on a street corner," you don't have to justify what you are going to say. "Why do you have to show in this case," Roberts asked, "that you're entitled to exercise your Second Amendment right?"

After Fletcher replied that asking people to prove a "demonstrated need" was consistent with the Second Amendment, Roberts responded: "I'm not sure that's right.... Regardless of what the [constitutional] right is, it would be surprising to have it depend upon a permit system."

We heard the dire predictions now being made about constitutional carry back when states first adopted right-to-carry laws, which now exist in 43 states. None of these warnings came true after other states adopted constitutional carry. Not a single one of them has seen the need to reverse its laws. None has even held a legislative hearing, let alone a vote, on undoing them. .....
Press Release

December 9, 2021 De Lima seeks probe into BuCor blockade, destruction of road and bridge at NBP Opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima called for a Senate investigation into the Bureau of Corrections' (BuCor) blockade and destruction of the road at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City to look if existing laws were violated in such action and ensure accountability for any abuse of authority. De Lima filed Proposed Senate Resolution No. 957 stressing the apparent disregard by BuCor of local ordinances and the rights of residents who have been shut off from the city and reneging on previous commitments made with local officials on prior notice and communication. "BuCor and its officials apparently acted beyond the scope of their authority when they pursued the construction of wall and eventual destruction of road and bridge without prior notice to the City Government and Barangay having jurisdiction over the disputed area," she said. "The Senate must look into whether existing laws have been violated in the construction of the said wall which did not only disregard the local government but as well as the rights of the residents who have been left traversing unsafe and unlighted pathways, and have been reduced to avail of transportation services at a hefty cost," she added. Last Nov. 26, BuCor erected a wall aimed at closing the Insular Prison Road in Muntinlupa City. The wall was made of hollow blocks which cut access to Department of Justice's (DOJ) Housing Projects Katarungan Villages 1 and 2 from the Muntinlupa City proper. Reportedly, the recent blockade earned the ire of residents in the area because it did not only catch them by surprise but the BuCor also violated certain ordinances issued by the local government of Muntinlupa, as well as reneged on previous commitments made after a similar incident in March of this year. Angered, residents then reportedly tore down the third wall that BuCor erected but the latter did not stand down. In an apparent retaliation, BuCor escalated matters and decided to put a blockade by bulldozing the concrete bridge that connects residents of Katarungan Village 1 and 2. Muntinlupa Mayor Jaime Fresnedi disclosed that the BuCor failed to secure permits and to coordinate with both the City Hall and Barangay Poblacion while DOJ Secretary Menardo Guevarra said the DOJ was not even advised of BuCor's plans to put up a wall. In spite of the recommendation from the DOJ to BuCor Chief Director-General Gerald Bantag to "stop any further action on the wall or bridge" until they have sat down to discuss the matter, BuCor said that it would stand firm with its decision "out of ensuring the safety and security of the prison facility." The lady Senator from Bicol stressed that it is imperative to determine whether the road closure order has been made in excess of the jurisdiction and mandate of the BuCor, resulting in an abuse of authority. "In insisting that the closure is necessary for security and safety, questions should be raised as to whether the BuCor is openly admitting that its monitoring and control over the NBP is so insufficient that it has necessitated the sealing off of residents within the villages concerned," she said. Ultimately, De Lima said the BuCor must "be able to prove through empirical evidence that the closure of the roads guarantee that the illegal activities inside the NBP will finally be eradicated."
Press Release

December 9, 2021 ANC Headstart Interview of Sen. Win Gatchalian with Karen Davila on face-to-face classes, teachers honorarium, NTF-ELCAC and elections ON FACE-TO-FACE CLASSES Q: Sir, this December over 2000 learners from 28 schools in the NCR already participated in the dry run of limited face to face classes. So far, what have you observed, Senator Sherwin? SEN. WIN: Karen, I took the opportunity to visit rural areas, in Zambales, Quezon and also here in the urban areas. Of course, the urban setting and the rural setting are worlds apart. In the rural areas, in my own analysis, we can really proceed with limited face to face classes as early as January and the reason for that is in our latest out there about 400 LGUs that have zero COVID. Meaning COVID cases are dropping and in some areas in some rural areas in our country are experiencing zero COVID. So in other words, they can really proceed with their limited face to face meaning at least 50% capacity. But in the urban areas is a different story. We still have to be cautious even though for example, like Valenzuela, it was quite an organized and successful comeback to limited face to face. But admittedly there are some LGU that are experiencing very crowded classrooms. For example, here in Metro Manila, for example, QC and in some parts of even Valenzuela, where we have 45 students per classroom, even 50 students per classroom. So even though you divide that into 50%, that's 25 students, so it's still quite congested. So we have to, in the urban areas, we have to do a case to case approach for limited face to face. Q: Very good. So you're saying it's not a one size fits all? I'll start first with the rural areas, LGUs with very low COVID or no COVID at all. Would you suggest three hours of let's say blended learning, limited face to face, because at this point, they go face to face only on certain days of the week. I think it's twice a week. Or three times a week. For rural areas with no COVID, what kind of face to face do you see working for those areas? So let's face it, naiwan din ang marami nating mga estduyante. SEN. WIN: Correct. In the rural areas, they definitely don't use online there, very limited, maybe less than 10% of the students there used online. Because some of them don't even have access to the internet because of the very limited access to the internet. In fact, the Barangay that I went to in Quezon, Quezon, there's sporadic internet connection. So it's impossible for them to have online learning. But the good thing about in their case is there's zero COVID, there's no COVID cases at all. In other words, they can go back to limited face to face meaning practice 50% capacity in the classroom and go longer than three hours because roughly speaking three hours you cannot learn so much. Because a typical session will be around six to seven hours. So as long as they practice 50% capacity they can go with longer hours. Q: So what recommendation would you give, let's say in rural areas, with no COVID muna or let's say, very minimal numbers of COVID would you suggest for example, kasi I think right now basic education, lower grades are at three hours, would you suggest it to be five hours or six? The fear kasi what if the kids start eating together pero walang COVID naman doon. SEN. WIN: At least five hours, and you know what I noticed also lately, the teachers are telling me, during pre-COVID time during class opening students will be very sociable, they'll be talking to each other. They'll be playing with each other. They'll be very gregarious. But this time they're quite reserved. And this is also quite an interesting phenomenon because we want our children to play with each other and socialize. But if they're wearing masks and shields and you know their distance from one another, we're actually complicating that social aspect of learning. And that needs to be looked at very closely because in an education setting we have to also make sure that they're developing socially or their social development is also being taught. So in other words, in the rural setting, we can go longer hours, provided we practice 50% and we allow a certain level of socialization among the kids because that's very important for their growth. Q: Lalo na kung walang COVID sa lugar na yun, walang COVID tapos walang COVID naman ang mga bata definitely, 50% na yun, ang tanong ng ilan, tapos open air naman sa area, kailangan pa bang mag-mask? SEN. WIN: Kailangan pang mag-mask, I think that's a minimum standard. The Shield should be studied carefully because I noticed also the kids are having a hard time talking, and we all experienced that. Imagine six hours of wearing mask and shield in a classroom which is not air-conditioned so there's also that aspect that we have to look at. But the pilot testing was successful, you know what adjustments we did also. In the beginning, the plastic barriers were mandated but a lot of the students also had problems because they're going to see their teachers and they are confined in a very limited space and it's very difficult for them to concentrate so the DOH and DepEd recommended removing that. So that's a very good improvement. So later on, maybe they can also study the shield if they can remove that. Q: What suggestion would you make for face to face classes in the cities. You just said syempre iba dito sa syudad. One public classroom 45 students if you do 50% that will be 25, madami pa rin. but then if you have so many classes, kakayanin pa ba ng teacher syempre mapapagod din ang teacher SEN. WIN: Karen, first things first. We have to make sure that the teachers are tested regularly. They get their PCR tests at least every two weeks, or at least once a month. This will help build confidence among the parents because the parents are actually quite scared in the urban setting, imagine Urban's quite congested. So first things first, we go with improving the confidence by testing the teachers regularly, of course that will be shouldered by the government and then second, we have to make sure also that the teenagers are vaccinated. Unfortunately, the teenage vaccination is quite low. We're now at 20%. And we're even in Valenzuela, we're experiencing a lot of hesitancy by what reason, we don't know exactly, but we are experiencing hesitancy among the teenagers. We have to continue to push the vaccination of our teenagers. Q: Now, just recently, earlier this year, you filed Senate Bill number 2355, that's the academic recovery and accessible elearning program or ARAL. This is to institute a nationwide learning recovery program. What do you intend to do? What's the goal of the bill? SEN. WIN: Karen, World Bank just reported that nine out of 10 ten year old cannot read. And that was exacerbated by the pandemic. Prior to that it was six and then now it's nine. And the learning loss also by ADB, meaning the amount of learning a student will learn in a specific grade was sliced into half. Meaning if you are Grade 12, you're only learning up to grade six. So meaning the pandemic has really exacerbated what we call learning loss. So, a lot of countries are now instituting what they call catch up or a catch up plan, meaning providing tutors, providing time for students to learn and to read to basically catch up. And ARAL means exactly a catch up bill which the government will provide tutors will provide materials, find those who are having problems reading because reading is a fundamental skill that all learners should learn. Q: But isn't this a bit too ambitious? I mean, as it is already, there is a struggle in terms of, you have teachers asking for bigger salaries. They're asking for Internet funding. They're asking for laptops etc. Saan kukunin ang pondo at kahit ang tao, kasi mahal ang tutor, Senator. SEN. WIN: That's a very good question. And that's precisely one of the core problems of this proposal. So we will now tap college education students. So if you are learning or enrolled in an education course and you want to be a teacher, we will tap you to provide tutoring, to those who need tutoring. And it's part of their practicum, or part of their OJT in our country. And we can also tap this in education, students because they also have to fulfill a certain amount of hours for their extracurricular activity. So instead of doing let's say other things, just go out and tutor students because these are just basic skills. And it will also help them in terms of getting more experience to become a teacher. Q: Okay, let's talk about the budget now just very briefly. Clearly there is more desire in terms of adding funding for the Department of Education. And you are proposing to realign part of the P15 billion allotted to flexible learning options to the senior high school voucher program. Why is that? You are moving, that's a big amount of money. P15 billion on flexible learning options tapos ililipat mo sa senior high school voucher. What is the reason for this? SEN. WIN: Before I answer that, the DepEd budget has grown from 2021 by 3%. So that's an additional of close to about P18 billion. So that's a piece of good news for the education sector, especially basic education, so we have more money by P18 billion. Now the logic why I was proposing to shift from flexible learning options to the senior high school voucher system is because number one, the flexible learning option is geared towards producing modules and I was arguing that second half of next year, we should go back to the normal face to face classes, meaning you don't need modules at all anymore, and because if you are providing for modules that means you're also saying that the whole year in 2022, we will still be under what we call distance learning. And I'm very optimistic that by the second half of next year, I hope, we will go back to the normal face to face. As far as senior high school vouchers are concerned, the government owes the private schools P35 billion, it's already compounding. And there are now approximately 600 private schools that closed. So in other words, we have to make sure that private schools are being paid for providing vouchers to our Senior High School. Q: Right now, P35 billion ang hindi bayad. SEN. WIN: In other words, ang utang ng gobyerno sa private schools is P35 billion. So what we don't want is for them to grow over time because it's growing before it was only less than P20 billion and now it's already 35. Because we're not allocating enough money to pay them. And that will accumulate then number two, private schools will now feel the pressure in terms of cash flows. So that's why that's the proposal to switch from a flexible voucher system. Q: Ang tanong ko itong voucher system for a high school student for example, itong senior high school voucher amounts to how much? SEN. WIN: Close to about P24 billion a year. Q: What is the budget per student? SEN. WIN: More or less they get about P7,000, the private schools, now what's happening here is the private schools are being paid close to approximately P10,000 on average, to take in a public school student so a public school can now study in a private school and government pays the private school. Q: P10,000 a month per student? SEN. WIN: Yes, more or less. Q: Do you believe you have two years into the pandemic? There are many families that have been affected. And they moved some of their children from private schools to public schools. Are you seeing a change for 2022? SEN. WIN: The good thing Karen is enrolled is now back to pre-pandemic level. So that's a good thing. And you're right, that most of the private school students, approximately close to a million actually went to our public schools. From a system point of view, it's good because everyone is in school, but of course, from a complimentary point of view, it's not good because the private schools are partners also. And they've been providing capacity over the years. So we have to look at that and also make sure that the private schools stay afloat even during the pandemic and one way of helping them is to make sure that the voucher system is being funded and paid on time. Q: In terms of the DepED budget, you talked about the increase already. But should there be realignments in terms of the priorities of the DepEd other than this school vouchers, high school voucher system should we be building more classrooms? Senator? SEN. WIN: In the long run, yes, that's why we funded what the DepEd calls the last mile schools because we have a lot of areas which do not have schools and this actually became haven for recruitment of let's say, terrorism or communist terrorist. And because the areas are not feeling government there. One way of government to be felt is to build schools. So that's why we funded close to P3 billion for the building of last mile schools. Q: And in terms of the absorptive capacity involving these schools, we do know that for the 2021 budget, am I right to say that over 50% has been spent only. That's really, number one alarming, pathetic, ridiculous in terms of giving government service. So your P5 trillion, we've only spent more than half. SEN. WIN: That's the point on the head. That's actually one of the criticisms against the department, the Department of Education. The building of classrooms is so slow, in fact, they are only building the budget for 2020. They're not even touching it. The 2021 or this year's budget. That's why the budget for classrooms was cut dramatically from P10 billion to P2 billion because they're not spending as quickly and that's why we're pushing them to fix the process of building classrooms. Money is not an issue. The legislators will support education by making sure that we have enough classrooms and enough materials, but the spending is actually the problem of DepEd and that has been a perennial problem, especially with building of classrooms. Q: I know that of course, the Senate and the lower house handled the budget, but not the implementation of how the budget is spent. And yet you do have oversight functions, or now it is spent right? How would you change how the DepEd specifically can build faster? What is the problem in terms of the process of closing the bidding, negotiating for the contractor? What's the issue? SEN. WIN: There's a very good program that the past administration actually implemented. I have to give credit where credit's due. I have to credit Brother Armin. He launched what they call a counterpart program in building of the classrooms. The problem of building classrooms right now is that everything is centralized to DPWH. So the budget is from DepEd and then DepEd gives it to DPWH and DPWH builds all the classrooms nationwide. And that is centralized. What Brother Armin did in the past is to give it to the local government units provided that the local government units come up with the 50% so hati tayo. I'll give you the 50% and you produce a 50% but you build the classroom. So in effect, he decentralized the building of classrooms. In fact, I experienced that when I was the Mayor in Valenzuela and it's faster because you have 1500 local government units, all at the same time building as goes to one DPWH building. I think we should repeat that program. It's a very good program and it can improve the phase of building classrooms. Q: And considering the DPWH is building so many roads, bridges, they have big ticket items to run. SEN. WIN: This type of decentralization is now being talked about in the mandanas ruling next year, the mandanas ruling will be implemented. And part of the devolution is to devolve the building of classrooms, but DepEd should still continue to support LGU because not all LGUs can build the necessary classroom. So the counterpart program of Bro. Armin is actually a good program in the sense that it decentralizes the building of classrooms and gives the absorptive capacity to the LGUs. Q: Okay, in terms of the 2022 budget, what is allotted for teachers? I'm curious, is there a budget, let's say for teachers to be given their own laptops, because what's ironic is two years into the pandemic, you have teachers coming from, well ACT Partylist said that public school teachers don't even if gadgets or laptops, two years into online classes? SEN. WIN: The future of learning in the Philippines will be blended learning. Meaning we will have both physical face to face classes and both internet based learning, this is the future of learning that we should look at. We cannot just go purely face to face, we cannot go purely on the internet. It has to be a combination. And the reason for that is the Philippines is a very vulnerable country. We have volcanic eruptions, we have typhoons, we have earthquakes. Now we are pandemics and we have to make sure that in any event learning will continue. And the only way to do that is to use the internet. Now to answer your question, yes, the budget provided close to about P20 billion for gadgets. And this is under their IT program. And this IT program, specifically will buy a lot of those gadgets to be given to our teachers. So we will now address the issue of the teachers but we should also address the issue of learners because our learners, some of them don't have access to the internet because of the cost and we have to look at that, that one is not in the budget yet. Q: How would you address internet costs? Because actually, buying prepaid internet is more expensive than actually having a monthly internet bill. SEN. WIN: We are actually, actually, I'm going to file a bill of subsidy for very poor students to have access to the internet. We noticed that the D and E segment of our public school have zero access to the internet at all. If they do, it's just very minimal. So we have to make sure that they have access to the Internet. The Internet now is becoming a basic necessity just like water and electricity and we're studying that possibility, of course that we'll need a lot of budget. So we're looking at some ways of raising funds to provide internet access to the poorest students in our public schools. ON INCREASE ON TEACHERS' HONORARIUM Q: Now this is already off your committee chairmanship, but since you have teachers and students under the constituency of your committee. Teachers are appealing and asking for higher honorarium, this coming elections. The Comelec has already increased honorarium by 2,000, but you do have the ACT partylist saying that it should be plus three. So that means 5,000 increase because they say it's technically not one day work but roughly at least well, not counting training, etc. But at least a solid two days and longer hours this election day. SEN. WIN: On top of that, they're being taxed by the BIR, so the BR withholds approximately, I think about 20% of their allowance. It's not tax free. Hindi pa siya net. Actually I filed a bill to make it tax free. Because it's not a core responsibility of our teachers. In fact nakikiusap lang tayo sa mga teachers to man the polling places. So first of all, I agree to increase it because it hasn't been increased for a long time. And then number two, let's make it tax free now because, number one, it's easier for BIR just to leave it alone. And then second, it sends a good message to our teachers that even though it's under their mandate to man the polling places, they're there to help to make sure that elections are orderly. And on top of that, Karen, I just want to emphasize our teacher salaries quite far off from the teaching report. We looked at the numbers and the entry level of a teacher one is approximately around 20,000, or more or less. In Singapore, it's about 65,000, three times as much as ours. So again, if we want to improve the quality of our teachers, we have to make sure that our teachers are highly motivated and we attract the best. So I'm also looking at the possibility of raising it. Not 65,000 but at least half of that in the next few years. Q: So first of all, I wanted to ask you, if you file the bill, to make it tax free, you would need both houses, and you'd need the president to also agree that it's tax free. SEN. WIN: Correct. In fact the house has already approved this. In fact, I was talking to Congresswoman France Castro. And the house has already to approve this and we're pushing very hard to get this approved so that by election time, we will remove the withholding tax from the allowances. Q: And where would you get the increase that they want from the Comelec? I think they calculated that it would be something like P2 billion or P3 billion for the increase in honorarium, where will you get that? SEN. WIN: First of all, in the whole scheme of things that so much so we will have to cut it from excess or departments who have not used their budget and lodge that under the Comelec so that the Comelec can provide for teacher allowances during election time. ON NTF-ELCAC Q: Maiba lang tayo sandali, in terms of the NTF ELCAC, we know that the Senate has given it P4 billion of what Senator Angara calls blind allocation. What do you believe should the NTF-ELCAC already be number one, should it be dissolved? Because they say other agencies are doing what the NTF-ELCAC is doing. Number two, that's only a task force, that's now asking for, I think, P28 billion in funding even bigger than some government agencies. What should we do with the NTF-ELCAC? SEN. WIN: I did my own research. In fact, I did my own consultation. I went around to talk to governors and even mayors, town mayors, mayors who are played with communist terrorist in their areas. It's different when you live with communist terrorist every single day. The fear is there. The real and present danger is there. And I talked to them and they all agree that the NTF-ELCAC Program, which is the anti communist terrorist program is effective. In a sense that it brings the project all the way down to the barangay level. It's not perfect by any means, but it's effective in the sense that barangays are now feeling government because they see water facilities, they see barangay halls, they see health centers. These are the things that they haven't seen for a long time and the government has not been reaching out to them. So in other words, my own position based on my research is the anti communist terrorist program of NTF-ELCAC is effective, but we should prevent people or NTF ELCAC personnel from using it to red tag and this is where the problem came in, because they were discriminately red tagging everyone, which is not correct. And this will destroy the good image of the program. So they have to correct that because it's really perception and they're battling perception in this case. Q: But then if the program is so good why is it that with 2600 or 800 Plus projects that were proposed, it was shocking to find out in the Senate hearing that only 26 projects of the NTF-ELCAC fell through so ang tanong where is the money? Kung 26 projects lang what did you do with the money? SEN. WIN: Two things that we need to fix. Number one, I do support removing what they call the soft programs, yung mga training, livelihood. It's very difficult to track that for example, if we give livelihood to 1,000 people, how do we make sure that there's 1000 people? But I support giving infrastructure to schools because you can see. It's tangible, and in my experience, tangible projects are more effective in terms of changing the perception of our constituents. So that's number one. Number two is, there's a big problem with absorptive capacity again, as you pointed out earlier, We're talking about projects to thousands of barangays and barangays are now implementing programs and the programs are quite large, P20 million, P25 million so they're having problems of building all of these programs at the same time. So I do support adjusting it to absorptive capacity because even though we raise it to P100 billion but if they cannot spend it it's futile. So I support adjusting it to make sure that we put funds for them to absorb and to build those projects. ON ELECTIONS Q: Quickly na lang before we go. I mean, we need another whole show for the Malampaya discussion. You've already been adopted. Of course you are running with Senator Ping and Senate President Tito Sotto's tandem, but Senator Manny Pacquiao recently adopted you into their slate. SEN. WIN: Like I have mentioned to you before, this is really a different political landscape. We're in, we have a lot of adoptions, we have a lot of common candidates. We also have slates that are more than 12 personalities, I think in our slate, we have 14 personalities. So in this particular case, it's quite different. I've never seen this before, but yes, I do confirm that I'm a guest candidate also in Pacquiao's slate. Q: And will you be speaking with Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte to be included in the Marcos-Duterte slate, because you were in talks with her remember when you said to run for VP. SEN. WIN: I don't wanna preempt Mayor Sara on this matter, I would wait for the announcement of the 13 just like the slate of Manny Pacquiao, I waited for their announcement just to not preempt their decision. Q: And how does President Duterte running for the Senate frankly change the landscape of the top 12? SEN. WIN: Well, dramatically, you know that he changed the landscape of the top 12, the whole Senate ranking dramatically. Definitely with his popularity, with his approval rating, his approval rating is still at the 70s level and that's good for a President in his last term. And definitely he will probably land in the top six in my forecast. Q: President Duterte you believe will run top six basta andun siya, not necessarily number one anymore. SEN. WIN: That really depends. We still have seven months to go. But landing in that top six is really a feat. So definitely, his supporters are intact. Just like I said, popularity and trust ratings are quite high, and he will definitely get in the top six. ON BOOSTER SHOTS Q: All right. On that note, Senator Sherwin, is there anything you want to say just very quickly? SEN. WIN: Just one Last thing, magpa-booster shot na tayo. Because I was looking at the data, in Valenzuela we prepared 8,000 capacity booster shots everyday but ang nakukuha namin 20 lang or 40 a day. So we saw some complacency happening again, among our constituents, and that's not good, because a lot of our constituents have already surpassed the six months deadline in their booster shot. So magpabooster shots na poa ng mga kababayan natin. Q: Tanong ko lang ano ang booster shot nyo sa Valenzuela? SEN. WIN: We have Pfizer here. And it's universal, but low turnout is actually quite worrisome because a lot of our constituents have taken their shot six months ago, so they're now nearing or surpassing that six months.
Press Release

December 9, 2021 On World Anti-Corruption Day, Gordon calls on Filipinos to speak up Senator Richard J. Gordon today called on the Filipino people to speak up against government corruption, especially during these challenging times when it is becoming increasingly rampant and more brazen in taking advantage of the pandemic. On occasion of World Anti-Corruption Day today, Gordon reminded the Filipino electorate make elected and appointed public officials accountable for their actions, notably on the use and disposal of the hard-earned taxpayers' money. "In this day and age when we have continued to struggle due to the ongoing pandemic, there are callous and unscrupulous individuals who are taking advantage of our situation by stealing from the nation's coffers," he said. "We need to speak up now and stop this glaring corruption. Nasa ating mga kamay ang kapangyarihan upang matigil ang katiwalian sa ating pamahalaan. Hindi matitigil ang katiwalian kung mayroong nagkukunsinti," he added. A staunch anti-corruption advocate, Gordon has helmed the powerful Committee on Accountability of Public Officers and Investigations (blue ribbon) since July 2016 when his investigations had led to filing of charges and convictions. Two former Immigration officials were sentenced to 40 years in prison after the Senate blue ribbon committee's investigation discovered they attempted to extort PhP50 million from a Chinese tycoon in the so-called "Pastillas Scam." It may be recalled that as a result of the Senate investigation, former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Oscal Albayalde resigned and 12 other cops were indicted for graft after their role in a Nov. 2013 anti-drug raid. It was also revealed that the cops underreported seized drugs and peddled some of the evidence through their network inside the national penitentiary, which also led to the filing of charges against officials of the Corrections bureau. A total of 21 officials from PhilHealth, the national health insurance agency, were slapped with violation of anti-graft and corruption laws after Gordon uncovered the scheme during the investigation of false claims by fake dialysis centers. At present, Gordon is currently leading the Senate inquiry on the alleged anomalous government deals it entered with favoured suppliers, notably the Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corporation, which has links to Mr. Duterte's friend and former economic adviser Michael Yang. "The Senate is no rubber stamp of the executive. We are judiciously exercising our constitutionally-mandated mandate to investigate misfeasance, malfeasance, and nonfeasance in government," he said. "This not a kangaroo court either. We look at the evidence presented to us based on its merit as the righteous way to ferret out the truth and continue our fight against corruption," he added. Gordon is also readying its committee report on the alleged nonfeasance in the implementation of the Motorcycle Crime Prevention Act by the Land Transportation Office (LTO). It was revealed that the LTO failed to implement the law, as five motorcycle dealers owned by a Mindanao-based family duped their customers by not issuing them their official registration papers. Gordon recently called on the Bureau of Internal Revenue to file charges against the five companies for cheating the government billions in pesos worth of taxes.
Press Release

December 9, 2021 Gordon condemns killing of Pampanga-based journalist Senator Richard J. Gordon today denounced the murder of veteran journalist Jesus "Jess" Malabanan who was shot dead by still unidentified assailants inside his family's small store in Calbayog City, Samar early evening of Dec. 8. Gordon, who chairs the Senate Justice and Human Rights Committee, said that the Malabanan's assassination casts another stain in the dirty record of the country in terms of journalists' safety. "We are saddened to learn about the assassination of Jess Malabanan last night. I strongly denounced another killing of a journalist. The culture of silencing journalists, who are purveyors of truth, must be stopped!" he said. According to news reports, Malabanan was watching television inside his sari-sari store at around 6 p.m. on Wednesday when a lone shot rang out. He was 58 years old. His wife did not see the gunman but saw her husband lay dead after being hit in the head. Serving as journalist for over 30 years, Malabanan was reportedly a major contributor to Reuters' reportage on the administration's all-out war on drugs. Their reporting earned a Pulitzer Prize, one of the highest honors in journalism. Gordon, a lawyer by profession, was disappointed with the unabated killings of newsmen, which had risen to 88 since the Committee to Protect Journalists started tallying deaths worldwide in 1992. "This is the 22nd killing of a journalist under the current regime. We call on the Philippine National Police to pour their efforts in solving this dastardly crime," he remarked. Malabanan is the fifth journalist to be killed in 2021, following radio commentators Orlando Dinoy (October 30, 2021 in Davao City) and Renante Cortes (July 22, 2021 in Cebu City), who was murdered by riding-in-tandem assassins. Other journalists killed this year alone were John Heredia (May 2, 2021 in Pilar, Capiz) and Yentez Quintoy (June 4, 2021 in General Santos), who were both killed by riding-in-tandem hit men, as well. The tally of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) range from 17-23 killings since Duterte rose into power in 2016. According to CPJ's 2021 Global Impunity Index, the Philippines remains to be the 7th deadliest country in the world for journalists in terms of unsolved killings. "Journalists should never fear for their lives for doing their jobs. A free and independent press is a key indicator of a vibrant democracy," Gordon pointed out.
Press Release

December 9, 2021 Peace Wins Over Terror! Lacson Welcomes SC Ruling on Anti-Terrorism Act More at: https://pinglacson.net/article/peace-wins-over-terror-lacson-welcomes-sc-ruling-on-anti-terrorism-act Peace wins over terror! On this note, Sen. Panfilo "Ping" M. Lacson welcomed Thursday the ruling of the Supreme Court on the petitions lodged against the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020. "Peace wins over terror. Yan ang maliwanag diyan (Peace wins over terror. That much is clear)," Lacson, who is running for President under Partido Reporma, said at the weekly LACSON-SOTTO "Meet the Press" forum. "Kami masaya bilang principal sponsor, masaya sa decision ng Korte Suprema. Principal author si Senate President Vicente 'Tito' Sotto III. Doon natin nakita ang collective wisdom ng magistrates (As the principal sponsor of the measure, I am happy with the decision of the Supreme Court. Senate President Vicente 'Tito' Sotto iII is the principal author of the measure. We have seen the collective wisdom of the magistrates)," he added. "Hail, hail the Supreme Court!" added Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III, who is running for Vice President under the Nationalist People's Coalition. Lacson noted the Supreme Court decision showed the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 is still constitutional overall. He added the Supreme Court's ruling striking down the provision that the Anti-Terrorism Council may adopt the request by other jurisdictions or supranational jurisdictions for designation means the Philippines is an independent country with its own processes. "Nakabuti rin yan kasi nakita ng Korte Suprema na independent country tayo, may sariling pananaw, dapat igalang ang sarili nating proseso (The ruling is beneficial because the Supreme Court affirmed our independence as a country, that we have our own processes)," he said. Lacson added that with the high court's ruling over at least 37 petitions lodged before it, the Philippines now has a chance to remove itself from the Global Terrorism Index. In past years, he lamented the Philippines was in the Top 10 of the Global Terrorism Index, along with countries like Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria. Meanwhile, Lacson said the high court's decision will also give the government the legal backbone to fight armed groups, including those involved in recent violence in Mindanao. This will go hand in hand with development and livelihood programs to deter the return of the armed groups once they are neutralized. "Isa sa top priorities namin ang peace and order issue di lang sa malalaking siyudad lalo na sa malalayo na di halos abot ng presence ng government (One of our top priorities is peace and order, not only for urban centers but also for remote areas where there is little government presence)," he said. "Babalik ako sa primary program sa budget reform kung saan dapat ibaba natin ang malaking portion ng national budget sa malalayong lugar para magkaroon ng development and livelihood programs. Of course strong presence ng security forces (I will go back to my primary program of budget reform where a bigger portion of our budget will go to the local governments for their development and livelihood programs)," he added.
Press Release

December 9, 2021 VILLAR CHAMPIONS DAIRY PRODUCTION THROUGH COOPERATIVES The Philippines produces less than one percent of its total annual dairy requirement and imports the balance. Local milk production is 26,000 MT in 2020 a little higher than 25 million in 2019 of which about 17,000 MT is cow's milk. The value of dairy production in 2019 amounted to P966 million. According to the National Dairy Authority, the average farm gate price of milk increased to P44.24/liter in 2020 from P42.06/liter in 2019. Annual per capita milk consumption in the Philippines is estimated at 22 kg, compared with Thailand at 26 kg, Malaysia at 52 kg, and the United States at 287 kg. With a growing population of roughly 107 million in 2020, the Philippines is a large and expanding market for milk and dairy products. A Filipino family now spends a little over P4, 000 per year on dairy products. In 2020, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) estimated the country's beginning inventory of dairy cattle (female dairy animals only) at 11,645, while there are 9,328 head of carabao and 8,851 of goats. Dairy cattle numbers increased slightly due to the importation of new dairy breeds and an increase in live births. Studies show that the utilization of the carabao's milk for household consumption appears to be feasible and promising. The country can achieve sustainable dairy production by encouraging farmers and their cooperatives to do dairy. They have to access the assistance given by Philippine dairy agencies - PCC and NDA. One major constraint to production is the availability of carabao herd. The country's dairy production is more community-based, thus the keeping the quality of fresh milk is a challenge due to the lack of processing and distribution systems and a dependable, continuous cold chain. In 2019, Senator Cynthia Villar identified 17 sites for dairy development nationwide with a P10M budget each or a total of P170M, to be implemented by the Philippine Carabao Center (PCC). The amount shall be disbursed as follows: - P3 Million for 50 heads of dairy carabaos, P2 Million for Processing Equipment,

P2 Million for Processing Building, P1 Million Veterinary Services,

P1 Million for Medicines/ Biologics, and

P1 Million for Miscellaneous to include 1 trike for milk pick- up. The partner-beneficiary receives the dairy animal from PCC and they are taught how to rear them, feed them and make them pregnant according to prescribed dairy husbandry management standards. The emphasis on carabao is based on climate suitability and the huge number of animals on the ground that may potentially be upgraded to a dairy buffalo breed. Under such partnerships, the cooperative or the local government as their counterpart provides land for a processing plant. At the onset before the delivery of the animals, a 10- day Farmer's Livestock Training on Dairy Buffalo Production is required to beneficiaries. The training emphasizes on livelihood, enterprise and income opportunities anchored on carabao-based products, forage management for milk includes institutional buyers and the final consumers in show windows such as dairy box outlets or coop bazaars. The five-milk producer-beneficiaries are still in the production stage where their produce is sold in the informal markets in their neighborhood. For 2020 allocation of P110M, as of November 16, 2021, 7 out of 11 sites have complete delivery to 230 individuals, and two (2) of the identified cooperative beneficiaries already have their products in the market. Senator Villar also asked the Philippine Coconut Authority to allocate P170 million for 17 coconut producing provinces in 2020. As of December 2021, out of the seventeen (17) identified beneficiaries 321 animals have been entrusted to eight (8) cooperatives, located in regions 6,7,8,9 and 12. As of today, there are a total of 513 individual beneficiaries in 24 locations nationwide provided with 1,226 milking carabaos, (excluding PCA) with the funding support from 2019-2020 by Senator Villar. Milk production should also go to school and community milk feeding programs. Senator Villar introduced the amendment in Republic Act 11037 or the Masustansyang Pagkain para sa Batang Pilipino Act, which requires the sourcing of fresh milk and fresh milk- based products from local dairy farmers and cooperatives. She likewise calls on the support of the National Dairy Authority, which shall be given additional budget under Republic Act No. 11524, or the Coconut Farmers and Industry Fund Act. Under Section 4 of the law, 10% of the trust fund shall be allocated for farm improvements through diversification and/or intercropping with livestock, dairy, poultry, coffee, and cacao production to be implemented by the NDA, DA-High Value Crops Program and the DA BAI-Native Animals Program to be shared equally. The law seeks to improve the lives of coconut farmers and maximize their farm yield. This can be a big help to the dairy sector. The plan shall set the direction to increase productivity and income of farmers, alleviate poverty as well as rehabilitate and modernize the sector within 50 years. The Bureau of Treasury shall initially place 10 billion to the trust fund and augment the amount in succeeding years or on the second year: 10 billion; Third year: 15 billion; Fourth year: 15 billion and Fifth year: 25 billion.
UAE and Abu Dhabi investment fund, Mubadala Investment Company has acquired 1.9 per cent of Sibur; Russias largest integrated petrochemicals company, Zawya reports.

The fund did not provide details on the operation, but the investment is the funds largest in Russia.

Founded in 1995, Sibur services more than 1,800 customers in 100 countries globally.

Mubadala and Sibur have had a long-standing partnership since 2015. Siburs track record of delivering complex large-scale projects and creating shareholder value is a testament to its first-class management team. Siburs merger with TAIF creates an even better-positioned player in the market that can capitalize on synergies and development opportunities, Faris Sohail Al Mazrui, Head of Mubadalas Russia and CIS Investment Program, said.

The acquisition terms according to the UAE fund were agreed prior to the recent merger with TAIF, which is bound to further enhance the companys position in the polyolefins and rubbers markets, contribute to the pipeline of growth capex projects and unlock additional operational synergies.

Mubadala manages a portfolio of assets valued at $243 billion. It has an office in Moscow run by a team of more than 22 specialists. The company says it has deployed more than $3 billion and built up a portfolio of about 50 investments in Russia in sectors such as infrastructure, real estate, commodities, banking, logistics and technology.
Turkey and Qatar have agreed to extend for three years a currency swap agreement between their central banks, Daily Sabah reports, citing a joint statement by the two countries.

Qatar and Turkey welcomed the signing of the agreement on the extension and amendment of the Turkish lira-Qatari riyal currency exchange arrangement between the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey (CBRT) and the Central Bank of Qatar, the statement, released by the Qatari foreign ministry, said.

CBRT per the agreement will receive $15 billion down from $10 billion agreed in May last year. Turkeys central bank last year received $10 billion from the currency swap agreement, the Turkish media notes.

The extension deal was signed on the sidelines of President Recep Tayyip Erdogans two-day visit to Qatar on Monday and Tuesday.

The two countries also signed 15 other agreements covering several areas including trade, investment, development to media and disaster management and pledged to explore more ways to boost economic ties and financial coordination.

Both countries are strategic partners. They have seen their relations scale up and further cemented since 2017 after Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain and Egypt imposed a sea/air/land blockade on Qatar over Dohas alleged support terrorism.
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Weekly News Digest December 9, 2021  In addition to this week's NewsBreaks article and the monthly NewsLink Spotlight, Information Today, Inc. (ITI) offers Weekly News Digests that feature recent product news and company announcements. Watch for additional coverage to appear in the next print issue of Information Today. For other up-to-the-minute news, check out ITIs Twitter account: @ITINewsBreaks.



CLICK HERE to view more Weekly News Digest items. New Zealand Researchers Study the Benefits of Children Engaging in Pleasure Reading Auckland University of Technologys (AUT) Ruth Boyask, Celeste Harrington, and John Milne write the following for The Conversation: Encouraging children to read for pleasurewhich is different from it being a school taskhas all kinds of benefits, as highlighted in the first comprehensive review of reading for pleasure in Aotearoa New Zealand. The review is one of three reports commissioned from AUT by the National Library as part of its Putoi Rito Communities of Readers initiative. The researchers looked at international and national research on reading for pleasure, finding very little on the topic in New Zealand. What research there has been has had little influence on policy. The reviews main conclusion is that reading for pleasure is a beneficial social activity where everyone has a role to play in distributing those benefits. Parents should feel reassured, however, that this doesnt mean they need to be teachers. Simply supporting their childrens enjoyment of reading is relatively easy to do and has been shown to be very good for childrens overall development and health. For more information, read the article.

Send correspondence concerning the Weekly News Digest to NewsBreaks Editor Brandi Scardilli
[December 09, 2021] Wolters Kluwer Executive to Speak at the Business Transformation & Operational Excellence Summit NEW YORK, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Ken Crutchfield, Vice President & General Manager of Legal Markets at Wolters Kluwer Legal & Regulatory U.S., will participate in the Business Transformation & Operational Excellence Summit (BTOES) on December 16 in a presentation titled, "Saying Yes to Transformation: Getting Beyond How It's Always Been Done." Providing his expertise and drawing from personal experiences, Crutchfield will explore best practices for business leaders to advocate for transformation within an organization. The presentation will provide insights into the importance of driving change for the growth of a business, obtaining buy-in at different levels of an organization, and strategies to drive transformation forward. "Just because something is done in a way it's always been done does not mean it's the best way  and after nearly two years of uncertainty during the pandemic, it's becoming more important for business leaders to take a fresh look at their organizations to ensure they can excel in a quickly evolving business environment," said Crutchfield. "During this session, I will share my perspective and experience with transformation and explore insights around making a business case for change." This year's BTOES event represents the shifting landscapeof Operational Excellence & End-to-End Business Transformation and is where industry leaders gather to create the future. The summit will take place in-person from December 13  16 in Orlando, Florida, and Crutchfield's presentation will take place at 3pm ET on December 16. To register for the event, visit: https://btoes.com/register. About Wolters Kluwer Legal & Regulatory U.S.

Wolters Kluwer (WKL) is a global leader in professional information, software solutions, and services for the healthcare; tax and accounting; governance, risk and compliance; and legal and regulatory sectors. We help our customers make critical decisions every day by providing expert solutions that combine deep domain knowledge with technology and services. Wolters Kluwer reported 2020 annual revenues of 4.6 billion. The group serves customers in over 180 countries, maintains operations in over 40 countries, and employs approximately 19,200 people worldwide. The company is headquartered in Alphen aan den Rijn, the Netherlands. Wolters Kluwer shares are listed on Euronext Amsterdam (WKL) and are included in the AEX and Euronext 100 indices. Wolters Kluwer has a sponsored Level 1 American Depositary Receipt (ADR) program. The ADRs are traded on the over-the-counter market in the U.S. (WTKWY). For more information about Wolters Kluwer Legal & Regulatory U.S., visit www.WoltersKluwerLR.com, follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter. MEDIA CONTACT:

Linda Gharib

Director, Brand & Communications

Wolters Kluwer Legal & Regulatory U.S.

Tel: +1 (646) 887-7962

Email: lrusmedia@wolterskluwer.com View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/wolters-kluwer-executive-to-speak-at-the-business-transformation--operational-excellence-summit-301441298.html SOURCE Wolters Kluwer Legal & Regulatory U.S.

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The anti-China, separatist organization World Uyghur Congress, manipulated and sponsored by anti-China forces in the US and the West, has rallied a handful of anti-China elements to set up the so-called Uyghur Tribunal. They hired liars to make false statements and falsify evidence, in an attempt to craft a political tool to disrupt Xinjiang and smear China. This so-called tribunal is completely void of any legal basis and has no credibility at all. The malicious intention of its previous anti-China activities have been laid bare by facts and deplored by perceptive people in the international community. The so-called final ruling by such a machine churning out lies is nothing but a political farce staged by a handful of contemptible individuals.

Lies remain lies, no matter how many times they are repeated. For all the directors and actors efforts in plotting and maneuvering, the farce has attracted a very small audience and received little echo. More and more people begin to know about China. Lies cannot cover up facts and truth, cheat the international community, still less stop the historical trend of stability, development and prosperity in Chinas Xinjiang. This farce is doomed to be rejected by all and end up in the dustbin in history.
The Moon Gallery Foundation is developing an art gallery to be sent to the Moon, contributing to the establishment of the first lunar outpost and permanent museum on Earth's only natural satellite.

The international initiative will see one hundred artworks from artists around the world integrated into a 10 cm x 10 cm x 1 cm grid tray, which will fly to the Moon by 2025. The Moon Gallery aims to expand humanity's cultural dialogue beyond Earth. The gallery will meet the cosmos for the first time in low Earth orbit in 2022 in a test flight.

The test flight is in collaboration with Nanoracks, a private in-space service provider. The gallery is set to fly to the International Space Station (ISS) aboard the NG-17 rocket as part of a Northrop Grumman Cygnus resupply mission in February of 2022. The art projects featured in the gallery will reach the final frontier of human habitat in space, and mark the historical meeting point of the Moon Gallery and the cosmos. Reaching low Earth orbit on the way to the Moon is a pivotal first step in extending our cultural dialogue to space.

On its return flight, the Moon Gallery will become a part of the NanoLab technical payload, a module for space research experiments. The character of the gallery will offer a diverse range of materials and behaviours for camera observations and performance tests with NanoLab.

In return, Moon Gallery artists will get a chance to learn about the performance of their artworks in space. The result of these observations will serve as a solid basis for the subsequent Moon Gallery missions and a source of a valuable learning experience for future space artists. The test flight to the ISS is a precursor mission, contributing to the understanding of future possibilities for art in space and strengthening collaboration between the art and space sectors.

STRUCTURE & REFLECTANCE CUBE

Our every perception, analysis, and thought reflect the influences from our surroundings and the Universe in a world of collaboration, communication and interaction, making it possible to explore the real, the imagined and the unknown. The 'Structure and Reflectance' cube, a marriage of Art and Technology, is one of the hundred artworks selected by the Moon Gallery, with a unifying message of an integrated world, making it a quintessential signature of humankind on the Moon.

Ms Lakshmi Mohanbabu, a Singaporean architect and designer, is the first and only local artist to have her artwork selected for the Moon Gallery. Coined the 'Structure and Reflectance' cube, Lakshmi's art is a marriage of Art and Technology and is one of the hundred artworks selected by the Moon Gallery. The cube signifies a unifying message of an integrated world, making it a quintessential signature of humankind on the Moon.

The early-stage prototyping and design iterations of the 'Structure and Reflectance' cube were performed with Additive Manufacturing, otherwise known as 3D printing, at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore's (NTU Singapore) Singapore Centre for 3D Printing (SC3DP). This was part of a collaborative project supported by the National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Cluster (NAMIC), a national programme office which accelerates the adoption and commercialisation of additive manufacturing technologies. Previously, the NTU Singapore team at SC3DP produced a few iterations of Moon-Cube using metal 3D printing in various materials such as Inconel and Stainless Steel to evaluate the best suited material.

The newest iteration of the cube comprises crystals--ingrained in the cube via additive manufacturing technology-- revealed to the naked eye by the microscopic differences in their surface roughness, which reflect light along different directions.

"Additive Manufacturing is suitable for enabling this level of control over the crystal structure of solids. More specifically, the work was created using 'laser powder bed fusion technology' a metal additive manufacturing process which allows us to control the surface roughness through varying the laser parameter," said Dr Matteo Seita, Nanyang Assistant Professor, NTU Singapore, is the Principal Investigator overseeing the project for the current cube design.

Dr Seita shared the meaning behind the materials used, "Like people, materials have a complex 'structure' resulting from their history--the sequence of processes that have shaped their constituent parts--which underpins their differences. Masked by an exterior facade, this structure often reveals little of the underlying quality in materials or people. The cube is a material representation of a human's complex structure embodied in a block of metal consisting of two crystals with distinct reflectivity and complementary shape."

Ms Lakshmi added, "The optical contrast on the cube surface from the crystals generates an intricate geometry which signifies the duality of man: the complexity of hidden thought and expressed emotion. This duality is reflected by the surface of the Moon where one side remains in plain sight, while the other has remained hidden to humankind for centuries; until space travel finally allowed humanity to gaze upon it. The bright portion of the visible side of the Moon is dependent on the Moon's position relative to the Earth and the Sun. Thus, what we see is a function of our viewpoint."

The hidden structure of materials, people, and the Moon are visualized as reflections of light through art and science in this cube. Expressed in the Structure & Reflectance cube is the concept of human's duality--represented by two crystals with different reflectance--which appears to the observer as a function of their perspective.

Dr Ho Chaw Sing, Co-Founder and Managing Director of NAMIC said, "Space is humanity's next frontier. Being the only Singaporean - among a selected few from the global community - Lakshmi's 3D printed cube presents a unique perspective through the fusion of art and technology. We are proud to have played a small role supporting her in this 'moon-shot' initiative."

Lakshmi views each artwork as a portrayal of humanity's quests to discover the secrets of the Universe and--fused into a single cube--embody the unity of humankind, which transcends our differences in culture, religion, and social status.

The first cube face, the Primary, is divided into two triangles and depicts the two faces of the Moon, one visible to us from the earth and the other hidden from our view.

The second cube face, the Windmill, has two spiralling windmill forms, one clockwise and the other counter-clockwise, representing our existence, energy, and time.

The third cube face, the Dromenon, is a labyrinth form of nested squares, which represents the layers that we--as space explorers--are unravelling to discover the enigma of the Universe.

The fourth cube face, the Nautilus, reflects the spiralling form of our DNA that makes each of us unique, a shape reflected in the form of our galaxy.

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If you ever wanted to be an astronomer, now is your chance.

A new citizen science project, led by researchers at the University of Minnesota with support from NASA, allows volunteers to play an important role in learning more about the Sun by using their personal computers.

Participants will help identify bursts of plasma coming off the Sun, called solar jets, in thousands of images captured over the last 11 years by NASA's Solar Dynamic Observatory.

The project, called Solar Jet Hunter, is the newest citizen science project under the Zooniverse platform originated at the University of Minnesota. Zooniverse is the world's largest and most popular people-powered online research platform with more than two million volunteers from around the world. These volunteers act as armchair scientists and archivists helping academic research teams with their projects from the comfort of their own homes.

In this project, citizen scientists will detect solar jets by looking at short movies made from a sequence of still images. They decide if a solar jet is visible in any of the movies and provide information about the jets by annotating the images where solar jets are found. By building a database of solar jets, the volunteers help narrow down the vast amount of data about the Sun to the most important information for further review by solar researchers.

"These solar jets are sort of like a million hydrogen bombs going off on the star that's actually not that far away from us, so it is important that we try to understand more about how that happens," said Lindsay Glesener, a University of Minnesota associate professor of physics and astronomy. "But with our small research team, it would probably take a decade or more to look through all these images ourselves so we're asking for help."

The team decided that the project would be perfect for the Zooniverse citizen science platform.

"Solar jets are very difficult to identify in any sort of automatic way," said Sophie Musset, a research fellow at the European Space Agency and former University of Minnesota postdoctoral researcher who is leading the Solar Jet Hunter project. "You can't just write a piece of code that will tell the computer to search and find all of the solar jets, but it's very easy to see with human eyes."

Musset and Glesener said the information they get from the citizen scientists will not only be used to study the Sun but will also help to write a computer algorithm that could speed future identification of solar jets by combining computer help with human expertise.

Glesener also said that the University of Minnesota was the perfect place for solar research and citizen science to come together.

"We have both the expertise in studying solar jets and the Zooniverse team here at the University of Minnesota," Glesener said. "You can't just throw some random images up on a website and expect that you're going to get the information from the citizen scientists that you need. It takes people who really know how to make it work."

Lucy Fortson, a fellow University of Minnesota physics and astronomy professor and one of the founders of the Zooniverse platform, is one of those experts.

"While Zooniverse has been involved in all kinds of citizens projects from the humanities to biology, this project brings us back to our astrophysics roots," Fortson said. "Our partnership with NASA and the Adler Planetarium has expanded our capacity to take on important projects like this one and increased the acceptance of citizen science as a valid research methodology within the scientific community. This is real proof that citizen science has come of age as a research tool."

In addition to Musset, Glesener, and Fortson, the Solar Jet Hunter international research team includes co-investigators Gregory Fleishman, a professor in the Center for Solar-Terrestrial Research at the New Jersey Institute of Technology; and Navdeep Panesar, a research scientist at Lockheed Martin Solar & Astrophysics Laboratory and Bay Area Environmental Research Institute. Other members of the team include Erik Ostlund, a Zooniverse web developer at the University of Minnesota; Suhail Alnahari, a data scientist in the University of Minnesota's School of Physics and Astronomy; University of Minnesota graduate students Yixian Zhang and Charlie Kapsiak; Mariana Jeunon, graduate student at Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.; and Paloma Jol, a master student at Leiden University in The Netherlands.

The Solar Jet Hunter citizen science project is funded by NASA under the Heliophysics Guest Investigators program, and has supported students under a U.S. National Science Foundation CAREER grant.

To join the project, go to the Solar Jet Hunter website.

In 2020, the University of Minnesota announced a partnership with NASA and Chicago's Adler Planetarium, along with its Zooniverse team, to leverage world-leading expertise across organizations to advance citizen science capabilities and achievements. As part of this new partnership agreement, NASA pledged two years of support for the Zooniverse team at the Adler Planetarium and the University of Minnesota. This funding contributes to Zooniverse's efforts to develop and maintain its cutting-edge research platform.

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Occupied Aaiun, Dec 08, 2021 (SPS) - The Sahrawi political prisoner, Mohamed Bashir Boutengiza, within the Gdeim Izik group, who is in the central prison of Kenitra, north of Rabat - the Moroccan capital, began today, Wednesday, a 48-hour hunger strike on Wednesday and Thursday, 08, 09 December 2021 in conjunction with the Commemoration of the seventy-third anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

According to the Association for the Protection of Sahrawi Prisoners in Moroccan Prisons, Mohamed Bashir Boutengiza, aims to denounce his detention conditions and to emphasize the need for the General Delegate of the Moroccan Prison Administration to respond to all the expressed demands, foremost of which is the right to deportation to a prison near his family. SPS

125/090/TRA
The Upstate New York Chapter of the United States Harness Writers Association has announced the horses of the meet for the 2021 racing season at Batavia Downs.

Pacer of the Meet: Art Scene (American Ideal-Lover Of Art)

Art Scene was a relatively new acquisition for trainer Maria Rice when he came to Batavia, after being claimed at Yonkers Raceway in mid-June for $25,000. But his new home track suited him just fine as he went on to have the winningest year of his career. While racing at Batavia, Art Scene won six Open paces and finished second twice out of his 13 starts in Genesee County and put $43,765 in the bank, making him the richest pacer on the grounds this year. He won his first start at the track and his last before shipping to Pompano for the winter and took his seasonal mark of 1:53.3 at Batavia in between.

Art Scene is owned by Vogel & Wags Nags, Team Rice Racing and Adelphi Bloodstock, and is trained by Maria Rice.

Trotter of the Meet: Barn Hall (Conway Hall-Exotic Form)

Its not too often a three-year-old trotter can come in and not only compete with, but beat older Open campaigners, but Barn Hall proved it can be done. After racing successfully on the New York Sire Stake Excel A circuit all summer, Barn Hall settled in at Batavia and became a powerful top class performer for the entire meet. He hit the board 12 out of 14 starts, winning four and earning $42,092, which was the most won by any trotter at the meet this year. Plus, he took his lifetime mark of 1:55 at Batavia after winning the Open Trot in October.

Barn Hall is owned by Steve and Nancy Pratt, Wanda Polisseni's Purple Haze Stable and the Out In The Country Stable, and is trained by Steve Pratt.

Mare of the Meet: Protect Blue Chip (American Ideal-Lucky Turn)

Protect Blue Chip surpassed all her previous career numbers this year and excelled in her 11 starts at Batavia Downs. She hit the board eight times, winning four Opens while finishing second and third twice each which netted her $35,142 in purses. Her best win time of 2021 was 1:54 taken at the Downs in September and it was also her fastest career win over any half-mile track. Plus, this was the third consecutive year she took her seasonal mark at Batavia Downs.

Protect Blue Chip is owned by Vogel & Wags Nags, Team Rice Racing and Adelphi Bloodstock, and is trained by Maria Rice.

Claimer of the Meet: Raksmach N (Mach Three-Raksplace)

Raksmach N also had the best year of his career in North America since landing here from New Zealand in 2018 and the bulk of his success came at Batavia Downs. During the meet, he had six wins in only nine starts and earned $29,150 in purses. But he also paced the fastest mile of his life over a half-mile track on September 18 at the Downs when he scorched the oval in 1:52.3, winning by 5-1/4 lengths for driver Jim Morrill Jr. Five of Raksmach Ns six wins came in claiming races of $15,000 or higher.

Raksmach N is owned by Jeffrey Savidge and trainer Jennifer Giuliani.

The connections of these horses will be presented with their trophies in the Purple Haze Winners Circle at Batavia Downs on Saturday (Dec. 11) during UNY-USHWAs Night of Distinction. Saturday is the final night of the meet and post time is at 5 p.m.

(Upstate New York USHWA)
Best Dream Seeker became the only 15-year-old winner in Canada this year when he prevailed by a nose in a third race photo finish at Fraser Downs on Wednesday evening (Dec. 8).

Trained and owned by John Chappell of Surrey, B.C. with son Blaine Chappell aboard, the veteran gelding led at every call in the $4,500 claiming pace and held off the favoured six-year-old, Mr Glender, at the wire in 1:58.2 for the 8-1 upset, returning $19 to win. Jackets N Jeans finished one length behind in third.

Best Dream Seeker earned his 46th career win and is now just shy of the half-million earnings mark, with $499,880 banked lifetime.

A Grand Circuit stakes winner in his first year of racing at age two, the Cambest-Dream Seeker gelding took his mark of 1:51.4 in the Bluegrass at The Red Mile under the tutelage of Duane Marfisi. He has gone on to record a total of 46 wins, 65 seconds and 72 thirds from 466 starts while racing across North America for numerous stables.

Following a nine-win campaign stateside last year, Best Dream Seeker joined the Chappell stable in March and has recorded one win, a pair of second-place finishes and two thirds in 2021. He is the only 15-year-old currently racing in Canada.

In most Canadian racing jurisdictions, Standardbreds face mandatory retirement at the conclusion of their 14-year-old year, but there are some exceptions subject to provincial regulations.

To view Wednesday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Wednesday Results - Fraser Downs.
On Wednesday (Dec. 8), officials with Flamboro Downs issued a letter to horsepeople advising participants of its mandatory vaccination policy that is set to take effect.

The letter is as follows:

Dear Flamboro Downs Horse People,

The provincial governments in the jurisdictions that the Company operates its commercial business interests in, have recently issued Public Health Orders for proof of Full Vaccination, by means of a member of the public providing government approved proof of vaccination, supported by a secondary means of personal identification, to gain entry to the Companys places of business.

These government public health directives in each of the Companys operating jurisdictions broadly apply to guests attending gatherings at large public facilities, which includes the gaming and racing sector and therefore all the Companys sites and facilities.

In keeping with the Companys ongoing commitment to the safety of our employees, horse people and guests, the Company has now formally adopted a Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccination Policy (the Policy), applicable to Company team members, third party contractors and visitors, coming into effect on December 10, 2021,

The Policy has been added as part of the Companys Corporate Ethics and Conduct Manual (CECM) and Access Agreement, which as a horse person (e.g., Owner, trainer, breeder, supplier, driver, jockey etc.), you would have already received at or prior to the onset of the pandemic, and subsequently reviewed and attested to for Company compliance purposes. The revised CECM (under section 7 (j)) and Access Agreement, including the applicable Policy statement has been included for your reference purposes.

As a result of implementing the Policy, when you or one of your employees visits a Company Racetrack or Gaming premises, you or they will be required to show a proof of vaccination via the applicable jurisdictions Vaccine Card and a valid piece of personal photo identification, when reporting to Company Security as a condition of entry.

To ensure that the proof of vaccination status verification process go as smoothly as possible for both your employee and our security team at the racetrack site and stable area security entrance, we would ask that you provide the Company with a list of your employees that have provided proof of full vaccination, partial vaccination, or unvaccinated status to you as their employer and can also attest that they will have achieved full vaccination status, not later than December 9, 2021. For certainty, this list is only requested to be furnished to the Company, if your employees would be deemed to be frequent visitors to our Company facilities in the dispensation of their duties and responsibilities within the Racetrack site, including the grandstand, track surface and stable areas.

The Company had requested previously to receive this vaccination status list, e-mailed to [email protected], no later than November 15, 2021, in order to have those lists available at the racetrack site security entry checkpoint, as on that date, the current vaccination status of the vendor, service provider, visitor or horse person will have been requested by Company Security to be disclosed at that time, as an early alert for that horse person to the upcoming mandatory proof of vaccination date of December 10, in order to be in full compliance for entry purposes noted above. Based on the broader vaccination declaration status noted above, please send a revised list to the above noted e-mail address by not later than December 9.

By way of an update, and given that the horse people are present at the Racetrack site on an extremely frequent basis during the racing and training season, the Company will require horse people who are unvaccinated against COVID-19, partially vaccinated awaiting a second dose appointment, and those with an approved medical exemption in written form from a physician or qualified medical professional, and those with an approved religious exemption in written form from a certified faith leader, to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 rapid test twice a week (spaced a minimum of 72 hours apart) on an ongoing basis, as a continued condition of entry at the racetrack site and stable area security entrance.

Horse people are required to obtain their rapid testing and results externally at a provincially accredited testing facility. Any horse people that test positive as a result of the weekly rapid testing must follow all guidance from Public Health and the third-party test provider. The horse person will also need to notify their trainer, owner or employer and Racetrack site security, until they are advised by Public Health or their personal physician that they can resume their work activities related to the Racetrack site.

To ensure the privacy of a horse persons personal information, the Company only requires the name of your frequent employees and their current vaccination status as a precursor to facilitating a smooth and efficient entry process. When checking your employees proof of vaccination credentials or evidence of a weekly negative rapid test result at the point of entry, whether it be the stable gate or the grandstand entrance, no personal information will be retained at that time as a condition of entry.

Horse persons employees that cannot produce valid proof of vaccination or weekly negative rapid testing results at the Companys racetrack site security entrance, as of December 10, will be denied entry.

Any horse person that wishes to enter the grandstand facility will be required to follow the normal health and safety related entry policies and procedures that apply to guests at all the Companys sites and facilities.

Please note that if one of your employees is simply making a delivery and are at a dock or drop-off location outside of the licensed stable area or the security perimeter of the facility for less than thirty (30) minutes, and all other previously communicated and attested to the Companys Health & Safety procedures outlined in Section 7 of the CECM and the Access Agreement are being adhered to by the employee, then that employee would be considered exempt from the Policy that governs entry to our site, backstretch or grandstand.

If you have any questions, please contact Chad Gates at [email protected].

(Flamboro)
Robert (Bob) Arel, the influential and avidly-read harness racing columnist for daily newspaper Le Journal de Montreal for three decades, passed in a hospital in Granby, Quebec, this week after a long illness. He was 87.

Arel covered horse racing at Blue Bonnets until his retirement, which preceded the track's 2009 demise by a few years. He was also a television analyst for the Montreal races and, at one point, even served as backup race announcer.

"Without doubt, he left his mark on the history of Blue Bonnets," longtime colleague Andre Rousseau commented on his website, noting that Arel also had been one of the pioneers of the newspaper's union.

Arel is survived by his wife, Claudette; children Alain, Gilbert and Josee, and their spouses and children; as well as a sister, Louise Lefebvre.

Visitation will be Sunday, Dec. 19, from 1:30 to 3:45 p.m. at Complexe Funeraire Girardot & Menard, 470 Dufferin, Granby, with a brief tribute to follow at 4 p.m.

Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the friends and family of Robert Arel.

(A Trot Insider Exclusive by Paul Delean)
Are Decorations of the Nativity Scene, Baby Jesus and the Holy Family Being Banned from Being Displayed on the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree?

NEWS PROVIDED BY

Christian Defense Coalition

Dec. 9, 2021



WASHINGTON, Dec. 9, 2021 /Standard Newswire/ -- On their website, the USDA/Forest Service lists these prohibitions on what cannot be included for ornaments on the 2021 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree:

Decorations cannot include logos, political or religious affiliation or symbols, drug or alcohol references, be divisive or offensive.

So the official government guidelines say, "religious symbols" are prohibited from being decorations on the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree.



Here is a link to the USDA/Forest Service website address:

https://www.fs.usda.gov/detailfull/r5/home/?cid=FSEPRD907029&width=full



In an email to the Architect of the Capitol and the Capitol Police Board, the Christian Defense Coalitions asks if that prohibition on religious symbols includes, Nativity Displays, Baby Jesus or the Holy Family.



The group also asks are there any ornaments on the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree which display or celebrate the birth of Christ.



The complete email is included below.



Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney, Director of the Washington, D.C. based Christian Defense Coalition, comments;

"The 'People's House,' as the US Capitol Building is so rightly called, must be a place where all Americans should be afforded the right to come and peacefully celebrate and express their First Amendment Rights.



"That is why it was so troubling when I read the official guidelines for ornaments on the 2021 U.S. Capitol Christmas included these words; Decorations cannot include religious symbols.'



"Since the definition of Christmas is, "the annual festival celebrating Christ's birth," it would be deeply concerning if ornaments celebrating His birth were prohibited and censored from being on the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree by the order of a government agency."

For more information or interview

Please contact: Rev. Patrick Mahoney at 540.538.4741



Here is the full text of the email send to the Architect of the Capitol and the Capitol Police Board:

Warm Greetings;



I hope this correspondence finds all well. As you know, for the past 30 years I have worked tirelessly to ensure free speech and religious freedom is embraced and protected on the grounds of the United States Capitol.



The "People's House," as the US Capitol Building is so rightly called, must be a place where all Americans should be afforded the right to come and peacefully celebrate and express their First Amendment Rights.



That is why it was so troubling when I read the official guidelines for ornaments on the 2021 U.S. Capitol Christmas included these words; "Decorations cannot include logos, political or religious affiliation or symbols."



While celebrating this year's Capitol Christmas theme, "Six Rivers, Many Peoples, One Tree," do the guidelines prohibiting any display of "religious symbols" include things such as ornaments of the Nativity Scene, the Holy Family or Baby Jesus?



Said another way, do the official 2021 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree ornament guidelines prohibit any displays of the birth of Christ?



A companion question would be, are there ANY ornaments on the Capitol Tree which display and celebrate the birth of Christ?



Since the definition of Christmas is, "the annual festival celebrating Christ's birth," it would be deeply concerning if ornaments celebrating His birth were prohibited and censored from being on the Capitol Christmas Tree by the order of a government agency.



I thank you in advance for a speedy reply.



Sincerely;



Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney

Director of the Christian Defense Coalition/Washington, D.C.

SOURCE Christian Defense Coalition



CONTACT: Rev. Patrick Mahoney, 540-538-4741


Capitol Punishment - The Movie that Reveals to the World the True Story of January 6, 2021

NEWS PROVIDED BYLaura Orrico Public Relations, LLCDec. 9, 2021LOS ANGELES, Dec. 9, 2021 / Standard Newswire / -- The film Capitol Punishment is told through the eyes of the people who were there on the ground, in our Nation's Capital, and shares with the world the true story of January 6, 2021. Everything that we are being told by the media is a lie and Americans are being persecuted to support that lie. January 6th was years in the making and the threat to the survival of America as we know it has never been greater.Award winning actor Nick Searcy has teamed up with award-winning and inspiring filmmaker Chris Burgard to reveal the actual events on January 6, 2021 via a riveting documentary.The film premiered on Thanksgiving Day. To view the trailer and purchase the film visit: capitolpunishmentthemovie.com Award winning and veteran actor Nick Searcy is known for his role in Best Picture winner The Shape of Water, the multiple Oscar-winning film Three Billboards Outside of Ebbing, Missouri, Oscar-nominated Moneyball, Cast Away, Fried Green Tomatoes, Runaway Jury, Nell, The Fugitive, and his co-starring role on the hit television FX series Justified. Searcy has also had a variety of exciting roles in various networks such as UPN's 7 Days, CBS's American Gothic, HBO's From The Earth To The Moon, ABC's Rodney, and CW's Easy Money. An accomplished director, Searcy's film, GOSNELL, was released in theatres nationwide.Chris Burgard is an award-winning filmmaker, with projects such as The Ruining, Border, Honduras On The Brink, and popular videos that received 1/3 of a billion views. Burgard hails as one of the most dangerous media guys on the planet. In 2020, Burgard was honored to team up with Hollywood Legend, Nick Searcy, to direct the seminole film, America! America! God Shed His Grace On Thee.Searcy and Burgard's new film, Capitol Punishment, stands as testament to a day of infamy in American history, Jan. 6, 2021. Told through the eyes of the people who were there on the ground, Capitol Punishment shows the world the true story of January 6, 2021. Everything that we are being told is a lie and Americans are being persecuted to support that lie. January 6 was years in the making and the threat to the survival of America as we know it, has never been greater.Film Website: capitolpunishmentthemovie.com Follow Nick on: Twitter: @yesnicksearcyFacebook: www.facebook.com/nick.searcy.9 Trailer: capitolpunishmentthemovie.com Kinnison family: https://youtu.be/B6dusvnhYWo Simone Gold: https://youtu.be/ONhMUbOf-Kgh Martinez family: https://youtu.be/KYROLJOo0Aw For interviews with Nick Searcy and/or Chris Burgard, or for other media inquiries, contact Laura Orrico, President of Laura Orrico Public Relations, LLC at lauraorrico@gmail.com 872-216-3781.SOURCE Laura Orrico Public Relations, LLCCONTACT: Laura Orrico, 872-216-3781, lauraorrico@gmail.com
By Trend

Azerbaijan intends to resume the process of using the budgetary rule, which was suspended in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Azerbaijani Finance Minister Samir Sharifov said while discussing the proposed changes to the laws "On the budget system" and "On state debt" at the meeting of the Azerbaijani Parliamentary Committee on Economic Policy, Industries and Enterprising, Trend reports on Dec. 8.

A new version of the budget rule has been proposed, the minister said.

The minister stressed that the concepts contained in the law "On the budgetary system", as well as a number of issues raised by the MPs, including the Chamber of Accounts, were reconsidered. The document was clarified.

Sharifov added that according to the amendments to the law "On the budgetary system", amendments are proposed to the law "On the state debt".

It mainly reflects the issues related to public debts and the guarantee fund for securing obligations, the minister said.
By Trend

Azerbaijan and Iran have held discussions on bilateral relations, as well as development of cooperation in energy, especially in the oil and gas sector, Trend reports citing Shana News Agency.

On December 8, 2021, a meeting was held between Iranian Oil Minister Javad Owji and a delegation led by CEO of the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR) Rovnag Abdullayev in Tehran.

During the meeting, the sides discussed bilateral relations, development of cooperation in the gas field. Also, discussions on strengthening of energy cooperation in the Caspian Sea were held.

Among the important topic of discussions was the tripartite contract on gas swap between Iran, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan, and the preparations for its implementation.

Irans north and north-east provinces are located at the end of Iran's gas network, where gas pressure drops down, thus increasing consumption there during cold months. The contract between Turkmenistan, Iran and Azerbaijan can prevent a drop in gas pressure these regions of Iran. Due to low gas pressure, the mentioned alternative way is the best option for Iran to supply gas to the mentioned regions.

On November 28, 2021, a tripartite contract on the swapping of 1.5-2 billion cubic meters of Turkmen gas to Azerbaijan through Iran per year was signed between Iran and Azerbaijan in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, on the sidelines of the 15th Summit of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO). According to the contract, daily 5-6 million cubic meters of gas will be swapped.
By Trend

The target of external cyber-attacks during the 44-day second Karabakh war [from late Sept. to early Nov. 2020], was mainly focused on the Central Bank of Azerbaijan (CBA), the head of the State Service for Special Communications and Information Security, the Center for Combating Computer Incidents (CERT) of Azerbaijan Tural Mammadov said at the 5th International Banking Forum in Baku, Trend reports.

According to Mammadov, cyberattacks were also carried out on the banking structures of Azerbaijan.

"All these cyber threats were successfully eliminated, and no failures occurred in the systems of the CBA and Azerbaijani banks. In addition, DDoS (distributed denial-of-service) attacks were carried out against us. They were blocked by us. A system has been activated to prevent this type of cyberattack," he said.

Also, Mammadov said that Armenian cybercriminals carried out phishing attacks. Thus, letters were sent on behalf of the management of banks and the Association of Banks of Azerbaijan.

"Our service monitored all these offenses, and information about them was transmitted to special departments. Also, fake information was spread about the alleged hacking and obtaining data from Azerbaijani banks and government agencies, which we denied," Mammadov said.
By Azernews





By Laman Ismayilova

Azerbaijan has been successfully represented at the International Food Festival Cuisine Du Monde in Paris.

The event was organized by the Association of Friends of Azerbaijan in France to strengthen ties between the two countries, Report.az informed.

The Azerbaijani stand was visited by a large number of French and foreign guests, as well as officials of the Paris Mayor's Office and famous French chefs, including the chef of the Elysee Palace Guillaume Gomez.

The guests of the fair enjoyed delicious Azerbaijani sweets, Karabakh kata (a type of sweet bread). The books on Azerbaijani cuisine were also demonstrated within the fair.

National cuisine employs a wide range of herbs, meet and vegetables. Fresh herbs, including mint, coriander, dill, basil, parsley, tarragon, leek, chive, thyme, marjoram, green onion, and watercress are very popular and often accompany main dish.

Dolma, bozbash, bozartma, Shish kebab, piti, pilaf, and govurma are unique dishes of national cuisine.

Shakh Pilaf (Crown pilaf) is the signature dish of national cuisine. The name of this dish is derived from its shape which resembles the crown of a Medieval Eastern ruler. It is traditionally presented as the main dish at wedding ceremonies in Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan also attracts all those who have a sweet tooth. There are more than 30 varieties of Azerbaijani pastries that use unique ingredients such as poppy seeds, walnuts, almonds, sesame seeds, ginger, and cardamom, which make the treats spicy and especially tasty.

Pakhlava, shekerbura, and badambura, symbols of the Novruz holiday, are among the most famous Azerbaijani sweets.

Apart from national cuisine, the fair participants were mesmerized by Azerbaijan`s traditional dances performed by Sama Mugadam, who lives in Paris.
By Azernews





By Vafa Ismayilova

An Azerbaijani serviceman has been killed as a result of an Armenian provocation in the direction of Kalbajar region on the state border, the Defence Ministry reported on December 9.

Azerbaijani army serviceman Asif Aliyev was martyred as a result of another provocation committed by the Armenian armed forces on the night of December 8 in the direction of Kalbajar region of the Azerbaijani-Armenian state border, the ministry said.

It added that as a result of relevant measures taken by the Azerbaijan army units, the opposing side was suppressed.

"The Armenian military-political leadership bears full responsibility for another tension that occurred," the report added.

From 1435 to 1530 on December 8, the Armenian armed forces' units fired from their positions in Basarkechar region's Yukhari Shorzha settlement on the Azerbaijani army positions in Kalbajar region's Zaylik settlement. The Armenian troops fired intensively for no apparent reason using small arms, the Defence Ministry said on December 8.

The worst escalation of tension was registered on the Azerbaijani-Armenian state border on November 16. As a result, seven Azerbaijani servicemen were killed and 10 were wounded during military operations in Kalbajar and Lachin on the state border with Armenia on November 16.

The trilateral ceasefire deal signed by the Azerbaijani, Russian and Armenian leaders on November 10, 2020, ended the three-decade conflict over Azerbaijans Karabakh region which along with the seven adjacent regions came under the occupation of Armenian armed forces in the war in the early 1990s.

On January 11, 2021, the Azerbaijani, Russian and Armenian leaders signed the second statement since the end of the 44-day war. The newly-signed statement was set to implement clause 9 of the November 2020 statement related to the unblocking of all economic and transport communications in the region.

On November 26, 2021, the Azerbaijani, Russian and Armenian leaders signed a statement and agreed on a number of issues, including the demarcation and delimitation of the Azerbaijani-Armenian border by late 2021, some points related to humanitarian issues and the issue of unblocking of transport corridors which applies to the railway and to automobile communications.
By Azernews





By Laman Ismayilova

The destruction of Azerbaijan's material and spiritual heritage, historical monuments and religious temples over Armenia's three-decade occupation of Karabakh have been discussed at an ICESCO session in Cairo.

In an address to the 14th session of the General Conference of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), Azerbaijani Culture Minister Anar Karimov spoke in detail about the destroyed museums and the exhibits looted by the Armenian occupiers over 30 years.

Karimov expressed satisfaction with the participation in the prestigious event held in the ancient Egyptian capital Cairo.

In his speech, Karimov also touched on the Baku Process, initiated in 2008 to establish an effective and efficient dialogue between cultures and civilizations as well as the Peace4Culture campaign aimed at preserving cultural heritage and creating peaceful and sustainable societies.

He pointed out that Azerbaijan had signed a number of important projects to maintain peace and stability in the region.

Karimov noted that Azerbaijan is a multicultural country with great respect for the culture, language and religion of a number of nations living on its territory.

The culture minister stressed the importance of ensuring regional peace from this standpoint.

The speech aroused great interest among the conference participants.

The Culture Ministry also opened an exhibition dedicated to Azerbaijani culture and history. The exhibition featured books highlighting the country's culture and history as well as the poetic legacy of Azerbaijan's great poet and thinker Nizami Ganjavi.

A series of videos about Shusha, known as Azerbaijan's cultural capital, Karabakh region were screened as part of the exhibition.

Notably, ICESCO's session brought together 49 delegations out of the 51 ICESCO member states.

As part of its new vision, ICESCO follows a new approach in holding the 14th Session of the General Conference, which is completely different from the previous sessions and aims to yield practical outcomes with field impact.

The agenda of ICESCO's 14th Session of General Conference in Cairo included an opening ceremony, in conjunction with the organization of the Global Forum on Higher Education and Scientific Research.

Afterward, the General Conference hosted its opening session, followed by a procedural session to examine the credentials and the list of delegations, the Conference Draft Agenda and Draft Programme, and compose the General Conference Bureau.

The General Conference concluded its proceedings with a plenary session, followed by a closing session to approve Members of ICESCO's 43rd Executive Council, announce the date and venue of the 15th Session of the General Conference and adopt the Conference resolutions.

Over the past years, Azerbaijan and ICESCO have built strong ties, based on common values.

The visit of the ICESCO delegation to Azerbaijan early in January was an important step in this direction. Moreover, ICESCO has proposed to declare Shusha as the capital of the Islamic world.

Azerbaijan implemented numerous international projects with ICESCO. Baku (2009) and Nakhchivan (2018) were named the Capital of Islamic Culture.

Azerbaijan's capital hosted the meeting of the ICESCO culture ministers in 2009. The 12th General Conference and the 36th meeting of the ICESCO Executive Board were held as well.

ICESCO is also one of the main partners of the Baku Process initiated by President Ilham Aliyev and adopted by the United Nations. The organization has been an official partner in the 5th World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue held in 2011.
By Trend

The first meeting of the cooperation platform in the 3 + 3 format "to ensure peace and stability" in the South Caucasus will be held on December 10 in Moscow, Trend reports with reference to the Turkish Foreign Ministry.

"The first meeting of the regional cooperation platform in the 3 + 3 format, put forward by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to ensure lasting peace and stability in the South Caucasus, will be held in Moscow on December 10, 2021," said the ministry's statement.

"The meeting, which will be attended by the Deputy Minister Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan, Armenia, Russia and Iran, Turkey will be represented by the Deputy Foreign Minister Ambassador Sedat Onal," said the statement.
By Trend

Azerbaijani Ambassador to Russia Polad Bulbuloghlu received his French counterpart Pierre Levy on December 8, Trend reports referring to the Azerbaijani Embassy in the country.

The parties exchanged views on the implementation of the provisions of the trilateral statements of the leaders of Azerbaijan, Russia and Armenia dated November 10, 2020 and January 11, 2021 [following the 2020 second Karabakh war]. At the same time, they discussed the results of the trilateral summit meeting held in Sochi on November 26, 2021.

Levy inquired about Azerbaijan's position on the post-conflict period, especially the situation after the Sochi meeting.

Bulbuloghlu said that Azerbaijan, as noted by President Ilham Aliyev, is ready for the peace process. In this context, the diplomat emphasized that, although Azerbaijan has taken practical steps to implement the provisions of these statements, Armenia hasnt yet fulfilled these obligations.

Stressing the need for Armenia to reconcile with the current realities and the importance of the soonest restoration of economic and transport ties in the region, the ambassador noted the meetings of the Working Group at the level of deputy prime ministers of the three countries.

In this regard, he expressed confidence that the opening of transport communications in the region, including the Zangazur corridor, in the shortest possible time will create new opportunities for the countries located here, as well as contribute to cooperation and peace.

Speaking about the meeting of the leaders of Azerbaijan, Russia and Armenia in Sochi, Bulbuloghlu said that this meeting is very important for the normalization of relations between Baku and Yerevan, and namely the direct contacts of the leaders can give positive results.

Then the French ambassador asked to inform him about details of the border delimitation process between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

Noting that appropriate contacts were made on the delimitation of the state border between the two countries, the Azerbaijani diplomat emphasized the need for an early establishment of a bilateral commission, adding that the beginning of this process will be an important step towards peace and stability in the South Caucasus, and that the Azerbaijani side is ready for this responsible work.

At the same time, Bulbuloglu spoke in detail about the ongoing large-scale restoration work in the territories liberated from Armenian occupation [in the second Karabakh war], informing Levy that the international airport in Fuzuli city was built within just eight months, and that the Victory Road [from Fuzuli to Shusha] meeting new modern standards was commissioned in a short time.

The parties also exchanged views on other issues of mutual interest.

At the end of the meeting, the Azerbaijani ambassador presented "Chronicle of Victory" and "Before and after the occupation of Karabakh" books published by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation to his counterpart.

The French ambassador thanked Bulbuloghlu for the interesting and useful meeting.
By Azernews





By Ayya Lmahamad

Two civilians have been killed in a mine blast in the liberated Shusha region, the Prosecutor-General's Office reported on December 9.

"On December 9, during the preliminary investigation of the incident, the prosecution structures revealed that an employee of the Voltac contracting company Orkhan Khanatov (born in 1999) and an employee of Cengiz Insaat LLC Vusal Gandaliyev (born in 1992) died as a result of a mine explosion during repair and construction work in Shusha region," the report said.

Meanwhile, Azerbaijan's Mine Action Agency said that the mine explosion occurred in the territory, located 1,300 meters from Dashalti village in Shusha city, which was not cleared of mines.

The group of the agency evacuated the bodies from the mined area and handed them over to the representatives of the corresponding structures, the agency said.

It added that an anti-tank mine was placed under an anti-personnel mine, which caused a bigger explosion and death of people.

The Investigative Department of the Prosecutor-General's Office initiated criminal proceedings under Criminal Code Article 120.2.4 (murder with particular cruelty or general danger) and other articles. An intensive investigation is underway.

Additionally, on December 9, the Prosecutor-General's Office has reported that 29 civilians and seven military servicemen were killed, as well as 109 servicemen and 44 civilians received injuries of varying severity as a result of mine explosions in the countrys lands since November 10, 2020.

Armenia deliberately and constantly planted mines on Azerbaijani territories, in violation of the 1949 Geneva Convention, thereby being a major threat to regional peace, security, and cooperation.

The Mine Action Agency reported that 10,456 anti-personnel and 4,683 anti-tank mines, as well as 12,659 unexploded ordnances, were found and defused in Tartar, Aghdam, Fuzuli, Shusha, Gubadli, Jabrayil, and Zangilan regions from November 10, 2020, to November 30, 2021.

On June 12, Azerbaijan handed over 15 Armenian prisoners in exchange for a map detailing the location of 97,000 mines in Aghdam.

On July 3, Armenia submitted to Azerbaijan maps of about 92,000 anti-tank and anti-personnel mines planted during the occupation of Fuzuli and Zangilan regions.

Yerevan submitted to Baku all mine maps of Azerbaijan's liberated territories as a result of talks through Russia's mediation on December 4, 2021. The accuracy of the maps is still to be checked.

Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a Russia-brokered peace agreement on November 10, 2020, to end 44 days of fighting and work toward a comprehensive resolution.
By Azernews





By Ayya Lmahamad

Armenian bloggers have revealed horrible truths about the crimes committed against Azerbaijanis and Armenians during the first and second Karabakh wars.

Blogger Nairi Akhverdi posted a tweet about Armenia's occupation policy and the cruelty of Armenian field commanders and soldiers during the first Karabakh war in the early 1990s.

The blogger wrote that Armenias leaders strongly failed the Armenian society.

Our leaders let us down badly. This shocked many young Armenians who were raised on ignorance, who did not know that the seven [Azerbaijani] regions were ethnically cleansed and that this story was conveniently covered with patriotic slogans of liberation, Akhverdi tweeted.

She added that the Armenians who fought during the first Karabakh war often speak candidly about their experience.

One veteran told me how his commander ordered his unit to dig up Azerbaijani graves and search for gold teeth. He said he watched in horror at the greed of the commander and his fellow soldiers, the blogger wrote.

Moreover, in an address posted on social networking platforms, another Armenian blogger Roman Baghdasaryan voiced facts about the enormous scale of corruption and lies in Armenia during Serzh Sargsyan's presidency.

He recounted how the former government had lied to its people about the scale of their defeat in the hostilities of April 2016, how many Armenian diaspora leaders around the world shamefully behaved, how millions of dollars collected by Armenians living around the world to help the Armenian army during the 44-day war in 2020 had disappeared, etc.

Recently, Baghdasaryan spoke about the Gurgen Martirosyan, known as Archbishop Pargev, who claimed to be the leader of the self-proclaimed Artsakh Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

"Talk about Father Pargev, who ran away from Karabakh as soon as the war ended. Aren't you a holy father? Where did you run away to? Think about it: the holy father ran away from Karabakh, abandoned the 'Artsakh people'. And when they took Shusha in 1992, Father Pargev was making a decision about who to give the apartments in Shusha to. Who are you? How can you, the holy father, get into Azerbaijani apartments and give them away? Give away Azerbaijani apartments at your behest, he said.

We are not going to go to war with Azerbaijan just to make Karabakh's generals rich. I just want to remind you that when the Azerbaijanis were going to Hadrut, the Armenian military, and this is what [former Armenian Defence Ministry spokesman] Artsrun Hovhannisyan himself said Armenians were looting and plundering their own homes. Do you understand that?" he added.

Baghdasaryan also accused the separatist regime in Karabakh of shooting Armenian soldiers during the 44-days war. In particular, he said that 250 Armenian servicemen were killed by separatists' criminal actions in the direction of Sugovushan alone.

Meanwhile, the Baku-based news website Day.az said the appalling truth about the crimes committed before and during the 44-day war will be heard in Armenia for a long time to come.
By Ayya Lmahamad

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has sent a congratulatory letter to Federal Chancellor of Germany Olaf Scholz, Azertag reported on December 9.

"I sincerely congratulate you on the occasion of the beginning of your work as Federal Chancellor of Germany and send you my best wishes," the letter said.

The president noted that special importance is attached to the development of friendly ties and cooperation between Azerbaijan and Germany. He added that fruitful cooperation in political, economic and cultural spheres is one of the important factors characterizing interstate relations.

Aliyev expressed his confidence that ties between the two countries, which will mark the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, will continue to develop and expand in the interests of the two nations.

"I wish you good health, happiness, and success in your upcoming responsible activities for the good of the friendly people of Germany," he said.






By Trend

The US will host the Summit for Democracy on December 9-10, 2021, to which the representatives of 109 countries have been invited. While reviewing the list of invitees, the question arises. What criteria determine who will be invited?

The list does not include Turkey and other Turkic-speaking countries, the vast majority of Muslim countries, as well as China and Russia.

The fact that the US did not invite global and regional centers of power competing with the US to the Summit for Democracy shows that the US is using the factor of democracy for its own political purposes.

While a number of the countries worthy of participating in this event stayed away, some countries, often mentioned in anti-democratic rallies, have been invited to it.

The fact that Russia, China, Azerbaijan and a number of other countries were not invited to the summit shows that these countries are headed by strong, self-sufficient leaders who do not allow foreign interference in the affairs of their countries, editor-in-chief of the National Defense magazine, Russian military expert Igor Korotchenko told Trend .

Korotchenko said that the Summit for Democracy, or rather the so-called summit for the so-called democracy, is an anti-Russian event which is held under US patronage.

The expert added that such countries out of the post-Soviet ones have been invited there, in which the norms of democracy not only are not observed but are suppressed.

A good example is the invitation of Armenia to take part in the summit, Korotchenko said. As for democracy in Armenia, a year ago we saw a crowd of people in Yerevan dragged speaker of the Armenian parliament, representative of the then political hierarchy Ararat Mirzoyan out of a car and beat him. Apparently, these standards of democracy today contribute to inviting Armenia and allowing it to participate in this summit.

While speaking about the recent events, the expert also reminded about the constant clashes among the members of the Armenian parliament. The Armenian MPs often throw mineral water glass bottles or kick each other.

How can a country, in which the prime minister was hiding from the crowd of people in an underground bunker under the building of the Ministry of Defense, be invited to such a summit? Korotchenko said. Nevertheless, Armenia has been invited because the biggest US embassy is in Yerevan, non-profit organizations financed by the US Department of State, and numerous US funds operate in Yerevan. Pashinyan and his team are the representatives of Soros.

Therefore, everything is obvious, the expert said. This clearly demonstrates the cynicism of Washington, which diligently classifies a number of countries, while stubbornly ignoring the problems with democracy among its accomplices.

Korotchenko stressed that the US has clearly divided the world into "friends" and "aliens".

Friends are mainly henchmen, those who are ready to carry out any instructions of Washington, the expert said. Of course, taking all this into account, the behavior of Armenia is surprising because it is a member-state of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), it has allied relations with Russia. Nevertheless, Armenia is taking part in an anti-Russian event.

I think that the Russian Foreign Ministry, the Kremlin will take into account Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyans this action in the further practical conclusions and assessment, the expert said.

In turn, former US Ambassador to Azerbaijan Matthew Bryza also commented on this issue.

Personally, I dont think that it is a great idea for the US to convene a summit for democracy, former US Ambassador to Azerbaijan Matthew Bryza said. Because to do so, the US government needs to decide which democracies are good ones and which are bad ones that dont deserve to be invited.

Bryza said that moreover, given the threats facing democracy in the US, most notably, the insurrections, riots against the US Capitol on January 8, it is not a time when the US has great credibility as a leader of democracy.

In fact, we still have one of the two major political parties in the US falsely claiming that the last election was stolen from Donald Trump when it is absolutely clear that it is not the case, former US Ambassador to Azerbaijan added.

It is difficult for the US to have credibility in claiming to be a global leader on democracy when we ourselves have faced such a serious challenge to our own democratic system, Bryza stressed. Now it is not a good time for the US in terms of its reputation to be holding a summit for democracy.

Proceeding from the list of the countries invited and not invited to the US "Summit for Democracy", it is clear that it has been drawn up from the point of view of the US global, geopolitical interests.

There is such a moment. Most of the countries on the list are those who can be used in the fight against such giants as Russia and China in the future. This means that the US draws distinctions among the countries and unfairly divides them into two camps to determine its new strategy.

In general, the desire to differentiate the countries into "good" and "bad" through such forums, to achieve political goals via discrimination is unacceptable. Moreover, the discussions at the virtual summit are not a real dialogue and will not affect the solution of the social and economic problems facing the countries.
By Vafa Ismayilova

Armenia's armed forces have committed another provocation in the Kalbajar section of the state border, the Azerbaijani Defence Ministry reported on December 9.

At about 1500 on December 9, the Armenian military units from the combat positions located in the direction of Basarkechar region fired on the Azerbaijan army positions in Kalbajar region, the ministry said.

The Azerbaijan army units stationed in this direction took relevant measures. The Azerbaijan army units control the operational situation, the report added.

The ministry earlier reported that Azerbaijani army serviceman Asif Aliyev was killed in a provocation committed by the Armenian armed forces on the night of December 8 in the direction of Kalbajar region of the Azerbaijani-Armenian state border.

From 1435 to 1530 on December 8, the Armenian armed forces' units fired from their positions in Basarkechar region's Yukhari Shorzha settlement on the Azerbaijani army positions in Kalbajar region's Zaylik settlement. The Armenian troops fired intensively for no apparent reason using small arms, the Defence Ministry said on December 8.

The worst escalation of tension was registered on the Azerbaijani-Armenian state border on November 16. As a result, seven Azerbaijani servicemen were killed and 10 were wounded during military operations in Kalbajar and Lachin on the state border with Armenia on November 16.

The trilateral ceasefire deal signed by the Azerbaijani, Russian and Armenian leaders on November 10, 2020, ended the three-decade conflict over Azerbaijans Karabakh region which along with the seven adjacent regions came under the occupation of Armenian armed forces in the war in the early 1990s.

On January 11, 2021, the Azerbaijani, Russian and Armenian leaders signed the second statement since the end of the 44-day war. The newly-signed statement was set to implement clause 9 of the November 2020 statement related to the unblocking of all economic and transport communications in the region.

On November 26, 2021, the Azerbaijani, Russian and Armenian leaders signed a statement and agreed on a number of issues, including the demarcation and delimitation of the Azerbaijani-Armenian border by late 2021, some points related to humanitarian issues and the issue of unblocking of transport corridors which applies to the railway and to automobile communications.
By Azernews





By Vugar Khalilov

Turkeys automotive supplier industry exports exceeded $10.7 billion in January-November 2021, Yeni Shafak has reported.

The Uludag Automotive Industry Exporters' Association said that Turkeys automotive supplier industry made exports to over 200 countries, as well as free zones and autonomous regions in the past 11 months of 2021, the report added.

The sub-industry exports, which were $8.4 billion in January-November 2020, increased by 27.5 percent and rose to over $10 billion for the same period in 2021.

During the mentioned period, 40.8 percent ($26.3bn) of the total automotive industry sales consisted of sub-industry products.

As a main importer of the Turkish automotive industry products, Germany ranked first in the list among the other countries.

During 11 months of 2021, the sub-industry exports to Germany increased by 33.85 percent compared to the same period of 2020. The sub-industry exports to Germany, which was $1.8 billion in January-November 2020, grew to $2.5 billion in the same period of 2021. Approximately one-fourth of the 11-month sub-industry exports were made to Germany.

With 42.27-percent growth, Italy ranked second on the list. During 11 months of 2020, over $507 million of sub-industry exports were made to Italy, while $722 million of products were sold in the same of 2021.

Sub-industry exports to the U.S., which ranks third in the list, increased by 38.15 percent and reached $646 million from $468 million compared to the previous year.

During the mentioned period, France ranked fourth with $580 million, Russia fifth with $568 million, the United Kingdom sixth with $567 million, Spain seventh with $472 million, Poland eighth with $413, Romania ninth with $318 million and Belgium 10th with $316 million in exports.




By Azernews





By Ayya Lmahamad

The chairman of the State Agency for Services to Citizens and Social Innovations, Ulvi Mehdiyev, has said that the YASHAT Foundation expenditures totalled AZN 49.4 million ($29.1M) from early 2021.

He made the remarks at a press conference dedicated to the year-end activity of the YASHAT Foundation on December 8.

He noted that during the reported period, meetings were held with 16,393 citizens. Of them, 2,916 were members of martyrs families and 5,010 were wounded servicemen. Mehdiyev added that their needs were clarified and 15,834 applications of 10,875 people were considered and approved.

The chairman stated that the foundation had spent AZN 32.4 million ($19.1M) on the improvement of housing conditions, AZN 458,478 ($269,692) on education, vocational training and development of creative potential, AZN 5.4 million ($3.1M) on repayment of consumer and other loans and AZN 11.1 million ($6.5M) on treatment and psychological support.

Moreover, Yashat Foundation Head Elvin Huseynov said that currently, the amount of unspent funds on the balance of the foundation is AZN 15.4 million ($9M).

He stated that a total of 154 seriously wounded servicemen were sent to Turkey for treatment, 115 of whom already returned to the country. Huseynov added that 39 wounded servicemen are currently being treated in Turkey.

Set up by the presidential decree in December 2020, the foundations work covers the families of servicemen killed or got disabled during the war and also the families of employees of state bodies (institutions) who became disabled or lost their lives while serving in the liberated lands or while removing the consequences of military operations in the liberated lands.

Yashat receives donations made through voluntary financial aid provided by Azerbaijani citizens, Azerbaijanis living abroad, other individuals and legal entities, as well as other sources not prohibited by law.

As of December 8, the foundation has collected over AZN 64.9 million ($39.1M).
Saudi-based King Salman Energy Park (Spark) has announced the ground breaking of a 277,000-sq-m drilling and workover facility of global energy giant Aramco within its development in the Eastern Province.

The project is being implemented by Aramco in co-ordination with Horizon Project Company on a build, own, operate and transfer (BOOT) model for a 22-year period.

Horizon is a special purpose vehicle jointly owned by a Saudi consortium of Al Fouzan Al Sabiq Holding Company and Almutlaq Real Estate Investment Company.

Work on the new Aramco drilling and workover head office and industrial hub is scheduled to be completed by the second quarter of 2023, said a statement from Spark, which will be providing the infrastructure and amenities for a workforce of 1,200 drilling and workover employees.

The Saudi energy park said the project will centralise facilities for Aramcos Drilling and Workover Services Department in a single location and further the oil and gas giant's collaboration with oilfield service providers in addition to supporting the development and localisation of key industries such as rig and equipment manufacturing, as well as casting and forging.

Senior Vice-President of Upstream at Aramco Nasir Al Naimi said: "This is another significant venture by Aramco that will contribute to business continuity. We expect the new facilities to attract other oil field services companies, who have an indispensable role to play within the collaborative setting of an integrated energy ecosystem."

Vice-President of Drilling and Workover Abdulhameed Al Rushaid, said: "The development strategically advances our role as an anchor tenant at Spark. As an integrated ecosystem for the energy sector, the Saudi facility is being designed to capture the full economic value of demand for energy-related goods and services."

Spark President and CEO Saif S Al Qahtani said: "Were excited to announce Aramcos new drilling and workover head office and industrial hub here. Its establishment will enhance the oil and gas supply chain by utilising the energy parks advanced offerings, such as its logistics hub and dry port, to establish a thriving eco-system."

Spread over a 50-sq-km area in Dammam, Spark is the first entity in the region to pioneer the use of multiple cutting-edge technologies, ensuring that sustainability remains at the heart of the development, he added.-TradeArabia News Service
Saudi-based Retal Urban Development Company has announced the launch of its key residential project, Nesaj Town Al Narjis, in partnership with the National Housing Company.

Strategically located in the capital Riyadh, the project spans over an estimated area of 160,000 sq m and features 550 independent housing units of various sizes, designs and architectural distribution.

These designs constitute modern architecture that keep pace with the Saudi family requirements, in addition to modern structure and spaciousness, said the statement from Retal.

The project will be coming up in one of the most prominent urban suburbs with integrated services and supported by state-of-the-art infrastructure and upscale lifestyle in line with the Saudi Vision.

The agreement was signed by Engineer Yousif bin Ibrahim Al Hamoudi, the Chief Operating Officer at Retal, and Mohammad Al-Buty, CEO of the National Housing Company, in the presence of Majed Al Hogail, Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing.

Retal CEO Engineer Abdullah bin Faisal Al Braikan said this project was a continuation of Retal Urban Developments consecutive successes in Nesaj Town projects and the strategic expansion of its projects in Riyadh and across the Kingdom.

"It is mainly aimed at providing a suitable home for Saudi families and allowing Retal to complete its journey in providing comfort and luxury, with the highest standards of quality and perfection," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
Chapman Taylor, a key architect and masterplanner, has announced the opening of an eight-screen cinema complex in Saudi capital Riyadh.

Muvi Salaam Mall in Riyadh is the latest cinema to open as part of the Saudi-owned Muvi brand's roll-out across the kingdom.

The 3,274-sq-m cineplex located in the suburban Alawali area can accommodate 1,045 moviegoers, said the statement from Chapman Taylor.

The designs for the cutting-edge cinema venues have a theme of urban downtown, with the intention of creating a dynamic, modern and innovative cinema experience, it stated.

Internal spaces are characterised by an industrial, yet luxurious, material palette, including timber, exposed steelwork, exposed brickwork and an exposed concrete floor. Digital LED screens and dramatic lighting installations complement the city warehouse feel, providing a strong visual identity for the developments, it added.

In 2019, Chapman Taylor was signed up by the Muvi Cinemas, the first Saudi-owned cinema chain, to design and deliver a series of state-of-the art cinemas.

The first opened in August 2019 at The Mall of Arabia, which, at that time, was the largest cinema in the kingdom. Several more are now open, including at Mall of Dhahran (currently the largest cinema in the country by seat count) while several more are under construction, some to complete this year and more to open subsequently.

Working for, and with, leading industry names, Chapman Taylor has decades of experience in creating state-of-the-art cinema environments which enhance moviegoers experience and maximise value and impact for the cinema developers," remarked Rebecca Farmer, the Design Manager (Dubai).

A specialist in site supervision and project management, armer regularly acts both as technical lead and as a skilled liaison between clients and contractors on major construction projects.

She joined Chapman Taylors Dubai studio as a Design Manager in 2019, working on site on many of the group's cinema projects in Saudi Arabia.

"We strive to design the best cinematic experience available, combining state-of-the-art technology with simplified functionality to create maximum value for both clients and cinemagoers," stated Farmer.

This is why many of the best-known names in cinema choose to work with us again and again," she added.

Originally from the UK, Framer studied for her bachelors degree in Architecture at Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design in London.

She has a wide range of sector expertise including in residential, retail, leisure, hospitality, cultural and civic projects.-TradeArabia News Service
GACs response to the Covid-19 pandemic and its continuing excellence in transportation and logistics have earned it two wins at the eighth annual Maritime Standard Awards.

The Awards held at the Dubai World Trade Centre recognises GACs significant contributions to the maritime industry in the Middle East and Indian Subcontinent.

A special award for Exemplary Response to Covid-19 was presented to Johan Thuresson, General Manager  Shipping Services at GAC Dubai, in recognition of the companys efforts and innovative solutions to maintain operational excellence and ensure safety despite the challenges of the pandemic.

Ronald Lichtenecker, GAC Dubais Managing Director, also received the Transportation and Logistics Award. It is the second time that GAC had received the Award, following its first win in 2018.

It is an honour to be recognised with not one, but two accolades in The Maritime Standard Awards 2021, says Fredrik Nystrom, GACs Group Vice President  Middle East.

They are a vindication of our commitment to keep up the highest standards, whilst protecting both our staff and our customers, even when events beyond our control present challenges. More importantly, they are a recognition of the hard work and diligence of all our people who make that possible.-- TradeArabia News Service
Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) said it has signed a three-year agreement to supply Chinas Bosai Minerals Group with bauxite ore from the Republic of Guinea.

As per the agreement, EGA will supply Bosai Minerals Group with several million tonnes of bauxite ore each year, with the first shipment expected in January 2022.

EGA has supplied Bosai Minerals Group over one million tonnes of bauxite in 2021 under short-term agreements. Bauxite is the ore from which aluminium is derived.

The Emirati group's bauxite mining subsidiary Guinea Alumina Corporation made the company the second-biggest supplier in the world last year of bauxite ore to third-party customers. GAC began production in 2019.

EGA had invested some $1.4 billion in the development of GAC, one of the largest greenfield investments in Guinea in the past 40 years.

GAC operates a 690-sq km mining concession, located in the northwest of Guinea. Once mined, bauxite is transported to GACs port at Kamsar by train using shared rail infrastructure.

"EGA is now a major player in the merchant bauxite market, and our strategy mirrors our approach for cast metal - consistent high quality, reliably supplied, and with a focus on building mutually-beneficial relationships with our customers," stated its CEO Abdulnasser bin Kalban.

"We are delighted that Bosai Minerals Group joins a group of long-term EGA bauxite customers that is geographically-balanced in four key regions," he added.

Bosai Minerals Group Chairman Yuan Zhilun said: "We welcome EGA as a long-term supplier of bauxite to Bosai Group, and look forward to the reliable supply of Guinean ore over the years ahead to drive our business."

EGA operates a transshipment facility in Guinea, enabling its bauxite to be shipped using giant Capesize vessels, lowering shipment costs per tonne.-TradeArabia News Service
Maintaining an up-to-date and integrated architecture, investing in threat detection and enabling timely threat response and recovery, most impact an organisations security programme, says a Cisco study.

Those in the bottom 20% of security programmes can move to the top 20% if they also recognise and invest in well-integrated security technologies and invest in accurate threat detection capabilities, Cisco says in its latest cybersecurity report, Security Outcomes Study Volume 2.

The study surveyed more than 5,100 security and privacy professionals across 27 countries, including Saudi Arabia, to determine the most impactful measures teams can take to defend their organisations against the evolving threat landscape.

In Saudi Arabia, the area of excellence identified by the greatest number of security and privacy professionals (55%) is managing top risks.

In Saudi Arabia, 80% of security and privacy professionals stated that they are planning to expand their cloud-based security technology.

Investing in a proactive technology refresh strategy is more critical than ever, as on average 39% of security technologies used by organisations globally are considered outdated. In Saudi Arabia, respondents reveal themselves to be below the global average, reporting that 31% of their IT infrastructure is out of date.

Unsurprisingly, organisations with cloud-based architectures are more than twice as likely to refresh than those with more outdated, on-premises technologies.

70% of respondents from Saudi Arabia report they have a strong Proactive Tech Refresh strategy to stay up-to-date with the best available IT and security technologies.

Organisations with integrated technologies are seven times more likely to achieve high levels of process automation. Additionally, these organisations boast more than 40% stronger threat detection capabilities.

In Saudi Arabia, 45.4% excel at retaining security talent. More than 75% of security operations programmes globally, that do not have strong staffing resources are still able to achieve robust capabilities through high levels of automation. Automation more than doubles the performance of less experienced staff, supporting organisations through skills and labour shortages.

The value of cloud-based security architectures cannot be understated. Organisations that claim to have mature implementations of Zero Trust or Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) architectures are 35% more likely to report strong security operations than those with nascent implementations.

Organisations that leverage threat intelligence achieve faster mean time to repair (MTTR), with rates 50% lower than those of non-intel users.

In Saudi Arabia, 54.6% of security and privacy professionals stated that they are able to manage top risks.

49% of security and privacy professionals in the kingdom stated that they are able to avoid major incidents.

As the threat landscape continues to evolve, testing business continuity and disaster recovery capabilities regularly and in multiple ways is more critical than ever, with proactive organisations 2.5 times more likely to maintain business resiliency.

We recognise that todays compliance requirements, skills shortages, a hybrid workforce and a threat-filled landscape are all making security increasingly complex. The global and local data behind Ciscos Security Outcome Study means that identifying the most effective security practices is no longer guesswork, said Fady Younes, Cybersecurity Director at Cisco Middle East and Africa.

Cisco continues to work with companies here in Saudi Arabia and around the world to uphold the best practices identified and as such, will continue to support security professionals in the adoption of cloud-based security solutions and threat intelligence, based on our open and integrated platform SecureX.-- TradeArabia News Service
Stellantis, one of the worlds leading automakers and a mobility provider, plans to invest more than 30 billion ($34 billion) through 2025 to execute its software and electrification transformation.

The company has mapped out its software strategy to deploy next-generation tech platforms, building on existing connected vehicle capabilities to transform how customers interact with their vehicles. This will generate approximately 20 billion in incremental annual revenues by 2030.

This transformation will move Stellantis vehicles from todays dedicated electronic architectures to an open software-defined platform that seamlessly integrates with customers digital lives.

It greatly expands the options customers have to add innovative features and services via regular over-the-air (OTA) updates keeping vehicles fresh, exciting and updated years after they have been built.

Our electrification and software strategies will support the shift to become a sustainable mobility tech company to lead the pack, leveraging the associated business growth with over-the-air features and services, and delivering the best experience to our customers, said Carlos Tavares, Stellantis CEO.

With the three all-new AI-powered technology platforms to arrive in 2024, deployed across the four STLA vehicle platforms, we will leverage the speed and agility associated with the de-coupling of hardware and software cycles.

The Stellantis software strategy works hand-in-hand with the companys vehicle electrification plans, detailed at EV Day in July 2021, which targets that more than 70% of its vehicle sales in Europe and more than 40% of vehicle sales in the United States will be low emission vehicles (LEV) by 2030. Each of the companys 14 iconic brands is committed to offering best-in-class fully electrified solutions.

In addition to the closing of Mobile Drive planned for December 31, 2021, the new non-binding memorandum of understanding signed with Foxconn aims at designing a family of purpose-built micro-controllers to support Stellantis and third-party customers. The partnership is intended to develop four families of chips that will cover over 80% of the Companys micro-controllers needs, helping to greatly simplify the supply chain. Adoption and installation of products into Stellantis vehicles is targeted by 2024.

Stellantis also continues its dedicated projects with Waymo. As Chrysler Pacifica Hybrids equipped with the Waymo Driver provide thousands of fully autonomous rides in Phoenix, Arizona (USA), Stellantis and Waymo have now expanded their partnership to local delivery services. Building on Stellantis leadership in light commercial vehicles and investment in electrification, the partners are collaborating on work streams focused on commercial development. Engineering teams will get their hands on Stellantis prototypes in 2022.

Stellantis will grow its software and connected services business through five key pillars:

 Services and Subscriptions;

 Features On Demand;

 Data as a Service and Fleet Services;

 Vehicle Pricing and Resale Value; and

 Conquests, Service Retention and Cross-Selling.

Today, Stellantis has 12 million monetisable connected cars globally. By 2026, this is expected to grow to 26 million vehicles and generate approximately 4 billion in revenues and by 2030, it will reach 34 million vehicles and approximately 20 billion in annual revenues. Monetisable is defined as the vehicles first five years of life.

Leveraging its data collection capabilities, in 2022, Stellantis will launch a usage-based insurance programme offered through the captive finance arms in Europe and North America, with the intent to expand globally.

Launching in 2024, the three new platforms will be deployed, at scale, across the four vehicle platforms of Stellantis over the following two years.

The heart of the transformation to customer-centric services is the new electrical/electronic (E/E) and software architecture, STLA Brain.

STLA Brain is fully OTA capable, with 30 modules addressed, versus 10 today, making it highly flexible. It is a service-oriented architecture fully integrated with the cloud that connects electronic control units within the vehicle with the vehicles central high performing computer (HPC) via a high-speed data bus.

It breaks todays bond between hardware and software generations, enabling software developers to create and update features and services quickly without waiting for a new hardware launch. These OTA updates dramatically reduce costs for both the customers and Stellantis, simplify maintenance for the user and sustain vehicle residual values.

STLA SmartCockpit, built on top of STLA Brain, will seamlessly integrate with the digital lives of vehicle occupants to create a customisable third living space. Studies show that customers spend an average of four years of their lives in their vehicles and this is only increasing.

STLA SmartCockpit, powered by the Mobile Drive joint venture between Stellantis and Foxconn, delivers AI-based applications such as navigation, voice assistance, e-commerce marketplace and payment services.

STLA AutoDrive, developed in partnership with BMW, will offer Level 2, Level 2+ and Level 3 autonomous driving capabilities and will be continuously upgraded through OTA updates.

Through software and on-demand features, Stellantis is providing customers with the ability to tailor their vehicles to individual needs and desires through OTA updates, further increasing the unique qualities of the varied brands within Stellantis and strengthening the bond between the vehicle and driver.

Year to date, Stellantis has delivered more than 6 million over-the-air updates to its vehicles, and intends to offer at least quarterly releases by 2026.

Today, Stellantis connected vehicles provide more than three trillion data points, generating timely, actionable insights. Stellantis engineers are using this information to shorten the vehicle continuous improvement loop, improving customer satisfaction, while generating 1.1 billion in efficiencies by 2030.

Each of Stellantis brands are focused on using software to the fullest benefit of its customers, embodied in their individual commitments.

To support this transformation, Stellantis is creating a software and data academy to retrain more than 1,000 internal engineers in multiple roles and develop its software community.

The company is also hiring top software and AI talent from technology and other industries globally.

By 2024, Stellantis targets having 4,500 efficiency-driven software engineers, creating talent hubs around the globe. Those engineers will ensure the perfect execution of Stellantis software ambitions and operate within the ecosystem created by Stellantis partnerships.-- TradeArabia News Service
Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) has announced that one of its units, Adnoc Drilling Company has been awarded a contract worth $3.8 billion for its Abu Dhabi onshore project.

As per the contract, the Adnoc unit will provide drilling, workover and other well services for a 5-year period, said the statement from the company.

Structured to drive efficiency in work crews, rig move time and maintenance scheduling, the contract benefits both Adnoc Drilling and Adnoc Onshore.

It underpins Adnoc Drillings unique position as the sole drilling services provider to the Abu Dhabi oil giant and will advance its ambitious growth and expansion plans, the statement added.

On the contract win, Adnoc Drilling CEO Abdulrahman Abdullah Al Seiari said: "Adnoc Onshore is a valued and long-standing customer and this contract award further extends a 50-year profitable and unique partnership. I am delighted, that working together, we will continue to drive value for Adnoc and the UAE, delivering on the 2030 strategic production capacity and gas self-sufficiency targets."

"Advanced technologies and digitalisation are at the heart of this agreement, as ADNOC Drilling continues to improve efficiencies, drive further growth opportunities, while minimising our environmental footprint," he added.

Following its record ADX listing on October 3, Adnoc Drilling released its first earnings last month, showing strong and resilient growth for the third quarter and first nine months of the year.

It is the only provider of fully Integrated Drilling Services (IDS) in the region and since 2018, the company has delivered more than $250 million of savings to its customers through the delivery of these wells.

The companys growth journey includes geographical expansion and further development of ADNOC Drillings Oilfield Services offering.
The 15th Annual Gulf Petrochemicals & Chemicals Association (GPCA) Forum in Dubai looked at redefining the challenges, reinventing strategies to capitalise on market opportunities, and reshaping a renewed future for the chemical industry.

"The petrochemical industry is a significant contributor to economic diversification and a leading job-creation industry. The last two years have been turbulent. We need to focus attention on critical issues such as sustainability, digitalisation, and self-sufficiency," said Naser Aldousari, President and CEO of Equate Group, an official sponsor of the forum and a global producer of petrochemicals and the worlds leading supplier of ethylene glycol.

The forum addressed the theme "Redefine. Reshape. Reinvent: the chemical industry in a post-pandemic reality" from December 7 to 9.

Aldousari led a panel discussion titled "Beyond the Pandemic  The GCC Perspective to Creating Resilient, Purpose-Driven, and High-Performing Organisations," in which industry leaders shared their thoughts, knowledge, and insights on developing trends that are shaping the industry, as well as future strategic plans for potential disruptions.

As we emerge into a post-pandemic world with new learnings, there is no better time for business leaders to come together to share knowledge and embrace innovation, so that together, we can continue to provide value for our customers, and develop sustainable solutions that adhere to global standards, he said.

Equate Group also participated in a youth programme Leaders of Tomorrow, where industry stakeholders and youth collaborated in shaping skills and preparing the future industry leaders with the required skills set.

Speaking at the opening of Leaders of Tomorrow, Aldousari said: Equate Group is dedicated to inspiring and empowering the younger generations to join the industry and support its development. The youth are societys most valuable resource, with the ability to contribute to sustainable economic growth.

The Leaders of Tomorrow initiative provides a platform for students and young professionals to engage in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects; as well as learn and connect with leading industry experts at GPCAs networking events.

As one of the founding members of the GPCA, Equate Group has been dedicated to supporting the regions petrochemical and chemical industry through advocacy, networking and thought leadership initiatives that help member companies to connect, share and advance knowledge, contribute to international dialogue, and become prime influencers in shaping the future.-- TradeArabia News Service
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) called for governments to follow World Health Organisation (WHO) advice and immediately rescind travel bans that were introduced in response to the Omicron variant of the coronavirus.

Public health organisations, including the WHO, have advised against travel curbs to contain the spread of Omicron. WHO advice for international traffic in relation to the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant states that:

Blanket travel bans will not prevent the international spread, and they place a heavy burden on lives and livelihoods. In addition, they can adversely impact global health efforts during a pandemic by disincentivising countries to report and share epidemiological and sequencing data.

"All countries should ensure that the measures are regularly reviewed and updated when new evidence becomes available on the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of Omicron or any other variants of concern.

The same WHO advice also notes that states implementing measures such as screening or quarantine need to be defined following a thorough risk assessment process informed by the local epidemiology in departure and destination countries and by the health system and public health capacities in the countries of departure, transit and arrival. All measures should be commensurate with the risk, time-limited and applied with respect to travelers dignity, human rights and fundamental freedoms, as outlined in the International Health Regulations.

Director General Willie Walsh said: After nearly two years with Covid-19 we know a lot about the virus and the inability of travel restrictions to control its spread. But the discovery of the Omicron variant induced instant amnesia on governments which implemented knee-jerk restrictions in complete contravention of advice from the WHO - the global expert.

IATA urges governments to reconsider all Omicron measures. The goal is to move away from the unco-ordinated, evidence absent, risk-unassessed mess that travellers face. As governments agreed at ICAO and in line with the WHO advice, all measures should be time-bound and regularly reviewed. It is unacceptable that rushed decisions have created fear and uncertainty among travellers just as many are about to embark on year-end visits to family or hard-earned vacations, said Walsh.

The industry demand asks governments to implement commitments that they have made through ICAO:

We also commit to a multilayer risk management strategy for international civil aviation, which is adaptable, proportionate, non-discriminatory and guided by scientific evidence in close co-operation and co-ordination with the public health sector, with agreed practices harmonised to the greatest extent possible, for air travel purposes, using commonly accepted epidemiological criteria, testing requirements and vaccination, and underpinned by regular review, monitoring and timely information-sharing among States, ICAO HLCC Ministerial Declaration

Despite this clear commitment, very few governments have addressed early over-reactions to Omicron. With the European CDC already signalling that a de-escalation of measures will likely be needed in the coming weeks, governments must urgently put actions behind the commitments that they made at ICAO, said Walsh.

European Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (ECDC) in the latest update to its Threat Assessment Brief on the implications of Omicron in Europe notes that given the increasing number of cases and clusters in the EU/EEA without a travel history or contact with travel-related cases, it is likely that within the coming weeks the effectiveness of travel-related measures will significantly decrease, and countries should prepare for a rapid and measured de-escalation of such measures.

Walsh said: Once a measure is put in place, it is very challenging to get governments to consider reviewing it, let alone removing it, even when there is plenty of evidence pointing in that direction. That is why is it essential that governments commit to a review period when any new measure is introduced. If there is an over-reaction - as we believe is the case with Omicron - we must have a way to limit the damage and get back on the right track.

"And even in more normal circumstances, we must recognise that our understanding of the disease can grow exponentially even in a short period of time. Whatever measures are in place need to be constantly justified against the latest and most accurate scientific knowledge.-TradeArabia News Service
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. [Photo/Agencies]

Each time a high-ranking US official visits the Asia-Pacific region, the need to "counter an aggressive China" is the inevitable watchword uttered to the hosts.

No opportunity will be wasted to whip up anti-China sentiments and cajole countries in the region to side with the United States in its geopolitical competition with China.

US Secretary Antony Blinken's visit to Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand next week is unlikely to be an exception to this new normal. A few days before the top US diplomat sets foot in the region, Daniel Kritenbrink, assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, said Blinken's meetings will focus on strengthening the regional security infrastructure in response to what the US now habitually decries as China's "bullying in the South China Sea".

Such an unfounded accusation against China is typical of the US diplomatic narrative, in which the US presents itself in the guise of the sheriff of regional peace and security while pinning the tag of outlaw on China and urging others to join it in a posse against what it depicts as an increasingly lawbreaking China.

The South China Sea disputes have become a convenient podium on which the US can deliver its anti-China rant in a bid to drive a wedge between China and Southeast Asian countries. Yet despite having talked themselves hoarse trying to wrap their mono-message in different words, none of them have been able to sell to the countries in the region the belief that the US is really aligned with their desire for peace and stability in the South China Sea.

Instead, the US' increasingly frequent military maneuvers in the South China Sea on the pretext of "freedom of navigation" and its latest political and security initiatives have exposed the hollowness of such a claim.

During his upcoming visits to Indonesia and Malaysia, Blinken may need to address the concerns both countries have raised about AUKUS, the new security alliance the US has formed with the United Kingdom and Australia, and its debut move which will see the US and the UK help Australia acquire nuclear-powered submarines, which goes against the region's stance against nuclear proliferation.

In Thailand, Blinken is also likely to face the country's displeasure about why it was excluded from US President Joe Biden's so-called Summit for Democracy. That the US has only invited three out of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations is perceived as being divisive.

As such, before heading to the region, Blinken should be advised that the more the US meddles in regional affairs the more successful its drive-a-wedge strategy is  but only between the US and the countries in the region.
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Like others providing essential services, many of our employees were impacted by COVID-19, the agency said. When an employee must call off of work due to illness, self-quarantining, childcare needs or other personal matters, it can affect the schedule of buses and trains. When an unplanned absence like that occurs, we work to put operators and staff in place to minimize the impact on service. But even one missed train run can create a gap in service, and thus a longer wait time for customers at a station.
FILE - A pressman grabs a freshly printed paper off the press at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch's printing facility in Maryland Heights, Mo. in this Nov. 11, 2008 file photo. Newspaper publisher Lee Enterprises has rejected a takeover offer from the Alden Global Capital hedge fund that is one of the largest newspaper owners in the country with a reputation for intense cost cuts and layoffs. Lee said Thursday, Dec. 9, 2021 that its board unanimously rejected Aldens offer to buy the company for $24 per share or about $141 million because it grossly undervalues Lee. (Jeff Roberson/AP)
Must Read for Chicagoans (and Probably Everyone Else Too) Book of the Year: Written by former longtime Tribune columnist Dawn Turner, Three Girls from Bronzeville: A Uniquely American Memoir of Race, Fate, and Sisterhood (Simon & Schuster, $26.99), is the story of Black Chicago in the 1970s as told through the lives of the three girls  Turner, her sister Kim, and her friend Debra  whose lives started in the same place, but wound up very differently. The book is just a flat-out good story well-told, but it is also much more than that, a chronicle of a world designed to thwart the promise of young Black life, and the community determined to fight against those forces.
Its here Marks makes her finest contributions to the legend, digging into Maiers personality and filling in family history, even as it becomes clear from Maiers decades of silence and secrecy, she probably never wanted to be known, or even thought about. Maier was born in New York City but spent much of her childhood in a mountain village of France. Relatives there remember her as like an extraterrestrial, private and unknowable. Even after she moved to Chicago as an adult, and went to work as a Highland Park nanny  for the Gensburgs, heirs to the Chicago Coin pinball company  a friend recalls Maier being more a persona than a personality. Though from Marks reporting, thats not quite right, either. Maier had plenty of personality. She seemed to move to Chicago to start a life even more anonymous than what came before. She was paranoid and unfriendly. When she became a live-in nanny for a Wilmette family, her room was so stuffed with newspapers that the floor had buckled from their weight. One of the children that she cared for remembers Maier throwing away a favorite puppet because, to Maier, the toy had shaved legs and therefore resembled a prostitute.
Im no purist in these matters. Spielberg and Kushner certainly arent. But they are who they are, separately and together, because they look ahead while assessing what worked the first time with this material. The dance at the gym, including the lead-in and the outro, is a thing of combustible beauty, propelled by one dynamic, extended visual composition after another. Crucially, the love-at-first-sight meeting between Tony and Maria (Rachel Zegler, really good, opposite Elgorts pretty-good Tony) takes place in the shadows of the bleachers. Kushners dialogue is sincere and just tart enough to make us buy the connection being made. If their part of the storyline putters here and there near the end, well, Ive yet to see a West Side Story or a Romeo and Juliet on stage or screen that didnt feel a little like that.
An American buffalo that escaped from a Wauconda farm in September  and has remained on the lam ever since  is making a name for herself in the Cary area, an hour northwest of Chicago, with citizens posting photos and videos of her on Facebook, along with jokes and statements of support. A local artist has painted a portrait of the wily bovine  dubbed Billy by her fans.
We want to make sure young people never start smoking, so we will make it an offense to sell or supply smoked tobacco products to new cohorts of youth, Dr. Ayesha Verrall, the countrys associate health minister, said in Parliament on Thursday. People aged 14 when the law comes into effect will never be able to legally purchase tobacco.
In 2019, someone ran over the display with their car, leaving pieces of their vehicle behind at the scene. In 2020, someone ripped down the banner in front of the tree. It was soon repaired, but after Christmas the tree was burned down.
The lawsuit accuses Adamson of receiving approximately $300,000 from the preservation council since 2017 and alleges that Adamson and Warfel tried to characterize a $120,000 loan to Adamson in 2017 as reimbursement for a debt the preservation council owed. Additionally, Adamson allegedly received $72,000 in 2018, which was characterized as rent paid after the preservation council sold its property, and in 2021, the preservation council allegedly paid Adamson approximately $109,303 for unknown purposes, the statement said.
I took this case because I actually thought if it was true that he lied to the Chicago Police Department about something like a hate crime, when weve got all these social issues in our country ... I thought that was bad conduct, Webb said. I thought it was serious criminal misconduct that needed to be approached and have a public trial about it.
Aldermen are also being asked, How have you seen aldermanic prerogative affect the viability and placement of affordable housing in your ward and throughout the City? and What factors other than aldermanic prerogative do you see affecting the viability and placement of affordable housing in your ward and throughout the City?
I had no idea how challenging it would be launching an all-electric bike share program in the midst of a pandemic, says Jesse Rosenberg, general manager of Santa Barbara BCycle. Events were canceled and appeals brought on, but we persevered and won the hearts of the community. Now we are all over Santa Barbara, and I look forward to expanding and regionalizing the BCyle program in Southern California. Our ride has just begun.
On December 7, 2021 local time, Maltese President George Vella and Prime Minister Robert Abela met with Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs Yang Jiechi who was in transit in Malta, respectively.

Yang Jiechi said, for nearly half a century after the establishment of diplomatic ties, China and Malta have always respected and sincerely treated each other, engaged in friendly cooperation, and offered each other firm support on major issues, setting an example of living together in amity between countries with different social systems and cultural traditions. President Xi Jinping has exchanged letters with President Vella twice this year, charting the course for the development of bilateral relations. Next year, China and Malta will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties. China is willing to take this opportunity and work with Malta to implement the consensus reached by the two heads of state, accommodate each other's concerns, solidly conduct Belt and Road cooperation, promote cooperation and exchanges in such fields as clean energy, infrastructure, marine ecology, environmental protection and people-to-people, and step up coordination and mutual support on multilateral affairs. China thanks Malta for supporting the Beijing Olympic Winter Games.

Yang Jiechi said, strengthening communication and expanding cooperation between China and the EU in the face of global challenges not only serve the interests of both sides, but also benefit international cooperation against challenges. China is willing to work with the EU to advance China-EU relations in the right direction based on mutual respect.

The Maltese leaders extended congratulations on the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China, and lauded the development achievements of China. Noting the long history of friendship between Malta and China, the two leaders said, Malta follows the principles of respecting all countries' own choices and non-interfering in internal affairs, adheres to the one-China policy, commits itself to widening pragmatic cooperation, and supports Beijing in hosting the Winter Olympic Games. Malta will join hands with China in organizing events marking the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations next year, in a bid to further enhance the level of mutual trust and cooperation between the two countries. Malta actively supports the sound and stable development of EU-China relations.
Older Chinese consumers, especially those who were born in the 1950s and 1960s, are increasingly opening their wallets to spend on high-end travel options, travel operators said.

More of them also are planning trips by themselves and driving to reach their destinations, they said.

This year, as of October, there was a 22 percent year-on-year increase in the number of customers aged 60 or higher registered with Shanghai-based Trip.com Group, the nation's largest online travel agency. Their travel bookings jumped by a total of 37 percent, the company said.

The spending of older travelers has been solid. The average per capita spending of those born in the 1950s and 1960s has been growing faster than that of travelers born in the 1990s and 2000s, Trip.com found.

Premium travel packages, such as tailored tours to the Xinjiang Uygur and Tibet autonomous regions, with price tags over 6,000 yuan ($942) per person, have been popular among older travelers.

Previously, many older Chinese travelers preferred large-scale group tours. As the COVID-19 pandemic started coming under better control in the nation, more elder travelers showed a preference for tailored trips, private group tours or going to tourism destinations with families and friends, the company said.

The changes were clear this year in periods such as the small travel peak for middle-aged and older tourists after the National Day holiday, according to Tuniu Corp, an online travel agency based in Nanjing, Jiangsu province. It's a period when older travelers have more free time and look to avoid crowds.

This year, more older travelers booked private, in-depth group tours, in groups of four to five people, according to company officials, who said Tuniu considers elder travel an important part of their business. Some who booked trips to Beijing went to the National Museum of China and spent hours listening to detailed explanations on the exhibits.

While some people who booked tours for late October and early November to places such as Beijing canceled their original plans as a result of sporadic COVID-19 cases in some cities and stricter government management, it didn't necessarily mean they didn't travel, Tuniu said.

A large number of elders traveled to places with no COVID-19 cases, such as Hainan province, and many booked photo sessions during the trips. In some cases, children helped their parents book professional photographers to take memorable photos in the tropical city of Sanya, Hainan.

"We offer photography services that are more suitable for middle-aged and older couples, and the shooting usually takes half a day, which makes people feel more relaxed," said Qi Chunguang, vice-president of Tuniu.

After the National Day holiday, bookings for group tours to Hainan didn't drop off but remained steady, especially among tourists aged 60 or older, and the bookings tended to be for longer stays, the company said.

"Since mid-October, most middle-aged and older travelers prefer to go to South China for warmer weather," Qi said. "For short trips of one to two days, many tourists like to go to places in the Yangtze River Delta region, such as the Putuo Mountain scenic spot and Xiangshan Mountain, in addition to areas of Sichuan province and Chongqing in southwestern China."

More older travelers are doing their own research about trips and driving to their destinations, Trip.com said. In the past half year, car rentals by people 60 or over more than doubled from the same period last year. The rate of growth was much higher than the rate of about 40 percent for all age groups.

In October 2020, the Ministry of Public Security announced the removal of the upper age limit of 70 for driver's license applications. After the announcement, an increasing number of older travelers began to get their licenses and drive to their destinations. One couple, both 61, drove more than 4,000 kilometers in northwestern China, posting pictures and videos as they went. Their online travelogue was very popular, Trip.com officials said.

The implications of these trends for business are enormousChina's seniors are a large and growing group. People aged 60 and older number 264.02 million, or 18.7 percent of the total population, up 5.44 percentage points from 2010, according to China's latest national census released this year.

"Older and younger travelers in China are the two age groups that have seen the fastest growth. Older tourists have been increasingly paying attention to quality and cultural experiences during the trips," said Xie Xiaoqing, a senior researcher at Trip.com's research institute.

"A large number of older consumers have more time and money available. For this age group, travel agencies should offer more specifically designed and refined products to cater to their increasingly sophisticated demand," Xie said.

With improvements and simplification of online services and technologies, more older travelers, especially those under 65, have mastered the skills to complete online bookings independently, according to online travel agency Tongcheng-eLong.

Older travelers tend to spend less time browsing and complete their bookings faster than younger people. Since the pandemic began to ease, many older travelers started to reserve scenic spots admission tickets online by themselves to comply with health regulations.

Tongcheng-eLong said many older customers prefer WeChat's mini programs over mobile apps, and the agency said it plans to further improve its mini program services such as adding voice functions.

"Some older consumers are still not familiar enough with the internet and electronic services to proficiently use them. Online travel services need more innovation and development of technologies to meet the demand of these older clients, while still maintaining the availability of telephone services," said Cheng Chaogong, chief researcher at Tongcheng-eLong's research institute.

"The new generation of the older travelers, especially those between 50 and 64, is more willing than previous generations to spend money to improve their quality of life," Cheng said. "They pay attention to their health, and they are more willing to spend on travel and vacations."
You are here: China

A national operation involving police and health authorities to crack down on medical insurance fraud will be extended for another year, the National Healthcare Security Administration (NHSA) said on Wednesday.

The operation, jointly launched in April by the NHSA, the Ministry of Public Security and the National Health Commission, has achieved positive results, senior NHSA official Jiang Chengjia said at a press briefing in Beijing.

By the end of October, a total of 3,970 cases had been investigated in the course of the joint operation, and the national medical insurance fund had suspended service contracts with 142 medical institutions and terminated contracts with 61 institutions, Jiang said.

The operation had been scheduled to conclude by the end of this year.

Notable progress has been made in curbing medical insurance fraud since the NHSA was founded in 2018, Jiang said.

Healthcare security regulatory agencies across China conducted approximately 2.34 million inspections of medical institutions related to insurance fraud from 2018 to October this year.

Through these inspections, approximately 50.6 billion yuan (7.94 billion U.S. dollars) in medical insurance funds were recovered, Jiang said.
You are here: China

The State Council, China's cabinet, has issued a circular calling for effective and concrete measures to implement the revised administrative penalty law.

Training concerning the law for current administrative law-enforcement personnel should be completed by June, the circular required, urging wider publicity for the law.

The stipulations and enforcement of administrative punishment must be in accordance with laws and regulations, the circular said.

It also asked for further reform in the mechanism and system of such punishment, together with enhanced supervision.
A special lecture kicked off Thursday afternoon at China's space station, given by the Shenzhou-13 crew members Zhai Zhigang, Wang Yaping and Ye Guangfu to students on Earth.

After introducing their living and working scenes in the space station, they began to demonstrate science experiments. They also have real-time Q&A with the students via video call, according to the China Manned Space Agency.

The primary ground classroom is at the China Science and Technology Museum. Classrooms are also set up in Nanning of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Wenchuan County of Sichuan Province, Hong Kong, and Macao.

The three Chinese astronauts went into space onboard the Shenzhou-13 spaceship and entered the country's space station on Oct. 16, embarking on the country's longest-ever crewed mission for space station construction.

In June 2013, Chinese female astronaut Wang Yaping, assisted by the other two crew members aboard the Shenzhou-10 spacecraft, delivered the country's first live space lecture to over 60 million schoolchildren across China.
You are here: China

From Sunday to 3 p.m. Thursday, east China's Zhejiang Province logged 24 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 35 asymptomatic cases in three cities amid the latest resurgence.

All the local cases were reported in Ningbo, Shaoxing and Hangzhou, local authorities told a press conference on Thursday.

More than 2 million people have been sampled in the three cities for mass nucleic acid testing, among which about 1.52 million have received test results.

Some cities in the province have imposed restrictions on public activities as part of anti-epidemic measures.

Public places, such as libraries, museums, internet cafes, and chess and card rooms, have been asked to limit visitors at 75 percent of their total capacity and register visitor information according to the provincial COVID-19 prevention and control requirements.
Black-necked cranes are seen at Lhunzhub County of Lhasa, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, Dec. 7, 2021. About 1,500 black-necked cranes have flown to Lhunzhub County for the winter. (Xinhua/Zhang Rufeng)
 Flash

Certain features of the Omicron variant, including its global spread and large number of mutations, suggest it could have a major impact on the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, said the chief of the World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday.

With the Omicron variant now present in 57 countries, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned at a press briefing that it can spread more rapidly than previous variants.

"We are now starting to see a consistent picture of rapid increase in transmission (rates), although for now the exact rate of increase relative to other variants remains difficult to quantify," he said.

"Emerging data from South Africa suggest increased risk of re-infection with Omicron, but more data are needed to draw firmer conclusions," he added.

While some evidence might suggest that Omicron causes milder symptoms than the earlier Delta variant, it's still early days to draw any final conclusions, WHO experts have said.

According to Mike Ryan, executive director of the WHO's Health Emergencies Program, although the evolutionary nature of the virus makes it more transmissible as it mutates, this doesn't necessarily make the virus less severe, as has been suggested by some "urban legends."

Whether or not a mutation turns out to be milder or more lethal is a matter of chance, he said.

As studies of the latest COVID-19 variant are evolving, the WHO says it still needs days or even weeks for global epidemiological data to come in, be analyzed and then to draw any firm conclusions.

It's also still premature to say that Omicron could result in a significant reduction in vaccine effectiveness, according to WHO Chief Scientist Soumya Swaminathan.

The WHO has called on all countries to increase surveillance, testing and sequencing, and to submit more data to the WHO Clinical Data Platform using an updated online case reporting form.
 Flash

Britain will move to "Plan B" restrictions to combat the rapid spread of the Omicron variant this winter, said British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Wednesday.

At a Downing Street press conference on Wednesday evening, the prime minister asked people to work from home when possible from Monday and that face masks would be a legal requirement in "most public indoor" areas such as theatres and cinemas from Friday.

Proof of two vaccine doses or a negative COVID-19 test will be necessary for those wanting to enter nightclubs and large venues from next week, Johnson said, adding that people who are contacts of Omicron cases could face daily testing instead of undergoing a period of isolation.

However, he said the new measures were "not a lockdown" and people "should not" cancel Christmas parties or Nativity plays, and nightclubs will remain open.

"Plan B" was set out in September and will help to tackle the new variant and reduce the chances of the National Health Service coming under unsustainable pressure, according to the British government.

The most recent data suggest that Omicron has a very high growth rate and is spreading rapidly. Another 131 cases of the Omicron variant have been reported in Britain, taking the total to 568, the UK Health Security Agency said Wednesday, noting that the doubling time could be as little as two-and-a-half days to three days.
Capitol Punishment - The Movie that Reveals to the World the True Story of January 6, 2021 The Groundbreaking Documentary Premiered on Thanksgiving Day 2021



NEWS PROVIDED BY

Laura Orrico Public Relations, LLC

Dec. 9, 2021



LOS ANGELES, Dec. 9, 2021 /



Award winning actor Nick Searcy has teamed up with award-winning and inspiring filmmaker Chris Burgard to reveal the actual events on January 6, 2021 via a riveting documentary.



The film premiered on Thanksgiving Day. To view the trailer and purchase the film visit:



Award winning and veteran actor Nick Searcy is known for his role in Best Picture winner The Shape of Water, the multiple Oscar-winning film Three Billboards Outside of Ebbing, Missouri, Oscar-nominated Moneyball, Cast Away, Fried Green Tomatoes, Runaway Jury, Nell, The Fugitive, and his co-starring role on the hit television FX series Justified. Searcy has also had a variety of exciting roles in various networks such as UPN's 7 Days, CBS's American Gothic, HBO's From The Earth To The Moon, ABC's Rodney, and CW's Easy Money. An accomplished director, Searcy's film, GOSNELL, was released in theatres nationwide.



Chris Burgard is an award-winning filmmaker, with projects such as The Ruining, Border, Honduras On The Brink, and popular videos that received 1/3 of a billion views. Burgard hails as one of the most dangerous media guys on the planet. In 2020, Burgard was honored to team up with Hollywood Legend, Nick Searcy, to direct the seminole film, America! America! God Shed His Grace On Thee.



Searcy and Burgard's new film, Capitol Punishment, stands as testament to a day of infamy in American history, Jan. 6, 2021. Told through the eyes of the people who were there on the ground, Capitol Punishment shows the world the true story of January 6, 2021. Everything that we are being told is a lie and Americans are being persecuted to support that lie. January 6 was years in the making and the threat to the survival of America as we know it, has never been greater.



Film Website:



Follow Nick on: Twitter: @yesnicksearcy



Facebook: www.facebook.com/ActingSchoolwithNick



Clips from the film:

Trailer:



Kinnison family:



Simone Gold:



Martinez family:



For interviews with Nick Searcy and/or Chris Burgard, or for other media inquiries, contact Laura Orrico, President of Laura Orrico Public Relations, LLC at



SOURCE Laura Orrico Public Relations, LLC



CONTACT: Laura Orrico, 872-216-3781,



Share Tweet NEWS PROVIDED BYLaura Orrico Public Relations, LLCDec. 9, 2021LOS ANGELES, Dec. 9, 2021 / Christian Newswire / -- The film Capitol Punishment is told through the eyes of the people who were there on the ground, in our Nation's Capital, and shares with the world the true story of January 6, 2021. Everything that we are being told by the media is a lie and Americans are being persecuted to support that lie. January 6th was years in the making and the threat to the survival of America as we know it has never been greater.Award winning actor Nick Searcy has teamed up with award-winning and inspiring filmmaker Chris Burgard to reveal the actual events on January 6, 2021 via a riveting documentary.The film premiered on Thanksgiving Day. To view the trailer and purchase the film visit: capitolpunishmentthemovie.com Award winning and veteran actor Nick Searcy is known for his role in Best Picture winner The Shape of Water, the multiple Oscar-winning film Three Billboards Outside of Ebbing, Missouri, Oscar-nominated Moneyball, Cast Away, Fried Green Tomatoes, Runaway Jury, Nell, The Fugitive, and his co-starring role on the hit television FX series Justified. Searcy has also had a variety of exciting roles in various networks such as UPN's 7 Days, CBS's American Gothic, HBO's From The Earth To The Moon, ABC's Rodney, and CW's Easy Money. An accomplished director, Searcy's film, GOSNELL, was released in theatres nationwide.Chris Burgard is an award-winning filmmaker, with projects such as The Ruining, Border, Honduras On The Brink, and popular videos that received 1/3 of a billion views. Burgard hails as one of the most dangerous media guys on the planet. In 2020, Burgard was honored to team up with Hollywood Legend, Nick Searcy, to direct the seminole film, America! America! God Shed His Grace On Thee.Searcy and Burgard's new film, Capitol Punishment, stands as testament to a day of infamy in American history, Jan. 6, 2021. Told through the eyes of the people who were there on the ground, Capitol Punishment shows the world the true story of January 6, 2021. Everything that we are being told is a lie and Americans are being persecuted to support that lie. January 6 was years in the making and the threat to the survival of America as we know it, has never been greater.Film Website: capitolpunishmentthemovie.com Follow Nick on: Twitter: @yesnicksearcyFacebook: www.facebook.com/nick.searcy.9 Trailer: capitolpunishmentthemovie.com Kinnison family: https://youtu.be/B6dusvnhYWo Simone Gold: https://youtu.be/ONhMUbOf-Kgh Martinez family: https://youtu.be/KYROLJOo0Aw For interviews with Nick Searcy and/or Chris Burgard, or for other media inquiries, contact Laura Orrico, President of Laura Orrico Public Relations, LLC at lauraorrico@gmail.com 872-216-3781.SOURCE Laura Orrico Public Relations, LLCCONTACT: Laura Orrico, 872-216-3781, lauraorrico@gmail.com
National Guard Deployed in ME and NY Following Shot Mandates

NEWS PROVIDED BY

Liberty Counsel

Dec. 9, 2021



ALBANY, N.Y., Dec. 9, 2021 /Christian Newswire/ -- Since Maine and New York have terminated countless health care workers due to the unlawful COVID shot mandates, the two governors have now activated members of the National Guard to help alleviate the shortages at hospitals and health care facilities. Some media attribute these drastic actions to the surge of COVID cases. However, lest people forget, both governors said they would deploy the National Guard to fill the vacancies their unlawful mandates created. Both governors mandated that all health care workers get the COVID shots and directed employers to deny all religious exemptions claims or face fines and revocation of their business licenses.

Make no mistake, the shortage of health care workers and the current health care crisis is caused by Maine Governor Janet Mills and New York Governor Kathy Hochul. These two governors are directly responsible for the current mess. In 2019 before COVID, Maine already faced a shortage of health care workers.

The restrictions both governors have imposed on their respective states are not working. Compare instead to the example set by Florida, which has been wide open since September 2020, and now has the lowest COVID rate per capita than any other state.

Governor Mills ignored federal law by removing religious exemptions and accommodations from unlawful shot mandates for health care workers and created a situation where no religious objectors to the injection can obtain employment in the state. Gov. Mills ordered employers to disobey the federal law known as Title VII that prohibits religious discrimination.

Now Gov. Mills announced yesterday that she has activated additional members of the Maine National Guard "to address the increasing strain on hospitals and to maintain access to inpatient health care services." Mills signed a directive activating up to 75 additional members of the National Guard who will be used in non-clinical support roles to expand capacity at health care facilities...and who will be used in non-clinical support roles to expand capacity at health care facilities by providing support to nursing facilities and swing bed units that accept patients discharged from hospitals experiencing critical care capacity challenges.

On August 16, 2021, New York Gov. Hochul announced that the state will require health care workers to accept or receive one of the three currently available COVID-19 injections to remain employed in the health care profession. The deadline for them to become fully vaccinated was Monday, September 27, 2021, for hospital employees and October 7, 2021 for other facilities. Then on September 27, Governor Hochul signed an executive order declaring a statewide disaster emergency which allows unlicensed health care workers from other states and countries "to practice in New York State without civil or criminal penalty related to lack of licensure."

During a press conference Gov. Hochul said, this executive order "allows me to address the shortages that occur to deploy the National Guard who are medically trained, deploy people who may be retired and had a license lapse, and bring in people from elsewhere." Hochul admitted her forced injection mandates will "impact the availability of care, threatening public health and safety."

This week, the New York National Guard announced that it had deployed 120 medics and medical technicians to a dozen long-term care facilities statewide in response the governor's December 1 order in response to staffing shortages.

Liberty Counsel Founder and Chairman Mat Staver said, "The governors of Maine and New York are to blame for the current health care shortages. Both governors have abused their health care heroes and should be held responsible. Calling up the National Guard will not solve the health care crisis. Mills and Hochul openly ignored the law and forced employers to terminate those health care workers who have sincere religious beliefs against these COVID shots. The heavy hand abuse by these governors is immoral and unlawful. They have now created a crisis in their health care system."

Liberty Counsel provides broadcast quality TV interviews via Hi-Def Skype and LTN at no cost.



SOURCE Liberty Counsel



CONTACT: Mat Staver, 407-875-1776, Liberty@LC.org



Related Links



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San Francisco, 9 Dec 2021: The Report Neurology Clinical Trials Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Phase (Phase I, Phase II, Phase III, Phase IV), By Study Design (Interventional, Observational, Expanded Access), By Indication, By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2021 - 2028

The global neurology clinical trials market size is expected to reach USD 7.4 billion by 2028, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. The market is expected to expand at a CAGR of 5.5% from 2021 to 2028. This is largely attributed to big pharma companies conducting innovative trials in neurology, increased government funding from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), and stringent regulatory requirements pertaining to clinical trials.

Neuroscience continues to receive a healthy level of early investment. It received USD 1.5 billion in venture capital funding in 2018, second only to cancer, indicating that investors expect a large pharma acquisition to pay off in the near future. As the industry strives to move past the many late-stage clinical failures of recent years, early diagnosis of diseases is attracting investment and driving deal-making in the complex neuroscience sector, particularly for pain and Alzheimer's disease.

In terms of deal volume, no other therapy area comes close to matching oncology, but neuroscience is among the nearest contenders. Despite a drop in total expected value in 2017, the number of neuroscience-related licensing deals has gradually climbed over the last decade. The vast majority of neuroscience agreements ~90%have a primary neurological focus, which corresponds to the level of R&D activity in the two disciplines.

Many experimental therapeutics require dosage by on-site administration and carefully scheduled outcome measure evaluations hence, the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly harmed the implementation of the precise procedures required to establish proof of safety and efficacy. The COVID-19 has resulted in the shutdown of the network of centers conducting stroke clinical trials. This was followed by a phased research restart plan that took local circumstances and regulatory oversight into account. This approach was successful in a reengaging research effort to some extent in all but one of the ongoing investigations within 55 days.

Access Research Report of Neurology Clinical Trials Market @ https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/neurology-clinical-trials-market-report

Neurology Clinical Trials Market Report Highlights

The phase II segment dominated the market and accounted for a maximum revenue share of 36.7% in 2020. Between 1999 and 2020, 8,205 CNS trials were conducted, with 609 trials being conducted in 2020

The interventional segment held the largest market revenue share of 81.1% in 2020

The Huntington's disease segment is anticipated to register the fastest CAGR of 6.0% over the forecast period. This is largely due to the high prevalence of the disease around the world

North America dominated the market and accounted for a revenue share of 45.8% in 2020. The rising prevalence of neurological disorders and the presence of a large number of players in clinical trials drive the market in the region

List of Key Players of Neurology Clinical Trials Market

IQVIA

Novartis

Covance

Medpace

Charles River Laboratories

Syneous Health

Icon Plc

GlaxoSmithKline

Aurora healthcare

Biogen

Access Press Release of Neurology Clinical Trials Market @ https://www.grandviewresearch.com/press-release/global-neurology-clinical-trials-market
The development of technologically advanced minimally invasive or non-invasive products for the hemodynamic monitoring system has increased its sales in-home care settings and clinics. The minimally invasive monitoring systems help in tracking stroke volume and offer dynamic information of fluid responsiveness. Some of the systems provide the evaluation of volumetric preload variables, while others highlight the continuous volume of central venous saturation with proprietary catheters. These variables of minimally invasive systems, along with cardiac output, deliver improved hemodynamic monitoring.

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Hemodynamic Monitoring Systems Market - Segmentations

The global hemodynamic monitoring systems market has been segmented on the basis of product, type, end-use, and region.

By product, the market is segmented into disposables, monitors, minimally invasive, and others. Among these, the segment  monitors accounts for the largest segment.

By type, the market is segmented into invasive, non-invasive, and others. Out of these, the Invasive accounts for the major segment.

By end-user, the market is segmented into hospitals, clinics, ambulatory care centers, home care settings, and others. The segment hospitals and clinics is the largest segment.

By region, the market is segmented into the Americas, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Middle East & Africa. Out of these, the Americas region dominates the market, whereas the Asia Pacific region accounts for the fastest growing region.

Hemodynamic Monitoring Systems Market  Geographical Analysis

North America accounts for the leading share in the market for the hemodynamic monitoring systems. Factors positively impacting the market growth in the region include the high per capita health care expenditures and rapid uptake of advanced technologies in the growing healthcare sector.

Moreover, the rising geriatric population along with the increasing prevalence of high/low BP, cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, and obesity issues that are leading to heart diseases & disorders are fuelling the market growth in the region.

Furthermore, the presence of well-established market players along with the growing number of patients suffering from major/minor heart issues is positively impacting the growth in the regional market.

The Europe hemodynamic monitoring systems market accounts for the second-largest market, globally. Attributing to the increasing healthcare expenditure, availability of advanced treatment facilities, and government initiatives, the market is estimated to register a remarkable CAGR during the forecast period (2017-2023). Increasing cardiovascular issues in the region are becoming paramount concerns which, in turn, are contributing to the market growth.

The hemodynamic monitoring systems market in the Asia Pacific region is rapidly emerging as a promising market. Growing number of aging populaces alongside the prevalence of cardiac disorders growing at an alarming rate are driving the market in the region. Also, some of the other dominant factors such as the faster adoption of healthcare technology, government initiatives to improve the quality of healthcare, favorable insurance, and reimbursement policies are fostering the growth of the APAC market.

Hemodynamic Monitoring Systems Market - Key Players

Some of the market leaders profiled in the report are Argon Medica, Teleflex Incorporated, Osypka Medical, Edwards Lifesciences Corporation; PULSION Medical Systems SE, LiDCO Group plc, Cheetah Medical, Deltex Medical Group Plc., ICU Medical, Osypka Medical GmbH, CareTaker Medical, CNSystems, NI Medical, and Uscom.

Innovation, mergers & acquisitions, product launch, and regional expansion remain the key strategies for these players to maintain their market positions.

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The Automotive Foam Market Report, in its latest update, highlights the significant impacts and the recent strategical changes under the present socio-economic scenario. The Automotive Foam industry growth avenues are deeply supported by exhaustive research by the top analysts of the industry. The report starts with the executive summary, followed by a value chain and marketing channels study. The report then estimates the CAGR and market revenue of the Global and regional segments.

Base Year: 2020

Estimated Year: 2021

Forecast Till: 2027

The report classifies the market into different segments based on type and product. These segments are studied in detail, incorporating the market estimates and forecasts at regional and country levels. The segment analysis is helpful in understanding the growth areas and potential opportunities of the market.

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A special section is dedicated to the analysis of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the growth of the Automotive Foam market. The impact is closely studied in terms of production, import, export, and supply.

The report covers the complete competitive landscape of the Worldwide Automotive Foam market with company profiles of key players such as:

Armacell

BASF SE

Johnson Controls

Woodbridge Foam Corporation

The DOW Chemical Company

Lear Corporation

Bridgestone Corporation

Recticel

Vitafoam

Saint-Gobain

Rogers Corporation

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Automotive Foam Market Analysis by Type:

Polyurethane (PU) Foam

Polyolefin (PO) Foam

Other Foams

Automotive Foam Market Analysis by Applications:

Interior Application Seating Instrument Panels Headliners Door Panels & Watershields Seals, Gaskets & Nvh Others

Exterior Application Bumper System Others



Automotive Foam Market Analysis by End-User:

Passenger Cars

Heavy Commercial Vehicles (HCVS)

Light Commercial Vehicles (LCVS)

Automotive Foam Market Analysis by Geography:

North America (USA, Canada, and Mexico)

(USA, Canada, and Mexico) Europe (Germany, UK, France, Italy, Russia, Spain, Rest of Europe)

(Germany, UK, France, Italy, Russia, Spain, Rest of Europe) Asia Pacific (China, India, Japan, South Korea, Australia, South-East Asia, Rest of Asia-Pacific)

(China, India, Japan, South Korea, Australia, South-East Asia, Rest of Asia-Pacific) Latin America (Brazil, Argentina, Peru, Chile, Rest of Latin America)

(Brazil, Argentina, Peru, Chile, Rest of Latin America) The Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Israel, South Africa, Rest of the Middle East and Africa)

Key questions answered in the report:

What is the expected growth of the Automotive Foam market between 2022 to 2027?

Which application and type segment holds the maximum share in the Global Automotive Foam market?

Which regional Automotive Foam market shows the highest growth CAGR between 2022 to 2027?

What are the opportunities and challenges currently faced by the Automotive Foam market?

Who are the leading market players and what are their Strengths, Weakness, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT)?

What business strategies are the competitors considering to stay in the Automotive Foam market?

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Healthcare Consulting Services Market: Information by Type of Services (IT Consulting, Digital Consulting, Financial Consulting, Operations Consulting, and Strategy Consulting), Application (Operations Management, Financial, Population Health, and Clinical), End User (Hospitals & Clinics, Life Science Companies, Government Organizations), and Region (Americas, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the Middle East & Africa) - Forecast till 2027

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Healthcare Consulting Services Market Segmentation

The global healthcare consulting services market has been segmented based on application, component, type of service, and end user. On the basis of application, the market for healthcare consulting services is segmented based on financial and population health, operations management. Additionally, the market on the basis of components, is segmented into solutions and services. The global market for healthcare consulting services is also covered based on type of service segment which is further split into IT consulting and digital consulting. On the basis of end users, the market for healthcare consulting services is segmented based on clinics and life science companies, hospitals.

Factors like a huge patient population as well as a wide network of hospitals propel the healthcare consulting services market growth. The healthcare consulting services market performance has also been studied. The healthcare consulting services market report provides analysis of past and current trends. In addition to this, the healthcare consulting services market report offers detailed analysis of application, component, type of service, and end user segments.

Healthcare Consulting Services Market Competitive Landscape

The healthcare consulting services market is corroborated by increasing competition in the healthcare industry. The population growth as well as increasing demand of healthcare consulting services market based solutions also accelerate the market growth. However, the healthcare consulting services market can be affected due to the presence of poor economies as well as lack of healthcare infrastructure. The healthcare consulting services market research report covers all such factors assisting companies in the healthcare consulting services market to improve their plans and portfolio. The healthcare consulting services market research report also provides company profiles of major businesses. The healthcare consulting services market report highlights crucial details about organizations operating across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific (APAC),

Healthcare Consulting Services Industry News

VantagePoint Healthcare Advisors, a Hamden health-care advisory company based in CT, was purchased by BerryDunn, a global accounting and consultative agency. Created in 1994, VantagePoint provides healthcare professionals in hospital facilities, medical associations and charities with consultancy, regulatory and certification services. Consulting resources for the business cycle, management, operations and due diligence are provided by the firm's specialists. VantagePoint offers risk management, assistance in lawsuits, audit and other resources for the purpose of enforcement. The business provides an extensive variety of certificates, registrations and PSVs from apps to ongoing sanctions surveillance.

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Neurovascular Devices Market Research Report: By Product (Aneurysm Coiling & Embolization Devices, Support Device), Therapeutic Application (Hemorrhagic & Ischemic Strokes) and End-User (Hospitals, Ambulatory Surgical Units) - Forecast till 2027

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Market Research Future (MRFR) expects the Neurovascular Devices Market size to touch over USD 3.1 Billion by 2023. MRFR also anticipates the global market's growth to be at a rate of 8.8% during the review period (from 2014 to 2023).

Market Segmentation

The Neurovascular Devices Market has been segmented into product, end-users, and therapeutic application. Based on the segment which is the product, the market is categorized on the basis of embolization devices, support device, and aneurysm coiling. The global market for neurovascular devices is further segmented based on end-users into hemorrhagic and ischemic strokes. Furthermore, the market, on the basis of therapeutic is segmented into ambulatory surgical units and hospitals.

The Market report offers comprehensive study of the Neurovascular Devices Market segments including product, end-users, and therapeutic application. The analysts have also studied the Markets spread across the regional markets across many of the Markets segments at country levels. The product, end-users, and therapeutic application segments spread across the Market along with the subsegments are studied. The global market for neurovascular devices is spread across various product and service based segments. The Market research report highlights these key segments and offers forecasts based on primary and secondary data. The global Neurovascular Devices Market research report presents key company profiles of organizations active across the Market.

Regional Overview

Expensive neurovascular devices may hinder the Market growth. The Market research report suggests that companies in the Market could be supported by companies exploring new ways to maintain their business as well as expanding patient pool during the forecast period. The Market is set to register growth at a high CAGR owing to these key factors. The Market is spread across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and other parts of the world. As per Market analysts, Neurovascular Devices Market is set to witness tremendous growth across product, end-users, and therapeutic application segments. The global Markets North American region covers Markets across the United States, Mexico, Canada, and others. Businesses present in the Market are also profiled and their strategies have been presented in detail in the Market research report.

The Market across the European region covers Italy, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom. Furthermore, Neurovascular Devices Market research report provides details about the APAC region covering Markets from China, India, Australia, Japan, and others. The Market is also active across several other parts of the world. The Market report covers all these key regions including the Middle East, Africa, Brazil, and others active in the global Market.

Competitive Landscape

Neurovascular devices has seen tremendous growth, due to interventional therapies witnessing massive growth and high demand for minimally invasive procedures. However, significant cost of neurovascular devices and the emergence of complications during neurovascular surgeries would challenge the companies active in the Market. Furthermore, companies using growth strategies to stay ahead in the global Market are expected to help the market during the forecast period 2014 to 2023. As Neurovascular Devices Market report suggests that the Market will register a CAGR of 8.8% and reach a US$3.1 billion by 2023, the market report highlights key areas Market based companies need to focus on. The Market research report projects a long term growth till 2023. Based on Markets analysis on the basis of SWOT and Porters Five Force Model, Neurovascular Devices Market will rise during the forecast period 2014 to 2023, however the companies need to move ahead with caution. The Market research report highlights such key areas.

Industry News

Lazarus Effect, a medical equipment corporation with a highly acute ischemic stroke that is licenced in Europe but not in the United States, was acquired by Medtronic. The contract is a financial transaction of 100 million dollars, according to standard closing conditions. In the Medtronic neurovascular division of the Restaurant Therapy community Lazarus Effect would be included. Medina Medical, a provider of medical devices which is now in Medtronics neurovascular business, developed a system to treat the cerebral aneurysm on 31 August. Lazarus nitinol net cover plys over a stent recorder during the recuperation of the clot and wraps the clot around the stent.

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Spirometry Market Research Report, by Product (Table-top Spirometry, Hand-held Spirometry, Desktop Spirometry), Technology (PFM, Volume Measurement Spirometry, Flow Measurement Spirometry), Application (Diagnostic, Treatment Monitoring), End-user (Hospitals & Clinics, Home Care, Diagnostic Centers, Research & Academic Institutes), and Region  Forecast to 2027

The CAGR for the spirometry market is projected to be 10.3% until 2023. Its value is projected to be USD 1,106.7 million by then. Spirometry is invaluable because it helps doctors determine the real health of a persons lungs. Thus, it is a good lung cancer screening aide. Its also great in determining if a person has asthma or other serious respiratory/breathing problems.

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Segmentation:

The spirometry market can be segmented by product, technology, application, and end-user.

By product, the market is segmented into table-top spirometry, hand-held spirometry, and desktop (PC) spirometry. The table-top spirometry segment accounted for 49.9% market share in 2017, followed by hand-held (31%), and desktop (19.1%). This can be attributed to adoption of spirometers in hospitals and clinics. But the desktop segment is touted to register the highest CAGR of 10.58% during the forecast period owing to its rapid diagnosis rate and increasing use of computer-based applications.

By technology, the market covers flow measurement spirometry, volume spirometry, and peak flow meters (PFM). The flow measurement spirometry segment accounted for 50.3% share in 2017. This can be attributed to its lightweight nature and compact size. Its functionality based on the familiar table-top spirometer technology and lack of frequent calibration make it popular among clinicians. But the PFM technology can register 10.58% CAGR over the forecast period to reach USD 149.76 million by 2023.

Regional Analysis:

The spirometry market covers the latest trends and opportunities across Americas, Europe, Asia Pacific (APAC), and the Middle East & Africa (MEA).

The Americas accounted for 39.74% share in the global market in 2017, followed by Europe and APAC. This can be attributed to economies such as the U.S. which are the earliest adopters of latest technologies coupled with the large patient pool suffering from respiratory disorders. The region is likely to enjoy a 10.25% CAGR over the forecast period.

The Europe spirometry market is expected to enjoy a CAGR similar to the Americas market over the forecast period to touch a valuation of USD 322.33 million by 2023. This can be credited to rising number of asthma cases and ballooned healthcare expenditure of nations such as Germany and France.

The MEA region can experience a respectable CAGR during the review period owing to improvements of healthcare infrastructure and enhanced healthcare budgets of Kuwait, Qatar, and Dubai.

The APAC region is expected to exhibit a 10.94% CAGR over the forecast period owing to high cases of chronic diseases, awareness of respiratory devices, and increased healthcare budgets of developed nations in the region. The growing geriatric populace in China and Japan can contribute to regional market revenue till 2023.

Competitive Dashboard:

Key players in the spirometry market include Smiths Medical Inc. (U.S.), Vitalograph (U.K.), MGC Diagnostics Corporation (U.S.), Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc. (U.S.), Schiller AG (Switzerland), COSMED srl (Italy), Midmark Corporation (U.S.), NDD Medical Technologies, Inc. (U.S.), Carefusion Corporation (U.S.), Nihon Kohden Corporation (Germany), and Koninklijke Philips N.V. (The Netherlands).

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Oncology Information Systems Market Research Report: by Product & Service Type (Software, Professional Services), Application (Medical Oncology, Radiation Oncology, Surgical Oncology), End User (Hospitals & Oncology Clinics)  Forecast Till 2027

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Market Highlights:



The Global Oncology Information Systems (OIS) Market held a market value of USD 2,356.6 million in 2017 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 7.5% over the forecast period. OIS is a complete information and image management solution that enables the management of patient treatment schedules, treatment plans, treatment delivery, and treatment summaries. Overall, this system allows healthcare professionals to oversee all aspects of oncology care for their patients. Factors accounted for the market growth are globally growing older population coupled with rising incidence of cancer, the presence of favorable government initiatives, mounting investments in cancer research, and technological advancements in OIS. In contrast, higher costs associated with OIS services are anticipated to hinder the market growth during the forecast period from 2018 to 2023.

Regional Analysis:



The Global Oncology Information Systems Market has been segmented by region into the Americas, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the Middle East & Africa. On the basis of region, the Americas is expected to dominate the global oncology information systems market due to various major market participants domiciled, a surge in the number of cancer cases, the presence of developed healthcare infrastructure, and higher adoption rate of technologically advanced devices or services.

Europe will follow Americas in terms of revenue during the forecast period attributed to risng cancer incidence and increasing adoption and use of healthcare IT in European countries such as UK, Germany, France, Spain, and Italy. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) and International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), Europe accounts for 23.4% of the global cancer cases and 20.3% of the cancer deaths, though it has 9.0% of the global population.

The market in Asia-Pacific is anticipated to exhibit comparatively higher CAGR during the forecast period owing to the presence of geriatric population base, rising mortality burden of cancer, and growing awareness about oncology information systems in India, China, Japan, and Australia.

The Middle East & Africa has the least share of the global oncology information systems market. Additionally, the major market share of the region would be held by the Middle East region due to improving quality healthcare in the Middle East. The healthcare sector is constantly changing in the Middle East, and the industry has seen many opportunities over the past few years. The rapidly progressing technological landscape would continue to shape healthcare in the near future.

Segmentation:



The Global Oncology Information Systems Market has been segmented into product & service type, application, and end user.

By product & service type, the market has been segmented into software and professional services. The software segment is further categorized into patient information systems and treatment planning systems. The professional services segment is further divided into consulting/optimization services, implementation services, and post-sale & maintenance services.

On the basis of application, the market has been classified into medical oncology, radiation oncology, and surgical oncology.

Based on end user, the market has been categorized into hospitals & oncology clinics, government institutes, and research centers. The hospitals & oncology clinics segment is expected to hold major chunk of the market during the forecast period due to comparatively higher adoption of OIS in these healthcare settings.

Key Players:



Some of the major players in the global oncology information systems market are Accuray Incorporated, Philips Healthcare, Cerner Corporation, McKesson Corporation, Elekta AB, Altos Solutions, Inc., Varian Medical Systems, Inc., Flatiron Health, Inc., RaySearch Laboratories, Epic Systems Corporation, Bogardus Medical Systems, Inc., and CureMD Healthcare.



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Advanced Wound Therapy Devices Market Research Report: by Type (Negative Pressure Wound Therapy Systems, Electric Stimulation Devices, Hyperbaric Oxygen Equipment, Pressure Relief Devices, Others), by End-user (Hospitals & Clinics, Home Care Settings, Others), and Region  Forecast till 2027

The global advanced wound therapy devices market is anticipated to touch a value of USD 2,804.53 million by 2023, asserts Market Research Future (MRFR). The market can showcase 6.70% CAGR from 2018 to 2023 (forecast period).

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Segmentation Analysis:

The advanced wound therapy devices market is segmented by type and end-user.

By type, negative pressure wound therapy systems accounted for 42.9% share in 2017, followed by pressure relief devices (28.2%), hyperbaric oxygen equipment (15.2%), electric stimulation devices (7.9%), and others (5.8%). Negative pressure wound therapy systems can attain revenue close to USD 1,217.41 million by 2023 at 6.91% CAGR over the forecast period. But pressure relief devices are projected to experience the highest CAGR of 7.03% during the assessment period to accrue close to USD 805.35 million by 2023.

Among end-users, hospitals & clinics accounted for 73.7% share in 2017, followed by home care settings (14.5%), and others (11.8%). Hospitals & clinics can register close to 6.95% CAGR during the forecast period to generate close to USD 2,095.66 million by 2023. On the other hand, the home care settings segment is expected to exhibit 6.78% CAGR to touch a size of USD 408.50 million by the end of the forecast period.

Regional Analysis:

Region-wise, the advanced wound therapy devices market is segmented into Europe, Asia Pacific (APAC), Americas, and the Middle East & Africa (MEA).

The Americas are anticipated to reign as the leading region of the market owing to a mix of attractive reimbursement schemes, numerous treatment options, and prevalence of diabetes and chronic wounds. The region can accumulate close to USD 993.07 million by 2023 at 6.11% CAGR over the forecast period.

The European region is touted to register a notable growth rate owing to awareness of chronic wounds, rise in government initiatives, and awareness among healthcare providers. Presence of reputed companies such as Lohmann & Rauscher and technological advances of products can drive the regional advanced wound therapy devices market growth. The region can accrue close to USD 924.85 million by 2023 at 7.02% CAGR over the forecast period.

The APAC region is expected to be extremely lucrative for the advanced wound therapy devices market. This can be credited to high number of burn injury cases and awareness of NPWT devices. It can attain a size of USD 676.27 million by 2023 at 7.16% CAGR over the assessment period.

Competitive Analysis:

Notable player names in the advanced wound therapy devices market are Cardinal Health (U.S.), ConvaTec Inc. (U.K.), Smith & Nephew plc (U.K.), Triage Meditech Pvt. Ltd. (India), Medela AG (Switzerland), Sechrist (U.S.), Molnlycke Health Care AB (Sweden), B. Braun Melsungen AG (Germany), DeRoyal Industries, Inc. (U.S.), Lohmann & Rauscher GmbH & Co. KG (Germany), Perry Baromedical (U.S.), and KCI Licensing, Inc. (U.S.).

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Market Segmentation

The molecular diagnostics market has been segmented into application, end user, product, and technique. Based on the segment which is application, the market is categorized on the basis of infectious diseases, oncology, genetic tests, and others. The global market for molecular diagnostics is further segmented based on end user into diagnostic laboratories, hospitals & clinics, and others. Furthermore, the market, on the basis of product is segmented into instruments, reagents & kits, and services & software. Based on the segment which is technique, the market is categorized on the basis of hybridization, isothermal amplification, microarray, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), sequencing, and others.

Regional Overview

Inaccurate results provided by faulty diagnostic kits may hinder the molecular diagnostics market growth. The market research report suggests that companies in the molecular diagnostics industry could be supported by advances in molecular diagnostics as well as molecular diagnostic technological advances during the forecast period. The molecular diagnostics is set to register growth at a high CAGR owing to these key factors. The molecular diagnostics is spread across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and other parts of the world. The global Market reveals that APAC, North America, and Europe regional molecular diagnostics will dominate the global market for molecular diagnostics during the forecast period 2016 to 2025. As per Global Market, the market is set to witness tremendous growth across PCR, infectious disease testing, and advanced diagnostic laboratories segments in North America which covers molecular diagnostics markets across the United States, Canada, Mexico and several other regional markets. Companies active in the molecular diagnostics market are also analyzed and studied in the Global Market.
Pune, India, Market Research Future published a research report on 3D Bioprinting Market Research Report: By Technology (Microextrusion Bioprinting, Inkjet 3D Bioprinting, Laser-assisted Bioprinting, Magnetic 3D Bioprinting), By Material (Living Cells, Hydrogels, Extracellular Matrices), By Application (Research Applications, Clinical Applications), By End-user (Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology Companies, Research Organizations & Academic Institutes)  Forecast till 2028

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Market Overview

The 3D Bioprinting Market during the forecast period 2021to 2028, will register growth at a CAGR of 15.5%. The market for 3D bioprinting is set to reach US$ 4.3 Billion by 2028. As per Global Market analysts, the global market is anticipated to witness growth owing to the factors such as growing demand for organ transplantation as well as growing application of 3d bioprinting in cosmetic industry. However, the Global Market will face challenges and restraints due to the concerns associated with waste elimination and socio-ethical concerns related to the usage of 3Dbioprinted products during the forecast period 2021to 2028.

Market Segmentation

The 3D Bioprinting Market has been segmented into technology, application, end-user, and material. Based on the segment which is technology, the market is categorized on the basis of inkjet 3D bioprinting, laser-assisted bioprinting, magnetic 3D bioprinting, and microextrusion bioprinting. The global market for 3D bioprinting is further segmented based on application into research and clinical applications. Furthermore, the market, on the basis of end-user is segmented into pharmaceutical & biotechnology companies and research organizations & academic institutes. Based on the segment which is material, the market is categorized on the basis of extracellular matrices, hydrogels, and living cells.

The global Global Market research report covers all the aspects of the Global Market based on the segmental analysis of these technology, application, end-user, and material segments. Analysts have also studied the global Global Markets regional markets spread across many continents and countries. The technology, application, end-user, and material segments along with their sub-segments have been analyzed and companies functioning in the Global Market across these segments are profiled and analyzed based on input and feedback from Global Market based decision makers as well as primary and secondary sources. The Global Market research report presents analysis based information for companies functioning in the Global Market.

Regional Overview

The lack of expertise and awareness may hinder the 3D Bioprinting Market growth. The market research report suggests that companies in the Global Market could be supported by the rising investments in 3d bioprinting via public and private means as well as the growing R&D, partnerships, and acquisitions during the forecast period. The Global Market is set to register growth at a high CAGR owing to these key factors. The Global Market is spread across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and other parts of the world. The 3D Bioprinting Market research report reveals that APAC, North America, and Europe regional Global Markets will dominate the global market for 3D bioprinting during the forecast period 2015 to 2023. As per Global Market analysts, the market is set to witness tremendous growth across inkjet 3D bioprinting, hydrogels, and research applications segments in North America which covers Global Markets across the United States, Canada, Mexico and several other regional markets. Companies active in the Global Market are also analyzed and studied in the Global Market research report.

The 3D Bioprinting Market for Europe covers smaller market segments of Germany, Italy, France, and the United Kingdom. Additionally, the Global Market research report covers the Asia-Pacific region covering Global Markets from India, China, Japan, Australia, and others. The Global Market is also spread across the rest of the world. The Global Market report covers all such regions including the Middle East, Africa, Brazil, and others.

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Competitive Landscape

3D bioprinting has seen increased demand over the years, due to the cost-effectiveness of 3D bioprinted products and high demand across sectors. Companies functioning in the global Global Market are also being challenged due to lack of expertise and socioethical concerns. Mergers and acquisitions by 3D Bioprinting Market companies are anticipated to help the market during the forecast period 2021 to 2028. As the Global Market is set to register a high CAGR of 24.59% and is also anticipated to reach a US$1,923.02 milliondring the forecast period, the report highlights key areas companies need to focus on. The report suggests that the Global Market will see a healthy growth in the long run till 2028. Based on SWOT analysis and Global Markets analysis based on Porters Five Force Model presented in the Global Market report. Mergers and acquisitions by Global Market companies are anticipated to help the market during the forecast period 2021 to 2028.

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Medical Billing Market Share, Trends and Growth Analysis By Type (Professional Billing, Institutional Billing), Application (Database Management, Financial, Infrastructure, Operational) Process (Electronic Billing, Payment And Medical Billing Services) - Forecast Till 2027

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Sharp rise in healthcare costs in the past couple of years has raised concerns about reimbursement as well as billing, giving a significant boost to the demand for medical billing solutions. The alarming spike in the number of fraudulent billing cases, and pending reimbursement disputes also elevate the market demand. In the ensuing years, the market could benefit from the relentlessly burgeoning elderly population and the rapid increase in consumers opting to adopt healthcare insurances.

One of the biggest opportunities in the global market is expected to be outsourcing of medical billing services. Outsourcing of medical billing outsourcing helps boost cash flow, save costs of software and equipment, and cut down the staff size along with employee expenses.

Segmental Insight

Various medical billing types studied in the report are professional billing along with institutional billing.

Financial, operational, infrastructure, and database management are the major applications covered in the MRFR review study.

Process-based sections are medical billing, electronic billing services, along with payment.

Regional Analysis

The medical billing industry has been regionally considered for MEA/Middle East & Africa and Asia Pacific/APAC, along with Europe as well as America.

America controls the highest portion of the global market, thanks to the rapid innovations in the information technology industry. Canada coupled with the United States form the top markets in the region, given the surging need to cut down the skyrocketing medical bills and the large-scale health care spending. Substantial spending on research and development of cutting-edge systems and solutions that enhance the healthcare IT sector further catapults the regions position in the global market.

Europe is identified as the second most lucrative market, in view of the rising consolidation between the major healthcare providers paired with the favorable reimbursement policies. The surging pressure on the healthcare providers to come up with sustainable and advanced healthcare systems will ensure smooth progress for Europe in the following years.

The Asia Pacific market will be thriving at the fastest rate in the ensuing years, as a result of the sharp increase in communicable diseases and the consequent burgeoning of the patient pool. India as well as China would be the fastest mushrooming markets in the region, considering the rapidly mounting cases of chronic ailments and the disconcerting surge in medica billing frauds.

Renowned Firms

Medical billing developers considered in the MRFR research report are GeBBS Healthcare (US), Genpact (US), TCS (India), AGS Health (India), INFINIT Healthcare, HCL Technologies (India), Cognizant Technology Solutions (US), Medusind (India), Accenture (US),

These medical billing solutions providers strive to cement their market positions by adopting various strategical measures such as mergers & acquisitions, collaboration, new technology launch, and partnerships.

To illustrate, in October 2021, Waystar acquired Patientco for smoother medical billing for the patients. Waystar is a renowned US-based revenue cycle management company that offers cloud-based medical claim management as well as patient payment services. PatientCo, on the other hand, is a payments firm with primary focus on patient healthcare expenses.

Read Complete Report @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/medical-billing-market-1023

Intended Audience

Research and Development (R&D) Companies

Government and Independent Research Laboratories

Manufacturers and suppliers in billing devices

Government and Independent Regulatory Authorities

Academic Medical Institutes and Universities

About Market Research Future:

At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.
When he was not planning an operation, or strategic moves to counter Pakistan or China, Bipin Rawat would unwind to the tunes of Jhamre  a Nepali genre of music. Indias first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) would often hum his favourite songs and shake a leg at select get-togethers with troops, fortified with a drink of rum or whiskey. His love of life endeared him to the troops he commanded. In fact, on December 4, Rawat was seen enjoying an evening with the 1971 war veterans in New Delhi, to the accompaniment of Nepali music and of course, his favourite drink.

Sadly, his life was abruptly cut short on December 8, in a helicopter crash which also took the lives of 12 others, including his wife Madhulika.

His capacity for enjoying life notwithstanding, Gen. Rawat was the enemys worst nightmare. True to his heritage of highly-skilled and brave Gorkha warriors, his presence struck terror in the hearts of the enemy. Like every other Gorkha soldier, he believed that it is Better to die than live like a coward the motto of the Indian Armys Gurkha regiment.

Those were the days...

Colonel Durga Prasad (Retd.), who had a close association with General Rawat and his wife ever since he was commissioned as an officer in 1978, says the brave solider was known for his grit and fearlessness, and his troops were in awe of him. He was also highly unassuming.

Recalling an incident, Col. Durga Prasad, who belonged to the 5th battalion of Gorkha rifles along with Gen. Rawat, says, While Bipin and I were posted at Chakoti in Uri, during Dussehra time, he sprained his ankle and it had to be in plaster. Gorkhas celebrate Dussehra in a grand way, but the troops were not willing to celebrate without him. So they carried Bipin on their shoulders during the festivities, which included a bada khana (feast). And all through, the Pakistani troops, known to open unprovoked fire, watched the celebrations.

Talking about another incident, he says, We worked together in Amritsar. One fine Saturday morning, he casually told me, Lets go have a darshan of Vaishno Devi in Jammu. Before I knew it, both of us were on a bus to Jammu. We quickly walked up to Vaishno Devi, came down, got into another bus and reached Amritsar before the morning PT parade.

The retired Army official also reveals that the late Gen. Rawat had a narrow escape during an IED blast. God saved him for greater things, says Col Durga Prasad.

The Colonel, who also knew Madhulika Rawat well, says, Madhu, as I call her, hailed from a royal family but never had any airs. She was down to earth, just like Bipin. She was of great support to Bipin. She took good care of her in-laws too. She had done several courses with Art of Living.

Colonel S.K Sinha (Retd.), who was a commanding officer along with Rawat in the same formation in Arunachal Pradesh from 1999 to 2001, recalls that the late General was particularly fond of Wari Jamuna, a song by Khem Raj Gurung. He adds, Like every other soldier, General Rawat was a huge fan of Field Marshall Sam Manekshaw. He had a prominent signboard in his office with a quote of Sam Bahadur (as he was known) saying "If a man says he is not afraid of dying, he is either lying or a Gorkha."

Her art of living

The late Madhulika Rawat, who worked for the welfare of wives, children and dependents of Army personnel and was a part of many welfare programmes and campaigns, was a role model for many. Tina Bhanot, wife of Brigadier A Bhanot, says I met and interacted with General Bipin Rawat and Mrs Rawat twice  once at the Armoured Corps School and Centre, Ahmednagar, and again when my husband was Dy. Commandant, Military Institute of Technology, Girinagar, Pune, a tri-service institute directly under the CDS. As the officiating director, Defence Wives Welfare Association, I interacted with Mrs Rawat regarding the welfare activities and projects for soldiers families. She was an affectionate, simple and loving person who was approachable. She was passionate about the welfare of the soldiers and was concerned that soldiers children got the best possible coaching and medical facilities during COVID. She was a true Army wife. Tina Bhanot adds, as a couple, they were loving and social.
Ooty: Seventy years ago on December 13, 1950, a Douglas DC-3/C-47 Dakota VT-CFK of Air India crashed near Kil Kotagiri in the Nilgiris killing all 17 passengers and four crew members.

D. Venugopal, director of Nilgiri Documentation Centre, said a military search party found the wreckage a week after the accident on December 19 in the Denad reserve forest near Kil-Kotagiri, 40 miles north of Coimbatore. The party found the plane completely disintegrated and the bodies decomposed.

The wreckage was found in a rocky valley below Rangaswami Hill, eight miles from Kil-Kotagiri, at an elevation of about 6,000 feet. The military party and medical team from Wellington had to crawl one and a half miles to reach the spot.

Kuttappa Kurup, a forest guard, and a washerman were the first to spot the wreckage. Inspector Mansfield of Ooty police with his party rushed to the place and saw the plane lying in a million and one bits. The belongings of passengers were lying scattered.

Viswanathan, inspector of post-office, Coonoor, who arrived at the spot with his team salvaged most of the mails. Valuables were brought back by the police.

A military party consisting of 100 officers and sepoys led by Lt. Col. Mukherjee of the Defence Service Staff College at Wellington comprised the search party.

Tigers and wild elephants followed the search team. As it was considered impossible to remove the bodies from the spot owing to the tough terrain, an inquest was conducted on the spot, Venugopal added.

An army chopper crashed near a jungle in Coonoor in 1982 in which a pilot and co-pilot were killed.
Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao said the collieries has been producing 65 million tonnes of coal every year and meeting the needs of thermal power plants in Telangana state, AP, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. (DC Image)

Hyderabad: Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to stop auctioning of four coal blocks in Singareni as was proposed by the Union Coal Ministry. Notably, workers unions in Singareni Collieries have given the call for a 3-day strike from Thursday, opposing the Centres move to auction the four coal blocks.

The Chief Minister wrote a letter to the Prime Minister on Wednesday. He said the collieries has been producing 65 million tonnes of coal every year and meeting the needs of thermal power plants in Telangana state, AP, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

After the bifurcation of the state, the maximum demand for power in Telangana state was 5,661 MW in 2014. By March 2021, it went up to 13,688 MW and it is essential to ensure uninterrupted supply of coal for the power generation plants, the Chief Minister said.

Based on the Singareni needs, the state government had issued several mining licences, which the Centre is aware of, and the Union coal ministry also gave its green signal for these, Rao noted.

The Chief Minister urged the Prime Minister to advise the Union coal ministry to stop the auction of JBROC-3, Sravanpally OC, Koya Gudem OC-3 and KK-6 UG Block under the Union ministrys Trench 13, as it would adversely impact the needs under Singareni jurisdiction for coal. He also urged the PM to allocate these blocks to the Singareni Collieries.
HYDERABAD: The three men involved in two different cases of drunk driving over the weekend, killing four people, were all booked under culpable homicide not amounting to murder by the Hyderabad and Cyberabad police.

In the first case, the Banjara Hills police, who arrested Bazar Rohit Goud, 29, a businessman from Uppal and Vedulla Sai Soman Reddy, 27, owner of a pharma company Arktek Labs, for running over two employees of a private hospital with their luxury car, a Porsche bearing the number TS 08 HR 3344, registered in the name of Goud.

Hyderabad city police commissioner Anjani Kumar said that during the intervening night of December 5 and 6, at about 1:37 am, a fatal road accident was reported at Road Number 2 of Banjara Hills. Ayodhya Rai, 24, and Debendra Kumar Das, 29, were killed in the accident. At about 1:45 am, the patrolling staff of Jubilee Hills police station at Road Number 5 of Jubilee Hills noticed one black colour Porsche with damaged front portion driven in the wrong direction and parked in the cellar of Padmavathi Nilayam. Suspecting the damages, home guard Jithender took photographs and upon knowing about the accident, the patrolling party alerted night duty officer Harishwar Reddy who, in turn, contacted the Banjara Hills police, took the two men into custody and handed them over the same to them at 3:15 am, explained the official.

Based on a complaint by Ram Pravesh, uncle of Ayodhya Rai, a complaint was booked against the two men and they were booked under section 304 (II) and 109 of the IPC and section 185 of the M.V. Act.

In the second case, accused Chittampally Sanjeeva, who was arrested for drunk driving and killing a couple by the Narsingi Police, was sent to jail for culpable homicide not amounting to murder on Wednesday.

The accident, reported on December 6 at Shankarpally-Hyderabad road, killed Durgam Raju and his wife Durgam Mounika, said the police, adding that Sanjeevas BAC reading was 148 mg/100 ml of blood, whereas legally permissible limit is 30 mg/100 ml of blood. A case was booked under section 304 (ii) of the IPC and section 185 and 119 r/w 177 of the MV Act and he was placed under arrest.

The Cyberabad traffic police appealed to the public to introspect on these and start behaving responsibly while driving any vehicle on public roads in view of road safety. The citizens are urged not to encourage drunken driving at all for any reason whatsoever, police said.

Timeline

December 5

5:17 pm - Goud and Reddy celebrate a birthday party at Olive Bistro near Durgam Cheruvu.

9:42 pm - Leave the place after the party where they consumed alcohol.

10:30 pm - Enter Fat Pigeon pub at Jubilee Hills Road Number 45 to consume more alcohol.

11:45 pm - Leave the place.

December 6

12:30 am - They reach Radisson Blu hotel at Banjara Hills to have more drinks.

1:19 am - Leave from the hotel in an inebriated state.

1:22 am - A CCTV camera of Banjara Hills police captures them at Road Number 3 after the accident.

1:24 am - They were again spotted on KBR Junction's CCTV.

1:39 am  Try to hide at Padmavati Plaza road.

1:45 am -- Patrolling vehicles of Jubilee Hills notice the damaged car.

3:15 am -- Police teams take them into custody from the place.

5:40 am -- Complaint received from the deceased persons uncle.
VIJAYAWADA: Andhra Pradesh government informed AP High Court that it is reviewing GO 59 issued earlier to appoint village/ward secretaries for women protection as women police personnel.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra and Justice B.S. Bhanumathi was hearing a batch of petitions filed challenging GO No. 59 issued on June 23 here on Thursday.

Government pleader Vivekananda informed the court that the state government is reviewing GO 59. He sought some time to submit more details on the issue.

The court adjourned the case and will hear it again after two weeks.
The tragic death of Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Bipin Rawat in a freak helicopter crash near Coonoor in Tamil Nadus Nilgiris on Wednesday is a major blow to the security establishment of the country at a crucial transitional time.

It is a transitional time in two senses. First, India is moving towards a unified command of all the three wings of the defence services for the first time, and the new set-up has not yet become the norm. It will of course happen in time after the succession to the post of CDS becomes a smooth, routine affair, when representatives of all three services occupy the post, and help in the integration and evolution of the unified command system.

Though it had been conceptualised and deliberated upon for nearly two decades by successive administrations, it was the Nare-ndra Modi government which decided to make the change and create the Central Defence staff, and named Gen. Rawat as its first chief. Gen. Rawat, on his part, took to the job with a natural flair.

He began to articulate what the change meant. Gen. Rawat had tried to infuse new thinking that comes with institutional change. He had sought to show that each of the armed services needed to view a future war as one force, and the role of each wing was also modified by the changes in technology and the new weaponry that comes with it. For example, he tried to show that air power did not necessarily mean more squadrons of fighter planes because the missile systems have changed the concept of attacking enemy targets. It is no doubt a debatable idea, but Gen. Rawat mooted it with clarity. There has been some opposition to it, which is but natural.

The Indian armed forces have been looking at the prospect of fighting a two-front war with Pakistan and China simultaneously. But no clear ideas have emerged in this matter. It is possible that various scenarios in different theatres have been worked out, and with the caveat that they need constant modification depending on the enemy positions. In diplomatic parlance, China and Pakistan are neighbours, with whom India would strive to have friendly relations. But in terms of national security, the two countries are potential enemies.

The second sense of transition is that of the changes in the global security scenario and Indias role in it. This requires a worldview that goes beyond the devising of war scenarios.

Despite the apprehensions of Pakistan, the Western world led by the United States perceives India as a military power of importance. This was a role that Pakistan had played during the Cold War in the 1960s. Today, India, with its much larger economy and the clout that comes with it, has become an important player in global strategic affairs. This demands that Indias thinking on security expand. Indias membership of the Quad, that includes the United States, Japan and Australia, though not an explicit military formation, has significant military implications.

Gen. Rawat well understood the need for India to think about the global strategic scenario. Like a good soldier, he took the ideas that are now in vogue, and tried to understand the situation with the aid of those ideas in Indias strategic neighbourhood which lies beyond its national borders. In a speech delivered at the India International Centre in New Delhi a few months ago, he used the 1996 Samuel Huntington thesis of the clash of civilisations along religious fault lines, and tried to read the emerging scenario.

Keeping in mind Chinas close ties with Pakistan, and Beijing getting closer to Iran even as it faces a hostile United States, Gen. Rawat argued that China will align with the Islamic countries in its fight with the West. The argument becomes more plausible with Chinas getting closer to the Taliban regime in Afghanistan. Of course, he had not filled in the gaps in his thesis. He did not spell out whether the West connoted Christia-nity, and what the place of Jewish Israel and Hindu India would be in the polarised Christian-Islamic world.

There is plenty to argue and differ with Gen. Rawats worldview, and we are not even sure that this was indeed his settled view. Many in India have mocked the Huntington thesis, less on strategic grounds and more on an ideological basis. It does not require much hard thinking to see that the global strategic scenario does not lend itself to Huntingtons simplistic thesis.

With the Abrahamic Accords between the Gulf Arab countries and Israel, and the perception of Iran as an adversarial regional power by the Arab leaders, the conflict of civilisations thesis looks hopelessly inadequate. But Gen. Rawat dared to have a global view of the matter, which is what is requ-ired of Indias strategic experts. Gen. Rawat showed that this is indeed part of the job of the Chief of Defence Staff.

It is possible to infer that Gen. Rawats worldview reflects the Hindutva outlook of the right-wing BJP government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. On the face of it, that may well be the case. But a closer analysis would show that Gen. Rawat tried to infer a trend based on Chinas diplomatic and strategic alignments. We cannot, however, argue that Gen. Rawat was a Hindutva ideologue. We cannot say if he subscribed to ideology as such.

The Narendra Modi government has the difficult task of selecting Gen. Rawats successor as CDS. Perhaps it may nominate the Armys Gen. M.M. Naravane, currently the senior-most of the three chiefs, or it may choose someone from the Indian Air Force or the Navy. But seniority cannot be the only criterion. The CDS is required to bring both leadership and intellectual capabilities to the post. The more important task of the government and the future CDS would be to strengthen the idea of unified command and its smooth functioning. The rotation of the CDS among the three services would be an effective administrative solution. And it can be argued that the priority at this stage is the crystallisation of the idea of a unified command more than a worldview about the global strategic scenario. Gen. Rawats successor as CDS should continue with the views that the late general had sought to develop and modify them as one moves on. The need for continuity is quite crucial in these early stages of moving towards a unified command.
This is the first biggest move from Twitter after the recent departure of the company's former CEO Jack Dorsey. (Photo: PTI)

Washington: Social media giant Twitter has acquired Quill that experts suggest might let Twitter DMs better compete with other messaging apps.

As per GSM Arena, this new acquisition might result in Twitter offering more robust messaging features.

For the unversed, Quill is a messaging app for collaboration and communication with teams, one that competed with other productivity messaging platforms like Slack. It focused on keeping messages organized and its notification system was designed to keep notifications to a minimum.

Twitter DM is simple and barebones compared to other messaging platforms like Instagram, Facebook Messenger, Discord, and Telegram.

This is the first biggest move from Twitter after the recent departure of the company's former CEO Jack Dorsey. He was succeeded by Parag Agrawal, a week ago.

As per GSM Arena, Twitter could implement some sort of messaging channels for keeping in touch with large communities of users. With Twitter Blue (Twitter's premium paid-subscription tier), the platform could offer Blue-only messaging features for users with high follower counts.

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Despite much rhetoric and progress on paper, the UK remains a safe haven for dirty money, a great deal of which comes from Russia and Eurasia.

Report: UK professions supporting laundering of money & reputations of post-Soviet elite

Elite individuals from post-Soviet states are laundering their wealth and reputations in the UK, knowingly and willingly supported by a network of British professions, new research claims.

Despite much rhetoric and progress on paper, the UK remains a safe haven for dirty money, a great deal of which comes from Russia and Eurasia. Failure to tackle this thriving billion-dollar industry is materially and reputationally damaging for the UKs rule of law and to the UKs professed role as an opponent of international corruption, the report says and it calls for a new anti-kleptocracy strategy on the part of the British state.

The report by Chatham Houses Russia and Eurasia programme and authored by a team including Professor John Heathershaw from the University of Exeter, says that loopholes exploited in the service of kleptocrats and their associates, have eroded the legal systems capacity to assess corruption risk, and has transplanted authoritarian agendas and rivalries to UK settings, and undermined the integrity of important domestic institutions.

British lawyers, estate agents and wealth managers are not merely responding to a legitimate demand for legal services but generating that demand through their participation in a vibrant commercial market servicing the proceeds of kleptocracy, the authors say.

Failure by both financial and non-financial institutions to undertake effective due diligence or apply proper risk based approach, is giving these oligarchs and individuals to easy access to and influence on British society, it says.

This enabling occurs not just through huge property and other investment but through philanthropy to British universities and institutions coupled with aggressive public relations campaigns and litigation actions to clean up their reputations. The individuals, many of them from former USSR republics such as Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan widely use libel actions, cease and desist orders, PR agents, private intelligence and surveillance companies against journalists and investigators.

In addition to naming individuals and case studies, the report singles out the UK Conservative party over its disproportionate and increasing number of donations saying it suggests that it may be open to influence from wealthy donors who originate from post-Soviet kleptocracies, and who may retain fealty to these regimes.

They say the global community and the UK specifically need to adopt a new approach if they are serious about tackling the threat posed by the presence of kleptocrats, their associates and their financial flows. They have outlined a nine-point anti-kleptocracy strategy with recommendations.

The UK has a long road ahead if it wants to address some of the damage caused by its servicing of post-Soviet elites and addiction to the suspicious capital that flows into the country in its billions.

Now is the time for the UK government to acknowledge these risks and to address them with a coherent strategy.
Peace, Love and Little Donuts has opened up a new location in Florence, Kentucky. There's just about every kind of doughnut you can drea...
Incorporated in 1958 for hardware manufacturing, Takahashi Metal Industries Co., Ltd. made a debut to its Environmental Products Division twenty years ago and launched its production in 1998.

Our R & D team had focused on developing a new environmental friendly oil cleaning solution Takahashi Ion-Water System (TIWS)  for the automobile industry before we kicked off with our actual production. Eventually we succeeded and now over 900 units of TIWS are sold to Japanese manufacturers including reputed automobile brands like Toyota, Nissan and Honda, said Mr. Yoshihiro Hattori, Manager of Sales Section, Environmental Products Division of Takahashi Metal.

With strong market penetration in Japan mainly through word-of-mouth referral, Takahashi Metal recently took a more proactive role to expand its overseas market by taking part in a Bio-Technology Mission organized by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), flying to Hong Kong to meet a number of potential users pre-selected by the Councils Business Matching Service. Besides looking for new business partners, Mr. Hattori also aimed at exploring new application areas for its ion water cleaning concept.

The meetings with different potential buyers are very meaningful, they have inspired me to think of new applications of our TIWS technology. I have discussed with one of the companies  a Chinese herbal medicine manufacturer  about the possibility of utilizing the technology to intensify the concentration of their herbal products, thus elevating their functional performance. The company is also thrilled by the idea and is planning to visit us in Japan, enthused Mr. Hattori.

Mr. Hattori was also impressed by the openness of Hong Kong companies towards new technology concepts, and with many of them already shifted their production base to the Chinese Mainland, he believed Hong Kong would become a stepping stone for Takahashi Metal to explore the Mainland market.

It will be terrific if Hong Kong manufacturers can take the lead to use our system in their Mainland facilities; Im sure other Chinese companies will get interested soon. All in all, the meetings have fulfilled the targets of my visit and I look forward to achieving fruitful results after further discussion with these companies, remarked Mr. Hattori.
When Joe Biden talked with a gruff voice and coughed, the press was alarmed. When asked about COVID tests, he fibbed he should have answered that transparently.

The president's health has been the topic, and his recent medical treatment has drawn questions about whether he can finish his term. Biden needs to finish his term because many are not keen on Kamala Harris taking over anytime soon.

Biden's health condition during the press conference

During his speech in the White House about the situation about American job, figures were delivered with an unusually hoarse voice with intermittent coughing caught the attention of press covering him, reported the Express UK.

Fox News reported Peter Doocy asked about his health status, followed by the POTUS saying he is fine.

He explained that he took daily COVID tests, and it was the sniffles from his grandchild. After the Friday press meets, White House doctor Kevin O' Connor prepped an assessment. He said that his boss had taken three, not five, tests to check for infection during the week in question.

The topic covered the growth of US jobs in the report that pointed to a slowdown in November, a paltry 210,000 jobs available, cited USA Today.

Prediction of 500,000 jobs would arise even as the newest variant is on the horizon, but no promises if there are no lockdowns to come.

During the speech, Joe Biden's voice got hoarser, and he was coughing in the middle of his speech, which drew attention and doubt, especially the COVID tests inaccuracy.

Read Also: Joe Biden's Dismissive Attitude, Failed Policies Fails the Democratic Party As Voters Want Him Out of White House

This prompted Doocy to ask if the US leader was fine. Biden then answered that he was okay as he had a daily COVID-19 test, also checking for the various strains. Adding that he was near his grandson with a cold, he likes to kiss his grandpop.

Biden denies being sick

This claim by the president was not accurate as per his doctor's assessment that read, Biden had a cold this week. Also, the term 'frog in the throat' would be fit to describe the president's condition in that instance.

One of the most common signs of SARS-CoV-2 and other pathogenic diseases like influenza and streptococcus, which his result came out negative for the virus, and three tests were done to check for infection this week.

Last November, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki got sick with the coronavirus, and press corps members asked how protocols applied from the top, noted Al Jazeera.

Despite Mr. Biden's critique of the GOP members for not wearing a mask, he has been loose with those mask-wearing rules. He took off his mask at one public appearance and joined a crowd with no social distancing. Ironically, he was seen without a mask where it was required, as indicated in a sign on the establishment. He has done it several times, and conservatives have asked how they do it without getting severely criticized.

One time Doocy asked the press secretary how the president could break the rule and not get cited. Psaki said he follows the safety rules and wants everyone in the White House safe. The question lies whether Biden really followed the protocol for the virus, as he did not give accurate info about COVID tests he had taken.

Related Article: Joe Biden Voters Get 'Buyer's Remorse' Over Dismal First Year Leading Trump To Stride Into West Wing Easily

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According to an archeologist, the long search for Cleopatra's tomb might be over. It's only a chapter in the search for clues, a breakthrough that might lead to the mummy of the ancient Egyptian queen.

Former criminal lawyer Kathleen Martinez, a Dominican national, is central to searching the Queen's tomb. Her last resting place is not known, but there is hope that her tomb will eventually be found.

Lawyer turned archaeologist obsessed with Cleopatra

It was fifteen years ago when the former lawyer left her former life and chose to pursue the mystery of Cleopatra and become an Egyptologist digging in the sand, the Express UK reported.

In one engagement, Martinez spoke to the National, saying that the discovery of King Tut drew global attention, the last resting place of Cleopatra will be spectacular. She added scientific value to the study of ancient Egypt and the tourism it will finally bring to see her.

The tomb marks the end of Ptolemaic Egypt and the last ruler of the kingdom on the Nile. Once she fell, the empire that lasted for several millennia ended with the coming of Rome.

Final clues in search for Cleopatra's tomb in Egypt

The ex-criminal lawyer turned Egyptologist has spent the last fifteen years locating the last queen's tomb, a direct descendant of the Greco-Macedonian Ptolemaic dynasty. The Macedonian Alexander the Great won the Nile kingdom in 300 B.C., where Cleopatra descended from.

In 30 B.C, the Ptolemian queen chose suicide over getting caught alive by the Romans. Her death ended Egypt, and Cleopatra's tomb is its last monument to the end of civilization.

Read Also: Scholars Studying the Ancient City of Petra Discover Women's Status Was Equal to Men During this Millennia

Considering all the clues gained from the site seem to suggest the quest will hopefully end. Most of her colleagues doubt if the search is at its end.

Martinez suggests that the legendary queen's last resting place is in the Taposiris Magna, one of the bigger temple complexes as wide as seven square kilometers. It is found about 50 km west of Alexandria, cites Reuters.

The temple complex is for the worship of the Egyptian goddess Isis, where not only Cleopatra may be buried and other Pharaohs of her dynasty.

She added that if the last Ptolemian queen is found, her relatives would be a huge find by far. Also, Taposiris Magna was built by the Greco-Egyptian dynasties to equal the Valley of the Kings. Search for clues to the tomb has preoccupied her and the fuel to search for the missing queen.

The group consisting of Egyptologists and their Bedouin helpers and their leader, Martinez, succeeded in finding coinage with the images of Cleopatra and Mark Antony.

In the complex with the underground passages and burial chambers were found skeletons, a general, and mummies inside when they explored. It got more exciting with tablets as big as mobile phones with the temple, god, and ruler during that time. It was a huge discovery that could improve with a key to Cleopatra's grave.

Martinez's success in obtaining these antiquities on display in Egypt and the US. Her hopes are high that Cleopatra's tomb is just around the corner with all the puzzle pieces falling into place.

Related Article: Ancient Luxor Garbage Dump Yield Offerings Inside Temple Dedicated to Hathor; Artifacts Found Related to Ancient Egyptian Love, Fertility

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New information regarding the murder of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi has just been released.

According to reports, Khashoggi was a known critic of the Saudi Arabian government. He was last seen entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on Sept. 28, 2018. While there, he was murdered and then dismembered by individuals working for Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman approved journalist's murder

Salman was found responsible for Khashoggi's murder, but he was not charged with anything. His former personal security official, Khalid Aedh Al-Otaibi, was reportedly involved in the journalist's killing.

After three years, Al-Otaibi was arrested at the Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris while he was about to board his flight to Riyadh. Turkish authorities reportedly filed an arrest warrant for Al-Otaibi, but French officials were the ones that handed him the warrant.

According to the Huffington Post, 26 other Saudi Arabians are wanted in Turkey for the murder of Khashoggi. Al-Otaibi is also one of the 12 Saudi officials sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury in 2018 for the journalist's death.

Read Also: Iowa Resident Found Guilty of Murder; Victim's Family Wants Him Charged With Hate Crime

Khashoggi's former fiancee welcomed the news of Al-Otaibi's arrest and said that he should be punished for his contribution to the journalist's murder. She also said that France should try Al-Otaibi for his crime or extradite him to a country where proper investigation and prosecution could take place.

But in a shocking twist, the Saudi Embassy in Paris released a statement saying that Al-Otaibi had no involvement in Khashoggi's murder.

Khaled Aedh Al-Otaibi a victim of mistaken identity

According to Al Jazeera, a security source in Saudi Arabia said that the Al-Otaibi surname is very common in the kingdom. They also said that the man that authorities were looking for had been in prison in Saudi Arabia together with the other defendants in the case.

An investigation is currently taking place regarding the man's identity. And if his involvement in the murder of Khashoggi will be proven, he will appear before French prosecutors in a trial.

Al-Otaibi can reportedly challenge extradition to Turkey. However, the proceedings will possibly take several weeks or months before the court can rule out whether he should be handed to Turkey against his will.

A US intelligence report released earlier this year revealed that Saudi Crown Prince Salman approved the murder of Khashoggi. However, the government has also denied the allegations.

"Media reports suggesting that a person who was implicated in the crime against Saudi citizen Jamal Khashoggi has been arrested in France are false. This is a case of mistaken identity. Those convicted of the crime are currently serving their sentences in Saudi Arabia," a source told Reuters.

French President Emmanuel Macron meets with Saudi crown prince

Khashoggi died at the age of 59. He was a prominent journalist who covered stories regarding Osama Bin Laden, the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, and more.

This week's arrest came in the heels of French President Emmanuel Macron's meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Salman. During his interview, Macron said that he and Salman talked about everything, including discussions on human rights, according to the BBC.

Related Article: Joe Biden Releases Statement After 3 White Men Were Found Guilty of Felony Murder, Death of Ahmaud Arbery

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Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are reportedly gearing for a very busy 2022 because of all their upcoming projects. Contrary to rumors, Markle won't be joining politics next year. Instead, she and her husband will focus on activism.

Royal expert Neil Sean shared his prediction about the Duke and Duchess of Sussex this week. He said that Markle is inspired to get active and reshape herself. After a challenging year, Markle also needs to rethink her use of her royal title and how it impacts the British clan.

Royal expert warns Meghan Markle against using her royal title

While speaking with Express UK, royal expert Jonathan Sacerdoti warned the Duchess of Sussex against using her royal title.

"I think that there's a sense that Meghan has increasing ambitions but maybe more as an activist than as an actual politician. I think that would be a very bold step to go and do that especially if she constantly reminds everyone that she's the Duchess of Sussex," he said.

Sacerdoti added that there's no denying the fact that Markle deserves to use her title because she's married to a member of the royal family. But if she wants to get into politics, she might have to drop the title because the royals do not get involved in political matters.

Read Also: Prince Harry Will Only Return to UK If Princes Charles, William Will Beg for It But Royals Won't, Source Says

Prince Harry, Meghan Markle gearing for second Christmas in the US

But before Prince Harry and Markle embark on more activism work, the couple will first celebrate their second Christmas in Los Angeles. Details regarding the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's plans are still being kept under wraps.

Last year, People claimed that Markle wanted to make her family's first Christmas in the United States memorable for her husband and son, Archie. The couple reportedly created new traditions at home, and Markle cooked for her family on Christmas Day.

During her interview on the "Ellen Show," Markle gave host Ellen DeGeneres an idea of how special occasions are celebrated in their $14 million mansion. She said that she would cook for her family on Thanksgiving because this is something that she enjoys doing.

The Duchess of Sussex also said they would just stay at home and relax. Since it was their second Thanksgiving in California, Markle hoped that it would be as nice as last year's festivities, according to Marie Claire.

According to US Weekly, Prince Harry and Markle are also planning to give back to their community over the holidays. A source claimed that the couple feels very fortunate to be in the position that they are in today.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex's lucrative deals revisited

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have been blessed with lucrative deals all year round. They previously signed a multi-year contract with Netflix and Spotify. Prince Harry also secured a book deal months ago. And he and his wife partnered with a high-profile investment first called Ethic.

This year, Prince Harry and Markle also welcomed their second child, Lilibet Diana, following a miscarriage in 2020. Royal fans have not seen photos of the 6-month-old baby as of press writing.

Related Article: Prince William, Kate Middleton Mum on Meghan Markle's Lawsuit Win, Shows They Don't Care, Source Says

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Royal Navy recovered the F-35 wreckage before anyone got to it, salvaging of the sunken aircraft was done by dredging on the seafloor.

Loss of the jet set off a frantic search to recover the top-secret stealth plane that sufferer a take-off mishap. The location of the missing jet was in an area that Russians were well acquainted with, good thing it did not fall into Russian hands that would be a tech bonanza. It did not help that the planes cost 100million each.

F-35 wreckage was supposed to be top secret

This incident reached the papers because the HMS Queen Elizabeth crewman was taken into custody when he posted a video of the accident on social media, which alarmed military leaders, reported the Sun UK.

A month ago, the botched take-off had an F-35 Lightning II plummeting in the Mediterranean after getting airborne from the ramp jump soon after, and it was a mad dash to find the wreck in an international search to stop the possible recovery other than NATO or US units.

The Russian federation's looming fear of snatch and grab is possible with the submarine technology possessed, and the location is said to be accessible as well. Footage from a camera on Queen Elizabeth had captured the pilot ejecting the last second when the F-35 had failed to take off after it fell off the ramp, cited the Daily Mail.

Ejecting just of the apex of the ramp, the pilot had his parachute got caught on the ship's side. Before this revelation, a search found the pilot but not the exact period. The F-35 wreckage recovered by Royal Navy is in custody after a frantic search.

Read Also: Lost RAF F-35 Fighter Starts Frantic Search for Wreckage in Mediterranean Before China or Russia Snatch Top Secret Tech

Royal Navy recovers wreckage

The British Ministry of Defense stated that the search in the Mediterranean Sea had ended after a successful search for the top-secret plane, noted the Telegraph.

US Navy specialists from the 6th Fleet HQ located in Rota Spain, a deep-sea recovery/ salvage ship equipped with deep-sea vehicle technology, were the search's lead ship.

One defense source stated that from the time of the accidental crash and ejection of the aviator, it took approximately two weeks to spot the wreck, with another week to haul it from over under a mile under the sea.

Due to the sensitive nature of technology embedded in the airframe, the Italian navy joined the international search to salvage it fast. But, during the search, participants were beset by rough seas, making it more challenging.

A male crew member was apprehended this week and taken off the ship to a UK base, said the UK Defence Journal.

Officials remarked that the plane had intact components, and nothing was compromised. One of the reasons for the failure to take off is due to a rain cover that was left negligently that was sucked into the engine, causing a malfunction. The pilot cut out his harness and was taken from the water after bailing out by a rescue helicopter.

HMS Queen Elizabeth was pushing forward the accident happened and sailed past the crash spot when the plane crashed into the sea, losing one of the F-35s has only 23 planes onboard.

A charter ship has the remains of the F-35 and sailing to an undisclosed port, then airlifted by the RAF to the UK. Reports of the F-35 Wreckage recovered by the Royal Navy and its whereabouts are not revealed until the UK gets it back.

Related Article: Royal Navy Alarmed Over Putin's Interest on Search for F-35 in Mediterranean Sea

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Former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows sued House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and all nine members of the House Select Committee on Wednesday amid investigations of the Jan. 6 Capitol Hill riot, a court filing shows.

Meadows filed a civil lawsuit as the select panel plans to hold the former chief of staff in contempt for refusing to cooperate with a subpoena and testify for the Jan. 6 investigations. At the time, then-President Donald Trump's supporters gathered and stormed the Capitol.

Civil Lawsuit Against Select Committee

The former chief of staff filed the civil lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Washington and asked the court to invalidate two of the select committee's subpoenas issued to Meadows and Verizon, the carrier for his prior personal mobile phone. Additionally, the lawsuit called the subpoenas "overly broad and unduly burdensome."

Meadows' 43-page complaint also notes that former President Trump told the official in early October not to comply with the subpoena that sought his documents and testimony, saying they were covered by executive privilege. However, President Joe Biden had waived Trump's privilege claims, forcing the Republican businessman to file his own lawsuit against the select committee's Jan. 6 investigations, CNBC reported.

In the civil lawsuit, the former chief of staff's attorneys wrote that if Meadows did comply with the select committee's subpoenas, he would be "illegally coerced into violating the Constitution." The official's lawyers said that the House Select Committee was wrongly seeking to have both Meadows and Verizon provide information to the committee that lacks authority to seek and obtain.

Read Also: White House Authorizes Massive $770 Billion Pentagon Funding That Includes Support of Taiwan, $300 Million For Ukraine Defense

Meadows' lawyers allege that the House Select Committee's subpoenas were violating "long-standing principles of executive privilege and immunity." Due to the legal disputes between Biden and Trump regarding executive privilege, the former chief of staff said he was put in the "untenable position of choosing between conflicting privilege claims."

Turned-Over Documents

However, courts have also denied former President Trump's requests for injunctions against the National Archives to prevent the release of records from the Trump White House. Just last week, Meadows agreed to sit for a deposition before the panel of lawmakers. But on Tuesday, the former chief of staff reversed course after already turning over thousands of pages of documents, including text messages, The Daily Beast reported.

The turned-over documents include emails that showed Meadows, as early as Nov. 7, 2020, talking about a plot for Republican-controlled states to send "alternate" slates of presidential electors to Congress on Jan. 6, 2021. Additionally, the former chief of staff texted one member of Congress regarding the idea, saying, "I love it."

In a Dec. 7 letter, committee chairman Rep. Bennie Thompson told Meadows' lawyer, George Terwilliger, that the House Select Committee had no other choice but to advance contempt proceedings and recommend the former chief of staff be referred for criminal justice prosecution.

The House Select Committee was already in possession of text messages from Meadows' personal mobile phone. One text message in January 2021 was between Meadows and an organizer of the Jan. 6 rally at the Ellipse. The documents also included text messages talking about the need for former President Trump to issue a public statement that may have prevented the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, Business Insider reported.

Related Article: Third Accuser Testifies in Ghislaine Maxwell Trial, Claims She was Groped as 14-Year-Old; Jury Sees New Photos of Jeffrey Epstein, Defendant

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As she testified in the current sex-trafficking trial involving the British socialite, an accuser claimed to have seen a photograph of Ghislaine Maxwell "naked and pregnant" in Jeffrey Epstein's house.

Carolyn, a woman who only gave her first name, told a New York court on Tuesday that she saw the photo at the Palm Beach house of late convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

Accuser saw Ghislaine Maxwell's photo "nude and pregnant"

Carolyn, who has not used a pseudonym, has accused Maxwell of touching her when she was 14 and claims she gave sexualized massages to Epstein two to three times a week for roughly four years.

Maxwell, who had a relationship with Epstein, is on trial for allegedly recruiting underaged girls for sexual abuse by the infamous billionaire, who committed suicide in a New York jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking crimes.

Maxwell's lawyer, Jeff Pagliuca, asked Carolyn whether she had seen a photograph of the socialite looking pregnant. Lawyers then showed her an image, which she said was not the one she had seen.

According to many media sources, while Maxwell is not known to have children, no more facts regarding the claimed pregnancy were mentioned in court. The relationship between Maxwell and Epstein has been called into question multiple times during the trial, The Independent reported.

Several witnesses have stated that they were a couple or had a business relationship while prosecutors have stated that they were "partners in crime." The two was seen kissing in one of the photos given as proof. The image was supposedly found on a table at Epstein's Palm Beach mansion.

Carolyn claimed she had given Epstein more than 100 sexualized massages since she was 14, according to cross-examination in court. Virginia Roberts, she said, had introduced her to Ghislaine Maxwell and had escorted her to Epstein's Palm Beach home.

Read Also: Authorities Start Manhunt For Michigan School Shooting Suspect's Parents After Prosecutors Charge Them

Jeffrey Epstein desired to have a child

During Ghislaine Maxwell's sex trafficking and abuse trial, her peculiar relationship with Jeffrey Epstein has been in the limelight. The prosecution quickly produced an image of Epstein with his hand on her stomach beneath her coat shortly after the accusation was made, as per The Sun.

Maxwell is accused of "serving" girls for former boyfriend Epstein to abuse, as well as participating in some of the attacks - both of which she denies. Prosecutors have called them "partners in crime" in the abuse of young women.

There has been no more word about the new photo or whether Maxwell is truly pregnant. But one thing is certain: Epstein desired children, and not simply for a family.

Strange rumors about his odd obsession with seeding the human race with his DNA have arisen over the years. Maxwell isn't known to have ever had children, and the purported pregnancy was kept under wraps in court. However, it has been stated that the couple planned to produce a child using one of Epstein's victims as a surrogate.

Virginia Roberts claims that when she was 19, Epstein urged her to be a surrogate since she was too old for his perversions. She would be granted a mansion in exchange for carrying his child, who would be reared by Maxwell.

Virginia Roberts Guiffre, as she is now called, says she was just 17 when she was groomed by Maxwell and used as a sex slave by Epstein. She also claims she had intercourse with Prince Andrew in a toilet, an accusation that the Royal Palace strongly refutes.

According to her lawyer, Brad Edwards, Epstein and Maxwell suggested to her that she carry their child. "They promised Virginia that she would care for the rest of her life if she agreed to have a kid with Epstein and Maxwell, but there were certain conditions," said the Mail on Sunday.

Related Article: Third Accuser Testifies in Ghislaine Maxwell Trial, Claims She was Groped as 14-Year-Old; Jury Sees New Photos of Jeffrey Epstein, Defendant

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German Chancellor Angela Merkel hands over her office to Olaf Scholz, who was sworn in along with his new cabinet, marking the beginning of a new chapter for Europe's largest democracy.

During the event, Merkel wished Scholz well and called the chancellorship "one of the most beautiful duties there are." On Wednesday, an era of German politics ended after Merkel handed her position to her successor.

New German Chancellor

For the first time in the last 16 years, the region will now have a center-left government led by Scholz, who now finds himself in the difficult position of living up to high expectations left by Merkel's former government. With the former chancellor's leadership, Germany became Europe's leading power.

Merkel steered her country and the entire continent through a series of local and international crises before leaving her post. The former chancellor first announced her planned departure in 2018 when she said she would not be seeking re-election despite being the most popular politician in Germany, the New York Times reported.

Scholz, who is the leader of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), won the secret vote in the Parliament as many expected. The election win was a result of months of negotiations after the SPD's narrow victory in the federal elections in September.

Read Also: White House Authorizes Massive $770 Billion Pentagon Funding That Includes Support of Taiwan, $300 Million For Ukraine Defense

After the swearing-in ceremony, Scholz visited German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who then officially appointed the official as the country's new chancellor. Scholz was then sworn in at the Parliament.

Scholz, who is 63 years old, previously served as the Labor and Social Affairs minister in former chancellor Merkel's first coalition government in the last 2000s. He was then elected mayor of Hamburg in 2011, a position he held until 2018 while garnering high levels of support, CNN reported.

Effect on Global Economy

The new appointment of German chancellor Scholz has an anticipated effect on the global economy. During an interview with Scholz when he visited London to negotiate a deal on global multinational taxation, he expressed his tearful joy at the G7 agreement. He said that that deal "will really change the world."

Scholz's entrance as Germany's new chancellor comes with various signature pieces of economic policies. The first is short-time working schemes, which were previously promoted in Germany and are now being utilized across Europe and even in the United Kingdom under the guise of the furlough scheme.

The new German chancellor said that short-term allowance, Kurzarbeit, the method which he used when he was still working as the minister of labor in Germany a decade ago, was now being used in various countries in Europe. Scholz said that the use of the method showed that it was the right thing to do against a crisis such as the coronavirus pandemic.

Scholz is also responsible for the Agenda 2010 reforms of the last center-left Chancellor Gerhard Schroder. They resulted in significant reductions in the cost of labor in the country with the creation of low-paid "mini-jobs", and led to a rapid rise in German export competitiveness, resulting in the revival of the country's economy, BBC reported.

Related Article: Third Accuser Testifies in Ghislaine Maxwell Trial, Claims She was Groped as 14-Year-Old; Jury Sees New Photos of Jeffrey Epstein, Defendant

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Former United States President Donald Trump said that if he failed to run for the country's highest position in the 2024 elections, his base was going to be "very angry," marking the latest in the Republican businessman's tease of a presidential run.

Trump's comments came on Wednesday during "The Hugh Hewitt Show," a podcast broadcast that is hosted by the conservative political pundit. During the interview, Hewitt asked the former president which candidate his base would support if he chose not to run in the 2024 elections.

Trump's Potential Presidential Run

While Trump said his base might be angry if he decides to forego running in the 2024 elections, he said that he was focused primarily on making endorsements leading into the 2022 midterm elections. The Republican said he would talk about a potential 2024 presidential endorsement if he decides not to run after the midterms.

Afterward, Hewitt said that conservative pundit John Solomon suggested that Trump should stay as the "king" and just lead the Republican party from the rear and be the head state of the GOP, Newsweek reported.

Since Trump left the White House in January following his defeat against Democratic President Joe Biden in the 2020 elections, he has continued to tease a potential 2024 run. However, the Republican businessman has stopped short of actually announcing a 2024 presidential campaign.

Read Also: Joe Biden Introduces New Brand in Promoting Infrastructure Deal; Tries To Get Americans Excited in Missouri

Last month, Trump suggested that he would win the Republican presidential nomination if he actually decided to run for the country's highest position. In November, he also told reports that he would "probably" wait before finalizing a decision on a 2024 presidential run.

Several polls have found that many Republicans still want Trump to be the one to lead the party, remain as a major political figure, and run in the 2024 presidential elections. On Tuesday, in a poll that simulated a hypothetical 2024 rematch between Trump and Biden, the votes were virtually tied, Business Insider reported.

Other GOP Candidates

Former President Trump's continued tease of a potential 2024 presidential run has stymied the selection of the next Republican presidential primary. Each of the rumored GOP members that may run in the next presidential elections is struggling to choose between publicly acknowledging their hopes to become the party's nominee or wait for Trump to finalize his decision.

On the other hand, Democrats are keeping a close eye to see the degree of loyalty that the Republican officials show their former president. There are some likely 2024 presidential contenders from the GOP side that have created campaigns-in-waiting, hiring trusted advisers, meeting with donors, and visiting several states to gather support

However, all of these potential contenders know that it could all be for naught if Trump decides to run as the party's presidential nominee. For example, former Vice President Mike Pence is set to travel on Wednesday to New Hampshire to meet with GOP donors at a fundraiser for state Republicans.

At the event, conservative activism group Heritage Action is expected to critique the Biden administration in a speech. However, it was noted that Pence did not say whether or not he would refrain from challenging his former superior in the next presidential primary, CNN reported.



Related Article: Biden Administration's Vaccine Mandate For Private Sector Faces Opposition in Senate, With McConnell Calling it a 'Blatant Overreach'

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China has warned the UK, US, Canada, and Australia that a diplomatic boycott of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics will cost them dearly.

The United States announced its boycott earlier this week, citing rampant Chinese human rights violations and what it calls a "genocide" against the Muslim Uyghur minority in Xinjiang.

On Wednesday, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada followed suit in a rush of diplomatic goodwill. The boycott did not result in no athletes being sent, but it incensed Beijing, threatening retaliation on Thursday.

Russia slams the US for boycotting at Beijing Olympics

France stated it would not boycott the February Games because "sports is a world in itself that must be protected from political influence." On the other hand, the Kremlin slammed the US action, saying the 2022 games should be "politically neutral." Russian President Vladimir Putin has already accepted Chinese President Xi Jinping's offer to attend.

Meanwhile, Thomas Bach, the president of the International Olympic Committee, stated on Wednesday that he would remain politically neutral on the issue, adding that the most important thing was "the athletes' participation in the Olympic Games," as per Daily Mail.

Human Rights Watch's China director Sophie Richardson has welcomed the boycott, calling it a "crucial step in challenging the Chinese government's crimes against humanity targeting Uyghurs and other Turkic people."

According to advocates, at least one million Uyghurs and other Turkic-speaking, predominantly Muslim minorities have been imprisoned in Xinjiang's "re-education camps," where China is also accused of forcefully freezing women and enforcing forced labor.

China has denied any wrongdoing in Xinjiang, which is home to the Uyghur Muslim minority and has defended the camps as vocational training facilities to diminish the appeal of Islamic extremism. Relations between Beijing and the four boycotting Western countries have deteriorated considerably in recent years.

Read Also: Court Upholds Guilty Verdict Against Najib Razak; Former Malaysian PM Expresses Disappointment, Claims He Created Wealth for Malaysia

US enacts restrictions against Xinjiang

Following the United States' decision to exclude its diplomats and officials from the Olympics due to "egregious human rights violations and crimes in Xinjiang," China has responded, Sky News reported.

The US House of Representatives passed legislation on Wednesday restricting imports from the region due to fears of forced labor. Although China has denied any human rights violations against the Uyghur people, there have been allegations of torture and fatalities inside the renowned re-education camps.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison confirmed Australia's diplomatic boycott two days after the US declaration, escalating already tense diplomatic relations with Beijing. He said Australia has struggled to restore diplomatic channels with China to raise alleged human rights violations in Xinjiang, China's far western region, and Beijing's anti-import measures.

The United States has been intensifying its pressure on China. Apart from the alleged human rights violations, the House of Representatives voted three measures against China on Wednesday, including a ban on imports from Xinjiang and condemnation of the "ongoing genocide" in the province, as well as forced labor.

Per The Independent, with 428 votes in favor and none against, a resolution claiming that the International Olympic Committee had breached its human rights commitments by working with China was easily carried. According to Gao Feng, China firmly opposes the restrictions, a spokesperson for the Chinese trade ministry.

Related Article: American Officials Could Skip Beijing Olympics 2022 After Joe Biden Failed To Make Breakthroughs Over Human Rights Issues

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With an award-winning company culture rooted in core values and an eagle eye on San Diego's commercial property trends, Jason Hughes and Hughes Marino show no signs of slowing down anytime soon. Earlier this year, Jason Hughes opened a Denver office. Jason Hughes is at the helm of one of the most sought-after tenant-representation firms in San Diego and throughout the U.S. and plays a pivotal role in leading San Diego through a renaissance of life science real estate.

The firm represents a variety of life science sectors, including biotechnology, medical devices and diagnostics, industrial biotech, testing laboratories, and GMP manufacturers. Hughes Marino is a vital catalyst for leasing, renewing, buying, or building life science biotech space, offering the utmost precision in securing lab space and life science-specific space requirements.

The list of intricate details the team has to consider when connecting life science clients with the proper workspace is highly detailed and can be quite lengthy. For example, when shopping for, or constructing, life science space, backup generators, pressure-controlled tissue culture rooms, exterior hazardous-materials storage, and vibration-sensitive equipment are among the many prerequisites to consider.

Jason Hughes of San Diego: Latest Life Science Projects

Hughes Marino took on a cutting-edge women's health company as a client. The company hired Jason Hughes' team to head up its expansion, which features a new break room with a free-form ceiling and an overhaul of its conference center, lobby, and reception area.

Jason Hughes and his team have also revisited a partnership with a life science giant. The industry-leading biotech company, which has been flourishing thanks to its convenient testing kits, is tying up the initial phase of a tenant improvement project at the company's latest manufacturing facility. The new facility will allow for quicker production of diagnostic kits for infectious diseases. Upon completion, which is slated for year-end, the facility will house temperature-controlled manufacturing, large open-area and private office spaces, a RODI (reverse osmosis/deionization) system, and other tech upgrades.

Another life science project with the popular firm involved revamping a spec office and more than doubling a lab space to allow for more sophisticated research.

With decades of experience working with life science companies, Jason Hughes' project management group is highly skilled in completing tasks on time and within budget.

From tenant and buyer representation to lease restructuring and commercial property outsourcing, Jason Hughes' firm continues to be dedicated to remaining an industry leader in the San Diego community and throughout the U.S. for biotech firms.

Core Company Values

When Jason Hughes launched Hughes Marino, one of his key initiatives was to create a corporate environment where employees felt like family. Jason Hughes says he crafted leadership around 10 core values. Those values range from delivering brand excellence in all endeavors and building relationships based on trust, to being authentic, grateful, and humble while maintaining constant communication with clients.

"The companies we represent enjoy working with us, and that is largely due to our company's core values, which were created across our entire team at one of our annual retreats," Jason Hughes said.

Inclusivity is also a considerable part of the culture at Hughes Marino. In the male-dominated industry of commercial property management and tenant and buyer representation, Jason Hughes is proud to employ a team that comprises more than 50% women.

Jason Hughes and his wife Shay Hughes are constantly striving to expand their company's portfolio throughout the San Diego area, and each project is done with careful consideration and intention.

Last year, Shay was selected as a top "For All Leader" among Fortune's annual list of the 100 Best Companies to Work For, and the company topped the lists of the 100 Best Workplaces for Women, the 100 Best Workplaces for Diversity, and the 150 Best Small and Medium Companies to Work For.

Both Shay and Jason Hughes maintain an incredible work ethic that transcends the company's headquarters in San Diego.

When the team isn't attending an annual ballgame with family and friends or having a team retreat with some of the top motivational speakers in the world, Jason Hughes and the team can be found giving back to the community. The company has donated to nonprofits, including AIDS Walk and Run, American Lung Association, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Special Olympics, and Child Abuse Prevention Foundation, and they also offer volunteer time off for their team members to give back to the causes that mean the most to them.

Outside of San Diego, Jason Hughes' Denver Endeavor

Earlier this year, while most businesses downsized in the WFH era, Jason Hughes forged the opposite path by adding a Denver office. Hughes Marino offices can be found in San Diego, San Francisco, East Bay, New York, Seattle, Orange County, and Los Angeles. Executive Vice Presidents Billy Byrne and Lindsay Brown were selected to open the Denver office alongside a well-seasoned team of brokers and veteran SVP Jeff Shepard. The company's Denver office sits in a turn-of-the-century brick building, originally a showroom and warehouse for the Studebaker Buggy and Carriage Company.

As Jason Hughes gears up for another productive year, the company mantra that resounds through its offices across the country is still "onward!"

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The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket had a successful launch in its mission to bring to space the NASA IXPE, a satellite and space telescope that can analyze black holes as well as neutron stars.

SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket Launch

NASA's Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) satellite has launched aboard the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.

The IXPE satellite, which was initially announced in 2017, will be the first to monitor the polarization of X-rays emitted by cosmic objects such as black holes and neutron stars, per Engadget.

The said SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch was posted on SpaceX's Twitter account.

As of writing, the video has 67,000 views and about 3,600 likes.

To give further detail on the SpaceX launch, a used Falcon 9 rocket along with the NASA IXPE was launched at 1 a.m. ET on Thursday from Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, per Space.com. This was the fifth mission for this specific booster.

During the live broadcast of the liftoff, NASA TV's launch commentator Derrol Nail said: "Liftoff of Falcon 9 and IXPE, a new set of X-ray eyes to view the mysteries of our skies."

NASA IXPE

Aside from the fact that NASA IXPE aims to know more about the black holes and neutron stars, astronomers also hope that this satellite will provide them with a new instrument with which to investigate the universe's secrets, per Space.com.

Moreover, Technology Review stated that IXPE consists of three telescopes, each with a set of mirrors and a detector that are capable of tracking and measuring four attributes of light: direction, arrival time, energy and polarization.

When the data from all the telescopes are merged, NASA may create pictures that may reveal more about celestial objects.

Furthermore, IXPE will join NASA's other X-ray monitoring spacecraft, such as the Chandra Space Telescope which is far higher in orbit than IXPE.

To give much clarity, IXPE will focus entirely on light polarimetry, whereas Chandra is an imaging satellite that produces beautiful photographs of X-ray sources.

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The Crab Nebula, a relic of a long-dead star, will be its first target.

The leftovers of a stellar explosion are a great place to start using IXPE since it is intended to look at extremely spectacular targets.

On the other hand, the IXPE will also assist scientists to acquire greater insight and improve humanity's knowledge of the parts of space that people still barely understand by observing black holes.

Moreover, it might also reveal why black holes rotate and how they consume cosmic materials.

In relation to this, IXPE will also monitor more than 50 of the universe's most energetic known objects. Since all these items produce x-rays, IXPE will be able to observe them in great detail by measuring their polarization.

The mission's principal investigator Martin Weisskopf said during a briefing that " IXPE will help us test and refine our current theories of how the universe works."

"We may even uncover more intriguing theories about these unusual things than what we've predicted," he furthered.

The research scientist at the MIT Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research and a co-investigator for IXPE Herman Marshall added that "measuring polarization is like putting up a mirror, you might say, to the unseen part of the galaxy."

Related Article: Astronomers Make Stunning Discovery After Black Hole Collision


The COVID-19 Omicron variant is rapidly spreading across the U.S. Researchers said that the infection rate now tops 100,000 new cases per day.

Fortunately, there might be an immediate solution to this most recent threat. Experts claimed that a Pfizer booster shot might grant complete immunity over Omicron.

Researchers confirmed that Omicron infection cases are increasing in different countries across the U.S. despite their best efforts. Omicron is spread through air transmission, making it a lot more challenging to monitor. Although studies have yet to conclude whether Omicron is more deadly than Delta, Americans are advised to remain cautious over the new variant.



Omicron Variant in US: A Cautious Optimism

However, the years of research study about COVID-19 are not laid to waste. According to NPR, Americans can take advantage of a few optimistic points about the Omicron variant.

First, experts noticed that a majority of Omicron patients in the hospital do not need extra oxygen to breathe. They also realized that most of the variant's diagnoses arose from incidental findings.

Second, experts emphasized the difference between fully vaccinated citizens, who have better immunity than unvaccinated ones.

To put into context, South Africa only has one-third of its eligible population vaccinated, which is far lower than the U.S. Because of this, their number of Omicron infection cases is also a lot bigger than America.

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COVID-19 Variants: Delta and Omicron Variant

Researchers discovered one other surprising fact about the Omicron variant. Per NPR, 99 percent of the samples acquired are genetically sequenced from the Delta variant. This implies that countermeasures against the Delta variant might still be effective against the Omicron variant.

Pfizer Vaccine Efficacy: Booster Shots Against Omicron

Preliminary lab studies on the topic showed that two doses of Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine might not be enough to combat Omicron. However, if a person receives at least three doses of it, they might get enough antibodies to counter it.

According to Pfizer Chairman and CEO Albert Bourla, two doses of Pfizer could offer enough protection against severe case development caused by the Omicron variant. It could also prevent Omicron spread by reducing the number of carriers for the variant. However, it should be emphasized that a person could still fall sick to Omicron. This is why a booster shot is essential.

Dr. Mikael Dolsten, chief scientific officer at Pfizer, told CNN that "We believe that with the two doses, you still have relevant protection for severe disease, but clearly the drop is antibodies is substantial. However, the good news this morning (December 8) is that our data show convincingly when you get your boost -- the third boost -- the antibody levels rise 25 fold and are now similar to the originally two dose boost that protected well against ancestral strains as well as Delta."

The research is still progressing, so this is not a complete guarantee against Omicron. However, it should significantly boost a person's immunity and survivability. Taking all of this into consideration, it would probably be best to get a booster shot now.

Related Article: Elizabeth Holmes Net Worth 2021: Theranos Founder Falls to 0 After Reaching More Than $4.5 Billion
Scenes from JTBC's new drama, "Snowdrop" / Courtesy of JTBC Studio, Drama House Studio



By Dong Sun-hwa



JTBC's upcoming TV series "Snowdrop" is undoubtedly one of the most-talked-about K-dramas this year, not only because of its star-studded cast, but also because of the controversy over its "history distortion."



After cable channel JTBC announced its premiere date (Dec. 18), the 16-episode soap opera is again facing a backlash online, with numerous people insisting that it glamorizes a North Korean spy and implies that North Korea was involved in the 1980 Gwangju Uprising  a claim made by then-President Chun Doo-hwan in defense of his government's lethal suppression of the democratic movement.



The drama, starring Jisoo of K-pop girl group BLACKPINK and actor Jung Hae-in, was first accused of distorting history in April, when part of its synopsis and character descriptions were leaked online. According to the synopsis, "Snowdrop" is a romance story about North Korean spy Im Soo-ho (Jung) and South Korean college student Eun Young-ro (Jisoo). It is set in 1987, when Korea was under Chun, who seized power after staging a military coup in 1979.



Many raised eyebrows at the series for "glamorizing" North Korean spies, who have been responsible for the deaths of numerous South Korean citizens, and for suggesting that Chun's politically sensitive claim that the North Korean regime was behind the Gwangju Uprising was true. Thus, more than 222,000 people have signed an online petition calling for the drama to be banned.



"Our real history tells us that numerous students who were part of South Korea's pro-democracy movement were tortured and killed, after being falsely accused of spying for North Korea," one of them commented. "The creation of a character like Soo-ho looks like an uncomfortable twisting of our tragic history."



Another person wrote, "The 1980s cannot be explained without mentioning the pro-democracy protests. Why is Snowdrop trying to disparage our historical movement by featuring a spy character?"



The soap opera also caused a stir for its "positive depiction" of another male character named Lee Kang-moo, an official at the Agency for National Security Planning (ANSP), the intelligence agency that worked for Chun. In its character description, JTBC described him as a "single-minded" man, prompting numerous people to criticize the cable channel for "beautifying a character who is part of an organization responsible for damaging Korea's democracy."



To assuage these critics, JTBC issued two statements.



"Soo-ho and Young-ro will neither lead nor participate in the pro-democracy protests," JTBC said, adding that its drama will not touch on sensitive issues related to the demonstrations. "We are actually planning to feature a character that is oppressed by the military government after being denounced as a spy. And we described Kang-moo as a single-minded person because he will turn his back on the corrupt organization to which he belongs."







Experts believe it is premature to conclude that "Snowdrop" has distorted Korean history.



"This is a sensitive issue, but as of now, we have too little information with which to judge the series, which has not even aired its first episode," drama critic Yun Suk-jin, who is also a professor of Korean Language and Literature at Chungnam National University, told The Korea Times Tuesday. "It goes without saying that writers and directors should take extra care and be more responsible when they are referring to a historical event in their work. But their artistic freedom must be guaranteed as well."



In fact, many believe that the cancellation of the SBS TV series "Joseon Exorcist" has had a spillover effect on "Snowdrop." In March, the historical-supernatural drama was terminated after airing only two episodes, as viewers boycotted it for "twisting history with its unnecessary use of Chinese foods and negative portrayal of Taejong (1367-1422), the third king of Joseon."



But Yun drew a line between "Joseon Exorcist" and "Snowdrop," saying, "The former caused a stir after airing its first episode and people raised issues with particular scenes. This was something understandable. But in the case of Snowdrop, we have not yet seen the drama."



In a recent forum, Jung Hyun-min, who penned the historical series, "Jeong Dojeon" (2014), said, "Writers may not be able to maximize their creativity if they face more restrictions than now. But I do believe that industry insiders need to be more careful when they are dealing with historical events."


Samsung Asset Management Deputy CEO Bae Jae-kyu / Korea Times file





By Park Jae-hyuk







Samsung Asset Management Deputy CEO Bae Jae-kyu, who is well-known for introducing the Korean Market's first exchange traded-fund (ETF), was named the new leader of Korea Investment Management (KIM), according to industry officials, Thursday.







KIM is an asset management subsidiary of Korea Investment Holdings (KIH).







Its recent leadership decision is interpreted as KIH Chairman Kim Nam-goo's intention to bet on the rapid growth of the local ETF market, amid the slowdown lately in the public offering fund market.







Bae, who previously worked for Korea Merchant Banking and SK Securities, joined Samsung Asset in 2000, and came up with the nation's first ETF, the KODEX 200, in 2002, after convincing financial authorities of its value.







Despite earlier thoughts last month that he would be ousted from his position after the year-end annual reshuffle of senior executives, he also enabled the listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange of the Samsung Bloomberg Global Semiconductor ETF, which invests in the world's top 20 semiconductor companies, including Samsung Electronics and TSMC.







Under his leadership, Samsung Asset has maintained the leading domestic market share in ETFs.







KIM, on the other hand, is still at fourth place, following Samsung Asset, Mirae Asset Global Investments and KB Asset Management. Bae is expected to help KIM rise to third place, widening its gap with NH-Ahmundi, Kiwoom and Hanwha asset management firms.







According to KIM, its executive reshuffle will be announced Friday at the earliest, and will be confirmed after the forthcoming meetings of its board of directors and shareholders.







Incumbent CEO Cho Hong-rae will transfer to KIH, according to industry officials.







Bae's departure will also affect the upcoming executive reshuffle of Samsung Asset and the conglomerate's four other major financial affiliates: Samsung Life Insurance, Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance, Samsung Card and Samsung Securities.







Current Samsung Asset CEO Shim Jong-keug's term will end in March 2023, but most of his predecessors stepped down after spending two years as CEO. Shim was appointed in January 2020.







Shim failed to widen the gap with Mirae Asset, Samsung Asset's chief local rival in the race for the booming ETF market, in which Mirae raised its share to above 30 percent this year on the back of the continued popularity of TIGER ETFs.







In contrast, Samsung Asset's share in the local ETF market, which once topped 50 percent, fell below 45 percent this year. Samsung's financial affiliates are set to replace many top-tier and senior executives during the upcoming yearend reshuffle, predicted to bring a generational shift in leadership.






By Park Jae-hyuk







Shinhan Financial Group's digitization investments will grow to 2 trillion won ($1.7 billion), the largest among local banking groups' digital transformation budgets, up from this year's 800 billion won, industry officials said Thursday.







"Our board members were informed of the digitization plan during Thursday's meeting on the direction of our business strategy next year," a Shinhan official said.







Among the 2 trillion won, Shinhan Bank will spend 1 trillion won.







The key subsidiary of Shinhan Financial Group will use most of the money for its online-to-offline (O2O) businesses, including its food delivery app which will be launched later this year. It seeks to tie up with 80,000 stores in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province for the stores to deliver their foods using the bank's mobile app.







The bank will also continue to improve its artificial intelligence, big data and blockchain technologies, while considering investments in fintech and mobile platform companies.







Shinhan Card will increase the size of its investment in digitization to 345 billion won next year from 155 billion won this year.







The credit card issuer will focus on expanding its presence in the mobile payment industry, putting effort into its facial recognition-based payment system "Shinhan Face Pay," so that it will be used more widely.







It is also considering investing in mobile platforms specializing in fashion next year, following this year's partnerships with Naver Z, the operator of Naver's "Zepeto" metaverse platform and Bungaejangter, an online secondhand market platform provider.







The remaining 60 billion won will be used for Shinhan's other subsidiaries.






Country set to rank top in elderly dependency among OECD members



By Lee Kyung-min



Korea's working population will more than halve over the next 50 years, vastly increasing the burden of supporting pension recipients in its fast-aging society, statistics agency data showed Thursday.



According to forecasts by Statistics Korea, the number of people aged between 15 and 64 could be slashed to 17.37 million by 2070, or 46.5 percent of the current 37.38 million. The year-on-year decrease is projected to be 360,000 in the 2020s, and 530,000 in the 2030s. Accordingly, the population total will shrink to 37 million, down over 14 million from the current 51.8 million



The rapid decline will place the country at the top of the elderly dependency list of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), as measured by people aged over 65 divided by the working population. The figure is expected to stand at 46.4 percent in 2070.



The bleak assessment is fueling concerns over an earlier-than-expected depletion of the country's social safety net, notably the National Pension Fund run by the National Pension Service. Its financial viability is questionable, since the number of pension recipients will rise significantly faster than the working population. Whether the current system can be sustained without a major overhaul is another point of contention.



Also coming under scrutiny are government policies put in place supposedly to bolster the birthrate and tackle the rapidly aging society, as defined by a special budget of 225 trillion won spent from 2006 and 2020. A taskforce with the same mandate set up in 2019 has failed to produce any tangible results with discussions on the extension of the retirement age unaddressed.



The statistics agency's report on the country's population estimates for the next 50 years showed that the total number will drop 60,000 every year over the next decade, down to 51.2 million by 2030 from last year's 51.84 million. The figure is expected to plunge further to 37.66 million by 2070.



However, the drop could be as high as 170,000 over the next 10 years, in the worst-case scenario, meaning the population total will fall to 50.15 million in that decade and further to 31.53 million in 2070.



The country's total birthrate, the average number of children a woman will choose to have throughout her childbearing years between the ages of 15 and 49 will plummet to 0.52 in 2070, down from 0.82 last year.



Korea will, the statistics agency said, see the first net decline in the total population this year, brought on by an unexpected plunge in the number of inbound foreigners amid the COVID-19 pandemic.



The country first experienced deaths outnumbering births in 2020, leading to a fall in the overall population total.








By Lee Hae-rin







Four Seasons Hotel Seoul's bar, Charles H., has ranked 42nd in the "World's 50 Best Bars 2021" list, being the only bar in Korea to make the list in consecutive years.







The "World's 50 Best Bars" competition was initiated in 2009 by William Reed Business Media Group in the United Kingdom to promote bar experiences and celebrate high levels of cocktail craftsmanship.







A group of 600 evaluators, consisting of bartenders, beverage experts and industry reporters, vote based on their firsthand experiences to select the top 50.







The 2021 list of the top 50 bars from 17 countries was released via livestream on Dec. 8.







Charles H. was ranked at 42 this year, higher than last year's 49. In addition, Charles H. ranked 13th in Asia's 50 Best Bars 2021 and No.1 in Korea.







Located on the lower lobby level of the hotel, the bar is accessible only through a secret passageway covered with Korean artwork.







The bar is named after American author Charles Henry Baker Jr., who is best known for his culinary and cocktail writings, and offers a reinterpretation of Baker's original cocktail recipes.


Bustling Namdaemun Market was located a few blocks from the Bando Hotel. Regardless of what the weather was like, it attracted hordes of buyers at all times, boasting everything from cooked food, rice, herbs and produce, to fabric and clothing. Courtesy of Marie Ann Yoo



Hawaiian-born, Korean American photographer Marie Ann Yoo, 85, captured resilience of Korean society three years after Korean War



By Park Han-sol



In December 1902, 102 people flocked to Wolmi Island to climb aboard a ship en route to Hawaii, a land of new hopes and possibilities, marking the start of the first wave of Korean immigrants to America (Hawaii was annexed as an American territory in 1898).



As they toiled in sugarcane plantations under the grueling heat, the majority of these migrant workers  who initially hoped to return to their homeland with a hefty sum after a few years  eventually began to settle down. With many of them being Christians, a Korean church was soon established for them to practice their faith and form their own community in a foreign land.



Chin-tae John Choy and Elizabeth Pahk were among these first-generation Korean immigrants, whose numbers grew to the thousands in just two years. In 1904, the couple arrived in Hawaii, with Choy sent as a missionary for the Methodist Episcopal Church.



"He was known at that time as a 'circuit rider,' that is, a minister who went from different villages [on the island] to preach to the Korean immigrants," their granddaughter Marie Ann Yoo said during a recent Zoom interview with The Korea Times.



Choy died shortly upon his arrival, and to support their three young children, Pahk cooked in a girls' school in Honolulu until she made the acquaintance of Syngman Rhee, who would later become the first president of Korea.



Early in the 1910-45 Japanese occupation of the Korean Peninsula, Rhee was based in Honolulu to rally support for Korea's independence movement, while serving as the principal of the Korean Central School. He hired Pahk to be a cook and a housemother at the boarding school for the children of Korean immigrants.



Thus began the friendship between Rhee and Pahk's family that continued over the years, down to her three children, including Salome, Yoo's mother.





Marie Ann Yoo, a Hawaiian-born Korean American photographer whose color photos document the lives of ordinary people in postwar Korea, 1956-57 / Courtesy of Marie Ann Yoo

Yoo, now 85, is a third-generation Korean American born to Salome and Kee-chan Hank Han. She was raised on the Kunia Camp pineapple plantation on the Hawaiian island of Oahu, as her father was one of the only Asians at that time to serve as a "luna" (Hawaiian for "field supervisor") for the plantation under the Del Monte Corporation.



When Yoo was young, her parents were strict about education. They didn't allow their children to speak Korean, as they felt that speaking English was of foremost importance to assimilate into American culture. Growing up on the plantation, largely separate from the Korean community, meant that she had no Korean classmates or friends to play with. "All my friends were Chinese, Japanese and Haoles (a Hawaiian term used for non-native Hawaiians of European descent)," she recalled.



Therefore, Yoo's main exposure to Korea's culture was through food, which she experienced on a daily basis.



"My mother was actually an excellent Korean cook. She cooked all the fancy traditional dishes because she learned that from her mother. So that was our content about Korea."



Upon the death of her father, 15-year-old Yoo and her family moved to Honolulu, when the deadly Korean War broke out on the Korean Peninsula. Her recollections about the 1950-53 war came from the intermittent news she read in the newspaper and heard on the radio.



"What sticks out in my mind is the [news of the] North Koreans being released by President Rhee when they were imprisoned down in the South. That I do remember," she said.



In June 1953, Rhee made a series of attempts to deter the armistice negotiations among the U.S.-led United Nations Command, China and North Korea, in the hopes of continuing the war until he could unify Korea by force. His ordering of the release of some 25,000 anti-communist North Korean prisoners, instead of repatriating them to the North, was one such attempt. Such efforts turned out to be unsuccessful however, as the armistice agreement was ultimately signed a month later.



But while Yoo heard such news from this faraway island, she had no idea that she herself would soon set foot in the country, which had been bruised and battered by the war.





Bando Hotel, located on what is now the site of Lotte Hotel Seoul, was where Yoo stayed with her family during her 18-month-long sojourn in Korea, 1956-57. Courtesy of Marie Ann Yoo



Trip to postwar Korea (1956-57)



It was 1955 when President Rhee offered Yoo's mother, Salome Han, a position as public relations director at the Bando Hotel, located on what is now the site of Lotte Hotel Seoul. It was Korea's first commercial hotel that mainly catered to expatriates, businesspeople, foreign dignitaries and U.S. military government officers.



Han accepted the offer and soon flew to Korea. After a few months, she asked her two daughters  Marie Ann and Elizabeth  to join her. This trip became the very first time abroad for Yoo, then a 20-year-old student at the University of Hawaii.



"We flew via Pan American World Airways. Gosh, it was a 17-hour trip, with refueling on Wake Island and a stopover in Japan," she said. "We then arrived in Korea. It was February, and we had come from Hawaii. It was extremely cold. And at that time, the airport in Gimpo was just a shack."



As she traveled from the airport to the hotel, which would become her home for the next 18 months, everything from the scenery to Korean people's clothing fascinated her instantly.



"I was born in Hawaii, so you can imagine, all the culture and the sounds, the sights, the smells, the clothing people wore  everything was just so different."





A street scene in front of a restaurant selling "bulgogi" (marinated grilled beef), cold noodles and "dosirak" (lunch boxes) in Seoul / Courtesy of Marie Ann Yoo



In 1956, the year she arrived in Korea, the streets were ravaged by the war's destruction and destitute families still constituted most of the country's population. The haunting legacy of the war, which killed an estimated 2.5 million civilians and reduced major parts of cities to rubble, seemingly erased any hope for the future beyond surviving the immediate chaos.



But even within such scenes of destruction, people found ways to survive.



"The thing that really struck me was the grit and resilience of the people; they were in the process of recovering from a devastating war that displaced so many people," Yoo later wrote. "But the markets were crowded, people went about their business. Things had to get done!"



She was gripped by the desire to forever capture these hardy spirits of postwar Korea that she had witnessed in person  not just with memory or writing, but through her camera.



With the first paycheck she received working as a clerk at the Eighth U.S. Army headquarters in Yongsan Garrison, Yoo purchased a Petri 35mm camera and Kodachrome color film at the PX, taking her new treasured possession straight out into the streets afterwards.



"I felt that color film could capture everything that I saw better and more accurately: the nuances of the climate, the trees, the whole environment and the people," she explained.



Having had no prior experience in photography, she was her own teacher as she figured out what the exposure, shutter speed and focus did to each image.



Unlike shooting a picture of a particular landscape or an environment, which she could snap away at during any given time, capturing human subjects who were aware of her presence was a different story.



At the time, in the war-torn country with very few tourists, anyone holding a camera was still a rare sight. Plus, she was a young woman roaming freely around her environment, who "looked" Korean but could barely speak the language. Looks of puzzlement followed her as she walked down the street in a Western-style dress, holding a camera.



But when she asked people if she could take their pictures  not through words but through the simple gesture of holding the device up to her eyes  their responses were often positive, with some, especially children, showing excitement at the prospect of hearing the click of the camera.





A group of six playful children pose for a photo at Namdaemun Market. The picture reminds Yoo's daughter, Katherine, of the classic American comedy short films "The Little Rascals." "On some level, because of their innocence, they probably had no understanding of what was going on around them," she commented, "They were just living and playing." Courtesy of Marie Ann Yoo





This picture of two gentlemen in white hanbok and "gat" (traditional Korean hat) standing by a river in the countryside remains memorable to Yoo. "It looks like it could have been taken hundreds of years ago," she said, "It's sort of timeless." Courtesy of Marie Ann Yoo



Yoo soon began faithfully documenting not only her own regular excursions around the alleys and marketplaces of Seoul, but also occasional tours taken outside the capital city, accompanied by politicians, businesspeople or the military generals that President Rhee introduced her to. These places included the southeastern city of Gyeongju, Jinhae Naval Base and even the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), with rows of marching soldiers and tanks.



But while she had the privilege of taking a glimpse into the lives of both those of affluent social circles and commoners in Korea  indeed a rare opportunity at the time  Yoo found ordinary subjects to be the most striking.



"I really don't recall taking so many pictures of the elites because they were always invariably posed. I thought, 'Eh, not so interesting,'" she said. "I was more interested in taking photos of people and places just as we saw them, as we walked among or passed by them."



Many of her images taken in the streets of Seoul give color to the resilience of postwar survivors, as they are seen trudging along with heavily loaded carts, carrying large heaps of grain and performing back-breaking activities to put food on the table.



Two particular scenes come to her mind.





During her stay, Yoo witnessed roadwork taking place all around postwar Seoul. What struck her was the high number of women working at these sites, equipped with what seemed to be little more than shovels and baskets. Courtesy of Marie Ann Yoo



One was the frequent road repair that took place all around the capital. What especially struck her was the number of women present at these sites, which was just as great as the number of men there, equipped with what seemed to be little more than shovels and baskets.



"My goodness, it was women [who were] cracking and hammering at the stones, carrying them in their baskets and then laying the new stones. It was very difficult work."



Another scene that has been seared into Yoo's memory was the bustling Namdaemun Market, located a few blocks from her home at the Bando Hotel. To this day, the marketplace remains her go-to site every time she visits Seoul.



Regardless of what the weather was like, the market attracted hordes of buyers at all times, boasting everything from cooked food, rice, herbs and produce, to fabric and clothing. In addition to the sheer range of items, it was the plain struggles of the people trying to make a living that she witnessed, which made her return to the place over and over again.



"They were just really struggling to sell their goods," she noted. "They were living in old military tents or huts they fashioned out of flattened tin cans. There were no stalls per se. Everything was laid out on the ground."





Wide strands of noodles are being air-dried at Namdaemun Market. Courtesy of Marie Ann Yoo



Being an observer to such scenes of poverty and coming back to the hotel later was always a difficult experience for her: "I knew that the majority of people were enduring such incredible hardship and survival was not guaranteed."



Throughout the 18 months of her sojourn in Korea, her initial fascination with the scenery and the people of Korea on a surface level changed gradually into a deep awareness and appreciation for its culture. After her trip, she transferred to the University of Oregon, majoring in East Asian Studies and Political Science.



Yoo's photographic works see light of day after six decades



Yoo's collection of more than 400 rare color photos that give life to the rebuilding of a war-ravaged nation in the mid-1950s, makes her the only known female Korean American photographer from this time period.



But for nearly six decades, these historic snapshots gathered dust in an old suitcase, forgotten even by their creator, as she settled in the U.S. mainland after she married and raised three daughters.



It was only in 2015, through the hands of her daughters, Katherine and Christine, that they finally saw the light of day.



Two years prior to their actual discovery, the two saw the suitcase when they were helping Yoo move back to Hawaii from Memphis for her retirement. Thinking little of it, Christine took the suitcase to her house in Los Angeles, soon forgetting about its existence once again.



"In 2015, I happened to be searching for something in her [Christine's] closet and found the suitcase," Katherine told The Korea Times. "I didn't know what it was, but it was very old so it intrigued me. I thought it might be an old sewing machine or something. I opened it up, and my sister and I were both shocked at what we found! It was literally like discovering buried treasure."





Hundreds of Kodachrome slides found in Yoo's old suitcase have been cleaned and catalogued by her two daughters, Katherine and Christine, as part of the ongoing restoration of her photographs which began in 2015. Courtesy of Christine Yoo



With great delicacy, the two spent the next several years, unbeknownst to Yoo, combing through each slide  cleaning, restoring and cataloguing them.



After five years, Yoo's three daughters decided to create a website showing the photos that honors their mother as a woman with her own artistic merits and accomplishments. It became an unforgettable Christmas gift for Yoo last year.



While the cataloguing and restoration process remains ongoing, a selection of her photos  divided into the categories of Seoul, Namdaemun Market, Postwar Political Life, the Countryside and the Han River  are currently on display at Yoo's debut online exhibition, "The Feeling of Han: Portraits of Postwar Korea (1956-7)," hosted by The Korea Society until Dec. 16.



But the end of this online exhibition marks just the beginning of the family's plans to conduct proper historical research and eventually present a physical exhibition of her images in remembrance of the postwar experience that became a foundation of modern Korea.



"It would be great to work with a Korean historian, because I believe the photos, especially those of the countryside, have anthropological value," Katherine said.



"We are definitely seeking an organization that wishes to work with us to mount a new exhibition or related project. Ultimately, as my mother expressed, it would be amazing to have these images on display in Korea, sort of their rightful home, so that the younger and future generations can access them."




Lee has linguistic talents, compassion for others





Lee Yu-rim

Lee Yu-rim is in her second year at Hopyeong Middle School, Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province. Born to a Japanese father and a Korean mother, Lee is an exemplary student who developed her linguistic talents with diligence and excels in her academic performance.



Lee plays a leading role on her school's student council as the vice president. She helped lead the zero waste challenge on the campus and actively gathers students' ideas to develop and carry out school activities and events.



She shows great diligence and talents in academic achievement, especially in the linguistic fields. Lee had full marks in Korean and English last semester and has won several awards in writing competitions. Lee has been studying English, Japanese and Chinese as she wishes to attend a foreign language high school.



Beyond her scholastic achievements, Lee offers her talents in volunteering activities to help others. As a publicity ambassador of the school, she made the school's online newspaper. She puts her passion for the environment into action by leading several student-led campaigns.









Lee dreams of becoming a diplomat to help those who have difficulties in communicating in foreign languages.



Wu's creativity and perseverance shine in leadership, academic achievements





Wu Zhengxiu
Lee's positive energy, linguistic talent inspire other students





Lee Jeong-in

Born to a Vietnamese mother and a Korean father, Lee Jeong-in is a second grader at Goseong High School, Goseong, Gangwon Province.



Having spent her early childhood in Vietnam, Lee put in a lot of effort to develop her multilingual communication skills. She won medals at an annual bilingual speaking competition, two years in a row, in Korean and Vietnamese. Lee displays great academic performances in Korean and English and shares her language skills by volunteering to teach other multicultural students in her school.



Lee always reaches out to help others in need and plays an active role in charity and volunteer activities inside and outside of her school. All teachers appreciate her responsible and earnest character and say that she never hesitates to work with people around her. Lee was also elected as the student president and will lead the school's student council through 2022.



As the eldest child in her family, Lee is a proud daughter to her parents and a caring and loving sister to her two younger siblings. Lee dreams of becoming a diplomat in the future.









Ban is multi-talented high-achiever with strong leadership skills





Ban Jun-hwi
By Kim Boo-kyum





Greetings, beloved children. I'm Kim Boo-kyun, prime minister of the Republic of Korea.



You are receiving very special awards today.



Yang Geun-mo, Noh Yeon-kyeong, Jun Blessing, Lee Yu-rim, Wu Zhengxiu, Lee Jeong-in, Ban Jun-hwi, Jo Un-ol, Pak Olga, Han Ga-in and Pyo Yoon-seo  I congratulate all of you 11 award winners.



I also congratulate and express gratitude to your parents and teachers who have led you as students to these achievements.



I also thank President-Publisher Oh Young-jin and staff at The Korea Times which has provided children with special and meaningful memories for the last 10 years.



On this happy day, I wish I could shake hands with you in person, and it is regretful that I can't do so but instead send my message through this video because of the COVID-19 social distancing rules.




Marc Chagall's "Le Roi David en Bleu" (1967) / Courtesy of Marc Chagall / ADAGP, Paris  SACK, Seoul, 2021



By Park Han-sol



Russian-French artist Marc Chagall (1887-1985) and his world of dreamlike enchantment, achieved through a palette of ripe, saturated colors, have long been admired by audiences worldwide.



"When Matisse dies," Picasso once said, "Chagall will be the only painter left who understands what color really is."



Korea has certainly been no exception in terms of its interest in the artist, indicated by the number of retrospectives and exhibitions held in celebration of his masterpieces, most notably since the early 2000s.



But what has been lesser known about Chagall among Korean art enthusiasts is the religious nature of a number of his works  more precisely, biblical themes and visual motifs that often run through his oeuvre, inspired by his Jewish upbringing.



My Art Museum's "Chagall and the Bible" exhibition, in Gangnam District, Seoul, brings to light one of the most prominent sources of the artist's creative endeavors through more than 220 original artworks. These pieces include a large collection from Germany's Kunstmuseum Pablo Picasso Munster, 19 oil and gouache paintings owned by Chagall's family and two, nearly four-meter-wide tapestries that are being shown in Asia for the first time.



"Many paintings of Chagall, who was born to a Hasidic Jewish family, have their roots in the Bible  even the ones that do not have overtly religious undertones," the museum official told The Korea Times.



"Because many of the visual, thematic motifs featured in his works  his love for his heritage, homeland and humankind, for example  come from his religious background and sentiments, we wanted to introduce this aspect of the artist to art lovers."



The fact that a number of his works without explicit religious themes are still influenced by his Jewish ethnic and cultural background prompted the museum to start its exhibition with the section, "Motif of Chagall."



While the following sections feature pieces that directly draw from biblical scenes and figures, "Motif of Chagall" presents his more familiar-looking, fantastical pieces, leaving it up to gallerygoers to find the subtle connections between the visual symbols of love, the Russian village and folklore, and the artist's spiritual ideals.



Born in the small city of Vitebsk, now in Belarus but then part of the Russian Empire, Chagall moved to Paris in 1910, with his early works, showing both the Fauvist and Cubist influences that were emerging as the leading avant-garde art movements at the time. But he continued to paint Jewish motifs and subjects, mainly summoned from his own memories of his homeland.





Chagall's "Jerusalem, le mur des lamentations" (1931) / Courtesy of Marc Chagall / ADAGP, Paris  SACK, Seoul, 2021




By Bahk Eun-ji







A volunteer group of the wives of professors at Sahmyook University has provided financial support for international students suffering through the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.







The Sahmyook Sarang Shop, the volunteer group, donated 30 million won ($25,500) to the university's development fund and the Sarang Shop Scholarship fund. The total amount of donations reached 120 million won, according to the university.







Since 2013, the volunteer group has been carrying out activities to donate the entire proceeds from selling sponsored goods from various organizations and companies to raise funds the student scholarship program.







In particular, from last year, it started helping students of foreign nationality who are in a blind spot, as they lack access to government quarantine support funds even amid the continuing COVID-19 pandemic.







Over the last three semesters, the group offered a total of 15.2 million won in scholarships to 27 international students from Vietnam, China, India, the Philippines, Iraq and Cameroon.







Such support has been helpful at a time when international students are not receiving national scholarships, and even part-time jobs have been scarce during the pandemic, and students' families in their home countries are not able to support students' study expenses as they are also suffering from economic difficulties.







Kwon Young-soon, the leader of the volunteer group and the wife of university President Kim Il-mok, said, "There are many foreign students who are in such a difficult situation while working part-time.







"It was rewarding and I am grateful to be able to help them immediately when they are in a most difficult situation. We hope that the students can return to their home countries and grow into great members of their societies," Kwon said.


Members of the Joint Action for Reproductive Justice, a coalition of pro-choice groups, participate in a press conference in Gwanghwamun, central Seoul, in this March 8 photo, calling on the government to include abortion in the public health care system. Korea Times photo by Hong In-ki



By Lee Hyo-jin



Medical experts and the drug ministry are sharply divided over Mifegymiso, an abortion pill regimen which has been under regulatory review for market approval in Korea, making it unlikely for the drug to hit the shelves this year.



If approved, it will become the first legal abortion pill in the country, following the landmark ruling of the Constitutional Court in April 2019 that found the ban on abortion was unconstitutional because prohibiting it in the early stages of pregnancy was a violation of a woman's right to self-determination



In March of this year, local drug firm Hyundai Pharmaceutical signed an exclusive agreement with the U.K.-based drug maker Linepharma International to sell the product in Korea under the local name, Mifegymiso.



Mifegymiso is a combination of two drugs: one tablet of mifepristone and four tablets of misoprostol.



Mifepristone, also known as RU-486 or Mifegyne, is a medication used to terminate an early pregnancy. It is used in 76 countries, including the United States, China, Vietnam, along with several European countries. The World Health Organization (WHO) added the pill to the list of essential medicines in 2005.



Hyundai Pharmaceutical filed an application with the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety for the authorization of Mifegymiso, July 2, with the approval process initially expected to be completed by mid-November.



However, the drugs have yet to be approved.



The ministry's move to waive a bridging clinical trial for the pills to speed up the approval process has been met with fierce opposition from the Korean Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.



A bridging clinical trial is a supplementary study performed in a new region or country upon introducing new drugs in order to get more clinical data on their efficacy, safety and dose regimen for local patients.



If the trial is conducted, the introduction of the abortion pill could be delayed for more than two years.



While the drug regulator is considering skipping the trial, given the fact that mifepristone and misoprostol are being widely used in other countries, the doctors argue that the government should mandate it in order to guarantee the safety of the pills.





Minister of Food and Drug Safety Kim Gang-lip speaks during a National Assembly session, Nov. 25. Korea Times photo by Oh Dae-keun
Quarantine workers guide travelers in the arrival hall of Incheon International Airport, Thursday. Yonhap



By Bahk Eun-ji



Korea will recognize foreign nationals' vaccination history abroad so they can be verified as "vaccinated" against COVID-19, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), Thursday.



This move is aimed at including them in the "vaccine pass" program and facilitating their receiving of booster shots here.



The KDCA said foreign nationals who have been vaccinated abroad will be able to register their overseas vaccination records on the COOV COVID-19 vaccine app by visiting a local health center with ID and vaccination certificates issued overseas.



So far, such registration for overseas vaccinations was allowed only for Korean nationals, and non-Koreans could complete the registration only if they had quarantine exemption certificates, which are issued for urgent and inevitable entry for business, academic, public or humanitarian reasons.



This measure has left many fully vaccinated foreign nationals categorized as "unvaccinated" in the government system, bringing criticism that the government discriminates against foreigners.






Peacekeepers wearing blue berets attend an opening ceremony of the 2021 Seoul UN Peacekeeping Ministerial held on Dec. 7. Yonhap



A South Korea-hosted U.N. peacekeeping forum wrapped up Thursday, with participants making stronger commitments to fostering sustainable peace in conflict zones with advanced technologies, medical capacity and not least the unity of purpose.



During the virtual 2021 Seoul UN Peacekeeping Ministerial, foreign and defense ministers, and other key officials from more than 150 countries and global organizations discussed how to better train and equip U.N. peacekeepers and make their peacekeeping operations (PKO) safer, stronger and more effective in increasingly complex and volatile conditions.



The forum, which began Tuesday, set the stage for more than 60 U.N. member countries to make detailed commitments to the PKO missions, such as providing military assets, personnel, training and other types of support.



South Korea pledged to play an "active, leading" role in enhancing PKO missions by capitalizing on smart technologies and boosting their medical capacity, as depicted in the "Seoul Initiative on Technology and Medical Capacity-Building in Peacekeeping."



The host nation pledged to donate 16 helicopters for operations in Africa and launch a pilot project to apply "smart camp" technologies to pave the way for "safer, more efficient and eco-friendly" U.N. camps.



It also announced plans to allocate an additional $1 million to a peacekeeping trust fund, send more police peacekeepers and host a female military officer course on gender issues.



Seoul officials, moreover, used the session to drum up international support for its steadfast efforts to promote lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula and beyond.



At the closing ceremony, Seoul's top diplomat Chung Eui-yong highlighted the importance of equipping peacekeepers with emerging technologies and medical capabilities as well as sustained partnerships to bring substantive changes to the field.



"I look forward to the 'Seoul Initiative' helping to ready our peacekeepers to meet their goals and mandates to keep peace and protect vulnerable civilians on the ground," Chung said.



Chung reaffirmed Seoul's commitment to build "inclusive, forward-looking peacekeeping" to promote global peace in partnership with the U.N. while sharing the success story of South Korea's rise from the ashes of the 1950-53 Korean War.



"Back in 1950, maintaining peace on the Korean Peninsula was an urgent matter of discussion at the U.N. Security Council," he said.



"More than 70 years later, I was filled with such honor and excitement to lead this virtual gathering to discuss peacekeeping as a foreign minister of the very country once in dire need of the U.N.'s help," he added.



The high-level U.N. forum, held for the first time in Asia since its launch in 2016, was a culminating moment for South Korea's celebration this year of the 30th anniversary of its entry into the U.N. The two Koreas concurrently joined the world body on Sept. 17, 1991.



Defense Minister Suh Wook expressed hope that pledges presented in the meeting will upgrade the capacity of peacekeeping operations and improve their safety and security against growing threats.



"The Republic of Korea will establish a close partnership with the U.N. and member states to continue to lay out exemplary contribution cases, including the donation of helicopters and bolstering operational capabilities of female forces and police peacekeepers," Suh said.



The Seoul conference was initially set to proceed in an in-person format, but South Korea decided later to hold it virtually amid growing fears of the omicron COVID-19 strain. (Yonhap)


White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan speaks during the daily briefing at the White House in Washington, Dec. 7. AP-Yonhap



The United States is in a better position from a year earlier to compete with China, partly thanks to its strong alliances with countries such as South Korea, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said Wednesday.



The top U.S. security advisor also underscored the importance of a U.S. military presence in the Indo-Pacific region to help maintain peace and stability.



"I believe that there's a fairly straightforward way of looking at this, which is, close to one year into the Biden administration are we in a stronger position to deal with China than we were one year ago?, and I would argue that the answer to that question is unequivocally yes," Sullivan said in a webinar hosted by U.S. online news outlet Defense One.



Sullivan explained reasons for the U.S.' increased strength in dealing with China included the recently launched security arrangement with Australia and Britain, called AUKUS, as well as the Quad, which President Joe Biden elevated to a leader-level forum by hosting its first-ever summit this year, involving his counterparts from Australia, Japan and India.



"President has welcomed the president of Korea, the prime Minister of Japan to the White House, and those alliances are at their strongest point that they've been in in many years," said Sullivan.



He said the U.S. alliances, along with its engagement with partners in multilateral formats, place the U.S. in a position to both "compete effectively" with China and manage its relationship with China responsibly.



Sullivan also highlighted the importance of a U.S. military presence in North East Asia.



"He (Biden) believes that stationing troops in an operational posture that is effective and adaptable in the Indo Pacific is important to keep peace and stability there, as well as to do so in the face of a rising challenge and threat from China," said Sullivan when asked how keeping U.S. troops in the region serves U.S. national interests.



The U.S. currently has some 28,500 troops stationed in South Korea and around 50,000 in Japan.



"We feel good about where we are," said Sullivan.



"Now, that doesn't mean that we are not going to work with China where it's in our interest to do so ... We are going to work with China to try to deal with the climate crisis. We are going to work with China on questions related to regional security issues like the Iran nuclear deal, and that's in America's interests," he added. (Yonhap)






Yoon Suk-yeol, the presidential nominee of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP), met Thursday with former U.S. Ambassador to Seoul Kathleen Stephens and thanked her for contributing to the bilateral alliance.







During their meeting at the PPP headquarters, Yoon said he believes it is thanks to people like Stephens that the two countries' relations have remained strong despite numerous threats and difficulties.







Stephens has a long history of working in South Korea, first as a Peace Corps volunteer in the 1970s and then as a U.S. diplomat, which included her ambassadorship from 2008 to 2011.







She has an adopted Korean name, Shim Eun-kyung.







"From when you were young, you showed a deep interest and love for our people, culture and history," Yoon said. "Even with the passing of time, our people have not forgotten and are grateful to you for making the bilateral relationship so robust and strong."







Stephens said she is grateful to be in South Korea at a politically important time and hopes the two countries will continue to look for ways to strengthen their relationship in the face of challenges.







Yoon expressed confidence that the bilateral relationship will develop further if people like Stephens maintain their understanding and love for each country's history and culture. (Yonhap)


gettyimagesbank



South Korea's total population is expected to record its first decline this year, the statistics agency said Thursday, a grim assessment of its demographic situations amid the country's chronically low birthrate, rapid aging and a decline in incoming foreigners during the pandemic.



The country's total population is estimated to have peaked at 51.84 million last year before falling to an estimated 51.75 million this year and an estimated 37.7 million in 2070, according to the latest medium variant projection by Statistics Korea.



The latest projection is much bleaker than the agency's previous estimate in 2018, when South Korea's population was forecast to begin to decline in 2029.



The total population is calculated based on childbirths and deaths data and cross-border movements of foreigners who are living in South Korea for more than three months.



It showed that the country's total population is likely to shrink to some 51.2 million in 2050 before declining to 37.7 million in 2070, a level seen in 1979.



In a worst-case scenario, the country's population will likely shrink to 31.53 million in 2070, a level recorded in 1969.



The latest forecast underscores South Korea's demographic challenges from its chronically low birthrate and rapid aging.



South Korea's population suffered its first natural fall last year as the number of deaths outpaced that of newborns. But its total population is expected to start to decline this year as childbirths hit all-time lows and inflows of foreigners have fallen amid the COVID-19 pandemic.



Many young people are delaying or giving up on getting married or having babies due to economic difficulties and changes in social norms. The number of those getting married sharply fell due to the COVID-19 pandemic.



The country's total fertility rate  the average number of children a woman bears in her lifetime  hit a record low of 0.84 last year, much lower than the replacement level of 2.1 that would keep South Korea's population stable at 52 million. It marked the third straight year that the total fertility rate was below one.



The total fertility rate is forecast to nosedive to 0.7 in 2024 before rebounding to one in 2031.



"The fertility rate and the number of newborns are forecast to further decline over the next three and four years. Population aging is expected to proceed at the fastest pace in the world," Kim Su-young, an official at Statistics Korea, told a press briefing.



The fall in childbirths is feared to aggravate a major drop in the working-age population, a phenomenon known as a demographic cliff.



In 2020, the working-age population, or people aged 15 to 64, came to 37.4 million, accounting for 72.1 percent of the total population. Baby boomers, born between 1955 and 1963, began reaching age 65 last year.



Such population is forecast to fall an average of 360,000 per year in the 2020s and decline 530,000 per year in the 2030s.



If this trend goes on, the working-age population will likely reach 17.37 million in 2070, making up 46.1 percent of the total population.



A continued fall in the working-age population spawns concerns that the country's growth potential could be eroded.



Policymakers warned the country may face an "age quake" starting in 2030-40, an earthquake-like demographic shock from a fall in population and rapid aging, if it does not promptly tackle the issue.



The number of senior citizens came to 8.15 million last year, accounting for 15.7 percent of the total. It is projected to exceed 10 million in 2024 and reach 17.5 million in 2070, making up 46.4 percent of the total population.



South Korea became an aged society in 2017, in which the percentage of those aged 65 or older exceeded 14 percent. The country is widely expected to become a super-aged society in 2025, when the percentage of the elderly will top 20 percent.



Last year, every 100 working-age people had to support 39 people who are aged younger than 15 or aged over 65, and the number will likely triple to 117 in 2070.



The figure was the lowest among the 38 member countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) last year. But it will be the highest among the OECD member states in 2070.



In 2020, every 100 working-age Koreans had to support 21.8 senior citizens and this will likely more than quadruple to 100.6 in 2070, the agency said. (Yonhap)


A written apology is posted on Seoul Milk's official website, Wednesday, over its controversial online advertisement that compared women to cows and depicted secret filming of women. Captured from Seoul Milk's website



By Jung Da-min



Seoul Milk, the leading company in the country's dairy industry, has apologized for an online advertisement that seemed to compare women to cows and showed a man secretly filming them, which some have comparable to the illegal "molka" crimes that have plagued Korea. Molka is a Korean term meaning spycam and is associated with illegal filming of women.



In the advertisement, which was uploaded on the company's official YouTube channel late last month, a male hiker deep in the mountains of Gangwon Province stumbles upon a group of women and men dressed in white clothes practicing yoga in a field as a female model sensually drinks spring water from a pristine stream and from a leaf.



While the hiker secretly films them, he steps on a branch making a noise that alerts the group to his presence  they look at him and then turn into dairy cows in the blink of an eye.





Scenes from Seoul Milk's controversial video advertisement depicting a male hiker spotting "pristine" women and men deep in the mountains of Gangwon Province, and the people turning into cows, uploaded on the company's official YouTube channel, Nov. 29. Captured from Twitter
By Kang Seung-woo



Yesterday's enemies have become allies, with candidates recruiting politicians from rival parties as part of efforts to appeal to centrist voters in the lead-up to next year's presidential election, which is anticipated to be closely contested.



Former Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Keum Tae-sup / Korea Times photo



The main opposition People Power Party (PPP) seems to be ahead of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) in the race to expand their support bases.



After employing veteran campaigner Kim Chong-in, who helped President Moon Jae-in win Cheong Wa Dae, and Kim Han-gil who had been chief of a predecessor party of the DPK, the PPP has also added Keum Tae-sup, a former DPK lawmaker, to its presidential election committee.



Keum quit the DPK in October last year after denouncing the party for its "arrogance, self-righteousness and partisan antagonism."



"Recently, a party (DPK) member was suspended for eight months due to his disapproval of its presidential candidate's pledge," Keum wrote on Facebook, Friday.



Keum cited Jeju National University professor Lee Sang-yi, whose party membership was suspended for eight months for criticizing DPK presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung's basic income policy, which aims to give up to 1 million won ($852) to each citizen and an additional 1 million won to every young adult per year.





Kim Kwan-young / Korea Times file
By Joseph S. Nye, Jr.





CAMBRIDGE  The United States and China are competing for dominance in technology. America has long been at the forefront in developing the technologies (bio, nano, information) that are central to economic growth in the 21st century.



Moreover, U.S. research universities dominate higher education globally. In Shanghai Jiao Tong University's annual Academic Ranking of World Universities, 16 of the top 20 institutions are in the U.S.; none is in China.



But China is investing heavily in research and development, and it is already competing with the U.S. in key fields, not least artificial intelligence (AI), where it aims to be the global leader by 2030.



Some experts believe that China is well placed to achieve that goal, owing to its enormous data resources, a lack of privacy restraints on how that data is used, and the fact that advances in machine learning will require trained engineers more than cutting-edge scientists. Given the importance of machine learning as a general-purpose technology that affects many other domains, China's gains in AI are of particular significance.



Moreover, Chinese technological progress is no longer based solely on imitation. Former U.S. President Donald Trump's administration punished China for its cybertheft of intellectual property, coerced IP transfers, and unfair trade practices.



Insisting on reciprocity, the U.S. argued that if China could ban Google and Facebook from its market for security reasons, the U.S. can take similar steps against Chinese giants like Huawei and ZTE. But China is still innovating.



After the 2008 global financial crisis and the ensuing Great Recession, Chinese leaders increasingly came to believe that America was in decline.



Abandoning Deng Xiaoping's moderate policy of keeping a low profile and biding one's time, China adopted a more assertive approach that included building (and militarizing) artificial islands in the South China Sea, economic coercion against Australia, and the abrogation of its guarantees with respect to Hong Kong.



In response, some people in the U.S. began to talk about the need for a general "decoupling." But as important as it is to unwind technology supply chains that directly relate to national security, it is a mistake to think that the U.S. can decouple its economy completely from China without incurring enormous costs.



That deep economic interdependence is what makes the U.S. relationship with China different from its relationship with the Soviet Union during the Cold War. With the Soviets, the U.S. was playing a one-dimensional chess game in which the two sides were highly interdependent in the military sphere but not in economic or transnational relations.



With China, by contrast, the U.S. is playing three-dimensional chess with vastly different distributions of power at the military, economic, and transnational levels.



If we ignore the power relations on the economic or transnational boards, not to mention the vertical interactions between the boards, we will suffer. A good China strategy therefore must avoid military determinism and encompass all three dimensions of interdependence.



The rules governing economic relations will need to be revised. Well before the pandemic, China's hybrid state capitalism followed a mercantilist model that distorted the functioning of the World Trade Organization and contributed to the rise of disruptive populism in Western democracies.



Today, America's allies are far more cognizant of the security and political risks entailed in China's espionage, coerced technology transfers, strategic commercial interactions, and asymmetric agreements. The result will be more decoupling of technology supply chains, particularly where national security is at stake.



Negotiating new trade rules can help prevent that decoupling from escalating. Against this backdrop, middle powers could come together to create a trade agreement for information and communication technology that would be open to countries meeting basic democratic standards.



One size will not fit all. In areas like nuclear non-proliferation, peacekeeping, public health, and climate change, the U.S. can find common institutional ground with China. But in other areas, it makes more sense to set our own democratic standards. The door can remain open to China in the long run; but we should accept that the run could be very long indeed.



Notwithstanding China's growing strength and influence, working with likeminded partners would improve the odds that liberal norms prevail in the trade and technology domains. Establishing a stronger transatlantic consensus on global governance is important.



But only by cooperating with Japan, South Korea, and other Asian economies can the West shape global trade and investment rules and standards for technology, thereby ensuring a more level playing field for companies operating abroad.



Taken together, democratic countries' economies will exceed China's well into this century; but only if they pull together. That diplomatic factor will be more important than the question of China's technological development. In assessing the future of the U.S.-China power balance, technology matters, but alliances matter even more.



Finally, a successful U.S. response to China's technological challenge will depend upon improvements at home as much as on external actions. Increased support for research and development is important. Complacency is always a danger, but so, too, is lack of confidence or an overreaction driven by exaggerated fears.



As former MIT Provost John Deutch contends, if the U.S. attains its potential improvements in innovation potential, "China's great leap forward will likely at best be a few steps toward closing the innovation leadership gap that the United States currently enjoys."



Immigration also will play an important role in maintaining America's technology lead. In 2015, when I asked former Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew why he did not think China would surpass the U.S., he pointed to America's ability to draw upon the talents of the whole world  a possibility that is barred by China's ethnic Han nationalism. It is no accident that many Silicon Valley companies have Asian founders or CEOs.



With enough time and travel, technology inevitably spreads. If the U.S. lets its fears about tech leakage shut it off from such valuable human imports, it will surrender one of its biggest ad-vantages. An overly restrictive immigration policy could severely curtail technological innovation  a fact that must not get lost in the heated politics of strategic competition.





Joseph S. Nye, Jr. is a professor at Harvard University and author, most recently, of "Do Morals Matter? Presidents and Foreign Policy from FDR to Trump" (Oxford University Press, 2020). His article was distributed by Project Syndicate (www.project-syndicate.org).


By Park Jung-won





The Moon Jae-in administration has been trying to garner cooperation from the international community in implementing its inter-Korean peace initiatives, yet so far the community does not appear to have shown much interest or support. This failure is largely attributable to the administration's flawed inter-Korean relations policy, which is devoid of any persuasive basis in international law.



The administration has engaged in wishful thinking by expecting the international community to understand inter-Korean relations in terms of special circumstances, that is, of a single nation merely divided into two distinct states on the Korean Peninsula. From an international-law perspective, however, the existence of two separate Korean states cannot be ignored.



In particular, the Moon administration has emphasized providing "regime security guarantee" in return for North Korea's denuclearization. This phrase "North Korean regime security guarantee (assurance)" has been used frequently by President Moon and other high-ranking officials. For instance, in an interview with CNN in Sept. 2017, Moon said, "I think that North Korea's nuclear development is to ensure the security of the North Korean regime."



As for the United States, in August of 2017, then Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said, "We do not seek regime change, we do not seek a collapse of the regime," referring directly to the North's "regime." The Singapore Joint Statement between the U.S. and North Korea in June 2018 contained the following expressions: "President Trump committed to provide security guarantees to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK, North Korea's official name)," and thus the term "security guarantee" and its purpose was formalized.



Since then, the security concepts embedded in the phrases "security guarantee" and "security assurance" have been solidified by additional remarks made by high-ranking U.S. officials, but without explicit reference to the North Korean "regime." Likewise, the phrase "North Korean regime security" has not been used widely by foreign media or the international community, yet it has been employed frequently by South Korean media, thereby creating conceptual confusion.



In the contemporary international legal order, nothing helps alleviate military tensions between states as much as providing inter-state security assurances. These may come in the form of institutional arrangements such as peace treaties, non-aggression pacts, and normalization of diplomatic relations as a means toward pursuing security guarantees for a particular sovereign state. It is hard to imagine a stronger guarantee than a promise based on "goodwill" or "good faith" between countries that end hostilities.



Some policy experts have said that Libya's renunciation of its nuclear ambitions ultimately led to the tragic fate of Muammar Gaddafi, the leader of its former regime. North Korea, acutely aware of this event, appears to exhibit an anxiety that, in the absence of its own nuclear capabilities, could only be assuaged through a "regime security guarantee."



However, this assessment is not accurate. Libya gave up its nuclear program due to economic difficulties and was subsequently rewarded by the U.S., as evidenced by the removal of sanctions in 2004 and the restoration of diplomatic relations in 2006. When the "Arab Spring" pro-democracy movement broke out in the early 2010s, however, the Libyan regime soon collapsed due to its own domestic political contradictions.



Moreover, in response to the ruthless slaughter of its own citizens by Gaddafi's regime, the international community intervened to protect civilians as part of its claimed "Responsibility to Protect (R2P)," backed by the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1970. Not intervening in Libya under these circumstances would have been a violation of international law. Therefore, saying that the U.S. intervention in Libya was the cause of the breakdown of Gaddafi's regime does not make sense.



Even if North Korea has been ruled by successive absolute one-man dictatorships in the form of three generations of Kims, North Korea's population is still in principle entitled to the right to determine its own political present and future. This refers to the right to self-determination of peoples under international law, which is the right of peoples, not of governments.



Obviously, North Korea is a member state of the U.N. and a state party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights of 1966, Article 1 of which guarantees this right of self-determination for peoples. For the purpose of international law, the current regime led by Kim Jong-un represents the North Korean people.



However, the root of that representation is ultimately the will of the North Korean people, even if its political structure has been little more than a totalitarian dictatorship. Other countries may not interfere in this matter to guarantee the security of a specific political regime, such as the one that the North Korean people are subjected to under the Kim regime, under any circumstance.



If the U.S. had made a guarantee in the form of an inter-state document ensuring that the political regime of former President Chun Doo-hwan, who took power through a military coup and carried out a bloody crackdown on an uprising in Gwangju in 1980, could secure its power permanently, would the South Korean people have idly stood by?



Providing a regime security guarantee for North Korea is not plausible nor possible under international law, no matter how much South Korea and the U.S. want to do it. A policy toward North Korea that is not firmly based on international law inevitably leads to unnecessary domestic political confusion and policy miscalculations with no internationally persuasive message.



The next government, to be inaugurated in May 2022, should let the Moon administration's failure serve as a lesson to definitively tell North Korea what South Korea and the U.S. can and cannot do within the limits of international law.





Park Jung-won (park_jungwon@hotmail.com), Ph.D. in law from the London School of Economics (LSE), is professor of international law at Dankook University.


By Robert D. Atkinson





In the Greek myth about swift-footed Atalanta, the daughter of the king who must marry anyone who beats her in a race, her challenger, Hippomenes, dropped three golden apples during the race because he knew that Atalanta would have to stop to pick them up, and it was only in this way that he could win the race.



We need to think similarly about China. For if U.S.-allied technology leaders do not find ways to slow China down (while at the same time speeding ourselves up), Beijing will almost surely win the race for global innovation advantage.



Just look at how much progress China has made. In a 2019 report, the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation looked at where China was vis-a-vis the United States on a host of key technology indicators in 2017 compared to in 2007. On all of them, Beijing was catching up with, if not surpassing, America. On government R&D as a share of GDP, China went from 80 percent of U.S. levels to 120 percent. On membership in the top 2,500 companies for global R&D expenditures, it went from 2 percent of the number of U.S. companies to 57 percent. On computer science and engineering degrees, it went from 63 percent of U.S. figures to 144 percent. On robots per worker, China went from 10 percent of U.S. numbers to 50 percent.



Those who say that China cannot catch up to the United States, or other leaders, do not understand the process of technological development. In 1980, almost no one would have said that Korea could become the global leader in DRAM (dynamic random access memory) chips, because it had no production, while the United States had 72 percent of the world market. Today, because of supportive policies and innovative companies (SK Hynix and Samsung), Korean companies have around 75 percent of the world market. There is no reason China can't make similar progress in this field and other technologies. Indeed, in technologies like telecom equipment, solar panels, batteries and high-speed rail, it already has.



Some will argue that U.S.-allied nations don't have a right to try to slow China down. After all, they argue, China is a developing nation, and just like the Asian Tigers and others, it deserves the right to develop, especially technologically. Of course it does, but not through systemic "innovation mercantilist" practices, including forced technology transfer in exchange for market access, rampant intellectual property theft, discrimination against foreign companies, international standards manipulation and massive government subsidies for technology firms. Winning the race fairly is one thing, but winning it through cheating is quite another. And China's state capitalism is expressly designed to win by such cheating.



Others will argue that even if the U.S. and its allied nations have a moral right to slow down China, they don't have the means; China will keep doing what it is doing. They are right in one way: the Trump administration's efforts showed clearly that it is virtually impossible to dissuade Beijing from abandoning its predatory form of state capitalism. President Xi and the State Council are too committed to it because they see it as central to China becoming the dominant global power.



But while allies cannot change China's strategy and tactics, they can "throw apples" that will slow China down, at least a bit. What should they do? They can start by working more closely together to limit China's access to key technologies through tougher export controls. The difficulties now facing telecom equipment giant Huawei show that this strategy can work. Countries can also amend antitrust rules to allow companies in similar industries to collaborate to agree not to transfer technology to China as a condition of market access. As it stands now, China uses its massive and growing market as a lure to play companies off against each other and transfer valuable technology.



They can also limit Chinese foreign direct investment, especially the acquisition of companies in domestically advanced industries. The U.S. Congress took important steps in doing so several years ago when it passed the Foreign Investment Risk Review Modernization Act (FIRRMA), as did the EU when it passed similar, albeit weaker rules.



More boldly, allied nations can work together to identify Chinese products that benefit unfairly from Chinese innovation mercantilist practices and limit imports of these products. For example, any Chinese company that can be shown to benefit from intellectual property theft  as was the case with China's DRAM company, Fujian Jinhua  should not be allowed market access. In the case of Fujian it was export controls that crippled the company, but in other cases, it is market access limits that can be used. The same principle of denying market access should be applied to companies that gained advantages because of forced technology transfer or massive subsidies. All countries engage in some industry subsidies, but when those subsidies are so large that they dwarf what most nations do, they should be actionable under domestic trade law.



Slowing China down is critical in part because it will give leading technology companies in U.S.-allied nations time to adjust and invest in the next generation of technology to maintain their lead over China. Many nations will be tempted to free-ride off nations like the United States, who have shown their willingness to "throw golden apples," to slow China down, but that will be a mistake. China knows how to play nations off against each other, and only joint action will suffice.



Finally, none of this is to say that allied nations should also not take stronger steps to enable our ability to "run faster," through more effective and generous domestic technology strategies, ideally coordinated with allies. But winning the race will require both slowing China down and speeding allies up.





Robert D. Atkinson (@RobAtkinsonITIF) is president of the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF), an independent, nonpartisan research and educational institute focusing on the intersection of technological innovation and public policy. The views expressed in the above article are the author's own and do not reflect the editorial direction of The Korea Times.




By Kim Bo-eun





LG Innotek CEO Jeong Cheol-dong will be honored with an award presented by the Institute of Electronics and Information Engineers (IEIE), LG's component affiliate said Thursday.







Jeong will receive the organization's 31st Haedong Technology Award on Friday, for his contributions in developing high-tech parts and heightening the competitiveness of Korea's high-tech materials and parts industry.







The Haedong Technology Award was created by the late Daeduk Electronics Chairman Kim Jeong-sik, who established the Haedong Science Culture Foundation. The late chairman wished to honor those who contributed to academic and technological developments in the field of electronic engineering.







Jeong has a 37-year career in the B2B business in the sectors of materials and parts at LG's key affiliates. He joined now-defunct LG Semiconductor in 1984, and worked at affiliates including LG Display, LG Chem and LG Innotek. He led the development of technology and products and the innovation of production processes, LG Innotek said.







At LG Display, Jeong was the hidden force in driving the initiative to produce key production equipment locally. At LG Chem, he had been involved in developing cutting-edge technology for chip packages used in automobiles and OLED TVs.







Since 2019, the year he joined the group's core parts affiliate, the company has been sharpening its technology related to optical solutions, substrate materials and auto parts.







Specifically, LG Innotek accelerated the development of ultra-precision, ultra-slim, high-performance camera and 3D sensing module products using advanced innovative technology, and solidified its position as the world's No. 1 producer of cameras and 3D sensing modules for smartphones. In the substrate material sector, the company boosted the competitiveness of the industry with its world's thinnest communication semiconductor substrate, as well as other globally No. 1 products, such as tape substrates and photomasks.







Jeong also led the development of core raw materials for substrate materials, chemicals for plating and pattern formation, and production facilities, which Korea formerly heavily relied on foreign imports for.


Hyundai Oilbank's Daesan plant in South Chungcheong Province/ Courtesy of Hyundai Oilbank



By Kim Hyun-bin



Hyundai Heavy Industries Holdings (HHIH) unloaded some of its stakes in Hyundai Oilbank to Palantir Technologies. The amount of stock sold to the U.S. company was valued at about $20 million, HHIH said Thursday.



HHIH's decision was aimed at winning financial support from stable strategic investors, as Hyundai Oilbank is planning to pursue an initial public offering (IPO) early next year. Hyundai Oilbank plans to apply to the Korea Exchange for a preliminary examination within this year.



Hyundai Oilbank and Palantir plan to build a long-term cooperative relationship with Palantir's investment in the HHIH affiliate.



By building a big data platform through the collaboration with Palantir, Hyundai Oilbank expects to accelerate its digital transformation in all of its business areas, including smart factories.



"Collaborating with Palantir will be a great opportunity to strengthen Hyundai Oilbank's digital capabilities. We will do our best to establish and enhance our corporate value," a Hyundai Oilbank official said.



Palantir is a big data company that supports and provides big data analysis services and platforms for major U.S. intelligence agencies, including the FBI, CIA and National Security Agency (NSA). It also has diverse customers on the commercial side, including global companies such as Airbus and BP.



Palantir has decided to invest in Hyundai Oilbank's oil refining business, as well as in the value and growth potential of its highly evaluated new businesses, such as petrochemicals and hydrogen, said the companies.



Previously, Hyundai Doosan Infracore, a subsidiary of Hyundai Heavy Industries Group's construction machinery division, had signed a strategic partnership with Palantir, the first time for a domestic company to do so, in 2019, with the goal of utilizing its big data collaboration platform to integrate, connect and analyze business data from the past 40 years.








Jungheung Group Chairman Jung Chang-sun, left, poses with KDB Investment CEO Lee Dae-hyun after signing a stock purchase agreement to take over 50.75 percent of Daewoo E&C's shares, at a hotel in Seoul, on Dec. 9. Courtesy of Jungheung Group



By Kim Jae-heun



Jungheung Group will acquire a controlling stake in Daewoo E&C, the company said Thursday.



In a ceremony, Jungheung signed a stock purchase agreement (SPA) with Daewoo E&C to take over 50.75 percent of its shares.



The SPA came five months after Jungheung was chosen as the preferred bidder, in July. The construction firm offered to pay 2.1 trillion won ($1.78 billion) and the price is said to have been finalized.



Jungheung will also apply for a review of the acquisition with the Fair Trade Commission (FTC) this month as the joining of the two entities may help them see increased market share.



Combining the construction capacity values of three firms equates to 11.91 trillion won, which will place Jungheung Group in third place, surpassing GS E&C (9.92 trillion won) and POSCO E&C (9.51 trillion won), which currently rank third and fourth, respectively. Once the review is done, the management rights of Daewoo E&C will be completely handed over to Jungheung from Korea Development Bank Investment, which took ownership of the firm from Kumho Asiana Group in 2010.



Jungheung vowed to pursue the "fair treatment" of the executives and employees at Daewoo E&C, while guaranteeing an improvement in the company's debt ratio. These efforts are to dispel the concern among Daewoo E&C employees that their company's competitiveness will decrease with the smaller firm of Jungheung acquiring them.



Jungheung's priority goal is to beef up Daewoo E&C's overseas business while reducing its debt ratio from 284 percent to 105 percent, said the company. Jungheung Group Chairman Jung Chang-sun said in its message to Daewoo E&C staff that he will put all the firm's capabilities into creating the world's top construction group, which will not be shaken by any challenges or effects from the external environment.


From left: Kim Chan-woo, Park Sung-beom, Yang Hye-soon, Jude Buckley / Courtesy of Samsung Electronics



Tech giant seeks to make organization more flexible amid competition



By Kim Bo-eun



Samsung Electronics promoted more young workers in their 30s and 40s to key executive positions Thursday in a bid to speed up a generational shift and make its organization more agile and capable of embracing change.



Two days after its annual yearend C-suite level management reshuffle, Samsung said its executive promotions were focused on performance and growth potential. In recent years the company has been attempting to improve its hierarchical culture as it its increasingly being challenged by international rivals that have a younger, more casual and dynamic workforce.






Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong speaks with reporters upon arriving at the Seoul Gimpo Business Aviation Center, after returning from meetings in the United Arab Emirates, Thursday. Yonhap



By Baek Byung-yeul



Samsung Electronics has shown its unwillingness to lose its technological leadership in its core business sectors by expanding its number of young executives during the firm's management reshuffle, Thursday.



After a large-scale reshuffle of its C-level executives on Tuesday, the tech giant announced promotion of 198 employees to executives.



The highlight of the Thursday's personnel reshuffle is that the company appointed young professionals in their 30s and 40s with fruitful field experience and technical knowledge in the semiconductor, cloud computing, artificial intelligence (AI), foldable smartphone and chip-design sectors as its new leaders.



With regards to the promotions, Samsung said that it "implemented a large-scale promotion under the principle of a performance-based system to strengthen its leadership for sustainable growth in the future."



Samsung's deployment of young leaders to its core business areas reveals that the company has concluded that the surrounding business environment is challenging.






Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks at a press conference in London's Downing Street, Dec. 8, after ministers met to consider imposing new restrictions in response to rising cases and the spread of the Omicron variant. AP-Yonhap



British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Wednesday ordered an inquiry and said he was ''furious'' after a leaked video showed senior members of his staff joking about holding a lockdown-breaching Christmas party.



The video has poured fuel on allegations that officials in the Conservative government flouted coronavirus rules they imposed on everyone else. It release came as Johnson urged people to work from home and introduced vaccine passes for crowded venues to try and slow the spread of the new Omicron variant.



''I understand and share the anger up and down the country'' at officials seeming to make light of lockdown rules, Johnson said.



''I was also furious to see that clip,'' he told lawmakers in the House of Commons. ''I apologize unreservedly for the offense that it has caused up and down the country, and I apologize for the impression it gives.''



For days, the prime minister's office has been trying to rebut reports that Johnson's staff held a December 2020 office party  complete with wine, food, games and a festive gift exchange  when pandemic regulations banned most social gatherings.



According to multiple British media outlets, the party took place on Dec. 18, when restrictions in London prohibited indoor social mixing, and a day before Johnson tightened the rules even further, ruling out family Christmas celebrations for millions of people.





Allegra Stratton speaks outside her home in north London, Dec. 8. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has apologized and ordered an inquiry after a leaked video showed senior members of his staff joking about holding a lockdown-breaching Christmas party. AP-Yonhap



The video, recorded on Dec. 22, 2020 and aired by broadcaster ITV, shows then-press secretary Allegra Stratton appearing to joke about an illicit party at the prime minister's Downing Street office. The recording appears to be a mock news conference, held as a rehearsal for televised government media briefings.



Another aide, playing a journalist, says: ''I've just seen reports on Twitter that there was a Downing Street Christmas party on Friday night, do you recognize those reports?''



As laughter is heard, Stratton, the press secretary, says: ''I went home'' and asks colleagues: ''What's the answer?'' Another voice can be heard saying: ''It wasn't a party, it was cheese and wine.''



''Is cheese and wine all right? It was a business meeting,'' a laughing Stratton says.



Stratton, who later became the government's climate-change spokesperson, quit on Wednesday, saying she hadn't intended to make light of ''rules that people were doing everything to obey.''



''I will regret those remarks for the rest of my days and I offer my profound apologies to all of you,'' she said in a televised statement outside her home.



For several days Johnson's spokespeople have insisted that no party was held and no rules were broken. But on Wednesday, Johnson said he had ordered Britain's top civil servant, Simon Case, to investigate. He said anyone found to have broken the rules would be disciplined.



Thousands of people in Britain have been fined since early 2020 for breaking restrictions by holding illegal gatherings. London's Metropolitan Police said officers had reviewed the leaked video but would not investigate the alleged party due to a lack of evidence and a department policy not to investigate retrospective breaches of coronavirus regulations.



The leader of the opposition Labour Party, Keir Starmer, said the prime minister should be ''ashamed.''



''Millions of people now think the prime minister was taking them for fools and that they were lied to. They're right, aren't they?'' Starmer asked Johnson during the prime minister's weekly question session.



Starmer contrasted the government's behavior with that of Queen Elizabeth II, who in April sat alone at the funeral of her husband of 73 years, Prince Philip, because of social-distancing rules.



''Leadership, sacrifice  that's what gives leaders the moral authority to lead,'' the Labour leader said. ''Does the prime minister think he has the moral authority to lead and to ask the British people to stick to the rules?''





A protester holds a placard on the edge of Parliament Square across the street from the Houses of Parliament, London, Dec. 8. AP-Yonhap
U.S. President Joe Biden salutes as he boards Air Force One for a trip to Kansas City at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., Dec. 8. Biden is convening global leaders Thursday to pledge strong new commitments to democracy. AP-Yonhap



President Joe Biden is convening global leaders Thursday to pledge strong new commitments to democracy, even as the U.S. itself is facing some of the gravest threats in years to its democratic traditions and institutions at home.



As the president launches the administration's inaugural Summit for Democracy, determined to show the world democracy can still work, the nation that's been long considered a shining example is seen by various measures as a backslider.



Local elected officials are resigning at an alarming rate amid confrontations with angry voices at school board meetings, elections offices and town halls. States are passing laws to limit access to the ballot, making it more difficult for Americans to vote. And the Jan. 6 attack at the Capitol has left many in one U.S. political party clinging to Donald Trump's false claims of a stolen election, eroding trust in the accuracy of the vote.



America must do better, critics at home and abroad insist.



''Can our democracy overcome the lies, anger, hate, and fears that have pulled us apart?'' Biden asked during a joint session of Congress at the start of his presidency, months after the Capitol insurrection.



''America's adversaries  the autocrats of the world  are betting we can't.''



It's an unsettling moment for the world's leading democracy as authoritarianism grows around the globe, raising questions about the United States' ability to lead by example and intensifying pressure on the Biden administration to not only promote democracy abroad but do more to shore it up at home.



As allies gather for the two-day virtual summit, the White House is approaching the meeting ''from a place of humility,'' understanding that no democracy is perfect, not even the U.S., according to a senior official granted anonymity to discuss the thinking at the White House.



At the forum, intended for some 110 participating countries to announce new commitments for strengthening democracy, Biden plans to speak about the importance of voting rights at home, much as he did at an anniversary celebration of the capital's Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, the official said. At the time, the president called voting ''that fundamental right'' and decried efforts to curtail it as ''the most un-American thing'' imaginable.





U.S. President Joe Biden speaks about the Infrastructure Law at the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority, in Kansas City, Mo., Dec. 8. UPI-Yonhap



The president has also said that passage of his ambitious domestic agenda  the $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill he signed into law, as well as the roughly $2 trillion ''Build Back Better Act'' of social and climate change initiatives moving through the Senate  will demonstrate how democracy can improve people's lives.



''The United States has a thriving democracy, but it's been hurting in recent years,'' said Michael Abramowitz, the president of Freedom House, whose annual report marked a 15th consecutive year of a global democratic slide.



''Right now, we're going through a phase in America where it's very difficult to get things done and to really prove that democracy can deliver,'' he said.



One early test will come Thursday as the U.S. House moves to approve the Protecting Our Democracy Act, the third in a trio of bills alongside the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act that Democrats in Congress have put forward.



A fourth bill being drafted would impose changes to the Electoral Count Act, the once-routine process of tallying and certifying the presidential election ballots that was severely tested on Jan. 6 as Trump urged followers to challenge the vote.



But the legislation churning through Congress seems destined to fail, facing opposition from Republicans who dismiss the bills as partisan overreach.



Some Republicans say the bills are unnecessary or need to be dramatically scaled back. Others are perpetuating Trump's false claims of election fraud despite dozens of U.S. court cases that found no evidence of voting irregularities. Some Republicans are now downplaying the attack at the Capitol, even as hundreds of rioters are facing charges in courts nationwide.



The White House is gearing up for a year of action on what it sees as rebuilding democracy. The Republican blockade against the Democrats' bills in Congress has revived private Senate negotiations over changing the chamber's filibuster rules to muscle past a nearly impossible 60-vote threshold in the evenly split 50-50 chamber.



Some are pushing for action ahead the 2022 congressional elections amid fears of new restrictions on the right to vote and outside actors sowing misinformation.



''If President Biden really believes  as he should  that we're in an existential battle to protect democracy, when will he put the political capital behind these bills that such a crisis warrants?'' said Ian Bassin, executive director of Protect Democracy, a nonpartisan, anti-authoritarianism organization.





U.S. President Joe Biden holds virtual talks with Russia's President Vladimir Putin amid Western fears that Moscow plans to attack Ukraine, as Secretary of State Antony Blinken listens with other officials during a secure video call from the Situation Room at the White House in Washington, Dec. 7. Reuters-Yonhap
People rally in support of abortion rights at the state Capitol in Sacramento, Calif., May 21, 2019. On Dec. 8, a group of abortion providers and advocacy groups recommended California should use public money to bring people here from other states for abortion services should the U.S. Supreme Court overturn Roe v. Wade. AP-Yonhap



With more than two dozen states poised to ban abortion if the U.S. Supreme Court gives them the OK next year, California clinics and their allies in the state Legislature on Wednesday revealed a plan to make the state a ''sanctuary'' for those seeking reproductive care, including possibly paying for travel, lodging and procedures for people from other states.



The California Future of Abortion Council, made up of more than 40 abortion providers and advocacy groups, released a list of 45 recommendations for the state to consider if the high court overturns Roe v. Wade  the 48-year-old decision that forbids states from outlawing abortion.



The recommendations are not just a liberal fantasy. Some of the state's most important policymakers helped write them, including Toni Atkins, the San Diego Democrat who leads the state Senate and attended multiple meetings.



Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom started the group himself and in an interview last week with The Associated Press said some of the report's details will be included in his budget proposal in January.



''We'll be a sanctuary,'' Newsom said, adding he's aware patients will likely travel to California from other states to seek abortions. ''We are looking at ways to support that inevitability and looking at ways to expand our protections.''



Abortion, perhaps more than any other issue, has divided the country for decades along mostly traditional partisan lines. A new decision overturning Roe v. Wade, which could come next summer, would be the culmination of more than 40 years of conservative activism. But Wednesday's report offers a first glimpse of how Democratic-dominated states could respond and how the debate over abortion access would change.



California already pays for abortions for many low-income residents through the state's Medicaid program. And California is one of six states that require private insurance companies to cover abortions, although many patients still end up paying deductibles and co-payments.



But money won't be a problem for state-funded abortion services for patients from other states. California's coffers have soared throughout the pandemic, fueling a record budget surplus this year. Next year, the state's independent Legislative Analyst's Office predicts California will have a surplus of about $31 billion.



California's affiliates of Planned Parenthood, the nation's largest abortion provider, got a sneak preview of how people might seek abortions outside their home states this year when a Texas law that outlawed abortion after six weeks of pregnancy was allowed to take effect. California clinics reported a slight increase in patients from Texas.



Now, California abortion providers are asking California to make it easier for those people to get to the state.



The report recommends funding  including public spending  to support patients seeking abortion for travel expenses such as gas, lodging, transportation and child care. It asks lawmakers to reimburse abortion providers for services to those who can't afford to pay  including those who travel to California from other states whose income is low enough that they would qualify for state-funded abortions under Medicaid if they lived there.





Abortion rights supporters organized by the Center for Reproductive Rights rally as the U.S. Supreme Court hears oral arguments in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health, in Washington, Dec. 1. AP-Yonhap
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz attends the first cabinet meeting of the new German government at the Chancellery in Berlin, Dec. 8. EPA-Yonhap



Olaf Scholz became Germany's new chancellor on Wednesday after 16 years with Angela Merkel at the helm, pledging his center-left-led coalition would offer a "new beginning" for Europe's top economy.



Scholz was officially named the country's ninth post-war leader by President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who urged him to "ensure that the pandemic does not keep us firmly in its grip for another year" as a fourth wave of the coronavirus outbreak rages.



The former finance minister, who won 395 of the 707 votes cast in the Bundestag lower house, has vowed broad "continuity" with the popular Merkel while making Germany greener and fairer.



"It will be a new beginning for our country," Scholz pledged as he officially assumed the office from Merkel and thanked her for her lengthy tenure.



"I will do everything to work towards that."



Merkel wished Scholz luck as chancellor, urging him to "take this office and work in the best interest of our country".



She then left her office by motorcade for the last time as her staff looked on, applauding.



"I came to see Merkel for a last time," said Enrique Velazco, 30, part of a small crowd gathered outside the chancellery. "She stood for stability for the world."





Olaf Scholz, left, receives his certificate of appointment from German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier after Scholz was elected as Germany's new chancellor, at the presidential Bellevue Palace in Berlin, Dec. 8. AFP-Yonhap



'Dare for more'



Scholz led his Social Democrats from a deep poll deficit to victory in the September 26 election.



The 63-year-old, who turned emulating Merkel in style and substance into a winning strategy, forged Germany's first national "traffic light" coalition with the ecologist Greens and the liberal Free Democrats, nicknamed after the parties' colors.



Their four-year pact sealed late last month is called "Dare for More Progress", a hat tip to Social Democratic chancellor Willy Brandt's historic 1969 pledge to "Dare for More Democracy".



The alliance aims to slash carbon emissions, overhaul decrepit digital infrastructure, modernize citizenship laws, lift the minimum wage and have Germany join a handful of countries worldwide in legalizing marijuana.



US President Joe Biden congratulated Scholz, saying he "is looking forward to building on the strong ties between our two nations".



French President Emmanuel Macron pledged that "we will write the next chapter together" while EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said she looked forward to cooperation for a "strong Europe".



Scholz's office announced his first official visit would take him to Paris and Brussels Friday for talks with Macron, von der Leyen and NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg.



China's Xi Jinping said Beijing was willing to work with Scholz to "promote bilateral ties to a new level" while Vladimir Putin said Russia was offering "constructive ties" with the new government.



In his first TV interview as chancellor, Scholz warned of possible "consequences" for the contested Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline if Russia invaded Ukraine amid a troop build-up, stressing "the inviolability of the borders" must be respected.





German Chancellor Olaf Scholz poses with his new cabinet at the Chancellery, in Berlin, Dec. 8. Reuters-Yonhap



Gender balanced



The new foreign minister, Annalena Baerbock, has pledged a tougher line with authoritarian states such as Russia and China after the business-driven pragmatism of the Merkel years.



Greens co-leader Baerbock is one of eight women in Germany's first gender-balanced cabinet.



"That corresponds to the society we live in  half of the power belongs to women," Scholz, who describes himself as a "feminist", said this week.



Scholz and his team promise stability just as France braces for a bitterly fought presidential election next year and Europe grapples with the enduring aftershocks of Brexit.



However, a vicious fourth COVID wave has already put the incoming coalition to the test.



More than 103,000 people have died with coronavirus in Germany while new infections have surged since the weather turned cold, filling intensive care units to breaking point.



Scholz has thrown his weight behind making jabs mandatory to get the pandemic under control, as Austria has done.





Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel and her successor Olaf Scholz attend the official handing over ceremony of the Chancellery in Berlin, Dec. 8. EPA-Yonhap
Chinese President Xi Jinping is displayed on a screen as performers dance at a gala show ahead of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese Communist Party in Beijing, June 28. Lawyers in China should consciously "follow and embrace" the leadership of the Communist Party, President Xi Jinping has told a Politburo study session. AP-Yonhap




Firemen and rescue workers stand next to the debris of an IAF Mi-17V5 helicopter crash site in Coonoor, Tamil Nadu, Dec. 8. A helicopter carrying India's defense chief, General Bipin Rawat, crashed, with a government minister at the scene saying at least 13 people were dead. AFP-Yonhap



India's military chief, Gen. Bipin Rawat, and 12 others were killed Wednesday in a helicopter crash in southern Tamil Nadu state, the air force said.



It said in a tweet that the helicopter ''met with a tragic accident.''



The dead included Rawat's wife. The air force said one officer, Group Capt. Varun Singh, survived and is being treated in a military hospital.



The air force said the Russian-made Mi-17V5 helicopter was on its way from an air force base to the army defense services college when it crashed near the town of Coonoor, a hill station in Tamil Nadu. The reason for the crash was not immediately known.



Television images from the crash site showed plumes of smoke billowing from the debris as local residents tried to put out the fire and remove bodies from the wreckage.



Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Rawat had contributed greatly to modernizing the country's armed forces. ''His insights and perspectives on strategic matters were exceptional,'' Modi said.



Defense Minister Rajnath Singh said Rawat ''served the country with exceptional courage and diligence.''



Archrival Pakistan's army chief, Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa, expressed his condolences on the ''tragic death'' of Rawat and his wife, its government said in a tweet.



The air force said an inquiry has been ordered into the accident.





People light candles to pay their respect in front of a portrait of defense chief, General Bipin Rawat, in Siliguri, Dec. 8, after reports of a helicopter crash in which he and his wife were among 13 casualties. AFP-Yonhap
This Feb. 1 file photo shows Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai, right, being escorted into a Hong Kong Correctional Services van outside the Court of Final Appeal after being ordered to remain in jail. AFP-Yonhap



Hong Kong tycoon and prominent pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai and two others were convicted Thursday for their roles in last year's banned Tiananmen candlelight vigil, amid a crackdown on dissent in the city and Beijing's tightening political control.



Lai, together with Chow Hang-tung, a vice chairperson of the now-defunct vigil organizer the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, and activist and former reporter Gwyneth Ho were convicted for either taking part in or inciting others to join the candlelight vigil in 2020.



They are among 24 activists who were charged over their roles in the unauthorized assembly in Victoria Park on June 4 last year, during which thousands of people gathered to light candles and sing songs in the park despite police warnings that they may be breaking the law.



The Hong Kong Alliance previously organized a candlelight vigil in the city's Victoria Park on June 4 each year to mark the bloody crackdown on protesters campaigning for more democracy in Beijing's Tiananmen Square in 1989.





In this June 4, 2020, file photo, democracy advocate Jimmy Lai, left, attends a gathering to mourn for those killed in the 1989 Tiananmen crackdown at Victoria Park in Hong Kong. AP-Yonhap




Maintenance Planner

Job Locations US-WA-Darrington

Company Summary



Hampton Lumber is a family-owned wood products company headquartered in Portland, Oregon. With over 1,700 employees, we operate ten sawmills in Western Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia. We also manage timberland and operate a wholesale and export division. With nearly 80 years in the sawmill business, we are proud to have cultivated the knowledge and experience needed to grow and prosper, even in challenging times. We always look to the future and invest in our people, new technologies, and continuous improvement processes and techniques.

Overview

The Maintenance Planner will be responsible for compiling and organizing historical and current data on machine center downtime, parts replacement, and pertinent information for assessing maintenance needs. This person will manage and be accountable for the work order system by prioritizing, scheduling, and organizing maintenance workload. This person will also have a strong focus on both preventative and predictive maintenance. This function will help strategize machine upkeep to better enable continuous process operation. This position will report to the Maintenance Supervisor.

Benefits Highlights

Generous company-paid assistance for Medical and Dental insurance premiums; cost-effective co-pays & deductibles. Vision, Short Term Disability, Roth and pre-tax 401k, with a 2% company match and an additional 5% annual employer contribution, fully vested after three years.

Responsibilities

Specific Job Responsibilities:

Balance maintenance work with the needs of the operation

Maintain a clean and organized work environment

Develop PM tasks and schedules for all new equipment prior to installation

Manage data collection and input into CMMS (Computerized Maintenance Management System)

Monitor work order backlog and keep it prioritized

Develop initial machine operator training for critical machine centers (PM development)

Maintain shift emergency repair logs

Attend mill team meetings when needed to communicate project status to mill management

Responsible for generating work orders

Monitor completion time of PM's

Ensure all required parts are kitted and tools are organized and ready for scheduled work

Develop and maintain the required statistical information on machine centers to track uptime, downtime, maintenance costs, etc.

Manage maintenance history for each machine center.

Assist in parts purchasing and inventory tracking. (requisition parts, not purchase)

Assist in developing cost estimates for major equipment repairs and modifications.

Schedule all contracted predictive maintenance surveys

Keep library of equipment manuals updated and organized

Assist supervisor to hold employees accountable to work expectations and goals

Partner with millwrights to learn and understand how machine centers work/operate and the impact on the operations

Learn and understand the time requirements of maintenance tasks and schedule accordingly

Qualifications

Qualifications:

Computer skills (Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook)

Ability to interpret drawings and schematics

CMMS experience is preferred but not required

Mechanical aptitude is preffered

High school diploma or equivalent

Experience in planning and scheduling is preferred but not required

Skills and Attributes:

Advocate of safety

Self-starter and a team player

Organized and detail orientated

Good communication skills

Willing to ask for help

Continuous learning initiative

Service oriented towards internal and external customers

More About Us

Learn more at hamptonlumber.com, or follow us on Facebook: @HamptonLumber. You can also learn about our company and our priorities by visiting our blog.

EEO Statement

Hampton Lumber is an equal opportunity employer: All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race/ethnicity, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, age, or any other status protected by law.

Disability accommodation available: If you are an individual with a disability and need a reasonable accommodation in the application or hiring process, please contact the Human Resources Office for the location you are applying.

For more information about our commitment to equal employment opportunity, please see these government posters: EEO is the Law and its accompanying temporary supplement.


Zoom is an award-winning workplace. We have been recognized by Comparably as #1 CEO, Company Happiness, Benefits, Compensation, Diversity, and more! Not to mention we've been awarded by Glassdoor as the 2nd Best US workplace & Best Large Company US CEO in 2018, Wealth-front, and Business Insider. Our culture focuses on delivering happiness, our commitment to transparency, and the tangible benefits we provide our employees and our customers. We are looking for a Latin America Account Executive - SMB (Spanish Speaker) with the right energy, competitive spirit, personal drive and track record of success in Sales. This position involves working with business clients with an employee count of 11 - 250 to provide them the right Zoom services that meet their video and online meeting needs. Working in a defined international territory, you will proactively engage with targeted companies, as well as follow up and close on various sources of inbound leads. Responsibilities: Meet or exceed sales and product objectives

Effectively qualify leads and identify prospect needs, engaging technical resources as required

Create client demos/ presentations, quotes/ proposals, and Quarterly Business Reviews (QBRs)

Conduct high-level conversations with C-Level and VP -Level Executives to address business needs

Utilize solution-selling techniques to effectively guide sales process to close

Develop and maintain business within existing accounts, manage complex sales situations and sales campaigns

Up-sell and leverage business from new and established customer relationships

Utilize Salesforce CRM to provide timely and accurate sales activity tracking and status updates

Work strategically with management to deliver forecasts, identify trending opportunities/challenges, and provide recommended solutions

Forecast sales activity and revenue achievement while creating satisfied customers

Resolve client issues in a timely and thorough manner; escalates issues to manager as appropriate

Keep informed of product line, competition and industry trends that may impact client business activities Requirements: 2+ years sales experience in a Technology company

1+ years experience working in a sales position with International customers

1+ years in a full cycle sales role

Direct SaaS/Cloud selling experience

SaaS video or web conferencing solutions selling experience preferred

This position requires the ability to hunt into new accounts, develop and maintain business within existing accounts and manage complex sales situations and large projects

Demonstrated excellence in presentations skill with ability to build relevant, strategic messaging

Presence and proficiency in social media such as LinkedIn preferred

Business forecasting, pipeline development and management skills are required

A proven track record of closed sales, client satisfaction, & team work

Must be detail oriented, organized, ethical, responsible, & self-motivated

Salesforce CRM experience preferred

Internet research skills with excellent PC literacy [Excel, Outlook, Word, PowerPoint]

BA/ BS or equivalent experience

Must be a fluent Spanish speaker in addition to fluent in English Ensuring a diverse and inclusive workplace where we learn from each other is core to Zoom's values. We welcome people of different backgrounds, experiences, abilities and perspectives including qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records as well as any qualified applicants requiring reasonable accommodations in accordance with the law. We believe that the unique contributions of all Zoomies is the driver of our success. To make sure that our products and culture continue to incorporate everyone's perspectives and experience we never discriminate on the basis of race, religion, national origin, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, or marital, veteran, or disability status. All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines. Given Zoom's status as a federal contractor, we are subject to President Biden's Executive Order requiring COVID-19 vaccinations for all US employees. As such, Zoom requires all US employees, including remote employees, to be fully vaccinated. Zoom will consider requests for reasonable accommodations for religious or medical reasons as required under applicable law. Explore Zoom:







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The tragic drowning of 27 migrants in the English Channel has brought home the misery and devastation facing refugees worldwide. Capitalism is horror without end. Only socialist revolution can bring down the borders and avert this catastrophe.

On Wednesday 24 November, under the cover of darkness, dozens of refugees  in search of a more dignified life  drowned crossing the Channel. Huddled together with no lights, no radar, and certainly no plan B, 27 men, women, and children perished as their dinghy deflated and sank.

This is the worst (recorded) incident of its kind since the migrant crisis began.

Among those that died was a pregnant mother and three children. The first named victim is Maryam Nuri Mohamed Amin, a Kurdish woman from Northern Iraq, who hoped to be reunited with her fiance. The only known survivors are from Iraq and Somalia  both countries, it should be noted, that have been bombed into barbarity by western imperialism.

The story is so often the same that it barely needs repeating: those risking their lives were already caught between the devil and the deep blue sea.

The English Channel, as with the Mediterranean sea, has become a veritable graveyard for those taking the gamble of attempting to cross stormy waters, as they flee war, poverty, and climate change back home.

This is entirely the fault of the capitalist system, which has spawned the migrant crisis in the first place. The blame must be laid at its door.

Fortress Europe

This tragedy in the Channel could have happened days earlier, when a group of Afghan refugees were stranded at sea after their boat engine cut out. They understandably began to panic as they tried to throw out the water that was filling up around their ankles.

One of those in this life-or-death situation, a 24-year-old who was seeking to escape Taliban rule, said that he believed he was going to die. Despite this, he stated that he plans to go out again as soon as he can  such is the desperation that he and countless others face.

As the problems grow worse, and untold suffering plays out, ever fiercer repression is meted out against the victims of imperialism / Image: public domain

The limits of the nation state loom large over the refugee crisis. As the problems grow worse, and untold suffering plays out, ever fiercer repression is meted out against the victims of imperialism.

Reactionary politicians in the West are scrambling to seal off their borders and absolve themselves of any responsibility.

We need only look at Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland sending troops to the Belarusian border. Elsewhere, Greece is busy building walls to keep out refugees in Turkey  installing surveillance systems to prevent the breach of Fortress Europe.

Countries such as Britain that promised to take in Afghan refugees are now shelving these pledges. Even Macron  the darling of liberal capitalism  has said that Europe should anticipate and protect itself from a wave of migrants from Afghanistan.

This reveals the ugly face of imperialism that lies behind the smiling mask of liberalism. Those that need protecting are the refugees and migrants who are constantly harassed by the police and vilified by the press.

Chaos in Calais

With fewer and fewer routes that can be considered safe, migrants are being forced into riskier and more precarious situations.

Five years after the Calais jungle was destroyed, 2,000 migrants remain in the area, with nowhere else to go. The surrounding refugee settlements are squalid shanty towns, lacking the most basic amenities, such as clean water and sanitation.

Bleak hour or so not far from Calais. Scores and scores of people having to walk up and down the roadside after their camp was broken up by police. They say officers confiscated their sleeping bags and equipment. Its cold, miserable- saw a couple of kids crying in the street. pic.twitter.com/jmtFvlZyTB  Lewis Goodall (@lewis_goodall) November 23, 2021

This horrific backdrop explains why three times as many small boats have arrived on Britains shores this year compared to 2020. Furthermore, it is in this context that these vulnerable refugees are preyed upon by smugglers who promise access to a new life.

Destitute and displaced, an increasing number are having to cough up fees of 6,000 or more in order to get across the Channel, which they are frequently told is just a lake.

Tory home secretary Priti Patel has told Parliament that in terms of toughness...I have not ruled anything out when it comes to stopping boats crossing the Channel. In an attempt to stem the tide of migrants, their only chance of escape has effectively become criminalised.

As part of the Tories jingoistic chest-beating, the government is introducing a new Nationality and Borders Bill, which seeks to fragment the whole asylum seeking process. Only those who come through legal pathways  an ever diminishing amount  are afforded the luxury of the 1951 Refugee Convention.

Furthermore, the new laws mean that those who arrive in the UK illegally can be returned. This is in direct contravention of internationally-recognised human rights, showing how toothless such treaties really are under capitalism.

It is vital to emphasise, however, that no amount of border-strengthening or repressive policing can solve the migrant crisis. All the tough talk from the Tories will do nothing to stop desperate refugees from risking their lives in search of a real future.

Modern slavery

Nor will such draconian measures address the very real problem of human trafficking and smuggling.

At the end of the day, these criminal networks are extremely profitable, providing a groundswell of cheap, super-exploited labour for the bosses, which amounts in some cases to modern slavery in the UK.

Human trafficking and smuggling provides a groundswell of cheap, super-exploited labour for the bosses, which amounts in some cases to modern slavery in the UK / Image: Ggia

One recent report by French police even showed how these networks are aided by bankers, and by officials alerting them of police activity. These criminal networks, the same report stated, are operating on an almost industrial scale.

Again, we see how the line between the black market and the supposedly above-board actions of the capitalist class are, in reality, extremely blurred.

Despite the gangster stereotype of dodgy deals conducted in dusty backrooms and on street corners, one French official hit the nail on the head: [The mafia chiefs] live in London peacefully, in beautiful villas. They earn hundreds of millions of euros every year, and they reinvest that money in the City.

There is a symbiotic relationship between the traffickers and the bosses, which enables these networks to be so professional.

The former prey on a flow of wretched men and women, who can be kept in constant fear  and sometimes in bondage  in order to provide a reliable supply of low-waged labour.

The latter, meanwhile, with the help of their Tory representatives, utilise the manufactured threat of migrants to whip up xenophobia and bigotry, in order to divide and exploit the working class all the harder.

Bluff and bluster

Instead of tackling such horrific exploitation, the Tories are far more concerned about stirring up jingoism and sabre-rattling with France, in order to distract from their own corruption and crimes.

Boris Johnson has cried crocodile tears over the tragedy in the Channel. His first response was to call for a closer working relationship with the French.

Boris Johnson has cried crocodile tears over the tragedy in the Channel / Image: Number 10, Flickr

What is needed, the Prime Minister initially said, is to root out these people that are literally getting away with murder  a little rich, perhaps, coming from a man with has blood on his hands when it comes to Britains COVID catastrophe.

As one might expect, these solemn words turned to air within a matter of days. Instead of the usual diplomatic maneuvering behind closed doors, away from the public eye, Johnson decided to tweet his response to Macron, playing to an audience of nationalistic Tory members and MPs.

Cutting through all the bluff and bluster, Johnsons position is essentially that the French should take back their migrants; control the crisis; and stop this from happening again.

None of this is being said and done by the Tory leader out of any care or compassion towards suffering refugees, but as a cynical and opportunistic attempt to appease the Brexiteer wing of his party by striking a blow against prominent European leaders.

Getting serious

Macron has urged Johnson to get serious and stop politicising this for domestic gain. But isn't this exactly what diplomacy between capitalist countries amounts to? Serious words are saved for the summits, followed by finger-pointing for the audience back home.

Needless to say, such confrontations do nothing to help those stuck in Calais or drowning in the Channel. Neither reactionary government is willing to take responsibility, with the French interior minister going as far as saying that Britain must make itself less economically attractive to those risking the journey!

The already-fraught UK-French relationship has gone from bad to worse. From fishing disputes and trade wars; to the AUKUS military pact that excluded Macron: tensions are on the rise.

Capitalist politicians on both sides have demonstrated their impotence and inability to do anything over the migrant crisis. They cannot solve the crisis with crackdowns, which have merely made paths more perilous. The only thing they can agree on is that the other must do more.

Banging the drum

Following Brexit, Britain has left behind the Dublin convention, which ensured that those seeking asylum must be processed in the country they first step foot in.

But this is not enough for Tory Brexiteers, who are fuming that the UK has failed to take back control of its borders since leaving the EU.

Indeed, there has been rumbling amongst Conservative backbenchers about doing away with the Human Rights Act all together. Justice secretary Dominic Raab, for example, has said in the past that I dont support the Human Rights Act and I don't believe in economic and social rights.

Priti Patel  before being disinvited from the discussions  informed Parliament recently that the UK Border Force was ready and waiting to turn around boats coming from France.

As PCS general secretary Mark Swerotka has pointed out, this amounts to a threat to break international law.

Reactionary red meat

All of this is just more red meat for the rabid reactionaries that have taken over the Tory Party. The narrow attitudes and interests of hardened Brexiteer backbenchers have reached their zenith over this question.

One such figure, Gainsborough MP Edward Leigh, has suggested that enough is enough: if we want to take back control, we must have offshore processing centres in France.

For the frothing rogues and reprobates that have taken over the Tory Party, the Tory leadership are flailing on one of their flagship policies: taking back control / Image: Socialist Appeal

Another, Julian Lewis, Conservative MP for New Forest East, seems to think that the actions of those that died are reprehensible: decent refugees should wait their turn, instead of queue-barging!

For these frothing rogues and reprobates, drunk on their little-Englander delusions, the Tory leadership are flailing on one of their flagship policies: taking back control. They are incensed that sealing Britains borders may become yet another of Boris broken promises.

But the Tories cannot take back control. The migrant crisis is only set to get worse.

The hawkish imperialism that these ladies and gentlemen stand for; the looming climate catastrophe that capitalism is fuelling; and the bosses reliance on super-exploited migrant labour for the sake of greater profits: all of these ensure that millions more are displaced from their homes, that trafficking will continue, and that further bodies will wash up on the shores of Britain and Europe.

Socialist revolution

The Tories attempts to feign shock and dismay at this disaster have worn thin. Many ordinary people are beginning to realise that there is no serious answer that can be offered by these political representatives of the ruling class.

Extorted by traffickers; sold false promises; and then crammed into make-shift boats: this latest tragedy in the Channel was entirely predictable.

After fleeing war-torn countries, millions arrive in Fortress Europe: the land of ghettoised camps, hostile environments, and hardened criminal networks.

These appalling events further validate Lenins assertion that capitalism is horror without end.

Such calamities can only be averted by doing away with capitalism and imperialism. Only through international socialist revolution can we bring down the borders, stop the misery facing migrants and refugees, and end the conflict, chaos, and destabilisation that are responsible for this global agony and barbarism.

Originally published on 30 November at socialist.net |


Berlin Reporter City Manager attends last work session

by Tara Giles

Sports reporter - Coos County Democrat and Berlin Reporter Sports reporter - Coos County Democrat and Berlin Reporter write the author BERLIN  At the Nov. 29 Berlin City Council Work Session, the meeting began with a Non-Public Session. Discussed was the dismissal, promotion or compensation of a public employee and hiring matters were discussed. The minutes of that meeting were sealed.



The conversation then moved to City Councilor James Wheeler, who discussed items added to the job description of the fire chief and the related compensation which was agreed upon during a meeting in late November.



Councilor Berthiaume mentioned concerns in regard to not receiving month updates from EMS as requested previously.



Mayor Paul Grenier said, "I suggested EMS send the report to the Fire Chief which would then communicate with Council."



Wheeler then said, "Ron Lemoine accepted the position of Public Works Supervisor. This resulted in a vacant Laborer-Equipment Operator position. I'm asking for permission to advertise and fill the position."



The Council then moved to permit Wheeler to advertise and fill that spot.



Wheeler said, "As a reminder, this is my last meeting. I thank the Council and have enjoyed the last eight and a half years as City Manager, it's been an outstanding opportunity. I hope I have met all expectations."



Grenier said, "I hate to see you go, and I know you gave 100 percent to the city, and I wish you well." BERLIN  At the Nov. 29 Berlin City Council Work Session, the meeting began with a Non-Public Session. Discussed was the dismissal, promotion or compensation of a public employee and hiring matters were discussed. The minutes of that meeting were sealed.The conversation then moved to City Councilor James Wheeler, who discussed items added to the job description of the fire chief and the related compensation which was agreed upon during a meeting in late November.Councilor Berthiaume mentioned concerns in regard to not receiving month updates from EMS as requested previously.Mayor Paul Grenier said, "I suggested EMS send the report to the Fire Chief which would then communicate with Council."Wheeler then said, "Ron Lemoine accepted the position of Public Works Supervisor. This resulted in a vacant Laborer-Equipment Operator position. I'm asking for permission to advertise and fill the position."The Council then moved to permit Wheeler to advertise and fill that spot.Wheeler said, "As a reminder, this is my last meeting. I thank the Council and have enjoyed the last eight and a half years as City Manager, it's been an outstanding opportunity. I hope I have met all expectations."Grenier said, "I hate to see you go, and I know you gave 100 percent to the city, and I wish you well."


Coos County Democrat Northumberland police arrest fugitive from justice

by Tara Giles

Sports reporter - Coos County Democrat and Berlin Reporter Sports reporter - Coos County Democrat and Berlin Reporter write the author NORTHUMBERLAND  On Nov. 29, Northumberland police arrested 23-year-old Parker Lovell, also of Northumberland. Lovell, a fugitive from justice was arrested on several charges.



Police apprehended Lovell after he attempted to flee. Northumberland Police Chief Peter Pelletier explained that information was received that Lovell was in the area at a residence on Cumberland Street in the town of Northumberland.



Lovell's warrants include a warrant for a charge of aggravated assault, from the State of Vermont. That warrant included full extradition to the State of Vermont. Lovell had an electronic bench warrant in district court as well.



Pelletier said, "Additionally, Mr. Lovell had a capias from the Merrimack County Superior Court which included a no bail provision. There was also a capias from the Grafton County Superior Court which contained a bail provision in the amount of $504.90."



Of the chase, Pelletier explained, "Upon the arrival to the residence by several members of the Northumberland Police Department with cooperation from the New Hampshire State Police, Mr. Lovell exited the residence. He then fled from the residence and a short foot chase ensued which ended when a nearby factory worker tackled Mr. Lovell as he ran by."



Lastly, said Pelletier, "At the conclusion of that foot chase, Mr. Lovell was taken into custody and transported to the Northumberland Police Department for processing. Mr. Lovell was processed and ultimately refused bail."



Lovell was transported to the Coos County House of Corrections pending a bail hearing the following day for the variety of charges that he is facing. He was also charged with an additional three class A misdemeanor offenses for Resisting Arrest or Detention. NORTHUMBERLAND  On Nov. 29, Northumberland police arrested 23-year-old Parker Lovell, also of Northumberland. Lovell, a fugitive from justice was arrested on several charges.Police apprehended Lovell after he attempted to flee. Northumberland Police Chief Peter Pelletier explained that information was received that Lovell was in the area at a residence on Cumberland Street in the town of Northumberland.Lovell's warrants include a warrant for a charge of aggravated assault, from the State of Vermont. That warrant included full extradition to the State of Vermont. Lovell had an electronic bench warrant in district court as well.Pelletier said, "Additionally, Mr. Lovell had a capias from the Merrimack County Superior Court which included a no bail provision. There was also a capias from the Grafton County Superior Court which contained a bail provision in the amount of $504.90."Of the chase, Pelletier explained, "Upon the arrival to the residence by several members of the Northumberland Police Department with cooperation from the New Hampshire State Police, Mr. Lovell exited the residence. He then fled from the residence and a short foot chase ensued which ended when a nearby factory worker tackled Mr. Lovell as he ran by."Lastly, said Pelletier, "At the conclusion of that foot chase, Mr. Lovell was taken into custody and transported to the Northumberland Police Department for processing. Mr. Lovell was processed and ultimately refused bail."Lovell was transported to the Coos County House of Corrections pending a bail hearing the following day for the variety of charges that he is facing. He was also charged with an additional three class A misdemeanor offenses for Resisting Arrest or Detention.


Granite State News Willetts celebrate 75 years of marriage

by Elissa Paquette

Ruth and Joe Willett recently celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary at the Tuftonboro home of daughter and son-in-law, Sarah and Paul Matlock. (Photo by Elissa Paquette) (click for larger version) WOLFEBORO  Joe and Ruth Willett celebrated 75 years of marriage on Saturday, Nov. 27 at the Tuftonboro home of daughter and son-in-law, Sarah and Paul Matlock, along with daughters, Ann Willett of Tamworth, with husband Warren Seavey, Brooke Rines and husband Jim, of Ossipee, and extended family members and past neighbors.



The couple married in 1946 after the war. A mechanic, he helped keep the army moving. That included the Battle of the Bulge as a member of General George Patton's army fighting in Normandy and France. He also participated in the liberation of a concentration camp  a memory so painful that he says he's blocked it out.



The couple lived in Pembroke, Mass., in the house in which Joe was raised. He established a business as a mechanic and worked for Massachusetts General Electric for a number of years. The family, which included three daughters, vacationed in Wakefield in the home that Ruth's family spent summers in for many years.



Ruth recalls the annual trips from Harvard Square in Cambridge, Mass. that she and her brother would make by train with their mother to Mathew Station in Wakefield each summer. Route 16 was a winding road then, and Pine River Pond Road (Leighton's Corner Road at that time) was a dirt road, so infrequently travelled that sometimes the whole summer would go by without their hearing a single car go by. No so these days!



She and her brother would walk to the general store once a week for provisions and fish for supper at the dam on the way home. They bought vegetables and milk from Aaron Young's farm down the road, and there were fish to be caught from the brook that traverses their property as well.



Much has changed over the years, but the Willetts continue to enjoy life in rural New Hampshire.



In 1985, they were able to retire to the home they had purchased years before. They remain there today.



Shortly after retirement, Ruth and Joe began volunteering to deliver meals for the nonprofit organization, Meals on Wheels, and so began a commitment spanning close to 35 years. They've always been active community participants, says their daughter Sarah, who recalls they "square danced like crazy all during my growing up."



These days, with Joe now 98 and Ruth now 95, they are no longer delivering meals. In fact, they now are recipients, but they are able to take care of themselves and look out for each other. Joe still fixes things, and Ruth remains an avid reader, though attending book groups is a thing of the past. WOLFEBORO  Joe and Ruth Willett celebrated 75 years of marriage on Saturday, Nov. 27 at the Tuftonboro home of daughter and son-in-law, Sarah and Paul Matlock, along with daughters, Ann Willett of Tamworth, with husband Warren Seavey, Brooke Rines and husband Jim, of Ossipee, and extended family members and past neighbors.The couple married in 1946 after the war. A mechanic, he helped keep the army moving. That included the Battle of the Bulge as a member of General George Patton's army fighting in Normandy and France. He also participated in the liberation of a concentration camp  a memory so painful that he says he's blocked it out.The couple lived in Pembroke, Mass., in the house in which Joe was raised. He established a business as a mechanic and worked for Massachusetts General Electric for a number of years. The family, which included three daughters, vacationed in Wakefield in the home that Ruth's family spent summers in for many years.Ruth recalls the annual trips from Harvard Square in Cambridge, Mass. that she and her brother would make by train with their mother to Mathew Station in Wakefield each summer. Route 16 was a winding road then, and Pine River Pond Road (Leighton's Corner Road at that time) was a dirt road, so infrequently travelled that sometimes the whole summer would go by without their hearing a single car go by. No so these days!She and her brother would walk to the general store once a week for provisions and fish for supper at the dam on the way home. They bought vegetables and milk from Aaron Young's farm down the road, and there were fish to be caught from the brook that traverses their property as well.Much has changed over the years, but the Willetts continue to enjoy life in rural New Hampshire.In 1985, they were able to retire to the home they had purchased years before. They remain there today.Shortly after retirement, Ruth and Joe began volunteering to deliver meals for the nonprofit organization, Meals on Wheels, and so began a commitment spanning close to 35 years. They've always been active community participants, says their daughter Sarah, who recalls they "square danced like crazy all during my growing up."These days, with Joe now 98 and Ruth now 95, they are no longer delivering meals. In fact, they now are recipients, but they are able to take care of themselves and look out for each other. Joe still fixes things, and Ruth remains an avid reader, though attending book groups is a thing of the past.

Granite State News Town Warrant article discussions underway Recent Elissa Paquette Town Warrant article discussions underway

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2021-Dec-02 More... Thanks for visiting SalmonPress.com
Littleton Courier Ammonoosuc Habitat for Humanity seeks director

by Angel Larcom

The Ammonoosuc Region chapter of Habitat for Humanity seeks an Executive Director to lead the charitable North Country organization into its future. (Courtesy Photo) (click for larger version) LITTLETON  For the first time in its history, the Ammonoosuc Region chapter of Habitat for Humanity has developed a paid, part-time Executive Director position to help bring the organization into the future.



The decision, said Board President Paul Lopes, was due to board member and building inspector retirements in recent years, coupled with COVID-related delays and a significant decrease in volunteerism.



"Up until this point, we've been a completely volunteer-driven organization. However, with recent events, we just don't have anybody interested in taking on the overall organization without being paid," stated Lopes.



Since its inception, the nonprofit has constructed nine new homes in its 12-town service area. A tenth house was planned for Bethlehem in mid-2020, but COVID lockdowns prevented construction.



According to Lopes, the chapter remains in good standing with the international parent organization, which requires at least one complete home construction every three years. But the group is running out of time and must abide by organizational guidelines in 2022.



Lopes estimated the new Executive Director position would require approximately 20 hours a week. The ideal candidate would already live within the nonprofit's service area, including Lancaster, Whitefield, Carroll, Jefferson, Dalton, Bethlehem, Franconia, Sugar Hill, Littleton, Lisbon, Lyman, and Monroe.



Duties include fundraising and volunteer management, community outreach, construction management, paperwork and filings. Lopes noted that enthusiasm for the organization's mission was more critical than previous Habitat for Humanity or construction experience.



"We're looking at bringing in somebody who can be involved in several of those areas, but not necessarily all. We're hoping that once we get several of the areas covered, we'll get volunteers and keep the chapter healthy. We keep putting out mailers, email blasts and things on paper saying we need volunteer help to keep this going. And there's really been no response," said Lopes.



As affordable housing remains a critical condition for the North Country, ACHFH also plans to increase its roster of active volunteers. Lopes noted that previous building experience was not a prerequisite.



"Typically, we have 10 to 12 people on-site when we're building. Only two or three of them are skilled, and the rest get pointed in the right direction to do the work. As a result, we build exceptional homes because everybody really concentrates on them," added Lopes.



A prime example of HFH's quality construction occurred in 1992 when Hurricane Andrew decimated the town of Homestead, Florida. Lopes noted that only ten houses remained standing at the end, all of which had been constructed by Habitat for Humanity volunteers.



"Everyone can swing a hammer and hit a nail. While a regular contractor drives one nail, we've got about ten," stated Lopes.



When applicants qualify for HFH housing, each family member must contribute 250 hours of sweat equity into their homes. The new homeowners gain 30-year, 0% mortgages with monthly payments often lower than property tax rates.



According to Lopes, several program participants have gone on the help with other builds or become board members.



"The most important part of it is that it's not a handout. It's helping people who are right on the verge of being able to help themselves every day to get over that hump of being self-sufficient. It's not for free - they have to work for it. And then they end up with a simple, affordable home. The approach is so different than most organizations out there," stated Lopes.



The standard HFH home ranges between 1,100 and 1,400 square feet, depending on family size. Each house is custom built to meet individual needs.



Anyone interested in becoming involved with Habitat for Humanity can contact the nonprofit directly at 603-616-2515. Resumes and cover letters can be emailed to ammonoosuchabitat@gmail.com. LITTLETON  For the first time in its history, the Ammonoosuc Region chapter of Habitat for Humanity has developed a paid, part-time Executive Director position to help bring the organization into the future.The decision, said Board President Paul Lopes, was due to board member and building inspector retirements in recent years, coupled with COVID-related delays and a significant decrease in volunteerism."Up until this point, we've been a completely volunteer-driven organization. However, with recent events, we just don't have anybody interested in taking on the overall organization without being paid," stated Lopes.Since its inception, the nonprofit has constructed nine new homes in its 12-town service area. A tenth house was planned for Bethlehem in mid-2020, but COVID lockdowns prevented construction.According to Lopes, the chapter remains in good standing with the international parent organization, which requires at least one complete home construction every three years. But the group is running out of time and must abide by organizational guidelines in 2022.Lopes estimated the new Executive Director position would require approximately 20 hours a week. The ideal candidate would already live within the nonprofit's service area, including Lancaster, Whitefield, Carroll, Jefferson, Dalton, Bethlehem, Franconia, Sugar Hill, Littleton, Lisbon, Lyman, and Monroe.Duties include fundraising and volunteer management, community outreach, construction management, paperwork and filings. Lopes noted that enthusiasm for the organization's mission was more critical than previous Habitat for Humanity or construction experience."We're looking at bringing in somebody who can be involved in several of those areas, but not necessarily all. We're hoping that once we get several of the areas covered, we'll get volunteers and keep the chapter healthy. We keep putting out mailers, email blasts and things on paper saying we need volunteer help to keep this going. And there's really been no response," said Lopes.As affordable housing remains a critical condition for the North Country, ACHFH also plans to increase its roster of active volunteers. Lopes noted that previous building experience was not a prerequisite."Typically, we have 10 to 12 people on-site when we're building. Only two or three of them are skilled, and the rest get pointed in the right direction to do the work. As a result, we build exceptional homes because everybody really concentrates on them," added Lopes.A prime example of HFH's quality construction occurred in 1992 when Hurricane Andrew decimated the town of Homestead, Florida. Lopes noted that only ten houses remained standing at the end, all of which had been constructed by Habitat for Humanity volunteers."Everyone can swing a hammer and hit a nail. While a regular contractor drives one nail, we've got about ten," stated Lopes.When applicants qualify for HFH housing, each family member must contribute 250 hours of sweat equity into their homes. The new homeowners gain 30-year, 0% mortgages with monthly payments often lower than property tax rates.According to Lopes, several program participants have gone on the help with other builds or become board members."The most important part of it is that it's not a handout. It's helping people who are right on the verge of being able to help themselves every day to get over that hump of being self-sufficient. It's not for free - they have to work for it. And then they end up with a simple, affordable home. The approach is so different than most organizations out there," stated Lopes.The standard HFH home ranges between 1,100 and 1,400 square feet, depending on family size. Each house is custom built to meet individual needs.Anyone interested in becoming involved with Habitat for Humanity can contact the nonprofit directly at 603-616-2515. Resumes and cover letters can be emailed to ammonoosuchabitat@gmail.com.

Littleton Courier Grafton County Nursing Home relaxes visitation restrictions Thanks for visiting SalmonPress.com
Meredith News Ribbon cut on Meredith Library addition

by Erin Plummer

Meredith Public Library Director Erin Apostolos cuts the ribbon on the library's new addition with help from library trustees Paul Eldridge, Jonathan James, and Ann Butler. (Photo by Erin Plummer) (click for larger version) MEREDITH  The ribbon was formally cut on the newly expanded Meredith Public Library and members of the community and beyond celebrated the results of the nearly 10-year project.



Supporters from the community and across the state gathered at library on Saturday morning to celebrate the finished project. The ribbon was cut on the new section of the library at 11 a.m., followed by a dedication ceremony.



"It's been a labor of love for many, many people," said library trustees chair Ann Butler. "The fact you are here to show your appreciation for the new library warms my heart."



Library trustee and Building Committee chair Betty Strader recounted the history of the project. The expansion and renovation project had been in the works since around 2011. In 2018, the town approved the design for the library and the Building Committee started meeting in 2019. Voters approved the project at the 2020 town meeting and construction went on into 2020 and 2021.



The project went on while working with the ongoing pandemic, supply chain issues, hitting ledge, and other issues.



Strader said the building today is built with room for any future expansion.



"You will see how flexible and fluid the design is, allowing future generations to use this design here today," Butler said.



Speakers recognized architect Ron Lamarre, Milestone Construction, owners project manager Michael Bross, library trustees and staff, and others for their efforts to make this project a reality.



Strader said during the pandemic they had Zoom meetings with Milestone and some people on their staff became like adopted members of the library team.



"They went above and beyond to get what we needed done and a personal attention despite the many inconveniences we had," Strader said.



Strader was also recognized for her hard work and diligence throughout the process.



"Betty Strader went over and beyond, there wasn't a penny spent out of place in the budget," said selectman and library trustee Jonathan James.



Praise was also given to Jim McFarlin, president of the Meredith Library Fund. McFarlin earned the nickname "McDonate" for his dogged efforts to raise money for the project.



The fund raised $1.06 million for the project, offsetting the cost of the bond.



"You should all be happy as Meredith taxpayers because it reduced the bond," McFarlin said. "It really was a public/private partnership for the town."



Different rooms were dedicated to different people who made significant donations to the project. The function room was dedicated to Alexander Nichiporuk. Nichiporuk, a Russian immigrant and MIT graduate, passed away in 2010 and his entire estate was donated to the Meredith Public Library as an endowment.



The New Hampshire Library Trustees Association presented a special Library Service Contribution Award to McFarlin. Anne Chant, vice president of the NHLTA, recognized McFarlin's fundraising work and also recognized how he helped repair the relationship between the town and the library.



"No doubt his positive personality built goodwill," Chant said.



Chant noted how the 2020 warrant article passed with 90 percent voter approval and how the project continued even during the pandemic.



Sens. Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan also sent letters congratulating the library for its expansion and supporting the work of the Meredith Public Library.



State Sen. Bob Giuda presented a resolution from the state senate expressing its appreciation for the project.



Giuda sits on the LCHIP board and has reviewed the different project applications the library has submitted for funding.



"It's just been a magnificent project you have done," Giuda said. "I think Meredith is the definition of what it means to be a New Hampshire community."



After the dedication, guests explored the newly expanded library with guided and self-guided tours. There were also demonstrations of the new makerspace room and the new 3D printer. MEREDITH  The ribbon was formally cut on the newly expanded Meredith Public Library and members of the community and beyond celebrated the results of the nearly 10-year project.Supporters from the community and across the state gathered at library on Saturday morning to celebrate the finished project. The ribbon was cut on the new section of the library at 11 a.m., followed by a dedication ceremony."It's been a labor of love for many, many people," said library trustees chair Ann Butler. "The fact you are here to show your appreciation for the new library warms my heart."Library trustee and Building Committee chair Betty Strader recounted the history of the project. The expansion and renovation project had been in the works since around 2011. In 2018, the town approved the design for the library and the Building Committee started meeting in 2019. Voters approved the project at the 2020 town meeting and construction went on into 2020 and 2021.The project went on while working with the ongoing pandemic, supply chain issues, hitting ledge, and other issues.Strader said the building today is built with room for any future expansion."You will see how flexible and fluid the design is, allowing future generations to use this design here today," Butler said.Speakers recognized architect Ron Lamarre, Milestone Construction, owners project manager Michael Bross, library trustees and staff, and others for their efforts to make this project a reality.Strader said during the pandemic they had Zoom meetings with Milestone and some people on their staff became like adopted members of the library team."They went above and beyond to get what we needed done and a personal attention despite the many inconveniences we had," Strader said.Strader was also recognized for her hard work and diligence throughout the process."Betty Strader went over and beyond, there wasn't a penny spent out of place in the budget," said selectman and library trustee Jonathan James.Praise was also given to Jim McFarlin, president of the Meredith Library Fund. McFarlin earned the nickname "McDonate" for his dogged efforts to raise money for the project.The fund raised $1.06 million for the project, offsetting the cost of the bond."You should all be happy as Meredith taxpayers because it reduced the bond," McFarlin said. "It really was a public/private partnership for the town."Different rooms were dedicated to different people who made significant donations to the project. The function room was dedicated to Alexander Nichiporuk. Nichiporuk, a Russian immigrant and MIT graduate, passed away in 2010 and his entire estate was donated to the Meredith Public Library as an endowment.The New Hampshire Library Trustees Association presented a special Library Service Contribution Award to McFarlin. Anne Chant, vice president of the NHLTA, recognized McFarlin's fundraising work and also recognized how he helped repair the relationship between the town and the library."No doubt his positive personality built goodwill," Chant said.Chant noted how the 2020 warrant article passed with 90 percent voter approval and how the project continued even during the pandemic.Sens. Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan also sent letters congratulating the library for its expansion and supporting the work of the Meredith Public Library.State Sen. Bob Giuda presented a resolution from the state senate expressing its appreciation for the project.Giuda sits on the LCHIP board and has reviewed the different project applications the library has submitted for funding."It's just been a magnificent project you have done," Giuda said. "I think Meredith is the definition of what it means to be a New Hampshire community."After the dedication, guests explored the newly expanded library with guided and self-guided tours. There were also demonstrations of the new makerspace room and the new 3D printer.

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Meredith News Sweet talents displayed at GMP gingerbread contest

by Erin Plummer

The winner of the General Category was Lisa Merrill and Elizabeth Rodenburg. (Photo by Erin Plummer) (click for larger version) MEREDITH  An array of colorful gingerbread houses and a few specially decorated trees went on display at the Meredith Community Center for the Greater Meredith Program's first ever Gingerbread Decorating Contest with help from Meredith Altrusa.



On Saturday, the GMP Promotions Committee put together a holiday event showcasing gingerbread house and were joined by some special Christmas trees from Meredith Altrusa.



A total of 22 contestants entered gingerbread houses, dropping them off at the community center on Friday night where they were displayed all day Saturday.



Visitors came in throughout the day to look at all the entries and judges decided the winners in four different categories.



The winner of the General Category was Lisa Merrill and Elizabeth Rodenburg for their lakeside house with stone siding, a poured sugar pond and campfire, a dock, Santa waiting outside, and many other features.



The Gallery at 30 Main won in the Business Category for their house that featured a miniature gallery inside and a gingerbread version of Bob Ross.



Crystal Starr Dial won in the Advanced Category for her Victorian house with duck ponds.



The Cartier kids placed first in the Children's Category with their little house with a reindeer on the roof and gingerbread people around the house.



Marie Kelly from The Gallery at 30 Main also created four different zentangle holiday coloring pages for kids



Meredith Altrusa also partnered for the event, displaying a few special trees.



The Festival of Trees was canceled this year due to ongoing concerns about the pandemic.



Linda French, co-vice president of Meredith Altrusa, said when they heard about the GMP's contest they asked if they could also take part in the event.



Altrusa displayed a few different trees and offered raffle prizes.



One tree held gift cards from The Common man that were raffled off. Altrusa also raffled off the gingerbread house it contributed to the event.



The Lakes Region Food Pantry donated a tree called "Pan-Tree" that will go to Sadie's Place in Meredith, a home for women in need.



Altrusa also put up its Literacy Tree and offered books for anyone to take and enjoy.



Taylor and French said they were happy with the response to this year's event.



"We're very pleased that so many people participated," Taylor said.



She said they hope to expand the event in the future with more houses, kids' activities, and other activities.



French said the work on each of the houses was "breathtaking."



"The workmanship and character of each house has been remarkable," French said. "Just unbelievable the people that have displayed their talent." MEREDITH  An array of colorful gingerbread houses and a few specially decorated trees went on display at the Meredith Community Center for the Greater Meredith Program's first ever Gingerbread Decorating Contest with help from Meredith Altrusa.On Saturday, the GMP Promotions Committee put together a holiday event showcasing gingerbread house and were joined by some special Christmas trees from Meredith Altrusa.A total of 22 contestants entered gingerbread houses, dropping them off at the community center on Friday night where they were displayed all day Saturday.Visitors came in throughout the day to look at all the entries and judges decided the winners in four different categories.The winner of the General Category was Lisa Merrill and Elizabeth Rodenburg for their lakeside house with stone siding, a poured sugar pond and campfire, a dock, Santa waiting outside, and many other features.The Gallery at 30 Main won in the Business Category for their house that featured a miniature gallery inside and a gingerbread version of Bob Ross.Crystal Starr Dial won in the Advanced Category for her Victorian house with duck ponds.The Cartier kids placed first in the Children's Category with their little house with a reindeer on the roof and gingerbread people around the house.Marie Kelly from The Gallery at 30 Main also created four different zentangle holiday coloring pages for kidsMeredith Altrusa also partnered for the event, displaying a few special trees.The Festival of Trees was canceled this year due to ongoing concerns about the pandemic.Linda French, co-vice president of Meredith Altrusa, said when they heard about the GMP's contest they asked if they could also take part in the event.Altrusa displayed a few different trees and offered raffle prizes.One tree held gift cards from The Common man that were raffled off. Altrusa also raffled off the gingerbread house it contributed to the event.The Lakes Region Food Pantry donated a tree called "Pan-Tree" that will go to Sadie's Place in Meredith, a home for women in need.Altrusa also put up its Literacy Tree and offered books for anyone to take and enjoy.Taylor and French said they were happy with the response to this year's event."We're very pleased that so many people participated," Taylor said.She said they hope to expand the event in the future with more houses, kids' activities, and other activities.French said the work on each of the houses was "breathtaking.""The workmanship and character of each house has been remarkable," French said. "Just unbelievable the people that have displayed their talent."

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Newfound Landing Winners of Alexandria Cons. Comm. Calendar Photo Contest announced

by Donna Rhodes

Carolyn Sharp and Jennifer Tuthill display their prize-winning entries in the Alexandria Conservation Commission's fifth Calendar Photo Contest. (Photo by Donna Rhodes) (click for larger version) ALEXANDRIA  Alexandria Conservation Committee chair Jennifer Tuthill announced the winners of their 2022 Calendar photo contest last Wednesday evening at a reception held in the town's municipal building.



Many of the amateur photographers who took part in the contest were on hand for the announcement when 12 of the photos were chosen for the upcoming calendar. In addition to the calendar selections, 43 other submissions were also on display and thanked for their contributions.



Now in its fifth year, the theme for the 2022 calendar photo contest was "Out and About in Alexandria" and the entries depicted a number of beautiful views of the town. Among the many photos received by the commission included rural scenery, lake views, flowers, mushrooms, rainbows, and even small creatures such as salamanders and turtles.



Tuthill said judging this year's competition was Tom Guilmette. While Guilmette is an alternate for the Conservation Commission, he is also a professional photographer/videographer and used his trained eye to select what he felt were the best submissions. He looked mainly for those with interest, focus and composition that would transfer well to enlargement for a calendar.



She pointed out that those points were why a photo of deep purple lupins with a bee flying right at the camera was one of his top choices.



Carolyn Sharp of Alexandria was the person behind that back yard camera and was pleased to see it awarded second place in the contest and will now be featured on the June page of the calendar.



"I took a lot of photos [of the flowers] and when I looked at them later there just happened to be a bumble bee in one so I cropped it up and this is what I came up with," said Sharp.



Her other photo of frost on a branch of ferns in her yard, which will grace the page for March, was the first prizewinner though. Noticing the sun shining on the icy fronds, she snapped a shot and later cropped it into a winning piece of photography.



"The frost gave it a little composition," she said, and Guilmette agreed.



Tuthill took third place with her photo of an autumn tree in the fog, one of two she entered, which will be featured in September and October.



While both Sharp and Tuthill have been prizewinning contributors since the contest began, this year was the first time one of Alexandria's newest residents took part.



Melissa Winters said she recently moved to the town and heard they were looking for photos for a town calendar. Submitting a few she had taken with her iPhone, she was surprised to find she was a winner in a competition she didn't even realize was taking place.



"I was just happy to help with the calendar and didn't even know there was a contest," said Winters.



She and her mother Wilma Cunningham were pleased to see that two of Melissa's contributions, one for May and another for August, will be featured in the 2022 calendar.



Winning entries selected for the coming year were from Audrey West (January); Heidi Meyer (February); Carolyn Sharp (March); Ron Maclean (April); Melissa Winters (May); Carolyn Sharp (June); Bob Piehler (July); Melissa Winters (August); Jennifer Tuthill (September); Jennifer Tuthill (October); Bob Piehler (November); and Audrey West (December).



Other participants in the contest this year were Andreas Lehner, Marla Walls, Mary Hamry, Mary Lehner, Mike Pepitas, Nancy Whitman, Jennifer Anne, Jane Sparks, Jane Anne Silverman and Tom Larson.



Order forms for the calendars are now available, with two options to choose from, Tuthill said. For $9.99, people can purchase an eight-and-a-half-inch by 11-inch calendar with no notation of holidays or other dates of interest. The exact same calendar is also available for $19.99 but does include national holidays and other information on the appropriate dates.



"They both look exactly the same," Tuthill said, "it's just those editing details that are different."



Forms to order each version are available at the Alexandria Selectmen's Office, located at 47 Washburn Rd., or by emailing jentuthill@gmail.com. The commission also announced that the calendars can be purchased at any time of the year and the order of the months can be altered to still provide a full year, even if it spills over into 2023.



Everyone is encouraged to start taking photos for next year's calendar when the 2023 theme will be "Wildlife Around Alexandria." The Conservation Commission said submissions are accepted year round and are welcomed from residents and visitors alike, so long as they are all taken within the Alexandria town lines. Photos can be sent to alexandrianh@metrocast.net, "ATTN: ACC." Emails should also include the photographer's name, photo site and contact information. ALEXANDRIA  Alexandria Conservation Committee chair Jennifer Tuthill announced the winners of their 2022 Calendar photo contest last Wednesday evening at a reception held in the town's municipal building.Many of the amateur photographers who took part in the contest were on hand for the announcement when 12 of the photos were chosen for the upcoming calendar. In addition to the calendar selections, 43 other submissions were also on display and thanked for their contributions.Now in its fifth year, the theme for the 2022 calendar photo contest was "Out and About in Alexandria" and the entries depicted a number of beautiful views of the town. Among the many photos received by the commission included rural scenery, lake views, flowers, mushrooms, rainbows, and even small creatures such as salamanders and turtles.Tuthill said judging this year's competition was Tom Guilmette. While Guilmette is an alternate for the Conservation Commission, he is also a professional photographer/videographer and used his trained eye to select what he felt were the best submissions. He looked mainly for those with interest, focus and composition that would transfer well to enlargement for a calendar.She pointed out that those points were why a photo of deep purple lupins with a bee flying right at the camera was one of his top choices.Carolyn Sharp of Alexandria was the person behind that back yard camera and was pleased to see it awarded second place in the contest and will now be featured on the June page of the calendar."I took a lot of photos [of the flowers] and when I looked at them later there just happened to be a bumble bee in one so I cropped it up and this is what I came up with," said Sharp.Her other photo of frost on a branch of ferns in her yard, which will grace the page for March, was the first prizewinner though. Noticing the sun shining on the icy fronds, she snapped a shot and later cropped it into a winning piece of photography."The frost gave it a little composition," she said, and Guilmette agreed.Tuthill took third place with her photo of an autumn tree in the fog, one of two she entered, which will be featured in September and October.While both Sharp and Tuthill have been prizewinning contributors since the contest began, this year was the first time one of Alexandria's newest residents took part.Melissa Winters said she recently moved to the town and heard they were looking for photos for a town calendar. Submitting a few she had taken with her iPhone, she was surprised to find she was a winner in a competition she didn't even realize was taking place."I was just happy to help with the calendar and didn't even know there was a contest," said Winters.She and her mother Wilma Cunningham were pleased to see that two of Melissa's contributions, one for May and another for August, will be featured in the 2022 calendar.Winning entries selected for the coming year were from Audrey West (January); Heidi Meyer (February); Carolyn Sharp (March); Ron Maclean (April); Melissa Winters (May); Carolyn Sharp (June); Bob Piehler (July); Melissa Winters (August); Jennifer Tuthill (September); Jennifer Tuthill (October); Bob Piehler (November); and Audrey West (December).Other participants in the contest this year were Andreas Lehner, Marla Walls, Mary Hamry, Mary Lehner, Mike Pepitas, Nancy Whitman, Jennifer Anne, Jane Sparks, Jane Anne Silverman and Tom Larson.Order forms for the calendars are now available, with two options to choose from, Tuthill said. For $9.99, people can purchase an eight-and-a-half-inch by 11-inch calendar with no notation of holidays or other dates of interest. The exact same calendar is also available for $19.99 but does include national holidays and other information on the appropriate dates."They both look exactly the same," Tuthill said, "it's just those editing details that are different."Forms to order each version are available at the Alexandria Selectmen's Office, located at 47 Washburn Rd., or by emailing jentuthill@gmail.com. The commission also announced that the calendars can be purchased at any time of the year and the order of the months can be altered to still provide a full year, even if it spills over into 2023.Everyone is encouraged to start taking photos for next year's calendar when the 2023 theme will be "Wildlife Around Alexandria." The Conservation Commission said submissions are accepted year round and are welcomed from residents and visitors alike, so long as they are all taken within the Alexandria town lines. Photos can be sent to alexandrianh@metrocast.net, "ATTN: ACC." Emails should also include the photographer's name, photo site and contact information.

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2021-Nov-24 More... Thanks for visiting SalmonPress.com
Winnisquam Echo 35th Annual Cash & Cans schedule set

REGION  'Making a difference one donation at a time,' Mix 94.1 FM's 35th annual Cash and Cans Money & Food Drive for the holidays is set for Dec. 13-17. All monies and food raised stays local, benefiting several area organizations, including the Franklin Police Toys for Tots Program; the Belmont Police Santa 'Lil Helpers program; Twin Rivers Interfaith Food Pantry; Bread & Roses Soup Kitchen; Tilton/Northfield/Sanbornton Christmas Fund; Every Child Is Ours; Greater Lakes Region Santa Fund, Meredith Emergency Food Pantry, the Northfield-Tilton Congregational Church Food Pantry, St. Joseph's Belmont Food Pantry and others.



Last year was another record year for donations, with over $52,000 in cash and more than 30,000 non-perishable food items raised.



Mix 94.1 FM's Fred Caruso, who started the program in 1987, looks forward to this week every year, commenting "We meet so many generous people during Cash and Cans week. It's a heart-warming week, from kids giving their piggy bank money to the business community donating, all we ask is people give what they can. And the best part it all stays right here in our central New Hampshire Community."



Caruso acknowledges this will be another different year, still dealing with the pandemic, adding "We're taking all precautions but, we'll be out there. Many people are hurting right now due to job loss and sickness. Our goal is to try to help as many people as possible through the organizations that benefit from the generosity of our listeners."



Caruso and morning co-host Amy Bates will broadcast live from 18 different locations, accepting your Cash and Cans donations. All broadcasts are outside with all safety protocols in place. Here where they'll be, and when they'll be there:



Monday, Dec. 13: 5:30-9 a.m., George's Diner, Meredith; 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Vista Foods, Laconia; 2-5pm, Verizon Wireless Zone/American Shaman, Laconia.



Tuesday, Dec. 14: 5:30-8 a.m., Willow Hill Food & Beverage, Franklin; 9-11 a.m., Stafford Oil Laconia; 11 a.m.-1 p.m., HK Powersports, Laconia; 2-5 p.m., Belknap Subaru, Tilton



Wednesday, Dec. 15: 5:30-10 a.m. Dunkin' Donuts, West Main Street, Tilton. Make a minimum ten dollar donation, get a dozen donuts free; 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Prescott's Florist, Laconia; 1-3 p.m., Irwin Motors, Laconia; 4-7 p.m., McDonald's Tilton



Thursday, Dec. 16: 5:30-10 a.m., Park-N-Go Market, Northfield; 11 a.m.-1 p.m., T-Bones Laconia; 2-4 p.m., Franklin Savings Bank Upper Central Street, Franklin; 4:30-7 p.m., Planet Honda, Tilton.



Friday, Dec. 17: 5:30-10 a.m., McDonald's Franklin; 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Benson Auto, Franklin; 2:30-5:30 p.m., Grevior Furniture, Franklin.



Donations may also be made by mail. Please make checks payable to Mix Cash and Cans and mail to Mix 94.1fm, PO Box 99, Franklin, NH 03235 or Venmo @Mixcashandcans. For more information about the Mix Cash and Cans program, visit REGION  'Making a difference one donation at a time,' Mix 94.1 FM's 35th annual Cash and Cans Money & Food Drive for the holidays is set for Dec. 13-17. All monies and food raised stays local, benefiting several area organizations, including the Franklin Police Toys for Tots Program; the Belmont Police Santa 'Lil Helpers program; Twin Rivers Interfaith Food Pantry; Bread & Roses Soup Kitchen; Tilton/Northfield/Sanbornton Christmas Fund; Every Child Is Ours; Greater Lakes Region Santa Fund, Meredith Emergency Food Pantry, the Northfield-Tilton Congregational Church Food Pantry, St. Joseph's Belmont Food Pantry and others.Last year was another record year for donations, with over $52,000 in cash and more than 30,000 non-perishable food items raised.Mix 94.1 FM's Fred Caruso, who started the program in 1987, looks forward to this week every year, commenting "We meet so many generous people during Cash and Cans week. It's a heart-warming week, from kids giving their piggy bank money to the business community donating, all we ask is people give what they can. And the best part it all stays right here in our central New Hampshire Community."Caruso acknowledges this will be another different year, still dealing with the pandemic, adding "We're taking all precautions but, we'll be out there. Many people are hurting right now due to job loss and sickness. Our goal is to try to help as many people as possible through the organizations that benefit from the generosity of our listeners."Caruso and morning co-host Amy Bates will broadcast live from 18 different locations, accepting your Cash and Cans donations. All broadcasts are outside with all safety protocols in place. Here where they'll be, and when they'll be there:Monday, Dec. 13: 5:30-9 a.m., George's Diner, Meredith; 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Vista Foods, Laconia; 2-5pm, Verizon Wireless Zone/American Shaman, Laconia.Tuesday, Dec. 14: 5:30-8 a.m., Willow Hill Food & Beverage, Franklin; 9-11 a.m., Stafford Oil Laconia; 11 a.m.-1 p.m., HK Powersports, Laconia; 2-5 p.m., Belknap Subaru, TiltonWednesday, Dec. 15: 5:30-10 a.m. Dunkin' Donuts, West Main Street, Tilton. Make a minimum ten dollar donation, get a dozen donuts free; 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Prescott's Florist, Laconia; 1-3 p.m., Irwin Motors, Laconia; 4-7 p.m., McDonald's TiltonThursday, Dec. 16: 5:30-10 a.m., Park-N-Go Market, Northfield; 11 a.m.-1 p.m., T-Bones Laconia; 2-4 p.m., Franklin Savings Bank Upper Central Street, Franklin; 4:30-7 p.m., Planet Honda, Tilton.Friday, Dec. 17: 5:30-10 a.m., McDonald's Franklin; 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Benson Auto, Franklin; 2:30-5:30 p.m., Grevior Furniture, Franklin.Donations may also be made by mail. Please make checks payable to Mix Cash and Cans and mail to Mix 94.1fm, PO Box 99, Franklin, NH 03235 or Venmo @Mixcashandcans. For more information about the Mix Cash and Cans program, visit www.mix941fm.com or contact Fred Caruso at fred@mix941fm.com. Mix Cash and Cans is a public service of Mix 94.1 FM, a locally owned and operated Northeast Communications Corporation radio station.

Winnisquam Echo Bear girls looking to build off successful 2020-21 campaign Locals earn football All-State honors Thanks for visiting SalmonPress.com
Source: Xinhua| 2021-12-08 19:03:41|Editor: huaxia

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People receive the COVID-19 vaccines in Bangkok, Thailand on Dec. 7, 2021. On Wednesday, Thailand recorded 3,618 new cases of COVID-19 and 38 more deaths for the past 24 hours, taking the total tally to more than 2.15 million including 21,035 deaths, according to the Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA). As of Tuesday, 59.2 percent of Thailand's population have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, showed the CCSA data. (Xinhua/Rachen Sageamsak)

BANGKOK, Dec. 8 (Xinhua) -- Thailand said on Wednesday that it has detected two potential cases of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 after reporting that two Thai women arriving from Nigeria tested positive for the coronavirus infection.

The Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) said a 46-year-old woman and a 36-year-old woman, both back to Bangkok from Nigeria, tested positive for COVID-19 and further testing indicated both of them were "potentially" infected with the Omicron variant, Maratee Nalita Andamo, an official with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said at the CCSA press conference.

Maratee said the two patients were experiencing mild symptoms of cough and sour throat, and their specimens were sent for further detailed testing with results to come out in one or two days.

On Monday, the Southeast Asian country confirmed the detection of its first case of Omicron variant in a male U.S. visitor arriving from Spain.

"There has been no local outbreak involving the Omicron variant," Maratee said, adding that the prevalent COVID-19 variant in Thailand remains the Delta variant, which accounts for 65.97 percent of the reported cases.

On Wednesday, Thailand recorded 3,618 new cases of COVID-19 and 38 more deaths for the past 24 hours, taking the total tally to more than 2.15 million including 21,035 deaths, according to the CCSA.

As of Tuesday, 59.2 percent of Thailand's population have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, showed the CCSA data. Enditem

People wait to receive the COVID-19 vaccines in Bangkok, Thailand on Dec. 7, 2021. On Wednesday, Thailand recorded 3,618 new cases of COVID-19 and 38 more deaths for the past 24 hours, taking the total tally to more than 2.15 million including 21,035 deaths, according to the Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA). As of Tuesday, 59.2 percent of Thailand's population have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, showed the CCSA data. (Xinhua/Rachen Sageamsak)

People wait to receive the COVID-19 vaccines in Bangkok, Thailand on Dec. 7, 2021. On Wednesday, Thailand recorded 3,618 new cases of COVID-19 and 38 more deaths for the past 24 hours, taking the total tally to more than 2.15 million including 21,035 deaths, according to the Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA). As of Tuesday, 59.2 percent of Thailand's population have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, showed the CCSA data. (Xinhua/Rachen Sageamsak)

A woman receives the COVID-19 vaccine in Bangkok, Thailand on Dec. 7, 2021. On Wednesday, Thailand recorded 3,618 new cases of COVID-19 and 38 more deaths for the past 24 hours, taking the total tally to more than 2.15 million including 21,035 deaths, according to the Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA). As of Tuesday, 59.2 percent of Thailand's population have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, showed the CCSA data. (Xinhua/Rachen Sageamsak)

A man receives the COVID-19 vaccine in Bangkok, Thailand on Dec. 7, 2021. On Wednesday, Thailand recorded 3,618 new cases of COVID-19 and 38 more deaths for the past 24 hours, taking the total tally to more than 2.15 million including 21,035 deaths, according to the Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA). As of Tuesday, 59.2 percent of Thailand's population have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, showed the CCSA data. (Xinhua/Rachen Sageamsak)
Source: Xinhua| 2021-12-08 19:40:54|Editor: huaxia

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Israeli police officers stand guard near the scene of a stabbing attack at the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood in East Jerusalem on Dec. 8, 2021. The Israeli police said it arrested a 14-year-old Palestinian girl who carried out a stabbing attack in East Jerusalem on Wednesday. The police said in a statement that the minor is suspected of stabbing a 26-year-old Israeli woman who was walking with her children, using a 30-cm-long knife. (Photo by Muammar Awad/Xinhua)

JERUSALEM, Dec. 8 (Xinhua) -- The Israeli police said it arrested a 14-year-old Palestinian girl who carried out a stabbing attack in East Jerusalem on Wednesday.

The police said in a statement that the minor is suspected of stabbing a 26-year-old Israeli woman who was walking with her children, using a 30-cm-long knife.

The woman sustained light injuries and needed hospital care, according to a statement issued by the Hadassah Hospital where she has been treated.

The girl was arrested and questioned about an hour after the incident inside a nearby high school, the police said.

The attack took place in Sheikh Jarrah, a Palestinian neighborhood in East Jerusalem, where the planned eviction of several Palestinian families from their homes to make room for Israeli settlers sparks frequent protests and clashes between Palestinians and the police.

This was the latest in a string of lone-wolf Palestinian attacks against Israeli armed forces and settlers. On Monday, a 16-year-old Palestinian teenager rammed a car into an Israeli checkpoint in the occupied West Bank, injuring a security guard, before he was shot and killed by Israeli forces.

On Saturday, a 23-year-old Palestinian from the West Bank stabbed and wounded an Israeli civilian outside East Jerusalem's Old City. The young man attempted to stab police officers before they shot him dead.

Israel captured the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, in the 1967 Middle East war and has been controlling it ever since despite international criticism. Enditem

Israeli police officers stand guard near the scene of a stabbing attack at the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood in East Jerusalem on Dec. 8, 2021. The Israeli police said it arrested a 14-year-old Palestinian girl who carried out a stabbing attack in East Jerusalem on Wednesday. The police said in a statement that the minor is suspected of stabbing a 26-year-old Israeli woman who was walking with her children, using a 30-cm-long knife. (Photo by Muammar Awad/Xinhua)

Israeli police officers stand guard at the scene of a stabbing attack in East Jerusalem on Dec. 8, 2021. The Israeli police said it arrested a 14-year-old Palestinian girl who carried out a stabbing attack in East Jerusalem on Wednesday. The police said in a statement that the minor is suspected of stabbing a 26-year-old Israeli woman who was walking with her children, using a 30-cm-long knife. (JINI via Xinhua)

Israeli police officers stand guard at the scene of a stabbing attack in East Jerusalem on Dec. 8, 2021. The Israeli police said it arrested a 14-year-old Palestinian girl who carried out a stabbing attack in East Jerusalem on Wednesday. The police said in a statement that the minor is suspected of stabbing a 26-year-old Israeli woman who was walking with her children, using a 30-cm-long knife. (JINI via Xinhua)

Israeli police officers escort the suspected teenage assailant to a car near the scene of a stabbing attack at the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood in East Jerusalem on Dec. 8, 2021. The Israeli police said it arrested a 14-year-old Palestinian girl who carried out a stabbing attack in East Jerusalem on Wednesday. The police said in a statement that the minor is suspected of stabbing a 26-year-old Israeli woman who was walking with her children, using a 30-cm-long knife. (Photo by Muammar Awad/Xinhua)
Source: Xinhua| 2021-12-08 23:08:33|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Dec. 8 (Xinhua) -- The true face of the United States seeking hegemony under the guise of democracy has long been exposed, and the so-called "summit for democracy" will only go down in history as democratic manipulation, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said Wednesday.

Spokesperson Wang Wenbin made the remarks at a daily press briefing when asked to comment on reports that the Hungarian government rejected a common EU position on the "summit".

Wang said Hungary's move shows once again that the U.S. instigation of division and confrontation under the pretext of democracy finds no support and is met with widespread opposition from the international community.

Despite the opposition, the United States obstinately continues to engage in political manipulation under the banner of democracy and claims it "intends to host the summit with humility," Wang added.

He noted that the United States puts together a summit in the name of democracy without consulting the international community or coordinating with the United Nations or other international bodies.

"Is this called 'humility'?" Wang asked.

He continued to point out that the United States puts half of the world's countries into a category of so-called "non-democracies" with its own yardstick, and it has launched military interventions in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Syria and other countries in the name of democracy, leading to hundreds of thousands of civilian deaths and displacing tens of millions.

"Instead of learning lessons and correcting its mistakes, the United States has even gone further to instrumentalize and weaponize democracy, by openly convening this so-called 'summit for democracy' to incite division and confrontation for its geopolitical strategy and gains. Is this called 'humility'?"

"No matter how the United States glosses over itself, its true face of seeking hegemony under the guise of democracy has long been exposed to the world. The so-called 'summit for democracy' will only go down in history as a manipulator and saboteur of democracy," he said. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-12-09 02:55:14|Editor: huaxia

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Combo photo of U.S. President Joe Biden (L) and Russian President Vladimir Putin. (Xinhua)

The summit ended with little progress, as Russian analysts and officials had forecast, expecting that there will be "controlled confrontation" between the two sides.

MOSCOW, Dec. 8 (Xinhua) -- No breakthrough was achieved after Russian President Vladimir Putin and his U.S. counterpart, Joe Biden, met via video link on Tuesday, which touched upon such topics as the situation in Ukraine, the Iran nuclear deal, and bilateral ties between the two countries.

The meeting marked the second talks in six months between the two leaders, the Kremlin said in a statement after the two-hour virtual conversation.

The summit ended with little progress, as Russian analysts and officials had forecast, expecting that there will be "controlled confrontation" between the two sides.





LITTLE ROOM FOR RECONCILIATION

On the situation in Ukraine, Biden threatened to take "strong economic and other measures" together with U.S. allies against Moscow should Russia invaded Ukraine as the West alleged.

In response, Putin criticized the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) for shifting its responsibility onto Moscow, stressing that it is NATO that is attempting to "conquer Ukrainian territory" and is building up military potential near the Russian borders.

Putin asked Biden for a "reliable, legally fixed" guarantee that NATO will not expand in the eastern direction and not deploy offensive weapons near Russia, but Biden "made no concessions" regarding Ukraine's possible NATO membership, according to U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan.

"There were no breakthroughs," Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said after the summit, adding that it could take more than one year for ties to thaw since so many problems have accumulated.

"The contradictions between the countries are intractable," said Sergei Kislitsyn, head of the Center for Strategic Planning Studies at the Institute of World Economy and International Relations, Russian Academy of Sciences.

"I can't quite picture where there will be breakthroughs. After all, any simple moves in the framework of bilateral ties, including the extension of the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, have already taken place," he said.





CONTROLLED CONFRONTATION

Although analysts did not anticipate better Russian-U.S. relations, they agree that the two countries are trying to confine confrontation to a relatively narrow range as both sides can't afford a direct military conflict.

The Kremlin called the Putin-Biden meeting "sincere and business-like" and the presidents agreed to continue dialogue and necessary contacts.

"The very fact that the negotiations between the leaders actually took place means that Washington is still more inclined towards dialogue than confrontation," said Andrei Kortunov, Director General of the Russian International Affairs Council.

Biden needs some kind of agreements with Putin to show that he is able to resolve issues as his approval ratings are plummeting over domestic affairs in the United States, said Yuri Rogulev, director of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Foundation for U.S. Studies at the Moscow State University.

Nikita Danyuk, deputy director of the Institute for Strategic Studies and Predictions of RUDN University, forecast that there will be "controlled confrontation" between Russia and the United States.

Negotiations on Ukraine, strategic stability and global security will continue, but sanctions pressure will also continue with Russia being defamed, he said. 
Source: Xinhua| 2021-12-09 06:35:24|Editor: huaxia

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Outgoing German Chancellor Angela Merkel is seen at the Reichstag building in Berlin, capital of Germany, on Dec. 8, 2021. (Xinhua/Shan Yuqi)

"Merkel sort of created the role after a few years as chancellor, and nobody could have predicted that would happen at the start. It may be that we're back in that situation at this moment."

by Eric J. Lyman

ROME, Dec. 8 (Xinhua) -- After Angela Merkel formally handed over the control of the German chancellery to successor Olaf Scholz, analysts say it will take months before it becomes clear who will replace Merkel in her other leadership role -- that of the informal leader of the European Union (EU).

Merkel served as chancellor of Europe's largest economy for 16 years before stepping down on Wednesday. She was also the de facto leader of the 27-nation European Union, helping shape European policy on an array of issues ranging from economic bailouts and efforts to create a pan-European tax policy to refugee policies and confronting the coronavirus pandemic.

"She didn't weigh in on every European issue, but there's no doubt that during most of her tenure as chancellor, Merkel provided a recognizable and predictable leadership role on a European level," Jon Worth, an author, commentator, and professor at the College of Europe in Belgium focusing on EU issues, told Xinhua.

Angela Merkel arrives for the Group of Twenty (G20) Leaders' Summit in Rome, Italy, Oct. 30, 2021. (Xinhua/Zhang Cheng)

"There is no automatic replacement for her in that role," Worth said.

Over time, Worth and other analysts said, someone else could grow into this role.

Will it be Scholz, who, like Merkel, will have Europe's largest economy behind him? Could it be France's Emmanuel Macron, head of the government in the EU's second-largest economy since 2017?

German Chancellor Angela Merkel (R) talks with German Finance Minister Olaf Scholz before her speech in the Bundestag in Berlin, Germany, Aug. 25, 2021. (Xinhua/Shan Yuqi)

Or might Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, highly respected as the head of the European Central Bank from 2011 to 2019, fill the role? Could the vacuum left by Merkel's departure expand the role of the president of the European Commission, currently held by former German Minister of Defense Ursula von der Leyen?

Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi (R) shakes hand with French President Emmanuel Macron in Rome, Italy, on Nov. 25, 2021. (Str/Xinhua)

According to Worth, Macron and Draghi are the most likely candidates. Scholz, he said, could increase his role if he first proves to be an effective German leader heading a stable coalition.



According to Raffaele Marchetti, an international relations professor at Rome's LUISS University, none of the likely candidates fit Merkel's European role easily.

Scholz is too new on the scene, he said, and Macron faces an uncertain future with national elections coming up in France in April 2022.

A similar point could be made for Draghi, who might step down as prime minister to replace Sergio Mattarella as president (Mattarella's term will conclude in late January).

Meanwhile, many analysts argue that as president of the European Commission, von der Leyen has too low a profile and has too many technical and bureaucratic obligations to assert the kind of informal authority Merkel had.

European Council President Charles Michel, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Angela Merkel (L to R) are seen after the EU summit in Brussels, Belgium, on Dec. 11, 2020. (European Union/Handout via Xinhua)

Gian Franco Gallo, a political affairs analyst working with ABS Securities in Milan and Paris, said Europe may have to move forward for a while without a figure with Merkel's gravitas.

"There's no official need for an informal leader of the European Union," Gallo told Xinhua.

"Merkel sort of created the role after a few years as chancellor, and nobody could have predicted that would happen at the start. It may be that we're back in that situation at this moment." 
Source: Xinhua| 2021-12-09 10:15:44|Editor: huaxia

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What do the Chinese people have to say about human rights, freedom and democracy in their country? In this Inside China documentary, 3 American experts join Xinhua correspondent Miao Xiaojuan on a discovery tour across the nation in search of answers. Coming soon! 




Source: Xinhua| 2021-12-09 10:23:35|Editor: huaxia

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Botswana's Health Minister Edwin Dikoloti briefs reporters on the progress of COVID-19 vaccination and the new variant in Gaborone, Botswana's capital city, Dec. 8, 2021. At least 25 cases of the Omicron variant have been discovered in Botswana, a health official said Wednesday. (Photo by Tshekiso Tebalo/Xinhua)

GABORONE, Dec. 9 (Xinhua) -- At least 25 cases of the Omicron variant have been discovered in Botswana, a health official said Wednesday.

The scientists have discovered that the new variant is highly mutative and more transmissible, Health Minister Edwin Dikoloti briefed reporters in Gaborone, Botswana's capital city, on the progress of COVID-19 vaccination.

"What we don't know is whether the new variant is more lethal or not, and how effective current vaccines are against it," Dikoloti added.

According to the minister, 1,094,388 people or 78.7 percent of the targeted Botswana citizens and residents aged over 18 had received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine as of Monday, while 982,275 people or 70.6 percent had been fully vaccinated.

"Botswana did not only surpass its own target of 64 percent of the targeted population by end of 2021, but also exceeded the target set by the World Health Organization for countries to have vaccinated 40 percent of their eligible population by the end of this month," said Dikoloti.

With a population of 2.35 million, Botswana has so far registered 195,552 COVID-19 confirmed cases and 2,420 deaths. Enditem

Residents wearing face masks buy vegetables at a market in Gaborone, Botswana's capital city, Dec. 8, 2021. At least 25 cases of the Omicron variant have been discovered in Botswana, a health official said Wednesday. (Photo by Tshekiso Tebalo/Xinhua)

Residents wearing face masks walk on a road in Gaborone, Botswana's capital city, Dec. 8, 2021. At least 25 cases of the Omicron variant have been discovered in Botswana, a health official said Wednesday. (Photo by Tshekiso Tebalo/Xinhua)
Source: Xinhua| 2021-12-09 13:33:38|Editor: huaxia

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Photo taken on April 13, 2021 shows the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States. (Photo by Ting Shen/Xinhua)

- Today, the American democracy is more of a plutocracy, with a government hardly of, by or for the people.

- A Pew Research said in November that 83 percent of their interviewees believe the American democracy is not a good example for other nations, a view largely shared by Americans themselves.

by Xinhua writer Guo Yage

BEIJING, Dec. 9 (Xinhua) -- The United States has long been fabricating a myth that it stands as a "beacon of democracy" for the world, that it is trusted with a "sacred mission" to democratize everyone else in the American way, and that its style of democracy will prevail for the eons ahead.

In Washington's self-centered worldview, a democratic world should be underpinned by America's global supremacy. Thus, in the name of promoting democratic values, the United States has over the decades taken many parts of the world as its overseas testing grounds. However, Washington's reckless interference, be it blunt military intrusions or covert subversions, has kicked countries in the Middle East, Latin America and Eastern Europe into wars and strife, and left them with destructions and deaths.

Still, these man-made catastrophes seem to have hardly prevented the arrogant minds in Washington from persisting in their democratic experiments and pursuit of global domination. The upcoming so-called "Summit for Democracy" offers a clue that the United States is willing to go even further. It is, nevertheless, set to turn out a botched attempt.

Primarily, the American-style democracy is anti-democratic. In nature, the American culture is a culture of piracy that advocates pillage and conquest, not equality, freedom or human rights. Many of America's founding fathers were slave-owners themselves. And almost a century after its founding, the United States still acquiesced in slavery, and forbade women or African Americans to vote.

Demonstrators are arrested during a protest against the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, the United States, May 31, 2020. (Photo by Angus Alexander/Xinhua)

Today, the American democracy is more of a plutocracy, with a government hardly of, by or for the people. As U.S. political scientist Francis Fukuyama wrote early this year, the government in Washington is "captured by powerful elite groups that distort policy to their own benefit and undermine the legitimacy of the regime as a whole."

America's undemocratic colors have become increasingly evident on the world stage in recent years. As the world's sole superpower, it flexes its muscles wherever possible; it bullies others whenever it sees fit, and it seeks to dictate the world's rules of the road as a matter of course. In fact, imposing its own set of values and systems on others irrespective of cultural differences or actual situation on the ground is tantamount to an autocracy.

Washington's democracy push will go under also because it simply takes democracy as a geopolitical instrument for its self-interests. In the eyes of some American decision-makers, democracy can always be expedient whenever necessary.

Examples abound in history when Washington colluded with what they called dictatorships or even terrorist groups to confront its adversaries, like its reported assistance for Osama bin Laden and his extremist groups in a bid to counter the former Soviet Union in Afghanistan during the Cold War.

The so-called "Summit for Democracy" is one of Washington's latest moves to play small-clique politics along the ideological demarcation and under the cloak of democracy. However, inviting Taiwan to the summit has unmistakably exposed Washington's sinister intention to suppress and split China.

More fundamentally, American democracy is never universally applicable. All roads lead to democracy. Every nation is entitled to choose its own path towards democracy. In other words, for a democracy to be viable and resilient, it needs to draw its strength from a country's own culture and history.

Photo taken on Aug. 28, 2021 shows the site of an airstrike conducted by the United States against a planner for the Islamic State (ISIS) in Nangarhar province, Afghanistan. (Str/Xinhua)

The economic and social realities in a nation should also be taken into consideration. This is a major reason why more than 20 years of nation-building in Afghanistan crashed to the ground in a matter of weeks. A copycat of the American-style democracy did not have the local conditions to sustain.

While Washington continues to sell its democratic ideas, the good news is that people around the world are sobering up. A Pew Research said in November that 83 percent of their interviewees believe the American democracy is not a good example for other nations, a view largely shared by Americans themselves.

Exceptionalism is disastrous for both the United States and the rest of the world. Such a misguided notion will bury the common sense in the American politics and fuel Washington's crazy binge to reshape the world in its own image. As The Wall Street Journal said recently, "democracies are stable and effective when they are grounded in tradition and national cultures, not when they are pressured to adhere to a uniform global standard."

U.S. political scientist Samuel P. Huntington realized as early as 1996 that "the belief that non-Western peoples should adopt Western values, institutions, and culture is, if taken seriously, immoral in its implications."

It is time for the United States to step back, take a deep breath and do a serious reflection. If Washington truly wants to hold onto its democratic values, perhaps it is best to leave other countries alone and let them decide for their own. 
Source: Xinhua| 2021-12-09 13:52:44|Editor: huaxia

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German Chancellor Angela Merkel (R) talks with German Finance Minister Olaf Scholz before her speech in the Bundestag in Berlin, Germany, Aug. 25, 2021. (Xinhua/Shan Yuqi)

BERLIN, Dec. 9 (Xinhua) -- Olaf Scholz from Germany's Social Democratic Party (SPD) was sworn in Wednesday as the new Federal Chancellor, taking the baton from his predecessor Angela Merkel who bowed out from the political stage after a 16-year run.

Scholz, deputy chancellor and finance minister under former Chancellor Merkel, won 395 votes from the 736-seat Bundestag, the lower house of Parliament.

He will lead Germany's first three-party coalition composed of the SPD, the Greens, and the Free Democratic Party (FDP). His new cabinet of 16 ministers will helm a green transition, infrastructure upgrade and social welfare development amid a fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

As a new chapter in German politics unfolds, the world is watching how the 63-year-old new chancellor will live up to his commitments and what his new government means for Europe and the rest of the world.

AMBITIOUS PLANS

Scholz's new government has announced ambitious plans regarding Germany's domestic and international interests, but questions remain.

The 177-page coalition agreement signed on Tuesday places climate change as priority.

The deal pledges to phase out coal by 2030 instead of 2038, to cover 80 percent of power demand with renewables instead of the previous 65-percent target and to have at least 15 million electric vehicles on German roads by the decade's end.

As part of the agreement, the new government plans to increase the minimum wage from 9.6 euros (10.85 U.S. dollars) an hour to 12 euros (13.60 dollars) an hour, build 400,000 new housing units every year and restrict rent rises.

The new government will also focus on upgrading infrastructure, providing faster internet speeds, improving health services, and offering more training to the jobless.

One big question is how the new government will raise enough funds for all its plans without violating either its promise of no tax increases or the "debt brake" -- Germany's constitutional cap on new borrowing from 2023 onward.

Analysts here believe the state-owned development bank KfW will play the role of an innovation and investment agency, using its expanding balance sheets to leverage private investments in green energy and digitization.

SYMBOLS OF CONTINUITY

Germany's power transition is widely expected to be stable. The joint appearances of Merkel and Scholz at the Group of Twenty summit in Rome in October impressed the European media, which reported that it signaled a great deal of continuity.

Scholz once served as mayor of Hamburg and was vice chancellor for three years to Merkel, who wished him good luck at the handover ceremony on Wednesday.

As for foreign policy, Germany's new government will continue to strengthen the European Union (EU) on the global stage and will make sure that Germany is part of that process, Scholz said at a press conference on Tuesday.

"German foreign policy is a policy of continuity," he added.

Scholz's first trip outside Germany as chancellor will take him to France, just as Merkel did after her first election in 2005, and then to Brussels for meetings with top EU officials.

Observers say the smooth transition of power relies more on solidarity among the three coalition parties, which had different and sometimes opposing priorities before and during the election on issues like climate change, taxation, fiscal policy and the appointment of ministers in the new cabinet.

How to ensure unity within the new government, achieve its objectives and lead Germany in the post-Merkel era is likely to be a test of political wisdom for the new chancellor. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-12-09 14:43:15|Editor: huaxia

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A snowplow grooms the piste at Vogel ski center in Bohinj, Slovenia, Dec. 7, 2021. The ski season in Slovenia has begun from last weekend as tourists and residents headed to resorts. Skiers are required to show proof that they have recovered from COVID-19 or have been vaccinated, or provide a valid negative test. (Photo by Zeljko Stevanic/Xinhua)

A worker grooms the piste with snowplow at Vogel ski center in Bohinj, Slovenia, Dec. 7, 2021. The ski season in Slovenia has begun from last weekend as tourists and residents headed to resorts. Skiers are required to show proof that they have recovered from COVID-19 or have been vaccinated, or provide a valid negative test. (Photo by Zeljko Stevanic/Xinhua)

Skis are seen at Vogel ski center in Bohinj, Slovenia, Dec. 7, 2021. The ski season in Slovenia has begun from last weekend as tourists and residents headed to resorts. Skiers are required to show proof that they have recovered from COVID-19 or have been vaccinated, or provide a valid negative test. (Photo by Zeljko Stevanic/Xinhua)

Two skiers sit in a ski lift at Vogel ski center in Bohinj, Slovenia, Dec. 7, 2021. The ski season in Slovenia has begun from last weekend as tourists and residents headed to resorts. Skiers are required to show proof that they have recovered from COVID-19 or have been vaccinated, or provide a valid negative test. (Photo by Zeljko Stevanic/Xinhua)

Skiers ride carpet lift at Vogel ski center in Bohinj, Slovenia, Dec. 7, 2021. The ski season in Slovenia has begun from last weekend as tourists and residents headed to resorts. Skiers are required to show proof that they have recovered from COVID-19 or have been vaccinated, or provide a valid negative test. (Photo by Zeljko Stevanic/Xinhua)

Skiers sit in ski lifts at Vogel ski center in Bohinj, Slovenia, Dec. 7, 2021. The ski season in Slovenia has begun from last weekend as tourists and residents headed to resorts. Skiers are required to show proof that they have recovered from COVID-19 or have been vaccinated, or provide a valid negative test. (Photo by Zeljko Stevanic/Xinhua)

Skiers enjoy the sport at Vogel ski center in Bohinj, Slovenia, Dec. 7, 2021. The ski season in Slovenia has begun from last weekend as tourists and residents headed to resorts. Skiers are required to show proof that they have recovered from COVID-19 or have been vaccinated, or provide a valid negative test. (Photo by Zeljko Stevanic/Xinhua)

Skiers enjoy the sport at Vogel ski center in Bohinj, Slovenia, Dec. 7, 2021. The ski season in Slovenia has begun from last weekend as tourists and residents headed to resorts. Skiers are required to show proof that they have recovered from COVID-19 or have been vaccinated, or provide a valid negative test. (Photo by Zeljko Stevanic/Xinhua)

A notice board reminding people of pandemic prevention measures is seen at Vogel ski center in Bohinj, Slovenia, Dec. 7, 2021 The ski season in Slovenia has begun from last weekend as tourists and residents headed to resorts. Skiers are required to show proof that they have recovered from COVID-19 or have been vaccinated, or provide a valid negative test. (Photo by Zeljko Stevanic/Xinhua)

Two Skiers take photos at Vogel ski center in Bohinj, Slovenia, Dec. 7, 2021. The ski season in Slovenia has begun from last weekend as tourists and residents headed to resorts. Skiers are required to show proof that they have recovered from COVID-19 or have been vaccinated, or provide a valid negative test. (Photo by Zeljko Stevanic/Xinhua)

A ski lift operator and two skiers are seen at Vogel ski center in Bohinj, Slovenia, Dec. 7, 2021. The ski season in Slovenia has begun from last weekend as tourists and residents headed to resorts. Skiers are required to show proof that they have recovered from COVID-19 or have been vaccinated, or provide a valid negative test. (Photo by Zeljko Stevanic/Xinhua)

Two skiers sit in a ski lift at Vogel ski center in Bohinj, Slovenia, Dec. 7, 2021. The ski season in Slovenia has begun from last weekend as tourists and residents headed to resorts. Skiers are required to show proof that they have recovered from COVID-19 or have been vaccinated, or provide a valid negative test. (Photo by Zeljko Stevanic/Xinhua)
Source: Xinhua| 2021-12-09 16:10:23|Editor: huaxia

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White cranes are seen at the Wuxing white crane conservation area by the Poyang Lake in Nanchang, east China's Jiangxi Province, Dec. 8, 2021. Numerous migratory birds including white cranes and swans have arrived in the wetland by the Poyang Lake, taking it as their winter habitat. (Xinhua/Zhou Mi)

White cranes are seen at the Wuxing white crane conservation area by the Poyang Lake in Nanchang, east China's Jiangxi Province, Dec. 8, 2021. Numerous migratory birds including white cranes and swans have arrived in the wetland by the Poyang Lake, taking it as their winter habitat. (Xinhua/Zhou Mi)

White cranes are seen at the Wuxing white crane conservation area by the Poyang Lake in Nanchang, east China's Jiangxi Province, Dec. 8, 2021. Numerous migratory birds including white cranes and swans have arrived in the wetland by the Poyang Lake, taking it as their winter habitat. (Xinhua/Zhou Mi)

White cranes are seen at the Wuxing white crane conservation area by the Poyang Lake in Nanchang, east China's Jiangxi Province, Dec. 8, 2021. Numerous migratory birds including white cranes and swans have arrived in the wetland by the Poyang Lake, taking it as their winter habitat. (Xinhua/Zhou Mi)

A white crane flies over the Wuxing white crane conservation area by the Poyang Lake in Nanchang, east China's Jiangxi Province, Dec. 8, 2021. Numerous migratory birds including white cranes and swans have arrived in the wetland by the Poyang Lake, taking it as their winter habitat. (Xinhua/Zhou Mi)

Swans are seen at the Wuxing white crane conservation area by the Poyang Lake in Nanchang, east China's Jiangxi Province, Dec. 8, 2021. Numerous migratory birds including white cranes and swans have arrived in the wetland by the Poyang Lake, taking it as their winter habitat. (Xinhua/Zhou Mi)

A white crane is seen at the Wuxing white crane conservation area by the Poyang Lake in Nanchang, east China's Jiangxi Province, Dec. 8, 2021. Numerous migratory birds including white cranes and swans have arrived in the wetland by the Poyang Lake, taking it as their winter habitat. (Xinhua/Zhou Mi)
Source: Xinhua| 2021-12-09 19:43:28|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Dec. 9 (Xinhua) -- China's overall tariff level was 7.4 percent in 2021, as the country took multiple measures to facilitate its trade sector, according to the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) on Thursday.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of China's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO).

"Over the past two decades, China has always been a determined proponent of, an active participant in, and a significant contributor to the multilateral trading system," MOC spokesperson Gao Feng said.

In 2010, the country fulfilled the pledge it made when it joined the WTO to lower import tariffs for goods from 15.3 percent to 9.8 percent, Gao said.

China also fulfilled its commitment to open up 100 sub-sectors in nine major categories of the services sector by 2007. Nearly 120 sub-sectors have now been opened in the country, the spokesperson said.

China has also signed 19 free trade agreements with 26 countries and regions, specifying regulations for processes such as cargo release and customs cooperation, he said. These agreements play a positive role in streamlining customs procedures, enhancing customs efficiency and improving cross-border cargo flows.

China will continue to support the multilateral trading system with the WTO at its core, actively participate in WTO reforms, safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of developing countries, and promote the inclusive development of the multilateral trading system, Gao said. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-12-09 22:50:23|Editor: huaxia

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Iraqi protesters take part in a demonstration against the presence of U.S. troops in the country, in Baghdad, capital of Iraq, Jan. 24, 2020. (Xinhua/Khalil Dawood)

BAGHDAD, Dec. 9 (Xinhua) -- Iraqi National Security Adviser Qasim al-Araji announced on Thursday the end of the combat mission in Iraq and the withdrawal of the U.S.-led coalition forces, the official television reported.

"Today we have finished the last round of dialogue with the international coalition, which started last year, to officially announce the end of combat mission for the coalition forces and their withdrawal from Iraq," the state-run Iraqiya channel quoted al-Araji as saying.

Al-Araji said that the relationship with the international coalition "will continue in the aspects of training, advice," the channel said.

Iraqi protesters take part in a demonstration against the presence of U.S. troops in the country, in Baghdad, capital of Iraq, Jan. 24, 2020. (Xinhua/Khalil Dawood)

On Nov. 24, Tahseen al-Khafaji, spokesman of the Iraqi Joint Operations Command, said the foreign combat forces would leave Iraq within 15 days, except for some advisers who will stay to support the Iraqi forces.

"Ending the presence of the foreign forces is proceeding according to the plan, and there is no military base for them except for limited presence in Ayn al-Asad Air Base in the western province of Anbar," al-Khafaji said.

On Jan. 5, 2020, the Iraqi parliament passed a resolution requiring the government to end the presence of foreign forces in the country.

In July this year, the United States and Iraq held a session of strategic dialogue, during which the two countries agreed on withdrawing all U.S. combat troops from Iraq by Dec. 31. 
Source: Xinhua| 2021-12-10 00:04:04|Editor: huaxia

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-- Washington's "show of democracy" takes place at a time when the illusion created by the American democratic system has been repeatedly shattered in recent years.



-- Rather than addressing its own challenges in establishing a healthy democracy, U.S. politicians are preoccupied with weaponizing democracy to smear other countries.

-- Despite the hoopla surrounding the so-called "Summit for Democracy," the international community has long concluded that American democracy exists only in form and not in substance.

BEIJING, Dec. 9 (Xinhua) -- Democracy is a right of all people and should never be patented by any country. As the international community watches in dismay the so-called "Summit for Democracy" led by the United States, more rational voices around the world have warned against Washington's attempt to pit one camp against another driven by a dangerous Cold War mentality.

Ironically, Washington's "show of democracy" also takes place at a time when the illusion created by the American democratic system has been repeatedly shattered in recent years.

Rather than addressing its own challenges in establishing a healthy democracy, U.S. politicians are preoccupied with weaponizing democracy to smear other countries.







RISKING FUELING POLARIZATION

Experts around the world have warned that by handpicking specific summit participants based on its own geopolitical considerations and assumptions about democratic standards without regard for other world democracies, Washington is actually further polarizing and dividing nations.

"Creating some kind of dividing lines is a very dangerous game," said Eyob Belachew, an Ethiopian international relations and political analyst.

The summit is anything but democratic as genuine democracy fundamentally favors inclusiveness, diversity, equal opportunities and prosperity of people rather than compelling other nations to adopt the Western model of democracy that primarily revolves around economic interests, Shakeel Ahmad Ramay, chief executive officer of Asian Institute of Eco-civilization Research and Development, told Xinhua.

"This is going to further divide the world in different blocs at a time when countries around the globe direly need unity and cooperation for global development," the expert said, stressing that the so-called "Summit for Democracy" is nothing but a tool to maintain U.S. hegemony under the guise of democracy.

In his column article for The Manila Times, Austin Ong, researcher of Manila-based think tank Integrated Development Studies Institute, said that by initiating the so-called "Summit for Democracy," the United States is making a mockery of democracy.

"It polarizes the world rather than harmonizes (it). Instead of creating more avenues for peaceful reintegration of relationships among nations, it intensifies divisions," Ong said.





UNQUALIFIED "DEMOCRACY BEACON"

Despite the hoopla surrounding the so-called "Summit for Democracy," the international community has long concluded that American democracy exists only in form and not in substance.

As is widely recognized that the ultimate litmus test for good democracy is whether it can truly represent and serve the fundamental interests of the people, the American way is far from being the "envy of the world."

Primarily, the American-style democracy is not democratic. Many of America's founding fathers were slave owners themselves. And almost a century after its founding, the United States still acquiesced in slavery, and forbade women or African Americans from voting.

Today, the American democracy is more of a plutocracy, with a government hardly of, by or for the people. As U.S. political scientist Francis Fukuyama wrote early this year, the government in Washington is "captured by powerful elite groups that distort policy to their own benefit and undermine the legitimacy of the regime as a whole."

"The people do not govern. Politicians respond almost exclusively to the desires of special interests and the wealthiest citizens," lamented Charles Wheelan, a senior lecturer at the Rockefeller Center at U.S. Dartmouth College.

A recent study by the Robert Bosch Foundation in Germany found that over half of Americans think the democratic system is not functioning at all under the current circumstances. Also alarmingly, a recent poll by U.S. broadcaster NPR shows that 81 percent of U.S. adults said the future of U.S. democracy is under threat.





FORCED DEMOCRACY CAN NOT FUNCTION

For a democracy to be viable and resilient, it also needs to draw its strength from a country's own culture and history, as well as its economic and social realities. This is a major reason why more than 20 years of nation-building in Afghanistan crashed to the ground in a matter of weeks. A copied American-style democracy did not have the local conditions to sustain it.

Lisandra Astiasaran Arias, counsellor of the permanent mission of Cuba to the UN Office at Geneva, argues that there is no simple model or definition of democracy, and every state has the right and the responsibility to develop its own models in accordance with its particular situation and the will of its own people.

"We should not allow the attempts of some countries to impose their views on democracy and human rights on the rest of the world," she said.

In their interviews with Xinhua, many experts said that China's impressive development, including its achievements in poverty reduction, has illustrated the characteristics of an advanced democracy.

"China has a different perspective or a different practice of democracy, which is not actually similar to what we already know or what we already have in mind," said Belachew, the Ethiopian international relations and political analyst.

"It is the whole process of people's democracy. This is really an advanced democracy in a Chinese way. It may not fit other countries, but it is helping China," he added.

Belachew stressed that China's people-centered approach has always put its people's interests at the forefront, which is key to China's development.

"Chinese democracy focuses on the wellbeing of the people," Belachew said.

(Video reporters: Jiang Chao, Shi Xiantao, Li Xiaopeng, Li Jizhi, Zhang Miao, Wu Danni, Yang Yiran, Yu Fuqing, Zhang Yuliang; video editors: Zhang Qiru, Wu Yao, Zhu Jianhui)
Source: Xinhua| 2021-12-09 23:45:25|Editor: huaxia

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ADDIS ABABA, Dec. 9 (Xinhua) -- The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) on Thursday disclosed some 11 African countries have so far reported Omicron COVID-19 variant cases.

John Nkengasong, Director of the Africa CDC, told journalists in his periodic briefing that seven additional African countries have reported the Omicron variant during the past week, bringing the overall continental tally to 11.

The countries include South Africa, Botswana, Nigeria, Ghana, Uganda, Zambia, Senegal, Tunisia, Mozambique, Namibia, and Zimbabwe, according to the Africa CDC.

On Wednesday, the African Union (AU) had warned that travel and entry bans in connection with the emergence of the Omicron COVID-19 variant limit the free movement of people and goods, imposing immediate and significant impact on African countries.

The 55-member pan African bloc called for the urgent rescinding of travel bans placed on southern African countries following the detection of the Omicron variant.

"Current evidence, which underscores global spread and community transmission of the Omicron variant, does not support selective travel bans imposed on Southern African countries," the statement read.

It said that penalizing African countries for ensuring timely and transparent data dissemination in accordance with international health regulations acts as a disincentive for information sharing in the future, potentially posing a threat to health security on the continent and globally.

The AU stressed that recent travel and entry bans are imposing an adverse impact on the economy which will negatively affect the lives and livelihoods of populations concerned.

It further indicated that the travel ban created limited the capacity to access essential medical supplies needed to respond to the ongoing upsurge of cases.

As of Thursday, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Africa reached 8,797,227 cases as the death toll stands at 224,231. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-12-10 00:02:12|Editor: huaxia

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Members of Tanzania People's Defense Forces run past the reviewing stand during a celebration marking 60 years of Tanzania mainland's independence in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on Dec. 9, 2021. Tanzania mainland on Thursday marked 60 years of independence with pomp and splendor when the east African nation was joined by leaders or representatives from over a dozen foreign countries. (Photo by Herman Emmanuel/Xinhua)

DAR ES SALAAM, Dec. 9 (Xinhua) -- Tanzania mainland on Thursday marked 60 years of independence with pomp and splendor when the east African nation was joined by leaders or representatives from over a dozen foreign countries.

Foreign leaders or representatives who attended the colorful celebrations at the Uhuru Stadium in commercial capital Dar es Salaam came from Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, Burundi, Comoro, Mozambique, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eswatini, Oman and Malawi.

Others came from Botswana, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Namibia, the African Union and the East African Community. Tanganyika, Tanzania's mainland part, gained its independence on Dec. 9, 1961.

Tanzania's President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Samia Suluhu Hassan inspected a guard of honor mounted by the Tanzania People's Defense Forces, the National Service, the police, the prisons department and immigration services.

The national and East African Community (EAC) anthems were played when President Hassan arrived in the fully packed Uhuru Stadium where she received a 21-presidential gun salute.

President Hassan and her foreign guests watched spine-chilling military displays, including fighter jets fly past and state-of-the-art military combat gear.

The military displays that involved the air force, land force, navy and commandos and marines special forces were preceded by military parades and military cultural shows.

In her address to the nation on Wednesday to mark the 60th Independence Anniversary, President Hassan urged Tanzanians to continue protecting the country by nurturing prevailing peace, solidarity and harmony.

She said over the 60 years of the country's independence, the country has succeeded in protecting its independence and borders. Enditem

Tanzania's President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Samia Suluhu Hassan (C, Front) inspects a guard of honor during a celebration marking 60 years of Tanzania mainland's independence in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on Dec. 9, 2021. Tanzania mainland on Thursday marked 60 years of independence with pomp and splendor when the east African nation was joined by leaders or representatives from over a dozen foreign countries. (Photo by Herman Emmanuel/Xinhua)

Members of Tanzania People's Defense Forces give an airborne performance during a celebration marking 60 years of Tanzania mainland's independence in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on Dec. 9, 2021. Tanzania mainland on Thursday marked 60 years of independence with pomp and splendor when the east African nation was joined by leaders or representatives from over a dozen foreign countries. (Photo by Herman Emmanuel/Xinhua)

Tanzanian children perform during a celebration marking 60 years of Tanzania mainland's independence in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on Dec. 9, 2021. Tanzania mainland on Thursday marked 60 years of independence with pomp and splendor when the east African nation was joined by leaders or representatives from over a dozen foreign countries. (Photo by Herman Emmanuel/Xinhua)

Members of Tanzania People's Defense Forces attend a celebration marking 60 years of Tanzania mainland's independence in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on Dec. 9, 2021. Tanzania mainland on Thursday marked 60 years of independence with pomp and splendor when the east African nation was joined by leaders or representatives from over a dozen foreign countries. (Photo by Herman Emmanuel/Xinhua)

Members of Tanzania People's Defense Forces attend a celebration marking 60 years of Tanzania mainland's independence in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on Dec. 9, 2021. Tanzania mainland on Thursday marked 60 years of independence with pomp and splendor when the east African nation was joined by leaders or representatives from over a dozen foreign countries. (Photo by Herman Emmanuel/Xinhua)
Source: Xinhua| 2021-12-10 00:05:05|Editor: huaxia

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ABUJA, Dec. 9 (Xinhua) -- Nine people were killed and about 10 others injured when a group of gunmen attacked a village in Nigeria's central state of Niger, the police said on Thursday.

The victims were performing early morning prayers in a local mosque in the Ba'are village of the Mashegu local government area of Niger on Wednesday when the gunmen struck, Monday Bala Kuryas, the state's police chief told reporters in Minna, the state capital.

Kuryas said the gunmen rode on motorcycles to the village, heading straight for the mosque where they unleashed terror on the worshippers.

The injured have been taken to a government hospital for treatment, he said, adding some security personnel had been deployed to beef up security in the area.

A police investigation is underway to unravel the motive of the attackers and apprehend them, Kuryas added.

Armed attacks have been a primary security threat in Nigeria's northern and central regions, leading to deaths and kidnappings in recent months. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-12-09 08:30:09|Editor: huaxia

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An Afghan employee transports COVID-19 vaccines and syringes donated by the Chinese government at Kabul international airport in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan, Dec. 8, 2021. A batch of COVID-19 vaccines donated by the Chinese government arrived in Kabul on Wednesday. (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua)

KABUL, Dec. 9 (Xinhua) -- A batch of COVID-19 vaccines donated by the Chinese government arrived in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, on Wednesday.

A handover ceremony was held at Kabul international airport, attended by Chinese Ambassador to Afghanistan Wang Yu and deputy minister of Afghanistan's Public Health Ministry Abdul Bari Omar.

Since the political situation of Afghanistan has changed, China has announced to donate 3 million doses of vaccines and other medical supplies to Afghanistan, Wang said while addressing the ceremony.

In order to help Afghanistan overcome the current difficulties, China is now accelerating the work on 200 million yuan (31 million USD) worth of emergency assistance to Afghanistan, including food, winter supplies, vaccines and medicines, he said.

Wang noted that China is importing a large amount of pine nuts that will bring Afghan pine nut farmers with the income reaching hundreds of millions of U.S. dollars. Moreover, China will assist Afghanistan in further expanding its export and the projects that could help improve people's livelihood.

For his part, Omar expressed his appreciation to the Chinese government for the donation and support provided to Afghanistan. He said the donation is very important for the people of Afghanistan in this critical situation.

This shipment of Sinopharm vaccines is the second Chinese donation of the COVID-19 vaccine to Afghanistan. In June, a batch of China-donated COVID-19 vaccines was handed over to Afghanistan. Enditem

Staff members unload COVID-19 vaccines and syringes donated by the Chinese government at Kabul international airport in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan, Dec. 8, 2021. A batch of COVID-19 vaccines donated by the Chinese government arrived in Kabul on Wednesday. (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua)

Staff members unload COVID-19 vaccines and syringes donated by the Chinese government at Kabul international airport in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan, Dec. 8, 2021. A batch of COVID-19 vaccines donated by the Chinese government arrived in Kabul on Wednesday. (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua)

Staff members unload COVID-19 vaccines and syringes donated by the Chinese government at Kabul international airport in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan, Dec. 8, 2021. A batch of COVID-19 vaccines donated by the Chinese government arrived in Kabul on Wednesday. (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua)

Staff members unload COVID-19 vaccines and syringes donated by the Chinese government at Kabul international airport in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan, Dec. 8, 2021. A batch of COVID-19 vaccines donated by the Chinese government arrived in Kabul on Wednesday. (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua)
Source: Xinhua| 2021-12-09 12:15:05|Editor: huaxia

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CANBERRA, Dec. 9 (Xinhua) -- More than 70 percent of Australians say they want a coronavirus booster vaccine, a survey has found.

Researchers from Australian National University (ANU) on Thursday published the latest findings from their ongoing survey of more than 3,400 people during the pandemic.

It found that 71.9 percent of respondents said they will get a booster vaccine when available.

However, it did reveal portions of the population that are hesitant about boosters.

"In our analysis we found males, younger Australians, those who live outside of advantaged areas, those who have not completed Year 12, those who speak a language other than English, and those who have had their first dose vaccination relatively recently are all less willing to receive their 'third dose' of the COVID-19 vaccine," study co-author Nicholas Biddle said in a media release.

Booster vaccines are currently available to Australians aged 18 and over six months after their second shot.

As of Wednesday 93.1 percent of Australians aged 16 and over had received one vaccine dose and 88.7 percent were fully inoculated, according to the Department of Health.

The most common reason for booster hesitancy given by respondents to the survey was thinking other people would need COVID-19 vaccines before them.

"This reinforces the need to boost supply of COVID-19 vaccines to the region, not only because many countries in the Asia Pacific have very low vaccination rates, but also because it will reassure Australians that they can get a booster without putting others at risk," Biddle said.

Australia on Thursday reported more than 1,600 new locally-acquired coronavirus cases and 10 deaths as the country continues to battle the third wave of infections.

Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce, who is fully vaccinated, has confirmed he has tested positive for COVID-19 after arriving in the U.S. for work on the government's social media regulation laws.

He told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) that he decided to get tested after developing mild symptoms.

"Obviously I am very frustrated. I'm going to be locked up in a room by myself for 10 days, but that's part of the process," Joyce said.

"It's probably developing, I'm probably very much in the early stages - but I'm more worried about being in a room by myself to be honest." Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-12-09 14:39:06|Editor: huaxia

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by Misbah Saba Malik, Wang Huan

ISLAMABAD, Dec. 9 (Xinhua) -- China and Pakistan are keeping their commitment to making the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) a green project, and enable future generations to have a green environment.

Besides the green CPEC initiative, the Chinese government and companies are also supporting Pakistan in the 10 Billion Tree Tsunami program of the country's Prime Minister Imran Khan by vigorously participating and donating in the drive.

Chinese companies working on CPEC projects in Pakistan have planted a large number of trees in their premises to support the drive. The Chinese embassy in Pakistan on Wednesday also donated 7,000 saplings for the program to support Pakistan's efforts in environmental protection.

In a conversation with Xinhua at the donation ceremony on Wednesday, Pakistan's Minister for Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam lauded the Chinese government for supporting Pakistan's green vision, adding that the gesture of the Chinese government and people shows that both countries not only share the past but also the future.

Speaking with Xinhua on Wednesday, Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Nong Rong said they gifted the trees on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan.

The Chinese and Pakistani governments have been supporting each other in nature conservation and practicing the idea of a green Belt and Road to promote the high-quality development of CPEC, he added.

The phase one of CPEC was mainly about road infrastructure and energy projects to meet the urgent need of Pakistan by laying a solid foundation for the economic development of the South Asian country.

Shabir Ahmad Khan, director of Area Study Center (Russia, China & Central Asia) in Pakistan's University of Peshawar, told Xinhua in a recent interview that Pakistan was facing hours-long power outage every day, its "worst" security situation as well as poor investment into the country.

"At such a critical time, CPEC came to Pakistan's rescue and Chinese companies built power plants in Pakistan on the request of the then government of the country as it was the urgent solution to the electricity woes of the country," he said.

Pakistani officials and experts laud CPEC's coal-fired power plants for not only overcoming the energy crisis of Pakistan, but also keeping emissions under control.

"The coal-fired power plants including Sahiwal and Port Qasim even got certifications for being eco-friendly and controlling emissions well under control to meet the world and local standards," Khan said.

Lauding China's decision of stop building new coal-fired power projects abroad, Aslam said the decision shows that actions speak louder than words because when all countries are talking about protecting the climate, China came forward with a concrete and significant decision.

He added that China has also been investing in clean energy initiatives in Pakistan, as the current Pakistani government is focusing on hydel, solar, and other clean energy initiatives, which will not only be a step forward to the commitment of green CPEC, but also fulfill the promise of Pakistan's prime minister to save environment for future generations.

Talking about green CPEC, Nong said all CPEC projects embody the green concept and are setting a strong base for industrialization in the country.

"Our coal-fired power projects are highly efficient, using advanced environment-friendly technologies to ensure low pollution and low emission. Furthermore, we also focus on clean technologies like hydel, wind and photovoltaic, providing Pakistan with green electricity, laying a good foundation for Pakistan's industrialization and urbanization," he added. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-12-09 15:27:57|Editor: huaxia

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A student wearing a face mask walks on a road in Peshawar, Pakistan, Dec. 9, 2021. Pakistan has confirmed the first case of Omicron variant of COVID-19 virus in its southern Sindh province, said an official on Thursday. (Photo by Saeed Ahmad/Xinhua)

ISLAMABAD, Dec. 9 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan has confirmed the first case of Omicron variant of COVID-19 virus in its southern Sindh province, said an official on Thursday.

Media Coordinator of the Sindh Health Department Mehar Khursheed told Xinhua that the first case was detected on Wednesday after conducting genomic sequencing on samples taken from a female at the Aga Khan University Hospital in the southern port city of Karachi.

The woman had no symptoms and she has been isolated at her home, said the official, adding that she had not taken vaccination.

The official further said that the deputy commissioner of the eastern district of Karachi has been asked to impose a micro smart lockdown.

Another official from the health department told Xinhua that the authorities had already initiated a quick mechanism to figure out the patient's contacts, adding that two of her contacts have been tested positive but the virus was not the Omicron variant.

According to official data, the country had confirmed overall 1,288,053 cases till Wednesday night, including 1,249,421 recoveries and 28,803 deaths.

The country has 9,829 active cases, who are under treatment in different hospitals, including 771 those who are in critical condition.

The Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority had also revised travel guidelines for the passengers coming from abroad starting on Wednesday midnight, including the requirement of complete vaccination and negative PCR test report conducted within 48 hours before traveling. Enditem

A man wearing a face mask is seen in Peshawar, Pakistan, Dec. 9, 2021. Pakistan has confirmed the first case of Omicron variant of COVID-19 virus in its southern Sindh province, said an official on Thursday. (Photo by Saeed Ahmad/Xinhua)
Source: Xinhua| 2021-12-09 16:50:50|Editor: huaxia

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SEOUL, Dec. 9 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's health authorities said on Thursday that it will administer the COVID-19 booster shot to foreign nationals as it recognizes the full vaccination outside the country.

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said in a statement that it improved the policy about the recognition of full vaccination status for foreign nationals.

Under the policy, foreign nationals, who were fully vaccinated outside South Korea and entered the border with no quarantine exemption, will be allowed to receive the third shot of COVID-19 vaccines after their vaccination records are registered on the COVID-19 vaccination registration system.

For registration, non-South Korean nationals will be required to submit their proof of identification and a vaccination certificate issued from abroad to a community health center.

Non-South Korean nationals, whose fully vaccinated status has been registered, will receive a COVID-19 vaccination certificate, recognized by the South Korean health authorities, to prove their full inoculation outside South Korea.

It will allow foreign nationals to receive the booster shot and the benefit of a vaccine pass, the KDCA said.

Eligibility for registration will be confined to the vaccines approved by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Foreign nationals with no quarantine exemption, who received the booster shot, will be registered for the vaccination status, and will be exempt from quarantine when re-entering the country or after having come into close contact with confirmed cases. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-12-09 17:35:26|Editor: huaxia

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CANBERRA, Dec. 9 (Xinhua) -- Three modern Chinese sculptures are on display at the National Museum of Australia (NMA) in Canberra until Feb. 28 next year.

Featuring works by Liu Kaiqu (1904-1993), Xiong Bingming (1922-2002) and Wu Weishan (1962- ) from the National Art Museum of China (NAMOC), "Sculpting the Soul" is exhibited in the main showcase of the NMA's Gandel Atrium.

"I am delighted that these sculptures will be the next instalment in our longstanding collaboration with NAMOC," said Mathew Trinca, director of the NMA, on Thursday.

He told Xinhua that the exhibition was inspired by a discussion with Wu Weishan, director of the NAMOC, when they met in July of 2018. Wu suggested that they could share collections backwards and forwards between Australia and China for a longer period of time.

Talking about this exhibition, Dr. Trinca said: "It strikes me that the three works show a great sense of Chinese art, practice and culture and, with some influences that have been drawn from around the world, what a wonderful set of objects to show China and its place in the world today."

At the launching of the exhibition on Thursday, Wu greeted Australian visitors through a video footage.

"Since the 20th century, modern Chinese sculpture has reflected Chinese traditions while also incorporating Western artistic ideas," he said.

"The integration of traditional art, with its emphasis on freehand and linear expression, and Western art, which stresses design and space, has injected life into Chinese sculpture and taken it to the next level."

The Yak was made of marble by Liu Kaiqu, the first director of the NAMOC, in 1960. Liu, who had studied in France in his youth, created many works that are emblematic of the national spirit. He made the Yak based on the observations of the lives in Tibet.

"Liu Kaiqu was regarded as an important pioneer of modern Chinese sculpture," said Wu. "His white marble sculpture Yak is both simple and elegant, placid and timeless -- a passionate ode to life."

Xiong Bingming studied in France where he hence lived. He was influenced by Chinese philosophy and freehand brushwork, which could be seen from his Horse of cast bronze. "His bronze Horse -- majestic and solemn -- transcends time and space," Wu said.

"Following in the footsteps of my seniors, I strive to contribute to a conversation that encompasses both Chinese and Western art and to learn about life through art," he continued. "My sculpture Sleeping Child captures the innocence and happiness of childhood -- a moment when a child is asleep that reflects the charm of naivety."

The award-winning Sleeping Child of cast copper depicts a sleeping boy with his mouth slightly open and his head tilted sideways.

"We are lucky to see the exhibition here, which showcases the historical inheritance of Chinese art exchange with the West," said Song Yanqun, minister-counselor for culture at the Chinese Embassy in Australia.

He said that the three works reflected different aspects of Chinese national spirit: yak for fortitude, horse for diligence and child for harmony.

"They could help visitors deepen their understanding in Chinese art and culture," he said. "They are products of Chinese culture influenced by the Western culture, products of cultural exchanges themselves."

The event follows an exhibition by the NMA, the Red Heart of Australia, which had been shown at NAMOC.

In fact, both institutions have hosted exchanges since 2010. They recently signed a new memorandum of understanding to renew the cultural partnership.

Wang Xining, Charge d'Affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Australia, noted that the three sculptures came to Canberra before Chinese visitors when Australian national border opens to China.

"So this is a token that art can serve as the vanguard of friendship and people-to-people exchange," he said. "It shows the common aspiration of Australian and Chinese artists and people for more exchanges and deepened understanding." Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-12-09 21:07:47|Editor: huaxia

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LISBON, Dec. 9 (Xinhua) -- The Portuguese government announced on Thursday an additional investment of over 745 million euros (843 million U.S. dollars) this year to increase the "response and production capacity" of the National Health Service (SNS).

According to a statement by the Portuguese Ministry of Health, out of the total amount, 630 million euros will be allocated to hospitals and 115 million euros to regional health administrations, as well as to pay debts already incurred.

According to official data, until October, there had been nearly 30 million medical consultations in primary care and 590,000 surgeries, as well as more than 10 million hospital consultations.

The government's new investment will also be used to finance "detection tests for COVID-19, or in the additional effort of vaccination", said the ministry.

In August 2021, the Portuguese government invested 350 million euros in the SNS budget. However, there was an accumulated debt of 550 million euros through the month of October, which represents an increase of eight percent over the same period last year.

With this new contribution, the total investment by the Portuguese government in public health will add up to 1.095 billion euros this year. (1 euro = 1.13 U.S. dollars) Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-12-09 22:21:26|Editor: huaxia

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MOSCOW, Dec. 9 (Xinhua) -- AUKUS, a security partnership among Australia, Britain and the United States, is "a destabilizing factor," Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces Valery Gerasimov said Thursday.

"AUKUS creates preconditions for the spread of nuclear technologies," Gerasimov said during a briefing for foreign military attaches.

The creation of Australia's nuclear submarine fleet could indicate new attempts to assert regional dominance not only in the Asia-Pacific, but also other regions in the world, he added.

Gerasimov said that in this context, the Russian Defense Ministry actively interacts with partners in the Asia-Pacific and advocates "multilateral mechanisms aimed at ensuring security in the region, taking into account the interests of all states."

AUKUS was announced on Sept. 15, under which Washington and London will support Canberra in building nuclear-powered submarines.

Russia has repeatedly voiced concerns over the new bloc. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-12-09 23:39:46|Editor: huaxia

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Greek educator and author Eleni Geroulanou poses with the teddy bear that inspired her to write the fairytale "Once upon a time, a bear" at the Benaki Museum of Toys, in Athens, Greece, on Dec. 7, 2021. (Xinhua/Marios Lolos)

by Maria Spiliopoulou, Yu Shuaishuai

ATHENS, Dec. 9 (Xinhua) -- A yellow teddy bear, found in a dumpster half a century ago, has become a star exhibits of the Benaki Museum of Toys in Athens since the museum opened in 2017. The adventurous bear, an important collection item in Europe associated with childhood, has also reached China through a children's book written by Greek educator and author Eleni Geroulanou.

In a recent interview at the museum, Geroulanou told Xinhua that literature has a wonderful role to play in building bridges. Books remind us of how much we all have in common, as the emotions and meaning that underlie great stories are universal, crossing cultures and language barriers, she said.

In her fairytale "Once upon a time, a bear" which has been translated into Chinese and published by China's Hebei Children's Publishing House, the teddy bear wanders around the city in search of his home.

He eventually finds a new home and family in the embrace of Maria Argyriadis, a Greek researcher of toys who picked up the bear from the dumpster. Since then, some 20,000 such items have been collected from all over the world and donated to the Benaki Museum, a 19th-century mansion resembling a castle, by the seaside.

"Once upon a time, a bear" is based on the true story of Argyriadis and the teddy bear.

Argyriadis passed away in 2018, but was lucky to see the museum opening its doors in 2017, and the book printed in Greek.

"For Maria, this bear was unique. For the bear, Maria was his family. I was touched by this story and I wanted to make it public," the author said.

Geroulanou said her passion for toys and her family's friendship with Argyriadis inspired her to write this book.

Geroulanou said that she had wanted to work with kids since she was a teenage girl. She studied Early Childhood Education in Athens, continued her studies in Boston, the United States, specializing in Children's Museum Education and returned home to combine museum education with teaching.

As headmistress of a kindergarten in a renowned private school in Athens in recent years, she is constantly close to children.

In 2019 at the Bologna Children's Book Fair in Italy, her Greek publisher showed the book to a Chinese publisher, who loved the story and decided to publish it in China.

Due to the pandemic, Geroulanou has not been able to visit China yet, but she said she is looking forward to, when things get better, meeting with Chinese readers of her book.

Cultural exchanges are essential to the deeper understanding between people from different counties, Geroulanou said. "Through the exchange of ideas and stories, we create stronger bonds with each other, become more inspired and creative as we broaden our horizons," she said.

She said that both Greece and China have rich cultures and traditions dating back to ancient times, and that there is so much to learn from each other.

"I wish the Chinese readers, the young readers, enjoy my book, my story and travel with our bear all this journey, until he finds his home," Geroulanou said.

Greek educator and author Eleni Geroulanou poses with the Greek and the Chinese editions of her fairytale "Once upon a time, a bear" at the Benaki Museum of Toys, in Athens, Greece, on Dec. 7, 2021. (Xinhua/Marios Lolos)

Greek educator and author Eleni Geroulanou poses with the Greek and the Chinese editions of her fairytale "Once upon a time, a bear" at the Benaki Museum of Toys, in Athens, Greece, on Dec. 7, 2021. (Xinhua/Marios Lolos)

Greek educator and author Eleni Geroulanou poses with the teddy bear that inspired her to write the fairytale "Once upon a time, a bear" at the Benaki Museum of Toys, in Athens, Greece, on Dec. 7, 2021. (Xinhua/Marios Lolos)
Source: Xinhua| 2021-12-09 14:38:15|Editor: huaxia

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by Yosley Carrero

HAVANA, Dec. 8 (Xinhua) -- Rachel Alfonso, a 19-year-old Chinese language student, is happy to be back at Havana's Confucius Institute for in-person classes after an absence of 20 months due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Alfonso, who continued studying Chinese while sheltering home, told Xinhua that nothing can replace the direct contact between students and teachers.

"With cases decreasing, I was eager to return to classes. During the sanitary emergency I studied through e-books," she said. "I want to learn more about Chinese calligraphy and culture."

Nestled in the middle of Havana's Chinatown, the Confucius Institute was founded in 2009, having trained thousands of students ever since.

Wearing face masks, students abide by physical distancing protocols and COVID-19 guidance to reduce the likelihood of contagion.

Among them is 19-year-old Joel Dominguez, a first-year Chinese language student at the institute. He sees an opportunity to expand his professional horizon.

"The bilateral relations between China and Latin America have strengthened over the past few years," he said. "I made the right decision when choosing to study Chinese."

In the past few years, learning the Chinese language has gained ground on the island.

Yorbelis Rosell, director of the Confucius Institute in Havana, said that some 250 students are now enrolled at the institute in different courses.

While in class, students and faculty members are provided with disinfectant solutions, as cleaners regularly sanitize classrooms and common areas.

Chinese language professor Raquel Toranzo described returning to face-to-face lessons as "rewarding," saying that "it feels good to catch up with colleagues and students again."

She said that the health crisis has posed new challenges for teaching at the school.

"Whenever I teach a new sound, I remove the facemask and keep at least three or four meters apart from students," she said. "It is part of a new routine, but the Chinese language is here to stay." Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-12-09 21:13:15|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Dec. 9 (Xinhua) -- It could hardly be more evident that the true intention of the U.S. government in holding the so-called "Summit for Democracy" has nothing to do with promoting democracy, but serving the undemocratic purpose of maintaining U.S. hegemony.

Absurdly asserting itself as a "paragon of democracy," the U.S. government turns a blind eye to a multitude of problems at home caused by the deterioration and dysfunction of its own democratic system and turns a deaf ear to the widespread criticism of its decision to hold the so-called "Summit for Democracy".

The U.S. society has been fraught with social divides, racial conflict and a gaping wealth gap. The deteriorating situation of democracy and human rights in the United States is visible to all.

A recent report by the Pew Research Center shows that only 17 percent of those surveyed see American democracy as a good example for other countries to follow. According to another study by the Robert Bosch Foundation in Germany, over 50 percent of the Americans surveyed think their democratic system does not function at all under the current circumstances.

A nation tainted with such problems cannot be considered a "beacon of democracy." It is a distorted and hypocritical democracy at best.

The ultimate purpose of the U.S. government in holding the so-called "Summit for Democracy" is not to promote democracy, but to incite confrontation and hatred, force others to follow its own democracy model and maintain its hegemony.

In fact, the United States is a country enjoying a long-standing tradition of hegemony. After the Second World War, out of a selfish desire to secure a dominant position in international affairs, it has shaped the international political and economic landscape to its own benefit. During the Cold War, the United States enthusiastically interfered with other countries' affairs and even toppled governments that dared to oppose it, giving rise to conflict and instability in many parts of the world.

Since the Cold War, as the lone superpower, the United States has blatantly incited or waged war against other countries and regions, bringing great tragedy to people in countries like Afghanistan and Iraq.

In total disregard of international law, the United States has pulled out almost everything in its "armory" to undermine other countries, including long-arm jurisdiction and economic sanctions.

Its desperate pursuit of power, as well as its selfishness, is also well-reflected in cyberspace governance and its attempt to politicize COVID-19 origins tracing, among other moves.

The so-called "Summit for Democracy" is nothing but the latest manifestation of U.S. hegemony, and these naked attempts are as futile as they are widely despised. Uncle Sam should cease acting like a "democracy lecturer" and learn from its past mistakes. Enditem
MINE workers unions are pushing for a US$600 salary per month similar to what their peers in neighbouring countries earn.

Workers in the sector were recently awarded a 24,5% salary hike following collective bargaining negotiations. The increase will see the least paid employee earning $30 500.

After statutory deductions such as the National Social Security Authority, pay as you earn and others, mine employees take home only $19 000.

Zimbabwe Diamond and Allied Mineral Workers Union secretary-general Justice Chinhema said they would address these challenges in the first quarter of 2022.

We have challenged these issues before the Labour Court, and we want our members to tell us what we should attend to now. We need the workers to know whats coming and they should direct us, Chinhema said, adding that the sector was this year severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Workers want a living wage and we believe 2022 should be the year to achieve that through vigorous bargaining. We want mine workers to earn respectable salaries like other regional mine workers who are earning salaries in the range of US$600.

He said as an industry, they had raised concern over the issue of taxes. Mine workers are heavily taxed and we shall be looking at it. This is caused by the two-tier payment system, which must be addressed in the first quarter of 2022, Chinhema said.

He said one of the mine workerss demands was that they be paid a COVID-19 allowance.

Workers unions have been complaining over taxation in the sector, saying this leaves them with little disposable income, making it difficult to survive during the current economic hardships. Newsday
New York, US (PANA) - Seven UN peacekeepers from Togo died and three others were seriously injured when their vehicle hit an improvised explosive device in the Bandiagara region in central Mali on Wednesdsay morning
MD800 compact AC multidrive answers European OEMs' call to slash cabinet sizes & costs

Industrial automation group, Inovance Technology Europe, has announced the release of the MD800  an AC multidrive designed to meet the needs of European OEMs, for ever more flexible and scalable multidrive performance, in a more compact footprint.





MD800s modular design enables up to eight drives to be supplied from one rack with a single rectifier, sharing energy through the common DC bus. The product offers comprehensive functionality, including an individual STO (safe torque off) on each drive, the ability to control PM and induction motors from a single software package, a +24 VDC control backup supply, and a full range of fieldbus and I/O expansion option cards. Meanwhile, the dual rating of each drive module allows heavy-duty 150% overload for demanding torque applications, or normal duty 110% overload for fan and pump applications.



Additionally, MD800 is highly cost effective, and also offers a significantly reduced total cost of ownership. Installation costs, in particular, are slashed as a result of user-friendly pluggable, spring type connectors, and a faster build time due to reduced wiring and fewer external components. The product is also designed to operate in the harshest of industrial environments with 3C3 and 3S2 conformal coating, an operating temperature range of -20 to +60oC, an operating altitude of up to 4,000 metres, and a separate cooling channel for the heatsink.



David Bedford, Inovances European Strategic Marketing Manager for AC drives, comments: Our product managers, application engineers, and R&D engineers in Spain, France, Germany, Italy, and Turkey work extensively with local OEMs, systems integrators, and distributors. Their market research has ensured that the MD800 will meet and exceed the demands of all multidrive manufacturing machines in Europe  from the simplest of conveyors to the most complex printing machinery.



We think that MD800 is the most compact and flexible multidrive on the market today, and we also think its the most cost-effective AC multidrive available in Europe. I am really excited about how MD800 will improve the productivity of our customers  click here to learn more.





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You may not realize your poor posture, such as slouching or slumping your shoulders, not only looks bad, but it can also have adverse effects on your ...

4 hours ago
In his statement to Parliament, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday said that the Indian Air Force (IAF) has ordered an inquiry into the chopper crash in Tamil Nadu that killed Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat and 12 others.

The Defence Minister said that the probe will be headed by Air Marshal Manavendra Singh.

He added that the IAF inquiry team had reached Wellington on Wednesday and already started investigations.

General Rawat's last rites will be performed with full military honours, Rajnath told Parliament, adding that the last rites of other military personnel will be performed with appropriate honour.

The Lok Sabha also observed a two-minute silence on the demise of the 13 people in Wednesday's crash of the M 17 helicopter.
After spending over three years in jail, lawyer-activist Sudha Bharadwaj finally walked out of the Byculla Women's Prison on Thursday, 9 days after she was granted a default bail by the Bombay High Court.

Stepping out of the prison gates in the afternoon, a frail but relaxed Bharadwaj waves out to the waiting media persons, before she was driven to her local residence.

The development came after the Supreme Court rejected the National Investigation Agency's plea against the Bombay High Court's December 1 verdict granting default bail to Bharadwaj and the route was cleared for her release from the jail on Wednesday with completion of the bail formalities.

On Wednesday, Special NIA Court Special Judge D.E. Kothalikar allowed Bharadwaj - an accused in the Koregaon Bhima-Elgaar Parishad cases and allegedly having links with Maoist groups - to be released on a cash bail of Rs 50,000.

As per the high court directions, he also set out the terms and conditions for Bharadwaj's bail including that she must reside in Mumbai, not to leave the city without the court's permission, and deposit her passport with the NIA.

However, the Special Court rejected her plea to travel to Chhattisgarh, or Delhi for her legal practice and also barred her from talking to the media about the case. She has been asked to attend proceedings of the trial in the court and ensure it is not delayed due to her absence.

Bharadwaj becomes the first of the 16 accused in the case to be enlarged on a default bail, though another accused P. Varavara Rao has secured bail on medical grounds, and one accused, Fr. Stan Lourduswamy died in custody while waiting for bail last July.

Hailing from Chhattisgarh, Bharadwaj was arrested by Pune Police on August 28, 2018 in connection with the Koregaon Bhima-Elgaar Parishad cases and slapped with charges under the stringent UAPA. Later, the NIA took over the case probe in January 2020.

The investigators claimed in the charge sheet that documents found from some of the co-accused and other evidence established her links with Maoist activities and the banned CPI-Maoist.
Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been ranked 43rd in the Forbes magazine's list of 100 Most Powerful Women in the world.

"During what she believes will be her final term, Hasina plans to focus on issues such as food security and access to education and healthcare," the magazine mentioned.

Hasina, the longest serving Prime Minister in the history of Bangladesh, having served for a combined total of over 17 years and four terms.

She won the fourth term after her ruling party, Bangladesh Awami League, won 288 of the 300 parliamentary seats in the 2018 elections.

In the list, philanthropist MacKenzie Scott, US Vice President Kamala Harris and President of the European Central Bank Christine Lagarde have been ranked first, second and third, respectively.

Every year, the magazine releases a list of 100 powerful women of the world.

This year, the 18th annual list included 40 CEOs, the most since 2015, who, according to the magazine, "oversee a record $3.3 trillion in revenue".
Edison, NJ -- (SBWIRE) -- 12/09/2021 -- A new business intelligence report released by HTF MI with title "Global Automotive Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) Market Research Report with Opportunities and Strategies to Boost Growth- COVID-19 Impact and Recovery" is designed covering micro level of analysis by manufacturers and key business segments. The Global Automotive Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) Market survey analysis offers energetic visions to conclude and study size, share, and competitive nature of market. The research is derived through primary and secondary statistics sources and delivers both qualitative and quantitative insights. Some of the key players profiled in the study are Pacific Industrial, Continental AG, Hella KGaA Hueck & Co., Delphi Automotive, Sensata Technologies, Valeo, Schrader Electronics, Advantage PressurePro Enterprises Inc., ALLIGATOR Ventilfabrik GmbH, DENSO Corporation, ZF TRW, Valor TPMS, Huf Electronics & Alps Electric Co. Ltd.



What's keeping Pacific Industrial, Continental AG, Hella KGaA Hueck & Co., Delphi Automotive, Sensata Technologies, Valeo, Schrader Electronics, Advantage PressurePro Enterprises Inc., ALLIGATOR Ventilfabrik GmbH, DENSO Corporation, ZF TRW, Valor TPMS, Huf Electronics & Alps Electric Co. Ltd Ahead in the Market? Benchmark yourself with strategic moves and findings by HTF MI



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Market Overview of Automotive Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)

The study will provide you conclusive point of view that Industry experts and executives have shared. It is vital to keep the market knowledge up-to-date segmented by Applications [OEM & Aftermarket], Product Types [, Direct TPMS & Indirect TPMS] and major players. If you are involved in the Automotive Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) industry or aim to be or have a different set of players/manufacturers according to geography or seek to have regional report segmented then connect with us to get customized version.



This study mainly helps understand which market segments or region or Country needs to be focus in next few years to channelize efforts and investments to maximize growth and profitability. The Global Automotive Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) report presents the market competitive landscape; in-depth analysis of the major vendor/key manufacturers, raw materials, pricing analysis, connected suppliers and downstream buyers in the market along with impact of economic slowdown.



Furthermore, the years considered for the study are as follows:

Historical year  2015-2020

Base year  2020

Forecast period**  2021 to 2026 [** unless otherwise stated]



**Moreover, it also include the opportunities available in micro markets for stakeholders to invest, detailed analysis of competitive landscape and product services of key players.



Enquire for customized Automotive Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) Study @: https://www.htfmarketreport.com/enquiry-before-buy/3199363-global-automotive-tire-pressure-monitoring-system-1



The titled segments and sub-section of the Automotive Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) Market are illuminated below:

The Study Explore the Product/Types of the Market: Direct TPMS & Indirect TPMS



Key Applications/End-users of the Market: OEM & Aftermarket



Top Players in the Market are: Pacific Industrial, Continental AG, Hella KGaA Hueck & Co., Delphi Automotive, Sensata Technologies, Valeo, Schrader Electronics, Advantage PressurePro Enterprises Inc., ALLIGATOR Ventilfabrik GmbH, DENSO Corporation, ZF TRW, Valor TPMS, Huf Electronics & Alps Electric Co. Ltd



Regions/Country Included are: North America (Covered in Chapter 9), United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe (Covered in Chapter 10), Germany, UK, France, Italy, Spain, Russia, Others, Asia-Pacific (Covered in Chapter 11), China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, India, South America (Covered in Chapter 12), Brazil, Argentina, Columbia, Middle East and Africa (Covered in Chapter 13), UAE, Egypt & South Africa



Important Features that are under offering & key highlights of the report:

 Detailed overview of Automotive Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) market

 In-depth market segmentation by Type, Application etc

 Historical, current and projected market size in dollar terms (value) & volume

 Recent industry trends and developments

 Changing market dynamics of the industry

 Competitive landscape of Automotive Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) market

 Strategies of key players and product offerings

 Potential and niche segments/regions exhibiting promising growth

 A neutral perspective towards Automotive Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) market performance

 Market players information to sustain and enhance their footprint



Read Complete Index of full Research Study at @ https://www.htfmarketreport.com/reports/3199363-global-automotive-tire-pressure-monitoring-system-1



Major Highlights from TOC:



Chapter One: Global Automotive Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) Market Industry Overview

1.1 Overview

1.1.2 Products of Major Companies

1.2 Global Automotive Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) Market Segment

1.2.1 Industrial Chain Analysis

1.2.2 Consumer Distribution

1.3 Price & Cost Overview



Chapter Two: Global Automotive Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) Market Demand

2.1 By End Use Industry / Application [OEM & Aftermarket]

2.2 Automotive Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) Market Size by Demand

2.3 Market Forecast (2021E-2026)



Chapter Three: Global Automotive Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) Market by Type

3.1 By Type [, Direct TPMS & Indirect TPMS]

3.2 Automotive Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) Market Size by Type

3.3 Automotive Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) Market Forecast by Type



Chapter Four: Major Region of Automotive Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) Market

4.1 Global Automotive Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) Sales

4.2 Global Automotive Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) Revenue & Market share

.........



Chapter Five: Major Companies

5.1 Market Share Analysis by Players

5.2 Regional Market Share Analysis by Players

5.3 Company Profiles (Product Offering, Financials, SWOT Analysis etc)

............



Chapter Six: Conclusion



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Key questions answered

- How Global Automotive Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) Market growth & size is changing in next few years?

- Who are the Leading players and what are their futuristic plans in the Global Automotive Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) market?

- What are the key concerns of the 5-forces analysis of the Global Automotive Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) market?

- What are the strengths and weaknesses of the key vendors?

- What are different prospects and threats faced by the dealers in the Global Automotive Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) market?



Thanks for reading this article; you can also get individual chapter wise section or region wise report version like North America, Europe, Southeast, LATAM or Asia.



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Northbrook, IL -- (SBWIRE) -- 12/09/2021 -- The global Oilfield Integrity Management Market size is expected to grow from an estimated USD 12.8 billion in 2020 to USD 18.8 billion by 2025, at a CAGR of 8.1%, during the forecast period. Increasing focus on remote monitoring of oilfields for process optimization and automation and stringent government regulations regarding environmental safety are the key factors driving the oilfield integrity management industry.



The monitoring system segment is the largest contributor in the oilfield integrity management market.



The monitoring system includes machinery and equipment such as wireless sensors, analyzers, flow meters, smart well systems, SCADA systems, and DCS systems. The growth of the market is driven by its multiple advantages, such as a reduction in manual intervention, monitoring of remote locations oilfields, and collection of real-time data from sensors to detect equipment health.



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Middle East & Africa is expected to be the fastest-growing oilfield integrity management market.



The Middle East & Africa consists of major oil & gas producing countries such as Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Iraq, and Iran, which have some of the largest petroleum reserves in the world. According to the BP Statistical Review of World Energy June 2019, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Iraq, Iran, and Qatar produced a combined 30% of global oil production in 2018. These countries export most of their production to neighboring Asian countries such as China and India, which have high energy demand. Furthermore, the growth of the market in the Middle East & Africa is due to the increasing number of drilling activities and the requirement for inspection and monitoring systems to optimize the production from mature fields.



North America held the largest share of the oilfield integrity management market.



North America accounted for the largest share of the oilfield integrity management market in 2019. This region has been segmented by country into the US and Canada. The oil & gas industry is a major contributor to the North American economy. According to the Commerce Department's Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), in 2018, the oil & gas sector contributed USD 1.3 trillion to the GDP of the US. Similarly, Natural Resource Canada declared that in 2018, the oil & gas industry contributed 2.8% to the nominal GDP of Canada. The high energy supply and demand from the region offer lucrative opportunities to the entire oil & gas value chain. The country houses some of the top service providers such as Schlumberger, Ltd. (US), Halliburton (US), and Baker Hughes Company (US), who continuously invest in developing innovative solutions for various segments of the oil & gas industry.



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The key players in the Oilfield integrity management market include companies such as Schlumberger (US), Halliburton (US), Baker Hughes Company (US), Siemens (Germany), Emerson (US), IBM (US), and Oracle (US).



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Using correlative neutron and X-ray tomography, paleontologists have examined an exceptionally preserved specimen of Sigaloceras enodatum  a species of ammonite that lived some 165 million years ago (Middle Jurassic epoch)  from Claydon Pike pit, Fairford, Gloucestershire, UK.

Ammonites are an iconic extinct group that once thrived in oceans as dinosaurs ruled the Earth.

They became extinct at the end of the Cretaceous period, around 66 million years ago

They are among the most common fossils worldwide, but almost everything we know about them so far is based on their hard shells as these are more easily preserved over millennia than bodily tissues. Thus, ammonite fossils with preserved muscles and organs are extremely rare.

The modern animal Nautilus has traditionally been used as a model for reconstructing the biology of ammonites, but a new study led by Cardiff University researcher Lesley Cherns suggests the two groups may not be as similar as previously thought.

In the study, Dr. Cherns and colleagues studied the 5-cm-wide specimen of Sigaloceras enodatum which was found within an exposed Jurassic sediment at a Gloucestershire site in 1998.

They looked at the fossils remaining soft tissues and scarring where muscles once attached to the inside of its shell.

By combining high-resolution X-ray and high-contrast neutron imaging, they created a detailed 3D computer reconstruction of the structure, size and orientation of its muscles and organs.

From this detailed model, they were able to infer the functions of the muscles and organs.

Preservation of soft parts is exceptionally rare in ammonites, even in comparison to fossils of closely related animals like squid, Dr. Cherns said.

We found evidence for muscles that are not present in Nautilus, which provided important new insights into the anatomy and functional morphology of ammonites.

We combined high-resolution X-ray imaging with high-contrast neutron imaging to study the interior of the fossil in 3D without damaging it, said Dr. Alan Spencer, a researcher at Imperial College London and the Natural History Museum, London.

This allowed us to visualize internal soft parts that had resisted all previous efforts to describe them. Its a major breakthrough in ammonite paleobiology.

Our study suggests that combining different imaging techniques can be crucial for investigating the soft tissues of 3D fossils, added Dr. Imran Rahman, principal researcher at the Natural History Museum, London.

This opens up a range of exciting possibilities for studying the internal structure of exceptionally preserved specimens. We will be busy!

The results appear in the journal Geology.

_____

Lesley Cherns et al. Correlative tomography of an exceptionally preserved Jurassic ammonite implies hyponome-propelled swimming. Geology, published online December 7, 2021; doi: 10.1130/G49551.1
For over 50 years, SeaWorld has maintained a commitment to wildlife conservation, rescue and rehabilitation, and education efforts worldwide. Programs and support have taken many forms, from a dedicated Conservation Fund to partnerships with national and global foundations. To date, SeaWorld has dedicated over $18 million in grants to over 1,200 organizations through the SeaWorld Conservation Fund. However, this is not the only way the company is making a difference in the protection of the oceans' marine life.

One recent example of collaborative conservation is SeaWorld's in-depth work with (and support of) the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF). Chartered by Congress in 1984, NFWF protects and restores the nation's fish, wildlife, plants and habitats. The Foundation funds on-the-ground conservation projects across the United States and its territories. This includes efforts targeting comprehensive threat reduction to foster safe environments so marine life can thrive. Several recently supported projects highlight ways in which NFWF and SeaWorld have worked together to support research and conservation efforts for orcas.

The Unique Conservation Needs of Killer Whales

Orcas, or killer whales, are perhaps among the most recognizable ocean animals the world over. The Southern Resident killer whale, specifically, faces continued population decline. While the Southern Resident killer whale is a top predator, threats from human and environmental changes have significantly impacted this population through recent years. Notable threats include food scarcity, vessels (disturbance and sound), as well as pollutants.

Population numbers for orcas vary across the world, depending on particular ecosystem challenges within a specific region.

As a result of continued population decline, the Southern Resident Distinct Population Segment (DPS) is listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. In light of the challenges facing orcas, NFWF, with SeaWorld as a founding partner, created the Killer Whale Research and Conservation Program (KWRCP) to fund recovery efforts and improve scientific study in support of the recovery of the Southern Resident killer whales.

SeaWorld and NFWF: Killer Whale Research and Conservation

The KWRCP emphasizes the need to protect the endangered Southern Resident DPS. Considered by NOAA to be the "most highly at-risk marine species," Southern Resident killer whales face immense challenges finding food sources in the face of overcrowded and polluting boat traffic. Implementing vessel guidelines, while essential, is only part of the solution. Damage done to food sources and new threats from coastal development and climate change loom, requiring additional problem-solving efforts.

With partnership through SeaWorld as a key sponsor, the Killer Whale Research and Conservation Program provides funding for high-impact strategies to help stabilize the declining population. Increasing prey availability, notably salmon, is one tactic requiring investment in the health of existing salmon runs. The program also supports initiatives that reduce common stressors for orcas, aiming to promote safer habitats, longevity, and breeding.

Sounding Off on Orca Recovery at Puget Sound

The deep inlet of Puget Sound is a natural habitat for orcas in the Pacific Northwest, home to the endangered Southern Resident killer whale. As their numbers dwindle, advocates like SeaWorld are doubling down on efforts to restore their natural habitat. In 2019, a total of $1.2 million was invested in the form of grants and grantee match to address the three largest threats to the orcas in Puget Sound: food scarcity, vessel noise, and contaminated water.

Starvation leads the way as the Southern Resident killer whale population lingers at only 75. Changes to local waterways from development and damming have interrupted access to Chinook salmon, a species that itself has become endangered. SeaWorld's funding is intended to address the root causes of the orcas' struggle to survive in this area.

Like Mother, Like Calf: Killer Whale Cow Pollutant Transfer Study

Pollution does not just take a toll on adult orcas that live in water that contains contaminants. It can also impact calves exposed to harmful substances during gestation and lactation. SeaWorld partnered with NFWF to support a study by the NMFS Northwest Fisheries Science Center focused on orca calves. With continuously lower breeding success rates, the Killer Whale Cow and Calf Pollutant Transfer Study aimed to better understand how calf health is impacted by bioaccumulation and transfer of pollutants from mother to calf.

The research findings showed that calves can experience a heightened risk for contaminant exposure while nursing. This poses concern, as newborn calves are most susceptible to toxins that can impair proper growth. Knowledge that orca calves may be entering the world at a disadvantage sheds light on overall population levels and challenges. When breeding does occur in the wild, orca young may possess developmental challenges that affect their survival rates. Identifying and reducing key risk factors for adult killer whales, therefore, can help mitigate harm to future populations.

Advocating for Orcas: SeaWorld Conservation Moving Forward

Does SeaWorld do conservation? Yes, but conservation is an ongoing process, and SeaWorld remains dedicated to making a difference in the protection and study of killer whales. Having supported the Killer Whale Research and Conservation program since its 2015 launch, SeaWorld continues to provide funding support and a platform for discussion. The KWRCP opened requests for proposals for 2021 funding requests with goals to prioritize salmon restoration and water quality throughout the Salish Sea and Columbia River Basin.

Based on the progress to date in the most recent project report, the program is making a difference, but ongoing efforts are needed. Enlightening research points to more nuanced barriers to orca health, including exposure to bacteria from sewage and the lasting effects of exposure to PCBs, or polychlorinated biphenyls, that were banned in the 1970s. On a more positive note, new boating laws are in place to help reduce the impact of noise on orca behavior and ability to feed. Through ongoing partnership and collaboration, companies like SeaWorld and organizations like NFWF remain committed to fostering positive change for orcas, and all marine life.
What Col. Douglas Macgregor Thinks About Germanys New Foreign Policy

by James W. Carden

Incoming German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has tapped Green Party co-leader Annalena Baerbock as foreign minister.

Baerbock, a 40-year-old diplomatic novice, has consistently espoused liberal interventionist views that one left-wing American news site has described as a combination of aloof complacency, ignorance and aggressiveness.

Douglas Macgregor, a retired U.S. Army colonel and an expert on U.S.-German relations

To help understand the implications of this appointment, I interviewed Douglas Macgregor, a retired U.S. Army colonel and an expert on U.S.-German relations, about what he thought of the incoming German foreign minister. Macgregor, a fluent German speaker who holds a doctorate from the University of Virginia, was former President Donald Trumps choice to become U.S. ambassador to Germany. Ultimately, he served as senior adviser to acting Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller in the last months of that administration.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

James Carden: Does the incoming German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock represent a kind of break with the more traditional, more cautious German foreign policy we saw under outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkel and her predecessors?

Douglas Macgregor: Very much so. I think at least insofar as the things Baerbock has said, shes likely to be a profound break from the past. It might be useful to go back a little bit to talk about Merkel, because Merkel represented a certain amount of continuity. And I would argue that the Germans are not alone in this. All the Germanic countries [in Europe] are very similar in the sense that the populations are conservative. They like continuity, stability and order. Austrians, Germans, Swiss, Dutch, Danes, Swedes, Norwegians, Finns, everyone largely falls into the same category. What do we want? Well, we want stability. We want prosperity. We want order. And Merkel, even though I didnt necessarily sign on for all of her thinking, represented all that, much like her predecessors.

And this has been true in the history of the German-speaking peoples and in the Germanic countries for centuries. This is nothing new. So what is new about Baerbock? First of all, she is unusually young. She has a different kind of background in education. She spent a year as an exchange student in Florida, much as I spent a year as an exchange student in Germany. She was born into a Germany that wasnt quite united yet, but a Germany that was extraordinarily prosperous; in 1980, West Germany had a very high standard of living. So she grows up in this environment without strife, without struggle, without conflict, without poverty, without any of the things that her predecessors knew.

In other words, theres no history of experience with the things that Germany went through during and after World War II. And as a result, she sees the world very differently. She is more American in her outlook, quite willing to moralize.

JC: She seems like she would fit right in with humanitarian war hawks like Samantha Power, Susan Rice and, above all, former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, to whom Baerbock has compared herself. To me she sounds alarmingly like the liberal interventionists in the United States who, along with their neoconservative allies, dominate the U.S. foreign policy establishment.

DM: Shes a crusader of the type you see in Washington, D.C., all the time. But this is a big break from the past for the German foreign office. Even after World War II and into the 70s and 80s, we had people whose families were involved in foreign affairs in Germany as diplomats during the interwar period and even before World War I.

In the old foreign offices of Germany, people spent a great deal of time trying to understand the interests that shaped behavior in the international environment. In other words: What are Russias interests? What are the interests in Prague? What are the interests in Paris or in London? Thats a very different approach to foreign affairs than weve heard from Baerbock.

She seems to have no sense of the interests that drive things around the world in all of these major capitals. No sense of that at all. [Her perspective seems to be,] Our interest is in making the world a better place. [For Baerbock and similar-minded politicians,] everything is about reshaping the world to conform to some sort of ideologically pure and good and morally upright picture that always fails in the end, frankly.

Baerbock is a crusader looking for a reason to crusade. And thats a problem.

JC: And it becomes an even more dangerous problem given the current tensions now involving Russia and Ukraine. What is concerning is that Merkels caution may now give way to a kind of Atlanticist recklessness embodied by Baerbock. So Im wondering, as you are a career military officer whounlike a lot of our military leaders, including the current Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark A. Milleyhas actually been under fire [Macgregor was awarded a Bronze Star with a V device for valor as a tank commander in the first Gulf War], why do we seem so close to a war between Russia and the West?

DM: Well, a couple of quick points. First of all, Baerbock, along with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and the other so-called luminaries that we currently have running the State Department, are now dealing with Sergey Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister. Ive met him. I had the good fortune to spend almost an hour with him and listening to him. Hes one of the most exceptionally talented and intelligent men Ive ever met. And he is very much in the traditional mold of great European statesmen. This is someone who understands [Russias and other countries] interests, and he is infinitely more gifted in pursuing those [interests] than anyone [the U.S. has]. And [in Russia, President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Lavrov] are at a loss to understand [the U.S.] because we dont seem to be interested in our own interests. We tend to embrace other [countries] interests and then force them down the throats of the Russians and others. They [Putin and Lavrov] really dont understand us.

But whats worse is that were busy pursuing the same sort of illusory policies inside the military that Baerbock and others want to pursue internationally.

And the Russians know this, so they are now telling Washington and Brussels, Look, weve gone about as far as we can go with you and weve made it very clear what we will not tolerate on our borders. We will not tolerate it if Ukraine becomes a platform for the projection of armed hostility toward Russia. And otherwise, were not interested in having someone on our borders who is committed to subverting our government and our social order.

[The Russians are] telling us that unless [the U.S. is] willing to sit down and come to arrangements that recognize the limits of our interests and theirs, which essentially means no more expansion of NATO, then they are going to take military action.

This article was produced by Globetrotter in partnership with the American Committee for U.S.-Russia Accord.

James W. Carden is a writing fellow at Globetrotter and a former adviser to the U.S. State Department. Previously, he was a contributing writer on foreign affairs at the Nation, and his work has also appeared in the Quincy Institutes Responsible Statecraft, the American Conservative, Asia Times, and more.
Forget their policies for a moment, and consider how two politicians lives foreshadow our ecological future.

by Carter Dillard

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris does not have any biological children and grew up middle-class. Meanwhile, Utah Senator Mitt Romney, a Mormon with five kids, was born into wealth and has substantially increased it for his family.

Vice President Kamala Harris

Their lives prefigure very different futures for the country and its children.

If those in the U.S. who are privileged enough to be able to follow Romneys example of having unearned family privileges and a large family choose to do so, then the entire country will eventually arrive at an ecologically degraded and unsustainable future, as well as a crowded political system, where the day-to-day reality of life is defined by massive inequity driven by family wealth. The increase in population, which is rising unevenly, is one of the contributing factors leading to an unprecedented decline in nature that is accelerating species extinction rates, according to a report by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services. The continued and unchecked growth of the human population might exacerbate this situation further.

Meanwhile, if we follow Harris example, and especially if she uses her earned wealth to further social justice in her current position, we arrive at a more sustainable future and an optimal world population, where every vote counts, and privilege is earned rather than inherited.

Which of these two futures do parents want for their children?

Parents have a right to protect their childrens future by not following the example and choices of people like Mitt Romney, whose life is like a microcosm of what it means to exploit the environment and capitalize on ones birth position.

In March, the Senate passed legislation, urged on by Romney, that while appearing to lift children out of poverty, is probably better characterized as an attempt to nudge people to have more kids. The legislation does nothing to truly eliminate child poverty by moving toward recognizing every childs right to a fair start in life and does not help to promote smaller and more sustainable families amid the climate crisis or provide solutions for preventing future population-driven pandemics. The legislation also does nothing to address fundamental problems that will continue to grow with the push for more babies. It does nothing to prevent child abuse and the horrific acts of torture some children continue to face at the hands of their caregivers. It does nothing to restore the natural world that previous generations enjoyed and that is likely to be stolen from future generations if nothing is done to remedy the situation.

What can people in the U.S. do to fight for their rights to a natural and democratic future when even a more progressive Congress ignores them? While many have lauded President Joe Bidens plans as a modern-day New Deal, there is also a need to envision a more physical and intergenerational revision of the social contract where the people of this country can prioritize childrens right to an ecologically and socially fair start in life simply because future children represent the constant restarting of the agreement. The rights of the children, in this sense, override all competing rights, including the rights of the uber-wealthylike those paying millions to be space touriststo hoard resources that could instead be used for improving family planning.

This change can come from the grassroots, not just by telling political leaders whats important to them, but also by engaging in their communities to spread information about the connection between ensuring a better future for children in terms of climate, democracy, and other opportunities. Given whats at stake, it would be immoral not to recreate the social contract to make it fair from the start and move the country as a whole a bit more toward making choices that are represented by Harris rather than Romney.

Regardless of the action that people take and the example that they choose to follow, between Harris and Romney, they now have starkly different examples of the kinds of lives children can lead, and what they represent for the future of humanity at large.

This article was produced by Earth | Food | Life, a project of the Independent Media Institute.

Carter Dillard is the policy adviser for the Fair Start Movement. He served as an Honors Program attorney at the U.S. Department of Justice and served with a national security law agency before developing a comprehensive account of reforming family planning for the Yale Human Rights and Development Law Journal.
100 million people sank into extreme poverty in 2020 while the increase in billionaires' wealth has been the highest on record.

The richest 10% of the population now takes 52% of global income and the poorest half just 8%.

The report concluded that:

An average adult individual earned 16,700 per year in 2021 and the average adult owns 72,900

On average, an individual from the top 10% of the global income distribution earns 87,200 per year

An individual from the poorest half of the global income distribution makes just 2,800

The poorest half of the global population barely owns any wealth, possessing just 2% of the total

The richest 10% of the global population own 76% of all wealth.

The researchers found that the world's 52 richest individuals saw the value of their wealth grow by 9.2% per year for the past 25 years, well above less wealthy social groups.

Lucas Chancel, co-director of the World Inequality Lab, based at the Paris School of Economics, explained, "While the wealth of billionaires rose by more than 3.6tn (3tn), 100 million more people joined the ranks of extreme poverty."

The oil, gas and metals merchant Trafigura will reward its top traders and executives with bonus payouts worth more than 1bn after making record profits from the market upheaval during the Covid pandemic. At 1.1bn, the rewards are 87% up on last year.

Oil trading company Vitol, which handed the equivalent of more than $8m to each of its 350 most senior staff.
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ARISS contact is scheduled for students at Savannah River Academy, Grovetown, Georgia, USA

Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has received schedule confirmation for an ARISS radio contact with astronauts.

ARISS is the group that puts together special amateur radio contacts between students around the globe and crew members with ham radio licenses on the International Space Station (ISS).

This will be a direct contact via amateur radio between students at the Savannah River Academy and Astronaut Thomas Marshburn, amateur radio call sign KE5HOC. Students will take turns asking their questions. Local Covid-19 protocols are adhered to as applicable for each ARISS contact. The downlink frequency for this contact is 145.800 MHZ and may be heard by listeners that are within the ISS-footprint that also encompasses the radio relay ground station.

Amateur radio operators in Grovetown, Georgia, using the call sign K4RGK, will operate the ham radio ground station for this contact.

The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for December 10, 2021 at 10:09:58 am EST (Grovetown, Georgia), (15:09 UTC, 9:09 am CST, 8:09 am MST and 7:09 am PST).

Savannah River Academy (SRA) is a preschool through 8th grade non-sectarian private school in Grovetown, Georgia. The schools science program curriculum includes life, physical, and earth sciences. SRAs STEM curriculum is designed to teach students the methods and use of tools necessary for the process of scientific inquiry thus encouraging students to try various solutions to problems; ask thoughtful questions; and draw conclusions based on observations, experiments, and activities. In preparation for this ARISS contact, student activities have included model rocket launch experiments, night sky-viewing, and operating amateur radios. These activities were designed to allow the students to gain basic knowledge in space-related science, aviation/flight mechanics, satellites, radio properties, and radio communication technology. Members of the Amateur Radio Club of Columbia County (ARCCC), have assisted SRA with coordinating local hams and technical experts with engaging students in the schools STEM activities.

The public is invited to watch the live stream at: https://www.facebook.com/ARCCCINC.

As time allows, students will ask these questions:

1. How do you celebrate birthdays on ISS, and do you light birthday candles?

2. Do 3D printers work differently in microgravity, if so, what tools were you able to make using 3D printers on the ISS?

3. How is one assigned a mission into space and how long do you train for it?

4. Is there internet on ISS and how do you communicate with your family and ground control?

5. How does it affect the ISS when another spacecraft latches on or off?

6. Describe an experiment you are conducting on the ISS and what is its practical application?

7. Are cyberattacks of concern aboard the ISS?

8. Is the space suit comfortable?

9. What do you feel when coming back to Earth?

10. What task or duty do you do on the ISS that you particularly enjoy more than another?

11. What is the most unusual thing youve done or seen in space?

12. What plants are grown on the ISS, and what was the reason behind choosing these particular plants?

13. What food(s) do you look forward to eating when you return to earth?

14. How is it decided when someone will bake cookies in the space kitchen?

15. How are AR and VR technologies utilized for astronaut training in or on the ISS?

16. Do you have difficulty falling asleep on the ISS compared to Earth? If so, what helps you to go to sleep easier when you are in orbit?

17. What are some of the personal items you brought with you to space?

18. What activities do you enjoy doing with the other astronauts in your spare time?

19. How has being on the ISS affected your life perspective on Earth?

20. What is your favorite book about space or NASA?

ARISS  Celebrating 20 Years of Continuous Amateur Radio Operations on the ISS

About ARISS:

Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) is a cooperative venture of international amateur radio societies and the space agencies that support the International Space Station (ISS). In the United States, sponsors are the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT), the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), the ISS National Lab-Space Station Explorers, and NASAs Space communications and Navigation program.

The primary goal of ARISS is to promote exploration of science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics topics. ARISS does this by organizing scheduled contacts via amateur radio between crew members aboard the ISS and students. Before and during these radio contacts, students, educators, parents, and communities take part in hands-on learning activities tied to space, space technologies, and amateur radio. For more information, see www.ariss.org

Media Contact:

Dave Jordan, AA4KN

ARISS PR

Like us on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter. Search on Amateur Radio on the ISS and @ARISS_status.

Check out ARISS on Youtube.com.
Excerpts from the book, Balochistan: Bruised, Battered and Bloodied, by the writer published by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc

by Francesca Marino

Those who live in fear die every day, the fearless die just once. Paolo Borsellino, the judge who was killed by the Mafia in 1992

With the end of the war, things changed. The Empire was in its twilight, the world had been changed forever and two separate states were about to be bornIndia and Pakistan. The destinies of peoples, cities and entire kingdoms were decided at conference tables, bartered like collectors cards or bottle tops. The fates of the independent states were clear and their freedom untouchable, but for those vassal states to the Crown, there were only two choices: remain a part of India or belong to nascent Pakistan. The issue of sovereignty and independence became more vital than ever at this point. Mir Sir Ahmad Yar Khan Ahmedzai had an exceptional legal representative in the controversies that now arose: Muhammad Ali Jinnah. The current Khan of Kalat, Suleman Khan, tells the story. Mir Suleman is the 35th Khan of Kalat. The Khan is said to have received his initial education in Lahore and Quetta. He became head of the erstwhile Kalat State following the death of his father, Mir Suleman Dawood Jan. Observers familiar with the politics and history of Balochistan say Mir Suleman shares many traits with his grandfather, Mir Sir Ahmad Yar Khan Ahmedzai, who was forced to accede to Pakistan in 1948. However, with the death of Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti in 2006 in a military operation, Mir Sulemans stance seemed to change.

It is said that even before Nawab Bugtis death, Mir Suleman had warned the then president, Pervez Musharraf, who was on a visit to Kalat at the time, not to adopt a hard line on Balochistan. Following Bugtis death, the Khan of Kalat called a grand jirga of over 80 sardars and tribal elders from Balochistan, Sindh and Punjab, where it was decided that he should take the case of Kalats restoration as an independent entity to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in Hague. He also made public the Instrument of Accession thereafter. Following these developments, after leaving Pakistan and making his way through several Gulf states, Mir Suleman ended up in the UK, where he reportedly applied for asylum. He has since been campaigning for Baloch rights, particularly the provinces rights to royalties from gas and minerals. This is how he recalls the historical facts, Muhammad Ali Jinnah was a legal advisor to the Khan and the Baloch nation, and talks began once he had taken up the case of Balochistan with the British Privy Council. If you see Jinnahs papers, case number 155, that he had taken up with the British, regards Balochistan Kalat. Other than that, from 1933 to 1948, the year he died, he was on the payroll. And most of his protection and his drivers and his serving staff at home and in his kitchens, they were all supported by Kalat and Balochistan. Basically, security and kitchen staff and everything was Baloch. The last surviving person who served him died about 10 years ago; he was one of the bodyguards who was left.

A series of meetings between Lord Mountbatten, Jinnah and the Khan produced the Standstill Agreement. This, signed freely and by common accord between the parties, was made public on 11 August 1947. It established the following points, according to the original Agreement:

1. The Government of Pakistan recognises Kalat State as an independent Sovereign State in treaty relations with the British Government, with a status different from that of Indian States.

2. Legal opinion will be sought as to whether or not agreements of leases between the British Government and Kalat will be inherited by the Pakistan Govt.

3. When this opinion has been received, further meetings will take place between representatives of Pakistan and the Khan of Kalat at Karachi.

4. Meanwhile, a Standstill Agreement has been made between Pakistan and Kalat.

5. Discussions will take place between Pakistan and Kalat at Karachi at an early date with a view to reaching decisions on Defence, External Affairs and communications.

Suleman Khan observed, There was a meeting session between the last Viceroy of India, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Liaqat Ali Khan, S.B. Shah, who was on the side of Pakistan, and for Baloch, it was my grandfather, Khan Mir Ahmad Yaar Khan, his prime minister, Nawabzada Aslam, and his legal advisor, Sir Sultan Mahmud. The meeting was chaired by Lord Mountbatten. So this started from June, and the outcome was the agreement which came out from Muhammad Ali Jinnah, who was the leader of Pakistan at that time, which came out on 7 August 1947; so these two months were all spent in negotiation. So you can see clearly, from the joint statement, that the independence and sovereignty of Kalat was stated and recognised by the founder of the new state of Pakistan.

That very day, on 14 August 1947, Kalat declared its independence from Pakistan. A constitution was adopted and a parliament of two chambers created: Darul Umra and Darul Awam. Baloch was declared the official national language. Across the border, meanwhile, the situation was changing and Jinnah almost immediately began to have second thoughts. This becomes clear from a telegram sent in October 1947 from the British Political Department during other negotiations to settle the details of the Standstill Agreement. These concerned the status of those provinces placed under the trusteeship of Kalat: Makra, Kharan and Lasbela. The telegram refers to Jinnahs reconsiderations and of his wish to annex Kalat by following the same bureaucratic steps as those applied to the Crown Territories that had decided to become a part of Pakistan. The Khan reaffirmed his desire to retain the independence of his kingdom, as established in the Standstill Agreement, but indicated his willingness to negotiate treaties on defence, foreign affairs and communications. The telegram also shows clearly that Jinnah wished to treat the three provinces differently. Their creation by the British, according to Suleman Khan, was illegal, They made three statesMakran, Kharan and Lasbela, that previously didnt exist as states. If you read a book written by my grandfather, called Inside Baluchistan, you will find all the details. There is complete documentation; all the treaties with the British, the boundary committees and how Iran and Afghanistan got those parts, and all the details. You can see the same things in the British Library, where there are more comprehensive reports. There were basically three lines drawnone was the McMahon Line, one was the Durand Line and lastly, the Goldsmith Line. These three lines were drawn at different times. So if you combine the reports, Kalat was not included in any of those. Nor was Afghanistan present in all those, being present only in one or two.

On 2 February 1948, Jinnah wrote to the Khan of Kalat, I advise you to join Pakistan without further delay ... and let me have your final reply, which you promised to give me after your stay with me in Karachi when we fully discussed the whole question in all its aspects.

A few days later, on 15 February, Jinnah went to Sibi, officially to make a speech at a royal durbar, but actually to make another effort to convince the Khan to join Pakistan. The Khan did not appear, claiming to be unwell and confined to bed. He did, however, send a letter to Jinnah declaring his willingness to convene parliament and let the Assembly decide Kalats future relationship with Pakistan. The parliament had already met twice, in September and December of 1947, and both times had rejected once and for all the idea of annexation by Pakistan.

We have a distinct civilisation and a separate culture like that of Iran and Afghanistan. We are Muslims but it is not necessary that by virtue of being Muslims we should lose our freedom and merge with others. If the mere fact that we are Muslims requires us to join Pakistan then Afghanistan and Iran, both Muslim countries, should also amalgamate with Pakistan. We were never a part of India before the British rule. Pakistans unpleasant and loathsome desire that our national homeland, Balochistan should merge with it is impossible to consider.

Thus, Ghaus Baksh Bizenjo, in a speech considered a historical milestone, supported the resolution ratifying the independence of Balochistan. The Parliament of Kalat expressed its wish that relations with Pakistan should be established as between two sovereign states based upon friendship and not by accession. But Jinnahs idea of friendship was somewhat different. On 9 March 1948, he informed the Khan that he would play no part in person in the negotiations between Pakistan and Khalat. On 18 March, Pakistan signed a treaty annexing the feudal territories of Lasbela, Kharan and Makran. At a stroke, Kalat lost half its territory and, thereby, its only access to the sea. In a dispatch sent on 23 March 1948 to his contacts by the American Ambassador in Pakistan, he mentions the annexation of the provinces by Pakistan and the Khan of Kalats objections. These were that the annexation was a clear violation of the Standstill Agreement and that, above all, Makran was an integral part of the kingdom of Kalat. In response, the Pakistani army occupied Pasni, Jiwan and Turbat. The Khan capitulated, and on 27 March, signed terms of surrender agreeing to Kalats annexation by Pakistan. The sovereign state of Balochistanafter centuries of successful defiance of invaders of every sortended after just 227 days.

As Mir Mohammad Ali Talpur comments, The forced merger of Kalat with Pakistan, which ended 300 years of an independent, or at least semi-independent Baloch state, was the darkest day in the Baloch peoples history. They observe 27 March as Black Day.

In this entire story, neither Britain nor India played parts of innocent bystanders. As Sushant Sareen points out in his Balochistan: Forgotten War, Forsaken People:

The man who claimed he was the last Englishman to rule IndiaJahawarlal Nehruwas also adverse to Kalats independence. In the case of British Balochistan, the area of Kalat that was under British control, Nehru rejected a proposal for self-determination as preposterous because it would leave the future of the strategic frontier of India in the hands of one man chosen by unelected and semi-feudal elements.

But it is not all. Nehrus stand against Kalat independence had obviously driven a wedge between him and the Khan of Kalat. After the Standstill Agreement was signed, the Khan of Kalat had sought recognition from India too, but the Indian government refused to acknowledge the issue, even denying permission to the Khan to open a trade agency in Delhi.

Copyright  Francesca Marino
The US has taken upon itself the task of ridding the world of authoritarianism and terrorism but it strove to save LTTE leader Prabhakaran, during the closing stages of the Eelam War IV, in 2009.

by Prabath Sahabandu

US President Joe Bidens much-advertised Summit for Democracy commences today with the participation of 110 nations. Sri Lanka is not among them. Some political commentators here have called the exclusion of Sri Lanka an indictment of the Rajapaksa government, which is undermining democracy.

The incumbent Sri Lankan government may be hauled over the coals for attacks on democracy, but one should not make the mistake of recognising the US as the global standard-bearer of democracy.

Among Bidens invitees are Jair Bolsonaro of Brazil and Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines. The Human Rights Watch has this to say about Brazil under Bolsonaro: President Jair Bolsonaro is threatening democratic rule in Brazil  He is pursuing campaigns to intimidate the Supreme Court, signalling that he may attempt to cancel the 2022 election or otherwise deny Brazilians the right to elect their leaders, and violating critics freedom of expression. But Biden has had no qualms about inviting Bolsonaro to the summit and enlisting his help to set forth an affirmative agenda for democratic renewal and tackle the greatest threats faced by democracies! The less said about Duterte, the better. So much for Washingtons concern for democracy.

Prominent among the invitees to Bidens Summit for Democracy is Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whom the US refused an entry visa, for years, over the 2002 Gujarat riots, in which more than a thousand Muslims were massacred. The Obama administration reversed the US decision, and now the White House rolls out the red carpet for Modi, who lectures other nations on minority rights and the virtues of ethnic reconciliation, etc.

What about the report card of the host of the Summit for Democracy? The US, which has undertaken to promote global democracy, has failed to lead by example. The Freedom House World Report (2021) reveals that over the past 10 years the United States aggregate Freedom in the World Score has plummeted by 11 points; the US is among the 25 countries that have suffered the largest declines during this period. Its current score is 83. Shouldnt the US inspect the beam in its eyes, first?

The Biden administration says the goal of the Summit for Democracy is to rally the nations the world over against the forces of authoritarianism. But it is obvious that the US is trying to shore up its crumbling international image and counter Chinas increasing global dominance. Bidens summit has little to do with democracy; it is aimed at furthering Washingtons geo-strategic interests, as evident from the invitation extended to Pakistan. The US has no way of dealing with the Taliban without Pakistans help.

If the US is so averse to authoritarianism, as it claims to be, will it explain why it has backed evil dictators such as Pinochet of Chile, Marcos of the Philippines, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi or Shah of Iran, Batista of Cuba, Somoza of Nicaragua, Seko of Zaire, Suharto of Indonesia, Rhee of South Korea, and Saddam Hussein of Iraq? Pinochets Caravan of Death, which hunted down Opposition activists in the remote parts of Chile did not cause any concern to the US.

The US has taken upon itself the task of ridding the world of authoritarianism and terrorism but it strove to save LTTE leader Prabhakaran, during the closing stages of the Eelam War IV, in 2009.

If Sri Lanka had signed the SOFA (Status of Forces Agreement) with the US and allowed the stationing of American forces here, perhaps it would have been invited to the Summit for Democracy in spite of the various allegations the Opposition and civil society groups are levelling against the incumbent government.

The writer is the editor in chief of the Island, where this piece has originally appeared.
MBABANE  In a quest to ensure quality viewing, the Eswatini Television Authority (ETVA) has revamped its studios.

This will come as the first phase upgrade for the governmnent owned TV station. This upgrade is said to cost a whopping E13 million. This money was provided by the Ministry of Information, Communication and Technology (ICT). It is worth noting that the upgraded studio will be officially revealed this coming Friday as the station will be officially announcing to its viewers and the members of the public regarding the new developments. The last time the stations studio was upgraded was in 2007.

Eswatini TVs Communications Officer Nompumelelo Dlamini confirmed this with this reporter as she said there had been an overwhelming need to upgrade the studio over the years. She mentioned that this was necessitated by transmission blackouts which were caused by failing equipment.

Standards

She went on to say, This upgrade matches industry standard and it will ease means of doing business. One important aspect is that our system is now on high definition standard as it is evident on our social media platforms, our picture quality has improved massively, she narrated. Dlamini also said as a station, they were eagerly waiting on Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) to upgrade the station. Terrestrial television is a type of television broadcasting in which the television signal is transmitted by radio waves from the terrestrial (Earth-based) transmitter of a television station to a TV receiver having an antenna.

The project cost around 13million but worth mentioning is that it is not complete as this is only phase one, she said. The company which was contracted to do the upgrades was Pro T Electronics from South Africa. The money according to Dlamini, would be buying studio equipment including cameras, software, hardware and other related technological equipment. Dlamini further mentioned that more information would be revealed once the studio has been handed over by Pro T Electronics this Friday.

ETVA is a broadcaster established in 1983 through an Act of Parliament. Before it was established by the of Parliament, it was known as the Swaziland Television Broadcasting Corporation (STBC). STBC was officially opened by His Majesty King Sobhuza II in February 1978. This was the coming of television in the country.

Station

In 2019, The MultiChoice Group (MCG) handed over a state-of-the art studio to Bay TV, the Eastern Capes leading community TV station with a viewing of over one million. Following a E2 million upgrade, Bay TVs studios in Nelson Mandela Bay now features world-class servers, cameras and digital panel backdrop screens. Bay TV is one of six South African Community TV Channels which MultiChoice has partnered with, providing equipment, training opportunities, as well as content. The other channels are Tshwane TV, Gau TV, 1KZN TV, Soweto TV and Cape Town TV.

Almost similar to Eswatini TV (except that you have to pay for the set top box sgujana), Bay TV is a free-to-air station that was established by the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality and is largely funded by local government and run by an independent Board of directors. Their upgraded facilities include:

* Digital mobile news gathering DMNG Pro 180  RA (3G/4G with a downlink server, uplink;

* Eight professional studio cameras;

* Digital screen panel for alternate backdrops.
Keeping fingers and toes crossed for days has been rather uncomfortable.

You would normally be forgiven for asking me why I should be doing that. But on this occasion you know exactly why. It is, of course, wondering about the medical severity of Omicron, the previously obscure term that, just like COVID-19, youll never forget. On the dark side of Omicron, examining the cluster of mutations, scientists have speculated that it could be more transmissible than even the Delta variant and may evade the protection from vaccines more than previous versions of the coronavirus. Looks like theyre right about the speed of transmission. But on the bright side, theres still a chance Omicron might be less destructive. Deaths and hospital admissions will be the key test.

Virus

As mentioned before, the closest virus to COVID-19 was probably the Spanish Flu, which ravaged the human population from 1918, far worse than COVID-19, until it faded a couple of years later. Worst of all, it targeted the young of the population. COVID-19 has targeted the old and medically-challenged. The Spanish Flu didnt start in Spain. It was a neutral country in the First World War when the virus started and, unlike countries fighting the war, not afraid to admit the damage. The virus would have spread in the trenches of that war, a place as traumatic for human beings as anything you could imagine.

The Spanish Flu was very severe and killed 40-60 million people. Imagine the fear it must have caused, and the depressing impact of it, emerging immediately after the war; and no one with an exemption certificate. But my father, who was a boy of 10 years of age when that pandemic hit the world in 1918, never mentioned it to us; not once.

When we caught the flu virus during our childhood he never said you think this is bad; the Spanish Flu was far worse! Perhaps people were more stoic in those days, remaining careful but accepting it as one of the serious hazards of life. As in - we busted the enemy on the battlefield; well eventually beat this one too; which is exactly what happened. Spanish Flu was overcome though it didnt disappear. Its there today, and people still catch it but because its now so weak they may think its the ordinary flu or not even notice it, let alone get tested for it.

Disappearing

And fading, rather than disappearing, is exactly what is expected of COVID-19. But its not yet certain. As the great American, Benjamin Franklin, once said; The only thing certain in life is death and taxes. But its very likely the virus will fade, as vaccination and natural immunity creep up as a percentage of the population. The word creep, though, is not popular these days, having characterised the vaccination programme of so many countries, including Eswatini.

And the very nature of the virus has the ability to make you one minute fearful, then angry and ultimately just plain exhausted, as it comes in waves, raising and dashing hopes as it ebbs and surges, with scientists trying to deal as best they can. And we are entitled to feel that way because we are about to enter the third year of the pandemic. But its as well to remind ourselves of the age-old advice  mind over matter. We should try to accept the presence of COVID-19 as something thats going to stay for a while, and not as an enemy that can be eliminated overnight. And while we can still hope and pray, we should not submit.

What is fast emerging is that people  the beings that make up this world  are, in the majority, prepared to behave appropriately, but are now wanting something as close to normality as possible. To do so requires acknowledgement of the COVID-19 characteristics  unpredictability, uncontrollability, personal disruption - and the need to accept them.

Future

Accepting the uncertainty and trying to look optimistically to the future is the best approach for sustaining good mental health in these challenging times. Add political uncertainty and job or business insecurity and that amounts to a lot of stress. But acceptance will create resilience. Imagine how tough it must be for someone becoming disabled, perhaps from an accident; far, far more challenging than what most of us are facing with COVID-19. For some, the worst aspect is the travel restrictions, not seeing loved ones for years; for others its the social distancing.

For many its the wearing of masks where you dont recognise people and cant understand what theyre saying. Take care, but accept; then enjoy what remains available for incontestable pleasure  the night sky, mountains, rivers and forests; and, of course, being alive. And, finally, be careful what you read, especially through social media. Theres plenty of fake information available; especially the kind that tries to deny the necessity of comprehensive vaccination.
MBABANE  Letters of notification to deliver a petition by public sector associations (PSAs), addressed to the Ministry of Public Service, have ignited a heated exchange between the two parties.

This follows a response by the Principal Secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Public Service, Sipho Tsabedze, in a letter dated December 6, 2021. The PS was responding to a letter sent by the Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT), in which they were notifying the ministry of a proposed petition delivery activity next Wednesday. The issues outlined in SNATs letter included trade union bashing, workers rights violations, police brutality, casualisation of certain professions, including teaching, privatisation of some departments in the public service and the abolishment of some departments. In response to this letter, the PS acknowledged receipt of the letter dated December 3, 2021 and stated that the employer noted that the intended petition delivery would be conducted on a working day and during working hours.

Clarity

The employer, therefore, seeks clarity from your organisation on how this petition delivery will be conducted since the employer expects all workers to be at their respective duty stations during the times mentioned in the purported notice, reads part of the response from the PS. Tsabedze further said the issues stated in the notice, in particular trade union bashing and workers rights violation, were issues for consultation between SNAT and the employer in terms of a signed recognition agreement. The employer is of the view that the issue of the casualisation of certain professions had been generalised and government is, therefore, unable to ascertain whether this is an issue peculiar to SNAT, further read Tsabedzes response.

The PS further highlighted that government was not aware of any abolishment of a department affecting members of SNAT and in any event, the issue of abolishment of a government department was a bilateral issue for consultation between the employer and the worker organisation concerned in terms of the Constitution of the Joint Negotiation Forum (JNF) of the Government Negotiations Team and the public employee associations.

Unlawful

Consequently, government is of the view that the intended petition delivery exercise is unlawful and government will approach the Industrial Court to interdict same as the proposed exercise is not provided for in the Recognition Agreement signed between government and SNAT and contrary to the JNF Constitution, said Tsabedze. Worth noting is that PSAs commonly send letters of notification individually and SNATs letter was the first to be received by government.

When reached for comment, Swaziland Democratic Nurses Union (SWADNU) Secretary General Mayibongwe Masangane said they had also sent a petition delivery notification to government, though the employer (government) had only responded to SNAT for now. Masangane said the PSs response was offside because the unions were simply notifying him of the proposed petition delivery, not that they were awaiting any form of response. Theres no need for his response because these issues have been discussed before but no way forward has been forged as of yet, therefore, we have resorted to delivering a petition demanding for the issues to be addressed, said Masangane.

He said they were simply informing the principal secretary and him saying that the petition delivery was unlawful in his response letter was news to them. Masangane further said it had become common for the government to label such exercises as unlawful. If it is in fact unlawful, then they should take the matter to court and a ruling will ascertain whether in fact such an exercise is unlawful. But government tends to exercise powers which are not bestowed on it, he said.

Delivery

The secretary general further said if all went well, they would be continuing with the delivery of the petition next week. PS Tsabedze was also reached for comment regarding the matter, to which he firstly confirmed that he had in fact responded to the initial letter written by SNAT dated December 3, 2021 on the proposed petition delivery on December 15, 2021. In a post on their Facebook page, The SNAT Platform, SNAT had written that the response by the PS was pompous. This reporter further asked the PS what his take was on the statement written by SNAT, to which he said SNAT had the right to view situations the way they wanted.

However, he said he did not see how the ministrys response to SNATs initial letter would be viewed as pompous by the association. I dont know what that means because that is not how I view that statement, said Tsabedze. When questioned on why he responded to SNATs letter based on statements made by the SWADNU secretary general that the letter was simply a notification and a response was not expected, the PS said they had to respond because when a letter was written to the ministry, a response was typically expected and it was peculiar for an organisation or entity to not want a response.

I saw it fitting to respond as there are things that we need to address as well highlighted in the notifications which are sent to us, he said. The PS further said he expected the unionists to be at work next week Wednesday and that a person who would be delivering a petition on the day would be one who was not working. Tsabedze further stated that those who would deliver the petition on the day would not be paid as per the no-work, no-pay rule. SNAT Secretary General Sikelela Dlamini said they had now written another letter in response to the response by the PS.

He further said they were not deterred by the statements from the PS written in his response letter and they would go ahead and deliver the petition. In a letter responding to the PSs response, the teachers association said; The SNAT NEC (National Executive Committee) acknowledges receipt of your response, dated December 6, 2021. After going through your response, the SNAT NEC wishes to further clarify and contextualise the issues raised.

The petition delivery that will be conducted on Wednesday (December 15, 2021) at noon will be on trade union bashing (forcing some union members to resign from SNAT) and casualisation of teaching and failure of the Ministry of Public Service to create permanent and pensionable posts for teachers.

Conducted

The teachers union further said the petition delivery would be conducted during working hours as per the labour laws of the country and as per the Recognition Agreement that the SNAT had with the Government of Eswatini. The former correspondence that was written and delivered to your office on Friday (December 3, 2021) is hereby amended and replaced by this one. The copy of this shall also be served with the Municipal Council of Mbabane as per the Public Order Act. Thanking you in advance for your anticipated cooperation, read SNATs response letter in part. This publication previously reported that the Minister of Public Service, Mabulala Maseko, wanted the Joint Negotiation Forum (JNF) to go back to the roundtable.

This, he said, during a brief meeting with the PSAs at the Ministry of Public Services conference room in October 2021. This was a private meeting where the minister had invited PSAs including the National Public Service and Allied Workers Union (NAPSAWU), SNAT, Swaziland Nurses Association (SNA) and Swaziland National Association of Government Accounting Personnel (SNAGAP). According to a source close to the matter, the minister had invited the PSAs as a courtesy call and wanted to inform them that he was willing to work with them and wanted the talks to resume. The source said the minister particularly highlighted the need for a roundtable as there hadnt been one since his appointment.

Negotiation

He requested for the negotiation forum to be opened once again and the long and short of it is that he had called us to announce that the JNF was now active, said the secretary general. Worth noting is that previously, in an attempt to deliver a petition to the Ministry of Public Service on their grievances and workers issues, the delivery was prohibited by the National Commissioner of Police William Tsitsibala Dlamini, who stated that the nation was advised that the planned march had been prohibited by the national commissioner in terms of Section 9(2),(3)(b) and (6) of the Public Order Act, 12 of 2017, in the interest of national security, public order and safety.

However, on the day of the march the unionists showed up only for the march to be halted by security forces, which resulted in some people being injured.

It has also been previously reported that the negotiations forum was not active after one of the PSAs was said to not have a locus standi therefore they were not all present to negotiate yet the continuation of talks in the roundtable could only happen once they were all present for the talks.

Review

The much anticipated salary review talks between government and civil servants were left in limbo in March 2021 after the meeting could not take place as SNAGAP had resolved to pull out from the salary review talks. A source close to the matter was quoted as having said that the leaders of the trade union were of the view that it would be a waste of time to go to the roundtable to discuss the issue of the salary review, when government had made it clear to them that it did not have money to implement it. In fact, in that report, the source said; The plan is to stall everything because government does not want to speak about money. The source also highlighted that if SNAGAP leadership would not be represented in the JNF or on any other given day, the talks would not take place. He said this was because there was a standing order which stipulated that the JNF could not be held if one or more of the PSAs members were not represented.
As many as 242 public-private partnership (PPP) projects worth $223 billion are under development in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region, which is set to go up as project execution picks up, according to recent reports.

This is more or less in line with a World Bank projection estimating that the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region would need between $75 billion and $100 billion of investment per year over the next 20 years to meet its needs.

Since public finances remain strained in many Mena countries, rising infrastructure needs will require the mobilisation of private investment. Recourse to public-private partnerships (PPP) can help meet these challenges while simultaneously improving expertise and capacity in critical sectors such as transport and renewable energy among others, said a report by OECD.

PPP could play a crucial role in bridging the large funding gap in the massive infrastructure development being undertaken by the governments of the Middle Eastern countries. However, these countries need to streamline the legal framework and the regulatory regime in order to facilitate private participation in public projects. Nine out of 14 countries in the region now have a PPP law and a dedicated PPP unit in place.

The importance of public-private partnership (PPP) as a solution to the regions infrastructure funding gap will be debated at the two-day PPP Mena Forum that is scheduled to take place at Movenpick Grand Al Bustan, Dubai from February 23 to 24, 2022.

More than 300 government officials, project owners, experts, business leaders, regulatory officials are expected to underline the key issues in the development sector.

Held under the theme  fast-tracking PPP projects for greater economic recovery, the two-day conference will see over 30 experts discuss ways and means to achieve greater public-private partnership opportunities. The Forum will tackle timelines and requirements of current and future multibillion-dollar PPP project pipelines from across the region and PPP legislation plans.

PPPs or any other form of alternative provision or financing is not necessarily new and the GCC region has a long history of using the PPP method, specifically in the energy and utilities sector where numerous conventional power plants, solar power plants and desalination projects have been implemented in the UAE, KSA, Qatar, Kuwait and Oman.

PPP development is still slow in Africa as a whole  in 2019, the continent only accounted for $7 billion of the $97 billion of private investment commitments made across the worlds low and middle-income countries, PPP Mena Forum said in a report.

In fact, five African countries accounted for more than 50% of all successful PPP activity from 2008 to 2018: Morocco, South Africa, Nigeria, Egypt and Ghana. However, the African Development Bank believes that PPPs will quickly prove a vital means of bridging the predicted $68 to $108 billion a year financing gap that Africa will face by 2025.

Leila Masinaei, Managing Partner, Great Mind Events Management and organiser of the 2nd PPP Mena Forum, says, As the economic activities regain momentum following the Covid-19 pandemic, governments are going to bring more projects on the drawing board for execution. With private sectors strength, capital and resources, the governments will be looking at benefitting from the capabilities of the private sector.

Most Middle Eastern countries have now updated their PPP legislations that gives a lot of clarity to the private sector as well as foreign investors willing to participate in the public projects.

With oil prices at a more comfortable level, the oil exporting countries in the Middle East will definitely inject the oil windfall money into building infrastructure  where the governments will bank on the public-private partnership model  now that the regulatory regime is firmly in place.

Governments of the Middle Eastern countries are increasingly relying on private capital and private sector resources to build and expand infrastructure  in the roads, highways, bridges, utility, energy, power, aviation and telecom sectors. Across the Mena region, PPP pipelines are either in full flow, or are primed to admit a slew of new projects under a climate of increasing cooperation between the public and private sectors.

Ziad Alexandre Hayek, President of World Association of PPP Units & Professionals, says: It is extremely important that countries align their PPP effort with their SDG programme, that projects be designed with ESG in mind, and that political decision makers be well-informed about best practices in PPP. I will touch upon these and other topics in my talk at the 2nd PPP Mena Forum, which will be an opportunity for the regions PPP practitioners to come together and discuss matters of mutual interest.

PPP Mena Forum 2022 is supported by Ministry of Finance Egypt, World Association of PPP Units and Professionals, Ministry of Water and Electricity Kuwait, Istanbul PPP Centre of Excellence, Kuwait Authority for Partnership, Ministry of Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Bahrain, and Ministry of Finance Jordan.

Atter Ezzat Hannoura, Director, PPP Central Unit at the Ministry of Finance  Egypt, says: The 2nd PPP Mena Forum comes at a crucial time where PPP can be used to kick start post pandemic economic growth and is critical to both Egypt and the wider region.-- TradeArabia News Service
IHG Hotels & Resorts, one of the world's leading hotel companies, has announced the signing of a management agreement with Pyramids Group for Urban Development to bring a new luxury hotel to Egypt - InterContinental Cairo New Capital.

Scheduled to open in early 2026, this signing reinforces IHGs commitment to growing its brand portfolio in the country.

Joining Holiday Inn New Assiut Asayla, Hotel Indigo Mountain View North Coast, Hotel Indigo Mountain View icity New Cairo, Hotel Indigo Mountain View icity 6th of October City and Hotel Indigo Mountain View Ain El Sokhna, the latest development marks the sixth IHG hotel to be signed in Egypt this year.

Featuring 300 rooms, the hotel will be centrally located in the New Capital, a city in Cairo which was built as part of Egypt Vision 2030 to bolster the economic development of the country. It will be surrounded by landmarks such as the Presidential Palace, the Government Square, and the Opera.

The new development will offer leisure and business guests a range of dining options including an all-day and specialty restaurants, a rooftop bar, and cafe lounge. The hotel will also feature an outdoor and indoor pool, 250 sq.m. health club, 800 sq.m. spa, business centre, and eight meeting rooms.

IHG India, Middle East & Africa Managing Director Haitham Mattar said: Egypt is an important market for us, and we are delighted to be a part of, and contribute to the economic growth of country with new signings this year, including the latest addition to our portfolio - InterContinental Cairo New Capital.

"We are honoured to partner with Pyramids Group for Urban Development for their 45,000 sq.m. mixed-use development in the New Administrative Capital in Cairo. We are confident that the new hotel will add value to this development and cater to its clientele as well as take the legacy of our luxury portfolio forward.

Pyramids Group for Urban Development Chairman Hisham el Kholy said: The concept of the development, its size and quality of the master plan makes it a unique destination. With IHGs history and local experience in the country, combined with their standards and systems, we are confident that the hotel will be a success and offer our guests a luxurious stay within the New Capital.

IHG currently operates five hotels in Egypt across eight brands including InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn, and Staybridge Suites. A further nine hotels are in the pipeline, due to open within the next three to five years.-TradeArabia News Service
Over the course of three days, the 24th session of the UNWTO General Assembly underscored global tourisms commitment to restarting around the shared pillars of sustainability, innovation and solidarity.

Representatives of 131 UNWTO Member States, including 59 ministers and vice-ministers of tourism, attended the Assembly in the Spanish capital, Madrid from November 30  December 3.

Alongside the participation of Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism, Reyes Maroto, the political support to UNWTO from the Spanish government was underlined with the presence of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, and Minister of Foreign Affairs Jose Manuel Albares.

On the eve of the General Assembly, the King of Spain Felipe VI expressed his recognition of tourisms socio-economic relevance and appreciation of the role of UNWTO.

The organisation presented its accomplishments over the past two years since the last General Assembly, most notably guiding tourism through the biggest crisis in the history of the sector. Against this backdrop, members endorsed the Programme of Work for the coming biennium and voted strongly (77 per cent) in favour of the Secretary-General serving a second term (2022-2025).

United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, as well as the leaders of key UN agencies UNWTO has been working with throughout the pandemic - WHO, ICAO and UNCTAD  delivered dedicated messages to UNWTO.

The General Assembly united Member States and Affiliate Members around a shared vision for the future of tourism and UNWTO itself. Members endorsed the International Code for the Protection of Tourists, making clear the responsibilities every part of the sector has in assisting tourists in crisis situations and so helping restore trust in international travel.

Away from the Plenary Sessions for Members, the General Assembly also saw UNWTO bring Tourism Ministers and representatives from international organisations and the private sector together for a special Thematic Session on Building for the Future: Innovation, Education and Rural Development.

The winners of the UNWTO Global Rural Tourism Competition were announced, as was the first list of Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO, recognising the power of new ideas to create opportunities outside of big cities and those destinations that are leading the way in harnessing the power of tourism as a driver of recovery and sustainable development.

At the same time, the best young talent was also celebrated with the winners of the UNWTO Students League sharing their ideas alongside established sector leaders.

And the role of Affiliate Members in putting plans into action the ground was also emphasised. New Affiliate Members were welcomed and examples of effective public-private partnerships singled out, for helping tourism adapt to the challenges posed by the pandemic.

Members voted to hold the 25th Session of the General Assembly in 2023 in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. Earlier, as also endorsed by Members, Bali in Indonesia will host World Tourism Day 2022, to be held around the theme of Rethinking Tourism, while Saudi Arabia will be the host country for World Tourism Day 2023, to be held around the theme of Tourism for Green Investment.-TradeArabia News Service
SCOPE: The Captain William F. and Betty Carroll Collection traces the history and development of Streckfus Steamers Inc., as well as its antecedent and descendent companies through correspondence, financial documents, business documents, photographs and memorabilia. In addition, the collection boasts a sizable number of photographs, blueprints, documents and ephemera related to river vessels, including but not limited to all of the Streckfus vessels. Captain Carroll also collected information on the history of steamboating, packet and excursion businesses, and river information, history, heritage and life, mostly through clippings and transcriptions; however the collection also contains some photographs, publications, charts and correspondence relating to the above subjects. There is also information regarding river personalities, including people involved with the Streckfus family and businesses, as well as river life and river work in general. Most of the biographical information takes the form of photographs or clippings.



Personal correspondence has been separated in a logical pattern from business correspondence, by date, although because Streckfus Steamers Incorporated was a family business, some personal correspondence has been impossible to separate. Where both business and personal correspondence have occurred in the same record, the record has been grouped with business correspondence. Alphabetical arrangement has been employed where appropriate to facilitate usage. Most records are described at the folder level. Some records are described at the item or box level.



EXTENT: Approximately 70 linear feet of archival records including correspondence, blueprints, photographs, business and financial records, and publications.

HISTORY: William F. Carroll was a Mississippi riverboat captain and amateur historian. He worked for many years for Streckfus Steamers Incorporated, one of the most storied excursion companies to ply the Mississippi River. Captain Carroll was born in Boston and stationed in St. Louis during World War II, where he met Betty Streckfus, daughter of Joseph Streckfus, President of Streckfus Steamers Incorporated. After William was discharged from the army, he started working for his father-in-law on the Steamer Admiral, eventually working his way up to Captain. By the time Captain Carroll celebrated fifty years on the river in 1995, he had a large trove of research and records. It seemed natural that he would decide to gift Mercantile Library with his collection. The first part of the collection was donated when Captain Carroll moved from his house in University City in 1998. The rest of the collection was received by the Library after his death in 2000.



ACCESS: This is collection P-011. This collection is available for on-site use only in the Rare Book and Manuscripts Reading Room. Some of the collection may be photocopied, digitally scanned or photographed, depending on condition. Researchers are advised to call ahead concerning changes in hours due to University intersessions and holidays. The St. Louis Mercantile Library is located on levels one and two of the Thomas Jefferson Library building. More information about conducting research with the archival collections of the Library, including current building hours and reading room policies, can be found on our Research page.

Preferred Citation note: The preferred citation for this collection is "From the collections of the Herman T. Pott National Inland Waterways Library at the University of Missouri - St. Louis.

A published finding aid for Special Collection P-11 is available for download, in .PDF and .RTF format below.

Portions of the collection are available for remote & online viewing on the UMSL Digital Library as the P-011: Captain William F. and Betty Streckfus Carroll Collection.



Willam F. and Betty Streckfus Carroll Collection Finding Aid (.pdf)



The Admiral pulling away from the riverfront.

From the collection.
Nominations Open for Wyoming Business Hall of Fame

Nominations for the 2021 class of the Wyoming Business Hall of Fame are now being accepted. The deadline to submit nominations is Wednesday, Sept. 1.

The Wyoming Business Hall of Fame is a joint venture among the Daniels Fund, the University of Wyoming College of Business, the Wyoming Business Council and the Wyoming Business Alliance/Wyoming Heritage Foundation.

The recipient of the award will be recognized at the 2021 Governors Business Forum Nov. 16-18 at Little America Hotel and Resort in Cheyenne. The forum is Wyomings premier business conference for analysis and discussion about the states current economic and business climate.

To nominate an individual, or to learn more about the business forum, visit www.wyomingbusinessalliance.com. Completed nomination forms can be sent to office@wyoba.com.

To be considered for the Wyoming Business Hall of Fame, an individuals record of business achievement should reflect business excellence; entrepreneurial spirit; courageous thinking and action; inspiring leadership; community impact; enduring accomplishments; and an unwavering commitment to ethical leadership. Recipients can be honored posthumously.

Nominees for the award may be Wyoming residents, have attended UW or have business interests within Wyoming. Consideration will be given to any nominee who fulfills one or more of these requirements. Additionally, nominees may have started and built a business or have led an established business to significantly greater achievements.

Two categories of awards for consideration are:

-- Contemporary/visionary: An emerging business leader or entrepreneur who has a dynamic vision for Wyomings future.

-- Legacy: A business leader who has made historic and significant long-term contributions to the business community.

In leading the selection process, a selected group of individuals will evaluate the nominees business career, achievement record and ethical conduct.

For more information, call Kent Noble, UWs Bill Daniels Chair of Business Ethics, at (307) 760-7860 or email knoble@uwyo.edu.
UW Economists Question Current Anti-Money Laundering Measures

Its not that professors in the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics at the University of Wyoming are involved in money laundering, but they are -- sort of.

Economists Chian Jones Ritten and Chris Bastian, and their partner, Professor Emeritus Owen Phillips in UWs College of Business, shouldnt have to worry about FBI agents bearing handcuffs on the UW campus this holiday season.

But policymakers directing money laundering enforcement might be interested in the trios research into the best ways to reduce illegal trade.

Their findings, published in the research journal PLOS ONE in November, suggest concentrating law enforcement efforts at the point of sale is more effective to reduce illegal market activity than seizing laundered profits. Their article, titled The relative effectiveness of law enforcement policies aimed at reducing illegal trade: Evidence from laboratory markets, can be read here.

Their economic laboratory experiments showed illicit trade is reduced nearly 32 percent when law enforcement is focused at the point of sale. That may be oversimplified, but think of the Wyoming Highway Patrol seizing illegal products en route to a deal or market.

Given all of the emphasis currently on policy addressed at money laundering and stopping money laundering, I was somewhat surprised we found that law enforcement aimed at money laundering is really not that effective, says Jones Ritten, an associate professor in the department. But, when we thought about it from an economic perspective, that wasnt surprising at all.

Phillips had received training on investigating money laundering and approached Bastian about the topic.

It really started out more focused on money laundering but, between Chian, Owen and me, it grew into a broader topic on policy looking at illegal products, says Bastian, a professor in the department.

Those markets could include illegal drugs, organs, wildlife and even fraudulent food products.

Their previous work had already studied factors that affect privately negotiated or less developed markets. The new work was an extension of how people negotiate and the outcomes they expect, Jones Ritten says.

If there are risks of law enforcement, how does that affect behavior? Jones Ritten asks. So it might sound really out there, but it really is similar to the lab work weve already done. What were really thinking about is on a much larger scale -- large producers who may have entities in many countries and many regions. And, so, were talking about large-scale buyers and sellers of these illegal markets.

Thirty-six lab experimental sessions had 288 participants bargaining along the production-trade-laundering cycle, with a risk of seizure at various points.

We had to assign what the risk was, Bastian says. There is no empirical evidence to tell us what the rate of seizure actually is.

They assigned a 20 percent chance of being caught.

I think the question in the real world is, Is that 20 percent above or below what we actually see in these product markets? And thats data we just dont have, Bastian says. But I think the reality is, if you were somebody involved in that market, our research points to if we can give you the perception the risk is relatively high, that may alter your behavior.

He jokes that hes not going to conduct field research to find out.

Results showed behaviors in the market were not what models suggested. The 32 percent reduction was surprising.

The magnitude of the reduction in trade is what was really different, Jones Ritten says. We found that law enforcement in these areas was much more effective than theory alone would have predicted.

People respond to these risks in a much more drastic fashion than models suggest, she says.

Its especially the sellers who respond so much more drastically than we ever expected them to, and the amount of reduction that they have and the amount of product they produce and trade, Jones Ritten says.

Thats good for law enforcement, she says.

Their objective is to reduce the trade and production, and we found that these risks associated with these types of markets and law enforcement create a larger reduction than we had originally thought, she says.

Turns out criminals react the same to the risk of their products being seized as having to pay taxes.

After we started looking at results, in my mind, it started to fall in line with research in other areas related to taxes and how people respond to those types of costs when theyre doing business, Bastian says. They start looking at the tax as a cost of business.
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Today, the World Customs Organization (WCO) published the updated version of the Integrity Development Guide (IDG), following its adoption by the Council - the Organization's highest decision-making body - at the end of June 2021. Launched in 2004, the IDG reinforces the WCO Revised Arusha Declaration (RAD) with respect to promoting integrity and good governance in Customs. It provides practical guidelines to assist Customs administrations around the world in implementing various measures designed to enhance integrity within their organizations.

The 2021 edition of the IDG elaborates the ten key factors of the RAD, known to be an essential mechanism for Customs to maintain a high level of integrity, and it offers a unique opportunity for WCO Member Customs Administrations to carry out a step-by-step integrity assessment, following a comprehensive integrity development process.

Enhancing the ten key factors of the RAD and delving into other emerging issues, this version of the Guide highlights the importance for Customs to establish and maintain relationship with State anti-corruption authorities through collective actions to further promote integrity in Customs by adopting a collaborative and concerted approach. It emphasizes that fostering Customs-to-Customs cooperation, using media and social networks, and enhancing gender equality and diversity are vital elements for strengthening integrity in Customs.

On the occasion of the International Anti-Corruption Day, the WCO Secretary General Dr. Kunio Mikuriya said: All WCO Members and stakeholders are invited to ramp up their individual and collective efforts in promoting the integrity of the international supply chain for the benefits of a safer and more secure international trade, as well as for more efficient and transparent administrations.

The WCO, through this IDG and other instruments and tools, will continue providing technical assistance and capacity building support to Members and stakeholders to further promote integrity by leveraging new and emerging technologies and data-driven digital culture.
?El presidente @PedroCastilloTe lidero la 39 sesion de la Comision de Alto Nivel Anticorrupcion, que conto con la presencia de la premier @MirtyVas, los titulares de @MineduPeru y @MinjusDH_Peru, las presidentas de @Poder_Judicial_ y de la @JNJPeru, entre otras autoridades. ???? pic.twitter.com/4WuhvtdXiO
Ahora | El presidente @PedroCastilloTe, junto a la premier @MirtyVas, titular del @MindefPeru y altos mandos titulares, participa de la ceremonia por el 197 Aniversario de la Batalla de Ayacucho y Dia del @EjercitoPeru, que se realiza en la Plaza Caceres del Cuartel General. pic.twitter.com/hdjHsDZRAQ
El presidente @PedroCastilloTe, junto con la primera dama @LiliaParedesN, la vicepresidenta @DinaErcilia y la primera ministra @MirtyVas, participo del #MuniEjecutivo, en la region Apurimac. Ratifico su respeto a la independencia de los poderes del Estado. ???? pic.twitter.com/8bSfFPpW3F
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 9, ARMENPRESS. On December 7th Lilit Makunts, Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia to the United States of America, had a virtual meeting with Congresswoman Young Kim (R  California), member of House Foreign Affairs Committee, the Armenian Embassy reports.

Ambassador Makunts and Congresswoman Kim discussed issues related to the situation after the 44-day war in Nagorno Karabakh. Ambassador stressed that bellicose and destructive statements by the leadership of Azerbaijan undermine the efforts aimed at restoration of the peace and stability of the region.

Ambassador emphasized the importance of the comprehensive settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict within the mandate of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship. Ambassador Makunts stressed the need for the unconditional repatriation of Armenian prisoners of war held by Azerbaijan.
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 9, ARMENPRESS. The Azerbaijani Armed Forces opened fire in the late evening of December 8 at Armenian military positions in the eastern section of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, the Ministry of Defense said in a statement.

The Azeri shooting was suppressed by countermeasures. Armenian troops were unharmed in the shooting.

The Ministry of Defense of Armenia urges the Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense to refrain from provocations aimed at escalating the situation, the Ministry of Defense said.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 9, ARMENPRESS. The Deputy Commander of the Southern Military District of the Russian Armed Forces Lieutenant general Rustam Muradov said that there is a positive understanding in the issue of repatriating the Armenian captives held in Azerbaijan after the 2020 Nagorno Karabakh war.

As of today all Azerbaijani servicemen are repatriated, while the repatriation of Armenian prisoners of war still continues, there is a positive understanding. I think this issue must be fully closed. The Russian peacekeepers will complete this work, Lt. Gen. Muradov, who is the former and first commander of the Russian peacekeepers in Nagorno Karabakh, told TASS news agency.

He described the repatriation of POWs as the duty of the peacekeepers.

As a military man I understand who the prisoners of war are, what feelings theyve experienced. I remember my first flight to Baku when we were bringing back captives to Yerevan. When the plane landed in Yerevan we saw tears. They couldnt believe that theyve returned home, he said.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 9, ARMENPRESS. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia issued a statement on the occasion of the International Day of Commemoration of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide.

Armenpress presents the full text of the statement:

On December 9, 1948, the UN General Assembly adopted the first human rights treaty - the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.

The Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide clearly stipulates that genocides have caused enormous harm to humanity at all stages of history, thus reaffirming that the crimes of genocide appeared before the adoption of the Convention. The Armenian Genocide served as an important precedent for the adoption of the Genocide Convention, which was publicly mentioned by the author of the Convention, Raphael Lemkin.

One of the specific aspects of this Convention is the imposition of a legal obligation on the states parties to the Convention to not only punish but also prevent genocide. This is very crucial in terms of universal protection of national, ethnic and religious groups.

Despite the enormous work that has been carried out, the international community still needs to make further efforts for adequate and timely response, including for condemnation of gross violations of human rights and international humanitarian law, as well as for holding accountable the states guilty of genocide.

Today, there are different methods and toolkit for committing the crime of genocide, as modern weapons of mass destruction are being used. However, those who justify genocide have not changed their aspiration to achieve geopolitical goals through mass atrocities.

In 2015, due to Armenia's efforts, December 9th was included in the list of UN International Days as the International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide and the Prevention of this Crime.

A resolution on the prevention of genocide, initiated by Armenia and adopted with consensus by the UN Human Rights Council in 2020, clearly states that the justification of genocide, bias assessment and denial of past crimes increases the risk of a recurrence of violence.

Historical memory, education and the dissemination of accurate information concerning previous genocides are essential to prevent a recurrence of mass atrocities.

The deliberate destruction of cultural heritage should also be condemned as it is a vital element for the preservation of national identity.

Manifestations of domination over national, ethnic, religious or racial groups or justifications for the use of force against the latter are unacceptable.

The Republic of Armenia will continue to work diligently to raise awareness of past genocides, the dangers of their impunity and the new challenges.
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 9, ARMENPRESS. Members of the European Parliament welcomed the Orders of the International Court of Justice of 7 December 2021 indicating provisional measures in the cases between Armenia and Azerbaijan concerning the application of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.

In a statement Marina Kaljurand (S&D, Estonia), Chair of the European Parliaments delegation for relations with the South Caucasus; Andrey Kovatchev (EPP, Bulgaria), the European Parliament's Standing Rapporteur on Armenia; Zeljana Zovko (EPP, Croatia), the European Parliament's Standing Rapporteur on Azerbaijan, urged Azerbaijan to immediately release the Armenian prisoners of war.

These are important decisions with binding effect that need to be fully implemented. Furthermore, we continue urging the immediate release of all remaining prisoners by Azerbaijan, as well as the exchange of all available information on minefields in order to proceed with effective demining. In this respect, we welcome the recent release of 10 Armenian prisoners and the handing over of mine maps.

As mentioned in our previous statements, it is crucial that Armenia and Azerbaijan take immediate and effective steps to de-escalate the situation and cease any inflammatory rhetoric in order to start building mutual trust, foster reconciliation and resume negotiations on the settlement of the conflict. In this respect, we look forward to a constructive meeting between the two countries political leaders in the side-lines of the Eastern Partnership Summit scheduled on 15 December 2021.

Finally, we reiterate once again the EUs commitment to support confidence-building measures and substantive negotiations, in particular on a lasting conflict settlement and the future status of the Nagorno Karabakh region within the process led by Minsk Group Co-Chairs, the statement says.
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 9, ARMENPRESS. Speaker of Parliament of Armenia Alen Simonyan received the today the delegation led by the Secretary General of the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies Jagan Chapagain, the Armenian Parliaments press service reports.

Welcoming the guests, the Speaker highly appreciated the role of the Federation in the development of the capabilities of the National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and withstanding natural disasters.

Alen Simonyan has noted that the delegation visited Armenia in a very hard period, when there is still the aftermath of the 44-day war unleashed by Azerbaijan with the help of Turkey and mercenary and there are numerous unresolved issues.

The interlocutors touched upon the humanitarian problems caused by the 44-day war, highlighting the mandate of the Federation in terms of their settlement.

The Parliament Speaker informed the guests about the yesterdays meeting with the parents of the captives and the missing. Alen Simonyan highlighted the primary role of the International Committee of the Red Cross in the repatriation of prisoners of war and the hostages. In this context he stressed the priority of the issue of returning Armenian prisoners of war on the relevant platforms.

The Secretary General of the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies expressed readiness to convey the Speakers word to the International Committee of the Red Cross.

During the meeting the sides talked about the problems of the displaced, the situation created as a result of the pandemic, the assessment of the needs and solutions.
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 9, ARMENPRESS. Today, the European Union signed a Contribution Agreement with United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO.) The EU is investing EUR 4mln in a New Technical Assistance Project in Armenia with UNIDO.

We are happy to support sustainable economic development in Armenia to the benefit of all Armenian citizens. The improvement of food safety and health, mitigation of climate change and care towards the environment are all benefits of Quality Infrastructure. The improved trade competitiveness and meaningful utilization of these benefits will bring us closer to the spirit of CEPA, mentioned Frank Hess, Head of Cooperation at EU Delegation to Armenia.

This action is in line with the commitments of the EU and the Republic of Armenia under the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA), resulting in improved trade competitiveness and meaningful utilization of the benefits of the CEPA. The project will support to upgrade the Metrology system of Armenia through the institutional strengthening of the National Body for Standards and Metrology, improving legal, regulatory and governance system in line with international recommendations and best practices, increase Armenias participation in the international and regional metrology communities as well as interaction with the European Association of Metrology Institutes (EURAMET). The project will help to establish 4 calibration laboratories by purchasing, installing and commissioning the measurement standards, measuring instruments and equipment required to develop the required calibration and measurement capabilities, and preparing them for international accreditation. As a result of this project, sustainable and internationally recognized metrology services will be provided to stakeholders.

By implementing this Action, Armenia will be able to meaningfully use the benefits of CEPA, improve the quality of goods produced in Armenia, and ensure the international recognition of tests performed in Armenia, resulting in increased trade with the EU and other foreign markets.

The benefits of Quality Infrastructure (QI) are not limited to trade; a robust QI also contributes to other areas including, but not limited to, food safety and security, health, climate change and the environment. Once again, the EU stands by Armenia and strengthen the Armenian Governments strategic and technical capacity to plan and implement structural reforms.
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 9, ARMENPRESS. Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia Vahe Grigoryan delivered remarks at virtual discussion The Role of Education in Combatting Genocide Denial, noting that Armenia, as a member of the international community, is strongly committed to global efforts to prevent genocide. Collective efforts for effective learning and education on genocide and mass atrocities could be a key component to the prevention of such acts.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the MFA Armenia, Deputy FM Grigoryan particularly said,

Dear Colleagues,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I welcome you at the virtual discussion organized by the Permanent Mission of Armenia to the United Nations and the Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect in observance of the International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide and of the Prevention of this Crime.

Established upon Armenias initiative in 2015, the International Day of 9 December has since served as an inclusive platform that brings together governments, international organizations, academic community and civil society to deliberate methods of delivering on the pledge Never again.

Armenia, as a nation which has survived the Genocide, has been an advocate for the fight against this crime on the international arena for many years and has been consistently outlining the importance of strengthening capacities at national, regional and international levels to detect and act on the warning signs, which may lead to massive crimes.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Among the tools for genocide prevention, education is the single most powerful instrument, relevant as ever, in particular, against the backdrop of a disturbing surge in tendencies of disinformation, incendiary rhetoric and hate speech.

On December 9-11, 2018, Armenia hosted the 3rd Global Forum Against the Crime of Genocide, dedicated to prevention of genocide through education, culture and museums. One of the most important goals of this forum were to study the issues of genocide prevention through education and science, to raise awareness on the challenges of genocide education and to discuss steps to be undertaken and effective methods to address those challenges.

The importance of teaching out past genocides was also underlined in the resolution on the Prevention of Genocide presented by Armenia and unanimously adopted by the Human Rights Council in June 2020. The resolution emphasizes the necessity to preserve evidence and archival material related to past genocides, reflects the developments related to this issue in the modern world and is in line with the priorities set by the UN. Thus, referring to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the document emphasizes that its fourth goal should be achieved through teaching about the genocides committed in the past.

Ladies and gentlemen,

One of the main reasons that leads to genocide, as well as other crimes against humanity, is impunity. Inappropriate condemnation of past crimes and avoiding of punishment create fertile ground for denial and justification of genocide and eventually at recurrences of mass atrocities.

Armenian people has a long-standing record of confronting what represents the final stage of a genocidal process  denial of genocide, manifesting itself in many ways, primarily, through narratives that conceal historical evidence and the scale of the genocidal effort, embark on legalistic manipulations, blame the victims, trivialize their sufferings, defend and even glorify the perpetrators, and, in doing so, strive to create a space which will intimidate and silence the survivors across generations.

The denialists stop at nothing, robbing the victims of their dignity and depriving them of their rightful place in the historical memory. Such a purposeful assault on truth, indeed, represents the ultimate manifestation of genocide  a double killing, as Holocaust survivor and Nobel laureate Elie Wiesel explained  because if victims of genocide are allowed to be forgotten, the dead will be killed a second time.

Undoubtedly, supporters of the genocide prevention agenda should heed the lessons of the Armenian case to fight impunity and counter denial. For over a century, it has fallen to the survivors of the Armenian Genocide, their descendants, and the international community of human rights advocates to keep the memory of the genocide alive, by pursuing the recognition of the truth and its proper representation in the educational and cultural fields.

History and current practices show that countries that have brought the policy of denial to the level of state ideology will never be able to build a genuine democracy, because they will not be able to ensure freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, protection of minorities and other fundamental rights. Thus, the recognition of a genocide crime, indeed by these countries themselves, is a basis for the further development of democracy and the promotion and strengthening of human rights.

Distinguished colleagues,

Genocide and other mass atrocities are usually pre-planned, and are carried out by targeting the civilian population, destroying cultural and religious heritage, and spreading extreme hatred. All these actions were carried out against the people of Nagorno-Karabakh during the military aggression unleashed on September 27, 2020, which was planned and implemented by Azerbaijan with the full political and military support of Turkey and the involvement of foreign mercenaries and terrorist fighters. Thus, with new victims of mass atrocities, the Armenian people were once again exposed to existential threat.

Yet as their ancestors they are destined to counter and overcome this threat with a stronger determination to safeguard their identity and serve humanity for the betterment of mankind.

Ladies and gentlemen,

As a member of the international community, Armenia strongly committed to global efforts to prevent genocide. Collective efforts for effective learning and education on genocide and mass atrocities could be a key component to the prevention of such acts.

Thank You.
The Combat Engineers of the Belgian army will receive new equipment: ACEV, the Armored Combat Engineer Vehicle, will ensure mobility and counter-mobility and will support the survival of a detachment. ACEV is developed by the firm JCB under the denomination of HMEE (High Mobility Engineer Excavator). Its technical characteristics and level of protection will allow it to participate in missions abroad. Delivery is scheduled for the first quarter of 2022.

Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link



The ACEV (Armored Combat Engineer Vehicle) has been developed by JCB under the denomination of HMEE (High Mobility Engineer Excavator) (Picture source: JCB)

JCB has a concession in the province of Limburg. This anchoring in Belgium will facilitate logistical support for the ACEVs. The contract allows calling the firm to carry out part of the maintenance in order to punctually relieve the units (for operational vehicles, the Belgian Army DGMR's policy is to keep maintenance levels O and I level within the Defense). Training is planned to train future operators and mechanics.

Commander T. Colette, head of the engineering office of the DG MR Landsystems, clarified: "After more than fifty years of loyal service, it was time to find a replacing the pioneer tank. Its level of protection is similar to those of Piranhas, Dingos and future Griffons ".

Designed on the basis of a versatile machine, it can, using its loading bucket and its excavation arm, intervene both in mobility and counter-mobility missions in the field of survival and safeguarding in support troops deployed.



The ACEV (Armored Combat Engineer Vehicle) was deployed in operation, in particular in Iraq and Afghanistan where it was able to prove its effectiveness in the field as well as its protection against IEDs (Picture source: JCB/U.S. Army)

As part of the support for mobility, it will be able to help with its loading bucket, clean debris on the routes, or even create a bypass when the situation demands it. As part of the counter-mobility, the vehicle will be able to create obstacles or dig antitank ditches. It is also able to contribute to the survival and safeguarding of a detachment by contributing to quartering works such as filling Bastion Walls. Finally, with accessories related (such as a fork or a pneumatic hammer), it will be able to help support the engineers in general. The ACEV is air transportable by C-17 Globemaster III, C-130 Hercules, and A400M Atlas.

ACEV is capable of traveling over 65 km/h on roads and has good mobility in tactical conditions. It is already in use in different nations such as the USA, UK, Denmark, Sweden, Germany, Spain, and Australia. It was deployed in operation, in particular in Iraq and Afghanistan where it was able to prove its effectiveness in the field as well as its protection against IEDs. More than 1,200 units have already been produced.

Belgian Armys six current pioneer tanks on Leopard 1 chassis will only partially be replaced. Another program, the Means of Support for Combat (MAC), is being studied to complement the ACEV around 2027.



The ACEV (Armored Combat Engineer Vehicle) is developed by JCB under the denomination of HMEE (High Mobility Engineer Excavator) (Picture source: JCB)
Russia advocates peace but has the right to ensure its security in the medium to long term, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday, Tass informs.

December 9, 2021, 11:25 Russia advocates peace, but has right to ensure its security  Putin

STEPANAKERT, DECEMBER 9, ARTSAKHPRESS: Its a loaded question," he said at a news conference following a meeting with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, when asked by reporters if Russia was going to invade Ukraine.

"Russia is conducting a peaceful policy but it has the right to ensure its security, as I mentioned, in the medium and longer term," he went on to say. "We are discussing it with our partners, all of our partners, including the person I spoke with yesterday, the President of the United States of America, Mr. Biden."

Putin and Joe Biden held a video call that lasted two hours on December 7. The talks focused on the situation around Ukraine, while the leaders also discussed bilateral relations, cybersecurity and the Iranian nuclear deal.
The Deputy Commander of the Southern Military District of the Russian Armed Forces Lieutenant general Rustam Muradov said that there is a positive understanding in the issue of repatriating the Armenian captives held in Azerbaijan after the 2020 Nagorno Karabakh war.

December 9, 2021, 12:22 Russian peacekeepers to complete duty of returning Armenian POWs from Azeri captivity  Lt. Gen. Rustam Muradov

STEPANAKERT, DECEMBER 7, ARTSAKHPRESS-ARMENPRESS: As of today all Azerbaijani servicemen are repatriated, while the repatriation of Armenian prisoners of war still continues, there is a positive understanding. I think this issue must be fully closed. The Russian peacekeepers will complete this work, Lt. Gen. Muradov, who is the former and first commander of the Russian peacekeepers in Nagorno Karabakh, told TASS news agency.

He described the repatriation of POWs as the duty of the peacekeepers.

As a military man I understand who the prisoners of war are, what feelings theyve experienced. I remember my first flight to Baku when we were bringing back captives to Yerevan. When the plane landed in Yerevan we saw tears. They couldnt believe that theyve returned home, he said.
Family friendly has always been the name of the game in Ocean City. From the kiddie rides on the Boardwalk to the fact that its a dry town,
(Recasts to lead with embargo and Chinese influence concerns, adds details)

By Simon Lewis and Doina Chiacu

WASHINGTON, Dec 8 (Reuters) - The United States imposed an arms embargo and new export restrictions on Cambodia on Wednesday over what it said was the growing influence of China's military in the country, as well as over human rights and corruption.

The actions by the departments of State and Commerce reflect Washington's effort to counter China's growing influence in Southeast Asia, as Cambodia has become one of China's most important allies in the region.

The State Department added Cambodia to the list of countries to which all arms exports are banned, according to a filing with the Federal Register.

"Cambodia continues to allow the PRC to expand its military presence and construct exclusive-use facilities on the Gulf of Thailand" despite the appeals of U.S. officials, the filing said, using the initials for People's Republic of China.

The impact the ban will have is unclear. According to a report https://www.sipri.org/sites/default/files/2019-12/1912_arms_flows_to_south_east_asia_wezeman.pdf by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, the United States is not a supplier of arms to Cambodia.

Washington last month sanctioned https://www.reuters.com/world/china/us-blacklists-cambodian-officials-over-alleged-corruption-related-navy-base-2021-11-10 two Cambodian officials over corruption at the Ream Naval Base, where U.S. officials have raised concerns https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/us-calls-cambodia-opaque-over-chinese-activity-navy-base-2021-10-13 about a lack of transparency about Chinese construction.

The filing also cited corruption and human rights abuses as reasons for the embargo.

The announcements came as State Department counselor Derek Chollet was set to depart on Wednesday for Cambodia - the current chair of the regional ASEAN bloc - and Indonesia, the State Department said.

Story continues

A Cambodian government spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Commerce Department also issued new export restrictions that will restrict access to so-called dual-use items that can have military as well as civilian use, as well as less-sensitive military items and defense articles and services.

"We urge the Cambodian government to make meaningful progress in addressing corruption and human rights abuses, and to work to reduce the influence of the PRC military in Cambodia, which threatens regional and global security," Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said in a statement. (Reporting by Simon Lewis and Doina Chiacu in Washington; Additional reporting by Prak Chan Thul in Phnom Penh; editing by Jonathan Oatis and Alistair Bell)
(Bloomberg) -- Apollo Global Management Inc. is targeting $25 billion for its next flagship buyout fund as it prepares to compete with private equity firms raising record sums.

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The firm plans to set a goal thats slightly more than the $24.7 billion gathered in 2017, said people familiar with the plans, who asked not be named because the information is private. Apollo expects to start formally marketing its 10th fund early next year and hold an initial close in the first half of 2022, one of the people said.

Apollo is entering a crowded market. A record 514 buyout funds have sought to raise $339.6 billion this year, according to Preqin data. Blackstone Inc. and Carlyle Group Inc. may raise a combined $57 billion for their main private equity pools. Yet some institutions have become over-allocated to the asset class, which may lead them to limit further investments.

A spokeswoman for Apollo declined to comment.

Athene Holding Ltd., the insurer that Apollo is merging with, will invest alongside the firm, the people said. Apollo will also market the fund to retail investors.

The plans follow a tumultuous period for New York-based Apollo. Co-founder Leon Blacks business ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein spurred some investors to pause their commitments to the firm, and Black ultimately ceded his post as chief executive officer to fellow founder Marc Rowan.

Read more: Marc Rowan Plans to Be the CEO Who Keeps Apollo Above the Fray

The upheaval prompted the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board to weigh whether to keep investing with Apollo. Rowan has said the company has moved past the matter and is taking in capital at the usual pace. Co-President Scott Kleinman has said that feedback from investors has been incredibly strong.

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In seeking investors for the new fund, Apollo will be able to point to some strong asset sales as the firm, like peers, has taken advantage of the robust market for initial public offerings and mergers.

That recently helped Apollos buyout business deliver the strongest quarter in more than eight years for realized performance fees. Bloomberg ranks the performance of Apollos 2017 and 2013 funds in the top half and bottom half of peers, respectively.

In an October presentation, the firm noted those pools are expected to double investors money before taking fees into account.

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President Joe Biden says the US will take a more direct role in diplomacy to address Russia's concerns over Ukraine and Europe at large, part of a broader effort to dissuade Vladimir Putin from ordering an invasion of Ukraine.

But any negotiations to peacefully resolve Europe's tangled East-West rivalries will present minefields all their own for the US president.

Administration officials have suggested that the US will press Ukraine to formally cede a measure of autonomy to eastern Ukrainian lands now controlled by Russia-backed separatists who rose up against Kiev in 2014.

An undefined "special status" for those areas was laid out in an ambiguous, European-brokered peace deal in 2015, but it has never taken hold.

Biden also will have to finesse Ukraine's desire to join NATO. The US and NATO reject Putin's demands that they swear off membership for Ukraine in the Western military alliance, ever.

But senior State Department officials have told Ukraine that NATO membership is unlikely to be approved in the next decade, according to a person familiar with those private talks who spoke on condition of anonymity.

For Biden, the challenge will be encouraging Kieiv to accept some of the facts on the ground in eastern Ukraine, without appearing to cave to Putin -- a perception that could embolden the Russian leader and unleash a fresh line of condemnations by Republicans while Biden's popularity is already in decline.

Ukraine may be asked "can you make some step forward on these areas," said Steven Pifer, a former US ambassador to Ukraine. That could include measures such as allowing the Russia-allied Donbas region to control its own health care, police and schools, he said.

"But I don't see Washington pushing the Ukrainians to take steps that would compromise their sovereignty or the ability of the national government when it came to making decisions," Pifer said.

Biden made his offers of American diplomacy as part of a two-hour online session with Putin on Tuesday.

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He offered US participation in negotiation efforts alongside Europeans, not just to settle the conflict in eastern Ukraine but to address Putin's larger strategic objections to NATO expanding membership and building military capacity ever closer to Russia's borders.

Ukraine, which has deep cultural and historic ties with Russia, has in recent years sought closer integration with the West and membership in NATO.

The alliance has held out the promise of membership but it has declined to set a timeline. Even before the current crisis, Ukraine was a long way from joining.

Since 2014, however, when Russia invaded and annexed Crimea and then threw its weight behind the armed separatists in Ukraine's eastern Donbas region, the US and other NATO members have been helping Ukraine build up its defences.

The call between Biden and Putin took place as tensions grew over the threat of Russian forces again rolling into Ukraine. Putin denies any such intention and charges that it is NATO strengthening its hold in former Soviet republics that is threatening Russia.

US intelligence reports last week said Russia had moved 70,000 troops to Ukraine's borders as it builds toward a possible invasion early next year.

If Russia were to invade, the Biden administration has made clear the country would face the toughest US sanctions yet.

Before and after his call with Putin, Biden spoke with the leaders of Britain, France, Germany and Italy. France and Germany took the lead in brokering the 2015 peace deal between Ukraine and the Russia-backed rebels, in what's known as the Normandy format.

"We hope by Friday we're gonna be able to say, announce to you, we're having meetings at a higher level," Biden said Wednesday. "Not just with us, but with at least four of our major NATO allies, and Russia."

The meetings would address "the future of Russia's concern relative to NATO writ large, and whether or not we could work out any accommodations as it relates to bringing down the temperature" in Ukraine's east," Biden said.

Under the 2015 deal, Ukraine agreed to change its constitution to accommodate the "peculiarities" of the two Donbas separatist republics and to legalise their "special status."

Ukraine is willing to engage in talks on defining "special status," including possible changes that account for the cultural and linguistic differences of its eastern Donbas region, which has a higher proportion of native Russian speakers, the person familiar with the private talks between Ukraine and the US said.

But Ukraine would reject any change that gives the region virtual veto power over national policy, the person said.

Alexander Vershbow, a former US ambassador to Moscow, said a reinvigoration of previous negotiating efforts among diplomats from France, Germany, Russia and Ukraine could be a step forward, particularly if the US became directly involved.

In an interview prior to the Biden-Putin video meeting, Vershbow said another option would be to recreate the US-Russia channel of talks used during the Obama administration in parallel with those talks.

"It has to be very much in lockstep with the Ukrainians -- not behind their backs, or forcing them to accept a distasteful compromise," Vershbow said.
Finland's Prime Minister has apologised after she was snapped at a nightclub after the country's foreign minister tested positive for Covid-19.

On Saturday night, Sanna Marin went out in Helsinki with her husband. She said on Facebook she was with a group of people, all of which were fully vaccinated against Covid-19.

Ms Marin was at a restaurant on Saturday evening when she was told by her state secretary she had been exposed to Covid-19.

Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin went out clubbing after being advised she was in contact with a confirmed Covid case. Source: AAP

She said on Facebook she was told there were "no special measures" ministers had to follow, nor would the ministers be asked to quarantine, as they all were fully vaccinated.

"If you have received two vaccines, those who were exposed are not scheduled for a test or quarantine," the PM said.

However, on her work phone, which she did not have with her at the time, she was advised to isolate.

Later that night, a photo of the 36-year-old PM was taken, which caused an uproar among the public.

Ms Marin was filmed dancing at a club. Source: Screenshot

The Seiska magazine published photos of Ms Marin at a nightclub in Helsinki with her friends and, according to the BBC, the magazine reported that witnesses said she was there until 4am.

"I did wrong. I should have considered the situation more carefully," Ms Marin said in a television interview by public broadcaster Yle on Wednesday night.

Ms Marin wasn't the only minister who was exposed to Covid-19.

Economic Affairs Minister Mika Lintila attended a floorball match between Finland and Latvia on Sunday despite being advised to avoid contact with others, Helsingin Sanomat newspaper reported on Wednesday.

Defence Minister Antti Kaikkonen went to a dinner party on Saturday while Finance Minister Annika Saarikko and Science and Culture Minister Antti Kurvinen cancelled their attendance of the same event to avoid contacts, evening paper Ilta-Sanomat reported on Tuesday.

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All three ministers were exposed on Friday at a meeting attended by Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto, who on Saturday tested positive.

The prime minister's office later said it had sent the exposed ministers two text messages on Saturday recommending that they avoid contact with other people.

Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin has since apologised for the incident. Source: Lehtikuva via AP

Ms Marin has tested negative for Covid-19 twice, while Mr Kaikkonen and Mr Lintila have also tested negative.

The Finnish Health Institute recommends avoiding social contact while waiting for test results.

On her Facebook post, Ms Marin received plenty of support, with many saying even the PM should be able to enjoy themselves.

"Sanna, again you got to be the target of unnecessary fuss," one person said.

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter and download the Yahoo News app from the App Store or Google Play.
The board of directors at Lee Enterprises, which owns The Citizens and dozens of other U.S. newspapers, has rejected a New York hedge fund's unsolicited offer to buy the company.

Lee Chairman Mary Junck said Alden Global Capital's $24-per-share offer grossly undervalued Lee and failed to recognize the strength of its business, especially its fast-growing digital news platform.

We remain confident in our ability to create significant value as an independent company," Junck said in a news release issued Friday morning.

The rejection marks a significant setback for Alden, which is looking to make Lee the latest in a series of acquisitions intended to consolidate the newspaper industry.

Alden aimed for a speedy takeover after making its $141 million offer for Lee on Nov. 22. It noted that figure represented about a 30 percent premium, per share, over the previous day's market close, and said that with Lee's cooperation, it could have things wrapped up in "approximately four weeks."

But in the past three weeks, Lee shares have risen above $24, putting pressure on Alden to raise its offer.

Meanwhile, Lee's board voted to enact a "poison pill" plan that could dilute shares if Alden starts buying Lee stock. The board also rejected Alden's attempt to nominate three new board members, citing procedural issues. And newsroom unions began a campaign against the acquisition, noting Alden's reputation for steep cost-cuts in the name of efficiency.

Then, Wednesday afternoon, one of the company's largest shareholders weighed in against the offer, calling it "clearly insufficient and opportunistic."

In addition to The Citizen, Lee's New York state newspapers include The Buffalo News and The Post-Star in Glens Falls. It also owns papers throughout the country, including St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the Omaha World-Herald and the Tulsa World. Aldens titles include the Chicago Tribune and the Baltimore Sun, which it acquired this summer in its takeover of Tribune Publishing.

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The 75th anniversary of the classic holiday film "It's a Wonderful Life" will be the theme of the Seneca Falls festival of the same name this weekend.

The film, which premiered Dec. 20, 1946, at the Globe Theatre in New York City, is rumored to have been inspired by the Finger Lakes village.

Along with resembling the film's setting of Bedford Falls, Seneca Falls is where Antonio Varacalli jumped from a bridge into the Cayuga-Seneca Canal to save a young woman drowning there in 1917. The story of Varacalli, who died, was likely on the mind of director Frank Capra as he scripted the "It's a Wonderful Life" sequence in which Jimmy Stewart's George Bailey jumps from a bridge into a river to save the drowning Clarence, his guardian angel. Capra is believed to have seen a plaque commemorating Varacalli's sacrifice while visiting Seneca Falls in 1945.

Since starting in the mid-1990s, the festival has celebrated Varacalli, Capra and all things "It's a Wonderful Life" the second weekend of December. Here are five highlights of this year's festival:

Seven cast members and a car: The younger members of the film's cast have regularly attended the festival, and this year is no exception. Events will feature seven cast members this year: Karolyn Grimes (Zuzu Bailey), Carol Coombs (Janie Bailey), Jimmy Hawkins (Tommy Bailey), Jeanine Roose (young Violet Bick), Michael Chapin (young George's friend) and twins Donald and Ronald Collins (little Pete). George Bailey's car, a 1919 Dodge Touring Car from Colorado, will also be on display at the festival. It is one of only four props from the film known to still be in existence.

"Merry Christmas, George Bailey": The Seneca Community Players, who are celebrating their own 49th anniversary, will present their traditional radio play adaptation of the movie at 6 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, Dec. 9 through Dec. 11, and 1 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 12, at "Bedford Falls Bijou Theater," 95 Fall St., Seneca Falls. The play features old-fashioned microphones and 1940s hair, makeup and costumes, with 14 voice actors from Seneca Falls and the surrounding communities. Tickets are $8 Thursday and Sunday, and $10 Friday and Saturday.

It's a Wonderful Night for Kids: From 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 9, lower Fall Street in the village will be closed for a family-friendly street party featuring live music, crafts, games, concessions by youth organizations, multimedia storytelling and Santa at the North Pole. Becky Bly, president of the festival committee, said in a news release that the event was added for the hometown crowd. So often I learn that some Seneca Falls residents hide out at home while the festival takes place, as visitors come and fill up the parking, restaurants and shops of our little town," she said. "We want to make sure we give back, to show our appreciation to town residents for the burden they take on each year.

Falls fireworks: A new fireworks show by the canal on Friday will take place along with a community bonfire from 6 to 8:30 p.m. in People's Park in the village. The event Will also feature music by the Calvary Chapel Worship Band, food by Harry's Hots, the announcement of winners of the It's a Wonderful Holiday Lights Contest, and the arrival of Santa Claus by fire truck.

A "Timeless Message": Throughout the weekend, "The Timeless Message of 'It's a Wonderful Life': A Journey Through Seneca Falls" will commemorate historic sites in the birthplace of the women's rights movement and provide activities sponsored by the Seneca County Suicide Prevention Coalition and youth group Resilience & Inclusion for Students Everywhere.

For more information on the festival, including a full schedule of events, visit wonderfullifemuseum.com/2021-festival or therealbedfordfalls.com.

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The Headquarters Company of the New York National Guard's Auburn-based 102nd Military Police Battalion will get a new commander on Saturday.

1st Lt. Alondra Coronado, a Bronx resident who has served in the New York National Guard since 2011, will take over command of the company from Capt. Derrick Rocker, of Auburn, who will become the battalion supply officer.

According to a news release, the company provides the officers, non-commissioned officers, and soldiers who provide command and administrative support for the battalion's military police units in Rochester, Buffalo, Latham and Utica.

A traditional military change of command will take place at 1 p.m. Saturday at the New York State Armory on South Street in Auburn, where the company flag, or guidion, will be transferred from Rocker to Coronado. Traditionally, the unit guidon would indicate where the commander was on the battlefield and the ceremony allowed the troops to see who they would follow in combat.

Coronado enlisted in the National Guard as a military police soldier in 2011. She served in the 105th Military Police Company in Buffalo before transferring to the 107th Military Police Company in Brooklyn.

She earned her commission through ROTC at the College of Staten Island and served as an MP platoon leader in the 107th Military Police Company.

Coronado deployed to Saudi Arabia and Kuwait with the 42nd Infantry Division Headquarters Battalion in 2020 in support of Operation Spartan Shield, the U.S. Army presence in the Middle East. The 42nd Infantry Division provided command for the mission during 2020.

While deployed, Coronado served as battalion unit movement officer as well as the executive officer of the operations company.

Her most recent assignment was as the assistant operations officer for the Region II Homeland Response Force from January through September 2021.

She also served as a team leader of the New York Citizens Preparedness Corps, conducting emergency preparedness demonstrations for residents of the Bronx and Manhattan from 2016 to 2019.

Coronado's awards include the Army Commendation Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, and the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and the Overseas Service Ribbon.

She is a graduate of the Logistics Captains Career Course, the Master Fitness Trainer program, the Equal Opportunity Leader Course, the Unit Movement Officer Course and the Military Police Basic Officer Leader Course.

She holds a degree in Criminal Justice from Buffalo State College and a Masters in Social Work from the College of Staten Island.

In civilian life Coronado is a Bilingual Therapist for New York Psychotherapy and Counseling Center in the Bronx.

Rocker is a full-time Army National Guard officer who received his commission in 2011 through the ROTC program at Syracuse University. He has served as a platoon leader in the 222nd Military Police Company in Rochester, and as executive officer of the 105th Military Police Company in Buffalo.

He lives in Auburn with his wife, Felicia, and sons, Oliver and Jack.

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A Cayuga County woman has died of COVID-19, the fourth virus-related fatality in the last 10 days and the 111th of the pandemic.

The Cayuga County Health Department said the woman, who was in her 80s, tested positive for COVID-19 and died. No further information, such as her vaccination status, was released.

The death occurred as COVID-19 cases rise in Cayuga County. The health department reported 71 new cases on Tuesday, the highest single-day total in nearly three months. Two-thirds of the new cases (48 of 71) were unvaccinated, while 23 were vaccinated.

Through the first seven days of December, the county has 312 confirmed cases. It is on pace to have nearly 1,400 cases this month.

Active cases increased from 351 to 376 in one day. The number of positive cases in isolation hasn't been this high since Jan. 22, when there were 440 active cases.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the county's case rate is 489.71 per 100,000 people and the average seven-day positivity rate is 9.04%.

While cases are rising, hospitalizations remain unchanged. There are nine residents who have tested positive for COVID-19 and are being treated at central New York hospitals. It's the third consecutive day hospitalizations have been in the single digits.

As the latest surge affects Cayuga County, the health department is attempting to get more people vaccinated. A clinic will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. at Fingerlakes Mall. The single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine will be available, along with boosters for the Johnson & Johnson and Moderna vaccines. The original shots and boosters are available for individuals ages 18 and older.

From 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, the health department will administer first and second doses of the Pfizer vaccine to children ages 5-11.

Registration is required for both clinics. For more information on how to register, go to cayugacounty.us/health.

The CDC reports that 55.1% of Cayuga County residents are fully vaccinated. The vaccination rate is higher among adults ages 18 and older (63.8%) and residents ages 65 and older (78.3%).

Online producer Robert Harding can be reached at (315) 282-2220 or robert.harding@lee.net. Follow him on Twitter @robertharding.

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Indian two-wheeler manufacturer TVS Motor has decided to expand its footprint to South America. The brand has announced a partnership with Active Motors SA which will be responsible for the distribution of TVS models in countries like Nicaragua and Costa Rica.

Active Motors SA, which is a subsidiary of Grupo Q, will support TVS with sales, service, spares and customer relationships.

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It will help TVS to open three flagship outlets and about 50 dealerships in a phased manner in these two countries.

TVS Motor will offer several of its models in Costa Rica and Nicaragua. These will include motorcycle models like the TVS Apache RTR 200 4V, TVS Apache RTR 160 4V, TVS Apache RTR 160 2V, TVS Stryker 125, TVS Raider 125, TVS HLX 150 5S, TVS Neo NX. TVS will also sell the NTORQ 125 scooters in the region as well.

R Dilip, President of International Business at TVS Motor Company, said, Central America is an important market for TVS Motor Company. We are delighted to partner with Grupo Q, which has a strong pedigree in the automobile industry in the country. This association is a significant step towards expanding TVS Motors market presence in Central America, driving innovation through best-in-class products and setting a customer experience benchmark. The deep understanding of the market, rich experience in the industry and retail financing capabilities make Grupo Q the best strategically for TVS Motor Company in Nicaragua and Costa Rica. We will continue to offer a wide range of aspirational products with complete service and spare parts support combined with the strength of our network facility to cater to the mobility needs of the region."

Carlos Enrique Quiros, Vice President and Commercial Head at Grupo Q said, We, at Grupo Q, will represent TVS Motor Company with great pride to cater to the length and breadth of fast-evolving customer requirement. In Grupo Q, we have been driving innovation and looking forward to newer opportunities to grow our business in the region with our extensive knowledge and experience of the market. Active Motors, the new company of the Grupo Q Holding Company, promises quality mobility solutions and accessibility for customers in the Nicaragua and Costa Rica market, demonstrating the technology and quality prowess of TVS Motor Company."

TVS Motor already has its presence in the region with footprints in other countries like Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras. Hero MotoCorp, the world's largest two-wheeler manufacturer is the other Indian brand to have footprints in the region. Hero has partnered Argentinian brand Gilera Motors to distribute its models.
With Gasgoo Daily, we will offer daily important automotive news in China. For those we have reported, the title of the piece will include a hyperlink, which will provide detailed information.



Pony.ai licensed to test autonomous cars in Shenzhen





Photo credit: Pony.ai



On Dec. 8, Chinese autonomous driving startup Pony.ai received governmental license that allows it to test autonomous driving cars on public roads in Shenzhen.

Lifan Technology clocks 107.37% YoY growth in Jan.-Nov. NEV sales

Chinese automaker Lifan Technology produced and sold 2,636 and 1,970 new energy vehicles (NEVs) for the first eleven months, representing 162.55% and 107.37% year-on-year growth respectively, according to the company's announcement.

BYD Tang EV to hit Brazilian market next year

BYD announced on Dec. 9 the BYD Tang EV will hit the Brazilian market in 2022, marking BYDs foray into Brazilian all-electric passenger vehicle market.

New Audi A4L goes on sale

FAW-Volkswagen's new Audi A4L has been put into the market. Offered in seven trim levels, the new model features a guiding price range of 306,800 yuan ($48,360) to 396,800 yuan ($62,540).

Guangdong province launches FCV demonstration city cluster led by Foshan

On Dec. 8, Guangdong province held a launching ceremony for a Foshan-led FCV demonstration city cluster. Aside from the 8 cities from Guangdong province, the city cluster also contains four cities from other four provinces, namely, Fuzhou of Fujian province, Baotou of Inner Mongolia, Lu'an of Anhui province, as well as Zibo of Shandong province.

CATL signs strategic cooperation framework agreement with Suzhou municipal government

On Dec. 8, CATL inked a framework agreement with Suzhou municipal government to support the city in clean energy production and electrification for transport industry, and develop solutions for optimizing electric efficiency.

Desay SV forms strategic partnership with intelligent driving developer MAXIEYE

On Dec. 9, China's major auto parts supplier Desay SV announced its strategic partnership with intelligent driving service developer MAXIEYE for full-stack autonomous driving development.

BYD said to seek external IGBT supplies as semiconductor unit facing tight capacity

BYD has placed an order worth over 100 million yuan ($15.762 million) to Hangzhou Silan Microelectronics Co., Ltd. (Silan), a Chinese semiconductor manufacturer, for automotive-grade IGBTs (insulated gate bipolar transistors), according to a local media outlet, citing people with direct knowledge of the matter.

LiDAR supplier Hesai teams up with autonomous driving developer UISEE

China's leading LiDAR supplier Hesai Technology, has entered into strategic cooperation with the autonomous driving company UISEE, to provide LiDARs for the latter's future autonomous solution applications.

Li ONE likely to have cheaper variant with lower battery capacity

Chinese NEV startup Li Auto has submitted the patent images of the Li ONE's new variant to China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT). The new version is expected to be cheaper than the existing model for sales due to the lower battery energy capacity.

Changan Auto YTD sales surpass 2 million vehicles by November

Changan Automobile's November sales performance dropped from October, but its cumulative sales to date managed to surpass 2 million vehicles by the end of the month.

GWM-backed battery maker SVOLT to raise annual capacity to 600GWh by 2025

SVOLT, a Chinese power battery manufacturer carved out of Great Wall Motor (GWM), is ambitious to accomplish an annual power battery capacity goal of 600GWh by 2025, the company said on Dec. 8, significantly rising from the previously expected 320GWh.

Baidu opens fourth Apollo Park in Wuzhen, Zhejiang

Baidu opened up an Apollo Park intelligent connected pilot base in Wuzhen, Zhejiang Province, signifying the tech giants strategic layout in the Yangtze River delta area and the city's resolution in autonomous driving-related transformation.
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- SVOLT, a Chinese power battery manufacturer carved out of Great Wall Motor (GWM), is ambitious to accomplish an annual power battery capacity goal of 600GWh by 2025, the company said on Dec. 8, significantly rising from the previously expected 320GWh.

Photo credit: SVOLT

The target is part of the SV 600 Strategy the company released on its second Battery Day for the development plan through to 2025. Under the strategy, SVOLT aims to build itself into a global brand by pushing ahead with its plant construction, capacity expansion, industrial deployment, and technology iteration at a faster pace, said Yang Hongxin, Chairman and CEO of SVOLT.

Photo credit: SVOLT



SVOLT stated it will focus on deploying Short Blade battery across a wide size range of L300 to L600 and full-domain application scenarios involving passenger vehicles (PV), energy storage, commercial vehicle (CV), engineering machinery, non-high-speed electric vehicle, etc.

To be specific, SOVLT will launch L600 and L300 Short Blade battery series for all-electric PVs. The L600 LFP is able to support models with ranges of 500 to 600km, while the L600-NCM is expected to enable a range of up to 800km by virtue of the zero-thermal-runaway technology used in SVOLT Jelly battery. The L300 battery series features fast charging performance rated 2.2-4C and will be mainly installed in 800V high-end models.

The L400 Short Blade LFP battery series will be put into plug-in hybrid electric PV domain to offer long range with a lower cost.

In energy storage domain, SVOLT will release a L500 battery series, which is designed to improve safety, energy density, and temperature control performance of energy storage products by using CTP (cell-to-pack) technology.

As for CV domain, a L500 series will be launched to be compatible with both energy storage products and VDA standard battery cell box.

Moreover, in non-high-speed electric vehicle area, SVOLT will roll out L300 and L400 battery series, which will share the mature LFP and cobalt-free E platforms with PV-used batteries.
PHOENIX (AP)  Phoenix paused implementation Tuesday of a federal COVID-19 vaccine mandate for the 14,000 workers in the nations fifth largest city, just hours after a federal judge temporarily blocked President Joe Bidens administration from enforcing a mandate for those employed by federal contractors.

The pause was announced shortly before a planned afternoon hearing to discuss the citys plan to get all city employees inoculated against the virus by Jan. 18. It was the latest standoff around the country over federal guidelines for the vaccines that have been challenged by more than a dozen lawsuits nationwide.

In the court decision earlier Tuesday, U.S. District Court Judge R. Stan Baker in Georgia issued a nationwide injunction against the Biden administrations mandate for federal contractors, ruling that the president probably exceeded his authority by issuing it.

Despite the decision by Phoenix to pause, the meeting went ahead as scheduled and several hundred noisy anti-mandate activists demonstrated outside and impassioned city workers and residents on both sides of the issue called into the meeting to share their views.

I find it deplorable what you are doing to our employees here, said caller Merissa Hamilton, a former Phoenix city worker and past unsuccessful candidate for mayor.

You need to end the mandate not just put it on pause, she said, addressing city council members who also called in by telephone to attend the meeting aimed purely to collect public comments without any action scheduled. Hamilton earlier had been outside among the demonstrators.

Several public safety employees said getting the vaccine should be a personal choice.

City Manager Jeff Barton said in November that all Phoenix employees would need to be vaccinated so the city can comply with the rules created by the Biden administration because the city has federal contracts.

Mayor Kate Gallego has said the mandate is the city managers decision to make, not City Councils. But she made clear during Tuesdays session that she supports vaccinations and encouraged all city workers to get them, noting that 24 Phoenix employees have died from COVID-19 AND 49 city firefighters are currently out on COVID-19 leave.

The vaccine is overwhelmingly effective, she said, calling it the best tool we have.

City Councilwoman Ann OBrien had suggested the forum, which comes as the citys police and firefighter unions push back on an announced vaccine mandate. OBrien has called the vaccine requirement a complete overreach of the federal government and says she is not anti-vaccine, but anti-mandates.

A number of high-profile medical professionals called into the meeting to argue in favor of the mandate, including Dr. Marjorie Bessell, chief clinical officer at the Banner Health, saying that a Nov. 1 vaccine deadline for the regional hospital network had led to near-complete compliance.

We are in a crisis that will not be done soon, said Will Humble, executive director for the Arizona Public Health Association. The pathway to mitigation is to get people vaccinated. Policy decisions can make a huge difference.

The Phoenix police and firefighter unions have joined a lawsuit filed by Arizona Attorney Mark Brnovich seeking to invalidate federal vaccine rules, arguing that the mandate will drive first responders out of their profession.

A similar mandate in Tucson, Arizonas second largest city, has been more successful with nearly all the citys workers now at least partially vaccinated.

Arizona on Wednesday reported 3,506 additional confirmed COVID-19 cases and 18 more deaths as the number of the hospitalized virus patients dipped slightly.

The latest figures posted on the Department of Health Services' coronavirus dashboard increased Arizona's pandemic totals to 1,301,597 cases and 22,779 deaths.

Coconino County added 20 cases and zero deaths, bringing its totals to 26,020 cases and 393 deaths.

There were 2,753 virus patients occupying inpatient hospital beds as of Wednesday, down from 2,800 on Tuesday, the high so far during the current surge.

Hospitals statewide are crowded with both virus and non-virus patients. Only 6% of inpatient beds were available as of Tuesday, according to the dashboard.

The 18 deaths reported Wednesday were far below the 172 deaths added to the dashboard Tuesday.

However, Johns Hopkins University data showed Arizona's seven-day rolling average of daily deaths rising over the past two weeks, increasing from 46.6 on Nov. 22 to 64.9 on Monday.

The rolling average of daily new cases also rose during the same period, increasing from about 3,964 to about 4,044.

Arizona health officials on Tuesday reported 3,015 additional confirmed COVID-19 cases and 172 more virus deaths as related hospitalizations continued to increase.

Meanwhile, the Navajo Nation on Tuesday reported 35 more COVID-19 cases, but no deaths for the third consecutive day.

The latest numbers pushed the tribes total cases since the pandemic began to 40,171.

The known death toll remains at 1,551.

We are hopeful that the new variant will not reach our communities, but we must also be prepared, tribal President Jonathan Nez said in a statement Tuesday. All of us can do our part to help by continuing to take precautions such as wearing a mask in public, practicing social distancing, washing your hands often, limiting travel, and staying home as much as possible.

Nez has again called for everyone on the vast reservation to get a booster shot and wear masks.

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

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In his private practice days, Linneweber says he handled a number of family law cases and as a county attorney he has dealt with a wide array of civil cases, government matters and advising officials. Linneweber described his decades long career as a 50-50 mix of both sides of the law. He also believes his varied experience will be an asset on the bench, and his straightforward understanding and approach to the law should put those in his courtroom at ease, he says.

"I'm not going to be creating laws from the bench," Linneweber said. "It will be a common plain reading of the law... so everyday persons should have the same expectation that the law applies equally to them. And they don't have to worry about me creating laws."

Todd has served in the position for 21 years after being appointed by then-Gov. Mark Racicot in 2000, survived a senate nomination in 2001 and won his first election in 2002. At present, he is the longest sitting judge in Yellowstone County. Todd called Linneweber a "great appointment."

"Brett [Linneweber] has appeared before me many times and he's always been competent and very professional," Todd said. "I look forward to him continuing the long tradition of competent judges in the 13th Judicial District."
A manager at Bistecca confirmed on Tuesday they were in the process of finalizing the deal and said they'd be happy to talk about it more once the deal was closed.

"We are thrilled to be working closely with the Bos family and their team in this transition as they have worked tirelessly to build this staple in the Billings community," Daer said. "Our family is looking forward to continuing this proud tradition."

More information about the future direction of Bistecca will be announced once the two families finalize the deal.

However, Daer did say their plan is to keep "The Granary" name.

Built in 1935, the restaurant was originally the milling department for Billings Polytechnic Institute, now Rocky Mountain College. It was vacant for decades before opening as a restaurant in 1976.

The Granary had last closed in 2004 when Aaron Sparboe and John Scott bought the business and ordered a major, six-month renovation. After that it became known as a high-end steak and seafood eatery, with a bar, upstairs banquet hall and basement meeting area.
The money was supposed to pay for two chemical and oil shipping tankers bought from a Hong Kong shipping firm. Instead Capser bought the tankers at $20 million apiece with the intention of leasing them back to the shipping company for $8,500 each per day.

Afterward, Capser allegedly solicited similar investments from at least nine other lenders. Activities in the indictment began in 2016. Other fake items were presented as collateral, including a phony $400 million proceeds from the sale of a fake cattle ranch.

Capser used fake investment portfolios, fake emails and fake family emergencies  even going so far as to say his daughter had terminal cancer  to advance the schemes.

"The defendant was so dedicated to his fraud that he was willing to use his young daughter as an instrument to accomplish it," prosecutors told the judge. "He took advantage of his victims' best qualities  their compassion and empathy  to distract them with a fabricated tale that his daughter was terminally ill."

The two tankers were eventually seized and resold at a significant loss of about $15.8 million, court records state.
HOW FREQUENTLY DOES THIS HAPPEN?

Experts agree that such incidents are rare and probably happen fewer than once per year throughout the U.S. A 2012 article published in the monthly law journal Americans for Effective Law Enforcement documented nine cases dating back to 2001 in which officers shot suspects with handguns when they said they meant to fire stun guns.

WHY DOES IT HAPPEN?

Reasons that have been cited include officer training, the way they carry their weapons and the pressure they feel during dangerous and chaotic situations. To avoid confusion, officers typically carry their stun guns on their weak sides  the side of their nondominant hand  and away from handguns that are carried on their dominant hands side. Thats how Potter carried hers, and the chief of her suburban Minneapolis police department at the time of the shooting said thats how the departments officers were trained.

Prosecutor Erin Eldridge told jurors in her opening statement that the Brooklyn Center Police Department's policy requires that officers carry their Taser on their nondominant side and their firearm on their dominant side. In keeping with that, Potter carried her gun on her right and her Taser on her left.
The reward for information leading to the conviction of the person or persons who poisoned at least eight wolves in eastern Oregon this year has grown to $42,977.

Three groups  Wolves of the Rockies, Trap Free Montana and The 06 Legacy Project  added $10,000 to the existing reward Monday. An additional $6,977 in reward money from the Greater Hells Canyon Council, Humane Society of the United States and private donations was announced Tuesday, The Oregonian/OregonLive reported.

"We were heartbroken to hear of these horrific and inhumane killings, and condemn in the strongest terms this atrocity," Marc Cooke, president of Wolves of the Rockies, said in a statement.

The eight dead wolves were found this year in Union County, whose largest city is La Grande. Tests at a federal lab in Ashland confirmed the animals were poisoned.

Wolves have been under different levels of protection in Oregon as their population has grown since their return in the early 2000s. The latest count, as measured at the end of 2020, put the minimum number of animals in Oregon at 173.
Riley Franz was hospitalized following the shooting. She now is recovering at home, Fieger said.

A 17-year-old student  the remaining victim hospitalized from the shooting  was removed Thursday from an intensive care unit, the Oakland County sheriff's office said.

She was moved to a standard room and was expected to remain in a hospital for the next four to six weeks while undergoing rehabilitation.

On Wednesday, a statement posted on the district's website by Throne said that after all the facts have been obtained and released through the course of the prosecution, he will recommend to the Oxford Board of Education that the district initiate a review of its entire system as other communities have done when facing similar experiences.

Our goal with all of this is to bring together all of the facts of what happened before, during and after this horrific incident, he wrote. We are committed to doing this in a way that allows our community to move forward and does not re-traumatize our community members, who are reeling and suffering from this horrible event.
If he responds appropriately, well encourage him to keep doing so and if not, then we can see what we can do as a committee, Stafman said. We have some ability to impact that, limited as it is.

DPHHS declined to make Fouts available for interview for this story, but said Meier is "committed to keep the legislators informed of our progress, including progress related to the RFP."

Ebelt said the request for proposal for temporary management will encompass all the department's health care facilities, not just the state hospital. The documents show a workforce shortage in more areas than the state hospital; 30% of the 145 full-time positions at the Montana Mental Health Nursing Care Center in Lewistown are vacant.

Ebelt acknowledged the Warm Springs facility is a point of concern.

"MSH is not unlike other facilities/providers as staffing issues in health care have gotten worse across the board during the pandemic, although certainly challenges are more acute in some locations than others. Therefore, DPHHS is planning to utilize outside expertise and capacity to help unpack the multiple and complex issues affecting DPHHS-operated health care facilities," Ebelt, the spokesperson for DPHHS, said Tuesday.
Hageman herself doesnt appear until the end of the video, where she can be seen walking on expansive rural landscape.

Right now, the most important job Republicans have in Washington, D.C. is to stop Nancy Pelosi and the radical Democrats from destroying our country, she says. Im Harriet Hageman, and I know what it means to ride for the brand.

Hugh Hageman repeated a phrase that the Hageman campaign and the candidate herself has been repeating frequently, Wyoming is in our DNA. This tagline is a nod to the longtime criticism that Cheney is a carpetbagger, as she has spent much of her life in Northern Virginia. However, she did live in Casper for part of her childhood and now lives in Teton County.

The spot also targets Cheney directly in a number of spots.

Instead of fighting for us, shes fighting against President Trump. She betrayed us. She betrayed our values. She betrayed the brand, one of the ranchers said as the video zoomed in on Pelosis picks for the Jan. 6 select committee, which features Cheney as the only Republican in a group of Democrats.
They specifically cite concerns with chapters 55, 57 and 58 of those rules, which guide accreditation standards, educators licensure and professional educator preparation program standards, respectively, for the state of Montana.

The letter this week from the AA superintendents also aired concerns with the ongoing review process for Chapter 57, educator licensure. Those involved in the process have not been given adequate time or support to reach a consensus on the proposed revisions, they said.

We suggest that Ms. Arntzen must change her course and begin to support public education and the Constitutions to which she pledged an oath to uphold. If she does this, OPI can rebuild, the four county superintendents wrote. If not, it will continue to flounder ineffectively and inefficiently, which makes our jobs and the jobs of everyone involved in public education much more difficult.

The letter penned by the county superintendents was submitted as a public comment ahead of the most recent Board of Education meeting held in November. Gov. Gianforte attended as an ex-officio member along with Arntzen. The letter was not presented during public comment.
The board of directors at Lee Enterprises on Thursday rejected a New York hedge fund's unsolicited offer to buy the company.

Lee Chairman Mary Junck said Alden Global Capital's $24-per-share offer grossly undervalued Lee and failed to recognize the strength of its business, especially its fast-growing digital news platform.

We remain confident in our ability to create significant value as an independent company," Junck said in a news release.

The rejection marks a significant setback for Alden, which is looking to make Lee the latest in a series of acquisitions intended to consolidate the newspaper industry.

Alden aimed for a speedy takeover after making its $141 million offer for Lee on Nov. 22. It noted that figure represented about a 30 percent premium, per share, over the previous day's market close, and said that with Lee's cooperation, it could have things wrapped up in "approximately four weeks."

But in the past three weeks, Lee shares have risen above $24, putting pressure on Alden to raise its offer.
If the bill was successfully signed into law, it would not have gone into effect until 2024.

Technically, an individual lawmaker can attempt to bring the bill back in the budget session, but its harder to gain traction that way and lawmakers have limits on the number of bills they can introduce. Committee-sponsored bills are historically more likely to pass.

Many sitting lawmakers testified in favor of runoff elections.

Wyoming Republican officials have been pushing for election reform by next years primary, which is expected to feature Rep. Liz Cheney and Gov. Mark Gordon attempting to defend their seats from GOP challengers. Proponents have pushed a runoff bill in particular as a way to avoid a primary in which multiple challengers  often from the far right  split the vote, and the incumbent wins with less than a majority.

In 2018, for example, Gordon won his primary with roughly one-third of the Republican vote. Approximately 47% of GOP voters supported the two runners-up: Harriet Hageman, who is now challenging Cheney, and the late Foster Friess.
Lee Enterprises, the owner of The Bismarck Tribune and other newspapers nationwide, on Thursday announced that its board of directors unanimously rejected a New York hedge fund's unsolicited offer to buy the company.

Lee Chairman Mary Junck said Alden Global Capital's $24-per-share offer grossly undervalued Lee and failed to recognize the strength of its business, especially its fast-growing digital news platform.

We remain confident in our ability to create significant value as an independent company," Junck said in a statement.

The rejection marks a significant setback for Alden, which is looking to make Lee the latest in a series of acquisitions intended to consolidate the newspaper industry.

Alden aimed for a speedy takeover after making its $141 million offer for Lee on Nov. 22. It noted that figure represented about a 30% premium, per share, over the previous day's market close, and said that with Lee's cooperation, it could have things wrapped up in "approximately four weeks."

But in the past three weeks, Lee shares have risen above $24, putting pressure on Alden to raise its offer.

Meanwhile, Lee's board voted to enact a "poison pill" plan that could dilute shares if Alden starts buying Lee stock. The board also rejected Alden's attempt to nominate three new board members, citing procedural issues. And newsroom unions began a campaign against the acquisition, noting Alden's reputation for steep cost-cuts in the name of efficiency.

Then, Wednesday afternoon, one of the company's largest shareholders weighed in against the offer, calling it "clearly insufficient and opportunistic."

Lee owns daily newspapers, digital products and more than 350 weekly and specialty publications serving 77 markets in 26 states. Its newspapers include the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, The Buffalo News, Omaha World-Herald, The Lincoln Journal Star, The Times of Northwest Indiana and Tulsa World. Aldens titles include the Chicago Tribune and the Baltimore Sun, which it acquired this summer in its takeover of Tribune Publishing.

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A Montana woman accused of putting her father-in-laws name on a home mortgage and taking money from her in-laws Bismarck bank account for the down payment is in custody.

Carol Feist, 56, is being held at the Jefferson County Detention Center in Boulder, Montana, the jails roster shows.

Feist allegedly contacted a Bismarck bank in October using her mother-in-laws name and the in-laws' account information to arrange a wire transfer to a title company in Helena, Montana, according to a police affidavit. Feist financed the remainder of the $474,000 purchase price and produced notarized documents stating her father-in-law was the co-borrower. The police departments investigation showed the person listed as the notary was not licensed with the Secretary of States Office.

The Bismarck couple told police Carol Feist and her husband, Keith Feist, the couples son, lived with them for a time in 2017. The couple did not authorize a wire transfer or sign property documents for the home in Helena, the affidavit states.

Burleigh County authorities issued an arrest warrant for Feist on Nov. 30. She is charged with felony theft and unauthorized use of personal identifying information to obtain credit, court documents show. Each count carries a possible 20-year prison sentence. Court records dont list an attorney for her.

Feist waived extradition Wednesday, according to the Jefferson County Sheriffs Office. That clears the way for officials to bring her to North Dakota to face the charges.

Reach Travis Svihovec at 701-250-8260 or Travis.Svihovec@bismarcktribune.com

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The panel that guides North Dakota's $8.6 billion oil tax savings chose a new leader Wednesday, replacing the sitting chairman in the wake of frustration with how the board has rolled out new in-state investment mandates for the Legacy Fund.

The Legacy and Budget Stabilization Fund Advisory Board voted 8-1 for Sen. Jerry Klein, R-Fessenden, to lead the panel through June 2022.

The vote followed one to keep Rep. Keith Kempenich, R-Bowman, as chairman, which failed 3-6.

Kempenich said the votes didn't bother him, that he and Klein have always worked together to keep other board members apprised, and that he didn't ask to be nominated.

Kempenich, the No. 2 House budget writer, had led the board since 2013. Klein, the No. 2 Senate Republican, had served as vice chairman.

Sen. Kathy Hogan, D-Fargo, nominated Klein and commended Kempenich for his "amazing job." But she emphasized the change set by a bill passed last month by the Legislature that reshaped the board. The changes necessitated the chairman vote.

"I think to change roles might be a good faith effort to recognize a new stage that we're in in this committee," Hogan said.

The bill expanded the membership of the board, which now comprises three representatives, three senators, the Bank of North Dakota president, state tax commissioner, insurance commissioner and treasurer.

The latter two serve on the State Investment Board, which oversees investment programs for state funds.

The previous makeup was four lawmakers, the tax commissioner, bank president and the state budget director, who was removed.

The 2021 Legislature approved several in-state investment mandates of the Legacy Fund, including making investments in companies in the state.

Rep. Mike Nathe, R-Bismarck, introduced legislation last month during the Legislature's special session in an effort to hasten the in-state investment process. In response, the Legislature passed the bill reshaping the advisory board.

Short staffing of the state Retirement and Investment Office also has hindered the in-state components. The Legislature approved more employees and salaries for the office.

Some state lawmakers have expressed frustration with the pace of the in-state requirements' rollout, but the state securities commissioner has disagreed and said the mandates need time to work.

The voter-approved Legacy Fund is derived from 30% of monthly state oil tax revenue.

Reach Jack Dura at 701-250-8225 or jack.dura@bismarcktribune.com.

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Credential Stuffing 2021: The Latest Attack Trends and Tools From the stereotypical loner in the basement to organized criminal gangs and nation states, attackers have become increasingly sophisticated over the past decade. So, how can security and fraud teams stay ahead? The key lies in using automation, machine learning and AI to create a security deterrent. Download this white paper to learn more.

Cloud Native Edge-as-a-Service Webinar In this webinar, join Jun Shi, RVP, Outbound Product Management at Volterra and Grace Petrucci, Sr. Industry SMM Service Provider at F5, to discuss bringing cloud-native operation to modernize app delivery from mobile core to the enterprise edge. Tune in to learn more.

Developing a 5G Mobile Edge Computing Strategy 5G brings the convergence of telco and IT Cloud and offers new and expanded opportunities, but this convergence also introduces greater complexity. Read this e-book to fully understand how to develop a 5G mobile edge computing strategy.

F5 Volterra Edge Cloud Centralized architectures, like most current cloud offerings, fail to provide distributed edge environments with the service delivery they need. Read this e-guide to learn more about edge cloud and how it addresses the drawbacks of centralized cloud architectures.

Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) 43% of all breaches involved web applications, according to Verizon's 2020 report. A web application firewall (WAF) prevents successful attacks against your web applications. With this eBook, learn how to recognize essential WAF capabilities, integrate your application architectures, and fully understand WAF deployment options.

Managing Digital Transformation Risk in Financial Services With digital banking becoming a growing trend across financial institutions (with no signs of going away), embracing digital transformation turns into a critical practice for staying competitive. Read this research report to learn more about managing digital transformation risks and cybersecurity challenges in the financial service industry.

Financial Fraud Rising: Key Strategies to Combat Sophisticated ATO Attacks The global pandemic has shifted the way commerce is transacted. The online and mobile channels for banks and retailers alike are seeing sharp increases in transaction volume. This increases the attack surface. In this white paper, learn about the myriad of challenges risk executives face as they seek to address the escalating threat environment.

Shape Security Defends 8 of the Top 12 US Banks Join Dan Woods, a VP at Shape Security with more than 2 decades of cybersecurity experience at the FBI and CIA, as he discusses the changing cybersecurity landscape for the financial services industry, highlights the impact of FinTechs, digital banking, and more. Watch now to get started.

Defeating Application Fraud Applications are the most frequently targeted vector for todays fraudsters and cybercriminals. Watch this webinar to join the Global Head of AI at F5 Networks, Shuman Ghosemajumder, as he discusses application security threat trends, the weaponization of AI, and more.

Breaking the Cycle of Online Fraud Enterprise direct fraud losses are climbing  according to Juniper Research, these losses are projected to reach $48B per year by 2023. To make matters worse, current fraud tools require extensive configuration, generate uncertain risk scores and hamper user experience. View this webinar to learn a new AI-driven anti-fraud approach.

Cyber Security Myths That Are Harming Your Business This webinar provides an overview of the top cybersecurity myths potentially harming your organization, exploring the origins of each, dispelling them, and offering you a more effective approach going forward  watch now to uncover each misconception.

Learn How Cybercriminals Defeat CAPTCHA In this webinar, join Dan Woods  a VP from Shape Security  as he provides a comprehensive explanation (with a demonstration) as to the shortcomings of CAPTCHA and why it shouldnt be used to protect web and mobile applications. Watch now to get started.

2020 PHISHING AND FRAUD REPORT Phishing remains a popular method of stealing credentials, committing fraud, and distributing malware. Access this report to learn how fraudsters are building and hosting their phishing sites, the tactics they use to remain hidden, and how you can protect your business.

State of Application Strategy Report 2021 Progress that might normally have taken a decade has leapt forward in a single yearwith respondents maturing in their journeys toward digital expansion. Explore the new trends decision-makers will focus on in the years to come in the official 2021 F5 State of Application Strategy Report. Download the report here.

Attacker Economics: UNDERSTANDING THE ECONOMICS BEHIND CYBER ATTACKSWHAT MAKES YOUR COMPANY A PRIME TARGET? Automated attacks are proliferating against organizations around the globe. As the cost and investment of launching these attacks continues to plummet, companies are increasingly experiencing credential stuffing attacks that can lead to account takeover and fraud. View this e-book to learn how hacker finance leads to attacks.

The Industrialization of Fraud: Fighting Fire With Fire This white paper, The Industrialization of Fraud: Fighting Fire with Fire, provides exclusive insight into sophisticated fraud strategies and tactics, as well as a series of best practices that can be implemented to thwart fraud attempts. Read on to learn more.

BALANCING CUSTOMER CONVENIENCE WITH CYBERSECURITY THREATS IN FINANCIAL SERVICES Todays financial services organizations are facing the increasingly difficult task of balancing customer convenience with cybersecurity. Read this e-book to learn more about the current threats in the financial industry and discover how to strike a balance between UX and protection.
In this post I demonstrate how GPT-3, a new and advanced language model, can construct engaging and unique stories from user-specific data, with relative ease 

Storytelling with data

You can tell powerful stories with data, but so often we are faced with raw data (albeit beautifully presented), and are left to create our own narratives.

If you already have some form of connection to the data, for example it might be the product sales at the company you work for, you are motivated to create your own narrative. In this context, the raw data, effectively presented, is enough. Company performance dashboards, website traffic and application performance metrics are presented in the form of charts and data, with very little supporting text. Because you have a connection to the data, and additional context, you can spot patterns and tell your own stories - for example, how a change in pricing structure affected renewal rates.

However, if you dont have a strong connection to the data, you are not motivated to invest the time to explore, and create your own stories.

One way to motivate exploration is to make the data visually interesting; even playful. The OECD Better Life Index is an interesting example that allows you to explore data based on the relative weighting of topics. This certainly does makes the experience feel more personal.

The power of combining data and narrative is well understood in the journalism industry. Combining both narrative and data takes up a lot of screen estate, which is why they are often presented as a long-scroll, a story that unfolds with interactive elements triggered as you progress. Youve likely seen articles in this form from the likes of the BBC, New York Times or Bloomberg. Considering this post is about AI, somewhat topically, here is a story which tracks the usage of an image familiar to people who have studies image processing, and another which provides an introduction to machine learning. Theres even a term that describes this specific presentation style; scrollytelling.

All of the above examples have a single dataset, and a single story. What if the data were more personal? How could we create an accompanying narrative?

Many online services understand that we are interested in our own data, giving us a better understanding of our own behaviours and preferences. Services such as Spotify and Strava (a fitness tracked) allow you to create year in review reports at the end of the each year; a fun way to look back on, for example, the music youve listened to, or where youve run. However, in all cases, they present the raw data itself. Having said that, Stravas most recent effort was particularly beautiful, as seen in this video.

Running Report Card - v1. Procedural

Last year I wanted to explore the possibility of creating bespoke stories based on personal data, and as a Strava user, I had a go at creating a running report card. The app, which I launched last year, uses the Strava API to extract the raw data from an individual users account. This data undergoes a process of number crunching to extract information such as total mileage, and total elevation gain. It also runs some simple classification logic, for example a user might be rated as a recreational runner if their mileage is relatively low, or a dedicated runner if it is quite high. The app also throws in the odd comparison, for example, comparing their elevation gain to the height of Everest.

This data analysis creates a number of facts, the narrative itself is simply composed of passages of text, with tokens that represent where these facts should be inserted. Heres a section of the report that describes when the Strava athlete tends to go for runs (e.g. time of day, day of week):

We are creatures of habit, runners more so than most! You're most likely to find {{ forename }} pulling on {{ thirdPersonPossessivePronoun }} trainers and hitting the road (or trail) on a {{ mostlyRunsOn }}. {{ caps thirdPersonPronoun }} tends to go for long runs on a {{ longRunDay }} and works out on a {{ workoutDay }}. Also, {{ forename }} is {{ timeOfDay }}.

As a result, the structure of everyones report is largely the same - there is some branching logic in some circumstances, but for the most-part reports differ based purely on the facts.

I must admit, I was hoping for something more dynamic, however, when I shared the Running Report Card on Reddit and various other sites, it was well received, and to-date it has generated reports for just over 3,000 athletes.

It was lots of fun developing this app, but I felt I had reached my limit, no amount of if/then logic was going to make each report feel truly bespoke.

That was until I gained access to the GPT-3 

v.2 Running Report Card - AI-driven

Introducing GPT-3

Generative Pre-trained Transformer 3 (GPT-3) is the latest language model developed by OpenAI. The job of a language model is quite simple, given a sequence of words (or more accurately tokens), predict what comes next. This is an area of machine learning that has seen a lot of activity recently, and is progressing rapidly. GPT-3 uses a novel technique called attention, as described in the widely quoted paper Attention is All you Need, that allows the model to intelligently pick out the most important words (and concepts) within a passage of text.

This new technique, coupled with the vast size of the model itself (175 billion parameters) and the equally vast size of the training corpus (45TB of text from Common Crawl, and more), has resulted in a language model that is a significant leap forwards in capability. GPT-3 has a deep understanding of the English language (and many other languages too) and has knowledge of an incredible number of facts.

Yes, the numbers are impressive, but what I find truly astonishing about GPT-3 is the way that you interact with it.

Prior to GPT-3, using language models would typically involve spending a considerable amount of time creating a training dataset, which would be used to train the model to the specific task you had in mind. However, GPT-3 is general purpose by nature. You want it to perform a specific task? You either ask it directly, or give it a few examples, and it does the rest.

Lets say you want to build a tool that translates English into French. With GPT-3 you just give it a few examples (in what is termed a prompt):

English: I do not speak French. French: Je ne parle pas francais. English: See you later! French: A tout a l'heure! English: I have a pet cat

From this it understand the task at hand, and provides the following response (termed a completion):

French: J'ai un chat.

Thats it. Amazing.

GPT-3 doesnt have endpoints for the common language tasks of translation, summary generation and classification. It just has one endpoint, where you tell it (or show it) what you want it to do.

This is a huge leap forwards - it removes the need for picking a model that is specialised for a specific task, and removes the need to train (or fine tune) for your dataset.

Theres much more to be said about how GPT-3 works. If youre interested in a guided tour of the API and its capabilities, Id recommend the GPT-3 primer which my friend Chris Price wrote, I found it really useful.

Creating personal data stories with GPT-3

Returning to the Running Report Card, I wanted to see whether GPT-3 could be used to generate the narrative elements of this report. Im happy to say that it was more than capable.

My previous approach was to have passages of text with tokens that are replaced by facts derived from the users Strava data. With GPT-3, the approach is quite different.

The prompt (GPT-3 input) is comprised of the following:

A brief summary that tells GPT-3 what you want it to do A number of examples, in this case it is the facts, and sample narratives The facts for the current Strava user

Given the above, GPT-3 will generate a narrative based on the facts given in (3).

Heres part of the prompt for the passage of text that describes the users running patterns:

Write a narrative that describes when an athlete tends to go running, make it fun and inspiring. name: Colin gender: M long runs: Thursday or Monday workouts: Sunday or Monday time of day: morning mostly runs on: weekday narrative: We are creatures of habit, runners more so than most! You're most likely to find Colin pulling on his trainers and hitting the road (or trail) on a weekday. Colin is a morning runner, heading out as the sun starts to rise and when the roads are nice and quiet. We've analysed the data, and he tends to go for long runs on a Thursday or a Monday and works out on a Sunday or a Monday. name: Julie gender: F long runs: Monday workouts: Monday or Thursday time of day: morning mostly runs on: weekday narrative: Runners tend to live their life on a loop. You're most likely to find Julie pulling leaving the house and hitting the road on a weekday. Taking a closer look, she tends to go for long runs on a Monday and works out on a Monday or a Thursday. Also, Julie is a morning runner, heading out when the day has just begun, giving her that satisfied feeling of starting the day right. [... more examples omitted ...] name: {{name}} gender: {{gender}} long runs: {{longRunDay}} workouts: {{workoutDay}} time of day: {{timeOfDay}} mostly runs on: {{mostlyRunsOn}} narrative:

(the real prompts Im using contain around 10 example narratives)

The app replaces the tokens, e.g. {{gender}} , sends this prompt to the GPT-3 API, which then returns the narrative.

The end result is really quite impressive. Firstly, I can throw away all the code I previously used to try and create variability in the narrative (which I was never that happy with), and secondly, the narratives generated by GPT-3 are really quite creative - heres an example:

Lets see what Jacks weekly training schedule looks like. We can see that hes a late afternoon runner, often enjoying the last of the days sun. It looks like he tends to go for long runs on a Sunday, and work out on a Tuesday or a Thursday. Hes a man of routine, and we bet hell continue his routine to achieve his goals.

GPT-3 creates narrative, using linguistic tools such as analogies and metaphors, that Id not thought of before, and as a result the Running Report Card really does feel bespoke. Finally 

If youre interested, why not give it a try?

http://run-report.com

A few lessons learnt about prompt design

Working with GPT-3 has been a really interesting experience, and quite unlike any other interface or programming style Ive encountered before. There is much talk in the GPT-3 forums about prompt design, or in other words, the challenge of describing the task you want GPT-3 to perform.

There is much that can be said about this topic, but for now, Ill just share a few things I learnt along the way.

1. Refining prompts takes a lot of iterations

The output of GPT-3 is random in nature, resulting in variability in the text that it generates. Whilst ths is great for the purposes of my application, the narratives are bespoke and quite unique, it does make it hard to refine the prompt text. An improved narrative (based on my qualitative assessment) may be as a result of a better prompt, or could just be chance! Ive yet to find a solution to this problem, beyond basic statistical methods - create lots of narratives and manually score them!

2. GPT-3 understand gender and pronouns

GPT-3 is able to infer gender from names, e.g. it infers that someone named Alice is female. However, these inferences shouldnt be relied upon. Names like Sam are not assumed to be gender specific, and assuming gender from name alone is not to be encouraged. This is why one of the facts I supply is the gender of the Strava athlete as provided by the API.

My earlier report card, using simple templating, had to handle pronouns (she) and possessive pronouns (her). With GPT-3 it understand these concepts already, as long as it knows the gender, the sentence is constructed correctly. This removes yet more logic from my application.

Better still, in the previous version, I never got round to handling the case where the Strava athlete had declined to specify their gender. With GPT-3 this is simple. I have one example with an unknown gender, using they / their as pronouns, and thats all it needs to handle the case effectively.

3. GPT-3 is less good at deriving facts

In the running report card I use various comparisons to help people better understand distances, time, height etc - for example, comparing their total elevation gain to the height of various mountains or landmarks. GPT-3 is quick to learn that the narratives should include these comparisons, but often gets the maths wrong:

During these runs he has climbed 62,599 feet, thats the equivalent of climbing Mount Everest six times (but a bit less steep)

Everest is ~29,000 feet, so this runner has climbed Everest roughly twice.

The inability of large language models to perform even quite basic maths is well know. For this application, the solution is quite simple, create suitable comparison, and supply them as facts.

4. Creative and variable prompts work best

I found that the more creative and variable the prompts were, the better the end result. Im effectively teaching GPT-3 to mix it up a bit and that it doesnt have to stick to a rigid format. I played around with different sentence structures and additional snippets of text, for example:

Most of his runs are on the weekdays, at midday, perhaps a sneaky lunch-break runner? Back to work full of adrenaline

Adam is a weekend runner, a time for leisure and exercise. Youll most often find him heading out and building up a sweat at midday.

Jerry likes to keep his running on schedule, youre most likely to find him working up a sweat on a Thursday. Jerry is an evening runner, heading out as the sun starts to set.

All three convey the same key facts about their running patterns, but the sentence structures, and additional commentary is very different.

5. Handling excessive creativity

One of the most challenging problems I found was trying to encourage GPT-3 to employ the right level of creativity to the narratives. The API provides a couple of techniques for tuning the randomness of the output - temperature and Top-P (as described in Chris blog post).

An increased temperature results in narratives that are overly embellished:

On the days Carl works out, hell start easy and build it up to a quicker pace as the morning goes on.

(I didnt supply GPT-3 with any facts about pacing)

Trial and error pointed to a temperature of ~0.8 being an optimum. However, I also found that the longer the completion provided by GPT-3, the more likely it was to throw in these over-embellishments and suspicious facts.

To combat this, in each case I generated a small number of narratives, picking the one that is closest in length to the average narrative length in my prompts. I found this provided a great balance, allowing creativity in the generated narrative, but significantly reducing scope for over-embellishing.

Summary

To briefly wrap up, I have been deeply impressed with GPT-3. The prompt design programming model is intriguing and a new skill that you have to learn. Within this application I was able to create much better narratives, that are bespoke, creative and interesting, and all with less code than my previous template-based approach.

If youre a runner, why not have a go at generating your running report card? Or if not, feel free to take a look at my report.

Colin E.


Alexandria Wang My Daughter Being Ripped Away By the American Evil System

Dec. 08, 2021, Wednesday, Updated Dec. 10, and To Be Updated A Lot More

by Limin Wang

Here, I post online the two video clips, unedited at all. I took these

videos with my phone when the so-called Administration for Children's

Services (one black male named himself as Geraldo Duran, and a fat black

woman) and Police (two white male) came with my seventeen-and-a-half-years-

old daughter Alexandria Wang at the night of Oct. 05, 2021 to my being-

eviction-cased rental residence at 136-09 59th Ave, Ground Floor Rear

Apartment, Flushing, NY 11355, according to that same day's earlier phony "

Family" "Court" proceeding's Judge Emily Ruben's oral decision, to get my

daughter Alexandria Wang's "personal belongings" out of this family. The ACS

, the Police, and their accomplices Long Island Jewish Medical Center and

later South Oaks Hospital had NEVER shown me any WRITTEN document, medical

or legal, prior to the phony Oct. 05, 2021 first hearing of "Child Neglect".

In addition, these humanscums had NEVER discussed or revealed any of their

so-called "medical" evaluation, diagnoses, or treatments with me the father

at all. These humanscums from the AMERICAN EVIL SYSTEM had only used their

PSYCHIATRIC VICTIM Li Li as a normal parent, or as a normal adult, and

purposedly as their cover-up. What these humanscums, including some of the

teachers or guidance counselor or social worker at Bronx High School of

Science, have said and done to Alexandria Wang, have actually been a top

secret to the parents, because these systemic humanscums have injected the

toxic idea of privacy into my youngster, and because these systemic

humanscums have prohibited Alexandria Wang from using her phone or laptop at

the "hospitals" and further prohibited Alexandria Wang from having direct

communications with her parents!

There have been some security camera captures too. This post is expected to

be updated with a lot of details. Today, Dec. 08, 2021, my daughter

Alexandria Wang kept asking me to give back the little money she earned by

working at World Ice Arena, sometimes being told to clean the filthy public-

use bathrooms which were sometimes awfully messed by a swarm of Jewish

children. The total of her direct deposit into my checking account is

absolutely less than two thousand dollars, or only close to one thousand

dollars, as I need to check for the exact number. At ~15 pm today, the liar

black woman who came over here on Nov. 15 and 19, 2021 was SUDDENLY calling

my phone to announce THEY WILL HAVE A MEETING WITH ME tomorrow (Dec. 09,

2021) noon 12, while some humanscum had delivered the unenveloped printouts

of "family" "court" "documents" onto this residence building's iron gate at

the very night before Thanksgiving, and the papers have stated the next

phony hearing will be on December 16, 2021 at 02:00 PM. The Queens County's

"family" "court" and ACS (or called Children Protection Services) had

suddenly made such kind of surprise phony meeting before, for example, on

Oct. 14, 2021, and during that berief phone meeting, judge Emily Ruben was

only asking me whether I was recording the meeting, and then this coward

simply hung up the phone once and again after I frankly said I had to for

the sake of TRUTH AND JUSTICE!

Public viewers, please pay close attention to the two police men,

particularly the mid-aged bald police, as well as the ACS/CPS man Geraldo

Duran. The fat black mid-aged woman was unnamed to me, and she was the one

body-language controlling Alexandria Wang by "hand-guiding" on my daughter's

back to leave the trauma-stricken parents and home.

The following 95-seconds-long video showed the bald policeman took over the USA passport and birth certificate of Alexandria Wang's from me, checked both, and simply passed them to ACS/CPS man Geraldo Duran, and then left. I had asked to allow me to directly pass these two documents to my daughter Alexandria Wang, but she was no more nearby or within the sight.

https://youtu.be/jVmH_OvceHM



The thirty-one-minutes-and-one-second-long video I took while I came into the hallway and opened the iron gate to them and then the police held me near the iron gate in the hallway has met with uploading difficulty onto YouTube, but now is successfully uploaded and publicized at Facebook. The link is below:

https://www.facebook.com/limin.wang.94651/videos/665771597779295/?notif_id=1639056242272733if_t=video_processed&ref=notif

I will provide the needed annotations of this long video later, but right now, it's noteworthy to point out one thing for what I have long accused that it's a PREMEDITATED AND COORDINATED STATE TERRORISTS ATTACKS ON ME AND MY FAMILY AT WORKPLACES, AT RENTAL RESIDENCE, AT PUBLIC VENUES, AT SCHOOLS, ONLINE, ETC, AND THE STATE TERRORISTS PIT FAMILY MEMBERS AGAINST EACH OTHER FOR THEIR DESTROY OF THE WHOLE FAMILY. In year 2020, the actual-second-floor old humanscum man used a hammer or something to break the switch panels of the shared hallway and front-wall lights, because the actual-second-floor claims these lights consume their electricity! I complained to landlord Mr. Maurice Shiau, and he FINALLY on January 28, 2021 brought someone to "fix" the lights switches and something else. Actually, pretty much NOTHING was really fixed, but something was definitely STAGED. The electricity wiring must have gone through the Actual-Second-Floor or something so ASF can CONTROL the electricity of the whole building or at least THE FIRST-FLOOR HALLWAY'S TWO LIGHT FIXTURES, THE BUILDING FRONT WALL'S LIGHT, AND MY RENTAL PLACE of GROUND FLOOR REAR APARTMENT. So, I could not switch on any of the building's light for the front yard at nighttime, and I have to extend a wire from within my apartment to the immediate outside of my apartment door since this vicinity about twenty feet away from the building entrance is dim or dark. These two videos absolutely show that the frontyard was dark, even their newly mounted automatic infrared responsive light was NOT turned on, and the whole actual-second-floor's family treats the first-floor-hallway's ceiling light as their private own and almost always turns it off. Then, what would happen or facilitatedly happen in the DARKNESS? Humanscums, whether self-claimingly as police or in apparent police uniform, or absolutely the actual-second-floor ones, came to the building's front and to knock or bang the iron gate, or came (into) to my apartment door to often BANG and THREAT. WHAT THE AMERICAN EVIL SYSTEM HAS DONE TO PROVIDE A SAFE HOME ENVIRONMENT TO A FAMILY WITH CHILDREN???????

What's inside the envelopes that Geraldo Duran was wielding when they suddenly came to this rental residence at ~21:30, Oct. 05, 2021, Tuesday? He did not leave anything of his first-wielding NOTEPAD as claimed to be the written allegations/documents to me. The two white envelopes were separately handwritten only with "Limin Wang" or "Li Li" on. Li Li was inside the apartment and would NOT accept the letter, so Geraldo Duran put the "Li Li" letter on top of a bin at the only cross-path area within my apartment, and Li Li has NEVER opened any of the "important" letters addressed to her since her psychiatric return home in year 2015! Because this so-called Administration for Children Services blackman came in the afternoon of Oct. 01, 2021, a Chinese Independence Anniversary Day, saw from his vehicle that I was in front yard but did NOT call or contact me, but only left TWO letters onto the iron gate after I was away from the front yard, and this Geraldo Duran was, like the NYS Workers' Compensation "Judge" blackman Mr. Lucky Enobakhare, faking a SEVERE accent on the Oct. 04, 2021 hearing held by the so-called Administration for Children's Service and I could not hear what the fuck he was alleging about, and this Oct. 05, 2021 night the TWO male policemen were obviously treating me as their prey, I felt disgusted by such a humanscum system, so I told Geraldo Duran to either put that letter to the iron gate again or into a mailbox. He then put into the WRONG mailbox in the dark.

Here are the total TWELVE non-edited or non-reditted photos of every page of what's inside that Oct. 05, 2021 envelope. I did NOT cover the shown DOB of my daughter Alexandria Wang, because these HUMANSCUMS later changed her DOB to 04/20/2004 for her NEW health insurance at a different company, Affinity, and the so-called children adoption actually children trafficking agency blurrily as SCO also handwrote the same wrong 04/20/2004 DOB on some paper forms. The so-called Judge's Decision was a LOUSY PHOTOCOPY already in the INFORMAL ENVELOPE delivered in the INFORMAL WAY. The ONLY OTHER signature inside the envelope was a "name" seemingly to be the ACS's legal representative but absolutely unknown to me. THIS WHOLE EVIL SYSTEM, INCLUDING THE QUEENS COUNTY FAMILY COURT, HAS INTENTIONALY FABRICATED THE "PRESENCE" OF MY DAUGHTER ALEXANDRIA WANG ON THE VIRTUAL HEARING, and MALICIOUSLY PITTED A YOUNG CHILD KNOWING ALMOST NOTHING ABOUT THE REAL AMERICAN EVIL SYSTEM AGAINST THE ALREADY TRAUMA-STRICKEN PARENTS ESPECIALLY THE FATHER. These vicious systemic humanscums from this RUN-ON-PROSTITUTION system even identify me the only fighter against the evil in their prostitution-wired print "Limin Wang, The Alleged Father of said child". And, the so-called "allegations" on the NEVER-SIGNED written forms were full of BULLSHIT AND FRIVOLITY AND DISTORT AND FABRICATION AND ASSAULT,,, IN ALL, EVIL MALICE. I will point them out one by one when up to its priority.
Since discovering it in the early 2000s, I have always loved the 1974 movie,

Chinatown, and re-watched every year. The story, written by Robert Towne, bears

the distinctive flavor of Raymond Chandler and tells about a hard-boiled private

detective navigating the labyrinth of a hideous crime. After watching it so many

times and the thrills gone, however, what still pull me in are the dialogues.

These days, I often find myself reciting some of them while taking a walk.

The most impressive exchange for me is when the hero J. J. Gittes meets, for the

first time, for lunch with Noah Cross, the villian, after the death of Hollis

Mulwray, Cross's former business partner, son-in-law, and victim. Each sentence

follows up with its predecessor like gear works and the transitions just flow.

On top of it, the actors (Jack Nicholson and John Huston) deliver so masterfully

that the conversation invites memorizing.

CROSS

You've got a nasty reputation, Mr. Gitts. I like that.

GITTES

Thanks.

CROSS

If you were a bank president that

would be one thing, but in your

business it's admirable.

And it's good advertising.

GITTES

It doesn't hurt.

CROSS

It's why you attract a client like my daughter.

GITTES

Probably.

CROSS

But I'm surprised you're still working

for her, unless she's suddenly

come up with another husband.

GITTES

No. She happens to think the last

one was murdered.

CROSS

How did she, uh, get that idea?

GITTES

I think I gave it to her.

CROSS (looking closely at the fish served up for Gittes)

I hope you don't mind.

I believe they should be served with the head.

GITTES

Fine, as long as you don't serve

chicken that way.

CROSS (chuckling)

Tell me, what do the police say?

...

Its late producer, Robert Evans, used to say that not only Chinatown held up,

but it was getting better with time. By 2021, 47 years had passed. Searching

online the other day, I learnt that the script was ranked number three in the

Writer's Guild of America West's top 101 greatest screenplays and there were

youtube videos and blogs explaining its success. The top five included also

Casablanca, The Godfather, Citizen Kane, and All About Eye and among these, I

had watched the first three. The Godfather was memorable, but I liked Chinatown

better. Evans seemed to be right.
You will not genuinly feel old till your have a...
Disney evidently acquired the rights to Firefly and plans to make a Disney+ streaming version intended to be more family-friendly. In keeping with Disney's family-friendly ideals, Joss Whedon will not be joining the project.

I hope they still swear in Chinese.

MovieWeb:

The original Firefly series on Fox was intended for mature audiences. Inara, for example, is explicitly known to be a courtesan on the show. There are also political, social, and economic factors that interrogate the morals and ethics of the characters' world and society. Disney has not confirmed anything about the plot, but there is speculation on how the story will differ. Some routes include picking up right where the series left off and delving into the past of the Malcolm Reynolds (Nathan Fillion) who fought in the civil war against the Alliance. However, it is most likely that Disney will restart the entire series on a more family-friendly note. While Disney achieved a new "first" in Eternals by featuring the first openly gay character and first real sex scene, it's unlikely that Firefly will do the same. Instead, they might opt for a narrative that would appeal to a more general audience on its streaming platform.

Since Firefly was his vision and dream, many wondered whether or not Joss Whedon would return for the reboot. While Whedon isn't a stranger to creating television propertiesBuffy the Vampire Slayer is a much beloved series to this dayit seems that the allegations of workplace harassment against him might be the reason he won't be returning. Indeed, WarnerMedia conducted an investigation,, resulting in swift action from the studio. Whedon then exited the HBO Max series The Nevers, and it's safe to assume that producers, especially Disney, are cautious about working with him. He has not directed any television shows or movies since leaving The Nevers.
My wife and I had our first kid last June, three months into this pandemic life. By September, she had received a jury summons from the state. Needless to say, as a new mother in a vaccine-less pandemic world, she was not particularly excited about this opportunity, and of course, deferred it to a later date. She's since received another summons, which she also deferred  but you're only allowed so many deferrals.

I of course understood her concerns about being trapped in a room with a bunch of strangers all day, even if they are all wearing masks. But one thing I didn't consider was how the deferrals of people like her might impact the demographics of American juries  the topic of a recent op-ed in the Washington Post by Radley Balko:

Covid-consicous people are being excluded from juries, either through self-selection or with dismissals by judges. They worry these juries are even less skeptical of police and prosecutors, and thus are even more likely to convict. There is some evidence to support their concerns. Polling has consistently shown a strong correlation between political ideology and attitudes about covid. Those who are more cautious about covid and supportive of precautions tend to be more liberal; those less concerned tend to be more conservative. (While there was a strong consensus among the public defenders I spoke with that covid has made juries more conservative, it wasn't universal, and I'll discuss some of the exceptions in a future column.) The most immediate way the pandemic may be altering juries is who responds to jury summonses in the first place. "We're finding that far fewer people are showing up at all," says Dan Engleberg, chief of trials for the public defenders office in Orleans Parish in Louisiana. "So there's a concern that before we even start questioning jurors, we're starting with a population less worried about covid."

Balko also points out that, while some trials have moved to Zoom, many judges have been quick to dismiss potential jurors with spotty wifi connections  meaning more jurors who are wealthy and educated, and fewer jurors from rural areas.

We need this pandemic to end. But we also need fewer people in prison, which means we can't all sit out our jury duty.

Opinion: The pandemic might be producing juries that are more likely to convict [Radley Balko / The Washington Post]

Image: Public Domain via PixaBay
Geraldine DeRuiter describes her horrendously memorable meal at Bros, a Michelin-starred restaurant in Lecce, Italy ("Cost: a rather mortifying 130-200 Euros per person"). She said it was "one of the worse wastes of money in my entire food and travel writing career."

The main course was a "tablespoon of crab" served in an indentation on a whimsical clay plot. Other "courses" included a "paper-thin fish cracker," a "sliver of oyster loaf with foam," a "teaspoon of olive ice cream," and a citrus foam resembling vomit "served in a plaster cast of the chef's mouth. Absent utensils, we were told to lick it out of the chef's mouth in a scene that I'm pretty sure was stolen from an eastern European horror film."

A hierarchical pecking order was being established, and when you're the one desperately slurping sustenance out of the plaster cast of someone else's mouth, it's safe to say you are at the bottom of that pyramid. We'd been beaten into some sort of weird psychological submission. Like the Stanford Prison Experiment but with less prison and more aspic. That's the only reason I have for why we didn't leave during any of these incidents: When a member of our party stood up during the lengthy stretch between courses to go have a cigarette outside, and was scolded to sit down.

When one member of our party was served nothing for three consecutive courses, because they couldn't figure out how to accommodate her food allergies.

When Rand was served food he was allergic to, repeatedly, because they didn't care enough to accommodate his.

When a server reprimanded me for eating. These reconstituted orange slices (one per person) were a course. I asked if I could eat the real orange that had been served alongside it (we'd all gotten one, and I, at this point, was extremely hungry). "Yes," the server said, annoyed. "But you aren't really supposed to." He let me have two segments and then whisked the fruit away.

This beat's Rob's Nello experience!
The QAnon snake is eating its own tail. Alpha Trumpanzees are at each other's throats, with attorney Lin Wood recently denouncing far-right loons such as Michael Flynn, Tucker Carlson, and Empty Gee as deep state operatives. The rift between Wood and Flynn has left mid-level QAnon propagandists in a panic as the cult threatens to break into warring factions. Their solution, they say, is to stop fighting with each other, and focus on literally slaughtering their shared enemy: everyone who rejects the tenets of the emerging fascist theocracy.

Lin Wood calls out the "real Deep State media"  Tucker Carlson, Dan Bongino, Sean Hannity, Charlie Kirk, and "the guy with the fake accent Sebastian Gorka." He says he has "severed my relationship with General Flynn," and "they're all in it together." pic.twitter.com/hTFiGs6C5f

From The Bulwark:

Romana Didulo, who called herself the QAnon "Queen of Canada," called on her 70,000 Telegram followers on November 21 to murder healthcare workers, writing, "Shoot to kill anyone who tries to inject Children under the age of 19 years old with Coronavirus19 vaccines/ bioweapons or any other Vaccines. This order is effective immediately." She changed that to arrest two days later, but not because she doesn't want these "traitors" dead: "Please, use airports, hospitals, schools, stadiums, and other public venues to hold and detain all traitors. They will stay there until Military Tribunal is held for each one of them until the day they are executed via firing squad or hanging."

This is, of course, the heart of QAnonmass executionsbut calling on her followers to actively begin the process is not an everyday occurrence; one wonders how the self-proclaimed "Queen of Canada's" followers will respond to her arrest.
The Boston Globe reports that the unsolved 2001 murder of a disabled woman in New Bedford, Massachusetts is being re-examined, thanks to newly-found DNA evidence from a conch shell. The woman, Rose Marie Moniz, was found bludgeoned to death inside her home with a conch shell, a fireplace poker, and a cast-iron fireplace kettle, while her then-19-year-old son was asleep on the second floor.

Though local suspicion has haunted the son for the last two decades, prosecutors recently tested the conch shell murder weapon for DNA, and found evidence connecting the incidence back to Moniz's half-brother, David W. Reed, who allegedly trying to steal some cash from Moniz's purse:

Reed was tied to the murder by [Bristol Attorney General Thomas M.] Quinn, whose office since 2019 has been reviewing case files, physical evidence and forensic evidence from some 70 unsolved homicides dating to 1975. Spokesman Gregg Miliote said one investigative technique Quinn's office uses is to search for the Y chromosome in biological evidence, which can generate a DNA profile used to identify males with a similar genetic profile. Moniz fought for her life, investigators concluded, and they were able to develop a Y-STR profile tied to the males in the Cunha line from biological evidence recovered from her dominant right hand. Reviewing crime scene photographs, investigators noticed a pattern of indentations on Moniz's face that matched the spines on the back of the partially broken shell, one of two displayed next to the fireplace in her beach-themed home. Her injuries were so extreme, investigators reasoned the killer must have had to put a hand inside the shell in order to grip it.

Reed himself has a colorful history of violence and theft, which the Globe goes into. But none of his other exploits have involved sea shells.

A most unusual murder weapon  a conch shell  used to solve 2001 New Bedford murder, Bristol DA says [John R. Ellement / The Boston Globe]

Image: Wolfslr / Wikimedia Commons [CC-BY-SA 4.0)
The giant confusing book of maps that every GenX Angeleno remembers is back.

When things got bad enough, as a teen, to take the Thomas Guide out we were already fucked and the night was probably shot.

LA Times:

Despite its huge database, the Thomas Guide stumbled in the digital age, and owner Rand McNally replaced cartographers and cut costs. The guides seemed destined to be lost to nostalgia, yet they didn't disappear.

Only the L.A./Orange County and San Diego/Imperial counties guides are still produced today, but Thomas is expecting good sales.

From his office outside San Antonio, Larry Thomas, now the majority owner of the Thomas Maps brand, said that at one time the Thomas Guide had seven or eight distributors in California alone and printed a Spanish-language edition too.

"Private car owners are a very small part of our business now," he said. "But California state legislation says that every police and fire vehicle must have a Thomas Guide on board. Fire roads often aren't on GPS, and ambulances can't get lost, as every second could be life-saving. They often buy laminated copies too, as they get so beat up."
The street in front of the Saudi Arabia embassy in Washington DC was renamed "Jamal Khashoggi Way." The DC government unanimously approved changing the name to honor the Washington Post journalist who was assassinated in 2018, allegedly under orders by Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman.

From NPR:

"Renaming the street in front of the Saudi embassy in honor of Khashoggi will be an important gesture in support of accountability for his brutal murder," said Sarah Leah Whitson, executive director of Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN).

Khashoggi founded the human rights organization nearly four months before he was killed.

A February U.S. intelligence report found that Saudi Arabia's crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, had approved the operation that led to Khashoggi's brutal death. The intelligence report prompted calls for penalties against the man next in line to the Saudi throne.

The crown prince has denied any role in Khashoggi's death. Officials for the Saudi embassy in Washington did not respond to requests for comment about the D.C. council's decision.
ALBANY  Gov. Kathy Hochuls quest to be elected to a full, four-year term in 2022 got much less bumpy Thursday with the surprise departure of Attorney General Letitia James from the Democratic gubernatorial field of candidates.

James, who Democratic insiders just months ago believed would be the immediate front-runner in a governors race, ended her gubernatorial run after just six weeks.

Letitia James launches bid for governor against Gov. Kathy Hochul Attorney General Letitia James this afternoon formally announced her bid to become New York governor, setting up a powerful showdown between the states top lawyer from Brooklyn and Gov. Kathy Hochul of Buffalo.

With a growing number of people interested in her job as attorney general, James took to social media to halt her gubernatorial quest and quickly made sure Democrats knew she is seeking re-election to her current post.

I have come to the conclusion that I must continue my work as attorney general. There are a number of important investigations and cases that are underway, and I intend to finish the job," she said on Twitter.

Hochul said James called her Thursday morning with news of her decision.

All I can say is I respect her tremendously, always have  and I look forward to having her on the ticket as we head into the November elections together.
Abbott, the Lockport police chief, said those charges would carry a maximum 15-year state prison sentence if committed by an adult. But the 14-year-old, as well as the 12-year-old charged earlier this fall, are to be prosecuted in Family Court, where prison sentences are off the table.

The 14-year-old was charged in connection with threats that closed Lockport High School Friday of last week as well as Tuesday. The latter closure led Bradley to place all Lockport schools on remote learning for the rest of this week.

The option of remote learning doesn't tempt superintendents to quickly close a school, in Wolfe's opinion.

In a situation like this we probably would have closed either way, whether we would have been adapted to remote learning and familiar with it based on Covid or not. The safety of the students would come first in this kind of a situation," Wolfe said.

In Medina, the district got wind of a possible threat last Thursday evening, but after police investigated the matter, the district decided not to close or shift to virtual learning the next day.

The online post didn't seem to be fresh, Medina Police Chief Chad Kenward said.
The Coast Guard copter arrived at the scene at about 1:55 p.m. and began to hover over the partially submerged vehicle. After several minutes, a diver in an orange suit holding an ax, edged out the door of the aircraft and was slowly lowered toward the vehicle.

As the rotor wash whipped up the rivers current, the diver managed to reach the vehicle, grab onto it from the passenger side and open the front passenger door.

As dozens of onlookers, including members of the public, media and emergency responders watched intently from the riverbank, the diver raised his arm to signal to the copters crew that he had reached the occupant.

The diver, holding tightly onto the womans body, was lifted into the air and lowered carefully onto dry land at about 2:15 p.m. Emergency personnel swiftly surrounded them.

Rola said no movement was observed in the vehicle in the period leading up to the rescue attempt and a state park official confirmed the woman was dead before the Coast Guard diver got to her.

Police were able to read the license plate and identify the owner of the vehicle, though it wasn't clear whether that was the woman who was pulled from it. There were no other occupants.
The day after the body of a woman was plucked from a car that plunged into the Niagara River near the edge of the American Falls, police said their investigation indicates that it was not an accident.

"At this point in the investigation, entry into the water appears to be an intentional act," New York State Park Police Capt. Christopher Rola said in an emailed statement Thursday.

"However, cause and manner of death is still yet to be determined through autopsy," he added.

He also said that the victim has not been officially identified.

As the investigation into how the vehicle ended up in the water continued, authorities were also trying to determine what to do with the car. By Thursday, it had drifted even closer to the edge and was upside down. It teetered at times, but eventually seemed to be stuck in a shallow area about 40 feet from the brink of the American Falls.

When the U.S. Coast Guard made the rescue attempt Wednesday, the vehicle was right side up and appeared to be stuck on rocks, about 100 to 150 feet from the brink.
WASHINGTON  Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz and four of his big-county colleagues traveled to the National Press Club Wednesday to talk about how they planned to spend the money the federal government showered on them in response to the pandemic.

But like the nation at large, they struggled to get past the pandemic and its politics.

"I've had death threats" from opponents of Erie County's attempts to control Covid-19, Poloncarz said in his characteristic, matter-of-fact tone.

And while his recent decision to reimpose an indoor mask mandate prompted a protest outside his office, Poloncarz didn't seem to be bothered by the fierce opposition he's facing.

"I look at it as: 'Yes, not everyone's going to be happy. But in the end, am I doing the right thing to protect my public?' " Poloncarz, who is up for re-election for a fourth term in 2023, said. "If that means I get voted out next time around, I can live with that. Because at the end of the day, that allows me to put my head on the pillow at night and sleep ... I'd rather sleep and do the right thing, even if it's not popular with everyone, than do the thing that's popular with everyone but more lives are taken as a result."
On Thursday, Malatras called it quits. He said recent events have become a distraction for the work needed to be done by SUNY as it endures another wave of the Covid pandemic.

Documents released recently by Attorney General Letitia James, whose August report on allegations of sexual harassment involving Cuomo led to the governors resignation, showed Malatras making disparaging remarks about Boylan, a former senior economic development official in the Cuomo administration who in 2019 first tweeted out about the toxic work environment in the governors office. The following year, she publicly accused Cuomo of sexual harassment, which Cuomo denied.

At the time of his emails  for which he recently apologized  Malatras was president of Empire State College. He became chancellor despite criticisms that the SUNY board broke with a long tradition and did not conduct a national search for the leadership post at the 64-campus SUNY system.

The Cuomo scandal impact has touched some of his key advisers, both in and out of government. Chris Cuomo, the governors brother, lost his job at CNN, as well as a book deal, following release of documents showing his role in trying to contain or control the public relations fallout from the governors scandals.
Who's challenging it: The rule was challenged in four separate lawsuits filed by Republican-led states, mostly in groups. Florida and Texas mounted their own challenges. The states argued that there were no grounds for an emergency rule, that CMS had no clear legal authority to issue the mandate and that the rule infringes on states' responsibilities.

Where it stands: The rule is on hold nationally, but a ruling Dec. 15 gives it the possibility of moving ahead in about half the states. A Missouri-based federal judge issued a preliminary injunction Nov. 29 barring its enforcement in 10 states that had originally sued. The next day, a Louisiana-based federal judge issued a preliminary injunction barring enforcement in the rest of the states. But on Dec. 15, that was narrowed to the 14 suing in that court. And on Dec. 15, a federal judge in Texas granted an injunction that applies only to that state. After the decisions, there is a possibility the mandate could be enforced in 25 states where no injunction is in place. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid have not said whether they will pursue that path.
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP)  A proposed bill in the New Mexico state House would set aside $100 million for alternative broadband.

Thats the legislators term for high-speed internet that isnt transmitted by the traditional way with cables buried in the ground.

Lack of internet access during the pandemic hobbled low-income and rural students and made it hard for rural communities to access healthcare services that are increasingly going online.

New Mexico is already experimenting with novel internet delivery systems ranging from TV broadcasts to blimps that beam internet from the sky. SpaceX says it will begin to offer high-speed internet in the state starting sometime in mid-2022.

The Legislature is meeting this week to draw new political boundaries integrating new population numbers from the 2020 Census.

On Wednesday, legislators debated parts of the spending bill that would allocate $1 billion in federal aid. They're working on allocating the money now after a state court ruled last month that the governor cant spend the money without their approval.
 Determine whether UAPs have any connection with foreign governments or other organizations.

 Deliver an annual report to Congress on the office's work.

That's a much heavier workload than that carried by a temporary Navy task force that merely collects data on UFO sightings. And much more work needs to be done than what the task force can accomplish, said Rep. Ruben Gallego, an Arizona Democrat who pushed for the amendment in the House.

Based on briefings Ive received as chairman of the House Intelligence and Special Operations Subcommittee, I firmly believe that the Department of Defense and the Intelligence Community need to come together and create a permanent, synchronized structure to collect and analyze UAP data," Gallego said.

Of course, some of those UFOs might not be anything extraterrestrial.
We dont know the precise nature of the training that backstopped Wednesdays bravery, only that the preparation is never free of risk. The rescue swimmer who put his own safety on the line Wednesday had to train. So did the pilot of the helicopter that allowed the daring rescue attempt to take place. Their work demanded skill, courage and nerves of steel.

And, as it turned out, the rescue effort was in vain; the woman in the car was already dead. Imagine the horror if one of the rescuers had died, not knowing for certain that the person they were trying to save was already deceased.

The rescue mission riveted the attention of those nearby and of millions more who followed it in real time. What they saw was bravery in action. What they missed was bravery in contemplation.

  

Whats your opinion? Send it to us at lettertoeditor@buffnews.com. Letters should be a maximum of 300 words and must convey an opinion. The column does not print poetry, announcements of community events or thank you letters. A writer or household may appear only once every 30 days. All letters are subject to fact-checking and editing.
The Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation (ECHDC) was funded by the Niagara Power Relicensing process. Between 2004 and 2007, diverse actors met for countless hours to decide on what conditions New York Power Authority would continue; none argued that this critical infrastructure be eliminated. Yet it was acknowledged that the construction and operations the Moses and Lewiston hydro-electricity facilities have serious negative impacts on the environment and local communities. Discussions revolved around how damages could be ameliorated through NYPA funding. ECHDC, a subsidiary of Empire State Development, was formed with NYPA funding to develop downtown Canalside. Meanwhile at the Outer Harbor, nature had taken hold since the port closed in the 1970s, building ecosystems on the contaminated post-industrial landscape.

The Erie Canal Harbor Development (it should be Destruction) Corp., now owners of the lakefront, has proposed projects that destroy the regenerating landscapes instead of ameliorating damage. The proposed amphitheater and Outer Harbor plan (GPP) makes a mockery of the aim of the licensing process. Instead of building resiliency along the coast and habitat, their plans destroy land and eco-systems. These actions are irresponsible given the climate and biodiversity crises that calls us not only to preserve and reinforce regenerating ecosystems to repair damage, but to leave a legacy of resilience for our children. Gov. Kathy Hochul, stop your agency from building vanity, unnecessary projects with public funds! Transfer the Outer Harbor to State Parks to protect the city from increasingly severe storms, to provide habitat for our fellow creatures, and to give all our residents access to a natural experience next to the water.
TORONTO, Dec. 8, 2021 /CNW/ - Boom Health, Inc. ("Boom Health") is pleased to announce that BDC, the bank for Canadian entrepreneurs, is now a Boom finance partner.

Boom Health Logo (CNW Group/Boom Health)

Boom Health is a made-in-Canada solution to make it easy for families to arrange in-home healthcare services for their loved ones. Incubated at the Digital Media Zone (DMZ) at Ryerson, the Boom Health platform is a 'one-stop' app that allows users to book personal support workers and nursing care, scheduled professional transportation services, medical equipment rentals and purchases, and healthy, freshly prepared meals with industry leading suppliers vetted by Boom Health. Extremely easy to use, the app enables family participation, with shared communications and split payments. Boom Health has collaborated with the Patient Family Advisory Council (PFAC) at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in the development and trial of the app.

Boom Health's new financing from BDC will focus on enabling scaling and growth. The months ahead will see Boom Health expand beyond Toronto, with an overall goal of being the premier app for in-home healthcare coordination globally.

"The timing of this partnership is significant," says Lisa Assaf, founder of Boom Health. "As we emerge from the pandemic, it is clear that in-home healthcare is the future. Most seniors want to comfortably age at home as long as possible, with the right support in place and in-home care remains the least expensive solution to managing care for seniors. We are proud to have the support and experience of BDC behind us in our next phase of growth and looking forward to a long term partnership in our journey."

- Lisa Assaf, founder, Boom Health.

"We are extremely proud of our work with Boom Health," says Jasmin Ganie-Hobbs, from BDC's Tech Industry Team. "Companies that push the boundaries of what is possible is a passion of ours. To see the transformative potential of Boom Health in the health system and for individual families is inspiring. We are eager to work with Boom Health's strong leadership team and drive this initiative to its full potential.

Story continues

- Jasmin Ganie-Hobbs, Account Manager, BDC.

Boom Health is launching in the Toronto market and planning beyond, including via partnerships with governments and health system partners. The leadership team welcomes partnership or investment inquiries.

About Boom Health:

Boom Health is a company focused on providing digital solutions to manage today's complex world of personal at-home health care. The app is currently available in Toronto and will be expanding to other cities next year. Non-Toronto residents can sign up for updates at https://boom.health .

About BDC:

BDC, the Business Development Bank of Canada, is the financial institution devoted to Canadian entrepreneurs. BDC provides financing and advisory services to help Canadian businesses grow and succeed. The bank's investment arm, BDC Capital, offers a wide range of risk capital solutions. https://www.bdc.ca/

About DMZ

The DMZ helps companies grow their business. That means when founders want high-impact and a highly-customized tech incubator program, they come to the DMZ. Ranked as the top university-based tech incubator in the world, the DMZ provides a launchpad for founders to build and scale fast. Bigger and bolder than any other program of its kind, the DMZ has been creating the next gen of game-changing, global businesses since 2010. Learn more at www.ryerson.ca/dmz

SOURCE Boom Health

Cision

View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/December2021/08/c4215.html
(Bloomberg) -- PT Garuda Indonesia is entering a court-supervised debt restructuring process after a Jakarta court accepted a debt petition filed against the airline in a test of how far Indonesias government will go to rescue a state-owned company.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Garuda amassed $9.8 billion in debt and judges in the Central Jakarta Commercial Court accepted a petition to suspend debt payments to its creditors. The move potentially paves the way to cut liabilities to $3.7 billion and allow the flag carrier to renegotiate leasing terms or return planes to aircraft lessors with the smallest penalties possible.

The judges ruled that PT Mitra Buana Koorporindo, an IT company hired by the airline to procure equipment and manage services, was able to prove that Garuda owed them 4.2 billion rupiah ($293,000), that the carrier has liabilities to more than one creditor, has unpaid debt and is likely unable to pay its debt.

The court will hold a further hearing after the 45-day window to negotiate with creditors on Jan. 24. The process could be extended to 270 days if the state-owned airline and its creditors need more time.

Garuda will communicate its restructuring scheme to all creditors, President Director Irfan Setiaputra told reporters after the ruling. He said future negotiations will be legally protected and that he is optimistic that the talks will have a positive outcome.

Garudas fate is of national importance, given its role as a key carrier of people and cargo between 69 destinations in Indonesia, the worlds largest archipelago. The fact that its equity is 60.5% held by Indonesias government means parliament would need to approve big corporate changes.

How did it get here?

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Even before the pandemic decimated the global airline industry, Garuda had been struggling to stay profitable. The impact of corruption in the procurement of aircraft and engines, aggressive fleet expansion and high costs have contributed to annual net losses since 2017.

Between 2014 and 2019, Garudas ratio of aircraft rental costs to revenue was the highest among global airlines, data compiled by Bloomberg show. Last year, as its revenue plunged 67%, the carrier spent nearly 28% of the revenue on fuel, the highest share among full-service carriers in Asia Pacific.

First signs of trouble appeared in early 2020 when Garuda hired advisers to help it stay in business amid concerns that it might not be able to repay interest on a $500 million sukuk. Sukukholders eventually approved a maturity extension of the Sharia-compliant debt securities by three years but Garuda continues to struggle to deliver a distribution payment to investors.

Troubled Garuda Plans Debt Payment Halt as Bankruptcy Looms

Like other carriers, Garuda is facing multiple lawsuits from aircraft leasing companies. The London Court of International Arbitration ruled that it must settle unpaid aircraft lease rents, as well as other liabilities, to Helice Leasing and Goshawk Aviation.

Why does Garuda need to settle this quickly?

The slump in travel and runaway costs have caused massive cash burn at the carrier. Its average net cash outflow from operations in the first nine months of this year was nearly $64 million a month.

Garuda faces the risk of losing business should global airline traffic recover unless it can reach an agreement with lessors, from which it secures the majority of its fleet. Negotiating individually with a large number of mostly overseas creditors and lessors would take too long.

Drawn out negotiations while air traffic recovers would be a problem for the carrier, which is why an in-court settlement is the best for us, Garuda President Director Irfan Setiaputra told a parliamentary hearing on Nov. 9.

Whats next?

Investors will keep a close eye on any agreement worked out by Garuda and the creditors after the court-mandated restructuring. Market participants will also watch how it intends to come up with an additional $1 billion to keep it afloat. Government funding would need to be approved by the cabinet and parliament.

The government is now looking at the issue realistically, according to Deputy State-Owned Enterprises Minister Kartika Wirjoatmodjo, who oversees state transport companies. It is even open to the possibility of private investors taking over the company, eroding the states majority ownership, Wirjoatmodjo said.

(Updates with comments, court decision)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2021 Bloomberg L.P.
FILE PHOTO: Servicemen are seen near the village of Zolote

By Tom Balmforth and Andrey Ostroukh

MOSCOW (Reuters) -Russia kept up a barrage of hostile rhetoric towards Ukraine on Thursday and compared the crisis there to the most dangerous moment of the Cold War as it waited for U.S. President Joe Biden to invite it to possible talks with NATO countries.

The Russian Foreign Ministry accused Ukraine of moving heavy artillery towards the front line of fighting with pro-Russian separatists in the east of the former Soviet republic and failing to engage in a peace process.

The events in the Donbass, or the conflict zone in eastern Ukraine, now "resemble genocide", TASS state news agency quoted Russian President Vladimir Putin as saying on Thursday.

A Ukrainian warship headed towards the Kerch Strait, which separates Russia and its annexed peninsula of Crimea, and did not react to a Russian request to change its course, the Russian intelligence service (FSB) said of events that happened earlier on Thursday.

The Ukrainian vessel later headed back, Interfax reported, citing FSB.

The Ukrainian defence minister said it was a search-and-rescue ship with no weapons on board.

"Negotiations on a peaceful settlement have practically hit a dead end," Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova told reporters, referring to the seven-year conflict between Ukrainian and separatist forces in the eastern Donbass region.

The ministry's Twitter feed, quoting Zakharova, said: "With the support of NATO countries pumping the country with weapons, Kyiv is building up its contingent on the line of contact in Donbass."

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov agreed with a reporter who suggested East-West tensions over Ukraine could turn into a rerun of the 1962 Cuban missile crisis, when the United States and the Soviet Union stood on the brink of nuclear war.

"You know, it really could come to that," Interfax news agency quoted him as saying. "If things continue as they are, it is entirely possible by the logic of events to suddenly wake up and see yourself in something similar."

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The comments came two days after a video call between Biden and Putin that was intended to help defuse the crisis over Ukraine.

They signalled that Moscow has an interest in keeping tensions high while waiting for the next move from Biden, who has said he plans to hold follow-up talks involving Russia and NATO countries.

Ukraine, which seeks to join NATO, says it fears an invasion by tens of thousands of Russian troops gathered near its border. Moscow says its posture is purely defensive.

'FIGHTING BY OURSELVES'

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said Kyiv expects to be supported by Western military allies even if the United States does not send troops there, an action that Biden has ruled out https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/kremlin-says-both-sides-follow-up-quickly-putin-biden-talks-2021-12-08.

"We will be fighting this war by ourselves," Kuleba told investors in London. "We know how to fight. We do not need foreign troops fighting for us. But we will appreciate anything that can strengthen our army in terms of military supplies."

Ukraine's military accused the Russian-backed separatists in the east of the country of six new violations of a broken-down 2020 ceasefire on Thursday, three of them involving weapons banned under earlier peace deals that Moscow and Kyiv say they are trying to revive.

Interfax quoted a Ukrainian official as saying Kyiv was proposing a humanitarian exchange of up to 60 prisoners by New Year.

In Tuesday's video call, Biden voiced concern about Russia's military buildup and told Putin that Moscow would face serious economic consequences if it invaded.

Putin has said talk of an invasion is "provocative" and accused Ukraine and NATO of fanning tensions.

Biden said on Wednesday he hoped for an announcement by Friday of high-level meetings with Russia and major NATO allies to discuss Moscow's concerns and the possibility of "bringing down the temperature along the eastern front".

Russia's Ryabkov described that as a "unilateral" statement, implying the U.S. side had not discussed it with Moscow.

Asked if Russia would object to the participation of other NATO members, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: "We cannot say, because there is no understanding of how all this will be arranged."

(Reporting by Tom Balmforth and Andrey Ostroukh; Additional reporting by Maria Kiselyova, Gabrielle Tetrault-Farber, Natalia Zinets, Matthias Williams, Elizabeth Howcroft and Marc Jones; Writing by Mark Trevelyan; Editing by Andrew Heavens and Peter Cooney)
Namibia, Angola, Botswana, Nigeria, Malawi, South Africa, Zimbabwe. This red list is suspiciously very black to me.

Adesayo Talabis spoken word poem titled Black List has had almost 3.5 million views on Instagram.

The 24-year-old felt frustrated over the governments reaction to the Omicron variant and the travel red list that only contains African countries.

She mentions at the start of the pandemic the government were dragging their feet deciding on what the travel rules would be, but this time around the decision was made quickly over the countries to put on the red list.

Its very interesting, the immediacy in locking off and putting African countries on the red list. Is it you learning from your mistakes or is it that you have this irrational fear of this association between diseases and Africa?

Her viral poem speaks to similar sentiments felt by the African community around HIV.

HIV has been used to detrimentally stigmatise and shame African countries, in particular South Africa. That was what was being provoked in the way that this new variant was being handled.

Namibia, Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Nigeria, Lesotho, Mozambique, Malawi, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia and counting... this red list is suspiciously very black to me.Adesayo Talabi, spoken word artist

Talabi is British Nigerian and describes her art as Kpoetry, a nod to her Yoruba ancestry.

She says it was an amazing feeling seeing the poem, which she wrote in five minutes, resonated with so many people. And especially because it was about politics.

Sometimes youll be listening to politicians and youre just like, what are you talking about and thats because theyre not really speaking. Theyre not speaking in a way that is relatable to you.

I dont feel like politics needs to be alienating which I feel like sometimes it can be. What I did through that poem is make it relatable so people dont feel theyre being talked down to or theyre being excluded.

Story continues

Adesayo Talabi has performed her poems in public and wants to do more performances in the future. (Photo: Adesayo Talabi)

Talabi believes people wouldve felt reassured if it wasnt only African countries being put on the list, especially as Omicron cases were found earlier in the Netherlands and other cases have been reported around Europe since.

It seems like South Africa was being punished and scapegoated for being the one to actually report it.

Its a feeling shared by law student Andrew Coker, who posted a TikTok video thats garnered more than 60,000 views.

Its not adding up at all, Coker says as he criticises Boris Johnsons travel list.

The Omicron strain has been found in countries all over Europe and in America as well and those countries arent being put on the red list. So it just seems a bit off, he tells HuffPost UK.

I can see why they would put Nigeria on the list. I know how huge travel to Africa is in December so I can understand that.

But what I think the government needs to do is clarify why they havent put other countries with Omicron on the list.

Andrew Coker (centre) has friends who've had to cancel their Christmas holidays to Nigeria. (Photo: Andrew Coker)

Talabi had plans to visit Nigeria and Ghana over the Christmas holidays and she knows other people still in Nigeria who were unable to come back.

For the many Black Brits who were hoping to visit African countries to see family and friends over the holidays, Christmas has been ruined.

Given the whole Christmas party situation, I think the government needs to be aware, says Coker. They can only ruin Christmas so many times before people get too annoyed.

A government spokesperson says most Omicron cases in the UK have clear links to travel from countries on the red list.

Throughout the pandemic the government has been guided by the science and the advice of health experts to ensure that steps minimise the risk of importing Covid-19 cases and variants from abroad.

Help and support:

Tell MAMA supports victims of anti-Muslim hate.

Young Minds offers information on racism and mental health for younger people.

SARI (Stand Against Racism and Inequality) provides help to victims of hate.

Stop Hate UK works to challenge all forms of hate.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost UK and has been updated.

Related...
Joe Biden and Xi Jinping

Seventeen African countries are taking part in a two-day Democracy summit hosted by US President Joe Biden, billed as an event to discuss ways to defend against the rise of authoritarianism. Observers say it highlights the contrasting priorities of the US and China on the continent.

The summit comes just over a week after the triennial Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (Focac) was held in Senegal's capital, Dakar, which has grown in significance as China became the continent's largest trade partner.

China's President Xi Jinping announced investments of at least $40bn (30bn) in projects spanning agriculture, digital economy, climate change, industrialisation, as well as one billion doses of Covid-19 vaccines in donation and joint manufacturing.

"It appears counterintuitive, but the more democratic a country, the closer they get to China," said W Gyude Moore, a senior policy fellow at the Center for Global Development.

"The biggest need in Africa happens to be infrastructure, and the funder to turn to in the last 20 years has been China," he added.

Infrastructure for elections

At the Focac event, a photo of Sierra Leone Foreign Minister David John Francis handing over an artist's impression of a yet-to-be-built 7km (4 mile)- long bridge to his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi demonstrated China's important role in Africa.

The estimated $1.2bn (900m) Lungi bridge linking the peninsula capital Freetown to the main airport will offer a quick alternative to ferries which take hours and can be unreliable.

Some observers say President Julius Maada Bio sees the bridge project as key to his 2023 re-election campaign, although others say there is no economic justification for it, pointing out that the money could be better spent on dealing with social challenges like illiteracy and maternal deaths.

In The Gambia, President Adama Barrow recently won re-election after touting the Chinese-built bridges which have boosted trade with neighbouring Senegal, as well as promising to deliver a China-backed road project.

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Folashade Soule-Kohndou, a senior research associate at the University of Oxford, says African politicians often need Chinese infrastructure funding to deliver their electoral promises.

According to the African Development Bank the continent needs $130-170bn a year to meet its infrastructure needs, but there's currently a massive shortfall, in the range of $68-108bn.

That gap could potentially be filled by the European Union new $340bn infrastructure plan, the Global Gateway, as well the US's Build Back Better (B3W) scheme, which are both being promoted as alternatives to China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

But for the moment, these two projects are short on detail, compared to BRI which has already built roads, railways and ports around the world.

China-US unite

Trade expert Francis Mangeni says it would be best for Africa if the various initiatives focussed on synergy not competition.

"Rather than seeing Chinese influence in Africa as negative and responding by competition and antagonism or containment, I think the other powers should complement it," he said.

But he adds that it is up to African countries to assert their collective influence to ensure that this happens.

However, the Global Gateway and B3W can have advantages over China's initiative if they focus more on technology transfer, faster delivery of projects, and on investment that is less centred on debt, Ms Soule-Kohndou said.

Mr Moore agrees, saying that "Africa needs to diversify its infrastructure funding, so this is a good problem to have". But he adds that China has built cost-competitive infrastructure on the continent and it will therefore be tough, especially for US construction companies, to compete.

He suggested that the US and China have different strengths that can be complementary to meet infrastructure, health, education and security needs in Africa.

"The US has great strength in human-capital investment. Its universities are the best in the world, so are its health systems. China could build the hospitals and the US could train the doctors," Mr Moore said.

With the continent's population projected to double to 2.5 billion people by 2050, the focus on economic, social and political development is key.

President Xi Jinping addressed the Focac summit by video

The Africa Free Continental Trade Agreement (AfCTA), an initiative launched in January to increase intra-African trade from its very low levels, is seen as a key way to achieve these aims.

Mr Mangeni says China's proposal to link up BRI and AfCTA "would massively boost trade on the continent and beyond".

"The cost of trade in Africa is the highest in the world with transporting goods making up 90% of the cost, " he said, adding that "some of these people criticising China did not step in to invest in infrastructure".

Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni, who was not invited to the US Democracy summit - a decision his foreign ministry termed "a big mistake" - welcomed the Chinese private sector's deepening engagement, saying Western private investors were "losing appetite".

Mr Museveni has been among a group of leaders pushing for increased access for African products to the Chinese market. He recently denied reports that the country's main airport was at risk of being taken over as an example of the widely reported but not proven accusations that China uses debt to entrap African countries.

But these projects have often been mired in corruption, kickbacks, and lack transparency - a situation that has contributed to some African countries struggling to repay their debt.

Forward not East or West

Some experts also worry that the continent's lack of a collective policy towards China undermines its strategic plans.

"Overall, China plays an important role as Africa's development partner, but Africa must be more proactive and co-ordinated in its relationship with China," wrote David Monyae from the Centre for Africa-China Studies at the University of Johannesburg.

"China has released three Africa policy papers since 2006 yet Africa is yet to develop a policy paper on China," he added.

Agoa has given African businesses access to the US market

In his book China's Second Continent, Howard French recounted a conversation with a former Chinese ambassador to Zambia who mocked US policy in Africa.

"You [US] employ local people and place them as observers at each and every polling station... what else? I haven't seen any roads being built, any schools, any hospitals that really touch people, that can last, that can serve society for long. Maybe training election people is your biggest contribution," said Zhou Yuxiao then ambassador to Zambia.

French wrote that he responded by mentioning the US' Emergency Plan for Aids Relief (Pepfar), which has provided life-saving drugs for millions of people on the continent since its launch in 2003. He recounted that Mr Zhou's entire response consisted of a nod.

The US engagement in Africa is extensive especially in security and health services. It's African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa) also gives African businesses access to the lucrative American market.

But Africa - as a unit - should chart its own path, just as Ghana's independence leader Kwame Nkrumah famously rallied the continent to "face neither east nor west" but face forward.

According to studies, a majority of Africans want to live in free democratic countries, but they also want governments that deliver good roads, better education, security, healthcare and much more.

In order to achieve these aspirations, African leaders should put the continent's interests first and cherry-pick from the different schemes on offer, rather than becoming pawns in a global competition for influence, analysts say.
Fingers on a keyboard

A Canadian man has been accused of co-ordinating ransomware and other cyber-attacks on individuals, businesses and government agencies.

The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) announced that 31-year-old Matthew Philbert had been charged with fraud and unauthorised use of computers.

The US State of Alaska has also brought charges against Mr Philbert.

He was arrested on 30 November and remains in police custody awaiting a court date.

The OPP said the arrest was made following a 23-month investigation which involved the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the US FBI and Europol.

At present, the alleged targets of the cyber-attacks have not been disclosed. The OPP said this was to avoid compromising court proceedings.

However, it is alleged that Mr Philbert co-ordinated cyber-attacks using malicious emails with virus-infected attachments.

Another Canadian man was charged in January for allegedly carrying out ransomware attacks linked to the Netwalker gang.

Analysis box by Joe Tidy, Cyber reporter

This is the second significant arrest of an alleged ransomware hacker in Canada this year.

Does this mean that Canada is a hotbed for these ransomware groups? No.

But it does highlight that the fight against this pervasive cyber-threat is a global issue.

Many of these crews are run completely remotely, so you never really know who is ultimately pressing the buttons and where they are from.

While evidence points to Russia being the headquarters for many ransomware gangs, it is clear that the lure of riches is not overlooked by criminals in other parts of the world.

Of course, suspects in Canada are investigated, arrested and face a trial to find out if they are guilty.

In Russia, the authorities refuse to acknowledge they have a role to play, and suspected Russian hackers avoid facing prosecution or justice.
With Wisconsins wolf hunt on hold, a wildlife protection group is offering a $10,000 reward for tips that lead to prosecution of poachers.

Animal Wellness Action says it is alarmed by online chatter from people saying they plan to take matters into their own hands after a judge suspended the statutory hunting season for gray wolves.

Paul Collins, the state director for Animal Wellness Action, said the group has been monitoring endless online chatter since hunters killed at least 218 wolves  more than the state and tribal quotas combined  in less than three days during a court-ordered hunt in February.

I paid for a point I will pay for a fine they are not endangered anymore so not a big fine, one user on the Wisconsin Wolf Hunting Facebook page said in response to a post about cancellation of the fall season.

Well I guess I will just shoot large coyotes then, said another.

Your local Dnr doesnt care if you start your own wolf elimination program  SSS! a Minnesota resident posted, using a common abbreviation for shoot, shovel and shut up.

A 2011 state law requires the state Department of Natural Resources DNR to hold an annual wolf hunt between November and February when wolves are not subject to federal protections.

The law also allows people to shoot wolves in the act of killing, wounding or biting a domestic animal on private property. Such killings must be reported to the DNR and the wolf carcass turned over.

DNR spokesperson Sarah Hoye said the agency has received three reports this year of wolves killed in the act of depredation  all in Price County  but has not encountered any trend of unlawful harvest arising this fall or related to the injunction.

Hoye said the DNR monitors comments on its social media accounts.

We send any comment that mentions poaching to law enforcement for investigation, Hoye said. Additionally, if someone mentions that they know of someone who is poaching, we encourage them to report the information they have via our violation hotline.

In his October order, Frost said the law creating the wolf season is constitutional, but the DNR failed to create permanent regulations enacting it.

Frost said his injunction will remain in place until the DNR implements updated regulations on determining quotas and the number of licenses it issues and updates its wolf management plan with new wolf population goals for the state. Its not clear how long that will take.

The DNR announced in October that it would not issue licenses for the fall season.

The state is facing a separate challenge from six Native American tribes that have sued in federal court to block the hunt, accusing the DNR of violating treaty rights and endangering an animal they consider sacred.

Anyone with knowledge of illegal wolf hunting can submit a report through the DNR Tip Hotline at 1-800-847-9367.

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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 9)  The national government will settle its multibillion-peso debt with the central bank weeks ahead of its supposed deadline, while requesting less liquidity support in 2022 with the countrys economic outlook having improved.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III has informed the Monetary Board that state authorities will repay the full amount of its outstanding 540-billion provisional advances to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) this week, ahead of the January 12, 2022 maturity date, the agency said on Wednesday.

The extension of provisional advances ensures the government access to sufficient cash resources while its revenue collection efforts are hampered and the scale of debts needed and market unpredictability challenge the states borrowing program. It is a temporary arrangement between the national government and the BSP.

Dominguezs letter stated the government now seeks 300 billion in provisional advance in the second week of January 2022.

To recall, advances from the BSP were worth 300 billion in the form of a zero-interest repurchase agreement. Granted in March and fully repaid in September last year, these were eventually turned into 3-month loan worth 540 billion with zero interest.

The central bank has since granted the government three separate 540-billion loans: in October 2020, then in January and July this year.

The lower amount sought by the state hints to the market that we are on track with the unwinding of liquidity support on firmer evidence of return to economic strength, according to the DOF chief.

The extension of new 300-billion provisional advances will ensure sufficient resources for the government to safeguard this promising but still fragile recovery, further explained Dominguez.

The DOF likewise noted the requested funds will rather serve as a liquidity gap measure ensuring the government will be able to incur large spending ahead of anticipated revenue collections or regular borrowing proceeds.

The new borrowing will also have zero interest and mature in three months coupled with a three-month extension, as per the Treasurys recommendation.

"We have seen economic recovery already begin to take root as more businesses embark on a safe reopening with the successful rollout of the governments mass vaccination program," said the DOF chief.

With economic output expanding faster than expected at 7.1% in the third quarter, the National Economic and Development Authority projects growth returning to pre-pandemic level by next year.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 9)  Presidential aspirant Manila Mayor Isko Morenos political party is backing him amid his recent controversial statement supporting President Rodrigo Dutertes senatorial bid and eyeing his inclusion in their senatorial slate.

We stand by with the pronouncement of our party president and standard bearer. Aksyon has taken a centrist and objective stand on many issues and is not an opposition party per se, Aksyon Demokratiko chairperson Ernest Ramel said in a statement.

Ramel said the party believes there are certain policies of the current administration worth continuing while there are others that can be improved, discontinued or rectified.

The party official also added that Aksyon Demokratiko is open to working with anyone who supports their presidential bets Bilis Kilos programs.

Moreno said earlier this week that not only would he vote for the chief executive, he wants Duterte to be part of his senatorial bets as a guest candidate.

Aksyon Demokratiko currently has three senatorial aspirants: Marawi civic leader and Otso Diretso senatorial slate guest candidate Samira Gutoc, educator and entrepreneur Carl Balita, and former PDP-Laban vice mayoral bet Jopet Sison.

Pero ang sabi ko nga, ayaw ko namang pangunahan si Pangulo or PDP-Laban, for that matter, said Moreno in a radio interview.

[Translation: But like what I said, I dont want to get ahead of the President or PDP-Laban, for that matter.]

Moreno was earlier at the receiving end of Dutertes insults, particularly regarding his background in show business.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 9)  The death toll in the government's anti-illegal drugs operations since President Rodrigo Duterte assumed office in 2016 has risen to 6,215 as of October 2021, data recently released by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency showed.

The latest count reflects an additional14 drug suspects killed since the end of September, when the tally showed 6,201 fatalities.

A total of 315,635 suspects were also arrested in 218,665 drug war operations from July 1,2016 to Oct. 31, 2021, PDEA said.

Of the arrested suspects, 13,821 were high value targets, it added. Among them were 349 foreign nationals, 393 elected officials, 124 uniformed personnel, 509 government employees, 3,785 target listed suspects, 795 drug group leaders and members, 75 armed group members, 1,422 drug den maintainers, 284 wanted listed, 24 celebrity and license holders, and 6,061 others arrested in high-impact operations.

PDEA added that 23,270 out of 42,045 barangays have been cleared out of drugs. Meanwhile, 12,125 other barangays have yet to be cleared by authorities.

A total of 994 drug dens and clandestine laboratories were also dismantled, PDEA said.

Government data also showed authorities were able to seize P73.83 billion worth of illegal drugs and laboratory equipment. Among the illegal drugs confiscated were shabu, cocaine, ecstasy, and marijuana.

The International Criminal Court on November 19 said it was temporarily suspending its probe into the Duterte administrations war on drug following a request from the Philippine government. But the prosecution said that analysis of information already collected will continue.

In a decision released in September authorizing the start of the investigation, the ICC's pre-trial chamber said it found reasonable basis to proceed with the investigation in relation to the crime against humanity of murder during the drug war from July 1, 2016 to March 16, 2019 -- prior to the Philippines' withdrawal from the Rome Statute which established the ICC. The Prosecutor estimated that the number of civilians killed in the campaign ranged from 12,000 to 30,000 within that period.

The Duterte administration has reiterated that it will not cooperate with ICCs investigation, saying the court has no jurisdiction over the country.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 9)  A total of 1,082,250 doses Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines arrived in the Philippines Wednesday night.

The new batch of the government-procured coronavirus shots arrived past 8 p.m. at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3. The delivery was aired by state-run PTV.

As of December 6, over 149 million COVID-19 vaccines have been delivered to the Philippines. Of this number, more than 92 million have been administered.

Over 38 million individuals already received full protection from the coronavirus. Government's target is to immunize 54 million Filipinos by the end of the year.

To boost this, authorities recently conducted a five-day national inoculation program called Bayanihan, Bakunahan wherein over 9 million doses were administered.

The government will conduct a second round of mass vaccinations from Dec. 15-17. It aims to administer 7 million more shots, mostly as a second dose.

READ: Govt lowers target for second round of mass vaccination drive
(CNN)  The independent board that oversees Facebook parent company, Meta, is once again urging the social media giant to be more transparent about its content moderation decisions.

The Facebook Oversight Board on Thursday released two rulings overturning Meta's decisions to remove user posts from its platforms, saying the content did not actually violate the company's policies. In both decisions, the board recommended that Meta provide more information to users about actions it takes on their content.

The Oversight Board is comprised of experts in areas such as freedom of expression and human rights who are appointed by the company but operate independently. The board, which reviews user appeals of content decisions on Meta-owned platforms, is often described as a kind of Supreme Court for Facebook.

The board has been making similar calls for transparency since its decision in May to uphold Facebook's suspension of Donald Trump. In that ruling, the board agreed that Trump had severely violated Facebook's policies but criticized the company for its initial indefinite suspension of the then-President. The board asked Facebook to clarify how its actual policies applied to the situation, saying that "In applying a vague, standardless penalty and then referring this case to the Board to resolve, Facebook seeks to avoid its responsibilities."

"They can't just invent new, unwritten rules when it suits them," Oversight Board co-chair Helle Thorning-Schmidt said in May about the Trump ruling. "They have to have a transparent way of doing this."

In October, the Oversight Board released its first quarterly transparency report, noting that "Facebook isn't being clear with the people who use its platforms," and calling on the company to give users more information about content decisions. The board also criticized Meta for withholding crucial details about its "Cross-Check" program to review content decisions related to high-profile users, following reporting on the program based on leaked internal documents. (In response, Meta said it had asked the board for input on Cross-Check and would "strive to be clearer in our explanations to them going forward.")

Calls for more transparency cropped up again in the latest round of Oversight Board decisions.

Oversight Board's Thursday rulings

In one of the two cases, the board overturned Meta's decision to remove an Instagram post discussing ayahuasca, a psychedelic drink that has long been used for indigenous healing and spiritual rituals, after a review by its automated system and a human moderator. Meta told the Oversight Board that the post was removed because it encouraged the use of a non-medical drug. But the Board said the post did not actually violate Instagram's Community Guidelines at the time, which only prohibited the sale and purchase of drugs. It also took issue with the company's claim that the post could harm public health, saying the post discussed the use of ayahuasca in a religious context and did not include information about how to get or use the substance.

But much of the board's criticism in the case centered on the fact that Meta did not tell the user who made the post which of its rules they broke.

"The Board is concerned that the company continues to apply Facebook's Community Standards on Instagram without transparently telling users it is doing so," the board said in a statement. "The Board does not understand why Meta cannot immediately update the language in Instagram's Community Guidelines to tell users this."

The board ordered Instagram to restore the post. And in its recommendations based on the case, the board said Meta should "explain to users precisely what rule in the content policy they have violated," when their content is acted upon. It also encouraged the company to update Instagram's Community Guidelines to be consistent with the Community Standards on Facebook within 90 days.

In response to the board's decision, Facebook said it had reinstated the post and would conduct a review of similar content. It also said that it would review the board's policy recommendations.

"We welcome the Oversight Board's decision today on this case," the company said in a statement.

The second case regarded an August 2021 Facebook post of a piece of North American Indigenous art meant to raise awareness about the discovery of unmarked graves at a former residential school for Indigenous children. In the post, the user noted the name of the artwork, "Kill the Indian/ Save the Man," and described images in the work as, "Theft of the Innocent, Evil Posing as Saviours, Residential School / Concentration Camp, Waiting for Discovery, Bring Our Children Home." Facebook's automated systems identified the post as potentially violating its hate speech policy and a human reviewer removed it the day after it was posted; when the user appealed the decision, a second human reviewer affirmed the decision to remove.

When the Oversight Board selected the case for review, Meta identified the post's removal as an "enforcement error" and restored it on August 27, according to the board's Thursday statement. However, Meta did not notify the user that their post had been restored until a month later, after the board asked about the company's messaging to the user, an issue Meta blamed on human error, the board said.

Based on the case, the board recommended that Meta, "provide users with timely and accurate notice of any company action being taken on the content their appeal relates to." It added that "in enforcement error cases like this one, the notice to the user should acknowledge that the action was a result of the Oversight Board's review process."

Meta said in a statement that no action would be needed based on the board's decision in this case because it had already reinstated the post, and said it would review the board's policy recommendations.

In its second transparency report, also released Thursday, the Oversight Board noted the two decisions and said it would be "monitoring whether and how the company lives up to its promises" as it responds to the board's recommendations. It also announced plans to release an annual report next year to assess the company's performance in implementing the board's decisions and recommendations.

"Over time, we believe that the combined impact of our recommendations will push Meta to be more transparent and benefit users," the board said in the report.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Facebook Oversight Board reiterates calls for Meta to be more transparent."
(CNN)  American companies' search for workers didn't get any easier this fall.

In October, the nation's available jobs unexpectedly rose to 11 million, new data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed Wednesday.

Even though that was short of the 11.1 million high from July, it was still far more than the 10.4 million economists had predicted, which would have marked a modest decrease from the prior month. Instead, job openings rose by more than 400,000.

Leisure and hospitality, particularly hotels and food services, registered by far the biggest increase in available jobs.

"The hot market for hires has been driven in large part by the extraordinarily large and fast rise in demand," said Nick Bunker, director of research at Indeed's hiring lab. "Given that the rise in openings in this report was likely due to a waning of the latest wave of the pandemic, the question now is whether the omicron variant cools down in the labor market."

Meanwhile, hires stood at 6.5 million in October, underlining that the worker shortage problem is still alive and kicking.

"Hiring in the private sector slipped, which reflects the frustration that employers are feeling. They're already increasing wages, adding more benefits... carrots that should work to attract workers," said Jennifer Lee, senior economist at BMO. "Separations also fell. And interestingly, fewer people quit their jobs in the month, which is welcome news."

The number of US workers who quit their job dropped by more than 200,000 that month to 4.2 million, down from a record high in September.

In principle, the idea of people voluntarily quitting their jobs for greater pay, benefits or better opportunities is considered is a good thing for workers. But economists remain cautious, and question whether rising wages and signing bonuses will provide long-term benefits to employees at the lower end of the pay scale.

The number of layoffs last month, at 1.4 million, was more or less unchanged.

"Under normal circumstances, a near record number of job openings would be something worth celebrating. But no employer is in a celebratory mood," said Lee in a note to clients. "It is difficult to fill orders or meet customer demands if there are not enough people to do the actual work."

This story was first published on CNN.com, "America's job openings jumped to 11 million in October."
(CNN)  Evergrande, the embattled Chinese property developer, has defaulted on its debt, according to Fitch Ratings.

The credit ratings agency on Thursday downgraded the company and its subsidiaries to "restricted default," meaning that the firm has failed to meet its financial obligations.

Fitch said the downgrade reflects the company's inability to pay interest due earlier this week on two dollar-denominated bonds. The payments were due a month ago, and grace periods lapsed Monday.

Fitch noted that Evergrande made no announcement about the payments, nor did it respond to inquiries from the ratings agency. "We are therefore assuming they were not paid," Fitch said.

Evergrande has about $300 billion in total liabilities, and analysts have worried for months about whether a default could trigger a wider crisis in China's property market, hurting homeowners and the broader financial system. The US Federal Reserve warned last month that trouble in Chinese real estate could damage the global economy.

Evergrande did not immediately respond to a request from CNN Business for comment. However, the company had warned this may be coming. In a stock exchange filing last Friday, it said it might not have enough funds to meet its financial obligations. At that time, it said it was planning to "actively engage" with offshore creditors on a restructuring plan.

In another filing Monday, the company said it would set up a risk management committee that would be headed by Evergrande's chairman and founder Xu Jiayin to focus on "mitigating and eliminating" future risks.

Fears of default sent shares of Evergrande plummeting 20% on Monday. So far this year, the stock has lost 87%.

The company had been scrambling for months to raise cash to repay lenders, and Xu has even been selling off personal assets to prop up its finances. It previously appeared to avoid default on any of its offshore bonds by paying overdue interest before their grace periods expired. Now, though, that streak has ended.

Another credit ratings agency, S&P, said earlier this week that "default looks inevitable for Evergrande" with repayments of $3.5 billion on US-dollar denominated bonds due in the coming months.

"The issuer [Evergrande] does not seem to be making much progress in resuming construction, given its difficulties in raising new financing," S&P Global analysts wrote in a note published Monday.

Chinese authorities have been trying to contain the fallout. Last Friday, the local government in Guangdong province, where Evergrande is based, said it would send a working group to Evergrande to oversee risk management, strengthen internal controls and maintain normal operations, at the request of the company.

The People's Bank of China and other top financial regulators have tried to reassure the public that Evergrande's problems can be contained. The central bank on Monday also announced that it would pump $188 billion into the economy, apparently to counter the real estate slump.

"The rights of shareholders and creditors of Evergrande will be fully respected in accordance to their legal seniority," PBOC governor Yi Gang said Thursday in a video speech to a Hong Kong forum, according to the central bank.

But other Chinese developers are also in trouble. On Thursday, Fitch downgraded the Kaisa Group to "restricted default."

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Evergrande has defaulted on its debt, Fitch Ratings says."
Meta, the owner of Facebook and Instagram, is further clamping down on content linked to Myanmar's military amid pressure to step up safety controls in the country.(CNN)  Meta, the owner of Facebook and Instagram, is further clamping down on content linked to Myanmar's military amid pressure to step up safety controls in the country.

The company announced Wednesday that it would ban military-controlled businesses from Facebook, wiping out their pages, groups, and accounts.

The move expands existing restrictions on those entities, which were already barred from advertising on the platform in February.

That month, Facebook and Instagram also blocked military-controlled state and media entities from using the applications after the armed forces took power in a coup, prompting widespread unrest.

The company said at the time that it was "continuing to treat the situation in Myanmar as an emergency."

Just before implementing the February restrictions, Facebook said that it was working to "significantly reduce the distribution of all content" on pages and profiles run by the military  called the Tatmadaw  that were found to spread misinformation.

Criticism over Myanmar

The company's latest move comes as Facebook continues to face criticism over its failure to stop the circulation of hate speech in Myanmar, where it has tens of millions of users.

This week, Meta was sued for as much as $150 billion over its lack of action regarding content that contributed to violence against Rohingya Muslims in the country.

Law firms in the United States and United Kingdom launched a coordinated legal campaign over allegations that executives had known of anti-Rohingya posts, groups, and accounts on the social network, and did little to curb them.

The Rohingya are a stateless Muslim minority in Myanmar's Rakhine State  thought to number about 1 million people. Myanmar does not count them as citizens nor as belonging to one of the recognized ethnic groups in the country.

Facebook had previously acknowledged that it hadn't done enough to prevent its platform from being used to fuel bloodshed, with CEO Mark Zuckerberg promising to increase moderation efforts.

In October, the company also said that it had "hired more people with language, country, and topic expertise" in countries like Myanmar over the last two years and had added content moderators in 12 new languages this year.

"We're appalled by the crimes committed against the Rohingya people in Myanmar," Rafael Frankel, the director of policy at Facebook for emerging economies in the Asia Pacific region, said in a statement when asked about the lawsuit.

"We've built a dedicated team of Burmese speakers, banned the Tatmadaw, disrupted networks manipulating public debate, and taken action on harmful misinformation to help keep people safe. We've also invested in Burmese-language technology to reduce the prevalence of violating content."

Cracking down

The new decision to more forcefully crack down on military-run firms was "based on extensive documentation by the international community of these businesses' direct role in funding the Tatmadaw's ongoing violence and human rights abuses in Myanmar," according to Frankel.

In a blog post Wednesday, he wrote that the company was "using the UN Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar's 2019 report on the economic interests of the Tatmadaw, as the basis to guide these efforts."

Meta declined to comment on why this specific action was taking place two years after the report's release.

But in his online post, Frankel said that "the Myanmar military has far-reaching commercial interests which are not always possible to definitively determine."

And according to a person close to the company, its focus at the time of the February coup was more on banning ads from military-linked businesses to limit their ability "to profit from any growth they'd receive" from such posts.

The person added that the decision to remove these businesses' pages was taken several weeks ago, and was "unrelated" to news of the lawsuit.

"Our team continues to monitor the situation on the ground in Myanmar, and we will continue to take any action necessary to keep our community safe," wrote Frankel.

It was not immediately clear if the new restrictions would affect business accounts on WhatsApp, the messaging app also owned by Meta.

The company declined to comment. But the person close to Meta said that it would "remove any users that violate WhatsApp's terms."

Although WhatsApp does not have access to the content of private chats, it can take action to ban accounts believed to be involved in harmful conduct once it receives reports about such behavior.

A spokesperson for the Myanmar military did not answer calls from CNN Business seeking comment on Thursday.

Cape Diamond contributed to this report.

This story was first published on CNN.com "Meta bans businesses run by Myanmar's military from Facebook"
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 9)  The government is targeting to fully vaccinate 90% of the Philippines population before President Rodrigo Duterte steps down in 2022, a top Health department official said Friday.

"The President's marching order has been for us to inoculate no less than 90% of the Philippine population, which is equivalent to about 99 million Filipinos before the end of the administration of President Duterte," Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said during the Bayanihan Bakunahan in SM Megamall.

Amid the Delta variant-driven surge in September, the government increased the herd immunity target to 90% from 70%.

The DOH official is also confident that about 54 million Filipinos will be fully protected against the virus by yearend, with his optimism riding on a "historic" feat during the national vaccination drive.

During the mass vaccination last week, the government was able to administer over 10.2 million COVID-19 doses.

"This is unprecedented. With almost 10 million jabs, this is historic. Never been done before in the history of DOH," the health chief said.

The second wave of the national immunization drive is scheduled for Dec. 15 to 17.

So far, 54 Filipinos have already received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose, Duque said.

Meanwhile, about 6.5 million Filipinos belonging to the 12-17 age group have secured their COVID-19 vaccines, vaccine czar Carlito Galvez, Jr. said in the same event.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 9) The Supreme Court has declared unconstitutional two portions of the highly contested Anti-Terrorism Law, leaving most of it untouched, it said in a statement on Thursday.

Voting 12-3 in an en banc session on Dec. 7, the justices struck down a part of Section 4 of the Anti-Terrorism Law for "being overbroad and violative of freedom of expression."

It specifically referred to the part that an action linked to a protest, advocacy, or dissent could be considered terrorism if it is intended to cause death or physical harm to a person, to endanger a person's life, or to create a serious risk to public safety.

The Supreme Court justices also declared the second part of Section 25 as unconstitutional by a vote of 9-6. It refers to the line "request for designations by other jurisdictions or supranational jurisdictions may be adopted by the ATC (Anti-Terrorism Council) after determination that the proposed designee meets the criteria for designation of UNSCR (United Nations Security Council Resolutions) NO. 1373."

Law mostly intact

Aside from the two, all other portions challenged by the petitioners were upheld.

The warrantless arrest and 24-day detention are still enforceable.

Under the law, suspected terrorists can be detained for up to 24 days even without charges as long as the law enforcement agent or military personnel are authorized in writing by the Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC)  which is composed of Cabinet officials.

Surveillance of proscribed, designated, and suspected terrorists could also last up to 90 days under the law signed by President Rodrigo Duterte in July 2020, compared to the 60 day-period in the repealed Human Security Act of 2007.

Interior Secretary Eduardo Ano, a member of the ATC, said the portions declared as unconstitutional are "minimal."

"It won't affect at all the (Anti-Terrorism Act)," Ano said in a message to reporters. "We'll make appropriate adjustments but [we'll] strictly implement [the] Anti Terrorism Law."

Palace won't comment yet

Malacanang kept mum on the ruling, saying it will wait for a copy of the high court's decision.

"Upon receipt of the decision, the Office of the Executive Secretary will study the ruling and, in consultation with the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG), thereafter consider the next course of action," acting presidential spokesperson Karlo Nograles said.

The OSG, for its part, said it was "elated" about the SC's move.

"This affirmation is, indeed, a recognition of the Philippines' paramount need for a dynamic law that will defend our citizens against the baleful impacts of terrorism," it said in a statement.

After several oral arguments, the magistrates deliberated and ruled on the controversial law on Tuesday, but the details were released on Thursday after a thorough review of the votes cast by the justices. The full decision and separate opinions have yet to be released.

Thirty-seven petitions have been filed challenging the constitutionality of the anti-terrorism law, which critics have labeled as "vague" and may be open to abuse and human rights violations.

Several government officials have repeatedly dismissed these claims, saying there are enough safeguards in place to protect the rights of citizens.

CNN Philippines senior correspondent Anjo Alimario contributed to this report.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 9)  Hospitals in Metro Manila have reported a huge drop in COVID-19 admissions over the past days, but health workers are still not getting a break to tend to non-COVID patients.

Speaking to CNN Philippines' The Source on Thursday, Philippine General Hospital spokesperson Jonas del Rosario said PGH recorded zero COVID-19 admission a few days back, and new cases are just coming in "trickles" now with an average of two to three per day, down from over 20 patients during the surge.

However, the PGH's newly opened emergency room is facing a "deluge" of patients with pneumonia, lung and heart problems, and in need of surgery.

"The Philippine General Hospital has opened a new emergency room. It is a big emergency room and ang nangyari po dinagsa ang (what happened was people flocked to the) emergency room. There was a deluge of people coming in, mostly non-COVID patients to a point that the ER easily got filled up and we had a significant number of backlogs because the wards couldn't catch up with patients coming in," Del Rosario explained.

The PGH began its operations last year as one of the government's designated COVID-19 referral center to attend to rising infections.

Del Rosario said it seems patients are now brave enough to take advantage of the low number of COVID-19 cases to seek medical care.

East Avenue Medical Center chief Alfonso Nunez said the hospital is also experiencing the same thing because its emergency room, which can accommodate up to 70 patients, is now handling up to 100 non-COVID patients.

"(The) admission rate of the hospital right now is around 93% bed capacity, pero (but) most of these are non-COVID cases. We have only 12 confirmed cases of COVID admitted in the East Avenue Medical Center," he said.

Nunez also said the East Avenue Medical Center has extended the consultation hours and outpatient services to cater to more patients.

Meanwhile, Del Rosario appealed to local government units to help out so they can accommodate other general cases. He also urged the public to schedule an appointment via hotline 155-200 so they can be pre-assessed on the urgency of their needs.

"If there is a need for you to come in to be admitted, we will do thatwe will be entertaining life-and-limb emergencies like trauma, heart attack, stroke...surgery," he added.

The Department of Health on Wednesday recorded 365 new COVID-19 infections, the lowest since July 2, 2020, when there were less than 300 new cases. OCTA Research said Metro Manila alone recorded 96 new cases.

READ: DOH logs 356 new COVID-19 cases, lowest in 17 months
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 9)  The Philippine General Hospital has not recorded any COVID-19 cases among its health workers over the past two to three weeks, its spokesperson said Thursday.

"So far, zero for the past two to three weeks. We have not had a breakthrough infection in our healthcare workers," PGH spokesperson Jonas del Rosario told CNN Philippines' The Source.

He said they logged one COVID-19 case last week but it was a medical student who was not formally considered working for the hospital.

"We are very happy. We looked at the numbers. Out of 20 healthcare workers tested in a day, zero ang may (have) COVID-19 so thats a good sign," Del Rosario said.

He added that most of their health workers have been immunized against COVID-19. Of at least 4,000 who received their primary shots months ago, over 1,000 have already received their boosters.

PGH intends to administer booster shots to at least a thousand more of their health workers. Del Rosario said others already got their additional shots somewhere else.

The Philippine government is now giving booster shots to the rest of the general adult population after initially prioritizing healthcare workers, senior citizens, and persons with comorbidities.

Data from the National COVID-19 Vaccination Dashboard shows that as of Dec. 8, at least 39.5 million Filipinos have completed their primary doses, while 643,370 have already received their booster shots.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 9) The Supreme Court has finally arrived at a much-anticipated decision on the anti-terrorism law  with the justices voting to strike down two parts of the highly-contested measure but upholding the rest of its provisions.

In a 12-3 vote on Dec. 7, the high court declared as unconstitutional a portion of Section 4 of the Republic Act No. 11479.

This specifically refers to the qualifier that could tag protest or dissent as terrorism if it is intended to cause harm or create a serious risk to public safety. The court ruled this was overbroad and violates freedom of expression.

The magistrates likewise voided by a vote of 9-6 the second method of designating terrorists. This refers to the requests of other countries to designate terrorists  which may be adopted by the Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC).

All other portions challenged by petitioners were upheld, SC noted.

CNN Philippines breaks down the other key issues raised against the anti-terrorism law which would remain in effect  as rights advocates continue their calls to scrap the measure.

Ambiguous definition

Petitioners have highlighted the ambiguous definition of terrorism under the law, which took effect in July 2020.

Unlike the Human Security Act of 2007 which it repealed, the anti-terrorism law does not mention a predicate crime before an act is considered terrorism.

Under Section 4, which primarily remains intact, a person commits terrorism when engaging in acts that intend to endanger someone or to damage public or private property, among others.

Critics said citizens can be left second-guessing whether their actions could be considered as terrorism.

Warrantless arrest, 24-day detention

One of the most decried portions of the anti-terrorism law is Section 29, which allows warrantless arrest and detention without charges for up to 24 days.

The Human Security Act previously allowed a pre-trial detention of up to three days only.

Law enforcement officials earlier said extending the detention period would allow them to build up cases, but petitioners have warned it could lead to abuses and rights violations.

Councils power to designate terrorists, freezing of assets

Composed of Cabinet members, the ATC can designate individuals and organizations as terrorists without any hearing, as long as it sees probable cause that they commit, attempt to commit, or are part of a conspiracy to commit acts of terrorism.

The ATC can also publish the list of terrorists online and in a national broadsheet. The tagged parties may file a verified request for delisting before the council within 15 days upon publication.

This rule drew flak from netizens and rights groups, which called out the measure over the lack of due process.

The Anti-Money Laundering Council is also permitted to freeze the assets of those designated as terrorists  a move critics said would violate a persons right against unreasonable searches and seizures.

More surveillance powers

The anti-terrorism law gives more surveillance powers to government forces. Surveillance of proscribed, designated, and suspected terrorists could last up to 90 days under the measure, compared to the 60 day-period in the Human Security Act.

Petitioners have argued that this violates various rights including due process, privacy of communication and correspondence, and freedom of speech and expression.

Restrictions on travel

Section 34 of the anti-terrorism law  which limits an accuseds movement within the city or municipality where he resides  was also questioned for violating a persons right to travel.

This section likewise allows house arrest, upon order of the court.

Fight continues

A total of 37 petitions were filed in hopes of challenging the constitutionality of the anti-terrorism law. But government officials have repeatedly defended the measure, citing how there are enough safeguards in place to protect citizens' rights.

Some of the petitioners said they will still challenge the courts ruling, as the law continues to enforce repressive provisions.

The full decision on the case yet to be released.

CNN Philippines' Alyssa Rola, Anjo Alimario, and Eimor Santos contributed to this report.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 9)  Early data suggest those who get infected with the Omicron coronavirus variant may have a milder disease compared to those who catch the Delta variant, the World Health Organization said on Wednesday.

"There's also some evidence that Omicron causes milder disease than Delta, but again it's still too early to be definitive," WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a virtual media briefing in Geneva, Switzerland.

The Philippines grappled with a COVID-19 surge driven by the Delta variant in August this year, overwhelming hospitals and healthcare workers. The surge prompted the government to implement the strictest quarantine restrictions to control the spread of infection.

Ghebreyesus also reiterated the preliminary finding that there may be an increased risk of reinfection with the Omicron variant, but information is still limited as of now.

WHO said countries must increase testing, sequencing, and surveillance to fully understand the heavily mutated variant's transmissibility and impact.

"Any complacency now will cost lives," Ghebreyesus said. "New data are emerging every day, but scientists need time to complete studies and interpret the results. We must be careful about drawing firm conclusions until we have a more complete picture."

WHO emergencies director Michael Ryan earlier said Omicron is "highly unlikely" to completely evade vaccine protection.

Speaking to CNN Philippines' The Final Word, Dr. Paul Offit - a member of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Vaccines Advisory Committee - said more data about the variant are expected in the following weeks, but noted that those initially available suggest that "Omicron may be less virulent than the previous variants."

He added that the most important data that should be generated is Omicron's effect on protection from vaccines. Offit said experts need to know if getting the coronavirus shot protects a person from serious illness, which has been the case for the earlier variants - and is likely for Omicron as well.

"I think what will be different about Omicron is I think you're going to be less protected against mild disease and so the question becomes if you get a booster dose that will likely increase your protection but then the question becomes for how long," he explained.

Offit also said based on past events, the first two doses of a vaccine protect one from serious disease while the third protects one from mild disease.

An Omicron-specific vaccine will only be needed if it will be proven that currently available shots do not prevent serious infection, he added.

Omicron - or the B.1.1.529 variant - was first detected in early November in South Africa. It has been reported in 57 nations and WHO expects the number to increase.

The Philippines has not yet detected a case of Omicron, but the country remains on high alert by banning flights from over a dozen nations with local cases as a preventive measure.
(CNN)  UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his wife Carrie Johnson have announced the birth of a "healthy baby girl," according to the UK's Press Association. The baby was born on Thursday morning at a London hospital.

The Johnsons had announced in July that they were expecting a second child in December.

Carrie Johnson wrote at the time that she had suffered a miscarriage at the start of this year. "Hoping for our rainbow baby this Christmas," she wrote, referring to a child who is born following a miscarriage, stillbirth or neonatal death.

The couple already have a son, Wilfred Lawrie Nicholas Johnson, who was born in April last year.

They were married in a secret wedding at Westminster Cathedral in London in May this year.

Opposition Labour Party leader Keir Starmer tweeted his congratulations to the Johnsons, adding: "Wishing your family health and happiness."

A Downing Street spokesman told PA that Johnson would "take some time with his family" but had to "balance that with his responsibilities as Prime Minister in leading the country, which he will continue to do."

Johnson finally admitted in an interview in September that he had six children, one of them his son with Carrie, having previously dodged the question in numerous interviews and press conferences. That makes the new baby his seventh child.

The Prime Minister made the revelation while speaking to NBC's Today show on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.

Johnson told NBC it was "fantastic" having a baby in 10 Downing Street, but that it was also "a lot of work."

"But I absolutely love it," he added. "I change a lot of nappies."

Four of Johnson's children are with his ex-wife Marina Wheeler and the fifth, a daughter, was the result of an extra-marital affair.

The announcement of the birth of Johnson's new baby daughter coincided with the news that his Conservative Party had been fined 17,800 (about $23,500) by the UK's Electoral Commission over the refurbishment of a flat at Downing Street. The penalty was for failing accurately to report a donation and keep a proper accounting record.

The Commission's investigation was launched in April following reports in British media that Boris Johnson had spent $280,000 on refurbishing his flat at Downing Street, leading to questions over how he paid for the upgrade. The flat is usually the residence of the Prime Minister when in London.

At the time, then-Trade Secretary Liz Truss said Johnson personally covered the cost of refurbishing the flat.

The Prime Minister is also under pressure over multiple claims that social events were held inside 10 Downing Street in the runup to Christmas 2020, when the country was under coronavirus regulations that outlawed such activities.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Boris and Carrie Johnson announce birth of baby daughter."
(CNN)  President Joe Biden on Wednesday ruled out sending US troops to Ukraine to defend the country from a Russian invasion a day after laying out the consequences for such an incursion during a stern phone call with President Vladimir Putin.

It was Biden's first time describing Tuesday's two-hour conversation, which officials said grew tense at moments as the two men sparred over the massive build-up of 70,000 Russian troops surrounding Ukraine on three sides.

Biden ended the conversation without any further clarity on whether Putin had made up his mind to launch an invasion, officials said afterward.

But a day later, both he and Putin said new diplomatic channels could soon be opened in an attempt to provide an off-ramp to conflict.

Speaking to reporters as he departed the White House for Kansas City, Biden said he warned Putin he would impose sanctions "like none he's ever seen" should the Russian troops massed on Ukraine's border escalate into an assault.

But he said the US would not dispatch its own forces to protect Ukraine, a stance that US officials have previously ruled out as well.

"That is not on the table," he said. "We have a moral obligation and a legal obligation to our NATO allies if they were to attack under Article 5, that's a sacred obligation. That obligation does not extend to ... Ukraine."

Instead, Biden said he told Putin in direct terms that the economic consequences of an incursion would be devastating.

"I was very straightforward. There were no minced words. I was polite but I made it very clear: If, in fact, he invades Ukraine, there will be severe consequences. Severe consequences. Economic consequences like none he's ever seen or ever have been seen, in terms of being imposed," Biden said.

He said he believed his Russian counterpart received the message.

"He knows. His immediate response was he understood that," Biden said.

American officials have previewed a lengthy set of possible sanctions on Russia, including on members of Putin's inner circle and the country's energy sector, as options for Biden as he moves ahead. The President has been coordinating with allies in Europe -- whose countries are tied more closely to Russia economically -- on a joint sanctions effort.

The consequences of an invasion would go beyond sanctions, however. Biden said he told Putin he would likely have to increase US troop presence in Europe to reassure NATO allies of the United States' continued support if Russia went ahead with an invasion.

Putin has long complained about the presence of NATO troops along Russia's border, alleging they are a threat to his country's security.

Ukraine has been seeking membership in NATO for several years, but is not in the final stages of entering the defense bloc. Biden has said previously the country must first do more to scrub out corruption before joining.

In Tuesday's video call, Putin asked for legally binding language that would prevent Ukraine's ascension to NATO, a red line Biden would not agree to.

But he did agree to hear out Putin's concerns about NATO in a diplomatic format and said Wednesday those talks were likely to begin soon.

"We hope by Friday we'll be able to say, to announce to you that we're having meetings at a higher level, not just with us but with at least four major NATO allies and Russia, to discuss the future of Russia's concerns relative to NATO writ large and whether or not we can work out any accommodations when it comes to bringing down the temperature along the eastern front," he said.

Speaking during his own televised news conference on Wednesday, Putin said he and Biden agreed to continue the security discussions and said Russia would submit parameters for the talks to the United States within a week.

"We agreed that an appropriate structure will be created that will be able to professionally deal with this," Putin said during an appearance in Sochi, the Black Sea resort town from which he participated in Tuesday's video call with Biden.

"The conversation was very open, substantive and constructive. I hope that this is how the American side assesses the results as well. We have the opportunity to continue the dialogue, and I think this is the most important thing," he said.

This story was first published on CNN.com Biden says US troops in Ukraine are off the table but promises withering sanctions if Russia invades
(CNN)  Boris Johnson has faced many scandals in his more than two years as UK Prime Minister. But the latest one is the gravest yet.

For the past week, the British Prime Minister has been buffeted by multiple claims that social events were held inside 10 Downing Street in the runup to Christmas 2020, when the country was under coronavirus regulations that outlawed such activities.

The controversy deepened markedly on Tuesday with the emergence of a video broadcast by CNN affiliate ITV News from the time that appears to show Number 10 officials joking about the parties during a rehearsal for televised press briefings.

Downing Street's position, before and since the video was leaked, is this: "There was no Christmas party and coronavirus rules had been followed at all times." Johnson has announced an internal inquiry and on Wednesday, one of the officials in the video -- the prime minister's former spokeswoman Allegra Stratton, resigned as a government adviser.

After speaking to multiple officials, CNN has established that social gatherings were indeed held on the two days in question -- November 27 and December 18 -- and has confirmed a Daily Mirror report that Johnson himself gave an impromptu speech at the first one. Sources also confirmed reports that secret Santa gifts were exchanged on December 18.

The accusations are damaging for the government as it seeks to enforce tougher coronavirus restrictions. On Wednesday, Johnson announced England would be tightening restrictions -- called "Plan B" -- due to rising Omicron cases: From Friday, face coverings will again become mandatory in most public venues, including cinemas. And from next week people will be advised to work from home and present a "Covid Pass" proving vaccination or recent recovery to enter nightclubs and other venues with large crowds.

"It's becoming increasingly clear Omicron is growing faster than the previous Delta variant," Johnson said, adding that the more than 500 cases identified in the UK are "almost certainly an underestimate."

Against this backdrop of rising cases, the charge of government hypocrisy is potent -- last year it forced the resignation of a key aide to Johnson, and the health secretary in June this year, in separate scandals that were also characterized by claims of double standards.

The video itself is the most damaging element of the story. It shows Stratton rehearsing for a televised news conference on Tuesday December 22, being asked by colleagues whether a party took place "on Friday night" -- which would have been December 18, the date of the second alleged party. Stratton says, "I went home." She then laughs and smiles. "Hold on. Hold on. Um. Er. Ah."

She also said in the clip, shown by ITV, "This fictional party was a business meeting and it was not socially distanced."

Until now, the government had maintained its line that no party had taken place. But on Wednesday, referring to the video, Johnson apologized in parliament on Wednesday "unreservedly for the offense that it has caused." He added: "I have been repeatedly assured that there was no party and no rules were broken." He announced that his Cabinet Secretary will be investigating the events of December 18 -- the date of the second alleged party and not the event at which CNN has been told he spoke -- and would report back.

Johnson said that if rules were broken "there will be disciplinary action for all those involved." He added that he was "furious" when he saw the video.

Stratton, who was serving as the Prime Minister's COP26 spokeswoman, said her comments had become a "distraction" in the fight against coronavirus, and offered her resignation on Wednesday afternoon. "I understand the anger and frustration that people feel," she said in a statement on camera.

"To all who lost loved ones, endured intolerable loneliness and struggled with your businesses -- I am sorry and this afternoon I offered my resignation to the Prime Minister."

Johnson paid tribute to Stratton at a press conference later Wednesday. The prime minister told reporters that while he can "totally understand how infuriating" the leaked video was, Stratton had been a "fine colleague" who "achieved a great deal in her time in government" particularly as COP26 spokesperson.

Johnson also maintained that to the best of his knowledge, no Covid-19 restrictions had been broken. When grilled by reporters on whether people would heed the latest restrictions after members of his team laughed and joked about the coronavirus, Johnson replied: "The British public can see the vital importance of the medical information that we're giving."

Conservative Party chairman Oliver Dowden said last week, "My focus has not been on having conversations about what may or may not have happened over a year ago in Downing Street. I have, however, been assured by what the Prime Minister has said, which is that the rules at all times were obeyed in Downing Street."

CNN approached multiple other government officials for comment but had no reply.

The video, which could be dismissed as a jovial knockabout between advisers never intended to be broadcast, undermines Downing Street's key claim that no rules were broken. In addition to the alleged party on December 18, there was another earlier gathering for departing senior adviser Cleo Watson, which took place on November 27. CNN has attempted to contact Watson.

Both gatherings took place while London was under strict lockdown measures and social gatherings were banned. The day before the December 18 gathering, the government even sent a tweet warning "you must not have a work Christmas lunch or party, where that is a primarily social activity."

Millions of Britons who'd hoped to enjoy some semblance of normality after a year of missing family gatherings were unable to celebrate Christmas together in 2020, precisely because of the government-imposed limits.

More than 145,000 people have died from Covid-19 in the UK, and the latest revelations about the video sparked outrage from relatives of those who died in the pandemic.

"There are simply no words to describe how upsetting and shameful it is to then hear Boris Johnson's team laughing about breaking the rules they had made, whilst others followed them and could only say goodbye to their loved ones through a screen," the Bereaved Families group said in a statement. "It's the behaviour of people who think they're above us."

For obvious reasons, this is a deeply damaging moment for a PM who has been accused many times of acting as though there is one rule for himself and his inner circle and the citizens he governs.

In order to understand what happened on the days of the 2020 parties, CNN talked with multiple current and former government officials who say that staff gathered in Downing Street, had drinks and behaved in a way that was at the time unimaginable to the rest of the country. What is less clear is how those gatherings came to pass.

Based on the conversations CNN has had with multiple current and former government officials, several events were held in Downing Street at the various stages of lockdowns and Covid restrictions. At this time, many officials were still working at the Prime Minister's official residence as "key workers" -- a designation used by the UK government for categories of employees that were exempt from working-from-home requirements.

One senior Number 10 official, who is not a Johnson ally and was present at the gatherings in question explained, "Obviously this looks bad, but from our perspective, we were working 18-hour days. It was entirely normal that we would have drinks on our desks." They claim that these were not organized parties as such, but semi-spontaneous gatherings at the end of stressful workdays between people who, because of their jobs, had to mix anyway.

According to three current and former officials, who were present, Prime Minister Johnson gave a short impromptu speech at Watson's leaving party on November 27, 2020. Of the PM's speech, they say that Johnson was on the way to his flat inside Downing Street, saw that staff had gathered and delivered a few words before going upstairs. Downing Street has denied any rules were broken.

From the numerous conversations CNN has had with people who were present at these events or have a detailed understanding of what went on, it remains very murky as to how this happened.

Current and former officials, appreciating how damaging the revelations of gatherings are, say it was standard practice that staff exchanged secret Santa gifts at Christmas. "To us, Downing Street was an island where we had to work and lockdown wasn't happening in the same way it was for the rest of the country," one current No. 10 official says.

In a single quote, this lays bare the problem Johnson now faces. It is an admission that the rules simply didn't apply to a select group of people who worked directly for the PM, who himself was hospitalized for a week and spent time in intensive care with the virus.

None of which means this is good for Johnson. The best-case-scenario for the government is that the public accepts staff in No. 10 were working in a small, crowded house at a time a virus was rampant because they had no alternative and, after a hard day's work, they had a drink before returning to duty (on both days, operational communications were sent to journalists beyond the hours that the parties are alleged to have concluded.)

However, the video of Stratton joking about the party has turned even Johnson's allies against him.

A former official and ally of Johnson, who was not present at the events in question said that they had carried on working through a time of crisis while many others fled London to work from home. The official said the people seen in the video would have to be sacked.

Another Johnson supporter, who remains close with the PM, said "it's hard to see how someone doesn't walk for it."

Johnson faces some existential questions about his and his government's competence and how they created an almighty trust issue at the heart of government. And, alarmingly, someone who was close enough to be in a room with Johnson's most trusted inner circle, who has some of the highest security clearance possible, leaked a video damaging to a sitting Prime Minister.

Conservative lawmakers have long privately complained that Johnson has surrounded himself with advisers who were inexperienced in working in such high office.

Johnson came into office promising to deliver on the "people's priorities" and actively courted the votes of those exhausted by politics as usual.

A less charitable explanation is that he believes it is acceptable for his staff to ignore the laws that his own government legislates.

It comes at a time when public trust in his government has dropped because of numerous sleaze scandals. It was only weeks ago that Johnson tried to save a member of his own party who had been involved in a lobbying scandal. There is an ongoing investigation into how the PM paid for a refurbishment of his Downing Street flat, which he has insisted he paid for.

The Prime Minister who won a majority in 2019 as the revolutionary candidate willing to upend the cosy Westminster establishment currently looks like a man who is neck-deep in the worst excesses of political sleaze.

And if history tells us anything, individual scandals don't sink a leader; but a tidal wave of sleaze can drown them. Johnson might have passed the point at which it's possible to keep his head above water.

This story was first published on CNN.com Boris Johnson's aides joked about Christmas party in Downing Street while London was in lockdown
(CNN)  We're about to get a new perspective on some of the most extreme objects in the universe. In the early morning hours of December 9, NASA will launch its Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer mission, or IXPE, to measure X-rays released by black holes and neutron stars.

The satellite is scheduled to launch around 1 a.m. ET Thursday morning aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Live coverage of the launch will be available on NASA TV and the agency's website.

The spacecraft, which is the collaborative effort of NASA and the Italian Space Agency, carries three telescopes. While IXPE isn't as big as NASA's Chandra X-ray observatory, it is the first space observatory of its kind. The satellite will be able to see an often overlooked aspect of cosmic ray sources called polarization.

Advances in X-ray astronomy

"The launch of IXPE marks a bold and unique step forward for X-ray astronomy," said Martin Weisskopf, IXPE's principal investigator, in a statement. "IXPE will tell us more about the precise nature of cosmic X-ray sources than we can learn by studying their brightness and color spectrum alone."

X-rays are a highly energetic wavelength of light that are born from extremes. In space, this includes powerful magnetic fields, collisions between objects, explosions, scorching temperatures and rapid rotations. This light is practically encoded with the signature of what created it, but Earth's atmosphere prevents X-rays from reaching the ground. This is why scientists rely on X-ray telescopes in space.

Polarized light also bears the unique stamp of its source and what it passed through on the way. While waves of light can vibrate in any direction, polarized light only vibrates in one direction.

Understanding extreme cosmic objects

Using IXPE to study the polarization of cosmic X-rays could help scientists better understand the remnants of exploded stars, like black holes and neutron stars, their environments and how they produce X-rays. This perspective on extreme cosmic objects could also reveal the answers to larger fundamental questions about physics.

"IXPE will help us test and refine our theories of how the universe works," Weisskopf said. "There may be even more exciting answers ahead than the ones we've hypothesized. Better yet, we may find whole lists of new questions to ask!"

The satellite's eyes on the universe include sensitive polarization detectors, which were made in Italy. The telescopes will observe the X-rays and feed them into the detectors, which can capture images of the X-rays and measure their polarization.

"This is going to be groundbreaking in terms of X-ray data acquisition," Weisskopf said. "We'll be analyzing the results for decades to come."

This story was first published on CNN.com NASA to launch new x-ray telescope designed to unravel mysteries of black holes
Its no secret that I am a strong advocate for pro-life, pro-woman policies. As a member of the Nebraska Legislature, I supported a bill that banned most abortions in Nebraska after 20 weeks of pregnancy, the point at which unborn babies begin to be able to feel pain. Nebraska was the first state in the nation to pass a bill of this kind. And we passed it 44 votes to 5, with senators from all over the political spectrum  Democrat, Republican, pro-choice, and pro-life  coming together to protect our unborn children.

Nebraskas law passed in 2010. Eight years later, the state of Mississippi passed a similar law, also on a bipartisan basis. The law was immediately challenged in the courts, with a federal judge blocking it from going into effect. Mississippi appealed to the Supreme Court, and the Justices agreed to hear the case, Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization, starting on December 1.

The question at the heart of this case, which will be argued by Mississippis first-ever woman attorney general, is clear: Should the Court uphold Mississippis 15-week abortion limit and leave room for states to make their own abortion policy? In July, I joined over 200 members of Congress in sending an amicus brief to the Supreme Court, in which we argue that the Courts answer to this question should be a resounding yes.

Our brief points out that by upholding Mississippis law, the Supreme Court will allow each state to pass laws that reflect their residents values for the first time in nearly 50 years. A lot has changed over that time: 50 years ago, ultrasounds and sonograms werent widely available. Today, these technologies are an indispensable part of prenatal care, and the images families see of their unborn children are often nearly identical to the newborns they will soon become.

50 years ago, babies born before around 28 weeks were not expected to survive. Today, scientific advancements have allowed babies born much earlier to not only survive, but go on to live full and happy lives. These advancements have left no doubt about the humanity of the unborn. And the miracles of modern medicine are only going to continue to allow babies born earlier and earlier to survive and thrive.

Our laws should keep pace with this incredible progress, just as the laws of other countries have. Instead, we have one of the most permissive abortion regimes in the world. 90 percent of countries worldwide limit abortion at 15 weeks or earlier  but not the United States. We are one of only four countries, including China and North Korea, where certain states allow abortions up to the day of birth.

Our laws are outdated, and Americas unborn children are paying the price. In the Dobbs case, the Supreme Court has an opportunity to bring the United States into the 21st century.

Thank you for participating in the democratic process. I look forward to visiting with you again next week.

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Cumberland, Dauphin and Franklin counties each saw fewer new cases of COVID-19 than in the past days, while York County saw nearly double the number of new daily cases in the latest Department of Health update.

The Department of Health reported on its dashboard that Cumberland County had 100 new cases of the disease, which is a lower number than it has been the past few days. With a lower daily count, the percent positivity also fell from where it was hovering around the 50% mark. Judging by just the number of confirmed positive tests reported (84) and the number of negative tests reported (152) Thursday, the county saw 35.6% of its tests come back positive.

Along with Cumberland County, Dauphin and Franklin counties also saw fewer new cases of COVID-19 compared to other days this week. Dauphin County had 137 cases (only a little less than the 141 cases in Wednesday's update), and Franklin County had 104 new cases, which is much less than the 147 cases Wednesday.

Franklin County, however, had the highest increase in deaths Thursday with three new deaths reported. Two deaths were reported each in York and Blair counties, and one death was reported each in Cumberland, Adams, Bedford, Dauphin, Huntingdon and Mifflin counties.

While Cumberland County saw a one-day reduction in the number of new cases, York County saw a significant rise. York had 256 new cases in Wednesday's update, but it had 446 new cases in Thursday's update. Lebanon County also saw a day-to-day increase, rising from 90 new cases Wednesday to 121 new cases Thursday.

The Health Department reported this week that it will only issue weekly reports instead of daily reports, though it will continue to update its data online on a daily basis.

One of the things we have learned over the past 21 months is that following trends over a week or longer provides a clearer picture of what is happening," acting Health Secretary Alison Beam said Tuesday. "To help people better understand, our team will continue to update the various dashboards on a daily basis and we will shift from a daily news release of numbers, to a seven-day reporting of important trends.

With just the single-day fall in numbers, Cumberland County also saw a decline in the number of hospitalized patients, though those with severe infections grew. Cumberland County had 122 patients in the hospital with COVID-19 in Thursday's update, which is seven fewer than in Wednesday's update. However, there are 20 adults now in the ICU and 18 on ventilators, which is a rise of three patients in each category. Of the 116 currently staffed ICU beds, only seven are still available.

While Cumberland County saw a decrease in overall patients, Dauphin County saw a much larger increase than usual in the number of its hospitalized patients. The county had 165 patients in Thursday's update, 48 more than in Wednesday's update. Of those patients, 44 are in the ICU (up from 33 Wednesday) and 33 were on ventilators (up from 20). Of the 198 staffed ICU beds, 23 were still available.

Franklin County also saw an increase in the number of patients, rising from 94 Wednesday to 106 Thursday. Of those patients, 17 are in the ICU (down from 19) and 14 were on ventilators (up from 12). Of the currently staffed 33 beds, four were still available.

School-age children

In its weekly update for the 14th week of the school year, the department reported 126 cases among children aged 5-18 in Cumberland County during the week of Nov. 24-30, a decrease of 14 from the 140 cases reported last week. The total number of cases in Cumberland County for this school year is 1,891.

Statewide, the number of cases among 5- to 18-year-olds decreased with 6,574 cases reported. The state said the total number of cases in that age group for the school year is 94,234.

Early Warning Dashboard

Cumberland County saw an increase in its in percent positivity and its incidence rate per 100,000 people in the Health Department's weekly update to its Early Warning Monitoring System Dashboard Friday. Its percent positivity increased to 17.8% for the week of Nov. 26-Dec. 2, up from 14.4% the previous week. The incidence rate per 100,000 people increased to 243.1, up from 226.9 the previous week.

Perry County featured significant increases in the Health Department update Friday, with its percent positivity jumping to 30.8% (up from 22% the previous week)  the third highest percent positivity for the week behind Warren (34.6%) and Potter (33.8%) counties. Perry's incidence rate jumped to 406.3 (up from 268 the previous week).

Seven counties in the state showed incidence rates above 500 for the week. Potter County topped the list at 568.8.

Philadelphia County, which includes the city of Philadelphia, had the lowest percent positivity in the state for the week of Nov. 26-Dec. 2 at 7% and the lowest incidence rate per 100,000 people at 106.4.

Penn State Health update (Dec. 8)

Penn State Health lists a COVID-19 dashboard on its website tracking cases at each of its acute care hospitals  Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Penn State Health Holy Spirit Medical Center, Hampden Medical Center and Penn State Health St. Joseph Medical Center. The dashboard will be updated every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Wednesday's update shows 158 total cases (154 adults, 4 pediatrics) in the health systems four hospitals, a decrease of 13 cases since Friday. Thirty are fully vaccinated (19%) with nine in an ICU and five on ventilators; 109 are nonvaccinated (69%) with 31 adults in an ICU and 17 adults on a ventilator, and 19 are unknown status patients. Three unvaccinated children are hospitalized and one is in an ICU and one on a ventilator.

Holy Spirit Medical Center in Camp Hill has 34 COVID patients. Six are fully vaccinated adults (one in ICU and one on a ventilator) and 28 are unvaccinated adults (four in an ICU and two on a ventilator).

Hampden Medical Center has six COVID patients, five of them unvaccinated (two in an ICU, one on a ventilator); one is fully vaccinated.

Vaccinations

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention labels Cumberland County as having "high" transmission of the virus  the highest level, which is the transmission level for every county in the state. Community transmission is determined by the number of new cases per 100,000 people in the last seven days and the positivity rate over the last seven days, so the classification could vary from day to day based on those numbers.

In data updated Tuesday evening, the CDC says Cumberland County has seen 58.5% of its total population of 253,370 become fully vaccinated. For the county's population of people ages 12 and older, 66.9% have been fully vaccinated.

County numbers in the southcentral region (for Dec. 9):

Adams County (pop. 103,009): 66 new cases; 15,276 total cases (12,314 confirmed, 2,962 probable); 45,143 negatives; 252 deaths (+1); 48.9% of county population vaccinated

66 new cases; 15,276 total cases (12,314 confirmed, 2,962 probable); 45,143 negatives; 252 deaths (+1); 48.9% of county population vaccinated Bedford County (pop. 47,888): 39 new cases; 8,066 total cases (5,473 confirmed, 2,593 probable); 12,976 negatives; 202 deaths (+1); 35.6% of county population vaccinated

39 new cases; 8,066 total cases (5,473 confirmed, 2,593 probable); 12,976 negatives; 202 deaths (+1); 35.6% of county population vaccinated Blair County (pop. 121,829): 99 new cases; 21,544 total cases (16,992 confirmed, 4,552 probable); 48,457 negatives; 452 deaths (+2); 46.7% of county population vaccinated

99 new cases; 21,544 total cases (16,992 confirmed, 4,552 probable); 48,457 negatives; 452 deaths (+2); 46.7% of county population vaccinated Cumberland County (pop. 253,370): 100 new cases; 32,746 total cases (25,233 confirmed, 7,513 probable); 106,297 negatives; 672 deaths (+1); 58.5% of county population vaccinated

100 new cases; 32,746 total cases (25,233 confirmed, 7,513 probable); 106,297 negatives; 672 deaths (+1); 58.5% of county population vaccinated Dauphin County (pop. 278,299): 137 new cases; 39,403 total cases (33,452 confirmed, 5,951 probable); 132,652 negatives; 712 deaths (+1); 54.8% of county population vaccinated

137 new cases; 39,403 total cases (33,452 confirmed, 5,951 probable); 132,652 negatives; 712 deaths (+1); 54.8% of county population vaccinated Franklin County (pop. 155,027): 104 new cases; 25,139 total cases (19,945 confirmed, 5,194 probable); 65,444 negatives; 506 deaths (+3); 44.4% of county population vaccinated

104 new cases; 25,139 total cases (19,945 confirmed, 5,194 probable); 65,444 negatives; 506 deaths (+3); 44.4% of county population vaccinated Fulton County (pop. 14,530): 23 new cases; 2,797 total cases (1,334 confirmed, 1,463 probable); 5,119 negatives; 40 deaths; 33% of county population vaccinated

23 new cases; 2,797 total cases (1,334 confirmed, 1,463 probable); 5,119 negatives; 40 deaths; 33% of county population vaccinated Huntingdon County (pop. 45,144): 31 new cases; 7,887 total cases (6,431 confirmed, 1,456 probable); 21,755 negatives; 188 deaths (+1); 46.9% of county population vaccinated

31 new cases; 7,887 total cases (6,431 confirmed, 1,456 probable); 21,755 negatives; 188 deaths (+1); 46.9% of county population vaccinated Juniata County (pop. 24,763): 14 new cases; 3,503 total cases (3,196 confirmed, 307 probable); 6,862 negatives; 134 deaths; 37% of county population vaccinated

14 new cases; 3,503 total cases (3,196 confirmed, 307 probable); 6,862 negatives; 134 deaths; 37% of county population vaccinated Lebanon County (pop. 141,793): 121 new cases; 23,930 total cases (20,391 confirmed, 3,539 probable); 64,715 negatives; 366 deaths; 49% of county population vaccinated

121 new cases; 23,930 total cases (20,391 confirmed, 3,539 probable); 64,715 negatives; 366 deaths; 49% of county population vaccinated Mifflin County (pop. 46,138): 36 new cases; 8,522 total cases (8,062 confirmed, 460 probable); 18,057 negatives; 231 deaths (+1); 45% of county population vaccinated

36 new cases; 8,522 total cases (8,062 confirmed, 460 probable); 18,057 negatives; 231 deaths (+1); 45% of county population vaccinated Perry County (pop. 46,272): 19 new cases; 6,230 total cases (4,840 confirmed, 1,391 probable); 13,904 negatives; 135 deaths; 42.1% of county population vaccinated

19 new cases; 6,230 total cases (4,840 confirmed, 1,391 probable); 13,904 negatives; 135 deaths; 42.1% of county population vaccinated York County (pop. 449,058): 446 new cases; 73,728 total cases (59,627 confirmed; 14,101 probable); 199,535 negatives; 1,097 deaths (+2); 52.3% of county population vaccinated

ZIP code-level counts (updated Dec. 9):

17013: 3,856 positives, 16,412 negatives - +69 since Dec. 3

17015: 2,314 positives, 8,059 negatives - +49 since Dec. 3

17050: 3,693 positives, 17,112 negatives - +86 since Dec. 3

17055: 4,108 positives, 19,008 negatives - +93 since Dec. 3

17011: 3,751 positives, 15,724 negatives - +51 since Dec. 3

17007: 564 positives, 2,098 negatives - +13 since Dec. 3

17065: 419 positives, 1,419 negatives - +14 since Dec. 3

17324: 458 positives, 1,439 negatives - +13 since Dec. 3

17241: 1,046 positives, 3,533 negatives - +28 since Dec. 3

17257: 2,588 positives, 7,937 negatives - +56 since Dec. 3

17240: 264 positives, 711 negatives - +4 since Dec. 3

17025: 1,765 positives, 6,539 negatives - +54 since Dec. 3

17070: 1,656 positives, 6,141 negatives - +27 since Dec. 3

17043: 564 positives, 2,354 negatives - +15 since Dec. 3

17019: 2,013 positives, 6,217 negatives - +32 since Dec. 3

17266: 37 positives, 140 negatives - +0 since Dec. 3

School district and college case counts (updated Dec. 3)

The Sentinel's case counts for Cumberland County school districts and colleges or universities are updated Fridays. The policy for each school districts reporting is noted in the list below.

Big Spring School District (reports active cases in past 14 days with school exposure): 14 student cases and 3 staff cases being monitored as of Dec. 3.

(reports active cases in past 14 days with school exposure): 14 student cases and 3 staff cases being monitored as of Dec. 3. Camp Hill School District (posts chart that includes total case count): 10 new student cases and no new staff cases since Nov. 19; 95 student cases and 9 staff cases this school year (started Aug. 25.) Chart last updated on Dec. 3.

(posts chart that includes total case count): 10 new student cases and no new staff cases since Nov. 19; 95 student cases and 9 staff cases this school year (started Aug. 25.) Chart last updated on Dec. 3. Carlisle Area School District (reports cases as they occur and updates a chart): 6 new cases since Nov. 19; 222 cases this school year (started Aug. 25) according to the charts last update on Nov. 23.

(reports cases as they occur and updates a chart): 6 new cases since Nov. 19; 222 cases this school year (started Aug. 25) according to the charts last update on Nov. 23. Cumberland Valley School District (reports weekly and total number of cases with school exposure): 60 cases since Nov. 19; 355 cases this school year (started Aug. 31) as of the charts last update on Dec. 3.

(reports weekly and total number of cases with school exposure): 60 cases since Nov. 19; 355 cases this school year (started Aug. 31) as of the charts last update on Dec. 3. Mechanicsburg Area School District (chart lists total cases actively being monitored, updated Tuesday and Friday): 63 positive and presumed positive cases being monitored as of Dec. 3.

(chart lists total cases actively being monitored, updated Tuesday and Friday): 63 positive and presumed positive cases being monitored as of Dec. 3. Shippensburg Area School District (reports weekly and total confirmed case counts involving school exposure): 37 new cases since Nov. 19; 227 cases this school year (started Aug. 19) as of charts last update on Dec. 2.

(reports weekly and total confirmed case counts involving school exposure): 37 new cases since Nov. 19; 227 cases this school year (started Aug. 19) as of charts last update on Dec. 2. South Middleton School District (posts notices as cases occur, updates table of case counts weekly on Fridays): 18 new cases since Nov. 12; 103 cases this school year (started Aug. 25) as of the charts last update on Dec. 3.

(posts notices as cases occur, updates table of case counts weekly on Fridays): 18 new cases since Nov. 12; 103 cases this school year (started Aug. 25) as of the charts last update on Dec. 3. West Shore School District (reports active cases with school exposure within past 14 days): 28 student cases and 6 staff cases being monitored as of Dec. 3.

(reports active cases with school exposure within past 14 days): 28 student cases and 6 staff cases being monitored as of Dec. 3. Dickinson College : 17 new student cases and 3 employee cases since Nov. 19; 55 student cases and 31 employee cases this semester (started Aug. 30.) Chart last updated on Dec. 3.

: 17 new student cases and 3 employee cases since Nov. 19; 55 student cases and 31 employee cases this semester (started Aug. 30.) Chart last updated on Dec. 3. Messiah University : 25 new student cases and 14 new staff cases since Nov. 19; 105 student cases and 47 employee cases this semester (started Aug. 7.) Chart last updated Dec. 2.

: 25 new student cases and 14 new staff cases since Nov. 19; 105 student cases and 47 employee cases this semester (started Aug. 7.) Chart last updated Dec. 2. Shippensburg University: 35 new student cases and 5 new staff cases since Nov. 19; 209 student cases and 28 employee cases this semester (started Aug. 1). Chart last updated on Dec. 3.

(Counties with a percent positivity above 5% in a week go on the Department of Health's watch list)

Pennsylvania: Percent Positivity - 15.3% last 7 days (12.1% previous 7 days) Incidence Rate per 100,000 people last 7 days - 276.8 (264.7 previous 7 days)

Adams County: Percent Positivity - 18.1% last 7 days (15.4% previous 7 days) Incidence Rate per 100,000 people last 7 days - 240.8 (198 previous 7 days)

Cumberland County: Percent Positivity - 17.8% last 7 days (14.4% previous 7 days) Incidence Rate per 100,000 people last 7 days - 243.1 (226.9 previous 7 days)

Dauphin County: Percent Positivity - 16.3% last 7 days (13.6% previous 7 days) Incidence Rate per 100,000 people last 7 days - 221.0 (216.0 previous 7 days)

Franklin County: Percent Positivity - 22.5% last 7 days (15.9% previous 7 days) Incidence Rate per 100,000 people last 7 days - 283.2 (206.4 previous 7 days)

Lebanon County: Percent Positivity - 20.6% last 7 days (19.6% previous 7 days) Incidence Rate per 100,000 people last 7 days - 299.7 (322.3 previous 7 days)

Perry County: Percent Positivity - 30.8% last 7 days (22% previous 7 days) Incidence Rate per 100,000 people last 7 days - 406.3 (268.0 previous 7 days)

York County:

Percent Positivity - 23.6% last 7 days (19.2% previous 7 days)

last 7 days (19.2% previous 7 days)

Incidence Rate per 100,000 people last 7 days - 344.3 (330.0 previous 7 days)
St. Louis-based power utility Ameren met with state regulators and consumer advocates on Thursday over coming rate increases.

The state authorized Ameren last month to raise rates enough to boost revenue by nearly 9% or about $220 million a year. The parties discussed at a hearing on Thursday how to divide the costs between residential and industrial customers.

"It's just a matter of how do you split the pie," said John Coffman, a lawyer who advocates on utility issues for the Consumers Council of Missouri, describing the case ahead of the hearing. "That's the one main issue that has not been resolved."

He expects regulators at the Missouri Public Service Commission to reach a decision in the coming weeks.

The company originally sought 12% or $299 million more per year when it filed its request for rate changes in the spring.

Ameren said the increase is needed to cover recent electric grid upgrades and wind farms.

The increases will take effect Feb. 28.

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Staff members at Elephant Rocks State Park invite the public to a rare after-dark event to view the Geminids meteor shower from 5 p.m. to midnight Saturday.

Park staff will be available to direct visitors to the best and safest areas to view the meteor shower.

Participants should dress for cold winter conditions, and bring portable chairs and warm blankets. It is often colder on the rocks than the average local temperature.

This meteor shower was first reported in 1833 by a Mississippi riverboat captain. Geminids meteor shower happens every year in December. It is dust from an asteroid, not a comet. The asteroid is named 3200 Phaethon. The asteroid orbits the sun every 1.4 years and leaves a trail of dust the Earth passes through every December. The shower gets brighter every year as Jupiters gravity pulls the dust closer to the Earth.

Elephant Rocks State Park is a carry in, carry out park; participants should bring in only what can be carried out when leaving. Trash receptacles are provided at the parking lot.

Participants should be respectful of other visitors experiences and avoid excessive use of artificial lights and excessive noise during the event. No tents or other invasive camping equipment, such as propane heaters or lanterns, will be allowed. Absolutely no campfires will be allowed.

Elephant Rocks State Park is located at 7406 Highway 21, Belleview. For more information about the event, call the site at 573-546-3454.

For more information on state parks and historic sites, visit mostateparks.com. Missouri State Parks is a division of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

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The new elementary school for Mountain View would be in addition to a planned six-classroom expansion that could cost $500,000 to $1.73 million above the $6.2 million already allocated to the project because of current market conditions. Board members and school officials said both were necessary because of the current overcrowding of the school and uncertainty about whether a new elementary school will be built.

The opening of a new school is at least five years away, officials said at last weeks meeting when the School Board was briefed on the recommendation. The division and its consultants have been studying long-term solutions for Mountain View throughout the summer and fall.

The School Board will formally sign off on the recommendation at Thursdays meeting.

I would encourage the addition and the new school, said Ellen Osbourne, the school board member representing the Scottsville district, which includes Mountain View. ... While we have the intention to have a new school by 2026-27 school year, I think we all know how those things work out. Something thats on a five-year plan then turns out to be seven years and down the road like that.
Greg Werkheiser, an attorney for the Monacans, said this initial information was seen as so far, so good.

But the report, the investigation, has not yet been released, he said. When it is, well be able to reach a conclusion as to whether or not this path is viable.

Justin Curtis, an attorney for JRWA, said the project team is working to develop more information on budgets and the timeline for the next steps.

This time next month, when we come to address the board, the project team will be anticipating making a recommendation and proposal to the board that the board authorized the development of a permit application for a pump station at the 1C alternative location, he said.

As part of the survey, Glenn said the archaeologists conducted background research into previous sites in the area, the land use history of the area and settling patterns, and developed a sampling plan using state guidelines.
The valley of death adage has two definitions to consider when we talk about the intersection of defense and commercial technology, particularly in getting commercial tech to soldiers quickly.

Definition number one is the most frequently used. It is the gap in acquisition that keeps new and innovative prototype tools from becoming programs of record with real, tangible support in the budget.

Honest question: How many panels and events have we all listened to that cry out for reforming the budgeting process at the Defense Department? Including this one from early November that asked all the right questions.

Which gets to definition number two of the valley of death. It requires giving equal attention to how the venture capital-dominated technology industry actually works, or perhaps does not from DODs point-of-view.

The valley of death from a business point-of-view is the phase of a startup when it is trying to develop its core offerings on a shoestring budget and get enough interest to seek venture capital financing and keep going.

A business crosses that treacherous valley when it achieves enough sustainable cash flow to keep going. Failure to cross the valley equals closing it all down, after which entrepreneurs and other investors move on to try again.

How does this valley of death play out for the U.S. military as a customer that wants the kinds of technologies commercial start-ups seek to create?

During the Reagan National Defense Forum in Simi Valley, California on Saturday; DODs chief technology officer Heidi Shyu explained her goals for engaging with the venture capital community:

I went to visit one small business in Santa Monica (California), superb product. They said were running out of money. I said Hello, youre just telling me today? You think I have a bank account that I can open up and give to you tomorrow?

So thats the problem, we need to have a lot more feedback and interaction. They actually have some Air Force funding, they have venture capitalists interested in putting funding in them, if they have production contracts, Shyu said.

The full exchange featuring that anecdote from Shyu starts at around 19:45 of the video below this story.

Founders, entrepreneurs and other investors essentially make a lot of disparate bets to try and find the one gem that turns into something like a Palantir or Anduril Industries, just to pick a couple high-profile examples out of some. But there are truly not a lot of success stories.

Shyus example highlights both definitions of the valley of death: a companys prototype will not be ready for another year-and-a-half, which puts someone like her in the position to figure out how to find more money in the system to bridge that firm through to the production phase.

This reality check that Shyu somewhat hinted at is also needed: nine out of 10 startups in the U.S. fail. Google that statistic and one finds a plethora of research supporting that.

Rarely is that failure ever because the technology was bad. Other reasons loom large such as not applying the product to the right problem, never identifying a problem to solve or just plain old internal company issues that few businesses will ever overcome unless they are extremely lucky.

Both sides of the situation Shyu described are in a bad spot. The company needs that U.S. government contract to continue developing its technology or it will shutter.

DOD needs that technology to stay on the cutting edge or else the tools and ideas cannot be cultivated with an end goal in mind. Then perhaps the tech ends up somewhere DOD does not want it to go.

Palantir, Anduril and even SpaceX became success stories both for business reasons and because the U.S. government has developed its relationships with those companies over time and with thought.

With where we sit today, the contracting system involving both government and industry is attempting to hash out the problem in real time.

DODs honesty about how the acquisition system works and does not work is out there in full view. More honesty from the venture capital universe on how real successes happen in the tech industry would help as well.

The valley of death was one of several topics in that Reagan Forum panel discussion titled Operation Innovation: The State of the National Security Innovation Base, moderated by defense and space journalist Morgan Brennan of CNBC.

Other panelists were Joe Lonsdale, co-founder and managing partner of venture firm 8VC and a Palantir co-founder; Rep. Ken Calvert (R-California), House Appropriations defense subcommittee ranking member; and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Charles Brown Jr.

Below is the full panel discussion. Lets keep the dialogue going in these pages too.

This article first appeared on Washington Technology.
The 2022 National Defense Authorization Act, passed by the House of Representatives Tuesday night, includes measures to establish job series for data and software positions, give feds paid parental bereavement leave and more changes for the Defense Departments civilian workforce and the federal workforce in general.

One provision requires the Office of Personnel Management to establish or update one or more occupational series covering government jobs in software development, software engineering, data science and data management.

Federal occupational series define jobs and their categorization within the civil service, such as what educational requirements might be attached to a given job.

The language matches a bill passed by the House in late September after being introduced by Reps. Jay Obernolte (R. Calif.) and Peter Welch (D-Vt.).

The legislation was recommended by the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence, which issued a final report in March.

Government civilians currently do not have career paths outside of research and development that allow them to focus on software development, data science, or AI for the majority of their career, the report stated. This limits the governments ability to recruit and retain feds in these areas, it said.

Other workforce provisions

The 2022 NDAA passed by the House also has a provision to give two weeks of paid parental bereavement leave per year to federal employees across government after the death of their son or daughter.

DOD military service members and civilian workers can also look for an increase of 2.7% in military basic pay.

Another area of interest is changes to the length of probationary periods for civilian DOD employees, something that the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), a federal employee union that represents approximately 300,000 DOD employees, pushed for.

The bill brings the standard at the DOD in line with other federal workers starting in 2023 by restoring a one-year probationary period for new civilian feds. The period was lengthened to two years in 2015.

AFGE legislative director Julie Tippens wrote in a Dec. 4 letter to leaders on the House and Senate armed services committees that AFGE has given committee staff a compilation of examples of abusive uses of extended probationary periods, particularly against people with disabilities and whistleblowers.

The whole point of a probationary period is management does not have to prove that there was a performance problem at all and can terminate an employee with little cause, wrote Tippens.

The NDAA also includes a change to language about how DOD goes about any layoffs, or reductions in force.

Congress changed how DOD decides who is laid off in the FY 2016 National Defense Authorization Bill, which elevated performance in the matrix of factors used to make RIF decisions. Performance is usually behind tenure, veterans preference and seniority.

AFGE wanted Congress to include language that would require DOD to use longstanding government-wide RIF policies.

The concern is that so-called performance is far more subjective than the categories of seniority and veterans preference and can much more easily be manipulated to improperly displace employees during a RIF, wrote Tippens.

The union points to the fact that the Biden administration withdrew a rule proposed during the Trump administration that wouldve expanded the elevation of performance in layoffs via the Office of Personnel Management.

The version of the bill passed by the House on Tuesday doesnt use the language AFGE had pushed for, but it does remove language that reductions in force at DOD should be determined primarily on the basis of performance and inserts language that other factors should be considered.

Finally, the bill also includes updated diversity training requirements and provisions regarding sexual harassement and assault. It also requires DOD to establish, collect and report on metrics regarding diversity and inclusion in its civilian workforce.

The NDAA passed by the House also contains a measure to make sure that D.C. National Guard members who are civilian feds dont get a loss in pay or time from civilian employment when they leave during mobilizations, and another to ease the trading of shifts among federal firefighters

Some proposals didnt make it in, particularly those aiming to create reserve programs for cyber or digital employees that would come into government on deployments.

A proposal for a pilot in the U.S. Cyber Command had earned the endorsement of AFGE after back and forth over public disclosure requirements and deployment timeframes.

The NDAA still has to be passed in the Senate and signed into law.

This article first appeared in FCW.
Events

Thursday

Christmas Storybook Land, 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., Linn County Fairgrounds, 3700 Knox Butte Road E., Albany. Free family event. This childrens day is open to everyone this year. CSL is offering an indoor and outdoor drive-through experience from the comfort and safety of your vehicle. Relive your favorite childhood nursery rhymes, fairy tales and family movies in a magical forest. Canned food donations for Fish of Albany accepted. Volunteers to help with CSL are needed. Information: christmasstorybookland.org.

Live Nativity Display, 6 to 8 p.m., in front of College United Methodist Church, 1123 Main St., Philomath; entrance off Highway 20 just west of 12th Street. Hosted by Living Faith Community Church. This year's stable experience comes complete with live animals and snacks. Information: 541-929-4764.

Friday

Holiday Craft Bazaar, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Morningstar Grange, 38794 Morningstar Road NE, Albany. Lunch served 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Information: 541-730-1955.

Christmas Storybook Land, 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., Linn County Fairgrounds, 3700 Knox Butte Road E., Albany. See Thursday listing for details.

Live Nativity Display, 6 to 8 p.m., in front of College United Methodist Church, 1123 Main St., Philomath. See Thursday listing for details.

Saturday

Holiday Gift Fair, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Corvallis Elks Lodge, 1400 NW Ninth St. More than 30 vendors and artisans. Free admission. Food and beverages will be available. Bring the children and your camera for pictures with Santa Claus, who will be on hand from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. A raffle basket prize will be given to a lucky attendee. Information: corvalliselkscf@gmail.com.

Holiday Craft Bazaar, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Morningstar Grange, 38794 Morningstar Road NE, Albany. See Friday listing for details.

Christmas Storybook Land, 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., Linn County Fairgrounds, 3700 Knox Butte Road E., Albany. See Thursday listing for details.

Live Nativity Display, 6 to 8 p.m., in front of College United Methodist Church, 1123 Main St., Philomath. See Thursday listing for details.

Ongoing

CASA of Linn County, Young Roots Oregon, Jackson Street Youth Services and SafeHaven Humane Society are sponsoring Battle of the Nonprofits: Gingerbread House Edition. The event is a friendly competition among nonprofit agencies. Each of the agencies is decorating a gingerbread house. On Friday, the houses will be delivered to SafeHaven for public viewing and voting. Community members can vote one time for the house of their choosing, either at SafeHaven or through CASA's Facebook page or Instagram. Voting will end Dec. 18, and awards will be presented on Dec. 20. There will be a Peoples Choice award. Rod and Denise Bigner, owners of the Pix Theater in Albany, will choose Best in Show.

Pastega Christmas Display, 5 to 10 p.m. daily through Dec. 31, Benton County Fairgrounds, 110 SW 53rd St., Corvallis; enter off Reservoir Avenue and exit on 53rd. The drive-through event has returned after being canceled last year due to COVID-19. Admission: donation of packaged food items for local food items. Organizers are seeking volunteers to assist with taking down the display after Dec. 31; information is available at https://www.pastegachristmasdisplay.com (click on the "Volunteer" button).

Fourth Annual Ornament Hunt and Sweepstakes, through Jan. 1, non-wilderness trails, Willamette National Forest and Umpqua National Forest. The Willamette Valley Visitors Association is sponsoring the hunt, which encourages locals and travelers to connect with public lands and increase outdoor recreation activities. Two hundred wooden ornaments featuring the Willamette Valley will be hidden along non-wilderness trails not affected by wildfires. Each ornament includes a Willamette Valley leather patch and instructions on how to register to win a prize of an adventure and overnight stay in the Willamette Valley. The visitors association website, https://willamettevalley.org/ornament, will serve as the hub for contest winners to claim their prizes throughout the contest. You can also find trail information and hints throughout December on this page. Once the contest closes, all remaining ornaments will be picked up by U.S. Forest Service professionals. The Willamette National Forest provides recreational opportunities, fishing, hunting, foraging, firewood, minerals, wood products and Christmas trees. Christmas tree permits are available at https://www.recreation.gov/tree-permits.

Albany Visitors Association's 34th Annual Night Time Magic Holiday Light Contest. Community judging will begin Friday, running through Dec. 19; winners will be announced by Dec. 21. Pictures of entries will be posted on the AVA Facebook page and addresses will be included for people to drive by, or you can pick up a list of participants at the AVA, 110 Third Ave. SE, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, beginning Friday. The addresses will also be posted on the Albany Explorer App. Community members can vote for their favorites via Facebook or at info@albanyvisitors.com. Participants' lights will be on from 5 to 10 p.m. now through Jan. 1, or longer.

Holiday light string collection; drop off lights at the Republic Services office, 1214 SE Montgomery St., Albany. Through Jan. 3.

Giving opportunities

ABC House is holding a drive to benefit children who have been impacted by abuse or neglect. The community is invited to donate unwrapped items for themed gift drives by Friday: youth and teen clothing, art supplies, reusable water bottles, board games, individually wrapped snacks. ABC House is unable to accept toys and stuffed animals due to limited storage. Participants can also host a drive or adopt a family trying to celebrate the holiday season on a tight budget. Information: coordinator@abchouse.org or https://www.abchouse.org/wishlist.

Albany American Legion Post 10 is conducting a fundraiser for the Linn County Sheriff's Office Animal Control. A collection box will be at the front register of North Albany IGA, 621 Hickory Street NW till Dec. 17. Food, supplies and monetary donations are accepted on an ongoing basis at Post 10, 1215 Pacific Blvd. SE, phone 541-926-0127.

The Arc Giving Tree, a tradition of 17 years, will soon be ready for action at the Arc Thrift Store, 928 NW Beca Ave. in Corvallis. Stop by Saturday or later to select a gift tag from the tree. Requests for gifts to be purchased are specifically for people in the community with developmental disabilities who might not otherwise receive a gift this holiday season. Detailed purchasing guidelines are provided on each tree tag. No need to gift wrap  the Arc has elves for that. Gifts need to be dropped off by Dec. 15.

Jackson Street Youth Services is asking the community's help in supporting youth ages 10 to 24 experiencing or at risk of homelessness. Community members can donate generously, adopt a specific youth's wish list or organize a drive to collect needed items. Gift drop-off will take place through Dec. 23 at approved locations. Information: 541-360-0867, 541-745-4553, elijah.stucki@jacksonstreet.org or hannah.miller@jacksonstreet.org.

Linn County Animal Rescue is a nonprofit sanctuary that rescues neglected, abandoned and abused horses, and hospice dogs. In existence for 14 years, the agency, based in Waterloo, is 100% volunteer-run and provides Healing Hearts with Horses events for developmentally disabled/handicapped individuals and those with post-traumatic stress disorder. Donations of the following items are needed: gift certificates/cash donations, cleaning supplies, senior horse grain, and small blankets, beds and pee pads for dogs. For more information about ongoing fundraisers (Bottle Drop and Points for Profit) or volunteering at the rescue, call 541-258-3422 or visit www.lcarhorse.org.

Trillium Family Services Childrens Farm Home is hosting a drive to benefit children unable to be home during the holidays as they receive residential mental health treatment, plus the families Trillium serves who, due to a variety of difficult circumstances, may not be able to provide the things that go into making a holiday bright for their children. Shop for an online wish list (https://trilliumfamily.lorg/shop-client-wish-tags) or grab a tag from a participating partner. The home is accepting donations of new, unwrapped gifts through Thursday. Information: kwoekel@trilliumfamily.org.

Vina Moses Center is holding a Giving Tree drive for gifts for children from birth through age 18 and low-income seniors via partner agencies. All households receive a gift card for a holiday meal. The program is open to Benton County residents; to register your family to benefit from the program, call 541-753-1420 and make an appointment for a time before Dec. 16. Donations of new, unwrapped gifts will be accepted through Monday. For details, visit vinamoses.org, or get a Vina Moses gift tag from a local business; a list of businesses is available at https://www.vinamoses.org/giving-tree-business-locations. Further information is available at 541-753-1420 or info@vinamoses.org.

Real estate brokers throughout Oregon and Southwest Washington are gearing up for Windermere Real Estates annual Share the Warmth campaign. Now through Dec. 17, Windermere brokers are collecting winter necessities for community members in need. In the Mid-Willamette Valley area, the donations will benefit Community Outreach, Inc., in Corvallis; Helping Hands Albany; and River Center, Lebanon. The organizations are asking specifically for coats, blankets, gloves and hats. All donations in the area can be dropped between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays at the Windermere office at 987 NW Circle Blvd. in Corvallis. Information: windermere.com.

Other opportunities

It's the time of year to visit the Siuslaw National Forest or the Willamette National Forest and find the perfect Christmas tree for your home. Christmas tree permits are primarily being sold online at www.recreation.gov and can also be obtained in person from local vendors or via the telephone from a ranger district. Permits allow the holder to cut one tree in designated areas. Each household can purchase up to a maximum of five permits. Permits are $5 each with an additional $2.50 registration fee when purchasing online. Additionally, fourth-graders with Every Kid Outdoors passes are eligible for a free Christmas tree permit through their local national forest; they can apply through Recreation.gov by entering their voucher or pass number when prompted. A $2.50 registration fee will also be applied for this transaction.

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Kingdom of Cameroon, United Republic of Cape Verde, Republic of Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad, Republic of Chile, Republic of China, People's Republic of Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Colombia, Republic of Comoros, Union of the Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, People's Republic of Cook Islands Costa Rica, Republic of Cote D'Ivoire, Ivory Coast, Republic of the Cyprus, Republic of Czech Republic Denmark, Kingdom of Djibouti, Republic of Dominica, Commonwealth of Ecuador, Republic of Egypt, Arab Republic of El Salvador, Republic of Equatorial Guinea, Republic of Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Faeroe Islands Falkland Islands (Malvinas) Fiji, Republic of the Fiji Islands Finland, Republic of France, French Republic French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories Gabon, Gabonese Republic Gambia, Republic of the Georgia Germany Ghana, Republic of Gibraltar Greece, Hellenic Republic Greenland Grenada Guadaloupe Guam Guatemala, Republic of Guinea, Revolutionary People's Rep'c of Guinea-Bissau, Republic of Guyana, Republic of Heard and McDonald Islands Holy See (Vatican City State) Honduras, Republic of Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of China Hrvatska (Croatia) Hungary, Hungarian People's Republic Iceland, Republic of India, Republic of Indonesia, Republic of Iran, Islamic Republic of Iraq, Republic of Ireland Israel, State of Italy, Italian Republic Japan Jordan, Hashemite Kingdom of Kazakhstan, Republic of Kenya, Republic of Kiribati, Republic of Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait, State of Kyrgyz Republic Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon, Lebanese Republic Lesotho, Kingdom of Liberia, Republic of Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Liechtenstein, Principality of Lithuania Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Macao, Special Administrative Region of China Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Madagascar, Republic of Malawi, Republic of Malaysia Maldives, Republic of Mali, Republic of Malta, Republic of Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania, Islamic Republic of Mauritius Mayotte Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova, Republic of Monaco, Principality of Mongolia, Mongolian People's Republic Montserrat Morocco, Kingdom of Mozambique, People's Republic of Myanmar Namibia Nauru, Republic of Nepal, Kingdom of Netherlands Antilles Netherlands, Kingdom of the New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua, Republic of Niger, Republic of the Nigeria, Federal Republic of Niue, Republic of Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Norway, Kingdom of Oman, Sultanate of Pakistan, Islamic Republic of Palau Palestinian Territory, Occupied Panama, Republic of Papua New Guinea Paraguay, Republic of Peru, Republic of Philippines, Republic of the Pitcairn Island Poland, Polish People's Republic Portugal, Portuguese Republic Puerto Rico Qatar, State of Reunion Romania, Socialist Republic of Russian Federation Rwanda, Rwandese Republic Samoa, Independent State of San Marino, Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, Democratic Republic of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Senegal, Republic of Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles, Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Singapore, Republic of Slovakia (Slovak Republic) Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia, Somali Republic South Africa, Republic of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain, Spanish State Sri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic of St. Helena St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Pierre and Miquelon St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Suriname, Republic of Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands Swaziland, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Switzerland, Swiss Confederation Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand, Kingdom of Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of Togo, Togolese Republic Tokelau (Tokelau Islands) Tonga, Kingdom of Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Tunisia, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda, Republic of Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe
A former Boulder attorney pleaded guilty Monday to stealing more than $40,000 from her clients, according to the 20th Judicial District Attorneys Office.

This is the second time Emily Cohen, 42, has been convicted of the crime. A jury found Cohen guilty of theft and fraud in 2014 and sentenced her to prison; however, the Colorado Court of Appeals overturned the convictions in 2019.

Prosecutors brought the case to trial again so that Cohens criminal record would reflect her felony conduct, said District Attorney Michael Dougherty.

Her clients had gone to Ms. Cohen for legal help and, instead, had their money and trust stolen by this defendant," Dougherty said. This felony conviction represents justice for the victims. Our office will continue to fight for the most vulnerable to scams and fraud, including members of our immigrant community.

Rather than go through another trial, Cohen pleaded guilty to one count of theft, with all of her victims included in the count. The attorneys office said Cohen stole $40,000 in legal fees from her clients, including immigrants seeking legal counsel.

Cohen will not face any additional prison time with this guilty plea, having already served six years in the Department of Corrections as a result of the original conviction.

Ms. Cohen defrauded many of the most vulnerable members of our community," Deputy District Attorneys Anne Kelly and Michelle Sudano said in a statement. After a long road, the victims in this case finally have permanent justice and can put behind them an incredibly stressful and overwhelming period in their lives."

In a separate case, Cohen faces charges of forgery and attempted influence of a public servant. She was extradited to Colorado but released on a $100,000 personal recognizance bond against prosecutors' wishes, Dougherty said.

Cohen is scheduled to appear in court at 1:30 p.m. Jan. 24, the attorneys office said.
The Aurora Police Department is asking for the publics help in identifying three men believed to be involved in a shooting that left one wounded last month.

Police said the shooting happened on Nov. 15 in the 18000 block of East Colfax Avenue near Tower Road. Police announced the shooting just after 1:30 a.m.

The incident began when the group of men got into a fight with the 30-year-old victim at a nearby bar. At some point, one of the men shot the victim, police said.

The victim was taken to a hospital in serious condition but survived his injuries.

After nearly a month of investigation, police released photos of the three suspects on Thursday.

Police said the man pictured in the white sweatshirt is the alleged shooter, the man in the blue Adidas hoodie was involved in the fight and the man in the black jacket is friends with the other two.

Anyone with information about the pictured men or the shooting is asked to call Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-7867. Tipsters can be anonymous and are eligible for a $2,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.
Which team are you the most optimistic about as we start 2022?

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PPF Telco, which controls over 90% of telecommunication company O2 Czech Republic (O2 CR), has obtained approval from the Czech National Bank (CNB) to start the buyout of shares from minority shareholders.

According to a press release, the buyout consideration had been set at CZK270 (USD11.96) per share and the process will be conducted by the Groups banking arm, PPF Banka, and should be completed by mid-2022.

After acquiring 100% of O2 CR, the PPF Group plans to integrate O2 into its telecommunication division PPF Telecom Group, it said.

PPF Telecom Group comprises mobile operators active under the Telenor brand in Hungary, Bulgaria, and Serbia and infrastructure company CETIN Group, which operates in all the above-mentioned countries as well as in Czechia.

"The goal of the O2 CR integration is to consolidate or strengthen the position of PPF Telecom Group in the field of telecommunications services and infrastructure in Central and Southeastern Europe. This will enable it to withstand the ever-increasing competition on the market," said PPF.

The O2 Czech Republic and its Slovak subsidiary O2 Slovakia will continue operating under the O2 brand in Czechia and Slovakia.
Bulgarian Telecommunications Company (BTC), operating under the Vivacom brand, has reached an agreement to acquire 100% interest in local company Telnet, an operator with a well-developed network and distribution in the region.

Telnet offers internet and TV services to residential clients, while business users could benefit from metropolitan area network (MAN) services, hosting, colocation, as well as individual projects for building cable systems; the company has a presence in 117 towns/cities in the districts of Veliko Turnovo, Ruse, and Gabrovo.

According to commercial register data, private individual Ventsislav Stoev owns 33.5% of the capital of Telnet.

Dimitar Velev controls 33.3%, while Ventsislav Petrov and Todor Neshev own stakes of 16.58% each.

The transaction is subject to all the necessary approvals from the relevant regulatory authorities and is expected to be completed in 2022.

BTC was acquired by Dutch-registered telecommunications services and media provider United Group last year. The United Group has a growing portfolio of assets in Bulgaria. Aside from Vivacom (BTC), which is the incumbent telco, it includes the national broadcaster Nova TV and ISPs Net 1 and ComNet.
Kuwaits Zain Group has received a non-binding US$1.3 billion offer for Zain Sudan and Kuwait Sudanese Holdings from Invictus Holding Ltd.

Reuters reports that Zains board has commenced due diligence on the offer before providing initial approval. Kuwait Sudanese Holdings is a sister company to Zain Sudan providing ICT managed services.

Invictus Holding is a subsidiary of Sudanese conglomerate Dal Group, which has interests in numerous sectors nationwide including agriculture, automotive, energy, healthcare and mining. Its offer does not include Zains unit in South Sudan, which was spun off from the original Zain Sudan unit after the country seceded from Sudan to gain independence.

Currency devaluation has been a headache for Zain this year, with the group claiming that its earnings have been affected by fluctuations across the first three quarters of 2021. However, it has seen an uptick in subscribers.
Indonesias Telkomsel is reportedly planning to sell further tower assets to Mitratel, the tower unit of its parent firm Telkom Indonesia.

Mitratel raised US$1.3 billion via an IPO in November, and according to Bloomberg now plans to use most of this to acquire an additional 4000 tower sites from Telkomsel  as well as other operators. Telkom Indonesias President Director Ririek Adriansyah noted that the firm could also acquire a fibre company with existing assets in order to meet data demand, which is booming in Indonesia.

Indonesia is a tough market so we need to be efficient, said Adriansyah. We need to manage the quality and we need to differentiate ourselves so were not trapped in the price war.

During 2020, Mitratel acquired 6050 sites from Telkomsel, and in September this year it obtained a further 4000 for IDR6.2 trillion ($431.4 million). Telkom Indonesia believes that having a large tower network will position the operator well to compete against rivals XL Axiata and Indosat Ooredoo  the latter of which is currently merging with Hutchison 3 Indonesia to create a new entity with around 100 million subscribers.

Indonesia claims the third-cheapest average data rates in Asia (after Sri Lanka and Bangladesh) at $0.42 per GB. It is fast becoming one of the largest markets globally for e-commerce and mobile financial services, with its digital economy on track to reach US$146 billion by 2025, according to a report by Google, Temasek Holdings and Bain & Co.
Nepals Vianet Communications is expanding its high speed fibre network in the west of the country with China Telecom subsidiary CCS (China Communication Service).

The contract will allow Vianet to expand its network swiftly into the provinces of Karnali, Lumbini and Sudurpaschim, complementing its existing footprint. CommsUpdate notes that under the Rural Telecommunications Development Fund programme, the operator has deployed broadband internet in remote areas including Baitadi, Dadeldhura, Darchula and Doti.

Sewa Pathak Bohra, CEO of Vianet Communications, said: By partnering with CCS, we are working with an experienced international team to build our state-of-the-art high speed fibre network all over Western Nepal. This is part of our ongoing commitment to provide world class internet and digital services to our customers in Western Nepal.
ATLANTA (AP)  Investigators have discovered the 1974 Pinto a 22-year-old student was driving on his way back to Auburn University from Georgia when he disappeared more than 45 years ago, sheriff's officials announced Wednesday.

Kyle Wade Clinkscales' car was pulled from a creek around Cusseta, Alabama, on Tuesday after a man called 911 to say he believed he had spotted a vehicle. Inside the car, investigators found what they think are human bones along with identification and credit cards belonging to Clinkscales, according to Sheriff James Woodruff of Troup County, Georgia.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is looking through the muddy vehicle for additional bones and will determine whether the two found so far belong to Clinkscales, Woodruff said at a news conference.

Authorities in Troup County have previously said Clinkscales was killed. In 2005, they arrested two people in connection with his disappearance after they said his parents received a call from a man who said he witnessed the disposal of their sons body as a 7-year-old, and it was covered with concrete in a barrel and dumped into a pond, according to news reports.
The number of people in counties requiring elections officials to provide voting materials in languages other than English jumped by almost a quarter over the past five years, reflecting the increasingly diverse electorate in the U.S., according to figures released Wednesday by the Census Bureau.

More than 24.2 million people live in 331 counties and other jurisdictions requiring the language assistance under the federal Voting Rights Act, a jump from 19.8 million in 2016, the last time the list was updated.

The law requires the jurisdictions to provide the language assistance to voters if more than 5% of voting-age citizens come from a single-language minority group and they don't speak English sufficiently to participate in the electoral process. Jurisdictions also fall into the category if more than 10,000 voting-age citizens speak a single language other than English and the rate of people who haven't completed fifth grade is higher than the national rate.
The key to this partnership is buy-in from district and school leaders, WCCD Associate Dean of Career and Technical Education Martha Compton said. We are fortunate to have strong leadership working with us to continually look for ways to better serve students and the Wiregrass community.

Compton said students are taught the earnings potential and importance of technical workers through the training programs WCCD offers.

DTC students were also given a tour of the rest of the campus and instructed on steps to apply to the program which can be completed in as little as 12 months or three semesters in order to apply for a licensure examination to practice as a cosmetologist in Alabama.

The partnership that was formed between the students and our schools during this visit was inspiring and motivating to all involved, Nassandra Corbitt, DTC cosmetology instructor and former student of WCCD and DTC cosmetology programs, said. I know that we are paving a pathway of success for our students and our community.

Wallace offers over 30 career and technical workforce programs as well as opportunities for students to gain college credits during high school through dual enrollment and articulation.

For more information on WCCD career technical programs, contact Compton at mcompton@wallace.edu or 334-556-6822.
Brightline said in a statement Wednesday that safety is a topic that we will not stop talking about and we are asking the community, law enforcement, elected officials and members of the media to use their platforms and help amplify a consistent safety message: stay off the tracks and obey all warning signs.

Brightline has installed infrared detectors that will warn engineers if anyone is lurking near the tracks so they can slow down or stop. The company has added more fencing and landscaping to make track access more difficult and is also installing red-light cameras at crossings that will allow police to ticket drivers who go around guardrails. It is testing drones to monitor the tracks.

Excluding five small railroads that average less than 100,000 miles (160,000 kilometers) traveled per year, where one or two fatal accidents skew their numbers, the railroad with the next worst rate to Brightline is central Florida's SunRail, which since mid-2017 has had at least 15 deaths or about one every 100,000 miles, according to federal records.

TriRail, a commuter service that operates in the same area as Brightline, averages about one death every 115,000 miles.

Brightline is finishing a line that will link South Florida to Orlando that is scheduled to be completed in about a year. It is also working on a line that would connect Southern California with Las Vegas.

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP)  A South Florida judge declared a mistrial in a murder case on Wednesday after the jury delivered a verdict of manslaughter, only to have its decision collapse when a juror told the court she didn't agree.

The jurors were told to keep trying for a fifth day of deliberations, but they sent a note from the jury room shortly before noon Wednesday saying they remained deadlocked. Broward Circuit Judge John J. Murphy then shook their hands, thanked them for their service and said a new jury would be picked for a retrial in January.

Dayonte Resiles, 27, remains charged with first-degree murder and manslaughter in the killing of Jill Halliburton Su, who was bound at her hands and feet, forced into a bathtub and stabbed about 25 times during a burglary of her Fort Lauderdale home on Sept. 8, 2014.

Prosecutors said DNA evidence placed Resiles at the scene of the 59-year-old woman's killing.

Resiles pleaded not guilty, and his lawyers questioned whether the genetic evidence had been contaminated.
A fisherman on the banks of the Mekong River outside Nong Khai, Thailand, January 10, 2020. Photo by Reuters

A public forum on Mekong River water flows has renewed calls for all governments, developers and operators of hydropower projects to share data for improving cascade dam management.

This was a highlight of the 11th Mekong River Commission (MRC) Regional Stakeholder Forum held November 29-30, an MRC press release said Wednesday, adding it was the first-ever public forum organized on "this critical issue."

Representatives from China revealed plans for the Lancang River cascade, a centrally controlled dam operation that includes an automatic hydrological forecasting system that can address environmental and management issues relating to native fish species, water quality and monitoring fish passage.

However, with more dams set to come online, the representative of Oxfam called for a stronger and urgent sharing of operational regimes of hydropower projects with the public.

Civil society organizations believe information on flows including the release schedule is necessary for communities living alongside the Mekong River and depend on it for their livelihood, the rep said, adding: "Making this data available in simple language is equally important."

Dr An Pich Hatda, MRC Secretariat CEO, said the MRC has been stepping up efforts to establish a regional mechanism for coordinated basin operation management, particularly through its 10-year Basin Development Strategy. He said the MRC aims to ensure that decisions on flow releases are supported by transparent data and information sharing between countries.

"We want to ensure that there is improved predictability of flow changes for basin communities."

According to MRC, there are currently 88 hydropower projects in the Lower Mekong Basin (LMB) with around 12,600 MW of installed capacity. Some 15 dams with a total capacity of 1,600 MW are under construction and by 2040, hydropower is forecast to generate more than 30,000 MW in the LMB.

Forum participants heard about some of the challenges arising from the increasing prevalence of hydropower plants and the regional effort to tackle them.

Laos recently commissioned the Nam Ou Cascade Control Center, the first in the nation, to manage internal and external communications to mitigate flood risk from dams. The center is an information sharing conduit for regional and local authorities and government agencies which will monitor and coordinate hydropower projects over 15 MW.

With respect to the 684-megawatt Sanakham dam that Laos has proposed to build on mainstream Mekong, other stakeholders expressed concerns about its transboundary impacts. They recommended an economic and financial analysis of the project together with an assessment of bank erosion and other environmental and socioeconomic effects.

Attendees notably from Thailand urged Lao and Thai policymakers to increase the number of monitoring stations to assess the impact on downstream Thai communities who they said live close to the proposed project. They also called on the project developer to ensure dam safety and minimize unforeseen flood emergencies to protect local communities.

The Sanakham hydropower project will be located between Xayaburi and Vientiane provinces, approximately two km upstream of the Thai-Lao border in Loei province. The project is estimated to cost more than $2 billion and will be developed by Datang (Lao) Sanakham Hydropower company, a subsidiary of China's Datang International Power Generation Co. Ltd.
Passengers are seen at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City, May 2021. Photo by VnExpress/Huu Khoa

Fully vaccinated travelers can isolate themselves at home or accommodation of their choice for a specific period, Deputy PM Vu Duc Dam said Wednesday.

The Ministry of Health needs to issue new guidelines on quarantine to reflect this change no later than Dec. 15, Dam said at a meeting Wednesday. This would remove the current need for arrivals to be quarantined in designated facilities.

Only those who are not vaccinated need to be kept in centralized facilities and be inoculated there, he said.

Vietnam is now in different circumstances than before, Dam said, noting that despite the rising number of cases the country has been able to contain the disease and vaccination speed was rising.

In the latest wave that hit Vietnam in late April, more than 1.35 million cases have been reported and 1.03 million of them have recovered. So far 55.5 million people have been fully vaccinated.

Dam said the Transport Ministry and aviation authorities need to work on expedited resumption of international flights.

An official of the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam said at the meeting that they have connected with the "vaccine passport" system of other countries to ensure that all those who book tickets for Vietnam are fully vaccinated.

Those who are not vaccinated can only purchase tickets after they have registered to stay at a quarantine facility in Vietnam.

But several ministers expressed concerns about the ability of the country to contain the pandemic, especially as the Omicron variant is spreading.

The health ministry has since August required fully vaccinated passengers who are negative after a PCR test to be quarantined in a designated facility for seven days and to self-monitor their health for the next seven days.

The same regulation applies to those who have recovered from the disease for six months or less.

Vietnam has welcomed over 200,000 foreign experts and high-skilled labors since the beginning of the pandemic.
Vietnam has won a second term on the International Law Commission (ILC), indicating the international community's trust in its capacity to resolve common challenges.

In the Asia region, most of the positions in ILC were already estimated to be occupied in the election this year, therefore 45 candidates had to fight to get the remaining one to two seats.

With 145 of the 191 votes cast, Vietnam polled the highest number after India, Thailand and Japan and more than China, South Korea, Mongolia, and Cyprus.

Winning was great because I and the Vietnamese delegation at the U.N. were tensely waiting for the result. We were confident but the pressure was huge.

Notably, it came in the final month of Vietnam's second term as a non-permanent member of the Security Council (2020-2021). So I could say it was a double pleasure.

I saw there were some key reasons for my success and Vietnam's in general.

First, Vietnam has clearly established its role as a responsible member of the international community.

In an evolving world with a number of challenges, the country is consistent in highlighting international law as a tool to firmly protect its territorial sovereignty and legitimate interests. Also, Vietnam considers international law as a cooperative tool to address global problems.

In the South China Sea, called East Sea in Vietnam, the country is actively promoting the creation of an effective and substantive Code of Conduct (COC) between ASEAN members and China.

A Vietnamese naval soldier stands guard at Thuyen Chai island in the Spratly archipelago, 2013. Photo by Reuters

Vietnam is also taking the lead among developing countries to foster initiatives to tackle major challenges such as climate change, sea level rise and greenhouse gas emissions.

The international community has deeply appreciated Vietnam's role in the Security Council and as chair of ASEAN in 2020. Its achievements in cooperating with other countries to fight Covid-19 too have been highly respected.

With these, Vietnam is gradually playing its role as a middle-income country capable of participating in the formulation and development of international law.

Second, my reelection is a result of Vietnam campaigning at all levels, including online meetings of leaders and bilateral and multilateral meetings by its representative agencies, and the enthusiastic support of people at home and abroad.

During those exchanges, countries, especially developing ones, expressed their trust in Vietnam following our full attendance of virtual meetings of the ILC regardless of time zone differences for nearly two years in my first term.

I believe it is a lesson for the next campaign in the future.

During my first term, when Covid broke out globally, the Vietnamese delegation joined Chile, Sierra Leone, Portugal, and Turkey to organize a workshop on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly to assess the fight against Covid in the previous 10 months.

After that, the Vietnamese delegation started an initiative at the U.N. General Assembly to adopt an International Day for Pandemic Prevention and Control, and it was approved. It is on December 27 every year.

I would like to attract attention to the large number of candidates competing this term, 50 for 34 positions, which shows that countries are increasingly interested in the role international law plays.

They have great interest in the ILC's international law-drafting function, in participating in the shaping of international law and affirming a rules-based world order.

At the same time, Vietnam winning for a second time indicates that the countrys practical issues have given valuable lessons to codification and development of international law.

A war victim, Vietnam has overcome the consequences of war and collaborated with former foes to peacefully settle international disputes.

The country's handling of the impacts of Agent Orange is a pragmatic contribution to environmental protection during armed conflicts.

Besides, Vietnam's assistance to Cambodia to prevent genocide was recognized by The Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) and included in the Draft Convention on Crimes Against Humanity drafted by the ILC.

In my second term, I and colleagues from Chile and Sierra Leone are developing research to cooperate with The World Health Organization (WHO) for setting up an international convention for the prevention of and responding to pandemics.

The idea was mooted at a workshop in 2020 that Vietnam cohosted. In early December the WHO issued a resolution calling for the establishment of a drafting body for the convention by March 2022.

This is not only a matter of health but also of the right of people to work, about vaccine distribution, international cooperation and many problems that Covid poses to the world.

I am of the opinion that in the future Vietnam needs to pay more attention to creatively applying the three-principle formula: publicity, justice and international law.

That formula will be useful in resisting all attempts to change the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the rule-based order which relies on the rule of law for peace, justice and prosperity of all peoples.

*Nguyen Hong Thao is a member of the United Nations International Law Commission for the 2023-27 term.
Passengers wait to be tested for Covid-19 at HCMC's Tan Son Nhat Airport in May 2021. Photo by VnExpress/Huu Khoa

HCMC wants the government to allow the resumption of international flights this month to enable foreign tourists to visit.

In a proposal they submitted to Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh Wednesday, city authorities said the Covid-19 pandemic is basically under control with high vaccination rates, and with the healthcare system now experienced in handling unexpected surges, local media reported.

There are 61 hotels used as paid quarantine facilities with over 6,000 beds and six military-run isolation facilities with over 2,300 beds.

Earlier the city had also asked the government to allow in foreign tourists without the mandatory quarantine as part of its efforts to revive economic and tourism activities.

Its high vaccination rate and shift from a zero-virus strategy to living with the pandemic have enabled the city to lift most restrictions since early October and resume economic activities.

It received over 8.6 million foreign visitors in 2019, or nearly half the countrys total foreign arrivals.

On Tuesday the Ministry of Transport too recommended the resumption of regular international air services from December 15, starting with nine destinations: San Francisco or Los Angeles (the U.S.), Singapore, Bangkok (Thailand), Phnom Penh (Cambodia), Vientiane (Laos), Beijing (China), Tokyo (Japan), Seoul (South Korea), and Taipei (Taiwan).

Vietnam grounded international flights in March last year, allowing only its nationals, foreign experts, investors, and highly-skilled workers to enter.

It finally reopened its doors to foreign tourists last month.

Quang Nam, Khanh Hoa, Quang Ninh, and Kien Giang provinces and Da Nang City now allow in foreign tourists with vaccine passports.
Department 3 

Judge Mason SimonsOct. 11

Sterling Andrew Hill, 25, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit assault with a deadly weapon, was given a suspended sentence of one year in jail, was ordered to serve 30 days in jail and was placed on probation for one year.

Nicholas Charles Lazalaca, 31, of Salt Lake City, Utah, pleaded guilty to attempted possession of a controlled substance, was given a suspended sentence of 12 to 30 months in prison and was placed on probation for 18 months.

Oct. 17Kelli Rae Christen, 35, pleaded no contest to battery on an officer or protected person, was given a suspended sentence of 180 days in jail and was placed on probation for one year.

Robert Lorenzo Martinez-OBrien, 27, of Visalia, California, pleaded guilty to attempted eluding a police officer in a manner posing danger to persons or property and was given a suspended sentence of 24 to 60 months in prison and was placed on probation for two years. In a separate matter, he pleaded guilty to attempted possession of a Schedule I or II controlled substance and was given a suspended sentence of one year in jail and was placed on probation for one year to be concurrent with the previous sentence.

Jose Rivera Jr. 41, of Los Angeles, California, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit battery by a prisoner who is in lawful custody or confinement and was sentenced to 180 days in jail.

Tristan George Wilson, 36, of Carson City pleaded guilty to burglary of a structure other than a business or dwelling, was given a suspended sentence of 12 to 30 months in prison, was ordered to pay $5.200 restitution to the victim, and was placed on probation for two years. In a separate matter, he pleaded guilty to uttering or possessing with intent to utter a forged instrument, was given a suspended sentence of 12 to 30 months in prison and was placed on probation for two years to be served concurrently with the previous sentence.

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ELKO  A Spring Creek man who was arrested Nov. 17 in an Elko burglary case has been charged with additional burglaries, including one that was reported after a man read about his earlier arrest and suspected that guns he was sold had been stolen.

A criminal complaint filed on Dec. 6 charges Kody M. Holland, 33, with one count of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person and one count of receiving, possessing or withholding stolen goods and/or a firearm.

According to a police statement, a man reported two rifles were stolen from his room at a downtown Elko motel sometime between 6 and 9 p.m. on Nov. 12. He told police he thought someone had opened a sliding window and used a nearby wooden cane to fish the guns off a table near the window.

On Nov. 23 the Elko Daily Free Press posted an article about Holland being arrested in a home burglary. Later that day another man went to the police and said he was concerned that two firearms he had purchased from Holland on Nov. 13 had been stolen.

Spring Creek man accused of Elko burglary ELKO  A Spring Creek man was arrested Friday following a burglary at an Elko residence that was equipped with a video doorbell.

Police confirmed that the guns had been taken from the motel.

Another criminal complaint charges Holland with burglary of a firearm and motor vehicle back in February.

Carlin police were called Feb. 25 to a residence in Carlin that had been burglarized while the homeowner was hospitalized in Salt Lake City. Two firearms, a laptop, an Xbox, and other items had been stolen, and his Toyota Tacoma was also missing.

Police took footprints at the potential point of entry.

The next day, a woman reported she found unusual items in a nearby house she had allowed Holland to stay in. Police identified them as the stolen items.

The missing truck was later spotted in Burner Basin and was impounded on March 1.

On March 8, police obtained a search warrant for Hollands shoes. The pattern matched those taken at the crime scene, according to police.

Holland was charged on Dec. 7 with one count of burglary during which a firearm is obtained, one count of grand larceny of a firearm, and one count of grand larceny of a motor vehicle. His bail was listed at $80,000.

Hollands November arrest came after police examined evidence captured by a video doorbell at a burglary in southeast Elko.

Elko County Jail records indicate Holland was also arrested in October at a tire shop for petty larceny, and in February on a parole violation.

He had pleaded guilty in January 2019 to theft by control and was given a suspended sentence of two to five years in prison with credit for 168 days served by District Judge Nancy Porter. He was placed on probation for five years, and was ordered to pay $4,310.31 restitution to the victims and fulfill requirements related to his probation.

He was arrested again in August 2019 on a parole violation.

Holland was also arrested in April 2009 for battery with a deadly weapon and destruction of property in Spring Creek. He was given a suspended prison sentence by District Judge Andrew Puccinelli and ordered to serve 90 days in jail and to pay restitution of $8,793 jointly with co-defendants.

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EELKO  Wintry driving conditions were reported across much of northeastern Nevada on Thursday morning, but not for the morning commute from Spring Creek to Elko.

The Nevada Department of Transportation reported adverse conditions on Interstate 80 between Wells and Halleck and from Pequop to Wendover; U.S. Highway 93 between Wells and the Idaho border; and most of Mountain City Highway.

Two vehicle accidents were reported in the Wells area early Thursday, one on I-80 and the other on U.S. 93.

The area from Wells south into White Pine County remains under a winter weather advisory through 4 p.m., as does all of Eureka and Lander counties and most of western Nevada.

Little snow accumulation is expected in the Elko area as the chance of precipitation decreases throughout the day.

Elkos high is forecast to reach near 40 degrees Thursday but only 32 degrees on Friday. Lows both nights will be around 10 degrees.

Sunny to partly cloudy conditions are forecast for Friday and Saturday and into Sunday before the next storm system arrives Sunday night.

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LAS VEGAS (AP)  A state corrections official says a disturbance among inmates resulted in fires and minor injuries Wednesday at a medium-security prison in southern Nevada, but no serious injuries or significant damage resulted.

Police and firefighters were summoned about 1 p.m. from Las Vegas to Southern Desert Correctional Center near Indian Springs, but calls were canceled before responders completed the 20-minute drive, police and Clark County spokesmen said.

Teri Vance, prisons spokeswoman, said a group of inmates refused to comply with guards and a couple of fires were started.

Vance said no one was hurt seriously enough to require transport to a hospital, and she denied initial media reports characterizing the incident as a riot at the much larger High Desert State Prison. Vance said damage was not significant.

Vance said she didnt immediately know how many people were hurt, or whether corrections officers were among them.

Southern Desert Correctional Center has about 2,100 inmates living in seven residential housing units. It opened in February 1982 off U.S. 95 northwest of Las Vegas. It is staffed by about 200 guards and another 100 program staff members.

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A few months ago, I wrote about President Bidens anti-fossil fuel policies. Among other steps designed to restrict domestic production of oil and natural gas, the president canceled completion of the Keystone XL pipeline, banned drilling for oil in the Arctic Wildlife Refuge, and greatly curtailed the issuance of leases for companies to develop fossil-fuel resources underneath public lands and waters.

Since then, the prices of gasoline, oil, and natural gas have risen smartly. As noted by one source, the last time natural gas prices were this high, One-third of American households already had difficulty  adequately heating and cooling their homes  and one-fifth of households had to reduce or forego food, medicine and other necessities to pay energy bills. Bank of America is predicting that the price of a barrel of oil may rise to $120 this winter, inflicting additional hardships on the poorest Americans.

Globally, many countries are already in the midst of a full-blown energy crisis. There are critical shortages of fossil fuels at a time when energy from so-called renewable sources (more accurately, intermittent energy sources) have fallen far short of expectations. In Brazil, China, India, Europe, and other countries, energy shortages have led to factories cutting production, blackouts in which traffic lights are inoperative, non-functioning elevators in high-rise apartment buildings, vital ventilation systems not working in hospitals, etc. Britain is facing the possibility of more than 10,000 deaths this winter due to cold weather in homes where families cant pay the elevated energy prices that would provide adequate heat.

Surely, with so many people at home and around the world needing more energy so badly, the Biden administration would ease off its aggressive restrictions on fossil-fuel production here in the United States, wouldnt it? Alas, no. Instead, Team Biden has doubled down on its anti-energy policies.

Examples:

Team Biden left the recent United Nations climate gathering in Glasgow pleased that a plan has been put into place for the worlds major banks to restrict investment in companies that produce fossil fuels. The president also designated 1.7 million acres of federal land in Utah as a national monument, thereby putting that acreage off-limits to oil and gas exploration. The administration also is reportedly considering the possible shutdown of another major pipeline, the Enbridge 5, that moves a half million barrels of oil per day through Canada and Michigan. Bidens recent nominee to be the countrys next Comptroller of the Currency, Saule Omarova, was on record as stating, we want [Americas small oil and gas companies] to go bankrupt.

Perhaps most egregious of all, when asked by a Bloomberg interviewer what her plan was to increase oil production in America, Bidens Energy Secretary, Jennifer Granholm, responded with a belly laugh. She then evaded the question by saying that she didnt have a magic wand to make OPEC increase production. (Of course, she doesnt. She is the Secretary of Energy for the United States, not for foreign countries.) In other words, Granholm has no intention to undo the Biden-imposed impediments to domestic oil production.

Cynically, the president called for the Federal Trade Commission to investigate oil companies that have raised prices. Well, of course oil companies have raised prices. That is what happens in a market when supply doesnt meet demand. And what is a major reason why supply isnt meeting demand? The presidents own anti-production policies.

Even more cynically, the only action the president has taken to try to lower domestic gasoline prices has been to dip into our national Strategic Petroleum Reserve. That stockpile was created to be available in the case of a national emergency. A national emergency would be something like war or weather or terror-related ruptures of vital fuel pipelines. The emergency that the president has today is his own plummeting popularity polls.

President Bidens insistence on squelching fossil-fuel production before intermittent sources are sufficient to fill the gap is unconscionable. If the coming winter is harsh, the resulting hardships suffered by Americans and others around the world will be a humanitarian crisis that could have been avoided by a rational and compassionate energy policy.

Dr. Mark W. Hendrickson is a retired adjunct faculty member, economist, and fellow for economic and social policy with the Institute for Faith and Freedom at Grove City College.

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Headlines

- Senate votes to raise the US debt ceiling by $2.5 trillion - What does this mean?

- The last of the Child Tax Credit payments will hit bank accounts today (Wednesday)

- Manchin still not convinced on Democrats' $2 trillion spending bill after call with Biden

- Could the Omicron variant lead to another stimulus check?

- Inflation outpaces social security 2022 COLA increase

- More US lawmakers pledge backing for Medicare for All

- Unemployment rate in the US down to 4.2% after 210,000 jobs added in November

Useful information & links

Child Tax Credit

- Biden faces a battle to secure Child Tax Credit extension

- IRS sends out final Child Tax Credit payment of 2021 on 15 December

Stimulus checks

- In Atlanta, some medical students are to get a $6,300 stimulus check.

- New parents could see another stimulus check reflected in their tax refund in 2022.

- What is the deadline to claim stimulus check plus-up payments in 2021?

- Congress urged to approve new stimulus check for Social Security recipients

- Some states could send out another stimulus check

Social Security

- How many Social Security payments are still to be sent out in 2021?

- Some states offer those receiving Supplemental Security Income benefits much larger payments

- Details of 2022 COLA increase being mailed to Social Security recipients

- What is the maximum Social Security benefit for 2022?

- 5.9% COLA increase -how much does this affect benefits?

Unemployment

- What is the natural unemployment rate formula?

Latest articles:
'Cumbre Vieja ain't done yet' caution volcano experts

Experts from scientific organisations, such as the National Geographic Institute and the Spanish Geological and Mining Institute, have agreed in calling for caution regarding the volcanic eruption of La Palma.

They have stated that since it is a process in nature it is one that can reverse without much notice, this news coming as we have seen a downward trend of energy in recent days.

The scientists spoke to the media after participating in a carefully managed visit to the slopes of the Cumbre Vieja volcano.
Musician Phu Quang (Source: NDO)

On December 8, the family of musician Phu Quang said that the musician had just passed away at 8:45 after nearly 2 years of treatment, receiving special care at the hospital.

The musicians full name was Nguyen Phu Quang, was born in 1949 in Cam Khe district, Phu Tho province. He was a graduate from the Vietnam National Academy of Music, reported NDO.

He worked at the Vietnam National Opera and Ballet from 1967 to 1978 and the Vietnam National Symphony Orchestra from 1982 to 1986. He then moved to the Ho Chi Minh municipal Department of Culture and Information, now the Department of Culture and Sports.

The musician spent most of his life in Hanoi and composed many songs about the capital city, with the most popular among them being Em oi Ha Noi Pho (My Dear! Hanoi Street, Ha Noi Ngay Tro Ve (Hanoi on the Returning Day), Chieu Phu Tay Ho (Afternoon at Tay Ho Temple), and Im Lang Dem Ha Noi (Hanoi on a Quiet Night).

He was honoured with the Outstanding Citizen of the Capital 2014. In 2020, he was granted the Grand Prize - For the love of Hanoi, the most important award of the Bui Xuan Phai - For the Love of Hanoi, in recognition for his lifelong love of the capital city./.
Photo for illustration (Source: MOH)

The announcement was issued following a meeting between the PM and ministries and agencies in accelerating the development and transfer of production technology of COVID-19 vaccines and drugs last weekend.

PM Chinh tasked the MoH with urgently finalising a master plan on containing COVID-19 which provides details on the number of doses, types of vaccines, age groups, booster shots and others, and proposes a roadmap for mobilising social resources for COVID-19 vaccination.

The MoH should thoroughly devise a vaccine procurement plan for next year, it said, adding that contracts for securing vaccines for children must be signed this month.

The PM also urged the ministry to further speed up vaccine rollout nationwide as the country is set to complete the inoculation of adults (aged 18 and above) with two jabs by December 15.

According to the announcement, Vietnam aims to provide the adults with booster shots before June 2022, with priority to given to senior citizens aged 50 and older and frontline workers.

As of December 8, Vietnam have inoculated over 129.4 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines, with about 55.5 million people, or more than half of the countrys population of roughly 100 million, receiving two doses.

The country started to vaccinate children aged 12-17 in late October.

LEGO to build US$1 billion toy plant in Binh Duong province

LEGO, a group of Denmark specializing in toy production globally for kids, has decided to invest more than US$1 billion in a project to build a plant in the southern province of Binh Duong province.

Logo of LEGO (Photo: vnexpress.net)

The project will cost more than US$1 billion including investment in solar energy production on the 44ha land area in Binh Duong. This is LEGOs first ever carbon-neutral unit aiming to create 4,000 job opportunities over the next 15 years, said the Voice of Vietnam.

LEGO said local skilled workers will be trained to operate high-tech manufacturing equipment used in every LEGO plant worldwide, to ensure each product meets global standards.

The company is scheduled to break ground in the second half of 2022 and the plant is expected to be put into operation in 2024. When completed, it will be LEGOs sixth plant in the world and second in Asia, aiming to foster long-term growth in the region and provide fun experiences for children in coming years.

LEGOs decision to build a factory in Vietnam is to expand its global supply chain network as factories are located in areas close to key markets. It helps the company to flexibly and quickly respond to changes in consumer demand in each region, shorten the supply chain and reduce the impact on the environment when transporting long distances.

At the signing ceremony (Photo: bnews.vn)

The new factory is expected to install rooftop solar panels, and VSIP will represent the construction of a solar project next door to meet 100% of the plants annual requirements for renewable energy.

LEGOs decision to build its plant in Vietnam was attributed to the Vietnamese Governments policy of expanding renewable energy production infrastructure and a collaborative approach to working with foreign companies who are seeking to make high quality investments, said Chief Operations Officer of LEGO Group Carsten Rasmussen.

LEGO Group is one of the largest toy manufacturers in the world and it is rapidly expanding in 40 countries. It has planned to open 174 new stores around the world this year, thereby bringing its total number of stores to 851.

Mui Ne listed among top ten best beaches worldwide



Mui Ne in the South Central province of Binh Thuan, is the only representative from Asia listed in the top 10 best beach vacation destinations in the world as announced by the luggage storage company Bounce.

Mui Ne beach (Photo: mientrungdep.net)

As the upcoming holidays are approaching, travel experts from Bounce selected the best beaches around the world to help travellers have wonderful vacations.

The researchers began by choosing 250 of the worlds most popular, most beautiful and best beaches from a variety of travel sources, and then narrowing the selection down to 100, according to the Nhan Dan Newspaper.

The beaches were evaluated based on the following criteria: water temperature, weather, average hotel price, number of restaurants and bars, and number of Instagram hashtags.

According to Bounce, the highest-ranking beach in Vietnam is at Mui Ne with a score of 5.84, ranking ninth. Out of all the top 10 best beach vacation destinations, Mui Ne is the only one with average hotel prices under 55 USD per night.

Furthermore, Mui Ne has average temperatures of 26.5 degrees Celsius (79.7) and possesses hundreds of restaurants to choose from.

Sand dunes in Mui Ne (Photo: vovgiaothong.vn)

Mui Ne has long been a familiar name for tropical sea enthusiasts. CNN assessed Mui Ne as the kitesurfing mecca of Southeast Asia in 2018. Previously, many world travel service websites such as SkyScanner and TripAdvisor ranked Mui Ne in their lists of beautiful beaches of the region.



Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, topped Bounces list with 6.97 points thanks to the advantage of the number of restaurants and bars near the beach reaching 11,153. It was followed by Miami, Venice, South Beach and Santa Monica in the US.

The beach at Naama Bay in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, is the sixth-highest rated beach in the world for vacationing with a score of 6.02, followed by Pink Sand Beach on the island of Barbuda in the Caribbean and Barceloneta Beach in Spain.

The last name in the list is Cayo Coco in Cuba, which is characterised by its coral reefs and white sand beaches./.
At the ministrys regular press conference taking place on December 9, the diplomat said the resumption plan has two stages. The first one will begin on December 15 with the operation of flights between Vietnam and destinations of high safety rates including Beijing, Tokyo, Seoul, Taipei, Bangkok, Singapore, Vientiane, Phnom Penh, and San Francisco or Los Angeles. The second stage starting from January next year will consider other destinations such as Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong (China), Paris, Frankfurt, Sydney, and Moscow.



Illustrative photo (Source: VNA)



According to her, those allowed to enter Vietnam currently are Vietnamese citizens; people entering for diplomatic, official, or business purposes; experts; investors; skilled workers and their families; and foreign students studying in Vietnam. People coming to Vietnam to learn about the market, attend conferences and seminars, visit relatives; overseas Vietnamese visiting relatives; and international tourists participating in pilot tourism programmes in Vietnam must have a certificate of vaccination against COVID-19 of recovery from the disease. Those on entry will have to comply with medical conditions and quarantine regulations during their stay in Vietnam.



Regarding the process of recognising of vaccine passports, Hang said in the past time, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has discussed with about 80 partners on mutual recognition of the passports.



The Vietnamese authorities are also urgently completing related software solutions to soon issue a vaccine passport form meeting international standards, she added.



As of early December this year, Japan, the US, the UK, Australia, and Belarus have recognised Vietnams vaccination certificate with a number of specific standards on vaccine types. Indian and Canada have agreed with Vietnam on principle, while other partners, including ASEAN, the EU, China, and the Republic of Korea, are actively considering Vietnams proposals and waiting for the nations introduction of its vaccine passport model.



As of December 8, Vietnam temporarily recognised the vaccination certificates, so called vaccine passports, of 78 countries and territories, which were officially introduced to the foreign ministry.



The recognisation is the foundation for the holders of such paper to directly use it in Vietnam and get their quarantine duration reduced to seven days in line with the Ministry of Healths guidance on cutting quarantine time for fully vaccinated people or those recovering from COVID-19, Hang informed./.
At the event (Photo: VOV)

The event attracted more than 100 guests from over 60 Vietnamese and Vietnamese origin businesses in Texas, California and neighboring states. Businesses operating in many different fields from oil and gas, electronics, food, consumer goods, packaging, real estate investment, construction material production, medical services and medical equipment.

Texas is home to a significant Vietnamese community and the second largest Vietnamese business community in the US. In this state, many Vietnamese and Vietnamese  American businesses have been doing business successfully for many years. There are also many businesses from Vietnam looking for opportunities to develop the trade and investment market in the US, and many overseas Vietnamese businesses are also looking for investment opportunities in Vietnam.

At the event, Vietnamese companies which are implementing a strategy to introduce Vietnamese products like Vinfast or FPT to the world also had the opportunity to promote their products to the business community in Texas and other states. Vietnamese-American investors who are looking for investment opportunities to build factories in Vietnam also have the opportunity to contact industrial park construction enterprises such as Kinh Bac.

The event created an opportunity for businesses to understand more about each other, provide practical support for each other and spread the spirit of "Vietnamese people give priority to using Vietnamese goods" in the Vietnamese community in the US. This was one of the reasons many entrepreneurs attending the event found it very enjoyable.

At the meeting, a number of businesses with certain successes also shared their experiences and expressed their willingness to support and cooperate with overseas Vietnamese businesses in the US who are looking for investment opportunities in Vietnam and vice versa.

Speaking at the event, Consul General of Vietnam in Houston Nguyen Trac Ba shared that for a long time Vietnam has focused a lot on the playing field for US businesses, however, Vietnamese businesses in the US are also very strong. He hoped that domestic businesses and successful Vietnamese businesses in the US would know each other, thereby connecting to serve the interests of businesses, and at the same time make contributions to the homeland./.
Vietnam's products at the event (Photo: VNA)

Accordingly, 38 agricultural products and processed foods have been put into the retail system, including such new products of Vietnamese enterprises as fruit-flavoured coffee, instance yogurt and herbal tea.



Head of the Vietnam Trade Office in Singapore Tran Thu Quynh said that most of the items put on sale at the supermarket system this time are the direct results of the Trade Office's efforts in supporting businesses during the year, including the success of the Vietnam National Brands Week 2021  Hybrid Expo on Halal and Processed Food Products held in Singapore in August.

FairPrice Co-operative Ltd. immediately signed contracts with many Vietnamese enterprises, including TH True Milk, Huu Nghi, and Hat A Coffee after it checked the products showcased at the expo. Other products have also been introduced into the supermarket system thanks to the office's efforts to apply information technology in trade promotion.

Currently, FairPrice is the largest supermarket chain in Singapore, accounting for 75 percent of the retail market share.

There are more than 800 Vietnamese products on sale at FairPrice supermarkets. The total value of Vietnamese goods sold via the supermarkets has reached 66 million SGD (48 million USD) last year, compared to 44 million SGD in 2017, said Goh Tsu Ching, Head of International Sourcing at FairPrice.

The Vietnamese goods week 2021 had the presence of 12 new Vietnamese products at the Hao Mart supermarket. Most of these are connected through the Vietnam Brand Week Hybrid Exhibition namely Hat A coffee, Hello 5 coffee, TH milk, Betrimex coconut water, and Honeco honey.

Hao Mart, a new supermarket chain in the Singaporean retail market, has recently imported a total of 60 items from Vietnam. In addition to supplying Halal products to the Muslim market in Singapore, the supermarket also has the ambition to become a centre for introducing and connecting Halal products to neighbouring countries in ASEAN./.
Korean tourists arrive in Phu Quoc International Airport, Kien Giang Province, in November. (Photo: VnExpress)

That was part of the direction from Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam during a meeting on December 8 with the Ministry of Health (MoH) and relevant agencies on checking COVID-19 prevention relating to overseas Vietnamese and foreigners entering Vietnam.

During the meeting, he urged the MoH to issue the latest instruction on isolation and health check-up for those entering Vietnam ahead of December 15. For those who have not been vaccinated, it is necessary to set up adequate isolation areas of the best possible conditions, he said.

Stressing that Vietnam has basically controlled the pandemic, the Ministry of Transport should direct the aviation sector to prepare to reopen international commercial flights.

According to the leader of the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam, the reopening of international commercial routes is an urgent need of airlines. The agency has connected with the "vaccine passport" system of other countries, ensuring that all those who order tickets from Vietnamese airlines have received the full dose of vaccine. Those who have not been vaccinated can only buy tickets after they have registered and have a specific isolation address in the country.

Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, Vietnam has welcomed more than 200,000 foreign experts, engineers and high-tech workers to serve socio-economic development. The units have organized many flights to pick up Vietnamese citizens in urgent need to return home, ensuring the principles of disease prevention and control as well as domestic isolation capacity. Recently, some localities have piloted welcoming international tourists.

According to the MoH regulations since August, people entering Vietnam who have had a full dose of COVID-19 vaccine and PRC tested negative are isolated for 7 days and undergo health monitoring for the next 7 days.

In addition, people who have been infected with COVID-19 and have a certificate of recovery issued by the competent authority of the country in which they are treated, valid for no more than 6 months, will also be isolated for the same period./.
Eugen Grushovets, Ario Law Firm Partner

Only after one month of our team`s hard work on the arrangement of my visit to the site of Mikheil Saakashvili's imprisonmen, our meeting with the main Georgian "prisoner" finally took place. With his consent, I voice the main nuances.

After my unsuccessful visit to Mikheil Saakashvili, namely the expulsion from Georgia without explanation and accompanied by a convoy of people who resembled members of the security services rather than border guards, we did a great job to make this meeting happen.

The list of agencies to which we applied regarding my inadmissibility is quite significant. These include the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Association of Advocates of Ukraine, the Embassy of Ukraine in Georgia, the Association of Advocates of Georgia, and a number of international human rights organizations. We have established fruitful cooperation with the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Lyudmyla Denysova. Moreover, our team of lawyers sent a request to intervene in the situation within the legal field to the President of Ukraine, the Office of the Council of Europe in Ukraine, the Minister of Justice and the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

It took us a month with all our attempts to arrange a lawyer's meeting with the client. As a result, these efforts were rewarded by a meeting with Mikheil Saakashvili at the Gori military hospital.

I am often asked about our strategy to defend Mikheil, but I could not voice most of the theses before the meeting. Now that we have an open conversation and we have agreed on the main points, I can say something about further actions in Saakashvili's defense both in Georgia and in the international arena.

From the first sentences to torture and threat to life

I will make a short digression into the case of Mikheil Saakashvili so that the logic of the defense's actions can be further understood.

In November 2013, former President Mikheil Saakashvili was forced to leave Georgia due to his political persecution. The criminal proceedings were manufactured against him on charges of crimes which he did not commit. Five years later, in 2018, Saakashvili was sentenced in absentia by the Georgian national courts and sentenced to 6 years in prison. All trials took place without his participation. This was a major breach of Art. 6 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms - "Right to a fair trial".

On October 1, 2021, Mikheil Saakashvili crossed the Georgian border (he was already a citizen of Ukraine at the time). While crossing the border, he was detained and placed in a 12-month penitentiary in Rustavi on the basis of extrajudicial sentences. Immediately after his arrest, Mikheil Saakashvili claimed a major breach and systematic violation of his rights in prison, so he went on a hunger strike in protest.

Also among the main reasons for Mikheil's decision are the repeated statements of Georgian government officials that Saakashvili will in any case be convicted of "new" crimes and will serve his sentence in the colonies under any circumstances. The last nail in the coffin for Mikheil was the fact of non-admission of his Ukrainian lawyer (namely me) to Georgia on October 26, 2021.

As of now, Mikheil Saakashvili is being tried in cases of embezzlement and abuse of office, which were heard behind closed doors until October 29, 2021 and without his participation. It was only under pressure from the international community that the Georgian government began to ensure Saakashvili's presence in court.

Mikheil Saakashvili was subjected to physical force, psychological pressure and inadequate medical care while in prison. This is evidenced by videos distributed in the media, as well as the conclusions of the International Medical Center "Empathy". According to Mikheil Saakashvili's doctors, it is known that the military hospital in Gori cannot fully provide the necessary examinations and the level of treatment which any citizen who is not in prison can receive.

Someone will ask, why should a prisoner receive the same medical care as a free person? I will answer: it is a direct duty of the state to ensure the same standards of health care that exist in society ("Minimum Standard Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners" of the United Nations). We are talking about free access to the necessary health services without discrimination on the basis of their legal status.

Thus, given the limited medical capabilities of the Gori Military Hospital, as well as the Georgian government's direct prejudice against Mikheil Saakashvili, a Ukrainian citizen, the authorities' statements about his future, torture and physical violence by penitentiaries, and the defense insists that all medical examinations and treatments of Mikheil Saakashvili take place with the participation of independent qualified medical professionals.

The struggle for life

I claim directly that the events taking place against Mikheil Saakashvili - the unprecedented and outrage violations of his rights and legitimate interests, restrictions on fair trial and defense, falsification and deception of evidence of his guilt - lead to the conclusion that the long stay of our client in the territory Georgia, in any penitentiary institution or civilian hospital, poses a real threat to his life and health. Mikheil Saakashvili's current condition deprive him of his right for adequate personal protection.

This includes the use in the treatment of sedatives that adversely affect the reaction and perception of reality.

It is now a well-known fact that the doctors at the Rustavi clinic prescribed a high dose of dangerous psychotropic medicines to my client, although there was no need to prescribe these "medicines". Moreover, Saakashvili's personal doctor stated that he had seen in the medical history that this dose was going to be increased 10 times. Of course, after such a dose, Saakashvili would not be able to appear in court.

The officials of the aforementioned International Medical Center Empathy claimed that Saakashvili was erroneously prescribed the madicines, although improper use of psychotropic medicines in the penitentiary is to be considered as a pharmacological torture.

And this is not all. Doctors who are currently monitoring Mikheil Saakashvili's health are not providing him, his relatives or his lawyers with documents that could confirm his condition and information about the treatments used for him. Personal physicians are not allowed to visit the patient.

Given the condition of Mikheil, it is very important today to make a quality diagnosis of his health and determine the optimal treatment protocols with the participation of doctors independent of the Georgian government with further rehabilitation.

As a result, all procedures to investigate Mikheil Saakashvili's ongoing criminal proceedings in Georgia, as well as existing criminal proceedings, must be suspended until his final recovery and treatment in a European country where qualified medical care can be provided.

Rescue roadmap

I have repeatedly emphasized that we will try to make this process as transparent and open as possible, so after consulting with my client, I am ready to publish our next action plan.

Considering that the Georgian authorities refuse to acknowledge the fact of torture against Saakashvili, violation of his rights for protection and proper medical care, I consider it necessary to:

Create an independent international team of medical experts to diagnose Mikheil's health. This group should include experts from Georgia, Ukraine and other countries with a high level of medical care (USA, Israel, Netherlands, Germany, etc.);

To ask the Georgian authorities for permission to carry out diagnostic procedures to determine the severity of Saakashvili's disease and health condition in an independent clinic with the participation of international experts. In particular, we consider international clinics, as well as the Institute of Neurosurgery named after Academician A. P. Romodanov of the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine;

After determining the real state of his health and severity of the disease based on the recommendation of international doctors to prescribe appropriate treatment and rehabilitation methods;

Suspend the investigation and trial of criminal cases in which Saakashvili is accused for the period of diagnostic procedures and examination of the severity of the disease.

Why is this important?

The fact is that everyone has the right to defend themselves personally and with the help of a lawyer. And no matter how many lawyers are involved in the defense, the key role is still given to the accused. It is very important for us that Mikheil Saakashvili will be able to defend himself not being under the influence of medicines. That is why we are so active in insisting on providing quality care.

In addition, we continue to cooperate with representatives of the Ukrainian authorities regarding the protection of the Ukrainian citizen Mikheil Saakashvili. Namely the following:

Ministry of Justice of Ukraine in support of existing complaints to the ECtHR;

Ministry of Foreign Affairs in terms of communication with the Georgian authorities;

The Ombudsman;

Office of the President of Ukraine.

Also, our team begins advocacy support of Mikheil to Ukraine's international partners in the following areas:

Political persecution;

Inadequate medical care;

Violation of the right to defense.

Thus, it is to be continued
Deployment of additional US forces in eastern Europe is possible only if Russia attacks on Ukraine  Pentagon

The United States will be ready to send additional forces to the territory of NATO allies in Eastern Europe only in a situation if Russia attacks Ukraine, Pentagon Spokesperson John Kirby has said.

"If there is a new invasion of Ukraine and requests for additional support are received, then we will respond positively to these requests. Now the situation is different," he said at a briefing. So Kirby explained what measures the United States can take in the event of the Russian attack on Ukraine.

He also said the Ukrainian military has the right to use the Javelin anti-tank missile systems received from the United States in any part of their country for self-defense.

"We expect that they will be used for self-defense. There are no restrictions on where in Ukraine they can be used," he said at the briefing.
The participants in the talks in the Trilateral Contact Group on settlement of the situation in Donbas (TCG) discussed the strengthening of the ceasefire in Donbas, but did not reach a common understanding, Ambassador Mikko Kinnunen, Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office in Ukraine and TCG.

"Lengthy discussions were held on the need to ensure adherence to the July 22, 2020 ceasefire agreement. There is a common understanding that the long lasting ceasefire is a priority. I invite the participants for further constructive work," Kinnunen said in a press release following a regular meeting at the level of heads of delegations.

However, the participants in the Security Working Group discussed in detail how "to strengthen the ceasefire," though "without reaching a common understanding."

He also said that although the number of ceasefire violations reported by SMM the last two weeks is lower if compared with previous two weeks, the security situation along the contact line is still of concern with a high level of kinetic activity.

The OSCE Special Monitoring Mission reportedly continues to face freedom of movement in certain areas of Ukraine's Luhansk region (ORLO).

It is noted that the Political Working Group had a constructive discussion on issues related to the development of a single Plan of Action on Implementation of the Minsk Agreements.

The participants in the Humanitarian Working Group concentrated on conflict-related detainees and the possible opening of two new crossing points across the contact line in Zolote and Schastia of Luhansk region.

The Economic Working Group discussed issues related to water supply, including tariffs for water payments, as well as pensions, telecommunication issues and ecological situation in the Donbas region.
Ukraine by the end of 2021 should complete the competition for the election of a new head of the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO), Charge d'Affaires of the United States in Ukraine Kristina Kvien has said.

During the conference entitled "Seven Years of Anti-Corruption Reform" in Kyiv, Kvien said the SAPO plays a critical role in bringing corruption to justice, has an impact on all anti-corruption cases in Ukraine. Given the importance of the independence of the SAPO, the United States officials are pleased with the progress in the selection process of a new special anti-corruption prosecutor, which occurred after significant delays.

The official said the United States urges to complete the process of appointing a new head of SAPO without delay. They would like to see the process of appointing the new head to be completed by 2022.

The Charge d'Affaire said the United States supports Ukraine's work in building an anti-corruption infrastructure: it took an active part in creating an anti-corruption infrastructure in Ukraine and will continue to provide further assistance in this direction.

According to her, the new anti-corruption architecture has changed Ukraine. Civil society and those in power are fighting corruption, have received new tools.

Kvien also expressed her hope that Ukraine will soon adopt a new anti-corruption strategy.
As part of a working trip to the United States, Prosecutor General of Ukraine Iryna Venediktova met with U.S. Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite Jr. and his adviser on international affairs Bruce Swartz, during which the sides discussed issues of bilateral cooperation between Kyiv and Washington in combating crime.

According to the Prosecutor General's Office (PGO) press service of Ukraine on Thursday, this trip is the first visit of the Ukrainian Prosecutor General to the United States since 2002.

During the meeting, representatives of the U.S. Department of Justice noted the high level and close interaction between the U.S. Department of Justice and the Prosecutor General's Office.

The United States and Ukraine are parties to the bilateral Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty, and both countries are actively using it for investigations and prosecutions.

"Extraordinary cooperation between our countries is developing quite dynamically, over the past year we extradited as many people to the United States as in the previous four years combined. And I am convinced that we will continue to act smoothly and effectively within the criminal proceedings," Prosecutor General Venediktova said.

The PGO said their American colleagues highly appreciated the support of Ukrainian law enforcement officers in conducting international operations to counter cybercrime.

"We already have a history of common victories in ending hacker groups and international fraudulent schemes. These are major law enforcement operations that have a global impact, such as the international operation to expose a hacker group that distributed the Emotet malware," Venediktova said.

She said the Ukrainian PGO is open to the development of cooperation in cybersecurity, joint projects to protect intellectual property, combat environmental crimes and human trafficking.

"The PGO is also working with partners and U.S. experts on a functional analysis of all levels of the prosecutor's office in Ukraine and the Concept for the Development of Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Agencies," the PGO said.
Ambassador of the European Union to Ukraine Matti Maasikas stresses the need for Ukraine to create a "road map" for a real fight against corruption, complete judicial reform and ensure maximum transparency in the selection of new leaders of anti-corruption bodies.

On Thursday, in Kyiv, during the conference "Seven Years of Anti-Corruption Reform", timed to coincide with the International Day against Corruption, he noted that Ukraine has made significant progress in the formation of anti-corruption infrastructure.

"Like many reform contexts, there are pushbacks, however this must be also understood that [...] anticorruption institutions have started delivering tangible results. Strategic results will be needed to fully sustain the results. You can be sure that the European Union stands with it and will continue to provide full political and technical support," Maasikas said.

"Today I am speaking here, while Russia is building up its troops along Ukraine's borders. I want to repeat that we certainly support Ukraine's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity. But Ukraine, despite these [geopolitical] challenges is an important partner at the global stage," the ambassador said.

In this context, he drew attention to the fact that Ukraine should "make anti-corruption agenda." "To work even more closely with civil society, to start developing a zero tolerance narrative for corruption [...] Further the anticorruption reform to improve the investment climate, and we will support Ukraine in making them," Maasikas said.

In particular, he said, it is very important to focus on sectoral reforms in order to reduce corruption in the energy and defense sectors.

"Unfortunately, Ukraine remains without a strategic policy document and action plan for the implementation of its anticorruption reforms," the ambassador said.

He said the anti-corruption strategy will not only offer an analysis of the fight against corruption, but also a "realistic roadmap for tackling priority problems."

"As far as the judiciary is concerned. We witnessed important steps have been taken this year. With the establishment and operation of the Ethics Council of the High Council of Justice was created and High Qualification Commission of Judges. These bodies are expected to reform other bodies that are in the center of the judicial system in Ukraine. It is important that this reform is concluded swiftly," Massikas said.

According to him, the reform of the Constitutional Court should not be delayed either.

In addition, the ambassador noted the importance of a transparent, politically distanced process for electing heads of anti-corruption agencies and the fastest completion of the competition for the post of head of the SAPO.

"Sustaining the independence and effectiveness and of NABU, SAPO, HACC, NACP [...] should be a clear priority. Guarantee for depoliticized and selection processes of leadership positions. It will be crucial that the process for the selection of a new head of SAPO will be concluded without any further delay. This not all positive experience should be taken into account while preparing selection process for a new NABU director to succeed," Massikas said.
NABU Director: soon we will find out whether anti-corruption reform in Ukraine is irreversible

Director of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) Artem Sytnyk has said that the next year will show whether the anti-corruption processes in Ukraine will become irreversible.

"Today, all anti-corruption bodies work together and are fused in some way, complement each other. We have reached the highest level of our work in cooperation," Sytnyk said on Thursday in Kyiv at the Seven Years of Anti-Corruption Reforms conference, timed to coincide with the International Anti-Corruption Day.

According to him, work with international partners has also been established.

"We will continue to work not only with punitive methods, but with methods that are aimed at preventing corruption, at fostering zero tolerance for corruption in society," Sytnyk said.

At the same time, the director of NABU said that it is too early to assert about the inevitability of anti-corruption processes in Ukraine.

"In the next year, I think we will receive an answer whether the anti-corruption reform in Ukraine is irreversible, whether the results we are getting in very difficult conditions are irreversible," he said.

According to Sytnyk, for seven years there have been constant attempts to limit the powers of anti-corruption bodies, to deprive them of their powers. "Each anti-corruption body that starts to work actively always receives some kind of decisions  by the parliament or the Constitutional Court  aimed at depriving them of their powers," the NABU director said.

"We are not stopping our struggle. And, despite the fact that the anti-corruption system is now experiencing a change of leadership, - now it concerns the anti-corruption prosecutor's office, and in the near future it will concern the anti-corruption bureau  I believe that the system itself is formed, effective, institutionally independent and ready for further action," Sytnyk said.
Dragon Capital investment company is implementing office real estate projects planned before the coronavirus crisis and is temporarily not considering investments in new projects, the founder and CEO of Dragon Capital investment company, Tomas Fiala, has said.

"We are implementing the projects that were planned before COVID. But we are also looking forward: in 2-3 years, perhaps the demand for offices will again increase ... We have now completed the construction of an office center in Lviv and we are not considering other offices," he said in an exclusive interview with the Interfax-Ukraine agency.

Fiala noted that office real estate has significantly lost in profitability due to the pandemic, although it was previously considered the most promising. At the same time, the head of Dragon Capital believes that over time the demand for offices will recover.

"I still think that people will return to work from the office, since work from home is not competitive. Employers will see the difference in labor productivity and return employees to offices," the investment banker explained.

In his opinion, in the case of a long period, working from home is relaxing.

"In the beginning, of course, everyone tensed and worked at home, because there was nowhere to go: cinemas, restaurants and shopping centers - everything was closed, so you sit at home and work. Now the situation is different," Fiala stated.

The head of Dragon Capital clarified that the vacancy of office centers in the Dragon Capital portfolio has stabilized at 11%, and the total area of office space in it is 204,000 square meters.

"Now there is a drawdown and some vacancy: we have it at the level of 11%, and in the new centers that we have built and commissioned recently, it is higher. Therefore, rental rates in offices, of course, have fallen over the past year and a half," he said.

According to the investment company, in the structure of income from real estate assets in 2020, some 37% fell on offices, while the share of warehouses was 30%, retail - 33%.

According to Fiala, the amount of investments in upgrades of office centers purchased by the company since 2018 totaled $ 26 million (excluding construction from scratch).
Five Ukrainian entrepreneurs, investment bankers launch large private equity fund with potential size of over $100 mln - media

A large private equity fund with a potential size of more than $100 million was launched in October by Horizon Capital partner Kostiantyn Mahaletsky, Deputy Minister of Energy and Environmental Protection Serhiy Maslichenko, CEO of Arricano Real Estate Plc Mikhail Merkulov, as well as founders of SD Capital investment company Andriy Stavnitser and Filip Hrushko.

"The partners have joined forces to develop a new direction of "sustainable" and "green" investments. This is renewable energy, transport, logistics and construction," SD Capital told Forbes.

It is indicated that the businessmen intend to cooperate with international financial institutions, in particular the EBRD and the IFC, and also to attract money from private investors.

According to SD Capital, the fund will be partially financed by the co-founders themselves, including the Stavnitser family.
Interfax-Ukraine to host roundtable talk 'Has oligarchic consensus broken down in Ukraine? Is new one needed?'

On Monday, December 13, at 12.00, the press center of the Interfax-Ukraine news agency will host roundtable talk entitled "Has oligarchic consensus broken down in Ukraine? Is new one needed?".

Participants include Director of the Institute of Global Strategies Vadym Karasiov; expert of Hardarika Strategic Consulting Corporation Kostiantyn Matviyenko; political expert, PhD in philosophy, analyst of the Public Diplomacy Foundation Oleksandra Reshmedilova; Head of the Penta Center for Applied Political Studies Volodymyr Fesenko (8/5a Reitarska Street). The broadcast will be available on the YouTube channel of Interfax-Ukraine. Due to quarantine restrictions, the number of places in the press center is limited, the presence of a PCR test or a certificate of vaccination is required. Admission of journalists requires registration on the spot.
KYIV. Dec 9 (Interfax-Ukraine)  Founders of the NGO Center for National Resilience and Development at the press conference entitled "Fighting corruption: another year without results," dedicated to the International Anti-Corruption Day and hosted by the press center of Interfax-Ukraine, put forward a number of anti-corruption requirements to the authorities.

As noted by Prosecutor General of Ukraine in 2019-2020 Ruslan Raboshapka, over the past year, the authorities have committed "three key failures" in the fight against corruption.

In particular, he named the absence of a strategy, plan and "road map" to combat corruption; gaps in anti-corruption legislation and lack of leaders in anti-corruption bodies; and monthly presence of new corruption scandals involving top officials in the country's information space.

According to Ryaboshapka, Ukraine still has not adopted laws on enhancing responsibility for illegal financing of political parties, transfering the powers of the National Police to combat political corruption to the NABU, and promoting de-oligarchization. For more than two years, the National Anticorruption Policy Council has not been functioned, which requires the president's report; legal responsibility for providing inaccurate data in the declarations of government officials for 2020 has not been restored, and the powers of the National Agency on Corruption Prevention (NACP) in the fight against political corruption have been limited.

"Thus, instead of fighting corruption, the authorities have actually taken the lead today," Riaboshapka said.

In turn, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) in 2019 and Minister of Finance in 2016-2018 Oleksandr Danyliuk voiced a number of demands to the authorities. "We demand that the authorities complete the selection of a special anti-corruption prosecutor and appoint him by the end of the year, hold an honest competition for the post of the new NABU director, restart a competition for the head of the State Bureau of Investigations, as well as hold a new complete competition for the head of the Bureau of Economic Security from a scratch," Danylyuk said.

Other demands include carrying out "real de-oligarchization," completing the reform of the Prosecutor's Office by introducing mechanisms to protect prosecutors from illegal dismissals and interference in their work, as well as carrying out judicial reform and resolving the Kyiv District Administrative Court problem.
KYIV. Dec 9 (Interfax-Ukraine) - Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food Roman Leschenko during the conference "Doing Agribusiness in Ukraine" named livestock, horticulture and land reclamation among the priority areas for providing state support in 2022, according to the website of the Ukrainian Agribusiness Club.

"This focus has already been agreed, the funds from which these areas will be financed have been worked out. The position in terms of state support is decisive for the next calendar period, since the agricultural sector is number one industry in terms of economic growth and the formation of foreign exchange earnings," the minister emphasized.

In addition, the department plans to abolish the monopoly of notaries on the conclusion of land transactions by approving the institute of certified land surveyors.

According to Leschenko, the emphasis of state support for 2022 will be placed on small and medium-sized agricultural producers.

"In 2021, state support was aimed at niche crops, support for agricultural machinery, compensation for the loan rate. Indeed, the Affordable Loans 5-7-9% program, which we worked out together with the Ministry of Economy to support farmers, became a real additional resource in the amount of more than UAH 30 billion for the agricultural sector. These funds made it possible to reinvest in production and update fixed production assets," the minister said.

In addition, during the conference, Deputy Minister of Economy Denys Kudin said that today the government's attention is focused as much as possible on the development of road, rail and river transport. He recalled that from January 1, 2022, a law will come into force, making transportation on the Dnipro River virtually free.

According to the deputy minister, another flagship infrastructure project for the government is land irrigation in southern Ukraine. The first pilot project in this direction will start in 2022 and will cover 200 hectares of land in four southern regions of the country.

As reported, the Cabinet of Ministers expanded the procedure for financial support of agricultural producers for 2021 with six new state programs with a total volume of UAH 500 million, including directions that stimulate buckwheat and potato production.
KYIV, December 8, 2021. The CASE Ukraine Center for Social and Economic Research has launched Honest Price, an educational initiative to teach Ukrainians about the taxes collected on their purchases.

According to CASE Ukraine Executive Director Dmytro Boyarchuk, Honest Price is intended to remind consumers that the price of the things they buy includes indirect taxes, such as the value-added tax or VAT. This means that every time someone buys goods or services in Ukraine, they also provide revenues to national and local budgets.

According to a 2020 survey by CASE Ukraine, only 20% of Ukrainians know what taxes they pay at the store when buying goods, says Mr. Boyarchuk.

According to the Honest Price initiators, not all sellers transfer indirect taxes such as the VAT, import duty, and excise to public coffers, fully or in part. When these are not reflected in the price, the goods or services are cheaper.

We plan to conduct the Honest Price Initiative only in cooperation with entrepreneurs and businesses that can prove their integrity, explains Mr. Boyarchuk. They will then get the Honest Price sticker because they act as honest tax agents, meaning they transfer the taxes they receive from their customers to the Treasury. And this money goes to pay our doctors, our army, teachers, and so on.

For consumers, this means that, where there is a Honest Price sticker, they will know that the owner is honest with taxpayers and with the budget.

Wed like to see consumer economic understanding match the desire of honest entrepreneurs to stand out, says Dmytro Boyarchuk.

To join the Honest Price initiative, a company or sole entrepreneur needs to fill out a questionnaire, which will then be checked to establish their integrity index.

So far, weve developed criteria for four industries: consumer electronics, alcohol, medications and fuel, reports Andriy Savarets, an associate expert at CASE Ukraine. And were in the process of developing criteria for other markets.

According to Mr. Savarets, the integrity criteria are divided into three parts: the company, the sales process, and the product. Individual criteria are not self-sufficient. Only when the entire picture is available is it possible to say whether the seller meets the Honest Price criteria.

More information about the integrity criteria, conditions for participating, and the algorithm for determining successful applicants can be found on the Honest Price website at http://bila.cost.ua.

The CASE Ukraine Center for Social and Economic Research is the author, organizer and rights holder of the Honest Price initiative, which is being implemented within the framework of the Price of the State program.
Photo: Kevin Skeoch, Founding Director of Brookes CIL International School and educational leader with more than 30 years of experience

The next-generation Brookes CIL International School, which is opening in September 2022 in Kyiv, Ukraine as a joint project of Brookes Education Group (BEG) and CIL International, is a Ukrainian mark on the world for the future. Kevin Skeoch, Founding Director of Brookes CIL and educational leader with more than 30 years of experience, expressed his confidence in an interview to Forbes magazine.

Brookes CIL International School is Kyivs mark on the world for the future. There are many good schools, but at this time and place - education, learning and the future come together. In Europe we mostly see revitalization or reconstruction of existing schools. Ukraine is going to make waves, because this school is put up to become one of the greatest schools in Europe as well as in architectural history said Mr. Skeoch.

Photo: Brookes CIL International School

He stressed that he has been around the world many times, and seen many other schools. He knows that at the heart of it - school is a place where children feel safe and secure, they want to learn and have ability and motivation to do anything at Brookes CIL with professional educators support.

I would like this school to be a learning hub, an educational center for Europe, a professional center for teachers, a meeting area for students and exchanges. The kids in the school will be at the forefront of it all, with a great menu of options we call 7 wonders of CIL - gymnasiums, makerspaces, creative think tanks, entrepreneurial skill centers, creative and performance halls, school classrooms concluded Kevin.
To enhance visitors experience at archaeological sites and museums in Egypt, new environmentally-friendly electric buses have been introduced into service at the Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut Temple on Luxors west bank, the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced.
Stephanie Williams, the Special Adviser to the UNs Secretary-General on Libya, stressed in a tweet on Tuesday "the need to keep the electoral process in the country moving forward in order to realise the aspirations of the 2.8m Libyan citizens who registered to vote."
The 104th anniversary of the Balfour Declaration, which set into motion one of the greatest ongoing human tragedies in the 20th century, passed quietly and generally unnoticed. However, breaking from the general silence in the Arab region, the Arab League issued a statement calling on Britain to rectify its historical mistake and bear its legal and moral responsibility towards the Palestinian people. The statement urged Britain to apologise to the Palestinian people for more than a century of suffering and pain that it caused them, and to pressure Israel to end its occupation of the Palestinian territories and halt its aggressive war machine. The Arab League also called on the international community to undertake its responsibility to implement the UN resolutions that address this tragedy, to put an end to Israeli crimes, impose sanctions on the colonial settler state and provide international protection for Palestinians.

To me, the most important part of the Arab League statement was its demand that Britain should recognise Palestine as an independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital. I want to discuss this point from a perspective different from that which Israel has forced us to swallow as a basis for peace talks. Let us take the issue outside the frames of reference that we have begun to reiterate without thinking, transcend our state of Arab weakness, and discuss the Palestinian question independently of certain ideas that we have somehow agreed to take for granted upon entering the endless process of negotiation.

First, why did the Arabs fall in with the Israeli notion that any Palestinian state emerging from these negotiations has to conform to conditions that Israel sets, such as that it must be unarmed and its territorial waters and airspace subject to Israeli sovereignty. Whatever made us even entertain such absurd conditions? We should never have accepted as a principle that Israels approval was required for the establishment of a Palestinian state. Did not the UN issue a resolution calling for the establishment of a Palestinian state side-by-side with a Jewish one? The UN Partition Resolution establishing the state of Israel did not make that contingent on Arab approval. Why should the reverse apply? In fact, the Arabs at the time opposed the partition resolution, but world powers paid them no heed and proceeded to recognise Isreal in implementation of that resolution after it was adopted in 1947. It seems that we should take the anniversary of the Balfour Declaration (and other occasions) to demand the implementation of the resolution in accordance with which Israel was established rather than asking for Israels approvals. In fact, the very fact that the resolution calling for the establishment of a Palestinian state has never been implemented undermines the international legitimacy on which Israels establishment is based.

Some might counter that it was the Arabs who rejected the partition resolution when it was issued. But this argument does not hold since the resolution was adopted and partially carried out. It has never been rescinded, either, regardless of what the Arabs had to say, because if it had, that would have meant that Israels creation did not rest on an international resolution granting it legitimacy. Therefore, since the UN has done nothing to indicate that the resolution has been rescinded, we should be demanding the implementation of the rest of the resolution - namely the establishment of a Palestinian state - instead of negotiating with Israel to obtain its approval on the establishment of a Palestinian entity encumbered by conditions that were never mentioned in the UN resolution in the first place.

Palestine existed before the partition resolution, just as it has continued to exist afterwards. The Israeli occupation does not alter this fact. After all, the existence of a state is not contingent on the withdrawal of occupation forces from its territory. France and other major powers were occupied at one point or another in their history, and in no case did the occupier set the conditions for recognition of the state under its occupation. What the Arab states should do on the occasion of the anniversary of the Balfour Declaration is to issue a joint resolution under the auspices of the Arab League recognising the Palestine state as called for in the resolution the UN adopted over seven decades ago, then they should leverage their influence through their various bilateral relations to pressure other countries to recognise the state to which they had already agreed when they approved the resolution in 1947.

Can the Arabs do this? Do they want to? If yes, then they only have to declare their recognition of what already exists. If not, then I suppose we should thank the Arab League for issuing the aforementioned statement at a time when its members are vying with each other to normalise relations with the occupation authorities.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 11 November, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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Twelve human rights organisations signed a statement commending the accomplishments made by Egypt over the past year to consolidate the culture of human rights, especially after ending the state of emergency in October.

The statement was signed ahead of International Human Rights Day, which is observed every year on 10 December  the day the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948.

Egypt has witnessed during the past year very important developments in terms of strengthening the path of reforming human rights, the statement read.

The undersigned organisations also hailed Egypts issuance of the National Strategy for Human Rights in September.

The strategy recognises challenges facing the comprehensive implementation of international human rights conventions and highlights the governments pledge to work with Parliament to resolve them, the statement said.

A careful reading of the national strategy indicates Egypts tendency to build a legislative infrastructure that promotes Egyptian human rights in line with Egypts international commitments while adhering to the features of its unique identity and its cultural and religious components, the organisations said.

The statement also praised Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi for designating 2022 as the year of civil society during his launch of the strategy.

This demonstrates Egypts continued openness to cooperation and partnership with civil society organisations and the sustainability of the state of consultation and dialogue between the state and national and international human rights organisations, the statement added.

Egypt also witnessed progress in terms of youth and women empowerment, as women got more than 28 percent of parliamentary seats in the 2021 elections.

Egyptian women have also taken many judicial and ministerial posts, with eight female ministers representing 25 percent of the incumbent government, the statement said.

Furthermore, the organisations said they have monitored positive indicators and progress in the field of civil and political rights in the country regarding those imprisoned in connection with cases of a political nature.

El-Sisi has pardoned many prisoners on national occasions and holidays under article 155 of the constitution in response to demands from the National Council for Human Rights and human rights organisations, the statement noted.

Since 2015, 56,000 prisoners have been released under presidential amnesty.

This reflects a new philosophy from the state in dealing with prisoners, and commitment to a new punitive policy based on the idea of a second chance in life and being a part of society for those who are not involved in crimes that affect the security and safety of the country.

This philosophy also included starting to replace traditional prisons with reform and rehabilitation centres that adhere to international standards, the statement said, referring to the Wadi Al-Natroun Correctional and Rehabilitation Centre that was announced late in October.

The signatory organisations also called for the final closure of Case 173, widely known as the Foreign Funding Case, which froze the assets of these NGOs and imposed travel bans on its members.

Over the past months, Egypt has dropped the charges levelled against 67 NGOs operating in Egypt in the case that dates back to 2011 over insufficient evidence. The court ruling consequently lifted the sanctions imposed on the exonerated NGOs and their staff members.

The statement called for the start of a constructive dialogue based on mutual trust between state institutions and civil organisations.

Additionally, it called for a comprehensive review of the texts of laws that conflict with international conventions related to human rights, a review of periods of pretrial detention, and the creation of mechanisms to avoid such prolonged periods.

Egypt has been committed to implementing 300 recommendations requested by the international community and UN Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner in November 2014, including 246 recommendations related to the human rights file, the statement said.

Egypt is implementing these pledges voluntarily, the statement said, affirming that this reflects the desire of the political administration to implement radical reforms in the human rights file.

Egypt has also witnessed a breakthrough in economic and social rights since the implementation of the presidential initiative Hayah Karima (Decent Life) that seeks to develop Egypts countryside.

The initiative, worth more than EGP 900 billion, responds to solving many crises related to the absence of the right to development for many years, the statement said.

The project is implemented in partnership between state agencies, civil society, and development and charitable societies.

Signing organisations:

Egyptian Organisation for Human Rights

The Forum for Development and Human Rights Dialogue

Arab-European Forum for Dialogue and Human Rights

The Arab Network for Digital Media and Human Rights

Arab Council for Human Rights

The Egyptian Association for Training and Human Rights

The Egyptian Alliance for Democracy and Human Rights

Eshraqet Amal for Local Community Development in Giza

Arab Centre for Human Rights

The Arab Institute for Studies on Democracy and Human Rights

Women and Development Association in Alexandria

Horus Association for Youth and Development in Qena

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With a major meeting on the pandemic and debut appearances in Paris and Brussels, Germany's new Chancellor Olaf Scholz and his team hit the ground running on their first day in office Thursday.

After a ceremony-laden day marking the handover from Angela Merkel, Scholz is due to sit down with regional leaders of Germany's 16 states to discuss whether further curbs are needed to stop runaway Covid infections.

With intensive care beds filling up and new variant Omicron adding to fears, Scholz's coalition of his Social Democrats, the ecologist Greens and the liberal FDP was already dragged into fighting the pandemic before being sworn in.

Underlining the "deadly serious" situation, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier had during Wednesday's investiture ceremony pointedly urged Scholz to "ensure that the pandemic does not keep us firmly in its grip for another year".

Scholz, 63, has already called for Germany to follow Austria's example and introduce mandatory jabs, pushed by Germany's stagnating inoculation rate.

But he may have many more tough decisions to make.

Scholz "stands before a difficult chancellorship", said the Tagesspiegel daily, noting that the pandemic was not just a epidemiological emergency but also leading to bitter divisions in society.

"Debates are being conducted in an adamant fashion, camps are being formed that are hardly building any bridges to others," it said, noting that it "would come down to the chancellor" to resolve the bitter divides.

While staying at home to fight the major fire, Scholz will also be taking his first step onto the world stage, via a virtual Summit for Democracy organised by the United States.

'Lynchpin'

Scholz is no stranger to the diplomatic circuit, having been state premier of Hamburg when the city played host to the G20 summit and also having served as finance minister in Merkel's cabinet over the last four years.

While he has pledged continuity, international observers will be closely watching for any shifts in tone given the switch from a conservative-led government after 16 years to a centre-left-led alliance.

Scholz will head to Paris on Friday for his first official visit, where he is to meet France's President Emmanuel Macron.

He will then travel on to Brussels for talks with EU leaders and NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg.

But ahead of him, his Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock of the Greens was already making her debut appearances in both key European capitals on Thursday.

"Europe is the lynchpin for our foreign policy," Baerbock said in a statement.

"We will not seek to pursue our ideas and interests at the cost of" Germany's neighbours, she added.

Baerbock, who is Germany's first woman foreign minister, has pledged to take a tougher line with authoritarian states like Russia and China after the business-driven pragmatism of Merkel's era.

And the first signs of friction within the freshly minted government could well arise from here, as Scholz has so far taken a cautious tone on issues such as the US' diplomatic boycott of the Winter Olympics in Beijing.

Even as Baerbock was about to embark on her trips, Scholz appeared to assert his authority over her portfolio.

Asked at a TV interview on Wednesday if Baerbock or he will determine foreign policy, Scholz said that "we will act together as a government and that starts with the head of government".

That may appear obvious. But as Spiegel noted, "given the differing views within the coalition, the statement is significant".

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Egypt will continue its efforts to achieve fair and comprehensive peace in the Middle East based on the two-state solution and international legitimacy resolutions, President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi told Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid on Thursday.

This should achieve security and stability and open horizons for cooperation and development for all peoples of the region, Presidential Spokesman Bassam Rady cited El-Sisi as saying.

Lapid arrived in Cairo for an official visit on Thursday, three months after Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, who took office in June, met with El-Sisi in Sharm El-Sheikh. It was the first time an Israeli prime minister had visited Egypt since 2011.

In a tweet upon his arrival, Lapid vowed to continue working with Egypt to advance our common interests in regional stability.

During the meeting, El-Sisi affirmed Egypts continued efforts to prevent the outbreak of tensions between the Palestinian and Israeli sides, the spokesman said.

Furthermore, the meeting discussed Egyptian-Israeli relations in various fields as well as regional and international issues of mutual concern, on top of which was the Palestinian cause, the spokesman added.

Egypts Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and Head of Egypts General Intelligence Service Abbas Kamel also attended the meeting.

Israels Foreign Ministry Director-General Alon Ushpiz, Lapids diplomatic adviser Yair Zivan, and Israels Ambassador to Cairo Amira Oron were also in attendance.

During Septembers meeting with Bennett in Egypt, El-Sisi asserted that Egypts support for all efforts to achieve peace in the Middle East are based on a two-state solution and international resolutions that contribute to ensuring security and prosperity in the region.

The two leaders also discussed Egyptian-Israeli bilateral relations in all fields in addition to the latest developments regionally and internationally.

Egypt, a key regional linchpin, has been in talks with several regional and international players to revive the long-frozen Palestinian-Israeli peace talks.

Egypt has repeatedly called for a two-state solution that involves the establishment of an independent Palestinian state along the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.

In May, Egypt mediated a ceasefire between the Israeli and Palestinian sides in the Gaza Strip after Israeli bombing claimed over 250 Palestinian lives, including many women and children, in 11 days.

Egypt also allocated $500 million for the reconstruction of the strip.

Egypts general intelligence chief Kamel visited Israeli and Palestinian territories in May and August and met with officials from both sides to consolidate the ceasefire.

During his visit in August, Kamel met with Bennett for the first time.

Smuggled antiquities returned to Egypt

During a meeting between Lapid and his Egyptian counterpart, Shoukry, on Thursday, Israel handed back 95 smuggled antiques from Egypt that were seized by Israeli authorities.

The antiques were returned in the presence of officials from the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities and Israeli Antiquities Authority.

Shoukrys meeting with Lapid came in confirmation of Egypts role and endeavours seeking to foster peace in the Middle East, the Egyptian foreign ministry said in a statement.

They also met to discuss issues of mutual concern between the two countries, the ministry added.

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Lebanons Prime Minister Najib Mikati hailed Egypts sincere efforts to mobilise international support for Lebanon in the face of difficult political and economic challenges facing the country.

Mikati made the remarks as he met on Thursday with President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi during a one-day official visit to Cairo, Presidential Spokesman Bassam Rady said in a statement.

Mikati is also scheduled to hold meetings with Secretary-General of the Arab League Ahmed Abu El-Gheit at the leagues headquarters in the city.

During his meeting with El-Sisi, Mikati expressed appreciation of Egypts vital role as a pillar of stability in Lebanon and the entire Arab region.

He hailed the ongoing Egyptian national experience, which prioritises economic and developmental success, saying this experience represents a role model to be followed by the countries of the region.

Mikati expressed appreciation of the historical relations between Egypt and Lebanon, which are based on solidarity and brotherhood.

El-Sisi affirmed to Mikati Egypts keenness for the security and stability of Lebanon, achieving the Lebanese national interests, and sparing Lebanon from the dangers of regional conflicts, the statement read.

Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and Head of the General Intelligence Service (GIS) Abbas Kamel attended the meeting.

The meeting also discussed developments in Lebanon, means to boost bilateral cooperation between the two countries as well as regional issues, the statement added.

Political support

Egypt welcomed the formation of Mikatis government in September, hoping that it would contribute to ending the prolonged political crisis in the Arab country.

Lebanon has been mired in political and economic crises in recent years, especially since the devastating blast at Beiruts port in August of last year, which killed at least 214 people and destroyed or damaged thousands of buildings and businesses across the city.

Furthermore, after the blast, anti-government protests caused the government of Hassan Diab to resign less than a year from its formation, leaving the country without an administration for a year.

Egypt has affirmed it will work to support the new government to realise the Lebanese peoples aspirations for a better future.

Economic support, gas delivery

As part of a previously agreed upon roadmap to ease Lebanons crippling crisis, Egypt said in October it will export gas to Lebanon soon through Syria and Jordan.

This came amid Lebanons energy crisis, after its two main power plants  which had been generating 40 percent of the countrys energy  were shut down earlier this year due to fuel shortages.

As per the agreement with Cairo, Egyptian gas will be transported via Jordan and Syria to northern Lebanon to activate gas-operated power plants that have been non-functional for 11 years.

In August, El-Sisi urged the international community to exert all possible efforts to support the Lebanese people in overcoming the devastating effects of Beirut explosion as he spoke during the Lebanon Donor Conference sponsored by French President Emannuel Macron.

Egypts Arab Contractors Company won a bid to develop Lebanons major Port of Tripoli and its facilities early in August.

The development of the port is scheduled to be followed by a number of projects to enhance Egypts economic presence in Lebanon, especially in the fields of technology and expertise exchange, specifically in Tripoli city.

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National flag carrier EgyptAir will resume its weekly flights between Cairo and Johannesburg starting 16 December, the company said in a statement on Facebook.

The flights to Johannesburg will depart Cairo Thursdays at 23:05, using EgyptAir's latest aircraft models.

The statement added that the flights to Egypt will be operated in accordance with the precautionary measures announced by Egypt's health ministry.

EgyptAir called on passengers to book their flights by contacting customer service via phone at 1717 or through the website egyptair.com

Customers can also contact the airlines offices in Egypt or abroad, EgyptAir said.

On 27 November, EgyptAir announced the suspension of flights to and from Johannesburg, South Africa, after the World Health Organisation (WHO) classified Omicron, the new coronavirus variant, as of concern.

Many countries worldwide have suspended travel to and from South Africa, although the WHO has encouraged countries not to impose flight suspensions due to concerns about the new COVID-19 variant.

In response, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa condemned the travel bans enacted against his country in a presidential statement.

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In a meeting with his Lebanese counterpart Najib Mikati in Cairo, Madbouly vowed to study a Lebanese proposal to set up long-term power linkage ventures between the two countries, a cabinet statement said.

As part of a previously agreed upon roadmap to ease Lebanons crippling crisis, Egypt said in October it will export gas to Lebanon soon through Syria and Jordan.

This came amid Lebanons energy crisis, after its two main power plants  which had been generating 40 percent of the countrys energy  were shut down earlier this year due to fuel shortages.

As per the agreement with Cairo, Egyptian gas will be transported via Jordan and Syria to northern Lebanon to activate gas-operated power plants that have been non-functional for 11 years.

The gas imports were due to have been started, but the process was delayed for six weeks due to needed repairs to the pipeline that connects the Syrian-Lebanese borders, PM Mikati told Egyptian state News Agency MENA on Friday.

The Lebanese premier said he reviewed with Madbouly cooperation, especially means of boosting gas imports and power linkages between Egypt and Lebanon, in addition to facilitating trade exchange movement, particularly of Lebanese agricultural products.

Mikati also asked for supplies of foodstuffs and medicines for chronic diseases, according to a statement issued by the Egyptian cabinet.

Madbouly also stressed El-Sisi's instructions to extend all forms of support to the Lebanese government, noting that the Egyptian government will meet Lebanon's demand for all required materials.

Mikati, who arrived in the Egyptian capital earlier today, held a meeting with the Egyptian president and is set to meet Secretary-General of the Arab League Ahmed Abu El-Gheit.
A group of 15 EU member states have agreed to take in 40,000 Afghans for resettlement, Commissioner Ylva Johansson said on Thursday after meeting interior ministers.

Germany will accept the bulk of the new arrivals, with 25,000, with the Netherlands accepting 3,159, Spain and France 2,500, and other countries lower numbers, according to a document seen by AFP.

"And I think this is an impressive act of solidarity," Johansson said, arguing that allowing more Afghans to migrate in a controlled way would help prevent "irregular arrivals".

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees had previously urged the bloc to accept 42,500 Afghans over five years, but some of the 27 member countries had resisted.

There are an estimated 85,000 Afghans who have fled their homeland into countries nearer the EU, and the Taliban's seizure of Kabul coupled with a fierce drought could trigger new flows.

During the aftermath of the chaotic US military withdrawal and the return of the Taliban regime, in August, 24 EU states have already taken in 28,000 evacuees.

But UNHCR chief Filippo Grandi has warned that 85,000 Afghans that are living in vulnerable situations outside the bloc need resettlement, and has urged Europe to take half.

Johannson had previously described this goal as "doable" but she still had to persuade member state governments, only confirming the figure after the meeting on Thursday.

The 40,000 Afghans are part of a larger 60,000 package of resettlements and humanitarian admissions pledged by member states, according to the document seen by AFP.

In the larger global envelope, France and Sweden make bigger pledges of 5,000 and 4,200 resettlements, but these will not necessarily be Afghans. Belgium promised places for 425 Afghans and 1,250 others.

EU officials were not immediately able to give a time scale for the new arrivals.

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Lebanons Prime Minister Najib Mikati arrived in Cairo on Thursday morning to start a one-day official visit.

Egypts Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly received his Lebanese counterpart at Cairo International Airport.

Mikati is scheduled to meet with President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi, the Lebanese Cabinet said in a statement on Thursday.

He will also be meeting with Secretary-General of the Arab League (AL) Ahmed Abu El-Gheit at the ALs headquarters, the statement noted.

Miktati will be discussing with Madbouly bilateral cooperation and regional and international issues of mutual concern, the Egyptian Cabinet said in a statement.

Egypt has welcomed the formation of Mikatis government in September, hoping that it will contribute to ending the prolonged political crisis in the Arab country.

Lebanon has been mired in political and economic crises in recent years, especially since the devastating blast at Beirut port in August of last year, which killed at least 214 people and destroyed and damaged thousands of buildings and businesses across the city.

Furthermore, after the blast, anti-government protests caused the government of Hassan Diab to resign less than a year from its formation, leaving the country without an administration for a year.

Egypt has affirmed it will work to support the new government with the intention to realise the Lebanese peoples aspirations for a better future.

As part of a previously agreed upon roadmap to ease Lebanons crippling crisis, Egypt said in October it will export gas to Lebanon soon through Syria and Jordan.

This came amid Lebanons energy crisis, when its two main power plants  which had been generating 40 percent of the countrys energy  were shut down earlier this year due to fuel shortages.

As per the agreement with Cairo, Egyptian gas will be transported via Jordan and Syria to northern Lebanon to activate gas-operated power plants that had been non-functional for 11 years.

In August, Egypts Arab Contractors Company won a bid to develop Lebanons major Port of Tripoli and its facilities.

The development of the port is scheduled to be followed by a number of projects to enhance Egypts economic presence in Lebanon, especially in the fields of technology and expertise exchange, specifically in Tripoli city.

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Egypts President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi hailed former German chancellor Angela Merkel as a leader who ruled with wisdom and power, saying Egypt will not forget her efforts to foster Egyptian-German relations.

Olaf Scholz, the leader of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), has been sworn in as German chancellor on Wednesday after Merkel had served for four terms since 2005.

I am honoured of the work, fruitful cooperation, and regular consultation I had with German chancellor Angela Merkel over the last seven years, El-Sisi said in a tweet on Thursday.

El-Sisi hailed Merkel as a great personality with a unique leadership style that combines wisdom and power.

He added that she accomplished a lot for her nation and people, Europe, and the world during her bright political career.

The Egyptian government and people will not forget what former chancellor Angela Merkel has done to foster Egyptian-German relations, and her role in strengthening the bonds of friendship between the two friendly countries and peoples.

I express my sincere appreciation to her, and I wish her good health and delight in her new life, the president added.

El-Sisi held several meetings with Merkel throughout his ongoing tenure, the last of which was during the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) that was held in Glasgow, UK, last month.

Over the past decade, Egypt and Germany have significantly intensified their economic and developmental cooperation, with around 1,180 German companies currently operating in all economic sectors.

Areas of cooperation between the two countries have comprised numerous fields, including the water sector, wastewater management, and energy.

Egypt and Germany shared a trade volume of roughly 5 billion euros last year, former German Ambassador Cyrill Nunn said in remarks to media outlets earlier this year.

This makes Germany the second-biggest trading partner to Egypt among the countries of the European Union, he added.

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Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry has reiterated the necessity of resuming the Palestinian and Israeli negotiating track soon to reach a just and comprehensive settlement for the Palestinian issue based on the two-state solution.

Shoukry said in a meeting with Israeli Alternate Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Yair Lapid in Cairo on Thursday that Egypt is unwavering in its efforts to bring peace and stability to the Middle East.

Egypt has repeatedly called for the two-state solution that involves the establishment of an independent Palestinian state along the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital as per relevant international resolutions.

Egypt has been in talks with several regional and international players to revive the long-frozen Palestinian-Israeli peace talks.

Shoukry said Cairo will continue contacting all parties to reach an atmosphere conducive to resuscitating the desired political track, a statement by the Egyptian foreign ministry said.

Shoukry also called for refraining from unilateral measures including the those related to the settlement activities in the Palestinian territories, noting that such measures hinder chances at peace and the two-state solution, a statement released following the meeting said.

Egypt's top diplomat reviewed Egyptian efforts to reconstruct the Gaza Strip and support the development demands of the Palestinians in coordination with the Palestinian Authority.

He emphasised the importance of the international communitys support to Egypt in this regard, which helps secure peace and stability in the region.

After mediating a ceasefire between the Israeli and Palestinian sides that ended the hostilities in May, Egypt allocated $500 million to reconstruct the strip.

In recent months, Israel has stiffened restrictions on the enclave, barring the entry of construction materials and fuel. According to media reports, several challenges now face Gaza's reconstruction given the complicated political conditions.

Egypt and Qatar have signed agreements to supply fuel and basic construction materials to the Gaza Strip.

The agreement, announced by the Qatari foreign ministry in November, aims to alleviate the economic crises in the Palestinian territories on the heels of the Israeli war on Gaza in May, the pandemic, and delays in the salary payments by the Palestinian Authority.

Egyptian smuggled antiquities

During his meeting with Shoukry, Lapid handed back 95 smuggled antiques from Egypt that were seized by Israeli authorities.

The antiques were returned in the presence of officials from the Egyptian and Israeli antiquities ministries.

Lapid, who landed in Cairo earlier today, met with Egyptian president Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi ahead of Shoukry's talks.

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Several thousand people have fled deadly inter-ethnic clashes in northern Cameroon, seeking safety across the border in Chad, the Red Cross said Thursday.

Cameroonian authorities say conflict between fishermen of the Musgum community and ethnic Arab Choa herders around the town of Kousseri has claimed at least four lives.

Thousands of people fleeing the violence have sought refuge by crossing the Chari river into Chad, near the capital N'Djamena.

"There are at least 3,000 refugees, and the number is likely to grow," Khala Ahmat Senoussi, president of the Red Cross in Chad, told AFP.

A Chadian police source said that "refugees are still arriving, some of them by boat".

Jean-Lazare Ndongo Ndongo, prefect in Cameroon's northern Logone-Chari region bordering Chad, told CRTV state television that "despite the security provisions that had been made, a mob managed to enter the town... with around 20 shops looted and four people losing their lives."

"What we saw was terrible," said Rahma Ahmat, a 55-year-old woman wearing a black veil who had fled to the Farcha forest outside N'Djamena.

"I saw a person being burned, I was terrified".

The local official said the Musgum fishermen attacked areas mostly inhabited by Choa Arab herders "from all sides".

A senior aid worker told AFP that the Musgum used bows and arrows in their attack, drawing violent ripostes from the Arabs.

"I took part in the brawl with the Musgum community," 35-year-old Hajim said.

"I ran from the fighting because I was soon overwhelmed and I couldn't track down my child".

Many refugees have brought only mattresses to wait out the violence in the forest outside N'Djamena, an AFP correspondent saw.

The leader of Chad's military junta Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno said the situation was "worrying" in a statement Wednesday, calling for "solidarity and hospitality" for the refugees but also asking the international community for aid.

During a week in August in Cameroon's Far North, 32 people were killed and dozens wounded in clashes between Musgum fishermen and Choa Arab herders, the United Nations said.

The authorities said the clashes were sparked by disputes over access to water.

Deadly inter-community clashes are relatively rare in Cameroon, but frequent in Chad and Nigeria -- in particular between sedentary farmers and nomadic herders.

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Three Turkish soldiers died Thursday in an attack in northern Iraq launched by outlawed Kurdish militants, prompting a retaliatory air strike, the Turkish defense ministry said.

"Three of our heroic soldiers were killed in an attack staged by the terrorists in the north of Iraq," the ministry said, referring to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

"There's an ongoing operation in the region."

Turkish forces routinely conduct military strikes against PKK hideouts in the mountains of northern Iraq, causing strains in its relations with the central Iraqi government in Baghdad.

Turkey launched its latest major air and ground offensive in April, targeting rear bases Kurdish militants have used to wage a decades-long insurgency against the Turkish state that has claimed tens of thousands of lives.

Turkey also has a military presence in neighbouring Syria, where it has seized swathes of territory in successive military operation since 2016 that have mostly targeted another Kurdish rebel group.

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France's top diplomat Jean-Yves Le Drian called for an easing of tensions with Algeria, during a surprise visit to Algiers after repeated crises between the North African country and its former colonial power.

Addressing journalists after meeting President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, Le Drian said Algeria was an "essential parter for France".

"I hope that our two countries will return together to the path of a peaceful relationship and look to the future," he said.

"We hope that the dialogue that we have relaunched today can lead to a resumption of political exchanges between our governments, going beyond the wounds of the past, which we must face, and misunderstandings, which we must overcome."

He voiced hope that both would work together to bring stability to Algeria's neighbours, Libya and Mali.

Relations between Algiers and Paris have been strained for much of the six decades since the former French colony won its independence after a 130-year occupation.

President Emmanuel Macron has gone further than his predecessors in owning up to French abuses during the colonial era.

But ties collapsed in October after Macron accused Algeria's "political-military system" of rewriting history and fomenting "hatred towards France".

In remarks to descendants of independence fighters, reported by Le Monde, Macron also questioned whether Algeria had existed as a nation before the French invasion in the 1800s.

Coming a month after Paris decided to sharply reduce visa quotas for citizens of Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia, those comments sparked a fierce reaction from Algeria.

The country withdrew its ambassador and banned French military planes from its airspace, which they regularly use to carry out operations against jihadist groups in West Africa and the Sahel region.

The comments also prompted Tebboune to boycott a major November summit in Paris on Algeria's war-torn neighbour Libya, vowing Algeria would "not take the first step" to repair ties.

Historical reconciliation

The dispute prompted a rare expression of contrition from the French presidency, which said it "regretted" the misunderstandings caused by the remarks.

An aide from Macron's office said the French leader "has the greatest respect for the Algerian nation and its history and for Algeria's sovereignty."

Algerian Foreign Minister Ramtane Lamamra welcomed that statement and, in the end, represented Algeria at the Libya conference.

Le Drian's visit comes as Algeria prepares to celebrate the 60th anniversary of its independence in March.

Macron, France's first leader born after the colonial era, has made a priority of historical reconciliation and forging a modern relationship with former colonies.

Earlier this year, he recognised that French officers tortured and killed Algerian lawyer Ali Boumendjel in 1957.

Macron also in October condemned "inexcusable crimes" during a 1961 crackdown against Algerian pro-independence protesters in Paris, during which French police led by a former Nazi collaborator killed dozens of demonstrators and threw their bodies into the river Seine.

A report commissioned by the president from historian Benjamin Stora earlier this year urged a truth commission over the Algerian war but Macron ruled out issuing any official apology.

And as he seeks re-election next year, he is wary of providing ammunition to far-right nationalist opponents Marine Le Pen and Eric Zemmour.

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The U.S. has ordered an arms embargo on Cambodia, citing deepening Chinese military influence, corruption and human rights abuses by the government and armed forces in the Southeast Asian country.

The added restrictions on defense-related goods and services, issued by the State and Commerce departments, are due to be published and take effect Thursday.

A notice in the Federal Register said developments in Cambodia were "contrary to U.S. national security and foreign policy interests."

The aim of the embargo is to ensure that defense-related items are not available to Cambodia's military and military intelligence services without advance review by the U.S. government, it said.

The latest restrictions follow the Treasury Department's ordering in November of sanctions against two senior Cambodian military officials for corruption and come amid increasing concern about Beijing's sway.

At the time, the U.S. government issued an advisory cautioning American businesses about potential exposure to entities Cambodia and its military that "engage in human rights abuses, corruption and other destabilizing conduct."

Cambodia branded those sanctions as "politically motivated" and said it would not discuss them with Washington.

The U.S. has similar controls on exports of items that might be diverted to "military end users" in Myanmar, China, Russia and Venezuela.

U.S. exports to Cambodia in 2019 totaled $5.6 billion. The amount of military-related U.S. exports to Cambodia was not immediately available. The U.S. is the largest export market for Cambodia, a major garments manufacturing hub, but three-quarters of Cambodia's imports are from China and other countries in Asia.

The U.S. halted military assistance to Cambodia following a 1997 coup in which the country's leader, Hun Sen, grabbed full power after ousting his co-premier, Prince Norodom Ranariddh. Hun Sen remains prime minister. In August 2005, President George W. Bush waved the ban, citing Phnom Penh's agreement to exempt Americans in Cambodia from prosecution by the Netherlands-based International Criminal Court.

Since direct military ties between the two countries were restored in 2006, the U.S. has pledged millions in military aid to Cambodia, initially to help improve its border security and peacekeeping operations.

China is Cambodia's biggest investor and closest political partner. It was the chief backer of the murderous regime of Pol Pot in the 1970s and has long maintained strong relations with Hun Sen, who has ruled for more than 30 years and grown increasingly repressive.

Beijing's support allows Cambodia to disregard Western concerns about its poor record in human and political rights, and in turn Cambodia generally supports Beijing's geopolitical positions on issues such as its territorial claims in the South China Sea.

The construction of new Chinese military facilities at Cambodia's Ream Naval Base is a point of strong contention with Washington.

Ream faces the Gulf of Thailand, adjacent to the South China Sea, where China has aggressively asserted its claim to virtually the entire strategic waterway. The U.S. has refused to recognize China's sweeping claims, and the Navy's 7th Fleet routinely sails past Chinese-held islands in what it terms freedom of navigation operations.

In recent years, Hun Sen's government has cracked down on the political opposition, shut media outlets and forced hundreds of Cambodian politicians, human rights activists and journalists into exile.

Human rights groups say the government has engaged in arbitrary arrests and other abuses and worked to portray peaceful dissent over corruption, land rights and other issues as attempts to overthrow the government.

Corruption is another major concern.

The Treasury Department sanctions targeted the director general of the defense ministry's material and technical services department and a commander in the Royal Cambodian Navy.

In a statement, Treasury alleged that in 2020 and 2021, the two conspired with other Cambodian officials to inflate costs of a construction project at the Ream base and then planned to use the funds for their own benefit.

Washington has protested over work done at Ream, which officials said involved the demolition of two U.S. funded buildings without notification or explanation to the U.S.

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President Joe Biden on Thursday opened the first White House Summit for Democracy by sounding an alarm about a global slide for democratic institutions and called for world leaders to lock arms and demonstrate democracies can deliver.

Biden called it a critical moment for fellow leaders to redouble efforts on bolstering democracies. In making the case for action, he noted his own battle win passage of voting rights legislation at home and alluded to the United States' own challenges to its democratic institutions and traditions.

``This is an urgent matter,`` Biden said in remarks to open the two-day virtual summit. ``The data we're seeing is largely pointing in the wrong direction.''

The video gathering, something that Biden had called a priority for the first-year of his presidency, comes as he's repeatedly made a case that the U.S. and like-minded allies need to show the world that democracies are a far better vehicle for societies than autocracies.

The premise is a central tenet of Biden's foreign policy outlook _ one that he vowed would be more outward looking than his predecessor Donald Trump's ``America First approach.

The summit was billed by the White House as an opportunity for leaders and experts from some 110 countries to collaborate on defending against authoritarianism, fighting corruption and promoting respect for human rights. But the gathering already has drawn backlash from the United States' chief adversaries and other nations that were not invited to participate.

Ahead of the summit, the ambassadors to the U.S. from China and Russia wrote a joint essay in the National Interest policy journal describing the Biden administration as exhibiting a ``Cold-War mentality`` that will ``stoke up ideological confrontation and a rift in the world.`` The administration has also faced scrutiny over how it went about deciding which countries to invite.

Biden told the virtual gathering this is a moment when a profound diminishment of freedoms is trending around the globe, calling it ``the challenge of our time.''

The U.S. may be at it's own pivot point.

Local elected officials are resigning at an alarming rate amid confrontations with angry voices at school board meetings, elections offices and town halls. States are passing laws to limit access to the ballot, making it more difficult for Americans to vote. And the Jan. 6 attack at the Capitol has left many in Donald Trump's Republican party clinging to his false claims of a stolen election, eroding trust in the accuracy of the vote.

Biden has said passage of his ambitious domestic agenda _ the $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill he signed into law, as well as the roughly $2 trillion ``Build Back Better Act'' of social and climate change initiatives moving through the Senate _ will demonstrate how democracy can improve people's lives.

Some advocates also want Biden to focus on other ways to shore up democracy at home. One early test will come Thursday as the House moves to approve the Protecting Our Democracy Act, the third in a trio of bills _ alongside the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act _ largely backed by Democrats in Congress but stalled by Republicans in the Senate.

``The United States has a thriving democracy, but it's been hurting in recent years,'' said Michael Abramowitz, the president of Freedom House, whose annual report marked a 15th consecutive year of a global democratic slide. ``Right now, we're going through a phase in America where it's very difficult to get things done and to really prove that democracy can deliver.``

In its new annual report released Wednesday, CIVICUS Monitor, a global rights index, said 13 countries saw their civic freedoms downgraded in 2021 from the previous year. Only one, Mongolia, saw civic freedoms improve, according to the report. Of the 197 countries graded by the group, only 39 were rated as open societies.

A Pew Research Center report released this week said that while ``people like democracy, their commitment to it is often not very strong.'' Even wealthy countries, including the U.S., have some people who favor military rule, the report said.

Another group, the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, said in its annual report that the number of countries experiencing democratic backsliding ``has never been as high'' as the past decade, with the U.S. added to the list alongside India and Brazil.

Chinese officials have offered a stream of public criticism about the summit, with one senior government official even calling it a ``joke.`` They have also expressed outrage over the administration inviting Taiwan to take part in the gathering. China claims the self-governing island as part of its territory and objects to it having any contact on its own with foreign governments.

``The U.S. side claims that its so-called democracy summit is to defend democracy, then I can't help asking with the most abundant and advanced medical resources and technology, how could the U.S. allow more than 800,000 of its people to die from the virus and leave nearly 50 million people suffering the COVID still?`` China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said this week. ``With such human rights tragedies, how can the U.S. defend democracy?''

Other uninvited countries have shown their displeasure. Hungary, the only European Union member not invited, tried to block EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen from speaking on behalf of the bloc at the summit. During the 2020 campaign, Biden referred to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban as a ``thug.''

The White House declined to say how it went about deciding who was invited and who was left off the list.

For example, Turkey, a fellow NATO member, and Egypt, a key U.S. ally in the Middle East, were also left off. The Biden administration has raised human rights concerns about both nations. However, Poland, which has faced criticism for undermining the independence of its judiciary and media, was invited.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the invitation list was not meant to be a ``stamp of approval or disapproval.''

``It's just meant to have a diverse range of voices and faces and representatives at the discussion,'' she said.

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The West has for weeks been accusing Russia of planning to invade Ukraine, with US President Joe Biden warning Russian leader Vladimir Putin of sanctions "like none he's ever seen" if he attacks.

The Kremlin has denied the plans and blames rising tensions on NATO. Here are answers to key questions:

Is an invasion likely?

Ukraine and its Western allies have accused Moscow of massing tens of thousands of troops near its border with Ukraine in preparation for an invasion.

Ukraine's military command believes a possible escalation could come at the end of January.

Moscow said the troop build-up is part of routine deployments, saying it has the right to do what it wants on its territory.

"Everything Russia does is on the territory of the Russian Federation," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Wednesday.

Experts doubt the likelihood of an offensive, especially since the Ukrainian army has seen significant improvements after more than seven years of conflict against pro-Russia separatists in the east.

A Russian-Ukrainian confrontation would therefore risk a huge human and financial toll.

Moscow's troop surge follows a similar build-up in the Spring, when the first fears of an invasion emerged but never materialised.

Some analysts suggest Russia's aim was to extract diplomatic benefits.

The Kremlin and its army however can act quickly, as they did during Moscow's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014.

In 2008, the Russian army also crushed Georgia's army -- which wanted to take back the separatist region of South Ossetia -- in five days.

What does Putin want?

Putin has accused the West of ignoring Russia's "red lines" and stresses Kiev is approaching them dangerously by using Turkish military drones and reaffirming its ambitions to join NATO.

During his call with Biden Tuesday, Putin demanded "legal guarantees" that would exclude NATO expanding into Ukraine.

The longtime Russian leader accuses the alliance -- set up to counter the Soviet Union -- of betraying their promise from the end of the Cold War of not expanding eastwards.

"Russia has a peaceful foreign policy, but has the right to defend its security," Putin said a day after the Biden call.

He added that letting NATO approach Russia's borders without reacting would amount to "criminal inaction".

The Kremlin has also spent weeks denouncing US-led military exercises in the Black Sea.

At the same time, Moscow wants to reconnect with Washington on key issues like strategic stability and Iran.

Putin said his talk with Biden was "constructive."

What about the US?

After and during his call with Putin, Biden threatened his Russian counterpart with sanctions "like he's never seen before" in the event of an attack on Ukraine.

Washington has also said it is ready to beef up its military presence in eastern Europe.

But the US leader ruled out sending troops in support of Ukraine.

He is not obliged to because Kiev is not a member of NATO, an alliance whose members pledge assistance in the event of aggression.

The US and European countries have made clear on numerous occasions that Ukraine's membership to NATO is not on the cards -- much to Kiev's annoyance.

Washington also wants to resume cooperation with Russia on issues beyond Ukraine, in particular disarmament and cybersecurity.

What is the situation on the ground?

The situation on the frontline of the conflict between Kiev and pro-Russia rebels is tense, but does not seem to have deteriorated significantly in recent weeks.

The OSCE said Thursday that while the number of ceasefire violations in the last two weeks was "lower" compared to previous weeks, the situation on the frontline was "still of concern".

On the Russian side, tens of thousands of troops are stationed near the border with Ukraine. But a large part of them have been there since Spring.

Throughout the autumn, Kiev even played down US claims of an imminent Russian invasion, before backing Washington's accusations.

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The US plans to help Egypts small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) increase exports by $225 million over the next five years by supporting trade associations and streamlining customs processes, US Ambassador to Egypt Jonathan R. Cohen announced on Thursday.

Cohen made his comments as he signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the US Agency for International Developments (USAID) Trade Reform and Development in Egypt (TRADE) Project and the American Chamber of Commerce in Egypt (AmCham Egypt).

AmCham Egypt is an institution that aims to enhance the enabling environment for trade and investment for its members as well as non-members, with a special focus on increasing exports to the US from Egyptian small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Cohen added that the US government supports the Egypt state in undertaking economic reforms to spur trade and investment and is committed to expanding the trade relationship between the two countries through such a project.

The MoU signing was part of a special breakfast meeting at AmCham with USAID Mission Director Leslie Reed, where she addressed AmCham Members about USAIDs strategy and activities in Egypt; USAIDs overall priorities, including climate change, COVID-19, corruption; and opportunities for private sector partnership.

The MoU sets forth the intentions of the two parties for increased collaboration, including the establishment of a US Trade Resources Centre to serve as Egypts information hub and training platform for exporting to the US.

USAID TRADE will also provide technical support and expertise to AmCham Egypt in the design of a buyer facilitation service intended specifically for the US market, which will help create linkages that increase the export capabilities of AmCham Members.

Additionally, USAID TRADE will support and help advance AmCham Egypts ongoing policy advocacy efforts.

This MoU, and the reaffirmation of cooperation and coordination that it represents, will help us to advance trade relationships between Egypt and the US, catalyse Egyptian exports, and improve the trade and investment environment to the benefit of all businesses, said USAID TRADE Chief of Party Rachid Benjelloun.

For his part, AmCham Egypt President Tarek Tawfik noted that this partnership will further advance AmChams efforts to promote trade with the US and will assist in building linkages between members and businesses and potential counterparts.

This alignment with USAID TRADE fits perfectly within AmChams objectives of expanding its services to support and serve both members and the wider business community, Tawfik said.

An improved business environment would go a long way, not just towards increasing Egyptian exports to the US, but also to attracting more investment to Egypt, he further added.

Through this partnership, USAID TRADE and AmCham Egypt also aim to improve the trade and investment policy and regulatory environment by assessing impediments facing businesses, and jointly drafting policy recommendations, as well as organising high-level awareness sessions on specific topics.

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State-owned company Abu Qir Fertilisers (ABUK.CA) will list an additional 10 percent of its shares  specifically 126.2 million  in the Egyptian Stock Exchange (EGX) in December with a total value of EGP 2.2 billion ($143 million), according to a letter the company submitted to the EGX on Wednesday.

The letter revealed that the promotion process and the subscription covering will be led by CI Capital, EFG Hermes, and Al-Ahly Pharos.

EFG Hermes announced on Thursday that it has managed to extend the consultancy services for the deal, describing the deal as one of the biggest deals made by an Egyptian state-owned company.

According to the company's profile on the Egyptian Exchange website, the company was initially listed in 1994. The company has a market cap of EGP 23 billion (about $1.4 billion) according to recent data.

By listing Abu Qir Fertilisers shares in the EGX, the company will be the second state-run company to be listed by the state in the EGX during 2021 under the government initial public offering (IPO) programme.

According to EGX data, Abu Qir Fertilisers net profit in the first quarter of the current FY2021/2022 significantly jumped to EGP 1.2 billion, up from EGP 686.5 million during the corresponding quarter of FY2020/2021.

e-finance for Digital and Financial Investments, Egypts first state-owned fintech platform and one of its leading developers for digital payment infrastructures, listed 14.5 percent of its shares in the EGX successfully, becoming the first state-owned company to be listed under the governments IPO programme after a long pause caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

On Monday, Deputy Minister of Finance for Financial Policies Ahmed Kouchouk unveiled said four state-run companies will be offered on EGX under the governments IPO programme before the end of 2021.

In October, Minister of Finance Mohamed Maait said that the government is considering listing between five and six state-owned companies on EGX during the current FY2021/2022, which ends in June.

Maait also noted that the e-finance IPO saw a large turnout, with international participation from the US, the UK, and other European countries.

In March 2019, Egypt first offered 4.5 percent of the state-owned Eastern Company as on the EGX for a total value of EGP 1.7 billion pounds ($99 million).

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The move was spurred by activists on social media, who said the movie is an insult to the Palestinian cause.

Diab acknowledged their complaints, explaining that the filmmakers understand the anger expressed by many over what they think is an unfair representation of prisoners and their families, but implored them to watch the film before judging it.

He continued by affirming that Palestinian prisoners and their feelings are the filmmakers top priority.

Therefore, all screenings of the film will be stopped, and we demand the establishment of a specialised committee by the prisoners and their families to watch and discuss it. We believe in the purity of what we presented in the Amira film, added Diab.

The statement came after an online campaign was launched by Palestinian and Jordanian activists under the hashtag #Pull_Out_Amira, calling for the boycotting of the movie, which had been selected as the Jordanian entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 94th Academy Awards.

The movie first premiered in September at the 78th Venice International Film Festival, where it won two major awards.

The story follows the path of Amira, a 17-year-old Palestinian girl conceived through the smuggled sperm of her imprisoned father.

The controversy surrounding the movie stems from the major plot twist that takes place when Amiras mother wants to conceive another child, only to find out that her husbands sperm is infertile, thus revealing that Amiras biological father is an Israeli soldier.

According to a line displayed at the end of the movie, more than 100 Palestinian children have been conceived using in-vitro fertilization (IVF) with smuggled sperm since 2012.

Though the paternity of these children has been confirmed, it is still unknown exactly how the sperm was smuggled.

Lydia Rimawi, wife of captive Abdulkareem Al-Rimawi, shared her experience on Facebook, saying that shes proud to have given birth through smuggled sperm.

Describing the scene when she visited her husband in prison with their three-week-old son, Majd, she said that is when I saw the fear and horror in [the soldiers] eyes. A large number of soldiers gathered around me and the Israeli Red Cross came to check whether this child was the son of a prisoner.

We were denied a visit and stayed in the prison yard; this scene gave me strength, pride and courage. I was proud to give my husband hope and make our dream come true," she added.

"Amira will not break us and the glory will remain. No one on earth can doubt it, she continued.

The Palestinian Legislative Council also condemned the movie, with Deputy Speaker Hassan Khreisha saying that Amira is a dangerous part of the Israeli war that is waged daily against the Palestinian people.

He pointed out that the film deliberately offended the sacrifices of the prisoners, saying "the film is among the accumulated abuses against the prisoner movement that has managed to force the wardens to respond to its demands."

In a press statement issued by the council on Wednesday, Committee Chairman MP Muhammad Zahrawi called for the film to be banned from Jordanian theatres and urged production companies to make films that support Palestinian prisoners' rights in their struggle behind bars, rather than distorting the facts.

Shortly after, the Head of the Commission of Detainees' Affairs Major General Qadri Abu Bakr said that Jordan had officially decided to stop showing the movie in Amman.

Though set in Palestine, it was shot in Amman and Salt. The cast includes Jordanian actors Saba Mubarak, Tara Abboud  who plays the role of Amira  and Suhaib Nashawan, as well as the Palestinian actors Ali Suliman, Waleed Zuaiter and Kais Nashif.
Following the conclusion of the first round of indirect nuclear talks between Iran and the United States in Vienna last week, US and European have been warning that negotiations will be heading for collapse unless Tehran changes its conditions for reviving the 2015 nuclear deal.

Negotiations between representatives of the so called hardline Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi, and parties to the 2015 agreement  the United States, Britain, France, Russia, China and Germany  will be resumed at the end of this week, but there are no real hopes of an immediate breakthrough. The US representative will continue to sit in a separate room, as Washington is no longer officially part to the agreement, and other diplomats will convey the proposals between the two sides.

However, the gloomy assessment by US and European officials, matched with hardline Iranian statements on the need for a binding agreement that no upcoming US president can tear apart as easily as former US president Donald Trump did in 2018, as well as Irans insistence on its right to enrich uranium at high levels, need not mean a complete failure of talks.

Both the Biden administration and the Iranian government need to renew their commitment to the 2015 agreement, not just to curb Irans nuclear programme, but also to settle several volatile regional conflicts that went viral in the Middle East over the past 10 years. Conflicts in Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Yemen and elsewhere practically became bargaining chips which both Iran and the United States and its allies have used in their long-standing confrontation over Tehrans nuclear programme and its regional influence.

Amid signs that the Washington is seeking to reduce its presence in the Middle East in order to refocus its resources on the growing tensions with Russia and China, even close US allies who see Iran as a major threat to their security, namely the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, are clearly seeking to reach an understanding and mend fences with Tehran. The rare visit by UAE National Security Adviser Tahnon Ben Zayed, to Tehran this week and meetings with Iranian President Raisi and other top officials has not gone unnoticed. Ben Zayed extended an invitation to Raisi to pay Abu Dhabi a visit which, if it takes place, will be the first to the UAE by an Iranian president in 14 years. The Saudi foreign minister has also confirmed that at least four top-level meetings took place with Iranian officials in order to improve ties between the two major regional powers in the oil-rich Gulf region.

Israel, however, remains the only regional player that continues to push for an escalation in the confrontation between the United States and Iran, demanding nearly impossible guarantees that Tehran will not be able to develop military nuclear capabilities. That remains to be a major irony, considering how to this day Israel refuses to join the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, and its advanced nuclear arsenal being ignored by the United States and its European partners even as they remain adamant that Iran should not to develop nuclear weapons.

However, Israels Prime Minister Neftali Bennet, will hopefully prove cleverer than his predecessor, Benjamin Netanyahu. The former, longest serving Israeli prime minister not only allowed Iran to develop higher levels of nuclear technology by pushing Trump to pull out from the 2015 deal, but also caused an unprecedented rift with US Democrats when he publicly sought to embarrass former US president Barack Obama and directly addressed Congress in order to stall the 2015 nuclear agreement with Iran.

Israeli officials are likely to continue both open and underhanded confrontations with Iran, whether through secret cyber wars that wreck havoc on vital Iranian infrastructure facilities, the assassination of Iranian nuclear scientists, the bombing of Iranian troops in Syria or otherwise puzzling explosions in Iranian nuclear facilities. But Tel Aviv is intelligent enough to recognise that there is no chance for a unilateral Israeli military action against Iran, considering that so many regional and international interests are at stake. Without any need for insane nuclear weapons or doomsday scenarios, Israel is simply surrounded by pro-Iranian parties and militias that will happily rain its cities with missiles from all directions.

Meanwhile, top Iranian officials are also clearly aware that they are not immune to pressure. The deteriorating Iranian economy, due to tough sanctions over decades, have led to several popular revolts in which the average Iranian openly expressed their opposition to the supreme Iranian spiritual leader, and declared their rejection of ongoing Iranian adventures which are a main reason for instability in several Middle East countries. Iranians chanted that they wanted their money to meet their own needs, instead of those of political groups in neighbouring countries such as Iraq, or even further in Syria, Lebanon and Yemen. Iran has also been a clear threat to stability in Saudi Arabia and other Arab Gulf countries by interfering in their internal affairs on the pretext of defending Shiite minorities. Overall, the sectarian rhetoric coming out of Tehran, along with claims of restoring Persian glory in the region, have only deepened mistrust between Iran and its neighbours.

No one entertains any illusions about an easy agreement to settle all regional and international fears surrounding Iran. However, the ongoing talks in Vienna, and the chance of reaching a deal on Irans nuclear programme might be signs of a start.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 9 December, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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KYODO NEWS - Dec 9, 2021 - 13:56 | All, Japan

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Thursday threw his support behind Taiwan's attendance at the annual meeting of the World Health Organization's decision-making body as an observer, a move China has opposed.

Taiwan is excluded from most international organizations due to opposition from China, which regards the democratically governed island as one of its provinces and not a country.

"We have consistently insisted at the WHO that there should not be a geographical void in dealing with international health issues and have consistently supported Taiwan's attendance as an observer," Kishida said in parliament.

"It is important to widely share information and knowledge of the countries and regions," including Taiwan, which has taken effective steps in containing the spread of the novel coronavirus in a speedy and transparent manner, he said, adding he will "continue to work with other countries involved" to call for Taiwan's attendance.

Taiwan was unable to attend the last annual round of the World Health Assembly in May despite calls from the Group of Seven industrialized nations, including Japan, to invite it.

Japan's House of Councillors adopted a resolution in June demanding the government urge other countries to realize Taiwan's attendance.
By Miya Tanaka, KYODO NEWS - Dec 10, 2021 - 10:16 | All, World

Dozens of world leaders rallied behind U.S. calls to uphold democracy and human rights as President Joe Biden on Thursday hosted a virtual summit to counter challenges posed by authoritarianism seen in countries such as China.

The "Summit for Democracy," which brings together some 100 countries and regions for two days through Friday, has added to tensions between the United States and China, with Beijing criticizing it as a divisive event that labels half of the world's countries as nondemocracies based on a U.S. yardstick.

Taiwan, a self-ruled democratic island that Beijing claims as its own territory, was among the invitees while China and Russia were not. Among U.S. allies and partners in Asia, countries such as Japan, South Korea and the Philippines are taking part, but Thailand and Singapore are not.

Warning that autocrats seek to expand their influence around the world and justify their repressive policies as more efficient than democratic governance in addressing today's challenges, Biden said the world is now standing at an "inflection point" in history.

"Will we allow the backward slide of rights and democracy to continue unchecked? Or will we together have a vision...and courage to once more lead the march of human progress and human freedom forward?" he said at the outset of the meeting.

During the summit, the Biden administration vowed to provide up to $424.4 million for a "democratic renewal" that will include efforts to support independent media, defend free and fair elections globally and work with other countries toward using export controls to ensure technologies do not enable human rights abuses.

A senior administration official said the United States and a group of like-minded countries are expected to work on the exports control initiative by first devising a "nonbinding code of conduct" on how to better control their licenses to avoid the malign use of technologies and then seek to bring in more countries.

The administration also said the State Department will set aside $4 million to establish a multilateral fund to counter "authoritarian censorship" of the internet and invite like-minded partners to contribute jointly.

Representing Japan, a key U.S. ally that has become more vocal about concerns over China's assertiveness in the region, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida called for working collectively against moves to undermine freedom, democracy and rule of law and vowed to speak out against serious human rights violations.

Kishida also pledged to provide $14 million to international organizations to ramp up efforts to protect human rights in the corporate sector, according to the Japanese government.

The summit, also joined by leaders from the civil society and private sector, is the first of what would be a two-step process, with Biden planning to host another "Summit for Democracy" in an in-person format about a year later so the participating countries can report on the progress made toward their commitments.

Biden took office in January with a pledge to restore the U.S. role as a champion of democracy and human rights, following what critics viewed as a retreat of U.S. global leadership under his predecessor Donald Trump. Holding a summit focused on democracy during his first year in office was one of Biden's campaign promises.

While U.S. officials insisted that the summit is not about "any one specific country," China has been stepping up its attack against the U.S. campaign to rally democracies by citing its poor handling of the coronavirus pandemic and entrenched racism as signs of flaws in the American political system and society.

A deadly attack on the U.S. Capitol in January this year by a mob seeking to overturn the outcome of the U.S. presidential election also exposed the vulnerability of democracy in the country.

The Biden administration has also faced questions over the reasoning behind the selection of some invitees, among them the Philippines, which has faced criticism over human rights abuses such as extrajudicial killings carried out in its war on drugs.

Including Taiwan in the list of participants, meanwhile, was seen as another sign of U.S. support for the island, which is under military pressure from an increasingly assertive China.

China and Taiwan have been governed separately since they split in 1949 as the result of a civil war.

Lithuania, which has been facing diplomatic pressure from China for deepening ties with Taipei, also took part in the event.

Hungary -- a North Atlantic Treaty Organization member that is exhibiting democratic backsliding as Prime Minister Viktor Orban strengthens his grip on the country -- was not invited. Turkey, also a NATO ally but deemed an autocracy under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, was also left out.

Organizations that promote democracy and human rights around the world have been sounding alarms in recent years over declining freedoms.

According to a 2021 report by the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, an intergovernmental organization, 70 percent of the world's population lives either under an outright nondemocratic regime or in a democratically backsliding country, compared to only 46 percent 10 years ago.

Related coverage:

U.S. influence in Indo-Pacific rebounds as China's wanes: think tank

U.S. invites Taiwan to virtual "Summit for Democracy" in Dec.

Biden, Xi agree to communicate amid tension, but no breakthrough
KYODO NEWS - Dec 10, 2021 - 01:41 | All, Japan

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Thursday called for like-minded nations sharing the universal values of democracy, freedom and rule of law to jointly counter attempts to undermine them, as he attended a U.S.-hosted summit on democracy.

During the virtual meeting, Kishida vowed to provide $14 million to international organizations to ramp up efforts to respect human rights in the corporate sector, which has come under increased scrutiny by shareholders.

Japan will continue to raise its voice about serious human rights situations, Kishida was quoted by the government as telling the meeting, which was closed to the media.

The two-day meeting led by U.S. President Joe Biden is bringing together leaders from over 100 countries to counter authoritarianism. China has criticized the event, to which self-ruled Taiwan was invited. Beijing regards the democratic island as a renegade province to be reunified with the mainland, by force if necessary.

Japan will continue to assist democratization efforts in other countries by assisting human resources development, ensuring freedom of the press and establishing legal and election systems, Kishida said during the event.

The hardening of the U.S. stance on China has put Japan in a difficult opposition. The United States is Japan's closest ally, while China is a major trading partner, despite Tokyo and Beijing being locked in disputes over territory and history.

Kishida has put an increased focus on human rights, appointing a special adviser on the issue.

Investors have been stepping up their scrutiny of how companies address environmental, social and governance issues and whether their supply chains are free of human rights abuses, particularly amid the alleged repression of Uyghur Muslims in the Chinese far-western region of Xinjiang.
KYODO NEWS - Dec 9, 2021 - 14:35 | All, Japan, Coronavirus

Japan has been in talks with U.S. pharmaceutical giant Pfizer Inc. about the possibility of moving up the schedule to receive its COVID-19 vaccine doses as the nation steps up its booster shot drive, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Thursday.

Japan is due to receive 120 million doses for 2022 from Pfizer, which said Wednesday a third shot of its coronavirus vaccine could offer sufficient protection against the new Omicron variant of the virus.

"Currently, we are negotiating (with Pfizer) whether the supply schedule can be brought forward," Kishida told a parliamentary session, responding to a question from an opposition lawmaker.

Related coverage:

Pfizer says COVID-19 booster shot offers protection against Omicron

Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine has been approved in Japan for use as a booster, with another U.S. drugmaker Moderna Inc.'s vaccine also expected to get the green light.

Japan has set an eight-month interval "in principle" between second vaccination shots and a booster, with third doses being administered to health care workers from earlier this month and those for the elderly starting in January. But Kishida has said the government plans to shorten the interval.

The number of new coronavirus cases has fallen sharply in Japan with four cases of infection by the Omicron variant confirmed so far. After lagging behind the United States and some European nations, Japan accelerated its inoculation drive with over 77 percent of its population vaccinated twice.
KYODO NEWS - Dec 9, 2021 - 20:37 | All, Japan

Banking group Resona Holdings Inc. established Thursday a consortium of 31 Japanese companies across a range of industries to discuss and share know-how on the development of a payment system using facial recognition technology.

The bank unveiled the plan for the payment system in August, aiming to allow users to make deposits and withdrawals at banks and shop at stores without presenting anything if they register their facial images in advance, with hopes of creating a standard that can ultimately be utilized in different settings.

The joint project is also headed by Panasonic System Solutions Japan Co., a unit of electronics giant Panasonic Corp. which has expertise in facial recognition technology, credit card firm JCB Co. and Dai Nippon Printing Co.

The newly announced consortium includes West Japan Railway Co., Seven & i Holdings Co. and Hankyu Hanshin Holdings Inc., among other companies.

The facial recognition technology requires customers to register a picture of their face via a website and other personal data. Resona hopes to launch the system initially for banking services next year at the earliest.

The consortium will hold a total of six meetings by participating firms through May 2022, focusing on laws and regulations pertaining to information security, as well as other potential areas of utilization.

The banking group is expected to begin trial runs of its system at its headquarters and branches this month.

"We will aim to develop a technology that will serve as a standard for various industries," said Shinichiro Isa, executive officer at Resona. "We are also open to other companies."

Related coverage:

Japan firm NEC to introduce facial recognition vaccination check system

Japan firms to jointly develop facial recognition payment system

Japan's Narita, Haneda airports start facial recognition in full scale
KYODO NEWS - Dec 9, 2021 - 14:08 | All, Japan

The U.S. Navy commissioned Wednesday a new guided missile destroyer named Daniel Inouye in honor of the late U.S. Senator at a ceremony in Hawaii.

The first U.S. Navy vessel named after an American of Japanese ancestry will have its homeport at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickham. Inouye, the first Japanese-American member of Congress, served as a Hawaii representative in the Senate from 1963 until he died in 2012.

"Senator Inouye's life is one to be emulated and the crew of this warship will not only be inspired by his legacy, but will stand the watch with the honor and dignity deserving of a ship bearing his name," U.S. Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro said in a statement.

Referencing Inouye's World War II service, for which he received a Medal of Honor for bravery, and work in Congress on defense issues, Del Toro said at the ceremony there was "absolutely no more fitting" name for the vessel.

Related coverage:

Pearl Harbor victims remembered on 80th anniversary of attack

While serving with the 442nd Infantry Regiment Combat Team, a segregated unit comprised of mostly second-generation Japanese Americans, in Italy during World War II, Inouye suffered a shattered arm when a grenade exploded but continued to fight until the regiment's position was secured.

Inouye was also known for having played an active role in bringing U.S.-Japan relations closer.

"We embody the ship's motto, a battle cry adopted from Sen. Inouye's Army unit, the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. We will 'Go For Broke!' as Daniel Inouye did on the battlefield and in halls of the Senate," said Cmdr. DonAnn Gilmore, the destroyer's commanding officer.

The destroyer, roughly 150 meters long and with a crew capacity of about 330, is equipped with Aegis Baseline 9, a system capable of providing improved integrated air and missile defense capabilities and radar that will quickly detect and react to modern air warfare and ballistic missile threats, according to the Navy.

It was christened by Irene Hirano Inouye, his wife, in 2019 and delivered to the Navy in March this year.

The commissioning ceremony, attended by people including Inouye's family and Hawaii Gov. David Ige, came a day after the 80th anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
New Delhi:

Ahead of the forthcoming Assembly Elections in Maharashtra, several lawmakers of Congress and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) jumped ship to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday. For beleaguered MLAs of the opposition parties, one former Minister, a state-level woman leader and other activists have joined the ruling party.

Seven-time Congress legislator Kalidas Kolambkar (Wadala in south Mumbai), NCP's Sandeep Naik (Airoli), Vaibhav Pichad (Akole) and Shivendra Raje Bhosale (Satara), who quit their parties and legislative seats, joined the BJP in presence of Maharashtra president Chandrakant Patil and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

Mumbai: Former NCP leaders Shivendra Raje Bhosale, Sandeep Naik & Chitra Wagh join Bharatiya Janta Party in presence of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. pic.twitter.com/OqSZM9g4rG a ANI (@ANI) July 31, 2019

Mumbai BJP chief MP Lodha, cabinet ministers and senior party leaders were also present at the function to welcome newcomers.

Besides, NCP founder and former state minister Madhukar Pichad, and state NCP's women's wing president Chitra Wagh also joined the BJP to a huge round of applause.

Patil assured that all the new entrants would be given suitable roles befitting their stature in the party as he hinted at more walkovers from the Opposition to the BJP before the Assembly elections to be held in October.

The crossover of these opposition leaders took place a day before Fadnavis embarks on his state-wide 'Mahajanadesh Yatra' to kickstart the poll campaign.

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New Delhi:

Noting that the Opposition has been pressing for a division of votes during the passage of many bills, BJP president Amit Shah told party MPs on Tuesday to ensure their presence in Parliament so that draft legislations are backed by maximum number of lawmakers.

Addressing the BJP parliamentary party meeting, he also asked MPs, including Union ministers, to attend a two-day orientation programme being held by the party on August 3-4, saying their attendance is a must, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi told reporters.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was present in the meeting but did not address the MPs, will also speak at the programme, a course on parliamentary procedure and rules, and also the saffron partyas ideology.

In his speech, Shah said that the motion for consideration of the National Medical Commission Bill in Lok Sabha on Monday was passed with 260-48 votes, sources said after the meeting, adding that the BJP president stated that the margin should have been bigger.

The BJP alone has 303 members in Lok Sabha while its allies have near 50 votes.

Since the Opposition has often been pressing for divisions of votes, BJP members should be present in their respective House, he said.

Top BJP brass, including Modi, have time and again stressed on the need for the party MPs to be present in Parliament. Modi has at times expressed his displeasure at the absenteeism. In his briefing, Joshi told reporters that Parliament has so far passed 15 bills. There are six bills which have been passed by only Lok Sabha and are yet to get Rajya Sabhaas nod.

There are four bills which have been passed by only Rajya Sabha and are yet to get Lok Sabhaas nod, the parliamentary affairs minister said.

He added that 11 other bills are still pending and will be tabled in both the Houses in the coming days. aWe request parliamentarians to sit late so that all these bills could be passed,a Joshi said. The ongoing session had started from June 17 and was scheduled to end on July 26, but it has been extended till August 7. The session will go down in history as one of the most productive sessions in the recent times, Joshi said.

In the meeting, Rural Development Minister Narendra Singh Tomar gave a presentation on aDishaa, explained as District Development Coordination and Monitoring Committee (DDCMC), aimed at monitoring of central schemes across the country. As senior most Lok Sabha member from a district is chairperson of the committee, BJP MPs were asked to actively participate in its meeting so that schemes could be effectively executed.

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New Delhi:

The Indian Institute of Management-Shillong on Saturday paid tribute to former President APJ Abdul Kalam on his fourth death anniversary at the premises. Hundreds of students and employees of the IIM participated in a candlelight march and paid floral homage to the Missile Man of India who had suffered a cardiac arrest on this day four years ago, while delivering a lecture to the students of the institute.

The entire Shillong wept on that day when the news of Kalam spread. This occasion is very special for the people here and IIM-Shillong has been hosting this candle light tribute to mark the day, IIM-Shilliongs Associate Professor Basav Roychoudhury told PTI.

He said young and old people paid tribute to the former President.

The countrys 11th President, who served from 2002 to 2007, was widely referred to as the peoples President besides being credited for Indias civilian space programme and military missile systems.

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New Delhi:

In another jolt to Sharad Pawars Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) ahead of Maharashtra Assembly Elections, MLA Shivendra Singh Raje Bhosale has resigned from the party. According to reports, he is expected to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday, July 31, at Mumbai's Garware Club House. Speculations are rife that several other bigwigs of may jump the ship ahead of Assembly polls slated later this year.

The resignation comes days after senior NCP leader Ajit Pawar asserted that the Bhosale is very much in the party. There were reports that Bhosale was feeling disgruntled as he did not submit form seekingthe party's candidature for the forthcoming Assembly polls.

READ MORE: At least 50 MLAs of Congress, NCP in touch with BJP, claims Maharashtra Minister Girish Mahajan



The NCP had earlier this month sought forms from the party's ticket aspiring candidates from across the state.

Bhosale also did not turn up for the interviews of the NCP's aspiring poll candidates from the district, further raising doubts about him being on his way out of the party.

Several top party leaders have resigned from NCP in the recent past. Recently, Mumbai President Sachin Ahir joined the Shiv Sena. Ahir and his wife Sangeeta was welcomed into the Sena by party chief Uddhav Thackeray and Yuva Sena president Aaditya Thackeray at a function in the Thackeray residence 'Matoshree' in Bandra.



47-year-old Ahir, who was a minister in the previous Congress-NCP coalition government in the state, was associated with the Sharad Pawar-led party since its formation in 1999.



He represented Shivdi Assembly seat in Mumbai from 1999 to 2009 and was later elected from Worli, after delimitation of constituencies. In 2014, he lost the Assembly election to Shiv Sena's Sunil Shinde.



Akole MLA Vaibhav Pichad, son of senior NCP leader and former state minister Madhukar Pichad, has also announced that he will join the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party in Maharashtra.
Delhi:

The Indian Air Force has finalised a raft of purchases worth Rs 7,500 crore including missiles, precision guided bombs and latest avionics in the last two months, official sources said Monday. The purchases included procurement of a batch of air-to-air missiles from Russia at a cost of around Rs 1,000 crore to make the Sukhoi fighter fleet of the IAF more lethal, they said. Last month, the government signed a Rs 300 crore deal with a Israeli defence firm to procure a batch of SPICE 2000 guided bombs. The IAF had used SPICE bombs in its strikes on a terrorist training camp in Pakistan's Balakot on February 26.

The purchases are being made based on a plan finalised by the IAF to address its short-term requirements. After the Balakot strikes and subsequent Pakistani retaliation, the government is undertaking several measures to strengthen the IAF's combat prowess.

The government has recently decided to fast-track integration of Brahmos supersonic cruise missiles into over 40 Sukhoi fighter jets under a closely-guarded project. Official sources said modernisation of the IAF is a key priority area for the government and a raft of purchases worth around Rs 7,500 crore were sanctioned since the Modi government came to power for the second time on May 30.

Sources said the government had carried out a review of the IAF's February 26 air strikes deep inside Pakistan's Balakot and the consensus was that the adversary would not have dared to retaliate the next day if India possessed superior air defence system as well as strike capability. In this context, the government decided to take a series of steps to bolster the IAF's overall combat capability, they said.

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New Delhi:

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav has demanded a CBI inquiry into the accident in which the Unnao rape survivor was critically injured. Underlining the absence of security personnel when the accident took place on NH 232, the former chief minister said that it could be a conspiracy to kill the girl, who levelled rape allegations against BJP lawmaker Kuldeep Sengar last year.

"The accident involving the Unnao rape victim in Rae Bareli is a serious incident, and there could be a possibility of murder behind this incident," Yadav said in a statement issued on Sunday.

READ | Unnao Gangrape: BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar charge-sheeted by CBI

"This incident has links with a BJP MLA and there is BJP government in the state. There is 'jungle raaj' in the state. The criminals are roaming fearlessly. Only a CBI probe will solve this mystery," he added.

The Samajwadi Party said that it will bear the cost of treatment of those injured in the accident.

Not only the Samajwadi Party, the Congress too demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation probe into the incident.

Unnao rape victim met with an accident today under suspicious circumstances, two members of her family have died in the accident. Congress party demands an investigation, Aradhana Mishra, Congress MLA, said.

READ | Union Cabinet approves death penalty for rapists of children below 12 years

Moreover, the truck that hit the car, in which the rape survivor - along with her family members and lawyer  was travelling, had its number plate scrubbed with black paint.

The Uttar Pradesh Police is investigating into the matter and assured strict action against those found guilty.

Security guards provided for protection of the victim by police were not present with her at the time of accident today. Investigation underway. Action will be taken once the investigation concludes, MK Verma, SP Unnao, said.

Earlier in the day, a car in which the rape survivor, her family and lawyer were travelling was hit by an over-speeding truck in Rae Bareli, killing two members while leaving her and the advocate critically injured, police said.

The case that grabbed national headlines in early 2018, had come to the light after the victim on April 8, attempted self-immolation outside Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's residence, alleging apathy on a part of the police in registering a case against the BJP legislator. Days after, the victim's father died in prison after allegedly beaten up by the BJP MLA's men.

However, Sengar, a four-time MLA, who represented the Bangermau seat in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly, was arrested on April 13 last year, following widespread protests over the rape of the then 16-year-old across the country.

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New Delhi:

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) Mars 2020 is timed for a lunch in July 2020 when Earth and Mars are in good positions relative to each other for landing on the red planet. Mars 2020 rover will land at Jezero Crater on February 18, 2021. "The rover of parts are similar to what any living creature would need to keep it "alive" and able to explore," said NASA.

The rover has 7-foot-long robotic arm that can move a lot like yours. It has a shoulder, elbow and wrist "joints" for maximum flexibility. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) of Caltech and NASA recently demonstrated the flexibility and humanoid stance of its robotic arm using a time-lapse video.



The arm lets the rover work as a human geologist would: by holding and using science tools with its "hand" or turret. The rover's own "hand tools" extract cores from rocks, takes microscopic images and analyzes the elemental composition and mineral makeup of Martian rocks and soil.



In the meantime, the US space agency is inviting people to send their names to Mars. Yes, you read it right. You can send your names to Mars. And, if you want to then hurry up.



So far, at least 2 million people have grabbed the opportunity to send their names on NASAs InSight mission to Mars. As the invitation comes with a souvenir boarding pass and frequent flyer points, one can add their name to the list and obtain a souvenir boarding pass to Mars until September 30. Also, in a tweet, NASA said, It's not too late to send your name to Mars! Our #Mars2020 Rover is gearing up for its seven-month journey to the Red Planet and you can send your name along for the ride. Get your boarding pass.
Mumbai:

On the eve of the launch of his mass outreach programme aimed at building a momentum ahead of the assembly elections, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday reiterated the BJP and the Shiv Sena would contest together unlike 2014. Speaking at a function after inducting four MLAs of the Congress and the NCP into the BJP, the chief minister said the BJP, the Sena and allies parties would like to "break the record of winning maximum number of seats in the state polls".

Fadnavisa statement has put to rest the rumours, at least for now, that the saffron allies might contest separately to accommodate turncoats of the Congress and the NCP.

The Sharad Pawar-led NCP has witnessed a string of desertions in the recent past.

On Tuesday, three MLAs of the NCP and one of the Congress resigned from the state Legislative Assembly.

They joined the BJP in the presence of the chief minister and state BJP president Chandrakant Patil on Wednesday morning.

The three NCP MLAs who switched their loyalties are Shivendraraje Bhosale from Satara, Sandeep Naik from Airoli in Navi Mumbai, and Vaibhav Pichad from Akole in Ahmednagar district. The lone Congress MLA is Kalidas Kolambkar from Wadala in Mumbai.

aThe BJP, the Shiv Sena and allied parties will contest the assembly elections jointly. We want to break the record of winning the maximum number of seats in Maharashtra,a the chief minister said.

Pointing out the likely discord over sharing of seats, a BJP leader said Vaibhav and Kolambkar have been generally contesting against opponents from the Sena from their respective constituencies of Akole and Wadala.

aAs they have joined the BJP, the party will most likely field them from their respective constituencies in the assembly polls. A million dollar question is will the Shiv Sena be ready to share those seats with the BJP?a he said.

Fadnavis is embarking on a month-long aMahajanadesh Yatraa beginning from Amravati district in east Maharashtra on Thursday. The yatra will culminate in Nashik in north Maharashtra on August 31.

The saffron alliance in Maharashtra has survived various vicissitudes in the past.

The BJP and the Shiv Sena had contested the 2014 elections separately, but joined hands later to form a BJP-led government.

In the keenly-fought polls, the BJP had won 122 out of total 288 seats and the Shiv Sena 63. The Congress and the NCP had won 42 and 41 seats, respectively.

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Delhi:

Unnao rape survivor is on ventilator and fighting for her life at the trauma centre located at the King George's Medical University hospital in Lucknow. Doctors say that the 19-year-old has suffered grievous head and leg injuries. However, they added that her condition is stable at the moment. The Unnao rape case rocked Lok Sabha today with the Opposition demanding statement from Union Home Minister Amit Shah. As the rape survivors accident probe reveals several twist and turns, here are 10 latest updates from the Unnao rape case:

1: The girl is on life support. Her lawyer is also admitted to the Intensive Care Unit where his condition is said to be critical.

2: The girls family members today began their sit-in protest right outside the trauma centre. They were agitating against UP governments inhuman approach of not releasing the girls uncle for the last rites of other family members killed in the crash. The uncle of teh survivor has been granted parole.

3: Several media reports have said that the truck involved in the deadly crash belonged to the brother of Samajwadi Party leader.

4: According to an India Today report, the truck is said to be Devendra Pal. He is the is the elder brother of Samajwadi Party leader Nandu Pal.

5: On Tuesday, the Uttar Pradesh Government has sent a formal request to Government of India to transfer the Unnao rape survivor's road accident case to the CBI.

6 Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra continues her stinging attack againt the BKP for sheltering Kuldeep Singh Sengar, the prime accused in the Unnao rape case.

7: Priyanka took to Twitter today and wrote, Why do we give people like Kuldeep Sengar the strength and protection of political power and abandon their victims to battle for their lives alone? This FIR clearly states that the family was threatened and apprehensive. It even mentions the possibility of a planned accident.

8: The car in which the rape survivor, her family and lawyer were travelling was hit by an over-speeding truck in Rae Bareli on Sunday, killing two members while leaving her and the advocate critically injured, police said. Meanwhile, 5-member team of the CBI has reached the trauma centre where the rape survivors is undergoing treatment.

9: A woman belonging to Makhi police station area in Unnao had alleged that Sengar, a four-time MLA who represents Bangermau in the UP Assembly, raped her teenage daughter at his residence in 2017. The case had come to light after the victim allegedly attempted self-immolation outside Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's residence.

10: The National Commission for Women on Monday urged the Uttar Pradesh police to ensure a free, fair and speedy probe in the case in which a BJP MLA is an accused. NCW chairperson Rekha Sharma said a team of the Commission will visit the victim and her family members in Unnao on Tuesday. They will also hold a meeting with the Uttar Pradesh police to get details of the probe, Sharma said.

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New Delhi:

Nitish Kumar's Janata Dal United walked out of the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday during the debate on a contentious bill to ban Triple Talaq - the practice of Muslim men instantly divorcing their wives by uttering 'talaq' thrice. JDU, an ally of ruling NDA, has been opposing the bill saying it will create a lack of trust in the society and walked out of the House. The walkout comes as a boost for the Bharatiya Janata Party as it would bring down the majority mark, which normally stands at 121.

Earlier, Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said that the Bill was about women empowerment and the dignity of the women. Last week, the Bill, which criminalises instant divorce among Muslims, was passed in the Lok Sabha by 303 ayes and 82 noes amid objections by the Opposition parties on Wednesday. The Triple Talaq Bill, 2019 will make the practice of instant divorce by simply saying the Talaq word thrice a criminal offence. The practice of instant divorce in Islam was banned by the Supreme Court in 2017. The top court had ruled that the practice was "un-Islamic".

While introducing the Triple talaq Bill, Prasad said, "This issue should not be seen through a political prism or vote bank politics. This is a question of humanity. This is for ensuring justice to women, dignity and empowerment to women and to ensure gender dignity and equality." He said after the Supreme Court judgement banning instant triple talaq as many as 574 cases of the illegal practice have come to the notice of the government.

Stating JDU does not support the Bill, Rajiv Ranjan Singh earlier told the Lok Sabha that it will "create a lack of trust in the mind of the society." He was of the view that government should do all that is necessary to create "awareness among the people of this community (minority)."



This society does run with strict laws, he said, adding that everyone is run by customs. "That society also has its own customs," Singh said adding the government has taken this "historic" step to put an end to their customs.



Citing the example of government's Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Singh said the need of the hour is that in haste no law should be made and rather awareness should be created. Several laws made earlier were being misused, Singh said adding "if the law is made like this it would be misued."



Since 1996, he said, JD (U) is with NDA. Today also it is with NDA barring a few years in between, Singh said, adding in the beginning itself JD (U) had made it clear that on some contentious issues it will not support the government.



"We boycott the Bill," he said and walked out of the proceedings of the House.

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New Delhi:

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday applauded the passage of triple talaq bill by Parliament, saying the step was necessary for women irrespective of religion to be treated with dignity and respect. In a big victory, the Modi government at the CentreA secured Rajya Sabhaas clearance for the landmark bill helped by support from the BJD, walkout by BJP allies JD-U and AIADMK and some abstentions to get Parliamentas approval for the contentious legislation.

The bill was passed by the Lok Sabha last week. aThe passage of this bill in both Houses (of Parliament) was necessary for women of any religion or caste to be treated with dignity and respect. I congratulate Prime Minister Narendra Modi for taking this step,a a statement quoted Adityanath as saying. aThis bill was necessary as it will eliminate the discrimination between men and women,a he said.

The chief minister said many Islamic countries have long stopped the ill-practice of triple talaq, adding despite being the worldas largest democracy, the practise continued in India. Hitting out at those parties which opposed the bill, Adityanath said, aIt is unfortunate that those who were talking about women empowerment have opposed this bill in both

Houses. Congress and its alliesaSP and BSPahave been exposed.a Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Dinesh Sharma also hailed the bill. aThis is a big step towards women empowerment, and it goes on to prove that there is no difference in the words (kathni) and deeds (karni). From today onwards, Muslim women will not have to face any injustice. This law will free them from harassment and give them the right to lead their lives with respect and dignity,a he said in a statement.

Sharma said those opposing the bill were opposing right to equality. Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya said in a tweet, aMuslim women used to get terrified on hearing the word aTalaqa, today their faces are filled with joy.a

The passage of the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill that makes instant triple talaq among Muslims a criminal offence with 99 votes in favour and 84 against was a major legislative success for the BJP-led NDA in the opposition-dominated Upper House where it lacks majority.

Once, the bill gets presidential assent, the practice of Muslim men instantly divorcing their wives by uttering atalaqa thrice will become a criminal offence, punishable by a jail term of up to three years.

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New Delhi:

Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar, who has been accused of raping a minor girl from Unnao, has already been suspended from the party and he will remain suspended, said Uttar Pradesh party chief Swatantra Dev Singh. "He was suspended from the party and will stay suspended. CBI inquiry in the case is underway," Singh was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.



The clarification comes after Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Monday asked why the BJP was not taking action against the Uttar Pradesh MLA.

"The road accident involving the Unnao rape victim is shocking. Where has the CBI probe in this case reached. Why is the accused MLA still in the BJP? Why is there laxity in the security of the victim and the witnesses," she asked on Twitter.

She asked if one can hope for any justice from the BJP government without an answer to these questions.

"What is the BJP waiting for? Why has this man not been expelled from their party even when his name is in the latest FIR in the Unnao rape case," Priyanka Gandhi asked.

"Does it have no moral duty towards its citizens anymore, or was that never on its agenda anyway," she tweeted.

The Congress leader said the woman is lying grievously wounded in a hospital after the accident, but the accused continues as a BJP legislator, and the state BJP government has the audacity to run a campaign claiming "Fear-free Uttar Pradesh".

"So a woman is allegedly raped by a BJP MLA. Her father is beaten up and dies in custody. A key witness dies mysteriously last year. Now her aunt who was also a witness is killed and her lawyer is critically injured in an accident caused by a truck with blackened number plates," she later tweeted.

Police had said that a car in which the Unnao rape victim, her family and lawyer were travelling was hit by an overspeeding truck in Rae Bareli on Sunday, killing two members, while leaving her and the advocate critically injured.

Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala alleged that the incident was a conspiracy to kill the woman.

"Unnao and UP demand justice for the victim daughter of the abominable rape crime. But instead of justice, what has happened is a conspiracy to kill," Surjewala tweeted.

"While her father was killed in police custody, now she has lost her family and is herself battling for life," he said. "Adityanath ji, my murderer is also my judge. Will he give a decision in my favour," he claimed.

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Rio de Janeiro:

At least 57 prisoners have been killed by other inmates during clashes between organized crime groups in the Altamira prison in northern Brazil with 16 of the victims being decapitated, according to prison officials.



Para state prison authorities said on Monday a fight erupted around 7 a.m. between the Rio de Janeiro-based Comando Vermelho and a local criminal group known as Comando Classe A.



"Leaders of the (Comando Classe A) set fire to a cell belonging to one of the prison's pavilions, where members of the (Comando Vermelho) were located," the statement read.



State prisons chief Jarbas Vasconcelos said the fire had spread rapidly with inmates held in old container units that had been adapted for the prison while another building is under construction.



The fire prevented police forces from entering the building for several hours, he told a news conference.



Two prison staff members were held hostage, but eventually released.



"It was a targeted attack. The aim was to show that it was a settling of accounts between the two groups, not a protest or rebellion against the prison system," Vasconcelos said.



Authorities have not found any firearms following the riot, only makeshift knives.



Prison authorities said 46 inmates will be transferred to other prisons, 10 of which will go to stricter federal facilities.



President Jair Bolsonaro was elected on the promise of curbing widespread violence in Brazil, including in the country's often overcrowded, out-of-control prisons.



The Associated Press obtained a July 2019 report from the National Justice Council that it says was filed by a local judge in charge of the facility, showing that the prison had 343 detainees for a maximum capacity of 163.



Yet Vasconcelos said the situation did not meet the official requirements to be considered overcrowded. "It is not a unit that has a prison overcrowding, we consider overcrowding when it exceeds 210 per cent," Vasconcelos said during the press conference.



The judge who filed the report described the overall state of the prison in the city of Altamira as "terrible." In many of Brazil's prisons, badly outnumbered guards struggle to retain power over an ever-growing population of inmates who are able to run criminal activities from behind bars.



The killings echoed those of 55 inmates who died in a series of riots in May in several prisons in the neighbouring state of Amazonas.



In early 2017, more than 120 inmates died in prisons across several northern states when rival gangs clashed over control of drug-trafficking routes in the region. The violence lasted several weeks, spreading to various states.



Para state authorities spent the afternoon in Altamira, drafting a security plan to avoid possible retaliations in the region. Police forces from the nearby municipality of Santerem were sent as reinforcement in the coming weeks.



Prison authorities said they had not received any prior intelligence reports of an upcoming attack.

The prison is run directly by the state, not a third-party private operator as in the Manaus prisons where the riots took place in May.



Last year, inmates had already set fire to another wing inside the same prison unit, according to the state prosecutors' office.

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New Delhi:

Pakistan, on Tuesday, violated ceasefire in Tangdhar and Keran sector in Jammu and Kashmir. Indian Army retaliated strongly to the indiscriminate firing in which two Pakistani soldiers were killed. In another ceasefire violation by the Pakistani Army in Sunderbani sector, one Indian jawan lost his life.

On Sunday, three civilians, including a woman and her baby, were injured as Pakistani troops violated ceasefire by resorting to intense mortar shelling and firing of small arms on forward posts and villages along the LoC in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said.

Several residential houses were also damaged in the cross-border firing by Pakistan, they said.

A police official said three civiliansMohammad Arif (40), Fatima Jan (35) and her about two week old sonwere injured when they were hit by splinters from mortar shells in Shahpur sector.

The injured were rushed to hospital amid intense shelling, he said adding that the shelling in the sector started around 5 pm along with Saujiyan sector, while the firing from across the border also started in Mankote area of Mendhar sector around 8 pm.

Heavy firing was going on in all the three sectors and there are reports of some damage to civilian houses as well, the official said.

Earlier, a defence spokesman said the Indian Army is retaliating befittingly to silence Pakistani guns.

At about 1700 hours, Pakistan initiated unprovoked ceasefire violation by firing of small arms and intense shelling with mortars along the LoC in Shahpur and Saujiyan sectors in Poonch district, Jammu-based Public Relations Officer (PRO) of Army Lt Col Devender Anand said.

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New Delhi:

Sanjay Sinh, the Congress MP from the Rajya Sabha, resigned from both the Grand Old Party and the Upper House on Tuesday. His wife Amita Sinh also announced her resignation from the Congress. Amita Sinh is a two-time MLA. Sinh confirmed the resignation and announced that he will join the BJP tomorrow. Addressing the media shortly after his resignation, Sinh said that there was no dialogue in the Congress. He said that only Prime Minister Narendra Modi can help in fulfilling Indiaas dreams. In 2014, Singh was considered as the richest among the Rajya Sabha contestants.



Who is Sanjay Sinh?

Sanjay Sinh is a politician from the state ofA Uttar Pradesh.

He was elected twice to theA Legislative Assembly of Uttar PradeshA during the 1980s and held several state ministerial posts.

Sanjay Sinh has also served asA Union MinisterA for Communications in 1991.

Sinh left the Indian National CongressA (INC) party in 1988 and joinedA Janata Dal.

Sanjay Sinh changed his allegiance from Janata Dal to that of theA Bharatiya Janata PartyA (BJP) and in theA 1998 Lok Sabha electionsA he won the Amethi constituency seat.

Sinh stood again as the BJP candidate in theA 1999 elections, on that occasion he faced Sonia Gandhi. Sanjay Sinh lost.

Sanjay Sinh rejoined the INC in 2003, choosing to announce his move on the birth anniversary of Rajiv Gandhi.

Since then Sanjay Sinh represented the Sultanpur constituency as a member of the INC.

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New Delhi:

Desperate time calls for desperate measures and that includes wearing an air conditioner even as you step out. We of course, do not mean wear the air conditioner that is stuck-on to the wall of your house but a wearable one designed specially to be worn at the back of your shirt. Called Reon Pocket, the wearable air conditioner is designed to fit inside the back of a specially designed t-shirt, lowering your personal temperature by 13 C (23 F), or raise it by a little over 8 C (14 F).

The app-controlled device works via Bluetooth, and has been priced at an affordable range of $117 in the US. The Reon Pocket listing information also claims that the device has been extensively tested and is designed to avoid any nasty burns on your back, provided you use the customized t-shirt for the air conditioner.

The device is expected to be launched at March next year. Based on the testimonies of people who've already tried it out, the device is made to have you fully Summer prepared.
Delhi:

Unnao rape survivoras letter to Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi will be taken up by the Supreme Court tomorrow. The letter dated July 12 had chilling details of how the family and associates of prime accused Kuldeep Singh Sengar was intimidating the girl for an out-of-court settlement. The top court has also sought status report from the Uttar Pradesh authorities in Unnao rape case. The matter has been listed for hearing on Thursday. Reacting to the letter, the Chief Justice of India said that, aunfortunately, the letter is yet to see the light of the day and newspapers flashed the news as if I have read it.a Gogoi also asked the Secretary-General to explain why there was a delay in placing the letter before it. The Chief Justice of India said that 'will try to do something constructive in this destructive atmosphere.'

News Nation had reported on Tuesday that the Unnao rape survivor and her family had written to the Chief Justice of India days before the deadly crash. The letter revealed a systematic harassment by BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar and his associates forcing them for an out-of-court settlement. The letter, a copy of which is with News Nation, showed how Sengaras brother Manoj Singha and two other men came to the survivoras house. The parked the car outside and started shouting the threats to the girlas family, the letter said. In the letter, the family alleged that Sengar brother had said that, awe have bought the judge, who will ensure that Kuldeep Sengar and Shashi Singh will be out on bail. We will file fake cases and you will rot in jail.a

Almost a fortnight after the letter, the girl and her family members met with a deadly car crash in Rae Bareli on Sunday. In the letter, Sengar and his men had warned the survivor and her family that, ayou still have time, opt for out-of-court settlement for your own well-being.a According the letter, the family had also submitted the proofs to the Chief Justice. News Nation is not reproducing the letter as it will harm the privacy of the girl and her family in the sensitive gangrape case. At present, the 19-yuear-old is battling for her life at Lucknow trauma centre. The doctors say that next 24 hours will be crucial for her. The condition of her lawyer, who was also injured in the Sunday car crash, remains critical.A

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New Delhi:

AIMIM chief and Hyderabad Lok Sabha MP Asaduddin Owaisi recently claimed that the India Gate in Delhi has 'freedom fighters names inscribed on it. Taking a jibe at PM Modi, Owaisi addressing a gathering amid applauds said, Mr Modi, on India Gate, the names of 95,300 people who fought against the British are written. You will be happy to know that out of the total names; 61,945 names are of Muslims. 65 per cent of them are Muslims (Translated from Urdu). Owaisis video has gone viral on social media.



News Nation did a fact of two claims made by Asaduddin Owaisi:



1) Does India Gate have 'freedom fighters names inscribed on it?

2) Are 61,945 names of Muslims out of the total 95,300?



Formerly known as Kingsway, India Gate in national capital was built by Imperial War Graves Commission (I.W.G.C), which came into existence in December 1917 for building war graves and memorials to soldiers who were killed in the First World War. For security reasons access to read the names on the memorial is restricted. The names can be however be seen on their website.







The names inscribed on the monument are not of those who were killed fighting for Indias independence but soldiers of the British Indian Army who died in the period 191418 in the First World War, in France, Flanders, Mesopotamia, Persia, East Africa, Gallipoli. The years are in bolt mentioned atop of the monument. The following passage is inscribed below the Roman numerals:

"To the dead of the Indian Armies who fell and are honoured in France and Flanders Mesopotamia and Persia East Africa Gallipoli and elsewhere in the near and the far-east and in sacred memory also of those whose names are here recorded and who fell in India or the North-West Frontier and during the third Afghan war."



The list of the names is also mentioned in website of Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC), the international organisation which maintains the martyrs list of World Wars.



The first claim by Owaisi hereby stands false.



Owaisis second claim: Are 61,945 names of Muslims out of the total 95,300?



Hyderabad Parliamentarians second claim also stand false. Website of Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) states: The CWGC commemorates some 74,000 who lost their lives while serving with Indian forces between 1914 and 1921. Many were cremated in accordance with their faith and their names are inscribed on memorials which can be found from Brighton to Basra, Cape Helles on Gallipoli, to Egypt and eastern Africa.

This figure is nowhere close to Owaisis 95,300 claim.





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Jodhpur:

A Sukhoi fighter jet suffered major damages last week in a bird hit at the Jodhpur air base, in an incident underlining the serious threat that one of the most crucial airbases of the IAF's Wester Air Command is facing due to the winged creatures and stray dogs. The incident was recounted on Monday by Jodhpur airbase Air Officer-in-Command Phillip Thomas to the district administration, which is responsible for the upkeep of the open portion of a drain outside the military aerodrome, the source of the problem. The open portion of the drain owing to its filth and garbage in it has emerged as a major breeding ground for birds and centre of attraction for dogs.

"The birds have emerged as a major threat to our jets' safety and pilots' lives. This has led to a spurt in the incidents of bird hits," said AoC Thomas. "In past 5 years alone, we have 53 cases of fighter jets getting bird hits. Of this, nine cases were reported this year itself, the AOC shared his concerns with the district administration officials in an Aerodrome Environment Management Meeting with them on Tuesday.

He said despite several reminders to the administration, nothing has progressed and the threat by birds and stray dogs has further intensified, he said.

Barely five days ago, a Sukhoi aircraft was hit by a bird during its routine sortie. The pilot, however, attempted an emergency landing with the help of the second engine successfully but the aircraft sustained major damage as the bird was sucked in one of its engines, the AoC said.

The aircraft will now remain grounded for over six months and incur a huge cost in its repair, he added. The source of the trouble is a drain passing across the air base, said the AoC.

The drain's portion within the aerodrome campus has been fully covered but the portion outside it has been left uncovered by the Jodhpur Municipal Corporation, letting it turn into a source of threat for flight safety, he said. Despite repeated reminders, the JMC has failed to rectify the situation, he added.

AoC Thomas said stray dogs enter the airbase through the open drain, posing a major safety hazard to jets, he said. Besides this, the continuous piling of the garbage near the drain and lack of its regular cleaning have turned the filthy drain into a major attraction for birds.

"Our pilots are capable of dealing with exigencies but we reel under the threat of losing our competent pilots and expensive aircrafts,a he said. Though, Divisional Commissioner B L Kothari, who chaired the meeting, assured Air Force authorities of taking prompt steps to rectify the situation, the AoC did not appear sure that the air base would be rid of the menace anytime soon in future.

aWe have visited the spot mentioned by the Air Force and would see, how effectively and timely they could be addressed," said Kothari, hinting at the budget constraints.

He said issues like sterilization of stray dogs and regular cleaning of the drain too were discussed.

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New Delhi:

The Income Tax Department on Tuesday denied charges of harassment during their probe against Cafe Coffee Day promoter V G Siddhartha and official sources pointed out that the signatures of the entrepreneur available with them were different from those on a letter being widely published on the social media.

They said the businessman had admitted holding stash income after raids were conducted against him and his concerns.

The Income Tax Department has said that the authenticity of the letter which is doing rounds on social media is not known and the signature in the letter doesnat tally with Siddharthaas as available in annual reports.





Amid the ongoing search operation to find missing Cafe Coffee Day founderA VGA Siddhartha, CCD itself has written a letter to theA National Stock Exchange (NSE)A underscoring 'continuity of business' and that any update in the matter will be briefed. The statement released on July 30A stated the following:

In the unverified letter, Siddhartha, who has gone missing on his way to Mangaluru from Bengaluru in Karnataka, said there was a lot of harassment from the previous DG of the Income Tax Department in the form of attaching aour shares on two separate occasions to block our Mindtree deal and then taking position of our Coffee Day shares, although revised returns have been filed by us (sic)a.

aThis was very unfair and has led to a serious liquidity crunch,a the letter, bearing a purported signature of Siddhartha, said.

Refuting the charges, the official sources said the provisional attachment of shares was made by the department to protect the ainterests of revenuea in cases of large tax evasion and the action was based on acredible evidencea gathered in the search or raid action that was undertaken against the Bengaluru-based group in 2017.

aThe department has acted as per provisions of the Income Tax Act,a one of sources told PTI.

The authenticity of the note circulating on the social media cannot be vouched for as Siddharthaas signature adoes not tallya with what is available with the department in the form of annual reports of the company, the source said quoting official records.

They said Siddhartha fetched Rs 3,200 crore from the sale of Mindtree shares, but has paid only Rs 46 crore out of the total Rs 300 crore minimum alternate tax (MAT) payable on the deal.

The raids against the group were carried out as a result of a similar action against a prominent Karnataka politician and sources said Siddhartha, in a sworn statement, aadmitteda unaccounted income of Rs 362.11 crore and Rs 118.02 crore in his hands and that of Coffee Day Enterprises Ltd respectively.

They alleged that tax sleuths recovered numerous messages from his mobile phone that indicated his aactive involvement in cross-border hawala transactions.a

A Singaporean citizen was searched in this case and he was found with unaccounted cash of Rs 1.2 crore and the person told tax officials that it belonged to Siddhartha, they claimed.

They alleged that the CCD promoter filed his IT returns but adid nota mention the undisclosed income, as admitted in the sworn statement, in both the cases except an amount of around Rs 35 crore in his individual case.

aEven on this admitted sum, Siddhartha did not pay the self-assessment tax of Rs 14.5 crore as quantified by him as on date. Coffee Day Enterprises Ltd did not offer the admitted income in its part,a the source said.

They said the department got to know through media reports in January this year that Siddhartha was planning to sell the equity shares of Mindtree Ltd, held by him and his company, on an immediate basis.

Tax officials found that Siddhartha and Coffee Day Enterprises Ltd together held nearly 21 per cent of shareholding in Mindtree Ltd and it was also found that the deal for sale of shares was set to be finalised within that month, they said.

As the tax revenue ramification in this case was worth crores and the assessee had not taken permission from the I-T authorities for selling these shares, they were attached as per the norm, they said.

Mindtree Ltdas 74, 90,000 shares were attached and such an action is a normal requirement to protect the interests of revenue in big cases of tax evasion, they said.

They said Siddhartha then filed a request letter to release these shares and offered other shares of Coffee Day Enterprises Ltd as security against the expected demand.

The department accepted this request and the attachment of Mindtree shares were revoked on February 13 this year, they said.

However, a specific condition was put by the department that the sale proceeds will be utilised only for repayment of loans availed against the Mindtree Ltd shares by opening escrow account and the remaining balance will be provided for attachment to the department against the tax liability to arise.

aThe alternate attachment of 46, 01,869 unencumbered shares and 2,04,43,055 encumbered shares of Coffee Day Enterprises Ltd was made on February 13-14,a they said.

The assessee (Siddhartha) had transferred the Mindtree Ltd shares to L&T Infotech Ltd on April 28 and received around Rs 3,200 core, they said.

Out of this consideration, they said, Siddhartha and his company repaid loan of around Rs 3,000 crore and paid expenses related to transfer of Rs 154 crore and the balance of Rs 46 crore was paid towards first instalment of advance tax of estimated MAT liability of around Rs 300 crore in the case of shares of Coffee Day Enterprises Ltd.

The CCD promoter is the son-in-law of former Karnataka chief minister and BJP leader S M Krishna and was last seen near a bridge on Netravati river in Kotepura area in Dakshina Kannada district on Monday night.

Authorities have launched a massive search for him.

(With agency inputs)

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New Delhi :

As many as 216 Indian fishermen are under the custody of Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Iran, parliament was informed on Friday. Based on the information received from the External Affairs Ministry, "209 Indian and believed to be Indian fishermen" are under the custody of Pakistan, Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Pratap Chandra Sarangi said in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha. Five Indian fishermen are in custody in Sri Lanka and two in Iran, he added.

"Government attaches highest priority to the safety, security and welfare of Indian fishermen. The matter of apprehension of Indian fishermen and their fishing boats is raised at the highest levels and strong protests are lodged in the countries concerned," the minister said.

It is reiterated to the countries concerned that the fishermen issue may be considered as a purely humanitarian and livelihood concern and there should not be any use of force under any circumstances, Sarangi said.

"As a result of sustained diplomatic efforts by the Government, 2004 Indian fishermen and 380 boats have been released by Sri Lanka Government since May 2014.

"Similarly, persistent diplomatic efforts of the Government of India have led to release and repatriation of 2080 Indian fishermen and 57 Indian fishing boats from Pakistan's custody since 2014," the minister added.

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New Delhi:

Talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban could begin within the next two weeks, an Afghan official said Saturday. This will be a potentially crucial step in efforts to end the war as Taliban have so far refused to speak to the government of President Ashraf Ghani. We are preparing for direct talks, said Abdul Salam Rahimi, the state minister for peace affairs, noting that the government would be represented by a 15-member delegation.

We are working with all sides and hope that in the next two weeks the first meeting will take place in a European country. He did not specify where the summit might take place.

Germany played a crucial role in talks in an intra-Afghan dialogue in Doha earlier this month, but Norway has also been involved in peace efforts.

The Taliban did not immediately comment, but the apparent development comes as US peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad continues a visit to Kabul, where he has spent several days meeting with Ghani and US officials.

The United States began bombing Afghanistan after the attacks of September 11, 2001, to root out al-Qaida fighters harbored by the Taliban. Now, more than 18 years later, preventing Afghanistan from being a launching pad for more attacks on America is at the heart of ongoing US talks with the Taliban.



The conflict in Afghanistan has cost more than 2,300 American lives and hundreds of billions in taxpayer dollars.

The Taliban control roughly half the country, although not the cities. About 14,000 U.S. troops plus other NATO-led forces are still there.

Senior intelligence officials have warned that a withdrawal could return Afghanistan to a time when the Taliban ruled a country that was an al-Qaida stronghold.

A U.N. Security Council report in April 2018 said al-Qaida was closely allied with and embedded within the Taliban.

The report said the Taliban, which have no history of conducting attacks outside Afghanistan, provide operating space for about 20 terrorist groups with thousands of fighters.

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New Delhi:

Chaser, the Border Collie, dubbed as the Worlds Smartest Dog has passed away at the age of 15. The border collie who first came into the arms of the Pilley family of Spartanburg, S.C., announced their dog Chasers passing on Facebook, describing her death as peaceful, beautiful (and) quiet and will be buried with the other Pilley dogs, sprinkled with John Pilley's ashes who died last year at 89.

Chaser rose to fame for her immense high IQ reportedly being able to recognize over 1000 words to which the late Wofford University professor Dr. John Pilley described as the largest vocabulary of any non-human, according to NBC News. She had appeared on 60 Minutes," Nova" as well as NatGeo shows.

Chaser will be buried in the Pilley familys yard and the late John Pilley's ashes will be sprinkled on her grave, according to the Facebook post by the Pilley family.

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Amman:

A senior UN official appealed Monday for the international community not to turn its back on Yemen and to honour its pledges of aid for the impoverished and war-battered country. Four years of conflict according to the UNDP latest report have set back Yemen by 20 years, United Nations Development Programme administrator Achim Steiner told AFP in an interview in Amman. He said the United Nations had received less than 36 percent of the $2.6 billion (2.3 billion euros) pledged at a Geneva conference in February.

Currently in the next two or three months we can expect that if funding does not materialise, over 21 programmes will have to be rolled back, Steiner added following his first visit to Yemen since taking up his post in 2017.

Tens of thousands of people have died since a Saudi-led coalition intervened in support of the Yemeni government against Shiite Huthi rebels in 2015, according to relief agencies.

It is the worst humanitarian crisis in the world and in some respects it is getting worse because hostilities and fighting still continue and the situation for 20 million or over two thirds of Yemeni citizens require humanitarian support, he said.

Ten million people currently face the acute risk of famine. The world should not turn its back on Yemen, he urged, appealing for solidarity and generosity from the international community.

An estimated 24 million Yemenismore than 80 percent of the populationdepend on some form of humanitarian or protection assistance for survival, according to the UN.

The world body has warned that millions of Yemenis are on the verge of famine, while essential health, education and other services have all but collapsed.

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New Delhi:

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief and Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday explained the reason behind picking Yogi Adityanath for the top job in Indias largest state Uttar Pradesh. Shah said that the decision of choosing priest-turned-politician for the Chief Ministers post came as surprise for many because he had no prior administrative experience.

Many people called me when Yogi made CM, people said Yogi had never even run a municipality (it was true), he was never a minister and you are making him CM of the biggest state? People said his administrative experience is almost zero, the Union Minister said at the second ground breaking ceremony in Lucknow.

The BJP chief that the top leadership of the BJP was of the view that someone who is work-oriented and has a work ethic will overcome all such factors.

That time the only thought of Narendra Modi and me, as party president, was that someone who is determined and capable of hard work will adapt to all situations. So we handed over UP's future in hands of Yogi ji. That decision was proven right by him, he added.

Heaping praise on the Uttar Pradesh chief minister, Shah said that Yogi had translated dreams into reality in a short period and congratulated him for improving the atmosphere in the state, including the law and order situation.

He also said that Uttar Pradesh was all set to play a major role in the country's economy.

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New Delhi:

The Indian captain of an Iranian ship that was seized by Royal Marines earlier this month has said that the British soldiers used "brute force" when they detained his ship, according to a media report on Tuesday. The captain, an Indian national who wished to remain anonymous told the BBC that British soldiers forced his unarmed crew to kneel on the deck at gunpoint after landing on the ship in a helicopter.

He said he was radioed a police request to board his ship and lowered his ladder. But before anyone could board, a military helicopter landed on the ship in a avery dangerousa move.

He told the BBC that he identified himself as the captain but the marines ignored him and instead pointed their guns and shouted alook forward, look forwarda.

aThere was no regulations, we had 28 unarmed crew. I was in a state of shock, everybody was in a state of shock,a he was quoted as saying.

aHow do you come on a ship like this with armed forces and such brute force. For what reason?a he said.

The captain said the marines could have boarded the ship and simply told him he had been arrested.

Asked whether he felt there was anything illegitimate about his ship or the cargo, he said he had afollowed company proceduresa and he did not know about the EU sanctions against Syria.

Earlier, the Indian High Commission in LondonA had saidA Indian crew members detained in connection with an investigation into an Iranian oil supertanker seized by Royal Gibraltar Police are asafe and wella and in contact with consular officials on the vessel.

The Gibraltar authorities claimed that the vessel is loaded to capacity with crude oil enroute to Syria, in breach of the European Union (EU) sanctions and confirmed that the next hearing in the case is scheduled for August 15.

A Gibraltar government statement reads: aThe detention of the vessel relates to the suspected destination of the cargo, the Banyas refinery in Syria, which is owned by a company, the Banyas Oil Refinery Company. This company is the subject of European Union sanctions under EU Regulation 36/2012, which is directly applicable in Gibraltar,a

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New Delhi:

The Rajya Sabha on Wednesday passed the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2019 with 108 votes in its favour and 13 against. The Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2019 aims to infuse more discipline on roads by tightening rules and increasing penalities.A The bill, which seeks to weed out corruption, improve road safety and usher in use of technology to regulate traffic, has already been passed by the Lok Sabha last week. The bill was passed by a voice vote rejecting several amendments moved by the Opposition.

It also brings a sea change in how Indian roads and vehicular transportation are governed. Stating that maximum road accidents in the world occur in India, Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari noted that annually about five lakh road accidents take place in the country, in which there are 1.5 lakh deaths and 65 per cent of them are youth.

Therefore, road safety has been given priority in the bill to curb the number of road accidents. Tamil Nadu government has brought down the number of road accidents by 29 per cent and the Centre wants to implement that model across the country, he said.

Since 40 per cent road accidents take place on highways, the government has decided to identify the "blackspots" for which Rs 14,000 crore will be spent. The government has submitted a proposal to the ADB Bank seeking funds for the project, he added.

Urging the members to pass the bill, the Minister said it has been "pending for long" and that it is not a "political subject".

The law is required to curb road accidents and this amendment bill will help bring down the number of road accidents by 50 per cent, he said.A The Minister also praised the southern states for operating transporation corporations effectively unlike in northern states.

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New Delhi:

Coffee Day founder V G Siddhartha, who went missing from near a bridge over the Netravati river in the Kotepura area in Dakshina Kannada district in Karanataka on Monday night, had apparently written a letter talking about his financial struggles and pressure from lenders.A

"I am very very sorry to let down all the people who had put their trust in me. I have failed as an entrepreneur. I fought for a long time, but today I gave up as I could not take any more pressure from one of the private equity partners forcing me to buy back shares, a transaction I had completed six months ago by borrowing a large sum of money from a friend. Tremendous pressure from other lenders led to me succumbing to the situation," the letter reads.

Founder & owner, Cafe Coffee Day (CCD), #VGSiddhartha's letter to employees and board of directors of CCD, states, "Every financial transaction is my responsibility...the law should hold me & only me accountable."; He has gone missing from Mangaluru, search operation underway. pic.twitter.com/0GJc5vmvYt a ANI (@ANI) July 30, 2019

"I failed to create the right profitable business model despite my best efforts. Faced financial pressure from lenders, borrowed money. I never intended to cheat anyone," Siddhartha, the son-in-law of former Karnataka chief minister S M Krishna, added.

Taking responsibility for all the mistakes, he made a request to continue running the business with new management.

"Every financial transaction is my responsibility. My team, auditors and senior management are totally unaware of all my transactions. The law should hold me and only me accountable, as I have withheld this information from everybody including my family. My intention was never to cheat or mislead anybody. I have failed as an entrepreneur," he said.

Meanwhile, more than 200 policemen and divers on about 25 boats were carrying out searches for him.

Mangaluru Police Commissioner Sandeep Patil said that sniffer dogs have also been pressed into service.A "The help of local fishermen is being taken in the search. We are checking who all he spoke to over phone," Mangaluru Police Commissioner Sandeep Patil said in a message.

Siddhartha is the founder-owner of CCD, a chain of coffee outlets in India, and has been its chairman and managing director since January 17, 2015. The company sources coffee beans from its plantations in Chikkamagaluru.A

He is also an investor and has stakes in some IT firms, including Mindtree, and is among the largest exporters of coffee bean in the country.

In 2017, Income Tax officials raided properties belonging Siddhartha, who is also the chairman and managing director of the CCD group.A

Searches were conducted at over 20 locations across the country, including those in Bengaluru, Mumbai, Chennai and Chikkamagaluru, Income Tax department sources had said.A

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New Delhi:

Two terrorists, including a self-styled 'commander' of Jaish-e-Mohammad, were on Tuesday killed in an encounter with security forces in Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir, police said.A "Fayaz Panzoo was killed along with his associate in an encounter based on a specific police input at Bijbehara in Anantnag district," a police official said.A

Panzoo was involved in the deadly attack on CRPF personnel atA Anantnag town on June 12 in which five CRPF men were killed and SHO Arshad Khan was seriously injured and later succumbed to injuries, the official said. The identity of the other slain militant is being ascertained, he added.A The police official termed the killing of Panzoo as a "big achievement".A

Big achievement.Another top Commander of #Jaish Fayaz Panzoo killed along with his associate. He was involved in attack on CRPF at Anantnag town on June 12,2019 in which 5 CRPF Personnel were killed & SHO Arshad Khan was seriously injured who later succumbed to injuries. https://t.co/DCJLmJvyLS a J&K Police (@JmuKmrPolice) July 30, 2019

"On a credible input, a cordon & search operation was launched jointly by police and security forces in Katoo Bijbehara area of District Anantnag. During the search operation, the hiding terrorists fired on the search party. The fire was retaliated leading to an encounter.

In the ensuing encounter, 02 terrorist were killed and the bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter.A The identities and affiliations of the killed terrorists is being ascertained," the police said in a statement.

"Incriminating material including arms & ammunition was recovered from the site of encounter. Pertinently, with the efforts of police and security forces, it was a clean operation and no collateral damage took place during the exchange of fire. Citizens are requested not to venture inside the encounter zone since such an area can prove dangerous due to stray explosive materials. People are requested to cooperate with police till the area is completely sanitized and cleared of all the explosive materials if any," the statement added.

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New Delhi:

President Ram Nath Kovind on Wednesday gave his assent to the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage), Bill, 2019 that makes instant triple talaq among Muslims a criminal offence.

The Presidentas approval came a day after it was pushed through the Rajya Sabha following support from BJD and walkout by NDA allies JDU and AIADMK. With his nod, the Bill has become an Act. It will be deemed to have come into force from September 19, 2018.A

The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill was passed by 99 votes in favour and 84 against, as the ruling NDA, which lacks majority in the Upper House, was also helped by the absence of some members of the opposition Congress, SP and BSP as well as six members of Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) and two MPs of YSR-Congress.

ALSO READ: India rejoices, medieval practice confined to dustbin of history: PM Modi tweets on Triple Talaq Bill

Lok Sabha had passed the Bill last week and once granted assent by the President, the practice of Muslim men instantly divorcing their wives by uttering 'talaq' thrice will become a criminal offence, punishable by jail term of up to three years.

The Bill will replace an ordinance promulgated on February 21 to the same effect.

Rajya Sabha also rejected an opposition sponsored motions to send the bill to a Select Committee of the House and for making triple talaq a civil offence with 100 votes against it as compared to 84 in favour.

While BJD's seven members supported the legislation, JDU's 6 MPs and AIADMK 11 members walked out, lowering the majority mark which normally stands at 121. The ruling NDA has 107 members in the 242-member Rajya Sabha.

The same strategy had helped the government push through the contentious amendment to the Right To Information (RTI) Act last week despite lacking numbers in the Upper House.

The NDA was also strengthened by absentees in the opposition ranks. Oscar Fernandes and four other Congress MPs as also NCP leaders Sharad Pawar and Praful Patel were absent.

Two Samajwadi Party MPs, Ram Jethmalani of the RJD, two Trinamool Congress MPs and one member of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) were also not present.

Replying to a four-and-half-hour debate on the Bill, Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad cited jail provisions in the legislations that ban dowry and multiple marriages by Hindu men to justify the three-year jail term for Muslim men practices triple talaq.

To Leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad, who termed the bill as a politically motivated move to destroy Muslim households with domestic fights, the minister said the

Congress leader should think why his party could never win majority following the peak of 400-plus seats it won in 1984.

He saw the 1986 Shah Bano case, where the Congress did not stick its neck out to support women rights, as the main reason for the downfall of the party.

The law, he said, was not being brought due to the Supreme Court ruling of 2017 declaring talaq-e-biddat, commonly referred to as instant triple talaq, unconstitutional.

"I am a minister of Narendra Modi government and not Rajiv Gandhi government," he said citing the Shah Bano case of 1986.

The minister said he cannot leave in lurch women who have been divorced by triple talaq via WhatsApp or other such means.

"Should I leave them (Muslim women) crying and sobbing on the foothpaths," Prasad said adding the government will not hesitate to stand by them and do justice to them.

On opposition charge of BJP being anti-Muslim, he said no religion centric issues were raised when reforms in Hindu Marriage Act were carried out in wholesale.

Jail term was prescribed when a Hindu man married another women. "At that time no one raised the question about how the family will be run," he said.

Also when anti-dowry Act provided for jail, no one raised question about running of the family. "Why are these questions (about who will run the family when husband is jailed) are being raised when the issue is about the Muslim daughter," he said.

When Muslim world is trying to reform, why can't a democracy do the same, he said.

The Law minister said BJP may be getting a little less votes from the Muslim community but it considers them very much a part of the country and works on the principle of 'sabka saath, sabka vikas, sabka vishwas'.

He said his party gave the nation a President from the same community.

Prasad said the bill should not be seen through a political prism as it is a matter of humanity, woman empowerment and gender equality.

"More than 20 Islamic nations have regulated triple talaq," he said.

Azad said the opposition has been forced to vote against the bill after the government did not accept their demand to send it to a select committee and make triple talaq a civil offence.

The Triple Talaq bill could not make it through the Upper House earlier this year during the first term of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government, although it was passed by Lok Sabha.

The Bill was again passed by Lok Sabha last week amid a walkout by several opposition parties including the Congress and the Trinamool Congress.

The opposition parties say in its current form, the proposed law could be misused to harass Muslims and wanted it to be reviewed by a parliamentary committee.

The triple talaq bill makes declaration of talaq-e-biddat or pronouncing talaq three times in spoken, written or through SMS or WhatsApp or any other electronic chat in one sitting illegal.

Criminalising the offence, it gives a police officer powers to arrest the offender without requiring a warrant. To check misuse of cognisable nature of the offence, the triple talaq bill makes declaration of talaq-e-biddat only if the complaint is filed by the aggrieved woman or any of her relation by blood or marriage.

A magistrate can grant bail only hearing the aggrieved woman.

The aggrieved woman is entitled to demand a maintenance for her and her dependent children under the bill.

Opposing the Bill, Azad said a law should not be made to "finish one particular religion" and claimed that the "cat has come out of the bag".

He said the government should not target one section by framing an "unconstitutional" law but instead provide 33 per cent reservation to women in legislatures for their empowerment, the way Congress government had earlier brought in reservation for women in panchayats, corporations and local bodies.

He sought to know if the government will provide sustenance allowance to women whose husbands would face prison under the provisions of the proposed legislation.

Azad accused the government of "double speak" and said it is not just Muslim women, but also Hindu, Christian and Jain women who need empowerment.

While participating in the debate, Congress leader Digvijay Singh said the Muslim community has not been taken into confidence.

He said the bill was aimed at creating a divide between the Hindu and Muslim communities. He said several lakh Hindu women are deserted by their husbands and asked whether the government is going to bring any legislation to help them.

Taking a dig at the Prime Minister, Singh said: "Would you ask the pradhan sevak to help pradhan sevika to get justice (Kya aap pradhan sevak se kahenge ki wo pradhan sevika ko nayay dilaye)."

Bhupender Yadav of BJP said the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill is not of a particular party but intends to honour the lone woman who fought the long legal battle up to the Supreme Court on this issue.

Some of the opposition members also raised the issue of Unnao rape victim and Kathua incident saying if the government was really serious about the welfare of women, it should ensure justice to them also.

Many raised the issue of mob lynching during the debate.

With PTI Inputs

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New Delhi:

Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia on Tuesday committed a massive faux pas while tweeting about Unnao rape survivor. "Unnao rape survivor dies today after struggling for life,' he tweeted. However, he promptly deleted the tweet.

"A daughter has not lost the battle, in fact, the entire Law & Order system has lost the battle. Unnao rape survivor dies today after struggling for life for so long. Now it's our turn to fight her justice," Scindia tweeted.

The Unnao woman, who met with an accident on Sunday when a car in which she was traveling along with her family and lawyer was hit by an overspeeding truck in Rae Bareli, is on life support. Her lawyer is also admitted to the Intensive Care Unit where his condition is said to be critical.

Meanwhile, the Allahabad High Court on Tuesday granted one-day parole to Unnao rape survivor's uncle Mahesh Singh to attend the last rites of his wife who was killed in a road accident on Sunday.



The Lucknow bench of the high court directed the jail superintendent and district authorities to ensure that Singh is taken for the cremation at Gangaghat in tight security.



The court directed senior registrar of the high court to communicate the copy of the order to jail and district authorities immediately for compliance.

Justice Mohammad F A Khan directed officials to bring Singh back to the jail by the evening after the cremation. Singh's appeal against his conviction in a criminal case is pending in the high court.

The rape survivor's family members sat on a dharna outside the hospital where she is undergoing treatment, demanding parole to her uncle.

The Unnao rape survivor's family filed a complaint alleging "conspiracy" behind the Sunday's car crash.

Jailed BJP MLA Sengar and nine others were booked for murder on Monday, a day after the car in which the 19-year old rape survivor, her family and lawyer were travelling was hit by a speeding truck in Rae Bareli, killing two members and leaving her and the advocate critically injured.

The Uttar Pradesh government has recommended a CBI probe into the road accident.

With PTI Inputs

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Delhi:

As India Inc grapples with the shocking death of CafA Coffee Day founder VG Siddhartha under mysterious circumstances, Karnataka Congress has hit out at the Narendra Modi government for policy of atax terrora. Even as the state Congress condoled the death of the industry captain, the party said that the tragedy was a result of the harassment by the income tax officials. a#VGSiddhartha case is very unfortunate. Result of harassment by IT officials & decline of Indiaas entrepreneurial position turning virulent by the day, with Tax Terror & collapse of economy Companies which flourished under UPA have been shut down with many people being jobless,a the tweet by the Karnataka Congress read.

#VGSiddhartha case is very unfortunate.



Result of harassment by IT officials & decline of Indiaas entrepreneurial position turning virulent by the day, with Tax Terror & collapse of economy



Companies which flourished under UPA have been shut down with many people being jobless pic.twitter.com/rbwUymoM3B a Karnataka Congress (@INCKarnataka) July 31, 2019

VG Siddharthaas decomposed body was recovered from Dakshina Kannada districtas Netravati river in early morning hours on Wednesday. It brought an end to the 36-hour long operation that involved NDRF, Coast Guard etc. After initial doubt, the family and friends of the CCD founder confirmed that it was his body. The body was floating in the river and the decomposed state point to the fact that it in the river for entire night.

Former prime minister HD Deve Gowda also took to Twitter to express his condolences. "I am shocked by the demise of V G Siddhartha. He was a very simple man. I knew him for the past 35 years. He had paved way for jobs for thousands of people. The government should properly investigate the cause of his tragic death," he wrote in Kannada.

Meanwhile, role of some private equity players and their nominees on Coffee Day Enterprises, as also some independent directors, has come under the scanner of markets regulator Sebi in the wake of a crisis at the leading coffee chain operator due to death of its founder and chief VG Siddhartha.

A letter purportedly written by Siddhartha also surfaced on Tuesday. Dated July 27, the letter was addressed to the CCD Board of Directors and to the employees. In the letter, CCD founder said that that he afailed as an entrepreneura and that he is asolely responsible for all mistakes. It goes on to detail that he was under tremendous pressure from a private equity partner and from lenders. The letter purportedly signed by Siddhartha also alleges harassment from a former DG Income Tax.A A aAfter 37 years, with strong commitment to hard work, having directly created 30,000 jobs in our companies and their subsidiaries, as well as another 20,000 jobs in technology company where I have been a large shareholder since its founding, I have failed to create the right profitable business model despite my best efforts,a it said.

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Iran: In a phone discussion, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan pledged to usher in a new era in the two countries' ties. "The development of collaboration will reach a new chapter soon, with the staging of a joint summit in Tehran," Raisi told Erdogan on Wednesday, according to sources.

Raisi emphasised the necessity of Iran-Turkey collaboration in counter-terrorism and economics, as well as the importance of respecting other nations' sovereignty in combating terrorism. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani stated that regional issues must be resolved without foreign meddling.

Erdogan, for his part, stressed the importance of collaboration in the economic and security spheres, adding that a new chapter in Turkey-Iran relations will be opened during his upcoming visit to Tehran.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf left for Istanbul on Wednesday afternoon to attend the 16th conference of the Parliamentary Union of the OIC Member States (PUIC), according to Iran's semi-official Mehr news agency.

Iran, UAE top security officials pledges to strengthen ties

Afghan-Iranian border clash is misunderstanding: Taliban spokesman

Iran says, not compromise its demands to fulfill the nuclear-talks deadline
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What My Abortion Gave Me , Woman with Moving Hair and Scarf in Sunlight in a Windy Day

Getty Images

I was 25, my legs spread eagle, feet in stirrups at my annual gynecological appointment. The doctor congratulated me. I was, by her estimation, about 11 weeks along. That's how I found out I was pregnant.

At the time, I was casually dating (read: sleeping with) a bartender just two blocks away from my apartment in the East Village. Looking back, sleeping with him was more about the geographical convenience than anything else. He wasn't the type of guy I would have ever dated seriously  and not just because his favorite book was The Da Vinci Code simply because it was the only book he'd ever read  but, to quote Russian Doll, "Nobody chooses [him]. He's the hole where a choice should be." But there are pros to sleeping with a bartender and one of those major pros, especially when you're 25 and broke, is free drinks.

I was on the Pill at the time. I'd been taking it since I first started having sex in college. Although, and it's taken me time to really come clean about this and take responsibility for my own f*ck up, I did not take the Pill as recommended. I had been in New York City for almost a full year, and my party days were in full swing. It's hard to stay on top of your birth control even when your life is predictable  and much less so when you're staying out until all hours of the night. It's also hard to prioritize it when you still have the naive mindset that an unwanted pregnancy would never happen to you. It's not because I thought I was special or somehow superior to the outcome. It was just that I couldn't conceive it being something I'd have to face. And when things seem impossible, you cling to the notion that they simply can't happen.

But low and behold, despite my lifestyle of drinking, smoking, and the occasional drug use at the time, a fetus decided to join the party. Even after the doctor told me I was pregnant, I bought four pregnancy tests, all different brands, on the way home. Every single one was positive. It made no sense; I'd been walking around pregnant for 11 weeks and I had no idea. The only sign, a sign which I didn't realize was pregnancy-related until after the fact, was the excruciating pain in my breasts. I chalked it up to severe PMS  but that was it. Nothing else had changed.

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The choice to terminate the pregnancy was easy. So easy, in fact, that I've put more effort into deciding which socks to wear each day. I flirted with the "what if?"  as I'm assuming most people in the same situation do  but I always came back to the same conclusion: abortion. And I was privileged enough to live in a blue state that values bodily autonomy and a woman's right to make choices for her own reproductive system, so getting an abortion was as simple as deciding to do it.

But with Roe v. Wade hanging in the balance (yet again), the most recent law (Senate Bill 8) to be passed in Texas, and Justice Amy Coney Barrett's abhorrent and ignorant statements that as long as there's adoption, there's no reason for legal abortion, I've been pulling a Carrie Bradshaw. Meaning, "I couldn't help but wonder"

If I were 25 now and living in Texas (or some other state with restrictive abortion laws), I would be forced to carry the fetus to term. On September 1, 2021, Texas enacted a new abortion restriction  Senate Bill 8 (SB 8)  which prohibits abortions beyond about six weeks of pregnancy, and sometimes even earlier. As someone who didn't know she was pregnant until she was a whopping 11 weeks along (research has found many women don't know they're pregnant until around five to six weeks), I would have to go a "destination" state (where abortions can be provided later than six weeks) to terminate my pregnancy. The closest destination states to Texas are New Mexico and Colorado. (Related: How Late In Pregnancy Can You Actually Have an Abortion?)

That's one hell of a hike when you're making $30,000 a year (which I was at 25), when the person who impregnated you is "the hole where the choice should be," when there's the financial burden of gas, possibly renting a car, having to spend a night or two in a motel and, of course, the stress of it all  that's not about protecting the "sanctity of life," as the anti-choice advocates like to call it. It's a war on people with uteruses. To take away one's choice, to leave them with no options, no way out, that's not pro-life  it's anti-life. It's the murder of someone's life as they knew it, of futures, of dreams, of the happiness that comes with having a child when someone is ready to be a parent, and the murder of freedom. And it's not a quick death either, it's a slow torturous one not just for the vessel  as that seems to be what us uterus-having people are now called  but also for the unwanted baby. It's a death of the human spirit.

Abortion isn't a dirty word. Abortion is health care. Abortion is a human right.

If I didn't have the option to abort, I would have moved back to my parents' house. The guy in question, I imagine, would be long gone by now. I probably would have gotten a job at the one bagel place in town because it was close to my parents' house. I was so new to New York when I got pregnant, I would have missed out on many amazing friendships, great love affairs, career opportunities, and endless experiences that shaped who I am, how I believe, and what I want to do next in this life of mine. I don't know if  while sitting at mom and dad's, pregnant against my will  I would have cried as often as I probably should have because I'd never truly know exactly what I missed out on... which probably would have been for the best. (Related: Uma Thurman Revealed She Had an Abortion as a Teen In an Essay Condemning New Texas Ban)

When it was time to give birth, I'd be faced with keeping the baby or putting it up for adoption. I'll never know for sure what I would have chosen. But I'm leaning toward thinking I would have given the baby to a family who couldn't have a child of their own, and I would've moved back to New York City and tried again. I've never had much of a maternal instinct for anything that isn't covered in fur and has four legs anyway. I do know, however, my life would not be the one I have today. Not even close.

I got my abortion on a Saturday morning in March 2005. I was dead set against keeping that fetus and went into that clinic on East 23rd Street with zero doubts, completely hesitant-free, and walked out without a single regret. I was crampy. I bled heavily for a couple of days and had an insatiable craving for Odessa disco fries that I ate every day for a week.

I went back to my job, the one I'd quit shortly thereafter to start pursuing writing. I got a puppy and we moved into our own apartment just a year later in the Lower East Side. I have a passport that's been stamped in 46 countries. I know what it feels like to hold success in my hand and the bittersweet ache of losing something you love more than you love yourself. I've foolishly taken the types of physical and emotional risks that everyone should, since we only live this life once. I've lived an unabashedly absurd, sometimes over-the-top life (I'm a Libra; I like my drama) and regret none of it. And that's just a fraction, a fraction of a fraction, of what my abortion has given me.

My abortion feels like it happened to someone else, a character in a novel that has yet to be finished. For far too long, I took for granted how easy it was for me to get my abortion. The decision was easy, the procedure was easy, and I had the support of my friends and family. Because of this, I only think about it when the right to choose is on the chopping block. As such, I've been thinking about it a lot lately, and gratefully so.

This isn't the first time I've written about my abortion, nor will it be the last time. I'll write about it until my fingers bleed, so as to constantly put a face to it. Abortion isn't a dirty word. Abortion is health care. Abortion is a human right. These are facts. Anyone who says otherwise is wrong.
By Frank Phiri and Emma Rumney

BLANTYRE (Reuters) - When Joyce Rejista ran out of money at a music festival she found herself in a familiar fix for villagers across Malawi, needing cash in places where banks and ATMs are scarce.

The obvious answer was a mobile money service run by telecom companies Airtel or TNM, which have leveraged widespread mobile phone networks to amass more account holders than Africa's major banks.

But when Rejista, 28, tried a friend in Malawi's commercial capital of Blantyre for help, he told her to sign up to a new Standard Bank service so he could send her the money.

After long-ignoring mobile money's target market in favour of higher-income Africans who they can serve their more lucrative traditional products, Africa's traditional banks are now looking to elbow their way into telco territory.

Since much of Africa's population has limited access to financial services, the continent is one of the world's most attractive banking opportunities as incomes rise.

While bank revenues dwarf those from mobile money, in terms of user numbers the latter is a clear winner. As telcos go after a growing number of banks' revenue streams, they can no longer overlook their success.

Standard Bank, Africa's largest lender by assets, is rolling out its mobile money-style product, called Unayo, across the continent and aims have it in all its markets by end-2023, Wally Fisher, the head of the service, told Reuters, adding it is also focused on bringing online services like lending.

Unayo aims to win a meaningful share of the mobile money market in the near term and believes it can capture at least 1% of around $90 billion in remittance and donor aid payments made every year in its markets as revenue, Fisher said.

"It can very quickly result in quite a meaningful contribution to the bottom line in the next two to three years."

SHIFTING STRATEGIES

In Malawi, fewer than 170 of every 1,000 adults has deposits in a bank account, whereas nearly 600 have a mobile money account, according to 2019 IMF statistics. (Graphic: Mobile money penetration vs bank deposits in Africa, https://graphics.reuters.com/AFRICA-BANKS/TELCOS/klpykdxoypg/chart.png)

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And across the continent, there were 548 million registered mobile money accounts in 2020, according to the Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA).

While banks have looked to partner with telcos, marrying their licences and lending expertise with massive mobile networks, the operators are increasingly looking to offer lending, insurance, savings and more without their help, and ramped up efforts during the pandemic.

Orange got its own banking licence, while others partnered with smaller banks. MTN and Airtel can now collect deposits in Nigeria, which is Africa's most populous country.

Banks are following their lead. Fisher said Standard Bank would pursue partnerships where they add value but was focused on building Unayo for now.

Nedbank is discussing partnerships but also looking to offer products itself where it sees opportunities, its head of retail transactional, forex and investments, Vanesha Palani, said.

While it only operates its mobile money-style offering in South Africa, Nedbank is looking to expand it across the continent in the near-term and enable new services like lending and cross-border remittances, Palani said.

But pursuing solo strategies too aggressively risks damaging the potential to forge partnerships critical to growth in many markets, head of card and payments for Absa's regional operations, Vinolan David, said.

Nevertheless, the bank has now built its own stand-alone product and is planning to launch it in countries including Zambia, Tanzania, Ghana and Uganda in the coming months.

JURY OUT

While partnerships still dominate, a growing number of banks are pursuing stand-alone strategies on mobile wallets and lending, said Francois Jurd de Girancourt, head of McKinsey's financial institutions practice for Africa

Making financial services accessible without traditional infrastructure is a key criteria for success.

As well as mobile phones, telcos recruit networks of 'agents' - often small shops or street sellers - who can offer key services like cash-in or cash-out even in rural areas.

Unayo is building its own agent network, and has signed on more than 6,500 in Malawi, and over 50,000 users so far, Fisher said.

Nedbank is also looking to get small or informal traders on board. This also brings business banking opportunities that could make its mobile wallet a decent revenue generator, Palani added.

Absa's David said its experience so far had shown the quickest route to user growth was partnering with a telco.

Telcos already have huge numbers of unbanked people on their phone networks, access to unique data for lending and, in many countries, a head start.

Banks, on the other hand, can offer a wider range of services, face fewer limits on things like transaction size or frequency and can leverage existing relationships, for instance getting a big business customer to pay wages via their wallets.

The winners will be those that can achieve scale and quickly roll out new products to meet customer needs, something mobile money providers have been good at, Jurd de Girancourt said.

"The jury is still out as to whether bank offerings are going to be sufficient ... to really compete with the telcos."

(Reporting by Frank Phiri in Blantyre and Emma Rumney in Johannesburg; Editing by Rachel Armstrong and Alexander Smith)
LOS ANGELES, December 08, 2021--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today Air Lease Corporation (NYSE: AL) announced the delivery of one new Airbus A321-200neo LR aircraft on long-term lease to Peach Aviation, an affiliate of ANA based in Osaka, Japan. Featuring CFM International LEAP-1A32 engines, this is the first of two new A321-200neo LRs confirmed to deliver to the airline from ALCs orderbook with Airbus. This aircraft is the first A321neo LR to join Peach Aviations fleet.

"ALC is delighted to be the first to introduce the A321-200neo LR to Peach Aviation," said Chi Yan, Senior Vice President of Air Lease Corporation. "The A321neo LR will provide key enhancements to the airlines fleet operations as Peach continues to add the most modern, fuel-efficient aircraft to their expanding fleet and offer the highest quality passenger experience."

In addition to this new A321-200neo LR, Peach Aviation currently has two A320-200neos on long-term lease from ALC.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including expected deliveries. Such statements are based on current expectations and projections about our future results, prospects and opportunities and are not guarantees of future performance. Such statements will not be updated unless required by law. Actual results and performance may differ materially from those expressed or forecasted in forward-looking statements due to a number of factors, including those discussed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

About Air Lease Corporation (NYSE: AL)

ALC is a leading aircraft leasing company based in Los Angeles, California that has airline customers throughout the world. ALC and its team of dedicated and experienced professionals are principally engaged in purchasing commercial aircraft and leasing them to its airline customers worldwide through customized aircraft leasing and financing solutions. ALC routinely posts information that may be important to investors in the "Investors" section of ALCs website at www.airleasecorp.com. Investors and potential investors are encouraged to consult the ALC website regularly for important information about ALC. The information contained on, or that may be accessed through, ALCs website is not incorporated by reference into, and is not a part of, this press release.

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About Peach (www.flypeach.com)

Peach Aviation began services based out of Kansai Airport in March 2012. From seven base airports, i.e., New Chitose, Sendai, Narita, Kansai, Fukuoka, Naha and Chubu Centrair International Airport, we operate 33 domestic and 17 international flights.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211208006104/en/

Contacts

Investors:

Mary Liz DePalma

Vice President, Investor Relations

Email: investors@airleasecorp.com

Jason Arnold

Assistant Vice President, Finance

Email: investors@airleasecorp.com

Media:

Laura Woeste

Senior Manager, Media and Investor Relations

Email: press@airleasecorp.com

Ashley Arnold

Manager, Media and Investor Relations

Email: press@airleasecorp.com
OSLO, Norway, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Akastor ASA's (OSE: AKAST) 50% owned affiliate AKOFS Offshore AS (AKOFS Offshore) has signed a firm three-year contract with Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. (Petrobras) for its vessel "Skandi Santos" which will perform a broad scope of subsea services in Brazil. The services will commence in Q4 2022 and the total contract value is about USD 107 million. AKOFS Offshore will be performing the Skandi Santos operations with its partners Bravante for marine services and IKM Subsea for ROV services.

The Skandi Santos is designed to install and retrieve subsea trees and modules, including subsea structures and manifolds at water depths of up to 2,500 meters. The vessel is now completing its current contract with Petrobras which began March 1, 2010.

AKOFS Offshore, headquartered in Oslo, Norway, is a global provider of vessel based subsea well intervention and installation services to the oil and gas industry. In addition to the vessel "Skandi Santos", it also operates the vessels "Aker Wayfarer" and "AKOFS Seafarer", respectively for Petrobras and Equinor. The Company is owned by Akastor AS (50%), Mitsui & Co., Ltd (25%) and Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (25%).

For further information, please contact:

yvind Paaske

Chief Financial Officer

Tel: +47 917 59 705

E-mail: oyvind.paaske@akastor.com

This press release may include forward-looking information or statements and is subject to our disclaimer; see https://akastor.com.

Akastor is a Norway-based oil-services investment company with a portfolio of industrial holdings and other investments. The company has a flexible mandate for active ownership and long-term value creation.

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com
CALGARY, AB, Dec. 9, 2021 /CNW/ - In a Memorandum of Judgment, the Alberta Court of Appeal dismissed Ashmit Patel's appeal on the basis that it was moot. Patel had appealed the Alberta Securities Commission (ASC) panel's written decision of July 5, 2018, Re Kilimanjaro, 2018 ABASC 106, which ruled that certain documents were either not initially protected by solicitor-client privilege or were initially protected, but any such privilege had been waived. A separate panel of the ASC subsequently ruled on the underlying allegations against Patel and others in Re Kilimanjaro, 2021 ABASC 14, and Re Kilimanjaro, 2021 ABASC 131.

A copy of the Memorandum of Judgment is available at albertasecurities.com.

The ASC is the regulatory agency responsible for administering the province's securities laws. It is entrusted with fostering a fair and efficient capital market in Alberta and with protecting investors. As a member of the Canadian Securities Administrators, the ASC works to improve, coordinate and harmonize the regulation of Canada's capital markets.

SOURCE Alberta Securities Commission

Cision

View original content: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/December2021/09/c7344.html
LONDON, December 09, 2021--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A- (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of "a-" (Excellent) of Conduit Reinsurance Limited (Conduit Re) (Bermuda). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable.

The ratings reflect Conduit Res balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as very strong, as well as its adequate operating performance, limited business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management.

Conduit Res balance sheet strength is supported by its strongest level of risk-adjusted capitalisation, as measured by Bests Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR), which the company is expected to maintain over its five-year start-up phase. Levels of risk-adjusted capitalisation take into account AM Bests additional capital requirements for new company formations. Conduit Re holds a high level of excess capital relative to the scale of its underwriting operations, following a USD 1.1 billion initial public offering of its holding company, Conduit Holdings Limited, in December 2020.

In the first three quarters of 2021, Conduit Res profitability has been impacted by catastrophe losses and elevated expenses as the company achieves scale. Gross premiums written during this period reached USD 291.2 million. The adequate operating performance assessment reflects AM Bests expectations that over the five-year start-up period, Conduit Re will be able to achieve internal capital generation assisted by the companys well-defined business plans, and a favourable pricing environment.

Conduit Re has established relationships with brokers effectively and is on track to achieve its target premium volumes, albeit with a greater share of proportional treaty business than expected as a result of market conditions. The companys reinsurance portfolio already benefits from good diversification of business by line of business and geography. In AM Bests view, Conduit Res will require time to demonstrate and secure its competitive position in the international reinsurance market.

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This press release relates to Credit Ratings that have been published on AM Bests website. For all rating information relating to the release and pertinent disclosures, including details of the office responsible for issuing each of the individual ratings referenced in this release, please see AM Bests Recent Rating Activity web page. For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Guide to Bests Credit Ratings. For information on the proper use of Bests Credit Ratings, Bests Preliminary Credit Assessments and AM Best press releases, please view Guide to Proper Use of Bests Ratings & Assessments.

AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specialising in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.

Copyright  2021 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211209005906/en/

Contacts

Emily Thompson

Financial Analyst

+44 20 7397 0291

emily.thompson@ambest.com

Michael Dunckley, CFA

Associate Director

+44 20 7397 0276

michael.dunckley@ambest.com

Christopher Sharkey

Manager, Public Relations

+1 908 439 2200, ext. 5159

christopher.sharkey@ambest.com

Jim Peavy

Director, Communications

+1 908 439 2200, ext. 5644

james.peavy@ambest.com
FILE PHOTO: The logo of Swiss bank Credit Suisse is seen in Zurich

ZURICH (Reuters) - Credit Suisse plans a sixth payout in December to investors in frozen supply chain finance funds linked to Greensill, the Swiss bank said on Thursday, adding it had recovered around $7.1 billion by the end of November.

In March, Credit Suisse had to suspend $10 billion in funds linked to Greensill and has been paying back the money it recoups in stages.

In an update published on Thursday, it said it was accruing around $145 million in estimated recovery costs for the year 2021.

(Reporting by Oliver Hirt, Writing by Michael Shields)
Rating Action: Moody's affirms DBS Bank (Taiwan) Ltd's A2 deposit ratings; outlook stableGlobal Credit Research - 09 Dec 2021Hong Kong, December 09, 2021 -- Moody's Investors Service has affirmed DBS Bank (Taiwan) Ltd's long-term deposit ratings at A2.Moody's has upgraded the bank's Baseline Credit Assessment (BCA) to baa3 from ba1 and Adjusted BCA to a2 from a3, and affirmed the bank's Counterparty Risk Ratings (CRR) at A1/P-1 and Counterparty Risk (CR) Assessment at A1(cr)/P-1(cr).The outlook on DBS Bank (Taiwan) and its deposit ratings remains stable, reflecting Moody's expectation that the bank will maintain modest but stable asset quality, modest capitalization and strong liquidity profile over the next 12-18 months, while its parent's willingness and capacity to support the bank will remain broadly unchanged.A list of all affected ratings can be found at the end of the press release.RATINGS RATIONALEThe upgrade of DBS Bank (Taiwan)'s BCA to baa3 follows the bank maintaining its financial metrics stable at level consistent with baa3 BCA. Specifically, the bank's asset quality performed better than Moody's previous expectation, despite its relatively high borrower concentration, and it maintained stable capitalization and strong liquidity. The bank's BCA also takes into account the bank's weaker-than-peer profitability.Specifically, Moody's expects the favorable economic conditions in its domicile to support its asset quality, although the bank's impaired loan ratio is still higher than that of Taiwanese bank peers. The impaired loan ratio stood at 1.57% as of the end of June 2021.DBS Bank (Taiwan)'s capitalization is also adequate and stable, with Common Equity Tier 1 ratio at 10.1% as of the end of June 2021. The bank received capital injection from its parent, DBS Bank Ltd. (Aa1 stable, a1) in June 2019, and achieved a modest loan growth during 2019-2020. Having said that, DBS Bank (Taiwan)'s capitalization is still relatively weak compared with rated Taiwanese banks.The bank's profitability, as measured by net income/tangible assets, is weaker than its Taiwanese bank peers, mainly because of higher operating costs due to the bank's smaller scale. Moody's expects DBS Bank (Taiwan)'s profitability to remain broadly stable over the next 12-18 months, supported by the bank's focus on developing its wealth management business to drive non-interest income growth which should result in good fee and commission income growth.DBS Bank (Taiwan) has maintained strong liquidity, with little reliance on market funds, despite a small deposit franchise. The bank is largely funded by customer deposits. DBS Bank (Taiwan) holds ample liquid assets, with a liquidity coverage ratio of 119% for the second quarter of 2021, above the regulatory minimum requirement of 100%.DBS Bank (Taiwan)'s A2 deposit ratings incorporate a four-notch uplift based on Moody's assumption of a very high level of affiliate support from its parent, DBS Bank Ltd., in times of need, given 1) DBS Bank (Taiwan) is strategically important to its parent because of the importance of the Greater China market to DBS Group Holdings Ltd (Aa2 stable); and 2) the parent's strong capacity to provide support, as indicated by DBS Bank's a1 BCA.Moody's does not consider DBS Bank (Taiwan) to operate in an operational resolution regime. Therefore, Moody's applies a basic Loss Given Failure approach in rating DBS Bank (Taiwan)'s liabilities. The Preliminary Rating (PR) Assessment of the bank's deposit is the same as its a2 Adjusted BCA. The PR Assessment of the bank's CRRs and CR Assessment are at a1/a1(cr), one notch above the bank's Adjusted BCA.DBS Bank (Taiwan)'s ratings and CR assessment do not incorporate government support uplift, given the bank's small deposit market share in its domicile.FACTORS THAT COULD LEAD TO AN UPGRADE OR DOWNGRADE OF THE RATINGSDBS Bank (Taiwan)'s deposit ratings can be upgraded if DBS Bank Ltd.'s capacity to support DBS Bank (Taiwan) strengthens.DBS Bank (Taiwan)'s BCA could be upgraded if the bank strengthens its profitability and deposit franchise while maintaining adequate capitalization and good asset-quality metrics, with tangible common equity (TCE)/risk-weighted assets (RWA) above 12%, net income/tangible assets above 0.4% or an impaired loan ratio below 1.5% on a sustained basis.DBS Bank (Taiwan)'s deposit ratings can be downgraded if DBS Bank Ltd.'s capacity or willingness to support DBS Bank (Taiwan) weakens; if DBS Bank (Taiwan)'s strategic importance to DBS Bank diminishes; or if its standalone financial metrics deteriorate materially resulting in BCA downgrade.DBS Bank (Taiwan)'s BCA could be downgraded if the bank's asset quality deteriorates, with its impaired loan ratio rising above 3.0% or capitalization weakens with TCE/RWA falling below 9.0% on a sustained basis.PRINCIPAL METHODOLOGYThe principal methodology used in these ratings was Banks Methodology published in July 2021 and available at https://www.moodys.com/researchdocumentcontentpage.aspx?docid=PBC_1269625. Alternatively, please see the Rating Methodologies page on www.moodys.com for a copy of this methodology.Headquartered in Taipei, DBS Bank (Taiwan) Ltd reported total assets of TWD447.9 billion (or USD16.1 billion) as of 30 September 2021.LIST OF AFFECTED RATINGS AND ASSESSMENTSUpgrades:..Issuer: DBS Bank (Taiwan) Ltd.... Adjusted Baseline Credit Assessment, Upgraded to a2 from a3.... Baseline Credit Assessment, Upgraded to baa3 from ba1Affirmations:..Issuer: DBS Bank (Taiwan) Ltd.... Long-term Counterparty Risk Assessment, Affirmed A1(cr).... Short-term Counterparty Risk Assessment, Affirmed P-1(cr).... Long-term Foreign and Local Currency Counterparty Risk Ratings, Affirmed A1.... Short-term Foreign and Local Currency Counterparty Risk Ratings, Affirmed P-1.... Short-term Foreign and Local Currency Bank Deposit Ratings, Affirmed P-1.... Long-term Foreign and Local Currency Bank Deposit Ratings, Affirmed A2, Outlook Remains StableOutlook Action:..Issuer: DBS Bank (Taiwan) Ltd....Outlook, Remains StableREGULATORY DISCLOSURESFor further specification of Moody's key rating assumptions and sensitivity analysis, see the sections Methodology Assumptions and Sensitivity to Assumptions in the disclosure form. Moody's Rating Symbols and Definitions can be found at: https://www.moodys.com/researchdocumentcontentpage.aspx?docid=PBC_79004.For ratings issued on a program, series, category/class of debt or security this announcement provides certain regulatory disclosures in relation to each rating of a subsequently issued bond or note of the same series, category/class of debt, security or pursuant to a program for which the ratings are derived exclusively from existing ratings in accordance with Moody's rating practices. For ratings issued on a support provider, this announcement provides certain regulatory disclosures in relation to the credit rating action on the support provider and in relation to each particular credit rating action for securities that derive their credit ratings from the support provider's credit rating. For provisional ratings, this announcement provides certain regulatory disclosures in relation to the provisional rating assigned, and in relation to a definitive rating that may be assigned subsequent to the final issuance of the debt, in each case where the transaction structure and terms have not changed prior to the assignment of the definitive rating in a manner that would have affected the rating. For further information please see the ratings tab on the issuer/entity page for the respective issuer on www.moodys.com.For any affected securities or rated entities receiving direct credit support from the primary entity(ies) of this credit rating action, and whose ratings may change as a result of this credit rating action, the associated regulatory disclosures will be those of the guarantor entity. Exceptions to this approach exist for the following disclosures, if applicable to jurisdiction: Ancillary Services, Disclosure to rated entity, Disclosure from rated entity.The ratings have been disclosed to the rated entity or its designated agent(s) and issued with no amendment resulting from that disclosure.These ratings are solicited. Please refer to Moody's Policy for Designating and Assigning Unsolicited Credit Ratings available on its website www.moodys.com.Moody's considers a rated entity or its agent(s) to be participating when it maintains an overall relationship with Moody's. 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The past few days have been a blur for many Oregon Duck fans, ever since the news came out on Monday morning that head coach Mario Cristobal would be leaving Eugene to take his dream job at the University of Miami.

Since then, the decision-makers at Oregon have been scrambling to find a replacement, and try to get him hired before next weeks early signing day so that the Ducks can hopefully not completely lose out on what is a pretty nice recruiting class.

As is always the case in a major coaching search, weve heard a slew of names thrown out as possibilities. Some are mundane and considered safe  your Chip Kellys and Justin Wilcoxs  while others are bold but plausible, such as Baylors Dave Aranda, or BYUs Kalani Sitake.

Related

Report: Oregon Ducks have reached out to Justin Wilcox and Kalani Sitake about coaching vacancy

Then there is the outlandishly exuberant suggestions. Im talking about the candidates who seem far-fetched, but you might be able to convince yourself that the Ducks have a chance to land them, should some crazy things happen.

Those are the guys that we want to talk about here. To be honest, with the money that Oregon was reportedly willing to give Cristobal in order to stay  The Oregonians John Canzano pegged it at 10 years, $85 million  it may not be crazy to think that the Ducks could lure away one of the biggest names in the sport. With that type of money on the table, anyone would have to stop and think about the opportunity.

Well, almost anyone. Its hard to think of Nick Saban ever leaving Alabama, or Jim Harbaugh leaving Michigan. However, weve seen already this season that some high-profile coaches have been willing to undergo a change of scenery for the big bucks, just look at Lincoln Riley and Brian Kelly.

So without further ado, we want to take a look at some long shots. Who are they, and what are the chances that Phil Knight and the Oregon boosters could actually get them to pick up the phone and consider a move to the great northwest?

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The Candidate: Lane Kiffin (Ole Miss)

Lane Kiffins name has been popping up a lot in Oregon circles over the last 24 hours. Some rumors online showed that Kiffin was very interested in taking over as the Ducks head coach, but Canzano put some cold water on that by saying that he wasnt in the mix.

Lane Kiffin not in the mix for Oregon football vacancy, per source.  John Canzano (@johncanzanobft) December 9, 2021

Of course, there are other reports that Phil Knight is interested

Have heard from two Pac-12 sources that Phil Knight is interested in the Lane Train. Don't know if anything will come of it but an interesting slice of the search https://t.co/cL4gvPkL3g  Jon Wilner (@wilnerhotline) December 9, 2021

As is the nature of rumors, who knows what we can believe or not. So while you consider whether you can allow yourself to think about Lane Kiffin wearing the green and yellow, we want to ask whether or not he would actually take the job.

Kiffin just recently signed a contract extension with Ole Miss after an incredibly successful season, but should someone offer him a bag of cash and the opportunity to get out of the gauntlet of SEC play, I have to think he would take it. Give him a chance at making it to the College Football Playoff without having to go through Alabama, Georgia, and LSU to get there? Sign me up.

Kiffins coaching career has beeneventful, to say the least, but his experience should be encouraging for Duck fans. Hes spent time at USC, Oakland, Tennessee, Alabama, Florida Atlantic, and Ole Miss. Hes coached under Nick Saban and learned how to recruit from the best. He may be a bit unhinged when it comes to social media, but hes proved over the years that he can direct players and put them in a position to succeed.

For any fan who is a bit gun-shy at the thought of bringing Kiffin to Eugene, I absolutely get it. Personally, I am all for it. More importantly, I really think that he would consider it. The resources at Oregon and a relatively straight path towards national relevance are hard to pass up on.

Determination: Definitely Possible

The Candidate: Dabo Swinney (Clemson)

Dabo Swinney? Really? The coach who has won a pair of national championships in the past five years and turned Clemson into a dominant power in college football? Do you really think that he would consider jumping ship and traveling across the country to Oregon?

At first glance, it sounds completely insane, I know. However, consider the fact that his defensive coordinator, Brent Venables, was just hired to be the new head coach at Oklahoma, and his offensive coordinator, Tony Elliott, is likely to land a head coaching job at either Virginia or Duke in the coming days. On top of that, Clemsons athletic director Dan Radakovich was just hired as the new AD for the Miami Hurricanes.

Things dont quite look the way they once did at Clemson, and Swinney is coming off his worst season since 2014 with a 9-3 record. Might he consider a change of scenery to revamp his coaching career? It might not be completely insane.

Determination: Unlikely, but not out of the question

The Candidate: Urban Meyer (Jacksonville)

Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

The Oregonians John Canzano reported on Wednesday night that the Ducks were in contact with a coaching candidate who was currently in the NFL. Urban Meyer, who is nearing the end of his first season coaching the Jacksonville Jaguars, was linked to the USC Trojans job earlier in the year, and many think that he might enjoy a trip back to college after struggling to gain any footing at the professional level.

Before we get into his character, we can take a look at his coaching acumen. Yes, Meyer was an incredibly successful college coach, becoming one of only three coaches to win a national championship at two different schools. He succeeded at Utah, he succeeded at Florida, and he succeeded at Ohio State.

Of course, theres more to a man than his record. By all accounts, Meyer is a shady individual who has been cloaked in controversy for much of his career. There were allegations that he covered up a domestic violence abuse case for one of his coaches at Ohio State, and the leaked footage of him getting comfortable with a much younger woman at a bar he owns hours after a loss earlier this season certainly didnt go over well. It seems that the story with Meyer is never about the product on the field, and while he may win games, it comes at a major cost.

Determination: Possible, but please God no

The Candidate: Eric Bieniemy (Kansas City)

Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Eric Bieniemy is another coach who fits the profile of an NFL coach who could be talking to the Ducks. As the offensive coordinator for the Kansas City Chiefs, Bieniemy is regarded as one of the top offensive minds in all of football, and he has repeatedly been in conversations for head coaching jobs at the professional level.

For some reason, he keeps getting passed up, though. Earlier this year, there were some talks that he could take the head coaching job at USC, coming back to the Pac-12 where he played as a running back for the Colorado Buffaloes and coached as the OC for Colorado in 2010.

Its unclear how interested Bieniemy would be in a return to college, though. He was offered the CU head coaching job in 2020, but turned it down, and declined to say whether or not he was interested in the USC job when it opened up. On top of that, it would be extremely difficult for Oregon to hire him since the NFL season runs deep into January and February if a team is good, as the Chiefs typically are. At this point, it feels like Bieniemy is staying put until he can finally get that elusive HC job in the NFL.

Determination: Extremely unlikely

List
VANCOUVER, BC, Dec. 9, 2021 /CNW/ - Elevation Gold Mining Corporation (TSXV: ELVT) (OTCQX: EVGDF) (the "Company" or "Elevation") a U.S. focused gold producer with district scale exploration projects in the Walker Lane Trend of Nevada and Arizona, is pleased to announce the appointment of Tim J. Swendseid as its new Chief Operating Officer.

Elevation Gold Mining Corp. Logo (CNW Group/Elevation Gold Mining Corp.)

Mr. Swendseid has over 35 years of worldwide experience in operating, technical and financial aspects of mining projects. Immediately prior joining Elevation, Tim was the Chief Operating Officer of Boroo Mining at the Lagunas Norte operation in Peru. Previously, Mr. Swendseid held senior industry management positions including SVP Operations and Technical at CMOC International, President of Consulting Services, Americas at RPM Global, General Manager for the Mulatos Mine at Alamos Gold, VP Engineering at Frontera Copper and various management and technical roles at Phelps Dodge. Tim holds a B. S. in Mining Engineering from Montana Tech and an MBA from the University of Arizona. Tim is currently a director of SME (Society of Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration, Inc.).

Michael G. Allen, President of Elevation Gold stated, "On behalf of the Board of Directors of Elevation Gold it is my pleasure to welcome Tim to the Elevation Team. Tim is a results-driven leader with proven accomplishments in complex operations. He is a strong mentor and a champion of safe working practices and attitudes. We look forward to adding his strong technical skill set to the team as we unlock value for all stakeholders of the Moss Mine."

Stock Option Grant

The Company reports stock options have been granted to employees, officers, and consultants of the Company to purchase up to an aggregate of 800,000 shares at a price of C$0.86 per share for a period of five years.

About Elevation Gold Mining

Elevation Gold Mining offers investors a rare combination of cash flow, production, top-tier management, and exceptional exploration potential within two projects on the Walker Lane Gold Trend of western Nevada and Arizona. Management is executing a clear strategy that expands production and resources at the Moss Mine in Arizona while aggressively exploring the Hercules Gold Project in Nevada.

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ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF ELEVATION GOLD MINING CORPORATION

"Michael G. Allen"

President

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information

Certain of the statements made and information contained herein is "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this document constitute forward-looking information, including but not limited to statements regarding the Company's plans with respect to appointing a new Chief Financial Officer. Words such as "believe", "expect", "anticipate", "contemplate", "target", "plan", "goal", "aim", "intend", "continue", "budget", "estimate", "may", "will", "can", "could", "should", "schedule" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements.

All of the forward-looking statements made in this document are qualified by these cautionary statements. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated, forecast or intended and readers are cautioned that the foregoing list is not exhaustive of all factors and assumptions which may have been used. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking information. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate and forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future performance. Readers are advised not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The forward-looking information contained herein speaks only as of the date of this document. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise forwardlooking information or to explain any material difference between such and subsequent actual events, except as required by applicable law.

Cision

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SOURCE Elevation Gold Mining Corp.

Cision

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Earns fourth Asia-Pacific region award in six months; named for fourth consecutive year to global RegTech100

SINGAPORE and NEW YORK, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Eventus Systems, Inc. , a leading global provider of multi-asset class trade surveillance and market risk solutions, announced that the firm today won the award for Best Solution  Market Abuse & Surveillance in the Regulation Asia Awards for Excellence 2021. This is the fourth award win for the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region that Eventus has earned in the past six months for its Validus platform.

Also this week, Eventus was named to the global RegTech100 list for 2022, marking the fourth consecutive year that specialist research firm RegTech Analyst has named the company to its selective list of the world's most innovative solution providers addressing the challenges of regulatory pressures faced by financial institutions.

Vince Turcotte, Eventus Sales Director, Asia Pacific, said of the Regulation Asia award: "It's an honor to receive this award from Regulation Asia as we are firmly dedicated to working closely with clients in the region and around the world in helping them solve evolving and critical regulatory challenges that vary throughout the jurisdictions in which they operate. We're seeing tremendous excitement throughout the APAC region about our highly customizable offering and are growing our team as we expand our client base and presence further."

According to Regulation Asia, the Awards for Excellence are now the most comprehensive awards program for the risk, regulatory and compliance community in Asia-Pacific, recognizing "the continuing excellence of financial services institutions, market infrastructures, technology firms and service providers across the region who ensure the highest compliance standards are upheld despite an ever-changing and increasingly complex regulatory landscape." The award winners are determined by a panel of industry-leading experts who serve as judges.

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In October, Eventus won for Best Trade Surveillance Solution in the RegTech Insight Awards APAC 2021. In September, the firm received the FOW Asia Capital Markets Award for Best New Product  Market Surveillance, and in June, Eventus' Validus platform earned the honor of Best Market Surveillance Tool in the 2021 WatersTechnology Asia Awards. Eventus has now earned more than 20 global awards and honors since late 2018 for its technology, innovation and client service, including 10 recognitions regionally and globally in 2021.

About Eventus Systems

Eventus Systems is a leading global provider of multi-asset class trade surveillance and market risk solutions. Its powerful, award-winning Validus platform is easy to deploy, customize and operate across equities, options, futures, foreign exchange (FX), fixed income and digital asset markets. Validus is proven in the most complex, high-volume and real-time environments of tier-1 banks, broker-dealers, futures commission merchants (FCMs), proprietary trading groups, market centers, buy-side institutions, energy and commodity trading firms, and regulators. The company's rapidly growing client base relies on Validus and Eventus' responsive support and product development teams to overcome its most pressing regulatory challenges. For more, visit www.eventussystems.com .

Cision

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SOURCE Eventus Systems
By Svea Herbst-Bayliss

NEW YORK (Reuters) -A coalition of Exxon Mobil Corp investors wants the oil company to replace its chief executive officer and move more aggressively to slash greenhouse gas emissions, saying its newly appointed board members and management team have not done enough to transition to clean energy or overhaul spending.

Six months after hedge fund Engine No. 1 successfully placed three new directors on Exxon's board, the Coalition for a Responsible Exxon (CURE) said management and the board have been too slow to reshape the company.

Exxon's earnings have recovered from losses in 2020, posting third-quarter earnings of $6.8 billion on the back of rising oil prices, but the company has taken a slower approach to energy transition investment than most other oil majors.

"CURE awards the new board an overall grade of D- for failing to make any tangible progress on the targets set by us, other shareholders and independent observers at the time of the annual meeting," CURE, which has 145 members and oversees $2.5 trillion in assets, said in a report released on Thursday.

The group said Exxon's corporate plans to 2027, released earlier this month, do not meet a climate transition plan consistent with holding the rise in the world's temperature to 1.5 degrees Celsius. The group said the plan fails to set segment-specific reduction targets for Exxon's midstream and downstream businesses.

Exxon set annual capital spending through 2027 at $20 billion to $25 billion, allocating money to low-carbon projects and extending its previously projected investment rate for two years.

The company said its plans increase spending to $15 billion on greenhouse gas emission-reduction projects over the next six years while maintaining disciplined capital investments in its industry-leading portfolio.

"The plans support the corporate strategy of continued structural cost savings, investment in low-cost-of-supply and lower-emission products, and further portfolio high-grading, positioning the company to double earnings and cash flow by 2027 versus 2019," Exxon spokesman Casey Norton said.

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He added that the company is on track to meet its 2025 greenhouse gas emission-reduction plans by the end of 2021, four years ahead of schedule, and said the company developed more aggressive plans for further Scope 1 and Scope 2 reductions through 2030, consistent with Paris Agreement pathways.

GROUP TARGETS CEO

The coalition again pushed Exxon to split its chairman and chief executive posts.

Exxon, one of America's most well-known brands, has five new directors, including three voted in by shareholders earlier this year. CURE previously said the company's willingness to appoint the new directors signaled it "may intend to change."

CURE is now calling for CEO Darren Woods to be replaced and for the company to appoint an independent board chairman. The group also said the company's CEO and other top executives should receive incentive packages tied to achieving the 1.5 degree-aligned greenhouse gas targets.

The coalition also took issue with Woods' pay, noting that he was paid millions even as the company's value declined by billions of dollars in recent years.

(Reporting by Svea Herbst-Bayliss; Editing by Richard Pullin and Paul Simao)
General Motors has spent the past year securing a domestic supply chain for the millions of electric vehicles it plans to produce by the end of the decade, everything from battery cell manufacturing and cathode active materials to lithium and even recycling that will turn scrap into raw materials.

Now it's locking in a domestic source of rare earth minerals, alloy and finished magnets for the electric motors it will use in its upcoming barrage of EVs including the GMC Hummer EC, Cadillac Lyriq and Chevrolet Silverado EV through a partnership with MP Materials and another separate deal with Vacuumschmelze (VAC) of Germany. The upshot: two new facilities will be built in the United States, bolstering the domestic production of rare earth magnets.

And GM will need a lot of magnets, which are a key component of electric motors that helps create the torque that propels a vehicle's wheels. The automaker plans to bring 30 new EVs to the global market by 2025 and to transition to an all zero-emission portfolio by 2035. The GMC Hummer alone may have many as three motors with up to 11,500 pound-feet of torque.

Under the partnership with VAC, GM and the German company will build a plant in the U.S. that will manufacture permanent magnets for the electric motors. The agreement with VAC is non-binding at the moment. GM executives said in a briefing call Thursday that the two companies are expected to finalize definitive agreements in early 2022. The plant is expected to start production in 2024. The location of the facility will be announced at a later date, the companies said.

The agreement with MP Materials is more of a mines-to-magnets partnership. Rare earth materials will be mined and processed at MP Materials' mine in California, then transformed into metal and magnets in a new 200,000-square-foot facility in Fort Worth, Texas. Recycling will be integrated at both locations, according to MP.

The facility, pictured in a rendering below, will produce NdFeB alloy and magnets with the potential to power about 500,000 EV motors per year, the companies said. A gradual production ramp is expected to begin in 2023.

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GM and MP Materials Fort Worth Magnet Facility

Image Credits: MP Materials

The deal is a notable one for MP Materials, which owns and operates the only active and scaled rare earth production site in the United States. The Mountain Pass site, once the world's largest producer of rare earths, has moved through a few hands over the past several decades. Chevron sold it to a company called Molycorp in 2008. The company intended to restart and even expand the mine but eventually was forced into bankruptcy.

MP Materials acquired Mountain Pass in July 2017. The site wasn't operational, according to MP and just eight employees were left to care and maintain it. MP has since restarted operations and by 2020 the Mountain Pass site, pictured below, produced more than 38,500 metric tons of rare earth contained in concentrate, representing more than 15% of global production according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

MP Material Mountain Pass rare earth mine

Image Credits: MP Materials

It's also a milestone for advocates of U.S.-based rare earth production. Rare earth materials can be found all over the world and were once mined in the United States. But companies stopped mining rare earths by 2003, opting instead to buy them from China. Today, nearly all of the mining is in China .The development of Neodymium-iron-boron (or NdFeB) permanent magnets  which are used in electric motors  began in the United States, but today the main producers are in China, Brazil and India. China has about 90% of the sintered rare earth magnet capacity.

The Fort Worth facility will be be used to supply NdFeB alloy flake to other magnet producers to help develop a diverse and resilient U.S. magnet supply chain, GM and MP Materials said in their joint announcement. MP Materials said the Fort Worth facility will consume less than 10% of the 6,075 tonnes of NdPr oxide it expects to produce annually at Mountain Pass.

GM announced in October another non-binding agreement with General Electric's clean energy arm GE Renewables to collaborate on the supply of rare earth materials and to look for ways to improve supplies of magnets, copper and electrical steel. The two companies announced intentions at the time to also explore new supply chains for copper and "eSteel," a material composed in part of recycled materials, to be used in automotive traction motors and renewable power generation.

That deal still appears to be moving forward. A GM spokesperson said in an email that "collaboration is an important component of building a strong, resilient and scalable North America-focused EV supply chain. We are still in the process of finalizing definitive agreements."
CHICAGO, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- According to a research report "Integration Platform as a Service Market with COVID-19 Impact Analysis, by Service Type (API Management, B2B Integration, Data Integration), Deployment Model (Public and Private Cloud), Organization Size, Vertical and Region - Global Forecast to 2026", published by MarketsandMarkets, the IPaaS Market size to reach USD 13.9 billion by 2026, at a CAGR of 30.3% between 2021 and 2026. The growing adoption of hybrid and multi-cloud infrastructure, exponentially increasing cloud real-time monitoring services, and need for business agility, faster deployment, and scalability are expected to spur the growth of iPaaS Market.

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The growing adoption of IoT across industries, exponentially increasing data volumes and network traffic and rising demand for low-latency processing and real-time, automated decision-making solutions are a few factors driving the growth of the edge computing.

Adoption of application integration has become critical in order to improve business efficiency, enhance scalability, and reduce IT costs

Application integration is an integration framework that forms middleware, a collection of technologies and services to enable the integration of systems and applications across an enterprise. Small and large organizations implement application integration as it has become a mission-critical priority to connect different applications and support application collaboration across the enterprise to improve the overall business efficiency, enhance scalability, and reduce IT costs. MuleSoft, Oracle, IBM, and Informatica are some of the major players offering application integration services.

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Private cloud deployment enables an enterprise to have more control over their server, infrastructure and systems according to business requirements.

Private cloud is a secure cloud-based environment that offers a high level of security, enabling end users to store and process critical data within the firewall of an enterprise. This deployment model enables an enterprise to have more control over the server, infrastructure, and systems that can be configured as per the business requirements. The private cloud deployment model reduces the risks, security issues, and the regulatory hurdles associated with the cloud. Private cloud is popular among enterprises that want a secure and reliable environment to store mission-critical data. The security concerns associated with storage are addressed through secure access of a Virtual Private Network (VPN) or by providing the physical location within the enterprise firewall system. In industries such as healthcare and pharmaceutical, transfer of data to the cloud would mean violation of norms, and hence, private cloud is preferred. Though private cloud provides highly secured, central storage, and authorized access, it does not deliver short-term economies that the public cloud does.

Large Enterprises are choosing iPaaS due to ease of operations and enhanced scalability

The intensely competitive market scenario has encouraged SMEs to invest in iPaaS solutions to reach their desired target audience. The traction of iPaaS solutions in large enterprises is said to be higher than SMEs. This is due to their ability to adapt as well as leverage the benefits of advanced technologies. The ever-increasing amount of data drives the need to invest in IT infrastructure. The mentioned factors allow enterprises to provide a solution through real-time access of data to the employees. Large enterprises are adopting iPaaS solutions to enhance the operational efficiency of their businesses across regions. They are expected to invest significantly to implement suitable iPaaS service types, which would enable enterprises to save on infrastructure costs, improve business functioning, and sustain in intense competition

The recent advancements in technology are revolutionizing the point of sale and supply for retail and consumer goods industry; thus, creating new opportunities and avenues for revenue and growth.

The retail and consumer goods industry has emerged as one of the most dynamic and fast-paced industries in terms of the adoption of advanced technologies. Thus, iPaaS technology will quickly be adopted during the forecast period as the premier way to integrate software as its benefits to retailers and consumers become more well known. Recent advancements in technology are revolutionizing the points of sale (POS) and supply, creating new opportunities and avenues for revenue and growth.

To achieve agility, retailers evolve their IT systems toward a flexible, event-driven IT infrastructure that allows different applications to share and analyze information in real-time to determine the next best interaction with their customers. Companies such as IBM, MuleSoft, and Scribe Software are the major players in this vertical.

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North America to dominate the iPaaS Market in 2021

North America is one of the most technologically advanced regions in the world. It comprises the US and Canada and accounts for the largest share of the global edge computing market due to the early adoption of the by the US markets. North American enterprises are the early adopters of cutting-edge technologies, such as cloud, AI, ML, and big data analytics. The region has sustainable and well-established economies, which increasingly invest in R&D activities to develop new technologies. Along with large enterprises, the adoption of iPaaS by mid-sized and small enterprises has also contributed to the growth of the market in North America. The presence of most key vendors of iPaaS solutions has contributed to the market growth in the region. Vendors such as Informatica, Boomi, Oracle, MuleSoft, Jitterbit, SnapLogic, IBM, Workato, and Microsoft, along with several startups in the region, offer iPaaS solutions to cater to customers requirements. The high adoption of the mobile workforce and cloud technology is driving the North American market growth. North America is the most mature market in the cloud integration services market as most large enterprises are located in this region. The US contributes the maximum share in the iPaaS Market. There are various factors driving the adoption of iPaaS in this region such as diversification of services being delivered and shift of focus from SaaS to cloud services for infrastructure & platforms. Another factor is the increasing need to integrate data and processes between the public cloud and on-premises applications. The US government developed the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP), which provides a standardized approach to security assessment, authorization, and continuous monitoring for cloud products and services. The market has been steadily showing positive trends in the region as several companies and industries are adopting cloud integration services and solutions at various levels as part of their business strategy to sustain in the market and increase their productivity.

Key Players:

The iPaaS Market is dominated by companies such as Informatica (US), Boomi Inc. (US), SAP SE (Germany), Oracle Corporation (US), MuleSoft LLC (US), Jitterbit Inc. (US), Workato Inc. (US), SnapLogic Inc. (US), Software AG (Germany), IBM Corporation (US), Microsoft Corporation (US), Tibco (US), Celigo (US), and Zapier (US). These vendors have a large customer base and strong geographic footprint along with organized distribution channels, which helps them to increase revenues.

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Rating Action: Moody's affirms B2 ratings on Turkish cities of Istanbul and Izmir with negative outlookGlobal Credit Research - 08 Dec 2021Frankfurt am Main, December 08, 2021 -- Moody's Investors Service ("Moody's") has today affirmed the B2 long-term issuer and senior unsecured debt ratings of the Metropolitan Municipality of Istanbul and the B2 long-term issuer ratings assigned to the Metropolitan Municipality of Izmir. At the same time, Moody's has downgraded the National Scale long-term issuer rating of Izmir to A1.tr from Aa3.tr. The outlooks on both municipalities remain negative.Today's rating action follows the affirmation of the Turkish government's B2 bond rating with negative outlook. For further information, refer to the sovereign press release: https://www.moodys.com/research/--PR_458469RATINGS RATIONALERATIONALE FOR THE RATING AFFIRMATIONSToday's rating action reflects the cities' record of persistently strong operating performance, which is continuing despite the pandemic crisis thanks to strong tax revenue dynamics fueled by growing economies, high tax generation capacity and flexibility to withstand adverse development. It also takes into account the cities' huge investment needs over the next years to sustain rapid urbanization.Both cities displayed strong gross operating balances (GOB) in 2020, with the City of Istanbul posting an improved GOB of 33% of operating revenue from 28% a year before, while Izmir's GOB remained overall stable at 43% of operating revenue. In 2021, Moody's expects strong increases in tax revenues benefitting from this year's extraordinary real GDP growth rate of 9%. Inflation-adjusted operating expenditures growth has remained under control (except interest costs), despite increased responsibilities due to the coronavirus pandemic, which will continue to put pressure on cities' finances. As a result, Moody's expects the City of Istanbul to maintain its strong GOB at around 30% of operating revenue, while Izmir will post a stronger operating performance, with GOB at 45% of operating revenue.These levels of operating balances provide a good funding source for Istanbul and Izmir's traditionally very high capital expenditures. However, the cities' huge investment needs driven by the fast population growth and rapid urbanization translate into growing pressure on their finances, resulting in financing deficit-to-total revenue ratio of 9.4% for Istanbul and 21.5% for Izmir in 2020, a trend which is expected to continue in 2021 and 2022.The rating affirmation also takes into account Istanbul and Izmir's robust and diversified economic bases contributing 30% and 8% to the national GDP, respectively, with wealth levels well above the national average that enable them to rely on a relatively stable tax revenue base and remain resilient to adverse economic shocks. In addition, both cities have large asset bases, which could help mitigate potential pressure on their finances in the medium term in case of need.Istanbul and Izmir are rated on par with the Turkish government bond rating of B2 negative. Due to their close institutional, financial and operational linkages with the Turkish government, Istanbul and Izmir cannot act independently of the sovereign and do not have enough financial flexibility to permit their credit quality to be stronger than that of the sovereign. In Moody's view, the current operating environment, which is marked by high inflation and currency volatility, constrain the predictability and stability of Istanbul and Izmir's revenue raising powers and service responsibilities.The B2 ratings incorporate a Baseline Credit Assessment (BCA) of b2 assigned to the cities of Istanbul and Izmir.RATIONALE FOR MAINTAINING THE NEGATIVE OUTLOOKSThe negative outlook on both cities reflects their high and growing debt with high FX exposures.Istanbul and Izmir will further increase their debt levels during 2021-22, ranging from 100% to 110% of operating revenue, respectively. Both cities display very high exposure to FX, with Istanbul and Izmir having respectively around 80% and 75% of their direct debt stock denominated in foreign currency. The growing fiscal pressure stemming from Turkish lira depreciation - by nearly 30% since the central bank started to ease monetary policy in September - has an impact on the cities' debt increase and growing debt servicing costs, which reduces their debt affordability.The negative outlook also mirrors the outlook of the Government of Turkey.ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL, GOVERNANCE CONSIDERATIONSEnvironmental considerations are material to Istanbul and Izmir's ratings. Istanbul and Izmir's main risks relates to high level of carbon intensity and greenhouse gas emissions within their economies.Social considerations are material to Istanbul and Izmir's ratings. Both cities have a favourable demographic profile, but with the fast-growing population and recent expansion of the cities' boundaries, the overall provision of services to the population falls short of the standards in most OECD countries.Governance risks are material to Istanbul and Izmir's ratings. Istanbul and Izmir have shown an ability to manage complex projects in the rapidly growing cities and provide services within the metropolitan areas with a population of 15 million and 4.5 million, respectively. Their debt management has an impact on cities' profile, mainly due to exposure to foreign currency risk.The specific economic indicators, as required by EU regulation, are not available for these entities. The following national economic indicators are relevant to the sovereign rating, which was used as an input to this credit rating action.Sovereign Issuer: Turkey, Government ofGDP per capita (PPP basis, US$): 30,449 (2020 Actual) (also known as Per Capita Income)Real GDP growth (% change): 1.8% (2020 Actual) (also known as GDP Growth)Inflation Rate (CPI, % change Dec/Dec): 14.6% (2020 Actual)Gen. Gov. Financial Balance/GDP: -4.2% (2020 Actual) (also known as Fiscal Balance)Current Account Balance/GDP: -4.9% (2020 Actual) (also known as External Balance)External debt/GDP: [not available]Economic resiliency: ba2Default history: At least one default event (on bonds and/or loans) has been recorded since 1983.SUMMARY OF MINUTES FROM RATING COMMITTEEOn 02 December 2021, a rating committee was called to discuss the rating of the Istanbul, Metropolitan Municipality of; Izmir, Metropolitan Municipality of. The main points raised during the discussion were: The issuer's governance and/or management, have not materially changed. The issuer's fiscal or financial strength, including its debt profile, has not materially changed. The systemic risk in which the issuer operates has not materially changed.The sovereign action on Turkey published on Friday 3 December 2021 required the publication of these credit rating actions on a date that deviates from the previously scheduled release date in the sovereign release calendar, published on www.moodys.com.FACTORS THAT COULD LEAD TO AN UPGRADE OR DOWNGRADE OF THE RATINGSAn upgrade of the cities' ratings will require a similar change in Turkey's sovereign rating provided that the cities show improving financial and debt metrics.A deterioration of the sovereign credit strength would apply downward pressure on Istanbul and Izmir's ratings given the close financial and operational linkages with the central government.Downward ratings pressure may arise from a sustained growth in debt and debt servicing costs, triggered by further currency depreciation and the knock-on effect from outstanding FX-debt. Any concern in access to funding sources would also trigger a negative rating action.The principal methodology used in these ratings was Regional and Local Governments published in January 2018 and available at https://www.moodys.com/researchdocumentcontentpage.aspx?docid=PBC_1091595. Alternatively, please see the Rating Methodologies page on www.moodys.com for a copy of this methodology.The weighting of all rating factors is described in the methodology used in this credit rating action, if applicable.Moody's National Scale Credit Ratings (NSRs) are intended as relative measures of creditworthiness among debt issues and issuers within a country, enabling market participants to better differentiate relative risks. NSRs differ from Moody's global scale credit ratings in that they are not globally comparable with the full universe of Moody's rated entities, but only with NSRs for other rated debt issues and issuers within the same country. NSRs are designated by a ".nn" country modifier signifying the relevant country, as in ".za" for South Africa. For further information on Moody's approach to national scale credit ratings, please refer to Moody's Credit rating Methodology published in May 2016 entitled "Mapping National Scale Ratings from Global Scale Ratings". While NSRs have no inherent absolute meaning in terms of default risk or expected loss, a historical probability of default consistent with a given NSR can be inferred from the GSR to which it maps back at that particular point in time. For information on the historical default rates associated with different global scale rating categories over different investment horizons, please see https://www.moodys.com/researchdocumentcontentpage.aspx?docid=PBC_1280297.REGULATORY DISCLOSURESFor further specification of Moody's key rating assumptions and sensitivity analysis, see the sections Methodology Assumptions and Sensitivity to Assumptions in the disclosure form. Moody's Rating Symbols and Definitions can be found at: https://www.moodys.com/researchdocumentcontentpage.aspx?docid=PBC_79004.For ratings issued on a program, series, category/class of debt or security this announcement provides certain regulatory disclosures in relation to each rating of a subsequently issued bond or note of the same series, category/class of debt, security or pursuant to a program for which the ratings are derived exclusively from existing ratings in accordance with Moody's rating practices. For ratings issued on a support provider, this announcement provides certain regulatory disclosures in relation to the credit rating action on the support provider and in relation to each particular credit rating action for securities that derive their credit ratings from the support provider's credit rating. 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Exceptions to this approach exist for the following disclosures, if applicable to jurisdiction: Ancillary Services, Disclosure to rated entity, Disclosure from rated entity.The ratings have been disclosed to the rated entity or its designated agent(s) and issued with no amendment resulting from that disclosure.These ratings are solicited. Please refer to Moody's Policy for Designating and Assigning Unsolicited Credit Ratings available on its website www.moodys.com.Regulatory disclosures contained in this press release apply to the credit rating and, if applicable, the related rating outlook or rating review.Moody's general principles for assessing environmental, social and governance (ESG) risks in our credit analysis can be found at http://www.moodys.com/researchdocumentcontentpage.aspx?docid=PBC_1288235.The Global Scale Credit Rating on this Credit Rating Announcement was issued by one of Moody's affiliates outside the UK and is endorsed by Moody's Investors Service Limited, One Canada Square, Canary Wharf, London E14 5FA under the law applicable to credit rating agencies in the UK. 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Company's Selective MMSET Inhibitor on Track for IND Submission in 1H 2022

Lori Kunkel, M.D., joins the Board of Directors as an Independent Director

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- K36 Therapeutics, Inc. ("K36"), a privately held biotechnology company developing breakthrough therapies for the unmet medical needs of cancer patients, announced today its $30 million Series A financing co-led by F-Prime Capital and Atlas Venture with Eight Roads Ventures. The funds will be used to advance the company's lead candidate, KTX-1001, through its first clinical proof-of-concept studies. KTX-1001 is a first-in-class, selective inhibitor of the histone methyltransferase (HMT) MMSET, which is overexpressed in up to 20% of multiple myeloma patients due to a t(4;14) translocation. The company plans to submit an IND for KTX-1001 in the first half of 2022.

K36 Therapeutics Logo

"We are developing KTX-1001 to provide a targeted therapy that specifically addresses the underlying cause of cancer for these multiple myeloma patients. KTX-1001 will be the first therapeutic agent to enter the clinic that directly targets overexpression of MMSET," said Terry Connolly, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of K36. "I am excited to be leading an experienced team of drug developers and working with our tremendous group of clinical advisors as we advance this program to rapid human POC studies."

K36 also announced that industry veteran, Lori Kunkel, M.D., has joined the company's board of directors, bringing with her more than two decades of experience in oncology and immunology drug development, commercialization and corporate strategy.

"Direct inhibition of MMSET as a potential treatment for high-risk t(4;14)-positive multiple myeloma has been eagerly pursued for many years, and I am delighted to be working with the team who is first to take this precision medicine to the clinic," said K36 board member Lori Kunkel, M.D.

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"K36 has the potential to address a significant unmet medical need in multiple myeloma patients who are t(4;14)-positive and beyond," said Chong Xu, Ph.D., F-Prime Capital Partner and K36 board member. "This investment reflects our confidence in the K36 team and their ability to rapidly advance the development of KTX-1001. We are proud to support the company on its mission to develop therapies for cancer patients on a global scale."

"K36 has assembled a world-class team of drug developers and clinical advisors and is now well funded to progress KTX-1001 through the clinic," said Jason Rhodes, Atlas Venture Partner and K36 board member. "We look forward to working with the K36 team as the company progresses into its next stage of growth."

Board of Directors

Chong Xu, Ph.D., Partner, F-Prime Capital

Jason Rhodes, Partner, Atlas Venture

Lori Kunkel, M.D., Independent Director

Terry Connolly, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer, K36 Therapeutics

About K36 Therapeutics ("K36")

K36 Therapeutics was established with the mission to translate epigenetic modulation of oncogenic pathways into first-in-class small molecule therapies. Its vision is to create breakthrough therapies for the unmet medical needs of cancer patients worldwide.

About KTX-1001

KTX-1001 is an orally bioavailable small molecule and a selective inhibitor of MMSET (also known as NSD2 and WHSC1). The worldwide intellectual property rights to KTX-1001 were exclusively licensed by K36 from Novartis Pharmaceuticals.

About F-Prime

F-Prime Capital is a global venture capital firm investing in healthcare and technology. For the past 50 years, our independent venture capital group has had the privilege of backing great entrepreneurs building groundbreaking companies.

With over $2 billion dollars under management and a global portfolio of more than 200 companies, we champion those dedicated to creating positive change in the world. In healthcare, we focus on therapeutics, medtech and health IT & services in a stage-agnostic fashion. Our healthcare fund has created or co-created 23 companies including Denali, Beam, Innovent, Orchard and Sana and has helped build many others including Blueprint Medicines, Iora Health, PatientPing, Devoted and Ultragenyx. F-Prime portfolio companies have seen more than 28 products and drugs approved by regulatory agencies worldwide. Our team of investors, engineers, doctors and scientists is committed to bringing the insight, domain expertise and relationships required to help our companies make a transformational impact.

For more information, please visit www.fprimecapital.com

About Atlas Venture

Atlas Venture is a leading biotech venture capital firm. With the goal of doing well by doing good, we have been building breakthrough biotech startups since 1993. We work side by side with exceptional scientists and entrepreneurs to translate high-impact science into medicines for patients. Our seed-led venture creation strategy rigorously selects and focuses investment on the most compelling opportunities to build scalable businesses and realize value.

For more information, please visit www.atlasventure.com

About Eight Roads

Eight Roads is a global venture capital firm backed by Fidelity, managing over $8bn of assets across offices in China, India, Japan, Europe and the US. The flexible nature of our capital means we can back and build innovative businesses looking to disrupt or lead their chosen markets. With over 50-year history of investing in healthcare and technology, Eight Roads has partnered with more than 300 game-changing and fast-growing companies globally.

Eight Roads has over 25 years of venture capital experience in China and has backed over 130 companies in the country's healthcare and technology sectors such as Alibaba, Adagene, Asia Info, BangEr, Eyebright, FenBeiTong, Innovent, Innovusion, Kyligence, Medbanks, MediTrust, PingPong, Pony.ai, WuXi Apptec, etc.

For more information, please visit www.eightroads.com

For more information visit:

www.k36tx.com

https://www.linkedin.com/company/k36-therapeutics

K36 MEDIA CONTACT:

Michelle Kim | mkim@k36tx.com

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SOURCE K36 Therapeutics, Inc.
The Kenyan fintech Kwara was launched in 2019 to help credit unions (savings and credit cooperatives societies, SACCOs) in the East African country shift to digital platforms by providing them with its proprietary backend-as-a-service (BaaS) software.

The startups trajectory has been steep, as its clientele shot up from two to 50 in just over two years. This is as it became clearer to the countrys cooperative credit unions that they needed more technology to remain competitive.

Kwara is now moving a step further to build the next-generation neobank that will give credit union members access to instant loans and third-party services such as insurance, as the startup moves to offer end-to-end solutions to its clients.

The startup has raised $4 million in a seed round to build a neobank app that will enable individuals to sign up with their preferred credit unions to access various financial services.

We want to make credit unions as efficient as they can be by giving their members the kind of neobank experiences they wish to have, Kwara co-founder and CEO, Cynthia Wandia told TechCrunch.

This is expected to open up new borderless avenues for the lending institutions to sign up new members and help credit unions shift away from tedious paper-based systems and the need for elaborate brick-and-mortar branches. Members using the app, which is set for launch mid next year, will be able to track their personal financial flows from the app too.

The beta version of the app has been tested for feasibility, with an uptake of between 60% and 90%, Kwara co-founder and COO, David Hwan said.

The app gives power to the members, who have the ability to view and download their financial statements, apply for loans and make repayments. By giving power to the members, we are extending the freedom that credit unions need to focus on their core business or more value-added tasks, said Hwan.

Kwara is building a neobank for credit unions. Image Credits: Kwara

Kwara said that its existing clients have experienced a membership growth of over 19% year on year, three times the global average, as the loan base of credit unions using its technologies went up 46%, about five times the national average. On its platform, Kwara supported $40 million in transactions between credit unions and their members.

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Credit unions leveraging technology also boast member confidence and trust, which, in turn, yield new signups. Wandia said that Kwara is helping them to run a modern banking business since with the right support they are banks waiting to happen.

Right from the start, we decided to give our clients something that they could use to become a bank.

I think that's made a big difference in a short amount of time in terms of building up the credibility on the product side because we were able to come to the table with a product that just out of the gate could run a bank, which is unusual, because normally that type of stuff is completely out of their price range, she said.

Kwara has over the last year entered South Africa and Philippines, as the demand for its services grew beyond Kenya. It hopes to triple the number of credit unions using its software to 150 by the end of 2022. The startup currently serves 60,000 Sacco members but is also looking to cross the 100,000 mark by the end of next year. The startups goal is to serve 1 billion people by 2030.

Wandia said that from the onset, it was clear that Kwara would expand beyond Kenya as they quickly discovered that most credit unions, especially those in emerging markets, had not caught the wave of technology.

Kwara has also started forging alliances with companies, to offer third-party services on its app. The startup recently partnered with Lami Technologies, a Kenyan-based digital insurance company, to make accessible a wide range of insurance products including health, property, business and life covers on the app. This is as the startup continues to perfect its app in readiness for a full launch next year.

The seed round was led by Breega VC firm, with participation of SoftBank Vision Fund Emerge, Finca Ventures, New General Market Partners, Globivest and Do Good Invest. Other investors include Rabacap, Launch Africa, Norrsken Impact Accelerator, Future Africa, Samurai Incubate, DOB Equity and fintech angels.

Over the years, weve seen an increasing interest in how to build wealth through community, as well as a shift in consumer preferences toward digital-first banking. Kwaras unique approach is a catalyst for a new way of retail banking through digital-first credit unions, said Breegas founding partner, Ben Marrel.

Credit unions are usually formed by people with a common interest or members of an industry, like farmers or teachers, who buy shares in the institution, save money and take loans. They are popular in Kenya owing to their low-interest-rate loans and ease in accessing credit when compared to conventional banks. About 175 credit unions are licensed in Kenya to serve nearly 4.1 million members countrywide -- a vast majority remain unlicensed.

According to Kenyas monetary authority, the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK), the total assets of licensed credit unions grew 13.5% last year to reach $5.6 billion. Member deposits and the appetite for loans also continued to grow but they also became vulnerable to cyberattacks due to their weak technology. The regulator recommended that they shift to better technologies to protect member deposits, solutions that Kwara is now providing.

We are building the infrastructure and rails for the credit unions and their members to connect to everything that's already out there, Hwan said.
The company behind a 3D-printed pod which can help carry out assisted suicide has said it is confident it could be used in Switzerland as early as next year.

Sarco commissioned a Swiss legal expert, who found that the machine did not break any laws in the country.

But other lawyers questioned his findings.

And assisted-suicide organisation Dignitas said it would be unlikely to meet "much acceptance".

Assisted suicide, in which somebody is given the means to end their own life, is legal in Switzerland. About 1,300 people died there in this way in 2020.

Both assisted suicide and euthanasia, in which a doctor ends the life of somebody who wants to die, are illegal in the UK.

Legal debate

The current method used in Switzerland is to provide the person with a series of liquids that, if ingested, will end the person's life.

By contrast, the pod - which can be placed anywhere - is flooded with nitrogen, reducing the oxygen levels rapidly.

The process would make the person inside lose consciousness and die in approximately 10 minutes.

The suicide pod is activated from the inside and also has an emergency button to exit.

Daniel Huerlimann, a legal expert and assistant professor at the University of St Gallen, was asked by Sarco to explore whether the use of the suicide pod would break any Swiss laws.

He told the BBC that his findings suggested the pod "did not constitute a medical device", so would not be covered by the Swiss Therapeutic Products Act.

He also believed it would not fall foul of laws governing the use of nitrogen, weapons or product safety.

"This means that the pod is not covered by Swiss law," he said.

But Kerstin Noelle Vkinger, a doctor, lawyer and professor at the University of Zurich, told Swiss newspaper Neue Zurcher Zeitung: "Medical devices are regulated because they are supposed to be safer than other products. Just because a product is not beneficial to health does not mean that it is not also affected by these additional safety requirements."

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And Dignitas told the BBC: "For 35 years now, through the two Swiss Exit groups and for 23 years also with Dignitas, Switzerland has the practice of professional accompanied suicide with trained staff, in co-operation with physicians.

"In the light of this established, safe and professionally conducted/supported practice, we would not imagine that a technologised capsule for a self-determined end of life will meet much acceptance or interest in Switzerland."

Dr Death

If the machine gets the go-ahead for use in Switzerland, the pod will not be offered for sale in the conventional way.

Instead, the capsule's creator Dr Philip Nitschke, said he planned to make the blueprints available so anyone could download the design. This will be made available for free.

His aim is to "de-medicalise the dying process", he said in an interview published on the Exit International website, a voluntary assisted dying charity which he founded.

"We want to remove any kind of psychiatric review from the process and allow the individual to control the method themselves."

He has long campaigned for the right to die, earning him the nickname "Dr Death".

Currently there are two prototypes of the Sarco pod, with a third being printed in the Netherlands.

Dr Nitschke has previously faced criticism for the pod, with some saying that its futuristic design glamourises suicide.

If you or someone you know has been affected by this story, please visit the BBC Action Line
- Market-leading SaaS banking platform is now valued at nearly 5 billion, making it the largest private fundraise to date for a banking software platform

- The round is led by EQT Growth, which shares and will support Mambu's commitment to sustainability, diversity and inclusion and workplace innovation

- With over 200 customers and over 50 million end users across Europe, North America, Asia Pacific, the Middle East, and Latin America, Mambu's Q3 2021 revenues are up 120% compared to Q3 2020

- Mambu plans to accelerate investments in new areas of innovation for its next-generation banking platform, build on its strategic commercial partnerships and to deepen its already-global footprint and customer success services

LONDON and AMSTERDAM, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Mambu , a market-leading, modern SaaS banking platform, has announced raising 235 million in an EQT Growth-led Series E funding round, the largest financing round to date for a banking software platform. The funding brings the company's valuation to 4.9 billion post money, making it one of the highest-valued B2B SaaS companies founded in Europe.

As consumers and businesses alike are increasingly demanding frictionless digital banking experiences, Mambu's SaaS banking platform accelerates and simplifies the way financial products are built and deployed by financial institutions. Powering both the creation of new fintechs as well as the migration of existing financial institutions onto more modern tech stacks, Mambu counts banks, lenders, fintechs and financial institutions as its customers, with over 50 million end users leveraging Mambu's technology every day. The banking and securities enterprise software market is over 100 billion in size and experiencing double-digit annual growth, according to Gartner.

Demonstrating the accelerating and widespread global need for modern banking software, Mambu has delivered year-on-year growth of more than 120% in Q3 of 2021. The company has signed over 40 customers in 2021 to date, with more than 55% of new customers now being won outside of Europe, and significant commercial deployments across the globe including N26, Raiffeisen Bank, BancoEstado and ABN Amro. With 800 employees globally, Mambu continues to invest in its people and the community, and has a top-decile employee satisfaction score, a progressive flexible work environment with a four-day summer schedule and a bold ESG and sustainability strategy for the years ahead.

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Mambu will use its fresh funding to further accelerate innovation in its next-generation platform, with the ambition of rolling out both new functional as well as technical capabilities. The company will also continue to expand its already-global footprint and customer success model to further support its international customer base which is active across 65 countries today, with specific focus on twelve key markets.

The round is led by EQT Growth, the growth equity strategy of the purpose-driven global investment organization EQT. Mambu and EQT Growth share an absolute commitment to responsible investing and diversity and inclusion. EQT was the first private markets firm to formalize science based targets to address climate change and one of the first companies in the world to have enshrined its Statement of Purpose to have a positive impact into its Articles of Association. As well as supporting Mambu's commitment to sustainability, D&I and financial inclusion, EQT Growth plans to work closely with the company to support its further global expansion, platform innovation, and ramp-up of key hires across the growing platform.

Eugene Danilkis, co-founder and CEO of Mambu said: "Our vision in creating Mambu was always to create an industry-leading platform that will enable more than a billion people to have brilliant banking experiences. We want to be able to empower our customers to create any financial product anywhere in the world and create amazing customer experiences. This latest round of funding will allow us to accelerate our plans in expanding our mission-critical banking platform to further enable composable business models which are agile and continuously evolving. EQT is a partner who shares our views that we need to do this sustainably and fairly to all who contribute to this exciting never-ending journey and to leave a positive social impact in everything we do."

Carolina Brochado, Partner within EQT Growth's Advisory Team, who will be joining Mambu's Board of Directors, said: "We have been following Mambu's journey and stellar execution for several years now. We feel a strong connection to the vision of Mambu as an organization, given the close alignment on values of responsibility and sustainability, and believe that Mambu's solution is making the financial system more accessible and affordable for millions around the world. We are excited to partner with one of the leading fintech companies and management teams in Europe, which offers an industry-unique and leading modern cloud platform to address the massive 100bn market serviced by traditional banking software vendors and in-house solutions."

FT Partners was the exclusive financial advisor on this transaction.

About Mambu

Mambu is the world's only true SaaS cloud banking platform. Mambu fast-tracks the design and build of nearly any type of financial product for banks, lenders, fintechs, retailers, telcos and more. Our unique composable approach means that independent components, systems and connectors can be configured any way our customers require to meet their customer's needs. Founded in 2011, Mambu has 800 employees and 200 customers globally, including N26, OakNorth, Tandem, ABN AMRO, Bank Islam, BancoEstado, League Data and Orange Bank.

More info: www.mambu.com

About EQT Growth

EQT Growth are European investors dedicated to unleashing growth in Europe's technology champions. It explores thematic growth opportunities at the point companies are ready to scale, investing in a range of technology and technology-enabled businesses. EQT Growth's portfolio companies include Bought By Many, Epidemic Sound, Mambu, Mollie and Vinted.

EQT Growth is part of EQT, a purpose-driven global investment organization focused on active ownership strategies. With a Nordic heritage and a global mindset, EQT has a track record of almost three decades of delivering consistent and attractive returns across multiple geographies, sectors and strategies. Uniquely, EQT is the only large private markets firm in the world with investment strategies covering all phases of a business' development, from start-up to maturity.

Learn more about EQT Growth: https://eqtgroup.com/private-capital/growth

Follow EQT Growth on Medium , LinkedIn and Twitter

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OTTAWA, ON, Dec. 9, 2021 /CNW/ - The Honourable Francois-Phillipe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, will join in a virtual fireside chat with Challenge participants to mark the one-year anniversary of the 50  30 Challenge. The Minister will make a significant announcement and discuss progress of the Challenge to date, including his collaboration with partners to help develop tools and resources to support participating organizations.

A media availability by teleconference will follow the announcement.

Date: Friday, December 10, 2021

Time: 8:45 a.m. ET

Location: Virtual event. A live stream of the event will be available on the Canadian Innovation Facebook page.

Notes for media:

Media outlets wishing to take part in the teleconference are asked to contact ISED Media Relations (media@ised-isde.gc.ca) to receive the dial-in information.

Stay connected

Find more services and information at Canada.ca/ISED.

Follow Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada on social media.

Twitter: @ISED_CA, Facebook: Canadian Innovation, Instagram: @cdninnovation and LinkedIn

SOURCE Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

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OTTAWA, ON, Dec. 8, 2021 The Honourable MarieClaude Bibeau, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, will launch an initiative that will contribute to better connecting Canadians with Canada's farmers. The Minister will be joined by members of the Canadian Agricultural Youth Council, including Co-Chair Jerry Bos.

Time:

December 9, 2021 10:00 (EST)

Media access by video conference: https://canada.webex.com/canada/j.php?MTID=m741d653385363801cd5d2a694b11b5d4

Meeting number: 2334 443 1879

Password: 7Tqde4maF5@

When accessing the video conference, please provide your full name or media affiliation.

The event will be recorded. Participants may decline to have their likeness recorded by turning their camera off. This will not impact the audio or visual transmission of the event.

Access with telephone line

Please contact the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Media Relations team to obtain instructions.

Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn

Web: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

SOURCE Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

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Photo credit: VICTORIA JONES - Getty Images

Though he stepped back from his royal role nearly two years ago, Prince Harry remains committed as ever to tackling important issues for military personnel in Britain and across the Commonwealth.

A spokesperson for the Duke of Sussex confirms to BAZAAR.com that the royal has backed efforts to end immigration fees for foreign-born United Kingdom veterans who wish to remain in the country.

Former British defense minister Johnny Mercer revealed to politicians that he had spoken to Harry about the matter on Monday evening, adding that the duke told him its morally right to change current rules.

Speaking in the Houses of Parliament in London on Tuesday, the Conservative politician and former British Army officer asked for ministers to waive the 2,389 ($3,162) visa fees for foreign and Commonwealth military personal, and their families, who have served for a minimum of five years. Currently, the British Ministry of Defense and Home Office have only proposed waiving the one-time, per person visa application fee for veterans who have served for at least 12-yearsmuch longer than the average amount of time spent active in the armed forces (between six and seven years).

I speak to all sorts of people in the veterans communitylast night I had a conversation with Prince Harry about this, Mercer said. He has contributed hugely to the veterans debate and I wanted his view.

He added, [The Duke] said to me its not only morally right but would mean so much to those who have given so muchand its not a political intervention, it is the moral purpose of this.  Its an almost effortless change, as he said, for this Government to make for us, to finally see through what weve said for these people for so long because we owe it to them. Theyre our brothers and sisters, theyve served with us over many, many years.

These interventions are very rare. Its not politics; its morality. People who bleed and die for the Nation should not have to pay to live here afterward. https://t.co/ZwE30M21fW  Johnny Mercer (@JohnnyMercerUK) December 7, 2021

A representative for Harry tells BAZAAR.com that Mercer brought the issue to the prince having remained in contact since working together on military mental health issues. They add that the pair spoke veteran to veteran and that Harry is always eager support the purpose and intent behind initiatives that better support servicemen and women who have made sacrifices for their countries.

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Mercers words in Parliament on December 7 follow a Fijian veteran in England who served in the British Armed Forces for nine years, fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq wars, being billed more than $13,000 to remain in the country with their family. Currently there are over 10,000 non-uk citizens serving in the British Armed Forces from commonwealth countries including Australia, Canada, Fiji, India, Ghana, Jamaica, New Zealand, and Nigeria  many of whom are planning to remain in the U.K. when their service ends.

Could you really look that family in the eye and say, No, you have to pay, we have to make a profit out of you for you to stay in this country, despite the fact that you were prepared to commit so much to the privileges and the freedoms we enjoy? Mercer asked.

Despite his proposal, politicians rejected his amendment suggestion by 296 votes to 251. Mercer has pledged to continue campaigning.

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A Boise State University professor who reportedly made demeaning comments about women entering STEM fields stirred up protests over the weekend.

Scott Yenor, a political science professor at Boise State University, made the comments during the National Conservatism Conference in Orlando, Florida on 31 October.

"Every effort made must be made not to recruit women into engineering, but rather to recruit and demand more of men who become engineers," Mr Yenor said. "Ditto for med school, and the law, and every trade."

He doubled down on his statements after a video of his comments resulted in social media backlash. In a post on Twitter, he said that "making special efforts to recruit women into fields where they don't seem to want to be" are not worthwhile. He claimed that he did not want to prevent women form entering those careers.

The state college issued a statement saying that while it did not agree with Mr Yenor's comments, it "cannot infringe" on his ability to express his views.

"Boise State University understands that the open exchange of ideas, which is fundamental to education, can introduce uncomfortable and even offensive ideas," the statement said. "However, the university cannot infringe upon the First Amendment rights of anyone in our community, regardless of whether we, as individual leaders, agree or disagree with the message. No single faculty member defines what Boise State  or any public university  endorses or stands for."

CNN spoke with Idaho state Representative Brooke Green, who said that Mr Yenor's beliefs were "not only outdated, but completely sexist and reflect a society that no longer exists."

She helped organise the protest against Mr Yenor, which drew about 500 people.

"Many young women at the university are worried their futures are in the hands of a tenured professor who believes they do not deserve to be there and occupy a seat that belongs to a man," Ms Green said.

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She went on to say that "women shouldn't have to spend time today defending our value in society or rights as human beings."

Ms Green said that the gathering was intended to "send a message saying we will continue to occupy professional spaces, whether it's a boardroom, courtroom, or leadership role within our community."

The Independent has reached out to Mr Yenor for comment.

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LOS ANGELES, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --QuickFee, a fast-growing online payment and financing solution provider to professional service firms and ISOs across the United States and Australia, is pleased to announce a new partnership with Elite Merchant Solutions, which will bring Buy Now, Pay Later powered by QuickFee to their broad merchant base.

QuickFee positioned to bring Buy Now, Pay Later to ISOs across the US.

Based in Los Angeles, Elite Merchant Solutions (EMS) is a payment processing service provider committed to delivering innovative payment options, PCI compliance solutions, and responsive customer service for small businesses.

EMS was looking for a Buy Now, Pay Later solution that would allow their merchants to meet the growing consumer need for payment flexibility and increase average transaction values at the same time. According to a McKinsey study in July 2021, 60% of consumers said they were likely to use point-of-sale financing options like BNPL in the next six to twelve months.

Speaking about the partnership, EMS President Justin Milmeister said:

"Elite Merchant Solutions is excited to offer our merchants a simple Buy Now, Pay Later option. Since 2002, Elite Merchant Solutions has been on the cutting edge of the financial services industry, and we carefully select all our payment vendors to address real merchant concerns. Businesses frequently tell us they're interested in BNPL due to customer demand  so after some consideration, we decided to go with QuickFee as the best option for meeting those needs."

QuickFee's BNPL solution works by splitting a payment of the customer's choice into four interest-free monthly charges, with the total pre-authorized on the customer's existing credit card. This reduces the hassle of applying for new credit on the customer side, while the merchant gets paid upfront.

QuickFee CRO Aubrey Amatelli said:

"We're thrilled to join Elite Merchant Solutions in delivering a Buy Now, Pay Later option that benefits merchants and customers. BNPL boosts purchasing power and flexibility on the customer side at minimal cost to the business, which is why this option has seen dramatic adoption rates over the last few years. Working alongside Elite Merchant Solutions, it's our goal to help businesses drive new revenue with this tool while maintaining strong customer loyalty."

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About QuickFee

QuickFee provides a personalized payment experience designed to help merchants increase revenue and meet the growing demand for flexible payments. With more than a decade of experience serving the global professional services market, QuickFee is now bringing its proven payments model to a wider range of businesses than ever before, from personal and home services to the commercial space. As a trusted payments partner, QuickFee empowers your customers to pay how and when they want, so you can focus on what you do best.

For additional information, visit www.quickfee.com.

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SOURCE QuickFee
Rows of red chile ristras for sale in November 2021.

This story was originally published by Source New Mexico.

New Mexicos red chile harvest might become a casualty of a recent Supreme Court ruling that halted Gov. Michelle Lujan Grishams ability to spend federal money without the Legislature.

Lujan Grisham announced a $5 million program in August that chipped in taxpayer money to help recruit and retain seasonal laborers. At the time, the state estimated there had been a 45% drop in farmworkers who pick chile, which amounted to about 1,350 open jobs.

The governor announced just a couple of weeks ago she would extend the first-come, first-serve program to help farmers find enough workers to handle the red chile season this winter.

The state paid as much as $4.50 an hour to enhance laborer pay up to $19.50 an hour to process chile.

But the governors unilateral use of federal American Rescue Plan Act money came under fire by legislators, who argued they should have a say in the allocation of that money. They sued in September.

Lujan Grisham doled out about $700 million before the litigation commenced on things like vaccine incentives, unemployment insurance, encouraging employees to return to work and boosting pay for the chile farmworkers.

The lawsuit made its way to the states Supreme Court. Last month, justices ruled in the Legislatures favor, requiring an immediate halt to governors spending.

Jeff Witte, the states agriculture secretary, wrote a letter dated Dec. 3 that was published on the website of the Chile Labor Incentive Program, saying the ruling meant the programs remaining $2.2 million could not be spent.

More from Source NM: COVID still spreading in NM prisons despite nearly everyone getting the jab

Unfortunately, the Legislature wants unspent funds from the program to be returned to them per the state Supreme Courts recent decision regarding federal funding, effectively ending the program and preventing us from providing further needed assistance to the chile industry, Witte wrote.

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As of mid-November, the state had spent around half the money on about 3,000 workers.

New Mexico farmers produced nearly $52 million in green chile in 2020 from 8,500 acres, according to the United States Department of Agriculture statistics, up from $50 million in 2019.

Charlie Marquez, lobbyist on behalf of the New Mexico Chile Association, informed the House Appropriation Committee of halt to the program at a meeting today. His mention of the potential problems for the red chile harvest elicited obvious concern from Rep. Patty Lundstrom (D-Gallup), the committee chair, and other committee members.

The committee gathered to discuss the proposed allocation of about $470 million in American Rescue Plan Act money, primarily on broadband and infrastructure. The proposal included no money to help farmers pay living wages to chile farmers.

Nathan Small (D-Dona Ana) hands the microphone to a public commenter during a meeting of the House Appropriation Committee on Tuesday regarding $470 in federal money. The Legislatures legal victory allowing members to allocate more than $1 billion in federal money came at a price for a program boosting chile farmer pay amid a labor shortage.

Lundstrom did not immediately say what the solution might be to help resurrect the chile program. But she said she would look at the issue.

That doesnt sound right to me. Were going to keep a note on that one, Lundstrom said. Chile is chile.

Glen Duggins, president of the New Mexico Chile Association, previously told Source New Mexico that the program has been very helpful to farmers like him, but he thinks it could have been streamlined to better retain workers.

For example, he said, the program requires too much paperwork to be worth it for some employees who dont work for very long or abruptly stop showing up to work. That undermines the point of the program, he said, and might explain why the state hasnt yet spent all the money.

The turnover is so high, he said. They come and go so fast on the farm that (the program) doesnt work very well on the farm.

More from Source NM: The best chile in the galaxy is still in New Mexico

Instead, Duggins said, it might improve the program if it paid farmers per ton of chile harvested, giving them the flexibility to pay their workers from that sum.

But he said he appreciates the program, especially as farmers harvest red chile this winter. He supplemented one employees wages in the fall and intended to enroll at least three more this winter, he said.

Were grateful for it, and were using it for the red chile (harvest), he said at the time, before the announcement.

Witte in his letter urged farmers to continue to track their expenses through Jan. 31 in hopes that the program is brought back.

We are disappointed that the burden of this action may fall on you  but we will continue to be of assistance to you in any way we can, as our mission, as always, is to support the essential work you do to feed New Mexicans the best chile in the world, he wrote.

Patrick Lohmann works to tell stories that resonate and make an impact for Source New Mexico. Reach him at plohmann@SourceNM.com.

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This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: Red chile labor program comes to abrupt halt
Just as colonists forcibly displaced Indigenous people centuries ago, Native Americans have also been long maligned by an American film industry in which ugly stereotypes have persisted. Even today, Native artists struggle to carve out mainstream spaces for expression. It is against that troublesome backdrop that filmmakers such as Sterlin Harjo operate, bent on taking control of the Native narrative and normalizing the variety within the experience, even if incrementally.

Thats certainly what hes achieved in 2021, with both the successful first season of FXs Reservation Dogs (already renewed for a second season) and freewheeling new film Love and Fury. The Oklahoma-based Harjos fifth feature film, its a globetrotting documentary that follows Native artists as they navigate their careers, finding camaraderie with Indigenous people everywhere.

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I think there is a humanizing that we as Native Americans have to do for non-Native people, as were trying to get an audience that might not know our world to meet us halfway, Harjo said of his projects. It shouldnt be a radical thing to show Native people doing normal things, but it turns out it is, because we just havent been seen that way in the media. Sometimes showing the mundane can be the most radical.

Making the Native experience accessible to non Natives, as torturous as it might be, is a responsibility Harjo carries without hesitation. On the landing page of his website is the following quote: Its not up to Hollywood to change Native representation in the media. They have failed at it for decades. Its up to us  Artists, Filmmakers, Storytellers, and Activists. That power is ours alone.

It might be a controversial position to take by any BIPOC creative at a time when the ostensibly accepted approach is to place that responsibility almost entirely on the shoulders of mostly non-BIPOC, profit-driven industry gatekeepers. From Harjos perspective, to do so is short-sighted and self-defeating.

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I think that it gives too much power to a capitalist institution by relying on them to give you the power that you already have, he said. We have the singular power to change that narrative because were the only people who can do it. Were the only people who value our stories. And instead of wanting something from an institution that doesnt know or even care for our stories, we have to lead the way.

Harjo did acknowledge that there definitely is room to be created for Natives within existing popular, if insular, spaces. He pointed to his experience with FX and Reservation Dogs, the critically acclaimed new series he created with Taika Waititi, as one example.

They trusted me to tell this story and got out of the way, he said. Thats been a positive experience for me. In that instant, we werent looking for a handout, and we shouldnt be. Its proof that if given a chance, its just a lane to work in, then we can take it from there.

He credits the success of Donald Glovers unconventional Atlanta, also on FX, for paving the path to the existence of Reservation Dogs. Premiering in August, the series was swiftly renewed.

The response is still a shock to Harjo, and he remains humble. Im so used to just making low-budget films that very few people see, so to be able to do something at this level, and have it appreciated this way, was such a surprise, he said. But part of it was that I had nothing to lose. Native art isnt about getting rich. You do it because you want to express something that historically you havent been provided a platform for, and to say it with a freedom that may make people uncomfortable.

With documentary Love and Fury streaming on Netflix, Harjo is able to provide a platform to the films artists and their works. Featuring musicians, poets, authors, and comedians  including Laura Ortman, Raven Chacon, Joy Harjo, Micah P. Hinson, and Bobby Dues Wilson  the film shows creatives wrestling with what it means to be Native American, born and raised in a country that has curbed their history and displaced their traditions. Remnants are extant, but they have become part of a homogenized culture which poses questions of identity and authenticity  not being enough of one thing or the other, but more like an amalgamation.

Documentaries about Native people have been so earnest, and are typically about a single issue, and I wanted this to be about everything, because we arent a monolith, said Harjo. Im a Native American but I was born into this morass, this diversity. And all of that is who I am as well. Maybe I do not want to be just this one thing.

Because he now speaks to a larger audience, theres pressure to represent every Native experience. Its not a tension he embraces, but he understands and accepts it, as his career boost opens doors for himself and others. There are new projects in development, but Harjo was mum on details, other than to tease the idea of a series based on Love and Fury, which was always his hope.

Theres anxiety wrapped up anytime you are part of breaking a wall down, knowing that youre going to get hit with expectations, he said. But its not like, Woe is me. So many people benefited from the making of Reservation Dogs that I do see it as progress. I love the position Im in, but Im also just a dad. Im a kid who grew up in this country, and theres no way to prepare yourself for any of it. It just is.

Love and Fury had its world premiere at the 2020 Hot Docs International Documentary Festival, and was subsequently picked up by Ava DuVernays ARRAY distribution company this year. Its Harjos widest film release to date, given Netflixs global reach, which is a noteworthy accomplishment, the success of Reservation Dogs notwithstanding. But the runway remains long.

I honestly thought that I would be making micro-budget films the rest of my life, and that wouldve been okay, he said. I never saw any of this coming. In the end, the ultimate goal is representation of Native people. We all have these common obstacles that we face in life. I dont want to do that in a vacuum. I want non-Native people to enjoy my work. I also want to collaborate. Normalizing nativeness is really just being human. And thats what Id like to see more of.

Love and Fury is now streaming on Netflix.

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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / December 9, 2021 / Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Citrix Systems, Inc. ("Citrix" or the "Company") (NASDAQ:CTXS). Such investors are advised to contact Robert S. Willoughby at newaction@pomlaw.com or 888-476-6529, ext. 7980.

The investigation concerns whether Citrix and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.

[Click here for information about joining the class action]

On April 29, 2021, Citrix announced lower than expected license conversions of the shorter duration, on-premise licenses that Citrix began offering during the COVID-19 pandemic in response to the shift to remote work (the "Business Continuity Licenses"). Specifically, the Company explained that the Business Continuity Licenses did not transition to long-term cloud contracts as expected. Instead, many customers "rolled to another short-term" on-premise license, citing the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. On this news, Citrix's stock price fell $10.49 per share, or 7.6%, to close at $128.02 per share. Then, on July 29, 2021, Citrix reported that despite prior assurances, the transition to cloud was not as successful as the Company had led investors to believe. Specifically, Citrix cited "the challenge associated with transitioning the business to [cloud] and the need to evolve our sales strategy to deliver more predictable results." F urther, Citrix announced a major restructuring of its sales leadership in order to "enhance [its] focus on" cloud migration. According to the Company, these changes were "significant and may cause short-term disruption before yielding tangible results."

On this news, Citrix's stock price fell 13.6%, from $114.55 per share to $99.00 per share. Finally, on October 6, 2021, after markets closed, the Company announced the resignation of its President and Chief Executive Officer. This disclosure caused the Company's stock to decline 7.2% over the next two days, from $105.96 per share to $98.32 per share.

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The Pomerantz Firm, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Paris is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, the Pomerantz Firm pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 80 years later, the Pomerantz Firm continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomerantzlaw.com

SOURCE: Pomerantz LLP





View source version on accesswire.com:

https://www.accesswire.com/676910/SHAREHOLDER-ALERT-Pomerantz-Law-Firm-Investigates-Claims-On-Behalf-of-Investors-Citrix-Systems-Inc--CTXS




Affyn's private round was oversubscribed within a week of its website unveil, resulting in the opening of a new strategic round that once again became oversubscribed, ahead of its presale on 18th December 2021.

Backed by more than 50 venture capitalists, institutional investors and partners, signaling high confidence and strong demand for Affyn's Play-to-Earn Metaverse.

SINGAPORE, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Singapore startup Affyn, a blockchain-powered Metaverse project, is developing a Free-to-Play and Play-to-Earn mobile game with integrated geolocation and augmented reality (AR) capability.

Reimagining Free-to-Play and Play-to-Earn

As a metaverse-based project with geolocation capability and AR mechanics, Affyn incorporates the fun concept where every in-game character, which they call "Buddy", is a non-fungible token (NFT). If you are not yet familiar with NFT, it just means that the buddy actually belongs to you, and not to the game developers. This disrupts the traditional gaming industry where players grind thousands of hours for in-game items and currencies which they do not really own.

Creating a Closed-loop Economy

Similar to how every game has its own set of currency, Affyn's currency is also known as FYN tokens. The utility of FYN tokens is aimed to be highly versatile - apart from the usual in-game transactions, it is in progress to adopt real world utility. By creating this integrated ecosystem whereby players can earn the tokens virtually, and being able to utilise them in the real world, a closed-loop economy is formed - driving the value of FYN tokens.

Ensuring a Sustainable Game Economy

Affyn is one of the pioneers of the mobile Play-to-Earn model, created with the intention of changing the way players can derive value from the ecosystem as compared to traditional gaming platforms. The team spent more than a year designing a detailed blueprint to create a sustainable game economy. This helps to ensure rewards remain attractive to existing and new players in the long run.

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Lucaz Lee, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, who fronts the fundraising, on why he started this project: "Our idea of a Metaverse is a world where people can meet, play and connect not just virtually, but also in real life. By using blockchain technology as a bridge, Affyn aims to drive a global movement where we can play, earn, and have more fun together at the same time."

To find out more about Affyn:

SOURCE Affyn
You wont find a clear distinction between organic search results and paid ads on Amazon, according to a complaint the Strategic Organizing Center filed on Wednesday with the Federal Trade Commission. The organization, which is a coalition of labor unions, analyzed more than 130,000 search results and found that about 28 percent of the results you see on Amazon represent ads. Whats more, SOC says those ads dont comply with FTC guidelines designed to make it possible for consumers to distinguish between sponsored content and organic search results.

In 2013, the agency said companies should feature prominent shading or borders, in addition to clear text that is properly situated and sized to avoid confusion. SOC found that zero percent of Amazons advertisements featured prominent shading and only about 1.1 percent had an easily distinguished border. When it came to the companys use of sponsored labels, SOC found that in about 22 percent of ads the disclosure was buried under more prominent labels, such as ones that said Highly rated and Todays deals. Additionally, those disclosures used a font that was smaller and lighter than the ones the company employed to advertise if a product was liked by other customers or part of a deal.

Elsewhere, SOC claims Amazon employs a technique called lazy loading where sponsored labels take longer to appear, particularly on slower internet connections. Using a 12 to 25Mbps connection, the organization found those labels could take up to three seconds longer to load than the top banner ad. Well note here we had difficulty verifying that claim at Engadget.

SOC has asked the FTC to take aggressive and swift action against the company. "Amazons violations are so omnipresent that Amazons representation that its platform presents search results to consumers is itself deceptive," it said.

Amazon disputes SOC's findings. This report is incorrect and misunderstands FTC guidance  ads in Amazons store always include a clear and prominent sponsored label, implemented in accordance with FTC guidelines, an Amazon spokesperson told Engadget. We design our store to help customers discover products we think may best meet their needs  sponsored ads is one of the ways to help them find products they may be interested in.

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Its hard to say if the FTC will take up SOCs complaint against Amazon. And, even if it does, what kind of action it could take against the company. Part of the problem here is that the agencys own guidelines leave some room open for interpretation.

We understand that there is not any one specific method for clearly and prominently distinguishing advertising from natural search results, and that search engines may develop new methods for distinguishing advertising results, the FTC said in 2013. Any method may be used, so long as it is noticeable and understandable to consumers.
News provided by the government of St Kitts and Nevis



LONDON, Dec. 09, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The spread of the latest COVID variant  Omicron  has proven that we are still far from the end of the pandemic. Though the variants origins are still unclear, it was first identified in South Africa but has since spread to various regions of the world.



While the challenge of the crisis has certainly lessened globally, mostly due to the rate of vaccinations and other preventative measures implemented, fear of the new mutating variant has led to nations like the United States, the United Kingdom, and numerous countries in the European Union to enforce travel restrictions on African countries. These bans have sparked outrage amongst African leaders who argue that travel restrictions do not solve the problem and only harm the economies of developing nations already struggling from the fallout of the pandemic.

Passport discrimination is not a new phenomenon for African nations. Even before the pandemic, those holding an African passport were subject to harsher rules and visa bureaucracy, interrupting the way Africans conduct business, access services or see loved ones. Now, the COVID-19 pandemic has become an added obstacle that Africans must face if they hope to move across borders.

The pandemic and the travel bans that come with it have led to the emerging trend of affluent Africans obtaining a second citizenship through a popular route known as Citizenship by Investment. Such programmes enable those who can make the required investment, depending on the nation, to acquire citizenship and the life-changing benefits that come with it.

COVID-19 has presented one of the greatest challenges of the 21st century, says Micha Emmett, CEO of CS Global Partners, the worlds largest government advisory and marketing firm specialising in Citizenship by Investment. But for Africans, this has only exacerbated pre-existing issues. Second citizenship helps those that want to position themselves globally without the fear that their country of origin will hold them back.

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Originating in St Kitts and Nevis, the Caribbean nation is considered the industrys Platinum Standard brand. In recent years, it has welcomed wealthy Africans and their families to settle and set up businesses in the country. The programme is one of the most family-friendly options on the market and boasts the fastest route to second citizenship through its Sustainable Growth Fund option. Under a limited time offer that expires on the 31st December 2021, families of four can acquire citizenship for the same price as a single applicant, accounting for a price cut of $45,000.

Those who can pass the necessary vetting processes, proving that they have a clean source of funds, gain access to increased travel freedom to over 160 destinations, including key business hubs. St Kitts and Nevis also offers alternative business prospects in one of the fastest-growing economies in the region with ties to financial superpowers like the United States.

Government of St. Kitts and Nevis

pr@csglobalpartners.com

Press Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister

Basseterre

St. Kitts

KN0101




MACAO, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Trip.com Group, a leading global travel service provider, held its 2021 Global Partner Summit in Macao today. With the theme of "Forward Together," the summit was attended by over 1,600 professionals representing every sector of the travel industry. Trip.com Group and partners gathered together at events throughout the day to share insights on the development of the industry and look ahead to the future of travel.

From left to right: Bo Sun, CMO of Trip.com Group, Jane Sun, CEO of Trip.com Group, Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, Director of the Macao Government Tourism Office, Lau Wai Meng, President of Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute, Cheng Wai Tong, Deputy Directors of the Macao Government Tourism Office

At the Summit, Trip.com Group Chairman and Co-founder James Liang outlined how he views the progression of the international travel recovery and reinforced the Group's continuous efforts to foster industry efforts geared toward recovery. Liang believes that as global vaccination rates continue to rise, and more countries and regions are opening their borders, international travel will return in the near future.

"This year, we have continued to work with destinations and partners around the world in preparation for the restoration of global travel," said Liang at the Summit. "The industry as a whole is ready to welcome and facilitate global travelers, we are the forefront together with partners to support the complete resumption of global travel."

Jane Sun, CEO of Trip.com Group, shared Trip.com Group's performance results from the past year and commented that despite the challenges faced by the travel industry, the Group continues to see growth across its major business units. Sun shared that both domestic hotel bookings and air ticket bookings in mainland China saw double-digit growth in Q2 2021 compared to the same period in 2019. Whilst on Trip.com, a sub-brand of Trip.com Group, global domestic hotel bookings increased by over 160% in Q3 2021 compared to Q3 2019. Cross-border air ticket bookings in Europe also saw an increase of 200% in Q3 2021 compared to the previous quarter.

"We believe in the power of reciprocity, that's how we and the entire industry are recovering together," said Sun. "In markets, and with partners around the world, we see cooperation driving the development of the industry and incredible efforts to bring forth travel recovery."

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Jane Sun, CEO of Trip.com Group, delivering her keynote presentation to partners at the Global Partner Summit

During the opening ceremony of the Summit, the Macao Government Tourism Office and Trip.com Group signed a Memorandum of Understanding to together further promote travel to Macao. This is the second year that Macao tourism authorities and Trip.com Group have entered into official collaboration. In 2021, the two parties' partnership saw Macao travel bookings on Trip.com Group platforms increase by 244% in the first half of 2021 compared to the same period in 2020. The number of travelers to Macao saw a 150% QoQ increase, and "Macao" keyword searches grew by 216% YoY.

Trip.com Group's content marketing strategy is one of the major drivers behind this strong performance. Since the onset of the pandemic, Trip.com Group has rolled out innovative plans and products to boost its content marketing ecosystem. Trip.com Group now has 200 million users who engage with travel content on its Ctrip sub-brand platform, of which up to 30% make a booking within a month after accessing platform content. Livestreaming, a key pillar in Trip.com Group's content marketing ecosystem, continues to drive bookings. Since Ctrip developed dedicated livestreaming channels on its platform, bookings generated from livestreams increased nearly 15 times in Q3 2021 compared to the previous quarter. "Our content marketing strategy is an engine that engages users and inspires pent-up travel demand that in turn increases bookings," said Bo Sun, CMO of Trip.com Group. "Looking to the future, we will further invest in innovative marketing initiatives to empower our partners and boost travel recovery."

Director of the Macao Government Tourism Office, Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, expressed in her remarks that the success of the Summit in Macao today indicates that Macao is a safe and quality destination. The event also fuels the synergy of "tourism + MICE" and spotlights Macao's advantages as a MICE travel destination, inspiring more high-end business travellers to come to Macao to organize large-scale conferences, further enriching the dynamic tourism and leisure sector.

At the Summit, industry partners and destinations were recognized for their collaboration with Trip.com Group. Awards acknowledged innovative and collaborative approaches that were geared towards tapping into pent-up travel markets as well as bringing benefits to travelers and stakeholders. The Summit also saw industry leaders break out into sub-forums where sector-specific knowledge sharing was facilitated alongside Trip.com Group specialists and business unit leadership. Dedicated accommodation, aviation, corporate travel, vacations and packaged tour sessions fostered sharing on past achievements, successful lessons from the past year and how to best collaborate and innovate as the industry looks ahead to 2022.

Trip.com Group Logo (PRNewsfoto/Trip.com Group)

About Trip.com Group

Trip.com Group is a leading global travel service provider comprising of Trip.com, Ctrip, Skyscanner, and Qunar. Across its platforms, Trip.com Group helps travellers around the world make informed and cost-effective bookings for travel products and services and enables partners to connect their offerings with users through the aggregation of comprehensive travel-related content and resources, and an advanced transaction platform consisting of apps, websites and 24/7 customer service centers. Founded in 1999 and listed on NASDAQ in 2003 and HKEX in 2021, Trip.com Group has become one of the best-known travel groups in the world, with the mission "to pursue the perfect trip for a better world". Find out more about Trip.com Group here: group.trip.com

Follow us on: Twitter , Facebook , LinkedIn , YouTube

SOURCE Trip.com Group
NEW YORK, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- UM, the global media agency network of IPG Mediabrands, today announced the elevation of Stacey Stewart to the newly-created role of U.S. Chief Marketplace Officer. Stewart, previously EVP, Managing Partner, Integrated Investment, will lead UM's Marketplace division, an agile, consultative set of services that extracts value, innovation and efficiencies for clients while driving accountability from partners. Stewart's oversight of UM's Marketplace approach focuses on creating holistic, cross-channel solutions leveraging the full suite of partner capabilities while also forming uniform operational activation and management of media. Stewart will report directly to UM U.S. CEO, Lynn Lewis.

UM https://www.umww.com (PRNewsfoto/UM)

"Stacey has done a brilliant job of evolving our investment approach into a more market-driven, culturally attuned and agile function that is poised to respond to ever-changing marketplace conditions," said Lewis. "Her industry-leading work that drives equity through investment is a cornerstone of our Marketplace approach, and there is no better leader to navigate the complexities of the media landscape as we continue to help our clients Futureproof their businesses."

Stewart has spearheaded several recent equity-driven marketplace initiatives including the launch of "Sound It Out" with the Ad Council, helping to raise $100K in donated media support for the program, which supports mental health for middle schoolers within the Black and Brown communities. Stewart is also integral to the industry-leading Equity Upfront work UM is driving in partnership with Mediabrands to raise visibility and investment in Black-owned and Black-targeted media businesses.

"The investment landscape is a rapidly evolving space and our Marketplace approach reflects the changing needs of our clients and our commitment to help them be future-ready, today," said Stewart. "The work I will be leading will supercharge our efforts around driving greater media responsibility and marketplace equity, which is critical to the success of our industry."

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About UM

UM is a global media agency committed to Futureproofing our clients' businesses for the now and the next. We leverage the transformational power of rich business analytics and real-time intelligence to maximize growth and activate the full consumer journey across content and connections. Our consultative approach and agile model, rooted in diversity, equity and belonging, drive better business outcomes for brands. As the leading global media network in IPG Mediabrands, UM operates in over 100 countries, with more than 3,000 people innovating on a roster of global clients including Accenture, American Express, ExxonMobil, GoPro, Johnson & Johnson, Levi Strauss & Co, Mattel, Sony and Spotify. For more information, please visit https://www.umww.com/.

Cision

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/um-elevates-stacey-stewart-to-us-chief-marketplace-officer-301441105.html

SOURCE UM
Dublin, Dec. 09, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "U.S. Medical Display Monitors Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Type (Greyscale, Color), By Aspect ratio, By Technology, By Application, And Segment Forecasts, 2021-2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The U.S. medical display monitors market size is estimated to reach USD 1.0 billion by 2028 and is expected to expand at a CAGR of 7.7%

The rise in the number of diagnostic imaging centers across the U.S., increased adoption of hybrid operating rooms, rise in minimally invasive surgeries, increased cancer prevalence, and high volume of diagnostic imaging procedures are the factors responsible for market growth.



The display allows surgeons and medical practitioners to view diagnostic and surgical images in higher resolution for clear identification of tissues and blood vessels. A single monitor has the capacity to display data from optical microscopes, navigation displays, video streaming of the operating room, and diagnostic scans, to reduce surgeons' burden to obtain data from different sources. This tool is of utmost importance for the radiologist, as it plays a key role in diagnosis accuracy and helps reduce errors.



Market leaders are developing display monitors integrated with computer systems to ultimately interact with all medical devices within the medical setting to enhance operability and improve data security.

Additionally, to tackle issues like reduced radiology staff, an enormous work pressure on radiologists after the outbreak of Covid 19, Barco has developed a display controller. This eased their workflow and improved efficiency.

However, the market dropped in 2020, due to the reduced elective surgeries, hospital economic instability, and reduced emergency room admissions. However, the market is anticipated to normalize by mid-2022.



U.S. Medical Display Monitors Market Report Highlights

The greyscale segment accounted for the largest revenue share in 2020 in the type outlook as it provides ease of workflow and is cost-efficient

The 16:9 aspect ratio segment held the largest revenue share in 2020

LED is the largest revenue-generating segment in this market owing to the Low energy requirement, brighter images, high operational life, reduced heat generation, non-reactive to temperature-sensitive environment, and lower power consumption, in this end-user setting

The general radiology segment accounted for the largest revenue share in the application segment as it provides diagnostic accuracy, reduction in errors, and constant need for high-quality imaging displays

Key Topics Covered:



Chapter 1. Methodology and Scope



Chapter 2. Executive Summary



Chapter 3. U.S. Medical Display Monitors Market Variables, Trends & Scope



Chapter 4. U.S. Medical Display Monitors: Type Estimates & Trend Analysis



Chapter 5. U.S. Medical Display Monitors: Aspect ratio Estimates & Trend Analysis



Chapter 6. U.S. Medical Display Monitors: Technology Estimates & Trend Analysis



Chapter 7. U.S. Medical Display Monitors: Application Estimates & Trend Analysis



Chapter 8. Competitive Landscape

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HP Development Company, L.P

Quest International

Stryker

Double Black Imaging

Steris

UTI Technology, Inc.

NDS Surgical Imaging (A Novanta company)

Canvys

BenQ

Advantech Co., Ltd.

Barco

Eizo Corporation

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/djpfs5

CONTACT: CONTACT: ResearchAndMarkets.com Laura Wood, Senior Press Manager press@researchandmarkets.com For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900




VASTs Universal Storage All-Flash Architecture Offers an Unbeatable Combination of Scalability, Performance, and Simplicity

NEW YORK, December 09, 2021--(BUSINESS WIRE)--VAST Data, the storage software company breaking decades-old tradeoffs, today announced that the digital travel platform, Agoda (a Booking Holdings subsidiary), selected VASTs Universal Storage as the data science backbone for its big data and machine learning environment. The inherent high-performance and low-latency benefits of Universal Storage will help Agoda deliver more insights and perform more queries in less time for their real-time analytics, supporting thousands of users that are simultaneously searching the website to find the best deals on hotels, flights and other travel reservations.

"Customer information and travel supplier data are our most vital assets and we need a data science platform that can easily and cost-effectively scale with our growth," said Idan Zalzberg, Chief Data Officer, at Agoda. "To help provide our customers with the best value for their travel needs, we require a high-performance big data solution to run our machine learning algorithms, thats also infinitely scalable to meet our future needs."

Universal Storage allows Agoda to build a cost-effective, private cloud computing environment for Apache Spark and Apache Impala processing that enjoys real-time access to VASTs S3-compatible fast object storage. Universal Storage disaggregates the compute and storage layers and uses all-flash to accelerate access to shared storage in real-time, providing the scalability, high-availability and low-latency needed to power Agodas entire big data analytics and machine learning pipeline.

How VAST Helps Travel Companies Expand Their Horizons

From pricing and availability information sourced from thousands of suppliers, to customer data and trip histories from millions of users, travel sites are tasked with managing massive amounts of dynamic and sensitive data. Historically these organizations were presented with two options: constrained legacy systems that cannot grow with their businesses, or costly and complicated outsourcing to public cloud vendors. Instead, with Universal Storage as the data storage and management foundation, VAST empowers companies like Agoda to cost-effectively manage a constant onslaught of searches and serve up the most compelling and relevant offers in less time.

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"Todays travelers expect a simple and intuitive travel booking experience. Travel sites are hyper-competitive, and if one booking platform cant produce the right information to the right people at the right time, those people will quickly move along to the next," said VAST Co-Founder Jeff Denworth. "Agoda is optimizing the customer experience at every layer--from the mobile experience to the data infrastructure foundation. Were proud to see Universal Storage be selected as that infrastructure foundation that can scale with Agodas success for the next decade and beyond."

Critical criteria in Agodas selection process was infrastructure efficiency. The unique efficiency algorithms that VAST pioneered in Universal Storage enable revolutionary all-flash storage economics, making it possible for a company to deploy all of their Spark workloads on a scalable, simple and affordable big data platform. Universal Storage is also designed to support an evolving variety of processing paradigms where the multi-protocol aspect of Universal Storage allows Agoda to power their Apache tools with S3 and their Python-based machine learning code from a single unified namespace. By consolidating multiple storage tiers and protocols into a single global namespace, Agodas applications will be naturally fast and infrastructure will become both simple and transparent, enabling the company to process all of its data at any scale. VASTs customer support experience took flight with Agoda, and the VAST Data CoPilot service helped ensure smooth onboarding, systems monitoring and growth planning at each step. Its this close engineering to engineering partnership and speed to development that separates VAST from the competition.

Read this deep dive blog post to understand why customers are choosing VAST Universal Storage to replace their Hadoop Distributed File System.

About VAST Data

Headquartered in New York City, VAST Datas managed storage software unlocks the value of data and modernizes data centers in preparation for the era of AI computing. VAST delivers real-time performance to all data and overcomes the historic cost barriers to building all-flash data centers. Since its launch in February 2019, VAST has become the fastest-selling infrastructure startup in history. For more information, please visit https://vastdata.com and follow VAST Data on Twitter and LinkedIn.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211209005213/en/

Contacts

Media Contact

PR for VAST Data

Kirstin Bordner

press@vastdata.com
An Ashland man is serving a 10-year prison sentence for his role in a burglary last year that resulted in the death of a Caroline County woman, court records show.

Leonard Taylor Pippin Jr., 32, pleaded guilty recently in Caroline Circuit Court to second-degree murder and robbery. As part of a plea agreement, Pippin received a total of 35 years in prison, with all but 10 years suspended.

The charges stem from a Dec. 26 incident at the home of Carla TrostWalker and Steven Walker in the 29000 block of Sparta Road in Caroline. TrostWalker was killed during a shooting that occurred after she and her husband surprised a burglar who broke into their house while they were away. Pippen, who was acting as a lookout, drove off after seeing the couple return and was gone by the time the shooting started.

The man suspected of killing TrostWalker, 30-year-old Michael Lee Barlow of Montpelier in Hanover County, died by suicide the next day following a police chase that ended in Albemarle County, officials say. Pippin was arrested at that scene and has been in custody ever since.
For the second meeting in a row, the supervisors questioned Hart about the work thats been done by BrightMinds, the Central Virginia company hired to reassess the value of county homes and acreages. The process is mandated by the state and King George does its reassessment every four years.

This go-round, residents have expressed concern to supervisors that no one actually visited their property or that the photos shown on field sheets, cards in the commissioner of the revenues office that include details of each property, are from the previous assessment.

Hart told the supervisors that drones were used to capture aerial photos that show front and back views of homes and outbuildings, except in no-fly zones such as those near the Navy base in Dahlgren.

In that case, its boots on the ground and they take pictures with cameras, Hart said.

Supervisor Chairwoman Annie Cupka said residents pointed out a section of the state code that says either the assessor or the locality must provide written justification for an increase in value. Hart said shed look into that to determine if the explanation was included in the field sheets or in letters sent to homeowners.

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Asked Wednesday whether he would vote to override a decision by the parliamentarian to erase the immigration provision, Manchin told reporters he would not.

The bottom line is the parliamentarian, you stick with the parliamentarian, thats all," he said. You stick on every issue. You cant pick and choose.

The House version of the bill would let an estimated 6.5 million migrants in the U.S. since at least 2010 seek work permits letting them hold jobs and avoid deportation for a total of up to 10 years. To be approved, they would have to pass background checks and meet other requirements.

Progressive and pro-immigration lawmakers and groups have been pressuring Democratic leaders to override MacDonough if she says the immigration language must be dropped, and to go even further and insert language giving migrants an opportunity for citizenship. It's unclear what Democrats will do.

I'd vote for that," No. 2 Senate Democratic leader Richard Durbin of Illinois told reporters this week about overturning the parliamentarian if she rules against immigration language. Durbin, his party's vote counter, said such a vote would be close.
A grand jury determined there was no criminal conduct in regard to the death of a Fremont man who was shot by police in May.

On Tuesday, Dodge County District Court Judge Geoffrey Hall called a grand jury to investigate the circumstances of 33-year-old Aaron Schneiders death on May 14.

The jury convened that same day with Dodge County Attorney Paul Vaughan, special prosecutor, presenting evidence around the death. Jurors concluded deliberations that afternoon and returned with a no true bill.

Shortly before 3:30 p.m. the day of Schneiders death, the Fremont Police Department received a 911 call from him stating that he was going to kill himself and had been drinking alcohol, according to court documents.

At around 3:30 p.m., FPD officers arrived on the scene in the 200 block of South Clarmar Avenue. A few minutes later, Schneider advised them he had loaded a gun.

Radio traffic reported that Schneider had started aiming a realistic-looking firearm later found to be a BB gun, and a few minutes later, exited the residence.

Schneider walked south down Clarmar Avenue, where he met with multiple officers who discharged their weapons at him.

Schneider was given medical aid until he was transported to Methodist Fremont Health and died later that day. No officers were injured during the incident.

The shooting was the first of its kind to occur in Fremont since the 1970s, Police Chief Jeff Elliott told the Fremont Tribune in May.

Weve never been through this situation before and are working with all parties to determine the next steps, Elliott said.

Nebraska requires a grand jury when an individual dies while being apprehended by or in the custody of a law enforcement officer or detention personnel.

The grand jury investigates the death to determine if formal charges should be filed against anyone for committing a crime in connection with it.

The jury works in secrecy and must not discuss the investigation, deliberations or votes with anyone unless instructed to do so by the judge.

The proceedings are kept secret to avoid criminals obstructing justice or fleeing, to protect witnesses from intimidation or threats and to protect innocent people whose names might come before the jury.

Editor's note: A previous version of this story reported that Schneider fired a shot from his weapon. This story was updated to reflect new information released by the Dodge County Attorney's Office on Dec. 9.

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Midland University honored 16 students as 2021-22 Whos Who Award recipients during a ceremony Monday at the Olson Student Center.

The Whos Who Award recognizes students for their academic achievement, service to their community, leadership in co-curricular activities, and potential for continued success beyond Midland University.

They are nominated by faculty across campus for not just their grades, but their involvement, said Communications Specialist at Midland Eric Taylor. This process started in October with an email being sent out to the whole school asking for nominations.

The selection process begins with students meeting academic standards.

Once we have the list of students who meet that requirement, the faculty then nominates students who are leaders in and out of the classroom. Nominees then apply to us listing their internships and leadership positions, said Jamie Simpson, vice president of student affairs at Midland.

Last years ceremony was a virtual event.

Although 16 students were chosen this year, Simpson said that the number can fluctuate.

Its about the selection process, so its completely possible for the number of students who receive the award to be higher or lower, Simpson said.

The award itself does not bring financial incentive to students who receive it, like scholarships.

However Simpson said the award is useful for students once they graduate or are looking for internship opportunities.

This is a recognized award. So students who receive it can list it on their resumes, showing that they are capable of leadership positions, Simpson said.

Fremont area students who received the Whos Who award at Midland University for the 2021-22 year are as follows:

Samantha Shepard, Fremont. Shepards major is in elementary education with minors in early childhood, English as a Second Language, and High Ability Learner. She is also earning a second degree in marketing.

Katlin Vampola, Fremont. Vampola lives with her husband and their daughter. Her major is elementary education with an endorsement in early childhood education.

Will Hastreiter, Elkhorn. Hastreiter is an arts management major with a focus in theater. He plans to be a graduate assistant for the arts program after graduation.

Marissa Napolitano, Mead. Napolitano is majoring in nursing and a member of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing. She plans to continue her education by attaining a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP).

Other students who received the Whos Who award at Midland University are: Madison Andersen, Morgan Donald and Caden White, Lincoln; Madison Eich, Papillion; Brea Lovitt, Beatrice; Katie Polodna and Casey Thompson, Omaha; Cailin Brashear, San Diego; Abigail Bruck, Harlan, Iowa; Peyton Garbers, Sioux Falls, South Dakota; Sidney Howard, Altoona, Kansas. Melissa Niles, Tucson, Arizona.

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A federal appeals court ruled Thursday against an effort by former President Donald Trump to shield documents from the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol.

In a 68-page ruling, the three-judge panel tossed aside Trump's various arguments for blocking through executive privilege records that the committee regards as vital to its investigation into the run-up to the deadly riot aimed at overturning the results of the 2020 presidential election.

Judge Patricia Millett, writing for the court, said Congress had "uniquely vital interests" in studying the events of Jan. 6 and said President Joe Biden had made a "carefully reasoned" determination that the documents were in the public interest and that executive privilege should therefore not be invoked. Trump also failed to show any harm that would occur from the release of the sought-after records, Millett wrote.

"On the record before us, former President Trump has provided no basis for this court to override President Biden's judgment and the agreement and accommodations worked out between the Political Branches over these documents," the opinion states.

It adds, "Both Branches agree that there is a unique legislative need for these documents and that they are directly relevant to the Committee's inquiry into an attack on the Legislative Branch and its constitutional role in the peaceful transfer of power.

Trump spokeswoman Liz Harrington said after the ruling: "Regardless of today's decision by the the appeals court, this case was always destined for the Supreme Court. President Trump's duty to defend the Constitution and the Office of the Presidency continues, and he will keep fighting for every American and every future Administration."

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CHICAGO (AP)  Jussie Smolletts conviction Thursday for lying to police about a racist, homophobic attack came nearly three years after his report of a horrifying hate crime quickly became part of a polarized political landscape, with people  including the president of the United States  weighing in from all over.
Teachers across Nebraska are burned out, working more hours and losing crucial planning time amid workforce shortages and a rise in mental health concerns in schools.

These are some of the findings of a Nebraska State Education Association survey of over 3,000 teachers released Thursday, and officials say solutions are needed now.

"This is a crisis," said NSEA President Jenni Benson.

The teachers union sent the survey earlier this school year to about 18,000 of its members, and around 17% responded, answering questions regarding personal stress, student mental health and staff shortages.

Nearly two-thirds of teachers said they were more stressed than last year, while 57% said they are working more compared to last year.

The survey painted a stark picture of staff shortages across the state, too, as schools struggle to fill vacant positions and find substitute teachers during the still-ongoing pandemic that has decimated the labor market.

Almost all respondents said their school districts are seeing a shortage of substitute teachers, while 88% said schools are short on paraprofessionals.

With a limited number of subs, teachers have been forced to drop planning time to cover classes. Three-fourths said they have had to cover for their colleagues, while 60% disagreed that their district is providing them with the planning time necessary to do their job.

Eighty-four percent of educators said they've witnessed a rise in behavioral and mental health issues among students this school year, while 64% also expressed concerns about their own mental well-being.

"You're covering classes for colleagues, you're losing your plan time, you're working more and you're more stressed. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that all of these things are combined," Benson said.

Among the over 4,300 comments gathered as part of the survey, one teacher put it bluntly: "This year feels worse than last year."

Wrote another: "We are floundering."

Solutions put forth both by respondents and the NSEA include increasing pay, placing less importance on assessments, eliminating certification hurdles -- like the Praxis CORE test -- and streamlining regulations that limit the number of days retired teachers can work as substitutes.

Benson also pointed to the influx of millions in coronavirus relief dollars doled out to the state and schools that should go toward more mental and behavioral health resources -- like telehealth services -- for schools.

The teachers union is also pushing for state lawmakers to use some of the federal funding to provide school staff with bonuses.

The federal government has disbursed over $546 million in relief to Nebraska schools, and the state has received over $1 billion as part of the American Rescue Plan.

Another startling data point: Nearly 1 in 3 respondents said they plan to leave the profession at the end of the school year.

"We are losing teachers because they do not feel supported or respected," wrote one teacher. "And young people are not choosing education as a profession because our state has not made it attractive enough. Frankly, the sky is falling."

Deb Rasmussen, president of the Lincoln Education Association, said the survey data is what she expected.

Teacher shortages have plagued schools nationally long before the pandemic, she said, but the arrival of COVID-19 brought the issue front and center in Lincoln.

Students are also dealing with the trauma from the pandemic, said Rasmussen, a former school counselor, and that's manifesting in more behavioral issues in the classroom.

And with a shortage of paras to respond to those situations, schools are struggling to find people to help.

"It's a perfect storm, and it's a bad perfect storm," Rasmussen said.

Respondents from Lincoln generally followed statewide trends, but only 36% said they did not have enough plan time, compared to 60% statewide. Ninety-two percent said they had increased concern for student mental health, compared to 84% across the state.

LEA has had conversations with LPS administrators about increasing pay for support staff, similar to raises proposed this week for bus drivers. And changes to pandemic protocols, like allowing administrators to video-conference into meetings instead of having to leave school, have been helpful.

"It's going to be an ongoing discussion," she said. "There are lots of ideas to get in there to help teachers and staff right now, but it's really hard."

Contact the writer at zhammack@journalstar.com or 402-473-7225. On Twitter @zach_hammack
The Pakistani Taliban, a militant group fighting a guerrilla war in the northwestern tribal region bordering Afghanistan, says it will not extend a cease-fire agreed to last month, accusing Islamabad of failing to respect terms of the truce deal.



The group, also known as Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP), said in a statement on December 9 that the government had not released more than 100 prisoners as planned, and accused security forces of carrying out operations against the militants while the cease-fire was in force.



It is not possible to carry on with the cease-fire in these circumstances, it said.



There was no immediate comment from Pakistani officials.



The cease-fire went into effect on November 9 and was meant to give time for the two sides to reach a possible agreement to end 14 years of conflict.



The truce expires at midnight.



Over the past 15 years, Pakistan has signed three peace deals with the Pakistani Taliban, but none of them have lasted beyond a few months.



Pakistan conducted a massive military operation against the TTP across the northwestern regions in June 2014, forcing the group's militants and leadership to take refuge across the border in Afghanistan.



However, the TTP has gradually staged a comeback in the mountainous, tribal regions since late 2019 and considerably increased the frequency of their attacks this year.



The TTP is a separate militant group from the Afghan Taliban, which toppled the Western-backed government in Kabul in mid-August. But Pakistan's militant groups are often interlinked with those across the border in Afghanistan and the TTP follows the same hard-line Sunni Islam as its Afghan counterparts.

With reporting by AP and Reuters
Taliban fighters have been accused of helping to forcibly evict more than 1,000 people in northern Afghanistan, with the evictions targeting members of the ethnic Uzbek and Turkmen communities.

Ethnic Uzbeks and Turkmen allege that Pashtuns seized their homes and land in the northern province of Jowzjan with the help of the Taliban, a predominately Pashtun group.

The evictions came as Taliban fighters have expelled hundreds of Shiite Hazara families from their homes and farms in five provinces since the militants seized power in Afghanistan in August.

Rights groups say the Talibans forced displacement of residents is an attempt to distribute land to their own supporters and collectively punish communities that backed the former government.

Abdullah says he is among those who have been displaced in Darzab, a remote district in Jowzjan.



He says Taliban fighters accompanied by Pashtun nomads forced more than 1,000 ethnic Uzbeks and Turkmen from their homes and farms in Darzab and Qush Tepa, a neighboring district in Jowzjan, on November 27.

Abdullah, who requested that his real name not be used out of concern for his safety, told RFE/RLs Radio Azadi that the provincial Taliban authorities had promised to send a delegation to investigate the alleged land seizures. But he said on December 8 that the delegation had yet to arrive.

This has been our land for hundreds of years, he says. We have cultivated it and it belongs to us.

Faizullah, a resident of Qush Tepa, says Pashtun nomads with the help of the Taliban seized more than 20,000 acres of their land.



Nobody could resist, he says. If we raised our voices, we would be killed.



Ghulam Sarwar Alizai, a representative for Pashtun nomads in Jowzjan, says land ownership is often unclear because the disputed properties are on government land.

He says the nomads want to return to the pastures that they were prevented from accessing for around two decades.



Some of our [Uzbek and Turkmen] brothers acknowledge that the land is owned by the government, but they had worked hard to cultivate the barren land, he told Radio Azadi. A tribal council comprising five people from each side will be the best setting to find a solution.

The Taliban did not respond to calls and text messages from RFE/RL seeking comment.



But in comments to the BBC on November 29, Taliban spokesman Bilal Karimi denied any forced displacements had taken place in Jowzjan.



"No such thing has happened and the situation in Qush Tepa is calm, he said, adding that the authorities were investigating the issue and would not allow anyone or any group to encroach on anyone's property."

Collective Punishment

While the Taliban has tried to portray itself as a genuinely national movement, its opponents have often accused it of only serving the interests of the Pashtun ethnic group. The vast majority of Taliban leaders and fighters are Pashtuns.

Exact figures on the size of Afghanistans various ethnic groups are unavailable, largely because an accurate census has never been conducted in Afghanistan. The last attempt, in the late 1970s, was never completed. Repeated calls for a new census have never been realized.

Disputed sample censuses dating back to the 1970s estimate the Pashtun population at just over 40 percent, followed by ethnic Tajiks at less than 30 percent with Hazara and Uzbeks at around 10 percent. Various smaller minorities account for the rest of the population.

Since regaining power, the Taliban has been accused of forcibly evicting thousands of people across the country.

In October, the Taliban forcibly evicted hundreds of Hazara families from southern Helmand Province and the northern province of Balkh.

In late September, some 700 Hazara were forcibly evicted by the Taliban in the central province of Daikundi. The Taliban claimed that they were implementing a Taliban court order that required the land to be returned to what it said were its original owners.

The evictions have not only targeted non-Pashtuns. The Taliban also evicted fellow Pashtuns in the southern province of Kandahar. The evictions targeted those who had served in the former government or its armed forces.

The Taliban should cease forcible evictions and adjudicate land disputes according to the law and a fair process, Patricia Gossman, associate Asia director at Human Rights Watch (HRW), told RFE/RL.

Gossman said northern Afghanistan has a long history of collective punishment and forced evictions.

She said that after the U.S.-led invasion in 2001 toppled the Taliban regime from power, the U.S.-backed Northern Alliance engaged in evictions of local Pashtuns.

The former Northern Alliance, a coalition of anti-Taliban groups that resisted Taliban rule from 1996 to 2001, consisted mainly of ethnic Tajiks, Uzbeks, and Hazara.

Before the Northern Alliance, the Taliban did it against other groups, Gossman adds.

Efforts after 2001 to reform the land ownership system failed because of the power of strongmen and warlords, including those in the administration and parliament, she said.

Many of the land disputes in northern Afghanistan are a legacy of the forced and voluntary resettlement of Pashtuns in the region in the 19th century.

Starting from the 1880s, Afghan King Abdur Rahman Khan, a Pashtun from the south, forcibly relocated thousands of people from rival Pashtun communities from eastern Afghanistan to the north, where there was only a tiny Pashtun population. The Pashtun settlers were often given free land and received tax exemptions. In the 20th century, Pashtuns also voluntarily settled in northern Afghanistan.

Both the forced and voluntary migrants were allocated land by the central government, a development that fostered tensions with communities that consequently lost access to farmland and pastures, said a HRW report released in 2002.

In the 19th and early 20th centuries, refugees from Central Asia also arrived in northern Afghanistan. Many of them fled Tsarist Russias invasion of Central Asia and the emergence of the Soviet Union.
Colorado Springs, which boasted the nation's most popular ZIP code this year for single-family home sales, also will be one of the country's hottest areas for housing in 2022.

A forecast released this week by Realtor.com, the California-based online real estate service, estimates that the Springs will have the 14th best housing market next year out of the 100 most populous U.S. metro areas.

Colorado Springs and other cities were ranked based on the pace of home sales and home price appreciation that Realtor.com estimates will take place in each area next year.

The Springs will see a 10.3% increase in sales in 2022 compared with 2021, Realtor.com estimates. Prices, meanwhile, are expected to rise 5.2% on a year-over-year basis. That's a combined percentage change of 15.5%, according to the Realtor.com forecast.

"With strong home sales and price growth expected in 2022, Colorado Springs is expected to see a strong real estate market in the year ahead," according to Realtor.com. "Its affordability relative to nearby Denver and its own healthy jobs markets are expected to be key drivers of the real estate market. With a high share of tech jobs and above-average share of younger households, the area is expected to see household growth that will mean rising home sales and modest home price growth on top of 2021's record highs."

Salt Lake City, with an estimated sales and price increase of 23.7%, ranked No. 1 in the forecast, followed in the top five by Boise, Idaho, 20.8%; Spokane, Wash., 20.5%; Indianapolis, 20.4%; and Columbus, Ohio, 20%.

Still, some local real estate agents wonder if Realtor.com's forecast underestimates how much home prices will climb next year in Colorado Springs.

Based on sale and price information that he tracks for the Springs market, Eddie Hurt of ERA Shields Real Estate said local single-family home prices have increased 18.5% this year compared with 2020.

Because the demand for housing remains strong, and the supply of homes for sale is tight, expect another double-digit percentage gain in housing prices in 2022, he said.

"A 5% increase in prices sounds very low," Hurt said of Realtor.com's forecast. "I think it will be closer to 10% to 12%. (That) would be my forecast for next year."

When it comes to the forecast of home sales in Colorado Springs, Hurt suggests Realtor.com is too high on its projected increase.

Why? Because there simply aren't enough properties available for purchase, he said.

Monthly inventories of homes for sale have been at historically low levels for much of 2021, according to Pikes Peak Association of Realtors figures and data compiled by The Gazette.

Through November, Springs-area home sales totaled 16,716 for the year, according to last month's Pikes Peak Association of Realtors market trends report.

And though home sales are on pace for a record year in 2021, they're only running 4.7% ahead of the same period last year.

In general, Colorado Springs' ranking on the Realtor.com list of top housing markets in 2022 is another plus for the area  though it also could mean the region is about to become even more crowded, Hurt said.

"Anytime you make it on any kind of list like that, people just automatically assume that's good," Hurt said. "And so, I think for the most part, that means it is good. It shines a positive light on Colorado Springs and that it's a great place to live, which it is.

"But you could also argue," Hurt said, "that it means more people are going to be like, 'wow, that looks like a nice place to live. Maybe I should be moving there, too.'"

Realtor.com's 2022 housing forecast followed its August report that tabbed Colorado Springs' 80916 ZIP code on the southeast side as the nation's No. 1 area for home sales in 2021.

That No. 1 ranking followed Realtor.com's selection of nearby 80911, which covers unincorporated Security-Widefield, as the nation's hottest ZIP code in 2020.
Kanye West, now known simply as Ye, and Drake are putting aside their reported differences to combine for a concert Thursday night that will focus on prison reform and efforts to get one man out of Colorado's Supermax prison.

The "Free Larry Hoover" concert begins at 7 p.m. MST from the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and will be available livestream on Amazon Prime along with Amazon's music app and its Twitch channel.

Larry Hoover is the 71-year-old former Gangster Disciples leader who is serving a life sentence at Bureau of Prisons Administrative Maximum Facility in Florence, according to the Los Angeles Times.

In the 1970s, Hoover led Chicagos Gangster Disciples, a street gang that ruled the South Side drug market , until his conviction for ordering a rival dealers murder in 1973. Hoover was sentenced to more than 150 years in state prison. He was later convicted on federal drug-related charges and sentenced to life.

Hoover was then transferred to Supermax in Colorado.

Read more at latimes.com.
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Mason City Municipal Airport is undergoing significant renovations, and the city of Clear Lake is stepping in to help.

The airport has been busy with a variety of different projects, one of which is decommissioning the wastewater lagoon system currently in use for sanitary sewer purposes.

Mason City airport will partner with the city of Clear Lake to extend its wastewater collection system out to the airport, allowing for the lagoon system to be decommissioned for good.

The project is estimated to cost $712,000, and is being funded through money given to the airport via the CARES Act. The portion of the wastewater collection system being extended in Clear Lake is estimated to cost less than $10,000.

Clear Lake City Administrator Scott Flory said he anticipates bid letting to occur in early 2022, with an aim to begin construction in May and wrap up by September.

Members of Clear Lake city government spoke highly of the ongoing projects at the airport, and praised the opportunity to partner with another government entity on the project.

"This CARES Act funding is really a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," Flory said. "I think it's a great, great project. One of those unique opportunities of government entities working together... it's nice to be able to help out other governments when we have these opportunities."

"This is a great little collaboration between multiple government entities," council member Bennett Smith said. "Very positive for all of North Iowa, really."

The wastewater changes are just one of the many ongoing projects currently being undertaken at the Mason City Municipal Airport, the largest of which is an expansion of the terminal currently being used.

The airport is currently looking at either renovating the current terminal, or building an entirely new terminal. This project is being advanced largely to accommodate United Airlines' service through SkyWest Airlines there, which offers daily, 50-person flights to and from Chicago's O'Hare International Airport.

"The current terminal is not big enough to handle the capacity from Uniteds service," Mason City Airport manager David Sims explained. "It just can't handle 50 passengers."

While the expansion project is still in the planning phase, it's estimated to cost between $8 to $14 million, depending on whether a new building is constructed.

The airport has received $12 million in federal funding for the expansion project, but work must be completed by May of 2024 to receive those funds.

Mason City Airport expansion project sparking excitement in community On Tuesday, the Mason City Municipal Airport hosted an open house to showcase the proposed o

The Clear Lake City Council unanimously approved the agreement with Mason City Municipal Airport.

Zachary Dupont covers politics and business development for the Globe Gazette. You can reach him at 641-421-0533 or zachary.dupont@globegazette.com. Follow Zachary on Twitter at @ZachNDupont

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Gov. Kim Reynolds announced Wednesday she will allocate $100 million of American Rescue Plan Act money to Iowa water infrastructure and water quality projects.

Most of it  $75 million  will fund a new grant program through the Iowa Finance Authority to support four priorities: Economically significant projects, watershed protection projects, industrial water reuse pilot projects and wastewater infrastructure for communities without sewer systems.

The money will support projects aimed at reducing excess nutrients, improving drought resiliency, reducing flood risks, improving public health, promoting reuse of water and wastewater and providing significant economic benefits to communities and the state, according to a news release.

The Water Infrastructure Fund grant application process for this money will open Dec. 15.

The other $25 million will go to the Conservation Infrastructure Project within the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. That project has three working groups focused on conservation strategy, cover crops and drainage.

The money will provide even more cost-share incentives for Iowas farmers and landowners to accelerate construction of conservation practices and improve water quality, the news release stated.

Larry Weber, a University of Iowa professor of civil and environmental engineering and the Edwin B. Green chair in hydraulics, said hes delighted about the governors announcement.

Were excited to participate in the proposal process with the ideas we have, he said of the new grant program. We recognize $100 million is important, but, as Ive said before, our need is $10 billion. This is a small, but important, step on the pathway toward watershed improvement in the state.

The Rescue Plan funding allocated to water projects is on top of $110.7 million coming to Iowa from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, a bipartisan bill passed earlier this fall.

Iowa Department of Natural Resources officials said last week they expect $46 million of that money will be used to remove lead from drinking water. The remainder would pay for improvements to drinking water systems, wastewater projects and to address water contaminated by per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances  the so-called forever chemicals.

Iowas water quality has been a concern for years as nitrate and phosphorus wash from Iowa farm fields into streams, lakes and rivers and threaten drinking water. Iowa was among Midwest states that committed in 2008 to reducing excess nutrients by 45 percent  both to help the Gulf of Mexico, where nutrients have created a dead zone where wildlife cant survive  and to protect the health and safety of Midwest waterways.

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WARSAW, Poland (AP)  The last piano on which Frederic Chopin played and composed in Paris is being renovated by a U.S. expert who is giving it back its original mid-19th century characteristics.

Paul McNulty is spending days at the Chopin museum in Warsaw filling in some cracks in the soundboard and putting in wire strings like the ones used by Paris piano manufacturer Camille Pleyel  Chopin's favorite  in 1848.

Were very, very close to the character and the identity of this instrument when we put the correct strings on, everything else being in very good condition, McNulty told The Associated Press on Thursday.

Pleyel made the instrument, with serial number 14810, available to the Chopin, already seriously ailing at the time, in the fall of 1848. After Chopin's death in October 1849, the piano was bought by his Scottish student and friend, Jane Stirling, who then offered it to Chopin's eldest sister, Ludwika Jedrzejewiczowa. The piano arrived in Warsaw in 1850, where it survived two world wars.

Given the provenance and the good condition of the instrument, McNulty said it is priceless.

Texas-born McNulty says this is the best preserved Pleyel piano in the world, despite having quite a dramatic history. It was treated well by Chopin's family and was not used for concert performances.

But it had most of its strings changed for modern ones during renovation in the late 1950s that destroyed its tone and put strain on the whole structure.

McNulty and museum authorities believe the current work will bring it as close as possible to the sound that Chopin heard.

We hope it will sing for us again, said Aleksander Laskowski, spokesman for The Frederic Chopin Institute that houses the museum.

So an opportunity to hear the sound of Chopins piano as he heard it when he composed is quite likely, Laskowski said.

Chopin, Polands best known and beloved classical music composer and pianist, was born in 1810 in Zelazowa Wola near Warsaw to a Polish mother and a French father. He left Poland at 19 to broaden his musical education in Vienna and then in Paris, where he settled, composing, giving concerts and teaching the piano.

He died on Oct. 17, 1849, in Paris and is buried at the Pere Lachaise cemetery. His heart is at the Holy Cross Church in Warsaw.

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
GREENSBORO  Leah Carper, an English teacher at Northern Guilford High School, has been named the Piedmont-Triad Region Teacher of the Year. That also means she is one of nine finalists to become North Carolinas Teacher of the Year.

Carper has taught at Northern High School since 2016 and began her teaching career at Western High in 2006. She is an alumna of UNCG and Queens University of Charlotte.

State and local education leaders visited Carper at school on Tuesday to deliver the news. When she took the microphone, Carper gestured to a group of students who had gathered in the media center for the announcement.

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If you turn around youll see some of my amazing students, she said. You guys are incredible and you inspire me every day.

Carper had already gone through multiple levels of competition. The staff at Northern voted for her to be the schools Teacher of the Year. After that, she submitted an application to Guilford County Schools leaders. They selected her as the district Teacher of the Year from among the school-level winners.
Administration officials have suggested that the U.S. will press Ukraine to formally cede a measure of autonomy within its eastern Donbas region, which is now under de facto control by Russia-backed separatists who rose up against Kyiv in 2014. Decentralization of Ukraine and a special status for Donbas were laid out in an ambiguous, European-brokered peace deal in 2015, but it has never taken hold.

More autonomy could formally give residents of that region more authority over some local issues. The administration officials made no mention of ceding any territory, and Biden has said that Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity are not on the table for the U.S.

Biden also will have to finesse Ukraine's desire to join NATO. The U.S. and NATO reject Putin's demands that they guarantee Ukraine won't be admitted to the Western military alliance.

But senior State Department officials have told Ukraine that NATO membership is unlikely to be approved in the next decade, according to a person familiar with those private talks who spoke on condition of anonymity.
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP)  Former North Carolina U.S. Rep. Renee Ellmers announced Wednesday that she will seek a congressional comeback.

The former Republican congresswoman who has been a staunch ally and early supporter of former President Donald Trump said in a news release that she is 100% on board with President Trumps Make America Great agenda, a political framework she called desperately needed.

Ellmers wrote on Twitter that she would formally file for the 4th Congressional District on Friday, but that was upended late Wednesday afternoon when the state Supreme Court directed elections officials to hold the 2022 primaries for all offices on May 17 instead of March 8.

The 4th District includes many communities Ellmers represented from 2011 to 2017. The newly drawn district also includes her home in Harnett County.
A woman was pulled from a vehicle that was nearly submerged about 50 yards from the brink of the American Falls Wednesday afternoon by a Coast Guard officer lowered to the vehicle by helicopter.

State parks police said the woman was in her 60s. She was unresponsive and taken from the scene by ambulance once she was brought to land in a dramatic rescue. A diver in an orange suit was lowered from a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter down to the car as the helicopter's blades whipped up the already strong river current.

The diver carrying an ax went into the passenger side and pulled the person from the passenger side door. The two were carried over to the ground.

The dark-colored compact vehicle was roughly 30 feet from the edge of land in the park. It was mostly submerged in the river and the trunk was open, facing the brink of the falls. Police were able to read the license plate and identify the owner of the vehicle, though it wasn't clear whether that was the woman who was pulled from it. There were no other occupants.
Scammers, experts say, can prey on people who might have challenges to finding or affording a place to live, including those with credit issues or evictions that push them to the fringes of the housing market. Also vulnerable are people with limited internet savvy.

Bailey said he tried for months to reach the company to get his money back, leaving messages after messages after messages, then emailing, emailing, emailing.

Its frustrating because I used all the money that I had, he said. I was saving money for the down payment. It was just frustrating, telling me that they were going to help me and they just took the money.

Lashon Johnson of For Rent Global disputed Baileys claims, saying that she works hard to find clients housing, but a no-refund policy is listed clearly on the homepage.

Shortly after The Charlotte Observer spoke with Johnson and started asking questions about For Rent Global, the services website was made private.

Red flags
Quality Improvement: Adopting Best Practices for Exceptional Outcomes

Dec 08, 2021 11:00 AM

University of Utah Health has led the way as health care systems nationwide pursue process and policy improvements. For the past 12 years, U of U Health has placed among the Top 10 nationally in the Vizient Quality and Accountability Ranking system.

At the John A. Moran Eye Center, this commitment extends to a broad range of measures to provide the best possible procedural outcomes.

Rigorous Data Monitoring

Moran employs an extensive data monitoring system and communicates well-established expectations to ensure the highest quality of care in clinics and operating rooms.

To objectively and prospectively collect information on surgical complications, Moran digitally records every surgery and uses an every-case-every-time philosophy for reporting. Every surgeon is expected to attest that there was or was not a complication for every case. This assures surgical complications are reported in all instances.

Moran reviews and verifies the reports, comparing them with independent data points, such as equipment or supplies used in surgical cases with complications.

For example, every case of endophthalmitis is reviewed by Morans QI group and division representatives, U of U Health Infection Prevention Department, and others in the hospital system. A weekly review of intraocular antibiotic injections assures monitors can discover any potential worrisome trends.

Infection Prevention

Moran adheres to top-rate infection prevention standards set by the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation, International Association of Healthcare Central Service Materiel Management, Association of periOperative Registered Nurses, Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, and American Society of Ophthalmic Registered Nurses. These organizations are vital in helping Moran maintain current evidence-based best practices. They also provide critical resources for continuing education and certification for ophthalmic medical employees that go beyond state requirements.

Moran sets its high standards in collaboration with U of U Health and its Infection Prevention Department, partners that share the same mission of patient safety and quality care. Morans Sterile Processing Department was the first in the U of U Health system to achieve zero percent immediate-use steam sterilization (IUSS), a remarkable achievement for the past four years. IUSS is no longer an acceptable practice, and all instrumentation is now completely reprocessed before it goes back into service.

Moran is a national leader in developing infection prevention protocols, including participation in a national task force addressing Toxic Anterior Segment Syndrome (TASS), a rare but potentially sight-threatening condition. Led by Nick Mamalis, MD, co-director of the Intermountain Ocular Research Center based at Moran, the task force helped develop national guidelines for cleaning and sterilizing intraocular surgical instruments to protect eye surgery patients from TASS.

Individualized Training and Mentoring

Faculty monitor the advancing skill levels of Moran residents and fellows, who gradually perform more complex surgeries as their skill levels increase.

Moran faculty members also identify each trainees strengths and tailor mentoring to their unique needsall part of an ophthalmology education program consistently ranked as one of the best in the nation.

Residents and fellows train virtually on Morans in-house surgical simulator. Moran also recently became a test center for a unique small-incision cataract surgery simulator-based training system by HelpMeSee.

Research Projects and Studies

Residents and faculty are actively engaged in an extensive QI and clinical studies program.

Resident QI Projects

Morans residents are required to design and implement QI projects as part of their training. Recent projects include:

Establishing the Underrepresented Minorities in Medicine (URiM) Scholarship to encourage URiM applicants.

Designing and implementing a revamped reverse-classroom curriculum that stresses interactive blended learning over traditional lectures.

Expanding processes and experiences for the ophthalmology-incorporated intern year.

Providing nocturnal intraocular pressure-measuring devices for Salt Lake City Veterans Administration Hospital glaucoma patients.

Developing a protocol for exposure keratopathy in ICU patients.

A demonstration of a virtual visual field device being used in a clinical exam room.

Faculty Study: Expanding Access to Visual Field Testing

Meagan D. Seay, DO, recently led a quality improvement study that found use of a virtual visual field (VVF) device improves patient care in acute hospital settings.

The team introduced the virtual visual field devices to inpatient and on-call settings to improve access to formal visual field testing, which is typically only available in comprehensive eye care clinics.

While physicians use the device for patients with all types of visual symptoms, the team was particularly interested in the potentially improved outcome for patients admitted for lumbar spine drains placed to treat vision-threatening optic nerve edema.

They found the VVF devices to be especially beneficial for patients in the ICU to avoid difficult and potentially dangerous transport to an eye clinic for the testing.

The team presented its findings at the 2021 North American Neuro-Ophthalmology Society meeting.
Belfast

At the Myrna Loy

(R)

Grade: A

No one has captured the conflicts in Ireland more eternally than WB Yeats.

"All is changed, changed utterly;

A terrible beauty is born"

Yeats was writing about the Easter Rising 1916, but his words could fit over so many bloody moments in Irish history.

A half century later, poet Ciaran Carson wrote in Belfast Confetti about the Irish Troubles, the conflict that stretched from the late sixties to the end of the century.

Suddenly as the riot squad moved in, it was raining exclamation marks.

Nuts, bolts, nails, car-keys. A fount of broken type

I have visited Ireland 20 times, Belfast a half dozen. Ive walked the beaches near Yeats grave. Im not Irish, but Im hoping for honorary consideration.

All Ireland seems a poem to me, often a sad one. The coast of Ireland is cold and ragged, fitting punctuation for its history.

And yet theres no joy like Irish joy. No beer like Guinness. Patrons of Oliver St. Johns Gogarty, a favorite pub of mine in Temple Bar, raise glasses while singing traditional music in the evening - Irish voices rising in joy this time.

Once, when visiting Belfast, I asked an Irish friend to recommend a pub. I think he sent me to Kellys Cellars.

Youre American, so not to worry, but theres lots of history there, said John. Yes, on the sides of building, on pub walls. Everywhere.

All my Irish memories came flowing back as I watched Kenneth Branaghs masterpiece, Belfast, shot predominantly in black and white.

Belfast takes place in 1969 during the outset of The Troubles, the long conflict with complex roots and many graves, which pit predominantly Catholic Nationalists against Protestant Unionists.

Rather than being a political film which takes sides, the film ends with a dedication to those who left, to those who stayed and to those who were lost. In other words, a loving ode to all those who lived on both sides of the street during those years.

In keeping with Branaghs sensitive approach, we see the conflict not through the eyes of the combatants, but through the eyes of three couples  a Protestant husband and wife, who are thinking of leaving for England to escape the bloodshed, their aging parents who would die at home rather than leave and, most poignantly, a 9-year-old Protestant boy and his childhood crush, the Catholic blonde who sits across from him in class.

The film slides from one story to the next. We see dad trying to talk mom, crying, into leaving. We see the grandparents grieving, but resigned at seeing their daughter emigrate to safety.

And, in the most touching moments of all, we see young Buddy catching glances of his beloved Catherine. Both kids too shy to approach each other.

One day Buddy walks by Catherines window in town and sees her mom combing her hair. The camera then cuts behind her as she parts the curtains to watch Buddy walk away, her slight smile caught in reflection.

Such moments are exquisitely framed  through windows, through doorways, through iron fences.

Grandpa (Ciaran Hinds), whos failing, dances with grandma (Judi Dench), the only woman hes ever loved.

Dad leaves, promising to come back soon. As he steps on the bus, he puts his hand on the inside of the glass door  and his wife does the same, on the outside. Precious, beautiful.

Belfast starts briefly in color, retreats to black and white, then shows a few colorful moments of American sitcoms on televisions. The ending also blossoms, suggesting love and hope.

Belfast ends bittersweet with the death of grandpa, the departure of the family  and Buddy trading goodbye gifts with Catherine.

The films message of hope arrives at the funeral.

Dont say hes gone, says one mourner. Say youre glad he was here.

Just like Buddy, Branagh was born in Belfast in 1960, and moved to Berkshire at 9 to escape The Troubles. Belfast is a gift of love by a son to his homeland  and that love is felt in every scene.

Yes, we see violence in the streets. Buildings torched. Shops ransacked. Confrontations in the streets. But that violence is background. The foreground is the story of people who love one another, trying not to let Irish Troubles become their own.

Belfast is the finest film Ive seen in 2021, and one of the finest since Alfonso Cuarons Roma in 2018.

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A pickup truck filled with goods and other donations headed up from Helena early Wednesday to help people in Denton as they rebuild from a wildfire that devastated the Fergus County town.

Kevin Danz of iFLYBIGSKY put together a community effort that included gifts of clothing, toys, food and even some Christmas wreaths.

I believe one of our missions as Montanans is to help thy neighbor, Danz said. Its in our blood and what its all about.

The 180-mile trip to Denton included a stop in Great Falls, where Danz picked up a freezer for a man who lost his freezer, and all the meat it contained, in the blaze.

The 10,644-acre West Wind fire, which started late Nov. 30 in Fergus County, burned 25 homes, 18 secondary structures and six commercial buildings, state officials said. The cause has been listed as a downed power line. The blaze has prompted several efforts to send donations to the town.

Danz said the Albertsons grocery store on North Montana Avenue also gathered some items to be donated.

Eric Dowell, store director at Albertsons, said the store opened its doors for people to donate.

I love it, our community is absolutely amazing, Dowell said. It always comes together.

The items included clothing and dishes. He said they turned over 20-25 bags and 12 boxes of items to Danz.

Danz thanked Dowell and Albertsons, and also thanked Steve and Linda St. Clair Netschert with Realty 406 and Mary Blackford for their help.

He also said iFLYBIGSKY, which is an aerial photography company that also aids with search and rescue efforts, is bringing drones to Denton and free of charge will film the town, capturing damage assessments on buildings, houses and property. Fire victims can use this footage for insurance claims, planning, etc.

Contact iFLYBIGSKY at 406-475-2328.

Assistant editor Phil Drake can be reached at 406-231-9021.

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A Bozeman man has submitted a second application to search for gold atop the abandoned Zortman Mine Complex in the Little Rocky Mountains.

Luke Ployhar, who owns Blue Arc LLC, was already authorized in February by the Montana Department of Environmental Quality to conduct a similar extraction of rock and have it assayed for precious metals. However, the work approved under the first state permit cannot start until he posts bond.

Ployhar said the state wanted a $24,450 bond because part of the access road he planned to build crossed over a liner put in place as part of previous mine reclamation at the site. Moving about 1,000 feet to the east in the new project avoids the road, but a DEQ spokesperson said the project would still require bonding, although that amount will not be calculated until the environmental review is completed.

The other area is just as good to do testing and we wouldnt have to build the road, Ployhar said.

The draft environmental assessment analyzes potential impacts from the proposed exploration project. DEQ will accept public comments until 11:59 p.m. on Jan. 11, 2022.

Challenged

A coalition of environmental groups and the Fort Belknap Indian Community sued DEQ in April over the first excavation proposal, saying the agency erred by not consulting with the Gros Ventre and Assiniboine tribes. DEQ did seek comment from the tribes after a draft EA was written, the agency noted.

The lawsuit has stalled because Ployhar has not posted the bond to proceed, said Derf Johnson, staff attorney for the Montana Environmental Information Center, one of the plaintiffs.

MEIC, the tribes and Earthworks claim the excavation will allow oxidization of minerals in the rock creating acidic runoff. The draft EA says exposure of acidic rock would be minimal and would not produce additional acidic or metal-laden run-off. The document also claims runoff from the work site would not make it to nearby streams.

Johnson also noted the DEQ wrote that activity at the reclaimed mine site may invoke the Comprehensive Environmental, Response, Compensation and Liability Act, or CERCLA, which governs Superfund sites like the Zortman Mine Complex.

If a problem occurs, Ployhar could be liable under laws governing Superfund sites, Johnson said.

Hes talking about going in and interfering with the whole process, he said.

Ployhar said he assumes the CERCLA heads up was just a warning by DEQ to be careful.

Anything were doing shouldnt affect any reclamation stuff, he added.

History

Blue Arc would be excavating in the same area that Pegasus Gold Corp. mined from 1979 to 1996. After Pegasus declared bankruptcy, the state of Montana was left with a $100 million cleanup bill and water pollution requiring three dams to capture runoff. The water is so polluted from the mining activities that it is cleaned in onsite treatment plants.

Heavy metals, nitrates, selenium and cyanide leach from the old mine site. Water pollution in the area, which includes the small town of Zortman and the nearby Fort Belknap Indian Reservation, may require treatment for 20 years or more.

In 2020, the Bureau of Land Management proposed a 20-year withdrawal of mining on its federal lands in and around the Zortman Mining Complex. The agency led oversight of the Superfund cleanup at the mine. Because Ployhars project is on private land the withdrawal does not apply.

When the withdrawal was announced, BLM state director John Mehlhoff said, These public lands need to be protected to enable ongoing reclamation work as quickly and cost effectively as possible. The completed reclamation efforts will stabilize the area and enable us to continue working with the Montana Department of Environmental Quality to return the area to a state that can support the areas abundant wildlife resources."

Prospects

Despite the past history in the Little Rockies, Ployhar sees great potential in an underground mine using modern technology. To that end, Blue Arc owns almost 60 mining patents in the southeast corner of the Little Rocky Mountains in Phillips County.

Ployhars latest exploration proposal would involve excavating a trench about 350 square feet and 25 feet deep to extract a 125-ton bulk sample for testing. The rock would be trucked offsite for crushing and testing.

The draft EA noted Ployhar addressed DEQs concerns raised during the application review by modifying the proposed action to reduce potential impacts; therefore, development of additional alternatives was not considered necessary.

This means the DEQ will either approve Ployhars application for an exploration license as proposed, or deny it entirely. However, Ployhar would still be allowed to conduct casual use-level activities but would not be able to dig into the ground with mechanized equipment.

Ployhar said that if he was not seeking to excavate in a previously mined area he would not even have to seek a permit from DEQ under the states exclusion for small miners.

A DEQ spokesperson said that for the plan Ployhar proposed he would need an exploration license from the state regardless of the location and that the small miner exclusion applies to mine operations, not exploration.

Its time consuming, every time we change its a year, he said. But were in no rush.

To submit comments or view the draft EA, visit the DEQ website at: https://deq.mt.gov/News/publiccomment-folder/news-article1.

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For months, workers at the Montana State Hospital in Warm Springs have raised the alarm about short staffing, inadequate training and an unqualified administration driving employees from the hospital, an exodus that they say puts patient care in jeopardy.

Last month, one traveling nurse, after receiving no response on requests for proper restraint training, resigned in a strongly worded letter to her supervisors:

I cannot be complicit with the current work environment and dismal patient care situation at Montana State Hospital, the traveling nurse wrote last month in an email, which was provided to the Montana State News Bureau, announcing her resignation.

The health care industry and seemingly every other occupation is experiencing a workforce crisis. But several current and former state hospital employees said staff members have left in droves because of self-inflicted issues created by the managements approach to running the only state-operated psychiatric hospital, which provides psychiatric evaluation, treatment and rehabilitation services for adults with severe mental illness.

According to documents outlining the scope of work at these facilities, the state hospital should employ 524 full-time personnel; approximately 40% of those positions are currently vacant. The facility in Warm Springs serves 239 patients, according to the state website.

State lawmakers have received multiple concerns from staff members, and they in turn took the matter up with the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, which oversees the hospital.

On Nov. 29, DPHHS put out a request for proposal seeking a third party to fill a temporary management role at the states medical facilities and to help stabilize the workforce.

In response to the Montana State News Bureau's emailed questions about the concerns over staff shortages and patient care, DPHHS Director Adam Meier issued this statement Wednesday:

I applaud the commitment and dedication our facility staff bring to their jobs on a daily basis, and we must do all we can to support them and the hundreds of Montanans these facilities serve. I am fully aware of the concerns that have been raised and the challenges that we face. That is why we issued the (request for proposal) to take a comprehensive and thorough review of the operational structure of all facilities DPHHS oversees. This review will help us make informed and thoughtful decisions going forward. The department is eager to move forward with this project and implement recommendations as appropriate.

An agency spokesperson clarified in a follow-up email that work on the request for proposal began in September, however, "the concerns brought forward by the legislators and others isn't the sole reason for the RFP, but certainly points to the need for it."

Since October, the Montana State News Bureau has interviewed 10 current and former employees of the Montana State Hospital and reviewed nine letters sent to state lawmakers by hospital employees. Those letters say the working conditions and loss of staff are the products not just of a competitive labor market but a cold and retaliatory hospital administration, led by hospital administrator Kyle Fouts, that is driving people away.

The traveling nurse's resignation email references an incident in which hospital staff were unable to apply restraints in a safe and timely manner, just a week after she witnessed a similar episode. The nurse, who requested anonymity for fear of retaliation, asked hospital leadership in the Nov. 21 email for immediate training on safe application of restraints, but said she never received a response.

The nurse told her supervisors that every additional day I work there I am 100% gambling with the loss of my RN license.

The traveling nurse was in a position to speak up about her concerns because she worked at the hospital on a contract basis. Others with closer ties to the community and who fear losing their jobs can't do the same, she said. She and other staff who were interviewed for this story say they want to stay in their jobs, where they contribute to the important work of mental health services. But citing fear that the hospitals level of treatment continues to diminish with the continued loss of staff, the nurse and a swelling number of employees have grown more vocal about their concerns in recent months.

One psychiatric technician described being one of two staff left alone on a night shift with 18 patients and no nurse on duty in case a patient needed care. These psych techs do not have specialized training and make $14.57 an hour, while working alongside traveling certified nursing assistants that can make twice the wage.

Other staff said morale is being further undercut by unqualified candidates hired into leadership positions. According to the state Department of Labor and Industry's licensure database, the hospitals clinical director, Jamie Foy, who oversees psychological services, does not hold clinical degrees or experience to guide services carried out by people who have doctorates.

***

Dr. Polly Peterson, former chief of the psychology department at the Montana State Hospital, said she told hospital administrators in March the facilitys standards of care and lack of staff might not pass muster with federal regulators. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services requires facilities like the state hospital to provide individualized treatment plans, with medical and rehabilitative components, in order to receive federal reimbursements.

The entire sense of coordinated treatment started to fall away, Peterson said, when longtime licensed mental health treatment professionals began walking out the door due to poor working conditions and an unresponsive administration. That meant the hospital relied more on traveling staff.

In the back of my mind, I thought How could they ever pass CMS standards for treatment, given the lack of staff?' Peterson said.

Numbers provided by the state health department show a massive increase in its reliance on traveling staff over the last two years alone: 22 traveling staff worked at the facility in 2019 compared to 136 in 2021.

State health department spokesperson Jon Ebelt said during the COVID-19 pandemic, MSH began to experience an increase in the number of staff openings due to a variety of factors, such as the need for child care, personal medical reasons and increased competition in the labor market for the same or similar positions.

The state hospital did undergo a CMS inspection in September triggered by a complaint, but Ebelt said the review found the hospital in compliance with no need for corrective action. Ebelt did not provide the complaint or subsequent inspection report when requested.

But staff who spoke with the Montana State News Bureau said part of whats pushing employees out are the issues that come with the management style of Fouts, the hospital administrator. Fouts holds no medical degrees or previous hospital experience. His background includes work in the Arizona prison system and he worked as the administrator of the state-run Montana Chemical Dependency Center in Butte for four years before he took over at Warm Springs.

The state health department, when asked about qualifications among the hospital leadership, on Wednesday said it does not comment on personnel matters.

The previous hospital administrator, John Glueckert, was the CEO of a Polson hospital for 19 years before taking the job in Warm Springs. Ed Amberg, the hospital administrator before Glueckert, was a 20-year employee of the state hospital before taking the top job.

Glueckert made $61.61 per hour in his last year at the state hospital. Fouts began in 2019 making $68 per hour, and now earns $70.

Peterson said she heard concerns about Fouts from other staff as far back as his time as interim director, prior to his permanent hiring into the role.

His experience had been in the criminal justice system  and that was pretty obvious from the way he was interacting with the patients, she said.

Peterson and others described a coldness to patients and staff that had a chilling effect on patient care. Fouts never spoke to or set up a meeting with Peterson during her time at Warm Springs. Previous administrators had, in a push to reduce seclusions and restraints, worked to build an environment that integrated treatment staff into care that tended to prevent an us versus them environment.

Its very much us versus them, Peterson said of the environment at the state hospital before her contract was not renewed earlier this year. We really do need to create an environment of trust and openness so that people feel comfortable really looking at and addressing the issues that brought them to the hospital.

Peterson started working at Warm Springs as the chief of the psychology department in 2001 until 2011, then left. A few years later she returned on a part-time basis so she could open a private practice and do more clinical and less administrative work.

She was in that part-time role when she challenged the hospital leadership about the staffing shortage in March. In June, the hospital did not renew her contract. She still maintains her private practice in Butte.

Julian Noll worked as a psych tech at Warm Springs for nine years before he left earlier this year. He describes the job largely as watching over patients, escorting them around the facilities and sometimes breaking up fights. He began working night shifts on the Spratt Unit, the hospital's geriatric wing. That meant his job looked a lot like that of a certified nursing assistant, although he hadn't received any training for that kind of care. His last job had been working at McDonald's.

"My biggest concern was working on the Spratt Unit, we had no real CNA training," Noll said. "We were learning on the fly, basically, when it comes to specialized resident care."

On Wednesday, the state health department said every new hire and contract employee receives restraint training as part of their orientation, as well as an annual refresher. A spokesperson also said reviewing safety protocols and training will be part of the temporary management's work.

As time went on, Noll, too, noticed the growing number of staff leaving the hospital. The patient-to-staff ratio became more and more dire, and some work wasn't being done because three or four psych techs were on shift with 40 patients to monitor, he said.

He said the hospital brought on a mass of traveling CNAs, whose training made sense for the Spratt Unit. Including Spratt, there are five other units, four group homes and the Galen Unit, which house those with severe mental illness who are charged or convicted of crimes. But when the hospital began spreading the traveling CNAs to other short-handed units where patients tend to be more aggressive, Noll said those CNAs often wouldn't have the training on restraints to perform that job safely.

As a permanent employee, Noll said he occasionally experienced physical assaults by patients. He understood it was part of the job, but was disheartened when he would file an incident report with his supervisors and nothing would happen.

"I just felt like they didn't care, if I'm being honest," he said.

Noll left the state hospital to work for the Southwest Montana Veterans Home in Butte, another state-run facility. He was recruited there by another former staffer from the state hospital. He's recently undergone classes for CNA training through his new job, and receiving the training he didn't get in his time at Warm Springs.

***

Mark Sweeney, a state senator from Anaconda, received several reports from hospital employees. In November he took the issue up with Bozeman Rep. Ed Stafman, who chairs the Legislatures Children, Families, Health and Human Services Interim Committee. In a letter to Stafman dated Nov. 16, Sweeney called the situation in Warm Springs dire and urgent." Sweeney included letters from nine employees who asked for help and a change in management.

These are not disgruntled employees, actually just the opposite, Sweeney wrote to Stafman. They are from caring, dedicated professional employees who have dedicated their careers to serving the underserved and often forgotten mental health patients in the care of the State Hospital.

 I am asking you to please look into these allegations immediately before we lose our workforce and someone, God forbid, gets hurt or killed.

Stafman confirmed with the Montana State News Bureau that he and Sweeney had met with Meier, and Meier took the reports from hospital employees. Stafman said he hoped Meier would report back to the Health and Human Services Committee in the following weeks. Sweeney said Wednesday the committee has proposed a panel hearing on the conditions at Warm Springs for its next meeting Jan. 20 and 21.

If he responds appropriately, well encourage him to keep doing so and if not, then we can see what we can do as a committee, Stafman said. We have some ability to impact that, limited as it is.

DPHHS declined to make Fouts available for interview for this story, but said Meier is "committed to keep the legislators informed of our progress, including progress related to the RFP."

Ebelt said the request for proposal for temporary management will encompass all the department's health care facilities, not just the state hospital. The documents show a workforce shortage in more areas than the state hospital; 30% of the 145 full-time positions at the Montana Mental Health Nursing Care Center in Lewistown are vacant.

Ebelt acknowledged the Warm Springs facility is a point of concern.

"MSH is not unlike other facilities/providers as staffing issues in health care have gotten worse across the board during the pandemic, although certainly challenges are more acute in some locations than others. Therefore, DPHHS is planning to utilize outside expertise and capacity to help unpack the multiple and complex issues affecting DPHHS-operated health care facilities," Ebelt, the spokesperson for DPHHS, said Tuesday.

The shift is part of the department's reorganization effort that will bring its health care facilities out from under three different divisions and under one common facilities director. The interim director sought for contract will oversee the new facilities division, provide support in assessing each facility in a number of ways, including "climate and culture, staffing, policies and procedures, organizational structure, key challenges, etc.," Ebelt said. The interim director will also make recommendations on improving the overall operations, efficiencies, customer service and patient outcomes.

The contracted executive will be needed for 18 months, the request states. The department has earmarked $1 million for the initial contract term. The submission period ends Dec. 20.

Sweeney said Wednesday he remains "cautiously optimistic" about the contracted executive plan, but was eager to see the discussion take place in the January committee meeting.

"There's a problem that needs to be addressed and it's on the director, it's his agency, and hopefully this request for proposal isn't just a management team but one that can actually get down into the weeds and address these issues to create a better work environment and retain employees," Sweeney said. "We're losing a lot of people  and we should be doing everything we can to retain the good ones that we have."

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As a new mother and registered nurse in Helena, Montana, I have seen firsthand how a lack of paid family leave has negatively impacted Montanans. After my first baby, I returned to work at the hospital as it was implementing COVID-19 safety protocols and creating plans for worst case pandemic scenarios. I continue to navigate my family, career and the pandemic as I prepare to deliver my second child. As the COVID-19 pandemic devastates Montanans, I witness with sadness and frequency the opposite side of the circle of life. I have an acute understanding of how beneficial paid family leave might be; paid time off with my baby would have provided me much needed security for my familys health during the pandemic. Time off for families who have a loved one struggling through COVID-19, long hospitalizations or death would provide the love and support every being deserves. A paid family leave policy promoting bonding and support during all stages of life is critical to the stability and success of Montana families. I urge you to write your representatives in support of paid family leave.
McDonalds announced a $250 million, five-year initiative Wednesday to increase the number of minority-owned franchisees across the restaurant chain in the U.S.

The program will seek to reduce upfront equity requirements and provide alternatives to traditional financing to help new franchisees from historically underrepresented groups join the McDonalds restaurant system, the company said.

During a period of record performance, we must challenge ourselves  even more  to invest in the future, McDonalds President and CEO Chris Kempczinski said in a news release. Todays announcement to attract franchisees who represent the diverse communities we serve is fundamental to that goal and builds on McDonalds rich history and pride in reflecting those we serve.

Chicago-based McDonalds has 39,000 restaurants worldwide, including 14,000 in the U.S., of which 93% are franchised. The fast-food giant said Asian, Black and Hispanic owners represent 29.6% of its U.S. franchisees, while women account for 28.9%.

The minority franchisee initiative will increase recruiting efforts for underrepresented entrepreneurs, many of whom may have limited access to capital, the company said. McDonalds will also reduce upfront equity requirements for eligible candidates and leverage its network of banking partners to increase access to financing.

Access to capital continues to be a challenge in closing the wealth gap in the U.S.  particularly for minority entrepreneurs, said Nicole Elam, president and CEO of the National Bankers Association, which is working with minority-owned banks to help capitalize franchisee candidates.

McDonalds is among a number of major companies that have been calling for greater diversity and inclusion in the wake of the May 2020 death of George Floyd under the knee of a Minneapolis police officer, and the widespread civil unrest that followed.

In July, McDonalds pledged to increase its purchases from diverse-owned U.S. suppliers to $3.5 billion, or 25% of its annual spending, by 2025.

But increasing diversity within its own company has been a long-simmering issue for McDonalds.

In January 2020, two Black executives at McDonalds filed a lawsuit against the fast-food giant, alleging they were passed over for promotions, subjected to a hostile work environment and ultimately demoted due to pervasive racial discrimination.

An August 2020 discrimination lawsuit brought by 77 Black former franchise owners alleges McDonalds steered them to less profitable restaurants and didnt give them rent relief and other financial support made available to white franchisees. The lawsuit alleges there has been an exodus of Black owners in recent years and that less than 200 Black franchisees remain in the McDonalds chain.

Both lawsuits are ongoing in Chicago federal court.

McDonalds is also grappling with fallout from April texts sent by Kempczinski to Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot in which the CEO appeared to blame the deaths of a Black girl and a Hispanic boy, both of whom were fatally shot earlier this year, on their parents.

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DECATUR  Police report arresting two gunmen who opened fire outside a Decatur bar, and said one of them was armed with a pistol converted into a machine gun.

Sworn affidavits describe Decatur police officers responding to reports of multiple shots fired just after midnight Nov. 10 outside the Flashback Lounge, 2239 E. Wood St.

Detective Tim Wittmer, who signed the affidavits, said officers on scene found multiple shell casings in a parking lot on the south side of the bar and could see a rear glass door in the business had been hit by gunfire.

Wittmer said the bar provided police with surveillance footage that showed the gunmen opening fire at people and shooting towards the bar. Wittmer said detectives were able to identify both suspects  Decatur men aged 30 and 28  from the footage.

Wittmer said the 30-year-old suspect was seen using a dark-colored handgun with an extended magazine that was firing like an automatic weapon.

Two law enforcement officers who have previously testified as experts in firearms in the Macon County Circuit Courts have reviewed the video surveillance footage, Wittmer added. Both officers, based upon their training and experience, believe the handgun possessed and fired by (the 30-year-old) is a machine gun by definition (under Illinois law).

Wittmer said the surveillance tape shows both gunmen opening fire on three separate occasions. He said they both fired while aiming in the direction of other people and/or in the direction of the Flashback bar which was occupied by patrons at the time of the incident.

The affidavits said both men were arrested Dec. 3 and the 30-year-old was booked on preliminary charges of being a felon in possession of and using a machine gun and the aggravated discharge of a weapon. The 28-year-old was charged with the aggravated discharge of a firearm and being a felon in possession of and using a weapon.

Wittmer said the 30-year-old has a previous conviction for second-degree murder and a check of Macon County Circuit court records show he was sentenced to eight years in prison on the charge after pleading guilty in 2014.

Macon County Jail records list him as being released from custody Dec. 5 after posting $25,000 bond on bail set at $250,000.

Court records show the 28-year-old pleaded guilty to aggravated fleeing from police and was sentenced to 24 months probation in 2017. Jail records show he was still in custody Wednesday with bail set at $150,000, meaning he must post a bond of $15,000 to be released.

All preliminary charges are subject to review by the state's attorneys office.

Contact Tony Reid at (217) 421-7977. Follow him on Twitter: @TonyJReid

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New Braunfels taps assistant to take reins of the finance department
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The charges were listed as class 4 felonies, which are among the least serious felonies in Illinois. But convictions can still carry potential prison time of up to three years.

Although Smollett was found guilty of five of the six counts, his lack of criminal history and the fact that no one was seriously hurt make actual time behind bars unlikely. Its more likely that a judge would sentence him to probation and perhaps order him to perform community service.

Id be shocked if he spent one day in jail, said Andrew Weisberg, a Chicago-based criminal attorney and a former Cook County prosecutor.

HOW UNIQUE IS IT FOR SUCH CHARGES TO BE BROUGHT?

The Smollett case was certainly unique in how it involved a star actor and in its sensational claims and counterclaims  first by Smollett, who is Black and gay, that he was the subject of an attack and then by police that he had made it all up.

While it is among the biggest disorderly conduct cases in Illinois history, it's not the only such case to have made a splash in the news.
Gov. Ralph Northams outgoing budget will include $245 million for outdoor recreation in Virginia, including the expansion of the states network of regional nature trails.

The money would support existing trails, and help develop new ones like the Fall Line trail, a 43-mile hike connecting Richmond, the town of Ashland, Hanover, Henrico and Chesterfield counties, and Colonial Heights and Petersburg.

The trail denotes the area where the Piedmont plateau and Atlantic Coastal Plain meet, resulting in a number of rapids and waterfalls. The money would also support developing trails in the Eastern Shore and Shenandoah River.

Virginia is home to a robust outdoor recreation economy, with 41 state parks and more than 450 miles of recreational paths, said Northam, who made the announcement on Brown's Island in Richmond.

Our natural assets draw tens of thousands of visitors each year, opening up countless opportunities for economic development across Virginia. This increased funding will make significant progress towards both preserving the beauty of Virginias landscape and ensuring that this critical industry continues to thrive for years to come.
Gov.-elect Glenn Youngkin said Wednesday that he will use executive power to withdraw Virginia from a program called the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, which he said is essentially a tax on electricity ratepayers and a bad deal for them and for business.

Youngkin's comments came during a speech in Virginia Beach at the annual meeting of the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce.

The program, designed to reduce emissions from power plants, was approved by the Democratic-controlled General Assembly in 2020 and signed by Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam. In August, the Virginia State Corporation Commission first approved a request by Dominion Energy, the state's largest electric utility, to recover costs from customers for RGGI, as it's called.

"Just this week Dominion Energy announced that they will seek to double the carbon surcharge that is being applied to ratepayers under the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative," said Youngkin, the Republican who won the governor's office last month and takes office Jan. 15.
NEWTON  Catawba County Schools Superintendent Matt Stover announced the addition of a new Director of Marketing and Communication. The school board confirmed the position on Monday night.

Kim Jordan is the new Director of Marketing and Communication, replacing Stephanie Wilson, who resigned in November after four years with the district to pursue other interests. Wilson will remain involved with the district as part of the CCS Education Foundation. Jordan will officially assume her new role on Jan. 3, 2022.

Jordan is the current principal of Startown Elementary School and has more than 27 years of experience in education, including 15 years as a school administrator, as well as private sector experience in graphic design and advertising. I am honored to have the opportunity to combine my experience in marketing with my passion for education to continue to advance our districts communication efforts and engagement with our community, Jordan said. There are tremendous things happening across our district every day and I look forward to sharing our stories.
" " June 1931: American aviator Amelia Earhart climbs into the cockpit of her airplane at Willow Grove, Pennsylvania, just before embarking on a trip to California. New York Times Co./Getty Images

When she was about 7 years old, Amelia Earhart hopped into a wooden bucket and zoomed down a ramp that her uncle had helped her build next to the family shed. At the end of this daredevil experience, the box was shattered and Amelia was bloodied but beaming, exclaiming to her sister, "Oh, Pidge, it's just like flying!"

It wasn't until a few years later  1908 to be exact  that Earhart saw her first airplane, at the Iowa State Fair. Her reaction? One big yawn. The rickety contraption failed to capture her interest in any way.

Not the response you'd expect from a young woman who ultimately became one of the most famous pilots in world history? Let's flash back to Amelia's earliest days.

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Unimpressed by Airplanes

Earhart was born in 1897 in Atchison, Kansas, which lies on the Missouri River just north of Kansas City. Her family was privileged but troubled, her father an iterant alcoholic lawyer who had difficulty keeping a job. Given the troubles of her parents, Amelia spent much of her young life with her maternal grandparents.

Her parents tried to calm the waters of their marriage, so Earhart rejoined them in Des Moines. It was there, at the age of 12, that she first attended a public school. But the turbulence of her childhood, along with her fiercely independent temperament, meant that she didn't have a lot of friends. In one yearbook, for instance, her caption read. "A.E.  the girl in brown who walks alone."

Her social life may have been lackluster, but her studies were not. A rabid bookworm from early childhood, Earhart excelled in academics. After high school graduation, she attended a finishing school, but ditched it for a trip to Toronto to volunteer as a nurse for wounded World War I soldiers. There, she developed respect for military aviators and spent much of her free time watching them swoop and dive during exercises at a nearby base.

A few years later, fate handed Earhart a late Christmas gift on Dec. 28, 1920. She and her father attended an aviation show in California, and she took her first brief plane ride with a pilot named Frank Hawk. Later, she said, "By the time I had got two or three hundred feet off the ground, I knew I had to fly."

She immediately began working a series of odd jobs to earn enough cash for flying lessons. In 1921, she bought a second-hand biplane, painted it yellow and named it the Canary. In 1923, she officially earned her pilot's license, becoming just the 16th female pilot in the world.

In 1927, Charles Lindbergh became the first person to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. The following year, Earhart received a phone call from a publicity agent looking to help a woman become the first female to fly across that same ocean. She agreed, but on that particular flight to Wales, she wasn't the pilot; she was merely a passenger, "like a sack of potatoes," she later recalled.

She wrote a book about the journey, aptly titled, "20 Hrs. 40 Min," (the duration of the historic flight) and thanks in part to publisher and publicist George Putnam (who would later become her husband), sales were strong. The tome made her a bona fide celebrity, a status she soon learned to milk to her professional advantage.

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A High-flying Celeb

Throughout the late '20s and '30s, Earhart was a whirlwind of a human being. She took up airplane racing, set the women's speed record at 181.18 mph (291.48 kph) and helped to establish The Ninety-Nines, an organization for female pilots. She also set the world altitude record, soaring to more than 18,400 feet (5.6 kilometers).

Amid this flurry of activity, she became a prominent spokesperson for the commercial airline industry, helping to familiarize people everywhere with the concept of air travel. She also spoke at several colleges, urging girls to try male-dominated careers, like engineering.

In 1932, she went from passenger to pilot, with a solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean, the first woman to do so. That 15-hour flight was not without drama  ice formed on her plane's wings, making the machine harder to fly by the minute, so she abandoned her original destination (London) and opted to land in Northern Ireland instead.

With that triumph, Earhart flew into the rarefied air of superstardom. Over the next few years, she set record after record for women's speed and distance in flying. She also flew from Hawaii to California, making her the first person on Earth to fly alone across both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

" " In this 1934 Vogue spread, Earhart wears a suit of her own design: a dark flannel Norfolk jacket and checked wool tweed skirt with Jiffy-Johns (quick-to-remove fasteners). Anton Bruehl/Conde Nast via Getty Images

In the midst of this madness, Earhart also became one of the first celebrities to launch her own line of clothing branded in her name. She unveiled 25 outfits meant for active living, clearly targeting women who admired Earhart's trailblazing lifestyle. For Earhart and her now-husband George Putnam, the merchandise was meant to fund her increasingly expensive flying career.

The clothes concept was a total flop. But the venture was another example of her willingness to embrace uncertainty throughout her life.

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One Final Flight

Even with so many amazing accomplishments, Earhart wanted one final shot at burnishing her legacy. Her goal? The first round-the-world flight in history, staying as close to the equator as possible. The roughly 30,000-mile (48,280-kilometer) journey was guaranteed to be the adventure of a lifetime.

In March 1937, Earhart departed Oakland with her navigator, Fred Noonan, planning to fly to Hawaii and then west around the rest of the globe. But plane damage, along with prevailing winds that reversed direction, forced them to stop for major repairs and eventually backtrack, planning to head eastward around the equator.

The duo successfully flew across the U.S., then the Atlantic, then Africa, and landed in New Guinea in late June 1937. With 22,000 miles (35,405 kilometers) out of the way, they had just 7,000 miles (11,265 kilometers) left  one last mammoth stretch took them over the perilous void of the Pacific.

On July 2, their intended landing strip was located on Howland Island, a tiny speck of land between Australia and Hawaii. Even with active Navy support and mostly good radio communications, it seems that Earhart struggled in vain to locate Howland. Running low on fuel, her increasingly desperate radio calls ultimately ceased.

After that, no one's certain what transpired, but there are plenty of theories.

" " Amelia Earhart and navigator Fred Noonan pose at the Honolulu Airport, Hawaii, March 20, 1937, before their round-the-world flight. Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Most historians believe she and Noonan splashed down the ocean, never to be seen again. Others think that perhaps they were scooped up by the Japanese and held as prisoners. There is even a belief that she was eaten by giant crabs.

Richard Gillespie, who leads The International Group for Historic Aircraft Recovery (TIGHAR), has been investigating the plane's disappearance since the 1980s. He's certain that Earhart and Noonan wound up hundreds of miles from Howland Island, on a spot of land called Nikumaroro's reef, surviving for a time before ultimately dying as castaways.

Gillespie is a pilot and former accident investigator who has spent several missions scouring the area where Earhart vanished. He's found various artifacts, including plane parts, that he's certain belong to her doomed aircraft.

"There's an old saying in aviation, 'The are old pilots and there are bold pilots, but there are no old bold pilots,'" says Gillespie. "Earhart was famous for her courage. Her poem 'Courage Is The Price' says it all." He lists some of the steps that Earhart could have taken before the flight to improve her chances of survival. "She could have learned Morse code. She could have learned how to use the radio direction finder upon which her life depended. She could have established and communicated to the Coast Guard a workable plan for finding Howland Island."

As for Earhart and Noonan's final resting place?

"The evidence is already overwhelming but not everyone accepts it as conclusive," Gillespie says via email. "There is a prevailing fiction that Earhart's fate will not be proven unless her plane or DNA are found. Neither are likely to happen. The available evidence suggests the plane was destroyed in the surf and the pieces scattered by subsequent storms."

In 1940, bones of a man and woman were found on Nikumaroro, studied for a time, and then they vanished. If modern science had those bones today, we might be able to confirm or deny that they belonged to the American explorers.

Instead, the world is left without definitive answers regarding the end of Earhart's short but amazing life. She left behind a high-flying legacy.

"Earhart's long-distance flights exhibited great courage, but they were essentially publicity stunts that did nothing to advance aviation," says Gillespie. "Earhart's greatest achievement was as a spokesperson for commercial aviation and as an advocate for equal opportunity for women."

NOW THAT'S INTERESTING Many planes of Amelia's era had open cockpits, meaning pilots were exposed to the elements during flights. Because she hated goggles, Earhart rarely wore them when she was aloft, typically donning them only during takeoff and landing.
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP)  A New Mexico state senator said Thursday that he has tested positive for COVID-19 and will quarantine at home, with a special legislative session underway on political redistricting.

Democratic Sen. Bobby Gonzales of Taos told The Associated Press that he tested positive for the coronavirus Wednesday through a rapid test. He informed Senate leadership out of concern for anyone who might also have been exposed through close contact.

Gonzales said he was scheduled on Thursday to undergo another coronavirus test at a hospital in Taos. He is fully vaccinated, including a recent booster shot, and was experiencing some mild nasal discomfort.

Gonzales said he also was tested on Saturday with a negative result before meeting that day with Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham. He underwent another test Wednesday as required by the governor's office in anticipation of another meeting with Lujan Grisham that did not occur.

In response to Gonzales situation, contact tracing was underway at the state Capitol. A Senate floor session was canceled for unspecified reasons.
VANDALIA  The oldest surviving capitol building in Illinois is celebrating the holidays by opening its doors to the public the evening of Saturday, Dec. 11, for candlelight tours.

Visitors to the Vandalia Statehouse State Historic Site will find the building illuminated by more than 150 candles and trimmed with holiday decorations. The site also will be collecting non-perishable or canned food items to be donated to the local food pantry.

The first 100 families to visit will receive a free Christmas ornament.

The free festivities are scheduled from 5 to 7 p.m. and are sponsored by the Old Capitol Foundation and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

Cookies and hot apple cider will be served as visitors exit the building through the east doors. All participants and guests are required to observe current guidance from the CDC and Illinois Department of Public Health regarding face coverings and social distancing.

The Vandalia Statehouse served as the Illinois capitol building from 1836 to 1839. It is open to the public 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and is located at 315 W. Gallatin St. in Vandalia.

For more information about the site and its programming, call 618-283-1161 or visit the Vandalia Statehouse State Historic Site on Facebook.

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From the Netflix release "The Lost Daughter" to Paul Thomas Andersons Licorice Pizza to the blockbuster "Dune," here are Associated Press film writers Lindsey Bahr and Jake Coyle's picks for the best movies of 2021.
"I am seeking this appointment as a professional, a mother, and the wife of a law enforcement officer who is ready to stand up and fight for meaningful change to improve our community and our state for working families," Thompson said in a statement to Lee Enterprises.

"My background in helping businesses navigate the complex regulations of government, while preserving the beauty of Illinois, uniquely qualifies me to bring a business, government and agricultural perspective to the legislature," she continued.

Thompson has been calling Republican precinct committeepersons seeking to drum up support for her appointment.

Though she did not address a possible Senate bid, the Herald & Review has confirmed that Thompson plans to run against Turner in 2022. In that contest, she will have the backing of the Illinois Senate Republican Caucus' campaign arm.

Regardless of Thompson's campaign plans, her appointment to the House seat is not a certainty. In a Tuesday email to committeepersons, county party chair Dianne Barghouti Hardwick said there would be an open application process.

Applications are due by 5 p.m. Dec. 13 and a meeting to select a candidate will be held at 7 p.m. Dec. 30 at Sangamon County Republican headquarters.

Under state law, vacancies to House seats must be filled within 30 days. Since Murphy's district is completely within Sangamon County, the appointment is within the local Republican Party's purview.

Hardwick said a three-person committee that includes herself, committeeperson Drinda O'Connor and Sangamon County Administrator Brian McFadden will choose Murphy's replacement.

She said that she's fielded many calls from folks willing to serve as a placeholder and not run for reelection, but said that the party "should encourage the use of this term to help someone who plans to run for an office in the 2022 election."

She specifically pointed to Turner's Senate district, the House district held by state Rep. Sue Scherer, D-Decatur, and the newly-open 13th Congressional District.

Turner was appointed in January to fill the term of former state Sen. Andy Manar, D-Bunker Hill, who resigned to take a senior position in Gov. J.B. Pritzker's administration.

Turner was previously a Springfield alderwoman and Sangamon County Board member. She is the first Black person to represent Sangamon and Macon counties in the state legislature. She plans to run for a full term.

The district represents one of the best pickup opportunities for Senate Republicans next cycle. The caucus is currently at a 41-18 disadvantage in the upper chamber. The party needs to net at least six seats seats next year to break the Democrats' supermajority.

Though Democrats attempted to shore her up in redistricting by cutting out conservative rural areas and adding Democratic-trending precincts in Springfield, the district only voted for President Joe Biden by four points in 2020. Former President Donald Trump barely carried it in 2016.

Thompson, though a political neophyte, has been around public policy for awhile. Before her current position, she spent five years at the Association of Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts, including three as the organization's executive director.

She is also the vice chair of the board of the Sangamon Conservancy Trust, a not-for-profit formed in 2000 to help support the goals and objectives of the Sangamon County Soil & Water Conservation District.

She has a bachelor's degree in geography from Eastern Illinois University and a master's degree in environmental studies from the University of Illinois Springfield.

Her husband, John Thompson, is a lieutenant with the Illinois State Police who serves as the organization's legislative liaison.
The owner of the former headquarters of R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. has a fourth downtown Winston-Salem building in its portfolio with the addition of the Historic Wachovia Building at 8 West Third St.

PMC Property Group Inc., based in Philadelphia, paid $3 million for the nine-story, 90,000-square-foot building.

An affiliate of JDL Castle Corp., Wachovia House Inc., was the seller. The sale was completed Tuesday.

The building was designed by architect Frank Pierce Milburn and served as North Carolinas first skyscraper and Wachovia Bank and Trust Co.s headquarters from 1911 to 1966.

A PMC representative said Wednesday the group is not ready to reveal its plans for the building outside it would be branded as 8 W 3.

A new parking deck is being constructed across the street from the building with 550 spaces.

According to a CBRE-Triad marketing flier, the property qualifies for historic preservation tax credits and is placed in an opportunity zone. It said a Part II historic application has been accepted by the National Park Service.
At SECCA

SECCA, 750 Marguerite Drive, Winston-Salem, is hosting several exhibits:

Black@Intersection: Contemporary Black Voices in Art, featuring 25 artists through April 17.

As its title implies, SECCAs new exhibition highlights the work of Black artists exploring aspects of Black identity at a pivotal moment in U.S. history. It was organized by guest curator Duane Cyrus, a professor at the UNCG, where he teaches choreography, art career strategies and related subjects. In his parallel role as director of a collective known as the Theatre of Movement, he works with artists in several mediums. Black@Intersection brings together works by 25 artists, including Cyrus himself.

Babette Shaw: And the Flies Decide Nothing, a photographic exhibit by California-based social practice artist Babette Shaw through Jan. 31.

The exhibition features a series of eight still life photographs that go along with an original poem. Through sculpture and photography, she creates what she calls reliquaries to reveal where we are presently in regard to gender and race constructs.
Delta vs. omicron

Reflecting on Atriums main markets of Charlotte and the Triad, Ohl said that were at 100% delta variant, and thats not good because it is more transmissible.

Swift said the community spread is expanding from people being indoors more as the weather changes, about 20% of cases are breakthrough (among vaccinated people) and part of it is COVID-19 and mask fatigue,

Maybe more people are wearing their mask less and gathering more in larger groups.

Swift said it is likely that the omicron variant, which has been seen as nearby as Georgia, will be found in North Carolina and locally within the next one to two weeks.

Statewide update

The 4,152 new cases reported statewide are compared with 3,294 Wednesday, with 2,104 Tuesday and 2,101 Monday.

The last time the daily case count was higher was 4,236 on Oct. 9.

By comparison, the Nov. 27 new case count of 1,068 was the lowest since July 16.

Statewide, there were 32 COVID-19-related deaths reported between noon Wednesday and noon Thursday.
"Now, we are validating market demand as we unveil a new aircraft concept in a different segment from the original HondaJet."

In January, Honda Aircraft commenced operations at its Wing Production and Service Parts facility for its HondaJet Elite aircraft on its 133-acre PTI campus. The 83,100 square-foot facility represents a capital investment cost of $24.3 million.

Altogether, the company has spent more than $245 million on the PTI campus.

PTI megasite

PTI has a nearly 1,000-acre aerospace site available, one of four megasites being marketed by Piedmont Triad Partnership and Carolina Core.

Combined, the sites come to 7,200 acres along the U.S. 421 corridor to Fayetteville.

The Carolina Core website says the following about the PTI megasite: "The airport has more than 1,000 acres of land that is ready for development, including an 800-acre tract that may be developed in its entirety or in parcels.

The property, connected to the airport by a new taxiway bridge, has already received preliminary approval for development by the EPA and is ready to host a major tenant."
COVID denial

Rep. Jim Jordan, a Republican from Ohio, recently tweeted: Real America is done with COVID-19."

While everyone wishes this were true, the COVID-19 pandemic is far from over. The U.S. is currently experiencing a winter surge with new cases averaging more than 100,000 a day. COVID-19 deaths exceed 1,000 a day. And the new omicron variant now identified in about half the states has the potential to make things even worse.

One suspects that the people of the Real America that Jordan applauds are members of the Republican base. That conservative slice of America may think they are done with COVID, but it's definitely not done with them. A recent study of 3,000 counties across the U.S. by NPR found that in counties that voted heavily pro-Trump, the death rate has been almost 2.8 times higher than those counties favoring Biden. Being unvaccinated increases the risk of death from the virus dramatically, according to the CDC and Republicans make up almost 60% of unvaccinated people in the U.S.
And it argues the DHMs prevented it from fully operating its business.

"Madsen Bowling has not alleged it was unable to continue operating as a bowling alley, bar, or restaurant, but only that its operating time, services, and capacity were temporarily restricted," the judge said. "Madsen Bowing points to no authority suggesting the Fourteenth Amendment protects the 'liberty' to operate or engage in commerce without such restrictions during a public-health emergency."

Rossiter said Madsen's has not alleged facts to support a conclusion that the restrictions on commerce were "so egregious or outrageous that it is conscience-shocking."

Attorneys for the business also took aim at an ordinance passed by the City Council on Aug. 31, 2020, prohibiting posting of signs in the council chambers while the council is in session, calling it a restriction of freedom of speech and expression.

The judge disagreed, finding the restriction not only viewpoint-neutral, "but also reasonable."

In the end, Rossiter dismissed the civil rights violation claims against the city and city leaders because Madsen's "failed to allege any actionable constitutional violations."
At the moment of impact, the tractor-tanker rolled on top of the barrier and performed a brief skid -- envision a skateboarder riding a rail -- before it was redirected back onto the road, before eventually rolling onto its side.

In less than 1 second, a bevy of instruments -- accelerometers on the vehicle, strain gauges inside the barrier system and high-speed digital cameras -- captured enough data to begin assessing the UNL design.

With the barrier standing just 62 inches tall, 22 inches wide at its base and 10 inches wide at its top, computer models showed it would upright the vehicle and prevent it from potentially dangerous outcomes like a tank rupturing or crossing into oncoming traffic or careening off a bridge, Stolle said.

The barriers performance capturing a vehicle that collided with it an angle of 15 degrees traveling 50 mph -- an uncommon combination in most crashes -- indicates it would be successful at other speeds and angles as well, Stolle added.

Typically, at higher speeds, the angle of impact is not as steep. The smaller the angle of impact, the less likely a tractor-tanker is going to roll over the barrier.
The officer Potter was training that day, Anthony Luckey, testified that during the stop, he smelled marijuana and saw marijuana residue on the car's console. He also said Wright didnt have a license and produced an expired proof of insurance that was under another person's name.

After discovering there was a warrant for Wrights arrest on a weapons charge and a restraining order against Wright, Luckey said he was going to put Wright in handcuffs and check on the welfare of the woman in the car, and he asked Wright to get out.

But as Luckey tried to handcuff him, Wright struggled out of the officer's grip and got back into the car. Luckey said he was reaching into the car when he heard the gunshot, and that he then jumped back and saw Wright put the car in drive before it took off.

Prosecutors say Potter had extensive training, and it included an explicit warning about confusing a handgun with a Taser that also directed them to learn the differences between their Taser and firearm to avoid such confusion.
Up to now, $1.8 billion has been spent on the state's expressway system expansion, according to a report shared Wednesday. Of the original system identified in 1988, six projects are under construction, three are in the design phase and two are in the planning phase.

Sen. Mark Kolterman of Seward pressed Selmer about expanding U.S. 81 between York and Columbus. That's in the design phase and expected to be complete in 2035.

I would hope that, with the money thats coming in, we could make an attempt to move that up on the schedule, Kolterman said.

Selmer said the time estimates for expressway projects were created before the federal legislation passed. He expects the federal money will allow the state to hold to the current schedule, he said, and the department is looking at ways to accelerate it.

Four of the lawmakers in attendance Wednesday  Sens. Curt Friesen of Henderson, Joni Albrecht of Thurston, Dan Hughes of Venango and Mike Moser of Columbus  issued a statement Tuesday coming to the defense of Republican gubernatorial candidate Jim Pillen, who dismissed the need for the federal infrastructure bill at a debate over the weekend.
"[The student] and I are clearly entitled to address the school board," the student's mother told the Globe Gazette. "And when he did, he was terrified because he knew 'bad people' were in the room, but he did it anyway because he wanted to.

"I am 100 percent proud of my kid," she said. "But how can any parent speak up if this is what happens?"

The student's mother said she contacted the school district about the post and is attending a safety-plan meeting with her son's school principal this week. Sue Deike, communications director for the district, verified that a parent had contacted the district with concerns.

"The district takes very seriously the safety of all of our students in all of our schools, and due to the safety of our students, the district staff may not confirm/verify when a safety meeting may or may not have been scheduled for any student or family," Deike wrote in an email to the Globe.
In a phone conversation Thursday with Angela Merkel, Russian President Vladimir Putin thanked the now-retired German chancellor for years of fruitful cooperation, according to the Kremlins readout of the call.

Putin underscored Merkels significant contribution to the development of the Russian-German relations during her 16 years in office and said she was always welcome in Russia.

Merkel, in turn, wished Putin success in establishing a dialogue with new German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, the readout said.

In France, Baerbock said a possible diplomatic boycott of the Winter Olympics in China was another big topic on Thursday. The White House and the British and Australian governments have said none of their diplomats will attend the Beijing Games, decisions intended to protest Chinese human rights abuses.

Germany wants to decide how to proceed in unison with our European friends, she added.
In the early days of an initial 2020 lockdown, Belgian police planned to use drones to monitor social distancing but dropped the idea after a backlash. There was also a move to use security cameras originally installed to fight serious crime and terrorism in an example of function creep"  where technology is used for a different purpose than originally intended. That brought an expanded risk of a surveillance society," the report said.

Contact tracing apps flourished. Most are based on technology jointly developed by Apple and Google and use Bluetooth signals to anonymously log any smartphones that have been in close, extended contact with a phone belonging to someone who has tested positive.

But uptake was spotty. For example, there's evidence the Cyprus government's tracing app was not widely adopted," the report said.

The Dutch government's CoronaCheck vaccination status app was plagued with glitches. Because of the decentralized and privacy sensitive design, its QR code couldn't be revoked if a user tested positive, allowing continued access to places that required proof of vaccination or a negative test result. It was also possible to manipulate the app to get a fake test result, the report said.
Two books that are prominent in reporting on Krauses list are Gender Queer, a memoir by Maia Kobabe, who identifies as nonbinary, and In the Dream House, a memoir by Carmen Maria Machado, who is a survivor of an abusive same-sex relationship.

Kobabes book is a graphic novel with depictions of sex acts so explicit that its easy to understand why some parents object. In the Dream House, on the other hand, was produced by Graywolf Press, a publisher known for quality literature by serious writers. Abbott and Krause appear to be uninterested in these distinctions.

The point is: Im not sure which of these books should be in public school libraries. Im unclear on what role parents should play in determining curricular content. But Im also very skeptical about turning those decisions over to politicians such as Abbott, Krause and the Texas legislature, whose criteria includes the hasty rejection of anything that might make students feel discomfort.

Abbott and the Republican politicians who control Texas have spared no efforts to make guns readily available to all Texans. Abbott has done his best to prevent local school districts from requiring their students to wear masks, the simplest protection against COVID.
Nebraskans For Peace supports Chancellor Ronnie Greens plan for the University of Nebraska-Lincoln to be an inclusive environment where everyone feels welcome. The plan has not yet been implemented.

Normally, our thoughts would be, OK, great. Now put your words into action, but we are troubled by the Gov. Pete Ricketts' interference in the process. The university is legally governed by its administration and Board of Regents, not by the governor.

The governor has real responsibilities going unattended. He could focus his efforts on relieving our overcrowded emergency rooms, encouraging people to get vaccinated, addressing criminal justice reform, improving child welfare outcomes and balancing our budget.

He could even acknowledge that, to fulfill the states motto of equality before the law and in recognition of our history of bias, he appreciates Chancellor Greens efforts to make people from all backgrounds feel welcome at UNL.

After all, we need a highly educated citizenry. Instead, Ricketts used his press conference to quote authors he does not understand and theories he has never studied.
RACINE  The entrance of the Racine Public Library now resembles the feelings of wonder and imagination a patron may feel in the bookshelves and makerspaces with the addition of a new mural behind the circulation desk.

The mural at the library is the third and most recent installment in the Wall Poems of Racine project, an ArtRoot venture in collaboration with many community partners.

It features a poem by local poet Dan Nielsen, who is an avid patron of the library, and art by Dee Hutch, who is a co-founder of retail store Root City and a tattoo artist at Black Hand Tattoo Gallery, both in Downtown Racine.

One line is spray-painted across the wall: Can you imagine what it would be like to have no imagination? From the left, the mural shows a natural-haired little girl blowing a dandelion flower that transitions to illustrations of outer space, books, flowers and a butterfly amongst clouds.

The mural uses all the colors of the rainbow and looks like the librarys own personal Northern Lights show.

The poet and the artist

Nielsen called the poem a simple interrogative sentence and jokingly said it was a part of his stand-up comedy routine; in other words, it was something he often pondered out loud about.

It was meant to be ironic. And then it turned out to be inspirational, which is ironic, he said, laughing.

It meant a lot to Hutch to be the next one chosen to put words on a wall for the project. In a phone interview, he said he was patiently waiting to be chosen as the next artist, having a vested interest in the project and the library in general.

According to Nick Ramsey, ArtRoot member and Wall Poems of Racine coordinator, the process of selecting a poet is a long one. For this particular mural, the organization narrowed down the number of poets from 200 down to five, and those five poets submitted 10 poems each.

ArtRoot members then worked to narrow the number of poems down, submitting the remaining poems to Hutch. It was up to Hutch to choose which one resonated with him the most, and it was Nielsens.

I was already a big fan of Dans (work), so I was super excited, Hutch said.

Making an impact

The process took about 12 hours in one day, and local photographer Rene Amado documented the whole process. I had a lot of ideas going on in my head, Hutch said.

One of his ideas was to represent his daughter and, perhaps, some of the patrons of the library by painting a natural-haired little girl of color.

My daughter has been falling in love with her natural hair, and I love that. I want kids who identify with (the character) to feel welcome in the library, Hutch said.

I love the idea, and Ive known Dee for years  When I saw it, I was on the brink of tears, Nielsen said.

The library was one of the first places ArtRoot thought to place the first mural, since it was where the coalition traditionally met, said Nick Demske, deputy director of the library, Racine County supervisor and ArtRoot member.

This new mural was funded exclusively by the library, Demske said. When he and Angela Zimmermann, the librarys executive director, saw the mock-up of the mural, We were just like, yes!

Momentum

Mural brings poetry to life in street art project on Uptown building "I found a dead squirrel. It freaked me out," Kelsey Marie Harris said. "I wrote a poem about it. Now it's on a wall."

ArtRoot  a coalition of local artists and advocates working to bolster the arts in the Racine community  coordinates several committees to select the poem, artist and site for each of its murals.

The last mural, unveiled late October, is at 1346 Washington Ave. in Uptown Racine. The poem was written by Kelsey Marie Harris and the art was painted by Dean Tawwater, owner of Tawwater Sign Co.

The last two murals have gone out faster than expected, since the inaugural mural  dedicated to Racinian poet Aaron Lundquist, who died in 2016  was unveiled in July of 2020.

The momentum of the mural project is due to the organizers being more familiar with the process and more sponsors and supporters helping fund the project, Ramsey said.

But it is also due to the communitys growing interest in the project, especially after actually seeing murals be completed, Demske said.

The Racine community may be more used to what he calls proposal burnout, or the idea that the community is reluctant to support proposals until they yield actual results, especially after past proposals have fallen through.

When the first mural was unveiled, Demske said he saw posts on Facebook of locals wanting to change their bike routes to be able to pass by it. The good energy exists, then all of a sudden, everyones like, How can I get involved?

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RACINE  The Downtown Racine Corp. is accepting nominations for the 2021 Achievement Awards in which individuals, businesses or organizations are recognized for their contribution to the vitality of downtown during the past year.

Nominations are being accepted for the following categories:

Downtown Showcase Award

 An event, person or organization that has helped attract visitors and/or residents and helped to improve the overall image of downtown as an exciting, dynamic, happening place.

Corporate Citizenship Award

 An individual who has been a catalyst in improving downtown; has provided service to the downtown community and has worked tirelessly to promote downtown.

Best New Small Business Award

 A new retail shop, gallery or restaurant that has captured the attention of the marketplace and helped enhance downtown.

Downtown Champion Award

 A business or organization that is the ultimate citizen, supporting downtown through employment, facilities and sponsorship.

CPR Award  The redevelopment of a downtown building or property that has helped enhance the overall downtown neighborhood and revitalize the area.

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A thriving downtown doesnt happen by accident, said Kelly Kruse, DRC executive director. It takes the vision, partnership and commitment. These awards are an opportunity for the DRC to honor the people and businesses that have that passion for our downtown.

Our downtown is the true heart and economic engine for our community, and we have all been encouraged by what our businesses and residents have accomplished during an another incredibly tough year, said M.T. Boyle, DRC Board chairman. It is our honor to award those who have inspired us to keep the faith and hope alive for better times ahead.

When there aren't enough adults to fill jobs, Racine County employers are turning to teens It was reported in May that 33.2% of teens ages 16 to 19 were in the national workforce, the highest figure for teen workers since the Great Recession of 2008. But some employers have struggled more since the school year resumed.

Email nomination and description of why they are deserving of the award to: kkruse@racinedowntown.com.

Nominations are due by Friday, Jan. 7.

Last year The 2020 Achievement Award winners were as follows: Downtown Showcase Award  Yoga Roots Racine for Bend and Brew

Corporate Citizenship Award  Stan and Mary Anderson/Venmo Challenge

Best New Small Business Award  Taeja Vus on Main

Downtown Champion Award  Festival Foods

CPR Award  Smokd on the Water

Winners will be announced at the Downtown Racine Corp.s State of the Downtown and Achievement Awards at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 26, at the Johnson Building, 555 Main St. The event is free and open to the public. People are encouraged to RSVP by Jan. 19 to lshockley@racinedowntown.com or call 262-634-6002.

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WISCONSIN DELLS  Wisconsins tourism industry is fueled by immigrants. With borders closed off and on and COVID-19 fears stifling global travel, tourism towns were decimated without foreign workers.

Usually, the Wisconsin Dells (a hub of the states $22.2 billion tourism industry) gets 6,000 foreign workers every summer, primarily from the J-1 Visa program, through which students in other countries are allowed to come to the U.S. for four months to learn about American culture while working paid jobs. This year, due to COVID-19 concerns and embassies being closed, only about 1,600 J-1 holders came to, and worked in, the Wisconsin Dells area.

The Dells worker shortage this year could have been fully eliminated had those 4,400 J-1 workers not been missing, said Tom Diehl, owner of Tommy Bartlett Inc. and a leader of the Wisconsin Dells Visitor and Convention Bureau.

Without those workers (J-1ers, as Diehl called them), some hotels were closed a few days a week. Restaurants may have only been open for one or two meals a day instead of three. Some businesses stayed closed all year long.

The program ended up being suspended almost entirely in 2020. It was reactivated in spring 2021, but was much less popular. In fall 2020, Diehl got a call from someone with a Finnish-American group in Helsinki who said, due to COVID-19, in 2021 there would be no J-1ers coming from Finland, period, even though the group usually sent dozens yearly.

Its not like businesses there can just go hire people off the street. The combined year-round population of the City of Wisconsin Dells and adjacent Lake Delton is about 6,000, and the surrounding communities dont add much.

There simply are not enough locals to fill all jobs available during peak tourism months. The area has about 16,000 total full-time jobs every summer; i.e., the population of the area is at least doubled by the jobs available during stretches of typical years.

Foreign labor has been a tremendous asset to the area as the area has grown, Diehl said. J-1 was trying to give young kids the opportunity to experience our American culture, our capitalistic society and all that.

Stacie Tollaksen, chairperson of Wisconsin Dells BridgeUSA Community Support Group, also known as the J-1 consortium, said in March most employers in the Dells area are offering free rent, free food and grocery delivery for students to their room during quarantine so they dont have to take on the added expense. Ive really seen the employers take good care of them that way.

Especially with the pandemic ongoing, filling those jobs with Americans became a daunting if not impossible task because when COVID hit, you had a certain amount of people who didnt want to be around other people. That was an impediment for it, Diehl said.

He said Its not just one thing causing the shortage, although a full allotment of J-1 workers could have fixed the Dells problem in the short term. Its a really complex issue.

Reporting from Erica Dynes and Barry Adams of Lee Newspapers is included in this article.

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COVID-19 is surging in Wisconsin, and hospitals across the state are feeling the strain.

Medical-system leaders across the state are reporting that their facilities cannot handle any more waves of patients.

The public can help prevent hospitals from being truly overwhelmed by getting vaccinated against COVID-19, and thus greatly reduce the chances of being hospitalized because of or dying from the novel coronavirus, experts and health leaders have continued to say in the hopes of raising Wisconsins vaccination rate  which lags the national average.

Vaccines proving their worth 59.2% of Wisconsin residents are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, just shy of the national rate of 60.1%; in Racine County, 56.6% of residents have been fully vaccinated. Vaccinated people still appear to be one-fifteenth as likely than those who are not vaccinated against COVID-19 to die from the novel coronavirus. In October, among every 100,000 unvaccinated people in Wisconsin, there were: 27.3 coronavirus-related deaths

132 hospitalizations

2255.1 cases Among every 100,000 fully vaccinated Wisconsinites: 1.8 coronavirus-related deaths

12.2 hospitalizations

456.4 cases Medical experts say that although people who are vaccinated can still spread COVID-19, they are less likely to spread it than unvaccinated people. Among those filling Wisconsin's hospital beds with COVID-19, Those patients are overwhelming unvaccinated, in terms of who is ending up in our hospitals and in our ICU beds," said Wisconsin Department of Health Services Secretary-designee Karen Timberlake said Wednesday. In encouraging Wisconsinites to get vaccinated, Gov. Tony Evers said We cant let our hospitals go into crisis mode here, folks.  Data from OurWorldInData.org, Wisconsin Department of Health Services

Some state hospitals turning people away due to being stretched thin by COVID-19 patient surge Stroke survivors being turned away. More patients on ventilators than ever. The threat of a new, little-understood COVID-19 variant that may already be in Wisconsin. Health leaders believe the current state of the pandemic in Wisconsin could be worse than its ever been before.

Hospitals in the Fox River Valley and north central Wisconsin report having only one or two intensive care unit beds available. At least one hospital in Green Bay reports it has had to force patients to go to hospitals more than 100 miles away for treatment because it was too full.

More than 97% of the states ICU beds and 98% intermediate care beds are currently in use in hospitals across our state, Department of Health Services Secretary-designee Karen Timberlake said during a call with reporters Wednesday. We have not seen this level of disease activity since December of 2020.

Hospitals in the northwestern and western part of the state reported having no ICU availability. In southeastern Wisconsin, the eight-county region that includes Racine County, the number of available beds was cut in half from 30 on Monday to 15 on Tuesday.

Citing data from the Wisconsin Hospital Association, only 37 of the states 1,331 ICU beds were available as of yesterday. When our beds are full of COVID-19 patients, and our health care providers are stretched thin, hospitals have to go on diversion  turning away patients who need care and causing folks to travel miles from home for care, Gov. Tony Evers said during Wednesdays call. If youre worried about our kids recovering, if youre worried about our economy, if youre worried about rising costs and where our economy is headed, get vaccinated.

As of Tuesday, 418 COVID-19 patients were in ICUs statewide, the Wisconsin Hospital Association reported, and thus were taking up nearly a third of the states intensive care capacity. Those patients are overwhelming unvaccinated, in terms of who is ending up in our hospitals and in our ICU beds, Timberlake said.

At a Wisconsin Health News online forum, Eric Conley, CEO of Wauwtosas Froedtert Hospital said: We are full. Period.

The public all over the country (is) sick and tired and feels the pandemic is over, but its not, Kenosha County Health Officer Jen Freiheit told a reporter Wednesday.

Local systems

Advocate Aurora Health Spokesperson LeeAnn Betz said in an email Wednesday that over the past month, our COVID-19 inpatient census has more than doubled. We currently have 749 COVID-19 inpatients across our system  including 57 in southern Wisconsin. Beds are very tight, and the situation is complicated by workforce shortages impacting many industries across the nation. Despite the challenges, we have the flexibility as an integrated health system to move around resources including staff, equipment, and supplies, when and where needed.

Ascension Wisconsin reports Wednesday that there are 167 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 across Ascension Wisconsin hospitals. Most of these patients are unvaccinated  these are among the highest numbers we have seen this year but not as high as our peak COVID-19 patient volumes in November 2020  this increase directly impacts the ability of all of our local health systems to provide care to other patients who do not have COVID-19, but require hospitalization for another reason.

Asking for help

Timberlake said that DHS is in the process of requesting hospital reserve teams from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to help Wisconsin hospitals deal with the surge. These teams will be disbursed around the state and will add important capacity, especially in intensive care units. If approved, those teams likely still would not be here for weeks, Timberlake said.

The state reports that it already has 360 staff members stationed temporarily at 65 hospitals and nursing homes around the state to deal with staffing falling short of facilities needs, but more than 200 other facilities have requested help  a sign that the states surge protocols are already being overwhelmed.

This is fundamentally a staffing challenge, as our health system leaders have been telling us, Timberlake said.

Added Evers: Our state and nation were facing a health worker shortage long before this pandemic hit.

National Guard members continue to help support vaccination and testing efforts and for some other staffing support. Evers said there are no plans to ask for more help from the guard.

There is not a finish line in sight, said Dr. Ryan Westergaard, DHS chief medical officer, who noted that influenza vaccination rates are lower this year than last year, which could create a compounding problem since the states medical facilities dont have capacity to treat large numbers of people who are sick and require hospitalization with influenza because so many beds are already filled with COVID patients and those hospitalized for reasons unrelated to the pandemic.

We dont have any more capacity for that next wave of a contagious illness, added Timberlake.

The 7-day average for new infections in Wisconsin is more than 3,500, which is the highest its been in a year, according to state health officials.

According to the Wisconsin Hospital Association COVID-19 dashboard, there were 1,630 people in the state hospitalized for COVID-19 as of Tuesday afternoon. Thats an increase of 212 over the past week. More than 400 of those patients are in intensive care units, where beds are in short supply, Wisconsin Public Radio reported.

Unfortunately, its not looking good and I dont think its looking good for anybody across the state or even across state lines. Our ICUs are pretty much full, said Dr. Imran Andrabi, CEO of Wisconsin-based ThedaCare.

The surge is blamed entirely on the delta variant of COVID-19, Timberlake said, not on the new omicron variant which may even be less disease-causing than the delta variant.

Three more cases of the new omicron variant of COVID-19 have been found in Wisconsin, officials said Wednesday. At least some of the omicron cases do not involve travel, which Westergaard said suggests theres a low level of the omicron variant spreading in communities in Wisconsin.

Heather Poyner and David Wahlberg of Lee Newspapers and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Wisconsin water utilities and local governments are joining industry groups seeking to stop the state from limiting toxic forever chemicals in the states drinking water.

The Municipal Environmental Groups water division  a trade association whose members include water utilities in Madison, Green Bay, Sun Prairie and 66 other communities  is urging the Department of Natural Resources to scrap rules developed over the past two years that would add certain fluorinated compounds to the list of regulated drinking water contaminants.

In comments submitted Tuesday, the group says the state should wait for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to adopt federal standards.

The Wisconsin Rural Water Association, which represents 586 municipal water and sewage utilities, and the League of Wisconsin Municipalities made similar requests, echoing comments made by industry groups including Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce, the Wisconsin Paper Council and the American Chemistry Council.

The EPA has announced plans to set limits for PFOA and PFOS, two of the thousands of synthetic chemicals collectively known as PFAS that have been found in public and private wells across the state.

However, those standards would likely not be in effect before 2026. By then it would be too late to spend an estimated $150 million in funding allocated through the new federal infrastructure law, said division administrator Darsi Foss.

The utility groups argue that the DNRs proposed standards, based on recommendations from the Department of Health Services, do not account for the costs and benefits in the way the EPAs would.

MEG-Water is concerned with the Departments proposal to establish drinking water standards without weighing the relative costs and benefits of those standards and the precedent that this may set for establishing future state drinking water standards for other emerging contaminants, the group wrote in comments submitted Tuesday.

Both trade groups say water utilities are under pressure to keep rates affordable in the face of expensive challenges, such as replacing lead service lines and aging water mains, and must already remove contaminants like radium, arsenic and nitrate. It argues newer contaminants like PFAS should get the same scrutiny and analysis as those other contaminants.

Found in wells

Tests have found PFAS in all of Madisons 23 municipal wells, though none are above the proposed limit. The city has taken one East Side well offline while exploring treatment options.

A spokesperson for the Madison Water Utility said that while utility leaders agree with many of the trade groups comments, including the need for a cost-benefit analysis, they support immediate state regulation.

Both federal and state standards will eventually be implemented, Marcus Pearson said. We know that, but we presume a federal standard could take years to implement.

Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway said she supports state regulations, but urged the DNR to hold polluters accountable.

While water utilities are faced with addressing the contamination, they did not cause the pollution, Rhodes-Conway wrote. The best policy would be to require producers of PFAS containing products to take responsibility for remediation.

The state regulations, which received broad public support at a Dec. 1 hearing, are expected to come before the DNRs policy board in February before heading to the Republican-controlled Legislature, which has the power to alter or kill them.

Health problems

Manufactured for decades under brand names like Scotchguard and Teflon, the synthetic chemicals have been linked to health problems including low birth weight, cancer and liver disease, and have been shown to make vaccines less effective. Though discontinued in 2015, they do not break down naturally and remain ubiquitous in the environment.

In line with DHS recommendations, the DNRs draft rule establishes a combined limit of 20 ppt for PFOA and PFOS in drinking water. It would also require routine testing of municipal and some private water supplies, including mobile home parks and some workplaces.

Systems that exceed the limit would have to install filters or drill new wells.

Foss said the regulations would provide certainty for the 1.7 million residents who drink water from public water supplies.

The public wants to know if the water they are drinking is safe, Foss said.

The DNR estimates the total cost to businesses and local governments would be about $5.6 million in the first year and about $3.9 million per year going forward. Nine municipal water systems are expected to exceed the limits, requiring treatment systems that could together cost about $3.7 million per year over two decades.

But the agency says cleaner water could save Wisconsin residents at least $100 million a year in medical bills.

The proposed drinking water standards are similar to those adopted by Illinois but less restrictive than those in Minnesota and Michigan.

More analysis

While the EPA has said its safe to drink water with PFOS and PFOA concentrations up to 70 ppt, the agency now says there may be health risks at levels below just 1 ppt. An analysis of hundreds of new studies must now be reviewed by outside scientists before the agency sets standards based on what it determines is economically feasible.

All indications are it will be lower, said Jim Zellmer, deputy administrator of the DNRs environmental management division. And then we would move to develop and revise our rules based on that.

Pearson said the proposed state standard  which is 10 times higher than PFOA and PFOS levels in any active city well  should reassure the more than 260,000 Madison-area residents that our water is undeniably safe to drink.

As knowledge and understanding about PFAS changes, so will Madison Water Utilitys mitigation strategies, he said.

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Wisconsin officials plan to seek federal help to staff hospitals and nursing homes strained by COVID-19, they said Wednesday, as they found three more cases of the worrisome new omicron variant.

At least some of the omicron cases dont involve travel, suggesting theres a low level of the omicron variant spreading in communities in Wisconsin, said Dr. Ryan Westergaard, a chief medical officer for the state Department of Health Services.

Early data in other countries suggests omicron may be more transmissible than other variants, though not necessarily more severe, and its too soon to know how well vaccines protect against it.

The state confirmed its first case of the omicron variant Saturday, in a resident who recently traveled to South Africa. The day before, officials said five people from California had tested positive for the omicron variant after attending a wedding in Milwaukee County over Thanksgiving weekend.

With 1,611 patients hospitalized with COVID-19, 97% of intensive care beds and 98% of intermediate care beds occupied, and some hospitals turning patients away, the state plans to ask for up to five Federal Emergency Management Agency teams of about 20 people each, DHS Secretary Karen Timberlake said.

The state has already placed about 360 additional staff at roughly 65 hospitals and nursing homes in recent weeks, and more than 200 other facilities have requested help, Timberlake said. The state is also supporting more training of nursing assistants to boost staffing levels.

To help relieve health care workers, Timberlake and Gov. Tony Evers urged residents to get vaccinated if they havent been, get booster shots if they qualify, wear masks indoors in public, stay home when ill and get tested for COVID-19 if potentially exposed.

We must prevent further strain on Wisconsins health and long-term care providers, Timberlake said.

If youre worried about our kids recovering, if youre worried about our economy, if youre worried about rising costs and where our economy is headed, get vaccinated, Evers said. We cannot give up now.

National Guard members continue to help support vaccination and testing efforts, and at mental health facilities. There are no plans to ask for more help from the guard, Evers said.

We are full

As of Wednesday, 118 patients were hospitalized with COVID-19 in Dane County, down from 123 on Friday but higher than most of this year. According to the Wisconsin Hospital Association, 418 COVID-19 patients were in ICUs statewide, the most since November 2020, before vaccines were approved. The vast majority are unvaccinated, hospital officials say.

We are full. Period, Eric Conley, CEO of Milwaukees Froedtert Hospital, said Tuesday at a Wisconsin Health News online forum. Its really impacting, impeding care for those patients who are not COVID that need the care getting in because getting to our beds is just very, very hard.

Unfortunately, its not looking good and I dont think its looking good for anybody across the state or even across state lines. Our ICUs are pretty much full, said Dr. Imran Andrabi, CEO of ThedaCare.

State update

On Wednesday, Wisconsin reported 3,519 new cases of COVID-19, for a daily average of 3,155. Another 33 COVID-19 deaths were reported, for a daily average of 20, higher than most of this year.

Nineteen counties had critically high COVID-19 activity, all in the central or northern part of the state. Menominee County had the lowest activity rate, with Dane County second lowest. The counties have the states highest rates of residents and adults having at least one dose of vaccine, respectively.

Westergaard said flu activity remains low but has picked up the past two weeks. If flu puts more people in hospitals, the state could become even more overwhelmed, Timberlake said.

We dont have any more capacity for that next wave of a contagious illness, she said.
1. Crime. Too much violence, too many shootings. Police have to get a handle on it.

2. Coronavirus. The omicron variant and others to follow threaten the community.

3. Roads. Killeen-area roads are still a mess after last years storm  a serious problem.

4.Government. Elections are on the horizon, and voters will have hard choices to make.

5. Unsure. Its hard to say which single issue will stand out at this point.

Vote

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Sustainable Beef must prove it has completed its $325 million in financing and present a signed construction contract before the citys $142,500 sale of the old lagoon can close.

The redevelopment plans $21.5 million in TIF assistance gives the firm the chance to gradually recover its costs to buy the site, install city utilities, pave and likely widen Golden Road and raise the 8- to 10-foot lagoons base.

The citys Community Redevelopment Authority, which drew up the plan and forwarded it to the council, will meet sometime in January to finalize a redevelopment contract.

Briggs said after the meeting that hes confident the rest of Sustainable Beefs financing will be in place by then.

Once it has the title in hand, he added, Sustainable Beef will apply to the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy for necessary permits that will trigger yet another round of public input and hearings.

Briggs, of Alliance, thanked North Plattes leaders and people for their support, sentiments echoed by ranchers and fellow Sustainable Beef organizers Rusty Kemp of Tryon and Trey Wasserburger of North Platte.
Pascrell on Wednesday singled South Dakota out as the the Grand Cayman of the Great Plains but also acknowledged that Democratic-run states have indulged in the practice. Trusts in South Dakota have more than quadrupled over the past decade to $360 billion in assets, including an increase of $100 billion in the last three years, the Pandora Papers investigation showed.

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, a Republican who sat on the House Ways and Means Committee while in Congress, declined an invitation to testify at Wednesday's hearing, saying she had prior commitments. Her office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Associated Press. Pascrell said he would send a list of questions to the governor.

During Wednesday's hearing, Republican members mostly objected to the committee's topic, saying instead they should be looking into recent leaks of tax information. They also cast trusts as an innocuous practice that small business owners use and pointed out that the Pandora Papers investigation didn't find any explicitly illegal activity.
Israel's Foreign Ministry said a smuggler was caught with the some of the items in 2013 at the airport when arriving from a flight from Egypt. More than 90 others were found at a Jerusalem antiques store the same year.

It said the items included hieroglyphic inscriptions on stone, a fragment of a wooden sarcophagus, inscriptions on papyrus, figurines of Egyptian goddesses and other figures placed inside tombs as burial offerings. Israel released a photo of Lapid and Shokry in front of a table filled with the artifacts.

Egypt and Israel reached a historic peace accord in 1979. Relations have generally been cool between the countries, though behind-the-scenes security cooperation remains strong. There have been growing signs of overall cooperation in recent months.

Lapid's visit came three months after Bennett held talks with el-Sissi in the Red Sea resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh. It was the first official trip to Egypt by an Israeli premier in over a decade. At the time, the visit signaled a warming in a relationship that had been security-focused but somewhat cool under Bennetts predecessor, Israeli hard-liner Benjamin Netanyahu.
Mayo Clinic Health System invites the community to attend a virtual forum, Kids, Vaccines and Variants: COVID-19 Here and Now, next week.

The Zoom event will run from noon to 1 p.m. Friday, Dec. 17 and feature Dr. Robert Jacobson, a pediatrician and vaccine researcher with the Mayo Clinic Childrens Center. Jacobson will discuss COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness among all age groups, with particular focus on children 511 who were recently approved for COVID-19 vaccinations by the FDA.

Jacobson will be joined by Dr. Raj Palraj, Mayo Clinic Health System infectious diseases expert, who will speak on the latest therapies and offer a perspective on the omicron and delta variants. Dr. Paul Mueller, regional vice president for Mayo Clinic Health System in Southwest Wisconsin,will share the latest trends on COVID-19 activity in the region and offer guidance to help protect individuals and families from the spread of the virus through the remainder of the holiday season.

A significant portion of the program will be dedicated to responding to audience questions.

We know theres some angst and anxiety from parents and others about vaccinating their children. This an opportunity for parents, caregivers, and our communities to hear from world renown experts at Mayo Clinic who research this subject on a daily basis, says Mueller.

Participants will need to register in advance for this free Zoom forum at https://mc-meet.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_2kVATPy8TEiULVjFar_vUw. After registering, participants will receive a confirmation email containing a Zoom link.

Emily Pyrek can be reached at emily.pyrek@lee.net.

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The Family Birthplace at Mayo Clinic Health System in La Crosse has been recognized as a Best Hospital for Maternity by U.S. News & World Report.

Ratings were published on the U.S. News & World Report website Tuesday. Out of 2,700 hospitals nationwide that offer maternity services, Mayo Clinic Health System in La Crosse is one of 237 that received the High Performing rating in Adult Maternity Care for uncomplicated pregnancies.

We are so humbled in Southwest Wisconsin Family Birthplace in La Crosse to receive this recognition, says Karizma Maxson, DNP, MSN, RN-NIC, nurse manager for the Family Birthplace, Southwest Wisconsin, Mayo Clinic Health System. We come to work each and every day to live out our Mayo Clinic values in putting the needs of our patients first. Our team is collaborative and provides the best care that is safe, and patient centered. I want to take this moment to thank the patients for allowing us to partner with them in their care. I also want to thank our team for choosing excellence every day.

The maternity evaluation looked at data related to uncomplicated pregnancies and measured five different factors, including scheduled early deliveries, C-section rates in low-risk women, newborn complications, rate of exclusive breast milk feeding and option for vaginal births after cesarean. Participating hospitals also provided information on available services and amenities, such as, midwives, private rooms, valet parking and childbirth classes.

Parents today want the safest and highest quality care for mom and baby. Reflecting our primary value, the needs of the patient comes first, we continuously strive to provide that level care every day to our patients, said Dr. Paul Mueller, regional vice president for Mayo Clinic Health System SW Wisconsin.

Emily Pyrek can be reached at emily.pyrek@lee.net.

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The bipartisan Wisconsin Elections Commission on Wednesday threw out challenges against private grant funding provided to the states largest cities, including Madison, to help administer last years election during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The complaints were filed earlier this year by Erick Kaardal, a Republican attorney for the conservative Thomas More Society and former secretary and treasurer for the Republican Party of Minnesota, and alleged that officials in Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay, Kenosha and Racine broke state election laws when they accepted funding from the Chicago-based Center for Tech and Civic Life (CTCL), which is funded by Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg.

Lawyers with Madisons DeWitt law firm, who were retained as special counsel to the commission, dismissed the complaints against the five cities, saying they dont raise probable cause to believe that a violation of law or abuse of discretion has occurred, according to documents provided Thursday.

The Commission will not conduct its own investigation of the circumstances and factual allegations asserted in the Complaint and will not issue an order with the declarations Complainants have requested, the documents state.

The initial complaints were filed against the bipartisan commission, its nonpartisan administrator Meagan Wolfe and the states five largest cities, alleging they violated state and federal election laws by accepting private CTCL funds last year. The complainants have 30 days to appeal the commissions decision to circuit court.

Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway said in a statement the commissions decision further underscores that the city conducted last years election correctly.

As our clerk and poll workers worked overtime, we appreciated the grant funds which allowed us to pull off an election in a historic pandemic safely and securely, Rhodes-Conway said. We need to stop wasting time with false accusations and sham legal proceedings, and focus on making elections accessible for all voters.

Court rulings have found nothing illegal about the more than $10 million in grants CTCL distributed to about 214 municipalities in 39 of Wisconsins 70 counties, including many in areas solidly won by former President Donald Trump. Nor did CTCL turn down grant requests from any of the Wisconsin municipalities that made them.

However, Republicans contend CTCL showered money on Wisconsins largest and most liberal areas in an effort to boost turnout for President Joe Biden in a battleground state Trump narrowly won in 2016 and that Biden ended up winning by less than a percentage point last year.

CTCL has provided some $350 million in grants on a nonpartisan basis to 2,500 election agencies in 49 states.

While Wisconsins largest cities received two to four times more money, per capita, than smaller municipalities, a Wisconsin State Journal review in October found Republican and Democratic areas alike used the money to pay election workers and to purchase voting equipment, personal protective equipment, ballot drop boxes and other items designed to make voting easier and safer during a pandemic.

Former state Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman, who was hired earlier this year by Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, to investigate the 2020 election, has also focused his efforts on CTCL funding.

Gableman earlier this month theorized that the money CTCL sent to the large, Democratic-leaning cities morphed from being used to keep voters safe during the COVID-19 pandemic to turning out voters  specifically, ones who would vote for Joe Biden.

Gableman issued subpoenas earlier this year seeking in-person meetings with the mayors of the five cities and with Wolfe. He later backed off that request, but Democratic Attorney General Josh Kaul, who is representing Wolfe and the Elections Commission, sought a restraining order barring Gableman from conducting interviews outside of a public legislative meeting. A hearing on the matter is scheduled for later this month.

Last week, Gableman also asked a Waukesha County judge to compel Rhodes-Conway and Green Bay Mayor Eric Genrich to meet with him or else face jail time.

Kaardal, who tried unsuccessfully to overturn the results of Wisconsins 2020 presidential election, is part of the Minneapolis law firm Mohrman, Kaardal and Erickson, which shares office space in Brookfield with the Thomas More Society and Gablemans team, according to lease documents posted online by liberal watchdog group American Oversight.

Kaardal has lost two lawsuits, one filed in state court and another in federal court, on behalf of the conservative Wisconsin Voters Alliance alleging the grants amounted to bribery to increase voter turnout in Democratic strongholds.

Kaardal continued to air his allegations during an informational hearing Wednesday before the Assembly Committee on Campaigns and Elections, which is chaired by Rep. Janel Brandtjen, R-Menomonee Falls. Brandtjen has called for a full cyber forensic audit in the state similar to the partisan election review conducted in Arizona.

A recount and court decisions have affirmed that Biden defeated Trump in Wisconsin by almost 21,000 votes last November. Four voters out of roughly 3 million who cast ballots have been charged with fraud.

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Black Artists Matter at L.A. Comic Con

On Friday, Dec. 3  Dec. 5, visual arts enthusiasts attended the Los Angeles Comic Con 2021 at the Los Angeles Convention Center, in Downtown L.A. The convention is filled with artists and art fans for a one-of-a-kind experience where the primary focus is on comic books and the comic book culture.

Fans travel the world to meet artists, experts, and fellow comic devotees, hoping to meet their favorite artist or discover new creators selling their art or gaining new fans and friends. Comic Con is a massive vehicle for the comic industry where publishers, distributors, and retailers represent their comic-related work.

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According to online sources, historically, although Blacks have been portrayed in comics since the mediums beginning, critics have noted that Black men and women have often been portrayed as jungle or ghetto stereotypes, and have often been portrayed as sidekicks as opposed to primary characters.

As the industry evolves, more Black artists are finding their niche in the genre. The L.A. Sentinel focused on five Black artists, asking about their unique experiences at the event and in the industry as a whole.

I am a digital illustrator, visual effects artist, and animator from Santa Clarita, CA. My experience was all great! L.A. Comic Con exceeded my expectations; so many great artists and people. I miss it already.

Its such a great feeling seeing people stop and bump into each other because they paused to look at my art while walking past. I received so much love and people looking to collaborate with me in the future. L.A. Comic Con was absolutely inspiring!

Art fans said I was one of the best artists there. Someone bought all of my framed displays, while others filmed me and my booth for their Instagram. As far as being a person of color, I got so many compliments from the Comic Con attendees, just for being a talented Black artist.

It made me feel welcomed; theres a lot of love for Black artists. My art can be viewed on Instagram @ARL_Afterrealm and @ www.artbyarl.com.  Antonio R. Lyons  Artist

Im the Creator of Lightning Strike. Ive been participating in Comic Con for five years now. I participate in the convention because I meet new people and Im excited about sharing my story about my comic. I get to hang out with fans and see new art because Im a fan too!

My perspective as being a Black artist at this event is LOVE. I say no, race does make a difference at Comic Cons because having a great story thats relatable to people or someone they know, or just having great artwork makes a big difference.



I want my readers to know about me and really understand what my comic book stories are trying to communicate, and that I love what I do I appreciate everyone. My work can be found on IG @lscomicx or www.lightningstrike.store  Marcus D. Newsome  Artist/Writer

So far, I have exhibited in three Comic Cons. The conventions are truly a dream come true for any artist or comic creator for exposure, selling our product, network, and having amazing fun while doing it.

Overall, Ive had only positive experiences; even if its a slow day, I still meet wonderful artists and comic art enthusiasts.

With regards to race, I have often been asked if I experience challenges as a Black female exhibitor  on the contrary, I feel more appreciated and rare with only a small handful of Black women comic creators at Con. It does make a difference in a good way.

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As for my comic, my intention was to not draw seriously, but with a goofy exaggerated style to add to the comedy of it. I am excited about developing the DaFuqcomics animation series.

I want my readers to know how grateful I am that I can make them laugh. All my content can be found on Instagram @ da_fuq1  Mia Bunn  Writer/Illustrator of DaFuqcomics



Ive participated in Comic Con for about 14 years. Ive always been an old-school nerd back before it was cool! Comic Con is a great community full of diverse interests. I have nothing but positive things to say about the fans and show promoters.

I think, as a minority, I had to be an ambassador for my culture to many other cultures. I take pride in showing people the best of what we have to offer.

Race definitely plays a factor in many ways. I consider myself a talent ambassador and because of such, Ive been grateful to be able to influence young and old, and many diverse race groups and genders. Diversity is the heart of why I do the art I do.

I have a large selection of pop culture art that you can check out at www.terryhuddlestonart.com  Terry Huddleston  Artist

Comic Cons are important to me because it brings out the nerdy things about us that may not show in our lives, or in mainstream America. If anything, I feel you get to be around a lot of like-minded people regardless of fandom.

Comic Con is the first event where I felt free, interacting with free-spirited people who enjoy what you do.

Being a Black artist at these shows, you sometimes find that there arent a lot of others like us there. However, as time goes on, there seems to be more Black comic artists. The best part of it though, regardless of race, people at Comic Cons are way more welcoming than many other places.

I believe it is because we have all grown up as nerds and were judged or were afraid to show it, but at Comic Con, we can be ourselves for the most part. My art can be viewed @ www.monecoarts.com or Moneco Arts on Facebook.  Avery Walker  Artist

I love that the Comic Con convention event exists. Its a great platform for creative-minded people, whether they create, participate in Cosplay (costume play), or as a consumer, its all good. Being one of the artists in Artist Alley was a dream come true for me, my brother/artist, Darrel Moore, and my friend /artist, Mia Bunn, to actually participate as featured artists, Wow!

In all the years weve gone to the Cons, I didnt see African Americans behind the counter or with a booth showing their art or craft.

So, to be Black and in this event was really a big deal; but to not only be in it but showing beautiful, empowering, Black images without any issues! I know that what we do as artist may not be for everyone but the response at Cons was overwhelming.

People of all races embraced us and we loved it and gave love back. As for the future, they aint ready but here we come. My art can be seen on Instagram @ ART_DESIGN_IMAGE  Henry Goods  Artist-Designer-Muralist

Comic Con fans and Cosplay fun were abundant at the convention. Saudeka Shabazz and her family decided to attend L.A. Comic Con for the first time, even dressing up in Cosplay. We came to L.A. Comic Con because were into sci-fi, were into comics and this is one of the things we do as a family, She said.

Adamu, was excited he came to the convention. Its much bigger than I thought it would be. Im excited to see all the tv. shows and animation I like, he said. Zainab Solomon said visiting Comic Con has been an interest for years. Its exciting to be here, to be in these costumes, take pictures with other people, and it was really nice to see all the artwork the convention had to offer, she said.

Below, Comic fans and Cosplay fans at L.A. Comic Con 2021. (E. Mesiyah McGinnis / L.A. Sentinel)
Community Leaders Support LAPD, BHPD Efforts to Deter Crime

Uniting to fight the rising increase in robberies and other crimes, African American community leaders joined with L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti and L.A. Police Chief Michel Moore to show support for increased efforts to deter law-breakers.

In recent weeks, six burglaries, four robberies and one grand theft occurred, some involving individuals and others comprised of mobs conducting smash-and-grab crimes at stores including Nordstroms and Home Depot.

During a press conference on December 2, civic and business representatives stood behind Garcetti as he expressed the citys commitment to utilizing every available resource to protect residents, shoppers and retailers during the holiday season.

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We want you to support your local businesses, especially after COVID-19, Garcetti said. We want you to be out there shopping and knowing you can do that safely.

We will be out there to make sure that your family is safe, that the places you love to shop are safe, and so that you can enjoy a holiday season that we have all hungered for after two years of being at home, added the mayor

Offering another take on the topic, Dr. Cheyenne Bryant, NAACP San Pedro/Wilmington Branch president, said, Los Angeles is in a crime crisis. The crime rate has increased, and public safety has decreased. If you take away resources, crime increases. If you provide resources, then crime decreases.

The Black community has been in a resource crisis forever, thats why crime always finds itself in our communities. This is why organizations like NAACP and the Dr. Bryant Foundation exist  to provide an array of resources to our community that will allow them to thrive and not just survive, and to create opportunities that will result in a good quality of life. Equality and equity are a civil right. A good quality of life is a human right, she insisted.

Still, Garcetti referred to L.A. as being probably in the safest decade of our lifetimes, despite the uptick in robberies. However, he also acknowledged that fact does not comfort people who are of victims of criminal activities.

It means nothing if youre a member of the [Jacqueline] Avant family (who was killed during a home invasion in Beverly Hills on December 1) or a member of a family that was attacked today, Garcetti said.

We never want to dismiss that, but we also dont want it blow up where everybody thinks that suddenly were seeing statistics that are way beyond what they actual numbers are.

An interesting aspect of the press conference was Chief Moores announcement of the arrests of 14 people connected to 11 robberies from North Hollywood to South L.A., but none remained in custody. Moore said the releases were due to either age, posting bail or zero bail policies that were implemented at the onset of the COVID pandemic.

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Striking in that small number of crimes was the amount of property that was stolen, Moore said. $338,000 worth of property was stolen across the 11 robberies, which also caused more than $40,000 worth of property damage.

At a separate event on December 5, Chief Mark Stainbrook of the Beverly Hills Police Department said that the agency will beef up its workforce by immediately adding five more police officers and assigning armed, private Covered-Six security to patrol the streets. BHPD has also launched a recruitment campaign. Interested candidate can apply at JoinBHPD.org.

Beverly Hills and Los Angeles have seen an uptick in violent crimes of late, including a rash of smash-and-grab retail robberies and a concurrent wave of so-called follow-home robberies, in which criminals target people with high-end merchandise, sometimes following them to their homes.

City News Service contributed to this article.
Drake withdraws 2 Grammy nominations from final ballot

Drake wants no part in competing for a Grammy.

The four-time Grammy winner and his management asked the Recording Academy to withdraw his two nominations from the final-round ballot, two people familiar with the decision told The Associated Press. They said Drakes request was honored by the academy.

The people spoke to the AP on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicity on the matter.

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On Monday, the Grammys has already removed Drakes nominations from the nominee list on its website.

Drake was nominated for best rap album Certified Lover Boy and Way 2 Sexy featuring Future and Young Thug, which earned a nomination for best rap performance.

Drake has called out the Grammys in previous years. The rapper has shown his displeasure for not being nominated outside the rap category. He also took aim at the importance of the Grammy Awards during his acceptance speech after Gods Plan won best rap song in 2019.

If theres people who have regular jobs who are coming out in the rain, in the snow, spending their hard earned money to buy tickets to come to your shows, you dont need this right here. I promised you, you already won, said Drake while holding his trophy. Before the rapper continued, his speech was cut off.

The Grammys will take place in Los Angeles on Jan. 31.
Man Charged in Death of Jacqueline Avant, Music Icons Wife

Prosecutors filed charges Monday against a 29-year-old man in the fatal shooting of philanthropist Jacqueline Avant, the wife of legendary music executive Clarence Avant, last week at their Beverly Hills home.

Aariel Maynor is also charged with the attempted murder of the Avants security guard, whom he allegedly shot at during the Dec. 1 robbery but did not wound.

Maynors arraignment is scheduled for Tuesday. It was not immediately clear whether he had an attorney who could speak on his behalf.

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Mrs. Avant was a treasured member of our community. Her generosity and goodwill touched so many lives, District Attorney George Gascon said in a news release.

Maynor is additionally charged with one count of felon with a firearm  an assault long barrel pistol  and two counts of residential burglary with person present. He has previous felony convictions for assault, robbery and grand theft and was on parole at the time of the shooting.

Police were called to the Avants home on Dec. 1 after a 2:23 a.m. call reporting a shooting. Officers found Jacqueline Avant, 81, with a gunshot wound. She was taken to the hospital but did not survive.

An hour later, Los Angeles Police Department officers were called to a home in the Hollywood Hills  about 7 miles (11.27 kilometers) from the Avant residence  for a reported shooting. They found Maynor there, as well as evidence of a burglary at that home, and took him into custody.

Maynor accidentally shot himself in the foot while breaking into the Hollywood Hills home. An LAPD watch commander put two and two together and reached out to Beverly Hills investigators.

Jacqueline Avant was a longtime local philanthropist who led organizations that helped low-income neighborhoods including Watts and South Los Angeles, and was on the board of directors of the International Student Center at the University of California, Los Angeles.

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The Avants daughter, Nicole Avant, is a film producer and former U.S. ambassador to the Bahamas and is married to Netflix co-CEO and Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos.
St. Brigid Catholic Church Marks 100 Years in South Los Angeles

Historic parish recognized for decades of Christian service and social justice programs for the community

For more than 10 decades, St. Brigid Catholic Church has positively impacted African Americans in South Los Angeles. In fact, generations of families have benefitted from the outreach and educational programs offered by the ministry.

Officially, St. Brigid is 101-years-old since the church was founded in 1920, but the COVID-19 pandemic sidetracked last years centennial observance. Not to be denied, Pastor Kenneth Keke and the congregation moved the celebration to 2021 with the plan of presenting several uplifting activities.

Among the festivities was the dedication of St. Brigid Square, which took place on December 4. The ceremony recognized the L.A. City Councils renaming of the intersection of 52nd Street and Western Avenue in honor of the historic church.

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Scores of people came out for the program, coordinated by anniversary chair Lavonne Anderson, and witnessed the opening procession of African drummers and a liturgical dance by St. Brigid member Debra Parson.

Following remarks by former pastor, Father Thomas Frank, and current priest, Father KeKe, Mrs. Anne Lanoix-Labat, the churchs longest serving member, shared recollections of her familys association with St. Brigid.

St. Brigid is just a wonderful place. In the words of Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, theres no place like home, said Lanoix-Labat, who joined the parish with her parents and siblings in the 1950s.

My father, Gilbert Lewis Lanoix Sr., was known as Deacon Gil and in May 1979, he became a deacon at St. Brigid and worked until 1994, she said. I live in Long Beach currently, but I have three siblings that still live in the family home on 54th Street and I always come to St. Brigid to worship.

Lanoix-Labat also noted some of St. Brigids milestones such as citing 1979 as the year that the Josephites, or the Society of Saint Joseph of the Sacred Heart, incorporated the church into its organization, which is dedicated to serving the African American community. Another key year was 1980, she said, Thats when we formed our gospel choir and now we have over 40 years of our choir ministry.

Councilman Marqueece Harris-Dawson highlighted significant moments in the life of St. Brigid as well. Recalling the churchs social service ministries, he said, The people of Los Angeles are grateful to St. Brigid Catholic Church because its been a light. I remember as a kid that nobody wanted to deal with the people who had AIDS, but St. Brigid opened up a ministry on Western Avenue for people who had AIDS. That was a big deal at the time.

In addition, Harris-Dawson emphasized the churchs extensive work to assist the unsheltered population. St. Brigid started working on homelessness 25 years ago and if everybody had done what St. Brigid did 25 years ago, we wouldnt have a homeless problem at all, he insisted.

Whether it was South Africa or mass incarceration, St. Brigid was focused on those issues. As a young activist, you would have thought that I belonged to this church because they had so many community meetings about social justice issues here and that continues to this day, said Harris-Dawson. He added that the St. Brigid campus will be part of the renovations and improvements planned for Western Avenue in the near future.

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Other outreach ministries sponsored by the church focus on COVID-19 testing and vaccinations, and providing assistance with housing, health care, education and public transportation. Also, St. Brigid continues to manage an AIDS/HIV program with the help of volunteers like Edna and Lawrence Williams and Renee Murray.

Ive been part of AIDS ministry since 1998, Murray said. We do outreach and work with Dr. Jordan at Oasis Clinic where once a month, we provide them with blankets and gifts during the holidays.

In addition, St. Brigid hosts programs for youth and young adults and senior citizens along with offering a vibrant music ministry for members. Ms. Parson, who is also the choir director and a vocalist, has been in the gospel choir for 35 years and shows no sign of limiting her involvement.

Ive been a member since 1981 and with the choir for 35 of those 40 years. I also work with the youth and young adults and teach the praise dancers, she said as she admitted her willingness to contribute to the anniversary celebration.

[This special day] lets me know that we have a legacy to continue. Im just blessed to have been such a part of the legacy and that Im still here and well enough to still sing, dance and praise. Im grateful to the committee for asking me to serve and to be of service, said Parson.

The dedication ceremony was the second event of St. Brigids anniversary observance. On September 18, the congregation kicked-off the celebration with St. Brigid Homeless Connect in Chesterfield Square Park. The daylong activity offered hot meals, clothing, personal grooming and more to both homeless individuals and others down-on-their-luck.

The 100th anniversary Mass was held on December 5 with Bishop John H. Ricard, superior general of the Josephites, as the celebrant. Previously rector of St. Joseph Seminary in Washington, D.C., Ricard also serves as the president of the National Black Catholic Congress.

Chairperson Anderson said the celebration will continue in 2022 with the 100th anniversary concert and a gala at the Skirball Center in 2022.
Study Shows Police Killings in U.S. Have Been Widely Undercounted

Last summer, after the May 25, 2020 killing of George Floyd by former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin, there were protests in the streets around the U.S. The moment brought forward even more analysis over police violence. Over the last five years several high-profile killings of African Americans in the U.S. have been caught on camera and forced legislatures to re-evaluate policing policies.

Police killings in the United States have been massively undercounted according to a study by the University of Washington. The study was published on September 27 in the Lancet, peer-reviewed medical journal.

Researchers compared data from the National Vital Statistics System (NVSS) federal database alongside data from three groups tracking deaths in police custody and news reports. The study demonstrated the disproportionate impact of police killings on Black people in America.

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Last summer, after the May 25, 2020 killing of George Floyd by former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin, there were protests in the streets around the U.S. The moment brought forward even more analysis over police violence. Over the last five years several high-profile killings of African Americans in the U.S. have been caught on camera and forced legislatures to re-evaluate policing policies.

The study in part read that, across all races and states in the USA, we estimate 30,800 deaths from police violence between 1980 and 2018; this represents 17,100 more deaths than reported by the NVSS. Over this time period, the age-standardized mortality rate due to police violence was highest in non-Hispanic Black people, followed by Hispanic people of any race. This variation is further affected by the decedents sex and shows large discrepancies between states.

Talks around details on language in the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act in Congress ended in late September after a dispute between Republican Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) over what Scott defined as defunding police.

Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) told NNPA on September 30 that he has not given up on the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act and is looking for a way to revive the conversation and move the legislation forward.

I am not giving up and Ive gone over it with my staff and asked: What are our options? Sen. Booker told NNPA.

The study was funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

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Lauren Victoria Burke is an independent journalist and the host of the podcast BURKEFILE. She is a political analyst who appears regularly on #RolandMartinUnfiltered. She may be contacted at [email protected] and on twitter at @LVBurke
Study Shows Police Killings in U.S. Have Been Widely Undercounted

Last summer, after the May 25, 2020 killing of George Floyd by former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin, there were protests in the streets around the U.S. The moment brought forward even more analysis over police violence. Over the last five years, several high-profile killings of African Americans in the U.S. have been caught on camera and forced legislatures to re-evaluate policing policies.

Police killings in the United States have been massively undercounted according to a study by the University of Washington. The study was published on September 27 in The Lancet, peer-reviewed medical journal.

Researchers compared data from the National Vital Statistics System (NVSS) federal database alongside data from three groups tracking deaths in police custody and news reports. The study demonstrated the disproportionate impact of police killings on Black people in America.

ADVERTISEMENT

Last summer, after the May 25, 2020 killing of George Floyd by former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin, there were protests in the streets around the U.S. The moment brought forward even more analysis over police violence. Over the last five years, several high-profile killings of African Americans in the U.S. have been caught on camera and forced legislatures to re-evaluate policing policies.

The study in part read that, across all races and states in the USA, we estimate 30,800 deaths from police violence between 1980 and 2018; this represents 17,100 more deaths than reported by the NVSS. Over this time period, the age-standardized mortality rate due to police violence was highest in non-Hispanic Black people, followed by Hispanic people of any race. This variation is further affected by the decedents sex and shows large discrepancies between states.

Talks around details on language in the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act in Congress ended in late September after a dispute between Republican Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) over what Scott defined as defunding police.

Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) told NNPA on September 30 that he has not given up on the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act and is looking for a way to revive the conversation and move the legislation forward.

I am not giving up and Ive gone over it with my staff and asked: What are our options? Sen. Booker told NNPA.

The study was funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

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Lauren Victoria Burke is an independent journalist and the host of the podcast BURKEFILE. She is a political analyst who appears regularly on #RolandMartinUnfiltered. She may be contacted at [email protected] and on twitter at @LVBurke
Thursday, December 9, 2021

Disciplinary matters in Louisiana and North Carolina involve allegations brought against attorneys who had been reinstated after disbarment.

A hearing committee in Louisiana noted

Respondent has a prior disciplinary history. In 2006, the Louisiana Supreme Court publicly censured Respondent  then a district court judge - for participating in a newspaper interview regarding a case pending on appeal and for publicly criticizing one of the attorneys in the case. In 2012, the Louisiana Supreme Court disbarred Respondent following his September 2009 state court conviction of three counts of unauthorized use of a movable. Respondent was readmitted to the practice of law on December 15, 2017.

Here

The jurat is the notarys statement that the formalities identified therein were followed  that the affiant swore to the truthfulness of the contents of the affidavit, and that the affiant signed the affidavit in the notarys presence. That did not occur here. The Committees recommendation does not turn on the truthfulness of the Affidavits  but on the truthfulness of the jurats on the Affidavits. They were Respondents statements, and they were false.

The recommended sanction is a one-year suspension.

The North Carolina attorney was disbarred in 1987 for a drug distribution conviction and readmitted in 1993.

The State Bar has filed charges arising out of a 2018 traffic accident, where he had collided while intoxicated with stopped vehicles flashing emergency lights.

According to the allegations, his car hit a stopped van at 55 mph and "caused serious injuries" to eight people in the van. (Mike Frisch)

https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/legal_profession/2021/12/disciplinary-matters-in-louisiana-and-north-carolina-involve-allegations-brought-against-attorneys-who-had-been-reinstated-af.html
Not A Mixture

Does the new Omicron variant of COVID-19 contain HIV or AIDS? No, that's not true: Dr. William Schaffner, a professor of medicine in infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University, and Benjamin Neuman, a professor of biology and chief virologist at Texas A&M University, told us that it may have originated in someone who may have HIV/AIDS because of the prominence of the disease in sub-Saharan Africa. However, the reason it originated in an HIV positive patient is because their immune system is compromised, which makes it a good place for the virus to mutate without being killed. It does not mean that HIV is a part of the new variant.

The claim appeared in a Facebook post (archived here) on November 27, 2021 with the caption:"Crossover episode! covAIDS-21, coming soon!". The user posted a screenshot, which reads:

UCL [University College London] Genetics Institute in London said it likely evolved during a chronic infection of an immunocompromised person, possibly in an untreated HIV/AIDS patient. South Africa has 8.2 million people infected with HIV, the most in the world. The beta variant, a mutation identified last year in South Africa, also may have come from an HIV-infected person.

This is what the post looked like at the time of writing:

(Source: Facebook screenshot taken on Tue Dec 7 16:00:21 2021 UTC)

The screenshot is a partial quote of comments posted to a science website by Professor Francois Balloux, computational biology chair in the University College London Division of Biosciences. Part of his hypothesis about the origin of the Omicron variant can be seen in the above Facebook post. He wrote "it likely evolved during a chronic infection of an immunocompromised person, possibly in an untreated HIV/AIDS patient." Balloux wrote Omicron should be monitored and analyzed, but that it's nothing to get overly concerned about unless the variant increases in frequency. Readers can see what Balloux and other experts are saying about the Omicron variant here at Britain's Science Media Centre.

Schaffner, a professor at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in Nashville, Tennessee, explained findings in a December 7, 2021 phone interview with Lead Stories. According to Dr. Schaffner, Balloux is trying to address how the Omicron variant has so many mutations. One of the hypothesis Balloux came to was that the coronavirus was able to do this by slowly and constantly multiplying in an immunocompromised patient. "They have a lot of HIV positive people in South Africa, maybe it was a HIV positive person ... That does not mean it contains anything from HIV. It just perhaps originated in an HIV positive person, which is what I think he is saying or alluding to ... Perhaps, [Omicron] had originated in the United States, we might say, 'Well, perhaps it originated in someone who was immunocompromised because of their ... chemotherapy,' or something like that."

Benjamin Neuman, a professor of Biology and Global Health Research Complex Chief Virologist at Texas A&M University told Lead Stories through email on December 7, 2021 that, "There is no solid evidence that Omicron arose through any process other than the normal mutations that the virus makes when copying itself." Neuman states that the Facebook post is saying that Omicron might have evolved in an immunocompromised person. However, this theory is entirely speculative. This letter from the New England Journal of Medicine in December 2020 that Neuman sent us while answering questions suggests SARS-CoV-2 can undergo "extreme evolution" in a person with a non-functional immune system.
Instagram has announced tools it says are designed to keep young users safe and help them limit time spent on the picture-sharing service.

The announcement came the day before the head of Instagram, Adam Mosseri, appeared before American lawmakers to discuss measures to protect children online.

Instagram is owned by Facebook, which recently changed its corporate name to Meta Platforms.

Meta has been under increasing pressure from governments in several parts of the world to improve its safety and privacy policies to protect young users. In October, a former Facebook employee accused the company of ignoring research that suggested Instagram could cause body-image issues and harm the mental health of users, especially girls and young women.

Mosseri described the new tools in an online post this week. He said one change is that Instagram would aim to be stricter about the kinds of content it suggests to young people.

In general, social media networks such as Facebook and Instagram are designed to offer and suggest content that users have shown interest in. This is a way to keep users coming back and staying online for longer periods.

But Mosseri said Instagram plans to launch a new feature that will suggest that users move on to something else if they have been staying on one subject for a long time. This feature is still being developed and tested.

Staying centered on one subject for a long period can cause users to make unhealthy social comparisons, said Phillippa Diedrichs. She is a professor of psychology at Britains University of West England in Bristol. She has been working with Instagram to find ways to improve the Instagram experience for young users.

Diedrichs said suggesting to users to move on to another subject has been studied as a way to improve users experiences online without compromising their freedom and personal choice.

Another tool is called Take A Break. This feature sends a message to people who have been using Instagram for an extended period to consider taking a break from the service. In addition to the messages, young users will be urged to set their own reminders to take more breaks going forward.

Take a Break is already live for Instagram users in the United States, Britain, Ireland, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Instagram plans to launch the tool in the rest of the world early next year.

Mosseri said Instagram was also turning off the ability for people to tag, or mention young people who do not follow them on the service. And starting in January, young Instagram users will be able to easily remove all photo and video content at once, as well as any past likes and comments.

Instagram says next March it will launch its first tools designed to give parents advice on how to discuss social media use with their children. The tools will let parents see how much time their children spend on the service and permit them to set usage limits.

Republican Senator Marsha Blackburn criticized the company's new offerings as "hollow." She said she sees the moves as an attempt by the company to turn attention away from past mistakes "by rolling out parental guides, use timers, and content control features that consumers should have had all along."

An Instagram spokeswoman said the service plans to continue its delay on the development of a planned child version of the service. The company suspended its plans for that project in September after facing intense criticism from major child rights groups as well as U.S. lawmakers.

Im Bryan Lynn.

Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English, based on reports from The Associated Press, Reuters and Instagram. Ashley Thompson was the editor.

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.

Quiz-Instagram Answers Criticism with Tools Aimed at Protecting Young Users Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz

Quiz-Instagram Answers Criticism with Tools Aimed at Protecting Young Users Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz

_____________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

strict  adj. demanding complete observance or obedience

feature  n. a typical quality or important part of something

psychology  n. the study of the human mind and feelings

compromise  v. to agree to something that is not exactly what you want

remind  v. to make someone remember something or remember to do something

mention  v. to briefly speak or write about something or someone

hollow  adj. having a hole or empty space inside

consumer  n. someone who buys or uses goods or services
Olaf Scholz was sworn in Wednesday as Germanys new chancellor, ending 16 years of rule by Angela Merkel.

Scholz is a member of the countrys Social Democratic Party, or SPD. The 63-year-old had served as Germanys vice chancellor and finance minister since 2018.

Lawmakers in Germanys lower house of parliament supported Scholz with a clear majority. He is the countrys ninth chancellor since World War Two.

Scholz has promised to use his office to help modernize Germany and fight climate change. But his government faces the immediate problem of dealing with the countrys most difficult period of the COVID-19 crisis.

After being sworn in, Scholz met later with Merkel, who officially handed over the chancellors office. Merkel wished Scholz a "steady hand" as the countrys new leader.

In a short speech, Scholz praised Merkel as a great leader and thanked her for a close and trustful relationship over the years.

"I would like to build on the north-east German mentality, if I may say so Scholz said. The comment pointed to Scholz and Merkels shared northern roots in the port city of Hamburg. He added that not much will change on that front."

Scholz has positioned himself as Merkel's natural successor. He will seek to lead Germany through a set of problems including rising aggressiveness from Russia and China.

Scholz will lead a three-way ruling coalition. It includes the environmentalist Green party and the financially conservative Free Democrats, or FDP.

Scholz is an expert negotiator and experienced politician. As the SPDs leader from 2002 until 2004, he defended highly-debated labor market reforms and social welfare cuts under former Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder. Later, as labor minister, he sought policies that helped protect millions of German workers from the effects of the world economic crisis that hit in 2008.

Scholz served as the mayor of Hamburg from 2011 to 2018. After that, he returned to Berlin to serve as Merkel's finance minister. In that position, he helped end the governments balanced budget goal and permitted record new borrowing. The action helped protect companies and workers from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

On the European level, he worked closely with France and persuaded Merkel to support a debt-financed European Recovery Fund worth $900 billion. That program assisted EU member states hit hardest by COVID-19.

The 67-year-old Merkel has said she does not plan to seek another political position. When asked earlier this year about her post-chancellor life, she said she planned to take time to read and sleep. And then lets see where I show up, she added.

Im Bryan Lynn.

The Associated Press and Reuters reported on this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the reports for VOA Learning English. was the editor.

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.

__________________________________________

Words in This Story

steady  adj. happening at a continual, regular rate

mentality  n. a persons opinions of way of thinking
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to emptier coastal areas around the world. Animals like sea turtles have used the chance to reclaim the less-polluted, quieter beaches to lay their eggs during the breeding season. The main breeding season for sea turtles goes from September to November.

Workers from the Sindh Wildlife group in Pakistan recently watched as a female turtle walked across the beach in Karachi late one night. She was looking for a place to lay her eggs. She buried a hundred or more eggs in the sand before heading back out into the Arabian Sea.

Sindh Wildlife counted 15,000 green turtles on Karachis beaches last year. By comparison, the group counted between 8,000 and 8,500 in 2019. Pandemic-related lockdowns there had ended by the start of this years breeding season. But animal experts still expect a large number of the endangered animals to visit.

Green turtles are among the worlds largest sea turtles. Adults can weigh more than 90 kilograms. They lay their eggs in more than 80 countries around the world and can be found in more than 140 countries. They live in tropical and subtropical coastal areas. The conservation group Sea Turtle Conservancy says there are 85,000 to 90,000 nesting females worldwide.

The weather in Karachi is good for egg-laying as late as January. Wildlife officials there plan to keep looking for the animals until then.

Ashfaq Ali Memon leads Sindh Wildlife's Marine Turtle Unit. He said females have nested about 6,000 eggs so far this season.

As soon as the mother turtle leaves, workers hurry to dig out the eggs. They move them to a one-meter-deep hole in a hatchery until the babies come out of the eggs, about 40 to 45 days later.

The new turtles are taken to the beach immediately and released into the sea.

The Sindh turtle unit has released 860,000 turtle babies into the Arabian Sea since it began operating in 1970. Memon said that 900 have been released so far this season.

Conservationists say that in the past, sea turtle populations were threatened by demand for their fat, meat and eggs. In recent years, loss of habitat from pollution and land reclamation have also threatened the animals.

Im Ashley Thompson.

Reuters news agency reported this story. Ashley Thompson adapted it for VOA Learning English. Susan Shand was the editor.

__________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

breed - v. to produce young animals, birds, etc. : to produce offspring by sexual reproduction

habitat - n. the place or type of place where a plant or animal naturally or normally lives or grows

beach - n. an area covered with sand or small rocks that is next to an ocean or lake

hatchery - n. a place where people raise young chicken, fish, etc., from eggs

conservancy - n. an organization that works to protect animals, plants, and natural resources especially by purchasing and caring for areas of land

nest - v. to build or live in a nest (nest - n. the place where a bird lays its eggs and takes care of its young)

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.


American drugmaker Pfizer said on Wednesday that the third shot, or booster, of its COVID-19 vaccine will protect people against the Omicron variant of the virus.

Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech said early lab tests show the booster increased levels of virus-fighting antibodies by 25-fold.

The Pfizer research is early and has not been independently examined.

A statement from Pfizers top officer, Albert Bourla, said the two-shot vaccine still offers protection against severe disease caused by Omicron. But, Bourla said, its clear from these preliminary data that protection is improved with a third dose of our vaccine.

The company also said it has started to develop a COVID-19 vaccine against Omicron. If needed, the new vaccine will be ready by March 2022.

The findings are similar to a small study published by researchers at the Africa Health Research Institute in South Africa on Tuesday. The South African study also suggested that a third shot might help against Omicron infection.

However, Reuters reported that a study at the University Hospital of Frankfurt, Germany, found reduced antibody levels against Omicron even after three shots.

Independent experts have not reviewed the studies.

Health officials still do not know how big of a threat Omicron really is. The Delta variant is still responsible for most of the cases, especially in the United States.

Omicron was first identified in Africa on November 9 and reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) on November 24. Two days later, the WHO designated it a variant of concern, or VOC.

The agency said Omicron has a large number of mutations, some of which are concerning. A mutation is a change in the genetic material of a virus. The WHO added that early evidence suggests an increased risk of reinfection with this variant, as compared to other VOCs.

Several countries, including the United States, Brazil, Japan, and Israel, restricted travelers from some African countries. But the variants have since been identified throughout Europe, North America and Australia.

I'm Jonathan Evans.

Hai Do wrote this story for Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor.

____________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

fold - n. a word to describe a quantity changes between an original and a subsequent measurement

preliminary - adj. coming before something

dose - n. the amount of medicine that is taken at one time
The victim alleged the suspect pulled a knife on her and took her on a drive out of town.
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He said he feels like police have gotten away from some of the community-building activities they used to engage in and asserted their training has contributed to racial disparities in the criminal justice system.

I personally as a Black male growing up here have had some negative thoughts with law enforcement growing up here as a kid, he said in his interview with the board. I also know that law enforcement historically has been trained to show that young Black males ages 16 to 26 are kind of public enemy number one.

Bishop said hes also had experience in his current job explaining to people who allege discrimination how the law does or doesnt apply to their cases, and he expects hed need to provide some of the same types of education to residents about the independent monitors office.

That willingness among people to see various sides of an issue with humility can be difficult in todays polarized environment, he said.
Prosecutors said the presence of Colemans DNA indicated he had been with Cunnigan close to the time she died and that he was at least present when her death happened.

But Colemans attorneys said that wasnt enough to prove he had anything to do with Cunnigans death, because prosecutors were not able to nail down what time they believe Coleman had sex with Cunnigan and how it tied together with her death, or tie him to any specific act that caused Cunnigans death.

Assistant District Attorney Kyle Olsen, in his closing argument, said the fact that Cunnigans pantyhose were pulled down around the middle of her thighs when her body was found indicates she did not have time to fully dress herself after sex with Coleman before she was struck by a vehicle. He said the rest of her clothing, minus her shoes, was dropped onto and around her body, and that she was not wearing them when she was struck.

But Lencioni said Cunnigans pantyhose could have been pulled down as she was dragged by the vehicle that struck her. Colemans DNA, she said, does not in itself say that he killed her, Lencioni said. She called it a red herring.
LANSING, Mich. (AP)  The Michigan Senate on Thursday quickly endorsed bills that would boost job-creation and expansion incentives offered to businesses, amid efforts to land unspecified major projects in the auto industry as it shifts to greener technology.

The 27-10 votes came a day after the House approved identical legislation. Final action will not occur until next week due to legislative rules and because lawmakers are discussing how much funding to put into the newly proposed Strategic Outreach and Attraction Reserve Fund.

The measures, backed by Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to expand our economic development toolkit, could give legislators more involvement in deals. That is because they would control when money is transferred from the account into new site readiness and critical industry funds, from which the state's economic development board could disburse incentives to companies.

The fast-tracked measures came less than three months after Dearborn-based automaker Ford announced plans to build three electric-vehicle battery factories and an auto assembly plant in Kentucky and Tennessee, creating an estimated 10,800 jobs.

Sen. Curt VanderWall, a Ludington Republican sponsoring one of the bills, said Detroit-based General Motors is eyeing some expansions.

The legislation allows us to negotiate and make sure that we take care of Michigan businesses ... the ones that we want to keep here and not leave our area, he said. It's extremely important right now that we give Michigan the tools to be able to compete for those jobs and those businesses.

GM CEO Mary Barra gave a strong hint Thursday that Michigan may get an electric vehicle battery factory. When asked during an appearance at the Automotive Press Association if Michigan has a chance to get a plant, she said discussions with the state are ongoing.

"In the not-too-distant future, well be able to answer that question, Barra said in Detroit, adding that an announcement would likely come in weeks, not months.

GM has plans to build four North American battery factories. Locations of two have been announced, in Ohio and Tennessee. Building a Michigan plant would make sense because the company has plans for at least two electric vehicle assembly factories in the state.

Ford's announcement caught legislators off guard and probably tipped the scales to persuade them to do something two years after allowing a 2017 tax incentives program geared at large-scale business expansions to expire, VanderWall said.

We're actually going to have sites that are shovel-ready, he said, so businesses can be up and running in a much quicker time than what we have currently.

Seven of 21 Republicans and three of 16 Democrats voted against the bills in the GOP-led chamber, with one member absent. They said corporate subsidies leave less to spend on other government priorities.

How is it morally fair to collect taxes from the thousands of businesses paying into the state treasury only to pay that same money out to larger businesses or even others that may be in fact a direct competitor to an existing business in our state? said Sen. Tom Barrett, a Charlotte Republican.

Supporters say the legislation has detailed criteria that the Michigan Strategic Fund board would have to consider and document before approving a grant, a loan, financing or other assistance for site development and business investment. Lawmakers would be notified of proposed changes and actual modifications to a written agreement.

The House and Senate budget committees would have to approve transfers from a main fund, known as SOAR and overseen by the state Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, before the Michigan Strategic Site Readiness Fund and the Critical Industry Fund could be tapped for deals.

This really does give the Legislature a credible voice in these processes so we have an understanding of the macro, we have some information about some of the emerging opportunities for the state and we can keep Michigan as the place where things are made, said Rep. Ben Frederick, an Owosso Republican.

AP Auto Writer Tom Krisher in Detroit contributed.

Follow David Eggert at https://twitter.com/DavidEggert00

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

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NEW ORLEANS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 9, 2021--

TAI Engineers, LLCs design of a passenger, truck and automobile ferry,  Carmen Lee,  has been built and launched by Thoma-Sea Marine Constructors, LLC (TMC) at its Houma, Louisiana, shipyard.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211209005798/en/

TAI Engineers, LLCs design of a passenger, truck and automobile ferry, Carmen Lee, has been built and launched by Thoma-Sea Marine Constructors, LLC (TMC) at its Houma, Louisiana, shipyard. It can hold 149 passengers and 36 trucks and automobiles. The Carmen Lee will operate on Lake Erie providing service between Marblehead, Ohio and Kelleys Island, Ohio. (Photo: Business Wire)

The ferry, projected to begin service in early 2022, was built for a partnership between the Lorain Port Authority (LPA) and Kelleys Island Ferry Boat Line. It can hold 149 passengers and 36 trucks and automobiles. The  Carmen Lee  will operate on Lake Erie providing service between Marblehead, Ohio and Kelleys Island, Ohio.

TAI was selected in a competitive procurement by LPA in conjunction with the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) to provide naval architecture and marine engineering services for the design and specification of this ferry. TAI also provided professional support for the competitive procurement of a shipyard to build the 168x45  Carmen Lee. TAIs work included drawing review, construction inspection, as well as test and trial supervision of this ferry during its construction. The Carmen Lee has been built to conform (but not certified) to American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) standards and is inspected by the U.S. Coast Guard.

The double-ended ferry is designed to operate on lakes, bays and sounds. The vessel has a steel hull and deckhouse design and is compliant with USCG 46 CFR Subchapter T regulations. The main deck is high-strength AH 36 steel to withstand tire loadings from up to 36 cars or equipment trucks in four lanes. This quad azimuthing drive ferry is equipped with four Caterpillar C18 propulsion engines 470 BHP at 1,800 RM, each driving Schottel SRP 150FP Z-drives using Twin Disc HPTO hydraulic clutches. This allows precision maneuvering in challenging Lake Erie approaches during harsh weather and provides propulsion redundancy. The vessel has two Onan 40 kW marine gensets. Kelleys Island Ferry Boat Line has a similar ferry called the Shirley Irene in operation on this route.

TAI Engineers and S&B Infrastructure are proud to utilize our marine engineering expertise to help improve transportation, mobility and accessibility for the Lorain Port Authority and Kelleys Island Ferry Boat Line, said Danny Rios, President of S&B Infrastructure. TAIs marine capabilities, especially in passenger and automobile ferries, nicely complement S&Bs transportation and highway design capabilities.

TAI Engineers, LLC is a subsidiary of S&B Infrastructure, Ltd (S&B), a company that specializes in master planning, transportation and drainage system design and construction, environmental services, facility audits, marine systems and storage tanks. S&B Infrastructure serves governmental customers in the United States, Caribbean, Central and South America.

View source version on businesswire.com:https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211209005798/en/

CONTACT: Lindsay Burke, Director of Communications and Marketing

S&B Infrastructure

518.879.2101

KEYWORD: LOUISIANA OHIO UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA

INDUSTRY KEYWORD: ENGINEERING MARITIME TRANSPORT LOGISTICS/SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT MANUFACTURING OTHER MANUFACTURING

SOURCE: S&B Infrastructure, Ltd.

Copyright Business Wire 2021.

PUB: 12/09/2021 12:00 PM/DISC: 12/09/2021 12:02 PM

Copyright Business Wire 2021.

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Editors note: This feature ran Feb. 7, 2013, in the Times-News and at Magicvalley.com

Say Hawaii out loud. Now say it again, this time without pronouncing the H.

The Hawaiian Islands were discovered by British Capt. James Cook in 1777. Cook named Hawaii Sandwich Islands after the Earl of Sandwich, but the name did not stick for long.

After Cook left Hawaii, he explored and mapped the northern Pacific coastline to the Bering Strait, looking for the famed Northwest Passage that would connect the Pacific and Atlantic oceans in the Arctic. Failing to find the Northwest Passage, Cook returned to Hawaii, where he was killed by natives in 1779.

From then until the Panama Canal was completed in 1914, Hawaii was a regular stop for trade ships that sailed around Cape Horn. In the years after Cooks death, many Hawaiians boarded ships as crew members or fur trappers.

The fur trade with China was huge at the turn of the 19th century. John Jacob Astor  the richest man in America at the time  wanted to capitalize on the fur industry in the Pacific Northwest, but there were no ports along its coast. Astor thought that he could gain control over the fur trade by establishing a fort at the mouth of the Columbia River. In 1810, Astor hired Wilson Price Hunt to lead an expedition over uncharted territory west of St. Louis to Ft. Astoria.

In 1811, Hunt and his group were the first Euro-Americans to travel through what would become southern Idaho.

Astors ownership of Ft. Astoria was short-lived. During the War of 1812, Astor sold the fort to the British-owned North West Co., and Ft. Astoria then became Ft. George.

Donald Mackenzie, one of the explorers in the Hunt party, returned to Idaho in 1818 with a group of fur trappers that included three natives from Hawaii  or Owyhee, which was the early, phonetic spelling of Hawaii. The three Hawaiians left Mackenzies group during the winter of 1819-20 and disappeared into the mountains, never to be seen again.

The fate of the men is not known, but most historians assume they were killed by Indians.

In honor of the men, the area where the men disappeared became known as Owyhee.

Mychel Matthews is the senior reporter for the Times-News. The Hidden History feature runs every Thursday in the Times-News and at Magicvalley.com. If you have a question about something that may have historical significance, email Matthews at mmatthews@magicvalley.com or call her at 208-735-3233.

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BOISE  This weekend may bring the mountain snow that Idaho skiers and snowboarders have been waiting for.

The National Weather Service predicted light mountain snow through Friday, with a more significant storm on Saturday that could stretch into early next week.

While still too early for details of snow levels and amounts, the mountains of southeast Oregon and Southwest Idaho could see heavy snowfall during this period, the National Weather Service Boise office said in a press release.

Light rain and some snow is expected midweek. The weather service predicts that Wednesday will have showers in the valleys, including the Boise area, and light snow in the mountains  around an inch and then 1-3 inches above 5,500 feet. Thursday and Friday are expected to bring colder temperatures and snow showers, mostly in the mountains. The weather service said mountain snow accumulations could be 1-3 inches.

The weekend could bring the heavy snow.

On Saturday, the National Weather Services predicted snow at all elevations, with precipitation changing to rain in lower valleys by Sunday. The mountain snow is expected to continue through Tuesday. The precipitation could mean minor snow accumulations in the valleys.

Travel through the mountains could be impacted by the snow, the weather service said.

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Today is Thursday, Dec. 9, the 343rd day of 2021. There are 22 days left in the year.

On this date 100 years ago in the Henry Bulletin: Letter to the Editor: Since the discussion, concerning the name of the new school, has arisen, we, the students of the High School, feel that we should voice our sentiment in regard to this matter. In a vote taken recently, in the Senior and Junior classes, we found that thirty-five (35) out of forty (40) wished to have our building keep the name Martinsville High School, and the old building be called Martinsville Grammar School.

75 years ago: Richard L. (Dick) Carter, 96-year-old prominent Martinsville citizen and retired skilled carpenter by trade, died at his home at 12 Brown street Sunday morning at 10:40 oclock following a long decline in health.

Also 1946: Businesses here returned to normal today following disruptions u by the coal shortage. The two trains that were discontinued on the Norfolk & Western road are running again.

50 years ago: The Henry County Board of Supervisors Monday night on a 4-1 vote pronounced the death sentence for all progress on a new jail during the next 25 days.

Also 1971: The Martinsville school board began a study of the city school systems retirement plan for non-professional employees at its regular meeting Monday afternoon.

25 years ago: Members of the 2174th Garrison Unit which includes several troops from this area learned Sunday they could arrive in German on Jan. 15 for a six-month stay. Further details of the deployment of some member s of the unit were released Sunday during a mobilization briefing at the Post Office building on West Church Street.

Also 1996: A local fuel company mistakenly poured heating oil into a pipe that led to a city storm drain, causing a spill into doe Run Creek last Friday, a Virginia Department of Environmental Quality official said.
CHRISTIANSBURG  The Montgomery County School Board approved a measure on Tuesday to offer stronger protections to transgender students who still have fears about disclosing their status to their parents.

The board, on a 5-2 vote, passed a tweak to the still relatively new division policy on the treatment of transgender students.

Despite the policys existence  itself prompted by earlier legislation from the General Assembly  some school board members had voiced concerns about the measure leading to premature outings of certain students to their parents.

This in no way takes away parents right to know, board member Penny Franklin, who voted in favor of the change, said. It empowers students to be able to make a decision for themselves.

Overall, the policy passed by the Montgomery County School Board in August bolsters efforts to combat harassment and discrimination of students based on gender identity and expression. Among the more specific points, the policy provides guidance on the use of school facilities and participation in school programs and ensures every students right to be addressed by the names and pronouns that correspond to their gender identity or expression.

Shortly after the policys approval, however, several board members raised concerns about a process that calls for schools to ultimately tell parents about requests such as their children asking to be referred to by the pronouns they identify with.

MCPS officials had told board members that a student requesting a teacher to refer to them by certain pronouns must generally be passed to a counselor, formally creating a counseling session that must be disclosed to parents.

The matter has been described by school officials as a tricky one due to the rights of parents to know about issues related to their children in the schools and the need to ensure the safety of children at home.

The policy adjustment approved Tuesday covers the early steps staff must take when a student requests to express a chosen name and pronoun that reflect their gender identity.

Once a staff member becomes aware that a student wishes to begin asserting a gender identity that differs from official school records, the staff member will notify the student of the process to seek accommodations, which includes parent and school counselor notification  and ask if the student would like to proceed, reads the approved measure.

The measure also specifies that staff can refer the student to another employee who knows the process and who will ask the student if they would like to proceed with the request.

Several students in Montgomery County schools have spoken in favor of providing stronger protections for classmates who have yet to disclose their gender identity to their parents.

Board members Jamie Bond and Dana Partin voted against the policy adjustment.

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Gov. Ralph Northam is pitching large pay increases for state troopers, corrections officers and deputy sheriffs in his outgoing budget, describing them as necessary to boost retention and fill empty positions.

The starting salary of a newly sworn state trooper would increase by nearly 8%, while the starting salary for a new correction officer would increase by 25%, with money also budgeted for raises across the experience ladder.

The budget proposal comes a year after protesters in Richmond and across the country urged public officials to reconsider the role of police in society, and divert law enforcement funding toward community services. Virginia Democrats rolled out a series of police accountability measures in the last year, but Northam said Tuesday significantly increasing police pay is key to public safety.

Republicans emphasized their support for law enforcement during the state's most recent election, accusing Democrats of not supporting law enforcement, despite bonuses for police issued by Democrats in 2021.

"The past couple of years have been challenging in our public safety agencies. The public debate over policing has been difficult ... With responsibility comes accountability," Northam said.

"I also know that the vast majority of people entered law enforcement because they felt called to service. ... These pay raises will help compensate law enforcement and those who work in our jails and prisons more fairly for the work that they do to serve our public."

Northam's proposal would cost the state $223 million over budget years 2023 and 2024.

Northam's budget would boost the starting salaries of state troopers from about $48,000 to $51,000 statewide, and $64,000 in Northern Virginia, where the cost of living is higher. Salaries for sworn officers with more experience would see increases too to avoid officers with less experience outpacing more experienced colleagues.

Correctional officers would see even larger raises. The starting salary of a new correctional officer would increase from $35,000 to $44,000 under Northam's proposal; the starting salary for supervisory staff would also increase by 20%.

More experienced corrections staff would see salary adjustments too depending on year of service, with a minimum increase of $300 for officers and $1,500 for supervisors.

Northam will formally unveil his outgoing on Dec. 16. On Jan. 15, Northam will cede power to Gov.-elect Glenn Youngkin, who together with the legislature, will have a final say over the states budget.

Northam's budget would boost the starting salaries of state troopers from about $48,000 to $51,000 statewide, and $64,000 in Northern Virginia, where the cost of living is higher. Salaries for sworn officers with more experience would see increases too to avoid officers with less experience outpacing more experienced colleagues.

Correctional officers would see even larger raises. The starting salary of a new correctional officer would increase from $35,000 to $44,000 under Northam's proposal; the starting salary for supervisory staff would also increase by 20%.

More experienced corrections staff would see salary adjustments too depending on year of service, with a minimum increase of $300 for officers and $1,500 for supervisors.
One theme of Democratic control of Washington has been frustration, especially among the partys progressive wing and its cheerleaders in the media, that Democrats have not been able to enact their progressive dream agenda from the 2020 campaign. Dreams such as nationalizing the administration of elections in ways favorable to Democratic candidates, packing the Supreme Court and eliminating the Senate filibuster.

Now, after last weeks abortion arguments before the Supreme Court, that frustration is mounting. The court has a 6-3 Republican-appointed majority that might overturn Roe v. Wade. How, some Democrats ask, could that have been allowed to happen?

Republicans might say its not all that complicated. In 2016, after the election-year death of Justice Antonin Scalia, the GOP Senate majority rejected President Barack Obamas court nominee. Then, against the expectations of the entire political class, Donald Trump won the presidency. With a Republican Senate, Trump filled the Scalia seat. Then, still with Trump in the White House and a Republican Senate, Justice Anthony Kennedy retired. And then, still with Trump in the White House and a Republican Senate, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died. Trump and the GOP Senate filled the seats. Thats how it works.

But Democrats see a crisis, now playing out in the abortion case. This weeks Supreme Court argument on abortion has accelerated an urgency among Senate Democrats to fundamentally alter how the court operates, The Washington Post reported last week, fueled in part by lingering anger over Republican confirmation maneuvers that have led to three new conservative justices in the past four years.

The thinking among those Democrats is that if the court does something they oppose, it has become partisan. Now, they need to intervene to make it less partisan.

It is hard to watch [the abortion argument] and not conclude that the court has become a partisan institution, Democratic Sen. Brian Schatz of Hawaii told the Post.

Yesterday, we saw the court is politicized, said Democratic Sen. Tina Smith of Minnesota.

Weve got to think about ways to sort of depoliticize the courts, said Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut. And one of the ways to do that is to make sure that no one president gets to stack the bench.

Media allies stepped in to argue the court is an antidemocratic institution. The Washington Posts Philip Bump called Trumps three nominees  Gorsuch, Kavanaugh and Barrett  the minoritarian third of the Supreme Court. The three [were] nominated by a president who lost the popular vote and confirmed by senators representing less of the countrys population and who had received fewer cumulative votes than those who opposed the nominations, Bump wrote. In the words of another Washington Post opinion writer, The Supreme Court faces an existential crisis of legitimacy.

The arguments were made by others all across the internet and cable news  and even, astonishingly, inside the court itself, when during the abortion argument, Justice Sonia Sotomayor said, Will this institution survive the stench that this creates in the public perception that the Constitution and its reading are just political acts?

The idea for progressive Democrats is to undermine the legitimacy of anything the current Supreme Court does and then argue that the court needs reform in the form of more members appointed by a Democratic president.

Democrats have certainly had bad luck lately when it comes to the Supreme Court. If Scalia had died a year earlier, or if Ginsburg had died just a few months later, things might have been much different for the party, and some of its lawmakers might not support blowing up the court today.

As far as having the power to blow up the court is concerned, it should be noted that Democrats do not control a majority of seats in the Senate  it is tied, 50-50, meaning the party depends on Vice President Kamala Harris to break any tie votes. Thats not the kind of majority that can muscle through a huge change in the court. And that has, of course, led some of those same Democrats to urge getting rid of the legislative filibuster, by which Republicans (and some in their own party, too) can block them from packing the court. The progressives are eager to fundamentally alter the Supreme Court on the basis of a 50-50 tie vote broken in the Democrats favor by the vice president.

But that doesnt appear likely to happen, either. So frustration mounts. Of course progressives want to change the world to suit their taste, but perhaps some of the current frustration is because of the Democratic Partys oh-so-tenuous hold on power in Washington. They have a handful-of-votes majority in the House, no majority at all in the Senate and a president whose advanced age has already spurred talk of his not running for reelection. And, somehow, progressives see that as a power base from which to remake the country. Of course theyre frustrated.

Byron York is a political correspondent.
A former Finance minister and a former Central bank governor have been arrested in Malawi on charges of providing false balance sheets to the IMF, police said on Wednesday.

Joseph Mwanamveka, 57, and former central bank governor Dalitso Kabambe, 48, are accused of manipulating accounts to obtain a loan from the financial institution.

The two men orchestrated the falsification of gross debt and reserve declarations in order to make the International Monetary Fund believe that the government of Malawi qualified for credit facilities, police said in a statement.

Once the scam was discovered, the IMF suspended its aid to the detriment of ordinary Malawians, it added.

The two accused were in office between 2014 and 2021, under former president Peter Mutharika.

Mutharika lost to Lazarus Chakwera in the last presidential election, the final results of which were announced last year after Mutharikas victory was overturned by the courts due to irregularities.

Before becoming finance minister, Mwanamveka was chairman of the state-owned Malawi Savings Bank, which was sold to the private sector during his tenure. Mwanamveka will also be questioned about the 2015 sale, which may also be fraudulent, police said.

Lazarus Chakwera was elected on a promise to fight corruption in one of the worlds poorest countries.
Seven peacekeepers were killed and three others seriously injured on Wednesday by an explosive device in central Mali, the UN Mission in Mali (UNMISMA) said.

A UN peacekeeping force convoy travelling from Douentza to Sevare (central Mali) hit an explosive device on 8 December. An initial assessment shows that seven peacekeepers died and three were seriously injured, the UNMISMA said on Twitter, without specifying the nationality of the victims.

The incident took place in the Bandiagara area, in the Mopti region, it added.

It comes a day after the announcement by the UN Mission in Mali that a peacekeeper who was hit by an improvised explosive device as his vehicle passed by on 22 November near Tessalit, in northern Mali, had died in Dakar on Monday. The nationality of the peacekeeper was not specified.

The peacekeeper had been taken to Dakar for treatment along with two other UNMISMA soldiers injured in the same incident.

Mali has been the scene of an ongoing conflict since 2012, with repeated attacks by jihadist groups affiliated to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State, coupled with violence against civilians by armed groups, some of them self-defence groups.

UNMISMA, deployed in Mali since 2013, is currently the UN peacekeeping mission with the most deaths in the world, with 146 of its members killed in hostile acts as of 31 October, according to UN statistics.
Just over one million doses of Covid-19 vaccine are estimated to have expired since November. And these unused doses would constitute one of the biggest losses in the world, according to observers. According to the WHO, in Nigeria less than 4% of the population is fully vaccinated against the coronavirus. And for this country of 200 million inhabitants and organized in a federation of 36 States, the management of the pandemic is a headache.

The expired doses were designed by AstraZeneca. And they came from Europe via the Covax sharing mechanism. These batches of vaccine would have arrived in Nigeria between 4 and 6 weeks before their expiry date. And despite the efforts of the health authorities, they could not be delivered.

Beyond the reluctance of tens of millions of Nigerians to be vaccinated against Covid-19, the countrys structural problems are not making things any easier.

In Maiduguri, for example, the capital of Borno State, it is difficult to store vaccines because of the near absence of public electricity since January. Elsewhere in other states, transport and logistical problems are hampering the delivery of these vaccines.
The President of Burkina Faso Roch Marc Christian Kabore has accepted the letter of resignation of his Prime Minister Christophe Marie Joseph Dabire on Wednesday 8 December 2021.

I presented my letter of resignation today to the President of Faso, His Excellency Mr Roch Marc Christian Kabore, who accepted it. I would first like to thank the Head of State for the trust that has been placed in my humble person and for the high responsibilities that he has kindly entrusted to me for three years. I also thank my compatriots and all the members of the Government for the support I have received. In a context of strong popular aspirations, I invite all Burkinabe to mobilise to support the President of Faso and the new executive that will be put in place. I remain convinced that it is through unity of action that we will be able to meet the challenges facing our country and our people, the outgoing head of government said on his Facebook page.

The President of Faso () having regard to the letter of resignation () of 8 December 2021, which refers to the resignation of the Prime Minister, decrees that Christophe Joseph Marie Dabires duties as Prime Minister shall be terminated, the governments Secretary General, Stephane Wenceslas Sanou, said on public television, reading out the presidential decree. This resignation was expected by some observers of Burkina Fasos political life after President Roch Kabore announced a few days ago his desire to form a tight and combat government to better conduct the fight against terrorism.
(HealthDay)The coronavirus appears to target both fat cells and certain immune cells within body fat, which may explain why overweight and obese people are more likely to develop severe COVID-19, researchers report.

When the virus gets into those cells, it triggers a damaging inflammatory response that "could well be contributing to severe disease," study co-senior author Dr. Catherine Blish, a professor at Stanford University Medical Center, told The New York Times. "We're seeing the same inflammatory cytokines that I see in the blood of the really sick patients being produced in response to infection of those tissues."

The findings were posted online recently, but they have not been peer-reviewed or published in a scientific journal.

The results, gleaned from experiments with fat tissue obtained from weight-loss surgery patients, could point to new COVID-19 treatments that target body fat, experts said.

"Maybe that's the Achilles' heel that the virus utilizes to evade our protective immune responsesby hiding in this place," said Dr. Vishwa Deep Dixit, a professor of comparative medicine and immunology at Yale School of Medicine, told the Times.

used to be thought of as simply a form of storage. But it turns out that the tissue produces hormones and immune-system proteins that act on other cells, triggering low levels of inflammation even when there is no infection.

The latest findings may prove particularly important in the United States, where the obesity rate is among the highest in the world. Most American adults are overweight, and 42 percent are obese. Black, Hispanic, Native American and Alaska Native people have higher obesity rates than white adults and Asian Americans, and they have also seen death rates roughly double those of white Americans.

"The bottom line is, 'Oh my god, indeed, the virus can infect fat cells directly,'" said Dr. Philipp Scherer, a scientist who studies fat cells at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, told the Times. He was not involved in the research.

"Whatever happens in fat doesn't stay in fat," Scherer explained. "It affects the neighboring tissues as well."

Another expert said public health officials should heed the findings.

"This paper is another wake-up call for the medical profession and public health to look more deeply into the issues of overweight and obese individuals, and the treatments and vaccines we're giving them," Barry Popkin, a professor of nutrition at University of North Carolina who has studied the risk of severe COVID-19 among the obese.

"We keep documenting the risk they have, but we still aren't addressing it," Popkin added.

Blish and her colleagues speculated that infected body fat may even contribute to "long COVID," a condition describing troublesome symptoms like fatigue that persist for weeks or months after recovery from a COVID-19 infection.

Explore further Risk of severe COVID established early in infection, new study shows

More information: Visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for more on Visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for more on COVID-19 Giovanny J. Martinez-Colon et al, SARS-CoV-2 infects human adipose tissue and elicits an inflammatory response consistent with severe COVID-19, biorxiv (2021). DOI: 10.1101/2021.10.24.465626

Copyright  2021 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Credit: Temple University Center for Public Health Law Research

The legal limitations restricting access to reproductive health care in the United States continue to expand at a significant pace, according to updated data released today by the Center for Public Health Law Research at Temple University on LawAtlas.org. The data now capture comprehensive details of abortion laws from December 2018 through October 2021.

"States have continued to pass new laws significantly limiting access to essential abortion care," said Adrienne Ghorashi, Esq., a program manager at the Center for Public Health Law Research and lead researcher on this project. "Amid a global pandemic and with the lack of federal protections, the pace and breadth of this movement is especially alarming."

Despite the recent suspension of FDA in-person dispensing requirements for mifepristone, state legislatures and the courts have enacted medication abortion "reversal" laws, added in-person dispensing requirements, and banned the mailing of abortion pills.

Abortion bans have been a particularly active area of law since 2019, according to the data. Pre-viability limits, the subject of the recently argued Supreme Court case Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, have become more prominent:

Of the 41 states prohibiting abortion after a certain point in pregnancy, 25 states have pre-viability restrictions, ranging from a total ban on abortion at any point in pregnancy in two states (up from one state, Alabama, in 2020) to the more common 20 week bans in 19 states.

Eleven states now have trigger laws that would ban abortion if Roe v. Wade were overturned, an increase from only three states in 2019.

Ten states have "fetal heartbeat" bans in 2021 that prohibit abortion after detection of fetal cardiac activity. This is an increase from three states in 2018, though most have been challenged in courts.

Two states, Montana and South Dakota, now have bans based on the claim that a fetus can feel pain at 20 weeks.

Also relevant to the outcome of the Dobbs case are the several states with "pre-Roe" abortion bans that could potentially be reinstated should Roe v. Wade be overturned. These abortion bans pre-date the 1973 decision protecting pre-viability abortions, but with the status of Roe unclear, states could once again aim to restrict most or all abortions.

The updated data released today capture state statutes, regulations, and court rulings in 15 different legal areas related to abortion, from December 1, 2018, through October 1, 2021. The suite of data includes expanded data on pre-abortion requirements (formerly called the Abortion Waiting Periods dataset). This dataset now more comprehensively captures the requirements an individual seeking an abortion must meet before they can obtain the procedure, including waiting periods, testing, counseling, or ultrasounds.

Explore further States continue passing and litigating legal restrictions to reproductive health care
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Environmental exposure to low-levels of the toxic metals arsenic, cadmium and titanium appears to increase the risk of plaque buildup in arteries in the neck, heart and legs, according to new research published today in the American Heart Association's journal Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology (ATVB).

Traces of metal may enter the body through contaminated soil that infiltrates food, through drinking water, air pollutants or tobacco smoke. There is strong evidence that toxic metals, such as arsenic and cadmium, are cardiovascular risk factors. Arsenic and cadmium are often found in tobacco and food, while arsenic is also found in water. Titanium exposure is mainly derived from dental and orthopedic implants, screws, pacemaker encasings, cosmetic products and some foods.

"Metals are ubiquitous in the environment, and people are chronically exposed to low levels of metal," said lead investigator of the study Maria Grau-Perez, M.Sc., of the Institute for Biomedical Research Hospital Clinic de Valencia INCLIVA in Valencia, Spain, and a Ph.D. candidate in the department of preventive medicine, public health and microbiology at the Universidad Autonoma de Madrid, in Spain. "According to the World Health Organization, 31% of the cardiovascular disease burden in the world could be avoided if we could eliminate environmental pollutants."

Atherosclerosis develops when fatty deposits, or plaque, builds up in the arteries causing them to narrow, weaken and stiffen. Depending on the arteries affected, it can lead to a heart attack, stroke, angina, peripheral artery disease or kidney disease.

Prior research on the impact of metal exposure on atherosclerosis has traditionally centered on the carotid arteries, the major arteries in the neck. This study focused on subclinical atherosclerosisbefore symptoms are presentand examined the impact of metal exposure on the carotid, femoral and coronary arteries. Previous research suggests that imaging of the femoral artery, which is the main artery supplying blood to the lower body, may lead to earlier detection of atherosclerosis.

Researchers evaluated 1,873 adults (97% men) in the Aragon Workers Health Study. The study participants worked at an auto assembly factory in Spain and ranged in age from 40 to 55. Researchers measured participants' environmental exposure to nine toxic metals arsenic, barium, uranium, cadmium, chromium, antimony, titanium, vanadium and tungstenand the exposure's association with the presence of subclinical atherosclerosis in the carotid, femoral and coronary artery regions. The study explored the potential role of individual metals and metal mixtures on the development of atherosclerosis.

During the participants' annual occupational health visits between 2011 and 2014, socioeconomic and health information for each participant were recorded, including education level, smoking status and medication use. Each person in the study had a medical examination to measure body mass index, blood pressure, blood glucose levels, cholesterol levels, triglyceride levels and more. Urine samples were collected to assess metal exposure from air, water and food. Researchers performed carotid and femoral ultrasounds, as well as coronary calcium scoring tests.

The analysis found:

Older study participants had higher levels of most of the metals measured in the urine

The few female participants in the study had higher metal levels compared to men, when levels were measured in the urine.

Adults who had smoked at any time showed higher levels of arsenic, cadmium, chromium and titanium than the people who had never smoked.

Higher levels of arsenic, cadmium, titanium, and potentially antimony were associated with a higher probability of having subclinical atherosclerosis.

Arsenic and cadmium appear to be most closely associated with increased plaque levels in the carotid arteries; cadmium and titanium are of greater concern for the femoral arteries; and titanium, and possibly cadmium and antimony, are of more concern for the coronary arteries.

Arsenic may be more toxic for the arteries when found in combination with cadmium and titanium.

"This study supports that exposure to toxic metals in the environment, even at low-levels of exposure, is toxic for cardiovascular health," said study co-author Maria Tellez-Plaza, M.D., Ph.D., a senior scientist at the National Center for Epidemiology and the Instituto de Salud Carlos III in Madrid, Spain. "The levels of metals in our study population were generally lower compared to other published studies. Metals, and in particular arsenic, cadmium, and titanium, likely are relevant risk factors for atherosclerosis, even at the lowest exposure levels and among middle-aged working individuals."

The study included a very specific population of mostly men in one area of Spain, so the results may not be completely extrapolated to women or other populations world-wide. Additional research is needed to understand the mechanisms involved in the development of atherosclerosis based on associations to metals.

"Current global environmental, occupational and food safety standards for cadmium, arsenic and other metals may be insufficient to protect the population from metal-related adverse health effects," said Tellez-Plaza. "Metal exposure prevention and mitigation has the potential to substantially improve the way we prevent and treat cardiovascular disease."

Other co-authors are Maria J. Caballero-Mateos, M.Sc.; Arce Domingo-Relloso M.Sc.; Ana Navas-Acien, M.D., Ph.D.; Jose Gomez-Ariza, Ph.D.; Tamara Garcia-Barrera, Ph.D.; Montserrat Leon-Latre, M.D., Ph.D.; Zoraida Soriano-Gil; Estibaliz Jarauta, M.D., Ph.D.; Cenarro Ana, Ph.D.; Belen Moreno-Franco, Ph.D.; Martin Laclaustra, M.D., Ph.D.; Fernando Civeira, M.D., Ph.D.; Jose Casasnovas, M.D., Ph.D.; and Eliseo Guallar, M.D., Dr. Ph.

More information: Toxic Metals and Subclinical Atherosclerosis in Carotid, Femoral, and Coronary Vascular Territories: The Aragon Workers Health Study, Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology (2021). Journal information: Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology Toxic Metals and Subclinical Atherosclerosis in Carotid, Femoral, and Coronary Vascular Territories: The Aragon Workers Health Study,(2021). DOI: 10.1161/ATVBAHA.121.316358
James Leidner spent three nights in a high-tech sleeping bag that unloads pressure in the brain by suctioning fluids into the lower body. NASA hopes the sack can be used by astronauts in space to alleviate the vision problems they commonly endure during longer missions. Credit: UT Southwestern Medical Center

A subtle smile emerged on Dr. James Leidner's face as he envisioned telling people of the unusual contribution he made to mankind's mission to Mars.

For 72 straight hours, the study volunteer lay in a bed at UT Southwestern, the monotony broken only at night when researchers placed his lower body in a sealed, vacuum-equipped sleeping bag to pull down body fluids that naturally flowed into his head while supine.

New research published in JAMA Ophthalmology shows that by suctioning these fluids and unloading brain pressure, the specially designed sleeping bag may prevent vision problems astronauts endure in space, where fluids float into the head and continually push and reshape the back of the eyeball.

The phenomenon has vexed scientists for more than a decade and remains one of the biggest health dilemmas of human space exploration. But the findings from UT Southwesternwhich NASA enlisted to seek answers to astronauts' vision problemssuggest the high-tech sacks may provide a solution.

Notably, researchers found that while just three days of lying flat induced enough pressure to slightly alter the eyeball's shape, no such change occurred when the suction technology was used.

"We don't know how bad the effects might be on a longer flight, like a two-year Mars operation," said Benjamin Levine, M.D., a UT Southwestern cardiologist who is helping NASA address the health risks of brain pressure and abnormal blood flow in space. "It would be a disaster if astronauts had such severe impairments that they couldn't see what they're doing and it compromised the mission."

Reshaping eyeballs

NASA hopes the sleeping bag can address a disorder called spaceflight-associated neuro-ocular syndrome, or SANS. The condition is characterized by progressive flattening of the eyeball, swelling of the optic nerve, and vision impairment.

Previous studies by UT Southwestern and the Institute for Exercise and Environmental Medicine at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas showed SANS is likely caused by the constant pressure that body fluids apply to the brain.

SANS is not a problem on Earth, where gravity pulls fluids down into the body each time a person gets out of bed. In space, the lack of gravity prevents this daily unloading process, allowing more than half a gallon of body fluids to gather in the head and apply pressure to the eyeball.

NASA has documented vision problems in more than half of the astronauts who served for at least six months on the International Space Station. Some became farsighted, had difficulty reading, and sometimes needed crewmates to assist in experiments.

"You can't stand up in space to unload the pressure. That's the problem," said Michael Stenger, Ph.D., a scientist with NASA's Human Health Countermeasures Element.

Body fluids in zero gravity apply constant pressure behind the eyes, causing progressive flattening of the eyeball, swelling of the optic nerve, and vision impairment. Credit: UT Southwestern Medical Center

Other risks

Perhaps the best remedy so far has been the use of special space glasses with adjustable lenses that correct astronauts' changing vision aboard the space station. But this strategy does little to alleviate concerns about the long-term effects on the eyeball, nor the potential cardiovascular complications that Dr. Levine's team is uncovering.

A 2018 study, for instance, showed that spending six months in zero gravity may increase the odds of developing a common heart arrhythmia called atrial fibrillation. This condition can lead to blood clots, heart attacks or stroke.

"And it's certainly possible there are other effects of brain pressure we haven't documented yet," Dr. Levine said. "The astronauts report something they call the 'space stupids.' They make more mistakes than they think they should. Whether that has anything to do with the inability to lower the pressure, we don't know."

Although some effects of SANS appear temporaryvision returns to normal shortly after astronauts return to EarthDr. Stenger said UT Southwestern's research is vital to the manned Mars flight that NASA hopes to launch in the 2030s. The sleeping bag technology, in particular, could address both the brain and heart issues.

"What are the long-term health consequences (of SANS)?" Dr. Stenger said. "There's a large team on the ground working to counteract a lot of these risks."

Measuring brain pressure

The sleeping bag prototype is the culmination of several phases of research conducted by UT Southwestern to help NASA better understand the disorder, including a 2017 study that provided compelling evidence that constant pressure may indeed contribute to SANS.

To test his theory on brain pressure, Dr. Levine recruited cancer survivors from across the country who still had ports on their heads where they had received chemotherapy. These ports offered researchers rare access to measure pressure directly in the brain.

The volunteers each went on a zero-gravity airplane flight into the upper atmosphere where their body fluids floated upward. A neurosurgeon from UT Southwestern's Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute measured the brain pressure by inserting special equipment into the port.

"It was hard," recalled Wendy Hancock, a leukemia survivor from Philadelphia who agreed to go on more than three dozen up-and-down maneuvers into zero gravity. "But NASA is awesome, so, heck yeah, I was going to jump at the chance to help.  I did it for the astronauts."

The resulting study showed that brain pressure in a person who lies down on Earth is actually higher than in space. However, on Earth the pressure is unloaded when the person stands and gravity pulls the fluids down. Space provides no such relief for astronauts.

Dr. Benjamin Levine of UT Southwestern has researched the effects of space travel since the early 1990s, when he implanted the first catheter to monitor the heart pressure of an astronaut in space. Credit: UT Southwestern Medical Center

A new remedy

With this crucial insight, Dr. Levine's team started working with the outdoors equipment retailer REI to develop a high-tech sleeping bag that could be used by astronauts each night to unload pressure in the brain. Although similar lower body negative pressure technology has been used for decades to maintain muscle and bone mass in space, previous prototypes were not designed for many hours of use or tested as an antidote for SANS.

The bag has a solid frameaptly shaped like a space capsuleand is designed to fit over a person from the waist down.

About a dozen people volunteered to test the technology, including Dr. Leidner, an internal medicine hospitalist in San Antonio who is interested in pursuing a career in aerospace medicine.

He made two visitsthree days eachto a UT Southwestern research room where he lay in bed. Only during the second visit was he placed in the sleeping bag for eight hours each night. Researchers compared changes in the brain after each stint.

"Being productive has gone out the window," he joked, pointing out the awkwardness of typing on his laptop while lying flat. "But it's an experience I could tell my kid one day if it helps humans land on Mars."

Several questions need to be answered before NASA brings the technology on the space station, including the optimal amount of time astronauts should spend in the sleeping bag each day.

But Dr. Levine said his latest findings indicate SANS hopefully won't be a health risk by the time the space agency is ready to launch to the Red Planet.

"This is perhaps one of the most mission-critical medical issues that has been discovered in the last decade for the space program," Dr. Levine said. "I'm thankful for the volunteers who are helping us understand, and hopefully, fix the problem."

Long-term research

Dr. Levine has researched the effects of space travel since the early 1990s, when he implanted the first catheter to monitor the heart pressure of an astronaut in space. Since then, he has worked with NASA on various projects and advises its flight surgeons on cardiovascular medical issues. NASA recently awarded him $3.8 million in direct and indirect funding over 13 years to study the effects of space travel on the heart.

Other key members of Dr. Levine's team included Christopher Hearon, Ph.D., first author on the JAMA study and Assistant Instructor in the Department of Applied Clinical Research at UT Southwestern; and Tony Whitworth, M.D., a neurosurgeon from the O'Donnell Brain Institute who measured patients' brain pressure in zero gravity.
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

A study of over 200,500 women who had a hysterectomy for non-cancerous reasons found an increased risk of death in women under 50 years of age when the ovaries and fallopian tubes were also removed during the surgery. The same association was not found in women over 50.

The study, published in The BMJ, followed participants over 20 years and found the risk of death declined gradually in the years approaching menopause and was eliminated after the average age of menopause. The findings suggest that surgical removal of the ovaries and fallopian tubes, a procedure known as bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (BSO), may have health risks for younger pre-menopausal women, but is safer in older post-menopausal women.

BSO is offered to patients undergoing hysterectomy to prevent the development of ovarian cancer later in life. In Ontario, approximately 12,000 women undergo hysterectomy for non-cancerous gynecologic conditions each year. It is the most common major surgery performed on non-pregnant women worldwide, according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development.

Previous research suggested that BSO may be associated with an increased risk of death in younger women. However, limited data are available on BSO in older women, creating uncertainty for surgeons about what to recommend for women over 50.

"Our core goal was to try to understand the health risks associated with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy for women of different ages, and provide information that patients and surgeons need to make the right treatment decisions," said Dr. Maria Cusimano, lead author of the study and a resident physician in Obstetrics and Gynecology at St. Michael's Hospital of Unity Health Toronto.

Researchers at Unity Health Toronto and ICES evaluated 200,549 women who underwent hysterectomy either with or without concurrent BSO, from 1996 to 2015, and split the women into four age groups. The analysis found an increased risk of death in women who had undergone BSO in the under 45 and the 45-49 age groups, but not in the 50-54 or over 55 groups. The median follow-up to assess survival was 12 years post-procedure.

Researchers acknowledged one downside to the analysis is that it artificially separates the data by age. In reality, there is unlikely to be an actual sudden drop in mortality between the ages of 49 and 50. To most accurately map out the relationship between BSO and mortality as women age, researchers also used a different, more advanced modelling technique and still found the overall relationship gradually shifted from harmful to not harmful around the years when most women begin the transition to menopause.

"We know that bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy can prevent ovarian cancer, but this benefit must be weighed against other potential risks of the procedure," said Dr. Sarah Ferguson, co-author of the study and Professor, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Toronto. "There are definite cancerous and non-cancerous conditions where we actually do need to remove the ovaries, even if a woman is premenopausal. Our study shows that surgeons need to be cautious about removing the ovaries without a clear reason in premenopausal women. However, this strategy may be a safe and effective way to prevent ovarian cancer in older postmenopausal women."

The authors believe the risk of death in women who undergo BSO prior to menopause is higher because BSO in these patients prematurely stops all ovarian hormone production, which may predispose them to serious health problems later in life. The production of estrogen affects multiple organs and a sudden loss of the hormone may contribute to the development or progression of disease.

When the ovaries are removed during hysterectomy in pre-menopausal patients, the sudden loss of hormone production effectively puts patients in "sudden menopause" and patients will immediately begin to experience menopausal symptoms. Side effects include fatigue, hot flashes, insomnia, and increased risk of osteoporosis and heart disease, according to the Canadian Women's Health Network. These same downsides would not be expected to occur in postmenopausal women, whose ovaries have already stopped producing estrogen on their own.

Researchers say the findings will allow surgeons to help patients make more informed choices about their health, but that more research is needed on the impact of BSO to quality of life and sexual function to more fully guide decision-making in this area.

Explore further Harms and benefits of estrogen therapy among women with a hysterectomy appear to depend on age when therapy was started

More information: Association of bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy with all cause and cause specific mortality: population based cohort study, BMJ (2021). DOI: 10.1136/ bmj-2021-067528 Journal information: British Medical Journal (BMJ) Association of bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy with all cause and cause specific mortality: population based cohort study,(2021). DOI: 10.1136/ bmj-2021-067528
A Palestinian medic prepares a dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine.

Three doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine appear effective against the Omicron variant, a lab test indicatedencouraging news, even as Denmark and Britain announced new restrictions to stem surging caseloads.

In preliminary results published on Wednesday, the US and German companies behind one of the world's foremost shots to combat COVID-19 said a booster generated around the same level of potent antibodies against Omicron as is seen after a second dose with the initial strain.

But they warned that "the Omicron variant is probably not sufficiently neutralised after two doses."

The announcement, which has not yet been peer reviewed, was called reassuring by experts, and came as the first independent data from labs around the world emerged, indicating the new mutations are better at evading immunity from infections and vaccines than those before them.

"We still need to be very measured and take a wait and see approach, but I think what we do have is at least encouraging," virologist Angela Rasmussen of Canada's Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization told AFP.

Blood samples from around 20 people who had received two doses of the current vaccine showed on average a 25-fold reduction in neutralising antibodies compared to the early strain of the virus, the companies said.

But they added that another part of the immune responsefrom T cellswere probably still effective against the new variant, meaning that people with two doses "may still be protected against severe forms of the disease".

The vaccine-makers are developing an Omicron-specific version of the jab, which they hope will be ready by March, but say the decision whether to mass produce it would depend on the variant's spread.

Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson Johnson announced the stringent measures while facing public anger over video footage of his aides joking about an alleged illicit Christmas party at Downing Street during last year's lockdown.

New restrictions

In Europe, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen announced she would extend Christmas school holidays, curtail nightlife and urge citizens to work from home as the country fights off a sharp rise in infections.

"The plan is not to have a long closure," she said, while acknowledging a return to home offices would also be unwelcome for many.

Her British counterpart Boris Johnson likewise brought back guidance to work from home and vaccine passports for venues such as nightclubs and stadiums. The new measures apply to England, and were already in place in Scotland and Wales.

"We must be humble in the face of this virus", he said, adding that it was "the proportionate and the responsible thing to move to Plan B in England".

Johnson announced the stringent measures while facing public anger over video footage of his aides joking about an alleged illicit Christmas party at Downing Street during last year's lockdown.

WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus meanwhile summed up what scientists have learned about Omicron since it was first reported in South Africa in late November.

It evades prior immunity well, and it's possible it may cause milder disease, he said.

But even if it's confirmed to be less severe, the variant's heightened transmissibilitythought to be greater even than the currently dominant Delta strainmean it could sicken many people.

Factfile on what we know so far about the Omicron coronavirus variant. Pfizer/BioNTech said Dec 8 that three doses of their vaccine should be "effective" against the mutation.

Three shots

Pfizer and BioNTech's news came after other preliminary results from a small study in South Africa suggested there was up to a 40-fold drop in the ability of the antibodies from the same vaccine to neutralise Omicron, compared to an early strain.

Willem Hanekom, executive director of the Africa Health Research Institute, which carried out the study, said it was important to be "extraordinarily careful" interpreting the results because they only reflect a laboratory setting, while real-world data was the true test.

Antibody reductions were also seen in studies by German and Swedish researchers, but they varied in magnitude.

Omicron counts more than 30 mutations on the spike protein that dots the surface of the coronavirus and allows it to invade cells, and a high degree of immune evasion was widely anticipated.

But the fact that a booster appears to restore high protection was welcomed by many experts, and provides "strong support for the campaign to give three doses of vaccine," said Charles Bangham, an immunologist at Imperial College London.

While the positive initial assessments of Omicron have helped lift the mood, especially among global markets as fears of another economic downturn subsided, the variant's emergence has highlighted that the fight against the pandemic is far from over.

COVID-19 has officially killed more than 5.2 million people around the world since it was first declared in late 2019, although the true toll is likely to be several times higher.

 2021 AFP
Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

A systematic review looking at mental health care provided by phone and video call (remote care) during the COVID-19 pandemic has shown that many service users were able to continue accessing some support but that the shift to remote care presented significant barriers to certain groups. Researchers are calling for further examination into the effects of telemental health on groups at risk of digital exclusion and for better evidence on long-term impacts.

The study, published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research reviewed a total of 77 primary research papers from five countries. It found that the implementation of telemental health servicesprovided by video, phone call, or messagingallowed some continued support to a majority of service users during the COVID-19 pandemic and highlighted its value in emergency situations.

The benefits of remote care include increased convenience and accessibility for staff and patients and reduced travel costs. Additionally, some studies reported that more family members were able to attend family therapy or family education sessions since care was moved online.

However, the shift to telemental health also presented challenges, such as difficulties in picking up on non-verbal cues and establishing a strong therapeutic relationship. While the studies came from a variety of higher income countries, similar challenges tended to be experienced.

The study was carried out by researchers in the Mental Health Policy Research Unit at University College London (UCL) and King's College London (KCL). The research was also supported by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) South London at King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, and by King's Improvement Science, which is funded by King's Health Partners and Guy's and St Thomas' Foundation.

Alan Simpson, Professor of Mental Health Nursing at the Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery & Palliative Care at King's College London and Co-Director of the NIHR Mental Health Policy Research Unit, commented that "early in 2020, mental health services around the world had to rapidly shift from face-to-face models of care to delivering most treatments remotely due to the pandemic. Although this change was beneficial in many ways, it also resulted in several challenges for staff and patients."

The study found that remote care was deemed less acceptable and presented more challenges for certain groups, including new patients, service users without a private space at home for therapy, service users with a schizophrenia diagnosis, severe anxiety or learning disabilities, children, older adults, and those from lower socio-economic backgrounds.

As telemental health was not commonly used in most services pre-COVID, staff had to rapidly adjust to a new way of working. Service users also identified certain needs and resources to enable them to effectively transition to remote care.

Sonia Johnson, Professor in the UCL Division of Psychiatry, Consultant Psychiatrist in Early Intervention for psychosis and Director of the NIHR Mental Health Policy Research Unit, explains that "a commonly reported issue was access to technology. Problems such as a stable internet connection and interrupted communication could negatively impact the therapeutic relationship. We also found concerns raised by both clinicians and service users regarding safety, privacy and confidentiality in remote care, especially concerning if someone lived with an abuser."

Fiona Gaughran, Professor of Physical Health and Clinical Therapeutics at King's College London and Director of Research and Development at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, says that "the needs of those at risk of digital exclusion are still largely underreported in the literature and should be made a priority for future research. We also found that studies included little information regarding the cost-effectiveness of telemental health implementation."

The review also concluded that the majority of service users and clinicians wanted at least some appointments to be face-to-face once restrictions on in-person contact due to the pandemic had loosened.

Nick Sevdalis, Professor of Implementation Science and Patient Safety at King's College London, stated that "this review has identified a need to understand the extent and impacts of telemental health implementation, and barriers and facilitators to its effective and acceptable use. More research into what works for who and in what context is required. This is relevant both to future emergency adoptions of telemental health, and to debates on its future use in routine mental health care."

Karen Machin, member of the NIHR Mental Health Policy Research Unit Lived Experience Working Group says that "my biggest concern about remote care is that while we focus on the many advantages it might bring for some people and services, the challenges and problems may get minimized or overlooked. Well-intentioned actions, such as addressing inequalities of access, have the potential to undermine a personal choice not to use remote care. My concern is that people then effectively have no choice or might be seen as obstructive if they choose to refuse remote care."

Dr. Monika Badhan, Psychiatrist at Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust says that "the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a necessary change in the way we think about service delivery in mental healthcare. My practice has evolved to include both in-person and remote reviews with consideration to safety, accessibility, and patient preference. Challenges in delivering remote care when suitable have included poor internet connectivity and lack of access to devices/data plans on both sides. Sometimes people are too unwell to engage in remote reviews."

Explore further Mental health services disrupted across Europe during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic

More information: Rebecca Appleton et al, Implementation, adoption and perceptions of telemental health during the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review (Preprint), Journal of Medical Internet Research (2021). Journal information: Journal of Medical Internet Research Rebecca Appleton et al, Implementation, adoption and perceptions of telemental health during the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review (Preprint),(2021). DOI: 10.2196/31746
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Uterine cancers that developed in patients treated with tamoxifen (Soltamox) had fewer PI3K pathway mutations and may have instead been driven by tamoxifen-induced PI3K pathway activation, according to results presented at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, held December 7-10, 2021.

In preclinical studies, the increase in PI3K pathway activation was mitigated by treatment with the PI3K inhibitor alpelisib (Piqray).

Tamoxifen is a drug given to many patientsespecially premenopausal patientswith breast cancers that express the estrogen receptor, which drives breast tumor growth. Tamoxifen blocks estrogen receptor activity in the breast, but it can activate the estrogen receptor in other tissues, such as the uterus. This can lead to an uncommon side effect known as tamoxifen-associated uterine cancer (TA-UC).

"We want to make sure people understand that tamoxifen is safe to use, and tamoxifen-associated uterine cancer is infrequent," said study author Rinath Jeselsohn, MD, an assistant professor of medicine and medical oncology at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School. "We wanted to understand the mechanisms behind this uncommon event to potentially help patients who are at an increased risk of uterine cancer due to other additional risk factors."

Cancer treatments that increase risk for secondary tumors typically do so by creating and/or selecting for mutations that cause uncontrolled growth in other tissues. "The model for how secondary cancers occur after chemotherapy, for example, is that cells acquire driver mutations that lead to clonal outgrowth," said presenter Kirsten Kubler, MD, Ph.D., an associate scientist at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, research staff at Massachusetts General Hospital, and an instructor at Harvard Medical School, who recently joined the faculty of the Berlin Institute of Health at Charite in Berlin. "Our results extend that view in the sense that a drug could directly activate a signaling pathway instead of creating mutations that activate the pathway."

In order to define the mutational landscape of TA-UC, Kubler and colleagues, including Gad Getz, Ph.D., Agostina Nardone, Ph.D., Yosef Maruvka, Ph.D., and Wilbert Zwart, Ph.D., performed whole-exome sequencing on 21 TA-UC samples from the TAMARISK study, which evaluated the occurrence of secondary cancers in tamoxifen-treated patients. They compared the results with de novo uterine cancerscancers that were not associated with tamoxifen usefrom The Cancer Genome Atlas. They found that most genomic alterations occurred at similar rates between TA-UC and de novo uterine cancers.

The key exception was a significantly decreased frequency of mutations in the phosphoinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) signaling pathwaya well-known driver of uterine cancer developmentin patients with TA-UCs. Two essential components of the PI3K pathway were affected: The gene PIK3CA was mutated in 14 percent of TA-UCs versus 48 percent of de novo uterine cancers, and the gene PIK3R1 was mutated in none of the studied TA-UCs versus 31 percent of de novo uterine cancers.

The researchers verified these findings by using droplet digital PCR to interrogate PIK3CA hotspot mutations in 40 other independent samples from TAMARISK and comparing the data with a cohort of de novo uterine cancers from AACR Project GENIE. Here again, they found a decreased incidence of PIK3CA mutations in the TA-UC samples7.5 percent versus 21 percent.

To investigate the mechanisms of decreased PI3K pathway mutations in TA-UCs, the researchers examined uterine tissue from tamoxifen-treated mice. They found that tamoxifen increased the expression of Ki67, a marker of cell proliferation. They also sequenced RNA from the uterine tissue and stained for phosphorylated proteins in the PI3K pathwaysuch as IGF1R, AKT, and S6which indicates pathway activation. These data revealed a significant increase in PI3K pathway activation among tamoxifen-treated mice, as compared with mice treated vehicle control.

Kubler and Jeselsohn suggested that the tamoxifen-driven increase in PI3K pathway signaling may, in effect, substitute for a PIK3CA or PIK3R1 mutation to stimulate uterine cancer development.

"What's unique is that we found a new mechanistic explanation for the development of therapy-related tumors that, to our knowledge, has not been described previously," Kubler added.

The researchers attempted to mitigate the tamoxifen-driven increase in PI3K pathway activity by treating mice with the PI3K inhibitor alpelisib in conjunction with tamoxifen. They found that co-treatment diminished the increases in Ki67 staining and markers of PI3K signaling.

"For women taking tamoxifen for breast cancer, there may be a possibility of using a PI3K inhibitor for those who are at an increased risk of uterine cancer, as a prevention strategy," Jeselsohn said.

She added that long-term data from the IBIS-1 study showed that the excess risk of uterine cancer was confined to the duration of treatment. The finding that TA-UC may depend on the non-mutant activation of a pathway, as part of the multi-step process of tumor development, she said, may partly explain this clinical finding.

Limitations of this study include a relatively small number of available patient samples, since TA-UC is not a common disease, as well as the fact that samples were from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue, which introduces challenges related to genomic characterization.

Explore further It takes more than one mutant copy of the PIK3CA gene to make breast cancer more aggressive

More information: Symposium: Symposium: www.sabcs.org/ Jack Cuzick et al, Tamoxifen for prevention of breast cancer: extended long-term follow-up of the IBIS-I breast cancer prevention trial, The Lancet Oncology (2014). DOI: 10.1016/S1470-2045(14)71171-4 Journal information: Lancet Oncology
A woman is vaccinated against COVID-19 at the Hillbrow Clinic in Johannesburg, South Africa, Monday Dec. 6, 2021. The World Health Organization has appointed an independent scientific panel to advise on whether shots need reformulating because of omicron or any other mutant. Credit: AP Photo/ Shiraaz Mohamed, File

Vaccine makers are racing to update their COVID-19 shots against the newest coronavirus threat even before it's clear a change is needed, just in case.

Experts doubt today's shots will become useless but say it's critical to see how fast companies could produce a reformulated dose and prove it worksbecause whatever happens with omicron, this newest mutant won't be the last.

Omicron "is pulling the fire alarm. Whether it turns out to be a false alarm, it would be really good to know if we can actually do thisget a new vaccine rolled out and be ready," said immunologist E. John Wherry of the University of Pennsylvania.

It's too soon to know how vaccines will hold up against omicron. The first hints this week were mixed: Preliminary lab tests suggest two Pfizer doses may not prevent an omicron infection but they could protect against severe illness. And a booster shot may rev up immunity enough to do both.

Better answers are expected in the coming weeks and regulators in the U.S. and other countries are keeping a close watch. The World Health Organization has appointed an independent scientific panel to advise on whether the shots need reformulating because of omicron or any other mutant.

But authorities haven't laid out what would trigger such a drastic step: If vaccine immunity against serious illness drops, or if a new mutant merely spreads faster?

"This is not trivial," BioNTech CEO Ugur Sahin, Pfizer's vaccine partner, said shortly before omicron's discovery. A company could apply to market a new formula "but what happens if another company makes another proposal with another variant? We don't have an agreed strategy."

It's a tough decisionand the virus moves faster than science. Just this fall the U.S. government's vaccine advisers wondered why boosters weren't retooled to target the extra-contagious delta variantonly to have the next scary mutant, omicron, be neither a delta descendant nor a very close cousin.

If vaccines do need tweaking, there's still another question: Should there be a separate omicron booster or a combination shot? And if it's a combo, should it target the original strain along with omicron, or the currently dominant delta variant plus omicron? Here's what we know.

COMPANIES AREN'T STARTING FROM SCRATCH

COVID-19 vaccines work by triggering production of antibodies that recognize and attack the spike protein that coats the coronavirus, and many are made with new technology flexible enough for easy updating. The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are fastest to tweak, made with genetic instructions that tell the body to make harmless copies of the spike proteinand that messenger RNA can be swapped to match new mutations.

Pfizer expects to have an omicron-specific candidate ready for the Food and Drug Administration to consider in March, with some initial batches ready to ship around the same time, chief scientific officer Dr. Mikael Dolsten told The Associated Press.

Moderna is predicting 60 to 90 days to have an omicron-specific candidate ready for testing. Other manufacturers that make COVID-19 vaccines using different technology, including Johnson & Johnson, also are pursuing possible updates.

Pfizer and Moderna already have successfully brewed experimental doses to match delta and another variant named beta, shots that haven't been needed but offered valuable practice.

This 2020 electron microscope image made available by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows SARS-CoV-2 virus particles which cause COVID-19. The World Health Organization has appointed an independent scientific panel to advise on whether vaccine shots need reformulating because of omicron or any other mutant. Credit: Hannah A. Bullock, Azaibi Tamin/CDC via AP, File

NOT CLEAR IF TWEAKS ARE NEEDED

So far, the original vaccines have offered at least some cross-protection against prior variants. Even if immunity against omicron isn't as good, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the top U.S. infectious disease expert, hopes the big antibody jump triggered by booster doses will compensate.

Pfizer's preliminary lab testing, released Wednesday, hint that might be the case but antibodies aren't the only layer of defense. Vaccines also spur T cells that can prevent serious illness if someone does get infected, and Pfizer's first tests showed, as expected, those don't seem to be affected by omicron.

Also, memory cells that can create new and somewhat different antibodies form with each dose.

"You're really training your immune system not just to deal better with existing variants, but it actually prepares a broader repertoire to deal with new variants," Dolsten said.

How aggressive a mutant is also plays a role in whether to reformulate the vaccine. Omicron appears to spread easily but early reports from South African scientists hint that it might cause milder infections than previous variants.

HOW TO TELL IF UPDATES WORK

The FDA has said companies won't need massive studies of tweaked vaccines but small ones to measure if people given the updated shot have immune responses comparable to the original, highly effective shots.

Wherry doesn't expect data from volunteers testing experimental omicron-targeted shots until at least February.

WHAT ABOUT COMBINATION SHOTS?

Flu vaccines protect against three or four different strains of influenza in one shot. If a vaccine tweak is needed for omicron, authorities will have to decide to whether to make a separate omicron booster or add it to the original vaccineor maybe even follow the flu model and try another combination.

There's some evidence that a COVID-19 combo shot could work. In a small Moderna study, a so-called bivalent booster containing the original vaccine and a beta-specific dose caused a bigger antibody jump than either an original Moderna booster or its experimental beta-specific shot.

And scientists already are working on next-generation vaccines that target parts of the virus less prone to mutate.

Omicron brings "another important wake-up call," Wherry saidnot just to vaccinate the world but create more versatile options to get that job done.

Explore further Pfizer already working on Covid vaccine targeting Omicron: CEO

 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Credit: Alena Shekhovtcova/Pexels

More than 7 in 10 vaccinated Australians say they will definitely get a COVID-19 vaccine booster shot when it is recommended to them, new analysis from The Australian National University (ANU) shows.

The survey of more than 3,400 people, the largest longitudinal study on the pandemic in Australia, shows 71.9 percent of adults will get a booster.

Study co-author Professor Nicholas Biddle said despite the strong showing of support for boosters, some Australians remained hesitant about geting an extra COVID-19 vaccine shot.

"Not all Australians have the same willingness to receive a booster vaccine," Professor Biddle said.

"In our analysis we found males, younger Australians, those who live outside of advantaged areas, those who have not completed Year 12, those who speak a language other than English, and those who have had their first dose vaccination relatively recently are all less willing to receive their 'third dose' of the COVID-19 vaccine.

"Evidence-based targeted interventions for these groups may be necessary to ensure that immunity disparities do not emerge in 2022 and beyond."

When respondents were asked about their reasons for being hesitant about a COVID-19 booster, the most common response was thinking that other people would need a COVID-19 vaccine more than they will.

"This reinforces the need to boost supply of COVID-19 vaccines to the region, not only because many countries in the Asia Pacific have very low vaccination rates, but also because it will reassure Australians that they can get a booster without putting others at risk," Professor Biddle said.

Professor Biddle said the survey also showed that despite recent incredible success, there is still variation in vaccine uptake and willingness across Australia.

"In August 2020 and in particular January 2021, we found high levels of vaccine hesitancy among Australians, with more than two-in-five adults saying they wouldn't or were unlikely to get vaccinated.

"Since then Australia has become one of the most vaccinated countries in the world.

"However, our study shows that vaccine rates are low in the states and territories that did not experience significant lockdowns during the third wave of COVID-19 infections in Australia, namely Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory.

"We also found that education and age were two other factors driving vaccine uptakewith older Australians and those with higher levels of education more likely to be vaccinated."

The study forms part of the COVID-19 Impact Monitoring Program led by the ANU Centre for Social Research and Methods. Data was collected by the Social Research Centre and is available via the Australian Data Archive.

Explore further Most Aussie parents keen to get kids COVID jabs

More information: Describing Australia's COVID-19 vaccine success, and ongoing challenges: October 2021. Describing Australia's COVID-19 vaccine success, and ongoing challenges: October 2021. csrm.cass.anu.edu.au/research/  g-challenges-october
A man sits while smoking in Auckland, New Zealand, Thursday, Dec. 9, 2021. New Zealand's government believes it has come up with a unique plan to end tobacco smoking, a lifetime ban for those aged 14 and under. Credit: AP Photo/David Rowland

New Zealand's government believes it has come up with a unique plan to end tobacco smokinga lifetime ban for those aged 14 or younger.

Under a new law the government announced Thursday and plans to pass next year, the minimum age to buy cigarettes would keep rising year after year.

That means, in theory at least, 65 years after the law takes effect, shoppers could still buy cigarettesbut only if they could prove they were at least 80 years old.

In practice, officials hope smoking will fade away decades before then. Indeed, the plan sets a goal of having fewer than 5% of New Zealanders smoking by 2025.

Other parts of the plan include allowing only the sale of tobacco products with very low nicotine levels and slashing the number of stores that can sell them. The changes would be brought in over time to help retailers adjust.

Because the current minimum age to buy cigarettes in New Zealand is 18, the lifetime smoking ban for youth wouldn't have an impact for a few years.

In an interview with The Associated Press, New Zealand's Associate Health Minister Dr. Ayesha Verrall, who is spearheading the plan, said her work at a public hospital in Wellington involved telling several smokers they had developed cancer.

New Zealand Associate Health Minister Dr. Ayesha Verrall sits in her office in Wellington, New Zealand, Thursday, Dec. 9, 2021. New Zealand's government believes it has come up with a unique plan, that Verrall drafted, to end tobacco smokinga lifetime ban for those aged 14 and under. Credit: AP Photo/Nick Perry

"You meet, every day, someone facing the misery caused by tobacco," Verrall said. "The most horrible ways people die. Being short of breath, caused by tobacco."

Smoking rates have steadily fallen in New Zealand for years, with only about 11% of adults now smoking and 9% smoking every day. The daily rate among Indigenous Maori remains much higher at 22%. Under the government's plan, a taskforce would be created to help reduce smoking among Maori.

Big tax increases have already been imposed on cigarettes in recent years and some question why they aren't hiked even higher.

"We don't think tax increases will have any further impact," Verrall said. "It's really hard to quit and we feel if we did that, we'd be punishing those people who are addicted to cigarettes even more."

And she said the tax measures tend to place a higher burden on lower-income people, who are more likely to smoke.

A man sits while smoking on a street in Auckland, New Zealand, Thursday, Dec. 9, 2021. New Zealand's government believes it has come up with a unique plan to end tobacco smoking, a lifetime ban for those aged 14 and under. Credit: AP Photo/David Rowland

The new law wouldn't impact vaping. Verrall said that tobacco smoking is far more harmful and remains a leading cause of preventable deaths in New Zealand, killing up to 5,000 people each year.

"We think vaping's a really appropriate quit tool," she said.

The sale of vaping products is already restricted to those aged 18 and over in New Zealand and vaping is banned in schools. Verrall said there was some evidence of a rise in youth vaping, a trend she is following "really closely."

New Zealand's approach to ban the next generation from tobacco smoking hasn't been tried elsewhere, she said.

But she said studies have shown youth sales decrease when minimum ages are raised. In the U.S., the federal minimum age to buy tobacco products was raised from 18 to 21 two years ago.

While public health experts have generally welcomed the New Zealand plan, not everybody is happy.

A sign indicates that the University of Aukland campus is smoke-free in Auckland, New Zealand, Thursday, Dec. 9, 2021. New Zealand's government believes it has come up with a unique plan to end tobacco smoking, a lifetime ban for those aged 14 and under. Credit: AP Photo/David Rowland

Sunny Kaushal said some stores could be put out of business. Kaushal chairs the Dairy and Business Owners Group, which represents nearly 5,000 corner storesoften called dairies in New Zealandand gas stations.

"We all want a smoke-free New Zealand," he said. "But this is going to hugely impact small businesses. It should not be done so it is destroying dairies, lives and families in the process. It's not the way."

Kaushal said the tax increases on tobacco had already created a black market that was being exploited by gangs, and the problem would only get worse. He said smoking was already in its twilight in New Zealand and would die away of its own accord.

"This is being driven by academics," he said, adding that stakeholders hadn't been consulted.

But Verrall said she didn't believe the government was overreaching because statistics showed the vast majority of smokers wanted to quit anyway, and the new policies would only help them achieve their goal.

A man smokes a cigarette in Aotea Square in Auckland, New Zealand, Thursday, Dec. 9, 2021. New Zealand's government believes it has come up with a unique plan to end tobacco smoking, a lifetime ban for those aged 14 and under. Credit: AP Photo/David Rowland

She said the pandemic had helped people gain a new appreciation for the benefits of public health measures and rallying communities, and that perhaps that energy could be harnessed not only to tackle smoking but also diseases like diabetes.

Verrall said she had never smoked herself but her late grandmother did, and it likely compromised her health.

"It's a really cruel product," Verrall said.

Explore further Bans on flavored e-cigarettes could see some vapers return to smoking cigarettes

 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus S.Aleinik meets the head of the ICRC regional Delegation

On December 8, 2021, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus Sergei Aleinik met with the Head of the Regional Delegation of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Belarus, Russia and Moldova Ikhtiyar Aslanov.

During the meeting, the Sides exchanged views on topical directions of cooperation between Belarus and the ICRC, including the preparation of a plan for cooperation between Belarusian state bodies and organizations with the Committee for 2022.

S.Aleinik informed the interlocutor of the approaches of Belarus to the migration situation on the western border of the country, inter alia to the humanitarian assistance provided through the ICRC. I.Aslanov commended the measures taken by the Belarusian side, highlighted the work of the Belarusian Red Cross Society.

The parties noted the high level of understanding and support in resolving humanitarian issues, as well as expressed their readiness to continue the constructive cooperation.

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GROUPS OF parents and other anti-communist organizations condemned the acquittal of about 15 leaders of the Communist Party of the Philipp...
Viagra might help treat Alzheimers disease, according to researchers who have been using the impotence drug to study the effects it has on the brain.

Though more studies are needed, researchers in Cleveland found that men who were taking the blue pill, also known as sildenafil, had a lower risk of Alzheimers, following analysis of a database of over 7.2 million patients spanning six years, BBC News reported.

The team also reported finding in lab studies that those who took higher than usual doses of the pill  best known for erectile dysfunction  displayed an increase in brain cell growth and reduced protein accumulation.

Because our findings only establish an association between sildenafil use and reduced incidence of Alzheimers disease, we are now planning a mechanistic trial and a phase II randomized clinical trial to test causality and confirm sildenafils clinical benefits for Alzheimers patients, research leader Dr. Feixiong Cheng reportedly told the Nature Aging journal.

Until that research is completed, University of Edinburgh Professor Tara Spires-Jones, an expert on brain research, advises people not to "rush out to start taking sildenafil as a prevention for Alzheimers disease.

Dr. Jack Auty, a medical sciences lecturer at the University of Tasmania in Australia, similarly said this is hardly the first indication of a drug that could help with Alzheimers, though that has yet to pan out, according to the BBC.

To repurpose an already existing drug would be both a cheaper and overall more efficient path than developing an entirely new treatment for the disease.

Originally meant to treat the heart, Viagra is able to relax blood vessels and subsequently improve blood flow in other parts of the body. This led to its use for erectile dysfunction as well as pulmonary hypertension, which affects the lungs for men and women alike.

Though the exact causes of Alzheimers, a type of dementia, are still being probed, its known that those who have it have abnormal protein deposits in their brains, BBC reports.

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LANSING, Mich. (AP)  The Michigan Senate on Thursday quickly endorsed bills that would boost job-creation and expansion incentives offered to businesses, amid efforts to land unspecified major projects in the auto industry as it shifts to greener technology.

The 27-10 votes came a day after the House approved identical legislation. Final action will not occur until next week due to legislative rules and because lawmakers are discussing how much funding to put into the newly proposed Strategic Outreach and Attraction Reserve Fund.

The measures, backed by Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to expand our economic development toolkit, could give legislators more involvement in deals. That is because they would control when money is transferred from the account into new site readiness and critical industry funds, from which the state's economic development board could disburse incentives to companies.

The fast-tracked measures came less than three months after Dearborn-based automaker Ford announced plans to build three electric-vehicle battery factories and an auto assembly plant in Kentucky and Tennessee, creating an estimated 10,800 jobs.

Sen. Curt VanderWall, a Ludington Republican sponsoring one of the bills, said Detroit-based General Motors is eyeing some expansions.

The legislation allows us to negotiate and make sure that we take care of Michigan businesses ... the ones that we want to keep here and not leave our area, he said. It's extremely important right now that we give Michigan the tools to be able to compete for those jobs and those businesses.

GM CEO Mary Barra gave a strong hint Thursday that Michigan may get an electric vehicle battery factory. When asked during an appearance at the Automotive Press Association if Michigan has a chance to get a plant, she said discussions with the state are ongoing.

"In the not-too-distant future, well be able to answer that question, Barra said in Detroit, adding that an announcement would likely come in weeks, not months.

GM has plans to build four North American battery factories. Locations of two have been announced, in Ohio and Tennessee. Building a Michigan plant would make sense because the company has plans for at least two electric vehicle assembly factories in the state.

Ford's announcement caught legislators off guard and probably tipped the scales to persuade them to do something two years after allowing a 2017 tax incentives program geared at large-scale business expansions to expire, VanderWall said.

We're actually going to have sites that are shovel-ready, he said, so businesses can be up and running in a much quicker time than what we have currently.

Seven of 21 Republicans and three of 16 Democrats voted against the bills in the GOP-led chamber, with one member absent. They said corporate subsidies leave less to spend on other government priorities.

How is it morally fair to collect taxes from the thousands of businesses paying into the state treasury only to pay that same money out to larger businesses or even others that may be in fact a direct competitor to an existing business in our state? said Sen. Tom Barrett, a Charlotte Republican.

Supporters say the legislation has detailed criteria that the Michigan Strategic Fund board would have to consider and document before approving a grant, a loan, financing or other assistance for site development and business investment. Lawmakers would be notified of proposed changes and actual modifications to a written agreement.

The House and Senate budget committees would have to approve transfers from a main fund, known as SOAR and overseen by the state Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, before the Michigan Strategic Site Readiness Fund and the Critical Industry Fund could be tapped for deals.

This really does give the Legislature a credible voice in these processes so we have an understanding of the macro, we have some information about some of the emerging opportunities for the state and we can keep Michigan as the place where things are made, said Rep. Ben Frederick, an Owosso Republican.

AP Auto Writer Tom Krisher in Detroit contributed.

Follow David Eggert at https://twitter.com/DavidEggert00

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

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The VA Montana Health Care System provides a VA presence in every major city in the state through a series of community based clinics, a community living center, and an acute care medical center.

Montana VA is looking for landlords who are interested in renting to veterans searching for housing through the HUD/VASH (Section 8) housing voucher program. Please contact Jillian Woods at 406-594-1423 with any questions or inquiries.
Missoula will soon have a new chief operations officer, as Eric Hallstrom was unanimously approved for the position Wednesday by the city council's Administration and Finance Committee.

The appointment was added to the agenda for city council's full meeting on Monday, Dec. 13, when it will become official. Hallstrom is expected to start work Wednesday, Dec. 15.

Hallstrom, 46, will oversee city business tools and information, as well as non-financial data reporting. He will be responsible for implementing city strategic plans and developing tools to measure whether they are working.

Data-driven decision-making has been a point of emphasis in the job description, as has communication with the general public and overseeing how public money is spent.

"I think there's now tools available that are sort of at the scale that municipal governments can use to drive decision-making  framework with good data or with systems that can actually support good data," Hallstrom told the Missoulian on Wednesday. "Part of the problem is it's hard to collect the right information to make decisions and so (we want to be) making sure we're being thoughtful about how you design a program, so you can assess its effectiveness.

"Instead of maybe a biannual report, you have a dashboard that's more real-time," he added. "And you can make a lot of dynamic decisions if you know whether or not you're hitting your goals instead of just getting an after-the-fact report."

Hallstrom's experience has been varied throughout his career. A debater in high school and college, he liked the practice of debating public policy on its merits, as well as policy choices and the creative side of argumentation which eventually led him to public service.

This led him to attend law school, he said. He first graduated with an undergraduate degree in philosophy from Augustana College, a liberal arts school in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

He earned a law degree from the University of Iowa. He worked as a staffer on political campaigns during the summers and clerked for a federal judge in Minnesota following graduation from law school.

Hallstrom then found his way to Georgetown Law School, where he spent time teaching legislative advocacy. He worked for former U.S. Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, a legislator from South Dakota.

He then took a job with a law firm in Washington, D.C., that represented public sector employees, mostly in wage, hour, labor and employment matters, he said.

From there, he took a job as chief of staff on the U.S. Federal Election Commission and spent time with the U.S. Department of Labor. He has been in some sort of agency role ever since.

He most recently worked for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, as well as the state's budget office.

"I wanted to do more of the things that governments do and a little bit less of the coordinating and managing of the things that governments do," Hallstrom said. "Then I continued that trend with the state and then a local move.

"It's kind of been a slow march west from D.C."

Hallstrom is moving to Missoula with his spouse, Jessica, as well as a number of dogs, he said.

Council members, as well as Mayor John Engen, spoke highly of the prospective appointee.

"I think his approach to being a servant leader (is to be) someone who is very committed to public service as well as to supporting his team," Engen said. "The internal services that Eric will lead are critical to the day-to-day operations of the city of Missoula in our ability to serve the folks that we swore to. He is very well-equipped to do that work."

The position will pay approximately $148,000 per year. A request to add this role was approved by city council during the 2022 budget process.

Jordan Hansen covers news and local government for the Missoulian. Shout at him on Twitter @jordyhansen or send him an email at Jordan.Hansen@Missoulian.com

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TRENTON, N.J. (AP)  New Jersey Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy shot down questions Wednesday about why state police failed to enforce a statehouse requirement last week that people show proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a negative test, citing a reluctance to discuss security measures.

Murphy spoke during a remote news conference on the virus, his first comments since Republican lawmakers' defied the requirement Thursday. But he declined to address specific questions about why troopers first blocked but then permitted lawmakers who flouted the mandate from entering the Assembly chamber.

It's unclear what happened during the confusion last week when Assembly GOP members shouted This is America when they were stopped, only to be let in the chamber. State police have also said they will not discuss security at the statehouse complex.

Murphys administration oversees the state police who are in charge of enforcing the mandate in the statehouse complex, though the requirement itself was set by the Democrats who control the Legislature as well as a commission that manages the buildings.

Murphy, who won reelection last month, said they wouldnt get into questions concerning security and launched into an attack on GOP lawmakers over their defiance of the vaccination or negative test mandate.

The big story from last week is not about security its about the idiocy of these ringleaders who are putting their fellow members health and families of their fellow members at risk, he said. This is not about freedom or civil rights. Its about their willingness to volitionally run the risk of infecting innocent law-abiding folks who have done the right thing during this pandemic. Its outrageous, absolutely outrageous, incredibly irresponsible, unforgivable.

A reporter on Wednesday had asked State Police Superintendent Col. Pat Callahan for an explanation as to why troopers first blocked but then permitted lawmakers to enter the Assembly chamber, but Murphy intercepted the question.

Callahan later added that troopers take security of the statehouse extremely seriously. Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin had called the episode a colossal security failure last week.

Republican Assembly member Hal Wirths, one of the lawmakers who entered the chamber without showing vaccination proof or a negative test, called it absolutely outrageous" that Murphy said it's not about civil rights.

If we dont need a vaccination card to buy groceries, we dont need a vaccination card to do our constitutional duty," he said, referring to voting.

It's unclear what will happen when the next voting session happens. It's set for Dec. 16, though the Assembly has moved in-person committee hearings to virtual-only since Thursday.

The confusing scene on Thursday led to an increase of enforcement of the requirement around the statehouse: with orange barriers erected to funnel visitors to checkpoints and troopers patrolling typically little-used entryways.

Republicans have sued to try to block the mandate, which went into effect ahead of last week's voting session. A judge has set a possible hearing for next week.

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
RICHMOND, Va. (AP)  Republican Virginia Gov.-elect Glenn Youngkin announced Wednesday that he would seek to use his executive powers to withdraw the commonwealth from a multistate carbon cap-and-trade program he said has overburdened ratepayers and businesses.

Environmental attorneys and other advocates quickly shot back that Virginia's participation, approved through legislation last year, could not be undone by the governor alone.

Youngkin's remarks about the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, a program between 11 mid-Atlantic and northeast states designed to reduce carbon emissions from power plants, came during a speech he gave to the Hampton Roads Chamber.

Youngkin, who will take office in January, pledged to withdraw Virginia from the initiative through executive action."

RGGI describes itself as a regional market for carbon. But it is really a carbon tax that is fully passed on to ratepayers. It's a bad deal for Virginians. It's a bad deal for Virginia businesses," he said.

Virginia spent years moving toward participation in RGGI (pronounced Reggie). The initiative requires power plants to purchase an allowance to emit a certain amount of carbon, a greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming, which scientists say is already accelerating sea level rise and worsening extremes such as heat waves, droughts, floods and storms.

Advocates say RGGI gives power plants an incentive to lower their emissions while making non-emitting power generators more cost competitive.

In 2020, with Democrats in full control of state government, lawmakers approved a measure that is now law making Virginia a full participant. The program recently brought in about $228 million in its first full year.

Under the law, the vast majority of that revenue goes toward assisting localities affected by recurrent flooding and sea-level rise, and a state-administered account to support energy efficiency programs for low-income individuals.

RGGI has brought in more than $220 million this year alone  money already being deployed across the Commonwealth to help communities deal with flooding and lower energy bills for Virginians who need it most," Nate Benforado, a senior attorney with the Southern Environmental Law Center said in a statement. "This was bipartisan legislation that followed a multi-year regulatory process to create a comprehensive program that cannot be undone with a simple pen stroke.

Walton Shepherd, Virginia policy director and a senior attorney for the Natural Resources Defense Council, called Youngkin's remarks a rhetorical and legal  and not to mention hyper-partisan  dead end.

A Youngkin spokesman declined further comment on the governor-elect's thinking.

The RGGI law included language that said the costs of allowances purchased through the initiative would be deemed environmental compliance costs that may be recovered by Dominion Energy Virginia or Appalachian Power from ratepayers. Youngkin said in his speech that he expected Virginia's participation to cost ratepayers $1 to $1.2 billion over the next four years.

Del. Todd Gilbert, who is set to become the speaker of the House after Republicans flipped control of that chamber last month, issued a statement praising Youngkin's remarks.

Governor-elect Youngkins announcement is a perfect example of the common-sense decision making weve been missing for the past 8 years," Gilbert said.

The Democratic leadership of the Senate, now the party's sole hold on control of state government after last month's election cycle, defended joining RGGI.

"Reversal of this law would be incredibly harmful to the health of Virginians, protection of our natural spaces, and preparation for a clean-energy economy," Majority leader Dick Saslaw and Caucus Chair Mamie Locke said in a joint statement.

Youngkin said in his speech that he would be a champion of an all-of-the-above energy strategy, including support for clean-burning fossil fuels. He expressed support specifically for a southeastern Virginia gas pipeline project.

Many environmental advocates say the world needs to be quickly shifting away from even natural gas to renewable energy sources.

Youngkin also pledged to address sea-level rise, which is threatening Virginia's coastal communities.

We have a challenge, he said.

Youngkin will be sworn in Jan. 15.

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

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Gov. Greg Gianforte on Wednesday tapped prosecutor Brett Linneweber to fill the Yellowstone County District Court Judge position being vacated by Judge Gregory Todd after he retires this month.

Linneweber has served as a senior deputy county attorney since 2014, where he has spent the majority of his time prosecuting criminal cases for the Yellowstone County Attorneys Office. Linneweber also practiced in Park County for 13 years, serving as deputy Park County attorney from 2001 to 2005 and Park County attorney from 2005 to 2014.

Speaking to The Gazette, Linneweber said he was excited and humbled by the nomination as well as the trust placed in him by the governor.

"I'm looking forward to many more years of service to Yellowstone County," he said.

Linneweber was one of four applicants for the nomination. He said he's looking forward to continuing his long courtroom career. Despite years as a prosecutor, Linneweber's experience has had a balance of civil and criminal work.

"I have always been a courtroom attorney from my first cases 20 years ago," he said. "I have always loved the courtroom and this expands that capability."

In his private practice days, Linneweber says he handled a number of family law cases and as a county attorney he has dealt with a wide array of civil cases, government matters and advising officials. Linneweber described his decades long career as a 50-50 mix of both sides of the law. He also believes his varied experience will be an asset on the bench, and his straightforward understanding and approach to the law should put those in his courtroom at ease, he says.

"I'm not going to be creating laws from the bench," Linneweber said. "It will be a common plain reading of the law... so everyday persons should have the same expectation that the law applies equally to them. And they don't have to worry about me creating laws."

Todd has served in the position for 21 years after being appointed by then-Gov. Mark Racicot in 2000, survived a senate nomination in 2001 and won his first election in 2002. At present, he is the longest sitting judge in Yellowstone County. Todd called Linneweber a "great appointment."

"Brett [Linneweber] has appeared before me many times and he's always been competent and very professional," Todd said. "I look forward to him continuing the long tradition of competent judges in the 13th Judicial District."

The governor expressed confidence in Linneweber's experience and especially his time as a prosecutor.

Brett Linneweber brings to the table years of experience as a county attorney where hes managed some of the most urgent issues facing Yellowstone County, Gianforte said in a press release. Brett values the separate, distinct roles of our branches of government, and Im confident Yellowstone County will be served well by the leadership, experience, and perspective he brings to the bench.

Linneweber graduated from Montana State University with a bachelor's degree in political science in 1991, before earning his law degree at the University of Montana School Of Law in 2000.

He is one of a few recent judicial appointments made under a new system created after the Montana Legislature abolished an independent council to review judicial nominations with the passing of SB140 earlier this year. The bill gave more authority directly to the governor in appointing judges to vacancies on the bench statewide. The bill was opposed by many sitting judges including Supreme Court Chief Justice Mike McGrath who lobbied Gianforte to oppose the bill citing a concern, "it could have a major impact on judicial branch policy," he told the Montana State News Bureau earlier in the year.

The Montana Supreme Court upheld the law in June ruling the state's constitution does not explicitly call for an independent commission to appoint judges. The law's passage and legal challenge also touched off a legal battle between the Legislature and the judiciary surrounding the use of government funded email addresses to take polls of judges on laws presented in the legislature. The state's supreme court shot down a legislative subpoena for judicial emails saying the subpoena had no real legislative purpose. Most recently, the Legislature has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to intervene in the case after the Montana Supreme Court ruled the Legislature acted outside its authority when it subpoenaed judicial emails.

Twelve local leaders made up the advisory council for the 13th Judicial District. Among them were retired district judge Russ Fagg, Katie Weston with the state's probation and parole division, Moyra Anthony with Youth Dynamics and a number of other law enforcement, civic and legal leaders.

Im grateful to each member of the advisory council for giving their time to review and recommend a highly-qualified nominee from within their community to serve the people of Yellowstone County, Gianforte said.

Linneweber will take the bench in January of 2022. He told the Gazette he intends to file to run in the 2022 election to fill the seat for the remainder of the judge's term as soon as possible.

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Its one thing to mount a decades-long conservation campaign on a continental scale like the Yellowstone to Yukon, or Y2Y.

Its another to prove anything about it worked. When you look at a place as big as Argentina but you dont have gross domestic product or number of high school graduates to use as statistics, what do you measure to declare success?

A team of U.S. and Canadian researchers tackled that question for the Y2Y in a new paper published this month in the Journal of Conservation Science and Practice. Led by University of Montana wildlife biologist Mark Hebblewhite, they verified progress toward saving one of the worlds most biodiverse places through highway projects, television screenplays and grizzly bear home ranges.

Just adding more protected areas doesnt tell us what we need to know, Hebblewhite said. It doesnt tell us how it translates into biodiversity outcomes. Its hard to evaluate conservation and say this action did that.

The results were displayed in Can a large-landscape conservation vision contribute to achieving biodiversity targets? Fellow authors includes Sara Williams of UM, Harvey Locke and Jodi Hilty of the Yellowstone to Yukon Initiative in Alberta, Charles Chester of Tufts University, David Johns of Portland State University and private consultants Gregory Kehm and Wendy Francis.

In a landscape as big as Yellowstone to Yukon, sheer scale can bedazzle. As first outlined in 1993, the Y2Y boundary stretched from the Alaska border by Fairbanks south along the Rocky Mountains through Jasper and Banff national parks in Alberta, past Glacier and Yellowstone national parks in Montana, ending around Idahos Boulder-White Clouds and Wyomings Wind River Range wilderness areas.

The study created five different measuring sticks to gauge success. The most basic looked at how many acres got conserved within the Y2Y region since its campaign started compared to surrounding public lands and the U.S. and Canadian nations as a whole.

It found the rate of conservation within Y2Y increased 90% since the project started in 1993, while surrounding areas stayed flat or even declined. Protected areas like national parks and wilderness areas expanded from 9.7% in 1993 to 17.6% in 2018.

The rate of protected land growth before and after that 1993 date also showed evidence the campaign wasnt simply the continuation of a trend that had momentum before public efforts got started. In the previous quarter-century, the area added an average 2,598 square kilometers of protection a year. In the next 25 years during the Y2Y campaign, that figure nearly doubled to 4,962 square kilometers a year on average.

That showed up in projects like the Rocky Mountain Front wilderness additions in Montana and several new national parks in Canadas Yukon Territory, British Columbia and Alberta.

The next measuring stick looked at similar progress on private lands. There, initiatives like the Transborder Grizzly Bear Project directed strategic purchases of habitat on both sides of the U.S.-Canadian border, along Canadian Highway 3 and U.S. Highway 2. Y2Y was involved in raising $11 million to secure conservation easements on 28,000 acres of Stimson Lumber Co. forestlands surrounding the Yaak River confluence, and the Montana Legacy Project that conserved more than 300,000 acres of Plum Creek Timber Co. working lands.

Then the researchers tried looking at what occupants of those lands did. In particular, they tracked the populations of grizzly bears that depend on them. Not only are the bears closely monitored on both sides of the border, what improves quality of life for a grizzly bear has an umbrella effect on many other species further down the food chain.

They found occupied grizzly range more than doubled between 1990 and 2014, from 20,500 square miles to 46,144 square miles in the United States alone. One important corollary to that finding was the amount of unprotected or private land the bears began using. In the early part of the Y2Y campaign, grizzlies depended on protected lands like national parks for 70% of their habitat. Today, the share of non-protected and private lands makes up almost half of grizzly range.

As grizzlies expand beyond Glacier and Yellowstone national parks, their future fate plays out on large private lands, Hebblewhite said. That led to the next measuring stick  projects to connect fragmented hunks of habitat.

The study found that wildlife crossing structures proliferated throughout the Y2Y in ways that inspired other parts of the world. With 107 over- and underpasses such as the Animals Bridge near Evaro in Montana and the 80-kilometer stretch of overpasses and tunnels penetrating the Trans-Canada Highway by Banff National Park, the study authors could claim that Y2Y has become a global model for green infrastructure to reduce fragmentation and foster connectivity.

Such projects often involve relatively tiny acquisitions or changes, according to Vital Ground Executive Director Ryan Lutey. The Missoula-based land trust has collaborated on grizzly-related preservation efforts throughout the Y2Y. One of its most recent and successful deals involved a 240-acre conservation easement on land alongside Interstate 90 near Ninemile Creek.

That parcel logically would never host a grizzly bear or wolf long-term, Lutey said. But it allows a grizzly to slip under the highway with a lot more safety and less potential to have a traffic collision.

The validity of that idea got confirmed this fall with the passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. It contains $350 million for wildlife crossing structures and improvements. Those arent just so critters can cross the road.

Anybody whos hit a deer with their car knows theyre going to be lucky to walk away with just a $5,000 bill, Hebblewhite said. If they hit an elk, theyll be lucky to walk away.

Perhaps the most unusual measuring stick was a marketing review. The study team used a method called counterfactual analysis to compare changes in the Y2Y zone with similar areas that didnt have active publicity and attention-getting activity. Its similar to what advertisers do comparing how a cereal brand does in one community where its supported by lots of commercials with another place that doesnt have the publicity.

We looked at the rate of change and expansion of protected areas in the Y2Y 25 years ago, and it accelerated  there was an 80% increase, Hebblewhite said. Then we looked at other regions in Alberta, British Columbia and Montana. Conservation declined. We also looked on the scale of the whole continent. All of North America was flat-lining while conservation was increasing in the Y2Y.

Part of what the researchers looked at to gauge public interest was the amount of Y2Y messaging that wound up in popular culture. Magazine cover stories, television documentaries, even episodes of the TV series Grays Anatomy and West Wing provide evidence the campaign has reached a wide audience.

Thats how you get conservation done, Hebblewhite said. You change peoples attitudes. This work has global implications. Yes it takes 25 years, but this shows you can get somewhere.

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One CFS, two CFS, three CFS, four.

Whats the sound of one fin clapping?

The abbreviation CFS refers to cubic feet per second. That measure of a streams flow can be a big deal to trout and other aquatic life.

Its also a big deal to anglers, ranchers, outfitters, hydrologists, biologists, birdwatchers and many others  especially during low-water summers like the one in 2021.

The Montana Natural Resource Damage Program and partners have been working with ranchers, other landowners, non-profit partners and just about anybody who will listen to try to augment the flow in the Clark Fork River.

As one example: In 2013, the Dry Cottonwood Ranch eliminated a diversion ditch for irrigation, installed a pump system closer to the irrigated acres and converted a portion of the acreage from flood irrigation to pivot irrigation. Those changes conserved up to 9 cubic feet per second of water.

This year, the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation authorized changing the water rights uses from irrigation to instream flow.

As a result, add 9.28 cfs from July 15 to Sept. 6 each year.

Separately, the NRDP entered into two short-term leases in the Lower Lost Creek area that will provide instream flow to the Clark Fork River.

These projects and a bevy of others like them were discussed Tuesday afternoon during a meeting in Deer Lodge of the Upper Clark Fork River Basin Remediation and Restoration Advisory Council.

Brian Bartkowiak, an environmental science specialist with the NRDP, provided an overview of projects in 2021 to members of the council and to a small group of people who attended.

This latter group in included Alex Leone, restoration policy manager for the Clark Fork Coalition.

This year was incredibly rough for streams in southwest Montana and we saw historic drought and streamflow conditions but we didnt go completely dry, Leone said. I would argue that both the Jefferson and Upper Clark Fork faced conditions just as gnarly as 1988 and 2000 but because of all the work that has been done over the last 20 years, we didnt see dry riverbeds. In years like 2021, a trickle can make the difference.

Others who attended, aside from council members, included Nathan Cook, a fisheries biologist for the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks, and his colleague, Caleb Uerling, FWP fisheries biologist.

Leone, Cook and Uerling all mentioned water releases from Silver Lake last summer as being vital to boosting instream flow during a critical time from Aug. 2 to Sept. 20. Butte-Silver Bow County and Montana Resources agreed to those releases of 32 cfs of water continuously into Warm Springs Creek during a particularly bad low-flow year.

It was pretty much as bad as we tend to see, Uerling said. Some of the flow projects definitely added resiliency.

The NRDP funded the releases from Silver Lake, with an agreement that it would pay up to $257,000 for this years project.

Cook said securing water for instream flow is a key priority for the upper river, noting that every little bit we can get helps. But he also noted that gaining access to more water can be challenging and difficult.

Other attendees Tuesday included J.P. Gallagher, chief executive officer for Butte-Silver Bow County, Megan Fylling, an avian ecologist from the University of Montana, Carl Hamming, planning director for Anaconda-Deer Lodge County, and several others.

Bartkowiak said good projects involve a benefit both to landowners and the resource.

The states NRDP was created in 1990 to prepare Montanas lawsuit against the Atlantic Richfield Co. for damages to natural resources in the upper Clark Fork River basin associated with past mining and smelting pollution by the Anaconda Co.

Atlantic Richfield bought the Anaconda Co. in 1977, acquiring both its assets and liabilities. The liabilities included huge areas of contaminated ground, ground water and surface water within the nations largest Superfund site.

The NRDP lawsuit was based on federal Superfund law and it yielded millions of dollars in settlements to help pay for restoration work or replacement of injured resources in the upper Clark Fork.

The EPA says, Damages are recoverable at sites where injuries to natural resources have occurred as a result of releases of hazardous substances or oil or as a result of natural resource injury related to implementation of a response action.

At times, the NRDPs restoration work occurs in concert with remediation of wastes. That has been true for work to date on Silver Bow Creek, Milltown Dam, the Clark Fork River and Anaconda Uplands.

In 2021, the NRDP, working with project partners, other state agencies and the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, established a streamflow working group to pursue solutions that support the water needs of the Upper Clark Fork Watershed Community.

There is a host of other projects either completed or being pursued by the NRDP. Some address flows in the river and some address other problems or goals or acquiring land.

For example, some under-sized culverts were replaced at the Brothers Ranch that were fish passage barriers.

In a host of places, the NRDP and partners, including FWP, installed fish screens to keep fish from getting stuck in irrigation ditches.

And NRDP facilitated the acquisition and protection of wildlife habitat throughout the basin and along tributaries.

Partners in the various projects have included FWP, the Clark Fork Coalition, Trout Unlimited, the DNRC, the CSKT, and the Watershed Restoration Coalition, based in Deer Lodge.

The goal of many projects has been, as Bartkowiak described, clear, cold water.

He added, There is nothing thats not on the table right now. There is no silver bullet. [There is] a whole suite of tools.

Later, Leone agreed.

Its positive that the NRDP has taken a holistic approach to the upper basins water woes and, as was mentioned yesterday, there isnt a silver bullet out there thats going to magically fix everything, he said.

In years like last year when things get really dire we need a suite of options. One of the things Im most excited about is the leasing study the Clark Fork Coalition and University of Montana are working on with NRDP, Leone said.

The study is considering how split-season water leasing could increase instream flow. This approach would allow irrigators to receive payment for forgoing irrigation on some agricultural land during part of a growing season  generally during drought or low-flow periods.

To really move the flow needle in the Upper Clark Fork we need a host of options, from Silver Lake storage to a compensation program for water users, to water budgeting, additional headwaters storage options, beavers, irrigation efficiency, etc., Leone said.

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Prosecutors say a Butte man who died days after an alleged assault outside of the Town Pump on South Montana Street in October was kicked in the abdomen, fell backwards and hit his head.

The Kalispell man allegedly responsible, 46-year-old Jesse Jose Mollenkopf, pleaded not guilty to negligent homicide Thursday and his attorney gave notice his defense would be based on justifiable use of force.

If convicted of the charge, Mollenkopf faces up to 20 years in prison and fine up to $50,000. He remained jailed following Thursdays arraignment with bond set at $100,000.

The alleged assault took place around 9:40 p.m. on Oct. 12 and the man who was injured, 46-year-old Jason Acebedo, died eight days later. He had sustained serious head injuries and within hours was life-flighted to a hospital in Salt Lake City to be treated.

Police did not release much information on the incident but prosecutors, in recently filed charging documents, provided details on their account of events.

They say another man and Mollenkopf pulled into the Town Pump in a blue truck and went inside to buy some food and drinks. Mollenkopf came out and went to the passenger side of the truck when a woman walked up.

Surveillance video then shows Acebedo walking up to the passenger side and within seconds, it shows Mollenkopf kick him in the abdomen, causing Acebedo to fall backwards.

On the video you can see Acebedo flat on his back and not moving, prosecutors said.

Mollenkopf is then seen conversing with the woman when the driver of the truck comes out of the store and he and Mollenkopf drive off. A sister of Acebedos called police the next day to say her brother was not going to make it.

Police released a photo of the two men to the media and based on that, someone identified the driver and police learned he was living in Divide. The man said Mollenkopf was currently there, too, so police questioned him.

Mollenkopf recalled the incident and said a girl he did not know came up to the truck and asked for help. He didnt know if she wanted money or some other form of help but he ended up giving her a burrito he had just purchased.

The man later identified as Acebedo then walked up, and according to prosecutors, Mollenkopf didnt know him either.

Mollenkopf said that the male told him he was going to die so he kicked him in the stomach which in turn made the male fall backwards, it states in charging documents. He said he tried to get Acebedo to sit up then told the woman to help.

Police found out Mollenkopf was on probation out of Kalispell and though he was not on travel restrictions, he was to keep a probation officer informed if he was moving somewhere for a long time.

Acebedo was taken to St. James Healthcare and a nurse told police he had a large brain bleed and a skull fracture that might extend into his spinal cord. A neurologist in Missoula reviewed medical scans and said the injuries were too extensive to be treated in Montana.

He was taken off life support on Oct. 19 and died the next day, prosecutors say.

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Gov. Greg Gianforte on Wednesday tapped prosecutor Brett Linneweber to fill the Yellowstone County District Court Judge position being vacated by Judge Gregory Todd after he retires this month.

Linneweber has served as a senior deputy county attorney since 2014, where he has spent the majority of his time prosecuting criminal cases for the Yellowstone County Attorneys Office. Linneweber also practiced in Park County for 13 years, serving as deputy Park County attorney from 2001 to 2005 and Park County attorney from 2005 to 2014.

Speaking to The Gazette, Linneweber said he was excited and humbled by the nomination as well as the trust placed in him by the governor.

"I'm looking forward to many more years of service to Yellowstone County," he said.

Linneweber was one of four applicants for the nomination. He said he's looking forward to continuing his long courtroom career. Despite years as a prosecutor, Linneweber's experience has had a balance of civil and criminal work.

"I have always been a courtroom attorney from my first cases 20 years ago," he said. "I have always loved the courtroom and this expands that capability."

In his private practice days, Linneweber says he handled a number of family law cases and as a county attorney he has dealt with a wide array of civil cases, government matters and advising officials. Linneweber described his decades long career as a 50-50 mix of both sides of the law. He also believes his varied experience will be an asset on the bench, and his straightforward understanding and approach to the law should put those in his courtroom at ease, he says.

"I'm not going to be creating laws from the bench," Linneweber said. "It will be a common plain reading of the law... so everyday persons should have the same expectation that the law applies equally to them. And they don't have to worry about me creating laws."

Todd has served in the position for 21 years after being appointed by then-Gov. Mark Racicot in 2000, survived a senate nomination in 2001 and won his first election in 2002. At present, he is the longest sitting judge in Yellowstone County. Todd called Linneweber a "great appointment."

"Brett [Linneweber] has appeared before me many times and he's always been competent and very professional," Todd said. "I look forward to him continuing the long tradition of competent judges in the 13th Judicial District."

The governor expressed confidence in Linneweber's experience and especially his time as a prosecutor.

Brett Linneweber brings to the table years of experience as a county attorney where hes managed some of the most urgent issues facing Yellowstone County, Gianforte said in a press release. Brett values the separate, distinct roles of our branches of government, and Im confident Yellowstone County will be served well by the leadership, experience, and perspective he brings to the bench.

Linneweber graduated from Montana State University with a bachelor's degree in political science in 1991, before earning his law degree at the University of Montana School Of Law in 2000.

He is one of a few recent judicial appointments made under a new system created after the Montana Legislature abolished an independent council to review judicial nominations with the passing of SB140 earlier this year. The bill gave more authority directly to the governor in appointing judges to vacancies on the bench statewide. The bill was opposed by many sitting judges including Supreme Court Chief Justice Mike McGrath who lobbied Gianforte to oppose the bill citing a concern, "it could have a major impact on judicial branch policy," he told the Montana State News Bureau earlier in the year.

The Montana Supreme Court upheld the law in June ruling the state's constitution does not explicitly call for an independent commission to appoint judges. The law's passage and legal challenge also touched off a legal battle between the Legislature and the judiciary surrounding the use of government funded email addresses to take polls of judges on laws presented in the legislature. The state's supreme court shot down a legislative subpoena for judicial emails saying the subpoena had no real legislative purpose. Most recently, the Legislature has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to intervene in the case after the Montana Supreme Court ruled the Legislature acted outside its authority when it subpoenaed judicial emails.

Twelve local leaders made up the advisory council for the 13th Judicial District. Among them were retired district judge Russ Fagg, Katie Weston with the state's probation and parole division, Moyra Anthony with Youth Dynamics and a number of other law enforcement, civic and legal leaders.

Im grateful to each member of the advisory council for giving their time to review and recommend a highly-qualified nominee from within their community to serve the people of Yellowstone County, Gianforte said.

Linneweber will take the bench in January of 2022. He told the Gazette he intends to file to run in the 2022 election to fill the seat for the remainder of the judge's term as soon as possible.

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Grant funding announced this week from a nationwide emissions settlement with Volkswagen will go toward installing new electric vehicle charging stations in Montana.

The Montana Department of Environmental Quality announced more than $1.1 million in awards paired with about $450,000 in matching funds that will put 27 new stations in 13 Montana counties. The stations are a mix of fast and longer charging stations, called Level 2 chargers. GBP Enterprises, Missoula Electric Cooperative, Town Pump and NorthWestern Energy submitted successful applications, which DEQ says will add key corridors with access places such as Glacier and Yellowstone national parks.

Proximity and availability of electric vehicle charging stations is a critical connection for visitors to small communities and for the support of restaurants and small businesses in key Montana tourism corridors, Scott Osterman, Montana Department of Commerce director, said in a statement. This network of charging stations opens up the opportunity for more exploration of the state, supporting local economies. We are excited to see the expansion of this infrastructure in Montana.

DEQ awarded funding for 19 stations last year.

The new stations will be located as follows:

GBP Enterprises, Gardiner: One fast-charging station at the Gardiner Travel Center.

Missoula Electric Cooperative, Seeley Lake: One fast-charging station and one Level 2 charger at the Seeley Lake Community Foundation.

NorthWestern Energy, Big Timber, Billings, Conrad, Deer Lodge, Dillon, Great Falls, Hamilton, Hardin and Helena: One fast-charging station and one Level 2 charger at a Town Pump in each community.

Town Pump, Eureka, Kalispell and Libby: One fast-charging station and one Level 2 charger at a Town Pump in each community.

Katy Guengerich, owner of the Gardiner Travel Center, said in an email that there has been increasing demand among tourist for electric vehicle charging stations.

"As a gateway community at the north entrance of Yellowstone National Park, we are very proud to offer electric charging stations to the over 4.4 million visitors as well as local community members, she said.

NorthWestern Energy and Town Pump have entered a partnership to increase charging stations, the companies said, with a total of 15 stations scheduled to come online across the state. The companies indicated consumer demand played a major role in the decision.

Throughout Town Pumps nearly 70 years of serving Montanans, we have understood the value of adapting and evolving to the needs of our customers, Jim Kenneally with Town Pump said in an email. If our customers are moving in this direction so will Town Pump,

NorthWestern Energy is investing in electric vehicle charging station infrastructure to aid in providing access to interested individuals and businesses and were pleased to partner with Town Pump, DEQ and others to make it happen, Danie Williams with NorthWestern said in an email, adding that the company plans to replace a portion of its own vehicle fleet with electric.

The funding comes from a multibillion-dollar settlement between the U.S. Department of Justice and Volkswagen. The company admitted to installing software on millions of cars worldwide that turned on pollution controls during testing to make it seem as if the cars met limits on nitrogen oxides, according to the Associated Press. Nitrogen oxides gases can contribute to asthma and respiratory diseases, according to DEQ.

States were awarded a portion of the funds based on the number of registered vehicles, totaling about $12.6 million for Montana.

In October, DEQ announced up to $7.3 million would be made available for replacement of diesel vehicles such as dump trucks and transit buses.

Tom Kuglin is the deputy editor for the Lee Newspapers State Bureau. His coverage focuses on outdoors, recreation and natural resources.

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The board of directors at Lee Enterprises on Thursday rejected a New York hedge fund's unsolicited offer to buy the company.

Lee Chairman Mary Junck said Alden Global Capital's $24-per-share offer grossly undervalued Lee and failed to recognize the strength of its business, especially its fast-growing digital news platform.

We remain confident in our ability to create significant value as an independent company," Junck said in a news release.

The rejection marks a significant setback for Alden, which is looking to make Lee the latest in a series of acquisitions intended to consolidate the newspaper industry.

Alden aimed for a speedy takeover after making its $141 million offer for Lee on Nov. 22. It noted that figure represented about a 30 percent premium, per share, over the previous day's market close, and said that with Lee's cooperation, it could have things wrapped up in "approximately four weeks."

But in the past three weeks, Lee shares have risen above $24, putting pressure on Alden to raise its offer.

Meanwhile, Lee's board voted to enact a "poison pill" plan that could dilute shares if Alden starts buying Lee stock. The board also rejected Alden's attempt to nominate three new board members, citing procedural issues. And newsroom unions began a campaign against the acquisition, noting Alden's reputation for steep cost cuts in the name of efficiency.

Then, Wednesday afternoon, one of the company's largest shareholders weighed in against the offer, calling it "clearly insufficient and opportunistic."

Lee owns daily newspapers, digital products and over 350 weekly and specialty publications serving 77 markets in 26 states.

In Montana, the company owns the Billings Gazette, Helena Independent Record, Missoulian, Montana Standard and Ravalli Republic. Other newspapers include the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, The Buffalo News, Omaha World-Herald, The Lincoln Journal Star, The Times of Northwest Indiana and Tulsa World.

Aldens titles include the Chicago Tribune and the Baltimore Sun, which it acquired this summer in its takeover of Tribune Publishing.

Austin Huguelet  314-788-1651 @ahuguelet on Twitter ahuguelet@post-dispatch.com

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COLUMBUS JUNCTION  This week, Tyson Foods announced it would give front-line and hourly team members approximately $50 million in year-end bonuses to thank employees for their efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic.

More than 80,000 Tyson team members are eligible for this bonus, including at the Columbus Junction facility, which employs approximately 1,100 workers.

According to a news release, these one-time bonuses would range from $300 to $700 per employee, based on tenure.

This is yet another way for us to say thank you and show how grateful we are for our front-line teams efforts to keep each other safe, our company strong and our world fed over the past year, Tyson President and Chief Executive Officer Donnie King said in the statement.

Throughout the latter half of 2021, Tyson Foods invested more than $500 million in wage increases and bonuses for front-line workers. This has boosted wages to an average hourly pay of more than $18.

The Columbus Junction plant reported a 100% vaccination rate among its active workforce earlier this fall. Each fully vaccinated front-line team member received $200.
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP)  Iowa State Auditor Rob Sand, who is considered a rising star in the Democratic Party, announced Tuesday he would run for re-election in 2022 and not for governor as some supporters had been urging.

Sand said in a video posted to his Twitter account that he would not challenge Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds, who is expected to run for re-election to a second full term.

The decision leaves Democrats without a candidate who has been elected to statewide office in the race for governor. State Rep. Ras Smith of Waterloo and Des Moines businesswoman and political organizer Deidre DeJear are among those running for the partys nomination in the June primary.

Iowa has trended sharply toward Republicans in recent years, and Reynolds is expected to be in a strong position to win re-election in November 2022.

Democrats had hoped that Sand, with his roots in the small town of Decorah, love of hunting and political brand that transcends party lines, could break their slump. Republican activists had taken note, accusing him of using his office to unfairly attack the Reynolds administration.
Craig Tamanaha, who was later charged with setting fire to a Christmas tree outside the Fox News headquarters, is detained by police after exposing himself outside the court at the trial of Ghislaine Maxwell in the Manhattan borough of New York City on Nov. 29, 2021.
Sen. Mike Braun, R-In., speaks during a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies hearing at the Dirksen Senate Office building in Washington, D.C. on June 9, 2021.
Editor

Zaldy Dandan is the recipient of the Best Editorial Writer Award of the Society of Professional Journalists, and the CNMI Humanities Award for Outstanding Contributions to Journalism. His four books are available on amazon.com
The 2022 World Inequality Report revealed that inequality in South Africa is now at its highest level since 1900 and is rapidly increasing.

The report presents the most up-to-date synthesis of international research efforts to track global inequalities.

The data and analysis presented here are based on the work of more than 100 researchers over four years.

The report reveals that in South Africa, the average national income of the adult population is PPP12,400 (R117,260).

While the bottom 50% of South Africans earns PPP1,300 (R12,340), the top 10% earns more than 60 times more (R780,300).

Today, the top 10% in South Africa earn more than 65% of total national income and the bottom 50% just 5.3% of the total, the report said.

Available estimates suggest that income inequality in South Africa has been extreme throughout the 20th and 21st centuries.

The top 10% income share oscillated between 50 and 65% in this period, whereas the bottom 50% of the population has never captured more than 5% to 10% of national income.

While democratic rights were extended to the totality of the population after the end of apartheid in 1991, extreme economic inequalities have been exacerbated.

The post-apartheid government has not implemented structural economic reforms to challenge the dual economy system.

The chart below shows the top 10% and bottom 50% income shares in South Africa between 1900 and 2021.

Economist Mike Schussler highlighted that the primary cause for South Africas high inequality is unemployment.

While many people, including the government, blame the pay gap in companies for inequality, this is misguided.

The major cause of inequality is not the pay gap, but rather the low number of people earning wage income, said Schussler.

Less than half of all working-age men in South Africa work. Part of the reason for this is skill levelsabout 61% of the labour force is unskilledand education must play a significant role in any solution.

He added that taking income away from the rich is not the solution to lower inequality. Instead, the solution is to increase the income of the poor.

Moving people from social grants to employment is the most effectiveand bestway to decrease inequality in South Africa.

We are more equal when we work, particularly when we have a formal sector job, said Schussler.
As an organization breaking gender barriers and encouraging fresh conversations in wine, it is important to the leaders of Batonnage to constantly be stirring the pot. And with Batonnage being the French word for stirring lees back into wine, it is safe to say the organization is well-attuned to the idea.

Established as a one-time, one-day forum back in 2017, Batonnage has grown far beyond the initial idea brought to life by founders Stevie Stacionis and Sarah Bray. What started as a way to connect women in wine to discuss the industrys gendered challenges has since grown into a community of badass people, a tradition of conversation-starting, and even a mentorship program.

However, after fielding proposals and applications for the 2022 and 2023 forums, Batonnage will be passing their baton-nage to a new leadership team in early January.

It was such an honor to be able to put our touch on the direction of the forum in 2020 and 2021, but it is with greater anticipation to pass the baton-nage and experience how another team expands on what the forum has covered in the past four years and put their own personal touch on this next iteration," said Rebecca Johnson, current forum orchestrator and partner of wine marketing firm O'Donnell Lane.

This initiative of 'passing the baton-nage' is a perfect illustration of what Batonnage stands for: community," said Johnson's co-leader and partner at O'Donnell, Katie Canfield.

"There is no community without collaboration, and I look forward not only to the fresh vision that the new orchestrators will bring, but also the strong network of people and resources that our organization can provide to ensure their success in leading the forum, she said.

In addition to the current leading ladies, the original forum founders are also looking forward to this new generation of their brainchild.

No matter how much I try to diversify my perspective and recruit other voices, I am one person with one perspective, said Stevie Stacionis, who co-owns the wine shop Bay Grape and initially founded Batonnage alongside Sarah Bray. I might hear and try to receive a lot from others, but I am still just me.

Even after passing on these forum duties, though, Stacionis, Bray, Canfield, and Johnson wont be completely stepping away from the organization, as these wine professionals and the rest of the Batonnage team are and always will be fiercely passionate about elevating other women in the industry.

Right now were preparing a whole diversity, equity, and inclusion training program that we will offer to our mentors, but also to the community at large, said Stacionis. We hope we can kind of set the tone and standard for the basics of DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) in the industry, and now we are trying to kind of rewrite our mission.

Batonnage also recently launched the third level of its mentorship program, partnering with Domaine Carneros to place a mentee within the Napa winery next year.

You cant just hire diverse people, and you certainly cant just hire diverse people and put them into a leadership position within an organization or an industry that has not celebrated that diversity and hasnt made it a safe place for them to be their own people, said Stacionis. You need to start way back a few chapters and build the building blocks culturally, organizationally, and industry-wide  The mentorship program is specifically designed for that, because we realize that the traditional notion of mentorship is like, Oh lets just hire a girl and put her into a role within an organization.

But first of all, youre only recruiting people that already know to be looking at you  What about all the people who dont even know that wine is a career?

Thus, with this multi-level mentorship program, Batonnage hopes to get some new faces in wine.

Were specifically working on targeting different colleges, universities and even high schools around the country, said Stacionis.

This need for fresh faces is a bit convoluted, though, especially following the recent sexual harassment allegations and resulting expulsion of multiple high-ranking Master Sommeliers  one of whom was actually the catalyst for the creation of Batonnage.

I worked for the Guild of Sommeliers, so that is a real minefield of emotions right now, said Stacionis. I feel really challenged right now because they helped shape my career a little bit  and it feels stickier because Batonnage literally stemmed out of a Guild of Sommeliers year-end podcast that was led by Geoff Kruth.

When working as a content creator for GuildSomm, Stacionis was able to start a lot of conversations surrounding the treatment of women in the wine industry, and during the aforementioned end-of-2016 podcast, unintentionally created the organization and appointed herself leader.

Each year on this podcast  of which Stacionis was a recurring guest  Kruth would ask what the panelists were hoping to get rid of when they rang in the New Year, as well as what they wanted to see happen. So, in the wake of the 2016 election, the onset of the MeToo movement, and while struggling with the miracle (yet traumatic) birth of her son, Stacionis went off.

She had just attended the Cherry Bombe Jubilee  a conference for women in food  and wanted to see something like that for wine.

He asked what do you want to see happen in the New Year, and I was like, you know, with all the sh*t that is happening with the election, with Me Too, with my own challenges, with talking to other women about what's going on, I really think it would be great if someone would create a daylong forum addressing the challenges and opportunities that women face in the wine industry and we can hash all of this out, recalls Stacionis.

Then I started getting emails and tweets and DMs ... I didnt think I was going to be the one to actually DO it, she said.

Alas, Stacionis and Brays friends banded together to put on that first Batonnage forum, like six months after I made the mistake of saying that on the podcast, she jokes.

Discomfort and guilt aside following Kruths resignation and the more recent expulsion of six other Court of Master Sommeliers members, Stacionis says she is still proud of a lot of this work that she did that led to the creation of Batonnage.

I still feel very proud of a lot of the content that we created and the way that we pushed the industry forward, and yet now theres this other dark side, she said. I had this horribly awkward spiral down of despair when the news came out  but Batonnage did open up the conversation and those conversations are now pushing forward in ways that are, I think, cutting edge.

You can reach Sam Jones at 707-256-2221 and sjones@napanews.com.

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Pacific Gas and Electric says it is performing enhanced vegetation management near power lines to prevent wildfires, but some Mount Veeder denizens say redwoods are being needlessly trimmed and cut down.

Redwoods survived millennia of climate change, wildfires and drought, Mt. Veeder property owner Tony McClimans said. But they have no natural defense from PG&Es chainsaw army.

Mount Veeder resident Richard Niemann said that, to him, the redwoods are sacred. He talked about the good things they do for the habitat, the water, biodiversity and carbon sequestration.

They (PG&E) would prefer to deforest Mount Veeder than to upgrade the grid and lose their profits, resident Daniel Binner said.

PG&E planned to do 27 line miles of enhanced vegetation work in Napa Countys high fire danger areas this year and had done 23 miles as of Nov. 21, utility officials said. The goal is to keep branches and trees from falling on power lines, possibly causing fires and outages.

We cut down dead, diseased, dying or defective trees, primarily in areas affected by the drought or bark beetle, said Anthony Walls of PG&E.

Enhanced vegetation work goes beyond minimum state safety requirements, said Daniel McBride of the utility. Among the factors considered when looking at trees is their health and whether they could hit power lines if they toppled.

Tree crews have looked at about 55,000 trees in Napa County this year as part of the program, McBride said. About 40,000 were healthy trees that required no mitigation to protect power lines.

Around 15,000 to 16,000, however, were mitigated due to results from this tree assessment, he said.

These two viewpoints came together at Tuesdays Napa County Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday. A dozen or so Mount Veeder residents attended, with PG&E officials appearing by Zoom.

Theres cutting happening right now that really needs to be explained, county Supervisor Ryan Gregory told PG&E officials.

All sides agreed that PG&E can do a better job communicating with property owners, some of whom might want to hire arborists for a second opinion. Utility officials said outreach would improve in 2022 and be proactive.

The Mount Veeder area is located a few miles west of the city of Napa. A century ago, it was known as Napa Redwoods and was home to several resorts.

Complaints about PG&E cutting down trees began by 2018, in the wake of the Nuns Fire that burned through the area the previous year. Some residents said that tree crews contracted by the utility were felling burned redwoods that residents thought could live.

The rape of the redwoods, Mount Veeder resident Gary Margadant called it at the time.

Now the enhanced vegetation management program has led to another round of complaints, and not only from Mount Veeder. Some residents in the Angwin area northeast of St. Helena are concerned about what PG&E-contracted tree crews are doing there.

I cannot leave my house for fear that I will be back and return and see these lovely oak woodlands and conifer forests that I look out on decimated, Elizabeth Huning told supervisors.

Gregory said something really needs to change. He asked PG&E to give property owners a dedicated contact they can call at a moments notice when they see something going wrong with the vegetation management program.

Theyre the best stewards of the area, in my view, Gregory said. Theyre the ones who should be able to keep an eye out for us.

He also asked that Napa County monitor these various cases.

That way, were a part of it, Gregory said. Were not just hoping it goes well, but were keeping tracks also.

Anthony Walls of PG&E asked the county for a list of the Mount Veeder residents present at the meeting so it can initiate a point of contact for them.

After the meeting, Mount Veeder resident Russ Wilsey said an undertaking as large as what PG&E is doing should have some oversight by Napa County. He also wants PG&E to suspend its enhanced vegetation management program until it has various protocols in place.

Im hoping the county will take this seriously and perform the stewardship they were elected to perform, Wilsey said.

Mount Veeder resident Russell Van Dewark considered after the meeting whether he thinks anything will change because of the session before the Board of Supervisors.

Well, I hope so, he said.

You can reach Barry Eberling at 256-2253 or beberling@napanews.com.

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Supply chain disruption's newest victim is mail delivery and with the U.S. Postal Service anticipating more than 12 billion holiday package deliveries alone, mail services are encouraging people to send their packages early this holiday season.

Lockdowns, labor shortages, and disruptions to logistics networks have all led to significant disruptions to global chains all while the U.S. continues to hit record high delivery wait times since 2020.

Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help. Subscribe today! Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Napa Valley Register.

According to USPS, the 2020 holiday season was a record-setting year for the postal service as 13 billion letters, cards, and packages were processed and delivered.

Meanwhile, the nation's busiest port complex, in California, is congested and announced it would impose fees on carriers  hopefully pushing shipments out of cargo and into circulation.

The twin ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles, which account for 40% of sea freight entering the U.S, will issue $100 a day fees per container left on the dock.

The fines, which were announced in a joint statement from both port directors on Oct. 25, have yet to be imposed. But since the announcement, the complex has seen a 37% decrease of lingering containers.

To prepare for the uptick of package deliveries, USPS started delivering packages on Sunday, beginning on Nov. 28, to locations with high package volumes  as the company anticipates 9.7 million Sunday deliveries through the holiday season.

Here's what you need to know about USPS, United Parcel Service, and FedEx holiday shipping deadlines:

2021 USPS holiday shipping deadlines

These are the recommended send-by dates for expected delivery before Dec. 25 to various locations:

CONTIGUOUS US

 USPS retail ground service  Dec. 15

 First-class mail services  Dec. 17

 Priority mail service  Dec. 18

 Priority mail express service  Dec. 23

ALASKA

 First-class and priority mail  Dec. 18

 Priority mail service  Dec. 18

 Priority mail express service  Dec. 21

HAWAII

 First-class mail service  Dec. 17

 Priority mail service  Dec. 17

 Priority mail express service  Dec. 21

INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING DEADLINES

AFRICA

 Global express guaranteed service  Dec. 20

ASIA/PACIFIC RIM

 Priority mail express international service  Dec. 13

 Global express guaranteed service  Dec. 20

AUSTRALIA/NEW ZEALAND

 Priority mail express international service  Dec. 13

 Global express guaranteed service  Dec. 20

CANADA

 Priority mail express international service  Dec. 13

 Global express guaranteed service  Dec. 22

CARIBBEAN

 Priority mail express international service  Dec.13

 Global express guaranteed service  Dec 21

CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA

 Global express guaranteed service  Dec 20

EUROPE

 Priority mail express international service  Dec.13

 Global express guaranteed service  Dec 21

MEXICO

 Priority mail express international service  Dec.13

 Global express guaranteed service  Dec 22

MIDDLE EAST

 Priority mail express international service  Dec.13

 Global express guaranteed service  Dec. 20

For USPS mail delivery deadlines for military mail visit the USPS' holiday shipping dates' page.

2021 UPS holiday shipping deadlines

 Normal pickup and delivery service  Dec. 20

 UPS three-day select  Dec. 21

 UPS second day air  Dec. 22

 UPS next day air (with a pickup plan)  Dec. 23

For ground shipping, UPS suggests checking your nearest location for details. For all international deliveries or to see the complete list of UPS shipping options, visit the UPS holiday shipping recommendations.

2021 FedEx holiday shipping deadlines

The FedEx economy shipping option's deadline is Dec. 9, while most of their ground and freight options require you to drop off the package by Dec. 15.

You can use FedEx's same-day service and push the deadline back anywhere from Dec. 21 to Christmas Eve.

International shipping deadlines vary, see the full list of deadlines on the FedEx 2021 holiday shipping deadline page.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Protesters try to break into residence of Kazakhstan's president

Baghdad military base hit by missile attack

Armenian traces destroyed in occupied Shushi

Prosecutor's office building is on fire: State of emergency in Almaty

Azerbaijan declares 2022 year of occupied Armenian city of Shushi

Justice minister not commenting on arresting Armenian captives returned from Azerbaijan

Yerevan homeless shelter residents picketing in front of Armenia labor, social affairs ministry

Hong Kong imposes ban on flights from 8 countries due to COVID-19

Protesters in Almaty riot hospitals and clinics

PM: I have hard time imagining how Omicron variant cannot enter Armenia

7 new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

Armenia cargo transportation via railway drops but passengers increase in 2021

Government hands over Zangezur Copper and Molybdenum Combine certified rights with 15% Armenia-owned shares

Borrell says EU cannot be a neutral spectator in talks with Russia

Armenian PM urges to throw plastic bags out of life

Oil prices stabilize after jump

Premier recalls that anti-tobacco law has entered into force in Armenia as of January 1

129 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Kazakhstan President accepts governments resignation

Armenia State Property Management Committee dismissed

Armenia PM: We are entering 2022 with quite serious start to reforms

New council of Armenias Parakar convenes first session, village mayor election on agenda

New York prosecutor drops sex crime case against ex-governor Cuomo

England, Wales to make taking pictures of breastfeeding mothers in public illegal

Paraguay presidential guard dies after being impaled by deer while on duty

Flights delayed at Kazakhstan's Aktau airport as rallies continue

NATO foreign ministers to hold videoconference ahead of meeting with Russia

Ford to double production capacity for electric version of F-150 pickup

Oil prices rise by 1%

Borrell not to discuss Nord Stream 2 during Ukraine visit

Mercedes-Benz presents new electric car Vision EQXX

Kazakh authorities to satisfy protesters' demands for lower gas prices

Flooding in Iran: at least 8 people killed

Turkish lira drops for another 4%

Taliban army to be reinforced with suicide bombers

Doctors reveal details of Brazil presidents health condition

NATO head plans special meeting with Russia amid Ukraine crisis

Russian peacekeepers ensure safe entry to Karabakh for about 2,000 vehicles

Wave of protests against COVID-19 measures across Germany

Karabakh President holds new years first working consultation with law enforcement agencies heads

Coronavirus vaccines in Armenia are complemented with another one

Armenia soldier remanded in custody for inflicting fatal gunshot wound to fellow serviceman

Gas futures price in Europe exceed $ 1,000

US holds virtual inauguration ceremony for COVID-19-infected mayor

US court forbids Pentagon to punish military personnel refusing vaccinations

Armenia PM: We need to open new strategic page for transformation of customs service

Armenia ambassador delivers lecture for U.S. Naval War College students

5-month-old baby dies in Yerevan hospital

Armenias Vardenis town hall chief of staff signs mayor-elect inauguration session minutes

Georgia to not attend 2nd 3+3-format meeting in Turkey either, its ambassador says

Turkey airline applies for conducting flights between Istanbul and Yerevan

China urges Russia and US to continue reducing nuclear arsenals

Person, 58, dies in fire in Armenias Hrazdan

Blinken and Cavusoglu discuss relations with Armenia

Armenia law enforcement not permitting reporters to enter Vardenis town hall building

Mayor-elect of Armenias Vardenis takes oath of office at town hall courtyard

Canada court awards $ 107 million to families of passengers killed in Iran plane crash

Armenia police not allowing newly elected council members to enter Vardenis town hall building

90 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Israel photographer captures remarkable momentary image of flock of birds

Trump slams Twitter, Facebook over Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Green account banning

India investigating fake website that purportedly offered Muslim women for sale

Taliban dump 3,000 liters of alcohol into canal in booze crackdown in Afghanistan

Mauritius airport staff find newborn baby in plane toilet bin

Mexico president says he sought Assange pardon from Trump

Military helicopter crashes in Israel: two pilots die

New mayors inauguration to be held in Armenias Vardenis, there are large number of police officers

Armenia soldier dies from gunshot wound

Biden returns from holiday break to D.C. amid snowstorm

Turkey announces meeting with US on supply of F-35s

Brazil President hospitalized after stomach pains

Russia, China, UK, US, France state need to prevent nuclear war

Armenia ex-premier: Opening of regional communications will not give much to our economy

Embassy in Armenia: France will continue to work for establishment of peace, stability in region

Armenia ex-PM: Average annual growth is only 2.4% under premier Pashinyan

Iran Airtour flights between Tehran and Yerevan kick off

President Raisi reaffirms Iran support for Armenia sovereignty over its territories, roads

Turkey has absolute record in terms of exports, Erdogan says

Twitter permanently blocks US congresswoman's account for Covid misinformation

4 more persons die of coronavirus in Artsakh

Iran urges UN Security Council to hold US, Israel accountable for General Soleimani assassination

World oil prices going up

Armenia PM, Iran President discuss ongoing regional processes

Biden tells Zelenskyy about responding decisively if Russia further invades Ukraine

5 soldiers killed after terrorists attack military bus in Syria

Iranians suffer food poisoning in Yerevan

Yerevan homeless shelter residents protesting outside labor and social affairs ministry

29 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

1,660,256 people so far vaccinated in Armenia against coronavirus

Sudan PM resigns after mass protests

Armenia embassy in Greece taking all possible steps to resolve Sevan Nisanyans issue

Pentagon chief tests positive for Covid

Prince Andrew to be stripped of 'dukes' title due to sexual assault lawsuit?

Norway announces risk of new crime by Anders Breivik

Triplets born on January 1 in Yerevan

Azerbaijan soldier wounded after stepping on land mine in Artsakhs Karvachar

UK expects outages in coming weeks due to omicron strain

Armenian physicists develop compact, non-invasive and easy-to-use breathing apparatus

27 new cases of COVID-19 reported in Armenia: 2 citizens die

Nearly 1,000 buildings destroyed and three people missing in a Colorado wildfire
YEREVAN.  Starting from December, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Delegation in Armenia, in cooperation with the Armenian Red Cross Society (ARCS), has launched cash distribution in 30 border communities of Syunik and Gegharkunik regions of Armenia, the ICRC informed Armenian News-NEWS.am.

The program is worth one million US dollars and covers around 6,500 people, or all the households in the communities. Each household will receive 280,000 Armenian drams as a one-time cash assistance to cover for urgent winter needs, such as costs for heating and cattle fodder. The cash will be distributed during December through branches of a local bank.

The cash distribution program involved a prior needs assessment, carried out in coordination with the local authorities. The ICRC and ARCS teams registered the households residing in the communities, including those displaced following the last years Nagorno-Karabakh [(Artsakh)] conflict escalation.

The impact of the hostilities on peoples lives and livelihoods is particularly felt in these areas, says Aslan Bzhikhatlov, ICRC economic security coordinator. Whether it is for the reduction of access to pastures and land or feeling of insecurity and uncertainty for the future, we strive to listen to the affected communities and adapt our humanitarian response to their needs.

The ICRC is a neutral, impartial and independent humanitarian organization whose exclusively humanitarian mission is to protect the lives and dignity of victims of armed conflict and other situations of violence. The organization has been working in the region in connection with the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict since 1992.
I have filed a lawsuit against deputy of the opposition Armenia Faction of the National Assembly of Armenia Aregnaz Manukyan. This is what Speaker of the National Assembly of Armenia Alen Simonyan declared during todays discussion on the package of bills on making amendments to the Criminal Code and related laws.

The parliamentary speaker slammed Manukyan for making false allegations. A little while ago, I filed a lawsuit against Aregnaz Manukyan with regard to false allegations. Over the past three months, Manukyan has made four groundless allegations against me, Simonyan said.

According to Simonyan, the deputy will have to be held liable in court. Simonyan expressed certainty that the court will oblige her to apologize.

Earlier, Manukyan had accused Simonyan of getting rich at the expense of the state budget. According to Manukyan, Simonyan is getting rich through Euroasphalt Company, which always wins the state tenders for road construction. Alen Simonyans brother holds the position of director of this company.
Today, on the occasion of International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide and the Prevention of this Crime, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Armen Ghevondyan, General Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Boris Sahakyan and other officials paid their tribute to the innocent victims of the Armenian Genocide, the Holocaust and the genocides of the Assyrians and Yazidis.

Reference: On September 11, 2015, during the 69th Session, the United Nations General Assembly unanimously adopted Resolution 69/323, by which December 9th was declared the International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide and the Prevention of this Crime.
Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan received the Secretary General of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) Jagan Chapagain.

The Prime Minister highlighted the ongoing active cooperation with the IFRC in resolving a range of humanitarian issues. Nikol Pashinyan, in particular, stressed the fact of a number of humanitarian problems caused by the 44-day war against Artsakh and the need for active involvement of the International Federation of the Red Cross for their settlement. The head of government added that following the war and up till now, Azerbaijan continues to fail to fulfill its obligations under the November 9, 2020 statement, and stressed the importance of the adequate reaction from international organizations for ensuring return of Armenian prisoners of war, hostages and other detainees.

The Secretary General of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies Jagan Chapagain noted that effective and close cooperation has been established with the Government of the Republic of Armenia and added that the Federation will continue its active efforts aimed at contributing to the solution of various humanitarian issues.

Issues related to the humanitarian programs implemented by the Federation in Armenia were also discussed during the meeting.
The National Assembly (NA) of Armenia, represented by the MPs of the ruling majority "Civil Contract" Faction, on Thursday did not approve the amendments to the law on criminalizing severe insults.

In particular, it is about a package of bills on amendments to the Criminal Code and related laws.

A total of 28 MPs voted in favor of, whereas 57 othersagainst these amendments.

Opposition "Armenia" and "With Honor" Factions voted "for" decriminalization of severe insults.

Earlier, the NA had passed a law on criminalizing obscene words, and, accordingly, Article 137.1 on "severe insult" was added to the Criminal Code. Severe insult, according to the law, shall be punishable with a fine of 100 to 500 thousand drams. If the insult was public or expressed on the Internet or due to the public activities of a specific person, the fine shall be from 500 thousand to 1 million drams. And in case of insulting a specific person on a regular basis, a fine in the amount of 1 to 3 million drams or detention for a period of 1 to 3 months shall be imposed.
Armenian President Armen Sarkissian, who is in Qatar on a working visit, met with the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

The Emir of Qatar lauded the atmosphere of mutual trust and constructive dialogue between Armenia and Qatar.

President Sarkissian noted that Armenia is interested in deepening cooperation with the Gulf countries, and in that context, Qatar is one of Armenia's important partners.

Also, the President provided information on the situation in Armenia and its the current challenges, in particular, on humanitarian issues.

The President of Armenia and the Emir of Qatar stressed the great potential for cooperation between the two friendly countries, as well as the mutual readiness to expand and strengthen their relations. They reflected also on the agreements reached during their previous meetings, the implementation of which, however, had slowed down due to the coronavirus pandemic and the Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) war last year, and stressed the need to implement them as quickly as possible.

President Sarkissian said that Armenia aspires to become a leader in high tech and innovations, adding that the country has great investment opportunities in various domains.

The President of Armenia and the Emir of Qatar touched upon regional issues, too.
Residents of Vardenis have shut down the Martuni-Vardenis road in support of Aram Harutyunyan (top candidate on the list of the United Vardenis Alliance) and are presenting their demands.

After the local self-government elections held in Vardenis when the Aharon Khachatryan and United Vardenis Alliances issued a statement on the formation of a coalition, the Investigative Committee of Sevan summoned Aram Harutyunyan (the first candidate on the list of the United Vardenis Alliance) to an interview and detained him.

Member of the United Vardenis Alliance Davit Shahnazaryan told Armenian News-NEWS.am that the residents have been keeping the road shut down and demanding the immediate release of Aram Harutyunyan for over two hours.

The residents are also demanding a meeting with the Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure, the regional governor and deputy of the National Assembly Hayk Sargsyan. They are demanding a meeting with the latter since he recently made a statement stating that the picture in Vardenis needs to essentially change during the elections, he said.

During the local self-government elections in Vardenis, the Aharon Khachatryan Alliance garnered 16.51% of the votes, while United Vardenis Alliance garnered 37.76% of the votes. Civil Contract Party, which garnered 46.11% of the votes after the elections and the proportional electoral list was headed by incumbent Mayor of Vardenis Aram Melkonyan, failed to form a local government.
The three deputies of the opposition Armenia Alliances parliamentary faction will be released. This is stated in the statement issued by Armenia Alliance.

A little while ago, the Constitutional Court of Armenia promulgated its decision on the deputies parliamentary immunity.

In essence, the Constitutional Court recorded the fact that a person without the status of deputy who is imprisoned may not be imprisoned right from the moment he or she obtains the status of deputy.

Following this decision of the Constitutional Court, the detention pre-trial measure against our three colleagues, including Armen Charchyan, Mkhitar Zakaryan and Artur Sargsyan, needs to be changed, and they need to be released, the statement reads.
On December 9, the Armenian-French Task Force for Economic Cooperation held its first joint session in Paris, the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia reports.

At the event, the Armenian delegation was headed by Foreign Minister of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan, and the French delegation was headed by Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs of France Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne.

In his speech, Mirzoyan expressed gratitude to Secretary of State Lemoyne for the cordial reception and for helping organize fruitful discussions and emphasized that it is necessary to make goal-oriented efforts to implement the agreements of the leaderships of both countries for marked intensification of economic ties which will correspond to the level of the special relations between Armenia and France.

During the discussions, both parties attached importance to the diversification of the Armenian-French trade and economic ties, the need to enrich the cooperation with new economic projects and the intensification of reciprocal investments. The interlocutors also mentioned the need for intensification of contacts between French and Armenian business circles, particularly through reciprocal visits of delegations and organizing of economic events. They also highlighted the current activities of the French Development Agency in Armenia and attached importance to the implementation of new programs.

During the session, Minister Mirzoyan and Secetary of State Lemoyne signed the 2021-26 Roadmap for Armenian-French Economic Cooperation, the main goal of which is to create a strategy for bilateral economic programs and establish the framework for cooperation for the next five years, covering the sectors of infrastructure, urban development, energy, agriculture, tourism, innovation and high technology, as well as healthcare and other prospective sectors.
During the military exercises in 2021, the Russian Aerospace Forces took into consideration the practice of using reconnaissance and strike UAVs during the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Commander of the Special Air and Missile Defense Army of the Russian Aerospace Forces, Lieutenant General Andrey Demin declared.

The air defense military units are organizing combat readiness through planned military exercises and improving it during drills with air defense formations and military units. The practice in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict where reconnaissance and strike UAVs were massively used for the first time, was taken into consideration, he said in an interview with Nezavisimoe Voennoe Obozrenie weekly.

In addition, the special focus was on the preparation of troops for countering unmanned aerial vehicles, taking into consideration the practice in the armed conflicts in Syria and Armenia, Demin emphasized.
YEREVAN.  Past daily of Armenia writes: Last Saturday [PM] Nikol Pashinyan took part in the regular sitting of the Consultative Assembly on Cooperation with Extra-Parliamentary Political Forces. Let us note that solely the political forces which are looking for every possible opportunity to collaborate with Pashinyan are participating in these sittings.

According to Past newspapers information, despite the quite full agenda, the main axis of Saturday's meeting was on matters in connection with [Armenia-Azerbaijan border] delimitation and demarcation. According to our source, Pashinyan asked the political forces participating in the meeting for political and propaganda support in connection with the developments that are expected in the near future. In his speech, he detailed that he needs supportincluding on social platforms, tooamid the delimitation process and the possible unblocking of [regional] roads.
Hong Kong reports seven imported Covid cases

Authorities have banned Air India passenger flights from Delhi for two weeks. Image: Shutterstock

Health authorities on Thursday reported seven new imported Covid infections.



One of them is a 39-year-old man who travelled to Denmark on November 22, and spent time in Germany before returning on Sunday via the United Kingdom.



The man first tested positive during quarantine at a designated hotel on Tuesday.



Authorities have issued compulsory testing orders for places he visited during his incubation period. He lives in a house on Shouson Hill Road.



Another confirmed case involves a 39-year-old man who lives in Po Shan Mansion in Taikoo Shing and returned from the Czech Republic via Germany on November 29.



He last went to work at the Hong Kong Ocean Park Marriott Hotel on November 17, and left for the Czech Republic on November 20.



The patient tested positive on Tuesday during quarantine at a designated hotel, and places he visited during his incubation period were issued with compulsory testing orders.



Five other patients flew in from the US, the UK, Thailand, Pakistan and the Philippines.



Authorities also say they are banning Air India's passenger flights from Delhi for two weeks until December 22, after one of the airline's passengers was confirmed to have Covid-19 on Sunday and another breached infection control rules.
US 'best place' to hide illicit funds: Yellen

US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has said there is a good argument that the best place to hide and launder ill-gotten gains is the United States. File photo: AP

While small countries are often perceived as major havens for hiding or laundering money, "enormous amounts of illicit funds" end up in the US financial system, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said on Thursday.



"There's a good argument that, right now, the best place to hide and launder ill-gotten gains is actually the United States," Yellen said in a speech to the Summit on Democracy.



Switzerland or the Cayman Islands have long been the focuses of regulators looking to find hidden cash.



But Yellen challenged the view that the proceeds of corruption or illegal activity are sent only to those "countries with histories of loose and secretive financial laws," saying they are instead likely to "pass through  or land  in our markets".



Yellen highlighted the anti-corruption strategy President Joe Biden's administration rolled out this week, including proposed rules to uncover the owners of shell companies and real estate.



"There are far too many financial shadows in America that give corruption cover. We need to throw a spotlight on them," she said.



She noted that some US states allow for the creation of shell companies without disclosing who really owns them.



The Treasury this week proposed rules under the Corporate Transparency Act approved by Congress last year that will create a database of the "beneficial" owners of most of these companies. The information will be available to law enforcement and tax collectors.



Similar rules will apply to real estate transactions, "because many corrupt actors can hide their money in Miami or Central Park skyscrapers" which Yellen called "money laundromats on the 81st floor".



This "financial alchemy... makes a mockery of our free and fair institutions," she added. (AFP)
EU member states agree to take in 40,000 Afghans

The UNHCR has warned that 85,000 Afghans that are living in vulnerable situations outside the EU need resettlement. File photo: AFP

A group of 15 EU member states have agreed to take in 40,000 Afghans for resettlement, Commissioner Ylva Johansson said on Thursday after meeting interior ministers.



Germany will accept the bulk of the new arrivals, with 25,000, with the Netherlands accepting 3,159, Spain and France 2,500, and other countries lower numbers, according to a document seen by AFP.



"And I think this is an impressive act of solidarity," Johansson said, arguing that allowing more Afghans to migrate in a controlled way would help prevent "irregular arrivals".



The UN High Commissioner for Refugees had previously urged the bloc to accept 42,500 Afghans over five years, but some of the 27 member countries had resisted.



There are an estimated 85,000 Afghans who have fled their homeland into countries nearer the EU, and the Taliban's seizure of Kabul coupled with a fierce drought could trigger new flows.



During the aftermath of the chaotic US military withdrawal and the return of the Taliban regime, in August, 24 EU states have already taken in 28,000 evacuees.



But UNHCR chief Filippo Grandi has warned that 85,000 Afghans that are living in vulnerable situations outside the bloc need resettlement, and has urged Europe to take half.



Johannson had previously described this goal as "doable" but she still had to persuade member state governments, only confirming the figure after the meeting on Thursday.



The 40,000 Afghans are part of a larger 60,000 package of resettlements and humanitarian admissions pledged by member states, according to the document seen by AFP.



In the larger global envelope, France and Sweden make bigger pledges of 5,000 and 4,200 resettlements, but these will not necessarily be Afghans. Belgium promised places for 425 Afghans and 1,250 others.



EU officials were not immediately able to give a time scale for the new arrivals. (AFP)
The security forces launched the operations in Sheikh Musri and Siasang localities of Surkhrod district on Tuesday night, Xinhua news agency reported.

A number of arms have also been seized from the possessions of the arrested, the official added.

Without providing more details, the official added that no civilians had been hurt during the operations.

The arrests came after the shooting on a checkpoint by unidentified gunmen in Jalalabad city, the capital of Nangarhar province, on Monday night that left three dead and injured another.

Daesh, or the Islamic State group, which had claimed responsibility for some terrorist attacks over the past couple of months in Nangarhar province, is yet to make comment on the report.

--IANS int/sks

( 153 Words)

2021-12-08-22:26:44 (IANS)
Buddhist leaders who conducted the final rites of Priyantha Kumara Diyabalana, a Sri Lankan factory manager who was lynched by a mob in Pakistan's Sialkot recently, said on Wednesday that the incident is a black mark on Pakistan and its leaders must learn a strong lesson from it. Ven. Bengamuwe Nalaka, the Buddhist prelate who conducted the religious rites on Wednesday evening, said that the entire world condemned the heinous crime. "The leaders of Pakistan must take stern action to guide their people on the right direction," the monk urged. "Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has already admitted that the gruesome murder is a black mark on his country," he said, while demanding that Sri Lankan leaders should ensure protection of their people when they go to work in other countries. The final rites of Priyantha Kumara (48), a father of two, was conducted at his home town in Ganemulla, around 30 km from Colombo. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Prime Minster Mahinda Rajapaksa and heads of different religious bodies, including Buddhists and Christians, had sent condolence messages to be read at the final rites. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka's Public Security Minister Sarath Weerasekara has demanded a public apology from Pakistan Defence Minister Pervez Khattak, who reportedly made an insensitive remark defending the murder of Kumara, saying that "murders take place when young people get emotional". Weerasekara, who retired as a Rear Admiral, said, "If Pakistan's Defence Minister has said something to that effect, he must immediately withdraw his statement and make an apology to Sri Lankan people." Khattak also allegedly said that the murder should not be linked to the government's decision to lift the ban on the hardline Islamist outfit, Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP). On Wednesday, the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL), representing over 21,000 lawyers and judges, urged the Pakistan government and its law enforcement agencies "to ensure an impartial and thorough" investigation into the murder of Kumara. Writing to Imran Khan, the BASL demanded that toughest action should be taken against those responsible for the heinous crime and to ensure the rights of the aggrieved party. The international community too condemned the murder of Kumara on December 3, while global rights body Amnesty International stressed that it was deeply alarmed by the incident and demanded Pakistan to "conduct an independent, impartial and prompt investigation and hold the perpetrators accountable". Responding to the murder, Imran Khan had called it a "horrific vigilante attack" describing it as a "day of shame" for Pakistan. The police in Pakistan have said that over 120 suspects, including the most-wanted suspect Imtiaz alias Billi, have been arrested. --IANS sfl/arm ( 452 Words) 2021-12-08-23:18:21 (IANS)
In a statement, the Nepal Army expressed its condolences over the death of Rawat, who was also also Nepal's Honorary Chief of the Army Staff, his wife Madulika and the 11 other military personnel.

General Prabhu Ram Sharma, Chief of Army Staff in the Nepal Army, offered his condolences to the Indian Army and General Rawat's family by phone and a letter on Wednesday evening, said the statement.

General Sharma said was shocked by the tragic incident and the irreparable loss to the Indian Army as well as the loss of a true friend to the Nepal Army.

General Rawat was conferred with the honorary title of Nepal Army by President Bidhya Devi Bhandari on March 29, 2017.

In 2018, he visited Kathmandu as the Chief Guest for Nepal Army Day.

Senior Nepal Army General Bal Krishna Karki is slated to attend Rawat's last rites in New Delhi.

Hailing from Uttarakhand, General Rawat used to speak the Nepali language very fluently.

--IANS ag/ksk/

( 215 Words)

2021-12-09-13:52:23 (IANS)
Pakistan has decided to skip the summit on democracy to be convened by US President Joe Biden on Thursday and Friday, The Express Tribune reported. The Biden administration has invited leaders from over 100 countries and Pakistan was among the four South Asian nations besides India, Maldives and Nepal to receive an invite. China and Russia were excluded, while Taiwan was extended an invitation, drawing a strong reaction from Beijing. Islamabad's move is seen as a clear snub to the White House that could entail serious implications for the already strained relations between the two countries, The Express Tribune report said. It is understood that multiple factors have played their part as is obvious from the fact that it took Pakistan days of consultations before finally deciding not to attend the summit. Initially, Pakistan was thought to be part of Biden's initiative at the ministerial level but it decided to skip the summit altogether because of a variety of reasons. One of the reasons includes the exclusion of China from the summit. The overall state of relations between the two countries is another major factor, compelling Islamabad to stay away from the summit, the report said. It is believed that President Biden's move to continue to ignore Prime Minister Imran Khan also made it difficult for Islamabad to attend the summit on democracy. President Biden is yet to speak to the Prime Minister directly since taking over the White House earlier this year. But his invitation to Pakistan was seen as ice breaker. It was not clear if China had anything to do with Pakistan's decision, but official sources confirmed that Islamabad did consult Beijing on the issue, the report said. The move by Pakistan to stay away from the summit indicates the nature of current relations between Islamabad and Washington. During last month's briefing to the lawmakers on Afghanistan, it was informed that the ties between Pakistan and the US were at the lowest ebb. Pakistan also fears that the US may resort to some punitive action as the Treasury Department announced ahead of the summit that Washington would impose sanctions on people undermining democracy and also penalise countries having poor human rights record. --IANS san/ksk/ ( 381 Words) 2021-12-09-15:00:22 (IANS)
According to the latest regulations, limited categories of visitors are now allowed to enter Greece, including:

1) Citizens of the EU & Schengen Area countries.

2) Residents of a limited number of third countries, including residents of India.

Expressing their joy on the re-opening of Greece to tourists from India after approximately 21 months, DuDigital Global and GVCW, which jointly operate the Visa Application centres in India, Nepal and Sri Lanka state, "You can now apply for short stay visa (C- Visa category) at GVCW application centres in New Delhi and Mumbai on Mondays and Wednesdays."

New Delhi Visa Application Centre: Shivaji Stadium Metro Station, Concourse Level Baba Kharak Singh Marg, Connaught Place

Mumbai Visa Application Centre: 4th Floor, Urmi Axis Building, Behind Famous Studio, Opp. E. Moses Road, Mahalaxmi (West)

Additionally, Indian citizens and residents can also submit their visa applications as per the standard procedures outlined on the website:https://in-gr.gvcworld.eu/en

Please visit the following link for the complete protocol of arrivals to & departure from Greece: https://travel.gov.gr/#/

This story is provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/PNN)
New Delhi [India], December 9 (ANI/ATK): In what could be described only as a game-changing, strategic development in the steel industry of the country, American Precoat Specialty Pvt. Ltd. has set up its continuous Electro-Galvanized Steel plant in India at Valsad, Gujarat. What makes the move all the more alluring for the Indian automobile industry is that the plant is developing and manufacturing automotive-grade EG Steel. It is the first of its kind from the company in India, an economy that spends millions of dollars every year importing EG Steel from suppliers such as South Korea, China, and Taiwan to meet the requirements of its local automobile industries. American Precoat ensures that the market's need for the automotive-grade EG Steel will be met with a focus on the idea of 'Vocal for Local'. Speaking to our special correspondent, Dr Shubh Gautam, the Promoter and Chief Technical Architect of American Precoat Specialty, said, "American Precoat makes an absolute substitute of the imported steel and stands tall with its head held high as a landmark to refrain our nation's exchequer to be loaded with millions of dollars, to import the EG still from outside the territory of our country." He also spoke about the need to make the steel industry in India self-sufficient. "What we are doing is a mass example to promote the idea of 'Make in India", he added. What Shubh Gautam brings with him is a long-term vision for the country's automobile manufacturing industry, which even now depends on steel imports. With American Precoat's EG Steel plant in India, Gautam aims to change that for good. A multi-faceted entity, American Precoat serves customers around the globe with products ranging from special steel, polymer blend alloys coil coatings, to specialty coatings among a gamut of other products. For more information, log on to: https://americanprecoat.com/ This story is provided by ATK. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/ATK)
Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], December 9 (ANI/PRNewswire): MOBtexting, the Communications Platform as a Service (CPaaS) specialist, today announces it has agreed to be acquired by BICS Singapore, a 100 percent subsidiary of the international communications enabler BICS, for an undisclosed amount. With the deal, MOBtexting will substantially enhance its current offering by capitalizing on BICS' global telecommunications footprint and services. At the same time, the acquisition will accelerate BICS' strategy to become a communications platform company, incorporating MOBtexting's suite of cloud-based omnichannel communications services and its platform into BICS' value proposition. MOBtexting will continue to evolve its wide range of cloud-native communications solutions, including AI-enabled voice, multi-channel messaging and advanced analytics services. MOBtexting's technology will augment BICS' API-based communications and leverage its vast cloud numbers reach in more than 200 countries, combined with its industry leading SIP-Trunking, and high-quality global voice and messaging coverage. "By joining the BICS Group, we can develop new use cases which build on our respective strengths, allowing us to seize new growth opportunities as companies around the world accelerate their digital transformation strategies," said Ajay Gupta, MOBtexting Co-Founder & CEO. "Being based in Asia, we have a competitive advantage to deliver these services in a large and digitally-driven market, while leveraging BICS' global footprint to serve as a differentiator." Serving over 500 customers and carrying more than three billion messages each year, MOBtexting was recognized as a Deloitte Tech Fast company for India and APAC in 2019, for combining technological innovation, entrepreneurship, and rapid growth. Brijesh Kashyap, Co-Founder & Managing Director of MOBtexting commented: "Our passion is helping businesses achieve unified communications through multichannel customer centricity. In joining hands with BICS, we will be able to service our customers in more meaningful ways, with trusted global reach and services." The move signals an important value proposition towards both the telecommunications and enterprise markets, with the ambition to provide new Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solutions to support businesses in their digital transformation. Powered by a state-of-the-art public cloud-based communications platform, the deal will empower businesses to easily build and configure a full suite of digital communication services to engage their customers and enhance the customer experience. "This acquisition fast-tracks BICS' vision to become an integrated communications platform company, combining our global reach with software-based applications for a seamless user experience. With these new capabilities, we can offer our customers around the world a broader set of tools to quickly and more effectively engage their customers, objects and applications through the power of digital communications," explained Matteo Gatta, BICS Group CEO. Co-Founder and CTO at MOBtexting, Sankar Suda, added, "Together with BICS, we will expand the R&D center in India and build state-of-the-art software centric solutions to enable our customers with enhanced tools and capabilities." BICS' Cloud Communications portfolio serves three distinct digital use cases: customer engagement, customer support and collaboration. According to IDC, global market revenue for CPaaS reached USD 5.9bn in 2020 and is expected to reach USD 17.71bn by 2024. The Synergy Research Group reported APAC as the fastest growing CPaaS market in the world, registering 55 percent year-over-year growth in Q2 2021. The deal is subject to customary closing conditions. This story is provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/PRNewswire)
Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], December 9 (ANI/NewsVoir): India's first and largest social investment platform StockGro launched one of the biggest stock simulation challenges called, ASPIRE, to help students learn about trading and investing in the right way. ASPIRE allowed students to experience real-time trading and not just upskill themselves but also harbour the potential to become successful investment professionals. The event was a one of its kind invitation for aspiring Fund Managers, Financial Analysts and Wealth Managers from premier B-Schools, BBA and B.Com colleges across India to showcase their expertise in the domain of Portfolio Management, Investment Banking & Corporate Finance. It gave a stage to the bright minds and allowed them to build the best equity portfolios. The performance of the students was assessed by a panel of esteemed judges from banking & finance industries. With over 5,000 students participating from 2500 teams, the competition created a buzz in India's premier institutes. Around 100 colleges participated in the contest and the platform got 18 finalists at the end. Over 300 teams won cash rewards & goodies collectively worth Rs. 5 Lakh. The jurors analysed the work of the finalists on parameters like strategy, analytical & problem-solving skills, real-time implementation, and portfolio diversity. The event was concluded in three stages. In the Grand Finale, three winning teams consisting six winners, were rewarded with Rs. 1,00,000/- prize money. The winner got a prize amount of 50K, whereas the runner up and 2nd runner up were facilitated with an amount of 30K and 20K respectively. Other than this, 7 students from IIM Nagpur, IIM Kashipur, IIM Bangalore & DMS Delhi got Pre-placement Interviews (PPI) offers from Bace Capital & Roots Ventures. This offer provides the winners an edge to progress directly to pre-placement interviews & skip the screening queue. Speaking on the development, Ajay Lakhotia, Founder, StockGro said, "The objective behind launching this informative series is to make students aware of trading related market analysis. In today's time, there are a lot of myths around the stock market. People usually don't have the right set of knowledge. Hence, we decided to build investment literacy, and therefore we started the initiative with the students as it is quite important for them to learn about the industry dynamics. There are times when an individual wants to invest in the finance market, but the nitty-gritty of a highly volatile capital market often puts them off. During such testing times, we want to educate students and burst their myths concerning the trading and investing market." This event provided young minds who want to build a career in the financial markets with the opportunity to create the best equity portfolio and be reviewed by the panel. The StockGro app was launched on Google Play Store last December and till now crossed more than five million user mark in just a span of 15 months. StockGro is India's first social investment platform that empowers users to hone their investing & trading skills. Beginner to expert level users from all walks of life compete by using compelling strategies in real-time stock market leagues. With users being awarded virtual cash on sign-up, StockGro epitomizes risk-free learning. It further incentivizes the process by rewarding users with cash prizes for building winning portfolios. Discussions on a wide array of topics from personal finance to macroeconomics thrive on the platform. Experts share their views on the app's social chat groups and users to exchange their learnings. StockGro enables users to track their friends and other experts' portfolios, thereby facilitating a peer-learning experience. The StockGyan section on the app takes this learning a notch higher with byte-sized content on interesting financial topics ranging from cryptocurrencies to technical analysis. The app also provides real-time market updates and simplified interpretations. StockGro has a strong network of 325+ Indian Institutes for whom thousands of trading competitions have been organized on the platform. Educational Bodies like ICAI-NIRC have collaborated with StockGro to integrate practical stock market learning into their curriculum. StockGro has plans to expand its offerings to include various new asset classes including forex, commodity, crypto, gold, and bonds, and add exciting new features including technical analysis and macro trends, that make profitable investing hassle-free, easy, and accessible for its user community. This story is provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/NewsVoir)
New Delhi [India], December 9 (ANI/SRV): Infertility is an ailment that can cause mental, physical, mental, otherworldly, and clinical hindrances to the patient. The unique nature of this medical condition includes influencing both the patient and the patient's partner as a team. An English scholar from the 18th century John Henry Newman said "Growth is the only evidence of life", every living being on earthworks for growth. Pregnancy does not occur easily to many healthy couples, and for a struggling woman trying to conceive, voyaging that way can be a desolate one loaded up with grief, disappointment, and heaps of tears. Discussing infertility is as yet an untouchable in our Indian culture and individuals prefer to not discuss it in their social circles. Perdzonal development is significant in all stages of life as a whole and building a family is always believed to fill a void in our lives and has been prioritized equally. Infertility affects one-fifth to one-sixth of couples who are of reproductive age. In the field of reproductive health, infertility refers to a deficiency but it does not jeopardize the individual's physical integrity and is not life-threatening. However, because most couples consider having children to be a necessary goal, such a deficiency may have a severe impact on the individual's development, causing frustration and weakening the personality. In comparison to other species, humans are quite efficient in terms of reproduction. The average fertility rate per cycle is around 20 percent, while the total fertility rate is around 20 percent. The taboo should be broken and the topic of infertility should be normalized as in recent years, infertility rates have been raising across the world, WHO data suggests that between 48 million couples and 186 million individuals live with infertility globally. Every human being has a right to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health. Individuals and couples have the right to decide the number, timing, and spacing of their children. Infertility can negate the realization of these essential human rights. Addressing infertility is, therefore an important part of realizing the right of individuals and couples to found a family. Lack of awareness, causes, accessibility of information has always been a challenge for the couples or individuals struggling with infertility resulting in the problem becoming even worse but if the society starts acknowledging it more and talking about it openly and publicly, it could reach to out many people as a strong message spreading awareness. As people start to study and accept it more, right information & knowledge can be provided that can make this deficiency easier to face for people struggling with it. There are very few infertility experts coming in public and talking about the issue by using the new age mediums to make information reach every part of society. Presenting and providing the information in such a way that even common people can understand these technical terms is also an important tool in this battle against infertility. Dr Neeraj Pahlajani from the Pahlajanis' Women's Hospital in Raipur, Chhattisgarh is the name of hope for such people, from a long time she has been creating content on infertility making it reach to every part of society through various social media platforms & YouTube videos. Many people have been benefitted from the videos and found hope to grow their families. She believes in empowering people & communities with knowledge and her YouTube channel has videos on every issue related to infertility & women's health to spread this knowledge in society and make people aware. Dr Pahlajani also operates a chain of IVF centers in Raipur, Patna, Ranchi & the recent one in the steel city Bhilai where they offer world-class infertility solutions to families struggling with infertility, The Primary Objective of these Infertility Centres is to offer Low-Cost IVF Infertility treatment services to every class of society under one roof. They also conduct free consultation camps in rural areas where infertility is considered as some divine curse to make people aware of this medical condition. To know more visit their: Youtube channel - https://www.youtube.com/c/DrNeerajPahlajani-IVF-Treatment Instagram Handle - https://www.instagram.com/pahlajani_ivf/?hl=en This story is provided by SRV. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/SRV)
Hollywood star Tom Holland is heading back into the dance studio to prepare for his role as Fred Astaire in an upcoming biopic about the legendary entertainer. "I'm going to dust off the old tap shoes and go back to Pineapple Dance Studios (in London) and start taking tap lessons," he told variety.com shortly after it was announced that he will play Astaire in the Amy Pascal-produced film. The movie certainly won't be the first time Holland has shown off his dance skills. "I'm quite a good tap dancer," he said while promoting 'Spider-Man: No Way Home' with his co-stars Zendaya and Jacob Batalon. "It's something I've done for a very, very long time so it's something I'm sure I'll be able to pick up." Holland first tapped extensively when he played the titular role in the West End production of 'Billy Elliott the Musical' from 2008 to 2010. "Fred Astaire does have a very particular style," he said. "'Billy Elliot' was very much a kind of like scuffy boot kind of tap dancer whereas he is very elegant and graceful so I'll probably have to learn how to do that. But it's something I'm gonna practice, something I'm very excited for and I think it will be a fantastic film." Asked who should play Ginger Rogers, Holland cracked to Variety: "Amy Pascal is going to be my Ginger Rogers." Holland first revealed the news on December 5 during a 'Spider-Man: No Way Home' event in London. "The script came in a week ago. I haven't read it yet; they haven't given it to me," he told reporters. --IANS dc/ksk/ ( 289 Words) 2021-12-09-09:16:23 (IANS)
American actor Christina Ricci is now a mom of two! The star welcomed her first baby with her husband and popular hairstylist Mark Hampton recently. 'The Matrix Resurrections' actor, who is already a mother to her son Freddie, shared the update about recently welcoming her second baby, named Cleopatra Ricci Hampton, on Instagram. She captioned the post, "Baby Cleo is here. we are so in love with her, also she has the most incredible dad imaginable @markhamptonhair." Ricci shares her first child, Freddie, with estranged husband James Heerdegen, whom she filed for divorce from in July 2020. The two had married in 2013 after meeting on the set of her TV series 'Pan Am', reported People magazine. The 'Casper' actor filed for divorce from Heerdegen following a domestic violence incident. According to documents obtained by E! News, the actor cited "irreconcilable differences" as the reason for their split after nearly seven years of marriage. The actor's husband, Hampton, also shared the update regarding their daughter's arrival on his Instagram account. He wrote, "My heart has exploded. @riccigrams and baby Cleo are doing fantastic, we're all resting after such an eventful morning.. welcome to the world baby Cleopatra Ricci Hampton." Hampton also shared a few photos from the hospital on his Instagram Story, including a sweet snap of Ricci's first moments with their daughter. "What a truly emotional morning, never cried as much," he wrote. In August, Ricci announced her pregnancy news on Instagram alongside an ultrasound image. "Life keeps getting better," she shared. Hampton, whom she wed two months after the pregnancy announcement, also shared the ultrasound images on his page, similarly captioning his announcement, "Life Keeps getting better." (ANI)
Seems like Katrina Kaif and Vicky Kaushal's fans have to wait a little longer to see the dreamy wedding pictures of their favourite stars, and here's why! All eyes are currently on Katrina and Vicky who have tied the knot on Thursday at Six Senses Fort Bawara, Rajasthan. The big fat wedding has been kept away from public eyes and major steps have been taken so that no visuals from the special occasion get leaked. Earlier reports said that the guests were even requested to sign an NDA (Non-Disclosure Agreement) form so that the couple could maintain confidentiality about the wedding visuals. Social media was flooded with funny memes about the strange arrangements, but now the recent rumours can clear out the reason behind the secrecy of the star couple's wedding. The recent rumours say that the couple has agreed to sell exclusive pictures of their dreamy wedding to the Hindi edition of an international magazine and that too for a whopping amount! Earlier a report made headlines all over media portals that the couple has sold their wedding telecast rights to an OTT platform for reportedly a whopping amount of INR 80 crore. This means fans will be able to see the whole wedding visuals like a show on the OTT platform. This reminds me of the same news that surfaced over the internet in 2018 when one of the most loved celebrity couples Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas got married. The wedding footage of their intimate Jaisalmer wedding was exclusively sold to People magazine for a whopping price tag of USD 2.5 million, and also some photos to Hello magazine. People magazine also acquired the rights of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie's 2014 secret wedding ceremony. Wedding footage of several other stars like Kim Kardashian-Kris Humphries, Demi Moore-Ashton Kutcher, Priety Zinta-Gene Goodenough, and George Clooney-Amal Alamuddin among others was also sold to tabloids, and that too for millions of dollars. The rumours of Vicky and Katrina taking the same route are still fresh, however, a confirmation from close sources on the same is yet awaited. (ANI)
As Bollywood actors Vicky Kaushal and Katrina Kaif tied the knot today at the Six Senses Fort Barwara, Rajasthan, each intricate detail of their grand wedding had been going viral over the past week leading to a hyped media buzz that resulted in a flood of information regarding it. While film celebs are widely known for their grand lifestyles, public appearances and speculated love affairs, the thing that adds to their celebrity status, are these high-profile weddings. Be it Aishwarya Rai-Abhishek Bachchan, Anushka Sharma-Virat Kohli, Ranveer Singh-Deepika Padukone or most recently Rajkummar Rao and Patralekhaa, each of these marriages have made a lot of headlines in the past. Now as Vicky and Katrina fondly referred to by fans as Vickat finally got married on December 9, details like their wedding venue, guest list, attires, food menus, security details and much more had been in news all over. However, psychologically this information overflow plays a mixed impact on peoples' mental state; some feel excited and try to grab each detail while others may feel overburdened with unnecessary information. While these weddings might inspire the younger generation in terms of fashion and decoration trends, on another hand, it becomes overwhelming for others. To get a better understanding of what effect has it had on people, ANI spoke to Dr Shweta Sharma, Clinical Psychologist and Founder, Mansa Global Foundation for Mental Health. "Most people haven't been happy with so much hype and excessive coverage as weddings are personal affairs. Sometimes even without official statements or reliable sources, there has been an unseen competition going on to reveal every information," she said, adding, "We have other really important issues going on in the country but there is more coverage of an uninvited event. Most people want these real issues to be discussed with only a handful of them especially from the younger generation wanting to follow this hype. It's obvious that Vicky and Katrina wanted their weddings to stay as private as possible. Considering that they live their lives in the public eye, this only seemed like a fair demand. Privacy aside, their wedding was also shrouded in secrecy. There were reports of how no phones were allowed at Vickat's wedding and also how guests were assigned special codes for their entry. Shedding light on what effect did the secrecy around this marriage have, Dr Shweta continued, "This secrecy increases the interest of people hence we cannot say it's good or bad, but yes people are enjoying it at some point and that's why this hype is here. Being a social animal it's human nature to get mental satisfaction with having all the information happening around." Dr Jyoti Kapoor, Senior Psychiatrist and Founder, Manasthali also added to this and shared her views by saying, "Celebrity life is in the public domain and with popularity of social media, everyone wants to interact directly with these public figures as if they are part of their own social circle. When people in the public domain are not open about major events in their lives like marriages, the fans thus feel betrayed and become bitter because they themselves have given them such importance. The message they receive is that of rejection and hence the trolling comes. The mature option will be to accept fans as they accept the celebrity." In conclusion, big fat Indian weddings are spectacles even on their own and when you throw in a celebrity couple in the mix, things certainly do get scaled up further. Hence the latest Vicky-Katrina wedding was also no different. The curiosity around this high-profile couple and the extensive media coverage they commanded resulted in an event that was truly over-the-top. What would be even more interesting is to witness the post-wedding details that will gradually seep out into the public eye in the forthcoming days. (ANI)
Researchers at McGill University have found evidence that a wide range of early-onset psychiatric problems (from depression, anxiety and addictions to dyslexia, bulimia, and ADHD) may be largely due to the combination of just three factors. The findings of the study were published in the journal 'Neuropsychopharmacology'. The first is biological -- in the form of individual variability in the brain's dopamine reward pathway. The second is social -- and points to the important role of early childhood neglect or abuse. And the third is psychological -- and relates to temperament, and particularly to tendencies toward impulsivity and difficulty controlling emotions. These findings have implications for understanding both the causes of a wide range of psychiatric disorders and the features worth targeting in early intervention efforts. "Until recently, it was thought that psychiatric disorders reflected discrete disease entities, each with their own unique causes," said Marco Leyton, the senior author on a recent study published in Neuropsychopharmacologyand a professor in McGill's Department of Psychiatry and Senior Scientist at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre. "The present research upends this idea, suggesting instead that most early-onset disorders largely reflect differential expressions of a small number of biological, psychological and social factors," added Leyton. Earlier research has suggested that each of the three factors, in isolation, has at least modest effects on the development of psychiatric disorders. In comparison, the authors of this new study had the first-ever opportunity to examine all three factors together. Fifty-two young people, living in the Montreal or Quebec City areas (30 women and 22 men), who have been followed since birth by Jean Seguin (Universite de Montreal) and Michel Boivin (Universite Laval), had brain imaging scans (PET and MRI) that measured features of their dopamine reward pathway. These brain features were then combined with information about their temperamental traits and histories of early life adversity. Strikingly, this combination of just three factors predicted, with over 90 per cent accuracy, which participants had mental health problems either in the past or during the study's three-year follow-up period. Indeed, since the results are so novel and potentially so important, CIHR has provided an additional two million dollars to double the sample size and follow the participants through to their mid-20s. "And the results do need to be replicated, both in larger and ethnically more diverse groups," emphasises the paper's first author, Maisha Iqbal, a graduate student in McGill's Integrated Program in Neuroscience. "If replicated, our research could transform the way we think about mental illnesses," Iqbal concluded. (ANI)
The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said in a statement that it improved the policy about the recognition of full vaccination status for foreign nationals, Xinhua news agency.

Under the policy, foreign nationals, who are fully vaccinated outside South Korea and entered the border with no quarantine exemption, will be allowed to receive the booster shot after their vaccination records are registered on the Covid-19 inoculation registration system.

For registration, non-South Korean nationals will be required to submit their proof of identification and a vaccination certificate issued from abroad to a community health centre.

Non-South Korean nationals, whose fully vaccinated status has been registered, will receive a Covid-19 vaccination certificate, recognized by the South Korean health authorities, to prove their full inoculation outside South Korea.

It will allow foreign nationals to receive the booster shot and the benefit of a vaccine pass, the KDCA said.

Eligibility for registration will be confined to the vaccines approved by the World Health Organization.

Foreign nationals with no quarantine exemption, who received the booster shot, will be registered for the vaccination status, and will be exempt from quarantine when re-entering the country or after having come into close contact with confirmed cases.

--IANS ksk/

( 231 Words)

2021-12-09-15:34:13 (IANS)
The Lok Sabha on Wednesday took up the discussion on climate change under Rule 193. Speaker On Birla said this is an important subject for all human beings, and it is a matter of great pride that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has advocated conservation of the climate on all international forums. Initiating the debate, DMK's Kanimozhi cited the excessive flooding in recent weeks in south India and how Chennai was badly affected again, as she stressed that the government needs to act on climate change mitigation and adaptation. BJP's Sanjay Jaiswal said that Prime Minister Modi has initiated a series of steps in this direction soon after he took over in 2014 and equally voiced his concerns on all international forums. Even in the Glasgow summit, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson had widely praised him a lot for his pro-active role played for climate change, he added. However, Leader of Congress Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said that the time has come when we need to think globally but act locally. India has the lowest rate of emission at five percent only compared to other countries of the world, but climate change was "the most under-reported failure of the Modi government". "The assault on climate began as soon as Modi government took over in 2014," he added. Trinamool Congress' Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar said that this is an important issue for all human beings. "In India, we cannot put on a mask all the time. Some rich people use air fresheners in their rooms but poor people cannot and they are forced to inhale the polluted air," she said. She also said that one should not plainly blame the farmers for burning the stubble as they have been doing it for ages. "We should teach them alternate ways first." She noted that unplanned development, not in keeping with the sustainable development goals, is causing Climate Change. "The area of Sunderban in Bengal is under constant threat as the water level in the Ganga is rising and the sea level is also rising due to the melting ice in Antarctica. "We need to certainly think on the issues... We need to reduce the carbon emissions, we need electric vehicles. The frequency of the cyclone has increased substantially in recent times. "We need to have renewable energy as Denmark has 100 percent renewable energy. Solar energy could be a substantial replacement but 80 percent of the energy in India comes from fossil fuels," she said. She also suggested that the MPLAD funds can be used for setting up solar panels in rural areas, hospitals and other places and the government should amend the law to allow this. Dileswar Kamait of the Janata Dal-United said that unplanned development of the cities, the impact of climate change can be seen in every part of the world but this is more seen in India. For infra projects, around 69 lakhs trees have been cut in recent years, he added. BSP member Ritesh Pandey said that we need to be serious about climate change and economic development, and reduce our dependence on fossil fuel. --IANS ams/vd ( 529 Words) 2021-12-08-20:30:13 (IANS)
Former Chief Justice of India (CJI) Ranjan Gogoi on Wednesday said the woman who had made sexual harassment allegations against him was reinstated in service during his tenure, and that he should not have been on the bench, which heard the suo moto case registered by the apex court against the backdrop of allegations against him. "In hindsight, I have should have not been on the bench... we all make mistakes. Even the CJI is human. No harm in accepting it," he said. Noting the reputation of 45 years at the bar and bench, which he had earned, was being questioned, he reiterated that it would have been better had he not been on that bench. Ex-CJI Gogoi was speaking at a television interview at the launch of his autobiography "Justice for the Judge". The suo moto matter titled "Matter of Great Public Importance Touching upon the independence of Judiciary" had sent ripples after then Chief Justice Gogoi sat on the bench to hear the case, which directly affected him. He said: "What was the order passed (by that bench)... does that order give me clean chit?" Web portals had reported about the sexual harassment allegations levelled against Chief Justice Gogoi in April 2019. Following these allegations, a special Bench of the Supreme Court was convened on the same day to look into the matter. Subsequently, an in-house special panel of the top court judges was constituted to examine the sexual harassment allegations against him. The panel was headed by Justice S.A. Bobde, who became the Chief Justice after him. The former CJI insisted that this panel has been in existence for a long time and it will be wrong to label it toothless. He elaborated that the investigation would not be launched at anybody's compliant and it is only at the discretion of the full court. "In house proceeding is not toothless. If there is prima facie finding, it would require the judge to resign. If he doesn't, then matter goes to the Prime Minister and the President for impeachment," he added. Chief Justice Gogoi said: "But I put my neck out and gave the noose to Justice Bobde. He could have hanged me and got an extra 7 months of extra tenure (as Chief Justice)", if the in-house committee had ruled against him. He further added that it is an internal inquiry and people have been found guilty. To a query regarding the reinstatement of the woman staffer who made allegations against him after the end of his tenure, Chief Justice Gogoi said: "The lady was not reinstated after the end of my tenure, but during my tenure. She wrote a letter to Justice Bobde seeking appointment on humanitarian grounds. He (Justice Bobde) asked me (what to do) and I said 'deal with it'. Justice Bobde reinstated her with compassion. He reinstated two other employees. He is a compassionate man." An inquiry into the complaint of the woman staffer, the in-house committee, comprising Justices Bobde, Indu Malhotra, and Indira Banerjee, had "found no substance" in her charges and gave a clean chit to the CJI. The woman, who joined the top court in May 2014, had claimed unwelcome advances when she was posted at the residence office of then CJI Gogoi in October 2018. She claimed she was transferred later, and then terminated from service. --IANS ss/vd ( 578 Words) 2021-12-08-22:04:24 (IANS)
Maharashtra grieved the death of Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Bipin Rawat, his wife Madhulika and other army officers in a helicopter crash in Tamil Nadu on Wednesday afternoon. Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, leaders of ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi, opposition Bharatiya Janata Party's Devendra Fadnavis and Pravin Darekar and others mourned the shocking tragedy. "His untimely demise is an irreparable loss to the nation. The whole country is shocked by the tragedy. I pay my respects to Gen. Bipin Rawat, his wife and the other officers," Governor Koshyari said. A shaken Thackeray said it was difficult for him to accept that "Gen. Rawat is no more with us". "I am very sad to hear about this unfortunate accident. It seemed like they would survive, but later the bad news came. Gen. Rawat led the country bravely on many fronts along with his colleagues. My homage to him, his wife and all the other army officers who died in the tragedy," he said. The CM recalled how Rawat had the honour of becoming the first CDS and his rich experience had boosted the morale of the three wings of the armed forces. Nationalist Congress Party President Sharad Pawar said he was both "shocked and saddened to learn about the demise of CDS Rawat". "He had a highly decorated career and his services in the defence field over the past four decades will always be remembered," said Pawar, a former Defence Minister. State Congress President Nana Patole termed the incident as "extremely saddening" and offered his heartfelt condolences to CDS Rawat and all the others who perished in the tragedy. NCP state President and Minister Jayant Patil said CDS Gen Rawat had 43 years of gallant and distinguished service and his "dedication to the nation knew no limits". "India mourns the death of her brave son. We will be forever indebted towards his service to the motherland till his very last breath," he said. Former Chief Minister Fadnavis termed the incident as "very tragic, terrible and extremely painful". "We lost our first CDS Rawatji in an unfortunate accident in Tamil Nadu. Nation mourns this huge and irreparable loss," he said. Leader of Opposition in Council Darekar said he was "deeply shocked at the demise of CDS Rawat" and offered his deepest condolences to all his family members and others. Samajwadi Party state President Abu Asim Azmi, NCP national spokesperson and Minister Nawab Malik, state Congress spokesperson Atul Londhe-Patil also grieved the loss of CDS Gen Rawat and the others who fell victims to the chopper tragedy. --IANS qn/vd ( 441 Words) 2021-12-08-22:20:12 (IANS)
The Board said the registration link will be made available on the CBSE website and the affiliated schools can register their students for classes IXth and Xth online at the portal.

CBSE made it clear that only those students whose names are submitted through the online process of registration will be allowed to appear in class X and XII board exams in 2022-23.

CBSE said that affiliated schools are required to register themselves prior to proceeding for online submission.

"Schools must use the affiliation number as user ID, already available with them," reads the CBSE statement.

The newly affiliated schools are required to contact the concerned regional office for obtaining school code and password, in the case of not receiving the password.

"New schools have to first enter the information on the OASIS portal. The information on OASIS should be filled very carefully. No schools will not be allowed to change the declared section/ strength of students afterwards," CBSE statement mentions.

The board advised schools to upload correct data, as no window for correction will be made available from this year.

The detailed guidelines for the application process are available on the CBSE official website. (ANI)
He said this after Thierry Berthelot, newly appointed Consul General of France in Bengaluru, met him and discussed the matter.

He also told that the French delegation had been suggested to set up the intended campus in the Bengaluru City University.

France is interested to provide courses under Health Category which include Biotech to Artificial Intelligence, Drugs and Health Products, Pharmaceutical Management, Advanced Pharmaceutical Engineering.

Under the Industry 4.0 category, it wishes to commence courses of Cyber Security, Data Analytics, Machine Learning, etc and under Ecology category it wants to commence courses of Biodiversity, Climate Change, Greener Economy, he told.

Those who study the above courses will be awarded Joint Degrees (Indo-French Degrees), the Minister said.

Under this collaboration, the curriculum, content, pedagogy will be aligned with the corporate needs. Besides, setting up research institutions and incubators will be the priority to impart global level skills to students, Narayan told.

--IANS mka/pgh

( 190 Words)

2021-12-08-22:30:47 (IANS)
A person posing as an IPS officer in the Intelligence Bureau was arrested in Bihar's Begusarai district on Wednesday, police said. The accused was identified as Alok Ranawat, a native of Maheshkhunt block in Khagaria district. Involved in illegal possession of a house belonging to an engineer in Begusarai, he was also accused of various fraudulent activities and duped a number of people on the cover of being an Superintendent of Police in the IB. "We had information about the activities of that person but he was not identified by police. On Tuesday night, we received a tip-off about that person is staying in a rented house in Nagdah area of Begusarai. Accordingly, we conducted a raid and arrested him," Shingaul SHO Deepak Kumar said. "We have recovered two fake identity cards from his possession," he said. "During brief interrogation, he confessed that he used to influence Circle officers, SHOs and block officers posing as an SP, IB to execute works and take money from them. He was also involved in fraud as well," Kumar added. --IANS ajk/vd ( 191 Words) 2021-12-08-22:38:43 (IANS)
Lance Naik B. Sai Teja, serving as Personal Security Officer to the CDS, was among 11 who died along with Gen Rawat and his wife Madhulika Rawat.

Hailing from Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh, Sai Teja (27) is survived by wife Shyamala, son Mokshagana, 4, and a daughter Darshini, 2. Son of a farmer, he came from Eguva Regada village in Kurabala Kota mandal.

Belonging to the Kuruba community, Sai Teja joined the Indian Army in 2012 as a sepoy, and was later selected for para commando training. Last year, he was appointed as PSO to the CDS.

Sai Teja's family, which lives in Madanapalle town, received the shocking news of his death in the crash, barely a few hours after he spoke to them over phone. The soldier made a video call to wife and children at 8.45 a.m.

A pall of gloom descended in Madanapalle and Sai Teja's native village. His wife and children left for the village in the evening.

Political leaders cutting across party lines, senior police officials and people from various walks of life have mourned the death of the young soldier.

--IANS ms/vd

( 230 Words)

2021-12-08-22:38:45 (IANS)
A US government agency is providing a loan of up to $500 million for a solar panel factory in Tamil Nadu that can produce every year modules with a capacity of 3.3 gigawatts (GW) in India's march towards reducing carbon emissions. The loan to the factory set up by the American company, First Solar, is the biggest loan from the US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), the agency said on Tuesday announcing the deal. DFC's acting CEO Dev Jagadesan said that the agency "is thrilled to be in a position to support First Solar's new venture in India, which will boost solar panel manufacturing capacity for a key ally and help mobilise the industry to take up better standards that align with US values". The deal meshes the Indian government's goal of producing 450 GW of power from renewable sources by 2030 and the US goal of fighting climate change. The plant, which will manufacture photovoltaic (PV) solar modules, will also help reduce dependence on China, which is the global leader in making solar panels. "This transaction represents another milestone in the United States effort to drive alternative supply chains," Jagadesan said. First Solar, which is based in Arizona, had said that it expected to invest $684 million in the Tamil Nadu plant. The company's solar panels are based on thin film technology, in which it is a world leader, in contrast to the Chinese dominance of the silicon-based panels market. "Optimised for the country's unique operating environment, most of the new facility's production is expected to sell into the quickly growing solar market in India, a Quad ally and key partner to the US in the Indo-Pacific region," according to the DFC. Driven by the spectre of climate change, the US government agency's assistance for the plant in India is a turn around from disputes between the two countries over solar panels. The World Trade Organistion (WTO) upheld a complaint by India in 2019 that subsidies and local content rules in eight US states were in violation to international trade norms. In another case in 2016, however, the WTO had ruled for the US on complaint that India discriminated against US manufacturers through its own domestic content requirements. (Arul Louis can be reached at arul.l@ians.in and followed @arulouis) --IANS al/vd ( 402 Words) 2021-12-08-22:42:44 (IANS)
The major political parties in Karnataka, including the ruling BJP, Congress and JD(S), are keeping their fingers crossed ahead of the elections to 25 seats of the 75-strong Legislative Council, also known as the Upper House of the state Assembly, scheduled on December 10. The curtains were down on public campaigning on Tuesday, though the candidates and local leaders are allowed to carry out door-to-door campaigning till Thursday. Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, former Chief Ministers B.S. Yediyurappa and Jagadish Shettar, and BJP state President Nalin Kumar Kateel had launched high-voltage campaign for the elections. Opposition leader Siddaramaiah, state Congress President D.K. Shivakumar and Opposition leader in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, have campaigned for the Congress. For the JD(S) candidates, campaigning was done by former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda and ex-Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, among others. The BJP and the Congress have fielded candidates in 20 constituencies, the JD(S) is contesting six seats, while the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is trying its luck in three constituencies. There is a direct fight in 13 constituencies between the Congress and the BJP, while the stage is set for a triangle contest in eight constituencies. Also, strong Independent candidates are in fray in Belagavi and Dharwad. The results will be announced on December 14. The elections are seen seen as a precursor to the Assembly elections in Karnataka scheduled in 2023, and the parties are looking to gather some momentum ahead of the big ticket polling. Sources said that the candidates are spending big in every constituency to register victory. The members of the village panchayats and local body representatives are the voters for the elections. Unlike in the Assembly elections, there is no limit on expenditure by the candidates contesting the MLC polls. As many as 90 candidates are trying their luck in the MLC elections, of which Congress' Gayathri Shanthe Gowda is the loan female candidate. About 99,062 voters are expected to exercise their franchise on December 10, including 47,205 male and 51,854 female voters. The elections are crucial for the ruling BJP to attain majority in the 75-member Upper House. BJP currently needs 13 seats to achieve majority. --IANS mka/arm ( 372 Words) 2021-12-08-22:48:21 (IANS)
The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the funding and implementation of the project for interlinking of rivers Ken and Betwa at a cost of Rs 44,605 crore, a move criticised by experts as the approval came without the statutory clearances. "The total cost of Ken-Betwa project has been assessed at Rs 44,605 crore at 2020-21 price level. The Union cabinet has approved the central support of Rs 39,317 crore for the project, covering grant of Rs 36,290 crore and loan of Rs 3,027 crore," a statement after the Cabinet meeting said. "A Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) called Ken-Betwa Link Project Authority (KBLPA) is to be set up for implementation of the project," it said. The project involves transfer of water from the Ken to the Betwa river through the construction of Daudhan dam and a canal linking the two rivers, the Lower Orr project, Kotha Barrage, and Bina complex multipurpose project. The project will provide an annual irrigation of 10.62 lakh Ha, drinking water supply to a population of about 62 lakhs, and also generate 103 MW of hydropower and 27 MW solar power. Earlier in the year, a tripartite agreement between the Ministry of Jal Shakti and Chief Ministers of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh was signed on March 22 for this first major centrally driven interlinking of rivers project. Stating that the project will be of immense benefit to the water starved Bundelkhand region, spread across the states of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, the statement said: "This project will provide enormous benefits to the districts of Panna, Tikamgarh, Chhatarpur, Sagar, Damoh, Datia, Vidisha, Shivpuri, and Raisen districts of Madhya Pradesh and Banda, Mahoba, Jhansi, and Lalitpur of Uttar Pradesh." "The project is expected to boost the socio-economic prosperity in the backward Bundelkhand region on account of increased agricultural activities and employment generation. It would also help in arresting distress migration from this region," it added. Senior officials from the Ministry, who did not wish to be quoted, said the approval came ahead of the Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh. "The Cabinet nod was necessary as once the Election Commission declares the polls - which is due early next year - then no such announcement would be possible," officials said, adding, "This announcement regarding the project would also come handy during election campaigns for the ruling party." The project also comprehensively provides for environment management and safeguards. "For this purpose, a comprehensive landscape management plan is under finalisation by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII)," the statement said. Criticising that the approval came when the comprehensive landscape management plan is still underway, Himanshu Thakkar of South Asia Network for Dams, Rivers and People (SANDRP) also pointed out how the Cabinet gave approval to a project that has not obtained three major statutory clearances. "The environmental clearance was challenged and is pending at the National Green Tribunal (NGT), the stage II (final) Forest Clearance and subsequent state approval, in this case from the Madhya Pradesh government, is pending. And last, but never the least, the Central Empowered Committee, appointed by the Supreme Court, has submitted the report to the apex court with its objections to the wildlife clearance... the court is yet to give its say on it," he said. The Ministry of Jal Shakti is also likely to announce the National Interlinking of Rivers Authority (NIRA), which was suggested by the sub-committee for restructuring of the National Water Development Agency (NWDA). NWDA is an agency and with restructuring, an 'Authority' with powers is envisaged. NIRA would be an overarching body, autonomous in functions for planning and would act as the nodal body for the projects related to interlinking of rivers across the country. There would be a special purpose vehicle (SPV) for each of the interlinking projects. "For the SPV to materialise, agreements amongst the states involved is a must. As on date, we only have an agreement between Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh vis-a-vis Ken Betwa project. So, the SPV for Ken Betwa project came first," a Ministry official said. --IANS niv/vd ( 685 Words) 2021-12-08-23:00:42 (IANS)
Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai told the Rajya Sabha, in a written reply, that Directorate of Revenue intelligence (DRI) had seized 2,988.21 kg of narcotics substance (heroin) at the TG Terminal Private Ltd Container Freight Station, Mundra Port, on September 17 and the probe in this case is ongoing.

He also informed the house that according to Narcotics Control Bureau records that no drugs were confiscated from Mundra Port in the past.

The narco consignment, believed to be arrived from Afghanistan, was discovered at Mundra port on September 16 in two shipping containers imported from Bandar Abbas Port in Iran.

The NIA, following an order from the Home Ministry, took over the investigation of this case on October 6, and invoked various provisions of the Indian Penal Code, the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and investigation is under progress.

--IANS ams/vd

( 191 Words)

2021-12-08-23:06:11 (IANS)
Slamming NCP's effort of bringing Congress and Shiv Sena together to form a strong opposition against BJP, Maharashtra Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Chandrakant Patil on Wednesday said that the ruling party in Centre will emerge victorious by winning 418 seats in upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Breifing media persons, Patil said, "Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) is putting so much effort to bring opposition together. And, Shiv Sena joined hands with Congress and other opposition parties to stop BJP. They are very free to do that nobody is stopping them from it. However, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP are much focused on their work." "We are on the line of development. Soon you will see Prime Minister will come to Pune to inaugurate the new metro. We do not care about politics like the opposition. As far as the upcoming general elections are concerned, there are various surveys and research available. As per our recent survey, BJP is getting 418 seats in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls," he added. Chandrakant Patil was in Pune to meet Police Commissioner Amitabh Gupta. He requested Pune Police Commissioner to allow a few relaxations in COVID protocols for various organisations and establishments. Patil also demanded Pune Police to allow cultural programmes at Shaniwar Wada premises which was stopped after the controversial Elgar Parishad case which allegedly led to Bhima Koregaon violence in 2018. (ANI)
With the emergence of the new COVID-19 Omicron variant, all the precautionary measures are being taken by the Punjab government in the state, said Punjab Health Minister Om Prakash Soni on Wednesday. Speaking to ANI, Soni said, "There is no case of Omicron variant in the state. As per guidelines, testing is done at airports. All precautions are being taken by the state government." The minister further informed that the health officials are doing door to door COVID vaccination in the less vaccinated areas. "As a part of precautionary measure, the state health officials are doing door to door COVID vaccination in the less vaccinated areas," he said. Meanwhile, India reported nearly two dozen Omicron cases so far. Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan on Wednesday asked all the States to submit all the samples of positive cases of international travellers and their contacts as well as from emerging hotspots. A new variant of COVID-19 was first reported to the World Health Organisation (WHO) from South Africa on November 25. As per the WHO, the first known confirmed B.1.1.529 infection was from a specimen collected on November 9 this year. On November 26, the WHO named the new COVID-19 variant B.1.1.529, which has been detected in South Africa, as 'Omicron'. The WHO has classified Omicron as a 'variant of concern'. (ANI)
Traders and businessmen across Tamil Nadu have said that any relief in the coming days from the soaring vegetable prices in the state is unlikely even if the rains take a back seat. Koyambedu Vegetable market president Chandran told IANS: "Prices are soaring in Tamil Nadu and there seems to be no respite till Pongal... even with or without rains, it seems that prices will continue to increase." Tomato prices have touched Rs 80-100 in the wholesale market while in retail market the rate is around Rs 120 per kg. Drumsticks are not available in southern states as it has to come from North India where the prices are on the higher side as well. Brinjal is being sold at Rs 100 and above in retail market while it is available at Rs 70 in the wholesale market. Drumsticks have touched Rs 270 kg and the vegetable is not available. In north Indian states where drumsticks are available, the market price is Rs 200 and above, and freight charges have led to the price of drumsticks soaring above Rs 250 per kg. Sheeba Ramachandran, a college teacher living at Teynampet in Chennai, told IANS: "The prices of vegetables have shot up in Chennai and at Koyambedu wholesale market, the price of cabbage which was selling at Rs 10 to Rs 20 per kg has now touched Rs 40 per kg. This is only in a span of one or two weeks." Vegetable traders are of the opinion that the prices will come down after Pongal which falls on January 14. Several households that were buying vegetables in kilos are now buying it in grams. Manonmani G, a professor of Sociology at a private college in Chennai, told IANS: "We are now used to buying vegetables at a lesser quantity. Earlier, I used to buy 2-3 kg of vegetables for a few days but now in the same span of time, I am buying vegetables in grams. "Rates are very high and the whole family budget is in jeopardy now. Hope the rates reduce soon as we are vegetarians and we cannot skip vegetables." Other than households, hotels and restaurants of Chennai have also resorted to reducing vegetables in curries with tomato chutney being replaced with tamarind chutney. Many hotels have also cut short the number of vegetables that are used in curries. --IANS aal/pgh ( 408 Words) 2021-12-09-00:04:44 (IANS)
In a tragic incident earlier on Wednesday, General Rawat (63), his wife Madhulika Rawat, and 11 others were killed after the IAF chopper they were travelling in crashed near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu.

General Rawat and his wife Madhulika Rawat are survived by their two daughters -- Kritika and Tarini.

After Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Indian Army chief M.M. Naravane visited the residence of General Rawat on Wednesday evening. Navy chief Admiral R. Hari Kumar also met the bereaved family to offer his condolences over the tragic incident.

Security was beefed up in and around the residence of General Rawat, with only a select few allowed entry into the house.

Rawat's family has been serving the Indian Army for four generations. His father Laxman Singh Rawat had served the Indian Army, and rose to the rank of Lieutenant-General.

His wife, Madhulika, was the President of the Army Wives' Welfare Association (AWWA). The AWWA is one of the largest NGOs working towards ensuring the welfare of wives, children, and dependents of Army personnel.

Madhulika worked for the welfare of Army widows, differently-abled children, cancer patients, and dependents of Army personnel.

--IANS avr/arm

( 236 Words)

2021-12-09-00:12:13 (IANS)
Taking Twitter the chief minister said, "My deepest condolences over the sudden demise of Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat, his wife and 11 others armed forces personnel in an extremely unfortunate and tragic crash near Coonoor, Tamil Nadu. My thoughts and prayers are with the family."

"CM Charanjit Singh Channi expresses deep anguish over the tragic death of CDS Bipin Rawat, his wife and 11 others including NK Gursewak Singh from village Dode, Tarn Taran, in a chopper crash. It is a big loss to the nation. CM conveys heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families," tweeted the Chief Minister's Office (CMO)

General Bipin Rawat, his wife, and 11 other personnel of the Armed Forces died after a military helicopter crashed in Coonoor in Tamil Nadu on Wednesday, the Indian Air Force said.

"With deep regret, it has now been ascertained that Gen Bipin Rawat, Mrs. Madhulika Rawat, and 11 other persons on board have died in the unfortunate accident," tweeted IAF.

Gen Rawat, India's first CDS was on a visit to the Defence Services Staff College in Wellington to address the faculty and student officers of the Staff Course when his chopper crashed near Coonor in the Nilgiris district.

CDS Rawat was commissioned into the Indian Army in December 1978. He previously served as Chief of the Army Staff from January 2017 to December 2019. (ANI)
A man, identified as Arun Kumar Swain of Serapur village in Jajpur district, has been detained in this connection. Further probe is on.

He was reportedly travelling with the four bags containing Rs 24.5 lakh from Bhubaneswar to Delhi. The bags contained Rs 1.4 lakh in Rs 10 denomination and the rest amount in Rs 20 denomination.

While the RPF has initiated a probe in this regard, the Income Tax department has also been intimated about the seizure. (ANI)
"IMA, Dehradun has cancelled Commandant's Parade (final rehearsal parade ahead of final passing out parade) that was scheduled to take place today. The decision regarding holding passing out parade will be taken after receiving instructions from the Army Headquarters," Col Pant said.

This year 319 Indians and 68 foreigners will step into the 387 Gentlemen Cadet Parade.

The announcement came after Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat on Wednesday died in a helicopter accident along with his wife Madhulika Rawat and 11 other army personnel who were on board the IAF Mi-17V5 helicopter.

General Rawat was travelling from Sulur to Wellington when his helicopter crashed near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu on Wednesday afternoon. According to sources, the IAF chief on Wednesday visited Sulur Airbase, from where the helicopter took off.

General Rawat, India's first CDS, was on a visit to the Defence Services Staff College in Wellington to address the faculty and student officers of the Staff Course when his chopper crashed.The IAF has ordered an inquiry into the accident.

General Rawat was appointed as India's first Chief of Defense Staff on December 31, 2019. He previously served as Chief of the Army Staff from January 2017 to December 2019. He was commissioned into the Indian Army in December 1978. (ANI)
The accident claimed the lives of 13 people including Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat and his wife Madhulika Rawat.

General Rawat was travelling from Sulur to Wellington when his helicopter crashed near Coonoor.

General Rawat, India''s first CDS, was on a visit to the Defence Services Staff College in Wellington to address the faculty and student officers of the Staff Course when his chopper crashed.

The Indian Air Force has ordered an inquiry into the accident.

General Rawat was appointed as India''s first Chief of Defense Staff on December 31, 2019. He previously served as Chief of the Army Staff from January 2017 to December 2019. He was commissioned into the Indian Army in December 1978. (ANI)
General Rawat was travelling from Sulur to Wellington in Tamil Nadu when his helicopter crashed near Coonoor on Wednesday.

Lok Sabha observed a two-minute silence on the demise of the 13 people.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in his opening remarks during the proceedings of the Lower House said that General Rawat was on a scheduled visit to Defence Services Staff College in Wellington.

"Indian Air Force (IAF) has ordered a tri-service inquiry into the military chopper crash. The investigation will be led by Air Marshal Manavendra Singh. The inquiry team reached Wellington yesterday itself and started the investigation," he added.

Singh also said that the last rites of General Rawat will be performed with full military honours.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla also condoled the demise of those who died in the crash.

He also said that General Rawat had contributed immensely to the country.

General Rawat was appointed as India's first Chief of Defense Staff on December 31, 2019. He previously served as Chief of the Army Staff from January 2017 to December 2019. He was commissioned into the Indian Army in December 1978. (ANI)
The Opposition leaders have called off their ongoing sit-in dharna against the suspension of the 12 Rajya Sabha MPs for the day as a mark of respect towards Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat and 12 others who lost their lives in a chopper crash. Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Upper House, Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday told ANI, "We have decided not to protest, against the suspension of 12 Rajya Sabha MPs, today in honour of CDS Bipin Rawat and the soldiers who died in the chopper crash and to pay tribute to them. We will also attend Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's address." Shiv Sena's Priyanka Chaturvedi said, "On the solidarity of CDS and others who lost their lives in the crash, we have called off the protest today." "As a mark of respect to late CDS and other jawans who lost their lives in chopper crashed we have suspended our dharma for today and will resume tomorrow," a statement issued by Congress read. Rajya Sabha has been witnessing back-to-back adjournments since the commencement of the winter session on November 29 over the suspension of 12 MPs. The Opposition leaders have been protesting against the suspension along with the suspended MPs at the Gandhi statue in the premises of the Parliament. The suspended members comprise six from the Congress, two each from Trinamool Congress and Shiv Sena, and one each from CPI and CPM: Phulo Devi Netam, Chhaya Verma, Ripun Bora, Rajamani Patel, Syed Nasir Hussain and Akhilesh Prasad Singh of Congress; Dola Sen, Shanta Chhetri of Trinamool Congress; Priyanka Chaturvedi, Anil Desai of Shiv Sena; Elamaram Kareem of CPM; and, Binoy Viswam of CPI. On November 29, the members were suspended for alleged unruly conduct towards the end of the monsoon session in August when marshals were called after Opposition members stormed the Well of the House during the passage of the General Insurance Business (Nationalisation) Amendment Bill, 2021. Meanwhile, the Indian Air Force (IAF) on Wednesday confirmed the demise of General Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat and 11 others, who were on-board the IAF Mi-17V5 helicopter. General Rawat, India's first CDS, was on a visit to the Defence Services Staff College in Wellington to address the faculty and student officers of the Staff Course when his chopper crashed near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu. General Rawat was appointed as India's first Chief of Defense Staff on December 31, 2019. He previously served as Chief of the Army Staff from January 2017 to December 2019. He was commissioned into the Indian Army in December 1978. A veteran of counterinsurgency warfare, CDS Rawat served in the most difficult terrains including Northern and Eastern commands. (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday paid tributes to members of the first Constituent Assembly that met on this day 75 years ago for the first time and urged youngsters to know more about this gathering's proceedings and about the eminent stalwarts who were a part of it. Taking to Twitter, the Prime Minister said, "Today, 75 years ago our Constituent Assembly met for the first time. Distinguished people from different parts of India, different backgrounds and even differing ideologies came together with one aim- to give the people of India a worthy Constitution. Tributes to these greats." The first sitting of the Constituent Assembly was Presided over by Dr Sachchidananda Sinha, who was the eldest member of the Assembly, the Prime Minister said. "He was introduced and conducted to the Chair by Acharya Kripalani," the PM noted. "Today, as we mark 75 years of the historic sitting of our Constituent Assembly, I would urge my young friends to know more about this august gathering's proceedings and about the eminent stalwarts who were a part of it. Doing so would be an intellectually enriching experience," the PM added. (ANI)
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has occasionally said that she owns nothing but perhaps that is not the case with her other family members. A recent declaration by her sister-in-law, Kajari Banerjee, shows that she and her husband -- Samir Banerjee have a cumulative property worth nearly Rs five crore. Kajari Banerjee, the Trinamool Congress candidate for ward No. 73, in her affidavit announced that she has a moveable property worth more than Rs 2.45 crore and an immovable property worth Rs 1.5 crore. On the other hand, the Chief Minister's brother Samir Banerjee has moveable property worth nearly Rs 29 lakh and immovable property worth Rs 70 lakh, which cumulatively is around Rs 5 crore. Giving a detail of the property Kajari Banerjee in her affidavit mentioned that she is the owner of nine plots of land, including plots in Birbhum, Kolkata and even at Puri and Talcher in Odisha. Not only Kajari but her husband also owns five properties, including one residential building in Kalighat. She also has gold ornaments of around 400 grams worth nearly Rs 20 lakh. Both 53-year-old Kajari and her husband, who has declared themselves as social workers, have an annual income of Rs 25.7 lakh and 17.8 lakh respectively. Interestingly enough the West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee's net worth assets have gone down in the last 5 years. In her self-sworn affidavit filed before the Election Commission of India, Mamata declared that her net worth is Rs 16.72 lakh which is 48 per cent less compared to her 2016 assets. The 66-year-old leader's total movable assets were worth Rs 30.45 lakh before the Assembly election in 2016. The Trinamool Congress supremo, who contested from the Nandigram Assembly constituency in Purba Medinipur district, doesn't own any vehicle or property. Her income for the year 2019-20 was Rs 10,34,370. --IANS sbg/dpb ( 319 Words) 2021-12-09-09:16:22 (IANS)
The mortal remains of those who died in the fatal helicopter crash near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu will be brought to Delhi today in an IAF plane. The mortal remains reached Sulur airbase earlier today from where they will be taken to Delhi. Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat and 11 others, who were on board IAF's Mi-17V5 helicopter, died in the crash on Wednesday. The last rites will be held in Delhi on Friday with military honours. A funeral procession will start from Kamraj Marg to Brar Square crematorium in Delhi Cantonment on Friday. The mortal remains were today brought to Madras Regimental Centre from Military Hospital, Wellington in Nilgiris district. People paid floral tribute to the deceased here. Among the attendees were Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, Governor of Telangana and Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan, who paid floral tribute to General Rawat and others at Madras Regimental Centre. The government today ordered a 'tri service' enquiry into the accident. The enquiry will be headed by Air Marshal Manvendra Singh, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Training Command. Informing about the timeline of the fatal crash, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in Lok Sabha said that the IAF chopper lost contact with the Sulur base control room at around 12.08 pm, after it took off at 11.48 am from Sulur airbase. Both Houses of the Parliament observed two-minutes silence on the demise of 13 people. A video of the IAF's helicopter flying in the air, shot by locals, has also surfaced that apparently shows its final moments before the crash. Indian Air Force (IAF) chief, Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari today reached the site of the crash. The IAF said that it has recovered critical equipment of the helicopter. According to the sources, the black box of the chopper has been recovered. Meanwhile, a team of the state's Forensic Science Department also visited the crash site. A total of 14 people were on-board the IAF's helicopter. Group Captain Varun Singh is the lone survivor of the crash and is presently on life support in Military Hospital, Wellington. Those who died in the crash include General Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat, his Defence Adviser Brigadier Lakhbinder Singh Lidder, Staff Officer Lieutenant Colonel Harjinder Singh and nine other Armed Forces personnel including the Air Force helicopter crew. Their names are Wing Commander Prithvi Singh Chauhan, Squadron Leader Kuldeep Singh, Junior Warrant Officer Rana Pratap Das, Junior Warrant Officer Arakkal Pradeep, Havildar Satpal Rai, Naik Gursewak Singh, Naik Jitendra Kumar, Lance Naik Vivek Kumar, Lance Naik B Sai Teja. (ANI)
Speaking to ANI, uncle of General Rawat, Bharat Singh Rawat said that the General had great affection for his family and this place.

"It is a painful incident. He had great affection for this place. He used to visit here during childhood and also after he became General in the Army. He had said he would visit again. It is a great loss not just for us as a family but also for the whole nation," he said.

Bharat Singh Rawat told ANI that he would visit Gen Rawat's residence in New Delhi.

Earlier on Thursday, the mortal remains of those killed in the military chopper crash on Wednesday were brought to Madras Regimental Centre from Military Hospital, Wellington in Nilgiris district of Tamil Nadu.

The accident claimed the lives of 13 people including General Bipin Rawat and his wife Madhulika Rawat.

General Rawat was travelling from Sulur to Wellington when his helicopter crashed near Coonoor.General Rawat, India's first CDS, was on a visit to the Defence Services Staff College in Wellington to address the faculty and student officers of the Staff Course when his chopper crashed.

The Indian Air Force has ordered an inquiry into the accident.

General Rawat was appointed as India's first Chief of Defense Staff on December 31, 2019. He previously served as Chief of the Army Staff from January 2017 to December 2019. He was commissioned into the Indian Army in December 1978. (ANI)
The video, shot by locals, captured the flying helicopter disappearing into the mist within seconds.

People can be seen walking on a deserted railway track to spot the chopper.

A change in the sound of the helicopter flying overhead can be heard as people look at each other. Someone asked, "What happened? Did it crash?" to which another seemingly replied "Yes."

As can be seen in the video, the weather was apparently cloudy.

The helicopter, which took off from Sulur airbase at 11:48 am, lost contact with the control room at around 12.08 pm.

General Rawat was headed to Defence Services Staff College in Wellington to address the faculty and student officers of the Staff Course when his chopper crashed.

General Rawat's wife Madhulika Rawat, his Defence Adviser Brigadier Lakhbinder Singh Lidder, Staff Officer Lieutenant Colonel Harjinder Singh and nine other Armed Forces personnel including the Air Force helicopter crew lost their lives in the accident.

Group Captain Varun Singh is the only survivor and is presently on life support in Military Hospital, Wellington.

Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhary visited the crash site today. Tamil Nadu's forensic science department team also visited the site today.

The IAF has ordered an inquiry into the accident. (ANI)
The Personal Security Officer (PSO) of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat, Lance Naik B. Sai Teja, was among the 12 army personnel who lost their lives in the military helicopter crash that took place on Wednesday. Speaking to ANI, Sai Teja's niece, B. Sukumar said that Lance Naik Teja spoke to the family on a video call in the morning preceding the crash and they were shocked to know the sudden development that took place in the afternoon. Sukumar further said that Sai Teja last visited home in September on the occasion of the Vinayaka Chaviti festival. Lance Naik Sai Teja, born at Kantevaripalli village in Andhra Pradesh's Chittoor district, joined the Indian Army in 2013 in the Bengaluru Regiment. After serving for a year in the Army, he again attended departmental exams and was posted as Lance Naik at 11 Para (special forces). He rendered services at the Bengaluru Army training camp and was later appointed in the personal security wing of CDS. Sai Teja is survived by his wife Syamala and two kids - a two-year-old daughter and a six-year-old son. His brother Mahesh Babu is also serving in the army and is currently posted in Sikkim. People from various parts of the district have been expressing their solidarity and offering condolences to the family members of the deceased Lance Naik. Lance Naik's funeral will be performed at his native village as per the Hindu customs, informed Sukumar. On Wednesday, an IAF chopper crash in Tamil Nadu claimed the lives of 13 people including General Bipin Rawat and his wife. General Rawat, India's first CDS, was on a visit to the Defence Services Staff College in Wellington to address the faculty and student officers of the Staff Course when his chopper crashed near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu on Wednesday. General Rawat was appointed as India's first Chief of Defence Staff on December 31, 2019. He previously served as Chief of the Army Staff from January 2017 to December 2019. He was commissioned into the Indian Army in December 1978. A veteran of counterinsurgency warfare, CDS Rawat served in the most difficult terrains including Northern and Eastern commands. (ANI)
The blast occurred inside a laptop bag, and the explosion was of low intensity, added the police.

The injured person had been identified as Rajeev and is currently undergoing treatment at a hospital.

Forensic and NSG teams are inspecting and examining the bag, added the police.

The spot has been cordoned. (ANI)
A sessions court has upheld a magistrate court order directing Delhi Police to lodge an FIR against a man, accused of cheating another man over the sale of an industrial plot. Special Judge Ajay Kumar Jain upheld a magistrate court order dated November 27, 2021. "Prima facie, the ingredients of cognizable offence is made out. From mere agreement to sell, it cannot be held that the present matter is a purely civil dispute. I do not find any infirmity in the impugned order passed by the Trial court. In view of the above discussion, the present revision petition stands dismissed," the Court said. The court was hearing a revision petition filed by Shailender Bhaduria, who has challenged an order of magistrate court. The sessions court noted that the accused Bhaduria do not appear to have taken any steps to secure the title documents in terms of the agreement to sell and hushed up the entire amount of Rs. 2 crores, and thereafter also gained Rs. 2.2 crores from the saidtransaction. In the agreement to sell dated June 20, 2019, notarized on June 29, 2019, the accused has disclosed to the complainant regarding the fact that the property in question is mortgaged with Union Bank of India for the loan amount of Rs 2,21,35,881.73/- and he will clear the loan amount and arrange the original documents within 15 days along with NOC from the bank. There is nothing in the status report or in the present revision petition whether the accused has complied with the said undertaking in the agreement to sell. The accused admittedly took Rs 2 crores as an advance to clear the loan amount and to release the original documents from the bank but no steps appear to have been taken by the accused after taking such a huge amount from the complainant, the Court noted. The Court also observed that on the other hand property is found to have beensold by the bank under statutory auction process to the third party underSARFAESI Act. Neetu Sanan, who is director of NS Exports Pvt. Ltd. was represented by advocatesBiswajit Das and Anamika Sharma. Brief facts as per the complaint filed are that the complainant on June 18, 2019, visited the residence of accused Shailender Bhaduria and finalised the deal for the sale of an industrial plot measuring 800 sq. mt. For Rs 7,85,000,00/-. It is alleged in the complaint that the accused stated himself to the sole owner and will carry out the entire exercise of sale and purchase as per the requirement of the complainant and the complainant was forced to pay Rs. 51 lacs as advance payment withthe false assurance that the accused will show the original documents in themeantime. However, in the meanwhile, the complainant came to know from one Deepak Arora that the property is mortgaged with the bank and this fact is concealed by the accused at the time of taking money of Rs. 51 lacs, however, started pressurizing to pay another Rs. 1.49 crore. Thereafter on June 28, 2019, the complainant made the said payment and the accused assured that he will get all the original documents, papers, title deed, clearances, etc. but the accused had not acted in consonance of his assurance and made all kinds of false promises and withheld the crucial information that it is already under the auction process of SARFAESI, 2002. The complainant said that they have been created as the accused not cleared the loan from the Union Bank of India from the amount paid to him. (ANI)
The Defence Minister said that the probe will be headed by Air Marshal Manavendra Singh.

He added that the IAF inquiry team had reached Wellington on Wednesday and already started investigations.

General Rawat's last rites will be performed with full military honours, Rajnath told Parliament, adding that the last rites of other military personnel will be performed with appropriate honour.

The Lok Sabha also observed a two-minute silence on the demise of the 13 people in Wednesday's crash of the M 17 helicopter.

--IANS ksk/dpb

( 141 Words)

2021-12-09-11:18:23 (IANS)
The Madras High Court has summoned Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary V. Irai Anbu to explain as to why the water bodies in the state were not protected and encroachments removed. A first bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Munishwar Nath Bhandari and Justice P.D. Adikesavalu on Wednesday flayed the government over its failure to protect water bodies and remove encroachments saying that the status report it provided lacked required information. Irai Anbu had submitted a report in the court that he had given instructions to the Inspector General of Registration not to allow registration of land located on water bodies. This, the court stated was not adequate. Inaction of officers concerned may result in an order leading to 'disciplinary inquiry' against all defaulting officers, observed the bench and directed Advocate General R Shanmugasundharam not to take the matters lightly. The Acting Chief Justice said that failure of the government officials to protect water bodies has led to floods as well as water scarcity and these are draining the government coffers and creating misery for people of the state. Justice Bhandari, while issuing orders summoning the Chief Secretary said: Take this very seriously and we have one intention and that is the state of Tamil Nadu must not suffer next year like the situation that we have this year." According to the submission given by the state government, of the 57,688 encroachments on water bodies, only 8,797 were removed,he added. --IANS aal/shb/ ( 255 Words) 2021-12-09-11:23:10 (IANS)
The mortal remains of those killed in the military chopper crash on Wednesday were brought to Madras Regimental Centre today from Military Hospital, Wellington in Nilgiris district of Tamil Nadu.

A total of 14 people were on board the IAF's helicopter. Group Captain Varun Singh is the lone survivor of the crash and is presently on life support in Military Hospital, Wellington.

Those who died in the crash include General Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat, his Defence Adviser Brigadier Lakhbinder Singh Lidder, Staff Officer Lieutenant Colonel Harjinder Singh and nine other Armed Forces personnel including the Air Force helicopter crew.

Their names are Wing Commander Prithvi Singh Chauhan, Squadron Leader Kuldeep Singh, Junior Warrant Officer Rana Pratap Das, Junior Warrant Officer Arakkal Pradeep, Havildar Satpal Rai, Naik Gursewak Singh, Naik Jitendra Kumar, Lance Naik Vivek Kumar, Lance Naik B Sai Teja.

General Rawat was travelling from Sulur to Wellington when his helicopter crashed near Coonoor. General Rawat, India's first CDS, was on a visit to the Defence Services Staff College in Wellington to address the faculty and student officers of the Staff Course when his chopper crashed.

The Indian Air Force has ordered an inquiry into the accident.

General Rawat was appointed as India's first Chief of Defence Staff on December 31, 2019.

He previously served as Chief of the Army Staff from January 2017 to December 2019. He was commissioned into the Indian Army in December 1978. (ANI)
AstraZeneca's Evusheld (Tixagevimab co-packaged with Cilgavimab), a long-acting antibody (LAAB) combination, has received emergency use authorisation (EUA) in the US for the pre-exposure prophylaxis (prevention) of COVID-19, with first doses expected to become available very soon. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted the EUA for Evusheld for pre-exposure prophylaxis of COVID-19 in adults and adolescents (aged 12 and older who weigh 40kg or more) with moderate to severe immune-compromised due to a medical condition or immunosuppressive medications and who may not mount an adequate immune response to COVID-19 vaccination, as well as those individuals for whom COVID-19 vaccination is not recommended. Recipients should not be currently infected with or had recent known exposure to a person infected with SARS-CoV-2. Myron J. Levin, MD, Professor of Paediatrics and Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, US, and principal investigator on the PROVENT trial, said, "Millions of people in the US and around the world remain at serious risk for COVID-19 because their immune systems do not generate a sufficient immune response, even after receiving all recommended doses of vaccine. I am excited to offer my patients Evusheld as an easily-administered new option that provides long-lasting protection that could help them return to their everyday lives." Mene Pangalos, Executive Vice President, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, said, "We are proud to play a leading role in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic and, with Evusheld, we now have the first antibody therapy authorised in the US to prevent COVID-19 symptoms before virus exposure, while also providing long-lasting protection with a single dose." "Evusheld neutralises all previous SARs-CoV-2 variants to date, and we are working quickly to establish its efficacy against the new Omicron variant. We thank our clinical trial participants, the investigators, scientists, and government agencies and our colleagues at AstraZeneca who have all contributed to the development of Evusheld," said Pangalos. Brian Koffman, MDCM (retired), MS Ed, Co-Founder, Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of the CLL (Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia) Society, US, said, "One of the primary questions I keep getting asked by patients is 'When can I hug my grandchildren again?' As a physician and person with a weakened immune system, l am filled with hope now that Evusheld will soon be available to those who can't count on vaccination alone to provide the protection they need." Evusheld is a combination of two long-acting monoclonal antibodies and is the only antibody therapy authorised in the US for COVID-19 pre-exposure prophylaxis and the only COVID-19 antibody delivered as an intramuscular dose (150mg Tixagevimab and 150mg Cilgavimab). About 2 per cent of the global population is considered at increased risk of an inadequate response to a COVID-19 vaccine 1,2 In India, this percentage could be a bit higher given the problem of underdiagnosis and ignorance. This includes people with blood cancers or other cancers being treated with chemotherapy, and those taking medications after an organ transplant or who are taking immunosuppressive drugs for conditions including multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis.5-9 Gagandeep Singh Bedi, Managing Director AstraZeneca India Pharma Limited added, "The U.S. Food and Drug Administration's EUA approval of AZD7442 for the prevention of COVID-19 is an important milestone globally." "We welcome this news and the opportunity it provides to support the unmet needs of high risk and immune-compromised patients and we have already initiated engagements with the relevant health authorities in India to provide them with the latest evidence. Recent data from the Phase III PROVENT trial showed a robust efficacy profile and AZD7442 has so far demonstrated protection of up to six months against COVID-19 in this population," said Bedi. The primary data supporting the Evusheld EUA are from the ongoing PROVENT Phase III pre-exposure prevention trial, which showed a statistically significant reduction (77 per cent at primary analysis, 83 per cent at median six-month analysis) in the risk of developing symptomatic COVID-19 compared to placebo, with protection from the virus continuing for at least six months. More follow-up is needed to establish the full duration of protection provided by Evusheld. Data from the Phase III STORM CHASER post-exposure trial and the Evusheld Phase I trial also supported the EUA. Evusheld was well-tolerated in the trials. Studies are underway to provide information on the impact of the new Omicron variant (B.1.1.529) on Evusheld.10,11 Of the Omicron binding site substitutions relevant to Evusheld that have been tested to date in preclinical assays, none have been associated with escape from Evusheld neutralisation.10,11. In vitro findings demonstrate Evusheld neutralises other recent emergent SARS-CoV-2 viral variants, including the Delta and Mu variants.10 Evusheld is being developed with support from the US government, including federal funds from the Department of Health and Human Services; Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response; Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority in partnership with the Department of Defense; Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defense, under Contract No. W911QY-21-9-0001. AstraZeneca has agreed to supply the US government with 700,000 doses of Evusheld. The U.S. government has indicated that it plans to distribute these doses to states and territories at no cost and on a pro-rata basis. AstraZeneca is progressing with filings around the globe for potential emergency use authorisation or conditional approval of Evusheld in both COVID-19 prophylaxis and treatment. In India, the company intends to submit its application after emergency use authorization by USFDA with the hope that the addition of this monoclonal antibody cocktail will provide adequate ammunition in the fight against COVID-19 disease, especially for high risk vulnerable and immunocompromised patients. (ANI)
Located centrally, Rawat's residence is on K Kamraj Marg an arterial road connecting Sena Bhawan.

The security augments here at Rawat's residence consist of Defence security core (DSC), Army police and contingencies of Delhi police and companies of CRPF.

The security forces have strategically divided the road into three parts to ensure the uninterrupted movement of vehicles passing through Kamraj Marg.

The first part was done by accommodating a huge media presence on the opposite side of the road followed by properly placed traffic cones to facilitate the divisions.

Lastly, a series of barricades have been placed just outside the residence of the CDS where security personnel are allowing visitors only after conducting a basic enquiry to maintain public order.

Army officials and political leaders have been pouring in to meet his family since report of the demise was confirmed on December 8.

The helicopter crashed around noon shortly after it took off from the Air Force base in Sulur, Coimbatore, for Wellington in the Nilgiri Hills.

Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat's wife Madhulika Rawat, his DA Brigadier LS Lidder, his SO Lieutenant Colonel Harjinder Singh were among the 14 people on board the military chopper that crashed on Wednesday afternoon near Coonoor, Tamil Nadu.

The Indian Air Force has issued a list of names of General Rawat's staff who were also on-board the crashed chopper.

The General was heading to the Defence Services Staff College in Wellington to address the faculty and student officers of the Staff Course on Wednesday.A veteran of counterinsurgency warfare, CDS Rawat served in the most difficult terrains including northern and eastern commands. (ANI)
Odisha Assembly on Thursday paid homage to Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat, his wife and 11 others who died in the Mi-17V5 helicopter crash near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu on Wednesday afternoon. Moving an obituary reference in the Assembly, Chief Minister and leader of the House Naveen Patnaik said: "He (Gen Rawat) had an extremely distinguished career of over four decades of selfless service marked by exceptional gallantry. He was conferred with the Param Vishisht Seva Medal, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, Vishisht Seva Medal, and many prestigious awards. He expired on December 8, 2021 at the age of 63." Terming the sad demise of General Rawat and all 11 other armed personnel an "irreparable" loss to the nation, Patnaik said: "Their outstanding service to our nation will always be remembered." He requested Speaker SN Patro to kindly let the House pay sincere condolences to the members of the bereaved families. BJP chief whip Mohan Charan Majhi, Congress legislature party leader Narasingha Mishra and CPI (M) member Laxman Munda too joined the leader of the House in mourning. "Demise of Defence Chief General Bipin Rawat is a great loss to the country. His untimely death by crashing of an IAF chopper indicates the serious failure somewhere or a part of conspiracy. If this could happen to the chief of the defence force, naturally the question arises how safe we are," said Mishra in the House. The Assembly observed a minute of silence as a mark of respect to the departed souls and then adjourned till 4 p.m. Meanwhile, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan expressed grief at the death of Junior Warrant Officer (JWO) Rana Pratap Das, who was from Odisha, in the incident. "While the country is yet to come to terms with the unfortunate chopper crash yesterday, I also mourn the demise of JWO Rana Pratap Das who lost his life along with CDS Gen Rawat, his wife and other defence personnel. Shri Das was from my hometown in Talcher, Odisha," Pradhan said in a tweet. As an exceptional gentleman, Das served the nation with courage, commitment and diligence. With his passing away, the country has lost a fine IAF officer and Odisha a brave son, he said. Pradhan offered his deepest condolences to family & friends of Das. --IANS bbm/shb/ ( 399 Words) 2021-12-09-12:22:22 (IANS)
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt, National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval and services chiefs would also be present.

The mortal remains of CDS and other Armed Forces personnel will reach Delhi around 8 pm today.

Some of the family members of the personnel killed in the military aircraft crash will also be present.

The sources said that the four bodies including that of General Rawat, his wife and Brigadier LS Lidder have been positively identified.

Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat and 11 others, who were on board IAF's Mi-17V5 helicopter, died in the crash on Wednesday.

The last rites will be held in Delhi on Friday with military honours. A funeral procession will start from Kamraj Marg to Brar Square crematorium in Delhi Cantonment on Friday.

The mortal remains were today brought to Madras Regimental Centre from Military Hospital, Wellington in Nilgiris district. People paid floral tribute to the deceased here.

The government today ordered a 'tri service' enquiry into the accident.The enquiry will be headed by Air Marshal Manvendra Singh, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Training Command.

Both Houses of Parliament observed two-minutes silence on the demise of 13 people.According to the sources, the black box of the chopper has been recovered.Meanwhile, a team of the state's Forensic Science Department also visited the crash site.

A total of 14 people were onboard the IAF's helicopter. Group Captain Varun Singh is the lone survivor of the crash and is presently on life support in Military Hospital, Wellington.

Those who died in the crash include General Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat, his Defence Adviser Brigadier Lakhbinder Singh Lidder, Staff Officer Lieutenant Colonel Harjinder Singh and nine other Armed Forces personnel including the Air Force helicopter crew.

Their names are Wing Commander Prithvi Singh Chauhan, Squadron Leader Kuldeep Singh, Junior Warrant Officer Rana Pratap Das, Junior Warrant Officer Arakkal Pradeep, Havildar Satpal Rai, Naik Gursewak Singh, Naik Jitendra Kumar, Lance Naik Vivek Kumar, Lance Naik B Sai Teja. (ANI)
Attacking the Opposition, Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Processing Sanjeev Balyan on Thursday said that now since the farmers are happy after the repeal of the three farm laws, the Opposition is left with no issue to do politics. Balyan's remarks came after farmers, who have been protesting against the three farm laws on different borders of Delhi since November 26 last year, announced on Wednesday that they are suspending their year-long agitation and would vacate the protest sites on December 11. The announcement came after the protesting farmers received a letter from the Central government, with promises of forming a committee on Minimum Support Price (MSP) and withdrawing cases against them immediately. Speaking to ANI, Balyan, said, "Farmers are happy and they are going home with happy faces. Their happy faces have left the opposition with no issues for their politics. They (Opposition) never did any work so they were attacking us with the farmers' agitation. Speaking on the Minimum Support Price (MSP), Balyan assured that the committee constituted by the Centre on MSP consists of farmer leaders as its members and the decision will be taken in the favour of the farmers." Balyan said, "The three farm laws were in the favor of the farmers but the farmers were not happy so the Prime Minister took the decision to repeal them." On November 19, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that the Centre will bring necessary bills in the Winter Session of Parliament beginning later this month to repeal the farm laws. Both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha passed the Farm Laws Repeal Bill on the first day of the winter session on November 29. President Ram Nath Kovind has also given his assent to the Bill that completes the process of repealing the three farm laws. The SKM called off a planned tractor march to Parliament on November 29 and said that it would wait until December 4 for the Union government to formally respond to its demands, which it had stated in an open letter to the Prime Minister. (ANI)
Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) national spokesperson Rakesh Tikait on Thursday said the farmers and government have not reached a consensus but agreed on a few demands. After the repeal of three farm laws, a big announcement is awaited on Thursday. The Samyukta Kisan Morcha is awaiting a written response to their demands from the government. It will also be holding a meeting later in the day to discuss future plan of action. Talking to IANS, Tikait said: "A decision on agitation will be taken after the Government gives something in writing. There is no consensus between us and the government. There is a difference between a complete consensus and compromise." "We are accepting the consensus arrived at by our five-member committee and the government," Tikait added. On Lakhimpur Kheri incident not finding a mention in the farmers' proposal, Tikait said: "So many issues are pending, talks will be held on those issues too. Many demands were withdrawn also." Asked whether "Mission UP" will continue in the poll-bound state, the farmers' leader said: "Right now, no decision has been taken. We will be able to tell you on the matter, only after the Model Code of Conduct comes into force in Uttar Pradesh." "Electricity is very expensive in Uttar Pradesh. We will soon hold a meeting with state Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and put forth our demands," he said. On whether Tikait will ally with the BJP as in the previous polls, he said: "Lakhimpur Kheri victims are yet to get compensation, eventhough it was included in our letter. Rate and clearance of sugarcane dues is also a big issue. There are several other issues on which we want to hold talks with the government." On the issue of difference of opinion among farmers who were sitting on Singhu border, the leader said: "Objections were raised on many issues, But when a decision is taken at a higher level, we have to forgo a few demands. Farmers of Haryana also have some issues. After meeting the Uttar Pradesh government, we will meet the Haryana government and sort out the issue." Asked whether the farmers will leave Delhi with show of strength or peacefully, Tikait claimed that the farmers will leave the borders peacefully. "There is no need of celebration. We have faced financial loss and many farmers were martyred in the strike," he claimed. "Farmers have set an example of solidarity, community differences have been wiped out due to the agitation. Farmers do not come from any caste," he opined. --IANS msk/svn/shb/ ( 435 Words) 2021-12-09-12:38:12 (IANS)
With an overwhelming majority of 42,000 workers participating in the strike, coal extraction was paralysed in all 23 underground and 19 open cast mines.

Employees struck the work and staged the protest at the mines, opposing the union coal ministry's proposal to auction the coal blocks.

Major trade union Telangana Boggu Gani Karmika Sangham (TBGKS) affiliated to ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) has called for the strike. Trade unions affiliated to the five central trade unions Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS) and Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS).

The TBGKS has called for the 72-hour strike to press for a five-point charter of demands including removal of four coal blocks of the SCCL from the coal ministry's list of commercial coal mine auction.

The five trade unions also served strike notice on the management to press for a 12-point charter of demands.

The coal ministry proposes to auction Sattupally open cast Block-3 in Khammam district, Sravanpally open cast Block-3 in Asifabad district, Koya Gudem opencast Block-3 in Bhadradri Kothagudem, and Kalyanakhani underground Block-6 in Mancherial district.

The trade unions have threatened to launch an indefinite strike if the Centre goes ahead with the process of calling tenders for the auction.

Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Wednesday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to stop auctioning of four coal blocks of SCCL.

The chief minister pointed out that the Singareni Collieries Company is producing 65 million tonnes of Coal every year and playing a key role in catering to the needs of thermal power Plants in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

He said that after bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, the maximum demand for power in Telangana was 5,661 MW in 2014 and by March 2021, it went up to 13,688 MWs and it is essential to supply coal uninterruptedly for the generation of thermal power.

--IANS ms/svn/skp/

( 369 Words)

2021-12-09-13:12:12 (IANS)
The distance from MRC Wellington to Sulur air force station is 87 km and the road traffic was diverted to prevent any disruptions during the transportation.

The bodies will be flown from Sulur airforce station to the respective native places of the crash victims. The bodies of General Bipin Rawat and his wife Madhulika Rawat will be flown to New Delhi and will be kept at their official residence at Kamaraj Marg.

Prime Minister Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah, other political leaders, and Armed forces personnel are expected to pay their last respects to General Rawat in Delhi.

The Defence Minister has already announced in Parliament that the bodies of all those dead in the air crash would be given full state honours.

--IANS aal/skp/

( 188 Words)

2021-12-09-13:28:42 (IANS)
The incident happened during his tenure as General Officer Commanding of Dimapur-based 3 Corps.

General Rawat and three army personnel had suffered minor injuries when their helicopter crashed seconds after taking off from Rabgapahar helipad in Dimapur district on February 3, 2015.

The chopper crashed after its engine stalled soon after the takeoff at a height of about 20 feet off the ground.

CDS Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat and 11 others, who were on board IAF's Mi-17V5 helicopter, died in the crash on Wednesday.

His last rites will be performed in Delhi on Friday with full military honours. The funeral procession will start from Kamraj Marg to Brar Square crematorium in Delhi Cantonment.

The mortal remains were today brought to Madras Regimental Centre from Military Hospital, Wellington in Nilgiris district. People paid floral tributes to Gen Rawat and others who died in the tragic incident.

The government has ordered a 'tri service' inquiry into the accident which will be headed by Air Marshal Manvendra Singh, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Training Command.

Both Houses of Parliament observed two-minutes silence to pay respect to Gen Rawat and others who died in the crash.

According to the sources, the black box of the chopper has been recovered. A team of the state's Forensic Science Department also visited the crash site.

Group Captain Varun Singh is the lone survivor of the crash and is undergoing treatment at Military Hospital, Wellington. (ANI)
People of Jammu and Kashmir's Baramulla have lost more than anyone else in Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat's death as he had a close connection with them, said General Officer Commanding of the Army's Chinar Corps, Lieutenant General DP Pandey on Thursday. Lieutenant General Pandey was addressing the media after paying tribute to General Rawat at Sherwani Community Hall, Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir. A two-day condolence ceremony is being organised at Sherwani Community Hall, Baramulla to pay homage to India's first Chief of Defence Staff. Lieutenant General DP Pandey, GOC Chinar Corps along with GOC Dagger Division, Major General Ajay Chandpuri and prominent persons from civil and district administration paid homage. "I do not think I have seen the amount of love and connection which he had with the people of Uri, Baramulla and with the people of whole Kashmir. We will take time to recover from this loss. If you see the display picture especially of the media-men, I think everyone has a picture with him," said General Pandey. He further said that General Rawat used to attend phone calls from everyone from Baramulla. "He would listen to their requirements and then he would call me and ask me to listen to their demands and help them. I am sure the people of Baramulla have lost more than anyone else," he said. "I really wanted to come here to Baramulla where he was a GOC. Though he was also the commander of 5 Sector (RR), the two tenures were close to his heart especially because of the people. I am sure you all must be feeling this loss like the Indian Army, Armed forces and the whole country is feeling. His wife and others were also killed and this is a huge tragedy and it will take a lot of time for us to come out of this grief," he added. Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat and 11 others, who were on board IAF's Mi-17V5 helicopter, died in the crash on Wednesday. The last rites will be held in Delhi on Friday with military honours. A funeral procession will start from Kamraj Marg to Brar Square crematorium in Delhi Cantonment on Friday. The mortal remains were today brought to Madras Regimental Centre from Military Hospital, Wellington in Nilgiris district. People paid floral tribute to the deceased here. The government today ordered a 'tri service' enquiry into the accident.The enquiry will be headed by Air Marshal Manvendra Singh, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Training Command. Both Houses of Parliament observed two-minutes silence on the demise of 13 people. According to the sources, the black box of the chopper has been recovered.Meanwhile, a team of the state's Forensic Science Department also visited the crash site. A total of 14 people were on-board the IAF's helicopter. Group Captain Varun Singh is the lone survivor of the crash and is presently on life support in Military Hospital, Wellington. Those who died in the crash include General Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat, his Defence Adviser Brigadier Lakhbinder Singh Lidder, Staff Officer Lieutenant Colonel Harjinder Singh and nine other Armed Forces personnel including the Air Force helicopter crew. Their names are Wing Commander Prithvi Singh Chauhan, Squadron Leader Kuldeep Singh, Junior Warrant Officer Rana Pratap Das, Junior Warrant Officer Arakkal Pradeep, Havildar Satpal Rai, Naik Gursewak Singh, Naik Jitendra Kumar, Lance Naik Vivek Kumar, Lance Naik B Sai Teja. (ANI)
Chief Metropolitan Magistrate of Saket Court granted bail to Sharjeel Imam in FIR No. 296/19 Police Station Jamia Nagar.

"Considering the nature of the offence, and the fact that he was not arrested during the investigation, the application is allowed," Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Dinesh Kumar said.

The court asked him to furnish a bail bond in the sum of Rs 25,000/- with one surety of like amount.

As he has not furnished bonds, the accused was taken into custody. He will be produced on January 6, 2022, with 'rehnumai' on December 23, 2021, through video conference, the court said.

The case relates to the violence in Jamia on the 13th and 14th of December, 2019.

Besides this case, he is facing charges in other matters too and has to remain in jail as his bail plea in other cases are still pending.

Imam was arrested on January 28, 2020, from Bihar for giving allegedly a seditious speech and abetting riots in the Jamia Millia Islamia area in December 2019

Sharjeel Imam is presently facing various cases in different states including Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and Delhi. (ANI)
As soon as the military aircraft carrying the mortal remains of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat will reach Palam Airbase in Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will pay his last respects to the General and others who passed away in a chopper crash on Wednesday. According to the Indian Army, the Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft from Sulur is expected to arrive at Palam airbase by 7:40 pm today. The 'Shradhanjali ceremony' is scheduled from 8:30 hours today. The Indian Army further said that the positive identification of only three mortal remains has been possible as of now including General Bipin Rawat, Madhulika Rawat and Brigadier LS Lidder. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt, National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval and services chiefs would also be present. The mortal remains will be released to the Next of Kin, for final religious rites as desired by respective families. "Appropriate military funerals of all deceased are being planned and coordinated in close consultation with close family members," said the Indian Army. It further said that the process for positive identification of remaining mortal remains is continuing. The mortal remains will be kept at the Mortuary of Army Base Hospital till the completion of positive identification formalities. Civilians can pay tribute to CDS Gen. Bipin Rawat from 1100-1230 hours at CDS Karaj marg residence tomorrow. The last rites will be held in Delhi on Friday with full military honours. A funeral procession will start from Kamraj Marg to Brar Square crematorium in Delhi Cantonment on Friday. "Military personnel can pay respects between 1230-1330 hours. Thereafter, the mortal remains will be taken in a gun carriage for the funeral in Delhi Cantt Brar Square," the Indian Army added. The last rites of Brig LS Lidder's who passed away in the military chopper crash will be held at 0915 hours at Delhi Cantt tomorrow. Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat and 11 others, who were on board IAF's Mi-17V5 helicopter, died in the crash on Wednesday. The mortal remains were today brought to Madras Regimental Centre from Military Hospital, Wellington in Nilgiris district. People paid floral tribute to the deceased here. The government today ordered a 'tri service' enquiry into the accident.The enquiry will be headed by Air Marshal Manvendra Singh, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Training Command. Both Houses of Parliament observed two-minutes silence on the demise of 13 people. According to the sources, the black box of the chopper has been recovered.Meanwhile, a team of the state's Forensic Science Department also visited the crash site. A total of 14 people were onboard the IAF's helicopter. Group Captain Varun Singh is the lone survivor of the crash and is presently on life support in Military Hospital, Wellington. Those who died in the crash include General Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat, his Defence Adviser Brigadier Lakhbinder Singh Lidder, Staff Officer Lieutenant Colonel Harjinder Singh and nine other Armed Forces personnel including the Air Force helicopter crew. Their names are Wing Commander Prithvi Singh Chauhan, Squadron Leader Kuldeep Singh, Junior Warrant Officer Rana Pratap Das, Junior Warrant Officer Arakkal Pradeep, Havildar Satpal Rai, Naik Gursewak Singh, Naik Jitendra Kumar, Lance Naik Vivek Kumar, Lance Naik B Sai Teja. (ANI)
The Saryu Nahar Rashtriya Pariyojana is a project that connects nine districts from Bahraich to Gorakhpur.

"It took 40 years to complete 52 per cent of work on this plan whereas we did the remaining 48 per cent work in just four years," said the Chief Minister.

The Chief Minister today visited Rapti Barrage in Shravasti to take stock of the preparations for the launch of the Saryu National Project.

CM Yogi also held a review meeting with officials over preparations. (ANI)
Rajya Sabha Leader of Opposition and Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday congratulated the farmers after the withdrawal of their agitation against the Centre over three farm laws and various other issues, adding that it is important that the Centre fulfils whatever it has given in writing to the farmer unions. "I congratulate the farmers who fought for their rights and gained a victory. This is proof that we can achieve anything if we stay united. However, this government gives a lot of things in writing to others, but it is important that they follow it too. Samyukt Kisan Morcha should also make sure that the things given in writing by the centre are actually followed," said Kharge to ANI. Kharge urged that the Centre should compensate the families of over 700 farmers who lost their lives during the agitation. "All of their losses, their children's education must be taken care of by the government. It is also important that law is brought on MSP and is strengthened. Matters of electricity bills of farmers, the demand of fertilisers should also be resolved soon," he added. Farmers, who have been protesting against the three farm laws on different borders of Delhi since November 26 last year, announced on Wednesday that they are suspending their year-long agitation and would vacate the protest sites on December 11. The announcement came after the protesting farmers received a letter from the Central government, with promises of forming a committee on Minimum Support Price (MSP) and withdrawing cases against them immediately. "As far as the matter of compensation is concerned, UP and Haryana have given in-principle consent," it read. While addressing a press conference, farmer leader Gurnam Singh Charuni said, "We have decided to suspend our agitation. We will hold a review meeting on Jan 15. If the government does not fulfil its promises, we could resume our agitation." "Protesting farmers will vacate the protest sites on December 11," another farmers' leader Darshan Pal Singh said. On November 19, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that the Centre will bring necessary bills in the Winter Session of Parliament beginning later this month to repeal the farm laws. Both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha passed the Farm Laws Repeal Bill on the first day of the winter session on November 29. (ANI)
The Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft carrying mortal remains of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat, his wife and other personnel, who passed away in a chopper crash in Tamil Nadu on Wednesday, reached the Palam Airbase in Delhi on Thursday evening from Sulur. The 'Shradhanjali ceremony' is scheduled from 8:30 hours today. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Union Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt and National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval will pay their last respect to the General and others at around 9 pm today. The Indian Army said that the positive identification of only three mortal remains has been possible as of now including General Bipin Rawat, Madhulika Rawat and Brigadier LS Lidder. The mortal remains will be released to the Next of Kin, for final religious rites as desired by respective families. "Appropriate military funerals of all deceased are being planned and coordinated in close consultation with close family members," said the Indian Army. It further said that the process for positive identification of remaining mortal remains is continuing. The mortal remains will be kept at the Mortuary of Army Base Hospital till the completion of positive identification formalities. Civilians can pay tribute to CDS Gen. Bipin Rawat from 1100-1230 hours at CDS Karaj marg residence tomorrow. The last rites will be held in Delhi on Friday with full military honours. A funeral procession will start from Kamraj Marg to Brar Square crematorium in Delhi Cantonment on Friday. "Military personnel can pay respects between 1230-1330 hours. Thereafter, the mortal remains will be taken in a gun carriage for the funeral in Delhi Cantt Brar Square," the Indian Army added. The last rites of Brig LS Lidder's who passed away in the military chopper crash will be held at 0915 hours at Delhi Cantt tomorrow. Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat and 11 others, who were on board IAF's Mi-17V5 helicopter, died in the crash on Wednesday. The mortal remains were today brought to Madras Regimental Centre from Military Hospital, Wellington in Nilgiris district. People paid floral tribute to the deceased here. The government today ordered a 'tri service' enquiry into the accident.The enquiry will be headed by Air Marshal Manvendra Singh, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Training Command. Both Houses of Parliament observed two-minutes silence on the demise of 13 people. According to the sources, the black box of the chopper has been recovered.Meanwhile, a team of the state's Forensic Science Department also visited the crash site. A total of 14 people were onboard the IAF's helicopter. Group Captain Varun Singh is the lone survivor of the crash and is presently on life support in Military Hospital, Wellington. Those who died in the crash include General Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat, his Defence Adviser Brigadier Lakhbinder Singh Lidder, Staff Officer Lieutenant Colonel Harjinder Singh and nine other Armed Forces personnel including the Air Force helicopter crew. Their names are Wing Commander Prithvi Singh Chauhan, Squadron Leader Kuldeep Singh, Junior Warrant Officer Rana Pratap Das, Junior Warrant Officer Arakkal Pradeep, Havildar Satpal Rai, Naik Gursewak Singh, Naik Jitendra Kumar, Lance Naik Vivek Kumar, Lance Naik B Sai Teja. (ANI)
The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) has finally decided to end their year-long protest against the three farm laws, which was enacted last year, after it received a formal letter from the government, agreeing to their pending demands, including a legal guarantee on Minimum Support Price (MSP). In a press statement, the SKM said, "Government of India, through the Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare, sends a formal letter to Samyukt Kisan Morcha agreeing to several pending demands of the protesting farmers. Samyukt Kisan Morcha formally announces the lifting of the morchas at Delhi Borders on national highways and various other locations in response. Current agitation stands suspended. Battle has been won and the war to ensure farmers' rights, especially to secure MSP as a legal entitlement for all farmers, will continue." SKM dedicated this victory of the struggle to around 715 martyrs of the movement, including those who died in Lakhimpur Kheri, said the press release. "SKM congratulates all the protesting farmers and citizens, and their supporters wholeheartedly for waging an unprecedented struggle and for the glorious gains of the movement," said the release. SKM has decided to postpone the celebration due to the untimely death of CDS General Bipin Rawat. In order to ensure that the Centre is keeping to its commitments, SKM will hold its meeting on January 15 in Delhi. (ANI)
Former Union Minister and Congress leader P Chidambaram on Thursday said that the first list of candidates for the Goa elections scheduled for next year will be announced soon. "The first list of candidates for the Goa elections is to be announced soon," Chidambaram said at a press conference. Goa Assembly polls are scheduled to be held early next year. Reacting to Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut's remarks that an opposition front is not possible without Congress, Chidambaram said that Raut had made a sensible statement. "Congress must take the lead to bring all UPA parties together," he added. Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut said on Tuesday that the Opposition front is not possible without Congress and the face of the Opposition could be discussed later. The statement from the Shiv Sena leader came after a one-hour-long meeting with Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi. Speaking to media persons, Raut had said, "Opposition front cannot be formed without the Congress party. The face of the Opposition may be a matter of discussion, but there should be only one opposition front." Also, soon after meeting with Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in the national capital today, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut hinted at a pre-poll alliance with the Congress in Uttar Pradesh and Goa, stating that the parties are thinking of working together in both the states that are scheduled to go to assembly polls early next year. However, he said that the final decision will be taken only after talks with Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. (ANI)
Telangana reached another milestone in its fight against Covid-19 as the state crossed four crore doses-mark on Thursday. Health Minister Harish Rao Thanneeru expressed happiness over the state achieving the key milestone. According to the health department officials, the latest set of one crore doses were administered in 48 days. The state had reached three crore-mark on October 23. They said 94 per cent of the 2.77 crore population was administered the first dose while 50 per cent have received the second dose. The number of eligible beneficiaries who received the first dose stood at 3,99,21,813 crore on Wednesday. By Thursday afternoon, the state crossed the four-crore mark. As on Wednesday, 2,60,47,829 had received their first jab while 1,38,73,984 received their second. The state had administered the first one crore doses within 165 days after the vaccination drive rolled out on January 16. It took 79 days to administer the second set of one crore doses as the state saw an increase in vaccine stock availability and authorities also ramped up the efforts to administer doses. The next one crore doses were administered in just 27 days. However, the pace of vaccination slowed down with the end of the second wave of the pandemic and the drop in the number of daily cases. After the emergence of the Omicron variant of Covid-19 in some countries and the rising global concern over a possible third wave, health authorities stepped up the vaccination efforts. A cabinet sub-committee headed by the health minister was constituted to intensify the inoculation drive to achieve the goal of 100 per cent vaccination by the end of December. Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar also visited a few districts where vaccination coverage is low. For the last few days, health workers have been going door to door to administer the doses. The department is specially focusing on those who have not taken the second dose despite completing the gap between the two doses. --IANS ms/sks/dpb ( 337 Words) 2021-12-09-15:23:26 (IANS)
The bench, led by Justice Kaushik Chanda, also stayed further investigation into the matter.

On June 16, actor-turned-politician Mithun Chakraborty was questioned by the Kolkata Police on Wednesday over the controversial speech during the Bengal election campaign.

Chakraborty, who was among the BJP's star campaigners in the April-May election, was questioned virtually in connection with a case filed against him over the speech.The FIR was filed by the Trinamool Congress at the Manicktala police station in Kolkata.

Chakraborty during an election campaign recited dialogues in his speech from his movies: "Marbo ekhane lash porbe shoshane (Will hit you here and the body will land at the crematorium)."

Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress won 213 seats in the West Bengal Assembly elections that concluded last month. The Bharatiya Janata Party garnered 77 seats in the 294-seat state assembly.

Violence was reported in several parts of West Bengal after the results of the Assembly elections were declared on May 2. (ANI)
The House passed the Central Vigilance Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2021 and the Delhi Police Special Police Establishment (Amendment) Bill, 2021 after a reply from the Minister of State in the Department of Personnel and Training Jitendra Singh.

The bills seek to replace the ordinances brought by the government last month.

Opposition members strongly opposed the bills which provide that the tenure of the Director may be extended by up to one year at a time, till the completion of five years from the initial appointment. (ANI)
Union minister Jitendra Singh said that the extension of tenure of CBI, ED directors would be done by following the same procedure as the selection of the chiefs.

Earlier in the day, the Lower House of the Parliament condoled the demise of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat and 11 others who lost their lives in the IAF chopper crash.

Lok Sabha observed a two-minute silence on the demise of those who lost their lives in the military chopper crash.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in his opening remarks during the proceedings of the Lower House said that General Rawat was on a scheduled visit to Defence Services Staff College in Wellington."Indian Air Force (IAF) has ordered a tri-service inquiry into the military chopper crash.

The investigation will be led by Air Marshal Manavendra Singh.

Singh also said that the last rites of General Rawat will be performed with full military honours.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla also condoled the demise of those who died in the crash.

General Rawat was appointed as India's first Chief of Defense Staff on December 31, 2019. He previously served as Chief of the Army Staff from January 2017 to December 2019. He was commissioned into the Indian Army in December 1978. (ANI)
Bodies of only Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat, Brigadier LS Lidder and Lance Naik Vivek Kumar have been identified so far.

Those who died in the crash include General Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat, his Defence Adviser Brigadier Lakhbinder Singh Lidder, Staff Officer Lieutenant Colonel Harjinder Singh and nine other Armed Forces personnel including the Air Force helicopter crew.

Their names are Wing Commander Prithvi Singh Chauhan, Squadron Leader Kuldeep Singh, Junior Warrant Officer Rana Pratap Das, Junior Warrant Officer Arakkal Pradeep, Havildar Satpal Rai, Naik Gursewak Singh, Naik Jitendra Kumar, Lance Naik Vivek Kumar, Lance Naik B Sai Teja.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval also arrived at Palam Airbase and met with the families of Armed Forces who lost their lives in the Tamil Nadu chopper crash yesterday.

The 'Shradhanjali ceremony' is scheduled from 8:30 hours today.

The Indian Army said that the process for positive identification of remaining mortal remains is continuing. The mortal remains will be released to the Next of Kin, for final religious rites as desired by respective families.

The mortal remains will be kept at the Mortuary of Army Base Hospital till the completion of positive identification formalities.

Civilians can pay tribute to CDS Gen. Bipin Rawat from 1100-1230 hours at CDS Karaj marg residence tomorrow.

The last rites will be held in Delhi on Friday with full military honours. A funeral procession will start from Kamraj Marg to Brar Square crematorium in Delhi Cantonment on Friday.

The last rites of Brig LS Lidder's who passed away in the military chopper crash will be held at 0915 hours at Delhi Cantt tomorrow. (ANI)
Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb on Thursday offered a unique deal to the investors who came from different parts of the country to take part in the two-day-long Destination Tripura investment summit. Deb urged the representatives of various reputed industries to be a part of Tripura's growth and get remembered by the people of this region. "I don't want you to do something big for my state. Plan a trip of ten days. Come here to enjoy the pristine atmosphere of the state and visit places like Mata Tripurasundari temple and Unakoti. The request I would like to make to you all is don't come and go barehanded. Invest here a little so that while going you at least earn some profit so that the travel fare does not bother you much", said Deb. According to Deb, Tripura is one of the states that have witnessed rapid development in the last three-four years. "The responsibility of the government is to create a viable atmosphere for the development of the industrial sector. We are doing that. Simplification of procedures, security, availability of finance etc is being taken care of. This is the time for Tripura to choose its future. If the state can select the right path no one can prevent it but a wrong choice in this stage can be proved extremely destructive. There are different kinds of industries and representatives from all kinds of industries be it hotel, rubber or food processing have come over here and I want them to guide Tripura towards development", said Deb. On the connectivity front, Deb also said, "Tripura is no more a landlocked state. Earlier, Tripura had only one lifeline--Assam-Agartala national highway. Today, after PM Modi intervened and shifted his focus towards the North East region, we are soon going to have access to the Chittagong port once the Maitri Setu becomes operational, international railway link and direct flight service to the national capital." According to Deb, the Delhi-Agartala railway flight service was closed due to low passenger turnout but he had personally talked to the civil aviation Minister to restore the flight service and now two flights are operational on the route. "Today not a single flight comes with less than 90 per cent capacity. This shows the development of Tripura. And, it does not end here. Tripura is soon going to make inroads in the international airway map. The new terminal building of Maharaja Bir Bikram Airport is ready to be opened and soon Tripura government will give subsidy for direct international airway link with Dhaka and Singapore", he said. According to Deb, the Tripura government has framed industry-friendly policies which include a 50 per cent rebate in power, rebate in GST, and special relaxations in case of setting up new units in industrial areas. "You all know the Centre has lifted a number of special relaxations from SEZ, we are granting these relaxations from the end of state government. Come and invest in whichever sector you want so that Tripura can touch new heights of development in the days to come", said Deb. Apart from Deb, Union Minister Industries and Commerce Piyush Goyal also attended the inaugural session virtually in presence of industry body members and higher officials of the department. (ANI)
His remarks came at the inauguration of the facility on Thursday.

Speaking to the media here in Raipur, Baghel said, "A total of Rs. 17 crore will be spent on the Institute of Driving and Traffic Research in Naya Raipur for youngsters, which will have special discounts for women, transgenders, and specially-abled people who want to learn driving."

Meanwhile, Baghel informed that Congress MLAs from Chhattisgarh have reached Delhi to attend a meeting with Priyanka Gandhi.

Attacking the BJP, Baghel alleged, "The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are selling the country and raising questions on me for spending Chhattisgarh's money in Uttar Pradesh. They need to reveal the amount they are going to spend on UP elections."

In the 2017 Assembly elections, the BJP won a landslide victory winning 312 Assembly seats. The party secured a 39.67 per cent vote share in the elections for 403-member Assembly. Samajwadi Party (SP) bagged 47 seats, BSP won 19 while Congress could manage to win only seven seats. (ANI)
The tragic demise of Chief Of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat, his wife and 12 defence personnel in the Tamil Nadu chopper crash has shaken the nation. Several officials, dignitaries and celebrities among others shared their memories with General Rawat on social media platforms. Ambassador of India to Bhutan, Ruchira Kamboj, on her Twitter handle, "Special prayer ceremony led by Bhutan's King and his father The Fourth King In Thimphu this morning for CDS Bipin Rawat and his wife. Indian envoy to Bhutan @Indiainbhutan@RuchiraKamboj also present." In a viral video, CDS General Bipin Rawat was seen sharing a light moment with the army officers. Artists are showcasing their creativity to pay tributes to General Rawat. An artist paid his tributes to General Rawat by cutting a leaf to create the CDS' portrait. Another artist from Amroha, Zoyab Khan, paid tributes to General Rawat, with 8 feet-large charcoal portrait. Bollywood actors Anupam Kher and Anil Kapoor took to their respective Twitter handles to pay tributes to General Rawat and shared their photos with the Chief of Defence Staff. Anupam Kher, tweeted, "Deeply saddened to hear of the passing of CDS #GenBipinRawat, his wife and 11 more military officers. Had the good fortune of meeting Rawat many times. He had amazing audacity and unfathomable love for the country. Shaking hands with him, "Jai Hind" would come out naturally from the heart and tongue!" "A shocking and devastating loss. Sending our heartfelt condolences and prayers to the families. I am honoured to have met Gen Bipin Rawat. Om Sadgati," tweeted Anil Kapoor. Other celebrities who took to social media to pay their condolences to CDS Rawat, his wife and 11 defence personnel killed in the Tamil Nadu chopper crash included Amitabh Bachchan, Kangana Ranaut, Salman Khan, Karan Johar, Sanjay Dutt, Tamannah Bhatia and Lata Mangeshkar. Congress leader and columnist Salman Nizami also shared a picture with the CDS on Twitter and said, "Chief of Defence Staff Bipin Rawat Ji - brave son of soil. Sad to lose a gentleman and a top soldier in such tragic circumstances. The nation owes you a debt." The mortal remains will be kept at the Mortuary of Army Base Hospital till the completion of positive identification formalities. Civilians can pay tribute to CDS Gen. Bipin Rawat from 1100-1230 hours at CDS Karaj marg residence tomorrow. The last rites will be held in Delhi on Friday with full military honours. A funeral procession will start from Kamraj Marg to Brar Square crematorium in Delhi Cantonment on Friday. "Military personnel can pay respects between 1230-1330 hours. Thereafter, the mortal remains will be taken in a gun carriage for the funeral in Delhi Cantt Brar Square," the Indian Army added. The last rites of Brig LS Lidder's who passed away in the military chopper crash will be held at 0915 hours at Delhi Cantt tomorrow. Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat and 11 others, who were on board IAF's Mi-17V5 helicopter, died in the crash on Wednesday. The mortal remains were today brought to Madras Regimental Centre from Military Hospital, Wellington in Nilgiris district. People paid floral tribute to the deceased here. The government today ordered a 'tri service' enquiry into the accident. The enquiry will be headed by Air Marshal Manvendra Singh, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Training Command. Both Houses of Parliament observed two-minutes silence on the demise of 13 people. A total of 14 people were on board the IAF's helicopter. Group Captain Varun Singh is the lone survivor of the crash and is presently on life support in Military Hospital, Wellington. Those who died in the crash include General Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat, his Defence Adviser Brigadier Lakhbinder Singh Lidder, Staff Officer Lieutenant Colonel Harjinder Singh and nine other Armed Forces personnel including the Air Force helicopter crew. Their names are Wing Commander Prithvi Singh Chauhan, Squadron Leader Kuldeep Singh, Junior Warrant Officer Rana Pratap Das, Junior Warrant Officer Arakkal Pradeep, Havildar Satpal Rai, Naik Gursewak Singh, Naik Jitendra Kumar, Lance Naik Vivek Kumar, Lance Naik B Sai Teja. (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday paid his last respects to Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat and other 11 armed force personnel who lost their lives in a chopper crash in Tamil Nadu on Wednesday and said that the country will never forget their rich contribution. The Prime Minister visited Palam airbase to pay his last respects. "Paid my last respects to Gen Bipin Rawat, his wife and other personnel of the Armed Forces. India will never forget their rich contribution," tweeted PM Modi. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Union Minister Smriti Irani also visited Palam airbase and paid their respects to Gen Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat and other 11 armed force personnel who lost their lives in the helicopter crash. The three service chiefs - Army Chief Gen MM Naravane, Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar and IAF chief Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari also paid their respects. The last rites of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat and his wife Madhulika Rawat, who died in a chopper crash in Tamil Nadu, will be held on Friday around 5 pm at Brar Square crematorium in Delhi Cantonment. The last rites of Gen Rawat will be performed with full military honours. The funeral procession will start from Kamraj Marg after 2 PM and reach Brar Square crematorium. The Army said that civilians can pay tributes to CDS General Bipin Rawat from 1100-1230 hours at his Kamraj Marg residence tomorrow while the military personnel can pay respects between 1230-1330 hours. The mortal remains of Gen Rawat and others who lost their lives in the Tamil Nadu chopper crash were brought on Thursday evening to Palam Airbase in Delhi from Sulur in caskets wrapped in the Tricolour. The mortal remains were earlier in the day brought to Madras Regimental Centre from Military Hospital, Wellington in Nilgiris district and then taken to Sulur airbase. Apart from General Rawat and his wife, his Defence Adviser Brigadier Lakhbinder Singh Lidder and Staff Officer Lieutenant Colonel Harjinder Singh also died in the crash. Other nine defence forces personnel who died in the chopper crash are Wing Commander Prithvi Singh Chauhan, Squadron Leader Kuldeep Singh, Junior Warrant Officer Rana Pratap Das, Junior Warrant Officer Arakkal Pradeep, Havildar Satpal Rai, Naik Gursewak Singh, Naik Jitendra Kumar, Lance Naik Vivek Kumar and Lance Naik B Sai Teja. Group Captain Varun Singh, who is the lone survivor from the crash, has been shifted to Air Force Command hospital at Bengaluru for further treatment. The last rites of Brigadier LS Lidder will be held at 9.15 am in Delhi Cantonment tomorrow. Bodies of General Bipin Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat, Brigadier LS Lidder and Lance Naik Vivek Kumar have been identified so far. The Indian Army has said that the process for positive identification of remaining mortal remains is continuing and the mortal remains will be kept at the Mortuary of Army Base Hospital till the completion of positive identification formalities. The Army said that the appropriate military funerals of all deceased are being planned and coordinated in close consultation with close family members. The mortal remains will be released to the next of kin for final religious rites as desired by respective families. The mortal remains of Gen Rawat will be taken in a gun carriage for the funeral in Delhi Cantt Brar Square. The Defence Minister, Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt, three service chiefs and other senior military officials will be among those present at the cremation of Gen Rawat. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami are also likely to be present. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, Governor of Telangana and Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan visited Madras Regimental Centre in Wellington on Thursday and paid floral tributes to General Rawat and others who had died in the chopper crash. The Centre has ordered a 'tri service' inquiry into the accident. The inquiry will be headed by Air Marshal Manvendra Singh, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Training Command. The Defence Minister, who briefed Parliament about the chopper crash, said the IAF helicopter lost contact with the Sulur airbase control room at around 12.08 pm after taking off from there at 11.48 am. Both Houses of the Parliament observed two-minute silence to pay respects to Gen Rawat and others who died in the chopper crash. According to the sources, the black box of the chopper has been recovered. A team of Tamil Nadu's Forensic Science Department also visited the crash site. (ANI)
Goa Chief Electoral Officer Kunal asserted that banks play an important role during the election period to conduct free, fair, participative, accessible, inclusive and safe elections. Kunal was speaking in the meeting held with all the representatives of a bank located in Goa at the office of Chief Electoral Officer Panaji on Thursday. Kunal said that for purpose of maintaining purity of elections, the Election Commission of India has issued a Standard Operating Procedure for Flying Squads and Static Surveillance Teams, constituted for keeping vigil over excessive campaign expenses, distribution of items of bribe in cash or in-kind, movement of illegal arms, ammunition, liquor, or anti-social elements etc. in the constituencies during the conduct of the election. He appealed to all the bankers to monitor unusual and suspicious cash transactions made through the banks during the election period to ensure the conduct of free and fair General Assembly election 2022 to be held in the State of Goa. Kunal pointed that there are chances of distribution of gifts, goodies during the election period and urged all banks to ensure proper documentation is done during transactions. Transportation of cash by cash vans for filing the ATMs and delivering cash at other branches, through an outsourced private agency or bank van has to carry proper document issued by the bank. He assured that the election machinery will promptly react to any illegal transportation and urged the bank to take appropriate measures and also directed to submit a report if any such transactions are identified. CEO said that the Election Commission of India has launched a c-vigil app through which election machinery can address within 15 min any complaint received through this app for the conduct of the free and fair election. Kunal also briefed the functioning of the EVM/ VVPAT machine and appealed to take hands-on training at demonstration booth set up at various places in the State. (ANI)
As many as 25 Airports Authority of India (AAI) airports have been earmarked for asset monetisation over the years 2022 to 2025 under National Monetization Pipeline (NMP), said Minister of State for Civil Aviation Gen Dr VK Singh in a written reply in Lok Sabha on Thursday. This comes after Member of Parliament Mimi Chakraborty asked whether the government proposes to privatise another 30-35 airports of the country in the next five years. These 25 airports include Bhubaneshwar, Varanasi, Amritsar, Trichy, Indore, Raipur, Calicut, Coimbatore, Nagpur, Patna, Madurai, Surat, Ranchi, Jodhpur, Chennai, Vijayawada, Vadodara, Bhopal, Tirupati, Hubli, Imphal, Agartala, Udaipur, Dehradun and Rajahmundry. Singh said that the criteria adopted for the monetisation of airport assets under the NMP are for airports having annual traffic above the threshold of 0.4 million passengers (in FY 2019 and 2020) and airports with a sizeable ongoing or proposed capital expenditure plan as per the National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP). Except for four airports out of 137 airports in the country, all continue to suffer losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the financial year 2020-21, Singh replied when asked about the profit or loss made by 136 AAI airports during the last three financial years. In a written reply, Singh said that except Kandala (0.11 crore), Kanpur Chakeri (6.07 crore), Bareilly (0.68 crores) and Porbandar (1.54 crores) all other airports suffered huge losses. "Delhi and Mumbai airports suffered a huge loss of Rs 317 crore and Rs 331 crore respectively. Except for the few airports like Goa that has made a profit of Rs 146 crore in FY 2019-20 has suffered a huge loss of Rs 118 crore in FY 2020-21, most of the airports continued to suffer losses in the last three financial years," Singh added. Further, Chakraborty also asked for the details of the total number of airports in the country and the percentage stake owned by AAI in each of these till November 2021. "AAI owns 136 airports in the country out of which, AAI has formed Joint Venture in seven airports. AAI has recently awarded six airports namely Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Lucknow, Guwahati, Thiruvananthapuram, Mangaluru for Operations, Management and Development under Public-Private Partnership (PPP) for a period of 50 years," he replied. (ANI)
Opposition parties in Lok Sabha on Thursday slammed the government over the bills to extend the tenures of Directors of CBI and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) up to a maximum of five years saying that the extensions will be given on the "whims and fancies of the political executive" and will undermine the autonomy of the two institutions. The Central Vigilance Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2021, and the Delhi Special Police Establishment (Amendment) Bill, 2021 were passed with a voice vote by the House after a reply by Minister of State of Department of Personnel and Training Jitendra Singh. Moving the bills for passage in the House, the minister said that if an official or chief of a probe agency is investigating a case, it requires "a certain amount of continuity besides institutional continuity". He said the bills only have enabling provision particularly when the FATF has also suggested to different nations to improve their law enforcement authorities. RSP's NK Premchandran slammed the government for bringing ordinances for extending tenures of chiefs of CBI and ED. He said that the ordinances were brought days before the start of the winter session. The member said that the bill entails extension by a year at a time after completion of two years of the chiefs of the two organisations and it will be done "on the whims and fancies of the political executive of the government". "Definitely the political executive will decide, who shall be given extension, and who shall not be given extension," he said. Congress MP Manish Tewari said the minister had tried to pass off the bills as "ordinary amendment" but it is not a fixed tenure of five years. "It is a drip tenure on extension. Secondly, the ripple effect of such a move down the line is going to completely and absolutely undermine the autonomy and the independence of these institutions. I would like to request the government, I would like to request the minister to please take these two bills back. Please restore the position to the status quo ante. Let the Director of CBI and the Director of Enforcement Directorate have a fixed tenure. You want to have a tenure of five years, there is no difficulty with that. You want to have a fixed tenure of three years, there is absolutely no difficulty with that," he said. Tewari said the CBI and ED chiefs should be "insulated, autonomous and not at the beck and call of the government, which is the problem with these two bills". He also referred to a pending matter in Supreme Court and urged the minister to look into the larger issues about the legality of the CBI. "One day, it will come back to haunt us collectively. Please file an application in the Supreme Court and please ask them to once for all determine whether the CBI is a legal organisation or the CBI is an illegal organisation," he said. Members of several other opposition parties including DMK and TMC also opposed the bills. The bills provide that the tenure of the Director may be extended by up to one year at a time, till the completion of five years from the initial appointment. (ANI)
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday virtually laid the foundation for a global scale Technical Ammonium Nitrate (TAN) manufacturing complex at Gopalpur in Ganjam. Smartchem Technologies Limited, the leading manufacturer of fertilisers in India, is setting up this unit at an investment of Rs 2,200 crore, which will create employment opportunities for over 1,700 local people. A 100 per cent subsidiary of Deepak Fertilisers, STL is the 5th largest producer of TAN. Used for multiple purposes in various sectors like agriculture, industry and mining, it will provide a huge boost to these sectors in the state. Speaking on the occasion, Patnaik said that the project is another example of our State's continuing dominance as a premier investment destination for multiple sectors of industry. "Despite the Covid pandemic and resultant slowdown in the economy, Odisha continues to receive new investments. This proves the faith and confidence of industry in the Government of Odisha and in our ability to deliver value for industries," he added. The CM said that that Smartchem Technologies is one of India's leading manufacturers of NPK and speciality fertilisers. "It is also one of the world's leading producers of Technical Ammonium Nitrate, a product that will be manufactured in their facility at Gopalpur. This will help in the growth and development of the region," he added. He assured complete facilitation support to the project from the State Government. Speaking on the occasion, Industries Minister Dibya Shankar Mishra said that Odisha has the right ecosystem for the industries to grow. Minerals, quality manpower and supportive policies provide huge support to industries to fast track projects, he added. Berhampur MP Chandra Shekhar Sahu lauded the efforts of the Chief Minister to promote industries in Ganjam. Chairman & Managing Director of STL Sailesh Chimanlal Mehta, joining from Pune, said that Odisha's consistent push for industries, the transformation initiative through 5T framework has enhanced our confidence in the state government, and the dream to foray into Odisha has been fulfilled. Industries Principal Secretary, Hemant Sharma, gave the welcome address and Collector Ganjam offered the Vote of thanks. Chief Secretary SC Mahapatra and Development Commissioner PK Jena were also present. (ANI)
A local court on Thursday sentenced three senior Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPIM) leaders to two years rigorous imprisonment in connection with a four years old district judge assault case at Belonia under South Tripura district. Judicial Magistrate, Belonia passed the order convicting the three accused under sections 447 and 353 of the Indian Penal Code. However, the convicted persons have been released on bail as they had sought one month to challenge the order in district court. Speaking on the issue, Public Prosecutor Krishna Majumder said, "The court of Judicial Magistrate first class Mitra Das passed judgment on the sensational district judge assault case. The Court convicted three accused in connection with the case and awarded more than two years punishment under separate sections of Indian Penal Code." "In 2015, district judge Ruhi Das Paul was assaulted for running the Court proceedings paying no heed to the strike called by a political party. After several years, the Court heard the arguments of both the sides and found the accused persons--Babul Debnath, Tilakesh Sinha and Tapash Datta guilty in the case," he added. According to the Public Prosecutor, under IPC section 447 they had been punished with two months rigorous imprisonment along with a monetary penalty of Rs 5,000. The Court also pronounced them guilty under IPC section 353 and awarded all of them two years of rigorous imprisonment. The convicts were later asked by the Court whether they would challenge the order in the district court or not. The defence lawyer informed the Court that they would challenge the order in the higher courts and accordingly they were released on one month bail. "We shall file a petition in the District Court challenging the order of the first class Court", said CPIM state committee member Tapas Datta. (ANI)
Several political parties on Thursday raised their voices against the statement of the Union Railway Minister in Parliament which stated that there was no proposal for the establishment of a new Railway Zone in Andhra Pradesh or any other state. Speaking to ANI, K Ramakrishna, General Secretary of Communist Party of India (CPI), Andhra Pradesh said, "People here are disappointed with the attitude of the union government. The Centre has promised to give the Railway Zone at Visakhapatnam and even initiated activities for its establishment in the recent past, but all of a sudden, the minister made a statement that there was no such proposal." "The CPI along with other like-minded political parties will give a representation to the Union Railway Minister on December 14, 2021, demanding to establish the Railway Zone," Ramakrishna added. Meanwhile, K Ashok Babu, Telugu Desam Party (TDP) senior leader and the Member of Legislative Council (MLC) said, "If the BJP is voted in the State, then only they will give the funds to that State. If the BJP did not have votes, then the central government will not release funds for the development of that State." "It is not only with respect to Andhra Pradesh but also to all the States across the country," the TDP leader said. Further, he said that it was surprising to see the decision of the union government and people in the State were disappointed. (ANI)
Emphasising growth and revenue generation, Kerala Finance Minister K N Balagopal on Thursday said local self-government bodies should pay more attention to taxes. Balagopal interacted with prominent persons from various sectors ahead of the state budget to hear opinions from them. Speaking at the interactive session, the Finance Minister said, "COVID took us two years back. In fact, last year, there was negative growth. This year too, it has not reached the level of 2019. We also need plans to maximize the growth. The development of infrastructure will pave the way for the economic process and increase employment." "We also need to look at the taxes. Local self-government bodies cannot move forward without increasing revenue. Local self-government bodies and the state government should pay more attention to taxes for revenue," he emphasised. Balagopal said the change in lifestyle and occupation following COVID should be taken into account. Mentioning the rapid urbanization of Kochi, the Finance Minister said, "As a city that makes a significant contribution to the state exchequer, the government is giving due consideration with the rapid urbanization, the infrastructure including the roads in Kochi needs to be further developed." Balagopal laid emphasis on the conservation of the environment along with urban development. "It is important to give emphasis on environmental protection while navigating development. In Kochi, where there are many small canals and streams, water transport should be given priority. The restoration of Dal Lake in Kashmir and the Cooum River in Chennai can be followed in Kochi as well," he added. (ANI)
NASA's Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) mission was launched at 1 am EST Thursday on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. A joint effort with the Italian Space Agency, the IXPE Observatory is NASA's first mission dedicated to measuring the polarization of X-rays from the most extreme and mysterious objects in the universe - supernova remnants, supermassive black holes, and dozens of other high-energy objects. "IXPE represents another extraordinary first," said Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator for the Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington. He continued, "Together with our partners in Italy and around the world, we've added a new space observatory to our fleet that will shape our understanding of the universe for years to come. Each NASA spacecraft is carefully chosen to target brand new observations enabling new science, and IXPE is going to show us the violent universe around us, such as exploding stars and the black holes at the centre of galaxies, in ways we've never been able to see it." The rocket performed as expected, with spacecraft separation taking place 33 minutes into the flight. Approximately one minute later, the spacecraft unfurled its solar arrays. IXPE entered its orbit around Earth's equator at an altitude of approximately 372 miles (600 kilometres). About 40 minutes after launch, mission operators received the first spacecraft telemetry data. "It is an indescribable feeling to see something you've worked on for decades become real and launch into space," said Martin Weisskopf, IXPE's principal investigator at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. Weisskopf came up with the idea for the spacecraft and has conducted seminal experiments in X-ray astronomy since the 1970s. He added, "This is just the beginning for IXPE. We have much work ahead. But tonight, we celebrate!" IXPE carries three state-of-the-art space telescopes with special polarization-sensitive detectors. Polarization is a property of light that holds clues to the environment from which the light originates. The new mission builds on and complements the scientific discoveries of other telescopes, including the Chandra X-ray Observatory, NASA's flagship X-ray telescope. First light operations are scheduled to begin in January. NASA Marshall manages the IXPE mission for the agency's Science Mission Directorate as a project of the NASA's Explorers Program. IXPE is an international collaboration between NASA, the Italian Space Agency, along with partners and providers in 12 other countries. Marshall built the three X-ray telescopes. The Italian Space Agency contributed to IXPE's polarization detectors. Ball Aerospace in Broomfield, Colorado, provided the spacecraft and manages spacecraft operations at the University of Colorado Boulder's Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics. NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, manages the Explorers Program. (ANI)
Paris [France], December 9 (ANI/Xinhua): France on Wednesday saw a new daily record of infections since November 2020 with 61,340 new COVID-19 cases confirmed in the past 24 hours. This brings the cumulative number of COVID-19 cases in the country to 8,048,931. According to the French Public Health Agency, the incidence rate has reached 448 cases per 100,000 residents. The death toll has passed 120,000, with 133 deaths recorded in the past 24 hours across the country. With 2,608 patients currently hospitalized, several regions in France, including Ile-de-France where Paris is situated, have reactivated the so-called "white code" in hospitals to equip them with more staff and beds for future patients. As the fifth wave of the pandemic is hitting France, Government Spokesperson Gabiel Attal has reminded the population to respect preventive measures, such as wearing a facial mask and presenting the vaccination pass, when in closed areas. Jean-Francois Delfraissy, the president of France's Scientific Council, told the French Senate on Wednesday that the fourth dose of vaccine might be needed as new variants of the virus appear. He reminded the Senate that around 400,000 citizens over the age of 80 are not yet vaccinated and that people in this age group are more at risk of catching the coronavirus. France has 75.8 per cent of its population fully vaccinated, and more than 12 million people have received their booster shots. "Because we are all doing a collective effort, especially this summer and this autumn, with the vaccination pass and the acceleration of the vaccination, we are protected," French President Emmanuel Macron said on Wednesday. With the holiday season approaching, the French government announced on Wednesday that dancing will be banned in bars and restaurants, effective from December 10 until January 6, to limit the transmission of the virus. The French government on Monday decided to close down nightclubs for four weeks starting this weekend. Other measures include the mandatory use of facial masks in schools, teleworking for businesses and the opening of a vaccination program for children. (ANI/Xinhua)
US President Joe Biden on Wednesday (local time) warned his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin of "severe consequences" if he invades Ukraine. Biden told reporters on the White House South Lawn that he was very straightforward and did not mince words regarding Ukraine. "It was polite, but I made it very clear: If, in fact, he invades Ukraine, there will be severe consequences -- severe consequences -- and economic consequences like none he's ever seen or ever have been seen, in terms of being imposed," said Biden. Further, when reporters asked whether he is confident that Putin got the message and knows this is different as he has known him for years, he said, "I am absolutely confident he got the message." "He knows. His immediate response was he understood that. And I indicated that I knew he would respond," added Biden. Meanwhile, the US President also said that he would provide the defensive capability to the Ukrainians as well and stressed the presence in NATO countries to reassure defensive capabilities on the eastern front. "The good news is -- the good news -- the positive news is that, thus far, our teams have been in constant contact. We hope by Friday we're going to be able to say and announce to you that we're having meetings at a higher level, not just with us but with at least four of our major NATO Allies and Russia to discuss the future of Russia's concerns relative to NATO writ large and whether or not we can work out any accommodations as it relates to bringing down the temperature along the eastern front," added Biden. Regarding the question on putting US troops on the ground in Ukraine, he said that sending US troops to confront Russia was "not on the table" and "would depend upon what the rest of the NATO countries are willing to do". "We have a moral obligation and a legal obligation to our NATO Allies if they were to attack under Article Five. It's a sacred obligation. That obligation does not extend to NATO -- I mean, to Ukraine. But it would depend upon what the rest of the NATO countries are willing to do as well," said the US President. On Tuesday, the Kremlin said Russian President Vladimir Putin conveyed to Biden that NATO was making dangerous attempts to conquer Ukrainian territory and was building up its military potential near Russia's border. Putin also said that Moscow was interested in obtaining reliable, legally fixed guarantees that NATO would not expand eastward and would not deploy offensive weapons in countries bordering Russia. (ANI)
"All Ranks of HQ Integrated Defence Staff pay heartfelt condolences to the untimely demise of Gen Bipin Rawat, CDS, Mrs Madhulika Rawat & 11 Officers, Soldiers and airmen on board IAF Helicopter which crashed today in Tamilnadu," tweeted Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff (HQ IDS).

"The Armed forces will ever remain indebted to the steller contribution of India's First CDS. Jai Hind," added HQ IDS.

Sixty-three-year-old Rawat took charge as India's first chief of defense staff on December 31, 2019, after serving as the army chief for a full three-year term. CDS Rawat was commissioned into the Indian Army in December 1978.

The sad news was confirmed by Indian Air Force on Wednesday through their Twitter handle that read, "With deep regret, it has now been ascertained that Gen Bipin Rawat, Mrs Madhulika Rawat, and 11 other persons on board have died in the unfortunate accident."

The helicopter crashed around noon shortly after it took off from the Air Force base in Sulur, Coimbatore, for Wellington in the Nilgiri Hills.

The General was heading to the Defence Services Staff College in Wellington to address the faculty and student officers of the Staff Course on Wednesday.

A veteran of counterinsurgency warfare, CDS Rawat served in the most difficult terrains including northern and eastern commands. (ANI)
He extended his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families of the crashed chopper in the Nilgiri Hills.

"Deeply saddened by the tragic demise of Gen Bipin Rawat, his wife, and several defence officials in a helicopter crash. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families & the Indian Armed Forces," tweeted Deuba.

Meanwhile, COAS Gen Prabhu Ram Sharma of Nepali Army also paid condolences on the untimely demise of Rawat.

"COAS Gen Prabhu Ram Sharma and all ranks of the Nepali Army pay their deepest condolences on the untimely demise of Gen Bipin Rawat, Mrs Rawat and 11 others in the unfortunate accident," tweeted Nepali Army spokesperson.

Sixty-three-year-old Rawat took charge as India's first chief of defense staff on December 31, 2019, after serving as the army chief for a full three-year term. CDS Rawat was commissioned into the Indian Army in December 1978.

The sad news was confirmed by Indian Air Force on Wednesday through their Twitter handle that read, "With deep regret, it has now been ascertained that Gen Bipin Rawat, Mrs Madhulika Rawat, and 11 other persons on board have died in the unfortunate accident."

The helicopter crashed around noon shortly after it took off from the Air Force base in Sulur, Coimbatore, for Wellington in the Nilgiri Hills.

The General was heading to the Defence Services Staff College in Wellington to address the faculty and student officers of the Staff Course on Wednesday.

A veteran of counterinsurgency warfare, CDS Rawat served in the most difficult terrains including northern and eastern commands. (ANI)
The journalists have been detained for reporting and publishing content that has been deemed 'sensitive' by the ruling Chinese Communist Party. As informed by Reporters Without Borders, these journalists also include professional and non-professional media workers.

"At least 127 journalists (professional and non-professional) are currently detained by the regime," Reporters Without Borders informed in a report, revealing the extent of the regime's campaign of repression against the right to information.

"The simple act of investigating a "sensitive" topic or publishing censored information can result in years of detention in unsanitary prisons, where ill-treatment can lead to death," the watchdog added in the report.

The RSF report has also revealed how journalists are being forced to become Chinese President Xi Jinping's mouthpiece.

As per the report, in order to receive and renew their press cards, journalists will soon have to undergo a 90-hour annual training partly focusing on Xi Jinping's "thought".

Meanwhile, the Chinese government has also unveiled a series of plans that are seen to further consolidate the CCP's control over the media.

Beijing has been using media as an important tool for asserting power and enhancing its narrative in international discourse.

China has been bankrolling scholars, journalists, and experts abroad, censoring domestic media while keeping a tab on Chinese Diaspora abroad, The HK Post reported. (ANI)
Washington [US], December 9 (ANI/Sputnik): The Russian Embassy in the United States called the statements by US Republican Senator Roger Wicker about the possible use of nuclear weapons against Russia because of reports of an alleged escalation at the Ukrainian border irresponsible and ill-considered. The embassy noted that earlier, in an interview with Fox News, Wicker, commenting on the situation related to the internal Ukrainian crisis, recommended that US President Joe Biden, in the event of an aggravation of the situation, not rule out the possibility of military action, including preventive use of nuclear weapons against Russia. "Such statements are irresponsible. We advise all the unenlightened to read the joint statement of the Presidents of Russia and the United States of June 16, 2021, thoroughly. This document reaffirms the two countries committed to the principle that a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought," the embassy said. (ANI/Sputnik)
"My heartiest congratulations to @OlafScholz on being elected as the Federal Chancellor of Germany. I look forward to working closely to further strengthen the Strategic Partnership between India and Germany," tweeted PM Modi.

The German parliament elected Olaf Scholz as German Chancellor on Wednesday as Angela Merkel departs after 16 years' helm of affairs.

Earlier, Olaf Scholz's centre-left Social Democrats emerged as the biggest party after September's general election.

Scholz has since negotiated a coalition deal with the environmentalist Greens and the business-focused Free Democratic Party (FDP). (ANI)
Last week, a mob in Pakistan's Sialkot had tortured a Sri Lankan national Priyantha Diyawadana to death before burning his body over alleged blasphemy.

Pakistan has witnessed several such incidents, where minor cases of blasphemy have led to huge protests and demands of death for the accused, according to the International Forum for Rights and Security.

Between 2014 and 2018, a total of 674 cases of blasphemy were reported worldwide of which one-quarter (27 per cent) was from Pakistan.

According to a report by US Commission on International Religious Freedom (UCIRF) Pakistan's laws are vague, impose severe punishments, including the death penalty and are frequently applied through both state and private enforcement of violence against alleged blasphemers which may occur at any point from a rumour of blasphemy

Earlier, a year ago, Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) carried out violent protests across Pakistan including a siege of Islamabad demanding the expulsion of the French Ambassador.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan surrendered before the protesters and lifted the ban on TLP, an ultra-conservative Islamic group, and agreed to discuss the expulsion of the French Ambassador in the country's parliament, according to the International Forum for Rights and Security.

Meanwhile, Pakistan's blasphemy laws have long been abused to target minority groups non-Muslim Ahmedias and other minorities such as Hindus, Christians, Buddhists among others. (ANI)
Athens [Greece], December 9 (ANI/Sputnik): Russia is ready to supply Turkey, an "old friend of Greece", with the second batch of S-400 air defense systems, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said in an interview with the Greek TV channel ANT1. "You know, your old friend Turkey, although it is a NATO member, has very developed relations, for example, militarily and technically with our country. We are planning bilateral projects with them, because they are so sovereign that they make decisions despite their NATO membership," Peskov said. "We have specific agreements with our Turkish partners, and we hope so. Yes," the spokesman answered when asked whether Russia would supply the second batch of the air defense systems. Greece, Turkey's longtime NATO ally, accuses Ankara of "aggressive and illegal behavior" in the Mediterranean and the Aegean Sea, and of becoming a tool in the migration problem. Russia and Turkey signed a contract for the supply of four battalions of the S-400 air defense system worth $2.5 billion in 2017; deliveries to the Turkish side were carried out in the summer-fall of 2019. The contract included an option for one more regimental set. In August 2021, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he had no doubts about buying a second S-400 regiment from Russia. Rosoboronexport said the contract for the second regiment would be signed in 2021. (ANI/Sputnik)
New Delhi has expressed these concerns to Sri Lankan Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa during the latter's two-day official tour to India, where he held discussions with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, reported Lankan newspaper Ceylon Today citing sources.

Sources said that Sitharaman and Jaishankar had held two rounds of separate talks with the touring Sri Lankan Minister.

The Indian ministers stressed that Sri Lanka has failed to honour three of the agreements signed in the wake of the assumption to office of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa two years ago, reported Ceylon Today.

According to sources, among the major issues discussed between the two sides had been the East Container Terminal of the Colombo Port and the handing over of 40 per cent shares of the Yugadanavi LNG Plant to a US firm.

Sitharaman and Rajapaksa had met last week with an aim to discuss a range of aspects pertaining to bilateral economic cooperation with a view of enhancing collaboration.

"Had the pleasure of meeting with #India Finance & Corporate Affairs Minister, Smt. @nsitharaman y'day. We discussed a range of aspects pertaining to bilateral economic cooperation with a view of enhancing collaboration. Partnerships such as this are vital for the future of #lka," Rajapaksa said in a tweet. (ANI)
Moscow [Russia], December 9 (ANI/Sputnik): Nigeria is considering the procurement of Russia's coronavirus vaccine Sputnik V, but does not exclude the option of receiving it from Russia as a donation, Nigerian Ambassador in Moscow Abdullahi Shehu told Sputnik in his first interview since taking office. "You see there are two ways, either Nigeria will make a budget to acquire or maybe the Russian government can donate as part of its technical assistance to Nigeria. So ... we are putting two options on the table. As Nigeria has already approved the use of Sputnik V in our country but we have not concluded discussions as to whether Russia will support Nigeria as part of technical assistance or Nigeria will have to purchase the Sputnik V," Shehu said. Nigeria's national drug regulator authorized the use of the Russian vaccine in mid-July. To date, Sputnik V has been authorized in 71 countries with a total population of 4 billion people. (ANI/Sputnik)
As the United States makes Southeast Asia a strategic priority, it has invited three Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN) members for the Summit for Democracy. Washington's strategy in inviting three states was largely strategic as Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines are the only three ASEAN member states that are invited, according to Radio Free Asia. Further, Washington, under the Joe Biden administration, has been increasing its engagement with Southeast Asia. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is scheduled to go on his first Southeast Asia tour as the country's top diplomat next week, amid rising tensions with China. Earlier, US Vice President Kamala Harris and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin have also visited the region, as have two senior State Department officials, most recently Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Kritenbrink Meanwhile, the Summit for Democracy which is to be held on December 9-10, is part of US President Joe Biden's strategy to counter the influence of autocratic states, according to Radio Free Asia. Further, the purpose of the conference is aimed to consolidate democratic countries within specific regions and sub-regions as a part of US strategy. Earlier, US State Department spokesperson told that the goal of the invitation list "was to ensure the summit reflects a diverse slate of democracies." "The United States reached out to a regionally diverse set of democracies whose progress and commitments will advance a more just and peaceful world. Our goal is to be as inclusive as possible, within logistical constraints," the spokesperson added. Earlier, then President-elect Biden announced last December that he intended to hold a "Summit for Democracy" in his first year in office. Around 100 nations have been invited to participate and three key themes, as announced by the White House, will be: defending against authoritarianism, addressing and fighting corruption, and promoting respect for human rights. (ANI)
Amid ongoing concerns over human rights issues in China, a new research paper has thrown light on China's relocation policy in Tibet, which under the garb of social changes, threatens its unique and centuries-old culture. This was revealed in a research paper released last month by "Tibetan Studies" - a bi-weekly magazine of the Tibetan Academy of Social Sciences (TASS). The research paper, prepared by Chinese scholars, states that in the fight against poverty and on the path towards a moderately prosperous society, the Chinese government has implemented a policy of relocating people from an inhospitable area to another more geologically favourable area. According to a Canadian think tank, the policy appears to be favouring the poor in Tibet but delving deeper into it reveals the real agenda behind it. "The people from far-flung areas are being relocated to regions that are easily accessible to Chinese authorities for executing Chinese cultural assimilation programmes," said International Forum For Rights And Security (IFFRAS). The key objective of this policy, according to IFFRAS, is to transform Tibetan culture completely into Chinese culture. "The relocation programme is nothing but part of China's 'Sinicization of Tibet' strategy. Sinicization of Tibet refers to the programmes and laws of the Chinese government which force 'cultural unity' in Tibet," the think tank said. The report further states that deeper social and cultural changes are being undertaken to 'sinicise' Tibet and assimilate its unique centuries-old culture into the Han mainstream. "Efforts are being made to superimpose Chinese (Han) history and culture on the Tibetan people. Work is soon to begin on a new encyclopaedia that outlines China's version of the history of Tibet -- the 'Encyclopaedia of Ethnic Unity and Progress (Tibet Volume)," IFFRAS said. Despite ample evidence that proves the contrary, the Chinese government maintains that its policies have benefited Tibet, and cultural and social changes are consequences of modernization. However, the think tank argues that China's policies have only threatened Tibet's unique and centuries-old culture and the Tibetan Buddhist religion. "Tibetans complain of being robbed of their dignity in their own homeland and of being swamped by Chinese immigration to the point of becoming a minority in their own country," said IFFRAS. (ANI)
The convict had been in jail for 11 years, The Express Tribune reported.

The Pakistani publication said that no lawyer pleaded the convict's case at the trial court stage. According to the report, a state counsel pleaded the case but soon he stopped appearing on his behalf.

Later, the accused decided to plead his case himself but he could not protect himself from the charges.

While observing loopholes in the case, the Pakistani court said that it did not seem to be premised upon substantial grounds.

"It seems that something is behind this matter," Justice Shehram Sarwar observed. The court allowed the convict's appeal and the decision of the trial court was set aside, the Tribune report added.

This case comes to light amid ongoing outrage over the killing of a Sri Lankan factory manager, over alleged blasphemy. Last week, a mob in Pakistan's Sialkot had tortured Diyawadana to death before burning his body in Sialkot.

Highlighting the grim reality of "spiralling radicalisation" in the country, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) had condemned the killing of the Sri Lankan man on "flimsy allegations of blasphemy".

Pakistan continues to be a cause of concern for rights activists in the country. Pakistan has registered thousands of blasphemy cases, which are mostly against religious minorities like Hindus, Christians, Shia and Ahmadiya Muslims from 1987 till today, according to several reports by rights groups.

A large number of these blasphemy cases in Pakistan are still awaiting justice. (ANI)
Judy Sgro, Chair of the Canada-Taiwan Friendship Group, issued a statement in the House of Commons affirming Song's dedication to advancing Taiwan-Canada relations during his tenure, Taiwan news reported citing CNA.

Song joined the representative office in July 2014, where he was first appointed head of the news team. Currently, he is in charge of the office's business affairs.

As reported by Taiwan News, Song is scheduled to leave his post and return to Taiwan in January 2022. He previously served in Taipei, Singapore, and the US.

Sgro said that Song has strived to educate Canadians about the history and culture of his home country. He also worked hard to ensure Canadian parliamentarians understand the contributions Taiwan can bring to Canada and the world.

"Most importantly, he made sure Canada regarded Taiwan's political situation as a primary concern, Sgro noted," the Canadian parliamentarian added.

Judy Sgro's remarks came amid Taiwan's constant effort to enhance ties with democratic nations, in response to China's aggressive stance against Taipei.

In similar developments, a bill introduced by the US congressmen, calling on the US to put an end to the 'one-China' policy and restore diplomatic relations with Taiwan has gained a total of 18 backers in Congress. (ANI)
In a press statement, the members of the Security Council condemned Tuesday's terrorist attack in Basra, which left at least four people dead and 20 others injured.

They also condemned December 3 terrorist attack in northern Iraq, which, claimed by the Islamic State terror group, resulted in at least 13 deaths.

The Council members expressed their deepest sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims and to the government of Iraq. They wished a speedy and full recovery to those injured, Xinhua news agency reported.

They underlined the need to hold perpetrators, organisers, financiers and sponsors of these reprehensible acts of terrorism accountable and bring them to justice, and urged all states to cooperate actively with the government of Iraq and all other relevant authorities in this regard.

The Council members reaffirmed that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security, and stressed the need for all states to combat by all means threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts.

They reiterated their support for the independence, sovereignty, unity, territorial integrity, democratic process and prosperity of Iraq, and reaffirmed their support for Iraq's security and the continued fight against terrorism, including against the Islamic State.

--IANS int/shs/ksk/

( 237 Words)

2021-12-09-08:04:24 (IANS)
The approval by the North Korea sanctions committee will pave the way for Unicef's provision of materials worth $1.48 million, including vaccine cold chain equipment, ventilators and masks, according to a document posted on the Council's website.

The exemptions were approved on November 30 and will last for a year, Yonhap News Agency quoted the committee as saying.

The items will be shipped via the Chinese port of Dalian to the North's western port of Nampo.

The sanctions waiver comes as the reclusive country has been struggling with persistent economic woes amid pandemic-driven border controls and crippling economic sanctions.

The North has claimed to be coronavirus free.

It has yet to accept Covid-19 vaccines allocated to the country through the COVAX Facility, a global vaccine distribution platform.

--IANS ksk/

( 179 Words)

2021-12-09-09:21:26 (IANS)
A UK government adviser has resigned following a backlash over a video that showed her joking about an alleged Christmas party at Downing Street last year while London was under strict Covid-19 restrictions. On Wednesdaym Allegra Stratton said she has offered her resignation less than 20 hours after the video emerged, reports Xinhua news agency. The video, obtained by ITV, showed Stratton, who was Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Press Secretary at that time, laughing about how to describe the alleged party during a rehearsal for a news conference. In the footage from December last year, Stratton and other senior aides can be heard jokingly referring the party to a "business meeting" and a "cheese and wine" event. In her statement on Wednesday, she said the British people had made immense sacrifices and apologised for comments that "seemed to make light of the rules". "I will regret those remarks for the rest of my days and offer my profound apologies to all of you for them," she said. But she did not mention in the statement whether the party did actually happen. Johnson also apologised for the video in Parliament on Wednesday, saying that he was "furious" about the clip and was launching an investigation into whether rules had been broken. But opposition Labour leader Keir Starmer said the Prime Minister had taken the public for fools as Downing Street has refused during the past week to confirm what happened at the alleged party on December 18 last year. Matt Fowler, co-founder of the Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice, accused the Prime Minister of trying to "gaslight" bereaved families. --IANS ksk/ ( 284 Words) 2021-12-09-09:50:17 (IANS)
Judge Abu Zafar Md Kamruzzaman of the Speedy Trial Tribunal-1 here also jailed five others to life imprisonment in the murder case of Abrar Fahad, reports Xinhua news agency.

The court found all the accused guilty of the murder.

Of the convicts three have been absconding since the incident, while the rest are now behind bars.

Fahad, a second-year BUET student, died in the early hours of October 7, 2019 after he was brutally beaten allegedly by some leaders and activists of the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), the ruling Bangladesh Awami League party-backed student organisation, at a hall of the university.

The victim was beaten to death reportedly over a social media post.

The brutal death of the student sparked student protests across Bangladesh.

The court in the verdict mentioned that the highest punishment to the accused is aimed at preventing repetition of an incident of the similar fashion in future.

--IANS ksk/

( 188 Words)

2021-12-09-10:10:42 (IANS)
"Donors' commitment to providing money for the agency has retreated," UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini said on Wednesday during his meeting with a delegation of civil society institutions working with Palestinians in Lebanon.

He added that he continues to work hard on securing funds for the agency, reports Xinhua news agency.

Meanwhile, the delegation informed Lazzarini of the humanitarian challenges facing Palestinian refugees in Lebanon.

Around 463,664 Palestinian refugees are registered with the UNRWA in Lebanon, according to a report issued by the agency in 2017.

The UN estimates around 65 per cent of them suffer from poverty, while 3 per cent of them live in extreme poverty.

--IANS ksk/

( 161 Words)

2021-12-09-10:20:11 (IANS)
The US has announced new initiatives to protect reporters and independent journalism on the eve of the Democracy Summit. Further, United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who also appeared on the panel, praised the "extraordinary work of journalists and media workers" worldwide, according to Radio Free Asia. "In addition, United States Agency For International Development will announce the launch of a Media Viability Accelerator, which will bring together media outlets, business advisory groups, and the private sector to make independent press outlets more sustainable," he said at the panel. "And yet, as we all know, for too many journalists, doing this work means having to endure threats, harassment, attacks, " he added. Journalists: misuse of tech, repressive government danger to media and democracy according to Radio Free Asia online panel titled "Media Freedom and Sustainability." The panel was held on what was called "Day Zero" of the virtual Summit for Democracy. Bay Fang, the president of Radio Free Asia talked about the means used by repressive governments to silence the media. "Have used different means to try to silence us over the years, going beyond traditional physical threats, and jailing, but also weaponizing legal systems, using cyber intimidation, and extending their influence beyond their borders by targeting families and loved ones," Fang said at the panel. Earlier, around 50 family members of the Washington-based RFA Uyghur Service's reporters have been jailed, detained, or are missing in China, according to Radio Free Asia. Further, the panelists, included 2021 Nobel Peace Prize-winning journalists Maria Ressa and Dmitry Muratov, also spoke about the threat to journalists' lives in an atmosphere where criticism isn't tolerated and where big technology companies often allegedly work at the behest of governments (ANI)
In a statement, the members of the Security Council expressed their deepest condolences and sympathy to the bereaved families, as well as to Egypt, Mali, Togo and the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali.

They wished a speedy and full recovery to those injured.

An explosion in Bandiagara, central Mali killed seven Togolese blue helmets and one contractor from Mali, while three others were seriously injured, the mission announced Wednesday on its Twitter account.

UN Secretary-General's spokesman Stephane Dujarric confirmed that a peacekeeper from Egypt died Monday after being injured in an attack in northern Mali last month.

The council members called on the transitional government of Mali to swiftly investigate the attacks and bring the perpetrators to justice.

They urged the Malian parties to fully implement the Agreement on Peace and Reconciliation in Mali without further delay and stressed the need for all states to combat terrorism. (ANI/Xinhua)
Pakistan's National Security Adviser (NSA) Moeed Yusuf has refuted the reports that Pakistan has offered a military base to China in the port city of Gwadar amid security concerns in the region. Earlier, a report has stated that China is secretly building a high-security compound near Gwadar Port in Pakistan's Balochistan province which it will probably use for a naval base. In an interview with a UK broadcaster, Pakistan NSA said there are economic bases of China in Pakistan, where any country in the world can invest. He added that "the same was also offered" to the US, Russia and the Middle East, Pakistan's Geo News reported. "We are open to all countries," the NSA said adding that Beijing is a close friend of Islamabad. Meanwhile, analysts have been watching for the first signs of a long-expected Chinese naval base at Gwadar, a leading Aerospace and Defense magazine Forbes informed in June. "The base, to complement the one at Djibouti, would strengthen China's foothold in the Indian Ocean. Recent satellite images appear to show that several new complexes have been built in the last few years. One of them, identified as a Chinese company involved in port development, has unusually high security," said Forbes. Located at the western end of Pakistan's coast, Gwadar is expected to be a major port in China's Belt and Road Initiative, Forbes informed. During the interview with NSA, interviewer Stephen Sackur also asked him whether Pakistan has developed close ties with China at the cost of raising its voice for Muslims around the world, particularly those in Xinjiang. "You raise your voice for Kashmiri Muslims but refuse to condemn the violation of human rights in a Chinese province," Sackur asked Yusuf. The NSA said that Pakistan does not agree with the Western version about the alleged atrocities being committed against Muslims in Xinjiang, Geo News reported. "We have relations of trust with China and our ambassador and other delegations from here also visited the Xinjiang province," he observed, adding that if Western countries have a problem with China, they should talk to Beijing about it. During the interview, Yusuf also appealed to the world to provide humanitarian aid to the people of Afghanistan. (ANI)
The UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), in a new report on Thursday, said the COVID-19 pandemic is rolling back progress on key childhood challenges such as poverty, health and access to education. This revelation, according to UNICEF, represents the biggest global crisis for children since the agency was founded 75 years ago. The impact of the COVID-19 continues to deepen, the report warned and added that increasing poverty is entrenching inequality and threatening the rights of children like never before. "The COVID-19 pandemic has been the biggest threat to progress for children in our 75-year history," said Henrietta Fore, UNICEF Executive Director. "While the number of children who are hungry, out of school, abused, living in poverty or forced into marriage is going up, the number of children with access to healthcare, vaccines, sufficient food and essential services is going down. In a year in which we should be looking forward, we are going backward." COVID-19 has pushed a staggering 100 million more children into poverty: a 10 per cent increase since 2019. This corresponds to nearly two children every second since mid-March of last year, when the pandemic was declared, UN News reported. UNICEF said even in a best-case scenario, recovery to pre-pandemic levels will take up to eight years. Some 60 million children are now living in "monetary poor" households, and more than 23 million have missed out on essential vaccines, the highest number in more than a decade, according to the report. Before the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic, nearly one billion children worldwide suffered at least one severe deprivation, such as lack of access to education, health, housing, nutrition, or sanitation and water. Unequal recovery is pushing the number higher, UN News reported. The report details other areas where backsliding occurred, such as in education. At the peak of the pandemic, more than 1.6 billion students were shut out of school due to lockdowns. Schools were closed worldwide for almost 80 per cent of in-person instruction time during the first year of the crisis, the report added. (ANI)
"Our thoughts and prayers are with General Bipin Rawat, his wife and their family. I am saddened over the loss of a 'good friend of Afghanistan'. Heartfelt condolences to his family, the Indian Army and also to all others who lost their lives in this tragic incident," Mamundzay tweeted.

A total of 14 people were on-board the IAF Mi-17V5 helicopter that crashed near Tamil Nadu's Coonoor on Wednesday claiming the lives of 13 people including General Rawat and his wife Madhulika Rawat.

General Rawat was appointed as India's first Chief of Defence Staff on December 31, 2019. He previously served as Chief of the Army Staff from January 2017 to December 2019. He was commissioned into the Indian Army in December 1978.

A 'tri service' enquiry has been ordered regarding the crash. The enquiry will be headed by Air Marshal Manvendra Singh, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Training Command. (ANI)
The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) on Wednesday expressed outrage over an attack on a convoy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in which one of its vehicles was hit, wounding three staff members. Unidentified attackers opened fire on the convoy which was being escorted by 'blue helmets' from the UN Stabilization Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) in the Mambassa area, Lubero territory, North Kivu province, where instability is rife and dozens of armed groups operate freely. The three UNHCR personnel received emergency medical assistance at the scene, according to a statement from the agency. "They were then brought to safety by the (MONUSCO) escort. They have since been transported to the hospital where they are receiving treatment", it continued. The injured personnel were travelling in a clearly marked UNHCR vehicle, and were returning to the city of Beni from the town of Kirumba, in south Lubero territory, "after distributing aid to people already displaced from their homes by violence and to vulnerable families from the host community." "UNHCR is shocked and outraged by the attack and calls in the strongest terms for the respect for international humanitarian and human rights law to protect civilians and humanitarian workers from violence, and to ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice immediately", said the agency. In a statement issued by his Spokesperson in New York, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres strongly condemned the attack, carried out by suspected Mai-Mai militia, and wished a speedy and full recovery to the wounded staff members. Mr Guterres emphasized that attacks against United Nations personnel and humanitarian workers, "may constitute a war crime". "He calls on the Congolese authorities to spare no effort in investigating and promptly holding accountable the perpetrators of this unacceptable attack", said Mr Dujarric. "The Secretary-General reaffirms his continued support to all humanitarian workers in their efforts to deliver assistance to the Congolese people." (ANI)
The initiative proposes to hold the presidential election simultaneously with the parliamentary election in February 2022, to form a system of a president, two deputies and a prime minister, reports Xinhua news agency.

The upcoming parliament's main task is to prepare a constitution for the country, the Council said.

The Council also proposed to limit the term of the upcoming president and parliament to four non-renewable years.

For the initiative to succeed, a national reconciliation must be launched, measures for building confidence between the parties be adopted, and the Government provide the proper atmosphere for the elections, it noted.

In November, Khaled al-Meshri, chairman of the Council, urged voters not to participate in the upcoming elections, describing as "shameful" the election laws issued by the House of Representatives, the current parliament.

More than 2.8 million Libyan voters are expected to cast their votes to choose a president in the December 24 election, as part of a roadmap adopted by the UN-sponsored Libyan Political Dialogue Forum.

The Libyan parliamentary election, originally scheduled for the same day as the presidential poll, has been postponed to January 2022.

--IANS ksk/

( 219 Words)

2021-12-09-11:03:20 (IANS)
Hours after Pakistani media reported the country's first case of Omicron variant of coronavirus, the country's health authorities said that no case of the new variant has been detected as of yet. Responding to media reports of a "suspected case" of Omicron variant reported in a female patient, the National Institute of Health, Islamabad (NIH) said that the sample is not yet confirmed to be that of Omicron via whole-genome sequencing, which is to be performed after obtaining the sample. "This is in response to media reports of a suspected case of Omicron variant being reported from Karachi. To clarify, the sample is not yet confirmed to be Omicron via whole genome sequencing, which is to be performed after obtaining the sample," said the NIH in a tweet. Earlier, a private hospital in Karachi reported the first case of the variant in a 57-year-old female patient who is unvaccinated, confirmed Sindh Health Minister Dr Azra Pechuho. The Sindh government has also clarified the case is "suspected" as a genomic study is yet to be conducted. Pechuho later said cannot be said for sure whether the patient is suffering from the Omicron variant or not until and unless a genomic test is conducted. "We have not yet conducted a genome study but the way the virus is behaving, it seems likely that it is the Omicron variant," she said. Dr Pechuho said it would take between one to two weeks for the genome study to take place, after which it can be said for sure whether the patient has contracted the Omicron variant of the coronavirus or not. "The virus spreads [rapidly]. This lady is also not vaccinated, which is why I would like to appeal to you all to get both doses of the vaccine," said the minister. "For those who are fully vaccinated and it has been six months since, please get yourselves a booster shot," she urged. This development comes as Omicron has been reported in 57 countries, and World Health Organization (WHO) expects the number to continue growing. Features of the new COVID-19 variant Omicron, including the extent to which it will spread, and the sheer number of mutations, suggest that it could have a major impact on the course of the pandemic, according to WHO. During Wednesday's latest weekly briefing in Geneva, WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus highlighted "a consistent picture of the rapid increase in transmission" but said that the exact rate of increase relative to other variants remains difficult to quantify. Despite some data from South Africa suggesting an increased risk of re-infection with Omicron, more data is needed, UN News reported. Experts believe that the variant might also cause milder disease than Delta, but there is no definitive answer yet. (ANI)
Amid the deteriorating economic and humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, the International Crisis Group (ICG) has warned of mass starvation in the country, local media reported. In its newly published report, ICG said that if the international community does not scale up economic support, more Afghans may die of hunger and starvation in the current crisis than from the fighting in the past 20 years, Tolo News reported. "Hunger and destitution following the Taliban's takeover of the country seem poised to kill more Afghans than all the bombs and bullets of the past two decades," the report said. The ICG report said the Taliban's inability to run a modern economy and the decision of foreign donors to cut off all but emergency aid are the main reasons behind the economic and humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. According to Tolo News, the report blamed the international community for building up a totally donor-dependent state apparatus in Afghanistan since 2001. "Today, donors are providing humanitarian aid, but this limited type of emergency assistance is insufficient to arrest the worsening humanitarian and economic crises. The human cost is already immense. Hundreds of thousands or even more deaths, and unspeakable scenes of deprivation, seem likely over the winter months," the report said. The ICG report also criticized the Taliban for the current situation for its failure to form an inclusive government and for its track record on human rights, including the ban on girls' education and its severe limiting of women's right to work, Tolo News reported. "The Taliban bear tremendous responsibility for failing to take steps," the report read. The Taliban entered Kabul on August 15, causing the US-backed government to step down. Later in September, the outfit announced the composition of the new interim government of Afghanistan. The country is currently battered by the deepening economic, humanitarian, and security crisis following the Taliban takeover. The international community, from governments to non-governmental organizations, has been providing various forms of assistance to the Afghan people. (ANI)
In a statement on Wednesday, the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) said that logistic convoy from Douentza to Sevare struck an improvised explosive device in the Bandiagara region earlier in the day, reports Xinhua news agency.

In recent days, four MINUSMA camps in northern Mali have been the target of attacks, according to the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General and Head of MINUSMA El-Ghassim Wane.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has strongly condemned Wednesday's incident and extended his deepest condolences to the bereaved families of the victims who were from Togo and He wished a speedy recovery to the injured.

The secretary-general said that attacks targeting UN peacekeepers may constitute war crimes under international law.

He called on the Malian authorities to spare no effort in identifying the perpetrators of these attacks so that they can be swiftly brought to justice.

Guterres reiterated the continued support of the UN for, and solidarity with, the people and government of Mali, including through enhancing the capacity of the peacekeeping mission to protect civilians in central Mali and supporting a government-led strategy to stabilise the region.

Since 2012, Mali has been facing deep and multifaceted security, political and economic crises.

The independence insurrections, the jihadi incursions and the inter-communal violence have caused thousands of deaths and hundreds of thousands of displaced, despite the presence of UN forces (MINUSMA) as well as French (Barkhane) and European (Takuba) forces.

--IANS ksk/

( 267 Words)

2021-12-09-11:36:11 (IANS)
Greek City Times reported that the man was wandering in a central square in Kalivia with his pants down. He was, however, arrested by the police.

A twenty-seven-year woman has informed the police that she saw the Pakistani man walking around half-naked in a place where children were playing.

Later, the police arrested the man at 19.30 on Saturday, Greek City Times reported. (ANI)
The UN Security Council (UNSC) has expressed concerns over the sentencing of Aung San Suu Kyi, the former de facto leader of Myanmar who was ousted during the February 1 military coup, as well as deposed President Win Myint. In a statement, the members of the Security Council reiterated their calls for the release of all those who have been arbitrarily detained since the military takeover, reports Xinhua news agency. "The members of the Security Council once again stressed their continued support for the democratic transition in Myanmar, and underlined the need to uphold democratic institutions and processes, refrain from violence, pursue constructive dialogue and reconciliation in accordance with the will and interests of the people of Myanmar, fully respect human rights and fundamental freedoms and uphold the rule of law," it added. The council members reiterated their strong commitment to the sovereignty, political independence, territorial integrity and unity of Myanmar. The two deposed leaders were sentenced on Monday initially to four years in jail, but the terms were halved later to two years each. They were found guilty on charges of "inciting dissent and breaking Covid rules" under thr Natural Disaster Management Law. Suu Kyi, the 76-year-old former State Councillor, faces a total of 11 charges, such as violating the Official Secrets Act. She has denied them all. The coup was staged after the military alleged massive voting fraud in the November 2020 general elections, which saw the NLD win a majority of seats in both houses of Parliament. The takeover triggered widespread demonstrations and Myanmar's military has cracked down on pro-democracy protesters, activists and journalists, according to rights groups. Suu Kyi is one of more than 10,600 people to have been arrested by the junta since February, and at least 1,303 others killed in the demonstrations, according to the monitoring group Assistance Association for Political Prisoners. --IANS ksk/ ( 323 Words) 2021-12-09-12:00:40 (IANS)
The cremation will take place in Delhi on Friday with full military honours. The funeral procession will start from Kamraj Marg and go till Brar Square crematorium in Delhi Cantonment.

CDS General Bipin Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat and 11 others, who were on board IAF's Mi-17V5 helicopter, died in the crash on Wednesday near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu.

The mortal remains of Gen Rawat were today brought to Madras Regimental Centre from Military Hospital, Wellington in Nilgiris district. People paid floral tribute to Gen Rawat and others who died in the helicopter crash.

The government has ordered a tri-service inquiry into the accident.

Group Captain Varun Singh is the lone survivor of the crash and is under treatment at Military Hospital, Wellington. (ANI)
Starting February 2022, the government plans to require not only adults, but also children aged 12 to 18 to present Covid-19 vaccination or negative test certificates at multiuse facilities, including public study rooms and cram schools, reports Yonhap News Agency.

The decision has met fierce backlash, leading the ruling Democratic Party to reconsider the plan.

A group of people, including Yang Dae-rim, the 18-year-old high school student, plan to file an appeal with the Constitutional Court against the plan on Friday, lawyers representing them said.

"This is an act of forcing people, including adolescents, to receive Covid-19 vaccine jabs when there are concerns over their safety and effectiveness," Chae Myung-sung, the petitioners' representing attorney from the Lawyers for Human Rights and Unification of Korea, said.

"This is clearly a violation of the Constitution," he said.

The petitioners claimed their most basic right to education will be infringed when access to private academic institutes and study rooms is restricted without a vaccine pass, calling for freedom to decide for themselves whether to get vaccinated or not.

They also plan to file a complaint with the prosecution against President Moon Jae-in and Jeong Eun-kyeong, head of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, on charges of power abuse.

--IANS ksk/

( 258 Words)

2021-12-09-14:18:13 (IANS)
Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune met visiting French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian here, where they discussed measures to improve strained bilateral relations as well as other issues of mutual concern, state-run television channel ENTV reported. In a press conference following his meeting with the President, Le Drian said he had expressed his wish to President Tebboune and his Algerian counterpart Ramtane Lamamra, whom he had met earlier, to cooperate on removing the hurdles and misunderstandings that may exist between the two countries, reports Xinhua news agency. The two sides agreed to resume talks in a variety of fields, including immigration, visas, and counter-terrorism cooperation, the report said. In an unstable regional and international environment, France and Algeria face common challenges, including the terrorism threats in the Sahel region, illegal migration, and economic development challenges, Le Drian noted. The French minister said he hoped the resumption of bilateral talks will pave the way for political exchanges between the two countries in 2022. They also discussed issues concerning Libya and Mali. Le Drian said France would continue to cooperate with Algeria to help Libya's political transition, while praising Algeria's key role and commitment to the establishment of the peace and reconciliation agreement in Mali. The Minister's working visit aims to "assess and re-launch bilateral relations", the French Foreign Ministry said in a statement earlier in the day. The visit comes as relations between Algeria and France have become strained in recent months. In October, Algeria recalled its ambassador to France and closed its airspace to French military planes, as a response to a French decision in September reducing the number of visas provided to Algerian officials by 50 per cent as well as remarks of French President Emmanuel Macron in which he criticized Algeria. In a statement to local media in mid-October, Tebboune affirmed that the return of the Algerian Ambassador to France is conditional on total respect of France for Algeria. --IANS ksk/ ( 335 Words) 2021-12-09-14:22:27 (IANS)
The office of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Thursday announced that the restrictions on scheduled international commercial passenger services from and to India shall not apply to international all-cargo operations and flights specifically approved by DGCA. Circular issued by the DGCA stated that the suspension of scheduled international commercial passenger services has been extended till January 31 next year. "The competent authority has decided to extend the suspension of Scheduled International commercial passenger services to/from India till 2359 hrs 1ST of 31st January, 2022. This restriction shall not apply to international all-cargo operations and flight specifically approved by DGCA," the circular read. However, the international scheduled flights are likely to be allowed on selected routes by the competent authority on case to case basis. "International Scheduled flights may be allowed on selected routes by the competent authority on case to case basis," the circular added. The announcement comes amid the rise of the new COVID-19 variant identified as Omicron. In November, the Aviation Ministry had announced that it was in line to resume regular international flights from December 15. At that time, the Ministry of Civil Aviation had stated, "The matter of resumption of scheduled commercial international passenger services to and from India has been examined in consultation with the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry of External Affairs and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and it has been decided that scheduled commercial international passenger services to and from India may be resumed from December 15, 2021." Flights to and from the countries which have been identified by the Ministry of Health as not "at-risk" will have full capacity entitlements as per bilateral air service agreements. Flights from countries identified to be "at-risk" and with whom air bubbles have been formalised, will have 75 per cent of pre-Covid operations of Indian and foreign carriers. However, countries identified to be "at-risk" and with whom air bubbles have not been formalised, will have 50 per cent of bilateral capacity entitlements or 50 per cent of pre-COVID-19 operation of Indian or foreign carrier whichever is higher. India has removed Singapore from its list of "at-risk" nations. The current list of "at-risk" countries for the COVID-19 Omicron variant includes the United Kingdom, other countries in Europe, South Africa, Brazil, Botswana, China, Ghana, Mauritius, New Zealand, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Hong Kong and Israel. (ANI)
US President Joe Biden on Thursday invoked Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela while referring to the work done by Congressman John Lewis, a civil rights activist, during his opening remarks at the Summit for Democracy. He said Congressman John Lewis was a great champion of democracy and civil rights around the world and took inspiration from other great leaders - Gandhi and Mandela. "Democracies are not all the same. We don't agree on everything. But the choices that we are going to make today together are going to define, in my way, the course of our shared future for generations to come," Biden said. "Congressman John Lewis was a great champion of American democracy and civil rights around the world, learning from and taking inspiration from other great leaders like Gandhi and Mandela. In the final words, when he was dying, he reminded our country when he said 'Democracy is not a state, it is an act," he added. Biden said the democracies have to stand up for the values that define "us". "We have to stand for justice and rule of law for free speech, free assembly and free press, freedom of religion, for inherent human rights for every individual," he said. Lewis was one of the "Big Six" leaders of groups who organized the 1963 March on Washington. He fulfilled many key roles in the civil rights movement and its actions to end legalized racial segregation in the United States. He served in the United States House of Representatives from 1987 until his death in 2020. He died due to pancreatic cancer. Biden was delivering his opening speech on the first day of the virtual 'Summit for Democracy' which focuses on challenges faced by various democracies. Washington has invited 110 counties for the summit with China, Russia, Saudi Arabia and a dozen other states not invited. (ANI)
Tehran [Iran], December 9 (ANI/Xinhua): Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian said on Thursday that Iran has not received any "constructive and forward-looking" proposals from the West for the ongoing talks in the Austrian capital of Vienna to revive the 2015 nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).If the European parties to the deal study Iran's proposals carefully and without "false presuppositions," they will find out that the proposals are within the framework of JCPOA and focus on the unfinished topics of previous talks, said Amir Abdollahian in a telephone conversation with EU Foreign Affairs Chief Josep Borrell, according to Iran's Foreign Ministry website. The Iranian foreign minister emphasized what he called "Iran's completely peaceful nuclear program," noting that "resolving the nuclear concerns is directly related to the complete lifting of sanctions." For his part, Borrell also referred to the challenges that could damage the talks, expressing hope that with the efforts and interaction of all parties, the Vienna talks would move toward reaching an agreement. He called for solving some concerns about Iran's current nuclear program and stressed the importance of cooperation between the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The new round of negotiations between Iran and other remaining parties to the deal which started last week in Vienna called for a pause on Dec. 3, in a bid to review Iran's two proposals which urge the priority of removal of U.S. anti-Iran sanctions. The parties reconvened on Thursday. (ANI/Xinhua)
While speaking at a high-level media briefing and launching a National Action Plan to prevent violence against women and girls, Akbar said almost one in three girls is physically or sexually abused after the age of 15 in the South Pacific island country, reports Xinhua news agency.

She noted that two out of three women in Fiji have experienced domestic violence by their intimate partners.

One out of five women suffers sexual harassment in their workplace.

The Minister also said, citing a research by Fiji Women's Crisis Centre, that almost two in 10 girls experience sexual abuse in the island nation before they are 15 years old.

The National Action Plan will be a roadmap for Fiji to meaningfully stop violence against all women and girls, said Akbar.

She added that even she was a victim of domestic violence when growing up and urged Fijians to speak openly on the issue in order to help in reducing the violence against women and children.

Akbar stressed that worldwide evidence demonstrates that the violence against women and girls is preventable if an evidence-based, whole population approach is adopted.

--IANS ksk/

( 229 Words)

2021-12-09-15:17:04 (IANS)
Two new school buildings, which were built under India grant assistance, were inaugurated in the Sarlahi District of Nepal on Thursday. According to the Indian embassy here, the two schools -- Shree Bal Govind Janta Higher Secondary School at Pipariya, Kabilasi-2 and Shree Janta Secondary School at Netragunj, Lalbandi-1 -- in Sarlahi district have been built with grant assistance from the Government of India (GoI) at the cost of Rs. 6.94 million and Rs. 15.94 million respectively. Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of India in Kathmandu Namgya Khampa inaugurated two school buildings. Local representatives, DCC officials, School Management Committee and villagers witnessed the inauguration ceremony. According to the embassy, Shree Bal Govind Janta Higher Secondary School and Shree Janta Secondary School were initially established in 1960 and 1962 respectively. "The existing schools in the region had facility of primary education only. The Shree Janta Higher Secondary School at Netraganj is being utilized for teaching management and technical education as well. Also, as the area is densely populated, it is difficult for the existing infrastructure to cater to the educational needs of children in the area. The new school buildings would create an improved environment for learning in the rural region and contribute to the development of education in the district," the embassy said. The construction of the school building was a High Impact Community Development Project (HICDPs) under an agreement between India and Nepal and District Coordination Committee, Sarlahi. Since 2003, India has taken up over 523 HICDPs in Nepal and has completed 461 projects. Amongst these, 58 projects are in Province 2, including 20 in Sarlahi District. In addition to these, India has gifted 38 ambulances to various health posts and 1 school bus in Sarlahi District. India and Nepal share unique ties of friendship and cooperation, and have multi-faceted and multi-sectoral development partnership. The creation of education infrastructure reflects the continued commitment of the Government of India in complementing the efforts of Government of Nepal in creating and augmenting infrastructure in priority sectors, the embassy stated. (ANI)
More than 70 per cent of Australians say they want a coronavirus booster vaccine, a new survey published on Thursday revealed Researchers from Australian National University (ANU) published the latest findings from their ongoing survey of more than 3,400 people during the pandemic, reports Xinhua news agency. It found that 71.9 per cent of the respondents said they will get a booster vaccine when available. However, it did reveal portions of the population that are hesitant about boosters. "In our analysis we found males, younger Australians, those who live outside of advantaged areas, those who have not completed Year 12, those who speak a language other than English, and those who have had their first dose vaccination relatively recently are all less willing to receive their 'third dose' of the Covid-19 vaccine," study co-author Nicholas Biddle said in a statement. Booster vaccines are currently available to Australians aged 18 and over six months after their second shot. Till date, 93.1 per cent of Australians aged 16 and over had received one vaccine dose and 88.7 per cent were fully inoculated, according to the Department of Health. The most common reason for booster hesitancy given by respondents to the survey was thinking other people would need Covid-19 vaccines before them. "This reinforces the need to boost supply of Covid-19 vaccines to the region, not only because many countries in the Asia Pacific have very low vaccination rates, but also because it will reassure Australians that they can get a booster without putting others at risk," Biddle said. Australia on Thursday reported more than 1,600 new locally-acquired coronavirus cases and 10 deaths as the country continues to battle the third wave of the pandemic. Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce, who is fully vaccinated, has confirmed he has tested positive for Covid-19 after arriving in the US for work on the government's social media regulation laws. He told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) that he decided to get tested after developing mild symptoms. "Obviously I am very frustrated. I'm going to be locked up in a room by myself for 10 days, but that's part of the process," Joyce said. "It's probably developing, I'm probably very much in the early stages - but I'm more worried about being in a room by myself to be honest." --IANS ksk/ ( 395 Words) 2021-12-09-15:31:18 (IANS)
The victims were performing early morning prayers in a local mosque in the Ba'are village of the Mashegu local government area of Niger on Wednesday when the gunmen struck, Monday Bala Kuryas, the state's police chief told reporters in Minna, the state capital.

Kuryas said the gunmen rode on motorcycles to the village, heading straight for the mosque where they unleashed terror on the worshippers.

The injured have been taken to a government hospital for treatment, he said, adding some security personnel had been deployed to beef up security in the area.

A police investigation is underway to unravel the motive of the attackers and apprehend them, Kuryas added.

Armed attacks have been a primary security threat in Nigeria's northern and central regions, leading to deaths and kidnappings in recent months. (ANI/Xinhua)
The brutal murder of a Sri Lankan national in Pakistan's Punjab has drawn condemnation from all around the world and has highlighted the rise of the misuse of the blasphemy law to carry out vigilante justice in Pakistan. On Friday, a mob in Pakistan's Sialkot had tortured Priyantha Kumara Diyawadana to death before burning his body in Sialkot over alleged blasphemy. The incident took place in the Wazirabad Road area. Reportedly, the workers of the private factory attacked the export manager Diyawadana and burnt his body after killing him, Dawn newspaper reported. Several videos doing rounds on the internet showed scores of men gathered at the site. In an opinion piece in Foreign Policy (FP), Pakistan-based journalist Kunwar Khuldune Shahid said this homicidal idea, which is at the core of Kumara's ghastly murder, is codified in Pakistan's penal code, which punishes blasphemy against Islam by death. Though Pakistan has judicially sentenced anyone to death for blasphemy, the journalist says upholding capital punishment for blasphemy while refraining from state-sanctioned executions has emboldened mobs to carry out vigilante justice in Pakistan. "It is no coincidence that some of the goriest mob lynching incidents in Pakistan overlapped with the country's moratorium on the death penalty, and the initiation of its longest sustained period as an official democracy 13 years ago," he writes. The journalist points out mobs have regularly vandalized churches, temples, and even mosques belonging to the Ahmadiyya sect. Ahmadi Muslims, constitutionally excommunicated in Pakistan, are deemed sacrilegious by virtue of their existence, and are hence frequent targets of mob attacks, with even the government-affiliated Council of Islamic Ideology pushing for the community's elimination. Instead of addressing the blasphemy laws in his own country, the journalist says that Khan maintained he wanted to export them globally, saying days after banning the TLP that he wanted people in the West to be "scared of blaspheming against our prophet." Khan has similarly looked to woo the Ahle Sunnat, or Barelvi, Islamic sect by setting up "spiritual science" centres and announcing extravagant celebrations for festivities associated with the sect. Barelvi Islam, of which the TLP is a radical manifestation, is followed by a majority of Muslims across South Asia. (ANI)
Washington [US], December 9 (ANI/Sputnik): The United States has sanctioned a former Ukrainian government official and several other individuals from around the world using Global Magnitsky designations, the Treasury Department said on Thursday. "Today, on International Anti-Corruption Day, the US Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is targeting fifteen individuals and entities across several countries in Central America, Africa, and Europe," the Treasury Department said in a press release. OFAC added Andriy Portnov, the former deputy head of ex-Ukraine President Viktor Yanukovych's administration, along with several other individuals from Angola, El Salvador, Liberia and other countries to their Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list. The Treasury Department said Portnov has cultivated extensive connections to Ukraine's judicial and law enforcement apparatus through bribery, the Treasury Department said. Portnov has been accused of using his influence to buy access and decisions in Ukraine's courts and undermining reform efforts. OFAC also designated the Andriy Portnov Fund for being an entity owned or controlled by Portnov, the release said. The Treasury Department explained that its actions are taken to fight corruption in line with the US Strategy on Countering Corruption released on Monday. The actions further this strategy by combating illicit activities and will make the US economy - and the global economy - stronger, fairer and safer from criminals and national security threats, the release added. The US Department of Homeland Security's Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center assisted OFAC in identifying perpetrators of serious human rights abuse and corruption for sanction designation, according to the release. US law requires that sanctioned individuals' property and interests in the country be blocked and US citizens are prohibited from engaging in commercial activities with them. (ANI/Sputnik)
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday (local time) spoke to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to express his condolences over the death of India's first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Gen. Bipin Rawat, his wife, and colleagues in a chopper crash in the Nilgiri Hills. He said that Gen. Rawat was a strong leader and advocate for India, and his passing is a great loss for both of our nations. "Today I spoke with Indian Minister of External Affairs @DrSJaishankar to express my condolences for the tragic death of Gen. Bipin Rawat, his wife, and colleagues. Gen. Rawat was a strong leader and advocate for India, and his passing is a great loss for both of our nations," tweeted Blinken. The sad news was confirmed by Indian Air Force on Wednesday through their official Twitter handle that read, "With deep regret, it has now been ascertained that Gen Bipin Rawat, Mrs Madhulika Rawat, and 11 other persons on board have died in the unfortunate accident." The helicopter crashed around noon shortly after it took off from the Air Force base in Sulur, Coimbatore, for Wellington in the Nilgiri Hills. The General was heading to the Defence Services Staff College in Wellington to address the faculty and student officers of the Staff Course on Wednesday. A veteran of counterinsurgency warfare, CDS Rawat served in the most difficult terrains including northern and eastern commands. CDS Rawat was commissioned into the Indian Army in December 1978. He previously served as Chief of the Army Staff from January 2017 to December 2019. (ANI)
Post the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan and the takeover of the country by the Taliban, there is fear of a resurgence of jihadi forces across Arab states. The concerns were expressed at an extraordinary meeting of intelligence chiefs of 22 Arab states held in Cairo last month, reported al arabiya post. There is apprehension that the renewed Islamic State-Taliban conflict in Afghanistan may trigger a spillover of the IS fighters to neighbouring countries or plot disturbances in the Middle East. Arab intelligence is of the view that the Islamist State is already radicalising youth in the Arab world, including Lebanon, to export them to Syria, Iraq and other places where they are required to support local IS fighting groups, reported al Arabiya post. The Arab Intelligence Forum, set up by Egypt this year as a "multilateral intelligence-sharing body", in its meeting recognised that an Islamic State resurgence is a "reality, as attacks during the past weeks suggest". The intelligence chiefs shared information at the meeting of the growing IS-sponsored violence. It was reported that the IS launched several attacks in northern Iraq in early November and even captured a town for 24 hours. Similarly, in eastern Syria, the IS conducted attacks, targeting soldiers and oil workers. Though the IS threat is limited in Lebanon, there are fears of an escalation in the coming months. The Arab world is monitoring the situation, especially in Lebanon. This is a relatively recent phenomenon and the IS is learnt to have calculated that the political class in Beirut would find the interference convenient to pursue its brand of politics in the country, reported al Arabiya post. Moreover, the authorities are worried about the IS radicalising convicts and under trials in Lebanese prisons, especially the Roumieh prison in east Beirut. This prison is locally called the "operations room" of the IS because of the group's easy access to the inmates. Recruitment from here has been happening since 2018. (ANI)
India on Thursday highlighted terrorism and climate change at UNSC open debate on "Maintenance of International Peace and Security: Security in the context of Terrorism and Climate Change". India's Permanent Representative to United Nations TS Tirumurti said that terrorism is a serious global concern. The fight against terrorism remains significant even after 20 years since landmark resolution 1373 was adopted in the wake of the 9/11 terror attacks. "The threat of terrorism has adversely impacted African countries in their pursuit of economic progress and development. The security situation in the G5-Sahel countries has been deteriorating in the last three years," said Tirumurti. "India appreciates the initiative of G-5 Sahel Force. a joint effort of countries in the Sahel including Niger. However, the Joint Force continues to be plagued by multiple challenges," added the Indian envoy. He further led stress on providing adequate and sustainable resources to regional security initiatives such as the G5 Sahel Joint Force. Talking about climate change, Tirumurti said that complex issues like climate crisis need to be addressed through established mechanisms painstakingly created for this purpose. "Climate change is one of the defining challenges of our time. Member states have engaged purposefully in a focussed manner to put in place commitments so that climate change can be addressed holistically as done by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)-led process with annual Conference of the Parties (COP) meetings," said Tirumurti. He advised against drawing a separate link between security and climate change when all aspects of climate change are already being dealt with, holistically, under the mandate of the UNFCCC. "To move the climate change discourse from a consensus driven template to a possibly divisive process is not advisable," he said. Tirumurti further said that viewing conflicts only through the prism of climate change presents a myopic perspective and there is no clear scientific pronouncement directly equating climate change with security concerns. "Over-simplification of causes of conflict will not help in resolving them nor can it justify terrorists acts or extreme policy measures," he said. Talking about the recent climate summit held in Glasgow, he said, "The Glasgow Climate Pact adopted by consensus recently contains the collective will of the international community on all aspects related to climate change in a holistic manner". "India is a leader in Climate Action and is on track to meet its commitments under the Paris Agreement. India's climate responsive development is evident in the announcements at COP26, which Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the 'Panchamrit'," he added. Tirumurti also gave examples of how India has taken lead in bringing together international coalitions to generate long-term impact through partnerships, including through the International Solar Alliance, Green Grids Initiative, Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) and Infrastructure for Resilient Island States under CDRI. He urged for the need to enhance action on all important policies that address climate change, including fulfilment of commitments on climate finance and technology transfer. He also stated that developed countries cannot pass on their own obligations to developing countries and must meet their commitments equitably on both mitigation and adaptation. "Both terrorism and climate change are complex issues that the global community is grappling today. After decades of painstaking international efforts, today we have institutional mechanisms to address each of these issues. We should continue to work through those established mechanisms," said the Indian envoy. (ANI)
Israeli envoy to India, Naor Gilon on Thursday said that the demise of India's first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Gen. Bipin Rawat in a helicopter crash in the Nilgiri Hills is "a loss of a friend". Talking with ANI, he said, "Gen. Rawat was a hero son of India and champion of very strong defence relations between Israel and India. For us, it is a loss of a friend. The top leadership of our country knew him, valued his friendship." "13 people lost their life with Gen Rawat. You saw in the reactions from Israel coming from Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, former PM Benjamin Netanyahu, Minister of Foreign Affairs Yair Lapid, Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Aviv Kohavi, Minister of Defence Benny Gantz, Speaker of Parliament, Mickey Levy," added Gilon. The Israeli envoy further stated that everyone knew him, appreciated him, valued his friendship because its part of the alliance between India and Israel. "For us, anyhow the military side and the defence side things are very close to our heart. He touched us at many levels," said Gilon. Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat, his Defence Adviser Brigadier Lakhbinder Singh Lidder, Staff Officer Lieutenant Colonel Harjinder Singh and nine other Armed Forces personnel including the Air Force helicopter crew were killed in the helicopter crashed around noon on Wednesday shortly after it took off from the Air Force base in Sulur, Coimbatore, for Wellington in the Nilgiri Hills. A veteran of counterinsurgency warfare, CDS Rawat served in the most difficult terrains including northern and eastern commands. CDS Rawat was commissioned into the Indian Army in December 1978. He previously served as Chief of the Army Staff from January 2017 to December 2019. (ANI)
Ambassador of Israel to India, Naor Gilon on Thursday said that India-US-Israel-UAE Quad meet could happen in early 2022 in Dubai. Speaking with ANI, the Israeli envoy said, "The meeting could happen in early 2022 in Dubai. The Sherpas from the four countries identified for the meet will identify the fields of cooperation in infrastructure and they will identify from each country the relevant companies for this field. When they meet in March or February in Dubai. They will have a practical-oriented approach where the diplomats will step aside and let the private companies work directly". When asked about the probable visit of Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett to India, Gilon said that the date has not yet been finalised. "The two Prime Ministers met in Glasgow in COP26 and they agreed to meet soon but there is no date yet. So, we are still working on it. I hope that it takes place in the first half of 2022," Gilon told ANI. He also said that since the change in leadership in Israel, the two countries have had wonderful momentum and has great chemistry in their relationship. "I think that the relationship has wonderful momentum. I was fortunate and lucky to be an ambassador in such a great period of relations. Our interest is pushing the momentum. There is great chemistry that was visible between the two Prime Ministers - Narendra Modi and Naftali Bennett. Things are going in the right direction. Our task is to keep the ball rolling and keep the momentum going on," said the Israeli envoy. (ANI)
"Given the ongoing advances in Iran's nuclear program, President (Joe Biden) has asked his team to be prepared in the event that diplomacy fails and we must turn to other options," said White House spokesperson Jen Psaki on Iran's nuclear program.

"If diplomacy cannot get on track soon and if Iran's nuclear programme continues to accelerate, then we will have no choice but to take additional measures to further restrict Iran's revenue-producing sectors," added Psaki.

The US warning came as negotiations between Iran and world powers aimed at salvaging a tattered 2015 nuclear deal resumed in Vienna after a few days' pause on December 3.

International diplomats restarted the talks on Thursday in Vienna for what the chair of the negotiations called the "difficult endeavor" of reviving the 2015 deal between Iran and world powers. An American delegation plans to take part indirectly in the coming days.

Talks in Vienna are going on between Iran and the five powers still in the 2015 deal -- Britain, China, France, Germany, and Russia - following then-president Donald Trump's 2018 decision to unilaterally withdraw the United States.

Under the accord, Iran curbed its nuclear programme in return for relief from economic sanctions. (ANI)
(Adds comment from State Department)

WASHINGTON, Dec 8 (Reuters) - U.S. Special Envoy for Iran Rob Malley plans to travel to Vienna over the weekend for fresh talks on reviving Iran's 2015 nuclear deal with major powers, U.S. State Department spokesperson Ned Price said on Wednesday.

The talks seek to find a way for the United States and Iran to resume compliance with the agreement, under which Iran restricted its nuclear program in return for relief from U.S., European Union and U.N. sanctions.

Then-President Donald Trump pulled the United States out of the deal in 2018 and reimposed U.S. sanctions, prompting Iran to start violating the nuclear restrictions about a year later. Iran struck the original deal with six major powers: Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States.

Enrique Mora, the senior European Union official chairing the talks, said on Twitter that they would resume on Thursday.

The talks have effectively been indirect negotiations between Iran and the United States, with diplomats from other nations shuttling between them because Tehran has refused face-to-face meetings with U.S. officials.

Noting the EU statement that talks resume on Thursday, the State Department spokesman told reporters: "We understand that there will be a day of meetings before the heads of delegations need to attend ... so Special Envoy Malley and his inter-agency delegation will plan to join the talks over the weekend."

After a round of talks that ended on Dec. 3, senior U.S. and European officials voiced disappointment and said Iran sought sweeping changes to draft agreements reached earlier this year.

The spokesman said Washington should be able to make a quick judgment about whether Iran was willing to negotiate seriously.

"We should know in pretty short order if the Iranians are ... returning to negotiate in good faith," Price told reporters at a regular briefing. (Reporting by Daphne Psaledakis, Simon Lewis and Arshad Mohammed; Writing by Arshad Mohammed; editing by Jonathan Oatis, Marguerita Choy and David Gregorio)
Former reality television star Josh Duggar was found guilty of child pornography charges Thursday in Arkansas.

The eldest child of the Duggar family, whose day-to-day life was featured on the hit TLC reality series 19 Kids and Counting from 2008 until 2015, was charged in April with two counts of downloading and possessing child pornography.

Prosecutors argued that some of those images included children younger than 12.

In April, the 33-year-old conservative political activist pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Duggar was taken into custody Thursday morning after the verdict was announced.

He was found guilty on both charges, after just under seven hours of deliberation. He now faces up to 20 years behind bars and fines of up to $250,000 for each count.

According to prosecutors, a Homeland Security Agent testified that pornographic images had been downloaded to a computer at a car dealership that Duggar owned in May 2019.

However, one of his attorneys, Justin Gilfand, argued during an opening statement that the images could have been downloaded by another person, in a classic, old-fashioned whodunit.

In 2015, Duggar admitted to molesting multiple girls when he was a teen.

Twelve years ago, as a young teenager, I acted inexcusably for which I am extremely sorry and deeply regret. I hurt others, including my family and close friends, Duggar told People at the time. I confessed this to my parents, who took several steps to help me address the situation.

The scandal led TLC to cancel 19 Kids and Counting and forced Duggar to resign from FRC Action, a lobbying group sponsored by the Family Research Council that seeks to mobilize Values Voters on behalf of faith, family, and freedom.

Judge Timothy Brooks said that sentencing will happen in about four months.


BALTIMORE COUNTY, MD  Coronavirus outbreaks have been reported in 17 public schools and six private schools in Baltimore County, the Maryland Department of Health reported this week.

Every Wednesday, the state health department releases a list of K-12 schools with outbreaks of COVID-19. The data does not include child care facilities or higher education institutions.

To be reported in the list, a school must have a classroom/cohort outbreak or a school-wide outbreak, according to the Maryland Department of Health.

A classroom/cohort outbreak is defined as at least two confirmed cases of COVID-19 within 14 days that are epidemiologically linked, and are not household contacts.

A schoolwide outbreak is defined as at least three classrooms or cohorts with cases from separate households in 14 days; or 5 percent of unrelated students, teachers or staff (at least 10 who are unrelated) having tested positive for COVID-19 within a two-week period.

There are 102 outbreaks in Baltimore County Public Schools and 30 outbreaks in private schools.



Here is the latest on coronavirus outbreaks in Baltimore County schools from the state for the week ending Dec. 8:

Baltimore County Public Schools



Fifth District Elementary School  15

Franklin Elementary School  4

Franklin High School  2

Hereford Middle School  12

Honeygo Elementary School  10

McCormick Elementary School  5

Martin Boulevard Elementary School  2

Mays Chapel Elementary School  4

Owings Mills Elementary School  5

Patapsco High School  2

Red House Run Elementary School  9

Riderwood Elementary School  5

Seven Oaks Elementary School  7

Scotts Branch Elementary School  4

Watershed Public Charter School  8

Westchester Elementary School  3

Westowne Elementary School  3

Baltimore County Private Schools

Redeemer Classical Christian School  3

St. James Academy  2

St. Joseph's School  5

St. Stephen Catholic School  10

Sheppard Pratt School at Reisterstown  6

The Trellis School  4

Schools will be removed from the list maintained by the Maryland Department of Health when 14 days have passed without any new cases or tests pending.

Coronavirus metrics in Baltimore County Public Schools are also updated on a rolling basis on the BCPS COVID-19 dashboard, which drills down into how many cases are at each school.



This article originally appeared on the Towson Patch
Dec. 9Up to 25 inches of snow could fall starting Thursday in portions of the eastern Kenai Peninsula, the National Weather Service said.

The heaviest snow is expected in Portage Valley and Turnagain Pass, the weather service said. A winter storm watch will be in effect from 9 a.m. Thursday until 6 a.m. Friday.

Driving could be challenging due to slippery roadways and reduced visibility from blowing snow.

Easterly winds are expected to increase throughout Thursday, with gusts up to 35 mph, the weather service said.

Ten inches of snow is possible in Seward and up to 16 inches in Whittier, according to the storm watch.

Snow is forecast for the western Kenai Peninsula too, with 6 to 10 inches possible in Homer and along the Sterling Highway south of Clam Gulch. A winter storm watch is in effect for the area from 9 a.m. Thursday until 9 a.m. Friday.

Anchorage will see light flurries Thursday night into Friday as the storm system moves farther north, said meteorologist Michael Kutz. Snow is expected to fall throughout Anchorage for much of Friday, he said.

The snow will stop over the weekend, and temperatures across Anchorage will drop below zero, Kutz said.

Avalanche danger in Turnagain Pass was considerable above 1,000 feet elevation on Wednesday, according to the Chugach National Forest Avalanche Information Center. Large, human-triggered avalanches were likely around Snug Harbor and Lost Lake, which are near Cooper Landing, the center said.

This storm comes on the heels of another system that dumped snow across Southcentral Alaska from Sunday until Tuesday.

The hardest-hit area was the Susitna Valley. Kutz said 14 to 16 inches of snow was recorded near Talkeetna. There was 10.7 inches in Eagle River, 5 to 6 inches throughout Anchorage, about 10 inches near Turnagain Pass and 12 inches near Moose Pass, Kutz said.




Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) has a 15-point edge over his main Democratic rival, former Rep. Beto O'Rourke (D-Texas), according to a new Quinnipiac University poll, a staggering lead that underscores the challenges ahead for Democrats in the state next year.

In a hypothetical head-to-head matchup, Abbott leads O'Rourke 52 percent to 37 percent. He also has stronger support among voters from his own party. Ninety percent of Republicans say they back Abbott, while 87 percent of Democrats support O'Rourke in the race.

O'Rourke, who ran a close Senate campaign against Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) in 2018 before mounting a bid for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination, jumped into the gubernatorial contest last month.

While he's a proven fundraiser and aggressive campaigner, ousting Abbott next year is likely to be an uphill battle. Democrats are facing historical headwinds nationally in 2022, given that midterm elections are typically seen as referendums on the party in power in Washington.

But the Quinnipiac poll also showed O'Rourke's favorability underwater among Texas voters. Thirty-six percent say they have a favorable opinion of the former congressman compared to 47 percent who have an unfavorable opinion of him. Another 16 percent say they have not heard enough about him.

By comparison, 52 percent of voters say they have a favorable view of Abbott, while 42 percent report an unfavorable opinion of the incumbent governor.

Abbott's approval rating has also seen a recovery in recent months. Fifty-three percent of voters say they approve of his job performance while 41 percent disapprove. That's a marked improvement from September when his approval rating was underwater, 44 percent to 47 percent, according to Quinnipiac polling.

To be sure, the 2022 gubernatorial election in Texas is still 11 months away and O'Rourke has plenty of time to make up ground. He's campaigned vigorously in his first month on the trail and has scored early successes in fundraising, bringing in $2 million in the 24 hours after announcing his campaign.

The Quinnipiac poll surveyed 1,224 registered voters in Texas from Dec. 2-6. It has a margin of sampling error of +/- 2.8 percentage points.
Dec. 9An Alaska state worker in Juneau was arrested after a grand jury indicted him this month on 14 counts of possession of child pornography, according to officials.

Bradley Waldron, 56, had "downloaded hundreds of images and videos of sexual abuse of children on his cell phone," state prosecutors said in a statement Wednesday.

Waldron is a procurement specialist for the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development, said Cathy Munoz, deputy commissioner of the department. She did not say if Waldron was on leave.

The National Center of Missing and Exploited Children told Juneau police in July they received a tip that Waldron had child pornography and was sharing it online, the police department said in a statement.

Police launched an investigation and referred the case to the Juneau district attorney's office, and a grand jury indicted him Dec. 2 on the 14 felony counts. Juneau police said they arrested Waldron at his home Friday.

He has been released on bail, which was set at $5,000.
In the high North, theres no respite from the cold. You must carry all the gear you need to fight and survive in the coldest temperatures on the planet. Then you snow march for hours, dragging a sled and post-holing in knee- to waist-deep snow.

Now, break a pickaxe or two trying to bust through ice so you can put a mortar in place. The baseplate cracks, rendering the weapon practically useless.

Your Stryker combat vehicle is low on fuel. You try to fill it up, but the fuel has frozen into a jelly-like state. Youre stuck and night is falling.

Thats life at -65 degrees Fahrenheit.

Gut it out, right? Wrong.

Its not about just being hey tough it out, you can handle it, just endure the pain, said Maj. Gen. Brian Eifler, commander of U.S. Army Alaska. If you do that, youll die.

Those are only a sample of some of the challenges the Army is facing as it relearns how to fight in the Arctic and at high altitudes  in Alaska and across the globe.

To meet that challenge, experts at the Armys Maneuver Center of Excellence have been meeting with Army Alaska soldiers and interviewing Arctic experts from a range of nations and units to build the fighting force it needs at those devastating climes. For now, that Arctic-specific unit looks to be built on the foundation of a Stryker Brigade Combat Team.

Paratroopers assigned 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, complete a cross-country ski course at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, Jan. 27, 2021. (Alejandro Pena/Air Force)

Though big Army hasnt pulled the trigger yet, the concept taking shape in the near future looks like an almost entirely self-sustaining SBCT with more infantry, mobile, turreted mortars and dedicated communications, electronic warfare and cyber teams.

Thats based off an October presentation by Dominick Edwards, deputy director at Army Capabilities Manager for the SBCT at MCOE. He gave the presentation at the National Defense Industrial Association Future Force Capabilities Conference and Exhibition.

All of the Arctic stakeholders across the Department of Defense are reviewing recently submitted concepts for an Arctic Brigade. Ultimately, the Army chief of staff will make the final decision.

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Current plans call for the finalized document to go to Army leadership in June, Ben Garrett, MCOE spokesman, told Army Times.

Some of that will be informed by a February strategic wargame in Alaska.

The Pentagon also announced in mid-November that Anchorage, Alaska, would be the home for the DoDs Ted Stevens Center for Arctic Security Studies.

This push unfolded from the Pentagons 2019 Arctic Strategy and the 2021 Army Arctic Strategy, all aimed at protecting homeland installations and interests in Alaska and building the ability to deploy an expeditionary, Arctic-specialized fighting force.

Melting sea ice is allowing for greater mobility and navigation of the Arctic, which provides faster shipping routes and military positioning opportunities for Arctic nations, and at least one non-Arctic nation.

A far North presence

In May three Russian submarines busted through ice at the North Pole. Those three subs had the capacity to carry a total of 48 ballistic missiles. Two MiG-31 jets and Russian ground troops met up with the subs, all a part of a Russian military exercise.

U.S. Alaska Command reported earlier this year that they intercepted more Russian military aircraft in 2020 than any other time since the Cold War ended in 1989.

Though not an Arctic nation, China published an Arctic Strategy in 2018. The Chinese government has built Arctic research stations and pushed for infrastructure development in the region.

Currently, the Army has approximately 11,600 soldiers stationed in Alaska, mostly at Fort Wainwright and Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. Active duty units include two brigade combat teams, a combat sustainment support battalion and two aviation battalions.

Army Chief of Staff Gen. James McConville noted the national security interests in the Arctic in early 2021, pointing to plans to look at equipment needs, potential soldier basing decisions and the establishment of an Alaska-based Multi-Domain Task Force.

Paratroopers stage on the flight line prior to boarding aircraft for a joint forced-entry operation during Northern Edge 21 at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, May 11, 2021. (Alejandro Pena/Air Force)

Army Times reported in early 2021 that the service was looking at Arctic-specific spending in upcoming budgets and deciding whether more soldiers are needed for permanent stationing in Alaska.

The current budget proposal calls for $65 million in research, development and acquisition and operation and maintenance funds to begin implementing the Armys Arctic Strategy, the Office of the Chief of Public Affairs told Army Times.

No decision has been made on stationing more soldiers in Alaska, according to OCPA.

The Center for Army Lessons Learned conducted a gap analysis during the February 2021 Arctic Warrior exercise in Alaska to understand equipment shortfalls, according to then-Col. J.P. Clark, chief of the strategy division for Army G-3/5/7.

A large-scale March training exercise will see soldiers from the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, parachute into a training area and fight as the opposing force against 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, Eifler, Army Alaskas commander, told Army Times. The event is expected to total more than 7,000 soldiers on a 10-day field exercise.

In need of time

Everything, from planning an exercise to conducting basic soldier tasks, takes more time in the Arctic.

Col. Stephen Phillips, commander of the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, stationed out of Fort Wainwright, Alaska, told Army Times that there are little, hidden manpower challenges when running a unit in Alaska.

It takes longer to do things, which drives its own manning requirements, Phillips said.

Staff Sgt. Mitchell Mackai, howitzer section chief, Charlie Battery, 2nd Battalion, 8th Field Artillery Regiment, told Army Times that crew drills and movements must factor in ice in the winter and raging rivers in the summer.

Even cleaning weapons presents problems. Too much lubrication can freeze. When temperatures hit certain levels, soldiers must switch to a different kind of lubricant.

Soldiers new to the Arctic must be taught these lessons when they arrive to Alaska. Ultimately, though, Phillips said the quality of the soldier is what determines whether theyll thrive and not simply survive in the harsh environment.

If a soldier wants to be here, theyve already overcome 80% of the challenge, they recognize that its going to be tough, he said.

Paratroopers descend from the sky during an airfield seizure operation at Donnelley Training Area, Alaska, Feb., 7, 2021. (Staff Sgt. Alex Skripnichuk/Army)

Capt. Jeremy Roznowski, commander of Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment, a 1-25th SBCT subordinate unit, said Alaska should attract a certain kind of soldier, one who seeks a challenge and wants to test themselves.

And skills learned in the frozen North pay big dividends when that soldier leaves for a unit in nearly any other clime.

If you can master logistics here, wherever you go in the lower 48, its easy, Roznowski said.

The captain recalled seeing that knowledge in another soldier before. During field training at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, years ago, about 8 inches of snow suddenly blanketed the base. Most of the soldiers were freezing. But one junior soldier whod came to the unit from Alaska took off the standard uniform and switched over his contact layer of clothing.

Youre insane, theres no way that will keep us warm, the captain remembers someone saying.

But they did it anyway, and sure enough, the rest of the training, the soldiers were fine.

Mackai said he came to Alaska after having served in the freezing reaches of Fort Drum, New York, with 10th Mountain Division.

The staff sergeant thought he knew cold. He was wrong.

The added burden of months of darkness followed by months of sunlight also shifted his thinking on how to operate in the field.

As Philips put it, there are two seasons in the Arctic  hot and light, or cold and dark.

Warmth isnt a luxury, its a necessity, Roznowski said.

And when he says warm, he doesnt mean toasty, he means 40 degrees Fahrenheit.

Where water doesnt freeze, not where youre happy, Roznowski said. That goes for our equipment too. Its not designed to keep you happy, its designed to keep you from death.

Just trying to keep water from freezing or fuel from turning into jelly is a challenge.

Nobodys ever truly warm until you get back to the rear and get warmed up, the captain said.

The planners looking to build a future Arctic brigade combat team might give leaders such as the colonel and the captain more to work with.

The 1st SBCT of the 25th ID at Fort Wainwright has three infantry battalions and a squadron. The 4th BCT of the 25th ID at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson is an airborne brigade with only two infantry battalions. Most IBCTs outside the lower 48 states have three infantry battalions.

Plans call for another infantry battalion for 4-25th.

Youre rotating not only a standard patrol-rest-maintenance cycle but also a personnel cycle so that they can go back out, Edwards, the deputy director at Army Capabilities Manager SBCT, said at the October conference. And youre doing these in much shorter time intervals. It stands to reason youll probably need more soldiers.

Paratroopers place a simulated casualty in a sleeping bag during training at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, Jan. 27, 2021. (Alejandro Pena/Air Force)

But a lone brigade rolling across 500 to 700 miles of terrain to meet the Russian threat at the Bering Strait isnt the most likely way in which this new combat force would be used.

This force is likely going to be doing a lot of securing things that matter to us, Edwards said.

That could include securing a port or attacking another port or infrastructure node, Edwards added.

In many ways, thats similar to Edwards own deployment to the remote portions of Kunar, Afghanistan, as a field grade officer.

We couldnt be everywhere so we have to be where it matters, he said.

Out there alone

There are no calls yet for creating an Army Arctic Division. Although the rest of the Army is shifting from the brigade to the division and corps-level fight, the austere conditions of the Arctic mean a BCT might be out there alone.

Under current plans, an Arctic brigades fires will be at the division level, meaning their most reliable, and sometimes only, fires will be their mortars.

We know that mortars are going to be the only indirect fire capability that a commander can count on, Edwards said.

Mobile, mounted, turreted mortars may be the only option, he said. Dismounted mortars require soldiers to dig in beneath ice or use swampy, unstable ground in spring and summer months.

Your mortar soldier should not be digging more time than theyre shooting, especially [given] what we know about fires and counter fires, Edwards said.

A mortar fired off a mobile platform is probably the right answer for what were trying to do, he added.

Right now, 1st SBCT 25th ID is equipped exactly the same, except for a few cold weather items, and manned exactly the same as other SBCTs outside the contiguous states, which they call the lower 48.

Paratroopers set up a 10-man Arctic tent at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, Jan. 27, 2021. (Alejandro Pena/Air Force)

Were equipped the same way, manned the same way, Phillips said.

Eifler, Phillips and other soldiers with Army Alaska interviewed by Army Times spoke specifically about their current status and not any future plans. But theyre still considering how their units are employed.

Beyond fires, brigades must maintain fuel and power themselves with little chance of immediate resupply. They may also have a more pressing need for non-kinetic options because they wont have the immediate support of a division at their back.

A draft plan still being reviewed, which Army Times got a look at during the October conference, is likely to change. But it shows a rough road map of what that future Arctic SBCT might look like.

The draft plan includes acquiring an Arctic mobility platform for all infantry, heavy weapons company, scout and engineer squads. It also would increase the number of small drones in the unit and adds a robotic combat vehicle, a terrestrial layer system for electronic warfare, a Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear Reconnaissance Platoon and a third engineer company  in addition to adding an infantry battalion.

The draft plan also includes increasing brigade support battalion water production and transport capability, increasing their additive manufacturing capability and drone maintenance platoon capacity.

Kitted up for the cold

Most soldier gear and vehicles are tested at about -30 to -35 degrees Fahrenheit. Thats only halfway to the bone-chilling cold temperatures of -65 degrees Fahrenheit that soldiers are likely to see in the Arctic.

And something as simple as the shape of the globe near the top of the planet throws a wrench into things soldiers take for granted  communications. In the far North, satellite communications windows are brief.

Fuel on tap, whenever needed, is also no longer a given because even fuel freezes at -65 degrees Fahrenheit.

If you havent been to those northern latitudes and never thought about satellite coverage and fuel, these are the sorts of things were wrestling with, Edwards said.

An Small Unit Sustainment Vehicle, or SUSV, makes its way up a mountain while supporting a joint field training exercise during Yudh Abhyas 21 at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, Oct. 27, 2021. (Alejandro Pena/Air Force)

Phillips pointed out that before even going to the field, his staff pulls out technical manuals to check the specifications of equipment, especially anything with a circuit board.

Soldiers have to know the operational temperature range of everything they carry, when it will quit working and when its likely to break.

Ive never had to do that in the previous two decades of my career, Phillips said.

In April, the Army kicked off a competitive prototyping effort for a new, all-terrain vehicle that can operate in the Arctic.

The Cold-Weather, All-Terrain Vehicle, or CATV, is planned for down select by mid-2022. Prototypes are undergoing testing at Cold Regions Test Center in Alaska through December.

The CATV is going to replace the Small Unit Support Vehicle, the Armys existing option, which is no longer sustainable, said Tim Goddette, program executive officer for the Armys combat support. The SUSV is 1960s-era technology that was procured in the early 1980s.

The Army plans to buy 110 CATVs initially with current budget plans calling for a total purchase of 163 vehicles.

We think we have to get a snow vehicle, but it also has to be able to ford a certain depth, carry an infantry squad, etc., Edwards said.

Edwards doesnt see the future Arctic brigade taking on invading forces alone. Instead, the unit will likely be used to secure things we care about, he said.

But that doesnt mean the Army is building a force to just go sit somewhere, he added.

The future Arctic brigade has to be deployable to other Arctic and high elevation regions, such as areas surrounding Russia and China.

The Army has long held a military exercise with India known as Yudh Abhyas. It was previously held at Joint Base Lewis McChord, in Washington state, and focused on desert climates, but that changed recently to an Arctic mission.

During the most recent iteration, soldiers practiced evacuating casualties with Black Hawk helicopters and sling loading artillery under CH-47 Chinooks. They also assaulted an objective as a combined force thousands of feet above sea level in the Chugach Mountains, through deep snow, blowing winds and sub-freezing temperatures.

Paratroopers prepare to assault their objective while conducting a joint field training exercise for Yudh Abhyas 21 at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, Oct. 28, 2021. (Alejandro Pena/Air Force)

In late 2022, U.S. soldiers will train with Indian counterparts in the Himalayas on the border of China, where tensions have flared in recent years.

Honestly, we spend a lot of time talking about the winter, Edwards said. Thats the easiest time to maneuver.

Gunnery, for instance, is often held in January, February and December, because that is the time of year soldiers can get over the ground.

If you havent been to the Arctic in April-May-June, its hard to appreciate how muddy it is, how many creeks and rivers you have to cross, Edwards said.

Crossing streams, rivers and muddy terrain is where engineers come in handy.

The engineer capability as it currently stand is inadequate, Edwards said.

Thats going to be very demanding in this environment even if youre moving tens of kilometers, much less over greater distances, Edwards said.

How do you transport frozen water or fuel? And how do you liquify the fuel once its needed?

Thats another problem still being worked.

MCOE has run their ideas by the current Army Alaska leadership, including Eifler, the Army Alaska commander.

They tend to think were going in the right direction in our thinking about this, Edwards said.

But there are some kinks to smooth out.

To extend the range of the brigade-sized element, sensors will be key. Edwards put a lot of sensors in the working plan. That saw some pushback from Eiflers staff.

Hey, you got a lot of sensors here, they said.

Yes sir we think theyre critical, Edwards said.

You want to guess how long that battery lasts out here in December? they said.

I can tell you the answer is not long, Edwards agreed.
Decorating the Christmas tree carries great weight in many families, real pine or artificial, handmade ornaments or shiny store-bought, white lights or multi-colors, tinsel or plain, these are all decisions some take very seriously. Indeed, the day and date of putting up the tree and decorating it can be a matter of much debate! From the day after Thanksgiving to Christmas eve and every day in between, each household has its preferences.

The huge Christmas tree in Rockefeller Center and the choices made by the President and First Lady for the White House are watched with interest by a large audience. Here in Indiana, we look forward to the strands of lights on the downtown Indy circle that create that tree annually. Indianas First Lady, Janet Holcomb has invited artistic submissions, representative of special people, places, and things to decorate this years Statehouse tree. The theme 92 Reasons to Celebrate promises to bring a wide array of ornaments to the Statehouse 2021 Hoosier Holiday Celebration.

Morgan Countys ornaments, painted by local porcelain artist, Ellen Wilson Pruitt. One features the Morgan County courthouse tower in anticipation of the 2022 County Bicentennial and a second ornament pays homage to Martinsvilles history as the goldfish capital of the world. Helping Owen County, Pruitt also submitted another porcelain ornament featuring an image of Cataract Falls.

Decorating the downtown light poles is almost complete and it is fun to see how the choices made by the various sponsors. Thanks to all who participate and Rediscover Martinsvilles organizing this downtown project.

Maxwells Art Gallery & Framing, owned and operated by the by Kathryn Maxwell for many years on the southside of the Martinsville square will be closing at the end of the year as Kathryn looks forward to a much-deserved retirement. Stop in for great close-out bargains on art and art supplies, frames, and gift items. We will miss the quality framing we have had nearby all these years.

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Mooresvilles ColorWorks, owned by artist Jeanne McLeish, should be considered for framing needs going forward in 2022. My studio at Art Sanctuary, Nancy Maxwell Fine Art carries some art supplies and frames as well.

Don't forget about Saturday's Cookie Stroll. Twenty-five cookie stops and longer hours should make this years event better than ever. Shops will be open with holiday specials.

Holiday music in the downtown will add to the festive atmosphere. Start your day with Passport pick-up at Art Sanctuary; circle back to AS through the day for the Winter Farmers Market in the Lower Gallery, music, and dance performances and to visit the open studios.

Keller-Williams Realty is the sponsor and Mooresville drop-off location for the Blanket Drive now through Dec. 11; Nancy Maxwell Fine Arts at Art Sanctuary will collect blankets in Martinsville.

Keep me posted at artcartmartinsville@gmail.com.

This article originally appeared on The Reporter Times: Art Cart: Christmas season has arrived in Morgan County
A defense attorney for David Jungerman, the self-made Kansas City millionaire accused of killing an attorney as an act of revenge, claims in a motion filed recently in Jackson County Circuit Court that detectives planted evidence in his case and another homicide.

The five-page motion, submitted by criminal defense attorney Dan Ross on Tuesday, seeks a delay of the first-degree murder trial scheduled to begin next week. It references Kansas City Police Department internal affairs files obtained through court disclosure process that allege poor management of the homicide squad assigned to the case by its supervisor, who is also accused of directing a detective to plant a gun in another case.

This had not been previously disclosed to the defense, the defense believes evidence was planted in the present case by law enforcement and additional time is needed to investigate these new disclosures, the motion says.

The internal affairs files referenced in the motion are said to include sworn statements of other detectives within the unit. Those records outline mismanagement by a superior such as failure to enforce reporting protocols, allowing incorrect information to appear in warrant applications and toleration of biased investigations, the motion alleges.

Defense attorneys claim the information is relevant to Jungermans case, and was withheld by KCPDs general counsel until the court ordered its release. Additional time is now being sought to take sworn statements from the detectives on the squad and investigate further.

Without this critical information the defense will be denied significant defenses for establishing for the jury whether the KCPD investigation of (Jungerman) was so tainted by the detectives in charge, that any of the evidence from any officer is reliable, Ross argued in the motion.

Jungerman, a farmer who ran a successful baby furniture manufacturing business, is accused of killing attorney Tom Pickert after Pickert won a $5.75 million civil judgment against him. Pickert was found shot to death on Oct. 25, 2017 on the front porch of his home in the 200 block of West 66th Terrace.

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The killing remained unsolved for months. Kansas City police said at one point that Jungerman was not considered a suspect. But investigators later found that Jungerman accidentally recorded himself saying he killed Pickert within weeks of the shooting, prosecutors allege.

The allegation of planting evidence in the Jungerman case comes shortly after the Jackson County Prosecutors Office accused KCPD detectives of the same act in a separate case.

In the trial of former Det. Eric DeValkenaere, convicted last month of manslaughter and armed criminal action in the killing of Cameron Lamb, prosecutors alleged a gun found elsewhere on scene was planted in Lambs left hand following the fatal police shooting. DeValkenaere, who is scheduled to be sentenced in March, contended in his defense that Lamb was armed and posed a lethal threat to his partner.
Best Life

The right medication can go a long way in taking care of everything from sleepless nights to chronic pain. In fact, they can be so helpful that it can be easy to keep using them without much thought. But due to a new recall from the Food&Drug Administration (FDA), you may want to take a moment to check if one medication in your daily routine could be affected. Read on to see which popular product is being pulled from pharmacies.RELATED: If You Use This Medication, Stop Immediately, FDA Says. Tar
The Daily Beast

Michael Zarrilli/GettyWith their backs pressed against the wall by two simultaneous tax-dodging investigations in New York, the Trump dynasty is starting to hit back.On Monday afternoon, copies of subpoenas and details about the investigation were exposed in court documents filed by attorneys for former President Donald Trump and his adult kidsDon Jr. and Ivanka. The trio is trying to avoid being forced to testify under oath in a civil investigation, saying their statements will simply be used
CHESTER, NJ  With the COVID pandemic quest for mouthwatering foods with eye appeal and sustainability, charcuterie has become a rising star.

The term charcuterie comes from France, Deli Business magazine explained in 2020, which is the process of preserving meats that dates back for centuries, with it today reflecting convenience blended with beauty, two of the reasons this food art has continued to grow in popularity.

People are looking for something sustainable, high-protein, nice to look at and easy to grab, which they find that all on a charcuterie board, the publication reported.

Charcuterie made an even greater splash in 2021, according to a Fox5 report, with the pronunciation of the word one of Googles most searched this past year.

Its not just meats that comprise a beautiful-looking charcuterie board. The New York Times recently suggested charcuterie could make an easy dinner spread, when prosciutto and sausages are paired with cheeses, olives, dried fruit, cornichons and nuts, all artfully arranged.

The charcuterie wave has become so popular, Womens Health magazine featured a lineup of charcuterie boards as gift ideas for the people who love to entertain - mostly wooden ones - some equipped with drawers to arrange pistachios and tools like cheese spreaders and knives, to transform the feast into something even more special.

Some charcuterie ideas have expanded beyond meats, with vegan varieties, dessert platters and other options, Pinterest offering a storehouse of ideas.

If youd like to leave the art of making one to a charcuterie expert locally, this holiday season or beyond, Chester Main Charcuterie has you covered.

Started by Marisa Casendino who has owned Taylors Ice Cream Parlor on 18 Main Street over the past four years, Casendino described it has a whole new journey with branching out into the charcuterie board-arranging business.

She embraces gourmet foods and with a commercial kitchen already, Casendino can put together the best smorgasbord of locally-made artisanal cheeses and quality-cured charcuterie, for all occasions.

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She needs 48 hours notice to prepare one, like the charcuterie board pictured below:

Casendino has even taught the art of beautiful charcuterie board arrangements recently, during a DIY Charcuterie Board Fundraiser to benefit the Chester-based NJ South Hills Pet Rescue, with participants walking away with a wood board, supplies and the know-how to stylize their own charcuterie spread.

Prevailing over the pandemic supply chain issues like many small business owners, Casendino can prepare charcuterie for those who would prefer to have someone else create their Instagram-worthy, picture-perfect board for them.

Some of those special ingredients she can customize boards with, include meats rolled up into rose shapes and arranged with flowers and sprigs of herbs, and with components depending on the boards, like marinated mushrooms, blackberries, fresh figs, specialty crackers, jars of local honey and much more.

Ordering a charcuterie board from Chester Main Charcuterie is just a click away, to enjoy for one person or several people, with the full menu of platters here, which can be picked up in the store or delivered.

For all of Chester Main Charcuteries offerings go to www.chestermaincharcuterie.com.

Questions or comments about this story? Have a local news tip? Contact me at: jennifer.miller@patch.com.

This article originally appeared on the Mendham-Chester Patch
By Devjyot Ghoshal

NEW DELHI (Reuters) -The bodies of India's defence chief and 12 others who died in a helicopter crash laid draped in the Indian flag at a defence cantonment on Thursday, before being flown to New Delhi, where the general will be laid to rest with full military honours.

General Bipin Rawat, his wife and 12 defence personnel were en route to a military staff college in southern India when the air force helicopter they were travelling in came down near the town of Coonoor on Wednesday.

Only one of the 14 on board survived the crash. The cause of the crash is being investigated.

In a brief statement in parliament, India's Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said the remains of all the deceased would be brought to New Delhi and Rawat would be cremated with full military honours.

Rawat, 63, was appointed as India's first chief of defence staff by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government in late 2019. The position was set up with the aim of integrating the army, navy and air force.

Singh said the Mi-17 V5 helicopter took off at 11.48 a.m. (06:18 GMT) on Wednesday from the Sulur Air Base. The base lost contact with the aircraft seven minutes before it was scheduled to land at a hillside military area at 12.15 p.m.

"Locals spotted a fire in the forest near Coonoor and rushed to the spot where they observed the wreckage of military helicopter engulfed in flames," Singh said.

At a colonial-era barrack in Wellington, the military cantonment town where Rawat and his entourage were headed, uniformed soldiers carefully laid out the coffins, in the presence of officers from all three services of the Indian armed forces.

Military personnel, veterans, politicians and others then paid their last respects, offering floral wreaths and flowers by the coffins.

At a military hospital nearby, the lone survivor of the crash, an air force group captain, lay on life support.

"All efforts are being made to save his life," Singh said.

(Reporting by Devjyot Ghoshal; Editing by Euan Rocha, Robert Birsel and Ana Nicolaci da Costa)
In this article:

SAN DIEGO (AP)  Matt Bradley had 22 points as San Diego State topped Cal State Fullerton 66-56 on Wednesday night.

Trey Pulliam had 15 points and seven rebounds for San Diego State (6-3), which earned its fifth straight home victory. Adam Seiko added 11 points. Nathan Mensah had nine rebounds and three blocks.

Tray Maddox Jr. had 15 points for the Titans (4-5). Dante Maddox Jr. added 11 points. Vincent Lee had seven rebounds.

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For more AP college basketball coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball and http://twitter.com/AP_Top25

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This was generated by Automated Insights, http://www.automatedinsights.com/ap, using data from STATS LLC, https://www.stats.com
BRASILIA, Brazil (AP)  Brazil will require international travelers who aren't vaccinated against the coronavirus to quarantine for five days in their city of destination after arriving by plane.

The decision issued by the ministries of health, justice, infrastructure and the government's chief of staff was published in the nations official gazette Thursday.

The administration of President Jair Bolsonaro, who is unvaccinated himself, will start enforcing the measure Saturday. It is unclear how effectively Brazil can or will track those required to quarantine.

The head of the countrys health regulator, Antonio Barra Torres, told The Associated Press that the policy will mean discouragement of anti-vaccine tourism to Brazil.

The quarantine requirement is a deterrent and educational measure, Torres said by phone.

Travelers coming to Brazil still need to submit a negative PCR test result before boarding in their country of origin and submit a declaration to the countrys health regulator.

Unvaccinated travelers will have to take a new virus test after the five-day quarantine period and must check in with a health agency center that will have their addresses.

Brazils government announced the quarantine requirement as worldwide concerns grow about omicron, a new and rapidly spreading variant of the coronavirus, though it is not yet clear if it is more dangerous than other variants.

More than 616,000 people have died of COVID-19 in Brazil, the country with second-most deaths from the disease. The pandemic has waned in recent months and the nations seven-day average is approaching 200 deaths a day.

Many of Brazils major cities, including Rio de Janeiro, have either cancelled or scaled back their New Years Eve festivities due to fears of a new spread of the virus.

Rios fireworks show on Copacabana beach is a major tourism draw, and Mayor Eduardo Paes said Thursday that it will take place as expected. The fireworks will be placed in 10 boats for a 16-minute-display.

Of course there will be a gathering (for the fireworks), Paes said at a news conference. Gatherings are not prohibited in Rio de Janeiro."
The play is written by Charles Randolph-Wright, who has been hand-picked by Poitiers family to write the play

Broadway is officially back and with a slew of new plays. One of the latest to be announced is SIDNEY, which chronicles the legendary life of Academy Award-winner Sidney Poitier.

SIDNEY is based on Poitiers best-selling autobiography The Measure of a Man, with a script written by Charles Randolph-Wright. Randolph-Wright, who wrote Blue and directed Roundabout Theatre Companys revival of Alice Childress Trouble in Mind, was specifically chosen by the Poitier family to pen this script.

The family also picked a director for the project, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, who has directed projects such as the Tony-winning Broadway premiere of August Wilsons Jitney, directed and starred in Lackawanna Blues, and more.

Actor Sidney Poitier presenting In the Heat of the Night at Target Presents AFIs Night at the Movies at ArcLight Cinemas on April 24, 2013 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images for AFI)

Per the official press release, SIDNEY dramatizes Mr. Poitiers life, from his upbringing on Cat Island in the Bahamas to his rise to become Americas most revered actor and activist. With his unique career, Sidney Poitier helped change many racial attitudes that had persisted in this country for centuries.

Poitier is known for his work for social change and activism almost as much as his esteemed professional acting career.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., when paying tribute to Poitier in 1967, said He is a man of great depth, a man of great social concern, a man who is dedicated to human rights and freedom. The play promises to explore the nature of sacrifice and commitment, pride and humility and the price for artistic integrity.

Detailing an interaction between the late Poitier and the writer, Randolph-Wright shared in a statement, The first time I met Sidney Poitier was decades ago when he saw a show I co-wrote and directed in Los Angeles. We went to dinner and I literally could not speak. He said to me, If in any way I have inspired you, you have more than paid me back with what I saw this evening. I have held onto those words my entire career. And now to place his astonishing life on stage is the ultimate challenge and the ultimate joy.

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Charles Randolph-Wright attends A Broadway Celebration at The Times Square EDITION on December 06, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Jenny Anderson/Getty Images for CAA )

He continued, To have the trust of Mr. Poitier and his family is one of the greatest gifts I have been given  what an honor to get to dramatize the true measure of this monumental man. I look forward to the world discovering the astounding person that is behind one of our most prodigious heroes, a man who continues to inspire.

Santiago-Hudson also shared his excitement as director of the project. He said, Sir Sidney Poitier is clearly one of the greatest actors in the history of cinema. His integrity and standard of excellence set the bar for generations to come. It is an honor to be a part of celebrating the incomparable Sidney Poitiers monumental career in this play but also the man and his extraordinary life.

Per the press release, casting, creative team, and a production timeline will be announced at a later date.

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The post New Broadway play to chronicle Sidney Poitiers life appeared first on TheGrio.
A burglary crime spree lasting several months in Washington ended in an arrest and a slew of charges, police said.

A 25-year-old man is accused of breaking into numerous stores in Everett by shattering windows or shooting them with a BB gun before stealing merchandise, Everett Police Department said in a Facebook post on Dec. 3.

Detectives made the arrest after piecing together evidence from 30 burglary cases, police said.

Most of the cases happened within 1 mile of each other, and a man on a bicycle was spotted in the surveillance videos, police said.

A police detective recalled a previous case about a U-Haul near a business that had been broken into in September and contacted a suspect.

After later reviewing the body-worn camera footage from the September encounter, police said the man rode the same bicycle from the other break-ins, wore clothing that matched the suspect, and he had similar features.

Police arrested the man on Dec. 3.

In his motel room, a BB gun, clothes and stolen property were found, authorities said.

He confessed to 15 burglaries, police said.

The man faces 40 charges, including burglary, malicious mischief, theft and possession of a stolen vehicle, according to online jail records.

Hes being held in Snohomish County Jail. His bail is set at $83,000.

Burglars pose as gardeners to target Asian business owners, California police say

Nurses morphine thefts left Washington patient in excruciating pain, feds say

Driver barrels into tent along highway, killing a man inside, Oregon police say
Associated Press

A rabbi who was badly wounded in a deadly antisemitic attack at the Chabad of Poway synagogue in Southern California was sentenced Tuesday to 14 months in federal prison for running a multimillion-dollar donation fraud, authorities said. Yisrael Goldstein, 60, also was ordered to pay about $2.8 million in restitution. I beg for mercy to accept my repentance and allow me to right the wrongs, Goldstein told the judge at his sentencing, the San Diego Union-Tribne reported. He asked for the chance to do whatever I can to help others to the best of my ability.
The Daily Beast

GettyEven as daily new COVID cases set all-time records and hospitals fill up, epidemiologists have arrived at a perhaps surprising consensus. Yes, the latest Omicron variant of the novel coronavirus is bad. But it could have been a lot worse.Even as cases have surged, deaths haventat least not to the same degree. Omicron is highly transmissible but generally not as severe as some older variantslineages is the scientific term.We got lucky. But that luck might not hold. Many of the same epid
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP)  Wesley Cardet Jr. had 27 points and 11 rebounds as Samford beat Alabama State 74-64 on Wednesday night.

Jaden Campbell had 14 points and 11 rebounds for Samford (7-2). Jermaine Marshall added 12 points and 13 rebounds.

Kenny Strawbridge had 14 points and seven rebounds for the Hornets (2-8). Juan Reyna added 12 points. E.J. Clark had 10 points.

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For more AP college basketball coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball and http://twitter.com/AP_Top25

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This was generated by Automated Insights, http://www.automatedinsights.com/ap, using data from STATS LLC, https://www.stats.com
NextShark

A woman was caught on video calling her children and telling them this is your Asian family during a racist rant in a Las Vegas hotel parking lot. The video, posted by TikTok user @peachmegladon on Dec. 31, 2021, shows an unidentified woman getting physical with the person trying to film her after she allegedly assaulted them during a confrontation in the parking lot, The Daily Dot reported. Although @peachmegladon did not provide details about the events prior to the filming of the video, the TikTok user wrote in their videos caption that the woman attacked them twice.
CHERRY HILL, NJ  Cherry Hill has retained its Silver-Level certification with Sustainable Jersey, township officials announced this week. Cherry Hill is one of 52 municipalities that have attained recertification in 2021 and was recently honored at the Sustainable Jersey Annual Luncheon in Atlantic City at the New Jersey State League of Municipalities Conference.

I am so thrilled Cherry Hill has once again secured Silver-level Sustainable Jersey certification, Cherry Hill Mayor Susan Shin Angulo said. This achievement is a representation of the high priority Township Council and I place on protecting our environment and preparing for the very real threats of climate change as we plan for our long-term success. Next, were seeing our sights on Gold.



Cherry Hill first achieved Silver-Level Certification in 2014, but must reapply for certification every three years. To become Sustainable Jersey certified at the silver-level, townships must reach 350 points in Sustainable Jerseys point system. Cherry Hill went well passed that, reaching 415 points.



Cherry Hills recertification sends a message to our residents, businesses and community organizations  we are working for you and our shared future, Cherry Hill Council President David Fleisher said. We are continuing to build upon our existing reputation as a leader in municipal sustainability.



The townships Green Team, which was recently relaunched by the Angulo Administration, played a pivotal role in helping the township achieve Silver-level certification, officials said.



Cherry Hill has also achieved a number of other environmentally-related accomplishments, including recently becoming only the fifth municipality in the state, and the first in Camden County, to achieve National Wildlife Federation Certification as a Community Wildlife Habitat. Read more here: Cherry Hill Gets Certified With National Wildlife Foundation



Sustainable Jersey's participating communities represent over 81 percent of the state's municipalities.



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The certified towns exemplify the commitment we need to accelerate the transition to a sustainable world, Sustainable Jersey Executive Director Randall Solomon said. As New Jersey faces issues such as the climate crisis, a growing equity divide and environmental pollution, it is essential that we support municipalities as they do the hard work to meet these challenges at the local level. These communities are helping New Jersey build back better after the COVID-19 pandemic, and it is our honor to work with them as we strive for a better tomorrow.



Certified towns excelled in areas such as improving energy efficiency, health and wellness, reducing waste, sustaining local economies, protecting natural resources and advancing the arts.

This article originally appeared on the Cherry Hill Patch
Chris Hoy was appointed to House of Representatives District 21 to replace Brian Clem on Wednesday.

Chris Hoy was appointed Wednesday to represent House District 21, which includes large portions of south and east Salem, in the state Legislature.

Hoy, a Democrat and Salem city councilor, will serve out the term of long-time state legislator Brian Clem, who announced his resignation in October. The term runs through the end of 2022.

Hoy said he will remain in his position on the Salem City Council through the end of his current term, which also runs through 2022.

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He was appointed in a 2-1 vote by the Marion County commissioners. Nancy MacMorris-Adix received one vote from commissioner Danielle Bethell. Kasia Quillinan and Virginia Stapleton were the other candidates for appointment. The commissioners, all of whom are Republicans, were required to choose a Democrat to replace Clem.

Ive always wanted to do something in the Legislature, I think this is a great opportunity, and knowing that Ill have the chance to do that for a year but still be able to focus on my city issues, its a good thing, Hoy said.

Clem's resignation: Salem Rep. Brian Clem resigns from Oregon Legislature

Hoy said he doesnt live in the redrawn House District 21 and wont run for re-election in the position.

Hoys term on the Salem City Council runs through 2022, and he hasnt given an indication of whether he will run for that office again or seek another office. Mayor Chuck Bennett has announced he won't seek another term.

I havent made any announcements yet," Hoy said.

Danielle Bethell, Kevin Cameron, Chris Hoy and Colm Willis on Wednesday.

Hoy is a retired deputy with the Clackamas County Sheriffs Office. He was elected to the Salem City Council in a special election in 2017.

Clem first won election to the house in 2006. One of the longest-serving members of the House, he announced Oct. 29 that he was resigning from the Legislature to care for his mother.

Hoy wont have long to prepare.

The state Legislature has been called into a special session on Dec. 13 to deal with the states emergency rental assistance program. Among the matters facing the body are deciding if renters should receive further reprieve from eviction while waiting for the state to process their applications and if more funds should be allocated to the program.

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The good news is this isnt a new issue for me because Ive been working on homelessness and these related issues for a long time on the citys behalf," Hoy said. "I actually had happened on my calendar to have a meeting today with (Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency executive director) Jimmy Jones. I said, Hey, in the off chance I get this appointment, what do I need to know for Monday?'

Thats what Im doing to prepare, and Ive read some things about that issue and Ive talked to another legislator about it.

Evicting renters: Oregon Legislature to meet in emergency session as renters face evictions

MacMorris-Adix, a former Salem-Keizer school board member, and Quillinan, a former Salem city councilor, said they wouldn't run for election in the district.

Kasia Quillinan appears before the Marion County Commissioners on Wednesday.

Stapleton is also a current Salem city councilor.

Hoy says he has breakfast with the county commissioners each month, and the commissioners said they believe his specific knowledge of issues Marion County is facing, such as wildfire recovery, will be beneficial to the county.

"Because I have a relationship with Chris already, we have a relationship, Im going to cast my vote for Chris," Marion County Commissioner Kevin Cameron said. "And I will say this, I want to say this because this day is always hard, but what makes it even harder is Ive known and served and respected Representative Brian Clem for many years.

"He helped us in a tremendous way with the fire recovery and efforts that went through the legislature. His shoes will not be easy to fill. Chris, I know that thats not something you will try to do in the next year that youll be serving there, but I want to congratulate you to your appointment to House District 21."

Bill Poehler covers Marion County for the Statesman Journal. Contact him at bpoehler@statesmanjournal.com or Twitter.com/bpoehler.

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This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Salem councilman Chris Hoy to replace Brian Clem in Oregon Legislature
Allegra Stratton announcing her resignation as an adviser to Boris Johnson over the Christmas party footage. (Getty)

As the fallout from the Downing Street Christmas party continues, the Conservatives have admitted that a second party took place in the same month.

According to The Times, an event organised by Shaun Baileys mayoral campaign took place in the partys Westminster headquarters on 14 December  while the capital was in Tier 2 restrictions.

The raucous party took place in the HQs basement, was attended by No 10 aides and featured dancing and wine-drinking into the early hours despite indoor social mixing being banned at the time.

The paper said that a door was damaged during the party, which led to staff being disciplined.

Two days before the No 10 party allegedly took place, Boris Johnson tweeted on 16 December: This Christmas it is vital that everyone exercises the greatest possible personal responsibility.

Think hard and in detail about the days ahead and whether you can do more to protect yourself and others.

Boris Johnson apologised for the 'offence caused' by the Downing Street Christmas party scandal. (PA)

'Unauthorised social gathering'

The further damaging details emerged as Labour urged police to open an investigation into allegations staff broke coronavirus rules at the event in No 10, saying it was implausible for Scotland Yard to suggest there is insufficient evidence to investigate.

Former press secretary Allegra Stratton became the first casualty of the affair when she emotionally stood down after video emerged of her and other advisers joking about COVID restrictions just days after the gathering in No 10 on 18 December last year.

Watch: Allegra Stratton delivers tearful apology after resigning

But the PM's attempt to move on from the row by tasking cabinet secretary Simon Case with undertaking an investigation appeared to have failed as details emerged of the separate party.

A Tory spokesman said: Senior CCHQ (Conservative Campaign Headquarters) staff became aware of an unauthorised social gathering in the basement of Matthew Parker Street organised by the Bailey campaign on the evening of 14 December.

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Formal disciplinary action was taken against the four CCHQ staff who were seconded to the Bailey campaign.

More parties?

Claims of several more parties being held  including a Christmas quiz in December  while England was in lockdown last year have also been made. A total of seven parties reportedly took place in November and December.

The PMs former chief aide Dominic Cummings claimed a party was held in Boris and Carrie Johnsons Downing Street flat on 13 November  which has been denied by Johnson.

A separate event on the same night for outgoing head of communications Lee Cain is also said to have took place, while a leaving party for outgoing No 10 aide Cleo Watson reportedly took place on 27 November, during the firebreak lockdown.

A party for former head of comms Lee Cain was allegedly held during lockdown last November. (Getty)

Downing Street said that there was not a party and that COVID rules were followed at all times.

Meanwhile, the Department for Education admitted it held a social gathering of staff on 10 December last year, in contravention to coronavirus social-distancing rules.

Police won't act  yet

The Metropolitan Police acknowledged it had received a significant amount of correspondence relating to the alleged breaches in No 10 in the run up to Christmas last year but said they do not provide evidence of a breach of COVID rules.

Based on the absence of evidence and in line with our policy not to investigate retrospective breaches of such regulations, the Met will not commence an investigation at this time, it added.

But the force did leave open the possibility of further inquiries by saying it would consider any evidence that emerges in the Case inquiry.

Shadow health secretary West Streeting said the Met should be knocking on doors, taking statements and investigating people in No 10 in the way they would my constituents or anyone else in the country.

Boris Johnson announced new COVID restrictions on the day the Christmas party scandal rocked the government. (Getty)

It seems implausible for the Metropolitan Police to argue there is no evidence that parties took place, he told reporters.

The prime minister has repeatedly insisted the rules were followed that night but apologised over the impression made by leaked footage of No 10 staff joking about COVID restrictions.

It showed Stratton and aides laughing on 22 December about a supposedly fictional party having taken place in Downing Street days earlier as she took part in a rehearsal for her subsequently axed role hosting televised press briefings.

Meanwhile, Johnson was forced to deny allegations, including from senior Conservative William Wragg, that his announcement of further coronavirus restrictions was a diversionary tactic from the scandal.

Watch: 'No excuse' for video showing No 10 aides joking about alleged lockdown party  PM
Mayor Andrew J. Ginther is proposing a $10 million plan to fight climate change in the city of Columbus. It includes carbon neutrality by 2050.

Flanked by environmentalists and advocates inside the Linden Community Center gym, Columbus Mayor Andrew J. Ginther unveiled an ambitious plan to reduce the citys carbon footprint on Thursday.

The mayor wants Columbus to reduce carbon emissions by 45% by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 by offering business incentives, encouraging the use of public transit, funding environmental groups, installing solar panels, planting trees, adopting new building codes and reducing waste.

Some of the proposals outlined on Thursday, such as a switch to an all-electric fleet of city vehicles and the installation of LED streetlights, are already in the works.

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Multibillion-dollar investment: Ford goes all-in on electric vehicles

Ginther has asked the City Council to approve $10 million for the plan, which environmentalists called a good start, but stressed that more will be needed in the years to come.

The mayor called the plan a living document during Thursdays press conference, saying it can change along with the citys needs.

"Our focus is twofold: becoming fully carbon neutral and pursuing a broad range of sustainability solutions that are rooted in equity and environmental justice," Ginther told reporters Thursday.

The mayor said Columbus will work with environmentalists, business groups and residents of the neighborhoods most impacted by a changing climate as the plan moves forward.

Greater Columbus environmentalists and advocates generally praised the proposals, but stressed they must be followed with concrete action.

Advocates were especially pleased that city officials reached out to a wide variety of stakeholders and incorporated their suggestions into the plan.

With earlier iterations, we expressed concerns about different aspects that were being proposed, and we felt really heard by the citys leaders, Ohio Environmental Council Executive Director Heather Taylor-Miesle said.

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A climate action plan released in March, for example, called for a 25% reduction in carbon emissions by 2030, but critics said that figure needed to be at least 45%.

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Even if the city achieves its goals, a 2018 report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change said global carbon emissions need to drop by at least half by 2030 to avoid the worst effects of climate change, and the city's emissions only account for a tiny fraction of worldwide carbon emissions.

The neighborhoods most affected by a warming planet are home to those who can least afford to adapt, said Bo Chilton, CEO of Impact Community Action, which helps low-income households achieve self-sufficiency.

Provisions outlined in the plan can help those neighborhoods, he said.

Proposals include installing electric vehicle charging stations and solar panels in disadvantaged neighborhoods.

Were going to need people to repair and maintain those, Chilton said, and his organization wants to create a workforce pipeline to ensure that work goes to the people living in those places.

Impact Community Action also plans to work with the city to help low-income people buy electric vehicles. Even the least expensive electric cars still cost more than $30,000.

Reducing energy use in low-income neighborhoods is another aspect of the plan that will help disadvantaged residents, Impact COO Beth Urban said. For years the group has provided energy efficient light bulbs and appliances in poor communities and hopes to expand those efforts.

Were really focused on reducing energy burden through lower electric bills, Urban said.

Climate change: EPA forecasts more deaths in Ohio as temperatures heat up

$2.85 billion deal: AEP to sell Kentucky operations as it continues move toward more renewable energy

Following up with households to make sure they see long-term savings from the groups efforts is part of the plan, she said.

The group has provided energy audits to 3,500 households, a fraction of the more than 360,000 households in the city, roughly 20% of which are below the poverty line, according to the latest census figures.

Impact also has weatherized around 3,200 homes over the last 20 years, Urban added.

With the Republican-dominated state government unlikely to address climate change, action at the local level is critical, Taylor-Miesle said.

The state of Ohio is really important because not only are we one of the top polluters, were also a place that is going to be responsible for supplying people with food and fresh water, she said.

The citys plan builds on those developed for other cities around the country, Taylor Miesle said.

What I am really excited about with this plan is that it really does consider intersectionality, she said. Its not just about creating a tree canopy, although thats really, really important, its also considering what is going on with our buildings, what is going on with our schools.

pcooley@dispatch.com

@PatrickACooley

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: The city of Columbus' climate change plan includes solar, trees, EVs
Doug Logan, left, owner of Florida-based consultancy Cyber Ninjas, talks about overseeing a 2020 election ballot audit ordered by the Republican-led Arizona Senate at the Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum, as a Cyber Ninjas IT technician demonstrates a ballot scan during a news conference on April 22 in Phoenix. The equipment used in the November election won by President Joe Biden and the 2.1 million ballots cast in Maricopa County were moved to the site Thursday so Republicans in the state Senate who have expressed uncertainty that Bidens victory was legitimate can recount them and audit the results.

Ive always thought voting was a key part of being a good citizen. Ill bet most folks feel the same way. I may have missed a local election or two over the past six decades, but never a presidential vote.

Thats why Ive been particularly sad and angry over the continued undermining of our election system by former president Donald Trump and his Republican allies who allege that rampant voter fraud cost Trump the 2020 election. I fear the unfounded allegations have done more damage to the credibility of our election system than Russian interference could ever do.

Its been more than 13 months since Joe Biden was elected president. The election wasnt that close. But we keep hearing about election conspiracy theories that professional fact-checkers and voting rights experts have debunked and that Democrat and Republican judges have thrown out of court. Trumps top cybersecurity official at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security confirmed the 2020 election was the most secure in U.S. history. Then Trump fired him. And the fraud allegations persist.

Its time for Trump and his backers, including those in Congress, to give us the detailed evidence of widespread election fraud, if indeed they have it. Heres how they can do it. As the loudest complainer, Trump should lead the charge. He should round up his biggest defenders, including those lawyers who filed about 60 frivolous election-fraud lawsuits that got tossed out of court. They should offer their evidence in a televised hearing before the U.S. House committee currently investigating the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol insurrection. Alleged election fraud was the crux of the insurrection, so how could the committee say no?

But there should be rules to follow, including providing only evidence. No rumors. No speculation. No false stories concocted by far-right media making incorrect calculations. No cockamamie conspiracies about Chinese tinkering with voting machines. Also, testify under oath. I would pay to see Trump testify under oath. Unfortunately, I cant imagine that happening. Trump and his allies have had more than enough time to deliver the hard evidence to prosecutors and the courts. They dont have it.

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If voter fraud was rampant, where are the tens of thousands of election-fraud prosecutions, especially in the 26 states with Republican attorneys general? Also, how did widespread voter fraud hit Trump but somehow miss all those state and local Republicans who won election nationally? It seems logical that fraudsters also would have targeted numerous congressional Republicans while they were at it. It didnt happen.

This past summer, reporters at Bloomberg Government did a 50-state canvas of state officials and identified only about 200 election-fraud prosecutions since November 2018. Nearly all the cases were insignificant infractions in a timeframe when hundreds of millions of people voted nationally, Bloomberg reported.

In Wisconsin, a swing state that Biden won, the Wisconsin Elections Commissions annual report cited only 13 allegations of possible voter fraud referred to district attorneys related to the 2020 election, according to Wisconsin Public Radio. Wisconsin residents cast nearly 3.3 million votes in that election.

And in Arizona this year the states Republican Senate commissioned an election audit of Maricopa County, where voters gave Biden the win in Arizona. Despite being led by Trump backers, the review affirmed that Biden beat Trump in Arizona  and, in fact, increased his winning margin by 360 votes, according to media reports.

The only possible fraud Ive seen so far from the 2020 election is that perpetrated on the American people by Trump and his allies by claiming that Trump won. Show us skeptics that we are wrong, Trumpsters. Show us tangible evidence of rampant voter fraud or else stop the "big lie".

McCann is a contributing columnist for the Advertiser. He is a retired journalist and may be reached at Easywriter12345@yahoo.com.

Bill McCann is a contributing columnist for the Advertiser.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Opinion: Trumpsters, show voter fraud evidence or stop the 'big lie'
The Etowah County Commissioners voted during their regular meeting on Tuesday to start hearing new bids for waste collection within the county.

This new bidding process comes because of a loophole in the current contract with Advance Disposal that allows them to potentially rebid the contract with the opening of the Sand Valley landfill in early November.

The intent was to rebid this in an effort to get better pricing for the residents of Etowah County, said Chief Administrative Officer Shane Ellison.

The Sand Valley landfill is the only industrial waste facility within the county and is said to be allowed to accept household garbage, construction and demolition materials and certain industrial wastes. It was set to open during the second quarter of the year, but its opening had to be pushed back to last month because of rain delays.

Garrett Gamble, president of Evergreen Environmental Partners, said this new landfill was federally compliant with all environmental requirements by the state. The area also has been inspected by the Alabama Department of Environmental Management.

Theyre really pleased with it, he said. They used the words 'outstanding' and 'unbelievable' during their inspections. Its now completely in compliance.

As part of the maintenance on the landfill, Gamble said they have removed the trees and added soil and grassing to it. They have also built a new cell with the closure of the old landfill that waste will be taken to instead.

Its a state-of-the-art landfill thats double mined with 12 inches of a compacting clay layer at the base, Gamble explained. There is also a 60 milliliter layer of plastic underneath the gravel.

He added that wastewater will be collected in its own tank that then will be taken to the Gadsden water treatment plant, which he says is what makes it the state-of-the-art facility that it is.

The landfill also allows Etowah County to be a trash importer rather than a trash exporter. Gamble also said they are accepting garbage from Calhoun County at this new landfill, which also will create a new revenue stream for the county at a rate of $1.25 per ton.

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Its not life-changing money, but it is crucial for the buildup and maintenance of Sand Valley Road, Ellison said. Itll go back into the pot so to speak.

Because of this, the landfill will result in a lower cost in waste collection for businesses and residents of the county.

That added logistics cost was definitely being influenced by the cost of fuel and is creating an elevated expense, Gamble said. Were contracted with Attalla, Asheville in St. Clair County, Rainbow City, Ragland, Steele and Calhoun County. Those entities have saved money coming here compared to their next lowest alternative.

Commissioners approved a budget amendment to include the money the county will be giving to its PTO buyback program. This will allow county employees to receive compensation for any sick leave, vacation or paid time off they did not take within the year.

The funding for these buybacks come from several different funds at varying amounts depending on how many employees are choosing to participate in the program. These include the general, gasoline tax, RSVP, ICE, rural transportation and DEU funds, and totals approximately $120,000.

When you allow employees to sell their time off once a year, this is to include all forms of that, Ellison said. We usually do it around Thanksgiving, but this year we are doing it in time for Christmas. Several departments have to be listed individually to be included in it.

Commissioners also approved a motion to make all banks in the county that are a part of the SAFE program eligible to be designated as a county depository for the next fiscal year. This program, according to Ellison, includes all local banks within the county and that the action is simply a formality to allow them to work with a local bank.

Part of this was triggered by the transition of BBVA to PNC Bank, he said. The probate judge has chosen to use a local bank, and they have had no complaints.

Two separate motions were approved for the Revenue Commissioner's office to use these banks as depositories for both the Tag and Titles and the Collections offices.

These also will include satellite offices located in Hokes Bluff, Rainbow City and Sardis, as well as the collections of real and business personal property, mobile homes and redemptions.

The meeting ended with an executive session regarding pending litigation and business and commerce. The session resulted in an additional resolution being presented for Ellison to take action based on what was discussed at the time of the session.

That resolution was passed in the form of a roll call vote, with all of the commissioners except Daniel Washington voting yes. Commissioners said they weren't able to discuss the matter at this time, but Tim Ramsey said they will be able to talk about it soon.

This article originally appeared on The Gadsden Times: Commissioners approve to hear bids on waste collection
Congress on Wednesday sent the Biden administration and Corporate America an unequivocal message about the Chinese government's repression of Uyghur Muslims: If this is genocide, as the U.S has declared, the response can't be business as usual.

Driving the news: The House overwhelmingly passed a bill that would ban all imports from the Chinese region of Xinjiang unless the U.S. government determines with "clear and convincing evidence" the products were not made with forced labor.

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Why it matters: Major corporations like Nike and Coca Cola have lobbied against the bill, which would have far-reaching consequences for U.S. supply chains deeply integrated with Chinese industry.

Stop. Figure out another way to make money," Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-N.Y.), a founding member of the Uyghur Caucus, told Axios when asked for his message to American businesses.

Suozzi acknowledged the bill could cause supply-chain disruptions but stressed: "When everything's said and done, that's too bad. This is so egregious that we have to act."

The big picture: The Biden administration has been outspoken about China's campaign of mass detention, surveillance, forced labor and forced sterilization of Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities  but has declined to throw its weight behind the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act.

Peter Irwin, an advocate with the Uyghur Human Rights Project, told Axios the "piecemeal approach" the U.S. has taken with sanctions, targeted customs restrictions and business advisories can only be effective to a certain point.

This is where "the rubber meets the road" on rhetoric vs. action, Irwin says: The bill would impose "the first real costs" the Chinese government has ever faced for its atrocities in Xinjiang.

Between the lines: Like all things China, the debate also has been ensnared in the fight against climate change.

Story continues

Xinjiang accounts for nearly 50% of the world's polysilicon, a raw material used to manufacture solar panels.

The administration has vehemently denied allegations from Republicans that officials like climate envoy John Kerry have lobbied against the bill to ensure the U.S. can cooperate with China on climate change.

What they're saying: A senior State Department official told Axios: "To be clear, the Department of State is not opposing this [bill]."

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said last month the administration has offered "technical assistance on the legislation."

What to watch: The Senate unanimously passed its own version of the bill last month, but there are several differences in the legislation that must be reconciled by the two chambers.

The White House has not said whether President Biden will sign the bill if and when it reaches his desk.

More from Axios: Sign up to get the latest market trends with Axios Markets. Subscribe for free
WASHINGTON (AP)  A federal appeals court ruled Thursday against an effort by former President Donald Trump to shield documents from the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol.

In a 68-page ruling, the three-judge panel tossed aside Trump's various arguments for blocking through executive privilege records that the committee regards as vital to its investigation into the run-up to the deadly riot that was aimed at overturning the results of the 2020 presidential election.

Judge Patricia Millett, writing for the court, said Congress had a uniquely vital interest in studying the events of Jan. 6 and that President Joe Biden had made a carefully reasoned" determination that the documents were in the public interest and that executive privilege should therefore not be invoked. Trump also failed to show any harm that would occur from the release of the sought-after records, Millett wrote.

On the record before us, former President Trump has provided no basis for this court to override President Bidens judgment and the agreement and accommodations worked out between the Political Branches over these documents, the opinion states.

It adds, "Both Branches agree that there is a unique legislative need for these documents and that they are directly relevant to the Committees inquiry into an attack on the Legislative Branch and its constitutional role in the peaceful transfer of power.

The appeals court ruled that the injunction that has prevented the National Archives from turning over the documents will expire in two weeks, or when the Supreme Court rules on an expected appeal from Trump, whichever is later. Lawyers for Trump can also ask the entire appeals court to review the case. Seven of the 11 appellate judges on the court were appointed by Democratic presidents, four by Republican presidents.

The panel's leaders, Reps. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., and Liz Cheney, R.-Wyo., hailed the ruling, saying it respects the Select Committees interest in obtaining White House records and the Presidents judgment in allowing those records to be produced. Our work moves ahead swiftly. We will get to the truth.

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But Trump's spokeswoman said the matter was far from settled.

Regardless of todays decision by the the appeals court, this case was always destined for the Supreme Court," Liz Harrington said. "President Trumps duty to defend the Constitution and the Office of the Presidency continues, and he will keep fighting for every American and every future Administration.

In its ruling, the court said the executive privilege being asserted by Trump is not a personal privilege but instead one that he stewards for the benefit of the Republic.

The interests the privilege protects are those of the Presidency itself, not former President Trump individually. And the President has determined that immediate disclosure will promote, not injure, the national interest, and that delay here is itself injurious, the opinion states.

Biden had the committee defer its requests for some of the early documents that might have posed privilege claims, and officials expect more documents in subsequent tranches will be subject to the same outcome.

The court praised Bidens calibrated judgement in working with Congress and the Archives to weigh privilege concerns, saying it bears no resemblance to the broad and limitless waiver of executive privilege former President Trump decries.

White House spokesman Mike Gwin said, As President Biden determined, the constitutional protections of executive privilege should not be used to shield information that reflects a clear and apparent effort to subvert the Constitution itself.

Trump sued the House Jan. 6 committee and the National Archives to stop the White House from allowing the release of documents related to the insurrection. Biden had waived Trumps executive privilege claims as the current officeholder.

At issue, the court said, is not that Trump has no say in the matter but rather his failure to show that withholding the documents should supersede Biden's considered and weighty judgment that Congress is entitled to the records.

The National Archives has said that the records Trump wants to block include presidential diaries, visitor logs, speech drafts, handwritten notes concerning the events of January 6 from the files of former chief of staff Mark Meadows, and a draft Executive Order on the topic of election integrity.

Arguing for the committee, U.S. House lawyer Douglas Letter argued that the determination of a current president should outweigh predecessors in almost all circumstances and noted that both Biden and Congress were in agreement that the Jan. 6 records should be turned over.

All three of the appeals court judges who heard the arguments were nominated by Democrats. Millett and Judge Robert Wilkins were nominated by former President Barack Obama. Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson is a Biden appointee seen as a contender for a Supreme Court seat should one open during the current administration.

Republican presidents nominated six of the nine Supreme Court justices, including three chosen by Trump.

__

Associated Press writers Jill Colvin and Mary Clare Jalonick contributed to this report.
COVID-19 vaccination rates in Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes have stagnated for at least three months, the latest figures show.

Some 34% of people living in Terrebonne and 39% in Lafourche are fully vaccinated as of Dec. 7, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The rates were the same in both parishes Sept. 7. Terrebonne's vaccination rate trails Louisiana's by 15 percentage points, Lafourche trails the state by 10 points.

Only four states trail Louisiana's vaccination rate: Alabama, Idaho, Mississippi and Wyoming.

COVID in schools: See the parishes leading Louisiana in K-12 infections as of Dec. 8

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention considers someone fully vaccinated two weeks after they've been given a single-dose shot (Johnson & Johnson) or a second shot (either Pfizer or Moderna).

Louisiana reported 774,181 total cases of coronavirus, an increase of 0.43% from the week before.

The five parishes with the highest percentage of their population fully vaccinated in Louisiana as of Dec. 7 are West Feliciana (57%), Orleans (56%), Jefferson (54%), East Feliciana (50%) and Pointe Coupee (49%).

Here are the latest numbers on COVID-19 vaccinations locally and statewide:

How many people in Terrebonne Parish have received a COVID-19 vaccine?

42% of people in Terrebonne have received at least one dose of the vaccine, for a total of 47,236 people.

34% of people in Terrebonne are fully vaccinated, for a total of 38,691 people.

How many people in Lafourche Parish have received a COVID-19 vaccine?

46% of people in Lafourche Parish have received at least one dose of the vaccine, for a total of 45,519 people.

39% of people in Lafourche Parish are fully vaccinated, for a total of 38,492 people.

How many people in Louisiana have been vaccinated so far?

56% of people in Louisiana have received at least one dose of the vaccine, for a total of 2,606,384 people.

49% of people in Louisiana are fully vaccinated, for a total of 2,288,925 people.

For a parish-by-parish look at the vaccination rollout, see our COVID-19 vaccine tracker, which is updated daily.

Story continues

COVID vaccinations for kids and boosters

The percentages in this story reflect the total share of the population that has received vaccines. That now includes people as young as 5 years old, for whom vaccines have been authorized.

Louisiana officials made the vaccine available in early November to children 5-11 years old following a recommendation by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Previously, the shots were open only to those 12 and older.

State and federal authorities in mid-November recommended booster shots for anyone 18 or older who had been vaccinated earlier. Boosters are recommended six months after receiving the second dose of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccines and two months after receiving the single-dose Johnson & Johnson shot. Boosters can be any variety of the vaccine, regardless of the brand a person originally received.

Residents with questions can call Louisiana's COVID-19 Vaccine Hotline at 1-855-453-0774 to find a provider in their area or speak to medical professionals with clinical experience.

More online

Get up-to-date data on COVID cases locally, statewide and across the U.S. at data.houmatoday.com or data.dailycomet.com.

We pull data on local vaccine distribution on a weekly basis. Check back for our next weekly update mid-week for the latest numbers.

This article originally appeared on The Courier: COVID vaccination in Terrebonne and Lafourche rates haven't budged for 3 months
Dec. 8Decatur police said two female suspects turned themselves in this afternoon and were charged with shooting into an occupied vehicle near the Gordon Drive overpass early today.

Police said the call on the incident was received at 12:37 a.m. and they determined the caller's "vehicle had been shot into while on the road."

Police said Malaysia White, 19, and Tra'Naisha Taylor, 22, both of Decatur, were being held on $5,000 bond.
Catlin Frazier is the newest member of Delaware City Council, elected to one of three at-large seats in the November election. Her four-year term began Nov. 15.

Newly elected Delaware City Council at-large member Catlin Frazier said she has followed city municipal issues, both large and small, since 2019.

"I became interested in some of the issues before council," she said.

In addition to talking to a number of other residents since then, she also has attended or watched online every council meeting.

She initially was interested in two issues. One was a discussion about widening from two to four lanes "The Point" intersection on the city's east side, routinely a site of backed-up traffic at rush hour. The other focused on residents complaints about how the Delaware YMCA had handled city recreation programs and limited access to swimming facilities at the Y building on Houk Road.

More: Delaware City Council's Riggle considers five-time mayoral role 'an honor'

Since then, the city has regained management of municipal recreation programs and launched a long-term effort to widen The Point by replacing a railroad bridge there. Also during that time, more routine municipal functions drew Frazier's attention.

"So many things before council don't get the public's attention, but they are definitely vital to the way the city runs, she said. I wanted to spend a lot of time learning about that. I didn't want to learn only about the headline-making issues in the city but just the regular issues, like refuse collection and water and sewage. ... They don't make front-page news, but if they don't happen, what happens to our city? I spent two years talking (to residents) about that, the things that I think are important as we grow."

Frazier, 38, said, "I'm an elder millennial, as I like to say. ... I'm invested in what the city offers me as a young business professional raising a family. And I wanted to be a part of what Delaware looks like ... for all of our residents, not just younger people. I want to see Delaware work and grow in a way that makes an equitable opportunity for all of us. Those are some of the things that really got me to thinking about 'I should probably run.'"

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Most people, she said, spend half of their lives within 50 miles of their home.

"We spend a lot of time in the area where we live, she said. I'm more concerned about making that space the best possible through municipal government, through public initiatives. ... I don't have a single issue that I plan on jumping on my soapbox about. There are lots of issues that concern me. And when I say 'concern,' I mean interest me.

"I think we have a lot of opportunities as a community to grow, but I also think that there are some areas where residents have expressed concern," she said.

Development is always as issue during council elections, she said.

"I think a good mix of development is what is smart because we can't stop development. We can make sure that we have smart equitable development," Frazier said.

One challenge facing the city is housing security and a housing shortage, she said, which also is a challenge across central Ohio and much of the nation.

She said she has learned a lot about the issue in recent years, and a particular need is to make housing available for those working in the city's service industry, such as retail and restaurant workers.

"I think it's a challenge for us if our service-industry employees that we want in our community ... cannot also find housing and afford to live in our community, she said. They shouldn't have to live outside of our community to be able to support the service needs of the community. ... I know that is something council also is very concerned about."

Affordable housing was listed among priorities in the city's comprehensive plan adopted earlier in 2021, she said.

Workforce housing is one part of a larger question of "how do we balance working with developers on the types of housing opportunities," including single-family homes and multifamily housing, she said.

And those questions are in turn part of the city's overall economic-development challenges, Frazier said.

Bringing jobs and economic development to Delaware is probably the challenge she would most like to help accomplish in her four-year term, she said.

How do we make Delaware an attractive prospect to companies that are looking for a home base for their organization?" she said.

Noting that her career is in human resources and workforce development, Frazier said, 80% of Delaware residents leave the city to work.

I'd love for them to live and work in the community," she said.

On its Facebook page, the Delaware African-American Heritage Council said Frazier is the first Black woman to hold an at-large Delaware City Council seat. She was sworn in Nov. 15.

"I'm very honored that my fellow residents chose to elect me. I'm very honored to be the first African-American woman to serve on Delaware City Council, she said. I think it's important to draw attention to the fact we are a diverse community, welcoming of all. And our residents have chosen to show that in the individuals that are representing them on council, and that's important.  I'm truly representing every resident."

In 1993, council elected at-large member Dennis D. Davis as Delaware's first Black mayor. Davis was an Ohio Wesleyan University graduate who grew up in Delaware. He served as mayor until moving from the city in 1998.

When Davis died in Colorado in 2003, then-council member Joe Di Genova said Davis "did a very good job" but "had a lot of bridges to cross, being the first African-American mayor.

He wasn't unanimously elected by council, Di Genova said. But he proved his worth and did a good job."

editorial@thisweeknews.com

@ThisWeekNews

This article originally appeared on ThisWeek: Catlin Frazier starts as Delaware City Council's first Black woman
Democrats pitch a plan to place companies that defraud Ohioans in a contract time out.

If a business defrauds Ohioans, it should be placed in a timeout, unable to contract with the state for at least a year, House Democrats say.

Democratic Reps. Paula Hicks-Hudson, of Toledo, and Jeff Crossman, of Parma, pitched two new bills to help whistleblowers sue corrupt companies and prevent businesses that defraud Ohioans from scoring new contracts.

They say the health care company Buckeye Health Plan  a subsidiary of Centene  is a prime example of a company that needs a time out. The company recently agreed to pay $88 million after Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost sued it for charging taxpayers millions for duplicate pharmacy middleman services.

After $88M settlement: Centene back in good graces of Ohio Medicaid

Yost accused Centene of "corporate greed" and fleecing taxpayers out of millions. But after the settlement, Centene won a piece of a lucrative $20 billion Medicaid contract.

"Centene, Buckeye Health, was sued by the state of Ohio and was forced to pay, agreed to pay a very, very quick settlement, then they went right back to business with the state of Ohio," said Crossman, who is considering a bid for state attorney general. "That's unbelievable to me."

Hicks-Hudson also pointed to a recent pitch to the State Teachers Retirement System of Ohio that would have put $65 billion  nearly two-thirds of the pension fund's portfolio  in the hands of a new company that lacked any performance track record.

'I wouldn't even invest my own money in this': Ohio teachers' pension board pans $65 billion pitch

"Thank goodness that the other members of the board were able to stop that," said Hicks-Hudson, adding that the pitch alone underscores how companies might try to take advantage of Ohio taxpayers and pensioners

"There are things that are brewing that for me, personally, says that we have to do a better job," Hicks-Hudson said.

The Democrats proposed two bills:

Story continues

One would allow a person to sue a business that defrauds Ohioans on behalf of all residents. If the person suing is an employee, the bill would provide several whistleblower protections from retribution.

The second proposal would bar a vendor from being considered for contracts for at least a year if that company has been convicted of fraud, bribery or other offenses. The company would be barred if they colluded to restrain competition. The Ohio Attorney General and Department of Administrative Services would make the decision about the length of the timeout.

Some of these ideas were pitched by Republican lawmakers in the past, but the proposal is largely being pushed by the minority party now.

"We think that this legislation really should have broad bipartisan appeal," Crossman said. "This is actually Republican legislation that was proposed and ultimately not adopted, which is why we would start with that legislation."

Jessie Balmert is a reporter for the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau, which serves the Akron Beacon Journal, Cincinnati Enquirer, Columbus Dispatch and 18 other affiliated news organizations across Ohio.

Get more political analysis by listening to the Ohio Politics Explained podcast

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This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Ohio Democrats pitch contract timeout for businesses that defraud
(Bloomberg) -- Deutsche Bank AGs control lapses keep haunting Christian Sewing.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The Chief Executive Officer of Germanys largest lender has spent his almost four years in the role trying to mend relations with regulators and restore a path to sustainable profitability. While hes made progress on the latter, a slew of recent legal and regulatory headaches threaten to overshadow those achievements as hes heading into the final year of his turnaround program.

In the latest setback, the Justice Department has told the Frankfurt-based bank that it may have violated a criminal settlement by failing to inform prosecutors about an internal complaint tied to the lenders asset-management arm, according to a person familiar with the matter.

The complaint from Desiree Fixler, the former head of sustainability at DWS Group, alleged the firm had overstated its commitments to environmental, social and governance criteria. U.S. prosecutors learned of the allegations only after they were made public in August by the Wall Street Journal, which was also first to report the Justice Department notification.

Read more: Deutsche Banks DWS Orders Fresh Probe Into Greenwash Claims

The potential breach involves a deferred prosecution agreement reached in January between the Justice Department and Deutsche Bank in which the German lender agreed to pay more than $130 million to settle charges that it bribed foreign officials and manipulated the market for precious-metals futures. As part of that accord, the bank vowed to cooperate with investigations and make certain disclosures about allegations of misconduct.

Deutsche Banks shares traded lower on the news and were down about 2.3% at 11:31 a.m. in Frankfurt.

Story continues

The bank has previously been told by the Federal Reserve that its compliance programs arent up to snuff. Its conducting an internal probe into alleged misselling of derivatives in Spain. And an anti-money laundering monitor put in place by German watchdog BaFin has been given an expanded mandate.

The issues have revived memories of the firms lost decade after the financial crisis, when Deutsche Bank faced more than $18 billion in fines and legal settlements, the biggest bill for any European bank after Royal Bank of Scotland Group Plc, calculations by Bloomberg News have shown. That number has increased over the past two years, though legal payments have declined substantially compared with previous years.

Increased spending to remedy its control weaknesses is one reason why Deutsche Bank scrapped its cost-reduction target earlier this year. It has also reshuffled leadership at its compliance and anti-money laundering units.

No final decision on whether Deutsche Bank breached the deal with the DOJ has been made, said the person, who asked not to be named because the communications between the U.S. government and the bank arent public. The department could end its query without taking further action.

Spokesmen for Deutsche Bank and the Justice Department declined to comment.

In recent months, Justice Department leaders have said theyre reviewing several non-prosecution and deferred prosecution agreements for evidence that companies havent been taking their obligations seriously.

The Deutsche Bank agreement requires notification and allows for the bank to respond to any allegations. The Justice Departments warning could lead to the bank reaching a new settlement with the department. If prosecutors were to move forward, the earlier deal would be voided and criminal charges could be filed in court.

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HYANNIS  The Cape and Islands District Attorney's Office and state and local police are investigating a shooting at a home on Oakview Terrace that left a 50-year-old man dead.

Cape & Islands District Attorney Michael OKeefe and Barnstable Police Chief Matthew Sonnabend said in a statement Thursday morning that Barnstable police responded to a 911 call for a medical emergency at 91 Oakview Terrace just before 6 p.m. Wednesday.

Eric Christensen was found unresponsive on the kitchen floor with an apparent gunshot wound to the head, the statement said.

Hyannis Fire/Rescue transported Christensen to Cape Cod Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, the statement said.

State police arrive Thursday morning at 91 Oakview Terrace in Hyannis, one with a metal detector, as police investigate a shooting at the house that left a 50-year-old man dead.

Christensen worked for several years at CODCOMM Inc., a locally owned radio group includes PIXY 103. General Manager Tim Levesque said Christensen was employed in the promotions department, part of a field team setting up and taking down off-site promotions.

"Personally I think he was a really good guy," Levesque said. "It's tragic."

A profile on IMDb, an online database related to films, television shows and streaming content, said Christensen was born on the Cape and went to Cape Cod Regional Technical High School in Harwich. He worked for iHeartRadio as a DJ, production engineer and producer, according to the profile.

The death is under investigation as a homicide by the Barnstable Police Department and Massachusetts State Police detectives assigned to the district attorneys office.

Christensen owns 91 Oakview Terrace, according to Barnstable assessing records. A long driveway leads down to the house. A neighbor said Christensen was renting a room in the house to another person.

More overtime fewer inmates: Here's a look at Barnstable County Sheriff spending

Neighbor Neil Maloney, a retired police officer, said another neighbor asked him if he had heard three gunshots Wednesday just before 6 p.m. Maloney said he hadn't heard any shots.

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"Sound travels strange here," a woman in the neighborhood said.

The homes on Oakview Terrace are staggered, with one home near the road and the next set back 100 feet or so. A landscaper's trailer was parked near an island in the middle of the road in front of 91 Oakview Terrace.

The house at 91 Oakview Terrace in Hyannis, where homeowner Eric Christensen, 50, was found unresponsive on the kitchen floor with a gunshot wound to the head Wednesday night, according to a statement from the Cape and Islands District Attorney's Office.

Seven driveways radiate out from the island. The neighborhood of ranches and Cape-style homes was quiet Thursday morning. Christmas wreaths decorated with anchors and elves hung on front doors.

Cape Cod police academy: Audit finds Cape Cod police academy runs up $170,000 deficit. Here's what we know.

Some of the homes in the neighborhood are second homes, according to Maloney, and are empty for a portion of the year.

Christensen's house, which was built in 1980, is described in assessing records as 1 stories with 1,330 square feet of living space and three bedrooms, and is assessed at $309,000. The house sits on about a third of an acre of land.

This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Cape Cod DA's office investigating fatal shooting in Hyannis
Andy Barwell's debt difficulties began when he was a rugby-playing teenager. Paying off creditors will go on long after his playing days are over.

Now he sees lots of young men taking the same financial risks, some of whom are inspired by images of wealth and the high life as they scroll through social media.

"You can't live a champagne life on a lemonade budget," he said. "You need to have the money in the bank."

The temptation to overindulge and be left with a financial hangover is clear during the festive season. With the cost of living rising, the extra expense of even a basic celebration is pushing others to the financial brink.

A YouGov survey for the BBC suggested that about half of those aged up to 45 admitted they were likely to spend more than they should this Christmas. While some will cut back on other spending to pay for Christmas, others will borrow more.

Andy, now a 30-year-old father of two, said he loved Christmas, but remembered it as a highly stressful time when he was trying to please friends, family and a new partner, even though he had no money.

One Christmas Eve, his money worries were so intense that he rang the Samaritans. His debt peaked at 35,000.

"Eventually I realised I would never get my head above water. On the first of the month I was paid, on the second I was paying off cards and by the middle on the month I had nothing. It was a vicious cycle," he said.

Where to go for help

Fraudsters are pretending to be debt and financial advisers online and on social media. Genuine, free advice is available from:

StepChange - via their website, and during opening hours by phone on 0800 138 1111

Use the Debt Advice Locator tool on the government-backed MoneyHelper service website to find free advice near you

He was referred to the StepChange debt charity by his bank, put on a repayment plan, and is able to save throughout the year for Christmas.

Story continues

"I've not looked back since. Anyone in the same situation should speak to someone now. Don't wait. Don't be embarrassed about it," he said.

The concern is that during a Christmas with fewer Covid restrictions, but rising bills and prices, more people are financially vulnerable.

Graph showing credit use from Lowell customers

Research taken from 9.5 million customers of the large credit management and debt collection company Lowell shows that credit use is starting to rise again after the height of the pandemic.

Covid support schemes, such as payment holidays, helped to keep a lid on some debt issues, but many of those allowances have now been withdrawn. The company's UK Financial Vulnerability Index suggests there are now greater risks of people missing repayments or being left without savings for emergency expenditure.

"We are concerned about our nation's financial health. With Covid support falling away, we can already see vulnerability ticking up. This has been rising since 2017 and we need to have an honest conversation about why," said Lowell's chief executive, John Pears.

Money

Other survey findings include:

Of those who do expect to borrow to pay for Christmas, a quarter (24%) said it would take a year or more to pay back the money, a survey for StepChange suggested

Some 27% of those asked in a YouGov survey for the BBC said that "the cost of Christmas makes it all too stressful"

Citizens Advice said that one in 10 families were facing a financial crisis this winter because they were unable to meet their essential costs

Research from England's Illegal Money Lending Team found that Christmas was the second most likely reason for people borrowing money from loan sharks, after paying for essentials such as food, rent or mortgage, and utility bills.

Sue Anderson, from StepChange, said that families determined to enjoy Christmas despite bills rising could make things difficult when the credit demands arrived in the new year.

"The cost of the festive season can be the straw that breaks the camel's back for people already struggling," she said.

"This year, our research suggests that a significantly increased number of people may turn to credit to make ends meet over Christmas. People are also widely worrying about the increasing general cost of living and specific price hikes in the cost of essentials such as energy."

As some people face those financial difficulties, fears have been raised about reductions in the availability of free. face-to-face debt advice.

New contracts from the Money and Pensions Service, which funds most free debt advice in England, will see more money spent on help given over the phone or online.
Police in Niagara Falls were alerted to a black sedan floating down the Niagara River toward American Falls late Wednesday morning, and after New York State Park Police determined they couldn't safely send a diver or boats to rescue any occupants of the car, the U.S. Coast Guard was called in. The car at this point was lodged against some rocks about 50 yards from the edge of American Falls. "We've never had a vehicle in the water this close to the brink," State Parks Police Capt. Chris Rola told reporters.

A U.S. Coast Guard Great Lakes rescue crew flew over in a helicopter from Detroit at about 12:30, and aviation survival technician Derrian Duryea was lowered down to the car on a rope after the copter arrived a little before 2 p.m., WGRZ reports. Duryea was able to pull the car's sole occupant, a local woman in her 60s, from the car, but she was pronounced dead after he got her to a waiting ambulence on shore.

The somber ending to the rescue mission "did not diminish the daring actions of the diver, who braved strong winds and swift-moving currents to reach the vehicle and recover the victim's body," The Buffalo News reports. Rola called the attempted rescue "incredible," noting the "inherent danger" in such efforts. He said the woman was dead before the Coast Guard reached her.

The Erie County Medical Examiner's Office has the body and will try to determine the cause of death, while police try to piece together how the car ended up floating toward Niagara Falls. Authorities have not yet publicly identified the woman.

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Dec. 9On Wednesday, the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments in a lawsuit filed on behalf of some Maine families who want the state to pay for their children's tuition at religious schools.

Sound familiar? It should.

In 1999, twin cases were filed in state and federal courts challenging Maine's religious school exclusion and lost in both the Maine Supreme Judicial Court and the 1st Circuit Court of Appeals.

Then in 2004, a pair of cases was again filed in both state and federal court challenging the law and were again defeated.

The third attempt was filed in federal court last year, and it was defeated by the Court of Appeals, But this time, the case was accepted by the U.S. Supreme Court.

The families are different in every lawsuit, but some things don't change.

The plaintiffs are typically represented by public interest law firms like the First Liberty Institute which is dedicated to bringing down the American wall between church and state.

And over the years, the arguments they make don't change. The plaintiffs say that Maine's refusal to fund religious schools violates the families' First Amendment right to freely practice their religion and their 14th Amendment right to equal protection. The two amendments are not new.

But one thing has changed: the composition of the Supreme Court. The addition of Justices Neil Gorsuch in 2017, Brett Kavanaugh in 2018 and Amy Coney Barrett in 2020 gives these advocates hope that they can fight the same law with the same arguments and get a completely different interpretation of the Constitution than they have received from multiple courts in the past.

The Maine Constitution promises every child an education at the taxpayers' expense. In a state as big and sparsely populated as this one, fulfilling that promise can take many forms.

For a small number of towns that don't have their own high school or a contract with one nearby, it means paying tuition for local students to attend the school of their choice, which can be public or private  as long as the private school is not religious.

Story continues

For the last two decades, Maine has successfully argued that every person has a right to practice their religion without interference from the state, but that doesn't mean that the state has to do anything more than get out of their way. If a religion dictates that its adherents attend special schools, paying for it is not the public's responsibility. The courts have also found that the state fulfills its obligation to provide equal treatment to all when it offers everyone a publicly funded education. It doesn't have to give some members of some religions taxpayer-funded religious instruction.

And what would Maine taxpayers be forced to support if the Supreme Court decides that all the other courts have been wrong? One winner would be Bangor Christian School, one of whose stated educational objectives is "to lead each unsaved student to trust Christ as his/her personal savior and then to follow Christ as Lord of his/her life."

Another would be Temple Academy, in Waterville, with its "biblically-integrated education," in which the Bible is used in every subject that is taught. Staff contracts warn "God recognize(s) homosexuals and other deviants as perverted" and that "such deviation from Scriptural standards is grounds for termination."

There's a place for such institutions in a pluralistic society. But they should not be getting public money, no matter who's sitting on the Supreme Court.
Buy now, pay later (BNPL) offerings have existed for a long time, but increased in popularity as the pandemic made more people shop online and conserve cash.

Though BNPL has taken off in most parts of the world, its yet to pick up steam in Africa. But in countries such as South Africa and Egypt, there is a newfound surge in demand for such services.

In the latest development, Sympl, an Egyptian fintech founded only five months ago, announced today that it has picked up $6 million in seed funding following a soft launch in October.

Beco Capital led the five-month-old startups seed round, while A15 and Global Ventures participated.

Mohamed El-Feky, Yasmine Henna, and Karim Tawfik started Sympl in August this year. We all joined forces to establish Sympl because we all share the vision that there is a huge opportunity for the buy now, pay later here in Egypt, given its very populous market, founder and CEO El-Feky told TechCrunch on a call. Its a consumer purchase driven market where we have a lot of accessibility to consumer products and services, online or offline.

But theres a little twist to Sympls offerings which the founders made in a bid to localize its product for the Egyptian market. In the CEOs words, Sympl operates a save your money, pay later model rather than the normal buy now, pay later model.

Sympl says it targets over 50 million debit and credit cardholders in the country. And like any BNPL service, the company wants to incentivize a portion of this demographic at checkout, in-store or online.

With no pre-registration required and payment plans approved at checkout, Sympl allows merchants to sell directly to consumers on short-term, fully interest-free (zero-interest) payment plans.

A typical BNPL model involves a purchase split into multiple equal payments. The first payment, usually 25% of the total purchase, is made at checkout, while the rest are paid in three installments.

Sympl operates a different method the company says will help its customers save better while making purchases.

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The platform is an evolution of customers checkout experience. Rather than promoting purchasing, it gives customers more choices at the checkout and promotes customer saving, flexible cash flow management, and a better matching of income and expenditure, without compromising their lifestyle, the company said in a statement.

When customers check out from one of Sympls merchants, the company acknowledges the funds in the customers bank accounts and charges them an upfront fixed fee of 100 Egyptian pounds. The fee covers the future collection of repayments and remains the same irrespective of the purchase amount.

Then Sympl offers customers the option to use a zero-interest pay later plan. The rest of the payments can be made between three to five installments. The company said that the plans cater to different segments of customers employment status -- gig workers, freelancers, self-employed and regular employees.

This is the saving that we do to the customer. So instead of spending all your money right now on a single transaction, you can walk out of the store having the product and having your money in your pocket while paying it on three to five equal payments. It can be on a monthly, bi-weekly or weekly basis, said the CEO.

Sympls launch in October was strategic. For a week, it exclusively partnered with Tradeline, the largest reseller of the iPhone 13 in Egypt, so customers could only buy the phone online or offline via Sympl.

During our launch, we were lucky enough because Mohamed and I had a lot of partners who worked with us at valU (the consumer fintech where both worked before Sympl). And because of our success back then, they came to us as merchants and wanted to partner with us at Sympl, said CCO Henna.

They like the platform because they think its unique because, for the first time in Egypt, were offering debit or pay later options for the debit card population in Egypt.

Sympl has onboarded up to 240 merchants with products in electronics, fashion, appliances, furniture, travel, healthcare, jewellery and education, the company said. It plans to reach 1,000 stores by mid next year. Henna also mentioned that Sympl is growing 25% week-on-week in terms of the number of transactions made on the platform.

Sympl will use the investment to expand its merchant network, build technical upgrades and enhancements, hire more talent and expand its footprint across Egypt to cover all 27 governorates in the country (its currently in two).

El-Feky said when the company raises its next round of investment, expansion outside Egypt will be on the cards. The most likely destination? Saudi Arabia.

It is one of the most vibrant markets and populous markets and has similar demographics and consumer behaviour. So I think this would be our first regional step out of Egypt.
Travis Head blasted a rapid-fire century to crush England hopes on the second day of the opening Ashes Test at the Gabba on Thursday.

At the close of play Australia were 343-7, a lead of 196 on England's dismal first-innings total of 147.

Head was on 112 from only 95 balls, alongside Mitchell Starc, who was not-out 10.

England had threatened a comeback after tea when Ollie Robinson took two wickets in consecutive balls, but Head's aggressive innings put paid to any hopes of a miracle recovery.

Head came to the crease with Australia 189-3 after Steve Smith edged Mark Wood to keeper Jos Buttler just before tea.

He then watched David Warner (94) and Cameron Green depart to Robinson's accurate seamers after the break, with Australia still only 89 runs ahead.

But the 27-year-old Head attacked from the outset and was particularly harsh on spinners Jack Leach and Joe Root.

He smashed two sixes and 12 boundaries in his century, his third overall and his first since the Boxing Day Test against New Zealand in 2019.

Leach, 1-95 from 11 overs, failed to assert any control and with Ben Stokes also struggling for fitness, skipper Root had to rely heavily on his three-man seam attack.

Earlier, Warner rode his luck in the first two sessions.

The gritty opener was bowled by a no-ball by Stokes before lunch, then dropped by Rory Burns in the first over after the break, before Haseeb Hameed bungled a simple run-out when Warner was on 60.

Warner's good fortune began in the opening session when Stokes bowled him when he was on 17, but the all-rounder had overstepped to give the Australian opening batsman a reprieve.

It later transpired that technology issues were at the centre of the no-ball drama.

Television replays showed that Stokes had also overstepped on the first three balls of his over, but nothing was called.

That led to suggestions that had he been called earlier by the umpires, he would have adjusted his run-up and Warner's prized wicket -- on Stokes's fourth delivery -- may have stood.

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Cricket Australia later said the technology that TV umpires use to help check no-balls was not working.

- Dangerous pace -

England needed to take all their chances to keep their hopes of salvaging anything from the first Test after their disastrous start on Wednesday, when they were bowled out in just 50.1 calamitous overs.

They started well when Robinson claimed his first Ashes wicket, Marcus Harris, with the score on 10.

England had gone into the Test without veteran seamers Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad, surprising many, including Australian captain Pat Cummins.

But the seam attack of Robinson, Chris Woakes and the outright pace of Wood were able to keep the Australian batters pinned down early on with some tight and accurate bowling.

Robinson was particularly dangerous and made the breakthrough when he enticed Harris to play forward to a ball that left him slightly, the Australian opener edging to second slip, where Dawid Malan took a good low catch.

Warner and Marnus Labuschagne consolidated but late in the second session Labuschagne sliced an attempted cut off Leach to Wood at backward point to fall for 74.

Soon after Wood, who bowled with real pace all day, gave England some cheer when he removed the dangerous Smith -- so often England's tormentor -- in the penultimate over of the second session.

When Warner slapped a short Robinson ball to Stokes at short cover after tea and then Green shouldered arms and was bowled next ball, England must have had some belief.

But that was soon quashed by Head's swashbuckling innings.

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The EU medicines watchdog said Thursday the Omicron variant of Covid-19 may cause milder disease, as the World Health Organization warned against a re-run of vaccine hoarding by rich nations as the new strain spreads.

The tentative judgement from the European Medicines Agency comes after the WHO said this week there was some evidence that Omicron causes less severe disease than Delta, the currently dominant variant.

The EMA echoed the finding, but said more investigation was being done.

"Cases appear to be mostly mild, however we need to gather more evidence to determine whether the spectrum of disease severity caused by Omicron is different (to) that of all the variants that have been circulating so far," said Marco Cavaleri, EMA's head of biological health threats and vaccines strategy.

The highly mutated variant first detected in South Africa sparked global panic when it emerged last month, prompting fears it could be more contagious, cause more severe illness or evade vaccines.

WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Wednesday said that "emerging data from South Africa suggests increased risk of reinfection with Omicron".

Cavaleri said that early data suggested Omicron is more infectious than Delta, but it was not year clear whether it would replace the older dominant strain.

He also stressed that there were better means of prevention and treatment available than last winter.

The comments come after Pfizer and BioNTech said Wednesday that a third dose of their vaccine was effective against the variant, and that it was developing an Omicron-specific jab that should be available by March.

- Hoarding fears -

Some wealthy countries like Germany and Britain are already hard-hit by a winter wave of infections.

In the UK, Tottenham football's game at Brighton on Sunday was postponed due to "a significant number of positive COVID-19 cases among players and relevant staff" at the north London club.

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Both Berlin and London have imposed new measures to control the virus' spread, and fears of the economic impact have been dogging financial markets.

That prompted the WHO on Thursday to caution against the restrictions on vaccine supply seen earlier this year.

"As we head into whatever the Omicron situation is going to be, there is a risk that the global supply is again going to revert to high-income countries hoarding vaccine to protect (their populations)... in a sense in excess," said WHO vaccines chief Kate O'Brien.

O'Brien said the WHO was examining data from Pfizer and BioNTech about the booster shot, and that it may turn out that "additional doses have benefit to provide added protection against Omicron", but stressed it was still "very early days".

The EMA's Cavaleri also said that "at this stage we do not have enough data".

The agency said later Thursday that Covid boosters are "safe and effective" three months after the last jab.

The UN health body's Africa branch said meanwhile that detections of new coronavirus cases had almost doubled over the past week, to 107,000, as the new variant "is reaching more countries in Africa".

The biggest surge in numbers -- 140 percent on average -- was in the south of the continent.

However, in South Africa, which discovered the new variant last month, "severe cases remain low", the WHO said.

It nevertheless called on countries to step up vaccinations -- only 7.8 percent of the continent's roughly 1.2 billion people have been jabbed.

That compares with over 600 million doses administered in Europe alone, according to EMA figures.

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A former corrections officer for the privately-run federal prison in Leavenworth is accused of participating in a criminal conspiracy alongside other officials that allegedly involved trafficking tobacco, marijuana and cell phones to prisoners.

Willie Golden, an employee assigned last year to the prison operated by CoreCivic, is named in a criminal complaint filed this week in the U.S. District of Kansas alleging a single felony count of conspiracy. Court papers detail at least two other unnamed public officials accused of taking part in the operation.

Golden was placed on administrative leave and resigned before the investigation concluded, CoreCivic spokesman Matthew Davio said.

Goldens attorney has not responded to a request for comment.

According to the complaint, the government contends there is proof that the trafficking operation ran from April through November 2020. It involved bribes offered by prisoners to corrections officers for the smuggling of contraband from the outside.

Payments were allegedly made to correctional officers through Cash App, a mobile service that supports financial transactions between account holders.

During his time as a correctional officer, Golden allegedly received $7,370 for smuggling contraband to eight prisoners referred to in court records under descriptors, such as Inmate 1. The amounts ranged from $50 to $2,000 apiece. Some of the Cash App payments included notes describing what the transactions were for, court records state.

For example, one payment of $250 contained the note: 1 carton Newport long, the complaint alleges. Another simply said delivery.

Some of those payments were allegedly made to Golden by two public officials, possibly correctional officers, whose names are undisclosed in court records. Those totaled about $3,270 and are tied to specific dates where contraband was allegedly smuggled into the prison.

CoreCivic is the countrys biggest private prison operator, which works under a contract through the U.S. Marshals Service. The prison is scheduled to close later this month following an executive order by President Joe Biden directing contracts with private prisons to close by the end of the year.

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Davio said its top priority is the safety of staff and prisoners.

CoreCivic has a zero-tolerance policy for the introduction of contraband into our facilities and we will always work with our law enforcement partners to take swift action to address this type of behavior, he said in a statement.

In a separate criminal indictment filed in September, two other former corrections officers were charged with smuggling contraband into the Leavenworth Detention Center. They are Cheyonte Harris, 29, of Raytown, and Jacqueline Sifuentes, 25, of Laredo, Texas.
NEWPORT  Covering 7.67 square miles, Newport is the smallest municipality in Newport County, but it has the largest police department.

There are 78 Newport police officers (including the chief), and though theyre dealing with less terrain, theyre handling the largest residential population in the county. According to the latest census, Newport is home to 24,334 people.

Portsmouth is the closest to Newport in population size (17,226) but, with 22.98 square miles of land, its three times the size of Newport. More land, but fewer police officers compared to Newport  the Portsmouth Police Department is 38 officers strong.

More: Drone helps Newport Police Department put eyes in the sky and keep people safe in many ways

Michael Coury, the director of human resources for Newport, couldnt pinpoint why the city has a 78-officer department, but he said its been about that size since he joined the city administration 32 years ago.

If anything, I think the numbers actually decreased, Coury said, adding there were around 86 at some point.

There are currently 78 members of the Newport Police Department, including the chief.

Jimmy Winters, a former Newport police officer, echoed Coury. A Newport cop from 1990 to 2016, Winters said the department was around 78-strong when he was there, maybe a bit more.

Though small, Newport isnt exactly dull when it comes to crime. Recently released data from the FBI reveals an increase in reported violent crimes in the city.

Newport reported 70 violent crime incidents in 2020 (52 aggravated assault incidents, 14 rape incidents and four robbery incidents). Thats up from reported 2019 numbers: 60 violent crime incidents, breaking down to 33 aggravated assault incidents, 19 rape incidents and 8 robbery incidents.

The FBI data also shows a jump  though a more significant one  in reported violent crimes in Middletown (the town reported 13 violent crime incidents in 2019, compared to 40 in 2020), but Middletown Police Capt. Jason Ryan advised caution when assessing the numbers.

Its not like we saw an increase of serious injuries or violent acts, Ryan said in October. How crimes are categorized and reported figures into the results published in the FBIs Uniform Crime Report, he explained.

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For example, we had one officer that got spit on by someone who said they had COVID, therefore that went down as aggravated assault, Ryan said. Categorizing an incident as an aggravated assault doesnt mean it was a stabbing (or) something vicious like that.

More: What were people arrested for over the summer in Newport? Here's a look at the numbers

The summer arrest numbers for Newport have remained pretty consistent over the years. Newport Police Lt. April Amaral previously provided a breakdown of the arrest numbers (including citations and summons) from June 1 to Sept. 1 over the past few years:

2018: 376

2019: 326

2020: 209

2021: 321

Not counting citations and summons (which can include driving with a suspended license, open-container violations and urinating in public), The Daily News counted 132 arrests in Newport this past summer, with the most frequent charge being disorderly conduct (which includes fighting, making loud and unreasonable noise, or obstruction of a street or sidewalk).

Suspected killings, murder charges and related court proceedings are relatively rare in Newport. A multi-year lull in violent death was only interrupted over Memorial Day weekend this year, when 22-year-old Maximus Julian of Little Compton suffered stab wounds during a fight at party at a short-term rental property on Thames Street. His family took him off of life support days later; Tyrese Poulsen was recently indicted on the murder of Julian.

Criminal activity in Newport is certainly present, but the small city isnt exactly a hotbed for violent crime. So, why such a robust police department?

More: Why are Aquidneck Island police departments having trouble finding recruits?

David Lambert, director of the Roger Williams University Justice System Training & Research Institute, couldnt say how most municipal police departments in Rhode Island set their staffing levels, but said: I think its all tradition.

A lot of places use the per capita (approach), which, you know, we always looked at as meaningless, Lambert said. Its a method, but its not necessarily based on workload  This stuff has really been much more intuitive than actually scientific.

Theres some really sophisticated staffing models that weve used in the past, (but) most places dont do that, Lambert said. It really should be workload-based  but most police departments dont have the resources, or the expertise or the funding, to bring somebody in to do it from the outside. So it typically doesnt get done.

More: Do Newport County police reflect the Hispanic, Latino community? Take a look at the data.

According to a study by James McCabe, a 21-year veteran of the New York City Police Department and associate professor of criminal justice at Sacred Heart University in Connecticut, police staffing models in the U.S. are generally determined by one of five methods: analysis of crime trends, a per-capita approach, observance of minimum-manning levels, authorized or budgeted levels and, least commonly, workload-based models.

We believe strongly that workload is the critical determinant of police staffing, McCabe wrote. The preferred workload-based model typically relies on an examination of calls for service received by a department.

Theres no simple explanation for how they got there and how they do it, Lambert said of police staffing levels. He pointed to internal politics, contracts and community expectations as potential influencers of staffing levels.

Does the community expect them to do community policing? Well thats not necessarily answering (emergency) calls, Lambert said. That means community engagement, actually interacting with the community, he said. How much time you going to allocate to that?

More: Newport police close case of 1966 Doris Duke crash that killed Eduardo Tirella  again

Departments also have to factor in sick, vacation and personal time for police officers, Lambert said.

How Newport sets its staffing levels

Newport Police Chief Gary Silva said the staffing level of his department is determined through the collective bargaining process between the Newport Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #8 and the city.

Newport Police Chief Gary Silva.

The crime data, geographical size and layout of any municipality are not the only features when formulating personnel staffing and police operations, Silva said in an email.

Aside from the collective bargaining process, Silva said maintaining pace with trends in society, contemporary policing practices, and advancements in policing equipment and technology are major factors that influence personnel staffing and police operations.

Plus, the Newport Pell Bridge contributes to traffic congestion and motor vehicle crashes, and Newport Harbor swells with boat traffic and sailing events in the summers, Silva said.

More: Newport teen Zacary Medina was murdered 3 years ago. His family is still seeking an arrest

He also pointed to major institutions within the city, like Naval Station Newport and Salve Regina University, and a ballooning seasonal population that collectively contribute to the demand for professional police services to maintain public safety, address quality of life concerns, and (provide) helpful customer service to all.

How Newport compares to another resort town in New England

Portsmouth, New Hampshire, has a population of 21,927 and is 15.63 square miles. It's a vibrant city that comes alive especially in the summertime and has expanded its commercial base. It mirrors Newport in many ways.

Portsmouth also has a similar-sized department, currently at 68 officers.

More: Newport Co. police departments talk about the changing stigma around officer mental health

How that number became that number, I think it was just based off of the expectations of our community and the services that we provide, said Portsmouth Police Chief Mark Newport in a phone conversation with The Daily News. We also have a minimum manning staffing, and to be able to do that we had to have a particular number of officers  We also have the highest per capita liquor license in the state.

Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Police Chief Mark Newport.

The Daily News asked the chief why, in a geographically small city with a relatively low rate of violent crime, the police department is so large.

It comes down to calls for service, he said. We have like 40,000 calls for service. Our calls for service, although its not just based off of ... our population, or violent crime, but the quality of life, the expectation set in our community. And to be able to provide that, thats the amount of officers that are required to do that.

According to Newport Police Department statistics included in the 2022 adopted and 2023 proposed city budget, calls for service hovered around 30,000 from fiscal 2012 to fiscal 2017; calls hit 35,000 in fiscal 2018, dipped slightly again the following year and hit the highest level in fiscal 2020 (just under 45,000).

More: Background on background checks: What it takes to be an Aquidneck Island cop

The Daily News asked Chief Newport if his department could provide the same level of service with fewer officers.

Members of the Newport Police Department field tens of thousands of calls each year.

No, he said. Really what it comes down to, we havent had an outcry from our community saying: we dont think we should have as many officers.

Number one complaint here in Portsmouth is traffic, Newport said. We dont have violent crime, but (citizens) expectation is were there for every noise complaint, barking dog, you know. Everything and anything.

Traffic is a major concern in the city of Newport, too. Coury said a program that recruits retired officers for traffic details was developed because theres so many details. Theres so many things going on within the city that our regular full-time staff just cannot get to  this was really a win-win for everyone, instead of increasing the compliment of full-time officers, with salary and benefits, we created this program where we basically pay detail pay to our retirees.

"I know when I was working, we never had enough," Winters said. It looks like you can analyze it at the desk, but you've got to be out in the streets.

This article originally appeared on Newport Daily News: Newport RI Police Department staffing levels highest in county
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Thursday signed off on booster shots of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for 16- and 17-year-olds for emergency use.

The final OK, from CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky, came hours after the Food and Drug Administration authorized third shots for the age group.

The move opens up additional shots to more Americans amid growing alarm over the omicron variant and the continued spread of the delta variant. Booster shots from Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson are already authorized for all adults.

Acting FDA Commissioner Dr. Janet Woodcock said boosters, along with other preventative measures, remain the nations most effective method for fighting COVID-19.

With both the delta and omicron variants continuing to spread, vaccination remains the best protection against COVID-19, she said in a statement.

The Pfizer booster will be available to 16- and 17-year-olds at least six months after they received their second dose of the Pfizer vaccine. Because Pfizers vaccine and booster shots are the only ones that have been cleared for use in children under 18, mixing and matching vaccines and boosters is not an option for this age group. The Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are authorized for adults 18 and up.

Children under age 18 made up about 22.4 percent of all reported COVID-19 cases nationwide in the week ending Dec. 2, according to American Academy of Pediatrics. They make up about 22.2 percent of the total U.S. population.

Even though children are less likely than adults to suffer from severe outcomes from COVID-19, a small portion of them do, public health officials and health experts say. More than 5,900 kids have experienced MIS-C, or multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children, a rare but serious COVID-related complication, according to the CDC. Fifty-two children have died from it, according to the agency.

Dr. Sean OLeary, vice chair of the infectious diseases committee of the American Academy of Pediatrics, supported the decision to expand boosters to 16- and 17-year-olds, especially as evidence of waning immunity grows and the omicron variant gains a foothold in the U.S.

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In the overall population, boosters really are appearing like its the way to go because of waning immunity and broader protection with that third dose, he said. And, in fact, a lot of people are now arguing we shouldnt even think of it as a booster, that we should think of it as part of a three-dose series.

Kids as young as 5 are eligible to receive the initial two doses of Pfizers and BioNTechs vaccine.

The companies asked the FDA to expand emergency use authorization of their booster for older teens on Nov. 30, according to Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla.

The FDA said on Thursday that benefits of a booster for 16- and 17-year-olds outweighed the risks of myocarditis, a rare inflammatory heart condition that has been seen primarily in young men after their second dose.

Its a rare complication, Dr. George Rutherford, a professor of epidemiology at the University of California, San Francisco. And I can tell you that the risk of myocarditis from the naturally acquired infection is astronomically higher than from the vaccine.

In fact, he said the agency should authorize third shots for an even broader group, down to adolescents as young as 12.

The authorization comes as some health experts discuss whether it is appropriate to use the existing vaccines as boosters, and if it would be better instead to wait for an omicron-specific vaccine.

Early data from laboratory studies show the initial two-dose series of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine appears to be less effective against omicron, but the companies said Wednesday a booster shot appears to provide strong protection against the new variant.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the White Houses chief medical adviser, told Andrea Mitchell Reports on MSNBC on Wednesday that theres no doubt among federal health officials that a booster provides optimal protection against the virus and its variants.

This story originally appeared on NBCNews.com.

Related:
A fire displaced 15 people Wednesday from this building at Azalea Park apartments near Kissingbower Rd. The apartment complex has long been a target of city code enforcement, and the city recently granted it an extension to complete repairs.

A fire has displaced 15 people from Azalea Park apartments, the complex already under threat of closure for uninhabitable conditions.

No one was injured, and the Red Cross is assisting those left homeless by the blaze. Augusta Fire Department spokesman Jason DeHart said the fire remains under investigation.

Augusta Code Enforcement has attempted to address code violations at the 200-unit complex since it changed hands  the latest time in 2018, Augusta Planning Director Rob Sherman has said.

During an October inspection, city staffers found existing fire damage, raw sewage, extensive flooding and water damage, exposed wires, missing fixtures and rodent and insect infestation.

In April of 2020, the complex had another fire, which damaged seven apartments, displacing their residents.

More: Augusta rental complex has rats, leaks and worse, but residents have nowhere to go

An Azalea Park tenant told The Chronicle last month she didn't know whether her heat would work when temperatures dropped and would use a space heater. Her apartment was in such bad shape she could no longer use her Section 8 voucher to pay the rent, but she'd been unable to find another place.

The city gave owners Atlanta-based Dunross Capital and Azalea Sureste Partners a November deadline to make repairs, but it failed to complete them. Even so the Augusta Commission voted against revoking their business license after Sherman said it would leave 70 existing tenants homeless.

This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Fire displaces 15 from Augusta apartment complex with code violations
A former Cabinet secretary for Gov. Kevin Stitt is pursuing a legal claim against former Attorney General Mike Hunter and the attorney general's office, alleging Hunter misused the state's multicounty grand jury to seek a politically motivated indictment against him.

David Ostrowe, Stitt's former secretary of digital transformation and innovation, filed a legal claim Thursday alleging Hunter "maliciously prosecuted" him to further Hunter's political ambitions of mounting a primary challenge against Stitt and settle a political score with the governor over tribal gaming disagreements.

Ostrowe also alleges he was targeted because he was trying to eliminate what he viewed as wasteful spending at the Oklahoma Tax Commission.

More: At 79, killer Bigler Jobe 'Bud' Stouffer II is oldest to be executed in Oklahoma

Ostrowe

The local businessman, who was an unpaid member of Stitt's Cabinet, is seeking $60 million in damages. He says the figure corresponds to the amount of private sector business opportunities he lost after he was indicted last year by the state's multicounty grand jury on a charge of attempted bribery of an official.

"The Oklahoma Attorney General's office should represent the people of the state of Oklahoma and fight for everyday Oklahomans," Ostrowe said in a news release. "Instead, the former Attorney General weaponized his office for personal gain and to protect corrupt state officials. I was falsely charged with outrageous accusations purely to settle political scores."

A spokesman for the attorney general's office under Hunter previously pointed to court documents that said the attorney general's office looked into the claims against Ostrowe at Stitt's request, following a complaint from the chairman of the Oklahoma Tax Commission. He said Ostrowe's case was treated no differently than any other case that comes before the grand jury.

The attorney general's office, now led by John O'Connor, said in a statement: "Concerns regarding Ostrowe's conduct were referred to our office and investigated in accordance with our duties. That process and decisions regarding this matter have been addressed in earlier comments to the press. We have nothing further to add at this time."

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An attorney for Hunter responded to the statement from the attorney general's office, but did not comment directly on the allegations made in Ostrowe's legal filing.

"The statement issued today by the Oklahoma attorney general's office is completely dispositive as to Mr. Ostrowe's allegations," said Robert Nance, an attorney for Hunter.

Hunter

A year ago, grand jurors indicted Ostrowe on a felony.

He was accused of telling two of the top officials at the Oklahoma Tax Commission the agency would lose state appropriations unless they waived a company's penalties and interest on a tax debt.

Ostrowe has maintained he did nothing wrong.

Related: Oklahoma Cabinet official plans to sue former AG Mike Hunter over 'frivolous' indictment

Shortly before Hunter resigned as attorney general, he dropped the charge against Ostrowe "without prejudice," saying the issue could present a conflict of interest because Stitt would get to appoint the state's new attorney general.

Ostrowe alleges the grand jury was presented only selective evidence in his case. He said jurors heard from Tax Commissioner Charles Prater, but not Commissioner Clark Jolley or Jay Doyle, then the executive director of the Tax Commission.

Prater asked the attorney general's office to investigate after informing Stitt "of the attempts by Ostrowe to influence the Tax Commission's decision." Assistants to the attorney general advise the grand jury.

"Selectively presenting evidence to the multi-county grand jury was one of the hallmarks of Hunter's reign of corruption," Ostrowe says in the legal filing.

More: Oklahoma PAC says it will drop $500K on commercials, digital ads against Gov. Kevin Stitt

Ostrowe also alleges Hunter brought the indictment to advance his gubernatorial aspirations and settle a political score with Stitt. Hunter and the governor clashed on tribal gaming issues.

"At the time, and well-known in political circles, Hunter had already been privately reaching out to donors to support him in a primary bid against the Governor," according to the legal filing.

Hunter, a Republican, never publicly announced plans to run for governor, but he did previously file campaign finance paperwork to run in 2022 for another term as attorney general. He resigned in June after media outlets reported he was having an extramarital affair with a state employee.

In the filing, Ostrowe also alleges the indictment was payback because he was advocating for the elimination of the Oklahoma Tax Commission. Ostrowe says he viewed the $147,000 annual salary for each of the commissioners as wasteful when the board largely acted as a "rubber stamp" on rulings from administrative law judges.

Prater previously said he believed Ostrowe wanted to be appointed to the Tax Commission. Ostrowe denies that he ever wanted to be on the commission. The governor appoints tax commissioners.

The 10-page tort claim filed Thursday gives notice of Ostrowe's forthcoming lawsuit. The process follows a state law that requires a person first to make a claim for damages with the state before filing a lawsuit.

State officials have 90 days to respond. They could elect to settle before the deadline, but that is unlikely.

Also named in the tort claim is an investigator for the attorney general's office.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Former Gov. Stitt Cabinet member files $60M claim against Mike Hunter
Sens. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) and Lindsay Graham (R-S.C.) talk in the Capitol basement on Oct. 5, 2021.





Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) offered a forceful warning to Republican colleagues during a private lunch on Wednesday, saying former President Trump will come down hard on any GOP senators who vote for Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell's (R-Ky.) deal to set up a special pathway to raise the debt limit.

In blunt remarks to the Senate Republican Conference, Graham harshly criticized McConnell for putting Senate Republicans in position to get "shot in the back" over the deal.

He said McConnell had backed away from his vow earlier this year to not give Democrats any help in raising the debt limit.

One GOP senator said Graham specifically warned colleagues that "the president is going to be engaged on this issue."

He told colleagues that McConnell had "led them on a charge up a hill and they were getting shot in the back," according to the senator.

A second person familiar with Graham's remarks confirmed the comment.

Other Republican senators who heard the remarks said it was unclear from Graham's analogy whether McConnell was to blame for senators getting shot in the back but agreed that his comments were highly critical of the GOP leader's handling of the debt limit standoff.

Graham on Wednesday declined to comment on the details of what he told fellow Republican senators at lunch, though he told The Hill that he disagrees with McConnell's decision to cut a deal with Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) to create the special legislative pathway on the debt limit.

"I think this is a mistake, but we'll see what happens," he said. "We've been telling our Republican base for four months, '[Democrats] are spending money by themselves, they should raise the debt ceiling by themselves through reconciliation.' "

Graham said "a lot of people believe that changing the rules so they can do it without reconciliation is helping."

"It's pretty obvious to me that this will not be received well by the Republican faithful, including Donald Trump," he added.

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Trump issued a blistering statement Wednesday evening that slammed McConnell for agreeing to a special process for raising the debt limit with a simple majority.

"Mitch McConnell just folded on the Debt Ceiling, a total victory for the Democrats - didn't use it to kill the $5 Trillion Dollar (real number!) Build Back Worse Bill that will essentially change the fabric of our Country forever," Trump said in a statement released through his political action committee.

"The Old Crow is a disaster!" he fumed, using his favorite nickname for the GOP leader.

Graham's warning could make it more difficult for McConnell to secure the 10 votes needed from the GOP for a vote on the deal on Thursday.

GOP senators said that earlier this week they believed that McConnell thought as many as 18 Republicans would vote for the bill, which would both stop a scheduled cut to Medicare while setting up the pathway for Democrats to raise the debt limit by a simple majority vote.

But now it looks like it's going to be a scramble to round up 10 Republican votes - the bare minimum - to overcome a filibuster against the proposal, GOP senators said.

"Somebody needs to get to Donald Trump and tell him to shut up about this," said one nervous Republican lawmaker, who added that Graham's warning about Trump is having a chilling effect.

"Graham was warning us about Trump was going to do and 'May God have mercy on your souls,' " the lawmaker said.

McConnell on Wednesday defended his strategy. He argued on the Senate floor that once Republicans vote with Democrats on a bill to establish a special legislative pathway to raise the debt ceiling, Democrats will be forced to do the deed entirely on their own.

Under the deal, Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Schumer will have to move a bill that raises the debt limit by enough money to cover federal spending until after the 2022 midterm elections. That means Democrats will have to vote for a bill to increase the debt by another $2 trillion or more - a politically tough vote that will hurt vulnerable Democratic incumbents.

"The whole country understands that Democrats own this mess. They have seized one-party control of the economy, so you better believe they'll have one-party accountability for the resulting nightmare," McConnell argued on the Senate floor.

"Every single Senate Democrat will have to put their name to the gigantic dollar amount of debt they're prepared to pile on the American people," he added.

But Graham is warning GOP colleagues that this argument will not pass muster with Trump and Republican base voters.

"When you tell people you're going to do one thing and you don't, it never ends too well," Graham said Wednesday, referring to McConnell's repeated statements warning that Republicans would not help Democrats raise the debt limit.

McConnell warned President Biden in an Oct. 8 letter that Republicans would not again provide any assistance to raise the debt limit. He sent the missive a day after he and 10 other GOP senators voted for a procedural motion to advance a short-term debt limit increase to an up-or-down vote.

"I will not provide such assistance again if your all-Democrat government drifts into another avoidable crisis," he wrote.

While McConnell believes the special pathway will force Democrats to vote by themselves to increase the debt limit, critics such as Graham think that setting up the pathway is a form of assistance.

Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.), the chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee and a member of McConnell's leadership team, said Wednesday he would not vote to create the special pathway because he doesn't want to give Democrats any help to raise the debt limit.

"I'm not voting for the debt ceiling increase," he said. "It's really frustrating. Democrats want to go spend all this money but they don't want the responsibility to raise the debt ceiling. I don't actually believe we ought to raise the debt ceiling. I think we ought to figure out how to live within our means."

Trump has called on Senate Republicans to fully leverage their power in the debt limit debate to attempt to stop Biden's sweeping climate and social spending bill.

While Trump's scathing warnings are fuzzy about how exactly that threatening a federal default might bring Biden's agenda to halt, he has made it clear that he thinks McConnell made a big mistake by agreeing in October to a two-month extension of the nation's borrowing authority.

A couple of Republican senators who voted on Oct. 7 for a procedural motion to advance a measure that raised the debt limit by $480 billion - Sens. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) - say they won't vote on Thursday to create a special pathway to allow Democrats to pass a bigger debt limit increase with 50 or 51 votes.
OUAGADOUGOU (Reuters) -Unidentified gunmen ambushed and killed least 14 members of a government-backed civilian militia in Burkina Faso on Thursday, officials said, the latest in a wave of violence.

The attack came a day after President Roch Kabore sacked his prime minister and replaced the head of the army as he faced street protests over his handling of a security crisis that has killed thousands and displaced more than a million.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the ambush. But attacks by insurgents linked to al Qaeda and Islamic State have been mounting in Burkina Faso and in neighbouring Mali and Niger.

The gunmen attacked the militia about 10 km from the northern town of Titao where they were heading to reinforce other civilian fighters, the government said in a statement.

The 14 killed were members of Burkina Faso's Homeland Defence Volunteers, which receives funds and training from the government to help contain an Islamist insurgency.

(Reporting by Thiam NdiagaWriting by Cooper InveenEditing by Edward McAllister and Andrew Heavens)
A pair of gunmen shot at an off-duty cop during an attempted robbery in Washington Heights, police said Thursday.

The police officer was sitting in his personal vehicle near the corner of W. 154th St. and Macombs Place about 11:30 p.m. Wednesday when two men approached the vehicle armed with guns, cops said.

Before the suspects said anything, the cop gunned his engine and pulled out of his parking spot in an attempt to evade the would-be muggers.

Both suspects opened fire at the officer, striking the car repeatedly, cops said.

The officer wasnt harmed.

Although he had his NYPD-issued firearm with him, the cop did not shoot back, officials said.

The gunmen ran into the nearby Colonel Charles Young Triangle, where they jumped into a silver Nissan SUV driven by a third individual and fled the scene, cops said.

No arrests have been made. Cops on Thursday were scouring the area for surveillance footage that could help track the suspects down.
In this article:

PHILADELPHIA (AP)  Jordan Hall scored a career-high 33 points and Saint Joseph's beat Pennsylvania 78-71 on Wednesday night.

Hall finished 8-for-11 shooting from 3-point range and distributed seven assists.

Ejike Obinna scored a career-high 20 points and had nine rebounds for Saint Joseph's (5-4). Erik Reynolds II added 10 points. Taylor Funk had nine rebounds.

Jordan Dingle had 26 points for the Quakers (3-9), who now have lost five consecutive games. Lucas Monroe added 12 points and seven rebounds and Max Martz scored 12.

___

For more AP college basketball coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball and http://twitter.com/AP_Top25

___

This was generated by Automated Insights, http://www.automatedinsights.com/ap, using data from STATS LLC, https://www.stats.com
NORWICH  Norwich Rotary Club president Andrew Nollman said his members only began meeting again a few months ago, after a long, pandemic-driven hiatus.

COVID was not good for our organization and for a majority of service organizations, Nollman said. When you get a group of people together on a weekly or monthly basis, that essentially has to stop.

The COVID-19 pandemic is still having an effect on membership and fundraising events of local service organizations, many known for their charity work and beloved public events.

The Norwich Rotary Club hosts an annual carnival, usually Memorial Day weekend, at Howard Brown Park or by the train tracks in downtown Norwich. Norwichs Italian Heritage and Cultural Committee holds its Taste of Italy festival each fall, and the Norwich Lions Club runs several volunteer events throughout the year.

Salvation Army Major Carl Avery of Wethersfield, left, and Norwich Police officers Briana Santiago and Robert McKinney stand by the red kettle during the Salvation Army kickoff at Norwich City Hall Friday.

Thanks to COVID-19-related issues, local organization leaders said, the carnival and Taste of Italy have been canceled for two years running. The tiny but mighty  Lions Club has still been helping out at the St. Vincent de Paul Place Soup Kitchen, running eyeglass collections, and adopting a family to give to for the holidays, among other activities - but using a dwindling pile of money they had accumulated pre-pandemic.

We definitely need the opportunity to have a fundraiser, Norwich Lions Club president Robert Denesha said.

Veteran's Rally Point: New Norwich facility expected to be a 'veterans center of excellence'

In addition to the issues of planning and concern over getting people to maintain safe distances, ongoing employment troubles that restaurants have faced play a part in canceling fundraising events, especially for Taste of Italy.

They dont even have enough help for their own restaurants, never mind having an extra crew come down for the day for the Taste of Italy, Italian Heritage and Cultural Committee President Frank Jacaruso said.

Some organizations better suited than others to respond to a pandemic

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On Dec. 3, the Norwich branch of the Salvation Army held their formal kick-off for the holiday season at Norwich City Hall.

A band played carols and Salvation Army members and Norwich police officers rang those familiar bells while cars passed by the loop. With some adaptations, the local Salvation Army has been able to hold up during the pandemic.

Were still following COVID guidelines and restrictions for our bell ringers, but I think weve been very fortunate through that, Maria Nott, Social Service Caseworker for the Salvation Army Norwich Service Unit, said.

Norwich Police officer Briana Santiago rings a bell by the red kettle during the Salvation Army kickoff at Norwich City Hall Friday.

Nott said that Norwichs branch of the Salvation Army has seen an increase in need, from providing food and helping people with rental and utility assistance, to serving a total of 220 children for Christmas.

Maj. Carl Avery, the divisional secretary of the Southern New England Salvation Army, said that some types of organizations have been affected more than others by the pandemic in terms of fundraising. While some organizations are structured around big events, Salvation Armys spread-out, outdoor fundraising was adaptable to the pandemic.

If youre used to doing a dinner where everybodys crowded into a space, COVIDs going to have an impact on that, Avery said.

Membership impact

Nollman said many of the Norwich Rotary Club members are on the older side. The need for staying distanced created communications issues for members, especially those who werent well-versed in technology.

Nollman estimated there was a 20% reduction in membership from the pandemic.

Theres multiple factors, even before the pandemic, Nollman said. Life changes, career changes, people moving away, people retiring.

More: Unitarian Universalist Church gave $45,000 to Norwich Human Services through pandemic

Nollman said the club is in the middle of processing a few new members, but theres still quite the pre-pandemic gap to bridge.

Were finding that life challenges are putting a strain on peoples lives to find time for service organizations, Nollman said.

Chris Russell, left, Michael Himes, Mike Orfitelli, all of Manchester and Bob Venables of West Hartford play during the Salvation Army drive kickoff at Norwich City Hall Friday.

Jacaruso said its hard to pin down an exact membership number, but hes guessing his organization has a total of 120 core members, and the Mens United Italian Society was able to hold an 80-person meeting earlier this year.

The Heritage and Cultural Committee hasnt met since the pandemic began, though a meeting may materialize after the holidays.

If we didnt have (COVID) to deal with, we would be moving right along, Jacaruso said.

The Norwich Lions is small at 12 members - five that Denesha says are active - and the club recently lost two members who moved or passed away.

Bringing back events?

For Rotary, some events have come back.

This year's coat drive provided coats for 1,000 children, despite not having the carnival to help fundraise for it.

Norwich Rotary President Andrew Nollman said the pandemic has provided some challenges to the organization, but they're recovering.

We all had to mask up when we did that, Nollman said.

Other things the Rotarians have in mind is to start a new whiskey-tasting fundraiser, and restart the carnival next Memorial Day weekend, provided that the virus and vaccination situation continues improving.

Hopefully, we dont have to cancel anything last minute, Nollman said.

Nott said the Salvation Army hopes to open their own food pantry in the city in the spring to help the need in the city.

'Without them, we wouldnt get anything done:' Eastern CT food pantries thank volunteers.

Jacaruso said the Cultural Committee said theyre continuing with the Italian Heritage scholarship and the further upkeep of Norwich's Italian monument, now adorned with some holiday decorations. However, Jacaruso isnt sure if the Taste of Italy should be scaled down, changed, or skipped, which a lot of people dont want to do.

Maybe well reappear differently than in the past, Jacaruso said.

This article originally appeared on The Bulletin: COVID-19 pandemic hit Norwich Rotary, Lions, Italian Heritage funding
Community leaders came together Monday for an Hispanic Heritage Town Hall to discuss needs for the Spanish-speaking community in Clarksville.

As a local business owner, Anabel Jimenez is looking for help to place Spanish-speaking workers.

Jimenez spoke Monday during the Hispanic Heritage Town Hall at Civic Hall, 350 Pageant Lane, to voicing concerns regarding barriers with the Spanish-speaking community in Clarksville.

During the meeting, community leaders unveiled plans to better connect Clarksville with its Spanish-speaking community.

Jimenez, who owns SJ Painting LLC, said job placement assistance is English-only, leaving many non-English speaking community members unsure about where to turn for help.

"We have a lot of talent in our community, people have a lot of skills... a lot of times, people are looking for jobs, they come here, they can do the jobs but they don't know where to go, because the agencies, they're in English," Jimenez said.

Spanish-language website

The problem was one of several highlighted during a meeting that city leaders said was a great first step towards a larger vision.

"Everybody who was here gave their honest opinions," Clarksville Mayor Joe Pitts said. "We came away with some great ideas."

One idea in motion for release in January or February, Pitts said, is providing visitors to the city's website with a Spanish-language portion to better serve those in the community and visitors to the Queen City.

Pitts also said getting translators will assist in helping residents coming into city offices looking for a business license to better understand the application process.

"We've got a lot of work to do, but I think we planted some seeds tonight," Pitts said.

Jose Vazquez, a pastor at Matthew 28 Church, 428 Lafayette Road, said all areas of the community were represented as leaders in faith, business and non-profit organizations came together.

FOR SPANISH SPEAKERS: Hispanic Guide Now Available to Clarksvilles Most Scenic Spots

Seeing a need

"A few of us saw a need in engaging each other and coming together," Vazquez said, adding that Monday's meeting brought engaging discussion as he looks forward to more communication from community members.

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"As we connect the Hispanic community with the city and the city with the community, the understanding will grow, and there will be a lot more buy-in from the community," Vazquez said.

Vazquez's wife, Ruth, a nurse practitioner, said she uses Spanish every day in her life and career.

Its easier to nod rather than to say, 'I dont understand,'" Ruth Vazquez said. "I think everyone deserves to be heard and understood.

She said part of her outreach has been knocking on Hispanic family doors to provide information about prenatal care.

Reporter Alexis Clark contributed to this story.

Reach Reporter Craig Shoup at 419-559-7582 or by email at cshoup@gannett.com and on Twitter @Craig_Shoup. To support his work, sign up for a digital subscription to TheLeafChronicle.com.

This article originally appeared on Clarksville Leaf-Chronicle: Clarksville to offer Spanish-language portion of City's website
Dec. 8When people in Ilwaco clean out their attics, they call Donella Lucero. The collections manager at the Columbia Pacific Maritime Museum is no stranger to dust-covered relics from residents who lived long ago.

But last month she received an email from someone 3,000 miles away that stopped her in her tracks. The sender wasn't a name she recognized and offered to donate a book she found in Boston to the museum.

When the artifact arrived last month, Lucero couldn't wait to get her hands on it.

A rare find

"You start going through the photos and you're going 'oh my goodness, oh my goodness! I hadn't seen this before," she beamed.

The black and red tattered album, labeled "photographs," may look insignificant on the outside, but it's as good as gold to Lucero on the inside.

"It's like Christmas, it's priceless," she said as she carefully flipped through the pages of the weathered album.

Created in 1901, the book is rare surviving evidence of an underdog success story that became one of the biggest local advancements in shipwreck salvage operations.

The album contains dozens of printed photographs illustrating the tale of the Columbia River Lightship LV-50. The vessel was built in 1891 to guide ships through the fog of the treacherous Columbia River Bar, however, the craft itself ran into trouble during an 1899 November storm.

Winds of more than 74 miles per hour ripped through the sails after anchor chains broke, tossing the lightship aground between North Head Lighthouse and Cape Disappointment. Crews were able to rescue the men aboard, but the ship itself was a mess, turned and stuck deep in the sand.

Several salvage companies stepped forward to get the boat back to the water, but the harsh conditions made their efforts unsuccessful. Then, a wild proposal from Portland came into the picture from Andrew Allen and J.H. Roberts, a house-moving company. They promised to have the ship refloated in 35 days by picking it up and moving it more than a third of a mile on land to be launched in the Columbia River.

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In 1889, this kind of operation seemed an impossible task. Despite skepticism, the plan to move the ship with logs, chains and horses worked. It took longer than 35 days, but the vessel made it to Baker Bay, where it was repaired and successfully put back in the water.

History comes home

The mission took place just 2 miles away from the Columbia Pacific Maritime Museum. But, until now, much of the process was a mystery. Lucero explained that's why this donation is so significant. Not only does it include 46 photos, but the original owner also stored a clipped article from Scientific American magazine that detailed the process.

The collections manager believes whoever owned this book was an important part of the mission. Lucero explained the company likely printed out several of these books, as she had encountered a partial version of another copy in the Oregon Historical Society in Portland. Envious of the book ever since, she's overjoyed that this complete copy has a new home in Ilwaco.

"We're always thrilled when we get a piece of history that just fills the blanks in," she said. "We always knew (the ship) had been moved, and saw a couple of photos, but never to the extent of this book."

How the Ilwaco book ended up in Boston remains a mystery. Its rescue is all thanks to Kate Kelley, a woman who could be considered an Indiana Jones of antique stores.

Dubbed the "Photo Angel" in her Facebook group of more than 5,000 people, Kelley refers to her hobby of reconnecting families and old photos as "an addiction."

The long-time family tree research junkie came across a pile of anonymous photos in an antique store one day and couldn't look away.

"I thought, 'these are somebody's relatives,' and 'oh they have price tags on them,'" said Kelley. She purchased the photos and launched an internet mission to find the family members of the people in the pictures. It wasn't long before she located them and gifted the photos.

Immediately, she wanted to dig again. She and her husband now visit various stores in search of pictures with names on them. She's connected more than 100 families to lost photographs, some are even overseas. Early this fall, she came across the Columbia River Lightship book at a store in Lakeville, Massachusetts.

"I started flipping through and I saw all these guys and the 5x7 pictures glued onto each page and I thought, 'oh my goodness! I think I just hit on something really important,'" she said. "I told my husband, 'we're not leaving without this book.'"

Although Kelley's ultimate mission is to give an artifact like this to a family member, she couldn't find any connections. An internet search led her to the Columbia Pacific Maritime Museum, where she offered to donate the book.

A mystery

There are few clues to tell historians who the book belonged to. A name is written on the first page, that appears to read "H.W. Heakes." Lucero believes a small scribble on one of the photos could have been the owner's way of identifying himself, but there's no way to know for sure.

"I'm sure it ended up in the family and someone looked at it and said 'Where the heck is Ilwaco, Washington?" she laughed, estimating that it was given away by someone who didn't understand its significance.

She says the discovery is an important message for residents who live on the North Coast, urging people to contact the museum if they find old mysterious objects. She believes the discovered book will become part of future shipwreck exhibits at the museum.

If You Go

Columbia Pacific Heritage Museum

115 Lake St. SE, Ilwaco

Open Wednesday to Saturday

10 a.m to 4 p.m.

"Some people think no one wants it because it's just a picture of my family in front of the house," she said. "And it could be something that we have a hundred pictures of, or it may be something that we don't have any pictures of and we would want it. You never know until you see it."

Nikki Davidson is the editor of Coast Weekend. Contact her at 515-577-0005 or at ndavidson@dailyastorian.com.
By Mayank Bhardwaj and Rajendra Jadhav

NEW DELHI (Reuters) -Indian farmers called off a year-long protest on Thursday after the government conceded a clutch of demands, including assurances to consider guaranteed prices for all produce, instead of just rice and wheat, union leaders said.

The move comes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi said last month he would roll back https://www.reuters.com/world/india/indias-modi-repeal-controversial-farm-laws-2021-11-19 three farm laws, seeking to end the longest-running farmers' protest that galvanized millions of growers who remained resolute in opposing the legislation.

Despite the government's climbdown, thousands of farmers had continued https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/indian-farmers-hold-mass-rally-keep-pressure-modi-despite-climbdown-2021-11-22 to camp out on major highways leading to New Delhi to press for other demands such as the guaranteed prices, as well as for legal action against protesters to be dropped.

"We have received a letter from the government which has conceded to our requests," said Balbir Singh Rajewal, a senior farm union leader.

Farmers' leaders would meet on Jan. 15 to review progress on the government's assurances, Rajewal told a news conference.

"We will resume our protests if the government moves away from the assurances," said Gurnam Singh Charuni, another farmers' leader.

The government will set up a panel of growers and government officials to find ways of ensuring Minimum Support Prices (MSP), as the guaranteed rates are called, for all farm produce, according to the letter seen by Reuters.

The government now buys mainly rice and wheat at such guaranteed prices, benefiting barely 6% of India's millions of farmers.

OUTSTANDING DEMANDS

Farmers' outstanding demands included retracting legal cases filed against the protesting growers and compensation for the families of those who died during the protest.

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State administrations have agreed to the demands, according to the government letter addressed to farm union leaders.

Farmers had also asked the government to withdraw a draft of a proposed electricity bill, which they feared would lead to state governments withdrawing their right to free or subsidised power, used mainly for irrigation.

The government will discuss the draft with farmers.

Growers had also called for dropping fines and other penalties for burning crop waste, a major source of pollution, and the government has assured farmers that they would be not be held criminally liable for crop waste burning.

"Since the government has addressed every possible concern of farmers, there was hardly any justification for their agitation," said a government official who didn't wish to be named in line with official policy.

After calling off the protest, some farmers started removing makeshift tents and began loading their belongings into trucks and tractor trolleys.

While Modi's retreat has cheered farmers, economists fear https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/indian-farmers-reinforce-protest-sites-mark-year-demonstrations-2021-11-26that the repeal of the laws aimed at deregulating produce markets will starve the farm sector of much-needed private investment and saddle the government with budget-sapping subsidies for years.

(Reporting by Rajendra Jadhav and Mayank Bhardwaj; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne, Clarence Fernandez, Elaine Hardcastle)
TEL AVIV, Israel (AP)  Israels Justice Ministry said Thursday it was closing an investigation into two police officers who shot dead a Palestinian assailant as he lay on the ground, accepting the officers assertion that they acted in self-defense.

A Palestinian attacker on Saturday stabbed and wounded an ultra-Orthodox Jew outside Jerusalem's Old City. He then tried to stab the officers before being shot and falling to the ground. Video footage showed a paramilitary Border Police officer shooting the attacker when he was already lying on the ground.

The shooting prompted calls for an investigation and drew comparisons to a 2016 incident in which an Israeli soldier was caught on camera shooting a wounded Palestinian attacker who was lying on the ground.

The Justice Ministry said it made its decision to close the case following the questioning of the two officers, who said they acted in self-defense.

It was an incident that took place over mere seconds, in circumstances in which there was a real and concrete threat to the lives of the fighters and the civilians in the area, it said in a statement. It was found to be legally justified to use a weapon.

The incident came amid an uptick in Israeli-Palestinian violence in Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank. On Wednesday, an Israeli woman was stabbed and lightly wounded in a tense neighborhood in east Jerusalem. The suspect, a Palestinian female minor, fled the scene and was later arrested inside a nearby school, police said.

Last month, a Hamas militant opened fire in Jerusalems Old City, killing one Israeli and wounding four others before being fatally shot by police.

Israel captured east Jerusalem in the 1967 war along with the West Bank and Gaza. Israel annexed east Jerusalem in a move not recognized internationally and considers the entire city its capital. The Palestinians want east Jerusalem to be the capital of their future state, to include the West Bank and Gaza.

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Palestinians and Israeli rights groups say Israeli security forces sometimes use excessive force in response to attacks, killing suspected assailants who could have been arrested or who posed no immediate threat to security forces.

Rights groups also say Israel rarely holds members of its security forces accountable for the deadly shootings of Palestinians. Investigations often end with no charges or lenient sentences, and in many cases witnesses are not summoned for questioning.

Israel says its security forces make every effort to avoid harming civilians and that it investigates alleged abuses.

In the widely publicized 2016 case, Israeli soldier Elor Azaria was caught on camera shooting a wounded Palestinian attacker who was lying on the ground. Azaria later served two-thirds of a 14-month sentence after being convicted of reckless manslaughter.

His case sharply divided Israelis. The military pushed for his prosecution, saying he violated its code of ethics, while many Israelis, particularly on the nationalist right, defended his actions.
President Biden and first lady Jill Biden sit near the casket of former Sen. Bob Dole (R-Kan), who died on Sunday, during a congressional ceremony to honor Dole, who lies in state in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda in Washington, U.S., December 9, 2021.





Jill Biden is dismissing any concerns about President Biden's mental fitness, calling them "ridiculous."

"I think that's ridiculous," Biden says in an interview for this week's "CBS Sunday Morning." Portions of the sit-down at Camp David with Rita Braver were released Thursday.

Biden shook her head as Braver asked about some recent polling that the CBS News journalist described as showing "quite a few Americans have some questions about the president's current mental fitness."

A Politico/Morning Consult survey conducted last month found that only 46 percent of respondents agree that 79-year-old Biden "is mentally fit," while 48 percent disagreed.

Biden also opened up about her role as first lady being more difficult than she predicted before she entered the East Wing.

"It's a little harder than I imagined," Biden said in a preview clip, when asked if she was prepared for what the role would be like.

Biden chalked up the challenge to the non-stop nature of working in the White House.

"It's not like a job that you do," Biden, a professor at Northern Virginia Community College, told Braver. "It's a lifestyle that you live."

First Lady Jill Biden opens up this Sunday about her life, her efforts to support her husband and looks back at their first year in office, in a rare interview at Camp David, the Presidential retreat in rural Maryland pic.twitter.com/lC7gpUSqjZ - CBS Sunday Morning (@CBSSunday) December 9, 2021

Although she spent eight years as second lady when President Biden was vice president, Biden expressed surprise at not being able to clock in and out of work like in many traditional careers.

"It's not something that you leave at 5 o'clock or at 3 o'clock," Biden, 70, said.

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"It's 24 hours a day."

Biden also weighed in on Democrats dropping a tuition-free community college proposal from the president's sweeping social spending plan, saying it wasn't hard to hear the news. "No, I understand compromise," she said.

"And I knew this was not the right moment for it. But that doesn't mean it might not get passed somewhere down the future."
Josh Duggar has been found guilty on both charges of receiving and possessing material depicting the sexual abuse of children. A jury of six men and six women delivered the verdict on Thursday, after seven hours of deliberations. The former 19 Kids and Counting star faces up to 20 years in prison and fines of up to $250,000 for each count.

Judge Timothy Brooks of the United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas said that sentencing will take place in about four months. Duggar was taken into custody after the verdict was read, according to local news outlet KNWA-TV.

The trial hinged on electronic evidence uncovered by federal investigators. In May 2019, Duggar used his then-work computer to download more than 200 images of child pornography. The material depicted the abuse of kids under the age of 12, some toddlers. Josh and Anna Duggar are parents of seven kids ages 12 years and younger.

The prosecution used geolocation, timestamps, and text messages to connect Duggar to his place of work in Springdale, Ark., the same time the child pornography was downloaded, Fort Smith, Ark., news station KHBS reports. The defense argued the content could have been downloaded remotely or by another person at the used car lot. The defense also argued Josh was not tech-savvy enough to install what was used to download and view the material.

Josh Duggar has been found guilty in his child pornography case. (Photo: REUTERS/Brian Frank)

A Linux partition was installed on the desktop, which is where the disturbing content was located. A top forensics expert for the government testified someone would need to physically hit a keyboard command in order to access that part of the computer. James Fottrell, director of the Department of Justice's High Technology Investigative Unit, noted a favorite password of Josh's was used. Duggar family friend Jim Holt testified about a conversation he had with Josh in 2010 in which the former reality star inquired about a Linux partition.

Josh's past molestation scandal was introduced during the trial in order to establish a pattern of disturbing behavior. Duggar family friend Bobye Holt testified how Josh previously confided in her that he molested younger girls when he was 12.

"When she was sitting on his lap he put his hand under her pantaloons and under her panties," Bobye cried in court, according to People, about "Jane Doe 4." TLC axed 19 Kids and Counting in 2015 when Josh's past molestation scandal was brought to light. Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar later admitted that Josh, the eldest of their 19 kids, admitted to inappropriately touching five girls, including four of his sisters.

A sentencing date has yet to be announced.
(Bloomberg) -- An advisor to a group of Kaisa Group Holdings Ltd. bondholders is close to signing non-disclosure agreements with the developer in a move that would pave the way for discussions around a potential financing deal for the beleaguered firm, according to people with knowledge of the matter.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The creditor group is being advised by Lazard Ltd. An announcement about the agreements could come as early as Thursday morning in Hong Kong, one of the people said. Lazard is seeking more bondholders to join the group.

A representative for Kaisa didnt immediately respond to a request for comment placed outside of normal business hours.

The signing of NDAs is a crucial step as it would allow creditors to access data and information they havent yet seen. The group has been discussing various potential financing arrangements, including creditors and other lenders providing new money to Kaisa, a separate person with knowledge of the discussions said.

Kaisas creditors have yet to receive payment on a $400 million dollar bond that matured Tuesday. Fitch Ratings downgraded Kaisa to restricted default Thursday, citing the nonpayment.

The Shenzhen-based developer failed last week to win approval for a debt swap that would have extended its repayment deadline. A group of Kaisa noteholders sent the company a formal forbearance proposal on Monday, Bloomberg previously reported.

(Adds Fitch downgrade of Kaisa to restricted default)

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The prosecution in the Ghislaine Maxwell sex-trafficking case is about to rest  weeks ahead of schedule  with one of Maxwells most prominent accusers conspicuously absent from the witness list.

Virginia Roberts Giuffre  who has previously cast Maxwell as a central player in Jeffrey Epsteins sex-trafficking operation  apparently isnt going to testify, even though she has been mentioned by witnesses and prosecutors almost daily during the trial: as a minor who visited Epsteins homes multiple times; as a girl who had sex with Epstein; as a victim who was allegedly recruited by Maxwell; and as a teenager who flew on Epsteins private plane, often with Maxwell  32 times.

Jeffrey Epstein

Her absence in the room is striking, considering that there is physical evidence that appears to support her story of sexual abuse: photographs of her with Maxwell and Prince Andrew and of her at Epsteins ranch in New Mexico, pictures of her with Epstein and Maxwell at a birthday party aboard a yacht where she looks barely out of childhood.

In this photograph, Virginia Giuffre socializes with Prince Andrew as Jeffrey Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell, who is on trial in New York for her alleged role in Epsteins sex-trafficking operation, looks on.

For years, Giuffre has been at the forefront of the case, speaking out against how the government has failed to hold Epstein  and those who assisted and enabled him  accountable.

Giuffres lawyer is as mystified as anyone else as to why federal prosecutors have selected a narrow set of women to testify.

The government is not telling us what they are doing, said Giuffres attorney, David Boies. They havent, at least not yet, asked her to come from Australia, so it doesnt look like she is going to testify. As you know, they are only bringing charges with women who were under the age of consent at the time. You will have to ask them why they did that.

Experts say that its more difficult to prosecute a case involving victims who were close to the age of consent or abused in jurisdictions where sex with someone 16 or older is legal. The age of consent in New York, for example is 17; the age of consent in New Mexico, where one victim in the case was molested, was 16.

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An image of Ghislaine Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein introduced as evidence at Maxwells trial.

Sarah Kellen not called to testify

Another prominent person mentioned in court who has not been called to testify or has not been charged is Sarah Kellen  identified by several witnesses as someone who helped Epstein schedule the massages that were used as a ruse to sexually exploit and abuse young victims. Kellen, who has denied she was involved, nevertheless has been mentioned repeatedly during trial.

One victim, who uses the name Carolyn, told the jury on Tuesday that Kellen paid her $500 to take a naked photograph of her when she was 14 or 15. She also said that, while Maxwell sometimes called her to arrange for her to massage Epstein, Kellen was just as involved in scheduling his massages.

Maxwells lawyers have used the absences of Giuffre and Kellen to suggest to the jury that their client is being used as a scapegoat by federal prosecutors who had initially focused their investigation almost solely on Epstein, and were suddenly left without a case after the New York money man was found dead in his Manhattan jail cell in August 2019 while awaiting trial. Authorities ruled his death a suicide by hanging.

Epstein was first arrested in Florida in 2005, after Palm Beach police found he had sexually abused more than a dozen girls. Three years later, however, he was given federal immunity on sex-trafficking charges, pleading guilty to prostitution charges in state court and spending little time behind bars.

He was rearrested in July 2019 in New York on new sex-trafficking charges involving girls who were abused in New York, New Mexico and in Florida.

His arrest came after the Herald published a series of stories, Perversion of Justice, in which some of Epsteins victims spoke publicly for the first time about their abuse.

Afterward, at least 100 women came forward to claim they were abused by Epstein  with some of them claiming that Maxwell helped facilitate, and sometimes, even participated in the abuse.

Maxwell faces charges in connection with four victims: Jane, who claims she was recruited by Epstein and Maxwell at a music camp in Michigan when she was 14; Carolyn, who testified that she was abused by the two of them when she was 14; Kate, who testified she was groomed repeatedly by Epstein after being introduced to him by Maxwell in London when she was 17; and Annie Farmer, who is scheduled to testify on Thursday.

Its hard to know why prosecutors have narrowly constructed the case around these particular victims. Its a deliberate effort to frame the case in a specific way that really only prosecutors understand, said Jill Steinberg, a former assistant U.S. attorney who prosecuted child exploitation and human trafficking cases.

Omitting people who are mentioned during the trial as being integral to the crimes leaves a gaping hole that jurors may find unsettling, she said.

Jurors will wonder, why are these two people not here? You have this empty chair, and invariably, the burden is on the government to prove the case  and they are clearly taking a conservative approach.

Francey Hakes, a former federal prosecutor who also specialized in crimes against children, said that the defense will throw as many balls in the air as possible to derail the prosecutions case  and to distract the jury from the core issue of whether their client should be found guilty.

Giuffre, who is now suing Prince Andrew for sexually abusing her when she was 17, could be another distraction that would overly complicate the case for the jury, Hakes said.

Perhaps the prosecutors are worried that there would be too many balls in the air  with the case against against the prince  and prosecutors dont want to risk confusing the jury even more, she said.

The real challenge for prosecutors, she said, is that they are trying a case that should have been prosecuted 15 years ago.

This is a case that has gone on for too long. There are so many statements given over the years, and not all the statements are the same. The focus of this was always on Epstein and the people who should have brought him to justice should have done it 15 years ago.
SAN DIEGO (AP)  A man armed with a knife who was shot and killed at the entrance to Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego last month was a Boston resident who worked at the base, authorities said Wednesday.

A guard shot and killed Travers Spargo King, 36, on Nov. 26.

At the time, authorities said the man drove up to an entrance, ignored several orders to stop, then finally got out of an SUV and approached a checkpoint kiosk with a knife and hostile intent.

He ignored several warnings from security before being shot and died at the scene, authorities said.

King was a civilian who worked as an air conditioner technician at the depot from March to November and he previously served in the U.S. Coast Guard, according to a statement from the base.

However, authorities didnt say whether he was still employed at the depot at the time of his death.

Authorities havent provided other details of the confrontation. The shooting remains under investigation by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service.

The depot is near San Diego International Airport. Gate 5, where the incident took place, is used for visitors. It has security kiosks under a metal awning.

On the day of the incident, KSWB-TV reported that an SUV with open doors could be seen in one of the visitor lanes, and a body covered by a tarp lay a short distance away under the gates awning.

Marine Recruit Depot San Diego, which trains recruits mainly from west of the Mississippi River, handles tens of thousands of recruits each year. The depot is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year.
By Sangmi Cha

SEOUL (Reuters) - Several parents associations in South Korea held protests on Thursday against a vaccine pass mandate for children aimed at containing the spread of COVID-19 among teenagers.

From February, those aged 12 or older will have to show a vaccine pass to enter public spaces, including private tuition centres, libraries and study cafes. The exemption age is scurrently 17 years.

The mandate, however, has sparked uproar among some parents who refuse to vaccinate their children, citing potential side effects and reports of vaccine breakthrough infections.

At least 70 members of parents associations gathered in front of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency building in Cheongju city on Thursday, holding up signs that read "Vaccine Dictatorship".

A poll conducted this week by another activist group showed 93% of the more than 18,000 parents who responded were against the idea of enforcing the vaccine pass mandate on students.

Health officials have said vaccines offer protection against severe symptoms and the rate of adverse side effects reported among teenagers is lower than that of adults.

The wider vaccine pass mandate comes as infections among teenagers in South Korea have risen sharply following the resumption of full-time in-person classes in November.

Out of a 100,000 children, 210 infections were reported over the past four weeks, while out of a same number of adults, only 167 tested positive. New daily infections rose this week to over 7,000 for the first time, government data showed.

Children infections accounted for 8.3% of the total cases in the last two weeks and 99.8% of them were either unvaccinated or partially immunized.

South Korea has fully vaccinated nearly 92% of its adults, while 11% have received a booster shot. But inoculation rate for the 12-17 age group remains at 34%.

The country has said it will recognise overseas vaccinations of foreigners who have entered the country with no quarantine exemption and that they will be eligible to receive a booster shot and a vaccine pass, effective Dec 9.

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Previously, South Korea recognised overseas vaccinations for only its citizens and foreigners who entered the country under a quarantine exemption.

It reported 7,102 new coronavirus cases for Wednesday, slightly below the record high 7,175 a day earlier. Hospitals are treating a record number of 857 severe COVID-19 cases.

(Reporting by Sangmi Cha; Editing by Miyoung Kim and Himani Sarkar)
By Fatos Bytyci

PRIZREN, Kosovo (Reuters) - Dashurie Cahanaj kneads a mound of dough in a vocational school in Prizren, Kosovo, studying for a baking qualification she hopes will give here a quicker ticket out of her country than her hard-won nursing degree.

The 23-year-old, like a growing number of her contemporaries, is desperate to leave to get a job in more affluent parts of Europe, lured by better wages and wider opportunities.

She could start filling out the paperwork and visa forms to transfer her medical skills. But competition for such work is fierce and time is pressing.

From here it will take years until I will get a working visa for a job as a nurse in Germany," she told Reuters. Instead she has already made contacts at bakeries in Slovenia who are ready to take on lower-skilled staff right away.

Once based in the European Union, she will be in a stronger position. "I found out that getting a job in a bakery in Slovenia and then applying to work as a nurse in Germany is much faster for me.

With gross domestic product per capita of $4,300 and one third of the working population unemployed, Kosovo ranks among poorest corners of Europe.

As many as 78% of Kosovars aged between 18 and 35 said they would move abroad if given an opportunity, in an International Republican Institute survey in late November.

A total of 203,330 Kosovar citizens left the country between 2008 and 2018 and applied for asylum in the European Union, according to a study published by the European Policy Institute of Kosovo - raising fears of a looming labour shortage in the country.

The Professional Training Centre in Prizren is one of six vocational schools in Kosovo offering young people short courses in everything from baking and make-up to welding and electrical work.

The centre's general manager, Sinan Gashi, said the number of students had doubled since 2015.

There is no future for youth (here), said Rilind Babatinca, a trained economist from the town of Podujevo in his twenties.

He said he had already started making plans to set his own qualifications aside and apply for a visa to work in a fast food restaurant in Germany.

(Reporting by Fatos Bytyci; Editing by Ivana Sekularac and Andrew Heavens)
Paris Hilton's cousin Farrah Aldjufrie was one of the bridesmaids at her three-day wedding. Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for GO Campaign

Kyle Richards said her daughter kept her engagement hidden from Paris Hilton during her wedding.

Richards, Hilton's aunt, said her daughter Farrah kept her ring "turned around" during the event.

"We just decided to let Paris' time be her time," Richards said on the "This is Paris" podcast.

Kyle Richards said her daughter Farrah Aldjufrie kept her engagement a secret throughout Paris Hilton's three-day wedding in order to keep the spotlight on the bride.

In the first section of her guest-appearance on Tuesday's episode of the "This is Paris" podcast hosted by Hunter March, Richards said her daughter got engaged to her fiance Alex Manos before Hilton's wedding in November, but kept the news a secret from the bride until the last night of the three-day extravaganza.

"She actually got engaged right before Paris' wedding but didn't want to say because it was Paris' big wedding, so she kept her ring turned around at the wedding because she was a bridesmaid and I had to keep it to myself  it was a lot!" Richards, who is the younger sister of Hilton's mother Kathy, told March.

In an email to Insider, Aldjufrie said she wanted the attention to be on Hilton because she knew she'd eventually enjoy and celebrate plenty at her own wedding.

"I was too excited not to wear my new engagement ring though," she wrote. "But I did turn it around at times and hid my hand in some photos when I remembered to."

"I ended up telling Paris on the last night of her wedding when had a little moment alone," Aldjufrie, 33, added. "She hugged me and got a little emotional, also saying that we're all grown up now. She was super excited for me and couldn't have been more supportive and loving."

In the podcast, Richards said Hilton was excited when she heard her daughters news, but that they'd decided before to "let Paris' time be her time."

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Aldjufrie and Hilton's sister Nicky Hilton Rothschild were among Hilton's bridesmaids and wore pink dresses with lace detailing from New York-based label Alice & Olivia.

Paris Hilton and her aunt Kyle Richards. Michael Kovac/Getty Images for AltaMed

Richards, who has starred in all 11 seasons Bravo's "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills," shares Aldjufrie with ex-husband Guraish Aldjufrie. She has three other daughters with her current husband Mauricio Umansky.

After the secret was out, Richards shared photos of the newly-engaged couple to her Instagram account on November 29. She captioned the post: "My baby @farrahbritt is getting married! We love Alex so much and couldn't be happier!! Congratulations Farrah & Alex."

Speaking to March, Richards said she's expecting her daughter to go for a more intimate style of wedding and won't follow Hilton's footsteps in planning a multi-day wedding.

"I know her, she's my daughter," she said. "She's not going to want it to be 1,000 people or anything ridiculous."

"We definitely will not be multiple days like that, that's for sure," Richards added.

Later in the episode, Hilton called in from her honeymoon vacation in Anguilla and shared some wedding advice for her cousin. "I was so stressed out too because you're having to speak to so many people," she said. "Definitely try to take it all in and just have everyone around you that you love."

When it comes to her own wedding plans, however, Aldjufrie said she's "already feeling the pressure of needing to start."

If she does soon, she hopes she and Hilton can be on the same timeline when it comes to having babies. "But if not, then hopefully they will at least still be close enough in age and can be raised like cousins. I hope that our kids will be as close as we were growing up," Aldjufrie said.

Representatives for Paris Hilton did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

Read the original article on Insider
Fans of "Law & Order: Organized Crime" may see a familiar backdrop in Thursday night's episode.

In the fall, the cast and crew for the police drama spent several days in Fort Lee filming in locations around town, including The Regency apartment complex on Center Avenue.

During filming, makeup and wardrobe trailers were set up in the municipal parking lot.

The episode they were working on is "The Christmas Episode" which is scheduled to air Thursday at 10 p.m. on NBC.

Law & Order: Organized Crime filmed scenes for an episode that will air on Dec. 9.

Film crews are not new for Fort Lee, known as the birthplace of the motion picture industry in America.

Several studios were established in Fort Lee in the early 1900s, including Universal, Fox and Solax, the first studio built and operated by a woman.

New Jersey has put renewed emphasis on television and film production since the Film and Digital Media Tax Credit Program was reinstated by Gov. Phil Murphy in 2019.

Law & Order: Organized Crime filmed scenes for an episode that will air on Dec. 9.

Steven Spielberg filmed scenes for his West Side Story remake in Paterson, which is currently in the movie theaters.

Kristie Cattafi is a local reporter for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

Email: cattafi@northjersey.com

Twitter: @KristieCattafi

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: 'Law and Order' Organized Crime filmed in NJ airs tonight
Joshua Boucher/The State/Tribune News Service via Getty Images

The estate of Gloria Satterfield, the late housekeeper for the embattled Murdaugh legal dynasty in South Carolina, is now officially going after patriarch Alex Murdaughs alleged co-conspirator in the jaw-dropping assisted-suicide plot that punctuated his fall from grace.

Curtis Edward Smith, a 61-year-old who has previously identified himself as a distant cousin of Murdaugh, was named in an amended lawsuit Eric Bland shared with the Daily Beast and said he filed Thursday in Hampton County. The suit alleges he was a co-conspirator in an alleged scheme to steal millions from Satterfields wrongful death settlement. The suit further alleges that, in total, Smith received around $2 million in stolen funds from two fake Bank of America accounts allegedly set up by Murdaugh to divert money that would otherwise have gone to Satterfields sons after her death.

Courtesy Eric Bland

Prosecutors have previously alleged that, after Satterfield died in an incident at a Murdaugh property in 2018, disgraced attorney Alex Murdaugh coordinated with the housekeepers family to sue himself in order to seek an insurance settlement. Satterfields two sons, however, insist they did not receive a dime of the $4.3 million settlement, which prosecutors allege Murdaugh negotiated in secret, ultimately diverting the cash into a secret bank account for his own use.

Murdaugh, 53, is already facing several charges in connection with the Satterfield settlement in addition to the charges he faces after allegedly conspiring with Smith to stage his own murder in order to obtain a $10 million insurance payout for his own surviving son, Buster.

Courtesy Eric Bland

Now, the Satterfield lawsuit is pointing the finger at Smith, alleging he knowingly received money from Murdaughs secret account that was meant for the wrongful death settlement. In total, Murdaugh is accused of writing 254 personal checks totaling $1,825,560 in addition to 17 cashier checks that totaled $164,748.76 to Smith.

Cracked Her Head: 911 Call Sheds New Light on Murdaugh Nanny Death

Story continues

Attorneys for Smith and Murdaugh did not immediately respond to The Daily Beasts request for comment. While Smith has not been charged in connection with the Satterfield settlement nor any alleged stolen funds, prosecutors have charged him in connection with the assisted-suicide scheme, as well as the distribution of methamphetamine and possession of marijuana in another, unrelated case.

The 17 cashier checks, which were included in the amended complaint, were issued between Oct. 8, 2019 and May 28, 2018. The checks appear to show that Murdaugh paid Smith every few days, with most amounts over $9,000. The smallest amount Murdaugh allegedly paid Smith, according to the checks in the lawsuit, was $4,150 on Dec. 11, 2020.

Courtesy Eric Bland

The last check, which totaled $22,109, was dated just 10 days before Murdaugh found his wife and son, Paul, murdered outside their Hampton County home, the shocking episode that placed the family firmly on the national radar.

The lawsuit does not make clear why Smith was alleged to be receiving the fundsand Smith has previously denied Murdaugh lawyers assertion that he was, at least at one time, the scions drug dealer. Murdaughs attorneys have gone to great lengths to argue he is coping with a drug addiction, even as he faces a sprawling array of criminal and civil cases.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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A 45-year-old man was identified Wednesday afternoon as the victim of an October fatal shooting at an apartment in Lakewood.

Warren Eugene Jackson Jr. died of blood loss Oct. 21 near the 4100 block of 109th Street Southwest after he was shot in the thigh with a shotgun, according to a news release from the Pierce County Medical Examiners Office. The office did not list a city of residence for Jackson.

What led up to Jacksons fatal shooting is unclear. A man suspected of killing him was arrested Monday afternoon in southwestern Oregon. He has yet to be formally charged.

The Lakewood Police Department had an active warrant for the mans arrest when Oregon State Police located him at a rest stop on southbound Interstate 5 near Wolf Creek in Josephine County. After troopers tried to contact him, the man fled south on the interstate at a high rate of speed.

The man crashed his car into a concrete divider after swerving to avoid spike strips deployed to stop him.

The man was detained and transported to an area hospital for his injuries. According to a news release from Oregon State Police, the man was evaluated at the hospital and then interviewed by FBI agents before being taken to Josephine County Jail on his outstanding warrant.

Editors note: A previous version of this story misspelled Jacksons middle name.
NEW YORK (AP)  The Metropolitan Museum of Art is dropping the Sackler name from seven exhibition spaces amid growing outrage over the role the family may have played in the opioid crisis.

The New York museum and the Sackler family jointly announced on Thursday that the institution and their once-deep-pocketed benefactors would part ways, removing the Sackler name from the iconic building, including the wing that houses the Temple of Dendur. The wing is named after brothers Arthur, Mortimer and Raymond Sackler, who donated $3.5 million for it in the 1970s.

Our families have always strongly supported The Met, and we believe this to be in the best interest of the Museum and the important mission that it serves, Sackler descendants said in a statement.

Arthur, Mortimer and Raymond Sackler have all died, but descendants of Mortimer and Raymond Sackler currently are principal owners of Purdue Pharma, the company that developed OxyContin, a widely prescribed and widely abused painkiller.

In September, a bankruptcy judge conditionally approved a settlement in which the Sacklers agreed to pay $4.5 billion and give up ownership of Purdue Pharma, which would be reorganized. They would in turn receive immunity from future lawsuits. Victims' families and a group of states criticized the deal. Purdue Pharma pleaded guilty to criminal charges in late 2020.

Foundations run by members of the Sackler family have given tens of millions of dollars to museums, including the Guggenheim in New York and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, and funded work at Oxford and Yale.

In recent years, the Guggenheim, the Louvre in Paris, the Tate in London and the Jewish Museum in Berlin have all distanced themselves from the family. In 2019, the Met itself announced it would stop taking monetary gifts from Sacklers connected to Purdue Pharma.
A Michigan man who allegedly pepper-sprayed authorities during the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol and wrote on Facebook that his life hadn't "been the same since" was accused Wednesday of assaulting police with a dangerous weapon and other crimes.

Tim Levon Boughner, 41, was taken into custody in Lapeer County, Michigan, north of Detroit, the Washington D.C. U.S. Attorney's Office said in a news release.

Boughner faces several other charges, including engaging in physical violence in a restricted building, disorderly conduct and civil disorder, according to a complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Washington D.C.

Image: Tim Boughner (FBI)

After last year's presidential election, Boughner allegedly asserted on Facebook that then-President Donald Trump hadn't lost and a "war" was coming, according to a statement of facts filed in federal court.

"USA will be dealing with all the evils in the world," he allegedly wrote. "They tried to use the flu too steal our country."

On Jan. 6, he traveled to Washington with a sibling and his wife, the documents say.

Investigators reviewed videos posted on social media and captured by police-worn body camera that allegedly showed Boughner pepper spraying police officers, according to the documents.

In a Facebook post from that day, Boughner allegedly said: "That was wild. We made it to the senate floor till National guard started fight back."

On the same day, he used an expletive to describe what he had done to police, the documents say.

A little over a month later, Boughner allegedly wrote that his life hadn't "been the same since this day." He added: "I still don't know how I ended up on the capital steps having a pepper spray fight with the capital police."

It wasn't clear if Boughner has a lawyer. Court records did not list one.

Roughly 700 people have been accused of various crimes in the Jan. 6 riot, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office in Washington D.C. By last month, more than 100 had pleaded guilty, mostly to misdemeanors.
AC Milan will turn their attention to cementing top spot in Italy this weekend after the gulf between the Serie A leaders and Europe's best was exposed.

Milan have been revitalised over the last two years under coach Stefano Pioli but crashed out of the Champions League after being comfortably beaten by a second-string Liverpool team on Tuesday.

Milan did not won a single match in the competition at the San Siro. Four points and last place in Group B was a pitiful return for a club which has been crowned kings of Europe seven times but hadn't been in the Champions League since the 2013/14 season.

"Those matches will help us in our development... it's a shame, we desperately wanted to stay in Europe and we tried to not lose the game but unfortunately we weren't able to do it," said Pioli.

Pioli now has no European football to distract him from Milan's attempt to win their first league title in over a decade, the first stage in the Rossoneri's rebirth from the precipice of financial ruin to Italy's top table.

His injury-hit side travel to Udinese on Saturday to take on a club which sacked coach Luca Gotti while Milan were trying and failing to prolong their stay in Europe.

Udinese have won just three times this season and should be no match for Milan, who are a point ahead of city rivals Inter Milan in a four-way title race in which former leaders Napoli and Atalanta are right on their heels.

Of Milan's Scudetto rivals Atalanta have the trickiest task this weekend, with Verona and in-form Giovanni Simeone awaiting them at the Stadio Bentegodi on Sunday afternoon.

With 11 goals, Simeone is enjoying the season of his life and is in the hunt to be top scorer come the end of the campaign, as he is just two behind Italy forward Ciro Immobile and Fiorentina's Dusan Vlahovic.

Making things harder for Atalanta is the postponement until Thursday evening of their winner-takes-all Champions League clash with Villarreal following a snowy night on Wednesday.

Story continues

The weekend begins with Friday's Genoa derby, a match between two struggling sides which takes on a different meaning after the arrest and subsequent resignation of Sampdoria president Massimo Ferrero for alleged involvement in fraudulent bankruptcy cases not related to the club.

Sampdoria are five points from the relegation zone and local rivals Genoa, and coach Roberto D'Aversa was as good as gone following their 3-1 home defeat to Lazio last weekend.

Ferrero's lawyer Giuseppino Tenga said the 70-year-old was arrested in Milan while trying to bring Red Star Belgrade coach Dejan Stankovic to the Italian Riviera, and now a consortium fronted by Samp legend Gianluca Vialli is rumoured to again be preparing a bid for the club after a failed acquisition attempt in 2019.

Player to watch: Dusan Vlahovic

Serbia striker Vlahovic is having another great season with Fiorentina and last weekend made it 30 goals in 2021 with the decisive strike at Bologna.

The 21-year-old is level with Immobile on 13 at the top of the scoring charts and with bottom side Salernitana visiting Florence in Saturday's early match he has every chance of taking the outright lead.

Vlahovic's impressive total comes as his agent Darko Ristic was spotted talking with Fiorentina's general manager Joe Barone last week, with rumours that the club will try to cash in on their star forward -- who has refused to sign a contract extension -- in January.

His current calendar year tally puts him alongside previous greats of the Italian top flight like Hernan Crespo and Gonzalo Higuain.

Key stats

4 - the number of players under 22 who have netted 30 Serie A goals in a calendar year, including Vlahovic.

11 - number of years Milan have been waiting since 2011 to win Serie A.

Fixtures (times GMT)

Friday

Genoa v Sampdoria (1945)

Saturday

Fiorentina v Salernitana (1400), Venezia v Juventus (1700), Udinese v AC Milan (1945)

Sunday

Torino v Bologna (1130), Verona v Atalanta (1400), Napoli v Empoli, Sassuolo v Lazio (both 1700), Inter v Cagliari (1945)

td/gj
Ariel Winter played Alex on the hit show. (Amanda Edwards/Getty Images)

Modern Family star Ariel Winter has said she was fat-shamed by viewers when she was as young as 13.

The US star played Alex Dunphy on the hit sitcom from the ages of 11 to 22.

ET has reported that she opens up about being trolled for her looks in an upcoming episode of Red Table Talk: The Estefans.

Read more: Modern Family's Jesse Tyler Ferguson 'overjoyed' after welcoming baby with husband

"I got called a fat slut when I was 13," she says. "That was rough. Because I gained weight and my body changed, I had to wear different outfits and I wore a dress that had a cutout here (neck and chest area).

"And the headlines were dark. Fat slut was rough for me, and it continued."

The actress with the Modern Family cast. (ABC)

Winter said while many fans of the comedy were lovely, "some were also hard on me in the way they loved Alex Dunphy and because I wasn't Alex Dunphy and didn't look like Alex, I didn't want to dress like Alex".

The actor, 23, said some fans would ask how she went from being Alex Dunphy to being "a whore" and would call her a "horrible role model".

The star said she gained 30 lb in high school as she was on antidepressants.

Read more: Modern Family stars recreate cast photo 10 years later

She said things at the time were "rough", both at school and online, where her Instagram was flooded with comments.

The star was on the show for 11 years. (Image Press Agency/Sipa USA)

Winter has previously spoken out about it being tricky to grow up on television in front of millions of people.

Last year the star told People that while she was very grateful to have her career and to have been on the much-loved sitcom, there were drawbacks.

"Its not very easy, just because people think that just because youre on TV, theyre entitled to your life," she said.

Watch: Ariel Winter sports a bikini as she channels The Little Mermaid with new red hair
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) fighter Gilbert Burns, ranked number two in the world, will be hosting a special workshop at the Mount Dora BJJ Academy in Eustis on Saturday at 11 a.m.

MOUNT DORA  Ultimate Fighting Championship fighter Gilbert Burns, ranked No. 2 in the world, is coming to town.

Burns will be hosting a special workshop at the Mount Dora BJJ Academy in Eustis on Saturday during the academys 8th year anniversary celebration.

Something like this doesnt happen every day, academy owner David Iturrino said. It took almost a year to solidify. Its so great that hes taking this time to come visit our small town and celebrate with us.

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Riding in style: Local kids get bikes, presents from Santa at Leesburg PD's holiday giveaway

Burns, who just turned 35, is a third-degree black belt and has been involved in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu for years, traveling the world giving seminars on technique and training exercises.

Ive been doing seminars for over 10 years now and Ive been to a lot of different countries where I can share my experiences to help change someones life, Burns said. Training as a competitor, I feel I can help people get better. Jiu Jitsu has changed many things in my life and I really want to help build that community strong.

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) fighter Gilbert Burns, ranked number two in the world, will be hosting a special workshop at the Mount Dora BJJ Academy in Eustis on Saturday at 11 a.m.

Burns seminar will begin at 11 a.m. and is geared for both adults and kids. Member cost is $75 for teens and adults, $40 for kids. And non-member cost is $100 for teens and adults and $60 for kids.

Preceding the workshop at 9:30 a.m. will be a belt promotion ceremony. It will be a big moment for Davids wife, Annie, who will be receiving her first degree BJJ black belt. She will be the first woman in Central Florida to receive this achievement.

Im harder on her than anyone else, David said. Shes earned it.

Annie has been using her skills at the academy to teach other women to be strong and self sufficient.

One of my goals is to grow our womens group, Annie said. Youd be surprised how many women experience abuse. I know first hand going through it myself, on top of cancer twice, losing my parents and just life. I hope that as people see me achieve my goals, they will see that they can do it too.

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Annie and David Iturrino will be celebrating their eighth year at the Mount Dora BJJ Academy in Eustis on Saturday. Annie will also be receiving her first-degree BJJ black belt. [Cindy Peterson/Correspondent]

The academy is celebrating their eighth year and their many accomplishments. The academy began in a 650 square-foot room and has grown to what is now a more than 9,000 square-foot facility.

David and Annie founded the academy to teach kids and adults the benefits of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in competition, fitness and self defense. They have since built the non-profit, Grappling For Life, to reach underprivileged youth and give them an outlet through instruction and mentorship.

The academy provides training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, No Gi grappling, kickboxing, boxing, MMA, wrestling, judo, Elevate Fitness classes and womens-only classes. Aside from the regularly scheduled classes, the academy hosts summer camps, after-school programs and holiday events for kids.

We are really excited for this opportunity, David said. We will keep growing and keep pushing and hope one day to open a sports complex to continue helping kids in our community.

This article originally appeared on Daily Commercial: Mount Dora BJJ celebrates 8 years with workshop by UFC's Gilbert Burns
The governor of northeast Nigeria's Borno state has banned food and aid distributions to tens of thousands of people who were displaced by conflict, a move condemned Thursday by humanitarian workers.

The region, affected by a 12-year-old jihadist insurgency, has 2.4 million people living in food crisis "or worse", according to the UN, which projects the number will rise to 3.5 million next year.

In a letter seen by AFP, Borno's governor Babagana Umara Zulum has written to "all humanitarian and development partners" to spell out the ban.

"No partner organization, either local, national or international, shall henceforth be allowed to embark on distribution of food and non-food items in any of our newly resettled communities across the state," says the letter dated Monday.

The measure has a potential impact on large numbers of people who had previously lived in camps for internally displaced people (IDPs).

They left the camps under a government policy launched in 2018 to encourage "voluntary return, resettlement and reintegration."

Many were moved by the government into fortified garrison towns in their districts of origin.

NGO workers say food insecurity in these resettled areas is high, and hunger will worsen as a result of the ban.

The governor's spokesman, Isa Gusau, confirmed to AFP by email that the letter was authentic.

- Food insecurity -

The goal, the governor said, is "to (wean) people off humanitarian food distribution and instead replace (it) with empowering people and giving them dignity to buy their own food and determine their future."

Aid workers in Nigeria who help to provide assistance to more than eight million people in need told AFP they were worried about the measure.

How many people are affected by the ban is unclear, but NGO-provided data says at least 86,000 people have so far left camps in Maiduguri alone.

The measure does not affect food distribution in the IDP camps, the governor's letter said.

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But in areas where people have resettled, "access to land is unknown and from now to the next harvest, we are wondering how they will survive," said a senior international NGO official who requested anonymity.

"Sending back people into food-insecure areas and cutting them off from any assistance contradicts the Kampala convention," the official added.

The Kampala convention is the world's only international treaty that binds governments to provide legal protection to IDPs.

- 'Increasingly volatile' -

"Food security and nutrition indicators across Borno state remain a major source of concern," said Camilla Corradin, spokeswoman for the Nigeria INGO Forum in Nigeria, which includes dozens of international charities such as the International Rescue Committee and the Norwegian Refugee Council.

"We call on all actors to ensure that, while self-reliance can be developed, food and other relevant humanitarian assistance can continue to reach those in need," Corradin added.

If access to life-saving support is not sufficiently scaled up, the UN warned in October, another 13,551 people are anticipated to experience "catastrophe-like conditions."

Making matters worse, humanitarian workers have restricted their movements after being directly targeted by insurgents.

The Islamic-state West Africa Province group has taken over its rival Boko Haram and continues to launch deadly attacks across the state.

Last week, the UN's World Food Programme (WFP) said that "the operating environment in northeast Nigeria is increasingly volatile".

"Non-state armed groups have scaled up ambushes on military convoys, use of explosive devices, indirect fire (mortars and rockets), and attacks on garrison towns."

NGOs have previously warned that some of the areas where IDPs are resettling are not entirely safe.

Earlier this year, AFP met with displaced people in Maiduguri who had returned home only to flee again due to fresh violence.

The government has insisted that IDPs are only returned to secure areas.

Despite widespread concerns, Zulum plans to close at least 50 percent of camps in Borno state by next year and all camps by 2026.

In Maiduguri, five more camps that host more than 140,000 people are schedule to close by the end of the month.

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PARAMUS, NJ  New Jersey Sen. Joe Pennacchio (R-26) didn't attend a Senate Economic Growth Committee session in Trenton on Thursday, but did cast a vote remotely, from the parking lot of the Paramus Veterans Memorial Home.

The move comes as New Jersey Republicans continue to challenge new state house COVID-19 vaccine policy, which requires proof of vaccination or a negative test to enter. Read more: NJ Assembly Republicans Will Challenge Statehouse COVID Policy

According to Pennacchio's office, the senator has challenged the edict on the grounds that it isn't "science based."

But his vote from a Paramus parking lot wasn't just a matter of protest, it was also symbolic, as Pennacchio highlighted COVID-19 deaths at the Bergen County state-run veterans home, and others across the state.

"The Senate has failed to convene committee oversight hearings and failed to issue subpoenas to find out why the Covid virus was forced into nursing homes, why testing was denied, and why 10,000 frail and elderly residents lost their lives," Pennacchio said.

"As legislators are locked out and prevented from doing the peoples business, I chose to point out the insanity of the administrations Covid policy which was so disastrous to so many, especially our frail and elderly. I wish they had dedicated as much attention and public health science to our most vulnerable residents as the Democrat legislators are to creating arbitrary rules based on pseudoscience for our legislators."

The new state house policy took center stage last week, when Republican lawmakers bucked the rules, with some refusing to show vaccine or test proof, and simply walking past State Police stationed outside the doors of the chamber.

During a news conference this week, Gov. Phil Murphy only touched on security measures  which Assembly Speaking Craig Coughlin called a "colossal failure." Read more: NJ Republicans Dodge COVID-19 Vaccine Policy, Enter Statehouse

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He did offer this about the lawmakers, however:

"The big story from last week is not about security. Its about the idiocy of these ringleaders who are putting their fellow members health and the families of those fellow members at risk, he said.

This is not about freedom or civil rights. Its about their willingness to volitionally run the risk of infecting innocent, law-abiding folks who have done the right thing during this pandemic. It is outrageous."

The policy was approved by the State Capitol Joint Management Commission in October, and would allow legislators to vote remotely, like Pennacchio did Thursday. But Republican Assembly members did not agree with the passage of the measure and filed a complaint in New Jersey Superior Court seeking a stay of the measure.

"We're petitioning the Court for emergent relief to block enforcement of an exclusionary policy that we believe is unconstitutional and undemocratic," said Sen. Steven Oroho, the incoming Senate Republican leader. "With the policy taking effect today, we felt compelled to take action to ensure continued public access to the Statehouse and the legislative process."

This article originally appeared on the Paramus Patch
Provost Marie Lynn Miranda speaks at the 2021 Graduate School Commencement Ceremony.

SOUTH BEND  University of Notre Dame Provost Marie Lynn Miranda announced Thursday she will step down after a year and a half as the university's second-ranking officer.

The provost, a position established at Notre Dame in 1970, is elected by the board of trustees and is responsible for all academic affairs.

Miranda is the university's fifth provost and began her tenure July 1, 2020. She will step down on Dec. 31, according to a news release from the university.

"The past 20 months have been so very difficult around the world, especially for those most vulnerable," Miranda wrote in a letter to the campus community. "As I suspect is true for many of you, the pandemic has prompted me to reflect on how I want to engage in building a post-pandemic world."

Miranda will remain a tenured member of the Notre Dame faculty and said she feels "compelled to work more directly on the issue about which I am most passionate."

Vaccine update: Notre Dame requires students to get COVID-19 booster

Notre Dame officials will conduct a search for its next provost. University policy states Notre Dame's president should form and chair a search committee including faculty and a student representative.

The committee is expected to consult with the campus community, seek nominations and make a recommendation to Notre Dame President the Rev. John Jenkins who will share recommendations with the Board of Trustees.

Chris Maziar, the university's vice president and senior associate provost, will serve as interim provost as the committee seeks to fill Miranda's position.

Marie Lynn Miranda, the Charles and Jill Fischer Provost, has announced her intention to step aside as provost, effective Dec. 31.



She will remain a tenured member of the faculty.https://t.co/8eVqXQJVfE pic.twitter.com/vj9eueWdbP  Notre Dame (@NotreDame) December 9, 2021

Miranda served for four years as dean of the University of Michigan's School of Natural resources and Environment and another four years as provost at Rice University before coming to Notre Dame.

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The outgoing provost has been a key figure in the university's response to the COVID-19 pandemic and serves as lead scientist for the Indiana COVID-19 Registry, an Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute partnership between IU, Purdue and Notre Dame.

She is also founding director of Notre Dame's Children's Environmental Health Initiative.

"As chief academic officer, (Miranda) provided stability and strong, calm guidance for our faculty, staff and students during this unprecedented pandemic, all while advancing the academic mission of the university," Jenkins said in a news release. "I appreciate her dedication to the highest ideals of Our Lady's University and wish her well."

Email South Bend Tribune education reporter Carley Lanich at clanich@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter: @carleylanich.

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Notre Dame's Marie Lynn Miranda stepping down at end of month
COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are on an upswing again in Oklahoma, and health officials and experts are urging people to get vaccinated to protect themselves.

The states 3-day average for COVID-19 hospitalizations was 558 on Wednesday, including 174 people in intensive-care unit beds, a significant increase from a post-surge low of about 400 hospitalizations in early November.

Hospitalizations are now higher than Oklahoma has seen since October, but still far from the peak of the last wave in late August and early September, when they topped 1,500.

Experts had warned that Oklahoma  and the rest of the country, too  was headed for a winter surge, but predicted that it wouldnt be as severe as the delta surge this summer as long as no new variant changed the course. Its unclear now how the newly discovered omicron variant will affect our COVID-19 outlook this winter.

More: With coronavirus on the rise again, what will another pandemic winter look like in Oklahoma?

The uptick were seeing now is being driven by the delta variant, experts said. And the vast majority of COVID-19 hospitalizations  82%  are still among those who have not been fully vaccinated, according to the states latest data.

Likely, this increase is due to fall activities, people coming together, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and we do feel like that it's likely to continue to increase through the holidays, LaWanna Halstead, the Oklahoma Hospital Associations vice president of quality and clinical initiatives, said Tuesday.

Even though the increase in hospitalizations hasnt been too steep so far, she said, its a concern because hospitals are still struggling with staffing issues. They're also closely watching for the omicron variant, waiting to see its impact on COVID-19 hospitalizations.

So far, the omicron variant hasnt been identified in Oklahoma. But it has been found in over a dozen states now, including a few of Oklahomas neighbors: Texas, Colorado and Missouri.

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We don't know for sure how that's going to affect hospitalizations. Theres certainly concern, just like there was with delta, so we'll keep our eye on that, Halstead said.

More: Omicron variant hasnt been found in Oklahoma, but experts say its likely already in the U.S.

The states seven-day average of daily new COVID-19 cases rose over 1,300 on Wednesday  a 77% increase from a week ago and higher than Oklahoma has seen since October.

State epidemiologist Jolianne Stone said it will take more time to determine whether the state is seeing a true increase in cases.

We have seen an increase in individuals wanting to get tested for COVID-19, she said on Tuesdays Healthier Oklahoma Coalition call. Whether or not that's because they have symptoms or whether  they've been in contact with somebody and they really want to know, especially in light of this new variant  I think some of that we won't truly know until a few more weeks of what we're actually seeing here in the state.

The upward trend is concerning, but its not happening nearly at the pace of the delta-fueled surge this summer, said Dr. David Kendrick, founder and CEO of MyHealth Access Network, a statewide health information exchange.

Still, a lot of COVID-19 testing is happening outside of our line of sight, he said. If cases detected through at-home testing never rise to the level of requiring a clinic or ER visit, they wont be included in any official counts. That may affect how the omicron variant is detected, too, he said.

I think the behavior of omicron in terms of its ability to create severe disease is going to be what lets us know whether we detect omicron in this pathway or not  whether it becomes clinical, he said. My sincere hope is that we have sufficient vaccination out there in place that even omicron and the next variant and the next variant remain subclinical.

More: Public Health Lab had issues with staffing, storing COVID-19 samples, CMS report shows

Experts have said vaccination (including a booster dose for those eligible) is still the best protection against COVID-19, regardless of the variant.

To find a vaccination appointment near you, go to vaccines.gov to search by ZIP code. Appointments also can be found on the state's vaccine scheduling portal at vaccinate.oklahoma.gov.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma's COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are on the rise again
Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente Jr. on Thursday instituted an indoor mask mandate, regardless of vaccination status, as well as a temperature check requirement for various banquet type events, effective 7 a.m. Monday, Dec. 13.

The new measures are needed because the countys COVID-19 numbers, including new cases, hospitalizations and deaths, have been on a continuing upswing recently, Picente said, adding Oneida County was the first upstate county in the state to have the coronavirus omicron variant detected within its borders earlier this week.

Picente said he would re-examine the mandate and temperature check requirements Monday, Jan. 10, after the holidays.

I know this will go over like a lead balloon, Picente said, adding he could not sit idly by and watch COVID-19 cases and related deaths climb in the county. We have to do something and see it bring the numbers down.

Picente announced the mask mandate, among other COVID-19 restrictions Thursday morning during a business summit at Harts Hill Inn in Whitesboro. During the hour-long event, Picente painted a picture of what the county currently looks like due to COVID-19 and talked about how the county and businesses can move forward together.

Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente Jr. speaks Thursday at Hart's Hill Inn in Whitesboro, where he instituted an indoor mask mandate that will take place Monday morning.

Mohawk Valley Health System Chief Physician Executive Dr. Kent Hall also spoke.

Thursdays summit was held by the Genesis Group and brought together about 70 business and community leaders, said Ray Durso, president and CEO of the Genesis Group.

Durso was succinct and to the point when asked how he thought the countys business community would react to the mask mandate.

Something has to be done, Durso said. Bottom line.

Mandates, regulations explained

Picente said the mask mandate is similar to the one instituted in the county last year. It requires people to wear a mask, regardless of vaccination status, whenever inside a public facility like a store, business or church.

People are not required to keep their mask on when sitting at a table at a restaurant or at a bar getting a drink, Picente said.

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He said it is up to the business to enforce the mask mandate.

More: Omicron COVID cases reported in Oneida County. What we know about the variant

More: Rep. Claudia Tenney: Rescind 'draconian' COVID-19 vaccine mandate on healthcare workers

Like last year, the mandate is a public health order, and a civil penalty of up to $2,000 for the first offense is possible.

As to how the county will enforce the mandate, Picente said he expects people to be calling in to the county on it, as they did last year and have done on other COVID-19 related issues.

Im not going to be like Andrew Cuomo and looking in your windows over the holidays, Picente said.

The temperature checks are for private, nonresidential banquet type events, Picente said. This includes events such as weddings, holiday events and nonprofit fundraisers.

Masks are not required after the temperature checks, Picente said.

Masks and temperature checks are not needed if an event only allows vaccinated people to attend. It is on the business or group holding the event to verify vaccination status, Picente said.

Picente did not directly answer when asked about why masks and temperature checks were done away with if someone is vaccinated, even though it is possible for vaccinated people to spread the virus.

Mandate, regulation reasoning

Picente said the county has seen daily new case numbers skyrocket, with case numbers now normally in the 200s. The county also has experienced 27 deaths over the last 11 days.

Weve let our guard down a bit, he said.

Hospitals in the region and in Oneida County also are at or near capacity, Picente said.

The county executive reiterated a change in thinking, stating the county will continue to shift its focus to booster shots, rather than those who choose not to receive the vaccination.

Picente talked about this change in thinking last week. About 30% of county residents refuse to get the vaccine for one reason or another, he said.

Were not going to get into that debate, Picente said about why some residents are against receiving the vaccine.

More: Picente turns attention to booster shots in Oneida County

On Thursday, Picente said there are 62,000 booster shot eligible residents that have yet to receive the third shot.

Picente said the county is working to institute nighttime and weekend PODs (point of distribution) to help residents get vaccinated and get their booster shots.

We want to help people get booster shots, Picente said. That can help this county tremendously.

Vaccination push

Dr. Hall, from MVHS, pushed vaccinations as a way out of the mandate, regulations and the pandemic overall.

Vaccines will help get a foothold to stop the spread of COVID-19, Hall said.

More: Oneida County to offer COVID vaccine for kids in December as cases surge before holidays

Highlighting the recent surge of hospitalizations, Hall noted there was no one admitted to MVHS because of COVID-19 over the three-day Fourth of July holiday. As of Wednesday, there were 80 residents admitted due to COVID-19, he said.

Addressing the coronavirus omicron variant, Hall said it may be more transmissible, but less severe. Hall also said it may increase the required vaccination rate for herd immunity  much like the other variants have.

Weve been living this life now for two years, Hall said, stressing the need for vaccinations, masking and social distancing. Twenty-one months. Its the same message. We know what to do to protect ourselves and our community.

This article originally appeared on Observer-Dispatch: Oneida County mask mandate returning due to rising COVID numbers
HERNDON, VA  Herndon Middle School received a threat on social media Tuesday that caused the school to have an extra police presence on Wednesday. The social media post is the latest in a rash of threats against schools in Northern Virginia in recent months.

By Thursday morning, after hours of investigation, Fairfax County Public Schools, along with local police agencies, were able to determine that the social media post that caused the school to take extra precautions was a hoax, Herndon Middle School Principal Justine Klena wrote in an email to school parents Thursday morning.

These types of actions by students, often meant as a prank or a joke, take critical resources from local authorities and school staff, and cause great disruption to our learning, Klena wrote in the email. Students who participate in these activities face disciplinary action under our Student Rights and Responsibilities, as well as potential criminal charges.

Klena urged Herndon Middle School parents to speak to their children about the consequences of these types of actions on social media and to know what social media platforms they are using, "especially SnapChat, TikTok and Instagram."

Given the widespread circulation of the threatening post, the middle school decided to have a greater police presence at the school again on Thursday.

"I will speak with our students over the PA to reassure them that the school is safe," Klena wrote. Counselors and clinical staff will be at the school on Thursday to help students and staff who need assistance.

On Wednesday, the first day of school after the social media post had been widely circulated, Herndon Middle School adjusted its arrival procedures to have students go directly to classrooms with teachers rather than waiting in larger locations at the school.

Also on Tuesday, a social media post showed threats toward Farmwell Middle School in neighboring Loudoun County, according to the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office. An 18-year-old man from Fairfax was arrested and accused of posting the threats. Authorities did not specify the exact contents of the treat, but they said it included a photo of a firearm.

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The rash of online threats against schools comes after a spike in harassment and intimidation by parents against school administrators, board members and teachers over the past year. The threats accompanying parental opposition to school curriculums, COVID-19 mask policies and library collections has teachers and school officials on edge in many jurisdictions across Northern Virginia.

RELATED: Threats At Loudoun Middle School Lead To Charges For Fairfax Teen

This article originally appeared on the Herndon Patch
Niceville resident Kathy Inness started a Niceville division of the Christmas stocking drive for single mothers.

Kathy Inness was reading the Northwest Florida Daily News in December 2020 when she stumbled across an article that spoke to her, Single mom turns pain into joy with stockings.

The Niceville resident saw how Melody Parkhurst, a former Fort Walton Beach resident, was collecting items through an Amazon wish list to put together holiday stockings for single mothers who likely wouldnt receive one. As a former single mother of three, it was a feeling with which she felt familiar.

Related: Single mother from FWB makes it her mission to fill holiday stockings for other single moms

Back then, there wasn't really any leftover funds for that, Inness said. Thats why I wanted to get involved, because I would rather do for my kids back then than for myself. I think sometimes it did make my kids feel funny that their mom didn't get anything from Santa. So just knowing that somebody cares enough to do this for you, I think, is a big impact for the single mom.

Inness contacted Parkhurst a couple months ago to start a Niceville stocking drive. She will distribute stockings to CALM House (Crisis Aid for Littles and Moms) and Celebrate Recovery program in Niceville.

Destin resident Amanda Lee also runs a Northwest Florida stocking drive, which she distributes to Destin United Methodist Church and Shelter House in Fort Walton Beach.

Parkhurst, who grew up in Fort Walton Beach, now delivers to churches in Gilmer and Gwinnett counties in Georgia. She hopes more people will hear her story and start their own stocking drives in Northwest Florida and beyond.

It would be so amazing to see this be something that moms from Fort Walton Beach did for other moms no matter where they were, because you don't have to buy something off our Amazon wish list and contribute that way," Parkhurst said. "You could just make a stocking for your neighbor that you see is a mom thats worried, she's hurried. She's trying to make Christmas happen and she just doesn't necessarily feel that she's seen.

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Parkhurst also thinks this can benefit mothers who arent in poverty.

Former Fort Walton Beach resident Melody Parkhurst (center) started a Christmas stocking drive for single mothers in 2020 with the help of her children: Carter, 8, and Madison, 10.

It's also (for) the mom that might not ever ask for help, that has a good job, that's hard-working and is getting by and is doing great things for her kids, she said. There's something special about having that commitment to your family be recognized and having somebody say, I see you and you matter, and just remember when you open this, that you're cherished.' 

The stocking mission is a personal one to Parkhurst.

The first year she celebrated Christmas with her children after her divorce, her stocking was empty. The children cried and wondered why Santa had forgotten their mother.

The next year, Parkhurst gave her children money to pick items to stuff her stocking. They werent appeased, still confused about why Santa wasnt up for the task.

Madison Parkhurst, 10, marks a box filled with completed Christmas stockings to deliver to single mothers in Georgia.

The third year, Parkhurst filled her own stocking. Her children were relieved, but she wasnt.

I cried myself to sleep, feeling very lonely, Parkhurst said. The holidays can be a really lonely time, anyway. And then you tack on buying yourself things for your own stocking when you really want all your money to go toward either charities, your kids, your holiday table. It's very hard to spend money on yourself at Christmas.

Parkhurst took action, announcing a stocking drive via Facebook post on Nov. 11, 2020. Her friends not only contributed to the Amazon wish list she made, but also shared the post.

Destin resident Amanda Lee assembles Christmas stockings to distribute to single mothers in the area.

One of the friends who responded was Amanda Lee, Parkhursts best friend at Meigs Middle School in Shalimar. Together, they were able to provide more than 150 stockings to single mothers. More than 50 of those were in Destin.

I have a lot of friends that are single moms, and my mom was also a single mom for a little bit when I was younger, so I just thought was a great cause, and I love the way that (Parkhurst) presented it, Lee said. It was very heartfelt and touching the way she related, and she just put it out there and was real about it.

The response really was overwhelming, and what was cool for us is how it really transformed all that pain, Parkhurst said. Thats the coolest thing I think that God can do with your experiences. And now, last year and this year, stockings are literally our greatest joy.

In all of the stockings are staple items such as lotion, bath bombs, fuzzy socks, candles and lip gloss. Each also has one special item such as a bracelet, gloves or hat.

Parkhursts favorite item this year is a dish towel that says, Home is where your mom is.

I love that, having had to move around a bunch after my divorce and having it take awhile for us to really feel like we had a home, Parkhurst said.

Carter Parkhurst organizes stocking stuffers after volunteering to help with his mother Melody Parkhurst's Christmas stocking drive for single mothers in Gilmer and Gwinnett counties in Georgia.

The main difference this year is that Parkhurst will place the stockings inside a brown bag, so the children wont see what is inside. The other difference she is excited about is that her 8-year old son, Carter, specifically asked if he could get involved alongside his older sister Madison, who is 10.

He told me that when he's grown up and he gets married, he wants to make sure that his family does the same thing when they're grownups, Parkhurst said. We put on Christmas music, the kids lay everything out nicely for a picture that we can share with a thank-you on Facebook, and then we pray together over everything that we received for the moms. ... Its a family process.

When asked why Carter wanted to help, he said he wanted to help mothers all over the world, and 

Former Fort Walton Beach resident Melody Parkhurst started a Christmas stocking drive for single mothers that has expanded from her new home in Georgia to Fort Walton Beach, Destin and Niceville.

You only have one, Carter said.

Delivering them feels amazing, Parkhurst said.

One mom told me it was the most meaningful thing she received that year and that it would carry her forward. And then other moms, it was just more what you saw in their eyes when they were receiving it.

To donate to the Niceville stocking drive, visit https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/8D33NLAV9VPM?ref_=wl_share&fbclid=IwAR3V90wqzL8pt-bVWLWSy3NxXqedamIlJjHRO8JGGmHbKI9D49MqlN9HiM0.

To donate to the Destin stocking drive, visit https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1G0DNYXIGI4BY?fbclid=IwAR1_8v-PU4VuWkS_ffj8m6YPx9bp37vtbFlvCd3chX5umPnaGNSHdyUkiAs. Items from the Amazon wishlist may also be dropped off at David Scott Lee Buick GMC in Crestview.

To donate to the Georgia stocking drive, visit https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2VKML0HM0AW9W?ref=cm_sw_sm_r_un_un_yNVxR4RDvXzQK&fbclid=IwAR3Pn-yHhELuhNfagHHX50zopzcs57kvnKyyoxXl0i9Ct8YmzzoqGp2IkeI.

This article originally appeared on Northwest Florida Daily News: FWB, Destin, Niceville women start stocking drives for single moms
Prominent Hong Kong democracy activists who fled overseas are calling for residents to boycott upcoming legislature polls, defying a new law that criminalises incitement -- even for those based abroad.

Hong Kong's political elite will select a 90-seat lawmaking body on December 19 under a new "patriots only" system imposed by Beijing after huge and often violent democracy protests two years ago.

Only 20 seats will now be directly elected -- down from half the last time polls were held -- while all those standing for office must first be vetted for their patriotism and political loyalty.

Most of the city's traditional pro-democracy opposition figures have been jailed, barred from standing, declined to take part or fled overseas.

At least four prominent activists with large social media followings who left Hong Kong have recently begun openly advocating for a boycott.

"Hong Kongers should not endorse the autocratic regime and help the regime to pursue a pseudo-democratic veil," Sunny Cheung, a prominent 25-year-old activist currently seeking asylum in the United States, told AFP.

"This is a deal with the devil," he added. "Under the reform and its stringent political screening, no authentic democrats can be elected without kowtowing to Beijing."

Alex Chow, a well-known former student leader who served jail time for spearheading democracy rallies in 2014, said it was a "no-brainer" to stay home.

"Hong Kong voters should boycott the election because it is a way to protest against the government," said Chow, who is also now in the United States.

Scores of activists left Hong Kong after Beijing imposed a national security law last year that criminalised much dissent.

Despite their absence they maintain large online followings and have become vocal international lobbyists at a time when many critics who remained are being prosecuted.

Two other activists, Britain-based former student leader Nathan Law and former lawmaker Ted Hui, who has resettled in Australia, have also called for boycotts.

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"This is a selection not an election," Law told Britain's Sunday Times earlier this month.

Law is speaking at US President Joe Biden's democracy summit on Friday, a move that sparked China's state-run Xinhua to label him a traitor who will be "crucified on the pillar of historical shame".

- 'A vote of confidence' -

Hong Kong's government recently made it an offence to encourage people to boycott elections or incite them to cast blank or spoiled ballots.

A spokesperson for the ICAC, Hong Kong's anti-corruption watchdog, told AFP that the law applies "whether the conduct is engaged in within Hong Kong or elsewhere".

That law does not make it illegal for individual Hong Kongers to void ballots or refuse to vote.

Authorities have tried to quash calls for a boycott this year, even those made overseas.

Last week the ICAC said it would seek an arrest warrant for Hui for social media comments endorsing a boycott.

Three others have been arrested within Hong Kong.

The head of the ICAC also warned pollsters that even asking the public if they intended not to vote could breach the law.

Xia Baolong, Beijing's most senior official tasked with Hong Kong policy, declared in a speech on Monday the December 19 polls were "a vote of confidence in 'one country, two systems'".

That phrase is the model China uses to allow the former British colony some level of autonomy.

Xia accused protesters of "blindly seeking Western-style democracy" and said the new system would ensure "Hong Kong independence and anti-China destabilising forces" are shut out.

China, a one-party state, often portrays liberal democracies as chaotic, a sentiment that was echoed by Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam on Tuesday.

"What's the point of having a so-called democracy if people are suffering, as you can see in some western democracies in the course of fighting Covid-19," she said.

Polling suggests turnout could be at record lows, which would be hailed by the activists as a victory in voicing opposition to how Hong Kong is being run.

Thirt-two percent of respondents to a recent survey by research group HKPORI said they definitely planned to vote, while 26 percent said they would definitely boycott.

The last time legislature polls were held in 2016 the turnout rate was 58 percent.

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With a pandemic crisis meeting and debut appearances in Paris and Brussels, Germany's new Chancellor Olaf Scholz and his team hit the ground running on their first day in office Thursday.

After a ceremony-laden handover from Angela Merkel on Wednesday, Scholz sat down with regional leaders of Germany's 16 states to discuss the coronavirus pandemic.

"We want to act quickly and decisively when it is necessary," Scholz said after the meeting, stressing that he wanted "ensure that as many citizens as possible are vaccinated", including with third booster doses.

With intensive care beds filling up and new variant Omicron adding to fears, Scholz's coalition of his Social Democrats, the ecologist Greens and the liberal FDP was already dragged into fighting the pandemic before being sworn in.

Underlining the "deadly serious" situation, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier had during Wednesday's investiture ceremony pointedly urged Scholz to "ensure that the pandemic does not keep us firmly in its grip for another year".

Scholz, 63, has already called for Germany to follow Austria's example and introduce mandatory jabs, pushed by Germany's stagnating inoculation rate.

But he may have many more tough decisions to make.

- 'Difficult chancellorship' -

Scholz "stands before a difficult chancellorship", said the Tagesspiegel daily, noting that the pandemic was not just an epidemiological emergency but also leading to bitter divisions in society.

"Debates are being conducted in an adamant fashion, camps are being formed that are hardly building any bridges to others," it said, noting that it "would come down to the chancellor" to resolve the bitter divides.

While fighting fires at home, Scholz also took his first step onto the world stage, taking part in a virtual Summit for Democracy organised by the United States.

Scholz is no stranger to the diplomatic circuit, having been mayor of Hamburg when the city played host to the G20 summit and also having served as finance minister in Merkel's cabinet over the last four years.

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While he has pledged continuity, international observers will be closely watching for any shifts in tone given the switch from a conservative-led government after 16 years to a centre-left-led alliance.

- Paris and Brussels -

Scholz will head to Paris on Friday for his first official visit, where he is to meet France's President Emmanuel Macron.

He will then travel on to Brussels for talks with EU leaders and NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg.

But ahead of him, his Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock of the Greens already made her debut appearances in both key European capitals on Thursday.

"Europe is the lynchpin for our foreign policy," Baerbock said in a statement ahead of the visit.

"We will not seek to pursue our ideas and interests... at the cost of" Germany's neighbours, she added.

Baerbock, who is Germany's first woman foreign minister, has pledged to take a tougher line with authoritarian states like Russia and China after the business-driven pragmatism of Merkel's era.

And the first signs of friction within the freshly minted government could well arise from here, as Scholz has so far taken a cautious tone on issues such as the US' diplomatic boycott of the Winter Olympics in Beijing.

Even as Baerbock was about to embark on her trips, Scholz appeared to assert his authority over her portfolio.

Asked at a TV interview on Wednesday if Baerbock or he will determine foreign policy, Scholz said that "we will act together as a government -- and that starts with the head of government".

That may appear obvious. But as Spiegel noted, "given the differing views within the coalition, the statement is significant".

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Elizabeth Dole touches the casket of her husband, former Sen. Bob Dole, in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol on Thursday. (Andrew Harnik / Associated Press)

At the U.S. Capitol on Thursday, President Biden and others gathered to pay tribute to former Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole, an American giant who served the country in war and in politics with pragmatism, self-deprecating wit and a bygone eras sense of civility.

President Biden, a Democrat, called the Republican Dole a man of extraordinary courage, both physical and moral courage  a war hero who sacrificed beyond measure, who nearly gave his life for our country in World War II. Among the greatest of the great generation.

The funeral for Sen. Bob Dole at Washington National Cathedral on Friday. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)

President Biden after speaking at Bob Dole's funeral at the Washington National Cathedral. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)

The funeral for Bob Dole at Washington National Cathedral. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)

Bob Dole's casket in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda as he lies in state on Thursday. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)

President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden pay their respects during a congressional ceremony to honor former Sen. Bob Dole in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol building, where he will lie in state. Dole, a veteran who was severely injured in World War II, was a Republican senator from Kansas from 1969 to 1996. He ran for president three times and became the Republican nominee for president in 1996. (Jabin Botsford / Getty Images)

People line up to pay their respects to Bob Dole. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)

A man bows his head as he and others pay their respects to former Sen. Bob Dole of Kansas, who lies in state in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda. (Matt McClain / Associated Press)

Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), herself a wounded combat veteran, salutes the casket as she pays her respects to Sen. Bob Dole of Kansas. (Michael Reynolds / Associated Press)

Vice President Kamala Harris and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff arrive at the U.S. Capitol for the ceremony to honor the late Sen. Bob Dole (R-Kan.). (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)

President Biden pays his respects to former Sen. Bob Dole at the Capitol Rotunda. (Jabin Botsford / Getty Images)

People pay their respects to former Sen. Bob Dole of Kansas. (Matt McClain / Associated Press)

The casket of the late Sen. Bob Dole (R-Kan.) sits in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
David Perdue, the former U.S. senator and Trump-endorsed candidate for governor in Georgia, said Wednesday that he would not have certified Joe Bidens win in the 2020 presidential election in his home state, the latest move from state-level Republicans casting doubt on the integrity of future races.

Perdue, who served one term representing Georgia in the Senate before losing in a January runoff to Democrat Jon Ossoff, announced his intention to primary sitting Republican Gov. Brian Kemp this week. Kemp is among the Georgia Republicans who affirmed the election results, which were counted three times and showed a close win by Biden.

In an interview with Axios, Perdue said he wouldnt have done the same.

Then-Sen. David Perdue, R-Ga., at a campaign rally in Cumming, Ga., in December 2020. (Jessica McGowan/Getty Images)

In the weeks following his loss to Biden, Trump called for a special session of Georgias Legislature to challenge the results, which Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger said at the time would amount to nullifying the will of the people. Trump is also backing state Rep. Jody Hice, who has regularly promoted election conspiracy theories, in a Republican primary challenge against Raffensperger.

GOP officials and pundits across the country have been calling the 2020 results into question despite being unable to provide credible evidence of fraud. A Yahoo News/YouGov poll released in August found that a majority of Republican voters believe Biden did not legitimately win the election. A number of states with Republican-majority legislatures have passed laws making it more difficult to vote, while others are taking steps to allow the party to have more direct control over election results. The proliferation of election conspiracy theories also helped inspire the deadly Jan. 6 siege on the U.S. Capitol, the main purpose of which was to try to stop Biden from becoming president.

Earlier this year, Kemp signed a bill passed by Georgias Republican-controlled Legislature that limited voting while also transferring powers away from the secretary of state and instead giving them to a State Election Board controlled by the same partisan Legislature. Under the law, the board can also suspend local election officials with whom it disagrees.

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Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp at a news conference about the state's Election Integrity Law on April 10, shortly after it passed. (Megan Varner/Getty Images)

The Perdue comments came hours before Biden kicked off a virtual Summit for Democracy on Thursday. Protect Democracy, a left-leaning legal advocacy organization, has been sounding alarms about state-level maneuvering all year.

It raises the specter of much more post-election litigation, much more chaos, and in a chaotic post-election period it creates many more opportunities for state legislatures to unlawfully step in and try to change the results, like we saw some legislators clamoring to do last year, Jess Marsden, counsel for the group, told Yahoo News in June.

Republicans in Wisconsin, where Biden won by 20,000 votes, are looking to dismantle the bipartisan Wisconsin Elections Commission and take direct control of voting in the state. Last month the Trump-aligned sheriff in Racine County recommended charges against five election administrators for election fraud and misconduct in office stemming from the 2020 presidential election. Ron Johnson, the Republican Wisconsin senator who has promoted conspiracy theories about the election, COVID-19 and the Jan. 6 violence at the Capitol, said last month that state Republicans should fully take over federal elections.

"I think the state Legislature needs to reassert its authority [and] make sure that, in the federal elections, our election clerks follow state law, not guidances that are contrary to state law," Johnson told Wisconsin Public Radio. The push to overhaul the system came after a nonpartisan report from the Wisconsin Elections Commission found no evidence of fraud in the 2020 results.

Voters in Georgia's primary election on June 9, 2020, in Atlanta. (Elijah Nouvelage/Getty Images)

The outrageous statements and ideas Wisconsin Republicans have embraced arent about making our elections stronger, theyre about making it more difficult for people to participate in the democratic process, the state's Democratic governor, Tony Evers, said last month.

Few states 2020 results have seen more scrutiny than Arizonas, where Republicans in the state Senate have backed a months-long partisan investigation into voting in populous Maricopa County, alienating GOP leadership there. Republican Gov. Doug Ducey signed off on the 2020 results despite Trumps objections, but term limits mean he will not be able to seek reelection in 2022. The current frontrunner to replace him on the Republican ticket, former local news anchor Kari Lake, has made a host of baseless claims about the 2020 election. She has been endorsed by Trump, and is aligned with Perdue on how she would have handled last years close race if she had been governor.

"Considering how much already at the time information we had about serious irregularities and problems with the election, I would not have certified it right then," Lake said in an October interview with the far-right One America News Network, which helped fundraise for the Maricopa investigation.
WASHINGTON  As Capitol Hill grows more politically toxic, a new survey indicates most Americans are tired of the acrimony and think the sharp partisan divide is harming the nation.

Nearly three of every four Americans said it would be good for the country if Americans "reject political hostility and divisiveness and focus more on their common ground," according to the new poll from Public Agenda and USA TODAY released Thursday.

But they're also pessimistic. Fewer than one in 10 surveyed think political rancor between ordinary Americans will decrease in the next 10 years, compared to nearly half who think it will increase.

"I don't believe that everybody wants to get together," said Phil Wesson, 74, a retired advertising agency owner from Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin. "And maybe it's just because I'm an old cynic, but I think everybody wants to get together as long as they agree with 'my' position."

Wesson, a liberal Democrat who voted for Joe Biden, was among the 2,345 adults who responded to the Hidden Common Ground survey conducted by Ipsos in late September.

WASHINGTON, DC - A pair of counter-protesters are confronted by pro-Trump protesters in front of Capitol Building on January 6, 2021 in Washington, DC. A pro-Trump mob stormed the Capitol, breaking windows and clashing with police officers over Trump s claims of a stolen election.

The survey was conducted less than a year after the Jan.6 attack on the U.S. Capitol by a pro-Trump mob contesting the 2020 election that Biden won. It reflects the mood of an electorate that's generally unhappy with its leaders, is adamant that the vitriolic tone of today's politics is harmful to the nation's interests, but pessimistic that change is around the corner.

But there is some good news: Most Americans value differences of opinion and dialogue, and many are trying to connect across partisan lines.

Americans' broad support for increased civility stands in sharp contrast to the daily narrative coming out of Washington, where lawmakers openly trade insults and complain of a hostile work environment.

Democrats are weighing whether to discipline Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., after she made anti-Muslim comments about Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn. Boebert's comments led to a viral spat between House Republicans Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia and Nancy Mace of South Carolina. Greene called Mace "trash" for condemning Boebert while Mace used a series of emojis to denigrate Greene in her response.

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In early November, the House voted to censure conservative Rep. Paul Gosar, R-Ariz., for tweeting a graphic anime-style video depicting him killing progressive Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y. and assaulting President Joe Biden.

More: House votes to censure Rep. Paul Gosar for tweeting a violent animated video

And In February, the House removed Greene from her committees for actions that included posting a campaign ad of herself holding guns next to three members of the group of liberal lawmakers known as "The Squad": Ocasio-Cortez, Omar and Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich.

"This sense of sort of intense division  there's a lot of complicated factors feeding into it," said Will Friedman, senior fellow at Public Agenda. "And a lot of it has to do with the fact that national political leadership is highly polarized and is finding it helpful to ramp up to the divisiveness within the country."

More: Rep. Lauren Boebert's comments about Islam, Rep. Ilhan Omar and terrorism explained

Public feuds between national office holders who are supporters of former President Donald Trump and their moderate-to-progressive counterparts affect the lives of everyday people, said Sukparchai "Moss" Stephenson, 26, a paralegal from Nashua, New Hampshire, who participated in the survey.

"Friends and I were discussing the Rittenhouse trial. Some were saying that it was a sham," Stephenson said about the trial of 18-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse, who was recently acquitted of shooting three people, fatally wounding two, during an anti-police violence protest in Kenosha, Wisconsin, in 2020.

The teen, who had come to personify Second Amendment freedoms to some conservative Republicans, received a public congratulations from Trump. Several lawmakers, including Boebert, Gosar, Reps. Madison Cawthorn, R-N.C. and Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., offered Rittenhouse internships in congressional offices.

Protesters confront each other outside the Kenosha County Courthouse, Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2021, in Kenosha, Wis., during the Kyle Rittenhouse murder trial.

Stephenson, an ndependent, said he was accused of being a right-winger for pointing out misinformation in the Rittenhouse trial.

"We have since cleared the air on that and made more sense, but it was very disheartening to see that happen among your friend group," he said.

Barbara Brown, 73, of Burlington, Kentucky, was a Republican until Trump became president. Now she says she's never seen the country as divided.

"I blame it all on Trump," said Brown, who also took part in the survey. "I think he wants to be king. He doesn't believe in the democratic government. He wants all the power and he wants another civil war. He's turning people against each other."

Rosemary Moran, 82, a Trump supporter, blames the division more on generational differences than on partisan ones. Older voters have different values than younger ones, and it spills out in politics.

As for her own approach, the retired state prison teacher from Cressona, Pennsylvania, has some simple advice to avoid acrimony in her personal life.

More: Rep. Lauren Boebert and the politics of outrage: Why lawmakers reap rewards from firebrand tactics

"Politicians come and go but your friendships, your family, stay," said Moran, who participated in the survey. "I have people in my family who I know are 100% Biden people, and I have my son, a true Trumper, who lives in a very, very liberal state. I tell them: 'Don't be that quick to tell people what you think. Listen. Don't always talk. You could lose a job, lose a good friend. Not really worth it."

Bill Doherty is a family therapist who co-founded Braver Angels, which promotes civil discourse among politically divided citizens and lawmakers. He said political rancor existed long before Trump, which is why it persists nearly a year after he left the White House. And he said it's been fueled by leaders in Washington who use social media to amplify division, build attention and boost fundraising.

More: A Republican and Democrat walk into a town hall. Can they help fix Congress?

But Doherty, who's also a University of Minnesota social science professor, said the poll includes a silver lining that could help the country heal.

"The beginning of change is naming the problem," he said. "And it's good news that Americans believe we are too divided because when you name it, you can start to ask the question: 'How would we become less divided?' As opposed to simply asking the question: 'How can we make the other side wake up and see what they're doing?'"

Some of the friction, says Public Agenda's Friedman, derives from increasing racial diversity in the U.S., which stokes anxiety in some resistant to change.

Findings from the 2020 U.S. Census show the country's white population shrunk for the first time in history, while the population of those identifying as multiracial rose from 9 million in 2010 to 33.8 million in 2020.

Friedman says Republicans and Democrats agree the U.S. is becoming more diverse, which is an opportunity for engagement.

More: 'The countrys lost its mind': Polls warning of civil war, violence show deep partisan chasm over election

"I think there's just a lot more room to try to engage people and understand the underlying anxieties that some folks have. And I think a lot of people could be reassured if we're able to kind of talk this stuff through and understand where people are coming from," Friedman said.

"There's probably a pretty hard edged subgroup, that would be hard to reach on this question and feel very, very defensive, very aggressive, about it. But there's more people than meets the eye ... you can have a conversation (with) and begin to try to address the things that are making them anxious," he added.

National leadership could help facilitate the conversation, Friedman said, by helping improve the lives of common people.

"We've been trying to point that out across this entire series of surveys over the last couple of years," Friedman said. "I think that if you concentrated on the areas where there's common ground  such as around voting rights, as we saw in this survey  I think that you could create a more unifying agenda. And if you're actually able to create solutions that affected people's lives and better their communities, they will help to bring people together."

Among the survey's key findings:

Nearly three-quarters of Americans (72%) think it would be "good for the country" if Americans reject political hostility and focus more on areas of mutual agreement. Those identifying themselves as Democrat (75%) or Republicans (80%) were even more inclined to agree with that sentiment.

Only 9% of Americans think that political rancor between ordinary Americans will decrease in the next 10 years. A 42% plurality thinks it will increase, led both by Republicans and Independents (each at 46%).

Four in 10 Americans (including 52% of Republicans) believe it would be good if "a strong, charismatic leader gains power and is willing to do whatever it takes to maintain control and run the country in the way he or she thinks is best." And more than half (53%) believe that will happen within the next decade.

Three in 10 Americans have "very unfavorable" feelings toward either Republican or Democratic voters. This includes 18% who view GOP voters that way and 13% who feel the same about Democratic voters.

Despite the increasing political acrimony, most Americans reject the notion of splitting the country into red and blue states with 51% saying it would be "very bad" and 19% saying it would be "somewhat bad."

About three-quarters of Americans say they value different political perspectives and nearly half (45%) say that, in the last 12 months, they have often or sometimes had a constructive conversation about politics with someone holding opposite views.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Poll finds most Americans pessimistic that political rancor will ease
PHOENIX, AZ  A former Phoenix Police officer is accused of applying for and receiving more than $1.2 million from the federal Payroll Protection Program, for a company that had no employees or payroll, according to a grand jury indictment.

Toni Richardson was indicted by a grand jury on suspicion of conspiracy, bank fraud and money laundering in United States District Court for the state of Arizona on Nov. 23, according to court documents. Richardson was ordered to be released without bond on Dec. 2, according to court documents.

Willie "Blu" Mitchell is listed as a co-defendent in the case.

Phoenix Police announced Wednesday that the department began the process of firing Richardson when it learned of the charges, but Richardson resigned before she was terminated.

Richardson and Mitchell are accused of submitting an application through Western State Bank for relief through the Payroll Protection Plan, for a business called The Lotto Club.

Federal prosecutors say that the two received more than $1.2 million in government-guaranteed loans through the PPP and used them for personal expenses, while disguising them as business expenses. The PPP was meant to help businesses struggling to pay employees during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the application for the PPP, submitted in February, Mitchell and Richardson claimed The Lotto Club had 85 employees and an average monthly payroll of more than $500,000, prosecutors said in the indictment. But the club actually had zero employees and no payroll, according to prosecutors.

Prosecutors claim that The Lotto Club only began making transactions through a payroll provider after it received the PPP loan.

PPP loan forgiveness requires that 60 percent of the loan be used for payroll. The Lotto Club issued payroll for the first time in March 2021, prosecutors say.

"The city of Phoenix takes allegations of criminal conduct by our employees very seriously," Phoenix Police said in a statement. "The alleged actions of this employee go against the core values of the city and everything we stand for as public servants."

This article originally appeared on the Phoenix Patch
Representatives from the Leon Classroom Teacher Association attend the Leon County School Board meeting Tuesday, August 10, 2021.

Its not often that there are so many things wrong with an issue before the Legislature, you dont know where to start listing them.

But a constitutional amendment aimed at returning Florida to partisan School Board elections is really that bad.

In fact, its hard to find anything good to say about the proposal, Senate Joint Resolution 244, sponsored by state Sen. Joe Gruters. The Sarasota Republican is chairman of the Republican Party of Florida, which enhances chances of this bad idea getting through the 2022 legislative session but, thankfully, it should have a hard time getting public approval.

Sponsorship by the GOP chairman might be the first red flag, warning that this is a highly partisan idea. Its approval by a 5-4 party-line vote in the Senate Ethics and Elections Committee, with all Republicans voting Aye and all Democrats Nay, might be a second clue to its partisan pedigree.

Not too long ago  1998, to be precise  Floridians voted to make School Board elections non-partisan. It seems to have worked out all right.

But Gruters contends that, if candidates run with an R or D after their names on the ballot, voters would have a quick and easy indicator of their political leanings. Never mind finding out anything about what candidates believe, or what they want to do on the School Board, we could just go by their party labels.

Generally, Democrat means liberal, by contemporary Florida standards. Republican means conservative, which currently translates to unquestioning fealty to Donald J. Trump. Not always, but close enough.

And no party affiliation, or NPA, means no voting in the Republican or Democratic primaries.

Thats the first thing wrong with this amendment. It disenfranchises a huge segment of Floridas registered voters, those who dont choose between either of the major parties. In essence, returning to partisan School Board races would mean NPAs get to pay property taxes and send their kids to schools governed by those elected officials, but they would have no voice in selection of candidates for those important jobs.

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They could vote only in November, when most races are already decided in very red or blue counties. Frankly, a lot of non-partisan races are decided by parties now.

Everyone who cares already knows which candidates are Republicans or Democrats, and can vote accordingly. But at least non-partisan races let everyone vote, if theyre interested.

Theres no Republican education or Democratic education; at least, there shouldnt be. The schools are for the children, for the good of each community, and theres no need to inject partisanship into their governance.

Thats what this is really about.

Moms for Liberty: Despite nonpartisan claims, army of activists a political force in 2022

Rep. Ramon Alexander: 10 pieces of factual Florida history that should be taught in public schools

Gov. Ron DeSantis has lately been fighting with some counties over COVID policy and face masks. His Department for Education has sought to block salaries of defiant School Board members. Hes also been fighting with some boards over critical race theory.

Even if its adopted in 2022, the amendment wouldnt apply to School Board races until two years later, at the earliest. But its presence on next years ballot would be a strong signal of whos really in charge, and one more wedge issue for the GOP to campaign on next year.

Having non-party voters, and those who register with splinter parties, participating in non-partisan elections has a moderating influence on those races. If its assumed that all the Republicans will vote for the craziest conservatives and all the Democrats will go for the looniest liberals, then candidates will have to moderate their messages and appeal to the middle-roaders who are turned off by pandering to either extreme.

One masked audience member sits among mostly unmasked audience members as they listen to public comments about the Leon County School District's masking policy during a Leon County School Board meeting Tuesday, July 27, 2021.

Across Florida, and in several states across the nation, School Board meetings have turned into chaotic clashes over curriculum, face masks and several culture-war flashpoints.

Making their members run with party labels can only aggravate that pointless partisanship.

More from Bill Cotterell

Fortunately, Gruters amendment is a long way from fruition. As a constitutional amendment, it requires a 60% majority in both the House and Senate to get on next years ballot. And then, it would need 60% public approval at the polls.

Thats do-able, but a tall order. The GOP recently took the lead in voter registration, but not by much. If Democrats united against it  not to mention all those NPAs and minor-party voters whod be disenfranchised  the amendment wouldnt reach the required three-fifths in a statewide referendum.

Probably the best argument against it is an old rule not heard much around the Capitol anymore: It aint broke. Dont fix it.

Bill Cotterell is a retired Tallahassee Democrat capitol reporter who writes a twice-weekly column. He can be reached at bcotterell@tallahassee.com

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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Florida GOP head pushes bill to make School Board races partisan again | Cotterell
Jurors will soon be tasked with determining whether former reality star Josh Duggar downloaded child pornography while working at his Arkansas car dealership, or whether hes an innocent bystander targeted by a hit and run hacker who downloaded the illicit material.

Prosecutors and the defense who both rested their case Tuesday afternoon  have painted vastly different portrayals of how the child sex abuse materials got onto Duggars workplace desktop computer and who could be responsible for downloading the images in May of 2019.

Both sides are expected to deliver their closing arguments in the high-profile trial Wednesday, before the federal case will be handed to the jury to determine Duggars fate, People reports.

Prosecutors have alleged that Duggar was responsible for downloading the images over a series of days in May 2019 after installing a Linux partition that essentially divided the hard drive on his work computer in two to keep the child sex abuse images hidden from view. They pointed to the password used to access the partitioned portion of the computer Intel1988 as evidence that Duggar himself had set up the system, noting that the password not only included Duggars birth year of 1988 but also was a password hed used on other personal accounts.

Key prosecution witness James Fottrell, a computer forensics expert and High Technology Investigative Unit director also provided jurors with key time-and-place data taken from Duggars iPhone, text messages and photos that seemingly placed him at the car dealership at the time the same time the images were downloaded.

The defense team, however, relied heavily on testimony from computer forensic expert Michele Bush, one of just two witnesses called by the defense, who suggested a hit and run hacker had remotely accessed the computer and downloaded the images before disappearing undetected, People reports.

Bush also criticized investigators for not seizing all the electronic devices at the dealership, including a router, which she said had a universal plug and play feature enabled that would have weakened the network from outside security threats.

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She described the manual triage process investigators had used during a search of the property to determine which electronic devices to seize as having serious limitations, according to local station KNWA.

While being questioned by the defense on Tuesday, Bush also questioned some of the time and place data presented by the prosecution, specifically a photograph of an HP computer screen with a reflection visible in it that appeared to be Duggar.

While the photo was found on an iPhone backup on Duggars personal Macbook Pro laptop, Bush said it didnt necessarily mean that the iPhone had taken the photo.

Just because the phone exists doesnt mean the phone took it, she said, according to the local news outlet.

She added that the photo could have been received in a text message or by some other means.

Although Bush had testified that she believed the evidence suggested a remote user had downloaded the child sexual abuse images, she admitted while being questioned by prosecutor William Clayman that she had no idea whether the images had been streamed locally or off-site and said the evidence she would have needed to determine whether remote access had occurred was not available to her.

Clayman also honed in on the circumstantial links to Duggarlike the password and comments he made to investigators that he had been recently configuring his routerand the child pornography downloads, People reports. Bush said on the stand that she did not realize the password contained Duggars birth year until the trial.

I let the evidence speak for itself, she said, adding that her focus had been on the computer forensics.

The defense also called Daniel Wilcox, a former Homeland Security Investigators task force member and Rogers Police Department narcotics officer, who had been tasked with going to the car dealership while undercover to determine if Duggar was on the property.

Defense attorney Justin Gelfand suggested that authorities had been solely focused on Duggar and had failed to look for other potential suspects in the case.

During cross examination, Wilcox said investigators had sent him to the property because an IP address in Duggar's name at the car lot had been linked to the downloads of the child sex abuse materials.

While an earlier potential witness list included Duggars sister, Jill, as a possible witness in the case, she was never called to the stand.

Jills husband, Derick Dillard, who had been in the courtroom for much of the testimony, told People he did not believe there was enough reasonable doubt to convict his brother-in-law.

After the defense rested around 2 p.m., prosecutors called Fottrell back to the stand as rebuttal witness to refute some of the claims Bush had made on the stand.

He also provided some demonstrative exhibits to the jury that showed how simple the process would be to install a Linux partition and stream the images from a URL.

He also appeared to shake off Gelfands references to the possibility of remote access and questions about streaming illegal content.

Im not sure remote access is relevant, he said.
Investigators on Thursday announced criminal charges against a man they believe shot a MetroBus driver in St. Louis last week.

Jonathan Cobb, 33, a resident of East St. Louis, has been in critical condition at a St. Louis hospital since last Friday night, when he was struck by gunfire in the 3400 block of Lucas and Hunt Road. The MetroBus he was driving crossed into the oncoming lane and struck another vehicle and a utility pole. None of the passengers were injured.

The Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis on Thursday announced that Isaiah L. Houston, 30, of St. Louis is facing 17 criminal charges in connection with the shooting.

Houston fired at the bus form the PT Cruiser. He shot at another MetroBus minutes later, Sam Alton of the St. Louis County States Attorneys office said during a press conference Thursday.

Houston has been charged with two counts of unlawful use of a weapon, one count of first-degree assault, three counts of armed criminal action and 11 counts of misdemeanor assault on the 11 passenger on Cobbs bus.

Houston was taken into custody by North St. Louis police on Monday, shortly after Investigators released security camera images of a red PT Cruiser believed to be connected to a suspect in the shooting.

Alton said that a detective working with the Major Case Squad spotted the car and arrested Houston after he crashed into a police cruiser with two detectives inside.

A rifle was recovered from the backseat of the PT Cruiser. It was a match to shell casings recovered near the scene of the shooting, Alton said.

Cobbs family expressed relief that an arrest had been made, but continued their plea for justice, asking the public to come forward with any information that could assist with a conviction.

Charna Wooten, Cobbs sister, told the Belleville News-Democrat Wednesday that her brother remains in critical condition, but has made some improvement. She said she does not know why Cobb was targeted.

Cobb was born and raised in East St. Louis and is the father to twin daughters, who are about a year-and-a-half old. Hes been a MetroBus driver for about nine years, his sister said.

He is a great person. He is business-minded and very intelligent. He loves to have good times, Wooten said in an interview. He is a music producer and manager for several local artists. He is a DJ and is well-known as D.J. Traxx.
Authorities really did a number on Keith Carnes, a Kansas City man convicted of a deadly crime. Jackson County prosecutors used a police informant during Carnes bench trial in 2006 without informing the defense. Carnes right to a fair trial was violated as a result. Had the fact been revealed during trial, he would have most likely been cleared of the first-degree murder conviction that sent him to prison for life almost 20 years ago.

Instead, Carnes was convicted of killing Larry White, his alleged drug rival.

Prosecutors failed to notify defense attorneys that they used the sworn testimony of a confidential informant for the Kansas City Police Department to convict Carnes in the 2003 shooting, according to Christopher Iliff, executive director of Miracle of Innocence, a nonprofit started by exonerees Darryl Burton of Missouri and Lamonte McIntyre of Kansas.

You cant use a secret witness in a murder case, Iliff said.

The omission was discovered during an evidentiary hearing in September to introduce new evidence in the case. Carnes right to a fair trial was violated, his attorneys argued in legal papers filed last month.

The informant testified during a bench trial in 2006 against Carnes, a fact never revealed to Carnes attorneys. Authorities committed what is known as a Brady violation by withholding evidence favorable to the defense.

The government cannot withhold evidence that is material to the defendants guilt or innocence, the United States Supreme Court ruled in the 1963 case Brady v. Maryland. Thats why Carnes right to due process was clearly violated in this case.

The latest evidence was turned over to a special master appointed by the Missouri Supreme Court to look into claims that Carnes didnt commit the crime.

In 2006, the informant testified that she saw Carnes shoot White multiple times.

Evidence introduced at an evidentiary hearing before Special Master William Hickle contradicted the womans claim that Carnes stood over White while firing the fatal shots. No shell casings were ever found near Whites body.

Another witness testified that she lied when she fingered Carnes as the shooter decades ago.

We have discredited every piece of evidence in this case, said Taylor Rickard, one of Carnes attorneys. There have been recanted statements, obvious lies told and there is no physical evidence that ties Keith to this crime. Theres nothing left that points to him as the perpetrator.
(Bloomberg) -- Reserve Bank of Australia Governor Philip Lowe said there was currently no strong need for a central-bank digital currency, but cautiously welcomed the possibility of one being created in the future.

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Lowes remarks come after Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said the government was weighing plans for such a currency as part of a wide-ranging overhaul of the nations payments system. The central bank chief said Australia already had a fast and efficient electronic payments system in place.

To date, we have not seen a strong public policy case to move in this direction, Lowe said in a speech at a payments summit on Thursday. It is possible, however, that the public policy case could emerge quite quickly as technology evolves and consumer preferences change.

The RBA is working through the relevant technical issues, as well as the broader policy implications of any shift toward digital tokens, Lowe said. He conceded there were advantages if such tokens were backed by the central bank, and said he welcomed the Treasurers announcement on Wednesday.

Responding to questions after the speech, the governor said there was no timeframe for when a central bank digital currency would potentially be launched in Australia, as it will likely take quite a few years before we see anything more than small-scale proof of concepts.

There are deep issues about how it could affect the stability in the operation of our payment system, Lowe said. This is why its worth taking time.

When discussing the different technologies that could become popular for payments, Lowe played down the possibility of the use of cryptocurrencies not backed by the RBA. He said he was skeptical that we will head in this direction for general purpose payments.

Story continues

Lowe said that the asset used to settle most transactions will likely remain some form of secure fiat currency with a stable value, rather than cryptocurrency with a volatile price.

The governor also ventured into the possible use of so-called stablecoins, which wouldnt be issued by the central bank but would be denominated in Australian dollars. He again highlighted the risks of such technology.

If this is how the system develops, it will be important that these tokens are backed by high-quality assets and that they meet high standards for safety and security, Lowe said. A lesson from history is that privately-issued and backed money all too often ends in financial instability and losses for consumers.

The RBA chief didnt comment on monetary policy in the speech or the Q&A session.

(Adds further comments from Lowe from 5th paragraph.)

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I still remember the scene. It was 2002 and the state House Republican caucus was meeting in Frankfort. I was one of its members. The only topic on the agenda: reapportionment, the decennial process of redrawing legislative district boundaries to reflect population shifts since the last census. Since we Republicans were outnumbered by the Democrats, the Democrats would be in charge of this process, a prospect that all of us dreaded. But there was hope! Our party had recently taken control of the state Senate. Our Republican colleagues in the Senate would have our backs and would block any punitive redistricting plan put forward by the House Democrats  or so we thought.

When the euphoria had reached its apex, suddenly the newly-minted Senate President Mr. David L. Williams came through the door. Well, fellas, he said, We just cut a deal with the Democrats  we get to redistrict the Senate and they get to do the House. Theyll pass our plan and were going to pass theirs  with no changes. Best of luck to you. With that, he turned and walked out of a very quiet room.

Redistricting: Gov. Beshear, GOP at loggerheads on redistricting as filing deadline for candidates looms

The old Best of Luck to You vapors are back. According to Republican state lawmakers I have spoken with, when their 2022 redistricting bill is released, it will feature no move, as in none, to make our 3rd Congressional District here in Louisville competitive in next years election  or in the next five elections. To use former Sen. Williams parlance, a deal has apparently been cut to make the districts of Kentuckys five incumbent GOP U.S. House members in the 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th and 6th Districts even more impregnable. To accomplish this goal, it is said, the current boundaries of the 3rd District will be left more or less intact.

Im told this decision was made at the highest level which, translated, means by those five Republican congressmen and signed off on by Sen. Mitch McConnell. That means the majority party in the commonwealth is not going to rectify the disastrous decision made 10 years ago that vacuumed up whats left of the GOP precincts in Jefferson County  basically everything east of Hurstbourne Lane and north of Taylorsville Road  and disgorged them into Rep. Thomas Massies 4th District, a district that was already overwhelmingly Republican. This plan guaranteed Democratic congressman John Yarmuths automatic re-election for 10 years just so Rep. Massie could win during the same years by 62%, 68%, 71%, 62%, and in 2020, by 67% margins.

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It doesnt appear that the Republican congressmen need much help. In his three races for the U.S. House, 1st District Rep. James Comer got 73% (2016), 69% (2018) and 75% (2020) of the vote. Rep. Brett Guthrie in the 2nd District seems to be what they call entrenched. His winning margins over the last five elections were 64%, 69%, 100% (he was unopposed in 2016), 68% and, last year, he squeaked by with 71% of the vote. Congressman Harold Hal Rogers, over a 40-year (and counting) career as the 5th District congressman, is routinely re-elected every two years with, by average, 71% of the vote  last years margin: 84%. Kentuckys 6th District congressman Andy Barrs winning percentages going back to 2012 are 51%, 60%, 61%, 51%, and last year, 57%. His two close calls were in 2012 when he defeated an incumbent Democrat and in 2018 when Amy McGrath threw an astounding $7.6 million at him. Although outspent, Rep. Barr still won that race by 10,000 votes and carried 17 0f 19 counties in what was a terrible year for Republicans.

Opinion: Kentucky district maps are being redrawn, will your community be fairly represented?

Surely there must be a way to shear off some reliably GOP turf from congressmen Rogers, Massie and Guthrie  whose utterly safe districts adjoin Mr. Barrs  to make his (Barrs) re-elections more certain without throwing in the towel in Louisvilles 3rd District. Youll never convince me that restoring Jefferson Countys east end plus adding all or part of staunchly-Republican Oldham County to the 3rd would cause a scintilla of risk for any of Kentuckys current GOP congressmen. Louisville is strongly Democratic but when the 3rd District included eastern Jefferson County it elected to congress, Republican Anne Northup (over an incumbent Democrat) in 1996 and re-elected her four times thereafter.

Where is the Jefferson County Republican Party? As Abraham Lincoln once said, To sin by silence when they should protest makes cowards out of men. Does U.S. Speaker of the House-in-waiting, Kevin McCarthy, know about this? His plan to take back the House next year can ill afford to give up chances to flip Democrat-held seats in states where the GOP controls the redistricting process.

I admire Sen. McConnell very much and respect his remarkable career in the U.S. Senate. I served in the legislature with two of our GOP congressmen who began their careers in Frankfort. But its painful to watch them support a redistricting proposal that will do nothing to change the template in our county; that whatever Democrat wins their primary next May is a shoo-in for election to Congress in the fall. To our partys leadership, I say: Dont just wish the Republicans here in Louisville best of luck, give us a shot!

Bob Heleringer is a Louisville attorney and Republican who served in Kentucky's House from the 33rd District from 1980 to 2002. He can be reached at helringr@bellsouth.net.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: KY map redistricting won't help Republicans in this area | Opinion
University of Louisville president Neeli Bendapudi is leaving to take over as president of Penn State University, whose board voted unanimously to appoint her Thursday morning.

Her hiring follows a lengthy process by an 18-member task force to identify potential candidates for the Pennsylvania school.

More: 'A tough one': Kentucky leaders, University of Louisville alumni react to Bendapudi departure

Shortly before the board of trustees formally hired Bendapudi, she sent an email to U of L students and staff announcing her departure.

"The decision to embark on a new chapter in my professional journey was not an easy one," Bendapudi said. "I will miss our students, our faculty, our staff, our retirees, our alumni and our supporters, and I will miss my senior leadership team. All of you are among the best in the nation and are the heart and soul of our institution."

Listing areas of progress during her three-year tenure, Bendapudi wrote that she had "complete confidence this important work will continue and that the University of Louisville will rise to greater heights."

"This is not goodbye. Over the next days and weeks, I will work closely with the Board of Trustees to ensure a smooth transition. I will always carry Louisville and the Cardinals in my heart."

University spokesman John Karman said Bendapudi would remain at U of L through the end of the month, with the board of trustees meeting Dec. 16 to name an interim president.

More: What to know about incoming Penn State president Neeli Bendapudi

Bendapudi succeeds Eric Barron, who is retiring in June, becoming the first woman and first person of color as PSU's president.

Neeli Bendapudi speaks during a meeting of the Penn State Board of Trustees, Thursday, Dec. 9, 2021, in State College, Pa. The Penn State Board of Trustees voted Thursday to hire Bendapudi as president. She's first woman and first person of color to serve in that role for Penn State. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Bendapudi also has been the first woman and the first person of color to serve as U of L's president on a permanent basis.

She joined the University of Louisville in 2018 as the 18th president, according to her U of L biography.

"Bendapudi specializes in the study of consumer behavior in service contexts," it says. "Her research deals with customers willingness and ability to maintain long-term relationships with firms and with the brands and employees that represent them."

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Bendapudi arrived at U of L during a vulnerable time for the public university, which was working to pull itself out of a period plagued by scandals that engulfed its men's basketball team and the U of L Foundation. U of L hired her as its first permanent president since its longtime and controversial former leader, James Ramsey, resigned under pressure in 2016.

Louisville was the first place Bendapudi served as a university president. She came from the University of Kansas, where she'd earned a reputation as a prolific fundraiser during her tenure as provost and executive vice chancellor.

Mending the university's strained relationships with donors was a key priority for Bendapudi, but she also made other significant moves in her time at U of L.

Within her first three months on the job, she decided to pull the 'Papa John's' moniker off of Cardinal Stadium after news broke that the company's founder, John Schnatter, used a highly offensive racial slur during a conference call.

Later on, she led the university's big decision to buy Jewish Hospital, which had been struggling financially for years, along with several other health care facilities from KentuckyOne Health. That was a transformative change for U of L's clinical operations.

Bendapudi's departure came after the U of L board of trustees had special meetings on Monday and Wednesday, which mostly involved closed session discussions of personnel matters.

After the closed session on Wednesday, the board agreed to waive the non-compete clause of athletic director Vince Tyra's contract, enabling him to take the athletic director job at Florida State University.

In her introductions at Penn State Thursday, board of trustees vice chairman David Kleppinger referred to Bendapudi as "an authentic person of the highest integrity" who is "a savvy business and financial manager."

The Penn State board gave her a five-year contract with a $950,000 annual salary, in addition to supplemental $350,000 deferred compensation payments each year and a $1.25 million bonus if she stays the entire five years. Her most recent contract with U of L was for $875,000 annually, with a $200,000 retention bonus each year.

Trustee Bill Oldsey said Bendapudi "is the whole package when it comes to remarkable university leadership," recalling that she told him the Penn State job is "the career opportunity of a lifetime."

Reacting to Bendapudi's departure, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said she had done a great job at U of L and he was "incredibly grateful for her commitment to both the university and the commonwealth."

"Shes shown leadership by example," Beshear stated. "From the successful hospital acquisition, to helping navigate the university and community through COVID-19, even supporting the state through testing and vaccinations, her efforts have been extraordinary. This appears to be an incredible opportunity that she cant turn down and we wish her the best."

Kentucky Council for Postsecondary Education President Aaron Thompson stated he will miss his close friend and is "so grateful for her leadership and lasting impact on Kentucky higher education."

"She brought to us keen insights and knowledge and an unwavering commitment to high-quality learning and true equity," Thompson stated. "Penn State University is fortunate to have her, and I wish her the very best in this next chapter of her life and distinguished career."

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, a U of L alumnus, stated that when Bendapudi "personally informed me of her decision to leave the University of Louisville, I was excited for her but saddened to hear the news."

"When she arrived, the university faced struggles in both its academic and athletic departments," McConnell stated. "She made it her top priority to turn these struggling programs around and make the school competitive once again."

Contact Ayana Archie at aarchie@courier-journal.com or follow on Twitter @AyanaArchie. Support strong local journalism by subscribing to The Courier Journal.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Neeli Bendapudi becomes Penn State's next president, leaving U of L
BANGKOK (AP)  Myanmar government troops rounded up villagers, some believed to be children, tied them up and slaughtered them, according to a witness and other reports. An opposition leader said the civilians were burned alive, as repression of resistance to a de facto coup takes an increasingly brutal turn.

A video of the aftermath of Tuesday's assault  apparently retaliation for an attack on a military convoy  showed the charred bodies of 11 people, lying in a circle amid what appeared to be the remains of a hut.

Outrage spread both inside and outside Myanmar as graphic images were shared on social media of the assault, which Human Rights Watch said was similar to other recent attacks  and looked like it was meant to be discovered.

This incident is quite brazen, and it happened in an area that was meant to be found, and seen, to scare people, researcher for the group, Manny Maung, said. Our contacts are saying these were just boys and young people who were villagers who were caught in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Opposition spokesperson, Dr. Sasa, said the attack began after a military convoy  which was raiding villages in the country's northwest  hit a roadside bomb. Troops retaliated first by shelling the village of Done Taw, then rounding up anyone they could capture there.

They were lashed together, tortured, and ultimately burned alive, he said, adding that the victims ranged in age from 14 to 40.

The sheer brutality, savagery, and cruelty of these acts shows a new depth of depravity, and proves that, despite the pretense of the relative detente seen over the last few months, the junta never had any intention of deescalating their campaign of violence, said Sasa, who uses one name and is the spokesperson for Myanmars underground National Unity Government.

That group declared itself the countrys only legitimate leaders in the wake of the military takeover on Feb. 1 that prevented elected lawmakers from taking their seats in parliament. The seizure of power was initially met with nonviolent street protests, but after police and soldiers responded with lethal force, violence escalated as opponents of military rule took up arms. In recent months, fighting has been raging in northwestern areas.

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U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric expressed deep concern at the reports of the horrific killing of 11 people and strongly condemned such violence, saying credible reports indicate that five children were among those people killed.

The government has denied that it had any troops in the area. But a witness told The Associated Press that about 50 troops marched into Done Taw at about 11 a.m. Tuesday, seizing anyone who did not manage to flee.

They arrested 11 innocent villagers, said the witness, who described himself as a farmer and an activist and spoke on condition of anonymity because he fears for his safety.

He did not see the moment of their killing but said he believed they were burned alive, as did other people who spoke to Myanmar media.

He later saw the charred remains  and was present when the widely distributed images were taken. The images themselves could not be independently verified.

The witness said that those captured were not members of the locally organized Peoples Defense Force, which sometimes engages the army in combat. He said they were as members of a less formally organized village protection group and did not give a reason for the soldiers' assault.

Other witnesses cited in Myanmar media said the victims were members of a defense force.

Dujarric, of the U.N., reminded Myanmars military authorities of their obligations under international law to ensure the safety and protection of civilians and called for those responsible for this heinous act to be held accountable.

As of Wednesday, he said security forces have killed more than 1,300 unarmed people, including more than 75 children, since the military takeover.

In seizing power, the military claimed there was massive fraud in the 2020 election that saw Aung San Suu Kyis National League for Democracy win in a landslide. The military said that justified the takeover under a constitution that allows it to seize power in emergencies  though independent election observers did not detect any major irregularities in the voting.

On Monday, Suu Kyi was convicted on charges of incitement and violating coronavirus restrictions and sentenced to two years in prison. The court's action was widely criticized as a further effort by military rulers to roll back the democratic gains of recent years.

___

This story has been updated to correct Manny Maung's title to researcher, not spokesperson.
EXCLUSIVE: China hawk Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., has demanded answers from The New York Times over the publications decision to withhold documents that directly linked Chinese President Xi Jinping to genocide against the Uyghur population.

In a Thursday letter, first obtained by Fox News, Rubio again requested the Times answer inquiries he first submitted last month that questioned its failure to release in full 403 pages of leaked documents  including a 2014 secret speech by Xi that ordered the rounding up of Uyghur populations.

CHINA TRADE DEAL STRANGLED AMERICAN DREAM: RUBIO

Senator Marco Rubio, a Republican from Florida, walks to a Senate Republican caucus meeting at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. Photographer: Stefani Reynolds/Bloomberg via Getty Images

"Critically important information was contained within the hundreds of pages that were hiddenand continue to be hiddenfrom the American people and governments across the globe," Rubio wrote to The Times.

In 2019, The New York Times released a report that revealed Beijings quiet moves in setting up internment camps built to arbitrarily detain Muslim ethnic minorities.

But Rubios qualms with the publication is rooted in the reports citation of Xi who described the events as an extension of tough counterterrorism laws purported by Beijing.

The senator also flagged The Times failure to detail the Chinese presidents orders that "those who should be seized should be seized, and those who should be sentenced should be sentenced."

"To sit on this information that we know that theyve had for at least two and a half to three years is really concerning, and it just tells you this is a selective release of information they possess," Rubio told Fox News in a sit-down interview.

"My fear is, as damaging as this revelation has been to the Communist Party of China, after all this time there might be additional things in there that are damaging," he continued. Adding he has questioned whether the documents "might even imply that our political leaders are aware of what has been happening there for some time and made arrangements not to discuss it."

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A perimeter fence is constructed around what is officially known as a vocational skills education centre in Dabancheng in Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region, China September 4, 2018. This centre, situated between regional capital Urumqi and tourist spot Turpan, is among the largest known ones, and was still undergoing extensive construction and expansion at the time the photo was taken. Police in Dabancheng detained two Reuters journalists for more than four hours after the photos were taken. Picture taken September 4, 2018. To match Special Report MUSLIMS-CAMPS/CHINA REUTERS/Thomas Peter REUTERS/Thomas Peter

Rubio asked the paper to confirm whether anyone at the publication had been in communication with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) regarding the leaked documents and whether this played a role in withholding aspects of information it possessed.

The Times' assistant managing editor for international, Michael Slackman, responded to the senators November letter earlier this month and called Rubios characterization of its reporting "simply wrong."

Slackman backed the publications decision not to publish the documents in full and cited concerns that Chinese authorities may be able to use forensic analysis to uncover the whistleblower.

RUBIO SAYS FINANCIAL DETERRENCE ONLY WAY TO BLOCK US WAR WITH CHINA OVER TAIWAN

But Rubio on Thursday pushed back on this after the Uyghur Tribunal announced it had received 317 pages of leaked documents that were an "identical subset of the Xinjiang Papers" first reported by The Times in 2019.

"Did the Times consider simply transcribing and making the full documents public or releasing the full documents to a select group of experts, as the Uyghur Tribunal has just done, given the importance of these documents, to assess and help stop an ongoing genocide?" the senator questioned.

"I would like to remind you that the New York Times is still withholding nearly 86 pages of critical documents that could inform the American people, policymakers, and business leaders of critical information surrounding Xis direct involvement in atrocities," he added.

China's President Xi Jinping gives a speech during the welcome banquet for leaders attending the Belt and Road Forum. NICOLAS ASFOURI/AFP via Getty Images

Rubio said he suspects The Times may have withheld information for reasons other than source protection.

"Like any other corporate media entity they probably fear being kicked out of China, they probably fear losing access to China, losing reporting capabilities," he told Fox News. "That comes into play for media outlets who decide not to pursue certain stories."

Slackman said in his December response that The Times has already been "blocked on all platforms in mainland China" and that the "majority" of its correspondents were expelled from the country in 2020.

"The Times has continued to aggressively cover Chinas repressive actions and policies, including the forced sterilization of Uyghur women, the labor programs to entrench control, the extensive propaganda campaign to deflect international attention, and the use of American technology by police in Xinjiang," Slackman said.

But the senator also said he suspects politics could be at play.

"I think its ironic it happened during the Trump administration  an administration that built up a lot of its economic focus on evening the playing field with China," Rubio said. "The New York Times was very critical of many of those decisions that Trump made regard to China.

"To put out there information that proves Xi Jinping is responsible for genocide would have helped the narrative being pursued by the Trump administration," he added.

The New York Times could not immediately be reached by Fox News.
MOSCOW  Russias top military officer on Thursday sternly warned neighboring Ukraine against trying to reclaim control over separatist areas by force, saying that Moscow will suppress any such attempt.

The tough statement by Gen. Valery Gerasimov, chief of the Russian militarys General Staff, comes amid soaring tensions over a Russian troop buildup near the border with Ukraine that stoked Ukrainian and Western fears of a possible invasion.

U.S. President Joe Biden warned his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in a video call Tuesday that the West will respond with bruising economic sanctions that would inflict acute pain on Moscow if it invades Ukraine. At the same time, Biden made it clear Wednesday that U.S. troops wouldnt be sent to Ukraine to confront the Russians, and announced future talks between the U.S., its top NATO allies and Russia to address some of Moscows security concerns.

Russians have 120,000 troops on its border, increased intel gathering, Ukraine ministry says

Russia has rejected Ukrainian and Western claims of plotting an attack and described them as a cover-up for a possible attempt by Ukraine to retake the rebel-held areas. Ukraine has denied such plans.

On Thursday, Gerasimov reinforced Moscows warning to Ukraine not to try to use force to reclaim control of the east, saying that any provocations by Ukrainian authorities to settle the Donbas problems by force will be suppressed.

U.S. intelligence officials say Russia has stationed about 70,000 troops near its border with Ukraine and has begun planning for a possible invasion as soon as early next year.

Speaking to foreign military attaches, Gerasimov dismissed Western concerns about the Russian military buildup, arguing that Moscow is free to deploy its troops wherever it likes on its territory and calling the claim of a possible Russian invasion a lie.

He charged that Ukraine is to blame for escalating tensions in its war-torn eastern industrial heartland, known as Donbas, by deploying new weapons there, including U.S.-supplied Javelin anti-tank missiles and Turkish drones.

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Russia and Ukraine have been locked in a bitter tug-of-war since 2014, when Moscow annexed the Ukrainian Crimean Peninsula and threw its support behind a separatist insurgency in eastern Ukraine that has killed more than 14,000 people. Ukraine and the West accused Russia of sending troops and weapons to back the separatists, which Moscow has repeatedly denied.

Gerasimov complained about NATOs growing presence near Russian borders and the increasing number and scope of drills by alliance troops. He particularly noted an increase in patrol flights by U.S. strategic bombers near Russian territory, saying they practiced launching cruise missiles at targets in Russia.

In remarks that followed up on Putins push for Western security guarantees to preclude NATOs expansion to Ukraine and other ex-Soviet neighbors, Gerasimov said Moscow is open to discussions on European and global security to de-escalate tensions and increase the level of mutual trust.

Russias Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov also voiced hope that the U.S. and its NATO allies would listen to Moscows security concerns and engage in meaningful discussions.

It primarily refers to refraining from military activities near our borders and the development of military and military-technical presence in those territories, Ryabkov said during a panel discussion on international affairs.

He emphasized that Russia wants legally-binding guarantees of its security, noting that Western powers broke verbal promises  given to Moscow in the early 1990s  that NATO wouldnt expand eastward.

There is a deep crisis in the Euro-Atlantic region that is fraught with a potential conflict, Ryabkov said, adding that a controversy similar in scope to the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis between the U.S. and the Soviet Union couldnt be excluded.

If it continues like that, the logic of developments could lead to us to suddenly waking up to something like that, Ryabkov said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin. Vladimir Smirnov\TASS via Getty Images

Admiral Sir Tony Radakin compared the impact of Russia invading Ukraine to World War II.

He said the significance of a full invasion "would be on a scale not seen in Europe since World War II."

Ukraine has warned that Russia was amassing troops on its border, and that it may invade soon.

The head of the UK's armed forces warned that a full invasion of Ukraine by Russia would be the most significant in Europe since World War II.

Admiral Sir Tony Radakin in a speech on Tuesday, according to Sky News: "The significance of the worst scenarios in terms of a full invasion of Ukraine would be on a scale not seen in Europe since World War II."

Fears are growing that Russia could be preparing to invade Ukraine, potentially as soon as the end of this year or the start of 2022.

Both Ukraine and the US have warned of a potential invasion, and experts told Insider's Ryan Pickrell last month that a Russian invasion of Ukraine was a "very real possibility."

The head of Ukraine's defense intelligence agency told Military Times last month that Russia already has around 100,000 troops on its borders.

The US has been warning allies that Russia could decide to invade Ukraine in the next few months, and President Joe Biden has spoke to the leaders of France, Germany, the UK, and Italy earlier this week about how to stop such a move.

Russia has repeatedly denied any plans to invade Ukraine.

Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimea peninsula in 2014.

Read the original article on Business Insider
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP)  Saudi Arabias crown prince visited Qatar on Thursday, his first trip to Doha since the kingdom rallied other Arab states to end their yearslong rift and embargo of the tiny Gulf Arab state.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's visit also marked his third stop in the region this week as the Saudi heir to the throne tours the six U.S.-allied Gulf Arab states that make up the Gulf Cooperation Council. His meetings with Arab rulers are aimed at fortifying the kingdoms alliances as rival Iran resumes nuclear negotiations with world powers.

The visit is particularly significant because last year at this time, the neighboring states were in the midst of a diplomatic standoff that had frayed familial ties in the region, fractured the close-knit GCC and sparked churlish barbs in state-linked media as accusations of hacking and damaging leaks swirled.

Angered over Qatar's support for Islamist groups like the Muslim Brotherhood and its ties with Iran, the four nations of Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt severed ties with Qatar in mid-2017. They sealed their airspace to Qatari flights, shuttered Qatar's only land border and expelled Qatari citizens from the quartet of nations. The move pushed Qatar closer to Turkey and Iran, which rushed to support the tiny-but-wealthy nation as it navigated the diplomatic assault.

The regional standoff concluded earlier this year with an agreement signed by Arab leaders in Saudi Arabia. Ultimately, Qatar did not give into a list of demands the quartet had made, including that it close down its Al Jazeera news channel and hand over wanted Islamists residing in exile.

Rather, Qatar has emerged a powerful mediator in the region. As host to the Mideast's largest U.S. airbase, Qatar played a major role during the U.S.-led evacuation from Afghanistan over the summer and also in facilitating contact with the country's Taliban rulers following the closure of Western embassies in Kabul.

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Qatar is also well positioned to play a role in easing tensions between Saudi Arabia and Turkey. Prince Mohammed's visit to Doha comes just days after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was in Qatar for meetings. Relations between the two have been rocky since the 2018 killing of Saudi critic Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul.

Upon his arrival to Qatar late Wednesday, Prince Mohammed was greeted on the tarmac with an embrace from ruling Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

He arrived from the United Arab Emirates, where he shook hands with Abu Dhabi's crown prince and strongman before their meeting. The formality of their greeting  in contrast to the embrace he received in Qatar after stepping off the plane  and the decision to make the UAE his second stop in the tour after visiting Oman spotlights the underlying tensions that have emerged in the Saudi-UAE relationship.

Despite a lengthy joint statement expressing their commitment to economic prosperity and security at the conclusion of the prince's visit in the UAE, the traditional allies have increasingly divergent foreign policy stances and are in a heated competition for foreign investment and regional clout.

From Qatar, the Saudi crown prince later Thursday traveled to Bahrain. He is to conclude his tour with a stop in Kuwait.
SOUTHFIELD, Mich. (AP)  The parents of a 17-year-old girl who was shot in the neck at Oxford High School during a mass shooting that left four students dead filed a pair of lawsuits seeking $100 million each against a Michigan school district, saying Thursday that the violence could have been prevented.

The lawsuits were filed in federal court in Detroit and Oakland County Circuit Court by Jeffrey and Brandi Franz on behalf of their daughters, Riley, a senior who was wounded Nov. 30, and her sister Bella, a 14-year-old ninth grader who was next to her at the time she was shot, attorney Geoffrey Fieger said.

The parents attended a news conference Thursday with Fieger in his Southfield offices. Jeffrey Franz appeared stoic, staring ahead as the personal injury lawyer accused school officials and staff at Oxford High of not doing enough to prevent the shooting and protect students.

Brandi Franz sat, often with head bowed. The parents did not address reporters.

The lawsuits are the first known civil suits filed in connection with the shooting. Named in the suits are the Oxford school district, Superintendent Tim Throne, Oxford High School principal Steven Wolf, two counselors, two teachers and a staff member.

The Associated Press sent an email Thursday seeking comment from the district.

Ten students and a teacher were shot at the school in Oxford Township, roughly 30 miles (50 kilometers) north of Detroit.

Ethan Crumbley, a 15-year-old sophomore at the school, was arrested at the school and has been charged as an adult with murder, terrorism and other crimes. His parents, James and Jennifer Crumbley, later were charged with involuntary manslaughter and arrested.

Personal-injury lawyers have expressed doubt that the school district could be successfully sued for letting Crumbley stay in school. Thats because Michigan law sets a high bar to wring liability out of public schools and other arms of government.

You have to show that the administration or faculty members were grossly negligent, meaning they had a reckless disregard for whether an injury was likely to take place, said attorney A. Vince Colella.

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Fieger acknowledged Thursday that state law makes it difficult to successfully sue public bodies like school districts. He said a federal lawsuit allows him to subpoena the school district for records and evidence connected to Crumbley and the shooting.

I understand that this is not going to be easy, Fieger said. However, now is the time to do something about it.

The gun used in the shooting was bought days before by James Crumbley and their son had full access to it, prosecutors said.

The morning before the shooting school officials met with Ethan Crumbley and his parents after the school after a teacher found a drawing of a gun, a bullet and a person who appeared to have been shot, along with messages stating My life is useless and The world is dead.

The Crumbleys flatly refused to take their son home, Throne has said.

The Franz family lives in Leonard, just northwest of Oxford. One of the lawsuits criticized school officials for not expelling, disciplining or searching Crumbley prior to the shooting which allowed Crumbley to return to his classroom and carry out his murderous rampage.

The lawsuit alleges civil rights violations under the 14th Amendment and also said the school district knew or should have known that the policies, procedures, training supervision and discipline staff members named in the suit were inadequate for the tasks that each defendant was required to perform.

"Theres a responsibility that our society shares in protecting our children," Fieger said. "There is a responsibility among teachers, counselors and school administrators who could easily have prevented and stopped this slaughter.

Riley Franz was hospitalized following the shooting. She now is recovering at home, Fieger said.

A 17-year-old student  the remaining victim hospitalized from the shooting  was removed Thursday from an intensive care unit, the Oakland County sheriff's office said.

She was moved to a standard room and was expected to remain in a hospital for the next four to six weeks while undergoing rehabilitation.

On Wednesday, a statement posted on the district's website by Throne said that after all the facts have been obtained and released through the course of the prosecution, he will recommend to the Oxford Board of Education that the district initiate a review of its entire system as other communities have done when facing similar experiences.

Our goal with all of this is to bring together all of the facts of what happened before, during and after this horrific incident, he wrote. We are committed to doing this in a way that allows our community to move forward and does not re-traumatize our community members, who are reeling and suffering from this horrible event.

The criminal cases against Ethan Crumbley and his parents are being overseen by the Oakland County prosecutor's office, and Michigans attorney general said Tuesday her office will review events that occurred before the mass shooting, despite the districts rejection of her offer to be its third-party investigator.

The districts lawyer told the attorney generals office Monday it was fully cooperating with local law enforcement.

___

Williams reported from West Bloomfield, Michigan. Associated Press reporter David Eggert in Lansing, Michigan, contributed to this report.

___

For more of the APs coverage of the Michigan school shooting: https://apnews.com/hub/oxford-high-school-shooting
A 2005 file photo of Scott Peterson being transported to San Quentin Prison. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

A judge on Wednesday resentenced Scott Peterson to life in prison without the possibility of parole, more than 15 years after he was found guilty of murdering his wife and unborn son and sentenced to death.

Peterson, 49, was convicted in 2004 of murdering his wife, Laci, and their unborn son, Conner, in 2002. In August 2020, his death sentence was reversed by the California Supreme Court after it was determined that potential jury members for his trial were wrongfully dismissed after indicating objections to the death penalty.

Several of Laci Peterson's relatives were in the courtroom on Wednesday, including her mother, Sharon Rocha. She addressed Scott Peterson, saying, "You didn't want the responsibility of being a father. You're a coward." Conner, she added, "would have been 18 years old by now. Ten months ago, you would have been free of child support and not have to worry about being responsible for a child. Laci and Conner will always be dead, and you will always be their murderer."

Prosecutors accused Peterson of killing his wife, who was seven months pregnant, at their home in Modesto, then dumping her body in the San Francisco Bay. Peterson has maintained his innocence.

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Selena Gomez, in partnership with Univision, will be producing a new series in Spanish centered around the 2013 Southlake murder of cartel attorney Juan Guerrero Chapa.

The three-part docuseries, The Cartel Among Us (Mi Vecino, El Cartel), will follow the aftermath of Chapas death, including a focus on how the murder uncovered the tentacles of the Mexican cartels in the U.S., as well as the clash between the affluent world of Southlake, Texas, and the seedy lifestyle of drug cartels that turned the city upside down, a news release from Univision said.

Juan Jesus Guerrero Chapa, a personal lawyer for Gulf cartel boss Osiel Cardenas Guillen, was murdered in Southlake, Texas in 2013.

Through unique access to the lead prosecutor of the case and extensive archival resources and interviews, the series unveils a family drama involving murdered fathers, blood feuds, and a quest for vengeance, in addition to the many twists and turns that continue to unfold today as the search for justice continues, the release said.

Juan Jesus Guerrero Chapa, the personal lawyer for the leader of the Gulf cartel and a government informant, was fatally shot on the evening of May 22, 2013, after he and his wife were ambushed as they sat in their Range Rover at Southlake Town Square.

Univision, which plans to launch its own streaming service next year, will debut the show on the service with Gomez as an executive producer. The show will also serve as her first Spanish-speaking series.

As a true crime fan, I was immediately captivated when I heard the story surrounding the homicide of Juan Guerrero Chapa. Not only did it take place close to my hometown in Texas, but it was also a story unlike anything Ive ever heard, said Gomez, who is from Grand Prairie, in the news release. I am excited to partner with Univision and really pull back the layers of his double life.

Guerrero had gone out for ice cream with his wife at Southlake Town Square on May 22, 2013, when a Toyota Sequoia pulled up behind their Range Rover. A man got out of the truck, walked up to Guerrero as he sat in the passenger seat of his vehicle and repeatedly shot him. He died near the fountain and gazebo.

His wife, Julia Tijerina de la Garza, testified in court nearly three years later that Guerrero had lived in fear for more than two years, hiding his family in a gated community and often staying at nearby hotels. Hed gotten two phone calls, one in spring of 2011 and another in February 2013, informing him that they had found him, they knew where he lived and they wanted to kill him, Tijerina testified.

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Jesus Gerardo Ledezma Cepeda was sentenced to two life terms in prison for his role in tracking down Juan Jesus Guerrero Chapa before a shooter killed him at Southlake Town Square. Guerrero Chapa had lived a dangerous double life. He was the personal attorney and emissary of former Gulf cartel leader Osiel Cardenas Guillen. He also was an informant for the U.S. government.

In 2016, Jose Luis Cepeda-Cortes, who was 60 at the time of his sentencing, was given two life sentences in prison for his part in Chapas homicide. Cepeda-Cortes was found guilty of interstate stalking, conspiracy to commit murder for hire and tampering with documents or proceedings.

Cepeda-Cortes and his cousin Jesus Chuy Gerardo Ledezma-Cepeda were charged in connection to the murder. Ledezma-Cepeda was also convicted on single counts of interstate stalking and conspiracy to commit murder for hire.

Jose Luis Cepeda Cortes is one of the three cartel surveillance men who allegedly tracked down Juan Jesus Guerrero Chapa before a shooter killed him at Southlake Town Square in 2013. Guerrero Chapa had lived a dangerous double life. He was the personal attorney and emissary of former Gulf cartel leader Osiel Cardenas Guillen. He also was an informant for the U.S. government.

A Mexican man named Jose Rodolfo Villarreal-Hernandez and known as El Gato, who reportedly hired the cousins, still remains at large. He was added to the FBIs Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list in October 2020.

This report includes information from the Star-Telegrams archives.
U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont.

Sen. Jon Tester on Wednesday voted in favor of a resolution that opposes the Occupational Safety and Health Administration rule mandating COVID-19 vaccines for private businesses with more than 100 employees.

Tester called the mandate "burdensome" but also said he urges all eligible Montanans to get vaccinated.

"I've met with Montana's small business and community leaders in recent months who have raised serious concerns about the negative effect the private business vaccine mandate will have on our state's economy at a critical point in our recovery," he said.

Republican Sen. Steve Daines also opposed the vaccine mandate on Wednesday.

"While I'm pro-vaccine, I'm strongly anti-mandate," he said, adding that the mandate could hurt Montana businesses and workers.

The resolution opposing the mandate passed the Senate on Wednesday. Every Republican senator supported the resolution, and Tester and Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia were the only Democrats support it as well. Fifty-one percent of all eligible Montanans, which now includes people ages 5 and older, are fully vaccinated.

Montana COVID-19 numbers

There have been seven new COVID-19 deaths statewide since Wednesday, one of which was listed as a resident in Cascade County. There have been 2,788 COVID-19 deaths statewide, and as of Thursday, there were 2,888 active cases in Montana.

Montana reported 275 new cases on Thursday, and Cascade County reported 41 new cases. There are 207 active cases in Cascade County and 272 total deaths from the virus. For the week ending in Dec. 3, Great Falls Public Schools reported 21 active cases districtwide, which reflects a steady decline in cases over the last several weeks.

For the week ending in Dec. 8, the Cascade City-County Health Department reported 157 new COVID-19 cases and a total of four new fatalities from the virus. On average, the county reported 27.6 new cases per 100,000 people each day, and 232 Cascade County residents were newly vaccinated this week. Forty-seven percent of eligible Cascade County residents have been fully vaccinated.

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Gallatin County on Thursday reported 41 new cases, Lake County added 30, Lewis and Clark County had 29, Flathead County had 26 and Yellowstone County had 25.

For more information on COVID-19 vaccines, visit vaccines.gov.

This article originally appeared on Great Falls Tribune: Sen. Jon Tester opposes COVID-19 vaccine mandate for private businesses
The Senate issued a high-profile rebuke of President Joe Biden's vaccine mandate on large businesses Wednesday night, in a largely symbolic vote to get rid of a key component of the administration's Covid-19 response.

Democrats Joe Manchin (W.Va.) and Jon Tester (Mont.) joined all the Republicans present in the 52-48 vote after critics assailed the mandate as an example of federal overreach and dismissed its option of weekly testing for workers who refuse to get shots as an insufficient accommodation.

Lawmakers employed a mechanism called the Congressional Review Act that offers a fast track for wiping out administrative rules. A companion petition in the House is still short of the 218 signatures needed to force a floor vote, and the White House has already promised to veto any disapproval measure that clears Congress. However, Wednesday's vote highlighted the ongoing challenges the administration faces in its attempts to end the pandemic and the deep divisions on Capitol Hill and around the country on how best to do so.

The vaccine mandate on businesses with more than 100 employees is already being challenged in court, but Republicans said they wanted to use the legislative maneuver rather than let the judicial process play out. Sen. Mike Braun (R-Ind.), the leader of the Senate petition, called the Biden administrations rule government in overdrive, while Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) likened it to authoritarianism  even as they and other Republicans stressed that they personally support getting vaccinated.

Hi, Im Mike and Im pro-vaccine, Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) joked to reporters at a Wednesday press conference. But Im anti-mandate because Im pro-worker.

Most Democrats blasted the repeal effort as ridiculous and anti-science, and warned it would prolong the pandemic and facilitate the emergence of new Covid variants.

The biggest thing standing between us and the end of the pandemic is Americans who have refused to get vaccinated, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said Wednesday. The worst thing we can do is to tie our own hands behind our backs.

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Yet the Republican minority successfully forced the vote with the backing of Manchin and Tester, two centrist Democrats who expressed concern about the mandates impact on businesses back in their states.

The parallel House effort has the unanimous backing of the chambers Republicans. Rep. Fred Keller (R-Pa.), who is leading the petition, said the GOP caucus is confident it can peel off enough Democratic defections from lawmakers in swing districts and is aiming for a vote in January, though an aide for the New Democrat Coalition of House moderates said they know of no members who are considering backing the bill.

This is a measure that has us standing with the American people, Keller told POLITICO in a phone interview. Theyve done the right thing during the pandemic and we trust they can continue to do that without a mandate.

The Biden administration pointed to the recent success of mandates in the military, federal agencies and some large corporations in pushing vaccination rates well over 90 percent, and cited the backing of the Business Roundtable and several major labor unions.

Earlier this week, the White House poured cold water on the GOP gambit.

If it comes to the presidents desk, he will veto it, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said on Tuesday. She added of the rule in question: Its based on a 50-year-old law, and we are confident in our ability to implement it.

No matter what comes of the effort, Republicans made it clear they will keep fighting the administration's Covid measures, despite mounting virus cases and predictions of a difficult winter.

Critics of the private sector mandate in particular argue it will hurt companies already struggling with worker shortages, mass resignations and other pandemic stressors.

We've been hearing a lot from our businesses, Tester said in an interview ahead of the vote. "I still think the [mandates for] the military, hospitals, government contractors  that's different."

Brauns office said the senator has received more calls from constituents about this issue than any other from his two years in office.

Pointing to recent court rulings blocking other vaccine mandates imposed by the Biden administration, opponents of the rule also argue its unconstitutional.

I agree with the 5th Circuit Court  the federal government doesnt have the authority, Keller said.
Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) speaks with Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) during a press conference on Friday, July 30, 2021 to discuss the bipartisan infrastructure deal with members of the Problem Solvers Caucus.





The Senate on Wednesday voted to nix President Biden's vaccine mandate for larger businesses, handing Republicans a symbolic win.

Senators voted 52-48 on the resolution, which needed a simple majority to be approved. Democratic Sens. Jon Tester (Mont.) and Joe Manchin (W.Va.) voted with Republicans, giving it enough support to be sent to the House.

The resolution faces an uphill path in the House, where Republicans aren't able to use a similar fast-track process to force a vote over the objections of Democratic leadership. Instead, Republicans are hoping to get the simple majority needed to force a vote through a discharge petition, which will require support from a handful of House Democrats.

But Republicans view Wednesday's Senate vote as a significant win, and it's the first time they've been able to use the Congressional Review Act to successfully get a resolution targeting a Biden rule through the Senate.

The rule, published through the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), orders businesses with at least 100 employees to require that their workers to get vaccinated or undergo regular testing by Jan. 4.

But Republicans believe that it constitutes federal government overreach and violates American workers' civil liberties.

Sen. Mike Braun (Ind.), who spearheaded the GOP resolution, said that Americans should get vaccinated "unless they have a good reason" but called the vaccine requirement an "ultimatum" that has "mainstream America scared."

"That is the heavy hand of government, that is overreach and that is my phone started ringing off the hook," he said. "I hope that members in the House, Democrats in places, check with your constituents."

Manchin and Tester both voted for the GOP resolution on Wednesday after they joined all other Democrats last week in voting against defunding the mandate as part of the short-term funding bill.

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Manchin argued in a statement that the federal government "should incentivize, not penalize, private employers whose responsibility it is to protect their employees from COVID-19."

Tester added this week that he's not "crazy about mandates."

Biden's vaccine mandate for larger businesses has run into several court challenges.

In November, the New Orleans-based U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit temporarily blocked, or stayed, the rule, calling it "fatally flawed" and ordering that OSHA not enforce the requirement "pending adequate judicial review" of a motion for a permanent injunction.

The Biden administration moved late last month to try to restart the requirement, arguing that "delaying this standard would endanger many thousands of people and would likely cost many lives per day."

"With the reopening of workplaces and the emergence of the highly transmissible Delta variant, the threat to workers is ongoing and overwhelming," a government lawyer added.

An Axios-Ipsos poll published in late November showed that only 14 percent of employed Americans support firing workers who refuse to get vaccinated.

But a Wall Street Journal poll released Tuesday showed that 50 percent of voters say they favor Biden's vaccine requirements for employers with 100 or more workers, while 47 percent oppose the president's mandate.

Even if the GOP resolution gets a vote in the House, the White House has warned that Biden will veto it. Neither chamber has the two-thirds majority required to override a veto.

"We certainly hope the Senate, Congress, will stand up to the anti-vaccine and -testing crowd, and we're going to continue to work to implement these. If it comes to the president's desk, he will veto it," White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters.

"We've got a new variant, and cases are rising. President's been clear. We'll use every tool to protect the American people, and we hope others will join us in that effort," she added.

Democrats blasted the GOP resolution ahead of Wednesday's vote, noting it came amid concerns about the new omicron COVID-19 variant.

"The worst thing we can do is to tie our own hands behind our backs and let these new variants spread and grow and new ones after omicron and so many others. But that is what Republican-pushed, anti-vaccines would do," said Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.).

"I will strongly vote against this measure, with strong feelings about what's good for this country and about fighting anti-science and theories that seem to, as I said, come from the same place that the flat Earth theory came from, that the theory that the sun revolves around the Earth came from," he added. "We ought not give it a stamp of approval in this chamber."




Meta and other social media companies would be required to share their data with outside researchers under a new bill announced by a bipartisan group of senators on Thursday.

Sens. Chris Coons (D-Del.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Rob Portman (R-Ohio) underscored the need for their bill based on information leaked about Meta's platforms in the so-called Facebook Papers, though the proposal would also apply to other social media companies.

The bill, the Platform Accountability and Transparency Act, would allow independent researchers to submit proposals to the National Science Foundation. If the requests are approved, social media companies would be required to provide the necessary data subject to certain privacy protections.

"It's increasingly clear that more transparency is needed so that the billions of people who use Facebook, Twitter, and similar platforms can fully understand the impact of those tradeoffs. This bipartisan proposal is an important step that will bring much needed information about the impact of social media companies to light and ought to be a crucial part of any comprehensive strategy that Congress can take to regulate major social media companies," Coons said in a statement.

If companies failed to comply with the requirement under the bill, they would be subject to enforcement from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and face losing immunity under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. Section 230 is a controversial provision that provides immunity for internet companies based on content posted by third parties, and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have proposed measures to weaken its reach.

The bill also gives the FTC power to require platforms to proactively make certain information available of resources or the public on an ongoing basis, such as an ad library with information about user targeting and engagement.

Facebook came under fire in August after suspending the accounts of New York University researchers who created a tool to analyze political ads and the spread of misinformation on the platform.

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Facebook had sent the researchers a case-and-desist letter in prior months, and it argued the decision was made because the research posed privacy protection issues.

Social media companies have also faced increased pressure to provide information on their data, especially as it relates to kids and teenagers on the platforms.

Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) asked Facebook to disclose information about internal research on the impact of its platforms on kids and teens, but the senators said the platform failed to make that information available to them and it was only later disclosed in documents leaked by a company whistleblower.

In subsequent hearings since the information was leaked, senators have pushed executives from Meta, Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube to commit to providing information about internal research and data collected especially on underaged users.
Roughly 130 people walked Beach Road in Siesta Key in favor of incorporating the barrier island into Sarasota County's newest town on Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021.

Well over 100 people marched down Beach Road on Siesta Key on Sunday holding signs favoring incorporation of the barrier island and chanting "hear our voice" and "let us vote."

Several times, passing cars honked in support of the effort by Save Siesta Key Inc. to see the question of whether Siesta Key should become Sarasota County's newest municipality.

State legislators Sen. Joe Gruters and Rep. Fiona McFarland will hold a town hall meeting Wednesday on Siesta Key to hear from the residents and discuss potential legislation. If a bill is passed, that would put the question of incorporation on the next ballot, and if a majority votes in favor, Siesta Key would join North Port, Sarasota and Long Boat Key as incorporated governments inside Sarasota County.

Save Siesta Key Inc. has been working for most of this year for a referendum after several large hotels were proposed for the key. Two of the four proposed hotels have been approved by the County Commission despite strong community mobilization and advocacy against what advocates have called "high-density hotels."

Coverage of Siesta Key hotel development: Disputed Siesta Key hotel project moves ahead after Sarasota County Commission removes hotel room cap

More: Controversial hotel development on Siesta Key's south end gets Sarasota County approval

And: Siesta Key hotel development challenged in court by Sarasota County resident

Well over 100 people marched down Beach Road in Siesta Key in favor of incorporating the barrier island into Sarasota's newest town.

Ellen Solomons moved to Siesta Key in the early 1990s and has lived on the barrier island for more than 30 years.

She said that she choose Siesta Key because of its laid-back feel and how the area felt more family-centered than on the east coast of Florida.

"When you came over the bridge," she said, "you could just feel your blood pressure drop."

Despite some modest commercial development over the years, she said Siesta Key still feels family-centered and small. She is worried the hotels could change that.

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"These hotels are just going to destroy the ambiance of the island," she said.

Mark Spiegel, president of the Siesta Key Coalition, has been one of the people fighting the proposed hotels, but before now he had not been involved in the incorporation effort.

That changed this week as the board of the Siesta Key Coalition voted in support of putting the question of whether Siesta Key should be its own town on a referendum.

"Having witnessed the process, we need better local representation," Spiegel said on Sunday.

Many people marching on Sunday had stronger condemnation of the process than Spiegel.

Linda Dickinson said she's frustrated.

"I am sick and tired of taxation with no representation," she said.

Julie Brown said called the march a manifestation of the island's frustration.

"Things have come to a head," she said. "People on the key have realized we don't have a say."

Eileen Jones said, "people on Siesta Key are simply tired of not having a voice."

More Siesta Key news: Leaders to hold Siesta Key town hall to discuss 'potential legislation' on incorporation

More: Siesta Key hotel development challenged in court by Sarasota County resident

Jann Webster and Ashley Cebak helped organize the march, which started at the public parking area for Siesta Key Beach, with participants walking along Beach Road for about a mile.

Cebak said her family moved to Siesta Key in the 1960s, with her joining them as full-time residents about two years ago. The 31-year-old jokes that she's one of the youngest residents in her condo building, but she loves the island and Sarasota County, showing off an SRQ tattoo on her wrist.

Both Webster and Cebak are ambassadors with Save Siesta Key Inc. They started handing out fliers highlighting four events, including the upcoming town hall meeting just this past Wednesday.

Both were impressed with the turnout but said they expect to double the showing next Sunday when they plan to walk along Beach Road again from 11 a.m. until noon, waving signs and chanting in favor of incorporation.

"Nothing means more to me than this place," Cebak said.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Siesta Key residents frustrated by hotels rally to incorporate
Qiu Fengze in Moon Landing's music video. (Screenshot from YouTube)

Moon Landing, the new single from Taiwanese band W0LF(S)s upcoming first album, features Singaporean singer-songwriter Qiu Fengze, also known as Kenny Khoo, attempt dancing in a music video for the first time.

W0LF(S) was established from the Taiwanese variety show 100% Entertainment. The group name derives from the initials of the five members: Wayne Huang, Nine Chen (also known as 09), Lai Yan-ju, Qiu Fengze and Shou Lou.

The music video of the dance hit, released on 1 December, has K-pop-like beats and features the five of them grooving in cool black-white outfits, before alternating with fiery red-black costumes.

Qiu wrote on his Instagram, I was quite worried to perform a dance song for the first time as my body has always been a little stiff. But with the constant encouragement from my partners, I gained the confidence to do my best for everyone.

Here's the music video:

Heres a performance of the full dance:

Fans were generally touched by Qiu's effort, some of whom posted the following comments:

You are the best.

You really are an idol who makes us feel proud.

Thanks Fengze for the never-ending surprise.

Im looking forward to your future events.

All the blood, sweat and tears will not go wasted.

The song's lyrics are about how we are our own worst enemy and that fate lies in our own hands. This is also why W0LF(S) chose to take on a full-fledged dance song, as they knew they had to break their own boundaries in order to excel and land on the moon.

Qiu recently collaborated with Edan Lui of Cantopop boy band Mirror to release a single, Promising Young Man, in both Mandarin and Cantonese versions.
The State Journal-Register is moving its editorial offices to the Quantum Centre at 421 South Grand Ave. W. [Justin L. Fowler/The State Journal-Register]

The State Journal-Register is moving its news operation to the Quantum Centre at 421 South Grand Ave. W. in Springfield.

According to executive editor Leisa Richardson, the newspaper has signed a lease with building owner Sam Nichols.

The lease begins Feb. 1.

The offices will be on the first floor in the east part of the building.

"I am thrilled we were able to find a new home in the Springfield city core," Richardson said. "Staying near downtown was an important consideration. Sam Nichols was a great help and partner as we searched. We are looking forward to settling into the new space and continuing our work covering Springfield and central Illinois at sj-r.com and in the print edition."

Benedictine University: Tony Libri looks to keep 'historical vibe' in development of former Benedictine campus

The SJ-R's circulation operation has moved to a separate facility northwest of downtown.

The Quantum Centre is occupied by Bacon Farmer Workman (BFW) Engineering & Testing, Inc. and One Hope United, a multistate nonprofit.

The former SJ-R office building that takes up the block of Ninth Street between Monroe Street and Capitol Avenue sold at an auction to Sangamon County for $1.25 million in October.

Sangamon County administrator Brian McFadden said there were planned projects for the sheriff's office, coroner's office and the Sangamon Menard Area Regional Transit for the building.

The newspaper's operations moved into the building in 1982 after being located in the 300 block of South Sixth Street.

Richardson said the news staff has been working remotely because of the COVID-19 pandemic since March 2020.

The SJ-R has been part of Gannett since 2019.

Contact Steven Spearie: 217-622-1788, sspearie@sj-r.com, twitter.com/@StevenSpearie.

This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: State Journal-Register staff is moving to new offices in Springfield
Lake whitefish are sorted on a commercial fishing boat on Green Bay.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is moving toward a permanent rule change that would allow increased commercial harvest of lake whitefish in southern Green Bay.

The modification has been years in the making and is a response to a good news, bad news situation.

On the sunny side of the equation, the whitefish population in the bay has been increasing for more than a decade, according to DNR data.

In a happy surprise the native fish successfully adapted to the onslaught of invasive species such as round gobies and zebra and quagga mussels and not only survived but restored spawning runs on several tributaries to the bay, including the Menomonie River.

With a downturned mouth, whitefish are able to take advantage of the billions of new benthic, or bottom-dwelling, animals carpeting the lake bed.

The increase in whitefish already spurred a thriving new winter sport fishery in the bay. Thousands of ice anglers now head to Sturgeon Bay and other Door County sites to try their luck on whitefish.

Kyle Tokarski of Green Bay lands a lake whitefish while ice fishing near Sturgeon Bay.

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The unhappy news is playing out on the other side of the Door Peninsula where the Moonlight Bay stock, once the largest whitefish population in the Wisconsin waters of Lake Michigan, has declined substantially. Commercial fishers there have been unable to catch their quotas. In 2015, for example, the netters landed just 24% of their allowed take.

So the DNR has been working on a plan to shift commercial effort to the richer waters of Green Bay (especially the southern bay, known as Zone 1) and reduce it on Lake Michigan (Zone 3 and part of Zone 2).

An earlier attempt to modify the commercial whitefish rule was shelved by the DNR in 2016 due to public opposition.

At the time some members of the Lake Michigan Commercial Fishing Board floated the notion of keeping and selling walleyes and other sport fish as "bycatch." Sport anglers and others spoke out loudly against that idea, many believing it would lead to targeting of prized sport fish and result in a depletion of the resource.

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This time is different. There is no talk of selling walleyes or other incidentally-caught sport fish.

And to its credit over the last several years the DNR worked with partners, including UW-Green Bay, commercial fishers and Wisconsin Sea Grant, to monitor the whitefish harvest in trap and gill nets.

More: Smith: Whitefish rule change must follow science

There's a lot more data available now than five years ago.

DNR Lake Michigan fisheries supervisor Brad Eggold gave an update on the Lake Michigan and Green Bay commercial fishing study Wednesday at the Natural Resources Board meeting in Madison.

Eggold acknowledged it's a "really complex issue" but explained why the agency maintains the Green Bay whitefish population can sustain additional harvest.

The DNR estimates the Green Bay population of whitefish increased from about 6 million fish in 2008 to about 16 million in 2018. Over the same period, the whitefish spawning biomass increased from about 15 million pounds to about 37 million pounds.

To assess the effects of trap and gill nets on sport fish, over the last two years a UW-Green Bay graduate student accompanied commercial fishermen and documented the results of 593 trap net lifts and 29 large mesh gill net lifts.

Overall non-target gamefish bycatch was relatively low, according to the DNR report.

Based on the observed number of walleyes in the nets, the agency projects about 13,000 walleye would be caught by commercial fishermen targeting whitefish in Green Bay in 2021 and about 1,300 of them would die.

By comparison the sport angler harvest of walleye in Green Bay was estimated at 91,000 fish in 2019; the DNR estimates the bay's walleye population at more than 2 million fish.

Most of the incidental catch of walleyes occurred in the southern part of the bay. In addition, higher numbers of whitefish discards (typically fish smaller than the 17-inch minimum commercial size limit) were seen in the south.

The DNR has yet to release its final whitefish rule proposal, but the draft calls for a total allowable catch of 1,176,889 pounds for Green Bay and 800,407 pounds for Lake Michigan.

The final rule will detail how the shares are split among the three zones.

It will also likely include a new restricted area in southern Green Bay in which trap net fishing would be allowed by permit only. The measure would mitigate bycatch issues with non-target sport fish and sublegal whitefish that become discards, according to the DNR.

And the Electronic Fish Harvest Reporting System (EFHRS) will become mandatory for commercial netters, Eggold said.

The final rule is expected to be released to the public in the coming weeks and presented to the NRB in January.

Application deadline reminders

Friday is the deadline to submit applications for drawings for 2022 Wisconsin bear and spring turkey tags.

The applications are available for purchase online through Go Wild, the DNRs license portal, or in person at an authorized license agent.

The application period closes at 11:59 p.m. Friday.

Bear permit applicants must apply at least once every three years to retain their accumulated preference points, otherwise all accumulated preference points will be lost.

If a bear hunting applicant is selected in the drawing, their preference points will be reset to zero, even if they do not purchase the harvest permit. Applicants must remain aware of drawing status.

Applicants selected in the drawing are notified by mail shortly after the drawing and may purchase their 2022 Class A bear license beginning in March 2022. Applicants may also check their status online through their Go Wild customer account.

Turkey harvest authorizations are issued through a preference-based drawing system. Applicants may choose up to two time period and zone combinations that they would like to hunt. As a third choice, applicants may choose one zone in which they will accept a harvest authorization for any period.

Successful applicants are notified by mail after the drawing results are finalized.

Applicants not selected receive a preference point that will increase their chances of drawing a harvest authorization the following spring season. Hunters can check their application status online through Go Wild.

Any harvest authorizations not awarded in the drawing will be available for purchase next March as bonus harvest authorizations. Bonus harvest authorizations cost $10 for residents and $15 for non-residents.

Our subscribers make this reporting possible. Please consider supporting local journalism by subscribing to the Journal Sentinel at jsonline.com/deal.

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: DNR moves to allow increased commercial take of Green Bay whitefish
Rose Ayling-Ellis and Giovanni Pernice have wowed 'Strictly Come Dancing' audiences this year. (Guy Levy/BBC)

Rose Ayling-Ellis has told how proud she is to be making history as Strictlys first ever deaf contestant.

The EastEnders star, 27, has been a huge hit on the BBC ballroom show, where she counts to keep to the music.

She told Sky News she has been inundated with messages from others in the deaf community.

Read more: Craig Revel Horwood slams James Jordan for calling Strictly's Rose Ayling-Ellis average

It's nice to be part of history, being the first deaf (contestant) on Strictly," she said.

"I think it's super important because it's an opportunity to show on such a big platform with millions of people watching, and change their concept of what they think deaf people are like. I'm very proud of that."

Rose Ayling-Ellis is the show's first deaf contestant. (BBC)

Ayling-Ellis  who is known for playing Frankie Lewis in the BBC soap - said her being on Strictly has been wonderful for other deaf people because it shows the culture and their community... because deaf people are not just deaf people.

The star, who is paired with pro Giovanni Pernice on the show, said it was also great to give deaf children a role model on such a big programme.

The star is a favourite in the competition. (BBC)

Ayling-Ellis and Pernice have been a huge success on the dancefloor, where they received the earliest perfect score in Strictly history for their Halloween-themed tango.

The pair are now thought to be the frontrunners to lift the coveted Glitterball trophy.

Read more: Rose Ayling-Ellis reveals she broke hearing aid during Strictly rehearsals

The semi-final of the competition takes place this weekend, with the contestants each performing two dances.

Watch: Strictly's Rose Ayling-Ellis on making history as the first deaf contestant
The Sundance Film Festival released the lineup for the 16th-anniversary edition of New Frontier, the fests track for showcasing multimedia, VR and emerging tech creative projects. The 2022 program includes 15 premieres from creators around the world.

The New Frontier program will be a fully biodigital showcase, according to Sundance. It will be globally accessible online via Sundances The Spaceship virtual venue from Jan. 20-28, 2022, with in-person extensions and live performances at The Craft, a new artist-centered venue in Park City. Ticketed New Frontier performances also will be presented in Park Citys Egyptian Theatre and simultaneously on The Spaceship.

More from Variety

SEE ALSO: Sundance 2022 Feature Lineup: Films From Lena Dunham, Amy Poehler and Netflixs Kanye West Doc

Kicking off the festival on Jan. 20 will be a special hybrid digital/in-person presentation of Sam Greens 32 Sounds (pictured above), an immersive documentary film about the powerful effects of sound, featuring live music and narration. 32 Sounds will take place simultaneously in the Egyptian Theatre and in The Spaceships Cinema House.

New Frontiers Spaceship platform, accessible via laptop or VR headset, is again being developed with creative studio Active Theory. Festival attendees, both in-person in Park City and online, can interact with each other via avatars and a human-scale Biodigital Bridge screen in Park City.

First launched in 2007, the New Frontier exhibition showcases multimedia storytelling, art installations, and biodigital performances that make use of emerging technologies like VR, haptic feedback and AI.

Heres the full lineup for the 2022 New Frontier program:

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32 Sounds / U.S. (Lead Artist: Sam Green)  An immersive documentary and sensory film experience that explores the elemental phenomenon of sound and its power to bend time, cross borders and profoundly shape our perception of the world around us. The film will be presented in its live cinema form, featuring live music and live narration. World Premiere.

Atua / New Zealand (Lead Artists: Tanu Gago, Jermaine Dean, Key Collaborators: Kat Lintott, Carthew Neal, Nacoya Anderson)  Centuries ago, gender- and sexuality-diverse Pacific peoples were impacted by the arrival of Christianity. This work utilizes a Maori concept of time and space, reimagining Te Kore as a celestial being. Te Kore is the Void, a nonbinary state of chaos, abundant with possibilities and the unlimited potential for being. World Premiere.

Child of Empire / U.K. (Lead Artists: Sparsh Ahuja, Erfan Saadati, Stephen Stephenson, Omi Zola Gupta, Key Collaborators: Sam Dalyrmple, Saadia Gardezi, Jayosmita Ganguly)  Experience the largest forced migration in human history, the 1947 Partition of India and Pakistan. Embody the childhood memories of two survivors, as they reflect on their journeys across a divided homeland. World Premiere.

Cosmogony / Switzerland (Lead Artists: Gilles Jobin, Susana Panades Diaz, Camilo de Martino, Tristan Siodlak, Key Collaborator: Pierre-Igor Berthet)  A live digital performance in which 3 dancers are motion captured in Geneva and projected remotely in real time. North American Premiere.

Diagnosia / U.S. (Lead Artists: Mengtai Zhang, Lemon Guo, Producers: Mengtai Zhang, Lemon Guo, Yue Huang)  In this VR experience, the director locks us inside his teenage memories of being incarcerated in a military-operated internet addiction camp in Beijing in 2007, where internet addiction and other youth issues were treated as severe mental disorders, and sometimes by violent means. North American Premiere.

Flat Earth VR / Brazil (Lead Artist: Lucas Rizzotto) VR is known as the ultimate empathy machine that lets users experience others perspectives. But what happens when those perspectives are delusional? Experience the ultimate flat-earther fantasy: ascend into the stars and prove all globe-earthers wrong by taking photos of the planet as it truly is: flat like a pancake. World Premiere.

Gondwana / Australia (Lead Artists: Ben Joseph Andrews, Emma Roberts, Key Collaborators: Lachlan Sleight, Michelle Brown, The Convoy)  A durational VR experience that runs over 24 hours, and a constantly-evolving virtual ecosystem chronicling the possible futures of the worlds oldest tropical rainforest, the Daintree. Powered by climate data, each showing is unrepeatable and speculative, a meditation on time, change and loss in an irreplaceable landscape. World Premiere.

On the Morning You Wake (To the End of the World) / U.K. (Lead Artists: Dr. Jamaica Heolimeleikalani Osorio, Mike Brett, Steve Jamison, Arnaud Colinart, Pierre Zandrowicz, Key Collaborators: Jo-Jo Ellison, Bobby Krlic)  On a regular Saturday morning in January 2018, as Hawaiian citizens went about their daily routines, the entire state population received an SMS from the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, which read: BALLISTIC MISSILE THREAT INBOUND TO HAWAII. SEEK IMMEDIATE SHELTER. THIS IS NOT A DRILL. World Premiere.

Seven Grams / France (Lead Artist: Karim Ben Khelifa, Key Collaborators: TT Hernandez, Quentin Noirfalisse)  An entirely new way for people to understand the human cost that went into producing their smartphones. This project brings the Democratic Republic of Congos tragic mining industry straight to the smartphone that its mineral resources helped make, via an app on both IOS and Android systems. North American Premiere.

Suga- A Live Virtual Dance Performance / U.S. (Lead Artist: Valencia James, Key Collaborators: Thomas Wester, Simon Boas)  An immersive experience that features live dance performance as volumetric video in social virtual reality space. The performance weaves together movement, family stories, and cultural heritage to imagine virtual environments as a site for healing and reclamation of spaces that were historically filled with pain and injustice.

Surrogate / U.S. (Lead Artist: Lauren Lee McCarthy, Key Collaborators: Dorothy R. Santos, David Leonard, Stefanie Tam)  How do we relate to the future while living in a world in crisis? Amidst climate change, inequity, and pandemic, its no longer possible to view ourselves as separate from past and future. How much control should we have over a birthing persons body, and a life before its born? North American Premiere.

The Inside World / U.S. (Lead Artists: Jennifer McCoy, Kevin McCoy, Key Collaborators: Annie J. Howell, Peter Rostovsky)  The city of Las Vegas is now operated by artificial intelligence. Fourteen AI Managers handle every sector of the city. The problem is, one of them is secretly human Digital Art NFTs meet gameplay in this community driven mystery. World Premiere.

The State of Global Peace / U.S. (Lead Artists: Daanish Masood Alavi, Key Collaborators: Igal Nassima, Erica Newman)  The prime minister of a fictitious country  played by you  is about to deliver a speech at a virtual UN General Assembly in the near future. A group of students hijacks the security system and takes over the screens, asking to have a dialogue. World Premiere.

They Dream in My Bones  Insemnopedy II / France (Lead Artist: Faye Formisano, Key Collaborators: Ludovic De Oliveira, Lilou-Magali Robert, Cindy Coutant)  Immersed on virtual veils, this VR360 experience tells the story of Roderick Norman, a researcher in onirogenetics, the science he founded, which makes it possible to extract dreams from an unidentified skeleton at the frontier of gender and the human. North American Premiere.

This Is Not a Ceremony / Canada (Lead Artist: Ahnahktsipiitaa (Colin Van Loon), Key Collaborators: Olivier Leroux, James Monkman, Jessica Dymond)  Darkly humorous and occasionally caustic, this cinematic VR experience offers insights into the struggles and conflicts of growing up an Indigenous man. World Premiere.

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ALBANY - SUNY Chancellor Jim Malatras said Thursday he will step down Jan. 14 amid growing calls for his resignation after he made incendiary comments about one of Gov. Andrew Cuomo's sexual harassment accusers prior to her accusations.

Malatras, a former top adviser to Cuomo who was appointed chancellor in August 2020, apologized in recent days after Attorney General Letitia James made public transcripts and evidence from a probe of the allegations against Cuomo, which led to his resignation earlier this year.

In a text exchange among Malatras and other Cuomo allies, they were shown to be mocking Lindsey Boylan, a former economic development official who was the first woman to publicly accuse Cuomo.

Malatras' comments led to increasing pressure for him to resign, even as the SUNY Board of Trustees had initially shown support for him and Gov. Kathy Hochul had refrained from calling for him to leave.

But Democratic lawmakers were calling more and more for his ouster, and they control the SUNY budget. And several SUNY organizations wanted him to go.

"Recent events surrounding me over the past week have become a distraction over the important work that needs to be accomplished as SUNY emerges from COVID-19," he wrote in a letter Thursday to the SUNY board.

"I believe deeply in an individual's ability to evolve, change and grow, but I also believe deeply in SUNY and would never want to be an impediment to its success."

Later Thursday, Hochul said she spoke with SUNY Board president Merryl Tisch on Wednesday night  a move that appeared to be the final blow to Malatras.

Hochul didn't disclose the details of the conversation, but told reporters: "It was an important conversation to have, and it was focused on the future of the SUNY system."

Jim Malatras was named the chancellor of the State University of New York on Aug. 21, 2020.

Boylan, after leaving the administration, tweeted in 2019 that working in politics had been a toxic and demoralizing experience.

She had yet to go public with her sexual harassment allegations against the governor.

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Let's release some of her cray emails, Malatras texted, using slang for crazy.

After Boylan called him out in a series of tweets, Malatras texted to the group: Malatras to Boylan: Go f__ yourself.

The comments, along with other media reports of Malatras' previous workplace behavior, had fueled a growing list of state lawmakers and groups calling for Malatras to either step down or be dismissed by the SUNY Board of Trustees, which governs the 64-campus system.

Late Wednesday, roughly 30 Democratic Assembly members wrote to the board to demand Malatras' firing. So too have several senators, including Sen. Alessandra Biaggi, D-Pelham, Westchester County, and Assembly Higher Education Committee chairwoman Deborah Glick.

Several SUNY groups had also called for Malatras to resign, including the system's Student Assembly and Faculty Council of Community Colleges.

"The voices of SUNY students have been heard," the Student Assembly said in a statement.

The Board of Trustees on Thursday thanked Malatras for his service. He earned $450,000 a year, records show.

"He has been a champion for our students, for access, for equity, and for deeper public investment in this great institution," it said in a statement. "The entire board expresses our gratitude for his dedication and leadership.

Probably the only time you'll hear me drop an F-bomb, but I felt it necessary.



"This was many years ago, people have disagreements in high-stress jobs, I should have used different language, it's a long time ago, I gotta focus on SUNY,"

Malatras on the @LindseyBoylan comment. https://t.co/9QNGGh8SHy pic.twitter.com/ByvplDo6bV  Darrell Camp (@TheTDCamp) November 30, 2021

Malatras told reporters Nov. 30 that he has had "strong disagreements" with colleagues at times during his lengthy tenure in state government, but said he should have used better language when talking about Boylan.

"Truth is, Im not proud of the language I used. I conveyed my disagreement with my colleague, but Im proud of collaborative work in government. Ive been in government a long time," he told reporters after testifying at a legislative hearing on the system's COVID response.

Malatras' ascension to chancellor was met with skepticism at the time.

He was a close aide to Cuomo who moved to head Empire State College and then reemerged to help the governor's pandemic response after he was tapped by the SUNY board, which is led by Cuomo appointees, to head SUNY without a national search.

SUNY is expected to conduct a more broad search for its next chancellor.

Includes reporting by The Associated Press.

More: SUNY enrollment fell 20% over the past decade. What the chancellor might do to change it

Joseph Spector is the Government and Politics Editor for the USA TODAY Network's Atlantic Group, overseeing coverage in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Delaware. He can be reached at JSPECTOR@Gannett.com or followed on Twitter: @GannettAlbany

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This article originally appeared on New York State Team: SUNY chancellor to resign amid controversial comments
ZURICH (Reuters) - Switzerland's supreme court has overturned the conviction of a Geneva doctor who helped a healthy 86-year-old woman commit suicide so she would not have to outlive her dying husband.

In the ruling released on Thursday, the Federal Court said a lower court erred in sentencing the doctor under the Therapeutic Products Act (TPA), which it said did not apply.

It sent the case back to see if he should be retried under the Narcotics Act.

The unidentified doctor prescribed the lethal drug sodium pentobarbital for the woman in 2017, who took it to die along with her spouse, the court said in a statement.

In cases of suicide by a healthy person, there is no medical indication for the prescription of sodium pentobarbital, which is not used therapeutically in the broadest sense, so a conviction on the basis of the TPA was invalid, the court said.

Assisted suicide has been legal in Switzerland https://www.reuters.com/article/us-swiss-euthanasia-goodall-idUSKBN1IB2A7 since the 1940s, a legal curiosity that has made the country what some call a "death tourism" magnet.

(Reporting by Michael Shields; Editing by Mark Potter)
ZURICH (Reuters) - A Swiss father of three ended a 39-day hunger strike on Thursday aimed at raising awareness of climate change in Swiss parliament, claiming victory after scientists announced they would meet lawmakers next year to discuss the issue.

"Victory! Guillermo Fernandez puts an end to his hunger strike after 39 days. Climate experts and ecologists will educate Swiss parliament," said a statement on the #PapaOnHungerstrike website.

A friend told Reuters that Fernandez had lost more than 20 kg but was still in good health. Fernandez could not immediately be reached for comment.

The former IT programmer quit his job and began his protest on Nov. 1 in a bid to encourage Switzerland to take bold action on climate change to safeguard his children's future.

Temperatures in Switzerland are rising at around twice the global rate, melting glaciers and thawing permafrost, and some climate activists are disappointed with official measures.

Climate Action Tracker, a tool developed by a scientific research group, rated Switzerland's actions "insufficient".

During the hunger strike, Environment Minister Simonetta Sommaruga visited Fernandez on Federal Square in Bern where he set up camp.

On Thursday, the Swiss Academy of Natural Sciences said in a statement that it would brief Swiss parliamentarians on the latest findings on climate change in a dedicated session on May 2.

(Reporting by Silke Koltrowitz and Emma Farge; Editing by Mike Collett-White)
It would be understandable if Teven Jenkins patience were wearing thin.

Nearly 13 months have passed since the Chicago Bears offensive tackle has started a football game.

First a back injury at Oklahoma State prompted him to opt out of the final four games of his senior season in 2020. Then, after the Bears drafted him with the 39th pick in the spring, another back issue required surgery and sidelined him for the first three months of his rookie season.

Now, though Jenkins said he hasnt felt this good physically since he was 18 years old, he remains sidelined behind nine-time Pro Bowl left tackle Jason Peters, the 39-year-old veteran whom the Bears signed to fill in.

Jenkins, however, said hes willing to take on whatever role the Bears want for him right now, even if thats mostly just soaking up Peters advice.

Its all about trusting the process, Jenkins said Wednesday in his first media session since June. (Peters is) a (future) Hall of Famer. Hes greatness. So I have no problem sitting behind Jason Peters right now and learning  just learning.

Because I trust what the Bears have in store for me and I trust what Coach (Juan) Castillo has for me and Coach (Matt) Nagy. I trust them all. And I believe its the right path for me.

With Peters playing well and Jenkins still catching up from the time he missed, Nagy and Castillo said Jenkins will serve as depth at left tackle for now, with occasional playing time on special teams or in special situations. They could, of course, change their mind at any point, especially if the Bears are officially eliminated from playoff contention and want to see what Jenkins can do.

Jenkins said his heart was racing as he played two snaps on extra points Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals  his first NFL appearance after he returned to practice in mid-November.

Its my first game, and thats like the big stage, Jenkins said. Of course I was nervous a little bit.  But its just one little hump I had to get over and just had to get acclimated.

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Jenkins had a tough few months to get to that point.

He said the symptoms of his back injury were different from when he had a back issue as a senior in college.

Unbearable nerve pain shot down his legs, making it difficult to do even little things such as take steps and get up from sitting. He said symptoms lingered between working in the offseason program and training camp, and he wonders if trying to work through it  as football players are used to doing  made it worse.

I probably pushed myself out there a little bit faster because I had that urge  I wanted to get back on the field; I dont care if its hurt, Jenkins said. And maybe I did push myself a little bit too much and made it a little worse, and thats what ended up going on to get surgery.

Jenkins said he and the Bears exhausted other options before deciding on the August surgery. Jenkins hopes it solved the issue so his back wont be a problem down the road.

Before he could physically practice, Jenkins attended Bears meetings for a couple of hours a day, during which he would write down the plays to mentally roll through in his head later, sometimes with the help of his fiancee. When he was able to get up and move, he would walk through the scenarios at home.

The early days of his recovery, when he was at Halas Hall for only a couple of hours a day, were the most difficult because he was itching to compete.

It was kind of hard at the beginning, but then I started realizing it was something out of my control, Jenkins said. Mentally, I got past that and said, Look, if I cant do this physically, Im going to get better mentally in the playbook and schemes and games against people were playing with and just keep on doing that. And thats how I got over it mentally.

Castillo said its now a matter of gaining experience in practice and from watching Peters.

Right now the thing for him is just getting off the ball and getting to a spot, Castillo said. Im talking about pass protection. Run game is a little easier than pass pro.  The key is, at the snap count, being able to get off the ball, being able to explode and get to that spot as quick as he can.

Thats something that Jason is really good at that we worked on a long time ago and that hes really mastered  being able to get off that football. So for me, that really helps my teaching to be able to have somebody I worked with before that they can see exactly how its done.

Jenkins is willing to take that teaching for now as he waits for his next opportunity.

Personally, Im still waiting to see how it all unfolds, Jenkins said. Right now Im still backing up JP. ... Great player, even greater person, and just being able to learn and get the knowledge hes sharing with us, just having that advantage as my career goes on, I feel like thats a great thing for me.
Not so long ago, Elizabeth Holmes, CEO of the now-defunct blood-testing startup Theranos, was Silicon Valleys darling. Now, shes on trial, facing charges related to wire fraud, misleading investors and more.

Related Why You Should Consider Investing in Frontier Technology

How will that downfall affect other health, tech and science-related startups? Heres a closer look.

Its Creating Bigger Challenges for Similar Startups

Startups arguably have a hard enough time gaining the necessary traction. Some leaders of other startups in the blood-testing space said Theranos was like a dark shadow on their operations, or at least forced them to make changes. John Lewis is the founder of Nanostics, which, like Theranos, aims to detect disease signs in small amounts of blood.

Our initial plan was to go out saying that we can detect disease signatures with a single drop of blood, but that was literally just when Theranos was going down for stating that they could do that when they couldnt. So in our texts, we said, two drops of blood, he told Slate.

Tim Blauwkamp is the cofounder and chief scientific officer of Karius, which provides noninvasive pathogen blood tests. He described similar woes to Slate, saying, There just got to be this absurd connection between a blood test and fraud.

He continued, It was such a visible event, and everybody had made those associations and wanted to double-check that it wasnt a widespread phenomenon in every blood-testing company.

Its Proving the Markets Viability

At the other end of the spectrum is the argument that Theranos proved theres a market for similar tech, provided it fulfills its promises.

Teemu Suna founded Nightingale Health, a Finnish startup that raised 8.8 million in a January 2021 funding round and surpassed its initial goal to generate 6-8 million through the effort.

While speaking to Sifted in 2019 about how the Theranos disaster affected other startups, Suna said, A single bad experience doesnt tell anything about the industry. That said, no matter what the business proposition is, if one is planning to invest in the biotech or health care (clinical businesses, and not recreational services) [sectors], the underlying science and tech behind the [company] should be scrutinized closely.

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Related How One Female Founder Navigates Funding Hurdles in the Health & Sciences Sector

Investors are not exactly wary of the industry, he continued. The potential that Theranos demonstrated is immense, as health care is one of the biggest markets in the world.

It seems Suna has a point. After all, digital health startup investments for the first half of 2021 were three times what they were for all of 2016. Investors dont necessarily have to focus on device-based innovations, either. For example, the COVID-19 pandemic caused a surge in companies and providers that used telemedicine to facilitate safer care.

Its Increased the Need for Reliable Proof

Most people eventually come across startups that fall short, so Theranos was certainly not the first. However, as the company comes into the spotlight again, there is an ongoing need for other startups to show that products, technology and other aspects work as promised and ideally, do so through peer-reviewed research.

A 2019 study of health care companies that reached unicorn status examined 18 current unicorns and 29 exited ones. The research showed that 10 in the first group had no highly cited research papers. The same was true for 12 of the companies in the second category.

The Leeway Offered by Lab-Developed Tests

Some health tests on the market now arent necessarily more accurate than what Theranos offered. Thats because they fall into a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) category called lab-developed tests.

One of the worrisome things about that product group is that a genetic test that claimed to screen for cancer could go on the market and advertise to the public with no FDA input.

Ana Rutschman is an assistant professor at the Center for Health Law Studies at Saint Louis University School of Law. While discussing the framework for lab-approved tests with The Verge, she explained how a health-tech companys assertions might not mean much.

Related Family Health History Day: Look to Your Past to Maximize a Healthy Future

You can say, Ive followed every single piece of the regulations, and you might well be telling the truth. Its just that the regulatory framework is so weak that it means virtually nothing, Rutschman says. But youre free to go to a customer and say that.

Sometimes, the regulator does intervene, as it did when sending a warning letter to Inova Genomics, which sold a blood test it claimed could detect how a person would react to certain medications. The FDA cited the companys lack of data. However, that action came after people were already buying the relevant products.

Even with all of these ramifications so far, its too early to say whether the Theranos scandal will still affect other companies in the space five to 10 years from now.

The post What the Theranos Trial Means for Health & Sci-Tech Startups appeared first on Worth.
Charlie Brown and Linus appear in a scene from "A Charlie Brown Christmas."

On Dec. 9, 1965, "A Charlie Brown Christmas" aired for the first time on television. The popular animated musical special about Christmas was based on Charles M. Schulz's comic strip called Peanuts.

The TV special was critically acclaimed as a telling commentary on the loss of the spirit of Christmas among Americans. It is now screened every year at Christmastime around the world. In the special, Charlie Brown finds himself depressed despite the onset of the cheerful holiday season. Lucy suggests he direct a neighborhood Christmas play, but his best efforts are ignored and mocked by his peers when he chooses a real, but puny, Christmas tree as a centerpiece. After Linus speaks of the true meaning of Christmas, the neighborhood decorates the tree as a Christmas gift to Charlie Brown.

Source: Checkiday.com.

This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: Today is: 'A Charlie Brown Christmas' first aired in 1965
TOKYO (Reuters) -Toyota Motor Corp has halted production at two factories in Japan due to a supply shortage, a spokesperson told Reuters on Thursday.

The stoppage means that Toyota cannot return to normal operations in December as it had originally planned.

The automaker had previously said that it hoped to return to normal production for the first time in seven months in December, after supply shortages disrupted production.

Production at the factories was halted on Wednesday and the suspension is expected to continue for about three days, the spokesperson told Reuters, who added this was prompted by a supply chain disruption in Japan as well as a lack of labour in Vietnam due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The company expects a production fall of 3,500 vehicles from the stoppage, but will keep its target to produce 9 million vehicles worldwide during the financial year ending on March 31, the spokesperson said.

(Reporting by Sakura Murakami; editing by Jacqueline Wong and Jason Neely)
By Donny Kwok

HONG KONG (Reuters) -Trade in shares of Macau's Suncity Group Holdings Ltd and its unit Summit Ascent Holdings Ltd were suspended on Thursday, pending a statement in relation to a possible loan default.

Alvin Chau, Suncity's CEO as well as the founder of Macau's biggest operator of junkets that bring in high rollers to play at casinos, was arrested last month over alleged links to cross-border gambling.

Suncity shares were halted pending an announcement "in relation to a possible loan default by an associate of the controlling shareholder of the company and possible enforcement of securities charged," Suncity Group said in a statement.

Earlier this month, Chau's junket operations closed all of its VIP gambling rooms in Macau in the wake of his arrest.

Chau's junket operations, also called Suncity, are estimated to have accounted for a quarter of Macau's gambling revenue.

The closure of Chau's gaming rooms is expected to exacerbate pain for casino operators in the gambling hub and is expected to lead to closures in parts of Suncity Group such as restaurants, bars and hotels.

Macau's gaming regulator has also ordered junket operators in the former Portuguese colony to stop offering credit to customers, according to brokerage firm Bernstein.

With Chau's arrest, Macau and mainland Chinese authorities are adopting a zero-tolerance approach to the promotion of gambling in mainland China where it is illegal.

In tandem, they are seeking to rein in the flow of Chinese gambling-related funds into Macau and other gaming hubs - outflows that China last year deemed a national security risk.

(Reporting by Donny Kwok and Anne Marie Roantree; Editing by Stephen Coates and Edwina Gibbs)
Christynne Wood

A California transgender woman has reached a settlement in a lawsuit against a gym that denied her access to the womens locker room and other facilities.

Christynne Wood will receive a monetary settlement, the amount of which was not disclosed, in the suit against Crunch Fitness of El Cajon, near San Diego, the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California announced Wednesday. The gym has also agreed to provide nondiscrimination training to its employees.

Wood had been a member at the Crunch Fitness location for nine years when she informed the staff in 2016 that she was transitioning and would need access to the womens facilities. She presented a doctors letter and other documentation.

I brought my paperwork out to show them and was immediately told no, no, no, not so fast, Wood told San Diegos CBS affiliate.

Wood had already been harassed in the mens locker room, with a man grabbing his genitals while smiling at her. She reported the incident, but the gym took no action that she knew of. Then in 2017, almost a year after presenting her documents, there was another instance of harassment in the mens locker room, with a man calling her a f****** faggot, according to an ACLU press release. She was finally granted access to the womens facilities after this.

The California Department of Fair Employment and Housing sued Crunch Fitness in 2018 over its treatment of Wood, as discrimination based on gender identity violates state law. The ACLU of Southern California, ACLU of San Diego and Imperial Counties, and the law firm of Nixon Peabody later joined the suit.

I feel elated and validated to finally reach resolution in this case, Wood told the San Diego TV station. I hope the settlement helps the owners of Crunch and other gyms appreciate the importance of respecting transgender peoples identities. It's not only our legal right, but also could save a life.

Wood is still a member of the gym, which has changed ownership and management since the incidents that led to her suit. Exercising there has helped her lose 140 pounds, under doctors orders. I desperately love my instructors and fellow students. They are my sisters, she told the station.

The Department of Fair Employment and Housing brought suit in this case under the California Unruh Civil Rights Act to vindicate the essential right of transgender Californians to live their lives free from discrimination, its director, Kevin Kish, said in the ACLU release. Todays settlement ensures that no Californian will face the discrimination Ms. Wood experienced in the future at this establishment.
Long-haul truck driver Yulia Lazareva of Yevpatoria behind the wheel on Simferopol-Yevpatoria Highway on International Women's Day. Sergei Malgavko\TASS via Getty Images

A Minnesota trucking company will be required to pay $500,000 in damages to women it discriminated against.

A federal judge ruled the company violated Title VII by using a strength test that "disproportionately screened out women."

The company is now prohibited from using tests that have "a disparate impact in female drivers."

Female truck drivers may be one step closer to parity within the male-dominated trucking industry thanks to a new ruling against workplace discrimination.

The US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced on Thursday that a Minnesota-based trucking company will be required to pay $500,000 to women a federal court deemed were discriminated against through the use of a controversial strength aptitude test.

In the ruling, a federal judge found that Stan Koch and Sons Trucking "disproportionately screened out women who are qualified for truck driver positions" by requiring them to take a "CRT test"  an examination developed by Cost Reduction Technologies, a company that identifies methods to reduce workplace injuries.

The CRT test has been the subject of increased scrutiny in recent months. In September, the EEOC won a similar case against an Iowa trucking company that used the exam, ruling in both cases that it violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits sex-based discrimination in the workplace and the use of employment practices that "are not job-related and consistent with business necessity."

"The court found that the use of an isokinetic strength test as an employment screen was unlawful because it had a negative impact on women and it was not shown to serve any legitimate purpose that benefited the company," Julianne Bowman, the EEOC's district director in Chicago, said in a statement.

Stan Koch and Sons Trucking did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The decision comes as women hold a record number of truck driving jobs, with an all-time high 245,000 females behind the wheel, according to ZipRecruiter. And while 83% of the industry is still comprised of men, a rising number of women are finding success in the business, with some earning six-figure salaries and boasting large followings on social media platforms like TikTok.

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The ruling could ultimately attract even more women to the industry, bolstering a vital talent pipeline during a period plagued by labor shortages and a national supply chain crisis. The US currently has an estimated shortage of 80,000 truck drivers, the President and CEO of the American Trucking Associations told CNN last month.

In addition to paying damages, Stan Koch and Sons Trucking will be required to provide job offers to women who had their positions revoked for failing the test. The company will also be prohibited from using physical abilities tests that have "a disparate impact in female drivers" without throughly demonstrating the examination is essential to the job first.

"This case should serve as a reminder to employers that when they use a hiring screen they cannot rely on justifications like 'It seemed like common sense' or 'Of course it's better to have stronger employees if the job has some physical tasks,'" Gregory Gochanour, the EEOC's regional attorney in Chicago, said in a statement.

He continued: "Employers have to demonstrate with valid evidence that the tests they use can actually predict the outcomes they are looking for."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein at a party in November 1992 (NBC News)

Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell palled around with presidents, movie stars and royalty, hosting household names aboard private jets and at palatial properties all over the world.

Those decades-long connections are forming a key role in Ms Maxwells trial for sex-trafficking at the federal courthouse in Manhattan.

Ms Maxwell would frequently boast of her close friendships with Bill Clinton, Prince Andrew and Donald Trump, her accusers have testified.

Prosecutors say the access to powerful people was both alluring and intimidating  and victims of Epsteins abuse would feel afraid to break off contact out of fear of what he and his powerful allies might do.

Ms Maxwell faces six charges: one each of enticement of a minor to travel to engage in illegal sex acts, transportation of a minor with intent to engage in illegal sex acts, sex trafficking of a minor, and three counts of conspiracy related to the other counts.

Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein at a party in November 1992 (NBC News)

She has denied all the charges. Epstein died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial.

At Epsteins Palm Beach estate in Florida, photographs of the late paedophile with Fidel Castro, Pope John Paul II adorned the walls, the trial heard.

Epstein visited the White House 17 times during Mr Clintons first term, the Daily Mail reported, and there were photos of him standing at the presidential podium on display at the Palm Beach property.

Ms Maxwell, the daughter of late media mogul Robert Maxwell, was a charming and vivacious networker who seemed to know everybody, accusers say.

A well-known figure in her native Britain, she opened doors for Epstein in the top echelons of royalty and aristocracy.

Ghislaine Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein at a black tie event (US District Attorneys Office)

When the FBI raided Epsteins Manhattan townhouse in 2019, they found a trove of photos of Ms Maxwell and Epstein on private jets, and in exotic locations across the world.

One image in particular stood out: Epstein and Ms Maxwell cozying up together in front of a log cabin at Balmoral, the Queens Scottish estate.

The Daily Mail reported that Prince Andrew had hosted Epstein at Balmoral in mid-1999 along with an entourage that allegedly included young women.

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One of the group told The Mail they had stayed in the 52-room castle before being entertained on the grounds of the 50,000 acre estate.

The pair attended Prince Andrews 40th birthday at Windor Castle in 2000.

Epsteins pilot of 25 years Larry Visoski told the court on the second day of Ms Maxwells trial he recalled Prince Andrew, Mr Clinton, Mr Trump, and Kevin Spacey being among the passengers on the so-called Lolita Express.

Ghislaine Maxwell with Jeffrey Epstein at a log cabin on the grounds of the Queens estate, Balmoral (US District Attorneys Office)

Mr Visoski also flying renowned violinist Itzhak Perlman to Michigan with Epstein for the Interlochen Center for the Arts summer camp. He said he remembered former Maine Senator George Mitchell and Ohio Senator John Glenn on flights.

None of the famous names mentioned by Mr Visoski are alleged to have done anything wrong in connection to Ms Maxwells trial.

Another of Epsteins pilots David Rodgers testified in week two of the trial, and he was asked about Epsteins connections to the science community.

Defence attorney Christian Everdell asked him if he recalled seeing former MIT professor Marvin Minsky, a pioneer in artificial intelligence who died in 2016.

Minsky was implicated in sex-trafficking allegations by Virginia Roberts-Giuffre, who said in a sworn deposition in 2019 that she was directed to have sex with him at Epsteins private island in the US Virgin Islands.

Ghislaine Maxwell gives Jeffrey Epstein a massage aboard a private jet (US District Attorneys Office)

Mr Everdell also asked about Les Mexner, the billionaire founder of L Brands, who was an early mentor to Epstein.

Mr Rodgers recalled flying Epstein to meet the businessman in Columbus, Ohio, in the 1990s. He said that Epstein referred to Mr Wexner as a client, they seemed to be more like friends.

There is no suggestion Mr Wexner was involved in any wrongdoing.

Ms Maxwells second accuser, who testified under the pseudonym Kate, recalled how Ms Maxwell would often boast about her close ties to powerful celebrities.

She seemed to know everybody and she told me she was friends with Prince Andrew, friends with Donald Trump, friends with lots of famous people and their names would sometimes just come up.

The first accuser, who testified under the pseudonym Jane, said she also saw Epsteins brother Mark Epstein on flights, along with Los Angeles-based celebrity chef Adam Perry Lang.

Another witness Juan Alessi, who managed Epsteins Palm Beach property, testified that photos were on display showing Epstein with luminaries from the Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro to Pope John Paul II, who led the Catholic church until his death in 2005.

A spokesman for Mr Clinton said in 2019 that the former president only flew four times on Epsteins private jet, and knew nothing about his terrible crimes.

Read More

Ghislaine Maxwell trial  live: Court breaks for the day as attorney falls ill, judge says not Covid-related

I represented 8 Epstein victims. At Ghislaine Maxwells trial, I was glad to see an unusual legal tactic being used

Ghislaine Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein pictured lounging at Queens Balmoral cabin in trial exhibit
Former President Donald Trump. Sean Rayford/Getty Images

Trump remains fixated with his election-fraud "big lie," sources told Axios.

He is judging allies' loyalty by how rigidly they support the false claims, the outlet said.

Sources told Axios that aides attempting to interest him in other issues have failed.

Former President Donald Trump remains fixated on overturning his loss in the 2020 election, and sees support for his bogus election fraud claims as a litmus test of loyalty, Axios reported.

Sources who spent time with Trump at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida told Axios that it's impossible to carry on an extended conversation with the former president without him returning to his election-fraud obsession.

"We try to get him onto other topics, but you always get dragged back," an unnamed Trump advisor told the outlet.

He's intensely focused on demands that Republicans "get smart" and pursue efforts to "audit" and overturn that result, a source told Axios. Several such audits of the 2020 results have been launched, but have yet to find anything.

They told the publication that Trump is vetting candidates who he will support in upcoming elections on the basis of whether they support his election fraud "Big Lie", and is seeking to punish Republicans who didn't, the sources said.

Trump since losing to Joe Biden in last year's election has relentlessly pushed claims, that have been rejected or defeated in a series of court cases, that his loss was the result of a vast plot by Democrats and the media.

The conspiracy theory fuelled the January 6 attack on the Capitol, when Trump supporters attempted to halt Biden's certification as president. After the attack some Republicans called on Trump to be ousted from the Republican movement, though many at a federal, state and grassroots level have remained adamantly loyal.

Trump has supported primary challengers to Republicans who've been critical of him in several states,including North Carolina, Georgia and Alabama.

But some Republicans, including Sen. Lindsey Graham, have said that Trump needs to drop his fixation on the 2020 result, and the party needs to refocus on issues, such as education, that helped the Republicans to victory in the recent Virginia governor's race.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Dec. 9The Tennessee Valley Authority continues to expand its network of long-term power distributors with the decision by another municipal power utility to sign a 20-year power purchase agreement with TVA.

The Jackson Energy Authority, the 85-year-old, city-owned utility that serves 35,700 business and residential customers in Jackson, Tennessee, spent nearly two years evaluating potential alternative suppliers to TVA before ultimately deciding to stay in the TVA fold. Jackson Energy directors recently approved a rolling 20-year agreement to buy most of the authority's electricity from TVA for the foreseeable future.

Jackson Energy Authority is the 146th local power company in the Tennessee Valley to agree to the long-term partnership with TVA, although seven other utilities that buy TVA power  including TVA's biggest customer in Memphis  have yet to sign the long-term agreements.

"I know a lot of other local power companies signed the long-term power agreement with TVA fairly quickly," said Monte Cooper Sr., vice president of electric distribution at the Jackson Energy Authority. "But for us to move from our old [termination] notice requirement of five years to a new provision with a 20-year notice requirement [to split with TVA] we wanted to take our time and do our due diligence to make sure this is right for the community."

Jackson Energy sees TVA advantages

Jackson Energy hired the EnerVision consulting firm to evaluate alternative power suppliers to TVA. Although other power suppliers would be cheaper than TVA, the recent ruling by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission that TVA did not have to wheel such outside power into the Tennessee Valley undermined much of the cost advantage, Cooper said.

"When we compared our current contract and the rate that we pay with some of the other offers, there were pros and cons to any decision," Cooper said. "From a bottom-line cost perspective, there was an opportunity to save on what we pay per kilowatt-hour from some other providers. But when we considered the economic development and community investment part of what TVA provides and when you also consider the reliability of TVA's power delivery and their diverse generation mix, we ultimately decided to sign this 20-year agreement."

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TVA has offered a 3.1% discount to utilities that sign the long-term agreements, which will save Jackson Energy about $2 million a year from what it now pays TVA for power. Cooper said sticking with TVA also negates the need to build expensive transmission lines to connect with another wholesale supplier.

Debate over cleaner power

Cooper said TVA also offers power with a lower carbon footprint than other power suppliers. TVA generates more than 60% of its power from nuclear plants, hydroelectric dams and wind and solar with less than 40% of its power from burning fossil fuels.

TVA has committed to lowering its carbon emissions from its 2005 levels by 80% by 2035 and has set an aspirational goal of being carbon-free by 2050. Jackson Energy Authority also is planning to build a 25-megawatt solar farm of its own to help generate a portion of its own power, Cooper said.

But environmental leaders insist the municipalities and cooperatives that buy TVA power could get cleaner and cheaper power from building much more of their own renewable generation.

"We continue to think that these long-term power agreements are a bad deal for local power companies and their customers," said Stephen Smith, executive director of the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy. "With these agreements, the local power companies are giving away their power and leverage to TVA at a time when much of the industry is moving away from central station generation to more distributed generation."

Credits for long-term pacts

Smith labeled the credits TVA is providing to utilities with 20-year contracts as "bribery" by TVA to persuade the utilities to sign with TVA using their own money.

"TVA ran up the rates for 10 years and now they say they will give some of it back, but only if you sign a long-term agreement to buy all your power from TVA," Smith said. "These evergreen agreements don't give local power companies much flexibility and I am 100% confident that staying with TVA leads to less renewable power for these distributors."

Memphis Light, Gas and Water, TVA's biggest customer, continues to evaluate alternative supply options to TVA. In East Tennessee, Volunteer Energy Corp. and Athens Utilities Board also are looking at other options even after TVA President Jeff Lyash recently met with the boards of both utilities.

"We asked Mr. Lyash if he was willing to negotiate anything on their contract proposal and he said no," Volunteer Energy President Rody Blevins said Wednesday. "We'd rather work out a contract arrangement [than split with TVA], but TVA just doesn't seem to want to work with anybody on a different contract. It's still an option [to go to another power supplier], but we're still waiting to see what happens with Memphis and some other things."

But TVA Vice President Buddy Eller said TVA actively works with its local power companies as partners to deliver low-cost power and to help the economic growth of the Tennessee Valley.

"This partnership  with 146 of our 153 Local Power Companies  not only ensures long-term alignment but also provides direct engagement in TVA's business planning process and decision-making," Eller said. "Today, 95 percent of our local power companies have adopted the long-term partnership plan."

Appealing federal ruling

Gibson Electric Cooperative and Athens Utilities Board, two other local power companies that have yet to agree to the long-term partnership with TVA, are asking the Federal Energy Regulatory Authority to reconsider its decision not to open transmission lines within TVA's service territory for outside power suppliers to serve local power companies.

By a 3-1 vote in October, the federal regulatory authority ruled that TVA is not required to wheel power on its transmission lines to serve those in the Tennessee Valley. The TVA Act provides that TVA is the only utility to deliver electricity within its seven-state service territory.

Richard Glick, the chairman of the federal agency that helps oversee America's power grid, agreed with the Federal Energy Regulatory Authority majority in its decision, but he said it may be time to tear down TVA's territorial fence and deregulate the territorial restrictions in the TVA Act that he called "an anachronism."

"While Congress may have had its reasons for erecting the fence in 1959, there does not appear to be any legitimate rationale for having the fence today," Glick said.

Contact Dave Flessner at dflessner@timesfreepress.com or at 423-757-6340.
The Biden administration has begun issuing denials to Afghans seeking to emigrate to the United States through the humanitarian parole process, after a system that typically processes 2,000 applications annually has been flooded with more than 30,000.

Why it matters: Afghans face steeper odds and longer processes for escaping to the U.S., despite the earlier sweeping efforts by the Biden administration to assist its allies. Immigration lawyers and advocacy groups say the government has set untenable barriers to a safe haven in the U.S.

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Humanitarian parole has already been used for tens of thousands of Afghans.

Driving the news: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has started issuing the humanitarian parole denials, according to multiple immigration attorneys and advocates.

More than 100 Afghans have been approved since the summer, one Homeland Security official confirmed.

Now, there reportedly are dozens of denials, too.

One denial letter obtained by Axios calls for "documentation from a third-party source specifically naming the beneficiary, and outlining the serious harm they face."

Immigration lawyers and advocacy groups say that threat standard is untenable, given the circumstances in Afghanistan.

They hoped the administration would utilize the parole process to allow fast-track pathways for even more Afghans to enter the United States.

A 2017 USCIS training manual "explicitly provides instruction that they may grant parole to individuals who are facing fear of harm due to generalized violence," Jill Marie Bussey, Director for Public Policy at Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, told Axios.

"Theyre failing to utilize the power of their own guidance to protect Afghans."

The other side: Those who've already received humanitarian parole include immigrants who hadn't yet received their Special Immigrant Visas or other legal protections when they were airlifted from Afghanistan after the Taliban took control of Kabul.

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Humanitarian parole gives recipients a two-year stopgap in the U.S. to complete their application for more formal programs like asylum, refugee status or an SIV.

Two administration officials told Axios the program was never intended as a workaround to the established refugee resettlement program or Operation Allies Welcome, which has brought roughly 75,000 vulnerable Afghans to the U.S.  and counting.

It's intended only for people in extreme circumstances who are not included in the operation, and are unable to wait for refugee resettlement.

By the numbers: Of those who've already been evacuated from Afghanistan and brought to the U.S., nearly 5,000 are American citizens, according to data provided to Axios on Tuesday evening. More than 3,000 are green card holders.

75,000 are Afghans  of which more than 2-in-5 are eligible for SIVs due to their or their family member's aid to the U.S. government in Afghanistan.

Others are family members of U.S. citizens and green card holders, journalists, human rights activists or other at-risk humanitarian workers.

Roughly 35,000 evacuees are waiting at military bases in the U.S., while another 36,000 are home in the states or resettling into new U.S. communities.

Another 3,200 evacuees are still on sites overseas waiting to be brought into the U.S.

What to watch: The historic airlift from Afghanistan ended with the full withdrawal of U.S. troops, but the State Department has continued to locate and evacuate some Afghan allies through Operation Allies Welcome.

Since the Aug. 31 withdrawal deadline, officials have evacuated 479 U.S. citizens, 450 green card holders, their families and an undisclosed number of SIV holders, according to a State Department official.

Altogether, around 2,800 have been evacuated on U.S.-chartered flights. There are enormous challenges, including the fact the Kabul airport is not yet fully operational, and expected winter weather at its high elevation.

They aim to ramp up efforts to evacuate 1,000 SIV holders and certain applicants each month to third-party countries for final processing and vetting  as long as applicants have reached a far-enough step in the process.

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London  The U.K. has reimposed restrictions to slow the spread of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus amid a scandal over senior officials breaking their own rules during last year's strict COVID-19 lockdown. The controversy has shaken public confidence in British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's government, with critics saying it is undermining public health measures.

Johnson announced Wednesday that masks would be required again in most public places, working from home would be encouraged, and COVID-19 passes proving vaccination and test status would be required for large venues. He cited data showing the number of Omicron cases in the U.K. is doubling every two to three days  much more quickly than the Delta variant did.

But Johnson announced the new restrictions just days after a video surfaced that strongly implies that officials from his own office held a Christmas party last year, when COVID regulations made it illegal for people from different households to gather indoors. At the time of the alleged party, Brits faced possible fines or even arrest for breaking the rules, and many were unable to spend the holidays with their families.

Breaking their own rules?

The leaked video showed then-government spokesperson Allegra Stratton rehearsing a press briefing with other staffers in December 2020, joking about what she would do if asked by journalists about a Christmas party that took place the previous Friday.

"What's the answer?" she said, noting aloud that the practice session was being recorded.

"This fictional party was a business meeting, and it was not socially distanced," she said, laughing.

Johnson said he had been assured that no party took place, but a source confirmed to CBS News partner network BBC News that dozens of people attended a gathering at 10 Downing Street on December 18 last year with wine, cheese and games.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson gives a press conference at 10 Downing Street on December 8, 2021 in London, England. / Credit: Getty

"I can understand how infuriating it would be to think that the people who have been setting the rules have not been following the rules because I was also furious to see that clip," Johnson told Parliament on Wednesday.

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London's Metropolitan Police said they had "considered" the video and other reports of government gatherings, but that "based on the absence of evidence and in line with our policy not to investigate retrospective breaches of such regulations, the Met will not commence an investigation at this time."

This isn't the first time senior members of Johnson's government have been accused of breaking their own rules.

In March 2020, top adviser Dominic Cummings traveled almost 300 miles to stay with family during the height of the U.K. epidemic, and earlier this year, there were calls for Health Secretary Matt Hancock to resign after a security camera image showed him kissing one of his aides in his office in violation of social distancing rules.

Neither of the senior officials were removed from their office by Johnson.

"It leaves me not trusting them"

The video has caused outrage. Winter 2020 was especially difficult for many families in the U.K., with indoor gatherings forbidden by the government in many parts of the country as COVID-19 cases, and deaths, spiked.

"When I saw that video, it sickened me," Jane Roche, who lost her father and sister to COVID-19, told BBC News. "How can they laugh when so many people are going through so much heartache and pain It leaves me not trusting them. I feel there's been lie after lie after lie, and this has been the nail in the coffin."

"People across the country followed the rules, even when that meant being separated from loved ones," opposition leader Kier Starmer tweeted in response to the controversy. "They had a right to expect the government was doing the same. To lie and to laugh about those lies is shameful. We have a Prime Minister who's socially distanced from the truth."

People across the country followed the rules, even when that meant being separated from loved ones.They had a right to expect the government was doing the same.To lie and to laugh about those lies is shameful.We have a Prime Minister whos socially distanced from the truth. https://t.co/h6t0mzHBRF

 Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) December 7, 2021

On Thursday, leaders in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland urged residents to stick to public health guidelines despite their anger over Downing Street's apparent flouting of the rules.

"People can be angry at politicians, but it is important that people comply with these protections for their own safety, for the safety of loved ones and for the country as a whole," Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said.

"There's no doubt that it undermines the public health message," Northern Ireland deputy first minister Michelle O'Neill said of the controversy, stressing that the focus should be on the importance of adherence to restrictions to prevent the spread of Omicron.

A government inquiry was announced on Wednesday. It will focus on two reported parties at Downing Street last December, and one at the Department of Education in November.

"As with all internal investigations, if during the course of the work any evidence emerges of behavior that is potentially a criminal offense, the matter will be referred to the police, and the Cabinet Office's work may be paused," cabinet minister Simon Case, the civil servant leading the inquiry, told Parliament on Thursday.

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Iranian ship encounter





The U.S. Navy seized 171 surface-to-air missiles, eight anti-tank missiles and 1.1 million barrels of petroleum products worth $261 million from two Iranian ships in the Arabian Sea in three separate instances since 2019, the Department of Justice said in a press release on Tuesday.

The Navy seized the weapons in November 2019 and August 2020 during what is called routine operations in the sea. The arms shipments were headed to Iran-backed militants fighting in war-torn Yemen, and were organized by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which the U.S. deems a terrorist organization, according to the DOJ.

Wednesday's announcement followed the U.S. District Court in Washington D.C. issuing a final order of forfeiture for the arms shipments on Nov. 15, the DOJ wrote.

The petroleum was officially foreited in October 2021, after American officials won approval from a Washington, D.C., court to sell the fuel taken from four Iranian ships the year prior. The U.S. proved the Iranian military would have profited from the sale of the petroleum to militias in Yemen.

"The actions of the United States in these two cases strike a resounding blow to the Government of Iran and to the criminal networks supporting Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps," said Matthew Olsen, the assistant attorney general with the Justice Department's National Security Division.

Matthew Graves, U.S. Attorney for Washington, D.C., also applauded the Navy sailors for the seizure of valuable arms and fuel from an enemy country.

"These two cases demonstrate that not only can we disrupt the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' ability to finance its operations through petroleum sales, but we can also thwart its ability to use the proceeds of such sales to arm its terrorist proxies and export terrorism abroad," Graves said in the press release.

The U.S. and Iran have escalated tensions in the Middle East following the assassination of top general Qasem Soleimani in January 2020. Tehran struck an American military base in retaliation for his death that month, and the country has also been blamed for an October drone strike on a U.S. base in Syria and the seizure of a tanker in the Arabian Sea.

The U.S. is in the midst of indirect talks with Iran over potentially restarting a 2015 nuclear deal that limited Iranian nuclear development in return for the lifting of economic sanctions.
The UK government on Thursday said it was not working to a Friday deadline given to it last month by the European Union to resolve a row with France over post-Brexit fishing rights.

"We've never set a deadline. I recognise they (the EU) themselves have set one but it's not one we're working to," Prime Minister Boris Johnson's spokesman told reporters.

Environment Secretary George Eustice was expected to hold talks with EU environment commissioner Virginijus Sinkevicius on Friday, Downing Street said.

At a previous meeting between the pair on November 24, Sinkevicius gave Britain a December 10 deadline to resolve the issue of licences sought by French fishermen, who complain that post-Brexit requirements are too onerous.

Johnson's spokesman said that Eustice and Sinkevicius had spoken on Wednesday evening about progress so far on the licensing issues.

But he said he was "not aware of certainly any communication we've had from the French government, certainly not to the Prime Minister".

"There's a technical process still ongoing based on evidence rather than set deadlines," the spokesman added, insisting talks so far "have been constructive".

France is demanding more fishing licences from London and the Channel Island of Jersey as part of the agreement which was signed on Christmas Eve last year.

European fishermen can continue to work in British waters as long as they can prove that they used to fish there.

But the French and British are arguing over the nature and extent of the evidence required.

am/phz/har
The World Food Program has suspended aid distribution in the northern Ethiopian town of Kombolcha after "mass looting" of its warehouses blamed on Tigrayan forces, a UN spokesman said Wednesday.

Stephane Dujarric told reporters there had been "mass looting of warehouses across Kombolcha in recent days, reportedly by elements of the Tigrayan forces and some members of the local population."

"Large quantities of humanitarian food supplies, including nutritional items for malnourished children, have been stolen and looted," he said, warning that the looting risked increasing food insecurity in northern Ethiopia.

In the provinces of Tigray, Amhara and Afar, an estimated 9.4 million people "are now in critical need of food assistance," Dujarric said, a significant leap on previous estimates.

The UN said that 5.2 million of them are in Tigray, 534,000 in Afar province and 3.7 million in Amhara province.

"The World Food Program teams on the ground were not able to prevent the looting in the face of extreme intimidation, including staff being held at gunpoint," he said, stressing that "such harassment of humanitarian staff by armed forces is unacceptable."

That led to the decision to suspend food distribution in Dessie and Kombolcha, two strategic towns on the road to the capital.

The Ethiopian government recently announced it had retaken the two towns, but Tigrayan forces said the army had only recovered abandoned areas after strategic withdrawals by the rebels.

The war erupted in November 2020 when Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed sent troops into Tigray to topple the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) -- a move he said came in response to rebel attacks on army camps.

But the rebels mounted a shock comeback, recapturing most of Tigray by the end of June before expanding into the neighboring regions of Amhara and Afar.

The fighting has killed thousands of people, displaced more than two million and driven hundreds of thousands into famine-like conditions, according to UN estimates.

prh/dax/jh/md
Hedge fund manager and art collector Michael Steinhardt (AP)

Billionaire hedge fund manager and art collector Michael Steinhardt has surrendered pieces of art and antiquities stolen from across the world estimated to be worth $70m (52.6m), in a bid to avoid criminal charges.

Mr Steinhardt, who turns 81 on Tuesday, returned 180 works of stolen antiquities and received a first-of-its-kind lifetime ban on acquiring antiquities, following the resolution of a multi-year, multi-national investigation into his criminal conduct, the Manhattan district attorney said in a statement.

The seized pieces were looted and illegally smuggled out of 11 countries, trafficked by 12 criminal smuggling networks, and lacked verifiable provenance prior to appearing on the international art market, according to the Statement of Facts summarising the investigation, the statement added.

Mr Steinhardt founded the hedge fund Steinhardt Partners in 1967, which he closed in 1995. In 2004, he came out of retirement to head WisdomTree Investments.

Investigation into his collection of ancient artifacts began in February 2017.

Manhattan prosecutors conducted raids on his office and his house in 2017 and 2018 respectively, and seized several artworks that investigators said had been looted.

For decades, Michael Steinhardt displayed a rapacious appetite for plundered artifacts without concern for the legality of his actions, the legitimacy of the pieces he bought and sold, or the grievous cultural damage he wrought across the globe, said district attorney Cyrus Vance Jr.

His pursuit of new additions to showcase and sell knew no geographic or moral boundaries, as reflected in the sprawling underworld of antiquities traffickers, crime bosses, money launderers, and tomb raiders he relied upon to expand his collection, Mr Vance added.

In a statement through his lawyers, Mr Steinhardt said that he was pleased that the district attorneys years-long investigation has concluded without any charges, and that items wrongfully taken by others will be returned to their native countries, reported the Associated Press.

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The district attorneys office said that these works will be returned to 11 countries, including Egypt, Greece, Israel, Syria and Turkey, and will not be held as evidence for the years necessary to complete the grand-jury indictment, trial, potential conviction, and sentence.

The agreement to return the antiquities also allows the district attorneys office to protect witnesses across these countries where joint investigations are underway.

Many of the stolen pieces were removed from their countries during civil war or unrest, the district attorneys office said.

The Stags Head Rhyton, a ceremonial libation vessel in the form of a stags head, which is valued at $3.5 million (2.6 million) and dates to 400 BCE, is among the items that Mr Steinhardt has surrendered. It first appeared without provenance on the international art market after rampant looting in Milas, Turkey.

Other surrendered items include The Larnax, a small chest for human remains from the Greek Island of Crete that dates between 1400 BCE and 1200 BCE; The Gold Bowl looted from Nimrud, Iraq, and purchased with no prior record of ownership for $150,000 (112,905) in July 2020; and Three Death Masks, also purchased with no provenance for $400,000 (301,082), in October 2007, less than a year after they surfaced on the international art market.

Steinhardt viewed these precious artifacts as simple commodities  things to collect and own, said said Ricky J Patel, Homeland Security Investigations New York acting special agent in charge. He failed to respect that these treasures represent the heritage of cultures around the world from which these items were looted, often during times of strife and unrest.
BANGKOK (AP)  The U.S. has ordered an arms embargo on Cambodia, citing deepening Chinese military influence, corruption and human rights abuses by the government and armed forces in the Southeast Asian country.

The added restrictions on defense-related goods and services, issued by the State and Commerce departments, are due to be published and take effect Thursday.

A notice in the Federal Register said developments in Cambodia were contrary to U.S. national security and foreign policy interests."

The aim of the embargo is to ensure that defense-related items are not available to Cambodia's military and military intelligence services without advance review by the U.S. government, it said.

The latest restrictions follow the Treasury Department's ordering in November of sanctions against two senior Cambodian military officials for corruption and come amid increasing concern about Beijing's sway.

At the time, the U.S. government issued an advisory cautioning American businesses about potential exposure to entities Cambodia and its military that engage in human rights abuses, corruption and other destabilizing conduct."

Cambodia branded those sanctions as politically motivated" and said it would not discuss them with Washington.

The U.S. has similar controls on exports of items that might be diverted to military end users" in Myanmar, China, Russia and Venezuela.

U.S. exports to Cambodia in 2019 totaled $5.6 billion. The amount of military-related U.S. exports to Cambodia was not immediately available. The U.S. is the largest export market for Cambodia, a major garments manufacturing hub, but three-quarters of Cambodia's imports are from China and other countries in Asia.

The U.S. halted military assistance to Cambodia following a 1997 coup in which the country's leader, Hun Sen, grabbed full power after ousting his co-premier, Prince Norodom Ranariddh. Hun Sen remains prime minister. In August 2005, President George W. Bush waved the ban, citing Phnom Penhs agreement to exempt Americans in Cambodia from prosecution by the Netherlands-based International Criminal Court.

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Since direct military ties between the two countries were restored in 2006, the U.S. has pledged millions in military aid to Cambodia, initially to help improve its border security and peacekeeping operations.

China is Cambodias biggest investor and closest political partner. It was the chief backer of the murderous regime of Pol Pot in the 1970s and has long maintained strong relations with Hun Sen, who has ruled for more than 30 years and grown increasingly repressive.

Beijings support allows Cambodia to disregard Western concerns about its poor record in human and political rights, and in turn Cambodia generally supports Beijings geopolitical positions on issues such as its territorial claims in the South China Sea.

The construction of new Chinese military facilities at Cambodia's Ream Naval Base is a point of strong contention with Washington.

Ream faces the Gulf of Thailand, adjacent to the South China Sea, where China has aggressively asserted its claim to virtually the entire strategic waterway. The U.S. has refused to recognize Chinas sweeping claims, and the Navys 7th Fleet routinely sails past Chinese-held islands in what it terms freedom of navigation operations.

In recent years, Hun Sen's government has cracked down on the political opposition, shut media outlets and forced hundreds of Cambodian politicians, human rights activists and journalists into exile.

Human rights groups say the government has engaged in arbitrary arrests and other abuses and worked to portray peaceful dissent over corruption, land rights and other issues as attempts to overthrow the government.

Corruption is another major concern.

The Treasury Department sanctions targeted the director general of the defense ministrys material and technical services department and a commander in the Royal Cambodian Navy.

In a statement, Treasury alleged that in 2020 and 2021, the two conspired with other Cambodian officials to inflate costs of a construction project at the Ream base and then planned to use the funds for their own benefit.

Washington has protested over work done at Ream, which officials said involved the demolition of two U.S. funded buildings without notification or explanation to the U.S.
A former Vernon pastor pleaded guilty Wednesday to raping a 15-year-old girl who told officers he sexually assaulted her at church and in a hotel room.

Pounds

Brian Pounds, 46, pleaded guilty to a July 1 aggravated sexual assault of a child and was sentenced to 45 years in prison Wednesday afternoon in the 46th District Court of Wilbarger County, according to a media release.

Brian Pounds abused his position of trust as a pastor in the most horrific way, said 46th District Attorney Staley Heatly in the media release.

Our community and our children are much safer with him in the custody of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice," Heatly said.

More: Vernon minister indicted on drug, child sex crimes charges

Aggravated sexual assault of a child is punishable by up to life in prison.

Under Texas law, a person is not eligible for parole for a sex offense until he has served at least half of the sentence, according to the media release.

But sex offenders generally serve much more than half of a sentence and often serve the entire sentence, Heatly said in the media release.

I have to acknowledged the incredible amount of time and effort put into this case by the Vernon Police Department, the Texas Rangers, and by DA Investigator Jeff Case, Heatly said.

This case would not have resolved this way without their very thorough investigation," he said.

Pounds was a pastor in the Vernon community for over a decade. His LinkedIn profile still lists him as lead pastor at Vernon First Assembly of God.

More: Vernon minister indicted on drug, child sex crimes charges

He became the target of a criminal investigation July 1 when a woman told police she believed her daughter was at a local hotel room in Vernon and needed assistance, according to the media release.

When officers arrived at the hotel, Pounds was sitting in his vehicle in the hotel parking lot, according to the media release.

He told police he had gotten a hotel room for a person in need, according to a media release.

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Later, at the Vernon Police Department, the 15-year-old victim told police Pounds had given her methamphetamine and sexually assaulted her in the hotel room, according to the media release.

During a search of the hotel room, officers found a small amount of meth on the comforter, according to the media release.

According to the childs mother, Pounds had been assisting the family and had offered to provide counseling to the victim, the media release stated.

The girl told police that Pounds sexually assaulted her at his church and at the hotel over a period of weeks, according to the media release.

During a search of church facilities, officers found a small baggie containing methamphetamine in an area where the teen described smoking meth with Pounds, according to the media release.

More: Vernon minister arrested for sexual assault of a child

Trish Choate, enterprise watchdog reporter for the Times Record News, covers education, courts, breaking news, politics and more. Contact Trish with news tips at tchoate@gannett.com. Her Twitter handle is @Trishapedia.

This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: Pounds sentenced for sexual assault
Photo Illustration by The Daily Beast/Shutterstock

Theres a new form of the Omicron variant of the coronavirusone that experts say is hard to distinguish from the Delta variant using standard polymerase chain reaction, or PCR tests.

The appearance of this sneaky BA.2 subvariantsublineage, is the scientific termis the latest development in the still-developing crisis that the baseline BA.1 Omicron sparked after health officials in South Africa confirmed the new lineage, with its dozens of key mutations, two weeks ago.

The hard-to-distinguish BA.2 sublineage is also a forceful reminder to the unvaccinated to get vaccinated, and the unboosted to get boosted. Theres a lot we dont know about Omicron and its sublineages, but early signs are that the leading vaccines still work just fine against them. And, of course, all the jabs work even better with a booster shot.

Scientists first detected the sneaky BA.2 a few days ago after genetically sequencing a batch of test samples that officials in South Africa, Australia and Canada collected. So far, the subvariant has been identified in 30 countries and six continents.

What the Omicron Hysteria Is Getting Wrong

You can still detect it by PCR, but cant tell it apart from the dominant Delta strain, Rob Knight, the head of a genetic-computation lab at the University of California, San Diego, told The Daily Beast. In other words, a PCR test might tell you you have COVID, but it might not tell you youve specifically caught BA.2.

To be fair, that indistinguishability could be a problem. If Omicron and its sublineages turn out to be more dangerous than Delta and its sublineages, then it would be really important to know exactly how many Omicron cases there are as a subset of all COVID infections. That is, how far into the population Omicron has penetrated, to borrow the epidemiological term.

It is possible this so-called stealth variant may mean there is more penetration of these worrying variants circulating than we realize, Lawrence Gostin, a Georgetown University global-health expert, told The Daily Beast. That doesnt mean were powerless to assess the potential Omicron-fueled surge in cases that appears to already be underway across much of the world. It does mean were playing catchup as we tweak our PCR tests and do more detailed genetic sequencing of samples.

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Dr. Lawrence Gostin calls it a stealth variant. Chip Somodevilla/Getty

To understand how BA.2 might hide behind Delta, thus potentially obscuring the true extent of Omicrons spread, you have to understand how PCR tests work. PCR involves a sample of potential virus and a primer that the test creators have tailored to encourage the virus to replicate. Expose the sample to the primer and wait a bit. If the virus replicates, youve got a positive test result.

Heres the catch. PCR tests arent great at telling one lineage of a particular virus from another. You can design the primer to match certain unique attributes of the lineage youre most worried about, but since many lineages share genetic features, the test might register positive for the virus but inconclusive for the lineage.

Experts initially hoped that we could use the same PCR test we used to detect the old Alpha lineage of SARS-CoV-2 to also find Omicron. Thats because both Alpha and Omicron share a genetic marker. A deletion of amino acids 69 and 70 in the Spike gene, according to Niema Moshiri, a geneticist at the University of California, San Diego.

Heres the problem. The new sub-lineage of Omicron, BA.2, doesn't have this deletion, Moshiri told The Daily Beast. Guess what lineage also omits this deletion? Thats right: Delta. So lab technicians who are using old Alpha tests to look for Omicron might miss the BA.2 cases. Meanwhile, techs looking for Delta might accidentally count a bunch of BA.2 cases, as well.

The testing ambiguity could slow us down as we try to get a handle on just how bad Omicron is and where and how quickly its spreading. But it wont actually stop us from understanding or addressing the new lineages and its sublineages.

Omicron Triggers Unprecedented COVID Surge Hitting Children Under Age 5 in South Africa

After all, we still rely on detailed genetic sequencing, as opposed to quick PCR testing, to really scrutinize and track the novel-coronavirus. With sequencing, we would be able to determine lineage anyways, regardless of BA.1 or BA.2, Moshiri explained.

But sequencing is more expensive than testing and takes longer. Its a meaningful problem, Knight said.

Still, BA.2s inability to hide from sequencing is why Keith Jerome, a University of Washington virologist, said he isnt all that worried. Jeromes lab detected the first three Omicron cases in Washington State last week. Washington sequences 14 percent of tests, Jerome said, so BA.2 cant stay hidden for long. This subvariant of Omicron could hide for a day or two but if it becomes common at all well find it via the random sequencing.

All that is to say, yes, BA.2 is a problem. How big a problem depends, to a great extent, on how serious Omicron turns out to be after further study. It could be that these variants can be accommodated as a new post-pandemic normal, just like flu, in which case testingwhile important for detecting hotspots and for assessing or projecting likely burdensmay not be too vital, Edwin Michael, an epidemiologist at the Center for Global Health Infectious Disease Research at the University of South Florida, told The Daily Beast.

In any event, BA.2 is a problem with obvious solutions. New PCR primers. More sequencing. And, as always, masks, vaccines and boosters. I know everyone is excited about Omicron, Stephanie James, the head of a COVID testing lab at Regis University in Colorado, told The Daily Beast. But variants are expected by the scientific community. The advice is the sameget vaccinated and wear a mask.

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A citrus foam dessert at Bros' restaurant in Lecce, Italy. Geraldine DeRuiter/ The Everywhereist

A blog post calling Bros' in Lecce, Italy, the "worst" Michelin-starred restaurant is going viral.

Geraldine DeRuiter said one course was a citrus foam served in a plaster cast of the chef's mouth.

DeRuiter's post went viral after New Yorker writer Helen Rosner tweeted about the dessert.

A blogger's post about dining at the "worst" Michelin-starred restaurant  where she says she was served a dessert inside a plaster mold of the chef's mouth  is going viral in the food world.

Geraldine DeRuiter, an author and blogger behind The Everywhereist, wrote about her experience trying the 27-course tasting menu at Bros' owned by the Pellegrino Brothers in Lecce, Italy. The establishment is the only Michelin-starred restaurant in the southern Italian city. Representatives for the Pellegrino Brothers did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

In her blog post published Wednesday, DeRuiter wrote that during the meal, her table was served "twelve kinds of foam, something that I can only describe as 'an oyster loaf that tasted like Newark airport', and a teaspoon of savory ice cream that was olive flavored."

However, one dish in particular stood out: a citrus foam dessert served in a plaster mold of the chef's mouth.

"Absent utensils, we were told to lick it out of the chef's mouth in a scene that I'm pretty sure was stolen from an eastern European horror film," DeRuiter wrote of the menu item.

She added in her post that the serving dish is sold on the Pellegrino Brothers' online gift shop, "in case you want to have a restraining order filed against you this holiday season." At the time of writing, the item is on sale and costs 45, or around $51.

DeRuiter's post received attention after Helen Rosner, a food writer at The New Yorker, tweeted a screenshot of the blogger's photo of the dessert along with a quote from the review to her 154,300 followers.

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"This is so upsetting," Rosner wrote in her tweet, which has over 6,000 likes at the time of writing.

She also shared a screenshot of a text exchange with DeRuiter getting to the bottom of what was inside the bowl.

Speaking to Insider about her visit to Bros' in October, DeRuiter said it was "as though someone who had never seen a restaurant or eaten food tried to replicate what they thought a restaurant was."

One of the worst parts of the experience, according to DeRuiter, was the lack of a menu, which she said was "angering" and "irresponsible" because some items contained foods her husband was allergic to, even though she said they had provided this information beforehand. In her post, she wrote that instead of a menu, there was "a blank newspaper with a QR code linking to a video featuring one of the chefs" but there was little explanation about each course.

DeRuiter told Insider most of the courses were "not quite hitting the mark" and that the fried cheese balls were a particularly low point (according to her post, a waiter said they were made with "rancid ricotta").

Despite labeling it the worst Michelin-starred restaurant of the dozen she has visited, she said that "as an evening out, it was so wildly entertaining." She added that the check for a party of eight was 1,200, or around $1,354.

DeRuiter acknowledged in her post that others seemed to have a better experience with other dishes based on photos that people who had eaten at the restaurant have posted online.

Still, she told Insider, she wouldn't recommend it. "Don't go there if you're in Italy," she said. "I have great recommendations for that part of Italy but not that place."

You can read the full blog post on The Everywhereist.

Read the original article on Insider
Virginia Lilly Yarborough, a philanthropist who was involved in a number of community organizations, died Sunday at her home in Fayetteville. She was 86.

Yarborough served on the Board of Directors for the Fayetteville Publishing Co., which owned The Fayetteville Observer before its sale in 2016. Yarboroughs husband, Ramon L. Yarborough Sr., served as a publisher for the newspaper.

She was the daughter of Richard M. Lilly and Ashton W. Lilly, who were the former president and former chairman of the board, respectively, for the Fayetteville Publishing Co.

Virginia Yarborough and Ramon L. Yarborough Sr. in 2002.

Virginia Yarborough volunteered, and supported many organizations and projects that enhanced the quality of life for others in Fayetteville, according to her obituary, published online Monday. She was a founding member of the Junior Service League of Fayetteville and its first treasurer, according to the obituary. She graduated from Fayetteville High School, St. Mary's College and UNC-Chapel Hill.

Yarborough was a supporter of the Cumberland Community Foundation, which provides funds for numerous local organizations; the Fayetteville Animal Protection Society; and a several historic preservation efforts.

She also supported the Vision Resource Center. She herself was blind for the past 21 years, according to her daughter, Virginia Colantuono.

Her nephew, Charles Broadwell, said he admired his aunt for her fierce independence in the face of that challenge. At family gatherings, she would cook, he said. She had a sense of humor, he said.

Broadwell, a former Observer publisher and executive editor, said as his aunt started to lose her sight she developed a system for matching her clothes  with always her husband, Ramon, as her steady hand.

She was remarkable, Broadwell said.

From left: Ramon L. Yarborough Sr., Virginia Yarborough and Virginia Colantuono at the 2006 event for the Fayetteville Animal Protection Society. It was held at the Highland Country Club.

According to her obituary: Mrs. Yarborough was preceded in death by her husband, Charles Rankin, sister, Charlotte Broadwell, and brother, Richard Lilly, Jr.

She is survived by her husband, Ramon L. Yarborough, Sr.; her children, Sam C. Rankin, Virginia Y. Colantuono (Tom), Ramon Yarborough, Jr. (Laura); her four grandchildren; Thomas, Emily, Hannah, and Ramon, III; her sister, Ashton Fox (Richard); and seven nieces and nephews.

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A family service is scheduled for Thursday.

Opinion Editor Myron B. Pitts can be reached at mpitts@fayobserver.com or 910-486-3559.

Support local journalism with a subscription to The Fayetteville Observer. Click the subscribe link at the top of this article.

This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: The late Virginia Lilly Yarborough on board of Fayetteville Publishing
The voting-systems company Smartmatic said MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell was on a "crusade without a claim" in a new filing on Wednesday. Stephen Maturen/Getty Images

Smartmatic has filed for MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell's lawsuit against it to be dismissed.

The voting-systems company argued Lindell's claims are "fictitious," calling his lawsuit a "stunt."

Lindell sued Smartmatic in June, alleging that it tried to stifle his rights to free speech.

The voting-systems company Smartmatic said MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell is on a "crusade without a claim" in a new court filing on Wednesday.

Asking the court to dismiss Lindell's federal lawsuit against it, Smartmatic argued that Lindell's claims against the company are fictitious, calling the pillow executive's allegations a "stunt" with "no basis in fact or law."

"Presenting fiction as fact outside the courtroom can result in a defamation lawsuit. Presenting fiction as fact inside the courtroom should result in dismissal and sanctions," read the Smartmatic filing, which was seen by Insider. "The First Amendment allows Mr. Lindell to espouse his fictional views about the 2020 US election outside the courtroom with the understanding that he will face legal consequences for doing so. But the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure do not allow Mr. Lindell and his attorneys to present fictitious claims inside the courtroom."

Lindell has been engaged in a legal battle with both Smartmatic and Dominion Voting Systems for the better part of the year. In June, Lindell filed a lawsuit saying that he stands to lose more than $2 billion from what he alleged was a "conspiracy and enterprise to harm him" by both companies. In the lawsuit, Lindell outlined a theory that alleged the two companies' machines enabled voter fraud to happen.

In Wednesday's filing, Smartmatic's lawyers went on to note that "no court has ever found a claim based on the 'facts' alleged against Smartmatic." They also argued that Lindell's five key allegations against their company have no basis.

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According to Smartmatic's filing, some of Lindell's claims include accusations that Smartmatic was involved in a conspiracy with Dominion Voting Systems and that Smartmatic violated Lindell's First Amendment rights.

"These claims are as farcical as they appear. They are all foreclosed by existing law, and Mr. Lindell alleges no facts to satisfy their elements. Each claim also centers on the idea that Mr. Lindell was 'punished' for speaking out about the 2020 US election," Smartmatic's legal representatives wrote. "But he does not identify a single act by Smartmatic targeting or related to him, much less an act that prevented him from speaking out."

Separately, Dominion sued Lindell in February for $1.3 billion. Lindell's company MyPillow then filed a $1.6 billion lawsuit, accusing Dominion of trying to stifle free speech. The MyPillow CEO also attempted to have the defamation lawsuit dismissed during a hearing in June. This effort failed after US District Judge Carl J. Nichols ruled the three defamation lawsuits against Lindell and the pro-Trump lawyers Sidney Powell and Rudy Giuliani could proceed in full.

Despite the lawsuits, Lindell has continued to float claims that the election was stolen from former President Donald Trump despite there being no evidence of widespread voter fraud.

Most recently, Lindell attempted to file a Supreme Court complaint that he baselessly claims will overturn the election results. But he failed to file the complaint because it was missing critical components, including the names and signatures of a plaintiff and counsel.

Insider reached Lindell for comment late on Wednesday night.

"There will be no machines in the USA used in future elections. All the owners will all be in prison," Lindell said.

When asked about Smartmatic's argument that his claims are fictitious, Lindell said: "It is all fact or I wouldn't be wasting my time!" Lindell also called for people to look at "all the evidence" in the Supreme Court complaint, a copy of which is available on his website.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Governor Mike DeWine posed with Fort Morrow Fire Department staff and Waldo residents including Mayor Bruce Baker Dec. 7 following the announcement of the new water system grant.

Met with cheers and countless handshakes, Governor Mike DeWine visited Marion County's Waldo Village to award Del-Co Water Company, Inc. $2.5 million to build Waldo a new clean water system Tuesday, the same day he announced the third and final round of Ohio BUILDS critical water projects.

An enormous sum for the small village, whose residents are currently operating with only personal wells, many of which are as old as from the 1950s and are located on the same lots as former failing septic system. The $2.5 million grant will benefit 300 people.

It will also improve the work of the Fort Morrow Fire Department, as currently the lack of a potable water system means there is no water flow for fire hydrants.

The fire department, located at the entrance to Waldo, was the proud host of the small Tuesday press conference where representatives from Del-Co, including CEO Glenn Marzluf, and Waldo leaders, including Mayor Bruce Baker, convened to meet Governor DeWine.

"Here in Waldo, we are providing a 2.5 million dollar grant. This will go to Del-Co Water to provide a new water system, DeWine said.

Right now there are individual wells, some going back a few decades, and this is what some residents depend upon," he continued. "This new water system will help create a safe and stable water supply, it will also mitigate a big public safety issue with regard to the fire department and their ability to deal with fires."

Governor Mike DeWine chatted with firefighters from Waldo's Fort Morrow Fire Department after the Dec. 7 announcement of the new water system.

This announcement has arrived just over a month after Morral Village received a $5 million award for new sewer infrastructure in the first round of Ohio BUILDS grant funding, making the total amount given to Marion County $7.5 million.

This grant is portion of the $109 million in third-round grants to be be awarded to help fund critical water projects in all of Ohio's 88 counties, impacting 106 communities. In total, approximately $250 million in Ohio BUILDS grant funding is going toward 183 critical water infrastructure projects across the state, including the Morral sewer infrastructure project.

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Del-Co Water Company, Inc. will construct a distribution system within the village and surrounding homes and connect the new water system to Del-Co's existing distribution system, about two miles south of the village.

Waldo Mayor of 27 non-consecutive years, Bruce Baker, proudly stood next to the Ohio governor Tuesday, welcoming him to Baker's beloved hometown.

I really think we needed it bad, Baker said. I think it will be the best thing that happened to Waldo since the sewers. The sewers were a big project, and this will be equally as big. Waldo will grow. Not grow big, but it will grow.

Waldo's need for this project is seemingly unquestionable. The new water system will address and help reduce health concerns to residents. It is the next step in making Waldo safer after building a mandatory sewer system to help eliminate the pollution of wells by individual septic systems.

Need aside, finding funding was the tricky part.

After shaking the governor's hand, Del-Co Water CEO, Glenn Marzluf, described the overwhelming community support his team first experienced toward the project since 2019 and the impasse they found due to the necessary multi-million dollar expense.

We are going to work on faith. The US Congress has talked about these infrastructure dollars, maybe some dollars going forward, were going to work on faith and push forward and continue to fund the design knowing that the project, that Del-Co may never be reimbursed for it, Marzluf said.

Now, the team's faith and hope in seeing this project carried out has been rewarded.

When we get this water system build, we are confident that the public health and safety of Waldo residents is going to be significantly impacted for the good, said Marzluf.

Story by: Sophia Veneziano (740) 564 - 5243 | sveneziano@gannett.com

This article originally appeared on Marion Star: Waldo to receive $2.5 million for water infrastructure
The street in front of the embassy of Saudi Arabia will be called "Jamal Khashoggi Way," after the Washington city council voted to honor the Saudi journalist murdered by government agents.

The council voted unanimously on Tuesday to symbolically name the 700-foot (213-meter) stretch of New Hampshire Avenue that runs between the embassy and the Watergate complex for Khashoggi, a dissident journalist working for The Washington Post at the time of his murder in Turkey.

"Through his journalism, Jamal Khashoggi was a fierce advocate for democracy, human rights, and the rule of law," said a council report on the bill.

"By designating the street fronting the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia after Jamal Khashoggi, the District is creating a memorial in his honor that cannot be covered up or repressed," it said.

Khashoggi, a vocal critic of the Saudi monarchy, was murdered and dismembered in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2, 2018 after traveling there from the United States to file paperwork to marry his Turkish fiancee.

The killers were a team of men closely connected to the palace of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is accused by Western intelligence of authorizing the murder.

The Saudi embassy did not respond to request for comment on the move.

The bill from the council is expected to be signed by Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser and not meet objection in the US Congress, which reviews all legislation from the US capital city government.

In 2018, Washington named a street outside the Russian embassy in honor of prominent Vladimir Putin critic Boris Nemtsov, who was assassinated in Moscow in three years earlier.

pmh/cl
Family photos of Daniel Dal Canto at his familyOs home in Salt Lake City, Nov. 1, 2021. (Ashley Gilbertson/The New York Times)

As Matthew van Antwerpen, a 17-year-old in suburban Dallas, struggled with remote schooling during the pandemic last year, he grew increasingly despondent. Searching online, he found a website about suicide.

Any enjoyment or progress I make in my life simply comes across as forced, he wrote on the site after signing up. I know it is all just a distraction to blow time until the end.

Roberta Barbos, a 22-year-old student at the University of Glasgow, first posted after a breakup, writing that she was unbearably lonely. Shawn Shatto, 25, described feeling miserable at her warehouse job in Pennsylvania. And Daniel Dal Canto, a 16-year-old in Salt Lake City, shared his fears that an undiagnosed stomach ailment might never get better.

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Soon after joining, each of them was dead.

Most suicide websites are about prevention. This one  started in March 2018 by two shadowy figures calling themselves Marquis and Serge  provides explicit directions on how to die.

The four young members were among tens of thousands around the world who have been pulled in. On the sites public forums, in live chats and through private messaging, they discuss hanging, poison, guns and gas.

Though members are anonymous, The New York Times identified 45 who had killed themselves in the United States, the United Kingdom, Italy, Canada and Australia  and found that the trail of deaths is likely much longer.

More than 500 members wrote goodbye threads announcing how and when they planned to end their lives, and then never posted again.

Most of the narratives cited the same lethal method: a preservative used for curing meat, The Times found. By promoting the preservative as a poison, the site has helped give rise to a means of suicide that is alarming some coroners and doctors.

The site now draws 6 million page views a month, on average  quadruple that of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, according to data from Similarweb, a web analytics company.

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Most members reported that they had experienced mental illness and were 30 or younger, according to a survey last year by the site. That age group roughly aligns with the demographic in the United States  15 to 24  that had the sharpest rise in suicide rate from 2009-19, the most recent data available.

Among them was Matthew. Despite the strain of virtual high school, he had appeared to be looking to the future. He had applied to Texas A&M University and intended to become a public defender.

His other plans took shape quickly and secretly. In only 29 days, Matthew joined the site, learned of the lethal preservative and ended his life.

My son committed suicide at 17 two weeks ago, Sharon Luft tweeted in January, calling out the site. They told him how to, encouraged him after he took the mix.

Please help me, she wrote, joining the calls of other parents for Marquis and Serge to be held accountable and for the banning of the site, called Sanctioned Suicide.

Australia, Germany and Italy succeeded in restricting access to the site within their borders, but U.S. law enforcement officials, lawmakers and technology companies have been reluctant to act.

While most states have laws against assisting suicide, they are inconsistent, rarely enforced and dont explicitly address online activity. Federal law shields website operators from liability for most harmful content posted by users. Court decisions have left unsettled questions about protected speech.

And when asked to stop steering visitors to the suicide site, the worlds most powerful search engine deflected responsibility. Google Search holds a mirror up to what is on the internet, a senior manager for the company wrote to Australian officials in February 2019.

Marquis and Serge have vowed to fight any efforts to take down the site. They have experience running websites with dark content: They operate several online forums for incels, or involuntary celibates, men who believe that women will never have sex with them because of their looks or social status. Many on those sites openly discuss a fatalistic outlook, including thoughts of self-harm.

The two men have worked to shield the suicide site and to frustrate efforts to learn who is behind it. The servers have been moved from country to country. Marquis and Serge use multiple aliases and have removed nearly every trace of their real identities from the internet. Still, The Times found them, thousands of miles apart, in the capital of Uruguay and a city in Alabama.

Daniel Dal Canto, a high school junior, arrived on the suicide site with little idea of how to end his life.

Three years earlier, he had been depressed, prompting his parents to steer him into months of therapy and medication. Now he was drumming in a jazz band, playing video games with friends and getting straight As.

But in September 2019, Daniel, expressing anxiety over his stomach pain, was gathering information and advice from the website.

It came online after Reddit shut down a group where people had been sharing suicide methods and encouraging self-harm. Reddit prohibited such discussion, as did Facebook, Twitter and other platforms.

While some of those drawn to the website described suffering from physical pain, most mentioned depression, bipolar disorder or other mental illnesses. About half were 25 or younger, the survey showed; like Daniel, some were minors.

The suicide rate has risen over the past 20 years in the United States. About 45,000 people take their own lives each year  more than die from traffic accidents. (That figure does not count the hundreds of physician-assisted deaths in the nine states where they are legal and restricted to the terminally ill.)

Within several weeks, Daniel settled on the lethal preservative, sodium nitrite, one of the most discussed topics on the website. Members guided one another to online sellers. They advised on obtaining it without alerting family. And they shared directions for using it.

On Oct. 3, the teenager posted a photograph of a bottle of the lethal preservative and announced that he would take it that weekend. But hours later, he posted again. Things had changed: A disagreement with his parents had prompted him to move up his plans.

At 2:30 a.m. the next day, Daniel's mom found him dead in his bed.

In December 2019, two months after Daniels death, a coroner in England called for a government inquiry after discovering that members of the site had advised a troubled young woman on ending her life. German officials had already begun an investigation, worried about potential harm to children.

And Australias eSafety Commission, the nations regulator for online safety, had been looking into the site for months, after a father reported that his 22-year-old son had poisoned himself with the preservative.

Serge and Marquis were determined to protect the site  and themselves.

The two men had taken pains to scrub their personal identifying information from the internet and obscure the names of companies hosting the website, making it difficult for authorities and families of the deceased to take action against them.

As Australia began its investigation, the site was moved to a new server, according to a post by Marquis.

In March 2020, after the site was removed from online search results in Germany, the company hosting the site threatened to take it down over its violation of German law. Once again, the site was moved.

The sites rely on search engines to drive traffic. About half of all visits to the suicide site come that way, according to data from Similarweb.

But when Australian officials asked Google, the dominant business, and Microsofts Bing in 2019 to remove the site from their search results, they refused to do so absent a legal requirement.

It was not Googles role to pass judgment on any sites containing content that was legal, as objectionable as it might be, a senior manager told the Australians.

As for Bing, a Microsoft spokesperson said the company was continually working to help keep users safe.

While federal law protects the site operators from being held liable for most content posted by users, the members could be vulnerable to criminal charges.

But the definition of a crime depends on the jurisdiction. State suicide laws vary. Some specify that assistance must be physical. Only a handful criminalize encouragement.

Some law enforcement officials outside the United States have also declined to investigate the operators and members of the site, believing the online activity falls outside their jurisdiction.

Officials in several countries consider the forum an American website. Italian investigators said they concluded that because a site administrator  apparently Marquis, using another of his fake names  provided them with a business address in the United States.

The Times investigation led to an elegant three-story apartment building in Montevideo, Uruguay, and a modest two-bedroom town house in Huntsville, Alabama.

The man calling himself Serge is Diego Joaquin Galante; Marquis is Lamarcus Small.

Reporters pieced together their identities and roles with the site from domain registration and financial documents, their online activity, public documents including court records, and interviews with seven people who had interacted with either of them.

Records show that Galante, 29, resides in the Montevideo apartment with his family  several siblings, his mother and his father, who is a lawyer. Small, 28, lives with his mother and brother in the town house.

In two recent phone interviews, Small said that he did not know how his credit card number, name, address and phone number had appeared on an invoice for the suicide website domain name.

Galante, when reached by phone, initially said he knew nothing about the suicide website and hung up. Days later, after receiving a letter from The Times, he acknowledged in an email that he had posted on the site as Serge, but he denied that he was a founder or operator of it.

In his email to The Times, Galante defended the site as a positive influence that improved the lives of some members. But, he said, I am deeply sorry that there are people who decide to end their life.

 2021 The New York Times Company
LOUISVILLE, Ky.  If Kentucky wants to figure out why its incarceration rate is one of the highest in the nation, the legislature would be a good place to start, according to a new report.

Over the last decade, Kentucky's legislature has passed six times the number of bills to increase felony criminal punishments as it has measures to reduce prison populations, according to the Kentucky Center on Economic Policy report released Thursday.

Between 2011 and 2021, 59 bills increased or enhanced criminal penalties, while only 10 reduced criminalization or the states prison-going rate, the report said.

More headlines: 2 juveniles arrested in deadly Louisville bus stop shooting, Tyree Smith's mom says

Its one of several reasons why Kentucky has struggled to reach the prison population reductions promised a decade ago, when lawmakers approved HB 463, the states last big package of criminal justice reforms undertaken during a growing incarceration rate.

In addition, court systems havent fully embraced some reform provisions, the report said.

More than 30,000 people are in Kentucky prisons and jails, among the nations highest. The 2022 Department of Corrections budget of $626 million is a 72% increase from 2010, outstripping total general fund growth, with taxpayers footing the bill.

While other states have reduced prison populations by scaling back punitive criminal penalties fueled party by the war on drugs, the report said, Kentucky "continues to increase criminal penalties."

The report came one day after another group called on the legislature to pursue reform to reduce the number of people behind bars.

The Kentucky Advisory Committee to the United States Commission on Civil Rights on Wednesday issued a report urging the legislature to eliminate cash bail except in cases of a clear and identified danger to the community or an established flight risk.

Kentucky holds too many nonviolent, low-risk offenders in county jails before their trials due to their inability to pay their money bail, the group said, noting people are held for inability to pay bails as low as $250.

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Did she obstruct justice?: A Kentucky judge called in favors for her addicted son

In Kentucky in 2016, there were 64,123 defendants charged with nonviolent, nonsexual crimes jailed before trial because they could not afford their bail, according to a study of state court data by the nonprofit Louisville-based Pegasus Institute. They spent an average of 109 days in jail before ever having been convicted of a crime.

The debate over criminal justice reforms  though mostly aimed at nonviolent, low-level offenses  has nonetheless grown more heated amid a rise in fatal shootings in Louisville and cities across the country.

Kentucky Republican senators John Schickel, Danny Carroll and Kevin Bratcher in August wrote an editorial linking violence to reform efforts that in part reduced penalties for drug offenders.

They argued against the elimination of cash bail.

Policymakers have reduced criminal penalties, and the governor released thousands of convicted felons out of our prisons and onto Kentucky streets using the COVID-19 pandemic as the excuse," they wrote. "Law enforcement personnel have been demonized and restricted in performing their duties. Then, as serious crimes increase, we wonder why. Quite simply, public policy is becoming increasingly soft on crime."

Andy Beshear: Beshear's COVID commutations rarely led to more violent crimes  with a few glaring exceptions

Yet the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy says while the state saw a temporary reduction from commutations and policy changes related to COVID-19, they expect the prison population will continue to rise without a policy shift away from ineffective, punitive measures.

They cited legislation in 2015 and 2017 that rolled back criminal penalties for low-level heroin trafficking and expanded traffickings legal definition to make sharing or selling any amount of heroin or fentanyl a minimum class C felony. Others created new crimes for behavior that is already criminal.

Such penalties are too often applied to drug offenses and disproportionately impact communities of color, according to Carmen Mitchell and other report authors.

Despite being only 8% of the statewide population, Black people make up 21% of Kentuckys prison population.

Experts say high incarceration rates aren't simply a function of crime, but rather criminal justice policy choices.

Patrick Baker: Pardoned by Gov. Matt Bevin and reconvicted, Patrick Baker seeks to limit murder sentence

While more comprehensive reform efforts have stalled in recent years, the last two years saw important changes including raising the felony theft threshold from $500 to $1,000 and expanding felony expungement rules to help people with prior convictions find jobs and housing and stay out of jail or prison.

The policy center report urged the legislature to take more steps such as reducing drug possession from a felony to a misdemeanor and narrowing the states persistent felony offender law, which it said was one of the countrys broadest and most severe.

Several Republican lawmakers said they arent certain whether criminal justice proposals will gain traction in the legislative session that begins in January.

Chris Kenning is a statewide enterprise writer. Reach him at ckenning@gannett.com or follow him on Twitter @chris_kenning

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Report: Kentucky lawmakers share blame for high incarceration rates
Williamson County commissioners next week will discuss how much of the CARES Act money the county has left for coronavirus relief will be allocated to schools.

The county has $18 million left out of the original $93.3 million it received in April 2020 from the federal government through the CARES Act, otherwise known as Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Aid. If the county does not allocate the money by Dec. 31, it must send it back to the federal government.

The commissioners also will discuss at their next meeting Tuesday a new voter precinct map that has been redrawn because of population growth.

"The level (number) of voting precincts we are going to see on map is about 167," Commissioner Valerie Covey said at the commissioners meeting on Tuesday. The county currently has 94 voting precincts.

Williamson County commissioners are considering giving more federal relief CARES Act money to schools for their coronavirus expenses.

Redistricting is done once every 10 years after census numbers are released. The commissioners already have approved a redistricting map for the four portions of the county that commissioners, constables and justices of the peace represent.

Commissioners previously have allocated about $75.3 million of the $93.3 million in CARES Act money to coronavirus-related expenses for schools, small businesses, small restaurants and other food-service related businesses, the YMCA and the county itself.

READ: Williamson County approves more CARES money for rent and utility assistance

They also have allocated money for rent and utilities assistance, vaccines and COVID tests, a new psychiatric wing for juveniles at a Georgetown hospital, mental health programs and food banks.

READ: Williamson Commissioners approve budget changes spending $21.6 million in COVID funds

"We've taken that money and used it strategically to provide resources that actually will help the county in the long run," said Commissioner Valerie Covey.

Scott Heselmeyer, the county treasurer, previously has discussed with the commissioners allocating more money to schools but the commissioners have not decided upon any amount. The Commissioners Court previously has allocated $9.4 million in CARES money to school districts, private schools and charter schools for coronavirus-related expenses, said Connie Odom, a county spokeswoman.

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Heselmeyer said he plans to ask schools how much money they need for further coronavirus-related expenses and present that information to the commissioners court on Dec. 14.

Schools can use the money for coronavirus-related expenses, including items distributed to facilitate remote learning, supplies needed to sanitize schools and personal protective equipment.

The county commissioners will not be considering allocating more money for rental assistance or food banks, Odom said. "In the past several months, it has been difficult for our partners in these programs to verify there is a continued need due to COVID-19," she said.

Williamson County also was approved in the spring to receive $114.5 million in new federal coronavirus relief funds through the American Recovery Act.

The county already has received part of the money. In August, commissioners approved spending $16.8 million of it for mental health services and breast cancer screening.

"I feel like they (the federal government) issued way too much money," Covey on said Tuesday. "I'm in favor of sending back as much as we can."

But Commissioner Russ Boles praised how the CARES Act money has been able to help people, especially the small business grant program the county provided with the money.

"I hear weekly from business owners that say 'While I was jumping through red tape, you were able to keep me around,'" Boles said.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Williamson County to consider giving more federal money to schools for COVID-19 expenses
Williamson County sheriff's office

The Williamson County sheriff's office is investigating a sexual assault involving a man driving what the victim mistakenly thought was a police vehicle outside of Walburg.

Detectives said the reported sexual assault happened around 7 p.m. Tuesday in the 8500 block of FM 972, outside the town of Walburg, according to a sheriff's news release. Walburg is northeast of Georgetown.

"The victim stated that they were pulled over by a man who they thought was driving a police vehicle with a flashing light," the release said.

No further information about the man or his vehicle was known on Wednesday evening, police said.

More: Body found in field near Taylor being investigated as suspicious death

Investigators ask drivers who believe they are being pulled over by someone who may be impersonating a police officer to turn on their flashers, drive the speed limit and call 911.

"Tell the 911 dispatcher that you are concerned that someone is trying to pull you over and need to verify they are a police officer," the release said. If drivers don't have a cell phone, they need to drive to a well-lit area such as the parking lot or a populated area.

It said drivers should not flee from the vehicle trying to pull them over or get out of their car until a dispatcher can confirm they are being pulled over by a legitimate police officer.

Drivers should not delay in reporting anything suspicious to 911, it said.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Police impersonator sought in Williamson County sexual assault
(Bloomberg) -- Sign up for the New Economy Daily newsletter, follow us @economics and subscribe to our podcast.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The fastest wage gains since the 2008 global financial crisis are throwing up opportunities and obstacles throughout the U.K. economy, leaving workers to wonder how much theyll ultimately benefit.

Underlying wages, adjusting for distortions caused by lockdowns and the furlough program, are rising 4.5%, according to Bank of England policy maker Michael Saunders. He expects them to pick up again over the next year as companies battle one of the rich worlds worse labor shortages.

That means those most likely to get a rise are in industries where the labor staffing squeeze are most acute.

According to an analysis published on Tuesday by the U.K. Treasury, they are construction, manufacturing and hospitality. The number of unemployed people with the relevant skills per job vacancy has fallen further since the pandemic in those industries than any other.

There have also been large declines in the unemployment-to-vacancy ratio in logistics, administration and health and social work. In theory, workers in those jobs will be most successful when asking for a rise, as the stories about truck drivers on 50,000-pound ($66,000) salaries and signing bonuses for restaurant workers attest.

The Treasury figures bear it out. Pay for the median typical worker in logistics, manufacturing, administration, and health and social work has risen between 4% and 7% in the past year, faster than the current 4.2% rate of inflation.

The analysis also suggests those in highly skilled jobs are equally able to bid up their wages.

In both the information and communication technology sector and the professional, scientific and technical sector such as medicine, there has been a shortage of skilled workers since before the pandemic.

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Pay in those industries has risen fastest of all, by over 7% in the last year. Right behind them is the financial services sector. Bankers and those in insurance have seen wages rise 7% despite the jobs market in those sectors getting looser since Covid-19.

For workers and trade unions worried about the squeeze on living standards, the rise in wages is something to celebrate. But for the inflation-wary BOE, its a cause for concern that is widely expected to prompt an interest-rate hike next year before other major central banks.

The one area where the squeeze on living standards is likely to be felt is the public sector, where the Treasury appears keen to avoid a more aggressive response from the BOE.

The analysis came in a presentation to the pay review bodies, which will propose a three-year settlement for around 2.5 million public sector workers early next year.

It drew attention to the BOEs warnings about a wage-price spiral and said that above inflation pay rises would exacerbate cost of living pressures. It also warned that it may then trigger significantly tighter monetary policy to address, which would also harm growth.

The public sector, though, is the one section of the U.K. workforce where unions still wield power. Half are unionized and prepared to take collective action on the back of national support for key workers like nurses and teachers soaring since the pandemic.

London Underground has begun a series of planned strikes over working terms, university lecturers have been striking over pay and pensions, and a poll this month by the Royal College of Nursing found that half of the nurses who responded are willing to strike over pay.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2021 Bloomberg L.P.
By Karen Freifeld

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - New York's attorney general is seeking to question former U.S. President Donald Trump under oath as part of the state's civil fraud investigation of his namesake business, a person familiar with the matter said on Thursday.

The attorney general, Letitia James, wants Trump to sit for a Jan. 7 deposition as she probes whether the Trump Organization manipulated the valuations of its real estate properties, the person said, confirming a report in the Washington Post.

James' office declined to comment.

"This is another political witch-hunt," a Trump Organization spokesperson said in a statement, calling it a "political persecution" that is "illegal, unethical and... a travesty to our great state and legal system."

The civil probe is related to but separate from the more-than three-year criminal probe by Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance of the Trump Organization's business practices, which James joined in May.

In July, the company and longtime Chief Financial Officer Allen Weisselberg pleaded not guilty to criminal charges in what a prosecutor in Vance's office called a "sweeping and audacious" 15-year tax fraud.

"This is not part of the criminal investigation," said a spokesman for the Manhattan District Attorney.

Trump, a Republican, has not been charged with crimes or accused of wrongdoing, and has called the probes politically motivated.

James also announced on Thursday that she was suspending her campaign to become New York's governor.

"I have come to the conclusion that I must continue my work as attorney general," James said in a tweet. "There are a number of important investigations and cases that are underway, and I intend to finish the job."

James, a Democrat, said she would run for re-election as New York's attorney general.

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Vance, also a Democrat, leaves office at the end of the year following 12 years as district attorney.

The civil probe includes a focus on whether the Trump Organization overstated the value of some real estate assets to obtain loans and tax benefits.

James' probe began after Donald Trump's former personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, told Congress the former president also deflated other asset values to reduce real estate taxes.

Last year, Trump's son Eric, a longtime Trump Organization executive, was questioned in James' probe after initially resisting her subpoena.

(Reporting by Karen Freifeld and Susan Heavey; Editing by Doina Chiacu, Mark Heinrich and Dan Grebler)
Former U.S. President Donald Trump. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

NY AG Tish James wants Trump to sit for a deposition in a civil fraud investigation, The Post reported.

James' office is probing whether the Trump Org. engaged in financial fraud when valuing its properties.

The Post reported that James wants to depose Trump in early January.

New York Attorney General Tish James wants to depose former President Donald Trump as her office conducts a civil investigation into the Trump Organization, The Washington Post reported.

James' office is investigating whether the Trump Organization engaged in financial fraud when valuing its properties, the report said, and James wants to depose Trump on January 7.

A person familiar with the investigation told The Post that James is looking into whether rampant fraud "permeated the Trump Organization."

The attorney general's inquiry is separate from an ongoing criminal probe conducted by the Manhattan district attorney's office, which James' office is collaborating with.

Prosecutors from the DA's office are also interested in the Trump Organization's claims about the value of its properties and last month issued new subpoenas for records of those properties, including golf clubs, offices, and hotels.

A lawyer for Trump did not immediately respond to The Post's request for comment.

Most of the charges stemming from the criminal investigation so far have focused on tax-related schemes; earlier this year, prosecutors indicted the Trump Organization and its longtime CFO, Allen Weisselberg, on 15 felony counts including tax fraud and grand larceny.

But in recent months, the civil probe and the criminal investigation have zeroed in on whether Trump Organization officials artificially inflated or deflated the value of properties for loan and tax purposes, respectively.

The Washington Post previously reported that among other things, prosecutors are scrutinizing a Trump-owned building located at 40 Wall Street in Manhattan. Property records reviewed by The Post showed that the Trump Organization told lenders in 2012 that the building was worth $527 million, but a few months later told tax officials that it was worth just $16.7 million. Tax experts have previously said the discrepancy could point to a ploy to pay lower property taxes.

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Shortly after The Post reported on James' plans to seek a deposition from Trump, the attorney general announced that she was suspending her nascent campaign for New York governor.

"I have come to the conclusion that I must continue my work as attorney general," James said on Twitter. "There are a number of important investigations and cases that are underway, and I intend to finish the job. I am running for re-election to complete the work New Yorkers elected me to do."

Trump has not been charged with any crimes and has denied wrongdoing in both the DA's investigation and James' civil inquiry. He's also gone on the offensive with his public statements, painting both investigations as politically motivated witch hunts.

Read the original article on Business Insider
(AP)  A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter crew braved poor visibility and frigid rapids to reach a car partly submerged in water near the brink of Niagara Falls, then lowered a rescue swimmer on a hoist who pulled out the woman trapped inside.

She did not survive.

Video from the harrowing rescue attempt showed Petty Officer 2nd Class Derrian Duryea, in an orange suit and with an axe in his left hand, buffeted by winds and spraying water as he was lowered 80 feet (24 meters) to the car through falling snow. After slowly spinning and swinging past the car, he was able to grab hold on the passenger side and open the door.

As I was coming down I was just really focused on how am I going to get in this car when theres, you know, pretty much rapids coming over the car right next to Niagara Falls, Duryea said by phone later after returning to Selfridge Air National Guard Base, northeast of Detroit, where the crew is stationed. My sole focus was which window or door am I going in."

Luckily, the car was unlocked and I didnt have to break out any windows and I was able to open up the passenger side door and push it up against the current, he said.

Throughout the operation, the helicopter's pilot, Lt. Chris Monacelli, and flight mechanic Jon Finnerty kept a wary eye on the waterfall's icy mist as it coated the hovering aircraft, including the windows, further limiting what they could see.

A lot of bigger planes have deicing capabilities, but we dont, Monacelli said. We have a lot of discussions and training for what we'd do if we got into that situation because if you do accumulate enough ice on the helicopter, it will fall out of the sky.

About two minutes after entering the car, with water surging around the vehicle and over the brink of the falls about 50 yards (45 meters) downstream, Duryea emerged and signaled for Finnerty to hoist him and the motionless driver, a woman in her 60s, from the water.

The current was ripping pretty good through there and the car was close to the edge of the falls. If it moved, we didnt want him getting dragged out with it, Finnerty said.

It was unclear how the car got into the Niagara River. Witnesses reported seeing it floating near a pedestrian bridge, where it was believed to have gone in. Roads in the area were slippery.

Conditions in the air were no easier, with snow limiting visibility to a half mile for the Coast Guard crew that had assembled for a training flight at Lake St. Clair, Michigan, when they were dispatched to Niagara Falls, New York.

At one point we were literally just flying down a street because we saw the road and we were trying to avoid the windmill farm thats just west of Niagara, Monacelli said. So were flying the road as these gigantic windmills are popping up like a half mile away from us."

After the rescue, the car remained almost completely submerged, with only part of the roof and open trunk hatch visible, in the rapids upstream from the American Falls, one of three waterfalls that make up Niagara Falls. Onlookers watched as emergency crews prepared to try to pull the vehicle from the water.

Authorities said the driver lived in the area. Her name was not released pending notification of her relatives.

New York Park Police Capt. Christopher Rola said his department's swift-water rescue teams were unable to get to the car because of its location. Police had used a drone to determine it was occupied.

It was an incredible job by the Coast Guard, Rola said at a news conference. He said rescuers have never been called to a vehicle so close to the edge.

He said investigators would try to determine whether the vehicle wound up in the water by accident or intentionally.

Niagara Falls has a history of attracting both daredevils who try to cheat death by plunging over the falls in homemade contraptions, and those driven by suicide.

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
New maps proposed in Virginias redistricting process published Wednesday could deliver more compact districts and slightly more political opportunity for voters of color, but result in a scramble of incumbents across the state.

Two special masters - a Democrat and a Republican - submitted their much-anticipated maps for Virginias legislature and congressional seats, which they described as meeting federal and state requirements. The maps appear to give Democrats good odds of having majorities in the congressional delegation, House and Senate - in line with recent state trends, according to the special masters.

Achieving the maps, they said, came at the cost of ignoring incumbents. The heated 7th Congressional District would vanish from the Richmond area. The proposed congressional map puts Democratic Rep. Abigail Spanberger in a redrawn 1st District with GOP Rep. Rob Wittman. The new 7th District would be a Democratic-leaning district based in Prince William County.

The western Richmond suburbs that were keys to Spanberger's two wins in the 7th would now be split, between a new 1st district to the north and a redrawn 5th district to the south. The proposed new 5th district includes most of GOP Rep. Bob Good's current district.

Spanberger declined a request for comment.

The Supreme Court of Virginia took control of the states redistricting process after the new Virginia Redistricting Commission bogged down on partisan lines and failed to draw maps for either of the legislative chambers or the states congressional seats. The commission, made up by party-nominated citizens and legislators, ultimately could not come close to compromise.

By contrast, the experts tasked by the courts to draw the maps described a friendlier process.

We agreed on almost all issues initially, and the few issues on which we initially disagreed were resolved by amicable discussion, Republican Sean Trende and Democrat Bernard Grofman wrote in a memo to the court, which they asked be shared with the public along with the maps.

The court will hear public comment on the maps on Dec. 15 and Dec. 17 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Below is an initial glimpse at the proposed maps.

Congressional seats

More often than not, Democrats would have a slight edge in Virginias U.S. House delegation, but the proposed map doesnt cement their current 7-4 advantage, according to an analysis by the special masters.

In a very good Republican year, Republicans could win a majority of the seats in Virginias delegation, they wrote. Generally, however, we would expect to see a 6-5 Democratic edge in Virginias delegation."

But drawing these lines resulted in a scramble of the congressional map that would reshape jostling for a spot in Virginias delegation.

One candidate isnt waiting until the maps are finalized. State Sen. Bryce Reeves, R-Spotsylvania, who had planned to seek the GOP nomination to run against Spanberger in the 7th District, announced late Wednesday that he will run in the new 10th district instead, seeking a chance to take on Democratic Rep. Jennifer Wexton.

Having seen the newly proposed map by the Supreme Court, I am planning to run for Congress in the 10th Congressional District! he tweeted Wednesday. The new 10th would run from Albemarle County north to Fauquier and Loudoun counties.

Meanwhile, a source close to Jennifer Carroll Foy confirmed she is planning to run in the newly proposed 7th district, which would be based in Prince William and include Stafford County and Fredericksburg. The proposed district includes her former delegate district and where voters of color would make up 43% of the vote - the next largest share after the 3rd District, and the 4th District, represented by Democratic Reps. Bobby Scott and Don McEachin.

Carroll Foy ran unsuccessfully against former Gov. Terry McAuliffe in the Democratic primary for governor. McAuliffe lost the general election to Republican Glenn Youngkin.

In addition, a source close to Del. Elizabeth Guzman, D-Prince William, said she is considering a run in the newly proposed 7th District.

Virginia Senate

The special masters said they drew a Senate map where each party would have to win seats in unfriendly territory to win control of the Senate. Their analysis suggests Democrats would have a 23-17 edge in that chamber, based on the results of the 2017 attorney generals race, which Democrat Mark Herring won with 53% of the vote.

The battle for the Senate will be fought in eight districts where each party has less than a 5% edge, based on the 2017 attorney general elections race. Five of those eight toss-up seats are Democrat-leaning, and only three are GOP leaning.

Democrats now hold a 21-19 edge in the Senate.

House of Delegates

The House of Delegates map, by the special masters admission, gives the GOP a slight advantage. In an average year, Democrats would have a 53-47 majority in the House, but thats a smaller margin the recent state trends suggest. (Republicans have prevailed in two House recounts, cementing a 52-48 GOP edge heading into the session in January.)

The special masters analyzed their House map using the results of the 2017 attorney general race and found that it favors Republicans more than it should. It is difficult to eliminate this advantage given Virginias political geography, they wrote.

Of the 14 districts where each party has less than a 5% edge, nine are GOP-leaning and five are Democrat-leaning.

In other words, although Republicans may find it slightly easier to win a majority, Democrats will have a tendency to enjoy larger majorities when they win, they wrote.

Minority political power

One of the key issues that divided the redistricting commission was how and when to create districts where racial minorities whose political power has been historically diluted would be able to elect candidates of their choice.

The special masters wrote in their memo that they were mindful of federal and state requirements around minority-majority districts, but said they create them only if they could be drawn compactly and didnt needlessly split a county.

They didnt opt to draw coalition districts - districts where different minority groups make up a majority of the electorate - arguing that the law and voting trends don't suggest they should. Some were created naturally.

In the House and the Senate, the special masters created fewer minority-majority districts than exist right now. They defended the decision, arguing that federal law doesnt compel them to, and the maps rather increase the number of districts where minority groups have a realistic chance of electing the candidate of their choice, even if they dont make up the majority.

In the Senate, they argued that the map is still an improvement over the current map because there is one additional district in the Richmond area where African American voters would have a realistic ability to elect their candidate of choice in a general election and primary.

In Northern Virginia, where the state is seeing a growing Asian American and Hispanic population, the map drawers included no minority-majority Senate districts, acknowledging that they may face criticism for that decision.

The 3rd district held by Scott would be 44.5% African American, compared to 47.2% percent now; the 4th, held by Democrat Rep. Don McEachin, is 45.3% African American, compared to 40% now.
A Stafford County elementary school is making changes to its upcoming Colonial Day after sending home a flyer encouraging children to dress as Colonial Virginians and including an image of a Black man dressed as an enslaved African.

The flyer went home with fourth-graders at Moncure Elementary School this week to inform families about Colonial Day, a day of programming brought by JamestownYorktown Outreach.

The flyer noted that students are encouraged to dress as Virginians did in Colonial times.

Families who found the images to be insensitive reached out to Moncure Elementary administration and the Stafford County Public Schools central office. As a result, the school is making changes to Colonial Day, division spokesperson Sandra Osborn said.

We will not encourage students to dress up for the program, Osborn wrote in an email to The Free LanceStar on Tuesday. The principal will communicate this to his families.

Fourth-graders in Virginia learn about life in Colonial Virginia as part of statewide standards of learning, Osborn said.

JamestownYorktown Outreach, which did not provide the image on the flyer, is bringing its Cultures of Jamestown program to Moncure later this month.

The program supports the Virginia Studies standards of learning, specifically standard VS.4, which calls for students to demonstrate an understanding of life in the Virginia colony by explaining the importance of agriculture and its influence on the institution of slavery and describing how the culture of colonial Virginia reflected the origins of American Indians, European [English, ScotsIrish, German] immigrants, and Africans, among other topics.

Maya Guy, who will take office as the Aquia District representative on the School Board in January, said the flyer is culturally insensitive at face value, but she sees this as a teachable moment for the county and school division.

I believe moving forward teaching this subject will be handled with more care and concern [for] all students, in particular those students who had ancestors who were mistreated or enslaved, Guy said Tuesday.

This can be a great teachable moment to the adults, that cultural sensitivity is a requisite when teaching a diverse student population, she continued. And if Stafford is anything, its diverse.
LONDON (AP)  An independent, unofficial body set up by a prominent British barrister to assess evidence on Chinas alleged rights abuses against the Uyghur people concluded Thursday that the Chinese government committed genocide and crimes against humanity.

The Uyghur Tribunal, made up of lawyers, academics and businesspeople, doesn't have any government backing or powers to sanction or punish China. But organizers hope the process of publicly laying out evidence will compel international action to tackle alleged abuses against the Uyghurs, a largely Muslim ethnic group.

Tribunal chair Geoffrey Nice said the genocide ruling was based on evidence that the Chinese government's forced birth control and sterilization policies targeting Uyghurs in the far western Xinjiang province were intended to destroy a significant part of the groups population. The abuse was part of comprehensive policies directly linked to President Xi Jinping and the highest levels of the Chinese government, he said.

Nice, a senior lawyer, previously led the prosecution of ex-Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic and has worked with the International Criminal Court.

There has to be an intention to destroy, by the act of interfering with birth, a group, he said. The evidence was that a significant proportion of Uyghurs who would have been born will not be born.

The Chinese Embassy in London didn't immediately respond to requests for comment. In Beijing, Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said Thursday that the so-called forced labor and genocide in Xinjiang are entirely vicious rumors.

Wang was responding to a question about a law passed Wednesday by the U.S. House of Representatives to ban imports from Xinjiang over forced labor concerns.

After examining evidence from witnesses, experts and leaked Chinese government documents for over a year, the Uyghur Tribunal also concluded that it was beyond doubt that crimes against humanity were committed, including the torture and rape of scores held in vast detention centers.

He said Xi and other senior officials bear primary responsibility for what has occurred in Xinjiang.

This vast apparatus of state repression could not exist if a plan was not authorized at the highest levels, Nice said.

An estimated 1 million people or more  most of them Uyghurs  have been confined in reeducation camps in Xinjiang in recent years, according to researchers.

The hearings were the latest attempt to hold China accountable for its policies targeting the Uyghurs and other predominantly Muslim and ethnic Turkic minorities.

About 30 witnesses and experts gave evidence to a series of public hearings in central London earlier this year, alleging torture, forced abortions, rape and beatings by authorities while in state detention centers. The hearings also reviewed evidence detailing other policies including the separation of young children from their families and the destruction of mosques.

A key part of the evidence was drawn from leaked Chinese government documents that Adrian Zenz, an academic specializing in the topic, said showed a direct link from Xi to the sweeping detention of more than a million people belonging to minorities, forced labor programs and forced birth control practices on Uyghur and other minority women.

Zenz wrote in a report that the leaked documents showed that the links between statements and mandates made by Xi and other central government figures and policies that were implemented after 2016 are far more extensive, detailed and significant than previously understood.

In Turkey, Semsinur Gafur, who submitted a video testimony to the London hearings, said she was pleased that the hearings shone a light on what is happening in Xinjiang.

Theyre trying to erase us from the face of the earth and get rid of us completely, she told The AP. The tribunal has shown us the world will do something, that humanity is not dead.

The U.S. government has declared that Beijings policies against the Uyghurs amounted to genocide and crimes against humanity. Legislatures in Britain, Belgium, the Netherlands and Canada have done the same.

British lawmakers urged the government to impose sanctions targeting responsible individuals and businesses as well as examine the countrys supply chain to make sure it is not complicit.

Its really imperative to call upon our government to act now, said Helena Kennedy, a member of Britains House of Lords. The evidence is absolutely clear for anyone to see.

Jo Finley Smith, a Chinese studies expert at Newcastle University, said that while Thursdays findings were not a legal ruling and had no legal teeth, they would still put significant pressure on governments to act.

There is still time to prevent, still time for governments and civil societies to step up, she said.



Huizong Wu in Taipei and Ayse Wieting in Istanbul contributed to this report.

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
President Joe Biden on Dec. 2 spelled out his administrations detailed strategy to continue to fight against COVID-19, and the new omicron variant, heading into the winter. Its a plan to keep the economy open and keep kids in schools while protecting the public through vaccinations and more aggressive testing.

By choosing to present these details in a midday speech at the National Institutes of Health rather than in a prime-time address from the Oval Office, however, Biden failed to use his most powerful tool  the bully pulpit of the presidency  to underscore the importance of working together to end this pandemic.

This was an opportunity to set a course for the country, to speak to the American people in their homes and calm fears about a worrisome variant still clouded in mystery. Sadly, it was an opportunity missed.

The messaging is important, but the details of the administrations plan are far more critical and reflect Bidens remarks on Monday that the omicron variant of COVID-19 is cause for concern, but not panic.

With so much still unknown about this new strain, caution seems like the appropriate tone to set. The United States recorded its first cases of the new variant this week. More will come and that data will help public health officials, from Washington to our communities, craft an effective response.

For now, however, the Biden administration is moving ahead with some important initiatives that should help the country weather the storm.

That begins with vaccinations and boosters, which remain the best defense against hospitalization and death as a result of infection. If you havent had your shots yet, please get them now. If youre eligible for a booster, schedule that appointment today.

Biden noted that the country is in far better shape to handle this variant, and the expected uptick in cases this winter, than it was a year ago thanks to higher vaccination rates, more effective medical responses to COVID infections and a better understanding of how to fight the virus.

Where the United States continues to fall short is on testing, specifically the rapid testing that is a hallmark of other countries COVID strategies. In Europe, for instance, at-home tests are widely available and free. Here they are relatively expensive and often hard to find.

The administrations proposal to have health insurance companies cover the cost of these tests may be one way to bridge the gap, but it is a rickety bridge that hardly inspires confidence. Individuals will be asked to jump through hoops for reimbursement and there is no guarantee that insurance companies will readily accept the costs.

Nearly two years since the virus emerged, it is almost unbelievable that this country, for all its wealth and know-how, cant seem to hit the mark on testing. This, despite the fact that at-home rapid testing empowers people to make thoughtful decisions about whether to go to work, send kids to school or visit loved ones.

Beyond that, however, the presidents strategy reflects Americans discomfort with measures that close schools and harm businesses. The White House hopes its plan can protect public health by providing people the tools (vaccines) and resources (affordable, available testing) to make smart decisions.

That part is key, and why Bidens remarks Dec. 2 would have carried more weight with the full power of the presidency at his back. Speaking in prime time would reinforce the importance of this moment and remind the public that we should be working together  to fight the virus rather than one another.

The presidents detractors would likely criticize him for grandstanding and, for some, the specific points of this strategy would seem like much of the same. Get vaccinated. Yeah, we know. The presidents low popularity might not aid his cause.

But these are difficult truths that the country needs to hear, and steps that we should all take to protect one another from a disease that is still claiming about 1,000 American lives every day.

 The Virginian-Pilot & Daily Press Editorial Board

 The Virginian-Pilot & Daily Press Editorial Board
Kyodo - Jan 05

A southwestern Japan hospital where women can give birth anonymously said Tuesday that a teenage girl who gave birth in December has become the first person to use the system, the only one of its kind in the country.
The total amount of money circulating in Japan rose at the slowest annual pace in 19 months in November, as firms and households saw less need to hoard cash with the economy emerging from the initial shock caused by the COVID-19 crisis.

The data underscores how Japans economy is normalising from last years pandemic crunch, and will likely be among data the Bank of Japan will scrutinise in debating next week whether to phase out pandemic-relief fund schemes.

Japans M2 money stock, a measure on the total amount of money available in the economy, rose 4.0% in November from a year earlier, Bank of Japan data showed on Thursday, slowing from a 4.2% gain in October. It was the smallest annual increase since a 3.7% gain in April last year.

The average amount of cash, at 1,175.8 trillion yen ($10.34 trillion), hit a fresh record, as the central bank continued to print money to cushion the economic blow from the pandemic.

The balance of money stock remains at historical levels with the slowdown largely a reaction to last years surge. Theres no big change in the uptrend (in money stock), a BOJ official told a briefing.

The BOJ ramped up purchases of corporate bonds and commercial paper, and introduced a loan scheme aimed at channelling funds to small firms via financial institutions last year to combat a cash crunch caused by the pandemic.
In our digital world today, the internet has brought many benefits, increasing the visibility of businesses and allowing for the smooth running of large organizations.

However, the internet also poses risks to organizations and even government agencies. Japan is no exception.

According to research done by Ipsos on worldwide issue predictions, roughly 40% of Japanese respondents anticipated that one of their internet accounts would be hacked in 2020. More to the point, several Japanese government entities have recently experienced data breaches due to Fujitsu's "ProjectWEB" information exchange technology. ProjectWEB is a cloud-based file-sharing and collaboration tool for businesses.

Unfortunately, things may not get better. Businesses will continue to face cyber security challenges as long as they have an online presence. Having an up to date knowledge of how cybercriminals operate could prevent your business from becoming a victim. Below, we look at the recent hacking methods used by Japanese cybercriminals.

Recent Hacking Methods Used by Japanese Cybercriminals

While we may not cover all the hacking techniques Japanese cybercriminals use, we will review some popular ones. They include the following:

1. Phishing

Phishing is the activity of attempting to steal user information by disguising harmful content as reliable communication. It is perhaps the most widely utilized hacking technique in Japan today.

Victims are mostly targeted through emails. A cybercriminal might send an email posing to be someone known to the target. The email may request information from the target. When the victim tries to log in or enter information, the hacker intercepts the data and then attacks the victim using it.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, incidents of phishing attacks have multiplied. Recent reports have listed phishing attacks as one of the commonest threats Japanese businesses face. Hence, any entity looking to beat these criminals needs to take phishing threats seriously.

2. Malware Upload

Japanese cybercriminals frequently exploit file upload vulnerabilities to transmit malware, obtain access to web servers, attack website visitors and host illegal materials. Hackers can also utilize file upload vulnerabilities to install trojan horses, malware, and other nefarious elements on your website.

Custom malware, including Backdoor.Hartip, are a new addition to tools used by cybercriminals in Japan to gain access and compromise the security of Japan-linked businesses.

When malware is in a victim's system, it can encrypt files, display fraudulent advertisements, redirect traffic, sniff data, and spread to all devices on the network. With the ever-growing Japan-tech industries, malware-related attacks are gaining notoriety.

3. Privilege Escalation

Japanese cybercriminals can exploit user accounts to take control of their networks by escalating the permissions of their operating system or software application.

This sort of hacking campaign targeted FileZen, a popular file-sharing network in Japan. The attackers took advantage of two vulnerabilities. These vulnerabilities allowed the cybercriminals to run OS commands with elevated privileges.

Missing security updates, social engineering, and a variety of other approaches could be used by an attacker to execute privilege escalation.

4. Living off the Land (LotL) Tools

A Living off the Land (LotL) attack is a type of hack in which intruders take advantage of legitimate software and functionality in a system to carry out destructive acts. Living off the land enables Japanese cybercriminals to blend into the legitimate programs in the victim's network to perform attacks. For example, a threat group known as Cicada or Stone Panda used living-off-the-land tools to launch attacks against Japan-linked organizations in 2020.

Most LotL attacks by Japanese cybercriminals employ legitimate tools such as WMI(Windows Management Instrumentation), a user interface that allows you to access numerous Windows components. Others include PowerShell and PsExec.

5. Ransomware

Ransomware is a type of software that either locks you out of your computer or encrypts your data and holds it hostage until you pay the attacker a ransom.

In recent times, Ransomware has become a pretty popular threat in cybersecurity and a tool commonly used by Japanese cybercriminals. A lot of Japanese conglomerates have been forced to shut down partially because of suspected ransomware attacks.

6. Keystroke Injection Attack Tool

A Keystroke Injection Attack Tool (also known as a "Rubber Ducky") is a specifically built USB device that automatically runs code when plugged into a host computer. In an attack, criminals utilize open-source tools to bypass the keystroke injection protection available on some devices.

Japanese cybercriminals use keystroke injections to gain control of a victim's system. Keystroke Injection attacks are relatively inexpensive and straightforward. However, they are also difficult to detect and prevent.

Conclusion

Data security must be a crucial area to pay attention to when running a government agency or large business in Japan. Hackers are always interested in your data or money. However, proper training and education can reduce your threat landscape. We hope this article has
IOWA FALLS (AP)  A man stopped by police Wednesday morning for reportedly stalking a woman he used to date was fatally shot by officers when he displayed a gun and tried to flee the stop, according to police.

The fatal encounter happened in Iowa Falls shortly after 7 a.m. Wednesday, when police, Hardin County sheriffs deputies and the Iowa State Patrol responded to a call for help from the woman, the Iowa Department of Public Safety said in a news release. The woman reported that a man was stalking her by following her in his car.

Officers who arrived at the scene said they saw the man run his vehicle into the womans car. Police then ordered the man to get out of his vehicle. He refused, police said, and displayed a shotgun and tried to flee. Thats when police shot him, officials said.

Police did not immediately release the mans name.

The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation is investigating the fatal shooting.

The deadly encounter led Iowa Falls schools and Ellsworth Community College in Iowa Falls to cancel classes Wednesday.
At just 20 years old, Colton Arias has plenty to back up his budding career as a bladesmith.

His latest success: Arias repeated his 2019 victory on the History Channel's "Forged in Fire" by topping three other past champions and winning a second grand prize of $10,000.

The episode aired Wednesday night.

"Forged in Fire" involves four competitors going head to head in three rounds to create the strongest blade, craft the best knife and make a specific weapon from history. After each round, one player is sent home.

The shows featuring the four youngest past champions were filmed during the summer, so, for months, only family and close friends have known he won.

"They film the show about 5-6 months in advance, so Ive known I won since July," Arias said. "Its been a big secret for me, which has sucked."

Arias, who was born and raised in the Lincoln area, first competed on the bladesmithing competition show in 2019, becoming one of the youngest champions at age 18.

This time around, however, things were different.

He felt more confident, was more used to the cameras, knew what the process was like and had a game plan.

However, the show didnt play out exactly as he expected.

In the first round, the judges couldnt make a decision and ended up keeping all four contestants. Two were eliminated in the second round.

It was pretty nerve-wracking, Arias said.

Arias crafted a 52-inch German longsword in the final episode, which was his winning ticket.

In the final round, the two contestants were sent home to their own forges, or shops, and had several days to work on their swords before flying back to Stamford, Connecticut, for testing and results.

As he stood waiting to hear who won, Arias was confident but knew that the judges had critiques for each of the two swords.

Immediately after winning, he called his parents to share the news. While they were both excited, Arias said, they had high expectations for him.

Competing on "Forged in Fire" had been a longtime dream for Arias.

Growing up, he had a lot of hobbies and got into blacksmithing at about 10 years old when his grandpa gave him his first coal forge.

Ive always been into making stuff. Whether it be woodworking or metal working or small engines, mechanics. Stuff like that. And I always liked old-fashioned, mythological weapons like swords, catapults and longbows. So I've just always wanted to make them," he said.

Most of what Arias knows about bladesmithing, he learned himself.

I just slowly over the last 11 years got better and better and got more tools until I could make a sustainable business.

Through Bridger Forge, his bladesmithing shop, Arias creates and sells custom knives and swords on his website, all while attending classes at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

He is working toward a degree in business management and marketing with an eye on making bladesmithing a full-time career.

"As business is going right now, I never would have thought that this would be possible. If it keeps up, this could be sustainable," Arias said.

From each of his series wins, Arias has saved two-thirds of what's left after taxes and invested what was left into his business.

While Arias has enjoyed his time in the spotlight, he is excited to refocus on his small business and learning new skills.

"Real success to me would be saving enough money from my business to buy a house or having a long-term career thats lucrative," he said. "This type of success is so fun though, and it feels great to have had that opportunity."

Reach the writer at jebbers@journalstar.com
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Weather Alert

...WIND CHILL ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON CST TODAY... ...WIND CHILL ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO NOON CST THURSDAY... * WHAT...For the first Wind Chill Advisory, very cold wind chills expected. Wind chills as low as 25 below zero. For the second Wind Chill Advisory, very cold wind chills expected. Wind chills as low as 30 below zero. * WHERE...Portions of east central and northeast Nebraska and west central Iowa. * WHEN...For the first Wind Chill Advisory, until noon CST today. For the second Wind Chill Advisory, from 6 PM this evening to noon CST Thursday. * IMPACTS...The cold wind chills could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Use caution while traveling outside. Wear appropriate clothing, a hat, and gloves. &&
Leading companies in Egypt are facing serious shortage of skills in the recruitment process, US-based online Nexford University has revealed in a report, Zawya reports.

A survey conducted by the Washington institution that defines itself as a breeder of leaders not followers, shows that 78 percent of companies, including PWC, Pfizer and the National Bank of Egypt, have difficulties to find the right set of skills in areas like digital transformation, digital marketing, and the knowledge and practice of business analytics.

Commenting on the report published Wednesday, Nexford University boss, Fadl Al Tarzi argued that the skill shortage will widen due to the accelerating pace of technology disruption.

This eye-opening data is consistent with trends were seeing across the world, including in the US, he stressed.

The report also revealed that almost half of the employers interviewed said they were looking to hire full-time staff in the next twelve months; however, their recruitment efforts are derailed by a dearth of skills across various sectors, Zawya notes.

Sixty percent said that sales and marketing positions are extremely difficult to fill, while more than half complained that candidates with a solid knowledge of business analytics remain a rarity in Egypt, the report insists.

The majority of companies also expressed concerns regarding their current staff that they believe lack some necessary skills including creative thinking, time management and problem solving.

Fifty-one percent of employers, reportedly, are however willing to sponsor upskilling programs for their employees.

Egypt is struggling with two-digit unemployment rate, still on the increase. Last year, the Arab country posted 10.45 per cent unemployment.

Authorities however are targeting 5 per cent by the 2030 through the much-celebrated strategic vision for sustainable development.
Paraguays Chamber of Deputies has reaffirmed strong support to Moroccos autonomy plan for the Sahara, saying it is the only credible and serious basis for reaching a lasting solution under Moroccos sovereignty in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions.

In its latest statement released on the Sahara, the Paraguayan legislative institution welcomes the new resolution of the UN Security Council and expresses its support to the efforts of the UN Secretary General and his new Personal Envoy to reach a realistic, pragmatic and enduring political solution based on compromise to the Sahara regional dispute.

It also expresses backing to the roundtables format held by the UN on Sahara with the participation of the parties to the conflict: Morocco, Algeria, Mauritania and Polisario, urging the protagonists to engage more in this process and to cooperate fully with the UN SG and with each other in order to advance towards a mutually acceptable political solution.

The Paraguayan Chamber of Deputies also hails Moroccos commitment to the ceasefire agreements and the political process, calling on the other parties to facilitate the mission of the UN Secretary General and his Personal Envoy to end this conflict.

In the statement, the Paraguayan lawmakers voice concern over the Polisarios violation of the ceasefire agreements, Algerias unilateral decision of cutting diplomatic ties with Morocco and failure to abide by the UN Security Council resolution 2602.

They also express support for the United Nations calls on Algeria and polisario to allow UN agencies conduct a census of the population held in the Tindouf camps.
What if the recent escalation against Morocco is but another curtain used by the Algerian opaque regime to derail attention from the brutal score settling between its clans?

Since the death of General Gaid Salah and the return of the Algerian war influential general Khaled Nezzar and the so called God of Algeria known as General Toufik, a brutal shake off has taken place in the military apparatus.

Gaid Salah has condemned both Nezzar and Toufik. The first run away to exile and the second was thrown in jail.

But after the death of Gaid Salah, Nezzar and Toufik took their vendetta sending Salah allies in the army to jail or to forced retirement. News of obscure deaths of other army commanders close to Salah also abounded.

Nezzar and Toufik are believed to be the masterminds of Algerias military coup in 1990s that prevented Islamists from winning elections and plunged the country into a savage civil war that left at least 200,000 people dead.

The involvement of the army in killing civilians is no secret and defectors have told abhorrent stories of how the brutal generals perpetrated massacres to discredit Islamist opponents.

General Chengriha, who appears to be the kingmaker of the Algerian army, is but a facade of the deep army who pulls the strings of the Algerian state.

Many observers believe that Tebboune is held hostage in this cruel military regime which is using him as a civilian facade and a disposable scapegoat. But the Algerian people and the world are aware of this blame game.

Macron recently stated without ambiguity that Tebboune is not a real president but a civilian facade of a cruel military-political regime.

In the midst of this regime instability, Algeria is punching above its economic and political weight going as far as to threaten regional peace by uncalculated provocations and warmongering against its well-off neighbor.

Yet, such diplomatic agitation is only hiding the fact of a collapsing regime controlled by an old-minded and blood-thirsty generation that is responsible for all Algerias economic and social woes.
UN and European officials have commended Moroccos continued commitment to the rights of refugees, ensuring them access to public services, education, healthcare, legal protection and employment, in the same way as Moroccan citizens.

At a press conference held lately in Rabat by the UNHCR on the situation of refugees in North Africa, they said that refugees in Morocco have benefited from medical care, psychological and social monitoring and exceptional financial assistance during the covid-19 crisis.

UNHCR representative in Morocco, Francois Reybet-Degat said Morocco is a reference country in this field thanks to the multiple initiatives launched to protect refugees and facilitate their access to public services, including education.

The refugees have benefited in Morocco from more than 12,500 medical consultations in addition to 5,000 counselling sessions, while over 6,000 refugees and asylum seekers received exceptional financial assistance during the covid-19 lockdown restrictions, he stressed.

Thanks to remote learning, adopted by the Ministry of Education in 2020, the success rate reached 90% among migrants children enrolled in primary and secondary schools, affirmed the UN refugee agency representative.

Moroccan institutions are committed to promote the rights of migrants and refugees despite the challenges generated by the Covid-19 pandemic, he added, hailing Moroccos national strategy on immigration and asylum, based on humanitarian and solidarity approach.

Jean Christophe Filori, representative of the EU Delegation in Morocco, also praised the actions made by the Kingdom for the protection of the rights of refugees and asylum seekers.
She was born Arcangela Felice Assunta Wertmueller von Elgg Spanol von Braueichjob in Rome to an aristocratic Swiss family. Apparently rejecting her parents' wishes to study law, Wertmueller instead went to drama school where she acted, wrote and directed plays. After graduating from Romes Theatre Academy, she toured Europe with Maria Signorellis puppet troupe.

In 1963, Italian actor Marcello Mastroianni, the husband of a schoolfriend, introduced Wertmueller to Federico Fellini, who asked her to be his assistant on 8. Wertmueller later said Fellini proved to be her greatest influence.

Its illuminating to be close to him, because you are close to a character whos so profoundly nonconformist, who runs with himself like a child with a kite, she said.

That same year, with Fellinis encouragement, Wertmueller went to Sicily to make The Lizards, her first feature film. It was favorably received but the director herself criticized it as being too rarefied, too difficult for people to understand. She wanted to make films for the masses.
Our focus as a district is the whole child, Carlson said. How is the district performing academically from day to day in class, how are they doing with their social/emotional learning?

The district, Carlson said, also looks at students performance and attendance.

Do any of those factors play into maybe why assessment results arent as positive or as high in the proficiency level as they would like them to be? Carlson said. We know that all of those other factors impact student learning.

Based on the guidance of the Nebraska Department of Education, Carlson said the state assessment is just a snapshot of what learning looked like during the pandemic.

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For our district, our attention goes back to MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) growth, Carlson said, because we know that is a reliable measurement of academic progress for our students.

The district administers the MAP test, a national computerized adaptive assessment, three times a year in addition to the state testing and other assessments.
With the Defense Department touting the success of its now-completed project to identify the missing dead from the battleship USS Oklahoma, some families of crew members from another famous battleship sunk at Pearl Harbor have started to clamor for the military to ID some of their lost sailors, too.

The six-year Oklahoma Project identified 355 of the 388 crew members who were still unaccounted for when the remains were disinterred from Hawaiis Punchbowl cemetery in 2015. Kelly McKeague, director of the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, described the effort  conducted out of its lab at Offutt Air Force Base  as a milestone in the history of the Department of Defense.

Similar projects are underway to identify 45 sets of unidentified remains from the battleships West Virginia and California.

But the Navy and DPAA so far are resisting efforts to open 85 graves at the Punchbowl containing unidentified remains from the USS Arizona, the battleship destroyed in the first minutes of the Japanese attack on Dec. 7, 1941, citing the cost and difficulty.

The numbers are daunting. A total of 1,177 of 1,512 Arizona crew members died in the attack. While 105 bodies were recovered and identified following the attack, 1,072 are unaccounted for.
Otherwise, you have to get that permit before you can do anything of a permanent nature, Steinke said.

Site preparation, however, accounts for virtually all of the $21.5 million in project costs organizers hope to recover over up to 15 years through TIF.

The redevelopment plan estimates itll cost $18 million to raise the base of the former 8- to 10-foot-deep lagoon so that the eventual plant floor sits 5 feet higher than Newberry Access just to its west.

Once NDEE drafts a construction permit, Steinke said, it must complete a 30-day public notice period before issuing it. Public comments would be taken, and a public hearing could be requested, he said.

Once cattle processing starts, he added, Sustainable Beef would have up to a year to convert its construction permit into an air quality operating permit.

NDEE also requires permits for wastewater treatment and some other plant functions, Steinke said. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency also delegates some of its regulatory duties to the state agency.
However, the show didnt play out exactly as he expected.

In the first round, the judges couldnt make a decision and ended up keeping all four contestants. Two were eliminated in the second round.

It was pretty nerve-wracking, Arias said.

Arias crafted a 52-inch German longsword in the final episode, which was his winning ticket.

In the final round, the two contestants were sent home to their own forges, or shops, and had several days to work on their swords before flying back to Stamford, Connecticut, for testing and results.

As he stood waiting to hear who won, Arias was confident but knew that the judges had critiques for each of the two swords.

Immediately after winning, he called his parents to share the news. While they were both excited, Arias said, they had high expectations for him.

Competing on "Forged in Fire" had been a longtime dream for Arias.

Growing up, he had a lot of hobbies and got into blacksmithing at about 10 years old when his grandpa gave him his first coal forge.
Overall, Insikt Group said it had identified more than 400 unique servers in Southeast Asia communicating with malware, but it was not clear what information had been compromised.

Many of the identified incidents spanned several months, so it is highly likely that the respective threat actors maintained long-term access to the victim networks and were able to obtain victim data over this time period in support of intelligence gathering efforts, Insikt told AP. At this time, we do not have insight into the specific data obtained by the threat actors.

Some of the information on Indonesia was disclosed in a previous report from the Insikt Group in September, and Indonesian authorities said at he time they had found no evidence their computers had been compromised.

Insikt Group said the earlier activity directed at Indonesia from malware servers operated by the Mustang Panda group gradually stopped in mid-August, following a second notification the company provided to the country's authorities.

Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Teuku Faizasyah said he did not have any information regarding Insikt Group's new findings that the ministry had also been targeted.
Union organizers in Buffalo, New York, in October. Photo: Carolyn Thompson/AP/Shutterstock

In a historic move, Starbucks workers in Buffalo, New York have voted to form the chains first U.S. union. Workers there voted over 2-1 on Thursday to unionize with Workers United, an affiliate of the SEIU. The union appears to have lost a bid to unionize a second location and the results of an election at a third store are pending review of a number of challenged ballots.

Still, the unions preliminary victory will likely seed the ground for union drives in other locations and across the fast-food industry, which has mostly fended off efforts by workers to organize. Already, Starbucks workers in Arizona have petitioned the NLRB for a union election with Workers United.

The union initially failed to win a second Buffalo location, though an attorney for the union has suggested that a consequential number of ballots may have been accidentally delivered to a neighboring regional office for Senator Chuck Schumer rather than the regional NLRB, which counts the votes. Election results at a third store are inconclusive pending review of a number of challenged ballots, according to the union.

Starbucks had strenuously opposed the union drive, and the union filed a federal labor charge alleging violations of labor law. Every success we have ever achieved has been in direct partnership with one another  without an outside party between us, Rossann Williams, the president of Starbucks U.S. retail, told workers in an open letter. Company founder and former CEO Howard Schultz traveled to Buffalo to stress the companys pay and benefits and instead made headlines for deploying a Holocaust analogy in his speech. Corporate representatives visited the Buffalo stores in an attempt to convince workers not to unionize. It cannot be understated just how unethical the onslaught of managers and corporate presence has been in Buffalo during this union campaign, Gianna Reeve, a worker at the Camp Road Starbucks location, told Intelligencer in November.
I never drew anything until I was in my 20s. I didnt think I could, Smith said. I just started doodling and sketching things out. I did it for a long time before I was like, I guess I can show my mom now.

She was really impressed, and it made me feel pretty good because Ive never showed that to anybody. Shes my best friend, and she always has been. Were very close, and were a good team.

Bennett has also been able to share her passions with her four grandsons: Lucas, Ryder, CJ and Reason. While most arent fully interested, 8-year-old Reason slowly became her biggest supporter.

He always likes all of my TikToks. Ill watch him in the summer sometimes, and hes always wanting to help. Hes so interested, Bennett said. I made a Rudolph wreath one time for a custom order. Reason said, Nana, I loved your Rudolph! What he really meant was that he wanted me to make one for him.

Not only has the business brought the crafters family closer together, it has also helped her develop long-lasting relationships in the community as well as all around the United States.
One out of four Americans volunteers, performing billions of hours of service annually, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The most common among them is collecting, preparing, distributing or serving food.

In Colorado, Teresa Dilka, a 68-year-old retired nurse, started volunteering at the Food Bank of the Rockies a couple of months ago, only after getting her COVID shot. She says she used to give money to the Denver-based food bank, but her income dwindled when her mother died. So she stopped donating money, and started donating her time instead.

Sometimes it seems like its helping me more than Im helping them, she said. It just feels good to be able to help.

At the Arizona-based St. Marys Food Bank, one of the largest in the country, volunteering hasnt declined since news about omicron came out, said Jerry Brown, a spokesperson for the organization. Many of their volunteers had just returned during this years holiday season following last years big drop-off, when their volunteer staffing dwindled from about 200 to only 30 per shift.
Carrie often had perfect hair and I know damn well she wore white a few times just fine.

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There was NOTHING relatable about Carrie by the end. This fucking retconning.

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Come on. Returning to your fucked up, shitty ex is sadly a common experience.



But beyond that? Nah.

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Trying to make a woman who regularly bought absurdly-priced designer goods, lived in the middle of New York, had an amazing body, plus a dream job accessible is... something.



I never saw the movies, but I thought the silliest part of the criticism around them was when people argued that the women came off as rich and out of touch. Surely that was the whole appeal of the show?

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Also she wore gloves a LOT, not just for "elevator buttons" during the pandemic.

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It's a quote from the OG show to be fair. The point is that Carrie always had messy edges to her.

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oh. welp. So just like that huh? Lol

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MTE I really wasn't expecting what I read under the cut lol

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She doesnt have to be a spicy redhead to be a boss, and thats why were looking forward to the new chapter of #mirandahobbes life. The first two episodes of And Just Like That are now streaming on @hbomax. pic.twitter.com/muFDLRYKgl  And Just Like That... (@AndJustLikeThat) December 9, 2021

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Who wrote these captions?! 

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A dumbass.

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We know #charlotteyork is going to be bringing her A-Game, and cant wait to see how her new chapter unfolds. The first two episodes of And Just Like That are now streaming on @hbomax pic.twitter.com/XEbGW5fD5G  And Just Like That... (@AndJustLikeThat) December 9, 2021



Edited at 2021-12-09 05:03 pm (UTC)

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That's a wig, right?



She looked so much better on Colbert a few days ago

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That's not even the hair she has in the show.

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The Kate Gosselin realness

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I'm dying. "Spicy redhead." Whaaaat

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[ Spoiler (click to open) ] Big & Carrie



Anyone watched it yet? Thoughts? I might watch tonight Lmao I hatedso Im here for thisAnyone watched it yet? Thoughts? I might watch tonight

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I mean...it's still traumatic to have something like that happen



Edited at 2021-12-09 03:27 pm (UTC)

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Im talking about a fictional couple in a tv show...? I dont understand your comment lol



Edited at 2021-12-09 04:06 pm (UTC)

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To the audience?

Or the fictional characters?

Because I'll bet Natasha was somewhere thinking, "Good. I can finally have a peaceful lunch."



Edited at 2021-12-09 04:08 pm (UTC)

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I loved it tbh

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I'm watching it now. I actually feel like they are being really shady towards Kim Cattrell.



Within the first five minutes, there's a comment made about how Samantha's in her sixties. Then, a few minutes later, it is pointedly mentioned that they are all 55. When discussing Samantha, Carrie makes a comment about "I thought I was more than just an ATM machine to her" after they discuss Sam leaving for London because of the fallout of not being retained as Carrie's PR. Then they talk about her not returning texts. It's odd. I feel they were trying to make her character look like the bad one.



Carrie also starts taking photos of strangers in a restaurant and then shares that she always takes pictures of strangers to upload to her instagram. It's out of touch to me. Someone of her statue, supposedly a writer for the NY Times and now doing podcasts, should be asking for consent to take images and post them. She's one of THOSE.



I don't know. I'm really annoyed 15 minutes in. Someone also comes up to their table to ask for a french fry and it's odd considering they are also talking about living through covid.



EDIT: I'm now at the point where there's talk of masturbating at Yankee stadium. Honestly, this is terrible.



Edited at 2021-12-09 07:08 pm (UTC)

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I hated them too so the end of the first episode had me shrugging my shoulders, lol

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Im watching the first ep right now and I hate what theyve done with Samantha 



How are they 55 already? I cant get over it, but I think thats because Ive been watching the show again recently so I still see them as 38.

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At least they didnt kill her off. But I dont think that Sam would just stop their friendship because of something so little.

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I dont get why they didnt just have Sam in London for a trip and the characters speaking to her on the phone.



Theyre acknowledging the pandemic, so they could come up with some excuse for her not flying back to New York.

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Honestly, thinking of everything theyd been through together ending like that, killing her off wouldve been more dignified.

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She wouldn't. And the flower thing seems like a petty callback to the real life incident between SJP and KC.

Very fucking tacky.

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100%. I find this so insulting bc Sam would NEVER. She would be like, yeah, that makes sense.



They should have just made her move and written in some lines of the girls talking to her here and there.

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They should have just had Jerrold stay in Abu Dhabi and invite her to live with him again. I liked them together and it makes more sense (plus leaves the door open, should she want to return).

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Samantha not coming back after the spoiler is totally out of character. What a mess lmao

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I'm 15 minutes in and it's super shady. Did you catch when they listed her age as "sixties" while all of them are pointedly "55". lol I agree Samantha's character would NEVER do this. It's absurd and the writing is actually quite bad. I definitely feel they are making up for all of their previous criticisms but it's coming across rather awkwardly.

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I literally finished the last episode of s6 before I watched this! I felt like season 6 had a really different vibe than the rest anyway but the age difference is def jarring!

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The amount of hate the ladies are getting for daring to age is insane, especially SJP. I now understand Chris Noth when he said he's protective of her.

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People have always talked down on SJP's looks, like her nose. And since Kim went off on SJP, people went off on her extra.



It's why I didn't understand folks giving Chris Noth a hard time for defending and protecting her.



I mean seriously?? Have y'all seen stan culture???? It's more visible now because of social media.

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Its becusse depsite zero evidence to back KC, everyone just wanted to believe SJP is nasty.

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The SJP thing really bothers me because it feels like she's always been attacked for daring to just... exist in public. As though she wasn't perfectly cute in her youth, and as though she isn't ageing gracefully now.



I think it had a lot to do with the fact that she had her biggest career moments when American TV was still obsessed with everything and everyone looking shiny and perfect, but it's weird to see it continuing now.

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SJP is honestly so beautiful to me, that it confuses me when people make remarks about her. She is just so charming to watch and genuinely pretty.

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I said this during the first movie! Fuck that lil girl! 

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Queen Lily!

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I legit lol

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JK JK

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[ Spoilers ] that being the reason Sam left or them doing that to Big.

Ide like the guy but damn



I....oof okay then lmao idk which I hate the most

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I didn't like him either but I wish they had kept him around for some more episodes. It was really cute seeing them finally in a healthy place, dancing around their apartment and just being a normal couple.

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Oh I just read that spoiler and LMAO. Theyre both on my screen right now and that just cracked me up. I was not expecting that spoiler and Im not even mad that I read it.

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Thanks for the spoilers, bb!  Doing the LORDTs good works

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I watched the episodes as soon as they dropped on torrents just for this purpose, lol



Edited at 2021-12-09 02:56 pm (UTC)

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Taking the grenade to spare the rest of us.

Bless you.

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Oh that spoiler, I didn't realise it would be that big.



"Miranda has given up corporate law and is going back to school to get he Masters in Human Rights."



Aye I knew I was a Miranda, as I'm also doing the same! Never started with the corporate law though as I know my worth

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'that big' lmao intentional or not?

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This was somehow worse than I thought it would be. Can't wait for the next ep

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"And Just Like That" sounds like what a popular fanfic in literally any fandom would be titled. Whoever came up with that has been involved in some serious shipping wars somewhere out there.

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Gonna watch later on today and return to this post.

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I gasped at the spoiler lol. And just like that...literally. lol.



Anyway. Does anyone have a link to watch this? I can't pay more for cable than I already do. Not gonna get HBO just to watch this, but also....lemme watch this.





Edited at 2021-12-09 03:00 pm (UTC)

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try primewire.li

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Thanks babe. Great source, worked great.

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Higher Saudi prices for January, lower overall demand for crude amid the Omicron uncertainty, the Chinese crackdown on illicit practices at its independent refiners, and refinery maintenance season starting in late Q1 2022 have resulted in Asian refiners abstaining from extra Saudi crude supply for loading in January.

Refiners in the worlds largest oil-importing region have not asked for additional supply from the worlds largest oil exporter, Saudi Arabia, above the term supplies under the long-term contracts, company officials have told Bloomberg.

At least three refiners in Asia will not be seeking extra Saudi crude for January loading, the unnamed officials told Bloomberg.

Asian refiners typically ask for additional Saudi crude in case of strong demand and relatively low official selling prices (OSPs) of the Saudi grades to the region.

Earlier this month, however, Saudi Arabia raised its official selling price for its flagship Arab Light crude to a nearly two-year high premium over the Oman/Dubai benchmark, signaling confidence in Asian demand despite the still high uncertainty about the Omicron variant of COVID.

Arab Light will next month sell for $0.60 more per barrel than it does this month for buyers in Asia. Thats $3.30 a barrel more than the Oman/Dubai benchmark, off which Middle Eastern crude going to Asia is priced. The premium over Oman/Dubai is the highest for Arab Light since early 2020the months before the pandemic struck.

Apart from the higher Saudi prices, Asian refiners are not rushing to buy crude above the volumes in their term supply deals, due to low refining margins for fuels after the peak winter demand in March, when cargoes loading in January are set to arrive in Asia.

In addition, Chinas independent refiners, commonly known as teapots, will likely see lower purchases in coming weeks as the local government is investigating practices at the refineries in the Shandong province, traders told Bloomberg.

Omicron is also weighing on the market, with trading quieted in recent days in Asia, a seller of West African crude told Reuters earlier this week.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Sanctions against the energy industry of Russia in response to reported plans to invade Ukraine will be a last resort, CNN has reported, citing White House officials.

"We're trying to do it in such a way where it is a menu of options. We will not do everything on that menu all at once," one of the sources, who remained unnamed, said. "The energy section of it is the more extreme option if it becomes necessary. I do not see that as being in the first tranche. You always want to keep things in your back pocket."

According to officials from the federal government, energy sanctions could lead to higher international oil and gas prices, which would in turn push up prices at the pump for American drivers.

Given the sensitivity of this issue, CNN goes on to report, the Biden administration would be reluctant to target Russia's energy industry.

The President's ratings have been on the decline recently, with higher gasoline prices seen as one of the main culprits. Biden made a series of efforts to lower these, first by calling on OPEC to boost production, repeatedly, and then by announcing the release of 50 million barrels of crude from the strategic petroleum reserve.

"It will be very difficult to impose severe economic harm on Russia without affecting energy markets," said Edward Fishman, senior fellow at the Atlantic Council and former White House official. "Oil and gas account for 40 percent of Russia's federal budget. The United States and Europe can take steps in advance to contain spillovers, but if they plan to impose serious economic sanctions on Russia, they cannot avoid the energy sector entirely."

Besides the energy industry of Russia as a whole, sanction ideas include targeted action against the Nord Stream 2, which has been a bother for Washington from even before the latest Ukrainian flare-up. Earlier this week, U.S. officials told Congress that the government has an understanding with Germany to halt the pipeline project in case of an invasion.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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The worlds biggest automakers are all focused on what many consider to be the holy grail of battery technology, solid-state batteries

Several breakthroughs this year are focused on reducing the fire risk of current batteries and attempting to create alternatives to lithium-ion batteries

As the world moves to electrify everything, developing faster, cheaper, and safer batteries is becoming increasingly important

With the global electrification drive in full swing, electric cars have constantly been improving in terms of mileage, performance, charging time - and costs. And, Wright's law has so far proven to be right. According to Wright's Law, aka the learning curve effect, lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery cell costs fall by 28% for every cumulative doubling of units produced. The battery pack is the most expensive part of an electric vehicle, and the sticker prices of EVs have been falling along with declining battery costs. By 2023, the cost of Li-ion batteries is expected to fall to around $100/kWh - low enough for EVs to achieve price parity with their gas-powered brethren.

Still, Li-ion batteries come with a suite of clear disadvantages. Capacity and ability to deliver peak charge deteriorates over time; they bleed a lot of heat and require weighty cooling systems to be integrated into their design, and the batteries can explode or catch fire if damaged in an accident thanks to the flammable liquid they contain.

Over the years, scientists have been returning to the drawing board and have redesigned the original li-ion battery to overcome some of these shortcomings.

From graphene-based energy storage and lithium-ion batteries with water to cheaper sodium-based batteries and solid-state batteries, here are the latest advances in battery technology.

#1. Non-Flammable Graphene-Based Battery Packs

Ultrathin, incredibly strong, superconductive, cheap - and impossible to use. Those are some of the traits of graphene, the gee-whiz nanomaterial that was supposed to forever change the face of materials science as we know it. Yet, save for a few novel applications, the graphene promise has mostly remained mere hype 16 years after two Manchester University professors first figured out a way to extract it from graphite.

But that has not stopped starry-eyed scientists from touting a graphene superbattery that can charge faster, hold a lot more power, and cost a fraction of conventional lithium batteries.

And, finally, one little-known company has turned this dream into reality.

Los Angeles battery startup Nanotech Energy has announced that it will start taking pre-orders for its high-performance, graphene-based, non-flammable, lithium-Ion battery packs that promise to provide safer and more powerful energy storage than traditional lithium-ion battery packs.

Nanotech's new batteries are powered by the company's graphene-based electrodes and proprietary non-flammable electrolyte  Organolyte  and can be fully customized to fit any form factor or container, thus eliminating the need for OEMs to redesign existing products or compromise new ones. These non-flammable battery packs can be used to power electric vehicles, bikes, consumer electronics, military equipment, and other electrified devices.

"Battery storage has yet to reach its potential--until now. Unlike traditional battery packs that pose serious fire risks, Nanotech Energy's non-flammable lithium-ion batteries are intrinsically safe and environmentally-friendly, which we believe will inspire more industries to switch from gas to electric. Ultimately, our batteries will enable faster adoption by significantly decreasing the amount of time and accumulative costs OEMs currently incur related to testing and integrating new battery technology," Dr. Jack Kavanaugh, Chairman, CEO and co-founder of Nanotech Energy, has said in a press release.

Nanotech Energy was recently honored with a CES 2022 Innovation Award for its non-flammable, Graphene-Organolyte batteries

#2. Lithium-ion battery with water

The risk of fires or explosions due to manufacturing defects, damage, or thermal runaway is an Achilles heel for li-ion batteries. In recent years, several automakers, including General Motors, Audi, and Hyundai, have recalled electric vehicles over fire risks and have warned of the associated dangers.

Thankfully, researchers have now developed a prototype lithium-ion battery that uses water as an electrolytic solution, replacing a flammable organic solvent.

In an abstract published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, a team of scientists has developed a prototype that achieves "higher ionic conductivity, environmental benignancy, and high safety."

The battery's major drawback: a lower performance level and can only be used in lower-voltage conditions.

The Asahi Shimbun has shared more details about the new aqueous battery:

[Scientists] discovered that using a molybdenum oxide for the negative electrode can achieve performance levels required for practical use. Even after the battery was recharged 2,000 times, its capacity dropped by less than 30%.

As water is broken down when high voltage is applied, the prototype battery can be used only in lower voltage conditions in comparison with batteries based on the organic solvent.

Its weight energy density  an indicator of battery performance  is about half the level of a conventional product, which means a larger body size is essential to produce a battery with the same capacity.

The water battery's lower weight energy density means it might not be readily applicable for long-range EVs but can still be useful in short-range EVs as well as solar and wind energy storage.

#3. Cheaper sodium batteries

In yet another battery breakthrough, researchers at the University of Texas at Austin have developed a new sodium-based battery material that is highly stable and capable of recharging as quickly as a traditional lithium-ion battery.

For about a decade, scientists and engineers have tried to develop sodium batteries that replace both lithium and cobalt used in current lithium-ion batteries with cheaper, more environmentally friendly sodium. Unfortunately, earlier versions of sodium batteries have been plagued by needle-like filaments called dendrites that grow on the anode and cause the battery to electrically short and even catch fire or explode.

However, the latest sodium battery by the University of Texas at Austin solves the dendrite problem and recharges as quickly as a lithium-ion battery.

"We're essentially solving two problems at once. Typically, the faster you charge, the more of these dendrites you grow. So if you suppress dendrite growth, you can charge and discharge faster, because all of a sudden it's safe," David Mitlin, a professor in the Cockrell School of Engineering's Walker Department of Mechanical Engineering and Applied Research Laboratory, has said.

#4. GM Edges Closer to Solid-State Battery After POSCO Deal

Over the past decade, EV makers have been touting solid-state batteries as the next breakthrough in EV technology, often quoting insane performance and range. Solid-state batteries use a solid electrolyte that can take the form of ceramics, glass, sulphites, or solid polymers as opposed to the liquid or polymer gel one found in conventional lithium-ion batteries.

Solid-state batteries promise some 2-10 times the energy density of lithium-ion batteries of the same size, thanks mainly to the solid electrolyte having a smaller footprint. That means more powerful batteries without extra space, or more compact battery packs without compromising on power, longer-range electric cars, and lighter EVs. They are also expected to charge faster.

Back in September, the world's largest automaker, Toyota Corp. raised the stakes after announcing its intention to invest over $13.5 billion by 2030 to develop next-generation batteries, including solid-state batteries.

The Japanese automaker says it aims to reduce the cost of its batteries by 30% or more by working on the materials used in manufacturing batteries and also by improving power consumption.

And now another ICE giant is betting the farm on solid-state technology.

Last week provided the clearest sign that General Motors has a solid-state EV battery up its sleeve after it hooked up with the Korean firm POSCO Chemical to build a new battery factory in the United States. The new factory will produce material for GM's much-heralded Ultium energy storage platform. Although Ultium energy is not a solid-state battery, the new partnership indicates that GM is edging closer to a solid-state battery.

Last spring, GM announced a joint agreement with lithium-metal firm SES (formerly Solid Energy Systems), marking a series of lithium-metal partnerships it has struck up in recent years

GM holds nearly 100 patents (49 granted and 45 pending) of its own in lithium-metal technology, and it was an early investor in SES.

By Alex Kimani for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Reports are emerging of a pipeline explosion at Irans Parsian refinery in the countrys southwest, where an excavator reportedly hit a 10-inch gas condensate pipeline today.

While the story is still developing, as reported by Reuters and Irans Fars news agency, there were no casualties in the explosion, and rescue squads are still on the scene.

This is the third major explosion since this summer affecting Irans gas pipeline infrastructure.

In mid-November, an explosion at an oil pipeline in southern Iran was attributed to aging infrastructure.

No casualties were reported in that incident either, in which a 16-inch outlet line of Irans Maroon Gas Injection Station cracked in the explosion, leading to minor leaks which caused a fire. Corrosion and leakage led to the explosion. No damages were reported to the production facilities.

In July this year, a much more dramatic explosion at a pump house in the Iranian southwest killed three oil workers and injured four others at the Einkhosh field. The explosion hit a breakroom building for pump house workers.

At the time, the cause of the explosion was unknown, but once again, aging oil and gas infrastructure was suspected.

A month earlier, a petrochemical facility caught fire in the extreme summer heat.

Iran has been suffering from sanctions, which have hindered its ability to maintain infrastructure, including parts necessary for maintenance.

On Thursday, Iran resumed negotiations over the 2015 nuclear deal, where Washington says time is running out for Tehran to comply in order to see any sanctions eased. At the same time, the U.S. and Israel are in discussions about alternative options should Iran fail to demonstrate its willingness to agree to a new deal.

By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
The price of WTI has recovered 60% to $72.60 from just $45.52 a year ago. And such gains in oil prices could spark a resurgence in oil worker bonuses just in time for the holidays.

In fact, one company, Devon Energy Corp, has already reinstituted worker bonuses.

Devon oil workersall 1,600 of them below the vice president levelwill be getting a bonus in the amount of $10,000 as times have improved, CEO Rick Muncrief told Bloomberg in an interview.

The bonuses were unexpected.

Now, Devon Energy has had a performance better than most in the U.S. oil patch this year, as its shares increased 185% this year.

The news of the sizeable bonus comes as the oil industry faces a talent gap as workers consider migrating to the renewables industryor leaving the energy industry altogether.

According to a recent survey by recruitment firm Brunel and Oilandgasjobsearch.com, 56% of all oil and gas workers said they would look for employment opportunities in the renewables industryup from 38.8% last year.

Perhaps even more startling, 43% of all oil and gas workers want out of the energy sector completely within the next five years.

Oil and gas industry workers have endured trying boom-and-bust cycles, and roughly 100.000 oil and gas workers lost their jobs last year during the pandemic.

Oil and gas companies have rehired more than 30,000, but many workers have moved on to other avenues of employment.

Jobs in the oil industry are heavily dependent on oil prices and often are in a state of flux depending on oil policies such as OPECs.

Oil and gas companies would do well, then, to spread the wealth to their employees whenever there is wealth in order to retain top talent instead of hemorrhaging workers to other industries.

By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Gazprom Neft, the oil arm of Russian gas giant Gazprom, expects a record high oil and gas production this year, as demand recovers and OPEC+ eases the production cuts, the third-largest Russian oil producer said on Thursday.

Gazprom Nefts full-year 2021 oil and gas production is expected at over 100 million tons of oil equivalent, for the first time in its history, chief executive officer Alexander Dyukov said in a statement accompanying the firms financial and operational results for the period January to September 2021.

Gazprom Neft sees further growth potential next year, the executive added.

Thanks to recovering demand for oil, and the companys prompt and effective response to the changing market environment, we have demonstrated positive dynamics across our key financial indicators, Dyukov said.

In the first nine months of 2021, the companys oil and gas production, including Gazprom Nefts share in joint ventures, rose by 2.7 percent compared to the same period of 2020, reaching 74.1 million tons of oil equivalent. The growth was driven by an increase in production at new projects, the commissioning of the Tazovskoye field in June 2021, and the launch of an integrated gas treatment complex at the Vostochno-Messoyakhskoye field.

Gazprom Neft had initially targeted to reach 100 million tons of oil equivalent production in 2020. But the crash in demand and oil prices that led to the OPEC+ groupin which Russia is a key memberto curtail collective production delayed some development plans and investments at Gazprom Neft.

Next year, Gazprom Neft expects its investment to rise by more than 10 percent compared to 2021 and to exceed $6.8 billion (500 billion Russian rubles), the company said.

In August this year, when OPEC+ started easing the production cuts by 400,000 barrels per day (bpd) every month, Gazprom Neft said that it would be able to swiftly raise its crude oil production in line with the OPEC+ deal for unwinding the cuts. Gazprom Neft has many oil wells, at which it had reduced production because of the OPEC+ production quotas. In addition, some oil wells have been sitting idle since last year, the company told Reuters.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Our view has always been for both of these products that these are loans. Someone is loaning you money and youre paying it back at a later date, says Rachel Gittleman, financial services outreach manager with Consumer Federation of America, a consumer advocacy group.

But advocates for new financial products say that too many regulations could stifle innovation.

No matter what product youre talking about, these are new products, Tate says. Theyre not the same products in concept that people may be familiar with.

Paycheck advances may not have regulators attention right now, but they could in the coming years, he says.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau issued an advisory opinion in 2020 that some advances offered through an employer arent considered credit under the Truth in Lending Act, which governs most types of consumer credit. Shortly after Rohit Chopra was confirmed earlier this year as the new CFPB director, consumer groups sent a letter urging him to rescind the opinion.

How to approach these financing options
Every Saturday, John Reuhter and his family meet at 11:30 a.m. for lunch at Netties Fine Mexican Food.

And each time, he orders Netties chili, which has a heat level somewhere between a bonfire and nuclear apocalypse, depending on the day and the diners taste buds.

Either you like it or you dont, Ruether said. It takes a little bit of getting used to.

His wife, Marcella, never orders it. Its just too spicy for her. His son, Kyle, orders a dipper full of it over his entree. His other son, David, prefers chopped jalapenos with his meal.

Reuhter used to take members of his sales teams to Netties for the chili. "It never failed to change their business luck, he said. But most of them werent up for the heat.

They started sweating off the brow, and sweat was dripping off their earlobes and nose, he joked.

Perhaps as much as anything, this illustrates the polarizing nature of chili, described as Americas most contentious stew at seriouseats.com.

Chili purists and innovators debate everything from the consistency  thick like porridge or thin like soup  to ingredients  what kind of meat, if any; beans or not; use of tomatoes and other veggies. Even toppings and sides are divisive: saltines, oyster crackers or corn chips; cheese vs. no cheese; sour cream or not; cornbread vs. cinnamon rolls.

We took all that into account when we formed a team to search for Omahas great chili following our successful Omaha's Great Grub breakfast burrito hunt.

Members included my World-Herald co-workers Kiley Cruse and Charlotte Higgins, who also rated burritos, and a newbie, World-Herald retiree Roger Buddenberg, whos been known to innovate when he makes chili at home.

We knew we may not have a consensus, though we seemed to be fairly in sync. We also figured we would get blowback from chili connoisseurs (and people who like to debate).

But never in all our preparation did we imagine the exquisite pain we would feel at Netties.

I am not exaggerating when I say Netties chili is the hottest thing Ive ever eaten, including plenty of intensely spiced Mexican and Cajun dishes.

And Im no wimp  I was the only team member who finished that cup of chili at the 34-year-old Netties, an out-of-the-way, yet uber-popular spot on the outskirts of Bellevue where 24th Street meets Railroad Avenue.

I brought a bowl home to my husband, who once ate an entire habanero pepper by mistake (thats a story for another time). He also said hes never eaten anything spicier.

The restaurant was packed at lunch when we visited. The waiter seemed a little baffled when we ordered four small cups of chili, but he was game and attentive.

Three fresh flour tortillas came with each order. We would need them.

The chili is unlike the variety most people make at home. Its just broth and tender pork chunks without any beans or chunky vegetables. We all ate a spoonful, and then gazed, wide-eyed and shocked, around the table. We literally couldnt believe what wed just eaten.

Fire-breathing-dragon hot, Kiley said, when she was able to talk.

My slurp was much smaller after that. We learned to dip the tortillas in the mix to cut into the heat. And we all agreed that the pieces of pork were perfectly cooked and incredible, even if eating them was difficult.

The heat prevented anyone from saying it was the best chili theyd tried so far (Netties was our third stop). But we couldnt deny its virtues, especially for people who live for outrageous spice. We did balk a little at the price, $7.25 for a cup.

If I werent such a wimp, I would have ranked this one higher for the pork and flavor, Charlotte said.

Hands down, the best meat of any we tasted, Kiley said.

Co-owner Kathy Boyles, daughter of the restaurants founder, said her sister, Susie Sader, makes the chili fresh each day using a blueprint from their mom, Nettie Escamilla-Vela, who opened the eatery in 1987.

This is the only way weve ever had it, Boyles said. If you put beans and hamburger in it, to me its American chili.

They make it hot with chile de arbol, described on Wikipedia as a small and potent Mexican chile pepper thats also known as birds beak chile and rats tail chile. The peppers start out green and turn bright red (and presumably hotter) as they mature.

The heat in Netties chili varies depending on the peppers. Lately, Boyles said, it has been running hot.

Sader gets the peppers directly from Mexico. She comes in at about 5 a.m. each day, makes chili and the days other food and then leaves about the time the restaurant opens at 11 a.m.

She doesnt make the tortillas in house, but shes particular about what she buys. Theyre never frozen, Boyles said.

The chili really shines when its used as a gravy (or at least a drizzle) on enchiladas and other Netties entrees, says Boyles, her employees and regular customer Reuhter.

A traditional Mexican dinner would be rice, beans and chili wrapped in a flour tortilla, Boyles said. She has worked at the restaurant since before it opened at its current location in 1987.

We also found some great chili (Boyles would call it "American-style") at our other stops. We began at Jericos, an old-school steakhouse near 120th Street and West Dodge Road.

The chili there is made with prime rib and two kinds of beans that I thought were cooked to perfection  soft but firm, not mushy. It was the thickest we tried.

It was a meaty, meaty chili with an excellent spice balance, Roger said.

Kiley said it was unlike any chili shed had before.

We all were impressed that a chili with prime rib was the cheapest we tried at $3 a cup, even less than at Runza, which was our next stop.

Runzas chili was better than I remembered from my one try several years ago. I liked the amount of hamburger per cup  it definitely held its own with the beans. Charlotte was also surprised she liked it as much as she did, though she thought the beans were too plentiful.

It was a good value at $3.36  cheap, fast and reliable, with visible tomato, pepper and onion bits, Roger said.

We agreed that its more than adequate, especially if youre in a hurry. We also concurred that it was a little on the salty side, and it didnt emerge as anyones favorite.

For me, the cinnamon roll option makes it a speedy, viable meal when I dont want to cook. It was the only restaurant we visited which offered that uniquely Midwestern combo; we tried to eat at Best Burger in North Omaha, which also has it, but it was closed for the day for a catering job.

The chili was similar at the final two places, Tishs, across the river, and the downtown location of Omaha Tap House at 14th and Farnam Streets.

Tishs was the most like my moms, which means its the most like that I make at home. So I have a prejudice toward it. My mom was a great cook.

It had a good balance of tomatoes, hamburger and beans, plus jalapeno slices, which were a nice touch, Kiley said.

The restaurant, at 1207 S. 35th St. in Council Bluffs, was our fourth stop and the first place that offered the option of a raw onion and shredded cheese topping. We all appreciated that, especially Roger, who would have given it bonus points if we were using such an organized system.

"I appreciated the homey feel of this chili, Charlotte said. It wasnt as spicy as I would prefer, but I did feel like its something I could eat on a cold day.

It also was the largest portion of any we received, making it a good value at $5.

Tap House, our final stop, also offers cheese-topped chili. It was delicious and stood out, at least to me, with a flavor I couldnt identify. Something that added a little sweetness, perhaps? That was one of my moms secrets.

It had an excellent balance of beans and burger, and a couple of us thought there might be celery among the tomato and onion.

I loved this chili, Charlotte said. It was my favorite.

Both Roger and I had it in a tie for favorite with Tishs. Kiley was a fan, too, though if forced, she said, she would pick Jericos as No.1 because it was the one I most wanted to go back and try again.

We had one quibble with Tap House: The spice level of the chili was great, but the temperature was tepid. It needs to be served piping hot to do its job on a cold day.

Bottom line: We would return to each of the places we visited, because each chili has something the others dont.

As for Reuhter, hell keep going back to Netties. Boyles said many other customers also visit regularly for a bowl of fire.

Some people come in just for chili, she said.

The restaurant built its popularity partly on the chili, though its other food has a following as well. The chili has always been extremely spicy, Boyles said, and shes not inclined to mess with success.

If its not hot, its not Netties chili, she said.

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Both sides said they got their messages across and were cautiously hopeful it would bring if not an easing of tensions, at least a break in the relentless escalation of recent weeks.

Biden needed to show that he was ready to take active measures, said Victoria Y. Zhuravleva, a foreign-policy expert at state-run think tank IMEMO in Moscow. Putin demonstrated that he has a tough position but is ready to talk.

Each side performed in the way it likes to see itself, she said.

In the short term, the call on Tuesday appeared to be another victory for the Russian leader, who has made a specialty of keeping America guessing about his intentions. After a face-to-face meeting in June and three phone calls with Biden since January, Putin cemented his status as a force whose desires must be taken into account as the Biden administration seeks to shore up its alliances with European nations and Ukraine.

NATO has said its open to membership for Ukraine and other countries provided they meet the membership criteria, but has shown no sign its willing to accept an application any time soon.
Perez worked as a compost laborer for nearly 21 years and retired in October 1997, Banks said.

Deputy City Attorney Bernard in den Bosch said that when a retired employee dies, a portion of his or her monthly pension can go to a spouse, a minor child or an adult child with a disability, until that person dies. No spouse or children are listed in Perezs obituary.

Yet the checks wrongly continued after Perez died. They were sent out monthly until the final payment, dated Sept. 30. The total amount was nearly $118,037, Banks said.

About a decade ago, the city, which administers the civilian and first responder pensions, hired a database service called LexisNexis that searches for former employees names and Social Security numbers and checks whether someone has died. But in den Bosch said the database didnt show that Perez had died.

The error was uncovered when a city employee recently conducted a review and searched Perezs name online, which resulted in the discovery of his obituary from years ago, in den Bosch said.

Omaha Police Lt. Neal Bonacci said the investigation into the matter is still active. He said detectives were working with the Finance Department.
Marlane said she has some general concerns about the logistics of the move, but nothing really specific.

I really trust the process, and Im just looking forward to this new facility, Marlane said. I think the buildout thats been proposed would certainly meet a lot of our requirements, and the idea of being able to build a space that works for us is really exciting for me and the staff.

Two library staff members, who spoke with The World-Herald on the condition of not being named, said they are concerned about the financial aspects of the move. In particular, they dont want to see the librarys budget impacted.

City Finance Director Steve Curtiss said the city doesnt plan to reduce the librarys operating budget to help cover the moving costs.

Any bonds that are issued would be funded through overall city funds and would not be paid through library funds, he said.

Carrie Murphy, the mayors spokeswoman, said a breakdown of funding sources is still being developed, but possible sources include the citys general fund, reserves, bonds and savings that result from decommissioning the current downtown building.
Up to now, $1.8 billion has been spent on the states expressway system expansion, according to a report shared Wednesday. Of the original system identified in 1988, six projects are under construction, three are in the design phase and two are in the planning phase.

Sen. Mark Kolterman of Seward pressed Selmer about expanding U.S. Highway 81 between York and Columbus. Thats in the design phase and expected to be complete in 2035.

I would hope that, with the money thats coming in, we could make an attempt to move that up on the schedule, Kolterman said.

Selmer said the time estimates for expressway projects were created before the federal legislation passed. He expects the federal money will allow the state to hold to the current schedule, he said, and the department is looking at ways to accelerate it.

Four of the lawmakers in attendance Wednesday  Sens. Curt Friesen of Henderson, Joni Albrecht of Thurston, Dan Hughes of Venango and Mike Moser of Columbus  issued a statement Tuesday coming to the defense of Republican gubernatorial candidate Jim Pillen, who dismissed the need for the federal infrastructure bill at a debate over the weekend.
At the moment of impact, the tractor-tanker rolled on top of the barrier and performed a brief skid  envision a skateboarder riding a rail  before it was redirected back onto the road, before eventually rolling onto its side.

In less than one second, a bevy of instruments  accelerometers on the vehicle, strain gauges inside the barrier system and high-speed digital cameras  captured enough data to begin assessing the UNL design.

Computer models showed that the barrier, standing just 62 inches tall, 22 inches wide at its base and 10 inches wide at its top, would upright the vehicle and prevent it from potentially dangerous outcomes like a tank rupturing or crossing into oncoming traffic or careening off a bridge, Stolle said.

The barriers performance capturing a vehicle that crashed with it at an angle of 15 degrees traveling 50 mph  an uncommon combination in most crashes  indicates it would be successful at other speeds and angles as well, Stolle added.

Typically, at higher speeds, the angle of impact is not as steep. The smaller the angle of impact, the less likely a tractor-tanker is going to roll over the barrier.
Now a supposed right-leaning group wants to consolidate power in the governors office from the elected State Board of Education. How can a Republican who favors small government not simply reject this instinctively? Is it that Gov. Pete Ricketts and party leadership think Democrats are super-duper evil and centralizing power is the only tool available to insulate Nebraskans from the liberal scourge? That, friends, is the greater good argument for central power, and would amount to a concession that the Democrats core principal has been right all along.

Its this drive to purify the political atmosphere from liberals that is the justification to give up our small government principles for the sake of fealty to leadership. Republican leaders seem to fundamentally believe that our longstanding ideology preferring distributed power suddenly cant compete against collectivism. If we cant practically apply our ideology, then do we need to consider that its wrong? Its certainly inferred.

Congressman Bacon was kind enough to talk to me about this vote knowing that I have disagreed with him plenty in the past. To me, the price tag of $1.2 trillion is scary, albeit less so than Trumps similar infrastructure plan of $1.5 trillion. This was what convinced me Bacon voted correctly:
BLOOMINGTON  Hacienda Leon, 407 N. Hershey Road in Bloomington, is this week's pick for Eats of the Week.

Hacienda Leon is a Mexican grill that opened in June 2018 and is owned by Martin Leon and his family. Hacienda Leon is the family's first restaurant in Bloomington, but the family has several other Mexican restaurants throughout Illinois and Kentucky, including Los Charros and El Mazatlan in Lincoln, which the family is looking to expand. Leon is the general manager of both Hacienda Leon and El Mazatlan.

"I think Bloomington-Normal is a great community," Leon said. "People enjoy coming here because they like our food and our friendly staff."

The restaurant's menu features authentic Mexican food, and the menu cover was designed in Mexico. The decorations, lights and paintings were made in Mexico as well.

Hacienda's most popular menu items include the chef special, which is a bed of rice topped with chicken and covered with cheese. The fajitas, chimichangas and margaritas are popular as well. The restaurant has daily specials, and Leon said the half-priced margarita special on Thursdays is everyone's favorite.

The menu also has vegetarian and American food options.

"I really like the atmosphere with all of the team, and that gets reflected to our customers," Leon said. "I know we have the best food in town and we are always fast. I love the margaritas."

As with other restaurants in town, COVID was a struggle for Hacienda. Leon said it was a big change from serving inside to being carry-out only, but they definitely learned a lot during the process.

Hacienda's current building used to be Ming's Buffet, Asia and, more recently, the Amaravarti Indian Royal Cuisine restaurant. It took Leon several months to renovate the building and turn it into Hacienda.

"I want to thank everyone in the community for all the support," Leon said. "We are currently doing renovations on the bar and I hope everyone comes and sees it."

Hacienda Leon is open daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. They offer dine-in, online ordering, carry-out and DoorDash services.

Contact Olivia Jacobs at (309)-820-3352. Reach out with questions.

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BLOOMINGTON  With 183 new cases of COVID-19 since Tuesday, the McLean County Health Department continues to encourage vaccination, masking and social distancing as the best way to fight the pandemic, including the omicron variant.

These are things we know are effective, said MCHD Administrator Jessica McKnight.

The Illinois Department of Public Health announced on Tuesday that the state's first known case of the omicron variant had been found in Chicago. However, not every positive test goes through genomic sequencing to identify the variant of the virus that caused it, McKnight said.

Were taking things right now assuming omicron is here (in McLean County), she said.

The COVID landscape has some similarities to this time last year, McKnight said, when cases surged in the late fall and winter. Average daily new cases peaked at 169 in November 2020, according to data provided by the health department. So far this month the daily average is around 151, compared to 111 last December.

The peak in deaths trailed the peak in cases by about a month. December 2020 saw the highest monthly death toll in the county, with 74 deaths. January of this year had the second highest, with 45 deaths.

However, that was before the vaccines were available, and the spring saw a decrease in cases, hospitalizations and deaths, McKnight said. The vaccines are most effective at preventing serious illness leading to hospitalization and death.

We have the ability to prevent some of these hospitalizations, McKnight said.

Hospitalizations are one of the main data points the health department is watching right now, she said. Early data seems to suggest that omicron spreads more easily than the Delta variant but is less likely to cause severe disease.

Its too soon to say thats the norm, McKnight said.

There are 30 county residents in the hospital for COVID as of Wednesday, and 42 total COVID patients at hospitals in the county. There are 88% of ICU beds in use, and 97% of total beds in use. Hospital staffing is another important factor to watch, McKnight said.

Vaccinations continue to increase in the county, she said. Children ages 5 to 11 can now be vaccinated, and rates for those 12 and older are also increasing.

Wednesdays COVID update said that 57% of the county is fully vaccinated, including just under 10% of kids ages 5 to 11.

The health department has planned upcoming clinics in rural areas to encourage boosters there, McKnight said. IDPH data shows around 16% of county residents have received a booster shot.

Information on vaccination clinics and registration for appointments is available on the health department website at health.mcleancountyil.gov and the MCHD COVID-19 Call Center at 309-888-5600 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Contact Connor Wood at (309)820-3240. Follow Connor on Twitter: @connorkwood

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NORMAL  Returned or unused merchandise and food purchased through Amazon is helping local food pantries and nonprofits thanks to a partnership with Midwest Food Bank.

Rather than destroying returned toys, electronics, household items or even food, Amazon has donated truckloads of goods to Midwest Food Bank and other organizations.

"Sometimes loads like these may end up in a landfill," said Tara Ingham, executive director of Midwest Food Bank Bloomington-Normal. "We look for vendors like Amazon and other companies that need to offload products."

She added, "It really is a win-win for them being a tax write-off, and a win for people in need who are served through the Midwest Food Bank and our agencies."

Amazon has donated returned merchandise to organizations across the country, but the partnership with Midwest Food Bank is more recent. Ingham said trucks of donations will often come directly from the Amazon warehouse in Wilmington, or they are diverted from other food banks.

We are focused on our neighbors and immediate needs, families fighting homelessness, hunger and natural disasters," Caitlin Polochak, a spokesperson for Amazon, said in a statement to The Pantagraph. "We are also committed to the next generation, providing access and igniting passion for STEM education, especially among women and minorities in literary groups.

"As Amazon grows in Illinois its invested in the local community through good jobs, sustainability initiatives and philanthropic partnerships.

The returned merchandise pallets help Midwest Food Bank provide items it otherwise wouldn't have to its partners. That includes toys, electronics, and items like strollers or baby toys.

What comes through on the trucks depends on what people return to Amazon. It is always a surprise for the employees who sort through the pallets.

"We have seen electronics, we have seen outdoor play equipment, office supplies, housewares and home goods," said Ingham. "It really varies from load to load, literally anything you can shop for from Amazon we've seen come in on those pallets."

Midwest Food Bank Bloomington-Normal serves more than 500 partnering agencies in Central and Eastern Illinois. Its headquarters and warehouse in Normal partners with various organizations to host food distribution events throughout the year.

The McLean County Children's Christmas Party will be hosting a drive-thru gift and food box giveaway at the food bank, 2031 Warehouse Road, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.

The party, which started in 1982 and serves between 500 and 700 children each year, was able to sort through some of the toys and electronics the food bank received through the Amazon donations.

We make them (the merchandise) available to the partnered food pantries and agencies we serve," said Ingham. "Oftentimes well have some additional items they can choose from and those items would be made available to the partner agencies at those times.

Contact Sierra Henry at 309-820-3234. Follow her on Twitter: @pg_sierrahenry.

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Four of Illinois' five Republican U.S. representatives in Congress voted Tuesday night for this year's national defense bill.

The $768 billion plan includes a 2.7% pay increase for servicemembers, reforms criminal justice for sexual assault cases and calls for an independent review of the United States' mistakes in Afghanistan. A measure to require women to register for the draft was removed. The annual defense bill outlines and authorizes spending.

The bill passed 363 to 70, with 19 Republicans and 51 Democrats voting against it. It's expected to pass the Senate next and then head to President Joe Biden.

From Illinois, GOP U.S. Reps. Mike Bost, Rodney Davis, Darin LaHood and Adam Kinzinger voted for the bill, while U.S. Rep. Mary Miller voted against it.

Miller said she voted against the bill because "to this day, no one in the Biden Administration has been held accountable for the withdrawal in Afghanistan," and she opposed new diversity training requirements.

Miller also disagreed with the Pentagon's separate COVID-19 vaccine mandate. The National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA, would prohibit the military from dishonorably discharging members who refuse the vaccine.

Bost said he voted for the bill to support "over 22,000 men and women who live and work at Scott Air Force Base." The base sits in Bost's 12th Congressional District.

"Being a true representative means fighting for your constituents, and there is no bigger constituency in my district than the dedicated men and women at Scott Air Force Base," Bost said.

Davis said he voted for the bill because Republicans were able to achieve some of their policy goals, such as not requiring women to register for the draft, and because he says it supports Scott Air Force Base and pushes the Biden administration "to account for their disastrous retreat from Afghanistan."

"A vote against this NDAA does the opposite and amounts to defunding our military," Davis said. "If anything, voting no on a negotiated NDAA that is likely to become law is the radical position to take."

Three Illinois Democratic representatives from Chicago voted against the bill: Danny Davis, Jesus "Chuy" Garcia and Jan. Schakowsky. Joining them in voting no were U.S. Reps. Cori Bush of Missouri, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and other members of "The Squad," a group of progressive Democratic lawmakers.

"We live in a dangerous world, with new threats emerging each and every day, and I couldn't in good conscience cast my vote with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and the rest of 'The Squad' to weaken the hand of our military," Bost said.

Davis said the act also includes a $10.2 million project for the 183d Wing of the Illinois National Guard in Springfield. The money would pay for a new civil engineering complex on base.

"The men and women in the 183rd deserve up-to-date resources to continue providing exceptional emergency response and support services," LaHood said in a news release.

Bost, Davis and LaHood have all announced plans to run for reelection to Congress in 2022. Miller has said she plans to run for a second term, but has not said where. She was drawn out of her current 15th Congressional District during redistricting in Illinois following the most recent U.S. Census.

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SPRINGFIELD  Former Democratic U.S. Rep. Glenn Poshard was exercising in the House gym during his first week as a member of Congress in 1989 when he first met another relatively new lawmaker  U.S. Rep. John Lewis of Georgia.

The pair  one a social conservative from Southern Illinois and the other an iconic leader of the civil rights movement who marched with Martin Luther King Jr.  became friends, bonding over their rural upbringings and similar familial influences.

They were later instrumental in helping found The Faith & Politics Institute, a non-profit organization that works to bridge racial, religious and political divisions among elected officials. Its the group that organizes the annual Civil Rights pilgrimage to Selma, Alabama, where Lewis had been brutally beaten by police while leading the Selma to Montgomery marches for voting rights in 1963.

Lewis died in July 2020, but Poshard channeled his spirit later that year when he and his wife Jo planned and organized marches for peace, unity and nonviolence a little closer to home  the central and southern Illinois counties he represented during his time in Congress.

Poshards efforts were highlighted in filmmaker Sandra Pfeifers "Thirty-Nine Counties," a 50-minute documentary being screened across the state.

Poshard, who served 10 years in Congress and was the Democratic nominee for governor in 1998, said in an interview that he's grown worried about the country's division and the potential for political violence.

I'm 76 years old  it's the first time in my life I've been scared for my country and (that) we could lose this democracy, that we could die by suicide, Poshard said. That's why we went out because we don't want that to happen here. We want the country to know that there's another voice, a better voice.

Dozens of people joined Poshard to march outside county courthouses across his former district, which he said gave people a chance to voice their opinion against the violence that we see taking place in the country.

Violence isn't just acts. It's also voiced, Poshard said. It's the way we talk to each other, it's the way we belittle each other or denigrate each other. And it takes on many forms. And this was just a form of civic engagement to say, `we're better than this, we don't want to go down this road as Americans.

Political violence, according to Oxford Reference, is the use or threat of physical harm by groups involved in domestic political conflicts.

Poshard was careful not to indict any one person, saying that blame can be laid at any doorstep that preaches violence as a means of settling differences.

"Looting and burning and stealing is not acceptable, no matter what you think your cause might be," Poshard said, referencing the violence that plagued American cities in 2020 amid protests for racial justice.

"But neither is violent speech and advocating for political violence acceptable, no matter how strongly you feel about your position or your politics," he added. "Hating your neighbor is not the way to go. It's not consistent with what it takes for a democracy to operate and survive."

Poshard did not mention former President Donald Trump during his demonstrations. But he said that the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol and other attempts by Trump and his supporters to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election amounted to political violence.

And he conceded that it seemed that one party was starting to endorse political violence as a means of settling differences, referencing Republicans.

Though Lewis was an inspiration for the marches, Poshards comments during them were often peppered with quotes from President Abraham Lincoln, who presided over the country at its most divided. He said more leaders need to show the grace Lincoln did in wake of great national challenge.

What they heard their president saying was 'with malice toward none.' That's the man that served in counties that I served in Congress, Poshard said. I represented Macon, Coles and Shelby counties and those counties where Lincoln served on the old Eighth Circuit and in Congress. And so I felt I had an obligation to share with the people, to remind them again, of his words during a time of division and hatred.

Poshard, whose district stretches from the states southern tip to just north of Decatur, routinely won reelection with nominal opposition. He carried some rural counties with more than 80% of the vote in the 1998 governors race against Republican George Ryan.

Just a couple decades later, Trump would carry those counties by similar margins while local elected officials, including U.S. Rep. Mary Miller, R-Oakland, and state Sen. Darren Bailey, R-Xenia, flouted public health guidelines during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

When did we get to the point in this country where, in the middle of a pandemic, wearing a mask or to take a shot or something like that becomes a political form of speech? I don't understand that, Poshard said.

We have people running for governor of this state who are still calling the virus a hoax and telling people they shouldn't get vaccinated, they shouldn't have to wear a mask in the middle of a crowd, he said. The health people are trying to tell us 'this is the way you save your life.' But the political people are telling us, 'no, don't do it.' I don't understand that.

Nor can he understand how the same region that elected him to the Illinois State Senate and later to Congress five times could support people espousing such views.

It's very difficult, he said. I mean, I don't know how you square it up because I can't.

Poshard said he believes lowering the temperature starts with elected officials being responsible with their rhetoric. He added his voice to the conversation through his marches, which he hopes just regular people a chance to have a countervailing voice against the talk of violence.

His hope was that despite the tribal nature of politics in 2021 that his message would not be seen as political.

Though a Democrat, he pointed to his admiration for former President George H.W. Bush and Sen. John McCain. He called former House Minority Leader Bob Michael one of the greatest people with whom I've ever served in politics."

"I was a more conservative Democrat," Poshard said. "I worked for years across the aisle with wonderful Republican members and I just didn't understand this talk of violence just because of political differences."

He said more principled leaders are needed across all political stripes.

"Anybody that engages in name-calling or hate-mongering, it's wrong for our democracy and you shouldn't go down that road," Poshard said. "I don't care if you're a Democrat or a Republican or an Independent. Stop it. Don't go over that cliff so that there's no way to turn back."

The film "Thirty-Nine Counties" will be screened at the IBEW Local 146 Hall, 3390 N. Woodford St. in Decatur at 2 p.m. Sunday and at 5 p.m. on Dec. 12 at Tuscan Hills Winery, 2200 Historic Hills Dr., Effingham.

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The oft-recited close of T.S. Eliots celebrated 20th century poem The Hollow Men captures a truth about the fall of Rome and other tragic losses: not with a bang but a whimper. Meaning that in human affairs, catastrophe seldom arrives via a meteor strike but rather by a slow rollout of flaws that are part of who we are.

The 21st century update may argue that the way the world ends is not with a bang but a click, one short keystroke on a Facebook page.

(Facebook rebranded itself as Meta in October, but lets continue to call it Facebook here.)

Many a morning routine starts with a check of a feed  the latest news, photos and updates from family and friends. Our brains get an endorphin rush from likes, emoji hearts or posted pics from a child or sister. Then theres the unexpected outreach from a childhood crush or long-lost roommate. Oh, and those photos from Yellowstone or the Amalfi Coast.

Facebook studies neuro-marketing to match its product to our brains. Facebook has mined dopamine brain science to maximize its advertising audience. The results are chilling. The documents that Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen recently revealed make ones neck hair stand straight up. They tell of Facebook promoting political polarity, driving teen anxiety and feeding negative emotions to draw clicks.

On Dec. 2, we learned that Facebook has been making money selling ads comparing vaccine mandates to Nazism and the Holocaust. This follows a pattern first seen with Facebook posts promoting human trafficking. Although the ads violated Facebook policy, the company ran them, only removing them after news outlets notified Facebook a public story was about to run.

Internal memos also show that Facebook was aware that its subsidiary Instagram is harmful to children. Per The Wall Street Journals exposure, Facebook research confessed: We make body image issues worse for one in three teen girls. Teens blame Instagram for increases in the rate of anxiety and depression.

On Oct. 6, Zuckerberg posted a damage-control statement, saying the critique makes no sense: We make money from ads, and advertisers consistently tell us they dont want their ads next to harmful or angry content.

Maybe so, but notice what he didnt say: That ad buys have dropped, or that Facebook has taken steps to decelerate its spreading of harmful messages. Filippo Menczer, Indiana University professor of informatics and computer science, has written about ways to do so.

In Zuckerbergs post trying to quiet the storm, he also asked, If social media were as responsible for polarizing society as some people claim, then why are we seeing polarization increase in the US while it stays flat or declines in many countries ... ?"

Pu-leeeeeeze. No one said social media is solely responsible for polarization. Different countries have different national histories of discord, racism and xenophobia. They also have had different leaders and have applied differing governmental remedies. All these factors produce disparate levels of polarization.

Shell-game PR sophistry doesnt get a CEO off the hook for damaging society.

The point here is that anyone troubled by Facebook putting profits over healthy children and society can replace their Facebook habit and not add to its profits. After all, advertising revenue turns on subscriber numbers.

Life is not only possible after Facebook; it can be better. With trust in Facebook falling, and reasons to drop it rising, there are alternative social media sites for friends and family to join. Responsible news curators and outlets abound that dont organize insurrections, tell us in a million ways were not good-looking enough, or spending enough time in Tahiti. Plus, they dont work overtime to addict us.

Dennis Aftergut is a former federal prosecutor in San Francisco.

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In the post-Watergate era, Congress shored up the integrity and transparency of the executive branch by creating inspector general offices and charging them to ferret out misconduct and abuse and report it to the public. The offices were correctly deemed an essential supplement to the traditional checks and balances engrafted by the founders into American democracy, in that they could bring to light abuses that the president or his appointees might otherwise cover up.

The U.S. Department of Justice was arguably the agency most in need of independent scrutiny, but it took 10 years before the law was updated to include it. Even then, the departments new inspector generals purview did not extend to key agencies under the departments umbrella, such as the Drug Enforcement Administration or the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The Aldrich Ames spy scandal of the 1990s eventually motivated Congress to include the DEA and the FBI. But still, to this day, Inspector General Michael E. Horowitz lacks jurisdiction over Justice Department lawyers, which includes the 93 U.S. attorneys in the states and territories, the more than 300 lawyers who work under them, and all the other lawyers who work directly under the attorney general or the various other offices of his department.

Thats a huge loophole. It unwisely allows the attorney general to shield his legal staff  and himself  from independent investigations into their suspected misconduct. The result is a Justice Department, ostensibly independent, that is too subject to the political machinations of either the attorney general or the president who appoints him.

That potential for politicization, which can fuel a corrosive lack of public confidence in the department, exists in any administration, Republican or Democratic. Perhaps thats why bills to close that gaping loophole have been embraced by most members of both parties during multiple administrations, including those of Presidents Obama, Trump and Biden.

But the legislation always seems to hit a roadblock  erected by the attorney general, again, regardless of party or administration. And besides, attorneys general (including current Atty. Gen. Merrick Garland) argue, were talking about lawyers, who because of complex rules of professional responsibility require special handling by an Office of Professional Responsibility that understands their particularly difficult jobs.

Nonsense. Thats like arguing that only politicians can investigate politicians, only police can investigate police or only spies can investigate spies. What the current and previous attorneys general really object to is outside scrutiny. And who wouldnt do without someone looking over their shoulder if they could get away with it?

But accountability demands an independent investigator. The Office of Professional Responsibility is no such thing. It reports directly to the attorney general, who can direct an investigation or squelch it at will. Its conclusions are rarely made public. It is more akin to an advisor than a watchdog.

Inspectors general are appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate, leaving them perhaps not wholly independent, but far more so than an office like OPR. Presidents are not often fond of inspectors general. President Reagan fired 16 upon entering office, but because of political pressure was forced to relent on some of them. President George H.W. Bush tried to fire his inspectors general, but he too backed off. Obama fired the AmeriCorps inspector general, and Trump fired five IGs. Still, it is a rare enough event that it makes headlines, giving inspectors general a layer of independence and administrations a degree of accountability.

Attorneys general dislike inspectors general even more  like the Devil hates holy water, U.S. Sen. Richard J. Durbin, D-Ill., said last year at a hearing on the bill.

They hate them because they are effective and bring scrutiny and accountability. We need more of that in government, not less.

The Inspector General Access Act has bipartisan support, and has passed in the House and could clear the Senate  if only Garland lifts his ill-considered objections.

The Securing Inspector General Independence Act of 2021 would limit a presidents ability to replace inspectors general with temporary appointees not subject to Senate confirmation. The IG Testimonial Subpoena Authority Act would eliminate ex-employees exemptions from subpoena, so that they could not avoid testifying merely by quitting their jobs. All three bills deserve approval.

Los Angeles Times

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The creative arts sector has the capacity to boost economic growth if more is invested in educating and training upcoming players who have the passion to become a part of the industry, a panel of seasoned experts at the 2021 Global Entrepreneurship Week have said.



Addressing the challenges faced by the sector, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), CharterHouse Production West Africa, Theresa Ayoade, noted that the Ghanaian academic curricular is not structured to train and churn out human creativity and that has placed the country in a steep learning curve. She suggested that an early introduction of creative courses in the academic curricular will help solve the problem.



Our education system is only training people for science, business and humanities; the arts are completely missing. Human capital is a big issue for us in the industry and it makes us have a long learning curve, meaning that there are just a few experts in the industry who have gone through training and have that experience and it is the same people that the industry is circulating which really limits us, she added.



Despite commendable progress made to boost entrepreneurship, she noted that the sector is still faced with underemployment. Talking about entrepreneurship, I am quite impressed about the fact that the more the industry develops, the more entrepreneurs are created. When we started our entrepreneurial journey in events, there were no vendors, but I am happy that down the line there are so many event vendors especially in the wedding industry. So, we need more creative entrepreneurs because there are still more opportunities, she noted.



Taking his turn, CEO of the International Advertising Association, Joel Nettey said bridging the education gap is crucial for the growth needed in the industry, urging creative actors to make an all-out effort to become competitive and passionate amidst the challenges and also seek apprentice training from different mentors to master their craft as that will make them understand as well as stand out unique in their field.



There is a huge gap there and if you look at it critically, our relative strength will be more in the creative space and that is where we naturally survive but thats where the real issues are, he noted.



There should be a form of apprentice training. One should always aspire to be an entrepreneur but before you do that and be successful, you have to make sure that you walk through the road so whether it is within a big establishment or one-on-one mentorship, make sure you learn, strive to be the very best at what you do, he added.



On his part, Founder of 3Music, Sadiq Abdulai said young people are being exploited for their creative ideas without any of them being acknowledged and that has driven most young people away from the industry and addressing this, he said, is crucial to the development of the industry.



Director for Chalewote Street Arts Festival, Mantse Aryeequaye has said for an entrepreneurial space to thrive, it will mean that everyone has one rule book that facilitates how players operate and ensures that people are not exploited.



He said it is fundamental to have cooperatives understand the value of creative entrepreneurs. You cannot take peoples ideas and give nothing in return especially when people toil up to make these ideas and that's how they make a living. Largely the conversation should be about regulation, what government can do in terms of incentives, tax waivers for creative enterprises, affordable spaces that creatives can occupy that the government can facilitate," he noted.



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As part of the measures to ensure that Doctors produced at Family Health Medical School are of a higher standard, the Management of Family Health University College has organized Leadership training as part of the pre-Graduation Ceremony activities, to equip them with leadership skills.



The training, among other things, is to enable the out-going medical students to interact effectively with patients and society in general.



The facilitator of the training programme, who is also the Council Chairman of Family Health University College, Brig. Gen. Daniel Kwadjo Frimpong (Rtd), in an interview, said that Leadership training was vital as far as young graduates were concerned.



He pointed out that it is wrongly assumed, in many organizations, that every university graduate is a leader.



He referred to the out-going Family Health Medical School students as young Doctors who would soon be entering the world of works, and that, they would be expected to exhibit Leadership skills to impact positively on society.



Brig. Gen. Frimpong (Rtd) said that the Military is a complete organization where people are trained to be leaders right from the onset, but for other disciplines, such skills may not be imparted to students before they set out to work.



He said his expectation was that the new Medical Doctors would acquire this significant skill and apply them to make a difference wherever they would be posted to work.



He entreated them to be compassionate, humble, hardworking, and disciplined as they pursued their career as Medical Doctors. He added by saying: "You can have all the knowledge in the world, you can be very good at your job but, if you fail to show humility, you would not be successful and would not realize your potentials".



One of the Leadership Training participants, Nuhu Abdul Basir, commended the Management of Family Health University College for their foresight and recommended that Leadership courses should be included in the Institutions curriculum so that all students would acquire the skills before their final graduation. The training, he indicated, was timely as it would be a guide to them when they start working.



Brig. Gen. Daniel Kwadjo Frimpong (Rtd) taught at the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College between 1991-1998; he also lectured at the Legon Centre for International Affairs and Diplomacy (LECIAD) since 2006; he continues to teach at the University of Ghana Business School (UGBS), Legon; and he is an adjunct lecturer at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA).



He lectures at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) and he is also a Resource Person at the African Centre for Strategic Studies, National Defence University, Washington DC, USA.

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Forty- seven graduands made up of 26 females and 21males on Thursday graduated as the second batch of Medical students of Family Health Medical school after passing through all the courses and examinations.



They will later be posted to various medical facilities throughout the country.



Speaking during the graduation ceremony, Naa Dr Alhassan Andani, Board Chairman of the Family Health Medical school Endowment fund appealed to the government to provide 30 per cent tuition fees of students in private Medical institutions



Naa Andani also appealed to traditional authorities to partner government and the training institutions by pooling resources together to sponsor brilliant but needy students in their communities who will return to serve those communities.



He also entreated the graduands to accept postings to rural communities, where they could easily impact positively on the people than going to congest the already"satisfied" health facilities in the cities.



He announced that the Family Health Medical school Endowment fund was already operational and called on individuals and organisations to support the fund to train more medical doctors into the system.



Professor E.Y Kwawukume, Founder and President of Family Health University College announced that management was working towards acquiring a Presidential Charter to make them a fully-fledged autonomous University and appealed to all stakeholders to support in that direction.



He said they were also poised to launch their second strategic plan in the first half of 2022 to provide the blueprint for the university to move towards greater achievements.



He said the school had also bolstered her faculty with highly qualified and seasoned professionals to make it the centre of excellence.



On infrastructure, he said the college had undertaken more projects to improve facilities and structures that would provide students best training environment to promote discovery, teaching and learning.



Mr Simon Sackitey was adjudged the Family Health University College Founder's overall best MBChB graduating student after winning: Professor Jonathan Hubert Addy's prize for a best graduating student in medicine and Therapeutics, best graduating student in surgery and best graduating student in clinical studies.

Source: Peacefmonline.com/ghana









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Family and management of the Valley View University have debunked reports that a student who died on their Oyibi campus committed suicide.



There were publications that a 24-year old final year student named Peniel Dennis Ojuka had committed suicide after failing to rewrite his trailed courses.



He was said to have suffered depression as a result of not getting an opportunity to resit his exams.



But in a letter signed by the Director of University Relations of Valley View University, Kwajo Ansah-Adu, the cause of the student's death is unknown, therefore all publications about his suicide are falsehood and should be ignored.



They also denied reports that said student had died because of his trailed courses.



''We state clearly that such claims are speculative and therefore detrimental to the image of the family of the deceased, and also to Valley View University. We therefore seek to establish the following: 1. That the cause of death of the student is still not known, in spite of your publication classifying it as suicide. 2. That Valley View University has in place a system available for students whith trailed courses. Such students are allowed to participate in Re-sit Examinations, the most recent of which was organized from 22nd to 29th November, 2021. 3. There is also an Independent Study policy which affords level 400 students left with just one course (not exceeding three (3) credit hours) the opportunity to meet requirements for graduation'', portions of the letter read.



''Valley View University disassociates itself from the published stories and hereby calls for its retraction, being mindful of its possible effects on the sensibilities of the family of the deceased, as well as the University'', the school authority cautioned.



The bereaved family also, speaking to Peacefmonline, disclosed they are yet to conduct an autopsy to identify the cause of death of their loved one, so calling on the general public not to rely on speculations.



Read full statement below:

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Pfizer and BioNTech have said a booster jab of their coronavirus vaccine promises to be an effective defence against the new Omicron variant.



Three doses provide a similar level of antibodies against Omicron to that of two doses against other variants, the companies said after a small study.



The World Health Organization (WHO) earlier said vaccines should still work against severe Omicron cases.

Researchers across the world are piecing together data about Omicron.



It is the most heavily mutated version of coronavirus found so far.



In a statement on Wednesday, Pfizer chief executive Albert Bourla said protection against the variant would be improved with a third dose of the jab.



"Ensuring as many people as possible are fully vaccinated with the first two-dose series and a booster remains the best course of action to prevent the spread of Covid-19," he said.



However, Pfizer and BioNTech noted that the results were preliminary and said they would continue to collect data and "evaluate real-world effectiveness".



They added that they were developing an Omicron-specific vaccine which would be ready for delivery within 100 days, pending regulatory approval.



Both the Pfizer/BioNTech research and a new South African study - not yet peer-reviewed - found that the vaccine might result in far fewer neutralizing antibodies against Omicron than against the original Covid strain.



Pfizer/BioNTech, however, said a third dose boosted those antibodies by a factor of 25, making the level of protection comparable to that of two doses against other variants.

Source: BBC









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Existing vaccines should still protect people who contract the Omicron variant from severe Covid cases, a World Health Organization (WHO) official says.



It comes as the first lab tests of the new variant in South Africa suggest it can partially evade the Pfizer jab.



Researchers say there was a "very large drop" in how well the vaccine's antibodies neutralised the new strain.



But the WHO's Dr Mike Ryan said there was no sign Omicron would be better at evading vaccines than other variants.



"We have highly effective vaccines that have proved effective against all the variants so far, in terms of severe disease and hospitalization, and there's no reason to expect that it wouldn't be so" for Omicron, Dr Ryan, the WHO's emergencies director, told AFP news agency.



He said initial data suggested Omicron did not make people sicker than the Delta and other strains. "If anything, the direction is towards less severity," he said.



The new South African study - which has not yet been peer-reviewed - found the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine may result in up to 40 times fewer neutralising antibodies against Omicron than against the original Covid strain.



But Omicron's ability to escape vaccine antibodies is "incomplete", said Prof Alex Sigal, a virologist at the Africa Health Research Institute, who led the research.



He said the results, based on blood tests from 12 people, were "better than I expected of Omicron".



Prof Sigal said vaccination, combined with previous infection, could still neutralise against the variant. That suggests boosters may bring a significant benefit.



Scientists believe previous infection, followed by vaccination or a booster, is likely to increase the neutralisation level and will probably protect people against severe disease.



More data on how well the Pfizer jab works against Omicron is expected to be released in the coming days.



There is no significant data yet on how the Moderna, Johnson & Johnson and other jabs hold up against the new variant.

Source: BBC









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Burkina Faso President Roch Marc Christian Kabore fired his prime minister on Wednesday amid an escalating security crisis that has killed thousands and led to street protests calling for him to go.



The country, one of West Africas poorest, has been beset by attacks carried out by groups linked to al-Qaeda and ISIL (ISIS) since 2016, killing 2,000 people and forcing more than one million people to flee their homes.



Anger has spilled over since an attack by an al-Qaeda-affiliated group last month in which 49 military police officers and four civilians were killed, putting pressure on Kabore to make changes,



He has already reshuffled his army leadership.



Read Full Story .... aljazeera.com >>> :









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Apostle Francis Amoako Atta of the Parliament Chapel International in Accra has given a spiritual angle to the Commemorative Gold Coins to be issued on Sunday, December 12, 2021, in Kumasi in honour of His Majesty Otumfuo Osei II for his peace initiatives.



Speaking on Angel TV, he said the Commemorative Gold Coins have spiritual connotations.



Making references to the Bible, he drew similarities between the Commemorative Gold Coins and the gold wealth of the biblical King Solomon.



"On 12th December, something wonderful will happen in Asanteman when Otumfuo is going to be honoured.

The same 12th December is Gods Day. Heaven will meet to discuss the next generation. It shows that Otumfuo has opinion leaders who are spiritually enlightened and intellectuals," Apostle Francis Amoako Atta said.



He opined that it is not for nothing that Otumfuo has earned the accolade of King Solomon.



Buttressing the spiritual connections to the Commemorative Gold Coins, Apostle Francis Amoako Atta said December 12, which is the date set for the launch of the Gold Coins was the same date the biblical King Solomon brought out all his gold possessions for the world to see.Still dwelling on the spiritual angle, the Apostle indicated that from the biblical King Solomon's time to the 12th of December 2021, there is an Asante King, who also goes by the accolade King Solomon, and in whose honour rightly so, gold coins have been minted on the approval of the Bank of Ghana.



Again, he drew connections between the Commemorative Gold Coins to be issued in honour of His Majesty Asantehene and the Commemorative Coins issued for Queen Elizabeth of Britain this year, saying both have the same weight.



"In the spiritual realm, it means the mystery of 999 Gold Coins. It means the completion of a cycle and the beginning of a new age. It means in the year 2022, Asante Kingdom is going to step into another high level. It means the dawn of a new era, so anybody who will get the opportunity to purchase or hold the coins will be blessed because the coins represent another Kingdom."



He prayed to God to grant Otumfuo long life in good health.



Listen to audio





Source: Peacefmonline.com/ghana









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The National Road Safety Authority in the Eastern Region has engaged Pastors and Elders within the Kwahu West municipality on stay alive campaign to help reduce road accidents in this years Christmas and subsequent years to come by.



According to the Authority, the motive behind the exercise is to get the information through them to their church members.



At Nkawkaw Pentecost Adoagyire Central today, the Eastern Regional Head of National Road Safety Authority, Mr. Dennis Yeribu said, the seizing of fake lamps wasnt been halted but the exercise is still ongoing.



According to him, there are two major contributing factors causing road accidents, overtaking and careless motor riding.



Mr. Dennis Yeribu stated that, the reason why they decided to engage churches in this campaign is because, churches possess chunk number of people that they can easily disseminate their information to.



He noted that, there are other divisions who are engaging drivers, motor riders, passengers and pedestrians as well.



Our engagement with churches will continue from now to next year and beyond. We have now gotten space from the Kwahu West assembly so we are now trying to establish and equip it. We are aiming that, by next year the office will be fully established and begin its operation proper", he added.



Speaking on mandatory training for drivers, he said NRSA has partnered with DVLA, MTTD, others to ensure a mandatory fresher training especially the commercial bus drivers of which they have agreed through their various groups.



The commencement of the program was to start November but due to few challenges they had to postpone it but it will begin next year.



According to him, the motive behind the training is to help drivers learn and adapt to new things as it comes.



Concurrently, he said they will engage owners of long journey vehicles to have two drivers per a bus and pay them salaries to help reduce over speeding and accidents.



Mr. Dennis Yeribu appealed for support from co-operate bodies to assist them with equipments.



Agoo news Ebenezer Amoako reports that, some of the participant applauded the move by the national road safety authority saying they appealed to the authority to engage drivers more by way of educating them on road signs as well.

Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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Deputy Energy Minister, Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam, who is also the Member of Parliament for Karaga in Northern Region, has pledged to fund two qualified female students of the Tamale Secondary School (TAMASCO) for the next ten (10) years to pursue engineering programmes at the tertiary level.



He made this solemn pledge during his remark as a Guest Speaker at a symposium to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the school in Tamale.



While sharing his thoughts on igniting the future in a challenging environment, Dr. Amin Adam urged the students to exercise a high sense of discipline in their academic work as well as in their professional lives as the progressively transition into tertiary institution.



The Karaga lawmaker also emphasized the need to build ones social capital through their various interactions and relationships in school.



Eloquently quoting from the late Dr. Abrefa Busia, Dr. Amin said there cannot be any meaningful development in a country if theres no meaningful human development in that country.



He also shared how the Northern scholarship and the Free Compulsory Basic Education (FCUBE) had bridged the education development gap between Northern and Southern Ghana and how the government under the leadership of President Akufo-Addo has extended this free and accessible education to the Senior High School level.



I am very pleased that now, TAMASCO is not only the best in the northern sector, but is now rubbing shoulders with other southern schools with very high academic prowess, he said.



I am very confident that we will very soon see the fruits of what youre sowing today, he added.



He pledged to sponsor the 2 female students as his contribution to empower females into the technical sector.

In attendance were former Minister of State and former Vice Chancellor of the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), Professor Josuah Alabi, former Minister of State and currently the Minority Leader in Parliament, Hon. Haruna Iddrisu among others.



Dr. Amin Adam applauded the teaching and managerial staff of the school for their outstanding work and further underscored the need to pay keen attention to their academic performance.

Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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The La Magistrate Court has issued an arrest warrant for the Member of Parliament for Nhyiaeso, Dr Stephen Amoah over his failure to appear before the court for flouting road traffic regulations.



The lawmaker and six other drivers were arrested on Tuesday, December 7, 2021, around the Airport By-Pass during a Police operation to arrest drivers of V8 vehicles who were not complying with the Road Traffic Regulations.



A Police statement signed by the Director-General, Public Affairs, ACP Kwesi Ofori said of the seven, only Dr Amoah and another driver Samuel failed to appear before the court today.



Five of the suspect drivers appeared before the court where four, namely; Dominic Atuahene-Ababio, Daniel Boateng, Emmanuel Kofi Ofori and Joseph Brown were sentenced to pay a fine of One Thousand, Eight Hundred Cedis (GHC 1,800.00) each or in default serve three months prison terms. All four convicted drivers paid their fines.



Driver, Thomas Atinga, was convicted to sign a bond to be of good behaviour for three months or in default serve a three (3) months prison term.



The statement further directed all Police formations throughout the country to clamp down on recalcitrant drivers especially those who drive V8 vehicles.



"They (recalcitrant drivers) are cautioned to stop flouting Road Traffic Regulations or face the full rigour of the law if arrested," the statement said.



"We are determined to enforce the laws of the country and therefore urge the public to support us in this endeavour".











Source: graphiconline.com









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The Akufo-Addo government has nothing to show for the GHS220 billion it has borrowed since coming into office in 2017, the National Communications Officer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Sammy Gyamfi has said, and, thus, wondered what the same administration could do with the GHS7 billion expected to be realised per annum from the implementation of the 1.75 per cent e-levy proposed in the 2022 budget.



The Akufo-Addo government alone has borrowed GHS220 billion since coming into office, Mr Gyamfi told Awudu Iddrisu on Accra100.5FMs morning show Ghana Yensom in an interview on Thursday, 9 December 2021.



It is more than the cumulative debt incurred by the country since independence to the era of the Mahama administration because Ghanas debt within that period was GHS120, he pointed out.



He stressed: In four-and-a-half years, the NPP, alone, has added GHS220 billion to the debt stock taking the total to GHS341 billion as of September 2021.



If you couldnt use GHS221 billion to build any good roads, hospitals and secondary schools, what then can you use the GHS7 billion per annum that would be accrued from the implementation of the 1.75% e-levy, for? he asked.



Mr Gyamfi argued that the Akufo-Addo government has had a lot of revenue at its disposal for the development of the country than his predecessor John Mahama but has not used it for anything beneficial.



The IMF alone gave you GHS12 billion. John Mahama got GHS6 billion of oil money in four years. This government, alone, has accrued GHS20.6 billion.



John Mahama got GHS86 billion in taxes. This administration government got GHS167 billion.



Theyve got more than double the taxes John Mahama got, he contrasted.



What have they used the money for, for which they are now targeting 1.75% of our MoMo, bank transfer and remittance transactions? he asked.



He noted that in 2020, alone, corruption swallowed GHS12.8 billion of Ghanas revenue, according to the Auditor-Generals report, and now you want us to pay e-levy, a Bawumia tax for GHS7 billion every year?



Even if you had reduced that by half, would there have been the need for an e-levy?.



So, the problem is not revenue; it is wasting the countrys resources on renting private jets for the president. If they cut down expenditure, corruption and waste, there wouldnt be any need to impose more suffering on the already-suffering Ghanaians, he noted.





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Former Member of Parliament for Adentan constituency, Yaw Buaben Asamoa, has cautioned Ghanaians harbouring thoughts for government takeover to immediately desist from it.



Following the Parliamentary tussle over the 2022 budget where the Minority and Majority are at each other's throats, some critics, particularly on social media, are calling for a coup d'etat as they have no hope in the current administration to take the right decisions towards developing Ghana.



Days ago, a broadcaster on Accra-based Onua TV, Captain Smart was arrested for calling for an uprising.



Captain Smart, who is obviously fed up with the way things are going under the leadership of President Nana Akufo-Addo, charged the youth to rise and make demands.



Making submissions on Peace FM's ''Kokrokoo'' regarding the budget, Yaw Buaben Asamoa seized the opportunity to correct the proponents of an uprising or coup d'etat in the country.



He reminded them of the benefits of the peace and improvements enjoyed by the citizenry under the Fourth Republic which ushered in Ghana's democracy.



He wondered why any person would like to trade the democracy for an autocratic rule or call for a dissolution of the government, hence advising those making such comments to look at the brighter side of life resulting from the country's democratic rule.



''To those calling for the overthrow of government because we are suffering, it is not the right way to go. Because if the youth protest and subvert the government, our freedom and current processes will all be ruined. We will now be restarting everything. Collapsing something is easy but the difficulty is with rebuilding it," he stated.







Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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West African Director of Samaritan Strategy and a lecturer at Pentecost University, Dr. Christopher Ampadu, has condemned the politicization of the 2022 budget.



The Majority and Minority in Parliament have been fiercely arguing about the 2022 budget.



While the Majority are in favour of the budget, the Minority have raised a red flag over it.



The Minority together with some Ghanaians believe the budget, particularly regarding the e-levy, will not help Ghanaians but rather aggravate their poor living conditions.



On Wednesday, December 1, Parliament turned violent as some members of the Minority attempted to attack the Deputy Speaker, Joseph Osei Owusu who was presiding over the Parliamentary proceedings.



Speaking on Peace FM's morning show ''Kokrokoo'' in relation to the 2022 budget, Dr. Christopher Ampadu registered his displeasure with the behaviour of the MPs stating many of them seek their own interest instead of the interest of Ghanaians.



According to him, ''the destiny of Ghana is at stake'' and so would prefer that the budget is treated objectively.



He charged the entire nation to support the idea of taxation stressing it is the right step to develop the country.



"Tax is so important for the development of the nation that every person is obligated to pay'', he stated but, to him, ''this isn't the same case in Ghana saying when you mention tax, the majority of Ghanaians think they are going to be denied their ends meet, meanwhile they want their roads properly constructed. They want access good water. They want hospitals and a comfortable living but their contributions are nil".



Dr. Christopher Ampadu charged all Ghanaians to embrace the payment of taxes, with emphasis on the e-levy.



He, however, expressed worries over the way the Members of Parliament portray themselves, raising issues with the pompous living of some MPs who instead of serving their constituents would be driving the best cars in town while Ghanaians suffer.



''Look at the extravagant lifestyles of some of them. Look at the plush cars and houses that belong to them. Some even feel too big to join the traffic. These are some but a few things that when Ghanaians keep seeing, they conclude that these people are deceiving them," he said.



He called on the MPs to focus on their duties and stop projecting their extravagant lifestyles on Ghanaians.





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The Member of Parliament for Nhyiaeso constituency, Dr. Stephen Amoah has turned himself in according to information from the Ghana Police Service.



According to a statement put on Facebook, the MP who was involved in a V8 Road Traffic Indiscipline reported to the police on Thursday morning.



Update on V8 Road Traffic Indiscipline



The Police this morning, Thursday, December 9, 2021, put before the La Magistrate Court, Hon. Dr. Stephen Amoah when he presented himself to the Police after failing to appear in court yesterday, Wednesday, December 8, 2021, in which a warrant was issued for his arrest.



Hon. Dr. Stephen Amoah, was on Tuesday, December 7, 2021, arrested together with six others for violating road traffic regulations around the Airport By-pass.



Details regarding his appearance in court will be provided by the Accra Regional Police Command in due course.





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Lawyer for Mr Hassan Zein, a respected Ghanaian businessman, Justice Abdulai, has dragged Kwame Asare Obeng popularly referred to as A Plus to court for character defamation of his client.



On Wednesday, A Plus took to his (Facebook Page) social and traditional media to spread palpable falsehood about the businessman, which he succeeded in having 523 persons, read and viewed by over 6,100 and commented on by 1,400 person as at 1pm on the said day.



To Crown Legal Bureau, Chambers of Justice Abdulai, A Plus post, including its clients (Plaintiff) picture was not only false but malicious, libelous and dangerous, injuring the hard earned reputation of Mr Zein.



Consequently, Counsel Abdulai has prayed the Court for an order of interlocutory injunction restraining the Defendant/Respondent, his cyber bloggers, assigns, privies, servants, personal representatives, agents and all persons of whatever description claiming through or under him from publishing, sharing, commenting, re-publishing the malicious, vexatious and defamatory and or libelous comments about Plaintiff/Applicant, on any social or regular media for whatever purposes until the final determination of the instant suit.



A portion of order for injunction on further publication of the defamatory comment by the Counsel to Honorable Court stated  . . That Defendants conduct is injurious to his reputation, image, character and also have a negative impact on his business interest in Ghana and several other countries across the world.



That following the said publication of the defamatory comments by the Defendant on his Facebook page, several of Plaintiffs business family and friends, from across the world, business partners and diplomats across the world have been calling him enquiring into the said post published by the Defendant.



That the said scandalous, malicious and defamatory comments by Defendant has since been republished by other news houses and online news sites search as Opera News and MyNewsGh.com (both of which have wide readership on android phones in particular and very popular news outlets for the youth in Ghana).



It added That Defendant has the well-known habit of attacking distinguished and respectable persons in society as evidenced by the numerous defamation suits which have been brought against him in recent times.



That the malicious, vicious, vexatious and libelous attacks on Plaintiffs personality and reputation by Defendant was not only untrue, but same was equally unprovoked, as he has no links, relationship and or business dealings with Defendant, in any form or shape, to warrant the vicious attacks on him.



That the said publications are not simply malicious and defamatory of the character, reputation and image, but same is gathering more attention with the sole object of injuring the hard earned reputation and credibility of Plaintiff.



That unless the Honorable Court grants the present application to stop Defendant he will continuing to publish more defamatory comments about the Plaintiff



That under the circumstances the Plaintiff/Applicant humbly prays the Honorable Court to make an order of interlocutory injunction restraining the Defendant and his cyber bloggers, assigns, privies, servants, personal representatives, agents and all persons of whatever description claiming through or under him from publishing, sharing, commenting, re-publishing the malicious, vexatious and defamatory and or libelous comments about Plaintiff/Applicant, on any social or regular media for whatever purposes until the final determination of the instant suit.



Below are the comments he posted That Defendant posted Plaintiffs picture on his Facebook Page, and above the said picture Defendant made the following comments: Dr Dampare, do you remember this guy? This is Hassan, the Lebanese who pulled a gun and threaten to kill Ghanaian Police officers somewhere in Accra. Israel Laryea of Joy News has the video. You remember how you were prevented from arresting this guy because you were not IGP then? How many Ghanaians can go to Lebanon and threaten to kill police officers and be walking free? Thank God you are the IGP now. Crime has no expiry date. You have to arrest him.



Hassan, I hear you have almost every politician in your pocket so you are untouchable. Nobody told you about A Plus errrh!! You see those politicians who are supporting you to fool in our country? All of them are afraid of me!! If they try I'll release their secrets. I'm coming after you and they can't help you!! I have every information on you including the 600 thousand dollars you claim to have given to someone at the office of the president to ensure that your company, Zein Security wins the security contract at the airport. I'm going to take your issues one after the other. It's going to be a long ride trust me.



Medikal was arrested for just showing a gun. Hassan has to be arrested for pulling a gun at police officers and threatening to kill them. You are not a Ghanaian. We won't allow you to intimidate our people. Everybody on Facebook knows that I've fought for voiceless people. I won't allow you to take a dead man's house from his poor Ghanaian children. I'm talking about the white house. I've done this for many people. I've never lost. Maybe, just maybe, you'll be the first person to win against me. But trust me, it won't be easy.



I'm going to bed. We shall continue when I wake up?

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" " Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex; Meghan, Duchess of Sussex; Prince William, Duke of Cambridge; Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Charles, Prince of Wales attend the Commonwealth Day Service 2020 on March 9, 2020 in London. Phil Harris - WPA Pool/Getty Images

The world was shocked when Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, announced they were leaving Britain's royal family in January 2020. A second jolt occurred when the two (aka the Duke and Duchess of Sussex) sat down for an interview with Oprah Winfrey in March 2021 and revealed how disheartened and "trapped" they felt by the royal institution. They also tried to explain about how the Crown operates.

"So there's the family, and then there's the people that are running the institution," Meghan said, according to USA Today. "Those are two separate things. And it's important to be able to compartmentalize that, because the Queen, for example, has always been wonderful to me."

It's a complicated, convoluted system. The royal family consists of Queen Elizabeth II and her husband, Prince Philip (the Duke of Edinburgh), plus their four children: Princes Charles, Andrew and Edward, and Princess Anne and their spouses. Elizabeth and Philip's eight grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren are also royals.

" " If you didn't make it onto this balcony at Buckingham Palace, you are likely not a member of the royal family. Chris Jackson Collection/Getty Images

But this family is also part of a sprawling business institution with thousands of employees that manages royal affairs. As with any other company, these employees work in human resources, public relations, information technology, housekeeping and so on, in addition to occupying visible roles such as personal secretaries, drivers and security. About a century ago, King George VI (Elizabeth's father) dubbed this combination of business and clan as "The Firm."

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Who Pays for the Royal Family?

With so many employees and such prominence, The Firm requires a lot of money to operate. In 2020, the bill came to 82.4 million, or about $114 million. These funds don't come from taxpayers per se, but from a convoluted system with real estate at its core. Here's how it works.

Every year, the U.K. government gives the royal household a monetary allotment called the sovereign grant. The money in the grant is a percentage of the surplus revenue from the Crown Estate, an extensive real estate portfolio belonging to The Crown. The portfolio's profits mainly come through annual appreciation and farming. In 2017, the monarchy received 25 percent of the Crown Estate's surplus net income  a jump from the previous 15 percent  plus an additional 10 percent allotment that will last a decade to refurbish Buckingham Palace. The government retained the remainder of the surplus.

Laura Clancy, a media lecturer at the U.K.'s Lancaster University and author of upcoming book "Running the Family Firm: How the Monarchy Manages Its Image and Our Money," says via email that Queen Elizabeth II doesn't personally own the Crown Estate. Instead, it's a publicly owned property portfolio held in trust by The Crown. "This means that if the monarchy were abolished, all of the profits from the Crown Estate would go to the public," she says. A tempting thought for nonroyals.

Clancy also notes that the sovereign grant is often reported to be the official cost of the monarchy, but that's not accurate. The royal family's security is paid for by the Metropolitan Police, plus local councils pick up the tab for royal visits. "This means the monarchy costs more than the official reports from the sovereign grant," she says.

Working royals, like the Queen, Prince Charles, Prince William and his wife, Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, receive funds from the sovereign grant to support their work, travel, staff, clothing and residence renovations. They do not receive set salaries, however, nor are they typically allowed to do paid work. But the Queen receives a substantial income from the private Duchy of Lancaster, a set of commercial, agriculture and residential properties that was attached to the monarchy in 1265. In 2019-2020, it generated more than 25 million for her, or $34.7 million. Similarly, as heir to the throne, Prince Charles receives income from the private Duchy of Cornwall, also established centuries ago. The two pass on some of this income to their heirs, although it isn't known how much.

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Who's Really Running Things?

The Firm's complexity involves a lot more than money, though. Another aspect that's difficult for outsiders to grasp is its myriad rules, regulations and traditions. Some are noncontroversial (e.g., bowing or curtseying to the Queen), but many others seem silly or off-putting. Women are always supposed to wear pantyhose, for example, and never cross their legs while sitting. Makeup should be minimal, and couples aren't supposed to engage in any PDA  not even hand-holding. Oh, and you shouldn't close your own car door. Who's making these rules, insisting they be followed or allowing them, at times, to be broken? Clancy says it's unclear.

"The operations of the monarchy are complex, and there are many different individuals involved in running the institution, from public relations to HR to financial advisers," she says. But tradition is important, as it's a form of historical legitimacy for the monarchy.

And this is where things loop back to Prince Harry and Markle. For one final, major component of The Firm is the royal rota, or pool system comprising a group of reporters and photographers from seven U.K. publications. For the past 40 years, the royal family has granted the rota special access to their royal engagements in exchange for coverage, as coverage helps maintain the monarchy's relevance. These press members are expected to share material with each other. Today, four of the rota publications are tabloids, including the Daily Mail and the Sun. And these rota journalists often write about Markle harshly, and sometimes in a racist manner.

" " A selection of headlines from British newspapers in response to Meghan and Harry's interview with Oprah Winfrey on March 8, 2021. Most of the papers represented are members of the royal rota. Chris Jackson/Getty Images

One of the biggest reasons the couple left the royal family, according to the Winfrey interview and other press accounts, appears to be their distress and disgust with the rota, and their wish to escape its orbit. U.K.'s National Union of Journalists expressed concern at the time of the decision in 2020 to leave the rota, stating that as the royal family is partially funded by the public, "we cannot have a situation where journalists writing about the Duke and Duchess of Sussex can only do so if they have the royal seal of approval," according to Town and Country.

And although their separation from The Firm  and the rota  means no more income from the sovereign grant or the Duchy of Cornwall, the two should be just fine. In stepping back from their royal duties, Harry and Meghan (as they'd now like to be called) are allowed to earn a living on their own. The couple quickly inked a three-year podcasting deal with Spotify allegedly worth $25 million and a five-year Netflix deal, allegedly worth over $100 million. These deals will allow them to produce documentaries, films, podcasts, kids' programming and other content down the road.

NOW THAT'S INCREDIBLE Harry and Meghan are actually 15th cousins. Their shared ancestor is an Englishman named Ralph Bowes, who was born in 1480 and is connected to both Queen Elizabeth II and Markle's father, Thomas Markle.
" " U.S. President Joe Biden signs the $1.9 trillion COVID relief bill into law March 11, 2021, as Vice President Kamala Harris looks on. The bill was passed using reconciliation. Pool/Getty Images

Passing new legislation in the U.S. can be, well, difficult to say the least. And when there is a Congress that is all but deadlocked because of razor-thin majorities in the House and Senate, that makes passing big budget legislation even more problematic. That's where reconciliation comes into the picture.

Budget reconciliation is a way for Congress to pass major funding bills  which are notoriously difficult to pass  especially when there's a very evenly divided Senate. It was created by the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 as a way to quickly advance these tax and spending bills.

With reconciliation, the party in control of Congress can pass funding legislation  things like taxes, spending and debt limits  with a simple majority (either 51 votes or 50 votes and the vice president's tiebreaking vote) in the Senate, without threat of a filibuster. It takes 60 votes to defeat a filibuster. The Congressional Budget Act also limits Senate debate on the bill to 20 hours and limits debate on the compromises between the two houses to 10 hours, which helps the Senate expedite and pass reconciliation bills much faster.

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How Reconciliation Works

To start the process, Congress agrees on a budget resolution that includes a reconciliation directive for specified committees. These directives instruct the committees on how much to increase or decrease spending and revenue, or how to to limit the debt ceiling. And it provides and a deadline for completion. Congress doesn't tell the committees how to hit the reconciliation target, just to hit it.

Once the various committees complete their tasks, the House and Senate budget committees combine the recommendations into a single omnibus bill  the reconciliation bill. Then the House and Senate vote; both must obtain a majority to pass the legislation.

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What Reconciliation May Include

Reconciliation bills can include spending changes to items such as Medicare, Medicaid, federal civilian and military retirement benefits, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as food stamps) and farm programs. Social Security is untouchable. The reconciliation rule allow bills that raise the deficit, but only for 10 years. (The 2017 Trump tax cuts were passed via reconciliation, though the Senate allowed some of the tax cuts to expire so the bill wouldn't increase the federal deficit past the 10-year window.)

Important to note: Reconciliation only can be used once per fiscal year and only to change  or "reconcile"  laws related to taxes and spending.

Since reconciliation was first introduced in the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, it has been used 21 times. Some of its notable uses were the Trump tax cuts in 2017, the Bush tax cuts in 2001 and 2003, Clinton's welfare reform in 1996, and major deficit reduction bills in the 1980s and 1990s. The reconciliation process also was used to pass parts of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in 2010. In 2021, reconciliation was used to pass President Joe Biden's $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package.

Now That's Interesting The Byrd Rule (named for the late Sen. Robert Byrd, who served as the Democratic senator for West Virginia for 51 years) is intended to keep "extraneous policies" from being included in budget reconciliation. Basically, it keeps senators from sneaking non-budgetary items into reconciliation. It's up to the Senate parliamentarian to decide what is  and isn't  extraneous to the reconciliation.
" " What do you say when someone sneezes? PeopleImages / Getty Images

Many people have become accustomed to saying "bless you" or "gesundheit" when someone sneezes. No one says anything when someone coughs, blows their nose or burps, so why do sneezes get special treatment? What do those phrases actually mean, anyway?

Wishing someone well after they sneeze probably originated thousands of years ago. The Romans would say "Jupiter preserve you" or "Salve," which meant "good health to you," and the Greeks would wish each other "long life." The phrase "God bless you" is attributed to Pope Gregory the Great, who uttered it in the sixth century during a bubonic plague epidemic (sneezing is an obvious symptom of one form of the plague).

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The exchangeable term "gesundheit" comes from Germany, and it literally means "health." The idea is that a sneeze typically precedes illness. It entered the English language in the early part of the 20th century, brought to the United States by German-speaking immigrants.

Virtually every country around the globe has its own way of wishing sneezers well. People in Arabic countries say, "Alhamdulillah," which means, "praise be to God." Hindus say, "Live!" or "Live well!" Some countries have special sneezing responses for children. In Russia, after children are given the traditional response, "bud zdorov" ("be healthy"), they are also told "rosti bolshoi" ("grow big"). When a child sneezes in China, he or she will hear "bai sui," which means, "may you live 100 years."

 For the most part, the various sneeze responses originated from ancient superstitions. Some people believed that a sneeze causes the soul to escape the body through the nose. Saying "bless you" would stop the devil from claiming the person's freed soul. Others believed the opposite: that evil spirits use the sneeze as an opportunity to enter a person's body. There was also the misconception that the heart momentarily stops during a sneeze (it doesn't), and that saying "bless you" was a way of welcoming the person back to life.

We now know that sneezing is a reflex action and is most often the sign of something relatively benign, such as a cold or allergy. A sneeze also can be provoked by being outside in the sunlight or from smelling a strong odor. Still, we persist in the custom of saying "bless you" or "gesundheit," mainly out of habit and common courtesy.

For more information on sneezing and related topics, check out the next page.

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Originally Published: Nov 30, 2006
At left, the NASA WISE image of the BD+60 1417AB system. At right bottom is the host star and companion, and at top right is a zoom-in on the new low-mass world. The image is a color-composite from multiple WISE bands. Credit: Constructed by Backyard Worlds collaborator Leopold Gramaize

Citizen scientists have discovered a new object orbiting a Sun-like star that had been missed by previous searches. The object is very distant from its host starmore than 1,600 times farther than the Earth is from the Sunand is thought to be a large planet or a small brown dwarf, a type of object that is not massive enough to burn hydrogen like true stars. Details about the new world are published today in The Astrophysical Journal.

"This star had been looked at by more than one campaign searching for exoplanet companions. But previous teams looked really tight, really close to the star," said lead author Jackie Faherty, senior scientist in the American Museum of Natural History's Department of Astrophysics and co-founder of the citizen science project Backyard Worlds: Planet 9, which led to the object's discovery. "Because citizen scientists really liked the project, they found an object that many of these direct imaging surveys would have loved to have found, but they didn't look far enough away from its host."

The Backyard Worlds project lets volunteers search through nearly five years of digital images taken from NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) mission to try to identify new worlds inside and outside of our solar system. If an object close to Earth is moving, it will appear to "jump" in the same part of the sky over the years, similar to an object "moving" in a flipbook. Users can then flag these objects for further study by scientists.

In 2018, Backyard Worlds participant Jorg Schumann, who lives in Germany, alerted scientists to a new co-moving system: an object that appeared to be moving with a star. After confirming the system's motion, scientists used telescopes in California and Hawai'i to observe the star and object separately and were immediately excited by what they saw.

The new object is young and has a low mass, between 10 and 20 times the mass of Jupiter. This range overlaps with an important cutoff point13 times the mass of Jupiterwhich is sometimes used to distinguish planets from brown dwarfs. But scientists still aren't sure how heavy planets can be, which can make relying on this cutoff challenging. "We don't have a very good definition of the word 'planet,'" said Faherty.

Another defining feature is how they form: planets form from material gathering in disks around stars, while brown dwarfs are born from the collapse of giant clouds of gas, similar to how stars form. But the physical properties of this new object do not provide any clues to its formation. "There are hints that maybe it's more like an exoplanet, but there's nothing conclusive yet. However, it is an outlier," said Faherty.

What surprised the team the most is the new object's relationship to its host star. The object is farther away from the star than expected based on its comparatively low massover 1,600 times farther than the Earth is from the Sun. Few objects with such different masses from their host star have been found this far apart.

Ultimately, this discovery may help scientists get a better sense of how solar systems form, which is crucial to understanding the origins of life in the universe. "You had an exoplanet community just staring so close to it," said Faherty. "And we just pulled out a little, and we found an object. That makes me excited about what we might be missing in giant planets that might exist around these stars," said Faherty. "Sometimes, you need to broaden your scope."

Explore further Citizen scientists discover rare cosmic pairing

More information: Jacqueline K. Faherty et al, A Wide Planetary Mass Companion Discovered through the Citizen Science Project Backyard Worlds: Planet 9, The Astrophysical Journal (2021). Journal information: Astrophysical Journal Jacqueline K. Faherty et al, A Wide Planetary Mass Companion Discovered through the Citizen Science Project Backyard Worlds: Planet 9,(2021). DOI: 10.3847/1538-4357/ac2499
Fish swim near a head of coral in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii on Friday, Oct. 1, 2021. Scientists are trying to speed up coral's evolutionary clock to build reefs that can better withstand the impacts of global warming. For the past five years, researchers in Hawaii and Australia have been conducting experiments to prove their Darwinian theories work. They say they do, and now they're getting ready to plant selectively bred and other lab-evolved corals back into the ocean to see if they can survive in Nature. If successful, the scientists say the more heat tolerant corals could help save vital reefs that are dying from climate change. Credit: AP Photo/Caleb Jones

On a moonless summer night in Hawaii, krill, fish and crabs swirl through a beam of light as two researchers peer into the water above a vibrant reef.

Minutes later, like clockwork, they see eggs and sperm from spawning coral drifting past their boat. They scoop up the fishy-smelling blobs and put them in test tubes.

In this Darwinian experiment, the scientists are trying to speed up coral's evolutionary clock to breed "super corals" that can better withstand the impacts of global warming.

For the past five years, the researchers have been conducting experiments to prove their theories would work. Now, they're getting ready to plant laboratory-raised corals in the ocean to see how they survive in nature.

"Assisted evolution started out as this kind of crazy idea that you could actually help something change and allow that to survive better because it is changing," said Kira Hughes, a University of Hawaii researcher and the project's manager.

SPEEDING UP NATURE

Researchers tested three methods of making corals more resilient:

 Selective breeding that carries on desirable traits from parents.

 Acclimation that conditions corals to tolerate heat by exposing them to increasing temperatures.

Test tubes are set up to collect spawning coral eggs in a lab at the University of Hawaii's Institute of Marine Biology in Kaneohe, Hawaii, Saturday, Aug. 7, 2021. Scientists are trying to speed up coral's evolutionary clock to build reefs that can better withstand the impacts of global warming. For the past five years, researchers in Hawaii and Australia have been conducting experiments to prove their Darwinian theories work. They say they do, and now they're getting ready to plant selectively bred and other lab-evolved corals back into the ocean to see if they can survive in Nature. If successful, the scientists say the more heat tolerant corals could help save vital reefs that are dying from climate change. Credit: AP Photo/Caleb Jones

 And modifying the algae that give corals essential nutrients.

Hughes said the methods all have proven successful in the lab.

And while some other scientists worried this is meddling with nature, Hughes said the rapidly warming planet leaves no other options. "We have to intervene in order to make a change for coral reefs to survive into the future," she said.

When ocean temperatures rise, coral releases its symbiotic algae that supply nutrients and impart its vibrant colors. The coral turns whitea process called bleachingand can quickly become sick and die.

For more than a decade, scientists have been observing corals that have survived bleaching, even when others have died on the same reef.

So, researchers are focusing on those hardy survivors, hoping to enhance their heat tolerance. And they found selective breeding held the most promise for Hawaii's reefs.

Coral ecologist Crawford Drury sets up test tubes to collect spawning coral eggs in a lab at the University of Hawaii's Institute of Marine Biology in Kaneohe, Hawaii, Saturday, Aug. 7, 2021. Scientists are trying to speed up coral's evolutionary clock to build reefs that can better withstand the impacts of global warming. For the past five years, researchers in Hawaii and Australia have been conducting experiments to prove their Darwinian theories work. They say they do, and now they're getting ready to plant selectively bred and other lab-evolved corals back into the ocean to see if they can survive in Nature. If successful, the scientists say the more heat tolerant corals could help save vital reefs that are dying from climate change. Credit: AP Photo/Caleb Jones

"Corals are threatened worldwide by a lot of stressors, but increasing temperatures are probably the most severe," said Crawford Drury, chief scientist at Hawaii's Coral Resilience Lab. "And so that's what our focus is on, working with parents that are really thermally tolerant."

A NOVEL IDEA

In 2015, Ruth Gates, who launched the resilience lab, and Madeleine van Oppen of the Australian Institute of Marine Science published a paper on assisted evolution during one of the world's worst bleaching events.

The scientists proposed bringing corals into a lab to help them evolve into more heat-tolerant animals. And the idea attracted Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, who funded the first phase of research and whose foundation still supports the program.

"We've given (coral) experiences that we think are going to raise their ability to survive," Gates told The Associated Press in a 2015 interview.

Test tubes are set up to collect spawning coral eggs in a lab at the University of Hawaii's Institute of Marine Biology in Kaneohe, Hawaii, Saturday, Aug. 7, 2021. Scientists are trying to speed up coral's evolutionary clock to build reefs that can better withstand the impacts of global warming. For the past five years, researchers in Hawaii and Australia have been conducting experiments to prove their Darwinian theories work. They say they do, and now they're getting ready to plant selectively bred and other lab-evolved corals back into the ocean to see if they can survive in Nature. If successful, the scientists say the more heat tolerant corals could help save vital reefs that are dying from climate change. Credit: AP Photo/Caleb Jones

Gates, who died of brain cancer in 2018, also said she wanted people to know how "intimately reef health is intertwined with human health."

Coral reefs, often called the rainforests of the sea, provide food for humans and marine animals, shoreline protection for coastal communities, jobs for tourist economies and even medicine to treat illnesses such as cancer, arthritis and Alzheimers disease.

A recent report from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and other research organizations concluded bleaching events are the biggest threat to the world's coral reefs. Scientists found that between 2009 and 2018, the world lost about 14% of its coral.

Assisted evolution was not widely accepted when first proposed.

Van Oppen said there were concerns about losing genetic diversity and critics who said the scientists were "playing gods" by tampering with the reef.

Kira Hughes, a coral researcher at the University of Hawaii's Institute of Marine Biology, leaves Coconut Island as she navigates her boat into Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii on Saturday, Aug. 7, 2021. Scientists are trying to speed up coral's evolutionary clock to build reefs that can better withstand the impacts of global warming. For the past five years, researchers in Hawaii and Australia have been conducting experiments to prove their Darwinian theories work. They say they do, and now they're getting ready to plant selectively bred and other lab-evolved corals back into the ocean to see if they can survive in Nature. If successful, the scientists say the more heat tolerant corals could help save vital reefs that are dying from climate change. Credit: AP Photo/Caleb Jones

"Well, you know, (humans) have already intervened with the reef for very long periods of time," van Oppen said. "All we're trying to do is to repair the damage."

Rather than editing genes or creating anything unnatural, researchers are just nudging what could already happen in the ocean, she said. "We are really focusing first on as local a scale as possible to try and maintain and enhance what is already there."

MILLIONS OF YEARS IN THE MAKING

Still, there are lingering questions.

"We have discovered lots of reasons why corals don't bleach," said Steve Palumbi, a marine biologist and professor at Stanford University. "Just because you find a coral that isn't bleaching in the field or in the lab doesn't mean it's permanently heat tolerant."

Corals have been on Earth for about 250 million years and their genetic code is not fully understood.

Kira Hughes, a coral researcher at the University of Hawaii's Institute of Marine Biology, uses a satellite map on her cellphone as she navigates her boat to a reef in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii on Saturday, Aug. 7, 2021. Scientists are trying to speed up coral's evolutionary clock to build reefs that can better withstand the impacts of global warming. For the past five years, researchers in Hawaii and Australia have been conducting experiments to prove their Darwinian theories work. They say they do, and now they're getting ready to plant selectively bred and other lab-evolved corals back into the ocean to see if they can survive in Nature. If successful, the scientists say the more heat tolerant corals could help save vital reefs that are dying from climate change. Credit: AP Photo/Caleb Jones

"This is not the first time any coral on the entire planet has ever been exposed to heat," Palumbi said. "So the fact that all corals are not heat resistant tells you ... that there's some disadvantage to it. And if there weren't a disadvantage, they'd all be heat resistant."

But Palumbi thinks the assisted evolution work has a valuable place in coral management plans because "reefs all over the world are in desperate, desperate, desperate trouble."

The project has gained broad support and spurred research around the world. Scientists in the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, Germany and elsewhere are doing their own coral resilience work. The U.S. government also backs the effort.

Assisted evolution "is really impressive and very consistent with a study that we conducted with the National Academies of Sciences," said Jennifer Koss, the director of NOAA's Coral Reef Conservation Program.

Kira Hughes, a coral researcher at the University of Hawaii's Institute of Marine Biology, looks at a test tube with eggs and sperm from spawning coral in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii on Saturday, Aug. 7, 2021. Scientists are trying to speed up coral's evolutionary clock to build reefs that can better withstand the impacts of global warming. For the past five years, researchers in Hawaii and Australia have been conducting experiments to prove their Darwinian theories work. They say they do, and now they're getting ready to plant selectively bred and other lab-evolved corals back into the ocean to see if they can survive in Nature. If successful, the scientists say the more heat tolerant corals could help save vital reefs that are dying from climate change. Credit: AP Photo/Caleb Jones

"We asked them to gather all the most recent cutting-edge science that was really centered on innovative interventions in coral reef management," Koss said. "And certainly, this assisted gene flow fits right in."

MAJOR HURDLES

There are still serious challenges.

Scalability is one. Getting lab-bred corals out into the ocean and having them survive will be hard, especially since reintroduction has to happen on a local level to avoid bringing detrimental biological material from one region to another.

James Guest, a coral ecologist in the United Kingdom, leads a project to show selectively bred corals not only survive longer in warmer water, but can also be successfully reintroduced on a large scale.

"It's great if we can do all this stuff in the lab, but we have to show that we can get very large numbers of them out onto the reef in a cost-effective way," Guest said.

Coral researchers shine a flood light into the Kaneohe Bay as lights from Kaneohe, Hawaii, are seen in the distance, Saturday, Aug. 7, 2021. Scientists are trying to speed up coral's evolutionary clock to build reefs that can better withstand the impacts of global warming. For the past five years, researchers in Hawaii and Australia have been conducting experiments to prove their Darwinian theories work. They say they do, and now they're getting ready to plant selectively bred and other lab-evolved corals back into the ocean to see if they can survive in Nature. If successful, the scientists say the more heat tolerant corals could help save vital reefs that are dying from climate change. Credit: AP Photo/Caleb Jones

Scientists are testing delivery methods, such as using ships to pump young corals into the ocean and deploying small underwater robots to plant coral.

No one is proposing assisted evolution alone will save the world's reefs. The idea is part of a suite of measureswith proposals ranging from creating shades for coral to pumping cooler deep-ocean water onto reefs that get too warm.

The advantage of planting stronger corals is that after a generation or two, they should spread their traits naturally, without much human intervention.

Over the next several years, the Hawaii scientists will place selectively bred coral back into Kaneohe Bay and observe their behavior. Van Oppen and her colleagues have already put some selectively bred hybrid coralswhere the eggs of one species are fertilized by the sperm of anotherback on the Great Barrier Reef.

Kira Hughes, a coral researcher at the University of Hawaii's Institute of Marine Biology, looks at a test tube full of coral eggs and sperm collected from a reef in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii on Saturday, Aug. 7, 2021. Scientists are trying to speed up coral's evolutionary clock to build reefs that can better withstand the impacts of global warming. For the past five years, researchers in Hawaii and Australia have been conducting experiments to prove their Darwinian theories work. They say they do, and now they're getting ready to plant selectively bred and other lab-evolved corals back into the ocean to see if they can survive in Nature. If successful, the scientists say the more heat tolerant corals could help save vital reefs that are dying from climate change. Credit: AP Photo/Caleb Jones

Scientists pass a test tube of coral eggs and spawn collected from a reef in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii on Saturday, Aug. 7, 2021. Scientists are trying to speed up coral's evolutionary clock to build reefs that can better withstand the impacts of global warming. For the past five years, researchers in Hawaii and Australia have been conducting experiments to prove their Darwinian theories work. They say they do, and now they're getting ready to plant selectively bred and other lab-evolved corals back into the ocean to see if they can survive in Nature. If successful, the scientists say the more heat tolerant corals could help save vital reefs that are dying from climate change. Credit: AP Photo/Caleb Jones

A researcher separates coral eggs in a lab at the University of Hawaii's Institute of Marine Biology in Kaneohe, Hawaii on Saturday, Aug. 7, 2021. Scientists are trying to speed up coral's evolutionary clock to build reefs that can better withstand the impacts of global warming. For the past five years, researchers in Hawaii and Australia have been conducting experiments to prove their Darwinian theories work. They say they do, and now they're getting ready to plant selectively bred and other lab-evolved corals back into the ocean to see if they can survive in Nature. If successful, the scientists say the more heat tolerant corals could help save vital reefs that are dying from climate change. Credit: AP Photos/Caleb Jones

Coral grow in a tank at a lab at the University of Hawaii's Institute of Marine Biology in Kaneohe, Hawaii on Friday, Oct. 1, 2021. Scientists are trying to speed up coral's evolutionary clock to build reefs that can better withstand the impacts of global warming. For the past five years, researchers in Hawaii and Australia have been conducting experiments to prove their Darwinian theories work. They say they do, and now they're getting ready to plant selectively bred and other lab-evolved corals back into the ocean to see if they can survive in Nature. If successful, the scientists say the more heat tolerant corals could help save vital reefs that are dying from climate change. Credit: AP Photos/Caleb Jones

A researcher separates coral eggs in a lab at the University of Hawaii's Institute of Marine Biology in Kaneohe, Hawaii on Saturday, Aug. 7, 2021. Scientists are trying to speed up coral's evolutionary clock to build reefs that can better withstand the impacts of global warming. For the past five years, researchers in Hawaii and Australia have been conducting experiments to prove their Darwinian theories work. They say they do, and now they're getting ready to plant selectively bred and other lab-evolved corals back into the ocean to see if they can survive in Nature. If successful, the scientists say the more heat tolerant corals could help save vital reefs that are dying from climate change. Credit: AP Photo/Caleb Jones

Coral grow in a tank at a lab at the University of Hawaii's Institute of Marine Biology in Kaneohe, Hawaii on Friday, Oct. 1, 2021. Scientists are trying to speed up coral's evolutionary clock to build reefs that can better withstand the impacts of global warming. For the past five years, researchers in Hawaii and Australia have been conducting experiments to prove their Darwinian theories work. They say they do, and now they're getting ready to plant selectively bred and other lab-evolved corals back into the ocean to see if they can survive in Nature. If successful, the scientists say the more heat tolerant corals could help save vital reefs that are dying from climate change. Credit: AP Photo/Caleb Jones

Fish swim near a head of coral in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii on Friday, Oct. 1, 2021. Scientists are trying to speed up coral's evolutionary clock to build reefs that can better withstand the impacts of global warming. For the past five years, researchers in Hawaii and Australia have been conducting experiments to prove their Darwinian theories work. They say they do, and now they're getting ready to plant selectively bred and other lab-evolved corals back into the ocean to see if they can survive in Nature. If successful, the scientists say the more heat tolerant corals could help save vital reefs that are dying from climate change. Credit: AP Photo/Caleb Jones

Kira Hughes, a coral researcher at the University of Hawaii's Institute of Marine Biology, looks at coral growing in a tank at a lab in Kaneohe, Hawaii on Friday, Oct. 1, 2021. Scientists are trying to speed up coral's evolutionary clock to build reefs that can better withstand the impacts of global warming. For the past five years, researchers in Hawaii and Australia have been conducting experiments to prove their Darwinian theories work. They say they do, and now they're getting ready to plant selectively bred and other lab-evolved corals back into the ocean to see if they can survive in Nature. If successful, the scientists say the more heat tolerant corals could help save vital reefs that are dying from climate change. Credit: AP Photo/Caleb Jones

Kira Hughes, a coral researcher at the University of Hawaii's Institute of Marine Biology, holds a juvenile coral that is growing in a tank at a lab in Kaneohe, Hawaii on Friday, Oct. 1, 2021. Scientists are trying to speed up coral's evolutionary clock to build reefs that can better withstand the impacts of global warming. For the past five years, researchers in Hawaii and Australia have been conducting experiments to prove their Darwinian theories work. They say they do, and now they're getting ready to plant selectively bred and other lab-evolved corals back into the ocean to see if they can survive in Nature. If successful, the scientists say the more heat tolerant corals could help save vital reefs that are dying from climate change. Credit: AP Photo/Caleb Jones

Fish swim near a head of coral in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii on Friday, Oct. 1, 2021. Scientists are trying to speed up coral's evolutionary clock to build reefs that can better withstand the impacts of global warming. For the past five years, researchers in Hawaii and Australia have been conducting experiments to prove their Darwinian theories work. They say they do, and now they're getting ready to plant selectively bred and other lab-evolved corals back into the ocean to see if they can survive in Nature. If successful, the scientists say the more heat tolerant corals could help save vital reefs that are dying from climate change. Credit: AP Photo/Caleb Jones

Kira Hughes, a coral researcher at the University of Hawaii's Institute of Marine Biology, dives on a reef in Kaneohe Bay during a survey on Friday, Oct. 8, 2021. Scientists are trying to speed up coral's evolutionary clock to build reefs that can better withstand the impacts of global warming. For the past five years, researchers in Hawaii and Australia have been conducting experiments to prove their Darwinian theories work. They say they do, and now they're getting ready to plant selectively bred and other lab-evolved corals back into the ocean to see if they can survive in Nature. If successful, the scientists say the more heat tolerant corals could help save vital reefs that are dying from climate change. Credit: AP Photo/Caleb Jones

Kira Hughes, a coral researcher at the University of Hawaii's Institute of Marine Biology, drives a boat in Kaneohe Bay during a survey dive on Friday, Oct. 8, 2021. Scientists are trying to speed up coral's evolutionary clock to build reefs that can better withstand the impacts of global warming. For the past five years, researchers in Hawaii and Australia have been conducting experiments to prove their Darwinian theories work. They say they do, and now they're getting ready to plant selectively bred and other lab-evolved corals back into the ocean to see if they can survive in Nature. If successful, the scientists say the more heat tolerant corals could help save vital reefs that are dying from climate change. Credit: AP Photo/Caleb Jones

A coral reef is shown in Kaneohe Bay on Friday, Oct. 1, 2021 in Kaneohe, Hawaii. Scientists are trying to speed up coral's evolutionary clock to build reefs that can better withstand the impacts of global warming. For the past five years, researchers in Hawaii and Australia have been conducting experiments to prove their Darwinian theories work. They say they do, and now they're getting ready to plant selectively bred and other lab-evolved corals back into the ocean to see if they can survive in Nature. If successful, the scientists say the more heat tolerant corals could help save vital reefs that are dying from climate change. Credit: AP Photo/Caleb Jones

A coral reef is shown in Kaneohe Bay on Friday, Oct. 1, 2021 in Kaneohe, Hawaii. Scientists are trying to speed up coral's evolutionary clock to build reefs that can better withstand the impacts of global warming. For the past five years, researchers in Hawaii and Australia have been conducting experiments to prove their Darwinian theories work. They say they do, and now they're getting ready to plant selectively bred and other lab-evolved corals back into the ocean to see if they can survive in Nature. If successful, the scientists say the more heat tolerant corals could help save vital reefs that are dying from climate change. Credit: AP Photo/Caleb Jones

Fish swim on a coral reef in Kaneohe Bay on Friday, Oct. 1, 2021 in Kaneohe, Hawaii. Scientists are trying to speed up coral's evolutionary clock to build reefs that can better withstand the impacts of global warming. For the past five years, researchers in Hawaii and Australia have been conducting experiments to prove their Darwinian theories work. They say they do, and now they're getting ready to plant selectively bred and other lab-evolved corals back into the ocean to see if they can survive in Nature. If successful, the scientists say the more heat tolerant corals could help save vital reefs that are dying from climate change. Credit: AP Photo/Caleb Jones

Kira Hughes, a coral researcher at the University of Hawaii's Institute of Marine Biology, dives on a reef in Kaneohe Bay during a survey on Friday, Oct. 8, 2021. Scientists are trying to speed up coral's evolutionary clock to build reefs that can better withstand the impacts of global warming. For the past five years, researchers in Hawaii and Australia have been conducting experiments to prove their Darwinian theories work. They say they do, and now they're getting ready to plant selectively bred and other lab-evolved corals back into the ocean to see if they can survive in Nature. If successful, the scientists say the more heat tolerant corals could help save vital reefs that are dying from climate change. Credit: AP Photo/Caleb Jones

With the world's oceans continuing to warm, scientists say they are up against the clock to save reefs.

"All the work we are going to do here," said Hawaii's Drury, "is not going to make a difference if we don't wind up addressing climate change on a global, systematic scale.

"So really, what we're trying to do is buy time."

Explore further Coral parents selected in hope of producing heat-tolerant babies

 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Figure 1. Map of Old Crow Flats (OCF), Yukon Territory, showing the location of the 14 lakes included in the monitoring program, the southern boundary of Vuntut National Park, and the Village of Old Crow. The Old Crow River and main tributaries are highlighted in darker blue. Meteorological data presented in this study were recorded in Old Crow and in Vuntut National Park. Spatial data sources include GeoGratis, Government of Canada (water features), U.S. Geological Survey (Old Crow River watershed), and Government of Yukon (Vuntut National Park and OCF Special Management Area). Credit: DOI: 10.1088/1748-9326/ac3533

Across the Old Crow Flats in the northern Yukon, lakes are telling a story of climate-driven change.

The traditional territory of the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation (VGFN), the Old Crow Flats is recognized as a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance thanks to its more than 8,000 thermokarst lakes (up to 15 square kilometers) and ponds. Thermokarst lakes are formed by thawed permafrost and can be prone to drainage if they expand into low-lying areas.

Kevin Turner, an Associate Professor in Brock University's Department of Geography and Tourism Studies and Fulbright Canada Research Chair in Arctic Studies at the University of Washington, has studied the area since 2007, says warmer temperatures, longer summers and more rain are "priming this important landscape for continued climate-driven landscape change."

In a new paper with Lauren A. MacDonald, who was a post-doctoral research fellow at Brock in fall 2020, as well as researchers from Wilfrid Laurier University, University of Waterloo and Parks Canada, Turner and his team share an analysis of water samples suggesting significant trends toward increased rainfall in the area, which could affect drainage in the shallow lakes and cause changes to soil stability along shorelines.

The research, conducted under the direction of the Vuntut Gwitchin Government and the North Yukon Renewable Resources Council, saw sampling take place from 14 lakes in the Old Crow Flats two to three times per year from 2007 to 2019.

The samples produced a 13-year record the research team analyzed using water isotope tracers to distinguish between input sources, such as rainfall and snow melt, and also to track water losses due to evaporation.

"There is more than meets the eye with these results, as they represent a status indicator of the increasing vulnerability of this area to drastic change," says Turner. "For example, permafrost, which holds the landscape intact, degrades more during warmer and wetter conditions, which can lead to more shoreline slumping and rapid drainage of lakes into the river network."

These changes to the landscape can disrupt ecosystems, affecting plants and wildlife and interfering with traditional ways of lifea trend already recognized by the VGFN.

"Findings complement the traditional knowledge of the VGFN, who have observed changes in climate and landscape characteristics during recent decades and have recently declared a climate emergency," says Turner.

"Isotopic evidence of increasing water abundance and lake hydrological change in Old Crow Flats, Yukon, Canada" was published in Environmental Research Letters in late November. Turner says that its findings demonstrate why collaboration and co-operation in research is so important.

"This research showcases the value of innovative and collaborative long-term monitoring programs in these important and remote areas of the North where the impacts of climate change are heightened," he says.

Explore further Many Arctic lakes give off less carbon than expected

More information: Lauren A MacDonald et al, Isotopic evidence of increasing water abundance and lake hydrological change in Old Crow Flats, Yukon, Canada, Environmental Research Letters (2021). Journal information: Environmental Research Letters Lauren A MacDonald et al, Isotopic evidence of increasing water abundance and lake hydrological change in Old Crow Flats, Yukon, Canada,(2021). DOI: 10.1088/1748-9326/ac3533
Artists impression of the TIMED spacecraft in orbit, scanning Earth. Credit: Johns Hopkins APL/Steve Gribben

Launched in 2001, NASA's TIMED mission has now spent 20 years surveying the complicated dynamics of Earth's upper atmosphere. Short for Thermosphere, Ionosphere, Mesosphere Energetics and Dynamics, TIMED observes the chemistry and dynamics where Earth's atmosphere meets space. On its 20th anniversary, the scientific community is reflecting on what they've learned from TIMED's two decades of operations.

Influence across the fleet

TIMED's contributions over the last 20 years have influenced missions across NASA, especially in the field of heliophysics, the science of the Sun-Earth system.

"TIMED plays an important role in our heliophysics fleet," said Nicola Fox, director of the Heliophysics Division at NASA Headquarters in Washington. "The upper atmosphere is a critical part of our Sun-Earth system and TIMED's long-term data set has been an important part of deepening our understanding of this dynamic. It has also paved the way for our newer missions studying this region."

Heather Futrell, program executive of TIMED, also pointed out how TIMED's contributions will affect NASA's heliophysics missions for years to come. "As the sixth oldest NASA heliophysics mission, TIMED's findings and performance over the past 20 years have helped shape our approach to missions that have launched since then and will launch in the coming years," she said. "Existing missions, such as ICON and GOLD, and upcoming missions, such as AWE and GDC, build on the foundation of upper atmospheric science results that TIMED provided."

Two decades of science

TIMED's 20 years of data have given scientists an unprecedented perspective on changes in the upper atmosphere. TIMED studies the critical region that spans altitudes of about 40 to 110 miles (about 65 to 180 kilometers) above Earth's surface. The long lifespan of the mission has allowed scientists to track the upper atmosphere's response to both quick-changing conditionslike individual solar stormsthroughout the Sun's 11-year activity cycle, as well as longer trends, like the cooling and contracting of the upper atmosphere due to climate change.

"TIMED is a testament to the type of work we do here at NASA," said Peg Luce, deputy director of the Heliophysics Division at NASA Headquarters. "Twenty years is a long time and many of the people who have worked on this mission have moved on and some have retired. To all the folks that have worked on TIMEDin any capacitythank you for your hard work and dedication. Your legacy includes an important mission that has deepened our understanding of the upper atmosphere-Sun-Earth interaction and helped shape the field of heliophysics."

Samuel Yee, principal investigator for TIMED, also applauded the long-term impact this mission has had. "In 2011, 10 years after TIMED launched, I predicted that TIMED's findings would provide insight for years to come," said Yee, who is based at Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Maryland. "Now, 20 years after launching, TIMED has changed our understanding of the upper atmosphere and how it responds to our Sun and conditions on Earth, influencing heliophysics and Earth science research forever."

"There's no doubt that TIMED observations have improved our understanding of many complex physical processes at work in Earth's upper atmosphere," said John McCormack, TIMED program scientist at NASA Headquarters. "TIMED continues to make important contributions to understanding how changes in the upper atmosphereover time scales from days to decadesare connected to what's happening in the lower atmosphere."

Impact on Earth

TIMED has also played a role in many scientific careers, inspiring Ph.D. students who would go on to lead their own missions and instruments on upper atmospheric science.

"Looking back, working on TIMED was a magical time for me," said Marty Mlynczak, principal investigator for TIMED's Sounding of the Atmosphere using Broadband Emission Radiometry (SABER) instrument, built and operated at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory. "I was in a lead role on a NASA flight mission a few years after finishing my doctorate. My Ph.D. and post-graduate research were going into orbit! I was working with the eminent scientists in the field at the time. Everyone working on TIMED had one objective: success of the mission."

"The launch of the TIMED satellite in 2001 with SABER onboard changed my scientific life and added a new science dimension that will never go away," said James Russell III, SABER PI emeritus and endowed professor and co-director of the Center for Atmospheric Sciences at Hampton University in Virginia. "This 'new world," literally on the edge of space, brought with it exciting opportunities for advancing atmospheric science. It has been exceptionally rewarding to work with the TIMED team to unfold some of the known mysteries of the mesosphere and lower thermosphere and uncover others that we did not know existed."

Explore further How TIMED flies: Unexpected trends in carbon data
Amphicotylus milesi. Credit: illustration by Masato Hattori, The Royal Society, used with permission

A team of researchers from Hokkaido University and the Gunma Museum of Natural History, both in Japan and Carleton University in Canada, has found evidence of anatomical parts in an ancient relative of the crocodile that allowed it to continue breathing as prey held in its mouth drowned. In their paper published in the journal Royal Society Open Science, the group describes their study of the anatomy of an Amphicotylus milesi fossil found in Wyoming in 1993.

Prior research had shown that the A. milesi fossil represented a new species, one that belonged to an early group of crocodile relatives known as goniopholidids. They all lived in parts of the Northern Hemisphere during the Jurassic period and into the Cretaceous. They all also had bodies that suggested they were long, short-legged marine creatures. The A. milesi fossil turned out to be the most complete goniopholidid skeleton ever uncovered. It measures approximately 2.3 meters in length and the creature would have weighed approximately 227 kilograms when alive. In this new effort, the researchers took a closer look at its head and throat anatomy.

Modern crocodiles have nostrils turned in reverse to most other animals, situated atop their snout. They are used for breathing when the crocodile is in the water. They also have a palatal valve in their throat that can be used to allow the croc to breathe through its mouth when on shore. On land, the valve is open. Once in the water, the valve closes, keeping water in the mouth from entering the lungs. The researchers were not able to see a palatal valve, of course; its fleshy makeup was lost long ago. But they did find skull features similar to a modern crocodile and a structure in the roof of its mouth that appeared similar to that in modern crocs. They also found a short bone that in modern crocs supports the tongue. Taken together, the researchers suggest the evidence is strong for a palatal valve. The finding could help to explain how goniopholidid's survived the mass extinction that wiped out the dinosaursthey were able to stay in the water, even while feeding.

New Goniopholidid. Credit: Gunma Museum of Natural History, The Royal Society, used with permission

Explore further Late Pleistocene evidence that crocodiles preyed on giant tortoises on Aldabra Atoll

More information: Junki Yoshida et al, A new goniopholidid from the Upper Jurassic Morrison Formation, USA: novel insight into aquatic adaptation toward modern crocodylians, Royal Society Open Science (2021). Journal information: Royal Society Open Science Junki Yoshida et al, A new goniopholidid from the Upper Jurassic Morrison Formation, USA: novel insight into aquatic adaptation toward modern crocodylians,(2021). DOI: 10.1098/rsos.210320

 2021 Science X Network
Milky Way jet. Credit: NASA

Our Milky Way's central black hole has a leak. This supermassive black hole looks like it still has the vestiges of a blowtorch-like jet dating back several thousand years. NASA's Hubble Space Telescope hasn't photographed the phantom jet but has helped find circumstantial evidence that it is still pushing feebly into a huge hydrogen cloud and then splattering, like the narrow stream from a hose aimed into a pile of sand.

This is further evidence that the black hole, with a mass of 4.1 million Suns, is not a sleeping monster but periodically hiccups as stars and gas clouds fall into it. Black holes draw some material into a swirling, orbiting accretion disk where some of the infalling material is swept up into outflowing jets that are collimated by the black hole's powerful magnetic fields. The narrow "searchlight beams" are accompanied by a flood of deadly ionizing radiation.

"The central black hole is dynamically variable and is currently powered down," said Gerald Cecil of the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. Cecil pieced together, like a jigsaw puzzle, multiwavelength observations from a variety of telescopes that suggest the black hole burps out mini-jets every time it swallows something hefty, like a gas cloud. His multinational team's research has just been published in the Astrophysical Journal.

In 2013 evidence for a stubby southern jet near the black hole came from X-rays detected by NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory and radio waves detected by the Jansky Very Large Array telescope in Socorro, New Mexico. This jet too appears to be plowing into gas near the black hole.

Black hole-driven outflow from active galaxy NGC 1068. Credit: NASA

Cecil was curious whether there was a northern counter-jet as well. He first looked at archival spectra of such molecules as methyl alcohol and carbon monosulfide from the ALMA Observatory in Chile (Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array), which uses millimeter wavelengths to peer through the veils of dust between us and the galactic core. ALMA reveals an expanding, narrow linear feature in molecular gas that can be traced for 15 light-years back towards the black hole.

By connecting the dots, Cecil next found in Hubble infrared-wavelength images a glowing, inflating bubble of hot gas that aligns to the jet at a distance of at least 35 light-years from the black hole. His team suggests that the black hole jet has plowed into it, inflating the bubble. These two residual effects of the fading jet are the only visual evidence of it impacting molecular gas.

As it blows through the gas, the jet hits material and bends along multiple streams. "The streams percolate out of the Milky Way's dense gas disk," said co-author Alex Wagner of Tsukuba University in Japan. "The jet diverges from a pencil beam into tendrils, like that of an octopus." This outflow creates a series of expanding bubbles that extend out to at least 500 light-years. This larger "soap bubble" structure has been mapped at various wavelengths by other telescopes.

Diagram of mini-jet in center of Milky Way galaxy. Credit: NASA

Wagner and Cecil next ran supercomputer models of jet outflows in a simulated Milky Way disk, which reproduced the observations. "Like in archeology, you dig and dig to find older and older artifacts until you come upon remnants of a grand civilization," said Cecil. Wagner's conclusion: "Our central black hole clearly surged in luminosity at least 1 millionfold in the last million years. That sufficed for a jet to punch into the Galactic halo."

Previous observations by Hubble and other telescopes found evidence that the Milky Way's black hole had an outburst about 2-4 million years ago. That was energetic enough to create an immense pair of bubbles towering above our galaxy that glow in gamma-rays. They were first discovered by NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope in 2010 and are surrounded by X-ray bubbles that were discovered in 2003 by the ROSAT satellite and mapped fully in 2020 by the eROSITA satellite.

Hubble ultraviolet-light spectra have been used to measure the expansion velocity and composition of the ballooning lobes. Hubble spectra later found that the burst was so powerful that it lit up a gaseous structure, called the Magellanic stream, at about 200,000 light-years from the galactic center. Gas is glowing from that event even today.

Compass image for Milky Way jet. Credit: NASA

To get a better idea of what's going on, Cecil looked at Hubble and radio images of another galaxy with a black hole outflow. Located 47 million light-years away, the active spiral galaxy NGC 1068 has a string of bubble features aligned along an outflow from the very active black hole at its center. Cecil found that the scales of the radio and X-ray structures emerging from both NGC 1068 and our Milky Way are very similar. "A bow shock bubble at the top of the NGC 1068 outflow coincides with the scale of the Fermi bubble start in the Milky Way. NGC 1068 may be showing us what the Milky Way was doing during its major power surge several million years ago."

The residual jet feature is close enough to the Milky Way's black hole that it would become much more prominent only a few decades after the black hole powers up again. Cecil notes that "the black hole need only increase its luminosity by a hundredfold over that time to refill the jet channel with emitting particles. It would be cool to see how far the jet gets in that outburst. To reach into the Fermi gamma-ray bubbles would require that the jet sustain for hundreds of thousands of years because those bubbles are each 50,000 light years across."

The anticipated images of the black hole's shadow made with the National Science Foundation's Event Horizon Telescope may reveal where and how the jet is launched.

More information: Gerald Cecil et al, Tracing the Milky Way's Vestigial Nuclear Jet, The Astrophysical Journal (2021). Journal information: Astrophysical Journal Gerald Cecil et al, Tracing the Milky Way's Vestigial Nuclear Jet,(2021). DOI: 10.3847/1538-4357/ac224f
Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

As witnessed in recent weeks, rising seas, swollen atmospheric rivers and post-tropical storms are a threat to community infrastructure, housing and the safety of those living along Canada's east and west coasts. In response, new guidance from the Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation, University of Waterloo, presents practical solutions to limit the financial and social costs of these evolving risks.

The majority of Canada's coastal population lives directly on the Atlantic (east) and Pacific (west) coastlines, where rising sea levels, storm surges, and high tides can act together to cause flooding, with damaging impacts on communities and infrastructure. The need to rapidly combat these threats is underscored in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's Sixth Assessment Report, which highlights that sea-level rise is locked-in "for centuries to millennia to come."

The new guidance, supported by the Standards Council of Canada, the National Research Council of Canada, and Infrastructure Canada, catalogs approaches falling under two types of coastal protection:

Traditional Gray Infrastructure: Hard, engineered coastal protection measures, such as seawalls, dikes, and barriers; and

Nature-Based Solutions: Measures that depend on, or mimic, natural systems to manage flood and erosion risk, such as saltmarsh restoration or replenishing beach and dune systems with sand.

Nature-based solutions in particular have a vital role in managing coastal flood and erosion risk in Canada. International experience demonstrates that these measures not only provide protection against coastal flooding and erosion, but can also deliver multiple benefits, including improved biodiversity, carbon sequestration and storage, enhanced social wellbeing and tourism.

"We can no longer manage coastal risks by endlessly fighting against natural processes," said report author, Joanna Eyquem, managing director of Climate-Resilient Infrastructure at the Intact Centre. "There are real win-win opportunities to work with nature in the long-term, with multiple benefits for the community and beyond."

The report identifies three interventions to scale up the use of nature-based solutions for coastal protection in Canada:

National standards that help factor the benefits of nature-based solutions into decision-making;

Performance monitoring to demonstrate where and how nature-based solutions can work best in Canada; and

Engagement of the private sector to help finance and deliver nature-based solutions, as part of adaptation finance.

The report also stresses that it is not necessary to choose between "green" or "gray" infrastructure solutions. As with climate adaptation and the reduction of greenhouse gases, both approaches can and should be considered and used together.

"As this year's devastating floods in BC have shown, we are still not doing enough to defend our communities from the extreme impacts of climate change," said Chantal Guay, CEO of the Standards Council of Canada. "In this new normal, all adaptation solutionsincluding those that harness the power of natureneed to be on the table. By compiling case studies and best practices of coastal protection across Canada, this report is an important resource for all coastal communities seeking to guard against the effects of climate change. The report also recommends the development of new National Standards, which have a key role to play in mainstreaming the use of nature-based solutions in coastal adaptation."

The complete report is available online from the Intact Centre and the Standards Council of Canada.

Explore further Coastal threats can be tackled with more focus on adapting
Chika Okafor is a doctoral student in the Department of Economics working on research regarding prosecutors and their role in criminal sentencing. Credit: Rose Lincoln/Harvard Staff Photographer

District attorneys pursue crimes and longer sentences at higher rates in election years, according to a new working paper that looks at whether politics affect the behavior of prosecutors and hints at how changing cultural attitudes about crime may influence incarceration rates.

Chika Okafor, a doctoral candidate in economics and the Reginald F. Lewis Fellow at Harvard Law School, recently released "Prosecutor Politics: The Impact of Election Cycles on Criminal Sentencing in the Era of Rising Incarceration," which looked at the political careers of district attorneys across the U.S. between 1986 and 2006.

"Using quasi-experimental economic methods, I found causal evidence that being in a local prosecutor election year increased total admissions rates and total months sentenced per capita on average during the period of the steepest rise in U.S. incarceration," Okafor said.

Okafor noted that evidence showed that election effects are larger when local prosecutor races are contested, as well as when they are in Republican counties or in the southern U.S. "All these factors are consistent with a view that election effects might be arising from political incentives that influence local prosecutors," he said.

Earlier research suggested that appointed district attorneys tend to have lower conviction rates than those who are elected, according to the paper. "The literature also suggests that those DAs who are in office for longer terms tend to prosecute fewer cases, which might be a result of the fact that they do not have to worry about re-election quite as much as DAs who only hold office for four-year terms," Okafor wrote.

Local prosecutor election effects declined between 1986 and 2006, the same time during which public opinion in the U.S. softened regarding criminal punishment. Okafor said that people are increasingly viewing courts as too harsh, which may be influencing local prosecutor behavior.

"What my recent research has suggested is that a lot of work on criminal justice reform to date has focused on improvements to the justice system itself and the laws that govern it," he said. "If political incentives and the harshness of sentencing declined in response to public sentiment, then my recent research highlights that focusing on shifting public opinion toward punishment may prove another beneficial lever in changing sentencing outcomes and stemming mass incarceration."

The U.S. has seen a wave of progressive prosecutors winning elections in recent years after running on platforms of reducing the prison population, dropping charges, and more. Okafor said that there has been suggestive evidence of the influence of these reform-minded DAs on mass incarceration.

"Local prosecutors in general have a lot of discretion with the types of crime that they choose to prosecute, and also what charges they choose to charge and the terms of the plea deals," Okafor said, adding that progressive prosecutors Kim Foxx, the Cook County, Illinois, state attorney, and Larry Krasner, the Philadelphia district attorney, have opted not to prosecute certain low-level offenses, particularly some drug crimes.

But he noted that it's currently unclear what the overall effect is in terms of the nation's mass incarceration problem and that more research needs to be done to truly understand the role of prosecutors.

"Just from a policy perspective, I would expect that the incidence of people who have been arrested for certain low-level offenses would decrease," he continued. "I have not actually looked at a fully constructed data set since they've come to office to test it, but it's probably something that will be available in a couple more years when more data has been gathered around the impact of progressive prosecutors."

Incarcerated individuals in the U.S. make up nearly 25 percent of the world's prison population, with an estimated 2.2 million people in jail or prison, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics. Politicians on both sides of the aisle agree that the economic and social costs of mass incarceration are too high.

Okafor's latest paper is just the tip of iceberg that he hopes to research.

"My research only evaluates the short-term cyclical impact of being in an election year in terms of outcomes. It doesn't capture potential longer-term political consideration that might impact how local prosecutors perform their work throughout the election cycle. I'm just looking at the difference in election year versus nonelection, not the overall levels across the entire election cycle," he said. "This means that the full impact of political incentives on the criminal justice system and mass incarceration may be different or larger than what is found in my research alone. Part of the research agenda that I'm designing is to try to get a better handle on different manifestationsor a better understanding of the full scopeof how political considerations might be influencing decisions."

Explore further Researchers study bias in prosecutor filing trends

More information: Chika O. Okafor, Prosecutor Politics: The Impact of Election Cycles on Criminal Sentencing in the Era of Rising Incarceration. arXiv:2110.09169v1 [econ.GN], Chika O. Okafor, Prosecutor Politics: The Impact of Election Cycles on Criminal Sentencing in the Era of Rising Incarceration. arXiv:2110.09169v1 [econ.GN], arxiv.org/abs/2110.09169

This story is published courtesy of the Harvard Gazette, Harvard University's official newspaper. For additional university news, visit Harvard.edu.
A new book by University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign electrical and computer engineering professor Rakesh Kumar examines how a countrys culture and society influence its adoption of new technologies and vice versa  using India as a case study. Credit: Wesley Moore and photo illustration by L. Brian Stauffer

Technology is a big part of life in India. For example, street vendors and rickshawallahs use cellphones, the internet and Aadhar cards12-digit identification numbers given to every citizen based on their biometric and demographic data. However, charismatic gurus and superstition still thrive in India. In the new book "Reluctant Technophiles: India's Complicated Relationship with Technology," University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign electrical and computer engineering professor Rakesh Kumar provides an account of India's often contradictory relationship with technology. News Bureau physical sciences editor Lois Yoksoulian spoke with Kumar about these contradictions, and how India's situation is both unique and universal.

Why is India such a good case study for examining how culture impacts technology?

India presents a good case study for several reasons. First, the problems that technology purports to addresspoverty, inequality, access to health, education and infrastructureare all glaringly present in India. At the same time, the challenges that modern technologies presentimpact of automation on jobs, threat to democracy due to disinformation and compromised social harmony due to hate speech and radicalizationare particularly stark for India due to its large population, relatively volatile (or vibrant, if you prefer) democracy and often fragile social fabric.

India is an interesting case study also due to its contradictory attitudes toward technology. While there is a strong affinity toward using and benefiting from technology, technology is also often blamed for many things that go wrong in the country. This contradiction extends to the way people reconcile modern technology with some of the superstitious and religious elements deeply ingrained in the culture. It is also interesting how India's technological past is often glorified, re-imagined and sometimes fabricated for national pride.

Finally, India serves as a good petri dish to see how effective technology-based solutions can be, given stubborn societal problems such as deep-rooted inequalities. For example, if a small fraction of a population enjoys access to technology and benefits from it, while others struggle to get their basic needs met, how useful can technology-based interventions be in that context?

Do Indian society and politics affect its attitude toward technology, or is it the other way around?

It's both! A society decides its technological priorities. If you just looked through the history of technology in India, you would see that the focus on certain technology areascomputing, space and nuclear powerdid not occur purely as a result of happenstance, but through deliberate policymaking. Fast forward to today, India's biggest technology projectsunique digital ID to every Indian, seamless national digital-payment platforms and broadband access to every village, etc.reflect the social and political priorities.

The impact of technology on society and politics is also clear. The use of social media to promote viewpoints, including politics, is rampant. Technology-based successes such as financial inclusion and direct subsidies have arguably helped political parties win elections. Online radicalization, disinformation and hate speech have had many unfortunate real-world consequences.

How is India's relationship with technology affecting its economy and the global economy?

We sometimes forget that one out of five humans are Indian. So, choices that India makes for its economy affect the world. For a country like India with a large and growing young population, the strongest motive to adopt and develop technology is that it can help drive the economy and lift people out of poverty. As the cost of technology keeps falling, the fruits of innovation are becoming available to an ever-increasing number of people.

How can the lessons learned from India's experiences be applied to all nations?

The key lesson of the book is that the benefits and challenges of technology depend on the unique context that it exists inits history, inequalities and society, etc.

In the U.S., for example, we often blame technology for many things that go wrong in society. Challenges, such as the impact of automation on jobs, threat to democracy due to disinformation and compromised social harmony due to hate speech and radicalization, have been front and center for quite some time. Algorithmic bias is already a significant problem. Inequalities have been increasing, which has already started affecting outcomes from technology-based interventions. A deeper discourse on technology-society interaction will be helpful.

Explore further A mobile app could save lives in India
Houston Wilderness and corporate volunteers plant super trees at an industrial site along Peavy Drive, near Buffalo Bayou. Members of Rice University's Department of Statistics helped produce a new study that offers strategies to other cities interested in planting trees to mitigate environmental concerns. Credit: Houston Wilderness

It's easy to say "just plant more trees" to mitigate air pollution. But how? Where? And what kind?

A new study by collaborators at Rice University, the Houston Health Department's environmental division and Houston Wilderness establishes live oaks and American sycamores as champions among 17 "super trees" that will help make the city more livable and lays out a strategy to improve climate and health in vulnerable urban areas.

Best of all for Houston, they're already implementing their plan in the city, and now offer what they've learned to others.

The open access study in the journal Plants, People, Planetled by Houston Wilderness President Deborah January-Bevers and colleagues at Rice and in city governmentlays out a three-part framework for deciding what trees are the right ones to plant, how to identify places where planting will have the highest impact and how to engage with community leadership to make the planting project a reality.

Using Houston as a best-case example, the collaborators determined what trees would work best in the city based on their ability to soak up carbon dioxide and other pollutants, drink in water, stabilize the landscape during floods and provide a canopy to mitigate heat.

With that information, the organizers ultimately identified a site to test their ideas. With cooperation from the city and nonprofit and corporate landowners, they planted 7,500 super trees on several sites near the Clinton Park neighborhood and adjacent to the Houston Ship Channel. (They actually planted 14 species, eliminating those that bear fruit to simplify maintenance for the landowners.) Along with planting native trees, the partners conducted a tree inventory and removed invasive species.

All of that took advance planning, and that's where Rice's statisticiansin line with the university's Vision for the Second Century, Second Decade goal for community engagementhelped narrow the options.

A graphic shows the top super trees able to help the fight against climate change in Greater Houston. A new study by Houston Wilderness, the city of Houston and Rice University offers strategies to other cities for using similar data to impact their environments. Credit: Source: Hopkins et al, A simple tree-planting framework to improve climate, air pollution, health and urban heat in vulnerable locations using nontraditional partners Plants, People, Planet (2021) https://doi.org/10.1002/ppp3.10245

Rice alumna Laura Campos, a data scientist in the Department of Statistics, was brought into the project by Loren Hopkins, who serves double duty as a professor in the practice of statistics, environmental analysis at Rice and as chief environmental science officer for the city of Houston.

Co-author Erin Caton of the city's health department organized data that allowed the team to establish overall rankings for the super trees and their wannabes.

For her part, Campos gathered the wealth of data Rice has collected in the past decade linking health and pollution in Houston, creating maps that showed where mass plantings would have the most impact.

"These maps help people understand that their little pocket neighborhoods are connected to the bigger picture," Campos said. "They help us bring in all the players to get them to realize how everything is interconnected and how public health can benefit with every step forward."

Ranking the species' talents to soak up pollutants, provide flood mitigation and cool "urban heat islands" helped them eliminate most of the 54 native trees they evaluated. Ultimately, they narrowed the list to 17 super trees, with live oakand American sycamore on top.

Live oaks were number 1 for their ability to soak up pollutants across the board. The number 2 sycamore was less able to pull in carbon but excelled at grabbing other pollutants, flood remediation and reducing heat on the ground with its wide canopy.

The study addresses how such strategic groves can contribute to human health initiatives and took into account an earlier Rice study by Campos, Hopkins and Katherine Ensor, the Noah G. Harding Professor of Statistics, that established how pollution in Houston causes preventable asthma attacks in schoolchildren. That and a Rice study with the city linking Houston ozone levels to cardiac arrests helped the tree team make its case for the project.

Rice statisticians matched health data from earlier studies that linked asthma attacks among schoolchildren and cardiac arrest to pollution in Houston neighborhoods to determine where planting super trees would have the most benefit. In this map, the red hatch marks show regions of high incidence of ambulance-treated asthma attacks and/or cardiac arrest. Credit: Hopkins et al, A simple tree-planting framework to improve climate, air pollution, health and urban heat in vulnerable locations using nontraditional partners, Plants, People, Planet (2021). https://doi.org/10.1002/ppp3.10245

"They took their health care data and overlapped it with our section map, and it was really compelling," January-Bevers said. "That's what we wanted to concentrate on first because these are areas right up against plants along the ship channel."

Some super treesparticularly live oak, American sycamore, red maple and laurel oakare adept at pulling ozone, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide and particular matter 2.5 microns and smaller from the air. That helps determine where they can be deployed to have maximum impact on neighborhood health.

"We're still running the program, with over 15,000 native super trees now planted along the ship channel, and it's incredibly popular," January-Bevers said, crediting Hopkins with the push to issue a study that could help other communities. "It's benefiting our city in regions that are critical for air quality, water absorption and carbon sequestration."

Hopkins said the contribution by Ricea "Tree Campus U.S." and an arboretum in its own rightwas important in setting a tree-ranking method that could influence environmental strategies just as well in other cities.

"The meaningful planting of trees is a vital aspect of this study but it should not overshadow the main objective of directly connecting climate to health," Hopkins said.

"This project proves that engaging people from various sectors leads to innovative strategies to address climate change," she said. "Ultimately, these types of collaborations must extend into corporate board rooms to make a substantial impact."

Explore further When a single tree makes a difference

More information: Loren P. Hopkins et al, A simple tree planting framework to improve climate, air pollution, health, and urban heat in vulnerable locations using nontraditional partners, Plants, People, Planet (2021). Loren P. Hopkins et al, A simple tree planting framework to improve climate, air pollution, health, and urban heat in vulnerable locations using nontraditional partners,(2021). DOI: 10.1002/ppp3.10245
Francis Huang is an associate professor in the MU College of Education and Human Development. Credit: University of Missouri

When a Maryland elementary school suspended a 7-year-old student for biting a breakfast pastry into the shape of a gun in 2013, the punishment received national media attention and sparked concern about the potential for zero tolerance policies to be excessively harsh as a discipline approach.

A recent study at the University of Missouri, led by Francis Huang, an associate professor in the MU College of Education and Human Development, and Dewey Cornell, professor at the University of Virginia, sought to better understand the level of support among teachers for zero tolerance policies in schools. Researchers analyzed data from a school climate survey with responses from more than 10,000 teachers and 100,000 students from nearly every middle school in Virginia.

Despite widespread criticism of zero tolerance policies by education authorities, the research team found that nearly three-fourths of surveyed teachers supported the use of 'zero tolerance' as an effective discipline practice. Contrary to the goals of zero tolerance policies, teacher support for 'zero tolerance' was linked to higher rates of out-of-school suspensions as well as lower feelings of safety at school among both students and teachers.

Although zero tolerance policies in schools have been around since the 1990s, few studies have investigated the relationship of zero tolerance policies, school disciplinary practices and school safety. Since 'zero tolerance' is a discipline philosophy that may not always be specifically spelled out in official writing, it can be difficult to study its effectiveness, so the MU study sought to learn how much teacher support there is for the philosophy. Huang said the original idea behind implementing zero tolerance policies was to deter student misbehavior by making it clear that certain actions would automatically be met with swift and severe punishment.

"Zero tolerance policies were originally meant for gun and illegal drug-related infractions that were intended to make schools safer," Huang said. "However, there has been very little research on whether these policies have actually worked, namely improving student discipline and increasing feelings of safety while at school."

Huang added the findings are important as more schools consider alternative disciplinary practices, such as using 'threat assessments' and restorative practices. Support for 'zero tolerance' may undermine the acceptance and adoption of disciplinary reforms.

"Threat assessment is a process designed to help prevent violence with an emphasis on addressing issues that lead to threatening behavior," Huang said. "Restorative practices involve strengthening relationships, resolving conflicts in a constructive manner, and holding individuals accountable for their actions. These alternative approaches may be more effective at promoting a safe and positive school climate."

"Teacher support for zero tolerance is associated with higher suspension rates and lower feelings of safety" was recently published in School Psychology Review.

More information: Francis L. Huang et al, Teacher Support for Zero Tolerance Is Associated With Higher Suspension Rates and Lower Feelings of Safety, School Psychology Review (2021). Francis L. Huang et al, Teacher Support for Zero Tolerance Is Associated With Higher Suspension Rates and Lower Feelings of Safety,(2021). DOI: 10.1080/2372966X.2020.1832865
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Despite much rhetoric and progress on paper, the UK remains a safe haven for dirty money, a great deal of which comes from Russia and Eurasia. Failure to tackle this thriving billion-dollar industry is "materially and reputationally damaging for the UK's rule of law and to the UK's professed role as an opponent of international corruption," the report says and it calls for a new anti-kleptocracy strategy on the part of the British state.

The report by Chatham House's Russia and Eurasia program and authored by a team including Professor John Heathershaw from the University of Exeter, says that loopholes exploited in the service of kleptocrats and their associates, have eroded the legal system's capacity to assess corruption risk, and has "transplanted authoritarian agendas and rivalries to UK settings, and undermined the integrity of important domestic institutions."

British lawyers, estate agents and wealth managers "are not merely responding to a legitimate demand for legal services but generating that demand through their participation in a vibrant commercial market servicing the proceeds of kleptocracy," the authors say.

Failure by both financial and non-financial institutions to undertake effective due diligence or apply proper 'risk based' approach, is giving these oligarchs and individuals to easy access to and influence on British society, it says.

This enabling occurs not just through huge property and other investment but through philanthropy to British universities and institutions coupled with aggressive public relations campaigns and litigation actions to 'clean up their reputations'. The individuals, many of them from former USSR republics such as Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan widely use libel actions, cease and desist orders, PR agents, private intelligence and surveillance companies against journalists and investigators.

In addition to naming individuals and case studies, the report singles out the UK Conservative party over its disproportionate and increasing number of donations saying it suggests that it "may be open to influence from wealthy donors who originate from post-Soviet kleptocracies, and who may retain fealty to these regimes."

They say the global community and the UK specifically need to adopt a new approach if they are serious about tackling the threat posed by the presence of kleptocrats, their associates and their financial flows. They have outlined a nine-point anti-kleptocracy strategy with recommendations.

"The UK has a long road ahead if it wants to address some of the damage caused by its servicing of post-Soviet elites and addiction to the suspicious capital that flows into the country in its billions."

"Now is the time for the UK government to acknowledge these risks and to address them with a coherent strategy."

Explore further Elite philanthropy does little to solve problems caused by rising social inequalities
U.K. authorities reported an unprecedented jump in early season cases of avian flu in both domestic and wild birds, triggering tight restrictions on poultry farmers across the country.

The government has confirmed 40 outbreaks of avian flu among poultry and other captive birds this year, resulting in the culling of about 500,000 birds, Chief Veterinary Officer Christine Middlemiss said Thursday. There were 24 outbreaks during the entire 2020-21 bird flu season, which ran through the spring.

"I'm very concerned about what's happening," Middlemiss told the BBC. "That's a really high number for the time of year for anything we've experienced before, and that's because of the high level of infection in the migratory wild birds. So it's really, really concerning because those birds will stay with us over the winter until early spring and the risk of infection remains."

U.K. authorities keep a close eye on avian flu cases around the world because it is spread by migrating birds and can be devastating to poultry producers. Experts estimate that outbreaks during the 2014-15 and 2016-17 seasons cost U.K. poultry producers about 125 million pounds ($165 million).

While the risk to humans is low, bird flu can affect people in rare cases.

To control the spread of the disease, poultry producers must kill all birds at sites where infections are confirmed. In addition, they have been ordered to keep all birds inside or under nets to stop them from coming in contact with wild fowl, and to implement strict hygiene measures.

While the number of birds culled so far this season sounds large, it is relatively small compared with the number of birds on U.K. poultry farms. Between the beginning of August and the end of October, poultry producers slaughtered about 20 million birds a week, according to the latest government statistics.

"In terms of food supply impact, it's actually a relatively small number," Middlemiss said of flu-related culling.

The situation in Britain is part of a larger trend across Europe, where authorities are seeing more frequent outbreaks of avian flu, Middlemiss said.

Although researchers don't know the reasons for the trend, one theory is that climate change has altered the migration patterns of wild birds, she said.

"The birds migrate to the north of Russia over the summer and mix with other birds and other global flight pathways there and they exchange the viruses, so it's quite plausible that with climate change and change in pathways different mixing is going on," Middlemiss said. "But that hasn't been fully investigated yet."

Explore further Poultry in lockdown after Belgium detects bird flu

 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
The decline of dragonflies is a symptom of widespread loss of the marshes, swamps and free-flowing rivers, says the IUCN.

The destruction of wetlands is driving a decline of dragonflies around the world, with one sixth of species of the magnificently colourful insects threatened with extinction, conservationists said on Thursday.

A report from the International Union for Conservation of Nature presented the first assessment of all 6,016 dragonfly and damselfly species globally, and found that at least 16 percent of them risked going extinct.

Their decline was a symptom of widespread loss of the marshes, swamps and free-flowing rivers they breed in, driven mainly by the expansion of unsustainable agriculture and urbanisation around the globe, IUCN said in the update of its "Red List" of threatened species.

"By revealing the global loss of dragonflies, today's Red List update underscores the urgent need to protect the world's wetlands and the rich tapestry of life they harbour," IUCN director general Bruno Oberle said in a statement.

"Globally, these ecosystems are disappearing three times faster than forests."

A report published three years ago by the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands found that 35 percent of the world's wetlands were lost between 1970 and 2015.

Wetlands store carbon, protect against floods and offer habitats for one in 10 of the world's know species.

'Early warning'

The welfare of dragonfly species is an especially good indicator for how the wetlands are doing.

"They're very, very sensitive to changes in the environment. And so that is an early warning signal to what's happening to wetland systems around the world," Craig Hilton-Taylor, who heads IUCN's Red List unit, told AFP.

He said a lack of data meant the true number teetering on the brink of extinction could be as high as 40 percent.

Stuart Orr of conservation group WWF said the IUCN findings raise "many concerning questions" about the state of freshwater ecosystems.

"Indeed, if these can no longer support thriving biodiversity then it's a sure sign that they're no good for humanity either," he said in a statement.

The situation is particularly dire in South and Southeast Asia, where more than a quarter of all dragonfly species are threatened, IUCN said.

This is largely due to the clearing of wetland and rainforest areas to make room for crops like palm oil, it explained.

Pesticides, other pollutants and climate change are also growing threats.

'Step up'

With the latest update, the Red List now includes assessments of 142,577 species of animals and plants, including 40,084 considered to be threatened with extinction.

This marks the first time that the number facing the highest risk has passed 40,000, IUCN said.

"This is really a call to the world to step up and do much more," Hilton-Taylor said.

Some species on the list seemed to be recovering, and were moved to less at-risk categories in the latest assessment, but more were seen as deteriorating.

Among them was the Pyrenean desman, a small semiaquatic mammal with a long snout found only in rivers in Andorra, France, Portugal and Spain, which was moved from "vulnerable" to "endangered" on the Red List.

The unusual mole-like creature has seen its population shrink by as much as 50 percent in the past decade, largely because of human activity like building hydropower plants.

 2021 AFP
Credit: Shutterstock

Two years into the pandemic, what impacts have COVID-19 really had on Australian university finances and staffing in 2020 and in 2021? Our recently published research shows the impacts varied greatly across the sector. However, staff cuts appear to have been disproportionate to overall financial losses.

About 10% of the university workforce (in full-time equivalent terms) lost their jobs. Although that broadly matches the loss of fees and charges income in 2020, overall revenue fell by only 5%.

The impacts of the pandemic on revenue have been generally less than predicted. About half of Australia's public universities suffered medium to high financial impacts. Eight universities increased or had essentially the same total income in 2020 as in 2019.

Looking ahead, anticipated increases in other revenue provide a healthy buffer against any further fall in international student revenue.

COVID halted a decade of growth

From 2010 to 2019, domestic student enrolments grew by 27% and overseas student enrolments by 56%. Total annual revenue from continuing operations increased by 65% to nearly A$37 billion in 2019.

As a share of revenue, government financial assistance, including student HECS payments, decreased from 56% to 49%. Revenue from fees and charges grew from 23% to 32%.

By the end of 2019, universities' total equity was $61.5 billion. Many universities, but not all, had a strong buffer to manage the financial challenges of the pandemic.

In mid-2020, amid first-wave lockdowns and border closures, several commentators predicted the impact on international student enrolments would be worse than the actual 2020 outcome. We predicted a 2020 fee loss of up to $3.5 billion. It turned out to be $1.16 billiona 10% reduction in fee income.

In February 2021, Universities Australia announced universities had lost $1.8 billion in revenue for 2020 and faced a $2 billion loss in 2021.

In August 2021, federal Education Minister Alan Tudge said the sector had begun the year in a relatively strong financial position, with an overall operating surplus of about 2%. He said international student enrolments had fallen by only 5% in 2020 and by 12% by mid-2021 against the record levels of 2019.

Staffing typically accounts for 57% of university spending. Universities Australia reported in February 2021 at least 17,300 university jobs had been lost. By September 2021 the Australia Institute's Centre for Future Work calculated one in five tertiary education jobs had been lostincluding 35,000 at public universities.

University income changes from 2019 to 2020. Credit: Larkins & Marshman (2021), Impact of the Pandemic on the 2020 Financial Health of 37 Australian Universities

6 conclusions about the impacts

The outcomes in 2020 are now well documented. However, mixed messages about revenue losses in 2021 and beyond make for a confusing picture. Based on our research, we offer six conclusions.

1. The impact of the pandemic on higher education finances in 2020 was significant but not catastrophic.

For 2020, total revenues fell by 5% or $1.82 billion to $36 billion.

Fees and charges revenue (mostly international student fees) fell by 10% or $1.2 billion.

The loss of investment revenue ($1.3 billion) in 2020 was similar.

Increased government grants and other revenue partly offset these losses.

2. The impacts on individual universities were highly variable.

Eight universities increased or had essentially the same total income in 2020 as in 2019. They include the three South Australian public universities, four regional universities and ACU as a multistate university. Charles Darwin University reported a sector-high revenue increase of 7.5%.

Ten universities reported revenue losses exceeding 8%. Four were regional, two were in the Group of Eight and three were in Victoria, the state most affected by lockdowns in 2020. ANU reported a sector-high revenue loss of 17.4%.

Among the larger universities, Monash was a standout. It had only a 1.6% revenue loss and a 2.9% increase in fees and charges revenue despite lower international student enrolments.

We conclude the pandemic had a high financial impact on ten universities and a medium impact on another ten.

Income sources for the Australian university sector in 2020 ($ millions) Larkins & Marshman (2021) Impact of the Pandemic on the 2020 Financial Health of 37 Australian Universities

3. International student enrolmentsand hence fees and charges revenueappear to be declining much faster in 2021 than for 2020.

As at September 2021, the Commonwealth's Provider Registration and International Student Management System (PRISMS) database shows:

commencing international student enrolments fell by 24% compared to 2020 and by 41% compared to 2019

for all international enrolments, numbers fell by 13% compared to 2020 and by 17% compared to 2019.

The initial 4% fall in PRISMS enrolments in 2020 corresponded to a 10% decline in total fees and charges revenue. It appears reasonable, then, to assume the 13% decline in PRISMS enrolments for 2021 might equate to a 2030% reduction.

4. Anticipated increases in other revenue in 2021 will provide a healthy buffer against further falls in international student revenue.

University revenue from government grants, student HECS payments and other income increased by 3% in 2020. We expect the Job-Ready Graduates Package and other sources will enable universities to increase revenue from these sources by at least 5%, or $1.1 billion, in 2021.

The Commonwealth also allocated an extra $1 billion in research funding in 2021.

As financial markets have improved significantly since December 2020, investment revenue can be expected (barring another major disruption) to return at least to 2019 levels of $1.3 billion.

These three items combined represent an increase of $3.4 billion.

International fee revenue would need to fall by at least 30% in 2021 to outweigh these gains.

We conclude that 28 of 37 public universities could sustain greater fee losses in 2021 than in 2020 and still have higher total incomes.

5. If borders reopen and international students return for semester one in 2022, revenue losses will probably bottom out in 2021 and 2022.

Sector-wide university income changes from 2019 to 2020 ($ millions) Larkins & Marshman (2021) Impact of the Pandemic on the 2020 Financial Health of 37 Australian Universities

Universities are expected to be highly flexible in enrolling international students during 2022. This suggests commencing student numbers will progressively offset the numbers who have completed courses.

Any additional losses in fees and charges revenue in 2022 are likely to be modest and offset by revenue from increasing domestic enrolments.

Responses to new COVID-19 variants remain a significant risk in assessing likely revenue impacts.

The outlooks for individual universities vary greatly. In part, these depend on pandemic impacts on international student markets across various countries. It is unlikely there will be a standard pattern of re-engagement.

6. The impact on staffing levels appears to have been disproportionate, with workers employed on casual and fixed-term contracts the worst affected.

Before the pandemic, the number of university employees totalled 137,575 full-time equivalent (FTE) positions. In FTE terms, some 95,500 were full-time staff, 17,205 fractional full-time and 24,873 casual.

We extrapolated the numbers of jobs lost by December 2020 based on annual reporting by the seven Victorian universities (the only ones to provide such data). These data suggest 20,000 jobs (equating to 7,000 FTE) had been lost across the sector by the end of 2020.

The Centre for Future Work, using ABS data, later calculated public university job losses had risen to 35,000. Extrapolating the Victorian data, this would amount to around 14,000 FTE positions or 10% of the workforce on a FTE basis. The difference between positions lost and the full-time equivalent number suggests casual, fixed-term and part-time staff suffered the greatest impact.

Given recent announcements of further job losses, these estimates may be conservative.

A loss of 10% of the FTE workforce broadly matches the loss of fees and charges income in 2020, though overall revenue fell by only 5%. If university finances do bottom out in 2021, the overall impact of the pandemic has amounted to a fall in annual revenues of around 5%. In this case, university staff appear to have contributed disproportionately to bridging the gap between revenue and expenditure.

It also suggests that, should revenues and the international student market rebuild, either universities will face significant workforce recruitment challenges or they entered the pandemic with significantly oversized workforces.

Explore further Drop in students who come to the US to study could affect higher education and jobs

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Astronomers spying on a stellar system located dozens of lightyears from Earth have, for the first time, observed a troubling fireworks show: A star, named EK Draconis, ejected a massive burst of energy and charged particles much more powerful than anything scientists have seen in our own solar system.

The researchers, including astrophysicist Yuta Notsu of the University of Colorado Boulder, will publish their results Dec. 9 in the journal Nature Astronomy.

The study explores a stellar phenomenon called a "coronal mass ejection," sometimes known as a solar storm. Notsu explained that the sun shoots out these sorts of eruptions on a regular basisthey're made up of clouds of extremely-hot particles, or plasma, that can hurtle through space at speeds of millions of miles per hour. And they're potentially bad news: If a coronal mass ejection hit Earth dead on, it could fry satellites in orbit and shut down the power grids serving entire cities.

"Coronal mass ejections can have a serious impact on Earth and human society," said Notsu, a research associate at the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) at CU Boulder and the U.S. National Solar Observatory.

The new study, led by Kosuke Namekata of the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan and formerly a visiting scholar at CU Boulder, also suggests that they can get a lot worse.

In that research, Namekata, Nostu and their colleagues used telescopes on the ground and in space to peer at EK Draconis, which looks like a young version of the sun. In April 2020, the team observed EK Draconis ejecting a cloud of scorching-hot plasma with a mass in the quadrillions of kilogramsmore than 10 times bigger than the most powerful coronal mass ejection ever recorded from a sun-like star.

The event may serve as a warning of just how dangerous the weather in space can be.

"This kind of big mass ejection could, theoretically, also occur on our sun," Notsu said. "This observation may help us to better understand how similar events may have affected Earth and even Mars over billions of years."

Superflares erupt

Notsu explained that coronal mass ejections often come right after a star lets loose a flare, or a sudden and bright burst of radiation that can extend far out into space.

Recent research, however, has suggested that on the sun, this sequence of events may be relatively sedate, at least so far as scientists have observed. In 2019, for example, Notsu and his colleagues published a study that showed that young sun-like stars around the galaxy seem to experience frequent superflareslike our own solar flares but tens or even hundreds of times more powerful.

Such a superflare could, theoretically, also happen on Earth's sun but not very often, maybe once every several thousand years. Still, it got Notsu's team curious: Could a superflare also lead to an equally super coronal mass ejection?

"Superflares are much bigger than the flares that we see from the sun," Notsu said. "So we suspect that they would also produce much bigger mass ejections. But until recently, that was just conjecture."

Danger from above

To find out, the researchers set their sights on EK Draconis. The curious star, Notsu explained, is about the same size as our sun, but, at just 100 million years old, it's a relative youngster in a cosmic sense.

"It's what our sun looked like 4.5 billion years ago," Notsu said.

The researchers observed the star for 32 nights in winter and spring 2020 using NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) and Kyoto University's SEIMEI Telescope. On April 5, Notsu and his colleagues got lucky: The researchers looked on as EK Draconis erupted into a superflare, a really big one. About 30 minutes later, the team observed what appeared to be a coronal mass ejection flying away from the star's surface. The researchers were only able to catch the first step in that ejection's life, called the "filament eruption" phase. But even so, it was a monster, moving at a top speed of roughly 1 million miles per hour.

It may also not bode well for life on Earth: The team's findings hint that the sun could also be capable of such violent extremes. But don't hold your breathlike superflares, super coronal mass ejections are probably rare around our getting-on-in-years sun.

Still, Notsu noted that huge mass ejections may have been much more common in the early years of the solar system. Gigantic coronal mass ejections, in other words, could have helped to shape planets like Earth and Mars into what they look like today.

"The atmosphere of present-day Mars is very thin compared to Earth's," Notsu said. "In the past, we think that Mars had a much thicker atmosphere. Coronal mass ejections may help us to understand what happened to the planet over billions of years."

Co-authors on the new study include researchers from the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, University of Hyogo, Kyoto University, Kobe University, Tokyo Institute of Technology, The University of Tokyo and Doshisha University.

Explore further Rare 'superflares' could one day threaten Earth

More information: Kosuke Namekata, Probable detection of an eruptive filament from a superflare on a solar-type star, Nature Astronomy (2021). www.nature.com/articles/s41550-021-01532-8 Journal information: Nature Astronomy Kosuke Namekata, Probable detection of an eruptive filament from a superflare on a solar-type star,(2021). DOI: 10.1038/s41550-021-01532-8
MOREAU  A Florida man has admitted to possessing a handgun without a permit during a traffic stop in Moreau over the summer.

Holley was arrested on July 19 after he was stopped by police in the northbound lane of the Northway for a traffic infraction. Police discovered a loaded 9 mm pistol in the trunk of the vehicle. Holley did not have a permit for the weapon.
GLENS FALLS  An Indiana resident is accused of participating in sexual acts on three occasions with a minor who could not consent due to age, according to police.

Bruce Haywood, 29, of Indianapolis, is charged with three counts of third-degree rape, a felony, and three counts of endangering the welfare of a child, a misdemeanor.

Police said that Haywood engaged in these acts in February. A warrant was obtained for his arrest, but he had moved to Indiana from Glens Falls.

Haywood was arrested in Indiana and extradited to New York by Glens Falls Police. He was charged on Dec. 3.

Haywood was arraigned in Warren County Court and taken to Warren County Jail.

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CAMBRIDGE  An underutilized property along the villages West Main Street is the latest project of the Cambridge Valley Community Development and Preservation Partnership Inc.

The local development nonprofit closed on the 2.6 acres at 9 West Main St. on June 30.

The property comprises five buildings, street entrances from West Main Street, Railroad Avenue and Pearl Street, open space, and 600 feet along the east bank of the Owl Kill.

The partnership has a $74,000 grant from the New York Main Street program to renovate the front building, known as 9 West Main. That building has three commercial spaces totaling 3,000 square feet on the ground floor and an apartment upstairs.

The Cambridge Community Partnership, as its called for short, formed in 2002 to revitalize the old railroad freight yard behind Hubbard Hall and several adjacent buildings along East Main Street.

The area included several buildings that were vacant because they lacked wastewater treatment.

The partnership secured grants and investments to install a community wastewater treatment system and renovate the buildings. All are now occupied, and three became part of the Hubbard Hall arts center campus.

The partnership sold a renovated building in the freight yard, the former blacksmith shop, to raise $125,000 to purchase the lumber yard, said Sarah Ashton, the Community Partnership president.

Now were developing a plan for it, Ashton said during a recent community tour of the property.

The lumber yard grew up along the railroad tracks during the late 19th century to store building materials and other goods that arrived by rail. A coal trestle, where trains could unload coal for local fuel dealers, stood until the 1990s.

Unlike the freight yard, which was one of the states few remaining rural freight yards, none of the lumber yard buildings are considered historically significant or unique, Ashton said. However, both properties had some of the same problems, including a lack of wastewater disposal and undeveloped parking. Most of the lumber yard is also in a flood plain. On the plus side, a survey showed no environmental contamination.

The front building, a cottage behind it, and a building called the red barn are now or can be leased for commercial or residential use, Ashton said.

A custom T-shirt company that was in 9 West Main outgrew that space and is leasing the barn. A fourth building is generating income with self-storage units. Other structures on the land are a decaying storage building that will most likely be demolished and a collapsing shed near the self-storage building.

The bank of the Owl Kill is covered with vegetation, including some large trees. The trees and springs along the watercourse, including a spring on the property, keep the water cold. The state classifies the Owl Kill as a trout stream, Ashton said.

Over the summer, Benjie White, the retired founding director of Hubbard Hall Projects, cleared a trail along the bank. The trail could be extended as part of a proposed network of recreational footpaths through the village, she said.

The question now is, How does the whole space service the community? Ashton said.

The partnership has held several tours of the property for community members and plans community visioning meetings in the spring to brainstorm ideas. The partnership has already heard of interest in rental housing and small business start-up spaces, she said.

The property is adjacent to the village-owned firehouse, the Open Bible Baptist Church and the Cambridge Food Co-op. The church is looking for more parking, Ashton said.

The firehouse will go on the market when a new firehouse is completed next spring.

We want to leverage opportunities for the firehouse, Ashton said.

Work on 9 West Main will start later this month, Ashton said. Plans include gutting the first floor, repairs, asbestos removal, insulation, and energy-efficient windows in the upstairs apartment. Henrys Barbershop, a local fixture, will stay, and the other spaces will be leased, she said.

The NY Main Street grant requires a 25% local match, so the partnership is seeking donations to meet it.

The lumber yard project can be character-defining for the community, Ashton said. But maybe we should think bigger.

She gestured to a Victorian house kitty-corner to the firehouse, once a local showplace. The house burned last September and remains a boarded-up ruin. We dont want to do it, but how can we help so it benefits? Ashton asked. Its a great residential location.

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GLENS FALLS  The thought never crossed his mind.

Eric Unkauf has owned The Shirt Factory since it opened its doors as a space for artists in 1999. Until recently, he had never been approached by anyone looking to purchase the property.

But he was met with an offer from a developers agent to purchase the building to convert into apartments.

It wasnt a very long conversation.

I told him I wasnt interested. I mean there wasnt a lot of thought involved on my end, Unkauf said over the phone.

The amount of money offered was not the issue for Unkauf. He has no intentions of selling his building for any reason, he said.

Im not looking to sell the property even if it had been double or triple the amount that they offered, he said.

Unkauf recently executed an expansion of sorts with The Shirt Factory Annex at 18 Curran Lane. That building houses Rock Hill Bakehouse, Rock Hill Bookhouse and Sweetside Records, and Glens Falls Distillery.

He could look to expand even further if the right opportunity rose to his attention, he said.

That is kind of an expansion for us, he said of The Shirt Factory Annex. If an opportunity presents itself for something else thats close by or adjacent then well look at it if it makes sense.

Mayor Dan Hall said he wasnt surprised to hear Unkauf had received an offer for The Shirt Factory. He said developers all around the country are going into old brick buildings and old mills to revitalize the properties.

He said this happened most recently at The Mill of Glens Falls, which was converted into condos.

This is a hot market right now. I think most areas are seeing a resurgence of developers coming in and realizing that theres profitability in putting together a project, he said.

Hall mentioned that there are proposals in the pipeline from people looking to build apartment complexes.

Its the trend thats going on right now because of whats going on in the housing market, he said.

When Unkauf made the offer public through a Facebook post on The Shirt Factorys page, someone shared an article in the comment section.

The article was about the Torpedo Factory in Alexandria, Virginia. The factory was founded in 1974 and holds the largest collection of working artists open studios under one roof, according to its website.

According to the article, the Alexandria City Council will be voting on the best course of action when it comes to the city-owned Torpedo Factory Art Center this month. Some leaders in Alexandria believe the best move forward would be a combination of artistic and commercial use for the property.

About 14 years ago, Unkauf sat down and looked ahead to what he wanted The Shirt Factory to become. He pinpointed the Torpedo Factory as a model to follow.

That property in particular, the Torpedo Factory, was one that we said, Hey, theyre doing things right, he said. We were kind of holding that up as an example of an ideal of where you can go and what you can be.

Unkauf made it clear that, in his view, they arent close to doing what the Torpedo Factory has been able to achieve. The facility is a little older than The Shirt Factory.

That facility is probably 25 years older than The Shirt Factory. They started in 1974, he said.

According to Unkauf, the city of Alexandria is opting to move artisans and artists out of the facility in favor of mainstream businesses.

Im not saying Starbucks, but things like that, he said. Theyre just going to make it kind of a very bland and generic experience.

Moving forward, Unkauf said that the goal hasnt changed. He wants to continue to provide a welcoming environment for small businesses, artisans and artists. He wants to provide the opportunity for his roughly 100 tenants to connect with the public.

He also hopes to continue the events that The Shirt Factory puts on.

In large part, the special events are to make that connection between the public and local artists and artisans, he said.

One of those special events is the food truck corral that Unkauf hosts at The Shirt Factory.

Hall said he thinks that the food truck corral has done a good job bringing in business to the community, and said that Unkauf has done well with that and other events he puts on, like the open houses at The Shirt Factory.

I think people enjoy going, especially this time of year, to The Shirt Factory when they have their open houses and the artisans can show their stuff. I think its appreciated by the community, he said.

The offer hasnt impacted Unkauf or his mission in any way. He isnt going to blame someone for doing their job, he said.

But it didnt matter what amount of money was on the table, his answer would always be no.

Unkauf mentioned the number of brick buildings in the area that have been torn down over the past 15 or so years. If the choices are to tear down a building or convert it into housing, he said he would prefer the latter.

But he is certainly not a fan of the idea.

Could they have made some of those into housing? Probably. Would that be a better alternative than tearing them down? Most definitely. But I dont think making apartments out of these buildings is the most imaginative reuse of them, he said with a chuckle.

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Warren County Health Services reported 43 new COVID-19 cases and 54 recoveries on Wednesday.

The number of active cases in the county has decreased by 11, making the current number in Warren County 536, with 516 experiencing mild illness.

Thirteen of the new cases reported involve fully vaccinated individuals. As of Tuesday, 1,559 breakthrough cases involving vaccinated residents have been recorded in the county.

One more individual has been hospitalized as of Wednesday, bringing the total to 20. Three of the patients are critically ill with the remainder experiencing moderate illness, according to a news release.

Ray Agnew, vice president of Glens Falls Hospital, reported 48 COVID patients on Wednesday.

Ten of the cases are considered off-isolation, which means the individuals are too ill to discharge but are no longer infectious, according to Agnew. He said two patients are currently in the ICU.

On Wednesday, 834 Warren County residents were in mandatory quarantine.

The countys seven-day rolling positivity rate was 8.7% as of Wednesday, still above the Capital Regions rate of 7.5%.

The countys stated 76% of Warren County residents have received their first dose and 70.4% of the population has received the full vaccination series.

Recent potential public exposures to COVID in Warren County include:

Home Depot, Route 9, Queensbury, Dec. 2, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. No mask worn.

Friendlys Restaurant, Aviation Road, Queensbury, Nov. 24, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 and Dec. 1. No mask worn.

Texas Roadhouse, Route 9, Queensbury, Nov. 27, 3:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. No mask worn.

Blue 32, Lake Shore Drive, Lake George, Nov. 26, Nov. 27, 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. No mask worn.

Walmart, Quaker Ridge Road, Queensbury, Nov. 26, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Nov. 27, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mask worn.

Walmart, Quaker Ridge Road, Queensbury, Nov. 27, 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mask worn.

Dollar General, Main Street, Queensbury, November 24. No mask worn.

Washington County did not release any updated information on Wednesday.

Saratoga County

The Saratoga County Department of Public Health Services reported 1,435 active COVID cases on Wednesday. The number of active cases has increased by 197 since the last report from the county on Monday.

Currently, 59 residents are hospitalized with the virus, according to the countys COVID data website.

Of the active cases recorded, 651 individuals have been fully vaccinated, while the remaining 784 are not vaccinated.

The seven-day rolling positivity rate has not moved and remains at 7.2%.

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There are so many holiday events planned for this weekend, its hard to decide which to attend. The Shirt Factory in Glens Falls will continue its second weekend of its Holiday Open House. The Fort Salem Theater will host a holiday sing-along celebration as well as holiday shopping market. Meet up with artist Will Moses at Battenkill Books or grab a blanket and watch the Christmas classic, Its a Wonderful Life, in Lake George. End your fun-filled weekend with a holiday pops concert by the Glens Falls Symphony.

Lighted Tractor Parade

GRANVILLE  Celebrate the holidays in Granville with the fourth annual Lighted Tractor Parade from 6 to 10 p.m. Friday.

Decorated tractors, firetrucks, ATVs and more will step off from Telescope Casual Furniture at 6 p.m. at 82 Church St. The parade will end at the former Manchester Wood property at 1159 county Route 24.

Attendees are encouraged to dress warm, social distance and wear a mask. For more information, go to www.facebook.com/Granvillelightedtractorparade.

Holiday Open House

GLENS FALLS  The 20th annual Holiday Open House at The Shirt Factory will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at 71 Lawrence St.

Visitors will find open studios on all four floors as well as guest vendors in the halls. Shop for unique and handmade gifts made by local artists. Admission is free.

Ha-Ha-Holiday Comedy Show

LAKE GEORGE  The Courtyard Marriott Lake George will host the Ha-Ha-Holiday Comedy Show at 7:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. Friday at 365 Canada St. The show will feature a line-up of comedians including Brandy Thomas, Ralph Anthony, Dan Frank and Cody Montanye.

The show is for ages 18 and older. Proper ID is required.

The comedy show is part of the Holiday Festival of Lights in Lake George. Tickets are $20. To purchase tickets, go to https://eventstoat.net/lake-george-festival-of-lights/.

Holiday windows

CAMBRIDGE  Windows in the Cambridge area will be decorated and illuminated each evening from Dec. 1 through Jan. 15. A mix of individual homes, businesses and organizations are slated to participate. The public is invited to take a drive or walk to enjoy the lights of Cambridge.

Each night, a new window will be revealed at approximately 5 p.m. The public is invited to gather on the sidewalk for the reveal. Some locations are promising holiday treats. Participants should adhere to all CDC guidelines.

This project was launched locally in 2019 and is based on the Advent windows tradition that is popular in England. Find a map and more information at https://www.facebook.com/holidaywindows12816 or on Instagram @holidaywindows12816.

Indoor holiday market

SALEM  The Fort Salem Theater will host a special holiday shopping market from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and from noon to 2 p.m. Sunday at 11 East Broadway. Admission is free.

The market will feature Anna Villarreal jewelry and greeting cards, Austin & Ollie, CountryLane Creationz, Dakota Jade Designs, Elements Spa Essentials, Evers green Upcycle, Gotta Have It Fashion Accessories, Hazelwood & Co. and MW Farmstead, as well as authors Heather Bellanca and Autumn Fleming.

The market will remain open for two additional hours for patrons of Theres No Business Like Snow Business.

Theres No Business Like Snow Business

SALEM  The Fort Salem Theater will perform Theres No Business Like Snow Business, a holiday celebration concert, at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and at 2 p.m. Sunday at the 11 East Broadway theater. Stars from this seasons main stage productions will perform an original holiday show tune sing-along for the whole family.

Local favorites the Susi Shoes Dancers will make a guest appearance, and 14-year-old soloist Alexandra Behmoiram will make her Fort Salem Theater debut.

Proof of vaccination for guests over age 12 and masks are required for entry. Tickets cost $15-$30 and can be purchased at https://ci.ovationtix.com/35567/production/1070552.

Its a Wonderful Life in Lake George

LAKE GEORGE  The movie Its a Wonderful Life will play at the Shepard Park Amphitheater at 7 p.m. Friday on Canada Street. Admission is free. The event is to benefit the Lake George Food Pantry at Caldwell Presbyterian Church.

The church will collect personal care items such as shampoo, deodorant, shavers, feminine hygiene products and toothpaste. Dress warm and bring your own hot cocoa. Admission is free.

Will Moses at Battenkill Books

CAMBRIDGE  Battenkill Books will host a special event as illustrator and artist Will Moses signs copies of his new book, The First Christmas, from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday at 15 East Main St. Based on the lyrics of the beloved carol, O Little Town of Bethlehem, the picture book in Moses acclaimed folk art style is perfect for families to read together.

Moses is the great-grandson of renowned folk art painter Grandma Moses. He creates paintings that reflect the quiet beauty of this tiny community nestled close to the Vermont border. He has developed his own folk style and become an internationally beloved artist, with his art displayed in collections throughout the world including at the White House.

Moses lives and works at the Mt. Nebo Gallery in his hometown of Eagle Bridge with his wife, Sharon, and their three children. Admission is free.

The Nutcracker ballet

GLENS FALLS  Adirondack Ballet Theater will perform The Nutcracker ballet at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. Saturday and at 1 p.m. Sunday at the Charles R. Wood Theater, 207 Glen St. This will be Adirondack Ballet Theaters 30th year anniversary presentation of Tchaikovskys timeless holiday classic.

More than 50 dancers ages 4-18 and a guest artist will perform this full-length ballet. All attendees must show valid proof of a completed COVID-19 vaccination. Attendees under age 12 or that are not yet eligible to be vaccinated may attend while wearing a mask throughout. Masks for vaccinated individuals are strongly encouraged.

Tickets cost $18. To purchase tickets, go to www.woodtheater.org.

Holiday Pops concert

QUEENSBURY  The Glens Falls Symphony Orchestra will perform its annual Holiday Pops concert at 4 p.m. Sunday at the SUNY Adirondack Auditorium, 640 Bay Road. The family friendly concert will feature holiday favorites from around the world. Tickets cost $30 for adults; $10 for students.

Both proof of full vaccination and masks are required for all attendees. There will be no audience sing-alongs this year.

For more information or to buy tickets, go to https://theglensfallssymphony.org.

Gretta Hochsprung can be reached at 518-742-3206 or ghochsprung@poststar.com.

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MAYS LANDING  As stronger and more damaging storms, resulting from climate change, become more frequent across southern New Jersey, Atlantic City Electric is completing essential work to prepare the local energy grid to meet customer demand and keep homes and businesses warm and powered this winter. Employees are completing maintenance and inspections, as well as upgrades and critical repairs to prepare for winter weather. This work is an essential component of providing safe and reliable service for the companys approximately 560,000 customers through the winter and beyond.

We stay committed to providing our customers with safe, reliable and affordable energy service year-round and take the steps necessary to help prevent those outages that can be prevented, said Doug Mokoid, Atlantic City Electric region president. Through our proactive preparation to strengthen and secure the local energy grid this winter, we are taking the necessary steps to help ensure the safety of our communities, employees and contractors. Our team of lineworkers, engineers and others have worked hard throughout the pandemic and recent weather events to help strengthen our system and prepare for whatever we may face this winter season.
Commander Blood was pulled from her classroom on a recent Monday morning and escorted down to the gym by school Principal George West, where she was surprised by a group of her cadets alongside her husband Matthew, Maggiore-Escribano, and Maggiore-Escribanos fiance John, who is also a 15-year Army veteran, holding a large sign with her name and the gift printed on it. She was awarded a free vacation and gift basket totaling over $4,000.

Everyone just got together, Susan, in honor of you and everything you do for your community, said Maggiore-Escribano as she stood around the cadets. I cant thank you enough for giving us the chance to award you with this great weekend getaway. Hopefully you can enjoy it with your family and friends, because thats what its all about. The name of our business is Casa Di Amici, so House of Friends.

Commander Blood mentioned that shes excited to be able to share this experience with other fellow veterans as Casa Di Amici can comfortably host roughly twenty people.

Im a bit speechless and Im honored because I know that theres a lot of veterans out there that deserve this, said Commander Blood. I will definitely enjoy taking this time off. Im not only grateful, but I am also honored. Thank you.
MARGATE  With generous support from the community, Jewish Family Service of Atlantic & Cape May Counties (JFS) was able to provide more than 610 bags of food to residents in need to enjoy a traditional dinner on the Thanksgiving holiday. Throughout October and November, JFS collected monetary donations and non-perishable food to provide a complete holiday meal to many in our area.

With contributions from community members as well as businesses, organizations and groups including: Berkshire Hathaway (Mark Arbeit & Co.), Board of Jewish Education, Casels Marketplace, CJ Adams Insurance, Coldwell Bank Argus Realty, Compass Real Estate, Fievel & Louise, Galloway Auto & Tire, Girl Scouts, JCC Swim Team, Jewish Community Center, Mainland Regional High School Cheerleaders, Margate Playgroups Plus, Margate School District, Marketplace Realty, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Inc., OceanFirst Bank, Platinum Real Estate, Shirat Hayam, and Soleil Sothebys International Realty who hosted collections to help put a turkey and all of the trimmings on the table for many residents this Thanksgiving holiday.
The environmental groups cited the importance and uniqueness of the Pinelands National Reserve, both as a huge swath of preserved ecosystems in one of the countrys most populous states and for its role in protecting the purity of the aquifers that supply much of South Jerseys water.

Potosnak said environmental groups are working with the Murphy administration on a compromise for the commission.

So far, Murphy has had a tough time getting nominees approved by the state Senate. Of the 15 members on the Pinelands Commission, seven are appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. Two of those seats are vacant, and the remaining five are serving terms that expired years ago, including Edward Lloyd, whose term officially expired in 2005.

One of those seats had been filled by Candace McKee Ashman, who served on the board from its creation in 1978 until her death in 2020 at the age of 96. She remained active on the board until her death, according to Paul Leakan, a spokesman for the commission.
City Councilman Kaleem Shabazz, who represents the 3rd Ward where the cafe opened, said Thursday that the business shut down because it did not have any of the needed permits.

You have to follow the rules to open any business in Atlantic City, he said.

Shabazz has made no secret of his opposition to legalizing marijuana. He believes having it more readily available and socially acceptable will have a disturbing impact on communities, especially on communities of color.

But he said the issue with Rekt had nothing to do with that opposition. If the business were selling T-shirts or hot dogs, it would need to go through the citys permitting process.

If I open a business, then I have to get the permits, Shabazz said.

The Rekt Cafe as Walsh described it was a members-only club, but it appeared that joining the club was merely a matter of putting your name on a sign-in sheet.

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Patrons could buy a snack at the cafe, and then receive marijuana or an edible as a gift. Walsh argues that arrangement is legal, and a necessary work-around in a state where cannabis use and possession is legal but there is no way to legally buy or sell it.
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While the board fought over the fate of the suspended superintendent, representatives for the Pleasantville Education Association expressed frustration with acting Superintendent Karin Farkas.

PEA President Joe Manetta told the board he was angry that security staff for the school was scheduled to work over the districts winter break, which lasts from Dec. 23 to Jan. 3. Manetta said he and his membership had a constructive working relationship with Chestnut-Lee that they lacked with Farkas.

My problem here is the number one people that we should be concerned with in this district is these kids in every building, theyre number one, number two is the staff, Manetta said. I dont see that with this interim superintendent.

Several other PEA representatives spoke at the meeting as well, raising similar concerns that the interests of the staff and faculty were being overlooked.

The board and district have been in disarray since October. At a critical Oct. 12 board meeting, the board voted to put Chestnut-Lee on leave and terminate then Board Solicitor Lester Taylor. The board also voted to oust Julio Sanchez from the board presidency, although that vote was later deemed invalid.
Troopers stood guard at entrances around the Statehouse complex, including little-used doorways where no State Police presence is typically present. Troopers routed visitors  even those with Statehouse badges who work in the complex  to a single entrance where they were directed to show vaccination proof and undergo a temperature screening. Later Monday, they put up large orange barriers and new signs saying certain entrances were for lawmakers only, or lawmakers and staff only.

The newer security measures also come after Democratic Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin said last week he was outraged by the Republicans behavior and called it a colossal security failure.

We take the security of that Statehouse seriously, and we will certainly continue to do so, State Police Superintendent Col. Pat Callahan said before Murphy dismissed follow-up questions in regard to the Statehouse incident.

Also on Wednesday, Murphy commented on a Pfizer study saying the booster dose of its COVID vaccine is effective against the omicron variant, saying the delta variant remains overwhelmingly the variant of concern in New Jersey.
Created in the context of the Cold War, the SCIIHRP peddles a false narrative about Israel that was not true in 1968 and certainly not true today. Despite internationally recognized human rights violations occurring in numerous states globally, no other country has the distinction of having a special committee devoted to investigating its supposed human rights abuses. Year after year, this Special Committee churns out harsh and inflammatory reports criticizing Israel mercilessly. Again, no other country is subjected to similar treatment.

The existence of such a body within the United Nations system discredits the UN and harms its credibility. It also is offensive to U.S. taxpayers, who after all pay close to 25% of the entire UN budget and deserve accountability.

The world and the Middle East have changed drastically since 1968. But at Turtle Bay, time apparently stands still. The Abraham Accords have created dynamic partnerships between Israel and visionary, forward-looking Arab countries. They have created hope for all the people of the Middle East, including the Palestinian people. Isolation of Israel and the fetishization of Palestinian victimhood is not conducive to peace, which can only come about through direct, good-faith, unconditional negotiations between the parties.

Support for the Special Committee is waning. Last year, an all-time low of only 76 countries (out of 196 members) voted in favor of supporting the activities of the SCIIHRP. Obviously, more and more countries are realizing that this kind of poisonous kabuki theater serves no constructive purpose. But many countries no doubt continue to vote to ratify the activities of this outdated institution out of inertia, or without realizing the true nature of its activities. These countries ought to be encouraged to make a contribution to peace by voting down the Special Committee once and for all. Such an outcome would benefit both Israelis and Palestinians and would serve the interest of the United Nations itself.

Shelley Berkeley, a former congresswoman from Nevada, is currently CEO and senior provost of the Western division at Touro College. She is a member of the advisory board of the American Jewish International Relations Institute-Bnai Brith International (AJIRI-BBI). Dan Burton, a former congressman from Indiana, was a senior member of House Foreign Affairs Committee. Eliot Engel, a former congressman from the Bronx and Westchester, was chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. He is a member of the advisory board of the American Jewish International Relations Institute-Bnai Brith International.
Amazon added 500,000 employees in 2020, including 1,500 in Iowa, bringing its global workforce to nearly 1.3 million by the end of 2020, according to its most recent financial report.

The company has quickly scaled up its physical presence and operations in Iowa, with The Des Moines Register reporting Amazon is also building a warehouse in Council Bluffs like the one announced in Davenport, making it one of at least seven Amazon sites under construction or operation in Iowa since work began on the company's first facilities in the state in 2019.

"We are excited to continue our investment in the state of Iowa," Amazon spokesperson Caitlin Polochak said in a statement Wednesday. "The site will help us continue to serve customers with great delivery options."

Rumler said the Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce was first approached about Amazon in Davenport in November of 2020, when the chamber was contacted by a site-selection firm.

Rumler said Amazon chose the Quad-Cities for its central Midwest location; easy access to customers and distribution notworks via Interstates 80, 74 and 88; the availability of a large, shovel-ready site; and access to a laborshed of 743,000 individuals, including a pipeline of workers with the skill sets needed for their operation.
The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, said in its annual report that the number of countries experiencing democratic backsliding has never been as high as the past decade, with the U.S. added to the list alongside India and Brazil.

Chinese officials have offered a stream of public criticism about the summit. They have also expressed outrage over the administration inviting Taiwan to take part. China claims the self-governing island as part of its territory and objects to it having contacts on its own with foreign governments.

Pakistans Prime Minister Imran Khan declined to attend the conference. In a statement issued ahead of the meeting, the foreign ministry said, "We value our partnership with the U.S. which we wish to expand both bilaterally as well as in terms of regional and international cooperation.

Yet Pakistans own relationship with the U.S. has been fraught with suspicion on both sides. Islamabad has balked at Washingtons often-stated criticism that Pakistan has not been a reliable partner in the war on terror, accusing it of harboring the Taliban even as they fought the U.S.-led coalition. Pakistan says it has lost 70,000 people to the war on terror since 2001 and is ready to be a partner in peace but not in war.
Poshards efforts were highlighted in filmmaker Sandra Pfeifers "Thirty-Nine Counties," a 50-minute documentary being screened across the state.

Poshard, who served 10 years in Congress and was the Democratic nominee for governor in 1998, said in an interview that he's grown worried about the country's division and the potential for political violence.

I'm 76 years old  it's the first time in my life I've been scared for my country and (that) we could lose this democracy, that we could die by suicide, Poshard said. That's why we went out because we don't want that to happen here. We want the country to know that there's another voice, a better voice.

Dozens of people joined Poshard to march outside county courthouses across his former district, which he said gave people a chance to voice their opinion against the violence that we see taking place in the country.

Violence isn't just acts. It's also voiced, Poshard said. It's the way we talk to each other, it's the way we belittle each other or denigrate each other. And it takes on many forms. And this was just a form of civic engagement to say, `we're better than this, we don't want to go down this road as Americans.
Black Hills State University was awarded a $242,769 grant to restore and expand BHSU Center for American Indian Studies (CAIS) public programming, according to a news release from the university.

The grant will help to amplify, through virtual platforms, CAIS programs such as the annual Wacipi (powwow), American Indian Awareness Week, speaker series and course work.

It will also provide funding to create a professional film to document and preserve elders wisdom and cultural knowledge related to resilience in the face of adversity.

The digital oral history project, Howasteya Oyuspapi: Capturing Their Good Voices, will be supported by funding for a one-year temporary assistant director, five student interns, consultants, and marketing and promotional efforts.

Urla Marcus, the director for the BHSU CAIS, will serve as the project director.

This NEH grant was provided as part of the American Rescue Plan funding provided to nearly 300 cultural and educational institutions to help them recover from the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The American Rescue Plan recognizes that the cultural and educational sectors are essential components of the United States economy and civic life, vital to the health and resilience of American communities, said NEH Acting Chairman Adam Wolfson in a statement. These new grants will provide a lifeline to the countrys colleges and universities, museums, libraries, archives, historical sites and societies, save thousands of jobs in the humanities placed at risk by the pandemic, and help bring economic recovery to cultural and educational institutions and those they serve.

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Former Sen. Bob Dole, who died at 98 on Sunday, helped connect South Dakota by rail and air, former Sen. Larry Pressler said.

Pressler, who represented South Dakota in the U.S. House from 1975-1979 and Senate from 1979-1997, said he and Dole were best friends while they served in the Senate.

The two also worked together  along with Doles wife Elizabeth who was the first woman appointed as Secretary of Transportation  to preserve the Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern rail line and establish the Rapid City Regional Airport. Pressler said Dole also helped him get additional roads to Mount Rushmore.

Bob Dole was a very familiar face in Rapid City and western South Dakota in those days, Pressler said.

He said the two worked on projects that helped South Dakota and Doles home state of Kansas.

Pressler said they spoke the same language, especially in regards to agriculture and the economy.

He used to say to me, Youre Bob Dole 20 years younger, he said. When we were in the Senate, we would ride up together. He was, for a time there, he was my best friend in the Senate.

Pressler said he remembers Dole always knowing the price of cattle. He said Dole was very supportive on the rail line and knew how much farmers would lose on wheat when they shipped it out of state.

He was very helpful to me in getting specific things, he said.

Pressler said Dole came to Rapid City several times when Pressler was running for the Senate and Dole was running for president. Pressler said he was one of the first to endorse Dole for president when he sought the Republican Party's nomination in 1980, 1988 and 1996.

Dole won South Dakotas early presidential primary election in 1988, receiving 56% of all Republican votes, according to Journal reports.

Dole was on the 1976 GOP ticket as a vice president to Gerald Ford. He was known as a symbol for World War II veterans. He was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer in February. His wife Elizabeth announced his death on Dec. 5.

 Contact Siandhara Bonnet at siandhara.bonnet@rapidcityjournal.com 

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South Dakotans for Better Marijuana Laws, which has worked since 2019 to legalize recreational and medical cannabis in the state, announced Thursday that it has collected over 15,000 signatures for its proposed 2022 recreational cannabis legalization initiative.

We have collected a large number of signatures in a short space of time, but we need to keep working. Our goal is to collect a total of 25,000 signatures to ensure that we safely qualify for the 2022 ballot, said Matthew Schweich, the campaign director. Over two-thirds of our signatures came from volunteers, which demonstrates the very strong public support for our issue.

Last month, the South Dakota Supreme Court overturned Amendment A, the recreational cannabis legalization law approved by 54% of voters in 2020, in a ruling the marijuana group described as a far-fetched legal theory based on no logical or evidentiary support.

In light of the extremely flawed Amendment A ruling, we hope that the South Dakota Legislature will enact a cannabis legalization law in the upcoming session. But if that does not occur, we will give South Dakota voters the opportunity to approve legalization at the next election. We will not stop working until the will of the people is respected, said Schweich.

The organization has set up signing locations across the state, which can be found at www.sd2022.org/map.

A 2022 initiated measure requires 16,961 valid signatures from registered South Dakota voters to qualify for the November 2022 ballot. However, it is common practice for political campaigns to add a significant buffer to that figure to account for illegible handwriting from petition signers.

Earlier this year, a federal judge issued a ruling that extended the deadline for submitting petitions for initiated measures to May 3, 2022. The previous deadline, which still applies to constitutional initiatives, was November 8, 2021.

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Hotel Alex Johnson could have a medical cannabis dispensary in what's now the Alex Johnson Mercantile on St. Joseph Street.

The Rapid City Planning Commission unanimously approved a conditional use permit for the location and for 610 St. Joseph Street next door, and 12 others during its Thursday morning meeting.

Community Development Director Vicki Fisher said her staff would not support side-by-side dispensaries downtown when the state awarded its permits.

"We recommend the stipulation that only one dispensary be allowed," Fisher said. "Depending upon which location they choose, if they should be fortunate enough to pull a license, we would support either location, but only one."

Each location needs a conditional use permit as it's within 500 feet of a park, which is Main Street Square, and a church.

The commission denied only one of 16 conditional use permits for a dispensary by a 6-3 vote. Commissioners Erik Braun, John Herr and Eirik Heikes voted no on the denial.

The permit was for a proposed location on the east side of Tower Road and south of the intersection with Skyline Drive. Access would have been gained through Highway 16. Long range planner Kip Harrington said the Department of Transportation would monitor the access and advise if a turn lane was necessary.

"It is topographically impossible to get access (to the location) from Tower Road," he said.

Fisher said if the commission voted to continue the item for soil testing, it would, in essence, be denying the request since those pursuing a state medical cannabis license need to have applications in by Dec. 31 for the state lottery.

Staff recommended approval of the item, but commissioners had concerns over the topography.

The commission unanimously voted to continue a planned development overlay to allow a medical cannabis dispensary at 2130 North LaCrosse Street.

Fisher said staff saw the legally required conditional use permit notice was not posted continuously at the location, so the city has no choice but to continue the item to its Jan. 6 meeting. However, since it would be past the state's Dec. 31 deadline to submit applications for the license lottery, she anticipates the applicant pulling its application.

She recommended that the commission not deny the application since staff would be in support of the location, but it needs to meet the notice requirement.

The commission also spent considerable time on a rezoning request from general commercial to office commercial south of Omaha Street and west of Cambell Street. The 7.92 acres would be used for three 60-unit affordable housing apartment buildings.

Kyle Hibbs with Indigo Design on behalf of Blue Line Development said the target tenants include young and elderly residents.

He said rent would target between 30% and 60% of the area median income. Rent would be adjusted to the income of the family and how many units are in the family. One-bed, one-bath units would be between $364 and $794 a month; two-bed, two-bath units would range from $427 to $942 a month; and three-bed, two-bath units would range from $501 to about $1,100 a month.

Staff changed its recommendation from its original denial to approve with a required planned development designation.

The commission approved the rezoning request 7-2.

 Contact Siandhara Bonnet at siandhara.bonnet@rapidcityjournal.com 

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U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-S.D., sponsored two pieces of legislation that overwhelmingly passed the House of Representatives Wednesday to address transparency in cattle sales and provide leverage for U.S. exports overseas.

Johnson authored H.R. 5609, the Cattle Contract Library Act, which would establish a library of cattle contracts that would be housed at the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Marketing Service Department. Johnson said small cattle producers are unaware of the contract terms being offered to large meat packers, causing a disadvantage. The bill passed the House Wednesday by a vote of 411-13.

"There is overwhelming consensus with producer groups that the Cattle Contract Library is absolutely an important step," Johnson said during a media call Thursday. "There is solid consensus across cattle country that this is the right thing to do... The Cattle Contract Library is not a silver bullet, but too often I think in livestock space we have let perfect be the enemy of good."

Johnson said the Cattle Contract Library will provide transparency for producers and increase competition in an industry that has seen extreme pricing volatility.

Johnson also teamed up with U.S. Rep. John Garamendi, D-Calif., to sponsor the bipartisan Ocean Shipping Reform Act to address the supply-chain crisis that is clogging shipping ports and providing unfair trade practices with imports to the United States and exports overseas. The bill passed the House Wednesday on a 364-60 vote.

Weve all been impacted by the backlog in the supply chain and shipping delays, Johnson said. China and the foreign flagged ocean carriers arent playing fair and accountability is long overdue. If you want to do business with American ports, you need to play by our basic rules. I am proud of the coalition Congressman Garamendi and I have worked to build over the last year. The Ocean Shipping Reform Act puts American consumers, farmers, ranchers, retailers, truckers, manufacturers, and small businesses first. Our bill passed the House with strong bipartisan support and I look forward to seeing it pass the Senate.

Johnson said South Dakota businesses have been experiencing port delays, equipment access issues and declined bookings leading to a negative impact on the state's economy. He specifically pointed out companies like Valley Queen Cheese in Milbank that has more than 2 million pounds of lactose waiting for export, sitting in a warehouse waiting on an empty shipping container to arrive at port.

He also said Strider Bikes in Rapid City has experienced significant delays in importing their product to the United States and distributing the bicycles to retail locations.

Johnson said the Ocean Shipping Reform Act will provide several safeguards like establishing reciprocal trade to promote U.S. exports, requiring ocean carriers to adhere to minimum service standards, requiring ocean carriers or marine terminal operators to certify that any late fees known as detention and demurrage charges comply with federal regulations or face penalties and shifting burden of proof regarding the reasonableness of detention or demurrage charges from the invoiced party to the ocean carrier.

Other guidelines would prohibit ocean carriers from declining opportunities for U.S. exports unreasonably and require ocean common carriers to report each calendar quarter on total import/export tonnage that makes port in the United States.

Both the Cattle Contract Library Act and the Ocean Shipping Reform Act head to the U.S. Senate. Johnson said he expects quick action and support in the Senate on the measures.

Contact Nathan Thompson at nathan.thompson@rapidcityjournal.com.

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Editor's Note: This story was updated to correct the name of one of the defendant's attorneys.

A Rapid City real estate investor has filed a civil lawsuit against two women for defamation claiming their social media postings violated state libel law.

Josiah LaFrance is suing his sister, Natalie LaFrance-Slack, and his child's mother, Karli Shama, claiming both made false statements on social media claiming that he has abused and assaulted numerous women.

The complaints were filed against Shama and LaFrance-Slack on Nov. 5 and allege the women made the false statements with malice to damage LaFrance's personal and professional reputation.

Under state law, defamation can be effected by slander or libel. Libel is defined as "a false and unprivileged publication by writing, printing, picture, effigy, or other fixed representation to the eye which exposes any person to hatred, contempt, ridicule, or which causes him to be shunned or avoided, or which has a tendency to injure him in his occupation," according to South Dakota Codified Law 20-11-3.

According to the complaint filed in the case on Oct. 26, LaFrance-Slack "posted to Facebook falsely claiming that she has seen photos and recordings of Josiah LaFrance's violent abuse and assaults on women. In that same post she compared him to Brian Laundrie who was recently the subject of considerable nationwide media attention as the suspect of the murder of a young woman, Gabby Petito, in Wyoming."

On Sept. 25, Natalie posted an online story where she falsely recounts that Josiah left a woman naked in an elevator, according to the complaint.

She's also accused of sending an unsolicited letter to Circuit Court Judge Joshua Hendrickson falsely claiming that numerous women had suffered abuse from LaFrance. "That same letter again falsely claimed she had seen video and photographic evidence of violence perpetrated by Josiah against women. She also repeats to Judge Hendrickson the false statement that Josiah had left a woman naked in an elevator and that this conduct had caused him to be fired," the complaint states.

In Shama's case, a complaint alleges that on Oct. 26 she shared a story about LaFrance's sentencing for a domestic assault with a deadly weapon charge in which she is named as the victim. In addition to sharing the story on Facebook, the complaint claims that Shama wrote in the comments of an encounter she had with LaFrance's girlfriend where she warned her that LaFrance was a rapist.

"That post was commented on 175 times and shared 188 times," the complaint states. Shama is also accused of posting to Facebook that LaFrance is a serial abuser of women on the same day.

Both Shama and LaFrance-Slack filed separate responses to their complaints admitting to making the Facebook posts on or about the dates stated in the complaints, but object to the plaintiff's attempt to paraphrase them.

Both complaints claim that the statements made by LaFrance-Slack and Shama were "willful and malicious and done with a reckless disregard for Josiah LaFrance's rights, exemplary damages should be imposed on the defendants."

The two women also denied all allegations in the complaint that any portions of the subject post were false or defamatory and caused LaFrance any damages.

LaFrance is demanding that he receive a judgment of compensation for damages caused by both defendants' actions.

LaFrance attorney, Gregory Sperlich, a Rapid City lawyer, told the Journal on Wednesday that he plans to defend the verified complaints vigorously. Sperlich said the next step is to file a motion for discovery. Circuit Court Judge Matthew Brown is presiding over the cases.

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Episode 27: Richard Kyte and Scott Rada talk about the pros and cons of the consumer society in which we live and whats the right ethical way to proceed as we quickly approach Christmas. Next they discuss the fallout from the terrible tragedy that left six people dead and many more injured in a holiday parade in Wisconsin. And in the third segment, they look at the recent firing of Chris Cuomo from CNN and whether he was right to put his family before his job.
Four county school superintendents from around the state have authored a letter of concern regarding state Superintendent of Public Instruction Elsie Arntzens leadership of the Office of Public Instruction.

The letter was sent to Arntzen, Gov. Greg Gianforte and the Board of Education as a public comment ahead of its November meeting.

The concerns are similar to those expressed by eight AA superintendents who wrote a letter of concern to Arntzen earlier this week.

The county superintendents who signed the latest letter are Erin Lipkind of Missoula County, Cathy Maloney of Butte-Silver Bow County, Susan Beley of Wheatland County and Susan Metcalf of Sweet Grass County.

"It is time we voice our dissent," they wrote.

In our positions, we serve the smallest, most rural schools in our state and due to the lack of support from the elected head of education in the state of Montana, our rural schools are suffering, they continued.

Lipkind has not received a response from either OPI or the governors office since sending the letter to them over two weeks ago, she said.

The concerns in the letter from four superintendents submitted as public comment were addressed by senior staff during the November Board of Public Education meeting, wrote OPI in response to a request for comment by the Missoulian.

The governor's office declined to comment, saying "the letter was not addressed to the governor nor does it mention him," according to Brooke Stroyke, Gianforte's press secretary.

The county superintendents condemned Arntzens participation at a meeting at a Missoula church where a comment was made about shooting superintendents in relation to disagreements over mask policies. Arntzen was not in the room at the time of the comment, and later condemned the remark.

We are appalled that she, as a purported educational leader, would take part in a church sponsored anti-public education rally where threats made on the lives of well-respected school administrators garner a chuckle, the county superintendents wrote.

The county superintendents began drafting their letter soon after that meeting at Crosspoint Community Church, Lipkind told the Missoulian.

They detail the impacts OPIs high turnover rate has had from their perspective, as well as concerns of the current review and revision processes for various chapters of Administrative Rules of Montana.

They specifically cite concerns with chapters 55, 57 and 58 of those rules, which guide accreditation standards, educators licensure and professional educator preparation program standards, respectively, for the state of Montana.

The letter this week from the AA superintendents also aired concerns with the ongoing review process for Chapter 57, educator licensure. Those involved in the process have not been given adequate time or support to reach a consensus on the proposed revisions, they said.

We suggest that Ms. Arntzen must change her course and begin to support public education and the Constitutions to which she pledged an oath to uphold. If she does this, OPI can rebuild, the four county superintendents wrote. If not, it will continue to flounder ineffectively and inefficiently, which makes our jobs and the jobs of everyone involved in public education much more difficult.

The letter penned by the county superintendents was submitted as a public comment ahead of the most recent Board of Education meeting held in November. Gov. Gianforte attended as an ex-officio member along with Arntzen. The letter was not presented during public comment.

However, Dennis Parman, executive director of the Montana Rural Education Association, attended the meeting in person and provided a comment akin to the points the county superintendents made in their letter.

Parman spoke on behalf of his colleagues with several public employee organizations representing teachers, administrators, school business officials and others, he said.

Over the past 10 months theres been a growing clamor among school leaders, trustees and administrators alike and business officials, which today is at a fever pitch, Parman said at the board meeting The overarching concern is having a reasonable expectation of getting timely and helpful information and technical assistance from the Office of Public Instruction.

Like the AA superintendents and the four county superintendents, Parman spoke about the impact of staffing shortages at the OPI and their impacts on the members he represents, noting that organizations representing school employees have had to shoulder some of the work normally done by the state. The largest issues hes noticed have involved licensure, accreditation and school finance, he said.

Regardless of what the accurate number of vacant positions is at the Office of Public Instruction, from what weve heard from the field its just too high, Parman said.

Parman thanked the employees still working at the OPI for their hard work, dedication and commitment to providing assistance to educators around the state.

But that number has continued to dwindle, and the burden on those dedicated employees remaining has continued to grow, Parman said.

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The pace at which these variants are detected is picking up following a boost in federal funding thats helping increase the capacity for states like Virginia to sequence more testing samples, but the expensive and time-consuming process still accounts for only a fraction of positive tests.

Not every person is getting tested, which means any identified number of variants will be a considerable undercount of the reality.

And as the number of cases in Virginia continues to pick back up in the weeks before Christmas and New Years, two holidays that reignited a devastating surge last January, nearly every locality in Virginia is facing high community transmission levels.

On Thursday night, Oliver urged people to continue taking preventative measures such as correctly wearing masks, social distancing and staying home if infected.
We also would like the Legislature to allow more opportunities for the public to comment on the preliminary map, Thornburgh said. "It is one thing to make a map public, it is another thing to take action based on public input."

The map legislation requires approval by majorities in both houses of the Legislature and Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf before it can take effect.

The Republican and Democratic chairs of the Senate State Government Committee plan to introduce a map in the coming days, with committee and floor votes expected in January after a public comment period.

However, the map will not necessarily have support from Senate or House leaders or Wolf when it is introduced, said Senate State Government Committee Chairman David Argall, R-Schuylkill.

Weve got a lot of boxes to check, Argall said.

In any case, Argall said he expects a lot of different ideas in the House and Senate, public comment and public hearings in the coming weeks.

Any final product could be the subject of a court challenge.
Under the rule, private-sector companies with 100 or more workers must require their employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or be tested for the virus weekly and wear masks on the job. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration said it would work with companies on compliance but would fine them up to more than $13,000 for each violation, though implementation and enforcement is suspended as the litigation unfolds.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said Americans who have refused to get vaccinated are the biggest impediment to ending the pandemic. He implied that some of the resistance to mandated vaccines is based on politics.

Some of the anti-vaxxers here in this chamber remind me of what happened 400 years ago when people were clinging to the fact that the sun revolved around the Earth. They just didnt believe science. Or 500 years ago when they were sure the Earth was flat, Schumer said.

Schumer said social media has played a role in spreading falsehoods about the vaccine, and so has the far right. He urged senators to vote against the resolution, sponsored by Sen. Mike Braun, R-Ind.
How will the world decide when the pandemic is over?

There's no clear-cut definition for when a pandemic starts and ends, and how much of a threat a global outbreak is posing can vary by country.

"It's somewhat a subjective judgment because it's not just about the number of cases. It's about severity and it's about impact," says Dr. Michael Ryan, the World Health Organization's emergencies chief.

In January 2020, WHO designated the virus a global health crisis "of international concern." A couple months later in March, the United Nations health agency described the outbreak as a "pandemic," reflecting the fact that the virus had spread to nearly every continent and numerous other health officials were saying it could be described as such.

The pandemic may be widely considered over when WHO decides the virus is no longer an emergency of international concern, a designation its expert committee has been reassessing every three months. But when the most acute phases of the crisis ease within countries could vary.
WASHINGTON (AP)  Lawyers for a Maryland woman charged along with her husband in a scheme to sell Navy submarine secrets to a foreign government denied Wednesday that she had contemplated fleeing the United States to avoid arrest. Instead, they said, contempt for then-President Donald Trump was behind the couple's emigration plans.

Prosecutors at an October hearing had cited messages exchanged by the couple  including one in which Diana Toebbe wrote, I cannot believe that the two of us wouldnt be welcomed and rewarded by a foreign govt"  in arguing that the Toebbes had been discussing escaping the U.S. prior to their arrest and were therefore a flight risk if released from custody now.

But Toebbe's defense lawyers say additional messages produced by prosecutors since then make clear that she and her husband were looking to leave the country simply because they were dismayed by Trump.

Obviously, the additional messages paint an entirely different picture as to why Mrs. Toebbe wanted to leave the country, wrote Barry Beck, one of her lawyers. Rather than scheming to escape capture and prosecution for crimes, Mrs. Toebbe was clearly motivated to leave the country for political reasons.
In a very good Republican year, Republicans could win a majority of the seats in Virginias delegation," the special masters wrote. Generally, however, we would expect to see a 6-5 Democratic edge in Virginias delegation. In very good Democratic years, Democrats might perhaps achieve the 7-4 that they now enjoy from having won two highly competitive seats in 2020."

Grofman and Trende said they paid no attention to incumbent residences when they drew the maps and did not plan to take it into account unless the court directed them to do so.

Spanberger's office did not respond to a request for comment Thursday. Members of Congress do not have to live in the district they represent, so Spanberger could seek reelection in the revised 7th District if she chooses.

The maps proposed by the two special masters are, on a partisan basis, perhaps better than the map Democrats sought on the failed redistricting panel. Democrats had supported a map that created five safe Democratic districts and two swing districts. The maps drawn by the special masters create five safe Democratic districts, one that leans Democratic and one swing district.
If it was a month-to-month lease, when I was going through the plumbing problem, they could have told me that, Giddings said. I was calling them every day about my sewage issue. No one said Sir, its a month-to-month lease. If you want, you can let us know and leave.

After sending the notice, Giddings said the landlord tried to persuade him to sign a new lease and approve the new payment method. He considered it, fearing a tough search for a new apartment. He asked the company for a copy of the new lease so a lawyer could review it. Then, Giddings said Vaughan told him he could not have copies without first signing the documents. He refused.

The notice stated the couple had to move out by the end of November. They remained as of this week, and have been notified they will not receive their full security deposit back as a result. Vaughans companies had not filed eviction cases against Giddings or Hobbs as of Wednesday, according to the Chesterfield County General District Court database.
The Supreme Court of Virginia took control of the states redistricting process after the new Virginia Redistricting Commission bogged down on partisan lines and failed to draw maps for either of the legislative chambers or the states congressional seats. The commission, made up by party-nominated citizens and legislators, ultimately could not come close to compromise.

By contrast, the experts tasked by the courts to draw the maps described a friendlier process.

We agreed on almost all issues initially, and the few issues on which we initially disagreed were resolved by amicable discussion, Republican Sean Trende and Democrat Bernard Grofman wrote in a memo to the court, which they asked be shared with the public along with the maps.

The court will hear public comment on the maps on Dec. 15 and Dec. 17 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Below is an initial glimpse at the proposed maps.

Congressional seats

More often than not, Democrats would have a slight edge in Virginias U.S. House delegation, but the proposed map doesnt cement their current 7-4 advantage, according to an analysis by the special masters.
If it does pass, there will be a lot of money for Virginia, he said.

A transition aide to Youngkin said the governor-elect had the same takeaways and enjoyed his time with the delegation.

Kaine said extending the Child Tax Credit would benefit an estimated 1.6 million children and 975,000 families in Virginia.

The tax credit increased in July to $3,600 per child under 6 years old and younger and $3,000 per child ages 6 to 17 in eligible families  those making up to $150,000 as a couple, for example. The credit is refundable as a monthly payment for families who may not owe enough in federal taxes to take full advantage of the benefit.

As a result, eligible families receive $300 per month for each younger child and $250 for each older one, but the final credits will be paid next Wednesday unless Congress extends it. A survey last summer showed that most families spent the money on food, utilities, rent and child care.

This is a real-world challenge some of our families could face in mid-January if we dont get this done this year, Warner said.
Businesses that take advantage of their workers through misclassification, wage theft, or payroll fraud are not only stealing from their hardworking employees, but they are also stealing from the commonwealth, Herring said in announcing the guilty plea on Wednesday. I am committed to rooting out worker exploitation in Virginia and protecting our workers from abuse and mistreatment by their bosses.

State Inspector General Michael Westfall said, It is the first time worker misclassification charges were brought by the [Attorney Generals] new worker protection unit, and I am proud that our special agents were part of the investigation that brought this issue to the forefront.

The inspector generals office said it began the investigation at the request of the attorney general in late January.

The guilty plea came as a surprise to Capital Interior Contractors Inc., which had hired the drywall subcontractors. The company and subcontractors are defendants in a federal lawsuit filed last December by workers who said they had been deprived of fair wages and other benefits because of being misclassified as independent contractors instead of employees.
Personal connection to

treating students fairly

Editor, Times-Dispatch:

My son is a transgender student in Hanover County Public Schools. In November, his School Board voted to not adopt some policies that would protect transgender students, thus violating state law and federal legal precedent.

Several board members implied that their votes reflected constituents' opposition, but when my son came out as transgender in his school years ago, as confused as we were as parents, our Hanover community rallied behind our son and us with support. Neighbors, friends and school personnel offered their support. We lost only one friend during that time.

Thats the Hanover I believe in. I believe that most voting citizens of Hanover, when they personally know a transgender child, would support that child and would support policies that make their days at school positive.
(Image: The Malaysian Reserve/Razak Ghazali)

Luno Malaysia has shared that it will be rolling out several new initiatives in 2022 to provide a better user experience and to better educate its investors, including localising its app in Bahasa Malaysia. This is on top of ongoing plans to introduce new cryptocurrencies for trading on the platform next year.

Speaking in a virtual press conference today, country manager of Luno, Aaron Tang said that aside from launching new coins, the cryptocurrency exchange is also looking to enable its app in Bahasa Malaysia and introduce new financial literacy initiatives via partnerships.

Moving forward in 2022, we will further democratise access to the cryptocurrency market by localising our application and educational resources to Bahasa Malaysia, and enhancing our financial literacy initiatives to reach a wider audience. We hope that further innovation within the industry, enhanced democratisation efforts from regulated digital asset exchanges, as well as continued governmental support for the cryptocurrency space will continue to promote a conducive environment where Malaysians can invest into digital assets efficiently and responsibly, said Tang.

On top of that, Tang revealed that Luno is also working to make business accounts available for interested customers. This is expected to be rolled out within the first quarter of 2022.

Aside from sharing details on Lunos upcoming initiatives, Tang also highlighted several milestones that the cryptocurrency exchange has achieved in 2021. Chief of all is the fact that Luno has seen a 233% year-on-year growth in terms of the number of onboarded customers. Specifically, the company has more than 600,000 customers as of the end of November 2021, as compared to the approximate 180,000 customers recorded at the end of November 2020.

Meanwhile, the total active customers in Malaysia grew by 518% from just over 60,000 individuals in 2020 to 371,000 persons in 2021. It was also revealed that Luno has processed over RM12 billion worth of payments in 2021  a 4.3x increase from the previous year.

Interest in digital assets among Malaysians continued to grow in 2021, with many investors looking to cryptocurrencies as an alternative store of value or a start to their investing journey. The increased public awareness of cryptocurrency has encouraged more people to explore cryptocurrencys other use cases, such as a payment system and purchasing unique digital assets such as non-fungible tokens (NFT), Tang commented, adding that he is optimistic that Luno investors can achieve their financial goals and preserve wealth via digital asset investments.

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VIENNA (AP)  Negotiations between Iran and world powers aimed at salvaging a tattered 2015 nuclear deal resumed in Vienna on Thursday, with tensions high after Tehran made demands last week that European countries strongly criticized. The talks' chairman said he detected a renewed sense of purpose.

Diplomats from Britain, France and Germany had urged Tehran to come back with realistic proposals after the Iranian delegation made numerous demands last week that other parties to the accord deemed unacceptable. Last weeks talks were the first in over five months, a gap caused by a new hard-line government assuming power in Tehran.

European Union diplomat Enrique Mora, who chaired Thursday's meeting of all the deal's remaining signatories  Iran, Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China  said afterward that he felt a renewed sense of purpose on the need to work and to reach an agreement on bringing the (agreement) back to life.

Whether that will be confirmed and endorsed by negotiations on the details, we will see in the coming days, Mora said, adding that the positive impression "has to be tested.

He said that it is becoming more imperative with time to reach an agreement quickly.

The United States has participated indirectly in the ongoing talks because it withdrew from the accord in 2018 under then-President Donald Trump. President Joe Biden has signaled that he wants to rejoin the deal.

Washington plans to send a delegation led by Robert Malley, the special U.S. envoy for Iran, to Vienna over the weekend.

The accord sealed in Vienna in 2015, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, was meant to rein in Iran's nuclear program in return for loosened economic sanctions.

Following the U.S. decision to withdraw and reimpose sanctions against Iran, Tehran has ramped up its nuclear program again by enriching uranium beyond the thresholds allowed in the agreement. Iran has also restricted monitors from the U.N. atomic watchdog from accessing its nuclear facilities, raising concerns about what the country is doing out of view.

Russia's delegate to the talks, Mikhail Ulyanov, described Thursday's talks as constructive" and tweeted that there were important commonalities, including on a need to conclude the talks quickly and successfully.

Mora said participants are approaching the task with the realism necessary to get an agreement, because its difficult, because there are different positions, because some points are still extremely open.

We have to close them, and we dont have all the time of the world, he said.

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Last week I asked readers for nominations for the 2021 Dano Awards for Glaring Public Stupidity. Those prizes are awarded annually to public officials and other Virginia newsmakers whose foibles in the past 12 months have prompted endless guffaws, head-scratching and blurted questions like, What could they have been thinking?

The column garnered a bit of attention, and even a laudatory Letter to the Editor Wednesday from former Roanoke Mayor David Bowers (a three-time Dano winner). In summary, Bowers letter robustly endorsed the Dano Awards and attested to their awesome political power.

Thank you for the support, mister ex-mayor!

Unfortunately, to date Ive received only seven reader nominations. None of them, at least yet, honors Bowers, who in 2009 won the Dano for Best Prolonged Whine by a Local Politician.

Thats one reason why Im shamelessly begging again. I need more nominations! We want a deep well from which to pluck the best and most entertaining 2021 Dano Awards. Email yours to dan.casey@roanoke.com (my work email). Put Dano in the subject line. The deadline is Dec. 15.

This year Im offering a prize for funniest and most clever nomination. Its a $45 coffee-table book featuring historical photographs from the Roanoke and New River valleys.

And to give you a better idea of the kind of nominations were seeking, heres a smattering of past Dano winners and the awards they richly deserved.

In 2009, one of the honorees was former Roanoke Sheriff Octavia Johnson, who won the category Dumbest Action by a Law Enforcement Officer. The subcategory was Elected.

That year, Johnson held a press conference at which she defended target practice training while living and breathing humans stood downrange, near the targets. Such advanced training got Roanoke kicked out of the joint city-county police shooting range in Glenvar.

In 2010,we feted the nameless federal official who hired a consultant for advice on what to do with an unusually prominent and modernist statue outside the Poff Federal Building. If you recall, a multimillion-dollar modernization job was underway.

The advice was move it, and that recommendation cost taxpayers only $7,246. So we gave the unknown official the Dano Award for Bureaucratic Ingenuity in the subcategory Not. Because a monkey would have rendered the same advice, merely for the price of a banana.

The most popular Dano Award in 2011 went to Sen. Bill Stanley, R-Franklin County. It stemmed from a quip Stanley uttered during that years campaign, when a reporter asked the senator whether anyone had checked the location of Stanleys new rental home in his redrawn Senate district.

Not that I know of, unless they want to get a face full of my Glock, Stanley replied. For that, Bill Stanley won the 2011 Dano for Best Gun Threat by a Public Official.

In 2012, Chip Tarbutton, then leader of the Roanoke Tea Party, got a Dano after he won a different plaudit, allegedly for environmental exceptionalism. That was bestowed by VirginiaGreenMenace.com, a now-defunct blog that used to feature posts about the evils of bicycle lanes and wind power.

Guess who registered that website? None other than Chip Tarbutton himself! For that he garnered the Dano for Best Fake Award, subcategory From Yourself.

And because people love to grumble about others who are on the dole, in 2013 we created a new Dano honoring Welfare Recipient of the Year.

That years winner was then- governor Bob McDonnell, because he and his family had accepted $165,000 worth of gifts, travel, New York City shopping sprees from ex-tobacco magnate Jonnie Williams. We also honored Williams, as Welfare Benefactor of the Year.

Those are the kind of nominations were seeking for 2021. Each should:

1. Name of the recipient.

2. Include a sarcasm- or irony-infused category of the Dano they deserve (and perhaps a subcategory).

3. Explain (briefly) the deeds that earned the honor.

Which bring us to ex-mayor Bowers wonderful Dano Awards endorsement letter. It appeared in Wednesdays newspaper. Heres what he wrote, under the headline, Will Dan Casey launch another David Bowers comeback?

Someone pointed out to me that, in his recent column announcing his 2021 Dano Awards, Dan Casey reached back 20 years to once again write yet another unflattering comment about me (four times elected by the people as mayor of Roanoke)!

Please allow me to now remind your readers that every time Dan writes something nasty about me  I win an election!

Write on, Dan, write on!

Its nice to learn that Bowers is still alive and kicking, because the truth is, I havent given him a single thought in years. But it sounds like he hasnt forgotten at all, and that hes still basking in the glow of his 2009 Dano.

Anyway, David Bowers seems to be pining for some attention, perhaps as a means of revisiting his days of political glory. And he believes a 2021 Dano Award will propel him back into the mayors office. Its a fascinating theory. I wouldnt wager 10 cents on it, though.

It ought to be good for some nominations to get Bowers back in the news, however.

Im breathlessly awaiting.

Contact metro columnist Dan Casey at 981-3423 or dan.casey@roanoke.com . Follow him on Twitter: @dancaseysblog .

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PEARISBURG  Narrows police Officer Chad Jeffrey Stilley was cleared of charges Thursday that he killed a fleeing motorcyclist in a wreck last year.

The abrupt conclusion arrived early on the fourth day of Stilleys jury trial in Giles County Circuit Court. It came before jurors could consider involuntary manslaughter and other charges, and before Stilleys attorney could present defense witnesses  and before Stilley could testify, which his attorney said he planned to do.

Instead, Judge Lee Harrell said that he was taking the rare step of dismissing all the charges mid-trial because the prosecution had not shown gross negligence, an essential element in the accusations against the officer.

Gross negligence shocks the conscience  We know gross negligence when we see it, Harrell said.  Its not what happened here.

Stilley, 44, of Christiansburg, exited the courtroom in tears, escorted by his wife and parents. He said that he could not put his feelings into words. If convicted, Stilley, who started work in Narrows in 2018, had faced the end of a law enforcement career and up to 11 years behind bars.

After the judges ruling, defense attorney Chris Tuck of Blacksburg described his client as an innocent man who did nothing wrong that night, but put his own life on the line.

Harrells ruling came in response to Tucks motion to strike the charges, a request that is a standard part of most trials but is seldom accepted by a judge.

The case could not go forward because there was no evidence that my client had committed any crime, Tuck said.

Radford Commonwealths Attorney Chris Rehak, who was appointed as a special prosecutor in Stilleys case, issued a statement saying it had been an honor and privilege to represent the life of the motorcyclist, and that he still thought it had been appropriate to charge the officer.

As a former police officer myself, this was an extraordinarily difficult responsibility, Rehak said in the statement.

Stilley was indicted in July for involuntary manslaughter, reckless driving and failing to yield the right of way. The charges came from the death a year earlier of Michael Allen Acord, a 28-year-old volunteer firefighter and Celanese worker. Acord had bought a new Harley Davidson just weeks before, then went out on the night of July 24, 2020, to ride his new bike much too fast, attorneys and witnesses recounted this week.

Racing west on U.S. 460 at speeds that reached 113 mph, Acord went through the radar of Pearisburg Officer Paul Vinson, who turned on his lights and tried to pull over the motorcycle.

Ahead of the chase, Stilley, the only Narrows officer on duty at about 10 p.m., edged his car into U.S. 460 at its intersection with Narrows 3rd Street, near a gas station and fast food restaurant. He blocked the right westbound lane with his unmarked, charcoal gray vehicle.

That stretch of highway has a 40 mph speed limit. Acord entered the area at more than 100 mph, Vinson said.

Stilley activated his lights and sirens, then pulled across the left lane a few seconds before Acord reached the intersection. The Harley Davidson dropped onto its side and skidded into Stilleys car with a catastrophic impact that was played  in dash-cam videos from the officers cars  repeatedly in court.

Acord ended up partly under Stilleys car, with an array of injuries that a medical examiner said included a broken back, broken legs and ribs, and more. Photos showed him lying near the edge of the eastbound lane closest to the narrow median. Stilleys car, still perpendicular to traffic, had its front end across the median.

In opening statements Monday, Rehak said that Stilley chose to set up a roadblock without getting his chiefs permission, as the Narrows department required, and in violation of procedures that were standard for the Narrows department and for many others. Testimony this week said that roadblocks are widely considered to be a use of lethal force, and that such force is appropriate only in cases involving violent felons or imminent threats.

Tuck countered that the speeding motorcycle was an imminent, deadly threat, and that Stilley put his car across the road to keep innocent people from getting into the middle of the high-speed pursuit. Stilley saw an eastbound minivan signaling a left turn that could have taken it into Acords path and made a split-second decision to pull across the left lane, Tuck said.

The minivans driver, Paul Pitzer of Peterstown, West Virginia, testified Wednesday that he was on U.S. 460 heading to work a night shift at Celanese and intended to pick up some snacks at the Marathon station at the intersection when he saw a motorcycle coming toward him at a tremendous speed. Pitzer said the motorcycle looked like it would cross the several feet of grass that separated east- and westbound traffic, and that he thought it would hit him head-on.

At the last moment, a police car pulled between him and the motorcycle, Pitzer testified.

Trooper J.C. Reynolds of the Virginia State Police testified that marks on the pavement and ground seemed to show that just ahead of the intersection, the motorcycle had veered into the median for a moment before coming back to U.S. 460s westbound side.

As Rehak put a series of law enforcement officers on the stand, he had difficulty getting any to say that Stilley did anything wrong. For one thing, Tuck used emails obtained from the police agencies to show that Rehak waited until after the judges evidence deadline to contact officers about becoming expert witnesses, prompting Harrell to rule that Rehak could not have the officers testify as experts.

But some of the officers had already started battling Rehak, hiring private attorneys in the months before trial to try unsuccessfully to quash subpoenas for records and testimony.

Rehaks prosecution of an officer put him in a remarkable predicament  in an adversarial position with police, Harrell said as he reviewed the case before making his ruling.

The judge called the encounter between Stilley and Acord a cataract of disaster. Harrell said that he had waited to hear one negative thing about Acord that might explain why he drove his motorcycle at such a speed and why he did not stop when Vinson tried to pull him over. But by all accounts, Acord was an honorable person, Harrell said.

Youre just left with the terrible mystery of what overcame him in that moment, Harrell said  then added that he and everyone else in the courtroom had at some point made their own terrible, unaccountable decisions, just without the fatal consequences that overtook Acord.

The judge thanked Acords parents and other relatives who occupied one bench in the spectators gallery, and Stilleys relatives, in an adjacent bench, for their quiet dignity throughout the trial.

As for Stilley, Harrell said he thought the officer was callow  not necessarily in the measure of his years but in his experience.

Was it a great decision? the judge asked about the crucial moment. Probably not.

But Stilley had only moments to figure out what to do, Harrell said, and had explained in his statement to investigators that he thought stopping traffic would slow down the chase and at least keep other drivers out of the way. Stilley did not act in a manner that met the requirements for either the involuntary manslaughter or reckless driving charges, the judge said.

As for a charge of failing to yield the right of way, Harrell said it was defeated once it was shown that Acord was going well above the speed limit. Virginia law says that a driver traveling at an unlawful speed no longer has the right of way.

But even with the evidence not supporting the three charges, Harrell said he thought it had been right to bring the case to court.

The facts had to be examined  in the adversarial crucible, Harrell said.
Earth Fare is slated to open its new location inside the Christiansburg Marketplace on Jan. 12, the organic and natural grocery store chain announced.

The news marks a major step for the Marketplace, which is in the midst of a massive revamp after spending years in limbo.

Since the redevelopment began a few years ago, the shopping center has seen the addition of several new tenants such as a Starbucks, Chipotle and Mission BBQ. The property, however, has been operating without an anchor tenant, a role that Earth Fare will fill.

Earth Fares plans to open a store in the Marketplace and serve as the propertys anchor tenant were announced well over a year ago, but the specialty grocer ran into some delays as it was once set to open its doors this past summer

Christiansburg Marketplace awaits approval for senior living units; Earth Fare opening still unclear Town council is now set to take up the proposed revisions, marking some of the latest developments in the ongoing revamp of a property that for years sat mostly vacant and under a cloud of uncertainty.

The Christiansburg location will be the grocers third store in Virginia, adding to the ones in the Roanoke and Williamsburg markets.

Earth Fare recognizes that the location in Christiansburg is an exciting and vital part of the community. We have made the commitment to open our doors and provide families with clean, all-natural and organic options, said Earth Fare President Mike Cianciarulo. This is the very first Earth Fare that we have built from the ground up, under the ownership of Hulsing Enterprises, and we are beyond excited to introduce the Christiansburg community to this unique interior and welcome our guests through our doors on  Jan. 12.

Hulsing Enterprises is run by Dennis Hulsing, the companys president and CEO and the man who led the effort to revive Earth Fare after the company filed for bankruptcy in early 2020. The grocer currently operates 23 locations across eight states.

The Christiansburg location will occupy 23,390 square feet of space, according to the announcement.

Executives with the grocer and town officials said in 2020 that most of an approximately 30,000-square-foot building would be occupied by Earth Fare while smaller retailers would take up the remaining space.

The overall redevelopment of the Marketplace has been touted by Christiansburg town officials, who see the property as a key player in the localitys economic future.

In addition to the developers own investment in the property, Christiansburg contributed more than $1 million to redo the shopping centers intersection with North Franklin, bringing a new traffic light and pattern.

The Marketplace is located in the towns fast-growing northwest section, an area that is home to the Uptown Christiansburg mall and another property that is being turned into a multipurpose park.

Town officials expect the current and upcoming developments in that part of town to complement each other and lead to significant boosts in revenue from sources such as the taxes on meals and lodging.

In addition to retail and dining, the Marketplaces redevelopers are planning the addition of multifamily residences on a section of the property. Those plans include units for residents who are at least 55 years old.

This is a growing area. It [Marketplace] will enhance the growth, town Mayor Mike Barber said. Weve got so much potential there for this place to take off.

For its Christiansburg opening, Earth Fare is planning an event that will include a ribbon-cutting and a $1,000 check presentation to the charitable organization Community Foundation of the New River Valley. The grocer announced that the ceremony will be followed by a mystery gift card giveaway  where one of the first 200 guests in line will win a $500 Earth Fare gift card.

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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP)  A federal jury in Arkansas has begun deliberations in the trial of former reality TV star Josh Duggar, who is accused of receiving and possessing child pornography.

The jury deliberated for about five hours Wednesday, a week after the trial began in northwest Arkansas. Deliberations will resume Thursday morning.

Duggar, 33, faces up to 20 years in prison on each of the two counts if convicted. He was featured on TLC's 19 Kids and Counting, which was pulled in 2015 over revelations that Duggar had molested four of his sisters and a babysitter.

Duggar was charged in April after child pornography was discovered on a computer at his workplace.

Defense attorneys for Duggar have argued that someone else downloaded or placed the child pornography onto the work computer, noting that no child pornography was found on Duggars phone or laptop.

In closing arguments Wednesday, defense attorney Justin Gelfand told jurors that federal agents were so star-struck about the possibility of prosecuting Josh Duggar" that they ignored other evidence.

But federal prosecutors showed jurors detailed logs showing, minute by minute, the activity on Duggars computer that alternated between him allegedly sending personal messages, downloading child porn and saving pictures of notes. Prosecutor Dustin Roberts told jurors the defense intended to get you looking anywhere but the facts. This is not a complicated case.

Duggars trial is happening as his father, Jim Bob Duggar, runs in a special election for a vacant state Senate seat in northwest Arkansas. Jim Bob Duggar was also featured prominently on the TLC show and previously served in the Arkansas House.

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP)  Nearly 17 years after being sentenced to die, Scott Peterson was resentenced to life without parole Wednesday during an emotional hearing in which family members of his slain pregnant wife, Laci, called him out for the Christmas Eve killing in 2002 and his apparent lack of remorse.

"Scott, 19 years ago today, you were in the midst of planning Laci's murder," said her mother, Sharon Rocha, addressing Peterson directly as he sat expressionless, handcuffed in a red and orange jail uniform.

"I still feel the grief every day, after 19 years," she said. "Your evil, self-centered, unforgiveable selfish act ended two beautiful souls. And for what reason? There was no reason other than that you just didn't want them anymore. You didn't want a baby nor the responsibility of being a father. You're a coward."

"I have dreams about her," she added about her daughter, who was 27 and eight months pregnant when she was killed carrying the boy the couple planned to name Connor. "And sometimes when I wake up, I cry because they're so realistic and I know I'll never see her again."

She also envisions what Connor would be like now, at age 18, had he lived.

The California Supreme Court ruled a year ago that Peterson's jury was improperly screened for bias against the death penalty. Stanislaus County District Attorney Birgit Fladager, who came to fame as one of three prosecutors in Peterson's trial, opted this time to settle for life without parole.

Peterson's attorney, Pat Harris, said his client has shown no remorse because he's not guilty. He said, as he has in the past, that the defense can now prove that burglars were nearby on the day Laci disappeared  though investigators say they were ruled out as suspects.

Peterson was uniformly described as a loving husband and expectant father, Harris said, until it became public that he was having an affair at the time of his wife's disappearance.

Then "he quickly became the most hated man in America," Harris said, with a billboard outside the courthouse during his trial asking if he was a "man or monster."

Peterson was prepared to speak, something he didn't do during his initial trial and sentencing, Harris said, but Superior Court Judge Anne-Christine Massullo didn't allow it.

But Harris and Stanislaus County Assistant District Attorney Dave Harris sparred over Peterson's pre-sentencing probation report. It was not made public, but the prosecutor said that in it Peterson "is claiming he's wrongfully convicted, that he's innocent, and that he has sorrow for the loss of his family."

His defense attorney accused prosecutors of "insinuation" and taking incidents out of context. Where Peterson did lie, he said, it was to hide his extramarital affair because he knew it would derail any further investigation.

Laci Peterson's brother and sister, Brent Rocha and Amy Rocha, added their own emotional comments during the hearing.

"Because of you. our holidays have never been the same. Every Christmas Eve I relived the nightmare that we still live in now," said Amy Rocha, sometimes in tears. "Even though the death penalty has been lifted, you will still be punished in this life and after."

Massullo resentenced Peterson without adding her own significant comment. She is separately considering if Peterson was prejudiced by juror misconduct.

He had been in San Quentin State Prison, home to California's death row, since he was condemned to death in March 2005. That followed his conviction in November 2004 during a trial that was moved 90 miles (145 kilometers) to San Mateo County because of worldwide publicity.

But Massullo said he couldn't stay on death row once prosecutors said they would not again seek his execution. He was moved to the county jail for resentencing and is expected to remain there until Massullo decides on whether he should get a new trial.

She plans about a weeklong hearing from Feb. 25 through March 4 to hear defense claims that the woman known as Juror 7 falsely answered questions during the selection process.

They say she actively sought to join the jury and later co-authored a book on the case.

Massullo will have 90 days after next year's hearing to decide if Peterson should get a new trial.

Prosecutors say Peterson took his wife's body from their Modesto home on Christmas Eve 2002 and dumped her from his fishing boat into the San Francisco Bay, where they washed ashore in April 2003.

"No matter what happens, no matter what transpires in the future, there are two things that will never change: Lacey and Connor will always be dead and you will always be their murderer," said Laci's mother.

Supreme Court justices said in their August 2020 decision overturning his death sentence that there was considerable circumstantial evidence incriminating Peterson in the first-degree murder of Laci and the second-degree murder of Connor.

It included that the bodies washed ashore near where Peterson admitted he was fishing on the day they disappeared. He had researched ocean currents, bought a boat without telling anyone, and couldn't explain what type of fish he was trying to catch that day.

Also, in the weeks after Laci disappeared but before the bodies washed ashore, he sold his wife's car, looked into selling their house, and turned the baby nursery into a storage room.

Peterson was eventually arrested after Amber Frey, a massage therapist living in Fresno, told police that they had begun dating a month before his wife's death, but that he had told her his wife was dead.
RICHMOND  Gov. Ralph Northams outgoing budget will include $245 million for outdoor recreation in Virginia, including the expansion of the states network of regional nature trails.

The money would support existing trails, and help develop new ones like the Fall Line trail, a 43-mile hike connecting Richmond, the town of Ashland, Hanover, Henrico and Chesterfield counties, and Colonial Heights and Petersburg.

The trail denotes the area where the Piedmont plateau and Atlantic Coastal Plain meet, resulting in a number of rapids and waterfalls. The money would also support developing trails in the Eastern Shore and Shenandoah River.

Virginia is home to a robust outdoor recreation economy, with 41 state parks and more than 450 miles of recreational paths, said Northam, who made the announcement on Brown's Island in Richmond.

Our natural assets draw tens of thousands of visitors each year, opening up countless opportunities for economic development across Virginia. This increased funding will make significant progress towards both preserving the beauty of Virginias landscape and ensuring that this critical industry continues to thrive for years to come.

Northam will formally unveil his outgoing budget on Dec. 16. On Jan. 15, Northam will cede power to Gov.-elect Glenn Youngkin, who together with the legislature will have a final say over the budget. The proposal would cover budget years 2023 and 2024.

Youngkin will come into office with a set of his own priorities, and has urged Northam to include in his final budget tax cuts for Virginia taxpayers, arguing that recent and projected budget surpluses suggest the state is taxing Virginians too much.

This week, Northam pitched a 10% pay raise for teachers, who in Virginia make less than the national average. The pay raises would be covered by a $2.4 billion two-year investment from the state, and contributions from localities.

Northam is also asking for $223 million for state troopers and correctional officers, deputy sheriffs and regional jail officials. The starting salary of a newly sworn state trooper would increase by nearly 8%, while the starting salary for a new corrections officer would increase by 25%, with money also budgeted for raises across the experience ladder. Northam said entry-level salaries for deputy sheriffs and regional jail officials would rise by about 20% on average under his proposal.

Youngkin has said he supports pay increases for teachers and proactive retention efforts for law enforcement officers.
HONG KONG (AP)  Hong Kong tycoon and prominent pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai and two others were convicted Thursday for their roles in last years banned Tiananmen candlelight vigil, amid a crackdown on dissent in the city and Beijings tightening political control.

Lai, together with Chow Hang-tung, a vice chairperson of the now-defunct vigil organizer the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, and activist and former reporter Gwyneth Ho were convicted for either taking part in or inciting others to join the candlelight vigil in 2020.

They are among 24 activists who were charged over their roles in the unauthorized assembly in Victoria Park on June 4 last year, during which thousands of people gathered to light candles and sing songs in the park despite police warnings that they may be breaking the law.

The Hong Kong Alliance previously organized a candlelight vigil in the city's Victoria Park on June 4 each year to mark the bloody crackdown on protesters campaigning for more democracy in Beijings Tiananmen Square in 1989.

Last year, authorities banned the protest for the first time in three decades, citing social distancing restrictions and public health risks due to the coronavirus. The protest was also banned this year.

Prior to the ban, massive crowds attended the annual candlelight vigil and it was the only large-scale public commemoration on Chinese soil of the 1989 crackdown in Beijing.

Lai was found guilty of inciting others to take part, while Ho was convicted for knowingly participating in the assembly. Chow, a barrister, was convicted for both inciting and participating in the vigil.

The trio had previously pleaded not guilty to the charges. Court will resume on Monday, when they can enter mitigation pleas before sentences are handed down.

The Hong Kong government has once again flouted international law by convicting activists simply for their involvement in a peaceful, socially distanced vigil for those killed by Chinese troops on 4 June 1989," said rights group Amnesty Internationals deputy secretary general Kyle Ward in a statement.

These convictions merely underline the pattern of the Hong Kong authorities extreme efforts to exploit the law to press multiple trumped-up charges against prominent activists," he said.

Ward added that prosecuting people who mourn and remember the victims of the Tiananmen crackdown is an egregious attack on the rights to freedom of expression and assembly.

Most of the activists who had been charged over the banned vigil had previously pleaded guilty, including outspoken activist Joshua Wong, who was given 10 months in jail for his participation in the vigil. He was already in jail serving time after previously being found guilty of other charges related to his activism.

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
BANGKOK (AP)  Myanmar government troops rounded up villagers, some believed to be children, tied them up and slaughtered them, according to a witness and other reports. An opposition leader said the civilians were burned alive, as repression of resistance to a de facto coup takes an increasingly brutal turn.

A video of the aftermath of Tuesday's assault  apparently retaliation for an attack on a military convoy  showed the charred bodies of 11 people, lying in a circle amid what appeared to be the remains of a hut.

Outrage spread both inside and outside Myanmar as graphic images were shared on social media of the assault, which Human Rights Watch said was similar to other recent attacks  and looked like it was meant to be discovered.

This incident is quite brazen, and it happened in an area that was meant to be found, and seen, to scare people, researcher for the group, Manny Maung, said. Our contacts are saying these were just boys and young people who were villagers who were caught in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Opposition spokesperson, Dr. Sasa, said the attack began after a military convoy  which was raiding villages in the country's northwest  hit a roadside bomb. Troops retaliated first by shelling the village of Done Taw, then rounding up anyone they could capture there.

They were lashed together, tortured, and ultimately burned alive, he said, adding that the victims ranged in age from 14 to 40.

The sheer brutality, savagery, and cruelty of these acts shows a new depth of depravity, and proves that, despite the pretense of the relative detente seen over the last few months, the junta never had any intention of deescalating their campaign of violence, said Sasa, who uses one name and is the spokesperson for Myanmars underground National Unity Government.

That group declared itself the countrys only legitimate leaders in the wake of the military takeover on Feb. 1 that prevented elected lawmakers from taking their seats in parliament. The seizure of power was initially met with nonviolent street protests, but after police and soldiers responded with lethal force, violence escalated as opponents of military rule took up arms. In recent months, fighting has been raging in northwestern areas.

U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric expressed deep concern at the reports of the horrific killing of 11 people and strongly condemned such violence, saying credible reports indicate that five children were among those people killed.

The government has denied that it had any troops in the area. But a witness told The Associated Press that about 50 troops marched into Done Taw at about 11 a.m. Tuesday, seizing anyone who did not manage to flee.

They arrested 11 innocent villagers, said the witness, who described himself as a farmer and an activist and spoke on condition of anonymity because he fears for his safety.

He did not see the moment of their killing but said he believed they were burned alive, as did other people who spoke to Myanmar media.

He later saw the charred remains  and was present when the widely distributed images were taken. The images themselves could not be independently verified.

The witness said that those captured were not members of the locally organized Peoples Defense Force, which sometimes engages the army in combat. He said they were as members of a less formally organized village protection group and did not give a reason for the soldiers' assault.

Other witnesses cited in Myanmar media said the victims were members of a defense force.

Dujarric, of the U.N., reminded Myanmars military authorities of their obligations under international law to ensure the safety and protection of civilians and called for those responsible for this heinous act to be held accountable.

As of Wednesday, he said security forces have killed more than 1,300 unarmed people, including more than 75 children, since the military takeover.

In seizing power, the military claimed there was massive fraud in the 2020 election that saw Aung San Suu Kyis National League for Democracy win in a landslide. The military said that justified the takeover under a constitution that allows it to seize power in emergencies  though independent election observers did not detect any major irregularities in the voting.

On Monday, Suu Kyi was convicted on charges of incitement and violating coronavirus restrictions and sentenced to two years in prison. The court's action was widely criticized as a further effort by military rulers to roll back the democratic gains of recent years.



This story has been updated to correct Manny Maung's title to researcher, not spokesperson.

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
In 1988 during a visit to Galax, I had a chance to walk through the Hanes plant. My sister-in-law wanted to visit the company store to buy almost perfect T-shirts, socks, and underwear at discounted prices. Liking bargains, I tagged along.

As we walked down a long corridor to the mill store, we passed a series of rooms with textile machinery going full steam. It was impressive. The Hanes Co. had a few years previously been sold to Sara Lee, and as I watched the machines, I remember wondering what a food company was doing buying a textile company. Twenty-five years later, I figured out the answer.

Sara Lee acquired the Hanes company in 1979 at the beginning of an era of frenzied mergers, acquisitions, and leveraged buyouts. Large conglomerates were purchasing smaller profitable companies, often paying exorbitant prices. In the course of buying up stock and taking control of a company, stock prices would soar. This created big windfalls for stockholders. I have been told that the value of Hanes stock tripled during the companys acquisition by Sara Lee.

Typically, though, borrowed money pays for these inflated stock purchases. This creates huge debts on which interest must be paid. To service its debt, the new owner has to cut production costs. This might be done by selling off parts of the newly acquired enterprise, laying off workers, and by moving some production overseas. Shortly after buying the Hanes Co., Sara Lee shipped the bleaching operation to Puerto Rico from Galax.

Lower labor costs overseas are one means of reducing production costs. The tax code also provides generous deductions when manufacturing is moved offshore, but the costs of servicing debt is a critical factor of which few people are aware. Debt has often been the significant factor leading to the demise of previously healthy companies acquired by conglomerates.

So, who benefits from corporate consolidation? Shareholders obviously benefit when stock values soar. Workers who lose their jobs do not, and neither do the communities that lose their manufacturing base. There is one class of people who do very well from these transactions  the folks running financial services and private equity firms, men like our new governor.

Glenn Youngkin is a successful, good-looking man who ran a canny campaign. He appeased Trump supporters while not alienating moderate Republicans repelled by Trump. He did this without saying too much about what he would do in office. He was largely a blank slate on which voters could project what they wanted to see.

What we do know about Mr. Youngkin is that he spent his career working for the Carlyle Group, one of the largest private equity firms in the country. While this firm was not involved in the dissolution of the Hanes Co. in Galax, this is what private equity firms do, in pursuit of returns for their shareholders, they can destroy jobs and communities. Maybe Youngkin will not be so bad, but I am not optimistic.

Liebrecht is a retired landscape architect and environmental scientist. She lives in Fries.
I was preparing to write on another subject last Sunday when news of the death of Bob Dole caught my attention. Like millions of Americans I had great respect for the man, and like millions of others I paused to reflect back on his notable career.

As an historian of World War II, I was naturally drawn to a man who not only served in uniform but who was highly decorated and grievously wounded, bearing the scars of battle to his dying day. Had he come home, recovered, gotten a run-of-the-mill job and never had his name in the headlines, that would still qualify him as one of the greatest Americans in my book. But of course he went on to become Senate majority leader and a three-time presidential (and one-time vice-presidential) candidate.

A while back, I looked up famous people who were WWII veterans, and naturally Doles name came near (maybe at) the top of the list. So few of the Greatest Generation are left that someone with his name-recognition would naturally attract attention. But he never tried to collect praise for his personal service  he devotedly drew attention to all men and women who fought in that epic conflict. He helped spearhead the campaign to build the WWII Memorial in D.C., and until recent years could be occasionally found there greeting veterans who visited.

I never met Mr. Dole, but I heard him speak twice. Once was during a campaign stop in our area in 1996, and the other in 2001 when he spoke at Roanoke College. His theme at that latter event was Leadership: Values in the 21st Century. I still have the program from that talk, and it mentioned in the speakers bio that he was blessed with a legendary sense of humor.

In fact, that night I bought an autographed copy of his book Great Presidential Wit, a compendium of quips by and about all our nations chief executives. With characteristic charm, he added the subtitle I wish I were in the book.

I always admired the fact that Bob Dole didnt take himself too seriously. But his nation, his service, his ideals, his heartfelt patriotism  he was steadfastly serious about these. At times a fierce Senate partisan, in retirement he encouraged bipartisanship and mutual respect among elected officials. Its no accident that the post-mortem accolades were distinctly heart-felt and bipartisan.

Still, he could come across as irascible sometimes. I think it was at the Roanoke College speech where he told about an event in the early 80s where Presidents Ford, Carter and Nixon were jointly appearing. With characteristic caustic wit, Dole remarked Look! Hear No Evil, See No Evil, and Evil! The latter referred to Nixon. But lest you think it was harsh, the two men were great friends. Dole was one of the speakers at Nixons funeral, and even broke into tears at one point.

I also recalled a signature moment in his acceptance speech for the 1996 Republican presidential nomination. Let me be a bridge to an America that only the unknowing call a myth, he proclaimed, hearkening back to what another friend and fellow-WWII vet, George H. W. Bush, called a kinder, gentler America.

Let me be the bridge to a time of tranquility, faith and confidence in action. And to those who say it was never so, that Americas not been better, I say youre wrong. And I know because I was there. And I have seen it. And I remember.

At the time I thought it was poignant (and the older I get the more poignant it becomes) but a mistake in terms of the campaign. The 90s were a forward-looking time, and voters werent eager for nostalgia. Clinton, in stark contrast, pledged to be a bridge to the future. Sure enough, Dole was defeated by Bill Clinton fairly handily, though for bigger reasons than that one line. By the way, Clinton and Dole also became good friends. You couldnt not like the guy, even when you disagreed with his politics.

Bob Dole, the last of the WWII generation to seek the White House, was more than an also-ran. Undaunted, he refused to let defeat define him. In the same convention speech, he proclaimed what could be his epitaph: For greatness lies not in what office you hold, but on how honest you are, in how you face adversity, and in your willingness to stand fast in hard places. May our nation never lack leaders of such integrity in high positions.

Long is a historian, writer and educator from Salem.
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Arkansas Times columnist Gene Lyons is a National Magazine Award winner and co-author of "The Hunting of the President" (St. Martin's Press, 2000). You can email Lyons at eugenelyons2@yahoo.com.
" " Apollo 11 Command Module pilot Michael Collins practices in the CM simulator on June 19, 1969, at Kennedy Space Center, just a month before liftoff. NASA

One of the three astronauts who made up the historic Apollo 11 crew, NASA veteran Michael Collins passed away today, April 28, 2021, at the age of 90.

"NASA mourns the loss of this accomplished pilot and astronaut, a friend of all who seek to push the envelope of human potential," said Steve Jurczyk, the agency's acting administrator, in a statement.

"Whether his work was behind the scenes or in full view, his legacy will always be as one of the leaders who took America's first steps into the cosmos. And his spirit will go with us as we venture toward farther horizons."

Collins was born on Oct. 31, 1930, in Rome, Italy. His father, a career officer in the U.S. Army who'd go on to retire as a major general, was stationed there at the time.

After his family returned stateside, Collins earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, graduating with the class of 1952. He then became an Air Force test pilot, which opened some interesting doors (to say the least).

" " Official crew photo of the Apollo 11 Prime Crew. From left are astronauts Neil A. Armstrong, commander; Michael Collins, command module pilot; and Edwin E. Aldrin Jr., lunar module pilot. NASA

In 1962, John Glenn became the first American to orbit Earth. Glenn's achievement was an inspiration for Collins. "I certainly had no childhood dream of flying to the moon or anywhere else, but the idea was damned appealing," Collins wrote in his autobiography, "Carrying the Fire: An Astronaut's Journeys."

He was selected to join NASA's third class of astronauts the following year. His first extraterrestrial adventure came in 1966, when Collins embarked on a three-day spaceflight with fellow astronaut John Young. Known as Gemini X, their mission was one for the record books; the two men reached the then-unprecedented altitude of 475 miles (764 kilometers).

Of course, Michael Collins is best remembered for his role in Apollo 11.

" " On Jan. 9, 1969, NASA announced the prime crew of the Apollo 11 lunar landing mission. This portrait was taken on Jan. 10, the day after the announcement of the crew assignment. From left are Lunar Module Pilot Buzz Aldrin, Commander Neil Armstrong and Command Module Pilot Michael Collins. NASA

On July 16, 1969, at 8:32 AM (Eastern Standard Time), Collins, Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin and Neil Armstrong were launched out of the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. They were the three explorers NASA had chosen for the first mission that would ever put a man on the moon.

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A Man Alone

Four days into their adventure, on July 20, Collins parted ways with his crewmates.

Seated in the Eagle landing craft, Armstrong and Aldrin made their descent onto the lunar surface. An American flag was planted; photos were taken; Armstrong said the immortal words, "One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind."

Meanwhile, Collins stayed behind in the crew's command module, orbiting the moon as his colleagues explored it.

"I don't mean to deny a feeling of solitude," Collins said of his experience. "It is there, reinforced by the fact that radio contact with the Earth abruptly cuts off at the instant I disappear behind the moon, I am alone now, truly alone, and absolutely isolated from any known life."

" " As Mike Collins remains in lunar orbit, some thought he might be the most lonesome person in the universe "Actually, I was so glad to get behind the moon so Mission Control would shut up. Then I had some peace and quiet," Collins joked. Here he is seen in a command module simulator on June 19, 1969, during a practice rendezvous and docking maneuver with the lunar module. NASA

Charles Lindbergh sympathized. The Apollo 11 crew reunited in space and later returned to Earth on July 24. Back on their home planet, Lindbergh  the first pilot to complete a solo, nonstop flight across the Atlantic Ocean  wrote a letter to Collins.

"I watched every minute of the walk-out, and certainly it was of indescribable interest," Lindbergh told him. "But it seems to me you had an experience of in some ways greater profundity  the hours you spent orbiting the moon alone, and with more time for contemplation. What a fantastic experience it must have been  alone looking down on another celestial body, like a god of space!"

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First Director of the National Air and Space Museum

Between Gemini X and Apollo 11, Collins logged 266 hours in space altogether. He retired from NASA in 1970, but went on to become the first director of the National Air and Space Museum. Collins held that position until 1978.

During his museum tenure, the former astronaut joined the Air Force reserve and would retire as a major general in 1982.

Collins enjoyed a number of hobbies, some more strenuous than others. Speaking to Air & Space Magazine in 2016, the then 85-year-old astronaut said, "I get a lot of exercise. I do one mini-triathlon a year, and I spend a lot of time fishing."

He was also a vocal supporter of Mars exploration; at an event celebrating the 40th anniversary of Apollo 11, Collins described the red planet as a "much more worthwhile destination" than the moon.

"We will miss him terribly," said the family of Michael Collins in a statement released earlier today. "Yet we also know how lucky Mike felt to have lived the life he did. We will honor his wish for us to celebrate, not mourn, that life. Please join us in fondly and joyfully remembering his sharp wit, his quiet sense of purpose, and his wise perspective, gained both from looking back at Earth from the vantage of space and gazing across calm waters from the deck of his fishing boat."

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Now That's Interesting Michael Collins briefly served in Richard Nixon's administration as an Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs.
When the USS Arizona exploded and sank during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor 80 years ago, brothers died with brothers, childhood friends with childhood friends, a father with his son.

Some of the men were seasoned sailors. Many were teenagers, including several who lied about their age at enlistment because they were too young to serve.

Now profiles of all 1,177 sailors and Marines have been compiled for the first time by a Tucson woman who spent more than five years researching their stories.

Bobbie Jo Buel Bobbie Jo Buel has written profiles of all 1,177 sailors and Marines who died on the USS Arizona.

Former Arizona Daily Star Editor Bobbie Jo Buel scoured newspaper archives and public records, collected snapshots and personal letters and tracked down relatives of the men.

Her work began in May of 2016 with Joseph John Borovich, a 22-year-old seaman first class from Central California who was rejected by the Navy because of blurred vision but kept coming back to the recruiting depot until they took him in July 1940.

Buel finished the last profile on Sept. 22 of this year  a bare-bones sketch, stitched together with Navy records and census reports, of 22-year-old Boilermaker Second Class Harold Richard Mathein from Illinois.

Buel was in talks earlier this year to make all of the stories available through an easily searchable smartphone app, so visitors to the USS Arizona Mall Memorial could stand in the outline of the ship and read about the men whose names are engraved on bronze medallions just east of Old Main on the University of Arizona campus.

That agreement recently fell through, so she has been reposting the stories on social media  one every 30 minutes  while she looks for another permanent home for them.

By Dec. 14, all 1,177 profiles should be available on the USS Arizona Mall Memorials Facebook page.

These guys deserve to have their stories told, Buel said. My goal is just to have the information shared widely.

The Detroit four

Even before the attack, a surprising number of Arizona crewmen were already bonded by blood or history.

Of the 1,514 men assigned to the ship, Buel estimates close to 200 had relatives or friends from back home on board with them.

According to the National Park Service, caretaker of the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor, Machinist Mate First Class Thomas Augusta Free, 50, and his son, Seaman Second Class William Thomas Free, 17, both died on the ship, as did 23 sets of brothers.

Buel said the list of casualties also includes cousins, uncles, nephews and best friends, many of whom enlisted, served and then died together.

A story that sticks with her more than most involves four teenagers who enlisted together at a Navy recruiting office in Detroit on a snowy day in November 1940. One of the boys, Chester John Miller, was just 15 at the time, but he was allowed to sign up anyway.

Miller, Clarence W. Lipke, Charles W. McClelland and Byrl Eugene King trained together at Great Lakes Naval Station 30 miles north of Chicago, and all four ended up on ships anchored at Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941.

Miller and Lipke, both firemen second class, died on the Arizona. King, on the battleship Nevada, and McClelland, on the light cruiser Helena, survived the attack, though McClelland was hurled in the air by a torpedo blast and broke his leg.

McClelland was still aboard the Helena when it was sunk in the South Pacific in July 1943. His life raft carried him to an island held by the Japanese, where the locals hid him and his crewmates for a week until they were picked up by Navy destroyers.

Shared hardship

Buel added details about the men to spreadsheets as she went, so she could better understand not just the individuals but the collective story they told as a crew.

Many of the Arizona men were also connected by shared hardship. They were children of the Great Depression for whom the Navy offered an escape from poverty made worse, in a startling number of cases, by family tragedy.

Buel said nearly a quarter of the men lost one or both parents before the age of 18. At least 6% saw their parents divorced  a figure almost certainly underreported but still three times the national rate in 1940.

Buel also tracked the size of the communities the crew members came from. She said as many as half of them grew up on farms or in towns with populations of less than 1,514.

In other words, the Arizona was the biggest place theyd ever lived, she said.

As she researched the story of Vincent Tommy Thomas and Lloyd Bryant, two lifelong best friends who enlisted together from rural Illinois, Buel discovered among the Arizonas dead two more young men, Edward Smith and Joe McGlasson, from the same small county.

Five thousand people (in all of Greene County, Illinois), and you just lost four guys. And that was day one of the war, Buel said. For a lot of families in small towns, it was an even greater loss than we kind of understand.

Seaman Second Class James Randolf Van Horn was the only Tucsonan lost on the battleship that day.

The 17-year-old had never seen the ocean before, but he dropped out of Tucson High School to join the Navy. He requested the Arizona because it represented his home state.

In an interview with the Tucson Daily Citizen in 1958, his mother, Bonnie Cope, said her son decided to enlist after attending a recruiting talk at Tucson High by Rear Admiral Isaac Kidd in the spring of 1941.

Kidd later died on the Arizona, right along with the Tucson teenager he inspired to join him there.

Nationwide search

The research project began as a companion piece for the USS Arizona Mall Memorial, which Buels husband, David Carter, designed at the UA.

At the time, Buel figured someone had already compiled the mens stories. She just needed to find whoever did the work and get permission to share it.

She planned to spend the first two weeks of her retirement from the Star pulling the information together so it would be ready to go when the memorial was dedicated a few days before the 75th anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attack.

Then she discovered that there was no existing collection. At least some of the sailors and Marines had never been profiled before. Their names were etched in marble at the USS Arizona Memorial in Hawaii, but their histories had gone untold.

She would have to do it herself.

I joke about it now, but I never would have started if I had known it was going to be five plus years, Buel said. I have library cards now from the New York Public Library, the L.A. Public Library, the North Dakota State archive. I mean Ive been to the state archives in Oklahoma, Mississippi, Arkansas, Tennessee, New York state, California, Kansas. Its 20 something states weve been to.

The search took her and her husband to major cities and tiny towns to scan reels of microfilm or comb through bound copies of old newspapers in search of obituaries. She couldnt just page through the December 1941 editions, either. Some families werent notified that their loved ones were dead until months later.

I think with common names, (the notifications) took longer in some cases, Buel said. And there were also just a shocking number of mistakes made at first. There were families who were told your guy is dead. Oh, no, your guys alive. Oh, no, he is dead.

Online resources like Ancestry.com and Newspapers.com provided crucial leads. When the internet failed her, Buel said she would mail letters to still-living family members of the men or cold-call small-town libraries or the local American Legion or VFW post.

Along the way, she recruited friends and fellow researchers to track down stories of the men, and she forged friendships with some of the strangers who helped her.

It was a big network, she said.

When a group of former reporters volunteered to help, Buel handed them a few of her toughest files. OK, retired journalists, lets see how you do, she recalled with a laugh.

About a dozen of the profiles were researched and written by the relatives themselves, who took on the task as a way to learn more about their family histories.

Missing messmen

Eager for some early successes, Buel began with the men she thought would be the easiest to find  the ones with unique names or from small towns, where their deaths would earn big write-ups in the local paper.

I think there were like 10 guys on the ship whose last name was Jones  Harold Jones, John Jones  and was I like, OK, Im not starting there, she said.

The ones she couldnt find anything on went into what she called the dead man file, Buel said. Sick journalism humor.

That file gradually emptied, as she refined her searches and got better at knowing where to find what she was looking for.

Her technique improved so much that she later went back and reviewed all the work she had done over the first 18 months or so to flesh out as many of the portraits as she could.

Some of the hardest to track down, at least early on, were the crewmen of color, who were often disrespected in death by the same institutions that disrespected them in life.

If you were Black or from Guam or the Philippines, you could only join a branch called the messmen. They were basically like servants, Buel said. They couldnt get promoted, it was the lowest pay and it didnt matter what their skills were.

It still just boggles my mind that you would put your life on the line for a country that treats you like that, she said.

For Black crew members whose deaths got little to no mainstream media coverage, she turned to newspapers run by and for the African American communities in places like Memphis, Tennessee, and elsewhere.

For some Filipino crew members, she combed through the applications they filled out to become U.S. citizens  a treasure trove of biographical information, once she discovered that such records were publicly available.

The newspaper in Guam didnt publish anything about the Arizonas dead at first, because Guam was invaded like nine hours after Pearl Harbor was attacked, and it wasnt taken back by the Americans until the summer of 44, Buel said. I dont think the families of the guys from Guam even knew they were dead until then.

In the years after the war, though, the islands lost Arizona crewmen began to show up in the newspaper there as part of Pearl Harbor anniversary tributes or the obituaries for their relatives.

Letters home

Despite Buels best efforts, some of the finished profiles remain frustratingly thin.

There was one guy, I found literally two (documents) about him, she said. I know from the final muster roll the date he enlisted, and I know, of course, what his position was on the ship. And I know the name of the woman he married. That is all I know about him.

Buel searched for the mans wife but never found her.

So there were a few like that, where its like I wrote three sentences, she said.

Others fill up more than a page  rich portraits brimming with color from old newspaper accounts, the firsthand recollections of relatives and, in some cases, the mens own words, preserved in letters to their loved ones.

Sailor Walter Hamilton Simon wrote often to his ailing father and teen-aged sister in New Jersey, starting with a note he jotted on the back of the Oath of Allegiance after he enlisted in Philadelphia on Oct. 16, 1940.

A year later, on board the Arizona in November 1941, the 23-year-old wrote to his family about a friend who was really homesick. I was that way for a long time myself, Simon says in his letter, but now I just grin and bear it, because I know that Ill be home with you at my first possible chance.

Buel ended up with about 10 sets of letters penned by Arizona crew members. With all 1,177 profiles now finally finished, she has arranged to turn the correspondence over to UA Libraries Special Collections, where it will be added to an extensive historical archive from the states namesake battleship.

She said the letters home offer a window into the lives of the men on the Arizona and their growing anxiety about the approach of war.

They know its getting serious. There are guys who write about being on watch at night, and the burden of feeling responsible for the lives of 1,500 people who are on that ship with (them), Buel said.

Every letter seems to end the same way, she said: Please write.

Contact reporter Henry Brean at hbrean@tucson.com or 573-4283. On Twitter: @RefriedBrean
 "Forgotten by the Fair Sentencing Act and the First Step Act: Federal Methamphetamine Sentencing Reform" | Main | Some notable federal prison comings and goings for high-profile political figures 

The title of this post is the headline of this new NPR piece, and here are excerpts:

Across the country, we've seen massive change brought on by the coronavirus pandemic, including a dramatic drop in the overall crime rate. David Abrams, a University of Pennsylvania law and economics professor, has been keeping an eye on numbers across the country. The website he created details what's been happening with crime in more than 25 major cities during the COVID-19 crisis. "People have reacted to the pandemic in all sorts of ways in decreasing economic activity," Abrams says. "They stopped going to work, they stopped driving their car. They stopped walking around the city, and crime also stopped."

Baltimore, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Washington, D.C., and Chicago all have witnessed a drop of more than 30%. Violent crimes such as aggravated assaults and robberies also fell substantially. That wasn't true of homicides and shootings though. In some cities, there's a troubling rise compared with last year.

Shauntavius Sims, 35, lives in a Chicago neighborhood that has been plagued by gun violence. That reality makes the news of an overall drop in the crime rate irrelevant. "Seem like it got worser to me. Just yesterday, I saw it behind my house," Sims says, as the sounds of firecrackers  not guns  filled the air. "Some boys just came and shot while me and my baby was in the back. Like every day, it's constantly on the news. Every day, it's something."

There has been a surge of homicides over recent violent weekends, and several children have been shooting victims. It's that type of tragic crime news in Chicago and other cities such as Houston, Cincinnati and Fresno, Calif., that's gotten the most attention.

Even though the numbers are tragic, Abrams says it's difficult to determine any trend in murder or other crimes over a short time span. He says for a more accurate statistical count it takes comparing what takes place from year to year over a longer period of time. "When you look at the homicide data and compare it to levels over the past five years," he says, "we didn't see any significant impact because of the pandemic."

Even so, University of Chicago professor Jens Ludwig, the head of the university's Crime Lab, says it's a big puzzle why shootings and murders haven't dropped while other crimes have. "Murders make up far less than 1% of the crimes in these cities," Ludwig says, "but murder is so damaging to families and communities, and I don't think we have a great understanding of why they haven't declined."...

There's more positive news when it comes to drug crimes. They plummeted by more than 60% compared with previous years, according to Abrams' website. Arizona State University criminologist Ojmarrh Mitchell says there are several reasons why. "First, drug crimes are measured by arrests, not citizen reports to police," Mitchell says. "During a pandemic, police aren't necessarily employing the pro-active police tactics and practices that typically result in discovering drugs."

The pandemic seems to be driving a lot of the reduction in crime, including home burglaries. But in commercial spaces, there's been a bump in burglaries, up by almost 30% on average across the cities examined.

Abrams says there was also a dramatic jump in car theft in Philadelphia, with increases as well in Denver, Los Angeles and Austin, Texas. Baltimore was the only city that saw a substantial decline. "So if people are leaving cars on the street, they have no need to use them," he says. "They aren't checking on them as frequently. There's also just less foot traffic around and fewer people to observe. I think that makes for more attractive targets for would-be thieves."
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June 14, 2021

Perhaps more guns explains why we have more gun homicides and more gun crimes

In this prior post on recent media coverage and political punditry focused on rising crime rates and their political implications, I noted my frustration that these discussions too often elide important data suggesting that it is primarily gun-related crimes that are on the rise while other crimes may still be on the decline. Again this backdrop, I found notable this new Vox piece by two data scientists headlined "One possible cause of the 2020 murder increase: More guns." Here are excerpts:

Its true that police activity, as measured by stops and arrests, declined significantly in 2020. Still, despite that drop, and weeks before Floyds murder and the ensuing protests, police began finding firearms more often than in previous years. This pattern does not support the idea that overwhelmed police forces werent able to take guns off the streets, leading to a surge in violence. Instead, the spike in firearms as a percentage of stops and arrests provides evidence that there were simply more guns on the streets throughout 2020 than in the past, which may have intensified other sources of violence and contributed to the historic rise in murders. While there is no standardized, national open data on stops, information on police activity in 10 cities that we compiled points toward the same pattern.... The share of stops or arrests that resulted in a firearm being found increased in every city. In Washington, DC, the share of all arrests that were weapons violations went from 5 percent in January to March 2020, to 7 percent in April and 9 percent in May. The share of arrests for weapons possession went from 1 percent between January and March 2020 in Charleston, South Carolina, to 4 percent between April and December. Almost every city followed the same pattern: a dramatic jump in the share of arrests or stops with a firearm in April and May, a decline in June, and a return to the earlier elevated levels for the remainder of the year. The implication of this trend is that  assuming police did not suddenly become substantially better at identifying who has an illegal gun  firearm carrying increased at the beginning of the pandemic, well before the protests, and persisted at that level for the remainder of the year. It is possible that in the midst of the pandemic, police started engaging in better-targeted stops that were more likely to yield arrests. But finding other kinds of contraband, like drugs, did not become more frequent, only guns.... Police finding more firearms in stops and arrests does not fit with the idea that a decrease in proactive police activity targeting firearms was the major driver for 2020s historic murder totals, though it certainly cannot be ruled out as a contributing factor.... The data all points to substantially more complex causes behind the rise in murder than the simple narrative of a change in policing as the sole or even main driver. It is plausible, though, that the summers drops in stops and arrests, protests against police violence, and increases in gun violence are all symptoms of the same disease: what criminologists David Pyrooz, Justin Nix, and Scott Wolfe recently called a legitimacy crisis in the criminal justice system, the result of intensifying distrust in the law and its gatekeepers as a result of injustice.... The trend toward more firearms sales and more guns on the street seems to have continued into 2021. Background checks accelerated even beyond last years peak in the first three months of this year. And the latest data from these cities stops shows that police are finding as many guns as they did in the second half of 2020. Early figures from many cities show murders have increased from last years baseline as well. If the greater availability of firearms contributed to last years violence, the latest arrest data suggests it may contribute even more deaths to 2021s murder total.

A few of many prior related posts:

June 14, 2021 at 02:06 PM | Permalink

Comments

Yes, perhaps it does. Just like gravity may explain why 5'11" me can't dunk on Yao Ming!

Posted by: hardreaders | Jun 14, 2021 2:18:25 PM

Here in Kentucky, the issues with more gun crimes (including record- breaking numbers of shooting homicides in Louisville [173 homicides in 2020) and Lexington (34 homicides in 2020)] has to do with the age-related distribution of the guns. In recent years, guns are now in the hands of youngsters, 15 to 24, who are immature and impulsive. They shoot first and ask questions later. And virtually all of the shootings here are drug and gang-related. Average people like me, who aren't into drugs and not a gang member, have almost 0% risk of being shot. I would be interested to know if this pattern exists in other cities and states too.

Posted by: Jim Gormley | Jun 15, 2021 9:35:34 AM

Perhaps more guns legally in the hands contributes to more gun crimes with illegal crimes? Who writes this nonsense? Why are you promoting this brain fever? Everyone should carry a gun. Everyone. Only then can you combat the epidemic of illegally acquired guns that are causing the soaring crime.

More gun buying is a great thing. Keep on. Everyone. Carry a gun in the USA.

Posted by: restless94110 | Jun 15, 2021 11:02:49 PM

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December 9, 2021

Another reminder that Prez Biden has so far decided to forget using his clemency powers

The headline of this new Insider article, "Despite promises, Biden has yet to issue a single pardon, leaving reformers depressed and thousands incarcerated," captures the themes of the full piece effectively. Regular readers will not find anything too new in this article, but it still serves as a useful review of where federal clemency matters stand as we approach the close of 2021. I recommend this lengthy piece in full, and here are a few excerpts:

Nkechi Taifa, an attorney, activist, and leader of the progressive Justice Roundtable, ... [had an] early December meeting with Susan Rice, director of the Domestic Policy Council, and staff from the Office of the White House Counsel, [where] she implored the administration to act now [on clemency]. More than 7,700 federal inmates are currently on home confinement, granted release from prison on the grounds that they pose no security threat and are at a heightened risk of suffering severe complications from COVID-19. When the public health emergency is declared over, they could be forced to return. Leading Democrats, including Senate Whip Dick Durbin of Illinois, have argued it would be an injustice to send them back, urging the White House to consider granting clemency en masse. In the meeting, White House staff appeared to agree, Taifa said. That's not the problem. "Their rhetoric says that they understand what we're saying, and that they're working on it," she said. The issue is the conversation is taking place in December. "If it's going to take this long for a first step, how long is it going to take for the rest?"... "What we've got is this bureaucratic morass," Mark Osler, a former federal prosecutor, said in an interview. "There's seven levels of review, one after the other, and the first four levels are all in the Department of Justice, which of course is conflicted because they're the ones who sought the sentence in the first place." The first step is the Office of the Pardon Attorney, which is currently led, on an acting basis, by Rosalind Sargent-Burns, a career department lawyer former Attorney General William Barr appointed. They then present their recommendations on who should get clemency to the deputy attorney general's office, where another staffer reviews it and passes it on  maybe  to their boss. Then it goes to the staff for the White House counsel, then the actual counsel, then an aide to the president and then, if all goes well, to Biden himself. The president could, at any time, bypass this process. Trump did when he pardoned Arpaio and his other allies, such as Roger Stone and Steve Bannon. If anything, Osler, now a professor at the University of Saint Thomas, told Insider he thinks Biden is too committed to the way things were. It's one thing to respect the Justice Department's career bureaucracy when it comes to deciding who deserves prosecution but, he said, "it doesn't make sense in terms of clemency." A White House official told Insider the president is "exploring the use of his clemency power" for non-violent drug offenders who were moved to home confinement at the start of the pandemic, a transfer authorized by the March 2020 CARES Act  specifically, those with fewer than four years left on their sentences (one activist who has engaged the White House expects those with less than two years remaining will also be excluded). "At the same time," the official said, Biden "continues to consider requests for pardon and commutation that are submitted in the ordinary course."... The Department of Justice declined to comment on how many petitions for clemency have received favorable recommendations within the department or have been referred to the White House. It is impossible to say for sure, then, how much the delay in granting pardons is due to bureaucracy or stalling by political actors. But sticking with the opaque status quo is itself a political decision  the president could unilaterally discard it  and it's a disappointment, if not a surprise, to people like Osler. He's not expecting big things. "I haven't heard anything from the administration that gives me hope," he said.

Some of many prior related posts:

December 9, 2021 at 11:55 AM | Permalink

Comments

That is a shame that Biden hasnt commuted anyones sentence or pardoned anyone for a long-forgotten crime. Certainly there is one federal prisoner whose sentence should be recast.

But buck up DougBidens appointment of that woke twit as USA for District of Massachusetts is effectively a proactive pardon of lots of criminals. And the deciding vote was cast by a person who has been adjudicated as having violated First Amendment rights and who got her start in political office by a boudoir interview.

Posted by: Federalist | Dec 9, 2021 1:16:20 PM

"Over the past three decades, that's pretty much been the norm, regardless of which political party claims the White House. Presidents Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, and George W. Bush all waited until at least their second year in office before granting clemency to a human being."

So, troll title aside, he might just be following long term practice.

(This doesn't mean it is good practice, necessarily, but it does suggest he is not "forgetting" anything.)

The start with the turkeys reminds once more that he didn't actually "pardon" the turkeys in any formal sense.

We have to go pretty far into the article before moving past "Pez" Biden & into the weeds of the actual process. Again, I welcome criticism and reform there, especially if done with some nuance.

Posted by: Joe | Dec 9, 2021 2:55:32 PM

"The president could, at any time, bypass this process. Trump did when he pardoned Arpaio and his other allies, such as Roger Stone and Steve Bannon."

This is not a particularly compelling argument for bypassing the process. In fact, it's sort of like the exact opposite of a compelling argument.

Also, if anyone "forgot," it's the ones who claim Biden made "promises" when he actually did no such thing. I believe they're keying in on this campaign quote: "'I think we should decriminalize marijuana, period,' Biden said during a 2019 debate. 'And I think everyone  anyone who has a record  should be let out of jail, their records expunged, be completely zeroed out.'"

He certainly expressed a view and a goalwhich are admirable and I certainly agree with of coursebut I don't see anything resembling a promise there. I also don't see any mention of specific means, like the pardon power, to carry out that view and goal.

The OP also displays the usual "forgetting" about the 50 R Senators and multitudes of R House membersespecially the formerwho, last I checked, are hardly being prevented from taking the initiative and showing leadership on this kind of issue. Well, maybe they're "prevented" by their own lack of interest in doing anything to improve the situation. But again, in the OP's muddled conception of how the federal gov't is structured, anyone with "R-" after their names isn't an independently-elected, autonomous, grown-up actor capable of thinking for themselves. Nope, instead, Biden's apparently the CEO of "USA Corp." who all elected officials answer to on pain of being sacked. So if they don't act, it's actually somehow Biden's fault for not bossing them around.

Finally, as Federalist also points out in his typical clumsy, offensive, and borderline-incoherent way, Biden is, in fact, taking concrete positive steps on criminal justice. We have the obvious example of nominating and obtaining confirmation DA Rollins to D. Mass. USA. (As if that weren't enough already, it also furthers representation for black women.) But you'd never know that from reading this blog, even though it supposedly covers sentencing topics. So I guess the blog "forgot" huh? And whenever it finally remembers, will it also recount that not. a. single. Republican. Senatorincluding wannabe so-called "moderates" Collins and Murkowskivoted in favor of this eminently qualified nominee? Maybe not because anything bad Rs do is apparently invisible around here.

Posted by: kotodama | Dec 9, 2021 3:01:36 PM

I was about to comment on the "Pez" typo too, but Joe beat me to it. That certainly brings back fond childhood memories.

Apparently, presidential-themed dispensers are in fact a thing.

https://www.storkz.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/1200x1200/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/s/2/s20566689.jpg

Maybe the Biden one could dispense COVID pills.

Posted by: kotodama | Dec 9, 2021 3:05:44 PM

I welcome kotodama's comments.

For me personally, I truly support the pressure (and some of the criticism) to pardon/commute more, including changing the process. Trump's troll pardons, as I noted in the past, didn't help pushes for reform. It encourages a more conservative approach.

I think big picture here, as I voiced in the past, but that's part of the battle too. I would welcome, e.g., some Christmas or New Years Eve pardons and commutations. The idea of Veteran's Day pardons (actual) over the asinine turkey tradition was a good one.

As someone (overriding the recommendation of the pardon & parole board) was executed in Oklahoma this morning, I again recommend Mark Osler's book, Jesus on Death Row. As well as Rachel Barkow's book.

(Both individuals are cited in the article.)

Posted by: Joe | Dec 9, 2021 3:43:07 PM

Always happy for the engagement, and thanks for catching the title typo now fixed. As for what Biden promised, here is part of this campaign platform on criminal justice issues (https://joebiden.com/justice/):

"ELIMINATING RACIAL DISPARITIES AND ENSURING FAIR SENTENCES

"We need to confront racial and income-based disparities in our justice system and eliminate overly harsh sentencing for non-violent crimes. As president, Biden will:....

"Use the presidents clemency power to secure the release of individuals facing unduly long sentences for certain non-violent and drug crimes. President Obama used his clemency power more than any of the 10 prior presidents. Biden will continue this tradition and broadly use his clemency power for certain non-violent and drug crimes."

He still has at least three more years to make good on this promise (along with other sentencing related promised made there such as "Eliminate mandatory minimums" and "Eliminate the death penalty" and "Decriminalize the use of cannabis and automatically expunge all prior cannabis use convictions").

Meanwhile, kotodama, I will start blogging about the new D. Mass US Attorney Rollins if and when she starts doing some interesting sentencing work. I have heard a lot of different versions of her work as a prosecutor to date, but it is hard for me to judge that work when I am not in Boston and do not know the Mass system will. Do you expect her to make a big difference? One high-profile case she inherits involved all the Varsity Blues defendants. Do you think sentencing recommendations in these cases might change with USA Rollins now in charge: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/investigations-college-admissions-and-testing-bribery-scheme

Finally, kotodama, I hope someone is rewarding you for your effort to redirected criticisms of how Prez Biden uses (or does not use) his clemency power to bemoan the work of members of Congress from the minority party. What a hallmark of accountability to finding someone with little or no constitutional power to blame for how a Prez uses (or does not use) a particular constitutional power.

Posted by: Doug B. | Dec 9, 2021 4:26:42 PM

Offensive? How so? It is true that Harris cast the deciding vote; it is true that Harris boyfriend appointed her to two taxpayer funded positions, and it is true that her practices as AG violated the First Amendment. And as for Rollins, there is video of her acting like a banshee. Funny that she worries about her kids, but not other peoples kids when she lets criminals go.

People who are offended by the truth are just close-minded ideologues.

Posted by: Federalist | Dec 10, 2021 10:14:09 AM

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/biden-us-attorney-rollins-rebuked-reporters-video.amp

She should be nowhere near the levers of power and probably should be disbarred for this.

Posted by: Federalist | Dec 10, 2021 10:28:51 AM

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 "The Effects of College in Prison and Policy Implications" | Main | Another reminder that Prez Biden has so far decided to forget using his clemency powers 

December 9, 2021

More research to support notion that spike in gun sales contributed to spike in gun crimes

As detailed in a number of prior posts (some linked below), because guns crimes but not many other crimes have spiked since the start of the pandemic, I have figured the pandemic spike in gun sales likely had some role in our modern crime trends. This new piece from The Trace, headlined "New Data Suggests a Connection Between Pandemic Gun Sales and Increased Violence," seems to provide further support for my (simplistic?) thinking here. Here are excerpts:

In March 2020, as the first COVID-19 outbreaks rippled across the U.S., Americans flocked to gun stores. In total, civilians purchased some 19 million firearms over the next nine months  shattering every annual sales record. At the same time, shootings across the country soared, with dozens of cities setting grim records for homicides. As the pandemic progressed, and gun sales continued to climb alongside shootings, researchers have puzzled over the connection between these two intersecting trends. Was the surge in violent crime related to the uptick in guns sold last year? We may not get a definitive answer to that question for years, but fresh data from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives provides some of the first evidence that a relationship exists. ATF data shows that in 2020, police recovered almost twice as many guns with a short time-to-crime  in this case, guns recovered within a year of their purchase  than in 2019. Law enforcement officials generally view a short time-to-crime as an indicator that a firearm was purchased with criminal intent, since a gun with a narrow window between sale and recovery is less likely to have changed hands. Altogether, more than 87,000 such guns were recovered in 2020, almost double the previous high. And almost 68,000 guns were recovered in 2020 with a time-to-crime of less than seven months (meaning they were less likely to have been purchased the previous year). Put more plainly, thousands of guns purchased in 2020 were almost immediately used in crimes  some as soon as a day after their sale. That was the case of the 9mm Beretta pistol purchased by an Arlington man from Uncle Dans Pawn Shop and Jewelry in Dallas, according to police records. Officers seized the gun from its owner during a drug arrest 24 hours later. In another example, a Laredo, Texas, man assaulted his mother, then opened fire on police with his Smith & Wesson M&P 15-22 rifle in July 2020. The gun had been purchased at a Cabelas in Ammon, Idaho, just three months earlier. Overall, I think we can say that the gun sale surge may have contributed to a surge in crime, said Julia Schleimer, a researcher in the Violence Prevention Research Program at the University of California, Davis, after reviewing the ATFs data.... Researchers interviewed for this story cautioned that the number of guns recovered and traced by law enforcement does not always indicate the amount of gun crime in a given year. In other words, factors driving increases in the amount of short-time-crime guns in the ATFs data may be separate from the factors contributing to gun violence. Still, no sales bump compares to 2020, when gun buying soared to unprecedented heights, Schleimer said, substantially widening the pool of recently purchased guns that could potentially turn up at crime scenes.... Jim Bueermann, a former California police chief who serves as a senior fellow at the George Mason University Center for Evidence-Based Crime Policy, said that while the new data may not provide conclusive evidence of a causal relationship between gun sales and gun crime, it does signal the importance of additional exploration. Data like this asks more questions than it answers, but this is a clarion call for criminologists to conduct research in this space.

A few of many prior related posts:

December 9, 2021 at 12:01 AM | Permalink

Comments

Guns cause homicide because they fire themselves, just like Alec Baldwin's did! Oh.....wait...........

The Herculean effort to subtract human agency from murder should continue to amaze, but it no longer does. For criminal defense, it's the name of the game, and has been since time out of mind.

Posted by: Bill Otis | Dec 9, 2021 10:50:53 AM

Who is subtracting human agency? The point is that more guns enable more humans to be more violent and deadly when they fight with each other. Notably, some people and researchers assert that more guns results in less crime. Is that your position, Bill? Are you asserting we ought not care about data showing relationships between certain items and crime rates and patterns?

Posted by: Doug B. | Dec 9, 2021 11:36:28 AM

"Who is subtracting human agency?"

The defense bar and its allies in the press, every single day. Go down to court and watch the defense case, particularly allocution, if you don't believe me. And just recently, the WaPo had to step back a tweet saying that the Waukasha massacre was caused by "an SUV." It was driving itself! https://www.thewrap.com/washington-post-waukesha-tweet/

"Notably, some people and researchers assert that more guns results in less crime. Is that your position, Bill?"

I don't know enough to say. It's not that hard to envision particular circumstances in which having a gun results in less crime, but as a general proposition I'd need to see more evidence.

"Are you asserting we ought not care about data showing relationships between certain items and crime rates and patterns?"

Depends on what the "relationship" is and what the source implies it to be.

Posted by: Bill Otis | Dec 9, 2021 12:08:20 PM

Here is a Scientific American article from four years ago, headlined "More Guns Do Not Stop More Crimes, Evidence Shows" and summarized "about 30 careful studies show more guns are linked to more crimes: murders, rapes, and others. Far less research shows that guns help." https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/more-guns-do-not-stop-more-crimes-evidence-shows/

One can certainly seek to make the claim that the other benefits of guns outweigh the violent crime costs. But I think the evidence suggest more guns often means more gun crimes. A recent big Rand report says we need a lot more and better research on these issues: https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR2088-1.html.

Do you agree, Bill, we ought to be trying to research more fully and robustly the relationships between our gun policies and practices and crime?

Posted by: Douglas Berman | Dec 9, 2021 1:36:16 PM

Doug,

This reminds me of our debate about whether incarceration is criminogenic. There are certainly cases in which inmates learn criminal techniques in prison that they practice once released, and in those cases, yes, incarceration is criminogenic. But overall statistics -- namely, the huge decrease in crime in the 20 years from 1990 - 2010 combined with huge increase in incarceration over that same time -- show that, as a general proposition, incarceration is NOT criminogenic and, to the contrary, contributes substantially to crime reduction.

Why?

Because it incapacitates criminals from practicing their trade in civil society.

Pretty much the same deal with guns and crime. There are any number of documented cases where a good guy with a gun stops an ongoing crime or one that's about to commence. In such instances, obviously guns are helpful. Over the long term, it may well be the case that the more guns there are out there, the more murder you're going to get, just as when we have more cars on the highways, then, other things being equal (like speed limits), the more traffic accidents and fatalities you're going to get.

But that doesn't ipso facto prove we should have fewer cars. It does prove that we should be careful about who we let drive. Similarly, rising murder with guns doesn't ipso facto prove we should have fewer guns (and this is putting entirely to one side that the Second Amendment addresses guns rights and says nothing about cars). What it proves is that we should be more careful about who we let have guns, see, e.g., the famous Heller dictum that its holding does not call into question the prohibition on ownership by previously convicted felons (a prohibition you have vocally opposed for years).

As to your question directly: I'm all for research when it actually is research. I'm skeptical when it's simply a prefab prelude to a prefab conclusion.

Posted by: Bill Otis | Dec 9, 2021 2:46:12 PM

Bill, you are bright enough to know that prison can incapacitate (at least from committing crime on the outside in "civil society") and also be criminogenic (meaning it increases the likelihood a person will commit a crime later once released) --- and the high recidivism rates you often like based on folks released at the height of mass incarceration would seem support my concern that prison can often turn lower-risk persons into higher-risk persons (unless you plan to pay for keep everyone risky imprisoned until they are in their 70s when even the highest-risk folks become low-risk).

I agree that we should be more careful about who we let have guns and cars because guns and cars are dangerous. Notably, cars have to be registered (and often taxed) and they are also heavily regulated to advance greater public safety. Unfortunately there is often great opposition to such comparable safety measures for guns. Would you welcome safety regulations for guns that are comparable to those regulations we have for cars?

To be clear, my concern about criminal prohibitions on felons having guns is based on my failure to understand how a fundamental constitutional right can be subject to such an extreme and broad categorical restriction. I hope you and many others would be troubled if all felons and some misdemeanants were criminally prohibited from ever again attending church or could forever have their homes searched for no reason and without a warrant. In other words, what makes something a fundamental constitutional right (like the 1st and 4th Amendments) is that every adult retains those rights with only some limited and well-justified exceptions that apply to most everyone. But for guns, we have invented --- without any textual or historical support in the Second Amendment --- an extreme and broad categorical restriction to deny people this supposed "right." The thinking, no doubt, is that guns are dangerous and that justifies more restrictions. But that basic logic undermines the entire personal right to guns in the first place. Justice Barrett gets the point as she explained in her Kanter dissent:

"History is consistent with common sense: it demonstrates that legislatures have the power to prohibit dangerous people from possessing guns. But that power extends only to people who are dangerous. Founding-era legislatures did not strip felons of the right to bear arms simply because of their status as felons. Nor have the parties introduced any evidence that founding-era legislatures imposed virtue-based restrictions on the right; such restrictions applied to civic rights like voting and jury service, not to individual rights like the right to possess a gun. In 1791  and for well more than a century afterward  legislatures disqualified categories of people from the right to bear arms only when they judged that doing so was necessary to protect the public safety."

I actually like some law in my rule of law with respect to gun rights and other rights, otherwise we are just doing policy in another guise. I also like actual research in my research, so we are on the same page there.

Posted by: Doug B. | Dec 9, 2021 4:04:37 PM

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As reported in this local article, headlined "Bigler Stouffer executed in Oklahoma without problems of previous lethal injections," the latest and last execution in Oklahoma took place this morning and here are the details:

Oklahoma executed inmate Bigler Jobe "Bud" Stouffer II Thursday without the issues that caused the last three lethal injections to be described as botched.

The convicted murderer was pronounced dead at 10:16 a.m. at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary. It was the state's second execution in a month and a half after the practice was halted for more than six years. "No vomiting, no erratic movements or anything like that. Just, you could see his chest moving as he appeared to breathe. That's about it," said one media witness, Sean Murphy of The Associated Press.

The execution process began at 10:01 a m., Corrections Department Director Scott Crow told reporters. Stouffer was declared unconscious at 10:06 a.m. For his last words, Stouffer said, "My request is that my Father forgive them. Thank you," media witnesses reported.

In a policy change, Stouffer was allowed to have his personal spiritual advisor, Baptist minister Howard Potts, in the execution chamber with him. Potts put a hand on Stouffer's foot and read from a Bible, witnesses said. Early in the process, the advisor said something that made Stouffer laugh.

At 79, Stouffer is the oldest inmate in Oklahoma history to be executed. He is the second oldest inmate to be executed in the nation since the U.S. Supreme Court reinstated the death penalty in 1976.

He was put to death by lethal injection for the fatal shooting of Putnam City elementary school teacher Linda Reaves in 1985. He maintained to the end he was wrongfully convicted. "He felt like if he couldn't prove his innocence while alive then his attorneys would prove it after he was gone," said Goforth, who works for The Frontier.

Three more executions are set for next year. As many as 26 more could be scheduled next year if death row inmates lose a legal challenge to the lethal injection process at a trial in Oklahoma City federal court. The trial is set to begin Feb. 28.

Stouffer filed his own legal challenge after his execution was set. He sought to have his execution delayed until after the trial but was turned down in court three times. The U.S. Supreme Court denied his last request for a stay about 8 a.m. Thursday.

His attorneys also had sought clemency for him. Gov. Kevin Stitt last week rejected a recommendation to commute his sentence to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Stouffer spent more than three decades on death row because he was tried twice. He was first convicted in 1985. He was granted a retrial in 2000 when a federal appeals court agreed his defense attorneys had been inept. He was convicted again in 2003 but did not exhaust his appeals of that conviction until 2017....

After the execution, the family of the murder victim thanked the governor and Attorney General John O'Connor for their willingness to carry justice through. "Although long in coming, justice has prevailed," a cousin, Rodney C. Thomson, told reporters at the penitentiary....

His spiritual advisor told the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board in November that Stouffer turned his incarceration into a spiritual ministry and regularly shared his faith with other death row inmates.
 US Sentencing Commission releases FY 2021 fourth quarter sentencing data showing growth in cases and in average sentence severity | Main | More research to support notion that spike in gun sales contributed to spike in gun crimes 

December 8, 2021

"The Effects of College in Prison and Policy Implications"

The title of this post is the title of this notable new piece authored by Matthew G.T. Denney and Robert Tynes newly published in the journal Justice Quarterly. Here is its abstract:

Despite the policy relevance of college-in-prison, the existing research on these programs has important flaws, failing to address selection and self-selection bias. We address an important policy question: what are the effects of college-in-prison program? To do this, we provide the largest study published to-date of a single college-in-prison program. We analyze the effects of the Bard Prison Initiative (BPI) in New York, a liberal arts program that has offered college courses to incarcerated students since 2001. By leveraging the BPI admissions process, we employ a design-based approach to infer the causal effect of participation in BPI. We find a large and significant reduction in recidivism rates. This reduction is consistent across racial groupings. Moreover, people with higher levels of participation recidivate at even lower rates. In light of these findings, we provide policy recommendations that support college-in-prison programs.

December 8, 2021 at 11:01 PM | Permalink

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Oil prices

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Energy Mix

- Despite COP26 ending with no powerful mandate and a watered-down version of climate commitments, the UN summit put developing economies and OECD countries on a collision course.

- According to IEA estimates, fossil fuel subsidies that the initial COP26 draft wanted to scrap, still amount to some 180 billion globally and remain likely to be a key target for upcoming climate summits.

- Global oil demand alone would need to collapse by 75% over the next 30 years from todays levels to put the world on a pathway to net-zero emissions by 2050, Platts reports.

- The Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance, which seeks to phase out oil and gas altogether, failed spectacularly as even the conference host declined to sign up, making Denmark the only country participating with any sizeable production as of now.

Market Movers

- Royal Dutch Shell (NYSE:RDS.A) announced it would scrap its dual share structure and move its HQ to Britain from the Netherlands, on the back of Dutch court pressure and higher taxation, simultaneously changing its name for the first time since 1907 to Shell.

- UAE state oil company ADNOC outlined its $6 billion drilling investments that would bring it closer to having a 5 million b/d production capacity, with Baker Hughes and Technip landing the sweetest bit, a $3.3 billion 10-year wellheads deal.

- US oil major ExxonMobil (NYSE:XOM) launched the sale of its Barnett Shale holdings that include 2,700 wells across some 182,000 acres in North Texas, seeking to garner up to $500 million from the transaction that comes as part of its $15 billion asset sale program.

Tuesday, November 16, 2021

Crude prices have stagnated this week amid diverging market signals. On the one hand, inventories have dropped to multi-year lows, losing some 300 million barrels from their summer peak. In this, both the Americas and Asia have witnessed unprecedented stock draws that fortify the sentiment of market tightness. On the other hand, resurgent COVID across the Atlantic Basin added to demand worries as nations started to consider potential lockdown measures. To top it off, the public rift between OPEC+ and the United States saw no development this week, meaning the market will need to wait for further signals before a clear direction is established.

Story continues

IEA Hikes 2022 Crude Price Forecast. The International Energy agency upped its average 2022 Brent price forecast to 79.40 per barrel, despite keeping incremental crude demand at 3.4 million b/d, indicating that it expects the market tightness to resonate longer in the markets.

Germany Suspends Nord Stream 2 Approval. BNetzA, Germanys energy regulator, temporarily suspended the approval process of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, saying the Gazprom-controlled operating company should form a German subsidiary under German law to get the license.

Xi-Biden Talks Ease Pressure on Metals. Metals prices, especially that of copper, rose today following positive geopolitical developments at the virtual Xi-Biden summit where both leaders called for increased communication between China and the United States.

United OPEC+ Defies US Calls for Action. Arguing that markets would inevitably switch from a supply deficit this year to a surplus in 2022, leading OPEC+ producers such as Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Russia reiterated they would not change course and that the overall market volatility was coming from other sectors, not oil.

Pressure Mounts on Biden Administration to Release SPRs. Amidst OPEC+ resisting calls to hike production, several top US officials have indicated the government should release barrels from the US Strategic Petroleum Reserve in a bid to lower fuel prices as Americans head into the holiday season.

Coal Shares Plunge in COP26 Aftereffect. Despite the softening of the final COP26 communique, the targeting of coal triggered an across-the-board weakening of coal stocks, with Chinese, Australian, Indonesian, and other companies all-seeing 2-7% declines this week.

Nickel, Zinc Added to US Critical Minerals List. The US Geological Survey suggested that nickel and zinc be added to the list of critical minerals, as both metals are primarily import-dependent and potential supply disruptions could undercut American supply chains.

Increased Russian Gas Flows to Germany Shake Off Belarus Threat. Russias Gazprom (MCX:GAZP) has started to fill its European inventories amid increased flows via Belarus and Ukraine, however, shied away from booking monthly capacities and opting instead for daily transit bookings.

US DUC Well Count Declines in All Shale Basins. The number of drilled but uncompleted wells (DUC) declined by 222 over the last month to a total of 5,104 wells  whilst all basins saw month-on-month drops, the Permian led the trend, accounting for half of the October backlog clearing.

Italys Eni Inadvertently Buys Iranian Cargo. A recent London court hearing shed light on a 2019 transaction that saw the Italian major ENI (NYSE:E) admit that it inadvertently purchased a cargo of Iranian crude disguised as Basrah Light, leading to the dismissal of the crude trading units boss.

European Carbon Price Reaches Record High. The first day after the UN COP26 climate summit the price of EU carbon dioxide allowances rose by 4% to an all-time high of 66 EUR per metric ton ($75/mt), driven by the overall pressure on Europes grid and cold weather forecast for end-November.

Rosneft Makes Giant Gas Discovery. Russias main state oil company Rosneft (MCX:ROSN), partnering with Britains BP (NYSE:BP), discovered a 384 bcm (13.5 tcf) giant gas field in the north of the Taimyr peninsula, naming it after the late emergency situations minister Evgeny Zinichev.

Chinese Coal Production Surges After Government Free-for-All. Chinas October coal output rose to a 6-year monthly high of 357.09 million tons as the government hastily approved coal extensions and expedited mining wherever it could, also forbidding local authorities to shut mines without authorization.

By Tom Kool for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:

Read this article on OilPrice.com
Exclusive-Lithuania braces for China-led corporate boycott FILE PHOTO: European Union and Lithuanian flags flutter at border crossing point in Medininkai

By John O'Donnell and Andrius Sytas

FRANKFURT/VILNIUS (Reuters) -China has told multinationals to sever ties with Lithuania or face being shut out of the Chinese market, a senior government official and an industry body told Reuters, dragging companies into a dispute between the Baltic state and Beijing.

China downgraded its diplomatic ties with Lithuania last month, after the opening of a representative office by Taiwan in Vilnius. Lithuania's ruling coalition had agreed in November last year to support what it described as "those fighting for freedom" in Taiwan, putting its relations with China at risk.

China views self-ruled and democratically governed Taiwan as its territory and has stepped up pressure on countries to downgrade or sever their relations with the island.

China's foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said on Thursday that China followed international trade rules and again criticised Lithuania for its stance on Taiwan.

"It has created the false impression of Taiwan being separate from China, gravely harmed China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and started an egregious precedent among the international community," he said.

"China will firmly safeguard its sovereignty, territorial integrity and core interests."

Taiwan has other offices in Europe and the United States but they use the name of the city Taipei, avoiding reference to the island itself.

Lithuania's direct trade with China is modest, but its export-based economy is home to hundreds of companies that make products such as furniture, lasers, food and clothing for multinationals that sell to China.

"They (China) have been sending messages to multinationals that if they use parts and supplies from Lithuania, they will no longer be allowed to sell to the Chinese market or get supplies there," Mantas Adomenas, Lithuania's vice-minister for foreign affairs, told Reuters.

"We have seen some companies cancel contracts with Lithuanian suppliers."

Story continues

He did not name any companies or suppliers affected.

THREATS THAT BECAME REALITY

The Lithuanian Confederation of Industrialists, which represents thousands of Lithuanian companies, confirmed that some multinational companies that buy goods from Lithuania suppliers were being targeted by China.

"This week was the first time we saw direct Chinese pressure on a supplier to drop Lithuanian-made goods," Vidmantas Janulevicius, the Confederation president, told Reuters. "Previously, we only had threats it could happen, now they became reality."

"For us, the most painful part is that it's a European company," said Janulevicius, referring to the multinational. "Many Lithuanian businesses are suppliers for such companies."

He did not name any companies.

Lithuania is looking at setting up a fund to shield local companies from Chinese retaliation, a senior government official told Reuters.

The Lithuanian government is in talks with the companies at risk of fallout from the China dispute about offering possible financial support, such as loans, the government official said.

Lithuania has also appealed to the European Commission for support.

In a letter sent earlier this week to top officials at the Commission and seen by Reuters, Lithuanian foreign minister Gabrielius Landsbergis asked for support in rebuffing China.

"A strong reaction is necessary at the EU level in order to send a signal to China that politically motivated economic pressure is unacceptable and will not be tolerated," the letter said.

The European Commission responded in a statement that the EU was ready to stand up against all types of political pressure and coercive measures applied against any member state.

"The development of Chinas bilateral relations with individual EU Member States has an impact on overall EU-China relations."

When asked about China's actions, George Magnus of Oxford University's China Centre said that while there was a "constant drumbeat of toys being thrown out of the pram" by China, targeting third-party companies was unusual and had not been seen previously.

Adomenas said that Chinese authorities were also curtailing exports to Lithuania, including by stopping export credit guarantees for Lithuanian imports from China.

"It has affected food stuffs, lasers, raw materials, pharmaceuticals, furniture, clothing."

"We will not bend to this pressure," he said. "What we decide to do, by calling Taiwan Taiwan, is up to Lithuania, not Beijing."

(Writing By John O'Donnell; additional reporting by Ryan Woo and Yew Lun Tian in Beijing. Editing by Jane Merriman)
PORTLAND, Maine  Most Americans know about atrocities endured by Native Americans after the arrival of European settlers: wars, disease, stolen land. But they aren't always taught the extent of the indiscriminate killings.

Members of the Penobscot Nation in Maine have produced an educational film addressing how European settlers scalped  killed  Indigenous people during the British colonial era, spurred for decades by cash bounties and with the government's blessing.

"It was genocide," said Dawn Neptune Adams, one of the three Penobscot Nation members featured in the film, called "Bounty."

She said the point of the effort isn't to make any Americans feel defensive or blamed. The filmmakers say they simply want to ensure this history isn't whitewashed by promoting a fuller understanding of the nation's past.

At the heart of the project is a chilling declaration by Spencer Phips, lieutenant governor of the Province of Massachusetts Bay.

Issued in November 1755, it gave "His Majesty's Subjects" license to kill Penobscots for "this entire month." The reward was about $12,000 in today's dollars for the scalp of a man, and half that for a woman's scalp. The amount was slightly less for a child. Settlers who killed Indigenous people were sometimes rewarded with land, in addition to money, expanding settlers' reach while displacing tribes from their ancestral lands.

The declaration is familiar to many Penobscots because a copy of the document was displayed at the tribal offices at Indian Island, Maine.

"If every American knew the whole history of this country, even the dark and uncomfortable parts, it would help us to get along better and to understand each other better," said Maulian Dana, who co-directed the film with Neptune Adams.

Both Europeans and Native Americans engaged in scalping, but English colonists greatly expanded the practice when the government sanctioned the effort with bounties, the filmmakers said.

The first known colonial scalping order is from 1675. That's just a few short decades after the first Thanksgiving in 1621, when Pilgrims gathered with Wampanoag people for a harvest celebration, said Chris Newell, who is Passamaquoddy and wrote "If You Lived During the Plimoth Thanksgiving."

All told, there were more than 70 bounty proclamations encouraging white colonists to kill tribal members in what's now New England, and another 50 government-sanctioned proclamations elsewhere across the country, the filmmakers' research found. Colonial governments paid out bounties for scalps of at least 375 Indigenous people across New England between 1675 to 1760, they said.

Emerson Baker, a Salem State University professor who specializes in New England history, called the tribal education effort "a powerful course correction."

"Most people realize that Native Americans were here first and that the colonists did their best to remove them from the land. They just have no idea of the extremes that it took," Baker said. "Pretty much any Native American man, woman or child was considered fair game at times, and sometimes by the government."

Collaborating with the Massachusetts-based Upstander Project, the filmmakers released "Bounty" in November during National Native American Heritage Month.

Neptune Adams and Dana, along with Tim Shay and their families, were filmed at the Old State House in Boston. It's the same location where Lt. Gov. Phips' scalping order was signed.

In "Bounty," the three participants describe having nightmares of Penobscots being chased through the woods, and discuss the dehumanization and massacre of their people.

"When you learn about a people's humanity, that affects how you treat my kids, how you vote on public policy, how you may view my people," Dana said.

Accompanying the short video is a 200-page study guide aimed at teachers. Several school districts, including Portland Public Schools in Maine's largest city, are purchasing licenses for the video and plan to use the study guides to assist instruction.

In Portland, the scalp bounties will be included as one element in a curriculum that will bring the school district into compliance with a 2001 law requiring students to be taught Wabanaki Studies focusing on Native Americans in Maine, said Fiona Hopper, social studies teacher leader and Wabanaki studies coordinator.

"Students and teachers will see in 'Bounty' the ongoing endurance and resistance of Penobscot Nation citizens," Hopper said.

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TOLEDO, Ohio (AP)  A man accused of running unlicensed funeral operations in four counties across Ohio has been indicted on seven new charges including abuse of a corpse.

The charges against Shawnte Hardin are on top of 37 counts, mostly felonies, that he already faces.

A Lucas County grand jury on Tuesday indicted Hardin on charges that included representing as a funeral director while unlicensed and theft.

Authorities have said he ran funeral services in Summit, Cuyahoga, Franklin and Lucas counties without having a license. He pleaded not guilty in October to 37 counts that included tampering with records, passing bad checks, identity fraud and engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity.

A message seeking comment was left with his attorney, Harden previously denied allegations that he was running an illegal funeral home, telling WBNS-TV in Columbus that he offered lower-cost services for transporting and washing bodies.

Hardin operated businesses during the past couple years under names such as Hussain Funeral Directors and Celebration of Life Memorial Chapels, according to the Ohio attorney generals office, which is prosecuting the case.

He also was a pastor at Greater Faith Missionary Baptist Church in Akron, the Akron Beacon Journal reported.

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

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BOSTON (AP)  A now defunct e-cigarette retailer and its two owners have agreed to pay nearly $51 million to settle allegations that they illegally marketed products to minors in Massachusetts, the state attorney general's office said Thursday.

The settlement filed in Suffolk Superior Court against Eonsmoke LLC, Gregory Grishayev and Michael Tolmach resolves allegations that the defendants directly targeted young people for sales of its vaping products through marketing and advertising intended to appeal to youth," the attorney general's office said.

The company  based in New Jersey and dissolved last year  failed to verify the age of online purchasers of electronic nicotine devices, e-liquids, and nicotine pods, and failed to ensure that shipments of their products were received by a person legally allowed to do so, the office alleged.

The states minimum legal age to buy smoking products is 21.

The company stopped selling its products to online customers in Massachusetts after the attorney generals office sent a cease-and-desist letter in September 2019.

A message was left with an attorney listed in online court records as representing Eonsmoke and the two men.

Under terms of the settlement, the company will pay $50 million while Grishayev and Tolmach will pay a total of $750,000.

Also, if Grishayev and Tolmach in the future want to resume selling tobacco products in Massachusetts, they are required to get authorization from the federal Food and Drug Administration and give notice to the state.

The settlement requires a judge's approval.

Eonsmoke coordinated a campaign that intentionally targeted young people and sold dangerous and addictive vaping products directly to minors through their website, Attorney General Maura Healey said in a statement. We were the first to take action against this company and its owners, and today we are holding them accountable and permanently stopping them from conducting these illegal practices in our state.

In the original lawsuit filed in May 2019, the state alleged Eonsmoke targeted teens by selling products with high nicotine concentrations in dessert flavors" such as sour gummy, donut cream, and pink lemonade.

The company also referenced youth popular culture in its advertising and advertised on social media platforms commonly used by youth, the attorney general alleged.

The lawsuit against Eonsmoke was the first of eight filed by the attorney general against online e-cigarette retailers since Healey opened an investigation into the industry in 2018.

Cease-and-desist letters have also been sent to a number of other e-cigarette companies to stop them from selling their products to Massachusetts residents.

A first-in-the nation Massachusetts law that banned the sale of flavored tobacco products, including e-cigarettes and e-liquids, went into effect on June 1, 2020.

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

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ONAWA, Iowa -- A young teenage girl recalled how Jay Lee Neubaum showed up at her home in Mapleton on March 25, 2020, while her mom was at work.

"School was canceled due to COVID and I was home alone with my little brother," the girl testified Wednesday on the second day of Neubaum's trial for sexually assaulting seven teenage girls.

"I knew my mom didn't want Jay Lee or anybody else inside the house," the girl, the youngest of Neubaum's alleged victims, told the court. "I knew my mom didn't want Jay Lee here and I still let him come in out of the cold."

At the time, Neubaum, then 17, had been arrested in connection with the Jan. 31, 2020, shooting death of 16-year-old Joseph Hopkins in Mapleton. In May, a Monona County jury found Neubaum guilty of second-degree murder in Hopkins' death. Neubaum is currently serving a 50-year prison term on that offense.

After the girl's brother left for a friend's house, Neubaum followed the girl into her bedroom.

"Jay Lee started kissing me and I kept on saying don't," she said. "Jay Lee took off my jeans and underwear. Then, he took off his pants and underwear."

"Jay Lee said this wasn't a big deal. Everybody in high school does it," she recalled. "But I wasn't in high school. I was 13 and only in the eighth grade at the time."

"I didn't know what to do," she said of Neubaum, a relative of one of her best friends.

Neubaum left the girl's house after sexually assaulting her.

Initially, the girl refused to tell anyone about the alleged attack, including her mother, who also testified against Neubaum Wednesday.

"My daughter is usually very outgoing," her mother told the court. "When she became quiet and sad, I knew something was wrong."

Even after learning Neubaum was being investigated for the sexual assault of another Monona County teenage girl, her daughter refused to talk to anyone, including Matthew Burns, a special agent for the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.

"I didn't want my mom or anyone else to know what Jay Lee did to me," the girl said.

Eventually, the girl was persuaded to talk to Burns and tell him about the alleged attack.

"After that, it felt like a weight was taken off my shoulders," she recalled.

Neubaum, now 18, is charged with 10 counts of third-degree sexual abuse for the alleged assault of six girls, and forced sexual contact with a seventh. He is accused of assaulting the girls, ranging in age from 13 to 16, from August 2019 through March 2020, in Mapleton. Each sex abuse count carries a 10-year prison sentence.

Neubaum has denied all of the charges.

The trial continues Thursday in Monona County District Court in Onawa. Because Neubaum waived his right to a jury trial, District Judge Zachary Hindman is hearing the case.

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STORM LAKE, Iowa -- Vu Nguyen knows the hesitancy to call police that some Storm Lake residents who came from other countries may have.

As someone who grew up in Vietnam, Vu knows it's not just about a language barrier. Some Asian cultures, he said, fear the police.

Vu hopes he can change that feeling for Asians and other immigrants living in Storm Lake.

"I'm here, I'm Asian, too," he said. "An officer is an officer and not a scary person."

Vu was sworn in Nov. 15, becoming the first Vietnamese officer in the Storm Lake Police Department, adding diversity to the 20-officer department, which includes two with Spanish-speaking backgrounds, an African American and a Laotian community service officer. In a city known for its diverse immigrant population -- students speak 24 languages in Storm Lake schools -- Vu can help bridge the gap between police and the Vietnamese community.

"It's easy for them to make the call, and if they need to report something, they know I speak Vietnamese and can understand them," Vu said. "It makes Vietnamese people feel comfortable to talk with any officer."

Vu can easily empathize with them. It wasn't that long ago that he faced many of the same challenges while adjusting to a new culture.

Growing up in Binh Thuan province in southern Vietnam, Vu wasn't aware that his parents had desired to immigrate to the United States for several years. After 13 years of waiting on paperwork, they got their chance.

"I didn't even know about it until they said we're moving to the U.S.," Vu said.

On June 11, 2011, 17-year-old Vu and his parents arrived in Eagan, Minnesota, where his aunt had moved after leaving their home country shortly after the war in Vietnam. Vu began high school there, then enrolled at Storm Lake High School a year later when his parents moved here and got jobs at the Tyson meatpacking plant.

Vu spoke no English when he came to the United States and didn't know much of the language when he moved to Storm Lake. Utilizing the school district's English as a Second Language classes, he became more comfortable in class and around his new classmates.

"After two years, it's easier. I picked up the English and understood more," he said.

Vu graduated in 2015 and became a U.S. citizen. He also joined the U.S. Army Reserves, leaving for basic training after he graduated.

"I really liked it," he said. "At that time I thought in the Army I could learn more about American culture."

He also began pursuing a criminal justice degree, a necessary step to fulfill a dream he'd had since he was a 12-year-old watching movies and becoming fascinated with police officers.

"I decided I wanted to be an officer. Then I came here, and it was a huge opportunity for me," Vu said.

By 2020, Vu had completed his degree and the police academy in Minnesota. While finishing up his education there, a cousin in Storm Lake told him about the challenges Vietnamese immigrants living in Storm Lake faced when meeting with police and other officials. Vu saw an opportunity to help other Vietnamese.

"There's a lot of Vietnamese people here who don't speak English," he said. "I think it's easier for me to talk to people who speak broken English."

His presence has been quickly noted, Storm Lake Police Chief Chris Cole said.

"I have been contacted by people in the Vietnamese community, and they're very excited to have him in the department," Cole said.

Once Vu completes his training, Cole said, he can become an important asset, and not just because he can communicate with other Vietnamese without needing an interpreter.

"Vu's life experience brings a lot of other great ideas and initiatives to the table," Cole said.

At a recent event for newcomers to Storm Lake, he said, many of the participants spoke little English. Vu can be an example to young people that they can learn English and get a good job.

It's a role that Vu is aware of and embraces.

"I want to lead the way for everybody like me who came from a different country and wants to do a job," he said.

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SIOUX CITY -- Two people were arrested early Thursday morning in a disturbance involving a man reportedly threatening two women with a gun.

At around 1:45 a.m., Sioux City Police responded to a disturbance call near Uncle Dave's bar in the 1400 block of West Third Street.

Prior to the arrival of officers, witnesses say a male and a female had fled the area in a grey Honda passenger car. A short time later, an officer located the vehicle, which took off immediately, leading officers on a pursuit through the west and north sides of Sioux City.

The pursuit ended when officers immobilized the vehicle with stop sticks in the 1400 block of Hamilton Blvd. Officers were able to locate a firearm and a loaded magazine that had been thrown from the suspect car's passenger window.

Luis Gomez, 37, of Sioux City, was arrested and charged with driving with suspended license; possession of marijuana, second offense; speeding; felony eluding; felon in possession of a firearm; open container, OWI, second offense; two counts of assault while participating in a felony; and two counts of assault while displaying a firearm.

Tawny Freemon, 21, of Sioux City, was arrested on a charge of obstruction.

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SIOUX CITY  Dr. Albert Mosley is the next president of Morningside University, according to an announcement Thursday from the school's board of directors.

Mosley, senior vice president and chief mission integration officer for Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare, will become the 13th president of Morningside effective June 2022. He will succeed John Reynders, who has served at Morningside since 1999 and is the university's longest-sitting president.

"I am so thrilled to become part of the Morningside community," Mosley said in a statement. "The reputation and celebration of Morningside in Siouxland are remarkable, and I am especially looking forward to joining a community that shares my values and priorities. Morningside has an emphasis on developing students as whole persons, which is something I have sought to do throughout my career in higher education."

Mosley was selected following an eight-month nationwide search led by a 16-member committee comprised of students, faculty, staff, alumni and board members.

"We all agree we found an exceptional leader in Dr. Mosley, and we look forward to welcoming him to Morningside," said Craig Struve, who chaired the committee.

The Morningside University Board of Directors convened on Dec. 1, at which time the search committee shared its recommendation. The board unanimously voted to move forward with offering the position.

"Our board saw in Dr. Mosley a charismatic leader who had embodied throughout his career the passion for ethical leadership and civic responsibility that are central to Morningsides mission and culture," said Esther Mackintosh, chair of the board of directors.

As part of the senior leadership team at Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare, a nonprofit, comprehensive, six-hospital health care system with 13,000 employees based in Memphis, Tennessee, Mosley provides strategic visioning and leadership to a division with more than 350 employees and a budget in excess of $50 million.

That division includes the Methodist Healthcare Foundation, Methodist Le Bonheur Community Outreach, behavioral health, the Center for Bioethics and Health Equity, the Center of Excellence in Faith & Health Equity, strategic philanthropy, international ministries, spiritual care, volunteer services and clinical pastoral education.

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By the time many folks in Siouxland are settled into work on Friday morning, they can expect to start seeing snowfall outside their window.

According to the National Weather Service (NWS) forecast office out of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Sioux City itself should anticipate at least three inches of snow accumulation from a winter weather event that's likely to kick off after noon. Accompanying those snowflakes, forecasters are predicting east-northeast winds that could top out at 30 mph. Heading into Friday night, there's a chance of further snow, before midnight, that could add another inch.

To the northwest, in Yankton, South Dakota, forecasters are calling for as many as six inches of accumulated snow during the day. That snowfall will mainly occur after 7 a.m. An additional inch could come Friday night. To the southeast, in Wayne, Nebraska, accumulation of two-to-four inches of snow late Friday morning (after 11 a.m.) is possible according to the NWS. One-to-two more inches may come on Friday night (before 9 p.m.).

Just slightly to the northeast of Sioux City, Le Mars is looking at four inches of snow mostly after 11 a.m. Those numbers for Orange City are five inches after 11 a.m.

Due east of Sioux City, the area around Correctionville should anticipate around two inches of snow that will start coming after 2 p.m. To the south, around the town of Onawa, snowfalls aren't expected to get much above an inch and should start around 1 p.m.

Matthew Meyers, a meteorologist for the NWS out of the Sioux Falls office, said that it's still not clear where in Siouxland will get hit hardest. "Theres going to be a heavier snow band but where that sets up were not confident on as of now," Meyers said.

As for when the last flakes should stop falling, Meyers said things should wrap at 6 a.m. on Saturday, at the absolute latest, for locations east of Sioux City.

Meyers then recommended that any motorists out tomorrow be careful and leave plenty of time in advance.

On Thursday, Woodbury County Management shared a message to residents to: "Continue to monitor your forecast for the latest updates."

South Sioux City's Public Works Department made a declaration Thursday morning: From Friday, Dec. 10, at 6 a.m., until Saturday, Dec. 11, at 6 a.m., there will be a snow emergency throughout the town.

And Dakota County Emergency Management noted: "With possible snow accumulation this week in Siouxland, area schools are making sure they are ready to call in snow days if necessary."

Jared McNett is an online editor and reporter for the Sioux City Journal. You can reach him at 712-293-4234 and follow him on Twitter at TwoHeadedBoy98.

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LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP)  Arkansas lawmakers on Thursday approved the largest tax cut in state history, adjourning a special session without taking up an abortion ban modeled after Texas' or other measures some Republican lawmakers hoped to add to the agenda.

The House and Senate approved legislation that would cut taxes by nearly $500 million once fully implemented in 2026. The proposal calls for gradually cutting the top individual income tax rate from 5.9% to 4.9% in 2025. It also includes corporate income tax cuts and a low-income tax credit.

Democrats and advocacy groups warned that the cuts could strain resources in the state and that the state should instead focus on increasing funding for needs such as services for the developmentally disabled. Critics have also said the tax cuts are skewed more toward the states higher earners.

Hours after the adjournment, Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson signed the legislation into law and noted the impact on low-income residents.

There's 100,000 Arkansans that were paying taxes that will have their taxes eliminated because of this reform effort, Hutchinson said. "I think it's poor form for someone to diminish a tax cut even though it's small. For an individual who happens to be paying a small portion of taxes, percentage-wise they're getting a larger cut in their taxes.

Hutchinson called the session once legislative leaders said there were more than enough votes to pass the tax cut package. The cuts come after the state reported a nearly $1 billion surplus in July and as revenue this year has come in above the state's expectations.

Hutchinson, who is barred by term limits from seeking reelection next year, has successfully pushed for a series of income tax cuts since taking office in 2015. Former White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders, the only Republican running to succeed him after others dropped out, has vowed to push for eliminating the individual income tax altogether if elected.

The majority-Republican Legislature adjourned despite efforts by some GOP lawmakers to include other items, including an abortion ban like the Texas one thats being argued before the Supreme Court. It would have taken a two-thirds vote of both chambers to extend the session up to 15 days for bills that werent on the initial agenda, including the abortion ban.

They had a focus on tax cuts and the agenda that was called and they did their business. I am grateful that did not have an extended session, said Hutchinson, who has noted that a challenge to Texas' ban is pending before the U.S. Supreme Court.

The Legislature approved several other items Hutchinson placed on the session's agenda, including incentives to help lure a steel mill expansion to east Arkansas.

The Legislature isn't set to meet again until February, for a session focused primarily on the state budget.

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

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WASHINGTON (AP)  President Joe Biden sounded an alarm about a global slide among democratic institutions Thursday as he convened the first White House Summit for Democracy. He called for world leaders to lock arms to strengthen democracies and demonstrate their worth in a changing world.

Biden called it a critical moment for fellow leaders to redouble their efforts to bolster democracies. In making the case for action, he noted his own battle to win passage of voting rights legislation at home and alluded to challenges to America's democratic institutions and traditions.

This is an urgent matter," Biden said in remarks to open the two-day virtual summit. The data were seeing is largely pointing in the wrong direction.

The video gathering comes as Biden has repeatedly made a case that the U.S. and like-minded allies need to show the world that democracies are a far better vehicle for societies than autocracies.

That is a central tenet of Biden's foreign policy outlook  one that he vowed would be more outward looking than his predecessor Donald Trump's America First" approach. Biden in his remarks announced he was launching an initiative to spend up to $424 million for programming around the world that supports independent media, anti-corruption work and more.

But the gathering also drew backlash from the United States chief adversaries and other nations that were not invited to participate.

Ahead of the summit, the ambassadors to the U.S. from China and Russia wrote a joint essay describing the Biden administration as exhibiting a Cold-War mentality that will stoke up ideological confrontation and a rift in the world. The administration has also faced scrutiny over how it went about deciding which countries to invite. China and Russia were among those not receiving invitations.

Other leaders took turns delivering their own remarks on the state of democracy  many prerecorded  often reflecting on the stress that rapidly evolving technology is having on their nations. They also bemoaned the increase of disinformation campaigns aimed at and undermining institutions and elections.

The democratic conversation is changing, said Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen. New technologies and large tech companies are increasingly setting the stage for the democratic dialogue, sometimes with more emphasis on reach than on freedom of speech.

The summit comes as Biden is pressing Russia's Vladimir Putin to stand down after a massive buildup of troops on the Ukraine border, creating growing concern in Washington and European capitals that Russia may look to once again invade Ukraine. Biden on Wednesday said that he warned Putin in a video call of severe consequences if Russia invaded.

Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who took part in Thursdays summit and later spoke by phone with Biden, said on Twitter, Democracy is not a given, it must be fought for.

Poland's Andrzej Duda also spoke out against Russia in his address, decrying Moscow and its support of Belarus. Poland and Western allies have accused Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko of using migrants as pawns to destabilize the 27-nation European Union in retaliation for its sanctions on his authoritarian regime. Hundreds of migrants, mostly from the Middle East, flocked to the Belarus-Poland border. Most were fleeing conflict or despair at home and were looking to reach Germany or other Western European countries.

Putin made no public comment on the summit Thursday as he took part in his own video call with members of the Kremlin council for human rights.

Poland took on a commitment to be a support for democracy in Eastern Europe, Duda said. It is a beautiful task, but it has its consequences. It has made us the target of the Kremlin propaganda.

The U.S. may be at its own pivot point.

Here in the United States we know as well as anyone that renewing our democracy and strengthening our democratic institutions requires constant effort, Biden said.

Biden has said passage of his ambitious domestic agenda  the $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill he signed into law, as well as the roughly $2 trillion Build Back Better Act of social and climate change initiatives moving through the Senate  will demonstrate how democracy can improve peoples lives.

Some advocates also want Biden to focus on other ways to shore up democracy at home. One early test was coming Thursday as the House moves to approve the Protecting Our Democracy Act, the third in a trio of bills  alongside the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act  largely backed by Democrats but stalled by Republicans in the Senate.

Vice President Kamala Harris, in closing remarks of the first day of the summit, called on Congress to pass the voting-rights legislation.

Here in the United States, we know that our democracy is not immune from threats," Harris said. Jan. 6 looms large in our collective conscience, and the anti-voter laws that many states have passed are part of an intentional effort to exclude Americans from participating in our democracy.

The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, said in its annual report that the number of countries experiencing democratic backsliding has never been as high as the past decade, with the U.S. added to the list alongside India and Brazil.

Chinese officials have offered a stream of public criticism about the summit. They have also expressed outrage over the administration inviting Taiwan to take part. China claims the self-governing island as part of its territory and objects to it having contacts on its own with foreign governments.

Pakistans Prime Minister Imran Khan declined to attend the conference. In a statement issued ahead of the meeting, the foreign ministry said, "We value our partnership with the U.S. which we wish to expand both bilaterally as well as in terms of regional and international cooperation.

Yet Pakistans own relationship with the U.S. has been fraught with suspicion on both sides. Islamabad has balked at Washingtons often-stated criticism that Pakistan has not been a reliable partner in the war on terror, accusing it of harboring the Taliban even as they fought the U.S.-led coalition. Pakistan says it has lost 70,000 people to the war on terror since 2001 and is ready to be a partner in peace but not in war.

Other uninvited countries have shown their displeasure. Hungary, the only European Union member not invited, tried unsuccessfully to block EU Commission's president from speaking on behalf of the bloc at the summit. During the 2020 campaign, Biden referred to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban as a thug.

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto dismissed the summit as a domestic political-type of event where countries whose leaders had a good relationship with Trump were not invited.

Associated Press writers Lisa Mascaro and Ellen Knickmeyer in Washington, Justin Spike in Budapest, Munir Ahmed in Islamabad, Vladimir Isachenkov in Moscow and video producer Liu Zheng in Beijing contributed to this report.

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

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WASHINGTON (AP)  After years of debate, Congress is on track to change how the U.S. military handles sexual assault cases, by taking some authority out of the hands of commanders and instead using independent prosecutors.

Spurred on by a growing number of sexual misconduct cases in the military, and buoyed by support from President Joe Biden and senior Pentagon leaders, the changes were included in a broader defense bill that passed the House late Tuesday and is headed to the Senate for almost certain approval.

But several senators on Wednesday, led by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., said the measure doesn't go far enough. She said the Pentagon was able to argue successfully against fully removing commanders from the cases.

Still, Rep. Jackie Speier, the head of the House Armed Services military personnel subcommittee, described it as a historic change the likes of which we have not seen in over 70 years.

By moving the decision to prosecute a servicemember for rape, domestic violence, murder and other serious crimes out of the chain of command to an independent military prosecutor, we would finally address a gaping wound for sexual assault survivors and provide a pathway to justice, she said.

The campaign to improve military prosecutions has been struggling for years, but it gained momentum when Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and other leaders began to publicly acknowledge this year that the military has failed to make progress in preventing sexual assaults and that changes were needed.

Reports of sexual assaults in the military have steadily gone up since 2006, according to Defense Department reports, including a 13% jump in 2018 and a 3% increase in 2019. Reports in 2020  when much of the military was on lockdown due to COVID-19 restrictions  went up by about 1%, and officials said it wasnt clear what impact the pandemic or any new programs had on the numbers.

Gillibrand and others who had pushed for a broader overhaul agreed that the changes in the bill represent strides forward. But they vowed to try again to get a separate bill passed that would eliminate commanders from the process and expand the number of crimes that would be handled by the independent prosecutors.

The key problem, Gillibrand said on Wednesday, is that commanders still will play a key role in sexual assault cases.

Commanders can still pick the jury, select the witnesses, grant or deny witness immunity requests, order depositions and approve the hiring of expert witnesses and consultants, she said. When the commander is so deeply involved in a case, theres no independence for the prosecutor and theres no perception of independence for the accused or the accuser.

She added that keeping commanders involved will add layers of bureaucracy and slow the process down, making it longer for survivors to seek justice and to see justice. Instead, her legislation would have independent prosecutors handle felonies that call for more than a year in prison.

Other key lawmakers and leaders of the military services, however, balked at including all major crimes, saying stripping control of all crimes from commanders could hurt military readiness, erode command authority, and require far more time and resources.

Victims rights advocates and others have argued that service members dont trust the system and are often unwilling to go to their commanders with a complaint for fear of retribution. They also worry that commanders may not press ahead with some cases if they know the accused. Using independent prosecutors, they said, would make the process more fair, and make victims more comfortable coming forward.

In his first directive after taking office in January, Austin gave senior leaders two weeks to send him reports on sexual assault prevention programs. He created a commission to study the matter, and that panel  in its first recommendations  concluded that decisions to prosecute service members for sexual assault should be made by independent authorities, not commanders. Austin and Biden endorsed the change, but they stopped short of backing Gillibrands bill to strip commanders of oversight of all major crimes.

Gillibrand, however, has pressed for a Senate vote on her bill, which has the support of 65 other senators  a fillibuster-proof majority. She said Wednesday that commanders should not be allowed to continue as the so-called convening authority in each case, with a range of powers to include the ability to grant immunity, approve delays and decide any pre-trial confinement of the accused. She said she believes she has leadership support for a separate vote on her bill.

Others who back Gillibrands effort said they were pleased that any legislation is moving forward.

We really have made some progress, said Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, a former Army commander who served in Iraq. I am disappointed that we did not get every aspect of our bill included and we should have the ability to do that.

Asked Wednesday about the legislation, which passed the House on a 363-70 vote, Karine Jean-Pierre, the White House principal deputy press secretary, said Biden "believes that this legislation takes groundbreaking steps to improve the response to and prevention of sexual assault in the military.

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP)  Democratic legislators on Wednesday advanced a plan to redraw New Mexicos three congressional districts and reshape a southern district that has traditionally been dominated by Republicans.

The map revamp from Democratic Sen. Joseph Cervantes of Las Cruces would bolster a Hispanic majority in New Mexico's southern 2nd Congressional District by extending its boundaries into Albuquerque, the state's largest metropolitan area.

The map also would break up a conservative stronghold in the state's southeastern oil production zone into multiple districts. The change to the state's 2nd Congressional District has been condemned by Republican state senators.

The new map moved forward after a Senate committee endorsed the redistricting bill on a 7-4, party-line vote Wednesday. Another committee review of the redistricting proposal is scheduled before a possible Senate floor vote.

The plan has deep implications for New Mexico's three first-term congresswomen, including Republican U.S. Rep. Yvette Herrell, a staunch ally of former President Donald Trump who ousted a Democratic incumbent in 2020. New Mexico's other two congressional representatives are Democrats.

Republicans need a net gain of just five seats in 2022 to take control of the U.S. House and effectively freeze President Joe Bidens agenda on everything from climate change to the economy.

Two of the state's congressional seats have been held by Democrats for more than a decade. Democrats hold the upper hand in New Mexico's redistricting process because they control the governor's office and have broad majorities in the state House and Senate.

Cervantes said his proposed congressional map would make the 2nd Congressional District more representative of New Mexico as a whole and break with a longstanding political pact that ceded the southern part of the state to Republicans.

Southern New Mexico has elected almost consistently conservative Republicans largely because of where the lines are drawn, Cervantes said.

Republican Sen. Gay Kernan labeled the proposal offensive to the largely conservative region, claiming it was aimed at imposing political representation that is hostile to the area's important oil and natural gas industry.

It's an injustice to my community and to the industry that has provided so much to this state," said Kernan, whose hometown of Hobbs would be divided between two districts under the plan.

She warned Democratic colleagues to be careful what they wish for, saying many Hispanic voters support Republican values and the oil industry and that the redistricting plan is likely to energize conservatives.

You have certainly gotten the attention of people in my area, Kernan said.

The Democratic proposal sticks roughly to a congressional redistricting map brought forward by the progressive leaning Center for Civic Policy group that promotes greater representation for disadvantaged communities and a coalition of advocacy groups that called for a strong Latino majority in the state's southern district. They have said that the region's minority populations feel overlooked by politicians.

Under the new congressional district map, Hispanics would account for about 56% of the proposed southern congressional district, up from about 51% currently.

Albuquerque resident Fernanda Banda, a 24-year-old organizer for an advocacy group that supports immigrant rights, applauded the plan.

It's time for my people to have a Hispanic majority district and exercise their power," Banda testified.

About 48% of New Mexico residents claim Hispanic ancestry  the highest share of any state. For many, ties to the region date back to periods of Mexican and Spanish-colonial oversight. The state has elected three consecutive Hispanic governors  two of them women.

Democratic Sen. Gerald Ortiz y Pino of Albuquerque said the redistricting proposal would create three districts that more closely mirror the state as a whole by combining urban and rural areas.

Republican Sen. Cliff Pirtle, a dairy farmer from Roswell, denounced the new map as a blatant move by Democrats to capture all three congressional seats in New Mexico.

We should have at least one Republican congressperson from the state of New Mexico, or at least one conservative congressperson, he said.

Also Wednesday, a legislative panel endorsed a state House redistricting plan in a separate bill to shore up Native American voting majorities in six districts across the heavily Indigenous northwestern region of the state.

Democratic House Speaker Brian Egolf said he cast his committee vote for the plan in deference to Native American self-determination, as Indigenous communities pursue improvements in public education and infrastructure.

A broad spectrum of Native American leaders united behind that portion of the map amid efforts to improve educational and economic opportunity in Indian Country. New Mexico has 23 federally recognized Indigenous communities.

Republican House Minority Leader James Townsend of Artesia cast a committee vote against the plan, saying it would undermine minority representation in other ways including changes to a district held by state Rep. Jane Powdrell-Culbert of Corrales, who is Black.

The Democrat-sponsored bill is assigned one more House committee review before a possible floor vote.

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

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If the Supreme Court decides to overturn or gut the decision that legalized abortion, some fear that it could undermine other precedent-setting cases, including civil rights and LGBTQ protections.

Overturning Roe v. Wade would have a bigger effect than most cases because it was reaffirmed by a second decision, Planned Parenthood v. Casey, three decades later, legal scholars and advocates said. The Supreme Court's conservative majority signaled in arguments last week they would allow states to ban abortion much earlier in pregnancy and may even overturn the nationwide right that has existed for nearly 50 years. A decision is expected next summer.

If a case like Roe, which has this double precedent value, is overturned simply because theres a change in the composition of the court, theres really no way that we can have confidence in any of those precedents going forward, said Samuel Spital, director of litigation at the NAACP Legal Defense Fund.

Anti-abortion advocates and legal scholars, meanwhile, argue that the Roe decision was unique, both in its legal reasoning and effects, and so overturning it wouldn't affect other landmark cases.

In Roe, I think you have really just a particularly bad decision, said Erin Hawley, senior appellate counsel for Alliance Defending Freedom, a conservative legal group. She did not expect a Supreme Court decision against Roe to affect landmark cases that legalized same-sex marriage and LGBTQ intimacy.

Other experts disagree. Alison Gash, a professor at the University of Oregon, said Obergefell v. Hodges, which made same-sex marriage legal, and Lawrence v. Texas, which overturned laws which criminalized same-sex intimate relationships, rest on the same legal precedent.

Literally the logic that allows for a woman to argue that she has a right to choose to have an abortion is the same logic that is used to argue that gay couples have the right to choose and marry the partner of their choice, she said.

Justice Brett Kavanaugh mentioned those two landmark cases for the LGBTQ community during the Supreme Court arguments last week, along with Brown v. Board of Education, which ended race-based school separation, and Gideon v. Wainwright, which said indigent defendants must have representation.

All of those, Kavanaugh said, were cases where the high court overturned precedent. If they had not the country would be a much different place.

Those cases, though, are distinctly different, said Melissa Murray, a law professor at New York University. By overturning those precedents, the court expanded civil rights for more Americans. Overturning Roe, by contrast, would take rights from women.

We have never had significant overturning of precedent for the purpose of withdrawing rights. Its always worked the other way, to expand rights. Not to withdraw them, she said.

The reference to 1954s Brown v. Board of Education decision, which rejected the separate but equal doctrine of the 1896 Plessy v. Ferguson decision that affirmed state segregation laws, was offensive and disturbing, Spital said. While justices often pose hypotheticals, comparing Roe to a 19th century decision that facilitated the legal dehumanization of Black people crossed a line, he said.

For anti-abortion advocates, though, the Roe decision allows for the purposeful termination of a human life, as Mississippi Solicitor General Scott Stewart put it during arguments. Nowhere else does this court recognize the right to end a human life, he said.

A decision in favor of Mississippi wouldnt call into question any of those other civil rights cases, he argued.

The Obergefell case that gave LGBTQ people the legal right to marriage would also be safe because thousands of same-sex couples have relied on it to wed, and reliance like that makes courts less likely to make a major change, said Teresa Collett, a University of St. Thomas School of Law and director of its Prolife Center. In short, I think overruling Roe and Casey will have zero impact on Lawrence and Obergefell as binding legal precedent, she wrote in an email.

At least some conservative attorneys have a different point of view. The lawyer who conceived Texas strict new abortion ban also suggested that same-sex intimacy and marriage are court-invented rights in a brief filed in support of the Mississippi law. Jonathan Mitchell argued for the Supreme Court to not only overturn Roe and Casey, but to write an opinion that leaves those decisions hanging by a thread.

Lawrence and Obergefell, while far less hazardous to human life, are as lawless as Roe, he wrote.

That line of thinking has some LGBTQ advocates deeply concerned.

Recent landmark precedents stand on the foundation of cases protecting reproductive justice, like Casey and Roe vs. Wade, said Camilla Taylor, litigation director at Lambda Legal.

The Obergefell decision, she said, came after decades of LGBTQ people all over the country coming out, ensuring that millions of people knew they had a gay loved one. By contrast, abortion is often still considered a private matter between a patient and doctor.

It is possible for people walking around today to believe that they dont know anyone whos had an abortion, said Taylor, adding that she herself had an abortion at age 40. The pregnancy would have been medically risky, and more importantly for her, she didnt have the resources to care for a third child. Coming out played a big role in securing civil rights for LGBTQ people ... thats the only way we can achieve an acknowledgement that the people who get abortions are humans, equally human, with lives and dreams that deserve some modicum of respect.

Sarah Warbelow, legal director with the Human Rights Campaign, said she doesnt necessarily see a direct effect on LGBTQ cases from a Roe decision. But after a historically bad state legislative session for LGBTQ rights it could encourage state lawmakers that are pandering to the base to test the limits of court-recognized LGBTQ equality.



This story was first published on December 7, 2021. It was updated on December 8, 2021, to explain that the 1954 Brown v. Board of Education decision rejected the separate but equal doctrine of the 1896 Plessy v. Ferguson decision that affirmed state segregation laws.

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

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WASHINGTON (AP)  The head of Instagram on Wednesday met with deep skepticism on Capitol Hill over new measures the social media platform is adopting to protect young users.

Adam Mosseri appeared before a Senate panel and faced off with lawmakers angry over revelations of how the photo-sharing platform can harm some young users. Senators are also demanding the company commit to making changes and increase its transparancy.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., who heads the Senate Commerce subcommittee on consumer protection, dismissed as a public relations tactic some safety measures announced by the popular photo-sharing platform.

I believe that the time for self-policing and self-regulation is over, Blumenthal said. Self-policing depends on trust. Trust is over.

Under sharp questioning by senators of both parties, Mosseri defended the companys conduct and the efficacy of its new safety measures. He challenged the assertion that Instagram has been shown by research to be addictive for young people. Instagram, which along with Facebook is part of Meta Platforms Inc., has an estimated 1 billion users of all ages.

On Tuesday, Instagram introduced a previously announced feature that urges teenagers to take breaks from the platform. The company also announced other tools, including parental controls due to come out early next year, that it says are aimed at protecting young users from harmful content.

Senators of both parties were united in condemnation of the social network giant and Instagram, the photo-sharing juggernaut valued at some $100 billion that Facebook acquired for $1 billion in 2012.

The hearing grew more confrontational and emotionally charged as it went on.

Sir, I have to tell you, you did sound callous, Sen. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, the panels senior Republican, told Mosseri near the end of the hearing.

Senators repeatedly tried to win commitments from Mosseri for Instagram to provide full results of its internal research and its computer formulas for ranking content to independent monitors and Congress. They also tried to enlist his support for legislation that would curb the ways in which Big Tech deploys social media geared toward young people.

Mosseri responded mostly with general endorsements of openness and accountability, insisting that Instagram is an industry leader in transparency.

The issue is becoming increasingly urgent. An alarming advisory issued Tuesday by U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy warned about a mental health crisis among children and young adults that has been worsened by the coronavirus pandemic. He said tech companies must design social media platforms that strengthen, rather than harm, young peoples mental health.

Meta, which is based in Menlo Park, California, has been roiled by public and political outrage over the disclosures by former Facebook employee Frances Haugen. She has made the case before lawmakers in the U.S., Britain and Europe that that the company's systems amplify online hate and extremism and that the company elevates profits over the safety of users.

Haugen, a data scientist who had worked in Facebooks civic integrity unit, buttressed her assertions with a trove of internal company documents she secretly copied and provided to federal securities regulators and Congress.

The Senate panel has examined Facebooks use of information from its own researchers that could indicate potential harm for some of its young users, especially girls, while it publicly downplayed the negative impacts. For some Instagram-devoted teens, peer pressure generated by the visually focused app led to mental-health and body-image problems, and in some cases, eating disorders and suicidal thoughts, the research detailed in the Facebook documents showed.

The revelations in a report by The Wall Street Journal, based on the documents leaked by Haugen, set off a wave of recriminations from lawmakers, critics of Big Tech, child-development experts and parents.

As head of Instagram, I am especially focused on the safety of the youngest people who use our services, Mosseri testified. This work includes keeping underage users off our platform, designing age-appropriate experiences for people ages 13 to 18, and building parental controls. Instagram is built for people 13 and older. If a child is under the age of 13, they are not permitted on Instagram.

Mosseri outlined the suite of measures he said Instagram has taken to protect young people on the platform. They include keeping kids under 13 off it, restricting direct messaging between kids and adults, and prohibiting posts that encourage suicide and self-harm.

But, as researchers both internal and external to Meta have documented, the reality is different. Kids under 13 often sign up for Instagram with or without their parents knowledge by lying about their age. And posts about suicide and self-harm still reach children and teens, sometimes with disastrous effects.



Ortutay reported from Oakland, California.



This story has been corrected to reflect that Adam Mosseri is the head of Instagram, not the CEO.



Follow Marcy Gordon at https://twitter.com/mgordonap

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

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WASHINGTON (AP)  Pivotal Sen. Joe Manchin said Wednesday he'd vote to uphold the Senate parliamentarian's decision if she rules that immigration or other provisions should fall from Democrats huge social and environment bill, underscoring the party's uphill fight to keep some top priorities in the legislation.
LOS ANGELES (AP)  The ruptured offshore pipeline that spilled tens of thousands of gallons of crude oil off the Southern California coast this fall did not have a fully functioning leak detection system at the time, according to a report obtained by The Associated Press.

The report was compiled by pipeline operator, Beta Offshore, a subsidiary of Houston-based Amplify Energy, and filed with federal regulators. It reveals Amplify is investigating whether personnel or control room issues contributed to the accident but does not explain what was wrong with the detection system.

The report, filed last week and released to the AP under a public records request, gives no new details on a possible anchor strike on the pipeline from a cargo ship suspected to be the cause of the roughly 25,000-gallon (112,000-liter) spill. Coast Guard investigators have said they suspect the pipeline began leaking long after it was snagged by the drifting cargo ship during strong winds in January.

Its not clear why it took so long for the 1/2-inch (1.25-centimeter) thick steel line to leak, or whether another anchor strike or other incident led to the rupture and spill. But experts say that a properly functioning leak detection system might have been able to catch that things were amiss before an oil sheen spotted on the surface led to the leaks discovery.

The fact that they did not have the leak detection system working is surprising, University of Houston pipeline expert Ramanan Krishnamoorti said, noting that the companys accounting of the accident appeared inconsistent. For experienced hands at this, when youve got a leak like this, youd have seen signatures of it with pressure drops and flow rates.

The spill came ashore at Huntington Beach and forced about a weeklong closure of that city's beaches and others along the Orange County coast. Fishing in the affected area resumed only last week after testing confirmed fish did not have unsafe levels of oil toxins.

In its report, Beta said the pipeline's leak detection system, while not fully functional, still helped to detect and confirm the leak. Federal investigators have previously said a low-pressure alarm went off at 2:30 a.m. on Oct 2, indicating a possible failure.

But in its report the company says the leak wasn't discovered until 8 a.m. that day, by a third-party contractor who reported an offshore slick and notified personnel on a nearby Beta oil platform. The spill wasn't reported to authorities until more than an hour later.

Spokesperson Amy Conway with Amplify Energy declined to answer questions from AP about the leak detection system, citing the ongoing investigation.

Amplify continues to remain committed to working with the regulatory agencies investigating this event, she said.

Accident reports filed with the U.S. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration require companies to disclose the pressure of pipelines that fail. Beta said the line did not exceed maximum pressure but declined to answer what the pressure was when the line leaked. It said it would supplement its response when it determines the exact time the accident occurred.

The break in the pipe that runs along the sea floor 100 feet (30.5 meters) under water was less than one-hundredth of an inch wide (.2 millimeters) and more than 20 inches (50 centimeters) long, the report said. That means the line could have been leaking for hours or days, according to Krishnamoorti and a second expert, pipeline accident consultant Richard Kuprewicz.

It isn't like a rupture that's wide open, but it's going to move some oil, Kuprewicz said. He added that the report leaves unresolved questions about the spill and the company's response.

We don't know how their leak detection system is set up. People think we ought to be able to see a pressure loss, but sometimes pressure loss wouldn't show up even when you have big pipeline ruptures, he said.

As of Nov. 11, the cleanup from the spill had cost the company more than $17 million. It also lost up to about $45,000 in oil, based on an estimated 588 barrels lost at a price of $76 each.

The damaged section of pipeline was expected to be removed under an order from pipeline safety officials that required a metallurgical analysis of why the line failed within 45 days of receiving the Oct. 4 order. However, that hasn't happened.

Amplify attorneys said in a civil lawsuit related to the spill that it is awaiting approval of a repair plan the company submitted to federal officials on Nov. 19.

Because a dive team that was to perform the work was called away by the U.S. Navy to the Persian Gulf, the earliest the repairs would happen would be Dec. 15, and next February is more likely, the company's attorneys said in a report to the federal court filed last week.



Brown reported from Billings, Montana.

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

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HARTFORD, Conn. (AP)  Beverly Guliuzza was overcome with a mix of shock, sadness and relief when military officials told her they had identified the remains of her brother, Benjamin Bazzell, an Army corporal who went missing in action during the Korean War in 1950 when she was just 12.

The notification to Guliuzza, now 84 and living with family in Everett, Washington, came last year, seven decades after she had last seen her older brother in their hometown of Seymour, Connecticut. The identification was publicly announced Tuesday by the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, an arm of the U.S. Defense Department.

When I found out all of this, it was just very sad but also very thankful that there was closure because it had always been missing in action and we never knew," Guliuzza said in a phone interview Wednesday. When someone is reported missing in action its like youre in limbo. My mom never got to have closure.

Bazzell was only 18 when he was killed on Nov. 30, 1950, when enemy forces attacked his unit in North Korea near the Chosin Reservoir, military officials say. He served with the 57th Field Artillery Battalion, 7th Infantry Division.

His body could not be recovered after the battle and remained missing until 2018, when North Korea gave the U.S. 55 boxes purportedly containing the remains of American service members killed during the Korean War. The exchange happened after then-President Donald Trump met with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

Military officials say they used DNA and anthropological tests, as well as reviewed circumstantial evidence, to identify Bazzell and 76 other missing service members whose remains were in the boxes.

More than 7,500 Americans remain unaccounted for from the Korean War. The military has identified the remains of more than 600 Americans who went missing during the war and returned their bodies to their families since 1982, officials say.

Bazzell was among more than 1,000 U.S. soldiers and Marines killed in the fighting near the Chosin Reservoir from the end of November to mid-December in 1950, according to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency. They were among a United Nations force of about 30,000 soldiers and Marines that was overwhelmed by an estimated 120,000 Chinese soldiers who flooded into North Korea during the war, the agency says.

Guliuzza has warm memories of her brother, who was nicknamed Benny. She said he was just a sweet, sweet boy" who would wake her up late at night when he got home from his bowling alley job to tell her he had candy.

She said he voluntarily enlisted in the Army to the dismay of their mother, Helen Bazzell, who was never the same after he went missing.

The effect on my mother was horrible, Guliuzza said. It changed the rest of her life. ... My mom used to be a happy person, and I remember she was always whistling. She stopped. She became kind of obsessed with trying to found out more information from the Army. Mom never gave up, never. She always felt that he would be coming home."

Guliuzza said her brother will be buried at Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent, Washington. A date has not been set.

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

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With the Defense Department touting the success of its now-completed project to identify the missing dead from the battleship USS Oklahoma, some families of crew members from another famous battleship sunk at Pearl Harbor have started to clamor for the military to ID some of their lost sailors, too.

The six-year Oklahoma Project identified 355 of the 388 crew members who were still unaccounted for when the remains were disinterred from Hawaiis Punchbowl cemetery in 2015. Kelly McKeague, director of the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, described the effort  conducted out of its lab at Offutt Air Force Base  as a milestone in the history of the Department of Defense.

Similar projects are underway to identify 45 sets of unidentified remains from the battleships West Virginia and California.

But the Navy and DPAA so far are resisting efforts to open 85 graves at the Punchbowl containing unidentified remains from the USS Arizona, the battleship destroyed in the first minutes of the Japanese attack on Dec. 7, 1941, citing the cost and difficulty.

The numbers are daunting. A total of 1,177 of 1,512 Arizona crew members died in the attack. While 105 bodies were recovered and identified following the attack, 1,072 are unaccounted for.

As many as 985 of the dead are entombed in the hull of the Arizona, which is part of the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor. Many may have been incinerated in the explosion of the ships magazine after a direct hit by a Japanese bomb, and the fire that followed.

Navy and DPAA officials declined to discuss the Arizona graves during a press conference Monday.

But in response to a question during an online family member update last February, McKeague said it would be too difficult and expensive to obtain DNA family reference samples from more than 1,000 families to identify just 85.

He noted that it would be much more complicated than the Oklahoma Project, which involved the collection of DNA reference samples from fewer than 400 families.

Instead, McKeague said, the Navy and the accounting agency had discussed the possibility of exhuming the Arizona remains from the cemetery and burying them in the ship without attempting to identify them.

In a subsequent interview with the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, McKeague said it would not be prudent from our perspective to try to identify the Arizona missing, adding we dont have enough historical, biological, scientific evidence with which to pursue identification today.

The idea of reburying the bones drew a strong pushback from Arizona families, and DPAA officials confirmed that the idea had since been dropped.

Randy Stratton, the son of a Nebraska-born sailor who barely survived the Arizona attack, has started a lobbying effort to disinter and identify the remains at the Punchbowl.

He stressed that they are not seeking to remove any remains from the ship itself, which has been designated a National Historic Landmark.

Stratton, of Castle Rock, Colorado, said he has the support of more than 100 USS Arizona families and has lined up sheriffs offices to collect the DNA samples. And he said the CEO of a Colorado company whose equipment was used to identify more than 80 victims of the 2018 Camp Fire in Paradise, California, has agreed to help at no charge.

Were hoping to be able to speed this process up. The DNA has been in the ground for 80 years, he said. Cost-wise, were trying to make it so there would be no cost at all to the Navy.

Stratton also worked with Rep. Doug Lamborn, R-Colo., to insert a provision in the 2022 National Defense Authorization Act directing the Navy to prepare a plan for identifying the USS Arizona sailors.

His father, Donald Stratton, was one of six sailors who escaped by crossing hand over hand on a line from a small cube-like structure on the ships foremast to a neighboring ship, above an inferno raging below them. Still, he suffered burns over 60% of his body.

Don Stratton, who grew up in Red Cloud, frequently attended Pearl Harbor reunions with his family, and in 2016 penned a best-selling memoir called All the Gallant Men.

Stratton died in February 2020 at age 97.

Randy Stratton said hes championing the identification effort in honor of his father. He and his daughter, Nikki, attended Pearl Harbor Day services in Hawaii  for the first time, without their father. They initiated a memorial event at the USS Arizona graves in the Punchbowl.

My dad would definitely want these guys to have the honors he had, Stratton said.

Sheri Spomer of Chandler, Arizona, lost two relatives at Pearl Harbor. Her great-uncle, Gerald Clayton, and his cousin, Robert Clayton, were inseparable friends while growing up in Central City, Nebraska.

Both enlisted in the Navy, and in 1941, served on ships anchored close together on Pearl Harbors Battleship Row: Gerald on the USS Oklahoma and Robert on the USS Arizona.

Both were killed in the first minutes of the attack, their bodies never recovered. It was a double blow to the family, and the town. Roberts brother, Sam, died later in the war in a plane crash off the coast of France and also was never found.

Our generation cant fathom the sacrifices that were made back then, Spomer said.

In 2019, her family, and the town of Central City, held a parade and ceremony when Gerald Claytons remains were identified through the Oklahoma Project.

Spomer, who also attended Pearl Harbor Day commemorations Tuesday in Hawaii, said she supports Strattons efforts to bring similar closure to USS Arizona families, even if its only possible for a small fraction of the total.

I think those men are owed the chance to be identified and honored, Spomer said in an email. I do understand the enormous task of acquiring so many DNA samples for such a small number of identifications ... I understand if they decide not to go forward with the project, but it would be unfortunate for the men and their families if they didnt.

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DES MOINES, Iowa (AP)  A man man convicted of killing a northeast Iowa police officer nearly 65 years ago who later saw his death sentenced commuted to life in prison has died at the state penitentiary in Fort Madison, Iowa corrections officials said Thursday.

Warren John Nutter, 84, was the state's longest serving inmate, Iowa Department of Corrections spokesman Nick Crawford said. He died Wednesday morning in a hospice room of the Iowa State Penitentiary, where he had been housed due to chronic illness.

He was 18 when he was sent to prison after pleading guilty to killing 52-year-old Independence police officer Harold Pearce in January 1956.

A 2017 Des Moines Register story recounted that Pearce was questioning Nutter and four other teens at a sheriff's office about a gas station robbery when Nutter asked to use the restroom. Officials said he then climbed out an open window, retrieved a shotgun from a car outside and shot Pearce when the officer tried to stop the group from leaving. Nutter was captured 3 miles away.

He was sentenced on Feb. 10, 1956, to hang. Death penalty opponents seized on his case and drew national attention to it. In 1957, Gov. Herschel Loveless commuted his death sentence.

Nutter's lawyers had argued he grew up in a broken home in Illinois and was 14 when he was sent to juvenile detention for theft and forgery. He was on on parole when he shot Pearce.

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

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SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP)  Seventeen stolen guns have been recovered at a residence in Sioux Falls after a theft victim used GPS tracking which led to the house, according to police.

Authorities said an investigation began after some items were stolen from a car in in south Sioux Falls last October. Among the items was Apple Airpods. The owner of the headphones tracking them down using GPS.

Detectives eventually got a search warrant for the house and recovered the stolen items along with 17 firearms. Police say 12 guns were stolen from vehicles outside the city limits, including Minnehaha, McCook, Lincoln and Moody counties.

Authorities are searching for a 23-year-old man wanted for possessing the stolen guns.

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

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PARIS (AP)  Germany's foreign minister warned Russia on Thursday that it would pay a high political and economic price if it makes any militaristic moves against neighboring Ukraine.
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Sioux City will host a Tribute to the King contest, in search of the best Elvis Presley tribute artist on Feb. 5.

Ten of the world's best Elvis tribute artists will be competing over three rounds of competition at Anthem, 111 Third St.

The best Elvis will receive a grand cash prize and be crowned as the Hard Rock Sioux City Tribute to the King Champion. The competition will include impersonations, singing and, of course, swinging some hips.

Tickets will go on sale Friday at The Rock Shop or at hardrockcasinosiouxcity.com.

All Anthem events are for guests 21 and older.

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In his latest film, Joe Clarke has a helluva lot of hyphens attached to his name.

For instance, "Alta Vista" -- a coming-of-age drama about a screenwriter struggling with the death of his dad -- has the Sioux City native listed as its writer, director, producer and star.

However, Clarke is especially stoked by one more title: internationally acclaimed auteur.

Well, that may be a bit of overstatement but Clarke's "Alta Vista" did pick up Best Picture honors at the 2021 London Independent Film Awards as well as a 2021 World London Film Festival Gold Selection movie.

Previously, the movie had been lauded for its screenplay, editing and musical score at nine other film festivals throughout the United States.

"I can't believe the first time I traveled overseas was to pick up the Best Picture award in London," Clarke said with a chuckle. "That was pretty awesome!"

A HOMEGROWN MOVIEMAKER

This achievement is even more significant, given the 33-year-old's cinematic past.

"I started making movies on my brother's old camcorder when I was in middle school," Clarke, a 2006 Bishop Heelan Catholic High School grad, recalled.

His initial inspiration? Campy chop-sock-y flicks of kung-fu variety.

"I remember staging action scenes on Fourth Street," Clarke explained.

Clarke's ambitions didn't go unnoticed from mom and dad, who have him the nickname "Joefinger" -- after the down-and-our filmmaker character that Steve Martin played in the 1999 movie "Bowfinger," of course.

"Mom and dad were OK with my movie making as long as I received a good education," the 2010 University of Iowa graduate noted.

RETRO STARS, HEARTLAND LOCALES

As a bonus, all of Clarke's initial forays into films were based in or near eastern Iowa.

Adding a bit of star power were some recognizable TV faces in many of his flicks.

That included "Saved by the Bell" star Dennis Haskins, who appeared in Clarke's 2015's "Up on the Wooftop," as well as "Family Matters" star Reginald VelJohnson, who appeared in 2014's "The Formula."

Actor Brandon Baker (Disney Channel's "Johnny Tsunami") was also an early member of Clarke's stock company of actors, starring in "The Formula," before doing a cameo in "Up on the Wooftop."

While he enjoyed making movies in Iowa, Clarke knew he needed to make his mark in La-La-Land.

"I wasn't ready to move to Los Angeles right out of college," he said. "With a few years under my belt, I was ready to make the move."

Since establishing himself in California, Clarke has made 2019's "Headstrong" -- a documentary on pro wrestler Rob Van Dam's surprising foray into standup comedy -- as well as "Alta Vista," which, believe it or not, began life as a "Point Break"-type of beach heist movie.

WHEN KEANU REEVES MEETS 'THE PLAYER?'

"As a script, 'Alta Vista' has had several lives," Clarke said with a weary sigh. "I had envisioned it to be a Keanu Reeves-type of movie with a lot of surfing and plenty of intrigue."

Instead, it evolved into an insider-ish peek at some colorful Hollywood characters with Clarke, initially sporting an unusual "the caveman from the GEICO Insurance commercial" look.

"That was another sign of 'Alta Vista''s long gestation period," he explained. "I grew out my hair during the interim. I decided to keep the look when I cast myself in the lead."

A STAR IS BORN ... OUT OF DESPERATION

This decision in becoming a leading man did inspired some trash talk among Clarke's friends.

"They teased me by saying I turned the film into a 90-minute selfie," he mentioned with a shrug. "But there was a real reason behind my choice."

When he was making movies in the Midwest, actors were more than happy to give Clarke a two-week window.

In Hollywood -- the ultimate "industry" town -- actors were hesitant to give Clarke two days of work, let alone two weeks.

"It was difficult getting enough actors on the set at the same time," he explained. "They were all working on different projects, besides mine."

Then, Clarke had a revelation.

"As the director, I had to be on set all of the time," he reasoned. "Since I was always available, I made myself the leading man. My character was a screenwriter and I am, in real-life, a screenwriter. Seemed like good casting to me."

Clarke said he is pleased with the critical response that "Alta Vista" has received.

"Right off the bat, it was tough getting the movie into film festivals, since many were canceled due to the pandemic," he said. "Now, the movie is getting some exposure.'

Even more significantly, "Alta Vista" is available for streaming by Amazon.

'A GREAT TIME TO BE A MOVIEMAKER'

"Such avenues weren't available when I started making movies," Clarke said. "Not only is 'Alta Vista' on Amazon, but my documentary 'Headstrong' just debuted on (the) Reelz (digital network). There are so many outlets looking for product that it is a great time to be a movie maker."

Guess what? You don't need to be an auteur to start a cinematic career. According to Clarke, many newcomers are utilizing TikTok and YouTube as host sites for their work.

Perhaps not so surprisingly, young movie makers are looking at Clarke for inspiration.

"I just got an email from a budding, 16-year-old film director in a small town in Iowa," he said. "Hopefully, I gave the kid some good advice because there are times when I still feel like a 15-year-old myself."

In the trailer for "Alta Vista," Clarke showcases the rural-ness of Iowa farms, juxtaposing it with scenes set in the City of Angels, along with action at the beach.

For old times sake, there is even a kung-fu fight sequence in the minute-and-a-half preview.

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1 A VERY BOLIN CHRISTMAS!

It's been 45 year since the death of rock icon Tommy Bolin. But the Sioux City native's music remains as vital as ever, thanks to his younger brother Johnnie and their close-knit group of friends. See Johnnie Bolin and an all-star Tommy Bolin Tribute Band -- John Bartle, Ryan Baker, Bobby Berge, Jesse Christen, Dean Christopher, Billy Engel, Sam Irish Jr., Dave Napier and Bobby Bolin -- at 8 p.m. Friday at The Marquee, 1225 Fourth St.

2 YIPPEE-KI-YAY FOR THE HOLIDAYS!

One doesn't think of "Die Hard" as a quintessential Christmas movie, but, c'mon, you'd rather see Bruce Willis kick butt than watch that spooky-looking Culkin kid, right? Experience "A Very Die-Hard Christmas," live on stage at the Little Red Hen Playhouse, 316 Main St. Wakefield, Neb., at 7 p.m. Thursday through Saturday.

3 MUSIC FOR A BLUE(GRASS) MOOD!

Kansas City's very own Whiskey Mash Band will bring its distinctively genre-busting brand of bluegrass to Vangarde Arts, 416 Pierce St., at 8 p.m. Friday.

4 FRESHLY SQUEEZED ROCKERS!

Does this season leave you in a sour mood? You're in luck because the group Lemon Fresh Day will be playing at DOXX Warehouse Bar, 1219 Fifth St., at 9 p.m. Friday. Our advice: spit out the pits!

5 HEAR A STORY, BURN SOME SUGAR!

OK, your friends at the Weekender aren't really cold weather people. However, the Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center, 4500 Sioux River Road, will have a special Winter Fun Day, beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday. Participants can go on a nature hike, create a craft, learn how to use a slingshot, hear a story, and roast some marshmallow on an open fire. Seems like a lot of work in order to chow down on burnt sugar. Just sayin.'

6 HELP A FURRY FRIEND!

Wise I Brewing, 15 Second St. NE, Le Mars, will be hosting an Ales 4 Tails Fundraiser for Noah's Hope Animal Rescue from 5 to 8 p.m. Sunday. Eat pizza and drink some Wise I brew for a very good cause. Also, the fundraiser has a "pajama party" theme and you're supposed to dress in your favorite PJs and stuff. Hmm, too much work. Eh, grab a pizza slice, grab a stein and you'll be fine.

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Pay Dirt is Slates money advice column. Have a question? Send it to Athena and Elizabeth here. (Its anonymous!)

Dear Pay Dirt,

My parents divorced when I was 10, and my father moved overseas. My mother quickly met, moved us in with, and later married Jim. Jim and I didnt get along while I was growing uphe was an alcoholic, and I was a smart-alecky kid, hurt he had taken my mom awayand I graduated school early just to get out of their house. He has since quit drinking, and we get along now. I am my mothers only child and Jim has no children of his own.

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Im in my mid-30s now and have worked hard to be successful in my career. Jim has recently retired, and my mother has expressed to me that it doesnt seem that he will be able to make ends meet on his retirement savings and social security. As long as Ive known him, Jim preferred to spend his money on toys, and would ride out unemployment benefits as long as they would last between jobs. My mother has her own money and savings, mostly due to her hard work and sacrifices, plus some inheritance.

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As part of their recent estate planning, my mother and Jim told me they were adding me to the deed to their joint home. It was historically Jims family home, but my mother put significant money (and work) into it when we moved in, and more over the years.

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After the fact, my mother asked me to contribute to the annual property taxes, as Jim feels he gave away his family home for free and cant make ends meet in retirement. I would never have agreed to this! It feels like I am being asked to subsidize a retirement he is choosing, but cannot afford. If they were to sell the home tomorrow, they would not include me in the proceeds, so I do not feel I should have to contribute to the taxes.

Am I being unreasonable? I could easily afford this, but so could my mother (or Jim, for that matter, if he sold off some toys).

-Not Going To Pay For That

Dear Not Going to Pay,

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First, I think your mother needs to clarify what she means by putting you on the deed. If she is making you a part owner of the home, then she and Jim cant sell it and fail to include you in the proceeds. You should ask for a clarification and make sure you see the relevant paperwork. If you now own equity in a home, you need to know that!

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But if it turns out you have no equity in the home, Im not sure why your mother would expect you to pay taxes on it. Do she and Jim plan to leave it to you as part of an inheritance? If thats so, and they can produce some documentation to that effect, there might be a pragmatic argument for you to pitch in tax-wise, since its going to be yours. But even then, I dont think you have an ethical obligation to put money toward an asset that you dont own yet.

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So the shorter answer is, no, youre not being unreasonable. But you do need to better understand what your status is with regard to ownership of the house, because that has tax implicationsnot just for your mom and Jim, but for you as well.

Dear Pay Dirt,

I want a divorce, but I am broke! Pretty much literally. I just have a bunch of credit card debt that my entire paycheck goes to, and a small savings that were currently depleting for marriage counseling. I would gladly just give all that cash to my partner for first and last on a separate apartment. We dont share any of our debt, except for the condo and a car, and we dont have kids, so I feel like mediation would be a more affordable way to go than counseling.

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The condo is not in a position to sell right now. I could afford to take on the monthly mortgage and HOA fee, if I got rid of the car payment, and Id be happy to do that, but I dont think the bank would let me refinance just under my name, and I have no way to buy my partner out. What can I do in the next few months to prepare and help me get out? Is the only way through taking a hit on selling our condo?

Im Done Here

Dear Done,

Im sorry youre in such a tough spot. If you think marriage counseling isnt working and are sure you want a divorce, then theres no point in continuing to pay for counseling. I think youre going to have to make that clear to your partner and have a talk about how to exit the marriage in a way that protects your mental health and leaves both of you on stable footing financially. This will mean some compromise, and given the state of the marriage, you may not be able to work through these things on your own. So, I would recommend a mediator anyway, because a third party can help lower the temperature when things get heated, and offer an objective perspective on whats fair.

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If you cant come to terms on an agreement, the court will decide for you. The condo will be treated as joint marital property, and the court may order the person who remains the occupant of the condo to pay their former spouse a distribution that reflects the value of ownership. Im not quite sure what you mean when you say the condo is not in a position to sell right now, but unless one of you can buy the other out, or compensate them in some other way for the equity, it may be your only option.

Get the Pay Dirt Newsletter Money advice from Athena and Elizabeth, delivered weekly. We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again. Please enable javascript to use form. Email address: Send me updates about Slate special offers. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms Sign Up Thanks for signing up! You can manage your newsletter subscriptions at any time.

Dear Pay Dirt,

Because of a chronic illness, I can only work part time. Even with three degrees, including one from an Ivy League university, I have never been able to find decent paying jobs. Its always been minimum wage or slightly less. I cant work on my feet, so I am currently working for less in a work at home role than I could at major retail chains. For a few years I went undiagnosed and didnt have a treatment, so I racked up credit-card debt. Its pretty overwhelming and has gone to collections. I was terrible with my money in grad school because of being sick and undiagnosed, and so I have a ton of student loan debt as well. Ive been looking for higher paying jobs but cant even get an interview for any tutoring positions. Financially, Im okay right now, but cant put much towards debt payment.

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Luckily, during the pandemic, I got back into frugal spending. I tend to go in and out of my frugal spending mode a lot. Now that Im back in it, I am so stressed about money. I relish saving money, but I just dont even want to pay for things that I actually need. For example, I have a terrible coat that is about ten years old, has a ton of holes and isnt as warm as I would like. I wouldnt even spend $10 at Goodwill for a new coat because I was so stressed about wasting my money.

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I finally applied for SNAP, and for the first couple of months, it was great. I felt so empowered making a budget and sticking to it. Buying food is the only thing I actually get to spend money on, and something I really like, but I gradually started getting stressed out by that, too. I thought it would be really good to have a splurge week at the beginning of the month, but now I just freak out about anything I splurge on. I have a job again, I dont need to stay completely within my SNAP budget, but for some reason I just feel so much anxiety about spending anything more.

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Do you have any advice on how I can stay frugal, without feeling so pressed and anxious all the time?

None Of This Feels Good

Dear None of This Feels Good,

Having debt and struggling to make ends meet, are stressful situations that can sometimes turn otherwise good habits like budgeting and being frugal into obsessive behaviors. It sounds like thats whats happening to you. Habits that make you feel like youve got a little more control over whats happening may have morphed into patterns of behavior that you become irrationally afraid to deviate from, lest you end up back in the same place. Financial struggles can be traumatizing, so its not surprising that this is happening.

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I have an anxiety disorder myself, and sympathize with your tendency to fixate on things that are producing stress for you. Personally, I find it helpful to identify my underlying fears, and examine where I might be imagining potential catastrophes that are unlikely to happen. In your case, it could be that any time youre tempted to spend a little extra, you imagine some kind of a slippery slope that leads to irresponsible spending. But if you really are budgeting, whatever youve got earmarked for splurging wont do that, and it may help to find a way to really enjoy the splurge and train yourself to be grateful for it. Invite a friend to help you find the $10 coat, or make a dinner with the food you bought. You want to associate the experience of spending that money with pleasure, not guilt.

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Id normally recommend therapy for dealing with this kind of stress, but if youre on a tight budget and dont have health insurance, that may not be an option. There are, however, free support groups for people who are dealing with debt and financial struggles, and I think it would also be helpful to talk to other people who are in the same situation, because you are not alone. Millions of Americans are struggling financially, and unfortunately, theres not much of a safety net for people who are also dealing with chronic illnesses. But community support is helpful, both in terms of developing strategies for coping, and maintaining your mental health under stressful circumstances. You dont have to do all of this on your own.

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Dear Pay Dirt,

We have two kids, who each inherited half of a college fund that I actively manage, and that has grown significantly. It will be more than enough for both kids.

My oldest is going to college next year, and my youngest two years later, and Im trying to be transparent with them about the money, and about the decisions they can make around it. We want them to choose the best school for them, while also considering the benefits of choosing a lower-cost school, trying for scholarships, etc.

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How do I fairly split the leftover funds after they both graduate, to reflect the choices they make in those departments? I would like to be clear about this with them before they start deciding.

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Some Left in the Pot

Dear Some Left,

I would split the fund evenly and make it clear that whatever they dont use for college, theyll be able to use for other purposes. Then they each have to decide for themselves what they want to prioritize and what theyre willing to pay for college. You also avoid any resentment that might arise if theres a big spending disparity and you split the remaining money evenly, which could be viewed as penalizing one child for choosing a more economical option.

More Advice from Slate

My boyfriend tends to succumb to symptoms of the common cold (a runny nose, congestion, fatigue) about once a month. His illness usually puts our dating plans on hold for about three to four days while he stays home (sometimes taking off work) to get better. I try to be a supportive girlfriend by giving him space to recover, even offering to bring him medicine or relax with him, but he usually prefers to sleep it off. Im starting to feel frustrated. I feel like he should suck it up and still spend time with me, even if its just lying on the couch. I hate that our relationship is on pause when hes sick. How can I talk to him about this?
Several years ago, New York magazine ran a wonderful feature called One Block, interviewing the inhabitants of a block of rowhouses in Brooklyns Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood. Speaking about the areas troubled pastit was ground zero for Robert F. Kennedys campaign against urban poverty, and, later, unfairly a byword for a dangerous inner-city neighborhoodone older Black resident made the distinction between block people and avenue people. Block people tended to be homeowners and their tenants, middle-class and stable. Avenue people were low-income renters in poorly maintained housing. They came and went, and the implication was that they were responsible for most of the neighborhoods problems.

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Ive thought about that dichotomy a lot since, because its a neat way of summing up the way that zoning, architecture, and social class interact. It not an accident that American neighborhoods tend to have apartment buildings on their busy thoroughfares and one- or two-family homes on the side streets. Ironically, Bed-Stuy is a bit of an exception in this regard, since much of the neighborhood was built before the zoning that formalized what kind of structures would go where: In Brooklyn, there are apartments on side streets and rowhouses on big avenues.

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The distinction between Block People and Avenue People is alive and well, however, in most American neighborhoods, where its a planners article of faith to encourage dense development along major corridors and nowhere else. Unfortunately, big streets are not nice places to live. Their traffic is noisy, dirty, and dangerous. Allowing apartment buildings to be built at all is progress, but ensuring they rise only in the worst locations is not fair to the people who live in them.

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As Daniel Oleksiuk wrote recently in Sightline of this practice in Vancouver, British Columbia, Instead of planning for housing options in locations that maximize the health and well-being of residents, policymakers are mandating that people who prefer more compact, energy-efficient, and lower-cost homes can only live on traffic-choked arterial streetsand must suffer all the bad health consequences.

This is also the conventional wisdom in American cities like Los Angeles, Seattle, and Washington D.C., where for a few different reasons, everyone has decided that the biggest commercial corridors are where the apartments go.

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First, its a way to permit new housing without disturbing the single-family life of the neighborhood. That makes it easier to get approval for new buildings. But that doesnt mean its a good idea. In Vancouver, as Oleksiuk points out, larger buildings on busy streets are explicitly intended to shield, to some extent, adjacent single family homes from the noise of arterial traffic, act[ing] as a buffer. Nobody deserves to be a living buffer.

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Second, this practice relates the height of buildings to the width of streets. Putting bigger buildings on bigger streets lets more light reach apartments, storefronts and sidewalks. And yet theres actually more space between two houses on a typical suburban block in Los Angeles (about 100 feet) than between buildings on Broadway in Manhattan (about 70 feet). This ratio is only loosely followed, in other words, and the benefits of sunlight do not outweigh the harms of air pollution.

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Third, big urban streets tend to be transit corridors, and it makes sense to put more housing near transit. Thats true. But that logic should apply to neighboring streets as well. A side-street thats a short walk from transit is also an excellent candidate for a high-rise.

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You dont have to go to Madrid to see what it feels like in practice to have mid-rise buildings along a quiet residential street. Try this block of North Paulina Street in Chicago:

Something for everyone on this block pic.twitter.com/1u0RDHdgLu  Henry Grabar (@henrygrabar) August 9, 2020

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The downside of demanding this type of housing go only on bigger, busier streets isnt just the opportunity cost of many foregone apartments on smaller streets. Its also that living on a busy street is terrible. You get dust on your countertops and bookshelves. Passing trucks and subwoofers and Indian choppers rattle your glasses. The headlights and sirens at night and the noise of constant traffic, which may be linked with dementia, when you open your windows. The pollution associated with busy roads, in particular, seems to be linked to a new health problem every day, especially for children.

On top of it all, once you leave your home, you are on the type of street on which youre most likely to be killed by a car. Youre not likely to let your kid play in front of the building, let alone walk to a friends place.

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The final reason for this injustice is, ironically, the very traffic that makes our apartment corridors so hazardous. Its assumed that new buildings will contribute to traffic, and so they must be built on streets that can accommodate more traffic. And you wonder why no one wants to ride a bike down, say, Washington, D.C.s Connecticut Avenue NW.

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Many critics have rightly pointed out, in recent years, that zoning in residential neighborhoods seems a lot more concerned with types of neighbors than with the supposedly hazardous consequences of their arrival. This may be true of the complaints of community members. But for professionals, as UCLAs Donald Shoup has noted, cars have replaced people as zonings real density concern. This is why city planners endorse the idea that a four-story apartment building must be on a six-lane arterial road instead of two blocks over. They often require these new buildings include parking, of course. And if the buildings dont have parkinga relatively novel innovation in many placescities have gone so far as to force developers to require tenants not to own cars in their rental contracts.

The block people, in other words, cannot have the avenue people contributing to traffic. Breathing in its exhaust is another story.
Its still pink. Its still a balmy 72 degrees. But now its filled with men.

Im talking, of course, about The Wing, the formerly girlboss-only coworking space with locations in New York City, Los Angeles, and San Francisco that has gone through a quiet but irrevocable change following its controversial founders high-profile flame-out, the pressures of the pandemic on the coworking industry, and new ownership by a white cis male billionaire.

The Wing was founded in a preelection 2016 by Audrey Gelman, a political consultant and it girl, and Lauren Kassan, who came from the world of fitness startups and has always flown under the radar. The duo skillfully promoted their operation as a social clubyes, there were desks and Wi-Fi, but there were also spaces to change clothes, touch up your makeup with a complimentary spritz of Chanel No. 5, and meet for turmeric lattes without the burden of the male gaze. The couches were velvet, the phone booths were named for feminist icons such as Miss Frizzle, and there was a dizzying calendar of networking events, from author talks to floral arrangement classes. It was a womens utopia, just as Gelman promisedat least for a certain privileged conception of womanhood.

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The Wing was under the media microscope from its inception. It was treated as an example of the future of work (a communal office with a social mission) and a glittering window into corporate feminism. Gelman, who was the inspiration for the monstrously self-involved Marnie on childhood friend Lena Dunhams HBO series Girls, seemed more than happy to lead by example. On election night in 2016, she welcomed the New York Times to The Wings ill-fated watch party, where Gelman floated around in a pink Madam President T-shirt, increasingly anxious as the night gave way to a Trump victory. In 2019, Gelman became the first visibly pregnant CEO to grace a business magazine cover. And then, in mid-2020, she became part of another trend: coworking CEO cancellation, following in the footsteps of WeWork founder (and The Wing investor) Adam Neumann. As the world hurtled into the pandemic, reporting confirmed that The Wing had mistreated its employees (employees of color in particular) and tolerated racism among its members. Many singled out Gelman as particular and capricious. Then again, many of The Wings policies seemed designed to foster exclusion: Members (who had to go through an application process and often languished on a wait list) were not allowed to bring in outside food. If they were hungry, there was avocado toast available for purchase.

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And yet The Wing still has members. I know because I am one of themand Ive returned to the space despite the tumult.

What initially drew me to The Wing was its price. I first joined a coworking startup, in 2019, called Spacious, mostly because it was cheap ($149/month). It was exactly what I needed in a workspace: simple, quiet, and close to my house. But it wasnt long until the whole enterprise was boughtand promptly closedby WeWork. Our consolation prize? A meager discount on WeWork hot desks, which I recall running about $400/month in my area. Priced out, I tried a few other coworking options before settling on The Wing (back then, $250/month for access to all of its locations, or $2,700 for a yearlong membership) in February 2020. Paying four figures for a drop-in social club environment would be absurda truly feminist space would never have such a high price tag, a common criticism wentbut in the grand scheme of NYC coworking options, The Wing was a relative steal (and, as a freelancer, a tax write-off). I went all day, almost every day.

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That lasted about three weeks, before COVID-19 shut the whole world down. While I was trapped in my one-bedroom apartment with my partner, our knees knocking as we worked from opposite sides of our sole desk, The Wing was restructuring. The company dumped several locations. Gelman stepped down from her millennial-pink pedestal. (She acknowledged her role in creating a toxic workplace on Instagram, and told the Times she was looking forward to spending a little time as a stay-at-home mom.) And in February 2021, IWG, a British holding company run by 62-year-old billionaire Mark Dixon, purchased a majority stake. Then, that spring, as vaccines became widely available, New York City coworking spaces started to reopen. New companies flooded the market, hoping to accommodate folks eager to finally get out of the house. In contrast to their VC-subsidized heyday, most are straightforwardly utilitarian, as Allegra Hobbs wrote in Curbed, offering a place to charge your computer, no kombucha in sight. But, for better or worse (and its probably worse), I went back to The Wing.

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No surprise hereThe Wing fits awkwardly into this new landscape. There are still vaguely feminist events (in early November, I could have attended a talk called Women in NFTs: Making Space in the Metaverse). Theres new merch for sale (sweatshirts and T-shirts in all the trendy fall colors). And the explicit go-girl messaging on the website has been replaced with a culture code, which states that we treat everyone with respect. My membership fee is down to $150/month, which, dare I say it, feels cheap. But the biggest transformation has got to be all the men hanging around.

The Wing has always had an awkward relationship to the concept of gender. In 2018, the New York Human Rights Commission launched an investigation into its gender-segregated policies, ultimately prompting The Wing to modify its rules the following year to accommodate members and guests of any gender identity. Despite the kerfuffle, I dont remember ever actually seeing any guys around, pre-pandemic. Now, theyre everywheresome members, some guests, some just giving it a whirl. They attract a lot of negative attention in these jewel box spaces, which were designed for noticing and being noticed. While they arent actually making more noise than anyone else, every sound emanating from their general area seems to draw more attention, whether its their lunchtime chitchat or their literal breathing. How, the old guard seems to be wondering, did they end up here? And do they really have to stay? But the female gaze (or, really, glare) doesnt seem to penetrate.

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Not that things would be perfect without the guys. On a recent Monday morning, a woman took the seat next to me and asked what The Wing was all about. Shed received a free day pass in the mail, and I relished the opportunity to tell her about the rise, the fall, the planned rebirth. I nodded toward the men a few chairs down and explained that they were a relatively new addition to the space. Then I got back to work while, to my horror, she started to make the first of what turned out to be multiple loud phone calls, including one to coworkers who werent as big fans of Succession as she was (Well, Im from a finance family, so its up my alley, she concluded defensively) and two to berate customer service workers about the status of her returns. In the moment, I was shockedwho would act like this, especially in public? But then I remembered where I was. The problem with coworking (or any other social endeavor) was never men. Hell is other peopleespecially the ones who act entitled.
President Biden began his Summit for Democracy Thursday morningcarried live on the State Departments public websitewith a 10-minute address extolling the strengths of free speech and open discourse. Then Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced that the summit was moving into a closed-door session, and the public webcast was turned off.

Diplomatic summits often go into closed session, but this was a meeting held via Zoom with the heads of 111 nations. With that many participants, what could be so sensitive that couldnt also be shared with the rest of us? Besides, given that it was a Summit for Democracy, this was not a good look.

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When the cameras came back on, two hours later, we saw a roundtable panel about bolstering democratic resilience. The featured speakers included the president of Ghana; the mayor of Freetown, Sierra Leone; and the president of Costa Ricas legislative assembly. It might have been interesting to hear from such figures, whose voices get so little recognition. Unfortunately, they seem to have mastered all too well the arts of phatic speech and bromides.

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Biden has been talking about this summit since even before he was elected. Yet after its first few hours, the point of the summitnever quite clear to begin withwas more opaque than ever. Even as theater, the plotline seemed threadbare.

Many have noted the summits more problematic aspects. Not least, the United States is currently in no great shape to host a summit on democratic practices and values. According to a recent Pew Research report, just 17 percent of people surveyed around the world consider the U.S. a good example to follow. In such stalwart allied countries of Germany, Australia, Canada, Italy, South Korea, Sweden, and Japan, the figure falls below 17 percent. The most gung-ho country about American democracy is Italy; but even there, just 32 percent see us a good example.

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And of course they have reason to feel this way. The bizarre and undemocratic Electoral College (two of the four presidents elected this century lost the popular vote), the stilted Supreme Court (which six of 10 Americans think is motivated by politics, not law), the disinformation about the 2020 election (which a majority of Republicans believe was stolen), the deliberate suppression of voting rights (19 states have enacted 33 laws just this year that make it harder for citizens to vote), to say nothing of the Jan. 6 pro-Trump insurrection and the fact that nearly every Republican in the U.S. Congress voted against forming a commission to investigate its originsthese are just a few of the signs that the U.S. is (as the Economists Democracy Index has put it ever since 2017) a troubled democracy.

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Then there are conceptual problems with this summit. Biden has long said that the crucial contest in the world right now is between democracy and authoritarianismand that the U.S. must lead the way in showing the world that democracy works, that democratic governments can do big things. In his opening remarks, he cited the bipartisan passage of the infrastructure bill as Exhibit A.

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However, first, the infrastructure billthough a significant accomplishment by any measurehardly proves Bidens thesis. Not long ago, a bill to spread $1 trillion worth of shovel-ready projects all across the country, in red states and blue states, would have been a no-brainer; it would have passed on a voice vote. The fact that Bidens bill met serious political opposition and won just 19 Republican votes in the Senate suggests that confidence in the government as a positive force in society (one feature of a vibrant democracy) is not at all high.

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Second, while the contest between democracy and authoritarianism is one feature of international politics, Biden may be heading into a trap by declaring it the central feature. To win, the U.S. has to show that democratic governments can do big thingsyet Congress is so deadlocked, the Supreme Court is so at odds with public opinion, politics and society are so out of alignment on so many issues, we might wind up showing that (the infrastructure bill aside) we cant do much after all. Nor is it clear that we will have strong tailwinds of support from the rest of the world. According to a recent report by Freedom House, less than 20 percent of the global population lives in a free countrydown from 39 percent the year before and the lowest percentage since 1995.

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This may be all the more reason for a summit of some sort on democracybut this summit seems an odd beast. Of the 111 countries that Biden invited to attend, 29 are described by Freedom House as partly free (e.g., Colombia, Indonesia, and Kenya) or not free (e.g., Iraq, Angola, and the Democratic Republic of Congo).

Pressed on this point, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said, Inclusion on an invitation is not a stamp of approval on their approach to democracynor is exclusion a stamp  of disapproval. Well, then, what does inclusion or exclusion indicate?

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Mainly its about international politics. Russia and China werent invited because the summits premisethe contest between democracy and authoritarianismis largely a contest against them. Iraq was invited because the U.S. backed Iraq in a long war and because Israel cant be the only Middle Eastern country to attend. Pakistan was invited because India was, and it would offend the Pakistanisstill needed for support in counterterrorism operationsto leave them out.

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Theres nothing wrong with this, but the primacy of power politics in the summits formation suggests there might be something amiss in its very premise for being. Not only is the United States less democratic than it used to be, its also less powerful. We cant impose our will unilaterally to the extent we were once able to do; we need allies and partners, and sometimes allies and partners are unpleasant. We need either Russia or Chinaand, in some cases, bothto help fight the pandemic, keep Iran from building a nuclear bomb, keep North Korea under some control, combat terrorism, and, not least, keep relations peaceful among the three of us, who after all possess the worlds three largest nuclear arsenals.

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By highlighting the competition between democracy and authoritarianism, to the point of excluding Russia and China from a diplomatic forum that includes the likes of Angola and Congo, is Biden alienating Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping from cooperating with us on these vital issues where we have converging interests? Is he, more than that, pushing Putin and Xi closer together? Similarly, by inviting Poland but not Hungary (even though both countries are illiberal members of the European Union), is Biden pushing the latters president, Janos Ader, farther to the anti-democratic right? Is he doing the same to Recip Tayyep Erdogan by not inviting Turkey, a member of NATO?

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Or is this an overly cynical way of looking at this? Is it possible that their exclusionand the tacit promise of inclusion in the future if they straighten upwill lure Ader and Erdogan back into the fold? Will Polands president Andrzej Duda be so pleased by his inclusion that he recommits himself to the EUs democratic principles? Its possible.

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It is certainly notable that Putin and Xi seem to be genuinely irritated by their exclusion. Xi was so furious that his state council issued a pamphlet titled China: Democracy That Works, redefining democracy in a way that portrayed China as the shining paragon and the United States as tarnished. If the summit forces Chinas leaders to justify its behavior on democratic grounds, or if it animates domestic dissidents to sharpen their critiques, perhaps this summit will have done some good. When the Helsinki Accords were signed in 1975, its articles on human rights were widely dismissed as flowery verbiage having no real effect. Yet in retrospect, the accords played a distinct role in strengthening and legitimizing the Russian dissidentsa process that led to the crumbling of the Soviet Union.

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But there was another element that played a huge role in that earlier upheavalthe thriving image of American and Western democracy as a more appealing way of life. The editors of Politico asked 18 experts and activists in endangered democracies from Iraq to Poland to India what Biden should do to help democracy in each of their countries. The majority of them replied with something like: Dont lecture me about democracy. Clean up your own internal problems. Become a role model again.

In 1994, on his 90th birthday, George Kennan, the architect of Americas Cold War containment policy, said in a speech looking back on his life and times, It is primarily by example, never by precept, that a country such as ours exerts its most useful influence beyond its borders.

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Yet the summit, as it has emerged, is at best a prod and a symbol. At worst, its an annoyance, and theres the additional danger that it could calcify into a bureaucratic entityBiden said in his opening remarks that hell hold another summit a year from now. He should be more concerned with ensuring that American democracy still exists a year from now. He should take and press for actionson the nature of the Supreme Court, on the voting rights bill, on strengthening links between popular needs and government policiesthat will make us a role model again, to the rest of the world and to ourselves.
The Supreme Court appears poised to reject a fundamental principle of constitutional law: the proposition that states have a compelling interest in keeping religion out of public schools. Six Republican-appointed justices indicated on Wednesday that preserving a secular public education system constitutes religious discrimination in violation of the First Amendment. In the short run, this conclusion will force taxpayers in several states to fund openly discriminatory fundamentalist Christian schools. In the long run, it imperils public education as we know it.

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Wednesdays case, Carson v. Makin, involves a Maine program that provides a subsidy to students who dont live near a regular public school. These students can spend the money on any private school that provides a rough equivalent of a public education. Eligible schools can be affiliated with a religion, though they cant infuse their curriculum with religious doctrine. If a school compels students to engage in religious exerciseand discriminates against those who dont adhere to the faithit doesnt qualify for the program under state law. A Christian family in Maine filed a lawsuit alleging that this restriction violates the First Amendments Free Exercise Clause, handing the Supreme Court another opportunity to obliterate the separation of church and state.

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During oral arguments, Maine chief deputy Attorney General Christopher Taub raised several justifications for the states refusal to underwrite religious education. Most of them began from the presumption that the government has a compelling reason to build a wall between religion and state-sponsored education. Taub had good reason for this presumption: Its called the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. In a long line of cases, the Supreme Court has prohibited states from using their public school system to aid any or all religious faiths or sects in the dissemination of their doctrines and ideals. The court has routinely explained that this bar does not manifest a governmental hostility to religion or religious teachings, but simply enforces the First Amendments guarantee against any law respecting an establishment of religion. Moreover, the court has held that states may erect a wall between church and state that goes higher than the Establishment Clause requires, acknowledging antiestablishment interests in preventing entanglement of religion and government.

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For most of the 20th century, the Supreme Court mandated religious neutrality in public education. Now a majority of justices think this neutrality is odious discrimination. How did it come to this? Justice Amy Coney Barrett provided a clue when she told Taub that all schools have some belief system; even public schools must decide the kind of values they want to inculcate in the students. To Barrett and her conservative colleagues, religion is just one of many competing values that schools might teach. Taub identified some of these valuespublic service, be kind to others, be generousas the foundation for a civic-minded education in a pluralistic democracy. The conservative justices were more skeptical: They think that, by selecting these (secular) values as the bedrock of public education, Maine disfavors institutions that would rather instill overtly religious values.

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Our current Supreme Court sees things differently. In question after question, the justices appointed by Republican presidents suggested that neutrality toward religion actually constitutes hostility toward religion. Justice Brett Kavanaugh told Taub that declining to subsidize religious schools was just as odious to our Constitution as funding Protestant schools while excluding Catholic and Jewish ones. The exclusion of religious people and religious institutions from public benefits solely because theyre religious, Kavanaugh declared, is itself discriminatory. Justice Clarence Thomas implied that secular education is just a pretext for anti-religious animus, mocking Taubs claim that there are legitimate benefits of non-sectarian schooling. (Thomas imagined a student at a secular school proclaiming: Oh, Im so glad Im here because you dont have a lot of Catholicism here.)

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Justice Sam Alito drew upon this argument when he asked if a private school could receive money if it inculcates a purely materialistic view of life. Taub hedged, explaining that there are other aspects of what a school could do that would be inconsistent with public education, like teaching Marxism or Leninism or white supremacy. If such a school applied for funding, Taub said, a way would be found to ensure that that school is not allowed to participate. Alito responded: Would you say the same thing about a school that teaches critical race theory? (Taub: I dont really know exactly what it means to teach critical race theory.) Barrett, too, did not seem to believe that Maine would truly pull funding from private schools that teach offensive ideas. She accused the state of failing to engage in real oversight, discriminating against sectarian schools while giving secular schools a thumbs-up to teach dangerous ideas.

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The justices appointed by Republican presidents suggested that neutrality toward religion actually constitutes hostility toward religion.

Marxism, Leninism, white supremacy, critical race theory: Theyre just values to the conservative justices, no different from the divinity of Jesus Christ or the immorality of homosexuality. Maines Department of Education polices the teaching of Christs divinity in publicly financed schools, but not the teaching of critical race theory. So, according to Alito and Barrett, its discriminating against religion.

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The low point of arguments arrived when Justice Neil Gorsuch seemed to insult more liberal and tolerant religions as watered down versions of the real thing. Gorsuch asked Taub if Maines rules favor religions that are more watered down, some might say, or more majoritarian, more comfortable with what a bureaucrat in Bangor might say. (Maines Department of Education is in Augusta, but put that aside.) In other words, religions that have value overlap with public school curricula get a pass, while fundamentalist religionswhich, to Gorsuch, are more genuine and undilutedface discrimination. With this comment, Gorsuch revealed that he sees progressive religions as weak, compromised, and inauthentic because they do not demand the kind of bigotry and indoctrination as hard-line religions. (If a state official made this remark, SCOTUS would probably accuse them of anti-religious animus.)

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It appears inevitable that the court will side against Maine and order the state to start funding private parochial institutions like Bangor Christian School, where students are taught to refute the teachings of the Islamic religion and get expelled if theyre LGBTQ. In theory, the decision could be limited to Maine, Vermont, and other states that impose secular requirements on publicly funded religious schools. But as Voxs Ian Millhiser pointed out, the implications of Carson go far beyond the school choice context. If SCOTUS agrees with the plaintiffs that religious families cannot be compelled to choose between their religious beliefs and receiving a government benefit, it will undermine the premise of public education in America. States might be obligated to subsidize private tuition for religious students who assert that secular public schools discriminate against their beliefs. And if the court transforms neutrality toward religion into hostility toward religion, it will open a whole new frontier of religious liberty litigation, inviting challenges to every single government program that refuses to fund religion.

The stakes are sky-high. And the conservative justices nonchalant attitudes bely the revolutionary nature of their position. Since the 1940s, the Supreme Court has embraced the principle that states canand often mustexclude religious individuals, schools, and organizations from government benefits to protect the wall between church and state. Todays court will likely reject the very premise that states can safeguard that wall, reinterpreting separation of church and state as unconstitutional animus. In the name of promoting religious liberty, SCOTUS is poised to repeal the Establishment Clause itself.
Former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows sued Nancy Pelosi and members of the Jan. 6 committee on Wednesday for allegedly violating his rights by subpoenaing him to appear for a deposition.

Meadows claim that the committee is trying to compel him to violate executive privilege is frivolous on its face for one notable reason. That is: He has already handed over documents to the committee that he himself recognizes do not violate any privilege. This is what the committee says it wants to question him about and he has in essence conceded that hed be permitted to discuss the contents of those documents in a deposition.

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Another of his main arguments, though, is notable. Meadows claims that the committee is a witch hunt because its chairman, Bennie Thompson, said that sometimes people who plead the Fifth Amendment are part and parcel guilty to what occurred.

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This suggests that Meadows is considering pleading the Fifth Amendment. If so, he would join former Department of Justice official Jeffrey Clark and Trump-advising attorney John Eastman, who have both stated that they intend to assert their Constitutional right not to be compelled to testify against themselves.

Its unclear whether Clark and Eastman, who were both reportedly scheduled to appear before the committee in the past week, have shown up yet to formally plead the Fifth. (Staff for multiple committee members did not offer comment.) But its clear that, possible claims of executive privilege and attorney-client privilege aside, the Fifth Amendment has become a real roadblock to the committees efforts to expose the scope of the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol and the extent to which members of our own government might have helped foment insurrection.

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There is a relatively simple way around that particular obstacle, though. This path forward may be both controversial and risky, but could actually compel these recalcitrant witnesses to testify: offer them immunity.

In this way, the Jan. 6 committee would replay one of the central sagas of the Iran-Contra investigations: the question of whether or not to grant immunity to compel cooperation from witnesses with critical information who are asserting their Fifth Amendment rights. The Iran-Contra committees granted Oliver North and John Poindexter whats known as limited immunity as part of its 1980s investigation into an illegal White House arms-for-hostages deal, which protected them from having their testimony used in any criminal proceeding.

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This time around, though, deciding whether to offer immunity is an easier question: Unless Attorney General Merrick Garland is actively investigating Trumps inner circle for crimes related to Jan. 6and theres no indication that he istheres little reason not to grant immunity to compel testimony from those who likely have insider knowledge like Eastman, Clark, and possibly Meadows.

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The only outstanding question is whether or not any of these men could face actual criminal accountability if Congress were to decline a grant of immunity, at which point granting immunity might be a mistake.

These are very, very difficult questions,  said former Rep. Lee Hamilton, who was the chairman of the Iran-Contra committee on the House side. If you give someone immunity it means, in effect, youre weakening the accountability, [which] is an essential ingredient in the processes of any representative democracy.

In the North and Poindexter cases, Hamilton and his committeealong with a Senate committee working in tandemultimately decided to give those two top figures immunity in order to compel testimony about President Ronald Reagans possible involvement in the arms deal. But the move backfired when the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals overturned later convictions for the two men, saying that the witness pool was tainted by the spectacle of the high-profile Congressional hearings.

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You dont like to let people get off the hook and thats what youre doing when you grant someone immunity, you let them off the hook, the 90-year-old Hamilton told me. They get away with not being accountable for their actions.

In the Jan. 6 case, though, the stakes and details are very different. Critically, at the time of the Iran-Contra hearings there was an active criminal investigation of the witnesses in question by a special prosecutor, Lawrence Walsh. At the time, Walsh actually pleaded with the committee not to grant immunity.

Judge Walsh was active and actively opposing what we were doing, said W. Neil Eggleston, former Obama White House Counsel and deputy chief counsel to Hamiltons Iran-Contra committee. But with respect to Jan. 6, theres no indication, as far as I know, that theres any criminal investigation going on, Eggleston added.

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The Iran-Contra criminal investigation, by contrast, was in an advanced stage when the grant of immunity was offered.

By the time the summer of 1987, Judge Walsh had been investigating, and his office had been investigating, for six months, and they had probable cause and much more and were heading towards indicting North and Poindexter, said John Q. Barrett, the Cardozo Professor of Law at St. Johns University who was an associate counsel in Walshs office during the trials of the two men.

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Indeed, at the moment, theres obviously no special counsel investigating Trump-world involvement on Jan. 6. Theres also been no indication that Merrick Garlands Department of Justice has opened any investigation.

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It seems quite unlikely that theres an active criminal investigation that we wouldnt know anything about, said Eggleston. If theres an active investigation into President Trump and people close to him, those tend not to stay quiet.

Eggleston added I think there should be an active criminal investigation by the Department of Justice, but if there isntas appears to be the casethen it cuts towards granting immunity.

Either way, the committee is obligated by statute to let the Department of Justice know if it intends to grant immunity to any potential criminal targets and give the Attorney General the chance to make the case against the grant of immunity. So, if immunity is on the table, it could open the door to more clarity on Garlands intentions on investigating some of the White House ringleaders of the efforts to overturn the election that culminated in the attack on the Capitol.

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One other potential complication is the possibility for a special grand jury in Fulton County, Georgia to investigate Trumps efforts to overturn the election in that state and whether or not District Attorney Fani Williss ongoing investigation could produce indictments against potential Jan. 6 witnesses. As Eggleston notes, the solution, though, would be for the Jan. 6 committee to inform Willis about any possible immunity plans and clarify whether or not it would interfere with her probe.

One option that seems like the worst-case scenario: These potential witnesses dont face any accountability from prosecutors, nor are they compelled to reveal to the public the full truth around their involvement in the events of Jan. 6.

Over the coming weeks and months, it will be up to the Jan. 6 committee to ensure that does not happen.
There has been a tendency, in the week since it became clear the U.S. Supreme Court will likely either uphold Mississippis unconstitutional 15-week abortion ban or overturn Roe v. Wade outright, to suggest that when this happens, America will return to the days pre-Roe. That is intended to mean, one assumes, that we will go back to a patchwork of laws in the various states, and see the grim return of women attempting to terminate their own pregnancies with sometimes lethal results as well as the backroom illegal abortions that were the norm before Roe became law. But it is not quite accurate to say this would be a simple return to life pre-Roe: If the boldest voices in the pro-life movement have their way, America would not so much be reverting to its pre-Roe past but slipping sideways into something that could bebelieve it or notmuch worse.

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Michelle Goldberg made this point two years ago in the New York Times, after Alabama, Georgia, and Missouri passed a raft of (at the time) unthinkably punitive abortion bans immediately after Brett Kavanaugh was seated at the Supreme Court. As she wrote at the time, its important to understand that were not necessarily facing a return to the past. The new wave of anti-abortion laws suggests that a post-Roe America wont look like the country did before 1973, when the court case was decided. It will probably be worse.

Anyone listening carefully to the newly ascendant views of abortion opponents can hear itthe talk of legal fetal personhood and of punishing mothers who endanger an embryo takes us into a new, uncharted, and theological realm that is quite different even from the status quo before Roe. Sure, we now hear opponents of abortion offering up a lot of platitudes about the need for better social safety nets (as though such things havent been desperately necessary for decades). But a better social safety net to help unwilling mothers carry, birth, and then parent unwanted children is not in fact where we are headed.

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Prior to Roe, faith groups were hardly monolithic in their opposition to abortion. Many religious leaders stood firmly on the side of the health and welfare of mothers. The National Association of Evangelicals passed a resolution in 1971 recognizing the necessity for therapeutic abortions to safeguard the health or the life of the mother, as in the case of tubular pregnancies and conceded that pregnancies resulting from rape or incest  may require deliberate termination, but the decision should be made only after there has been medical, psychological and religious counseling of the most sensitive kind. The Southern Baptist Convention had passed resolutions affirming that people should have abortion access for various reasons in 1971, 1974 and 1976. But in the decades since, hard-line religious opposition to Roe has both solidified and moved the goal posts. Since 1984, the Republican Party platform has called for a constitutional amendment banning abortion nationwide. The ground has shifted.

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In other words, this doesnt necessarily end at returning abortion to the states. Talking to the New Yorkers Isaac Chotiner this week, Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the Susan B. Anthony List, talked about plans for a nationwide 15-week abortion ban in the years to come. Religious groups that oppose abortion now speak openly of a project set forth by scholars such as John Finnis, a professor emeritus at the University of Notre Dame, who argued in the Catholic journal First Things that legislators who wrote the 14th Amendment viewed unborn children as persons, such that unborn children would receive the full guarantees of equal protection and due process of the law under the 14th Amendment. Finnis and Robert George also filed an amicus brief at the Supreme Court in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization, urging the court to make all abortion illegal. As Garrett Epps pointed out this fall, in their brief they urged that the prohibition of abortion is constitutionally obligatory because unborn children are persons within the original public meaning of the Fourteenth Amendments Due Process and Equal Protection Clauses. Yes, they are contending that the notion that any fertilized egg is a full human person, is within the original public meaning of the 14th Amendment. The push for such protections, while still dismissed as somewhat fringe-y, can be seen in Justice Clarence Thomas enthusiasm for the equal rights of the unborn, and that includes, by necessity, punishment for women who endanger their pregnancies.

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Pause to remember that before Roe, it was largely the physicians who performed abortions who were on the hook for criminal penalties. But as states continue to enact fetal personhood laws, we will also continue to see draconian punishments meted out to women who miscarry, who use drugs during pregnancy, who attempt suicide while pregnant, and who suffer complications around a C-section. The case of Brittney Poolawthe 19-year-old Oklahoma woman who went to the Comanche County Memorial Hospital after suffering a miscarriage at home and was sentenced to four years in prison for manslaughter for drug useis a pretty good predictor of where we are headed. If a fetus or embryo is a person for purposes of the law, it stands to reason that mothers are going to be on the end of both the justice and mercy that Dannenfelser was meting out in her interview with Chotiner. A report by the National Advocates for Pregnant Women and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers found that there are more than 4,450 crimes in the federal criminal code, tens of thousands of state criminal provisionsincluding criminal abortion lawsstill on the books, as well as state conspiracy, attempt, and accomplice statutes that could subject a wide range of individuals to criminal penalties if Roe is overturned. Even criminal laws that have absolutely nothing to do with abortion on their faceincluding prohibitions on possession of a dangerous drug can be, and have been, used by zealous prosecutors to punish abortion patients.

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It is important to understand that whatever reality looked like pre-Roe, it was not solely or fundamentally a theological opposition to female autonomy that powered the opposition to reproductive freedom. Back then, it was more of a paternalistic notion that women were essentially full-size children who needed to be protected from the predations of abortion providers, yes, but also protected from draconian punishment by the states. In the amicus brief filed by Finnis and George, there is a proposed fix for the problem of women who make bad choices once abortion is illegal everywhere. As they explain:

States may consider degrees of culpability as mitigating factors or altogether immunize from prosecution certain participants in wrongful killings. Here such policy choices serve legitimate purposes by fairly balancing the childs humanity and her unique physical dependence and impact on her mother. And the mothers constitutional rights could require States to allow urgent or life-saving medical interventions even when these would unavoidably result in fetal death.

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The state, in short, doesnt have to punish mothers who end their pregnancies, either intentionally or by accident. The state in its infinite mercy can weigh the circumstances and sometimes go easy on the pregnant woman, who, for instance, sought life-saving medical interventions. We now have all the exposure of life pre-Roe but none of the paternalistic protections: Women are now seen as fully autonomous moral agents, which means that they will be legally on the hook for endangering the babies they carry, but they will also be punishable as autonomous adults. Women thus remain children for purposes of pregnancy and giving birth, but have become adults for purposes of criminal liability.

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Its easy to lull yourself into the false belief that a reversion to life pre-Roe would simply mean that the reproductive freedom movement needs to redouble efforts to fund and transport persons needing abortions to more hospitable states. That would be awful, we think, but maybe not that catastrophically bad. But as Goldberg warned in 2019, the past can prove inadequate to understanding the depredations of the present. We are not in fact moving backward to life before Roe. We are more likely moving sideways into a fundamentalist religious regime in which life pre-Roe will come to look like a vastly less terrifying option than a world in which women are subject to revanchist religious claimsclaims with no support whatsoever in the Constitutionabout the lives they may carry, the unknown crimes they may commit, and the choices they are no longer permitted to make.
On Nov. 30, Oxford High School became the latest school in the U.S. to experience a mass shooting, with 11 people shot and four killed, all of them teenagers. The tragedy is personal for Michigan state Sen. Rosemary Bayer: She used to live in Oxfordand shes been pushing for stricter gun laws since she took office in 2019. Its kind of a strange coincidence, she says. Its pretty important to me, and then there it was, in my own district and in my own community. On Thursdays episode of What Next, I talked to Bayer about whether the Oxford shooting will change anything, what to make of the criminal charges against the shooters parents, and what it will take for Michigan to adopt stricter gun laws. This conversation has been condensed and edited for clarity.

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Mary Harris: Prosecutors are charging not only the gunman, who was a student at Oxford High School, but his parents, because they gave him access to a gun. I thought that might be heartening for you.

Rosemary Bayer: Well, its a victory in that they got charged. Its not a victory in the sense that the charge is not specific enough. Were concerned that it wont stick.

What do you mean by that?

Well, even the prosecutor herself said our laws are woefully inadequate to the task here. What we really needed is the laws that we keep advocating for.

The law that you wanted to pass.

Yes, a law that I want to pass, the safe storage law, that would hold people accountable for someone giving a minor access to a weapon because its not safely stored and then something bad happens. That would be a felony. If we get that passed, its a felony. Its very direct, its very specific, much more difficult for a court case to work around it.

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The parents say that their weapons were safely stored, so thats in dispute. Its something that will come out at trial, Im sure.

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Can you tell the story of the legislation you introduced earlier this year requiring the safe storage of guns? What would it do?

First of all, it defines what it means to safely store a firearm. And then theres established penalties, specifically a five-year felony, if a minor gets access to that and something happens, so harm to themselves or harm to another person. It does a little bit more than that, because the fact is, a lot of times, people dont safely store their firearms. They literally dont think about it. So this would also require the sellers to have people read and sign a document that says, I understand that Im legally responsible to safely store this, and if something happens and a minor gets access to this weapon and hurts themselves or others, I am responsible and will be convicted of a felony. So that theres no question that they were reminded of the law. Cant back out of this in any way, this is a serious business, and you sign here and recognize and acknowledge that you knew this in advance. Thats part of the bill.

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What made you propose this legislation?

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We have been proposing safe storage and other very commonsense safety regulations for years. And we do it every session. Now, some things are new. This week, were introducing a new bill that would restrict the size of the magazine capacity.

So fewer bullets.

Fewer bullets, exactly. Which may have actually made a difference in what happened last week, to be honest.

None of the Republicans will stand up and do anything different than the top-level messaging.  Michigan state Sen. Rosemary Bayer

Does Michigan have any safe storage requirements right now?

No.

I read that your bill got stuck in committee. Im wondering if you can explain that. The Republican Party controls the state Legislature in Michigan.

They do. The way it works here is the party in the majority decides everything. They decide whos on the committees, how many people on each side are on the committees, so all of our committees are overwhelmingly loaded with Republicans because theyre in the majority. So I have a committee where its four to one, Im the only Democrat, theres no chance, and in fact it takes two people even to get a motion to have a bill considered. I mean, its that bad. So first thing is the imbalance of people on the committees, but the fact is that the leadership in every committee is Republican, and they decide which things get a hearing in committee, and we have never had a hearing on any of our gun sense legislation at all.

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How do you approach that as a legislator? Do you walk into the committee and you look at the four Republicans and you think, Which of these people can I work on? How do you do it?

So in other topics, not anything to do with firearms, I do do that. I work with them all the time. I know the people that are interested in specific topics, you go talk with them, you find ways to work together, and you can try to get things done. In this circumstanceand theres others like this, by the waybut in this circumstance, theres one person in the Senate that really does control this conversation, and no one will buck that. None of the Republicans will stand up and do anything different than the top-level messaging.

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Who controls the message?

Its the leader of the Senate. The Republican majority leader of the Senate, his name is Mike Shirkey.

Yeah, I read that the bill had no Republican co-sponsors.

No. And it wont, until something changes. Theyre not going to go against the party line on this, regardlessand I do believe that some of them do think theres some commonsense reasons to do some of these things. But theyre not going to buck that and go against the line.

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Do you ever have any off-the-record conversations with a Republican where youre just like, We should get this done, you talk to your guy, Ill talk to mine, well find a way?

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Theres a couple of issues that you just dont do that. This is one of them.

I have talked with Sen. Shirkey, and shortly before COVID hit, he did agree to have a hearing on one of my bills. Not the safe storage oneit was on the extreme risk protection orders, also known as red flag legislation. And its proven to have an impact, particularly in suicidethats where most of the data is, and thats kind of how I first got involved here. So thats one that he has agreed to do a hearing on. And we didnt do it because COVID hit like two weeks later and it got postponed three times and now were gonna of course ask to have a hearing. I dont know that we would be able to get him to change his mind and talk about safe storage first. Probably not.

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In 2018, you became the first Democrat to win your district in over a decade. Republicans have controlled the Michigan state Senate since the mid-1980s. But you see problems that go all the way back to voter education, basic political organizingfor example, people dont seem to understand what it is you do.

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Most people dont have a very good understanding of our state government, of what we do here, the connection between things that happen here at our state Capitol and things that happen in their lives. Im new to this, this is my first elected office, and when I first started campaigning, I didnt actually know what to do, so I knocked on a lot of doors and asked people what they thought was important. And many times I heard people say, You mean theres a Senate in Michigan? So they dont associate it with anything that has real meaning. When they think of state government, they typically think of the governor, because thats where the visibility is. So I do believe that outside pressure is needed to help people understand that the people you vote for are the ones deciding whether or not you think we should protect your kids at school.

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But when I think about the debate over gun control, I dont think it lacks for outside pressure. I think that there are a lot of special interests here fighting mightily for more gun rights and more gun restrictions.

Yeah. So imagine if you lived in the middle of the rural parts of Michigan in the middle of the mitten. You dont have any idea that the people here in Lansing are deciding whether or not there is any safe storage regulation. In Michigan, the polls consistently, even 90 percent, including gun owners, think we should have universal background checks, one of the most fundamental thingsand we cant get a hearing on that. The voters dont realize, those people polled all over the state dont realize, that the people here in Lansing are making a decision that is contrary to what they want.

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So what if we had people in the middle of Michigan call their legislator and say, Im only going to vote for someone who agrees with me on this issue, who thinks that we should have some protections and some just commonsense safety regulation on firearms, and Im not going to vote for you if you dont agree with that? Would you think that maybe we could actually change the script a little bit if we could somehow get that kind of attention? Its got to be about voting. I mean, lobbyists are great, but theyre not reaching the voters.

I wonder if youve let yourself think about what might have happened if your law had been passed. Like whether it could have prevented what took place at the high school last week.

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I think any one of these probably would have had an impact. The idea of knowing that you need to safely store this or its a felony. Or could it be that magazine capacity was restricted unless people got shot? I mean, any of those things would have had an impact. Theres a lot of ways to make this better. And they dont take peoples guns away. They just bring safety to the picture.

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Do you find yourself in conversations with constituents who are worried youre going to take their guns away?

Yeah. Oh, yeah. Definitely.

What do you tell them?

I tell them were not trying to take their guns away. Were just trying to make it safe. And heres why. And most of the time, thats a good conversation.

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You mentioned the Republican majority leader, Shirkey. Over the last few days, hes said things like the way to support Oxford is to give them space. He said, If we get obsessed with eliminating all risks, we will  evolve into a country we wont recognize, because well also have no freedoms. I wonder if you had any kind of reaction hearing that.

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I did. My very first thought was, oh, your freedom to have guns tops their freedom to live? We have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Theres no gun stuff in that sentence. Theyre so extreme on this topic it doesnt even make any sense. And hes the same person who told the media that he was OK with the number of people dying of COVID. I mean, hes just got a different perspective on what life means. And I disagree with it, fundamentally.

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One Republican representative has introduced a bill allowing teachers to have guns inside schoolsin lockboxes, but theyd be able to arm themselves. And this is in the wake of the shooting.

Without a change in the makeup of the Legislature here in Michigan, were not going to get this done.  Michigan state Sen. Rosemary Bayer

Yeah, that is literally insane. And no teacher that Ive ever talked to, or anyone else for that matter, wants a gun at school. Thats a nutty idea in every perspective.

But given the way the Republicans are talking about this issue, how do you strategize to push right now?

As much as we will continue to do everything we can, I really believe that we need to ask for help outside of this place. This work that we do here we have tried inside over and over again. Without a change in the makeup of the Legislature here in Michigan, were not going to get this done. You know, people could do that from the outside by calling their legislator and saying, If you dont fix this, Im not voting for you. Or just dont vote for them. People could do that all over the state and really start to change the conversation, better than any groups here or us can do.

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Do you understand why that hasnt taken off? And who needs to be doing that work?

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I dont. I certainly dont know how, because I think if we knew how, we would already be launching on that. I dont know if its because were Democrats and we tend to be a little bit more independent. We would have to work as an entire collective around the state to move into areas where we dont typically really do a lot. We tend to say, OK, well, thats a Republican space and this is not, or this is a space that we could fight for. But not really focus on, specifically, these are polarizing issues that we could inspire and teach people why it matters how you vote, even at the state level.

Youre saying Democrats are ceding some space here.

I think in our strategies overall, we tend to have places where we know were not going to win. And so we dont try. And I think part of the issue is that we dont really know if we could actually change peoples minds if we never try. We have to go there and talk aboutmaybe its education, maybe its gun violence, maybe its, whats a compelling issue that would help people understand who you vote for can really make a difference in your daily life? Ive had so many people say to me, Why would I vote? Its not gonna matter, it doesnt change anything. Just that fundamental thing, right? Well, heres some reasons why you might want to vote.

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As the Supreme Court plunged into the molten core of the abortion culture wars last week, it engaged two broader questions about the state of the nation: To what extent are our past wrongs and inequalities relevant when deciding whether a challenged law is constitutional? And, relatedly, is it the courts role to conclusively answer this question?

The court has addressed these questions before, and recently. In 2007, by a 54 vote, the court invalidated student assignment plans voluntarily adopted by school districts to promote diversity, because those plans relied upon race to determine which public schools certain children may attend. In his plurality opinion, Chief Justice John Roberts rather famously declared that the way to stop discrimination on the basis of race is to stop discriminating on the basis of race.

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The courts decision in that case, Parents Involved in Community Schools v. Seattle School District, drew passionate dissents from Justices John Paul Stevens and Stephen Breyer. Stevens noted the cruel irony in Roberts reliance on Brown v. Board of Education to achieve his stated goal of getting past race. Breyer also invoked Brown in his dissent. Whereas Roberts plurality opinion declared, in effect, Mission Accomplished, Breyer insisted that despite the great strides toward racial equality in the past 50 years, we have not yet realized the promise of Brown. He concluded that to invalidate the plans under review is to threaten the promise of Brown.

Six years later, the court was faced with another case that asked it to decide whether a massive societal problem was over, this time in the context of race and voting rights in Shelby County v. Holder. In that case, the court struck down, by a 54 margin, the Voting Rights Act formula that determined whether jurisdictions with a history of race-based voting discrimination could pass new election laws. In his majority opinion, Roberts acknowledged that voting discrimination still exists. Nonetheless, he noted that things have changed dramatically since 1965:

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history did not end in 1965. By the time the Act was reauthorized in 2006, there had been 40 more years of it. In assessing the current need for a preclearance system that treats States differently from one another today, that history cannot be ignored. During that time, largely because of the Voting Rights Act, voting tests were abolished, disparities in voter registration and turnout due to race were erased, and African-Americans attained political office in record numbers.

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Given this substantial progress toward racial equality in the political process, Roberts reasoned, the robust protections of the Voting Rights Act were obsolete. Congress failure to keep up led the court to invalidate its reauthorization of the key part of a law intended to remedy discrimination.

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In dissent in Shelby County, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg famously likened this view to throwing out your umbrella in a rainstorm because it was keeping you dry. She also warned that the evolution of voting discrimination into more subtle second-generation barriers is powerful evidence that a remedy as effective as preclearance remains vital to protect minority voting rights and prevent backsliding. No matterthe majority had determined that race-based voting restrictions were no longer a problem; today we live in a voting rights world in which that declaration is assumed to be fact.

As the court turned to Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization last week, the societal question the court faced was whether women currently experience inequality, broadly speaking. Defenders of the Mississippi law insisted that women are now in a position of economic and societal parity and that the burden of raising children no longer disproportionately affects them, such that the right to abortion can handily be returned to the states and left to the political process. That was essentially the argument advanced in the amicus brief filed by the Susan B. Anthony List and 79 women serving as state legislators around the country, who contended that the very presence of women in state legislatures means that there is no longer a needif there ever wasfor this Court to assume that women cannot adequately protect their own interests through state political processes.

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Furthermore, they argued, because women can now advance their own policy preferences in legislatures throughout the Nation, the Court can and should give greater deference to state legislators judgments about how to regulate abortion within their states borders. (This argument evoked Adkins v. Childrens Hospital, a 1923 case from the Lochner era, in which the Supreme Court struck down a law guaranteeing women a minimum wage. In the courts view, women had come such a long wayin the three years since the adoption of the 19th Amendmentthat they were now free to enjoy the same constitutional freedom to contract as men. Huzzah!)

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Mississippi filed a brief in the case that went beyond merely noting the existence of gender parity in politics. It argued that there in fact has been such sufficient economic progress that Roe v. Wade is no longer necessary. The state observed in its brief that Roe suggested that, without abortion, unwanted children could force upon women a distressful life and future.  But, the brief asserted, that is no longer a concern because:

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numerous laws enacted since Roeaddressing pregnancy discrimination, requiring leave time, assisting with childcare, and morefacilitate the ability of women to pursue both career success and a rich family life. And today all 50 States and the District of Columbia have enacted safe haven laws, giving women bearing unwanted children the option of leaving [the] newborn directly in the care of the state until it can be adopted.

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This also was the line pushed by Mississippis attorney general, Lynn Fitch, who in a statement in July explained the move to do away with a constitutional right to abortion by noting that today, women have it all. In 1973, the year the Supreme Court decided Roe, she explained, there was little support for women who wanted a full family life and a successful career. In those days, she continued, maternity leave was rare. Paternity leave was unheard-of. The gold standard for professional success was a 9-to-5 with a corner office. The flexibility of the gig economy was a fairy tale. Fitch then relegated those conditions to the ash heap of history. In these last 50 years, she announced, women have carved their own way to achieving a better balance for success in their professional and personal lives. (Huzzah again!)

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It is wonderful that by some measures women appear to have achieved some semblance of progress in the past 50 years, but, as journalists have shown, these claims of full-on equality are demonstrably false, perhaps especially in Mississippi where, as Mark Joseph Stern and Jonathan Allen have shown, the state remains a dangerous and difficult place to bear, birth, and raise a child for lower-income parents. But the conservative justices, in their haste to declare American sexism over and therefore the need for Roe moot, seemed bizarrely uninterested in the reality of being forced to carry a pregnancy to term. At oral argument, when told by an attorney for the petitioner that the data has been very clear over the last 50 years that abortion has been critical to womens equal participation in society, Roberts asked her to put that data aside so that he could explore the question of why 15 weeks wasnt enough time for a woman to get an abortion. (The Mississippi law at issue in Dobbs bars most abortions after 15 weeks, which is more than two months earlier than what Roe required.) Meanwhile, Justice Amy Coney Barrett pressed one of the petitioners attorneys on whether safe haven laws for adoption address the economic burdens associated with forced motherhood and parenting so completely that all of the other problems associated with forced pregnancy are also resolved.

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The court may very well put aside all the data when it decides Dobbs. If it does, the decision could be similar to United States v. Morrison, a case from 2000 in which the court struck down the Violence Against Women Act as beyond the authority of Congress. As thenChief Justice William Rehnquist wrote for the majority of the court, while the law was supported by numerous findings regarding the serious impact that gender-motivated violence has on victims and their families, the existence of congressional findings is not sufficient, by itself, to sustain the constitutionality of Commerce Clause legislation.

If the court decides to further restrict or reverse Roe, it will also be taking a position on whether women have arrived at a position of gender parity. Just as the court held in Shelby that there was enough racial equality in voting in America to invalidate part of the Voting Rights Act, it now may conclude that there is sufficient gender equality in America to overturn Roe and allow state legislatures to decide a womans right to abortion. Those claims do not just control the outcome in the cases currently pending; they also shape the litigation in the cases that inevitably will follow.

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The strangest aspect of the courts decision here is an amicus brief filed by 154 prominent economists in Mississippi that explicitly addressed this issue of womens equality and access to abortion using data that had not been amassed when Planned Parenthood v. Casey was decided in 1992. The brief uses causal inference theory to measure the ways in which abortion access has affected birth rates as well as marriage, educational attainment, occupations, earnings, and financial stability. The brief shows that perhaps women have achieved some strides when it comes to equitybut these strides are because of their ability to access reproductive health care. For instance, the expansion of abortion access ushered in by Roe reduced teen motherhood by 34 percent and teen marriage by 20 percent. Studies also demonstrate that for women experiencing unintended pregnancies, access to abortion has increased the probability that they attend college and enter professional occupations.

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Its one thing to announce that racism or race-based voting discrimination or gender inequality is now over. Its another entirely to do so while ignoring that the reason it might even be plausible to suggest such a thing is due to the very thing you are using this evidence to void. Taking away the right to end a pregnancy because its working to lift women to economic equality is exactly like putting away your umbrella because you arent getting wet in a rainstorm. The problem is that doing so will only serve to further immiserate the very women who are not only still unequal to men, but at greatest risk of falling further behind.
On Wednesday, Instagram head and top Mark Zuckerberg deputy Adam Mosseri appeared before the Senate Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, and Data Security to testify about the platforms impacts on children and teens. His trip to Capitol Hill comes just a few months after former Facebook product manager Frances Haugen supplied the press with thousands of internal documents, which included internal research indicating that Instagram makes many teenage girls on the platform feel worse about their bodies. (Experts conducting independent studies have come to mixed conclusions about how much social media actually impacts body image.) The hearing had Mosseri battling with senators about the studies statistics and, tellingly, about potential reforms to the way Instagram operates. Indeed, a number of lawmakers pressured him to commit to various proposed fixes, which he largely dodged unless they were part of initiatives that Instagram already had in the works. Heres a breakdown of everything Mosseri wouldnt commit to.

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Independent overseers

Subcommittee chair Richard Blumenthal asked Mosseri to support a legal requirement that social-media companies provide internal research on algorithms and their impacts on young users to an independent oversight body, which some members of Congress have wanted to create in the wake of Haugens revelations. Mosseri pledged that Instagram will give third-party researchers meaningful access to data on the subject, and said that there should be standards around transparency, but stopped short of supporting an independent oversight body because he is not a legal expert. He later said he would be in favor of an industry group setting standards that are later approved by lawmakers.

Ending Instagram Kids

Blumenthal further pressed Mosseri to permanently abandon Instagram Kids, a service for users under the age of 13 that was in development until Haugens leaks revealed the existence of the project to the public. Facing backlash, Mosseri announced at the end of September that Instagram had paused development in order to confer with parents and experts. During the hearing, though, he would not commit to ending development completely, insisting that children ages 10 to 12 are already online and wanting to use Instagram, so the company ought to create an above-board way for them to use the service. He promised that children will have to have parental consent to use Instagram Kids should it ever come to fruition. The New York Times reported in October that, based on internal documents, Instagrams parent company Meta views the migration of younger users to other platforms like TikTok as an existential threat, so it makes sense Mosseri wouldnt want to throw in the towel on Instagram Kids just yet.

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Follow Suggestions

Tennessee Sen. Marsha Blackburn suggested that Instagram accounts for minors should not automatically have follow suggestions enabled. Mosseri asserted that its important for users of all ages to easily find accounts that theyre interested in, to which Blackburn responded, Teenagers have interests, yes, but what were trying to address are the adverse and negative effects that are happening to children because they are on your platform. Follow suggestions have been a concern in Congress as watchdog groups conducted studies finding that Instagram promotes pro-anorexia content to dummy accounts mimicking young teen users. Utah Sen. Mike Lee later said that his staff had set up a fake account for a 13-year-old girl and found content promoting plastic surgery and body dysmorphia showing up on the feed after following an account that Instagram had recommended.

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Enforcement

In perhaps the most substantive back-and-forth during the hearing, Mosseri and Blumenthal debated the best way enforce unspecified standards that a hypothetical oversight body would impose on platforms like Instagram. Blumenthal suggested that attorneys general should be able to bring lawsuits and seek damages for violations. Mosseri instead argued that adherence to these standards should be a requirement for receiving certain protections under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which dictates that platforms are not liable for the user-created content that they host.

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Stop Advertising to Kids

Massachusetts Sen. Ed Markey asked if Mosseri would support legislation banning targeted ads for teens and children. Mosseri pointed out that Instagram has rules banning certain inappropriate ads to be targeted at younger users, such as those having to do with alcohol and weight loss. When Markey pressed for a yes or no, Mosseri said he would be more in favor of legislation limiting, as opposed to banning, ad-targeting abilities for kids. Surveys by market analysts indicate that teens overwhelmingly prefer brand advertising on Instagram compared to other platforms like Snapchat or Facebook, so its hard to see how it would voluntarily give up that advantage.

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Providing Data

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz requested the raw data underlying the research reports that Haugen leaked about Instagrams impacts on teens, as well as the PowerPoint slides that were used to present those findings to him and other executives. Mosseri replied that Congress already had access to the slides, and that much of the data is no longer available due to data-retention policies meant to protect users. He instead vaguely promised that he would provide third-party researchers with meaningful access to data on wellbeing in the future, and noted that he would have to talk with these researchers about what data they needed beforehand. When Cruz pressed further, Mosseri said he was working on a way to provide the data in a privacy-safe way, but that he didnt want to overpromise and underdeliver. Researchers have been calling for more access to the kinds of data included in Haugens leaks, though Meta has moved to curb the capabilities of tools like CrowdTangle that give outside observers insights into content trends.

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What Mosseri Did Agree To

It wasnt all no, no, no. Mosseri generally committed to doing things that Instagram already does. In addition to his promise about giving some manner of access to third-party researchers for studies, he said he would support legislation giving teens the right to control and expunge their personal information online. Mosseri also agreed that it would be a good idea for the U.S. to adopt the Childrens Code, a set of standards that platforms have to follow when providing digital services to users under the age of 18 in the United Kingdom. Standards in the code include turning off geolocation and profiling for advertisers by default. (Instagram currently has to abide by this code for its U.K. users.) When asked to commit to hiring more human employees to review content, Mosseri said the company would continue to increase its investment in moderation involving both humans and artificial intelligence. In response to South Dakota Sen. Jonathan Thunes proposal to give users the option to avoid engagement algorithms, Mosseri revealed that Instagram is developing an option to sort feeds chronologically, instead of the default setting that ranks posts based on predictions about user preferences.

Overall, lawmakers seemed unsatisfied with Mosseris reluctance to agree to specific measures. Youve said repeatedly that youre in favor of one goal or another directionally, and I find that term really incomplete when it isnt accompanied by specific commitments, Blumenthal said in his closing remarks. The kinds of baby steps that youve suggested so far, very respectfully, are underwhelming.

Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society.
Welcome to Source Notes, a Future Tense column about the internets information ecosystem.

Back in January 2001, Wikipedias co-founder typed the words Hello, World! into the new internet encyclopedia. This week, Wales is selling a nonfungible token, or NFT, on the Ethereum blockchain based on what he has described as the first-ever Wikipedia edit. Auction house Christies is offering the token from Dec. 3 to 15 alongside the Strawberry iMac that Wales used at the time of Wikipedias launch. According to Christies, the buyer of the NFT will receive a re-creation of Wikipedia from its first moments of existence, based on code from the earliest available backup of the site.

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The Birth of Wikipedia NFT auction listing evokes a certain nostalgia for the internets early days, with its plain text interface and basic homepage. The new auction resembles an earlier sale by Tim Berners-Lee, known as the inventor of the World Wide Web, who sold an NFT representing the source code to the original web browser for $5.4 million this year. Sources told me that Christies likewise expects the unofficial Wikipedia NFT to sell for millions of dollars.

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But many of the volunteers who edit Wikipedia have serious reservations about Wales selling this NFT, with some suggesting that it completely contradicts the ethos of Wikipedia as a free knowledge project. Why the heck would you do this? said one Twitter user to Wales. NFTs are all about attempting to create artificial scarcity, and in this moment in time, profit. Wikipedia is the opposite of both of those.

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There is at least one similarity between the Wales NFT and the larger NFT discourse: Its really hard to describe what the buyer actually owns. According to the Christies auction listing, the buyer will receive a Non-fungible token. Digital sculpture comprised of Hello, World wiki database files, perl cgi-script, digital rendering, url to live website hosted at editthisnft.com.

Basically, the buyer owns a token on the Ethereum blockchain pointing to this website, which re-creates, as closely as technically possible, the home page of Wikipedia on Jan. 15, 2001, when the site was in its embryonic stage. The artistic concept is to invite people to think about that momenta brand new wiki is so fragile, and this is a new experiment in how one might build an encyclopedia, Jimmy Wales said in an email to Slate. Will it be taken over by trolls in three days? Will it be totally ignored by the world? The new owner can edit or allow public editing on the site, making it dynamic and potentially vulnerable to vandalism; however, the site is also programmed with a default reset interval. Every five minutes, the page reverts to its original Hello, World! state.

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Wales has said that he typed Hello, World! because it was standard practice at the time when setting up new software. There is controversy, however, over whether it is accurate to describe these words as the first-ever edit to Wikipedia. For background, Wikipedias first edits were lost for years until developer Tim Starling rediscovered them in 2010. Joseph Reagle, a professor at Northeastern University and Wikipedia historian, used this data to reconstruct the first 10,000 contributions to Wikipedia. Reagles reconstruction shows that the first-ever edit to Wikipedia was not Hello, World! but the words This is the new WikiPedia! which came from a computer or IP address associated with office.bomis.com. (Bomis was the dot-com company Wales co-founded to pursue a wide range of internet projects, of which Wikipedia is the most well-known.)

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In a Saturday post on his blog, Reagle noted the apparent discrepancy of claiming to auction the first edit to Wikipedia when that did not match what was available in the digital record. Wales has since clarified the order of events based on his recollection: On the morning of Wikipedias birth, Wales typed in the words Hello, World! and then wiped the files on the server to start over again. Wales said that the words were live on the homepage for a short period of time, and that he was probably the only one to see them during the setup process. (By the way, there is now a new Wikipedia article about the First Wikipedia edit that delves into the distinction between the earliest edits recalled by Wales and the earliest found edits available in the digital record.)

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For some Wikipedians, the issue isnt whether the Wales NFT is authenticthey are fine accepting that the NFT is a fair artistic representationbut rather that they view NFTs themselves as immoral. Ethereum, like other blockchains, is built on a proof of work system that requires inordinate amounts of electricity, meaning that NFTs contribute to planet-heating carbon dioxide emissions and climate change. For his part, Wales has pledged to purchase a carbon offset for the NFTs share of Ethereum mining. Ethereums supporters note that the blockchains switch to a proof of stake rather than proof of work system is expected to substantially cut Ethereums energy use. Still, the auction is coming at a time when the Wikipedia community is particularly sensitive to the role it plays in global climate issues. As Marco Silva recently reported for the BBC, several non-English versions of the encyclopedia have been found to promote conspiracy theories about climate change, leading to calls to correct this misinformation.

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There is also an argument that the concept of NFTs clashes with Wikipedias public service mission. When somebody makes an edit to Wikipedia, they agree to release their contribution to the public interest via a Creative Commons license. The open license grant means that an individual cannot go back and claim that they exclusively own any Wikipedia article or any individual edit. In other words, Wales does not exclusively own the Hello, World! edit because he yielded it 20 years ago. To be fair, Wales acknowledged this point on his Wikipedia talk page, where he characterized the NFT as an artistic recreation rather than a sale of the original contribution itself.

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Some see a disconnect between the NFT gold rush and Wikipedias mission to promote free culture. David Gerard, a journalist and blockchain commentator who is active in the Wikipedia community, told me that he advised Wales not to auction this item as an NFT. Wikipedia is about people who know things compiling the stuff they know for other people to read, and reuse it for free. Cryptocurrencies and NFTs are 100 percent about the money, Gerard said in an email. I cant see a way to cross the two.

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But Wales himself is pushing back on the argument that Wikipedia and NFTs are misaligned. One of the really interesting things about NFTs is that their value comes not from scarcity but from abundance, Wales wrote in his email to Slate. When an NFT of the famous Disaster Girl meme sold for nearly $500,000 in 2020, that did not mean that the meme became any less available online. Similarly, anybody can copy Wales Birth of Wikipedia NFT because everything about the NFT, including the smart contract, is freely licensed. The free culture movement is really rooted in this idea that sharing is valuable, and that locking things away isnt the only way to organize culture, Wales said.

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Wales has pledged to donate the proceeds from the auction to free culture organizations and to WT.Social, the donor-supported and ad-free social network that Wales founded as an alternative to Facebook and Twitter. But that doesnt mean that the auction proceeds will be donated to Wikipedia itself. The Wikimedia Foundation confirmed in an email to Slate that its board of directors requested that Wales not earmark the funds for the foundation to make clear that this was Wales personal venture and not a Wikipedia-endorsed fundraising initiative.

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One common sentiment that I heard from Wikipedians is that they were generally supportive of Wales auctioning the Strawberry iMac that he used while setting up Wikipedia. The iMac is a fun piece of internet history that could presumably be a fabulous addition to the Smithsonian or another museum. On the other hand, when I asked those same editors about Wales auctioning the unofficial Wikipedia NFT, the majority found it off-putting.

Why are the two sales generating such different reactions? My hunch is that the pushback stems from deep-seated concerns about monetizing Wikipedia, even if thats not what Wales is aiming to do. For 20 years, Wikipedia editors have been staving off undisclosed paid editors who seek to turn the global knowledge resource into an advertising platform for their clients. More recently, volunteers have been resisting calls to transform Wikipedia into a crypto-based decentralized autonomous organization where users would be required to pay to play by staking tokens for their edits.

In crude terms, the NFT movement is about redefining ownership and selling digital goods, whereas Wikipedia stands for the proposition that not everything of value should be monetized. What makes Wikipedia special among tech platforms is that it stands for the nonprofit, idealistic purpose of providing humanity with access to the sum of all knowledge. And so the NFT resistance here can be read in a symbolic sense. The basic message: Back off.

Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society.
ARCHIVED - Comet Leonard visible from Spain in mid-December



The space rock will be clearly visible through binoculars

Officially known as Comet C / 2021 A1 Leonard, this huge rock made up of ice, dust and gas situated at the very edge of the Solar System will approach the Earth this December and be clearly visible through binoculars and telescopes.

Leonard will pass within 35 million kilometres of our planet on December 12 and some scientists suggest it may be possible to see it with the naked eye from Spain just before dawn.

Star gazers can locate the path of the comet easily enough by focusing on the centre point between the Ursa Major constellation and Arthur, the third-brightest star in the sky and part of the constellation Boyero.

According to NASA, after December 12 Leonard will become less and less visible as it makes its way towards the inner planets before permanently leaving the Solar System on January 3.

Image: NASA
https://sputniknews.com/20211209/51-of-israelis-would-support-attack-on-irans-nuclear-facilities-without-us-support-shows-poll-1091382969.html

51% of Israelis Would Support Attack on Irans Nuclear Facilities Without US Support, Shows Poll

51% of Israelis Would Support Attack on Irans Nuclear Facilities Without US Support, Shows Poll

More than half of Israelis believe that their country would not need the backing of the US to carry out a strike on Iran, according to a new survey.

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naftali bennett

natanz fuel enrichment plant

israel

iran

joint comprehensive plan of action (jcpoa)

natanz

israel democracy institute

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Slightly more than half of Israelis (51%) believe that their country would not need the backing of the United States to carry out a strike on Iran, according to a new survey. 58% of Jewish Israelis stated there would be no need to wait for Washington to greenlight such moves as opposed to 31% urging such approval, revealed an Israel Democracy Institute report published Wednesday. Around 82% of Arab Israelis would want the administration of US President Joe Biden to sign off on such a strike. 31% of those polled were against such unilateral actions, showed the Israeli Voice Index survey for November 2021, published by IDIs Viterbi Family Center for Public Opinion and Policy Research. Over 50% of those surveyed perceive the Islamic Republic as an existential threat, while 25% view Iran as a medium danger. When political affiliation entered the mix, among self-identifying right-wingers, two-thirds agreed that Israel should attack Iran even without US approval, stated the IDI poll. 50% of centre-left respondents agreed with this stance. On the left end of the spectrum, only 37.5% of respondents supported an Israeli strike without Washingtons consent. The IDI poll was conducted online and by telephone among 614 Jewish respondents and 150 Arabs between 29 November and 1 December. Iran Nuclear Deal The survey comes as senior Israeli officials have repeatedly warned they are prepared to go it alone to protect themselves against Iran amid claims by Tel Aviv that Tehran seeks to obtain nuclear weapons. The Islamic Republic has consistently denied the claims. In his speech to the United Nations General Assembly in September, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett declared that Irans nuclear programme has hit a watershed moment, and so has our tolerance. Words do not stop centrifuges from spinning We will not allow Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon. The Israeli Prime Minister, who took over from long-time PM Benjamin Netanyahu in June, earlier indicated that that his country will maintain its freedom of action if a new nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers was reached at the Vienna talks. "In any event, even if there is a return to a deal, Israel is of course not a party to the deal and Israel is not obligated by the deal," Bennett added, describing Iran as being at "the most advanced stage of its nuclear programme. The remarks had come ahead of the resumption of indirect negotiations on reviving the 2015 deal, also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which former US President Donald Trump withdrew from in 2018. The US had immediately reimposed stringent sanctions on the Islamic Republic. The deal had eased sanctions on Iran in return for strict limits on its nuclear program to prevent Tehran from building an atomic arsenal. Iran, which has consistently maintained its programme was exclusively peaceful in nature, since the US walkout began breaching the deal with expanded uranium enrichment. President Joe Biden, as he took over the White House from predecessor Donald Trump, had vowed to return the US to the deal if Iran returned to compliance with its nuclear provisions.Negotiations to resuscitate the 2015 JCPOA accord first began in April in the P5+1 format comprising Russia, China, the US, the UK, France, Germany and Iran. There was a several-month hiatus due to presidential elections in Iran. This August, the newly-elected Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi took over from Hassan Rouhani, noting that Tehran was ready for negotiations. Washington will resume the indirect nuclear talks with Iran in Vienna, State Department spokesman Ned Price confirmed on Wednesday, after little progress was made in discussions last week. He added that restoring the deal is still a viable option. Top European diplomat Enrique Mora also confirmed that the negotiations would continue after the seventh round of talks was halted on 3 December. Iran, which wants all the sanctions lifted immediately, says it submitted two proposals last week based on the provisions of the 2015 agreement to revive the deal. Washington has been arguing a mutual return to compliance, involving an end to sanctions and a scaling back of Irans nuclear programme.

https://sputniknews.com/20211205/iran-blames-us-stubbornness-on-sanctions-for-breakdown-of-vienna-nuke-talks--1091266267.html

Holger H. lol, the filthy Zionistas seem to have a collective Death Wish... thats coming for them if they attack Iran 6

mandrake Good, the better the jews illegally occupying palestine will be made extinc, like the already extinct dodo-bird, and not a soul in the non-jewish part of mankind will shed a tear when the jews go missing. In fact, the jews are criminals and have forfeited their right to be part of mankind! 5

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https://sputniknews.com/20211209/armenia-says-border-positions-attacked-by-azerbaijan-military-forces-overnight-1091376906.html

Armenia Says Border Positions Attacked by Azerbaijan Military Forces Overnight

Armenia Says Border Positions Attacked by Azerbaijan Military Forces Overnight

The Armenian Defence Ministry claims its positions came under artillery fire from the Azerbaijan side of the border overnight and the attacks were repelled.

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"At nightfall on December 8, the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan commenced firing with various caliber firearms in the direction of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia positioned in the eastern part of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border. The adversary's fire was suppressed by retaliatory actions. There were no casualties on the Armenian side," statement at the ministry's website said.Furthermore, the Armenian Defence Ministry called on the Azerbaijani side to refrain from provocative actions, which may escalate the situation.The parties have just recently agreed to work toward the border demarcation and demilitarisation. At the meeting in Sochi on 26 November, Armenian President Ilham Aliyev, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the prospects for the normalisation of Armenian-Azerbaijani relations and steps to increase stability and security at the border. The meeting followed fierce border clashes of the warring parties that erupted in mid-November, when over a dozen soldiers from both sides were killed and several dozens wounded.An escalation of the long-running conflict occurred over a year ago and became the most violent in the recent history of hostilities. It claimed the lives of 15,000 people in total and has had a major economic and political impact on Armenia.

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news, azerbaijan, armenia, border
https://sputniknews.com/20211209/belarus-denies-nyt-report-on-situation-surrounding-ryanair-plane-landing-in-minsk-1091390826.html

Belarus Denies NYT Report on Situation Surrounding Ryanair Plane Landing in Minsk

Belarus Denies NYT Report on Situation Surrounding Ryanair Plane Landing in Minsk

US article citing a Belarusian airport dispatcher who purportedly was on duty during emergency landing of a Ryanair plane in Minsk is "deliberately false," Artem Sikorsky, head of aviation at Belarusian Transport Ministry, said.

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belarus

ryanair

news

report

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The New York Times reported on Thursday, citing EU security forces, that the former Minsk airport operator fled to Poland and told the local authorities his own version of events which, the newspaper said, could be used by the Polish government to sue Belarus. The ex-dispatcher was cited as saying that the emergency landing operation was managed by a Belarusian State Security Committee officer, who was in the control room the entire time and constantly reported developments to someone on the phone."[The article] is intended for ordinary people who are not aware of the specifics of civil aviation," Sikorsky was quoted as saying by the state-run Belta news agency.Sikorsky said that "this knowingly false information" appeared just when Minsk requested that Poland and the International Civil Aviation Organization provide monitoring data. The requested data included "the talks of the operator in Vilnius with the pilot and talks of the crew members in the cabin," according to the Belarusian official.He suggested that the ex-dispatcher might have agreed to "some deals" under pressure, pointing out that the article contained only "the interpretation of his words by the Polish special services, but not his own words."On 23 May, Belarus diverted a Ryanair plane flying from Athens to Vilnius to Minsk over a bomb threat that turned out to be false. Two passengers aboard the aircraft, Roman Protasevich, co-founder of the Nexta Telegram channel (labelled as extremist in Belarus), and his girlfriend, Sofia Sapega, who is suspected of publishing the private data of Belarusian security services officers, were detained during the stopover at the airport.

https://sputniknews.com/20211208/belarus-brings-charges-against-russian-citizen-arrested-during-ryanair-flight-stopover-1091347711.html

FeEisi Polish intelligence approached some random dispatcher and bribed him to make false statements. Belarus intelligence must keep their eye out for Polish intelligence seeking whom to bribe. 2

FeEisi In Syria foreign intelligence tried to bribe military personal to turn against Assad. Qatar, UAE and Saudis sought for someone in Syria to bribe and offer them a big home. 2

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belarus

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belarus, ryanair, news, report
https://sputniknews.com/20211209/biden-administration-reportedly-plans-to-press-ukraine-to-cede-autonomy-to-donbass-1091387844.html

Biden Administration Reportedly Plans to Press Ukraine to Cede Autonomy to Donbass

Biden Administration Reportedly Plans to Press Ukraine to Cede Autonomy to Donbass

Eastern Ukraine has been in a state of frozen civil war since February 2015, when a shaky ceasefire deal was agreed on in Minsk, Belarus by Ukraine, Russia, France and Germany.

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lugansk

ukraine

donetsk

civil war

autonomy

donbass

biden administration

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The Biden administration plans to put pressure on the Ukrainian government to cede autonomy to the breakaway Donbass territories, the Associated Press has reported, citing anonymous officials.The Minsk protocols provided a mechanism through which Kiev could formally restore control over Donetsk and Lugansk, while providing the latter with constitutionally-guaranteed autonomy status. While some of the agreements provisions - particularly measures to halt full-scale war, have been implemented (despite regular violations), the autonomy status provision has yet to be put in place amid resistance from Ukrainian authorities and the countrys parliament.After coming to power in 2019, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky initially expressed support for the so-called Steinmeier formula, named after former German Foreign Minister and Minsk negotiator Frank-Walter Steinmeier, which proposed local elections in Donetsk and Lugansk subject to the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, followed by the creation of a special self-governing status for these territories under Ukrainian jurisdiction. Zelenskys endorsement for the Steinmeier formula sparked protests in Kiev by supporters of a hard line on Donbass, prompting him to relent and for the peace process to stall amid fears by pro-Western politicians that autonomy could frustrate Kievs plans to join the European Union and NATO.In the spring of 2021, and again in recent months, tensions over Ukraine have escalated amid back-and-forth claims of troop buildups, with Donbass leaders and Russia  a guarantor of the Minsk deal, expressing fears that Kiev may try to resolve the Donbass impasse by force. Ukraine and its Western patrons, meanwhile, have accused Moscow of concentrating troops on the border for a possible invasion of Ukraine. Russian officials have vocally denied these claims as baseless propaganda.The Biden administration has promised Kiev unwavering support, and has provided the country lethal weapons, military supplies and training by US and NATO personnel. At the same time, US officials have sought to cool the Ukrainian governments aspirations to join NATO, recently telling Kiev that membership will remain off the table over the next decade, according to one official familiar with the conversations cited by the AP.Biden is expected to speak to Zelensky on Thursday, two days after his video call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday, in which Ukraine was reportedly a central topic of discussion.Frozen WarThe conflict in eastern Ukraine began in the spring of 2014, when, after a coup detat in Kiev saw pro-Western, ultranationalist, US and EU-backed protesters overthrow the countrys elected president and set a course for integration with the West. In March, the majority ethnic Russian region of Crimea  which had been part of Russia until it was handed over to Soviet Ukraine by Nikita Khrushchev in 1956, voted in a referendum to break off from Ukraine and rejoin Russia. In April 2014, officials and residents in Donetsk and Lugansk began demanding greater autonomy or even independence from the coup-installed Ukrainian government, with autonomy demands threatening to spread to major eastern Ukrainian regions and cities, including Kharkiv, Mykolaiv and Odessa. Kiev responded by sending troops to crush the Donbass resistance, sparking a bloody civil war which killed as many as 31,000 people and prompted nearly 2.5 million residents to flee their homes (with nearly a million of them accepted in Russia as refugees).

https://sputniknews.com/20211201/ukraine-pulling-armed-forces-to-conflict-zone-in-donbass-moscow-warns-1091164444.html

https://sputniknews.com/20210415/ukraines-ambassador-to-germany-says-kiev-may-have-to-build-nukes-if-it-cant-join-nato-1082640859.html

4Justice The maniacs in Kiev pushed it and now the result...NO, the US/NATO will NOT come in, guns blazing standing shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine Army blowing away Ukrainian civilians in Donbass. Expect extreme turmoil now between demented clown Zelensky and the nationalist Ukrnazis. Goodbye Z. 8

Sorvad Kelad Is this just an attempt at building plausible deniability to try and avoid responsibility for the actions of a suicidal regime in Kyiv? Pray for the children of Ukraine. 7

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https://sputniknews.com/20211209/biden-and-putin-talk-ukraine-cia-chief-says-no-evidence-iran-wants-nukes-germany-forms-government-1091366423.html

Biden and Putin Talk Ukraine; CIA Chief Says No Evidence Iran Wants Nukes: Germany Forms Government

Biden and Putin Talk Ukraine; CIA Chief Says No Evidence Iran Wants Nukes: Germany Forms Government

Russian President Vladimir Putin reiterated his red lines in Ukraine and President Biden pushed a strawman Russian invasion, but agreed to further negotiations... 09.12.2021, Sputnik International

2021-12-09T09:08+0000

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joe biden

ukraine

iran

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drones

putin

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Biden and Putin Talk Ukraine; CIA Chief Says No Evidence Iran Wants Nukes: Germany Forms Government Russian President Vladimir Putin reiterated his red lines in Ukraine and President Biden pushed a strawman Russian invasion, but agreed to further negotiations in Tuesday's virtual meeting.

Mark Sleboda, Moscow-based international relations security analyst, joins us to discuss the virtual meeting between the respective presidents of the United States and the Russian Federation. Russian President Vladimir Putin reiterated his red lines in Ukraine, and President Biden pushed a strawman Russian invasion in Tuesday's virtual meeting.Dan Lazare, author, investigative journalist, and author of "America's Undeclared War," joins us to discuss Germany's new government. The Germans have announced the formation of their new coalition government. However, a few of the names indicate that a more neocon approach to international affairs may be in order.Laith Marouf, broadcaster and journalist based in Beirut, joins us to discuss the Middle East. William Burns, the head of the CIA, has stated that he has seen no evidence that Iran is seeking a nuclear weapon. Also, the US is imposing more sanctions on Iran, making it less likely that a JCPOA settlement will be reached.Caleb Maupin, journalist and political analyst, joins us to discuss Kamala Harris. Politico reports that Kamala Harris is seeking new methods of gaining support as her polling numbers remain in the basement. Harris' team thinks that gaining support from Black women is the key to moving her numbers in a positive direction.Medea Benjamin, co-founder of Code Pink, joins us to discuss Pentagon spending. Congress has passed a 768 billion dollar defense spending bill with little pushback from either party. The legislation does not include the controversial measure to include women in the draft.Professor Nicolai Petro, professor of political science at the University of Rhode Island specializing in Ukraine and Russia, joins us to discuss the influence of the Nazi ideology in Eastern Europe. Several Eastern European governments trace their legacy back to Nazi collaborating groups during World War II. The Ukrainian president recently praised the legacy of Nazi collaborators, and evidence has come out that Belarusian coup conspirator Roman Protasevich trained with the neo-Nazi "Azov" battalion in Ukraine.George Koo, journalist, social activist, and international business consultant, joins us to discuss President Biden's summit of democracy. Koo's article examines the state of democracy in the United States and how that relates to President Biden's claim that he is the leader of the free world and thereby granted the right to organize the world against non-democratic nations.Nick Davies, peace activist and author of "Blood on Our Hands: The American Invasion of Iraq," joins us to discuss the United States drone program. The US drone killing machine has been joined by non-government militias due to the easy access to inexpensive drone technology. Assassination attacks have become frequent and the Houthi rebels have inflicted significant damage on the Saudis, often using homemade or commercially available drones.We'd love to get your feedback at radio@sputniknews.com

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joe biden, ukraine, iran, germany, drones, putin, nazis, ndaa, the critical hour, democracy, , radio
https://sputniknews.com/20211209/biden-plans-to-bring-up-democratic-recession-at-his-summit-for-democracy-1091383343.html

Biden Plans to Bring Up 'Democratic Recession' at His 'Summit for Democracy'

Biden Plans to Bring Up 'Democratic Recession' at His 'Summit for Democracy'

The United States will be hosting the controversial event 9-10 December.

2021-12-09T11:57+0000

2021-12-09T11:57+0000

2021-12-09T12:04+0000

joe biden

united states

summit

democracy

voting rights

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President Joe Biden plans to bring up what his administration characterises as a recession of democracy in the world at the US-hosted Summit for Democracy, White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre has indicated.A senior anonymous administration official told reporters that Mr. Biden also plans to bring up the issue of voting rights in the US itself.Biden and the Democrats efforts to introduce voting rights reform known as the For the People Act remains stalled in Congress amid fierce resistance from Republicans, who view the proposed expansion of voting rights via automatic registration, eased electronic registration and simplified mail-in voting as a political ploy designed to expand pro-Democratic voter turnout and, potentially, simplify the manipulation of voting results. The bills proponents maintain that the legislation will lead to more secure elections, reduce the influence of money in politics, and end gerrymandering  the practice of dividing voting districts to maximise a candidate or partys chances of getting elected.The For the People Act was passed by the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives in March, but has remained blocked in the Senate, which is equally divided between Republicans and Democrats, where it requires 60 of 100 votes to pass.Amid Washingtons focus on alleged democratic shortcomings abroad, the Biden administration has faced fierce criticism at home from former president Donald Trump and his supporters, who have alleged, so far without court-verified proof, that the 2020 election was stolen from the Republican candidate using electronic voting machine manipulations and falsified mail-in ballots in swing states.Degenerated DemocracyThe Summit for Democracy has also faced vocal criticism from other countries, with nations including Russia, China, Iran, Venezuela, Syria, Vietnam, Cuba, Serbia and others not invited to the virtual event, which is expected to be attended by 110 participants, including Taiwan. Even some US allies, including Hungary, Turkey and Morocco, were not invited to participate.Beijing has blasted the US for allowing Taiwan  which the Peoples Republic considers to be an integral part of China, to participate. At the same time, Tian Peiyan, deputy director of the policy research office at the ruling Chinese Communist Partys Central Committee, has called the summit a joke, and suggested that under the American democratic system, US politicians are the agents of interest groups, and dont represent interests of majority voters nor [the US] national interest.Tian suggested that while the US is a self-styled leader of democracyits so-called summit of democracy is only aimed at suppressing and containing countries with a different development model.Last week, the Chinese Foreign Ministry issued a report highlighting a series of problems with the US democratic system, suggesting that over the years, democracy in the US has become alienated and degenerated, and has increasingly deviated from the essence of democracy due to problems like money [in] politics, identity politics, wrangling between political parties, political polarisation, social division, racial tensions, and [the] wealth gap. The report also pointed to the disastrous consequences of attempts to apply the US democratic model to other nations.In late November, Anatoly Antonov and Qin Gang, the Russian and Chinese ambassadors to the US, penned a joint op-ed in US news, international and military affairs magazine the National Interest, rejecting the Summit for Democracy as a farce in which the US has empowered itself to definewho is a democratic country and who is not eligible for such status.An evident product of [the USs] Cold War mentality, this will stoke up ideological confrontation and a rift in the world, creating new dividing lines. This trend contradicts the development of the modern world, the diplomats suggested.Antonov and Gang argued that countries should focus on running their own affairs well, not condescendingly criticising others. There is no need to worry about democracy in Russia and China. Certain foreign governments better think about themselves and what is going on in their homes.

https://sputniknews.com/20211022/republicans-block-voting-rights-legislation-reigniting-debate-over-ending-filibuster-1090117079.html

https://sputniknews.com/20211016/trump-says-results-in-arizona-county-should-be-decertified-amid-precincts-1006-ballot-return-rate-1089975847.html

https://sputniknews.com/20211124/turkey-hungary-and-egypt-snubbed-as-joe-biden-sends-out-invitation-list-to-his-democracy-summit-1090993319.html

https://sputniknews.com/20211112/chinese-communist-party-brands-upcoming-us-democracy-summit-as-ironic-1090678353.html

MichaelAngelus FORCEFUL IMPOSITION OF DEMOCRACY UPON A NATION BRINGS WIDESPREAD DEATH AND DESTRUCTION !!! 3

Kiwi US style democracy is only an illusion of democracy. Everybody knows, whichever party you vote for, they are both under the control of the elite 0.1% and their corporations. It is really a dictatorship putting corporate interests first. This same style of democracy is imposed on other countries so they can be raped, looted and pillaged by US corporations. 1

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Ilya Tsukanov

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https://sputniknews.com/20211209/boris-johnson-and-his-wife-carrie-announce-birth-of-baby-girl-1091378920.html

Boris Johnson and His Wife Carrie Announce Birth of Baby Girl

Boris Johnson and His Wife Carrie Announce Birth of Baby Girl

The couple welcomed their first child together in April 2020, annoucing the birth of a healthy baby boy. They named their son Wilfred Lawrie Nicholas. In July... 09.12.2021, Sputnik International

2021-12-09T10:10+0000

2021-12-09T10:10+0000

2021-12-09T10:54+0000

uk

boris johnson

carrie symonds

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UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his wife Carrie have announced the birth of a healthy baby girl at a London hospital.The couple, who were wed in a small ceremony at Westminster Cathedral in May 2020, welcomed their first child - Wilfred Lawrie Nicholas - in April that year. The happy news was announced weeks after the PM was released from hospita,l where he was briefly in intensive care with COVID-19.This July, Boris and Carrie Johnson announced that they were expecting their second child.Carrie Johnson (nee Symonds), 33, had also revealed she had a miscarriage earlier this year. While she felt "incredibly blessed" to be pregnant again, she was quoted as saying:The newborn girl is the UK Prime Minister's seventh child. After a frenzy of speculation over how many children Johnson has, he confirmed after a legal battle at the high court several years ago that he had a daughter from an affair with art adviser Helen Macintyre. Boris Johnson has four children with ex-wife Marina Wheeler.

Charlie McD I hear she's to be called Covidina  2

astrodetective Yawn 2

3

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Svetlana Ekimenko

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Svetlana Ekimenko

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https://sputniknews.com/20211209/congress-could-challenge-bjp-in-indias-2024-general-election-pundit-believes-1091383659.html

Congress Could Challenge BJP in India's 2024 General Election, Pundit Believes

Congress Could Challenge BJP in India's 2024 General Election, Pundit Believes

With legislative assembly polls in India's Uttar Pradesh only a few months away, Congress has stepped up its preparations to regain power in the state after... 09.12.2021, Sputnik International

2021-12-09T16:16+0000

2021-12-09T16:16+0000

2021-12-09T16:16+0000

elections

politics

politics

bharatiya janata party (bjp)

india

elections

politics

uttar pradesh

congress

indian national congress

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Indias main opposition party Congress is campaigning aggressively for the crucial state assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh. The partys General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is leading from the front and leaving no stone unturned amid efforts to defeat ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).Sputnik: The former allies of Congress like Trinamool Congress and Rashtriya Lok Dal are now with Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh. what do you think about this?Sanjeev Kaushik: The performance of Congress in the Uttar Pradesh elections will totally depend on its strategy. Any alliance wont have an impact on Congress. Rather I think the parties like TMC should do an analysis about their stand in the state. Though it has roped in a lot of Congress politicians but are they so influential that they can bring the voters in the partys favour?Apart from this, it is important to see how TMC's strategy to sideline Congress and become the main Opposition party to lead the fight against BJP works. It is important to understand who you are fighting against.If the opposition parties have to fight against the BJP then they have to include Congress. It will be difficult for other parties to take on the BJP without Congress.Sputnik: Shiv Sena has strongly supported Congress while TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee almost sidelined it during her visit to Maharashtra. Do you think it will be beneficial for Congress if it tries to form an alliance with the parties like Shiv Sena in Uttar Pradesh?Sanjeev Kaushik: It is very interesting to see that Shiv Sena is strongly backing up Congress. This will surely give a strong message to the other parties as well as the ruling BJP. However, I dont think that this will have an impact on Uttar Pradesh elections.We also have to understand that Shiv Sena has been in alliance with the BJP for almost three decades therefore it understands the strong points as well as the weak points of each other.Shiv Sena understands that in order to make a mark at national level politics it has to come out of the shadow of the BJP and Congress also understands that it needs partners which can help them in fighting against the BJP through a well-planned strategy.Sputnik: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra launched a "manifesto for women" in the state. Do you think Congress strategy to give priority to women will help it?Sanjeev Kaushik: Well, the manifesto presented by Congress should be applauded but it's doubtful that this will really help the party in improving its performance.One thing is definite that the way Congress has kept women in the forefront will somewhat ring an alarm bell for other parties. Now the other parties will also have to think about giving more representation to the women.However, I believe that Congress is too late to do this. Had they taken up the issues of the women earlier, it would have been much beneficial for them.Sputnik: Do you think Congress will find new partners to strengthen its position and take on BJP in the 2024 parliamentary elections?Sanjeev Kaushik: This is evident that Congress is preparing for 2024 general elections. The party has witnessed many problems in recent times. But we must not forget that it is the countrys oldest party and has a strong voter base.Despite several members leaving the party, it still has the potential to take on the BJP.I think the way the party is working aggressively in states like Uttar Pradesh, it wont be a surprise if Congress leads the fight against the BJP very strongly in the 2024 parliamentary elections.

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elections, politics, politics, bharatiya janata party (bjp), india, elections, politics, uttar pradesh, congress, indian national congress, congress, elections, politics, rahul gandhi, yogi adityanath, priyanka gandhi, india
https://sputniknews.com/20211209/conservative-peer-calls-to-double-number-of-indian-student-in-uk-to-reduce-dependence-on-china-1091390369.html

Conservative Peer Calls to Double Number of Indian Student in UK to Reduce Dependence on China

Conservative Peer Calls to Double Number of Indian Student in UK to Reduce Dependence on China

The UK views an FTA with India not only through an economic lens, but also as a way to shift its focus to the Indo-Pacific region in a post-Brexit world... 09.12.2021, Sputnik International

2021-12-09T16:34+0000

2021-12-09T16:34+0000

2021-12-09T16:34+0000

united kingdom

boris johnson

us

china

brexit

jo johnson

india

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Conservative peer in the United Kingdoms House of Lords and former universities minister Jo Johnson has urged the Boris Johnson government to aim at doubling the number of Indian students on British university campuses to 139,000 by 2025/25 to reduce dependencies on China.Johnson, a senior fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School and presidents professorial fellow at Kings College London, is also the lead author of a new report "Natural partners: building a comprehensive UK-India knowledge partnership." The new study urges a number of reforms in the UK education sector to increase its competitiveness and reduce reliance on China.It states that despite growing geopolitical friction between the UK and China over a range of issues, Beijing still sends the greatest number of university students to the United Kingdom.More than 120,000 Chinese applicants enrolled at UK university campuses in 2018-19, comprising nearly 35 per cent of the non-EU students, as per official estimates.The report further underlines that Beijing is poised to overtake the US as the UKs most important research partner having surged from ninth to second place in the space of a decade.The study claims that India significantly lags behind China on both counts.While Indian student numbers in the UK are rising again today, after years of decline, they still represent less than half of those from China. India is also progressing more slowly up the rankings of the UKs science partners, moving from 22nd to 16th place over the same period, notes the study.In spite of trailing China on educational and research collaborations with the United Kingdom, the new study claims that Indias demographics and economic potential could enable it to become a knowledge partner for the UK of equivalent importance."The study recommends several measures to facilitate greater educational and research partnership with India, including more research and development (R&D) funding of Indian students in the UK and increased two-way exchange of students.It also calls for putting India on the UK Home Offices list of "low-risk countries" under the new FTA.The UK government classifies incoming student visa applications based on nationalities under different risk categories.The authors of the new study have labelled it as a companion of a February 2021 report titled The China question: managing risks and maximising benefits from partnership in higher education and research, which urged the UK government and educational institutions to take a more purposeful and proactive in diversifying away from its reliance on Beijing in matters concerning education and research.

https://sputniknews.com/20211208/uk-joins-us-in-diplomatic-boycott-of-2022-beijing-winter-olympics-1091354317.html

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united kingdom, boris johnson, us, china, brexit, jo johnson, india
https://sputniknews.com/20211209/elon-musk-warns-about-lots-of-accounting-trickery-in-bidens-build-back-better-1091368466.html

Elon Musk Warns About Lots of 'Accounting Trickery' in Bidens Build Back Better

Elon Musk Warns About Lots of 'Accounting Trickery' in Bidens Build Back Better

The Build Back Better bill, carries the weight of Biden's agenda across a wide range of policy sectors. The bill passed the House last month, and Democrats are hopeful that it will make it through the Senate before the holidays.

2021-12-09T04:12+0000

2021-12-09T04:12+0000

2021-12-09T04:12+0000

joe biden

business

us

agenda

elon musk

domestic agenda

biden administration

build back better

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Tesla's eccentric "techno king" Elon Musk continued on Wednesday his fight against Biden's economic agenda, claiming that there is a lot of "accounting trickery" in the bill that the public is not being told about.On Twitter, the entrepreneur shared the Penn Wharton Budget Model's research on the budgetary implications of the bill in the short and long term. According to the study, the Build Back Better Act, known in Congress as H.R. 5376, would raise spending by $2.1 trillion and revenue by $1.8 trillion during a 10-year budget window, resulting in a $274 billion deficit. Moreover, according to the estimates, the bill, if enacted, would reduce GDP by 0.2% in 2050 "relative to the current law baseline." And if all temporary measures in the bill are made permanent, total spending during the 10-year budget window would be $4.6 trillion. Musk invited his followers to check out the illustrated spreadsheet study, summarizing on Twitter that "there is a lot of accounting trickery in this bill that isnt being disclosed to the public."The bill eliminates the 200,000-EV per-manufacturer restriction and raises the incentives from $12,500, with $4,500 of that available only if the electric vehicles are produced in unionized US factories. Musk, the CEO of the carmaker, has expressed dissatisfaction with that provision of the law, which he believes was lobbied by General Motors.He also stressed that Tesla produced about "two-thirds" of all electric vehicles in the country, and that his company "doesnt need the $7,500 tax credit."Also at that conference, Musk claimed that the government should "get out of the way and not impede progress," stressing that the government should function as a "referee" rather than a "player on the field."And on Tuesday, US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg backed the Biden administration's support for electric vehicles while speaking at a Wall Street Journal event."We think its very important to fund EV charging stations and to also make sure whats in the next Build Back Better Act to buy down the price of electric vehicles," Buttigieg said.

https://sputniknews.com/20211207/can-it-elon-musk-rips-joe-bidens-build-back-better-bill-calls-on-senate-to-not-pass-it-1091325955.html

Nonyank The word is PORK. 1

Nevi'im Elon Musk for the next President? 1

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Kirill Kurevlev

joe biden, business, us, agenda, elon musk, domestic agenda, biden administration, build back better
https://sputniknews.com/20211209/footage-of-lights-flying-in-formation-over-south-china-sea-triggers-online-debates-1091392505.html

Footage of Lights 'Flying in Formation' Over South China Sea Triggers Online Debates

Footage of Lights 'Flying in Formation' Over South China Sea Triggers Online Debates

The blogger also insisted that the alleged UFOs are watching to see what China and other military ships do. 09.12.2021, Sputnik International

2021-12-09T16:09+0000

2021-12-09T16:09+0000

2021-12-09T16:09+0000

south china sea

ufo

video

viral

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A peculiar phenomenon was filmed from an aircraft soaring high above the South China Sea in the vicinity of Hong Kong.A video uploaded on YouTube by prolific blogger Scott C. Waring shows what looks like a formation of lights that appear to be moving in the clouds, eventually vanishing from sight."I do not know what that is, a person aboard the plane, possibly a pilot, can be heard saying. That is some weird sh*t."While it wasnt immediately clear what the lights were, Waring boldly declared in his blog that they were UFOs, and even linked this phenomenon with certain geopolitical events in the region.Some social media users commenting on the video on YouTube, however, suggested that the lights seen in the footage may be flares, either dispersed by ships sailing in formation or dropped by aircraft.

Rokenbok Ya right, as if high tech UFOs need headlights 2

Gone Who is getting so outraged by this subject? 2

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Andrei Dergalin

south china sea, ufo, video, viral
https://sputniknews.com/20211209/fox-news-christmas-tree-arson-suspect-released-less-than-24-hours-after-arrest-1091373916.html

Fox News' Christmas Tree Arson Suspect Released Less Than 24 Hours After Arrest

Fox News' Christmas Tree Arson Suspect Released Less Than 24 Hours After Arrest

Craig Tamanaha, a man detained on suspicion of having set fire to a Christmas tree outside the Fox News headquarters in New York, has been released

2021-12-09T08:34+0000

2021-12-09T08:34+0000

2021-12-09T08:34+0000

us

arson

new york

/html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content

https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/0c/09/1091373838_0:70:3072:1798_1920x0_80_0_0_8939783ccc54c796a8b54ad8fb813a4e.jpg

Craig Tamanaha, a man detained on suspicion of having set fire to a Christmas tree outside the Fox News headquarters in New York, has been released less than 24 hours after the arrest. The suspect, who is described as homeless, faces six misdemeanour charges for allegedly torching the tree. At the same time, under the 2020 criminal justice reforms, judges are advised to release the accused as arson is only considered a felony in New York if the arsonist plans to harm somebody.Tamanaha was arrested shortly after a 15-meter Christmas tree in front of Fox News headquarters in downtown Manhattan, New York caught fire. Detective Adam Navarro of the New York City Police Department told reporters that the 49-year-old man was detained on the spot in connection with the blaze.Craig Tamanaha denied the arson, saying I didnt do it! outside Manhattan criminal court, according to the New York Post.The suspect, along with several previous arrests on his record, was recently arrested for exposing himself outside the Ghislaine Maxwell trial, according to reports.

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https://sputniknews.com/20211209/french-military-reports-second-interaction-between-russian-jets-french-aircraft-over-black-sea-1091380061.html

French Military Reports Second Interaction Between Russian Jets & French Aircraft Over Black Sea

French Military Reports Second Interaction Between Russian Jets & French Aircraft Over Black Sea

The Russian Ministry of Defence reported a day earlier that Sukhoi Su-27 fighters had been scrambled to intercept and accompany French Rafale and Mirage-2000... 09.12.2021, Sputnik International

2021-12-09T10:31+0000

2021-12-09T10:31+0000

2021-12-09T10:50+0000

french air force

black sea

su-27

dassault mirage

russian air and space forces

rafale

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Two French warplanes and a tanker refueler were tracked by a pair of Russian fighters on Thursday as the former flew over international airspace in the Black Sea, French Armed Forces spokesman Col. Pascal Ianni has said.Speaking to Reuters, Ianni said the French aircraft were involved in a NATO "observation mission," and carrying out their activities "in accordance with international regulations."The officer characterised the Russian planes operations near the French aircraft as strategic communication by the Russian side to indicate their presence in the area.The incident was the second of its kind in two days. On Wednesday, the Russian military reported that Su-27 jets were scrambled to intercept and escort French Air Force Rafale and Mirage-2000 fighters, as well as a French Air Force C-135 tanker, as they flew toward Russian maritime borders in the Black Sea. The Russian jets were said to have returned to home base after the foreign aircraft turned away from the border.Later on Wednesday, the French military confirmed that at least one Russian Su-27 approached and then followed our planes for most of their transit over the Black Sea. The military stressed that this interaction took place in a professional manner and without representing any danger, and that this type of situation is common and did not hinder the mission of the French aircraft or their freedom of navigation in international airspace.France has carefully joined its NATO allies in beefing up its presence in the Black Sea regions amid growing tensions between the Western bloc and Russia over Ukraine. The country last deployed a warship to the region in September 2020, but has carried out surveillance flights in the area repeatedly this year.Moscow has expressed concerns about NATO activities near its maritime borders, pointing to the repeated deployment of alliance fighter jets, bombers, reconnaissance planes and spy drones near the Russian frontier. Russias radar networks pick up on the presence of foreign planes, and jets are scrambled regularly to intercept and track the aircraft when necessary. On occasion, incidents occur, usually involving the US, in which both sides accuse one another of unsafe and unprofessional behaviour in the operation of aircraft.

https://sputniknews.com/20211208/russian-fighters-scrambled-to-escort-french-rafale-mirage-jets-over-black-sea-1091351939.html

Dang! Haha!! French jets are NO match for even Russia's second tier!! 8

FeEisi France is upset Russia is moving into Mali, France's sphere of influence. 5

10

black sea

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Ilya Tsukanov

french air force, black sea, su-27, dassault mirage, russian air and space forces, rafale
https://sputniknews.com/20211209/gop-lawmaker-urges-going-beyond-political-labels-to-address-border-crisis-suggests-his-own-plan-1091367645.html

GOP Lawmaker Urges Going Beyond Political Labels to Address Border Crisis, Suggests His Own Plan

GOP Lawmaker Urges Going Beyond Political Labels to Address Border Crisis, Suggests His Own Plan

GOP Lawmaker Urges Going Beyond Political Labels to Address Border Crisis, Suggests His Own Plan

2021-12-09T02:45+0000

2021-12-09T02:45+0000

2021-12-09T02:46+0000

us

us-mexico border

illegal immigrants

republicans

migration crisis

plan

us-mexico border

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Republican congressman Tony Gonzales of Texas warned that the US immigration system is currently "on fire" and offered a plan to tackle the crisis in an article titled "Bidens Border Crisis."The lawmaker, who represents a San Antonio district that includes 820 miles of the US-Mexico border, has focused on problems that have affected border areas due to the surge in immigration  criminal records, drug trafficking and the uncontrolled spread of COVID-19, with border agents constantly facing staff and equipment shortages.Our immigration system is on fire, and bad policies are fanning the flames, he claimed.The lawmaker particularly highlighted the Del Rio area, which saw a sudden surge in migrants from Haiti this summer.Stating that Americans are compassionate people and that his life has been the American Dream, he called for lawmakers to go beyond political labels to reach solutions for our nations most pressing problems and address our flawed border security policies so that others have the same opportunity.Among the measures that Gonzales proposed was the recruitment of additional staff for courts that consider migrant applications, as currently it takes an average of two to three years to process one case. This allows migrants to remain in the US and disappear if their request is rejected.The congressman also urged the current administration to revive former President Trumps Remain in Mexico program and improve border security, as many areas are still vulnerable to criminal activity.Lastly, the lawmaker stressed the need to raise financing of crucial border agencies for additional personnel and essential services.In October, the US Customs and Border Protection reported that they had detained 1.7 million migrants who illegally crossed the border over the last fiscal year, according to the Washington Post. The arrested migrants are sent back under Title 42," which empowers the authorities to extradite illegal immigrants due to pandemic concerns. At the same time, authorities have faced criticism amid reports that some of the migrants were relocated to other parts of the country with the assistance of border agents.The current administration has blamed the border crisis on Donald Trump's policies and the economic collapse caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Republican politicians, on the other hand, have constantly demanded the reimposition of strict migration laws, adopted by Trump and reversed by Biden.

https://sputniknews.com/20211128/concerns-about-spread-of-new-covid-strain-rise-as-another-migrant-caravan-crosses-into-us---report-1091078093.html

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us, us-mexico border, illegal immigrants, republicans, migration crisis, plan, us-mexico border
https://sputniknews.com/20211209/gop-senator-urges-biden-not-to-rule-out-first-use-nuclear-action-against-russia-over-ukraine--1091372901.html

GOP Senator Urges Biden Not to Rule Out 'First Use Nuclear Action' Against Russia Over Ukraine

GOP Senator Urges Biden Not to Rule Out 'First Use Nuclear Action' Against Russia Over Ukraine

Us President Joe Biden should not rule out "first use nuclear action against Russia over potential Russian incursion into Ukraine, said Sen. Roger Wicker.

2021-12-09T07:30+0000

2021-12-09T07:30+0000

2021-12-09T07:54+0000

joe biden

us

russia

vladimir putin

ukraine

senate armed services committee

nuclear attack

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https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/102974/62/1029746254_0:120:1024:696_1920x0_80_0_0_9ef6ea293ff5a0f6e60ba6ae22e0efca.jpg

US President Joe Biden should not rule out first use nuclear action against Russia over a potential incursion into Ukraine, said Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., the number two Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee.Mississippi's senior senator was appearing in an interview with Fox News' Neil Cavuto from the Capitol to weigh in on Tuesdays video call between President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin.The conversation had revolved around such issues as tensions related to Ukraine amid hysterical claims of a purported "Russian invasion" of the neighbouring country. Biden had voiced his countrys deep concerns over the alleged buildup and "made clear" to Putin that America and its allies would respond with strong economic and other measures in the event of any military escalation in Ukraine.However, Biden ruled out putting US boots on the ground in Ukraine, saying that is not on the table.Senator Wicker, however, expressed the hope that Joe Biden would adopt a more tough stance, and keep all options open. As the Republican politician emphasised that there were already around 200 US National Guard troops on the ground in Ukraine, he said:Wickers strong rhetoric didnt stop there, as he added:According to Wicker, Losing a free, democratic Ukraine to Russian invasion would be a game changer to a free Europe.Nevertheless, the Mississippi senior made it clear with Fox News that he would prefer a diplomatic solution rather than use of force against Russia over its dealings with Ukraine.The Russian Embassy responded to the irresponsible statements made by US Senator Roger Wicker in a message posted on the embassy's Facebook site. It suggested rereading carefully the joint statement of the presidents of Russia and the United States dated 16 June 2021. This document confirms the adherence of the two countries to the principle that there can be no winners in a nuclear war and it should never be unleashed. Furthermore, the statement says it is inappropriate for an American politician sitting in the legislature to speak with flippancy about use of nuclear weapons.Numerous western media outlets have been running with the "Russian invasion of Ukraine" narrative, with Bloomberg first reporting about a purported "incursion" in mid-November. In the recent conversation between Biden and Putin, the issue was one of the focal points.The US POTUS informed Vladimir Putin that Washington was preparing large-scale sanctions in case of a further escalation of the situation around Ukraine, according to the Kremlin, which has repeatedly denied the groundless reports.In response to Biden's concerns over the allegedly "threatening" nature of Russian troops' movement near the border, Putin highlighted that it was NATO "that was undertaking dangerous attempts to gain a foothold on Ukrainian territory, and building up its military capabilities along the Russian border". The Kremlin emphasised the necessity of legally binding guarantees preventing NATOs eastward expansion.According to the White House, during the call, Biden made no concessions regarding whether or not to allow entry into NATO for Ukraine, which has grown increasingly close to the military alliance since the US-backed coup in 2014 that propelled a right-wing nationalist government to power in Kiev.

https://sputniknews.com/20211208/timing-of-next-putin-biden-contact-not-yet-determined-kremlin-says-1091348320.html

https://sputniknews.com/20211208/bidens-empty-warning-over-putins-straw-man-invasion-1091360377.html

feketehollo nuclear blackmail and insanity from deranges senator who knows well that his life is over if the option that he promotes is exercised. It is worrying that politicians would advocate actions whose clear immediate consequence would be wiping life out on Earth. Such politicians need to be declared criminally insane and jailed. 11

GM W The senator who said that is a complete idiot. 6

33

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joe biden, us, russia, vladimir putin, ukraine, senate armed services committee, nuclear attack
https://sputniknews.com/20211209/houthis-claim-major-collapse-of-coalition-forces-defending-marib-predict-citys-capture-in-days-1091367037.html

Houthis Claim Major Collapse of Coalition Forces Defending Marib, Predict Citys Capture in Days

Houthis Claim Major Collapse of Coalition Forces Defending Marib, Predict Citys Capture in Days

After more than ten months of fighting, Yemens Houthi movement may be poised to capture the final pockets of Marib still defended by forces loyal to Yemeni President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi.

2021-12-09T01:02+0000

2021-12-09T01:02+0000

2021-12-09T01:02+0000

saudi arabia

houthis

middle east

yemen

marib

war on yemen

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https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/0c/09/1091366398_0:89:3073:1817_1920x0_80_0_0_859e237ac3f297a5cc32a5e8eb4db71e.jpg

Houthi forces have captured Jabal al-Balaq al-Awsat, a mountain range with a commanding view over the southeastern approach to Marib, field sources told Al-Mayadeen on Wednesday.Muhammad Bukhaiti, a member of the political council for Ansarallah, the Houthis formal name, confirmed to the Lebanese outlet the peaks capture, saying the "decisive hours are close in Marib.In turn, the Deputy Foreign Minister in the Sana'a government, Hussein Al-Azi, said on Twitter on Wednesday that mercenary camps in the region were accelerating in their collapse and their great leaders have begun to communicate with us. He called on Yemenis to unite against external aggression.Peace, brothers, is a logical process that necessarily requires respect for the sacrifices of peoples for their security and freedom and for the independence and sovereignty of their countries, he said. Undoubtedly, Sana'a is ready to make all sincere commitments with respect to the sovereignty, security and interests of all those who exchange it with the same commitment and respect.The attacks were claimed to be in response to a volley of ballistic missiles fired by the Houthis at the Saudi Aramco oil facility in Jeddah and at the Saudi Defense Ministry headquarters in Riyadh.However, Riyadh has waged a monthslong bombing campaign in Marib and Shabwa governorates aimed at blunting the Houthi offensive, which fanned out in the countryside around Marib after fighting in the city got bogged down in the spring. According to Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree, the ballistic missile attack was itself motivated by recent Saudi attacks.According to a November 20 estimate by Muammar Al-Eryani, the Houthi information minister, 15,000 Houthi fighters have fallen in Marib since March. If the Houthis are able to totally evict coalition forces from Marib, Hadis government in the west will be limited to a strip along the southern coast between 40 and 70 miles deep. East of Marib lies the vast Rub al-Khali desert, which is sparsely populated.US Rushes to Rearm SaudisThe Saudi air blitz, and the furious response its provoked from the Houthis, whose missiles have reached deeper into Saudi territory in recent years, has come close to exhausting the Saudi arms supply. According to a Tuesday report by the Wall Street Journal, its arsenal of interceptors - missiles used to shoot down airborne weapons - has fallen dangerously low.In February, after US President Joe Biden took office, the US pledged to stop selling the Saudi alliance offensive weapons that could be used in Yemen. However, it has continued to supply the kingdom with defensive weapons, including a $650 million sale of Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) approved by the Pentagon in October.On Wednesday, an effort by a handful of anti-war senators to block the sale was defeated, paving the way for the deal to be completed.We could stop this war if we really had the will to do it, US Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) added. All of America should be appalled at the humanitarian disaster caused by the Saudi blockade of Yemen.Worst Humanitarian CrisisThe war started in 2015 after Hadi fled from Sanaa to Riyadh seeking Saudi help returning to power. The rising Houthi movement, a Zaidi Shiite community from the northern area near the Saudi border, appeared at the head of a mass movement furious over austerity measures implemented by Hadis government and a proposed federalization plan the Houthis said would amplify poverty instead of alleviating it.The combined effect has created what the United Nations referred to as the worlds worst humanitarian crisis. UN estimates from late November put the wars death toll at 377,000, the majority of whom have died from noncombat causes such as famine, diseases like cholera and COVID-19, a lack of access to adequate food, water, or medicine, and other infrastructure-related causes.*A terrorist group outlawed in Russia and many other countries

vigilante One more mass destruction and human massacre perpetrated by Saudi Arabia and the rich gulf countries on one of the poorest country in the ME with the blessing and weapons of the USA. Totally revulsive.... 4

Barros If this mean more US troops killed, that sounds good. 4

13

saudi arabia

yemen

marib

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saudi arabia, houthis, middle east, yemen, marib, war on yemen
https://sputniknews.com/20211209/imran-khan-pakistan-must-help-bridge-us-china-gaps-rather-than-joining-cold-war-style-bloc-1091380806.html

Imran Khan: Pakistan Must Help Bridge US-China Gaps Rather Than Joining 'Cold War-Style Bloc'

Imran Khan: Pakistan Must Help Bridge US-China Gaps Rather Than Joining 'Cold War-Style Bloc'

Imran Khan has expressed concern that growing geopolitical differences between the US and China risk entrapping Islamabad in a Cold War-style bloc, while addressing a think tank conference in Islamabad on Thursday.

2021-12-09T12:33+0000

2021-12-09T12:33+0000

2021-12-09T12:34+0000

saudi arabia

imran khan

us

china

iran

cold war

asia-pacific

pakistan

one belt one road

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Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan has expressed concern that growing geopolitical differences between the US and China risk entrapping Islamabad in a Cold War-style bloc, while addressing a think tank conference in Islamabad on Thursday.Pakistan must stop such a situation from developing. We must not be part of any bloc, Khan added.During the Cold War, Pakistan was also a member of the now-disbanded US-led South-East Asian Treaty Organisation (SEATO), a Washington-led grouping designed to check Moscows influence in the region. Islamabad seceded from SEATO after its loss to India during the 1971 War of Liberation, which led to the dismemberment of erstwhile East Pakistan from Islamabad and the creation of Bangladesh.Recalling Pakistans role during the Cold War, Khan said that his country had been put in a difficult situation.We want to be a nation which brings people together, he explained and argued that Pakistan could play a constructive role in managing differences between Beijing and Washington like it had done in the 1970s.A key regional ally of the US at the time, back then Pakistan is said to have facilitated the visit of ex-President Richard Nixon to Beijing. The visit marked the first ever official contact between the two nations.Khans remarks on trying to navigate the differences between China and the US come a day after his government reportedly declined an invitation to participate in the virtual "Democracy Summit, set to be hosted by US President Joe Biden on 9-10 December. India, the Maldives, and Nepal have also been invited to the US-backed conference.China has been scathingly critical of the so-called Democracy Summit, after not featuring in the invitees list. Beijing has launched a major diplomatic offensive against Americas notion of democracy, instead hailing its own governance model as a democracy that works."Pakistans Mediatory Role Appreciated by Iran and Saudi ArabiaDuring his address, the Pakistan Prime Minister also noted that Islamabads mediatory role in trying to resolve the differences between Iran and Saudi Arabia had been appreciated by both nations.Khan was referring to his shuttle diplomacy between Tehran and Riyadh last year, in the wake of escalating tensions between the regional rivals after several of Saudis oil facilities were targeted by drone attacks by Houthi rebels based in Yemen.Saudi Arabias Defence Ministry blamed the attacks on Iranian involvement."Last year, PM Khan claimed that his mediation eased tensions and averted a military confrontation between the two nations.

https://sputniknews.com/20210914/think-you-are-right-blinken-agrees-pakistan-played-duplicitous-role-in-us-war-on-terror-1089056312.html

https://sputniknews.com/20210709/saudis-concerned-by-irans-nuclear-activities-after-tehran-says-riyadh-may-have-secret-nuke-plans-1083348012.html

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Dhairya Maheshwari

saudi arabia, imran khan, us, china, iran, cold war, asia-pacific, pakistan, one belt one road
https://sputniknews.com/20211209/india-to-investigate-helicopter-crash-that-killed-defense-staff-chief-defence-minister-says-1091375253.html

India to Investigate Helicopter Crash That Killed Defense Staff Chief, Defence Minister Says

India to Investigate Helicopter Crash That Killed Defense Staff Chief, Defence Minister Says

NEW DELHI (Sputnik) - The Indian Air Force has ordered an investigation into the helicopter crash that killed Indian Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat... 09.12.2021, Sputnik International

2021-12-09T08:40+0000

2021-12-09T08:40+0000

2021-12-09T08:40+0000

asia & pacific

helicopter crash

india

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"A tri Service enquiry regarding the incident has been ordered by Indian Air Force, headed by Air Marshal Manvendra Singh, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Training Command: Raksha Mantri," the minister wrote on Twitter.According to Rajnath Singh, the helicopter took off from Sulur Air Base on Wednesday at 11:48 a.m. local time (06:48 GMT). It was expected to land in the Indian town of Wellington at 12:15 p.m. local time (07:15 GMT). However, air traffic control lost contact with the helicopter at 12:08 p.m. (07:08 GTM). A bit later, residents of Tamil Nadu noticed a fire in the forest. On the site, they saw the wreckage of the helicopter engulfed in flames.On Wednesday, a Mi-17V5 helicopter with Rawat, his wife and high-ranking servicemen on board crashed in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.All 14 person on board were taken to the military hospital in Wellington, but 13 of them died from the severe injuries. The only survivor of the incident is Group Captain Varun Singh. He is currently on a life support in the hospital, the minister said.

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asia & pacific, helicopter crash, india
https://sputniknews.com/20211209/its-a-historical-day-for-us-battle-has-been-won-say-indian-farmers-ending-year-long-protest-1091381335.html

'It's a Historical Day for Us, Battle Has Been Won,' Say Indian Farmers Ending Year-Long Protest

'It's a Historical Day for Us, Battle Has Been Won,' Say Indian Farmers Ending Year-Long Protest

India's federal government passed three farm laws in September 2020, sparking large-scale protests on the outskirts of Delhi. 09.12.2021, Sputnik International

2021-12-09T13:43+0000

2021-12-09T13:43+0000

2021-12-09T13:43+0000

new delhi

delhi

punjab

farmer

narendra modi

bharatiya janata party (bjp)

india

uttar pradesh

narendra modi

haryana

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Indian farmers on Thursday called off their 14-month protest as the federal government accepted all of their demands, including the withdrawal of all police cases registered during the rallies and compensation to all families of the farmers who died during the demonstrations. On Thursday, a five-member delegation from the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella body of farmers' unions spearheading the protests, met Home Minister Amit Shah and Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar. Following their hour-long meeting, the federal government agreed to the farmers' demands.A letter of assurance from the government received by the farmer organisation on Thursday confirmed that the Haryana and Uttar Pradesh state governments have also agreed to provide compensation packages of INR 500,000 ($6,613) and jobs to the kin of the deceased farmers.Talking to Sputnik, Dr. Ashish Mittal, the general secretary of farmer union All India Kisan Mazdoor Sabha, said: "We received the official letter from the government. It has been decided that on 11 December, all the farmers will pack up and return home."Soon after the decision, the celebrations erupted on Delhi's three borders  Singhu, Tikri, and Ghazipur  where the farmers had been camping out since 26 November, 2020."We are making halwa [Indian sweets] and distributing other sweets, and songs of struggle and victory are being played at the protesting sites," Harinder Singh, the SKM member in charge of media, said.A video shared on social media shows farmers dancing and singing in jubilation.In another video, farmers can be seen removing their temporary shelters from the highway.Singh also said that SKM members would meet in Delhi on 15 January to review the situation.India's Longest Farmers' Protest Lasted for 378 DaysLast year in September, the Narendra Modi-led government passed three farm laws  the Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020; the Farmers' (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act 2020; and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Ordinance 2020. This prompted farmers' unions who objected to the bills to take to the streets and hold nationwide protests. On 26 November, 2020, farmers mainly from Punjab and Haryana reached Delhi's borders but police prevented them from entering the national capital, forcing the farmers to camp at the Singhu border. Within a few days, new protesting sites at Ghazipur and Tikri border points sprung up. This year on 19 November, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that he was repealing the three farm laws. He also assured that the government would create a committee to work on a new framework for Minimum Support Price (MSP). Both Houses of Parliament passed the Farm Laws Repeal Bill on the first day of the Winter Session on 29 November. President Ram Nath Kovind gave his assent to the bill. Since the start of the protests, over 680 farmers have died, according to the SKM.

new delhi

delhi

punjab

india

uttar pradesh

haryana

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new delhi, delhi, punjab, farmer, narendra modi, bharatiya janata party (bjp), india, uttar pradesh, narendra modi, haryana, india
https://sputniknews.com/20211209/january-6th-events-panel-to-vote-on-contempt-charges-against-trumps-ex-chief-of-staff-next-week-1091373464.html

January 6th Events Panel to Vote on Contempt Charges Against Trump's Ex-Chief of Staff Next Week

January 6th Events Panel to Vote on Contempt Charges Against Trump's Ex-Chief of Staff Next Week

The US House Select Committee investigating the January 6 Capitol riot will vote next week on contempt charges against Mark Meadows

2021-12-09T07:17+0000

2021-12-09T07:17+0000

2021-12-09T07:17+0000

us

riot

us capitol

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"Meadows's flawed lawsuit won't succeed at slowing down the Select Committee's investigation or stopping us from getting info we're seeking. The Committee will meet next week to advance a report recommending that the House cite Meadows for contempt and refer him for prosecution," the committee wrote on Twitter.Trump's right hand man refused to testify before the committee claiming he could not discuss issues covered by executive privilege, which include real-time communications with many individuals as the events of January 6 unfolded. In response, the panel began preparing charges of criminal contempt against Meadows.The committee has rejected Meadows' argument about executive privilege. It said President Joe Biden did not try to use any power of executive privilege to protect Meadows from having to testify.Earlier in the day, Meadows filed charges against Pelosi and all nine members of the panel as they were preparing contempt charges against him. Meadows asked the court to invalidate the subpoena that the committee had issued to him and Verizon, the cellular operator for his prior personal phone.On 6 January, Trump supporters stormed the Capitol in Washington, in an effort to prevent certification of Joe Biden's victory in the 2020 presidential election. As a result of the riot, a protester and a policeman were killed, and three others died from causes unrelated to the violence.

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us, riot, us capitol
https://sputniknews.com/20211209/lithuania-seeks-to-annul-contract-with-belarusian-fertilizer-giant-1091395415.html

Lithuania Seeks to Annul Contract With Belarusian Fertilizer Giant

Lithuania Seeks to Annul Contract With Belarusian Fertilizer Giant

Lithuania will find a way to break the contract with Belarusian state-owned potash fertilizer producer Belaruskali and avoid any financial damage, Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte said on Thursday.

2021-12-09T17:44+0000

2021-12-09T17:44+0000

2021-12-09T17:46+0000

lithuania

news

fertilizer

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"We will definitely find solutions regarding the termination of the agreement [with Belaruskali] in such a way that the Republic of Lithuania does not face the risk of financial damage," Simonyte said at a Seimas meeting, broadcast on the parliament's website.However, Mantas Bartuska, head of Lithuanian Railways, warned on Thursday that the termination of the contract with Belaruskali could result in major financial losses for Vilnius. Last month, the Belarusian company paid for the transit of its products through Lithuania for up to three months in advance, he explained."According to the agreement, there will be major financial consequences. I would not like to name the amounts themselves, because it is very likely that this situation will end up in international arbitration in any case," Bartuska was quoted as saying by the DELFI news outlet.Lithuanian Railways tried to return the money paid in advance but failed to do so, he added.However, the country's Transport Ministry is studying the contract in question in an attempt to find a way to return the prepayment, Transport Minister Marius Skuodis, who has tendered his resignation over the scandal, said."The alternative is a decision at the government level obliging all our enterprises not to participate in the transportation of fertilizers," he was quoted as saying by the news outlet 15min.The controversy around the transit of Belaruskali goods via Lithuania, in spite of US sanctions against Minsk effective since 8 December, has also prompted Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis to announce his intention to step down along with Skuodis.Both ministers are awaiting Simonyte's decision on their resignation appeals, which is to be delivered next week.

https://sputniknews.com/20211108/lithuania-reportedly-pulling-troops-to-border-with-poland-belarus-due-to-influx-of-migrants-1090565711.html

FeEisi Belarus can find ways so Lithuania will face financial damage in any attempt to break contract. 3

ema.ruv LA LITUANIA, UN PAESE RIDICOLO CON SOLO 2 CHILOGRAMMI DI RISERVA AUREA STA METTENDO IN CRISI MOLTI PAESI EUROPEI CON LA SUA POLITICA. QUI' IN ITALIA STIAMO PENSANDO SERIAMENTE DI ABBANDONARE L' UNIONE EUROPEA. I POLITICI NON LO DICONO MA GLI ITALIANI SONO STANCHI DI QUESTI BURATTINI CHE GOVERNANO. MOLTISSIMI STANNO CONSIDERANDO L' IDEA DI USCIRE DALL' EUROPA. PER COLPA DI CONDIZIONAMENTI DI PAESI CHE CON L' EUROPA NON HANNO NIENTE A CHE FARE CI RIMETTIAMO TUTTI. PER COLPA DELLA LITUANIA UN PAESE CHE NON CONTA NULLA NE COME PAESE NE COME POPOLO, PASSIAMO IN CATTIVA LUCE TUTTI NOI, NOI SIAMO STATI I PAESI FONDATORI DELL' EUROPA.ORA E' SEMPRE PIU' EVIDENTE CHE QUESTO SBAGLIO DI UNIRE DEI PAESI CON CULTURE E FINTI AMICI IN COMUNE (U.S.A. INGHILTERRA, etc..) NON FUNZIONA. MIGLIAIA DI ITALIANI COMINCIANO A CONSIDERARE L' EUROPA UNO SBAGLIO. PER COLPA DI PICCOLI INSIGNIFICANTI TRADITORI COME I LITUANI IL PROGETTO EUROPA SARA' DEMOLITO. LO STESSO VALE ANCHE PER POLONIA E ROMANIA. 0

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lithuania, news, fertilizer
https://sputniknews.com/20211209/man-died-after-very-rare-reaction-to-astrazeneca-covid-jab-inquest-told-1091373340.html

Man Died After 'Very Rare' Reaction to AstraZeneca COVID Jab, Inquest Told

Man Died After 'Very Rare' Reaction to AstraZeneca COVID Jab, Inquest Told

A healthy man has died from a severe brain-bleed just less than two weeks after receiving the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine

2021-12-09T07:56+0000

2021-12-09T07:56+0000

2021-12-09T07:56+0000

astrazeneca

uk

covid-19

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A healthy man has died from a severe brain-bleed just less than two weeks after receiving the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine in Plymouth, an inquest has heard.Adam Bounds, 41, began complaining about feeling sick and cold after returning from a friend's barbecue. The next day, his condition continued to worsen. At some point, his father called for an ambulance. In hospital he was diagnosed with an acute right-frontal lobe haemorrhage which caused compression of the brain stem.According to Wayne Thomas, a consultant haematologist at Derriford Hospital, Bounds' diagnosis was "vaccine-induced thrombotic thrombocytopenia" which was "very rare" with only 260 cases in the UK.He died after an operation on 31 May at Derriford Hospital.Recently, the Croatian drug regulator Halmed confirmed the country's first death related to vaccination with AstraZeneca's COVID-19 shot. A 33-year-old man died 12 days after receiving the first dose of AstraZeneca.

pussymuncher Tip of the iceberg, profits for the small hat owned and run big pharma cabal....Your safety Matters Not! 2

TruePatriot Just another one to die from the death in a bottle jab and a severe acute reaction. How many thousands has it been now? 2

2

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astrazeneca, uk, covid-19
https://sputniknews.com/20211209/mutations-may-make-covid-19-boosters-as-routine-as-flu-shots---report-1091365993.html

Mutations May Make COVID-19 Boosters as Routine as Flu Shots - Report

Mutations May Make COVID-19 Boosters as Routine as Flu Shots - Report

COVID-19 Mutations May Make Vaccination as Common as Flu Shots - Report

2021-12-09T00:35+0000

2021-12-09T00:35+0000

2021-12-09T00:35+0000

us

strain

vaccinations

flu

covid-19

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Americans may need regular vaccinations against COVID-19 in the future, similar to immunizations against the flu, former FDA commissioner Stephen Hahn told Axios on Wednesday.The B.1.1.529 coronavirus variant, called Omicron, was first detected in Botswana and South Africa last month and has been designated as one "of concern" by the World Health Organization (WHO). According to South African scientists, it is more virulent than the Delta variant, due to the unusually high number of mutations.At the same, scientists have suggested that the new strain may be less dangerous. According to the WHOs earlier report, there have been no recorded deaths yet among those infected with Omicron. Michael Ryan, the director of the WHO's Health Emergencies Programme, said the organization needs more time to study the Omicron strain to fully determine its infectiousness and ability to cause severe disease.

JustDandy Instead of getting a booster every six months, it could maybe be once a year.. That is just nuts. 2

Nonyank With over 5000 possible variations...if nature doesn't do it Big Pharma will, the longer the keep it alive and scarey the Bigger their Profits! 1

2

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Alexandra Kashirina

Alexandra Kashirina

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us, strain, vaccinations, flu, covid-19
https://sputniknews.com/20211209/new-york-ag-reportedly-seeking-deposition-from-trump-in-fraud-probe-into-ex-presidents-businesses-1091390735.html

New York AG Reportedly Seeking Deposition From Trump in Fraud Probe Into Ex-President's Businesses

New York AG Reportedly Seeking Deposition From Trump in Fraud Probe Into Ex-President's Businesses

In July, Allen Weisselberg, the now ex-chief financial officer of former president Donald Trump's business empire, was indicted on over a dozen counts of... 09.12.2021, Sputnik International

2021-12-09T14:50+0000

2021-12-09T14:50+0000

2021-12-09T15:34+0000

donald trump

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New York Attorney General Letitia James wants to question Donald Trump for her ongoing investigation into possible fraud at his company, the Trump Organization, the Washington Post reports, citing sources said to be familiar with the situation.Trump's attorneys did not immediately respond to the report, with a spokesperson for James declining to comment. The business mogul has not personally been accused of any wrongdoing in the probe.James joined the Manhattan District Attorney's Office in its investigation into the Trump Organization in October. Republicans have criticized the attorney general over her involvement, accusing her of trying to score political points ahead of her New York gubernatorial run next year.The investigation into the former president's company - a real estate-focused empire consisting of about 500 separate entities, focuses on a range of suspected criminal wrongdoing, including the falsification of records and tax fraud by ex-CFO Allen Weisselberg, and a separate but related probe by the Attorney General's office investigating the possible fraudulent undervaluation of several properties in New York and California. Weisselberg and the Trump Organization have pleaded not guilty to the charges against them, while the former president characterized the probe as a "political witch hunt by the Radical Left Democrats."

https://sputniknews.com/20211122/trump-under-scrutiny-for-allegedly-diminishing-high-end-manhattan-property-value-reports-say-1090933016.html

https://sputniknews.com/20210701/manhattan-district-attorneys-office-unseals-tax-fraud-charges-against-trump-organization-cfo-1083285746.html

Nonyank Watch him pull every trick he can to stall and delay like he is known for. 7

netman Total Coward...! 7

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Ilya Tsukanov

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Ilya Tsukanov

donald trump
https://sputniknews.com/20211209/nicaragua-ends-diplomatic-relations-with-taiwan-recognizes-there-is-only-one-china-1091400832.html

Nicaragua Ends Diplomatic Relations With Taiwan, Recognizes 'There Is Only One China'

Nicaragua Ends Diplomatic Relations With Taiwan, Recognizes 'There Is Only One China'

Managua announced on Thursday it was ending its policy of recognizing Taiwan, also called the Republic of China, and would begin solely recognizing the People's Republic of China in Beijing as the representative of all of China.

2021-12-09T22:52+0000

2021-12-09T22:52+0000

2021-12-10T00:44+0000

nicaragua

world

china

taiwan

one china policy

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"The government of the Republic of Nicaragua declares that it recognizes there is only one China existing in the world," Nicaraguan Foreign Minister Denis Moncada said on Thursday."The People's Republic of China is the only legitimate government, which represents all of China, and Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinese territory," he added. "Today, the government of the Republic of Nicaragua breaks diplomatic relations with Taiwan and will cease all official contact or relations."Hua Chunying, a spokesperson for China's foreign ministry, soon noted on Twitter that the Chinese and Nicaraguan governments were engaged in talks in the city of Tianjin.Taiwan's de facto foreign ministry expressed its "pain and regret" at Nicaragua's decision in a Thursday statement, adding that it has always been a loyal and reliable friend of Nicaragua.With Nicaragua's decision, just 14 nations continue to formally recognize the ROC as the legitimate Chinese government, most of which are either small Pacific island nations or Caribbean nations, and all of which fall under the domineering hand of Washington. The US switched its recognition in 1979, but has continued to provide open but informal military and political support for the ROC sufficient to maintain its autonomy from Beijing.The government in Taipei is all that survives of the Chinese republic founded in 1912 when the Xuantong Emperor resigned amid a mass uprising by liberal political forces. The ROC never totally reunified China, however, and after joining up with the Communist Party of China to fend off the invasion by imperial Japan during World War II, steadily lost ground to the communists until the PRC was declared in 1949 and established control over the entire mainland, as well as Hainan.Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega, who in the 1980s sided with the Soviet Union against China in what at the time was a fiercely territorial split in the global communist movement, maintained his policy of dealing with Taiwan after returning to office in 2007, expressing indignance that Beijing had made relations with it conditional upon rejection of Taipei.However, times are different in 2021: with China and Russia no longer at odds, and the US clamping down with new economic sanctions after Ortega's reelection victory last month, which Washington called fraudulent, Ortega's decision makes considerably more sense. It could also win Chinese financial support for a proposed second transcontinental canal connecting the Atlantic and Pacific oceans via the San Juan River and Lake Nicaragua.

vot tak Excellent news. Very good news. 14

Chi Zhen A slap in the face of the United States of Delusion convening the hypocritical democracy summit attended by its lapdogs such as Taiwan. 11

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nicaragua, world, china, taiwan, one china policy
https://sputniknews.com/20211209/nude--pregnant-maxwell-photo-at-epsteins-home-prompts-love-child-speculations-1091375692.html

'Nude & Pregnant' Maxwell Photo at Epstein's Home Prompts Love Child Speculations

'Nude & Pregnant' Maxwell Photo at Epstein's Home Prompts Love Child Speculations

A Ghislaine Maxwell accuser testified in New York City federal court that she once saw photos of the British socialite nude and pregnant in Jeffrey Epstein's home.

2021-12-09T09:13+0000

2021-12-09T09:13+0000

2021-12-09T12:12+0000

ghislaine maxwell

jeffrey epstein

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A Ghislaine Maxwell accuser testified in New York City federal court on Tuesday that she once saw photos of the British socialite "nude and pregnant" in Jeffrey Epstein's home. The alleged victim, identified as Carolyn, had taken the stand to testify that she was just 14 when the late convicted sex predator and his alleged madam, or pimp began abusing her at the financiers mansion in Palm Beach, Florida. Carolyn said that Epstein had sexually abused her over than 100 times, while his lover Maxwell had allegedly groped her breasts and buttocks. However, according to the accuser, after she turned 18 the abuse stopped. Ghislaine Maxwell is facing a six-count indictment for sex trafficking children, perjury and the enticement of minors while a close associate of the convicted pedophile. However, she is not known to be a mother, nor is there evidence that Epstein ever fathered a child. Among the trove of evidence presented at the Maxwell trial, which started on in the downtown Manhattan courtroom of US District Court Judge Alison J Nathan, on 29 November was a batch of previously unseen images pertaining to the case, obtained during a 2019 FBI raid of Epstein's Manhattan mansion. With some showing Maxwell sunbathing on a yacht and others offering a glimpse at the couple vacationing in Europe, gazing lovingly at one another, there have been speculations regarding the nature of the relationship between the pair. In one photo, Epstein appears to be holding his hand on Maxwell's stomach, as the two stand on a bridge in front of snowy scenery. The tycoon is wearing a red ski suit, with the woman who purportedly catered to his predatory whims is wearing a coat over a sweatshirt. During the cross-examination, a lawyer from Ghislaine Maxwell's defence team asked Carolyn about the photo. "One of your memories about Ms. Maxwell is you claim that you saw a photograph of her in Epstein's house pregnant, correct?" asked Jeffrey Pagliuca. "Nude and pregnant, laying on the" said the witness. At that point the defence lawyer interjected, "And pregnant?" To this, Carolyn responded: "Yes. There were multiple pictures, nude photos." After Jeffrey Pagliuca handed Carolyn a photo admitted as a defence exhibit but not shown to the jury, she denied it was the one she purportedly saw. "That is not the photo," said the witness, who had received a $446,000 settlement in 2009. The woman is reported to have also been paid between $1 and $3 million by the Epstein Estate from its victim compensation fund. "Carolyn, are you trying to get money out of testifying here today?" asked the defence, which alleged discrepancies between Carolyn's court testimony and claims made by her in civil proceedings against Epstein. "No Money will not ever fix what that woman has done to me," the woman broke down. No further details of Maxwells alleged pregnancy were given in court, according to media reports. Partners in Crime or Loving Couple? Throughout the trial prosecutors have characterised Maxwell and Epstein's relationship as that of partners in crime. However, numerous witnesses have testified the two were a couple. Furthermore, they ostensibly wanted to have a child of their own, according to an attorney for Virginia Roberts Guiffre. Guiffre filed a civil lawsuit against Prince Andrew in September, alleging she had been trafficked out to have sex with the royal by Jeffrey Epstein when she was a minor. Bradley Edwards, Guiffres attorney, wrote in his memoir Relentless Pursuit that Epstein and Maxwell had proposed Roberts be a surrogate for their child. However, Roberts lawyer said their client couldn't bear the thought of Epstein and Maxwell raising her child. Maxwells defence team asked a previous witness if he had ever seen Epsteins alleged pimp pregnant in the 15 years of his interaction with her from the early 1990s to the mid-2000s,. Epstein's pilot Larry Visoski was questioned by Maxwells attorney, Now, in that whole time period, Ghislaine never appeared to you to be pregnant, did she? No, not at all, answered Visoski. Asked if he ever saw any pictures of her pregnant at any of the residences, he again replied in the negative. Ghislaine Maxwell Trial The six charges against Maxwell are conspiracy to entice minors to travel to engage in illegal sex acts; enticement of a minor to travel to engage in illegal sex acts; conspiracy to transport minors with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity; transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity; sex trafficking conspiracy and sex trafficking of a minor. According to prosecutors, Maxwell groomed three girls between 1994 and 1997 for Epstein, allegedly targeting them in London, Florida, New York and New Mexico. The woman not only facilitated Epstein abusing them, including by using sexualised group massages, but also participated on occasion herself, it is claimed. Ghislaine Maxwell also faces two charges of perjury relating to testimony she gave in 2016 in a defamation case filed against her by Epstein accuser Virginia Giuffre. These are to be tried after her sex crimes trial. If convicted, Maxwell, who pleaded not guilty on all charges, faces up to 80 years in prison. Jeffrey Epstein, who was charged with running a sex trafficking network of minors in 2019, died in his Manhattan cell on 10 August while awaiting trial, having pleaded not guilty to the charges. Ghislaine Maxwells defence team has argued that the woman, arrested on 2 July 2020, was a "scapegoat" for Epstein's actions.

https://sputniknews.com/20211207/framed-naked-photo-of-ghislaine-maxwell-and-other-nude-pictures-belonging-to-epstein-shown-at-trial-1091307606.html

Bettina Killary ate it 1

Brit26 It's all part of the US's typically clumsy and gross attempt at character assasination, rather than having a proper trial. However, I don't suppose many people are bothering to follow this distracting side show, with everything else going on in the world 0

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Svetlana Ekimenko

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ghislaine maxwell, jeffrey epstein
https://sputniknews.com/20211209/piers-morgan-tells-cringe-making-hilary-clinton-to-let-it-go-after-2016-trump-loss-meltdown-1091378092.html

Piers Morgan Tells 'Cringe-Making' Hillary Clinton to 'Let It Go!' After 2016 Trump Loss Meltdown

Piers Morgan Tells 'Cringe-Making' Hillary Clinton to 'Let It Go!' After 2016 Trump Loss Meltdown

Piers Morgan told Hilary Clinton to let it go as she broke down into tears when reading what would have been her 2016 victory speech if she had not lost the presidentrial election to Donald Trump.

2021-12-09T10:33+0000

2021-12-09T10:33+0000

2021-12-09T10:39+0000

us

donald trump

hillary clinton

piers morgan

2016 us presidential elections

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Good Morning Britain anchor Piers Morgan told Hillary Clinton to "let it go" as she broke down into tears while reading what would have been her 2016 victory speech if she had not been blindsided by Donald Trump's victory in the presidential election that year.The TV host went on Twitter to aim a curt but scathing broadside at the "cringe-making" twice-failed presidential candidate. Morgan posted a retweet of an article about Clinton when she unveiled the speech she would have given to NBC's new Masterclass streaming platform.In comments under the post, some users weighed in on Hillary Clintons loss.However, others suggested Piers Morgan follow his own advice and revisit his fixation with criticising Meghan Markle.Republican Donald Trump's victory in the US presidential election of 2016 surprised many, with predictions and forecasts of pundits and pollsters failing to materialise.Looking back at that time, as she shared part of her would-be 2016 victory speech on NBC's new Masterclass streaming platform, Hillary Clinton got emotional. The former US secretary of state and first lady noted that she was going to face one of my most public defeats head-on by sharing with you the speech I had hoped to deliver if I had won the 2016 election. According to the politician, she never shared this with anybody and never read this out loud.The Democrat revealed that she did not prepare a concession speech as though her campaign had witnessed a lot of bumps these last 10 days, she was certain of victory over Trump. Clinton near-sobbed when she spoke about her desire to share her victory with her mother, who died in 2011.Clinton also spoke about her never-delivered address as in an interview with NBC's Sunday TODAY with Willie Geist, to be aired on Sunday.The Democratic candidate lost in 2016 to Republican opponent Donald Trump by a small margin in an election marred by a spate of scandals. Some were related to leaked emails of the US Democratic National Committee, with Clinton and her allies later accusing Trump of having ties with Russia. The subsequent investigation proved the allegations were unsubstantial.

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us, donald trump, hillary clinton, piers morgan, 2016 us presidential elections
https://sputniknews.com/20211209/polish-border-guard-says-illegal-migrants-continue-attempts-to-cross-from-belarus-1091385949.html

Polish Border Guard Says Illegal Migrants Continue Attempts to Cross From Belarus

Polish Border Guard Says Illegal Migrants Continue Attempts to Cross From Belarus

Illegal migrants are continuing their attempts to storm the Polish border with Belarus

2021-12-09T12:48+0000

2021-12-09T12:48+0000

2021-12-09T12:48+0000

europe

poland

migrant crisis

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"Yesterday 80 attempts to illegally cross the Polish-Belarusian border were recorded. Law enforcement officers issued orders to expel 23 people from the territory of Poland. In the guarded areas of Dubicze Cerkiewne and Czeremcha, large groups cut through the border," the Border Guard said on Twitter.The Polish defence ministry posted a video showing unknown people shouting and throwing various objects in the direction of Polish soldiers guarding the border.Police in the Podlaskie Voivodeship region said a 35-year-old Ukrainian citizen was arrested after he was spotted driving nine Iraqis who entered Poland illegally.Since the beginning of the year, the Polish border guard has recorded about 40,000 attempts of illegal border crossing, which is several dozen times more than last year. The monthly number grew from 3,500 in August to 7,700 in September and 17,400 in October, before decreasing to 8,900 in November.Thousands of migrants have gathered at Belarus' borders with Poland and other neighbouring EU countries since early summer. Poland enhanced its border controls, mobilized extra military and began construction of border fences. The Polish authorities accuse Belarus of manufacturing the crisis, which Minsk has denied.

poland

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europe, poland, migrant crisis
https://sputniknews.com/20211209/putin-what-is-happening-in-donbass-resembles-a-genocide-1091396012.html

Putin: What is Happening in Donbass Resembles Genocide

Putin: What is Happening in Donbass Resembles Genocide

Large swathes of eastern Ukraine were thrust into armed conflict in the spring of 2014 after Kiev sent troops to crush an independence push by local residents... 09.12.2021, Sputnik International

2021-12-09T18:47+0000

2021-12-09T18:47+0000

2021-12-09T19:48+0000

donbass

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The situation in Donbass resembles a genocide, Russian President Vladimir Putin has said.The Russian president made the comments Thursday at a meeting of the Russian council for the development of civil society and human rights, of which Vyshinsky is a member.Ukraine TensionsThe president's remarks come amid an atmosphere of tensions and fears of gathering clouds of war in Ukraine as Moscow, Kiev and Ukraine's Western benefactors accuse one another of preparing for military operations. In recent weeks, Washington and its allies have accused Moscow of concentrating troops at the border with Ukraine. Russia has denied the claims, while voicing concerns of its own that Kiev may soon attempt to resolve the frozen Donbass conflict by force using advanced anti-tank weapons and drones provided by the US and Turkey.Residents of eastern Ukraine began demanding independence from Ukraine in the spring of 2014, following a Western-backed coup d'etat in Kiev in February of that year which brought ultranationalists and pro-EU politicians to power. Fearing that the autonomy demands could spread to other eastern regions, including Khakov, Nikolaev and Odessa, Kiev responded with military force, with Donbass militiamen taking up arms to fight federal forces and the region thrust into civil war.The war in Donbass has led to the deaths of as many as 31,000 people, with over 2.5 million residents of the region forced to flee their homes, close to 1 million of them to neighbouring Russia.A shaky ceasefire has been in force since February 2015 following the signing of the Minsk peace accords, which envisioned a ceasefire, followed by the pullback of heavy weapons and other measures to ease the situation. The accords also called for elections in the breakaway territories, and amendments to Ukraine's constitution guaranteeing the Donbass broad autonomy. The Petro Poroshenko government failed to live up to its commitments under the deal, and the hot war was turned into a frozen conflict punctuated by regular violations of the ceasefire.After coming to power in 2019, President Volodymyr Zelensky initially expressed interest in the so-called 'Steinmeier formula', named after former German foreign minister and Minsk negotiator Frank-Walter Steinmeier, to proceed with plans to peacefully reintegrate the Donbass into Ukraine, again following elections and the creation of a special self-governing status for Donetsk and Lugansk. His endorsement of the idea sparked protests in Kiev by supporters of a hard line on Donbass, prompting him to relent, and the status quo continued unchanged for two more years.Ukraine tensions began escalating in the spring of 2021, amid fears by the Donbass breakaways and Russia - a guarantor of the Minsk accords, that Kiev may try to resolve the conflict by force, and again this fall amid claims by Western officials and media that Russia is preparing to 'invade' all or part of Ukraine. Moscow has dismissed these allegations.

https://sputniknews.com/20211209/russian-chief-of-general-staff-slams-reports-about-imminent-invasion-of-ukraine-as-fake-1091377230.html

https://sputniknews.com/20211127/poking-the-bear-us-warns-russia-all-options-on-table-1091064654.html

Barros Genocide is a valuable word in US dictionary 10

vot tak After power and money, genocide is what israeloamericans love most. 9

14

donbass

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Ilya Tsukanov

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donbass
https://sputniknews.com/20211209/russia-warns-us-israeli-exercises-against-iran-would-destabilize-situation-in-explosive-region-1091395708.html

Russia Warns US-Israeli Exercises Against Iran Would Destabilize Situation in Explosive Region

Russia Warns US-Israeli Exercises Against Iran Would Destabilize Situation in Explosive Region

On Wednesday, Reuters reported that US and Israeli officials planned to discuss possible joint military exercises in preparation for a worst-case scenario to... 09.12.2021, Sputnik International

2021-12-09T18:24+0000

2021-12-09T18:24+0000

2021-12-09T18:24+0000

infrastructure

russia

united states

iran

israel

strikes

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Joint US-Israeli exercises practicing the mock destruction of Iranian nuclear infrastructure threaten to destabilize the Middle East and should not take place, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov has warned.The Russian diplomat said he did not find the Reuters report about the possible exercises surprising. We, of course, proceed from the assumption that the United States and Israel, being extremely close allies and to a large extent sharing assessments on Iranian policy and Irans role in the region, might hold such events, he said.Ryabkovs comments follow a report by Reuters Wednesday citing senior US officials who indicated that Israel and the United States would discuss joint drills simulating an attack on Irans nuclear infrastructure if the Vienna nuclear negotiations break down. The issue is expected to be brought up Thursday, with Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz traveling to Washington to hold talks with senior US officials including Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken.Ahead of his US trip, Gantz repeated standard boilerplate Israeli comments about Iran posing a threat to world peace, and suggested that that the Islamic Republic seeks to become an existential threat to Israel.At the meetings [in Washington], we will discuss possible courses of action to ensure that [Iran] stops its attempt to reach the nuclear arena and expand its activities in the region, Gantz said.The Pentagon has confirmed that Gantz and US officials would discuss shared concerns about Iran, but did not elaborate.Last week, Israeli media reported that Gantz would lobby US officials about Plan B envisioning an attack on Irans nuclear facilities if the Vienna talks bear no fruit.In a related development, Israeli media reported in October that Tel Aviv had approved a budget of 5 billion shekels (about $1.5 billion) to prepare for possible strikes on Iran.The United States granted Israel $3.8 billion in military aid in 2021.The report on the possible joint drills come after Iranian, US, Russian, Chinese, and European officials kicked off the seventh round of talks in Vienna last week on reactivating the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)  the Iranian nuclear deal that was knocked off track after the Trump administration unilaterally withdrew from the landmark agreement in 2018. The latest round of talks comes amid continued disagreement between Tehran and Washington on which side must take the first steps to rejoin the nuclear accord. Iran says its up to the US to first lift its crushing and illegal sanctions. The Biden administration insists that the Islamic Republic first reduce its uranium stockpiling and enrichment activities back into line with the terms of the JCPOA.Iran denies having any intention to pursue nuclear weapons, and says its nuclear programme is strictly peaceful, in line with United Nations guidelines, and under the watchful eye of the International Atomic Energy Agencys inspections regime. Amid regular Israeli threats to attack its nuclear facilities, Iran has repeatedly asked why Tel Aviv seems to a pass from the IAEA and the international community in general despite its suspected arsenal of nukes and status as the Middle Easts only nuclear weapons state. Israel neither confirms nor denies possessing nuclear weapons in a policy known as deliberate ambiguity.

https://sputniknews.com/20211206/israel-will-reportedly-push-us-to-strike-iranian-facility-amid-lack-of-progress-in-vienna-talks-1091290416.html

https://sputniknews.com/20211209/51-of-israelis-would-support-attack-on-irans-nuclear-facilities-without-us-support-shows-poll-1091382969.html

Ahson Michael, could you explain to us how? 8

vot tak As I have been writing for years, the main problem facing the planet is israel and its influential network of zionists and nazis corrupting every aspect of life they can get away will. Kill israel, resurrect Palestine and half the strife in the world will soon disappear. 5

15

iran

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Ilya Tsukanov

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infrastructure, russia, united states, iran, israel, strikes
https://sputniknews.com/20211209/russian-chief-of-general-staff-slams-reports-about-imminent-invasion-of-ukraine-as-fake-1091377230.html

Russian Chief of General Staff Slams Reports About 'Imminent Invasion of Ukraine' as Fake

Russian Chief of General Staff Slams Reports About 'Imminent Invasion of Ukraine' as Fake

The Russian Chief of General Staff, Valery Gerasimov, has dismissed reports about Russia's alleged preparations to invade Ukraine as fake.

2021-12-09T09:33+0000

2021-12-09T09:33+0000

2021-12-09T10:30+0000

world

russia

ukraine

us

nato

aukus

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The Russian Chief of General Staff, Valery Gerasimov, has dismissed reports about Russia's alleged preparations to invade Ukraine as fake.According to him, the fact that the West has been supplying helicopters, drones and aircraft to Ukraine has pushed Kiev to take drastic and dangerous steps. "The supply of helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles and aircraft to Ukraine is pushing the Ukrainian authorities to take drastic and dangerous steps. Kiev does not fulfil the Minsk agreements. The Ukrainian armed forces have announced the beginning of the use of Javelin anti-tank missile systems, which were supplied by the United States, and also the use of Turkish-made reconnaissance and strike unmanned aerial vehicles in Donbas. As a result, the already-tense situation in the east of this country is aggravating," Gerasimov told a briefing attended by foreign military attaches. Mr. Gerasimov added that Kiev's military provocations will be suppressed.The Russian Chief of General Staff also noted that NATO's military activity has significantly increased in recent years, with some 40 large drills being held near the borders of Russia annually."The tensions in Europe are not decreasing. In recent years, the military activity of the North Atlantic Alliance has increased significantly. Every year, about 40 major NATO military exercises are held in the immediate vicinity of the Russian borders," Gerasimov said.He added that the US strategic aviation often appears near Russian airspace and practices the use of cruise missiles at targets inside Russia.On AUKUS BlocGerasimov commented on the formation of the trilateral bloc between Australia, the US and the UK, dubbed AUKUS, calling it a destabilising factor, as it creates preconditions for the spread of nuclear technology through the creation of a nuclear submarine fleet in Australia."The creation of blocs clearly directed against another state is a destabilising factor. The AUKUS bloc creates the preconditions for the spread of nuclear technology. The creation of Australia's nuclear submarine fleet could become a new stage in the struggle for regional dominance not only in the Asia-Pacific but also in other regions of the world," Gerasimov said. The Russian Ministry of Defence is actively interacting with partners in the Asia-Pacific region and advocates "multilateral mechanisms for ensuring security in the region, taking into account the interests of all states," he added.On Criticism of Russia's Recent Anti-Satellite Missile Test The wreckage of an old Soviet satellite downed earlier this month is under control and does not threaten active space objects, Gerasimov said. The Russian defence ministry said that on 15 November, Russia successfully conducted a test to shoot down an inoperative Russian spacecraft, Tselina-D. "The fragments do not pose a threat to space activities in orbit. At present, the fragments move along trajectories outside the plane of the space stations' orbits, are under observation and included in the main catalogue of the Russian space control system," Gerasimov told a briefing.

https://sputniknews.com/20211130/north-korea-decries-aukus-for-being-us-tool-that-threatens-nuclear-war---report-1091156618.html

mandrake Desperation and a full blown cock up in washington dc, invasion by russia (which is total bs) and idiot morons talk about nuking russia. The thing spiralling out of control in washington and the pillowbiters in white hall aint in better shape! The west is led by the blind into another war! 6

Charlie McD Worst 'invasion' plans ever! Lol  more ballix from the West! 2

3

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us

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world, russia, ukraine, us, nato, aukus
https://sputniknews.com/20211209/serial-liar-jussie-smollett-accused-of-lying-under-oath-as-jury-ends-first-day-of-deliberations-1091363783.html

'Serial Liar': Jussie Smollett Accused of Lying Under Oath as Jury Ends First Day of Deliberations

'Serial Liar': Jussie Smollett Accused of Lying Under Oath as Jury Ends First Day of Deliberations

During closing statements, the prosecutors blasted the former "Empire" actor as a "serial liar" who claimed his alleged attackers were white to give the staged... 09.12.2021, Sputnik International

2021-12-09T00:10+0000

2021-12-09T00:10+0000

2021-12-09T00:10+0000

society

us

court

verdict

jury

hoax

racism

court trial

jussie smollett

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Despite lengthy deliberations, the Chicago jury could not rule on Wednesday whether actor Jussie Smollett, 39, was guilty of orchestrating a hate crime attack in downtown Chicago in January 2019 to gain clout.The jury is set to return to their work on Thursday to continue deliberations at 9:15 am local time.Smollett is charged with six felonies for allegedly creating a bogus hate crime and falsely reporting it to the police. He could be sentenced to three years in prison.On the final day of the statements, special prosecutor Dan Webb said that Smollett developed a complex scheme for faking the attack with the help of Abimbola and Olabinjo Osundairo because he "wanted to get the media exposure." Prosecutor Webb accused Smollett of continually lying to the jury about not planning the attack and mocked his claim that he was out "looking for eggs" the night of the fake incident.According to the prosecutor, the police were forced to "spend an enormous amount of time taking it very seriously" to find out that "it was, in fact, a fake hate crime."Smollett, an openly gay man, said in his testimony that he was heading home when he was confronted by two unknown assailants who he initially described as white before changing his account to say they were "pale," as he indicated on Tuesday because it was the "right thing to do."During the trial, Webb presented six crucial pieces of evidence that he said revealed the actor plotted the phony incident with the help of the Osundairo brothers, whom Smollett knows from the show. The prosecutor stressed that Smollett is exactly "the person who orchestrated it, who instructed them on what to do."Six Discrepancies That Cost Smollett FavorabilityIn general, Webb accused Smollett of lying on the stand, focusing on six particular points that he claimed demonstrated Smollett's guilt, contrasting his testimony with what the prosecution said happened.Smollett's choice to withhold cell phone, medical, and DNA evidence from the authorities was the first concern, as the actor reportedly "didn't want the crime solved," or the siblings arrested.Smollett also reportedly hid his medical documents because he "did not want the police to know he wasn't injured that much," which the prosecutor highlighted as the fifth inconsistency later. The second important piece of evidence that Webb highlighted was Smollett's accusation that he lied to the police about the attackers' color. While the Osundairo brothers are Black, Smollett insisted that instead of telling the police initially that the perpetrators were white, he was not really sure and believed he initially described them as "pale."Smollett messing with a rope that had been fashioned into a noose that the attackers reportedly put around his neck was the third point Webb remarked on. Smollett "monkeyed around" with the rope before the police arrived on the scene, he claimed.The actor testified that he removed the rope after the attack but put it back on when police arrived. But Webb pointed out that during an interview in 2019 Smollett claimed the rope was on his neck the whole time.The prosecutor stressed the fourth point: the Osundairo brothers could not have attacked Smollett without prior knowledge. The alleged attack happened at 2 am outside Smollett's apartment amid a winter vortex, after he went to Walgreens for eggs and ended up at Subway.And the final aspect of the evidence that Webb emphasized to jurors was a February 2019 police interview and a text to Bola Osundairo, which Smollett wrote weeks after the alleged hate crime. Smollett reportedly did not sign the criminal papers alleging the Osundairo brothers committed the purported crime and sent a text message to Bola later, which read, "Brother I love you, I stand with you, I know you did nothing wrong."Defense Playing 'Intelligent Criminals' False Statements' CardIn his turn, Nenye Uche, a defense lawyer, described the Osundairo brothers as intelligent criminals who were solely wanting the money and fame of a well-known celebrity.The defense's primary strategy throughout the trial was reportedly to combat the claim by prosecutors that a $3,500 check was offered as payment for fabricating the phony attack. Smollett also paid his publicist Pamela Sharp $3,500, according to Uche, who added that it was common for celebrities to pay huge sums of money for services.Apart from that, the defense lawyer asked the jury not to believe most of the Osundairo brothers' testimony, and especially the part which implicated Smollett as having planned the attack in advance.According to the reports from the trial, Uche said Smollett grew to appreciate Chicago and was not someone who would do what the prosecutors said.Regardless of the outcome of the case, Smollett's acting career was effectively ruined as a result of the incident. His character was written off "Empire," which ended in 2020, and he has not been on screen since, despite directing and producing a picture.

https://sputniknews.com/20211208/smollett-becomes-aggressive-during-trial-when-cornered-by-texts-with-alleged-attacker----report-1091334131.html

https://sputniknews.com/20211201/jussie-smollet-was-reportedly-caught-on-video-rehearsing-alleged-attack-prosecutors-claim-1091158663.html

Nonyank Must be related to Trump! 6

pussymuncher I'm pretty sure this will be put down to White Supremacy.. 2

2

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Kirill Kurevlev

society, us, court, verdict, jury, hoax, racism, court trial, jussie smollett
https://sputniknews.com/20211209/soros-funnels-millions-into-dark-money-hub-used-by-defund-the-police-activists-grant-database-shows-1091390134.html

Soros Funnels Millions Into Dark Money Hub Used By Defund the Police Activists, Grant Database Shows

Soros Funnels Millions Into Dark Money Hub Used By Defund the Police Activists, Grant Database Shows

Billionaire financier and investor George Soros has funneled millions of dollars into a dark money hub that left-wing activists dip into for their defund the police efforts,

2021-12-09T14:34+0000

2021-12-09T14:34+0000

2021-12-09T15:04+0000

george soros

us

open society foundation

george floyd

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Billionaire financier and investor George Soros has funneled millions of dollars into a dark money hub that left-wing activists dip into for their Defund the Police efforts, reported Fox News.Specifically, the Foundation to Promote Open Society (FPOS), a nonprofit in the Democratic megadonors network, channeled $3 million to the Community Resource Hub for Safety and Accountability (CRH) in 2020. This is according to the grant database of the Open Society Foundation cited by the outlet.The Defund the Police movement emerged following the death of Minneapolis Black man George Floyd in police custody in May last year. The events triggered nationwide protests against racism and police brutality.The Community Resource Hub for Safety and Accountability positions itself as a resource for local advocates and organizers working to address the harms of policing in the US" striving to "cultivate community safety and accountability outside of the criminal legal system."The hub offers research, reports, data, model policies, toolkits, and "other resources to the field" for local progressive activists engaged in promoting police reform, including materials on abolishing and defunding the police, says the publication. The latter purportedly includes a 24-page memo penned by CRH that "reviews alternatives to policing in the context of police abolitionist frameworks, offering insights and sharing successful strategies for advocates in the field."Left-wing groups contributing materials include No Cop Academy, Cops Off Campus Coalition and The Digital Abolitionist.Tax forms are cited as showing that $2 million are being used for a "budgeting Academy program" to "train community safety advocates in how to advocate around their local municipal budgets," reveal the grants, with the remaining $1 million allocated for general support.Earlier in 2019, the Soros nonprofit dished out $1.5 million to the resource centre, with $500,000 of the sum financing the establishment of the hub itself.The Community Resource Hub for Safety and Accountability "houses and staffs" the website defundpolice.org in partnership with a spate of national movement organisations.CRH is a sponsored project of the New Venture Fund, managed by the Washington-based consulting firm Arabella Advisors. The latter is a company that caters to left-leaning donors and nonprofits by offering financing advice.Founded by Eric Kessler, a former administration appointee of ex-President Bill Clinton, it serves as the hub of a politically liberal "dark money" network.Projects under the umbrella of the New Venture Fund do not have to file tax forms to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) that would reveal information pertaining to board members and finances.Nevertheless, Soros' nonprofit states the donations are channeled directly to the CRH via the New Venture Fund.There has been no comment on the report from either the CRH or the Open Society Foundations.Earlier, via a sum that was reportedly George Soross largest political donation of the 2021 election cycle, financial support worth $1 million went to the Colour Of Change PAC. The PAC positions itself as Americas largest online racial justice organisation and seeks to slash police budgets, according to records filed with the Federal Election Commission and obtained by the Washington Free Beacon.Billionaire "philanthropist" Soros has been criticised across the political spectrum for spending of large amounts of cash on questionable "civil society initiatives" as part of efforts to spread his vision of a globalised, socially liberal, market-driven world order, in effect meddling in the affairs of sovereign countries.The hedge fund manager began his political activities in the 1980s in Eastern Europe, providing funding to anti-communist forces in Hungary, Poland, and other Eastern Bloc nations. By the 1990s, his foundations had spread into the former Soviet Union, including Ukraine and Russia, and provided support for the colour revolutions that erupted in many post-Soviet states in the 2000s and 2010s. Russia kicked Soros foundations out in 2015 after Moscow deemed them to be a threat to national security.In 2018, the OSF announced it was closing its European office in Budapest, Hungary  Soros native country  over legislation passed by the Hungarian government targeting the foundation's activities. Hungary had passed a law, dubbed the Stop Soros bill, drafted by Prime Minister Viktor Orban, creating a new category of crime, called promoting and supporting illegal migration."

https://sputniknews.com/20211107/videos-defund-the-police-protesters-invade-northwestern-football-game-1090536034.html

https://sputniknews.com/20210810/multi-millionaire-friend-of-george-soros-accused-of-raping-women-in-sex-dungeon-sells-his-estate-1083567871.html

https://sputniknews.com/20180622/stop-soros-europe-reaction-1065681350.html

vot tak "reported Fox News." ... That's where I stopped reading this likudite neocon psywar being hyped as real news. Tired of these yellow journalism propaganda pieces written by Russia's most fanatical ememies. I visit Sputnik to get away from the murdoch and limbaugh clones, but now that bottom rung garbage dominates the news articles at Sputnik. The yeltsin lesson has not been learned in some circles. Thumbs down, dittohead. 2

Rot Hchild Ashkanazi Joos create astroturf (fake grassroots) movements is meant to create chaos in other societies, to divide and conquer the goyim and allow the neolib/neocons judeo-liberal order to take power. 2

4

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Svetlana Ekimenko

Svetlana Ekimenko

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george soros, us, open society foundation, george floyd
https://sputniknews.com/20211209/switching-to-russian-oil-fits-into-indias-strategy-to-curb-dependency-on-opec-professor-says-1091388837.html

Switching to Russian Oil Fits Into India's Strategy to Curb Dependency on OPEC, Professor Says

Switching to Russian Oil Fits Into India's Strategy to Curb Dependency on OPEC, Professor Says

Gulshan Sachdeva, a professor of European Studies and chairperson at the Centre for European Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University, spoke to Sputnik about the agreements reached at the 21st India-Russia summit.

2021-12-09T16:11+0000

2021-12-09T16:11+0000

2021-12-09T16:11+0000

vladivostok

energy

crude oil

narendra modi

russia

vladimir putin

opec

trade

the india-russia summit

nuclear energy

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Enhancing bilateral trade and investments figured prominently during the talks between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin on 6 December. After the summit, the two governments pledged to increase bilateral trade by $30 billion and $50 billion in investment by 2025.Sputnik: Bilateral trade between India and Russia has been around $10 billion for many years. Do you think the 21st annual summit has provided some direction to boost the business at desired level?Sachdeva: Limited bilateral trade is perhaps the weakest link of otherwise robust India-Russia ties. One of the important pillars of the old Indo-Soviet friendship was strong commercial ties. The USSR used to be India's largest trading partner. In comparison, the current expansion of the Indian economy is based on Asian markets and the West.Although India Russia relationship has survived this weakness, policymakers have been struggling to overcome this challenge for years. The problem areas are well known. These include lack of information about each other's markets, visa problems, logistic issues, etc. Attempts have been made in recent years to address some of these issues.Now, a new trade target of $30 billion by 2025 has been set. Targets have been set earlier also. But now it seems the leadership is committed to follow some of these promises.Sputnik: The joint statement has added many promises on the trade front, such as a $30bn trade target by 2025, International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), and the all new Vladivostok Chennai maritime route. Are the issues that have been slowing the progress on these fronts identified? If not, what should be the steps to remove them?Sachdeva: Trade and connectivity are linked. Large connectivity projects may be of limited value if trade turnover is limited. At the same time, connectivity can also lead to more trade.To a large extent, INSTC has not really taken off because India-Russia trade was supposed to provide volumes, which has not happened. It is good that now Chabahar port built by India in Iran has been added within the INSTC framework.The Vladivostok-Chennai maritime corridor has both commercial and geopolitical dimensions. India can import crude and LNG from Russia through this route. It can provide opportunities for India to invest in Russian Far East. This can also be linked with India's Indo-Pacific strategy as well.But the forthcoming feasibility study results of this route will be able to provide some useful information about its relevance. The implementation of these initiatives really have to be speeded up. Otherwise, we will keep repeating these points for many years.Sputnik: Energy finds a lot of attention in the summit. How do you see progress and promises made in the joint statement?Sachdeva: Energy (including nuclear) is one of the core areas of India-Russia partnership. Joint statement has rightly acknowledged policy initiatives and the collaborations of Indian and Russian companies. This is only because of investments made by Indian and Russian companies in each other's economy, we have been able to achieve investment targets.Many more investments are likely to happen in the coming years. This sector has played a useful role in bringing our companies closer in the last twenty years.Now India is seriously preparing itself for the energy transition. Apart from hydrocarbons and nuclear, we need to prepare for more cooperation in hydro, renewables, hydrogen economy and energy efficiency for the next twenty years.Although these points have been mentioned in the joint statement, we may hear more and more these issues in the coming years.Sputnik: The two sides agreed to continue joint work on promoting the 'mutual settlement of payments in national currencies, which will help reduce cost and time and risks involved in payments.' What are the implications of this? Will it help in averting US Sanctions in carrying out significant transactions?Sachdeva: It may be useful if both agree to settle payments in national currencies. But I think, to some extent, this is a hangover of the old Indo-Soviet trade relations when two non-convertible currency countries used to trade with each other in non-convertible currencies. This was the time when exchange rates were fixed by the governments rather than by the markets.Now both India and Russia have more than sufficient foreign exchange reserves. The discussion on the issue has been there for quite some time. But it has been less to do with the US sanctions. It is more of trying to facilitate economic transactions.Sputnik: India has vowed to increase sourcing of Russian crude oil and gas under long-term contracts. Will this help India in saving energy import bills since New Delhi has been expressing its concerns about opportunistic pricing by OPEC?Sachdeva: India is seriously dependent on energy imports. In the last 25 years, its high economic growth has happened amid high and volatile energy prices. As a part of its long-term diversification strategy, India plans to import more and more crude oil and LNG from Russia in the coming years. The connectivity initiatives will become important to implement this strategy.The idea is to increase dependence on non-OPEC countries through long-term contracts. Within this context, Russian energy and long-term contracts fit well within the Indian strategy.Sputnik: Joint statement promises to begin negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement with Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) soon. What are the roadblocks, and do you think the two countries will compromise on their interests?Sachdeva: High-level consultations on the issue have been going on since 2015. Indian industry, by and large, supports the initiative. Initial studies have shown that it will be favourable to India. It can also improve the Indian economic presence in Central Asia. When India is starting Free Trade Agreement negotiations with the European Union and the UK, this is the right time to put India-Eurasian Economic Union negotiations also on the fast track. This by itself may not resolve all the problems. But it can definitely provide a new momentum to trade relations in the Eurasian region.

https://sputniknews.com/20190812/india-russia-discussing-cooperation-in-gas-exploration-supplies-from-arctic---minister-1076528893.html

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vladivostok, energy, crude oil, narendra modi, russia, vladimir putin, opec, trade, the india-russia summit, nuclear energy, india, 21st annual india-russia summit
https://sputniknews.com/20211209/trump-ex-chief-of-staff-facing-contempt-charge-sues-us-house-speaker-pelosi---reports-1091365864.html

Trump Ex-Chief of Staff Facing Contempt Charge Sues US House Speaker Pelosi - Reports

Trump Ex-Chief of Staff Facing Contempt Charge Sues US House Speaker Pelosi - Reports

Mark Meadows has filed charges against US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi as the Select Committee she set up to probe the January 6 events at the US Capitol prepares contempt charges against him, media reported said.

2021-12-09T00:14+0000

2021-12-09T00:14+0000

2021-12-09T00:21+0000

us

charges

mark meadows

contempt

speaker pelosi

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Trumps right-hand man earlier refused to testify before the US House Select Committee claiming he could not discuss issues covered by executive privilege. In response, the panel is preparing charges of criminal contempt against him, the report said."Over the last several weeks, Mr. Meadows has consistently sought in good faith to pursue an accommodation with the Select Committee and up until yesterday we believed that could be obtained", the letter from Meadows' attorney George Terwilliger read. "We acted on the belief that the Select Committee would receive, also in good faith, relevant, responsive but non-privileged facts".The Select Committee has overstepped its authority and pushed past the boundaries to conduct law enforcement investigations or "free-standing 'fact finding' missions," he added."It is well-established that Congresss subpoena authority is limited to the pursuit of a legitimate legislative purpose", Terwilliger said. "Congress has no authority to conduct law enforcement investigations or free-standing 'fact finding' missions".The House Select Committee has rejected Meadows' argument about executive privilege. It said President Joe Biden did not try to use any power of executive privilege to protect Meadows from having to testify, the report said.Earlier, former Trump White House adviser Steve Bannon refused to comply with the committee's subpoena, ending up being indicted for contempt of Congress.Bannon - and Trump - have characterized the Select Committees' actions as a political witch hunt.

https://sputniknews.com/20211130/former-trump-chief-of-staff-mark-meadows-reaches-cooperation-deal-with-congress-january-6-committee-1091150393.html

Ladyshadow The scum of the earth will stop at nothing to protect Baby Trump, throw him in jail. 5

astrodetective Everyone should sue Nasty Nancy 3

2

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us, charges, mark meadows, contempt, speaker pelosi
https://sputniknews.com/20211209/two-democrats-join-50-senate-republicans-in-vote-to-throw-out-bidens-vaccine-mandate-1091370893.html

Two Democrats Join 50 Senate Republicans in Vote to Throw Out Biden's Vaccine Mandate

Two Democrats Join 50 Senate Republicans in Vote to Throw Out Biden's Vaccine Mandate

US President Joe Biden had set a 4 January deadline with an executive order requiring all businesses with 100 or more employees to require vaccinations or... 09.12.2021, Sputnik International

2021-12-09T06:24+0000

2021-12-09T06:24+0000

2021-12-09T06:25+0000

joe biden

us

vaccine mandate

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The US Senate voted on Wednesday night to overturn the Biden administration's bid to require all employees at large businesses to either be vaccinated against the novel coronavirus or take weekly tests for the disease.The 52-48 vote sends the proposed legislation to the Democratic-majority House of Representatives. While the bill is not expected to be brought up for a vote in the House, two Democratic lawmakers, Senators Jon Tester of Montana and Joe Manchin of West Virginia joined 50 Republicans in support of the measure to throw out the vaccine mandates.The effort was led by Indiana Republican Senator Mike Braun.The White House has indicated that Biden will veto the measure in the highly unlikely chance that it passes the Democrat-controlled House.The Senate vote came just a day after a federal judge decided to block the mandate for federal contractors nationwide, ruling that POTUS exceeded his authority by imposing the requirement. Last week, two different judges temporarily halted separate mandates requiring millions of workers to get the COVID-19 jab. A federal judge in Louisiana froze the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services from introducing a mandate for health care workers, while a Kentucky federal judge blocked the Biden administration from enforcing the requirement for government contractors in three states.Last month, a federal appeals court froze the administration's bid to require workers at American companies with at least 100 employees be vaccinated. In November, the Biden administration said that companies with over 100 employees must ensure each of their workers is either fully vaccinated or tests negative for the virus on a weekly basis starting from 4 January 2022.

TruePatriot Absolutely outstanding. Well done Senators. Time to start shutting down JObama regime's stupidity and overreach. 2

pussymuncher But..,. But....bbbbb But WHAT ABOUT THE PANDEMIC? ONLY RESTRICTIONS ON OUR FREEDOMS CAN SAVE US..... 1

2

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Maxim Minaev

Maxim Minaev

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Maxim Minaev

joe biden, us, vaccine mandate
https://sputniknews.com/20211209/uk-defence-ministry-says-will-send-140-military-engineers-to-poland-over-migration-crisis-1091384132.html

UK Defence Ministry Says Will Send 140 Military Engineers to Poland Over Migration Crisis

UK Defence Ministry Says Will Send 140 Military Engineers to Poland Over Migration Crisis

The UK will send 140 military engineers to Poland

2021-12-09T12:06+0000

2021-12-09T12:06+0000

2021-12-09T12:06+0000

europe

poland

engineers

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"[A total of] 140 military engineers are deploying to Poland to provide specialist support in response to the pressures from irregular migration at the Belarus border," the ministry said in a statement.Several thousand migrants camp on the Polish-Belarusian border in the hope of forcing their way into the European Union. The Polish authorities strengthened border security and thwarted attempts by illegal migrants to enter the country, using teargas and barbed wire. Warsaw blames Minsk for the current migration crisis. Belarus has so far rejected the allegations.

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europe, poland, engineers
https://sputniknews.com/20211209/us-ethiopia-envoy-visits-addis-mideast-supporters-as-un-pulls-food-aid-amid-tplf-looting-claims-1091397691.html

US Ethiopia Envoy Visits Addis Mideast Supporters as UN Pulls Food Aid Amid TPLF Looting Claims

US Ethiopia Envoy Visits Addis Mideast Supporters as UN Pulls Food Aid Amid TPLF Looting Claims

The US chief enjoy to the Horn of Africa, Jeffrey Feltman, has embarked on a tour of three Middle Eastern nations to build an international consensus on their approach to the conflict in Ethiopia, now in its 13th month.

2021-12-09T20:24+0000

2021-12-09T20:24+0000

2021-12-09T20:25+0000

egypt

ethiopia

un world food program (wfp)

turkey

africa

uae

tplf (tigray people's liberation front)

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Feltman is to visit Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt in the coming days to discuss what it is that the international community seeks when it comes to Ethiopia," State Department spokesperson Ned Price said on Wednesday. "And that is chiefly a negotiated resolution to the conflict."Each of the three nations is a strong supporter of Abiys government in the conflict, with Turkey and the UAE selling Ethiopia Bayraktar TB2 and Chinese-built Winged Loong drones, respectively, along with other weapons. Egypt isnt necessarily friendly with Abiy, but seems to at least prefer stability over chaos.We are not sure if the TPLF agrees with us on the mechanisms to operate the dam, Bilal said, adding that Cairo wants stability in Addis Ababa so it can negotiate with a stable government.Elusive CeasefireFeltmans newest assignment comes after talks with the government of Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed last month by himself and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken that failed to yield a path to peace with the Tigrayan Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF).The government implemented a unilateral ceasefire in June, when the conflict was still confined to the northern Tigray state, which the rebel group did not respect, launching a new offensive into neighboring Afar and Amhara states and beginning a southerly advance on the capital. The US has demanded an immediate and universal ceasefire by all parties and sanctioned both Abiys government and its Eritrean allies for supposedly exacerbating the conflict.More recently, Ethiopian Foreign Ministry spokesman Dina Mufti told reporters last month the governments terms for a ceasefire included the TPLFs withdrawal from Amhara and Afar, cessation of attacks against government forces, and recognizing the legitimacy of Abiys government.The TPLF rejected those terms outright, with little surprise: as Sputnik reported at the time, American and European diplomats have been secretly meeting with TPLF leaders, voicing their support for the groups rapid advance and speaking of a transition government after the anticipated capture of Addis Ababa and the collapse of Abiys government.That outcome seems less possible now thanks to a government counteroffensive that has pushed the TPLF back on its heels, pushing them hundreds of kilometers back from the capital and totally out of Afar.Food Aid Ended Amid TPLF WithdrawalThe UN World Food Program (WTF) announced on Wednesday it was suspending the distribution of food aid in Kombolcha and Dessie, two cities in eastern Amhara that the Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF) retook from the TPLF in recent days.According to UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric, WFP staff there faced "extreme intimidation" by TPLF soldiers, who seized the two cities, which are just 7 miles apart, in late October."Such harassment of humanitarian staff by armed forces is unacceptable. It undermines the ability of the United Nations and all of our humanitarian partners to deliver assistance when it is most needed," he added.A similar tale of looting and terror has been told in other towns also recently liberated by the government counteroffensive.In Lalibela, a historic town to the north where ancient Orthodox Christian churches were cut from the living rock, residents described widespread looting by the TPLF, especially in the days before their withdrawal. Targeted sites included the hospital and the airport, the latter of which is key to Lalilbeas tourism industry."You couldn't ask to get anything back. There were guns, they said they would kill us," Belaynew Mengeshaw, a tour operator, told Agence France-Presse about the TPLF seizing mobile phones and food. "One of them asked me, 'Do you want Abiy to come save you?'"Doctors and social workers in the city told AFP they had 290 malnourished children there, six of whom had died, because of inadequate food for the people.They also described smuggling medicine in from towns still controlled by the government, bringing them in on donkeys under cover of darkness.Revolt by Old US PartnerThe TPLFs revolt began in November 2020 when they attacked ENDF forces in Tigray after their regional elections, held in defiance of a national postponement due to the COVID-19 pandemic, were declared illegal. However, their dispute with Abiy began when he, an Oromo, was chosen to lead the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) political alliance in 2018 instead of a Tigrayan, as had been the case since 1991. After becoming prime minister, he set about weakening the TPLFs once-dominant position in the government, rejecting their ethnic federalist model in favor of a more centralized party and state.The conflict has created a massive humanitarian crisis, with more than 70,000 people fleeing across the border into neighboring Sudan and an estimated 4 million more internally displaced, according to United Nations data. There is no reliable death toll for the conflict.

MichaelAngelus The TPLF is a construct / setup of Western sources.. ... Actual Ethnic Tigrayans have been in the process of being Genocided and Starved! .. to the tunn of 10's of 1000's..... The Shit hit the fan Mid December 2020 in AXUM when up to 1000 Tigrayans were Massacred attempting to protect the (actual) Ark of the Covenant at the oldest Church in Africa .. Church of Our Lady Mary of Zion in AXUM, Tigray.. The Covenant are the two Tabota - Stones given to Moses - inscribed by God.. Expect them to "show up" in a (new) Temple in the near future ... The very Inscription is by necessity - "ParaNormal" .. The Ark was brought to Ethiopia by Jews c.700 BC during the time of the Babylonian Captivity .. Thus? Ethiopian Jews / Beta Israel / Falashas ... most of whom have been brought to Israel during the past several decades. 1

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egypt, ethiopia, un world food program (wfp), turkey, africa, uae, tplf (tigray people's liberation front)
https://sputniknews.com/20211209/us-house-passes-bill-to-ban-imports-from-chinas-xinjiang-1091366624.html

US House Passes Bill to Ban Imports From China's Xinjiang

US House Passes Bill to Ban Imports From China's Xinjiang

House passed a bill by a vote of 428 to 1 banning imports from Chinas Xinjiang made with forced labor and threatening sanctions against Chinese officials responsible for allegedly persecuting the Muslim minority of the region.

2021-12-09T00:36+0000

2021-12-09T00:36+0000

2021-12-09T00:36+0000

xinjiang

us

china

ban

torture

import

uyghurs

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The goal of the bill, passed on Wednesday, is to ensure that "goods made with forced labor in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of the Peoples Republic of China do not enter the United States market."The legislation targets "goods, wares, articles, and merchandise imported directly from the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region or made by Uyghurs, Kazakhs, Kyrgyz, Tibetans, or members of other persecuted groups in China."In addition, the bill requires the American president to impose sanctions on officials responsible for persecuting minorities and facilitating the use of involuntary labor.The legislative text accuses China of arbitrarily imprisoning as many as 1.8 million Uyghurs, Kazakhs, Kyrgyz and members of other Muslim minority groups in a system of extrajudicial mass internment camps.The prisoners are forced to produce "textiles, electronics, food products, shoes, tea, and handicrafts" at a network of government-subsidized factories in Xinjiang and elsewhere in China, the legislation says.In July, the Senate passed its version of the bill with a unanimous vote.

https://sputniknews.com/20211012/chinese-foreign-ministry-rejects-cnn-whistleblowers-allegations-of-uyghur-torture-1089869147.html

Des I wonder if they are going to ban the sale of goods produced in th US prison system ? 6

Ladyshadow Does anyone in Congress even have a foot left that they haven't already shot off? The US continues to take the word of the losers over leaders of sovereign countries. So, when is the US closing its illegal Guantanamo Base where they have tortured prisoners for years? 4

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xinjiang, us, china, ban, torture, import, uyghurs
https://sputniknews.com/20211209/us-president-biden-delivers-opening-remarks-at-democracy-summit-day-one-1091380413.html

US President Biden Hosts 'Democracy Summit' Day One

US President Biden Hosts 'Democracy Summit' Day One

The summit focuses on the challenges faced by various democracies and their opportunities.

2021-12-09T15:49+0000

2021-12-09T15:49+0000

2021-12-09T15:49+0000

joe biden

news

summit

democracy

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Watch a live broadcast from Washington, DC where US President Joe Biden is hosting the virtual Summit for Democracy on Thursday, 9 December. The summit focuses on the challenges faced by various democracies.Among the speakers on the first day of the summit, there will be Jacinda Ardern, Prime Minister of New Zealand, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Nana Akufo-Addo  President of Ghana, Yvonne Aki-Sawyer  Mayor of Freetown, Sierra Leone, and others. Today's session will be closed by US Vice President Kamala Harris. Washington has invited 110 counties to participate in the summit with China, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and a dozen other states not invited. Beijing has accused the US of disregarding the One China policy after Taiwan, which it sees as its breakaway republic, was invited to the event. *Follow Sputnik's live feed to find out more.

Holger H. There is no democracy in the US, its called plutocracy... A plutocracy or plutarchy is a society that is ruled or controlled by people of great wealth or income. 3

Clayton S Yes, give a speech on democracy when your trying to bring communism into the US. Democracy is not bulling other countries into your ideology. 2

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US President Biden Hosts 'Democracy Summit' Day One US President Biden Hosts 'Democracy Summit' Day One 2021-12-09T15:49+0000 true PT177M22S

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https://sputniknews.com/20211209/white-house-brands-russia-troop-movement-inside-own-country-as-aggression-against-ukraine--1091398221.html

White House Brands Russia Troop Movement Inside Own Country as 'Aggression' Against Ukraine

White House Brands Russia Troop Movement Inside Own Country as 'Aggression' Against Ukraine

White House spokespserson Jen Psaki said on Thursday that the internal movement of Russian troops into the country's south was "aggression" against Ukraine and the origin of the present crisis.

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2021-12-09T23:51+0000

russia

ukraine

us

jennifer psaki

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The aggression here is on the Russian side, the military buildup is on the Russian side," Psaki told reporters at the White House on Thursday. She was asked about comments by Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier in the day that the situation in Ukraine's eastern Donbass region, where Kiev has fought a seven-year war against several autonomous Russian-speaking cities, resembled a genocide.The presser came just moments after US President Joe Biden finished a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, a followup to Biden's Monday phone call with Putin that focused on the deployment of Russian forces in southern Russia."President Biden made clear that the United States and its allies and partners are committed to the principle of 'no decisions or discussions about Ukraine without Ukraine,'" the statement continued. "The leaders called on Russia to de-escalate tensions and agreed that diplomacy is the best way to make meaningful progress on conflict resolution."After his call with Zelenskyy, Biden also spoek with leaders of the Bucharest Nine, a group of former Soviet republics and former allies in Eastern Europe who are now part of the NATO alliance. Ukraine is not part of NATO, but Zelenskyy has pushed for Brussels to tighten their relationship and cast Kiev's eventual membership as the only peaceful solution to the war in the Donbass."The leaders discussed Russias destabilizing military buildup along Ukraines border and the need for a united, ready, and resolute NATO stance for the collective defense of Allies. President Biden stressed the US commitment to continued close consultation and coordination with all our Transatlantic Allies and partners as we work towards de-escalation of the current crisis through deterrence, defense, and dialogue," the readout said of the B9 call.Biden has pledged full support for Ukraine's sovereignty and promised to levy economic sanctions against Russia sufficient to make it an international pariah if it does attack Ukraine. He rejected "red lines" on Ukraine drawn by Putin, which include the stationing of offensive NATO forces in Ukraine and the further expansion of NATO eastward.Biden and Zelenskyy further discussed the Minsk Protocol, a 2014 agreement between Ukraine, Russia, and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) intended to resolve the Donbass conflict, and ways to overcome the deadlock that has persisted despite periodic attempts to revive it. Zelenskyy reportedly told Biden that he does not support freezing the conflict.NATO began a new buildup along its eastern flank in 2014, after right-wing nationalist government seized power in Kiev in a US-backed coup and began laying out a program for reducing the country's substantial Russian-speaking minority to second-class status. The Russian-speaking Donbass cities rebelled against the move and Russian-speaking Crimea declared independence, then voted in a referendum to join the Russian Federation. Kiev, the EU and NATO refused to recognize the referendum and have continued to claim Russia illegally and aggressively seized the peninsula. They also claim Russia is giving help to the Donetsk and Luhansk people's republics in the Donbass - allegations Moscow has denied.

Barros A lot of confusion at US brain. 16

Rokenbok Mr Putin. Do the world a favour and pull the trigger. 14

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russia, ukraine, us, jennifer psaki
https://sputniknews.com/20211209/why-has-ukraine-been-so-important-for-us-russia-policies-since-the-end-of-cold-war-1091394193.html

Why Has Ukraine Been So Important for US' Russia Policies Since the End of Cold War?

Why Has Ukraine Been So Important for US' Russia Policies Since the End of Cold War?

US foreign policy establishment has spent billions of dollars to lure Ukraine away from Russia into its shere of interest with the prospect of Kiev joining the EU and NATO.

2021-12-09T17:45+0000

2021-12-09T17:45+0000

2021-12-09T17:45+0000

european union

mikhail gorbachev

joe biden

cold war

george h.w. bush

zbigniew brzezinski

world

europe

us

russia

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During his latest video call with Joe Biden, Vladimir Putin emphasised the necessity of legally binding guarantees to prevent NATOs eastward expansion as well as the deployment of offensive weapons in the countries neighbouring Russia. The Russian president highlighted that NATO had been undertaking dangerous attempts to gain a foothold on Ukrainian territory and build up its military capabilities along the Russian border.President Biden stated on Wednesday that he hopes to announce by 10 December a high-level meeting between Russia, the US, and four other key NATO countries to address Moscow's concerns about the alliance's activities in Eastern Europe. The meeting would be focused on whether an accommodation could be worked out to soothe tensions along NATO's eastern flank.Ukraine and Zbig's Grand ChessboardAccording to Parry, Ukraine occupies a special place in the US geopolitical doctrine. He cites former national security adviser Zbigniew Brzezinski, who wrote in his book "The Grand Chessboard" (New York, 1997): "Ukraine, a new and important space on the Eurasian chessboard, is a geopolitical pivot because its very existence as an independent country helps to transform Russia. Without Ukraine, Russia ceases to be a Eurasian empire."Brzezinski suggested that without Ukraine Russia wouldn't be able to restore its geopolitical prowess and capabilities. After that, emerging Asian giants such as China would limit Moscow's influence in Central Asia, the geostrategist believed.The former national security adviser argued that the US had to maintain control over Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, and Ukraine. According to him, Azerbaijan could serve "as a corridor for Western access to the energy-rich Caspian Sea basin and Central Asia"; Uzbekistan "represents a major obstacle to any renewed Russian control" over Central Asia. Meanwhile, Ukraine was seen by Brzezinski as the "most important" in the triad.Parry believes that the plan described by Brzezinski had been mulled over long before 1997 and that the George H.W. Bush administration "explicitly lied to Gorbachev with false security assurances that NATO would not absorb any new territory eastward."According to the American journalist, "the entire crisis in Ukraine has been precipitated by the West's objective of bringing Ukraine into NATO's orbit in order to weaken Moscow  Since Kiev's independence following the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, the American government has spent billions attempting to lure Ukraine away from Russia into its sphere of influence with the prospect of Kiev joining the European Union and NATO."If US Observed Its Vow Not to Expand NATO, There Would be No CrisisOngoing tensions over NATO's build-up in Ukraine, Kiev's provocative actions against Donbass and Russia's alleged "concentration" of troops near its Western frontier would have never happened if the US and its European allies observed their unanimous vow to Soviet leader Michael Gorbachev to never expand NATO eastward, argues Parry.In December 2017, the National Security Archive, a non-profit at the George Washington University, released declassified bombshell documents which indicated that throughout the process of Germany's unification in 1990-91, US Secretary of State James Baker and leaders of the UK, France, and Germany assured Gorbachev and other Soviet officials that NATO would not expand eastward.These promises were put down on paper but they had never turned into a legally binding document. Nevertheless, "these were commitments made by sovereign governments to the USSR, and while there is no legal penalty for breaking those promises, the ethical, moral and political obligations and consequences are clear," notes Christopher C. Black, a Toronto-based international criminal lawyer with 20 years of experience in war crimes and international relations.Still, even a legally binding document would have never stopped Washington's adventurism, believes Max Parry. As the world has "seen time and time again, whether it's the JCPOA with Iran or even its own supposed allies in the French with the recent debacle over the AUKUS security pact, the Americans are completely incapable of keeping their word and instead pursue a doctrine of unilateralism," says the independent journalist.'Russian Invasion' Scare is Part of Long-Standing PlanThe "Russian invasion" scare is used by Washington not only to divert the American public from Joe Biden's blunders, and to cover up Kiev's ongoing military provocations against the breakaway Donbass region, but to justify its long-standing plan of absorbing Ukraine into its orbit, according to Parry.He notes that Russia is forced to fortify its western frontier by the US-NATO deliveries of lethal weapons and construction of military installations in Ukraine and President Volodymyr Zelensky's reckless vows to seize Crimea from Russia and to forcefully bring Donbass back in Kiev's fold in complete defiance of the Minsk Agreements."Meanwhile, where is the real military buildup taking place?" says Parry. "Since Biden took office, more than $300 million in security aid packages have been allocated by Washington to the NATO-supported regime for use in the war in the southeastern part of the country where 50 percent of the entire Ukrainian Armed Forces are deployed on the demarcation line with the pro-Russian breakaway regions."In total, the United States has committed $2.5 billion in support of Ukraines forces since 2014, according to the White House.

https://sputniknews.com/20211209/gop-senator-urges-biden-not-to-rule-out-first-use-nuclear-action-against-russia-over-ukraine--1091372901.html

https://sputniknews.com/20210530/how-story-of-broken-nato-non-enlargement-pledge-upends-wests-effort-to-depict-russia-as-aggressor-1083035472.html

https://sputniknews.com/20211208/pentagon-chief-austin-rejects-red-lines-in-ukraine-taiwan-as-us-draws-its-own-1091362365.html

Robert Gray Polish-UKR Faction of the MasonicZionist-Khazar-Ashkenazi Axis in their Ethnic War against RUS and Attempted Takeover of the World Banking Systems and Economies 1

mike stivic The deal that Gorbachev proposed regarding Germany, Europe and Russia was very much in line with the intrest of those entities. Unfortunately, the US saw its sole intrest in a ruthless expansion of political and military power at the expense of those very entities. It perverted and corrupted the situation in greater Europe up to this day, just look at North Stream. We in Europe must come up with a vision for a good life for the people that live in the Ukraine because nobody else will and it is in our best intrest. Give it a special tax status allowing free trade with the EU an Russia at the same time would be one idea. 0

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https://sputniknews.com/20211209/zbigniew-brzezinskis-son-proposes-financial-preemptive-strike-against-russia-1091394685.html

Zbigniew Brzezinskis Son Proposes Financial Preemptive Strike Against Russia

Zbigniew Brzezinskis Son Proposes Financial Preemptive Strike Against Russia

Tensions are high between Russia and the US over Ukraine amid claims by Washington and its allies that Moscow may be preparing an 'invasion'.

2021-12-09T17:01+0000

2021-12-09T17:01+0000

2021-12-09T17:01+0000

russia

ukraine

united states

preemptive strike

preemptive sanctions

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Ian Brzezinski, the former George W. Bush-era deputy assistant of defence for Europe and NATO Policy and son of famed US geopolitical grand strategist Zbigniew Brzezinski, has proposed punishing Russia financially preemptively over actions it has not taken in Ukraine.I agree there ought to be forceful systemic sanctions that are teed up against Russia. But we should be specifying them today. Today the alliance [NATO] and President Biden are speaking in broad generalities. They need to specify exactly what theyre going to do, be it shutting down access to credit, removal from the SWIFT [bank transfer] system, cutting off the purchase of Russian oil and gas, a trade embargo. These are things we did back in the 1980s in a similar crisis, Brzezinski said, speaking at a recent virtual event hosted by the Atlantic Council, a Washington-based neoliberal think tank.Warning that failure to demonstrate US commitment to the pro-Western government in Kiev might undermine the US-dominated international order, the former official urged for some serious military steps to be taken as well.NATO ought to be moving assets in southeastern Poland and eastern Romania. Im a little bit surprised we havent mobilized the NATO response force and moved it into the region. We ought to be increasing lethal weapon transfers to the Ukrainian armed forcesWe also ought to be stepping up our engagement with the Ukrainian armed forces, perhaps in exercises, some air presence in western Ukraine, Brzezinski suggested.Brzezinski emphasized that the West has the economic and military capacity to ensure that any alleged Russian aspirations to invade Ukraine would lead to devastating consequences, and stressed that this is a matter of political will of the West to exercise the diplomatic, economic and political capacity necessary to deter this aggression.President Putin, the Russian Foreign Ministry and the Russian military have all dismissed claims by Western and Ukrainian officials and media about alleged Russian plans to invade Ukraine. On Thursday, Valery Gerasimov, the chief of Russias general staff, stressed that it was the US and its allies who were aggravating the situation in eastern Ukraine by providing advanced arms to Kiev, with Ukrainian forces beginning to use these weapons in the Donbass conflict zone after failing to adhere to the terms of the Minsk peace accords signed in 2015.While Western powers have accused Russia of escalating tension over Ukraine, some of its own leaders have expressed sentiments similar to Brzezinskis. On Wednesday, Mississipi Republican Senator Roger Wicker urged President Biden not to rule out first use nuclear action against Russia if it invaded its neighbour, and suggesting putting ships in the Black Sea to rain destruction on Russian military capability, or putting American troops on the ground in the conflict area. The Russian Embassy in Washington responded to Wicker, calling his statements irresponsible and pointing to recent joint statement by Presidents Putin and Biden that there can be no winners in a nuclear war.

https://sputniknews.com/20211208/bidens-empty-warning-over-putins-straw-man-invasion-1091360377.html

https://sputniknews.com/20211106/republicans-ask-biden-to-deploy-us-troops-near-ukraine-arm-kiev-to-deter-a-russian-invasion-1090525144.html

ECO Fascist pos 12

vot tak What crimes has this young master brzezinski committed? His daddy was a mass murdering war criminal. Investigate. Prosecute. Hang, imprison, as appropriate. 7

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Standardbred Canada (SC) is partnering with Equine Guelph (EG) to offer a free online course to SC members on Racehorse Gut Health & Colic Prevention in March of 2022.

The Racehorse Gut Health & Colic Prevention course will be offered from March 7 to March 18 and available FREE to the first 150 SC Members that register. To register, click here.

Given the demanding life of the equine athlete, a high number of racehorses are at risk of digestive tract health concerns such as ulcers and colic. In this online short course by Equine Guelph on TheHorsePortal.ca you can learn from experts how to reduce the chance of digestive tract issues in your barn and improve your horses performance on the track.

Standardbred Canada and Equine Guelphs educational partnership was officially launched with SCs sponsorship of the Racehorse Respiratory Health Course, made available free to SC members last winter.

One hundred and thirty SC Members took part in the course, which delved into reducing risk of respiratory issues in racehorses with daily management routines and improving the horses performance on the track. The course featured respected industry experts as the course instructors - Dr. Melissa McKee from Ontario, and guest expert Dr. Patty Hogan from New Jersey.

The ongoing Standardbred Canada-Equine Guelph partnership also provides a 15 per cent discount on all short courses for its member owners, breeders, trainers, caretakers and drivers to receive online industry training on The Horse Portal.

Standardbred Canada recognizes Equine Guelph's initiatives in supporting and promoting horse welfare, said Dan Gall, President and CEO of SC. We were extremely pleased with our partnership with Equine Guelph this past year. We had a strong enrollment in the Respiratory course and hope to replicate that again with the Racehorse Gut Health & Colic Prevention course next March. Equine Health and Welfare is a priority for our association, and through this partnership we hope to provide some of the educational opportunities and tools that members need to ensure the well being of their horses.

Equine Guelph has been a pioneer and global leader in online education for equine professionals since its inception in 2003. The Horse Portal was launched in 2017 and became a national success, partnering with 10 English-speaking provincial equestrian federations across Canada. It is a partnership platform for the equine community, available to everyone in the equine industry. The Horse Portal has quickly grown to include youth organizations, international safety associations, and horse racing partners including Standardbred Canada, Ontario Racing, Central Ontario Standardbred Association, Horse Racing Alberta and the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (2019-20 Online Training Pilot Project). Standardbred Canada members will be able to access their page for information on the free Racehorse Gut Health & Colic Prevention course and ongoing 15 per cent course discount at TheHorsePortal.ca/SC.

Stay tuned for the announcement of instructors and guest experts. For those who have never taken an online course before, no prior online learning experience is required.
Schmidt said while this may be the first time a Confederate statue will be melted and reimagined in this way, there is historic precedent for this kind of transformation. She said in Ancient Greece, communities frequently melted down the statues of former leaders and used the material to create statues of new leaders. It wasnt a controversial practice, Schmidt said, and its continued throughout history.

The first thing that colonizers in New York City did upon the reading of the Declaration of Independence, they went to the public park and they pulled down a statue of King George the Third and they melted it down. They made it into bullets for the Continental Army for the Revolutionary War, Schmidt said. Even locally, Schmidt said five churches in Charlottesville donated their bells to be melted down into cannons during the Civil War.

Schmidt said while many people have voiced concerns about erasing history, she and Douglas have thoroughly studied iconoclasm, the practice of destroying symbols and pieces of art, and have had thoughtful conversations about how to handle this.

This is not something new that were doing here, but its something that were doing in a very deliberate, thoughtful way, Schmidt said. And in this case, were doing it because we want to have our public symbols be in conformity with our professed values. We say that we care about multiracial democracy, right? These statues say otherwise.
CAPWN receives much of its funding from state and federal grants, but they often just cover the basics. Sometimes, MacDonald said, the people they serve might slip through the cracks if they dont fit the requirements for those grants.

I applied with the intent of the funds going towards operations and service that have to go towards our emergency services program, she said. The money will go towards anything which would supply people with housing and keep them housed.

The flexibility of the grant allows it to be used as necessary, not with any particular limitations. If a formerly homeless person is moved from a temporary motel to a more permanent apartment, for example, they might not be able to furnish it.

They dont have the funds to buy furniture and linens and microwaves, so my idea was that we could use the funds to...get them some of the bare essentials they need, MacDonald said.

The grant will also be used for supportive housing, which aids people with disabilities that are homeless.
As part of the investigation, authorities obtained subpoenas for the bank accounts of Kuldip and Carol Sing, as well as accounts under the business names at area banks. Fords focus was on Singhs retail liquor stores and bars for all purchases and sales of liquor, beer and cigarettes, all items subject to sales tax in Nebraska. Ford requested documents from Jacksons investigation regarding purchases of liquor, beer and wine for all stores and bars owned by Singh during the period of January 2017 to December 2020.

A sales and income analysis of accounts and records from the Nebraska State Patrol, Wyoming Liquor distributor and Wyoming Department of Revenue, were conclusive that purchases were being continually made for all of Singhs liquor stores and bars, the affidavit states. That monthly inventory was being sold and reordered.

Authorities allege that transfers from the Cheema Investments LLC account were being made to bank accounts for each retail liquor store and bars and purchases for many of his retail locations were greater than the sales he reported to the state over a period of three to four years.
According to the lawsuit, regarding the Oct. 5 public hearing, Reed alleges he and Reed Farms was never directly given notice of this public meeting regarding potential annexation of his property but did learn of the anexation from third parties. It also cites the land as being designated as in a heavy industrial district. The Star-Herald covered that public hearing and Reed and his attorney were in attendance and spoke at the meeting.

Reed also contacted the city, the suit says, expressing his objection. He also offered to show the lands to the council and mayor of Gering, a majority of whom declined to examine the lands. He claims in the suit that a representative was not permitted to speak during the Nov. 8 meeting or at the Nov. 16 meeting.

The annexation had been approved by the council, after Gering Mayor Tony Kaufman cast the tie breaking vote during its Nov. 16 meeting.
MITCHELL  Pinnacle Bank is pleased to announce Troy Peterson is the new branch manager for its Mitchell location.

Im excited Troy has returned to the Pinnacle Bank team. His previous leadership experience with us and banking experience in the Scotts Bluff County area made him the perfect fit to lead our Mitchell branch, Matt Behrends, regional president, said. We look forward to seeing him develop and cultivate new and existing relationships throughout the North Platte River Valley.

In his role, Petersons responsibilities include new business development, consumer, agriculture and business lending, managing personnel and overseeing day-to-day operations of the branch. In addition, he will play an active role in community affairs and organizations to aid in Pinnacle Banks mission to positively impact the communities they serve.

Peterson brings thirty years of experience in the financial industry to Pinnacle Bank, including eight years in management and lending positions at Pinnacle Bank branches in Newcastle and Moorcroft, Wyoming. He has a deep-rooted history in agriculture, which has served him well in ag and commercial lending roles, including his 10 years as a loan officer helping farms and families throughout the North Platte area.
Statesville is many things, but now it can call itself the Ballooning Capital of the East after Mondays city council meeting.

Mayor Costi Kutteh read a proclamation saying as much to begin the meeting as he was joined by Don Cline and Bill Meadows, two of the local leaders when it comes to hot air ballooning.

We are proud to be a hot air ballooning community, Kutteh said. And look forward to many more years of bright-colored skies.

The North Carolina General Assembly recently recognized the Carolina BalloonFest, the second longest-running hot air balloon festival in the country, as the Official Hot Air Balloon Rally of North Carolina.

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The proclamation was first to read on Nov. 20 at the kickoff of Bourbon, Balloons & Battles, an event organized by the Statesville Convention & Visitors Bureau.

The city also recognized the police department for its reaccreditation by Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) and the Statesville Finance Department for being awarded the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award from Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) for the 2020-21 fiscal period.

Quiet down
Lynching of a Sri Lankan in Pakistan: Decluttering religious extremism

by IANS |

A report by the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) identifies Pakistan as the highest among the worlds worst violators of religious freedom. Adding to the account is the recent lynching and burning of a Sri Lankan factory manager in Sialkot city.



The brutal act was immediately condemned by Prime Minister Imran Khan, who said in a tweet: "The horrific vigilante attack on factory in Sialkot & the burning alive of Sri Lankan manager is a day of shame for Pakistan. I am overseeing the investigations & let there be no mistake all those responsible will be punished with full severity of the law. Arrests are in progress."



According to a reputed media outlet, the incident was connected to the "hardline Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP)" where the victim "allegedly tore a poster of the hardline group in which Quranic verses were inscribed and threw it in the dustbin. The poster of the Islamist party was pasted on the wall adjoining the office of Kumara. A couple of factory workers saw him removing the poster and spread the word in the factory".



Prime Minister Khan made a U-turn in his policy decision on the TLP. In April, the Pakistani government moved to ban the TLP under anti-terrorism legislation, taking its leader Saad Rizvi into custody. In November, the same cabinet revoked the declaration of the TLP as a banned group, and a provincial government moved to remove Rizvi's name from an anti-terrorism watchlist.



While the entire government is not in favour of this decision, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry cautioned "neither the Pakistani government nor the state is completely ready to fight extremism... The way the state had to back off in the TLP's case, symbolises that the bomb (of extremism) is ticking".



While TLP denies its role in spreading extremism and Pakistan authorities debate over the subject, the recent lynching of the Sri Lankan man adds clear concerns on uncontrolled and rising extremism, which could move beyond its borders to the region. The ban on TLP was foreseen as an unfruitful exercise by Pakistan scholar Hussain Haqqani saying: "It is unlikely that banning one group(TLP) will diminish Pakistan's religious extremism problem."



The problem is "while Pakistan's establishment has alternated between various Islamist factions, mainstreaming one while suppressing another, it has never thought about mainstreaming secularists who have been dubbed as traitors or unfaithful to the ideology of Pakistan". The assassination of Salman Taseer, the former governor of Punjab province who was murdered by his bodyguard for speaking against the blasphemy law where the killer was garlanded by lawyers, depicts the clear perception of Pakistan on blasphemy.







TLP has influenced Pakistan foreign policy in the present conducive environment created by the Khan-led administration. French President Macron was a clear target accused by the TLP and Khan for spreading Islamophobia. The recent summoning of the French Ambassador is an incident of deep polarisation of policymakers on extremism.



President Macron explains: "The problem is an ideology which claims its own laws should be superior to those of the Republic," and continues to defend the laws of freedom of expression.



At the same time, Khan says Macron "has chosen to encourage Islamophobia by attacking Islam rather than the terrorists who carry out violence". Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who joins Khan in criticising Macron, clearly shows division.



The issue of blasphemy and rising extremism has gone beyond borders. In September, a Pakistani man was taken into custody by French police for allegedly attacking and seriously wounding two people with a meat cleaver in Paris over the issue of blasphemy.



While individual cases such as in Paris or the Sri Lankan murder are just one side of the story, the Pakistan government and their military handlers accepting the TLP'd ludicrous demands and ability to dictate terms to a government on its foreign policy and policy prescription are clear signs of concerns on regional security of South Asia. What is required is that both France and Pakistan should work on reforming their laws to adopt a progressive society, France to respect its heterogeneous society and religious respect and tolerance and Pakistan to reform its laws to accommodate religious harmony and curb extremist thinking with a consistent policy.



Priyantha Kumara, who was in his 40s, working as the general manager of the garment factory in Sialkot, became the first Sri Lankan victim of blasphemy in Pakistan, and it's a clear signal to the Pakistan government to manage its internal volatile security situation. The TLP will influence the rise of far-right political parties that could further push the country towards extremism. India and South Asian security are directly vulnerable to the rise of extremist forces.



Seeing the early signs of rising extremism in its periphery, India strongly condemned the terrorist strike in Afghanistan's capital Kabul. India told the UN Security Council that these attacks reinforce the need for the world to stand united against terrorism and those who provide sanctuaries to terrorists. Minister for External Affairs S. Jaishankar called for adopting the Convention on Terrorism, an important step to minimise the security threat. With significant financial assistance being stopped, poverty is on the rise, with many people suffering in the current environment in Afghanistan. This is the exact landscape where terrorism and extremism thrive. This will further propel the right-wing extremist factions in Pakistan.



The South Asian nations are vulnerable in this unfolding security environment, where Sri Lanka was an apparent victim in the 2019 Easter Sunday terror attacks. The regimes in power should not propagate and support extremist fractions for political gain. Political and military actors orchestrate the Islamization and extremism campaigns for their political legitimisation in the region. A policy prescription for moderate and religious harmony is a top priority for the region, where intertwined political supported extremist structures must be dismantled to promote regional peace.



The dual policy prescription to condemn extremism and promote extremism needs to end. Unfortunately, the political narrative to propagate right-wing ultra-nationalist extremism is visible even in Sri Lanka. Sri Lankan Minister Namal Rajapaksa tweeted acknowledging the gravity of the situation, saying: "We should be mindful that this could happen to anyone if extremist forces are allowed to act freely", forgetting the same Rajapaksa regime has elevated the extremist Buddhist force BBS to draft legal recommendations ione country one law' for the nation which is a concern for the government's own minority community.
Locust Grove Supervisor Lauren Yoder resigned from the county governing board Tuesday night, effective on Wednesday of next week, saying he and his wife of 18 years will have their first child this spring, and he has also bought an existing business in Floyd County.

This has been one of the best days of my life, Yoder told the board at the end of its meeting on Dec. 7. My wife and I had a doctors meeting, and the nurse came in and told me that we are going to have a little girl and that everything is healthy, he added to applause from the audience. Those of you who have known me for any length of time have known that I have longed to be a father.

Also, in my life, Im going to buy into a business in town as a partner, and there is a number of employees that Im responsible for and its probably going to happen in the next month or two, he added, saying the time needed for the two major changes in his life would take away from the time needed as a supervisor.

Im already working seven days a week on the farm, Yoder said. He noted that he talked with several people before making his decision, including David Ingram.
NEW YORK (AP)  A man was charged with arson and other crimes Wednesday for setting fire to a 50-foot Christmas tree in front of Fox News headquarters in midtown Manhattan, police said.

The tree outside of the News Corp. building that houses Fox News, The Wall Street Journal and the New York Post caught fire shortly after midnight, police said.

Photos and videos from the scene show the fully decorated tree going up in flames.

Fox News host Shannon Bream announced the fire to viewers as firefighters were working to put it out.

"This is the Fox Square in New York, outside of Fox headquarters," Bream said. "It appears that our giant Christmas tree there, just a couple of minutes ago, was completely engulfed in flames."

Firefighters extinguished the flames, and no injuries were reported.

A 49-year-old man who police said was homeless was arrested on charges including criminal mischief, arson and trespassing. It wasn't clear if he had an attorney who could comment on the charges.

Police said the man had a lighter, but it was unclear whether any accelerant was used.
Pursuant to Virginia Code  30-399(F), the Court unanimously appointed Sean P. Trende and Bernard N. Grofman to serve as Special Masters for the preparation of proposed redistricting maps for the Virginia House of Delegates, the Senate of Virginia, and Virginias representatives to the United States House of Representatives. The proposed maps prepared by the Courts Special Masters and their written report have been posted and are available on the Courts public website, https://www.vacourts.gov/courts/scv/districting/redistricting_information.pdf . Public Hearings: The Court is committed to providing continued opportunities for the public to comment on the redistricting process and the proposed redistricting maps prepared by the Courts Special Masters. Accordingly, two public hearings will be held virtually via a live internet-based platform on December 15 and 17, 2021 from 1 pm to 4 pm to receive public comment on the proposed plans.

Members of the public, including elected officials, are invited to attend the hearing virtually and to provide live comments virtually. No in-person public hearings are scheduled. In order to participate and offer public comment, participants must notify the Clerk of Court prior to the meeting by sending an email to Redistricting@vacourts.gov indicating they wish to offer public comment and specifying which date they prefer (December 15 or 17, 2021). The email must include the requesters name and email address and indicate in what area of the Commonwealth of Virginia the person resides. In response, a meeting link will be sent by email in advance of the hearing to the email address provided. Requests to participate must be received at least 24 hours before the start of the public hearing. Members of the public will be emailed instructions on what to expect and how to participate. Individuals will be invited to speak on a first-come, first-served basis based on their sign-in time. Individuals will be given an amount of time to provide comment not to exceed three minutes, exclusive of any clarifying questions from members of the Court. The Courts Special Masters will be listening to all comments.
Editors note: Information is provided by the Cowlitz County Corrections Department and local law enforcement agencies. Each individual named in this report is presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Fraud  Longview police responded to a call Tuesday about a fraudulent check at the 1600 block of Maple Street.

Assaults

200 block of Lexington Avenue, Kelso. Tuesday.

300 block of Yew Street, Kelso. Tuesday.

1300 block of Hudson Street, Longview. Tuesday.

Burglary

1300 block of Atlantic Avenue, Woodland. Tuesday. Small amount of cash and possibly beers stolen from business. Suspect recorded on surveillance cameras.

Stolen vehicle

3500 block of Memorial Drive Park, Longview. Vehicle shell found with no plates, engine, trunk or drivers side wheel. Might be reported to Washington State Patrol.

Thefts

600 block of Olson Road, Longview. Tuesday. Person hired for repair work left without doing work and unpaid Home Depot charges. Caller said the worker may have fled the country.

300 block of Varsity Road, Kalama. Tuesday. Possible check theft.

1400 block of Mount Pleasant Road, Kelso. Tuesday. Package stolen from mailbox.

1000 block of Frontage Road, Kalama. Tuesday. Gun.

200 block of Three Rivers Drive, Kelso. Tuesday. Catalytic converter.

1100 block of 10th Avenue, Longview. Tuesday. Person going through dumpsters.

500 block of Hillcrest Drive, Longview. Tuesday. Mail being taken.

Vandalism/malicious mischief

200 block of Pinkerton Drive, Woodland. Tuesday. Building power box damaged.

1200 block of Goerig Drive, Woodland. Tuesday. Rocks thrown to break multiple windows.

1400 block of Pacific Avenue, Woodland. Tuesday. Attempted catalytic converter theft.

100 block of Bozarth Avenue, Woodland. Tuesday. Callers car was egged for second time.

Vehicle prowls

Front Avenue and Huntington Avenue, Castle Rock. Tuesday.

300 block of Seventh Avenue, Kelso. Tuesday. Attempt caught on camera.

400 block of Three Rivers Drive, Kelso. Tuesday. Two subjects spotted inside victims car in Safeway parking lot, ran away with speaker. Police later detained one subject.

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The Kelso City Council has taken the first step on deciding the future of a section of city-owned land along Catlin Street.

The council held a special workshop Tuesday night to discuss the proposed use for 1.28 acres of land near the intersection of Catlin and Second Avenue. Later, after Jim Hill was sworn in as the citys newest councilman, the council voted to move forward with a feasibility study on the property.

The majority of the land in question is surplus property left over from the Catlin Street widening done as part of the citys West Main realignment. Kelso received a $253,000 grant from the state Legislature in 2019 to perform a feasibility study for affordable housing in the area and draw up initial designs.

Former city manager Steve Taylor proposed the area could provide mixed-use affordable housing along with some combination of the Kelso Public Library, a senior center and a new community center.

While the council supported going ahead with the study, they varied on what they preferred to see fill that space. Mike Karnofski was the most supportive of the mixed-use housing proposal for the area. Mayor Nancy Malone and Keenan Harvey disagreed about whether moving the library across the Cowlitz River pushed it too far away from the majority of the citys residents.

The audience at the council workshop was filled with people from the nearby Kelso Senior Center. Guy Tow from the Kelso Senior Center Association said the residents were concerned that moving the senior center could affect the current deal with the city, which allows them to rent out the center for group events and make money for building upkeep.

Any changes that may happen with a new community center, its an arrangement that we want left in place, Tow said.

A specific plan for the property would still be months away and depends on the findings of the feasibility study.

The Kelso City Council also moved ahead with a proposal to create a detailed code of conduct for councilmembers. Councilmembers voted to have city attorney Janean Parker draft a ruleset including progressive discipline for code violations and present it to the council at a future meeting.

The request to Parker passed without opposition, but only after an attempt was made by Hill to table the issue until councilman-elect Brian Wood was sworn into office. Hills proposal was voted down, with Malone breaking a 3-3 tie. Malone argued the full council could discuss the specifics of the code when it is brought back up for a vote.

The council then established a subcommittee with Karnofski, Harvey and Lisa Alexander to review the current rules and procedures in place for the City Council.

In other business, the City Council:

Approved a contract for street crossing safety improvements outside Huntington Middle School. The $143,000 contract covers the installation of flashing crosswalk signs, sidewalk repairs, bike lanes and new lighting. The project is fully funded by a Washington Department of Transportation grant.

Delayed appointing a new member to the Kelso Housing Authority Board. The council expressed concern about how few Kelso residents served on the board and councilman Jeffrey McAllister said he planned to apply for the board when his council term ends in January.

Extended the interlocal management agreement for the Southwest Washington Regional Airport through the end of 2023.

Was introduced to the new youth services librarian for the Kelso Public Library.

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The addition of Spencer Boudreau and Angie Wean to the Longview City Council will extend the trend of new faces shaping the citys decisions.

Five of the seven members of the City Council will be in their first term in office when the new council begins meeting in 2022. Mayor MaryAlice Wallis just completed her first term in office. Only Mike Wallin, who was first elected to the council in 2011, remains from the version of the council that existed back in 2016.

I think Spencer and Angie have great vision, they have skills to get action on things theyd like to see done. I saw the same enthusiasm with our other new councilors, Wallis said.

The change caused by Novembers election is less dramatic than the 2019 election. That set of races included Mayor Don Jensen losing his re-election bid after 20 years on the council and created the first female majority in the City Councils history. Wean expands that majority further after winning her campaign against Chet Makinster.

The newly elected councilmembers and the more established officials all are cautious about reading too much into this years results. Ruth Kendall, who was part of the group elected in 2019, said this years election cycle is much harder to interpret.

We had an opening with (Steve Moon) stepping down so for that seat, whoever got elected, it was going to be someone new. I wouldnt generalize too much, Kendall said.

Wean, a Microsoft supervisor who moved back to Longview in the last few years, said shes already dealing with the learning curve of City Council functions and by-laws. She said being new to the council does not lessen her ability to improve Longview.

Two of the recently elected councilwomen, Kendall and Hillary Strobel, helped craft a city plan to spend $8 million in funds from the American Rescue Plan Act. Wallis was elected mayor two years into her stint on the council.

That shows you dont have to be there a long time to have a positive impact, Wean said.

Boudreau expects a smooth transition to representing residents on the City Council. The 21-year-old has been head of the Parks and Recreation Board since 2018 and has been a reliable presence at council meetings for years. Boudreau said he is hopeful and excited about what he can do once in office.

Big decisions coming about infrastructure, business

One of the early issues the City Council will face in 2022 is narrowing down the possible infrastructure improvements.

Longviews ARPA funds can be used to overhaul the water system, extend utility lines to attract developers and cover the cost of cleaning the Alabama Street homeless campsite. Several councilmembers said it is unusual to have that kind of funding available to take on multiple outstanding projects.

Even more money could end up flowing into the city over the next year. Boudreau said between the federal infrastructure package and the possibility of a similar funding plan coming from the state Legislature, there could be even more expensive or long-delayed projects that could come to fruition.

The infrastructure bill could be an opportunity to perform all these major repairs and investments, without putting the cost on our local taxpayers, Boudreau said.

Economic development and housing will remain major issues for Longview next year as well. Wean said she is keenly interested in how mixed-use developments in downtown Longview can keep driving business and travel in that corridor.

Wean said she is excited about the work already being done by Ann Rivers, the citys new community development director, to draw new industries to the city.

It feels, from where I sat, that weve been waiting for people to come to us to create new jobs and industry to Longview. We need to be thoughtful and active about what we want in our city, Wean said.

The meeting where Wean and Boudreau are sworn in will also see a decision about the mayor of Longview. Wallis said she is interested in remaining mayor for another two-year term.

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Philip Harju, a Longview resident and the recent interim chairman of the Cowlitz Indian Tribe, has been appointed to a state advisory board on police use of force investigations.

Harju was appointed to the Office of Independent Investigations Advisory Board last month by Gov. Jay Inslee along with 10 other people. Harju fills a seat specifically set aside for a member of a federally recognized Native American tribe.

The Office of Independent Investigations was established by the state Legislature earlier this year as part of a new effort to oversee cases involving serious uses of force by Washington police. The new board members will work with Inslee to select the office's first director, then advise the director on the office's operations and methods for reviewing cases going forward.

Because board members will be briefed on active police investigations, they must agree to confidentiality agreements about use of force investigations while they are being reviewed.

Harju's term on the board expires in July 2023.

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Redmi Note 11 4G is expected to launch very soon in India. The handset previously launched in China.

Redmi Note 11 4G is expected to launch soon in India. Based on the recent rumours emerging in the industry, Xiaomi could soon be launching the the 4G variant of the Redmi Note 11 here. The phone has already been launched in China last month and is largely similar to the Redmi 10 Prime. Xiaomi India already brought the Redmi Note 11T 5G to our shores.

The Redmi Note 11 4G launch rumours come courtesy of a report from 91Mobiles. There's no idea on an exact launch date yet but it is said to come soon. Given that December 2021 has still a lot of day left, we expect the company to release the phone in the coming weeks. A previous rumour has already suggested Xiaomi launching multiple smartphones in India prior to the last sunset in 2021.

Redmi Note 11 4G: What's different from the 5G model?

In China, the 4G variant of the Redmi Note 11 is essentially a mildly tweaked variant of the Redmi 10 Prime that we saw in India a few months ago. Now do note that the Chinese and Indian variants of the Redmi Note series differ vastly in terms of features and specifications. Hence, the one that we get in India could be largely different from the Chinese model.

For those interested, the Redmi Note 11 4G in China uses the MediaTek Helio G88 chipset, comes with MIUI 12.5 based on Android 11, up to 6GB of RAM, a 6.5-inch FHD+ 90Hz LCD display, a 5000mAh battery with 18W fast charging, a 50MP triple rear camera, and a 16MP front camera.

These specifications seem inferior to the prior iterations of the Redmi Note series in India, specifically the Redmi Note 10 and Redmi Note 9. The Redmi Note 10S, which is a boosted version of the regular model, is currently selling at a starting price of 14,999. This one offers a faster Helio G96 chipset, an AMOLED display, a 5000mAh battery, and a stereo speaker setup.
American Airlines scaled back its 2022 schedule due to delays in the Boeing 787.

Citing delivery delays of a top-selling Boeing jet, American Airlines said Thursday it was scaling back its international flight schedule for 2022.

The major US carrier is still waiting for the new Boeing 787 Dreamliners it ordered and will not resume flying routes in the summer of 2022 as previously planned, including to Edinburgh, Scotland and Shannon, Ireland, according to a securities filing.

"This weekend we will load our summer 2022 long-haul schedule, but it will not have the growth we initially expected," American Airlines Chief Revenue Officer Vasu Raja said in a letter to employees.

"Boeing continues to be unable to deliver the 787s we have on order, including as many as 13 aircraft that were slated to be in our fleet by this winter," the executive said.

"Without these widebodies, we simply won't be able to fly as much internationally as we had planned next summer or as we did in summer 2019."

Demand for long-distance flights has been slow to recover from the pandemic downturn, but US carriers have been eyeing summer 2022 as a key moment in the comeback.

The lack of aircraft also will prevent American from serving Hong Kong, Dubrovnik and Prague, Raja said.

And the airline will "temporarily, but significantly" scale back service to other Asia-Pacific cities such as Beijing and Sydney, and delay the launch of travel between Seattle and Bangalore.

Boeing has encountered a series of setbacks with the 787 after halting deliveries in May following quality issues.

"We deeply regret the impact to our customers as we work through the process to resume deliveries of new 787s," a company spokesperson said Thursday, adding that the company is working closely with the regulators.

"We will take the time needed to ensure conformance to our exacting specifications. While this has near-term impacts, we are confident this is the right approach."

Explore further Japan's ANA says to buy 20 more Boeing 787 Dreamliners

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Apple Inc. won a delay to court-mandated changes to its App Store as the company appeals the ruling, marking a victory in a legal battle with Fortnite maker Epic Games Inc.

A federal appeals court on Wednesday granted Apple's request to halt a Dec. 9 deadline to comply with a judge's directive that the company allow app developers to steer customers to payment methods outside the store. The ruling is a significant victory for the iPhone maker as it fights a broad challenge by Epic Games Inc. to its domination of the $142 billion mobile-app distribution market.

The world's most-valuable technology company has argued to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals that the changes ordered by U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers "will harm customers, developers, and Apple itself." Now, the overhaul she ordered in September will be paused until Apple's appeal is resolved, which could take at least a year.

Apple briefly reached an intraday high on the news. The shares were up 2.1% to $174.79 at 2:40 p.m. in New York.

Epic declined to comment and Apple had no immediate comment on the ruling.

In her ruling, Gonzalez Rogers vindicated Apple over Epic's claims that App Store policies violate federal antitrust law because they hurt developers and consumers while enriching the technology giant. But she held that Apple had violated California's unfair competition laws with its so-called anti-steering policy that forbids developers from using web links or other means within apps to inform consumers about payment methods outside the App Store.

Apple told the 9th Circuit that it had already satisfied half of the judge's order by changing its guidelines to allow "out-of-app communications" between all developers and users. The part of the order targeted in Apple's stay request involves in-app advertising and links.

Apple has shown "at minimum, that its appeal raises serious questions" on the lower court's ruling that it violated California's unfair competition law, the appeals court said in its order.

The iPhone maker continues to face a plethora of antitrust lawsuits in and outside the U.S. seeking to open up the App Store to competition, monopolization enforcement investigations brought by federal and state agencies, and legislative bids to restrict its business practices.

Bloomberg Intelligence has said that pressure on Apple to lower its App Store commissions on developers, which currently run as high as 30%, could squeeze revenue by $2 billion to $4 billion in a worst-case scenario.

Epic, maker of the popular Fortnite game, is also appealing the portions of Gonzalez Rogers' decision that went against it. Chief Executive Officer Tim Sweeney has said its appeal could take five years to be resolved, a time span that might include a trip to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Before Gonzalez Rogers' ruling, Apple announced two App Store changes, similar to the court's injunction, in settlements with small U.S. developers and the Japan Federal Trade Commission.

Apple is letting developers directly communicate with users about alternative payment methods, and next year it will begin allowing so-called "reader" appsthose that deal with media like video, photos and newsto point users to the web to subscribe, bypassing Apple's fees.

Explore further Apple loses bid to stall apps bypassing pay system in Epic Games case

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Brandon Keyes, a 37-year-old Army combat veteran from Detroit, has an on-again, off-again relationship with Facebook. These days, it's mostly off.

Keyes says he got tired of Facebook censoring Black users when they call out racism while permitting hateful speech and memes to spread unchecked.

Once his account was suspended for quoting a white Michigan county executive who said he'd rather "join the Klan" than a group of CEOs trying to rebuild Detroit. Keyes tried to explain he was a Black man fighting, not promoting, white supremacy, but his appeal was denied.

Each time he was released from company enforced time-outs during which his posts were removed and he was temporarily locked out of his account, Keyes changed his profile photo to a defiant Tupac Shakur in a Detroit Red Wings jersey spitting in the direction of the camera. But after one too many stays in "Facebook jail," Keyes decided to deactivate his account instead, though he still logs on from time to time.

"For me, for my own mental health and my own consumer power," he said, "I don't participate."

Black people produce and share substantially more content than other groups on Facebook, according to Facebook's internal research. But increasingly they are pulling away from the world's largest social media platform, especially young people.

The number of Black monthly users on Facebook declined 2.7% in a single month to 17.3 million adults, according to a research report, "Industry Update on Racial Justice and Black Users," in February. Black usage peaked in September 2020, in the months following nationwide protests over the killing of George Floyd, the research found.

Legal counsel for Frances Haugen, a former Facebook product manager turned whistleblower, provided redacted versions of the documents to Congress, which were viewed by a consortium of news organizations including USA TODAY.

Facebook would not say if Black users were deserting the platform over their treatment on it. But a former employee who worked closely on these issues said he's been told it's a significant factor.

"A lot of the downtick in Black usership has been because people are being banned or shadow banned or had their accounts suspended for talking about Black issues, and obviously there was a rise of that during George Floyd," said the former employee, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because his current employer does not permit him to speak about Facebook.

Marc Johnson, a spokesman for Facebook parent company Meta Platforms, said Facebook values Black users and is working to amplify their voices while reducing the hate speech that targets them, though "there is always more work to do."

"We are committed to making Black users' experiences better and increasing equity, safety and dignity for everyone on our apps," Johnson said in a statement.

TikTok routing Facebook with young Black adults

Another reason for the declining number of Black users on Facebook is the rise of TikTok as a top destination for the young and creative.

Internal Facebook research shows that the platform's losses have been TikTok's gains. TikTok reached more than 70% of Black users in the 18-to-24 age group in January while Instagram reached 66% and Facebook just 34%.

On Meta Platforms' quarterly earnings call in October, CEO Mark Zuckerberg said TikTok is "one of the most effective competitors we have ever faced" and that catering to young adults was now the company's "north star."

A February report shows Facebook's reach with Black 18-to-24-year-olds dropped more than 36% over six months. TikTok gained 19.5% reach with that age group in the same time period, internal research showed.

"I have noticed younger people are definitely trending away from Facebook," said social media influencer Erynn Chambers, who maintains a Facebook account but spends most of her time on TikTok.

Black trendsetters and culture makers are drawn to the short-form video content style that spotlights "the creative, activist spirit," Chambers said.

Facebook researchers suggested addressing pain points in content creation on its platforms as well as creating marketing that shows Black people using creative tools, connecting to real-life friends and expressing themselvesall areas they saw as reasons young Black users are leaving for TikTok.

Researchers also noted that as the younger generation of Black users departs Facebook, older generations may follow.

African Americans are key demographic for Facebook

That could spell trouble for Facebook. African Americans are a chart-topping demographic for social media, shaping online culture, setting trends and creating viral moments on platforms from Snapchat to Twitter.

Black Americans are among the top users of Facebook Stories and also dominate posts in News Feed. Facebook Stories has low usage in the majority of the U.S. but has "clusters of intense production" in places with a high concentration of African Americans such as the arc in the Southeast known as the Black Belt, Facebook research found.

Facebook Stories is also popular on tribal lands in the Southeast and the Northern Plains as well as in areas of Southern Florida and along the Mexico border that are largely Hispanic.

News Feed posts show the same pattern of heavier usage in non-white areas, Facebook research found.

Rather than collect data about users' demographics for the research, Facebook used ZIP code data as a proxy to study how people from different backgrounds use its products.

From New York City to the San Francisco Bay Area, "there are almost no white zip codes that produce as much as the average Black zip code," the report found.

That trend is even more pronounced among teens. "There is very little production in heavily white areas," the report found.

As for Black teens, "we do literally an order of magnitude better with Black teens than white ones."

Civil rights groups blame racial bias

Rashad Robinson, president of the racial justice organization Color of Change, says he's not surprised that African Americans are such heavy users of Facebook. He's also not surprised they are leaving Facebook.

For years, Robinson and other civil rights leaders have accused the platform of racial bias against users from historically and systemically marginalized groups. Despite promises, Facebook has made little progress in protecting the Black community from hate speech and threats that can lead to violence, they say.

Those grievances only intensified with the flood of hateful content on Facebook's platforms after Floyd's death. Last summer, civil rights groups joined with major advertisers to lead a boycott of the company.

"We live in this hostile real world where Black people are punished more harshly for the same things that white people do and then we go into this virtual world and it's the same thing," Robinson said. "We can't opt out of the real world. But some of us can opt out of the virtual world or find new avenues."

Robinson, who helped lead the advertiser boycott, said Zuckerberg told him that the harms Robinson claimed Black people were experiencing were not reflected in the company's internal data.

Yet, a two-year Facebook research project found that "the worst of the worst" content on the platform targets Black people, Muslims, the LGBTQ community, Jews and people of more than one race, according to Facebook research documents viewed by USA TODAY.

The project also found that Facebook's algorithms were more aggressively policing insults against white people and men"white people are stupid" or "men are pigs"than attacks on any other group.

"They believe at Facebook that, as long as they are spurring some sort of social connection, it doesn't matter how many people are hurt and harmed, especially if those people are not white," Robinson said.

Facebook still considers derogatory statements about men and white people to be in violation of its hate speech policy, but the company's algorithms no longer automatically flag and delete them.

Meta's Johnson said Facebook has taken other steps, such as expanding its hate speech policies to prohibit veiled and implicit threats and attacks on concepts, ideas, practices, beliefs and institutions of protected groups when those attacks pose an imminent risk of harm and to shield people from organized harassment campaigns.

Facebook warned it was alienating Black users

Criticism was not just coming from people outside the company. Time and again, Facebook employees sent up internal flares that the platform was alienating Black users.

In 2017, Black leaders at Facebook launched a study called Project Vibe to understand the experience of Black users on the platform. Project Vibe found that African Americans were among the top users of the platform, over-indexing on all core engagement metrics. Yet, they were often missing from the guest list of Facebook-sponsored industry events and among creators and influencers whose profiles are promoted and whose identity is verified on the platform.

Black users also reported seeing hate speech more frequently than any other group and complained that their posts were disproportionately taken down and that they were penalized for defending themselves against racism.

Another effort, Project Aperture, built on the findings of Project Vibe, studying how African Americans "over proportionately" share Facebook Stories. "Learning more and building empathy for this community is imperative to Stories' success," Facebook researchers said.

Many of the recommendations from Project Vibe and Project Apertureincreasing investments in Black small businesses, forging Black media partnerships, supporting original Black contentwere only implemented after Floyd was killed.

Part of the problem, auditors said, is the lack of diversity inside Facebook. In 2019, a group of Facebook employees publicly complained about racism at the company.

Although Black Americans account for 11.2% of the U.S. workforce, they held only 4.2% of all jobs at Meta Platforms and 4.4% of executive and leadership positions in 2020. Three-quarters of the company's employees are classified as professionals but Black people hold 4.1% of those jobs.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is conducting a systemic probe into Facebook's hiring practices.

Johnson said Meta Platforms is making sure Facebook is inclusive by addressing hate more effectively and building equity into the company's products and policies. "Among other things, that means hiring diverse talent," he said.

Facebook to investigate treatment of Black users

In June 2020, a Facebook researcher urged the platform to get serious about collecting data on the experience of Black users, saying it would be "very difficult" to make progress on social justice issues without it.

"In practice, our machine learning systems almost certainly are able to implicitly guess the race of many users. It's virtually guaranteed that our major systems do show systemic biases based on the race of the affected user (though what form that bias takes I do not know)," the researcher wrote.

While avoiding capturing information about race and ethnicity is "mostly well-intentioned," according to the document viewed by USA TODAY, "a more cynical take is that part of why we avoid measuring race is because we don't want to know what our platform is actually doing."

"Particularly at Facebook," the researcher wrote, "if you can't measure, you can't act."

Last month, Facebook announced its civil rights team and an artificial intelligence team would gather data to determine if it treats users differently based on race. The effort is led by Roy Austin Jr., vice president of civil rights at Meta Platforms, a veteran civil rights lawyer who worked at the Justice Department during the Obama administration.

His position was created following a pressure campaign by civil rights groups and at the urging of civil rights auditors.

Austin told USA TODAY that the project will track the race of its users through ZIP codes, last names and surveys where people identify their race and ethnicity, using methods that protect people's privacy.

"So much of people's experience with the platforms is anecdotal," he said. "There isn't a group that I'm aware of that does not claimI am not saying this just based on race, I am saying it is based on pretty much everythingthat doesn't claim they are treated differently on Facebook and Instagram, and I want to get to the bottom of that."

Austin said he does not know how long the project will take or if its findings will be made public. But, he said, "a piece of civil rights work is being transparent and being transparent with the community."

Wade Henderson, interim president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, said Meta must confront its role "in perpetuating social harms and to assess how they are addressing critical concerns."

"Being transparent about civil rights challenges is critical, as is pro-active due diligence and adequate follow-through on commitments," he said.

Why Black users don't delete Facebook

Despite the known problems with Facebook, Black users are often reluctant to cut the cord. Facebook provides connection to others with similar experiences and a way to amplify voices that have been largely ignored in other media spaces.

"There is a historic distrust that Black Americans have in traditional and legacy media," said Sherri Williams, assistant professor at American University who studies social media and representation of African Americans in media.

Social media created "needed spaces to tell their stories," said Tia C.M. Tyree, communications professor at Howard University.

"It becomes the lesser of two evils. Do I take this platform with its flaws and use it to my advantage or do I get off of it?" Tyree said.

Leaving the platform would mean losing the ability to capitalize, to protest, to have conversations and be connected to like-minded people.

"Each user has to then ask 'Am I using this site or am I being used by the site, and am I comfortable with that?'" Tyree said.

Now that people are so invested in Facebook, it becomes difficult to divest, said Kishonna Gray, associate professor of writing, rhetoric and digital studies at the University of Kentucky.

"They've taken ownership in that space," she said. "And where are they gonna go? All platforms are not user friendly."

Even Detroit's Keyes, who has largely given up Facebook, says there's a downside.

"I feel by exercising my consumer power, I am being silenced and other people like me are being silenced," Keyes said.

And that's why Facebook's moment of reckoning with Black users hasn't happened yet, Tyree said.

She pointed to the moment when Black TikTok users stopped producing choreographed videos on the platform because their original content was being hijacked by white users without credit.

"That's a good example of Black users saying we've had enough," Tyree said. "The question becomes, have we done that on Facebook? And the answer is I don't think we've done that."

Take Erinn Rochelle. She says she's been suspended from Facebook 18 times in the past couple of years, once just for quoting a white woman who screamed a racial slur at a Black family celebrating Easter.

"It's almost like a love-hate relationship with the master who beats you," she said.

A registered independent who works for a financial institution by day and moonlights on political campaigns, Rochelle relies on Facebook to connect with elected officials, political candidates, community leaders and business executives. She says landing in Facebook jail hurts her campaign work and disconnects her from family and friends.

Yet, as frustrated as she gets, Rochelle, a Black woman from Charlotte, North Carolina, can't bring herself to quit. But that doesn't mean she's happy about it.

"Facebook has done a great job of making us need them. It has provided a platform that in any other world, Black people would never have had access to," she said. "It is one of the reasons why I haven't let go of the platform. Because, if I could have by now, I would have told Facebook they can kiss my ass."

Explore further Facebook and Instagram to study racial bias against African Americans, Hispanics on their platforms

2021 USA Today

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

The Artificial Intelligence industry should create a global community of hackers and "threat modelers" dedicated to stress-testing the harm potential of new AI products in order to earn the trust of governments and the public before it's too late.

This is one of the recommendations made by an international team of risk and machine-learning experts, led by researchers at the University of Cambridge's Center for the Study of Existential Risk (CSER), who have authored a new "call to action" published today in the journal Science.

They say that companies building intelligent technologies should harness techniques such as "red team" hacking, audit trails and "bias bounties"paying out rewards for revealing ethical flawsto prove their integrity before releasing AI for use on the wider public.

Otherwise, the industry faces a "crisis of trust" in the systems that increasingly underpin our society, as public concern continues to mount over everything from driverless cars and autonomous drones to secret social media algorithms that spread misinformation and provoke political turmoil.

The novelty and "black box" nature of AI systems, and ferocious competition in the race to the marketplace, has hindered development and adoption of auditing or third party analysis, according to lead author Dr. Shahar Avin of CSER.

The experts argue that incentives to increase trustworthiness should not be limited to regulation, but must also come from within an industry yet to fully comprehend that public trust is vital for its own futureand trust is fraying.

The new publication puts forward a series of "concrete" measures that they say should be adopted by AI developers.

"There are critical gaps in the processes required to create AI that has earned public trust. Some of these gaps have enabled questionable behavior that is now tarnishing the entire field," said Avin.

"We are starting to see a public backlash against technology. This 'tech-lash' can be all encompassing: either all AI is good or all AI is bad.

"Governments and the public need to be able to easily tell apart between the trustworthy, the snake-oil salesmen, and the clueless," Avin said. "Once you can do that, there is a real incentive to be trustworthy. But while you can't tell them apart, there is a lot of pressure to cut corners."

Co-author and CSER researcher Haydn Belfield said: "Most AI developers want to act responsibly and safely, but it's been unclear what concrete steps they can take until now. Our report fills in some of these gaps."

The idea of AI "red teaming"sometimes known as white-hat hackingtakes its cue from cyber-security.

"Red teams are ethical hackers playing the role of malign external agents," said Avin. "They would be called in to attack any new AI, or strategise on how to use it for malicious purposes, in order to reveal any weaknesses or potential for harm."

While a few big companies have internal capacity to "red team"which comes with its own ethical conflictsthe report calls for a third-party community, one that can independently interrogate new AI and share any findings for the benefit of all developers.

A global resource could also offer high quality red teaming to the small start-up companies and research labs developing AI that could become ubiquitous.

The new report, a concise update of more detailed recommendations published by a group of 59 experts last year, also highlights the potential for bias and safety "bounties" to increase openness and public trust in AI.

This means financially rewarding any researcher who uncovers flaws in AI that have the potential to compromise public trust or safetysuch as racial or socioeconomic biases in algorithms used for medical or recruitment purposes.

Earlier this year, Twitter began offering bounties to those who could identify biases in their image-cropping algorithm.

Companies would benefit from these discoveries, say researchers, and be given time to address them before they are publicly revealed. Avin points out that, currently, much of this "pushing and prodding" is done on a limited, ad-hoc basis by academics and investigative journalists.

The report also calls for auditing by trusted external agenciesand for open standards on how to document AI to make such auditing possiblealong with platforms dedicated to sharing "incidents": cases of undesired AI behavior that could cause harm to humans.

These, along with meaningful consequences for failing an external audit, would significantly contribute to an "ecosystem of trust" say the researchers.

"Some may question whether our recommendations conflict with commercial interests, but other safety-critical industries, such as the automotive or pharmaceutical industry, manage it perfectly well," said Belfield.

"Lives and livelihoods are ever more reliant on AI that is closed to scrutiny, and that is a recipe for a crisis of trust. It's time for the industry to move beyond well-meaning ethical principles and implement real-world mechanisms to address this," he said.

Added Avin: "We are grateful to our collaborators who have highlighted a range of initiatives aimed at tackling these challenges, but we need policy and public support to create an ecosystem of trust for AI."

More information: Shahar Avin, Filling gaps in trustworthy development of AI, Science (2021). www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abi7176 Journal information: Science Shahar Avin, Filling gaps in trustworthy development of AI,(2021). DOI: 10.1126/science.abi7176
A survey of Main Street business owners in Volga, shown here, and four other small communities in eastern South Dakota conducted by researchers in South Dakota State Universitys Ness School of Management and Economics showed 94% recognized how important high-speed internet is to their operations and to community growth. Credit: South Dakota State University

Small-business owners see access to high-speed internet is crucial to economic development in rural South Dakota, according to a small pilot study conducted by researchers in South Dakota State University's Ness School of Management and Economics.

A survey in five small communities in eastern South Dakota showed 94 percent of business owners recognized how important high-speed internet is to their operations and to community growth, according to associate professor of corporate finance Nacasius Ujah. He and associate professor of entrepreneurship and innovative management Craig Silvernagel, who helped develop the questionnaire, worked with four graduate students to conduct the pilot study as part of their capstone business economics class.

The survey idea came from a conversation about Federal Communications Commission data on broadband and linking that with agriculture, Ujah said. Precision agriculture technologies, for instance, are heavily dependent on internet connectivity to gather and transfer data. That led to the pilot study to begin to understand broadband needs in rural America.

"We literally knocked on the doors of downtown businesses in Arlington, Aurora, Flandreau, Volga and White to collect the data," Ujah said. Those in-person interviews allowed the students to gather anecdotal data as well. "The respondents were very welcoming and ready to tell us what is happening in their communities."

The students gathered responses from approximately 60 small-business owners, evenly split between those who had been in business less than 20 years and 20 years or more. Those who were not available in person could complete the survey online. The project was supported by a grant from SDSU's College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences.

Important of reliable broadband

National statistics show a positive correlation between internet speed and economic outputand the survey results confirmed those perceptions among small-business owners. Nearly 85 percent of the respondents agreed that their city's current internet service has a strong positive effect on their businesses.

As expected, nearly 70 percent of the business owners said their communities, as a whole, need faster internet. Slightly more than half of the respondents agreed that their community's internet speed was below what they needed for their businesses.

Furthermore, 68 percent of the respondents are willing to pay a premium to gain access to higher speed internet for their businesses. "Most feel the benefits of faster internet outweigh the costs," Ujah said. However, he pointed out, rural communities tend to pay higher internet fees and have fewer choices for providers than those in urban areas.

Many respondents talked about their frustration with current internet service providers, Ujah said. In four out of five communities, business owners lacked reliable support. "They told stories about calling for help after hours and hanging up in frustration because they were unable to resolve problems."

Helping businesses thrive

Other questions on the survey revealed areas in which Ness School of Management and Economics faculty and students have an opportunity to help small-business owners. For instance, a lower percentage of respondents than expected felt their businesses and communities had lost business due to inadequate internet speeds, Ujah said.

Slightly more than 35 percent of respondents felt inadequate internet speeds have had a negative economic impact on their businesses and 30 percent agreed that their communities as a whole had lost business due to those inadequacies. An even smaller percentage, 22 percent of respondents, saw their current internet speed as restricting their businesses' growth potential.

This uncertainty about potential business losses suggests that businesses owners could benefit from information on how they can more effectively use online platforms to reach potential clients and to increase sales. "SDSU is poised to help businesses owner and communities learn how to use this to their advantage," he said. "Your market is beyond just your community (it) is your state, your nation."

In addition, although more than 90 percent of the respondents agreed that government programs should focus on building high-speed internet in rural South Dakota, 40 percent of respondents said they were only somewhat familiar and 33 percent were not familiar with recent government initiatives.

Only one of the five towns had secured a grant to upgrade its internet connectivity, Ujah said, emphasizing the need for information and training about these government programs. "We can help fill that void," he continued. "We can help them learn how to access government funding to improve and expand internet services."

During the 2021 legislative session, Gov. Kristi Noem set aside $100 million to expand broadband access in small communities. The U.S. Department of Agriculture is investing $3.3 million to provide broadband service in unserved and underserved rural areas of South Dakota through its ReConnect Pilot Program. Furthermore, South Dakota may receive as much as $100 million for broadband expansion through the recently passed infrastructure bill, Build Back Better, according to an article in the Rapid City Journal.

Ujah sees the push to expand broadband access across the state as an opportunity for SDSU researchers to partner with stakeholders, such as the Governor's Office of Economic Development, community chambers of commerce and economic development agencies, to not only identify areas of need but also track the economic impact these improvements are having on businesses. "We have faculty and students ready to do this research," he concluded.
Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri testifies at a US Senate hearing.

Instagram's boss on Wednesday pushed a rosy view of the photo-sharing app's impact on teens in testimony to US lawmakers that was at odds with damning news reports based on the firm's own research.

Adam Mosseri argued the service could help struggling young people, after documents leaked by a company insider raised worries of harms, including a 2019 study saying Instagram makes body image issues worse for one in three teenage girls.

"Sometimes young people come to Instagram dealing with hard things in their lives. I believe Instagram can help many of them in those moments," Mosseri wrote.

"This is something that our research has suggested as well," he added in written testimony prepared for his appearance before a Senate commerce subcommittee.

His statement comes as the social media networks run by Facebook parent Meta battle a crisis fueled by the company's own research, and which has rekindled a years-old US push for regulation.

The documents leaked by Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen also include a 2020 report stating that 32 percent of teenage girls said that when they felt bad about their bodies, Instagram made it worse.

Facebook has pushed back fiercely against a string of Wall Street Journal reports based on the findings, and a subsequent series for a US media consortium, arguing its research was mischaracterized.

Senators Richard Blumenthal and Marsha Blackburn are leading the hearing, the latest in a series probing how social media could be making teens feel worse about themselves.

"These half-measures are not enough. Instagram must create tangible solutions to improve safety and data security," Blackburn tweeted ahead of the hearing.

Instagram head Adam Mosseri is expected to face a grilling from US lawmakers about the app's impact on kids.

'Never fully safe'

Facebook has bounced back from other scandals like the one involving Cambridge Analytica, a British consulting firm that used the personal data of millions of Facebook users to target political ads.

In that case, CEO Mark Zuckerberg went to Washington to apologize, and the company agreed to a $5 billion settlement with US regulators.

However, the leading social media network faces at least one investigation spurred by the latest crisis: a consortium of US states announced in November a probe of Meta's techniques for enticing young users and the potential resulting harms.

Facing pressure, the company announced in September a "pause" in developing a version of Instagram for kids under 13 as criticism built over the platform's impact on young people's mental health.

On the eve of Wednesday's hearing, Instagram announced new protections for young users like suggesting a break if they have been spending a lot of time on the platform.

The timing of the announcement drew a wary reception from lawmakers, who questioned whether it was an effort at distraction ahead of the hearing.

Stephen Balkam, founder and CEO of advocacy group Family Online Safety Institute, said pre-hearing announcements are a Washington tradition but noted they won't make the app's problems go away.

"Instagram is safer than it was. I think Instagram is less toxic for teens than it was. But it will never be perfect, it will never be fully safe. But then that's true of all social media," he told AFP.

Explore further Instagram tightens teen defenses as US hearing looms

 2021 AFP
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

A growing number of countries are taking on gig economy giants like Uber, Bolt and Deliveroo who routinely treat their workers as freelancers without normal labour rights.

The European Union is the latest to act with its executive tabling plans Thursday that could force them to treat their workers as fully-fledged employees.

Spain leads way

Spain was the first European Union to give delivery workers full rights in August, recognising them as salaried staff with all the rights and protections that entails, including sick leave and paid holidays.

The country's left-wing government acted after the supreme court ruled on the issue.

The British takeaway food delivery app Deliveroo pulled out of Spain in November, but other platforms have decided to adapt, or tried to get around the law.

Italy strikes deal

Italy struck a deal this month to improve conditions for riders for food delivery platforms.

Prosecutors in Milan initially began looking at working conditions for delivery riders following a spate of road accidents, and the probe was eventually extended throughout the country.

In February prosecutors told Foodinho-Glovo, Uber Eats Italy, Just Eat Italy and Deliveroo Italy that their riders cannot be considered as freelancers but as employees who receive wages.

Under the deal reached with the delivery platformswhich makes no mention of riders' legal statusthey will have to spend millions improving conditions for their 20,000 riders.

Unions, however, are taking cases through the courts.

Netherlands: court ruling

A Dutch court ruled in September that Uber drivers in the Netherlands are effectively under an employment contract. Uber has appealed the ruling.

Belgium: spoke in Uber's wheels

Deliveroo claimed victory Wednesday after a Brussels labour court says its riders are not employees.

But at the end of November, an appeal court in the capital said a 2015 ban on private individuals offering taxi services also applies to apps like Uber.

Uber's UK U-turn

In March, following a ruling by Britain's High Court, Uber agreed to give its UK drivers workers' entitlements including holiday pay and a pension.

Its 70,000 drivers there will now earn at least the minimum wage when driving for the taxi app.

US: Biden overturns Trump gig

The Biden administration in May blocked a rule handed down under former US president Donald Trump that would have prevented gig workers from demanding a minimum wage or overtime.

The state of California voted in 2019 to recognise gig economy workers as employees but digital giants including Uber and Lyft refused to comply with the law.

Instead, they bankrolled a referendum that effectively overturned it. Under it, drivers and delivery riders remain independent contractors but are to be paid minimum wages and a contribution to healthcare and insurance.

France: Uber, Deliveroo under cosh

France's appeals court ruled in March 2020 the contract between Uber and its 28,000 drivers in France is an employment contract.

And Deliveroo and three former directors will appear in a Paris court next March charged with "not declaring a large number of jobs".

Latin America

Several parliaments in Latin America are weighing legislation to regulate the activities of the platforms, notably Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Colombia. However, nothing concrete has so far emerged.

China: Didi under pressure

In early December, the Chinese transport ministry called on China's version of Uber, Didi and other platforms to improve drivers' wages, breaks and working conditions.

Explore further Gig economy: Free ride is over as workers strike back

 2021 AFP
But she says that it shouldn't be. And that's one reason she ran for office in the first place.

She hopes her election as mayor will inspire others to follow in her footsteps.

"I'm...really proud of the fact that I'm going to be opening a lot of paths for other folks who look like me, especially our young community members, to say, 'If this woman can do this, actually I can do that,'" Dhalac told the City Council last month after her nomination.

"And also not only for immigrant, first-generation or Black people, but also young, White individuals who may have been afraid or don't want to be a part of the civic duties that we all have. ... I say, 'Yes, if I can do this, yes, you can do it. We really, really need you, each and every one of you in this beautiful city of ours, to step up."

Her election marks multiple milestones

Dhalac's inauguration is a milestone for Somali immigrant communities that have grown in size and become more established in states like Maine, Minnesota, Ohio and Washington. As that's happened, more Somali Americans are taking on roles on local school boards and city councils -- and also serving as lawmakers, like Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minnesota.
At least 300,000 IP addresses associated with MikroTik devices have been found vulnerable to multiple remotely exploitable security vulnerabilities that have since been patched by the popular supplier of routers and wireless ISP devices.

The most affected devices are located in China, Brazil, Russia, Italy, Indonesia, with the U.S. coming in at number eight, cybersecurity firm Eclypsium said in a report shared with The Hacker News.

"These devices are both powerful, [and] often highly vulnerable," the researchers noted. "This has made MikroTik devices a favorite among threat actors who have commandeered the devices for everything from DDoS attacks, command-and-control (aka 'C2'), traffic tunneling, and more."

MikroTik devices are an enticing target not least because there are more than two million of them deployed worldwide, posing a huge attack surface that can be leveraged by threat actors to mount an array of intrusions.

Indeed, earlier this September, reports emerged of a new botnet named Meris that staged a record-breaking distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack against Russian internet company Yandex by using network devices from Mikrotik as an attack vector by exploiting a now-addressed security vulnerability in the operating system (CVE-2018-14847).

This is not the first time MikroTik routers have been weaponized in real world attacks. In 2018, cybersecurity firm Trustwave discovered at least three massive malware campaigns exploiting hundreds of thousands of unpatched MikroTik routers to secretly install cryptocurrency miners on computers connected to them. The same year, China's Netlab 360 reported that thousands of vulnerable MikroTik routers had been surreptitiously corralled into a botnet by leveraging CVE-2018-14847 to eavesdrop on network traffic.

CVE-2018-14847 is also among the four unaddressed vulnerabilities discovered over the last three years and which could enable full takeover of MikroTik devices -

CVE-2019-3977 (CVSS score: 7.5) - MikroTik RouterOS insufficient validation of upgrade package's origin, allowing a reset of all usernames and passwords

(CVSS score: 7.5) - MikroTik RouterOS insufficient validation of upgrade package's origin, allowing a reset of all usernames and passwords CVE-2019-3978 (CVSS score: 7.5) - MikroTik RouterOS insufficient protections of a critical resource, leading to cache poisoning

(CVSS score: 7.5) - MikroTik RouterOS insufficient protections of a critical resource, leading to cache poisoning CVE-2018-14847 (CVSS score: 9.1) - MikroTik RouterOS directory traversal vulnerability in the WinBox interface

(CVSS score: 9.1) - MikroTik RouterOS directory traversal vulnerability in the WinBox interface CVE-2018-7445 (CVSS score: 9.8) - MikroTik RouterOS SMB buffer overflow vulnerability

In addition, Eclypsium researchers said they found 20,000 exposed MikroTik devices that injected cryptocurrency mining scripts into web pages that users visited.

"The ability for compromised routers to inject malicious content, tunnel, copy, or reroute traffic can be used in a variety of highly damaging ways," the researchers said. "DNS poisoning could redirect a remote worker's connection to a malicious website or introduce a machine-the-middle."

"An attacker could use well-known techniques and tools to potentially capture sensitive information such as stealing MFA credentials from a remote user using SMS over WiFi. As with previous attacks, enterprise traffic could be tunneled to another location or malicious content injected into valid traffic," the researchers added.

MikroTik routers are far from the only devices to have been co-opted into a botnet. Researchers from Fortinet this week disclosed how the Moobot botnet is leveraging a known remote code execution (RCE) vulnerability in Hikvision video surveillance products (CVE-2021-36260) to grow its network, and use the compromised devices to launch distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks.

In a separate report, the enterprise cybersecurity firm said that the operators of a botnet known as Manga aka Dark Mirai are actively abusing a recently disclosed post-authenticated remote code execution vulnerability (CVE-2021-41653) to hijack TP-Link routers and co-opt the appliances to their network of infected devices.

Update

In a statement shared with The Hacker News, the Latvian company said that "there are no new vulnerabilities in RouterOS," while stressing that keeping the operating system up to date is an "essential step to avoid all kinds of vulnerabilities."

"Unfortunately, closing the old vulnerability does not immediately protect the affected routers. We don't have an illegal backdoor to change the user's password and check their firewall or configuration. These steps must be done by the users themselves," the company explained.

"We try our best to reach out to all users of RouterOS and remind them to do software upgrades, use secure passwords, check their firewall to restrict remote access to unfamiliar parties, and look for unusual scripts. Unfortunately, many users have never been in contact with MikroTik and are not actively monitoring their devices. We cooperate with various institutions worldwide to look for other solutions as well."
Sen. Curt Friesen

Going into the 2022 session, Friesen said he will address the large rise in commercial property valuations in Hall County.

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Theres been a failure at a multiple levels when you see something like this happen. When you see a 200% increase in valuations, weve got a problem that should not have occurred, he said.

Such high valuations undermine efforts to develop needed affordable housing, Friesen said.

How do you get people to invest in those types of things if you dont have a more orderly flow of your taxes? he said. We keep talking about how we can subsidize affordable housing, and at the same time we tax the crap out of it.

Friesen also called for legislation on electric vehicles and how they pay taxes.

Right now they just pay on their registration fees, so theyre not really paying their appropriate share of road usage, he said.

Friesen voiced concerns about the federal governments push for selling only electric vehicles by 2035 and the consequences it could have on local infrastructure.
A request from Hall Countys rural fire departments for ARPA funds for new equipment was rejected Tuesday by Hall County Commissioners with a suggestion to work with the state.

Wood River, Cairo and Doniphan fire districts, among others, requested American Rescue Plan Act dollars awarded to the county to purchase self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA).

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the departments are lacking funds from not being able to hold annual fundraisers and unexpected costs, such as personal protective equipment, Wood River Fire & Rescue Chief Todd King said at the boards Nov. 9 meeting.

King asked for $40,000 in county ARPA funds for each of the six fire districts for COVID relief to purchase SCBA's.

Commission Chair Pam Lancaster said that the request is too much for the county and suggested the rural agencies first pursue ARPA funds from the state of Nebraska.

We could grant the rural fire department their funds. They were substantial, however, she said. Theres a provision in the state ARPA funds, rather than using ours first. We do that with our veterans funds and so on, we always go to the state first.
WATERLOO  Authorities are recommending motorists stay off the roads this morning (Thursday) following an overnight ice storm responsible for several semi crashes and two collisions that demolished squad cars.

Two semis rolled in an accident on Highway 218 near the intersection with Cedar Wapsi Road, said Capt. Mark Herbst with the Black Hawk County Sheriffs Office.

He said there were also tractor-trailer crashes on Interstate 380 near the Gilbertville exit.

Herbst said there were also numerous accidents between those two locations.

Two Sheriffs Office squad patrol vehicles were struck while deputies were working the collisions, Herbst said. He said no serious injuries were reported in the squad car crashes.

Rural roads in Black Hawk County are 100 percent ice covered, Herbst said.

In town, Waterloo street department trucks are spreading salt.

Accumulating snowfall is possible Friday into Friday Night for parts of central and northern Iowa, including much of the Highway

20 corridor. A light wintry mix is also possible over central Iowa.
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'Quick, what's your favorite Christmas song?' is a question I asked in this column around this time last year.

I'll tell you mine at the end of this article.

It's just over two weeks until the Yuletide holiday, and hopefully you've been humming a few of those traditional favorites to help you get in the Christmas spirit. It's at least a good way to stave off the COVID-19 pandemic year two holiday doldrums.

Maybe you enjoy an uptempo lilt, like "Sleigh Ride," the one with the line "it's lovely weather for a sleigh ride together with you."

Another toe-tapper is "Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!", the one that states "the weather outside is frightful, but the fire is so delightful, and since we've no place to go, let it snow!" It's a song associated with the holidays, although it does not mention Christmas in the lyrics.

Written in 1945, the tune was a Billboard No. 1 hit for crooner Vaughn Monroe. Others, including Frank Sinatra, Carly Simon and Rod Stewart recorded it, but only Michael Buble's version also reached No. 1 status  this month, in fact, on the Billboard Adult Contemporary charts.

Check it out  to me, Buble is the Canadian Harry Connick, Junior, but better.

Granted, it may be difficult to think about snow when you live in Southern Illinois. And then there's the whole global warming thing going on. Frankly, I'm more worried about the New Madrid fault, quicksand and my car tire tread depth than I am of snow right now.

Maybe you're rather untraditional when it comes to the holidays, a heavy metal fan or a Carbondale punker such as Adam Fletcher or Everett Gariepy. In that case, I'd recommend "Christmas With the Devil," by the band Spinal Tap.

"The rats ate all the presents and the reindeer ran away, there'll be no Father Christmas 'cause it's Evil's holiday --Christmas with the Devil."

Or perhaps you'd enjoy the Twisted Sister take on "The 12 Days of Christmas," titled "Heavy Metal Christmas."

The lyrics from Day 4: "On my heavy metal Christmas, my true love gave to me  four quarts of Jack, three studded belts, two pairs of spandex pants, and a tattoo of Ozzy."

Not your cup of tea? Maybe you'd be interested in an album called "The Nativity: 40 Jazzy Christmas Songs," which includes such Scooby-doo titles as "Rhapsody for Santa," "Cozy by the Fire," "Santa Paws" and "Mitten Weather."

Very nice. But let's not forget all of the blues-related Christmas songs.

They include "Blues for Christmas," by John Lee Hooker, "Santa Claus Wants Some Lovin'," by Albert King, "Back Door Santa," by B.B. King, "Christmas in Jail," by Leroy Carr, and "All I Ever Get for Christmas is Blue," by Over the Rhine.

One of my favorites in that genre is a knock-down-drag-out blues number from Elvis' Christmas Album, called "Santa Claus is Back in Town."

He sings: "Got no sleigh with reindeer, no sack on my back, you're gonna see me comin' in a big black Cadillac."

Interestingly, the tune was written in 1957 by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, the same songwriting team who wrote familiar hits like "Stand By Me," "Jailhouse Rock," "Hound Dog" and "Love Potion No. 9."

Some other traditional Christmas favorites include Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas is You," Bing Crosby's classic "White Christmas," Brenda Lee's "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree," "Feliz Navidad," by Jose Feliciano, and "Santa Claus is Coming to Town," with memorable versions by both The Jackson 5 and Bruce Springsteen.

Just a few more: Bobby Helms' "Jingle Bell Rock," Chuck Berry's "Run Rudolph Run," John Lennon's "Happy Xmas (War is Over)," "Wonderful Christmastime," by Paul McCartney, and "Do They Know It's Christmas," by the performers of Band Aid.

Considering the humorous side of Christmas music, a 1986 "Saturday Night Live" episode featured Jan Hooks and Nora Dunn portraying the Sweeney sisters, who romp through a hilarious medley of nine songs that contain the word "bells."

In a SNL episode from December 2000, four cast members first combined to play and sing "I Wish It Was Christmas Today," a tune that can only be described as just plain silly. The comedians reprised their holiday song for several successive years.

In 1999, the adult cartoon "South Park" aired an entire 30-minute episode, "Mr. Hankey's Christmas Classics," devoted to holiday songs. One irreverent segment includes a side-splitting lounge bar sing-off with Santa Claus trying to out-do Jesus, inserting Duran Duran's "Rio" into the middle of "Let It Snow."

The king of parody songs, Weird Al Yankovic, is responsible for "Christmas At Ground Zero," which includes the lyrics: There's panic in the crowd, we can dodge debris while we trim the tree underneath the mushroom cloud.

Classics from years past include Spike Jones' "All I Want for Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth," Tom Lehrer's "A Christmas Carol" and Cheech and Chong's "Santa Claus and His Old Lady," which features Cheech Marin asking, "Donde esta Santa Claus, the guy with the hair on his jaws?"

A more recent entry may be found with ukuleleist and mustache aficionado Odious Ari who, on the short-lived Gong Show reboot, sang "We Gotta Get Married and Then We Can Get Divorced." The vaudevillian's "Dear Santa" asks "Can't you make those plastic toys faster? If you don't meet your production quota, this holiday'll be a disaster."

But the most memorable song of holiday humor likely is Elmo & Patsys "Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer," originally released in 1979 and subsequently covered by a dozen other artists. From the first verse: "She'd been drinking too much eggnog, and we begged her not to go. But she forgot her medication, and she staggered out the door into the snow."

At the beginning of this column, I promised to reveal my all-time favorite holiday song.

If you know me, you know I like Elvis Presley, whose song "Blue Christmas" appears on his 1957 Christmas album mentioned above.

But my favorite Christmas song, also found on that album, is Elvis' beautiful rendition of "I'll Be Home For Christmas." Check it out, and merry Christmas!

Gary Gibula is an SIU alum, musician, writer, editor and author of the Music Historicity columns. He can be reached at gary@gratefulgary.com.

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CARBONDALE  The Warming Center will receive the human rights award from the Southern Illinois chapter of the United Nations Association for its efforts to secure the human rights of a vulnerable population.

The work of the Warming Center furthers several of the United Nations sustainable development goals to reduce hunger, promote good health and well-being, and ensure access to clean water, Pamela Umlauf-Brown, the UNA-USA Southern Illinois chapter president, said in a release.

Over the past year, the center has helped over 400 people, according to Carmalita Cahill, the Warming Centers executive director.

To supplement the citys shelter system, the Carbondale Warming Center is providing a sleeping space, in addition to its duties as a warming center.

The 2021 Human Rights Day Award presentation will be at 2 p.m. Dec. 10 in Southern Illinois University Carbondales University Museum. The ceremony is free and open to the public and lands on Human Rights Day, according to a release from the university.

The center is located at 608 East College Street in Carbondale.

If you are interested in more information or would like to donate or volunteer, please visit https://cwcentered.org/.

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ALTO PASS  The population of Alto Pass is just over 300 people and many of the villages septic tanks are failing.

Governor J.B. Pritzker announced Wednesday that Alto Pass will receive $4.4 million in funding for wastewater management.

The grant is part of $16.8 million in funding that has been awarded to five communities across the state through IEPA's Unsewered Communities Construction Grant Program, as part of the Rebuild Illinois Capital Plan, according to a release.

The village currently has failing septic tanks for the collection and treatment of sanitary sewer waste. The village applied and was approved for an UCCGP that will be used for the construction of a new wastewater treatment system with chlorination, and a septic tank effluent pump wastewater collection system consisting of approximately 160 new septic tanks and pumps at each residence and business in the community, according to the release.

A necessary force main will also be constructed along with the installation of air release valves, cleanouts, and a back-up generator. The removal and replacement of pavement and other improvements will also be included as part of the project, the release said.

"Alto Pass is the first recipient of the EPA's Unsewered Communities Construction Grant in Illinois - but many more communities will follow. Thanks to Rebuild Illinois, we are making $100 million available to build wastewater collection and treatment facilities for communities without them," Pritzker said. "We also have provided an additional grant program to help communities plan their future design so they can build the solution that works best for them - over 30 communities have already received these planning grants earlier this year."

In the fall of 2020, Illinois EPA announced $20 million in funding available to assist communities with inadequate or nonexistent wastewater collection and treatment facilities through the Unsewered Communities Construction Grant Program according to the release.

Through Governor Pritzker's bipartisan Rebuild Illinois Capital Plan, Illinois EPA is making $100 million available over the next five years through construction grants for wastewater collection and/or treatment facilities for such communities, The release said. Additionally, the Unsewered Communities Planning Grant Program provides $1M annually in smaller scale grants to help communities develop construction plans.

Illinois EPA estimates there are more than 200 Illinois communities that have inadequate or nonexistent wastewater collection and treatment facilities. These communities rely on individual septic tank systems or patchwork systems that result in illegal surface discharges that have negative environmental impacts, the release said.

"This grant will prevent the potentially unhealthy conditions and likely negative environmental impacts from the current failing system," IEPA Director John J. Kim said. "This project will allow for the construction of new, reliable wastewater infrastructure that will benefit residents, businesses, and the environment."

In addition to EPA funding, Alto Pass is also receiving $500,000 from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and more than $2.2 million from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Loan/Grant Funds to help fund the project, the release said. The total project cost is estimated to be $6.622 million. The Village anticipates starting construction in January 2022 and completing construction in December 2022.

Other communities receiving UCCGP Grants include the City of Freeport in Stephenson County, the Village of Westfield in Clark County, City of East Dubuque in Jo Daviess County, and Northern Moraine Water Reclamation District/ the Village of Holiday Hills in McHenry County.

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MARION  Williamson County Board finally approved the countys 2019 audit Wednesday morning.

The 2019 audit was rejected by Illinois Comptroller Susanna Mendoza because the audit for the Public Building Commission was not submitted at the same time.

Kim Meyer of Hudgens Meyer, LLC. is the county auditor. She said the comptroller did not accept the audit of the public building commission.

According to Meyer, the comptrollers office issued a rule in 2016 about the basis of accounting used for audits. If a county uses an accrual method of accounting, the entire county is required to use that method and they are never allowed to go back to a different method.

We dont have the option to be cash-based if dealing with the books because of the jail bonds. A cash basis was not going to be available to Williamson County, Meyer said.

Brent Gentry asked if Meyer submitted the audit for the Public Building Commission.

Meyer suggested that if the county board does not understand what she is saying, they need to set up a call with the comptroller.

She explained that all parts of the county must be included in the audit. If that department wants a separate audit, they can do that at any time because it does not have a date to be turned in.

Meyer told the board the same things several times, with Brent Gentry becoming irritated because his question was not answered.

After more discussion, the board voted to accept the 2019 audit. Gentry voted present. Chairman Jim Marlo and Commissioner Tim Atkinson voted yes.

The board members then agreed to approve the 2020 budget without discussion.

The county also approved its final 2021-2022 budget unanimously.

They approved two items that are required by the budget. The first is an appropriations resolution for 2021-2022. The resolution allows the county to appropriate the money in the new budget.

They approved a statement of tax levies for 2021-2022. The tax levy was set at 8 percent, but they expect it to end up at 4 percent.

They also approved a jail bond abatement for 2021-2022.

The board agreed to write a letter to allow Treasurer Ashley Gott to secure bids for financing the road to Walkers Bluff. Gott said the banks wanted to letter before they gave him their bids.

The board discussed allowing the EMA director to use comp time she has instead of using sick or vacation time. EMA Director Kelly Norris has comp time from the pandemic.

During their discussion, they learned that comp time has been paid to employees who are leaving. Salaried employees do not get comp time.

They took no action on the request.

Williamson County Board will meet at 10 a.m. Dec. 14.

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CARBONDALE  A man was arrested in connection to an SIU's "shelter in place" alert Wednesday.

SIU issued an alert at 11:10 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 8, cautioning those living near South Poplar street to shelter in place as police were responding to an incident near 600 South Poplar.

Police responded to a shots fired call at 10:46 a.m. that day at the 500 block of West College Street.

Officers saw two people fleeing the scene, police said. Both were located and detained.

SIU then sent out an second alert at 11:37 a.m. saying the police issued an all-clear notice.

Julius Kitt, 22 of Carbondale, allegedly fired a gun at the other male acquaintance near the 500 block of West College Street, police said.

No injuries were reported, but there was damage done to a nearby occupied building.

Officers have located the firearm Kitt allegedly used in the incident, and it was allegedly reported stolen, police said.

Kitt was charged with one each of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, unlawful use of a weapon by a felon, aggravated discharge of a weapon, possession of a stolen firearm, resisting a peace officer and no FOID.

Kitt was incarcerated at the Jackson County Jail.

Nothing has been released about the other suspect and their role in the incident.

Anyone with information about this incident can contact the City of Carbondale Police Department at (618) 549-2121.

 The Southern

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CHICAGO  A pair of true crime TV series, one about women murdered in Chicago and another about a triple murder in LaSalle County, make for worthwhile if difficult viewing, sorting through the failures of law enforcement and the criminal justice system.

On Discovery+, the three-part Hunt for the Chicago Strangler may have an artless news magazine format, but its a more sensitive project than its lurid title suggests. Narrated by the actress Tonya Pinkins (a Chicago native), the series centers on the murders of more than 50 women, most of them Black, who were found strangled on the South and West Sides over the past two decades. Their murders remain unsolved.

States attorney Kim Foxx is among those interviewed: Youre talking about women who were thrown in the trash, who were found in abandoned buildings. Horrors that were just blips in the news, if at all. Is this the work of a serial killer? Why do these cases remain open, the series asks, and how has apathy from police and the news media played into that?

The show has made some smart decisions about who it seeks out for context, including Hood Feminism author Mikki Kendall who recalls: When I first heard about it, it almost sounded like an urban legend. Theres no way multiple Black girls have been found in alleys, killed in similar ways, and no ones looking for them. Her blunt assessment confronts the ways racism is at work. One of the things that I think is important to understand about the stories of these women is that, largely, they are in neighborhoods that the city has neglected, she says. And then you say, Well, we dont know why these things are happening here. Yes, you do. Because you essentially created the perfect place to get away with murder. Later, she concludes: Chicago is my home. It is also a home that doesnt love me back.

Or as the activist and writer Beverly Reed-Scott describes the citys intentional disinvestment in Black communities: You look up one day and the neighborhood that you loved is hollow. She pauses. Theres so much pain in this moment.

The Hunt for the Chicago Stranger is strongest when it centers the families of the murdered women. Their grief is raw, as is their exhausted anger. Angela Ford died in 2001, after setting out one day to pick up her childrens report cards from school. According to her father, Riley Ford, after her death the family encountered a revolving door of detectives. Every time we talked to one, they know less about the case. Or cared less about the case, I dont know.

Gwendolyn Williams, who died in 2002, was the oldest of six. Her brother Michael Pritchett describes the fallout of her murder: When you have a family thats so close and so used to doing every single thing together  everything together? You dont imagine anybody in that puzzle missing. Not one piece missing. And they took her from us, you know? You done messed up our puzzle.

The Murders at Starved Rock, which premieres Tuesday on HBO, centers a different crime and is considerably less focused on the families. The series is aiming for something a bit more layered in its approach, though its not wholly successful. Director Jody McVeigh-Schultz looks at the 1960 murders of three middle-aged women who were found beaten to death in Starved Rock State Park in LaSalle County, about 100 miles southwest of Chicago.

David Raccuglia is the son of Anthony Raccuglia, the latter of whom was the prosecutor who successfully convicted Chester Weger of the murders. Fifteen years ago, David Raccuglia began filming a documentary attempting to unravel whether or not Weger was wrongfully convicted. (Weger was paroled in February of 2020 at the age of 80.) Theres the confession that Weger says was coerced; investigators whose methods were anything but by the book; and the strange fact that the states attorney and two sheriffs deputies pocketed the reward money for solving the case. Wegers family has never doubted his innocence (and their pain is given consideration here) but the more Raccuglia learns  and the longer he talks with Weger  the muddier things get. Time has warped Wegers perception of the truth, Raccuglia suspects, whatever the truth actually is.

Raccuglia never finished the film, but hes the centerpiece of this three-part series. He is thoughtful and his insistence on asking tough questions of his father (who he interviewed prior to Anthony Racculgias death in 2019) creates a compelling tension. But centering him feels misjudged. It takes the emphasis away from both the families of the women who were killed (no matter who is responsible for the crime, their pain is deep and real) and Wegers family (who have been bereft all these years for obviously very different reasons).

Even so, Raccuglia is as good a guide as any. When the series begins, he repeats a theory as to how Starved Rock got its name. A voice off camera says: I think thats a myth.

I think everything in the Illinois Valley is possibly a myth, Racculgia replies.

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Plans for a residential development on Five Chop Road will receive additional review and public input.

Orangeburg County Council on Monday voted to refer Colonial Holdings Group, LLCs rezoning request to the county's public service and planning committee. The committee is chaired by Councilman Joseph Garvin and includes Deloris Frazier and Willie Owens.

Colonial Holding wants to rezone property on Five Chop Road from forest-agriculture to commercial general for the purpose of residential and commercial development.

Council was scheduled to give second reading on the rezoning request on Monday, but received letters of concern about the project at the last minute, Council Chairman Johnnie Wright said.

The matter was referred to the committee for further review.

Wright said all parties interested in the rezoning request and proposed project will be notified about the time and place of the meeting.

This way they can have their input and they can state their reasoning, legal or non-legal, and make sure that the planning commission will be able to justify what they recommend, Wright said.

Vice Chair Janie Cooper-Smith echoed Wright.

I wholeheartedly agree that that is probably the best decision that could have been made on this item, Cooper-Smith said.

The zoning change will require three readings. First reading has already been given by council.

The company has said it plans to develop the property by building affordable homes.

More than 100 individuals have expressed opposition to the development, including about 90 who signed a petition. Opponents have cited concerns including the commercialization of farmland, crime, reduction of property values, increased traffic, negative impact on wildlife and issues with water runoff and flooding.

About 50 individuals have also signed a petition in support of the project, citing the need for affordable housing, increasing the tax base and contributing to positive growth.

The project's environmental consulting firm and engineer have said theyll work to preserve all environmental interests.

The 81-acre property at 1657 Five Chop Road is near Nivens Road, Orangeburg Auto Auction and Trump's Inn. It is currently a vacant field.

There is also a 20-acre tract in front of the property thats already zoned commercial general. Colonial is also seeking to purchase the tract, which has vegetation and trees.

Adjacent properties to the west and south are zoned commercial general and properties to the north and east are zoned forest and agriculture.

Some adjacent property owners have said that they did not know their farmland was zoned commercial general and are trying to have it rezoned to forest-agriculture.

About 13 acres of the property falls within the flood zone of the Middlepen Branch.

Colonial Holding will have to go through environmental review with federal agencies such as the Army Corps of Engineers and the Federal Emergency Management Agency to access some of the property.

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South Carolina State University alumna Dr. Tia Jones was named the 2022 South Carolina Elementary Assistant Principal of the Year by the South Carolina Association of School Administrators.

Jones is an assistant principal at Catawba Trail Elementary School in Richland School District 2.

She was a finalist for the same award in 2017 and 2020.

Its no surprise that Dr. Jones was nominated more than once and has now won this award, Catawba Trail Principal Jennifer Gillespie said in a news release from Richland School District 2.

Gillespie said Jones, prides herself in developing positive relationships with students, their families, faculty, staff and district colleagues. She empowers people around her to shine and is her happiest when they do.

Dr. Jones is such a humble and unselfish person, and I am extremely proud to have her on our team.

Jones holds a bachelors degree in early childhood education from S.C. State, a masters degree in divergent learning from Columbia College, an educational specialist degree in educational administration from Cambridge College in Cambridge, Mass., and her doctor of education in organizational leadership from Gardner-Webb University in Boiling Springs, N.C.

Jones began her educational career 23 years ago working as an instructional assistant at Forest Lake Elementary School. She taught kindergarten and second grade at Rice Creek Elementary and was a National Board Certified Teacher at Sandlapper Elementary school prior to becoming assistant principal eight years ago at Catawba Trail.

As an educator, the work we have before us is paramount to our success and to the success of our students, Jones said in the news release. It is our duty to act selflessly in the realm of education because no one person can do it alone.

This accomplishment is a salute to the trailblazers who came before me and signifies our work together  everyone achieves more! It is an honor and a privilege to be a generational change agent in Richland School District 2.

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Five Wyoming school districts and the state health department are asking a federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit brought by a Laramie high schooler and several other parents contesting school mask mandates and state COVID policies.

In court filings, lawyers for the defendants say the case should not be in federal court, did not sufficiently make claims for relief and failed to state its core allegations concisely.

The 128-page complaint was filed on Nov. 2 by Grace Smith, a former Laramie High School student who was arrested for trespassing after being suspended for refusing to comply with the schools mask mandate. Her father, Andy, and the guardians of 17 other Wyoming students join Smith in the suit.

The suit alleges that health orders from the governors office and the Wyoming Department of Health were outside the bounds of the agencies authority and were not based on scientific fact.

As defendants, it names Gov. Mark Gordon, school districts in Sheridan, Albany, Laramie, Goshen, Sweetwater and Uinta counties, the Sheridan Police Department, the Wyoming Department of Health and its interim director, Stefan Johansson, and state health officer Alexia Harrist.

The suit was filed in U.S. District Court, which typically deals with matters of federal law or constitutionality, cases where the federal government is named or where the parties are from more than one state.

In moving to dismiss this suit, lawyers noted that the complaint takes issue with state statutes and the Wyoming constitution, rather than federal law, and all parties are in Wyoming.

Responses to the complaint also state that it failed to demonstrate Smiths or the other plaintiffs entitlement to relief based on their claims.

Several of the other plaintiffs, mostly parents, submitted statements with the suit saying their children had faced harassment and bullying at school for not wearing masks. In some cases, the plaintiffs said, their kids also suffered physical or mental injury including headaches, anxiety attacks and difficulty breathing from face masks.

The original suit also includes 100 unnamed Jane or John Does as defendants, and appears to sue all of its defendants with all 14 of its claims.

The response filed by the Sheridan County School District No. 2 states it is improper to lump all the named parties and claims in one suit, since it refers to actions taken by the health department, governors office and six different school districts.

It is obvious that Petitioners are trying to use this lawsuit and the federal court as a stage for their political stance regarding Covid 19, the school districts response, filed on Nov. 19, says.

A response from the health department states that the suit did not name a specific legally protected interest that has been harmed by the policies in question.

Other filings call the complaint a verbose, unorganized, and overly long diatribe, which they note federal judges tend to condemn.

An attorney for the Uinta County School District No. 6 said in their response that the lawsuit cited a burdensome number of attachments and appendices, the relevance of which is questionable. To support its allegations, the suit refers to a number of blogs, news and opinion websites and the Tom Cruise film Minority Report.

One of the defendants, the Sheridan Police Department, also said in its filing that the suit was not properly served since it was given to a records technician without the authority to accept service of a lawsuit. The department states that there has been no return of service filed, and the plaintiffs attorney has not responded to their questions since mid-November.

That attorney, Buffalos Nick Beduhn, also sued the governor and state health officials earlier this year, disputing all COVID-19 orders and restrictions in Wyoming. The suit was dismissed two months later by a judge in Johnson County.

In 2017, the Wyoming Supreme Court issued two orders suspending Beduhn from practicing law for a total of two and a half years. The Wyoming State Bar said Beduhn violated his professional duties of competence, diligence, and maintaining communication with clients.

In October, Grace Smith drew national attention when she was trespassed from Laramie High School after violating her third suspension based on her refusal to wear a mask on campus. She was issued a pair of $500 citations for trespassing, according to the complaint, but one has since been dismissed.

The only defendants yet to respond are Gordon and Smiths own school district in Albany County. According to the cases docket, they have until Dec. 16 to file answers.

Follow city and crime reporter Ellen Gerst on Twitter at @ellengerst.

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The board of directors at Lee Enterprises on Thursday unanimously rejected a New York hedge funds unsolicited offer to buy the company.

Lee Enterprises owns the Casper Star-Tribune and many other papers in the Mountain West including the Billings Gazette and the Missoulian.

Lee Chairman Mary Junck said Alden Global Capitals $24-per-share offer grossly undervalued Lee and failed to recognize the strength of its business, especially its fast-growing digital news platform.

We remain confident in our ability to create significant value as an independent company, Junck said in a news release.

The rejection marks a significant setback for Alden, which is looking to make Lee the latest in a series of acquisitions intended to consolidate the newspaper industry.

Alden aimed for a speedy takeover after making its $141 million offer for Lee on Nov. 22. It noted that figure represented about a 30 percent premium, per share, over the previous days market close, and said that with Lees cooperation, it could have things wrapped up in approximately four weeks.

But in the past three weeks, Lee shares have risen above $24, putting pressure on Alden to raise its offer.

Meanwhile, Lees board voted to enact a poison pill plan that could dilute shares if Alden starts buying Lee stock. The board also rejected Aldens attempt to nominate three new board members, citing procedural issues. And newsroom unions began a campaign against the acquisition, noting Aldens reputation for steep cost-cuts in the name of efficiency.

Then, Wednesday afternoon, one of the companys largest shareholders weighed in against the offer, calling it clearly insufficient and opportunistic.

Lee owns daily newspapers, digital products and over 350 weekly and specialty publications serving 77 markets in 26 states. Its newspapers include the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, The Buffalo News, Omaha World-Herald, The Lincoln Journal Star, The Times of Northwest Indiana and Tulsa World. Aldens titles include the Chicago Tribune and the Baltimore Sun, which it acquired this summer in its takeover of Tribune Publishing.

Austin Huguelet 314-788-1651 @ahuguelet on Twitter ahuguelet@post-dispatch.com

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It will soon cost you at least a dollar or two more to enjoy a Carib or Stag beer as bar owners say a price increase by Carib Brewery has left them with no other alternative but to charge customers more.

Carib Brewery, in a statement on Monday, announced a $1 retail price increase per bottle or can would apply to its Carib, Carib Pilsner, Stag, Carib Blue, Royal Extra Stout, Coors, Heineken, Guinness, Smirnoff Ice and Blue Moon products.
Korea Village is celebrating one of its sons for his academic achievements.

Dr Kiran Nandlal, who is no stranger to academic success, has a bachelors degree in petroleum geosciences at The University of the West Indies (The UWI), St Augustine, but the Presentation College alumnus didnt stop there. After he was awarded a second scholarship which led him to Edinburgh, Scotland, to pursue his masters degree at the Heriot-Watt University in reservoir engineering, the scholar returned home to put his knowledge to use at the Ministry of Energy as a stipulation of his service to the country for being awarded the national scholarship.
Newly appointed president of the Public Services Association (PSA) Leroy Baptiste has advised public servants that they are under no legal obligation to disclose their vaccination status to their employers.

Baptiste also says that requiring workers to disclose confidential medical information is a breach of their privacy.
The stage is being set for a showdown between the Government and unvaccinated workers employed by the State, come January 17.

With a week and a half to go, there has been no real effort aimed at defusing the looming confrontation. Meanwhile, as positions harden on each side, the public has been reduced to the role of spectator, unsure of how the banning of unvaccinated public sector employees from the workplace without pay will affect them, since, apart from the Prime Ministers statement, there has been no information regarding the public sectors Quasi Safe Zones Policy.
While Hobbs continues to refuse to do interviews, she did have an audience with about 30 Black leaders on Wednesday. Among those present was Garrick McFadden, a Democrat who waged an unsuccessful race for Congress in 2018, the same time Hobbs got elected secretary of state.

McFadden told Capitol Media Services he thinks that, after being battered over her initial response, Hobbs finally understands what she did and why it was wrong.

I think a light clicked in on the subtle uses of racism and how what she did was racist, he said.

McFadden said Hobbs probably didnt see herself or her activities as having a racial bias.

Part of the dissonance she was feeling was, Im not a Klansman, he said.

But McFadden said that sometimes white people do not understand there are other, more subtle forms of racism. And McFadden, who is an attorney, said the fact that a jury returned such a large verdict in a place like Arizona should have made it clear to Hobbs that others clearly saw what happened to Adams as being racially motivated.

He said the Hobbs who spoke Wednesday now gets it.
The shelter is prepared to serve that many people, who will likely be there a short time before traveling to their final destinations in other parts of the country.

Cavendish said she expects that once officials have processed the migrants who came through over the weekend, the larger numbers arriving at Casa Alitas will go down, as the Remain in Mexico policy is restarted in this region and more migrants will be directly returned to Mexico.

The Yuma Sector has seen large numbers of families, including many from South America, showing up at the border to ask for asylum, with numbers increasing from about 790 in October of both 2019 and 2020 to more than 21,600 this October.

The number of migrants fleeing to the U.S. from South America, Cuba and Haiti increased this last year as rising levels of violence and worsening economic and political situations, exacerbated by the pandemic and in some cases climate change, are driving more people from their homes.
Elliott said he receives calls a few times each week from health providers trying to find somewhere for their young patients to get the antibodies, and hed welcome more resources here.

The key, he said, is getting the treatment to the patient fast enough, before the virus takes hold. A teen he was contacted about recently would have benefited from the treatment but, even though it was early in the illness, it didnt happen quickly enough for the patient to avoid hospitalization.

Sometimes, he said, the disease moves that quickly.

Elliott said there are many teens here who will meet the criteria for antibody treatment if they get COVID-19.

Again, I go back to the vaccine, he said, adding that the Pfizer vaccine has amazing efficacy for this age group.

It boggles the mind that every child 12 and up hasnt gotten that vaccine with those numbers, he said. Why not avoid (severe illness) altogether?

Charges offset

Last January, Tucson became the second city in the country with a clinic solely focused on getting high-risk patients antibody treatment.
After more than five years of wrangling, Arizona regulators are poised to approve new green-energy standards for state-regulated utilities that supporters say are needed to slow global warming and keep the air clean of unhealthy fossil-fuel emissions.

The Arizona Corporation Commission next week is expected to vote on final approval of new energy standards that will require the states regulated utilities, including Tucson Electric Power, to get 100% of their power from carbon-free sources like solar, wind and nuclear by 2070, with interim targets of reaching 50% carbon-free power by 2032, 65% by 2040 and 80% by 2050.

By passing the energy rules, the commission will be giving TEP customers a gift that will result in lower electric bills, cleaner air and improved health, said Diane Brown, executive director of the Arizona Public Interest Research Group Education Fund.

The Corporation Commission approved a new draft of the rules in May, and after a series of hearings, an administrative law judge issued a recommended order to the utility panel on Dec. 1 that left the proposed rules largely unchanged.
Knight counters that its not the closure order that imposed a substantial burden on Ortegas right to exercise her religion, but the criminal prosecution and any related punishment.

Absent this prosecution, Ms. Ortega was able to engage in the relevant exercise of her religion: doing whatever she could to protect her peoples sacred lands, including placing her own body between the equipment she viewed as harmful and the land she viewed as sacred, Knight said in the motion.  It is the validity of the prosecution, not the legality of the construction project, that this court must decide.

Knight also argues the judge had too narrow an understanding of Ortegas religious actions when ruling there was no substantial burden because Ortega had access to the spring.

When in fact, her religious practice encompasses the act of defending her sacred land, Knight said in an interview. So defending them, itself, standing in front of that truck, all of that  that's like prayer for her.

Thirdly, the judge wasnt specific enough on what constituted a substantial burden when she said there wasnt one, Knight said.
Officials were also worried that ADUs would be used as mini-dorms in neighborhoods surrounding the University of Arizona campus. Student housing in those neighborhoods, where lots are often small, can lead to issues such as overcrowding, they said.

The potential size limit issues had to be addressed before the ordinance went into effect because of a state law, called Proposition 207, which says the city has to pay for any loss of property value that results from down-zoning.

Under the voter-approved law, Tucson can be sued if a homeowner built a casita that was in line with the original code but then had to tear it down because of new and stricter restrictions.

The city wouldnt be liable if they expanded size limits rules down the line, however, making the strategy of starting small and expanding later a safer option.

Im very concerned about Prop. 207, said Councilman Kevin Dahl who voted for the size reduction. If we decide that 1,000 square feet in university neighborhoods is catastrophic, or at least a big problem, we cant go back because of the states limitation on liabilities for down-zoning. I think its important to err on the side of caution in this case.
A lot of bigger planes have deicing capabilities, but we dont, Monacelli said. We have a lot of discussions and training for what we'd do if we got into that situation because if you do accumulate enough ice on the helicopter, it will fall out of the sky.

About two minutes after entering the car, with water surging around the vehicle and over the brink of the falls about 50 yards (45 meters) downstream, Duryea emerged and signaled for Finnerty to hoist him and the motionless driver, a woman in her 60s, from the water.

The current was ripping pretty good through there and the car was close to the edge of the falls. If it moved, we didnt want him getting dragged out with it, Finnerty said.

It was unclear how the car got into the Niagara River. Witnesses reported seeing it floating near a pedestrian bridge, where it was believed to have gone in. Roads in the area were slippery.

Conditions in the air were no easier, with snow limiting visibility to a half mile for the Coast Guard crew that had assembled for a training flight at Lake St. Clair, Michigan, when they were dispatched to Niagara Falls, New York.
It was one of two massive fires last summer that for the first time in modern history crossed the Sierra Nevada range.

El Dorado County District Attorney Vern Pierson provided few details about the arrest of the Smiths, citing the investigation.

Reichel, the men's lawyer, said: They are absolutely 100% innocent.

Reichel said he did not know details of the accusation, such as how authorities allege the fire was set.

He said Travis Smith is an electrician and was with his father near where the fire started. The son called 911 to report seeing flames, Reichel said.

The son made several 911 calls because the calls kept dropping in the rugged area, and both men also warned campers about the fire, Reichel said.

Neither one has ever been in trouble with the law in their life. Theyre very law-abiding people, he said.

The pair have a scheduled court appearance on Friday, Reichel said.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP)  A student at an aeronautical university in Florida was arrested Thursday after authorities received tips from other students that he was planning to shoot people on campus on the last day before winter break, police said.

When officers arrested John Hagins, 19, at his apartment in Daytona Beach, Florida, they found a folding gun and hundreds of rounds of ammunition in his backpack, according to a news release from the Daytona Beach Police Department.

We could have had a tragedy unfold today," said Daytona Beach Police Department Chief Jakari Young. Instead, these students reported it to the school and that allowed us to get to work right away and bring Hagins into custody before he could carry out his plans."

The police department was first contacted by campus security at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University overnight Thursday after students had gone to them with their concerns about Hagins. Investigators saw social media posts by Hagins in which he outlined his plans to bring the folding gun to campus. He apparently had sold his vehicle to buy the gun and ammunition, the police news release said.
They arrested 11 innocent villagers, said the witness, who described himself as a farmer and an activist and asked to remain anonymous for his own safety,

He added that the captured men were not members of the locally organized Peoples Defense Force, which sometimes engages the army in combat. He said the captives had their hands tied behind them and were set on fire.

He did not give a reason for the soldiers' assault. Accounts in Myanmar media said they appeared to have acted in retaliation for an attack earlier that morning by Peoples Defense Force members.

Other witnesses cited in Myanmar media said the victims were members of a defense force, though the witness who spoke to the AP described them as members of a less formally organized village protection group.

There are resistance activities in the cities and the countryside, but the fighting is deadliest in rural areas where the army can unleash greater force against its targets. In recent months the struggle has been sharpest in Sagaing and other areas of the northwest.
HONOLULU (AP)  The Navy will stop operations at fuel storage tanks above a Hawaii aquifer until the completion of its own investigation into how petroleum got into tap water.

In a memo dated Tuesday, Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro said corrective actions shall be performed as expeditiously as possible.

The Navy told Department of Health officials Wednesday that it shut down the Aiea Halawa shaft Friday, the second since it quietly shut down the Red Hill shaft on Nov. 28, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, reported.

The Navy previously said it was suspending use of the massive fuel storage complex near Pearl Harbor following days of complaints that tap water smells like fuel and has sickened some people.

But the Navy also informed Hawaii officials it was contesting a state order demanding that the suspension remain in effect until independent evaluators can ensure that appropriate actions are taken to protect drinking water.

State officials want the Navy to treat contaminated drinking water and remove fuel from the massive 20 underground storage tanks at the complex called the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility.
Five years ago: The White House said President Barack Obama had ordered intelligence officials to conduct a broad review of election-season cyberattacks, including the email hacks that rattled the presidential campaign and raised fresh concerns about Russias meddling in U.S. elections. South Korean lawmakers impeached President Park Geun-hye over an explosive corruption scandal, a stunning and swift fall for the countrys first female leader.

One year ago: The U.S. government and 48 states and districts sued Facebook, accusing it of abusing its market power in social networking to crush smaller competitors. (A federal judge dismissed the lawsuits in June 2021; federal regulators filed a revised complaint in August.) Commercial flights with Boeing 737 Max jetliners resumed for the first time since they were grounded worldwide nearly two years earlier following two deadly accidents; Brazils Gol Airlines became the first in the world to return the planes to its active fleet. NASA named the 18 astronauts  half of them women  who would train for its Artemis moon-landing program.

Todays Birthdays: Actor Dame Judi Dench is 87. Actor Beau Bridges is 80. Football Hall of Famer Dick Butkus is 79. Actor Michael Nouri is 76. Former Sen. Thomas Daschle, D-S.D., is 74. World Golf Hall of Famer Tom Kite is 72. Singer Joan Armatrading is 71. Actor Michael Dorn is 69. Actor John Malkovich is 68. Country singer Sylvia is 65. Singer Donny Osmond is 64. Rock musician Nick Seymour (Crowded House) is 63. Comedian Mario Cantone is 62. Actor David Anthony Higgins is 60. Actor Joe Lando is 60. Actor Felicity Huffman is 59. Empress Masako of Japan is 58. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., is 55. Rock singer-musician Thomas Flowers (Oleander) is 54. Rock musician Brian Bell (Weezer) is 53. Rock singer-musician Jakob Dylan (Wallflowers) is 52. TV personality-businessperson Lori Greiner (TV: Shark Tank) is 52. Actor Allison Smith is 52. Songwriter and former American Idol judge Kara DioGuardi (dee-oh-GWAHR-dee) is 51. Country singer David Kersh is 51. Actor Reiko (RAY-koh) Aylesworth is 49. Rock musician Tre Cool (Green Day) is 49. Rapper Canibus is 47. Actor Kevin Daniels is 45. Actor-writer-director Mark Duplass is 45. Rock singer Imogen Heap is 44. Actor Jesse Metcalfe is 43. Actor Simon Helberg is 41. Actor Jolene Purdy is 38. Actor Joshua Sasse is 34. Actor Ashleigh Brewer is 31. Olympic gold and silver medal gymnast McKayla Maroney is 26. Olympic silver medal gymnast MyKayla Skinner is 25.

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
PHOENIX (AP)  Arizona's first known case of the omicron variant has been confirmed in Yavapai County, state and local health officials said Wednesday.

The Arizona Department of Health Services and Yavapai County Community Health urged people to get vaccinated, get a booster shot if eligible, stay home if sick, wear a mask and maintain physical distancing.

Its natural to be concerned, but we should avoid overreacting to this news, Leslie Horton, director of the Yavapai County health agency, said in a news release.

Steve Elliott, a spokesman for the state health department, declined to release any additional information, including when the person was tested and whether he or she has traveled to areas of the world where the variant is known to be spreading. He said the agency is withholding information to maintain patient privacy."

New cases of COVID-19 in the U.S. climbed from an average of nearly 95,000 a day on Nov. 22 to almost 119,000 a day this week, and hospitalizations are up 25% from a month ago. The increases are due almost entirely to the delta variant, though omicron has been detected in about 20 states and is sure to spread even more.
Bellanger said the attacks on journalists went well beyond the personal losses suffered and affected society as a whole. They also point to the violation of the peoples fundamental right to access accurate, objective and fair information so that they can make properly informed choices about public affairs.

With three weeks left in the year, overall deaths in the line of duty were set to go down this year, with 45 so far, compared to 65 overall last year. With Afghanistan topping the list with nine journalists killed, Mexico came close behind with eight, all of them murders. India had four and Pakistan three.

The Brussels-based IFJ represents 600,000 media professionals from 187 trade unions and associations in more than 140 countries.

The group also highlighted a rare positive development, which was the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to two journalists. Maria Ressa of the Philippines and Dmitry Muratov of Russia won for their fight for freedom of expression in countries where reporters have faced persistent attacks, harassment and even murder.

Russia still has 12 journalists behind bars, and three reporters were killed in the Philippines.

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo, born in England, has devoted her life to attaining enlightenment in a female form  at one stage spending years isolated in a cave in the Himalayas to follow the rigorous path of the most devoted yogis. She later founded a nunnery in India focused on giving women in Tibetan Buddhism some of the same opportunities reserved for monks.

Venerable Dhammananda renounced her family life and a prestigious academic career in Thailand to follow the path of the Buddha. She then defied her homelands unequal status of women in Buddhist practice by traveling to Sri Lanka to become Thailands first fully ordained nun in Theravada, one of the oldest forms of Buddhism.

Born a world apart, theyre among a group of respected female monastics or bhikkhunis, lay persons and academics who have challenged longstanding patriarchal traditions. They have blazed a path of progress in recent decades for Buddhist women  from education through advanced degrees and the creation of nunneries to seeking full ordination.

Across branches, though, many at the movement's forefront say more needs to be accomplished so women can have equal opportunities.
VIENNA (AP)  Negotiations between Iran and world powers aimed at salvaging a tattered 2015 nuclear deal resumed in Vienna on Thursday, with tensions high after Tehran made demands last week that European countries strongly criticized. The talks' chairman said he detected a renewed sense of purpose.

Diplomats from Britain, France and Germany had urged Tehran to come back with realistic proposals after the Iranian delegation made numerous demands last week that other parties to the accord deemed unacceptable. Last weeks talks were the first in over five months, a gap caused by a new hard-line government assuming power in Tehran.

European Union diplomat Enrique Mora, who chaired Thursday's meeting of all the deal's remaining signatories  Iran, Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China  said afterward that he felt a renewed sense of purpose on the need to work and to reach an agreement on bringing the (agreement) back to life.

Whether that will be confirmed and endorsed by negotiations on the details, we will see in the coming days, Mora said, adding that the positive impression "has to be tested.

He said that it is becoming more imperative with time to reach an agreement quickly.
About 30 witnesses and experts gave evidence to a series of public hearings in central London earlier this year, alleging torture, forced abortions, rape and beatings by authorities while in state detention centers. The hearings also reviewed evidence detailing other policies including the separation of young children from their families and the destruction of mosques.

A key part of the evidence was drawn from leaked Chinese government documents that Adrian Zenz, an academic specializing in the topic, said showed a direct link from Xi to the sweeping detention of more than a million people belonging to minorities, forced labor programs and forced birth control practices on Uyghur and other minority women.

Zenz wrote in a report that the leaked documents showed that the links between statements and mandates made by Xi and other central government figures and policies that were implemented after 2016 are far more extensive, detailed and significant than previously understood.

In Turkey, Semsinur Gafur, who submitted a video testimony to the London hearings, said she was pleased that the hearings shone a light on what is happening in Xinjiang.
Tucson is known for its Sonoran dogs. Their cradle is south of 22nd Street, where Benny Galaz started BK Carne Asada and Hot Dogs. Here are 26 places to get Sonoran dogs in the south side of Tucson.
(Wednesdays) announcement in partnership with the U.S. Black Chamber, the Greenwood Black Chamber and the U.S. Small Business Administration will allow us to make sure that our businesses, both owned by people of color and women, have the information that they need to have sustainability to grow their communities, as well as their businesses, said Ron Busby Sr., president and CEO of the USBC.

In June, President Joe Biden visited Tulsa to visit communities that have been left behind by failed policies and announce new steps to help narrow the racial wealth gap  including a commitment to use the federal governments purchasing power to grow federal contracting with small disadvantaged businesses by 50%, translating to an additional $100 billion over five years.

The SBAs Office of Womens Business Ownership funds 140 branches across the country, said Natalie Madeira Cofield, assistant administrator for the SBA.

The mission and mandate of this office, which was established in 1979, is to ensure that women have an equitable seat at the table, and thats what were doing, she said.  Every year we work with nearly 80,000 women, who are doing everything from starting businesses at their kitchen tables to hopefully, establishing the next Fortune 500 business. We believe in all of them.

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The Tulsa Symphony Orchestra will honor Ron Wheeler, longtime music director of the Tulsa Youth Symphony Orchestra, with an award recognizing Wheelers accomplishments as an educator and conductor, to be presented as part of the orchestras Jan. 15 concert.

The award will also be named the Ron Wheeler Tulsa Symphony Music Educator of the Year award, and will be awarded annually to an exemplary music educator in Oklahoma.

Tulsa Symphony Executive Director Keith C. Elder said in a statement, Ron Wheelers impact on the city of Tulsa and the modern world of classical music is immense. We are thrilled and honored to celebrate such a beloved and integral figure to our industry and our community.

Wheeler served as executive director and principal conductor of the Tulsa Youth Symphony Orchestra from 1972 to 2021, where each year he worked with more than 150 young musicians from throughout northeastern Oklahoma. A number of young musicians who got their start in the Tulsa Youth Symphony have gone on to professional careers, such as TSO principal violist Jeffery Cowen.

In addition, Wheeler was a violinist with the Tulsa Philharmonic and the Tulsa Symphony, and is currently a member of the TSO Advisory Board.
The findings and their fallout eventually led Epic Charter Schools' governing board to sever all ties with Harris and Chaney, as well as with an Epic-branded charter school they founded in California.

The office of State Auditor and Inspector Cindy Byrd issued a report in October 2020 that found millions of dollars in excessive administrative spending and questionable handling of $145 million in taxpayer funds for student learning costs in the previous five years.

The state auditor said that by law, Epic was limited to spending only 5% of its taxpayer dollars on administrative costs but was paying Harris and Chaneys for-profit company twice that for the schools management.

And to make matters worse, according to Byrd, the duo hired an entire administrative staff at Epic Charter Schools, at public expense, to do the work their for-profit management company was being paid to do.

The audit even found that EYS "improperly transferred $203,000 in Oklahoma taxpayer dollars from a student Learning Fund account it managed to help cover payroll shortages at Epics California charter school.
I tried to work something out for (obscuring) the windows, but it didnt come to pass, Cue said. But I understand their concerns, so I am hoping  and will be watching  that the trees will help.

Tim Kloehr, managing member of Oklahoma Studios LLC, has said previously that the studio would range in height from 40 to 45 feet with an architectural spiral at the front of the building that is expected to be more than 50 feet high.

It is expected to include an 18,000-square-foot sound stage and two smaller ones, as well as offices.

Most of the parking spaces would be to the east of the building, with a small strip of spaces on the north side. Access to the property would be off 81st Street and Harvard Avenue.

Kloehrs son, David Kloehr, is an actor who is pursuing a masters degree in film production.

During a council committee meeting Wednesday morning, Lakin said his constituents expressed a wide range of opinions on the project, from those who dont want to see the property developed at all to those who believe entering and exiting the development could be dangerous for motorists because of the hilly terrain.
General Motors, headquartered in Detroit, plans to build four North American battery cell plants. Two have been announced, in Ohio and Tennessee.

When you look at what happened with Ford, them not even considering Michigan, I think that sent shockwaves through our state. We need to make sure that we have the resources and the tools ready to be competitive across the country, said House Speaker Jason Wentworth, a Farwell Republican who hopes the package is sent to Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer before the Legislatures adjourns next week.

Wendy Block, vice president of business advocacy and member engagement for the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, said unspecified companies could announce transformational" and generational projects as soon as January. Three big projects are on the table, she said.

Time is certainly of the essence here, she said. We're operating under tight time constraints here if we want to be competitive for some of these next projects.

The House also approved legislation that would extend, by five years, a 2017 tax incentive program for redevelopment work but leave a $1 billion incentives cap in place.
Its encouraging to see Gov. Kevin Stitt support the composition of the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board with members of varying backgrounds.

For decades, the board has been prosecutor and law enforcement heavy, often becoming a rubber stamp for district attorneys. It led to Oklahoma prisoners serving, on average, nearly 70% longer for property crimes and 79% longer for drug crimes than the national average, compared to 20% longer for violent crimes, according to a 2020 report from FWD.us.

This is a driving factor behind the states prison overcrowding and top rankings in per capita prison populations. Right now, Oklahoma is No. 1 in female incarceration and No. 3 in the overall rate.

Oklahomas punitive approach has been bankrupting the state without making a significant dent in the crime rate or rehabilitation of prisoners. It has destabilized families and hurt employment.
A representative of Acecook Vietnam on Wednesday said that the recall of its noodle products in France is part of the firms proactive response to avoid a repetition of the previous incident related to the banned substance 2-chloroethanol (2-CE) in The Republic of Ireland.

The recall in France was featured on a French website earlier this month.

The recall of the products mentioned in the said website was an active and voluntary decision by Acecook Vietnam, in order to ensure the quality of our companys products, the representative affirmed on Wednesday.

All of these products were manufactured and exported to France before July this year, and prior to the product recall in relation to 2-CE in Ireland, according to the representative.

2-CE, a precursor to ethylene oxide, is used in the manufacturing of insecticides and as a cleaning agent for machines, with prolonged exposure to low concentrations or short-term exposure to high concentrations likely to result in adverse health effects, according to the U.S. National Center for Biotechnology Information.

In August, Japanese-owned Acecook Vietnams products were also recalled in Ireland and received food safety warnings in Germany and the Netherlands due to the presence of ethylene oxide.

Acecook Vietnam proactively informed its sales agents and conducted a recall of products in the French market at the end of November after realizing a risk that was similar to the case in Ireland.

Despite Acecook Vietnams proactive move, the recall was widely publicized to consumers and authorities per French regulations.

According to the French product recall agency, Ricey instant noodle soup, some batches of Hao Hao instant noodles, rice noodles, and Thai hot pot noodles from Acecook Vietnam are recalled for containing 2-CE in excess of the threshold allowed by EU standards.

These products have a shelf life of up to March, May, August and September 2022, respectively.

Following the Acecook Vietnam product recall in Ireland, the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade directed competent authorities to review all of the companys products in the country and inspect its production chain to detect any violations.

The inspection results showed that Acecook Vietnams Vietnamese-sold products did not contain ethylene oxide.

The incident also prompted Vietnams trade, health, and agriculture ministries to revise the countrys current standards related to ethylene oxide in food.

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Twenty models with disabilities have taken to the catwalk in Ivory Coast in a ground-breaking assault on taboo and stigma.

Decked out in a red suit, traditional Sahelian boubou robes, multi-coloured African bogolan prints and a blue tunic with printed motifs, the models showed off the latest creations of Abidjan designers in an event dubbed "Strong and Beautiful Together."

Grace Beho had her right forearm amputated after a road accident.

Six months ago, she created the Mougnan Foundation, an organisation set up to improve the quality of life for disabled Ivorian women. Its name means "moving forward despite difficulties" in the Guere language of western Ivory Coast.

"I think that the women who are going to be watching us and who do not yet have confidence in themselves... are going to assert themselves and show themselves to the world as they are," she said as she stepped off the stage.

Empowering disabled women at the Mougnan Foundation show. Photo: AFP

Leslie Antsere, who suffers from neurofibromatosis, a genetic disease which can cause disfiguring tumours, said she was delighted to take part in an event that had stopped her from "feeling ashamed."

The MC at the fashion show, Nelly Aka, was sporting high heels despite a foot disability.

"Even in a situation of disability, we can go beyond ourselves and do many things," she said.

"Overcoming disability is about accepting yourself -- the way people look at you and criticise you will not affect who you are," she said.

A model called Sylvia, dressed in a green-and-white dress, opened the show, coming down the catwalk on crutches by the side of a swimming pool in front of an enthusiastic audience in a hotel in the Ivorian economic capital.

The event took place on December 3 -- the UN's International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

Two of the women who were helping to break the taboo in Ivory Coast. Photo: AFP

'Marginalised'

Officially, Ivory Coast has 453,000 people who are disabled in some way, two percent of the population. For them such an event is unheard of.

"Even mentioning a disabled person in the world of beauty is taboo in Ivory Coast," said Ange Prisca Gnagbo, one of organisers for the special evening.

"They are sidelined in all the beauty shows," she added.

But such practices are entrenched in Ivory Coast, where disabilities are often viewed -- as elsewhere in Africa -- as an affliction.

The women paraded in front of an enthusiastic audience in an Abidjan hotel. Photo: AFP

"Many disabled women are very vulnerable, rejected and marginalised. So they hide away for fear of being judged," said sociologist Yves Ouya.

For Dr Abdoudramane Coulibaly, consultant at the World Health Organization and head of a disability NGO, the issue also faces a lack of political will.

"Let's suggest to able-bodied people that they walk with crutches for a day -- (that way) we will be gain more understanding than with big speeches," he suggested.

"My dream is that in the coming decades I will see a handicapped person making a name for himself or herself in areas where the doors have been closed," said Beho.
BioNTech and Pfizer said on Wednesday a three-shot course of their COVID-19 vaccine was able to neutralise the new Omicron variant in a laboratory test, an early signal that booster shots could be key to protection against infection from the newly identified variant.

The German and U.S. companies said two doses of their vaccine resulted in significantly lower neutralising antibodies but could still be protective against severe disease.

"The first line of defence, with two doses of vaccination, might be compromised and three doses of vaccination are required to restore protection," BioNTech Chief Medical Officer Ozlem Tuereci said at a press conference.

The companies also said they could deliver an upgraded vaccine targeted specifically at the Omicron variant in March 2022 if one is needed.

BioNTech and Pfizer are the first manufacturers of a COVID vaccine to issue an official update on the efficacy of their shot against Omicron.

In samples of blood taken around a month after the third shot the Omicron variant was neutralised about as effectively as two doses neutralised the original virus identified in China.

The Omicron variant, first detected in southern Africa and Hong Kong last month, has triggered global alarm about another surge in infections. Cases have already been reported from Japan to the United States and across Europe.

"The new data from Pfizer on vaccine effectiveness against Omicron is encouraging," U.S. President Joe Biden tweeted on Wednesday. "Anyone who is eligible and has not been boosted should go get a booster today."

BioNTech CEO Ugur Sahin suggested that countries might consider shortening the time period between second and third doses of the vaccine to combat the new variant.

He cited recent moves by countries including Britain to bring the third shot forward to three months after the second shot, from six months previously.

"We believe this is the right way to go particularly if the Omicron is now spreading further, to enable a better level of protection in the winter season," Sahin said.

Dr. Walter Orenstein, a professor at Vanderbilt and former director of the U.S. CDC's immunization programs, said he found the data encouraging because it suggests that the current vaccines are still usable against the Omicron.

"We may not have to change the vaccine," he said. "We may be able to get by with the current vaccine, at least for repression of severe disease."

A vial labelled with the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine is seen in this illustration picture taken March 19, 2021. Photo: Reuters

Omicron-specific vaccine

The World Health Organization classified Omicron on Nov. 26 as a "variant of concern" but said there was no evidence to support the need for new vaccines specifically designed to tackle the variant and its mutations.

Nevertheless, the companies said they would continue efforts to bring an Omicron-specific COVID-19 vaccine to market. Work started on Nov. 25.

They said their planned production of 4 billion doses of the Comirnaty vaccine in 2022 was not expected to change if an adapted vaccine was required. BioNTech said that even if an adapted vaccine was available in March, it would not be broadly available for some time, noting that perhaps 25 to 75 million doses of the new vaccine would be ready at first.

Pfizer scientist Kena Swanson said the company is considering also testing two doses of an Omicron-specific vaccine in currently unvaccinated people.

Pfizer and BioNTech's findings are broadly in line with a preliminary study published by researchers at the Africa Health Research Institute in South Africa on Tuesday, which said Omicron could partially evade protection from two doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine and suggested a third shot might help fend off infection.

Research on the new variant is still at an early stage. Laboratory analysis at University Hospital Frankfurt in Germany found the ability to mount an antibody response to Omicron in people who had three shots was up to 37 times lower than the response to Delta.

Even so, two shots of the vaccine may still protect against severe disease, Pfizer and BioNTech said.

The vast majority of surface structures on the Omicron spike protein targeted by the T-cells, which typically emerge after vaccination, are not affected by Omicron's mutations, they said.

T-cells are the second pillar of an immune response, alongside antibodies, and are believed to prevent severe disease by attacking infected human cells.

For their analysis, the two companies used a virus that was bio-engineered to have the hallmark mutations of Omicron, known as a pseudovirus, and blood was collected from subjects three weeks after a second vaccine dose or one month after a third.

There is no significant data yet on how vaccines from Moderna, Johnson & Johnson and other drugmakers hold up against the new variant but they are expected to release their own data within weeks.
Social Democrat Olaf Scholz became Germany's chancellor on Wednesday, ending 16 years of conservative rule under Angela Merkel and launching his three-way coalition that has pledged to boost green investment and strengthen European integration.

Scholz, 63, who over the past four years served as vice chancellor and finance minister in coalition with Merkel, won a majority of 395 votes from lawmakers in the lower house of parliament, Bundestag President Baerbel Bas said.

Wearing a black face mask, Scholz waved as he received a standing ovation from lawmakers and accepted bouquets of flowers and a basket of apples from leading members of parliament.

After being formally nominated by President Frank-Walter Steinmeier in the nearby Bellevue Palace, Scholz returned to the historic Reichstag building in the heart of the German capital to take the oath of office in front of lawmakers and become Germany's ninth chancellor since the end of World War Two.

In one of his first interviews as chancellor, Scholz told Welt TV that Russia would have to face consequences if Ukraine's borders were violated, but he added that Germany and its allies were doing everything possible to avoid such an escalation.

Concerned by a Russian military build-up near the Ukrainian border, the United States wants Germany to use its pending approval of the nearly finished Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia as leverage in the standoff with Moscow over Ukraine.

In another interview with ZDF television, Scholz skirted questions about whether Germany would join the United States, Australia and Britain in a diplomatic boycott of the Winter Olympic Games in Beijing.

In parliament, he swore to devote his energies to the welfare of the German people - but did not ask for God's help, a phrase that is usually included in the oath of office and was spoken by Merkel.

Newly elected German Chancellor Olaf Scholz receives applause during a session of the German lower house of parliament Bundestag to elect a new chancellor, in Berlin, Germany, December 8, 2021. Photo: Reuters

'Steady hand'

Back in Bellevue Palace, the ministers of the new cabinet received their appointment certificates from the president.

Merkel officially handed over the chancellery to Scholz and wished him a "steady hand" as Germany faces a surging fourth wave of coronavirus infections and hybrid attacks on democracies by authoritarian leaders.

In a short speech, Scholz hailed Merkel as a great chancellor and thanked her for a close and trustful relationship over the past years.

"I would like to build on the northeast German mentality, if I may say so, that has reigned here so far. Not much will change it this regard," Scholz said in reference to their shared northern roots in the port city of Hamburg.

With his down-to-earth and no-nonsense manner, Scholz has positioned himself as Merkel's natural successor and a safe pair of hands to steer Germany through challenges ranging from tackling the climate crisis to dealing with a more confrontational Russia and increasingly assertive China.

Scholz will lead an unprecedented tripartite coalition on the federal level with the pro-spending, environmentalist Greens and the fiscally more conservative, libertarian Free Democrats (FDP) - unlikely political bedfellows in the past.

Newly elected German Chancellor Olaf Scholz receives flowers during a session of the German lower house of parliament Bundestag to elect a new chancellor, in Berlin, Germany, December 8, 2021. Photo: Reuters

Scholz is an experienced negotiator and veteran politician who as SPD party secretary general from 2002 until 2004 defended disputed labour market reforms and social welfare cuts under then-Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder.

As labour minister from 2007-2009 in Merkel's first ruling coalition, Scholz pushed for a generous short-time work scheme that helped protect millions of workers from the fallout of the global financial crisis.

After being mayor of Hamburg from 2011-2018, Scholz returned to Berlin as Merkel's finance minister - a role in which he got rid of the goal of balanced budgets and enabled record new borrowing to shield companies and employees from the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

On the European level, he worked closely with France and persuaded Merkel to support a debt-financed European Recovery Fund worth 800 billion euros ($900 billion) to help EU member states hit hardest by COVID-19.

Merkel, 67, a lover of opera and hiking in the little spare time she has had in the last 16 years, has given few clues about what she plans to do in retirement.
JOHANNESBURG -- South Africa reported nearly 20,000 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, a record since the Omicron variant was detected, and 36 new COVID-related deaths.

It was not immediately clear how many of the infections were caused by Omicron, given only a fraction of samples are sequenced, but experts believe it is driving South Africa's fourth wave of infections.

The statistics from the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) brought the confirmed number of cases in the country to 3.071 million, with more than 90,000 COVID-linked deaths since the pandemic started.

Early evidence suggests Omicron is more transmissible than any previous variant, but that symptoms may be less severe, with lower levels of hospitalisation, especially in vaccinated patients.

But the economic fallout for South Africa - which has been hit by international travel bans since its scientists correctly identified the variant late last month - has been devastating.

President Cyril Ramaphosa was due to meet with senior officials in charge of the COVID-19 response this week, and will decide on whether to tighten low-level lockdown restrictions. That seems unlikely, as hospital capacity is far from being overwhelmed, as it was in previous waves.

South African health regulator SAHPRA on Wednesday approved a third or booster shot of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine for adults and children over the age of 12 years.
Check out the news you should not miss today:

Politics

-- President of the Lao National Assembly Xaysomphone Phomvihane left Hanoi on Wednesday afternoon, successfully concluding his official visit to Vietnam from December 6 to 8 at the invitation of NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue, the Vietnam News Agency reported the same day.

Society

-- Vietnam's Ministry of Health is expected to issue a new guidance by December 15, in which fully-vaccinated Vietnamese people with a negative COVID-19 test result entering the country will only need to self-isolate and monitor their health at home within a certain time.

-- A high school student in Thuan Chau District in the northern province of Son La died three days after getting COVID-19 vaccination on Saturday last week, Nguyen Huu Hung, deputy director of the provincial Department of Health, confirmed on Wednesday afternoon.

-- Local authorities on Wednesday said they were investigating a case in which a 24-year-old woman died while undergoing acne treatment at a spa in Tan Phu District, Ho Chi Minh City a day earlier.

Business

-- The Vietnam International Exhibition on Industrial Machinery Equipment, Technology and Products, or VINAMAC Expo 2021, will be held at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center in Ho Chi Minh City from December 15 to 18, the Vietnam News Agency reported on Wednesday.

-- The Consulate General of India in Ho Chi Minh City and the Peoples Committee of southern Kien Giang Province on Tuesday organized a virtual meeting on wedding tourism in India and Vietnam, with the presence of more than 80 participants who are government officials, accommodation service providers, and tour operators from southern provinces, the diplomatic agency said in a press release on Wednesday.

Lifestyle

-- Thuong Nhat Company, operator of Ho Chi Minh Citys water bus route No. 1 connecting Bach Dang Port in District 1 to Linh Dong Ward in Thu Duc City, on Wednesday piloted its first night bus tour along the Saigon River, before officially running the route linking Bach Dang Wharf and Binh An Wharf in Thu Duc from 7:00 to 8:00 pm every day, starting from Friday.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
A household living near the biggest landfill in Quang Ngai Province, central Vietnam has been blocking the road leading to it due to a land compensation dispute with the local government, causing garbage to pile up on many streets in the provincial capital city.

On Wednesday afternoon, piles of garbage could be seen along Nguyen Du, Le Thanh Ton, and Le Loi Streets in Quang Ngai City.

The garbage has not been collected from those streets for several days, making the local neighborhoods stink, as trucks have stopped picking up waste over the past two days, according to local residents.

A leader of Quang Ngai Urban Environment JSC, which is in charge of collecting garbage in the city, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that its vehicles failed to operate as the access to the Nghia Ky waste treatment complex, the provinces largest landfill located in Tu Nghia District, has been cut.

Earlier, residents of more than ten households living around the landfill had joined forces in preventing trucks from entering it to object to a resettlement plan mapped out by local authorities, according to Nguyen Dang Vinh, chairman of Tu Nghia District.

Currently, only one of the said households has continued protesting as the others already agreed to the latest arrangements by the authorities following a two-day dialogue.

Uncollected garbage piles up on a street in Quang Ngai City, Quang Ngai Province, Vietnam. Photo: Tran Mai / Tuoi Tre

That household has demanded higher compensation, saying that their land lot, which is subject to the resettlement plan, is residential land, not agricultural land as determined by the local administration.

However, the authorities have explained that the households land area was originally meant for planting perennials and only mistakenly registered as residential land during an administrative procedure.

Its only one household, but it has affected the environment in both Quang Ngai City and many other districts, said chairman Vinh.

He added that local authorities will continue working with the household in question to reach a consensus.

If the next working session fails, they will resort to forcing the household to let garbage trucks enter the Nghia Ky landfill, according to the official.

Vinh also pledged to handle the legitimate requests of the people regarding the resettlement plan, which is expected to reach completion by the end of December 2022.

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Ho Chi Minh City will begin providing third COVID-19 vaccine shots to certain groups on Friday, making it the first locality in Vietnam to initiate such a vaccination drive.

The third doses will be first given to frontline workers and people at higher risk, Duong Thi Hong, head of the office of the Expanded Program on Immunization and deputy head of the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper on Wednesday.

About 97 percent of the countrys adult population have received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose, while 70 percent have been jabbed twice.

In Ho Chi Minh City and many southern provinces, COVID-19 infections have bounced back despite a high vaccination rate, which led to an increase in mortalities.

These localities have recorded about 200 deaths each day over the past week, Hong elaborated.

This situation has prompted health authorities to provide further shots to residents at high risk as soon as possible, the official continued.

Ho Chi Minh City will be the first in the country to begin such a vaccination campaign on Friday, she stated, adding the additional primary jabs will first be given to people with serious underlying conditions, like cancer or organ transplant, who had received their second shots at least 28 days ago.

After that, frontline workers will be given the booster jabs six months after their second doses.

In other provinces and cities, priority will be given to providing the second dose to all adults, followed by fully vaccinating children aged 12 to 17.

A high school student receives a dose of COVID-19 vaccine in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Quang Dinh / Tuoi Tre

The Ministry of Health is planning to provide booster shots to all residents in the first half of 2022, Hong said, adding that the ministry is preparing the source of vaccines.

mNRA vaccines including Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna and viral vector vaccines such as AstraZeneca will be used in this drive, the official elaborated.

At a press meeting on Wednesday, Deputy Minister of Health Do Xuan Tuyen said that the ministry was tasking the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology and Pasteur Institute with conducting antibody tests to evaluate the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines in Vietnam.

Tuyen stated that Vietnam had purchased more than 200 million vaccine shots and is expected to fully inoculate all of its adult population by mid-December, much sooner than scheduled.

As of Thursday morning, Vietnam had documented 1,352,122 COVID-19 cases, with 1,036,393 recoveries and 26,930 deaths.

The country has found 1,346,811 community transmissions in all its 63 provinces and cities since the fourth virus wave erupted on April 27.

Ho Chi Minh City is the hardest-hit locality with 481,923 patients.

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The Ministry of Health reported 15,311 additional COVID-19 cases in Vietnam on Thursday, along with 14,586 recoveries and 256 mortalities.

The latest infections, including 11 imported and 15,300 domestic transmissions, were documented in 61 provinces and cities, the ministry said, elaborating that 8,843 patients caught the pathogen in the community.

Ho Chi Minh City recorded 1,453 of the newest cases, Tay Ninh Province 895, Hanoi 822, Soc Trang Province 789, Dong Thap Province 730, Ca Mau Province 720, Can Tho City 670, Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province 576, Dong Nai Province 501, Khanh Hoa Province 494, Binh Duong Province 489, Binh Thuan Province 249, Lam Dong Province 210, Da Nang 180, Thua Thien-Hue Province 150, Quang Nam Province 118, Hai Phong City 58, and Quang Ninh Province 28.

Vietnam had logged 14,595 locally-acquired infections on Wednesday.

The country has detected 1,362,111 community transmissions in all its 63 provinces and cities since the fourth virus wave erupted on April 27. A combined 1,048,162 of them have recovered from COVID-19.

Ho Chi Minh City is hardest-hit with 483,376 patients, followed by Binh Duong Province with 286,078, Dong Nai Province with 91,056, Long An Province with 38,966, Tay Ninh Province with 35,980, Dong Thap Province with 28,009, Tien Giang Province with 27,289, Can Tho City with 26,245, An Giang Province with 25,878, Binh Thuan Province with 20,922, Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province with 20,535, Khanh Hoa Province with 17,451, Hanoi with 15,634, and Da Nang with 7,119.

Vietnam found only 1,570 locally-transmitted infections in total in the previous three waves.

The health ministry announced 14,586 recovered patients on Thursday, lifting the total to 1,050,979.

The toll has increased to 27,186 fatalities after the ministry confirmed 256 mortalities on the same day, including 76 in Ho Chi Minh City, 37 in An Giang Province, 17 in Dong Thap Province, 16 in Tay Ninh Province, 16 in Binh Duong Province, 13 in Dong Nai Province, and the remainder in 20 other provinces and cities.

Vietnam has logged 1,367,433 patients since the COVID-19 pandemic first hit it early last year.

Health workers have administered nearly 130 million vaccine doses, including 662,110 shots on Wednesday, since vaccination was rolled out nationwide on March 8.

Over 74 million of the countrys 98 million people have received at least one dose while almost 56 million are now fully immunized.

Vietnam aims to fully inoculate 100 percent of its adult population this year. Many provinces and cities are immunizing children aged 12-17 against COVID-19, using Pfizer-BioNTech shots.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
A Senate inquiry has recommended a judicial inquiry into media diversity, ownership and regulation.

A report tabled in the Senate recommended an inquiry with the powers of a royal commission, including to compel witnesses to give evidence.

It found the current regulatory framework not fit-for-purpose claiming significant changes are required, noting that more than a decade ago the Finkelstein Inquiry and Convergence Review found a clear need for a new approach. Yet in the decade since the Finkelstein Inquiry, no progress had been made, while further technological changes have impacted the media landscape.

The committee heard extensive evidence that the complaints processes for traditional media are insufficient and slow, both in print media (Australian Press Council) and broadcast (Australian Communication and Media Authoritys) -the latter being slow, complex, onerous for complainants and often inconclusive.

The committee said technological change has greatly strengthened the argument in favour a single regulator across all platforms.

It recommended the ABC and SBS, be sustainably and adequately funded, while ABCs Enhanced Newsgathering funding should be renewed in its upcoming budget.

It also recommended the Government release its final proposals for reform developed through the Media Reform Green Paper consultation process, and the establishment of an independent and permanent trust to assist emerging news ventures, especially in regional areas.

The inquiry chaired by Senator Sarah Hanson-Young gained support following Kevin Rudds petition for a royal commission into Murdoch media, which drew over 500,000 signatures.

But Liberal senator Andrew Bragg, who was also Deputy Chair, described the report as a shameless political stunt which should not be taken seriously.

The report does not tell us why this inquiry would be necessary, or what it would achieve, he said.

The recommendations are aimed at one particular organisation which has a large exposure to newspapers. Assessing media concentration by looking at the ownership of newspapers in the digital age is a deeply embarrassing and totally inappropriate measurement.
US comedy-drama The Sex Lives of College Girls has been renewed for Season 2.

Created by Mindy Kaling and Justin Noble, the series follows four college roommates as they arrive at Essex College. A bundle of contradictions and hormones, these girls are described as equal parts loveable and infuriating as they live out their new, free lives on campus.

The series stars Pauline Chalamet, Amrit Kaur, Renee Rapp, and Alyah Chanelle Scott.

Mindy Kaling and Justin Noble have created and written a show that is full of heart, female friendships, and awkward naked parties, said Sarah Aubrey, head of original content at HBO Max. We are delighted that this comic, honest portrayal of the college condition has resonated for everyone, whether they had sex in college or not. We cant wait to see where these uniquely complex yet relatable characters will go next.

It screens in Australia on Binge.

Source: Variety
Update:

Weather has prevented Studio 10s Daniel Doody from travelling to Antarctica for a second time, and unfortunately he will no longer be going.

Next week he will explore Hobart and surrounds for 10.

Its a shame but safety is paramount, he said. The weather in Antarctica is unpredictable and this season Mother Nature wasnt going to play nice. Australian Antarctica Division has ensured Studio 10 will be back next year. So until then Im going to practice my Happy Feet routine!

Earlier:

Studio 10 reporter Daniel Doody will broadcast from Antarctica on Monday in a rare television Live cross.

Doody was granted access from the Australian Antarctica division media program but the young father had to undergo 14 days of quarantine in Hobart first -just 6 weeks after the birth of his second child, Arlo.

When he broke the news to his wife some months ago, he wasnt sure how it would be received.

When I told her that most likely Id be going to Antarctica at the end of the year there was a bit of a pause, he told TV Tonight.

There was a little bit of a tear down her cheek and then a hug. She was like, No, thats okay. Youve got to do it. Youre never going to get this opportunity.

But there was also a last minute hitch.

Doody was due to fly on Wednesday from Hobart to Wilkins aerodrome, about a four and a half hour flight, before another three and a half hours by terra bus to Casey Station. But bad weather has pushed that trip back to today.

Still he appreciates the importance of taking every precaution and quarantine.

Each station has one doctor and a couple of medical assistants who usually look up up to around 200 people. So the thought of COVID coming into Antarctica would be quite disastrous, he said,

I guess thats why theyre making sure that they take every precaution necessary.

It is tough, I miss my family. But Ive been Facetiming them every single day and keeping occupied because Im preparing for this fantastic trip.

Its not the first time an Australian crew has broadcast from Antarctica, but it is rare, with Sunrise and Totally Wild having visited before, while Australia Live in 1998 included a satellite cross.

Joining Doody is camera operator Owen Wynne. Both will spend around a week in Antarctica, filing for Studio 10.

Weve got a whole team on the ground (in Sydney) supporting us at Studio 10, helping us with graphics and scripts.

Ill be reporting on the amazing work that goes on there by the expeditioners that are working as part of the Australian Antarctic Division, he explained.

Whatever I see through my eyes, the viewers will see.

Its pretty special moment to take in and hopefully it will be spectacular. Im sure its going to be very cold!

Doody has been with Studio 10 for just over a year, having moved from ABC, but Antarctica is well up on his list of career highlights.

Im absolutely loving it. Its such an amazing show. The people behind the scenes, the team, the producers, the crew in the control room, camera operators everyone is just so amazing. And under the helm of Tamara, whos my boss, Im really enjoying my time now. Ive been learning loads. Ive been making mistakes, but Ive been learning from them! he said.

Im looking forward to seeing what 2022 will bring.

Studio 10 airs 8am weekdays on 10.
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Most Read from Bloomberg

The European Central Bank is studying whether to tweak how it reinvests its emergency bond purchases to help countries weather future moments of market turmoil, according to officials with knowledge of the matter.

The Governing Council could expand the period of time in which it rolls over maturing securities and apply more flexibility to the geographic allocation of such buying in the so-called PEPP measure, said the people, who spoke on condition of anonymity as such discussions are confidential.

They added that no decisions have been taken. An ECB spokesman declined to comment on future determinations by policy makers.

Such a move might address the concerns of Governing Council members on the need to have a tool available to use in times of market stress after the experience of the pandemic forced them into creating PEPP.

Tweaking that program could be one among a number of decisions the Governing Council considers as it ponders the future of stimulus after the scheduled end of net emergency purchases in March. Its Dec. 16 meeting has been slated as a key moment to determine the parameters of bond-buying.

Maturing debt held in the PEPP is currently slated to be reinvested until at least the end of 2023, according to the rules governing the program.

Market Disappointment

German bonds extended gains, while Italian peers pared their advance amid disappointment over the potential tweaks. This pushed the Germanys 10-year yield premium over Italian counterparts to 137bps, almost the widest since November last year.

If the hawks get their way and the only change is an increase in PEPP reinvestment flexibility, it will be like getting this fake Lego set that isnt compatible with the others for Christmas, markets will be disappointed, said Antoine Bouvet, a strategist at ING Groep NV.

Story continues

What Bloomberg Economics Says...

Tweaking PEPP reinvestments might help at the margins, but faced with renewed financial dislocations in the euro area, it would be weak tea.

--Jamie Rush, chief European economist

A tweak to the tool could however prove a consolation for Greece. Its ambition to become eligible for conventional quantitative easing is likely to be dashed, the people said.

The countrys exclusion from the ECBs normal stimulus tool, the Asset Purchase Program, dates from its inception. The measure sets minimum levels for credit ratings that Greece has yet to meet, a rule reflecting the overarching requirement as set out in the European Union treaty to avoid monetary financing.

Interviewed by Bloomberg Television in October, Bank of Greece Governor Yannis Stournaras cited very substantial progress in its economy and said its possible inclusion in the APP would be discussed in due course by the Governing Council.

Its true that Greece does not have investment grade yet, but Im sure that if we didnt have the pandemic, investment grade in Greece would have been restored, he said then.

(Updates with economist reactions from eighth paragraph.)

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2021 Bloomberg L.P.
(Bloomberg) -- Eisler Capital, a $4.5 billion hedge fund firm, has struck a deal to acquire Neil Phillipss Glen Point Capital in a rare consolidation in the industry.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The deal will bolster Eislers assets by $1.5 billion, bring in a new trading team and add three funds to aid the firms transformation into a multi-strategy investment platform. Financial details of the deal, which is expected to close by the end of March, were not disclosed.

Hedge funds, traditionally built around and by individual traders, have tended to shy away from mergers and acquisitions. But with rising pressure on fees, spiraling costs and a preference by many investors for larger, more established players, an increasing number of them are either shrinking or going out of business. A few are joining bigger platforms.

The two London-based firms both started in 2015 and trace their roots back to macro trading. Eisler has been expanding into other strategies in a bid to compete with industry giants such as Millennium Management and Citadel for capital and talent.

This transaction will further expand our macro and emerging markets capabilities, Ed Eisler, chief investment officer and founder of Eisler Capital, said in an emailed statement.

Phillips, who started Glen Point with his former BlueBay Asset Management colleague Jonathan Fayman and money from investors including billionaire George Soros, said he was looking forward to capitalizing on all the benefits of joining a larger business.

Glen Point, which once managed $3.8 billion, currently runs three strategies focused on global macro, emerging market fixed income, and emerging market relative value opportunities. Eisler uses discretionary and systematic trading to bet on directional, relative value, mean reversion and volatility trading opportunities across all asset classes.

Story continues

As part of the deal, the three Glen Point funds will continue operating and Phillips will also manage money for Eisler funds. A majority of Glen Points 31 employees are expected to join Eislers team of 124 staff.

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2021 Bloomberg L.P.
Burkina Faso Prime Minister Christophe Joseph Marie Dabire has stood down from his position, taking the entire government with him, amid mounting protests against their inability to control a wave of jihadist attacks that have killed thousands.

President Roch Marc Christian Kabore, who had already changed his military leadership over the security crisis, accepted Dabire's resignation by presidential decree.

Under Burkina Faso's law, the resignation of a prime minister also requires the resignation of the entire government.

After leaving his post, Dabire called on citizens to "support the president ... and the new executive that will be put in place".

"I remain convinced that through united action we will be able to meet the challenges our country and our people are facing," he wrote in a post on Facebook.

Rising wave of attacks

However the outgoing administration will be required to remain in a caretaker capacity until a new one is formed, government secretary general Stephane Wenceslas Sanou said, reading out the decree on public television.

Dabire resignation comes after the president last month stressed the need for a "stronger" cabinet on the eve of anti-government protests over the jihadist violence.

Kabore appointed Dabire in early 2019 as part of a reshuffle coinciding with a rising wave of jihadist attacks.

He was reappointed in January 2021, after the president was re-elected for his second and last term.

Dabire was previously Burkina Faso's representative at the eight-nation West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA), and in the 1990s served as minister to former president Blaise Compaore, partly at a time when Kabore himself was prime minister.

Jihadist attacks have become increasingly regular and in Burkina Faso, killing 2,000 people and displacing 1.4 million others from their homes.

Groups linked to Al-Qaeda and the so-called Islamic State group have plagued the landlocked Sahel nation since 2015.

Story continues

Anti-government protests

Burkina Faso is one of the world's poorest countries and its armed forces are ill-equipped to tackle highly mobile jihadists.

Attacks targeting civilians and soldiers are increasingly frequent, and the vast majority take place in the north and east, spreading from neighbouring Mali.

In mid-November, at least 57 people, 53 of them gendarmes, were killed in an attack on a police post in the country's north.

In late November, around 10 people were hurt when the security forces using teargas dispersed a rally in the capital Ouagadougou protesting at Kabore's security policies.

A French military convoy on its way to Niger and then on to Mali was blocked for several days, caught up in the protests in Burkina Faso, where locals blamed the French forces for not doing enough.

France has 5,100 troops in the Sahel under its Barkhane operation, which spans five countries: Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger.

While it has killed many top jihadist leaders, violence has continued to intensify and spread in the region.

On 10 June, President Emmanuel Macron announced a major drawdown of Frances military presence in the Sahel, where forces have been battling jihadist insurgents for nearly a decade.

(with AFP)
Corporal John Thompson (PA) (PA Wire)

One of the most decorated soldiers of the modern era has sold his medals for 150,000.

Sergeant Major John Thompson, 43, has fought off enemy forces in Afghanistan and Iraq and has been repeatedly recognised for his bravery in combat and for saving the lives of his comrades.

He put his medals, including a rare Afghanistan 2007 Battle of the Sluice Gate Conspicuous Gallantry Cross (CGC), up for sale and they fetched a record price at London-based Dix Noonan Webb when they were snapped up by a private collector.

The Royal Marine Commando, who now lives in Barnstaple, said: Im a single parent of a six, eight and a 21-year-old and the money will enable me to provide the best opportunities for them as they grow up.

The medals belonging to Sgt Major John Thompson (left to right) the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross awarded in 2007; General Service medal, 1962-2007  for service in Northern Ireland; Operational Service Medal 2000  for service in Afghanistan; Iraq medal 2003-11; Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal; Accumulated Campaign Service Medal 2011; Royal Navy Long Service and Good Conduct Medal.

Being a father is the most important role Ive ever had, which I didnt fully appreciate when I was running around Iraq and Afghanistan, and Im doing this for them.

Initially when I thought about selling them I felt quite anxious but ultimately Im quite content to sell them because I know theyll stay in a cherished collection.

At the end of the day, the greatest thing for me is not the medals, it is that my children know their daddy is a hero.

Sgt Maj Thompson, who was born in Dunfermline, Fife, but has lived most of his life in Devon, joined the Royal Marines in 1998.

The items, which include Thompsons unpublished memoir, maps, photographs, paintings, letters and news clippings, go on sale on December 8.

After training, he joined the 40 Commando Royal Marines and was deployed to Northern Ireland in 2000.

In 2003, he received a Mentioned in Despatches medal for exceptional gallantry after he rescued colleagues in his Delta Company who had become surrounded by enemy forces at Al Yahudia, Iraq.

He was then given the CGC after his entire company was ambushed by the Taliban in Habibollah Kalay, in the Helmand province of Afghanistan, in January 2007.

During the prolonged battle, when ammunition was running low, Sgt Maj Thompson stayed in the killing area and opened fire on five separate enemy points, making himself the focus of the shooting and allowing his team to dismount.

Story continues

He suffered burst eardrums in the process due how close he was to the RPG and machine gun fire, but his selfless and courageous actions led the company to win the firefight.

A print of Gordon Rushmores watercolour painting of Thompson entitled, Corporal Tommo Thompson RM, CGC is also up for grabs in the auction.

Christopher Mellor-Hill, associate director of Dix Noonan Webb, said: Tommos amazing Conspicuous Gallantry Cross group is markedly different from most of the others in that not only was he awarded the CGC for gallantry in Afghanistan but he had been previously awarded the MID gallantry award of a Silver Oak Leaf on his Iraq medal for being Mentioned in Despatches.

This makes him one of only a handful of men to have been decorated twice for gallantry in Iraq and Afghanistan and shows that this bravery was in his character as well as a reflection and credit upon on his fellow Royal Marines in those actions and this has been reflected in it making this a record auction price for a CGC group of medals.

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The National Institute for the Study of Transfer Students (NISTS) will host its annual conference as a pair of events in February. An in-person conference is set for Feb. 2-4 in St. Louis, with a virtual option Feb. 23-24.

The theme for the events is "From Moment to Movement: Shaping the Future of Transfer." Registration is open on the NISTS Conference webpage.

"Improving transfer outcomes was already a hot topic, but the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, coupled with continued calls for social justice, have cast even more light on the profound impact seemingly small moments can have on transfer students' trajectories," Emily Kittrell, associate director of NISTS, said. "We're seizing this unprecedented opportunity to cast a unified vision for eliminating all potential friction points in the transfer pathway."

NISTS's annual conference events will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the organization. UNG President Bonita Jacobs founded the institute in response to a lack of professional development opportunities and research literature focused specifically on transfer students. The institute is based on UNG's Dahlonega Campus.

The 2022 in-person conference marks the first time in recent years the conference will be outside of Atlanta. That shift, combined with the virtual option, aims to extend access.

"We must do everything we can to ensure that transfer students are a priority and that they have equitable access to the resources and support they need to achieve their goals," Kittrell said. "It's critical this conversation reach as many higher education professionals as possible."

Participants in the in-person conference will have access to any virtual conference activities.

NISTS will present the following awards at the conference:

Bonita C. Jacobs Transfer Champion-Catalyst

Bonita C. Jacobs Transfer Champion-Rising Star

Research Grant

Transfer Student Ambassadors

Each year, about 20% of UNG's new students are transfers. The prevalence of transfer students at UNG mirrors national trends as 2.1 million undergraduate students transferred between July 2020 and June 2021, according to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center.

The 2023 NISTS Conference will be held in Portland, Oregon, and the 2024 event will return to St. Louis.
The US Senate rejected a resolution on Tuesday that would have prohibited the proposed sale of advanced medium range air-to-air missiles, missile launchers and other weapons and support to Saudi Arabia, Middle East Eye writes.

The vote was 67 to 30 against the resolution, which was introduced by Republicans Rand Paul and Mike Lee, as well as Bernie Sanders, who caucuses with Democrats. While many US lawmakers consider Saudi Arabia an important partner in the Middle East, members of Congress have also criticised the country for its involvement in the war in Yemen, a conflict considered one of the world's worst humanitarian disasters, and for its human rights record.

Saudi Arabia is currently facing weekly ballistic missile and drone strikes launched by Yemen's Houthi rebels. Last week, Timothy Lenderking, the US special envoy for Yemen, said that the Houthis had deployed nearly 400 such attacks this year. The US missiles approved on Tuesday will be used to arm the kingdom's fighter jets as they battle the Houthis' aerial barrage. Earlier on Tuesday, the Wall Street Journal reported that Riyadh has also urgently requested hundreds more Patriot interceptors from the US, as well as from Gulf and European allies, with its arsenal said to be worryingly low.

In a speech urging support for the resolution of disapproval, Sanders said: "Exporting more missiles to Saudi Arabia does nothing but further this conflict and pour more gasoline on already raging fire."

The weapons package, which was earlier approved by the State Department, and by leaders of the Senate and House foreign affairs committees, would include 280 AIM-120C-7/C-8 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) and 596 LAU-128 Missile Rail Launchers (MRL).

Those opposing the package have refused to approve military sales to the kingdom without assurances US equipment would not be used to kill civilians, Reuters reported.

Backers of the sale say that US President Joe Biden's administration has already barred US sales of offensive weapons to Saudi Arabia. "I completely agree with the need to hold Saudi leadership accountable for a variety of actions... but I also believe that it is important that our security partners know that we will uphold our commitments," said Democratic Senator Bob Menendez, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

'Undermine the president's commitment'

A Saudi-led coalition intervened in Yemen in March 2015 after the rebel Houthi movement ousted the government from the capital, Sanaa. In February, Biden announced the end of US support for the coalition's offensive operations, in a major policy reversal from the previous administration that may alter the course of the conflict.

However, the Biden administration said earlier on Tuesday that it strongly opposed the resolution. Passage "would undermine the president's commitment to aid in our partner's defences at a time of increased missile and drone attacks against civilians in Saudi Arabia," the White House Office of Management of Budget said in a statement.

The Yemen conflict is described by the United Nations as the worst humanitarian crisis in the world, with the majority of Yemenis dependent on aid and millions facing hunger. A UN report published last month projected that the death toll from the war will reach 377,000 by the end of 2021, including those killed as a result of indirect and direct causes.
Iran has become a hub for Afghan migrants looking to escape hardships brought by the Taliban's (movement prohibited in Russia) takeover, with the country deporting over one million Afghans as of November 21, according to the Associated Press.

Newsweek writes that many hopeful migrants start in Afghanistan's western city of Herat, then make the treacherous 300-mile journey south through deserts and mountains, where they cross into Pakistan, then Iran. The International Organization for Migration found that Iran's number of deportations as of the end of November is 30 percent higher than the total number of deportations in 2020. Iran has had to send back an average of 20,000 to 30,000 Afghans per week, the AP reported.

Among a host of other issues, the August Taliban takeover ceased all international donor fundsone of Afghanistan's main income sources, the AP reported. This has left hundreds of thousands of state employees with no income and has made many jobs disappear, as there is no more funding for them.

An anonymous smuggler in Herat told the Associated Press that since the Taliban takeover, she has been moving about 300 people per week, a dramatic increase from her pre-takeover numbers of 50 to 60 per week. "The country is destroyed so people have to leave," she said. "I feel like I'm doing the right thing. If some poor person asks me, I can't refuse them. I ask God to help me help them."

Every day, multiple buses rumble out of Afghanistan's western city of Herat, carrying hundreds of people to the border. There they disembark, connect with their smugglers and trek for days, sometimes crammed into pickup trucks bumping through wastelands, sometimes on foot through treacherous mountains in the darkness, eluding guards and thieves. Once in Iran, most will stay there to look for work. But a few hope to go farther. "We're going to get to Europe," said Haroun, a 20-year-old sitting in the bus next to his friend Fuad. Back in their village, there is no work. "We have no choice, the economy here is a wreck. Even if it means our death on the way, we accept that."

Afghans are streaming across the border into Iran in accelerating numbers, driven by desperation. Since the Taliban takeover in mid-August, Afghanistan's economic collapse has accelerated, robbing millions of work and leaving them unable to feed their families. In the past three months, more than 300,000 people have crossed illegally into Iran, according to the Norwegian Refugee Council, and more are coming at the rate of 4,000 to 5,000 a day.

The European Union is now bracing for a potential swell in Afghans trying to reach its shores at a time when EU nations are determined to lock down against migrants in general. So far, a post-Taliban surge of Afghan migrants to Europe hasn't materialized. Afghan entries into the EU have "remained mostly stable," according to an EU weekly migration report from Nov. 21. The report noted that some Afghans who arrived in Italy from Turkey in November told authorities they had fled their country after the Taliban takeover.

But a significant portion of migrants likely intend to stay in Iran, which is struggling to shut its doors. It already hosts more than 3 million Afghans who fled their homeland during the past decades of turmoil.
Main attention of the Lithuanian media has been focused on migrant crises and security issues for several weeks. This problem has become also a good reason to once again draw the attention of the population to the need of increasing defense capabilities, Modern Diplomacy writes.

This problem has become a good excuse for further increasing of the armed forces funding, new purchases in the defense sector. Talks, meetings, visits as usually ended with the promises to support the country on condition of increasing military spending by Lithuania itself. And Lithuanian agree without hesitation. Although it would be worth thinking.

Finance Minister Gintare Skaiste told a press conference the day before that this would raise defence spending from 2.03% in 2021 to 2.05% in 2022, Lithuanian Radio and Television (LRT) reported on its website on 11 October. She added that Lithuanian political parties support the gradual increase of defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2030. These numbers are not only in the files. These are million of euros! Only this year the national defence spending is about EUR 1.017 billion or 2.02% of GDP. Next year the planned amount is EUR1.176 billion.

It should be noted that the recipients of this money will be the Ministry of Defene, and not the The State Border Guard Service at the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Lithuania, which would be logical in this situation. The more so, not only the State Border Guard Service urgently needs more funding.

The situation for pensioners in Lithuania is more difficult than ever. The pension they receive is not enough, says Grasilda Makareviciene, President of the Lithuanian Association of Elderly Persons. According to Grasilda Makareviciene, there are different retirees. There are pensioners who worked in the government, they receive good pensions, but it is very difficult for an ordinary pensioner to survive. Moreover, now, during this period of the pandemia, medicines are very expensive. And prices went up significantly. Even potato, which is the main product of pensioners, have risen in price, G. Makareviciene told LNK. She mentioned the absence of sufficient number of clinics in small towns and villages.

G. Makareviciene noted that pensioners are already angry and they are on the brink of despair. She bitterly noted that when elderly people paid taxes and bought medicines, only from 70 to 100 euros remain for food. It should be said that every third person gets pension in Lithuania. It is awful, but about 30% of the elderly in the country live in poverty.

Do the authorities wait for Covid-19 to kill a large number of elderly people and thus, there would be no need to take measures and pay more pensioners, Modern Diplomacy asks.
Initial acquaintance with the minefield maps provided by Armenia gives the impression of their inaccuracy, Chairman of the Board of the Mine Action Agency of Azerbaijan (ANAMA) Vugar Suleymanov said.

According to Suleymanov, last week the Armenian side handed over to the Azerbaijani side the forms for maps of minefields in the rest of the liberated territories of Azerbaijan.

"The minefield forms usually indicate the coordinates of the terrain, the types of mines installed, their number, the distance between them, information on the order of location, and camouflage. However, the first acquaintance with the maps of minefields creates the impression that they are invalid, unusable, and inaccurate," he said.

The head of the agency said that the Armenian side claims that it handed over the forms covering all minefields in order to evade responsibility in the framework of relevant international court cases. "But we have serious doubts that the forms submitted by the Armenian side fully reflect the situation with mines in all the liberated territories," Suleymanov said.

He added that the Mine Action Agency and the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan are already analyzing and processing the forms. "After that, the data will be transferred to maps and checked for consistency and accuracy," he said.

It is noted that the accuracy of the data previously provided by Armenia on minefields in Aghdam, Fuzuli, and Zangilan districts amounted to 25%. After a comprehensive analysis of the forms, the public will be additionally informed about how accurate they are and what areas they cover.
Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke to his Iranian counterpart Ebrahim Raisi over the phone on Wednesday.

The two leaders discussed regional issues and steps to strengthen bilateral ties, according to Turkeys Directorate of Communications.

Erdogan and Raisi agreed to comprehensively improve relations when they met last month at the 15th Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) summit in Turkmenistans capital Ashgabat, Anadolu agency reported.

Turkeys Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu also visited Tehran in October, where he met his Iranian counterpart Ahmad Vahidi and signed a memorandum of understanding to enhance security cooperation.
The Georgian Foreign Ministry has reiterated that Georgia will not be present at a regional meeting scheduled for December 10 in Moscow in the so-called 3+3 format proposed by Turkey and Iran in 2020 which includes Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia.

The ministry said earlier that despite refusal to participate in this regional initiative, it offers Azerbaijan and Armenia its own format of discussions to keep the peace in the region.

Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani also underscored that Georgias engagement in this regional platform will be very hard when we see no process towards de-occupation, noting that sovereignty and territorial integrity are red lines for the Georgian government, TASS reported.

The Deputy Foreign Ministers of Azerbaijan, Armenia, Russia, Iran and Turkey will attend the meeting in Moscow on December 10.
Iran is ready to start cooperation with Azerbaijan and Russia in the field of synchronization of power grids, Iranian Energy Minister Ali Akbar Mehrabian said during a meeting with Azerbaijani Ambassador to Iran Ali Alizade.

The minister said that Azerbaijan has done a great job, deserving of appreciation, in the field of energy, including gas production and electricity production.

According to Mehrabian, Iran and Azerbaijan have a long history of relations in the water and energy spheres. "It is necessary to maximize the potential through constant dialogues on the border rivers of the two countries. Azerbaijan and Iran can further develop economic exchanges, including water and energy," said Mehrabian.

He noted that the focus is on the improvement of the "Gyz Galasy", "Khudaferin" hydroelectric complexes and hydroelectric power plants on the Araz River.

"According to the latest information, equipment for hydroelectric power plants has been purchased and delivered to the site. Iran is ready to continue and develop the exchange of electricity with Azerbaijan. In addition, a study was completed on the exchange of electricity between Iran, Azerbaijan and Russia. Iran is ready to start cooperation with Azerbaijan and Russia in the field of synchronization of power grids. Taking into account the different times of peak electricity consumption in summer and winter in the three countries, it is possible to increase the transit of electricity in various forms," the minister added.
The positions of Russia and China look constructive in the talks on returning to the nuclear deal in Vienna, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian said. He also noted that the Western participants had not made worthwhile offers.

"To date, we have not received any constructive and far-sighted proposals from the opposite side, and this contradicts their statements about the seriousness of their intentions in the negotiations", he said during telephone conversations with the head of EU diplomacy Josep Borrell.

The diplomat said those words, "criticizing the continued inaction of the West in the Vienna dialogue" noted the press service of the Iranian Foreign Service.

It is specified that "the Iranian Foreign Minister has criticized the positions and statements of three European countries <...>, calling them destructive", TASS reports.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in a telephone conversation with his Armenian counterpart Ararat Mirzoyan on Wednesday that it was necessary to ensure that the delimitation of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border was launched as soon as possible, the Russian Foreign Ministry said

According to the statement, the foreign ministers discussed a set of bilateral, regional and international issues, paying particular attention to the progress in implementing the Sochi agreements of November 26, 2021 reached by the leaders of Azerbaijan, Armenia and Russia.

The Russian ministry said Lavrov emphasized the need to ensure that the delimitation of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border with its subsequent demarcation started as soon as possible. He also called for unblocking transport and economic ties between the two countries.
Today Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Maria Zakharova commented for Vestnik Kavkaza on the visit of a representative delegation of the Astrakhan region, headed by the Governor Igor Babushkin, to Azerbaijan, stressing that Moscow welcomes the strengthening of ties between Russian regions and the Republic of Azerbaijan.

"According to our estimates, the visit was very successful. The head of the region was received by the President of Azerbaijan and the Minister of Economy, the opening ceremony of the Astrakhan business center took place in Baku, the Azerbaijani side was represented at this ceremony by the Deputy Prime Minister of the country. Following the visit, a program of measures to develop cooperation between the government of the Astrakhan region and the government of the Republic of Azerbaijan for the next 2022 was signed," she said first of all.

Maria Zakharova stressed the importance of ties between Russian regions and neighboring countries for Moscow. "We attach great importance, as you know, to the development of interregional ties with other countries and the development of border ties of our regions, in particular, with Azerbaijan", the diplomat said.

"Trade and economic cooperation with this country is supported by 73 constituent entities of the Russian Federation, and 18 of them have agreements with Azerbaijan on trade, economic, scientific, technical and cultural cooperation," the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

"The site of the Russian-Azerbaijan Regional Forum is in great demand. Next year it should be held in Azerbaijan for the 11th time," Maria Zakharova concluded.
The first meeting of the cooperation platform in the 3 + 3 format "to ensure peace and stability" in the South Caucasus will be held on December 10 in Moscow, according to the Turkish Foreign Ministry.

"The first meeting of the regional cooperation platform in the 3 + 3 format, put forward by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to ensure lasting peace and stability in the South Caucasus, will be held in Moscow on December 10, 2021," the ministry said in a statement.

"The meeting, which will be attended by the Deputy Minister Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan, Armenia, Russia and Iran, Turkey will be represented by the Deputy Foreign Minister Ambassador Sedat Onal," the statement reads.

Yesterday, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said that Yerevan would take part in "a preliminary meeting of the working group in the 3+3 format - or, possibly, 3+2 format, which will be held on December 10 in Moscow.
Oil prices climbed by about 4% on Tuesday, extending the previous days almost 5% rebound on easing concerns over the impact of the Omicron coronavirus variant on global fuel demand.

Brent crude futures were up $2.89, or 4%, at $75.97 a barrel by 12.36 p.m. ET (1736 GMT), having earlier touched a session high of $76.27. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude rose $3.17, or 4.6%, to $72.66, building on a 4.9% gain in the previous session.

Oil prices were pummelled last week by concerns that vaccines might be less effective against the new Omicron variant, sparking fears that governments could impose fresh restrictions to curb its spread and hit global growth and oil demand, Euronews reported.

However, a South African health official reported over the weekend that Omicron cases there had shown only mild symptoms while the top U.S. infectious disease official, Anthony Fauci, also said there did not appear to be a great degree of severity with the variant so far.

In another sign of confidence in oil demand, the worlds top exporter, Saudi Arabia, raised monthly crude prices on Sunday. That came after the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies, a group known as OPEC+, last week agreed to continue raising output by 400,000 barrels per day (bpd) in January despite the release of U.S. strategic petroleum reserves.

Oil prices were also supported by delays to the return of Iranian oil, with indirect nuclear talks between the United States and Iran having hit stumbling blocks. Germany urged Iran on Monday to present realistic proposals in talks over its nuclear programme.
Russia has to respond to any sanctions in order to protect its interests, the press secretary of the Russian President Dmitry Peskov said.

At the same time, a representative of official Moscow left unanswered the question of whether the Russian side has a draft law on the Russian Federation counter-sanctions against Western countries if they introduce new restrictions. I dont think it [the question] is correct, he said, TASS reports.

Besides, Peskov noted that "any sanctions should be responded to either in a mirror or assymetrical manner, but in a way that protects your own interests".
Russian President Vladimir Putin is hoping that his Iranian counterpart Ebrahim Raisi will visit Russia early next year.

"I hope that my invitation will be accepted by the Iranian president and that he will be able to visit Russia early next year," Putin told a press conference on Wednesday.

Russia will give Iran details of how the dialogue with the U.S. side on the Joint Comprehension Plan of Action on the Iranian nuclear program is going on, he said.

"We'll continue discussing this subject during the possible visit by the Iranian president to Russia early next year," Interfax cited Putin as saying.
Migrants from the countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States who want to work in the Russian Federation should prepare for work in Russia when they are still at home. This statement was made by Russian President Vladimir Putin at the meeting of the Council for the Development of Civil Society and Human Rights.

Valery Fadeev, the chairman of the Council for the Development of Civil Society and Human Rights, said in his report that there was no evidence that the economy, including construction, needed migrants. In this regard, the head of state pointed out that Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin regularly provides such information, especially on the construction industry.

"But I fully agree with those who express concerns in this regard. There is a need to work together with colleagues from the CIS, we need to ensure that those people who would like to come to our country to work are already preparing for this trip in their homeland, they studied the language, our legislation, they would know their rights, the customs of our people", TASS quotes the Russian leader.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that Moscow had not recalled Russian Ambassador Sergey Kopyrkin from Armenia.

Let us remind you that on December 4, the Armenian newspaper "Hraparak", citing sources, reported that Kopyrkin had been recalled from Yerevan.

Zakharova demanded that the newspaper refute this information

"The day after tomorrow, they must publish a refutation, because they published a fake. This is not true, this is disinformation. The information does not correspond to reality, our ambassador continues to work and carry out the tasks set by the country's leadership", Zakharova said.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that Moscow expected the earlt formation of delegations from Baku and Yerevan to create a commission on the delimitation of borders between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

"As it was agreed in Sochi on November 26 this year, it is important to work towards the establishment of a bilateral commission for the delimitation of borders between Azerbaijan and Armenia. We also expect the early formation of the national delegations of the two countries to the commission", TASS quotes her.

Zakharova reminded that that work was continuing on unlocking economic and transport links in the South Caucasus. She also said that the agreements on the outcome of the meeting of the heads of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia in Sochi confirmed the readiness of countries to normalize the situation in the region.

"The Sochi agreements at the highest level have become a confirmation of the readiness of the leaderships of Azerbaijan and Armenia to take further steps to normalize, and we are working towards their consistent implementation in contacts with both Baku and Yerevan, including the border disputes settlement, unblocking transport links in the South Caucasus ", the representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs added.
Third president of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili, who was detained on October 1 based on several criminal charges, wont be able to attend the court on December 9 for health reasons.

Saakashvili wrote on Facebook earlier today that the only reason he definitely wanted to come was to encourage and support people who had suffered for months because of him, Agenda.ge reported.

Saakashvili, who considers himself a political prisoner and is currently undergoing treatment at Gori military hospital after 50-days of hunger strike, has first attended the trial hearing on November 29. Having served as the countrys third president from 2004 to 2013, Saakashvili was sentenced to six years imprisonment in two cases in absentia in 2018, along with several other offences, including illegal seizure of property, embezzlement, illegal rally dispersal, and illegal border crossing.
Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagheri Ghalibaf said that the comprehensive document on cooperation between Iran and Turkey is finalizing.

"Iran and Turkey have very good and expandable bilateral relations," Ghalibaf said at Tehran's Mehrabad airport while talking to reporters before embarking on a trip to Turkey to attend the 16th Parliamentary Union of the OIC Member States conference.

"The document on comprehensive cooperation between Iran and Turkey is being finalized, and we will use the opportunity that the two-day trip provides to talk to the [Turkish] authorities in this regard for further coordination," Mehr cited him as saying.

According to Ghalibaf, Iran and Turkey have a lot of cooperation in the region and on the international stage, which can be very effective.

He described the meeting with Turkish businessmen as another part of his travel programs, saying, they "plan to consult with Turkish businessmen who have invested in Iran to facilitate bilateral economic relations."

The Iranian parliament speaker further noted that achieving the goal of expanded bilateral relations requires enhanced regional and international security.
The United States will send a high-ranking delegation to the UAE to warn Emirati businesses about the risks they are exposing themselves to due to their trade with Iran,

which has come under American sanctions in connection with Tehran's withdrawal from the terms of the nuclear deal.

The Wall Street Journal writes about this, citing representatives of the US Department of State and Department Treasury.

The United States side will warn the UAE business community that the country records "transactions that run counter to the sanctions".

It is noted that banks and companies that continue to trade with Iran despite sanctions "will put themselves at great risk".
Johann Wadephul, deputy chairman of the parliamentary faction of the former German Chancellor Angela Merkel of the CDU / CSU, which has gone into opposition, proposed to include the "Nord Stream 2" gas pipeline project in the package of Western sanctions to restrain Russia due to the situation in Ukraine.He announced the corresponding initiative in an interview to the editorial association Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland published today.

The oppositionist expressed the opinion that the dispute over "NS 2" turned out to be a serious stumbling block in relations between Berlin and Washington, and called on the new chancellor Olaf Scholz to prepare a unified political line on this issue, as well as promptly "develop a convincing communication strategy" for the American side.

Wadephul believes that "North Stream-2" should be included in the package of sanctions to be adopted by the West if an armed conflict occurs between Russia and Ukraine. "In this case, Germanys energy partnership with Russia has to be carefully studied", the politician clarified.

As Vladimir Olenchenko, a senior researcher of the Centre for European Studies of IMEMO RAS, noted in an interview with Vestnik Kavkaza correspondent, in fact, no one is interested in shutting down Nord Stream 2 except the United States and its satellites in Europe, but there will be a struggle between political and economic interests for the launch of the pipeline in Germany.

The idea of rejection, non-acceptance of Nord Stream 2 comes from the United States for quite understandable reasons. The Americans want to reserve the gas market in Europe, primarily in Germany, since Germany is the largest economy in the European Union. Personally, this rhetoric is generated by senators and members of the House of Representatives who are part of the American energy lobby in the United States. Their task is to make American financial interests a common European political position. The first steps were easy enough for them to be taken through Poland and the Baltic countries, and now when Nord Stream 2 is ready, it is time for attempts to block the pipeline or prevent its operation in Germany itself," he said.

The United States has certain opportunities to put pressure on Berlin. There is a fairly broad pro-American lobby in Germany, which is ready to act in the interests of the United States, even to the detriment of national interests. This is probably the case when the Christian Democratic Party calls for stopping a profitable German Russian project. It is clear that the pretext is far-fetched, and the situation is artificial, but they will be used further, because the economic motive of the Americans about reserving the German gas market for themselves will not go anywhere. I think that everything that we see is a consequence of the activation of the pro-American lobby in Germany," Vladimir Olenchenko stressed.

"German business sticks to common sense, it needs Nord Stream 2 to work. After all, the gas that will come through this pipeline is not only providing the population with housing and communal services, but also raw materials for the German chemical industry. Politicians behave inconsistently, even German, and often forget about national interests when it becomes important for them to demonstrate the so-called "Euro-Atlantic solidarity. So the fight for "Nord Stream 2" between German and American interests will continue. German national interests will still prevail", the expert concluded.
According to the Ministry of Public Security, there are 26,942 pawnshops in Vietnam, with nearly 40,500 employees. Over 11,300 pawnshops have been found to be involved in black credit services.

In 2021, a total of 1,047 criminal cases related to black credit were detected, involving 1,718 people. As many as 554 cases were prosecuted and 375 were handled administratively. Regarding usury, the police prosecuted 539 cases.

Hao Hao and De Nhat instant noodles recalled in France

According to French authorities, the two products have been recalled for containing a number of substances exceeding the permissible limit, affecting the health of consumers. Specifically, they contain 2-chloroethanol (2-CE) that exceeds the permissible limit according to standards of the European Union. The French authorities requested the recall to be completed before January 31, 2022. The recalled batches in France have expiry dates in March, May, August and September 2022.

Environmental protection tax on jet fuel of VND1,000 proposed

The environmental protection tax reduction for jet fuel should be reduced to VND1,000 per liter and should be applied in 2022, according to the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI)'s proposal to the Ministry of Finance.

According to VCCI, the complicated development of Covid-19 in 2021 has negatively affected the aviation industry, so it is necessary to reduce the environmental protection tax rate on jet fuel to support the industry during post-pandemic recovery.

This rate is lower than the Ministry of Finances plan of VND1,500 per liter (50% reduction compared to the current level of VND3,000 per liter).

FDI in Vinh Phuc exceeds US$1 billion

Total foreign investment capital of FDI projects in the northern province of Vinh Phuc has reached US$1,015 billion so far this year, up 50% year on year, despite the prolonged epidemic.

So far this year, the province has licensed 35 FDI projects with total investment capital of $880 million and allowed operational FDI projects to increase their investment capital, totaling $135 million. This is a record number compared to the milestone of $1,160 billion in 2019.

Currently, the province gives priority to investment in the fields of ICT, digital, nanotechnology, biotechnology, new environmentally friendly materials, electronic industry, telecommunications, and mechanical industry.

Vietnam's labor productivity is equivalent to 7.6% of Singapore's

Bui Quang Tuan, Director of the Vietnam Institute of Economics, said that although Vietnam's labor productivity has improved, it still lags behind and is low compared to other countries in the region.

Specifically, Vietnam's labor productivity in 2019, at current prices, reached VND110.5 million/worker ($4,792/workers), only 7.64% compared to that of Singapore; nearly 20% of Malaysia; nearly 38% of Thailand and nearly 46% of Indonesia, according to the World Bank's assessment.

PV
Vietnam's cold storage real estate segment to reach US$295 million in 2025

Vietnam's cold storage real estate segment is developing and is expected to reach $295 million in 2025 with a growth rate of 12 percent a year, according to real estate consultancy Savills Vietnam.

In spite of the increasing demand, the country had only 48 cold storage facilities with some 600,000 shelves and over 700 refrigerated trucks. The rental price increased rapidly from 52 USD in early last year to $87 per tonne this year.

Cold storage real estate in the southern provinces is considered to be more developed due to the robust demand for storage food, seafood and retail items. However, northern localities have seen a boom in cold

10 tonnes of star apples exported to US market

Ke Sach district in the Mekong Delta province of Soc Trang recently shipped four tonnes of star apples to the United Sates. Local export enterprises collected star fruits from farms throughout the locality at a price of VND30,000 per kg, before packing and preserving them for exports to the US.

At the current selling price, farmers are able to earn VND450 million annually, a figure 10 times higher than rice cultivation. At present, the province has exported a total of 10 tonnes of star fruit to this potential market. In order to export to the US, these farms are growing over 1,900 hectares of star apples, all of which have been verified and labeled with code stamps as a means of tracing their origins.

M&A deals boost VN logistics industry's competitiveness

Logistics enterprises are being forced to consider merger and acquisition (M&A) plans in order to increase their scale in terms of human resources, capital, and management skills to cope with the increasingly tough competition.

This comes after a series of M&A deals in the logistics sector were recently unveiled, with Duong Minh Logistic receiving capital of US$15 million from an unnamed foreign investor during the first half of the year. Similarly, after announcing the merger in late May, GoTo, Gojek, and Tokopedia said they would co-operate across three spheres, with priority being given to logistics and the nation being considered one of the major markets.

The Vietnamese logistics industry has attracted the participation of 4,000 domestic enterprises and 25 foreign corporations thanks to improved infrastructure and management technology. However, foreign investors continue to face a number of hurdles in terms of legal regulations, particularly as they are not allowed to hold more than 49% of shares in a public company.

Tra Vinh provides VND88.5 billion support package to SMEs

Tra Vinh Provincial People's Committee will support small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the province from 2022 to 2025 with a total budget of VND88.5 billion. With the project, the city set the target of having more than 2,000 new businesses established.

Sugarcane sector eyes prosperous year

The Vietnam Sugar and Sugarcane Association forecasts that the 2021-22 crop year will be a prosperous year for the domestic sugar industry thanks to efforts to control smuggling and anti-smugglimg and anti-subsidy duties imposed on sugar imported from Thailand.

The domestic wholesale price of sugar is currently more than VND20,000 (US$0.9) per kg, the highest price in the past five years. Prices have risen for various reasons. The global sugar price level rose sharply to $560 per tonne, nearly $100 higher than last year. In addition, the Ministry of Industry and Trade decided to impose anti-dumping and anti-subsidy duties on refined and raw sugar imported from Thailand after a surge in imports in 2020 hurt the local sugar industry.

Shares climb on the back of financial-banking stocks on Dec. 8

Vietnamese stock markets ended Wednesday on a positive note, largely led by gains in financial shares and heavy-weight stocks.

On the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange (HoSE), the market benchmark VN-Index gained 0.42 per cent to end at 1,452.87 points. It had gained 2.35 per cent to end Tuesday at 1,446.77 points. The market's breadth was neutral with 207 gainers and 222 losers. As many as 771 million shares were traded on the southern bourse, worth nearly VND21.6 trillion (US$941.8 million).

The VN30-Index, tracking the 30 biggest stocks on HoSE, gained 0.23 per cent to end at 1,516.16 points. Nineteen out of 30 stocks in the VN30 basket posted gains while 10 declined.

On the Ha Noi Stock Exchange (HNX), the HNX-Index rose 0.75 per cent, to 449.74 points. It had risen 2.42 per cent, to end Tuesday at 446.41 points. During the session, investors poured over VND3.15 trillion into the market, equivalent to a trading volume of 121.2 million shares.

HCM City wants to welcome foreign travelers back this month

The city has agreed with the Ministry of Transports proposal to resume international air routes and requested the Prime Minister to allow it to welcome international visitors from December 2021.

The city authorities said many local companies have developed plans to engage in the operation of international flights to/from Ho Chi Minh City via Tan Son Nhat International Airport. The city has 61 hotels with a total of 6,183 beds designated for quarantining incoming visitors and is to add new paid isolation sites. HCM City is capable of receiving foreign visitors and organizing concentrated medical isolation, said the document.

The city also proposed piloting regular international commercial flights to/from Tan Son Nhat International Airport in the first phase from December. It is considering entry conditions for incoming passengers with a vaccine passport from countries and regions.

Vietnam's agro-forestry-fishery exports in 2021 likely to exceed US$44 billion

Following robust export growth recorded in November, the agro-forestry-fishery sector is anticipated to rake in over US$47 billion from exports this year, US$5 billion higher compared to the set target by the Government.

The total import-export turnover of the agro-forestry-fishery industry throughout the 11-month period was estimated to stand at roughly US$82.67 billion, representing a year-on-year increase of 24.7%, of which exports surged by 14.2% to approximately US$43.5 billion.

With export turnover inching up by 14.2% to nearly US$43.5 billion during the reviewed period, the agricultural industry is likely to exceed the export target of US$44 billion this year.

Inaccurate information about China halting imports of local fruit and vegetables

The Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association (Vinafruit) have rejected information regarding China halting the import of Vietnamese fruit and vegetables for six weeks.

At present, China represents the largest import market for Vietnamese fruit and vegetables, with approximately 80% of the nations fruits and vegetables being shipped by sea.

However, the northern neighbour is in the process of tightening pandemic control measures through its "Zero COVID" strategy and has therefore made a decision to strictly enforce isolation regulations for crew members.

As a result of this policy, several shipment vessel operators through ports in southern China have decided to suspend services for at least six weeks during the Lunar New Year holiday. Due to this the transportation of goods through numerous seaports is set to become more difficult and put greater pressure on exports by road.

Furthermore, this will create difficulty for the export of fruit and vegetables to other countries and territories through transshipment ports located in southern China, not only for Vietnamese exports.

VN wants to boost export to South Africa

Representatives of over 120 Vietnamese enterprises operating in agriculture, food, and interior and exterior decoration participated in an online consultation session on export to South Africa on December 8.

According to head of the Vietnam Trade Office in South Africa Pham Thanh Hai, all Vietnamese products have an opportunity to enter the South African market because consumers in this southernmost African country are interested in foreign products. Vietnamese small and medium enterprises specialising in textiles and garment, bedding, vegetables and fresh fruit should seek opportunities to export their products to the country.

Two-way trade between Vietnam and South Africa reached over 1 billion USD in the first 10 months of 2021. The two countries are striving to lift their trade to 1.42 billion USD in the whole year. Typical products of Vietnam sold in the South African market are computers, phones, electronic components, footwear, pepper, cashew nuts, rice, and plastic.

Reference exchange rate down VND41 on Dec. 8

The State Bank of Vietnam set the daily reference exchange rate at 23,196 VND/USD on December 9, down 41 VND from the previous day. With the current trading band of +/-3 percent, the ceiling rate applicable to commercial banks during the day is 23,891 VND/USD and the floor rate 22,500 VND/USD.

Int'l industrial machinery expo to open in HCM City

The Vietnam International Exhibition on Industrial Machinery Equipment, Technology and Products, or VINAMAC Expo 2021, will be held at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Centre, Ho Chi Minh City, from December 15 to 18.

The exhibition with the theme Moving forward together will have more than 300 booths set up by 200 Vietnamese firms and foreign companies and international organisations from the Czech Republic, Germany, Russia, Switzerland, the Republic of Korea, China, Japan, and ASEAN member countries.

Besides showcasing industrial machinery and equipment, technology and products, the expo will also feature a seminar on Safe adaptation - Economic recovery after the pandemic towards green development and suitable for circular economy, a business forum on control and automation, a welding competition, business matchings, and technology and product introduction by associations and exhibitors.

Amcham businesses honoured for social activities

The American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) Vietnam on December 8 held an award ceremony honouring member companies and organisations with outstanding activities in corporate social responsibility (CSR) this year.

In the seventh year of the award, 39 companies supporting Vietnams COVID-19 fight were honoured, including 3M Vietnam, ActionAid, Citibank, Coca-Cola and ExxonMobil.

Amcham Vietnam is joining hands with the global taskforce on pandemic response to offer diagnosis and testing devices worth about 1 million USD from the US business community and government to help Vietnams COVID-19 fight and recovery, heard the event.

VinFast to deliver first electric model VF e34 to clients on Dec 25

This firm announced on December 8 that it will hand over the first smart electric model VF e34 to clients on December 25. Nearly 100 cars will be delivered in December, and about 2,000 others in January.

Vinfast said it has received over 25,000 orders for the model, more than 40 percent of which were placed online.

Project connects Vietnams SMEs, top supply chain companies

The Ministry of Planning and Investment together with the US Agency for International Development (USAID) held a workshop entitled Supporting Small and Medium Enterprises in Adapting to the New Normal on December 8.

The event formed part of the USAID-funded Linkages for Small and Medium Enterprises (LinkSME) project, which aims to improve business climate and open up opportunities for SMEs in Vietnam with a budget of 24.9 million USD. It will be carried out until September 2023.

The project has helped SMEs seal 64 orders worth nearly 1.3 million USD with top supply chain companies and arranged 11 training courses for more than 700 SMEs in relevant sectors. Over 500 SMEs obtained training to improve financial access and management. By late December, 10 firms will have received new loans totalling $5.23 million.

Renewed rise in COVID-19 infections and labour shortages threaten recovery

According to IHS Markit research, the Vietnam Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) ticked up to 52.2 in November from 52.1 in October, signalling a second successive modest improvement in business conditions following a period of decline caused by the wave of the COVID-19 pandemic earlier in the year.

A number of firms indicated that labour shortages had restricted production. A number of respondents indicated that workers were concerned about the pandemic and therefore reluctant to return to work, thereby making it difficult for manufacturers to expand staffing levels in line with greater workloads. Employment continued to fall markedly, extending the current sequence of reduction to six months. As a result, backlogs of work increased for the third month running.

Worries about the pandemic also impacted confidence among manufacturers, with sentiment dropping from October. That said, firms remained optimistic that output will increase over the coming year amid hopes that the health situation will improve.

VN textile-garment exports to hit $39 billion this year

Vietnams textile-garment export revenue is expected to reach $39 billion in 2021. This is equal to the planned target set out at the end of 2020 and greater than the highest growth scenario forecasted for 2021.

Despite many difficulties throughout 2021, the industry's production and business results are still quite positive. The textile - garment industry is expected to thrive and earn $40 billion in exports over the next year, when the COVID-19 pandemic is forecasted to ease within Vietnam as well as the rest of the world.

Vietnamese handicrafts displayed on digital platform

Lifestyle Vietnam - a home decor, gift, and houseware fair - kicked off on December 7, in online form, under the framework of the national trade promotion programme. Organised by the Vietnam Handicraft Exporters Association (VIETCRAFT), the event is not only an exhibition space with commercial elements but also a new tool to help disadvantaged groups integrate into the "new normal" life.

Dau Giay-Lien Khuong expy expected to be completed by 2026

Lam Dong Province in coordination with ministries, agencies and the neighboring province of Dong Nai are ramping up efforts to break ground on the Dau Giay-Lien Khuong Expressway project and put it into operation between 2023 and 2026.

The expressway would be an arterial road linking Dalat City, the center of Lam Dong, with HCMC and the southern provinces. The 200.3-kilometer expressway project will be divided into three components. The 60.1-kilometer Dau Giay-Tan Phu section will be located in the southern province of Dong Nai, while the 66.3-kilometer Tan Phu-Bao Loc section is in Lam Dong and Dong Nai. The 73.9-kilometer Bao Loc-Lien Khuong section, which will connect Bao Loc City and the Lien Khuong-Prenn Expressway, will be located in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong.

Dong Nai wants to develop two rail links with HCM City, Ba Ria- Vung Tau

Dong Nai Province has proposed the prime minister allow it to develop two railway projects to connect with its two neighbors  HCMC and Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province. One of the two proposed rail lines would link Thu Thiem in HCMC and Long Thanh International Airport in Dong Nai while the other will connect Bien Hoa City in Dong Nai and Vung Tau City in Ba Ria-Vung Tau.

The two lines would be built under the public-private partnership (PPP) format to help fully tap the potential of the forthcoming Long Thanh International Airport in Dong Nai and enhance connectivity between the airport and HCMC and the Cai Mep-Thi Vai international port complex in Ba Ria-Vung Tau.

The two railways would also help ease traffic congestion facing the road systems, including the HCMC-Long Thanh-Dau Giay expressway, National Highway 51 and the planned Bien Hoa-Vung Tau expressway.

Vietnam-U.S. trade soars by 200 times in 25 years

Two-way trade between Vietnam and the United States has risen by more than 200 times over the past 25 years. When the two countries normalized diplomatic ties in 1995, two-way trade totaled US$450 million but the figure shot up to US$90.8 billion in 2020.

Data from the General Department of Customs showed that two-way trade between Vietnam and the U.S. reached US$1.5 billion in 2001, when the two countries signed a bilateral trade agreement.

In 2020, two-way trade soared 19.9% against 2019 to US$90.8 billion. From January to October 2021, the figure reached US$89.6 billion. Vietnam exported goods worth US$76.7 billion to the U.S., rising 22.9% year-on-year and accounting for 28.4% of the countrys total exports, and spent US$12.9 billion importing goods from the U.S., increasing 13.2% year-on-year and making up 4.8% of its total imports.

As of October 2021, the U.S. ranked 11th among 138 countries and territories that invested in Vietnam, with 1,134 projects worth US$9.72 billion.
Ensuring sovereignty in cyberspace helps to protect national sovereignty, said head of the Party Central Committee's Commission for Information and Education Nguyen Trong Nghia.

The National Political Publishing House and the Ministry of Public Security on Wednesday organised a national-level scientific conference on ensuring sovereignty in cyberspace.  VNA/VNS Photo

Speaking at the national scientific conference on "Ensuring national sovereignty in cyberspace" on Wednesday, Nghia said that the strong development of science and technology, especially the fourth industrial revolution, had created a new strategic space called cyberspace.

Cyberspace has become a key and indispensable part of the implementation of strategies on foreign relations, consolidation and maintenance of the socio-economic activities of countries.

The benefits of cyberspace made important contributions to innovation in thinking and development in all fields, he said.

However, cyberspace was also an environment that was easily exploited by hostile and reactionary forces on a wide scale, extent and audience that was difficult to control, Nghia said.

He said along with the whole political system, the police have always been the core force protecting the Party and people, ensuring social order and safety. They also play an important role in ensuring national sovereignty in cyberspace.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Minh Tuan, Director and Editor-in-Chief of the National Political Publishing House, said that the issue of national sovereignty in cyberspace was new in Vietnam, posing many challenges in leading, directing and managing the country.

That was also the subject of many research studies and scientific conferences at different levels, of many branches and fields, especially of the police sector.

Associate Professor, Dr Nguyen Van Thanh, special Vice Chairman of the Central Theoretical Council, former Deputy Minister of Public Security, said that national sovereignty in cyberspace is a supreme, absolute and complete right. The State manages and controls it directly or indirectly through policies, laws and technological capabilities in accordance with international laws and regulations.

To improve the effectiveness of state management of cyber security and national cyber information, it was necessary to build a healthy cyber environment and a specialised force that can proactively respond to cyber threats, Thanh said.

Particularly, it is important to perfect and improve the capacity for agencies, departments, branches and localities to ensure cyber security and information safety, he said.

Minister of Public Security To Lam said that according to the International Criminal Police Organisation, IT crimes ranked second in the most dangerous types of crimes, after terrorist crimes.

Up to 90 per cent of traditional criminals have moved to a network environment or use high-tech devices. Therefore, the issue of developing and mastering cyberspace security has become one of the urgent tasks to which many countries pay special attention, Lam said.

Vietnam has been facing many new challenges as cyber attacks targeted its critical information infrastructure. Websites and portals of state agencies, police forces, organisations and businesses had personal data stolen or property fraudulently appropriated.

Vietnam also saw cybercrimes relating to e-commerce, investment, insurance or the trade of gold and electronic money.

Meanwhile, Vietnam was not fully autonomous in terms of technology as many companies that provide user services or operate technology for Vietnam were managed by foreigners, Lam said, warning over potential risks to the country's information security.

Lam said that to further ensure national sovereignty in cyberspace, the police force should continue synchronously deploying solutions to ensure security of national information systems.

The police must detect, fight and prevent cyber attacks, cyber espionage, conspiracies, and online activities of hostile and reactionary forces, Lam said.

He also asked for improved capacity of IT human resources and tightened co-operation with other countries, universities, advanced technology corporations in the world to learn new technologies and experiences.

The Ministry of Public Security coordinated with the National Political Publishing House to organise the online national conference with more than 2,000 participants across the country.

At the conference, participants focused on discussing and clarifying issues such as national sovereignty in cyberspace, the dialectical relationship between cyberspace and national sovereignty, safety issues, information security, network security, possible risks of disagreements, disputes, and even conflicts between countries in the application of cyber sovereignty.

They also assessed the results, experiences as well as limitations, inadequacies and causes of limitations and updates in cyberspace activities.

Source: Vietnam News

Cyber security becoming a big concern for firms, individuals Cyber security is now a concern for everyone, said Deputy Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Huy Dung at the Vietnam Security Summit 2021.
Vietnam and New Zealand on December 8 signed the Vietnam - New Zealand Action Program for the 2021-2024 period through an online platform, with a view to carrying out the strategic partnership between the two nations.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son.





Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son and his New Zealand counterpart Nanaia Mahuta signed the Vietnam - New Zealand Action Program for the 2021  2024 period through an online platform, with a view to carrying out the strategic partnership between the two nations.

Those in attendance at the signing ceremony included the New Zealand Ambassador to Vietnam, the Vietnamese Ambassador to New Zealand, along with representatives from each countries respective foreign ministries.

Upon addressing the ceremony, Minister Bui Thanh Son expressed his firm belief that the Vietnam - New Zealand Action Program will contribute to further promoting the strategic partnership across multiple fields in the near future.

Minister Son displayed his elation at the fact that the two sides have been able to steadily maintain co-operation mechanisms in the fields of politics, defence, agriculture, and health care over the past year amid ongoing complicated developments linked to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Vietnamese diplomat used the occasion to congratulate New Zealand on successfully organising the APEC Summit Week as a means of contributing to raising its role and position within the international arena.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son and his New Zealand counterpart Nanaia Mahuta (R).





In response, New Zealand Foreign Minister underscored the importance of the strategic partnership with the Vietnamese side, before going on to share the complicated situation relating to the COVID-19 pandemic in the Southeast Asian nation and expressing willingness to co-operate in economic recovery efforts.

He therefore hailed the close co-ordination between the two countries agencies in completing the Action Program and stated a desire to further step up co-operation in fields such as trade - investment, education, the digital economy, and climate change adaptation.

Most notably, both countries are striving to hit US$2 billion in trade turnover by 2024.

With regard to co-operation at regional and international forums, the NZ diplomat thanked the nation for its strong support of New Zealand as it assumes the chair of APEC 2021.

He went on to emphasise that New Zealand is one of ASEAN's oldest dialogue partners and shares its views with Vietnam on a peaceful, stable, inclusive, and international law-abiding Indo-Pacific region, with ASEAN playing a central role in this.

As part of the occasion, Minister Son invited his New Zealand counterpart Nanaia Mahuta to visit the country at an appropriate time, with his invitation being graciously accepted.

Source: VOV
Vietnam called for promoting the awareness and enforcement of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) while attending a plenary meeting at the UN General Assemblys 76th session on December 7.

Ambassador Pham Hai Anh (Photo: VNA)

Addressing the meeting on oceans and the law of the sea, Ambassador Pham Hai Anh, Charge daffaires a.i. of Vietnam in the UN, said the country supports the universality, consistency, and comprehensiveness of the UNCLOS and highly values contributions by the agencies established under this convention to promoting the legal order at sea.

To further enhance the awareness and enforcement of the UNCLOS, he called on countries to continue taking part in the Group of Friends on the UNCLOS, founded by Vietnam and Germany, which now has a membership of 112.

Regarding the recent complex developments in the East Sea, the diplomat affirmed Vietnams consistent stance that all disputes must be resolved by peaceful means, with respect for international law, including UNCLOS, and diplomatic and legal processes, and without use of or threat to use force.

Anh appealed to all the parties concerned to exercise self-restraint; not militarise or conduct activities that may complicate the situation, increase disputes, affect the safety and security of navigation and overflight in the East Sea, or jeopardise peace and security in the region; and fully implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Dea (DOC) and soon finalise a substantive and efficient code of conduct (COC) that matches international law, especially UNCLOS.

At this meeting, nearly 50 nations and groups of countries highlighted the universality, consistency, and comprehensiveness of the UNCLOS, which is the international legal framework regulating all activities on seas and oceans and reflecting the principles of customary international law, and thus binding upon all countries, even those that are not a party to UNCLOS.

Many countries also talked about the basic rights of seafarers, marine plastic pollution, and challenges posed by climate change.

In terms of the East Sea issue, the US, Germany, Japan, Australia, and the Philippines voiced concerns over the territorial claims or sea areas that are too large and illegal in the East Sea, as well as incidents and actions impeding countries normal oil exploitation activities.

They underlined the demand for guaranteeing the freedom of navigation in the East Sea, and that relevant sides have the obligation to peaceful resolve international disputes in line with UNCLOS, ensure that their countries internal regulations and policies must accord with UNCLOS, and respect the ruling on the East Sea issue made by the Permanent Court of Arbitration, based in The Hague, in 2016./.

Source: VNA
The National Forum for Development of Digital Technology Businesses 2021 will discuss solutions that will enable digital transformation to be the driving force for economic recovery and development.

Deputy Minister Pham Duc Long speaks at the press conference on the National Forum for Development of Digital Technology Businesses 2021.

The National Forum for Development of Digital Technology Businesses was held for the first time in 2019. It has become an annual large-scale event for Vietnamese digital technology businesses. This year the event will be held on December 11 at the National Convention Center in Hanoi in direct and online forms.

Deputy Minister of Information and Communications Pham Duc Long said the National Forum for Development of Digital Technology Businesses 2021 will be a forum to discuss solutions that will enable digital transformation to be the driving force for economic recovery and development.

The topic of this years forum is "Digital transformation - driving force for economic recovery and development". We want to emphasize that digital transformation will be the main driving force for economic recovery and development, with the spirit of Vietnamese digital technology enterprises carrying out digital transformation causes, Deputy Minister Pham Duc Long said.

At the forum, the Make in Vietnam Awards will be presented to Make in Vietnam products, which are designed and created in Vietnam and more importantly, solve Vietnams problems, Mr. Long said.

According to the organizers, the 3rd National Forum for Development of Digital Technology Businesses will have two main sessions to discuss how digital technology enterprises solve problems in national digital transformation and how they can help industries and sectors recover and develop sustainably during and after the Covid-19 pandemic.

Attended by leaders of the Government, the Party, the National Assembly, ministries, localities and hundreds of experts, and domestic and foreign technology enterprises, the forum will be a place to share, inspire, propose solutions and breakthrough ideas, and gather resources of society to develop thousands of Vietnamese technology enterprises.

Deputy Minister Pham Duc Long said that at this year's forum the Ministry of Information and Communications will announce Vietnam's digital transformation goals, and address Vietnams problems as well as policies, solutions and support tools for businesses.

"With the support of press agencies, the message of the forum will spread so that the digital and IT business community will have confidence and motivation to develop strongly, to successfully implement the goal: the digital economy to account for 20% of Vietnams GDP by 2025. This is a very challenging goal that demonstrates our aspirations," he said.

Duy Vu

Vietnam to honor Top 50 security experts Every year, Vietnam will honor the Top 50 security experts who have contributed to detecting security holes of national digital platforms.
Ngo Minh Hieu, or Hieupc, who once operated a massive international hacking and identity theft scheme, has revealed that he will publish a book about his life, especially the time in jail in the US.

Ngo Minh Hieu, or Hieupc

Hieu told VietNamNet that he is going to publish a book about his life from the time he was a hacker to the days of serving his punishment in the US and afterwards.

Every time when investigating cybercrimes, I see my old self in them. That time of being a hacker is useful to my current job, he said.

There will be a lot of things to be shared publicly in my book. I will show my views, misunderstandings and answers to questions, he said.

The book will be published in Vietnamese, and is expected to be released by early 2022.

Hieu, born in 1989 in Gia Lai, was well known as a hacker behind one of the largest user identity selling systems that has ever existed.

Superget[.]info, the website created by the hacker, sold the personal information of 200 million American people. Hieu became well known as one of hackers causing the biggest ever financial losses.

After his punishment, Hieupc returned to Vietnam to start life afresh and became a cyber security expert. He regularly participates in community projects to help heighten awareness about cybersecurity.

Hieu several days ago established a legal entity to fight against scams, called Chong Lua Dao Social Enterprise Company Ltd. This is the next step within the framework of Chong Lua Dao (anti-scam), a not-for-profit project developed by Hieu and co-workers in December 2020.

The product of the project is ChongLuaDao, a tool provided as an app and add-on on popular browsers such as Chrome, CocCoc, Brave and Kiwi Browser. It has the function of warning users of the security level of websites and social network accounts.

ChongLuaDao developed by Hieus project has 37,000 users on Chrome and 2,000 users on other browsers. The app has attracted 3,000 users on Android.

The company is also running Bot Messenger which helps users check the safety or maliciousness of websites by chatting on the Facebook messaging platform. To date, 4,300 websites have been added to the companys blacklist.

According to Hieu, every member of the company has his own job, but they gather at ChongLuaDao because they want to help protect the community. The founders of the company want to develop and upgrade ChongLuaDao app on Android and iOS for easier use.

Trong Dat

Vietnamese universities fanpages renamed due to Facebook's vulnerability A vulnerability on Facebook has been exploited by hackers to change the name of many fanpages of universities in Vietnam.
After giving the first Covid-19 vaccine dose to almost all adults, Vietnam is turning to a new strategy to curb the number of Covid-19 deaths.

Treating severe Covid-19 patients at the Emergency Department, Central Hospital for Tropical Diseases - Photo: To Linh

Deputy Minister of Health Do Xuan Tuyen told the local media on December 8 that Vietnam has actively sought Covid-19 vaccines from many sources, so the country has enough vaccines for the second shot for people aged 18 year and over and for children aged 12-17. Vietnam also has enough vaccines for the booster shot for people aged 18 and over.

According to the official, by December 8, 97% of people aged 18 and over and about 5 million children aged 12-17 have been vaccinated with the first dose, and 70% of the adults with a second dose.

From now to the year end, Vietnam aims to complete vaccinations for adults and begin to give the booster dose to adults while continuing vaccinations to children aged 12-17.

Regarding the Covid-19 vaccination plan in 2022, Tuyen mentioned four key points: Firstly, giving booster shots for adults aged 18 and over; secondly, giving vaccination for those who have not been vaccinated yet for different reasons; thirdly, vaccinating children 12-17 years old; fourthly, developing a plan for Covid-19 vaccines for children aged 5 to 11.

"We are striving to basically complete giving the booster dose (the third dose) for people aged 18 years and older and for children aged 12-17," he said.

Regarding information that the rate of vaccination in Vietnam is high but the number of Covid-19 deaths has not reduced much compared to the peak of the fourth wave, Tuyen said that according to the world and Vietnamese statistics, the mortality rate in Vietnam is still much lower than the world. He said that there were many reasons, but most of the deaths were Covid-19 patients with underlying diseases or chronic diseases, or elderly people whose health was not good.

To reduce the fatality rate of Covid-19 patients, Vietnam is switching to a new strategy. Most Vietnamese have been vaccinated with the first dose, so patients with mild symptoms will be treated at home while severe cases will be taken to hospitals.

The Ministry of Health is trying to have access to Covid-19 treatment drugs that have been under research and used around the world, and have enough medicine for treatment in Vietnam, he said.

Ngoc Trang
Baylor University announced Tuesday that a nationwide vaccine mandate for federal contractors no longer applies to the university after a federal judge issued an injunction against the order.

A Georgia federal court issued the injunction blocking the executive order, which passed Sept. 9 and required federal contractors and subcontractors to mandate the vaccine for employees, according to The Associated Press. Alabama, Georgia, Idaho, Kansas, South Carolina, Utah and West Virginia filed a suit against the federal government along with several contractors.

U.S. District Judge R. Stan Baker, in Augusta, Georgia, issued the stay Tuesday.

The university issued a statement Nov. 22 reminding students and employees that the university had to comply with federal vaccination requirements, though multiple states were challenging them in court.

Please note that just as there continues to be uncertainty with COVID-19, the legal environment regarding the pandemic remains fluid as well, the most recent update states.
Richie said in the event that four or more council members have conflicts of interest, all six would get to vote as though no conflicts exist.

The proposed TIRZ would exist from 2021 to 2051, and in that time the city projects its taxable property value would nearly double, from $616 million to $1.2 billion. The citywide net taxable property value for this year is about $11.6 billion.

Seventy percent of city, county and McLennan Community College taxes on property value in the zone above that $616 million baseline would be limited to use in the zone.

A preliminary financing plan presented to the council indicates the zone could generate and use $40 million for infrastructure, $10 million for detention and drainage, $12 million for street improvements, $12 million for trails and connectivity projects, $10 million for parks and recreation, $5 million for economic development and $1 million for planning, administration and legal costs over the zones 30-year term.

Economic Development Director Kent George and Naina Magon, an economic and finance specialist for Hawes Hill & Associates, a planning and development firm based in Houston, gave a presentation to the council during Tuesdays work session.
Terwilliger then told the committee in a letter this week that a deposition had become untenable because the committee has no intention of respecting boundaries around questions that Trump claims are off-limits.

Trump has attempted to hinder much of the committees work, including in an ongoing court case, by arguing that Congress cannot obtain information about his private White House conversations.

Terwilliger also told the committee that he learned over the weekend that they had issued a subpoena to a third-party communications provider that he said would include intensely personal information about Meadows.

As a result of careful and deliberate consideration of these factors, we now must decline the opportunity to appear voluntarily for a deposition, Terwilliger wrote in the Tuesday letter.

In his response, Thompson confirmed the subpoenas to a third party but said it does not impact Mr. Meadowss production of documents and text messages, which are the areas we seek to develop during his deposition.
Fernley's lawyers disagree, saying the town has been dependent on the leakage for more than a century and that the bureau has never raised any objections to its use of it.

Now, after decades of reasonable reliance on the recharge water, and hundreds of millions of dollars of investment, the bureau wants to yank the rug and leave Fernley and its citizens high and dry," the lawsuit says.

Among other things, the town said the bureau violated the National Environmental Policy Act by failing to consider alternatives to improve the safety of the canal without such a drastic impact on the local groundwater supply.

The government insists the town has no legal standing under NEPA because the potential harm it cites is economic, not environmental.

Fernley elevates real estate development and urbanization ... over preservation and enhancement of the environment, the bureau said in it's motion to dismiss the lawsuit.

The artificial recharge of the local aquifer is not natural, it is the consequence of human intervention, it said. The fact that the city will have to spend money to more efficiently provide water to its citizens falls outside the scope" of NEPA.
As with anything else, children are always observing their parents' behaviors, so model the behavior you want to see, Crifasi said. Don't joke about guns or let a kid take a turn shooting while you're hunting or doing target practice. Before setting your gun down, unload it, the AAP says.

"Talk to them about never pointing your gun at something they're not willing to destroy, for lack of a better term, because if it was loaded and discharged, you would likely destroy whatever that gun was aiming at," Crifasi said.

***

Dealing with other parents

If your children are going to visit the homes of people who might have a gun, add questions about gun safety to your playdate checklist, the AAP recommends.

"People can feel awkward about it, but really, when it comes down to the safety of our kids, we have to have those conversations," Crifasi said. "If your child has a peanut allergy, would you be uncomfortable asking the parents of your kid's friends to not give your kid peanuts? No, that would be something you'd absolutely do because it puts your kid at risk."
LAGOS, Nigeria (AP)  At least 23 travelers have been killed in northwest Nigeria in an attack by the same armed groups blamed for killing thousands this year in Africas most populous country.

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari said he is very distressed over the attack that occurred Monday though details of the incident emerged only on Wednesday. It is the latest in a cycle of violence targeting rural communities and travelers along highways in the northwest and central parts of the West African nation.

Sokoto state governor Aminu Tambuwal said that the gunmen opened fire at a bus conveying the travelers along a route notorious for such attacks in the Isa area of the state. Twenty-three of the travelers died of fire burns while six others were injured, he said.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack but blame quickly fell on assailants who have killed at least 2,500 people in the northwest and central states in the first half of 20201, according to data from the U.S. Council on Foreign Relations.
There really is no other way to say this: Texas current governor is engaged in a brazen attempt to increase white power after the previous one had to explain why a racist slur greeted visitors to his familys property. And while Democrats have certainly done their share of gerrymandering  for example, many of the new districts that progressives in Illinois recently drew up look more like a satellite image of an oil spill than a community  they dont give the middle finger to the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Consider this: Latino Texans make up nearly 40% of the population, but just seven of the 38 congressional districts are predominantly Latino. Since 2010, Latino growth has outpaced that of white residents 11 to 1, and this new map is Abbotts response. Or how about this: Texas is home to the largest Black population in the country, and not one of the 38 congressional districts in the state will be predominantly Black. Whats happening in Texas isnt underrepresentation by happenstance, it is deliberate suppression.

State Sen. Joan Huffman, who oversaw the redistricting, said, We drew these maps race-blind.
She had regularly attended village board meetings since summer 2020, and she said when a spot on the board was vacated in July, she was ready to step up for her community.

Im kind of a volunteer at heart, she said. I just got done being president of the Realtors Association of Lincoln, and when that was wrapping up, I was like, Whats the next project? I just like to be involved.

Zwiener and her husband Scott chose Valparaiso in 2002 for its proximity to Weston, where Zwiener taught elementary students, and Lincoln, where Scott worked.

A house was available, it was a good location, and we just stayed there, and weve been there since, she said.

As a board member, Zwiener said she is most concerned with positioning Valparaiso to succeed in a time when many small towns are losing population.

Like any small town, were just looking to sustain into the future, so we have things to leave for our future, she said.
Sam Gordy, the new president of federal and chief operating officer of BigBear.ai can quickly rattle off the big numbers behind some of the lines of business he ran at Leidos ($1.5 billion) and at IBM ($2.5 billion.)

BigBear.ai is not at the same scale at $150 million in annual revenue today, but Gordy says the potential is huge and was one factor in his decision to join the company on Nov. 1.

His hiring was part of the companys preparation to go public through a merger with special purpose acquisition company GigCapital4. BigBear.ai's stock began trading on the New York Stock Exchange on Wednesday under the BBAI ticker. Shares opened at $9.12 and closed that first day at $9.15. Thursday saw the stock decline to $8.08, or by 11 percent.

Gordy likely wont track the ups and downs of the stock. His focus instead will be on integrating the four companies brought together by private equity firm AE Industrial Partners and CEO Reggie Brothers to create BigBear.ai.

For that, Gordy will rely on his experience leading the formation of Leidos when the old Science Applications International Corp. split into two companies in 2013.

I was on the design team for Leidos so I was in the middle of it, he said, rattling off a list of functions he had a hand in creating for Leidos -- corporate structure, vision, mission, rate structure, go-to-market strategy.

Im doing all of that again, just at a smaller scale," Gordy added.

Gordy wears two hats at BigBear.ai: chief operating officer of the company, and president of its federal business.

The COO hat sees him leading the integration efforts. With the other hat, hell be responsible for growing BigBear.ais footprint in the market.

Brothers has the vision piece.

Hes a tremendous communicator and has the vision of where he wants to take the company and Im kind of doing the nuts and bolts behind that, Gordy said.

Brothers was a big reason Gordy said yes when they came recruiting him.

He pretty much had me at hello when we sat down to talk, he said.

Brothers is a former chief technology officer at Peraton and a principal at the Chertoff Group. During the Obama administration, he was deputy assistant defense secretary for research and then undersecretary for science and technology at the Homeland Security Department.

AE Industrial Partners and Brothers collaborated to pull together four companies -- BigBear, NuWave Solutions, ProModel Government Services and PCI.

The artificial intelligence capabilities they brought together, particularly when working with so-called dirty and sparse data, is what excited Gordy about the future of the company.

AI is great if all your data is curated and everythings in the right place to feed your models, but on the defense and intelligence side, you just dont have that luxury because you are gathering information from adversaries who dont want to share it, Gordy said. And thats where our real secret sauce comes to bear.

BigBear.ais artificial intelligence model fills the gaps with what Gordy called an extremely educated best guess.

It does that by looking for the precursors of a problem, the so-called winds of war. Most AI today looks at two or three factors, but BigBear.ai has broadened that scope to create a much more holistic view.

The company recently won a challenge with the Navy to look at data from the Pacific Rim, with a focus on China and Taiwan.

There was this massive surge of Chinese incursions in Taiwans airspace in early October, Gordy said.

BigBear.ai's model predicted the incursions two weeks ahead of time.

Thats what really exciting is that weve got the ability to do these sorts of things, he said. And were just getting started.

Gordy said he wants to grow the companys base beyond the work it does with the Defense Intelligence Agency and National Security Agency to the other intelligence agencies. Hell also focus on taking the work it does with the Army and some the Air Force to the rest of the latter branch, plus the Navy and Marine Corps.

Now that BigBear.ai is publicly-traded, it will have the resources to incentivize employees by giving them the ability to own stock and it will give the company currency to make acquisitions.

Gordy said the acquisition piece will focus on expanding into new markets across the intelligence, defense and civilian sectors. The company also wants to expand its AI capabilities.

AI is already fundamentally changing all aspects of our lives, Gordy said.

Itll change all aspects of the federal government, from the national security side to the individual citizen. Thats why Im here.
A former Illinois man who was serving a life sentence for killing an Independence police officer in the 1950s has died in prison.
An Elk Run Heights woman said she thought she was going to be shot and feared for the safety of her children when three masked men kicked open the door to her home dragged her out of bed.
INDEPENDENCE  A former Illinois man who was serving a life sentence for killing an Independence police officer in the 1950s has died in prison.

Warren Jack Nutter was the longest-serving inmate with the Iowa Department of Corrections when he passed away at 11:01 a.m. Wednesday at the Iowa State Penitentiary at Fort Madison. He was also the fifth-longest serving inmate in the United States.

He died of natural causes and had been housed in the hospice room because of a chronic illness, according to corrections officials. Nutter was 84.

Authorities said Nutter, of Freeport, was 18 when he killed Harold Humphrey Pearce on Jan. 5, 1956.

Pearce, 52, a father to two, had been with the police department for two years.

Nutter was with four other teens who were suspected in local break-ins that led to a 90 mph chase that ended in Jesup.

Authorities took the teens back to the Buchanan County Sheriffs Office in Independence and began questioning them. At one point, Nutter asked to use the restroom and then slipped out of a second-floor window and retrieved a single-shot 12-gauge shotgun from his vehicle.

Witnesses said he entered the outer office of the sheriffs department. He pointed the shotgun at Pearce and ordered the lawman to remove his own weapon with his left hand, which Pearce did.

Nutter then pulled the trigger, according to Courier archives.

Nutter freed the other teens, and he was found a short time later walking on Highway 150 south of Independence armed with Pierces revolver.

The shotgun was found in a corner of the courthouse basement, archives state.

Convicted of first-degree murder, Nutter was originally sentenced to death by hanging. At the time, he was the youngest person to receive a death sentence in Iowa. The sentence was later changed to life in prison by then Gov. Herschell Loveless.

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Lawyers for Gov. Kim Reynolds are arguing in court that she was too busy to respond quickly to public-records requests this year due to the pandemic, and that her decision-making process is shielded from disclosure by executive privilege.

The governors office made those arguments in recent weeks as part of an effort to dispose of two lawsuits alleging she and her staff have violated the Iowa Open Records Law.

In addition to asserting executive privilege, the governors office argues the lawsuits filed in Polk County District Court are moot because the documents were disclosed five months later after the lawsuits were filed.

Lawyers for the plaintiff argue that delay constitutes a violation of the Iowa Open Records Law for which the governor must be held accountable.

Just as a thief does not moot his case by returning the stolen property, a violator who refuses to produce public records in a timely fashion cannot moot a lawsuit by producing the records on the eve of trial, the plaintiffs lawyers argue.

The litigation stems from a set of public-records requests Utah attorney Suzette Rasmussen filed with Reynolds office in March asking for all correspondence regarding the states contracts with Nomi Health for COVID-19 testing.

In mid-July, Reynolds legal counsel, Michael Boal, allegedly responded to those requests by asking Rasmussen to identify email domains or particular search terms to be used in locating the relevant records. Rasmussen allegedly responded that same day by providing a set of electronic search terms to be used.

By mid-August, the governors office had yet to turn over any of the records and Rasmussen went to court.

After the lawsuits were filed, Boal on Sept. 2 turned over what he said were all the requested public records, and lawyers for the governor filed motions to dismiss the lawsuits.

The governors lawyers also asserted the lawsuit could lead to public disclosure of Reynolds decision-making process and her communications, which they claimed are protected by executive privilege.

Rasmussens lawyers dispute that claim, saying the courts have said executive privilege can be claimed only in attempting to keep confidential certain communications and does not provide a grant of immunity from suit.

In support of their argument, Rasmussens lawyers state that on Jan. 7 of this year, in a recorded interview with the Iowa Capitol Press Associations president, Erin Murphy, Reynolds acknowledged her past failure to respond timely to open-records requests and made a commitment to responding in a timely manner going forward.

Lawyers for Reynolds say the timeliness of the governors response shouldnt be an issue since Iowas Open Records Law contains no hard deadline for responding to a records request.

Although they acknowledge the Iowa Supreme Court has held that substantial delays in producing records may constitute a refusal to comply with the law, Reynolds lawyers argue that all of this occurred during an unprecedented public health disaster, at a time when Reynolds was not just directing the states response to the pandemic and economic recovery, but also managing all state government.

A hearing date on the motions to dismiss has yet to be scheduled.

Rasmussen also is suing the Iowa Department of Public Health and its spokesperson, Sarah Ekstrand, over a public-records request directed to that agency in March. Those records were turned over only after the lawsuit was filed.

A hearing in that case is scheduled for Jan. 14.

Rasmussen has sued the governor of Utah, Spencer Cox, for allegedly delaying access to records tied to Utahs COVID-19 response. That lawsuit, filed July 2, alleges the open-records requests Rasmussen filed between mid-March and mid-May are still unfulfilled.

Rasmussen told the Salt Lake Tribune she has filed the lawsuits on behalf of a client, Paul Huntsman of Utah, who is backing a multi-state effort to access government records related to COVID-19. Huntsman is the brother of Jon Huntsman Jr., whom Cox defeated in last years Republican primary.

Iowa Capital Dispatch is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Iowa Capital Dispatch maintains editorial independence.

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WATERLOO -- An outgoing council member who was accused of nine violations of city code has been found to have violated five of them, according to an attorney hired by the city.

The Waterloo City Council will vote on whether to censure Ward 1 Councilor Margaret Klein -- whose term on council is ending this month -- at a special session at 5 p.m. today.

Kristine Stone, an attorney with Ahlers and Cooney of Des Moines, noted in a report to city attorney Martin Petersen that she reviewed nine allegations formally brought by Ward 3 Councilor Pat Morrissey against Klein.

Morrissey brought the allegations to light in a public Waterloo City Council meeting the night before the city election, in which Klein was challenging Mayor Quentin Hart for his seat.

Stone's report was delivered to Petersen on Dec. 1, and Ward 1 Councilor Sharon Juon -- who, as mayor pro tem, was charged with setting the special session on censure -- also sent the report to the full council on that date. But the report wasn't uploaded to the city's website until Wednesday.

In it, Stone details each of Morrissey's nine allegations against Klein, and whether they violated city code or city policies.

Five of the allegations were found to have violated either city code or policies, four of which were found only to have violated the city's 2017 strategic plan -- specifically by "damaging the image and reputation of Waterloo." In her report, Stone noted she considered the city's strategic plan, because it was adopted by resolution, to be "a statement of city council policy."

Those four allegations were Klein's comments about "the city dumping raw sewage in the river," the griffin rebranding committee being "rigged," a dust-up over mistaken wording on a Mayor's Fun Run t-shirt, and accusing Hart of appointing "sexual predators to police advisory boards."

One allegation -- that she made false statements about All-In Grocers' developers "fooling" the council -- was found to violate city code prohibiting council members from making personal attacks in a city council meeting.

Four other allegations, including ones relating to the "dark room with Morrissey and a knife" and whether the mayor and human resources director engaged in "improprieties in business dealings," were not found to have violated city code or policies.

Klein was not immediately available Wednesday for comment. The vote will need a supermajority, or five members voting to censure, to pass.

Waterloo is the only city in Iowa with a formal censure process, enshrining it in law last December. A censure vote would not affect Kleins seat or her voting capability, but would signal the groups formal disapproval of her conduct.

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WATERLOO  St. Johns Lutheran Church, Bennington, (rural Waterloo) will install the Rev. Beth A. Olson as its next pastor at a 10 a.m. worship service Sunday.

Olson, who most recently served at St. Timothy in Hudson, brings almost 30 years of ministry experience to this new call. A reception will follow the installation.

Serving as preacher and presider for the day will be the Rev. Steve Brackett, assistant to the bishop of the Northeastern Iowa Synod, ELCA.

St Johns, a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, is also celebrating 140 years of serving in the Dunkerton area and the Cedar Valley.

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WATERLOO  An overnight ice storm caused several semi crashes and two collisions that demolished squad cars Thursday morning.

Two semis rolled in an accident on U.S. Highway 218 near the intersection with Cedar Wapsi Road, said Capt. Mark Herbst with the Black Hawk County Sheriffs Office.

He said there were also tractor-trailer crashes on Interstate 380 near the Gilbertville exit.

Herbst said there were also numerous accidents between those two locations.

Two Sheriffs Office squad patrol vehicles were struck while deputies were working the collisions, Herbst said. He said no serious injuries were reported in the squad car crashes.

Rural roads in Black Hawk County on Thursday morning were 100% ice covered, Herbst said.

A snow storm is expected sweep parts of northern Nebraska and Iowa and could drop more than half-a-foot of snow in some places heading into the weekend.

The National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning for Friday into early Saturday for much of northern Nebraska and northern parts of Iowa. The warning area includes the cities of Storm Lake, Mason City and Estherville in Iowa.

The service says the storm, which is moving across the Rockies through the upper Midwest, is expected to drop up to 8 inches of snow in the most northern parts of Iowa. Coupled with high winds, the storm is likely to produce blizzard-like conditions in many.

Accumulating snowfall is possible for parts of central Iowa, including much of the U.S. Highway 20 corridor. A light wintry mix is also possible.

This may lead to slick travel conditions. Visibility may be reduced during snow, especially with gusty winds.

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At former Minnesota police officer Kim Potters manslaughter trial for fatally shooting Daunte Wright, a Black motorist, the core of her defense is clear: She says she meant to use her Taser but grabbed her handgun instead.

Potters body-camera video recorded the shooting, with Potter heard saying, Taser, Taser, Taser before she fired, followed by, I grabbed the wrong (expletive) gun.

Many activists have refused to accept the former Brooklyn Center officers explanation. And the prosecution argued in its opening statement that Potter  a 26-year police veteran  had the experience and training to know better.

Taser-gun mix-ups are rare but they have happened in several states in recent years.

Here are some questions and answers about such incidents:

HOW FREQUENTLY DOES THIS HAPPEN?

Experts agree that such incidents are rare and probably happen fewer than once per year throughout the U.S. A 2012 article published in the monthly law journal Americans for Effective Law Enforcement documented nine cases dating back to 2001 in which officers shot suspects with handguns when they said they meant to fire stun guns.

WHY DOES IT HAPPEN?

Reasons that have been cited include officer training, the way they carry their weapons and the pressure they feel during dangerous and chaotic situations. To avoid confusion, officers typically carry their stun guns on their weak sides  the side of their nondominant hand  and away from handguns that are carried on their dominant hands side. Thats how Potter carried hers, and the chief of her suburban Minneapolis police department at the time of the shooting said thats how the departments officers were trained.

Prosecutor Erin Eldridge told jurors in her opening statement that the Brooklyn Center Police Department's policy requires that officers carry their Taser on their nondominant side and their firearm on their dominant side. In keeping with that, Potter carried her gun on her right and her Taser on her left.

Officers can choose how they want to position their Tasers in their duty belts, so that they have the option of drawing it from across their body with their dominant hand, or they can choose to draw it with their nondominant hand. Potter had her Taser positioned in a straight draw position on her left, so she would draw it with her left hand.

The only weapon she draws with her right hand is her gun, not her Taser, Eldridge said.

Eldridge also detailed how Brooklyn Center officers go through Taser training every year, and get training materials that include warnings on how confusing a Taser with a handgun can cause death or serious injury.

And she told jurors they'll hear about how Potter's Taser and her handgun both had a very different look and feel, starting with the color. A Taser is bright yellow. Potter's gun was black.

The jury heard Sam McGinnis, a senior special agent with the states Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, testify in more detail about the differences between the two weapons and how officers use them, bolstering the prosecution's contention that Potter's experience and training should have led her to realize her mistake in the several seconds between when she drew her gun and when she fired.

Backed up by photographs, McGinnis said the holsters on Potters duty belt require an officer to take deliberate actions to release the weapons. The gun holster has a snap, while the Taser holster has a lever. The handgun, which is black, weighs just over 2 pounds (0.9 kilograms), while the Taser, which is yellow, weighs just under a pound (0.45 kilograms), he said.

The Taser and gun also have different triggers, grips and safety mechanisms that must be engaged before firing, McGinnis testified. The Taser also has a laser and LED lights that display before it is fired, which he demonstrated for the jury, while the handgun does not.

McGinnis also testified that Potter didnt perform a function test on her Taser before her shift on the day that she shot Wright, or on the previous day. He said she did run the check six times in her last 10 shifts. The Brooklyn Center Police Departments policy is that officers are required to run the check before each shift. McGinnis acknowledged under cross-examination that he didnt check to see how widely the departments officers complied with the policy.

WHAT DOES THE DEFENSE SAY?

Defense attorney Paul Engh told jurors in his opening statement that an expert will testify about how in chaotic situations like this shooting, a persons ingrained training takes over. He said Potter had 26 years of gun training, but fewer years of training on her Taser, which is a newer weapon.

Engh said they'll hear that Potter made an action error, the sort in which someone does something while meaning to do something else, such as writing the previous year on a check out of habit, or typing an old password into a computer. He also compared them with errors made under stress by experienced pilots or surgeons.

We are in a human business, Engh said. "Police officers are human beings. And thats what occurred.

Bill Lewinski, an expert on police psychology and the founder of the Force Science Institute in Mankato, Minnesota, has used the phrase slip and capture errors to describe the phenomenon.

Lewinski, who has testified on behalf of police, has said officers sometimes perform the direct opposite of their intended actions under stress  that their actions slip and are captured by a stronger response. He notes that officers train far more often on drawing and firing their handguns than they do on using their stun guns.

Other experts are skeptical of the theory.

Theres no science behind it, said Geoffrey Alpert, a criminology professor at the University of South Carolina and an expert on police use of force. Its a good theory, but we have no idea if its accurate.

Alpert said a major factor in why officers mistakenly draw their firearm is that stun guns typically look and feel like a firearm.

WHAT ARE SOME OTHER CASES?

In one of the best-known cases, a transit officer responding to a fight at a train station in Oakland, California, killed 22-year-old Oscar Grant in 2009. The officer, Johannes Mehserle, testified at trial that, fearing Grant had a weapon, he reached for his stun gun but mistakenly pulled his .40-caliber handgun instead. Grant was shot as he lay face down.

Mehserle was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to two years in prison. His department paid $2.8 million to Grants daughter and her mother.

In Tulsa, Oklahoma, a white volunteer sheriffs deputy, Robert Bates, said he accidentally fired his handgun when he meant to deploy his stun gun on an unarmed Black man, Eric Harris, who was being held down by other officers in 2015.

Bates apologized for killing Harris but described his deadly mistake as a common problem in law enforcement, saying This has happened a number of times around the country... You must believe me, it can happen to anyone.

Bates was convicted of second-degree manslaughter and sentenced to four years in prison. Tulsa County ultimately agreed to pay $6 million to Harris estate to settle a federal civil rights lawsuit.

In 2019, a suburban St. Louis police officer, Julia Crews, said she meant to use her stun gun but mistakenly grabbed her service revolver and shot a suspected shoplifter, Ashley Hall, who suffered serious injuries. Crews resigned and was charged with second-degree assault. That was eventually dropped at Halls request after the victim and the former officer agreed to participate in restorative justice mediation. Separately, the city of Ladue agreed to a $2 million settlement with Hall.

Find the APs full coverage of the Daunte Wright case: https://apnews.com/hub/death-of-daunte-wright

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

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COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP)  More than six months after the wife and son of a prominent South Carolina lawyer were gunned down at the family's estate, their killings remain unsolved.

But while little is said about the deaths, the legal drama around Alex Murdaugh continues, from lawsuits demanding tens of millions of dollars to attorneys fighting over whether they are violating ethics standards in national TV and podcast interviews.

The lawyer whose father, grandfather and great-grandfather were prosecutors and whose family founded one of the more prestigious law firms in South Carolina called 911 on June 7 after finding the bodies of his wife and son.

That seven-minute phone call from a deeply upset and agitated Murdaugh and pages of heavily redacted police reports contained few new details about the crime  and marked the last release of any information by state agents in charge of the investigation.

No suspects have been named and no one ruled out  at least publicly  by State Law Enforcement Division agents. The agency has repeatedly said the investigation continues and it will release information when it is prudent.

A $100,000 reward offered by Murdaugh's law firm  before it accused him of stealing money and fired him  expired without any apparent takers.

Through his lawyers, Murdaugh has said he regrets that the unsolved killings of his wife, Maggie, 52, and son Paul, 22, have been overshadowed by his own problems: three different indictments for financial crimes and an attempt to arrange his own death so his surviving son could get a $10 million life insurance benefit.

Murdaugh has been held without bond for more than seven weeks  a judge said it was for the defendant's own safety after his arrest on charges he stole $3.4 million in insurance money meant for the sons of his housekeeper Gloria Satterfield. She died after a fall at one of the family's homes in 2018. Murdaugh's lawyers are appealing the no bond decision to the state Supreme Court.

Murdaugh will be in court again Friday for a virtual bond hearing on the latest charges against him: 27 counts for what prosecutors said were schemes to steal nearly $5 million in settlement money from a trooper injured on the job and other clients.

Even with so little said about the deaths, Murdaugh has remained in the news the past six months. First, there was the September shooting in which police said Murdaugh was trying to arrange his own death. Murdaugh told investigators that a family friend agreed to kill him. The friend, who was charged with assisted suicide, insurance fraud and several other counts, said he was trying to wrestle the gun away from a suicidal Murdaugh when it fired.

Lawsuits have also kept the once-prominent attorney in the spotlight. Murdaugh had his assets turned over from his surviving son to independent monitors after attorneys argued he was trying to hide money from them in a wrongful death suit over a boat crash in which Paul Murdaugh was charged with boating under the influence causing death.

This week, Satterfield's sons, who already sued Murdaugh, also sued Bank of America, saying the company should have detected Murdaugh was using their bank accounts to divert money from a company called Forge Consulting, which handles legal settlements, to one he created called Alexander Murdaugh d/b/a Forge."

Bank of America was at all times just one question away from finding out the truth had they simply asked, What is the nature of Forges business'? as was their duty to do, the attorneys for the sons wrote in their lawsuit.

They are asking a jury to award more than $4 million  the amount of insurance claims Murdaugh's policies were set to pay Satterfield's estate  and to levy punitive damages against Bank of America for triple that amount.

The bank will ask the court to dismiss the suit, a spokesman said.

The wrongdoer here was Mr. Murdaugh, and the diversion of these funds occurred away from Bank of America," Bill Halldin said in a statement. We had no knowledge of any theft and followed standard procedures in account openings for a sole proprietor business."

Meanwhile, a war of words is also escalating. Murdaugh's attorneys have asked a judge to order one of the lawyers for Satterfield's family, Eric Bland, to stop talking publicly and requested he be disciplined for statements disparaging them and jeopardizing Murdaugh's right to a fair trial.

Bland called the request an illusionists attempt to distract attention.

Also in the past week, the boyfriend of 19-year-old Mallory Beach, a woman who was killed in the February 2019 boat crash involving Paul Murdaugh, has sued. Anthony Cook joins lawsuits by Beach's estate and his cousin Connor Cook, who was also on the boat. Connor Cook said Alex Murdaugh and other family members tried to make it look like he was driving the boat.



Follow Jeffrey Collins on Twitter at https://twitter.com/JSCollinsAP.

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

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First Russia invading Ukraine

Russia has more than 92,000 troops amassed around Ukraines borders and is preparing for an attack by the end of January or beginning of February, the head of Ukraines defense intelligence agency told Military Times.  Source: Russia preparing to attack Ukraine by late January: Ukraine defense intelligence agency chief

Now we have switched the channel to, China getting ready to attack Taiwan

Unfortunately, although the PRC publicly advocates for peaceful unification with Taiwan, leaders in Beijing have never renounced the use of military aggression, he told Senate members. In fact, the [The Peoples Liberation Army] is likely preparing for a contingency to unify Taiwan with the PRC by force while simultaneously attempting to deter, delay or deny third-party intervention on Taiwans behalf.  Source: Taiwan Has Proven Possibilities of Alternative Path to Chinese Communist Party, DOD Official Says > U.S. Department of Defense > Defense Department News

~~ And all the while the USA is innocent of everything! ~~

I still say that the USA needs to look in the mirror and get that under control first.and stop using other countries (Look a Squirrel) to cover up your faults at home and abroad

WtR
Every Bay Area design lover knows well the name of Bernard Maybeck. If you're a true architecture buff, you may have even visited the former Berkeley home of the architect whose houses, with a philosophy of low environmental impact, are a signature of what would become known as the San Francisco Bay Tradition.

Maybeck's own cottage, designated a City of Berkeley landmark in 2002, is the first house on a private lane now known as Maybeck Twin Drive, which is populated by homes said to have been designed by the architect for members of his family.

Number 14 Maybeck Twin Drive, though, was built by another local architect of the midcentury: Orinda-based modernist Robert Klemmedson, whose residential work differs from Maybeck's Arts and Crafts style by employing an Asian-inspired aesthetic. Both architects, however, imagined buildings that emphasized natural light and a connection to the surrounding land.

This home, situated on two parcels, recently entered the market at an asking price of $3.5 million and promises a true experience of Berkeley livingjust a mile away, you can even walk to Chez Panisse.

Inspired by the Katsura Imperial Villa in Kyoto, Japan, the four-bedroom, three-and-a-half bathroom residence centers on zen vibes and indoor-outdoor living with views over the treetops all the way to San Francisco from every single room.

Beamed wood ceilings in the living spaces are made all the more soothing with recessed mood lighting crowning the perimeter. A marble fireplace and built-in shelving anchor the minimalist living room. The open floor plan connects this space to a bright dining room with two windowed walls and an efficient kitchen with a center island, ample storage, and a breakfast nook.

There are two en suite bedrooms, each with walk-in closets, on the main level. A second space consists of a bedroom with a family room reflective of the main living area.

Additional amenities include a utility room with laundry, wine cellar, and two-car garage. A deck with a sweeping panoramic view wraps the entire length of the residence.





Bedrooms: 4



Bathrooms: 3.5

Size: 3,449 square feet

Asking price: $3,500,000

// 14 Maybeck Twin Dr. (Berkeley); for more information, visit 14maybecktwindrive.com.
This story is brought to you by Poppy the AV, an all-electric self-driving Cruise vehicle, who knows the ins and outs of the City.

Once written off as the "outside lands," today's Inner Richmond has all the makings of the next hip San Francisco neighborhoodeven if its residents might like to keep that a secret.

Situated between the Presidio and Golden Gate Park, the Inner Richmond balances the hustle of urban life with the innately laid-back nature of SF's west side. It is anchored by two main drags, Clement Street and Geary Boulevard, each dotted with countless restaurants with a heavy Asian accentthe 'hood isn't called SF's "New Chinatown" for nothing. Have fun shopping the many Chinese markets and, of course, gorging on some of the best dim sum in town.

The Inner Richmond, though, represents many flavors and culturesthere's also Vietnamese, Korean, French, Italian, Russian, and Irish. If you crave it, you can probably get it here. If you're in the mood for an adult beverage, choose from a selection of dive bars, wine bars, and draught houses. Or, grab a coffee at one of many cute cafes and check out the neighborhood's boutiques and artisan shops.
Last holiday season, Tartine co-owner and James Beard Awardwinning pastry chef Liz Prueitt and her daughter, Archer, held down the fort alone in their Dogpatch home. This year, they're hitting the highway.

"We're going to do a road trip to Oregon," Prueitt says. "We're going to rent a camper. I've always wanted to do that. It's the perfect opportunity to get away and have some time with my daughter." At the end of the road, they'll join the rest of the family in a rented home on the coast.

Prueitt's parents are born entertainers, a quality the self-described extroverted introvert wishes she'd inherited a little more of. At gatherings, there was always something on the table to wow their guests. One year, Prueitt's artist father wrapped a whole fish in dough and carved the outside into a stunning illustration of the aquatic creature within. Another year, they dug a pit in the yard and roasted a whole suckling pig.

But even if this year's edible centerpiece doesn't go quite so far requiring a hand-built rotating spit, Prueitt won't mind. "I am just looking forward to seeing everybody so much and cooking together," she says.

At the holidays, the Prueitts always prepare at least two Scandinavian dishes in recognition of their Swedish heritage: fruktsoppa, a fruit soup made with dried and fresh fruit, and plattar, silver dollar sized pancakes with a similar consistency to crepes. "We just make stacks and stacks of plattar," Prueitt laughs.

They've got traditions outside the kitchen, too. "We're a family who loves game playing, so I'm really looking forward to that, too," she says. "We love word games. Scrabble is a huge family game, we'll do charades. We love some of the board games. I even once delayed a flight because I had just learned how to play Apples to Apples and we were having so much fun."

While the Prueitt family takes on the Oregon Coast, the Tartine team will keep the morning buns rising. The famed bakery now has 13 locations in the Bay Area, Los Angeles, and Seoul, Korea. In the latter, their slow-fermented and crusty breads have become especially popular.

Not typically found on any of Tartine's menus (but found in the cookbook Tartine: A Classic Revisited) is Prueitt's shortbread, a holiday-ready butter cookie presented in a pretty tin. Between and on top of the confections, the chef sprinkles a variety of warm spices including whole cloves, star anise pods, cinnamon sticks, and allspice. "So what happens is the cookies just take on this wonderful flavor, it really infuses them beautifully," she explains. "The subtlety depends on how long you leave the whole spices in the tin."

When the cookies have reached their peak spiciness, the cinnamon, allspice, cloves and anise can go on to do double-duty in a hot spiced cider or mulled wine, suggests Prueitt. "The presentation is so pretty," she says. "I like that it's both beautiful and has a delicious scent and flavor on the table [and in the glass]."

// Experience Prueitt's confections IRL at various Tartine locations, tartinebakery.com.

Recipe: Liz Prueitt's Spiced Shortbread Stash the shortbreads in a pretty tin or jar for a few days or even a week to capture the full flavor and scent of whole cinnamon sticks, star anise, allspice, and cloves. (Patricia Chang) Makes approx 48 2 x 1/2 inch bars

Ingredients 1 cup + 2 tbsp unsalted butter, very soft 1/2 tsp salt 2 cups all purpose flour 2/3 cup cornstarch 1/3 cup granulated sugar 1/4 cup superfine or granulated sugar for topping Cinnamon sticks Cloves, whole (The Spice Hunter) Allspice, whole (The Spice Hunter) Star anise, whole (The Spice Hunter)

Directions Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Butter a 6x10-inch glass baking dish. Place the butter in a mixing bowl. It must be very softthe consistency of mayonnaise or whipped cream (it can be softened in a microwave or by mixing on low speed in a metal bowl and using a kitchen torch to gently warm the sides of the bowl). Add the salt to the butter and mix well. Sift the flour and cornstarch together into another bowl. Add the granulated sugar to the butter and mix just until combined. Add the flour mixture and mix just until a smooth dough forms. Pat the dough evenly into the prepared baking dish. The dough should be no more than 2/3 inches deep. Bake until the top and bottom are lightly browned, about 30 minutes. The middle of the shortbread should remain light. Let cool on a wire rack until warm to the touch. Sprinkle the shortbread with the superfine sugar. Tilt the dish so that it fully and evenly coats the surface and then tip out the excess sugar. With a very thin, sharp knife cut the shortbread into rectangular fingers about 1/2 inch wide and 2 inches long. If the cookies have become cold they will not slice well. Chill thoroughly before removing from the baking dish. The first cookie is difficult to remove, but the rest should come out easily with the aid of a small, thin, offset spatula. Pack the cookies into a tin with the whole spices. Leave them for a few days to a week or more, depending on how subtle or strong you like the spice flavor. Save the spices in a jar to make mulled wine or spiced cider.





Thank you to our partners at The Spice Hunter.



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For more festive dishes with global flavors prepared by top California chefs, go to 7x7.com/holiday-recipes.
Criminals dont need the physical card to gain access to its funds, just the numbers on the card. Typically, the funds are depleted quickly, leaving victims empty-handed.

The new FTC data is worrisome because the vast majority of frauds are not reported to the government, so the data reflects only a fraction of the harm these scandals cause, Fletcher writes.

Crooks pose as Amazon or Apple employees

Many of the frauds analyzed occurred when a criminal posing as an employee of Amazon or Apple told victims to send them the numbers on the gift cards so they could fix a supposed security problem on their account, Fletcher explains. Victims reported having been contacted by a criminal who claimed to be from the Social Security Administration and told them that their bank accounts would be frozen as part of an investigation. They were told to buy gift cards to avoid arrest or to get access to their money. And some criminals who seek gift cards pretend to be a love interest, employer, sweepstakes or lottery company, or a relative in trouble.

AARP leads campaign against gift-card fraud

AARP has a campaign to educate consumers about the danger of giving gift cards except as a present for someone they know and trust. Anytime you are directed to pay some obligation with a gift card, it is a scam. Full stop. You can't pay bills or taxes or tech support  or to have your Social Security number restored  with a gift card, Kathy Stokes, AARPs director of fraud prevention programs, said.

Aarp.org recently reported that a St. Louis woman in her 80s lost $13,000 in less than four hours in September after a criminal told her to go to four Lowes home improvement stores and buy 26 Target gift cards, each worth $500.

In response to the FTC alert, Target spokeswoman Kayla Castaneda in a statement said: Unfortunately, gift card scams are a persistent issue across the retail industry. Target takes these crimes extremely seriously and we use a multi-layered, comprehensive approach to mitigate fraud that includes technology, team member training and collaboration with law enforcement.

Target has increased in-store signage to warn our guests of common gift card scams, and weve heightened team member education so they can keep an eye out for potentially distressed guests buying gift cards and intervene as needed, the statement added. We also continue to implement new technology to prevent gift cards from being abused by fraudsters.
The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated an already challenging environment for finding and maintaining a strong workforce of paid staff who deliver long-term services and supports (LTSS). This critical workforce, which includes nurses, personal care aides, home health aides, and nursing assistants, is essential to meeting the daily caregiving needs of those who require LTSS. But LTSS workers face persistent physical and mental health risks, poor wages and benefits, and inadequate training.

This report builds on the previously published International Review of Innovations to Protect Nursing Home Residents from Infectious Diseases Such as COVID-19. It describes the LTSS workforce in the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), of which the United States is a member country. It reviews the challenges LTSS workers face, summarizes experts recommendations for reform, and offers examples from some OECD countries that are innovating to improve the situation for their LTSS workforce.

The LTSS Workforce

Across the OECD, 70 percent of LTSS workers are direct care workers with different job titles such as personal care aides, home health aides, and nursing assistants. Pay in the LTSS sector is 35 percent lower than pay in hospitals; 45 percent of workers are part time; 20 percent are temporary; 50 percent perform shift work (which is unpredictable).

LTSS workers in OECD countries perform many health-related tasks for which they often receive little training. The most common gaps in LTSS workers skills relate to knowledge of geriatric care, safe management of clients or residents needs, care following discharge from a hospital, stress and crisis management, methods of coping with bereavement, prevention of disability, and use of new technologies. They also often lack appropriate training in infection control.

Risks to LTSS Workers Physical and Mental Health

Not only do LTSS workers typically have poor-quality jobs, they also face substantial physical and mental health risks. Sixty-four percent encounter physical risks such as back problems and work irregular hours or at night which can result in sleep disruptions with a broad range of health effects. Workers report high levels of stress from their care responsibilities, insufficient numbers of staff, and the need to work extra shifts.

Physical injuries to LTSS workers most commonly result from overexertion, from lifting and repositioning their clients, and violence inflicted by other people or animals. They experience exhaustion from severe time constraints and understaffing, and often serve clients and residents who have cognitive impairment or dementia, which can result in harassment of and injuries to workers. They are exposed not only to the same infections that afflict their clients and residents but also to hazardous drugs and chemicals.

Innovations to Address the Challenges LTSS Workers Face

Given poor job quality and high levels of risk, a sufficient supply of trained LTSS workers is difficult to maintain. Across OECD, achieving a sufficient and adequately trained workforce is one of the major challenges for the LTSS infrastructure. Given their aging populations, OECD countries would have to boost the number of LTSS workers by 30 percent by 2040 to maintain the current ratio of LTSS workers to older adults.

Across OECD, innovations to address LTSS workforce issues are focused on:

Staffing levels , both setting recommendations for staffing levels and finding creative efforts to recruit workers, often from outside the usual pool of workers.

, both setting recommendations for staffing levels and finding creative efforts to recruit workers, often from outside the usual pool of workers. Pay and benefits , with goals such as ensuring parity across the health and LTSS sectors, creating opportunities for full-time jobs, and improving benefits.

, with goals such as ensuring parity across the health and LTSS sectors, creating opportunities for full-time jobs, and improving benefits. Training , often with a focus on geriatric care competencies in topics such as dementia, palliative care, infection control, and in the principles of person-directed care.

, often with a focus on geriatric care competencies in topics such as dementia, palliative care, infection control, and in the principles of person-directed care. Mental health supports, such as counseling services and support for LTSS workers for anxiety, trauma and bereavement.

Conclusion

A comprehensive approach to bolstering the LTSS workforce during a pandemic involves addressing

staffing, quality of work, fair pay, training, and preventing or treating the mental and physical health risks that LTSS workers face. Australia serves as a good example; its approach (outlined in the report) during the COVID-19 pandemic could be replicated during future outbreaks, and it could provide guidance for tackling the current and ongoing challenges facing the LTSS workforce.

Suggested citation:

Reinhard, Susan C., and Jane A. Tilly. International Review of Experts Recommendations for Reforming the Long-Term Services and Supports Workforce. Washington, DC: AARP Public Policy Institute. December 9, 2021. https://doi.org/10.26419/ppi.00157.001


2021 Sustainability Report

Perth, Dec 8, 2021 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Deep Yellow Limited ( ASX:DYL ) ( FRA:JMI ) ( OTCMKTS:DYLLF ) is pleased to release its 2021 Sustainability Report.The Company is focused on creating long-term value for our shareholders, stakeholders and the communities in which we operate. A key component to successfully achieving this goal is also through the efficient, effective and ongoing implementation of environmental, social and governance (ESG) pillars.The Company was proud to receive the Australia-Africa Minerals & Energy Group (AAMEG) Emerging ESG Leader Award (ESG in the context of a uranium explorer in predevelopment) for its inaugural 2020 Sustainability Report. This Award was sponsored by the Minerals Council of Australia.*To view the Sustainability Report, please visit:About Deep Yellow Limited

Deep Yellow Limited (ASX:DYL) (OTCMKTS:DYLLF) (Namibian Stock Exchange:DYL) is a differentiated, advanced uranium exploration company, in predevelopment phase, implementing a contrarian strategy to grow shareholder wealth. This strategy is founded upon growing the existing uranium resources across the Company's uranium projects in Namibia and the pursuit of accretive, counter-cyclical acquisitions to build a global, geographically diverse asset portfolio. A PFS has recently been completed on its Tumas Project in Namibia and a DFS commenced February 2021. The Company's cornerstone suite of projects in Namibia is situated within a top-ranked African mining destination in a jurisdiction that has a long, well-regarded history of safely and effectively developing and regulating its considerable uranium mining industry.


Signs Offtake Agreement with Tesla for Bouldercombe

Sydney, Dec 9, 2021 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Genex Power Limited ( ASX:GNX ) is pleased to announce that it has executed an Autobidder Offtake Agreement (Agreement) in relation to the 50MW/100MWh Bouldercombe Battery Project located near Rockhampton in central Queensland (BBP or the Project), with Tesla Motors Australia Pty Ltd (Tesla).The rationale behind developing this innovative arrangement with Tesla for the BBP was to balance the requirement for a minimum level of contracted revenues to support project financing, whilst retaining the ability to capture revenue upside beyond a fixed guaranteed amount. Hence, the Agreement provides for a fixed and floating payment (revenue share) structure, whereby the fixed component extends cash flow certainty to the Project lenders whilst the floating revenue share component allows the Company to retain upside revenue exposure to merchant cash flows from the energy arbitrage and frequency control ancillary services (FCAS) markets.Under the Agreement, Tesla will operate the BBP using its proprietary algorithm-based bidding system, Autobidder, to maximise revenues in each given year. Autobidder is a real-time trading and control platform which employs a machine learning algorithm to optimise dispatch behaviour whilst adapting to new markets and services.After 8 years and upon conclusion of the Agreement, Genex will enter into a license agreement with Tesla to operate Autobidder on the Project. Autobidder has been successfully deployed on over 1GWh of Tesla projects globally.Under the recently executed Supply Agreement (refer to ASX Announcement dated 1 October 2021), Tesla will supply the 50MW/100MWh BBP battery with 40 Tesla Megapacks. Megapack is an all-in-one utility-scale energy storage system optimised for cost and performance, with each Megapack fully assembled, factory tested and shipped from Tesla's Gigafactory in Nevada, USA.Commenting on the Autobidder Offtake Agreement with Tesla, James Harding, Genex Chief Executive Officer stated:"We are extremely pleased to have signed the Autobidder Offtake Agreement with Tesla. The Agreement follows on from execution of the Megapack Supply Agreement in October and represents a key milestone for the project as we move forward to financial close.The Bouldercombe Battery Project is set to be one of the first standalone large-scale Battery Energy Storage Systems in Queensland. The unique integration of Tesla's Megapack battery technology and a revenue sharing arrangement utilising Autobidder will reduce the complexity of the project. Importantly the structure of the Agreement provides a minimum level of contracted revenues to support project funding, while allowing Genex to retain significant merchant upside.We are delighted to be working with Tesla, the world's leading vertically integrated renewable energy company, in developing this exciting project, further positioning Genex as the leading ASX listed renewable energy and storage company."About Genex Power Ltd

Genex Power Limited (ASX:GNX) is focused on developing a portfolio of renewable energy generation and storage projects across Australia. The Company's flagship Kidston Clean Energy Hub, located in north Queensland, will integrate large-scale solar generation with pumped storage hydro. The Kidston Clean Energy Hub is comprised of the operating 50MW stage 1 Solar Project (KS1) and the 250MW Kidston Pumped Storage Hydro Project (K2-Hydro) with potential for further multi-stage wind and solar projects. The 50MW Jemalong Solar Project (JSP) is located in NSW and provides geographical diversification to the Genex Power Limited portfolio. JSP was energised in early December 2020 and commissioning is now underway. Genex is further developing its energy storage portfolio via the early stage development of a 50MW/75MWh standalone battery energy storage system at Bouldercombe in Queensland. With over 400MW of renewable energy and storage projects in development, Genex is well placed as Australia's leading renewable energy and storage company.


Theta Gold Takeover Bid for Focus Minerals Limited

Sydney, Dec 9, 2021 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Theta Gold Mines Limited ( ASX:TGM ) ( FRA:3LM ) ( OTCMKTS:TGMGF ) announces its intention to make an off-market takeover offer ("Offer") for all the issued shares in Focus Minerals Limited ( ASX:FML ) ("Focus").TGM WILL OFFER 2 TGM SHARES FOR EVERY 1 FOCUS SHAREThe Offer provides Focus shareholders with an opportunity to receive an attractive premium for their shares. This contrasts with the Entitlement Offer (announced on 3 December 2021) which will likely entrench control for Shandong Gold (the largest Focus shareholder) at a significant discount and requires Focus shareholders to subscribe for further shares or risk being substantially diluted. The TGM Offer will, if accepted, allow Focus shareholders to become members of a larger, more liquid and more geographically diverse group. Should Shandong Gold accept the Offer, the resultant combined group would have a combined exploration portfolio of over 1,000km2 spread across the West Australian goldfields and South Africa. Should Shandong Gold not accept the Offer, TGM's Offer seeks to aggregate minority holdings in Focus and (with an increased holding and substantial management experience) would allow TGM to exercise influence to encourage the prompt development of the Focus assets.TGM's Offer implies a value for each Focus share of approximately A$0.36. This represents premiums of:(1) 41.2% to the closing price of Focus Shares on ASX of A$0.255 on 8 December 2021;(2) 44.0% to the Focus Entitlement Offer price of A$0.25;(3) 28.6% to the 30 day VWAP of Focus shares on ASX of A$0.280 to 8 December 2021; and4) 31.1% to the 90 day VWAP of Focus Shares on ASX of A$0.275 to 8 December 2021.OFFER DETAILSThe TGM Offer will be conditional on the Entitlement Offer not proceeding, for the reasons described below. The Offer will otherwise be subject to certain usual bid conditions, including there being no regulatory action, no prescribed occurrences and no material adverse change in respect of Focus. The TGM Offer will not be subject to a minimum acceptance condition.A full list of the proposed bid conditions is provided in Appendix 1 of this announcement.Further details about the TGM Offer will be contained in TGM's Bidder's Statement which will be sent to Focus shareholders in accordance with the Corporations Act. The Bidder's Statement will set out important information for Focus shareholders including how to accept the TGM Offer, the key reasons why Focus shareholders should accept the Offer and information about TGM.Under section 631 of the Corporations Act, TGM is required to make the TGM Offer within 2 months of the date of this announcement. TGM will give further details of the timetable for the TGM Offer in its Bidder's Statement.TRANSACTION RATIONALE- TGM's view of the Focus Entitlement OfferThe Entitlement Offer is being conducted on a 1:1 basis and, if completed, will result in a significant and highly dilutive share issue (of up to 182,748,565 new Focus shares). It has been carefully structured in a manner that allows Shandong Gold (which has already committed to take up its entitlement in full) to increase its level of control. Following the Entitlement Offer, Shandong Gold's interest in Focus could increase to 66.25%. Rather than pay a premium for this increased control, the Entitlement Offer permits Shandong Gold to acquire additional Focus shares at $0.25, being a discount of approximately 12.3% to the closing price of Focus shares on 2 December 2021, and a discount of approximately 15.4% to the 5-day VWAP of Focus Shares up to the close of trading on 2 December 2021.Focus appears to have ample cash for working capital purposes and has just secured a further US$10 million loan on commercial terms from Shandong Gold - specifically for "the purposes of funding the activities contemplated by the Resumption Plan". While it may indeed wish to resume gold mining operations, its plans in this regard appear incomplete. It targets recommencing operations at Coolgardie during 2022 but "acknowledges that this timeframe may change". Given this uncertainty, the timing of the Entitlement Offer is questionable. The Entitlement Offer was not foreshadowed, has been structured with a short offer period, and is occurring during December - which may have contributed to the inability of Focus to secure third party underwriting (or potentially other (non-Shandong Gold) sources of capital). Seeking to raise this much equity capital now may not be necessary given Focus' working capital position and access to additional loan funds.Focus itself acknowledges that the Entitlement Offer may further consolidate Shandong Gold's control over Focus. It has said that "If Shandong Gold's voting power were to increase above 50%, it would be able to solely determine the outcome of ordinary shareholder resolutions that it is permitted to vote on, including the issue of new shares beyond the limit set under the ASX Listing Rules, and would have greater influence over the outcome of any special shareholder resolutions, including amendments to the constitution of the Company".The TGM Offer represents an attractive alternative to Focus shareholders - but it is conditional on Focus determining that it will not proceed with the Entitlement Offer. Given the control effect of the Entitlement Offer, and the clear conflict of interest that the Shandong Gold nominee directors have in the consideration of this matter, TGM expects Focus to establish (and to confirm to ASX that it has established) an independent board committee excluding the Shandong Gold nominee directors to:(1) consider Focus' response to the TGM Offer; and(2) consider Focus' position on the continuation of the Entitlement Offer (given that this is a condition to, and has the capacity to prevent Focus shareholders from receiving, the TGM Offer).The terms of the Entitlement Offer expressly allow Focus to cancel the Entitlement Offer without prior notice.- Ability for Focus shareholders to exit a minority position in an illiquid company for a premiumThe TGM Offer provides Focus shareholders with an opportunity to exit their shareholding in Focus for an attractive premium and to become shareholders of an ASX-listed company with a strong management team and a greater free-float. Accepting Focus shareholders will continue to have access to any future increase in value in Focus through indirect ownership as a TGM shareholder.TGM would very much welcome an acceptance of the Offer by Shandong Gold. If this were to occur, Shandong Gold would obtain a substantial interest in TGM of up to approximately 20.3% (if all Focus shareholders accept the Offer) or 25.6% (if Shandong Gold is the only Focus shareholder to accept the Offer). However, as noted above, the Offer is not subject to any minimum acceptance condition so will proceed even if Shandong Gold does not accept.- TGM's strategy and plans for Focus and Focus' Coolgardie projectIn TGM's opinion, Focus' current ownership structure discourages independent investors from acquiring shares. Focus has itself noted that "there are low levels of institutional ownership on [Focus'] current register"; that "[Focus'] shares are considered to have low levels of stock liquidity"; and that these and other factors have prevented Focus from securing any broker who could secure a sufficient level of sub-underwriting commitments from investors to effect an underwriting of the Entitlement Offer. The Entitlement Offer will not cure these issues, and may make them worse.These factors all potentially result in the market value of Focus not reflecting its underlying resource base. In TGM's opinion, a combination of TGM and Focus would (if TGM secured sufficient acceptances) result in a larger group with a significant resource base and a less concentrated ownership structure (see further detail below). This in turn would likely lead to a market re-rating and a more open share register - which should itself attract greater interest from third party investors, analysts and financiers.TGM has a plan to develop Focus' assets (and in particular Focus' Coolgardie project) in a more certain fashion and with less dilution to shareholders. TGM believes that (if it is able to combine TGM and Focus) it would be able to readily access funding that would allow it to achieve this.Even in circumstances where Shandong Gold does not accept TGM's Offer, acceptance by minority shareholders of Focus could result in TGM acquiring a significant stake in Focus, which would give TGM greater influence in relation to Focus than individual minority shareholders are likely to have at present. This would, again, allow TGM to seek to exercise influence over Focus in a manner which seeks to enhance value for all shareholders of Focus and of TGM.- A logical combination of complementary assetsAn acceptance of the TGM Offer by Shandong Gold would more easily permit a full combination of the Focus and TGM operations. The combination of TGM and Focus is logical and would create a combined group with a JORC compliant Mineral Resource of >12.3Moz12, placing it towards the top end of its ASX listed peers.The combined group would have a larger holding of diversified assets (in both the Western Australian goldfields and in South Africa) at a similar pre-definitive feasibility study stage and the opportunity to benefit from the capabilities and experience of a combined management team. The combined group may also have an opportunity for cost synergies resulting from the sharing of resources including personnel and corporate functions.- TGM management expertise and experienceTGM has a highly skilled and credentialed management team with experience gained in the top tier mining jurisdictions of Australia and South Africa. This team has a proven history of successfully taking projects from exploration through to production. TGM believes that this team could provide additional project execution skills and modern day exploration and operating techniques to assist with the restart of Focus' projects in a timely and cost-efficient manner.As indicated in the diagram below, Focus' historical capital expenditure on exploration over the five-year period to September 2021 has resulted in limited returns to Focus shareholders on their investment - TGM considers it is well placed to address this and bridge the opportunity gap.Should Shandong Gold not accept the Offer, TGM considers that it can add value as a Focus shareholder. This would be via a combination of its Focus shareholding (which, as noted above, may give it more influence than any existing minority shareholder in Focus, assuming a strong level of acceptances from minority Focus shareholders) and the management and project development experience of its senior team. TGM could also offer to provide operational resources to Focus (which may assist in a tight labour market).Commenting on the Offer, TGM Chairman Mr Bill Guy said:"Theta Gold believes that the Offer presents a compelling opportunity to Focus shareholders to realise value for their shareholding while continuing to have an indirect interest in the Focus assets.A combination of Theta Gold and Focus would create a group with a significant presence on the ASX, operating bases in South Africa and WA, and over 12 Moz of gold resources under management. Focus also has numerous old mine sites in the Eastern Goldfields with good grades and potential at depth and Theta Gold believes its experienced underground mining management team could add value to any consideration of these assets.In essence, Theta Gold considers that its Offer is a more attractive proposition to Focus shareholders (including Shandong Gold) than the uncertain and highly dilutive development proposal put forward by Focus."TGM encourages the Focus Board (and its shareholders) to carefully consider TGM's announced intention to make the TGM Offer (conditional on the Entitlement Offer not proceeding) and requests that the Focus Board permit Focus shareholders to receive the opportunity and the premium that the TGM Offer represents.TGM's financial advisor is Kamara Group and its legal advisor is Johnson Winter & Slattery.*To view full detail, please visit:About Theta Gold Mines Limited

Theta Gold Mines Limited (ASX:TGM) (OTCMKTS:TGMGF) is a gold development company that holds a range of prospective gold assets in a world-renowned South African gold mining region. These assets include several surface and near-surface high-grade gold projects which provide cost advantages relative to other gold producers in the region.

Theta Gold Mines core project is located next to the historical gold mining town of Pilgrim's Rest, in Mpumalanga Province, some 370km northeast of Johannesburg by road or 95km north of Nelspruit (Capital City of Mpumalanga Province). Following small scale production from 2011-2015, the Company is currently focussing on the construction of a new gold processing plant within its approved footprint at the TGME plant, and for the processing of the Theta Open Pit oxide gold ore. Nearby surface and underground mines and prospects are expected to be further evaluated in the future.

The Company aims to build a solid production platform to over 100Kozpa based primarily around shallow, open-cut or adit-entry hard rock mining sources. Theta Gold Mines has access to over 43 historical mines and prospect areas that can be accessed and explored, with over 6.7Moz of historical production recorded.
Copyright  2021 Albuquerque Journal

SANTA FE  A proposal to redraw the boundary lines of New Mexicos 70 state House districts for the next decade is headed to the chamber floor after clearing two committee hurdles Wednesday, despite Republican criticisms it would unfairly target GOP incumbents.

But Democrats defended the fairness of the proposed map, House Bill 8, saying its based on proposals advanced by the Citizen Redistricting Committee, an independent group created this year to come up with redistricting recommendations for lawmakers.

Rep. Georgene Louis, D-Albuquerque, said the House redistricting plan was also modified based on a recent agreement between Navajo Nation officials and leaders from New Mexicos pueblos.

I think we expected not everyone would be 100% happy, Louis told the Journal after the plan passed the House State Government, Elections and Indian Affairs Committee on a 6-3 vote, with Democrats voting in favor and Republicans in opposition.

The map passed the House Judiciary Committee on a similar party-line vote Wednesday evening, sending it to the chamber floor for a vote. It would still have to be approved by the Senate and Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham in order to take effect.

While the map could still be adjusted, it would in its current form create six Native American-majority districts and 27 districts in which Hispanics would make up the majority of the population, according to legislative data.

There are currently 24 House districts that are majority Hispanic and six majority Native American districts.

Meanwhile, the new map would create four incumbent-versus-incumbent matchups, though lawmakers in two of those districts have said they are not planning to seek reelection next year.

Rep. Bill Rehm, R-Albuquerque, the lone GOP lawmaker from New Mexicos largest city currently in the state House, questioned why certain Albuquerque foothills neighborhoods would be moved into an East Mountains district under the proposal.

He also voiced concern that some female Republicans, including Rep. Jane Powdrell-Culbert, R-Corrales, would see drastic changes to their districts.

Powdrell-Culbert, one of two African Americans in the House and the chambers fourth-longest serving member, said she feels intentionally targeted by the proposed changes to her district.

I think its being developed to ensure Democratic control, Powdrell-Culbert said in an interview. I feel like theyre moving my boundaries because they cant find anybody to beat me.

However, Rep. Daymon Ely, D-Corrales, the bills sponsor, said pairing incumbent lawmakers within a single redrawn district was not a primary focus in crafting the map. I think this is a very solid proposal and New Mexicans can be proud of the process, Ely said in an interview.

While the states 70 House districts should have a target population of 30,000 residents to ensure equal sizes, he said it makes sense to have slightly less populous districts in highly Native American districts in northwest New Mexico.

Both historically and for practical purposes, the Native American community has been undercounted, Ely said.

Democrats entered this years redistricting special session with a decisive 45-24 advantage over Republicans in the House. There is also one independent House member, Rep. Phelps Anderson of Roswell.
The Albuquerque Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation on Wednesday released four photos of the woman believed to have started multiple fires at the Islamic Center of New Mexico. The images were taken from security cameras inside and outside the building on Yale SE.

We value our partnerships with religious communities like the Islamic Center of New Mexico too highly to tolerate this kind of criminal behavior, said Raul Bujanda, special agent in charge of the division. We hope someone who knows who did this contacts us as soon as possible.

The FBI has not yet determined if this was a hate crime.

Early on Nov. 29, the woman removed combustible material from a trash bin outside the mosque and set it on fire adjacent to an entry door. She also took some of the burning material and tried to set the playground area on fire. Mechanics from a shop across the street saw smoke and ran over to extinguish the fires before Albuquerque Fire Rescue arrived to douse the smouldering piles with water.

On Nov. 7, the same woman entered the near-empty building about 9 a.m., where she tried to set fire to the carpet in the womens section of the main prayer sanctuary. A student at the mosque saw the woman and set off a fire alarm, causing the startled woman to run out while yelling an anti-Islamic obscenity, according to an Islamic Center spokesman.

The woman is believed to have entered the mosque on the evening of Oct. 31 and threatened the mosques religious leader, telling him she was going to burn this place down.

Anyone with information about the womans identity or knows of her whereabouts is asked to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or tips.fbi.gov.
Detectives arrested a man accused of fatally shooting another man with not one, but two guns for disrespecting him last weekend at an apartment off East Central.

Stephen Parker, 42, is charged with an open count of murder in the Dec. 3 death of 30-year-old Tory Burdex. Parker was questioned by detectives when he showed up to meet his probation officer and allegedly admitted to the crime.

Parker was booked into the Metropolitan Detention Center early Wednesday morning.

Burdex was the suspect in a 2014 homicide, a fatal shooting outside a nightclub in Downtown Albuquerque, but was found not guilty in 2017. His death appears unrelated to that incident.

According to a criminal complaint filed in Metropolitan Court:

Police responded around 5:30 p.m. to the shooting at an apartment in the 100 block of Wisconsin NE, near Wyoming and Central. Burdex was found shot to death in a back bedroom, the floor littered with bullet casings from two different caliber guns.

A witness told police Parker and Burdex live together in the apartment, describing it as a trap house where drugs are sold. She said Parker showed up with a gun and a blank look in his eyes before shooting Burdex multiple times.

A mechanic who was working on a vehicle outside told police he heard a gunshot and an armed man limped around the corner after apparently shooting himself. He said the man went into the apartment  more gunshots rang out  and the man left the area.

Parker, who is on probation in a drug possession case, was detained Tuesday when he showed up to the Probation and Parole Office. He told detectives he had gotten into an argument over drugs with Burdex hours before the shooting.

Parker said Burdex disrespected him in front of others, calling him scared and cowardly, and he left the apartment. Parker told police he grabbed two guns and headed back to talk to Burdex.

He said one of the guns accidentally went off in his pocket and went through his leg on the way to the apartment. Parker told police, once there, Burdex began to talk more trash to him and he thought Burdex was going to reach for his gun so he shot him with the guns he brought.
Copyright  2021 Albuquerque Journal

The American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico is calling for an independent investigation into a fatal shooting by a Bernalillo County Sheriffs deputy last month.

BCSO held a news conference and released bodyworn camera video of the incident Tuesday. Video from Deputy Ronald Perez shows him ordering 18-year-old Elijah Riche to put his gun down and then  when he didnt drop the gun and continued to run  shoot him. Riche can be seen holding an AR-15 pistol loosely at his side and then pointing toward the sky. He was running down the street in the direction of two other deputies, who were in their cruisers.

Riche was taken to the hospital, where he died.

The video prompted the ACLU to call for the state Attorney Generals Office to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation into the incident so that Riches family and community have an unbiased accounting of his tragic death.

The body-camera footage of the incident that led to Elijah Riches death appears to show BCSO Deputy Ronald Perez shooting Riche in the back, Barron Jones, senior policy strategist at the ACLU, said in a statement. While Riche is in possession of a gun, he does not appear to be holding it in a threatening manner or poised to fire.

Jones asked for the agency to release the bodyworn camera footage from the two deputies who Riche was running toward. The Journal had received their videos Tuesday, but had not published them with the previous story since the shooting cannot be seen.

The videos show the deputies were in their cruisers at the time of the shooting.

A BCSO spokeswoman did not respond to questions about whether there were other videos showing the shooting or whether the agency would be open to an independent investigation.

In response to a question about whether the Attorney Generals Office will conduct an investigation, a spokeswoman said Hector Balderas office has been asking the legislature to make it so it can regularly investigate shootings by law enforcement.

Currently the law provides that the District Attorneys office has primary jurisdiction to review officer-involved shootings, although we are willing to provide assistance upon request, said spokeswoman Jerri Mares in a statement. The Attorney Generals office has repeatedly requested funding and the proper statutory changes from the legislature to thoroughly investigate and prosecute officer-involved shootings.

The Nov. 26 incident was the second fatal shooting by BCSO this year. Tuesday night deputies shot and killed another person during a physical altercation in the course of a domestic violence call.

Albuquerque Police Department officers have shot nine people this year, four of whom were killed.

New Mexico has the highest rate of fatal shootings by police in the country, according to a Washington Post database. One hundred and thirty-eight people  66 people per million  were killed by police since 2015.

This fatal shooting, along with other recent officer-involved shootings, speaks to the need for statewide legislation for police use of force, Jones said. New Mexico currently ranks number one in the nation for people killed by police, making clear that our current laws governing use of force are failing to protect communities.
Copyright  2021 Albuquerque Journal

Jurors in the child death trial of Fabian Gonzales will board a bus and make a site visit to the apartment where 10-year-old Victoria Martens was killed in 2016, according to details discussed Wednesday by a judge.

Attorneys and court officials will travel by van with the bus under the escort of Bernalillo County Sheriffs deputies, who will block streets and travel ahead and behind the entourage, 2nd Judicial District Judge Cindy Leos said during a hearing.

Leos also told attorneys she had concerns that the court might have trouble seating a jury in the gruesome and widely publicized case. She based her concerns on responses to questionnaires the court has sent to some 400 potential jurors.

I want to be honest with the parties, its going to be tough getting a jury from what were seeing already in responses, Leos said.

Gonzales, 37, faces a charge of child abuse resulting in death in Victorias Aug. 23 death.

Gonzales also is charged with eight counts of tampering with evidence and one count of conspiracy for allegedly dismembering the girls arms, wrapping her organs, washing knives and hiding clothing in an effort to conceal the killing, according to an amended grand jury indictment. His trial is scheduled to begin Jan. 3.

Gonzales attorney, Stephen Aarons, raised concerns about the site visit because of the media frenzy that has surrounded the case and the possibility of public protests.

Jurors typically remain in the ivory tower of the courthouse, but may be directly exposed to protesters at the site of the killing, he said.

Leos responded that she intends to keep the timing of the site visit under wraps. The media will be allowed outside the apartment complex the day of the visit but are prohibited from broadcasting or publishing in advance the time and location of the visit, she said.

People could probably find out the location easily enough, but if they dont know the date, that makes it a little bit more difficult, which is why its so important that the media pays attention to that rule, Leos said.

Two others charged in connection with Victorias death have pleaded guilty to a variety of felony charges.

Both are scheduled for sentencing in February.

Gonzales cousin, Jessica Kelley, pleaded guilty to child abuse resulting in death, aggravated assault, three counts of tampering with evidence and one count of conspiracy to commit tampering. The plea deal calls for Kelley to serve 50 years in prison.

Michelle Martens, Victorias mother, pleaded guilty to one count of child abuse resulting in death. The plea agreement calls for her to serve 12 to 15 years in prison.

Both plea agreements require the women to provide truthful testimony in Gonzales trial.
Copyright  2021 Albuquerque Journal

SANTA FE  A dispute over spending authority for federal stimulus funds has taken a new twist, with Gov. Michelle Lujan Grishams office accusing Sen. Jacob Candelaria of grandstanding in a state Supreme Court filing.

The latest salvo comes after Candelaria, a Democrat turned independent, said last week the governor was continuing to spend stimulus funding in violation of a court order that such dollars could only be allocated with legislative approval.

He also asked the Supreme Court to impose sanctions on the Governors Office and levy additional spending restrictions.

In its response this week, the Governors Office said a $269,059 payment of an invoice from a computer vendor was due to a misunderstanding of the Supreme Courts order, since the expense had been obligated before the courts decision.

The governors chief legal counsel, Holly Agajanian, also said the funds in question were restored after top state Department of Finance and Administration officials were alerted to the payment by state Treasurer Tim Eichenbergs office.

Given that backdrop, Agajanian said there was no need for Candelaria to file a motion with the Supreme Court.

Sadly, it appears Senator Candelaria is less interested in the truth than having his name in the papers, the governors attorney wrote in the nine-page response.

Candelaria teamed up with Senate GOP floor leader Greg Baca of Belen in September to file the initial petition challenging the governors unilateral authority to spend $1.7 billion in federal relief funds.

He said Wednesday he does not believe the Lujan Grisham administrations spending of additional federal money after the Supreme Courts decision was a mistake, but was a deliberate act flagged by the state treasurer.

The court was very clear that not a single penny could be transferred out of that fund without legislative approval, Candelaria told the Journal.

In regards to the grandstanding allegations, Candelaria called the criticisms levied by the Governors Office tacky and low-rent behavior.

It is not surprising to me the governor wants to make this some sort of political attack, said Candelaria, who announced on the opening day of an ongoing special legislative session on redistricting that he was changing his political affiliation due to what he described as a toxic two-party political system.

The Legislature is weighing a plan to spend roughly $462 million of the unspent stimulus funds during the special session that started Monday. The remaining amount could then be allocated during a 30-day regular session that starts next month.

While the Supreme Court issued a ruling barring the governor from spending additional funds immediately after hearing oral arguments Nov. 17, it has not yet released a written opinion in the case.
Copyright  2021 Albuquerque Journal

The states only Level 1 trauma center treated a record number of patients in a day, and one of its top doctors said patients are lashing out at health care workers over long wait times.

New Mexico hospitals on Wednesday were treating 687 COVID patients  the highest since Jan. 2. The University of New Mexico Hospital hit 156% of its normal capacity and set a record for its patient census, according to one of the hospitals top doctors.

Acting Health Secretary Dr. David Scrase, during a COVID-19 briefing Wednesday with other health officials, said hospital measures or indexes for patient acuity levels have never been higher than they are now. At one point Tuesday, more than 150 admitted patients were sitting in two Albuquerque emergency rooms waiting for a hospital bed, he said.

The hospitals are much fuller than they were last year  when they were completely full  because of all the additional people that came in with delayed care, Scrase said.

Dr. Michael Richards, the senior vice president for clinical affairs at the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, said the current state of the hospital makes for a really difficult patient experience.

UNMH is still accepting patients with severe traumatic injuries, heart attacks and strokes. But they are rejecting many patients who would otherwise be treated at the facility, he said.

This creates a really difficult patient experience, these long waits, Richards said. Were seeing more difficult and more frequent situations where patients or family members contribute to creating a difficult environment because of the frustrations and the long waits.

UNMH is delaying surgeries that can be pushed back two weeks because of the patient volume, he said.

The number of new COVID-19 cases in New Mexico jumped on Wednesday, with the state reporting 1,444 new cases and 15 additional deaths, bringing the statewide toll to 5,445 deaths since the start of the pandemic. Of the new cases, 447 were in Bernalillo County. The state reported 969 new cases on Tuesday.

More than 15% of New Mexicans have now had a confirmed COVID case, according to data presented during Wednesdays media briefing. About 1.6% of the cases have been fatal.

Amid the high case counts, Scrase encouraged everyone who qualifies to seek out monoclonal antibody treatment as soon as they are confirmed to be infected with the virus in an effort to stave off a hospitalization. He also said recently approved pill therapeutics will soon be arriving in the state.

I think thats our best angle for fixing this right now, Scrase said.

Health officials also stressed the importance of getting vaccinated. Between Nov. 8 and Dec. 6, vaccinated people made up 26% of new cases, 18.5% of hospitalizations and 14.3% of the deaths in the state.

Scrase said hospitals arent the only places where tensions over the coronavirus are rising. He said hes experienced a growing trend of people taking off their masks in front of him in protest during Scrases public appearances.

He said that happened to him recently, but he didnt identify the group when asked by a reporter.

This is not the first time this happened to me. I think people may sort of see me as the embodiment of telling them things they dont want to do, he said. But I dont want to make it political either  I spent a lot of time over the summer adopting a completely nonjudgmental attitude toward those who made the decision not to get vaccines.

Im still struggling with people who take off their masks just because Im in the room.
Copyright  2021 Albuquerque Journal

Several La Cueva High students and their parents are frustrated with school administrators over their handling of an incident in which a photo showing a gun being pulled from a backpack was sent anonymously to some students phones.

The photo, which was sent alongside a racist meme, was brought to administrators attention Monday afternoon after it was airdropped to some students phones that day. The school canvassed the campus Tuesday morning to look for the backpack in the photo and consulted law enforcement.

They determined that the photo had been circulating online for several months and that there was no credible threat, according to La Cueva principal Dana Lee.

Social media threats are commonplace  Albuquerque Public Schools spokeswoman Monica Armenta said, noting that the district has received more than 50 social media threats since the beginning of the school year.

In this case, she stressed, no explicit threat accompanied the photo.

But several community members arent happy with the districts response, and theyve gone on social media to express their outrage. One post showed the photos that were sent to students alongside a letter addressed to Superintendent Scott Elder. In the letter, a parent whose daughter was among the students who received the photos, questioned why the school wasnt placed on lockdown.

This is unacceptable behavior and action should be taken, another Instagram user posted on Tuesday. Gun violence, hate crimes and school shootings are a very real danger and this threat needs to be taken seriously.

Armenta said police and school officials didnt feel the incident merited a lockdown or more serious action.

We also have to be cognizant of lost instructional time and also unnecessarily alarming an entire community, she said.

Several La Cueva students said that they wished the school would have handled the situation differently, adding that they left class Tuesday to go home when they heard that there were potential rumors of a shooting threat.

Erin Jones, a La Cueva senior, said she first heard about the photo of the gun Tuesday after the school made an announcement advising students that posting guns is not funny.

Jones, who is Black, said she received little information about the situation from school administrators and when she learned that the photo of the gun was also sent with a racist meme to a Black student, she decided to leave class during lunch.

She said administrators didnt even address the racism when they came on the announcement and that was what shocked me and a lot of other students. The meme is a play on rock, paper scissors but depicts a white hand in a sieg heil salute over a black lives matter fist and the words PAPER BEATS ROCK.

Though Jones said she understood that Lee didnt want to cause chaos, she wished the threat had been addressed immediately.

Even if its fake, it sends a mental message, she said.

Principal Lee sent an email to parents Tuesday afternoon stating that while any picture of a gun sent to students is of great concern the school identified no credible threat to La Cueva staff or students.

We take all of those concerns seriously, Lee told the Journal. So, if a student gives me information that impacts student safety we act with the urgency that the situation dictates. In this case, it was clear immediately that one of the photos in question had been distributed to several students so the student wasnt being targeted by any one individual.

Lee said the school consulted law enforcement and determined that there was no credible threat in less than 24 hours.

She said she did not know which student sent the photo since it was sent with no identifying information.

We do not have forensic specialists to investigate social media, so law enforcement can take that over whenever its necessary, Lee said.

Lee said that to her knowledge no law enforcement officials are currently investigating.
SANTA FE  The Department of Veterans Services is asking New Mexicans to take part in Operation Holiday Cheer 2021 to bring seasons greetings to residents and staff of the New Mexico State Veterans Home in Truth or Consequences.

Launched last year, Operation Holiday Cheer asks people to send holiday cards to the home. Many residents have little contact with family  or no family at all. Many staff members work through the holidays as the home provides year-round, round-the-clock care.

Cards sent to the home will be evenly distributed among residents and staff. The cards need only be addressed with Dear Veteran or Dear Hero and contain a short message of appreciation for the veterans military service. Cards to staff members can be addressed with Dear Frontline Hero, or other terms of endearment, along with a brief message of appreciation for providing care for the homes residents.

Last year, we launched Operation Holiday Cheer with great success, Veterans Services Secretary Sonya L. Smith said.

Over 2,000 holiday greeting cards were sent to the state veterans home from New Mexicans across the state, as well as residents of other states. Wed like to double that number this year.

The holiday season can be a very lonely, very emotionally painful time of year for many of the residents, she added.

We just want to be able to bring a little holiday cheer into their lives, and let them know that we appreciate their service for our country  or for caring for the residents  and that we are thinking of them this holiday season.
They did it  they made fetch happen.

On Wednesday night at Popejoy Hall, many in the crowd wore pink.

After all, its a rule in Mean Girls.

The Tony Award-nominated musical is currently being staged at Popejoy through Sunday, Dec. 12, and its simply delightful.

The musical  based off the 2004 film  tells the story of Cady Heron, who may have grown up on an African savanna, but nothing prepared her for the wild and vicious ways of her strange new home: suburban Illinois.

She takes on The Plastics, a trio of lionized frenemies led by the charming but ruthless Regina George.

But when Heron devises a plan to end Georges reign, she learns the hard way that you cant cross a Queen Bee without getting stung.

Mean Girls opened on Broadway in April 2018 to rave reviews at the August Wilson Theatre, following its world premiere at the National Theatre in Washington, DC, in fall 2017. The production is the first for Popejoy Hall in nearly two years.

One thing is clear with the cast of Mean Girls, as each performer was perfectly cast.

Lets start with Nadina Hassan, who is making her debut as George. It is also Hassans first national tour.

Fans are familiar with Rachel McAdams iconic role in the film. Yet, as Hassan takes the reins as George, shes pure power.

In the number, Meet the Plastics, Hassan is the definition of a mean girl. With attitude, she introduces the audience to her character, which is merely a glimpse of how much of a calculated genius she is.

Then theres Danielle Wade, who plays Heron  the wide-eyed home-schooled student who dives into the murky waters of public school.

Wade tackles the role with honesty, which makes for some seriously amazing scenes.

Rounding out the plastics are Megan Masako Haley as Gretchen Wieners and Jonalyn Saxer as Karen Smith.

This powerful duo pulled focus throughout the show  Haley with her perfect execution of being neurotic and Smith for making dumb look really smart.

Mean Girls wouldnt be complete without Mary Kate Morrissey as Janis Sarkisian and Eric Huffman as Damian Hubbard.

The pair are also narrators of the musical.

Morrissey captures the angst-filled life of Sarkisian. Meanwhile, Huffman brings a shining, amazing light to Hubbard. Both performers brought plenty of laughs.

It was difficult to pick a favorite character because the entire cast was just that good.

A musical wouldnt be complete without the scenic, costume, lighting, sound and video design  which were all spectacular.

Mean Girls is fast paced and the transitions were near perfect.

Theres a message of solidarity and compassion in the musical and its one that we often need to remember.

There are a handful of performances left at Popejoy and Mean Girls is worth every moment. The best one-liners from the film make it into the musical, and there are new songs that move the story along brilliantly.

So, get in  were going to Popejoy.

Mean Girls

WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 9 and Friday, Dec. 10; 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 11; 1 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 12

WHERE: Popejoy Hall, University of New Mexico campus

HOW MUCH: $49-$112, plus fees at popejoypresents.com
WASHINGTON  President Joe Biden expressed alarm at a backward slide of democracy around the globe on Thursday, calling on fellow world leaders to work with him to bolster democratic institutions as his administration grows increasingly concerned about Chinas and Russias push for global influence.

Bidens comments to more than 100 leaders at the White Houses first virtual Summit for Democracy came as they pointed to a host of challenges confronting democracies, including corruption, inequality, and limitations on press freedom. The leaders also expressed increasing worry about the perils of disinformation and strengthening autocracies.

Will we allow the backward slide of rights and democracy to continue unchecked? Biden asked. Or will we together  together  have a vision  and courage to once more lead the march of human progress and human freedom forward?

He didnt mention either China or Russia by name. But he has repeatedly made a case that the U.S. and like-minded allies need to show the world that democracies are a far better vehicle for societies than autocracies. It is a central tenet of Bidens foreign policy outlook  one that he vowed would be more outward looking than his predecessor Trumps America First approach.

Biden underscored that even long-established democracies, like the United States, havent been immune to the strains, and he called the moment an inflection point in history.

Local elected officials are resigning at an alarming rate amid confrontations with angry voices at school board meetings, elections offices and town halls. States are passing laws to limit access to the ballot, making it more difficult for Americans to vote. And the Jan. 6 attack at the Capitol has left many in Donald Trumps Republican Party clinging to his false claims of a stolen election, eroding trust in the accuracy of the vote.

Here in the United States we know as well as anyone that renewing our democracy and strengthening our democratic institutions requires constant effort, Biden said..

Beyond rhetoric, the president announced he was launching an initiative to spend up to $424 million for programming around the world that supports independent media, anti-corruption work and more.

Thursdays video gathering drew backlash from the United States chief adversaries and other nations that were not invited.

The ambassadors to the U.S. from China and Russia wrote a joint essay describing the Biden administration as exhibiting a Cold-War mentality that will stoke up ideological confrontation and a rift in the world. The administration also faced scrutiny over how it went about deciding which countries to invite. China and Russia were among those that did not receive invitations.

Other leaders at the summit delivered their own remarks on the state of democracy  many prerecorded  often reflecting on the stress that rapidly evolving technology is having on their nations. They also bemoaned the increase of disinformation campaigns aimed at undermining institutions and elections.

The democratic conversation is changing, said Denmarks Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen. New technologies and large tech companies are increasingly setting the stage for the democratic dialogue, sometimes with more emphasis on reach than on freedom of speech.

The summit comes as Biden is pressing Russias Vladimir Putin to step back after a massive buildup of troops on the Ukraine border that has created growing concern in Washington and European capitals as well as Ukraine itself. Biden on Wednesday said that he warned Putin of severe consequences if Russia invaded.

Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who took part in Thursdays summit and later spoke by phone with Biden, said on Twitter, Democracy is not a given, it must be fought for.

Polands Andrzej Duda spoke out against Russia in his address, decrying Moscow and its support of Belarus.

Poland and Western allies have accused Russian ally Belarus of using migrants as pawns to destabilize the European Union in retaliation for its sanctions on his authoritarian regime. Hundreds of migrants, mostly from the Middle East, have flocked to the Belarus-Poland border.

Poland took on a commitment to be a support for democracy in Eastern Europe, Duda said. It is a beautiful task, but it has its consequences. It has made us the target of the Kremlin propaganda.

Putin made no public comment on the summit Thursday as he took part in his own video call with members of the Kremlin council for human rights.

Biden has said passage of his ambitious domestic agenda at home  the $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill he signed into law, as well as the roughly $2 trillion Build Back Better Act of social and climate change initiatives moving through the Senate  will demonstrate how democracy can improve peoples lives.

Some advocates also want Biden to focus more on shoring up democracy at home. One early test came Thursday as the House approved the Protecting Our Democracy Act, the third in a trio of bills  alongside the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act  largely backed by Democrats. All three are expected to be stalled by Republicans in the Senate.

Here in the United States, we know that our democracy is not immune from threats, Vice President Kamala Harris said in remarks to close out the first day of the summit. Jan. 6 looms large in our collective conscience, and the anti-voter laws that many states have passed are part of an intentional effort to exclude Americans from participating in our democracy.

The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, said in its annual report that the number of countries experiencing democratic backsliding has never been as high as the past decade, with the U.S. added to the list along with India and Brazil.

Chinese officials have offered a stream of public criticism about the summit. They have also expressed outrage over the administration inviting Taiwan to take part. China claims the self-governing island as part of its territory and objects to it having contacts on its own with foreign governments.

Pakistans Prime Minister Imran Khan declined to attend the conference. In a statement issued ahead of the meeting, the foreign ministry said, We value our partnership with the U.S., which we wish to expand both bilaterally as well as in terms of regional and international cooperation.

Yet Pakistans relationship with the U.S. has been fraught with suspicion on both sides. Islamabad has balked at Washingtons often-stated criticism that Pakistan has not been a reliable partner in the war on terror, accusing it of harboring the Taliban even as that group fought a U.S.-led coalition. Pakistan says it has lost 70,000 people to the war on terror since 2001 and is ready to be a partner in peace but not in war.

Other uninvited countries have shown their displeasure. Hungary, the only European Union member not invited, tried unsuccessfully to block the EU Commissions president from speaking on behalf of the bloc at the summit. Last year, Biden referred to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban as a thug.

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto dismissed the summit as a domestic political-type of event where countries whose leaders had a good relationship with Trump were not invited.

___

Associated Press writers Lisa Mascaro in Washington, Justin Spike in Budapest, Munir Ahmed in Islamabad, Vladimir Isachenkov in Moscow and video producer Liu Zheng in Beijing contributed to this report.
WASHINGTON  President Joe Biden reached out to Ukraines leader Thursday as the United States moved to take a more direct role in diplomacy between that country and Russia, part of a broader effort to dissuade Russia from a destabilizing invasion of its western neighbor.

But any negotiations to peacefully resolve Europes tangled East-West rivalries will present minefields for the U.S. president.

Biden made his offer of American diplomacy during a two-hour online session with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday. Biden proposed joining the Europeans in negotiations not just to settle the conflict in eastern Ukraine but to address Putins larger strategic objections to NATO expanding its membership and building military capacity ever closer to Russias borders.

Biden spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy by phone for more than an hour Thursday. Biden assured Zelenskyy of support for Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity. He also renewed a pledge that the U.S. and its allies would hit Russia with economic sanctions and intensify defensive aid to Ukraine and NATO allies nearest to Russia if Russia did invade, the White House said.

The two called on Putin to calm the crisis and urged diplomacy. Biden said the U.S. was prepared to help with confidence-building measures to implement a 2015 peace deal.

In a statement after the call with Biden, Ukraine said Zelenskyy was offering clear proposals to unblock the peace process and is ready to discuss them in various formats.

Administration officials have suggested that the U.S. will press Ukraine to formally cede a measure of autonomy within its eastern Donbas region, which is now under de facto control by Russia-backed separatists who rose up against Kyiv in 2014.

Decentralization of Ukraine and a special status for Donbas were laid out in an ambiguous, European-brokered peace deal in 2015, but it has never taken hold.

More autonomy could formally give residents of that region more authority over some local issues. The administration officials made no mention of ceding any territory.

Biden also will have to finesse Ukraines desire to join NATO. The U.S. and NATO reject Putins demands that they guarantee Ukraine wont be admitted to the Western military alliance.

But senior State Department officials have told Ukraine that NATO membership is unlikely to be approved in the next decade, according to a person familiar with those private talks who spoke on condition of anonymity.

For Biden, the challenge will be encouraging Kyiv to accept some of the facts on the ground in eastern Ukraine, without appearing to cave to Putin  a perception that could embolden the Russian leader and unleash a fresh line of condemnations by Republicans as Bidens popularity is already in decline.

Ukraine may be asked can you make some step forward on these areas, said Steven Pifer, a former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine. That could include measures such as allowing the Russia-allied Donbas region to control its own health care, police and schools, he said.

But I dont see Washington pushing the Ukrainians to take steps that would compromise their sovereignty or the ability of the national government when it came to making decisions, Pifer said.

Ukraine, a former Soviet republic with deep cultural and historic ties to Russia, has in recent years sought closer integration with the West and membership in NATO. The alliance has held out the promise of membership but it has declined to set a timeline. Even before the current crisis, Ukraine was a long way from joining.

Since 2014, however, when Russia invaded and annexed Crimea and then threw its weight behind the armed separatists in the industrial Donbas region, the United States and other NATO members have been helping Ukraine build up its defenses.

The call between Biden and Putin took place as tensions grew over the threat of Russian forces again rolling into Ukraine. Putin denies any such intention and charges that it is NATO strengthening its hold in former Soviet satellites and republics that is threatening Russia.

U.S. intelligence reports last week said Russia had moved 70,000 troops to Ukraines borders as it builds toward a possible invasion early next year.

After speaking with Zelenskyy, Biden briefed leaders of nine NATO members in Eastern Europe, including three former Soviet republics. Its part of weeks of coordination with NATO allies on the response to the Russian military buildup on Ukraines border.

Before and after his call with Putin, Biden spoke with the leaders of Britain, France, Germany and Italy. France and Germany took the lead in brokering the 2015 peace deal between Ukraine and the Russia-backed rebels, in whats known as the Normandy format.

We hope by Friday were gonna be able to say, announce to you, were having meetings at a higher level, Biden said Wednesday. Not just with us, but with at least four of our major NATO allies, and Russia.

The meetings would address the future of Russias concern relative to NATO writ large, and whether or not we could work out any accommodations as it relates to bringing down the temperature in Ukraines east, Biden said.

Speaking at a news conference in Paris on Thursday, French President Emmanuel Macron defended French-German diplomatic efforts over the past several years to mediate between Russia and Ukraine, but said he welcomed Bidens outreach to his European allies on the matter.

Our aim  all of us Europeans and our American partners  is first to be at Ukraines side to ensure its security  and to start a demanding dialogue with Russia, Macron said.

Asked about any need for Ukrainian compromises, Sullivan told reporters Tuesday that Ukrainians have come forward with constructive ideas for how to move the diplomacy forward. Were encouraging that.

Under the 2015 deal, Ukraine agreed to change its constitution to accommodate the peculiarities of the two Donbas separatist republics and to legalize their special status. Some analysts said the deals vagueness, and some conflicting requirements, make its provisions effectively unworkable.

Ukraine is willing to engage in talks on defining special status, including possible changes that account for the cultural and linguistic differences of its eastern Donbas region, which has a higher proportion of native Russian speakers, the person familiar with the private talks between Ukraine and the United States said.

But Ukraine would reject any change that gives the region virtual veto power over national policy, the person said.

-

Associated Press writers Robert Burns and Aamer Madhani in Washington contributed to this story.
WASHINGTON  Pivotal Sen. Joe Manchin said Wednesday hed vote to uphold the Senate parliamentarians decision if she rules that immigration or other provisions should fall from Democrats huge social and environment bill, underscoring the partys uphill fight to keep some top priorities in the legislation.

Elizabeth MacDonough, the chambers nonpartisan rules referee, is expected to decide shortly whether language letting millions of migrants remain temporarily in the U.S. can stay in the 10-year, roughly $2 trillion measure. Shes also considering the fate of other initiatives, including parts of Democrats plan to curb pharmaceutical prices.

MacDonoughs decisions can be ignored by whichever Democrat is presiding over the chamber during debate, but Republicans could force votes challenging that. Ultimately, Democrats would likely need all their votes to defeat such GOP moves in the 50-50 chamber, where Vice President Kamala Harris can break ties. All Republicans oppose the legislation.

The moderate Manchin, D-W.Va., has spent months forcing Democrats to reduce the size and scope of the legislation, which the House approved last month. The Senate is all but certain to make significant changes to the bill, one of President Joe Bidens top domestic priorities. Party leaders hope Congress can approve a final version by Christmas.

Asked Wednesday whether he would vote to override a decision by the parliamentarian to erase the immigration provision, Manchin told reporters he would not.

The bottom line is the parliamentarian, you stick with the parliamentarian, thats all, he said. You stick on every issue. You cant pick and choose.

The House version of the bill would let an estimated 6.5 million migrants in the U.S. since at least 2010 seek work permits letting them hold jobs and avoid deportation for a total of up to 10 years. To be approved, they would have to pass background checks and meet other requirements.

Progressive and pro-immigration lawmakers and groups have been pressuring Democratic leaders to override MacDonough if she says the immigration language must be dropped, and to go even further and insert language giving migrants an opportunity for citizenship. Its unclear what Democrats will do.

Id vote for that, No. 2 Senate Democratic leader Richard Durbin of Illinois told reporters this week about overturning the parliamentarian if she rules against immigration language. Durbin, his partys vote counter, said such a vote would be close.

There could be other Democrats whod vote to back the parliamentarian if she advised removing the immigration provisions. One is Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., another moderate, whos said she supports helping migrants become citizens but has cited legal limitations in what can be included in this legislation.

Manchin has supported past efforts to help migrants remain in the U.S., including proposals giving them pathways to citizenship, usually insisting that border security also be tightened.

Hes also been at the forefront of centrists who forced the bills price tag down from its initial $3.5 trillion cost, and the removal of Biden-sought proposals like free community college. Hes opposed House provisions requiring paid family leave and slapping fees on emissions of methane gas, which contributes to global warming.

Democrats are using special procedures that would let the legislation pass by a simple majority in the Senate, not the usual 60 votes. But that requires all of a bills provisions to be chiefly driven by budgetary, not policy changes.

The parliamentarian makes the initial determination of that question, an opinion that lawmakers almost always heed.

MacDonough has ruled against two previous Democratic immigration proposals in recent weeks that would have each provided around 8 million immigrants with a chance to become legal permanent residents and possibly citizenship.

The parliamentarians process for deciding if components of the bill can remain is called the Byrd bath after the late Sen. Robert Byrd, D-W.Va., who devised those rules. Manchin won the 2010 special election to fill Byrds seat after the long-time senator died.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates  After years of looking abroad for answers, countries in the Middle East now appear to instead be talking to each other to find solutions following two decades defined by war and political upheaval.

The American withdrawals from Afghanistan and Iraq have played a part in that change. Once ostracized autocracies such as President Bashar Assad in Syria, and shunned former top figures such as Moammar Gadhafis son in Libya, are back in the political arena amid the still smoldering ruins of the 2011 Arab Spring uprisings.

Much remains unsettled and this inward search may not provide the answers most want. There are no quick fixes to Lebanons unprecedented economic free-fall, the plight of Afghans desperate to flee the countrys new Taliban rulers and Irans increasingly hard-line stance over its nuclear program.

But the diplomatic maneuvering signals a growing realization across the region that Americas interest is moving elsewhere and that now is the time for negotiations that were unthinkable just a year ago.

The United States still maintains a strong military presence, including bases across the wider Mideast. Tens of thousands of American troops operate tanks in Kuwait, sail through the Strait of Hormuz and fly missions across the Arabian Peninsula.

But its Arab allies also watched in stunned horror as desperate people clung to the sides of departing U.S. military cargo jets during Americas chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan after 20 years of war and the Taliban takeover of the country. Decisions by both the Trump and Biden administrations led to that moment  and upended strategic thinking calcified by the Cold War and the conflicts that followed the Sept. 11 attacks.

American analysts now talk about the great powers competition and point at Russias buildup of forces on Ukraines borders and Chinas posture toward Taiwan. Those flashpoints, they say, need some of the personnel and equipment long stationed in the Mideast.

Meanwhile, talks in Vienna aimed at restoring Irans nuclear deal with world powers appear to be floundering. With Irans uranium enrichment at levels never seen before, threats of military action by Israel have rekindled tensions and fears that an ongoing shadow war in could escalate into open conflict.

And with the border-locking chaos of the coronavirus pandemic largely behind them, Mideast leaders are now shuffling, talking face-to-face amid a flurry of diplomatic meetings, seemingly eager to hedge their bets.

The United Arab Emirates sent its national security adviser on a rare trip to speak to Irans hard-line president, likely hoping to head off any other maritime attacks off its coast. Saudi Arabia, which cut off ties to Iran in 2016 following attacks on their diplomatic posts sparked by the kingdoms execution of a prominent Shiite cleric, also has held talks with Tehran, hosted in Baghdad.

Its not just about Iran, however. An intra-Gulf feud that saw Qatar boycotted for years by four Arab countries ended in January. Years of recriminations gave way to an image of Qatars ruling emir, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and the Emirati national security adviser, photographed smiling and relaxed, standing next to each other in board shorts.

Later in December, the Gulf Cooperation Council, which also includes Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman, is to hold its first non-fractious meeting since the boycott. Prince Mohammed has embarked on a tour of the GCC states ahead of that summit, hoping to reassert his own influence after U.S. intelligence agencies said he likely approved the killing and dismemberment of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018.

While each of the Gulf Arab states conducts its own diplomacy, a unified GCC front could prove valuable if tensions rise further with Iran. There are also considerations farther afield. Turkey, long viewed with suspicion by the Emirates and Egypt over offering a haven to Islamists, has sought warmer ties as it tries to halt the collapse of its currency, the lira.

The closing of ranks also brought a return of realpolitik to the region, a decade after the Arab Spring movements that aimed to topple the regions autocrats.

Syrias Assad has clawed his way back from the precipice. Though the northwestern Syrian province of Idlib remains under the control of opposition forces, Assad controls the rest of the country. Now, he is slowly being brought back into the fold of the same Arab countries that once called for his ouster  even if America maintains both its opposition to his rule and a small troop presence in the countrys east, near the border with Iraq.

Another figure back on the scene is Seif al-Islam Gadhafi, the son of Libyas slain dictator. Though still wanted by the International Criminal Court over the killing of Arab Spring protesters, Seif al-Islam has reemerged as a candidate in the countrys upcoming presidential election.

In Tunisia, which saw the first of the Arab Springs protests, President Kais Saied froze the countrys parliament and seized executive powers in July. That sidelined the countrys Islamists in a move criticized by opponents as a coup.

And in Sudan, where a popular uprising and coup toppled longtime autocrat Omar al-Bashir in 2019, another recent coup disrupted fragile plans for a transition to democracy.

This new Mideast reassessment however, appears to have limits on what it can resolve.

The Mideast hasnt rushed to embrace Taliban rule in Afghanistan and international recognition is still far off. The grinding civil war rages on in Yemen, where a Saudi-led coalition battles Iranian-backed rebels. In Lebanon, the Iran-Saudi rivalry threatens to tear the country apart even more as it faces what the World Bank described as the worlds worst financial crisis in 150 years.

But the talking, for now, continues. And absent a major crisis that could draw America in again, those conversations likely will be where the deals get done.

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EDITORS NOTE  Jon Gambrell, the news director for the Gulf and Iran for The Associated Press, has reported from each of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, Iran and other locations across the world since joining the AP in 2006. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/jongambrellAP.
COLUMBUS, Ohio  A former deep-sea treasure hunter is preparing to mark his sixth year in jail for refusing to disclose the whereabouts of 500 missing coins made from gold found in an historic shipwreck.

Research scientist Tommy Thompson has been held in contempt of court since Dec. 15, 2015, for that refusal. He is also incurring a daily fine of $1,000.

Thompsons case dates to his discovery of the S.S. Central America, known as the Ship of Gold, in 1988. The gold rush-era ship sank in a hurricane off South Carolina in 1857 with thousands of pounds of gold aboard, contributing to an economic panic.

Despite an investors lawsuit and a federal court order, Thompson, 69, still wont cooperate with authorities trying to find those coins, according to court records, federal prosecutors and the judge who found Thompson in contempt.

Thompson says hes already said everything he knows about the coins. Thompson pleaded guilty in April 2015 for his failure to appear for a 2012 hearing and was sentenced to two years in prison and a $250,000 fine. But Thompsons criminal sentence has been delayed until the issue of the gold coins is resolved.

Federal law generally limits jail time for contempt of court to 18 months. But a federal appeals court in 2019 rejected Thompsons argument that that law applies to him, saying his refusal violates conditions of a plea agreement.

After technology problems cancelled Thompsons latest virtual hearing last week, federal Judge Algenon Marbley scheduled a new hearing for Jan. 7.
Inside the bustling New York Common Pantry, people hustle to assemble bags of carrots, apples, potatoes and other items. Outside the food pantry, others haul deliveries or hand out produce to people lined around the block of the Manhattan-based charity.

Randi Goldstein, 43, was one of the volunteers that day, there with her co-workers from a talent and literary agency to lend a helping hand for the holidays. Like many Americans, theyve been working from home since the pandemic first hit and had been feeling disconnected.

Volunteering together was one way to reconnect, despite lingering concerns about what the omicron variant may bring. Cases have been reported in many states, but scientists cannot yet say whether it is more dangerous than previous variants.

Im worried about it, said Goldstein, a talent agent. But I think were at a point where you also have to one day start living your life as safely as you can.

More people are volunteering at the pantry this holiday season compared to the last, when vaccines werent yet widely available. But the numbers still fall short compared to the amount of people who gave their time prior to the pandemic. The same is happening at other charities, though the new variant has brought more uncertainty about what looms ahead.

One out of four Americans volunteers, performing billions of hours of service annually, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The most common among them is collecting, preparing, distributing or serving food.

In Colorado, Teresa Dilka, a 68-year-old retired nurse, started volunteering at the Food Bank of the Rockies a couple of months ago, only after getting her COVID shot. She says she used to give money to the Denver-based food bank, but her income dwindled when her mother died. So she stopped donating money, and started donating her time instead.

Sometimes it seems like its helping me more than Im helping them, she said. It just feels good to be able to help.

At the Arizona-based St. Marys Food Bank, one of the largest in the country, volunteering hasnt declined since news about omicron came out, said Jerry Brown, a spokesperson for the organization. Many of their volunteers had just returned during this years holiday season following last years big drop-off, when their volunteer staffing dwindled from about 200 to only 30 per shift.

Many who stopped volunteering were seniors, or corporate employees who stayed away when their companies transferred to remote work. Brown said the food bank was only able to continue distributing 250,000 meals daily because the Arizona National Guard stepped in to help assemble food boxes and load them onto trucks. The charitys accountants and other employees were also called in for support since the demand was just too high.

One thing the pandemic has surely taught us is: Never take the volunteer spirit and how important it is to us for granted, Brown said. Before the pandemic, he said sometimes he wouldnt notice the hundreds of volunteers packing boxes because they were there every day.

But since the pandemic, we all make a greater effort to make eye contact, smile, wave and thank them, he said. Were grateful because we all know what it was like here without them.

A spokesperson for Feeding America, a nonprofit organization that coordinates the efforts of more than 200 food banks across the country, said an internal survey the group conducted in September showed 127 food banks in its network still needed volunteers.

Outside Chicago, large groups of corporate and church volunteers who once were a big help to the Northern Illinois Food Bank dont show up as much anymore. However, some individuals who paused volunteering last year have slowly returned, and others who stepped in to fill the gap have stayed, said Shannon Thompson, the organizations director of volunteers.

That slow and steady uptick of volunteers comes as Americans feel less anxious about resuming prior activities and charities are more comfortable staffing their warehouses, a trend that may change depending on findings about the severity of omicron.

But for now, volunteering slots are full for the month of December at the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma, which distributes food to community organizations in 53 counties in the state. Cathy Nestlen, a spokesperson for the organization, said they resumed offering volunteering in April after pausing it for a year to reduce potential exposure to the virus.

It was not an easy decision to make, she said, adding the food bank had hired temporary employees to make up for the loss, which cost them an additional $15,000 a week.

Their current shifts are limited to 80 people, down from 150 prior to the pandemic. Masks are required. Vaccinations are not.

Sign-ups to volunteer have spilled into January, though Nestlen said she is encouraging more people to volunteer after the holidays, when charities usually see a drop-off in people lending a hand.

The pandemic, in many ways, has forced charities to innovate and offer virtual or remote volunteering options. But those options can be limited for food banks, who need more hands-on help.

Thats really been the lifeblood of how food banks and agencies move food to their communities, said Lauren Biedron, Feeding Americas vice president of corporate partnerships.

Virtual volunteering is relatively new for the organization and its network, she said. But its been attempting to tap into a pool of people that exclusively want to do things from home by holding webinars people can participate in, and encouraging them to call public officials and advocate for policies it supports.

The needs are different at the New York Common Pantry, where you can routinely find Andy Disda, 53, hauling boxes in and out of the building. Unlike many who stayed away when the pandemic hit, he jumped in to help when the need was acutely high. He said it helped him feel he did something positive with his day during a time of much hopelessness.

Thats somewhat addictive, he said. There wasnt a whole lot going on where you got that feeling, and volunteering is one of those things that gave it to me.

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The Associated Press receives support from the Lilly Endowment for coverage of philanthropy and nonprofits. The AP is solely responsible for all content. For all of APs philanthropy coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/philanthropy.
DALLAS  American Airlines is dropping some international flights from its plans for next summer because Boeing has failed to deliver planes that the airline ordered, according to an internal memo Thursday.

Boeing has been unable to deliver its 787 jetliner, which it calls the Dreamliner, for about a year because of a series of manufacturing problems. The twin-aisle jet is popular with airlines for long flights because of its improved fuel efficiency over older planes of similar size.

American had expected 13 more Dreamliners in its fleet by this winter. Without those planes, we simply wont be able to fly as much internationally as we had planned next summer, or as we did in summer 2019, Chief Revenue Officer Vasu Raja said in the memo to Americans employees.

Boeing has advised us that they will compensate American for their inability to deliver the aircraft, he added.

In an emailed statement, Chicago-based Boeing did not address compensation but said it regrets the impact of delayed deliveries on its airline customers.

Our team is continuing comprehensive inspections and rework, as needed, on undelivered airplanes, while holding transparent discussions with the Federal Aviation Administration, Boeing said. The FAA regulates aircraft manufacturers.

Airline schedules have been upended by the pandemic, and that is particularly true of international flights because of changing rules around the world. The carriers, however, have been encouraged by the increase in traffic since the rollout of vaccines against COVID-19, and they were optimistic about next summer, believing that people who have been stuck at home are eager to travel again.

American hoped to operate 89% of its 2019 schedule in summer 2022 but is scaling that back to about 80%, said spokeswoman Andrea Koos.

According to the internal memo, American wont fly to Edinburgh, Scotland; Shannon, Ireland; or Hong Kong next summer and wont bring back some destinations it served in 2019, including Prague. It will also cut the number of flights it hoped to offer to destinations in Asia, including Shanghai, Beijing and Sydney and will delay starting new service including flights between Seattle and Bangalore, India.

American expects to resume a full schedule to Mexico, the Caribbean, Latin America, London, Dublin and Madrid, according to the memo.

This past summer, American used some two-aisle jets on flights within the U.S. and on short international flights. Next summer, however, all those so-called widebody planes will be used on long international routes to minimize the damage these aircraft delivery delays have caused to our long-haul portfolio, Raja wrote in the memo, which was first reported by The Wall Street Journal.

Boeing has struggled with production flaws on 787s including tiny gaps between fuselage panels and improperly manufactured titanium parts. The issues have prevented Boeing from delivering planes that have rolled off assembly lines in South Carolina and Washington states. As undelivered planes have stacked up, the aircraft maker has slowed production.

It is rare for disputes between aircraft manufacturers and airline customers to become public. Even during the long grounding of the Boeing 737 Max after two deadly crashes, American, Southwest and United were restrained in comments about the plane maker.

In another such unusual conflict, Boeing rival Airbus said Thursday that it will get an independent legal assessment in its dispute with a customer about surfaces on its A350 planes. Airbus, based in Toulouse, France, accused the airline of an ongoing mischaracterization of paint degradation that Europes aviation regulator says does not affect safety.

Airbus said it regrets the need to hire lawyers, but it has become necessary to defend its position and reputation.

Airbus did not identify the airline in a press release, but its description pointed to Qatar Airways, which grounded more than a dozen A350s this summer, citing orders from Qatars aviation regulator. The airline said the carbon-composite fuselages of the planes were degrading at an accelerated rate.

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David Koenig can be reached at www.twitter.com/airlinewriter
PHOENIX  A Phoenix police officer has resigned after being indicted on charges accusing her and a co-defendant of defrauding the federal government of over $1.2 million of pandemic relief money.

Toni Richardson was arrested Dec. 1 on a Nov. 23 indictment charging her with conspiracy, bank fraud and money laundering, federal court records state.

Richardson resigned after the Police Department learned of the allegations and began the process of terminating her, said Sgt. Andy Williams, a department spokesman.

The alleged actions of this employee go against the core values of the city and everything we stand for as public servants, Williams said in a statement.

Richardson has pleaded not guilty.

Lloyd Tate, a lawyer listed in court records as representing Richardson, did not not immediately respond to a request for comment on the allegations.

The indictment alleged that Richardson and co-defendant Willie Mitchell sought and obtained pandemic relief funding for a social club by falsely claiming it had numerous employees whose jobs the funding would protect.

Instead, the money was spent on personal expenses and transferred into personal accounts, the indictment said.

Court records indicated Mitchell was arrested last week in Texas. It wasnt clear whether he has an attorney who could comment on his behalf.
BUTTE COUNTY, Calif. - On Wednesday afternoon, an Oroville woman was sentenced on a charge of arson for burning down an Oroville apartment complex that was under construction. The fire caused over a million dollars in damage, according to the Butte County District Attorney's Office.

Jamie Gorman, 40, of Oroville, has been in custody since the Sept. 9, 2021 fire. She was given an additional 120 days in Butte County Jail as part of a two-year probationary time ordered by Superior Court Judge Jesus Rodriguez.

Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsey said Gorman plead no contest in October to a felony count of arson.

Gorman told the court that she was homeless at the time of the fire and using excessive amounts of alcohol and methamphetamine. At the time that the fire was set, Gorman said she was hallucinating that the apartment complex construction was a place of evil that needed to be destroyed, according to Ramsey.

Judge Rodriguez noted that this was Gorman's first felony conviction. As conditions of probation, she was ordered to begin a residential drug and alcohol program after her 120 days of jail, to wear a GPS ankle monitor, and to register as an arson felon, Ramsey said.

The judge also ordered her to pay $1,178,688.98 in restitution to Olive Ranch Construction and ordered restitution to the owners of the vehicles that were damaged.

If Gorman fails probation she could face four years in state prison.
REDDING, Calif. - Update Dec. 10: The Redding Police Department said they have not gotten calls about the bear since approximately 12 p.m. Thursday.

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Redding Police Department said there was a bear spotted in the area of Oregon St. and Tehama St.

Police said they are aware of the bear and have been in contact with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW).

CDFW said people who see the bear should keep their distance and allow it to return to its habitat.

Police say the threat at this time is low.

If the bear poses a risk, people should contact the Redding Police Department at (530) 225-4200.
REDDING, Calif.- More skeletal remains were found Tuesday at the future new Costco site on south Bechelli Ln. in Redding, according to the Redding Police Department

The Redding Police Department, Shasta County Coroner's Office and Chico State's Anthropology Department conducted a detailed excavation of the area where the original remains were found and the surrounding areas.

RELATED: Redding PD said human remains found are skeletal at new Costco site

Due to the large area around the initial discovery area, no further excavation could continue.

RELATED: Police: Human bones found in Redding not historical

The search was released back to the construction site superintendent.

The Native American Monitors were told to report any further remains to the coroner's office.

This is a developing story. Action News Now will keep you updated with new information on-air and online.
CORNING, Calif. - The City of Corning was awarded $8.5 million for the construction of a recreation center, splash pad and a city plaza, according to City Manager Kristina Miller.

The recreation center, splash pad and city plaza will be on 1.79 acres on the Solano St. between Third St. and Fourth St. across from Corning City Hall.

The City of Corning says the project will enhance downtown Corning by replacing existing buildings with the city plaza and recreation center.

The plaza and recreation center will be built to LEED standards, will comply with CalGreen requirements and contain drought-tolerant and native landscaping, according to the City of Corning.

The plaza will be a place to hold community events and activities and will incorporate visuals of the citys history and its indigenous people, the city said.

The funding comes from the California Department of Parks and Recreation Proposition 68 Round 4 Statewide Park Development and Community Revitalization Program.
REDDING, Calif. - A suspect was arrested in Minnesota for a deadly shooting that happened in Redding in June, according to the Redding Police Department.

Police said on July 7, Redding detectives obtained an arrest warrant for 28-year-old Supensive Lee with homicide charges in connection to a deadly shooting on June 25.

On June 25, officers responded to the West Hacienda Apartment on the 3600 block of Churn Creek Rd. for a report of a gunshot victim.

RELATED: Man shot at Redding apartment complex dies at hospital

When officers arrived, they found Patrick Baker with several gunshot wounds in an apartment.

Baker later died from his injuries at the hospital.

An investigation revealed a fight broke out between Baker and other people in the apartment at the time. Police said Baker was shot in front of his wife and 8-year-old daughter.

RELATED: Redding Police Department looking for suspected shooter in deadly apartment shooting

Then on Nov. 25, Minnesota Police Department arrested Lee on the outstanding homicide warrant after they responded to a noise complaint.

On Tuesday, Redding officers took custody of Lee and extradited him to Redding for questioning. He was booked into the Shasta County Jail Wednesday morning where he is held without bail.
SHASTA COUNTY, Calif. - A man was sentenced to over 11 years in state prison for starting multiple fires in Shasta County in 2019, according to the Shasta County District Attorneys Office.

28-year-old Nicholas Hunt was sentenced to 11 years and 8 months Wednesday after he pleaded guilty in October to three counts of arson to forest land and admitted he committed the offense during a state of emergency.

RELATED: Man pleads guilty to three counts of arson in 2019

Hunt was seen and followed by CAL FIRE law enforcement officers on Sept. 24, 2019, throughout Redding.

While following him, an officer noticed a glowing light. Officers responded and extinguished three separate fires.

Officers said there was no other traffic other than the officers and Hunt on Branstetter Lane, just off of Highway 273, during that time of the day.

They also said Hunt was the only occupant of the vehicle.
The Association of Indian Magazines (AIM) has urged the Finance Ministry to consider a general tax holiday for three years for magazine publishers in India. In its pre-budget memorandum submitted to the ministry, the AIM has requested the government to enable an equitable playing field for magazines on par with newspapers in India.

The pandemic has had a debilitating impact on publishing, which was as it is reeling under a lot of pressures because of shift to digital and social media.

The imposition of 10% customs duty on imported paper used by newspapers and magazines, in the Union Budget 2019, is highly unfortunate, said AIM. As the industry had been managing one crisis to another every year, this duty further imposed a very heavy cost. While we are thankful that in the previous 2020 budget this duty was rolled back to 5%, it still imposes considerable costs on a crucial sector that is already in heavy losses, it said.

A comparison of average cover prices of leading news weeklies and newspapers in the United States, Europe, and even emerging economies show that magazines to newspapers price per copy is a multiple of two or three. But in India, this multiple is as high as 12. As a result, magazines in India are far more expensive than newspapers, said the AIM.

Historically, successive governments have built in various policy measures to allow a free, vibrant, and economically viable print media. However, as magazine publishers, we feel that we dont have a level playing field in many cases, government advertising being the biggest area. Even in case of custom duty on imported paper, there is a differential treatment as there is higher duty on Light Weight Coated (LWC) paper, which is the primary input material for magazines, as compared to Standard Newsprint, which is used by dailies, said AIM.

Even under the PRB act, magazines come under the definition of Newspapers. Yet magazines have been receiving differential treatment with respect to government advertising, GST on paper, and general policy-making, said the association.

The key points of the memorandum are:

Government ads in magazines

Given that as per IRS 2019, the total reach of magazines at 8.7 crores, is about 20% the total reach of Newspapers at 42.5 crores, DAVP should mandate that 15%20% of the total DAVP ad spend be spent on the magazine industry. At present it is not even 1%. This should also apply to all budgets allocated by the all-government ministries and departments, in both central and state governments.

Input Tax Credit

It was requested that for the purpose of GST, the government allow full Input Tax credit for both newspapers and magazines. Currently, publishers can only claim proportionate credit as circulation sale revenue is exempted, while advertising attracts 5%. Since newspapers and magazines are single products, it will be more equitable if the entire input tax is allowed for publishing of that single product. This will also be in line with Governments stated mission of minimising tax on information and knowledge.

Customs Duty on Paper

There is 5% Customs Duty on imported paper used by newspapers and magazines. Domestic production of Standard Newsprint (SNP) is inadequate to meet the demand and Glazed Newsprint (GNP) and Light Weight Coated Paper (LWC) are not being manufactured indigenously at all. Therefore it was requested that these duties be completely withdrawn.

GST of 12% on Light Weighted Coated (LWC) paper up to 70 GSM.

At present, there is 5% GST on Standard Newsprint (SNP) and Glazed Newsprint (GNP), while 12% on Light Weight Coated paper (LWC). Magazine industry is largely using LWC while newspapers use SNP and GNP. Therefore in the interest of equity, it was requested that GST on LWC be withdrawn, or bring it at par with 5%.

Exemption of GST on the Cover Paper

Magazine covers are printed on a thicker paper so that magazines can be preserved for a longer period. AIM requests GST be exempt on thicker cover paper, on Actual User basis with RNI numbers, or at least GST be brought down to 5% on par with SNP and GNP.

Clarity of Levying GST on Digital Magazines

Newspapers, Magazines are exempted from GST under tariff item 4902. During the lockdown in Covid Pandemic when physical delivery of magazines were stopped, digital magazines were made available to readers. Therefore AIM requested that the government give a clarity on this that magazines/newspapers in print as well as on digital platforms will be exempted from GST.

Tax Holiday

Given the extremely adverse circumstances, AIM has urged the Finance Ministry to consider a general tax holiday for three years
In an effort to bring affordable insurance to underserved communities, Bimaplan, an affordable insurance platform, has tied up with Credit Wise Capital (CWC), a consumer finance NBFC, for easy insurance on two-wheeler loans. This collaboration brings lending and insurance services under one umbrella, ensuring hassle-free and all-inclusive financing for the borrowers. Through this collaboration, Bimaplan hopes to take forward its aim for insurance penetration among sections of the society that have traditionally been neglected by the formal financial institutions.

Bimaplan distributes its insurance through a robust phygital model allowing accessibility to both the tech savvy and the brick and mortar consumer. To avoid policy lapse, it also offers affordable policy premiums. Bridging the inconsistencies in the ecosystem, Bimaplan will further focus its efforts on augmenting features like automated payment reminders and auto-debit payment options.

Commenting on the partnership, Yogesh Gupta, CBO, Bimaplan, said, Achievement is never by mere chance, it is a result of two like-minded partners working together. Our partnership has two major functions - marketing and innovation and our business is not B2B or B2C it is H2H (Human to human).

At Bimaplan, we understand that accidents are unforeseen and these uncertainties of life can push the underrepresented communities into further abyss of economic deprivation .Without insurance, these families are left vulnerable in case of any untoward incident. Our effort has been to democratise insurance through affordable products. We want to bring them financial security especially at times when they need it the most.

Since two-wheelers are the vehicles of preference for families ranging across various socio-economic groups, this partnership will allow us to serve several communities. At the same time, we hope to expand our share in the worlds biggest mobility market through well-planned and easy-to-access insurance schemes.

We want to cater to wider geographies and are committed towards tapping atleast 50,000 of our partners customer base by 2023.

Aalesh Avlani, co - founder, Credit Wise Capital said, A new age fin-tech requires a new age insure-tech and not a legacy business to cater to todays India. Customers require speed in execution, and by partnering with someone who shares the same ethos, we were able to quickly build a strategy and roll it out.

With more than 50% of two-wheeler buyers taking the online route to find dealers, Bimaplan hopes to reach out to this digitally savvy consumer. It will also further strengthen its position in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities that account for a rising number of digital buyers today. In rural areas or for people who are not tech-friendly, a company representative or agent will assist consumers to make an informed decision on their options as per their convenience.
The Maldives world-class resorts invite visitors to bask in the sun, sand and sea. But beyond hotel shores lies a country brimming with cultural traditions, culinary secrets and an unrivaled underwater kingdom. This month, in a 30-minute special, CNNs Reconnect Maldives goes beyond the familiar to connect with this island nation, through diving, deep-sea fishing and dance while celebrating the people who make the Maldives more than just a picture-perfect place.

With ninety-nine percent of the Maldives surface covered by water, it is no surprise that this ocean nation harbors some of the worlds richest marine biodiversity. CNN visits the Baa Atoll, catching a boat ride with Beth Faulkner, who leads a team of researchers at the Manta Trust, a conservation charity researching the worlds largest manta ray population. Based in the north-western part of the country at the Four Seasons Landaa Giraavaru, the teams work so far has helped lead to legal habitat protection for mantas, and their inclusion on the Maldivian National Protected Species List.

The resort also partners with Reefscapers, a world leader in coral conservation. As one of the largest coral propagation facilities of their type in the world, they have planted over half a million pieces of coral over the 20 years that they have been in the Maldives. Simon Dixon, Marine Discovery Centre Manager for the Reefscapers shares the restoration process and how resort guests can be a part of it.

Diving into deeper waters, CNN meets up with Zoona Naseem, the Maldives first woman to be certified as a course director by the Professional Association of Diving Instructors  an impressive status only achieved by about a thousand people worldwide. For over 18 years, she worked as an instructor in hotels across the country. But eventually, she found a different calling: opening Moodhu Bulhaa Dive Centre, a dive school for primarily women and children, aimed at helping them learn to love the ocean.

The Maldives is just as bustling above ground as it is below sea  thanks to a centuries-old tradition called boduberu, usually performed by men. Aishath Hishma is a founding member of boduberu group Faiymini. Like most troupes, they perform at religious festivals, celebrations and community gatherings, but one major difference sets Faiymini apart from the rest  they are the only females performing as a group now in Male. They hope to inspire other girls to join them.

Maldivian waters arent just a sight to behold  theyre also the most important source of food. But if fish is at the core of this cuisine, then local traditions are the secret ingredient. Chef Mohamed Adil is on a mission to revive Maldivian cuisine through the five restaurants he oversees at Dhigali, a resort in the Raa Atoll. His menus often include traditional recipes that rely on traditional methods such as pole and line fishing rather than the commercial use of nets.
A recent study by Boston Consulting Group & Sequoia pegs Indias mobile gaming industry as a $5 billion market opportunity. The report also highlights the unprecedented level of investor interest indicative of high expected growth in the industry and added that 33% of all funding for gaming in India came in Q12021. Gaming platforms are winning on the back of variety in proposition.

Gaming in India has been catalysed by better smartphones, increased Internet access, popular titles, influencers, and COVID. Mobile-first trend within gaming continues strong, with a sizeable user base of 300 million+ and ~$1.5 billion in revenues. While compared to the global scenario, Indias gaming sector is relatively small  ~1% - the growth is at an impressive ~38% CAGR. Monetisation is still nascent as the paying base remains still low (7-8% for non-RMG, 15-20% for RMG), but trending positively and alongside higher ARPPUs are expected to provide momentum to industry revenues.

Commenting on the rise of the gaming culture in India, Sagar Nair, Co-Founder & CEO, Qlan, said, The Indian gaming and esports audience is without a doubt growing at an accelerated rate. The feats achieved by some of the leading organisations and gaming creators have paved the path for future gamers to take it up more seriously. So yes, we have all the potential needed to become a $5 billion mobile gaming market by 2025.

Talking about the influence of business in gamers, the gaming and viewers, Abhishek Aggarwal, Co-Founder & CEO, Trinity Gaming, said, We, at Trinity Gaming, in a short span have seen how the industry has revolutionised, shifting in an impressive pattern to only accommodate more gamers, industry partners, and stakeholders thriving in this sunrise industry. Gaming influencers with their unique content and highly engaging live streams have successfully penetrated a section of viewers who were untouched, expanding and sharing the excitement of the esports industry. It allowed viewers to connect with the players and has generated genuine interest in esports.

He further said, Investors positive sentiment to support the industry at its very nascent state motivates us and the gaming community as a whole. We really hope to see India soon rising to be the next big nation in this industry.

According to Sensor Tower data, India is the worlds largest mobile gaming market in app downloads, constituting 12% of the total downloads worldwide. The mobile gaming world has transformed at lightning speed in the past decade and it is expected to grow and evolve in unimaginable ways.

Tarun Gupta, Founder, Ultimate Battle, Indias first-ever one-stop online esports platform, noted, With smartphones penetrating every nook and corner of Indian grassroots and having the latest gaming tech embedded in them at an affordable price, the mobile gaming industry is the new industry to watch out for. Today, smartphones have overtaken PCs and consoles in the gaming category. They are being opted by millennials and even professional gamers to play games like Battleground Mobile India, Freefire, Call of Duty, and more.
Lernern, an EdTech company providing apprenticeship, upskilling & further education opportunities to blue-collar workers has raised a total of $ 1 Mn USD from its investors in seed funding. The investors in the angel round include OOB Ventures Pte. Ltd.  a Singapore based company run by Ruchi Sihare, seed investor & board member and Kunal Solanki, an ex-investment banker and elea Foundation for Ethics in Globalization  a Swiss philanthropic impact investor, leading the investment along with other individual investors at the seed stage that includes well-placed alumnus of St. Stephens College. Lernern is also a non-funded partner of National Skill Development Corporation.

The newly infused capital will be deployed in three focus areas. First, the EdTech platform is being further developed to meet the specific requirements of blue-collar workers in the workplace and provides for synchronous & asynchronous learning. Lernern has partnered with Dr. Prasad Ram, the ex-CTO of Google India who has pioneered a unique Navigated Learning System called Gooru which uses AI & ML to navigate the learners journey. The second focus area will be to develop content & academic partners across disciplines that will enable the blue-collar worker to acquire the knowledge, skills & academic credits needed for working towards formal educational qualifications. Lastly, as the name suggests, the Learn & Earn business model depends heavily on industry involvement to contextualize & implement the dual model of education and the team will look to ramp up its partnerships with relevant employers in the manufacturing & services sectors. Strong collaboration with corporate India across different industry sectors of focus will ensure industry-relevant curriculum and seamless absorption of certified students from Lernern.

Abhinav Madan, Co-founder & CEO of Lernern said, Having co-founded & led one of Indias leading skill development companies, Gram Tarang, for over 12 years, we have skilled over 360,000 youth in brick-and-mortar mode in rural & peri-urban areas and placed thousands into first-time blue-collar jobs in the industrial belts of Tirupur, Coimbatore, Chennai, Pune- Chakan-Ranjangaon, Gujarat, Hyderabad, Greater Noida, Manesar, Neemrana, Baddi, etc. This grassroot level experience has helped us deeply understand youth aspirations and their desire to learn & grow. Lernern picks up where the current skilling ecosystem ends and creates pathways for blue-collar workers to progress towards better jobs, careers & earning capacity. I am delighted to have found an incredible group of individual & institutional seed investors, who believe in our capabilities, share our vision and most importantly, are equally passionate about the social change that Lernern aims to bring by enabling growth for our youth and ensuring that their skills remain relevant for the fast-changing technologies in industry 4.0. Lernern has also become my personal mission and tribute to my batchmate, friend & co- founder, Aditya Saikia, whom we lost to Covid in May 2021.

The team has pioneered a Work-integrated Skill Training & Apprenticeship program which enables further education for blue-collar workers by integrating academia & vocational education with industry. Several pilots have been on the ground since 2015 with leading industry partners like Cafe Coffee Day, Haier, Carrier Midea & Western Refrigeration. The employer benefits through better retention and increased productivity and many have co- sponsored the training fee. Industry demand has only gained traction during the Covid pandemic and Lernern is currently well-positioned for the next phase of growth. Covid also gave the team an opportunity to pivot to a blended learning model, which enabled a quicker scale-up of the programs through technology.

Singapore based investors Ruchi Sihare and Kunal Solanki of OOB Ventures Pte. Ltd. said, We have been incredibly impressed with the dedication and impact the founding team of Lernern have had in the employment and skilling space in real Bharat. Lernerns plan for digitizing the process of recruitment and training/upskilling of blue and grey collared workforce is infinitely scalable and it addresses many challenges that are currently prevalent in the blue-collar ecosystem. As they pivot into a tech-enabled learning and earning model to solve these challenges for the billions, we are excited to join them  to help realize their vision for closing the skilling and earning gaps in the country.

Lernern has demonstrated credentials in transforming the lives of blue-collar workers with several advantages. It has harnessed technology and customized Diploma & Degree courses from leading universities to provide 24x7 access to blended learning programs from anywhere in the country. Lernerns courses are affordable and work-integrated, making it possible for workers to learn and earn on the job. And lastly, all qualifications are from accredited Universities and government bodies like the Directorate General of Training which have a long-term value proposition for the individual.

Lisa Jean-Mairet, Director at lead investor elea Foundation for Ethics in Globalization said As a global impact investing organization that exists to fight absolute poverty, we think that Lernern constituted an ideal investment case for elea. We recognize a rapidly progressing reinvention of the Indian vocational training sector. Based on our decade-long working experience in the skill-building space across the globe, we think that the answer to its challenges lies in the digitalization and user-reorientation of the learning ecosystem. In our opinion, Lernerns solution can be a driving force in the development of the sector. We are sure that the enterprise will thrive under the leadership of Abhinav Madan.

With a diverse and sectorally relevant board and an extended think tank of experts adding intellectual capacity to shape the strategy & execution plans, Lernern recently appointed Sajan Varghese as the Chief Operating Officer. Having a strong acumen in large-scale enterprise management and overseen two IPOs at WNS and Cafe Coffee Day, Sajan was the President of HR at Cafe Coffee Day in his last role. He strengthens the leadership team atLernern and will play an instrumental role in navigating the growth of the company in the days ahead.
MyGate has announced its acquisition of MyCommunity Genie, a Bengaluru-based community commerce platform, in a part-cash, part-equity deal. Following a number of successful pilots and focused efforts on home services and seasonal products over the past three months, MyGates community commerce vertical has been growing at 50% month-on-month. MyCommunity Genies strong technology infrastructure and its teams expertise in the space will enable MyGate to further accelerate this growth.

MyCommunity Genie powers group buying for 100s of communities and has over 150 sellers across Bengaluru. It provides communities with a framework for residents to come together and buy as a group to unlock higher savings for all, using an adaptive discounting model. For sellers, in addition to delivering high-value, single-destination orders, the platform also solves numerous operational pain points with regard to procurement, packaging, delivery and payments. Following the acquisition, all MyCommunity Genie systems will be integrated into MyGate.

This acquisition would provide MyGate with the necessary tools to bring scale to its long-term plans in community commerce, enabling its 25,000+ communities to unlock the power and savings of group buying. For example, a group buying deal in Bengaluru that led to the sale of 15,000kgs of alphonso mangoes would go pan-India come next summer.

MyCommunity Genie was founded in 2019 by Gagandeep Singh (IIT Delhi, ex-Google, Bloomreach, Ola), who has a deep understanding of e-commerce and search relevance. With a combined 40 years of experience in commerce, Gagandeep and MyCommunity Genies founding team members Mahendra Kumar, Vaishali Bhati and Zoheb Arif will play an integral role at MyGate to achieve the ambitious targets set for the medium term. Gagandeep Singh will join the leadership team at MyGate.

Abhishek Kumar, Co-founder and COO, MyGate, said: We are big believers in the power of group buying and community commerce. There is immense potential in the space, with greater savings for residents and larger volumes for sellers. Excited to welcome aboard Gagandeep and the entire team at MyCommunity Genie to help us realise our vision.

Gagandeep Singh, Founder, MyCommunity Genie, says, Were very proud to become part of MyGate, the organisation best positioned to enable community commerce, and look forward to scaling our group buying technology to the 25,000-plus communities on their platform.

According to a report by Redseer, Gated Community: A $500 billion consumption story in 2026, the 16 million or 6% Indians that live in gated communities account for $245 billion or 45% of national consumption today and will account for $500 billion by 2026. The report further estimates that community apps are poised to capture a $35 billion market via community commerce. MyGate is the market leader in the space, with an 82% share.
Pepperfry, India's no.1 furniture and home products marketplace, announces the appointment of Mr. Ruchir Aswal as Vice President of Product (Business). Ruchir is a postgraduate diploma holder (MBA) in finance and marketing from the Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta. He has over 13 years of experience in business & product management having worked for global brands like Jio, Intuit, Nium, Shaadi.com and Rediff.com. Prior to joining Pepperfry, he was associated as angel investor / consultant for startups like Goodify, qonsept, ethnic, squeakee, etc.

Pepperfry has a unique marketplace model which brings together thousands of Merchants, millions of customers who interact with several small and leading brands including Pepperfry own 10 D2C private labels. Pepperfry ecosystem is fast expanding with over 100 studios including 60+ operated by Franchisee Partners. Ruchir will be responsible for driving products for Channel Expansion (Franchisee and Other programs), Merchant or Seller Network, Pepcart Logistics, Distributor Management Systems and Sales Systems across the country.

Commenting on the appointment, Ashish Shah, Co-founder & Chief Operating Officer, Pepperfry said, At Pepperfry, our goal is to spark a feeling called home amongst consumers by democratizing the furniture and home products category in the country. Even as we continue to scale up our existing business, provide seamless experience to our stakeholders, we are also working hard to expand into adjacent categories. Technology will be a key differentiator and I am certain Ruchir with his vast experience and perspective will accelerate Pepperfrys journey.

Commenting on the new role, Ruchir Aswal said, Pepperfry has changed the dynamics of the home and furniture sector; transforming the way Indians shop for and create their homes. Today even when Pepperfry is already a household brand I feel we have just scratched the surface. I am super excited to be a part of this truly differentiated journey and look forward to taking some strategically bold initiatives & making a lasting impact in the hypergrowth future for the brand.
Piramal Realty, the real estate arm of Piramal Group, announced Farhan Akhtar as its new brand ambassador. The celebrity has joined Rahul Dravid to be the face for Piramal Realtys portfolio of projects in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region consisting of Piramal Mahalaxmi (Jacob Circle), Piramal Vaikunth (Thane), Piramal Revanta (Mulund), Piramal Aranya (Byculla), and Piramal Agastya (Kurla), a state-of-the-art commercial project. Farhan, known for his beguiling persona, is a testament to the talent of the Indian arts & culture and is one of the most prolific actors, writers, directors, and award winners in Bollywood.

As part of the new campaign, the multi-talented actor and director will be positioned as an experienced ambassador to the brand and demonstrate Piramal Realty's vision of designing high-quality projects that will add value to the lives of its residents. The personalities of Piramal Realty, Farhan and Rahul, intertwine with each other in a way that can only be summed up as enlightened.

Gaurav Sawhney, Chief Operating Officer, Piramal Realty, said: Farhan embodies the authenticity and drive for excellence that aligns with our values. His unique personality resonates with our ethos, which makes him a perfect fit for us. As an organization, Piramal realty strives to be creative, adding value to projects through well thought out spaces and lifestyles. We are committed to providing exceptional and unmatched experiences that match changing consumer preferences, and we are confident that our association with Farhan will enrich our efforts to add more value to our customers.

Actor and director Farhan Akhtar said: During the most difficult and distressing times, one seeks solace in their homes. In the wake of the pandemic, people are spending more time together, and it has become even more crucial to cherish and nurture ones family time and space. You treasure the memories you create at home with your loved ones forever. Through this association with Piramal Realty, we are bringing to life the essence of creating and celebrating those unforgettable experiences with our families and loved ones that will last a lifetime.

The new campaign will be amplified through a 360-degree marketing approach covering outdoor, social media, print, digital, and physical avenues of promotion that are in the pipeline to enhance the association between Farhan Akhtar, Rahul Dravid and Piramal Realty.
RPSG Capital Ventures, an early-stage consumer venture capital fund, today announced the companies that are a part of its first-of-its-kind D2C accelerator held in partnership with Little Black Book (LBB). The seven Basecamp companies are eligible for an initial seed investment of up to INR 1.5 crore.

The goal of the accelerator is to support a community of entrepreneurs who are on a mission to create world-class consumer brands for millennial customers. RPSG Capital Ventures plans on doing more such D2C accelerators over the next two years. Few of these companies are expected to be eligible for future investments to the tune of USD 4-5 million each. The vision is to encourage more entrepreneurs in this space and support companies from an early stage.

As a leading consumer VC fund, RPSG Capital Ventures typically invests in Series A rounds in the D2C ecosystem including food and beverage, personal care, and lifestyle goods. RPSG Capital Ventures has earlier backed leading D2C brands including The Souled Store, mCaffeine, Vedix and SkinKraft, among others.

Companies selected as part of the accelerator are also eligible for distribution, marketing and brand building support from LBB; and mentorship from leaders in the consumer space. The first cohort of the accelerator includes CurryIt, Born Good, Eat with Better, Bartisans, Plow, House This and Vivinkaa.

Speaking about this, Abhishek Goenka, Head & CIO, RPSG Capital Ventures, said, At RPSG Capital Ventures, we back high-potential early-stage brands that are making in India and catering to the world. Till date, we have a 90% success rate in our portfolio, with c.100% of the revenues in our portfolio coming from online channels. We aim to extend these established playbooks to the cohort of young startups in our accelerator program and fasten their learning curve. Clean label and sustainability were two key themes we were targeting as part of this cohort and it is really encouraging to see such innovative companies coming to the fore. As investors, we are committed to helping them expand and achieve their missions.

Each of the brands in the accelerator is solving unique and diverse needs. CurryIt has simplified the preparation of signature Indian dishes by turning them into high-quality ready-to-cook pastes. Similarly, Born Good is driving sustainability by offering the natural, plant-based, chemical-free home cleaning and laundry products. Eat With Better is all about clean eating, healthy options focussed currently on jackfruit as an alternate vegan protein. Through Bartisans, a mother-son duo is crafting unique flavours that go well beyond the usual classic cocktail mixers. Plow is building high protein vegetarian foods that suit the Indian taste palate and habits, making healthy eating fun and desi.

Sharing their thoughts, Richa Sharma & Nischal Kandula, Co-Founders of CurryIt, said, At CurryIt, we want to make cooking easy and enjoyable. Be it delicacies like Dal Makhani, and Hyderabadi Biryani that requires elaborate preparations, or the more traditional ones, our ready-to-cook pastes enable just that. They are prepared fresh using the finest quality ingredients like Ghee and have no preservatives. So anyone who wants to cook great food at home, #JustCurryIt. We are thankful to RPSG Capital Ventures for choosing us as one of the brands in their premier Basecamp and look forward to building India's next favourite food brand with them.

Mohit Belani, Founder, Born Good, said, Our ingredients are plant-based and we use essential oils to add fragrance to the products. Our home cleaners and laundry products are natural, USDA certified and safe for adults, kids and pets. We have even designed our packaging in a way that it can be reused. Keeping ESG norms in mind, we're 2X plastic positive.

It is a matter of great pride to be selected for the Basecamp, and we are excited to be partnering with RPSG Capital Ventures on this journey.

RPSG Capital Ventures is also open to making follow-on investments with the selected companies to help them traverse the highs and lows of their journeys. The fund typically invests upto USD 4mn as the first cheque in digital-first consumer brands and aims to become the value-adding ally of exceptional entrepreneurs looking to transform the Indian consumer landscape.
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has released the consultation paper on Ease of Doing Business in Telecom and Broadcasting Sector. The consultation paper seeks stakeholders comments on simplifying the applications which have just the required details for the conduct of business and well-documented timelines with query response systems, having seamless integration with other ministries, etc.

TRAI has suo-moto floated this consultation paper to identify various concerns in the existing processes and suggest measures for the reforms required in the regulatory processes, policies, practices and procedures in the telecom and broadcasting sector for creating conducive business environment in India.

Telecommunication and broadcasting sectors have emerged as key drivers of economic and social development and have made the country a favourite business destination amongst investors. The Telecom and broadcasting sectors have immense potential to move on the higher trajectory of growth, if business environment could be made more attractive by simplifying the existing provisions of policy frameworks in various ministries and departments, including the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Department of Telecommunications, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology involved in issuing permission, registrations, and licenses to the players of the sector.

This consultation paper emphasises on the need for a single-entry window, wherein an investor/ entrepreneur should be able to apply for all the licenses/ approvals without any further need to submit physical copies of the application and visit any department physically. In approvals, where the process involves the movement of the application across various ministries and departments, the approval should be streamlined to make it completely integrated and accessible online in trackable response mode.

Further the single-window system may also be equipped with the latest technologies like a chatbot, automated call centre and Artificial[1]Intelligence (AI) based tracking, analysis, and response systems, so that the person willing to apply for licenses/ approval can get answers to all their queries regarding the process, mechanism, policies, documents required, etc., instantly.

The key factors to be identified through this consultation paper are:

Simplified applications with well-defined processes: The format of the application while applying for a grant of any license/ registration should be simple with optimum requirements of information. Further, the entire process of issuance of a license/ permission should be well-defined and well-published in the policy guidelines and/or citizen charter or any manual as deemed fit and should be available on the website of the Ministry/ Department.

Timelines for queries, approvals, and deemed approvals: Timelines should be prescribed and followed in letter and spirit, and provision of deemed approval should exist wherever feasible. Timelines for raising the query and their reply should also be well defined. All queries should be raised in one go only.

Inter-ministerial/ departments and intra department movement of files: The inter-ministerial and inter-departmental movement and approval should be online and well-integrated. Opinion/ approval of the other departments/ ministries should be taken only where there is a requirement and should be done in a time-bound manner with the provision of deemed approval.

Minimal Physical Interface: Physical interface should be done away with to the extent possible, and it should only be used as a last resort where there is a specific requirement such as handing over devices to testing labs, etc.

Transparent with end-to-end online tracking system: The system should be transparent end-to-end, and the applicant should be able to know the status of his application at all times.

Use of digital technologies: Use of technologies like DigiLocker, agreements, and contracts incorporated with digital signatures/ electronic signatures, etc. to maximise the use of technology and technological instruments as far as possible.

Stakeholders are required to send in their written comments on the consultation paper by January 5, 2022, while counter comments can be submitted by January 19, 2022.
Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research

Bern, 09.12.2021 - At the invitation of US President Joe Biden, President Guy Parmelin took part in a summit held by video conference on Thursday, 9 December, on the values and challenges of democracy. In his address, Mr Parmelin stressed that democratic values are resilient despite challenges.

History has shown that democracy can bring justice, social stability, peace, freedom and economic prosperity. Better than any other political system, it allows for the self-realisation of individuals, Mr Parmelin said. Democracys universal appeal has not diminished  especially not to those living in non-democratic countries. At the same time, we face a worrying trend in established democracies of weakening support for the institutions. The sense of community and the subtle balance between rights and duties is being eroded.

Despite these challenges, Mr Parmelin stressed that he remains optimistic: Democracies are resilient. Take my country, Switzerland  linguistically, culturally, historically and politically diverse. We have built our nation not on objective given factors, but on our common will to live together under rules freely chosen by ourselves. Today this diversity is our great strength, since it allows for creativity and innovation in a globalised context.

Mr Parmelin also explained why Switzerland is committed to democracy in its foreign policy: Our approach is a principled one  not against someone, but for democracy, not only because we are convinced that democracy can bring justice and freedom at the individual level, but also peace, stability and prosperity among nations.

With the Summit for Democracy, which is being attended by more than 100 heads of state and government, the US government aims to create a platform to promote engagement between states, civil society and the private sector on democratic values and human rights, thus strengthening democracy as a form of government. The virtual summit, which will last until Friday, is intended to kick off a process that will be continued with a physical summit on democracy at the end of next year.

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Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research

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I would rather die on my feet than live on my knees  Euripides

Have you had enough? We can make all of the discomforts go away quickly. By discomfort, Im referring to all of the asinine hoops that you must jump through to live a normal American life in the age of Covid. The masking, the handwashing, the social distancing, the lockdowns, the fear; you can make them all go away. Just say, Uncle!

When you were a kid, the idiom say uncle was synonymous with tapping out of an uncomfortable situation by capitulating to the demands of your captor. Often implemented by an older sibling or friend by twisting your arm behind your back, saying uncle is an act of submission that demonstrates being brought under compliance. This is what your current captors demand of you.

In what manner can you say uncle? Get your boosters. Get your vaccine passports. Adopt the ethos of the state. Display your allegiance at every opportunity. Put a frame around your social media profile picture. Consider a bumper sticker. Get a tattoo! Dont fight the man, rep the man! #TeamPfizer. #BelieveTheScience

Now youre just being ridiculous. These are practical measures that we can all take for a better tomorrow. This is the kind of response that I often receive when I make assertions like the above. The sooner we comply, the sooner this is all over with, I am told. I cant take any responses of this variety seriously at this point. Some folks just arent paying attention.

Im fairly well entrenched in the medical community. I have been for the last 20 years, between work and relocating for my wifes career. I break bread with other medical families. We communicate regularly across messaging and social media. I know a good segment of the populace who made accommodations in their lives to try and maintain a status quo. Whether it was complying with mandates to keep their job with an employer who clearly doesnt value their contribution to the organization, or complying to keep a lifestyle of jet-setting around the globe, many have been lied to.

Just this week the world was treated to a few international stories from the first world and the draconian measures employed in the name of a global pandemic. Australia made headlines when 3 folks scaled the fence and escaped their mandatory covid quarantine camp and a manhunt ensued. Hard criminals those quarantine inmates!

In Canada, a fully vaccinated traveler detailed her experience returning from a trip to Egypt where she and her companion were swabbed on exit and entry, and then immediately put into a quarantined hotel for two weeks upon their return, even though they were covid negative. They noted their inability to leave their hotel room, get room service, accept visitors, etc. All meals and beverages are provided on a schedule, including no cups in the room to drink water from the faucet.

In Germany, the unvaccinated are now officially on lockdown. In Austria, theyre completely locked down but were gracious enough to permit the sale of Christmas trees. In Italy, theyve adopted the strictest measures in Europe with a nationwide vaccine passport and made vaccination mandatory for employment. In Israel, you must be up to date on your boosters to keep your vaccine passport current and valid. These arent some third-world dictatorships, these are first-world democracies.

I tell my peers every chance I get that the accommodations you make now are not the end and youre naive if you think that they are. What started out as fifteen days to flatten the curve, turned into two years of lockdowns, masking, mandated vaccinations, and now vaccine passports. These passports wont be going away with Covid, Covid is just the beginning.

Just this week the US House of Representatives passed funding for a national vaccine database so that they can keep you updated on your vaccine status. Dont think that this is merely a convenience for you. Several years ago, an organization called ID2020 was established by global power brokers. They set out to implement global digital ID. They told us that vaccines were their opportunity to get their foot in the door. They sold this idea as a convenience to the third world so that they can keep children in the African bush up to date on their vaccine status. That was truly the pressing issue of the African bush, and now its the pressing issue for the whole world.

The greatest difference between most of the first world and the United States is 1. Our Constitution, 2. Private firearms ownership that protects the Constitution. Dont think for a moment that had we relinquished our firearms to the state like many of our peers that we wouldnt look exactly like our neighbors to the North, or Europe, or Australia at this point. Ive said it in prior pieces and I will reiterate here, the time for normalcy bias has passed. Draw your line in the sand now, because youre not far from having it tested.

Photo by cottonbro from Pexels

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"Tell me who Vladimir Ilyich Lenin was," Yura, a character in Vladimir Sorokin's short story "The Red Pyramid," asks a man who mysteriously appears at a train station. The stranger responds, "The man who called forth the pyramid of the red roar." The pyramid, the man continues, is the "source of the endless red roar." Visible to a select few, it "emits a different kind of sound wave" in order to "infect the world to destroy mankind's intrinsic structure."

Sorokin, a modern Russian writer, who in this short story takes on the subject of communism and its legacy in modern Russia, may also be warning all who indulge in revolutionary ideations.

It is no coincidence that Sorokin spotlights Lenin and his seminal role in hastening the Bolshevik Revolution. A wily figure, Lenin studied the Marxist doctrine carefully yet veered from Marx's recipe for revolution. In short, according to Marx's theory of historical materialism, there are stages that a civilization must surpass in order to achieve "stateless communism." Simply put, they are feudalism, capitalism, socialism, and finally communism. An essential transition from capitalism to socialism is the development of "class consciousness"  that is, the idea that workers become conscious of sharing common grievances against capitalists and organically develop an awareness of themselves as forming a social class opposed to the bourgeoisie. Only then will they overthrow the capitalists.

But Imperial Russia was a singular case. There never was a feudal system. Moreover, Russia never moved on to capitalism. Lenin understood this well and, using Russia's unique case, vociferously urged skipping over the capitalist stage to hasten the revolution. It would take far too long to wait for its arrival, and the workers were in need of liberation from the monarchs. The only problem was that there was no working class in Russia and, as such, no layer of society developed "class consciousness." So Lenin synthesized this class by forming a most vital component to the revolution: professional revolutionaries. Indeed, in his 1902 manifesto, What Is to Be Done? Lenin maintained that a revolutionary vanguard party would lead the political campaign. Their role was to awaken the masses  in Russia's case, peasants in villages  to the call of the "red roar."

"Bolshevism was [thus] founded on a lie," writes historian Anthony Read in his book The World on Fire, "setting a precedent that was to be followed for the next ninety years. Lenin had no time for democracy, no confidence in the masses and no scruples about the use of violence. He wanted a small, tightly organized and strictly disciplined party of hard-liner professional revolutionaries, who would do exactly as they were told." And comply they did. In the multi-pronged attack on the monarchy, Lenin dispensed armies of professional revolutionaries whose job it was to 1) re-educate the masses by bringing literacy to the peasants and 2) institutionalize a quasi-police state via the Cheka, formed in order to identify and eradicate counter-revolutionaries.

Fixated on the corpse-like man, Yura asks, "So Lenin built the pyramid?" The man replies: "No. He simply called it into being." Indeed, in the months leading up to the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution, Lenin famously declared, "Power lay under the foot; one simply had to pick it up." Such was the disarray and the derelict wasteland of the late Russian imperial period. Lenin seized upon this decay and called the revolution "into being."

Lessons abound from Lenin's hastening of the revolution, one of which is paramount in the synthesis of "class consciousness," a calculated propaganda campaign aimed to fundamentally transform Russia. Lenin understood one fundamental truth about revolutions: they occur  that is, systems of oppression can be overthrown  only when they are done on behalf of the oppressed. In Russia, the disenfranchised were the serfs, who only forty years earlier were emancipated and were now illiterate peasants; all they needed was to be told to rise against the powers that be. The propaganda campaign was all-encompassing: the Bolsheviks used whatever means to distribute their message, whether through literature, film, schools, radio, sending what Sorokin calls "sound waves to infect the world."

Lenin's unleashing of the red roar, no doubt a reference to the "red terror," a campaign of political repression and executions carried out by the Bolsheviks, fundamentally transformed Russia: after promising the citizens of a budding Soviet state that they would lay the groundwork for future generations who will thrive under a radiant communism, ninety years and millions of lives later, the red roar is now being unleashed in the West, and most notably, in the United States of America.

Close to one hundred years later and six thousand miles from Russia, leaders of social movements, most notably Black Lives Matter (BLM), are taking a page out of Lenin's revolutionary machinations and following a similar script. Ours is a muted revolution, but the ingredients are uncannily similar: fomenting social unrest and cultivating the oppressed class via "racial consciousness." The social unrest began in 2016 with the birth of BLM but took off in the summer of 2019, compounded by a worldwide pandemic crisis. Calling herself a "trained Marxist," co-founder of BLM Patrisse Cullors is thus a serious revolutionary.

A central principle of the Marxist-Leninist revolution is to cultivate "consciousness" among a segment of the population  to convince them that they are oppressed and in need of liberation. In Russia, the revolution was enacted on behalf of the working class; in the United States, it is done on behalf of a racial class. Preying on America's wounds from slavery and Jim Crow laws, today's professional revolutionaries are actively working toward synthesizing what I call "racial consciousness." The synthesis is done through a calculated political campaign that speaks of "overthrowing systems of oppression," "defunding the police," and "doing away with the nuclear family unit."

The political campaign that ushers in a revolution is sustained by an equally vital propaganda crusade. It begins with emitting signals to the population, signals that necessitate social consciousness  the awakening of the oppressed. One may call it mass hypnosis, but it is done via carefully selected phrases. "Workers of the world unite!" was not merely a political slogan, but a successful vessel for revolutionary actions. Utilizing the BLM hashtag, promoting the raised fist, and putting up posters such as "in this house black lives matter, love is love, no human is illegal, science is real, love is love, kindness is everything" are meant to awaken the consciousness to conform to a new world order.

Those who have lived in totalitarian states understand very well the consequences of political signage. In his 1978 political essay "Power of the Powerless," Czech political dissident Vaclav Havel dissects the nature of political language as a tool to both awaken mass consciousness and suppress dissent. Havel uses the example of a greengrocer who displays in his shop the sign "Workers of the world, unite!" as a signal to the state he has submitted. The greengrocer does not truly believe in this slogan, but realizing that his survival is dependent on publicly promoting it, complies and in this way, highlights the dangers of statewide submission  the demise of individual thought. Think back to the summer of 2020. Store owners conformed and quickly displayed the BLM sign. Whether the owner of the store truly believed in this was irrelevant; what was certain is that Americans fully complied and, in promoting BLM, were signaling totalitarian tendencies.

Indeed, why, one must ask, does a pediatrician's office in Seattle display in its reception office the following sign: "[T]his is a safe space. Racism, bigotry, sexism and discrimination will not be tolerated"? Why does an ice cream shop in Calabasas, CA give out pins with raised fists? Why does Starbucks ensure that its baristas wear aprons with "Black Lives Matter" printed on them? Why does the above wildly popular collection of slogans appear in schools nationwide (see below)?

These words are signals  signals of what is acceptable and tolerable, meant to awaken "racial consciousness" among the masses. Deviating from this will result in dire consequences. Indeed, journalists have amassed alarming stories from individual Americans who have lost their jobs and have been entirely canceled as a result of veering the slightest from this new world order. A police officer in Virginia was fired because he donated to Kyle Rittenhouse's defense fund; a professor at the UCLA Anderson School of Management was suspended for the crime of "refusing to mark the work of black and white students by different criteria." In the summer of 2020, an art professor was reported for "hateful conduct" for the crime of going to watch a rally for police officers.

These individual stories point to a greater threat: the role of the informants. According to a Challey Institute for Global Innovation survey, nearly 70 percent of students favor reporting a professor if he says something students find offensive.

The Soviets perfected the role of the informant. At the height of Stalin's terror in 1937, neighbors, friends, and even family members denounced one another to the state. The state became the family unit, thus the danger of eradicating the nuclear family.

We have crossed the Rubicon, from merely promoting a social movement to enacting a revolution. Lenin's revolution unleashed the flocks of the Cheka to arrest, detain, torture, and execute anyone who stood in the way of the revolution. We are not too far: deplatforming, cancel culture, destroying the lives of individuals for the sake of an idea.

Sorokin's "The Red Pyramid" must thus be read not only as a warning of the dangers of communism but, more importantly, as a testament to the telltale signs of proclivities toward revolution and totalitarianism. Indeed, dazed by his encounter with the stranger at the train station, Sorokin sketches the remainder of Yura's miserable life: the conformity to the state  the submission of the individual to the fate of the state. Yura does not marry the girl he loves, does not get to write freely as a journalist, escapes by the skin of his teeth the claws of the censors. Only in his death does the truth reveal itself to him: "And suddenly [he] saw the red pyramid[.] ... It towered up on Red Square, its base taking up the entire area of the square. The pyramid vibrated as it emitted the red roar. The roar came forth in waves, flooding everything around it like a tsunami, flowing off beyond the horizon toward all four corners of the earth. The human race was drowning in this red roar."

We cannot wait for the red roar to "destroy mankind's intrinsic nature," to awaken to its signals only when we perish. We must listen now because the noise is deafening: in educational programs that compel students to rank their status in society by the color of their skin, in mandatory anti-racist training sessions that cultivate the idea that "children learn better from teachers of the same race," in urging school staff to undergo "antiracist therapy for White educators," in shop windows that display signage of conformity to "racial consciousness," in seemingly innocuous posters that promote "safe spaces" while simultaneously enacting totalitarian tendencies to eradicate those who do not comply, in the assault on the nuclear family and gender norms.

All in all, the calamity in Sorokin's "Red Pyramid" is that thirty years after the fall of the Soviet Union and nearly seventy years after Stalin's reign of terror, Russian citizens are reeling from the trauma of communism. Yura's failed life, according to Sorokin, is not a result of being arrested or forced to perish in a labor camp. No, his life is broken by the system whose baneful roar is unleashed and felt generations and generations thereafter.

Image: MSphotos via Pixabay, Pixabay License.

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To get an idea of just how dangerous the current Covid vaccines are, we only need to look at the numbers in the government-authorized VAERS database.

As you may know, VAERS is an acronym for Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System. This system is co-maintained by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This is how the FDA describes this facility on its website:

VAERS is an early warning system used to monitor adverse events that happen after vaccination. VAERS is the frontline system of a comprehensive vaccine safety monitoring program in the United States VAERS gives vaccine safety experts valuable information so they can assess possible vaccine safety concerns, including the new COVID-19 vaccines. It is especially useful for detecting unusual or unexpected patterns of health problems (also called adverse events) that might indicate a possible safety problem with a vaccine.

Established in 1990, the idea behind VAERS is to capture as many adverse reactions to vaccines as possible in order to alert health experts to potential issues and problems.

The graph below traces the number of deaths that have been reported to VAERS every year since its inception. As you can see, the yearly levels have held relatively steady from 1990 until 2020 and were generally under 400 cases. The cumulative total of all reported deaths during those years comes to 5,178 (see VAERS analysis here).

This, however, changed dramatically toward the end of 2020 when the Covid vaccines were introduced. At that point, we see a rapid explosion in reported deaths. So exponential was the increase that the graph line shoots up almost vertically.

See the link for the chart source here.

As of November 26, 2021, the number of deaths reported to VAERS in connection with the Covid vaccines was 19,532. It is both astonishing and revealing that in the last 11 months there were more reports of vaccine deaths related to Covid shots than to all other vaccines combined during the previous three decades.

This should raise all kinds of red flags because it is a good indication that there may be something seriously wrong with the Covid vaccines, and that these hastily authorized pharmaceuticals are causing death on an unprecedented scale.

The 19,532 tally does not, however, give us an accurate picture of the situation. To get a sense of the true state affairs, this number needs to be adjusted for two very important factors. The first concerns the nature of VAERS data itself, while the second relates to the way in which it is collected.

Adjustment for causality

To begin with, we need to recognize that not all deaths reported to VAERS are due to the vaccines. To see why, we must understand the difference between a temporal and causal connection. Even though the bulk of reported deaths normally occurs within a relatively short time of vaccination  usually from days to weeks  it does not necessarily mean that all those who have died after having taken the vaccine perished because of it. In some cases, people who appear among VAERS entries died of causes unrelated to the vaccine, and they just happened to receive their injections in temporal proximity of their passing.

In order not to overstate the case when considering VAERS data, it is, therefore, important to keep in mind that reported cases do not necessarily imply causality. The question, then, becomes in what proportion of VAERS entries a causal link can be established.

To help us make this assessment we use the findings of a peer-reviewed study that examined this issue. The title of the study is Causality Assessment of Adverse Events Reported to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). The study was published in 2012 and you can view it at this link at the National Library of Medicine.

The study found a definite or probable causal link between the vaccine and the adverse event in 23 percent of entries in the VAERS database. In another 20 percent of cases, a causal link was possible.

In order not to inflate our numbers, we will assume that a definite or a probable link exists in only 20 percent of death entries entered into VAERS in connection with the Covid vaccines. In other words, we will assume that in 8 out of 10 entries, the vaccines were not responsible for the demise of the person. We will take this cautious position despite the fact that in most cases the filing party  mostly health care professionals  believed that the reported deaths occurred as a result of the vaccine. To put it in a different way, we will assume that the filers were mistaken 80 percent of the time.

When we adjust the 19,532 figure for this variable, we obtain 3,906 (19,532 x 0.2). This would be the number of deaths that were definitely or likely attributable to the Covid vaccines per the VAERS records.

Adjustment for underreporting

This number, however, does not accurately reflect the real death toll of the vaccines. This is because it is well known that the VAERS numbers are vastly underreported.

The under-reporting is due to a host of reasons. Most doctors, for example, are hard pressed for time and they do not wish to go through the time-consuming administrative process of filing claims, which is a task for which they receive no compensation. Doctors are also generally discouraged by the environment in which they work from reporting this kind of data in order not to shed a bad light on pharmaceutical products, which are the lifeblood of modern medicine. Be that as it may, it is an undisputed fact that only a very small fraction of the actual adverse events end up being reported to the VAERS database.

A number of authorities believe that fraction to be one percent or less. One of them is Dr. David A. Kessler, a former FDA Commissioner who  in support of his 1993 article thesis  referenced a study that found that only about 1% of serious events are reported to the FDA.

Kessler should know of which he speaks since in addition to his high-profile appointments as a public health official he also holds a Medical Degree from Harvard and a law degree from the University of Chicago.

Kesslers view was reaffirmed by a 2010 report by Harvard Pilgrim Healthcare for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services which concluded that "fewer than 1% of vaccine adverse events are reported" (see page 6 of the report).

Ronald A. Kostoff is another high-profile scientist who believes that one percent is the correct estimate. In a recent paper he observed, historically, VAERS has been shown to report about 1% of actual vaccine/inoculation adverse events.

If these authorities are correct, then the underreporting factor (URF) of the VAERS database is 100.

To ensure that they err on the side of caution rather than the other way around, some researchers use a more conservative URF in their analysis. Steve Kirsch, for example, generally uses the underreporting factor of 41 in his calculations. The lowest URF factor this writer has come across in the work of credible analysts is 36. In order to be as conservative as possible, we will use this figure in our analysis.

If we, then, adjust our VEARS number for this variable, we will obtain the result of 140,616 (3,906 x 36). This would represent the number of Americans killed by the Covid vaccines in a period of fewer than 12 months starting in mid-December 2020 through November 26, 2021.

Observations

Please keep in mind that the above is a very conservative estimate, which we have arrived at by assuming a 20 percent causality link in reported death entries in the VAERS database and the underreporting factor of 36. This, however, is likely a gross understatement of the actual situation.

Using less conservative assumptions, many researchers have come up with a higher death toll. Steve Kirsch, Jessica Rose, and Mathew Crawford, for example, estimated in their paper that the vaccines have likely claimed 150,000 lives as of August 28, 2021.

If we use the underreporting factor of 100 (one hundred) advocated by David A. Kessler, Ronald Kostoff, and the Department of Health and Human Services we would arrive at the figure of 390,600 deaths attributable to the vaccines.

It is quite probable that these figures are closer to the actual vaccine death toll than the one we obtained based on our cautious assumptions.

Be that as it may, we can say with a considerable degree of confidence that based on the VAERS figures, it is very likely that the Covid vaccines have killed or directly contributed to the deaths of at least 140,000 Americans.

By claiming the lives of so many people in such a short time, the Covid vaccines are the deadliest pharmaceuticals ever released into wide circulation.

Correction: comparison of causialties in Vietnam War was deleted.

Vasko Kohlmayer was born and grew up in former communist Czechoslovakia. You can follow his writings by subscribing to his Substack newsletter Notes from the Twilight Zone. He is the author of The West in Crisis: Civilizations and Their Death Drives.

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In California's second-biggest city, San Diego, they've got a district attorney who thinks it's her job to prosecute criminals.

According to the Washington Examiner:

At least 10 self-identifying members of antifa in San Diego were charged with "violent criminal acts" relating to an incident earlier in 2021. The defendants "allegedly attempted to obstruct a rally for former President Donald Trump in San Diego on Jan. 9," the charges state.

She's leveling jail time charges against ten Antifa thugs after an unprovoked assault on Trump-supporters who, videos show, were just standing there and not even fighting back against these attacks last January. The thugs, who must have thought they were in Portland, were filmed openly engaging in brutal attacks on clearly peaceful people, waving their red and black flags, which included a hideous beat-down of a cowering, defenseless woman in the street, all as the police stood by and did nothing. A motorcycle cop took belated action to disperse the thugs later on, but in the videos, at least, he didn't arrest anyone. Antifa didn't even try to disguise its identity in this attack; the attackers waved their banners openly and then used the poles of them to attack innocents, often hitting them from behind as they were walking away. The preening thugs wanted everyone to know who they were and that they always got away with their brazen violence, which they certainly have done in most blue cities.

Much to their surprise, they now find themselves charged with jail time offenses in San Diego. Oops, picked the wrong city.

San Diego's district attorney, Summer Stephan, described what happened with pinpoint accuracy.

"Video evidence analysis shows that overwhelmingly the violence in this incident was perpetrated by the antifa affiliates and was not a mutual fray with both sides crossing out of lawful First Amendment expression into riot and violence," said District Attorney Summer Stephan.

Wow. Facts. Seems the funhouse-mirror justice of blue cities didn't find its way to light-blue San Diego. That's a refreshingly accurate description of what happened in the videos.

Stephan's telling Antifa that the jig is up, and the "narratives" don't work anymore, and nobody's buying their social justice tripe anymore. She's also declaring that anyone attacking anyone else is going to be charged as the law dictates and will be treated like a criminal. She's also sending a message to smash-and-grab looters out there now that this ain't no Los Angeles or San Francisco. Commit a violent attack in San Diego, and you're off to jail, too. Count on smash-and-grab robberies to be rather minimal in San Diego after these Antifa beasts are marched off to do jail time and word gets out.

Perhaps the Rittenhouse verdict verifying the right to self-defense in the midst of Antifa brutality put something into the air. But more likely, it was that Stephan won office in 2018 as an anti-Soros candidate, and she's following through.

That was an election win in a tough race. Back when Stephan was running for office, in 2018, she was doing so-so against a well financed opponent. But her fortunes changed suddenly when she ran anti-Soros television ads that repeatedly pointed out that her big-dollar opponent was a crummy little Soros pawn. Despite being outspent three to one by the Sorosians, Stephan's poll numbers turned decisively in her favor. She then won office by a huge margin.

I wrote about that here in a June 10, 2018 AT item titled "Soros becomes the kiss of death for his own handpicked D.A. candidates."

A scientific poll conducted by 10News and the San Diego Union-Tribune shows that Stephan has a 45-25 lead over [Genevieve] Jones-Wright. The collapse, according to analysts cited, happened in the past two weeks. A scary Soros ad ran right about that time pointing out that Jones-Wright was a political unknown with no experience and was financed by Soros through his front groups to advance the Soros agenda. She actually did take $400,000 from these groups, and the ad just stated the facts. The ad can be viewed here. Soros, remember, had this master plan to take over district attorney offices in key cities across America and seed them with his hand-picked anti-law enforcement candidates. The plan was to get people in office who would let crooks out of jail to effectively reduce the quality of life for the middle-class law-abiding people he has such a problem with. The stateless statesman is a big fan of the lawless state. It's part of his entire "open society" agenda, meaning zero consequences for lawbreakers in the name of "social justice," all to break down the state to Venezuelan-level disintegration, where law means literally nothing and politics is paramount. What Soros wanted was America's cities to be full of the same lawless wretched leftist clowns who populate Baltimore's prosecutorial offices, which just happened to be his first test city for cash. The results speak for themselves. Apparently, the ads worked, even in increasingly blue-tinged San Diego. Voters don't want to be another Soros test project like what Baltimore became.

I didn't know the half of it, though. Back in 2018, Stephan was saying what everyone is thinking now. (Just read this). Here is Stefan's extended interview with the local Valley Center Road Runner, which is just good journalism, describing all the many things Stephan did as D.A., with explanations as to what she was thinking and why she was doing what she was doing, with the interviewer simply letting the subject talk:

Soros's funding of [Genevieve] Jones-Wright is one of 17 District Attorney races he is pouring funds to using his California Justice & Public Safety PAC. "He is selecting criminal defense attorneys or ACLU affiliated lawyers with the goal of decriminalizing prostitution, drugs and prosecuting law enforcement whether they did anything wrong or not. The target for Soros is the police," says Stephan. Stephan says that Soros-funded DA's elsewhere have led to failure. "This has been a failed social experiment in Houston. The violent crime since his candidate was elected has gone up nine percent. In Florida his candidate refused to prosecute to the full extent of the law a police officer murderer who also murdered a pregnant woman. To the point that the governor has stripped her of her authority to prosecute special circumstance murders." Her opponent, she says, promises the same. "She has pledged to not even consider pursuing the death penalty in any serial murder case or any murder case, whether the case qualifies or not. She has also pledged in writing to not petition the court for any 17 year oldeven if they have committed mass murderto be treated as an adult. Which means they would be released at age 25 no matter what. The money infusion is intended to buy this election and to have our community replace experience and qualifications with a dangerous experiment. That is the challenge for my campaign." Soros has successfully funded 13 out of 17 races, says Stephan. According to iNewssource.org: "Since 2015, Soros-funded PACs have spent more than $10 million to support progressive district attorney candidates around the country. This year, the California Justice PAC has contributed to at least three other DA candidates in the state: Diana Becton in Contra Costa County, Pamela Price in Alameda County and Noah Phillips in Sacramento County." This is a concern, says Stephan. "This is not a normal election of the people by the people but an election of a billionaire trying to buy the election."

Wow. Just wow. She was calling it like it was there, too. She knew the score.

I identified her as a leftist in the earlier piece, but actually, she's more of a San Diegostyle moderate. She's like former mayor Kevin Faulconer, another moderate who actually did a good job and didn't insult Republicans. She says she's a former Republican who dropped the registration on the understandable grounds that it's just too hard to operate in a blue city on that label. Not fabulous, but understandable, given that she wanted to get things done. She's studiedly non-partisan and got my vote.

What matters is that she knows the law, and she cares about it enough to enforce it, and now she's spearheading this surprise prosecution for Antifa's thugs, making herself the pioneering emblem of what voters are looking for. She obviously recognizes that the Antifa act is old, and people have had it with their brazen acts, which have since led to mass lootings.

She's going to be popular with voters for this because she's going against the leftist herd seen in other blue cities, which have since become dumps. She's doing it first, so she's going to reap big for it at the polls. It would be nice to have six of her and dispatch them to Sacramento and Washington. Like a good D.A., surely she can see that such places need a good hosing out.

Image: Screen shot from UCTV video via YouTube.
Some residents of the Commonwealth have witnessed or seen footage of Massachusetts State Police troopers who have been removed from their posts by the illegal order of the oaf governor, Charlie Baker.

If not, the scenario usually plays out this way: two State Police troopers or representatives arrive at the private residences of fellow troopers who have had to make the agonizing choice between their livelihood and the natural right to determine their own medical care.

In other words, they can play Russian Roulette with their immune system and submit to an mRNA injection under duress or lose their jobs.



Photo credit: YouTube screen grab.

The troopers are read a script and ordered to surrender their cruisers, equipment, and badges on the spot.

Their families and neighbors look on, often in tears or silent rage at a humiliating and debased spectacle more apt for East Germany than the United States.

The badges surrendered were worn by individuals who were not long ago lauded as heroes, essential, on the frontlines. Their "vaccination status" was of no consequence, and undoubtedly the farthest thing from the minds of those citizens who sought their immediate assistance.

The badges were worn by individuals for whom danger and uncertainty were a part of the job, bravely entering situations into which there was the possibility of no return.

Now they are anathema, suddenly and imperceptibly a danger to the citizens they served and protected.

One of the surrendered badges was that of a trooper who wore the shield of her father, who was killed in the line of duty.

Another was worn by a trooper who gained national renown for his uncommon kindness to a homeless woman in Fall River.

Others were worn by those simply fulfilling their oaths and enforcing the laws (actual laws) of Massachusetts every hour that they were on the job.

Many heretofore healthy troopers who took the jab out of necessity (and after being denied medical or religious exemptions) have had adverse reactions, and their health and well-being have been forever compromised.

Outrageous is too mild a word to describe the situation that Baker has created.

If the lummox from Swampscott wants to exert tyrannical power, he should have the courage of his convictions. Baker should ride along and be present each and every time a Massachusetts State Trooper is forced to surrender his badge, cruiser, and equipment.

Perhaps if Baker, another in a long line of Harvard-educated idiots, were to cast his dull, soulless eyes into those whose lives he is marring for nothing, a flicker of recognition might register.

He might have a faint recollection of the natural rights of man, the concept that medical freedom and sovereignty over one's body are one's own and not for the state, and that such coercion is not in the interest of public health, but in service of all-encompassing power and authority without end.

Alas, it is a bridge too far for a man so lacking in self-awareness that he does not realize that he has brought infamy upon a place considered the birthplace of American liberty.

From the shot heard 'round the world to get a shot or the state kills your civil liberty...this is Charlie Baker's Massachusetts.

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Democrats have gotten everything they've wanted in their far-left wokester agenda in these recent months. But much to their surprise, they're losing Hispanic voters as if they had a hole in their pocket.

Here's the shocking news (for them) from the Wall Street Journal:

The nation's large and diverse group of Hispanic voters is showing signs of dividing its support between Democrats and Republicans more evenly than in recent elections, a new Wall Street Journal poll finds, a troubling development for the Democratic Party, which has long counted on outsize Hispanic support. One year after giving Democratic House candidates more than 60% of their vote, according to polls at the time, the Journal survey found that Hispanic voters are evenly split in their choice for Congress. Asked which party they would back if the election were today, 37% of Hispanic voters said they would support the Republican congressional candidate and 37% said they would favor the Democrat, with 22% undecided. Hispanic voters were also evenly divided when asked about a hypothetical rematch in 2024 of the last presidential contenders, with 44% saying they would back President Biden and 43% supporting former President Donald Trump. In 2020, Mr. Biden won 63% support among Hispanic voters, nearly 30 points more than Mr. Trump, according to AP VoteCast, a large survey of the presidential electorate.

Evenly split? 37%-37% with 22% up for grabs? That's really bad news for Democrats.

Two reasons stand out: first, Hispanics are steadily moving toward Republicans in an ongoing trend that shows no sign of abating. Second, Democrats count Hispanic voters as their reliably "kept" voters who will vote for them no matter what they do.

Democrats actually view Hispanics as a core voter constituency as well as an ace up their sleeve in swing states, given that nearly all swing states have large and growing Hispanic populations. They also view America's 62 million Hispanics as "theirs" because many big states  Florida, Texas, California  have huge percentages of Hispanics in their populations  26%, 39%, and 39%, respectively. Hispanics account for a fifth of the American population now, and one out of eight voters. Democrats have wasted no effort in creating an entire election-winning strategy on this assumption that these voters are their "property," meaning they can focus on crazy stuff since Hispanics will never leave them. I was there at the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver and attended all of their Hispanic caucus meetings and know that Democrats were convinced that Hispanic voters would always be "theirs."

Turns out it all was a load of hooey.

The problem they hadn't counted on is that their agenda stinks to Hispanics. They never had a clue as to what Hispanic voters were thinking. They probably didn't know any.

Open borders? Democrats were convinced that all they needed to do was throw that at Hispanic voters, and they'd be happy.

Open borders, in fact, generally repel Hispanic voters, given that such voters know that letting in millions of unvetted migrants, some of whom are undoubtedly the very criminals they wanted to get away from when they moved to America, and others of whom know that illegals price them out of job markets by working under the table and undercut legal worker wages, which would mean them. They know these policies are of no benefit to them.

They benefit white elites and their consultant-class rackets, as Mickey Kaus has observed:

Of course, there was lots of money to be made (by lobbyists, think tankers, fundraisers) in being "absolutely convinced." No money to be made in not going along with the CW [Conventional Wisdom] -- or else @SeanTrende would be rich. https://t.co/EFUu5IVTez  Mickey Kaus (@kausmickey) December 8, 2021

Another one is schools: Hispanic voters are generally a youthful population and, as a result, have the highest percentage of their children stuck in public schools. Those are the hellholes of failing standards, high dropout rates, low test scores, and now monster COVID restrictions that explicitly penalize kids. They are also redoubts of Critical Race Theory and wokester notions about what Latinos want which once again, repel Latinos.

Take just one issue Democrats have embraced: the use of the word "Latinx." Democrats don't know this, but Latinos can't stand it.

It's whitey stuff, actually, something cooked up by Puerto Rican academics a while back and then embraced and promoted by white-led universities and faculty lounges. Only two percent of Hispanic or Latino Americans use it now, down from three percent last May. The only Latinos who claim to like the term are college students, and it turns out they use it only while they are at university. They dump the term when they return home.

It's telling that longtime Democrat redoubts on the Texas border of near 100% Hispanic composition, who've seen what open borders look like, have already swung sharply toward Republicans based on 2020 election results. Democrats ought to have taken that as a warning, but they paid no attention, not even to the warnings from Hispanic Democrat elected leaders in Congress and at local levels. Now they've got this evenly split number, which is absolutely sure to get worse for them, given that it's part of a trend.

Emblematic of all this Democrat idiocy on what Hispanics want is Beto O'Rourke, the white leftist Democrat who speaks Spanish and offers to Hispanic voters his Spanish nickname. His agenda is pure left-wing priorities found in white academia  gun-grabbing, wokester education, let-them-out crime policies, abortion on demand  all of which repel Hispanic voters. Apparently, Democrats think that just offering the symbolic trappings of Hispanitude plus a wide open border are enough to take care of the Hispanic vote. O'Rourke accurately claims that Democrats have ignored Hispanic voters, all right, but he continues to ignore what actual Hispanics want, which is quality education, sanity on abortion, zero Critical Race Theory, and some kind of pride in the country they chose to move to.

Even some stupid Republicans were convinced they needed to embrace these now failed Democrat ideas:

After Romney 2012 loss, leading Republicans were absolutely convinced they had to pass comprehensive immigration reform to win Hispanic votes -- or face years in the electoral wilderness. https://t.co/BMCeDqe0oJ  Byron York (@ByronYork) December 8, 2021

That was before President Trump came along and demonstrated that the ideas were losers among Hispanic voters.

How's Trump doing among Hispanics? The numbers would shock a leftist, given that they have painted Trump as a Hispanic-hating monster. The Wall Street Journal reports that its bipartisan poll found that 56% of all Hispanic men would cast their vote for President Trump if the election were held today, and 30% of Hispanic women would. That's catastrophic for Democrats, and it's not even 2022, not to mention 2024, yet. They love themselves some Trump, same as huge numbers of other Americans, even as Mitt Romney simps that open borders are the way to win the Hispanic voters' hearts and minds.

Nope, Hispanic voters like Trump. And now a message is being broadcast to Democrats that ideas matter. They don't listen to Hispanics, so it was easy enough to move to the GOP side. If they think this is the last of this trend away from their rabidly left-wing agenda, they've got another surprise coming.

Image: Gage Skidmore via Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0.

To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here.
Woom Sing Tse arrived in America from Communist China almost 50 years ago with $100 to his name and worked his way up to owning a successful restaurant. On Wednesday, a 23-year-old Black career criminal executed him on Chicago's streets. Maybe a rival paid for this hit, or maybe this was yet another example of the Black community's incredible hostility to Asians.

The core story is awful:

A Chicago man who loved ones said was the "epitome" of the American dream was shot dead while walking to buy a newspaper a block from his home Tuesday. Woom Sing Tse, 71, had just finished eating lunch with his wife at their Chinatown home, when he was executed by a man who pulled up in a silver car as he walked to his local store, according to WGN. Surveillance video obtained by the station showed the gunman opening fire from inside the car. The driver then got out of the car to fire another shot at Tse as he laid on the ground, the footage showed. The suspect, identified as Alphonso Joyner, 23, was later arrested, and charged with first-degree murder, CBS Chicago reported. Joyner had previously been arrested four times, including two gun charges, one of which he had pleaded guilty to, the station said. No motive for the ghastly attack was reported.

(At the same link, you can see a video, slightly redacted, showing Joyner gunning Mr. Tse down. I chose not to include it here because it's sad and adds nothing to this post.)

This is not the first Black-on-Asian attack to show up in the news. We read regularly about Blacks attacking Asians, whether it's stories about beating them up, stabbing them, or shooting them. Back in August, the FBI reported that hate crimes against Asians had risen by 70% over the past year. The report does not mention that it's mostly Blacks who are committing these crimes.

At the most primitive level, the anti-Asian crimes increased because ill educated people, when hearing that the Wuhan flu originated in Communist China, decided to make their displeasure known by attacking people who had escaped from Communist China. This simplistic thinking is common in marginalized communities  and marginalized often means Black.



Image: Japanese workers on the Transcontinental Railroad.

At a secondary level, Blacks have for decades competed with Asians for resources in poor neighborhoods. In San Francisco, as Asians poured in from the 1960s through the 1980s, they moved into the Tenderloin and Bayview Districts, both of which had long been Black redoubts. Just as happened when Puerto Ricans started moving into historically Black districts, there was an uptick in Black violence against the interlopers, who were squeezing them out of rental property and entry-level jobs.

Both of those are acknowledged reasons for Black-on-Asian violence. But there's another reason that few people like to talk about: Asians go from ghetto to suburbs in one generation and, often, from suburbs to chi-chi upper-class communities in just one or two generations. If you think about the fact that Asians came to America broke, speaking no English, and often facing substantial prejudice, their success puts the lie to Black claims that there's no way Blacks can achieve success in a country as racist as America.

California, for example, a state with a huge Asian population, long had the Asian equivalent of Jim Crow laws. This article lists law after law, riot after riot, and court decision after court decision, all aimed at ridding California of what was then called the "Yellow Peril." Democrats imprisoned thousands of them during WWII. Even in 1967, Hollywood produced a comic movie, Thoroughly Modern Millie, that showed Asians engaged in sex-trafficking. In many ways, Asians experienced every bit as much discrimination as Blacks.

Additionally, Asians, unlike Blacks with deep roots in America, but like Mr. Tse, arrived here relatively recently, broke, and unable to speak English. In that regard, one might say that Blacks have been better positioned for success.

The real difference between the two groups is simple: education. Asians revere it. When I attended San Francisco's Lowell High School, which requires an exam to enter, Asian students whom we called "FOBs," or "fresh off the boats," within a year or two were pulling higher grades than any native-born California kids. Just look at this chart at the left-wing Brookings website showing the homework difference between the races.

Meanwhile, as John McWhorter detailed in his superb Losing the Race: Self-Sabotage in Black America, educational attainments are too often denigrated in Black America as something "White." Although McWhorter first wrote the book some years ago, nothing has changed.

Sadly, rather than seeing Asian behavior as something to imitate to achieve Asian success rates, too many Blacks see Asians as a group that needs to be destroyed, perhaps because they put the lie to Black narratives about generational failure in America.

UPDATE: I've been informed that the photo I used is of Japanese, not Chinese workers. After the Chinese workers built the railroads, they were excluded and the work given to Japanese immigrants.

To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here.
I just finished reading an article on the Big Think website titled "When science mixes with politics, all we get is politics," by Professor Marcelo Gleiser, theoretical physicist, Dartmouth College. I mistakenly thought the commentary would decry the misuse of science by politicians, but no. Instead, it decries the mistrust that we, the unwashed masses, have developed for the science establishment in recent years. Unwittingly, the eminent professor gives us yet more reasons to regard science insiders with skepticism.

He does what so many of his colleagues do, which is to equate science itself with the institutions that purport to advance science. To question politicized scientists, then, is supposedly unscientific.

To illustrate my personal contact with science bias, I refer to an email I sent on Feb. 3, 2021 to NASA regarding a brief article it had posted on the Space.com website. Here is the letter with punctuation slightly adjusted:

Space dot com has been a credible source of information, because it does not reveal political bias. The story at, "Space Force has Biden's 'full support,' White House says" ... is a sad exception. It was good coverage until it said It shouldn't come as a huge surprise that Psaki didn't have a wealth of Space Force information and ideas immediately to hand yesterday. The Biden administration is dealing with a number of pressing issues as it gets up and running, especially the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, so space issues likely aren't a big priority at the moment. Making wordy excuses for the press rep's lack of knowledge by citing "a number of pressing issues " is disingenuous. ALL administrations have serious pressing issues initially. With Psaki, even supporters of the new administration have ridiculed Psaki's pronounced lack of preparedness, citing her frequent "circle back" phrase. It would have been more forthright to simply say nothing at all about the press rep, or at most, simply saying, something like, Psaki didn't have the Space Force information at the time of the press conference. That would have been unbiased, factual, and would not have sounded patronizing. I hope that you are self-aware enough to recognize your own bias, and to keep it from tainting your otherwise excellent coverage in the future. Obeisance does not become you. Robert Arvay

Since then, I have not seen another example of such blatant politicization on the NASA website. Whether my email to them had anything to do with it, I will probably never know.

Censorship of actual science has been heavy-handed, both by Democrats and by their Big Tech acolytes. Epidemiologists, virologists, and physicians who do not toe the party line regarding COVID have been intimidated and silenced. Science that cannot be openly questioned is not science, since the heart and soul of science are to scrutinize every claim from every angle. If we are to be told we must follow the science, then scientists must explain to us the inductive reasoning that was applied to exclude members of Congress, and their staffs, from the COVID restrictions they imposed on the rest of us. If scientists are to decry those of us who doubt their word, then they must equally decry the policy of distributing unvaccinated, untested illegal aliens to every state, while denying entry to legal travelers.

To decry only the skeptics, while ignoring the egregious anti-science of many politicians, does nothing to engender trust in the institutions of science. It does the opposite.

Yes, Professor, mixing science with politics does indeed result only in politics. Thank you for being an example of that.

Graphic credit: Marco Verch, CC BY 2.0 license.

To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here.
(ANSA) - ROME, DEC 9 - Emilia-Romagna Governor Stefano Bonaccini and former premier and European Commission chief Romano Prodi on Wednesday visited the Italy pavilion at Expo Dubai 2020.

Bonaccini, who like Prodi is a member of the centre-left Democratic Party (PD), said "it is a marvelous pavilion where you see the genius, excellence and quality of Italy, of which obviously as Emilia-Romagna we try to express the utmost potential possible".

The two senior PD figures were accompanied by Italy Pavilion Commissioner Paolo Glisenti.

Before the visit, Prodi addressed the Global Business Forum Asean at Expo.

"I have been very impressed, amazed even" by the Italy pavilion, the ex-PD chief said, dismissing "ridiculous polemics about its conception.

Prodi said he had also been "very pleased" by the fact that 70 young people have been trained to show people around and explain the various exhibits. (ANSA).


(ANSA) - ROME, DEC 9 - Patrick Zaki has thanked Italy for the support given to him during his 22-month prison ordeal in his Egyptian homeland after being released on Wednesday.

"Tutto bene (all well)," Zaki said in Italian after being released in Mansoura.

Although Zaki, a 30-year-old Coptic doctoral researcher at Bologna University, has been released, the charges against him have not been dropped.

The next hearing in his case is scheduled for February.

"Thank you Italy," he said once he returned home with his mother, sister and girlfriend.

"I hope to return soon".

Zaki's lawyer said it is not clear if he can leave Egypt.

The dean of Bologna University said his place was at the institution.

Zaki was arrested on February 7, 2020, while returning to Egypt for a holiday and 19 months of detention were justified on charges of subversive propaganda made in 10 Facebook posts.

The indictment instead was based on charges of "spreading fake news inside and outside the country" based on three articles written by Zaki, including one in 2019 on Christians in Egypt persecuted by ISIS and discriminated by fringes of Muslim society. (ANSA).


PARIS - A headline in French daily Le Monde on Thursday read "Shipwreck in the Channel: migrants had asked for help", referring to the tragedy at sea on 24 November in which 27 people died, many of whom were Kurdish, aboard a rubber boat that was attempting to cross the English Channel between France and Great Britain.



"Various accounts of those close to the victims and phone call records confirm the fact that they had spoken with rescuers," said Le Monde, referring to accounts provided to Kurdish media Rudaw, which said "the migrants asked for help, in vain".



Thus far authorities have said only that on the afternoon of 24 November, around 2 pm, a French fishing boat sent out an alert after having sighted several shipwrecked people at sea in French waters but in the immediate vicinity of British waters.



Shortly after the shipwreck, the only two survivors gave an interview to Rudaw in which they revealed that they had asked for help.



In a video posted on 29 November, Mohammed Shekha Ahmad said, "We called the French police. Then we sent them our location and they said 'You are in English waters, call the British.' We called the British, and they told us to call the French".



The next day, Mohammed Isa Omar, a Somali survivor, explained the circumstances of the shipwreck.



"We sank in British waters. We called for help and they told us to send our position." According to judicial sources cited by Le Monde, the statements of the two survivors have been confirmed by initial elements of the French investigation, which is still underway.
TUNIS - The "Independent Women's Movement", a grouping of nine associations for the protection of women's rights, is staging a silent march in Tunis on Friday to denounce violence against women and urge authorities to assume their responsibilities in protecting women's rights and prosecuting perpetrators of sex crimes and discrimination against women, said Kalam association president Feryal Charfeddine.



Charfeddine said the march will mark the conclusion in Tunisia of an international 16-day activism campaign against gender-based violence organised every year from 25 November to 10 December, the date of adoption of the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights.



The march on Friday in Tunis will be silent to raise the alarm on the consequences of the continued silence of the State and the laxity of the authorities in the application of the 2017 law against violence against women.



The aim is to raise awareness of the danger of violence against women and highlight that the cases of real violence are much higher than those reported by women.



Charfeddine invited the State and all sectors of society to commit themselves to raising awareness of the seriousness of this issue and on the need to activate law no. 58 of 2017, and to review school curricula to establish the principle of gender equality.



The Independent Women's Movement is comprised of the Tunisian Association of Democratic Women, Bayti, the Tawheda Becheikh Group, the Association of Tunisian Women for Research and Development, the Kef Association for Citizenship and Women, Aswat Nisaa, Hope for the Family and the Child, Kef Jousour, and Kalam.
Lamorgese urges penalties for not redistributing migrants 'French presidency must unite solidarity and responsibility'

(ANSAmed) - BRUSSELS, DECEMBER 9 - Italian Interior Minister Luciana Lamorgese said Thursday on the sidelines of the EU Home Affairs Council that there are "knots to untie" regarding the migrant issue and "we will untie them with the French presidency".



Lamorgese said the French interior minister presented the French presidency's priorities, and that Italy "hopes the principle of solidarity is always joined with that of responsibility".



"We have two principles: that of voluntary redistribution - because there will always be countries, such as those in the Visegrad Group, that won't participate - but we will have to think together with the European Commission about possible penalties," Lamorgese said.(ANSAmed).




PARIS - French President Emmanuel Macron, speaking at the press conference to present the French presidency of the EU, called for "fighting against human smugglers who have made the Mediterranean a shameful cemetery". Recalling the recent tragedy of migrants who drowned in the English Channel, Macron insisted on the need for Europe to act more efficiently regarding migrants.



He said it is also in this light that a summit has been scheduled for 17 and 18 January in Brussels to "re-establish in depth" relations between Europe and Africa, starting with an economic "new deal" to relaunch African countries.
Dr Martens has said its profits for the past half-year have been boosted by increased stock levels but saw its US wholesale business particularly impacted by supply disruption.

The boot maker and fashion brand saw shares slip after it said supply chain pressure is expected to continue into the new year.

Kenny Wilson, chief executive of the business, said he is optimistic despite uncertainty surrounding increased pandemic restrictions in the UK and elsewhere in Europe.

He told the PA news agency: We can be fairly positive in the circumstances as we continued to perform well  obviously driven by online  during the first set of restrictions.

I think demand is still looking very positive and we are confident this will remain.

In the UK, it is looking like there could be a loss of some traffic in stores but we expect that is likely to shift into online sales instead.

Dr Martens said it has been pleased with its Christmas preparations, which it said have benefited from high levels of inventory through the year.

However, the boss said disruption to factories in Vietnam impacted revenues by around 20 million over the first half of the year, although supply problems in the region have eased.

Current sales have seen positive momentum strengthen during October and November.

The company said it also saw a gradual improvement in its US wholesale operation but highlighted that it continues to be impacted by shipping delays and uncertainty around the timing of shipments being processed through ports.

It added that this is expected to continue into the next financial year.

It came as the company reported that sales increased by 16% to 369.9 million for the half-year to September, compared with the same period last year.

Meanwhile, Dr Martens said pre-tax profits jumped by 46% to 61.3 million for the six-month period.

Mr Wilson added: Our strong first half performance combined with the continued momentum in DTC (direct to consumer) trading into the second half gives us confidence in achieving market expectations for the full year.

I remain hugely excited about the growth potential of the Dr Martens brand.

Shares in the business moved 5.8% lower to 377.6p.
Watch: Norway considers replacing sparse Trafalgar Square Christmas tree

Norway will not be sending funds for a new Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square after the first one was criticised.

Councillors in Oslo decided against sending funds for a new tree during budgetary meetings on Wednesday, Westminster City Council have said.

The first  sent last week  was criticised by some, who described it as sparse.

One social media user said it was the most anaemic tree possible and another said: The Trafalgar trees looking a bit sparse this year  who upset Norway then? Come on, own up.

(PA Wire)

Norway sends the UK a Christmas tree for Trafalgar Square every year as an annual tradition to thank its attempts to help defend the country during the Second World War.

The tradition has been in place since 1947.

The trees lights were turned on last week in the presence of the Mayor of Oslo, Marianne Borgen, who said: It really is an honour for me to present to you this years Christmas tree from Oslo.

Westminster City Council confirmed on Wednesday evening the proposal had been voted down and Norway would not be sending funds to pay for a new tree for Trafalgar Square.

The Lord Mayor of Westminster, Councillor Andrew Smith  who was also present as the lights on the tree were switched on last week  said: As always, we are hugely grateful to the people of Norway for sending us this annual gift, which plays a vital role in making Westminster an even more beautiful place to visit at Christmas.

The Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square is an annual gift from the people of Norway in thanks for Britains support in World War II. Its shape and size may change, but its a perennial reminder of the friendship between two nations and the enduring bonds forged in adversity.

The tree lighting ceremony is a cherished tradition which has taken place in the heart of London every year since 1947, and the number of people who turned up last week to see the lights being switched on is testament to that.

We want the people of Oslo and of Norway to know how much we appreciate their generosity.

Watch: Who are Extinction Rebellion and what do they want?

Read More

Trafalgar Square Christmas tree could be replaced with new one from Norway

London Larks: Your weekly humour fill, from Christmas trees to Oasis

Nervtag scientist would not feel safe at Christmas party over Covid fears
Jacob Rees-Mogg said it is not good enough that authorities always say lessons will be learned from cruel treatment of vulnerable children, following the death of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes.

The Commons Leader told MPs he found it almost impossible to read news stories about six-year-old Arthur because it made him think of his own children.

Arthurs stepmother, Emma Tustin, 32, was jailed for life at Coventry Crown Court last week, with a minimum term of 29 years, after being found guilty of his murder, while his father, Thomas Hughes, 29, was sentenced to 21 years for manslaughter.

Mr Rees-Mogg said: I think the angels weep over what happened to little Arthur. It is so just mortifyingly sad to see those pictures of that sweet little boy who was so brutally treated.

He added: I have got this in my notes today that I am meant to say that lessons will be learned, but that is what we always say and it is not good enough. We need to protect little children.

The Commons Leader was responding to calls for a debate from Labour MP Rachael Maskell (York Central) to resolve once and for all the mistreatment of vulnerable children.

In his answer, he continued: Are there easy solutions? No. Are there problems that we can identify? Were there issues that Covid meant people werent going out to work?

Why do you think I keep on saying in this House that there are jobs that people need to do face-to-face?

People have to get out and do some of their jobs. There are limitations on who can work from home, not try and turn that into people whose jobs are essentially done out of the home.

Jacob Rees-Mogg said the case made him think of his own children (PA)

There are so many things that need to be put right  that the spirit is certainly willing  but can I promise her that tragedies wont happen again? No of course I cant.

He added: But as I said, the sadness over Arthur is  I find it almost impossible to read the news stories  because thinking of the children that I know, my own children, and how could somebody behave like that? I sympathise entirely with what she says.

Ms Maskell had said: In York, I am really worried about vulnerable children and children at risk. I am very worried about vulnerable parents. I am very worried about social workers working in childrens services. And I am very worried about the level of funding which is going towards those services.

I dont want to hear that we have to have another serious case review, and that we have to learn lessons again. We have heard that too many times.

Can we have a debate about children within the care system and the risks that are faced and how we resolve this issue once and for all?
An undercover TV researcher who spent 16 years wanted by police has been found guilty of the brutal torture and murder of a father-of-two at a cannabis farm.

Christopher Guest More, 43, was convicted by a majority of 10 to 2 of the murder of Brian Waters at Chester Crown Court on Monday, more than 18 years after the killing.

He was arrested in 2019 in Malta, where he had been living under the name Andrew Lamb.

On Thursday, after 12 hours and 14 minutes of deliberations, the jury also found him guilty by a majority verdict of conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm to Suleman Razak, who worked on the cannabis farm and was tortured at the same time as the 2003 murder.

Burnt House Farm in Tabley, Cheshire, where the murder took place (Cheshire Police/PA)

More, wearing a grey suit and white shirt, shook his head as the verdicts were returned.

In May, a jury was discharged after it failed to agree on verdicts and a retrial began in November.

More claimed he had befriended drug dealer John Wilson, one of three men already convicted of the murder, because he thought he could sell a story on him being a police informant to the media and he might lead him to a cannabis farm which he could film for a Dispatches documentary.

Mr Waters, a cannabis dealer who was growing the drug at Burnt House Farm in Tabley, near Knutsford, Cheshire, owed Wilson a drugs debt of 20,000, the court heard.

More, who had done undercover TV work including with journalist Donal McIntyre, discovered where the cannabis farm was after following Mr Waters son Gavin, then 25.

On June 19 2003 Mr Waters was tortured and killed at the farm in front of his daughter Natalie, who had just turned 21, and Gavin, while his wife Julie was abducted from the family home and driven to the farm.

Mr Waters and Mr Razak, who survived the four-hour ordeal, were tied up and suspended from rafters, beaten, dropped in barrels of liquid, had staple guns used on their bodies and were assaulted with a metal bar.

When police arrived at the scene, following a call made from a phone box by Wilsons driver David Moran, they found a bag containing cigarette ends, drinks bottles and even a bag of faeces which all had traces of Mores DNA.

James Raven, who did television work with More, and Otis Matthews have also been convicted of murder at earlier trials.

Giving evidence, More, who had been working as a yacht captain and businessman in Malta, claimed he had gone to the farm that morning to steal cannabis equipment but left when he had an argument with Raven and realised Wilson, who was not at the scene, had discovered he was working undercover.

He left the country for Spain two days later and, after travelling to South Africa, Mozambique and Turkey, settled in Malta.

Detective Inspector Kate Tomlinson, the senior investigating officer, said Mr Waters family continued to be affected by the crime.

She said: They have remained very insular and havent been able to move on with their lives.

They have remained very scared to this day because somebodys been outstanding for the murder of their husband and father.

In a statement, the family of Mr Waters said: What happened at Burnt House Farm on 19 June 2003 has had a significant and long-lasting effect on our family.

We will never be able to forget events of that day and, even now, more than 18 years down the line, we feel the pain on a daily basis with constant flashbacks.

We have remained a close-knit family and have provided much-needed support to each other  but this has been an isolating experience for us and not only have we lived in fear of reprisals we have also struggled to trust others as we normally would.

But we never gave up hope and the verdict today marks the end of an incredibly painful journey in our lives.

Judge Sir Peter Openshaw said More would be sentenced on Friday.
The UK is going to see a really rather large wave of Omicron and deaths in the next few months, a scientist advising government has said, as he warned coronavirus would keep evolving to escape immunity.

Asked about the trajectory of the Covid pandemic, Professor John Edmunds, a member of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage), told a Royal Society of Medicine briefing that were certainly not out of the woods, adding that sequencing suggested Omicron had been around since mid-October.

He added: I think over the next two months, were going to see a really rather large wave of Omicron, were getting large numbers of cases and that will result in a large number of hospitalisations and, unfortunately, it will result in a large number of deaths, Im pretty sure of that.

What happens next? Its pretty clear the virus hasnt done with evolution. Its going to continue to evolve.

Ive long thought that what well start to see is that the virus evolves towards being more of an immune escape than necessarily more transmissible.

(PA Graphics)

He said he thought the virus would continue to evolve to evade existing immunity once we have high levels of immunity in the population, because thats the selective pressure acting on the virus.

He added: I think thats what weve just seen. Omicron is  able to evade much of our wall of immune resistance, not all of it, but it is able to get around some of it.

And I think thats probably the way that the virus will continue to move, shifting to get around our defences, mainly through evading the immune response.

Prof Edmunds said he would be very surprised if updated vaccines to tackle variants were not needed.

Adding to the discussion, Professor Peter Openshaw, a member of the New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group (Nervtag), said he thought that over time, as this becomes a virus to which everyone is exposed in childhood and then maybe gets reinfected during later childhood and the teens and through to adulthood, when they become parents, you know, as it builds in and becomes part of the landscape of viruses which we encounter, I think its still going to be a significant cause of serious lower respiratory tract infection and itll become one of the viruses that enter the differential diagnosis when somebody comes in with, say, winter flu-like illness.

(PA Graphics)

Earlier, Prof Edmunds told the webinar he was in favour of restrictions to tackle the current wave.

Unfortunately, if we wait, because this thing is doubling so quickly, if we wait until we see significant numbers of cases in hospitals and in hospitals here in the UK  it will be far too late to act, he said.

He added: I think its a necessary evil  its very damaging for parts of the economy, the hospitality sector, retail sector in particular  theyre going to be affected.

Unfortunately, we have to do it. The rate at which this virus is spreading is doubling every two or three days.

If you think what that means in a week, you go through about three doublings in a week, so the epidemic doubles and doubles again and doubles again  So you know, if youve got, lets say, 1,000 infections today and then in a weeks time, youve got 8,000.

And, you know, and in two weeks time youve got 64,000.

So thats why we have to take measures now. Even though theres very few cases here now, and it seems like an overreaction, it absolutely is not an overreaction.

Prof Edmunds said Omicron was a step back but urged people to have their booster vaccines, adding that they were likely to offer some protection, particularly against severe disease.

He added: So I think its absolutely critical that people get a booster dose as rapidly as possible  that is our best defence, I think it will help very significantly, but I still think that were likely to be under quite a lot of pressure in very short time.

He also said he was in favour of vaccinating young children, adding that in the UK the Delta wave has been driven really by school-aged children.

He said now you see equivalent rates of infection in primary school-aged children as you do in secondary school and every child who is infected will expose an adult.

He added: They must  they all live at home with adults.

So every single one will expose an adult to coronavirus, and so from that, transmission can occur particularly if the adult is unvaccinated. But even with vaccines there is not 100% protection.
His big return! Fans couldnt want to see David Eigenbergs Steve Brady and Cynthia Nixons Miranda Hobbes back together on And Just Like That, but he was a bit nervous to return to the Sex and the City world.

Read article

Its been 20 years since the TV show almost. It was scary, the actor, 57, told Us Weekly exclusively at the Wednesday, December 8, premiere of the revival in New York City. Ive always been an in and out guy. I say that on Sex and the City! I pop in and pop out, so I was trying to find my sea legs a little bit. But it was fun, we snapped back into it. Its always great seeing the same lovely faces.

After appearing as Mirandas on-off love interest in 41 episodes of HBOs Sex and the City and starring in both films, Eigenberg moved to Illinois. Hes been starring as Christopher Herrmann on Chicago Fire since 2012.

HBO Max

To me, theyre really different [characters], the New York native said of the two roles. Ive been doing salty, old firefighter for 10 years  I dont know where that [time] went. And then you know, sweet, loving, caring take it on the chin Steve. So, it was different, I kind of did a bad Brooklyn [accent] here and I do a bad Chicago dialect in Chicago. Theyre different!

Read article

When fans last saw Steve and Miranda, they were still together and raising their young son, Brady, in Brooklyn. Now, hes all grown up and the couple are still going strong.

Theres a lot of love [between them], the Killing Eleanor actor shared with Us. There really is, and theyve raised a great kid and the horizon holds the future and well see where they go.

Gregory Pace/Shutterstock

Niall Cunningham stars as the now-teenage son of the couple  and he doesnt make it easy for the parents.

[Hes] just a little at war as every 17 year old is with their parents and maybe more in an adult way than most teenagers because hes from Brooklyn, the actor, 27, told Us at the MoMA on Wednesday, noting that Brady is a mix of both his parents. Some of Steves go at your own speed, bro-y vibe is there, but I think Mirandas dry sense of humor and intensity is definitely a part of him.

Read article

Personally, Cunningham identifies as a Charlotte, the character played by Kristin Davis.

I think Im a romantic, I would say, the Okja star said. Everyone thinks theyre Miranda and at heart, Im a little bit more sappy and romantic and not as hard-edged. Not that Miranda is not a romantic.

And Just Like That is now streaming on HBO Max.
Miranda Hobbes was always known for her signature red hair (along with her devotion to work, cynical views on relationships and love for chocolate cake).

So, when photos surfaced from the set of HBO Max's new "Sex and the City" reboot, "And Just Like That...," some fans were surprised to see Cynthia Nixon rocking a sleek silver bob.

Celebrity Sightings In New York City - October 08, 2021 (Gotham / GC Images)

In the first episode of the new series, released Thursday, Miranda addresses her new look while talking about going back to school for her master's degree in human rights.

Why does Miranda have gray hair?

Charlotte asks Miranda if she plans to dye her hair back to red, telling her, "I just think the gray ages you."

"You look great gray, but I miss the red. And I just thought it might be fun for the start of school," Charlotte adds.

Miranda shuts down the suggestion.

"Charlotte, I'm getting a master's in human rights to pair with my law degree, so hopefully I can become an advocate for women who need one," Miranda says. "I don't have to be a spicy redhead to do that."

"I mean, we can't just stay who we were, right?" she asks. "And there are more important issues in the world than trying to look young."

Actress Cynthia Nixon (Getty Images)

Embracing gray roots has become a trend since the COVID-19 pandemic began, forcing many women to skip their salon appointments. And celebrities have been part of the movement too.

Queen Letizia of Spain recently showed she was letting her gray grow out during a state visit to Stockholm. And Andie MacDowell called herself a "silver fox" during a visit to "The Drew Barrymore Show" in February.

Its not fair that women are called granny or old with natural hair, MacDowell's colorist, Jack Martin, told the New York Times in September. This is just propaganda and a myth we brought on ourselves.

"Mom" star Allison Janney called her gray hair her "most authentic" look during an interview with Ellen DeGeneres earlier this year. "I cannot tell you how amazing it is to feel free."

And Tia Mowry, who has embraced the natural look, told TODAY last year, "I'm not about hiding who I am. I'm all about wanting to change the narrative that people think they need to be perfect. Growing older is a blessing."
Setting the record straight! Josie Bates clarified on Wednesday, December 8, that she is not pregnant with her third child.

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Its gonna be awhile, the Bringing Up Bates star, 22, said during an Instagram Story Q&A. So for all yall asking if I am pregnant already, I am not. And if you think you see a baby bump, you dont. Its just a food baby.

After telling her followers not to get their hopes up, the reality star went on to answer questions about her postpartum experience after welcoming daughter Hazel, now 5 months, in June. (The UPtv personality and her husband, Kelton Balka, are also the parents of daughter Willow, 2.)

Courtesy of Josie Balka/Instagram

[Its] going really good, the Tennessee native said. I feel like were at a really good place. Were on a great routine. I feel like I have a handle on the girls schedules.  Were hitting such a sweet spot with the girls, and Im honestly so thrilled about it.

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Bates noted, however, that her first two months as a mother of two were really hard, explaining, I was not prepared for how tough they were gonna be. With Willow, I feel like I snapped back quickly. With Hazel after a really tough pregnancy and then being in the NICU, it was just really hard. I dont think Ive ever been that sleep-deprived on top of all the hormones. I was a total mess. I ended up reaching out to some people and taking some postpartum mood supports and that helped a ton. If youre in the early stages of postpartum and youre not feeling like yourself, dont be afraid to talk about it. Its totally normal. I promise it gets easier.

Courtesy of Josie Balka/Instagram

The stylists youngest child was born with an exceedingly rare blood condition, and Bates documented her NICU stay via Instagram in June.

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She developed a type of jaundice unique to her situation, and we transported [her] to the Childrens Hospital NICU in the early hours of the morning, where she is being monitored by teams of highly skilled doctors and nurses, Bates captioned hospital photos at the time. She is stable in every other way, and right now is just requiring supportive care to help bring down her bilirubin levels, while her body slowly removes the antibodies fighting against her blood. We praise God for his mercies and pray that her condition remains stable and continues to improve.

The little one went home with her parents one week later.

Bates and Balka, 26, got engaged in June 2018 in Utah, and the couple wed four months later in Tennessee. They became parents in July 2019 when Willow arrived.
Remembering Stanny. Sex and the City fans are all abuzz about the new HBO Max series And Just Like That, but theres still a big cloud hanging over the show: the death of Willie Garson, who played Carries friend Stanford Blatch.

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At the premiere event in New York City on Wednesday, December 7, two of the shows newcomers shared their memories of the late actor, who died in September at age 57 after a private battle with pancreatic cancer.

I spent a lot of time with Willie Garson, who I know we all miss very much and I miss very much, Niall Cunningham, who plays Mirandas son, Brady, exclusively told Us Weekly at the Museum of Modern Art on Wednesday. I knew him very briefly, but it was great to talk with him about just, like, how long he had known Sarah Jessica [Parker].

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In the shows premiere episode, Brady and his girlfriend, Louisa (Cree Cicchino), make a scene with their PDA at Charlottes daughters piano recital, which is also attended by Stanford and his husband, Anthony (Mario Cantone).

I had a really special experience the first scene I was there, Cunningham, 27, told Us. Everybody on the show, their relationships go back so far. They made me feel so welcome.

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The Okja actor also noted that Garson was actually the first person he met when he arrived on set. Theres always one New York actor who youre like, Im gonna be friends with that person. I could feel it, he said of the White Collar alum. I feel very grateful for the time I had with him, just talking about old movies we love.  He was such a fun person to be around.

Cicchino, 19, shared similar memories of Garson as well, having appeared in the piano recital scene with the whole And Just Like That crew.

My very first day on set, he was there, the former Game Shakers actress told Us. [He] specifically sat with Niall and I all night and spoke with us the entire night. He was so sweet and kind and welcoming and warm.

Even in the brief time she knew him, the Sleepover star got to see how much he enjoyed working on the series  and how much he cared for his family. He had such love for the show, for his son, she added. Im really grateful to have that with him.

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Days after Garsons death, Parker, 56, paid tribute to her friend with an emotional social media post. The duo were close for years before they played best friends on TV.

Craig Blankenhorn/Hbo/Darren Star Prods/Kobal/Shutterstock

Its been unbearable. Sometimes silence is a statement. Of the gravity. The anguish. The magnitude of the loss of a 30 + year friendship, she wrote via Instagram in September. Willie. I will miss everything about you. And replay our last moments together. I will re-read every text from your final days and put to pen our last calls. Your absence a crater that I will fill with blessing of these memories and all the ones that are still in recesses yet to surface.

The first two episodes of And Just Like That are now streaming on HBO Max. New episodes will be available to stream on Thursdays.

With reporting by Emily Longeretta
FILE - Travelers enter security checkpoints at Logan International Airport, in Boston, Wednesday, Nov. 24, 2021, the day before Thanksgiving. The airline industrys recovery is being tested this holiday season as passengers return in near pre-pandemic numbers. The resurgence in air travel is being fueled by pent-up demand and the availability of vaccines, along with an apparent lull in virus cases since summer's big wave. (AP Photo/Steven Senne, File)

The airline industrys recovery is being tested this holiday season as passengers return in near pre-pandemic numbers.

The resurgence in air travel is being fueled by pent-up demand and the availability of vaccines, along with an apparent lull in virus cases since summer's big wave. The Transportation Security Administration says that passenger checkpoints are nearly as busy now as they were in 2019, before the pandemic.

Airlines have been ramping up capacity to meet this demand, but the industry is hampered by a lagging workforce recovery. They're struggling to hire more staff, especially air crews. That's raised concerns that major airlines could be in for a rough December.

Like a lot of industries, they are competing for people, said Peter McNally, an analyst at Third Bridge. They know what they have to do, its just a matter of going out and doing it.

Major airlines encouraged thousands of workers to quit last year when air travel collapsed during the pandemic. They were barred from laying off workers as a condition of federal pandemic relief. Those workers have not returned quickly enough, leaving the current workforce stretched. In many cases flight crews are reaching their limit of allowable hours, forcing flight cancellations because there arent enough cabin crews.

American Airlines faced such a situation in late October when it had to cancel more than a thousand flights because it was short-staffed. Southwest Airlines also made headlines for flight cancellations in October. Both airlines cited weather problems, though analysts have said that any actual weather or air traffic issues have just made the root problem of staffing shortages worse.

One of the problems the airlines had so far in their coverage was the unpredictable nature in booking, McNally said. People are booking travel with less time between booking and travel and that makes staffing harder.

American Airlines labor unions warned for months that the airline was scheduling more flights than its workforce could handle.

These cases showed just how quickly weather and now staffing shortages can ripple through airlines just as they are seeking to maximize fall revenue within exceedingly slim operational margins, said airline industry data provider Cirium in a recent report.

American, Delta and United spent the first half of 2021 slowly recovering from the worst of the pandemic. Each airline saw modest improvements in available seat miles, a key measure of passenger capacity. That measure had nearly recovered to pre-pandemic levels by the third quarter.

The push to increase passenger capacity may have been too much for some airlines. Employment for air travel is still down more than 9% from peak levels just before the virus pandemic gutted the industry, according to Labor Department data. Staffing levels will likely have to keep increasing to help maintain flight capacity for a full revenue recovery.
Space tourist Yusaku Maezawa is seen ahead of the launch of the Soyuz 2.1a carrier rocket on December 8, 2021, in Baikonur Kazakhstan. (Photo by Pavel Pavlov/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Japanese entrepreneur and art collector Yusaku Maezawa became the latest billionaire this week to launch himself into space when he boarded a Soyuz spacecraft en route to the International Space Station (ISS).

Meanwhile, William Mountbatten-Windsor, better known as Prince William, has suggested that perhaps dollars spent getting to orbit would be better applied to addressing more terrestrial challenges  and hes not alone in this view.

The billionaires in space critique has gained traction as a result of the high-profile flights of Blue Origins Jeff Bezos, Virgin Galactic (SPCE) founder Richard Branson, and one-time starship captain, William Shatner. SpaceX is the brainchild of another billionaire, Elon Musk. Musk himself has yet to achieve liftoff.

But while the optics may be questionable, the argument misses the point that space offers opportunities beyond just launching rich people into orbit.

Space tourism is an exciting first step but its not where the big market opportunity lies, says Sam Korus, an analyst overseeing the Ark Investments Ark Space Exploration and Innovation ETF (ARKX), rolled out in March of this year.

Jeffrey Manber, co-founder of Nanoracks, one of the first companies to operate commercially on the ISS, puts it this way: A great space faring nation should not pin its hopes on tourism.

Other companies are emerging, leveraging the launch infrastructure to sell the same product much in demand here on Earth: data. Earth observation is big and growing, and additional opportunities like on-orbit space services and privately owned space stations are just over the horizon.

There is growing consensus that space will indeed be big. Launch costs have come down by a factor of four in recent years and are heading lower while satellites have seen a 100-fold increase in capabilities over the last five to 10 years, creating a whole new world of opportunities. As a result, Morgan Stanley estimates that the industry may generate as much as $1 trillion in global revenue by 2040. More and more, space is starting to look like an asset class, albeit a risky one.

What was once uneconomic and impossible (in space) is now becoming economic and possible, Korus says.

New innovations in the business of space

Of course, the business of space is not entirely new. Earth observation goes back to the launch of the original Landsat satellite in 1972 and is expected to be a $7.5 billion market in 2030, up from $1.6 billion in 2020, according to Euroconsult. Among those driving innovation in the sector are Spire (SPIR) and Planet Labs (PL). Spire went public via SPAC in August with a recent market cap of around $660 million; Planet Labs listed via the SPAC route on Dec. 8 and had an uneven debut on the New York Stock Exchange.

Star Trek actor William Shatner, 90, with Audrey Powers, Blue Origin's vice president of mission and flight operations; Chris Boshuizen, the co-founder of satellite company Planet Labs and a former space mission architect for NASA; and Glen de Vries, the co-founder of Medidata Solutions, on October 13, 2021. REUTERS/Mike Blake

The most recent iteration of the Landsat satellite family, Landsat 9, is about the size of an SUV, weighs in at around 6,000 pounds, and crosses every point on the Earth once every 16 days at moderate resolution. While not exactly an apples-to-apples comparison, a Dove-class satellite from Planet Labs is around the size of a loaf of bread, weighs 10 pounds, and has a resolution of approximately 3.7 meters. The companys 200-satellite constellation images the entire landmass of the Earth every day. Over the course of its 50-year history Landsat has placed eight satellites in orbit (one failed); Planet Labs launched 48 last year alone.

The key to the Earth observation business model is this scale and frequency, enabling a whole host of new applications, ranging from more efficient farming and flood control to identifying rogue sources of methane and carbon dioxide, says Will Marshall, co-founder and CEO of Planet.

Every day we take a picture of every farm, every woodland. We can track and stop deforestation in the act, and help governments respond to flooding. We can tell how a crop is doing in a 3-meter-by-3-meter box in real time. We can see an area that needs more water, or more fertilizer. With that kind of precision you can increase crop yields by 20-40%.

Access to daily data comes in handy as Jon Paoli, GIS Coordinator at Iowa Homeland Security & Emergency Management, can attest. Iowa became a Planet Labs customer in 2019, the year the Missouri River flooded and inundated parts of the state.

Of the Planet Labs data he says, We could see in real time where the water was and where it was going. That allowed agency to evacuate towns where necessary and to monitor the threat to critical infrastructure.

Cheaper launch services have helped make all this possible. A decade ago, NASA estimated it cost about $10,000/kilogram to lift a payload into low Earth orbit. Today that number is around $2,000/kg and there are projections that may go as low as $20/kg if and when SpaceXs Starship vehicle becomes fully operational. And its not just the cost  its the pace and the variety of available vehicles that has moved the industry away from a few high profile, high risk launch events and towards a more economically sustainable launch on demand model.

US Vice President Kamala Harris reacts to the first imagery retuns from the recently launched Landsat 9 Earth observation mission during a visit to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Goddard Space Flight Center on November 5, 2021 in Greenbelt, Maryland. (Photo by Olivier DOULIERY / AFP) (Photo by OLIVIER DOULIERY/AFP via Getty Images)

Planets Marshall cites another reason for the growth, one that has nothing to do with getting to space.

Launch costs stayed the same for 40 years before SpaceX, he says. The reason [were here] is the phone you have in your pocket and the computer on your desk. Moores Law [the idea that the number of transistors on a microchip doubles every two years, reducing costs and increasing computing power] has allowed us to stuff in more capabilities [in our satellites] per kilogram.

Space stations

On Dec. 2 NASA formally announced funding for three companies planning to build, launch, and operate privately-owned space stations: Blue Origin ($130 million), Nanoracks ($160 million), and Northrop Grumman Systems (NOC) ($125.6 million). The goal is to keep astronauts in orbit when the ISS is retired towards the end of the decade.

A fourth company, Axiom Space, plans to initially attach its modules to the ISS starting in 2024, eventually separating to orbit on its own in 2028. The model is similar to what has been used successfully with launch vehicles: government as a customer with NASA funding to be supplemented by private capital. Applications for the stations include research, manufacturing, and, yes, tourism.

An employee at work on the Airlock commercial space envelope during the press presentation for the International Space Station at Thales Alenia Space headquarters. The NanoRacks Airlock Module built with Turin's Thales Alenia Space is the very first commercial Airlock that will operate on the International Space Station. (Photo by Stefano Guidi/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Of these entrants, only the major aerospace companies are currently publicly traded, though that is changing. Nanoracks was acquired by Voyager Space Holdings, which is reportedly planning to go public through an IPO in 2022. Blue Origin partner Sierra Space, a unit of privately held Sierra Nevada Corporation, recently raised $1.4 billion to help fund the development of both the station and a launch vehicle it calls the Dream Chaser. Axiom raised $130 million in Series B funding earlier this year at a reported valuation of more than $1 billion.

The next decade will be about destinations and in-space services, says Manber, whose current role includes overseeing international and space station operations for Nanoracks parent, Voyager.

Research should remain a major source of funding in the evolving space ecosystem with other applications like in-orbit additive manufacturing (also known as 3-D printing) for high value products like fiber optics developing over time.

Among the companies exploring service opportunities are Switzerlands Clear Space, whose focus is on corralling debris; Japanese robotic company Gitai, which completed a $17 million Series B round back in February; and Silicon Valley-based LeoLabs, which is building a radar network to track orbital debris as small as two centimeters across and provide collision avoidance services to satellite operators. The debris issue made headlines recently when Russia destroyed an in-orbit satellite, creating a cloud of more than 1,500 fragments and causing astronauts on the ISS to take cover in emergency escape vehicles.

Risk is our business

In all the excitement, its easy to lose sight of the fact that space remains a difficult place to do business, and that getting there can still be a challenge. As Arks Korus notes, There are a lot of data opportunities but its still non-trivial getting thousands of satellites into orbit.

If nothing else, the rise of space commerce and tourism has provided an opportunity to recycle a lot of old "Star Trek"-related bromides. This one, for example: Risk is our business, from an impassioned Captain Kirk in an episode entitled Return to Tomorrow.

And there is risk. Spire, for one, has seen its stock sell off since it listed and traded at around $4.36/share on Dec. 8. It has been as high as $19.50. There is no guarantee that those private space stations will make it to orbit, or that once there will find enough customers to be economically viable.

Moreover, SPACs in general have fared poorly of late after a rollicking start and space SPACs have been a mixed bag. Rocket Lab (RKLB) was recently priced at around $13.50, in the middle of its 52-week trading range. Space infrastructure company Redwire (RDW) was recently at $7.81, off its 52-week high of $16.98. But the risk/reward calculus has clearly shifted and capital is flowing to the sector  more than $10 billion year-to-date through 3Q, according to Space Capital, a record.

Those who came of age during the early years of the space program remember its engineers as mostly white men in white shirts with slide rulers, pocket protectors, and buzz cuts. That, too, has changed; its now a more diverse crew of visionaries who are pushing the industry forward.

Of this new generation of entrepreneurs, Manber says, Theyre cool, theyre hip, they wear black t-shirts.

Space: its not just for William Shatner anymore.

Mike MacMillan is a writer living in Chapel Hill, N.C. He is working on a book on innovative solutions to the retirement crisis and wealth inequality.

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BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP)  Starbucks workers have voted to unionize at a store in Buffalo, New York over the companys objections, pointing the way to a new labor model for the 50-year old coffee giant.

The National Labor Relations Board said Thursday that workers voted 19-8 in favor of a union at one of three locations in Buffalo. A second store rejected the union in a vote of 12-8. A third store is still being counted.

If the labor board certifies the vote  a process expected to take about a week  it would be the first for any Starbucks-owned store in the U.S. to unionize. Starbucks has actively fought unionization at its stores for decades, saying its stores function best when it works directly with employees.

Starbucks employees and supporters react as votes are read during a viewing of their union election on Thursday, Dec. 9, 2021, in Buffalo, N.Y.

Starbucks employees and supporters react as votes are read during a viewing of their union election on Thursday, Dec. 9, 2021, in Buffalo, N.Y. (Joshua Bessex/)

Workers watching the vote count over Zoom on a big screen at a union office in Buffalo erupted into cheers and chants of Elmwood, Elmwood, Elmwood! when the results of that location were announced, jumping up and down and hugging each other.

We still made history, barista Casey Moore told the others watching as it became clear the second store had voted down the union effort.

Workers at all three stores began voting by mail last month on whether they wanted to be represented by Workers United, an affiliate of the Service Employees International Union.

Starbucks employees and supporters watch as votes are read during a viewing party for their union election on Thursday, Dec. 9, 2021, in Buffalo, N.Y.

Starbucks employees and supporters watch as votes are read during a viewing party for their union election on Thursday, Dec. 9, 2021, in Buffalo, N.Y. (Joshua Bessex/)

The National Labor Relations Board began counting ballots Thursday from union elections held at the stores. Around 111 Starbucks workers were eligible to vote by mail starting last month.

Yes votes could also accelerate unionization efforts at other U.S. Starbucks stores. Already, three more stores in Buffalo and a store in Mesa, Arizona, have filed petitions with the labor board for their own union elections. Those cases are pending.

Union backers at the first three Buffalo stores filed petitions with the labor board in August seeking representation by Workers United, an affiliate of the Service Employees International Union. Those workers say Starbucks stores had chronic problems like understaffing and faulty equipment even before the pandemic. They want more input on pay and store operations.

We have no accountability right now. We have no say, said Casey Moore, a union organizer who has been working at a Buffalo-area Starbucks for around six months. With a union we will actually be able to sit down at the table and say, `This is what we want.

Starbucks insists its 8,000 company-owned U.S. stores function best when it works directly with its employees, which it calls partners. Many employees in the Buffalo area work at more than one store depending on demand, Starbucks says, and it wants to have the flexibility to move them between stores.

Starbucks asked the labor board to hold one vote with all 20 of its Buffalo-area stores, but the board rejected that request, saying store-by-store votes were appropriate under labor law.

In a letter to Starbucks U.S. employees this week, Starbucks President and CEO Kevin Johnson reiterated the companys wish to include all Buffalo-area stores in the union vote.

Starbucks employees and supporters react as votes are read during a union-election watch party on Thursday, Dec. 9, 2021, in Buffalo, N.Y.

Starbucks employees and supporters react as votes are read during a union-election watch party on Thursday, Dec. 9, 2021, in Buffalo, N.Y. (Joshua Bessex/)

While we recognize this creates some level of uncertainty, we respect the process that is underway, and independent of the outcome in these elections, we will continue to stay true to our mission and values, Johnson wrote.

Johnson also reminded employees of the companys generous benefits, including paid parental and sick leave and free college tuition through Arizona State University. Late last month, the company also announced pay increases, saying all its U.S. workers will earn at least $15  and up to $23  per hour by next summer.

But backers of the union say Starbucks can do more.

If Starbucks can find the money to pay their CEO nearly $15 million in compensation, I think maybe they can afford to pay their workers a decent wage with decent benefits, said U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, a Vermont independent, in a recent Twitter post. Sanders held a virtual town hall with Buffalo Starbucks workers earlier this week.

Johnson earned $14.7 million in salary and stock awards in the companys 2020 fiscal year.
WASHINGTON  Conflicts with rival superpowers loom, while the vitriol of American politics shows no sign of abating. That was the context Thursday as President Biden opened his two-day global Summit for Democracy, with both international and domestic institutions appearing as fragile as they have ever been since Biden arrived in Washington as a young legislator in the early 1970s.

Democracy needs champions, Biden said in his opening remarks, speaking to the leaders of 110 nations over a video link. Some of those attendees  Sweden, for example  are considered among the best-functioning democracies in the world. Others, like Israel, have struggled to maintain a functioning democracy in the face of corruption and other threats. And a few, including Poland, have taken the perilous slide back into authoritarianism.

In my view, this is the defining challenge of our time, Biden said as Secretary of State Antony Blinken sat with him at a U-shaped desk, which faced a screen on which the images of foreign leaders were tiled. A senior administration official told reporters ahead of the summit that next year the gathering would be held in person. The official added that this year the themes would be defending against authoritarianism, fighting corruption and advancing respect for human rights.

President Biden delivers opening remarks from the White House at the virtual Summit for Democracy on Thursday. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Foreign crises have dominated Bidens agenda in recent days. Earlier this week, the White House said it would enact a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Olympics over Chinas treatment of Uyghurs, a Muslim population that has been forced into labor camps and subjected to other brutal measures. And on Wednesday the president met virtually with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, warning him of consequences that would result from an invasion of neighboring Ukraine.

China and Russia were not invited to the democracy summit. Neither were Turkey or Hungary. The latter countrys strongman leader, Viktor Orban, has enchanted some American conservatives with his nationalist, anti-immigration rhetoric.

Defining democracy as fragile but inherently resilient, Biden pitched himself as the leader of a global renewal, even as Washington itself continues to attract political extremism. Time and again, the president has argued that passage of his ambitious  and expensive  domestic agenda is necessary to prove that even if democratic governments can be rancorous and divisive, they are nevertheless superior to authoritarian regimes like those in Moscow and Beijing.

The United States is approaching the summit from a place of humility, a senior administration official said on Thursday morning. The administration announced it would seek $424 million for democratic renewal programs abroad that would include strengthening independent media outlets, combating corruption and otherwise encouraging democracy, in part by promoting greater internet access.

President Biden, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken, viewing world leaders at the Summit for Democracy. (Susan Walsh/AP)

At the same time, the Office of Management and Budget sent a notice in support of a House of Representatives measure known as the Protecting Our Democracy Act, which seeks to prevent a president from abusing the broad, complex and sometimes vague powers of the Oval Office.

Our constitutional structure is designed to preserve democracy and prevent authoritarianism, the OMB notice said. That promise is imperiled when a President places himself above the law, disregards the separation of powers, retaliates against legitimate whistleblowers, allows corruption to take hold, or enables foreign interference in our elections.

The reference is plainly to Bidens predecessor, Donald Trump, who courted foreign strongmen like Putin while taking steps to subvert democracy at home, according to his critics. It has fallen to Biden to restore the pre-Trump order and, in his view, the image of American leadership that Trump tarnished.

Democracys hard, the president said. We all know that.
North Cameroon violence between farmers, herders kills 22; residents flee Violence between farmers and herders kills at least 22 in northern Cameroon

By Josiane Kouagheu and Mahamat Ramadane

DOUALA/N'DJAMENA (Reuters) -A resurgence of tit-for-tat violence between herders and farmers has killed at least 22 people and injured more than 30 others this week in Cameroon's Far North region, a regional government official said on Thursday, prompting residents to flee to Chad.

"We are in a full-on inter-community conflict," said the Cameroonian regional official, who asked not to be named.

Hundreds of people fleeing the violence between Arab Choa herders and Mousgoum and Massa farmers have streamed across the border into neighbouring Chad, the mayor of Chad's capital N'Djamena, Ali Haroun, told Reuters.

A traditional leader in northern Cameroon, who asked not to be named, told Reuters the violence began over access to water.

"The Arab Choa wanted to take their herds to the banks of a river. The Mousgoum and Massa prevented them," the leader said.

"This problem needs to be resolved quickly because a few months ago, there were already deaths. Today, when there is a problem between two people from different communities, all the communities get involved with weapons," the leader said.

The United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) which is responding to the crisis, said in a November report that scant rainfall had dried up rivers and seasonal ponds that communities depend on, leading to clashes in the area.

A UNHCR official in the Cameroonian town of Kousseri acknowledged the conflict between the parties, saying the agency has been responding to the crisis after clashes in August and helped the government organize a reconciliation meeting last week.

She said 40 villages involved in the conflict participated but that on Saturday, an Arab Choa herder tried to take his herd to the river and was prevented by farming communities, triggering a fight between the farmers and herders.

On Thursday, she said the Kousseri town of around 90,000 was empty, but that the situation remained tense as armed community members regrouped.

"The fighting in Kousseri has been very violent. We had to cross the river at night to find refuge here," said Florent Mbang, who fled from Cameroon to a refugee camp in N'Djamena.

"Our children have not eaten since yesterday, we ask the Chadian authorities to help us, otherwise our situation here will be worse than the conflict we have at home," he said.

Similar violence in August between Choa herders and Mousgoum fishermen killed dozens of people and forced thousands to flee to Chad.

Chad's President Mahamat Idris Deby said on Twitter late on Wednesday that over 30,000 Cameroonians had sought refuge in Chad, but did not specify if they were all from the latest wave of violence.

He urged the international community to provide prompt aid to help Chad deal with the situation.

(Reporting by Josiane Kouagheu and Mahamat Ramadane; Additional reporting and writing by Bate Felix; Editing by Aaron Ross and Bernadette Baum)
A man who smuggled copies of smash hit South Korean Netflix series Squid Game into North Korea has been sentenced to death, after authorities caught high school students watching the show, according to Radio Free Asia (RFA).

U.S.-headquartered independent news agency RFA reported, quoting sources, that the series was smuggled in from China on USB flash drives and that the smuggler faces death by firing squad.

A student who bought a drive received a life sentence, while six others who watched the show have been sentenced to five years hard labor, and teachers and school administrators have been fired and face banishment to work in remote mines, RFA reported.

In December 2020, North Korea passed the Elimination of Reactionary Thought and Culture act, which prohibits the entry and dissemination of cultural material like films, plays, music and books in the country. The act is mainly aimed at preventing the spread of media from South Korea and the U.S. and those found distributing or consuming these are liable to be punished.

According to widespread reports, in April this year a man was publicly executed for selling drives and CDs containing South Korean material.

Squid Game, in particular, has been a source of anger in the dictatorship. North Korean propaganda site Arirang Meari excoriated the high-concept survival drama as depicting the sad reality of a beastly South Korean society.

The RFA report suggests that there is great public anxiety over the fate of the high school students and that more people could be implicated in the investigation.

Variety has reached out to Netflix for comment.

Netflix is not available in China, but Squid Game has been pirated widely in the country, per reports.

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YEREVAN, DECEMBER 9, ARMENPRESS. An Armenian soldier is in critical condition after sustaining a gunshot wound in the late evening of December 8.

According to the Ministry of Defense, preliminary information indicates that the shooting was not enemy fire and the round was fired by a fellow serviceman of the victim.

Private Senik Sahakyan of the Armenian Armed Forces, born 2003, sustained the gunshot wound while on duty at a military base in the south-eastern direction.

Authorities did not immediately reveal whether or not they believe the shooting was an accident or deliberate.

The Ministry of Defense said an investigation is ongoing.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 9, ARMENPRESS. On December 9, the units of the Azerbaijani armed forces again resorted to provocation, opening intense fire from various caliber firearms starting 16:25 at the Armenian military positions located in the Gegharkunik section of the border, the defense ministry of Armenia said.

The Armenian side took countermeasures. As of 17:00 the exchange of fire was continuing.

The defense ministry said it will provide regular updates about the developments.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
The funeral procession will start from Kamraj Marg after 2 pm and reach Brar Square crematorium

New Delhi: The last rites of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat and his wife Madhulika Rawat, who died in a chopper crash in Tamil Nadu on Wednesday, will be held on Friday around 5 pm at Brar Square crematorium in Delhi Cantonment.

The last rites of Gen Rawat will be performed with full military honours. The funeral procession will start from Kamraj Marg after 2 pm and reach Brar Square crematorium.

The Army said that civilians can pay tributes to CDS General Bipin Rawat from 1100-1230 hours at his Kamraj Marg residence tomorrow while the military personnel can pay respects between 1230-1330 hours.

The mortal remains of Gen Rawat and others who lost their lives in the Tamil Nadu chopper crash were brought on Thursday evening to Palam Airbase in Delhi from Sulur in caskets wrapped in the Tricolour.

The mortal remains were earlier in the day brought to Madras Regimental Centre from Military Hospital, Wellington in Nilgiris district and then taken to Sulur airbase.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Palam airbase and paid his last respects to General Bipin Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat and other 11 armed force personnel who lost their lives in a chopper crash in Tamil Nadu on Wednesday.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Union Minister Smriti Irani also visited Palam airbase and paid their respects to Gen Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat and other 11 armed force personnel who lost their lives in the helicopter crash. The three service chiefs - Army Chief Gen MM Naravane, Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar and IAF chief Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari also paid their respects.

Apart from General Rawat and his wife, his Defence Adviser Brigadier Lakhbinder Singh Lidder and Staff Officer Lieutenant Colonel Harjinder Singh also died in the crash.

Other nine defence forces personnel who died in the chopper crash are Wing Commander Prithvi Singh Chauhan, Squadron Leader Kuldeep Singh, Junior Warrant Officer Rana Pratap Das, Junior Warrant Officer Arakkal Pradeep, Havildar Satpal Rai, Naik Gursewak Singh, Naik Jitendra Kumar, Lance Naik Vivek Kumar and Lance Naik B Sai Teja.

Group Captain Varun Singh, who is the lone survivor from the crash, has been shifted to Air Force Command hospital at Bengaluru for further treatment.

The last rites of Brigadier LS Lidder will be held at 9.15 am in Delhi Cantonment tomorrow.

Bodies of General Bipin Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat, Brigadier LS Lidder and Lance Naik Vivek Kumar have been identified so far.

The Indian Army has said that the process for positive identification of remaining mortal remains is continuing and the mortal remains will be kept at the Mortuary of Army Base Hospital till the completion of positive identification formalities.

The Army said that the appropriate military funerals of all deceased are being planned and coordinated in close consultation with close family members. The mortal remains will be released to the next of kin for final religious rites as desired by respective families.

The mortal remains of Gen Rawat will be taken in a gun carriage for the funeral in Delhi Cantt Brar Square.

The Defence Minister, Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt, three service chiefs and other senior military officials will be among those present at the cremation of Gen Rawat.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami are also likely to be present.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, Governor of Telangana and Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan visited Madras Regimental Centre in Wellington on Thursday and paid floral tributes to General Rawat and others who had died in the chopper crash.

The Centre has ordered a 'tri service' inquiry into the accident. The inquiry will be headed by Air Marshal Manvendra Singh, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Training Command.

The Defence Minister, who briefed the Parliament about the chopper crash, said the IAF helicopter lost contact with the Sulur airbase control room at around 12.08 pm after taking off from there at 11.48 am.

Both Houses of the Parliament observed two-minute silence to pay respects to Gen Rawat and others who died in the chopper crash.

According to the sources, the black box of the chopper has been recovered.

A team of Tamil Nadu's Forensic Science Department also visited the crash site.
During the past few days following the Mon incident, the chorus for the repeal of AFSPA has been growing across the region

The festive pre-Christmas atmosphere in Nagaland was shattered last weekend after a counterinsurgency operation went horribly wrong, with the Army killing 14 innocent civilians in three instances of firing in Mon district, which borders Myanmar. It is important to look at the sequence of events before any comments can be made on the incident itself and its possible fallout. Union home minister Amit Shah said in Parliament on Monday that the Army had received intelligence inputs about the movement of insurgents near Tiru village in Tizit subdivision of Mon district, following which troops of the 21 Para Commandos laid an ambush. A pickup truck with eight on board, all local coal mine workers, approached, was signalled to stop, but apparently did not. This led the troops to open fire, resulting in the death of six of the eight people in the vehicle. As news trickled out about the firing, local villagers surrounded the Armymen, burnt two vehicles and began assaulting them. This, the home minister said, led to the death of one securityman and injuries to several others. The troops then opened fire to disperse the mob, resulting in the death of seven more civilians. These two incidents were on Saturday evening. On Sunday, an angry mob of around 250 attacked and burnt some houses at the Company Operating Base of the paramilitary Assam Rifles in Mon. The troops opened fire, killing one protester and injuring another. If we are saying today that this was a counter- insurgency operation that went wrong, it is because the Centre, starting with the home minister, and the Indian Army itself, admitted to it. Mr Shah said in Parliament that the firing in which the civilians were killed was a case of mistaken identity. The Indian Armys 3 Corps, which is in charge of the area, was unduly quick in issuing a statement expressing deep regret at the incident and its aftermath that led to the unfortunate killing of innocent civilians and promised an inquiry at the highest level and said it would punish anyone found guilty under the law. There are two major points to note here  if the firing by a specialised unit like the para commandos on a vehicle without fully ascertaining who the occupants were is in itself highly surprising, what is also very surprising is the quick admission by the authorities that those killed were not insurgents, and that the civilians were victims of mistaken identity. In fact, it was this admission that to a great extent helped the situation from escalating like wildfire. The speed with which Nagaland chief minister Nephiu Rio and deputy CM and state BJP leader Y. Patton condemned the incident and described those killed as civilians, and the announcement of a probe by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) too helped matters. Mr Amit Shah tweeted early on Sunday expressing anguish over the killings and promising justice.

This stand of both the Centre and the state government can be seen as an attempt to send out a message that the government was in no way connected with this botched operation.

The Mon incident was less than a month after the November 13 ambush by Manipur Valley-based insurgents on an Assam Rifles convoy in Churachandpur district, in which an Army colonel, his wife and young son were killed along with four other soldiers. Therefore, one can appreciate that the security forces engaged in the counter- insurgency operations in the region have been on edge. But that obviously cannot be a reason for acting in haste or misjudging a vehicle with civilians to be one in which armed insurgents were travelling. The incident has also raised questions on the quality of intelligence, particularly intelligence that may seem actionable. The Army has ordered a court of inquiry to be headed by an officer of the rank of major-general and posted in the Northeast. One would expect that the focus of the investigation would cover some of these aspects like intelligence and the standard operating procedure before any soldier can open fire.

The latest incident has, not surprisingly, brought the spotlight back on the need or legality of the draconian Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act that is in force in Nagaland and several other parts of the Northeast. The AFSPA gives the security forces sweeping powers to search, arrest and even open fire to the extent of causing death simply on suspicion that those targeted could be insurgents. During the past few days following the Mon incident, the chorus for the repeal of AFSPA has been growing across the region, led by none other than Nagaland CM Nephiu Rio and Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma. Addressing the gathering at the funeral service in Mon on Monday, Mr Rio said that AFSPA was damaging Indias image as the worlds largest democracy. Adding to the discourse on AFSPA, Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, who is the convenor of the BJP-led North East Democratic Alliance, or NEDA, a platform of the BJP and its regional allies, said it was up to state governments to take a call on keeping or removing AFSPA depending on the prevailing law and order situation.

The obvious question that many are asking is whether this incident would impact the ongoing peace talks between the Naga rebel groups and the Government of India. The answer to some extent was found in a question that the Nagaland chief minister raised on Monday when he asked why this draconian law is in force when the ceasefire between the Naga rebel groups and the government has been holding for the past two decades. The point of view of the security establishment also cannot be completely ignored  that they cannot pursue counterinsurgency operations without some legal protection for their actions. Here lies the dilemma: Can the Centre afford to repeal AFSPA, that has not succeeded in ending insurgency in the Northeast? And if the AFSPA remains, can the government afford to see innocent civilians getting killed in the name of counter- insurgency operations? After all, it has been two decades or more since the November 2000 incident at Malom in Imphal, when 10 civilians were killed in firing by the security forces. The Mon incident has refreshed old memories and has brought more questions directed at the government. The situation is tricky and the deaths, both of civilians or of members of the security forces, are not welcome and must end.
Chandrayana got delayed due to the pandemic and maybe it will be launched by next year, Union Minister Jitendra Singh said

Sharing the status of other space projects, Singh -- during the Question Hour in the Rajya Sabha -- said the Venus mission is planned for 2022, while the Solar Mission for 2022-23 and that of the Space Station by 2030. (Representational Photo: PTI)

New Delhi: India will launch two unmanned missions next year before the human spaceflight programme 'Gaganyaan' by the end of 2022, Union Minister Jitendra Singh said on Thursday. Sharing the status of other space projects, Singh -- during the Question Hour in the Rajya Sabha -- said the Venus mission is planned for 2022, while the Solar Mission for 2022-23 and that of the Space Station by 2030.

Singh, the Minister of State in the Department of Space, said space projects have been delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. "In the next year, we are going to have two unmanned missions before flying the Gaganyaan. That is also in the planning. That is usually the SoP (Standard Operating Procedure) which is followed. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, it got delayed," he said.

In the beginning of next year possibly, India will first launch unmanned missions ahead of Gaganyaan towards the end of 2022, he said, adding that it would be accompanied with robots that have been named as 'Vayumitra'.

"Following that, we will possibly in 2023 have Gaganyaan which will undoubtedly place India in the elite club of nations being the fourth one after the US, China and Russia," he added.

The minister further said the Gaganyaan programme will be different from other human missions undertaken by other countries in the sense that this will be more cost effective and inclusive. This programme will place India as a frontline nation and will also improve the country's capabilities as far as its robotic missions are concerned, he said and added that this will also inspire youngsters and start-ups.

Besides the Gaganyaan programme, the minister said, "We are going to have a number of other missions. We will have a Venus mission by 2023. Soon, we will have solar missions called 'Aditya Solar mission' planned for 2022-23."

Chandrayana got delayed due to the pandemic and maybe it will be launched by next year, he said. "By 2030, we will possibly be able to set up a space station, which will be unique of its kind," he noted, adding that the journey of India's ascent to the top has already begun through the space route.

Replying to a supplementary query if ISRO has identified 17 technologies at lower cost from start-ups for use in Gaganyaan mission, the minister said, "There are going to be several research modules accompanying the Gaganyaan and it will involve start-ups and more than 500 industries".

For the first time since the country's Independence, private industry will be involved in space technology, he said. "As a result of which, we now are going to have a number of partnerships for nano satellites trying to put in their mission in collaboration with ISRO," he said.

Host technologies can be innovated in a wide range of areas involving the industry, which pave the way for the newer economy getting generated through the medium of space technology, he added.

The minister also informed the Upper House that India has so far launched 42 foreign satellites from 34 countries and generated a revenue of USD 56 million (one million is equal to 10 lakhs).
The new archbishop took office on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, patroness of Korea. He wants to make the Archdiocese of Seoul a synodal Church and bear witness to the faith that our ancestors professed until they shed their blood 200 years ago.

Seoul (AsiaNews)  Mgr Peter Chung Soon-Taick officially took office as the head of the Archdiocese of Seoul in a solemn ceremony held yesterday  solemnity of Mary Immaculate, patroness of the Church of Korea  in Myeongdong cathedral.

In the ceremony, Archbishop Chung, 60, hitherto auxiliary bishop of Seoul, chose as theme the synodal path to which Pope Francis has called the Churches of the whole world.

For this reason, he had about 30 people next to him in the procession that brought him to his episcopal chair; they youth, the sick and people on the margins of society.

"As the Holy Father mentioned in Christus vivit, I would like to encourage and accompany all young people while making the Archdiocese of Seoul a synodal Church, said Archbishop Chung said in the homily. Thus, lay people, priests and the religious [can] take co-responsibility and walk forward together as the People of God.

"Together we will learn how to live and bear witness to the faith that our ancestors professed until they shed their blood 200 years ago as well as how to act to ensure that the Church is the salt and light of the world.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, only 600 people representing the entire archdiocese were able to take part in the ceremony  with another 600 following the service on giant screens in a nearby room.

Card Andrew Yeom, the outgoing archbishop, welcomed Bishop Chung, handing him the crosier. The papal bull of appointment was read by Apostolic Nuncio Alfred Xuereb.

Cardinal Yeom described the new archbishop as the leader most needed in our time. As the Church is suffering as much as we are in this COVID-19 era, let us follow the lives of all the saints under the leadership of the new archbishop.

Appointed by Pope Francis on 28 October, Archbishop Chung is the fourteenth archbishop of Seoul and, as such, he is also the apostolic administrator of Pyongyang.

Originally from Daegu, he is a member of the Discalced Carmelite order. Auxiliary Bishop since December 2013, he is much loved by the young people he has accompanied over the years in his service alongside Cardinal Yeom.
The number of jailed reporters rose from 280 in 2020 to 293 this year with China, Myanmar and Egypt leading the way. For the first time, Hong Kong journalists are jailed for their work. At least 24 reporters have been killed this year, the latest in the Philippines.

Cairo (AsiaNews)  China, Myanmar. and Egypt are the three most dangerous countries in the world for journalists to practice their trade, easily arrested and persecuted for what they publish and report if it is unpopular with the local leaders, this according to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), a New York-based independent consortium

The number of jailed journalists increased by 13, from 280 in 2020 to 293 this year, a record.

For the third year in a row, Xi Jinping's China leads the pack with 50 journalists currently behind bars. That is the known figure, but the real number could be much higher.

In fact, the list does not include 11 people, not formal journalists, but jailed nonetheless for providing sensitive material to the dissident newspaper Epoch Times.

What is new this year is that Hong Kong journalists have also been arrested under Beijings infamous national security law, including those who worked for the pro-democracy Apple Daily newspaper, which was forced to close.

In mainland China, where all forms of dissent are crushed, journalists are jailed on charges such as causing unrest or sowing discord.

At least a dozen people have been arrested for covering the Wuhan crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic without following the official version.

Myanmar comes in second place. Since the overthrow in a military coup of the democratically elected civilian government led by Aung San Suu Kyi, as many as 26 journalists have been jailed, the biggest increase in the world. None had been arrested the previous year.

Sources close to the CPJ report that many more journalists are in prison held incommunicado or simply missing.

Egypt is third with 25 journalists locked up in the country's prisons. The CPJ report notes that Egyptian authorities violate their own rules, which limit pre-trial detention to two years, by adding further charges to keep journalists inside longer

Another tool in Egypts repressive arsenal is the imposition of extreme conditions on journalists who have already served their sentence.

In fourth and fifth place we have Vietnam and Belarus, the last one also the last dictatorship in Europe. The top ten list is completed with Turkey, Eritrea, Saudi Arabia, Russia and Iran.

This is the sixth year in a row that CPJ has documented record numbers of journalists imprisoned around the world, said CPJ executive director Joel Simon.

This reflects two inextricable challenges  governments are determined to control and manage information, and they are increasingly brazen in their efforts to do so.

The CPJ also reported the work-related death of at least 24 journalists in 2021 with India and Mexico at the top with four and three respectively.

The latest journalist to be murdered was Jesus Malabanan, 58, who was shot in the head yesterday in Calbayog, almost 500 km from Manila.

Employed by the Manila Standard, he also contributed to the Reuters agencys Pulitzer Prize-winning series on President Rodrigo Dutertes drug war in 2018.
by Vladimir Rozanskij

The Orthodox Metropolitan says teaching theology would help "liquidate illiteracy" and avoid errors. Theological studies can only be interdenominational. The problem of the security of the person and society" is linked to religion.

Moscow (AsiaNews) - The Orthodox Metropolitan Ilarion (Alfeev) has called for the fearless condemnation of extremism, religious radicalism and terrorism, which depend on religious ignorance and theological misinterpretations and which, he warned, are "our real enemies, who do not serve the Most High, but the will of the devil".

Ilarion, rector of the Cyril and Methodius Institute of Specialization in Orthodox Theology shared this reflection with the participants of the Fifth Russian Theological-Scientific Conference. With the blessing of Orthodox Patriarch Kirill (Gundjaev), the event was held in Moscow in early December on the theme "Theology in the scientific and educational sphere: theory, history, practice of interreligious and intercultural dialogue in the context of global challenges."

The conference also received greetings from President Vladimir Putin, the Minister of University and Scientific Research Valerij Falkov, the Minister of Education Sergej Kravtsov, the President of the Russian Academy of Sciences Olga Vasilieva, the Mufti of the Religious Assembly of Muslims of Russia Albir-Khasrat Krganov and the Grand Rabbi of Russia Berl Lazar.

After the first introductory session, the work of the forum was divided into two areas: the first on "Interreligious Dialogue and Traditional Values in the Context of Global Challenges," and the second on "Profiling Youth Participation in Extremist Activities," assessing the contribution of theology to social life in Russia from different perspectives.

Ilarion echoed the words of good wishes sent by Patriarch Kirill, according to whom "theology has now become by us a new branch of humanitarian sciences, with an increasingly mature scientific community and great research activity." These results were achieved "thanks to the contribution of the world of teachers and educators, along with representatives of the various religious traditions and the competent bodies of state power," the metropolitan added.

"We wouldn't have achieved these successes if there wasn't a great demand for theology," Ilarion explained, extolling the long process that led to state recognition of theological studies in recent years. In his opinion "theology can only be interconfessional, with the contribution of Orthodoxy, Islam and other religious traditions"; it is necessary to create doctoral colleges on the basis of scientific competence and on the presence of representatives of different religious denominations, depending on the topic of the dissertation.

Ilarion wanted to clarify the role of theology in the secular educational sphere, public and private, and not only in the institutes of religious training of ministers of religion and specialists in the ecclesiastical sphere. Thus "Russian literature is studied at school and university not only to make students literate, and the same is true of physics or opera, all the more so of the history of Russia; why should theology be set aside?" The level of religious ignorance in Russia today "still appears staggering, even among people who are highly educated in various fields of knowledge." Teaching theology at least serves to "liquidate illiteracy" and to avoid "brandishable and gross errors."

As the Metropolitan explained, "theological knowledge helps people regardless of their religious affiliation, allows them to look properly at works of art and literature, and in general to look at the world around them from another point of view." According to Ilarion, "many eternal and current issues are related in one way or another to religion, such as the problem of security of the person and society."
Today's healines: planrevealedfor invasion of Malaysia from the south of the Philippines . Canada joins diplomatic boycott the Beijing Winter Games. South Korean population expected to collapse. Israel and USA prepare anti-Iranian military exercises. Indian Armed Forces chief dies. Kyrgyz opposition launches parallel parliament.

PHILIPPINES

The Philippine Supreme Court has declared parts of the national anti-terrorism law unconstitutional. Enacted last year by President Rodrigo Duterte, the measure has alarmed humanitarian activists, who say it could be used to suppress freedom of expression and target those who oppose the government.

PHILIPPINES-MALAYSIA

At least 19 mayors of the Philippine Sulu archipelago have reportedly hatched a plan to invade Sabah, in Malaysian Borneo. According to a source questioned by the South China Morning Post, the attack is planned for February with the use of an armed militia of 600 men: "the Royal Sulu Army." There was a similar incursion in 2013.

CHINA-CANADA

Ottawa will also not send official delegations to the Beijing Winter Olympics next February. The Canadian government yesterday joined the diplomatic boycott by the United States, Australia and Britain, decided to protest human rights abuses in China. New Zealand said it will not send its own representatives to the Covid emergency.

SOUTH KOREA

By 2070, South Korea's population will drop by 14 million: the country will fall from 51 to 37 million, the Seoul Bureau of Statistics revealed today. The decline will accelerate after 2035; in 2020, the number of marriages fell in one year by 6%, while couples having children one year after the wedding is 2% less.

ISRAEL-US

The Israeli Defense Minister and his U.S. counterpart are meeting today to prepare for joint exercises that will simulate an attack on Iran. According to Reuters, the two military forces will hold training maneuvers on the destruction of Iranian nuclear sites, operations to be launched if the ongoing negotiations between Tehran and the international community fail.

INDIA

Tributes are flooding in from around the world for the passing of General Bipin Rawat. The Chief of Staff of the Indian Joint Forces was killed yesterday in a helicopter crash in Tamil Nadu. Along with him died his wife and 11 other people. Condolences also came from Pakistan, Delhi's arch-enemy.

KYRGYZSTAN

The parties that failed to pass the 5% barrier in the recent parliamentary elections want to form an alternative "people's parliament"; they will be joined by the two opposition formations admitted to Zogorku Kenes. According to the new Constitution, the prerogatives of the legislative assembly are greatly reduced, and the role of the minority is almost irrelevant.
by Mathias Hariyadi

The death toll has risen to 40. The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources has rejected the accusations. Caritas is working to provide food and drink to thousands of displaced people.

Jakarta (AsiaNews) - After the eruption of the Semeru volcano on December 4, Indonesian civil society has denounced the authorities failure to provide a warning: "If the alarm had been raised in time, more people could have been saved," said local residents.

The head of the Indonesian Volcanology and Disaster Mitigation Geology (PVMBG) of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, however, rejected the accusations, saying that local authorities had been warned: on December 2, the PVMBG had tweeted an alert message, warning that several villages in the districts of Lumajang and Malang were at risk of being affected.

Ashes and lapilli from the crater engulfed entire villages on the slopes of the mountain, killing at least 40 people. There are also at least 20 missing and thousands of displaced people.

Volcanologist Surono explained that the high mortality linked to this type of natural disaster is due to inadequate housing plans, and to economic reasons or family traditions that push people to continue living in areas at high risk of volcanic eruption. Indonesia is home to 127 active volcanoes, but only 69 are monitored by the PVMBG.

Fr. Marco O.Carm, of Caritas in the Diocese of Malang, told AsiaNews that he was able to establish a food distribution point for displaced people in Pronojiwo, despite the collapse of the Gladag Perak bridge, which served as the main link between the two affected districts. "With the collapse of the bridge, we had to divert humanitarian aid via Probolinggo to reach Pronojiwo in 3-4 hours of travel time," the Carmelite explained.

Over 2,000 survivors have found temporary shelter in Pronojiwo, Candipuro and Pasirian. Fr. Marco's assistent, Rudy, said that the establishment of "chicken soup posts" (food and drink distribution points) "is an urgent matter". Indonesia's National Disaster Management Agency confirmed that nearly 3 thousand homes and at least 38 schools have been destroyed.
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In North America, the Toyota RAV4 is the Caesar of its time, moving close to 450,000 units each year, and taking the crown of the best-selling family. With the new hybrid powerplant in place, has Toyota done enough to make the family SUV a top consideration in an increasingly competitive market? Sofyan Bey of Redline Reviews finds out.The compact crossover SUV is currently the hottest automotive segment in America . Toyota understands this, and to appeal to new shoppers, the Japanese automaker is constantly keeping it fresh. The 2022 XSE Hybrid is currently the most popular RAV4 version. Its handsome, practical, and affordable, making it the perfect choice of four variations available.Beys 2022 RAV4 XSE Hybrid review unit is in Calvary blue. It has a 4Runner miniature look of sorts. It comes with LED headlights and daylight running lights introduced on the RAV4 Prime. XSE Hybrid is the sporty variant with 8.4-inch ground clearance, contrasting black roof, optional panoramic sunroof, and black-painted side mirrors with turn signals.There are some changes on the 2022 RAV4 exterior and interior, but underneath the hood, it is all a carryover. The model already had one of the most diverse engine lineups in the segment after all, and changes were not a priority.The 2022 XSE Hybrid sits in the middle of the powertrain options, with a 2.5-liter naturally aspirated 4-cylinder engine that runs on the Atkinson cycle, and is putting down 176on its own. Thepairs with three electric motors with a tiny 1.5battery making 219 HP combined.All in all, the Toyota RAV4 is a pretty competent car with a perky hybrid powerplant. It boasts a bounty of tech features, and enough room for both passengers and cargo.
There are a lot of applications for drones nowadays. These flying machines can be used for deliveries of various products (from pharmaceutical to edibles, consumables, and so on), for inspecting various sites, for monitoring, law support enforcement, for agricultural purposes, for gaining access to hard-to-reach places, and so much more. But someone has to know how to work this type of aircraft, which requires proper training in the field.The Northwestern Michigan College (NMC) recently announced that it received a $90,000 grant from the Federal Aviation Administration, to be used for training high school teachers. Forty of them will be introduced to UAS fundamentals and will be equipped with a multi-rotor unit that will be used with their students.Teachers will develop and hone their drone skills so that more UAS programs can be created or existing ones can be updated, making the pathway to industry and employment more accessible.It is no big surprise that the NMC managed to obtain the grant, as the school launched its own UAS program back in 2010, succeeding in producing many graduates who are now working in the industry. Its UAS program helped launch startup companies in the field, assist private businesses and public institutions.As for the 40 teachers who are going to participate in the training program, they are scheduled to begin their instruction next summer at NMCs private airfield in Yuba, Michigan. They will take a 10-week Remote Pilot Test Preparation course online and learn how to safely conduct a complete flight of a drone, from takeoff to landing, without benefiting from any intervention from their instructor. Teachers will learn how to calibrate the system, set it up, and what the best operating practices are.
And according to people familiar with the matter, the debut of this autonomous vehicle is supposed to take place at some point in 2025 , which means more evidence of the project should be discovered in the coming years.A prototype is likely to see the daylight in 2022 and 2023, especially as the work on the project advances and Apple is already believed to be discussing manufacturing plans for the car.Without a doubt, the Apple Car is one of the most anticipated products ever released by the tech company, and its pretty much the first time a large tech company steps into the automotive industry to become a full competitor to traditional carmakers.This is reason enough to believe the Apple Car, if successful, can make the Cupertino-based iPhone maker the king of the world, with a Morgan Stanley analyst recently cited as saying that a $200 share price isnt by any means impossible to reach.In other words, projects like Apples mixed reality headset and the self-driving car could propel the Apple share price to $200, which means the companys market cap would easily exceed $3 trillion. At this point, Apple is already the most valuable company in the entire world, with a share price of $174.23 and a market valuation that exceeds $2.86 trillion.In the meantime, Apple is clearly trying to keep everything secret on the Apple Car front. The company has truly embraced its famous FBI-like secrecy for this project, and its leadership team is going to great lengths to make sure no key details make it to the press.Earlier this year, its been rumored Apple dropped manufacturing talks with Hyundai specifically because the South Korean carmaker spilled the beans on the negotiations, something the iPhone maker finds unacceptable.At this point, a joint venture formed by LG and Magna is believed to be in pole-position to manufacture the Apple Car.
From China allegedly rapidly expanding its nuclear (and hypersonic) capabilities, in terms of both the number of weapons and the silos meant to house some of them, to Russia flexing its muscles on the border of Ukraine and really, really close to NATO nations, there is no shortage of dangerous powder kegs with the potential of blowing up in our faces.Away from the scrutiny of the public eye, allied military units keep training for a future we all hope will never come to pass. From time to time, however, both the general public and whatever enemy might be lurking in the dark do get a taste of what a confrontation might be like.The U.S. Air Force ( USAF ) has made a habit of advertising its exploits and hardware by releasing revealing images on a constant basis. From time to time, hardware fielded by allied forces gets caught in the middle, like it happened in the pic we have here (click main photo to enlarge).What youre looking at is a formation of nine aircraft (seven fighter jets and two heavy bombers), captured on film as they were flying over the North Sea region in the first decade of November, during a bomber task force mission.Up front leading the procession are two B-1 Lancer bombers. Behind them, unevenly distributed to the left and right, are the escort planes wrapped in various shades of grey, in this case, USAF F-15C Eagles and Royal Air Force Typhoons As per the American military, the mission was conducted as a means to highlight U.S. capabilities and commitment to work closely with allies and partners to deter potential adversaries from aggressive actions.Something were likely to keep seeing over the coming months
While most industry key players are betting on sustainable aviation fuel ( SAF ) and battery electric aircraft, hydrogen-powered planes are also on the table when it comes to future propulsion technologies capable of reducing carbon emissions.In September 2020, Airbus unveiled the ZEROe concept aircraft, a trio of commercial jets that use hydrogen propulsion. Back then, the company stated its goal to turn these concepts into a reality by 2035.It's a bold claim, and the aviation industry might need to move fast in order for that to happen. First of all, a hydrogen infrastructure needs to be established to enable refueling in the airports, and that means everyone must make a collective effort in that direction. Then, there's the risk associated with the fuel's volume (which requires bigger tanks) and its low-temperature properties.Universal Hydrogen claims that it can support the industry make significant progress in using this type of propulsion. The company plans to do so by establishing a distribution network capable of delivering hydrogen to any commercial airport around the world.To that end, it will use a conversion kit that consists of a hydrogen fuel cell electric powertrain that is compatible with Universal Hydrogen's modular capsule technology. The system allows the company to take the capsules produced at green hydrogen production facilities to the airport and load them directly into the aircraft at the rear of the fuselage.Using Universal Hydrogen's new tech, Connect Airlines will be able to convert 12 Dash 8-300 turboprops to hydrogen fuel cell powertrains. The airline is currently in the final stages of obtaining certification from the U.S. regulators to operate from Toronto to Philadelphia International and Chicago O'Hare. Service is scheduled to begin next year. Connect Airlines has also committed to purchase an additional 12 conversion kits of "other aircraft types." Universal Hydrogen intends to use its conversion kits by 2025 and supply the hydrogen needed by these aircraft.Until then, the airline is expected to begin operations using its new "GreenJet" Dash 8 turboprop. The jet will help reduce fuel consumption and carbon emissions by up to 35 percent compared to the regional aircraft it replaces.Once the Universal Hydrogen's technology is fully implemented, the Connect Airlines fleet is expected to operate with zero emissions. The two businesses will also collaborate to develop the first zero-emission regional aircraft in the U.S. in 2025."The U.S. is a laggard in its decarbonization efforts, and the U.S. aviation industry is no exception," said Paul Eremenko, co-founder and CEO of Universal Hydrogen. "That is why the bold step that Connect Airlines is making in being the first airline to commit to true zero-emissions operation in the relatively near term is so monumentally important."
A Connecticut-based ship owner and operator has joined forces with an expert in sustainable marine fuels from the Netherlands, to conduct a trailblazing biofuel voyage. Eagle Bulk is a U.S.-based shipping company headquartered in Stamford, recognized as owning one of the biggest fleets of Supramax / Ultramax vessels in the world.These massive ships , used for global transportation, are typically major contributors to the high levels of CO2 and other toxic substances in the atmosphere. This is why its particularly important for this industry segment to switch to cleaner alternatives. The Sydney Eagle, one of the companys Ultramax ships built in 2015, recently completed its first sustainable voyage, a successful pioneering project.According to Eagle Bulk, the vessel was bunkered with advanced marine biofuel at the port in Terneuzen, the Netherlands, leading to a massive 90% CO2 emissions cut throughout its journey, compared to using conventional bunker fuel.The sustainable fuel was provided by GoodFuels, a company that considers itself a pioneer in this field, being one of the few to offer an integrated marine biofuel solution, from feedstock to tank. Back in 2016, the Netherlands-based company introduced the first marine biofuel in the world that was made from wood residue, coming from Finnish forests. Wood residue is considered superior to other types of waste, due to its stability.Today, all of the companys biofuels are produced from certified feedstock, labeled as waste or residue, in order to make sure that there are no concerns about deforestation or competition with the food industry. Not only the feedstocks, but also the resulting biofuels are certified, with a totally transparent supply chain.Eagle Bulks first sustainable voyage is just the first step in its plan to completely decarbonize its massive shipping fleet, which will have a huge positive impact on the environment, for decades to come.
Being able to do so is, in fact, so important that airplanes must pass special certification. And this exactly what Gulfstream, one of the worlds largest producers of corporate aircraft, announced two of its planes managed to do recently.The planes in question are the new G500 and G600, which were made to take an exam on steep-approach landings at three European airports, in the UK and Switzerland. And, apparently, they nailed both low-speed handling and short-field landing, opening the doors for both FAA and EASA certification to be granted next year.To mark the occasion, Gulfstream had the two airplanes fly at close to Mach 1 from London to Teterboro, New York (G500), and London to Seattle (G600). Both airplanes smashed city-pair time records.According to Gulfstream, the G500 traveled 3,077 nautical miles (5,699 km) in 6 hours and 46 minutes, 12 minutes faster than the previous record between London and Teterboro. The G600 covered 4,235 nautical miles (7,843 km) in 8 hours and 39 minutes. Both flights arrived at their destination with fuel to spare.At the time of writing, both flights are pending approval by the U.S. National Aeronautic Association and Federation Aeronautique Internationale in Switzerland for recognition as world records. Once they get it, theyll become the latest achievements in a very long stream of such feats: the previous versions of the two aircraft (which started being made just a few years ago, back in 2015) already hold over 60 city-pair speed records combined.
Full Self-Driving

Autonomous driving is considered to be the holy grail of the automotive industry and has been promised to us for quite a long time already. If I recall the slides from a 2013 Bosch presentation, we shouldve been all passengers in our cars a year ago. Back then, seven years seemed like a reasonable time frame but, health crisis aside, we are nowhere near fully-autonomous driving, or Level 5 (L5) autonomy as the industry calls it.Sure, Tesla calls its assistance suite Autopilot or even , but its just a deceptive trade name for a system that is only capable of L2 autonomy. This means that the car cannot be trusted with your life and Tesla does not assume responsibility for whatever mischiefs the car might be doing.Today, the auto industry rejoiced as Daimler announced a breakthrough in autonomous driving after receiving German certification for the Level 3 autonomous driving system called Drive Pilot. The system will equip the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and EQS starting next year and will be the first car in the world certified for Level 3 autonomy. Thus, Daimler beats Tesla, as Full Self-Driving is still in beta and at this stage it is not certified for Level 3.Level 3 autonomous systems are not unheard of today, as Waymo operates a fleet of minivans with this type of automated driving. According to the SAE classification , Level 3 means the car can drive itself without driver intervention, although, in certain situations, the driver still needs to be prepared to take over. In the case of Waymo, even though no driver is present in the car, this is still remotely supervised by human drivers.Now, this is already old news, as the autonomous vehicle startup DeepRoute.ai announced it has a production-ready Level 4 system. Whats spectacular about DeepRoute-Driver 2.0 is its price though, of only $10,000. For a system deploying five solid-state lidar sensors, eight cameras, a proprietary computing system, and an optional millimeter-wave radar, this is a real steal.Lidar sensors account for roughly half the price of the system, but we already know how pricey these things are. DeepRoute thinks the price could be further pushed downward, as the whole supply chain evolves and scales up. Also, the startup, with offices in Shenzhen and Fremont, California, is confident about its ability to strike a balance between expensive but capable systems like that of Waymos and more affordable but utterly limited systems like Teslas.In the video below you can see the car equipped with the DeepRoute-Driver 2.0 autonomous driving system navigating the rush hour traffic in downtown Shenzhen. During the test drive, the car performs normal tasks like flexible lane changes, yielding to pedestrians, and auto on- or off-ramp merging. According to DeepRoute.ai, the system never disengages during use.For now, DeepRoute has yet to secure a customer for its L4 solution. A spokesperson for the startup said that people from a few major automakers have taken rides in the cars integrated with the tech and they were impressed by the functionality as well as the pricing. Thus, a major contract should be in sight anytime soon.Hopefully, we will soon have enough options for autonomous driving and will be able to take car trips without having to take our eyes off our phones. Because, with an ever-aging population and more and more distracted drivers behind the wheels, humanity desperately needs autonomous cars to keep us moving safely in our cars.
The global health crisis has completely changed how businesses operate the world over. Work from home arrangements are becoming popular, and as time passes, many corporations seem to be embracing the culture, surprisingly, for the long haul.The rideshare company on Wednesday said it will not require its staff to get back to the office until 2023. Lyft did not provide any reasons behind the move, instead cited flexibility desired by its employees.While some companies are itching to call back their employees, Lyft insists that the companys offices will open in February, but working from home will be optional for the entirety of 2022. Ford Motor Co. on Monday, pushed its return-to-office date to March, citing concerns over the health crisis. The automaker's assembly workers got back to work in May 2020, but its office staff still work remotely.According to Lyft Spokesperson Ashley Adams, the rideshare company staff value continued flexibility in determining where to work, and the delay will offer additional time to plan. The company is looking to give their staff a choice for the whole of 2022.Ford and Lyft are not the only big businesses pushing for a delay. Washington Post reported Uber and Google also postponed their return-to-work dates indefinitely. Among high-profile companies, Lyft offered the longest duration. Facebook (recently Meta) will open its office at the end of January but make it optional up to June.The second-largest U.S. cab-hailing company does not plan on going fully remote but is offering its staff a chance to deliberate with team members as they look for long-term options.While company delays to conventional working models seem triggered by the global health crisis, experts feel companies can also rip benefits. According to Forbes, a fully remote workforce offers businesses a chance to tap into a larger pool of talent without geographical limitations.
SUV

Another model thats been growing long in the tooth lately is the slightly smaller Outlander Sport . Also known as the third-generation RVR (Japan, South Korea, or Canada), this rather large subcompact crossoveralso dwells across many more regions with the ASX nameplate on its back.According to the rumor mill, we should expect Mitsubishi to firmly put it into its rightful B-segment (subcompact) place by slightly undercutting its current dimensions. And, while the Japanese automaker hasnt released much information about the upcoming new iteration of the little crossover, that hasnt stopped intrepid publications and virtual artists from having a go at it, unofficially Expected to arrive across its various markets no sooner than 2023, according to the good folks over at Kolesa, the ASX/RVR/Outlander Sport might utilize some of the assets that already exist within the Renault Nissan Mitsubishi Alliance. More precisely, the crossover is allegedly going to piggyback on Renaults current Captur. This is only logical since the latter is a best-seller in Europe.Naturally, theyre not going to just swap the badges and stop for the day. Instead, Mitsubishi will probably make use of its newly introduced styling mantra . Interestingly, it seems that pixel masters cant agree which of the current Mitsubishi models will lend their helping hand. As such, we have two slightly different-flavored depictions.One is based on the evolved styling DNA of the all-new Outlander , while the second one (from kdesignag) embedded below took many cues from the quirky Eclipse Cross. On the other hand, both agree that Mitsubishi is also going to borrow Renaults E-Tech hybrid and plug-in hybrid technology to make sure its more attractive and sustainable at the same time.
Johnny Carson was a television host, best known for hosting The Tonight Show, that aired on NBC between 1962 and 1992. Paul Reiser has been on that show enough times to be excited about this Chrysler, although Jay Leno claims the comedian is not a car guy. But this particular car comes with quite a story: it belonged to Carson himself.The vintage model had made several appearances on the show, including a segment called Johnny Comes Home. The car had originally belonged to Carsons dad, and it had been the car Johnny learned how to drive on. NBC later bought it for the TV host as a gift. The former host wanted Leno to inherit the Royal after his passing. Touched by the decision, Leno called the car what a sensible person would buy.The classic is powered by a 4.1-liter six-cylinder engine and is known as a reliable, stylish, and affordable model, initially rated at $1,075, with a current value of around $45,000.On the show, Paul Reiser also had a replica of Carsons last car, a 1992 Chevrolet Corvette, which, that year, received a new powertrain to add another 50 horsepower to its performance, adding up to a total of 300 horsepower, provided by its LT1 V8 engine, mated to a six-speed manual transmission. Leno complimented Carsons taste, claiming he didnt go for a famous, expensive vehicle, but the best American thing you could get at that time. Back then, it was valued at $30,000.Leno hopped behind the wheel of the Chrysler, while Reiser enjoyed the Corvette for a drive while they reminisced about their experiences on The Tonight Show. And, to finish it on a high note, they went for swan rides in the park. Like most sensible people do.
The carmaker knew that such an undertaking would require a dedicated internal team, which is why it has tasked former R&D boss, engineer and automotive veteran, Hans Pehrson, with this operation. The next step will be launching a call for action among suppliers, entrepreneurs, innovators, investors, universities, researchers, authorities and consumers, basically getting everyone involved.In order to hit that 2030 target, the Polestar 0 project had to be split into three stages. The first will address research and target the CO2e contributors, with the taskforce focusing on finding technical sources of CO2e in its entire supply chain, from material extraction (or recycled sources) to the actual vehicle handover.Towards that end, initial conversations have already begun with both existing and future suppliers, while Polestar continues to search for new research and collaboration partners.Achieving climate neutrality is an absolute must for our future for all consumer products. Cars are complex, they consist of tens of thousands of components, and rely on intricate layering of suppliers and sub-manufacturers, said Pehrson.Making a car climate-neutral is therefore not only an extremely important challenge but an extremely difficult one. Understanding and accepting the challenge is the first step; getting all the way there will require that we collaborate in ways that have never existed before. This is not a solo mission, he concluded.Were absolutely thrilled to see a carmaker look so far ahead into the future with regards to sustainability, especially since various other brands are simply focused on going full-electric by 2030, with carbon neutrality currently an afterthought.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Since 2012, the Chinese outfits American subsidiary has recalled tires for thinner inner-liner thickness, incorrect label information, as well as incomplete TINs. The fourth and most recent callback involves 84,351 rubber shoes that are suspected of tread belt separation and delamination.According to documents filed with the, the peeps at Sailun blame a design change with the steel belt package. The description of the defect is listed as potential property damage to the trailer or recreational vehicle, which is the sugarcoated way of saying that people may get hurt if the belt separates at highway speeds.235/80 R16 and 235/85 R16 tires are affected, tires that were sold under the Sailun, RoadX, Blacklion, Blackhawk, and Ironhead brands. These rubber boots were produced between May 11th, 2020 and October 11th last year.Based on the 1YJ plant ID number, all of them were manufactured in Vietnam at the Sailun factory in the Phuoc Dong Industrial Park of the Go Dau district of the Tay Ninh province. The company says that a modification was performed to the steel belt package in order to rectify this problem, which is why tires made after October 11th, 2020 arent affected.The estimated percentage of tires with the aforementioned issue is listed at 100 percent. Even though pricing differs from brand to brand and retailer to retailer, this callback will undoubtedly eat into the companys net profits.On that note, the largest tire recall in the history of the automobile as we know took place in 1978 when Firestone had to replace a whopping 14.5 million tires. Firestone also paid a $500k fine for concealing the problem, namely excess application of the adhesive that binds the rubber and steel.
The announcement happened after the German carmaker talked about the Planning Round 70, another step in its NEW Auto electrification plans. Volkswagen mentioned other factories that will go fully electric, and when it spoke about Hanover, it said it would manufacture the ID. California.If that made you think this could be the production name for the ID. BUZZ, that is not the case. Volkswagen said that Hanover would make the ID. California, the MOIA autonomous-driving shuttles (based on the electric van), and the ID. BUZZ AD. In Volkswagens own words, they will be two different cars.American websites are already betting on an electric campervan, the shape in which the original VW Bus made its fame in the U.S. in the 1960s and, more specifically, in California. It will not be as roomy as modern campervans, but the possible 4.94 meters (194.5 inches) of length will make it one of the biggest MEB products around.Apart from being produced in Hanover, the ID. California and the ID. BUZZ AD (whatever AD means) will also be made in Chattanooga starting in 2022. Volkswagens primary market for the electric van and its derivatives will be the U.S.However, the German carmaker concentrated on its European factories when discussing Planning Round 70. According to it, Wolfsburg will produce the ID.3 starting in 2023 with components made in Zwickau. In 2024, it should make the electric hatchback without external help.Wolfsburg will also take care of Project Trinity starting in 2026. As we already said, the company is considering an entirely new factory in Wolfsburg for this future flat vehicle focused on energy efficiency.Hanover will handle other vehicles apart from the ID. California and its siblings. It will be in charge of the Artemis project, Audis version of the Project Trinity . It will also build the body of a new Bentley vehicle that was not yet disclosed.In Leipzig, Porsche will produce two more vehicles based on the PPE platform, the same one over which the Taycan, Taycan Cross Turismo, and Audi e-tron GT are made. In Neckarsulm, Audi will make the E6, possibly the electric version of the A6, anticipated by the A6 e-tron Concept. Predicted to arrive by 2024, it should also use the PPE platform. The SSP (Scalable System Platform) will only arrive with the Artemis project in 2025. Volkswagen also said that its Brussels plant will manufacture the Q8 e-tron for Audi and that Pamplona and Martorell may respectively make e-SUVs and compact electric vehicles if the Spanish government is generous enough with the Volkswagen Group.
Million-mile cars are rare but not out of the ordinary. Car enthusiasts love their cars. With proper care and maintenance, any car can rack up some insane figures on the odometer and still look like it just left the dealership.Hoover traveled to Salt Lake City, Utah, for the first time to get his hands on a nearly 1 million miles Dodge Ram Cummins diesel truck. The 2004 four-wheel-drive diesel truck has 994,000 miles. It looks spectacular for the racked-up miles.The Ram truck and Cummins engine manufacturer have a long history thats more than 30 years old. Chrysler-owned Ram truck and Cummins debuted their collaboration in 1989, with a 5.9-liter Cummins Turbo Diesel that made a meager 160 hp. Their three-decade collaboration developed into the most reliable heavy-duty trucks in America.The original owner of the truck supplies parts to oil fields, which explains the racked-up tons of miles on the Dodge Ram. He uses the Dodge Ram Cummins truck to ferry urgently-needed parts to oil fields.The truck is Carfax verified and comes with 200 service records , proof that he is meticulous when it comes to maintenance. The car is not a hundred percent perfect considering the miles it has racked and, there is a bit of surface wear like rust and water in the taillights.This isnt the first Dodge Ram Cummins with nearly a million miles. If anything, these trucks have a reputation of getting to a million miles that even a Cummins B-Series million-mile club exists. It explains the 30-year-old relationship between Cummins and the Ram truck. In the U.S., the Dodge Ram Cummins is the best-in-class for durability, reliability, and longevity.Hoover, when Hoover does a cold start, to his amazement, there are no warning lights on the dash, and you can hardly feel the engine under the hood.
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Averting the worst effects of climate change will eventually require the entire world to get off carbon, but some critics allege richer countries are trying to halt fossil fuels in poorer countries while continuing to drill at home.

Why it matters: New policies that aim to restrict fossil fuel development in poorer countries in the name of climate change are on a collision course with those nations' need for energy-fueled growth and development.

What's happening: At the United Nations climate conference earlier this year, the U.S., U.K. and other countries promised to end international financing for fossil fuel development.

For climate activists, the pledge was one of the most promising outcomes of COP26, cutting off money that might be used to support the building of coal and natural gas plants.

The catch: To some critics, however, the promise smacked of "green colonialism," as rich nations preemptively cut off desperately poor countries from the cheap fossil fuels that helped make them rich in the first place.

"This is already leading to harmful policies that will hurt millions of poor Africans by slowing down their continents economic development while doing little, if anything, to help fight climate change," write Todd Moss and Vijaya Ramachandran in Foreign Policy this week.

The other side: The more than 1 billion people in sub-Saharan Africa are responsible for less than 1% of cumulative global carbon emissions, but climate activists argue the region's projected population growth means that a green transition needs to happen now to avert a much warmer future.

A report from the Wilson Center this year estimated if Africa's per-capita CO2 emissions by 2060  when the continent will hold a projected 3 billion people  were to rise to the level of India's today, its total CO2 emissions would equal those of the U.S. today.

Yes, but: While unchecked climate change would cause tremendous economic and social damage to the global poor, even tripling electricity consumption in sub-Saharan Africa with lower-carbon natural gas  the most abundant fossil fuel on the continent  would equal only 0.62% of annual global carbon emissions.

More access to natural gas would also upgrade large-scale agriculture through synthetic fertilizer use, while clean-burning natural gas stoves would help save some of the 3.8 million people who die each year from the effects of indoor air pollution created by burning wood, coal and animal dung.

By the numbers: Extreme poverty and lack of access to energy go hand in hand.

Between the lines: Critics say moves to cut off fossil fuel financing in poorer countries amount to hypocrisy from rich nations that are continuing to tap their own sources of natural gas and oil.

Norway was a leader in the push to end international fossil fuel financing, yet crude oil and natural gas account for nearly half of the country's exports.

Weeks after COP26, the Biden administration announced it would release 50 million barrels of oil from the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve to blunt the effects of high fuel prices on American consumers.

Our thought bubble: In effect, some rich nations seem to be exporting the hard political choices around climate change away from their own citizens  and voters  to those who can least afford it and can't push back at the ballot box.

The bottom line: Averting dangerous climate change and ending extreme poverty are two of the most important challenges the world faces in the future, but fighting one shouldn't come at the expense of the other.
California officials said they arrested a father and son Wednesday on suspicion of starting the Caldor Fire, which threatened the Lake Tahoe area as it burned for over two months earlier this year. They deny any wrongdoing.

Why it matters: The wildfire was the 15th-biggest ever recorded in California, razing more than 1,000 structures, forcing thousands to evacuate and injuring five people as it burned across nearly 222,000 acres of land in El Dorado, Amador and Alpine counties.

Driving the news: David Scott Smith, 66 of Somerset, California, and his son, Travis Shane Smith, 32, of Folsom, were arrested on Ramey warrants, issued by a judge ahead of prosecutors filing formal charges, per a statement from the El Dorado County District Attorney.

They're accused of "'reckless arson,' which caused inhabited properties to burn and resulted in great bodily injury to multiple victims," according to the DA

What they're saying: Mark Reichel, a Sacramento-based lawyer representing the Smiths, told NBC News his clients were each facing a charge that was "accidental but reckless" and not intentional, but he said they're entirely innocent.

Reichel told the New York Times the men had contacted 911 after seeing the fire during a visit to the Eldorado National Forest and had warned others in the area about the blaze.

What to watch: The suspects are being held in the El Dorado County Jail with bail set at $1 million each, and they're due to be arraigned by Friday, CBS Sacramento reports.
The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) will provide up to $500 million in debt financing for the U.S. company First Solar's plan to build a major module factory in India.

Why it matters: The DFC said its the largest debt financing transaction in its history. And the WSJ delves into the geopolitics of the deal, noting it's "putting American taxpayer money behind a bid to weaken Chinas dominance of the solar industrys supply chain."

The big picture: The announcement says most of the facility's output is expected to be used in India's growing solar market and notes India is a "key partner to the U.S. in the Indo-Pacific region."

What they're saying: This transaction represents another milestone in the United States effort to drive alternative supply chains  and to articulate a vision for climate finance that drives our development mission," said Dev Jagadesan, the DFC's acting CEO, in a statement.
A rare visit to Iran by UAE national security adviser Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Monday signaled a shift in relations between the two Gulf adversaries as the Emiratis seek to de-escalate tensions with Tehran.

Why it matters: The visit was part of a broader diplomatic push by the UAE, which has reached out to regional rivals like Turkey, Syria and Qatar in recent months in an attempt to stabilize relations.

Driving the news: The Emirati national security adviser met with his Iranian counterpart, Ali Shamkhani, and with President Ebrahim Raisi.

Both sides issued public statements about their willingness to improve ties, but very little about the contents of the meetings.

Sheikh Tahnouns visit to Tehran came several weeks after a phone call between the Emirati foreign minister and his Iranian counterpart.

Zoom out: It also followed a trip to Ankara by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed, the UAE's de facto ruler, to meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Several weeks prior, Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed visited Damascus and met with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

The big picture: An Emirati source points to three major reasons for the attempted regional reset.

The UAE's involvement in the conflicts in Yemen and Libya caused the country significant financial, diplomatic and reputational damages.

The economy was hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Uncertainty about the U.S. role in the region has given the UAE a sense that no one is coming to the rescue. That perception became acute after the Trump administration declined to respond to attacks in 2019 by Iran and its proxies on oil facilities in Saudi Arabia and ships near Emirati ports, and it persists to this day.

Whats next: The Emirati source said there's no expectation of a full reconciliation with Iran, Turkey or Qatar, but that the UAE would continue its new policy of talking to everybody in the region to make relations more functional and less adversarial.
The U.S. government's auto safety regulator announced Tuesday it would award over $24 million to a former Hyundai employee who reported key information about safety defects.

Why it matters: Engineer Kim Gwang-ho provided evidence that Hyundai and sister company Kia were hiding a design flaw that was causing engines to seize and catch fire, according to law firm Constantine Cannon, which represents Kim.

It's the first time the U.S. regulator, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), has awarded a whistleblower.

Details: After Kim brought forth evidence in 2016, the NHTSA found that Hyundai and Kia delayed recalling over 1.6 million vehicles and gave regulators inaccurate information about the defects.

In November last year, Hyundai and Kia agreed to pay combined penalties of $210 million, $81 million of which went to the U.S. government.

Both companies also committed to "substantial organizational improvements," the NHTSA said.

Kim told the Wall Street Journal that Hyundai fired him shortly after he reported his concerns and filed a police complaint against him for allegedly leaking business secrets.

What they're saying: "Whistleblowers play a crucial role in bringing information to NHTSA about serious safety problems that are hidden from the agency," NHTSA Deputy Administrator Steven Cliff said in a statement.

"This information is critical to public safety and we are committed to rewarding those who bring information to us."

"I am pleased that I have been justly compensated for the risks I took to protect owners of these defective cars, and grateful that the U.S.s legal system had a program in place to make this possible," Kim said in a statement.

"I hope my reporting leads to real safety improvements, both at Hyundai and throughout the industry."

"This is an important award  not just for Mr. Kim, but for the automotive industry as a whole," Constantine Cannon attorney Ari Yampolsky added. "It is another step in the internationalization of efforts to root out fraud and corruption."

The big picture: The NHTSA and the Transportation Department are preparing to propose rules for the automotive whistleblower program.
No matter what the magazines say, this holiday season's must-have gift isn't a neck massager or a multi-device charging station. Same as last 
Brown Waves Return to N. Oregon Coast. Could It Mean Glowing Waves?

Published 12/06/21 at 5:52 PM PST

By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff

(Seaside, Oregon)  More fun, oceanic weirdness is on display on the north Oregon coast  or at least it was until the rains hit. (All photos courtesy Seaside Aquarium)

Tiffany Boothe of Seaside spent the pleasant weather weekend beachcombing and made at least one interesting discovery: brown waves are again in the Seaside area.

Boothe also managed to capture some exceptional sunset shots in recent weeks, which she shared with Oregon Coast Beach Connection.

On the ground, however, there's another wacky show going on. Brown waves in the Seaside to southern Washington coast area mean something interesting is happening: lots and lots of phytoplankton.

No, it's not pollution  a presumption many jump to, especially if those waves get oddly gooey and oily-looking. It's actually a good thing, according to Boothe and Seaside Aquarium manager Keith Chandler. The culprit are tiny forms of algae called phytoplankton, which you might remember are the bottom of the food chain in the ocean, something that just about everything feeds on.

Diatoms are single-celled plants (phytoplankton) that are found in both fresh and salt water, Boothe said. They are one of the most important food sources in the ocean. In the winter, spring, and early summer, diatoms rapidly multiply in the surf zone. Diatoms absorb large amounts of nitrates and phosphates that are delivered to the ocean by coastal rivers, contributing to their population explosion. [Freaky, Gooey Brown Waves Again on Washington, Oregon Coast, Video ]

When waters here turn brown, it simply means there are so many of them. It's a phenomenon that doesn't really happen on the south coast or central Oregon coast  really just the Seaside to Warrenton area and parts of the south Washington coast.

Scientists say it has something to do with all the right nutrients coming down the Columbia River.

It's not really so much of a stain as it is a lot of the stuff accumulates on the beaches, Chandler said. The stuff, like the brown bubbles, feels a little oily, but that doesn't mean it is oil. It just comes from a lot of it piling on the beaches. The tide will come and clean it out. Just like a ketchup stain  it comes right out.

Diatoms are also the basic foundation for bubbles in the surf anywhere on the Oregon and Washington coast. That sea foam you find, sometimes in huge, snow-like clumps, is essentially made up of one kind of phytoplankton or another.

It's actually their skeletons (yes, they're microscopic, so there's billions of them just around you) that interact with the sea water and create a kind of viscosity, causing the tiny forms to blow bubbles out of the churning ocean. [Oregon Coast Science Experts: What is Sea Foam? ]

Another exceptionally cool thing about lots of brown waves at Seaside? It can be a portent for something else: glowing sands. If there are so many diatoms out there, then chances are decent there's a big bloom of dinoflagellates as well, the form of phytoplankton that is bioluminescent. Bioluminescent Phytoplankton: What Makes Glowing Sand On Oregon Coast, Washington

This would be a good time to check the Washington coast or north Oregon coast at night for glowing sand or glowing waves, but rainfall usually kills these creatures out, certainly on the beaches. If brown waves persist when the weather clears, then you'll want to check those beaches after dark.

Below are more photos, including Boothe's exceptional captures of recent sunsets in Seaside.

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How Pearl Harbor Attack Changed Oregon Coast, Washington Coast: Beach Patrols

Published 12/07/21 at 6:32 PM PST

By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff

(Oregon Coast)  On December 7, 1941  80 years ago today - people in the U.S. listened to an unprecedented disaster unfolding on their radio. The Japanese, back then in league with Nazi Germany, were in the middle of bombing Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, destroying 19 ships and killing almost 2,500 people, effectively drawing the until-then hesitant United States into conflict with the Axis powers. (Above: beach patrols billted at the Craddock Cottages in Lincoln City, courtesy North Lincoln County History Museum)

Along the Oregon coast and Washington coast, the news was greeted with the usual fear, shock and anger. One southern coast newspaper ran an editorial that expressed a kind of relief that President Roosevelt was now absolved of any warmongering accusations, and the battle could finally be joined. We would enter World War II.

Within a few months, the Oregon coast would be heavily guarded, like much of the West Coast (although California was considered a much bigger target by enemy Pacific forces). Lookout towers and stations would go up everywhere; existing high vantage points would be turned into lookouts. Radar stations went up secretly at spots like Tillamook Head or Coos Bay. Blimps regularly showed their bloated shapes in the skies above coastal towns as they ran search patterns for most of World War II. Radar Bunker at Coos Bay's Cape Arago: Living S. Oregon Coast History -- The Mysterious World War II Bunker Atop Oregon Coast's Tillamook Head

Most of all, the beaches of Washington, Oregon and California would become heavy with patrols, especially with the Coast Guard Beach Patrols, otherwise known as the Sand Pounders.



Military on the coast were often housed at hotels or cottages, such as here at Depoe Bay (courtesy Newport's Lincoln County Historical Society)

Life during wartime was no day at the beach on the beaches of Oregon and Washington, which were guarded by the 13th Naval District, headquartered in Seattle, under the charge of M.P. Jensen. Under him were two brothers: F.E. Barnett was in charge of Washington's coastline while L.E. Barnett oversaw Oregon.

Interestingly, beach patrols started early in 1941, however, almost a year before Pearl Harbor. This special branch of the Navy was created by an executive order, and according to some newspaper reports by July of 42 some 100 men from Portland and other spots had signed up to be part of the auxiliary of the Coast Guard Beach Patrol alone.

In Cannon Beach, according to the town's history museum, locals formed a special patrol of civilians called The Guerrillas right after Pearl Harbor, and guards were placed by the Arch Cape Tunnel.

In a 1943 special report by The Oregonian which focused on the Oregon coast, where the military beach patrols were located was a big secret at the time. To this day, a lot of those spots have been lost to time, forgotten over the years after the secrets could finally be revealed. Small metallic round structures were sometimes constructed as lookouts along high vantage points, looking like small, stumpy lighthouses, and there seem to be none left these days.



Courtesy Seaside History Museum

Beach patrols were about much more than keeping an eye out for enemy invaders from the Pacific. In fact, tourists taking pictures of any beaches were not even allowed during these patrol years (which ended in 44 or so). These men were there to confiscate your camera if you even brought one to the coast.

Their guard stations and lookouts were absolutely off limits as well, and they were there to enforce that too.

Also under their purview were the blackouts at night: all light sources were to be blocked at night from the Oregon coast or Washington coast. Not even an outline of the edges of the blinds was permitted to be lit up. There's a memorable newspaper report from this period from the Depoe Bay area where the local commander in charge threatened martial law if some locals didn't comply, as they hadn't been.

Beach fires at night were prohibited, and so were lovely moonlit walks on the beach. You'd get rousted at gunpoint for any of that.

Most of all, however, these men walked the beaches of the two coastlines, and if they couldn't walk an area there were boats that patrolled cliff sections, like many of those around Coos Bay or Depoe Bay. One kind of guard station or another was set about every three quarters of a mile apart, and Sand Pounders generally ran in pairs, going for six hours and covering about two miles back and forth. At each station they'd have to phone in their reports.

On patrol, one man held a 30-pound walkie talkie while the handled the nasty guard dogs, and both carried Tommyguns. The coastguardsmen walked these beaches no matter the weather, which included those infamous winter storms and their gusts of 50-plus to even hurricane force blowouts.

Guard dogs were notorious as well, and many Sand Pounders were bitten. To offset this disturbing interaction, the men were allowed to keep actual pet dogs of a more gentle nature to play with, which according to newspaper reports they appreciated.

Most of the men were paid $54 to $66 per month at the time.

They were trained well to judge distance of anything they spotted at sea  be it airborne or on the ocean. But most all approach of anything within three miles of land was prohibited back then.



Old radar bunker at Coos Bay, courtesy Coos Bay History Museum

Meanwhile, air patrols by plane or blimp supplemented the human eyes.

The men were reportedly well fed, with many having gained ten to 20 pounds while scarfing down what was then known as rather swell grub by the military cooks at their barracks. While patrolling these beaches was unpleasant during storms or dreary rain, most men did not complain much about those sunny days along the Oregon and Washington coastlines.

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Secret radar station at Tillamook Head (courtesy Oregon State Parks)

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So Far, 74 Quakes Off Oregon Coast In Just Over 24 Hours

Updated 12/08/21 at 1:55 PM PST

By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff





(Yachats, Oregon)  [UPDATED NEW NUMBERS] What seems like an unprecedented number of small to sizable quakes off the Oregon coast have rattled underwater starting early Tuesday morning, with the number still rising 36 hours later. As of 2 p.m. Wednesday, some 74 undersea quakes have hit about 300 miles directly west of Yachats in just over 24 hours. (Graphic courtesy USGS)

There are no tsunami alerts associated with any of these quakes and they are too far offshore to result in any shaking on land.

Experts say it's nothing to worry about because it has nothing to do with the larger Cascadia Subduction zone that also exists off the Oregon coast, which will one day create a massive quake and subsequent tsunami. In fact, the swarms are normal, except these were farther offshore than usual

The quake swarm is unusual, as that area generally receives about 20 to 30 quakes per year. This area is part of the Blanco Fracture Zone, a faultine separate from the larger Cascadia fault. Here, it is simply two plates rubbing up against each other and occasionally releasing that pressure.

Back in April of this year, another swarm of about seven quakes happened along the Blanco Fracture Zone.

This rather striking set of quakes began about 5 a.m. on Tuesday, with a magnitude 4.2. The small rattlers kept occurring about every hour or less, and by 12 hours later they had piled up to about 30. Now, as of 4 a.m. on Wednesday, a total of 49 quakes have occurred in that section.

All were about 6 miles below the ocean floor, and in a range of nearly 100 miles long from west to east, and from north to south. The range is close to where the Juan de Fuca Ridge and the Blanco faultline meet.

Geologist Scott Burns of Portland State University called the swarm normal, but the numbers and other aspects were surprising.

"It is just rarer because it was out at the west end of the Blanco Fault which gets less activity but when it has swarms, the magnitudes are greater," he said. "There was a 5.8 which is huge! It took a long time for that one to build up. During the year we get lots of quakes on the Blanco Fault (fault between the Juan de Fuca and Gorda plates) and most are closer in. Yesterday's swarm was farther out and bigger and less common."

Most were in the 4.0 to 4.8 magnitude range, but at least ten were over 5.0, which is sizable. It takes a magnitude 7.0 or higher to generate a tsunami. Two quakes were magnitude 5.8, and a few in the last 24 hours set off quake alert apps, to the chagrin of numerous recipients. Some on social media expressed worry about these alerts, but the larger quakes were nowhere near population centers.

The USGS did get some reports of people having felt these quakes.

See in real time Oregon, Coast Earthquake Updates - Live Data Oregon, Washington, California, Tsunamis

According to geology experts like Burns, this area is not a threat to population centers, and it will not help trigger the larger Cascadia quake.

The Blanco Fracture does intersect with some of the larger faultlines in various ways, however.

The Cascadia Subduction Zone is the large one that the Oregon and Washington coast have to worry about, where the two plates of the Pacific Ocean and North America are butting up directly, with one sliding under the other.

There are smaller sections that grind up against each other, such as the Blanco area  but here the plates are sliding past each other.

Seaside geologist Tom Horning has spoken to Oregon Coast Beach Connection about this area in the past.

Other sides of the plate are where the smaller quakes are occurring with regularity, Horning said. However, these other parts of the plate boundary are having quakes regularly because of local geologic conditions that favor frequent events. Their locked interfaces stand vertically and are locked for only a few miles underground. It is easy for the plate movements to overwhelm these smaller locked zones, so frequent small quakes take place.

The Cascadia Subduction Zone is the large one, however.

The main subduction zone interface is locked to a depth of about 40 miles along a gently inclined ramp, so it is locked for nearly 150 miles along an interface that extends for 600 miles north south, Horning said. When it breaks, we will have a M9 quake and the killer tsunami.

Quakes such as these swarms at the Blanco area have nothing to do with the larger faultine, and contrary to popular belief they are not releasing pressure for that area and are not lessening the chances of the big one.





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Beaumont Community Players have exercised COVID caution casting for the 2021-22 season, focusing on plays with few parts. But their latest show has a large cast  well, sort of.

The 22-character population of Tuna, Texas  the third-smallest town in the state  is played by just two actors in BCPs comedy A Tuna Christmas, which opens Dec. 3. Paul Bloyd and Trini Gonzalez each play 11 different parts.

They're both playing boys and girls, young and old, director Sean McBride said. Part of the fun of this is that they will literally walk off stage as a man and return three lines later as a female.

The plot revolves around the eccentric citizens of Tuna gearing up for the annual Christmas Yard Display Contest, but when a phantom goes around town vandalizing the displays, things are thrown into turmoil.

A Tuna Christmas is one of four plays in a series, written by Jaston Williams, Joe Sears and Ed Howard, which began with Greater Tuna in 1981. Williams and Sears played all the parts. McBride said he saw Greater Tuna in Seattle and again in Salt Lake City.

As someone who lives in Texas, I thought, Yeah, these people have no idea what's going on. They're just playing the comedy, he said.

McBride wanted to do it in Texas, but it hasn't been available until now because Williams and Sears toured the plays constantly until Sears retired in 2012. This is the Texas community theater debut, he said.

Playing so many different characters is a challenge, Bloyd said, especially finding a way to differentiate five female parts.

Since all those characters have a relatively similar range, that is not our normal range, it's differentiating them that's so hard, he said. You're taking it up in your upper register, but not making them all sound like they're all in the same place in the upper register.

This is Gonzalezs first play, so he is not only figuring out the varied characters, but also getting a crash course on theater in general.

This has been an amazing challenge, and it's eye opening to see what goes into a production, he said. You can't take it for granted, just sitting in the audience, of what the performers, the director, the stage crew, what they really have to do.

While the action on the stage keeps the audience engaged, McBride said the backstage action is almost as exciting. Both actors have two dressers to assist with the rapid costume changes, as well as a team of four doing scene changes.

There's four times as many people backstage as there are guys on stage, McBride said. What the audience isn't seeing is there's a real choreography going on.

The actors treat all the characters equally, although Bloyd said he is partial to Stanley, who is more low-key than some of the others.

He's just a kid and he's gotten in trouble over the years, kind of grew up in a town where his dad was also trouble, Bloyd said. (Its) a self-fulfilling prophecy of him following his dad's footsteps, even though deep down, he's actually a really good kid.

Gonzalez said his favorite character is Joe Bob Lipsy, the director the Tunas community production of A Christmas Carol.

He's kind of over the top and it's all about him  hes a scene stealer, Gonzalez said.

While the characters are quintessentially Texan, the play is still a family Christmas show with all the heart that entails, McBride said.

In order to get the feels, we have to give (audiences) some actual characters we can care about, he said. A lot of it is just big, bold, in-your-face comedy. Then, towards the end, you get all the warm family stuff.

A Tuna Christmas will be performed Dec. 3, 4, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18 at 7:30 p.m., with a matinee at 2 p.m., Dec. 11. Tickets are $26 and $24 for seniors and students.

Beaumont Community Players is located at the Betty Greenberg Center for the Performing Arts, 4155 Laurel Avenue, Beaumont, TX 77707.

Andy Coughlan is a freelance writer.
Festive lights, angels, trees and candles in the window to welcome visitors will be the order of the day in Beaumont this weekend.

The Oaks Historic District Neighborhood Association will host the Homes for the Holidays open house, 3 to 7 p.m., on Sunday. The event will feature four historic homes, located at 2380 Long, 2550 Long, 2405 Ashley and 2490 Ashley, which are decorated for the holidays. Tickets are $25, and the first 100 people will receive decorated sugar cookies.

Weldene Smith said her design aesthetic stems from growing up in Pennsylvania, incorporating traditional candles in the window.

My home is very much eclectic and period. It's not country, it's not Texan, she said. The candles in all the windows are something you don't see much here. In the East, in Northeast especially, it's a very common practice. It's a bit of a colonial, and I've done that for years and years and years and years and years.

The centerpiece of Smiths decorations is a Christmas tree that features a variety of ornaments, each of which incorporates a memory.

I have my mother's first tree ornaments -- they're 80-years old, she said. I have all the ornaments from when I was a child. And every year I buy a Santa Claus with the idea that when my grandchildren get older, Ill give them the Santa.

Husband Graeme said his contribution to the project is simply to supply the manual labor,

I have always believed that the house belongs to the woman, he said, smiling. She says I just do whatever is needed.

One thing visitors will not see in the Smith home is Jesus in the manger. Weldene has a Nativity scene in the hall, but the manger is empty and the wise men are in a separate room.

My Nativity develops with Christmas and Christmas morning, then we have Jesus, she said The little wise men are in this room because they don't get there until January 6th. I don't take any decorations down until after epiphany.

Judith Cobbett and Dean Tuckers house is overwhelmingly red, which gives it a festive air, and the decorations match Judiths interest.

I collect antique French furniture and have for maybe 30 years, 40 years, Judith said. So, I try to keep an antique feeling of decorations.

Judith said she spends about two weeks decorating the house and does all the arrangements herself. And when she looks for ornaments, she looks for unusual and ornate objects that fit the red color scheme. She said she is looking forward to hosting visitors.

I've been here for over 20 years, and I love decorating for Christmas, so I felt like it was another way for other people to enjoy my decorations, she said.

Visitors should be sure to check out a vintage wax angel that dates to the 1960s. Judith bought it when her daughter was five-years old. Its still in good shape, although its lost a finger. Apart from the kitchen, which is Santa-centric, there is at least one angel in every room.

In what appears to be a consistent theme, Dean said his role is just as a helper, hanging lights and moving things around.

I'm the worker and shes the brains  I just do what she says, he said.

Apart from the homes tour, Judith has another reason for putting so much effort into the holiday decorations.

My whole family's coming for Christmas  my daughter, my granddaughters, my great granddaughters, she said. So, it's going to be an exciting Christmas.

As well as the Homes for the Holidays tour, the Chambers House Museum and the McFaddin-Ward House Museum, both located in the historic district, will host free open houses on the same day, between 5:30 and 7:30 p.m.

The Oaks Historic District is the largest historic district in Texas, and money raised will be used for civic projects. In the past, the organization has contributed to the Ida Reed Dog Park, sponsorship of the City of Beaumonts Dogtoberfest, an annual scholarship for local college students, the art bike racks along Calder and several Little Free Libraries.

Tickets are available online at theoakshomesfortheholidays.eventbrite.com. Homes for the Holidays tickets are also available at the Chambers House and McFaddin-Ward House. For more details, visit the oakshistoricdistrict Facebook page.

Andy Coughlan is a freelance columnist.
ROME (AP)  Italys provocative filmmaker Lina Wertmueller, whose potent mix of sex and politics in Swept Away and Seven Beauties made her the first woman nominated for an Academy Award for directing and a cult figure on the New York film scene, has died, the Culture Ministry said. She was 93.

Wertmueller, who won a lifetime achievement Oscar in 2019, died overnight in Rome surrounded by her family, the LaPresse news agency reported, quoting her relatives.

Culture Minister Dario Franceschini paid tribute to Wertmueller Thursday, saying her class and unmistakable style had left its mark on Italian and world cinema. Grazie Lina, he said in a statement.

Political, controversial and often erotic, her films were filled with social commentary and satirical anti-establishment messages. Wertmueller, who also wrote the scripts for her films, described them as Marxist comedies.

I refuse to make films without social themes, said the woman once dubbed five feet of film controversy.

Five feet tall with dramatic eye makeup, colorful hair and rings on all her fingers, Wertmuellers extravagant appearance was an integral part of her persona. In an interview with The Associated Press, she admitted that she owned hundreds of her trademark white-rimmed glasses.

She was born Arcangela Felice Assunta Wertmueller von Elgg Spanol von Braueichjob in Rome to an aristocratic Swiss family. Apparently rejecting her parents' wishes to study law, Wertmueller instead went to drama school where she acted, wrote and directed plays. After graduating from Romes Theatre Academy, she toured Europe with Maria Signorellis puppet troupe.

In 1963, Italian actor Marcello Mastroianni, the husband of a schoolfriend, introduced Wertmueller to Federico Fellini, who asked her to be his assistant on 8. Wertmueller later said Fellini proved to be her greatest influence.

Its illuminating to be close to him, because you are close to a character whos so profoundly nonconformist, who runs with himself like a child with a kite, she said.

That same year, with Fellinis encouragement, Wertmueller went to Sicily to make The Lizards, her first feature film. It was favorably received but the director herself criticized it as being too rarefied, too difficult for people to understand. She wanted to make films for the masses.

Wertmuellers series of hits began with the Seduction of Mimi (1972), whose title was abbreviated from Mimi the Metal Worker Wounded in his Honor  Wertmueller told the AP that long titles amused her. The New Yorker called it a wonderfully funny sexual farce and Time magazine named it one of the years 10 best films. Other box-office success included Love and Anarchy (1973), Swept Away (1974) and Seven Beauties (1976), which earned her one Oscar nomination for directing, one for best original screenplay and another for her leading man, Giancarlo Giannini.

She didnt win then, but the Academy acknowledged the milestone in awarding her a lifetime achievement more than four decades later, in 2019.

Film critic Roger Ebert gave Swept Away his top rating, saying despite the movies clash between a wealthy capitalist and her Marxist employee it persists in being about a man and a woman. Other critics were uncomfortable with its violence against women, with Anthony Kaufman calling it possibly the most outrageously misogynist film ever made by a woman. The film won the 1975 National Board of Review award for top foreign film.

The lure of sex was a constant theme. In the Seduction of Mimi, a man is attracted to Communism partly because it allows him to have an affair with a sexy communist. In Seven Beauties, Pasqualino, played by Giannini  for years Wertmuellers favorite leading man  decides to survive a concentration camp at all cost, even by making love to the fat, brutal Nazi woman in charge.

Yet with 1977s A Night Full of Rain, Wertmuellers first film in English, U.S. critics were no longer so enthusiastic.

Wertmueller loved to bring together apparently contradictory forces. Her 1992 movie Ciao, Professore! tells the story of Neapolitan school children forced to deliver drugs and kill, but she called the film an act of love for the south and the children.

I see the possibility for humor in the most serious things, she said.

Full of energy, Wertmueller had the reputation of being a slave driver on the set, dominating actors and changing scenes at the spur of the moment.

Shes a tempest, Ingmar Bergman, the Swedish director, once said.

But Giannini said the director was always open to suggestions.

Lina asks everyone for advice, camera operators and actors alike. She believes that a film is the product of collaboration, he said.

Wertmueller was also a member of the Venice Film Festival jury in 1988 and served as the director of Italys film acting school.

She worked closely with her set designer husband, Enrico Job, for all her successful pictures, calling him my best critic. He died in 2008.

Wertmueller is survived by their daughter, Maria Zulima Job.

Romes city hall announced it would host a wake on Friday in one of its main reception halls.

__

Former AP writer Deborah Faraone Mennella contributed to this report.
Economic leaders are predicting local industrial contractors will have plenty of work in the coming year.

In fact, it probably will be more work than the available workforce might be able to handle at this point, which could impact the pace of several giant oil and gas projects, as well as the local economys post-pandemic recovery.

Travis Woods, a principal of T&L Solutions and chair of the Greater Port Arthur Chamber of Commerces Contractor Development Group, highlighted a few of the projects on that long list for contractors on Wednesday.

Woods, who helps manage contractor groups in Texas and Louisiana, estimates that there is at least $79 billion in industrial projects planned between Beaumont to Baton Rouge in the next few years, which will require at least 87,000 contractors at any given time.

Related: The pandemic is making SE Texas industry work smarter, not harder

The issue is, were working about 40,000 each year, and we need 40,000 more, Woods said.

Its not a new problem for the area, as companies including Golden Pass LNG and Sempra have been working since 2019 on ways to generate enough labor and contractor leads to handle their demands over the next three to five years.

But almost immediately after companies started hosting regular contractor fairs and career events across Southeast Texas, the COVID-19 pandemic struck in early 2020.

Several key final investment decisions worth billions, like the expansion of Chevron Phillips in Orange and Sempras Port Arthur LNG, have since been pushed back multiple times since the beginning of the pandemic.

Related: Oil and gas lobbyists optimistic about 2021

Other oil and gas companies weathered the pandemic differently, according to Woods, and some projects kept their momentum, creating signs that the regions contractor base still has the ability to handle industry demands.

This area is still on track to see more work than it has in years, but the work didnt even really stop for some people, Woods said. Some economic estimates Ive been looking at show that next year should have a similar outlook to the beginning of 2020, plus 25%.

Golden Pass LNG, which has been continuing construction on the export terminal located in the Sabine Pass community of Port Arthur, could reach its project peak of 10,000 contract workers by sometime next year, and Valero has two major investments lining up in the same time frame.

The Valero refinery in Port Arthur should be moving ahead with a new coker installation sometime in the next year, as well as a renewable diesel project with joint-venture partner, Darling Ingredients.

Related: Oil and gas job losses in Texas were even worse than reported

While contractors might have a lot to look forward to, there are still signs of struggle in the local industry landscape.

Unemployment in the region has consistently improved for the past several months, coming in at a post-pandemic low of 7.6% in October, but several key sectors are still seeing issues with recovery.

Headed into the holidays, unemployment claims have started to rise again after months of reduction, and they continue to be led by industry contractors.

Workers in oil and gas pipeline construction, industrial building construction, commercial machinery repair, commercial building construction and non-residential trade contract work led claims in the area, according to the latest report from the Texas Workforce Commission.

Southeast Texas had a rolling average of just under 1,800 claims per week, as of Monday.

Related: Port Arthur pledges to track contractor work habits

The winter typically can be a slower time for construction and industrial contract work, but those sectors have consistently been near the top of claim rankings since limited service restaurants and the hospitality industry marginally recovered at the beginning of the year.

While jobs may be in flux, some of the areas economic drivers still are seeing an active contractor base when they need it.

The Port of Port Arthur has been continuing its expansion projects during the pandemic, wrapping up work on its Berth 5 and beginning projects for a Berth 6 expansion.

Port Director and CEO Larry Kelley said that almost half a dozen contractors, mostly local, bid on a recent project for Berth 6, which he took as a positive sign for the local industrial community.

I think that is an indication that we have available and qualified contractors out there, Kelley said. Based on our outreach, we arent seeing people that are too busy to take a job, but we arent seeing desperation either.

The port recently started contractor outreach initiatives, some of which focus on minority and women-led businesses that Kelley said has shown promise.

The programs are still to new for him to have an impression about whether new businesses and entrepreneurs are joining the industrial community, but the region seems to have a robust collection of firms ready to work.

jacob.dick@beaumontenterprise.com

twitter.com/jd_journalism
Once Representative Joe Deshotel, D-Beaumont, decided not to seek another term as state representative, Chief of Staff Christian Manuel, decided to step up to the plate.

I just want to make sure that Southeast Texas is getting the exact same representation as they've been getting for the past 23 years, Manuel said.

And Deshotel seems confident that, should 36-year-old Manuel win the election, it would be a seamless transition.

Although Southeast Texas is losing seniority, we dont have to lose the legislative experience, the inter-Capitol relationships, and our deep roots in the community that make our office effective, Deshotel said in an endorsement letter earlier this week. Christian is well-known throughout the Texas House as an organizer, leader and legislative strategist. He is ready and able to pick up where I left off.

Related: Joe Deshotel looks forward to a future post-politics

Manuel has been working for Deshotel for the past 15 years. It was a natural step for Manuel, who was born in Nederland and has lived in Port Arthur most of his life. His family is here, and public service is a big part of his heritage. His father was in the Coast Guard, and his mother and much of his extended family are public educators.

Public service has always been something that has educated me, it has vaccinated me  it has just kind of been my ground to really find out who I was, Manuel said. Being of service to people is really important.

He never imagined himself running for public office, though. He has always been comfortable behind the scenes. But politics has long been a passion for him because of its broad effects on a persons way of life.

For me, the two most important things in life are religion and politics, he said. Religion influences politics, whether you believe in something or you don't believe in something, and politics determines what you do, how you do it, when you can do it and if you can do it, no matter where you go in the world.

To better Southeast Texas, Manuel chooses to focus on education, economic development and workers rights.

What's happening with the lockout is an issue of workers rights, which has always been a very serious issue here, Manuel said. Workers rights and worker safety is very, very, very, very, very important. We believe in industry, but we also believe that industry needs to meet workers at exactly the same level.

Related: Joe Deshotel calls on ExxonMobil CEO to end lockout

Flood mitigation and taking care of the ecosystem is another priority for Manuel. Hed like to work on implementing a coastal barrier reef to add protection to the area.

Whether you believe in global warming or not, it's just a proven fact that we are losing wetlands, we are losing our beaches, and that makes us much more vulnerable to storms that are coming, he said. Eventually a category three storm or even a category two will affect our area like a category five storm would.

Related: Jefferson Co. about to set records, improve wildlife habitat, mitigate flooding

He also has been working with Deshotel for about six years on a project called Ban The Box. It seeks to make it illegal to ask a person about their criminal history until the second or third interview, which allows former felons who are not repeat offenders a chance to not be continuously punished.

If given the chance to make a good first impression without the stain of their past on their initial application, many former felons would have a better shot at gainful employment, he said.

People will often give people a second chance in situations like that, Manuel said. We know so many people are suffering. Let's make sure that we're not leaving people behind, especially at a time where people are still just trying to pull themselves out of a hole. And that was even pre-pandemic and the pandemic just made it worse for a lot of people.

Related: ENTERPRISE EDITORIAL: Deshotel's bill would help offenders rebuild lives

With his institutional knowledge and years of establishing relationships, he hopes to build new roads and bridges to try to move these priorities forward.

My biggest asset is the fact that I know how to reach across the aisle because I've already done it before, Manuel said. I have many members who believe in me, and I'm asking that the people of Jefferson County would believe in me as well.

rachel.kersey@beaumontenterprise.com

twitter.com/ontheREKord
NEDERLAND  The Nederland Fire Department received an early Christmas present this year  a new ladder truck.

The city of Nederland welcomed its fire departments newest ladder truck, Tower 11 last week during a Wet Down Ceremony in the 1400 Block of Boston Avenue.

Over two dozen people, including children, had a chance to participate in the ceremony and help the fire department push the truck into its new home.

Nederland Fire Chief Terry Morton said Tower 11 will replace the Nederland Fire Departments 34-year-old ladder truck, which rolled into the station when he had only been a firefighter for two years. The 1987 Pierce Arrow ladder truck has a 75-foot ladder compared to the new trucks 100-foot ladder.

Morton said Tower 11 is the first in Southeast Texas to feature a more compact midmount ladder opposed to having a platform with the ladder on the end of the truck. While the old truck pumped about 1,500 gallons of water per minute, Tower 11 can pump 2,000 gallons per minute  giving it the potential to extinguish a fire faster, Morton said.

Tower 11 is a nearly $1.5 million Pierce-Custom Velocity Aerial ladder truck that was completely funded by the city of Nederland. The city did not issue any debt or need to raise the tax rate to purchase the truck, city information stated.

The City is committed to ensuring the NFD has the necessary equipment to provide the optimum level of service to the community, Nederland City Manager Chris Duque said.

meagan.ellsworth@beaumontenterprise.com

twitter.com/megzmagpie
INRIX, Inc., a transportation analytics and car services company, published the 2021 Global Traffic Scorecard on Tuesday that identified and ranked congestion and mobility trends in more than 1,000 cities, across 50 countries as economic and social disruption continued due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

On average, the average American driver lost 36 hours due to congestion, a 10-hour increase from 2020 but 63 hours below pre-pandemic levels. That lost time cost an average of $564.

Drivers in Chicago (104 hours), New York (102 hours) and Philadelphia (90 hours) lost the most time to traffic congestion in 2021 despite being -27% to -37% below 2019 levels. In Houston, drivers lost an average of 58 hours, down 29% compared to pre-COVID levels, as trips to downtown Houston were down 25%. The average Houston driver lost $897 in traffic in 2021, a cost of $2.6 billion for the city. Houston saw the eighth-largest impact nationally, according to INRIX.

Austin drivers lost an average of 32 hours in traffic, down 54% from pre-COVID levels, the 240th largest impact globablly; Dallas drivers 44 hours, 97th largest in 2021 and down 31%; San Antonio saw an average of 23 lost hours, down 40% and El Paso drivers saw an average of just five hours lost, down 70% from pre-COVID levels. Corpus Christi drivers lost an average of nine hours, down 8%.

"COVID-19's impact on transportation has continued through 2021, transforming when, where and how people move. Although congestion climbed 28% this year, Americans still saved 63 hours compared to normal," Bob Pishue, transportation analyst at INRIX, said in a statement. "The most notable change to commuting during the pandemic  other than reduced travel times and volumes  was the lack of downtown travel."

Many employees have continued to work remotely throughout 2021, leading to high rates of telecommuting and fewer trips to downtowns, the company wrote in a press release. Nationwide, trips to downtowns decreased 22% versus pre-COVID levels.

The key findings of the INRIX 2021 Global Traffic Scorecard provide a quantifiable benchmark for governments and cities across the world to measure progress to improve urban mobility and track the impact of spending on smart city initiatives, the company wrote.
(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.)

David Pyrooz, University of Colorado Boulder; James Densley, Metropolitan State University , and Scott H. Decker, Arizona State University

(THE CONVERSATION) The songs are timeless, the casting contemporary and dance routines still daring.

But for socialscientistslike us, Steven Spielbergs remake of the 1961 hit musical West Side Story  a film about two rival street gangs  is more than a 21st-century face-lift of a Broadway classic. Released in theaters on Dec. 10, 2021, it is an opportunity to consider societal changes in the six decades since Maria and Tony stole the hearts of audiences across the world  particularly in the world of gangs.

As scholars who have studied gang culture, we find that the soul of the street gang hasnt changed much since the days of the Jets and the Sharks  but the world around them has. Demographics, economics, technology and public policy have reshaped and reshuffled gang life in America. So dramatic are the changes that the romanticized West Side Story characterization of gangs is now a relic of a bygone era.

Evolving demographics

Perhaps the biggest shift in gangs is skin-deep  urban white-ethnic neighborhood-based gangs like the Jets no longer really exist.

Ethnonational conflict among Italian, Irish, Jewish and Polish youth in cities like Boston, Chicago, New York and Philadelphia culminated with the end of mass migration from Europe in the early to mid-20th century. Many urban white people moved to the suburbs in the 1960s and, generally speaking, took their gangs with them. Today, when people think of the American street gang, they are more likely to think of Black gangs, like the Bloods and Crips, or Latino gangs, like the Nortenos and Surenos. White street gangs are located outside of urban areas and cast as domestic extremists such as the Proud Boys, Three Percenters and Skinheads.

The gang as an American enterprise

The gangs of the West Side Story era were often a normal yet fleeting aspect of adolescence, soon to be supplanted by work, marriage and children.

But in the 1970s and 1980s, globalization and industrial restructuring caused the well-paying, stable blue-collar jobs that young men in gangs were qualified for to largely disappear. Around this same time, gang involvement became more prolonged into adulthood and intergenerational within families.

This era also coincided with an increase in imported drugs such as heroin and crack cocaine. With the rise of the illicit drug economy, the gang itself became an institutionalized route to mythologized riches. Gang activity expanded throughout the country, emerging in the suburbs and even rural towns, leading to the most recent estimates from the National Gang Center of 31,000 gangs and 850,000 gang members.

The West Side goes digital

Gang life saw more changes with the emergence of the internet. The internet and social media were in the realms of far-fetched fantasy when West Side Story was made, but they now provide a repository for gang content, a blueprint for gang activity and a catalyst for gang conflict. A modern West Side Story would entail taunts on Twitter, fights over Facebook, and reliving the rumble on Reddit.

Word always traveled fast on the streets; West Side Story shows that well. But social media makes it faster, more public and more permanent. Gossip, taunts and threats are now broadcast to a much bigger social world  in some cases, with violent consequences.

Gang violence becomes deadlier

Contemporary gangs shoot it out rather than slug it out. In the 1960s, there were several hundred gang homicides annually; now there are several thousand.

When compared with other homicides, gang-related homicides disproportionately involve the use of firearms. Firearms are far more prevalent and accessible now than when West Side Story was conceived. But what original West Side Story director and choreographer Jerome Robbins understood back in the 1950s still holds true: When guns and knives are present, pushing and shoving can escalate quickly into stabbing and shooting. The movies fateful knife fight dramatically illustrates this.

Gangs are a criminal justice priority

As gangs and violence proliferated in the decades after West Side Story first hit screens, the cure for the Jets self-diagnosis of sociological sickness has shifted from social work to suppression. Criminal justice is now the rule of the day. Beat police officers like Officer Krupke and Lt. Shrank have been replaced by gang unit officers and special investigators tasked with gathering intelligence and documenting and collating gang members in databases.

States also responded legislatively to gangs. California first passed its anti-gang laws in 1988, and 44 states have since followed suit. Gang membership and recruitment have been criminalized, while sentencing enhancements for crimes with a gang nexus have been controversially introduced.

In the days of West Side Story, gangs were not a significant issue in prisons. Since the onset of mass incarceration in the 1970s, prisons have become a vector for gang activity  around 15% of U.S. prisoners today are affiliated with gangs.

American street gangs in the 21st century

It is impossible to understand gangs in the 21st century without considering how the world around them has shifted. And while structural shifts in policy, population and technology clearly matter, what is perhaps the starkest change has little to do with the gangs themselves, but the way in which the general public and the legal system stigmatize the children within them. The average age of a gang member is 15  these are kids who are trying to survive in the worst of circumstances.

If the gang was a rite of passage when Riff and Bernardo roamed the streets of New York City in West Side Story, the reality of the contemporary gang has become much bleaker because of worsening violence, mass incarceration and other factors that have operated largely outside of their control.

West Side Story harks back to simpler times, with less polarization and violence. Perhaps it could also assist in revising what we know about gangs and reforming some of our more punitive impulses to respond to them.

[Like what youve read? Want more? Sign up for The Conversations daily newsletter.\

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here: https://theconversation.com/west-side-story-may-be-timeless-but-life-in-gangs-today-differs-drastically-from-when-the-jets-and-sharks-ruled-the-streets-173543.
MESQUITE, Texas (AP)  Police have released the name of the officer who was fatally shot while responding to a disturbance call outside a suburban Dallas supermarket.

Mesquite police said Saturday that Officer Richard Houston was killed Friday. Police said a prayer vigil will be held for him Sunday evening in front of the police department.
U.S. President Joe Biden speaks to representatives of more than 100 countries during a virtual democracy summit at the White House in Washington, Dec. 9, 2021.

Democratic countries worldwide are under growing pressure from autocratic competitors and challenges at home, and must now come together to show democracy can work, U.S. President Joe Biden told world leaders at a virtual summit meeting on Thursday.

Attended by representatives from more than 100 countries in Europe, North and South America, Europe and Asia, the virtual summit will feature addresses by the leaders of invited governments on the strengthening of democracy in their own countries.

This is an urgent matter, Biden said in opening remarks at a first session of the U.S.-sponsored Summit for Democracy. The data were seeing is largely pointing in the other direction.

The response by democratic countries to pressure from autocratic leaders around the world forms the defining challenge of our times, Biden said.

They seek to advance their own power, export and expand their influence around the world and justify their repressive policies and practices as a more efficient way to address todays challenges, the U.S. president said.

Thats how its sold  by voices that seek to fan the flames of social division and political polarization.

Here in the United States, we know as well as anyone that renewing our democracy and strengthening our democratic institutions requires constant effort, Biden said.

Democratic recession

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in remarks following the president pointed to what he called a democratic recession in recent years, including a growing loss of trust by citizens in their own governments. He called on summit participants to consider together how democracies can deliver better for our people.

While each one of our countries faces real challenges, we also know that democracy remains the most effective way to tackle those challenges and to advance human dignity, Blinken said, pointing to the need for governments around the world to further engage with civil society and enact political reforms.

We have a lot of work to do, he said.

Absent from the list of countries invited to the summit were Russia and China, whose ambassadors to the United States issued a joint statement ahead of the meeting accusing the Biden administration of promoting ideological divisions and a Cold War mentality within the world community.

Speaking ahead of Thursdays summit, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi at a meeting in Indonesia accused the West of arrogance and bias in declaring China and other developing nations not to be democratic countries.

This in fact tramples on the spirit of democracy, and is turning back the wheel of human history, Wang said in remarks at the annual Bali Democracy Forum, hosted by Indonesia and coinciding with the virtual Democracy Summit held in Washington.

Exclusion miffs China

China itself is a fully democratic nation, Wang said.

Since its founding, the Communist Party of China has been upholding the banner of democracy, setting as its goals to found a New China where the people are the masters of their own fate, and taking as its obligation to realize true and effective democracy in China.

In the run-up to this weeks summit, Wang was joined by other Chinese diplomats around the world in condemning the U.S. for excluding it from the event and extolling Chinas political system as a democracy.

The Communist Party issued a white paper touting leader Xi Jinpings claim that Beijings whole process democracy is just as democratic as any other political system, and another document criticizing problems with the U.S. democracy.

Beijing also China hit out at Bidens inclusion of democratic Taiwan in the online democracy summit, with no invitation extended to Beijing. China claims sovereignty over the self-ruled, democratic island of 25 million people.

Most Westerners and many Chinese do not agree with Chinese diplomats declaration that Chinas political system is fully democratic. Nor do they believe that it is one of the best political systems, that it is embraced by its own people, and that it is appreciated by other countries, wrote scholar Yawei Liu in the U.S.-China Perception Monitor.

Liu, chief editor of the monitor and senior adviser on China at the Carter Center in Atlanta, said Chinese diplomats might not win many converts, but they could reveal Beijings thinking on the sensitive issue.

While many are bewildered by Beijings position on the Summit for Democracy, it is actually a good thing to see Chinese government bristle when other countries label it authoritarian. It signifies, perhaps, that the CCP still cares about democracy and the transition to democracy, he wrote.
Activists stage a protest denouncing the anti-terror law after at the University of the Philippines in Manila, July 27, 2020.

The Philippines highest court has upheld the freedom to dissent by striking down a provision in the controversial anti-terror law that says protests, strikes and advocacy may be considered terrorism, according to parts of a ruling it made public on Thursday.

Other than revoking this and another proviso, the court ruled that all the other challenged provisions of RA 11479 are not unconstitutional, gladdening the defense establishment but prompting rights advocates to say the court should have targeted other problematic sections as well.

The Supreme Court struck down the qualifier in Section 4 of the Anti-Terror Law as unconstitutional for being overbroad and violative of freedom of expression, the ruling said.

A part of Section 4 of the Anti-Terror Act states that advocacy, protest, dissent, stoppage of work, industrial or mass action, and. other similar exercises of civil and political rights may be considered terrorism if these actions are intended to cause death, serious physical harm and create risk to safety.

In addition, the top court struck down a proviso allowing other countries and groups to request the government to designate persons or groups as terrorists. This means only a determination by the Philippines Anti-Terror Council and inclusion in the United Nations Security Councils blacklist can count as bases for designation anyone a terrorist.

Signed into law by President Rodrigo Duterte in July 2020, the Anti-Terror Act of 2020 updated an earlier measure that the countrys security establishment criticized as lacking teeth in catching and prosecuting terror suspects.

Thirty-seven petitions sought to nullify provisions of the Anti-Terror Act of 2020 as unconstitutional, making it one of the most challenged statutes before the Supreme Court. The tribunal had heard oral arguments earlier this year.

The court, however, ruled that most provisions of the law do not infringe on basic constitutional rights. These include, among others, 12 years in prison for anyone found guilty of terrorism, or planning on committing the crime, or inciting others to commit terrorism.

Additionally, other problematic provisions, critics say, are ones that allow a suspect to be kept in jail without a warrant for two weeks, with a 10-day extension allowed, and give the Anti-Terror Council the power to designate a person a terrorist even prior to a group trial.

Critics said that amid Dutertes worsening rapport with critics, rights advocates and leftist groups, his administration had cracked down on dissenters under the pretext of a campaign against communist rebels.

They also accused Dutertes government of using terror accusations as an excuse to stifle dissent and freedom of expression. They said the anti-terrorism law could be used as a tool to galvanize the governments power to eradicate any political opposition, as it could make baseless accusations of terrorism against perceived critics in order to jail or silence them.

Opposing reactions

Human rights advocates welcomed the high courts decision as significant, if insufficient, victory, while members of the defense establishment were jubilant.

Edre Olalia, the president of the National Union of Peoples Lawyers, said the ruling sustains our position that activism and advocacy are legitimate activities and sacred rights of the people, and should not be considered as terrorism at all.

However, we regret that all the rest of the perilous provisions... remain in the books, for now, Olalia told BenarNews, adding that his organization would definitely seek an appeal.

The Free Legal Assistance Group, a group of prominent human rights lawyers, said the ruling that removed the caveat on the exemption of dissent is an important win for the protection of civil liberties.

Senator Risa Hontiveros, a leftist lawmaker who voted against the passage of the law in 2020, reiterated her reasons for rejecting the measure.

These reasons include the prolonged detention of suspects and the dubious definition of terrorism in the law, which can be used to punish acts of legitimate dissent, she said in a statement.

However, Interior Secretary Eduardo Ano, a member of the Anti-Terror Council, said the provisions struck down would not impact the efficacy of the law.

The declared unconstitutional provisions are minimal and it wont at all affect the ATA 2020, he said.

Well make appropriate adjustment but we will strictly implement it in order to protect the people against all acts of terrorism.
A Vermont resident who authorities say participated in an elaborate telephone scam that used emotional manipulation to bilk at least nine people out of about $300,000 has pleaded guilty in a Massachusetts courtroom and agreed to leave the country
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Today

Overcast. A few flurries or snow showers possible. High near 40F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph..

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Larry Parnass joined The Eagle in 2016 from the Daily Hampshire Gazette, where he was editor in chief. His freelance work has appeared in the Washington Post, Boston Globe, Hartford Courant, CommonWealth Magazine and with the Reuters news service.
PITTSFIELD  The arson case against the man accused setting one of two fires at the vacant White Terrace apartments in September will be tried in Superior Court.

A Berkshire County grand jury has handed down an indictment charging Joseph A. Stone with a single count of arson of a dwelling.

Stone, 43, was arraigned in Superior Court on Wednesday morning, via Zoom, and was ordered held without bail pending a dangerousness hearing at 9 a.m. Dec. 22, via Zoom. A not guilty plea was entered on Stones behalf.

Police and firefighters responded Sept. 16 to a report of a fire in the rear building of the vacant complex on North Street. The property manager, who had been at the apartments boarding up after the roaring fire that was set to another building in the complex a week earlier, identified Stone at the scene, according to police reports.

Stone was arrested on South Street less than an hour later.

Police said in a court documents that Stone was a suspect in the large fire in the front White Terrace building in the early morning hours of Sept. 9, but he has not been charged in that blaze, which resulted in injuries to four firefighters.

Stone was convicted in 2004 of burning down an apartment building at Fenn and First streets in a fire that displaced over a dozen residents during the winter and caused about $1 million in damage.
A man was rescued Thursday after his kayak capsized in the frigid water of Richmond Pond
PITTSFIELD  Andy Cambi will transition from an interim role to the full-time position as director of the Pittsfield Health Department, after a unanimous vote by the Board of Health on Wednesday night.

Well go into the new year with a new director, which is very exciting, said Board of Health Chair Bobbie Orsi.

Cambi and Public Health Nurse Coordinator Pat Tremblay were selected as finalists for the job from the four applications the board received. Tremblay and Cambi were set to be interviewed in a public meeting Wednesday night, but at the start of the meeting Orsi announced that Tremblay had withdrawn from the interview process.

Orsi did not elaborate on Tremblays decision, and the board continued with Cambis interview, followed by a brief discussion and unanimous vote to offer Cambi the job.

Cambi has served in the role of interim Health Department director since September, when departing Health Department director Gina Armstrong recommended to the board that Cambi take on the role until a new director could be found. The Board of Health voted unanimously to follow Armstrongs recommendation.

Over the past three months, Cambi has presented biweekly COVID updates to the City Council, responded to a coronavirus outbreak at the Pittsfield U.S. Post Office, helped the board implement a mask directive as coronavirus cases have spiked across the city, and facilitated a meeting between the Board of Health and Verizon Wireless over health issues experienced by residents living near the companys cell tower.

Quote "I've had the opportunity to work with him on a couple different initiatives, and I found him to be impressive. In the areas where he may not yet have deep knowledge, he's willing to roll up his sleeves and acquire that knowledge." Brad Gordon, Pittsfield Board of Health member

Ive had the opportunity to work with him on a couple different initiatives, and I found him to be impressive, board member Brad Gordon said.

In the areas where he may not yet have deep knowledge, hes willing to roll up his sleeves and acquire that knowledge.

Hes professional, really dedicated to the community and really committed to addressing public health issues in the community, Gordon added.

Pittsfield Public Health Director, Board of Health Chair resign during Wednesday night meeting PITTSFIELD  The Board of Health meeting Wednesday night started and ended with resignations: At the top of the meeting was the resignation of

Cambi told the board during his interview Wednesday that his No. 1 priority as director will be to fill department vacancies. He added that he wants to improve the departments connection with the board and community, increase public accessibility of the office and that he is considering adding a community outreach role to the department.

I have an insight into the diversity of the community, Cambi said. When I first came to Berkshire County, there werent that many resources available in Spanish. We need to see what our demographics are now and see what other languages we need to serve, because getting that [public health] message across and having it accessible is important.

Cambi also mentioned that he is working on creating a rental inspection program with the citys Community Development Department. It would offer housing inspections to landlords and tenants to ensure that tenants are living in a healthy environment.

Cambi has worked with the citys Health Department for the better part of a decade, having joined the department in 2014 as a nuisance control officer. He was promoted to sanitarian after five months with the department, and moved up to the role of senior sanitarian in 2016.

In the midst of his work with the city, Cambi received a bachelors degree in leadership and business from the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts.

Cambi became the face of enforcement as senior sanitarian when the state and city issued public health mandates last year in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. He held a central role in issuing fines to noncompliant businesses and restaurants, including several very public fines to Methuselah Bar and Lounge owner and at large City Councilor Yuki Cohen.

At least one set of fines Cambi issued to Cohen eventually were overturned after the citys hearing officer found that the fines Cambi issued to Cohen violated the state fine limit that was in place at the time. Cambi issued a $1,000 fine when the states limit for fines related to coronavirus safety violations was $300.

Orsi called to offer Cambi the position after a short recess to the boards meeting Wednesday. She said he was very honored and excited to accept the position and that salary negotiations for the role will be worked out in the coming days.
Over the years, I have encountered a number of Christians who argued that Christians should not celebrate Christmas. They have a variety of reasons, including its pagan background and its secular nature today. But, while there is some truth to these arguments, are they a valid reason to skip the observance of Christmas this year?

The Pagan Background of Christmas

Christmas, at its heart, is a celebration of the birth of Jesus. We remember Emmanuel, God with us, taking on human form to live among us for a while. The announcement of the angels to Mary, Zacharias, and the shepherds. The trip to Bethlehem. The visit of the shepherds and magi. All of this is thoroughly Christian and found in the pages of the Bible. Manger scenes, Christmas carols, and Christmas Eve services all help us to remember and celebrate Emmanuel.

But it is true that some of what we see at Christmas is pagan in origin. The actual date of Jesus birth is unknown. Nothing in the Scripture helps us to identify a specific day of the year. Most scholars I have read suggest that it was not in the winter, but more likely in the spring. This is based on the shepherds having the flocks out in the fields near Bethlehem. But others argue against that as well.

So why do we celebrate his birth on December 25th? This was indeed a date already on the calendar for many peoples. Many of the Romans celebrated the birth of Mithra on December 25th. And the Romans had other celebrations that took place around the winter solstice. Co-opting this date provided Christians with a celebration of their own to replace the pagan celebrations happening at the same time.

Christmas trees also have a pagan origin, as do some of the decorations and other traditions we incorporate into our celebrations. But does that really matter? I dont believe so. How those things originally came into our celebrations is immaterial. What matters is what we do with them now.

Christmas as a Secular Holiday

Today, at least in the United States, Christmas is essentially two distinct celebrations. One of them is the celebration of Jesus birth. The other has grown out of the Christian celebration of Jesus birth and has become thoroughly secular.

The secular Christmas is, more and more, removing any mention of its Christian origins. It is a time when families and friends gather. A time for retailers to make one last attempt to make a profit before the end of the year. And a time for the giving and receiving of gifts. Merry Christmas is replaced with Seasons Greetings or Happy Holidays. Christmas music is no longer about the one born in Bethlehem and placed in a manger, and public displays of manger scenes are becoming controversial.

The world around us is indeed co-opting Christmas as a celebration of consumerism. But that does not mean that we should abandon our celebration of Jesus birth. Gathering together, decorating our homes, and exchanging gifts are not bad things. And they can actually enhance our celebration if we keep in mind what Christmas is all about  remembering the gift of God to us.

Christmas as a Time of Remembrance

There is no indication I am aware of that the earliest church celebrated Christmas. Their focus was really on what he had come for and the life they had been called to live as his disciples. But eventually the church began to celebrate, not just his death and resurrection, but his birth as well. The first recorded celebration of the birth of Jesus in Rome was in 336 A. D., according to History.com. The first recorded time it was called Christmas, or Christ Mass, was in 1038.

The celebration of Christmas has evolved over the centuries with more and more being added to the celebration. Many cultures have contributed to the different traditions that make up the Christmas observance today. And not every home that celebrates Christmas makes use of the same traditions.

But, as a Christian, Christmas is a time to remember God coming to live among us. Starting in the womb of a young virgin, born into humble circumstances, celebrated by some and hated by others, growing to adulthood, proclaiming the coming of the kingdom of God. Dying on a Roman cross as the atoning sacrifice for the sin of the world and raised to life on the third day. Whether Jesus was born on December 25th or not is immaterial. What matters is that he was born and began his life and work among us.

Be Fully Convinced in Your Own Mind

Should you, as a Christian, celebrate Christmas? I believe that is a question that only you can answer. The Scripture is silent on the issue of celebrating Christmas. It does however mention a number of annual celebrations that the Jewish people were supposed to remember. And that, in general, was what they were  times of remembrance of what God had done for them. So, adding other days to that calendar of remembrance would not be out of line.

The bigger question might be how much of the secular nature of this season should you participate in. Is it ok to hang lights on your house? To put up and decorate a Christmas tree? Take the kids to see Santa? Participate in the exchange of gifts or go to Christmas parties? I think you can find the answer to that in Colossians 3:17, And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. If you can do those things with a thankful heart and honoring our Lord, then I see no reason not to. But if you cannot, or do not, then you probably should not.

In the end, I believe that Romans 14:5-6a provides the most definitive answer to the question about celebrating Christmas. Paul, while discussing disputable matters, says One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind. Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord.

I believe that the celebration of Christmas is something that Paul would identify as a disputable matter. There is no absolute right or wrong to it. If you celebrate Christmas, do it to the Lord. And if you choose not to celebrate Christmas, do that also for the Lord. But, as the rest of this passage in Romans teaches us, we should not look down on, or condemn others who do not practice the observance, or non-observance, of Christmas like we do. It is a personal matter that each person needs to decide for themselves.

For Myself

For myself, I celebrate Christmas. I have some lights up on the house and some simple decorations inside. I exchange gifts with family members. We usually send out Christmas cards. And we often attend special Christmas services with our church community.

But we try very hard to keep the focus on Jesus, Emmanuel. And not just his birth, but the reason for his incarnation. That baby lying in our manger scenes came to die on a rough Roman cross as the atoning sacrifice for my sin, reconciling me to God, and bringing me into his glory. And that gift of God is what we celebrate most over Christmas.

Related articles

What Does the Bible Say about Christmas Trees?

Why Do Some People Claim That Christmas Is a Pagan Holiday?

Why It Is So Important to Remember Easter on Christmas



Photo credit: Unsplash/Rodion Kutsaev
BIG RAPIDS  The community of Big Rapids has continued to show that its biggest strength could perhaps be the manner in which its citizens support one another in times of need.

So, when local resident Karen GreenBay became privy to a rather concerning medical situation regarding a close family friend, she quickly stepped into action.

This family friend  Okai Strickland, of Big Rapids  is recovering from a stroke she suffered in September 2020, and was subsequently diagnosed with Moyamoya Syndrome  a chronic and progressive condition of the arteries in the brain.

Individuals with Moyamoya Syndrome can suffer from a narrowing of blood vessels, which over time can potentially increase the risk of further strokes.

Strickland will soon undergo surgery to alleviate this condition at the Mayo Clinic, located in Rochester, Minnesota.

To cope with the rising medical and travel expenses, GreenBay has created a GoFundMe fundraiser for her dear friend.

Our families have been connected for quite a while, GreenBay said. Traveling expenses are a big thing, so hopefully the GoFundMe can assist them.

Since the GoFundMe page was created and made public, various members of the Big Rapids community  and beyond  have since followed suit, sharing the fundraiser to their personal pages and donating their own funds to the cause.

In the six days since the launch of GreenBays GoFundMe, close to $8,600 has been raised via more than 135 donors, some choosing to remain anonymous. This number continues to climb as the page continues to receive more donations with each passing day.

(Paying for) the flight, the hotel, if they have to rent a vehicle, those things can definitely help their financial situation, GreenBay said.

GreenBay said she knew she needed to provide some form of assistance, especially when considering the positive impact that Okai and the Strickland family has had on Big Rapids.

They have given back to the community, and we just kind of thought that to allow family friends and members of the community to give back to this family, GreenBay said.

Upon seeing the total number of page shares and donations continue to rise in a short span of time, GreenBay said the support from Big Rapids and the surrounding areas has been great to see.

If you are interested in helping the Strickland family out, visit www.gofundme.com/f/help-okai-with-medical-expenses
Plus, Bill's Message of the Day, Joe and Jill, who's really in charge?

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Elana Afrika-Bredenkamp and her little helpers at the 2021 Spar Carols by Candlelight event.

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Look Forward Orphanage, Gauteng

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The Hanna Charity, Gauteng

Loyiso Bala, Jo Black, J Something, Kelly Khumalo, The One Who Sings | Zolani Mahola, and the Mzansi Youth Choir (left to right)

For almost two decades now, Jacaranda FM and Spar have produced an annual Christmas concert that features some of South Africas most prominent names in music. This year, the Spar Carols by Candlelight concert attracted a whopping 36,000 live streams of the free event, uniting over 120,000 carollers from as far as the United States of America, Canada, and Botswana for the festivities.In its second year as a digital, live-stream event, Spar Carols by Candlelight raised a massive R259,000 in digital donations, just short of the ambitious R300,000 target set.We are thrilled to have raised a six-figure donation for Mzansis vulnerable children and to help spread the wonder and joy of Christmas music with so many people around the world, says Deirdre King, managing director of Jacaranda FM.A-listers such as Mzansi Youth Choir, J Something, Refentse, The One Who Sings  Zolani Mahola, Jo Black, Kelly Khumalo, Charlize Berg, Elandre, Elvis Blue, Tarryn Lamb, and Loyiso Bala (who graciously stood in for Swing City) created a musical wonderland of never-heard-before harmonies and familiar carols to officially usher in the festive season 2021.What really struck me as I watched these top-tier musicians perform to an empty arena is that these professionals havent had the opportunity to come together on stage like this since our last Carols event. Similarly, a wonderful venue like Times Square Arena has been empty for the better part of two years  and yet the entire production and support staff created a world-class event were extremely proud of. Well keep finding ways to support these artists and venues through reimagined digital formats, adds King.Jacaranda FM, the Good Morning Angels team, and Spar will use the funds raised to buy toys for 2,500 children from 11 homes across South Africa. This year, the beneficiaries are:There are many things that make this event special, our 19-year partnership with Jacaranda FM, the top-tier musicians who collaborate, the joyous time of the year  but what really makes Spar Carols by Candlelight a beacon of goodwill is the opportunity make sure that young girls and boys from childrens homes across South Africa feel valued and special this Christmas, said Pieter van Vuuren, Spar Inland Advertising and Promotions manager.Each gift will be lovingly wrapped and personalised for each child in a two-day wrap-a-thon held at the Jacaranda FM studios this week.In a recent survey with our audience, 78% of Jacaranda FM listeners said they are more aware of giving back now than before the pandemic, and we can see this incredible showcase of goodwill through the generous donations we received. Thank you to every single person who joined us and especially to those who donated, said King.Spar Carols by Candlelight will be streamed again on the evening of 24 December at www.jacarandafm.com
The provincial government was quick to address the arrival of the omicron variant, but it will not report on it separately from now on.

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JOHN WOODS/THE CANADIAN PRESS Deputy chief provincial public health officer Dr. Jazz Atwal.

The provincial government was quick to address the arrival of the omicron variant, but it will not report on it separately from now on.

"They will be added to the daily new cases unless we find it necessary to report on this separately," Dr. Jazz Atwal, deputy chief provincial public health officer, said at Wednesdays weekly COVID-19 update press conference.

The province is monitoring the first case of the omicron variant, which was found in a person who travelled from one of the 10 countries advised by the federal government to have the variant. The person was listed as having mild symptoms and is isolating. All contacts have been traced, contacted and are isolating.

Four more cases were identified on Wednesday. One travelled from one of the 10 countries the federal government placed travel restrictions on, and three others are close contacts of that person.

Even with surging cases, there will not be any changes to current public health orders or restrictions at this time. Most of the existing restrictions already target the unvaccinated, so they do not want to make life any harder for those who have done their part to get vaccinated and follow health guidelines.

Dr. Joss Reimer, medical lead of Manitobas vaccine implementation task force, said now is the time to get vaccinated, be it a first, second or even third dose. There is very little known about how contagious or dangerous the omicron variant is, but the vaccine is still the best tool to fight it as it provides the body a chance to produce antibodies.

A third dose is being recommended to give the body a chance to "remember" the virus and trigger the immune system to flood the body with antibodies once again.

"These antibodies are not directly attacking omicron, but we have seen how the bodys immune response can produce antibodies that can target and overwhelm this virus and variants, so a large number of antibodies is better to fight it," Reimer said. "Again, this isnt a guarantee of no infection, but we are seeing those who are infected are far less likely to develop severe symptoms, end up in hospital or intensive care."

The omicron variant contains more than 30 mutations in the spike protein and 50 total in its genome, according to the British Medical Journal. This allows it to bind to human cells and gain entry into the body. This has many scientists concerned about how fast it could spread.

Mutations to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, have been expected as this is how a virus adapts and survives to continue spreading. This virus invades the body using its "corona," a layer of protein spikes that fit into cells like a lock and key, where it makes copies of its genomes. During that process, errors occur in the code, creating a mutation. Sometimes the mutations are harmless, but this can cause the virus to become more transmissible, or cause more severe illness.

Even without the variant, cases are surging once again. Monika Warren, provincial COVID-19 operations chief for Shared Health, said the situation is disappointing and they are watching numbers closely. There are around three cases being admitted into intensive care units daily, and modelling is suggesting up to 200 cases a day by the new year. They are expecting a five to 10 per cent gradual rise in the next two weeks.

With the holiday season ramping up, Atwal said they are asking people to plan accordingly and consider current restrictions. He explained they will be releasing public health guidance over holiday events and gatherings in the near future. On enforcement, he explained it would be nearly impossible to have authorities at private homes, so pre-emptive messaging is a logical choice.

Health officials are reminding Manitobans to get their flu shots to prevent further strain on the provinces health system. Approximately 22 per cent of Manitobans have received their flu vaccine this season.

 kmckinley@brandonsun.com
Again, a very important issue, Rodrigues concedes. Rodrigues has been in the role since March (hes so fresh to its public scrutiny, he insisted he pay his half of our dinner bill). A former managing director of Time Out magazine  he licensed and launched the publication in Australia in 2007; before that he was a lawyer at Allens specialising in project finance  he later co-founded the Independent Bars Association and the Night Time Industries Association after seeing the citys going out culture atrophy amid the lockout laws. Ultimately, at Time Out I got bored with us just writing stories about [the lockout laws] and not actually doing something about it. Theres a difference between commentating and getting in and campaigning, and actually trying to change something. Michael Rodrigues in a bustling Chinatown in February before the lockdown. Credit:Edwina Pickles The night-time focus of Rodrigues role justified a PM shift for this features usual lunchtime slant. On a bustling Wednesday evening, we booked a table on the upper balcony of Odd Culture on Newtowns King Street, a new diner from the group behind inner west hangs Oxford Tavern and Duke of Enmore, on the site of the old local institution Happy Chef.

You have a large amount of investment in transport, roads, buildings  but if its only getting half-utilised, is that really a good thing? Michael Rodrigues The Chinese restaurant burned down in a fire in November 2018, prompting hand-scrawled messages of gratitude across its boarded up facade from locals for months as it was being gutted. Inside Odd Culture, a casually hip joint where patrons sip sour beers as Tom Petty and Mitski blare loudly through the speakers, a Happy Chef logo on one of its walls nods to the spaces cherished history. Rodrigues says the venue is emblematic of the citys entrepreneurial hustle  an attitude he finds essential in his new role helping to reimagine Sydneys post-lockout, post-lockdown possibilities. Sydney always has this ambition, where it doesnt matter what the circumstances throw at it. Even in the face of a pandemic theres still people that are like, You know what, well give it a go anyway! he says, sipping Odd Cultures signature sour negroni (cherry lambic vermut, gin and Campari). Opening a new venue in a market like this is, I think, such an embodiment of Sydneys ambition. Lockdown, particularly, has made everyone understand the value of going out, says Rodrigues. During the spell at home he started cooking vegetarian for his wife, Vicky, and two daughters, aged 5 and 8. But now when I go out, Im just like, Im having meat, he laughs.

He eats vegetarian at home, so time to order hanger steak, with burnt garlic and egg yolk sauce. Credit:Wolter Peeters We share the hanger steak with burnt garlic and egg yolk sauce; LPs saucisson with pickled carrot and candied fennel; Fish on Toast (raw scallop, mango, jalapeno); sides of lorette potatoes with garlic butter and green leaves; and a couple of glasses of 21 Little Reddie Super Juice Nebbiolo, chilled. As Sydneys new night mayor, it seems part of the job to dine out like this.I do alright, Rodrigues laughs. There were periods there at Time Out, Monday night in particular, where I was constantly out till 2 or 3am. At the moment, Im better serving my stakeholders to ensure businesses are getting relief. But Ive just got to find a bit of balance and not have my wife initiate divorce proceedings. The lingering pandemic, with its public health restrictions and absence of tourism, has shaped Rodrigues early stint in the role. His main focus, he says, is getting conditions for trade to a level that can allow businesses just to function in a new normal.

But then Im also keen to use this as an opportunity to think about possibilities, he adds. This is not a restoration job. We get to reimagine the future, and reimagine it for a new generation who may not necessarily want to do the same things an older generation wanted to do. The question around what Sydneysiders want to do at night is manifold. Research cited in the governments strategy, for example, found that 78 per cent of people would like more night-time activities that do not centre around alcohol. Sydneys cultural diversity means these experiences are readily available, says Rodrigues. LPs saucisson, with pickled carrot and candied fennel. Credit: Wolter Peeters He recalls a spell living in Dubai for a few years, far removed from our big night out culture of boozing till 3am. It was a late-night culture because it was burning hot during the day. At night wed go out for shisha and mint tea, and oftentimes the locals would be out till 5 or 6 in the morning having Middle Eastern barbecue. Now, I look at our population and I think, well, thats happening here, but its happening behind closed doors because it isnt embraced as well as it could be in the public domain, he says.

As such, a key concept in the governments strategy is the Neon Grid, which aims to identify and promote safe 24-hour hubs beyond the CBD. Born to Indian immigrants in the western suburbs (he grew up between Liverpool and Campbelltown), Rodrigues is eager to make each local council area vibrant in its unique way. I see my role as creating an enabling environment that gives people of all ages and backgrounds and socio-economics an opportunity to participate in culture, he says. So if its Haldon Street in Lakemba, or Wigram Street in Harris Park  how exciting is it to have all that? Thats my version of streaming in real-life: if you liked this, you might also like that. Thats kind of what the strategy is trying to do, its saying: how do we tell a better story of this great diversity of experiences in Sydney that dont necessarily need to be expensive and dont necessarily need to revolve around the consumption of alcohol? Fish on Toast, with raw scallop, mango and jalapeno. Credit:Wolter Peeters In terms of night-time activities, Rodrigues says its not his role to prescribe what they should be. Should you be going to three live gigs and a comedy show a week? Not up to me, he says, recalling Time Outs agnostic stance around going out. Its not about saying opera is better than ballet is better than music  all of it is better than being at home every night, so go and do something!

Its not about saying opera is better than ballet is better than music  all of it is better than being at home every night, so go and do something! Hes excited by immersive experiences, the work of companies like Punchdrunk and Meow Wolf overseas and a form thats already gained traction in Sydney with productions such as A Midnight Visit and Hiddens upcoming The Great Gatsby. But hes more interested in fostering the conditions for creativity to thrive than in defining what they might be. The urgent, if less sexy, opportunities lie in those one to two per cent improvements in peoples going out experience, he says, such as the rise of device use in venues with the recent uptake of QR codes and the ability to order-at-table at bars and restaurants. Think of whats happened in the past three to four years, the choices you have now at home, he says. In the pandemic flat-screen TVs went through the roof, streaming spiked, delivery services proliferated. My brother-in-law lives two kilometres from Broadway; hell order popcorn and a frozen Coke from the cinema and watch a movie at home! Because hes got a three-metre video screen and hes in the comfort of his own house. That seamless experience we have at home is becoming the expectation of when you go out, says Rodrigues. So if it takes two clicks to stay in, how many clicks does it take you to go out?

Michael Rodrigues at Odd Culture in Newtown. Credit:Wolter Peeters He points to YCK Laneways  the recently rebranded cluster of world-class cocktail bars on York, Clarence and Kent Streets in the CBD  as a tangible example of what the future of going out in Sydney can improve to be. Loading Lets say me and you go, oh we want to go to YCK now. Ill get an Uber and rather than picking a single venue, Ill just hit YCK. Then as youre rolling into YCK, what if you could see the capacities at all the bars? If we want to meet new people, well go to a bar thats 80 per cent full. If we want a quick drink before the theatre, well go to one thats 20 per cent full. And then, because your phones already out, what if you could just order a drink the minute you walk in? Sounds convenient. But will I be able to get that 3am coffee?

I would like to see that as a given, in more than one council area, he says. I think that happening in increased instances in small pockets is definitely achievable. Odd Culture: The bill, please. The pandemic means the citys night-time economy hasnt had a proper opportunity to trade yet. But Rodrigues hopes within two years time well explicitly see different areas of Sydney offering different experiences deep into the wee hours. When I was interviewing for this role, I asked people to tell me a great memory of a night out and why. And inevitably, people said, Oh, we went to do this thing and then this other thing happened. Its the unexpected. And in order for that to happen you need an element of critical mass. But I think already a fear of missing out is coming back, he adds. Its that feeling that you werent there and you missed the most amazing night ever.
NSW Health has issued alerts for two Sydney venues which were visited by COVID-19 cases likely infected with the Omicron strain of the virus.

In a statement, the department said Cult Nightclub, in Potts Point, and the Albion Hotel, in Parramatta, had been attended by confirmed cases linked to the previously reported outbreak on a party boat cruise on Sydney Harbour on December 3.

There are now 11 cases linked to a Sydney Harbour boat cruise. Credit:TikTok

It is likely some of these cases have the Omicron variant of concern, the statement said.

Anyone who attended the Albion Hotel on December 5 from 4.30pm until close of business must get tested and follow the isolation rules for close contacts.

Anyone who attended the Albion Hotel on December 3-4 between 11am and 3am; and Cult Nightclub on December 4-5 between 9.45pm and 3am must get tested and follow the isolation rules for casual contacts.

NSW Health has confirmed a total of 11 COVID-19 cases among people who attended the cruise on Sydney Harbour. Three of these cases are confirmed to have the Omicron variant.
Scientists in Queensland were working on the latest samples taken from a returned traveller over the weekend when they realised something was different about the results.

The results did not have the tell-tale lack of a specific gene which researchers have been using as an early warning of the new Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2, but it was also definitely not Delta.

The Omicron-like variant was detected in a returned traveller last weekend. Here, a scientist at Queensland Healths Queensland Public Health and Infectious diseases REference (Q-PHIRE) Genomics lab prepares a sample for sequencing Credit:Queensland Health

Dr Amy Jennison, chief scientist for Public Health Microbiology at Queensland Health said they rapidly moved to inform colleagues interstate and overseas of their findings.

The information was disseminated to other states [in Australia] very rapidly, and that information has also been made publicly available, Dr Jennison said.
Homicide detectives have released CCTV of two vehicles, including the movements of a black Audi, in the weeks before the drive-by shooting of gangster Bilal Hamze in Sydneys CBD in June.

Police say an extensive search of CCTV footage also identified a Mercedes used in an alleged plot to murder Bilals brother Ibrahem Hamze, a senior member of the crime family, in the citys north in August.

A black Audi captured on CCTV travelling on the M4 on May 27, 2021. Credit:NSW Police

Homicide Squad Commander Detective Superintendent Danny Doherty said the Audi and Mercedes were captured travelling westbound in the M4 East tunnel about 15 minutes apart on May 27, 2021, and have been identified on traffic cameras across the Sydney metropolitan area after that time.

Additionally, the Audi has been captured on CCTV using the Sydney Harbour Bridge both before and immediately after the murder of Bilal Hamze earlier this year, he said on Thursday.
Tens of thousands of people are likely to be in isolation for Christmas as Sydneys cases climb over the festive period, with a rush of people in their 40s and 50s becoming eligible for booster doses over the summer break.

NSW reported 420 new local coronavirus cases on Thursday, its highest number since October 13. Eight additional locally acquired cases of the Omicron variant were announced, bringing the total number in the state to 42.

Police cordoned off Noahs Bondi Backpackers on Thursday afternoon. Credit:Edwina Pickles

Three Omicron cases were linked to a 90s dance party cruise held on Sydney Harbour last Friday. Meanwhile, Bondi backpacker hostel Noahs was sent into lockdown on Thursday afternoon following the detection of a COVID-19 case. It was not clear on Thursday evening whether the outbreak was linked to the new variant.

The rise in Omicron cases comes as state health authorities urge NSW residents to book booster shots. Pfizer claimed on Thursday three doses of their coronavirus vaccine was able to neutralise the new Omicron variant, following results in a small laboratory study.
Heavy Sydney traffic helped stop a man allegedly linked to the Stuart MacGill kidnapping saga from escaping police, who made the dramatic arrest on the Anzac Bridge at Pyrmont on Wednesday.

Police have been hunting Zachary Elkheir, publicly known as Sonny or Zac, since the retired international cricketer was allegedly abducted in April.

Police pursued and arrested Zachary Elkheir in dramatic scenes between Neutral Bay and Pyrmont on Wednesday. Credit:Police Media

Mr Elkheir, 28, was introduced by Mr MacGill to his partners brother, Marino Sotiropoulos. Police allege that Mr Elkheir had agreed to buy drugs from a cocaine supplier.

The alleged deal went sour when Mr Elkheir allegedly ripped off the supplier by failing to pay for the two kilograms of cocaine.
Damaging winds and large hailstones have hit parts of south-east Queensland as a second wave of severe thunderstorms swept in.

The Bureau of Meteorology warned Ipswich, Logan and parts of Gympie, Somerset, Scenic Rim, Gold Coast, Redlands, Noosa and Brisbane would be impacted on Thursday.

Thunderstorms are expected to hit south-east Queensland once more. Credit:Toby Crockford

The alert issued just after 6.30pm said thunderstorms were detected near Archerfield, Upper Brookfield and Jimboomba.

These thunderstorms are moving towards the east, it said.
A Queensland couple who packed up their lives in a caravan have been touring Australia through the pandemic while successfully avoiding lockdowns and restrictions.

Katie and Paul Guerin, along with their then three-year-old son Jasper, began their journey began in late 2019, months before COVID-19 emerged.

Queenslanders Paul and Katie Guerin and their son Jasper began their life in a caravan in 2019.

It all started after the couple fell into debt after spending more than $60,000 for six rounds of IVF and health treatments in the hope of starting a family.

In 2016, their wish finally came true.
Legal experts have questioned why a new order is needed, and how this would make it quicker or cheaper to sue for defamation. The order would only be available in the Federal Court, even though defamation cases are also brought in the District and Supreme Courts. Judge Gibson said she was deeply concerned about the cost of running defamation cases, which can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars or more, and the volume of cases in Australia. The proposed laws were a recipe for disaster that would result in the Federal Court being hit with a tsunami of self-represented litigants. Are we really the sort of country where we want to be the libel centre of the world? she said. Is it attractive that we hear more defamation cases in this country than the UK and the US combined? Is this what we want to be? Why are we so sensitive about our reputations? Are we really the sort of country where we want to be the libel centre of the world? Why are we so sensitive about our reputations? NSW District Court Judge Judith Gibson The proposal also seeks to force multinational social media platforms to set up Australian companies or shopfronts to handle defamation complaints locally, to make it easier for Australians to sue them for defamation if the companies cant rely on the proposed new defence.

Federal Court Justice Michael Lee, a defamation expert who also spoke at the CAMLA event, suggested theres a lot of water under the bridge that may occur before any proposals were enacted, and it remained to be seen how closely any law reflected the first draft. Loading Justice Lee said defamation on social media was a big issue in the Federal Court, and it presented a number of challenges. Well-heeled people had already used the preliminary discovery process to help them launch defamation proceedings over online posts and there had been a rash of such applications in the Federal Court, he said. Justice Lee added that it does concern me that ... the ability to commence a [defamation] proceeding in order to obtain vindication is out of reach to most even relatively wealthy individuals. Any justice system which has allowed itself to become so complex and so expensive will alienate itself from the people its supposed to serve, he said.

Justice Lee raised questions about whether the Federal Court was the appropriate forum for some social media cases, and noted that in future there might be specialist judges in the lower-level Federal Circuit and Family Court who could hear such cases. Federal Court Justice Richard White appeared to make a similar observation on Wednesday when he said Defence Minister Peter Duttons defamation case over a tweet by refugee advocate Shane Bazzi could have been brought in the lower-level Queensland Magistrates Court, where costs would be lower. He concluded that Mr Dutton should not be permitted to recover his full legal costs from Mr Bazzi. Just because [a case] involves a national figure does not mean it is of national importance, Justice White said. The governments proposed laws will also reverse a High Court decision that the owner of a public Facebook page, such as a media company or public figure, is legally responsible as the publisher of potentially defamatory third-party comments on that page, even if they are not aware of the comments.

Under changes proposed by the government, social media platforms would be deemed to be the publishers of the comments, reflecting existing law, while owners of the account would be deemed not to be a publisher. Loading Judge Gibson said she agreed with criticisms made by other legal experts that the changes would result in the owners of social media pages deciding not to moderate any comments. It also shows a complete lack of understanding of how the internet functions. If theyre not doing this in Canada, New Zealand, the UK and the other common law jurisdictions, chances are its not the simple answer it looks like being, she said. NSW Supreme Court Justice John Sackar, also a seasoned defamation lawyer, told the CAMLA event that deeming provisions are very interesting, but they tend to be a little restrictive.
The federal regulator for medical practitioners will continue investigations into a Perth nurse who was accused by police of faking COVID-19 jabs but whose case fell over at its second hearing.

This week, WA Police prosecutors dropped a charge of gaining a benefit by fraud against Christina Hartmann Benz, 51, over a lack of evidence.

Christina Hartmann Benz, 51, has had a fraud charge discontinued due to a lack of evidence. Credit:Holly Thompson

During Ms Hartmann Benzs first court appearance, a police prosecutor claimed a father attended a St James respiratory clinic asking for the nurse to vaccinate his teenager but a doctor overseeing the procedure witnessed her dispose of a syringe that hadnt been depressed into the childs arm.

On Wednesday, Deputy Police Commissioner Gary Dreibergs indicated the case was hampered over private health information regarding the vaccination status of the 15-year-old child at the centre of the charge.
The International Monetary Fund is urging all countries to work together to deal with the fallout from the surge in cryptocurrencies and other new forms of financial assets as the Reserve Bank tempers expectations it will soon offer its own digital currency.

Amid warnings of the cryptoization of countries as their domestic currencies are replaced by technology-based assets, the IMF overnight said a global approach to regulating the emerging technology was necessary and needs to include regulations similar to the treatment of fiat money.

The IMF says all countries have to work together to regulate crypto-assets. Credit:AP

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg this week said he would seek more powers to regulate in the growing areas around digital wallets, cryptocurrencies and blockchain fintech companies, arguing a properly regulated payment system could set up Australia as a major player in the sector.

His new regulations, based on the findings of three separate inquiries into different aspects of the fintech and cryptocurrency sector, are not likely to be formalised until late next year.
London: Ghislaine Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein are seen relaxing at the Queens log cabin on her Balmoral estate in photographs released on Thursday AEDT as evidence in the socalites sex-trafficking trial.

The photograph of the pair at the woodland cabin in Glen Beg was among a trove of pictures that were recovered from hard drives and CDs at Epsteins New York townhouse, seized in an FBI raid after the financier was charged with sex offences.

Ghislaine Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein at the Queens Balmoral cabin. Credit:US District Attorneys Office

It is unclear when the photograph was taken, although it has previously been reported that Maxwell and Epstein were personally hosted at the Queens Scottish property by the Duke of York in 1999.

The Royal family was dragged into the New York trial last week after mention was made of the Prince Andrews friendship with the late financier and flights he was alleged to have taken on his private jet.
In the first year of his presidency, Joe Biden has used a single, epochal theme to frame an array of policy announcements. Sharing vaccines with developing nations and investing in Americas decaying infrastructure were not just important initiatives in themselves; they were ways to demonstrate that democracies can still deliver for their citizens in an age of rising authoritarianism.

He said, in his first presidential press conference in March, that it was absolutely clear the world was witnessing a battle between the utility of democracies in the 21st century and autocracies.

On Friday (AEDT) Biden will thrust that battle into the global spotlight by hosting a virtual two-day Summit for Democracy  fulfilling a pledge he made during the 2020 election campaign.

President Joe Biden will host 110 nations for a vitual summit for democracy. Credit:AP

The Biden administration says it wants to use the summit to build a shared foundation for global democratic renewal, and there is no doubt that democracy is under siege around the globe.
US President Joe Biden has described renewing peoples faith in democracy as the defining challenge of our time while addressing more than 100 world leaders at the beginning of his two-day Summit for Democracy.

Alluding both to the rise of China and his predecessor, Donald Trump, Biden said democracy was under threat from dictators who sought to export and expand their influence around the world and from voices that seek to fan the flames of societal division and political polarisation.

US President Joe Biden speaks at the opening of his Summit for Democracy. Credit:AP

Most worrying, he said, was the sense that people around the world felt democratic governments were failing to deliver their needs.

Will we allow the backward slide of rights and democracy to continue unchecked? Biden asked his fellow leaders at the virtual summit, including Prime Minister Scott Morrison.
Silvopastoral farming, where trees and forage plants are planted in livestock pasture, may support biodiversity and offer solutions to high deforestation rates, according to a new University of Bristol-led study that investigated the effects of the farming method across farms in Colombia, South America.

A transition to silvopastoral systems (SPS), when implemented in a participatory way where farmers can decide how the system is adopted in their farms and make commitments to conserve remnant forests, could help Colombia meet its greenhouse gas emissions targets for 2030 and protect the countrys Amazonian forests.

Over the last 20 years, Colombia  the second most biodiverse country in the world, has lost more than 4.6million hectares of forest, partly due to the expansion of cattle farming, which in turn is related to complex historical, economic and political reasons. While a range of national and international agri-environmental projects aimed at reducing deforestation levels have been implemented in Colombia, until now their uptake and efficacy was not known.

The BioSmart project, comprising entomologists, economists, geographers, climate modellers and botanists, sought to assess biodiversity value in silvopasture compared with non-SPS conventional pasture sites. The team recorded the number of insects and plant species across 16 SPS farm sites in Caqueta, Colombia. An Amazonian department which experiences particularly high levels of deforestation where 6,883km2 of forest was cleared between 2000-2020, equivalent to 8.5% of the regions total forest-covered land.

The teams findings include:

Even the small, remnant forests found on the farms studied were host to unique communities of invertebrates and plants, evidence that preserving these should be a priority in terms of biodiversity.

Silvopasture supports greater numbers of native plant species (72 species) compared to traditional pastures (62).

Fewer herbivorous pests are found in silvopasture compared with traditional pastures. On average, across the farms surveyed, almost twice as many (a 95% increase) of insects (called Hemipterans) were found in traditional pasture compared to silvopasture. This may indicate that greater biological control by invertebrate predators such as spiders occurs in silvopasture, although further data is needed to confirm this hypothesis.

Twenty-five per cent of trees planted to establish the silvopasture were from the legume family (Fabaceae) which have the potential to increase soil fertility by fixing nitrogen from the air to the soil, and may therefore help increase the productivity of livestock.

The use of improved forage grasses, such as Brachiaria, may contribute to increased productivity in silvopasture compared to traditional pastures, as we found the average height of the grazing grasses in silvopasture was more than double that in traditional pasture.

Silvopasture can sequester more carbon than traditional pasture, and allows higher stocking densities (between 1.25 and 3.75 times higher than conventional pasture), resulting in an average 1.8 times less GHG emissions. However, primary forest plots are still 66.5 times more effective at storing carbon than silvopasture and it is therefore vital to halt further deforestation. Regenerated forests sequestered between 27 to 164 times more CO 2 per hectare per year than SPS.

Dr Maria Paula Escobar, a human geographer who works as a Lecturer in Environmental Geography at the Bristol Veterinary School, and BioSmart project lead, said: Our work shows that the adoption of silvopastoral farming could avoid further decimation of Colombias forests. We show if 75% of suitable existing pastureland in Caqueta was converted to SPS pastures, this would save up to 7% of Colombia's emissions budget for 2030, which would contribute to the Colombian governments pathway to net zero. But this can only happen if funders and implementers understand that deforestation is not only the result of individual agricultural practices, but the result of complex historical, socioeconomic and political problems.

Deforested areas have a high potential to transition from intensive farming to more sustainable practices, including silvopasture. Since many of these areas are next to forest remnants in Caqueta, adopting more sustainable agriculture, coupled with farmers agreements to protect remaining forests would prevent further conversion of primary forest and slow overall deforestation rates. While sustainable agriculture alone is insufficient to reduce deforestation, silvopasture could play a significant role in helping to achieve Colombias greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets for 2030, but projects that aim to implement them must build trust and avoid perpetuating inequalities.

BioSmart is funded by the BBSRC, Newton Fund, NERC and ESRC in the UK and Alianza de Bioversity Internacional y el CIAT in Colombia and includes researchers from the University of Reading, CIAT (the International Center for Tropical Agriculture), Scotlands Rural College SRUC, the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology and the Universidad de la Amazonia.

Report

The projects report and recommendations Agri-environmental policy, silvopastoral systems, biodiversity and climate change is published in both English and Spanish.
Latest News Why brokers should be advising their clients to pay rate lock Key tool for brokers in the new rate rise environment of 2022

Could 2022 be the year that the deposit hurdle is broken for young people? House prices have rocketed, taking deposits with them  heres how brokers can help clients to get over the first hurdle

AFG has announced the appointment of Christa Malkin to their new Strategic Partner program to support their broker network across Australia.

Malkin is a well-known figure within the broker channel, and will take up the role of strategic partnership manager. She will be based in Melbourne, Victoria.

She has extensive experience working with brokers, having previously held a partnerships role at Bluestone APAC and several roles within the Westpac Group, including general manager broker distribution at Westpac and Bank of Melbourne.

Prior to that, she was head of specialist sales at Bankwest for the Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and Northern Territory markets.

READ MORE: Is the broker pay review really necessary?

All brokerages have common problems to solve however different operating models means they require different levels of support, said AFG manager strategic partners and recruitment, Them Lam.



The AFG Strategic Partners program delivers tailored support to meet the needs of AFGs enterprise-sized brokerages with tools, analytics and insights to support their growth.



I am delighted to appoint such an experienced operator to the AFG team supporting our Strategic Partners.

Christa is a very talented professional and brings a wealth of experience to the team.
Latest News Why brokers should be advising their clients to pay rate lock Key tool for brokers in the new rate rise environment of 2022

Could 2022 be the year that the deposit hurdle is broken for young people? House prices have rocketed, taking deposits with them  heres how brokers can help clients to get over the first hurdle

Last week was a huge one for aggregator AFG. The broker channel giant first bought Fintelligence, a bespoke asset finance aggregator, before also confirming the purchase of BrokerEngine, a backend platform for workflow management.

With such a big week in the books, Australian Broker spoke to AFG CEO David Bailey to chat about the moves, and where they leave the more than 3,000 brokers who use the aggregator.

Bailey said that the timing was not intentional, but more a function of the market.

Both came about via an information memorandum, he said. Both entities were touching base with the market to see if there was any interest, and you can't dictate when those things arise.

Both of them had similar close dates in terms of the NBIO process, and it evolved from there. As a listed company, once we've executed transactions, particularly the Fintelligence deal, we had to inform the market. That's how it evolved and made for busy few weeks.

READ MORE: Is the broker pay review really necessary?

Despite the coincidental timing, the moves can still be seen as a big investment in the future of the channel and the growth that is expected to come in 2022.

What underpins our business strategy is that broker share will grow, said Bailey. Good brokers will get busier, and they'll be looking for means to both increase the level of additional products they have available for their clients, and also looking to bring efficiencies into their business.



The business has been built on the success of a broker needs How can we encourage the success of the broker? For me, that is continuing to invest in different revenue lines and different possibilities for brokers to generate revenue, and also the technology to make their life simpler.

As we look forward into where the world may turn with Open Banking, it is underpinning how customers would look to interact in the future with open banking.

AFG CEO speaks on major market moves

The big news was the Fintelligence and BrokerEngine buys, but they come fresh on the back of significant investment in tech too, with a deal freshly inked with Open Banking partner Frollo.



Thats where our Frollo and Volt investment comes into play, said Bailey. Fintelligence has built its business on on consumer asset finance, and theyve got a technology platform which facilitates the comparison and execution of consumer asset finance.

That is something a broker should be providing their clients as a part of our whole of client experience.



If you follow our if you follow our strategy, it's been about having the distribution and and starting to include our own manufacturing, which provides choice to the consumer and to the broker, but also helps underpin the success and the financial strength of the aggregator.

Its about providing additional services for our brokers to provide to their customers in the area of consumer asset finance.



I think our overriding thesis is that brokers will continue to grow, but theyll looking to their aggregator to continue to invest to keep them competitive, and thats what AFG is doing.
Plc plans to make key hires in investment banking and wealth management across next year as the British lender plots its return to some of the worlds fastest growing economies after a 2016 restructuring.



The bank -- which is benefiting from a boom in deals and trading along with its Wall Street rivals -- is seeking to rebuild in some of the markets it exited, and is targeting China, India, Singapore and Australia to expand, according to Jaideep Khanna, head of Asia-Pacific and chief executive officer. Its also hiring in Japan and Hong Kong.

We are profitable in the region and I fully expect it to continue in 2022, Khanna, 56, said in an interview. Our focus is going to be consistent - try and stick to the areas where we are strong. There are enough areas for us to drive returns today and thats what we are focused on.

is expanding in after former CEO Jes Staley unleashed a global round of job cuts five years ago that shuttered its cash securities operations across The bank had then scaled back operations in countries including Australia, South Korea and Malaysia, but kept its prime brokerage and derivatives business in the region.

Barclays in 2021-22 is a very different business that existed prior to 2016, Khanna said. It is much more focused now, generating better returns with more local knowledge and more self-awareness.

Holy Grail



The bank joins rivals such as HSBC Holdings Plc. and Standard Chartered Plc in beefing up its presence in Asia with a focus on China as President Xi Jinping opens up one of the worlds largest banking markets to foreign competition. Barclays has already made a number of strategic appointments in the region this year, including a regional head of distressed debt and special situations debt trading.

In China we are small, we see the potential and we want to continue to invest in a calibrated and deliberate manner there, he said. Diversification in financial services is the holy grail. That has saved firms.

Unlike peers such as UBS Group AG and Citigroup Inc., Barclays currently has a small presence in China and operates through a single branch and a representative office.

In India, where Barclays has the highest number of employees outside of the U.K., the bank plans to invest just over $400 million to grow its corporate, investment and wealth management businesses after a flurry of deals and investments in the South Asian nation, it said in August.

Read more about Barclays plans for to tap deal frenzy

Barclays is probably the only international bank of our size and stature that has the regional CEO based out of - that gives a sense to how important India is, Khanna said.

Barclays also plans to build up its private banking business in Singapore, and investment banking in Australia by hiring locally, he said. The bank has a stake in Australian advisory firm Barrenjoey Capital Partners, which hired a number of prominent deal-makers last year from banks including UBS and JPMorgan Chase & Co.

--With assistance from Stefania Spezzati.
Indian drugmaker Ltd is in talks with generic drugmaker for a merger of their businesses, financial website Moneycontrol reported on Thursday, citing sources with direct knowledge of the matter.



will seek to hold a controlling majority stake in the merged entity and the will also look for an initial public offering (IPO) for the entity post-merger in which they will seek a valuation of over $10 billion, the report said.



Spokespersons for and Viatris Inc, the company which was formed after combining with Pfizer Inc's off-patent branded drugs business, said that the do not comment on market rumours and speculation.





Biocon's business, Biocon Biologics, and Viatris already have an extensive collaboration agreement under which they develop, manufacture and commercialise a broad portfolio of biosimilars and diabetes generic drugs including insulin injection Semglee.

In September, Biocon said the unit will sell a 15% stake to a Serum Institute of India subsidiary for access to millions of vaccine doses, including COVID-19 shots. The deal valued Biocon Biologics at about $4.9 billion.

Biocon Biologics has also raised capital through several rounds this year and last year from high-profile names such as Abu Dhabi-based ADQ, Goldman Sachs and Tata Capital Growth Fund.

Shares of Biocon were down 1.9% as of 0626 GMT in a weak Mumbai market.

(Reporting by Anuron Kumar Mitra in Bengaluru; Editing by Rashmi Aich)

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Direct-to-Consumer personal and home care products Clensta on Thursday said it has raised Rs 20 crore from Hem Angels part of Hem Securities Ltd, Venture Catalysts and Inflection Point Ventures.

Existing investors N+1 Capital (RBF) and other investors also invested in this series A round, Clensta's said in a statement.

The funds raised will be used to scale up the company's sales, ramp up brand marketing and expand online and offline presence across India, it added.

Commenting on the fund raise, Clensta Founder CEO Puneet Gupta said, "we will be focusing on developing innovative and sustainable products, enhancing our relations with customers, marketing and expansion of our footprints across the country."



The company aims to use technology to scale the personal-care segment and provide personalised shopping experience to its customers, he added.

"Keeping in mind the Indian home care market size of USD 6.2 billion, we have adopted an omni-channel strategy to ensure Clensta's presence in offline as well as online markets. In this light, this comes as an affirmation that we continue to lead in the right path," Gupta said.

On the investment, Hem Angels Director Gaurav Jain said over the next five years, Direct-to-Consumer (D2C) brands present at least a USD 100 billion opportunity.

"There's no better time than now for Clensta to get off their growth plan and take their product to the next level, witnessing rapid acceleration of scale," he added.

Venture Catalyst Co-founder and President Apoorva Ranjan Sharma said, "we are optimistic that Clensta will become a billion dollar tech-driven personal care brand in the next few years."



Similarly, Inflection Point Ventures Co-Founder Mitesh Shah said the D2C wave is "birthing many innovative and disruptive brands" and Clensta takes the innovation further with the introduction of waterless tech in their products.

"Their understanding of the fast-growing D2C segment and a varied range of products in personal care impressed our investors to lead this round," Shah added.

The IIT Delhi backed start-up founded in 2016 has over 30 products in its portfolio. It had started with flagship products -- waterless body bath and shampoo -- based on 'Waterless Technology'.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
An affiliate of on Thursday offloaded shares worth nearly Rs 313 crore in Finance through an open market transaction.

According to bulk deal data available with the NSE, Hamblin Watsa Investment Counsel (HWIC) Asia Fund sold over 1.04 crore shares of Finance at an average price of Rs 300.17 apiece.

The transaction took the total transaction size to Rs 312.79 crore.

Through another transaction, Smallcap World Fund Inc picked up 35.61 lakh shares of Finance at Rs 300 apiece, translating into a deal value of Rs 106.85 crore.

Before this, the fund offloaded IIFL Finance's shares worth Rs 365 crore, while Smallcap had purchased shares worth Rs 300 crore on December 1.

As of September 2021, HWIC Asia Fund held 7.48 per cent shares in IIFL Finance, FIH Mauritius Investments, a subsidiary of Fairfax, owned 22.32 per cent, while Smallcap World Fund Inc had 1.61 per cent shareholding in the company.

On NSE, shares of IIFL Finance Ltd on Thursday settled at Rs 307.95, down 0.15 per cent from the previous close.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Top Indian by valuation saw their networth rise by 68 per cent this year despite the pandemic, which has otherwise had a disastrous impact on small businesses and normal life, a report said on Thursday.

The Burgundy Private Hurun India 500 list's overall networth stands at Rs 228 lakh crore or USD 3 trillion (higher than India's GDP), and it has 200 whose valuation doubled during the year.

The list is led by richest Indian Mukesh Ambani-led with a valuation of Rs 16.7 lakh crore, followed by (Rs 13.1 lakh crore) and HDFC Bank (Rs 9.1 lakh crore).

In the unlisted space, vaccine-maker (SII) is valued the highest at Rs 1.8 lakh crore. The pandemic year saw the Pune-based company's valuation surge by 127 per cent.

The come from 43 cities across the country, and the financial capital Mumbai leads with 167 entrants, followed by Bengaluru at 52 and Chennai at 38.

From a sectoral perspective, financial services leads with 77 names in the list, followed by healthcare at 64.

The total sales of these companies stood at Rs 58 lakh crore, accounting for 26 per cent of the Indian GDP. The overall employment in this list, which excludes state-run enterprises, is 69 lakh people or 1.5 per cent of the overall workforce.

When it comes to startups, the list said 11 per cent of the featuring companies are less than 10 years old, led by Mensa Brands, Apna, CRED and BharatPe.

Amitabh Chaudhry, the managing director and chief executive of Axis Bank, the promoter of the wealth management platform Burgundy, said while the internet and e-commerce based companies have raised money at high valuations, very soon they will have to show cash flows, failing which there can be value erosion in them.

Companies in the list contributed Rs 1.9 lakh crore or 62 per cent of the overall corporate income tax collection in FY21, as per a statement.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
With rates having surged in the last few months, (TCI), had to partly defer its capex plans for FY22.

Our FY22 capex plan was aggressive for marine asset buying but had to defer those plans. Out of the Rs 225 crore capex planned, only about Rs 75-100 crore will be executed this fiscal, Vineet Agarwal, managing director at (TCI) told Business Standard.

At present, the company has two container vessels deployed on the west coast and four on the east with a total capacity of 77,957 deadweight tonnage.

Going ahead, however, the company has chalked out a strong capex plan over the next three years.

As part of this plan, the company is keen on augmenting its marine assets for coastal container cargo as it sees coastal shipping growth to 215 million tonne by 2025 from about 86 million tonne now.

Over the next three years, the idea is to add a coastal every year. Apart from this, there will be sizable investment in containers as we plan to add about 1500 containers annually. So our focus on marine assets capex is quite strong, said Agarwal.

Currently, TCI, the integrated multimodal logistics and supply chain solutions provider, owns 8000 containers. The companys seaway division revenue in the September quarter stood at Rs 13,433 crore, up 17 percent sequentially and up 44 percent year-on-year basis, indicating a growing business scenario for the segment.

Despite an almost debt free position, the company aims to fund its upcoming capex largely via internal accruals. As on September 30, 2021, the companys debt-equity ratio stands at 0.07 from about 0.63 in FY18, which is the lowest in the last four years.

Alongside, with a dedicated freight corridor (DFC) project planned, is hopeful that the project would give the much needed upside to usage of railways over roads where transportation costs for the latter works out to be much higher due to increased fuel prices.

Rail is green logistics so not just cost lower. As part of our three-year capex, we also would be looking to invest in Automobile Freight Train Operator (AFTO), which are specialized trains to carry vehicles, said Agarwal.

already has invested in two such specialized trains and in six months ended September 2021 has moved 692 rakes as against 561 rakes in the corresponding period last year.

With presence in the trucks segment with more than 12,000 trucks owned, third-party logistics player sees increasing fuel prices a concern for its margins.

In some contracts, we are passing on the fuel price hike to the customers but it is a concern for players like us as it eats into our margins. The only way we aim to mitigate the impact of this cost is by having topline growth so that there is a balance maintained, said Agarwal.

Other than marine assets and rail investments, TCI would be looking to up its capacity in warehousing and hubs across the country which would be a combination of new facilities and upgrade of existing ones.
The top-5 information technology companies incremental demand for office spaces, based on strong hiring in the last eighteen months, would be nearly 11.67 million sq ft over the next one to two years, according to a report by realty consultant Knight Frank India.

In 2019, the IT sector accounted for a quarterly average of 7 million sq ft of office space consumption, while the average office space leased across all sectors was 15 million sq ft. The Covid pandemic and the subsequent lockdowns forced many to review their office space strategies.

Office space consumption by the IT sector fell considerably during the lockdown impacted quarters of Q2 and Q3 of FY2020, with total space leased amounting to 2 million sq ft during this six-month period. However, with a return of normalcy in Q4 2020, the space take-up by this sector again rose sharply to 8 million sq ft. During Q1 to Q3 of FY2021, the IT sector leased a total of 8 million sq ft.

Due to the pandemic, average transacted rents in Mumbai, the National Capital Region, Pune, Ahmedabad and Kolkata had declined over the past year and a half. With improvement in demand for office space in 2021, rents have stabilised and in Q3 2021, markets such as Bengaluru and NCR witnessed strength in rent levels, the report said.

The commercial office space has been seeing a gradual movement upwards as more and more corporates are recalling their employees to office. Despite WFH continuing, have realised the drawbacks of this mode of working which include lower collaboration between teams, loss of work due to poor infrastructure, said Shishir Baijal, Chairman and Managing Director at Knight Frank India said.

However, because the challenges of the pandemic continue with discovery of new variants such as Omicron, occupiers are predisposed to maintaining flexibility in their usage of real estate. As a result of this, there has been a steady growth in co- working spaces that offer occupiers shorter and more flexible lease terms allowing them to remain nimble, he added.
Rebel Foods, the world's largest internet company, has onboarded former Amazon Vice President India Operations  Prakash Dutta as its Global COO in December 2021. The company said the appointment echoes its commitment to creating an extraordinary customer-first experience through seamless operations globally. Dutta with his expertise will oversee operations across Rebels 10 countries while building customer love through customer touchpoints for sustainable growth. Duttas appointment comes at a critical time where the company aims to be present across 100 Indian cities and 20 countries in the next few quarters.



As we are hitting a global scale, our thinking and ambition now have reached a grander proportion. Prakash (Dutta) with his decades of experience in building and scaling businesses 10X will bring the requisite know-how to help Rebel reach and operate at that scale, said Jaydeep Barman, co-founder at Rebel Foods. Prakash (Dutta) is also known for his inspiring people leadership, humility and innovation mindset, and as a result, he is a great culture fit to Rebel. As the Global COO for Rebel, he will oversee our entire operations including India and International. The team and I are looking forward to working with him and learning from him.



Prakash Dutta, an alumnus of Birla Institute of Technology, was formerly the vice president customer fulfilment operations and supply chain for There he built, scaled and headed the companys operations for over 6 years. Prior to that he was at ITC for 15 years. With over 20 years of experience in w-commerce and FMCG, Dutta will be helping the global operations team for Rebel Foods. In his previous leadership roles, he was instrumental in creating a lasting customer experience and led many network-wide transformational initiatives to create a real impact on speed, fulfillment cost and network flexibility. Dutta at Rebel Foods will work directly with country heads and operations teams while expanding to new geographies and serving more customers.



I'm humbled and excited to join Rebel Foods to scale and accelerate the growth of the world's largest internet company, said Prakash Dutta, Global COO at Rebel Foods. The Indian food services industry is poised for rapid growth and Rebel Foods, being the frontrunner with its customer-first ideology, is well-positioned to leverage this opportunity.



In October this year, Rebel Foods became the countrys 31st unicorn after it raised $175 million in a Series F round led by Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), sovereign wealth fund of the State of Qatar with participation from existing investors Coatue and Evolvence. This round catapulted the company to a unicorn status with a valuation of $1.4 billion, up from about $800 million last year.



Rebel Foods operates over 450 kitchens globally across 60 cities in over 10 countries. The company has successfully built multiple $20 million (Rs 150 crore) brands over the past few years with multiple category-leading brands such as Faasos, Behrouz Biryani and Ovenstory Pizza.
Some prominent activists on Thursday hailed the release of Sudha Bharadwaj from jail and demanded that the other accused arrested in the 2018 Elgar Parishad-Maoist links case too be set free.

Slamming the Union government, activist-lawyer Prashant Bhushan said one day her tormentors will be held to account.

Bharadwaj (60), a human rights activist, was released from a prison here on bail earlier in the day after spending over three years behind bars.

Accused of being part of a criminal conspiracy to overthrow the Union government, she was granted bail on technical grounds by the Bombay High Court on December 1.

Welcome back Sudha Bharadwaj, the indefatigable crusader for human rights for the downtrodden, after spending over 3 years in jail on trumped up charges. One day, your tormentors will be held to account. Hope others similarly jailed in the Bhima Koregaon case are also released soon, Bhushan tweeted.

Indira Jaisingh, another senior lawyer, tweeted Bharadwaj's photograph after walking out of prison. What a smile. Released at 1241pm today, she wrote.

Shalini Gera, a human rights activist and colleague of Bharadwaj's, said all the friends and family members were happy that she had been released.

"We are happy after the relief which Sudha got today. I will not say anything about the bail conditions, but our sympathies are also with other colleagues, who are still in the prison," Gera said, adding they will also get justice "as the case is fake.

Dalit leader and Congress MLA from Gujarat Jignesh Mevani also urged the courts to release the others arrested in the case.

Where bail not jail is the rule, Sudha Bharadwaj had to spend three years in jail for her speech that has been alleged to cause violence. We urge the courts for early release of all those who have been made political scapegoats of the highest order under draconian laws like UAPA, he said.

The case in which Bharadwaj and others have been arrested relates to alleged inflammatory speeches delivered at the Elgar Parishad conclave, held at Shaniwarwada in Pune on December 31, 2017, which the police claimed triggered violence the next day near the Koregaon-Bhima war memorial in the district.

The Pune police, which initially handled the case, had claimed the conclave was backed by Maoists. The probe was later transferred to the National Investigation Agency.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The data recorder of the ill-fated M 17 helicopter of the Indian Air Force that crashed near Coonoor in Ooty leading to the loss of lives of Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, his wife Madhulika, and 11 other armed personnel, was recovered on Thursday morning.

A 25 special team of the Air force officers led by Wing Commander R. Bhardwaj has recovered the black box and more details are awaited. The team has been conducting search operations since morning as the priority on Wednesday was to recover the bodies safely to Wellington Army hospital.

Meanwhile, a six-member special medical team from Coimbatore is attending the treatment of the lone survivor in the Coonoor helicopter crash, Group captain Varun Singh who is struggling for his life at the Wellington Army hospital.

The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, M.K. Stalin, who is at Nilgiris, has already communicated to the Army team that the Tamil Nadu government would support the medical treatment of Group captain Varun Singh.

Sources at Wellington said that Group captain Varun Singh, who is a Shaurya Chakra awardee, suffered 60 per cent burns during the copter crash.

Ravikumar, who was the first person to reach the accident spot, had told IANS that except for two people the bodies of all the other soldiers were burnt.

The black box can reveal the data about the helicopter's final flight situation and other aspects.

Though called black box, the flight data recorder is painted in a bright orange colour and it records the flight data and cockpit conversations.

Further forensic examination of the remains of the chopper can also reveal if there were external causes for the accident.

In addition, Group Captain Varun Singh, the Directing Staff at the Defence Services Staff College in Wellington, Tamil Nadu, and the lone survivor of the ill-fated chopper, can also provide first hand information on the flight.

On Wednesday, the IAF helicopter with 14 persons on board, including General Rawat and his wife, took off from Sulur air base and crashed minutes before it was supposed to land at Coonoor.

--IANS

aal/dpb

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Following the demise of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General on Wednesday, Vice Chief of the Army Staff (VCOAS) Lieutenant General Chandi Prasad Mohanty has cut short his visit to Qatar and is returning to Delhi, said sources.

The Army Vice Chief proceeded on his two-day visit to Qatar on Wednesday, the Ministry of Defence had informed.

In his scheduled visit, the Vice Chief was to take forward the excellent defence cooperation between the State of Qatar and India through multiple meetings with senior functionaries of the Qatari security establishment.

Meanwhile, the news of CDS Rawat's demise was confirmed by on Wednesday through their Twitter handle that read: "With deep regret, it has now been ascertained that Gen Bipin Rawat, Mrs Madhulika Rawat, and 11 other persons on board have died in the unfortunate accident."

General Rawat, India's first CDS, was on a visit to the Defence Services Staff College in Wellington to address the faculty and student officers of the Staff Course when his chopper crashed near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu.

General Rawat was appointed as India's first Chief of Defense Staff on December 31, 2019. He previously served as Chief of the Army Staff from January 2017 to December 2019. He was commissioned into the in December 1978.

A veteran of counterinsurgency warfare, CDS Rawat served in the most difficult terrains including Northern and Eastern commands.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The flight data recorder of the military helicopter that crashed in a wooded, hilly area near Coonoor in killing India's first Chief of Defence Staff and 12 others was retrieved on Thursday.

As Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said in a statement in Parliament that an inquiry was already underway and the lone survivor was on life support, in Wellington, not far from the crash site, bugles sounded the last post to honour those who had been killed.

The mortal remains of the victims in caskets wrapped in the Indian tricolour were taken to the Madras Regimental Centre at Wellington in decorated army trucks. Senior Army officials, ministers and Army veterans laid wreaths and paid floral tributes.

The remains were later taken to Coimbatore by road, about 70 km away, from where they would be flown to New Delhi in a special IAF aircraft.

Two boxes, including the flight data recorder, or the black box, were found after authorities expanded the search area from 300 metres to one kilometre. They are likely to be taken to Delhi or Bengaluru to ascertain the cause of the crash, officials said.

The black box is expected to provide crucial data on the chain of events leading to the crash of the Mi-17VH helicopter that went up in flames in apparently foggy conditions on Wednesday afternoon, killing 63-year-old Rawat who was on his way to the Defence Services Staff College (DSSC) in Wellington to address faculty and student officers, his wife Madhulika and 11 others.

There was only one survivor, IAF's Group Captain Varun Singh, who is an instructor at the prestigious DSSC and received Gen Rawat at the Sulur airbase from where the entourage was heading towards Wellington in the chopper.

All efforts are being made to save Group Captain Singh, who is on life support at the military hospital in Wellington, the Defence minister said in his statement.

A tri-services inquiry headed by Air Marshal Manavendra Singh has been ordered by the A team of investigators had reached Wellington yesterday (Wednesday) itself and started their work, Singh said in his statement read out in both houses.

Both houses of Parliament observed a moment's silence to pay tribute and mourn the deaths.

Laying down the timeline, the minister said, The Mi17V5 helicopter took off from Sulur air base at 11.48 a.m. on Wednesday which had to land at Wellington at 12.15 pm.

The Air Traffic Control at Sulur airbase lost contact with the helicopter at approximately 12.08 pm. Later, a few locals reported a fire in the forest near Coonoor and rushed to the spot where they saw the remains of a helicopter engulfed in flames.

Rescue teams from local administration also reached the crash site and tried to recover survivors, he said.

All those recovered from the wreckage were immediately rushed to the military hospital at Wellington."



He said the last rites of Gen Rawat will be performed with full military honours.

The last rites of the other military personnel who died in the crash will also be conducted with appropriate military honours, he added.

Besides CDS Rawat and his wife, his Defence Adviser Brig Lakhbinder Singh Lidder, Staff Officer Lt Col Harjinder Singh and nine other Armed Forces personnel, including the Air Force helicopter crew, the minister said.

Their names are Wing Commander Prithvi Singh Chauhan, Squadron Leader Kuldeep Singh, Junior Warrant Officer Rana Pratap Das, Junior Warrant Officer Arakkal Pradeep, Havildar Satpal Rai, Naik Gursewak Singh, Naik Jitendra Kumar, Lance Naik Vivek Kumar, Lance Naik B Sai Teja, he said.

Air Chief Marshal V R Chaudhari had been sent to the spot after receiving information about the accident on Wednesday itself, the minister said.

The Air chief has taken stock of the situation after visiting spot and the hospital.

Speaker Om Birla expressed grief at Gen Rawat's untimely demise and said that the country had lost a skilled warrior, an outstanding strategist and an experienced leader.

In the Rajya Sabha, Deputy Chairman Harivansh informed the house about the tragic accident. Reading out Gen Rawat's obituary, he said the CDS had an illustrious military career spanning over four decades during which he held several important staff positions and went on to become the Chief of Army Staff on December 31, 2016.

Those who paid tributes in Wellington included Chief Minister M K Stalin and Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan.

Stalin, seen wearing a black muffler, later briefly spoke to the Army brass present there.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
In a village 50 km from Rajasthan's Jhunjhunu district headquarters, grieving relatives of Squadron Leader Kuldeep Singh, who was the co-pilot of the IAF helicopter that crashed in Tamil Nadu, and residents were on Thursday busy preparing for his cremation.

Singh's last rites will be conducted at the Mahatma Gandhi Government School ground in his Ghardana Khurd village and thousands are expected to gather to bid him farewell.

Village sarpanch Ummed Singh Rao said the Education Department has given its nod for Singh's cremation. His statue will also be installed in the school.

"This is very sad news for everyone in the village. As soon as the news of Singh's death was confirmed on Wednesday evening, his relatives started reaching the village," he said.

"The entire village is engaged in making arrangements for the funeral procession and the cremation. The villagers and Singh's relatives have decided to conduct the funeral at the school ground. Thousands of people would be gathering in the village to pay tributes to him," he added.

Rao said Singh's father retired from the Navy and many of his cousin brothers are also serving in different armed forces.

His father and other members of the family live in Jaipur, while his extended family lives in Ghardana Khurd.

"Singh's father is currently said to be in Delhi," he said.

Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat, his wife Madhulika and 11 other people on board an helicopter died on Wednesday after it crashed near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu. The lone survivor, Group Captain Varun Singh, is hospitalised.

The mortal remains of the victims in caskets wrapped in the Indian tricolour were taken to the Madras Regimental Centre at Wellington in decorated Army trucks. Senior Army officials, Tamil Nadu ministers and Army veterans laid wreaths and paid floral tributes.

The remains were later taken to Coimbatore by road, about 70 km away, from where they would be flown to New Delhi in a special IAF aircraft.

Rajasthan Governor Kalraj Mishra condoled Singh's demise.

"The Governor Kalraj Mishra has condoled the martyrdom of Squadron Leader Kuldeep Rao, resident of Ghardana Khurd, Jhunjhunu, in a helicopter accident in Tamil Nadu," an official statement said



Former Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje took to Twitter to pay a tribute to Singh.

"Deeply saddened to learn that #Rajasthan too has lost a brave-heart in the that claimed the life of CDS #BipinRawat & others. I salute the martyrdom of Squadron Leader Kuldeep Rao, a resident of Ghardana Khurd, Jhunjhunu," she said.

Lieutenant Colonel Harjinder Singh from Ajmer district was also killed in the crash. His last rites will be held in Delhi.

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IAF Group Captain Varun Singh, the lone survivor of the helicopter crash that killed Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat and 12 others, is being shifted to from the Army hospital at Wellington in Tamil Nadu, his father said on Thursday.

The crash took place near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu on Wednesday.

Talking to PTI over phone, Group Captain Varun Singh's father Colonel K P Singh (retired), who is a resident of Bhopal, said, He is being shifted to I have reached Wellington."



Asked about his son's condition, he said, "I can't say anything about that...I am not sure."



Lt Colonel Ishan R (retired), who lives next door to Col K P Singh's residence at Sun City on the Airport Road here, said he was hopeful that Group Captain Varun Singh will recover.

He said Col K P Singh and his wife Uma were in Mumbai at the place of their younger son Tanuj, who is Lt Commander in the Navy, when they got the unfortunate news on Wednesday.

I spoke to Colonel K P Singh this morning. He said his son was a fighter and will come out victorious (from the tragedy)," he said.

He recalled that Group Captain Varun Singh had earlier survived a life-threatening emergency while flying a Tejas aircraft during a test sortie last year. For his bravery, he was awarded the Shaurya Chakra this year.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday told Parliament that a tri-services inquiry led by Air Marshal Manavendra Singh has started investigation into the helicopter crash that killed Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat and 12 others.

Singh said in a statement in the Lok Sabha that all efforts were being made to save Group Captain Varun Singh, who was on life support at the military hospital in Wellington.

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: A pall of gloom descended on Agra, the native of Wing Commander Prithvi Singh Chauhan (42), who was killed along with several others, including Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat, in the chopper crash in on Wednesday.

Soon after the news broke, his relatives and neighbours rushed to console the bereaved family at Saran Nagar in Dayal Bagh here.

Prithvi's family had migrated to Agra from Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh in 2006 and his father Surendra Singh (74) set up a bakery here.

Singh told PTI, "We received information about our son's untimely death through news channels. However, we did not receive an official confirmation either from the Air Force officials or the Agra administration on Wednesday."



Singh said his eldest daughter, who stays in Mumbai, followed the news an tried to contact Prithvi over phone. "However, she said his phone was switched off. She then called his wife Kamini Singh, who had accepted the tragic news by then," a teary-eyed Singh said.

He said Prithvi was cooperative and well-mannered.

"He used to talk about our wellbeing. After 31 years, he had celebrated Raksha Bandhan with his three sisters last time. His eldest sister, however, couldn't make it as she lives in Mumbai," Singh recalled.

He was the youngest among the five siblings.

Singh said Prithvi was to arrive home in January.

"I last spoke to him some three-four days ago. His mother has some problems with her vision. So he had fixed an appointment at the military hospital."



According to his parents, Prithvi studied at the Sainik School in Madhya Pradesh's Rewa and got selected at the Defence Academy. He joined the in Hyderabad in 2000 and was currently posted at the Indian Airforce station in Coimbatore,

He married Kamini in 2007 and the couple has a daughter Aaradhya (12) and son Aviraj (7).

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The lone survivor in the IAF that killed Chief of Defence Staff, General and 12 others, and admitted to a hospital at Wellington in the Nilgiris district in Tamil Nadu, was being shifted to for higher treatment, his family and official sources said on Thursday.

IAF Group Captain Varun Singh was being shifted to from the Army hospital at Wellington in Tamil Nadu, his father said.

Official sources in Coimbatore also maintained the officer will be shifted to His condition is said to be critical but stable and Singh had undergone three operations so far, they added.

Meanwhile, talking to PTI over phone, the Group Captain's father Colonel K P Singh (retired), who is a resident of Bhopal, said, "he is being shifted to Bengaluru. I have reached Wellington."



Asked about his son's condition, he said, "I can't say anything about that...I am not sure."



Lt Colonel Ishan R (retired), who lives next door to Col K P Singh's residence at Sun City on the Airport Road in the Madhya Pradesh capital, said he was hopeful the injured officer will recover.

He said Col K P Singh and his wife Uma were in Mumbai at the place of their younger son Tanuj, who is a Lt Commander in the Navy, when they received information about the unfortunate incident on Wednesday.

"I spoke to Colonel K P Singh this morning. He said his son was a fighter and will come out victorious (from the tragedy)," he said.

He recalled that Group Captain Varun Singh had earlier survived a life-threatening emergency while flying a Tejas aircraft during a test sortie last year. For his bravery, he was awarded the Shaurya Chakra this year.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday told Parliament that a tri-services inquiry led by Air Marshal Manavendra Singh has started investigation into the that killed India's first Chief of Defence Staff Gen Rawat, his wife and 11 others.

Singh said in a statement in the Lok Sabha that all efforts were being made to save Group Captain Varun Singh, who was on life support at the military hospital in Wellington.

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India on Thursday reported a net increase of 1,009 in active cases to take its count to 94,742. Indias share of global active cases now stands at 0.44 per cent (one in 227). The country is twenty-sixth among the most affected countries by active cases. On Wednesday, it added 8,251 cases to take its total caseload to 34,097,388 from 34,656,822  an increase of 0.1%. And, with 159 new fatalities, its Covid-19 reached 474,111, or 1.37 per cent of total confirmed infections.

With 8,086,910 more Covid-19 vaccine doses being administered on Wednesday, Indias total count of vaccine shots so far reached 1,303,932,286. The count of recovered cases across India, meanwhile, reached 34,097,388  or 98.36 per cent of total caseload  with 8,251 new cured cases being reported on Thursday.

Now the twenty-sixth-most-affected country by active cases, third by deaths, second by total cases and recoveries, India has added 59,700 cases in the past 7 days.

India now accounts for 0.44% of all active cases globally (one in every 227 active cases), and 8.98% of all deaths (one in every 11 deaths).

India has so far administered 1,303,932,286 vaccine doses. That is 3761.38 per cent of its total caseload, and 93.21 per cent of its population.

Among Indian states, the top 5 in terms of number of vaccine shots administered are Uttar Pradesh (176986068), Maharashtra (125790790), West Bengal (100060472), Madhya Pradesh (94964318), and Bihar (89098287).

Among states with more than 10 million population, the top 5 in number of vaccine shots per one million population are Gujarat (1369053), Delhi (1323948), Kerala (1311429), Jammu and Kashmir (1304859), and Uttarakhand (1257132).

Backwards from here, the last 1 million cases for India have come in 74 days.

The count of active cases across India on Thursday saw a net addition of 1,009, compared to net reduction of 1,281 on Wednesday. States and UTs hat have seen the biggest daily net increase in active cases are Kerala (887), Karnataka (155), Gujarat (45), Jammu and Kashmir (38), and Goa (37).

With 8,251 new daily recoveries, Indias recovery rate stands at 98.36%, while fatality rate remained unchanged at 1.37%.

The Indian states and UTs with the worst case fatality rates at present are Punjab (2.75%), Nagaland (2.17%), and Uttarakhand (2.15%). The rate in as many as 13 is higher than the national average.

Indias new daily closed cases stand at 8,410  159 deaths and 8,251 recoveries. The share of deaths in total closed cases stands at 1.89%.

Indias 5-day moving average of daily rate of addition to total cases stands at 0.0%.

Indias doubling time for total cases stands at 2550.8 days, and for deaths at 2066.5 days.

Overall, five states with the biggest 24-hour jump in total cases are Kerala (5038), Maharashtra (893), Tamil Nadu (703), West Bengal (574), and Karnataka (399).

India on Wednesday conducted 1,289,983 to take the total count of tests conducted so far in the country to 651,950,127. The test positivity rate recorded was 0.7%.

Five states with the highest test positivity rate (TPR)  percentage of tested people turning out to be positive for Covid-19 infection (by cumulative data for tests and cases  are Dadra & Nagar Haveli-Daman & Diu (14.75%), Kerala (12.91%), Sikkim (11.61%), Goa (11.43%), and Maharashtra (9.99%).

Five states with the highest TPR by daily numbers for tests and cases added  are Mizoram (9.84%), Kerala (7.36%), Sikkim (1.89%), Goa (1.82%), and West Bengal (1.53%).

Among states and UTs with more than 10 million population, five that have carried out the highest number of tests (per million population) are Delhi (1674974), J&K (1321049), Kerala (1123674), Punjab (1066549), and Karnataka (801428).

The five most affected states by total cases are Maharashtra (6640888), Kerala (5178892), Karnataka (2999098), Tamil Nadu (2732648), and Andhra Pradesh (2074217).

Maharashtra, the most affected state overall, has reported 893 new cases to take its tally to 6640888.

Kerala, the second-most-affected state by total tally, has added 5038 cases to take its tally to 5178892.

Karnataka, the third-most-affected state, has reported 399 cases to take its tally to 2999098.

Tamil Nadu has added 703 cases to take its tally to 2732648.

Andhra Pradesh has seen its tally going up by 181 to 2074217.

Uttar Pradesh has added 10 cases to take its tally to 1710502.

Delhi has added 65 cases to take its tally to 1441514.
leader on Thursday said the death of Chief of Defence Staff General in a helicopter crash has raised doubts in the minds of people.

Raut, a Rajya Sabha member, said Gen Rawat had played a key role in formulating the nation's military response against China and Pakistan in recent times.

So, when such an accident takes place, it raises doubts in the minds of the people, he said, noting that the helicopter ferrying Gen Rawat was a modern machine powered by two engines.

"We claim to have modernised the armed forces. How could this happen?" he wondered.

Raut claimed that the entire country and the leadership may have been confounded by this accident, and the defence minister or the prime minister should eliminate all doubts.

The leader also noted that Gen Rawat had also played a key role in the air strikes launched by India after the Pulwama attack.

Gen Bipin Rawat, India's first Chief of Defence Staff, his wife Madhulika and 11 other armed forces personnel died on Wednesday after the military helicopter they were travelling in crashed near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu, the Indian Air Force had said.

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Defence Minister will call on President on Thursday to apprise him about the chopper crash near Coonoor that killed Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat, his wife Madhulika and 11 armed forces personnel.

The President is the Supreme Commander of the armed forces.

Official sources said Singh will brief President Kovind about the accident as well as the situation arising out of it.

In a statement in Parliament, Singh said a tri-services inquiry led by Air Marshal Manavendra Singh, the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Training Command, has started an investigation into the

The Defence Minister said Gen Rawat was on a scheduled visit to Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, to interact with the student officers.

"The Air Force Mi 17V5 helicopter took off from Sulur airbase at 11:48 am yesterday and was expected to land at Wellington by 12:15 pm. Air Traffic Control at Sulur airbase lost contact with the helicopter approximately 12:08 pm," Singh said.

"Subsequently, a few locals spotted a fire in the forest near Coonoor and rushed to the spot where they observed the wreckage of military helicopter engulfed in flames," he said.

The defence minister said rescue teams from the local administration in the vicinity reached the site and attempted to rescue the survivors.

"All those recovered from the wreckage were rushed to the military hospital, Wellington. Latest reports have confirmed that out of the total 14 persons on board the ill-fated helicopter, 13 have succumbed to their injuries," he said.

Besides Gen Rawat, the dead included his wife Madhulika Rawat, his Defence Adviser Brig Lakhbinder Singh Lidder, Staff Officer Lt Col Harjinder Singh and nine other armed forces personnel.

The defence minister said Group Captain Varun Singh is on life support in the military hospital at Wellington and all efforts are being made to save his life.

"The Chief of Defence Staff would be cremated with full military honours," he said.

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Dr Reddy's Laboratories has sought permission from India's drug regulator to conduct a phase-3 clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Sputnik Light vaccine as a booster dose against COVID-19 in India, sources said on Thursday.

Stating the Sputnik Light is the Component 1 of the Gam-COVID-Vac Combined Vector Vaccine (Sputnik V), P Madhavi, the Director-Regulatory Affairs at Dr Reddy's Laboratories, proposed to use batches of the vaccine manufactured at Hetero Biopharma Limited, Telangana, and at its loan license facility at Shilpa Biologicals Private Limited in Karnataka for the phase-3 trial.

Sputnik Light has not yet received emergency use authorisation from the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI).

"Seeking your permission to conduct 'a phase-3 randomized, open-label three-arm, multi-centre, clinical study in parallel assignment to evaluate immunogenicity and safety of a booster dose of Sputnik Light vector vaccine against COVID-19 in healthy Indian subjects," a source quoted Madhavi as having said in the application.

Recently, Serum Institute of India sought from DCGI approval for Covishield as a booster dose citing adequate stock of the vaccine in the country and a demand for a booster shot due to the emergence of new variants.

In an application to the DCGI, Prakash Kumar Singh, the Director, Government and Regulatory Affairs at Serum Institute cited that the UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has already approved the booster dose of AstraZeneca ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine.

The INSACOG, in its bulletin dated November 29, recommended a booster dose of COVID-19 vaccines for those above 40 years with preference to high-risk and high-exposure populations.

However, later it said their recommendation was not for the national immunisation programme as many more scientific experiments are required to assess its impact.

Justifying the need for a booster dose six months after the second dose for all adult population instead of the high-risk population, Madhavi in the application said, "After getting vaccinated against COVID-19, protection against the virus may decrease over time and be less effective against the Delta variant."



"Declining VNA titers may herald significant declines in effectiveness against severe disease. The recent emergence of highly transmissible variants of SARS-CoV-2 has led to considerations for booster doses to enhance immunity and provide sustained protection from COVID-19.

"Emerging evidence shows that among healthcare and other frontline workers, vaccine effectiveness against COVID-19 decreases rapidly due to the combination of waning immunity and the greater exposure to virus including variants," the source quoted Madhavi as having stated in the application.

A booster dose of COVID-19 vaccines administered months after primary vaccination is expected to augment immunity against the virus, including neutralizing capacity against the variants of concern, she said.

The benefits of booster dose are expected to be seen in the entire adult population and not just elderly or high-risk cases. Both Pfizer and Moderna had conducted their booster dose studies in the overall adult population demonstrating an increase in immunogenicity titres post-administration of the booster dose, Madhavi said.

"We intend to assess the safety and immunogenicity of a booster dose of Sputnik Light vector vaccine when administered at least six months after primary vaccination with Covaxin or Covishield," she said in the application.

Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya had recently informed the Lok Sabha that the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization and the National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for COVID-19 are deliberating and considering scientific evidence for administering booster doses.

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The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), the umbrella body of the farmers protesting along the borders of the capital over agricultural issues, have agreed to the draft proposal prepared by the Central government, and is expected make a "major announcement" on Thursday.

Following its meeting on Wednesday, the farmers' body said that their stir has not ended but it has been postponed for now, adding they would continue pressing the government over the Minimum Support Price (MSP) issue.

A meeting is likely to be held on Thursday noon to decide the further strategy of the movement.

Besides, the farmers have been continuously seeking the resignation of Union Minister Ajay Mishra Teni over the Lakhimpur-Kheri incident in October this year in which 5 farmers were among the dead.

In the draft resolution sent for the second time by the government, it was said that the government has agreed to cancel the FIRs against farmers in Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttarakhand with immediate effect. At the same time, there will be representatives of the SKM on the committee to be formed on MSP.

Also, the government will present the Electricity Bill in the Parliament only after discussing the matter with the representatives of the SKM. Besides, the government has also given consent to the farmers on compensation.

After the SKM meeting, farmer leader Gurnam Singh Chaduni said: "Agreement was reached upon on the draft proposal sent by the government. After receiving a formal letter in this regard from the government, a meeting of farmer leaders will be held tomorrow (Thursday) in a decision on the suspension of the agitation is likely to be taken."

The SKM continued camping along the borders of Delhi even after Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 19 -- along with an apology, announced the withdrawal of the three agriculture laws against which the farmers have been on streets since November 2020.

The SKM has put forward some of their other demands including the MSP issue.

The farmers have also demanded compensation to the families of the farmers who lost their lives during the almost year-long agitation. They also demanded cancellation of the Electricity Bill, while seeking no action against them on stubble burning.

After the meeting on Wednesday, the farmers also were seen celebrating by distributing sweets among themselves.

--IANS

msk/pgh/

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Describing General as a "true leader and true friend" of Israel, the country's top leadership has expressed condolences to the government and people of India at the "tragic and shocking loss" of its first Chief of Defence Staff who died in a

The Mi-17V5 helicopter of the (IAF) carrying the 63-year-old tri-services chief crashed near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu on Wednesday, killing 13 of the 14 people on board, including his wife and 11 other armed forces personnel.

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett in a tweet said, "My thoughts & prayers are with the families of those who perished in the tragic in India. May their souls rest in peace".

"General was a true leader & true friend of Much strength to @narendramodi & the Indian people at this difficult time", Bennett added.

Defence Minister Benny Gantz, who in the past has served as the Defence Forces' Chief of Staff, expressed condolences on behalf of the defence establishment and also "personal grief" on Twitter.

"I would like to extend condolences on behalf of Israel's defence establishment & to express my personal grief to the people of India & to the Indian defense establishment on the loss of Chief of Defence Staff Bipin Rawat, his wife & others who perished in the tragic accident", Gantz wrote.

Foreign Minister Yair Lapid used the same social media platform posting messages in Hindi and English.

"On behalf of the people of Israel, I extend my deepest condolences to the people and government of India on the loss of Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, his wife, and the 11 other military personnel lost in today's tragic accident," Lapid tweeted.

Israeli Knesset's (Parliament) Speaker, Mickey Levy, also mourned the tragic loss. "On behalf of the Knesset and the citizens of Israel, I extend my heartfelt condolences to the Indian people on the shocking and tragic loss of Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, his wife and 11 other military personnel," Levy wrote.

According to Israel's former Ambassador to India, Daniel Carmon, Rawat was likely to visit soon.

Carmon knew Rawat personally and also shared on Twitter pictures of the CDS leading the Haifa Day ceremony in Jaipur in 2018 to celebrate the centenary year of the liberation of the Israeli northern coastal city from the Ottomans during World War I by Indian cavalry regiments.

"Mourning the loss of India's CDS General #BipinRawat, remembering his leadership at the head of the Nation's military. A great partner & friend @Israel's Defence establishment, he contributed to the strengthening of relations & was supposed to visit our country soon. Condolences," the former Israeli Ambassador to India wrote.

"General #BipinRawat led the #HaifaDay ceremony in Jaipur, in 2018. Tribute to the Indian forces who fought the 1st WW, liberating the city from the Ottomans and a sign of friendship to Israel too. I Was privileged to have known him. Om Shanti," Carmon tweeted.

General Rawat, along with his wife Madhulika Rawat who served as the President of Army Wives Welfare Association (AWWA), were on their way to Wellington, Tamil Nadu, on Wednesday when their helicopter crashed a few minutes before it was supposed to land.

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Group Captain Varun Singh is on life support and "all efforts" are being being made to save him, Defence Minister told Parliament on Thursday, referring to the Air Force officer who survived in the chopper crash that killed Chief of Defence Staff General

The Indian Air Force has ordered a tri-service inquiry into the crash. The inquiry team led by led by Air Marshal Manavendra Singh reached Wellington yesterday, Singh said in Lok Sabha.

The Russian-made Mi-17 V5 helicopter carrying Rawat, 63, crashed around noon Wednesday, the Indian Air Force said in a statement on Twitter without providing details on the accident. Rawat, his wife, and 11 others on the chopper died. Group Captain Singh was taken to a hospital.

Rawat was travelling from an Indian Air Force base in Sulur to the Defence Services Staff College in Wellington to deliver a lecture. Hill station Coonoor is along the flight path. Rawat was appointed as India's first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) in late 2019.

Rawat's funeral will be performed with full military honours, Singh said. The last rites of the other military personnel who died in the crash will also be conducted with appropriate military honours.

Lok Sabha paid tributes to the dead by observing a moment of silence.



(With inputs from agencies.)
The on Thursday quashed a police case alleging that cine star Mithun Chakraborty's uttering dialogues from his films at a public meeting here had caused political violence in West Bengal during the assembly elections held earlier this year.

At the public meeting on March 7, Chakraborty had said: Marbo ekhane, laash porbe shoshaney (I will hit you here and your body will fall in the crematorium) and Ek choboley chobi (just one snake bite and you will turn into a photograph), his dialogues from two popular Bengali films. He joined the BJP on that day.

The court observed that since Chakraborty did not deny that he uttered the said dialogues, any further police investigation of the present case will be an unnecessary and vexatious exercise.

Justice Kausik Chanda quashed a police case filed by a ruling Trinamool Congress worker against the film star registered with the Maniktala police station here and pending before the court of additional chief judicial magistrate at Sealdah.

Observing that the petitioner is a popular matinee idol, Justice Chanda said the involvement of film stars in politics in the country is nothing new.

"It is also well known that film stars try to entertain and attract voters by saying cinematic dialogues in political rallies. The case in hand is no exception," the judge said.

The court noted that Chakraborty admitted that on many occasions, on public demand, he has said those dialogues in different functions to entertain people.

"The two dialogues in question are fundamentally funny, hilarious, and entertaining; it is futile to try to find the elements of hate speech in them," the court said.

It further said the petitioner did not utter those dialogues to promote the feeling of enmity, hatred, or ill-will between different religious, racial, linguistic or regional groups or castes or communities as alleged by the complainant, and, therefore, the ingredients of offences under Sections 153A, 504, and 505 of the IPC are absent in this case.

The court noted that the petitioner uttered the dialogues on March 7, whereas the present complaint before the police was registered on May 6, after the announcement of the West Bengal assembly election result on May 2, 2021.

"It cannot be said there is any proximate nexus between the dialogues uttered by the petitioner and the widespread violence that took place in the State after the Assembly election," the court observed.

The FIR by a Trinamool Congress worker alleged that BJP supporters had indulged in violence due to the alleged instigation of the petitioner through his film dialogues.

Chakraborty in June filed a petition before the high court seeking quashing of the case.

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Congress leader on Thursday claimed that Home Minister had misled the Lok Sabha when he said that security forces had opened fire on civilians in after they tried to flee.

He also said that a Congress delegation on a visit to was stopped at Jorhat by the district officials.

Inside the House, the home minister had given a misleading statement when he said those people who were shot dead had tried to flee after being signalled to stop, Chowdhury said in the Lok Sabha during Zero Hour.

Those people who have been admitted to the hospital have said direct marise'. It means they have been shot directly, he said.

Chowdhury said Congress President Sonia Gandhi had constituted a delegation comprising Lok Sabha members Gaurav Gogoi and Anto Antony to visit Mon village in and share the grief of the locals whose family members were killed in the firing by security forces.

The Congress leaders were stopped from visiting Mon district. This government stops us from visiting Lakhimpuri Kheri. This government stops us from visiting Nagaland. The situation is deteriorating in the entire northeast, Chowdhury said.

Union Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Arjun Ram Meghwal said the issue raised by Chowdhury pertained to the state government and not the Lok Sabha.

On Monday, the home minister had expressed regret over the death of 14 civilians in Nagaland's Mon district in three consecutive episodes of firing by security forces, the first of which was a case of mistaken identity.

Narrating the sequence of events, Shah had told the Lok Sabha on Monday that the Army had received information on the movement of insurgents in Mon and '21 Para Commando' unit had laid an ambush.

A vehicle was signalled to stop but it tried to speed away. Suspecting the presence of insurgents in the vehicle, the security personnel opened fire, he had said.

Six out of eight occupants of the vehicle died in the firing by security forces, Shah had said, adding that later, it was found to be a case of mistaken identity.

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The Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Thursday paid homage to Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat, who died in a chopper crash a day earlier, and said he shared a "deep concern for human rights".

Rawat, India's first Chief of Defence Staff, who had a vast experience across a wide spectrum of conflict and terrain profiles, was among the 13 people killed on Wednesday when the military helicopter they were travelling in crashed in a hilly area in apparently foggy conditions near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu, the Indian Air Force (IAF) and state officials earlier said.

On Thursday, the paid tributes to the 63-year-old, who had served as an Army chief, before assuming the mantle of the new post of CDS.

"NHRC, India by observing two minutes silence pays homage to late Gen & all those who lost life in the tragic air crash alongwith him: Also pays tribute to the memory of Gen Rawat, who shared a deep concern for human rights & attended various programs of the Commission," the India wrote on its Twitter handle.

Rawat had served as the Chief of the from December 17, 2016, to December 31, 2019. He was appointed as India's first Chief of Defence Staff on December 31, 2019.

Army Chief Gen M M Naravane and all ranks of the force have also expressed their condolences.

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Air launched version of BrahMos supersonic cruise missile was successfully test fired from the supersonic fighter aircraft Sukhoi 30 MK-I from Integrated Test Range, Chandipur off the coast of Odisha on Wednesday.

In this copy book flight, the missile launched from the aircraft followed the pre-planned trajectory meeting all mission objectives, read a press statement from the Ministry of Defence on Wednesday.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has praised Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), BrahMos, Indian Air Force and the industry on the successful test firing.

According to the Ministry of Defence, the launch is a major milestone in the BrahMos development as it paves the way for the serial production of air-version BrahMos missiles within the country. Major airframe assemblies which form the integral part of the Ramjet Engine are indigenously developed by Indian Industry. These include metallic and non-metallic air frame sections comprising Ramjet fuel tank and pneumatic fuel supply system.

Various laboratories of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), academic institutions, quality assurance & certification agencies, Public Sector undertakings and Indian Air Force participated in the development, testing, production and induction of this complex missile system.

During the test, the structural integrity and functional performance have been proven. The air version of BrahMos was last flight tested in July 2021.

BrahMos is a Joint Venture between India (DRDO) and Russia (NPOM) for the development, production and marketing of the supersonic cruise missile. BrahMos is the potent offensive missile weapon system already inducted into the Armed Forces.

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Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) has clarified that it has not recommended or suggested a booster dose in the national immunisation programme and that suggestions regarding vaccines, their schedule, and roll out is an express mandate of the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (NTAGI) and National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for Covid-19 (NEGVAC).

In its latest newsletter INSACOG has said that immunity and protection from SARS-CoV-2 is multifactorial with several unknown factors and further compounded by emerging variants of concern. Many more scientific experiments are needed to assess the impacts of booster dose, which are being guided and monitored by NTAGI and NEGVAC.

The consortium said that there was a discussion about the potential role of an additional dose of the Covid-19 vaccines in high risk populations in its last newsletter.

This was in view of the emerging evidence from South Africa and some other countries about Omicrons substantial ability to evade immunity from previous infection with Covid variants and consequently risk of reinfection with Omicron, it said.

The official count of Omicron positive cases detected in India is 23.

INSACOG in its newsletter dated November 23 had said that vaccination of all remaining unvaccinated at-risk people and consideration of a booster dose for those 40 years of age and over, first targeting the most high-risk, high-exposure may be considered. ...since low levels of neutralising antibodies from current vaccines are unlikely to be sufficient to neutralise Omicron, although risk of severe disease is still likely to be reduced, INSACOG had said.

No decision on booster dose was taken in the meeting of the NTAGI held on Monday with reports of a split within the committee over the issue.

The issue of booster doses has gained currency in the backdrop of a new highly mutated variant Omicron, first detected in India. Globally, the variant of concern has appeared in more than 35 countries, with rapidly growing outbreaks in Southern Africa. The data available so far suggests high infectivity, possibly greater than Delta.

INSACOG said that there is insufficient data to determine whether disease severity is different from previous variants, but rising hospitalizations in affected regions suggest that it would be premature to consider it less virulent.

Eighty-five per cent of India's eligible adult population has received the first dose of Covid-19 vaccine. A decision on booster dose and jabs for children will be taken on the basis of scientific advice, health minister Mansukh Mandaviya had told the parliament last week on Friday.

The health ministry had said that the severity of the disease due to Omicron is anticipated to be low due to the fast pace of vaccination in India and high exposure to delta variants as shown by high seropositivity.
Lok Sabha on Thursday condoled the demise of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat and 11 others who lost their lives in the IAF chopper crash.

General Rawat was travelling from Sulur to Wellington in Tamil Nadu when his helicopter crashed near Coonoor on Wednesday.

Lok Sabha observed a two-minute silence on the demise of the 13 people.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in his opening remarks during the proceedings of the Lower House said that General Rawat was on a scheduled visit to Defence Services Staff College in Wellington.

"Indian Air Force (IAF) has ordered a tri-service inquiry into the military chopper crash. The investigation will be led by Air Marshal Manavendra Singh. The inquiry team reached Wellington yesterday itself and started the investigation," he added.

Singh also said that the last rites of General Rawat will be performed with full military honours.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla also condoled the demise of those who died in the crash.

He also said that General Rawat had contributed immensely to the country.

General Rawat was appointed as India's first Chief of Defense Staff on December 31, 2019. He previously served as Chief of the Army Staff from January 2017 to December 2019. He was commissioned into the Indian Army in December 1978.

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One person was injured in a low-intensity explosion that took place inside courtroom 102 in Rohini district court on Thursday morning, fire officials said.

According to the Delhi Police PRO, a laptop bag is likely to be the source of the explosion which occurred around 10.30 am.

"The spot has been cordoned off. Forensic and NSG teams are inspecting and examining it," the PRO said.

Proceedings in the court have been suspended.

The fire officials said they received information about the explosion at 10.40 am, following which seven fire tenders were rushed to the spot.

The incident comes months after jailed gangster Jitendra Gogi was shot dead by two men, who were dressed as lawyers, inside a Rohini courtroom on September 24,, with police in retaliatory fire killing the assailants, who were from the slain gangster's rival Tillu gang.

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recorded 789 new COVID-19 cases and seven fatalities, but no new patient of the recently discovered Omicron variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus was found in the state in the last 24 hours, the health department said on Thursday.

With the fresh COVID-19 cases, the state's overall infection tally reached 66,41,677, while the toll rose to 1,41,211, it said. On Wednesday, had reported 893 new cases and 10 deaths. A bulletin issued by the health department said 585 patients were discharged from hospitals in the last 24 hours, taking the number of recovered cases to 64,90,305. There are now 6,482 active COVID-19 cases in the state. The COVID-19 recovery rate in the state stands at 97.72 per cent, while the fatality rate is 2.12 per cent. The bulletin said 6,65,17,323 tests have been conducted so far in the state - 1,28,421 of them in the last 24 hours. It said 74,353 people are in home quarantine and another 887 in institutional quarantine. On the new strain of the virus, the bulletin said, "There is no new case of Omicron variant in the state today. As of today, there are 10 cases of Omicron variant in the state. The first Omicron patient found in Maharashtra, a 33-year-old marine engineer from Kalyan-Dombivli twin city in Thane district who had arrived from South Africa via Dubai in the last week of November, was discharged from a hospital on Wednesday. Ten districts and five civic bodies across the state did not report any new COVID-19 case in the last 24 hours. The Mumbai division, which comprises the city and its satellite townships, reported 291 cases and one death. The Pune division reported 235 new cases, Nashik 95, Kolhapur 18, Akola nine, Nagpur 17, Latur 25 and the Aurangabad division 13. Nagpur, Akola, Latur and Kolhapur did not report any fatality during the day, the bulletin said. Maharashtra's figures are as follows: Positive cases 66,41,677, fresh cases 789, death toll 1,41,211, recoveries 64,90,305, active cases 6,482, total tests 6,65,17,323.

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Asserting that law and order is a state subject, Chief Minister on Thursday directed the police in Nadia district having border with Bangladesh not to allow the to enter areas that are outside its jurisdiction.

At an administrative meeting held here, she also asked police officers in the district to increase 'naka checking' (checkpoints) and keep extra vigil.

"I will ask the ICs (inspectors-in-charge) to increase their mobility and step up naka checking. You have borders with Bangladesh starting from Karimpur. You also have to keep an eye on that....

"You also have to see that the does not get into villages without your permission and get involved with anything. The will do their work and you will do yours. Always remember that law and order is your subject. I will not let the common people be tortured," Banerjee said.

For the last couple of days, Banerjee who addressed administrative review meetings in four other districts has been directing the police administration not to allow the BSF breach its jurisdiction limits and get involved in the law and order of the state.

At an administrative meeting held at Raiganj in Uttar Dinajpur district on Tuesday, Banerjee referred to the recent killing of 14 civilians in firing by security forces in Nagaland, and alleged that has witnessed incidents of BSF getting into villages beyond their jurisdiction in districts such as Murshidabad, Malda, and Uttar and Dakshin Dinajpur.

She has directed the DGP to talk to the BSF authorities in this regard.

The Centre recently amended the BSF Act to authorise the force to undertake search, seizure and arrest within a larger 50 km stretch, instead of 15 km, from the international border in Punjab, and Assam.

Banerjee has criticised the decision, alleging that it is an attempt to interfere with the federal structure of the country. She has also claimed that the move "meant to torture the people in those areas".

She had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi last month in New Delhi and demanded a rollback of the decision.

West Bengal shares international borders with Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan.

On Thursday, Banerjee also announced that an all-women police patrolling team will be formed in municipal areas in each district of the state.

"We will introduce a woman battalion in each municipal area in line with the Winners of Kolkata Police. At least 10 policewomen will patrol the areas on bikes or scooters. I have already asked the DG to work on it," she said.

Aiming to prevent crimes like molestation and eve-teasing and make public places safer for women, Kolkata Police in July 2018 launched a special all-women patrolling team called "The Winners".

It is learnt that such women police teams would start functioning in Nadia district's municipal towns of Ranaghat, Kalyani and Krishnanagar within the next 10 days.

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The bodies of 13 people including CDS General Bipin Rawat, his wife, and 11 armed personnel who were killed in a helicopter crash at Kateri park near Coonoor on Wednesday, have been shifted from Madras Regimental Centre (MRC) in Wellington to Sulur Airforce station.

The distance from MRC Wellington to Sulur air force station is 87 km and the road traffic was diverted to prevent any disruptions during the transportation.

The bodies will be flown from Sulur airforce station to the respective native places of the crash victims. The bodies of General and his wife Madhulika Rawat will be flown to New Delhi and will be kept at their official residence at Kamaraj Marg.

Prime Minister Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah, other political leaders, and Armed forces personnel are expected to pay their last respects to General Rawat in Delhi.

The Defence Minister has already announced in Parliament that the bodies of all those dead in the would be given full state honours.

--IANS

aal/skp/

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In the aftermath of the killing of 14 civilians by security forces in Mon district, the Nagaland government on Thursday decided to hold a special session of the Assembly to discuss and pass a resolution for repealing the AFSPA, a government +spokesperson said.

The special session is tentatively scheduled for December 20 and the Governor of and Nagaland Jagdish Mukhi will formally summon it, Minister for Planning & Coordination, Land Revenue and Parliamentary Affairs, Neiba Kronu told PTI here.

The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958,



gives the Army powers of arrest and detention in disturbed areas'.

He said that the decision was taken during a meeting of the Core Committee on Naga Political Issue of the state government held here during the day.

The Core Committee headed by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio also comprises Cabinet ministers, besides representatives from all the political parties in the North-eastern state.

The special session will also have discussions on the Naga political issue, Kronu said.

Six coal mine workers were killed at Oting village in Mon district on Saturday in a botched-up ambush by security forces. This led to clashes later, in which seven civilians lost their lives.

On Sunday afternoon, a mob vandalised and set on fire parts of an Rifles camp in Mon town during which another civilian was killed, the police had said.

Following the incidents, the demand for revocation of from Nagaland has been mounting.

After laying a wreath on the mortal remains of the victims on Monday, the chief minister had called for scrapping the draconian Act.

Tribal organisations and civil societies, including the Naga Students Federation and women's groups, have been asking the state government to hold a special session of the Assembly and pass a resolution for repealing the Act.

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US space agency on Thursday launched its new X-ray Mission to unlock the secrets of extreme cosmic objects.

The first space observatory of its kind, the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer, or IXPE, is built to study some of the most energetic objects in the universe -- the remnants of exploded stars, powerful particle jets spewing from feeding black holes, and much more.

The mission lifted off at 1:00 a.m. EST (11.30 am IST) aboard SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket from historic Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The project is a collaboration between and the Italian Space Agency.

"Go #IXPE! Our newest X-ray observatory blasted off at 1:00am EST," shared in a tweet.

"This begins a new quest to unlock the secrets of some of the most energetic objects in our universe, from black holes to neutron stars," it added.

IXPE is not as big and strong as the Chandra X-ray Observatory -- NASA's flagship X-ray While IXPE lacks in imaging power, it makes up by seeing an aspect of cosmic X-ray sources that has gone largely unexplored until now -- polarisation.

"The launch of IXPE marks a bold and unique step forward for X-ray astronomy," said Dr. Martin Weisskopf, IXPE's principal investigator, in a statement.

"IXPE will tell us more about the precise nature of cosmic X-ray sources than we can learn by studying their brightness and colour spectrum alone," he added.

IXPE is NASA's first mission to explore the polarisation signatures of a variety of X-ray sources.

The spacecraft includes three identical space telescopes with sensitive detectors capable of measuring the polarisation of cosmic X-rays,

Each has a set of nested, cylinder-shaped mirrors that collect X-rays and feed them to a detector, which takes a picture of incoming X-rays and measures both the amount and direction of polarisation.

By analysing polarised X-rays with IXPE, scientists can learn more about the structure and behaviour of celestial objects, their surrounding environments, and the physics of how X-rays come to be. It will also allow scientists to answer fundamental questions about extremely complex environments in space where gravitational, electric, and magnetic fields are at their limits.

"IXPE will help us test and refine our theories of how the universe works," Weisskopf said. "There may be even more exciting answers ahead than the ones we've hypothesised. Better yet, we may find whole lists of new questions to ask!"

For Weisskopf, who is also the project scientist for Chandra, adding polarisation to the X-ray mix has long been a goal. Making such measurements is difficult. It requires sensitive instruments, a rocket ride into space, and long observing times.

"This is going to be groundbreaking in terms of X-ray data acquisition," Weisskopf said. "We'll be analysing the results for decades to come."

--IANS

rvt/ksk/

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The Federation of Association (FORDA) on Thursday has announced that it will hold its ongoing agitation for expediting NEET-PG 2021 Counselling for a week. It has also been announced that the will be resuming all services with an immediate effect.

Speaking to the media here, President of FORDA Dr Manish said, "We had a meeting with the Health Minister yesterday wherein he gave us positive assurances. So, we have decided to suspend the protest for a week."

He further stated that the protest will restart again on December 17, if no concrete steps are taken over the reported delay in NEET-PG 2021 counseling.

The decision was taken after FORDA called an urgent meeting, earlier in the day, with various RDA representatives to discuss the course of action of the ongoing resident doctor's protest.

"A plea was issued by MoHFW for fast-tracking the court hearing and we were assured by the Union Health Minister that the Office of Prime Minister is also looking after the issue and the process will be completed within a week. Considering the above and looking at the security situation of the nation owing to the untimely demise of Chief of Defence Staff, General Bipin Rawat, and other army personnel in a tragic accident yesterday, FORDA has decided to hold the agitation for a period of 1 week after discussing with State RDA representatives in a virtual meeting held today," a statement issued by FORDA said.

"We express our sincere gratitude to all of the nation who came forward and joined the agitation called by FORDA. We are resuming all services with immediate effect. In case the issue is not addressed by December 16, we will be forced to call for the complete shutdown of all services except COVID areas in healthcare institutions," it added.

Resident doctors of three central hospitals - RML, Safdarjung, and Lady Hardinge - on November 27 suspended OPD services in protest against the repeated delay in conducting NEET-PG 2021 counselling.

Admission to various courses in NEET PG 2021 has been delayed indefinitely following the COVID-19 pandemic.

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The Army on Thursday expressed grief over the demise of Indian Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, who was killed a day earlier in a chopper crash along with 12 others in the state of Tamil Nadu.

In a statement, the Army expressed its condolences over the death of Rawat, who was also also Nepal's Honorary Chief of the Army Staff, his wife Madulika and the 11 other military personnel.

General Prabhu Ram Sharma, Chief of Army Staff in the Army, offered his condolences to the and General Rawat's family by phone and a letter on Wednesday evening, said the statement.

General Sharma said was shocked by the tragic incident and the irreparable loss to the as well as the loss of a true friend to the Nepal Army.

General Rawat was conferred with the honorary title of Nepal Army by President Bidhya Devi Bhandari on March 29, 2017.

In 2018, he visited Kathmandu as the Chief Guest for Nepal Army Day.

Senior Nepal Army General Bal Krishna Karki is slated to attend Rawat's last rites in New Delhi.

Hailing from Uttarakhand, General Rawat used to speak the Nepali language very fluently.

--IANS

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Grief caused by the death of his sister transformed a young businessman of this north town into a Samaritan, who is now joined by like-minded persons from far and wide.

Anirudh Lohia, a 42-year-old garment shop owner, is the driving force behind Raktadan Samuh Motihari', a group of volunteers, who are just a telephone call away for patients battling for their lives.

"The administration counts on Anirudh Lohia and his team in times of need. Their contributions during the COVID-19 second wave was invaluable, said Shirshat Kapil Ashok, the District Magistrate of East Champaran, which is headquartered in Motihari.

He recounts the anxious moments he experienced, as chairman of the Motihari Red Cross Society when the raging virus was wreaking havoc, and fears of contagion and lockdown restrictions caused blood donations to drop.

"Hats off to Anirudh and his team who rose to the occasion fearlessly and tirelessly, said the DM.

Superintendent of Police Navin Chandra Jha echoed his views.

"Anirudh and his team are rendering a priceless service and inspiring others to follow their example. Many personnel in the police department have also joined their cause, he said.

The adulation, however, makes Anirudh, who leads a team of 7,000 volunteers, recall the "personal loss" that drove him to the charitable cause.

"In 2018, I lost my elder sister. She was suffering from a serious heart condition and could not be saved. She underwent transfusion of 40 units of blood. I keep regretting that I could not donate mine.

"She left behind her two little daughters. Nobody can bring their mother back. But, their pain moved me to take up the challenge of saving lives, to an extent that is possible, he said.

The medical fraternity here confirms that the efforts have born fruit.

"Red Cross Society, Motihari has a glorious past. It has been a recipient of the President's award. Things had slackened over the years, but Anirudh and his endeavour changed everything, said Ashutosh Sharan, a leading doctor of Motihari, who also heads the district unit of the Indian Medical Association.

Agrees noted physician Atul Kumar, who pointed out that "doctors treating women or children having a rare blood group go about their jobs with confidence that in the hour of need, Anirudh will be there".

An active donor himself, Anirudh has donated close to 20 units in the last three years, and his ever-active and accessible social media accounts ensure he can be reached easily - both by those seeking help and those willing to help.

"We set up a community of blood donors in Motihari, but smart use of technology has enabled us to rally along kindred souls elsewhere in and even other states, he said.

"On some occasions we have been pleasantly surprised to receive messages from people residing in Nepal and Pakistan showing eagerness to join our cause. All of us need to do our bit wherever we are. So we keep sharing our experiences as well as relevant information with the conviction that every single unit of blood can make a difference, said Anirudh, shuffling between his mundane business and the greater cause.

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By Ahmad Ghaddar

LONDON (Reuters) - Oil prices eased after early gains on Thursday after measures by some governments to slow the spread of the Omicron variant, though losses were capped by positive comments from vaccine makers about the efficacy of their jabs.

Brent crude futures fell 47 cents, or 0.6%, to $75.35 a barrel by 1004 GMT after touching a peak of $76.70. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures fell 31 cents, or 0.4%, to $72.05 after a session high of $73.34.

"Although laboratory tests showed that the Pfizer vaccine has a neutralising effect on Omicron ... new measures are being introduced to try to stop the spread of the virus," said Tamas Varga of oil brokerage PVM.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson imposed tougher COVID-19 restrictions in England on Wednesday, saying people should work from home where possible and wear masks in public places and show COVID-19 vaccine passes for entry to certain events and venues.

Denmark also plans new restrictions, including closure of restaurants, bars and schools, while China has halted group tourist trips from Guangdong.

South Korea has registered record infections while cases remain elevated in Singapore and Australia.

" is thus unlikely to escape completely unscathed, though the effects will probably not be nearly as serious as initially feared," Commerzbank said.

Markets were buoyed by comments from BioNTech and Pfizer that a three-shot course of their COVID-19 vaccine could protect against infection from the Omicron variant.

The Omicron outbreak sparked a 16% slump in Brent prices from Nov. 25 to Dec. 1. More than half of the drop has been recouped this week, but analysts say a further recovery could be limited until Omicron's impact is clearer.

U.S. inventory data released on Wednesday also weighed on prices.

Energy Information Administration (EIA) data showed that crude inventories were down by 240,000 barrels last week, much less than analysts in a Reuters poll had expected, with stocks at the Cushing delivery hub in Oklahoma rising by 2.4 million barrels. [EIA/S]

Fuel stocks also rose by a combined 6.6 million barrels, the data showed.

(Additional reporting by Sonali Paul in Melbourne and Muyu Xu in Beijing; Editing by David Goodman)

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has reported its first suspected case of the new COVID-19 variant Omicron in a woman in Karachi, Sindh province Health Minister Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho said on Thursday.

She said that a genomic study was being carried out for confirmation.

"Although the genomic study of the patient's sample has not been completed but the way the virus is behaving, it seems like it is Omicron, she told the media.

She said the patient was 57 years old but local news channels have reported that the woman who had gone to a private hospital for treatment was around 65 with no history of travelling.

According to health officials, the patient is not showing any symptoms of the virus and has been sent home to be isolated.

Pechuho said that while Omicron is very transmissible, deaths or serious [conditions] have not been seen in recent reports coming from South Africa.

She said there was no cause for concern but the genomic study which will take one or two weeks will confirm whether the woman was infected with the Omicron variant.

She said the unfortunate part was that this woman was not vaccinated.

"I am appealing to the people to get the second dose and if you are fully vaccinated, get the booster dose. It can protect you," she stressed.

In a meeting of the National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC) held earlier this month, it was decided to inoculate booster shots to immunocompromised people, healthcare workers and those aged over 50 years.

An official of the provincial health ministry said that soon after the case was reported early on Wednesday morning the rapid response team was "taken on board immediately" for tracing, testing, quarantining, vaccination and other preventive measures to control the infection's spread as per the guidelines of the National Command and Operation Centre.

A statement issued by the Aga Khan University Hospital where the woman had gone said that the hospital had received the "first patient suspected of [having] the Covid-19 Omicron variant".

"We are awaiting the results of the final (genome sequencing) confirmatory test, which will take a few days. We have reported the suspected patient to the health department for their action. The patient did well and has been discharged," the hospital's spokesperson Anam Haleem said in the statement.

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The Socialist Council of (Isak-Muivah) on Wednesday said no peace talks were possible "under the shadow" of the AFSPA and termed Home Minister Amit Shah's statement in Parliament on the botched counter-insurgency operation as "Irresponsible."



This comes on the heels of a statement by Oting villagers where they claimed the army shot to kill villagers without ascertaining their identity and tried to dress them in fatigues in a bid to pass them off as militants after a botched up ambush. No political talks will be meaningful under the shadow of AFSPA. Let human dignity take control and be made an integral part of the Naga political peace process, the NSCN(IM) said in a statement here. The strongly worded statement of NSCN(IM), the principal negotiators in the Naga political dialogue with the Centre, also condemned the Union Home Minister Amit Shah's statement in the Parliament on the killing of at least 13 coal mine labourers in Oting village of Mon district on December 4. The NSCN statement claimed "truth be told there was no signal to stop the pick-up van of the coal laborers as mentioned by in Parliament."



The statement quoted one of the survivors, Sheiwang who is undergoing treatment at the Assam Medical College and Hospital in Dibrugarh, stating, they shot right at us, no signal to stop, we did not flee. Unfortunately, the Oting's killing has become a threat to the Nagas' longing for Naga political solution, NSCN (IM) said.

In a situation like this, was expected to show political maturity and practical statesmanship in order to cool down the socio-political upheavals. Ironically, he poured fuel to the burning issue by standing behind the Para Commandos , the former rebel group said. They described this as "like rubbing salt and chili in the wounds of the Nagas". The NSCN(IM) said that there is nothing to doubt that it was a botched ambush with a deliberate mission to kill and nothing to do with credible' intelligence of NSCN movement in the area. Nothing can be far from the truth that it was something executed deliberately, the statement said. The NSCN(IM) argued that if the Government of India (GoI) wants "to do justice to the Naga people, AFSPA must be immediately withdrawn" and investigation for proper prosecution of those responsible immediately constituted. The NSCN(IM) said what is most sinister is when the Army was found stripping naked the dead bodies of the Naga civilians with military dress to give the impression in the eyes of the media that these were militants. Luckily, they were caught red handed by the villagers before they succeeded through their plan, the statement said. An official statement made by the Government on Monday had said that based on inputs received by the Indian Army about movement of the insurgents near Tiru village in Mon district, a team of para-commandos laid an ambush on Saturday. During the operation, the Government's statement made by the home minister in Parliament said: "a vehicle approached the location and it was signaled to stop. However, the vehicle tried to flee, following which the vehicle, suspected of carrying insurgents, was fired upon resulting in killing of 6 out of 8 persons travelling in the vehicle. However, it turned out to be a case of mistaken identity." NSCN(IM) claimed the AFSPA, which gives powers of arrest and detention to the armed forces, "has given the Indian security forces the license to shoot and kill anyone on mere suspicion." The Nagas have had the bitter taste of this act on numerous occasions and it has spilled enough blood. Blood and political talks cannot go together," the statement said. The NSCN(IM) has been engaged in negotiations with the Centre for a solution to the decades old Naga political issue since 1997 while the Framework Agreement was signed between them in August 2015. However, no solution has been achieved with the former remaining adamant on its demand for a separate flag and constitution of the Nagas.

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The on Thursday mourned the death of Gen Bipin Rawat, his wife and 11 others in a helicopter crash, with the Deputy Chairman describing India's first Chief of Defence Staff as an exceptional and distinguished military leader.

When the House met for the day, Deputy Chairman Harivansh informed the house about the tragic accident in Nilgiri district of Tamil Nadu on Wednesday afternoon in which CDS Rawat, 63, his wife Madhulika and 11 other defence personnel died.

Reading out Rawat's obituary, Harivansh said the CDS had an illustrious military career spanning over four decades during which he held several important staff positions and went on to become the Chief of Army Staff on December 31, 2016.

"In the last two years, Gen Rawat tried to bring transformative reforms in the security architecture of our country," Harivansh said.

As an individual, he will always be remembered for his commitment to the nation as well as troops, he said.

"In the passing away of Gen Rawat, the country has lost an outstanding soldier and an exceptional and distinguished military leader," he said.

The House, he said, deeply mourns the passing away of Gen Rawat, his wife, and 11 others.

"The loss of precious lives is indeed painful and unfortunate," he said after which members stood in silence as a mark of respect to the memory of the departed.

Thereafter, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh made a statement about the incident, which was identical to the one made in the Lok Sabha earlier.

Singh said that Group Captain Varun Singh, who survived the crash, is on life support at a Wellington hospital.

Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge wanted that floor leaders of all parties to be allowed to pay tributes but Harivansh said the House has collectivity mourned the deaths and there was no precedent to allow such a thing.

Congress leader Anand Sharma backed Kharge but the deputy chairman disallowed it.

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Group Captain Varun Singh, the lone survivor of the horrifying chopper crash near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu, was conferred with the Shaurya Chakra in August for averting a possible mid-air accident after his Tejas light combat aircraft suffered a major technical glitch last year.

Singh is now battling for life at a military hospital in Wellington.

Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat, his wife Madhulika and 11 armed forces personnel were killed in the Mi-17V5 in one of the biggest air accidents involving top military officials.

"Group Captain Varun Singh is on life support in the military hospital at Wellington and all efforts are being made to save his life," Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said while apprising Parliament on the crash.

Group Captain Singh was on board the Russian-made chopper as the liaison officer for the visit of Gen Rawat, India's senior-most military officer, to the Defence Services Staff College in Wellington.

He is currently serving as an instructor at the prestigious institute.

Group Captain Singh received Gen Rawat at the Sulur airbase from where the entourage was heading towards Wellington in the chopper.

His father, Colonel (retd) KP Singh had served in the Army Air Defence (AAD).

Group Captain Singh was conferred with the Shaurya Chakra for displaying exemplary composure and skill when his Tejas aircraft developed the technical snag on October 12 last year.

"Despite being in extreme physical and mental stress in an extreme life-threatening situation, he maintained exemplary composure and recovered the aircraft, thereby exhibiting exceptional flying skill," this award citation said.

Officials said his aircraft experienced a total loss of control with vicious manoeuvring and under such a scenario, the pilot was at liberty to abandon the aircraft.

They said he evaluated the gravity of the situation and decided to bring back the aircraft safely.

"Faced with a potential hazard to his own life, he displayed extraordinary courage and skill to control and safely land the fighter aircraft saving hundreds of crore," the award citation said.

"The pilot went beyond the call of duty and landed the aircraft taking calculated risks. This allowed an accurate analysis of fault on the indigenously designed fighter and further institution of preventive measures against recurrence," it said.

Singh's family originally hails from Ghazipur in Uttar Pradesh.

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on Thursday registered 201 fresh COVID-19 cases, pushing the cumulative to 6,77,747, while the toll rose to 4,003 with one more fatality.

The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) accounted for the most number of cases with 76, followed by Ranga Reddy 24 and Hanumakonda 15 districts, a state government bulletin said, providing details as of 5.30 PM on Thursday.

It said 184 people recovered from the infectious disease today. The cumulative number of recoveries till date was 6,69,857.

The number of active cases was 3,887, the bulletin said.

It said 36,900 samples were tested in the last 24 hours and the total number of samples tested till date was 2.89 crore.

The samples tested per million population was 7,76,920.

The case fatality rate in the state was 0.59 per cent while the recovery rate in was 98.83 per cent.

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Year-long farmers' stir against three acts finally comes to an end

The more than a year-long farmers agitation on Delhi borders formally came to an end today with the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) suspending the protests following a written letter from the government clarifying all the points of discord, including an assurance to continue with the current system of Minimum Support Price (MSP), had been settled.

The SKM leaders said in a joint press conference that protest sites across the country will start winding up on December 11 after holding a victory rally to mark the occasion. Read more

receives scheduled bank status from RBI

on Thursday said it has been given the scheduled bank status by the Reserve Bank of India.

The bank has been included in the Second Schedule to the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 and the approval will help it to bring more financial services and products. Read more

People with health issues or inactivated vaccine should get booster: WHO

The World Health Organization's (WHO) vaccine advisory panel recommends that people who are immunocompromised or received an inactivated vaccine should receive a booster dose of a COVID-19 shot, it said on Thursday.

Many countries have been rolling out booster shots, targeting the elderly and people with underlying health issues, but worries about the new Omicron variant have prompted some to expand their use to larger portions of their populations. Read more

Evergrande, Kaisa rated 'restricted default' by Fitch after missed payment

Developers China Group and Kaisa Group were downgraded to "restricted default" by rating agency Fitch due to non-payment of offshore bond dues, while a source said Kaisa had started work on restructuring its $12 billion offshore debt.

The downgrades came on Thursday even as and Kaisa have not officially announced the defaults that could result in long debt restructuring processes. Read more
Defence Minister on Thursday told Parliament that a tri-services inquiry led by Air Marshal Manavendra Singh has started investigation into the helicopter crash that killed Chief of Defence Staff Gen and 12 others.

Briefing both houses of Parliament on the crash, Singh said that all efforts were being made to save IAF Group Captain Varun Singh, the lone survivor of the crash near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu on Wednesday, who was on life support at the military hospital in Wellington.

A tri-services inquiry headed by Air Marshal Manavendra Singh has been ordered by the Indian Air Force. A team of investigators had reached Wellington yesterday (Wednesday) itself and started their work, Singh said.

Gen Rawat, India's first Chief of Defence Staff, his wife Madhulika and 11 other armed forces personnel died when the military helicopter they were travelling in crashed.

The last rites of the Chief of Defence Staff will be performed with full military honours, Singh said.

He said the last rites of the other military personnel who died in the crash will also be conducted with appropriate military honours.

The and paid tributes to the departed souls by observing a moment of silence.

Giving details about the incident in the Lok Sabha, Singh said Gen Rawat was on a scheduled visit to the Defence Services Staff College at Wellington to interact with students officers.

The Indian Air Force Mi17V5 helicopter took off from Sulur air base at 11.48 am on Wednesday which had to land at Wellington at 12.15 pm, he said.

The Air Traffic Control at Sulur airbase lost contact with the helicopter at approximately 12.08 pm, the minister said.

Singh said later, a few locals reported fire in the forest near Coonoor and rushed to the spot where they saw remains of a helicopter engulfed in flames.

Rescue teams from local administration also reached the crash site and tried to recover survivors, he said.

All those recovered from the wreckage were immediately rushed to the military hospital at Wellington. As per information received, out of 14 persons on board the helicopter, 13 have succumbed to their injuries, Singh said.

The dead include the spouse of the CDS, Madhulika Rawat, his Defence Adviser Brig Lakhbinder Singh Lidder, Staff Officer Lt Col Harjinder Singh and nine other Armed Forces personnel including the Air Force helicopter crew, the minister said.

Their names are Wing Commander Prithvi Singh Chauhan, Squadron Leader Kuldeep Singh, Junior Warrant Officer Rana Pratap Das, Junior Warrant Officer Arakkal Pradeep, Havildar Satpal Rai, Naik Gursewak Singh, Naik Jitendra Kumar, Lance Naik Vivek Kumar, Lance Naik B Sai Teja, he said.

The mortal remains will be brought to Delhi by an IAF aircraft, Singh said.

Group Captain Varun Singh is on life support at the military hospital in Wellington and all efforts are made to save his life, Singh said.

Indian Air Force Air Chief Marshal V R Chaudhari has been sent to spot after receiving information about the accident on Wednesday itself, the Defence Minister said.

He said the Air chief has taken stock of the situation after visiting spot and the hospital.

The Defence Minister made a similar statement on the crash in the

Speaker Om Birla expressed grief at Gen Rawat's untimely demise and said that the country had lost a skilled warrior, an outstanding strategist and an experienced leader.

In the Rajya Sabha, Deputy Chairman Harivansh paid tributes to Gen Rawat, describing him as an exceptional and distinguished military leader.

Reading out Rawat's obituary, Harivansh said the CDS had an illustrious military career spanning over four decades during which he held several important staff positions and went on to become the Chief of Army Staff on December 31, 2016.

"In the last two years, Gen Rawat tried to bring transformative reforms in the security architecture of our country," Harivansh said.

As an individual, he will always be remembered for his commitment to the nation as well as troops, he said.

"In the passing away of Gen Rawat, the country has lost an outstanding soldier and an exceptional and distinguished military leader," he said.

The House, he said, deeply mourns the passing away of Gen Rawat, his wife, and 11 others.

"The loss of precious lives is indeed painful and unfortunate," he said after which members stood in silence as a mark of respect to the memory of the departed.

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India will launch two unmanned missions next year before the human spaceflight programme 'Gaganyaan' by the end of 2022, Union Minister Jitendra Singh said on Thursday.

Sharing the status of other space projects, Singh -- during the Question Hour in the Rajya Sabha -- said the Venus mission is planned for 2022, while the Solar Mission for 2022-23 and that of the Space Station by 2030.

Singh, the Minister of State in the Department of Space, said space projects have been delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"In the next year, we are going to have two unmanned missions before flying the Gaganyaan. That is also in the planning. That is usually the SoP (Standard Operating Procedure) which is followed. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, it got delayed," he said.

In the beginning of next year possibly, India will first launch unmanned missions ahead of Gaganyaan towards the end of 2022, he said, adding that it would be accompanied with robots that have been named as 'Vayumitra'.

"Following that, we will possibly in 2023 have Gaganyaan which will undoubtedly place India in the elite club of nations being the fourth one after the US, China and Russia," he added.

The minister further said the Gaganyaan programme will be different from other human missions undertaken by other countries in the sense that this will be more cost effective and inclusive.

This programme will place India as a frontline nation and will also improve the country's capabilities as far as its robotic missions are concerned, he said and added that this will also inspire youngsters and start-ups.

Besides the Gaganyaan programme, the minister said, "We are going to have a number of other missions. We will have a Venus mission by 2023. Soon, we will have solar missions called 'Aditya Solar mission' planned for 2022-23."



Chandrayana got delayed due to the pandemic and maybe it will be launched by next year, he said.

"By 2030, we will possibly be able to set up a space station, which will be unique of its kind," he noted, adding that the journey of India's ascent to the top has already begun through the space route.

Replying to a supplementary query if ISRO has identified 17 technologies at lower cost from start-ups for use in Gaganyaan mission, the minister said, "There are going to be several research modules accompanying the Gaganyaan and it will involve start-ups and more than 500 industries".

For the first time since the country's Independence, private industry will be involved in space technology, he said.

"As a result of which, we now are going to have a number of partnerships for nano satellites trying to put in their mission in collaboration with ISRO," he said.

Host technologies can be innovated in a wide range of areas involving the industry, which pave the way for the newer economy getting generated through the medium of space technology, he added.

The minister also informed the Upper House that India has so far launched 42 foreign satellites from 34 countries and generated a revenue of USD 56 million (one million is equal to 10 lakhs).

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UN Secretary-General Antnio Guterres on Wednesday mourned the demise of India's first Chief of Defence Staff General in a helicopter crash in Tamil Nadu.

Gen Rawat, his wife Madhulika and 11 other armed forces personnel died on Wednesday after the military helicopter they were travelling in crashed near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu, the Indian Air Force said.

The Secretary General is deeply saddened by the death of General Bipin Rawat, Chief of Defence Staff of the Indian Armed Forces as well as his spouse and 11 other people in a helicopter crash.

He expresses his heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased and to the people and Government of India, his spokesperson Stphane Dujarric told reporters in New York.

As you may recall, General Rawat served the United Nations with distinction and we fully appreciated that work. He was Brigade Commander of the North Kivu Brigade of the UN peacekeeping mission in the Congo (MONUC) in 2008 and 2009, Dujarric added.

The lone survivor, Group Captain Varun Singh, is currently under treatment at a military hospital in Wellington, the Indian Air Force said.

The Chief of Defence Staff had left the Palam airbase in an IAF Embraer aircraft at 8:47 am and landed at Sulur airbase at 11:34 am. He took off from Sulur in a Mi-17V5 chopper at around 1148 am for Wellington, official sources said.

The chopper crashed around 12.22 pm, they said.

Rawat had survived a helicopter crash six years ago, in 2015, when he was a Lt General.

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The on Wednesday approved the funding and implementation of the project for interlinking of rivers Ken and Betwa at a cost of Rs 44,605 crore, a move criticised by experts as the approval came without the statutory clearances.

"The total cost of Ken-Betwa project has been assessed at Rs 44,605 crore at 2020-21 price level. The has approved the central support of Rs 39,317 crore for the project, covering grant of Rs 36,290 crore and loan of Rs 3,027 crore," a statement after the Cabinet meeting said.

"A Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) called Ken-Betwa Link Project Authority (KBLPA) is to be set up for implementation of the project," it said.

The project involves transfer of water from the Ken to the Betwa river through the construction of Daudhan dam and a canal linking the two rivers, the Lower Orr project, Kotha Barrage, and Bina complex multipurpose project. The project will provide an annual irrigation of 10.62 lakh Ha, drinking water supply to a population of about 62 lakhs, and also generate 103 MW of hydropower and 27 MW solar power.

Earlier in the year, a tripartite agreement between the Ministry of Jal Shakti and Chief Ministers of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh was signed on March 22 for this first major centrally driven interlinking of rivers project.

Stating that the project will be of immense benefit to the water starved Bundelkhand region, spread across the states of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, the statement said: "This project will provide enormous benefits to the districts of Panna, Tikamgarh, Chhatarpur, Sagar, Damoh, Datia, Vidisha, Shivpuri, and Raisen districts of Madhya Pradesh and Banda, Mahoba, Jhansi, and Lalitpur of Uttar Pradesh."

"The project is expected to boost the socio-economic prosperity in the backward Bundelkhand region on account of increased agricultural activities and employment generation. It would also help in arresting distress migration from this region," it added.

Senior officials from the Ministry, who did not wish to be quoted, said the approval came ahead of the Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh.

"The Cabinet nod was necessary as once the Election Commission declares the polls - which is due early next year - then no such announcement would be possible," officials said, adding, "This announcement regarding the project would also come handy during election campaigns for the ruling party."

The project also comprehensively provides for environment management and safeguards. "For this purpose, a comprehensive landscape management plan is under finalisation by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII)," the statement said.

Criticising that the approval came when the comprehensive landscape management plan is still underway, Himanshu Thakkar of South Asia Network for Dams, Rivers and People (SANDRP) also pointed out how the Cabinet gave approval to a project that has not obtained three major statutory clearances.

"The environmental clearance was challenged and is pending at the National Green Tribunal (NGT), the stage II (final) Forest Clearance and subsequent state approval, in this case from the Madhya Pradesh government, is pending. And last, but never the least, the Central Empowered Committee, appointed by the Supreme Court, has submitted the report to the apex court with its objections to the wildlife clearance... the court is yet to give its say on it," he said.

The Ministry of Jal Shakti is also likely to announce the National Interlinking of Rivers Authority (NIRA), which was suggested by the sub-committee for restructuring of the National Water Development Agency (NWDA). NWDA is an agency and with restructuring, an 'Authority' with powers is envisaged.

NIRA would be an overarching body, autonomous in functions for planning and would act as the nodal body for the projects related to interlinking of rivers across the country. There would be a special purpose vehicle (SPV) for each of the interlinking projects.

"For the SPV to materialise, agreements amongst the states involved is a must. As on date, we only have an agreement between Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh vis-a-vis Ken Betwa project. So, the SPV for Ken Betwa project came first," a Ministry official said.

--IANS

niv/vd

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US Secretary of State and Defence Secretary on Wednesday mourned the demise of India's first Chief of Defence Staff General in a helicopter crash in Tamil Nadu.

My deep condolences on the deaths of Indian Chief of Defence Staff General Rawat, his wife and colleagues who perished in today's tragic accident, Blinken said.

We'll remember Gen. Rawat as an exceptional leader who served his country and contributed to the US-India defence relationship, he said.

Defence Secretary Austin said: General Rawat left an indelible mark on the course of the US-India defence partnership and was at the center of the Indian Armed Forces' transformation into a more jointly integrated warfighting organisation.

Austin said that he had the privilege of meeting with him earlier this year and viewed him as a valued partner and friend of the United States.

I and the Department extend our deepest condolences to the Rawat family, the Indian military, and the people of India after the tragic passing of Chief of Defence Staff General in a helicopter crash, he said.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the Rawat family and the families of the other victims of the crash. We are deeply saddened by this loss, Austin added.

In a statement, the US-India Strategic and Partnership Forum said that it is deeply saddened by the tragic demise of CDS General Bipin Rawat, his wife and 11 others in the helicopter crash this afternoon.

Our thoughts go out to the families of the brave souls lost today. We mourn with the nation at the loss of these patriots," USISPDF said.

As India's first Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Rawat spearheaded a historic period of transformation in the Indian military, tweeted the US Embassy in India.

He was a strong friend and partner of the US, overseeing a major expansion of India's defence cooperation with the US military. His legacy will continue on, it added.

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The government declared a three-day state mourning over the death of Chief of Defence Staff Gen in a helicopter crash on Wednesday.

General Bipin Rawat, his wife and 11 others were killed in a helicopter crash near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu on Wednesday, the Indian Air Force said.

Describing his death as an irreparable loss to the country, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said will always be proud of its son.

The general belonged to Saina village of Pauri district in the state.

The CM declared the state mourning from December 9 to 12.

In his condolence message issued here, Dhami prayed for peace to the departed souls.

Terming the sudden death of Rawat as an irreparable loss to the country, Dhami said he had made great contribution to the country's security.

"The country will always remember the courageous decisions taken by him for the security of the borders and the contribution made by him to keep the morale of the armed forces always high," he said.

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Many villages in are making preparations to welcome and honour who will be returning to their homes after a year-long agitation against the Centre's three agriculture laws on Delhi's borders.

The programme for honouring for their participation in one of the biggest and successful movement of the recent times has been chalked out after the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) on Thursday announced to suspend the agitation.

Chilla village in Mohali district has a population of around 2,000 and villagers actively participated in the agitation against the three contentious laws at the Singhu border in Delhi.

We will honour them (farmers) upon returning to the village, said local resident Jagtar Singh.

He said around 50 to 60 residents from the village were participating in the protest at the Singhu border. We will honour them with a trophy and a shawl.

He said four persons from his village spent a year at the protest site.

Singh said they will also honour women and children who stood everyday at a traffic light point carrying farmer flags to muster support for protesting peasants.

Similarly, villagers at many places in the state have planned to honour when they come back home.

The SKM, an umbrella body of 40 farm unions, on Thursday decided to suspend the over a year-long farmers' movement against three agri laws and announced that farmers will go back home on December 11 from the protest sites on Delhi's borders.

The announcement came after the SKM, which is spearheading the movement, received a central government signed letter where it agreed to consider their pending demands, including withdrawal of cases against farmers and form a committee on minimum support price (MSP).

The Centre has already repealed the three farm laws.

Many farmers expressed their gratitude to people of Haryana for extending support to them during the stir.

Bhartiya Kisan Union general secretary Harinder Singh Lakhowal said people have made plans to honour farmers when they reach their respective villages.

Lakhowal said there were some farmers who spent over a year at the Singhu border.

Except for a few days, some of the farmers continuously remained at the protest site for more than a year, he said.

Bharti Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan) general secretary Sukhdev Singh Kokrikalan said farmers will start returning from December 11 from the protest sites on Delhi's borders.

They will be welcomed in their villages, he said.

On Wednesday, the SKM had said that it had reached a consensus on a revised draft proposal of the Centre on its pending demands.

Farmer leaders said that farmers will take out victory marches on December 11 to their respective places.

Farmers from and Haryana had taken essentials including mattresses, utensils, cots etc in their tractor trolleys to the protest sites.

Farmers, mainly from Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, started protesting at Delhi border points on November 26 last year against the three farm laws, which have been repealed recently.

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on Thursday drew the curtains on their over a year-long agitation on the borders of Delhi over various issues, including the now-repealed three farm Acts. The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM)  an amalgamation of various farmer unions spearheading the protests  announced suspension of the stir following a letter from the Union agriculture ministry on all the points of discord; it also assured to continue with the current system of (MSP). SKM leaders during a joint press conference announced that would start leaving protest sites across the country on December 11, following a victory rally. But farmers, according to eyewitnesses, have already started pulling down the semi-permanent structures and are travelling back home from the major protest sites of Singhu, Tikri, and Ghazipur borders. Some of the big community kitchens are also being dismantled. On January 15, SKM leaders will meet to review the promises made by the government. They will keep pressuring the government by meeting every month and monitoring the progress made on the promises, Balbir Singh Rajewal, a prominent leader of the SKM and president of BKU (Rajewal) told reporters. This is not the end as the movement is just suspended, he clarified. ALSO READ: Protest sites were like home, will be lifelong memory, say farmers The letter of assurances was signed by Agriculture Secretary Sanjay Agarwal. In the letter, the Centre agreed to most of the concerns raised by the protesters, including their participation in the proposed committee on MSP, immediate withdrawal of cases lodged against protesting in UP, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Haryana. The letter also talked about an in-principle agreement by the UP and Haryana governments on compensation to the families of farmers who died during the protests, on the lines of one given by Punjab, making changes to the draft electricity Act only after consulting SKM leaders, and making stubble burning a non-criminal offence. The foundation of ending the over year-long protest against the three farm Acts was laid on November 19 when Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the repeal of the laws in a televised address on the occasion of Gurupurab, one of the holiest days for the Sikh community. The prime minister had also announced the formation of a committee comprising representatives from the Centre, states, agriculture experts, and farmer unions to make the mechanism effective. Thereafter, the government moved quickly to first get legislation to repeal the Acts passed from the Cabinet and then approved by both houses of Parliament. The Acts -- which were brought with much fanfare as part of the Atmanirbhar Bharat Package in June 2020 after the Covid-induced lockdown -- were mired in controversy, with a section of farmers seeing them as an assault on the MSP-based procurement system; many others felt that the move will deal a body blow to the current Agriculture Produce Marketing Committees (APMCs). Farmers also alleged that the Acts were a way to open the door for big corporations to get into farming. Several states, such as Punjab, have been against the laws because they infringed on the states power Of the three repealed Acts, the first -- Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020 -- sought to provide an ecosystem for farmers and traders to sell and buy outside designated mandis, without disturbing the existing mandi structure. This was planned by categorising the entire area outside the mandi as a trade area. A designated mandi is a regulated wholesale market that is governed by the rules of the state where it is situated. The markets are called APMCs (Agricultural Produce Marketing Committees) and are governed by an Act. Studies show India has around 8,000 such regulated markets and 22,000 sub-markets, which are governed by some sort of regulations. The second Act was the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement On Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020, and the third was an amendment to the existing Essential Commodities Act. The second Act, also called the Contract Farming Act, sought to provide a framework for contract farming agreements between farmers and buyer entities. The third one was the amendment to the EC Act for exempting certain agricultural commodities from the purview of the Act and restricted its applicability to extraordinary circumstances that include an abnormal increase or fall in prices of the commodities.

Thousands of farmers have been camping on the borders of Delhi since November 26, 2020, to protest the laws and also demand a legal guarantee on

The agitation, which started as stray protests in some villages of Punjab, gathered steam over time and spread to other parts of the country, including neighbouring Haryana, western Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan.

The stir reached a crescendo when thousands of farmers from Punjab and elsewhere marched towards Delhi late last year and decided to block the main entry points once they were denied entry.

The Centre, on its part, held 11 rounds of discussions with farmer leaders and even offered to amend some of the provisions without much success, as the protestors stuck to their main demand of repealing the Acts.

The violent events of January 26, 2021, when scores of agitating farmers deviated from a fixed tractor rally route and forced entry into the main thoroughfares, leading to pitched battles with the police, was seen as a big setback for the stir. However, Bhartiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait's emotional outburst during an apparent government effort to clear out the Ghazipur protest site revived the morale of agitators.

And within days, western Uttar Pradesh became the new epicenter of the protests.

In between, the Supreme Court intervened and decided to constitute a high-powered panel of experts to study the three laws and suggest a way forward. The panel was rejected by the protesters as it comprised people known to have favoured the laws at one forum or the other.

The panel submitted its report to the apex court in due course but little has been heard about the same since then. One of the panel members wrote a letter to the chief justice of the Supreme Court, requesting him to make the report public.

Latest Government Offered SKM leaders will be part of the panel being constituted to ensure for farmers, while the current state of MSP based procurement will continue as it is. State governments of UP, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Haryana will immediately take steps to withdraw cases against all farmers. Centre will also withdraw all cases against protesting farmers under various Central laws and urge other states to do the same. States of Haryana and UP have in-principle agreed to provide compensation to dead farmers on the lines of Punjab Changes in draft Electricity amendment will be made after consulting SKM leaders Stubble burning has already been decriminalized

2020 15 May: Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman announces three farm laws as part of the Covid packages 5 June: The Modi government promulgates ordinances on three farm laws 27 September: President Ram Nath Kovind gives his assent to the bills, Bills notified and become laws 26 November: Farmers reach various borders of Delhi and gherao the city, set up encampments 11 December: A faction of Bharatiya Kisan Union moves the Supreme Court against the three farm laws 30 December - 5 January 2021: Multiple rounds of talks between farmers and government remain inconclusive. 2021 12 January: Supreme Court keeps the implementation of the three farm laws in abeyance and sets up a four-member committee to suggest any changes to the laws 20 January: The government proposes to suspend the three farm laws for 1.5 years and set up a joint committee to discuss the legislation. Farmers reject the proposal 26 January: Farmers hold tractor rallies in Delhi. In some places, particularly at Red Fort, it leads to violence after some protesters change their route. 22 October: The Supreme Court says protesters cannot block public roads indefinitely, but also clarifies it is not against peoples right to protest even on matters that are sub judice. 19 November: PM Modi addresses the nation, says the three farm laws to be repealed in the upcoming Winter Session of Parliament 28-29 November: Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha passes the farm acts repeal bill 1 December: President gives assent to the bill to repeal the three acts 7 December: SKM meets to move towards ending the stir, raises some points of clarification 9 December: The farm stir is finally called-off after the Center clarifies all outstanding points. Farmers announce that all protest sites to start winding up from Dec 11
at thermal power plants improved to 20.98 million tonne (MT) on December 5, 2021, which is sufficient to run the plants for an average 10 days, Parliament was informed on Thursday.

At present, the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) monitors fuel stocks of 136 coal-based thermal power plants with total generation capacity of over 166 GW.

The available with power plants being monitored by CEA was 41.6 MT as on November 30, 2020, which decreased to 31.9 MT as on March 31, 2021, Power Minister R K Singh said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.

Further, with increased generation and some interruption in supply of coal by companies mainly due to heavy rains and increase in prices of imported coal, stock at the plants depleted to about 11.4 MT as on September 30, 2021, he stated.

Subsequently, he said with the concerted efforts of Ministry of Power, Ministry of Coal, CEA, Coal India Ltd (CIL) & Railways, the has started increasing and has now reached about 20.98 MT as on December 5, 2021, which is sufficient to run the plants for an average 10 days.

He also said the total actual coal stock in November this year at the plants was 13.65 MT against 28.51 MT stock to be maintained.

In November 2020, the total coal stock at the plants was 29.7 MT against 26.9 MT dry fuel stock to be maintained.

Similarly, the total actual coal stock in October this year at the plants was 7.87 MT against 28.13 MT stock to be maintained.

In October 2020, the total coal stock at thermal power plants was 27.1 MT against 27.2 MT stock to be maintained.

"During 2021-22 (Apr'21-Nov'21), the coal-based generation in the country increased about 16.1 per cent as compared to same period last year and 5.1 per cent as compared to same period during 2019-20.

"Thus, though the coal stock had depleted during some months, the coal-based generation has improved vis- vis same period in previous years and now the stock has also improved. Thus, as such, there is no shortage of coal in thermal power plants of the country," the minister told the House.

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has deepened during the COVID-19 pandemic, with being left behind on pay raises and bonuses, says an ADP study.

According to ADP's study 'People at Work 2021: A Global Workforce View', in India only 65 per cent of received a pay rise or bonus for taking on extra responsibilities or a new role compared to 70 per cent of men.

This disparity exists despite the study finding that men and were just as likely to take on additional responsibilities or a new role due to COVID-19-related impacts on their organisations.

ADP Research Institute surveyed 32,471 workers in 17 countries around the world between November 17 and December 11, 2020.

"The is an issue that goes much deeper than salaries. There are many factors to consider such as the social dynamics of society, what government support is available and the culture of a workplace," Yvonne Teo, Vice President of HR in Asia Pacific of the payroll solutions provider, ADP, said.

Teo further said that bonus is just one of many factors that have contributed to an increased since the onset of the pandemic.

"It doesn't happen overnight. To effectively and sustainably eradicate a pay gap, there needs to be a long-term strategy over three or five years with targets and frameworks in place that cover the employee life cycle, from talent acquisition and promotions to departure and internal education.

"Without a dedicated and continued focus on diversity, equity and inclusion across the business, we will see a repeat of the backward steps taken during COVID-19 on gender disparity," Teo said.

The ADP study also revealed that employees are still judged for taking advantage of flexible working arrangements (71 per cent of females and 64 per cent of males feel judged).

Rahul Goyal, Managing Director ADP India, said there are implications on employee satisfaction if companies do not solve the issue, which is particularly challenging amidst the current demand for talent.

"Employees' perceptions of fairness play a critical part in their sense of loyalty and dedication, which in turn impact productivity and talent retention, and more widely, reputation. If women start to feel that their efforts are being overlooked especially in reference to their male colleagues that's a situation employers will want to avoid at all costs," Goyal said.

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The government has from time to time advised to have partnerships in its major fields including Mumbai High and Bassein & Satellite assets off the west coast with a view to raising output and technology infusion, Parliament was informed on Thursday.

In a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Rameswar Teli said national oil companies are free to choose field-specific models including farm out (giving stake) and joint venture/technical service model for enhancing production from their matured and aging fields.

The government, he said, is keen that the domestic production of should increase exponentially.

" being the leading organisation has to play an important role," he said. "The government from time to time advises to increase exploration and production by having partnerships for its major fields including Mumbai High and Bassein & Satellite asset with the scope of enhancing recovery and technology infusion."



Teli was replying to a question the government asking ONGC to give away a 60 per cent stake and operatorship of the nation's largest producing fields.

Amar Nath, additional secretary (exploration) in the Ministry had on October 28 written a three-page letter to ONGC Chairman and Managing Director Subhash Kumar, saying productivity of the Mumbai High and Bassein & Satellite (B&S) offshore assets under the state-owned firm was low and international partners should be invited and given 60 per cent participating interest and operatorship.

The proposal has met with strong resistance from the management of ONGC as well as its unions who feel its assets are being given away on a platter to the private sector.

Teli said the area under exploration has to be increased which would subsequently lead to more new discoveries in the country. And at the same time, production from existing fields has also to be optimised and increased wherever possible by employing advanced technology, drilling more production wells, wherever technically feasible, and better management.

"As per reforms in exploration and licensing policy for enhancing domestic exploration and production of oil and gas, issued in 2019, national oil companies are free to choose field-specific models including farm out and joint venture/ technical service model for enhancing production from their matured and aging fields," he said.

The minister said ONGC officers have written to the ministry against the recommendation for giving out a stake in Mumbai High and B&S assets.

"However, ONGC being managed by the Board and a listed company is required to consider the view points from the perspective of various stakeholders including from the officers' unions," he added.

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The government must ensure that there are enough mining blocks for everyone, Jindal Steel and Power Ltd chairman Naveen Jindal said on Thursday.

He said there are challenges in mining in India, issues like land acquisition, rehabilitation of people, getting clearances, etc, that needs to be taken care of through a single window system which is lacking in our country.

"In India, there are too many entrepreneurs and too much of competition for every block. The government sometimes creates an artificial scarcity or shortage by leaving a few blocks of iron ore or coal and too many people participate aggressively to get the minerals and thereby erode all competitiveness forever, as the competitiveness is not only within the country but also internationally," Jindal said speaking at The Bengal Chamber organised mining e-conclave.

"This aggressive competition makes the mineral way too expensive and that is how the mineral loses all its strength. Government must ensure that there are enough blocks for everyone. The supports needed by the mining companies are lacking," he said.

The Government of India also charges the highest royalty in the world on all minerals apart from all so many other taxes like the district mineral fund, GST compensation, cess on coal, and 25 per cent income tax on profit, the industrialist said.

There had been intense bidding for iron-ore mines that went under the hammer but in the case of coal blocks government received strong demand for only select mining blocks and many remained untouched in the last two rounds of bidding for blocks of the dry fuel.

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The Thursday asked retail liquor dealers to pay licence fees to the AAP government under the new Excise Policy from December 1, as the state has already registered over 500 liquor brands with their MRPs fixed.

The high court further directed the dealers to deposit 75 per cent of the amount of licence fee from November 17, the date when they were scheduled to commence business under the new policy, to November 30.

Keeping in view that today a number of liquor brands stand registered, there is no reason as to why the petitioners (retail liquor dealers) could not commence payment of licence fee. They agree to pay the licence fee with effect from December 1, 2021.

I am of the view that equities can be balanced by directing the petitioners to deposit 75 per cent amount of licence fee from November 17 to November 30 this amount will be subject to the outcome of the pending writ petitioners, Justice Rekha Palli said.

The court was hearing pleas by several retail liquor traders seeking to restrain the government from demanding the sums of money in the form of licence fees or security deposit and also to direct the authorities not to levy or demand licence fees from the successful bidders until the government performs its own obligations under the tender terms and conditions and the Delhi Excise policy 2021-2022.

The court disposed off the applications for interim reliefs.

The petitioners said they are successful bidders for licences for operation of retail liquor vends and sought to declare the decision of the to levy licence fees with effect from November 1, 2021 as illegal.

On November 9, the high court had asked the to inform it about the number of liquor brands where MRPs are fixed and those yet to be done under the Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22.

On November 11, the had orally assured the court that no coercive action would be taken against liquor retailers for the time being for not paying the licence fees.

During the hearing, senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Rahul Mehra, representing the Delhi government, said out of 1,171 brands, as of now 519 brands have been registered with their MRPs fixed and contended that no case is made out even for continuation of the interim order.

The counsel argued that the bidders cannot turn around now and find fault with the implementation of policy on technical grounds and now that majority of brands have been registered, there is no ground to continue the interim order.

Senior advocate Maninder Singh and lawyer Tanmaya Mehta, representing the liquor retailers, said even though they had earlier agreed to pay the licence fee, it was subject to the Delhi government fulfilling its commitment under the new Excise Policy.

He said though the policy has been brought into effect, the authorities failed to register brands in a time bound manner and that there were hardly any brands available for sale.

The petitioners are successful bidders of L-7Z (zonal licence for retail vend of Indian liquor and foreign liquor) and L-7V (retail vend of Indian liquor, foreign liquor in a zone).

One of the plea filed by 15 retailers, through advocates Sanjay Abbot and Ankit Agarwal, said there has been a great delay in initiating the process of registration of brands and fixation of MRP by the Delhi Government under the 2021-22 policy.

It claimed that until October 30, not even a single brand had been registered within Delhi under the new excise policy, nor had the MRP been fixed or determined under the new policy.

It said the process from determination of MRP to retail sale is a time-consuming exercise and if the scheduled date of commencement of business is November 17, being specified by the government, it is a complete breach of obligations on the part of the authorities in delaying the registration of brands and determination of MRP.

Several petitions are pending before the high court against the New Excise Policy on the ground that it is illegal, unfair, arbitrary and violative of the Delhi Excise Act, 2009.

In July, the court had refused to stay the new Excise Policy on one of the petitions which contended that the new regime would lead to complete monopoly of the few big players.

The Delhi government, also represented through standing counsel Santosh Kumar Tripathi, has defended its New Excise Policy 2021, saying that the new regime would generate optimum revenue and ensure ease of doing business while eliminating cartelisation, proxy players and monopoly.

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The World Inequality Report, released recently, has suggested raising the proposed global minimum tax rate on multinationals from the 15 per cent, which is agreed upon now. It said the 15 per cent rate would lead to a race among countries to reduce their corporation tax rates to that level, a risk that would reduce if the rate was raised to, say, 25 per cent.

It calculated a 15 per cent tax rate would result in a 500-million tax gain a year for India without a carve-out and 400-million tax gain a year with a carve-out.

On the other hand, a 25 per cent tax rate will lead to a 1.4-billion tax gain a year for India without a carve-out but a 1.2-billion tax gain a year with a carve-out. Carve-outs allow corporations with sufficient activity in low-tax countries to be exempt from the minimum tax.

The report, brought out by the France-based World Inequality Lab, said the agreement was flawed in several key aspects. It said the 15 per cent rate is lower than what working-class and middle class people typically pay in high-income countries. It is also lower than the average statutory rate that corporations face in those places.

There is a risk that such a low reference point might trigger an additional reduction in statutory corporate tax rates in the countries that currently apply higher rates, thus reinforcing the race to the bottom with corporate taxation observed since the 1980s, said the report authored by Lucas Chancel, co-director of the World Inequality Lab, and coordinated by famed French economist Thomas Piketty, among others.

A higher rate of 25 per cent will reduce the risk of such a counterproductive outcome, it said.

According to the agreement reached under the aegis of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and later endorsed by the G-20 in October, there is a two-pillar approach to taxation.

Pillar-2 introduces a global minimum corporate tax rate at 15 per cent. The new minimum tax rate will apply to companies with revenues above 750 million and is estimated to generate around $150 billion in additional global tax revenues annually.

Under Pillar-1, multinationals with global sales above 20 billion and profitability above 10 per cent  the kind of companies that can be regarded as winners of globalisation  will be covered by the new rules, with 25 per cent of profits above the 10 per cent threshold to be reallocated to market jurisdictions. This will generate additional tax revenues of $125 billion annually.

Rakesh Nangia, chairman, Nangia Andersen India, said many developing countries stipulated tax rates higher than 15 per cent. If they continue to levy taxes at higher rates, they are likely to remain victims of profit-shifting to locations where the rate is kept at the minimum of 15 per cent. If they lower the rate to 15 per cent, they will significantly lose much-needed tax revenues.





On the contrary, the most advanced countries that account for a disproportionate share of the worlds multinationals could set corporate tax rates way above the minimum since the cost of relocating headquarters and operating from an alternative location may outweigh any marginal benefit in tax saving.

Amit Maheshwari, tax partner at AKM Global, a tax and consulting firm, said according to the OECD, there was an expected increase in additional tax revenues to the extent of around $150 billion annually arising out of this deal though it was likely to cover only the top 100 multinational companies.

The proposal, while designed to stop the race to the bottom by developing countries to attract multinationals to their land by lowering their corporate tax rates, will now have to compete on other factors as well like infrastructure and employment generation. Developing markets lack infrastructure and may not be able to compete effectively on factors other than tax, he said.

Another reason of concern for developing countries is that the threshold for applicability of Pillar 1 and 2 is quite high, he said.

India introduced a 6 per cent equalisation levy for digital advertising services in 2016. Later, in April 2020, it widened the scope to impose 2 per cent tax on non-resident e-commerce players. India has collected Rs 1,600 crore by way of the levy so far this fiscal, almost twice the last year's figure. India is likely to withdraw the equalization levy once the agreement comes into effect.

From Indias perspective, the equalization levy which was imposed as a unilateral measure by India on digital transactions will be rolled back as a part of the commitment made by India in the past. It is pertinent to note that Indias current threshold for equalization levy is around 230,000 (Rs 2 crore) whereas the annual global turnover threshold to fall under the scope of Pillar 1 is  20 billion, Maheshwari said.

"This raises significant concerns as to the which are likely to be lesser now," he said.
on Thursday passed a bill which seeks to accord institute of national importance status to six more institutions of pharmaceutical and research, start new courses and also set up an advisory council for them.

The National Institute of Pharmaceutical and Research (Amendment) Bill, 2021, passed by the on December 6, was cleared in the on Thursday with a voice vote.

Replying to a discussion on the Bill, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said it will strengthen the National Institutes of Pharmaceutical and Research (NIPERs) and give priority to research.

The Bill has come with four amendments which includes qualifying six NIPERs as institutes of national importance and introducing undergraduate and diploma courses, he said.

It seeks to amend the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research Act, 1998. Through the 1998 legislation, a NIPER was established in Mohali, Punjab. It was declared an institution of national importance.

With the passage of the Bill, six more institutes of pharmaceutical education and research will be declared institutions of national importance. These institutes are in Ahmedabad, Guwahati, Hajipur, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Raebareli.

The Bill also proposes to bring down the membership of the board of governors mandated to manage the affairs at each NIPER from the current 23 to 12.

Highlighting the main features of the amendment Bill, Mandaviya said, "There is one Mohali NIPER which was given national institute qualification. After this, six more NIPERs were set up. There was no clarification whether they are of national importance. To clarify this and give them national importance category is one of our amendments."



The minister stressed on the need to strengthen research in the country.

"There should be patents in our country. If research takes place in our country, then patents will be in the country. When patents will be in the country, then we will be able to make high cost and patented drugs. Institutes like NIPER are playing an important role in such research," Mandaviya said.

While introducing the Bill, the minister said the NIPERs would be governed on the lines of the IITs.

Participating in the discussion, Ram Gopal Yadav of the SP sought clarity on whether the national importance status would lead to the end of OBC and SC/ST reservation at the NIPERs. He sought the inclusion of one member each from OBC and ST/SC in the board.

NCP MP Fauzia Khan said there is a need to come out of the "copy-paste culture" and move to actual research.

"No NIPER has contributed to the vaccine development. If national institutes are coming one after the other, they should stick to the standards," Khan said.

TDP MP Kanakamedala Ravindra Kumar said his party is also supporting the Bill but the minister should accept the objections raised by various members during the discussion and amend it accordingly.

BSP MP Ramji demanded a position for people from SC, ST and OBC categories on the board of NIPER. He said India's industry still lags and till date, 70 per cent of the industry is dependent on salt from China.

He also called for setting up of a regulator to control the prices of drugs to protect the interests of the poor in the country.

BJP MP Shwait Malik said India has been known to import medicines, but now the country is becoming self-reliant under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and that it will export medicines in coming days.

MPs Ramkumar Verma and Jugalsinh Mathurji Lokhandwala of the BJP were also among 21 members who participated in the discussion.

The Bill was introduced in the in March this year and referred, thereafter, to the Standing Committee on Chemicals and Fertilisers.

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A court found three prominent pro-democracy activists guilty on Thursday of unauthorised assembly over a June 4 vigil last year to mark Beijing's 1989 crackdown on protesters in and around Tiananmen Square.

has traditionally held the world's largest annual June 4 vigils, as part of wide-ranging freedoms promised when it returned to Chinese rule in 1997, but the last two were banned by police, citing coronavirus curbs.

The ruling against media tycoon Jimmy Lai, barrister Chow Hang-tung and former opposition politician Gwyneth Ho is the latest blow to the democracy movement, in which scores of activists have been arrested, jailed or fled since Beijing imposed a sweeping national security law.

Lai, Chow and Ho had pleaded not guilty to the charges linked to the gathering on June 4, 2020.

Prosecutors had been "able to prove beyond reasonable doubt" that Lai and Chow had incited to attend the vigil, District Court Judge Amanda Woodcock wrote in her judgment.

These efforts included an appeal by Chow for people to "light candles" all over Hong Kong, including the usual vigil site of Victoria Park.

Lai was held guilty despite appearing in the park for just 15 minutes in what Woodcock called a "deliberate act to rally support for and publicly spotlight the unauthorised assembly that followed", even if he did not speak.

Ho was found guilty of participating in an unauthorised assembly.

During the trial, Chow, a former leader of the now disbanded Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements in China, had argued the annual vigil was "their right, their freedom".

Ho earlier told the court that "remembrance is resistance", adding that she only went to the site to test the difference between Hong Kong and mainland China, where any commemoration of June 4 is taboo and can lead to imprisonment.

Sixteen other activists are already serving sentences of between four and 10 months for the same incident.

After mass pro-democracy protests in 2019, imposed a sweeping national security law that punishes offences such as subversion and secession with jail terms of up to life.

Critics, including the U.S. government, say the law has been used as a tool to erode the city's freedoms and quash dissent, but Beijing says it has brought stability and order to the financial hub.

Chow and several former leaders of the now disbanded Alliance, which had long sought to "end one-party rule", have also been charged with inciting subversion under the new law.

has never given a full account of the 1989 crackdown.

Days later officials put the death toll at about 300, most of them soldiers, but rights groups and witnesses say thousands may have been killed.

(Reporting by Jessie Pang; Editing by James Pomfret and Richard Pullin)

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AustralianSuper, the country's largest pension fund, said on Thursday it has sold two-thirds of its original holding in Australian electricity distributor, Ausgrid, to Dutch pension fund APG Asset Management.

APG Asset Management, on behalf of its pension fund client ABP, has acquired 16.8% stake in Ausgrid a the biggest owner of power poles and wires in New South Wales - following a competitive auction, AustralianSuper said.

AustralianSuper said it will retain an 8.4% stake in Ausgrid, along with its indirect holding through the IFM infrastructure fund.

Ausgrid and APG did not immediately respond for comments.

The deal will allow the Australian superannuation fund to rebalance its A$25 billion ($17.91 billion) infrastructure portfolio following the second sale of a New South Wales-based poles and wires asset since the state's privatisation binge last decade.

Transmission networks have proved to be a source of steady returns for sizeable private-capital investors. APG, which has 622 billion euros ($704.66 billion) worth of assets as of end-October, is the latest fund in an increasing list of superannuation funds that will invest in Australian infrastructure and utility assets.

AustralianSuper and IFM Investors had acquired a combined 50.4% stake in Ausgrid in 2016 for A$16.189 billion.

($1 = 1.3957 Australian dollars)

($1 = 0.8827 euros)

(Reporting by Riya Sharma; Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips)

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A Chilean law permitting same-sex couples to marry and adopt was signed into law Thursday by President Sebastin Piera in a ceremony attended by activists for LGBTand broader human rights.

The ceremony came a little more than six months after the conservative leader surprised many by saying he would smooth the way for a marriage equality law that had long been stuck in the nation's Congress.

The new law will allow all children with a papa and mama, with two papas or with two mamas to have the same rights and the same protection, Piera said.

Isabel Amor, president of the Fundacin Iguales, said the measure will help hundreds of children and adolescents who until now have been unable to have legal protection from both parents.

The Chilean Movement oif Homosexual Integration and Liberation said it recently surveyed 1,878 same-sex couples and nearly 83% said they planned to wed after the law takes effect in late March.

Without Piera's blessing, the law might have been stalled for years into the future: A newly elected Congress that takes office in March is somewhat more conservative than the outgoing legislature.

depenalized sex between consenting adults of the same sex in 1999 and outlawed arbitrary discrimination in 2012. In 2015, leftist President Michelle Bachelet signed a law permitting gay civil unions. and in 2017, introduced the bill to allow It finally passed both houses of Congress on Tuesday.

Similar laws have been adopted in several Latin American nations in recent years.

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Thirty-nine donors have announced record pledges of more than $467 million for the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) for 2022, said.

This year's pledge is the highest amount committed to CERF in a pledging event, compared to the $372 million pledged one year ago for 2021, and surpassing the previous record of $438.5 million pledged for 2019 at the event in 2018, Xinhua news agency quoted the CERF as saying.

Several donors announced top-ups for 2021, bringing overall funding this year to CERF to $610 million.

In his remarks at the event, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said CERF is a proven success story.

CERF is fast and flexible and it is one of the most effective ways to get help to people in crises, he said.

His address was read by Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths as the secretary-general is currently in self-isolation after he came into contact with someone who tested positive for Covid-19.

Griffiths, in his own remarks, said CERF, with its agility, is one of the most effective and efficient funding instruments in humanitarian aid systems.

CERF also remained a lifeline for people caught up in crises that do not attract sufficient donor support.

As of today, CERF has provided $553 million in life-saving assistance this year for millions of people in 34 countries. This is the second-highest annual CERF disbursement, surpassed only by the record in 2020 of $848 million, said the fund.

Over the last 15 years since its creation, CERF has released $7.5 billion to save lives and protect people in 112 countries.

However, it remains well below the $1 billion target endorsed by the UN General Assembly five years ago. 2019 saw the highest contributions of $831.4 million.

--IANS

ksk/

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The Global Visa Center World (GVCW) has announced that Indian citizens and residents of can now enter following the Covid-19 testing protocol as a precautionary measure against the pandemic.

According to the latest regulations, limited categories of visitors are now allowed to enter Greece, including:

1) Citizens of the EU & Schengen Area countries.

2) Residents of a limited number of third countries, including residents of

Expressing their joy on the re-opening of to tourists from after approximately 21 months, DuDigital Global and GVCW, which jointly operate the Visa Application centres in India, Nepal and Sri Lanka state, "You can now apply for short stay visa (C- Visa category) at GVCW application centres in New Delhi and Mumbai on Mondays and Wednesdays."

New Delhi Visa Application Centre: Shivaji Stadium Metro Station, Concourse Level Baba Kharak Singh Marg, Connaught Place

Mumbai Visa Application Centre: 4th Floor, Urmi Axis Building, Behind Famous Studio, Opp. E. Moses Road, Mahalaxmi (West)

Additionally, Indian citizens and residents can also submit their visa applications as per the standard procedures outlined on the website:

Alease visit the following link for the complete protocol of arrivals to & departure from Greece:

This story is provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article.

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By Laura Sanicola

(Reuters) - Oil prices fell on Thursday on fears about the economic outlook in the world's biggest oil importer following ratings downgrades to two Chinese property developers, and after some governments took measures to fight the Omicron varaint of the coronavirus.

Brent crude futures fell $1.01, or 1.3%, to $74.81 a barrel by 12:05 p.m. EDT (1705 GMT), backing off a session high of $76.70. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were down $1.00, or 1.4%, at $71.36 after hitting a peak of $73.34.

On Thursday, ratings agency Fitch downgraded property developers China Evergrande Group and Kaisa Group to "restricted default" status, saying they had defaulted on offshore bonds, while a source said that Kaisa had started work on restructuring its $12 billion offshore debt.

"The ... news ... exacerbates the Chinese GDP growth fears and ultimately could impact the oil-buying appetite of the world's biggest crude customer," said Rystad Energy analyst Louise Dickson.

On Wednesday, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson imposed tougher COVID-19 restrictions in England, saying people should work from home where possible, wear masks in public places and show COVID-19 vaccine passes for entry to certain events and venues.

"Although laboratory tests showed that the Pfizer vaccine has a neutralising effect on Omicron ... new measures are being introduced to try to stop the spread of the virus," said Tamas Varga of oil brokerage PVM.

Denmark also plans new restrictions, including closure of restaurants, bars and schools, while China has halted group tourist trips from Guangdong.

South Korea has registered record infections while cases remain elevated in Singapore and Australia.

The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits dropped to the lowest level in more than 52 years last week as labor market conditions continued to tighten amid an acute shortage of workers, according to new data published by the U.S. Labor Department.

"The oil market doesn't always respond well to good economic news either, because it could prompt the Federal Reserve to tighten monetary policy," said John Kilduff, partner at Again Capital LLC in New York.

Markets were buoyed by comments from BioNTech and Pfizer that a three-shot course of their COVID-19 vaccine could protect against infection from the Omicron variant.

The Omicron outbreak sparked a 16% slump in Brent prices from Nov. 25 to Dec. 1. More than half of the drop has been recouped this week, but analysts say a further recovery could be limited until Omicron's impact is clearer.

U.S. inventory data released on Wednesday also weighed on prices.

Energy Information Administration (EIA) data showed that crude inventories were down by 240,000 barrels last week, much less than analysts in a Reuters poll had expected, with stocks at the Cushing delivery hub in Oklahoma rising by 2.4 million barrels. [EIA/S]

Fuel stocks also rose by a combined 6.6 million barrels, the data showed.

(Additional reporting by Adhmad Ghaddar in London, Sonali Paul in Melbourne and Muyu Xu in Beijing; Editing by David Goodman, Kirsten Donovan and David Gregorio)

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Amid reports that may skip the Summit for Democracy hosted by US President Joe Biden, the Foreign Office on Wednesday said that Islamabad valued its ties with Washington and was in contact with it on different issues.

The Foreign Office issued a statement ahead of the Summit for Democracy being held in virtual format on December 9-10.

President Biden last month sent invitations to around 110 countries, including India and

The statement highlights ties between the US and Pakistan, thanking it for the invitation but is not clear whether Islamabad would attend.

Pakistan's all-weather ally, China, has not been invited to attend the Summit.

The statement said values its partnership with the US and wishes to expand both bilaterally as well as in terms of regional and cooperation.

We remain in contact with the US on a range of issues and believe that we can engage on this subject at an opportune time in the future, it said.

It said that Pakistan will, meanwhile, continue to support all efforts aimed towards strengthening dialogue, constructive engagement and cooperation for the advancement of shared goals.

Thanking the for inviting Pakistan for participation in the Summit, the FO said that Pakistan is a large functional democracy with an independent judiciary, vibrant civil society and a free media.

We remain deeply committed to further deepening democracy, fighting corruption and protecting and promoting human rights of all citizens, the FO said, adding that Pakistan in recent years instituted wide-ranging reforms aimed at advancing these goals, which yielded positive results.

Though, Pakistan did not clearly stated if it would skip the moot, officials are tight-lipped about it, but the tone of the statement has been interpreted by various media outlets as a refusal to the invitation.

Geo News TV and The Observer newspaper clearly stated that Pakistan would skip the summit.

The summit is expected to focus on challenges and opportunities facing democracies and will provide a platform for leaders to announce both individual and collective commitments, reforms and initiatives to defend democracy and human rights at home and abroad.

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The World Health Organization's (WHO) vaccine advisory panel recommends that people who are immunocompromised or received an inactivated vaccine should receive a booster dose of a COVID-19 shot, it said on Thursday.



Many countries have been rolling out booster shots, targeting the elderly and people with underlying health issues, but worries about the new Omicron variant have prompted some to expand their use to larger portions of their populations.

With vaccination rates worryingly low in much of the developing world, the WHO has said in recent months that administering primary doses - rather than boosters - should be a priority.



The recommendation comes after the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) on immunisation held a meeting on Tuesday to evaluate the need for COVID-19 boosters.



Speaking in a briefing, SAGE chair Alejandro Cravioto said emerging data showed that vaccines' efficacy against COVID-19 wanes, with a significant decline seen in older people in particular.



COVID-19 vaccines protect "very well" through six months after the last dose with some "minor, modest reduction" in protection, Kate O'Brien, director of the WHO's immunisation department, said.



Inactivated vaccines which take the SARS-CoV-2 virus and inactivate or kill it using chemicals, heat or radiation, are made by Chinese manufacturers Sinovac Biotech, state-owned Sinopharm and India's Bharat Biotech.



A single dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is still effective, but data from the company's clinical trials using two doses clearly show the benefit of having further vaccination, Cravioto said.

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President is ready to urge participants at the first Summit for Democracy to reverse an ongoing recession of democracy that is playing out at a time of rising authoritarianism around the globe and extraordinary strains on foundational institutions in the US.

The two-day virtual summit that starts Thursday has been billed as an opportunity for leaders and civil society experts from some 110 countries to collaborate on fighting corruption and promoting respect for human rights.

But the gathering already has drawn backlash from the United States' chief adversaries and other nations that were not invited to participate.

The ambassadors to the US from China and Russia wrote a joint essay in the National Interest policy journal describing the Biden administration as exhibiting a Cold-War mentality" that will stoke up ideological confrontation and a rift in the world."



The administration has also faced scrutiny over how it went about deciding which countries to invite.

The Biden administration, for its part, says the virtual gathering is a critical meeting at a moment when a profound diminishment of freedoms is trending around the globe.

Biden has said that confronting that dynamic is the challenge of our time.

spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre said Biden, who is scheduled to address the summit at its opening Thursday and again Friday, will call on participants to dedicate themselves to reversing the democratic recession and ensuring that democracies deliver for their people."



Biden also plans to speak about the importance of voting rights at home, much as he did at an anniversary celebration of the capital's Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, according to a senior administration official who previewed the event for reporters on the condition of anonymity.

At the time, the Democratic president called voting a fundamental right and decried efforts to curtail it as the most un-American thing imaginable.

The summit comes as US democracy faces grave challenges to its institutions and traditions.

Local elected officials are resigning at an alarming rate amid confrontations with angry voices at school board meetings, elections offices and town halls.

States are passing laws to limit access to the ballot, making it more difficult for Americans to vote.

And the Jan. 6 attack at the Capitol has left many in one US political party clinging to Donald Trump's false claims of a stolen election, eroding trust in the accuracy of the vote.

Biden has said passage of his ambitious domestic agenda the $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill he signed into law, as well as the roughly $2 trillion Build Back Better Act of social and climate change initiatives moving through the Senate will demonstrate how democracy can improve people's lives.

Some advocates also want Biden to focus on other ways to shore up democracy at home.

One early test will come Thursday as the House moves to approve the Protecting Our Democracy Act, the third in a trio of bills alongside the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act largely backed by Democrats in Congress but stalled by Republicans in the Senate.

The has a thriving democracy, but it's been hurting in recent years, said Michael Abramowitz, the president of Freedom House, whose annual report marked a 15th consecutive year of a global democratic slide.

Right now, we're going through a phase in America where it's very difficult to get things done and to really prove that democracy can deliver."



Biden has made promoting democratic values a focal point of his foreign policy and has repeatedly stressed the need for the US and other like-minded allies to demonstrate that democracies are a better vehicle for societies than autocracies.

But over the first year of his presidency, democratic freedoms have continued to erode.

In its new annual report released Wednesday, CIVICUS Monitor, a global rights index, said 13 countries saw their civic freedoms downgraded in 2021 from the previous year.

Only one, Mongolia, saw civic freedoms improve, according to the report. Of the 197 countries graded by the group, only 39 were rated as open societies.

A Pew Research Centre report released this week said that while people like democracy, their commitment to it is often not very strong.

Even wealthy countries, including the US, have some people who favour military rule, the report said.

Another group, the Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, said in its annual report that the number of countries experiencing democratic backsliding has never been as high as the past decade, with the US added to the list alongside India and Brazil.

Chinese officials have offered a stream of public criticism about the summit, with one senior government official even calling it a joke."



They have also expressed outrage over the administration inviting Taiwan to take part in the gathering. China claims the self-governing island as part of its territory and objects to it having any contact on its own with foreign governments.

The US side claims that its so-called democracy summit is to defend democracy, then I can't help asking with the most abundant and advanced medical resources and technology, how could the US allow more than 800,000 of its people to die from the virus and leave nearly 50 million people suffering the COVID still?"



China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said this week. "With such human rights tragedies, how can the US defend democracy?



Other uninvited countries have shown their displeasure. Hungary, the only European Union member not invited, tried to block EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen from speaking on behalf of the bloc at the summit.

During the 2020 campaign, Biden referred to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban as a thug.

The declined to say how it went about deciding who was invited and who was left off the list.

For example, Turkey, a fellow NATO member, and Egypt, a key US ally in the Middle East, were also left off.

The Biden administration has raised human rights concerns about both nations. However, Poland, which has faced criticism for undermining the independence of its judiciary and media, was invited.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the invitation list was not meant to be a stamp of approval or disapproval.

It's just meant to have a diverse range of voices and faces and representatives at the discussion, she said.

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accused on Thursday of moving heavy artillery towards the front line of fighting with pro-Russian separatists and failing to engage in a peace process, in a new escalation of hostile rhetoric towards Kyiv.

added that escalating tensions over could lead to a repeat of the Cuban missile crisis, when the world stood on the brink of nuclear war.

The remarks by Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova gave no sign that Moscow is willing to tone down its bitter criticism of despite a two-hour call this week between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart Joe Biden.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Vladimir Potanin, Russias second-richest man, is facing one of the worlds biggest claims after Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates.



His ex-wife, Natalia Potanina, is seeking 50% of the value of his stake in MMC Norilsk Nickel PJSC, outlining the maximum amount at a court hearing Tuesday. That amount could exceed $7 billion, given that Potanin owns around one-third of the shares in the metal producer.

Potanin is fighting the case after Potanina overturned a lower court that accused her of  tourism. Potanin is still waiting to hear whether the U.K. Supreme Court will consider an appeal, Judge Nicholas Francis said.

Londons courts have been a popular destination for high-value legal fights, with judges typically prepared to order a more equal share of a couples assets. In the U.K., the largest publicly known payout in a divorce is currently 450 million pounds ($631 million) to the wife of billionaire Farkhad Akhmedov -- though the two settled with a payment of less than one-third of that amount.

Potanina said that in addition to the Norilsk stock, she would be prepared to accept 50% of all dividends on the shares from 2014. Her former husband has collected some 487.3 billion rubles ($6.6 billion) in dividends since then and has a net worth of $29.9 billion, according to the Bloomberg Index. Potanina is also seeking half of the value of an expensive Russian property known as the Autumn House.

Potanina said she received around $40 million following Russian divorce proceedings while Potanin said she ended up with $84 million -- a sum that by English standards is a paltry award given his wealth and the length of their 31-year-marriage, a judge said in a previous decision.

Frances Hughes, a lawyer for Potanina, declined to comment. A lawyer for Potanin didnt immediately return emails seeking comment.

Another Russian billionaire, Dmitry Rybolovlev, was the subject of a high-profile divorce that unfolded over six jurisdictions and resulted in years of acrimony. In 2014, a Swiss judge awarded his ex-wife, Elena Rybolovleva, $4.5 billion, though a subsequent ruling slashed the amount to just over $600 million.
South Korea's total is expected to record its first decline this year, the statistics agency said on Thursday, a grim assessment of its demographic situations amid the country's chronically low birthrate, rapid aging and a dip in incoming foreigners during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The country's total is estimated to have peaked at 51.84 million last year before falling to an estimated 51.75 million this year and an estimated 37.7 million in 2070, according to the latest medium variant projection by Statistics Korea.

The latest projection is much bleaker than the agency's previous estimate in 2018, when South Korea's was forecast to begin to decline in 2029, reports Yonhap News Agency.

The total population is calculated based on childbirths and deaths data and cross-border movements of foreigners who are living in for more than three months.

It showed that the country's total population is likely to shrink to some 51.2 million in 2050 before declining to 37.7 million in 2070, a level seen in 1979.

In a worst-case scenario, the country's population will likely shrink to 31.53 million in 2070, a level recorded in 1969.

The latest forecast underscores South Korea's demographic challenges from its chronically low birthrate and rapid aging.

South Korea's population suffered its first natural fall last year as the number of deaths outpaced that of newborns. But its total population is expected to start to decline this year as childbirths hit all-time lows and inflows of foreigners have fallen amid the pandemic.

Many young people are delaying or giving up on getting married or having babies due to economic difficulties and changes in social norms. The number of those getting married sharply fell due to the health crisis.

The country's total fertility rate -- the average number of children a woman bears in her lifetime -- hit a record low of 0.84 last year, much lower than the replacement level of 2.1 that would keep South Korea's population stable at 52 million. It marked the third straight year that the total fertility rate was below one.

The total fertility rate is forecast to nosedive to 0.7 in 2024 before rebounding to one in 2031.

The fall in childbirths is feared to aggravate a major drop in the working-age population, a phenomenon known as a demographic cliff.

In 2020, the working-age population, or people aged 15 to 64, came to 37.4 million, accounting for 72.1 per cent of the total population. Baby boomers, born between 1955 and 1963, began reaching age 65 last year.

Such population is forecast to fall an average of 360,000 per year in the 2020s and decline 530,000 per year in the 2030s.

If this trend goes on, the working-age population will likely reach 17.37 million in 2070, making up 46.1 per cent of the total population.

The number of senior citizens came to 8.15 million last year, accounting for 15.7 per cent of the total. It is projected to exceed 10 million in 2024 and reach 17.5 million in 2070, making up 46.4 per cent of the total population.

became an aged society in 2017, in which the percentage of those aged 65 or older exceeded 14 per cent. The country is widely expected to become a super-aged society in 2025, when the percentage of the elderly will top 20 per cent.

Last year, every 100 working-age people had to support 39 people who are aged younger than 15 or aged over 65, and the number will likely triple to 117 in 2070.

The figure was the lowest among the 38 member countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) last year. But it will be the highest among the OECD member states in 2070.

In 2020, every 100 working-age Koreans had to support 21.8 senior citizens and this will likely more than quadruple to 100.6 in 2070, the agency said.

--IANS

ksk/

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Mayor London Breed has released the US city's highly anticipated 2021 Climate Action Plan to achieve net-zero emissions by 2040.

"With global rapidly accelerating and affecting us now, we must address this urgent challenge and work together to create a future where we can all thrive," Xinhua news agency quoted the Mayor as saying on Wednesday.

"San Francisco's Climate Action Plan takes our ambitious goals and lays out the strategies and actions we need to take to turn those goals into reality," she added.

San Francisco's plan takes a comprehensive approach to eliminating greenhouse gas emissions in the city by identifying strategies and actions in six key areas: energy supply; building operations; transportation and land use; housing; responsible production and consumption; and healthy ecosystems, the announcement said.

In total, the plan identifies 31 strategies and 159 supporting actions to help achieve the new environmental commitments: reducing emissions 61 per cent below 1990 levels by 2030 and reaching net-zero emissions by 2040.

In San Francisco, net-zero emissions is defined as reducing emissions 90 percent below 1990 levels and sequestering the rest in natural solutions like trees and green spaces.

--IANS

ksk/

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A UN Security Council (UNSC) panel has approved sanctions exemptions for an aid project by the to help respond to the Covid-19 pandemic and the prevention of malaria, it was revealed on Thursday.

The approval by the sanctions committee will pave the way for Unicef's provision of materials worth $1.48 million, including vaccine cold chain equipment, ventilators and masks, according to a document posted on the Council's website.

The exemptions were approved on November 30 and will last for a year, Yonhap News Agency quoted the committee as saying.

The items will be shipped via the Chinese port of Dalian to the North's western port of Nampo.

The sanctions waiver comes as the reclusive country has been struggling with persistent economic woes amid pandemic-driven border controls and crippling economic sanctions.

The North has claimed to be coronavirus free.

It has yet to accept Covid-19 vaccines allocated to the country through the COVAX Facility, a global vaccine distribution platform.

--IANS

ksk/

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The UN Security Council (UNSC) has expressed "deep concern" over this week's conviction and sentencing of Myanmar's ousted democratic leader Aung San Suu Kyi, former President Win Myint and

was found guilty of inciting public unrest and breaching COVID-19 restrictions and sentenced to four years in prison.

Suu Kyi, 76, who was the leader of Myanmar prior to the February military coup faces an additional 10 politically motivated charges, including for possessing unlicensed walkie-talkies, corruption, and election fraud, carrying a total potential sentence of more than 100 years in prison. Ousted President Win Myint was also sentenced to four years.

"The members of the Security Council expressed deep concern at the sentencing of State Counsellor and President Win Myint and Recalling their previous statements, they reiterated their calls for the release of all those who have been arbitrarily detained since 1 February 2021," the UNSC said in a statement.

"The members of the Security Council once again stressed their continued support for the democratic transition in Myanmar and underlined the need to uphold democratic institutions and processes, refrain from violence, pursue constructive dialogue and reconciliation in accordance with the will and interests of the people of Myanmar, fully respect human rights and fundamental freedoms and uphold the rule of law," the statement added.

Reacting to the development, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said Aung San Suu Kyi's guilty verdict is "baseless convictions" and more sentences can be expected to be piled on in the future.

"The junta is using this sham court proceeding to wipe out all opposition to military dictatorship. Yet since the coup and Suu Kyi's arrest, millions have taken to the streets to protest for freedom and democracy," said Brad Adams, Asia director at HRW.

Myanmar's security forces have killed over 1,200 people since the coup, arrested more than 7,500, and tortured and raped detainees, according to HRW. The junta's widespread and systematic abuses amount to the crimes against humanity of murder, enforced disappearance, torture, rape and other sexual violence, severe deprivation of liberty, and other inhumane acts causing great suffering.

The junta has detained thousands of protesters, activists, journalists, and on charges that are similarly unjust as those against

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The US House of Representatives on Wednesday passed a bill by a vote of 428 to 1 banning imports from China's Xinjiang made with forced labour and threatening sanctions against Chinese officials responsible for persecuting the minority community.

The bill come days after the US announced a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics over rights abuses in Xinjiang.

The bill, passed on Wednesday, intends to ensure that "goods made with forced labour in the Xinjiang Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China do not enter the US market."

The Forced Labor Prevention Act, requires corporations to prove with "clear and convincing evidence" that imports from Xinjiang are not made with forced labour, American news website Axios reported.

The bill must now pass the Senate and be signed by US President for it to take effect.

The legislation targets "goods, wares, articles, and merchandise imported directly from the Xinjiang Autonomous Region or made by Uyghurs, Kazakhs, Kyrgyz, Tibetans, or members of other persecuted groups in China."

The bill requires the American president to impose sanctions on officials responsible for persecuting minorities and facilitating the use of involuntary labour.

The legislative text highlights the poor conditions of Uyghurs, Kazakhs, Kyrgyz and members of other Muslim minority groups in a system of extrajudicial mass internment camps.

The prisoners are forced to produce "textiles, electronics, food products, shoes, tea, and handicrafts" at a network of government-subsidized factories in Xinjiang and elsewhere in China, according to legislation.

Back in July, the Senate passed its version of the bill with a unanimous vote.

Earlier this year, US President Joe Biden had warned businesses who are involved in Xinjiang to run a "high risk" that they are in conflict with US laws on forced labour.

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The US has ordered an arms embargo on Cambodia, citing deepening Chinese military influence, corruption and human rights abuses by the government and armed forces in the Southeast Asian country.

The added restrictions on defence-related goods and services, issued by the State and Commerce departments, are due to be published and take effect Thursday.

A notice in the Federal Register said developments in were contrary to US national security and foreign policy interests."



The aim of the embargo is to ensure that defense-related items are not available to Cambodia's military and military intelligence services without advance review by the US government, it said.

The latest restrictions follow the Treasury Department's ordering in November of sanctions against two senior Cambodian military officials for corruption and come amid increasing concern about Beijing's sway.

At the time, the US government issued an advisory cautioning American businesses about potential exposure to entities and its military that engage in human rights abuses, corruption and other destabilizing conduct."



branded those sanctions as politically motivated" and said it would not discuss them with Washington.

The U.S. has similar controls on exports of items that might be diverted to military end users" in Myanmar, China, Russia and Venezuela.

The U.S. halted military assistance to Cambodia following a 1997 coup in which the country's leader, Hun Sen, grabbed full power after ousting his co-premier, Prince Norodom Ranariddh. Hun Sen remains prime minister. In August 2005, President George W. Bush waved the ban, citing Phnom Penh's agreement to exempt Americans in Cambodia from prosecution by the Netherlands-based Criminal Court.

Since direct military ties between the two countries were restored in 2006, the U.S. has pledged millions in military aid to Cambodia, initially to help improve its border security and peacekeeping operations.

is Cambodia's biggest investor and closest political partner. It was the chief backer of the murderous regime of Pol Pot in the 1970s and has long maintained strong relations with Hun Sen, who has ruled for more than 30 years and grown increasingly repressive.

Beijing's support allows Cambodia to disregard Western concerns about its poor record in human and political rights, and in turn Cambodia generally supports Beijing's geopolitical positions on issues such as its territorial claims in the South Sea.

The construction of new Chinese military facilities at Cambodia's Ream Naval Base is a point of strong contention with Washington.

Ream faces the Gulf of Thailand, adjacent to the South Sea, where China has aggressively asserted its claim to virtually the entire strategic waterway. The U.S. has refused to recognize China's sweeping claims, and the Navy's 7th Fleet routinely sails past Chinese-held islands in what it terms freedom of navigation operations.

In recent years, Hun Sen's government has cracked down on the political opposition, shut media outlets and forced hundreds of Cambodian politicians, human rights activists and journalists into exile.

Human rights groups say the government has engaged in arbitrary arrests and other abuses and worked to portray peaceful dissent over corruption, land rights and other issues as attempts to overthrow the government.

Corruption is another major concern.

The Treasury Department sanctions targeted the director general of the defense ministry's material and technical services department and a commander in the Royal Cambodian Navy.

In a statement, Treasury alleged that in 2020 and 2021, the two conspired with other Cambodian officials to inflate costs of a construction project at the Ream base and then planned to use the funds for their own benefit.

Washington has protested over work done at Ream, which officials said involved the demolition of two U.S. funded buildings without notification or explanation to the U.S.

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The United States on Wednesday imposed sanctions on dozens of people and entities in Europe and the Western Hemisphere including an organized crime group based in northern Kosovo and El Salvador officials who Washington accuses of negotiating with the MS-13 gang.

The U.S. Treasury Department said Wednesday's action, the latest in a series of sanctions announcements marking the week of President Joe Biden's democracy summit, named 16 individuals and 24 entities linked to transnational crime.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said gangs that operate across borders were destabilizing and often colluded with government officials.

"We also know that organized crime backed by corrupt actors can destabilize rule of law, erode confidence in public institutions, and weaken democratic governance," Blinken said in a statement.

The Treasury said it slapped sanctions on Osiris Luna Meza, the chief of the Salvadoran Penal System and vice minister of justice and public security, and Carlos Amilcar Marroquin Chica, chairman of the social fabric reconstruction unit.

It accused the officials of leading, facilitating and organizing a number of secret meetings with incarcerated gang leaders including of Mara Salvatrucha 13 (MS-13) as part of El Salvador's efforts to "negotiate a secret truce with gang leadership."

El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele on Twitter denied his government was negotiating with the gangs, instead placing blame on the previous government and former mayor of San Salvador.

"It is clear that the interests of the United States government have NOTHING TO DO with democracy, in ANY COUNTRY," Bukele added later. "It's funny that there are people who think that is the case."

Also blacklisted were Kosovan gang leader Zvonko Veselinovic and his brother, whom the Treasury accused of having agreements with politicians to help their party win elections and contribute money to the candidates.

In return, the politicians would grant the brothers the best infrastructure contracts, provide proprietary business information to support their investments and grant them control of certain areas for their businesses, the Treasury said.

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The U.S. will place Inc. on an investment blacklist Friday, accusing the artificial intelligence startup of enabling human rights abuses, a person with knowledge of the matter said.

SenseTime, which is expected to price its Hong Kong initial public offering on the same day, will be added to a list of Chinese military-industrial complex companies in which Americans are banned from investing, the person said, asking not to be identified as information is private. The company is already blacklisted under the Commerce Departments entity list, which prevents it from accessing key U.S. suppliers and technologies.

Adding SenseTime to the list is timed to coincide with Human Rights Day, which is also on Friday, the person said. The move, which was earlier reported by the Financial Times, is part of a package of sanctions against a number of countries to mark the occasion, as well as to coincide with the last day of President Joe Bidens Democracy summit. The U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday passed legislation designed to punish China for its treatment of Uyghur Muslims in the countrys Xinjiang province.

SenseTime didnt immediately respond to a Bloomberg News request for comment. During the Trump administration, the U.S. had slapped sanctions on SenseTime, arguing that the AI firm was one of a number Chinese that were complicit in human rights violations in the countrys Xinjiang region. The company had previously denied the allegations.

In August, the SoftBank Group Corp.-backed company said in its IPO prospectus that just one of its subsidiaries, Beijing SenseTime, is subject to U.S. sanctions under the entity list, a narrow interpretation of the blacklisting that could bolster its business. The restrictions on that unit do not apply to other SenseTime entities, based on a legal opinion from the law firm Hughes Hubbard & Reed, the company said then.

Its unclear how the new blacklisting will impact SenseTimes upcoming IPO. The AI startup is seeking to raise as much as $768 million in a listing slated for Dec. 17, Bloomberg reported this week. Eight cornerstone investors have already committed to subscribe for $450 million in SenseTime shares, terms of the deal show, representing about 59% of the offering.
Vaccine makers are racing to update their COVID-19 shots against the newest threat even before it's clear a change is needed, just in case.

Experts doubt today's shots will become useless but say it's critical to see how fast companies could produce a reformulated dose and prove it works -- because whatever happens with omicron, this newest mutant won't be the last.

Omicron is pulling the fire alarm. Whether it turns out to be a false alarm, it would be really good to know if we can actually do this -- get a new vaccine rolled out and be ready, said immunologist E. John Wherry of the University of Pennsylvania.

It's too soon to know how vaccines will hold up against omicron. The first hints this week were mixed: Preliminary lab tests suggest two Pfizer doses may not prevent an omicron infection but they could protect against severe illness. And a booster shot may rev up immunity enough to do both.

Better answers are expected in the coming weeks and regulators in the U.S. and other countries are keeping a close watch. The World Health Organisation has appointed an independent scientific panel to advise on whether the shots need reformulating because of omicron or any other mutant.

But authorities haven't laid out what would trigger such a drastic step: If vaccine immunity against serious illness drops, or if a new mutant merely spreads faster?



This is not trivial, BioNTech CEO Ugur Sahin, Pfizer's vaccine partner, said shortly before omicron's discovery. A company could apply to market a new formula but what happens if another company makes another proposal with another variant? We don't have an agreed strategy.

It's a tough decision and the virus moves faster than science. Just this fall the U.S. government's vaccine advisers wondered why boosters weren't retooled to target the extra-contagious delta variant only to have the next scary mutant, omicron, be neither a delta descendent nor a very close cousin.

If vaccines do need tweaking, there's still another question: Should there be a separate omicron booster or a combination shot? And if it's a combo, should it target the original strain along with omicron, or the currently dominant delta variant plus omicron? Here's what we know.

COMPANIES AREN'T STARTING FROM SCRATCH



COVID-19 vaccines work by triggering production of antibodies that recognize and attack the spike protein that coats the coronavirus, and many are made with new technology flexible enough for easy updating. The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are fastest to tweak, made with genetic instructions that tell the body to make harmless copies of the spike protein and that messenger RNA can be swapped to match new mutations.

Pfizer expects to have an omicron-specific candidate ready for the Food and Drug Administration to consider in March, with some initial batches ready to ship around the same time, chief scientific officer Dr. Mikael Dolsten told The Associated Press.

Moderna is predicting 60 to 90 days to have an omicron-specific candidate ready for testing. Other manufacturers that make COVID-19 vaccines using different technology, including Johnson & Johnson, also are pursuing possible updates.

Pfizer and Moderna already have successfully brewed experimental doses to match delta and another variant named beta, shots that haven't been needed but offered valuable practice.

NOT CLEAR IF TWEAKS ARE NEEDED



So far, the original vaccines have offered at least some cross-protection against prior variants. Even if immunity against omicron isn't as good, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the top U.S. infectious disease expert, hopes the big antibody jump triggered by booster doses will compensate.

Pfizer's preliminary lab testing, released Wednesday, hint that might be the case but antibodies aren't the only layer of defense. Vaccines also spur T cells that can prevent serious illness if someone does get infected, and Pfizer's first tests showed, as expected, those don't seem to be affected by omicron.

Also, memory cells that can create new and somewhat different antibodies form with each dose.

"You're really training your immune system not just to deal better with existing variants, but it actually prepares a broader repertoire to deal with new variants, Dolsten said.

How aggressive a mutant is also plays a role in whether to reformulate the vaccine. Omicron appears to spread easily but early reports from South African scientists hint that it might cause milder infections than previous variants.

HOW TO TELL IF UPDATES WORK



The FDA has said companies won't need massive studies of tweaked vaccines but small ones to measure if people given the updated shot have immune responses comparable to the original, highly effective shots.

Wherry doesn't expect data from volunteers testing experimental omicron-targeted shots until at least February.

WHAT ABOUT COMBINATION SHOTS?



Flu vaccines protect against three or four different strains of influenza in one shot. If a vaccine tweak is needed for omicron, authorities will have to decide to whether to make a separate omicron booster or add it to the original vaccine -- or maybe even follow the flu model and try another combination.

There's some evidence that a COVID-19 combo shot could work. In a small Moderna study, a so-called bivalent booster containing the original vaccine and a beta-specific dose caused a bigger antibody jump than either an original Moderna booster or its experimental beta-specific shot.

And scientists already are working on next-generation vaccines that target parts of the virus less prone to mutate.

Omicron brings another important wake-up call, Wherry said -- not just to vaccinate the world but create more versatile options to get that job done.

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The Finance Ministry on Thursday said the third tranche of was oversubscribed 6.2 times against the base issue size of Rs 1,000 crore.

is an exchange-traded fund that invests in the debt of public sector companies. The currently invests only in 'AAA' rated bonds of public sector companies.

"Overwhelming response seen in 2032 NFO. Total collection over Rs 6,200 Crs. Issue oversubscribed more than 6.2x against the base issue size of Rs 1,000 crores," Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) Secretary Tuhin Kanta Pandey said in a tweet.

The funds raised through the debt ETF helps in smoothening borrowing plans of the participating CPSEs or public sector banks. It also helps them in meeting their capital expenditure needs.

The second tranche of the Bharat Bond ETF, which was launched in July 2020, was oversubscribed more than 3 times, collecting about Rs 11,000 crore. It had fetched about Rs 12,400 crore in its debut offer in December 2019.

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Shares of Enterprises Ltd on Thursday slipped more than 2 per cent after regulator issued a show cause notice to the company.

On BSE, the scrip settled 2.49 per cent lower at Rs 41.2. During the day, it was trading at a low of Rs 41.05



On NSE, it closed the counter 2.01 per cent lower at Rs 41.4. Intra-day, it was trading at Rs 40.8.

"The company is in receipt of a show cause notice under Sections 11 and 11B of the Act...pursuant to the investigation report submitted by the company to on issues arising out of the letter left by the late Mr V G Siddhartha, former Managing Director of the company in connection with fund flows from the subsidiaries of the company," as per a regulatory filing on Wednesday.

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Shares of Devyani International continued their northward journey for the third straight trading day, and were up 8 per cent at Rs 190.20 on the BSE in Thursdays intra-day trade.

The stock of the quick service restaurant (QSR) firm was trading at its new high, and has rallied 29 per cent in the last three trading days. With the current surge in market price of the company, the stock has zoomed 111 per cent from its issue price of Rs 90 per share.

Devyani International had made a stock market debut on August 16, 2021. The Global Index provider, MSCI, had Devyani International in MSCI India Domestic Small Cap Index from November 30, 2021.

On Wednesday, December 8, 2021, the brokerage firm Motilal Oswal Financial Services initiates coverage on Devyani with a Buy rating and target price of Rs 190, driven by KFCs strong brand equity and operating metrics, increasing focus on delivery by driving its turnaround, and robust growth in both these brands led by rapid network expansion.

Devyani International is the largest franchisee of Yum Brands in India and one of the top operators of chain QSRs. It collaborates with Yum across various aspects of its operations for and for the franchisors brand protection and management including product innovation and development, brand strategy and technology initiatives. In addition, Devyani also has a franchisee for the Costa Coffee brand and stores in India.

For July-September quarter (Q2FY22), the company had posted robust set of numbers with a consolidated profit after tax (PAT) of Rs 46.6 crore, as compared to a net loss of Rs 65.5 crore in Q2FY21. The company's revenue from operations more-than-doubled or was up 124 per cent year- on-year (YoY) to Rs 516 crore, on strong business recovery post Covid second wave. Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (ebitda) grew 175 per cent YoY at Rs 123 crore, and margins improved to 23.9 per cent from 19.49 per cent in Q2FY21.

The companys management said that the foodservice industry is expected to grow at a CAGR of 12 per cent to 15 per cent in future. QSRs being the largest constituent of this segment will be a key beneficiary and will lead this growth. Devyani International with its multiple strong and well recognized western and Indian QSR brands stand to gain the most as the company continued to expand its footprint in India, the management said.

Devyanis business enjoys strong brand equity due to its unique offerings. This has led to robust Average Daily Sales (ADS) and profitability. The business is expected to deliver 41 per cent sales CAGR over FY20-24E, led by rapid store network expansion from 264 to 574 over the same period, Motilal Oswal Financial Services said in a report.

The companys business is focusing on its underperforming delivery channel through the rapid addition of delivery-focused small format stores. These will reduce the distance to the consumer and consequently, lower delivery time, the brokerage firm said.

Devyanis pan-India rights (except in Tamil Nadu) for small format stores of Pizza Hut lends it an advantage over SAPPHIRE (Yums other franchise) due to its access to SAPPHIREs territories, and faster addition due to lower capex and higher profitability of small format stores, it added.

At 09:38 am; the stock was trading 8 per cent higher at Rs 189.30 on the BSE, as compared to 0.06 per cent rise in the S&P BSE Sensex. The counter has seen huge trading activities, with a combined 11.26 million equity shares were changed hands on the NSE and BSE.
Start-ups and unicorns seem to be getting synonymous these days with record number reaching billion-dollar valuation this calendar year.

The Business Standard, on November 28, 2021, carried two interesting lines on its front page.



First: The headline - Hail a new breed of angel investors, start-up employees using their fat pay-checks and ESOPs as Angel investments.

Second: An interview of SEBI Chairman, Ajay Tyagi who said - New investors must realise that any investment is prone to risk.

This is a study of contrasts  on one hand money is pouring into start-ups like never and on the other, words of caution from the regulator.

In the recent past, I have met so many friends, who have now taken into start up in a big way. In WhatsApp groups, messages pour in where such deals are floated. Hunt for the next unicorn is the new game in town. In fact, this segment is so hot, that deals get closed in record time. The presentations are slick, and the promoters are young and very confident and at least appear to be out to change the world. This is good because young entrepreneurial energy is getting unleased in India. Many start-up founders have become choosy and prefer angel investors who can add value. The balance of power has shifted from the investors to target investment companies.

My words of caution are for investors because start-up investing is very risky, to state the least. I have personally lived through Internet frenzy of 2000. That was the last start-up funding boom cycle, we saw in India dominated by the technology or IT space. Post the dotcom crash, this market did not have a happy ending. History seems to be getting repeated. Media is writing about the pace of unicorn creation. We had blockbuster listings of tech start-ups and suddenly everyone wants a piece of the action. Nothing attracts capital like returns. Surplus liquidity has driven valuations haywire; this is what is sucking in a whole new breed of investors wanting to invest in start-ups.

Everyone wants a unicorn in their portfolio, including me. But they can be difficult to spot at an early stage. Bragging rights of spotting the next Zomato is huge, but these bragging rights come with huge risks.

Here is my advice to start-up investors:

1) Start-up investing is very risky: This is the biggest understatement because historical data shows that more than 99% of start-ups fail. Most of the start-ups will fail within the first 2-3 years of existence or they chug along in what Ajit calls liquid oxygen. i.e. they neither die nor scale up. This is very frustrating for both the investor and the company.

2) Real life rarely imitates power point slides: Every presentation looks very appealing. Every start-up looks like the next Google. Real life rarely imitates power point slides.

3) Risk and returns are joined at hip: The moment you want high returns, you should be willing to take high risks and be willing to write off the entire investment. For every Zomato there are 999 or more tomatoes and potatoes which nobody talks about.

4) Assume your portfolio could become zero: If you want to enter the high-octane world of start-up funding, start with the premise that your investments will become zero. If you are still fine, then go ahead. Invest in a portfolio rather than one start-up, to improve your odds. Some wealth managers have fund of funds which captures such unicorns and possibly successful start-ups.

5) Take ownership, take blame: If your investment turns bad, tell yourself  I gambled, and I lost. Do not blame the broker, advisor, friend and regulator for your greed.

The kind of investing frenzy we are witnessing now usually happens at the fag end of the cycle. My fear is that we might be towards the end of the cycle. None can predict the exact timing. Corrections will happen and that can be painful. Some of the IPOs are trading below IPO price, and already, a section of media and some investors are starting to question SEBI and giving advice to SEBI to bring back price controls. They will be better served by following Sebi chairmans advice on risk.

During the dot com boom bust cycle, many of the dotcom billionaires, used unrealised profits in ESOP valuations to change their lifestyle, and fund investments. This hurt them badly when crashed. Hence, my advice would be - be careful while taking loans against ESOPs or start-up shares; when the market turns, value of investments will fall, and the value of the collateral will fall even further. And debt will literally rip you apart. Trust history on this.

My advice to start-up investors is to manage your risks and invest safely and not because of FOMO (Fear of Missing Out). If you invest in start-ups because of FOMO, then you will also lose out on JOMO (Joy of Missing Out) when correct.



The author is Chairman, IIFL Securities Ltd.
The initial public offering (IPO) of RateGain Travel Technologies, a firm that provides software support to the travel and hotels industry, saw 17.4 times more demand than the shares on offer.

The institutional portion, excluding the anchor book, was subscribed 8 times, the wealthy investor portion was subscribed 42 times. The retail investor portion was subscribed nearly 8 times, and employee quota was subscribed 1.37 times, data provided by stock exchanges showed.

The comprised of Rs 375 crore fresh fund raise and Rs 961 crore offer for sale. The price band for the is Rs 405-425 per share.

At the top-end, the company will be valued at Rs 4,537 crore. In FY21, the company had reported operating revenue of Rs 251 crore and a loss of Rs-28.6 crore.

RateGain Travel offers SaaS (software as a solution) services to hotels, airlines, online travel agents, meta-search companies, vacation rentals, package providers, car rentals, rail, travel management companies, cruises and ferries.

Ahead of its IPO, the company had allotted Rs 598 crore worth of shares to anchor investors. Some of them included Goldman Sachs, Nomura, the Government of Singapore, the Monetary Authority of Singapore and HSBC MF.

The company plans to utilise the fresh issue proceeds for repayment of debts of its subsidiary, strategic investments, acquisitions, and inorganic growth. The company plans to invest in technology innovation, artificial intelligence and purchase of certain capital equipment for its data centre from its proceeds.




Capital regulator on Thursday proposed regulatory framework for algorithmic trading (algo trading) by to make such trading safe and prevent market manipulations.

In market parlance, algo trading refers to any order that is generated using automated execution logic.

The algo trading system automatically monitors the live stock prices and initiates an order when the given criteria are met. This frees the trader from having to monitor live stock prices and initiate manual order placement.

In its consultation paper, the regulator has proposed framework for algo trading done by including use of Application Programming Interface (API) access and automation of trades.

Currently, exchanges are providing approval for the algo submitted by the broker.

However, for the algos deployed by using APIs, neither exchanges nor brokers are able to identify if the particular trade emanating from API link is an algo or a non-algo trade.

"This kind of unregulated/unapproved algos pose a risk to the market and can be mis-used for systematic market manipulation as well as to lure the retail investors by guaranteeing them higher returns. The potential loss in case of failed algo strategy is huge for retail investor," said.

Since these third-party algo providers/vendors are unregulated, there is also no investor grievance redressal mechanism in place, it added.

Under the proposal, suggested that all orders emanating from an API should be treated as an algo order and be subject to control by stock broker and the APIs to carry out algo trading should be tagged with the unique algo ID provided by the stock exchange granting approval for the algo.

It, further, said that broker needs to take approval of all algos from the exchange. Each Algo strategy, whether used by broker or client, has to be approved by exchange and as is the current practice, each algo strategy has to be certified auditors.

Also, brokers will deploy suitable technological tools to ensure that appropriate checks are in place to prevent unauthorized altering or tweaking of algos. They need to have adequate checks in place so that the algo performs in a controlled manner.

All algos developed by any entity have to run on the servers of broker wherein the broker has control of client orders, order confirmations, margin information among others.

Sebi suggested that brokers can either provide in-house algo strategies developed by an approved vendor or outsource the services of third party algo provider/vendor.

Stock brokers should be responsible for all algos emanating from its APIs and redressal of any investor disputes.

The regulator said that obligations of stock broker, investor and third party algo provider need to be separately defined. Stock broker is responsible for assessing suitability of investor prior to offering algo facility.

"No recognition shall be given by the exchange to the third party algo provider/vendor creating the algo," Sebi said.

The regulator proposed that two factor authentication should be built in every such system which provides access to an investor for any API/algo trade.

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has sought comments from public till January 15 on the proposal.

According to Sebi, there needs to be a clarity on whether the services offered by the third party algo providers are in the nature of investment advisory services as the nature of their services includes providing strategies to the investors based on research and analysis done by them.

Since there is limited understanding with respect to the nature of services provided by various algo providers, brokers may obtain from their clients, details of nature and type of services taken from algo providers along with a confirmation as to whether the said services are in the nature of investment advisory service, it added.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The may look to consolidate after back-to-back days of strong gains for the benchmark indices. While, the underlying sentiment may remain positive given RBIs thrust for growth in its policy outcome, some profit-taking cannot be ruled out owing to the weekly derivatives expiry. Meanwhile, here the top stocks to focus in trade today.

United Breweries: Beer maker has approached the appellate tribunal NCLAT against Rs 751.8 crore penalty imposed on the company by the fair trade regulator CCI for alleged cartelisation in the sale and supply of beer. READ MORE



Reliance, M&M: Reliance BP Mobility (RBML), the fuel retailing and battery charging focused arm of Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries, and Mahindra Group have forged a non-binding agreement for exploring creation of Electric Vehicle (EV) products and services. The JV will also be identifying synergies in low-carbon and conventional fuels. A Reliance official said that the agreement is for a broad collaboration which could extend to collaboration with any Mahindra Group company. READ MORE



Bondholders of Vodafone Idea to receive interest in time on the due date of December 13 as the company managed to raise funds for the repayment, bankers said. The telecom company had also fixed the record date for the next tranche of 7.77 per cent unsecured redeemable non-convertible debentures on December 20. The company has to pay Rs 6,000 crore to its bondholders beginning December 13 till March next year. READ MORE The Business Process Management (BPM) arm of Infosys, on Wednesday announced that it is expanding its presence in Ireland, creating 250 jobs locally with the development of a new delivery centre in Waterford. The company has started operations in Dublin in 2014, delivering service offerings across telecommunications, manufacturing, social media, healthcare, edtech, and fintech sectors.

Mindspace Business Parks: The company informed BSE, that it has added an additional floor at its Kondapur District Hospital in Telangana, that can accommodate additional 118 beds.

Neogen Chemicals: The company has scheduled an EGM on December 31 to consider a proposal to issue equity shares on preferential basis to SBI Mutual Fund and Axis Mutual Fund and other private equity funds.

Kopran: The companys board has approved issue of up to 49.60 lakh equity shares on a preferential basis to raise up to Rs 126.48 crore to various investors including promoters.

JBM Auto: The companys board has approved a proposal for sub-division of equity shares. Accordingly, equity shares with face value of Rs 5 will be sub-divided to a face value of Rs 2 each as per the record date.

Wheels India: The companys board has approved a Scheme of Amalgamation of Sundaram Hydraulics with the company.

Lactose India: The companys board will meet on December 11 to approve and allot second tranche of equity shares on conversion of convertible warrants into equity shares at Rs 21 each issued on preferential basis.

Beardsell: The companys board to meet on December 13 to consider a proposal for rights issue.

Stocks in F&O ban: Indiabulls Housing Finance is the only stock in F&O ban today.
Shares of Vodafone Idea (Vi) hit a fresh 52-week high of Rs 16.40, on surging 15 per cent on the BSE in Thursdays intra-day trade amid heavy volumes after the media report suggest that the company managed to raise funds for repayment of interest to bondholders on time.

The stock of telecom service provider was trading at its highest level since May 7, 2019. It surpassed previous high of Rs 15.88 hit on December 6, 2021. At 10:29 am; Vi was trading 13 per cent higher at Rs 16.18, as compared to 0.46 per cent decline in the S&P BSE Sensex. A combined 705 million equity shares had changed hands on the NSE and BSE so far.

Bondholders of Vodafone Idea will receive their interest in time on the due date of December 13 as the company managed to raise funds for the repayment, the Business Standard reported quoting bankers.

The company has to pay Rs 6,000 crore to its bondholders beginning December 13 till March next year and plans to use its own cash flows and bank funds to repay its bond holders, the report suggested. CLICK HERE FOR FULL REPORT



In past three weeks, the stock price of Vi has zoomed 64 per cent after the company increased its prepaid tariff by 20-25 per cent from November 25, 2021. The company said the new plans will start the process of average revenue per unit (ARPU) improvement and help address the financial stress faced by the industry.

Meanwhile, Aditya Birla Group Chairman Kumar Mangalam Birla on Wednesday said that the government has made policy interventions to boost the telecom sector and further measures in ease of doing business as well as support from the banking sector will enhance the industry's strength and ensure that India remains at the cutting-edge of global technology trends.

Aditya Birla Group holds over 27 per cent stake in Vi, while Vodafone Plc has more than 44 per cent in the telecom operator.
The domestic equity benchmarks ended with decent gains on Thursday, extending their winning streak for third consecutive session. The Nifty closed above the 17,500 mark. FMCG, oil & gas and media stocks advanced while banks, autos and financial stocks corrected. The trading was volatile due to expiry of weekly index options on the NSE today.

As per provisional closing data, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, rose 157.45 points or 0.27% to 58,807.13. The Nifty 50 index added 47.65 points or 0.27% to 17,517.40. Both the indices have risen about 3.60% in three sessions.

The broader indices outperformed the benchmarks. The S&P BSE Mid-Cap index rose 0.38% while the S&P BSE Small-Cap index gained 0.80%.

The market breadth was strong. On the BSE, 2124 shares rose and 1157 shares fell. A total of 117 shares were unchanged.

The market undercurrent was strong after media reported that the omicron variant of the coronavirus may not disrupt economies as much as feared. A report from Pfizer and BioNTech indicated that a third dose of their COVID-19 vaccine neutralized omicron in laboratory tests, but that a two-dose regimen is less effective.

IPO Updates:

The initial public offer (IPO) of Rategain Travel Technologies received bids for over 25.51 crore shares as against 1.73 crore shares on offer, according to stock exchange data at 15:21 IST on Thursday (9 December 2021). The issue was subscribed 14.70 times.

The issue opened for bidding on Tuesday, 7 December 2021 and it will close today, 9 December 2021. The price band of the IPO is fixed at Rs 405-425. An investor can bid for a minimum of 35 equity shares and in multiples thereof. The offer comprises of a fresh issue up to Rs 375 crore and an offer for sale of up to 2,26,05,530 equity shares.

The IPO of Shriram Properties received bids for over 4.19 crore shares as against 2.93 crore shares on offer, according to stock exchange data at 15:21 IST on Thursday (9 December 2021). The issue was subscribed 1.43 times.

The issue opened for bidding on Wednesday, 8 December 2021 and it will close on 10 December 2021. The price band of the IPO is fixed at Rs 113-118. An investor can bid for a minimum of 125 equity shares and in multiples thereof. The offer comprises of the fresh issue of upto Rs 250 crore and offer for sale of upto Rs 350 crore.

The IPO of C.E. Info Systems (MapMyIndia) received bids for over 1.07 crore shares as against 70.44 lakh shares on offer, according to stock exchange data at 15:21 IST on Thursday (9 December 2021). The issue was subscribed 1.52 times.

The issue opened for bidding today, 9 December 2021 and it will close on 13 December 2021. The price band of the IPO is fixed at Rs 1,000-1,033. An investor can bid for a minimum of 14 equity shares and in multiples thereof. The offer comprises of issue of up to 1,00,63,945 equity shares (including anchor portion of 30,19,183 equity shares).

Buzzing Index:

The Nifty FMCG index rose 1.44% to 38,201.65. The index has added 3.75% in three sessions.

Godrej Consumer (up 2.91%), Britannia Industries (up 1.52%), United Spirits (up 1.51%), Procter & Gamble Hygiene (up 1.42%), United Breweries (up 1.06%), Dabur India (up 0.99%), Tata Consumer Products (up 0.77%) and Varun Beverages (up 0.22%) advanced.

Colgate-Palmolive India (down 1.01%), Nestle India (down 1%) and Emami (down 0.43%) declined.

ITC jumped 4.65% to Rs 235.40 after the FMCG company announced that it will hold its first analyst meet on 14 December 2021.

"the company will hold its 'Institutional Investors and Financial Analysts Day' on Tuesday, 14th December, 2021 from 10.30 am," the company informed in an exchange filing today.

Stocks in Spotlight:

Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) rose 1.34% to Rs 851.90. Reliance BP Mobility (RBML), operating under the brand name Jio-bp and The Mahindra Group, announced a non-binding MoU for exploring creation of EV products and services, alongside identifying synergies in low-carbon and conventional fuels. The MoU also covers evaluating charging solutions by Jio-bp for Mahindra vehicles including electric 3 and 4 wheelers, quadricycles and e-SCV (small commercial vehicles - sub 4 ton).

Gland Pharma gained 1.44% to Rs 3581.30 after the company received a tentative approval from the United States Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) for Cangrelor for Injection, 50 mg/vial Single-Dose Vials.

Vedanta advanced 1.84% to Rs 348.15. The natural resources company said that its board, on 11 December 2021, will consider and approve second interim dividend on equity shares for the financial year 2021-22. The record date for the same is 18 December 2021.

RailTel Corporation of India added 3.44% to Rs 123.25. The company has received work order from Ircon International at a total cost of Rs. 210.77 crore (Inclusive of GST). The entire work is to be completed in a period of twelve months.

Dr Reddy's Laboratories rose 0.78% to Rs 4606.75. The drug company said that it has launched Valsartan Tablets, USP, a therapeutic equivalent generic version of Diovan (valsartan) Tablets approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) in the U.S. market. Valsartan oral tablet is used to lower blood pressure, treat heart failure, or increase chances of survival after a heart attack.

Meanwhile, Dr Reddy's Laboratories and Prestige BioPharma entered into a binding agreement for an exclusive partnership for the supply and commercialization of the latter's proposed Trastuzumab biosimilar in select countries in Latin America and Southeast Asia.

Indiabulls Housing Finance rose 1.08% to Rs 253.40. The housing financier announced the issue of secured, redeemable, non-convertible debentures of the face value of Rs 1,000 each. The issue opened today, 9 December 2021, and it will close on 20 December 2021, with an option of early closure.

The issue has a base issue size of Rs 200 crore with an option to retain oversubscription up to Rs 800 crore, aggregating up to Rs 1,000 crore. The NCDs have been rated 'CRISIL AA/Stable' by CRISIL Ratings and 'BWR AA+' by Brickworks Ratings India.

Global markets:

European shares declined while most Asian indices advanced on Thursday as investors continue to monitor developments around the omicron Covid variant and look ahead to key U.S. data.

Global markets have rallied in recent days as traders bet that the omicron Covid variant's economic impact won't be as severe as initially thought.

Investors will be keeping an eye on the latest weekly jobless claims data from the U.S. for a gauge of the country's economy; the data will be released on Thursday.

Meanwhile, the World Health Organization on Wednesday said the variant could change the course of the pandemic. Scientists worldwide are scrambling to determine just how contagious and lethal omicron is and how effective would existing vaccines be against the virus.

While preliminary evidence from South Africa, where the variant was first identified, may suggest that omicron is milder than the delta strain, WHO's technical lead on Covid-19 says it is "too early to conclude" that.

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Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd is quoting at Rs 395.85, up 1.2% on the day as on 12:54 IST on the NSE. The stock is down 0.86% in last one year as compared to a 29.92% gain in NIFTY and a 38.7% gain in the Nifty Energy index.

Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd rose for a third straight session today. The stock is quoting at Rs 395.85, up 1.2% on the day as on 12:54 IST on the NSE. The benchmark NIFTY is up around 0.24% on the day, quoting at 17511.4. The Sensex is at 58801.01, up 0.26%. Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd has dropped around 8.21% in last one month.

Meanwhile, Nifty Energy index of which Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd is a constituent, has dropped around 2.31% in last one month and is currently quoting at 23362.8, up 0.52% on the day. The volume in the stock stood at 50.1 lakh shares today, compared to the daily average of 49.05 lakh shares in last one month.

The benchmark December futures contract for the stock is quoting at Rs 397.1, up 1.33% on the day. Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd is down 0.86% in last one year as compared to a 29.92% gain in NIFTY and a 38.7% gain in the Nifty Energy index.

The PE of the stock is 6.32 based on TTM earnings ending September 21.

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The transaction is expected to close in January 2022, subject to closing conditions, including regulatory approvals. Post-closing, HCL Technologies will own 51% stake, while Deutsche Apotheker-und ztebank eG (apoBank) will own 49% stake of Gesellschaft f Banksysteme GmbH (gbs). apoBank is currently a 10% shareholder and is increasing its stake in gbs from 10% to 49%.

This acquisition will enable HCL Technologies' existing capabilities to accelerate digital transformation and further enhance its scale in Germany. The IT major aims to expand within the German financial services sector. HCL Technologies and apoBank will leverage gbs' knowledge of the cooperative banking sector and regulatory expertise to offer next-generation services to its clients. This collaboration is in line with HCL Technologies' investments in a local delivery model supported by skilled German workforce.

HCL Technologies has eight offices in Germany, including its regional headquarters in Eschborn. Its more than 1,800 employees serve 18 of DAX 40 companies. Its banking innovation center in Eschborn and an upcoming fintech lab in Berlin will offer technology expertise to organizations globally.

HCL Technologies reported 1.7% rise in consolidated net profit to Rs 3,259 crore on a 2.9% increase in revenue from operations to Rs 20,655 crore in Q2 FY22 over Q1 FY22.

Shares of HCL Technologies lost 0.26% to Rs 1,169.25 on BSE. HCL Technologies is a leading global IT services company and ranked among the top four Indian IT services companies in terms of revenues. The company has focused on 'transformational outsourcing', and offers integrated portfolio of services, including software-led IT solutions, remote infrastructure management, engineering and R&D services, and BPO services. It leverages its global offshore infrastructure and network of offices in 50 countries to provide multi-service delivery in key industry verticals, including manufacturing, financial services, media, telecommunication, healthcare, technology and public services, among others.

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Hinduja Global Solutions (HGS) today unveiled a new brand identity for its ongoing evolution into a digital-led, people-driven organization that is transforming customer experiences (CX).

Building on its legacy of making clients more competitive, HGS serves as the preferred CX and business process transformation partner for some of the world's largest brands.

HGS has renewed its vision and mission as it evolves as a comprehensive digital and CX services partner and employer of choice for roles critical to transformation - digital professionals, data analysts, automation experts, and CX ambassadors.

Vision: Be the world's leading expert in transforming customer experiences for the most admired brands.

HGS will leverage its experience handling billions of interactions every year to keep pace with rapidly rising expectations in the digital CX economy.

Mission: Innovate, optimize, and grow our clients' businesses with the perfect balance of people and technology.

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KfW IPEX-Bank is providing USD 82 million in financing to support Austrian companies Primetals Technologies Austria GmbH and Andritz AG in supplying products and services to Jindal Stainless (JSL).

JSL is procuring capital equipment from Europe as part of its plan for an expansion of its production facilities in Jajpur in the Indian state of Odisha. The expanded facility is expected to increase stainless steel production capacity from 1.1 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) to 2.1 MTPA.

Part of this capacity expansion is a new facility for producing and casting stainless steel. Additionally, a new combo line - or direct rolling, annealing and pickling line - will be installed to increase the cold rolling mill capacity

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Shares of Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) will be in focus. Reliance BP Mobility (RBML), operating under the brand name Jio-bp and The Mahindra Group, announced a non-binding MoU for exploring creation of EV products and services, alongside identifying synergies in low-carbon and conventional fuels. The MoU also covers evaluating charging solutions by Jio-bp for Mahindra vehicles including electric 3 and 4 wheelers, quadricycles and e-SCV (Small Commercial Vehicles - sub 4 ton).

HCL Technologies and Deutsche Apotheker- und ztebank eG (apoBank), the largest cooperative primary bank in Germany, have signed with Atruvia AG an agreement to acquire IT consulting company Gesellschaft f Banksysteme GmbH (gbs).

Vedanta said that the board of directors of the company on 11 December 2021, will consider and approve second interim dividend on equity shares, if any, for the Financial Year 2021-22. The record date for the purpose of determining the entitlement of the equity shareholders for the said dividend, if declared, is being fixed as 18 December 2021.

RailTel Corporation of India has received work order from Ircon International at a total cost of Rs. 210.77 crore (Inclusive of GST). The entire work is to be completed in a period of Twelve (12) months. The order is for Design, Supply, Installation, Testing & Commissioning of Tunnel communication system consisting of Emergency Call & Service Telephone, CCTV, Tunnel Radio and PA system in Tunnel Environment on Dharam - Banihal section of Jammu Kashmir Rail Link Project under Ferozepur division of Northern Railway.

The board of directors of REC approved the proposal for sale and transfer of Kallam Transmission to the successful bidder, selected through Tariff Based Competitive Bidding Process.

Gland Pharma received a tentative approval from the United States Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) for Cangrelor for Injection, 50 mg/vial Single-Dose Vials.

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As part of social initiative

Mindspace Business Parks REIT ('Mindspace REIT'), with the endeavour to assist the Government in improving the medical infrastructure of Telangana, recently completed the construction of an additional floor at the Kondapur District Hospital, Serilingampally, Telangana.

The hospital, which earlier had Ground +2 floors, spread across 67,071 sq.ft., now adds a 3rd floor and 22,357 sq.ft. of additional space with 118 beds, making it a sprawling 89,428 sq.ft hospital. This will also enable a capacity to host 218 beds, equipped to treat larger number of patients. The floor has been meticulously designed to host emergency care, nursing stations, doctors' room, etc. It is also provided with an acoustically treated roof, firefighting equipment, ramps, solar power, and surveillance system.Construction of the additional facility was carried out in collaboration with the State Government.

This is one of the many other community impacting initiatives undertaken by Mindspace REIT. From extending support to multiple local authorities, municipal corporations, and non-profit organizations, the entity also contributed to Covid-19 relief by supplying oxygen concentrators and procuring essential medical supplies. Additionally, the entity has also been facilitating vaccination drives at its Business Parks in association with their tenants. Mindspace REIT has also facilitated the entire makeover of the Durgam Cheruvu Lake, which stands as a popular tourist destination in Telangana today.

Mindspace Business Park REIT has established a fully integrated business park at Madhapur and a highquality independent asset located in Pocharam, Hyderabad.

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For supply and commercialization of trastuzumab biosimilar in select countries in Latin America and Southeast Asia

Prestige BioPharma and Dr. Reddy's Laboratories today announced that the two companies have entered into a binding agreement for an exclusive partnership for the supply and commercialization of Prestige BioPharma's s proposed trastuzumab biosimilar and in select countries in Latin America and Southeast Asia.

Prestige BioPharma's trastuzumab (HD201) is a proposed biosimilar to Roche's Herceptin and can be prescribed for the treatment of HER2 positive breast and metastatic gastric cancer. Trastuzumab targets human epidermal growth factor 2 (HER2). In some types of cancer cells, HER2 is overexpressed and stimulates the growth of the cancer cells. Trastuzumab works by selectively binding to HER2, thereby stopping the growth of these cancer cells.

The license agreement grants Dr. Reddy's the exclusive rights to commercialize the proposed biosimilar in select countries in Latin America and Southeast Asia. Under this partnership, Prestige BioPharma will be responsible for sustainable commercial supply of HD201 from its manufacturing facilities in Osong, South Korea, while Dr. Reddy's will be responsible for local registrations, marketing and sales in the licensed territories.

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Reliance Industries Ltd is quoting at Rs 2469.4, up 2.12% on the day as on 12:54 IST on the NSE. The stock is up 23.04% in last one year as compared to a 29.92% jump in NIFTY and a 38.7% jump in the Nifty Energy index.

Reliance Industries Ltd is up for a third straight session today. The stock is quoting at Rs 2469.4, up 2.12% on the day as on 12:54 IST on the NSE. The benchmark NIFTY is up around 0.24% on the day, quoting at 17511.4. The Sensex is at 58801.01, up 0.26%. Reliance Industries Ltd has slipped around 3.16% in last one month.

Meanwhile, Nifty Energy index of which Reliance Industries Ltd is a constituent, has slipped around 2.31% in last one month and is currently quoting at 23362.8, up 0.52% on the day. The volume in the stock stood at 40.72 lakh shares today, compared to the daily average of 73.34 lakh shares in last one month.

The benchmark December futures contract for the stock is quoting at Rs 2478.15, up 2.1% on the day. Reliance Industries Ltd is up 23.04% in last one year as compared to a 29.92% jump in NIFTY and a 38.7% jump in the Nifty Energy index.

The PE of the stock is 44.86 based on TTM earnings ending September 21.

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BJP leader Thursday accused Chief Minister of driving a wedge between BSF, whose jurisdiction was recently increased by the Centre, and the state police despite having taken the oath that she would have allegiance to the Constitution and drew the attention of the prime minister and union minister to it.

Adhikari also urged Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar to take cognizance of the utterances of the Trinamool Congress supremo with regard to the and take up the issue with the president.

TMC refused to give any importance to what Adhikari said and said he was free to move the United Nations on it.

Banerjee at her administrative meetings in North Dinajpur on Tuesday had asked the police in the districts of the state that share borders with neighbouring countries to keep a watch on activities of the in the wake of the killing of 13 civilians by security forces in Nagaland in a botched anti-insurgency operation last week.

She had also directed the police to not allow the Border Security Force to breach its earmarked jurisdiction.

Adhikari, her one time protege and now bete noire, tweeted that he wondered "How, the Chief Minister of a State, bound by the oath taken by her, to bear true faith and allegiance towards the Constitution of India & supposed to uphold the sovereignty and integrity of India; could repeatedly malign @BSF_India, who are assigned to do just that."



Drawing the attention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar, the BJP leader said "She is a repeat offender, wilfully trying to drive a wedge between @BSF_India & @WBPolice."



"Kindly request @PMOIndia, @HMOIndia, @DefenceMinIndia to take this into cognizance. WB Governor @jdhankhar1 ji, please apprise Hon'ble @rashtrapatibhvn regarding this matter," Adhikari, the leader of the opposition added.

At the administrative meeting, Banerjee had said , "... personnel enter our villages and then we get complaints about harassment. They go to several places that are beyond their jurisdiction without informing the police."



Senior TMC leader Sukhendu Sekhar Roy when contacted told PTI, "The CM being the administrative head has done the right thing by flagging the issue of BSF atrocities against villagers in many border villages of the country, including Bengal and Punjab at the meeting and alerting the police."



Attaching little importance to Adhikari's tweets tagging the functionaries of the union government and Dhankhar along with a video of the chief minister's meeting where she made the comment, he said "Anyone is free to take up the matter with whoever he likes. Why doesn't he move the United Nations?"



During the day Dhankhar, who has had many run ins with the government in the past, said Banerjee's reported directive to the state police to ensure that the BSF does not cross its jurisdiction of 15 km from the international border is "potentially alarming" for national security.

In a letter to the chief minister, Dhankhar urged the chief minister to take appropriate steps urgently and address the issue in public and national interest.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Punjab Chief Minister on Thursday said former chief minister Amarinder Singh achieving nothing during his tenure and has now joined hands with the BJP to satisfy his hunger for power.

Addressing a gathering at the grain market here, Channi also lashed out at the Badals of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) for indulging in open loot and called Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convener Arvind Kejriwal an outsider out to capture power in Punjab.

Amarinder Singh could not accomplish anything during his tenure and has now joined hands with the BJP, which is inimical to the interests of Punjab, to aspire for power, alleged Channi.

He alleged that Amarinder Singh and SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal were befooling the people of Punjab and in reality, the SAD, BJP and Amarinder Singh together form a triarchy.

The chief minister alleged that the SAD indulged in open loot of the state, according to an official release.

It is due to the dictatorial manner of the Badal family and (Bikram Singh) Majithia that SAD has been reduced to the sidelines, he alleged.

As long as Sukhbir and Majithia are in the Akali Dal, the party cannot regain its lost ground, claimed Channi.

Castigating the Delhi chief minister, Channi said outsiders from Delhi are out to capture power in Punjab.

Only the people of Punjab will rule the state and it is their love that wherever I go, they come in hordes to meet me whereas the rallies of Kejriwal and SAD are always flop shows, Channi said.

Further attacking Kejriwal, he said the AAP leader makes tall claims whenever he comes to Punjab but the truth is that he is totally ignorant about the ethos, culture or the issues of the state and what Punjab stands for.

The people will not tolerate such leaders, he said.

In a separate event at Rabbon Uchi in Ludhiana, Channi inaugurated the statue of legendary Sikh revolutionary Baba Maharaj Singh.

Channi said Baba Maharaj Singh led an anti-British movement in Punjab after the first Anglo-Sikh war and exhorted the people to strive for unity and integrity of the nation and follow the path shown by the first Sikh martyr of the independence struggle.

He said Baba Maharaj Singh was a great patriot who sacrificed his life for the sake of freedom of the country.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
President said this week the U.S. would take a more direct role in diplomacy to address Vladimir Putin's concerns over and Europe at large, part of a broader effort to dissuade the Russian leader from ordering a destabilizing new invasion of

But any negotiations to peacefully resolve Europe's tangled East-West rivalries will present minefields all their own for the U.S. president.

Administration officials have suggested that the U.S. will press to formally cede a measure of autonomy to eastern Ukrainian lands now controlled by Russia-backed separatists who rose up against Kyiv in 2014. An undefined special status for those areas was laid out in an ambiguous, European-brokered peace deal in 2015, but it has never taken hold.

Biden also will have to finesse Ukraine's desire to join NATO. The U.S. and NATO reject Putin's demands that they swear off membership for Ukraine in the Western military alliance, ever.

But senior State Department officials have told Ukraine that NATO membership is unlikely to be approved in the next decade, according to a person familiar with those private talks who spoke on condition of anonymity.

For Biden, the challenge will be encouraging Kyiv to accept some of the facts on the ground in eastern Ukraine, without appearing to cave to Putin a perception that could embolden the Russian leader and unleash a fresh line of condemnations by Republicans while Biden's popularity is already in decline.

Ukraine may be asked "can you make some step forward on these areas, said Steven Pifer, a former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine. That could include measures such as allowing the Russia-allied Donbas region to control its own health care, police and schools, he said.

But I don't see Washington pushing the Ukrainians to take steps that would compromise their sovereignty or the ability of the national government when it came to making decisions," Pifer said.

Biden made his offers of American diplomacy as part of a two-hour online session with Putin on Tuesday. The American president offered U.S. participation in negotiation efforts alongside Europeans, not just to settle the conflict in eastern Ukraine but to address Putin's larger strategic objections to NATO expanding membership and building military capacity ever closer to Russia's borders.

On Thursday, Biden is due to speak to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Ukraine, which has deep cultural and historic ties with Russia, has in recent years sought closer integration with the West and membership in NATO. The alliance has held out the promise of membership but it has declined to set a timeline. Even before the current crisis, Ukraine was a long way from joining.

Since 2014, however, when invaded and annexed Crimea and then threw its weight behind the armed separatists in Ukraine's eastern Donbas region, the United States and other NATO members have been helping Ukraine build up its defenses.

National security adviser Jake Sullivan stressed at a White House briefing after Biden's call with Putin that there was the delivery of defensive assistance to Ukraine just very recently, and that will continue.

Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said Wednesday that the last items in the administration's latest $60 million package of security assistance to Ukraine are arriving there this week and consist mainly of small arms and ammunition.

The call between Biden and Putin took place as tensions grew over the threat of Russian forces again rolling into Ukraine. Putin denies any such intention and charges that it is NATO strengthening its hold in former Soviet republics that is threatening

U.S. intelligence reports last week said had moved 70,000 troops to Ukraine's borders as it builds toward a possible invasion early next year.

If Russia were to invade, the Biden administration has made clear the country would face the toughest U.S. sanctions yet.

After speaking with Zelenskyy, Biden plans to brief leaders of nine NATO members in Eastern Europe, including three former Soviet republics. It's part of weeks of coordination with NATO allies on the response to the Russian military buildup on Ukraine's border.

Before and after his call with Putin, Biden spoke with the leaders of Britain, France, Germany and Italy. France and Germany took the lead in brokering the 2015 peace deal between Ukraine and the Russia-backed rebels, in what's known as the Normandy format.

We hope by Friday we're gonna be able to say, announce to you, we're having meetings at a higher level, Biden said Wednesday. Not just with us, but with at least four of our major NATO allies, and Russia."



The meetings would address "the future of Russia's concern relative to NATO writ large, and whether or not we could work out any accommodations as it relates to bringing down the temperature" in Ukraine's east," Biden said.

Asked about any need for Ukrainian compromises, Sullivan told reporters Tuesday that Ukrainians have come forward with constructive ideas for how to move the diplomacy forward. We're encouraging that."



Under the 2015 deal, Ukraine agreed to change its constitution to accommodate the peculiarities of the two Donbas separatist republics and to legalize their special status. Some analysts said the deal's vagueness, and some conflicting requirements, make its provisions effectively unworkable.

Ukraine is willing to engage in talks on defining special status, including possible changes that account for the cultural and linguistic differences of its eastern Donbas region, which has a higher proportion of native Russian speakers, the person familiar with the private talks between Ukraine and the United States said.

But Ukraine would reject any change that gives the region virtual veto power over national policy, the person said.

Alexander Vershbow, a former U.S. ambassador to Moscow, said a reinvigoration of previous negotiating efforts among diplomats from France, Germany, Russia and Ukraine could be a step forward, particularly if the U.S. became directly involved.

In an interview prior to the Biden-Putin video meeting, Vershbow said another option would be to recreate the U.S.-Russia channel of talks used during the Obama administration in parallel with those talks.

It has to be very much in lockstep with the Ukrainians not behind their backs, or forcing them to accept a distasteful compromise, Vershbow said.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
New Delhi [India], December 9 (ANI/NewsVoir): Themed 'Purpose beyond Profit', the fourth consecutive edition of Social and Business Enterprise Responsible Awards & Summit, SABERA 2021, concluded during an exclusive virtual event today.

The occasion was graced by the guest of honour, Dr Bibek Debroy, Chairperson of the Economic Advisory Council to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has been a supporter of SABERA since inception in 2018.

In his address he stated, "To my mind what SABERA has been trying to do is not very different from what the Prime Minister has done by making the Padma awards people-centric."

Dr Bibek Debroy, Chair Economic Advisory Council to PM, compares SABERA's efforts with that of the Prime Minister making the Padma Awards people-centric

Sanjiv Mehta, Chair, Hindustan Unilever Ltd. (HUL), says that the SABERA trophy reaffirms their belief that what is good for India is good for HUL

Padma Shri awardee and social leaders Dr Prakash Amte and Dr Mandakini Amte along with Dr Bibek Debroy, Chief Economic Advisor to PM and Renu Sud Karnad, MD HDFC Bank, endorse Purpose beyond Profit through their inspiring journeys

Organised by the Simply Suparnaa (c) Media Network, a UN Women 2021 Awardee, the event featured keynote speakers Dr Prakash Amte and Dr Mandakini Amte, the son and daughter-in-law of social reformer Baba Amte. The couple left the audience inspired, sharing their lifetime commitment of being in service to the indigenous tribes of the country, exemplifying the theme of 'Purpose beyond Profit'. In a session moderated by Aekta Kapoor, Founder of eShe magazine, Dr Prakash Amte shared, "Exposure to development work leaves a lasting impact on the subconscious mind and encourages individuals to work towards the larger good of society. Especially for the youth, such exposure can help lead a more fulfilling life beyond material pursuits."

Renu Sud Karnad, MD HDFC Bank Ltd., chaired the robust jury of noted personalities also present through the event including Dr Bhaskar Chatterjee (IAS), popularly known as the father of CSR in India; Uday Varma (IAS), Former Secretary Ministry of I & B and MSME; Suhela Khan, Country Program Manager, WeEmpower Asia, UN Women; Ananta Raghuvanshi, Founder Director, NARDECO MAHI GOI; Kamal Bali, President and Managing Director, Volvo Group India; Richard Rekhy, Board, KPMG Dubai; Shaili Chopra, Founder, SheThePeople.TV; Mathew Cherian, Chair CARE India; and Geeta Goel, Country Director, Michael & Susan Dell Foundation.

"A task of highlighting GOOD when the trend is to cash in on sensationalism is a challenge that we at SABERA have taken head-on," said Suparnaa Chadda, Founder Curator, SABERA.

The annual event attracted nationwide participation by the country's biggest corporates, most impactful non-profits and inspiring individuals. The awards acknowledged stories of impact and development aligned with UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals and the Environment Social and Governance (ESG) Principles.

There were over 80 entries for three main categories acknowledging SDG & ESG aligned initiatives, entities and individuals. Two research-based nominations in Responsible Business and Promising Responsible Business were also acknowledged among others.

The winners covered a wide spectrum of work in alignment with SDG and ESG principles. SABERA recognised businesses as well as the third-sector champions including NGOs and individuals. Winners of the Responsible Business category included Bharat Aluminium Company Ltd., Maruti Suzuki India Ltd., Dabur India Ltd., SBI General Insurance Ltd., and Bharat Petroleum Company Limited among others. A total of 46 trophies have been awarded including eight Jury Commendations to encourage GOOD work. You can check the complete list of winners (https://www.newsvoir.com/index.php?option=com_content & view=release & rid=18636 & file=1 & Itemid=37) here.

Visit here (https://www.sabera.co/awardees-list/) sabera.co/awardees-list to know more about (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FD7SFweWOOg) SABERA Social and Business Enterprise Responsible Awards 2021.

The theme this year 'Purpose over Profit', emphasised the shifting focus of large corporates from mere profit oriented operations to initiatives creating a larger social impact.

ESG Partner, MG Motor India's MD, Rajeev Chaba, shared, "MG is a purpose driven organisation and believes in serving people and community while bringing meaningful changes. Even before we launched our 1st car, we have been at the forefront of driving sustainable change and serving immediate communities with whom the company interacts, especially in Vadodara, Halol, and Gurgaon, under our community service initiative, MG SEWA. Under this Program, we have been supporting girl child education, skilling women, educating teachers and more than 4 Lakh children on road safety and more. I would like to thank SABERA and its team for recognizing brands and individuals who put community before self."

On receiving the trophy for Swasthya & Kalyan for their COVID 19 Outreach, Sanjiv Mehta, MD, Chair - HUL & President - Unilever South Asia shared, "This award is indeed a recognition of the many people who have passionately worked towards making a positive difference to the society and also reaffirms our belief that what is GOOD for India is GOOD for Hindustan Unilever."

Dr Sunil Shroff, Founder MOHAN foundation, on receiving the Lifetime Achievement trophy said that he dedicates the award to all the organ donors of the country who had saved thousands of lives and hoped that the award inspires many others to support the noble cause of organ donation.

Exemplifying SABERA's intent to catalyse 'GOOD' and leave no one behind, the awards this year too were anchored by a bright young girl from a remote village of India. Fifteen-year-old Parvati Shah, one of three siblings, lost her mother at the age of five when severe floods destroyed her village in Uttarkashi. "Many times, we had to sleep on empty stomachs and we could do nothing about it," shared Parvati in her own words, who is under the shelter of Purukal Youth Development Society's (PYDS) now and is one of their brightest students. Parvati's dream for the future is to become a doctor and work in rural areas where health care is lacking so that no mother's life is lost due to lack of medical facilities.

For more details, visit (https://www.sabera.co/) www.sabera.co

Twitter: (https://twitter.com/SABERA_awards)twitter.com/SABERA_awards

LinkedIn: (https://www.linkedin.com/company/sabera-awards/) linkedin.com/company/sabera-awards

Media contact: Rucha, 91-9545521745, rucha.jewlikar@gmail.com

Simply Suparnaa (c) Media Network is an award-winning organisation that consciously works towards creating a positive narrative away from sensationalism by creating and distributing responsible content. The founder Suparnaa Chadda uses her versatile experience of over two decades in the Indian media to curate SABERA that recognises GOOD across civil, corporate and development sectors.

Amidst others, the Network stands for enabling gender sensitivity and conducts menstrual hygiene sessions distributing sustainable feminine hygiene products in urban slums through the nonprofit (http://www.womanendangered.org/) womanendangered.org. The network also awards entities and Individuals working around ESG & SDG principles. It provides a platform for marginalised girls or women who have taken a career break to get back into the mainstream. The network strongly believes that leadership and spirituality are interconnected and have the potential to bring about a larger change in society. It has been awarded by the UN Women WEP Awards 2021 as an SME Community Champion.

Please visit (https://www.sabera.co/) www.sabera.co for more information.

This story is provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/NewsVoir)

DISCLAIMER

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The threat of a fresh Covid-19 variant is looming large and half of the countrys population is yet to be fully vaccinated. Adding to the woes, Pune-based has now announced that it will reduce the production of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, marketed as Covishield in India, by at least 50 per cent from next week. The maker says that it does not have fresh orders from the Indian government. And if we factor in the possibility of a booster dose, then the shortfall could only increase. Let us see how much stock we are left with and what is the road ahead.

Serum CEO Adar Poonawalla said that the company has about 500 million doses of Covishield left in stock. And half of it is in an unfinished state. Poonawalla said SII will start exporting the available stock if the Indian government doesnt need the supply.

And on Tuesday, the government told the Parliament that 227.6 million doses were available with the states as on December 1, 2021.

A Business Standard analysis shows that the government, on December 1, did not have enough doses to administer a second jab to people who have not been fully vaccinated and vaccinate the remaining unvaccinated individuals. Of the 36 states and UTs for which data is available, only 11 states had enough doses to cover their partially vaccinated population with a second dose and the unvaccinated people with first doses.

Uttar Pradesh, for instance, had a shortfall of 67.7 million doses, while Maharashtra and Bihar were short of over 25 million doses each, as on December 1, 2021. Tamil Nadu and West Bengal were short of nearly 20 million doses during the period.

Serum Institute of Indias 500 million doses of Covishield -- if they have been prioritised for the Indian government--plus the stock of Covaxin with Bharat Biotech, should be enough to fulfill Indias vaccination requirements for the adult population.

However, if India goes for an additional dose for the fully vaccinated population or a booster dose, then there might be a shortfall.

This shortfall in vaccines is particularly telling when we still dont know how the Omicron variant of coronavirus will act up. Medical experts and epidemiologists have warned that Covid-19 will become endemic and people will require annual booster shots.

And India is yet to take a final call on vaccinating children. Given all these uncertainties, the country cannot afford disruption in supply of vaccines.
Acuity Knowledge Partners (Acuity), a leading provider of bespoke research, analytics, staffing and technology solutions to the financial services sector, welcomes Ian Mullen as its new Chief Financial Officer. Mullen is based in London and previously worked in Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer roles at major financial institutions, including HSBC, Barclays, and Merrill Lynch. Ian has also built and managed teams based in India, in both Delhi and Chennai, and has served in C-level positions at private equity-backed firms.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211202005457/en/

Ian Mullen, Chief Financial Officer, Acuity Knowledge Partners (Photo: Business Wire)

Ians financial services background and extensive work internationally in Australia, Switzerland, the U.S., India and the UK will help Acuity to continue developing its rapidly growing business, said Robert King, CEO of Acuity.

He continued, With a global career and deep financial services domain expertise, Ian exemplifies the values we champion at Acuity Knowledge Partners. We are privileged to work with hundreds of leading financial institutions, and this is a testament to the quality of people we have at Acuity. Ian adds to our high quality team in a critical role. The company will benefit from Ians extensive knowledge of financial and business management, and were happy to have him join, as we continue to see increased demand for Acuity Knowledge Partners solutions and rapid growth.

About Acuity Knowledge Partners

Acuity Knowledge Partners is a leading research, analytics and business intelligence consultant to the financial services sector. The companys network of analysts and industry experts, combined with advanced data and technology, supports over 400 financial institutions and consulting companies worldwide to operate more efficiently and unlock their human capital, driving revenues higher and transforming operations. It specialises in investment banking, investment research, private equity & consulting and commercial lending. Acuity is headquartered in London and operates from nine locations worldwide. In 2019, the company was established as a separate business from Moodys Corporation through its acquisition from Equistone Partners.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211202005457/en/
Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corporation (Toshiba) announces the MN09, a massive capacity 18TB [1] addition to its NAS HDD line-up.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211208006148/en/

Toshiba: 18TB NAS HDD MN09 Series, a 9-disk helium-sealed conventional magnetic recording (CMR) drive. (Photo: Business Wire)

High growth in data creation is driving demand for higher storage capacities, and work-from-home customers need fast access to data and the ability to archive and share data in private cloud environments. The 18TB MN09 delivers greater storage capacity and power efficiency to meet the growing needs of storage customers.

MN09 is a 9-disk helium-sealed conventional magnetic recording (CMR) drive that leverages Toshibas new innovative Flux Control Microwave-Assisted Magnetic Recording (FC-MAMR) technology. FC-MAMR advances CMR capacity to 18TB and delivers increased density per platter over previous designs. The MN09 is the 3rd generation to use Toshibas pioneering 9-disk helium-sealed mechanical design.

MAMR technology is one solution that extends HDD data capacities. The ability of HDD using a new MAMR head to significantly improve the write ability of the Microwave Assisted Switching (MAS) effect has been developed recently. Toshiba will continue to satisfy market demand and to advance CMR drive data densities with MAMR technology.

MN09 is engineered for 24/7 operation and has a workload rating of 180TB/year [2]. Up to eight drive bays are supported by the NAS 3.5-inch [3] drive.

The 7200RPM 18TB NAS drive is designed with a 512MB buffer and delivers a consistent high level of performance with a sustained transfer rate of 268 MiB/s [4], making it the preferred choice of home offices and small businesses. The MN09 18TB is available now.

For more information on the new products, visit:

https://toshiba.semicon-storage.com/ap-en/storage/product/internal-specialty/nas/articles/mn-series.html

For more information on Toshibas full line of HDD storage products, visit: https://toshiba.semicon-storage.com

To learn more about our storage solutions visit the storage blog at https://storage.toshiba.com/corporateblog/

[1] Definition of capacity: One terabyte (TB) = one trillion bytes, but storage capacity actually available may vary depending on operating environment and formatting. Available storage capacity (including examples of various media files) will vary based on file size, formatting, settings, software and operating system and/or pre-installed software applications, or media content. Actual formatted capacity may vary.

[2] Workload is a measure of the data throughput in a year, and it is defined as the amount of data written, read or verified by commands from the host system.

[3] "3.5-inch" means the form factor of HDDs. It does not indicate a drive's physical size.

[4] A mebibyte (MiB) means 220, or 1 048 576 bytes, and a gibibyte (GiB) means 230, or 1 073 741 824 bytes.

Product Inquiries:

Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corporation

Storage Products Division

https://toshiba.semicon-storage.com/ap-en/contact.html

* FC-MAMRTM is a trademark of Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corporation. * Other company names, product names, and service names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective companies. * Information in this document, including product prices and specifications, content of services and contact information, is current and believed to be accurate as of the date of the announcement, but is subject to change without prior notice.

About Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corporation

Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corporation, a leading supplier of advanced semiconductor and storage solutions, draws on over half a century of experience and innovation to offer customers and business partners outstanding discrete semiconductors, system LSIs and HDD products.

The company's 22,000 employees around the world share a determination to maximize product value, and promote close collaboration with customers in the co-creation of value and new markets. With annual sales now surpassing 710-billion yen (US$6.5 billion), Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corporation looks forward to building and to contributing to a better future for people everywhere.

Find out more at https://toshiba.semicon-storage.com/ap-en/top.html

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211208006148/en/
If China tech stocks have to delist from New York, is Hong Kong ready to take them all? Photo: VCG

What a chaotic week we just had for U.S.-listed China tech stocks.

Last Friday, Didis announcement that it would delist from the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and seek a Hong Kong listing jolted the market, leading all U.S.-listed China tech stocks to plunge.

Last Thursday afternoon, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission adopted final amendments implementing the disclosure and submission requirements of the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act, requiring companies that fail to comply with the provisions to delist within three years.

U.S. regulators are not the only ones squeezing China tech stocks. Last Wednesday, Bloomberg reported that Beijing would ban companies with a variable interest entity (VIEs) shareholding structure from listing overseas. Hours after the report and before the U.S. markets opened, the China Securities Regulatory Commission denied Bloombergs report. Caixins report  published almost simultaneously  pointed out, in milder terms, that The general supervision direction is to allow companies to make their own listing venue decisions and overseas listings for those VIE structured companies will not be completely halted with certain regulation rules applying to some industries.

No Chinese tech company has pursued a U.S. listing since Didi was formally investigated on July 2. After the announcement of its delisting, Didi chose the Hong Kong Stock Exchange as its new listing venue. Meanwhile, more than 200 companies are in the process of applying for a Hong Kong listing, according to investment bankers. The truth is that Hong Kong has become the main overseas listing venue for Chinese companies.

Questions, suspicion and even denial have surrounded Hong Kongs future as an international financial center since the National Security Law went into effect last June. Beijing has enormous motivation to buff up Hong Kongs current position and willingness to lead Chinese mainland companies to Hong Kong.

Then comes the question: if China tech stocks have to delist from New York, is Hong Kong ready to take them all?

New York and Hong Kong, one market

When talking about capital markets outside China, Chinese people usually specifically mean New York, and they often categorize Hong Kong as an independent market. Even institutional investors tend to confuse Hong Kong and New York, as if there is just one market in their eyes.

Hong Kong is not an isolated market. Just like New York, London, Tokyo and Frankfurt, it is part of the international capital market, a naturally formed market in which institutional investors can buy and sell financial products via stock exchanges in countries and regions where currencies can be freely converted. Hong Kong and New York are essentially one market, and the key players are essentially the same.

Who are these players?

The majority of the investors in the international capital markets are U.S. dollar funds managed by institutional investors with a significant portion of their capital coming from developed countries, including the U.S. and the nations of Europe. They have a dominant market position and pricing authority. Capital from the Chinese mainland, in the foreseeable future, will only play a supplemental role and wont replace them.

Risk management of institutional investors is being applied globally in each of the markets. China sovereign risk requires a risk premium or valuation discount. In fact, the Hong Kong market has already seen a few IPOs price at less than half of their expected value.

If they believe China is not investible, no investments can be executed in any market, either New York or Hong Kong.

These being said, to the surprise of mainland Chinese, the so-called international capital market implies that the same group of institutional investors execute transactions under the same risk management rules in different exchanges. Hong Kong and New York are essentially one market. Any assumption that a Hong Kong listing can be a perfect substitute for a U.S. listing reflects a lack of understanding of the capital market.

In addition, Hong Kong has its own characteristics.

What makes Hong Kong different

To start with: Low liquidity.

This is the first impression that most investors have of Hong Kong. In fact, the liquidity of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange is of a completely different magnitude than that of stock exchanges in the U.S.

On Dec. 6, the Hong Kong bourse announced a daily average turnover of HK$171.5 billion ($22 billion) in 2021 as of the end of November. In the U.S., a $400 billion a day can be easily be achieved.

Cathie Wood, an investor celebrated for her ambitious bet on tech stocks, owns American depositary receipts of Tencent Holdings Ltd., rather than the shares traded in Hong Kong. This is a very telling example.

Superior liquidity makes trading much easier in New York than in Hong Kong. When investors can easily make transactions in the U.S., they arent very willing to switch to Hong Kong. So, why bother?

On the other hand, Hong Kong data show that 15% of stocks contribute to 83% of market liquidity. The top 20% most traded stocks contribute to over 90% of liquidity. Apparently little attention has been given to mid- to small market cap companies. Indeed, any company with less than a $3 billion valuation has hard time attracting investor eyeballs.

Given the prevailing risk premiums, discounted valuation and low liquidity, some founders and investors, when celebrating their Hong Kong IPOs, should be ready for a bumpy road ahead for their exit.

Reasons behind the low liquidity

An easy explanation is that institutional investors allocate far less capital to Hong Kong than that to New York. Global investors see the U.S. exchanges as their first choice.

Some Chinese tech companies listed in the U.S. are already among the largest in the world in terms of market cap. Their delisting and entering the Hong Kong exchange, like sharks in a small pond, would suck up liquidity and pose a threat to midcap and small cap stocks and the exchange itself. For example, Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. witnessed turnover of $3 billion after the market opened on Dec. 6, an impossible feat in Hong Kong.

The more than 200 prospective IPOs lining up in front of the Hong Kong exchange has worried investors. Portfolio managers tend to consider the few large IPOs while ignoring midsize and small IPOs. Friends and family deals are widely expected as their IPO books are covered by capital from affiliated parties. Investment banks usually shy away from these deals as they value their brand names much more than IPO commissions.

Likes and dislikes

Hong Kong investors usually prefer asset-heavy companies with good profitability and strong dividend capabilities, such as those in the financial, real estate, consumer and retail industries. Indifference to the new economy and low tolerance for money-losing companies are their signature.

For example, they have got used to the notion that consumer companies should be profitable and would be startled at those so-called new consumer companies with valuations in the billions and an unknown path to turning a profit. Investment banks, eager to introduce them to the market, might find them a hard sell.

Traditionally, most of Chinas tech companies go to the U.S., and only a few end up in Hong Kong, leaving investors in the city to further strengthen their established stance.

With too many prospective IPO companies in line, the Hong Kong exchange is seriously understaffed, making the traditional six to nine month IPO execution time much longer.

And dont forget valuations. Hong Kong-listed tech companies usually have a valuation haircut when compared with similar companies listed in the U.S. Investors are emboldened by the U.S. markets capital sufficiency, better investor protection and rigorous regulations. This is an invisible part of valuation as well.

And lastly, one most crucial issue has been overlooked: weighted voting rights.

Weighted voting rights

Weighted voting rights were first introduced by HKEX a couple of years ago after Alibaba chose New York over Hong Kong. Their purpose is crystal clear  attracting Chinas large tech companies to make secondary listings.

The Hong Kong exchange has never intended to offer weighted voting rights to small and midsize companies.

The bar for revenue and market cap is not hard to meet, however. The definition and recognition of innovative enterprises is very subjective. To put it bluntly: if HKEX thinks you are an innovative company, then you are one.

For example, weighted voting rights were offered to YumChina as if YumChina was an innovative company. The reason? KFC and Pizza Hut customers use mini-programs to order food. This is absurd.

It is quite normal for founders of new economy companies to hold around 30% of their companies shares after several rounds of financing. Without weighted voting rights, these companies would become de facto owned by institutional investors once they listed. Hostile takeovers are very much anticipated, just like those in the U.S. market. We dont believe many founders are mentally prepared for this.

With all those factors in mind, everyone should make their own judgment about whether Hong Kong is ready to accept all of the Chinese tech stocks that end up delisting from New York.

Amid the strategic competition between China and the U.S., Chinas tech stocks are part of the common ground that both countries have an interest in. Maintaining the status quo will benefit Chinas tech industry, and ultimately, China-U.S. relations.

Liao Ming is the founding partner of Prospect Avenue Capital, a growth capital fund focusing on Chinas technology sector.

Editors note: The Chinese version of this commentary was published on Tuesday, which stirred strong debate within the finance community.

Read more

Opinion: Dont Underestimate Hong Kongs Potential as a New Home for U.S.-Listed Chinese Stocks

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If any anime feature gets nominated this year, its likely to be this one. The epic reimagining of the Beauty and the Beast story, set partly in a vast virtual world, got off to a strong start with a Cannes premiere, where it received a 14-minute standing ovation.

Hosoda was nominated two years ago for Mirai, still the only anime feature outside Ghibli ever to get a nomination. Belle is helped by the fact that artists known in Hollywood, including veteran Disney character designer Jin Kim and a team at Irelands oft-nominated Cartoon Saloon, were involved with the production.

Fortune Favors Lady Nikuko

Director: Ayumu Watanabe

Studio: Studio 4C

U.S. distributor: GKIDS

Based on Kanako Nishis 2011 novel of the same name, Fortune Favors Lady Nikuko is an earthy comic portrait of a mother and daughter who live on a houseboat. Its a departure in tone from Watanabes phantasmagorical last film Children of the Sea (which qualified for the Oscar two years ago), but the two features share some things: both are coming-of-age stories about girls attuned to the voices of the world around them, wrote our reviewer Kambole Campbell.

He concluded, Nikuko is a mostly pleasant, low-stakes series of vignettes that occasionally undermines itself, but mostly charms with its easygoing coming-of-age narrative.

Josee, the Tiger and the Fish

Director: Kotaro Tamura

Studio: Bones

U.S. distributor: Funimation

This adaptation of a short story by Seiko Tanabe is one of several aquatic-themed young-adult dramas to emerge from the anime industry in recent years. Josee, who is paraplegic, is cared for by college student Tsuneo, for whom she has complex feelings.

The film is one of two on this list that were selected at Annecy this year (alongside Poupelle of Chimney Town). Reviews have been mixed, some critics noting disappointment with how the protagonists disability is portrayed.

The Laws of the Universe: The Age of Elohim

Director: Isamu Imakake

Studio: HS Pictures Studio

U.S. distributor: not announced

This is an outlier in the list, backed as it is by Happy Science, a controversial Japanese religious movement often described as a cult. The plot may seem like typical high-fantasy fare, but it actually presents aspects of the religions mythology: Elohim, the god of the Old Testament, is said to have spoken directly to Ryuho Okawa, the religions founder.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Okawa is credited with the original story on this film, and is also an executive producer. Happy Science has produced anime features in the past: two previous titles in this series qualified for the Oscar.

Pompo: The Cinephile

Director: Takayuki Hirao

Studio: CLAP

U.S. distributor: GKIDS

If Academy voters responded to zaniness, this manga adaptation would be in with a good chance of winning. The film serves up an absurdist caricature of Hollywood (rebaptized Nyallywood) in which Gene, a harried production assistant, learns how to make a film at the hands of child prodigy Pompo.

Our reviewer Kambole Campbell appreciated the sometimes audacious visuals, but wasnt impressed on the whole: Pompo is more ridiculous for its naive earnestness than for any kind of knowing or satirical silliness. For starters, it portrays Hollywood nepotism as a good, uncomplicated thing rather than a symptom of a narcissistic industry.

Poupelle of Chimney Town

Director: Yusuke Hirota

Studio: Studio 4C

U.S. distributor: Eleven Arts

This film has an unusual origin: it is based on a picture book by Japanese media personality Akihiro Nishino, which is available online for free. Set in a steampunk world, the story follows a chimney sweep who befriends a humanoid heap of trash. Nishino has vowed to take on Disney with his creations; this film will have a tough time against the Mouse at the Oscars. (Note: Poupelle is one of two qualified films produced by Studio 4C, alongside Nikuko.)

Our reviewer Carlos Aguilar had mixed feelings: Poignant without turning saccharine, the film handles Lubicchis loneliness and Poupelles innocent resolve to offer comfort with a beautiful tenderness that matches some of the dazzling moments of gorgeous visual wonder, especially in the third act. Yet the storytelling is rather convoluted.

Images at top, left to right: Josee, the Tiger and the Fish, Pompo: The Cinephile, Poupelle of Chimney Town
A side note: Rons Gone Wrong, which has qualified, was also produced in Europe (at Locksmith Animation in the U.K.). But as it was funded by a Hollywood studio  Fox, now Disneys 20th Century Studios  we arent including it here.

Read on for an overview of the European contenders:

The Ape Star

Director: Linda Hamback

Countries: Sweden, Norway, Denmark

U.S. distributor: Viva Pictures

The only family feature of the four, The Ape Star tells the tale of an orphan who is adopted by a gorilla, with which she comes to form a close bond. Hamback has experience in childrens animation, having directed the well-received 2017 feature Gordon & Paddy (and produced many more films). This makes her the only director here to have previously directed an animated feature on her own.

The Ape Star doesnt have the highest of profiles in this race, but it too has gone down well with viewers. After playing in competition at Annecy, it picked up a nomination for best animated feature at the European Film Awards.

Flee

Director: Jonas Poher Rasmussen

Countries: Denmark, Sweden, France, Norway

U.S. distributor: Neon

Poher Rasmussens searingly intimate documentary rides into Oscar season on a wave of accolades, including awards at Sundance and Annecy. It is structured around conversations between the director and his friend Amin, who recounts his flight from war-ravaged Afghanistan to Russia, then Denmark. The animation, which includes semi-abstract sequences, is interleaved with archive footage.

Unusually, Flee has also qualified for best documentary and international feature (as Denmarks entry) at the Oscars. Waltz with Bashir was in a similar position in 2009, and ended up being nominated in the international feature category.

My Sunny Maad

Director: Michaela Pavlatova

Countries: Czech Republic, France, Slovakia

U.S. distributor: none announced

Flee isnt the only contender with an Afghan link. My Sunny Maad follows a Czech woman who moves to early-2000s, post-Taliban Afghanistan after marrying a man from the country. As an outsider and a woman, she finds her freedoms curtailed in various ways. Pavlatova is the sole director here to have been nominated for an Oscar, an honor she received for her 1991 short Words, Words, Words. This is her animated feature debut.

Our reviewer Carlos Aguilar wrote: Pavlatovas film is closer to The Swallows of Kabul or Flee  than to Cartoon Saloons more whimsical The Breadwinner. Still, all these titles have harnessed the medium to shine a light on the most at-risk segments of the population in a war-torn country without much of a functioning film industry of its own.

The Summit of the Gods

Director: Patrick Imbert

Countries: France, Luxembourg

U.S. distributor: Netflix

The source material may be a manga and the characters Japanese, but The Summit of the Gods is very much a European production. The mountaineering epic was produced chiefly in France; it is the first sole directorial credit for Imbert, who co-directed the 2017 anthology film The Big Bad Fox and Other Tales. Its expertly made, boasting a complex narrative and sophisticated visual craft.

After quietly premiering at Canness Cinema de la Plage section, The Summit of the Gods was picked up by Netflix, which means it goes into this awards race with a lot of marketing oomph. It helps that Summit has been well reviewed.

Images at top, left to right: The Ape Star, Flee, My Sunny Maad, The Summit of the Gods
Photo: BC gov. Flickr Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry

In the past 24 hours, 379 more British Columbians tested positive for COVID-19, including 94 people in the Interior.

The new cases bring B.C.s total since the pandemic began to 221,235 cases, and 2,874 remain active. Active cases increased by 60 since Tuesday.

Of these, 224 people are hospitalized with the disease, a decrease of 18, and 77 people are being treated in the ICU.

There are currently 580 active cases within Interior Health. Forty-eight Interior residents are hospitalized with the virus, including 27 who are in critical care.

Another six new COVID deaths have been reported throughout B.C. in the past 24 hours  two in the Fraser Health region, three in Island Health and one in Northern Health. To date, 2,369 British Columbians have died after contracting COVID-19.

There has been no new healthcare facility outbreaks in B.C., and there remains five active outbreaks among care homes, assisted living facilities and hospitals.

In the past 24 hours, 21,418 doses of the vaccine were administered in B.C. As of Wednesday, 85.8% of eligible people five and older in B.C. have received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine and 82.1% have received their second dose.

The new/active cases include:

104 new cases in Fraser Health  Total active cases: 924

64 new cases in Vancouver Coastal Health  Total active cases: 497

94 new cases in Interior Health  Total active cases: 580

49 new cases in Northern Health  Total active cases: 276

65 new cases in Island Health  Total active cases: 595

From Nov. 30 to Dec. 6, people not fully vaccinated accounted for 59.0% of cases and from Nov. 23 to Dec. 6, they accounted for 67.5% of hospitalizations.

Past week cases (Nov. 30 to Dec. 6) - Total 2,429

Not vaccinated: 1,344 (55.3%)

Partially vaccinated: 90 (3.7%)

Fully vaccinated: 995 (41.0%)

Past two weeks cases hospitalized (Nov. 23 to Dec. 6) - Total 197

Not vaccinated: 127 (64.5%)

Partially vaccinated: 6 (3.0%)

Fully vaccinated: 64 (32.5%)

Past week, cases per 100,000 population after adjusting for age (Nov. 30 to Dec. 6)

Not vaccinated: 170.5

Partially vaccinated: 42.7

Fully vaccinated: 22.1

Past two weeks, cases hospitalized per 100,000 population after adjusting for age (Nov. 23 to Dec. 6)

Not vaccinated: 27.6

Partially vaccinated: 4.3

Fully vaccinated: 1.4
Photo: Contributed The two men charged with first-degree murder in the killing of an innocent Cranbrook couple should not be convicted, court heard in closing statements..

Evidence against two men accused of first-degree murder in a May 2010 Cranbrook so-called mistaken identity killing falls short, and the pair should be acquitted, defense lawyers have told a B.C. Supreme Court judge.

Colin Raymond Correia and Sheldon Joseph Hunter are charged with first-degree murder in the deaths of Leanne MacFarlane and partner Jeffrey Todd Taylor.

The Crown has not established that Correia committed the homicide of Leanne MacFarlane and Jeffrey Taylor, Correias lawyer Brad Smith said Dec. 7 in closing arguments. Mr. Correia is entitled to an acquittal on both counts of the indictment.

Hunter's lawyer, Gloria Ng, said on Dec. 8 that there is no evidence connecting her client to firearms, nor evidence linking him to McFarlane and Taylor, and no evidence linking him to a site where clothes allegedly used in the killings were burned.

The evidence heard by the court establishes Mr. Hunters innocence, Ng said.

In May 2010, RCMP was called to a shooting at a rural residence off Highway 3/93 and found a woman dead and a man with severe injuries, of which he later died.

At the time, RCMP said it was a targeted incident but that the dead were not the intended victims. The Crown's theory is that the men went to a home near the East Kootenay city to kill a gang associate, Doug Mahon, who had vacated the property months earlier.

The court heard McFarlanes sister had a masked man point a gun to her head when she went to the house. After the gunman and an accomplice ran off, Lisa MacFarlane found her sister and Taylor.

After a years-long investigation, Correia and Hunter were arrested separately in Alberta in 2018.

However, as defense lawyers began final arguments in the long-running case, they told the judge the evidence was insufficient to warrant a conviction.

Organized crime groups

The court has heard the accused were connected with organized drug trafficking in the Cranbrook area.

However, Smith told the court the first-degree charge is inappropriate as there's scant evidence to suggest his client was part of an organized crime group or that an organized crime group had given the orders for the killings.

Moreover, Smith said, he said a person couldnt be linked to a criminal organization just because you have some friends of a bad element.

And, he said, Correia did not dispute he knew people in a criminal organization in Cranbrook.

Not every criminal who does business with a criminal organization ... necessarily becomes part of it, Smith said.

Indeed, both Smith and Ng said video evidence of the men being in a bar proves nothing.

Seeing people at bars, restaurants or sporting events is not probative of a criminal organization, Smith said. What is the evidence that the death of those people was for the benefit of or at the direction of a criminal organization?

Ng said Hunter was seen on the video near a man allegedly involved in one of the crime groups for four seconds. She said there is no evidence Hunter was discussing a crime group Mahon was involved with.

Unreliable witnesses

During the trial, prosecutor Peter Favell urged the judge to accept evidence of one witness  Z  whose name is protected by court order and who was allegedly in the vehicle that picked up Correia and Hunter.

Witnesses saw the men in blood-spattered overalls near the killing site, Favell said. He told the court that alleged accomplices who got immunity agreements were with them when their clothes  including leather gloves and balaclavas  were burned with gasoline Hunter allegedly fetched from a vehicle.

Ng said none of the witnesses who said they saw the pair on the highway near the homicide scene recalled seeing blood-spattered clothing, nor was any blood found in a vehicle supposedly used in the escape.

Favell also told the court that Correia had connections to two handguns used, including one which had his DNA on it. One of the weapons on the crime scene also had DNA of other members of the crime group he was associated with, Favell said.

The group passed weapons around, Favell said.

And, Favell said, Hunters cellphone records indicate he was in the vicinity of the burn site when that occurred.

But, said Ng, a woman has testified Hunter was with her at the time of the killings, that phone records indicate he was doing a drug transaction in Cranbrook at the time.

Ng also told the court that some of the alleged accomplices were unsavoury witnesses. As such, she said their evidence should be disregarded as unreliable, inconsistent and at times contradictory. And while one officer had identified Hunter as being at the scene of an earlier Cranbrook shooting, he had been incarcerated in Kamloops Regional Correctional Centre at the time, she noted.
Photo: The Canadian Press President Joe Biden greets Elizabeth Dole as people gather to pay respects to her late husband, former Sen. Bob Dole.

Bob Dole lay in state Thursday at the U.S. Capitol, as the president and others gathered to pay tribute to a giant of our history who served the country in war and in politics with pragmatism, self-deprecating wit and a bygone era's sense of common civility and compromise.

President Joe Biden, a longtime friend, said Dole, the former Republican senator, presidential contender and World War II veteran, should have the final word as he read from his colleague of 25 years' own plea for the country to come together and find common ground.

Truth of the matter is, as divided as we are, the only way forward for democracy is unity  consensus -- the only way, Biden told those gathered. We may follow his wisdom and his timeless truth and reach consensus on the basic fundamental principles we all agree on.

The morning ceremony brought about 100 invited guests and congressional leaders as Dole's casket, draped with the American flag, sat under the dome. Dole, who served nearly 36 years in Congress, died Sunday at the age of 98.

Biden said Dole belongs here, in this place, this temple to liberty and temple to possibility. The president said of Dole: He, too, was a giant of our history.

The service will be the first of several in Washington commemorating Doles life and legacy. Thursdays event at the Capitol and Friday's funeral at the Washington National Cathedral are closed to the public. But Dole's funeral will be livestreamed at the World War II Memorial on the National Mall, and his motorcade is expected to stop by later at an event with actor Tom Hanks honoring his life and military service before the casket travels to his Kansas hometown and the state capital.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Dole was being honored among the pantheon of patriots  his casket placed atop the Lincoln catafalque that has been used since 1865.

Pelosi kissed the hand of Dole's wife, Elizabeth Dole, and his daughter, Robin, who were seated near Biden, before telling those gathered that Dole's principled leadership was long respected on both sides of the aisle, both sides of the Capitol.

Black draperies hung on doorways under the Capitol dome in preparation for the service. About 100 chairs were set up, socially distanced for COVID-19 protocols. A lectern was positioned in a way that the statue of another Kansas stateman, Dwight Eisenhower, would be seen in the background behind the day's speakers.

Elizabeth Dole appeared to cry as she approached the casket and reached out her hand.

Sen. Mitch McConnell, now the longest-serving Republican Senate leader, said earlier that Dole idolized Eisenhower, calling the former president and general a hero who embodied the finest qualities of the American people.

We can say with certainty that Eisenhower isnt the only Kansan who meets those standards, McConnell said in a speech earlier this week.

McConnell had raised concerns that an event planner for the memorial service, Tim Unes, had been subpoenaed by the House committee investigating the deadly Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol about his role planning that day for Donald Trump, the former president, according to a person granted anonymity to discuss the private conversation. Trump had urged his followers to head to the Capitol to fight the certification of Biden's election victory.

Dole family spokesperson Steve Schwab said in a statement Thursday that Unes' role had been terminated.

Schwab said Unes, a former Dole campaign staffer, had volunteered his time to serve on the advance team for this weeks memorial events. Schwab said Elizabeth Dole, was previously unaware of Unes' participation and once he made her aware she "terminated his volunteer role.

Born a child of the Dust Bowl in Russell, Kansas, Bob Dole suffered paralyzing and near-fatal wounds after being shot in World War II that sent him home with a severely damaged right arm that he could not use to shake hands. Instead, Dole held a pen in it and reached out with his left as a way to put greeters at ease.

After earning a law degree, he worked as county attorney and served as a Kansas state legislator before running for Congress in 1960, joining the House for eight years then going on to win the Senate seat. He was the GOP's presidential nominee in 1996, his third and final campaign for president  a race he never won.

Doles quick wit was on display after losing the presidential contest to incumbent Democrat Bill Clinton, who awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom days before the 1997 inauguration.

McConnell said when it was time for Doles remarks, he stood at the podium and began: I, Robert J. Dole  do solemnly swear  oh, sorry, wrong speech!

But that humor was rarely seen on the campaign trail or in his public pronouncements, where it could have helped him win more votes.

Instead, Dole was seen as a GOP hatchet man, a mentee of Richard Nixon and chairman of the Republican National Committee during the Watergate era. He went on to become the sharp-tongued vice presidential running mate to Gerald Ford, another lost race.

But it was Dole's long career in the Senate where he grew to see the value of reaching across the aisle to Democrats and secured his more lasting achievements  most notably the Americans with Disabilities Act that to this day ensures a level of accessibility as a civil right.

At times, Dole bucked his own party, particularly on a landmark tax bill, and helped create the Martin Luther King Jr. federal holiday.

The former senator announced in February 2021 a diagnosis of stage 4 lung cancer. Biden visited Dole at his home at the Watergate complex.

A few hours before the memorial was set to begin, Capitol Police locked down part of the Capitol complex after a staffer walked into an office building with a gun in his bag. The man was arrested on a charge of carrying a pistol without a license.
Photo: The Canadian Press Privacy Commissioner Daniel Therrien.

The federal privacy watchdog is warning Canadians about the growing threat of surveillance capitalism  the use of personal information by large corporations.

In his annual report tabled Thursday in Parliament, privacy commissioner Daniel Therrien said state surveillance  a major concern after the 9/11 terrorist attacks  has been reined in somewhat in recent years.

Meanwhile, personal data has emerged as a highly valuable asset and no one has leveraged it better than the tech giants behind web searches and social media accounts, he said.

"Today, the privacy conversation is dominated by the growing power of tech giants like Facebook and Google, which seem to know more about us than we know about ourselves," the report said. "Terms like surveillance capitalism and the surveillance economy have become part of the dialogue."

The risks of surveillance capitalism were on full display in the Cambridge Analytica scandal, now the subject of proceedings in Federal Court because his office did not have the power to order Facebook to comply with its recommendations, Therrien said.

In addition, the law did not allow the commissioner to levy financial penalties to dissuade this kind of corporate behaviour.

Therrien, in his last year as privacy commissioner, is encouraging the federal government to make several improvements to planned legislation on private-sector data-handling practices when it is reintroduced in coming weeks.

Artificial intelligence, the newest frontier of surveillance capitalism, has immense promise in addressing some of today's most pressing issues, but must be implemented in ways that respect privacy, equality and other human rights, Therrien cautioned.

"Our offices investigation of Clearview AI's use of facial recognition technology was an example of where commercial AI deployment fell significantly short of privacy laws."

The commissioner found Clearview AI violated the private-sector privacy law by creating a databank of billions of images scraped from the internet without consent to fuel its commercial facial recognition software.

Digital technologies like AI, which rely on the collection and analysis of personal data, are at the heart of the fourth industrial revolution and are key to socio-economic development, the report said. "However, they pose major risks to rights and values."

To draw value from data, the law should accommodate new, unforeseen, but responsible uses of information for the public good, the report added. But the additional flexibility should come within a rights-based framework, given frequent violations of human rights.

Therrien highlighted another trend  the increase in public-private partnerships and the use of corporate expertise to assist state organizations, for instance the RCMP's association with Clearview AI.

Privacy issues arising from public-private partnerships were also evident in a number of government-led pandemic initiatives involving digital technologies in the last year, the report added. "These issues underscored the need for more consistency across the public and private sector laws."
Photo: Glacier Media

B.C.s horrendous floods have crushed sections of highways, buckled supply chains and wiped out portions of communities. As the province sets about rebuilding  an endeavour that will require a surge in available labour  costs are likely to exceed $7.5 billion, according to an early estimate from the Bank of Montreal.

BMO senior economist Robert Kavcic points to Calgarys rebuild following extensive 2013 flooding as a jumping off-point for B.C. The city and surrounding region faced $5 billion in damages, and another $2.5 billion in recovery and capital investments.

This episode is likely bigger and the impact wider because of how it is choking off supply lines, he said in a Nov. 19 note.

Officials have been reluctant to provide dollar estimates for the damage, but with B.C. embarking on an unprecedented rebuilding effort, the ensuing demand for labour further highlights ongoing strains within the sector.

We had already been predicting a significant labour shortage in B.C. given the number of projects that are underway, and the amount of attrition and retirements coming from our industry, said Chris Atchison, president of the BC Construction Association.

Theres absolutely no question that the resulting repair and rebuild that will be required as a result of the recent devastating events throughout the province is just going to exacerbate that workforce shortage.

A spring forecast from BuildForce Canada, an industry group made up of employers and unions, estimates B.C.s construction sector will need to recruit about 60,000 workers over the coming decade to meet demand.

BC Building Trades executive director Brynn Bourke, whose organization represents 35,000 unionized construction workers, said the industry is still assessing the full extent of damage as the province seeks to repair parts of B.C.s highway networks.

Its an incredibly mobile workforce, and you cant staff to peak [capacity] all the time because youll have a whole bunch of people who arent working when you have a slump, she said.

You have to try to crew up as much as you possibly can, recruit new entrants into your system, reach into underrepresented groups, build relationships, identify new pathways for new Canadians, Indigenous workers and women to come into the trades.

But you also need mobility levers so that you can move people where the work is to deal with the peaks and valleys that happen in construction.

It remains unclear just how many tradespeople will be required or to what extent the industry will be tapping workers from other provinces or countries.

But Atchison said hes confident the industry would not be using the floods as an excuse to delay other projects.

Bourke said given the current supply chain disruptions, access to labour and materials will need to be watched closely when considering the potential costs of the rebuilding.

She said most apprentices are in their mid-20s before they embark on their career path, leaving the door open for industry to recruit many more British Columbians at a much earlier age to fill in labour demand in the coming years.

For a long, long time we just made an assumption that folks around Grade 10 would decide that they wanted to be a plumber or an electrician or an operating engineer and that high school career counsellors would guide them the rest of the way, Bourke said.

That hasnt necessarily been the case, and Bourke said industry has been undergoing a reassessment over the competencies required for specific trades.

For an operating engineer, maybe you dont need all of Calculus 11. What you need to know is load calculation so that you can operate a piece of heavy equipment. Lets look at what that looks like. Lets create preparatory guides, she said.

Lets give people an assessment tool and help to bridge their individualized gaps to make them ready to start a career in the trades.

Wayne Hand, dean of the School of Construction and the Environment at the British Columbia Institute of Technology, said his school is in the process of submitting a proposal to the province for an expanded trade technology complex at its Burnaby campus.

Its badly needed for the future needs of delivering more trades in the province, he said. Our capacity here in a lot of cases is getting pretty close to [the] limit. Physically, were obviously exploring  because of the pandemic  the opportunity for increasing capacity for blended learning.

He said this strategy comes with its own limitations as many people studying the trades will require hands-on learning.

Meanwhile, BuildForces report concluded demand for B.C. construction labour is expected to be partly met by the addition of about 15,500 new workers under the age of 30 from the local population in the coming years.

But unless local recruitment is increased, industry will need to draw in an additional 11,331 workers by the end of the decade from other industries or neighbouring provinces to keep pace with construction demands, the report stated.

Atchison said the industry still needs to ensure there are enough seats available within educational institutes to provide training and more efforts must be made to encourage youth and underrepresented groups within the province to consider careers in construction. The industry must also further partner with Ottawa and Victoria to bring in the needed talent from overseas through such initiatives as the Provincial Nominee Program.

We need to continue to shift our culture as industry leaders to make sure all the work that were doing on the front end to attract this new influx of skilled workers and construction workers  is a complete circle, that people find success and longevity in the construction industry in British Columbia, he said.
The National Association of Attorneys General, the nonpartisan national forum for Americas state and territory attorneys general, presented Tennessee Attorney General Herbert H. Slatery III with the Kelley-Wyman Award on Tuesday in Washington, DC.



The Kelley-Wyman Award is NAAGs most prestigious honor given annually to the attorney general who has done the most to advance the objectives of the Association. A bipartisan panel of attorneys general selects the recipient of the award annually.



In 2021, General Slatery led nationwide, bipartisan coalitions of attorneys general resulting in an historic $26 billion opioids settlement announced in July 2021, and is one of several attorneys general leading actions against tech platforms like Google and Facebook.



He also serves as Treasurer for the NAAG Mission Foundation and co-chair of NAAGs Consumer Protection Committee with North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein. General Slatery previously served as chair of the Southern Region of Attorneys General, which stretches from Texas to Virginia.



Im honored to receive this award from my colleagues, and it was a complete surprise, said General Slatery. If youre looking for bipartisan, effective cooperation on issues that affect Americans across the country, its happening at the state level among attorneys general. Im proud of that. We work together to solve problems common to our states, together being the key word. It is no secret an award at this level is a way of recognizing not just one person but a team of dedicated, hardworking attorneys and staff. We have that in Tennessee, and it is my honor to work with them. They make me look a lot better than I really deserve.



Originally called the Wyman Memorial Award, it was renamed the Kelley-Wyman Award in recognition of the outstanding service and contributions of Frank Kelley, who served as attorney general of Michigan from January 1962 to January 1999. The award was instituted as a gift, made by former New Hampshire Attorney General Louis Wyman, in memory of his father.



The only other Tennessee Attorney General to receive this award is Charles W. Burson in 1993.
Antonio Sparks, 22, was killed, and a woman, 42, was injured in a shooting Monday night on Cannon Avenue.

At approximately 11:48 p.m., Chattanooga Police were advised by dispatch that two people had arrived at local hospitals by private vehicle with gunshot wounds.

Upon arrival, officers located a woman suffering from a non-life threatening gunshot wound and a man suffering from a life-threatening gunshot wound.

Officers learned that the shooting may have occurred in the 2600 block of Cannon Avenue. They responded to that area and subsequently located and secured the crime scene. They responded to that area and subsequently located and secured the crime scene. Investigators with the Violent Crimes Unit responded to conduct an investigation.

Investigators learned that the incident began when parties fired numerous rounds into a residence at the above location. The woman inside the residence was struck by the gunfire.

A man inside the same residence exited the residence and fired at the individuals who were responsible for the original gunfire. Sparks was struck in the exchange of gunfire and later pronounced deceased at a local hospital.

Due to several parties firing numerous rounds and a large crime scene, investigators are still actively investigating the incident and trying to determine the exact actions of all those involved.

After reviewing the available information and evidence, as well as consulting with the District Attorney's Office, investigators will not be charging anyone in the homicide at this time. However, this case remains open and active.
The election office used the current redistricting as an opportunity to slim down from 135 to 88 precincts, Election Administrator Scott Allen said.

However, he said the office will keep all the current polling places, plus add some more.

Some of the prior precincts had few voters, but it was necessary to man the polling site.

Mr. Allen said a few precincts will be added after the state completes its redistricting in cases where new senatorial boundaries result in precinct splits. The state is expected to complete its process in late January or early February.

He also said the election office has been preparing for Dec. 20 at 8 a.m. when candidates for next year's wide range of county elections can first pick up papers. The deadline for qualifying is Feb. 17.

The County Commission opted to move from nine districts to 11, and there will be a similar increase in seats on the school board. Officials said special cards will be sent to all affected voters and there will be extensive publicity about the changes.

The election office recently added two new early voting locations. One will be in Soddy Daisy and the Soddy Daisy Community Center on Depot Street. Another will be at the Highway 58 Volunteer Fire Department training center off Snow Hill Road.

Chairman Mike Walden said those were selected based on an aim to have early voting for everyone with a driving time of no more than 15 minutes. Those are two of the high growth areas of the county.

The office for many years has an early voting at the election office just off Amnicola Highway, in Hixson and in Brainerd. Later, an early voting site was added in Collegedale.

Mr. Walden said there are plans to add another early voting location for residents in the south part of the county, including Lookout Valley, Lookout Mountain, St. Elmo and Alton Park.

Members of the Hamilton County Voters Coalition said they want that site to be at the Southside Recreation Center rather than the John A. Patten Center in Lookout Valley. They said Lookout Valley is a "geographically isolated" part of the county and difficult to reach for citizens who depend on public transit.

The commission is to make a decision on that issue at the next meeting on Jan. 12 at 9 a.m.

Early voting starts April 13.

The Hamilton County Voters Coalition sent this letter to members of the election panel:

As an introduction, The Hamilton County Voters Coalition is a nonpartisan group of voting rights advocates and local organizations who are interested in promoting civic engagement through voter education, voter registration, and voter participation.

It has been brought to our attention that the Hamilton County Election Commission will be considering for a vote on December 9, 2021, the following two options for the new District 11 polling site: 1.) John A. Patten Recreation Center in Lookout Valley or 2.) Southside Recreation Center located in Alton Park.

Members of the Hamilton County Voters Coalition have been involved in the Hamilton County redistricting process from the beginning. In looking at the two options being proposed for the polling site for the new District 11 voters, a concern was raised regarding the feasibility and the accessibility of the polling site located at John A. Patten Recreation Center in Lookout Valley for the following reasons:

1.) The Southside Recreation Center is generally central to all District 11 communities, while Lookout Valley is geographically isolated from the rest of the county. The Southside Recreation Center can serve the voters in district four, district five, and district eight. In contrast, the John A Patten Recreation Center will primarily serve the voters of only district 11 in Lookout Valley is a geographically restricted area. St. Elmo, Lookout Mountain, and Alton park areas contain roughly 4,000 more active voters than the Lookout Valley area.

Per the interim Elections Administrators remarks at the November 23 County Commission meeting, the community breakdown is as follows: ? Lookout Valley - 6,000-7,000 active voters ? St. Elmo & Lookout Mountain - 8,000-9,000 active voters ? Alton Park - 2,000 active voters

By putting the new early voting location at the Southside Recreation Center, this polling location will better serve the combined population of St. Elmo, Lookout Mountain, and Alton Park (11,00 active voters) rather than only the 7,000 active voters of the Lookout Valley neighborhood. 2.) Public transportation routes do not serve the Lookout Valley area, making this an early voting polling location inaccessible for Hamilton County voters who rely on public transportation. If a voter from Alton Park wishes to vote early at the closest early voting site on Amnicola Highway, it could be up to an hour bus ride or a two-hour walk. The Southside Recreation Center is also within walking distance of Alton Park and St. Elmo communities.

Based on the above reasons, The Hamilton County Voters Coalition would like to advocate for the selection of the Southside Recreation Center as the new polling location for District 11. In the interest of transparency, public participation, and clarity, will the Hamilton County Election Commission allow public comments at the December 9, 2021, Meeting before the votes on the designated new sites for early and Election Day voting?
The Governors Council for Judicial Appointments met Thursday to consider nine applicants for the Tennessee Supreme Court vacancy. After holding a public hearing and conducting public interviews, the Council selected the following applicants:

Sarah Campbell

Kristi M. Davis

William Neal McBrayer

The Council has forwarded these three names to Governor Bill Lee for his consideration.

The vacancy was created by the passing of Justice Cornelia A. Clark on Sept. 24.
The County School Board on Thursday night chose local candidate Dr. Justin Robertson as the new school superintendent.

He had been serving as deputy superintendent and has had a long career in the county schools.

The vote was 7-2 with Jenny Hill and Karitsa Mosley Jones favoring other candidates.

Dr. Robertson began his career with Hamilton County Schools in 2010 as the principal at Brown Middle School. Prior to his role as chief operations officer, Dr. Robertson worked in curriculum and instruction as chief schools officer and assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, gaining knowledge of the community and inner workings of both the academic and operational needs of schools in Hamilton County.

Dr. Robertson said, I am deeply grateful that the board of education has faith in my ability to lead Hamilton County Schools and I am thankful for the leadership of Dr. Towns during this transition. My family returned home to this incredible community 13 years ago and we are humbled by this opportunity.

As both a parent of a Hamilton County Schools student and a leader, I have seen our community come together time and again to strengthen our schools and give each and every student a shot a success. We have a strong foundation to build upon and a great deal of work ahead of us. Im confident that working together, we will continue to propel this district to even greater heights. I am excited to hit the ground running in this new role.

Dr. Robertson holds degrees from Union University and Lipscomb University. He officially begins the role of Superintendent on January 1, 2022.

There were nine applicants. Other finalists who came to Chattanooga for in-person interviews were Dr. Christopher Bernier, chief of staff of schools in Clark County, Nevada; and Dr. Jermaine Dawson, chief academic officer for Birmingham City Schools.

The low-budget search was led by Buffkin Baker consultants - the same group that was involved in the last search in which Dr. Bryan Johnson was chosen. Dr. Johnson announced prior to this school year that he was going into private business with a local trucking firm.

The cost was $2,000 each for analysis of the five finalists. The only other cost was for travel for the finalists, it was stated.

Joe Smith called for an immediate vote, but Ms. Mosley Jones said each board member should make public their thoughts on the three finalists.

She said she had no criticism for Dr. Robertson, but she favored Dr. Dawson. She said she felt it was not a fair and transparent process and she was embarrassed to be part of it.

Several board members said Dr. Robertson provided needed stability for the schools and had an excellent reputation.

Mr. Smith said principals were overwhelmingly in favor of Dr. Robertson. "He's the guy in my opinion."

James Walker said he was "100 percent confident in voting for Dr. Robertson."

Chairman Tucker McClendon said there were three very qualified candidates, but he said he had worked very closely with Dr. Robertson and was supporting him. He said, Dr. Robertson brings a wealth of experience to the role as a longtime educator and leader in our school district. His depth of knowledge will serve our families and community well, as he leads the work of continuing our forward momentum.
Amy Duggar King hopes justice is served in the Josh Duggar trial.

Josh, 33, is currently on trial in federal court in Arkansas on two counts of receiving and possessing child pornography. Jury deliberations in the case began Dec. 8.

As members of the public and the Duggar family wait for a verdict, Amy is sharing her thoughts on social media. And shes making it clear exactly where she stands.

Amy Duggar speaks out about the Duggar family

Amy Duggar King | Peter Kramer/NBC/NBC Newswire/NBCUniversal via Getty Images

RELATED: Amy Duggar King Shops for Legal Advice After Counting On Cancellation News

Joshs cousin Amy occasionally appeared on the familys canceled TLC series 19 Kids and Counting. The 35-year-old often weighs in on issues related to her controversial extended family. She has also spoken out against some of her cousins.

Amy called out Justin Duggar for his awkward thumbs-up photo outside the Fayetteville, Ark. courthouse on Dec. 2. Where is the respect? she asked in a tweet.

In a recent Instagram update, she said she and her mother Deanna Duggar had been told a completely different story about previous molestation allegations against Josh. She has also spoken on social media about trying to get out of a non-disclosure agreement she signed. That would presumably allow her to speak more freely about her famous family.

Amy Duggar urges prayer ahead of Josh Duggar verdict

While the NDA seems to prevent Amy from speaking in more detail about the rest of the Duggar family, she is still sharing her opinions on Joshs trial. In an Instagram Story shared on Dec. 8, she urged people to keep the victims of the child sexual abuse material Josh allegedly downloaded in mind.

Stop & PRAY today that there is Justice for the CHILDREN, she wrote.

She also replied to a tweet from her cousin Jill Duggars husband Derick Dillard. Praying as well, she wrote. Lord may justice be served ice cold.

Derick Dillard spoke out about Josh Duggar on Twitter

RELATED: Josh Duggar Trial: Derick Dillard Shows Support For Anna Duggar  Gets Completely Ignored By Austin Forsyth

Amy is not the only member of the extended Duggar family who has spoken out about Josh. Though Derick remained quiet on social media throughout most of the trial, he took to Twitter on Tuesday morning to share a message.

Praying for justice this morning, he wrote. Dericks wife Jill has identified herself as one of the girls Josh molested when he was a teenager. The couple is now estranged from some members of her family.

While a number of members of the Duggar family have been in attendance at the week-long trial, they have mostly avoided speaking to the media. But on Dec. 7 Joshs father Jim Bob Duggar gave a brief statement to KNWA.

We just want the truth to come out and we appreciate your prayers for our family, he said (via Twitter).

How to get help: If you or someone you know has been sexually abused, text HOME to the Crisis Text Line at 741741 for free and confidential support.

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Josh Duggar is guilty of receiving and possessing child pornography, a jury found on Dec. 9. Duggar was arrested in April 2021 after authorities found that a computer at Duggars used car lot was being used to share material depicting child sexual abuse.

Duggar previously appeared on his familys TLC reality series 19 Kids and Counting. He faces up to 20 years in prison and $250,000 in fines on each count.

Anna Duggar, Jim Bob Duggar silent after Josh Duggars trial ends in guilty verdict

RELATED: Josh Duggar Trial: The 5 Most Shocking Revelations From Week 1

Various members of the Duggar family were present at the Fayetteville, Ark., federal courthouse throughout the trial, which began on Nov. 30. His wife Anna Duggar and father Jim Bob Duggar were both in the courtroom when the verdict was read on Thursday, KNWA reports.

So far, neither Anna nor Jim Bob  who is currently running for Arkansas state senate  has made a public statement about Josh Duggars conviction. Cameras from 5News (via YouTube) captured some members of the family as they left court following the verdict, but they did not speak to reporters.

In addition to Anna and Jim Bob, Josh Duggars brother Justin Duggar and his wife Claire Spivey were also seen leaving court. Justin wore a mask and did not make eye contact with cameras. It was a stark contrast to his demeanor when he exited the building during the first week of trial and gave a much-criticized thumbs-up sign.

Showbiz Cheat Sheet reached out to Jim Bob Duggar via his campaign website for a statement on the verdict. We did not hear back by the time of publication.

Josh Duggar verdict proves fame does not put you above the law, U.S. Attorney says

Josh Duggar after his arrest on April 29, 2021 | Washington County Sheriffs Office via Getty Images

RELATED: Counting On Dad Jim Bob Duggar Blasts Cancel Culture, Wont Shrink Away From Politics Because of Josh Duggar Trial

Duggar, who was free on bond during the trial, was taken into custody following the verdict. Sentencing will take place in about four months. His lawyers said they plan to appeal. According to KNWA, Duggar appeared pale and clammy as he was handcuffed. As left the courtroom, he spoke briefly to Anna.

In a post-trial press conference, U.S. Attorney David Clay Fowlkes stressed that the case was critical in his offices efforts to stop child abuse. He also said that Duggars reality TV fame did not shield him from the consequences of his actions.

This case was a milestone for our efforts to combat child pornography and child abuse in our district, he said (5News via YouTube). It first and foremost shows that no person is above the law, regardless of their status in society, regardless of their wealth, regardless of their fame. This case shows that no person is above the law.

Jill Duggars husband Derick Dillard speaks out after verdict

One member of the extended Duggar family who has spoken about the Josh Duggar verdict is his brother-in-law Derick Dillard. Derick is married to Duggars younger sister Jill Duggar. Jill has publicly identified herself as one of several girls Duggar molested when he was a teen. (No charges were ever filed as a result of those allegations.)

We just wanted to, among other things, see the facts for ourselves, he told People magazine on Dec. 9. America is the best country to get justice.

How to get help: If you or someone you know has been sexually abused, text HOME to the Crisis Text Line at 741741 for free and confidential support.

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ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS

Jed Duggar is on the witness list in Josh Duggars child pornography trial.

Fans of the Duggar family blasted the younger Duggar for trying to distract fans from his brothers trial.

Amid all the drama Joshs case was recently sent to the jury to deliberate.

Josh Duggar | Kris Connor/Getty Images

Josh Duggar is currently on trial for allegedly receiving and possessing child sexual abuse material. But most of the members of his famous family appear to be living life as if the former 19 Kids & Counting star isnt looking at possible decades in prison. A week into the trial, Joshs brother Jed Duggar came under fire when he was accused of trying to distract fans.

UPDATE: Josh Duggar has been found guilty on both charges and will be sentenced in four months. For each count Duggar faces up to 20 years in prison and fines up to $250,000.

The potential witness list in Josh Duggars trial included his brother and sister

When Joshs trial began on the first of December, it was revealed that Joshs brother Jed and his sister Jill were on the list of potential witnesses. However, it wasnt clear if they were slated to testify for the prosecution or the defense.

RELATED: Josh Duggar Trial: The Prosecution Rips Into an Expert for the Defense Who Claimed Josh Is Actually the Victim

Counting On fans may never know whose side Jed and Jill were on, though. Both sides have made their closing arguments and the jury is now in deliberation. And neither Jed nor Jill ended up testifying.

Jed Duggar posts happy engagement photos on social media

Jed never made it to the courtroom for his brothers trial. But on Monday, December 6, he did find time to post some throwback pics on Instagram from the day he proposed to his wife Katey. The couple tied the knot in April 2021 and announced this past fall that they were expecting their first child.

Looking back on our romantic winter proposal on Valentines Day! It was -13F and snowing! She was SO surprised!!  , Jed wrote in the caption.

While many of Jeds 181K followers complimented the beautiful photos of the couple, there were some who pointed out that the timing of his happy post wasnt the best.

Jed Duggar accused of trying to distract fans during Josh Duggars trial

The comments section of Jeds post was sprinkled with criticism of the timing, as pointed out by The Ashley. One person wrote, Damage control anyone? Your brother is in court for possession of CSAM and all you can do is talk about your engagement as if nothing is happening?

A second wrote, Im sure your engagement was wonderful, but this seems like deflection or damage control.

RELATED: Josh Duggar Trial: Derick Dillard Shows Support For Anna Duggar  Gets Completely Ignored By Austin Forsyth

Another added, Read the room Jed!!!!! Your (sic) supporting your sick in the head brother and a jury is having to listen to the sick things he was watching and your (sic) over here reminiscing about your proposal good lord.

Jill Dillard and Jessa Seewald show their support for Jed Duggar

Jed did get two supportive comments from his sisters Jill and Jessa. Jill said the pics were gorgeous, while Jessa said the occasion was dreamy.

Jed also received a number of comments from Counting On fans who wished the engagement had been televised on TLC (the network canceled the series after Joshs arrest). One fan said they understood why Jed was reminiscing about such a happy time.

Aww, what a special memory!! I totally understand why youd want to reminisce on this when youve got enough stress going on right now. I feel for you! These thoughts might be the only things keeping you sane/going. Praying for you all!, the fan wrote.

The jury is deliberating in Josh Duggars trial

After hearing more than a week of testimony from witnesses for both the prosecution and defense, the jury in Josh Duggars trial is now deliberating on their verdict.

The former reality star and father of seven has been accused of downloading files depicting child sex abuse in May of 2019 on the computer at his workplace. Prosecutors believe Duggar had more than 200 explicit images of children on the computer at his now-shuttered Arkansas used car lot.

RELATED: Josh Duggar Trial: Former Duggar Family Friend Reveals Disturbing Information About His Assault on 5-year-old Joy-Anna Duggar

If convicted, Duggar could be sentenced to up to 40 years in prison.

Showbiz Cheat Sheet will continue to follow this story as it develops.
Josh Duggars trial began at the end of November 2021. In April 2021, federal agents arrested Josh on suspicion of receiving and possessing child sexual abuse material in 2019. Now, the jurys finally come to a decision regarding the case on Dec. 9, 2021. The verdict on Josh Duggars case states hes found guilty  and hell now undergo mandatory detention as a result.

Josh Duggar verdict: Josh Duggar is found guilty of possessing and receiving child sexual abuse material

Josh Duggar | Washington County Sheriffs Office via Getty Images

On Dec. 9, 2021, The Sun reported the verdict on Josh Duggars trial. The jury found Josh Duggar guilty on both counts of possessing and receiving child sexual abuse material. The jury began their deliberations on Dec. 8 and continued on into the morning of Dec. 9 before they determined the verdict.

A number of Duggar family members arrived on various days of the case to witness the trial. Josh Duggars wife, Anna Duggar, remained by his side through the whole ordeal. Jim Bob Duggar attended the trial again on Dec. 9, along with Justin Duggar and his wife, Claire Spivey. Neither Justin nor Jim Bob provided a comment about the guilty verdict to the press.

It was expected that Jed Duggar or Jill Duggar may testify in the trial, as they were placed on the potential witness list early in the trial. They did not end up testifying either for the defense or the prosecution, though. Jill Duggar attended one day of the trial, and Derick Dillard appeared every day in court except for Dec. 9.

The judge ordered a mandatory detention  heres what that means

#JoshDuggar appeared 'teary-eyed' as the guilty verdict was read, told wife #AnnaDuggar he 'loved' her while being hauled off to jail. https://t.co/yM2UdKnx2m  OK! Magazine USA (@OKMagazine) December 9, 2021

After Josh Duggars verdict was read at the trial on Dec. 9, 2021, The Sun reports the judge ordered a mandatory detention.

Mr. Duggar 100% has been compliant awaiting trial, the judge noted. I appreciate that and I wanted to acknowledge that. However, because of the guilty offenses, he must be detained regardless of flight risk, so there will be a mandatory detention. The marshalls will set that up.

The prosecution reportedly agreed with the decision to have a mandatory detention, though the defense wanted to fight it. The judge noted the detention will stay in place despite the defenses feelings.

Due to the mandatory detention, we imagine Anna Duggar will not be able to freely see Josh at the Reber household like she was able to do prior to the trial. Additionally, its unclear whether Josh can still see his children with Anna present. We expect stricter policies will be in place with Josh detained.

Whats next for Josh Duggar after the guilty charges?

"19 Kids and Counting" star Josh Duggar convicted of child porn charges https://t.co/GqLkphXgi2  ABC 10News San Diego (@10News) December 9, 2021

With Josh Duggars guilty verdict after the trial, what happens now? The Sun reports the judge said they wont have an answer regarding sentencing for another four months. It seems Josh will remain in mandatory detention while he awaits his sentence.

None of the Duggar family members have spoken out about Josh Duggars trial results just yet. Anna Duggar once posted frequently to social media, but she remained offline after Joshs initial arrest and during the trial.

Jim Bob Duggar is currently still running for a seat in the Arkansas State Senate. It remains unclear if the trial will impact his political career moving forward.

How to get help: If you or someone you know has been sexually abused, text HOME to the Crisis Text Line at 741741 for free and confidential support.

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RELATED: Josh Duggars Trial: How Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar Separated the Boy and Girl Bedrooms After the Molestation Scandal
Paris Hilton heads to Michigan in the latest episode of her Peacock reality series. In Paris in Love Season 1 Episode 5: The Michigan Life, Paris and her fiance Carter Reum travel to the Midwest for the wedding of Carters cousin. While Paris has flashbacks to The Simple Life Carter reflects on happy memories. At the same time, the stress of wedding planning begins to take a toll.

[Spoiler alert: This article contains spoilers from Paris in Love Season 1 Episode 5: The Michigan Life]

Paris in Love Season 1 Episode 5 recap: Paris doesnt like when Carter grills her on wedding planning

Paris Hilton | Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

After arriving in Traverse City, Mich., Carter talks to his family about the wedding planning process. In the episode that began streaming on Dec. 9, according to Peacock, he asks his cousin if planning his nuptials brought him and his soon-to-be-wife closer.

Then Carter underscores just how far behind he and Paris are on wedding planning. He asks a recently engaged relative to compare notes on where they are in the planning process. As they go through the list Carter highlights everything he and Paris havent done yet.

Paris doesnt like where Carters taken the conversation and she says so in a solo interview. I feel like Carter is just trying to put me on the spot because he wants me to start planning the wedding more, she said. But this isnt a competition and I dont like him calling me out in front of his family.

Paris gets upset when her mom organizes her house while shes in Michigan

Are we the drama? We're on #ParisInLove and caught smack dab in the middle of a phone conversation with icons @ParisHilton and @KathyHilton. Were not worthy. pic.twitter.com/qfBEaPUhVh  Daily Harvest (@DlyHarvest) December 7, 2021

Prior to her five-day trip to Mich., Paris told her mom, Kathy Hilton, shed rather she only went through her things with her there. But Kathy brings in a team of professional organizers to clear out Pariss books  books she wants  to make room for other things. The catch? Paris isnt home.

Pariss assistant alerts her of whats going on. Paris, who is fishing on a dock, immediately calls her mom. After getting no answer she contacts her moms assistant who, in turn, tells her mom its probably best she stops now.

Kathy feels Paris will be less stressed about the wedding if her house isnt in disarray. Meanwhile, Paris thinks its her moms way of hanging on before she gets married. Their feelings aside, Pariss bookshelf is cleared off, and in their place are her glitzy collectibles.

Paris doesnt want to spend much time in Michigan but Carter does

Paris and her now-husband dont feel the same way about Traverse City. Carter wants their future kids to spend summers there just like he did. As for Paris, shed rather spend her summers in places such as the Hamptons, Malibu, Calif., or Europe.

Following a DJ set from Paris, it becomes clear to her the stress of their own nuptials is getting to both her and Carter. As Paris says, theyre arguing which theyve never done before. Beyond that, its becoming more obvious theyre going to have to compromise.

Watch Paris in Love Season 1 on Peacock with new episodes dropping every Thursday.

RELATED: Paris in Love Season 1 Episode 3 Recap: You Can Go Home Again
Prince Harry snapped at a reporter asking a seemingly polite question during his royal tour of South Africa and the correspondent now admits she kicked a wasps nest at the time. The journalist said she didnt realize it until later, however.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle | Lev Radin/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images

Prince Harry angrily snapped back at a royal correspondent

During the documentary, The Princes and The Press, which explored Prince Harry and Prince Williams interactions with the media, Sky News royal correspondent Rhiannon Mills shared one exchange with Prince Harry that got plenty of attention.

During his 2019 royal tour of South Africa with Meghan Markle, Mills asked him a question when he was on a solo engagement. It didnt go over well with Harry.

As Prince Harry left the engagement, Mills called out to ask, That short conversation  what do you hope to achieve through it?

Harry didnt hold back his frustration, responding, What? Ask them.

Mills followed up the question by asking, Is that why it is important for you to come here and talk to them?

Prince Harry, clearly annoyed, snapped, Rhiannon, dont behave like this.

She admitted she kicked a wasps nest with the line of questioning

Mills admitted she was slightly pushing my luck when she asked Harry the question. He doesnt stop and give me a full interview but he acknowledges me and says hello or whatever, she said of her typical exchange with Harry. This one played out quite differently.

She explained how she realized later that it was a shaky idea to question Harry. Most people look at it and think, well hang on, it was a polite question, why did it blow up?

Mills continued, But looking back at it now, I had basically kicked the wasps nest and I didnt realize it.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markles documentary explained more

When Prince Harry and Meghan Markles documentary about their royal tour aired, the couple gave candid interviews about how life in the royal spotlight was taking its toll.

Prince Harry admitted that there was a rift with Prince William. Meghan explained how challenging it was to be so heavily scrutinized by the tabloids.

Ive said for a long time to H  thats what I call him  its not enough to just survive something. Thats not the point of life, she explained. Youve got to thrive, youve got to feel happy. And I think I really tried to adopt this British sensibility of a stiff upper lip. I tried. I really tried. But I think what that does internally is probably really damaging.

She added, The biggest thing that I know is that I never thought that this would be easy, but I thought it would be fair and thats the part thats really hard to reconcile.

The couple went on to take a break from royal duties and later, announced their plans to step down as senior royals. They eventually moved to the U.S.

RELATED: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Didnt Want to Play the Game With the Press, Says Royal Expert
Selling Sunset fans watched Chrishell Stause get her heartbroken. Shes now dating Jason Oppenheim, and she opened up about why she wasnt afraid to ruin their friendship.

Chrishell Stause started dating again on Selling Sunset

What Not To Do On A Blind Date*



*as demonstrated by Chrishell's date on Selling Sunset pic.twitter.com/Y1KB2s8B6I  Netflix (@netflix) December 2, 2021

RELATED: Selling Sunset: Chrishell Stause Addresses a Rumor Christine Quinn Started About Her Relationship With Jason Oppenheim

Stause was surprised by Justin Hartley filing for divorce last season. She bounced back by competing on Dancing with the Stars and dating her dance pro Keto Motsepe. The relationship didnt last, and she took a break from dating.

Despite that breakup, Stause has continued to move on. Season 4 showed Stause buying her first home.

This is the first time that I have ever been in a position to be able to buy my own home, she said on the show. Growing up homeless, many times, its always ingrained in me this fear that maybe I wont have a roof over my head or maybe things will be taken away from me. So to do it all on my own, I cant even possibly tell you how amazing that feels.

Chrishell Stause and Jason Oppenheim | Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic

RELATED: Selling Sunset: Is Chrishell Stause Acting on the Show? She Says I Wish I Dialed It Down

She also started meeting new men. The episode Back on the Market showed Stause talking about other people trying to set her up.

She previously said she wasnt ready, but Heather Rae El Moussa finally set her up with Tareks friend, Robert, at a yacht party. It didnt go well, and Stause wanted to avoid Robert for the rest of the party. But it was a sign that Stause was ready to meet people.

Why Chrishell Stause wasnt afraid to fall for Jason Oppenheim

#4 show worldwide!!! Thanks so much for watching everyone!!! Woke up to the news that we are the #1 show in 19 different countries, and were the #4 show on Netflix, Worldwide which is in 192 countries!



THANK YOU FOR WATCHING! #Netflix @netflix #SellingSunset pic.twitter.com/8UeQUoKQIm  Chrishell (@Chrishell7) November 26, 2021

RELATED: Selling Sunset: Chrishell Stause Says Dating Jason Oppenheim Doesnt Benefit Her at Work

Stause revealed shes dating Jason Oppenheim in the summer of 2021. They posted a picture together while the cast was in Greece.

The reality star opened up about her new relationship with Elle. She claimed it wasnt weird for them to become more than friends.

No, actually the opposite, she said. We worked so well together, so I think its just one of those things. We became best friends and no matter what happens in the future, whether thats aligned or not, I think that well always have that friendship. Thats what felt safe about sharing it with people, because I didnt have that fear, because this is real life.

She later said, And hopefully when two adults really love and respect each other, at the end of the day, I feel like that will always be there. So thats what I am excited about, that I dont have that fear of sharing that respect that we both have, and it just kind of grew from there.

It sounds like the couple plans to be friends no matter what. Fans will have to wait for next season to learn more about their relationship.
Netflix has a new hit on its hands with the action-comedy Red Notice. The movie is built around three massive stars. Their collective celebrity clearly drew eyeballs to the project once it premiered on the streaming service. You should take Netflixs numbers with a grain of salt given that they self-report their data. But the claim that Red Notice was the second-most-watched movie the company has ever released suggests that Netflix is pleased.

Red Notices plot sends the characters across the world in a game of cat and mouse. But the actual actors rarely went anywhere near the locations presented in the movie.

How did COVID-19 affect the production of Red Notice?

Red Notice stars Dwayne Johnson, Gal Gadot and Ryan Reynolds | Albert L. Ortega/Getty Images

Red Notices road to screening was more complicated than expected due to that pesky pandemic thats defined the past two years, as HITC reports. Filming began in January 2020, but production halted on March 14 as the world experienced the coronavirus. The cast and crew were forced to wait for the unknowable time when it would be safe for larger groups of people to work on a film set again.

That waiting period may have affected Red Notices growing budget. Variety reports that the initial budget was pegged at $160 million but ballooned to $200 million by the end of production. Some fraction of that money mustve been spent on paying people during that downtime, as well as figuring out ways to produce a movie during the age of social distancing.

Filming resumed in September 2020, but they didnt have clearance to do any on-location shots at the time. So how did they make a movie? By transforming one American city into every locale the script required.

The cast and crew, including Gadot, Johnson, and Reynolds, waited until November 2020 to do any on-location shooting at the worldwide locations they planned to feature in the film.

Georgia turned into many faraway lands during filming

Atlanta, Georgia played host to most of Red Notices scenes. The stoppage forced the filmmakers to rethink how they could complete the movie. Production built large sets that could resemble Argentina, Bali, or Cairo enough to convince audiences that they really filmed in the mausoleum of Roman emperor Hadrian.

The Wrap did an interview with Red Notice Director Rawson Marshall Thurber and Seven Bucks Production President Hiram Garcia about how they made a blockbuster in such conditions. Garcia explained:

We built parts of Rome on a back lot in Atlanta. You name it. We did all kinds of movie magic like that to make it work, and its a great testament to our crew, our production team and our production designers in terms of just being able to pivot and create these iconic sets all on stages and all on a backlot to still bring the fans to these locales.

The shared experience of transforming empty lots into the most exotic places on Earth also included one of the movies stars. Gal Gadot had already made a jokey spy movie in Atlanta: the 2016 picture Keeping Up with the Joneses.

The crew did go overseas eventually, but the visual trickery continued

Red Notice is far from the first movie to use Atlanta as an imposter for other places. No American city is used more than Georgias capital, thanks to its natural beauty and helpful tax breaks. The city acts as Marvels cinematic headquarters, providing the space for the production of both its movie and television projects.

Atlanta is also the home of Tyler Perry Studios, the first major studio owned by a Black person, as well as Areu Bros. Studios, the first Latino-American-owned major studio. The city has been used for other shows like Ozark, Watchmen, Stranger Things, The Walking Dead, and HBOs The Outsider.

Red Notice did eventually make its way out of the states. In November, the cast and crew traveled to Rome to shoot in Italy, France, and Spain. There was still some movie magic involved at that point, too. The bullring shown in the movie is initially presented as being in Valencia, Spain. But the ring they used is the Plaza de Toros de Antequera in Antequera, Spain.

RELATED: Will There Be a Red Notice Sequel? Heres What We Know
Matthew (not his real name) has tried to cross the border sixteen times since February 2021. He has two daughters and a newborn son whom he has not met. During two of his attempts, border patrol released dogs on him.

Matthew migrated to the border from Honduras due to cartel threats as he would not join their efforts. Unfortunately, he is an example of American policy, otherwise known as Title 42, contributing to putting peoples life on hold. While American policy is put in place for the security of the nation, Christians are called to care for the vulnerable, wherever they may be. Jesus cares for the immigrants at the border. Do you?

According to the White Houses October 2021 Report on The Impact of Climate Change on Migration, conflict and extreme weather events (tornadoes, floods, wildfires, hurricanes, etc.) are the two main reasons for forced displacement. As of October 30th, twenty-one tropical, subtropical, and hurricane storms have occurred in the United States. Hurricanes are a result of two air currents converging from two different directions. The result of these intersecting forces is a vortex, a turbulent and rotating vertical funnel of air.

My border visit felt like an emotional hurricane as I experienced the immigration crisis firsthand. From October 14-18, I traveled to Reynosa, Mexico to visit the refugee tent encampment located at the Plaza Las Americas. This encampment is located across the street from the international bridge that connects Reynosa with Hidalgo, Texas.

I went there to minister alongside field missionary Alma Ruth, whom Hope Community Church commissioned to work along the border in 2020, to provide supplies and connect migrants to lawyers and shelters for the next step in their journey. As the new immigration Advocacy Minister at Hope, I wanted to see the humanitarian crisis firsthand and hear the stories to better establish our hospitality ministry services for immigrants.

I was confident God had something He wanted me to see and experience. The first thing that caught my eye was a group of recently deported migrants from the U.S. exiting an unmarked green ICE bus. They were a few feet ahead of our group, walking along the same bridge. As I walked off the bridge, I could see across the horizon to the encampment and saw thousands of people jammed into an undersized town square. Green porta-potties lined one side of the place and on the other side of the encampment waved a sea of tents and tarps. An unpleasant sulfur-like odor filled the air. The living conditions, smell, and temperature of 96 degrees with a heat index of 105 all contributed to what I would describe as a hellish environment.

As we entered at one end of the camp, Alma Ruth called a migrant woman she had been ministering to for several months. A few minutes later, seven women and their children emerged from the encampment, eager for the opportunity to enjoy a meal together and get to know us. As we broke bread and I heard the stories of these loving and faith-filled mothers, my perspective shifted. In the calm eye of the storm, I could clearly see these women as my sisters in Christ. I had passed through the chaotic winds of injustice and depravity, to the center of the hurricane where the people were. I was inspired by stories of their faith. Some traveled for weeks in the back of a cattle truck with only one bottle of water or Pedialyte per day, and a granola bar every few days. Their goal? To keep their children safe from cartel death threats. Mothers prayed fervently on their knees for guidance, protection, and better lives for their children. All of this I could see and hear because I went to the eye of the storm to listen and to learn.

Support the work of the Humanitarian Disaster Institute in the world. Your gift will enable researchers and students navigate humanitys most complex and catastrophic challenges.

Fellow Christian sisters and brothers, resist the temptation to pull away from the storm because it is fearsome and chaotic. Instead, I encourage you to pass through it so you may see the people in the center of it. We serve a God that can tell any storm, Peace, be still. I entered into the storm because Jesus told us that they way the world would know who He is is through the love we show for one another. I hope that you will decide to enter into the storm. I did and what I found was God in the center, ministering to his people located on both sides of the border. He is not bound by real estate.

Maria de Jesus Dixon is a student in the M.Div. program at Gateway Seminary with a Theological-Historical Studies concentration. She left a career in higher education administration to pursue her calling of working with parents and children separated at the border in 2020. Maria de Jesus previously earned a M.S. in Criminal Justice, a B.A. in Political Science, and a B.S. in Criminal Justice from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
In nativity pageants all over the world, several roles fit well for those terrified of public speaking: cows, sheep, and the innkeeper. The innkeeper, in most dramatic renditions, has no speaking lines. Instead, the person must merely look sad, hold out their hand, and shake their head to say no.

Lukes gospel tells us that Mary and Joseph laid Jesus in a manger because there was no room for them in the inn (Luke 2:7, KJV). Some people are surprised when they find out there is no innkeeper in the Bibleand probably not even an actual inn, at least in the way we think of it.

Many experts in this time period argue that the word translated inn in our New Testament texts probably doesnt refer to the Middle Eastern equivalent of a hotel or motel. The problem is not one of overbooked rooms.

New Testament scholar Darrell Bock suggests that the inn refers to any form of public shelterusually a two-story house in which the lower story was for animals and the upper floor was for guests, or a one-story building with a stable attached.

The inn may have been the home of Josephs or anothers extended family in townwho welcomed them as guests but were unable to accommodate birth-giving in the upper rooms. In no first-century context would a Jewish family have countenanced such a breach of hospitality by turning away strangers, let alone extended family, into the night.

Regardless of what exactly Luke meant by the word inn, the larger point stands that not only was Jesus born into humble circumstancesplaced in what was probably the feeding trough of an animalbut also that his birth was displaced by a crowd of people.

The crowding of public shelters in Bethlehem was no doubt due to the influx of people into the small town for the census, which Luke references at the beginning of the nativity passage. The political decree from Caesar Augustus was that all people must register in their hometowns (2:23). This story of people trekking into the City of David for a census should prompt us to recognize it as a callback to a previous biblical plot line.

After all, David himself had sinned against God by doing the equivalent of what Caesar Augustus mandated in Luke 2: counting the people. And in doing so, he brought a plague of judgment on his kingdom (1 Chron. 21:117)

Davids notable sins are clear to readers of his storythe sexual misconduct with Bathsheba, the arranged killing of her husband, and so on. But on this point, one that brings about anguished repentance in David, his mistake isnt immediately obvious to us. Whats wrong with a statistical representation of people?

Daniel Heller-Roazen, a Jewish scholar in language and literature, illustrates the dangers of such counting by citing Rabbi Eleazar: Whoever counts Israel transgresses a prohibition, as it is said, Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured.

Implicit here is the idea that counting peopleoften done, directly or indirectly, for political purposes or military readinessseeks to quantify by sight what God has promised by faith. Or it could be that the census was meant to replicate the worlds standards of power and strengththat is, through numbers and armies rather than through the covenant presence of God himself.

The sin of this counting, meant to create corporate solidarity, created isolation insteadas David begged for the curse of God to fall on him alone and not on the people (1 Chron. 21:17). Seeking to avert Gods judgment, David then purchased a threshing floor, where he built an altar to the Lord. There, God accepted the kings offering by fire and ordered the fearsome angel to put away his sword (vv. 1827).

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The site of this altar, and later the temple, was the spot where Abraham had once offered up his son Isaacthe very forefather of faith through whom Gods promise to make the people of Israel as numerous as the stars of heaven, would come (2 Chron. 3:1).

In the shadow of a census, which was meant to showcase carnal might and multitude, God brought forth a sacrificial offering in an unlikely place. In the time of another rulerCaesar Augustusthe house of David was the counted, not the one counting.

Thomas Merton, a 20th-century Trappist monk, saw the lack of room in the census city as a metaphor for our time. The end-time judgment, Merton notes in an essay reflection, was a time of crowdinga mustering of armies, a moving of mobs, a display of power.

That which is to be judged announces itself, introduces itself by its sinister and arrogant claim to absolute power, he writes. Thus, it is identified, and those who decide in favor of this claim are numbered, marked with the sing of power, aligned with power, and destroyed with it.

Why was the inn crowded? Merton asks. Because of the census, the eschatological massing of the whole world in centers of registration, to be numbered, to be identified with the structure of imperial power, he answered. The purpose of the census: to discover those who were to be taxed. To find out those who were eligible for service in the armies of the empire.

He goes on to say that the numbering of the people of God by an alien emperor, and their full consent to it, was itself an eschatological sign.

But the point of the Incarnation was not the absorption of the person into a nameless, faceless mass. It was therefore right that there should be no more room for him in a crowd that had been called together as an eschatological sign, Merton writes. His being born outside that crowd is even more of a sign. That there is no room for Him is a sign of the end.

Merton complained that our age is one of crowdedness, an era in which our technological mastery and connectedness leave us with no room for solitude or thoughta time in which the crowd leads to more loneliness than ever.

Keep in mind, Merton observed this long before anyone had imagined an internet or an iPhone or a Metaverse. Merton foresaw that such crowding and fullness would end in emptiness, lifelessness, and alienation.

Can we deny that this is the case, especially when our identities are subsumed in the power of our political herds or our digital tribes? Who can deny thatin a time of the most concentrated power in human historywe feel weak, lonely, and lost in whatever crowd we choose to seek refuge?

Into this world, this demented inn, in which there is absolutely no room for Him at all, Christ has come uninvited, Merton wrote. But because He cannot be at home in it, because He is out of place in it, and yet He must be in it, His place is with those others for whom there is no room.

Christs place, Merton argues, is with those who do not belong, who are rejected by power because they are regarded as weak, those who are discredited, who are denied the status of persons, tortured, exterminated. With those for whom there is no room, Christ is present in this world.

Maybe there wasnt an annoyed hotel supervisor at the nativity scene. Maybe the straw-filled manger was itself an offer of hospitality by some compassionate villagers. But what is clear is that Caesars quantifiable numbers did not bring good tidings of great joy. For that, we must look to the baby in a feeding trough, surrounded by sheep-herding nomads.

Instead of Caesars statistics, we find the kind of promise that results in a number no man can countand instead of a place with no room, we will find a house with many mansions.

Russell Moore leads the Public Theology Project at Christianity Today.

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Josh Duggar has been convicted of receiving and possessing material that depicts the sexual abuse of children, a decision that provides a moment of consolation for Christian victims and advocates fighting against abuse coverup.

Duggar, the oldest sibling in the Christian homeschooling family made famous by the reality show 19 Kids and Counting, was taken into custody after the federal jury delivered the guilty verdict at a court in Arkansas on Thursday. He faces up to 40 years in prison.

For everyone who was abused within their households or in their religious communities where nothing was done, where the male was given a second chance, where there was some excuse or minimization used, seeing Josh Duggar go to prison gives them some vindication or maybe some hope that the right result can happen, said Boz Tchividjian, a sexual abuse attorney and advocate who founded GRACE (Godly Response to Abuse in the Christian Environment).

But the right result happened not because the faith community, not the family, or even the church, rose up and said, Absolutely not. We cannot tolerate this type of crime.

Federal investigators found the illegal material on his computer at the car lot where he worked in May 2019. One investigator said the images of young children including toddlers were the worst he had seen in his career.

The Duggars, who are independent Baptists, rose to national prominence in the mid-2000s and came to represent a segment of Christian homeschoolers known for large families, conservative attire, and adherence to teachings from Bill Gothard. Their fame meant Josh Duggar was covered heavily when news broke in 2015 that he had molested five girls back when he was a teenager.

Knowing his history and seeing family and church leaders come to his defense, some Christians have questioned whether Josh Duggar could have had a different trajectory, and abuse could have been prevented, if the 33-year-old had been held accountable and given necessary treatment earlier.

Its impossible to see this current conviction outside of the context of what happened when he was a teenager, sexually abusing his sisters, and the way that his family responded to that, said Jacob Denhollander, a victims advocate who grew up one of 13 siblings in the same homeschooled circles as the Duggars.

Denhollander, husband to survivor and fellow advocate Rachael Denhollander, tweeted that its hard to feel jubilation when there is so much harm that has been done in this situation and in this family.

At the trial, judges permitted testimony about the abuse that took place when Duggar was 15. A church friend told the court that the Duggars invited her and her husband over to their house, and Josh Duggar confessed to inappropriately touching four girls between 2002 and 2003, including a five-year-old who sat on his lap during Bible study.

At the time, church leaders agreed to address the issue by sending Josh Duggar to an Arkansas training program through Bill Gothards Institute in Basic Life Principles. Months later, Jim Bob Duggar said he notified a friend in law enforcement, also a church elder, of the incidents but he didnt take it any further. (That officer went to prison in 2012 for 10 counts of distributing, possessing, or viewing material depicting child sex abuse.) When the incidents came up again in 2006, Josh Duggar made a statement to police, but no charges were filed.

In a pretrial hearing, Jim Bob Duggar said he couldnt remember the details of what his son had confessed as a teenager and called the case sealed since Josh was a juvenile at the time. Two of Jim Bobs daughters, Joshs sisters, had come forward in 2015 as his victims.

The defense argued against permitting testimony from Jim Bob Duggar and the church friend, saying it should fall under clergy privilege, but the court disagreed. In the ruling allowing testimony around Josh Duggars abuse as a teen, the judge wrote, The Court found Mr. Duggars selective lapse in memory to be not credible; he was obviously reluctant to testify against his son.

Author and blogger Sheila Wray Gregoire said the case reminded her of a biblical story. When Jim Bob took the stand last week and couldnt recall the abuse, I thought of King David, said Gregoire in an interview with CT, referencing the 2 Samuel story of Amnons rape of Tamar.

On a broader scale, we see repeatedly the evangelical world choosing to side with abusers over the abuse  it stems from one simple belief: All men struggle with lust; its every mans battle, Gregoire wrote on her blog, where she chronicles and critiques evangelical teachings on sex and marriage.

During a widespread evangelical reckoning around abuse and the churchs response, pastors are paying attention to the Duggar verdict and its implications for their ministry.

If theres any beauty coming out of these ashes of this Duggar trialother than with regard to victims seeing some hopeit might be for a moment in time where at least pastors who are paying attention go, Wow, I want to learn [about responding to sexual abuse], said Tchividjian. Not because they dont want to get sued. Its not about risk management. Its about loving children and honoring them.

Tchividjian said for pastors, that starts with acknowledging what they dont know and being willing to listen and learn. GRACE offers training, as do other organizations that investigate and advocate for abuse victims. The Southern Baptist Convention developed a 12-lesson program called Caring Well.

Denhollander, whose dissertation examines how beliefs on penal substitutionary atonement inform Christian understands of abuse, said there is also a theological dimension to Josh Duggars example.

I think the first lesson would be to seriously consider the cost of cheap forgiveness, he said, calling out the faulty idea that forgiveness allows people to avoid confronting and addressing the wrong that has been done.

Denhollander also warned against focusing on the sin of an individual over the impact on his victims.

Oftentimes, its looked at as a moral failing on his part without recognition that his moral failing carried with it significant psychological, physical, physiological damage to other people, he said. Even with child sexual assault material, he was feeding the most horrific industry, the most horrific way of enslaving children that could be imagined.

Justin Holcomb, a theologian who studies sexual abuse and has written a Christian childrens book about protecting bodies, previously told CT how a lack of accountability for young perpetrators can put more potential victims at risk and keep them from fully reforming their sexual thoughts and behavior.

If you dont get a young sex offender holistic, therapeutic care before hes an adultbecause theres significant psychological development taking placeit almost solidifies the recidivism, said Holcomb, describing how sexual abuse and pornography establish pleasure pathways in the brain. The chances that he will repeat again are through the roof. Its nearly hopeless.

Following Thursdays verdict, Holcomb reshared a blog post detailing the harm caused by porn addiction.

It can be tempting to dismiss a case like Duggars as an abherrant example. But the sad truth is that these cases are more common than most people assume, and church communities are not exempt.

The level of online material depicting sexual abuse is multiplying at a terrifying rate, while criminal convictions for the producers and viewers of such clips (once called child pornography) lag behind. Christian resources like Covenant Eyes, meant to report instances of suspicious internet use to an accountability partner, only work as well as a persons commitment to abide by them. There are workarounds, as Josh Duggar allegedly found.

The news of Josh Duggars abusive conduct became public six years ago, when he lost his place on the familys TLC show and his job with the Family Research Council. He went on to also confess to infidelity and to porn addiction in his marriage. Josh Duggar now has seven children with wife Anna. Since he was charged in May, he was permitted to see his children only under supervision.

According to The Associated Press, the federal investigation against Duggar was prompted by a Little Rock detective who found images depicting sexual abuse of children as young as toddlers being shared by a computer traced to him.

The defense in the case argued that someone else had acquired and viewed the images on Josh Duggars device. Experts said the technology had been set up with Duggars password, a version of which was once associated with the Duggar family Instagram account.

The trial also brought up Duggars use of the screening and reporting software Covenant Eyes. A Covenant Eyes report indicated that he had previously been blocked from downloading uTorrent and accessing an anonymous browser that was later used to download the child sexual abuse material.

Judge Timothy Brooks said sentencing will take place in about four months.
When the pandemic took off last year, evangelical ministry leaders had two concerns in mind: how would they continue their mission amid the COVID-19 restrictions and how would they stay afloat financially to keep operating into the future.

Many of those leaders are now praising God for his provision, as donations to evangelical nonprofits increased in 2020. Even organizations whose ministry activity took drastic hits saw outsized support from donors, according the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA) annual State of Giving report.

During a year when cabins and retreat centers remained empty, camps and conference ministries saw the biggest boost in giving compared to any sector, with a 21 percent surge in 2020.

Hume Lake Christian Camps in California raised $7.75 million, around double the camps typical annual fundraising, to make up a $6 million shortfall. During the initial lockdown, camp staff placed 10,000 calls to reach out to supporters and pray for them.

Then the donations to its relief fund kept comingfrom former campers who gave their life to Christ in Hume Lakes cabins, couples who had their marriages restored at its retreats, and even a grandma who wanted to sponsor a new camper and wrote a check to give the $8,000 she made selling homemade jam at a roadside stand.

People sacrificially gave to a ministry that touched their lives or that they believed so deeply in, said John Boal, chief development officer at Hume Lake.

Other camps experienced similar levels of fundraising success.

Donors stepped up and filled the gap, said Jake Lapp, vice president of membership and accountability at ECFA. We talked to many [in the camps and conferences sector] who said that it was their biggest year ever.

A 75-year-old camp located in Fresno, Hume Lake had hosted around 20,000 kids a summer before the pandemic, so calling off spring and summer programming last year meant losing $17 million in revenue during a year when finances seemed unpredictable.

It felt daunting, said Boal. But when giants come my way, whether professionally or personally, I try to step back and look at my theology. And my theology is that Gods in control and God will provide.

Prior to starting its $6 million relief fund campaign, Hume Lake had to tap into its cash reserves. Among ECFA members, Christian camps and conferences were more likely than any other type of evangelical nonprofit to deplete their reserves, with 10 percent spending all their reserves in 2020 and 14 percent doing so in 2021.

Overall, three-quarters of ECFA nonprofits and churches left their cash reserves untouched the first year of the pandemic and two-thirds left them untouched this year.

Pulling from financial information from 2,600 members, the new State of Giving report offers the clearest picture so far of how evangelical groups fared financially during the pandemic, and as with the boost in the camp sector, some of the biggest takeaways were unexpected.

Even though Americans were making less money due to the economic crisis, they were giving more away. While wages were down 2.9 percent, donations to ECFA members were up 3.2 percenta gap of more than 6 percent.

The financial trends defied some historic patterns for nonprofits. Churches and ministries that were steadily growing prior to the pandemic were actually less likely to experience a pandemic bump in support than those whose giving had been declining. Fifty percent of growing organizations saw donations increase, compared to 65 percent of declining organizations, the report said.

Giving was up in 26 of 36 nonprofit sectors, with camps and conferences, rescue mission and homeless, discipleship, antihuman trafficking, and health services organizations seeing the most growth.

More than half of ECFA member churches in 2020, and nearly two-thirds in 2021, said their giving was the same or higher than the year before. But the trends were less positive across the board for congregations.

Churches saw cash giving dip 1.2 percent last year, according to the State of Giving. Among ECFA members, the biggest megachurcheswith over $20 million in annual revenue and 8,000 attendeeshad a 6 percent increase in giving in 2020, while giving levels for smaller churches dropped.

Larger churches tend to have a wider range of economic levels among their members, which might help explain why theyve been able to weather the pandemic better, as some of their more financially established members have had consistent giving to their church during the pandemic, said Warren Bird, senior vice president of research and equipping at ECFA.

Digital giving platforms, which were correlated with more consistent and higher giving levels before the pandemic, became a crucial tool for financial stability once churches were no longer gathering in person. Bird noted that while larger churches may have been more likely to offer digital giving in the early months of COVID-19, churches of all sizes have since embraced the technology.

Since early 2020, we have seen a huge uptick in the online presence of many churches, which has also resulted in increased giving across the board, said Justin Dean, director of marketing at Tithe.ly, one popular giving platform.

What weve seen is that it doesnt matter if youre a large church with staff and resources, or a small church with just a few staff members wearing multiple hats. What matters is embracing technology that will come alongside you and grow with you, and staying consistent with it.

The ECFA findings, which are based on members financial information from the 2020 fiscal year, follow previous surveys that have shown that most churches ended up with steady or improving budgets, despite the fears of economic downturn.

Last month, a survey by Lifeway Research found that most pastors report giving in 2021 was at or above 2020 levels. But for a minority of congregations, the decline is acute. One in 14 churches saw giving drop by 25 percent.
One National Association of Evangelicals survey found that 70 percent of evangelical leaders believe pastors should know who gives to their church. Further, 76 percent of those who affirm such knowledge also think pastors should know how much those people give.

Yet the pastoral concerns tied to this questionfrom the spiritual formation of congregants to the grave temptations such knowledge can bringmake this a crucial matter for pastors to navigate carefully. We asked a variety of pastors this difficult question. They all emphasized that every church situation is unique and that there is no single right answer. But heres how fellow leaders from across the country approach this issue in their own church contexts.

Yes, to Deepen Community and Service to God

On the surface, the question of pastors and financial giving sounds like a topic that could lead to division during a time when we desperately need to work toward unity. The past year and a halfwith the global pandemic and loss of life, income, careers, relationships, as well as racial upheavalhas stretched the family of God thin. Every community is different in what it is experiencing, but as a diverse church, weve felt all of it.

As an executive pastor, Im interested in this question: Why is it important to give and serve as part of a church community? This is the focus our leaders have regarding how we engage and encourage congregants to understand the biblical principle of giving as a part of service. We do not treat people differently based on our knowledge of what they give. Knowing simply helps us understand where each person is spiritually as it pertains to giving and directs us in how to pray and teach on this topic. Our desire as pastors is that people understand the importance of giving as an act of service unto the Lord.

Kevin P. Lett, executive pastor of Hope in the Hills in Beverly Hills, California

Its Part of Pastoral Care

When I started at my church two years ago, I was asked if I wanted to know what people gave. In my faith tradition, this decision is up to the church and the pastor. Each congregation is different, but in our case, I decided yes.

Knowing what people give has not changed my opinion of them. I dont use this knowledge to shame people or give people power, but to care for them. For example, knowing when there has been a significant change in giving opens the door to ask more pointed questions in pastoral care about work or a change in finances. When I know someone hasnt been giving but is passionate about the work of the church, Ive been able to talk to them about what it means to participate in the greater work of the church by giving.

Emily Clark, senior pastor of Faith United Church of God in Grand Rapids, Michigan

It Shows Commitment and Ownership

Often, its not so much a question of should the pastor know, but rather will a pastor know. In large churches, you may have the luxury of not knowing because the church structure includes an administration team and finance team. In smaller churches, though, lead pastors tend to be the utilitarian infieldera jack- or jill-of-all-trades. Ideally, a pastor would not know what people give; that allows a pastor to minister freely without expectation or frustration. But in smaller churches, this knowledge often comes with the job.

One benefit of this is being encouraged by others generosity and commitment to Gods mission through the local church. Do lay leaders feel a sense of ownership? If they do, you will see it in their checkbooks. If a pastor were to see how much a church member gives, it would give the pastor insight into a members sense of ownership and how they value the church community.

Mary Chung March, pastor and president of Covenant Asian Pastors Association

You Can Pastor Well in Either Scenario

I used to know the weekly giving (who gave and how much), but I dont anymore. I dont believe either scenario affected the way I serve the church. Whatever posture a pastor takeswhich is totally subjective and often dependent on circumstanceshe should do so not with an eye toward convincing others to do the same, but for the comfort and encouragement of his own soul. Whichever stance frees you to serve the flock in the grace and mercy of Christ, go for it.

Anthony Carter, lead pastor of East Point Church in East Point, Georgia

Id Rather Not Know

For the most part, I dont need or want to know what individual people give to the church. I decided years ago we would not count church attendance (except for once each year at the request of our denomination), because my self-esteem would probably rise and fall with it. Similarly, I dont see what individuals give, because my esteem of them might rise and fall with that numberand yet I could never know all theyve come from economically or what any amount indicates.

The exception to this principle is that we ask any of our leadersour staff, our clergy, our boardto be givers of record: to give some amount in each calendar year. And if we were hoping to start a capital campaign, I would want to meet first with our top 25 givers to see if they are supportive. But generally, I dont need to know the specific amount anyone gives.

Kevin Miller, rector of Church of the Savior in Wheaton, Illinois

Avoid the Temptation of Favoritism

Pastors should be aware of the resources coming in, as the apostles were in Acts 4:3237. Otherwise, how else can they budget? But it is not wise for pastors to know specifically how much individuals give. That can breed temptations to favoritism (James 2:14). Instead, other Christian leaders, whether deacons or elders, should have a pulse of what people give. A twofold purpose of this is that (1) they can know whether a congregant is giving, and (2) they can know whether people are tithing appropriately to their income. In both cases, a lack of giving can indicate other issues at play (e.g., financial hardship, immaturity, greed). From there, these leaders can inform pastors, and, in turn, pastors can come alongside the congregant to minister to them accordingly.

Aaron Reyes, lead pastor of Hope Community Church in Austin, Texas

No, to Minister Freely

Twenty years ago, while planting Mosaic, I faced a choice: to know or not to know who in the church gives and how much. After consideration, I chose the latter, and to this day I do not regret it. People in our church know that such information is not guiding my time or interactions with them, nor is it shaping my opinion of them, one way or another. This frees me of any temptation to use such information for my own ends or in any manipulative way.

Of course, at least two responsible leaders need to know such information to ensure financial accountability and to send year-end tax statements. In our case, the executive team requests only general data, current trends, and analysis from these leaders to assist in decision making. Ultimately, the answer to the question is not biblically mandated: The choice is yours, as are the outcomes and consequences of your decision.

Mark DeYmaz, founding pastor and directional leader of Mosaic Church in Little Rock, Arkansas
18 school board groups cut ties with NSBA for likening parent protests to 'domestic terrorism'

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The fallout over a letter from the National School Boards Association comparing parent protests and threats to domestic terrorism continues as 18 state affiliates have announced intentions to cut ties with the national education organization, according to a watchdog group.

The letter at issue, sent by NSBA leadership to President Joe Biden on Sept. 29, requested federal assistance to stop threats and acts of violence against public schoolchildren, public school board members, and other public school district officials and educators.

After expressing concern about the increased acts of malice, violence, and threats against public school officials, NSBA President Viola Garcia and Interim Executive Director and CEO Chip Slaven urged Biden to classify these heinous actions as domestic terrorism and hate crimes.

In October, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland sent a memorandum directing the FBI to convene meetings with federal, state, local, Tribal, and territorial leaders within 30 days to facilitate the discussion of strategies for addressing threats against school administrators, board members, teachers, and staff.

While the NSBA apologized for the letter three weeks after its publication and it has since taken it offline, outrage over the tone of the request still looms large.

In the weeks and months following the letters publication, the number of state school board associations that have either distanced themselves from the NSBA letter or withdrawn from the organization entirely continues to grow.

The advocacy group Parents Defending Education, which vehemently opposes the rhetoric of the NSBA letter, has compiled a list of actions taken by state school board associations in response to the letter.

In the past three weeks alone, state school board associations in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Illinois, Mississippi and Virginia have voted to withdraw from the NSBA.

The school board associations in these states join their counterparts in Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee and Wisconsin in announcing their departure from the NSBA immediately or in the near future.

Additionally, several additional states have distanced themselves from the rhetoric in the NSBA letter without formally withdrawing from the national organization. Most notably, the Delaware School Boards Association, based in the presidents home state, issued a forceful response to an inquiry from Parents Defending Education.

The DSBA disagrees, in the strongest possible terms, with parents and citizens protesting school board meetings being characterized as domestic terrorists and their protests being likened to hate crimes, the organization said in a statement. The DSBA firmly asserts that citizen and public engagement in school board meetings is an integral and vital aspect of school board governance. We also made it clear that any attempt to silence citizens voices is a clear violation of their rights to free speech.

The DSBA also lamented that the NSBA did not consult with them before sending the letter, noting that had they done so, the state organization would NOT have allowed the DSBA to be associated with the letter and would have asked that the language be changed to reflect the fact that the DSBA does not support the letter and should not be generally included in it.

The NSBA letter stated that it was sent on behalf of our state associations and more than 90,000 school board members who govern our countrys 14,000 local public school districts.

Nine other state school board associations responded to Parents Defending Education, expressing some degree of disagreement with the rhetoric of the NSBA letter or stressing a belief in the ability of parents to speak out about their childrens education. Those states are Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, New Jersey, North Dakota, Texas, West Virginia and Wyoming.

Hawaii is not part of the NSBA. An email obtained via public records request revealed the head of the Rhode Island Association of School Committees telling his board that he thinks they should ignore the email from Parents Defending Education.

The remaining state school board associations did not respond to the inquiry from the advocacy group.

The NSBA letter followed a summer defined by intense protests at school board meetings in some localities nationwide as parents and community members had expressed outrage about policies allowing trans-identified students to use bathrooms that correspond with their gender identity as opposed to their biological sex, the use of sexually explicit material in the curriculum and the incorporation critical race theory components into the curriculum.

Specific examples cited by the NSBA letter of heinous actions taken by parents speaking out at school board meetings include anti-mask proponents [who] are inciting chaos during board meetings, confrontation of school board members by angry mobs that have forced meetings to end abruptly and a resident of Alabama who describes himself as vaccine police calling school administrators while filming himself on Facebook Live.

Another occurrence cited as problematic in the letter was the mocking of a Tennessee student during a board meeting for advocating masks in schools after testifying that his grandmother, who was an educator, died because of COVID-19.

Five days after the NSBA letters publication, Garland wrote the memorandum directing federal law enforcement agencies to work with their counterparts at the local level to facilitate the discussion of strategies for addressing threats." The move led to further criticism and a lawsuit.

Opposition to critical race theory and sexually explicit material in public schools played a significant part in last months off-year elections.

In last months election, candidates who campaigned in opposition to critical race theory performed well in school board races.

At the same time, Virginias Democratic gubernatorial nominee Terry McAuliffe, who proclaimed in a debate with his Republican opponent, Glenn Youngkin, that I dont think parents should be telling schools what they should teach, lost the election. A recent poll from the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty found that 63% of Americans think parents should have the final say in what children are taught at school.
56% of Americans support abortion restrictions after 15 weeks: poll

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While most Americans say they're opposed to overturning the 1973 United States Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion nationwide, most Americans support limits on abortion after 15 weeks gestation, a new poll has found.

The Harris poll, conducted in conjunction with Harvard Universitys Center for American Political Studies and obtained exclusively by The Hill, found that 54% of Americans opposed overturning Roe v. Wade, the 1973 Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion nationwide, while 46% support a reversal of the controversial ruling. The poll surveyed 1,989 registered voters between Nov. 30 and Dec. 2, as the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health, a case surrounding Mississippis 15-week abortion ban.

However, the poll also showed a majority of Americans support limiting abortions to the first 15 weeks of pregnancy. When respondents were given additional context, namely that Roe v. Wade allowed women to have abortions within the first 24 weeks of pregnancy, 38% expressed support for letting the decision stand while 32% supported repealing the decision entirely, thereby letting each state decide whether to ban abortion altogether. Another 24% of respondents said they wanted abortion limited after 15 weeks of pregnancy.

Combining the 32% of Americans who want to reverse Roe v. Wade and its allowance of abortions until 24 weeks into a pregnancy with the 24% of Americans who want Roe v. Wade amended to only permit abortions within the first 15 weeks of pregnancy reveals that 56% of Americans want to limit abortions to the first 15 weeks of pregnancy or sooner. On the other hand, an additional 8% of Americans want to allow abortions up to 36 weeks into a pregnancy.

The Harvard-Harris poll yielded similar findings to The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research survey, conducted in June, shortly after the Supreme Court announced that it would take up the Dobbs case. In the June poll, 57% of Americans said that they wanted abortion to remain legal in all or most cases but support for the legality of abortion was lower in later stages of pregnancy.

Sixty-one percent of Americans believed that abortion should be legal in all or most cases in the first trimester of pregnancy. That number dropped to 34% when asked about the second trimester and 19% for the third trimester.

In Dobbs, a ruling in favor of the state of Mississippi, which is asking the Supreme Court to reverse a lower court decision striking down the states 15-week abortion ban, would significantly weaken the precedent set by Roe v. Wade and upheld in the 1992 Supreme Court case Planned Parenthood v. Casey. Depending on how the decision goes down, it might uphold the Mississippi law while not scrapping the central finding of the longstanding decision, that women have the right to obtain an abortion up to a certain point, entirely.

Based on questions asked by the justices during oral arguments last week, pro-life advocates seemed optimistic that they will rule in their favor. Following the oral arguments, pro-lifers praised Chief Justice John Roberts, a swing vote on the court, for bringing up how permissive U.S. abortion laws were compared to other countries. They also appreciated Justice Brett Kavanaughs listing of examples where the Supreme Court overturned precedent, seen as a rebuttal to the pro-abortion argument that the precedent of Roe v. Wade is sacrosanct.

The Supreme Court consists of six justices appointed by Republican presidents and three appointed by Democrats. Some expect that a majority of the Republican-appointed justices will side with Mississippi while all of the Democrat-appointed justices will likely find the states 15-week abortion ban unconstitutional.

If the justices decide in Mississippis favor, states will have more freedom to limit abortion to the first trimester, but abortion will not automatically become illegal in all 50 states. States that have permissive abortion laws on the books will continue to do so unless and until lawmakers in those states pass laws with stricter limits on abortion.

The Harvard-Harris poll also comes as less than one month remains in 2021, which pro-abortion activists have characterized as the most devastating antiabortion state legislative session in decades. Analysis from the Guttmacher Institute concluded that 61 pro-life bills were passed in the first four months of 2021. Updated statistics provided by the Guttmacher Institute in the middle of 2021 found that 90 abortion restrictions had been passed at the state level in the first half of the year.

Perhaps the most notable pro-life law passed at the state level in 2021 is Texas six-week abortion ban. The Supreme Court has allowed the law to go into effect while litigation continues. A decision in the case of Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health is expected by June 2022 at the latest.
Mistrial declared in case of man charged with murdering pastors wife Amanda Blackburn

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An Indiana judge declared a mistrial Monday on the first day of trial for 24-year-old Larry Jo Taylor Jr., who authorities are hoping to convict for the 2015 murder of Amanda Blackburn, the pregnant wife of an Indianapolis pastor.

Marion County Judge Grant Hawkins, who declared the mistrial, told The Indianapolis Star that some jurors learned Ms. Blackburn was pregnant at the time of her death. The defense had successfully moved to keep jurors from knowing.

The court will now have to seat a new jury for Taylors trial.

Taylor is facing four counts of murder, three counts of burglary, three counts of theft and a count of robbery in connection to Blackburns killing, according to the newspaper. One of three men charged in the wake of the killing, Taylor was also charged with criminal confinement, auto theft and carrying a handgun without a license.

Amanda Blackburn was killed some three years after moving with her husband, Davey Blackburn, from South Carolina in 2012 to start Resonate Church in Indianapolis.

On the morning of Nov. 10, 2015, while Davey was at the gym, police said his wife was shot three times, including once in the head during a home invasion. She succumbed to her injuries the following day along with their unborn daughter, Everette Evie Grace Blackburn.

Police subsequently announced the arrests of Taylor, then 18, and his accomplice, Jalen Watson, then 21, and charged them with murder and a litany of other crimes in late November 2015. Diano Gordon, who was 24 at the time, was arrested and charged in December 2015.

Earlier this year, Watson, now 27, was sentenced to 29 years in prison for robbery leading to serious bodily injury and 10 years each for two counts of burglary.

Watson also had charges, including murder, dismissed against him in a plea deal in October 2017. The agreement would see him joining Gordon in testifying against Taylor.
Lakewood executive offers theory of how cash ended up in church wall as plumber gets $20K reward

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The plumber who recently discovered an undisclosed sum of cash and checks stacked inside a wall at Joel Osteens Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas, seven years after some $600,000 was reported stolen from a safe, received a $20,000 reward from Crime Stoppers of Houston. Meanwhile, a church executive offered a possible theory of how the money ended up in the wall.

In a statement Tuesday, Crime Stoppers of Houston announced that the plumber, who has only identified himself publicly by the name Justin for reasons of privacy, would get $20,000 for discovering and turning over the money to church officials.

Crime Stoppers of Houston is a public safety organization that thrives on the public safety of all communities. We believe that it takes all of us, working together, to keep Houston safe and thriving, Crime Stoppers CEO Rania Mankarious said.

In 2014, Lakewood Church gave us $20,000 to work on this case. In 2016, they chose to gift us those funds for operations. Today, we are gifting that same [amount] of money to this Good Samaritan and wishing he and his family a wonderful holiday season.

On Wednesday, Nichole Christoph, deputy director of Crime Stoppers of Houston, told The Christian Post that they met with Justin on Tuesday for about one hour. Christoph said that Justin seems like a really good guy.

He knew it was the right thing to do, and thats what he did, she said.

She also noted that Justin explained how much the $20,000 gift means to his family.

Hes got a young son, and theyve been on some hard times, and they were expecting Christmas would be difficult. But, hes very excited about having extra money to finish projects around his house and makes sure that his baby gets a good Christmas and then also helping others, she said. Hes just a very humble person.

In an interview with CP Wednesday, Justin, 28, described himself as a Christian who isnt currently committed to a congregation but tries to live out the values of his faith. The plumber, who lives with his fiance and toddler in a recently-purchased mobile home, confirmed that life had been a struggle as of late, and the $20,000 gift is an answered prayer.

We went through some hard times over the past year. Work has been up and down here lately.  Ive had a few setbacks with the property, with the mobile home that I purchased. It needs some updated repairs, he said.

Justin, who says hes not a greedy person, said a few days after finding the money, he prayed to God to send him some help.

A few days after the fact, I was driving into work early in the morning. I saw some shooting stars, and Im like, You know what, let me pull over real quick and give a little prayer, he recalled. I said, Ive done a good thing, Lord, and I hope that somebody can see through all this negativity thats being spread around and maybe something good comes of it. And yesterday, that answer was sent full.

In March 2014, The Houston Chronicle reported $200,000 in cash and $400,000 in checks were stolen from a safe at Lakewood Church. Officials there had been working with the Houston Police Department to solve the case. Police confirmed last week that evidence from the checks recovered from the wall inside Lakewood Church suggests the funds are connected to the March 2014 theft.

Justin first revealed that he found the money while working at the church on Nov. 10 during the radio morning show at 100.3 The Bull hosted by George Lindsey.

It was just unbelievable, the things he was telling us that they found in the walls, Lindsey told Click 2 Houston.

The plumber said he was shocked when about 500 envelopes fell out of a wall as he tried to remove a loose toilet.

There was a loose toilet in the wall, and we removed the tile, he said. We went to go remove the toilet, and I moved some insulation away, and about 500 envelopes fell out of the wall, and I was like, Oh wow!

He said he reached out to the churchs maintenance supervisor and turned in the money.

When asked what kinds of reactions he has gotten since finding the money, Justin told CP that it has been mostly positive.

Everyone pretty much knows what I did was a good thing. They know of me, so Ive been overwhelmed with the congratulations, he said.

He assured he was never tempted to take the money he found in the bathroom because, like I said, Im on holy ground.

Even though hes seen people online saying that they would have taken some of the money, Justin said, I dont do that.

I was raised to mind your peers and dont do nothing, he said. Youll get tenfold back in return for doing a good deed.

In a recent interview with KPRC Click2Houston, Justin said he was monitoring Osteens Sunday sermon to see if he would mention anything about how he handled finding the money. He said he was just a little upset that Osteen had said nothing.

I wanted to hear [Joel Osteen] say, You know, Justin, what you did was right. We understand what you did and what you could have done, the plumber said. I feel like, at this point, I should have heard something. Im just a little upset.

In a statement to CP Wednesday, Lakewood Church noted that it is appreciative of the plumber.

In 2016, Lakewood Church made a $20,000 charitable donation to Crime Stoppers of Houston to help solve this case and support them for all they do for the community. We are appreciative of the plumber and we hope he pays the gift forward.

In a follow-up interview with CP, Don Iloff, a senior executive at Lakewood Church, said the plumber has been thanked by church officials many times since he discovered the money and noted that Osteen would be more than happy to meet and greet him at a Sunday service.

Hes been invited to the church and [to] attend the service if hed like, and I know Joel would be happy to meet with him, say hello to him and thank him, Iloff, Osteens brother-in-law, said.

He has been thanked by probably three or four people at the church. The day that it happened, he was there for quite a while because the police spoke to him as well. He was thanked over and over again by different people.  Numerous associate pastors and administrators there at the church thanked him, Iloff said.

The plumber told CP that he never heard directly from anyone at Lakewood Church until Wednesday when he received a message from Iloff during his interview with CP.

Im a Christian myself, and I would like to talk to him [Osteen]. Personally, I would like to shake his hand, he said.

Thanks to him, my family, we can have a good Christmas. And I want to thank him. I feel like I should at least speak to him, Justin said.

As for how the cash and checks ended up in the bathroom wall, Iloff told CP that while the police are still investigating, there are different theories about how it could have happened.

The bathroom is a public bathroom, but its a single-use bathroom and you can push the ceiling out of the bathroom, he said.

If you threw the bags [of money] up into the ceiling to maybe get them later or whatever and they fell down into the wall, you wouldnt be able to get to the bags, he said as a possible explanation for how the money may have gotten into the wall.

Iloff said the discovery by the plumber, who was doing his job, was inexplicable in a way.

Every one of us was shocked when we found out seven years later, he said.

Iloff said at the time the money went missing that there were no security cameras in the hallways near the bathroom.

When asked if he believes anyone might be arrested for theft, Iloff said: I have no idea.

I pray for whoever did it, he added.

He further stated that one of the first things the church did after learning about the money was to notify their insurance company and begin working with them to settle the case.

I would imagine its settled now. Im not sure, but we are working with the insurance company, Iloff said.

He also confirmed that Lakewood is now in possession of all the money found in the wall but was asked by the police not to disclose the sum that was found.
Parents to protest library where Christmas display featured sex books next to the Bible

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Parent activists are expected to stage a protest outside a Virginia public library in response to sexually explicit books and troll dolls dressed in LGBT colors being displayed next to The Holy Bible as part of its Christmas display, which many Christians saw as an attack on their faith.

Stacy Langton, Xi Van Fleet and other parents affiliated with the Mama Grizzly movement comprised of mothers who vehemently oppose the inclusion of critical race theory and sexually explicit material in public education, will hold a Holiday Hate Protest outside Dolley Madison Library in McLean, Virginia, Saturday.

The protest comes in response to outrage over a Christmas display where the books Gender Queer and Lawn Boy, which promotes pedophilia, was displayed next to The Holy Bible.

Langton shared pictures of the display on her Twitter account Tuesday. She contended that the library's display, mocks my efforts to remove #PornInSchools and mocks Christianity!

In another tweet, Langton said that to display the Holy Bible alongside pedophilia & pornography & #LGBTQ rainbow flags during #Advent at the library was a disgusting slap in the face to @fairfaxcounty taxpayers. She reported that by the time she went to the library that same day to confront library officials over the display, it had been removed.

3. Library staff put Branch Mgr. #NancyRyan on phone. Ryan said display was idea of a staffer & approved by Prisbey. Ryan got complaints from library patrons, who disapproved of "inappropriate" porn/pedo books posed next to #HolyBible.

Gee, ya think?? #MerryChristmas, taxpayers! pic.twitter.com/ZkYYT7njes  Stacy Langton (@StacyLangton) December 7, 2021

Was told Librarian, Mary Prisbey, would talk 2 me in 15 mins. She never did & left out the back door! she added. Library staff put Branch Mgr. #NancyRyan on phone. Ryan said display was idea of a staffer & approved by Prisbey. Ryan got complaints from library patrons, who disapproved of inappropriate porn/pedo books posed next to #HolyBible.

Jessica Hudson, the director of the Fairfax County Public Library, denied that the Christmas display resulted from any ill will in a statement released to multiple media outlets, including Fox News' affiliate in Washington, D.C. The Dolley Madison Library holiday reading display was intended to highlight the freedom to read and the fact that many library patrons have more time during the holidays to do so, she said. It was not the intention of staff to create a display that could be construed as offensive. The display has been removed.

Langton previously raised concerns about the books Gender Queer and Lawn Boy during a Fairfax County Public Schools board meeting on Sept. 9. She read aloud excerpts from one of the books to prove that they contain sexually explicit content that promotes pedophilia.

From the book Gender Queer, Langton read the text of a character telling another character I cant wait to have your c--- in my mouth. I am going to give you the b--- job of your life and then I want you inside me. The part of Lawn Boy she read aloud featured a character talking about how he s---ed Doug Gobles d---, the real estate guy, adding he s---ed mine too.

Both books describe different sex acts, Langton told the school board. One book describes a fourth-grade boy performing oral sex on an adult male. The other book has detailed illustrations of a man having sex with a boy.

Langton noted that Gender Queer and Lawn Boy were available at several high schools in Fairfax County. While the school district temporarily pulled the books from the shelves, they were reinstated to the libraries late last month. The concerned parent attended a Dec. 2 school board meeting to protest that decision.

In remarks at the most recent Fairfax County school board meeting, Langton discussed the contents of Gender Queer and Lawn Boy as well as additional books available in Fairfax County Public Schools that contained sexually explicit material and maintained that by allowing the books back in school libraries, the school board made clear that they are in favor of pornography in the schools.

Laws at the federal and state level prohibit obscene materials in the presence of minors, Langton stressed in her remarks.

Thursday @StacyLangton returned to @fcpsnews and called out the 12 Democratic school board members for returning porn and pedophilia to #FairfaXXX school libraries. Watch the activists who woke-wash the porn and pedophilia. They gesticulate and flail, beside themselves, enraged. https://t.co/dJAGpYVsslpic.twitter.com/hTc1xQ45R4  Asra Q. Nomani ????Mama Bear???? (@AsraNomani) December 4, 2021

The assistant superintendent of instructional services stated that the books are not obscene and do not contain pedophilia. That is a lie, she declared. The book shows a bearded adult male with an erect penis engaged in a sex act with a child. That is the definition of pedophilia.

Langton concluded her remarks by proclaiming that this school district is in violation of the law every single day that the pornography remains on the shelves. She received applause from much of the crowd gathered at the meeting.

The outrage over the display at Dolley Madison Library comes at a time when parents and community members across the country have descended on school board meetings to express their concerns about the implementation of critical race theory and trans bathroom policies as well as the inclusion of sexually explicit material in public school curriculum. The issue has become particularly contentious in Virginia and loomed large in the Virginia gubernatorial race.

At a debate with his Republican opponent Glenn Youngkin, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe declared: I dont think parents should tell schools what they should teach. McAuliffe lost to Youngkin as opponents of critical race theory performed very well in school board races across the U.S.
Supreme Court of Louisiana will hear Pastor Tony Spells case for violating COVID-19 restrictions

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The Supreme Court of Louisiana announced Tuesday that it will hear a case on whether criminal charges should remain against controversial Pastor Tony Spell for violating Gov. John Bel Edwards order against gatherings of more than 50 people during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.

A scheduling order said Spell must file his briefs on or before Jan. 3, while the state will have to respond by Jan. 21. The court is expected to set a time for oral arguments.

Spell, who leads Life Tabernacle Church in Baton Rouge, made headlines as he repeatedly flouted state COVID-19 restrictions aimed at mitigating the spread of the virus by holding in-person church services. He argued that the First Amendment guarantees his right to religious freedom.

Earlier this year, a state judge refused to dismiss the charges against Spell. Last year, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito rejected the pastors request to hear his case after lower federal courts ruled the governors coronavirus restrictions were either constitutional or the case became moot once his stay-at-home order lapsed.

Earlier this year, East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney Hillar Moore offered Spell a chance to plead no contest to one of the misdemeanor charges he faces in exchange for dropping five other charges. He didnt accept the offer.

Spell was among a vocal minority of pastors who drew national attention in 2020 for disobeying state and local COVID-19 restrictions that restricted in-person worship gatherings. In one sermon livestreamed on Facebook, the controversial pastor appeared to offer divine protection to churchgoers from the virus.

Were also going to pass out anointed handkerchiefs to people who may have a fear, who may have a sickness and we believe that when those anointed handkerchiefs go, that healing virtue is going to go on them as well, Spell noted.

Spell told BRProud in October that Edwards COVID-19 restrictions were unconstitutional at the time he faced them and he is confident he will prevail in the Louisiana State Supreme Court.

Whenever the governor put these rules and mandates in place, they were unlawful, they were unconstitutional, Spell said.

We feel confident as long as the judges in the Louisiana Supreme Court rule on our First Amendment rights, freedom to assemble, free speech, free exercise, he continued. If they dont, then American is on the course to anarchy.
UMC leadership neutral as affiliated children's home sues to stop Biden admin. LGBT policy

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Regional and national leaders in the United Methodist Church are not taking a stance on a lawsuit that a Tennessee-based UMC childrens home has leveled against the Biden administration over a rule that would require the home to place children with same-sex couples.

Holston United Methodist Home for Children sued the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services last week after the agency rescinded exemptions enacted by the Trump administration to an Obama-era LGBT nondiscrimination policy barring discrimination in HHS-funded foster programs based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

The charitys lawsuit comes amid a much-publicized divide in the second-largest Protestant denomination in the United States surrounding same-sex marriage and homosexuality. The Christian Post reached out to the national and regional UMC bodies to comment on the charitys lawsuit.

The UMC Holston Conference, a regional UMC body where the Holston Home is located, emailed The Christian Post a statement on Tuesday saying that any questions should be directed to the charity itself.

The Holston Conference of The United Methodist Church and the Holston United Methodist Home for Children share a historic ministry connection, read the statement.

As a separate institution, Holston Home has a board of trustees that guides their decision-making process. All inquires concerning their leadership and decisions should be directed to the Holston Home for Children.

The UMC Council of Bishops is also not releasing a statement or support or opposition. A spokesperson explained to CP on Tuesday that the national leadership doesnt comment on annual conference ministries.

In the federal lawsuit, Holston Home contends that the HHS policy would substantially burden Holston Homes exercise of its religious beliefs to knowingly engage in child-placing activities in connection with couples who may be romantically cohabitating but not married, or who are couples of the same biological sex.

If Holston Home were to knowingly engage in child-placing activities concerning placements of children in connection with couples who may be romantically cohabitating but are not married, or who are couples of the same biological sex, it would need to engage in speech with which Holston Home disagrees and which violate Holston Homes religious beliefs, the lawsuit argues.

The regulation was enacted in 2016 during the Obama administration. Although President Donald Trump issued exemptions for faith-based organizations, these were recently rescinded by the Biden administration.

In June, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled in Fulton v. City of Philadelphia that a Catholic charity could not be excluded from the city's foster program because the organization would not place children with same-sex couples.

Chief Justice John Roberts delivered the courts opinion, concluding that the city has burdened the religious exercise of [Catholic Social Services] through policies that do not meet the requirement of being neutral and generally applicable.

Government fails to act neutrally when it proceeds in a manner intolerant of religious beliefs or restricts practices because of their religious nature, wrote Roberts.

The refusal of Philadelphia to contract with CSS for the provision of foster care services unless it agrees to certify same-sex couples as foster parents cannot survive strict scrutiny, and violates the First Amendment.

The HHS contends that the policy enacted during the previous administration permits a contractor whose purpose and/or character is not primarily religious to qualify for the Executive Order 11246 religious exemption.

[T]his  undermines the governments long-standing policy of requiring that federal contractors provide equal employment opportunity, subject to a religious exemption for contractors with primarily religious purpose and character, an HHS policy proposal reads.
71% of young adults in US support some form of limits on abortion: poll

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A new poll conducted by a national pro-life advocacy group finds unexpectedly strong support for the pro-life movement among millennials and members of Generation Z.

Students for Life of America, a national organization with campuses at schools and colleges nationwide, released the results of a survey compiled as a project of SFLAs Institute for Pro-Life Advancement.

The project surveyed 800 registered voters nationwide between the ages of 18 and 34 from Jan. 7 to Jan. 11. The results have an error margin of plus or minus 3.46 percentage points.

Respondents were asked to provide their views on abortion policy.

About 30% of respondents identified themselves as Republicans, while 36% were Democrats and 34% were independent. The survey found that more than 7 out of 10 expressed support for limits on abortion.

Far from embracing Planned Parenthood and the Democratic Party Line, Millennials and Generation Z have a more nuanced view of abortion that embraces a number of pro-life positions, SFLA President Kristan Hawkins said in a statement.

When asked for their position on abortion, 19% of respondents said that abortion should be allowed at any time during a womans pregnancy and for any reason.

Another 19% said that abortion should be legal only in cases of rape, incest or to save the life of the mother.

Meanwhile, 15% responded that abortion should be legal for any reason, but not after five months of pregnancy when the fetus is viable and can feel pain.

Another 15% of respondents asserted that abortion should be prohibited in all circumstances.

The poll found that 14% support keeping abortion legal for the first trimester of pregnancy only. Less than 1-in-10 respondents (8%) maintained that abortion should be legal only to save the life of the mother. Additionally, 9% said they were unsure.

Almost half (45%) of those surveyed expressed opposition to the idea of forcing all Americans to fund abortions through their tax dollars.

The survey came shortly before unified Democratic control of the federal government took effect last month. Members of the Democratic Party have signaled a desire to do away with the Hyde Amendment, a long-standing measure that prevents the use of taxpayer dollars to fund abortions.

A majority (53%) of respondents opposed the funding of abortions overseas using federal tax dollars. Shortly after taking office, President Joe Biden reversed President Donald Trumps Mexico City Policy barring the use of taxpayer dollars to fund abortions in other countries.

A plurality (47% to 38%) of young Americans polled by SFLA said they support bans on abortion after a fetal heartbeat can be detected, which can be as early as around six weeks gestation. Many states have passed heartbeat bills. But they have quickly been met with resistance from the judicial branch.

When asked about 1973s Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion nationwide, 41% of respondents expressed support for the decision compared to 22% who opposed it.

However, young Americans' views changed dramatically when they were given more details about the consequential Supreme Court decision.

When told Roe allows abortion to occur throughout all nine months of pregnancy, opposition to the landmark decision rose to 57% among those surveyed, while support dropped to 30%.

Respondents remained divided over whether the Supreme Court should reverse Roe and send the issue of abortion back to the states. About 44% support reversing Roe while 36% do not.

This number is extraordinary considering Planned Parenthood claims that Roe is popular and that 77% of the American people oppose reversing it, said Hawkins. Issue by issue, the perspectives of young American voters targeted for abortion are very different from the talking points of the powerful abortion lobby. And there is common ground for those who want to find it.

A plurality (44%) of respondents told SFLA that they support a policy requiring women to have an in-person exam before taking the abortion pill.

By a more than 2-1 margin (55% to 23%), young Americans surveyed support requiring abortion pills to be picked up in-person. The abortion lobby has used the coronavirus pandemic to push for making chemical abortions available by mail.

While long-standing federal regulations prohibit women from obtaining abortion-inducing drugs by mail, a federal judge suspended a Food and Drug Administration requirement that women need to see a doctor before obtaining abortion drugs. The judge claimed that the rule presented an undue burden during the pandemic. However, the Supreme Court reinstated the FDA rule last month.

The Students for Life poll results mirror the findings in another poll conducted by Marist on behalf of the Catholic fraternal organization Knights of Columbus.

That poll, released last week, found that 76% of Americans support at least some restrictions on abortion.

About 71% of young Americans told SFLA that they support abortion restrictions in some form.

Despite what you may hear, the facts prove that Millennials and Gen Zers are not looking for an extreme abortion agenda over the next four years, Hawkins wrote in an op-ed published by Real Clear Politics. Instead, like many Americans, they express a more nuanced point of view that should be taken into account by those who will be facing these voters in two years.
Appeals court upholds Maine's ban on religious schools in school choice program

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A federal appeals court has ruled against Maine parents challenging a state law that excludes religious schools from the states high school tuition program despite a recent ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court that struck down similar restrictions in Montana.

The U.S. 1st Circuit Court of Appeals on Thursday upheld a lower court ruling against three families who filed a lawsuit against the commissioner of the Maine Department of Education over a rule that bans the use of tax dollars to pay for students tuition to attend religious schools.

The families are represented by the Institute for Justice and plan to appeal the ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court, according to a statement released by the nonprofit legal group.

According to the institute, Maine is home to the countrys second-oldest school choice program.

Since 1873, the states tuitioning system has paid for children in towns that are too small to maintain public schools to attend the private or public schools of their choosing. Until 1980, families were allowed to send their children to religious private schools as part of the program.

Todays decision allows the state of Maine to continue discriminating against families and students seeking to attend religious schools and we will immediately appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, IJ Senior Attorney Timothy D. Keller said in a statement.

Keller cited the Supreme Courts decision in June in the case of Espinoza v. Montana. The nations high court ruled 5-4 that religious schools can qualify for a state tax credit program even though the state constitution banned public aid from going to religious institutions.

The ruling found that the Montana Constitutions no-aid provision to its tuition assistance program discriminated against religious schools and violated the U.S. Constitution's Free Exercise Clause.

The Supreme Courts recent decision in Espinoza prohibits religious discrimination in educational choice programs, Keller added. Todays decision is disappointing for families across Maine, but we are confident the Supreme Court will ultimately put a stop to it.

The three sets of Maine parents sued the state in 2018 over a provision in the tuition program that states that a private school must be "a nonsectarian school in accordance with the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. Such a provision relies on the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, which prohibits governments from making any law respecting an establishment of religion.

The Maine parents contend that the nonsectarian requirement infringes on their constitutional rights, such as the First Amendment right to the free exercise of religion because it bars them from using state funds to send their children to religious schools.

The 1st Circuit has twice before rejected similar arguments against the states nonsectarian requirement.

[B]ut, in the interim, the Supreme Court of the United States has decided two cases that the plaintiffs contend require us now to reverse course, the panels ruling, authored by Judge David Barron, an Obama appointee, reads.

Even accounting for that fresh precedent, however, we see no reason to do so. We thus affirm the District Court's grant of judgment to the Commissioner.

In 2017, the Supreme Court set a similar precedent in the 2017 ruling in Trinity Lutheran v. Comer, where it ruled 7-2 to strike down a Missouri constitutional provision that barred the "public treasury" from funding "aid of any church, section or denomination of religion even if the funding is meant for secular purposes.

In the ruling, the Supreme Court concluded that Trinity Lutheran Church of Columbia cant be barred from a state aid program to help preschool and daycare facilities resurface their playgrounds.

The plaintiffs in the Maine lawsuit argued that the Trinity Lutheran decision "radically changed the constitutional landscape of First Amendment free exercise challenges."



However, the state argues that the Maine school aid program differs from the ones at issue in Espinoza and Trinity Lutheran.

"Maine's tuition program is not [a] 'voucher' or 'school choice' program where parents are given the opportunity to select a school other than the public school that their student would otherwise attend, Commissioner Pender Makin was quoted as arguing in the 1st Circuit ruling.

Barron added that Maine uses the tuition benefit to ensur[e] that the state-paid-for education at private schools in those districts is roughly equivalent to the education [students] would otherwise attend."
Theologian John Piper lists 7 ways Christians can battle a 'critical spirit'

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Theologian and Bible teacher John Piper listed seven strategies Christians can employ to combat the tendency toward having a "critical spirit."

On Monday's episode of the Desiring God podcast Ask Pastor John, a listener identified as Alan asked: What does the Bible say about a critical spirit? What is a critical spirit? I assume holding high expectations is not the same thing as having a critical spirit.' So when do high expectations become sinful judgmentalism? And how can I fight against this tendency inside of me to focus mostly on the failures of others?

Starting with the premise that all people are wired to be critical, Piper went on to list seven ways he found through personal experience and reading the Bible to battle a critical spirit.

The first was to recognize ones own faults, with Piper pointing to a passage in Matthew Chapter 7 in which Jesus warns His followers about being hypocrites when judging others.

The second was to remember what one is saved from, the third was to be thankful, and the fourth was to meditate on what love is and how essential love is to the Christian.

I think most of us should memorize all of First Corinthians 13. That chapter is only 13 verses long. Its the most important chapter on love in the Bible, Piper stressed.

And you can memorize it in a week if you put your mind to it, and then say it to yourself over and over again for a year or so, and see what happens.

Fifth, Piper recommended that believers ask themselves how being constantly critical is truly beneficial, noting that Jesus said thats a good question to ask when it comes to a lot of sins: What good are they doing? How are you helping anybody with that particular bent?

The sixth strategy Piper advised was to look at the whole of nature and cultivate a view of life, hour by hour, that is more expansive  bigger heart, global, universal, all-encompassing, God-entranced.

Finally, Piper recommended to always be focused on praise, with the theologian telling listeners to fill your mind and your heart and your mouth with praise.

The remedy to not be a cranky, hypercritical misfit is to be full of praise. So fix your eyes on God and the wonders of His creation and redemption, and be filled with praise, he concluded.

The Christian apologetics website Got Questions described a person with a critical spirit as being someone who is prone to complaining, seeing the glass as half-empty, ruing unmet expectations, sensing failure (in others more than in oneself), and being judgmental.

Regarding the issue of overcoming a critical spirit, Got Questions stated that the condition of our heart is crucial to dealing with the problem.

Critical words spring from a critical heart. And a critical heart generally comes from a misunderstanding of Gods grace  either due to pride or a simple lack of information about Gods character and the meaning of salvation, the website added.

Only when we understand our depravity apart from God and the depth of His grace will we be able to bestow grace to others.  The better we understand Gods grace, the more gracious we will be with others.
7 Reactions to the Death of John McCain

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U.S. Senator John McCain, R-Ariz., passed away Saturday at age 81.

McCain had served in Congress since first winning election to the House in 1982, and then the Senate in 1986. He ran for president in 2000, then again in 2008, when he secured the Republican nomination, chose Sarah Palin as his running mate, and was bested by then-Senator Barack Obama in the general election.

McCain had the reputation of a bipartisan negotiator on domestic policy, having co-authored the McCain-Feingold campaign finance reform law, and a supporter of a strong and active military in foreign policy.

The son and grandson of Navy admirals, he was a pilot during the Vietnam War, was shot down, and spent five years in a prison camp.

McCain is survived by his wife, Cindy, and five children. He will lie in state at the Arizona capital on Wednesday, the day he would have turned 82.

Here are reactions from various family members, and religious and political leaders.

Cindy McCain

"My heart is broken. I am so lucky to have lived the adventure of loving this incredible man for 38 years. He passed the way he lived, on his own terms, surrounded by the people he loved, in the the place he loved best."

Meghan McCain

"My father is gone, and I miss him as only an adoring daugher can. but in this loss, and in this sorrow, I take comfort in this: John McCain, hero of the Republic and to his little girls, wakes today to something more glorious than anything on this earth. Today the warrior enters his true and eternal life, greeted by those who have gone before him, rising to meet the Author of All Things: 'The dream is ended: this is the morning.'"

Russell Moore

"John McCain was a hero. He was tortured for his country, and stood up to his captors with courage. Ever since, he's stood up for the ideals of democracy and freedom at home and around the world.

"His death is an incalculable loss for our nation."

Michael Farris

"I had many face to face meetings with Senator John McCain. Sometimes we agreed. Sometimes we were on opposite sides of an issue.

"But I always knew that Senator McCain would be forthright and would not burn bridges so that there was no hope for future cooperation.

"I respect a man who will tell you the truth and will listen with civility the next time.

"I always enjoyed our interactions and I fully respected him. He served with civility and honor."

Sarah Palin

"Today we lost an American original. Sen. John McCain was a maverick and a fighter, never afraid to stand for his beliefs. John never took the easy path in life - and through sacrifice and suffering he inspired others to serve something greater than self. John McCain was my friend. I will remember the good times. My family and I send prayers for Cindy and the McCain family."

Barack and Michelle Obama

"John McCain and I were members of different generations, came from completely different backgrounds, and competed at the highest level of politics. But we shared, for all our differences, a fidelity to something higher -- the ideals for which generations of Americans and immigrants alike have fought, marched, and sacrificed. We saw our political battles, even, as a privilege, something noble, an opportunity to serve as stewards of those high ideals at home, and to advance them around the world. We saw this country as a place where anything is possible -- and citizenship as our patriotic obligation to ensure it forever remains that way.

"Few of us have been tested the way John once was, or required to show the kind of courage that he did. But all of us can aspire to the courage to put the greater good above our own. At John's best, he showed us what that means. And for that, we are all in his debt. Michelle and I send our most heartfelt condolences to Cindy and their family."

President Donald Trump

"My deepest sympathies and respect go out to the family of Senator John McCain. Our hearts and prayers are with you!"
Searches for 'sorcery' and 'soceries' saw largest increase on Bible Gateway in 2021

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Keyword searches for sorcery and sorceries had the highest percentage increase in 2021 on the Bible Gateway, a resource website used by millions throughout its 28-year history to search biblical terms and scriptures online.

The platform released data in its 2021 In Review summary detailing the biblical terminology that received the most traffic this year in its search engine.

The topics people search the Bible for on Bible Gateway are always interesting but this year may be the most intriguing, the review states.

Out of the well over 700,000 words that make up the Bible and could have been looked up using Bible Gateway, the searches for sorcery and sorceries showed a 193% increase compared to last year. Searches for those words nearly tripled from 2020.

According to the platform, those words likely got more attention based on heightened interest in the Greek word pharmakeia.

According to the Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary of the New Testament, pharmakeia means employment of drugs for any purpose; sorcery, magic, enchantment. The term is used in Galatians 5:20.

Pharmakeia is where we get our word pharmacy from, Bible Gateway Senior Director Stephen Smith told Premier Christian News. The terms themselves are actually not related, but I think that heightened interest in this word has led to additional heightened interest in searches for sorcery.

In addition to searches for sorcery, other topics that seemed to draw the most attention on the site were slow to anger and abounding in love, which both saw increases of 169%.

The phrase in my Fathers house there are many rooms jumped up 140%. The saying I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me shot up 102%, and your body is a temple increased 77%.

The words love, hope, peace, joy and faith were among the most popular keyword searches in 2021. Terms such as pestilence, plague and disease saw a 71% decrease in searches in 2021.

Biblical phrases, such as you have not because you ask not, in this world you will have trouble, be not afraid and if my people who are called by my name also saw decreased interest on Bible Gateway

John 3:16 and Jeremiah 29:11 received the title of most-popular Bible verses on the site for 2021. And Luke 10:18  I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven  showed a 518% increase in searches.

This is related to the shoes in March that had the drop of blood in them, Smith said, referring to sneakers released by rapper Lil Nas X called the Satan Shoes.

That entire increase was essentially from those two days.

The controversial shoes, which garnered much media attention, were a modified pair of Nike Air Max 97s that had a drop of human blood in the sole and Luke 10:18 printed on the side.

The Bible verse that saw the largest decrease in searches on Bible Gateway in 2021 was Isaiah 26:20-21 (92%), while 2 Chronicles 7:14 saw the second-largest drop (72%) after an increase in searches in 2020.

Last year, there was a big focus on repentance, Smith was quoted as saying. And sort of seeing in some circles as COVID-19 as a divine judgment in some circles, and that has fallen away to some extent.

Bible Gateway had roughly 3 million searches per day this year and saw increased usage from 2020 going into 2021.

Founded in 1993, the searchable online Bible is available in more than 200 versions and 70 languages. Also available as an app, Bible Gateway allows users to read and research Bible verses, engage with a library of audio Bibles, complete devotionals, email newsletters and access other free Bible resources.
Vermont can't bar Christian school students from tuition program, appeals court says

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A circuit court said Wednesday that the state of Vermont couldn't prohibit tuition funding from going to students who attend religious schools and detailed its reasons for halting what advocates say was "21 years of discrimination in Vermonts program."

The U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of four Catholic high school students, their parents and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington, Vermont, by issuing an injunction to require the state to include students who attend religious schools in its Town Tuition Program.

The program provides educational vouchers for students living in towns that do not have public schools to attend a private school, but students who chose religious private high schools, such as the diocese's Rice Memorial High School, were denied the benefit.

The students represented in this case applied for TTP payments to attend Rice Memorial but were denied.

Although the court initially issued the injunction in January, it released the opinion this week outlining the reasons for halting the prohibition on religious schools in the program.

Judge Steven Menashi, a Trump appointee, concluded that students going to religious high schools are entitled to TTP funding to the same extent as parents who choose secular schools for their children, regardless of Rices religious affiliation or activities.

Four years ago, the Supreme Court reminded states that it has repeatedly confirmed that denying a generally available benefit solely on account of religious identity imposes a penalty on the free exercise of religion that can be justified only by a state interest of the highest order, Menashi wrote in a concurring opinion.

Last June, the Court clarified that this rule does not allow a state to apply a state constitutional prohibition on aid to religion that would bar[] religious schools from public benefits solely because of the religious character of the schools,'" Menashi continued.

"The Court emphasized that [s]tatus-based discrimination remains status based even if one of its goals or effects is preventing religious organizations from putting aid to religious uses and that a state cannot justify discrimination against religious schools and students by invoking an interest in separating church and State more fiercely than the Federal Constitution."

The judge stated that officials who administer the TTP program "continued to discriminate against religious schools and students in violation of the First Amendment."

The Supreme Court has made clear that the prevailing practice in Vermont  maintaining a policy of excluding religious schools from the TTP  is unconstitutional," he added.

Attorneys with the Alliance Defending Freedom, which represented the plaintiffs, claimed the mandate violated the students First Amendment rights and the free exercise of religion by forcing families to choose between religion or a public benefit.

Today the court powerfully affirmed the principle that people of faith deserve equal access to public benefits everyone else gets, ADF Legal Counsel Paul Schmitt said in a statement.

Once Vermont chose to subsidize private education, it could not disqualify some private schools solely because they are too religious, he continued. When the state offers parents school choice, it cannot take away choices for a religious school.  For too long, Vermont unconstitutionally forced families to choose between exercising their religion or enjoying a publicly available benefit.

The defendants said the religious students' benefits were denied because the students wanted a right to religious education at the public's expense and claim this right does not exist.

The Second Circuit's opinion indicates a circuit split as the First Circuit ruled last year against parents in Maine seeking state tuition assistance to put their children in a religious private school.

The First Circuit shot down the argument that the Supreme Court's 2017 ruling in Trinity Lutheran v. Comer should be seen as a precedent for cases dealing with tuition for religious schools. The Supreme Court ruled that Missouri couldn't deny secular aid funding for a church to improve its daycare playground. The First Circuit upheld the notion that the Supreme Court didn't speak to government funds being used for religious purposes.

Last June, the Supreme Court ruled by a narrow margin that religious schools can qualify for a state tax credit program despite a state constitution ban on public aid for religious entities.
Confronting Atheistic Ideas, Debunking Bad Theology and Defending the Pro-Life Position  All While Keeping a Christian Tone

Do you struggle with knowing what to say and how to say it when a controversial topic comes up? Challenging Conversations, hosted by best-selling author and worldview expert Jason Jimenez, is a conversational podcast designed to help Christians overcome their fears and learn to respectfully engage people of a different view or belief system.

Brought to you by Edifi, the premiere podcast app to play thousands of your favorite Christian podcasts every day, Challenging Conversations helps you gain insight as Jason and his guests get into deep conversations about the Christian faith and discuss how Christians ought to be defending the gospel as they speak the truth in love to those around them.

Explore this powerful apologetics podcast. Here are the first six episodes:

The Christian Left Hijacking the Church: Are you concerned about the Christian Left's expanding influence over churches? If that is the case, you don't want to miss what Jason Jimenez and Lucas Miles expose about this ideological movement and how you can defend against it. Hear this powerful episode.

Is Progressive Christianity Biblical? Would you say what progressive Christians believe about Jesus and salvation aligns with Scripture? In this episode, Jason Jimenez and Lucas Miles, author of "The Christian Left," discuss several key tenets of Progressive Christianity and explain why they are not biblical truths. Listen to this episode.

Responding to Atheistic Arguments: Why Their Top Claims Don't Hold Up to Scrutiny: Do you have a friend or family member who is an atheist? If so, then you won't want to miss this episode! Jason and world-renowned apologist, Dr. Frank Turek discuss a few of atheism's top arguments and why they don't hold up to scrutiny. Hear this powerful episode.

How to Raise Hard Working Kids: Is it hard motivating your kids to excel in school or map out a plan for their lives? In this episode, Jason talks with his long-time friend, Jason Benham, entrepreneur and Christian speaker and writer, on what parents can do to instill life lessons that are sure to build their kids up to their full potential as they live to honor God. Listen to this episode.

Why Are You Pro Life? How to Defend the Unborn: If someone were to ask you why you are pro-life, what would you say? In part two, Jason Jimenez and Scott Klusendorf (president of Life Training Institute) lay out the case for why they are pro-life. Their conversation will give you the reasoning and the skills to articulate your defense for the life of the unborn. Hear this powerful episode.

What Does it Mean to Be Pro-life? Part One: Many Christians say they are pro-life. But what does that mean? In part one of a two-part series, Jason chats with his good friend and leading pro-life apologist, Scott Klusendorf, to help Christians better understand the pro-life movement. Listen to this powerful episode.

Stay tuned every Friday for more episodes; you can subscribe on Edifi, Apple, Google, Stitcher, Spotify and other platforms!

Plus, want other Christian podcasts you can binge? If so, youre in luck  from explorations of spiritual warfare to daily devotionals and deeply-inspiring conversations, six additional new podcasts on The Edifi Podcast Network will help you grow in your faith:

PLAYING WITH FIRE PODCAST: Evil is real. But are demons active today? Can evil inhabit human beings? Is exorcism real? Join investigative journalist Billy Hallowell as he delves into the strange phenomena of supernatural activity through the harrowing stories of people who believe they have experienced ultimate evil, fought a battle they never expected  and have found healing. Listen to Playing With Fire on Edifi today!

CANCEL THIS!: Its time to talk with open hearts, open minds and an open Bible about the pressing topics Christians want to discuss  without the fear of being canceled. Join author and veteran firefighter/paramedic Jason Sautel as he explores current events, eternal truths and transformational lessons alongside some truly captivating guests. In the age of rabid cancel culture, Cancel This! isnt afraid to ask  and answer  the tough questions. Listen to Cancel This! right now on Edifi!

COMPELLED: Compelled is a seasonal podcast using gripping, immersive storytelling to celebrate the powerful ways God is transforming the lives of Christians around the world. These Christian testimonies are raw, true, and powerful. Be encouraged and let your faith be strengthened! Listen to Compelled right now on Edifi!

LIVING FEARLESS DEVOTIONAL: Andy, a former Anaheim Police Officer and Hedieh, a former Muslim and Counterterrorism expert who became a Christian, share their real life joys and challenges of following Jesus, with the help of various daily devotional authors. Listen to Living Fearless Devotional right now on Edifi!

BOLD AND BLUNT: Washington Times online opinion editor Cheryl Chumley brings her no-holds-barred take on the big issues of the day. Listen to Bold and Blunt right now on Edifi!

CHALLENGING CONVERSATIONS: Do you struggle with knowing what to say and how to say it when a controversial topic comes up? Challenging Conversations, hosted by best-selling author and worldview expert Jason Jimenez, is a conversational podcast designed to help Christians overcome their fears and learn to respectfully engage people of a different view or belief system. You will gain insight as Jason and his guests get into deep conversations about the Christian faith and discuss how Christians ought to be defending the gospel as they speak the truth in love to those around them. Hear Challenging Conversations right now on Edifi!

Download the Edifi app on the Apple and Android stores to hear thousands of great Christian podcasts today. And be sure to also check out other shows in the Edifi Podcast Network!
Biden has no plans to visit families of 6 killed, over 60 injured in Waukesha Christmas parade attack

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President Joe Biden has no plans to visit the families of victims from last months Christmas parade attack in Waukesha, Wisconsin, which left six people dead and over 60 others injured.

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki was asked last week why Biden had not visited Waukesha after a 39-year-old man allegedly drove his SUV through barricades and into a crowd of people attending the parade on Nov. 21.

Well, I would say first, as you saw the president convey last week, our hearts go out to this community, to the people in Waukesha; that weve been in touch, obviously, with officials there; and were all watching as people are recovering, Psaki said.

And this is such a difficult time of year for this to happen. Its difficult anytime. Obviously, any president going to visit a community requires a lot of assets, requires taking their resources, and its not something that I have a trip previewed at this ... point in time, but we remain in touch with local officials.

Psaki concluded, And certainly, our hearts are with the community as theyve gone through such a difficult time.

Authorities allege that Darrell Brooks Jr. intentionally ran over people with his vehicle after fleeing a domestic disturbance nearby.

Were confident he acted alone, stated Waukesha Police Chief Daniel Thompson during a press conference. Thompson said all evidence suggests that This is not a terrorist event.

Those who died in the attack included 8-year-old Jackson Sparks, 79-year-old Virginia Sorenson, 71-year-old LeAnna Owen, 52-year-old Tamara Durand, 52-year-old Jane Kulich and 81-year-old Wilhelm Hospel.

Sparks death was announced by his familys congregation, LifePoint Church of Mukwonago.

A GoFundMe campaign has raised nearly $472,000 as of Monday afternoon to support the Sparks family as they face mounting medical expenses.

The campaign page states that Tucker Sparks, Jacksons brother, suffered road rash and a fractured skull.

Tucker, by the grace of God is miraculously recovering from his injuries and will be being discharged home," the campaign explains. "Our dear Jackson has sadly succumbed to his injuries and passed away.

At least 16 children were admitted to Childrens Hospital of Wisconsin after being injured at the parade, the hospital announced. Initially, six children were in critical condition, three in fair condition and four in good condition. The hospital stated last Wednesday that five children were still being cared for in the Milwaukee hospital, four of which were in fair condition and one in serious condition.

It is important for the community to understand that while the medical conditions of the children involved have improved, many face a journey of long recovery as a result of serious injuries, the hospitals Dec. 1 statement reads. These children are able to go home or be transferred out of intensive care, but they will continue to need the love, support and dedication of the community.

Childrens Hospital also reported that therapists with its Mental and Behavioral Health Helpline have responded to calls from over 90 families in response to the Waukesha tragedy.

Others injured in the parade attack included a Catholic priest, Father Patrick Heppe, who was discharged from the hospital.
Salvation Army responds to claim that its promoting CRT, going 'woke

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The Salvation Army has responded to allegations that it's promoting critical race theory and removed a document that raised concerns among some donors.

Known for being among the most prominent faith-based charity organizations in the United States, the Salvation Army is facing criticism for publishing a document titled Lets Talk About Racism. Intended to serve as a resource developed to guide The Salvation Army family in gracious discussions about overcoming the damage racism has inflicted upon our world, the document pushes back on the belief of some that the U.S. is a post-racial society and promotes works written by proponents of the controversial Marxist ideology known as critical race theory or CRT.

The 67-page document, crafted by the Salvation Armys International Social Justice Commission, provides a framework for five discussion sessions to take place among small groups of employees. The introduction to the Lets Talk About Racism guide indicated an urgent need for Christians to evaluate racist attitudes and practices in light of our faith, and to live faithfully in todays world.

The document states: many have come to believe that we live in a post-racial society, and further suggests that racism is very real for our brothers and sisters who are refused jobs and housing, denied basic rights and brutalized and oppressed simply because of the color of their skin.

The Lets Talk About Racism guide has received particular scrutiny from the group Color Us United, which advocates for a race-blind America and works to oppose those dividing America by race, religion, sexual orientation or any other characteristic in the name of racial equity.

Color Us United has launched a petition seeking to keep the Salvation Army focused on its good works and prevent it from going woke. The petition, which had garnered more than 15,200 signatures as of Monday afternoon, called for a revocation of the Lets Talk About Racism document and asked the International Social Justice Commission of the Salvation Army to recognize that the suggestion that their membership ought to repent on behalf of the church, while well-intentioned, is antithetical to the Christian ethic of individual salvation.

The Salvation Army pulled the document from its website in response to criticism. It subsequently issued a statement expressing regret that elements of the recently issued Lets Talk About Racism guide led some to believe we think they should apologize for the color of their skin, or that The Salvation Army may have abandoned its Biblical beliefs for another philosophy or ideology.

That was never our intention, so the guide has been removed for appropriate review, the charity organization added.

In a short video released Friday, Salvation Army National Commander Ken Hodder rejected assertions that the charity organization has endorsed critical race theory: We endorse no social theory or philosophy and we never will. And were not asking anyone to apologize for the color of their skin.

The charity cited the document as one of several internal study guides on various complex topics to help foster positive conversations and grace-filled reflection among Salvationists. It insisted that No one is being told how to think. Period. The controversy surrounding the guide comes as outrage over the spread of woke ideology and critical race theory has accelerated in the U.S.

Encyclopedia Brittanica defines critical race theory as an intellectual and social movement and loosely organized framework of legal analysis based on the premise that race is not a natural, biologically grounded feature of physically distinct subgroups of human beings but a socially constructed (culturally invented) category that is used to oppress and exploit people of color.

According to Encyclopedia Brittanica, critical race theorists hold that racism is inherent in the law and legal institutions of the United States insofar as they function to create and maintain social, economic, and political inequalities between whites and nonwhites, especially African Americans.

Such definitions of CRT that fail to mention its Marxist roots are denying reality, according to Paul Kengor, professor of political science and chief academic fellow of the Institute for Faith and Freedom at Grove City College.

Kengor noted in an op-ed published in The Christian Post that the origins of CRT are the "Frankfurt School, Freudo-Marxism. He further implored academics to "explain what CRT is and isnt. Most of all, rejecting CRT doesnt mean rejecting talking about racial discrimination. It didnt in the past and it wont in the future.

"Until then, in the spirit of Marxism, critical race theory will do what it does: divide people. We need to unite people around what is true," Kengor added.

Much like the Encyclopedia Brittanica, the Salvation Army's Lets Talk About Racism document asserts that Race is not biological. It is a social construct.

Additionally, the guide points to racial disparities in homeownership, health outcomes, education and incarceration as evidence of systemic and institutional racism in the U.S. It contains an essay titled What is Whiteness?, which urges readers to stop trying to be colorblind.

While this might sound helpful, it actually ignores all the God-given differences we possess, as well as the beautiful cultures of our Black and Brown brothers and sisters. Instead of trying to be colorblind, try seeing the beauty in our differences, and welcome them into your homes churches and workplaces. Being colorblind also ignores the discrimination our Black and Brown brothers and sisters face and does not allow us to address racism properly.

The What is Whiteness? essay as well as the document as a whole promote controversial books written by two prominent proponents of critical race theory: White Fragility by Robin Di Angelo and How to be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi.

As indicated in the Color Us United petition, the guide instructs readers to spend time repenting on behalf of the Church and asking for God to open hearts and minds to the issue of racism.

While the Lets Talk About Racism document has been removed from the Salvation Armys website as the charity considers whether certain aspects of the guide may need to be clarified, another guide titled Study Guide on Racism remains online.

The Study Guide on Racism asserts that the subtle nature of racism is such that people who are not consciously racist easily function within the privileges, empowerment and benefits of the dominant ethnicity, thus unintentionally perpetuating injustice.

However, the Study Guide on Racism also makes statements critics are less likely to find objectionable, including a declaration that the only race is the human one and a proclamation that followers of Jesus Christ now find essential unity in Him, rather than in culture and ethnicity.
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Denouncing Christian nationalism is de rigueur. But what is it? Originally it was understood as a conflation of Christian faith with national identity. But then it was expanded to include generic conservative religious political activism. Then it was expanded further to encompass any citation of Christianity in American history or the ongoing role of civil religion.

Christian nationalists were originally hyper-patriotic Evangelicals. But the ever-widening definition now, whether the critics realize it or not, includes liberal Mainline Protestants, black churches, and Catholics, all of whom address public issues with faith language. Nearly all of Christianity and most religions assume God has purposes for nations. Some critics of an elusively defined Christian nationalism seem to expect America to become France, with all religious language deemed inappropriate in public conversation.

This increasingly exacting expectation has prompted some Evangelicals to defend at least some forms of Christian nationalism. After all, they say, shouldnt Christians care about their nations and express themselves accordingly?

Christian nationalism is probably not a term worth defending. Carefully defined, it can usefully describe disturbing mis-directions of religion in national life. The fanatics who supportively prayed and brandished Christian symbols on behalf of the January 6 mob showcased destructive exploitation of Christian imagery. Some might be more accurately described as nativist folk religionists.

Others no doubt are sincerely Christian but inject their religious certitudes into politics, ascribing supernatural evil to opponents, sacralizing their allies, presuming all disputes are cosmic, rejecting compromise as demonic, and expecting apocalypse to be near.

Such fanaticism typically rejects religious hierarchy and denominations, relying on charismatic personalities, prophets and ostensible direct communications from God. It thrives on conspiracism, paranoia, and grievance against presumed elites who are supposedly masterminding great events to the detriment of the true elect.

These zealots are odd nationalists because typically they view the truly worthy as only a narrow slice of society. They claim to celebrate and defend the nation but see most of their countrymen as evil or deluded, manipulated by powerful sinister forces. In this sense, they are more accurately described as separatists and schismatics, who want to seize power on behalf of that minority who are the saints called to rule.

Paradoxically, these religious true believers are as Christian nationalists aligned with less religious zealots who are not conventionally pious but relish a cultural identity marinated in religious rhetoric. They are civil religionists on steroids, ignoring civil religions traditional inclusivity, patience, and moderation. They heed conspiracy narratives that empower them as Illuminati who really know what is happening, unlike the ignorant masses. For many of them, Christianity is not an invite into redemption but a shield against aliens.

The pious and not so pious who are these kinds of Christian nationalists merit critique from orthodox Christians who reject their millenarianism, their militant spiritualized political certitude that borders on jihadism, and their determination to fast track separating the sheep from the goats, preempting the Final Judgment.

What orthodox Christians can defend and offer as an alternative is a healthy nationalism that is not ideology but an appreciation that nation-states have providential utility for human prosperity. And they can explain Christianitys important role in shaping America, and the world, in ways pointing to human equality and human rights.

Traditional Christians can be nationalists in the sense of stewarding nation-states as communities God loves and that He wants to flourish. Christians can champion a civic nationalism that offers unifying themes coalescing diverse people for their common benefit. In these times of intense identity politics, which depend on division and resentment, inclusive nationalism is especially imperative.

Nationalism can be ennobling for creating social harmony and lofty purpose, overcoming religious, racial, and economic divisions. And it can be demonic if it seeks to divide, conquer and exploit, privileging one caste to rule others. Nelson Mandela and Gandhi were nationalists. So too were Mussolini and Saddam Hussein.

Every major branch of Christianity has contributed to building and sustaining healthy nation-states. Protestants, Catholics, and Orthodox have been and can be inclusive nationalists, rightly understood. The national visions they advocate seek to serve all citizens as equals in rights and duties. But Protestants, Catholics, and Orthodox cannot be Christian nationalists who think their heavenly citizenship is fully interchangeable with their earthly citizenship.

Christians in sync with the universal church understand that their faith is a call to service, not a passport for privilege or a banner for political conquest. Christianity absolutely has political implications, which include justice, mercy, and dignity for all. Persons seeking conflict and advantage, whether Christian nationalists or identity politics warriors, may not welcome this vision. But the ecumenical invite to just and harmonious societies surpasses all alternatives.

Originally published at Juicy Ecumenism.
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Believe in science.

Youve probably seen that common  and silly  trope on Left-wing political lawn signs. But what does it mean?

Science is a method, a tool, but those lawn signs seem to be calling for something else.

The statement instead most likely signifies that one believes in the politically compromised science of institutions promoting ideological outcomes.

It means believing in the American Medical Association, which now wants to drop the notation of sex from birth certificates without any medical justification.

It means trusting in health officials and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention when they call racism a public health threat, worthy of suspending COVID-19 precautions for social justice and Black Lives Matter protests, but for nothing else.

What we are seeing in America and throughout the West is a corruption of institutions in the name of ideology, in which merit is coming under assault in pursuit of political conformity.

A series of studies demonstrate how our institutions have become warped and made to serve this narrow interest at the expense of any pretense of meritocracy.

This transformation is fully underway.

The so-called STEM fields  science, technology, engineering and mathematics  certainly arent immune from politics. Scientists, like everyone else, have views of their own that can influence their work.

However, whats becoming clear is that as Americas most powerful institutions seek to reinforce their woke dogmas, they are insisting that ideology itself come before expertise in any field. Science and scientists must bend to the demands of ideology, much as they do under revolutionary, totalitarian regimes.

If you want to work or operate in most elite institutions, you increasingly need to declare a woke statement of faith. And of course, the most prestigious positions will be awarded to the most faithful.

1 in 5 academic jobs require DEI

A recent study by the American Enterprise Institute found that nearly one-fifth of academic jobs now require so-called diversity, equity and inclusion requirements. It found this by looking for words like diversity and diverse in schools public job postings. That didnt just appear in humanities departments, where one would perhaps expect more political bias. No, they occurred just as commonly in STEM job listings.

Here are some examples of what the job listings asked for:

How do you think about diversity, equity, and inclusion [DEI], including factors that influence underrepresentation of particular groups in academia, and the experiences of individuals from particular groups within academia? Have you been involved in activities to advance or promote a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment or institution? We note that activities could be large and organized or they could be specific and very personal. Please tell us the role that you played, what you did, what happened, and what you learned from the experience. Coming into a new institution will involve changes and being busy! Please let us know how you plan to integrate DEI into your role as a faculty member, including new or existing initiatives you would like to be involved with.

Dont think you can escape the revolution in nonpolitical pursuits, and dont think you can remain nonpolitical. You must shout your conversion and demonstrate your commitment to the revolution  or else.

The study used an example to show just how intense this strict ideological screening has become at some elite schools. It used the example of applications for a life sciences post at Berkeley:

The scale of the resulting purge would make Stalin blush. Of 893 nominally qualified candidates, 679 were eliminated solely due to insufficiently woke diversity, equity and inclusion statements. In other words, Berkeley used a political litmus test to eliminate over three-quarters of the applicant pool.

So much for inclusion.

On top of that, the diversity statements were even more commonly demanded at elite universities than at non-elite schools. One of the studys authors, the Educational Freedom Institutes James D. Paul, commented in an interview with The Washington Free Beacon that it shows how ideology is now taking precedence over merit.

To be a member of the new ruling elite, one doesnt really have to be elite. This isnt Thomas Jeffersons natural aristocracy of the most able and educated, who rise to the top in a free society.

No, under the new rules, its more important to be in good ideological standing, to have the same beliefs, tastes, interests and attitudes as everyone else in that upper class.

Whats notable is that the AEI studys authors admitted they might have even underestimated the extent of ideological screening as they narrowed their search terminology to the words diverse and diversity. Thats because the wide swath of various other initiatives that fall under the same ideological umbrella werent necessarily caught up in the search.

Its like the issue involving how much critical race theory is being taught in K-12 schools. Its not actually labeled critical race theory 101 for kindergartners. Instead, it relies on the terminology and ideas associated with the ideology, with concepts such as anti-racism and white privilege being among the many tip-offs.

In addition, the study only covered public postings. Its quite possible that many more jobs require statements of diversity, equity and inclusion as part of the application process.

One might ask, why are institutions all becoming like this? Why are they in such lockstep in demanding rigid ideological enforcement?

Government speeds up revolution

There are many answers to that question. One of those is brought to light by another study, this one by the Center for the Study of Partisanship and Ideology, which showed that at least some of this transformation is being openly encouraged by the federal government.

The study found that one-third of National Science Foundation grants use the language of diversity, equity and inclusion in their abstracts. It represents a sharp uptick from just three decades ago, when higher education was already quite Left-wing, compared with the rest of the country.

Interestingly, Jeremiah Poff at the Washington Examiner noted that the largest increase in ideologically loaded grants occurred in human resources and in math and physical sciences.

The human resources officers and administrators are, of course, the enforcers. They are the most effective way to get institutions to conform to and promote an ideology.

This affects public and private institutions alike. Yale, for instance, now has more administrators than undergraduate students. And those administrators are often focused on promoting diversity, equity and inclusion. They are the most responsible for stamping out diversity of opinion.

Ironically, in the name of diversity, equity and inclusion, they are eradicating diversity, equity and inclusion.

Managerial revolution goes woke

The administrative state is using taxpayer money to advance and reinforce the cultural revolution. This is the woke-industrial complex in action.

It again highlights why trust in institutions is disintegrating. One after another  from academia to media to medicine and science to corporate America  conform to an ideological hive mind facilitated by the encouragement of an unaccountable administrative state.

Thats how the managerial revolution went woke and began corrupting even science.

As with the fight over critical race theory in K-12 schools playing out around the country, its now the people versus the institutions. Well see who is stronger.

Originally published at The Daily Signal.
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Every single person, including those who struggle deeply with who they are, are made in the image and likeness of God. However much someone can be mistaken in their self-understanding, whatever theyve done to add to their own confusion, theyre still infinitely valuable and worthy of the fullest expressions of our love and care. This includes every person within the growing population of people who identify as transgender.

Because of this, it is important to say, definitively, that radical transgender ideology is destructive, harmful, and disconnected from reality.

We are told, of course, that anything less than fully embracing radical transgender ideology is actually what is harmful. We frequently hear, for example, that people who identify as transgender are the most vulnerable group in the world and that critiquing transgender ideology is committing violent discrimination.

But how true are these claims? In October, Madison Smith, with the UK Critic, wrote about the claim that those who identify as transgender are the most marginalized, abused, and vulnerable group in the world. After reviewing the data, Smith concluded,  even though weve seen a sharp rise in the number of people who identify as transgender in the last few years, a trans person hasnt been murdered in the U.K. for nearly three years. Furthermore, there are no reports ever of a trans person in Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland being murdered.

Journalist Anna Slatz elaborates further: According to Human Rights Campaigns running list of trans deaths [in the U.S.], only two [are] being investigated as potential hate crimes. Despite this, the group categorizes all 44 of the deaths as hate crimes, even when they had nothing to do with being transgender at all.

Any death is tragic because every human being has inherent value. Any act of violence against transgender people, including an act committed against someone for being transgender, is unacceptable. But thats precisely the point Smith and Slatz are making: the reports of widespread trans-phobic violence simply dont add up.

Instead, the claim is used as a bludgeon to silence anyone who criticizes transgender ideology, the view that ones inner sense of self is so definitive that people must change their bodies to accommodate their dysphoria. Assumed by those who advance this ideology is that anything less than encouraging people to embrace gender confusion is violence against them.

The awful truth and tragic irony are that, in reality, it is the current practices of transgender treatment in medicine that causes harm. In his book When Harry Became Sally, Ryan T. Anderson argues that between 80% and 90% of children who say they are transgender eventually abandon those feelings by late adolescence. However, many adolescents are immediately encouraged by the cultural voices and even trusted adults to do real, irreversible damage to their minds and bodies.

This is why Christians must remember that love for our neighbors, especially the most vulnerable ones, demands telling the truth. As more and more stories of de-transitioners emerge, we hear from people who regret the invasive procedures of so-called gender transition. They report long-term physical side effects from testosterone injections and surgical mutilations, as well as mental side effects such as anxiety, depression and suicidal intention. Even if many in the larger culture wish that these people did not exist, they do, and their inherent dignity and value demand that they be heard.

For the love of God and these neighbors, Christians must have the courage to speak the truth, even about this very difficult and socially risky issue. We do so not because we want to be right, but because the Gospel is a message of hope. Its a message that says we need not be victims of bad ideas, and our minds need not be captive to destructive ideologies which tell us our bodies are secondary, malleable or irrelevant. The Gospel offers what we need: forgiveness, holiness, a new identity and a clean start.

The swelling numbers of young people identifying as LGBT should tell us that captivity to great confusion is a culture-wide phenomenon today. At the same time, we must never lose sight that the victims of the bad ideas are individuals, often children. They must know what Christ has to offer them.

Consider the late Sy Rogers, who, after beginning what was at the time avant-garde hormone therapy through Johns Hopkins medicine, de-transitioned and found new life in Christ. He died two years ago, a married father and grandfather, faithfully walking out the Christian ethic of sexuality, even as he called LGBT people to a new encounter with the God who made them and loves them.

That message of the possibilities of grace, grounded in steadfast truth and Christs love, is needed now more than ever, especially as people deal with the fallout of destructive trans-narratives around us. For the sake of God and neighbor, we, of all people, must not live by lies.

Originally published at BreakPoint.
EU scraps inclusive language guidelines advising Christmas be replaced with 'holiday times'

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The executive branch of the European Union has withdrawn its guidelines for inclusive communication, which suggested that European Commission officials update the language they use by replacing the word Christmas with holiday times" and avoiding gendered words.

The 32-page guide, advising those in the European Commission who speak about EU policies in public, has been pulled out about a month after it was issued due to an internal pushback, The Sunday Times reports.

The document advised avoiding references to Christmas and Christian names to avoid giving the impression of intolerance or judgment, fuel stereotypes or single out one religious group.

Because not everyone celebrates the Christmas holidays, the guidelines reportedly advised that officials need to be sensitive to the fact that people have different religious traditions.

Antonio Tajani, former president of the European Parliament and a member of the center-right political party Forza Italia party, is among those who objected to the guidelines.

Inclusion does not mean denying the Christian roots of the #EU, Tajani tweeted.

Ursula von der Leyen, the Commissions president, had reportedly rejected the guidelines before the withdrawal, sources told The Telegraph.

EU Commissioner for Equality, Helena Dalli, said in a statement that the guidebook clearly needed more work.

My initiative to draft guidelines as an internal document for communication by commission staff in their duties was intended to achieve an important aim: to illustrate the diversity of European culture and showcase the inclusive nature of the European commission towards all walks of life and beliefs of European citizens, she said, according to The Guardian. However, the version of the guidelines published does not adequately serve this purpose.

She added: It is not a mature document and does not meet all Commission quality standards. I therefore withdraw the guidelines and will work further on this document.

The guide also suggested that the gender binary of male and female  Mr., Mrs. and Ms should be dropped unless requested.

In the absence of such information, Mx should be used as the default, it stated.  Avoid gender-specific pronouns for people whose gender is unknown ... so as not to exclude intersex persons and gender-queer people and not to make them invisible.

It added: Do not ask what pronoun a person prefers. This assumes that gender identity is a personal preference  it is not. Ask how they describe themselves. What are your pronouns?

The guidance also encouraged officials to [b]e careful about the use of gay and lesbian as nouns, which may be considered inappropriate. The term homosexual can be considered offensive because it follows the medical model and is sometimes used by anti-gay activists.

The document was criticized by Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin in an interview with Vatican News.

Unfortunately, the tendency is to homogenize everything, not knowing how to respect the rightful differences, which naturally must not become an adversarial issue or a source of discrimination, but must be integrated in order to build a full and integral humanity, he said.

And whoever goes against reality puts himself in serious danger. And then there is the cancelation of our roots, especially as regards Christian holidays, the Christian dimension of our Europe, too.
US govt raises serious concern over UN resolution omitting Jewish ties to Temple Mount

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The United States has raised serious concern over a resolution passed by the United Nations General Assembly that refers to Judaisms most holy site, the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, where the first and second Jewish Temples once stood, by only its Muslim name, al-Haram al-Sharif.

The Jerusalem resolution, which is part of what is known as the Palestinian Package, pushed by the Palestinian Authority and the Arab states and passed last week, recalls a 2015 U.N. Security Council press statement on Jerusalem, calling for upholding unchanged the historic status quo at the Haram alSharif.

As many as 129 countries voted in favor of the resolution and 11 voted against it, with 31 abstentions.

The U.S. reacted to the passing of the resolution by saying that the omission was of real and serious concern.

"It is morally, historically and politically wrong for the Assembly to support language that denies both the Jewish and Muslim connections to the Temple Mount and Haram alSharif," he said, according to a U.N. press release.

Sudqi Atallah Abd Alkadetr al Omoush of Jordan added, "Jordan is committed to protecting Muslim and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem and will counter any attempts to alter the status of those sites."

The other two resolutions, Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine and The Syrian Golan, which are part of the Palestinian Package, were also passed.

Different versions of the three resolutions are passed by the U.N. General Assembly every year.

They were last passed  with the Jerusalem resolution passing with the support of 148 member countries  at the General Assembly in 2018. Its support has dropped by 19 points this year. Twenty countries that voted in favor of the resolution in 2018 chose to abstain this year, including Austria, Brazil, Germany, India, Kenya, the Netherlands, Ukraine and the United Kingdom, The Times of Israel noted.

The representative of Israel said that by voting in favor of these resolutions, the international community is directly contributing to prolonging the conflict.

The Temple Mount compound, located in the heart of Jerusalems Old City, is considered the holiest place in Judaism, and also houses the Al-Aqsa Mosque, the third-holiest site in Islam.

A British envoy was quoted as saying that the resolution refers to the holy sites in Jerusalem in purely Islamic terms without recognizing the Jewish terminology of Temple Mount.

The U.K. has made clear for many years that we disagree with this approach  and while we welcome the removal of the majority of these references, we are disappointed that we were unable to find a solution to the final reference, the envoy continued. The U.K. has therefore moved our vote today from a yes to an abstention. If the unbalanced reference had been removed, the U.K. would have been ready and willing to vote yes.

No Arab country  not even Israels newest allies, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco  opposed or abstained from voting.

Israeli Ambassador to the U.N., Gilad Erdan, responded by saying that the automatic majority in the U.N. that votes in favor of pro-Palestinian decisions is shameful and makes the U.N. irrelevant and without real influence.

But the fact that 19 other countries made the right choice and realized that a distorted and false resolution could not be supported is a positive development that we must encourage, he was quoted as saying. There is still a long way to go, but the change in last nights vote was important and there is no doubt that it will also affect more votes in the future.
home World US govt raises serious concern over UN resolution omitting Jewish ties to Temple Mount

The United States has raised serious concern over a resolution passed by the United Nations General Assembly that refers to Judaisms most holy site, the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, where the first and second Jewish Temples once stood, by only its Muslim name, al-Haram al-Sharif.

The Jerusalem resolution, which is part of what is known as the Palestinian Package, pushed by the Palestinian Authority and the Arab states and passed last week, recalls a 2015 U.N. Security Council press statement on Jerusalem, calling for upholding unchanged the historic status quo at the Haram alSharif.

As many as 129 countries voted in favor of the resolution and 11 voted against it, with 31 abstentions.

The U.S. reacted to the passing of the resolution by saying that the omission was of real and serious concern.

"It is morally, historically and politically wrong for the Assembly to support language that denies both the Jewish and Muslim connections to the Temple Mount and Haram alSharif," he said, according to a U.N. press release.

Sudqi Atallah Abd Alkadetr al Omoush of Jordan added, "Jordan is committed to protecting Muslim and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem and will counter any attempts to alter the status of those sites."

The other two resolutions, Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine and The Syrian Golan, which are part of the Palestinian Package, were also passed.

Different versions of the three resolutions are passed by the U.N. General Assembly every year.

They were last passed  with the Jerusalem resolution passing with the support of 148 member countries  at the General Assembly in 2018. Its support has dropped by 19 points this year. Twenty countries that voted in favor of the resolution in 2018 chose to abstain this year, including Austria, Brazil, Germany, India, Kenya, the Netherlands, Ukraine and the United Kingdom, The Times of Israel noted.

The representative of Israel said that by voting in favor of these resolutions, the international community is directly contributing to prolonging the conflict.

The Temple Mount compound, located in the heart of Jerusalems Old City, is considered the holiest place in Judaism, and also houses the Al-Aqsa Mosque, the third-holiest site in Islam.

A British envoy was quoted as saying that the resolution refers to the holy sites in Jerusalem in purely Islamic terms without recognizing the Jewish terminology of Temple Mount.

The U.K. has made clear for many years that we disagree with this approach  and while we welcome the removal of the majority of these references, we are disappointed that we were unable to find a solution to the final reference, the envoy continued. The U.K. has therefore moved our vote today from a yes to an abstention. If the unbalanced reference had been removed, the U.K. would have been ready and willing to vote yes.

No Arab country  not even Israels newest allies, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco  opposed or abstained from voting.

Israeli Ambassador to the U.N., Gilad Erdan, responded by saying that the automatic majority in the U.N. that votes in favor of pro-Palestinian decisions is shameful and makes the U.N. irrelevant and without real influence.

But the fact that 19 other countries made the right choice and realized that a distorted and false resolution could not be supported is a positive development that we must encourage, he was quoted as saying. There is still a long way to go, but the change in last nights vote was important and there is no doubt that it will also affect more votes in the future.



Original published in The Christian Post.
I think dogs are the most amazing creatures; they give unconditional love. For me, they are the role model for being alive.  Gilda Radner

If youre a dog parent, then the quote above rings true. Not only do they provide unmatched companionship, but research has also found that your furry best friend has numerous benefits. Of course, since they have to be walked, this squeezes in some much-needed physical activity. But, owning a dog can also help you become calmer, more mindful, and feel less isolated.

As that werent enough, life is just genuinely better and more enjoyable when theyre around. I wake up every morning to my dog rolling around the bed with pure joy on her face. I cant help but laugh. And, I think thats one of the best ways to greet the day.

Moreover, nothing beats coming home to see her excitement. I also cant imagine my workday without her company. So, for example, when I get frustrated or cant get in the zone, well go for a walk. Or shell just come over so that I can pet her until I chill out.

Since Ive grown up my entire life around dogs, Ive always been aware of all the above. The other day, however, during our post-lunch stroll, I came to the conclusion that dogs could be beneficial to entrepreneurs. Why? Well, here are 11 solid reasons.

1. Owning a dog is good for your ticker.

You can live a longer life if you own a dog. An extensive review of studies conducted between 1950 and 2019 revealed that dog owners have a lower risk of dying. According to research, the reason, at least, is that dog owners have better responses to stress and lower blood pressure levels.

The mere presence of a dog makes a difference. Its been found that people who had previously experienced coronary events had even lower mortality rates. Its believed that this is because the human-dog bonds reduce stress, one of the leading causes of cardiovascular disease.

A Gallup Wellbeing Index found that 45% of entrepreneurs are stressed, compared to 42% of other workers. Additionally, entrepreneurs are more likely to report having worried a lot, at 34% versus 30%. So while having a dog wont completely eliminate this stress, it could potentially alleviate your stress enough to be a lifesaver.

2. Dogs reduce stress and anxiety.

Continuing from the previous point  dogs have been found to not only lower stress but anxiety as well.

In one study, 48 participants were given a stress test where they had to do public speaking and then perform difficult calculations while unfriendly observers watched them, writes Jill Suttie, Psy.D., for Greater Good. The participants were randomly assigned to have either a friend, a dog they didnt know or no one accompany them before and during the test. Heart rate and cortisol levels were measured before, just after, and 30 minutes after the test, and anxiety scales were filled out.

While everyone became more anxious during the test and showed higher heart rates and cortisol levels, those participants paired with a dog had lower levels of both than those with no support or even those with a friend, states Suttie. This suggests that dogs may help us heal from stressful conditions.

What if you cant have a pet? There is some evidence to suggest that just seeing videos of dogs can reduce anxiety and stress. Therefore, she adds, its no surprise that many of us turn to adorable puppy (and cat) videos for relief.

3. Dogs increase oxycontin.

Being around an animal increases your oxytocin levels. This is a neurotransmitter that reduces fear and increases trust for the uninitiated. Moreover, its oxytocin that helps strengthen the bond between you and your dog while helping you relax as well.

Therefore, petting your dog isnt just enjoyable. Its physiologically beneficial to you both.

As for entrepreneurs, this could be a simple way to help you fight back against an always-on culture.

4. Being around dogs boosts your mood.

How can you be sad when youre around your furry family member? Personally, I would say thats a tough fear. And, several studies confirm this sentiment.

Several mood-boosting hormones, including oxytocin, serotonin, and prolactin, are released when participants stroke their dogs  even its just for a few minutes. And, considering that 72% of entrepreneurs have self-reported mental health concerns, any type of relief is welcome.

5. Having a dog keeps your weight in check.

You become more active when you own a dog without even realizing it. By playing with your dog and going for walks, you provide your body with additional exercise every day  which is vital if you live a sedentary lifestyle.

According to Healthy People, in one study, 20 minutes of walking your dog five times a week resulted in a 14.4-pound weight loss over the course of a year.

Furthermore, according to another study, dog owners walk an average of 2,760 more steps than non-dog owners.

We were amazed to find that dog walkers were on average more physically active and spent less time sitting on the coldest, wettest, and darkest days than non-dog owners were on long, sunny, and warm summer days, said Andy Jones, a University of East Anglia professor who was in charge of the study.

Even if you dont need to shed any pounds, at least walking or playing with your best friend keeps you physically active. In turn, this can build your energy and stamina thats sorely needed as an entrepreneur.

6. Dogs can teach you valuable skills.

Dog owners know that training requires time, effort, and patience  all things that are useful in other aspects of our lives, note the folks over at Purina. But that isnt the only thing having a dog teaches us. From enjoying the great outdoors to appreciate the smaller things in life, our dogs really know how to lead by example when it comes to happiness.

Additionally, having a family dog can teach children responsibilities, like feeding and walking them. One study concluded that Attachment to pets has an important role in childrens social, emotional, and cognitive development, mental health, well-being, and quality of life. It also stated that dogs may help children to regulate their emotions.

Even if you wait until adulthood to have your own dog, you can learn these skills. Just ask anyone who just got a puppy how much responsibility they now have. Its seriously like having a newborn.

Whats more, your dog can help improve your communication skills. Mainly, this is because they encourage conversations, help you read non-verbal cues, and focus on the other person. Also, theyll make you more empathetic.

Finally, a study at Tufts Universitys Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine found that the attachment a person has to a pet enables them to feel more connected to their community and to their human relationships.

Suffice to say, all of these skills are essential for entrepreneurs to possess if they want to be successful.

7. Having dogs at work reduces absenteeism.

Whether youre working remotely, hybrid, or in a traditional workplace setting, dog ownership reduces personal or sick days. One reason is that having a dog strengthens that immune system. Another is that having a pooch around leads to a more calm and enjoyable work environment.

Furthermore, research shows that employees who bring their dogs to work have higher levels of job satisfaction and have more positive perceptions of their employers.

8. Dogs encourage work-life integration.

The ability to bring dogs to work allows your and your team to successfully balance their personal and professional lives. For example, since their pup will be at work, theres no need to worry or rush home to feed and walk the dog.

Similarly, this can also improve productivity.

This makes sense when you consider that multiple studies have shown that taking short breaks throughout the workday  whether its for a game of fetch during lunch or to stop and give a pooch a good scratch behind the ear  helps employees regain their focus and energy, preventing that common mid-afternoon slump, says Amanda Augustine, a career expert for TopResume.

9. Dogs make the dream work.

According to a study from Central Michigan University, dogs can boost teamwork through trust and collaboration. For example, those who worked on a project together while a dog was present, ranked their team-mates more highly on measures of trust, team cohesion and intimacy than those who had not.

10. Have a dog, retain employees.

Keeping morale high and your employees happy is key to retaining workers. This leads to better productivity and profitability. It should come as no surprise then that in a Fortune.com survey, 53% of employees in non-pet-friendly offices say theyd be more likely to stay if they could bring their pets into the office.

11. Dogs can improve your companys image.

Last week I stopped by my local convenience store to pick some last-minute dinner items. To my delighted surprise, the owner just got an adorable yellow lab puppy. As I did my shopping, this bundle of joy followed me around the store. Needless to say, this made my experience much more pleasant  and I will gladly revisit soon to hang out with this puppy again.

It should go without saying that incorporating a dog-friendly culture can bolster your companys reputation.

And, as an added perk, thats just not when it comes to customers. So its also an effective tactic for attracting top talent as Millennials, in particular, demand more pet-inclusive workplaces.

Employers are starting to realize that having a Millennial bring  a pet to work, you wind up getting a more focused employee, you get someone more comfortable at the office and a person willing to work longer hours, said Bob Vetere, president, and CEO of the American Pet Products Association, in an interview with CNBC.

According to Vetere, Millennials are likely to regard their pets as practice families or substitute families and seem to be more verbal in their wants and needs for their pet and for making sure their pet is well-tended and well cared for.

Image Credit: Alena Darmel; Pexels; Thank you!

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TechnipFMC plc FTI has won a lucrative 10-year framework agreement contract to supply wellheads, trees and related services from the Emirati state-owned firm Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC).

FTI will extend the current manufacturing, assembly and test capabilities in Abu Dhabi under the framework agreement to offer its full array of surface wellheads and trees domestically.

This is the largest Surface Technologies contract in FTI's history. It's based on TechnipFMC's decades-long relationship with ADNOC as well as its track record of product and technological innovation, execution and continual improvement.

ADNOC's trust in TechnipFMC's capacity to substantially develop its capabilities in-country, thus enabling it to fulfill its demands now and in the future, is demonstrated by the agreement's length.

Also, recently, TechnipFMC announced the receipt of a significant award from an affiliate of Exxon Mobil Corporation XOM. According to TechnipFMC, a contract is considered large if the value lies in the band of $500 million and $1 billion.

By dint of the award, TechnipFMC will be involved in supplying a subsea production system to develop ExxonMobils Yellowtail. In the prolific Stabroek Block, located offshore Guyana, Yellowtail is the 13th oil discovery of the energy supermajor XOM. The discovery was announced by its authorities in April 2019. The award also strengthened FTIs relationship with XOM. Overall, the feat is likely to have secured additional cashflows for TechnipFMC.

Zacks Rank & Key Picks

TechnipFMC currently has a Zack Rank #3 (Hold). Investors interested in the energy sector might look at the following stocks worth considering with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Occidental Petroleum Corporation OXY is an integrated oil and gas company with significant exploration and production exposure. OXY is also a producer of various basic chemicals, petrochemicals, polymers and specialty chemicals. As of 2020 end, OXY's preliminary worldwide proved reserves totaled 2.91 billion BOE compared with 3.9 billion BOE at the end of 2019.

In the past year, shares of Occidental Petroleum have surged 99% compared with the industry's growth of 96.6%. OXY's 2021 earnings are expected to soar 151.4% from the year-ago reported figure. OXY has also witnessed eight northward estimate revisions in the past 60 days. In the third quarter, OXY achieved its divestiture target of $10 billion by inking a deal to sell off its interest in two offshore Ghana assets for $750 million.

PDC Energy PDCE is an independent upstream operator dealing in exploration, development and production of natural gas, crude oil and natural gas liquids. PDCE, which reached its present form following the January 2020 combination with SRC Energy, is currently the second-largest producer in the Denver-Julesburg Basin. As of 2020 end, PDCE's total estimated proved reserves were 731,073 thousand barrels of oil equivalent.

In the past year, shares of PDC Energy have gained 169% compared with the industry's growth of 108.6%. PDCE's earnings for 2021 are expected to surge 273.4% from the prior-year reported figure. In the past 60 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for PDCE's 2021 earnings has been raised 26.8%. Earnings of PDCE beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in all the last four quarters, the average being 51.06%.

Infrastructure Stock Boom to Sweep America

A massive push to rebuild the crumbling U.S. infrastructure will soon be underway. Its bipartisan, urgent, and inevitable. Trillions will be spent. Fortunes will be made.

The only question is Will you get into the right stocks early when their growth potential is greatest?

Zacks has released a Special Report to help you do just that, and today its free. Discover 7 special companies that look to gain the most from construction and repair to roads, bridges, and buildings, plus cargo hauling and energy transformation on an almost unimaginable scale.

Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report



Exxon Mobil Corporation (XOM): Free Stock Analysis Report



Occidental Petroleum Corporation (OXY): Free Stock Analysis Report



TechnipFMC plc (FTI): Free Stock Analysis Report



PDC Energy, Inc. (PDCE): Free Stock Analysis Report



To read this article on Zacks.com click here.



Zacks Investment Research

Copyright 2021 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved
In the past week, United Airlines UAL operated the first ever commercial flight using 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in one of its two engines. American Airlines AAL grabbed headlines as its CEO Doug Parker since 2013 announced his decision to step down on Mar 31, 2022. Allegiant Travel Companys ALGT partnership with Mexican ultra-low-cost carrier Viva Aerobus also invited attention in the past week.

Ryanair Holdings RYAAY and Gol Linhas GOL posted upbeat traffic statistics for November as air-travel demand continues to improve, courtesy of increased vaccinations. Ryanair is looking to expand its network, courtesy of increased demand despite the omicron scare. In line with this objective, RYAAY announced plans to open a new base in Madeira, Portugal during summer 2022. The story was covered in detail in the previous weeks roundup.

Recap of the Latest Top Stories

1. At American Airlines, Parker will be replaced as CEO by its current president Robert Isom. Isom has been serving as the carriers president since 2016. He is hugely experienced in the airline industry, reflected in his leadership expertise across various fields like finance, operations, planning, marketing, sales, alliances, pricing and revenue management. With air-travel demand on the mend from the pandemic-led pits witnessed last year, American Airlines will be hoping that a veteran like Isom will be able to leverage the upbeat scenario and guide AAL in its quest for achieving more growth.

American Airlines currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

2. In line with its efforts to decarbonize the airline industry in the United States, United Airlines flew an aircraft full of passengers using only SAF in one of its two engines. The fuel was supplied by World Energy, North America's only commercial biofuel producer. The plane took off from Chicagos OHare International Airport and landed at Washington, D.C.s Reagan National Airport on Dec 1. For future flights, UAL agreed to buy 1.5 billion gallons of SAF from Alder Fuels, which is enough to fly 57 million passengers. UAL can also buy up to 900 million gallons of additional SAF from Fulcrum BioEnergy.

3 By virtue of its agreement with Viva Aerobus, Allegiant intends to offer cheaper non-stop leisure travel between the United States and Mexico from the first quarter of 2023, post regulatory approval. The alliance is not only the first such venture for Allegiant and Viva Aerobus, but is also the first-of-its-kind in the airline industry between two ultra-low-cost carriers. The carriers submitted a joint application to the US Department of Transportation requesting approval and antitrust immunity for the alliance. Since Allegiant does not currently serve Mexico, through this alliance, its primary focus will be to broaden travel offerings to tourist-favorite Mexican destinations like Cancun, Los Cabos and Puerto Vallarta.

4. With air-travel demand improving, courtesy of increased vaccination, November traffic surged more than 100% year over year at Ryanair to 10.2 million. Load factor (percentage of seats filled with passengers) in November 2021 was 86% compared with 62% in November 2020. RYAAY operated more than 62,300 flights last month.

5. At Gol Linhas, November traffic and capacity increased 17.1% and 20.4%, respectively, year over year. Since traffic growth was less than capacity expansion, load factor deteriorated 2.3 percentage points to 82.1% last month. With steady improvement in travel demand in Brazil, traffic climbed 9.4% year over year in the first 11 months of 2021.

Performance

The following table shows the price movement of the major airline players over the past week and during the last six months.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The table above shows that most airline stocks have traded in the green over the past week, causing the NYSE ARCA Airline Index to increase 10.1% to $82.26. This upside was mainly owing to the receding fears pertaining to the omicron variant of the coronavirus. Per early reports, the variant is likely to cause only mild illness. Over the past six months, the NYSE ARCA Airline Index has depreciated 22.2%.

What's Next in the Airline Space?

November traffic reports by some carriers are expected in the coming days.









Infrastructure Stock Boom to Sweep America

A massive push to rebuild the crumbling U.S. infrastructure will soon be underway. Its bipartisan, urgent, and inevitable. Trillions will be spent. Fortunes will be made.

The only question is Will you get into the right stocks early when their growth potential is greatest?

Zacks has released a Special Report to help you do just that, and today its free. Discover 7 special companies that look to gain the most from construction and repair to roads, bridges, and buildings, plus cargo hauling and energy transformation on an almost unimaginable scale.

Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report



Ryanair Holdings PLC (RYAAY): Free Stock Analysis Report



United Airlines Holdings Inc (UAL): Free Stock Analysis Report



Gol Linhas Aereas Inteligentes S.A. (GOL): Free Stock Analysis Report



American Airlines Group Inc. (AAL): Free Stock Analysis Report



Allegiant Travel Company (ALGT): Free Stock Analysis Report



To read this article on Zacks.com click here.



Zacks Investment Research

Copyright 2021 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved
The airline industrys recovery is being tested this holiday season as passengers return in near pre-pandemic numbers.

The resurgence in air travel is being fueled by pent-up demand and the availability of vaccines, along with an apparent lull in virus cases since summer's big wave. The Transportation Security Administration says that passenger checkpoints are nearly as busy now as they were in 2019, before the pandemic.

Airlines have been ramping up capacity to meet this demand, but the industry is hampered by a lagging workforce recovery. They're struggling to hire more staff, especially air crews. That's raised concerns that major airlines could be in for a rough December.

Like a lot of industries, they are competing for people, said Peter McNally, an analyst at Third Bridge. They know what they have to do, its just a matter of going out and doing it.

Major airlines encouraged thousands of workers to quit last year when air travel collapsed during the pandemic. They were barred from laying off workers as a condition of federal pandemic relief. Those workers have not returned quickly enough, leaving the current workforce stretched. In many cases flight crews are reaching their limit of allowable hours, forcing flight cancellations because there arent enough cabin crews.

American Airlines faced such a situation in late October when it had to cancel more than a thousand flights because it was short-staffed. Southwest Airlines also made headlines for flight cancellations in October. Both airlines cited weather problems, though analysts have said that any actual weather or air traffic issues have just made the root problem of staffing shortages worse.

One of the problems the airlines had so far in their coverage was the unpredictable nature in booking, McNally said. People are booking travel with less time between booking and travel and that makes staffing harder.

American Airlines labor unions warned for months that the airline was scheduling more flights than its workforce could handle.

These cases showed just how quickly weather and now staffing shortages can ripple through airlines just as they are seeking to maximize fall revenue within exceedingly slim operational margins, said airline industry data provider Cirium in a recent report.

American, Delta and United spent the first half of 2021 slowly recovering from the worst of the pandemic. Each airline saw modest improvements in available seat miles, a key measure of passenger capacity. That measure had nearly recovered to pre-pandemic levels by the third quarter.

The push to increase passenger capacity may have been too much for some airlines. Employment for air travel is still down more than 9% from peak levels just before the virus pandemic gutted the industry, according to Labor Department data. Staffing levels will likely have to keep increasing to help maintain flight capacity for a full revenue recovery.
DETROIT (AP)  General Motors has taken two more steps to make sure it has the raw materials for the transition from petroleum to battery power, this time lining up magnets for electric vehicle motors.

On Thursday the company said it has a deal with MP Materials to supply rare earth metals and finished magnets for the motors from a new factory to be built in Fort Worth, Texas, starting in 2023.

It's also negotiating what is likely to be a joint venture with Vacuumschmelze (VAC) of Germany to build a U.S. factory to make electric vehicle motor magnets. Production is to start in 2024 and will create hundreds of new jobs the companies said.

The companies didn't announce financial terms of the deals. Shilpan Amin, GM's head of purchasing and supply chain, said it has a parts supply agreement with MP Materials with no GM capital investment. The capital structure of the venture with VAC is still being worked out, but the companies said they would build a plant together.

At present there are no factories in the U.S. equipped for large-scale production of electric vehicle motor magnets, Amin said. MP said 90% of the supply now comes from China.

The moves come as automakers scramble to line up parts supplies for what is expected to be a dramatic shift from internal combustion engines to zero emission electric power during the coming decade. GM, for instance, has a goal of selling only electric passenger vehicles by 2035.

The LMC Automotive consulting firm expects U.S. sales of new fully electric vehicles to hit nearly 400,000 this year, almost double last years figures. But they still make up only about 2.6% of sales. But the firm expects sales to grow to more than 730,000 next year and more than 2 million by 2025. Even at 2 million, EV sales still would be only about 12% of U.S. new vehicle sales.

MP Materials has the potential to supply magnets for about 500,000 EV motors per year, Amin said. Combined, the two deals will supply all of GM's magnet needs at least for the near term, the company said.

MP said engineering and design work on the new 200,000-square-foot plant are underway, and that it will employ more than 100 people. The factory's products also will go to clean energy, electronic and defense markets, the company said.
Leading clean energy company NextEra Energy (NEE) is expected to generate substantial long-term gains as governments worldwide strive to increase the usage of renewable energy to combat the rising threat of climate change. However, considering the growing competition in this space and NEEs mixed profit margins, is it worth adding the stock to ones portfolio? Read on. Lets find out.



NextEra Energy Inc. (NEE) in Juno Beach, Fla., is a leading clean energy company that generates clean, emissions-free electricity from seven commercial nuclear power plants in Florida, New Hampshire, and Wisconsin. The company also owns a competitive clean energy business, NextEra Energy Resources, LLC, which, combined with its affiliated entities, is the world's largest generator of renewable energy from wind and solar and a world leader in battery storage.

The companys shares have gained 23.4% in price over the past year due to strong investor interest in the renewable energy sector, thanks in-part to President Biden's plans to address climate change.

However, several new companies have entered the space with no product pipelines or the financial strength to capitalize on the nascent sector. Consequently, many analysts feel the clean energy industry has entered a bubble. This, coupled with the stock market's rising volatility, could threaten NEEs price performance in the near term.

Here is what could shape NEE's performance in the near term:

Industry Tailwinds

Yesterday, President Biden issued an executive order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2050. The order also mandates that the government reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 65% by 2030 and convert its entire fleet of 600,000 vehicles and trucks to zero-emissions vehicles by 2035. Given this backdrop, NEE expects greater demand for its services because its subsidiary, Florida Electricity & Light (FPL), maintains one of the cleanest power-producing fleets in the United States.

Impressive Growth Prospects

Analysts expect NEE's revenues and EPS to rise 2.3% and 9.5%, respectively, year-over-year to $18.42 billion and $2.53 in its fiscal year 2021. In addition, its EPS is expected to rise at a 9.9% CAGR per annum over the next five years. Furthermore, the company has an impressive earnings surprise history; it topped the Streets EPS estimates in each of the trailing four quarters.

Mixed Profitability

NEE's 50.5% gross profit margin is 18% higher than the 42.8% industry average. Also, its $7.59 billion in cash from operations is 973.3% higher than the $707 million industry average.

However, NEE's 0.12% trailing-12-months asset turnover ratio is 42.7% lower than the industry average. Also, its 1.7% and 1.9% respective ROA and ROC are 30.3% and 53.2% lower than the industry averages. Furthermore, its trailing-12-months levered FCF margin is negative 64.3% compared to the negative 7.8% industry average.

Premium Valuations

In terms of forward non-GAAP P/E, the stock is currently trading at 35.8x, which is 87.9% higher than the 19.05x industry average. Also, its 12.59x forward EV/Sales multiple x is 180% higher than the 4.5x industry average. Moreover, NEE's 9.4x forward Price/Sales is 276.6% higher than the 2.5x industry average.

POWR Ratings Reflect Uncertainty

NEE has an overall C rating, which equates to Neutral in our proprietary POWR Ratings system. The POWR ratings are calculated by considering 118 distinct factors, with each factor weighted to an optimal degree.

Our proprietary rating system also evaluates each stock based on eight distinct categories. NEE has an F grade for Value and a C for Quality. The company's higher than industry valuation is in sync with the Value grade. And NEE's mixed profitability is consistent with the Quality grade.

Of the 57 stocks in the F-rated Utilities  Domestic industry, NEE is ranked #22.

Beyond what I have stated above, one can view NEE ratings for Growth, Stability, Momentum, and Sentiment here.

Bottom Line

Renewable energy is projected to be the next "big thing" in the energy sector as countries revamp their existing infrastructure and industries move to become carbon neutral. This should bode well for NEE. However, given the heightened industry-wide competition and NEEs premium valuation and mixed profitability, we believe investors should wait for its prospects to stabilize before investing in the stock.

How Does NextEra Energy Inc. (NEE) Stack Up Against its Peers?

While NEE has an overall C rating, one might want to consider its industry peer, Brookfield Infrastructure Corp. Cl A (BIPC), which has an overall B (Buy) rating.

NEE shares rose $0.02 (+0.02%) in premarket trading Thursday. Year-to-date, NEE has gained 19.37%, versus a 26.81% rise in the benchmark S&P 500 index during the same period.

About the Author: Pragya Pandey

Pragya is an equity research analyst and financial journalist with a passion for investing. In college she majored in finance and is currently pursuing the CFA program and is a Level II candidate.

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Senate Bill 728, Extend Open Meetings requirements to independent citizens redistricting commission: Passed 34 to 0 in the Senate

To extend an Open Meetings Act requirement that public bodies hold their meetings in public to the independent citizens redistricting commission authorized by a 2018 ballot initiative. The bill was introduced after this controversial commission met behind closed doors to discuss secret legal memos related to its potential violations of the federal Voting Rights Act.

33 Sen. Rick Outman, R - Six Lakes Y

35 Sen. Curt VanderWall, R - Ludington Y

Senate Bill 656, Authorize robo-bartenders: Passed 35 to 1 in the Senate

To authorize the use of robo-bartender alcoholic dispensing machines that are located at a customer's table or booth in restaurants, and in in certain hotel rooms, if the machine does not dispense more than 96 ounces of beer, wine, or mixed spirit drink in a single order, or does not dispense spirituous liquor straight, with the customer still required to order the beer, wine, or mixed drinks from a human staff member, and subject to requirements that a staff member monitors the service.

33 Sen. Rick Outman, R - Six Lakes Y

35 Sen. Curt VanderWall, R - Ludington Y

Senate Bill 633, Permit another government authority to hold virtual meetings indefinitely: Passed 31 to 6 in the Senate

To permit government agencies authorized by a 1978 "energy employment law created to provide or subsidize municipal power plants and related projects and dubbed joint agencies, to hold virtual board meetings electronically on a permanent basis, not just during epidemics. This is one of at least 10 bills proposed this year to grant this privilege to certain government authorities, some obscure and some that are not.

33 Sen. Rick Outman, R - Six Lakes Y

35 Sen. Curt VanderWall, R - Ludington Y

House Bill 4257, Revise state memorandum of understanding procedures: Passed 25 to 12 in the Senate

To establish that if the governor signs a memorandum of understanding with another party  defined as an informal agreement that does not impose contractual duties or obligations on this state  when that governor has left office its terms only apply until they are rejected by a subsequent governor. The bill would also require that these agreements be signed by the governor and filed in the state office of the great seal.

33 Sen. Rick Outman, R - Six Lakes Y

35 Sen. Curt VanderWall, R - Ludington Y

House Bill 4521, Permit HIV-positive organ donors for HIV-positive organ recipients: Passed 34 to 0 in the Senate

To revise a prohibition against organ donations by a HIV virus carrier, allowing this if the recipient is also a carrier.

33 Sen. Rick Outman, R - Six Lakes Y

35 Sen. Curt VanderWall, R - Ludington Y

House Bill 5132, Prohibit higher-education requirements for specified police: Passed 95 to 4 in the House

To prohibit municipal police departments from establishing education requirements of more than a high school equivalency GED certificate for a prospective officer who is a military veteran, firefighter, EMT or current police employee with certain training.

97 Rep. Jason Wentworth, R - Clare Y

100 Rep. Scott VanSingel, R - Grant Y

102 Rep. Michele Hoitenga, R - Manton Y

Senate Bill 99, Expand promise zone tax increment financing authority spending: Passed 32 to 2 in the Senate

To add paying for on-campus room and board to the benefits a local government promise zone tax increment financing authority (TIFA) may provide to students eligible for its scholarships. These entities were authorized in 2008 to capture" a portion of any increases in the state portion of school property tax revenue in the area, and use the money to partially subsidize college tuition for local students.

33 Sen. Rick Outman, R - Six Lakes Y

35 Sen. Curt VanderWall, R - Ludington Y

House Bill 5190, Revise "financial literacy" in state high school graduation requirements: Passed 57 to 43 in the House

To revise state high school graduation standards that require 2.0 credits in a language other than English by reducing this to 1.5 credits, and adding a .5 credit financial literacy requirement. The Michigan Department of Education would be required to develop "content expectations" for the personal finance course. This would also consolidate similar provisions already in this law.
The city of Montgomery is holding its first-ever snow party event on Saturday, which will be bringing snow and live entertainment to the historic downtown area.

The event will be taking place on the same day as Christmas in Montgomery from noon to 5 p.m. at 777 Clepper Drive across from Fernland Historical Park, which is only a few-minute walk away from downtown.

On yourcouriernews.com: Annual Christmas in Montgomery holiday celebration set for Saturday

City administrator Richard Tramm said the city is hosting this event in order to expand offerings during the day to appeal to families of younger children. He noted that other events going on in the city that day mainly appeal to adults and older children.

This helps to broaden the appeal for whats going on the whole day, he said.

The outdoor event will not only include truckloads of snow, but also a hill for sledding and a play area for smaller children. Ice Express is the name of the company responsible for generating the snow for the event.

The snow party will also feature a local DJ to entertain the crowd. Montgomerys very own DJ Kevin Smith will be playing holiday music and hosting a game of trivia with gift card prizes throughout the party.

Im looking forward to having fun with the parents and assuming a different persona for each of the songs, Smith said.

He said he is also excited to see kids play on the snow hill  which is something they dont normally experience in Texas.

The Michigan native said he is also looking forward to sledding, which was an activity he grew up around.

Hot chocolate and coffee will be for sale at a hot beverage and bakery food truck parked nearby in accordance with the winter theme. The event is also free to the public to attend  there is no cost to participate in any of the snow activities.

Tramm said he hopes the event will be popular enough this year for it to become an annual event in the future. He said he thinks the party will add to the overall holiday atmosphere in the area.

Were hoping to provide an outlet for fun and enjoyment and for people to get in the Christmas spirit with the other events that day, he said.

noor.adatia@chron.com
Houston's scrap metal mogul has a bone to pick with a copper.

Dennis Laviage, a business owner best known for buying Houston's scraps with $2 bills, is deep within a civil rights lawsuit against former Houston Police Sgt. Jesse Fite, who is accused of withholding evidence from a judge in order have Laviage arrested in 2016. Fite tried to skirt responsibility through a qualified immunity defense, but a federal judge in Houston ruled Dec. 2 that the lawsuit can move forward against the sergeant  a rare occurrence for anyone trying to sue law enforcement officers over wrongdoing, Laviage's attorneys say.

As the owner of C&D Scrap Metal, Laviage from time to time worked closely with HPD's metal theft unit, which was headed by Fite before he retired from the force in May. Fite cracked down on metal thieves throughout the Bayou City, and Laviage worked diligently to sniff out any stolen material being passed off by a seller. The C&D Scrap Metal's website currently instructs customers to contact Fite directly about any concerns. The two were even quoted alongside each other in a 2020 story on Houston's recent uptick in catalytic converter thefts in the Houston Chronicle.

Underneath the camaraderie, however, is an ongoing feud between the two that started months before Laviage's arrest in 2016 over a paperwork discrepancy, of which he was eventually found not guilty.

Yi-Chin Lee, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

"Believe me, I should have been thrown in jail once or twice in the past 60 years," Laviage said over the phone Monday. "But not for this chicken s--- deal."

In Texas, scrap metal buyers like Laviage are required to report purchases to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS). The city of Houston also requires they send reports to a national database called Leads Online. This is, in part, so law enforcement can trace potential metal thieves who sell stolen scraps to unsuspecting buyers.

In 2015, C&D Scrap Metal was using a program called Scrap Dragon to fill out the proper forms and send them off to DPS and Leads Online. In the summer of that year, a glitch in Scrap Dragon withheld a handful of C&D's reports from DPS, but all of the reports were still being filed with Leads Online. Once Laviage became aware, he notified police and insisted that he would file reports with DPS manually until the software issue was resolved.

Starting in November 2015, Fite began what a federal judge called a "fishing expedition" against Laviage and C&D Scrap Metal. He had recently been promoted to lead HPD's metal theft unit in early summer 2015, according to the lawsuit. Fite and his officers ignored Laviage's repeated pleas about the software glitch and continued to accuse him of failing to report to DPS.

During the course of the investigation, Laviage claims Fite became rude and unprofessional at times, according to the lawsuit. Laviage filed an official complaint with HPD about Fite's persistence and other issues, but the police department dismissed it.

Jay R. Jordan / Jay Jordan, Staff

Still, Fite continued his pressing until March 2016, when he filed for criminal charges against Laviage. In an application for Laviage's arrest warrant, Fite accused the scrap metal dealer of "intentionally and knowingly" failing to report those scrap metal purchases to DPS. In the application, nowhere did it state that Laviage contended he knew about the issue and was actively trying to correct it.

A judge found probable cause for Laviage's arrest based on the application. Several Houston police officers arrested him at his now-shuttered Heights location soon after. In September 2018, a jury found Laviage not guilty of the misdemeanor charge, and the case was expunged from his record. In December that year, Laviage filed a lawsuit in Harris County against Fite for false arrest and malicious prosecution, which was eventually moved to the federal court in the Southern District of Texas.

"These kinds of decisions have such a profound impact on businesses and people and families," Laviage's attorney Michael Wynne said. "It is a sacred duty to be accurate when deciding to disrupt all that and not take it upon yourself as a law enforcement officer to be vigilante or to be reckless before you so profoundly disrupt people's lives, like in this case, Dennis'."

Fite is represented by attorneys from the city of Houston legal department as well as the Harris County Attorney's Office. It is unclear why a county attorney is on the case. None of the lawyers could be reached for comment. Attempts to reach Fite were unsuccessful.

Steve Ueckert/Chronicle

In August this year, Fite's attorneys asked United States District Judge Lynn Hughes to toss the suit. They argued that Fite should be shielded from liability because he was performing his official duties with the Houston Police Department. That concept, called qualified immunity, is routinely used as a defense to law enforcement officers throughout the country who face similar scrutinous civil lawsuits.

On Dec. 2, Hughes ruled that Fite can't use a qualified immunity defense for his case.

"Laviage had no intent to conceal," Hughes wrote in the Dec. 2 order. "He filed substantively identical reports with the city of Houston. Fite deliberately cross-checked [DPS'] reports with the city of Houston. Laviage kept Fite appraised of his efforts to correct the software issues, but Fite persisted on a fishing expedition."

Hughes also said "Fite is liable for his omissions" before determining the qualified immunity defense is irrelevant in the case.

The case is not nearly over. Wynne anticipates Fite's attorneys will appeal to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. In the meantime, Laviage and his lawyers are still tallying the damages. They could include opportunity costs, reputational damage and compensation for the shuttering of a new C&D location during the ordeal.

"This is a win for me," Laviage said of the Dec. 2 order. "This guy just destroyed my life for about three and a half years. Finally, justice is going to be taken against him."

A trial date has not been set.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP)  A former deep-sea treasure hunter is preparing to mark his sixth year in jail for refusing to disclose the whereabouts of 500 missing coins made from gold found in an historic shipwreck.

Research scientist Tommy Thompson has been held in contempt of court since Dec. 15, 2015, for that refusal. He is also incurring a daily fine of $1,000.
The Albums Were Most Looking Forward to in 2022 The new year brings plenty with it: new laws taking effect, fresh resolutions to improve...

Texas colleges go remote, encourage jabs to begin spring semester With the rapidly-spreading omicron variant of the coronavirus making its way through the United...
JUBA, South Sudan (AP)  Burkina Fasos prime minister has been fired amid escalating jihadi violence thats killed thousands and displaced more than 1 million people.

President Roch Marc Christian Kabore sacked his prime minister amid weeks of anti-government protests in which demonstrators have criticized his governments inability to stem extremist attacks by al-Qaida and the Islamic State across the West African nation.

Last month saw the deadliest violence against the countrys security forces in recent memory, with more than 50 gendarmes killed in the Sahel region.

Prime Minister Christophe Joseph Marie Dabire was removed as a result of the presidents commitment to setting up a tighter and more cohesive government, Communications Minister Ousseni Tamboura, told The Associated Press. He didnt know when a new government would be formed, he said.

According to Burkina Faso law, the prime minister's resignation requires the entire government to resign. The outgoing Cabinet ministers will remain in their positions until a new one is formed, said the president's statement.

Dabire became prime minister in 2019 and was reappointed after Kabore won reelection to a second term in November, 2020. Kabores action to get rid of his prime minister is part of a last-ditch effort to regain political and military control in the face of plummeting popularity, said Alexandre Raymakers, senior Africa analyst at Verisk Maplecroft, a risk consultancy.

Kabore is running out of political options and his decision to replace the prime minister will likely only provide a short-term reprieve, he said.

As the government struggles to quell civil unrest and bolster the military, Burkina Faso is also facing a growing humanitarian crisis. More than 1.6 million people  out of a population of 20 million  are facing hunger with hundreds of thousands predicted to be on the brink of starvation next year, according to the latest food security report by the government and U.N. agencies.

As the violence cuts off swaths of land, civilians are unable to farm and aid groups are having a harder time delivering food assistance, sparking concern that hunger will grow.

What worries the World Food Program the most is the increase of the population classified in emergency food insecurity. It will increase by 27% over a year to nearly 440,000 people who cannot afford to face a new shock, said Antoine Renard, WFPs country director in Burkina Faso.

It is the third year in a row that Burkina Faso faces such large figures," he said. "It reflects the deepening of the conflict and the regional Sahel crisis.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP)  California prison guards accused of abuse or other misconduct toward inmates are almost never punished so state corrections officials on Wednesday announced changes aimed at holding more accountable.

Prison wardens now decide what inmate complaints to investigate and what if any punishment gets imposed. The plan would give inmates more time to file a complaint and have a unit at corrections headquarters do the initial review.

Corrections officials earlier this fall also proposed moving the appeals process into a separate division. They said that shift will improve independence and reduce bias, whether real or perceived.

Corrections officials expect to roll out the new process in phases, with it fully taking effect by June 2023. Prison officials called the rules a complete restructuring.

We are striving to create an environment where the people in our custody or under our supervision, as well as staff, have confidence in our system, and can raise concerns without fear of retaliation, Corrections Secretary Kathleen Allison said in a statement.

The changes come after Inspector General Roy Wesley said in February that the system was neither fair nor independent. His offices review found wardens cleared more than 98% of prison employees, a rate even higher than the 97% who were exonerated when the inspector generals office criticized the old system in 2019.

Wesleys review found wardens never passed on most complaints and he described the whole disciplinary process as broken despite a $9.8 million annual budget infusion from state lawmakers.

For example, an inmate complained that guards beat him with batons, pepper sprayed him, then locked him in what he called a miniature cage for 6 1/2 hours without water or medical treatment. The warden kept the investigation at his prison and ultimately found no policy violations.

Wesleys office declined comment Wednesday, saying it will monitor the new procedures once they go into effect. The union representing most correctional officers said it can't comment because it is in negotiations over the new rules.

The new headquarters screening team will decide whether allegations of staff misconduct toward inmates or parolees will be handled by the prisons warden or investigated by the departments Office of Internal Affairs.

The caveat is that wardens would still get to decide what discipline to impose when misconduct complaints are substantiated, though theyre supposed to follow a department-wide guideline for appropriate punishment, attorney Penny Godbold said.

She and Don Specter, director of the nonprofit Prison Law Office, are among lawyers representing inmates with disabilities in one of the major federal lawsuits that control much of how Californias prison system operates. U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken in March ordered corrections officials to reform how they investigate allegations of abuse of inmates by employees.

Its a revamping of the whole internal affairs process, Specter said. The larger plan is devoted to fixing the process for how the department deals with complaints about guard brutality, abuse, discrimination against incarcerated people  otherwise known generally as staff misconduct complaints.

Separately Wednesday, corrections officials moved to clarify good conduct credits for inmates that they first rolled out in May.

One change gives inmates up to two days off their sentences for every one day served for nonviolent offenses in firefighting camps and other minimum security work facilities. Those serving time for violent offenses can earn credits of up to 50% in fire camps and up to one-third for the time they spend in other work camps.

The earlier way of calculating the good conduct credits was causing confusion on when inmate firefighters would actually be released, officials said.

Another change will end good conduct credits for those sent to disciplinary housing for serious rules violations or things like refusing to participate in rehabilitative or work programs.
WARSAW, Poland (AP)  The last piano on which Frederic Chopin played and composed in Paris is being renovated by a U.S. expert who is giving it back its original mid-19th century characteristics.

Paul McNulty is spending days at the Frederic Chopin Museum in Warsaw filling in some cracks in the soundboard and putting in wire strings like the ones used by Paris piano manufacturer Camille Pleyel  Chopin's favorite  in 1848.

Were very, very close to the character and the identity of this instrument when we put the correct strings on, everything else being in very good condition, McNulty told The Associated Press on Thursday.

Pleyel made the instrument, with serial number 14810, available to Chopin, already seriously ailing at the time, in the fall of 1848. After Chopin's death in October 1849, the piano was bought by his Scottish student and friend, Jane Stirling, who then offered it to Chopin's eldest sister, Ludwika Jedrzejewiczowa.

The piano arrived in Warsaw in 1850  it still bears the red customs seal of Russia that ruled Warsaw at the time. It survived two world wars, including the destruction of the 1944 Warsaw Rising.

Given the provenance and the good condition of the instrument, McNulty said it is priceless.

Texas-born McNulty says this is the best preserved Pleyel piano in the world, despite having quite a dramatic history. It was played, but treated well by Chopin's family and was not used for concert performances, also because of a failed renovation attempt.

It had most of its iron wire strings changed for much stronger and tighter modern ones during renovation in the late 1950s that destroyed its tone and put strain on the whole structure.

McNulty and museum authorities believe the current work will bring it as close as possible to the sound that Chopin heard.

We hope it will sing for us again, said Aleksander Laskowski, spokesman for The Frederic Chopin Institute that houses the museum.

So an opportunity to hear the sound of Chopins piano as he heard it when he composed is quite likely, Laskowski said.

McNulty, who has restored and built replicas of hundreds of historical pianos in the past 35 years , says the new sound will be within the confines, the expectations of the builder.

The instrument will serve as a resource for research and maybe as a model for a replica, but is not intended for performances.

Among the copies McNulty has made is the 1749 Silberman piano that Johann Sebastian Bach improvised on.

Chopin, Polands best known and beloved classical music composer and pianist, was born in 1810 in Zelazowa Wola near Warsaw to a Polish mother and a French father. He left Poland at 19 to broaden his musical education in Vienna and then in Paris, where he settled, composing, giving concerts and teaching the piano.

He died on Oct. 17, 1849, in Paris and is buried at the Pere Lachaise cemetery. His sister Ludwika brought his heart to Warsaw where it is in one of the pillars at the Holy Cross Church.
COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP)  Denmark's government has decided that students up to the 10th grade must study remotely for the last few days before Christmas break and ordered nightclubs, bars and restaurants to close at midnight as part of efforts to counter an uptick in COVID-19 cases.

Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen also banned concerts where audiences have more than 50 people standing and required restaurant patrons to wear face masks when they aren't seated. She recommended Wednesday that people work from home.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP)  A father and son were arrested Wednesday on suspicion of starting a massive California wildfire that destroyed many homes and forced tens of thousands of people to flee Lake Tahoe communities earlier this year, authorities said.

David Scott Smith, 66, and his son, Travis Shane Smith, 32, are accused of reckless arson in a warrant issued before formal charges are filed, the El Dorado County District Attorneys office said.

Mark Reichel, the attorney for both men, said they were arrested Wednesday afternoon and that reckless arson means starting a blaze by accident but to such a degree that it was considered reckless.

Authorities allege they caused homes to burn and people to be seriously injured in the fire that began in August. The Caldor fire scorched more than 346 square miles (897 square kilometers) from east of Sacramento to the Nevada border, threatening ski resorts and other prominent recreational areas.

The fire destroyed more than 1,000 homes and other buildings while crossing a mostly remote forested area of seasonal cabins.

The fire crossed through three northern counties, destroyed much of the small community of Grizzly Flats and forced tens of thousands of people to evacuate the resort town of South Lake Tahoe before it was contained in October. Five people were injured.

It was one of two massive fires last summer that for the first time in modern history crossed the Sierra Nevada range.

El Dorado County District Attorney Vern Pierson provided few details about the arrest of the Smiths, citing the investigation.

Reichel, the men's lawyer, said: They are absolutely 100% innocent.

Reichel said he did not know details of the accusation, such as how authorities allege the fire was set.

He said Travis Smith is an electrician and was with his father near where the fire started. The son called 911 to report seeing flames, Reichel said.

The son made several 911 calls because the calls kept dropping in the rugged area, and both men also warned campers about the fire, Reichel said.

Neither one has ever been in trouble with the law in their life. Theyre very law-abiding people, he said.

The pair have a scheduled court appearance on Friday, Reichel said.

There has been no evidence submitted into a court subject to my cross-examination ... that proves any of the prosecutions evidence yet. So I urge everyone to wait and hear what really happened before they form any opinions, Reichel added.

The district attorneys office said the case was developed with the U.S. Forest Service, Californias firefighting agency and the California Department of Justice, with help from the Sacramento County District Attorneys crime lab.

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Associated Press Writer Robert Jablon contributed from Los Angeles.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP)  The U.S. Department of Justice on Wednesday issued a strong condemnation of the way Iowa treats people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, telling the state it must find ways to care for people in community settings and not in institutions.

In a letter and a 33-page report sent to state officials, Kristen Clarke, an assistant attorney general in the Justice Department's civil rights division, said that after a yearlong investigation they have concluded there is reasonable cause to believe Iowa violates the federal Americans with Disabilities Act by failing to provide services that integrate people with intellectual disabilities into their communities.

Iowa has failed to address known deficiencies in the availability of community-based services and supports that contribute to needless institutionalization of people with IDD, the report said.

It said state officials have known for years that community-based support for people with complex medical and behavioral needs is insufficient and have acknowledged that they have failed to meaningfully assess the capacity of the community service system.

State officials largely agreed and promised to explore new services.

Although these findings are significant and we take them incredibly seriously, we are not surprised by anything identified in the report, Iowa Department of Human Services Director Kelly Garcia said. With new leadership, my team is committed to building out the array of services to ensure individuals are able to live their most independent lives possible.

Garcia said discussions continue with the states lawyers on next steps.

The DOJ investigation involved two state-run facilities at Glenwood and Woodward, which house 285 people with complex behavioral or medical needs. It also looked at Iowa's system of housing about 1,800 people with similar needs in private care facilities or institutions.

Federal officials said Iowa has among the fifth-highest population of residents with intellectual disabilities in these institutional settings in the U.S. The state also has as many as 1,000 more people with similar needs in nursing homes, and the state likely has the fourth-highest number of people with developmental disabilities in nursing homes.

While most states have worked to move people out of institutions and the populations have fallen nationally by about 50% since 1982, Iowa has maintained the same level of institutionalization.

The state plans, administers, and funds its public health care service system in a manner that unnecessarily segregates people with intellectual disabilities in the resource centers, and almost certainly many other institutions, rather than providing these services where people live, in their community, the report said.

The state was investigated in 2002, and the DOJ concluded that conditions at Glenwood and Woodward were constitutionally deficient. An agreement was reached then for the state to encourage and assist people to move to the most integrated settings.

In 2007, Iowa obtained a grant to help with its pervasive attitude toward placing people with developmental disabilities in institutions.

The report said that despite some efforts, the same problems remain today and critical community services and supports  including the crisis intervention and behavioral supports identified a decade ago  are still underdeveloped.

On Nov. 21, 2019, the DOJ notified Iowa of a new investigation. It issued a report in December 2020 that said the Glenwood center likely violated the constitutional rights of residents by subjecting them to human experiments, including sexual arousal research, some of which were deemed dangerous by federal investigators. Federal officials notified the state that it would continue to investigate the state-run facilities for other possible violations and the report released Wednesday is the result.

The investigators found that the state-run institutions rarely provide opportunities for people to experience or learn about community options and residents lack regular opportunities to spend time outside the facility, engage with people in the community and experience a variety of community activities.

Despite increasing interest being expressed by residents of the institutions to move into the community, the report said more people left by dying during the past four years than by transitioning into the community.

Senior officials acknowledge that the pace of transitions is slower than anyone would have wished for, the report said.

The report said Iowa spends significant resources on institutional care, even though state data shows that it is less expensive, on average, to provide community-based services rather than institutional services.

The DOJ said Iowa must promptly implement measures to remedy the problems, including increasing community capacity by expanding services and removing restrictions on community services, developing and implementing an effective system to disseminate information about community services and ensuring that people who have transitioned from institutions to the community and those who may be at serious risk of institutionalization are receiving necessary services.

Failure to come up with a plan in cooperation with the DOJ will result in a lawsuit to ensure compliance with federal law, the agency said.

A copy of the report was sent to Garcia, the Iowa attorney general and two federal prosecutors in Iowa.
Inside the bustling New York Common Pantry, people hustle to assemble bags of carrots, apples, potatoes and other items. Outside the food pantry, others haul deliveries or hand out produce to people lined around the block of the Manhattan-based charity.

Randi Goldstein, 43, was one of the volunteers that day, there with her co-workers from a talent and literary agency to lend a helping hand for the holidays. Like many Americans, theyve been working from home since the pandemic first hit and had been feeling disconnected.

Volunteering together was one way to reconnect, despite lingering concerns about what the omicron variant may bring. Cases have been reported in many states, but scientists cannot yet say whether it is more dangerous than previous variants.

Im worried about it, said Goldstein, a talent agent. But I think were at a point where you also have to one day start living your life as safely as you can.

More people are volunteering at the pantry this holiday season compared to the last, when vaccines werent yet widely available. But the numbers still fall short compared to the amount of people who gave their time prior to the pandemic. The same is happening at other charities, though the new variant has brought more uncertainty about what looms ahead.

One out of four Americans volunteers, performing billions of hours of service annually, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The most common among them is collecting, preparing, distributing or serving food.

In Colorado, Teresa Dilka, a 68-year-old retired nurse, started volunteering at the Food Bank of the Rockies a couple of months ago, only after getting her COVID shot. She says she used to give money to the Denver-based food bank, but her income dwindled when her mother died. So she stopped donating money, and started donating her time instead.

Sometimes it seems like its helping me more than Im helping them, she said. It just feels good to be able to help.

At the Arizona-based St. Marys Food Bank, one of the largest in the country, volunteering hasnt declined since news about omicron came out, said Jerry Brown, a spokesperson for the organization. Many of their volunteers had just returned during this years holiday season following last years big drop-off, when their volunteer staffing dwindled from about 200 to only 30 per shift.

Many who stopped volunteering were seniors, or corporate employees who stayed away when their companies transferred to remote work. Brown said the food bank was only able to continue distributing 250,000 meals daily because the Arizona National Guard stepped in to help assemble food boxes and load them onto trucks. The charitys accountants and other employees were also called in for support since the demand was just too high.

One thing the pandemic has surely taught us is: Never take the volunteer spirit and how important it is to us for granted, Brown said. Before the pandemic, he said sometimes he wouldn't notice the hundreds of volunteers packing boxes because they were there every day.

But since the pandemic, we all make a greater effort to make eye contact, smile, wave and thank them, he said. Were grateful because we all know what it was like here without them.

A spokesperson for Feeding America, a nonprofit organization that coordinates the efforts of more than 200 food banks across the country, said an internal survey the group conducted in September showed 127 food banks in its network still needed volunteers.

Outside Chicago, large groups of corporate and church volunteers who once were a big help to the Northern Illinois Food Bank dont show up as much anymore. However, some individuals who paused volunteering last year have slowly returned, and others who stepped in to fill the gap have stayed, said Shannon Thompson, the organizations director of volunteers.

That slow and steady uptick of volunteers comes as Americans feel less anxious about resuming prior activities and charities are more comfortable staffing their warehouses, a trend that may change depending on findings about the severity of omicron.

But for now, volunteering slots are full for the month of December at the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma, which distributes food to community organizations in 53 counties in the state. Cathy Nestlen, a spokesperson for the organization, said they resumed offering volunteering in April after pausing it for a year to reduce potential exposure to the virus.

It was not an easy decision to make, she said, adding the food bank had hired temporary employees to make up for the loss, which cost them an additional $15,000 a week.

Their current shifts are limited to 80 people, down from 150 prior to the pandemic. Masks are required. Vaccinations are not.

Sign-ups to volunteer have spilled into January, though Nestlen said she is encouraging more people to volunteer after the holidays, when charities usually see a drop-off in people lending a hand.

The pandemic, in many ways, has forced charities to innovate and offer virtual or remote volunteering options. But those options can be limited for food banks, who need more hands-on help.

Thats really been the lifeblood of how food banks and agencies move food to their communities, said Lauren Biedron, Feeding Americas vice president of corporate partnerships.

Virtual volunteering is relatively new for the organization and its network, she said. But its been attempting to tap into a pool of people that exclusively want to do things from home by holding webinars people can participate in, and encouraging them to call public officials and advocate for policies it supports.

The needs are different at the New York Common Pantry, where you can routinely find Andy Disda, 53, hauling boxes in and out of the building. Unlike many who stayed away when the pandemic hit, he jumped in to help when the need was acutely high. He said it helped him feel he did something positive with his day during a time of much hopelessness.

Thats somewhat addictive, he said. There wasnt a whole lot going on where you got that feeling, and volunteering is one of those things that gave it to me.

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The Associated Press receives support from the Lilly Endowment for coverage of philanthropy and nonprofits. The AP is solely responsible for all content. For all of APs philanthropy coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/philanthropy.
Near the Tidal Basin in Washington, crews have cleaned grime off the white marble exterior of the Jefferson Memorial and fixed cracked stone to prevent falling debris. At the Statue of Liberty, plans are in the works to waterproof the exterior of the massive stone fort built in 1807 that serves as the monument's base.

And at New River Gorge in West Virginia, one of the newest national parks, historical masonry grills have been restored near the Grandview Visitor Center, which features a breathtaking overlook of the valley and waterway 1,400 feet (430 meters) below.

Under legislation passed by Congress in 2020, some of America's most spectacular natural settings and historical icons, from the monuments of the East Coast to the Grand Canyon and Yosemite in the West, are getting a makeover.

The Great American Outdoor Act dedicates up to $1.6 billion a year for the next five years to extensive maintenance and repairs that have been put off time and time again. The funding will go toward critical projects in national parks, forests, wildlife refuges and recreation areas, according to the Department of the Interior. It also includes funding for tribal schools.

Some of the first projects being funded are smaller ones that will preserve historical structures like the grills at New River Gorge and the marble walls of the Jefferson Memorial. But dozens of other projects are coming, some more urgent than others.

In Puerto Rico, plans call for stabilizing a cliffside eroded by wind, rain and waves at San Juan National Historic Site to stop rocks from falling on a popular recreation trail below.

Another project will repair the failing left abutment of a 146-year-old masonry dam on the Potomac River at the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park to prevent possible loss of life from a sudden release of water.

At the Grand Canyon, a massive Swiss chalet-style building with oversized balconies, windows and eaves is in line for an upgrade that will bring the now-vacant structure up to code and stabilize it while the park determines how best to use it.

Some of the projects planned for the next year will fix problems with infrastructure that park visitors might not immediately notice: repaving roads, repairing leaky lodge roofs and replacing outdated utilities that pose safety risks.

One such project will replace dilapidated high-voltage transmission lines and towers at Yosemite National Park. The lines constructed in the mid-1930s provide power to the entire Yosemite Valley.

Several campgrounds will see improvements, including one in the Rocky Mountains that will get new utility lines to provide consistent clean water and power as well more electric hookups and parking.

The Great American Outdoors Act overall, with the amount of funding available, offers us really a once in a generation opportunity to take care of some of the large projects, the large needs, of the national park service," while also addressing several critical smaller projects, said Mike Caldwell, National Park Service acting associate director of park planning, facilities and lands.

New River Gorge, where one of the first maintenance projects was completed in October, attracted about 70,000 visitors annually before being designated a national park last year. Attendance has increased with the new status, especially at Grandview, a popular place for hiking, picnics and taking in the dramatic landscape, spokeswoman Eve West said.

Its one of the prettiest areas in the park. Its 1,400 feet from the very top down to the river so you get some phenomenal views of the park looking out from the main overlook, West said.

Masonry hearths built in the 1930s in Grandviews picnic area had deteriorated in the elements, and the grills sat mostly unused until September when crews arrived to make repairs.

Crews replaced the brick and mortar and installed new grates, said Moira Gasior, historic preservation steward at New River Gorge. Gasior worked to help obtain $280,000 in funding for the project, which included repairs to a large fireplace in a picnic shelter built by the Civilian Conservation Corp before World War II.

At the Jefferson Memorial, the $3.8 million project to clean and restore the structure below its dome wrapped up in late October after several months of work to clean grime that had spread over the white marble, making it darker  even black in places  said Mike Litterst, spokesman for the National Mall.

The Jefferson Memorial certainly had had a deteriorating appearance over last several years due to the biofilm, and the cleaning has restored it to the bright white that people expect and, to be perfectly honest, Thomas Jefferson deserves," Litterst said.

In the coming years, several other high priority projects are slated for funding, including a new water line at the Grand Canyon that serves more than 6 million visitors and year-round residents.

Grand Canyon spokeswoman Joelle Baird said the park expects funding in fiscal year 2023 for the pipeline that has broken more than 85 times in the past 10 years, leading to costly repairs that require supplies and workers to be flown in by helicopter.

The cost to replace the line, which is decades beyond its life expectancy, easily tops $100 million, Baird said.

Its going to be a very large undertaking but ultimately is going to have huge benefits to the infrastructure and water delivery to the entire park, she said.

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Associated Press writer Felicia Fonseca in Flagstaff, Arizona, contributed to this report.
Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo, born in England, has devoted her life to attaining enlightenment in a female form  at one stage spending years isolated in a cave in the Himalayas to follow the rigorous path of the most devoted yogis. She later founded a nunnery in India focused on giving women in Tibetan Buddhism some of the same opportunities reserved for monks.

Venerable Dhammananda renounced her family life and a prestigious academic career in Thailand to follow the path of the Buddha. She then defied her homelands unequal status of women in Buddhist practice by traveling to Sri Lanka to become Thailands first fully ordained nun in Theravada, one of the oldest forms of Buddhism.

Born a world apart, theyre among a group of respected female monastics or bhikkhunis, lay persons and academics who have challenged longstanding patriarchal traditions. They have blazed a path of progress in recent decades for Buddhist women  from education through advanced degrees and the creation of nunneries to seeking full ordination.

Across branches, though, many at the movement's forefront say more needs to be accomplished so women can have equal opportunities.

Its shifting because now theres so much more interest in the feminine. Not just in Buddhism, but worldwide, why have women been so neglected and overlooked for millennia?" said Palmo. About 100 nuns live and study at her Dongyu Gatsal Ling nunnery in India.

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This story is part of a series by The Associated Press and Religion News Service on womens roles in male-led religions.

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Women were included in Buddhism since its earliest years, and their monastic ordination dates back more than 2,500 years, said Judith Simmer-Brown, emeritus professor of contemplative and religious studies at Colorados Naropa University, a liberal arts school associated with Buddhism. But as monasticism spread from India to other countries, there often were extra requirements to become ordained in those patriarchal societies.

Full ordination for women has been very difficult," Simmer-Brown said about some branches. "Even though Buddhist teachings always say that women have equal ability to become enlightened and may even be better suited for enlightenment than men.

In the past 25 years, as Buddhism has grown in the West and Asian Buddhist societies have been influenced by feminism, theres more awareness of the importance of womens leadership, she said.

In Buddhism, womens status varies across countries and branches that follow different traditions and practices. Women can be ordained as the equivalent of monks in China, South Korea, Taiwan and Vietnam, mostly dominated by the Mahayana school of Buddhism. Female ordination is not available in the Tibetan tradition nor in Cambodia, Laos or Myanmar.

Women are also banned from becoming monks in Thailand, where over 90% of the population is Buddhist. Historically, women could only become white-cloaked nuns often treated as glorified temple housekeepers. But dozens have traveled to Sri Lanka to receive full ordination.

Dhammananda, the pioneering Thai nun, was a respected Buddhist scholar and television personality before her ordination. One day she looked in a mirror and heard an inner voice asking: How long must I do this? She took vows of celibacy and decided to live apart from her three sons, traveling to Sri Lanka for her novice ordination in 2001.

When she returned to Thailand with a shaved head and wearing the saffron robes reserved for men, she faced criticism for defying the Buddhist male-led hierarchy. Theyd say: Imagine a woman putting on the robe, she must be crazy, said Dhammananda, who was fully ordained in 2003.

Two decades later, she said, people on the street no longer look at you with puzzled eyes because Thailand now has over 280 fully ordained women nationwide, though they and their monasteries arent legally recognized and dont receive state funding.

Dhammananda contends that Buddha built the religion as a four-legged stool  monks, nuns, laymen and laywomen.

We are on the right side of history, she said.

The women live simple lifestyles and are governed by 311 precepts, including celibacy. Their ranks and those of hundreds of aspirants include a former Google executive, a Harvard graduate, journalists and doctors, as well as village noodle vendors.

Buddhist Thai women have been playing more important roles, said Kritsana Raksachom, a nun and lecturer at Bangkoks Maha Chulalongkorn Rajavidyalaya University. They increasingly lead meditation courses with both male and female followers, teach Buddhism and Pali languages to monks and novices in public Buddhist universities, and run charities.

In Sri Lanka, the bhikkhuni order was established in the 3rd century B.C. following Buddhisms introduction from India but later disappeared due to foreign invasions and other factors. It wasnt until the late 80s and 90s when the first Sri Lankan nuns in more than a millennium received their higher ordination.

Peradeniye Dhammashanti, a nun at the Paramita International Buddhist Meditation Center in Sri Lanka, said lay women and bhikkhunis have made significant progress. But she regrets they still lack adequate education and places to meditate.

Buddhist women in Japan focus on caring for the bereaved, mentally ill, elders and families, said Paula Arai, a religious studies professor at Louisiana State University. The ranks of male and female monastics are the same, and women have this chutzpah because when the tradition was introduced in Japan in the sixth century, women were the first to be fully ordained, Arai said.

In Tibetan Buddhism, nuns have achieved many of the privileges historically reserved for monks. They include studying for the geshema, the traditions highest and most demanding degree, which was denied to them for centuries.

The balance is shifting because now, certainly in Tibetan Buddhism, the nuns are highly educated and have the same degrees as the monks, Palmo said. They are also teaching, and so their confidence level has risen enormously.

Still, she laments that in the Tibetan tradition, women can only become novice nuns and not fully ordained.

Theyre sort of standing in the doorway, but theyre not entering, said Palmo. Its sad that there is such resistance.

After witnessing unequal opportunities for women, Venerable Karma Lekshe Tsomo made it her lifelong mission to address the imbalance.

Born in California, she grew up surfing and traveled to Asia in the 1950s when it was hard to find teachers, monasteries and Buddhism books. She studied with masters of Tibetan Buddhism and, in the late 80s, organized a pioneering international conference of Buddhist women in the same village where the Buddha became awakened. She went on to create the Sakyadhita International Association of Buddhist Women and an education project for women that runs schools in Bangladesh, Laos and the Himalayas.

To achieve that highest level, women need the same tools to work with, the same opportunities that men have, said Tsomo, who is a professor of Buddhist Studies at the University of San Diego.

Author and journalist Michaela Haas praised Tsomo, Palmo and other women profiled in her book Dakini Power: Twelve Extraordinary Women Shaping the Transmission of Tibetan Buddhism in the West. But shes disappointed by the lack of progress.

We should be further along, and despite these great women teachers, the tradition hasnt changed that much, she said.

They have to work extra hard and do double the work and be super, super qualified. Meanwhile in some monasteries, she said, women, even nuns, are tasked with cooking and laundry, so its still an old-fashioned understanding of gender roles.

Venerable Thubten Chodron, who first traveled to India in the 1970s to study under the Dalai Lama and other Tibetan Buddhism masters, said she has seen enormous positive change for nuns since then. In 2003 she opened Sravasti Abbey, in Washington state, the only Tibetan Buddhist training monastery for Western monks and nuns in America.

The day starts before dawn with teachings and meditation followed by chanting sessions.

Im training all those people who will come who have a sincere motivation and want to follow the discipline that we keep here, said Chodron, who has written books with the Dalai Lama and also authored Buddhism for Beginners.

One of her students is Thubten Damcho, 38. Born in Singapore, she was introduced to Buddhism at Princeton University. After graduation she met Chodron, received her novice ordination at Sravasti Abbey and was fully ordained in Taiwan.

It was some time in my ordination before I understood, Oh, this ordination is not available to all women, Damcho said. Im living in a time where this is possible again, and how rare and amazing that is.

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AP journalists Bharatha Mallawarachi in Colombo, Sri Lanka, and Grant Peck and Chalida Ekvitthayavechnukul in Bangkok contributed to this report.

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Associated Press religion coverage receives support from the Lilly Endowment through The Conversation U.S. The AP is solely responsible for this content.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP)  Indiana hospitals are seeing their highest-ever overall patient counts amid a monthlong COVID-19 surge and the states largest hospital system announced Thursday it had enlisted National Guard assistance.

Indiana University Health said it sought the support of the six-person National Guard teams for most of its 16 hospitals across the state because the strain on its team members, nurses and providers has never been greater.

The IU Health system isnt alone as the number of COVID-19 patients in Indiana hospitals has more than doubled in the past month, with about 2,750 such patients as of Wednesday as about 30 people a day are dying from the illness, according to state health department tracking.

That has contributed to the states total hospitalized patient count reaching its highest-ever level by reaching about 12,000 and climbing this week, according to the Indiana Hospital Association.

The current surge might not peak for another month and hospitals are also seeing more patients with other serious illnesses at a time when they also face a crunch of health care workers, said Brian Tabor, the hospital associations president.

Were viewing this as an extremely serious situation inside the walls of hospitals, but its not just a COVID issue, Tabor said. What COVID is doing is kind of taking up the slack thats built into the system.

The average Indiana hospital patient count has been about 10,000 over the past five years, with the previous peak of about 11,500 in early 2018 when Indiana faced a widespread flu outbreak. Indianas total patient count is some 500 more than a year ago when the state was in the midst of its worst COVID-19 surge and about 3,400 people were hospitalized with the disease, the hospital association said.

The Indiana National Guard began offering the six-person teams that include two medics and four support staffers to hospitals earlier this year, with teams being dispatched in September to hospitals in Indianapolis, Evansville, Jeffersonville, Gary and Merrillville.

Indianas COVID-19 hospitalizations are now higher than Indianas summer surge that peaked in September and are approaching the pandemic peak reached in late 2020. The surge has also pushed up Indianas average of COVID-19 deaths to more than 30 per day after it was below five a day in July.

Health officials have urged more people to get the COVID-19 vaccination shots as Indiana has the countrys 10th lowest rate for fully vaccinated population at 51.1%, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Nine rural counties scattered around the state have vaccination rates below 40%.

Dr. Paul Calkins, IU Healths associate chief medical executive, said the system has been delaying many scheduled surgeries as it faces the crush of more patients.

Pretty much all of our emergency departments have people who are holding in them because theres no room in the hospital at the moment, Calkins said. That means that people that come in with really any disease, particularly non COVID illness, they are going to be backed up. Were delaying a lot of surgeries, probably several thousand.
PARIS (AP)  French President Macron vowed to work to make Europe more powerful in the world as France is about to take up the rotating presidency of the European Union, a tenure that overlaps with the country's presidential election and could put him in a tricky position if he campaigns for a second term.

Macron is expected to run in Aprils two-round election, and France's turn in the European Council's rotating six-month presidency starts Jan. 1.

Many would like to rely only on one nation. Nations are our strength, our pride, but European unity is their indispensable complement, the proudly pro-EU president said.

"We want to get ... a powerful Europe in the world, fully sovereign, free to make its choices and master of its own destiny, he said during a news conference in Paris.

Macron said France's EU presidency would work to promote a European model of growth that would allow the 27-nation bloc to generate wealth and jobs while at the same time preserving high social and climate-related standards.

He announced a series of summits for the first half of next year about EU defense policies and the bloc's relationship with Africa and the Western Balkans.

Europe faces major challenges, he said, from climate change to migration issues involving manipulation from some states and attempts at destabilization, tensions including in our closer neighborhood. The European Union in recent months accused Belarus of encouraging asylum-seekers to cross from the country into neighboring EU members Poland, Lithuania and Latvia.

Macron said he would have talks with other EU leaders to make the bloc more capable of controlling its borders.

Macron, who was elected in 2017, has yet to formally declare whether he will seek a second term.

He noted that the schedule for France's presidency of the EU is notably the consequence of Brexit and insisted he will fully be committed to the European task at least until the French election.

"Maybe Frances politics will change. For sure, France will remain France, Macron said.

I say it again: the term (in office) I was given by the French, I will serve it until the last quarter of hour, he said.

Frances presidency of the EU could provide a platform for Macron's campaign but also complicate it if the race is focused primarily on domestic issues such as the French economy, security and immigration.

Macron leader would be able to use the presidency to influence the EU-wide decisions, yet the bloc's complex and consensual decision-making process might play against him and produce few concrete actions before Aprils election.

Macron promotes a vision for the EU's strategic autonomy that would allow the bloc to better weather competition from China and put it on a more equal footing with the United States.

Notably, he is pushing for a stronger and more capable European defense" that contributes to trans-Atlantic and global security and is complementary to NATO.

Frances motto for the EU presidency is Recovery, power, belonging - the last word meant to convey the idea of enhancing Europeans' sense of shared belonging to the bloc.

The French leaders news conference about the EU presidency was only the time Macron appeared before reporters at the Elysee presidential palace to answer a broad range of questions. His general news conference took place in April 2019 following the antigovernment yellow vest protests against social and economic injustice.

Polls on the voting intentions suggest for months Macron is the frontrunner in the race. A priority for him will be to suck support away from conservative and far-right candidates, who are polling more strongly than contenders on the left and appear in a better position to reach the run-off.

Last week, Frances main conservative party, The Republicans, chose the head of the Paris region, Valerie Pecresse, to be its candidate in the presidential race.

Known as a convinced pro-European, Pecresse in recent months hardened her positions on immigration and security. Macron has only one obsession: to please (people). Me, its to do things, she said, vowing to break with the presidents centrist policies.

Two far-right contenders, Marine Le Pen, the head of the National Rally who faced Macron in the 2017 runoff, and former TV pundit Eric Zemmour, are campaigning on anti-Islam, anti-migrant themes.

In a clear response to the far-right, almost adopting the tone of a presidential candidate, Macron concluded the news conference by saying: when the bad winds are blowing, it's legitimate that democratic choices are being made."

French institutions must not make any concession to racism nor antisemitism he said, praising "discussions and controversies" and denouncing hatred.

On the left, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo is the presidential candidate for the Socialist party and the Greens chose European lawmaker Yannick Jadot, a former Greenpeace activist.

The far-left leader of the Rebel France party, Jean-Luc Melenchon, who is seeking the presidency for the third time, called on Macron to come into the arena to debate.

Macron "is not above democracy, he said.
French President Emmanuel Macron urged Britain on Thursday to make it easier for people to apply for asylum and harder to work illegally, to stem risky migration efforts across the English Channel after a recent deadly sinking.

Macron also accused the British government of reneging on promises over fishing licenses and of betraying French-British friendship by signing a secret submarine deal with the U.S. and Australia that sank a rival French contract.

The British government doesnt do what it says," Macron told a news conference.

The two countries need to work together in good faith, notably on migration, he said.

Thousands of migrants have departed from the French coast in recent months in small inflatable boats to try to reach Britain.

Why are these women and men in these terrible conditions? Because they don't want asylum in France," Macron said.

He urged Britain to create clearer paths to asylum to deter people from making the dangerous crossing. He also said some migrants are attracted by a British economic model that depends on illegal work by foreigners.

Britain and France accuse each other of not doing enough to prevent the deaths of at least 27 migrants whose boat sank last month off the coast of Calais.

Macron also said that France will decide with European Commission on Friday on the next steps in France's fishing dispute with Britain. French fishermen are angry at the British government for not granting more licenses to fish in U.K. waters after Brexit. The fishing industry is economically tiny but symbolically important for both Britain and France.

I like Great Britain. I like its people," Macron said. "I want terribly to have a government that wants to work simply in good faith.

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Follow APs global migration coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/migration
BOSTON (AP)  A Massachusetts man who used stolen identities to fraudulently apply for pandemic-related unemployment benefits has been sentenced to more than three years in prison, federal prosecutors said.

Wagner Sozi, 33, of Malden, was also ordered by a judge on Wednesday to pay about $110,000 in forfeiture and restitution, according to a statement from the U.S. attorney's office in Boston.
(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.)

Staci Zavattaro, University of Central Florida

(THE CONVERSATION) We stopped doing heads.

It was the second time Id heard a medical examiner say this while I was studying how the roles of medical examiners and coroners have changed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A medical examiner from Ohio explained to me that opening a skull is one of the most dangerous parts of an autopsy in the COVID-19 era. This is because the kind of saw often used during autopsies has a beating motion that produces aerosols  among the primary modes of transmission of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. The medical examiner explained that his office would not open a skull unless absolutely necessary for the exam and then would use a high-powered vacuum to reduce particle spread from the process.

This was one of several policies and practices medical examiners and coroners in the U.S. had to change when adapting to the ongoing pandemic.

In the early months of the pandemic, doctors and nurses  or front-line health care workers  received much-deserved praise and recognition for their heroic actions. This included New Yorkers banging on pots and pans every night at 7 p.m. and Denver residents howling like wolves at 8 p.m. in support of front-line workers for months in 2020  a tradition that returned in 2021 a year after the pandemic began.

But death care workers such as coroners and medical examiners, who also are providing critical services during the ongoing pandemic, have been far less celebrated and recognized. Yet they have been struggling under the unceasing pressure of excess deaths, backed-up funeral systems and increased data-gathering responsibilities. They have also had to take on additional tasks of reporting COVID-19 data for public health purposes. And these workers have suffered a lot of burnout.

I am a public administration professor who is studying public servants in death care services. My work has highlighted the need to better understand the complex roles that these medical professionals play, especially when much of their work is unseen and not well understood by the general public.

The roles of medical examiners and coroners

Since the beginning of the pandemic, medical examiners and coroners have dealt with repeated COVID-19 surges that as of November 2021 have left more than 768,000 Americans dead. Public health and reporting requirements following COVID-19 deaths added to these professionals already heavy workloads.

Medical examiners and coroners are public servants charged with carrying out medical, scientific and legal death investigations. Medical examiners have board-certified medical training in pathology, forensic pathology or another associated medical field and are appointed by county commissioners or other leaders. Coroners, who receive training in medical and legal investigation, are elected to their roles by voters.

Outside of the context of COVID-19, these death care workers are called in to investigate suspicious, unnatural deaths. The process of death investigation in the U.S. is complicated and bureaucratic, and each state sets its own criteria. Some states have medical examiner systems, others have a coroner system, while still others might have a hybrid approach.

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for additional safety precautions to reduce exposure and spread for the protection of medical examiners, coroners and death investigation teams.

COVID-19 and excess deaths

Throughout the pandemic, public-facing offices of medical examiners and coroners offices might have closed, following COVID-19 guidelines, but the behind-the-scenes operations accelerated. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that COVID-19 contributed to more than 902,000excess deaths  meaning deaths in addition to those statistically projected for an area based on past trends  in the U.S. as of late November 2021.

One challenge that became critical in the early months of the pandemic was distinguishing cause of death from manner of death. Cause of death refers to a specific and immediate injury, disease or condition that led to a death. Manner of death is a medical and legal description grouping deaths into five categories for public health purposes: natural, accident, homicide, suicide or undetermined.

These distinctions are critical for accurately tracking and reporting whether someone died from COVID-19-related complications or whether someone died while carrying the virus but from another cause such as a car accident or heart attack, for example. Initially, there was no agreed-upon standard for deciding what constituted a COVID-19-related death. As COVID-19 deaths surged early in the pandemic, some people began to question those numbers, given the medical complexities and unknowns associated with the virus. The CDC eventually provided guidance in April 2020 on how COVID-19 deaths should be officially reported.

Supporting death care workers as the pandemic drags on

Research has shown that  long before the pandemic  medical examiners and coroners, who deal daily with psychological stressors such as handling human remains and talking with grieving families, were at high risk of depression and post-traumatic stress. COVID-19 has taken an already stressful job and added additional pressure.

A 2020 study collected stories from forensic workers at the University of Michigan who had to drastically change policies for their personal safety while also finding ways to support and assist grieving families. For example, when social distancing rules prohibited in-person memorial services, the team devised thoughtful ways to use photographs to preserve a loved ones memory. For example, one biomedical photographer provided families with high-quality photos of their loved ones hands or tattoos.

[Over 140,000 readers rely on The Conversations newsletters to understand the world. Sign up today.]

The ongoing pandemic means death care workers are still providing these much-needed services to families. One quality and research manager I spoke with from a medical examiners office in Minnesota noted that people who work at funeral homes are often left out of the support network that health care professionals have received during the pandemic. People believe that health care ends at death, and it does not, he said.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here: https://theconversation.com/medical-examiners-and-coroners-have-borne-a-heavy-burden-during-the-covid-19-pandemic-and-have-often-felt-invisible-and-unsupported-170925.
NEW YORK (AP)  The Metropolitan Museum of Art is dropping the Sackler name from seven exhibition spaces amid growing outrage over the role the family may have played in the opioid crisis.

The New York museum and the Sackler family jointly announced on Thursday that the institution and their once-deep-pocketed benefactors would part ways, removing the Sackler name from the iconic building, including the wing that houses the Temple of Dendur. The wing is named after brothers Arthur, Mortimer and Raymond Sackler, who donated $3.5 million for it in the 1970s.
Debra Geske, a Navy technician, was enjoying cranberry juice at a bar in Guam when a male sailor spiked it with a drug when she wasnt looking. He and two other sailors drove her home and raped her, she said. I woke up the next morning full of blood, she said.

When Geske reported the rape to her petty officer in 2000, he said he couldnt respond until higher-ups arrived on a Navy ship four weeks later. Then, officials told her it was a he said, she said scenario, and they did nothing, she said. I felt at the time like I didnt matter, said the Glastonbury resident.

Maureen Gard Friedly said she was sexually assaulted by her Marine Corps platoon leader  whom she considered a friend  in 2006. Her commanders told the two to work out their problems and kept them in the same classes and living area. She was told that the notes from an interview about her complaint were lost, and she wasnt given another interview. My chain of command really let me down, she said.

Sexual assaults, rape and sexual harassment in the military continue to occur in large numbers. In 2020, 6,290 people reported being sexually assaulted in the military, according to the Department of Defense, but victim advocates say that number falls short of actual cases. Advocates cite fear of repercussion and the requirement of reporting to a commander  who may be the assailant  as reasons for the lack of reporting.

The last time the DOD conducted a survey was in 2018, when 20,500 respondents said they were sexually assaulted in the military, up from 14,900 in 2016. The DOD, which conducts surveys every two years, did not do one in 2020.

Now, after a decade of efforts to remove the prosecution of military sexual trauma from the jurisdiction of commanders, Congress is poised to take action that would put the responsibility for prosecuting sexual assault cases on independent military lawyers.

The move has been hailed as historic. But critics say it doesnt go far enough because commanders would retain a role in the judicial process, potentially diminishing the effect of the independent prosecutors.

National attention was riveted on the issue when at least 83 women and seven men were sexually assaulted by Navy and Marine aviators attending a 1991 conference called the Tailhook Symposium. Since then, other high-profile cases have occurred. In 2017, Marines solicited and shared nude photos of female colleagues on a Facebook page called Marines United. Last year, Vanessa Guillen, a 20-year-old soldier, was murdered at the Fort Hood Army base in Texas after reporting that she had been sexually harassed.

I cant tell you how upset it makes me that military officials convinced Congress for years to allow commanders to have authority over military sexual trauma cases, Friedly said.

Chelsea M. Donaldson, an attorney with the Connecticut Veterans Legal Center, said she has represented 39 MST survivors  27 men and 12 women  in the past three years. None reported their experiences to their commanders, she said.

Pretty much every awful story you can think of, Ive probably heard a version of, unfortunately, Donaldson said. She cited gang rapes, drug-facilitated rapes, and sexual hazing in boot camp, where soldiers are forced to strip and stand naked in front of each other. Im so surprised by how awful human beings can be to one another, she said.

This year, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin supported requiring independent military prosecutors in sexual assault cases. The provision is included in the $768.2 billion National Defense Authorization Act, which was approved this week by the U.S. House of Representatives. It requires that survivors of sexual assault be informed of the disposition of cases against their perpetrators, requires tracking of retaliation against survivors of military sexual trauma, and creates an Office of Special Trial Counsel in each service, answerable to a civilian official. It criminalizes sexual harassment but doesnt take the crimes jurisdiction away from commanders.

A bipartisan majority of Congress, including Connecticut U.S. Sens. Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy and U.S. Rep. Jahana Hayes, D-5, signed onto a stronger proposal. It would completely eliminate commanders roles in handling the prosecution of non-military felonies. Sponsors plan to pursue this in separate legislation.

A statement by Protect Our Defenders, an advocacy group devoted to reducing military sexual trauma, called the use of independent prosecutors the most significant military justice reform in our nations history and a momentous step forward.

However, its praise was qualified because the commanders would retain some judicial authority, including over court-martial proceedings and who would serve on them. Col. Don M. Christensen, Protect Our Defenders president, said this erodes the independence of the prosecutors and ignores concerns of MST survivors that commanders will still have too much influence.

Friedly agreed. A former Meriden resident, she was an activist for MST survivors while attending Quinnipiac University and continues to advocate for them in Texas, where she now lives.

Shes aid commanders retaining some judicial authority insults survivors. Like we wont see through the wool and think this is some sort of improvement, Friedly said. As long as the chain of command has involvement in prosecution and decision-making, we will continue to see a rise in sexual crime, little to no punishment for those found to have been guilty, and a decrease in reporting, she said.

Friedly, a married mother of two, said if there had been independent prosecutors when she was assaulted at the age of 18, she wouldnt be living with post-traumatic stress disorder, wouldnt have lost trust in people, and wouldnt be so fearful and suspicious of others.

She attends an equine-assisted psychotherapy program to help deal with her MST and runs occasional support groups for other female MST survivors.

Geske expressed hope that having independent prosecutors would increase MST reporting because it might reduce fear of repercussion. They told me I shouldnt be in the military if I was going to complain about somebody sexually harassing me, said Geske, who said she was gang-raped when she was 20.

Several advocates said new laws need to be accompanied by cultural changes in the military. That plays a lot into this whole issue, Friedly said. She recalled a Marine nickname, WM, which she said meant both woman Marine and walking mattress.

Christensen, of Protect Our Defenders, said, Theres definitely a misogynistic subculture. He referred to military men who dont want women to serve or be in combat even though women have been excelling. He called for people who are wearing the stars to get on board, adding, if they dont, its time for them to go.

Donaldson, of the CVLC, called for a major cultural shift so MST survivors will feel safe. She said her clients didnt report sexual abuse because they were afraid of being punished, of being blamed for the assault, of being labeled as a problem for reporting the assault, she said.

Donaldson pointed out that its important to acknowledge that men also get sexually harassed, raped and assaulted. A July Rand Corp. report for the Pentagon estimated that 1 in 16 women and 1 in 143 men had been sexually assaulted in the military.

U.S. Rep. Jackie Speier, a Democrat from California, first introduced legislation in 2011, and U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, a Democrat from New York, introduced legislation in 2013 to take military sexual trauma prosecution out of the chain of command.

This type of reform was needed decades ago, Donaldson said.

This story was reported under a partnership with the Connecticut Health I-Team (c-hit.org), a nonprofit news organization dedicated to health reporting.
David Joles/AP

MINNEAPOLIS (AP)  A crash in Minneapolis early Thursday that followed a police pursuit of an SUV that was reportedly stolen has left two juveniles dead and three others hospitalized, authorities said.

Officers in suburban Robbinsdale spotted a Mercedes SUV about 2 a.m. that was reported stolen in Minneapolis and attempted to stop the vehicle, police said.
HONOLULU (AP)  The Navy will stop operations at fuel storage tanks above a Hawaii aquifer until the completion of its own investigation into how petroleum got into tap water.

In a memo dated Tuesday, Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro said corrective actions shall be performed as expeditiously as possible.

The Navy told Department of Health officials Wednesday that it shut down the Aiea Halawa shaft Friday, the second since it quietly shut down the Red Hill shaft on Nov. 28, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, reported.

The Navy previously said it was suspending use of the massive fuel storage complex near Pearl Harbor following days of complaints that tap water smells like fuel and has sickened some people.

But the Navy also informed Hawaii officials it was contesting a state order demanding that the suspension remain in effect until independent evaluators can ensure that appropriate actions are taken to protect drinking water.

State officials want the Navy to treat contaminated drinking water and remove fuel from the massive 20 underground storage tanks at the complex called the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility.

In response to the memo, Hawaii's deputy director of environmental health said state officials appreciate the Navy's suspension of operations but that an independent analysis of the situation is still needed.

The state order provides clear parameters to pause operations, treat contaminated drinking water and safely defuel the Red Hill underground storage tanks, said the deputy director, Kathleen Ho.

It also "ensures that this framework remains in place until an independent assessment can ensure that appropriate actions are taken to protect human health and the environment, Ho said in a statement.

The Navy will consult with an independent third party to assess operations and system integrity of the tank facility and develop a plan for necessary repairs, said the memo, which was made public Wednesday.

The recent incident at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, in which military housing units and other facilities received tap water containing petroleum products is not acceptable, the memo said.

The Navys water system serves about 93,000 people in and near Pearl Harbor and nearly 1,000 military households have complained about their tap water. Some said they suffered ailments such as cramps and vomiting after drinking it recently.

Testing last week showed the presence of petroleum in water that comes from a well near the underground fuel tank complex that has been the source of multiple fuel leaks over the years.

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This story has been updated to correct the name of the newspaper to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, not the Star Adviser.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP)  A panel of New Mexico regulators on Wednesday rejected global energy giant Iberdrolas proposed multibillion-dollar acquisition of the state's largest electric provider, saying the deal did not offer adequate protections for customers and the risks outweighed the promised benefits.

The Public Regulation Commission voted unanimously to accept the recommendation of a hearing examiner to deny the merger.

All five elected commissioners agreed the deal would not be in the publics interest. They cited concerns about customer service problems and reliability issues in other states where Iberdrola subsidiary Avangrid operates. They also pointed to the company initially withholding information during the proceeding, a move that resulted in a $10,000 penalty.

Commission Chairman Stephen Fischmann said New Mexico and many other states are going through an incredibly important stage with respect to navigating the shift toward more renewable energy production. He acknowledged that utilities and regulators are facing more demands as the transformation results in changes across the supply chain and how customers are affected.

He said Avangrid is not the right partner to help New Mexico through the transition given its track record elsewhere, a pending investigation of Iberdrola executives in Spain and the potential for reliability issues and higher electric rates.

This whole deal to me kind of boils down promises versus actual performance," Fischmann said.

Under the proposal, Connecticut-based Avangrid would have acquired PNM Resources and its two utilities  Public Service Co. of New Mexico and Texas New Mexico Power. The all-cash transaction had been valued at more than $4.3 billion and would have opened the door for Iberdrola and Avangrid in a state where more wind and solar power could be generated and exported to larger markets.

The utilities, as part of an advertising blitz, touted more than $300 million in benefits that included rate relief for PNM customers for three years, economic development investments, the creation of 150 jobs and other concessions reached through negotiations with parties in the case.

PNM Resources chairwoman, president and CEO Pat Vincent-Collawn issued a statement after the vote, saying she was saddened by the decision.

We will continue to evaluate any next steps that could allow us to bring the positive benefits to the people we serve, she said.

The case has been a year in the making, with commission hearing officer Ashley Schannauer spending several months overseeing evidence gathering and two weeks of public hearings during the summer.

Schannauer last week presented his recommendation for the commission to veto the proposal. He also cited certain conditions commissioners should implement if they decide to support the merger, but it was clear the commission still had concerns after review reams of evidence and hours of testimony.

Schannauer during Wednesday's meeting reiterated concerns about reliability if Avangrid were to take over.

PNM and Avangrid officials had asked the commission to present oral arguments to address some of the commissioners' concerns. The commission decided against it, noting that the companies had ample time over the course of the last year to make their case.

Some environmental groups suggested Wednesday that the decision could cost the state hundreds of millions of dollars in lost jobs and renewable energy investments. But commissioners questioned the price tag, saying there were no guarantees that the jobs promised by Avangrid would net the economic returns that were projected.

During negotiations, Avangrid also had promised $12.5 million to support projects in Indigenous communities and to build 200 megawatts of renewable energy generation and storage on the Navajo Nation in northwestern New Mexico.

Still, Commissioner Joseph Maestas said the numerous concessions made during negotiations weren't enough to mitigate the concerns surrounding the deal and he suggested regulators don't have the funding or resources necessary to ensure Avangrid would have followed through on its promises.
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP)  Former U.S. Rep. Mark Walker will remain in North Carolina's U.S. Senate race for the remainder of the year and spend the next few weeks mulling a run for a Greensboro-area U.S. House seat, despite former President Donald Trump urging him to bow out of the 2022 Senate contest to run in the 7th Congressional District.

Trump in June endorsed U.S. Rep. Ted Budd in the closely watched GOP Senate primary that both Walker and former Gov. Pat McCrory also are running in. Budd and Walker are Trump loyalists competing for his base of supporters, while McCrory generally appeals to more moderate Republicans.

Walker said in an interview with The Associated Press on Thursday afternoon that he and his wife plan to release a video early next week announcing their plans to take time over the holidays to weigh their options and decide which contest Walker should compete for.

This has to be something in my heart, and I don't know that it's there yet, Walker said of a return to the U.S. House. I'm willing to consider it.

He noted he met with Trump on Saturday at the Mar-a-Lago club at the former presidents urging, where Trump sat to his right and Club for Growth President David McIntosh sat to his left. U.S. Rep. Madison Cawthorn and congressional candidate Bo Hines sat across the table, he said.

Club for Growth Action is a Washington political action committee that plans to spend at least $10 million to boost Budd.

Walker pushed back against reports that he had decided after his meeting with Trump to end his Senate bid.

Even before I had walked back in the meeting with President Trump, some of the reports were already saying that we had made a decision to do all this just wasn't factual," Walker said.

Walker said he took a call from McCrory over the weekend to answer some questions McCrory had about his political future.

In an interview Thursday, McCrory said he believes a Walker exit would give him a boost over Budd, though an internal poll his campaign provided shows a bump well inside the margin of error.

While more ideologically similar to one another, Walker has not seen eye to eye with Budd in recent months, especially as Walker privately encouraged Budd to seek another House term instead of run for Senate.

He and McCrory chastise Budd for his ties to Club for Growth and remain upset by his refusal to have a conversation about participating in a debate. Jonathan Felts, an adviser to Budd, noted the congressman wants to see the field of filed candidates before agreeing to a debate.

I don't remember the last time (I talked to Budd), Walker said, noting he last saw him at an event a couple months ago and hasn't had a one-on-one conversation with him since Trump left office in January. If he would show up for one of these forums, we'd have a chance to talk with him. But he likes to counsel at the last minute, otherwise I'd love to kind of speak with him. But it's been some while since we've communicated or texted here.

State Sen. Jeff Jackson and former state Supreme Court Chief Justice Cheri Beasley are the top Democrats seeking their partys nomination for the 2022 election.

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Follow Anderson on Twitter at https://twitter.com/BryanRAnderson.

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Anderson is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
ISLAMABAD (AP)  The Pakistani Taliban said Thursday they will not extend a cease-fire agreed to last month, accusing the government in Islamabad of not honoring the truce and failing to release 102 of their fighters.

The militant group, also known as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, has been behind numerous attacks on Pakistani security forces and civilians over the last 14 years. TTP was also behind a 2014 attack on an army-run school in the northwestern city of Peshawar that killed 154 people, mostly schoolchildren.
HERMITAGE, Mo. (AP)  A western Missouri deputy shot and killed a woman who reportedly attacked another person with a knife, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

The deadly encounter happened Wednesday morning in the town of Hermitage when Hickory County sheriffs deputies were called around 9 a.m. to a domestic disturbance, Springfield television station KYTV reported.
PHOENIX (AP)  The Phoenix Zoo is the latest among several dozen in the United States to vaccinate animals considered susceptible to getting COVID-19 from close contact with people.

Big cats such as Sumatran tigers, jaguars and African lions; many of the zoo's primates like Bornean orangutans and tiny emperor tamarins; and Egyptian fruit bats, armadillos and two-toed sloths are among the 75 animals that have already received their first shots.

Veterinarian Dr. Gary West, the zoo's senior vice president of animal health and living collections, said Thursday that staff members are now giving the second jabs that will serve as boosters and should keep them protected for a year.

The big cats were vaccinated from a distance with the use of darts.

They take it way better than people do, West said of the animals. They don't like it, but they bounce right back and go back to their lives.

There have been no cases of coronavirus infection detected among Phoenix Zoo animals

The vaccine being used at the Phoenix Zoo was developed specifically for animals by Zoetis, a global animal health company based in in New Jersey that donated the doses. The vaccine is authorized for emergency use to protect endangered species.

West said the Phoenix Zoo has been taking precautions to protect the animals throughout the pandemic with distancing and protective equipment. The inoculations should give the most susceptible animals an added layer of protection, he said

Zoetis first got a permit from the U.S. Department of Agriculture early this year to provide the doses on an experimental basis to the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, where a troop of western lowland gorillas in January became the first apes known to test positive for the coronavirus.

There have only been a few known cases of zoo animal deaths from COVID-19 complications, including three rare snow leopards that died recently at the Lincoln Childrens Zoo in Nebraska.

Zoos across the country, including at the St. Louis Zoo and the Denver Zoo, have recently grappled with COVID-19 outbreaks among their animals.
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP)  A police officer who was detained while threatening to jump off a highway overpass in Orlando had been threatening to run his vehicle into a hospital or military base so that authorities would be forced to kill him, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement said.

The FDLE arrested Thomas James Stephan on Wednesday after receving a warning from authorities in South Carolina, where the man has worked as a civilian police officer at Joint Base Charleston.
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP)  For five hours Thursday, the South Carolina House debated a proposal to prevent private companies in South Carolina from firing employees who refuse to get a COVID-19 vaccine.

Then, just before members were set to vote, Republican leadership stripped that ban from the bill, leaving it only banning COVID-19 vaccine mandates for state and local government employees, contractors and public school students.

The bill passed 67-31 on Thursday and only needs a routine third reading Friday before being sent to the Senate. Senators have already gone home and appear unlikely to take the matter up before the regular 2022 session begins on Jan. 11.

The proposal requires employers to honor religious or medical exemptions and said a medical exemption can include a prior positive COVID-19 test, pregnancy or presence of coronavirus antibodies. It also makes businesses pay unemployment benefits to a worker fired for not being vaccinated.

The suddenly watered-down bill was a dizzying, but maybe not surprising end to a whirlwind 48 hours where the proposal went from a subcommittee to the House floor.

Republicans typically allow businesses in the state to have free rein and numerous groups, including the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce, asked lawmakers to oppose the bill. Democrats spent hours championing businesses and the right of employers to determine requirements for their workers only to watch the debate change in an instant.

Democrats suggested Republicans were trying to provide cover for their most conservative members in party primaries by putting on a debate.

The amendment that altered the bill came when there was only six minutes of debate available on the proposal.

Nobody knows what it is  that's not a good way to govern, said Rep. Russell Ott, a Democrat from St. Matthews.

Only two states  Montana and Tennessee  have passed similar bans for private businesses. Fewer than a dozen states have in place similar laws to what the South Carolina House ended up passing Thursday.

Before agreeing to strip out the ban on private businesses allowing vaccines, the bill's primary supporter Rep. Stewart Jones argued that the proposal protected personal freedom.

Its a question of if anybody should be able to make you inject something into your body without your own will, the Republican from Laurens said.

Democrats put up more than a dozen amendments during the day that were all rejected. They included proposals to force state employees who aren't vaccinated to pay more in health insurance premiums, require hospitals to prioritize care for the vaccinated, make it a misdemeanor to possess a fake vaccine ID card and require unvaccinated people to pay all their medical costs out of pocket.

If you choose to be stupid, pay the stupid price, said Rep. Cezar McKnight, a Democrat from Kingstree.

Before the switch, the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce and 27 other business associations from local chambers to trade associations of retailers, truckers, manufacturers and others said they were against the bill, calling it an unprecedented step against free enterprise.

South Carolina has a long-held tradition of being a pro-business state that allows businesses to operate with minimal government intervention, the groups said in their statement. Employment decisions have been left to individual businesses in our state, subject to what each business believes is right for their operations.

Upon being sent to the Senate, the bill likely can't go anywhere until the General Assembly returns for its regular 2022 session on Jan. 11. Senators at the end of their redistricting special session Tuesday were wishing colleagues and staff Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and saying they would see them in January.

___

Follow Jeffrey Collins on Twitter at https://twitter.com/JSCollinsAP.
MOSCOW (AP)  Russia's top military officer on Thursday sternly warned neighboring Ukraine against trying to reclaim control over separatist areas by force, saying that Moscow will suppress any such attempt.

The statement by Gen. Valery Gerasimov, chief of the Russian military's General Staff, comes amid soaring tensions over a Russian troop buildup near the border with Ukraine that stoked Ukrainian and Western fears of a possible invasion.

A senior Russian diplomat doubled down on Gerasimov's warning by saying that the failure to stem the mounting tensions could push Russia and the West to a redux of the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis that put the world on the verge of a nuclear war.

Tension briefly rose later Thursday when Russias Federal Security Service said a Ukrainian navy ship was heading toward the Kerch Strait between the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea, ignoring Russian coast guard vessels signals. The FSB charged that maneuvering by the Ukrainian ship Donbas jeopardized navigation safety. The agency reported later that the ship changed course and sailed away from the Kerch Strait.

The Ukrainian military dismissed the Russian claims, saying the Donbas didn't come anywhere close to any sensitive areas and was now heading back to its base. Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov denounced the Russian report as manipulations, expressing surprise that Moscow saw the unarmed vessel as a threat.

Moscow demands that all ships passing through the narrow strait that separates the Russia-annexed Crimea from Russias Taman Peninsula notify Russian authorities, citing the need to ensure the safety of navigation.

In November 2018, Russian coast guard ships opened fire on three Ukrainian ships near the strait and then seized them. Ukraine insisted the vessels were in international waters when Russia intercepted them.

U.S. President Joe Biden warned his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in a video call Tuesday that the West would respond with bruising economic sanctions that would inflict acute pain on Moscow if it invades Ukraine. At the same time, Biden made it clear Wednesday that U.S. troops wouldn't be sent to Ukraine to confront the Russians, and announced future talks between the U.S., its top NATO allies and Russia to address some of Moscow's security concerns.

Russia has rejected Ukrainian and Western claims of plotting an attack and described them as a cover-up for a possible attempt by Ukraine to retake the rebel-held areas. Ukraine has denied such plans.

On Thursday, Gerasimov reinforced Moscow's warning to Ukraine not to try to use force to reclaim control of the east, saying that any provocations by Ukrainian authorities to settle the Donbas problems by force will be suppressed.

U.S. intelligence officials say Russia has stationed about 70,000 troops near its border with Ukraine and has begun planning for a possible invasion as soon as early next year.

British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace told a press briefing in Stockholm that President Putin would face a severe economic response, a severe diplomatic response from the international community if he launches an attack on Ukraine. I dont think Russia wants those consequences, I dont think it will help everyone, especially at this time with COVID, for these things to play out, he added.

Speaking to foreign military attaches, Gerasimov dismissed Western concerns about the Russian military buildup, arguing that Moscow is free to deploy its troops wherever it likes on its territory and calling the claim of a possible Russian invasion a lie.

He charged that Ukraine is to blame for escalating tensions in its war-torn eastern industrial heartland, known as Donbas, by deploying new weapons there, including U.S.-supplied Javelin anti-tank missiles and Turkish drones.

Russia and Ukraine have been locked in a bitter tug-of-war since 2014, when Moscow annexed the Ukrainian Crimean Peninsula and threw its support behind a separatist insurgency in eastern Ukraine that has killed more than 14,000 people. Ukraine and the West accused Russia of sending troops and weapons to back the separatists, which Moscow has repeatedly denied.

Gerasimov complained about NATO's growing presence near Russian borders and the increasing number and scope of drills by alliance troops. He particularly noted an increase in patrol flights by U.S. strategic bombers near Russian territory, saying they practiced launching cruise missiles at targets in Russia.

In remarks that followed up on Putin's push for Western security guarantees to preclude NATO's expansion to Ukraine and other ex-Soviet neighbors, Gerasimov said Moscow is open to discussions on European and global security to de-escalate tensions and increase the level of mutual trust.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov also voiced hope that the U.S. and its NATO allies would listen to Moscow's security concerns and engage in meaningful discussions.

It primarily refers to refraining from military activities near our borders and the development of military and military-technical presence in those territories, Ryabkov said during a panel discussion on international affairs.

He emphasized that Russia wants legally-binding guarantees of its security, noting that Western powers broke verbal promises  given to Moscow in the early 1990s  that NATO wouldn't expand eastward.

There is a deep crisis in the Euro-Atlantic region that is fraught with a potential conflict, Ryabkov said, adding that a controversy similar in scope to the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis between the U.S. and the Soviet Union couldn't be excluded.

The Cuban Missile Crisis erupted when the Soviet Union deployed its missiles to Cuba and the U.S. imposed a naval blockade of the island. U.S. President John F. Kennedy and Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev agreed to defuse tensions by making a deal for Moscow to withdraw its missiles in exchange for Washingtons pledge not to invade Cuba and the removal of U.S. missiles from Turkey.

If the other side doesn't get it and it continues like it goes now, the logic of developments could lead us to suddenly waking up to something like that, Ryabkov. It may easily come to that. It would represent the failure of diplomacy, but there is still time to try to reach agreements based on common sense."

___

Pan Pylas in London contributed to this report.
SOUTHFIELD, Mich. (AP)  The parents of a 17-year-old girl who was shot in the neck at Oxford High School during a mass shooting that left four students dead filed a pair of lawsuits seeking $100 million each against a Michigan school district, saying Thursday that the violence could have been prevented.

The lawsuits were filed in federal court in Detroit and Oakland County Circuit Court by Jeffrey and Brandi Franz on behalf of their daughters, Riley, a senior who was wounded Nov. 30, and her sister Bella, a 14-year-old ninth grader who was next to her at the time she was shot, attorney Geoffrey Fieger said.

The parents attended a news conference Thursday with Fieger in his Southfield offices. Jeffrey Franz appeared stoic, staring ahead as the personal injury lawyer accused school officials and staff at Oxford High of not doing enough to prevent the shooting and protect students.

Brandi Franz sat, often with head bowed. The parents did not address reporters.

The lawsuits are the first known civil suits filed in connection with the shooting. Named in the suits are the Oxford school district, Superintendent Tim Throne, Oxford High School principal Steven Wolf, two counselors, two teachers and a staff member.

The Associated Press sent an email Thursday seeking comment from the district.

Ten students and a teacher were shot at the school in Oxford Township, roughly 30 miles (50 kilometers) north of Detroit.

Ethan Crumbley, a 15-year-old sophomore at the school, was arrested at the school and has been charged as an adult with murder, terrorism and other crimes. His parents, James and Jennifer Crumbley, later were charged with involuntary manslaughter and arrested.

Personal-injury lawyers have expressed doubt that the school district could be successfully sued for letting Crumbley stay in school. Thats because Michigan law sets a high bar to wring liability out of public schools and other arms of government.

You have to show that the administration or faculty members were grossly negligent, meaning they had a reckless disregard for whether an injury was likely to take place, said attorney A. Vince Colella.

Fieger acknowledged Thursday that state law makes it difficult to successfully sue public bodies like school districts. He said a federal lawsuit allows him to subpoena the school district for records and evidence connected to Crumbley and the shooting.

I understand that this is not going to be easy, Fieger said. However, now is the time to do something about it.

The gun used in the shooting was bought days before by James Crumbley and their son had full access to it, prosecutors said.

The morning before the shooting school officials met with Ethan Crumbley and his parents after the school after a teacher found a drawing of a gun, a bullet and a person who appeared to have been shot, along with messages stating My life is useless and The world is dead.

The Crumbleys flatly refused to take their son home, Throne has said.

The Franz family lives in Leonard, just northwest of Oxford. One of the lawsuits criticized school officials for not expelling, disciplining or searching Crumbley prior to the shooting which allowed Crumbley to return to his classroom and carry out his murderous rampage.

The lawsuit alleges civil rights violations under the 14th Amendment and also said the school district knew or should have known that the policies, procedures, training supervision and discipline staff members named in the suit were inadequate for the tasks that each defendant was required to perform.

"Theres a responsibility that our society shares in protecting our children," Fieger said. "There is a responsibility among teachers, counselors and school administrators who could easily have prevented and stopped this slaughter.

Riley Franz was hospitalized following the shooting. She now is recovering at home, Fieger said.

A 17-year-old student  the remaining victim hospitalized from the shooting  was removed Thursday from an intensive care unit, the Oakland County sheriff's office said.

She was moved to a standard room and was expected to remain in a hospital for the next four to six weeks while undergoing rehabilitation.

On Wednesday, a statement posted on the district's website by Throne said that after all the facts have been obtained and released through the course of the prosecution, he will recommend to the Oxford Board of Education that the district initiate a review of its entire system as other communities have done when facing similar experiences.

Our goal with all of this is to bring together all of the facts of what happened before, during and after this horrific incident, he wrote. We are committed to doing this in a way that allows our community to move forward and does not re-traumatize our community members, who are reeling and suffering from this horrible event.

The criminal cases against Ethan Crumbley and his parents are being overseen by the Oakland County prosecutor's office, and Michigans attorney general said Tuesday her office will review events that occurred before the mass shooting, despite the districts rejection of her offer to be its third-party investigator.

The districts lawyer told the attorney generals office Monday it was fully cooperating with local law enforcement.

___

Williams reported from West Bloomfield, Michigan. Associated Press reporter David Eggert in Lansing, Michigan, contributed to this report.

___

For more of the APs coverage of the Michigan school shooting: https://apnews.com/hub/oxford-high-school-shooting
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP)  Thirty-two upstate New York hospitals had to suspend performing non-essential elective surgeries starting Thursday under an emergency order from Gov. Kathy Hochul.

The previously announced order is designed to ease capacity strains on hospitals as COVID-19 cases surge. The order applies to hospitals that have less than 10% bed capacity available.

This is what keeps me up at night, Hochul said at a news briefing. We continue to see an uptick in hospitalizations.

She said the state will reassess the pauses on Jan. 15.

State Health Commissioner Dr. Mary Bassett said despite concerns about the omicron variant, the uptick in hospitalizations and cases reflects the delta variant's spread.

There are now 20 confirmed cases of the new omicron variant in the state, with 13 of them in New York City, three in Suffolk County, two Oneida County, one in Westchester County and one in Broome County, Hochul said.

We expect these numbers to continue to rise, and at this point, we are prepared to say what we have is community spread, Hochul said. It is not coming from people who have traveled.

As cases increase, several counties have started imposing mask requirements.

In central New York, Oneida County officials announced that starting Monday they will require masks to be worn in indoor public places and for temperature checks to be conducted at social gatherings taking place outside of private residences, though there will be an opt-out if proof of vaccine is required for entry.
JOHANNESBURG (AP)  South Africas regulatory authority has approved the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine as a booster shot, opening the way for third doses to be administered to battle the current surge driven by the omicron variant.

South Africas new COVID-19 cases continue to rise. In the last 24 hours, South Africa recorded 22,391 new cases, up from about 200 per day in early November. More than 90% of the new cases are omicron, according to genetic sequencing surveys.

The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority approved the Pfizer vaccine as a booster shot for people 18 years and older, six months after they received their second dose.

The regulatory body also approved a third dose for people aged 12 years and older who were severely immunocompromised, which may be taken 28 days after their second dose.

The regulatory body encouraged vaccine manufacturers to provide data regarding the use of different vaccines on an individual, known as mix-and-match.

The approval came Wednesday, shortly after Pfizer announced that a laboratory study showed its two-dose COVID-19 vaccine had reduced efficacy against the omicron variant but said that a booster shot was still effective against omicron.

On Thursday President Cyril Ramaphosa met with the COVID-19 ministerial advisory committee to discuss the rising number of infections and the impact of the spread of the omicron variant.

Ramaphosa and his expert advisers were also expected to discuss the burning issue of whether the government should make vaccines mandatory. Some private companies and universities have already announced they will implement vaccine mandates.

Despite having adequate supplies of more than 19 million vaccine doses, South Africa's vaccination campaign has lagged. Just over 14 million South Africans have been fully vaccinated, representing 36% of the adult population and about 24% of the total population. The relatively slow rate of vaccinations makes the government's goal of inoculating 67% of the population by February look unrealistic.
Courtesy photo /U.S. Border Patrol

County and federal authorities dismantled a stash house near Martin High School, according to the U.S. Border Patrol.

On Dec. 6, authorities received information about a possible stash house near Martin High School. Laredo Sector Intelligence agents with the assistance of Laredo Sector Special Operations Detachment, Webb County Precinct 2 Constables Office and the Webb County Attorneys Office responded to the location.
VIENNA (AP)  Negotiations between Iran and world powers aimed at salvaging a tattered 2015 nuclear deal resumed in Vienna on Thursday, with tensions high after Tehran made demands last week that European countries strongly criticized. The talks' chairman said he detected a renewed sense of purpose.

Diplomats from Britain, France and Germany had urged Tehran to come back with realistic proposals after the Iranian delegation made numerous demands last week that other parties to the accord deemed unacceptable. Last weeks talks were the first in over five months, a gap caused by a new hard-line government assuming power in Tehran.

European Union diplomat Enrique Mora, who chaired Thursday's meeting of all the deal's remaining signatories  Iran, Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China  said afterward that he felt a renewed sense of purpose on the need to work and to reach an agreement on bringing the (agreement) back to life.

Whether that will be confirmed and endorsed by negotiations on the details, we will see in the coming days, Mora said, adding that the positive impression "has to be tested.

He said that it is becoming more imperative with time to reach an agreement quickly.

The United States has participated indirectly in the ongoing talks because it withdrew from the accord in 2018 under then-President Donald Trump. President Joe Biden has signaled that he wants to rejoin the deal.

Washington plans to send a delegation led by Robert Malley, the special U.S. envoy for Iran, to Vienna over the weekend.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said later Thursday the U.S. has made clear to Iran that the only path out of sanctions is through nuclear compliance.

If diplomacy cannot get on track soon, and if Irans nuclear program continues to accelerate, then we will have no choice but to take additional measures to further restrict Irans revenue-producing sectors, Psaki said. She added that she wouldn't get into additional specifics about that.

The accord sealed in Vienna in 2015, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, was meant to rein in Iran's nuclear program in return for loosened economic sanctions.

Following the U.S. decision to withdraw and reimpose sanctions against Iran, Tehran has ramped up its nuclear program again by enriching uranium beyond the thresholds allowed in the agreement. Iran has also restricted monitors from the U.N. atomic watchdog from accessing its nuclear facilities, raising concerns about what the country is doing out of view.

Russia's delegate to the talks, Mikhail Ulyanov, described Thursday's talks as constructive" and tweeted that there were important commonalities, including on a need to conclude the talks quickly and successfully.

Mora said participants are approaching the task with the realism necessary to get an agreement, because its difficult, because there are different positions, because some points are still extremely open.

We have to close them, and we dont have all the time of the world, he said.

___

Associated Press writer Alexandra Jaffe in Washington contributed to this report.
ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP)  The CEO of a private jet charter company in Virginia has been convicted of multiple fraud charges tied to a bankruptcy case in which he discharged over $6 million in personal debt, according to a federal prosecutor.

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia said Alan Russell Cook, Sr., 64, of Reston filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in his individual capacity as president and CEO of an aviation company.
Rapper Travis Scott in his first interview since Astroworld claims he did everything he could to help his fans the night of the now-infamous Nov. 5 Houston concert, which ended in 10 deaths and hundreds of injuries as the result of a suffocating crowd surge. Scott and event organizers now face hundreds of lawsuits totaling more than $10 billion in damages alleging the named parties failed to provide adequate safety for fans.

In a 51-minute interview with radio and television host Charlamagne Tha God, the Houston rapper said he wanted to speak publicly to communicate his emotions to his fans.

"I really just want to be there and [I] wish you could just hold everyone, kind of just heal them, talk to them, have conversations," Scott said.

When asked if the death of 10 fans at his concert has affected his desire to play future concerts, Scott said he does not plan to stop performing and that the tragedy could inspire new music. "Performance has always been about healing to me. It's all about experiences and you know there could be music to come out of it... lyricism, just emotion," Scott said. "Music is emotion and music is healing. You can just find healing and find emotion in that... everything I'm trying to do is just more progressive."

As to whether he believed he'd lost the privilege of holding another Astroworld in Houston, Scott said he hadn't thought about it but believed in the healing power of music.

"I haven't really thought about that, because I've just been thinking of community healing and families healing. All those kind of things building back up," Scott said. "But through these things, you know, music is part of healing."

"At the end of the day, I just don't think a Travis Scott show, an Astroworld show...wasn't really part of what happened here," Scott said.

Early in the interview, Scott told Charlemagne he was not aware of the deaths that occurred during the show until minutes before a press conference following his set. "People pass out, things happen at concerts, but something like that..." Scott continued before trailing off.

Charlamagne pointed to videos of fans screaming for Scott to stop the show, which the rapper denied hearing. "It's so crazy because I'm that artist too  anytime you hear something like that, you want to stop the show," Scott said. "You can only help what you can see and whatever you're told."

When asked if he thinks he did everything he could to stop the show, Scott said "Yes, anything I physically could to help in that situation... 1,000 percent."

Reports from the night state promoter Live Nation reportedly agreed to end the concert at 9:38 p.m., by which time Houston Police Department and fire department had declared the festival a mass casualty event. The show, however, would continue for another 40 minutes, culminating in a surprise performance by rap artist Drake. Scott said he was only told to end the show after Drake's appearance, and denied further communication was made to him while onstage.

Scott also denied being aware of fans trampling each other as they attempted to enter the venue earlier in the day. "The [Houston Police Chief Troy Finner] came to my trailer and congratulated me on the event and having something like this in Houston and he let me know there was a mishap at the merch booth earlier," Scott said. "They shut it down but they opened it back up. It seemed like they got it under control."

Asked he if believed the event had been understaffed and poorly planned, Scott said he was mostly involved with the creative side of of the festival. "It's something I've been working on for a while of creating these experiences and trying to show experiences happening in a safe environment," Scott responded. "Us as artists, we trust professionals for when things happen that people can leave safely."

The concert felt like a regular show, as far as the crowd's energy went, Scott said. "It didn't feel like, you know... people didn't show up there just to be harmful. People just showed up to have a good time and the something unfortunate happened and I think we really just got to figure out what that was."

Scott also denied that his signature "raging" performance style was to blame for the chaos in the crowd.

"'Raging' doesn't have a textbook definition," Scott said. "But in concerts we've grown it to be just the experience of having fun. It's not about harm. It's not about that. It's about letting go and having fun, help others, and love each other. The show isn't just rambunctious for an hour. That's not what it is."

Asked who he considers responsible for the deadly night, Scott demurred, saying he's still trying to piece together the night's events. "Hopefully this takes a first step into us as artists having more insight of what's going on."

In closing, Scott offered his condolences and asked for healing prayers to be made for the families of the 10 dead concert-goers.

"My heart wasn't there to be the villain. I was there to be the hometown hero," Scott said. "Remember that love is just everything. With that we can try to cure everything and take steps into healing."
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Toronto ranked #1 city for career women Toronto earns top spot in Bloomberg rankings on quality of life for women pursuing their careers.

Toronto ranked #1 city for career women Toronto earns top spot in Bloomberg rankings on quality of life for women pursuing their careers.

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Toronto is the leading city in the world for career women, according to Bloomberg.

The business publication conducted an analysis of how 15 global cities rank on quality of life metrics for women pursuing their careers.

Five pillars were assessed: safety, mobility, maternity, equality, and wealth.

Cities were chosen based on their role in global business and attractiveness to global talent. Over 3,000 women between the ages of 18 to 60 were surveyed in the 15 cities and asked questions that corresponded to each of the five pillars.

For instance, under the equality pillar, respondents were asked Are women well-represented in leadership roles around me? Under wealth, one of the questions they were asked was Can women compete equally for jobs with men?

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Toronto came out on top, followed by Sydney, Singapore, Paris, and London. Toronto ranked highly for equality, maternity, and wealth. On the other hand, it ranked poorly for mobility due to the citys aging transportation.

The issue of career prospects for women is of significant importance to newcomers for a number of reasons.

Generally speaking, most immigrants arrive to Canada during their prime working years. Hence, women are just as keen as their male counterparts to work in jobs commensurate with their skills and to climb the socio-economic ladder.

Although males continue to make up the majority of principal applicants welcomed to Canada as economic class immigrants, women are becoming an increasing share. This development is important for both women and Canadian policymakers. Even if the female is the spouse or partner of the male principal applicant, Canadian government research suggests they have human capital characteristics that mirror their partner (e.g., similar age, education, language skills, and work experience). Thus, it is a reasonable expectation among such women and policymakers that newcomer women be given a fair shot in the Canadian labour market given their high levels of human capital.

Strong economic integration among women is also key to fostering social integration and retention. Canadian studies have shown that weak labour market integration among immigrant women can cause newcomer families to relocate so that both partners can pursue better career prospects elsewhere.

Finally, Canada needs to tap into as many talent sources as possible both in the immediate and long-term to address its labour shortages. Canada currently has around 1 million job vacancies and it will continue to grapple with labour market shortages as all of its 9 million baby boomers reach retirement age over the next decade. This means policymakers and employers will need to do a better job of identifying how to match under-represented employment groups such as women, newcomer women, newcomers in general, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, disenfranchised youth, and others with appropriate job opportunities.

Canadas federal and provincial governments are pursuing a variety of initiatives to support newcomer women integration into the job market. For example, since 2018, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has been providing financial support for a number of pilot programs aimed at supporting racialized newcomer women. IRCC notes one of the goals of the programs is to help racialized newcomer women find good, well-paying jobs that set them up for success in this country, by addressing the barriers they may facegender- and race-based discrimination, precarious or low-income employment, lack of affordable child care and weak social supports.

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Half a decade ago, in the wake of the rise of cloud computing, some IT evangelists, CIOs, and large tech research firms foretold the imminent death of the data center as we know it. My co-columnist at CIO.com Mark Settle at the time advised caution in writing off data centers and envisaged how they would continue to grow based on the evolution of  you guessed it  data.

Today, data centers continue to not just survive but thrive alongside hybrid and multicloud systems in new avatars such as on-prem as a service. Not just that, data centers are poised to meet the emerging demand for services related to emerging tech such as edge computing, IoT, and 5G.

As a result of these new applications and emerging needs in end-user computing (EUC) and mobility solutions, data centers are becoming increasingly complex, leading to more internal and external risks. Downtime is a persistent risk, with a single event topping losses of $11,000 per minute.

Heres what enterprises can do to identify and mitigate risks in data center operations.

1. Have an integrated approach to risk management

The record-setting winter storm and subsequent power outage in Texas in February 2021 proved to be a reality check for data centers in the state. Although there were no large-scale failures, there were significant issues with electrical failover systems.

From a functional point of view, data centers are physical facilities that run business-critical applications, while from the business perspective, they are pieces of real estate or capital assets that need to be budgeted for and managed.

The point is, a single point of failure might (and frequently does) cause a huge disruption to operations and consequently leads to revenue loss. Which is why you need a pervasive risk management plan and policy that apply to the whole organization.

This is where Integrated Risk Management (IRM) comes in. Gartner defines IRM as a set of practices and processes supported by a risk-aware culture and enabling technologies that improve decision making and performance through an integrated view of how well an organization manages its unique set of risks.

In the post-pandemic world, businesses implementing remote work, BYOD, CYOD, and other changes to workplace practices are blending their digital transformation strategy with IT infrastructure upgrades to identify, tolerate, and mitigate risks arising from natural disasters, supply chain, data processing, as well as those inherent to their business model.

If youre in the middle of a digital transformation, you need to monitor every process and factor  external or internal  that can affect your data center and be prepared to deal with multiple risks arising from a single or multiple events happening simultaneously.

Digital transformation is not just for the enterprise or organizations that bank heavily on data or technology  it applies just as much to SMBs in the post-pandemic workplace, including those that have started out with the public cloud as a substitute for the data center.

Even the federal government is taking digital transformation seriously  transforming data center infrastructure to take advantage of cloud technology is one of their two central objectives (improving the online user experience is another).

Data center optimization is a key measurement for scorecarding in the Federal Information Technology Acquisition Reform Act. This measurement is in part a reflection of how well the agency infrastructure takes advantage of the cloud, says Jeff Shupack, a digital transformation expert with 15 years practice in reducing risk for global capital initiatives with Lean-Agile implementations.

Organizations are realizing that agile methodologies, big data analytics, mobility solutions, and DevOps work in tandem with a reliable and upgraded data center for efficient risk prevention, adequate risk response, and quick disaster recovery. As a result, theyre turning to frameworks that enable these best practices to be implemented in hybrid IT infrastructures to ensure business continuity, reduce OPEX, and improve digital customer experience.

2. Know your risks

No matter how comprehensive your risk management plan, it can never evolve faster than technology. And new tech and new work practices are creating more complexities than ever. Lets take a quick look at the different types of risks data centers face.

Inadequate IT security

Arguably the biggest risk that data centers face today, cybersecurity breaches can range from DoS attacks to social engineering to data theft. The average data breach cost $4.24 million in 2021  the highest in 17 years.

Application and system failures also have an impact on the physical security front, resulting in situations where ID cards cant be verified, CCTV connections are lost, or authorized personnel are denied entry to certain areas.

System failure

Without a resilient architecture and continuous, redundant, and high-bandwidth connectivity, a data center is doomed. Servers, network devices, and associated equipment all need features such as clustering, mirroring, and duplication to reduce the chances of downtime.

Sometimes applications or software (such as hypervisors) act up and take down entire servers or networks with them. You need to make sure all apps work seamlessly across a hybrid infrastructure and talk to cloud-native apps as well.

Power failure

Although extremely rare, power failure can and does happen  primarily as a consequence of natural disasters. You need to provide UPS- or generator-backed power routes to all racks and cooling systems in your data center. A direct connection to a multi-substation power grid helps hedge against an outage at the local substation.

Water leakage

Flooding or water seepage can spell doom for data center equipment. However, well-maintained water pathways and drainage are crucial for fire control and cooling systems.

High-decibel noise

One lesser-known but significant risk to data centers is prolonged exposure to loud and high-frequency sound vibrations, which can lower the efficacy of storage systems, reduce read/write performance, and ultimately affect data integrity. Data centers should be built far away from arenas, fire stations, airports, and the like, and housed within buildings that use acoustic suppression technology.

Fire

Electrical power spikes and short circuits are common causes of fire in data centers. If not contained quickly, fires can raze thousands of dollars worth of hardware in minutes. Ironically, air conditioning and cooling systems dissipate smoke and make it harder to detect a fire in the early stages. Use smoke detection systems with photoelectric sensors to continuously monitor the air in your data center for signs of smoke.

Poor disaster-recovery planning

While data backup is a pretty simple procedure these days, data centers are preferred over the public cloud for a combination of security and performance reasons  youd expect the immediate recovery of transactional data in the event of a system failure.

Of course, this depends on factors such as the nature of the business and regulatory framework it falls under. All the more reason to have a clear-cut plan for recovery for each different failure event; ditto for compute, storage, or networking resources.

The most pre-emptive disaster-recovery plans have monitoring systems in place that track risk factors affecting data centers and send out alerts when critical thresholds are crossed.

3. Assess risk before you manage it

All risks  like businesses  are not created equal. While data centers face their own distinctive risks, especially for different verticals, the risk-mitigation techniques that you end up using need not necessarily be tailored to a data center environment.

Therefore, you need a risk management plan that lists out every imaginable risk your data center faces and specifies responses to every type of incident. Before it happens.

Start by carrying out a risk audit  a comprehensive assessment of all your owned and operated facilities. Evaluate factors that affect facility design, IT infrastructure, and operational processes.

If there have been major incidents or outages in the past, do a root-cause analysis (if still possible) to address any gaps you havent covered. What can you do to ensure downtime wont occur in similar circumstances arise again?

Further, if you operate a hybrid architecture with multiple data centers and cloud systems, audit each one on its own as well as the data paths and connections between all of them.

If you operate in highly-regulated industries such as finance and healthcare, you need to make periodic data center risk assessments and disaster testing a part of your routine operations.

As with everything else, creating a framework, policy, or cheat-sheet (at the very least) provides a ready reference of the categories of risk that apply to you, the systems that each category affects, the estimated damage and recovery costs, and the protocol to be followed in case of an incident or disaster.

For example, IT Consulting company Capgemini employs an evolving approach to risk management that identifies and quantifies risks along with their mitigation costs. We have put in place a monthly risk management system that logs all risks and issues with containment and action plans. An investment budget is made available if changes are required, said Kevin Read, Senior Delivery Center Manager at Capgemini.

Killing downtime

A data center  or even the entire IT infrastructure of a company  never functions in isolation. There are umpteen components and factors that keep data centers running around the clock.

Risk mitigation with IT infrastructure is a shared responsibility, not just the CIOs or CTOs. You need to have an adequate number of IT staff trained and willing to do what it takes to stay on top of data center operations.

Ill leave you with a piece of advice from Gavin Millard, VP of Product Marketing at Tenable: Conflicting goals can be hard to address, but one of the most effective methods of doing so is to have a highly efficient process for continuously identifying where a risk resides. You also need a predictable, reliable method of updating systems without impacting the overarching business goals of the organization.
Wilkes-Barre, PA (18701)

Today

Considerable clouds this morning. Some decrease in clouds later in the day. High 44F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

A few clouds. Low 28F. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph.
On the evening of November 9, 1989, the wall of shame was breached. The next morning, I took off for Berlin; shortly afterward, I experienced the Velvet Revolution in Prague, and finally the fall of Ceausescu in Bucharest. The year 1990 opened joyfully for the human race. But I was struck by the difference in the emotions felt in the East and in the West. Representative of the West was Francis Fukuyama and his idea, which caused a sensation, that history had just come to an end. But those in the East realized that this was far from the case. Less than a month before the Berlin Wall fell, I had given a speech in front of Chancellor Helmut Kohl and the cream of the Federal Republic of Germany in honor of Czech dissident Vaclav Havel, who was receiving the Frankfurt Book Fairs prestigious Peace Prize while still a prisoner in his own country. I entitled the speech To Leave Communism Is to Enter Historythe view of those emerging from behind the Iron Curtain.

The Wests confusion arose because it wasnt prepared for such a fundamental unsettling of postwar geopolitics. During four decades of ideological confrontation, theoreticians and journalists had argued about how a society should move from capitalism to socialism. There was no research on the opposite questionthat is, on the transition from socialism to capitalismapart from a few inconclusive studies, most notably in Poland, concerning the possibility of introducing some elements of the free market into a Communist society. As the philosopher Josep Ramoneda has observed, the whole worldCommunists, anti-Communists, and those in betweentook it as given that the Soviet Union and its satellites could not return to capitalism. So when, during the Velvet Revolution, demonstrators posed exactly this questionHow can we go from socialism to capitalism?there was no ready answer.

As Western intellectuals watched Berlin in November 1989, they reconsidered their long belief that the world was fated to be Communistbut retained their belief in fate. Providence had at last spoken, chance was abolished, the terrible parenthesis of the twentieth century had closed. Forgotten, erased, transcended, surpassed were 19141989, the bloodiest and cruelest 75 years of the human adventure to date. Tocquevilleans rediscovered the ineluctable movement of universal democracy; Saint-Simonians passed on to ecologists the promise that the administration of things would replace the government of men; Hegelians like Fukuyama celebrated the End of History and of historys wars; Social Democrats promised that understanding among peoples would grow. We were entering the peaceful, postmodern Promised Land, where great heroes, great dangers, great peoples, and great goals would all disappear, as Jean-Francois Lyotard, author of The Postmodern Condition, notoriously argued. The end of the Cold War plunged the free world, as it had been called, into a boundless euphoria. Western Europe immediately eliminated its military budgets, while Washington announced a new world order.

The other Europe, just emancipated from Moscows domination, did not share this optimism. The peoples extricating themselves from totalitarian despotism were at the same time rejoining history as freely choosing agents.

And they found before them two possible futures. One is symbolized today by Havel and Lech Walesa, Charter 77 and Polands Solidarity; the other by Slobodan Milosevic and Vladimir Putin.

Czechs and Serbs faced the same post-1989 challenges as they confronted the dismantling of Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia. In Prague, widespread poverty and corruption tempted the antitotalitarian dissidents whom the Velvet Revolution brought to power to choose repression rather than democracy. Their ultimate decision, though, was decisive: freedom would be the highest priority. Slovakia and the Czech Republic separated without conflict, and in the end, both entered the European Union. In Belgrade, by contrast, a sly and corrupt Communist bureaucrat seized power. Milosevic forged an alliance of various forces of repression against the contagion of liberty. While he set aside Marxist ideology, he preserved its coercive methods. Wars and waves of ethnic cleansing ravaged Yugoslavia from 1991 to 1999. Milosevic proved ready to spill blood in order to regain lost territories, and he ended up in The Hague, facing charges of crimes against humanity.

Ecstatic Westerners dreamed that the period of totalitarian cruelty was over, as if former Soviet bureaucrats could somehow emerge as new men, despite 70 years of brainwashing, or as if the chaos of radically nationalist dictatorships would easily resolve itself. But no great political savior awaited, Havel argued; Czechs were left to their own responsibilities, to the power of the powerless, to what the Czech philosopher Jan Patocka, who inspired Havel, called the solidarity of the shakenof those, that is, shaken by totalitarian regimes and devoted to opposing them.

More recently, we have seen this solidarity in the democratic uprisings in Georgia in 2003 and in Ukraine in 2004, which should have drawn the attention of those who remained deaf through 12 years and 200,000 deaths in the martyrdom of Chechnya. In Ukraine, President Putin intervened shamelessly in the affairs of a state whose independence he refused to recognize. In Georgia, he sent in the tanks. Responding to the international press, Putin denounced the peaceful uprisings that swept away post-Soviet puppets in Tbilisi and Kiev as permanent revolution and its dangerous disorders. Thus he defamed a liberating uprising of long duration, one that started in the blood of East Berlin in 1953; continued in Poznan and Budapest in 1956, in Russia with the dissidence of the sixties, in Prague in 1968, and in the struggle of Solidarity in the 1980s; and was crowned by the fall of the Berlin Wall.

It is an uprising that in Poland brought together Catholics and freethinkers, at odds for more than a century, who together founded Solidarity. In Russia, moderns like Andrey Sakharov and traditional believers like Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn worked side by side. In Prague and Bratislava, university professors, instead of teaching the official lies, chose to be window washers or furnace repairmen, and Charter 77 brought together the Left and the Right, skeptics and the religious. Antitotalitarianism cultivates its own convictions, without sectarianism; dissidence does not attempt to replace the official dogma with another one but instead introduces an intellectual revolution that precedesand that alone makes possiblethe social and political changes that will remake the map of Europe.

This revolution has not ended, which is why the Kremlin does not appreciate insurrections in Georgia and Ukraine. Europes new frontier is at stake on the uncertain terrain of history, and the alternatives are still these: Havel and Milosevic.

Top Photo by robert wallis/Corbis via Getty Images
Three years ago, a United Nations fact-finding mission released a report on the causes and consequences of extensive human-rights violations against the Rohingya community in Myanmar. The report recommended investigating and prosecuting military leaders for a range of violations, including genocide; hundreds of thousands of people had been displaced, and more than ten thousand tortured and killed. Among the contributing factors identified by the UN mission were hate speech and propaganda, which spread via Facebook pages and accounts, including some that were maintained by members of Myanmars government and its military police, known as the Tatmadaw. Although Facebook eventually took action to ban some of the most egregious examples, UN observers said these accounts and pages helped to foment violence and hatred against the Rohingya for months, if not years.

At the time, Facebook admitted that its own report on the violence in Myanmarprepared by an independent nonprofit called Business for Social Responsibility, and released at the same time as the UN reportfound we werent doing enough to help prevent our platform from being used to foment division and incite offline violence. The company apologized for not doing more to prevent violence being fueled by its platform, and promised to expand its policies and add more moderation resources in Myanmar.

This week, in a multi-country effort, lawyers representing members of the Rohingya refugee community filed legal claims against Facebook, demanding $150 billion in compensation for the harms their people suffered as a result of the companys inaction. In the UK, the BBC reported that a British law firm representing some of the refugees has notified Facebook that it plans to file a suit in Britains High Court in the new year. In a letter, the law firm argues that Facebooks algorithms amplified hate speech against the Rohingya people, and that the company failed to hire moderators familiar with the political and cultural situations in Myanmar. The letter also claims that Facebook failed to take appropriate and timely action to remove posts or ban accounts that incited violence against the Rohingya.

New from CJR: Everything clicks for a different reason: Why journalism analytics are so hard to interpret

In the US, a law firm representing Rohingya refugees filed a complaint and an application for class-action status in California, alleging that Facebook overlooked the hate speech on its platform and was willing to trade the lives of the Rohingya people for better market penetration in Myanmar. The claim was filed in San Mateo County, where Facebook is based, on behalf of a Rohingya refugee living in Illinois, as well as an estimated 10,000 Rohingya refugees who have settled in the US since the genocide in Myanmar began in 2012. The lawsuit asks for at least $150 billion in damages for wrongful death, personal injury, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of property. The action says Facebooks product is defectivea criticism that may serve as an attempt to get around Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which protects Facebook and other social platforms from legal liability for the content they host. The lawsuit also argues that the laws of Myanmar should apply rather than US lawsanother possible counter to Section 230 protections, though its a gambit that at least one legal expert told Reuters was unlikely to succeed).

The US complaint relies in part on an affidavit filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission by a former Facebook staffer, who said Facebook executives were fully aware that posts ordering hits by the Myanmar government on the minority Muslim Rohingya were spreading wildly on Facebook, and that the issue of hate speech directed at members of the Rohingya community was well known inside the company for years. The complaint says that the Myanmar military regime employed hundreds of people, some posing as celebrities, to operate fake Facebook accounts and to generate hateful and dehumanizing content about the Rohingya, and quotes the UN report from 2018 as saying that Facebooks central role in the daily lives and information consumption of Myanmar citizens meant it played a determining role in the genocide.

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Facebook was warned by many organizations working within the country that hate speech was circulating on the platform but did nothing, the complaint states. Despite having been repeatedly alerted between 2013 and 2017 to the vast quantities of anti-Rohingya hate speech and misinformation on its system Facebook barely reacted, it says. The lawsuit also quotes from an internal memo written by Andrew Bosworth, a senior executive at Facebook, in which he said, The ugly truth is that we believe in connecting people so deeply that anything that allows us to connect more people more often is de facto good, even if someone dies in a terrorist attack coordinated on our tools.

Heres more on Facebook and genocide:

Monopoly : In its 2018 report, the UN said the relative unfamiliarity of the population with the Internet and with digital platforms and the easier and cheaper access to Facebook have led to a situation in Myanmar where Facebook is the Internet. The company had become the primary mode of communication among the public , and also the primary source of news from Myanmar authorities and media, it said. For many people, Facebook is the main, if not only, platform for online news and for using the Internet more broadly. In a context of low digital and social media literacy, the Governments use of Facebook for official announcements and sharing of information further contributes to users perception of Facebook as a reliable source.

Appalled : In a statement sent to Ars Technica , a Facebook spokesman said that the company was appalled by the crimes committed against the Rohingya people in Myanmar, and that it has built a dedicated team of Burmese speakers, banned accounts created by the countrys armed forces, and taken action on harmful misinformation to help keep people safe. Facebook said it has also invested in Burmese-language technology to help it moderate content. On Wednesday, the company announced that it has banned all Myanmar military-controlled businesses from having a presence on its platforms, something the UN special mission recommended that Facebook should do in 2018.

Promises : During a 2018 Senate hearing, Mark Zuckerberg, Facebooks CEO, promised the company was doing as much as it could to stem hate speech in Myanmar, including adding more local moderators. A Reuters investigation, however, found that several months after this statement, thousands of comments, images, and other posts calling for violence against the Rohingya were still being published.

Other notable stories:

ICYMI: BuzzFeed goes public with confetti, a quiz, and a staff walkout

Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today

Mathew Ingram is CJRs chief digital writer. Previously, he was a senior writer with Fortune magazine. He has written about the intersection between media and technology since the earliest days of the commercial internet. His writing has been published in the Washington Post and the Financial Times as well as by Reuters and Bloomberg.
A major outage in Amazons cloud computing network Tuesday severely disrupted services at a wide range of U.S. companies for more than five hours, the latest sign of just how concentrated the business of keeping the internet running has become.

The incident at Amazon Web Services mostly affected the eastern U.S., but still impacted everything from airline reservations and auto dealerships to payment apps and video streaming services to Amazons own massive e-commerce operation. That included The Associated Press, whose publishing system was inoperable for much of the day, greatly limiting its ability to publish its news report.

Amazon has still said nothing about what, exactly, went wrong. In fact, the company limited its communications Tuesday to terse technical explanations on an AWS dashboard and a brief statement delivered via spokesperson Richard Rocha that acknowledged the outage had affected Amazons own warehouse and delivery operation but said the company was working to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.

Roughly five hours after numerous companies and other organizations began reporting issues, the company said in a post on the AWS status page that it had mitigated the underlying problem responsible for the outage, which it did not describe. It took some affected companies hours more to thoroughly check their systems and restart their own services.

Amazon Web Services was formerly run by Amazon CEO Andy Jassy, who succeeded founder Jeff Bezos in July. The cloud-service operation is a huge profit center for Amazon. It holds roughly a third of the $152 billion market for cloud services, according to a report by Synergy Research _ a larger share than its closest rivals, Microsoft and Google, combined.

To technologist and public data access activist Carl Malamud, the AWS outage highlights how much Big Tech has warped the internet, which was originally designed as a distributed and decentralized network intended to survive mass disasters such as nuclear attack.

When we put everything in one place, be it Amazons cloud or Facebooks monolith, were violating that fundamental principle, said Malamud, who developed the internets first radio station and later put a vital U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission database online. We saw that when Facebook became the instrument of a massive disinformation campaign, we just saw that today with the Amazon failure.

Widespread and often lengthy outages resulting from single-point failures appear increasingly common. In June, the behind-the-scenes content distributor Fastly suffered a failure that briefly took down dozens of major internet sites including CNN, The New York Times and Britains government home page.

Then in October, Facebooknow known as Meta Platforms blamed a faulty configuration change for an hours-long worldwide outage that took down Instagram and WhatsApp in addition to its titular platform.

This time, problems began midmorning on the U.S. East Coast, said Doug Madory, director of internet analysis at Kentik Inc, a network intelligence firm. Netflix was one of the more prominent names affected; Kentik saw a 26% drop in traffic to the streaming service.

Customers trying to book or change trips with Delta Air Lines had trouble connecting to the airline. Delta is working quickly to restore functionality to our AWS-supported phone lines, said spokesperson Morgan Durrant. The airline apologized and encouraged customers to use its website or mobile app instead.

Dallas-based Southwest Airlines said it switched to West Coast servers after some airport-based systems were affected by the outage. Customers were still reporting outages to DownDetector, a popular clearinghouse for user outage reports, more than three hours after they started. Southwest spokesman Brian Parrish said there were no major disruptions to flights.

Toyota spokesman Scott Vazin said the companys U.S. East Region for dealer services went down. The company has apps that access inventory data, monthly payment calculators, service bulletins and other items. More than 20 apps were affected.

Also according to DownDetector, people trying to use Instacart, Venmo, Kindle, Roku, and Disney+ reported issues. The McDonalds app was also down. But the airlines American, United, Alaska and JetBlue were unaffected.

Madory said he saw no reason to suspect nefarious activity. He said the recent cluster of major outages reflects how complex the networking industry has become. More and more these outages end up being the product of automation and centralization of administration, he said. This ends up leading to outages that are hard to completely avoid due to operational complexity but are very impactful when they happen.

It was unclear how, or whether, the outage was affecting the federal government. The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency said in an email response to questions that it was working with Amazon to understand any potential impacts this outage may have for federal agencies or other partners.

About the photo: Amazon drivers wait next to a Crunch Time station as their logistics systems is offline at the Amazon Delivery Station in Rosemead, Calif., Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2021. Amazon Web Services is suffering a major outage. The company provides cloud computing services to individuals, universities, governments and companies, including The Associated Press. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) A train belonging to Floridas higher-speed passenger rail service struck and killed a man walking on the tracks just weeks after the company reopened from the pandemic.

The Brightline train struck the pedestrian Tuesday morning in North Miami Beach as the man didnt move as the train sounded its horn, officials said. North Miami Beach police did not immediately return a call Wednesday seeking further details.

The death is at least the 49th involving a Brightline train since the Miami to West Palm Beach line launched in mid-2017 and the first since it reopened last month after a 19-month closure due to the pandemic. A Brightline train on a July test run fatally struck a bicyclist.

An Associated Press examination of federal records shows that Brightline has more fatalities per mile than any U.S. railroad, one about every 31,000 miles (50,000 kilometers). Since 2018, an average of about 1,200 people are fatally struck by trains annually in the United States.

None of the deaths involving Brightline have been blamed on its equipment or crews. Investigations showed most victims were either suicidal, intoxicated, mentally ill or had gone around barriers at an intersection in an attempt to beat the trains, which travel up to 79 mph (128 kph) through densely populated areas.

Brightline said in a statement Wednesday that safety is a topic that we will not stop talking about and we are asking the community, law enforcement, elected officials and members of the media to use their platforms and help amplify a consistent safety message: stay off the tracks and obey all warning signs.

Brightline has installed infrared detectors that will warn engineers if anyone is lurking near the tracks so they can slow down or stop. The company has added more fencing and landscaping to make track access more difficult and is also installing red-light cameras at crossings that will allow police to ticket drivers who go around guardrails. It is testing drones to monitor the tracks.

Excluding five small railroads that average less than 100,000 miles (160,000 kilometers) traveled per year, where one or two fatal accidents skew their numbers, the railroad with the next worst rate to Brightline is central Floridas SunRail, which since mid-2017 has had at least 15 deaths or about one every 100,000 miles, according to federal records.

TriRail, a commuter service that operates in the same area as Brightline, averages about one death every 115,000 miles.

Brightline is finishing a line that will link South Florida to Orlando that is scheduled to be completed in about a year. It is also working on a line that would connect Southern California with Las Vegas.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 10)  The private sector is in talks with officials of AstraZeneca to secure another batch of COVID-19 vaccines for 2022, said presidential adviser for entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion.

In a statement, Concepcion said GoNegosyo, the non-profit organization he founded, organized the meeting between more than 350 firms and the vaccine maker to streamline initial plans to procure COVID-19 vaccines for 2022 as the emergence of coronavirus variants make booster shots necessary.

During the Dec. 9 meeting, Concepcion revealed that the Inter-Agency Task Force has given its go signal to the private sector to procure additional doses of AstraZeneca in 2022.

The parties involved first signed a tripartite agreement under the A Dose of Hope initiative for the delivery of vaccines this year, which will be complete on Dec. 27.

Concepcion said the new deal is now being arranged with the manufacturer, noting there will be a slight increase in the cost for the doses, but the price will already include shipping. AstraZeneca will no longer require payment up front or a security deposit.

AstraZeneca officials also said they are working on an updated version of their vaccine to address new variants of the coronavirus, according to Concepcion.

The vaccine AZD2816 still uses the same adenoviral vector platform, but now contains 10 changes across the spike protein, many of which are also seen in other variants of concern. This can also be used as a primary dose. The new version of the vaccine is projected to be available in the second half of 2022.

AstraZeneca Philippines country president Lotis Ramin said the private sector can choose to switch to the new vaccine variant, but orders have to be made as early as possible in order to assure supply. Deliveries will be on a quarterly basis.

Other countries are also starting to secure vaccines for next year, she added.

Concepcion said the foresight and pro-active stance of the country has led to the improving COVID-19 situation. This will also be useful in the procurement of more COVID-19 vaccines for 2022, he said.

We need to vax to the max or else our family bubbles and our business bubbles will weaken, he said, adding that the government also needs to secure boosters for the second half of 2022.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 9) At least four of the 37 petitioners are unsatisfied with the Supreme Court's decision to only declare two portions of the hotly contested Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) as unconstitutional.

Indigenous women group Lilak expressed dismay at the high court's ruling, saying the law that was generally left untouched by the Supreme Court will still put individuals critical of the Duterte administration in danger.

It added the arrest of Aetas Japer Gurung and Junior Ramos as the first case under the violation of the Anti-Terrorism Act is proof the law will be abused and indigenous peoples (IPs) will continue to suffer.

"We express fear and discontentment that the decision of the Supreme Court still upholds the repressive law," Lilak said in a statement. "The mere existence of the terror law spells more thorns in the lives and struggles of indigenous women and their communities... The ATA has lessened whatever protection the IPs have in the defense of their rights."

RELATED: Local court junks first terrorism case

Rights group Karapatan said the decision of the high court to only strike down the vague and overbroad definition of terrorism and the arbitrary powers of the Anti-Terrorism Council to designate terrorists means other "draconian" portions of the law are still enforceable.

"The Supreme Court's decision to adopt repressive provisions... will only set to worsen the already dismal human rights situation in the country," Karapatan Secretary General Cristina Palabay said.

The National Union of Peoples' Lawyers (NUPL) and Bayan Muna Chairperson Neri Colmenares said they will challenge the Supreme Court's declaration that almost all the other provisions of the law are within the bounds of the Constitution.

They cited the retained parts such as warrantless arrest, detention of suspected terrorists for up to 24 days, freezing of assets, and definitions of incitement are among the portions they plan to include in their motion for reconsideration.

"We will not allow the dying of the flickering light of our basic rights," NUPL President Edre Olalia said.

'Fundamentally flawed'

Aside from the petitioners, several groups also expressed concern over the law.

Rights group Amnesty International said the Anti-Terrorism Act "remains deeply flawed" and open to possible abuse by authorities.

"Other dangerous provisions also remain," it said.

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines said it was disappointed that the high court upheld a law "infringing upon" media workers' rights to free press and expression.

The Anti-Terrorism Act is the most challenged law in the country, with critics labeling it as "vague" and may be open to abuse and human rights violations.

After several oral arguments, the magistrates deliberated and ruled on the controversial law on Tuesday, but the details were released on Thursday after a thorough review of the votes cast by the justices.

The full decision and separate opinions have yet to be released.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 9)  The distribution of cash assistance to overseas Filipino workers displaced by the COVID-19 pandemic is set to begin again next month, according to the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration.

"Effective Jan. 1, dahil sa pagpasok ng 2022 budget, magpapatuloy ang distribution ng AKAP," OWWA Administrator Hans Cacdac said Thursday.

[Translation: Effective Jan. 1, once we get the allocation under the 2022 budget, we will resume the distribution of AKAP.]

Cacdac said the directive came from Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III and that they have already met to discuss the matter.

The Abot Kamay ang Pagtulong or AKAP program, led by the Labor and Employment Department, provides a one-time emergency grant of $200 or 10,000 for Filipino workers abroad who lost their jobs due to COVID-19. It was launched when the pandemic hit the country in 2020.

The national government has so far distributed aid to over half a million or 540,000 OFWs, said OWWA.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 8) Presidential aspirant Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. is facing numerous petitions challenging his candidacy ahead of the 2022 polls.

Over the past months, different groups have filed their pleas before the Commission on Elections to prevent the son and namesake of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos from retaking Malacanang. These are the following:

1. Buenafe, et al. vs Marcos: Petition to cancel Certificate of Candidacy

On Nov. 2, a group of civic leaders led by priest Christian Buenafe of the Task Force Detainees of the Philippines and Fides Lim of political prisoners' group KAPATID filed a petition against Marcos, arguing that he was not qualified to run as he was convicted by a Quezon City court for his multiple failures to file income tax returns from 1982 to 1985 when he was governor and vice governor of Ilocos Norte.

The petitioners argued that Marcos committed a crime of moral turpitude and perjury for making false representations in his COC on his eligibility to seek the presidency despite his tax conviction. Theodore Te, a former Supreme Court spokesperson, serves as lead counsel for the group.

Both camps have submitted their final arguments to the poll body about the matter.

Bautista, et al. vs Marcos: Petition-in-intervention in cancellation plea

Civil society groups and professionals led by Dr. Rommel Bautista filed on Nov. 8 a petition-in-intervention through lawyer Howard Calleja to join in the previously submitted plea, since the period to file petitions to cancel a COC has already lapsed. The group also cited Marcos tax conviction, but argued that a violation of the tax code imposes perpetual disqualification from public office.

Marcos allies separately filed an answer-in-intervention  one from Partido Federal ng Pilipinas and another one from Marcos' spokesperson Vic Rodriguez, PFP president Reynaldo Tamayo, and secretary general Thomson Lantion  calling to dismiss the petition.

On Dec. 13, the poll body rejected these three interventions altogether and declared that it will no longer entertain similar submissions in the future after causing "unduly delay" on the status of the main plea.

RELATED: Comelec denies all interventions linked to main petition vs Marcos Jr.

2. Tiburcio Marcos vs Marcos: Petition to cancel COC

Tiburcio Marcos, an independent presidential aspirant, filed a petition seeking to cancel his rivals bid, claiming that the latter already died and was replaced by an impostor who filed a COC in his stead. The Comelec informed the media about the case on Nov. 18. The petition was also raffled off to the poll bodys Second Division nearly a week later.

The former senators camp filed a petition asking Comelec to declare Tiburcio a nuisance candidate, noting that his inclusion in the official list would only confuse voters.

3. Lihaylihay vs Marcos: Petition to declare as nuisance candidate

Danilo Lihaylihay, another presidential aspirant, sought to block Marcos candidacy by filing a petition to declare him as a nuisance candidate. He filed his plea as early as Oct. 11, five days after Marcos filed his COC. The Comelec notified the media about the petition on Nov. 18.

Comelecs Second Division, however, denied the petition, saying Lihaylihay's evidence is "grossly insufficient considering that the COC it sought to cancel was not even attached to the petition."

The poll body also noted that Marcos has sufficiently established that he has a bona fide intention to run for president.

4. Ilagan, et al. vs Marcos: Petition to disqualify

Bonifacio Ilagan led human rights advocates and martial law victims from the Organizers of the Campaign Against the Return of the Marcoses and Martial Law (Carmma) in filing the first petition to disqualify the presidential aspirant on Nov. 17.

The petitioners alleged that Marcos misrepresentation in his COC when he declared that he was never found guilty of any offense despite his tax conviction carries the accessory penalty of perpetual disqualification from holding public office.

The group initially asked Comelec to disqualify Marcos from the race and cancel his COC as president, but that petition was withdrawn and refiled to only limit the plea to disqualification.

The case was raffled to Comelecs First Division.

5. Akbayan, et al. vs Marcos: Petition to disqualify

Members of the Akbayan Citizens Action Party and other human rights advocates also cited Marcos tax conviction in the second disqualification petition against his bid.

The petition, filed on Dec. 2, cited a 2012 Supreme Court decision, saying the high tribunal held that the election body bears the constitutional duty to prevent candidates who are perpetually disqualified, like Marcos, from running repeatedly for public office.

The Comelecs First Division is handling the case.

6. Mangelen vs Marcos: Petition to disqualify and nullify the Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance

National Commission on Muslim Filipinos Commissioner Abubakar Mangelen, who claims to be chairman of Marcos' political party, Partido Federal ng Pilipinas, filed the sixth petition on Dec. 2, arguing that Marcos did not follow the party guidelines since he was not a member of the party and his endorsement was a "big shock" to some officers and members of the PFP.

Marcos is the standard bearer of PFP after he was appointed chairman in October. The partys secretary general, Gen. Thompson Lantion, previously said that Mangelen was ousted from the party at its convention in September.

The poll bodys First Division is handling the case.

7. Pudno Nga Ilokano vs. Marcos: Petition to disqualify

The fourth disqualification plea came from members of Pudno Nga Ilokano, a group of Ilocanos claiming that the so-called Solid North does not exist anymore. The group, represented by legal counsel Paolo Santiago, filed the petition on Dec. 7.

The group also cited Marcos tax conviction and argued that he was penalized with perpetual special disqualification from the right of suffrage, which bars him from running for president in the 2022 elections. This case was raffled to the poll body's second division.

Nuisance

Marcos camp repeatedly dismissed the petitions as nothing but nuisance cases. His spokesperson Vic Rodriguez said that all these cases were already being addressed by the legal team.

Marcos is represented by former solicitor general Estelito Mendoza, who previously defended martial law under his fathers regime. The veteran lawyer also got President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Sen. Bong Revilla, and former Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile out of detention from their plunder cases.

In late December, the presidential hopeful also tapped another set of lawyers to handle the disqualification cases filed against him. The new counsel comes from M & Associates, the law firm of his wife Louise.

The Comelec previously said it hopes to resolve Marcos cases and release the final list of candidates for the 2022 elections by yearend.

This story will be updated as more information on the petitions against Marcos comes in.

CNN Philippines' Glee Jalea and Melissa Lopez contributed to this report.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 9)  Experts did not detect the Omicron variant in the latest genome sequencing run involving 48 samples, the Department of Health (DOH) announced Thursday.

The tested specimens belonged to 12 returning overseas Filipinos and 36 local cases from areas with high-risk average daily attack rates and clusters of infection, according to DOH.

The DOH said in a statement that of the 48 samples sequenced on Wednesday, 38 or around 79% were found to have the Delta variant, while "the rest had non-VOC (variant of concern) lineages or had no lineages detected."

This brings the total Delta variant cases detected in the country to 7,886.

Of the additional 38 Delta cases, 31 are local cases and seven are returning Filipinos. Two of the returning Filipinos had a history of travel to Turkey, the DOH said. Others have been to Jordan, Mexico, Netherlands, Panama, and Peru, DOH added.

The department said six of the 31 local Delta cases had "indicated addresses" in Cagayan Valley, while five were from the Cordillera Administrative Region, three each from Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Soccsksargen, and Metro Manila, two each from Central Luzon and Calabarzon, and one from the Davao Region.

One local patient is currently ill, while 27 local cases and the seven returning Filipinos have been tagged as recovered, DOH said. The health status of three other local cases were still being verified, it added.

Meanwhile, the samples of two travelers -- one from South Africa and another from Burkina Faso -- are at the Philippine Genome Center for sequencing and the specimen of the passenger from Egypt is set to be sent to the PGC, DOH said.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 9)  The number of returning Filipinos in the country may reach pre-pandemic levels this month amid more relaxed restrictions, a top official of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration said Thursday.

OWWA Administrator Hans Cacdac said the agency no longer expects the same scenario as in December 2020, when travel numbers were down due to the impact of COVID-19.

"More or less, 'yung 80 to 100,000 (returning Filipinos) na 'yan ay kahalintulad na ng levels ng pre-COVID pandemic," Cacdac said over state-run PTV.

[Translation: More or less, the 80 to 100,000 returning Filipinos are at the same level as our pre-COVID pandemic numbers.]

Flag carrier Philippine Airlines said in the same briefing that it is also expecting an increase in its passenger load factor from the current 70% to 75% or "even more" during the holidays.

It noted the "travel surge" in numerous areas, which prompted the agency to raise the number of flights to certain leisure spots, like Boracay.

"Pagdating naman sa ating domestic destinations, 'yung uuwi from Manila patungo sa kani-kanilang probinsya, we are expecting full load flights. Maaaring umabot ng beyond 80%," PAL Spokesperson Cielo Villaluna said.

[Translation: As for domestic destinations, for those who are going home from Manila to their provinces, we are expecting full load flights. It may go beyond 80%.]

"Nararamdaman po natin 'yung revenge travel from both sectors  the leisure travelers and the returning residents," she added.

[Translation: Revenge travel is being felt from both sectors  the leisure travelers and the returning residents.]

READ: Immigration bureau preparing for 'expected' influx of travelers during holidays

Metro Manila and several other regions are under Alert Level 2, the second lowest classification, until Dec. 15, encouraging more mobility and travel.

The government, however, has expanded its red list, which consists of countries deemed as high-risk for COVID-19. It has also augmented testing and quarantine protocols for yellow and green-listed nations, or those classified as moderate to low risk.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 9)  The Philippine National Police has ordered the creation of a special task group to probe the killing of journalist Jesus Jess Malabanan in Calbayog City, Samar.

PNP chief General Dionardo Carlos on Thursday said he issued the instruction to the Eastern Visayas police regional office amid calls to swiftly resolve the case. He added the team is now obtaining CCTV footage that could help in identifying the suspects.

We understand the call of the family and different groups to expedite the investigation of the case. These requests will not fall on deaf ears," Carlos said.

According to local police, Malabanan was inside his home on Wednesday evening when he was shot in the head by an unidentified gunman. As it was nighttime, authorities said witnesses could hardly identify the shooter but saw the suspect fleeing the crime scene onboard a motorcycle with a rider companion.

Carlos said the special investigation task group will look into all possible motives, but he added there are reports that the victim recently received threats in relation to his work.

In a statement, Malacanang also condemned in the strongest possible terms the fatal attack. It assured the government "will exert all efforts to ensure that those responsible are caught, charged, and convicted for this crime."

Cabinet Secretary and acting presidential spokesperson Karlo Nograles said the presidential task force on media security is also investigating the killing and is exploring all angles, including the possibility that it was related to Malabanans profession.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 9)  Presidential aspirants have mixed opinions after the Supreme Court decided to declare two portions of the controversial anti-terrorism law unconstitutional.

Senator Panfilo Lacson, principal sponsor and one of the authors of the ATA in the Senate, hailed the high courts decision which he said proved that peace wins over terror.

Nagkaroon sila ng mahabang debate diyan pero by and large, talagang nanalo yung peace. Alam mo yung decision ng Supreme Court in just one short sentence, peace wins over terror, yun ang maliwanag doon, he said in a press briefing on Thursday.

[Translation: They had a long debate but by and large, peace really won. The Supreme Court decision could be described in one sentence: peace wins over terror. Thats very clear.]

The Supreme Court, voting 12-3, voided a part of Section 4 of the Anti-Terrorism Law for "being overbroad and violative of freedom of expression." The said part would have considered protest or dissent as terrorism if it had intent to cause harm.

With a 9-6 vote, the justices also declared the second part of Section 25 as unconstitutional, which would have allowed the Anti-Terrorism Council to adopt requests for designations by other jurisdictions or supranational jurisdictions.

Vice President Leni Robredo, on the other hand, said any anti-terrorism law must not be abused. She is also hoping that the Supreme Court will resolve soon all concerns raised against the controversial law.

We remain steadfast in our position: Any Anti-Terrorism legislation must truly address the root causes of terrorism, and should not be used as a pretext to stifle freedom of expression or legitimate dissent, she said in a statement.

Meanwhile, labor leader Leody de Guzman said the rest of the laws portions that were upheld could put individuals critical of the government at risk.

Maghahasik ng lagim ang batas na ito sa mamamayang nagsasapraktika sa mga karapatan sa lehitimong protesta upang ipagtanggol ang kanilang sarili sa pang-aabuso ng iilan, he said in a statement. Isasapeligro nito ang mga aktibistat unyonista.

[Translation: This law would be a threat to citizens practicing their right to protest against abuses by some. This would endanger activists and union members.]

All other portions challenged by the petitioners were upheld, including the enforcement of warrantless arrest and 24-day detention.

The Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020, which was signed into law by President Rodrigo Duterte in July 2020, repealed the Human Security Act of 2007.
(CNN)  Preliminary lab studies show two doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine may not provide sufficient protection against the Omicron coronavirus variant, but three doses are able to neutralize it, the companies said in a news release on Wednesday.

Samples from people who had two doses of the Covid-19 vaccine saw, on average, a more than 25-fold reduction in neutralization ability against the Omicron variant than the earlier virus, "indicating that two doses of BNT162b2 may not be sufficient to protect against infection with the Omicron variant," the companies said.

The companies said two doses may still provide protection against severe disease.

"Although two doses of the vaccine may still offer protection against severe disease caused by the Omicron strain, it's clear from these preliminary data that protection is improved with a third dose of our vaccine," Pfizer Chairman and CEO Albert Bourla said in a statement. "Ensuring as many people as possible are fully vaccinated with the first two dose series and a booster remains the best course of action to prevent the spread of COVID-19."

The initial lab studies used serum from blood from individuals who received two or three doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine. The sera was collected from subjects three weeks after their second dose, or one month after a third dose. The data released Wednesday has not been peer-reviewed or published.

"We believe that with the two doses, you still have relevant protection for severe disease, but clearly the drop is antibodies is substantial," Dr. Mikael Dolsten, chief scientific officer at Pfizer, told CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta on Wednesday. "However, the good news this morning is that our data show convincingly when you get your boost -- the third boost -- the antibody levels rise 25 fold and are now similar to the originally two dose boost that protected well against ancestral strains as well as Delta.

"Go and get your third boost and you have a robust, quite impressive antibody response as well as a strengthening of the other arm of the immune system, the T cells," Dolsten said. "That's really the takeaway ... two doses is on the weak end against this new variant, T cells may help you to be protected against severe disease, hospitalization -- but it's really time to get the third boost."

President Joe Biden called the preliminary results "very, very encouraging."

"I have some good news this morning that Pfizer's lab report came back saying that the expectation is that the existing vaccines protect against Omicron but if you get the booster you're really in good shape. So that's very encouraging news," Biden told reporters on the South Lawn Wednesday.

"That's the lab report. There's more studies going on but that's very, very encouraging."

Another study, released Tuesday by researchers in South Africa, showed the Omicron coronavirus variant partly escapes the protection offered by the Pfizer vaccine. The preprint study showed people who have been previously infected and then vaccinated are likely to be well protected, and Alex Sigal of the Africa Health Research Institute in Durban, who led the study team, told CNN that boosters are also likely to protect people.

"My impression is if you get a booster you are protected, especially against severe disease," Sigal said.

Since reports of the Omicron variant emerged in late November, US health officials have urged people to get vaccinated and boosted. Last week, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention began recommending all adults get a Covid-19 vaccine booster.

Adults who have had the Pfizer or Moderna Covid-19 vaccines are eligible to get a booster six months after their second shot. Those who got the Johnson & Johnson one-shot vaccine are eligible for a booster of any authorized vaccine two months after their first dose.

About a quarter of adults who are vaccinated against Covid-19 have also received a booster dose, according to CDC data. More than 144 million adults should get a booster, based on CDC guidance, but only about 48 million adults have received one.

Pfizer and BioNTech also said Wednesday they are continuing to develop a variant-specific vaccine for Omicron and it will be available by March, if it's needed.

"I'm not sure that we'll need it because it's one very likely scenario that the current booster will be enough to maintain protection, but if we need one, I'm sure we can make one and the good news is that we will have it by March," Bourla said on NBC's "Today" show on Wednesday.
The U.S. Board on Geographic Names made it official Thursday with a unanimous vote: Squaw Mountain in Clear Creek County is now Mestaaehehe Mountain.

The vote ends a four-year effort to remove the old name, offensive to Native Americans as some view it is an English version of a Algonquin word for female genitalia. In October, Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, an enrolled member of the Laguna Pueblo and the nation's first Native American cabinet official, ordered the word "squaw" removed from all federal lands.

Mestaaehehe, also known as Owl Woman, was a Southern Cheyenne leader and wife of William Bent. According to the proposal submitted by proponent Teanna Limpy, the Northern Cheyenne Tribal Historic Preservation Officer, Owl Woman "helped negotiate trade between the many groups who traded at Bent's Fort, and helped maintain good relations between the white people and the Native people."

It's the first name change recommended by Colorado's Geographic Naming Advisory Board, a change they voted in favor of on Sept. 17. Clear Creek County commissioners also signed off on the change.

The Colorado board's recommendation went to Gov. Jared Polis for his approval. However, Polis told the board in October that he initially planned to reject the recommendation because the name is too hard to pronounce. He said that would cause people to refer to it by its old name.

That drew pushback from Native Americans, including Danielle SeeWalker, co-chair of the Denver American Indian Commission.

There's a reason why our languages are now going extinct. And it's because of this exact same thing," she told Indian Country Today. "There's non-Native people in positions of power that are not wanting to use our languages because they can't pronounce them. It's hard to spell it.

Polis decided, however, to forward the recommendation to the federal board, which had been pushing Colorado to resolve the issue.

Limpy told the Mestaaehehe Coalition Thursday: I am just wholeheartedly appreciative of the overwhelming support from all of the allies who rallied around this grassroots effort to change the name from S* Mountain. This goes to show that there nothing we cannot achieve if we think with our own hearts and always remember who we are doing this for. A derogatory name that is meant to diminish the sacredness and power of our women is no more.

The mountain is located in the Arapaho and Roosevelt national forests near Mount Evans. According to the federal board, "there are two other summits named Squaw Mountain, 70 miles to the south-southeast and 130 miles to the northwest. Three streams named Squaw Creek are located between 30 and 60 miles to the west. Within Colorado, there are 36 features, both natural and man-made, that contain the word "squaw."

The mountain, however, still contains reminders of the previous name: to get to the trailhead to hike up Mestaaehehe Mountain, you have to drive up Squaw Pass Road.
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PAGE TITLE Futsal APF - Plzensky kraj DESCRIPTION Oficialni stranky Asociace Plzenskeho futsalu KEYWORDS OTHER KEYWORDS trda, rado 72 bodu, rado 72, 72 bodu, trest, hrci, vechny



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VMware has launched VMware Carbon Black Cloud Managed Detection and Response (MDR), designed to help enterprises with understaffed SOCs (Security Operation Center) fill the gaps arising from rapidly evolving threat landscapes.

With a mission statement from VMware that promises to go beyond monitoring threats and validating alerts in order to gain visibility and understanding into various threat environments, the newly launched MDR offers round-the-clock monitoring, alert triage, and threat analyst guidance on policy changes as well as assistance with threat containment in the event of an incident.

Our MDR offering is built for CISOs, CTOs and SOC (Security Operations Center) managers looking to increase visibility within their environments, reduce security staffing pressures, and speed up incident response, says Kal De, vice president and general manager of security business unit at VMware. As our customers take steps to empower their SOC teams amid the increase in cyberattacks, our MDR offering provides critical insight and analyst guidance to SMBs, large enterprises, existing partners, and our government customers.

MDR aims for endpoint, workload protection

VMware Carbon Black Cloud MDR is designed to provide insight into attacks on endpoints and workloads, as well as recommendations for policy changes that customers can take to remediate threats.

The risk and the cost of a breach is absolutely too huge, especially for a midsized to enterprise size business, says Constellation Research analyst Liz Miller. With VMWares expansive network of endpoints that can accelerate the rate of detection, this could be that early warning and awareness system teams are looking for. This is especially interesting for CISOs who are considering and weighing if an MDR or an XDR solution is right for them right now.

Analyst services enhance threat analysis

VMware analysts monitor MDR customer environments, using proprietary machine learning algorithms to offer threat analysis, guidance on policy changes, and help with threat remediation in the event of an incident.

As VMWare will need to have access into a clients network to effectively implement the solution, there is a concern for it to become an attack vector. Any solution you bring into/onto/remotely close to your network and infinite perimeter could become a vulnerability or threat, added Miller. This is why one solution is never going to be the silver bullet. This is about layering smart approaches and not assuming that VMware will take care of it all.

Features offered by VMWare Carbon Black Cloud MDR include threat validation, email alerts, root cause analysis, threat advisories, monthly reports, incident response communications with analysts, and threat containment.

Because of [VMware's] global expertise and knowledge, these services can just see more and see faster than the average in-house team that could be juggling thousands of alerts and issues. This brings focus where it is needed most: giving the in-house security talent the space and the time to address critical alerts and investigations, added Miller.






GROTON  The First Lady will travel to Connecticut this week to visit with U.S. Navy families of the USS Delaware.

First Lady Jill Biden and Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro will travel to Groton on Thursday to meet with the families on the submarine, which the First Lady serves as a sponsor.

They will arrive at Groton-New London Airport in Groton Thursday afternoon before attending a holiday gathering hosted by United Through Reading at the U.S. Submarine Veterans Club in Groton.

Biden was last in Connecticut when she visited a Meriden public school with U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona, who left his post as the head of Connecticuts education department to join President Joe Bidens cabinet.

The trip, which was the first of several high-profile stops in Connecticut for the Biden administration, also marked the first day on the job for Cardona, who rose through the ranks in Meriden schools before taking over at the states education department.

The First Lady, a community college teacher, met with students and staff at Benjamin Franklin Elementary School during that March visit. It was her first trip to Connecticut and one of her earliest domestic trips since her husband was sworn into office.

The focus of the conversations was about how to keep schools open during the COVID-19 pandemic, which in recent weeks has worsened in Connecticut.

In the time since the First Ladys visit, President Joe Biden has made two stops in Connecticut, first speaking at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in May and then to a child care center in Hartford and the University of Connecticut in mid-October.
McALESTER, Okla. (AP)  Oklahoma executed a man Thursday for the 1985 shooting death of an Oklahoma City-area schoolteacher after courts rejected his claim that the states lethal injection method would result in unconstitutional pain and suffering.

Bigler Stouffer II, 79, received a three-drug lethal injection at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester.

Stouffer was the first person executed in Oklahoma since John Grant convulsed on the gurney and vomited during his lethal injection in October as the state ended a six-year execution moratorium brought on by concerns over its protocols.

Thursday's execution process that began at 10 a.m. appeared to go more smoothly. After receiving lethal drugs, Stouffer was declared unconscious at 10:07 a.m., and his breaths became shallower at 10:09 a.m. He was declared dead at 10:16 a.m.

Oklahoma Attorney General John OConnor said in statement that the execution was carried out with zero complications. The Rev. Howard Potts, who was in the death chamber with Stouffer, said Stouffer "was totally at peace.

Stouffer's last words were: My request is that my father forgive them. Thank you.

Stouffer has maintained his innocence in the attack that left Linda Reaves dead and her boyfriend, Doug Ivens, seriously injured. He and his attorneys argued in court filings that the states three-drug execution method poses a risk of unconstitutional pain and suffering and that Stouffer should be included among other death row plaintiffs in a federal lawsuit challenging the protocols. But his request for a stay of execution was denied by a federal district judge and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. A final appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court was denied Thursday morning, less than two hours before the scheduled execution

Stouffer was convicted and sentenced to death in 2003 after his first conviction and death sentence were overturned. At a parole board hearing last month, he said Ivens was shot as the two men fought over a gun at Ivens' home, and that Reaves was dead when he arrived.

I am totally innocent of the murder of Linda Reaves and my heart goes out to the family of Linda Reaves that have suffered as a result of her murder," Stouffer told the board during a video appearance from prison.

Prosecutors said Stouffer went to the home to borrow the gun from Ivens, then fatally shot Reaves and wounded Ivens to gain access to Ivens $2 million life insurance policy. At the time, Stouffer was dating Ivens ex-wife.

Despite being shot three times with a .38-caliber pistol, including once in the face, Ivens survived and testified against Stouffer. Ivens has since died.

Stouffer's heinous actions against Doug and Linda, his lies and manipulations in the years to follow, and his complete lack of sorrow and remorse for the hurt he caused should dictate one conclusion  the jury's death sentence must be carried out," attorneys for the state wrote in asking the Pardon and Parole Board to reject Stouffer's request for clemency.

Several members of the board voiced concerns about the state's ability to humanely execute people. But Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt ultimately rejected the boards recommendation that Stitt commute Stouffers sentence to life in prison without parole.

Reaves' cousin, Rodney Thomson, spoke to reporters after Stouffer's execution, saying the killing had consumed his family members. He thanked the attorney general and staff and other prosecutors and investigators who worked on the case.

Today we witnessed the law of the land carried out on behalf of my cousin, Thomson read from a statement. Although long in coming, justice has prevailed.

Stitt did grant clemency to another man on death row, Julius Jones, last month just hours before his scheduled execution, commuting his sentence to life in prison without the possibility of parole. That case had drawn outcry and protests over doubts about his guilt in the slaying of a businessman more than 20 years ago.

Executions in Oklahoma have typically been held in the evenings, but prison officials moved Stouffer's execution to 10 a.m. to make it easier for the prison to return to normal operations, said Department of Corrections spokesman Josh Ward.

Oklahoma had one of the nations busiest death chambers until problems in 2014 and 2015 led to a de facto moratorium. Richard Glossip was just hours away from being executed in September 2015 when prison officials realized they received the wrong lethal drug. It was later learned the same wrong drug had been used to execute another man in January 2015.

The drug mix-ups followed a botched execution in April 2014 in which inmate Clayton Lockett struggled on a gurney before dying 43 minutes into his lethal injection  and after the states prisons chief ordered executioners to stop.
BRANFORD  Tis the season of giving and many children will be cozy and warm this season thanks to pajamas collected at the John B. Sliney School.

Following in the tradition created by a former fourth grade teacher, the Janet Melillo Pajama Drive is currently underway at the elementary school.

The Sliney PTA, in partnership with the fourth grade student council, will be collecting new, unwrapped pajamas for infants to teens at the school. The deadline for donating is Sunday, Dec. 22.

In addition, in conjunction with the PJ drive, the PTA announced on Facebook that Friday, Dec. 10 will be PJ Day for the Kids.

Students who wear pajamas to school, on that day, will be asked to donate $1 for Connecticut Childrens Hospital. The PTA will match donations, up to $1 per student and staff member.

She would be so touched by it all, said Gary Melillo, the brother of the late Janet Melillo.

In past years, more than 100 pairs of pajamas were collected and delivered to Yale New Haven Hospital for distribution to young patients and their siblings.

This is something we are doing in honor of one of our fourth grade teachers who passed away earlier this year, said Ashley Murphy, president of the Sliney PTA, referring to Melillo.

She taught at Sliney for 25 years, until her retirement in June 2020, Murphy said. This is one of the things that she loved to do - she would do this every year with her class.

Branford resident Marta Tamulevich, a Spanish teacher from 2014-16, fondly remembers working with Janet Melillo.

She was super friendly, always bubbly, Tamulevich said. The kids loved her. She was always silly with the kids and staff. She always liked to have a good time.

In this spirit, Janet Melillo made the pajama drive a fun, engaging activity, having her students outfitted as elves as they collected the pajamas each morning from different classrooms, said Murphy.

She absolutely loved doing it, she said.

Gary Melillo, the administrative assistant at Sliney, said this was something his older sister looked forward to every year.

It became, instantly, a tradition, the Guilford resident said.

Gary Melillo said his sister was all about theatrics.

This was a mix of her theatricality and her passion for life, he said. It was like a performance.

Tamulevich recalled that as a Branford resident, Janet Melillo, was passionate about giving back to her community.

She loved doing things like that for the school and the community, her town, she said. She was very involved.

Murphy said reestablishing the pajama drive was a good way to honor the much-beloved teacher.

When she passed, I thought it was a good way to honor her memory, she said.

She loved Sliney so much, she really did, and she loved the students, Murphy added. I think she would be thrilled and very honored that we are carrying on the tradition that she started and that she loved so much.

John B. Sliney School, 3 Eades St., Branford; 203-481-5386; branford.k12.ct.us; Facebook Sliney PTA
MILFORD  An Ansonia man is due in court this month on charges brought after police said it was determined he didnt call 911 soon enough after his girlfriend overdosed on drugs following a Valentines Day dinner.

The 22-year-old woman, who was not identified by police, was pronounced dead on arrival at the Milford Hospital emergency room, but a doctor there later told police she might have survived if treated earlier.

The man, Tyler Porpora, faces a charge of cruelty to persons, a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail, in the case. He is free on a promise to appear in court Dec. 20.

Police suspected the victim had been assaulted prior to her death, according to an arrest warrant, but an autopsy determined she died from an accidental drug overdose.

Porpora faces charges in two prior cases of domestic violence involving the same victim, according to the warrant.

His lawyer in those cases, Daniel Esposito, said Wednesday he anticipates representing Porpora in the new case as well, but hasnt seen any of the evidence yet.

Once assigned, Ill form an opinion as to its merits upon reviewing the states discovery materials, Esposito said.

The warrant says Porpora called 911 about 7 p.m. Feb. 14, 2021, from the parking lot of the post office on Pepes Farm Road.

Fire department personnel found the woman unconscious in the passenger seat of Porporas car and attempted life-saving procedures, but couldnt revive her, according to the warrant.

Firefighters told police they saw injuries on the womans face  a cut and bleeding to her nose, as well as bruises around her eyes and forehead  which they believed were consistent with some type of assault, the warrant stated.

The womans mother told detectives the victim and Porpora had a tumultuous relationship and would fight, break up and then get back together again, over and over.

The mother also told detectives her daughter had alcohol and substance abuse problems and had recently broken her nose in a car accident, according to the document.

Porpora told police he and the woman had dated for two years but that they had recently broken up and were just friends. He also allegedly told police that she had overdosed multiple times.

He said that on Valentines Day  his 24th birthday  he had picked up the victim about 2 p.m., giving her a bouquet of flowers and three small bottles of Baileys which she drank, according to the warrant. They then drove around before going to Chilis restaurant on the Post Road in Milford about 5 p.m.

Porpora told police the woman had become intoxicated and upset during dinner, creating a scene at the restaurant, so they left  but the argument continued in his car.

He said the woman had argued with him while grabbing and scratching his arm, but he adamantly denied hitting her back, according to the warrant.

The warrant says Porpora told police he was driving around in the hopes that she would sober up, but that after driving for a short while, he did not hear her screaming or talking anymore, so he looked and noticed that she was passed out, and pulled into the post office parking lot.

He tried to wake her, but could not, the warrant says he told police. He noticed that her lips were blue and he called 911.

At the scene, the warrant says cops overheard Porpora telling fire department personnel that the woman had been unconscious for 30 to 45 minutes before calling for help. Asked why he waited, he allegedly told cops he thought she would wake up like she usually did when she was unconscious and would be fine afterwards.

A doctor performing an autopsy on the victim the next day said she had injuries consistent with a motor vehicle accident she had been involved in the week before, and it was possible she had been struck inside Porporas vehicle because some of the injuries had reopened, according the warrant.

But the doctor also said that none of the injuries to her body had caused her death, though he couldnt rule what had until toxicology tests came back, the report stated.

Three months later, a medical examiner ruled the womans death an accidental overdose of fentanyl, oxycodone, and alcohol.

The warrant says detectives interviewed Dr. John Lynch of Milford Hospitals emergency department, who had pronounced the woman dead.

The doctor told detectives that the injuries to the womans face were consistent with an assault, but did not appear to be life-threatening, and that he was aware she suffered prior overdoses.

Dr. Lynch stated that in his opinion, to a reasonable degree of medical certainty, if the victim received emergency medical treatment sooner than the 30-45 minutes Tyler Porpora waited to call for help, she might have survived, the warrant said.

Police then obtained a warrant charging Porpora with cruelty to persons, a misdemeanor defined by state law as when a person, with criminal negligence, deprives another person of necessary food, clothing, shelter or proper physical care.
WASHINGTON (AP)  Bob Dole lay in state Thursday at the U.S. Capitol, as the president and others gathered to pay tribute to a giant of our history who served the country in war and in politics with pragmatism, self-deprecating wit and a bygone era's sense of common civility and compromise.

President Joe Biden, a longtime friend, said Dole, the former Republican senator, presidential contender and World War II veteran, should have the final word as he read from his colleague of 25 years' own observation that he had served the country best when putting principles over party.

Truth of the matter is, as divided as we are, the only way forward for democracy is unity  consensus  the only way, Biden told those gathered. We may follow his wisdom and his timeless truth and reach consensus on the basic fundamental principles we all agree on.

The morning ceremony brought about 100 invited guests and congressional leaders as Dole's casket, draped with the American flag, sat under the dome. Dole, who served nearly 36 years in Congress, died Sunday at the age of 98.

Biden said Dole belongs here, in this place, this temple to liberty and temple to possibility. The president said of Dole, He, too, was a giant of our history.

The service will be the first of several in Washington commemorating Doles life and legacy. Thursdays event at the Capitol and Friday's funeral at the Washington National Cathedral are closed to the public. But Dole's funeral will be livestreamed at the World War II Memorial on the National Mall, and his motorcade is expected to stop by later at an event with actor Tom Hanks honoring his life and military service before the casket travels to his Kansas hometown and the state capital. He is to be interred at Arlington National Cemetery.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Dole was being honored among the pantheon of patriots  his casket placed atop the Lincoln catafalque that has been used since 1865.

Pelosi kissed the hand of Dole's wife, Elizabeth Dole, and greeted his daughter, Robin Dole, who were seated near Biden, before telling those gathered that Dole's principled leadership was long respected on both sides of the aisle, both sides of the Capitol.

Black draperies hung on doorways under the Capitol dome in preparation for the service. The chairs were set up, socially distanced for COVID-19 protocols. A lectern was positioned in a way that the statue of another Kansas stateman, Dwight Eisenhower, would be seen in the background behind the day's speakers.

Elizabeth Dole appeared to cry as she approached the casket and reached out her hand. She and first lady Jill Biden blew kisses to one another before the president spoke.

Sen. Mitch McConnell, now the longest-serving Republican Senate leader, said earlier that Dole idolized Eisenhower, calling the former president and general a hero who embodied the finest qualities of the American people.

We can say with certainty that Eisenhower isnt the only Kansan who meets those standards, McConnell said in a speech earlier this week.

McConnell had raised concerns that an event planner for the memorial service, Tim Unes, had been subpoenaed by the House committee investigating the deadly Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol about his role planning that day for Donald Trump, the former president, according to a person granted anonymity to discuss the private conversation. Trump had urged his followers to head to the Capitol to fight the certification of Biden's election victory.

Dole family spokesperson Steve Schwab said in a statement Thursday that Unes' role had been terminated.

Schwab said Unes, a former Dole campaign staffer, had volunteered his time to serve on the advance team for this weeks memorial events. Schwab said Elizabeth Dole was previously unaware of Unes' participation in the January event and once he made her aware she "terminated his volunteer role.

Unes did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The story was first reported by The New York Times.

Born a child of the Dust Bowl in Russell, Kansas, Bob Dole suffered paralyzing and near-fatal wounds after being shot in World War II that sent him home with a severely damaged right arm that he could not use to shake hands. Instead, Dole held a pen in it and reached out with his left as a way to put greeters at ease. His town had raised funds to help in his recovery.

After earning a law degree, he worked as county attorney and served as a Kansas state legislator before running for Congress in 1960, joining the House for eight years then going on to win the Senate seat. He was the GOP's presidential nominee in 1996, his third and final campaign for president  a race he never won.

Doles quick wit was on display after losing the presidential contest to incumbent Democrat Bill Clinton, who awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom days before the 1997 inauguration.

McConnell said this week that when it was time for Doles remarks, he stood at the podium and began: I, Robert J. Dole  do solemnly swear  oh, sorry, wrong speech!

But that humor was rarely seen on the campaign trail or in his public pronouncements, where it could have helped him win more votes.

Instead, Dole was seen as a GOP hatchet man, a mentee of Richard Nixon and chairman of the Republican National Committee during the Watergate era. He went on to become the sharp-tongued vice presidential running mate to Gerald Ford, another lost race.

On Thursday, McConnell noted that Dole was the last of the greatest generation to run for president.

But it was Dole's long career in the Senate where he grew to see the value of reaching across the aisle to Democrats and secured his more lasting achievements  most notably the Americans with Disabilities Act that to this day ensures a level of accessibility as a civil right.

At times, Dole bucked his own party, particularly on a landmark tax bill, and helped create the Martin Luther King Jr. federal holiday.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer praised Dole during Thursday's service as an American who redefined and elevated what it means to serve country.

Current and former lawmakers from both parties joined the service. House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy joined but did not speak.

Dole announced in February 2021 a diagnosis of stage 4 lung cancer. Biden visited him at his home at the Watergate complex.

After the memorial events Saturday in Kansas, Doles family plans to return with his casket to Washington. He will be interred at Arlington National Cemetery, though the date for the burial has not been set, the Elizabeth Dole Foundation said.

A few hours before the memorial was set to begin, Capitol Police locked down part of the Capitol complex after a staffer walked into an office building with a gun in his bag. The man was arrested on a charge of carrying a pistol without a license.

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Associated Press writers Kevin Freking, Colleen Long, Mary Clare Jalonick and Michael Balsamo in Washington and John Hanna in Topeka contributed to this story.
BRIDGEPORT  A local man, being sought for two years for allegedly seriously stabbing a local store owner, was arrested Wednesday.

Garly Joseph, 29, was charged with attempted murder, first-degree assault and carrying a dangerous weapon.

These are very serious charges, Supervisory Assistant States Attorney Ann Lawlor told Superior Court Judge Tracy Lee Dayton during Josephs arraignment Wednesday afternoon. She urged the judge to set a high bond.

But Josephs lawyer, Assistant Public Defender Dennis Salzbrunn, urged lenience for his client, arguing Joseph has two young children he supports.

The allegations are that this was a vicious attack, the judge responded. She ordered Joseph held in lieu of $500,000 bond and continued the case to Dec. 21.

According to police, on the afternoon of Aug. 14, 2018, the 31-year-old owner of a Bunnell Street grocery store confronted a man who had allegedly been selling drugs outside his store. When the victim demanded the man leave the area of his store, police said the man pulled out scissors and repeatedly stabbed the victim in the chest. The assailant then fled.

The victim was taken to Bridgeport Hospital where police said doctors told them the victim had nearly died from his injuries.

Police searched the area for the assailant but were unable to find him.

A year later detectives resumed investigating the case when police said DNA taken from the scissors came back as a match for Joseph, who had a criminal record. Police said the store owner subsequently identified Joseph as his assailant from a police photographic array.
BRIDGEPORT - A Superior Court judge Wednesday threw out former city Councilwoman Eneida Martinezs appeal of her November election loss for City Council.

Judge Theodore Tyma dismissed Martinezs appeal not on its merits but because she had filed the appeal in court one day past the deadline for doing so.

In the present case, the specific time limitation contained in the statute is a condition precedent to the right to bring and maintain the action contesting the election, the judge wrote in his six-page decision. The plaintiff brought an untimely complaint under (state statutes) and, as a result lacks standing to maintain the action.

Martinez, who represented herself in the appeal, said she had not seen the decision and couldnt comment on it.

Deputy City Attorney John Bohannon had urged the judge to dismiss the case. Bohannon argued that under state law Martinez had 14 days from the Nov. 2 election to file her appeal. He said her paperwork was filed on the 15th day.

He declined comment on the decision.

Martinez had responded to Bohannons argument calling the time requirement vague as a description. She continued that municipalities and courts are not open on weekends and holidays so those days should not be counted towards the filing deadline.

She also claimed she had been advised by someone in the court clerks office that she would get an extra day because of Veterans Day, which falls on Nov. 11.

Martinez, who represented the citys East End, lost her primary for reelection to Wanda Simmons. She then launched an unsuccessful write-in candidacy for the general election.

Simmons and Ernest Newton, the other successful candidate for the 139th District, were sworn in on Dec.1 at the Klein Memorial.

According to her lawsuit, Martinez was seeking a temporary injunction to decertify the official ballot count from the general election and to block the swearing in of council members until a recount of all ballots can be done to determine whether there are discrepancies.

The plaintiff (Martinez) has been aggrieved by the ruling of the election and integrity of the election processes, the lawsuit stated.

I just want a fair and complete count, Martinez told Hearst Connecticut Media when she filed her appeal. She said she specifically has concerns about absentee ballots that were returned from her district that were not filled in for the council seat position.

Because write-in candidates names do not appear on a ballot, voters must fill in a bubble in that category, then write the name of the individual they are supporting near it.

I believe there was an intent to vote on behalf of the voter but for some reason the bubble was not filled in, Martinez said. Im challenging the election because of the principle of it and thats it.
HONG KONG (AP)  Hong Kong tycoon and prominent pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai and two others were convicted Thursday for their roles in last years banned Tiananmen candlelight vigil, amid a crackdown on dissent in the city and Beijings tightening political control.

Lai, together with Chow Hang-tung, a vice chairperson of the now-defunct vigil organizer the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, and activist and former reporter Gwyneth Ho were convicted for either taking part in or inciting others to join the candlelight vigil in 2020.

They are among 24 activists who were charged over their roles in the unauthorized assembly in Victoria Park on June 4 last year, during which thousands of people gathered to light candles and sing songs in the park despite police warnings that they may be breaking the law.

The Hong Kong Alliance previously organized a candlelight vigil in the city's Victoria Park on June 4 each year to mark the bloody crackdown on protesters campaigning for more democracy in Beijings Tiananmen Square in 1989.

Last year, authorities banned the protest for the first time in three decades, citing social distancing restrictions and public health risks due to the coronavirus. The protest was also banned this year.

Prior to the ban, massive crowds attended the annual candlelight vigil and it was the only large-scale public commemoration on Chinese soil of the 1989 crackdown in Beijing.

Lai was found guilty of inciting others to take part, while Ho was convicted for knowingly participating in the assembly. Chow, a barrister, was convicted for both inciting and participating in the vigil.

The trio had previously pleaded not guilty to the charges. Court will resume on Monday, when they can enter mitigation pleas before sentences are handed down.

The Hong Kong government has once again flouted international law by convicting activists simply for their involvement in a peaceful, socially distanced vigil for those killed by Chinese troops on 4 June 1989," said rights group Amnesty Internationals deputy secretary general Kyle Ward in a statement.

These convictions merely underline the pattern of the Hong Kong authorities extreme efforts to exploit the law to press multiple trumped-up charges against prominent activists," he said.

Ward added that prosecuting people who mourn and remember the victims of the Tiananmen crackdown is an egregious attack on the rights to freedom of expression and assembly.

Most of the activists who had been charged over the banned vigil had previously pleaded guilty, including outspoken activist Joshua Wong, who was given 10 months in jail for his participation in the vigil. He was already in jail serving time after previously being found guilty of other charges related to his activism.
MISSOULA, Mont. (AP)  Superintendents of school districts across Montana say the state's education chief is making it harder for them to serve their students by failing to provide enough administrative support and pushing partisan policies to let parents opt out of health mandates.

The superintendents oversee about half the states roughly 150,000 public school students and include two groups  one representing Montanas eight largest school districts and four county superintendents serving small, rural schools.

In separate letters they laid out a litany of grievances with Superintendent of Public Instruction Elsie Arntzen  from a state education office turnover rate of nearly 90% since her arrival, to problems with teacher licensing reviews, support for special education and grant applications.

Both groups also took aim at Arntzens participation in anti-masking rallies, including at a Missoula church last month in which an attendant joked about shooting superintendents, the Missoulian reported.

Arntzen  a Republican from Billings reelected last fall to a second, four-year term  later condemned the remark. That did not satisfy the superintendents.

Children are non-partisan; our leadership should be too," wrote the superintendents serving Missoula, Butte-Silver Bow, Wheatland and Sweet Grass counties. Ms. Arntzen's rhetoric perpetuates a false narrative and is divisive and offensive to the very people she took an oath to serve.

Arntzen said in a letter this week to the large district superintendents that she takes their concerns humbly and seriously. She did not directly address her opposition to local efforts to combat COVID-19 or the staffing problems at the Office of Public Instruction (OPI).

While we have multiple touchpoints of communication with school districts and their leadership each month, your letter has made it clear that its not enough, Arntzen wrote. She added that the superintendents' concerns are noted and that she looked forward to continuing to make OPI the best office possible while providing necessary support, outreach, and resources to school districts throughout Montana.

Arntzen has said she wants a rule giving parents the ability to opt out of some local school board policies, including mask requirements, after a temporary rule adopted by the health department at the beginning of the school year had little effect.

Arntzen said her office wants to make a rule with more force than the health department's that said schools should consider parental concerns  not that they must consider them. Its unclear whether she has authority to create such a rule.

That same logic, applied to the classroom level ... would permit students to pick and choose which rules to follow and would inevitably result in students declaring themselves exempt from your lessons, your testing and your grades, the superintendents of the eight large districts wrote. If you cannot advocate for the basic tenets of your profession, you should not serve as our chief education officer.

The large districts serve students in Billings, Belgrade, Bozeman, Great Falls, Missoula, Butte, Kalispell and Helena.
COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP)  Media worldwide should join forces in fighting for facts amid threats to press freedoms instead of competing with each other, Maria Ressa, joint winner of the 2021 Nobel Peace prize, said Thursday on the eve of the award ceremony in Norway's capital.

Speaking at an Oslo press conference with fellow laureate Dmitry Muratov of Russia, Ressa, a Filipina, said that the era of competition for news is dead.

"I think this is a time when were on the same side fighting for facts and were going to need to find new ways of collaboration, not just each in our countries, but also globally, she said.

Since the coveted prize was awarded to them in October, freedom of the press has not improved in either the Philippines or Russia, Ressa and Muratov said.

So, no, so far press freedom is under threat. It takes a lot to be able to be here today to respond to your questions, said Ressa. She added that she had to get four courts to give approval to allow me to travel" because of criminal complaints she faces in her country.

Ressa is the first person from the Philippines to win the Nobel Peace prize. Last year, she was convicted of libel and sentenced to jail in a decision seen as a major blow to press global freedom. She currently is out on bail but faces seven active legal cases.

Speaking through an interpreter, Muratov said that governments invest in lies and not in journalism, adding that he was fully aware that this prize is for the whole journalist community.

The Norwegian Nobel Committee selected the two for their separate fight for freedom of expression in countries where reporters have faced persistent attacks, harassment and even murder.

In 2012, Ressa, 58, co-founded Rappler, a government critical news website. The seven criminal complaints she faces are in relation to legal issues hounding her news agency, including an allegation that it violated a constitutional ban on media agencies receiving foreign investment funds.

Muratov, 59, was one of the founders in 1993 of the independent Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta. He has said he sees the prize as an award to Novaya Gazeta journalists and contributors who were killed, including Anna Politkovskaya who covered Russias bloody conflict in Chechnya.

Norwegian Nobel Committee chairwoman Berit Reiss-Andersen said Thursday that the prize was to underscore the importance of information in our society today.

A healthy society and democracy (are) dependent on trustworthy information so that the public at large (and) politicians can base their decisions and debates on facts-based information, Reiss-Andersen said. Theres so much information in society today that is not trustworthy, is disinformation, is propaganda, is fake news.

Asked what the prize meant to her, Ressa compared it with a light that is a shield in so many ways.

Its a spotlight to show how much more difficult it is to do our jobs," she said. The only weapon, the only defense journalists can have in an environment like this is to actually shine the light and to keep doing our jobs.

On Thursday, the Brussels-based International Federation of Journalists said in a bleak assessment that imprisonments of media workers were on the rise, with 365 journalists behind bars compared to 235 last year. Nine journalists have been killed in the line of duty in Afghanistan alone and 102 imprisoned in China.

Russia still has 12 journalists behind bars, and three reporters were killed in the Philippines, it said.

The IFJ also highlighted the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to two journalists as a rare positive development.

The prize  10 million kronor ($1.1 million), medals and diplomas  will be formally awarded in Oslo Friday.

Since 1901, the prizes have been presented at ceremonies on Dec. 11, which is the anniversary of prize founder Alfred Nobels death. The other awards  physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine and literature as well as the economic prize  traditionally have been handed out in Stockholm.
Tara ONeill / Hearst Connecticut Media

BRIDGEPORT  A two-alarm fire sent one person to the hospital and displaced nine residents early Thursday, hours after another two-alarm blaze in the city left at least two other individuals injured, officials said.

Around 4 a.m., fire units responded to several reports of a structure fire in the 800 block of Shelton Avenue, according to Scott Appleby, the citys director of emergency communications and emergency management.
BRIDGEPORT  A person was freed from underneath a car after a rollover crash Thursday afternooon, a city official said.

The Bridgeport Emergency Communications Center received several calls about a rollover incident on Mill Hill Avenue around 3 p.m. Thursday, according to Scott Appleby, the director of Bridgeports Office of Emergency Management.

Upon their arrival, first reponders found a person underneath a vehicle. The Bridgeport Fire Department quickly worked to free the person, Appleby said.

Medical personnel were on scene treating the person and will transport them to the hospital. Appleby said the severity of the persons injuries is unknown at this time.

Bridgeport Police have set up traffic control in the area and are investigating the incident, Appleby said.

This is a developing story. Please check back later for updates.

liz.hardaway@hearst.com
TRUMBULL  Despite rumors Wednesday, Trumbull High School did not receive a threat, according to the schools principal, Marc Guarino.

Guarino said there were some unsettling rumors that were circulating at the end of the school day today.

There was not a threat nor a report of threat made against the school in general, either today or for tomorrow, Guarino said in a message released Wednesday.

School administration and the Trumbull Police Department worked together Wednesday to investigate these rumors, which Guarino said were unfounded.

Even though there is no credibility to these rumors, we will have a greater police presence at our school tomorrow, he said.

I understand the impact this has on the school community given the events in Michigan last week and across the state this week, he added.

For the past two weeks, several schools across the state have received threats that later turned out to be hoaxes. Just on Wednesday, Norwalk High School saw its third threat in eight days.

At the end of last week, Danbury High School was dismissed early after reports of gunfire. Hamden High School closed Friday after a threat of gun violence was posted online.

liz.hardaway@hearst.com
BRIDGEPORT  Eight years after 24-year-old Aryndel Castro disappeared from his city home, police arrested a local landlord and a convicted killer living in South Carolina in connection with his murder.

Police said the landlord, 45-year-old Shawn Gibson, led detectives to the basement of a relatives home on Noble Avenue late Thursday afternoon where they said they found Castros remains buried.

We did all in our power to find Aris body so his family can have peace and closure, Bridgeport States Attorney Joseph Corradino said as the victims body was brought out of the house on a stretcher.

Earlier Thursday, Castros family stood in the lobby of the Golden Hill Street courthouse waiting for Gibson to be arraigned for murder. At that point they were unaware police were busily digging in the Noble Avenue basement for the victims remains.

Its been a long eight years since my brother disappeared but we never gave up and thankfully the police never gave up, said Castros brother, Aneudi Rosa. Lt. (Chris) LaMaine told me eight years ago he was going to keep searching for my brother and never give up and he kept his promise and found my brothers killers.

LaMaine, who later emerged from the Noble Avenue house shovel in hand, said he made every effort to solve this case for the family. They deserved closure, he said.

However, Castros mother later collapsed, sobbing in the courtroom as Gibson was brought before Superior Court Judge Tracy Lee Dayton. Other family members began shouting at Gibson, Wheres Ari, wheres the body?

But Gibson did not respond and showed no emotion as he stood before the judge.

Corradino asked the judge to set a bond of $250,000, a low figure for a murder case. But he explained that they needed Gibson available to help them find Castros remains.

He is aware of the continuing investigation, Gibsons lawyer, Frederick Paoletti, told the judge.

The judge imposed the $250,000 bond and ordered Gibson to wear a GPS monitoring anklet. She continued the case to Dec. 21.

On Wednesday, police said they arrested Terrance Boyd, 55, in Columbia, S. C. and charged him with murder in the case.

Boyd was convicted in the 1980s of beating a 63-year-old New Canaan woman in the head and drowning her in her swimming pool.

Police said Boyd recently admitted he had helped Gibson kill Castro. He is awaiting extradition back to Connecticut.

Ill put it in a nutshell for you, Boyd told police, according to the arrest warrant affidavit. This guy (Castro) stole some tools from Shawn (Gibson). He didnt like it. He told me to go get the guy. Brought him to the house, beat him to death and then buried him.

Castros family reported him missing in September 2013.

LaMaine continued to work the case with the members of the Bridgeport States Attorneys Cold Case Unit, senior assistant states attorneys David Applegate and Susan Campbell.

We are committed to seeking answers and justice for victims of violent crime and their families. This is an example of how important persistence and teamwork are in these investigations, said Applegate.

According to the affidavit, Boyd told detectives that he and Gibson had brought Castro to a rooming house on Noble Avenue that Gibson owned and Gibson began beating Castro with his fists. Boyd told detectives the beating became so bad that he had vomited. Boyd said he had left to get some beers but as he left, he said he could still hear Gibson beating Castro, the affidavit states.

The affidavit continues that both men later put Castros remains in a large plastic bag. They initially took it to a house Gibson owned on Moffitt Street and then tried to bury it in Beardsley Park but couldnt dig a deep enough hole, the affidavit states.
Vaccine makers are racing to update their COVID-19 shots against the newest coronavirus threat even before its clear a change is needed, just in case.

Experts doubt todays shots will become useless but say its critical to see how fast companies could produce a reformulated dose and prove it works -- because whatever happens with omicron, this newest mutant wont be the last.

Omicron is pulling the fire alarm. Whether it turns out to be a false alarm, it would be really good to know if we can actually do this -- get a new vaccine rolled out and be ready, said immunologist E. John Wherry of the University of Pennsylvania.

Its too soon to know how vaccines will hold up against omicron. The first hints this week were mixed: Preliminary lab tests suggest two Pfizer doses may not prevent an omicron infection but they could protect against severe illness. And a booster shot may rev up immunity enough to do both.

Better answers are expected in the coming weeks and regulators in the U.S. and other countries are keeping a close watch. The World Health Organization has appointed an independent scientific panel to advise on whether the shots need reformulating because of omicron or any other mutant.

But authorities havent laid out what would trigger such a drastic step: If vaccine immunity against serious illness drops, or if a new mutant merely spreads faster?

This is not trivial, BioNTech CEO Ugur Sahin, Pfizers vaccine partner, said shortly before omicrons discovery. A company could apply to market a new formula but what happens if another company makes another proposal with another variant? We dont have an agreed strategy.

Its a tough decision  and the virus moves faster than science. Just this fall the U.S. governments vaccine advisers wondered why boosters werent retooled to target the extra-contagious delta variant  only to have the next scary mutant, omicron, be neither a delta descendant nor a very close cousin.

If vaccines do need tweaking, theres still another question: Should there be a separate omicron booster or a combination shot? And if its a combo, should it target the original strain along with omicron, or the currently dominant delta variant plus omicron? Heres what we know.

COMPANIES ARENT STARTING FROM SCRATCH

COVID-19 vaccines work by triggering production of antibodies that recognize and attack the spike protein that coats the coronavirus, and many are made with new technology flexible enough for easy updating. The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are fastest to tweak, made with genetic instructions that tell the body to make harmless copies of the spike protein  and that messenger RNA can be swapped to match new mutations.

Pfizer expects to have an omicron-specific candidate ready for the Food and Drug Administration to consider in March, with some initial batches ready to ship around the same time, chief scientific officer Dr. Mikael Dolsten told The Associated Press.

Moderna is predicting 60 to 90 days to have an omicron-specific candidate ready for testing. Other manufacturers that make COVID-19 vaccines using different technology, including Johnson & Johnson, also are pursuing possible updates.

Pfizer and Moderna already have successfully brewed experimental doses to match delta and another variant named beta, shots that havent been needed but offered valuable practice.

NOT CLEAR IF TWEAKS ARE NEEDED

So far, the original vaccines have offered at least some cross-protection against prior variants. Even if immunity against omicron isnt as good, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the top U.S. infectious disease expert, hopes the big antibody jump triggered by booster doses will compensate.

Pfizer's preliminary lab testing, released Wednesday, hint that might be the case but antibodies arent the only layer of defense. Vaccines also spur T cells that can prevent serious illness if someone does get infected, and Pfizer's first tests showed, as expected, those don't seem to be affected by omicron.

Also, memory cells that can create new and somewhat different antibodies form with each dose.

"You're really training your immune system not just to deal better with existing variants, but it actually prepares a broader repertoire to deal with new variants, Dolsten said.

How aggressive a mutant is also plays a role in whether to reformulate the vaccine. Omicron appears to spread easily but early reports from South African scientists hint that it might cause milder infections than previous variants.

HOW TO TELL IF UPDATES WORK

The FDA has said companies wont need massive studies of tweaked vaccines but small ones to measure if people given the updated shot have immune responses comparable to the original, highly effective shots.

Wherry doesn't expect data from volunteers testing experimental omicron-targeted shots until at least February.

WHAT ABOUT COMBINATION SHOTS?

Flu vaccines protect against three or four different strains of influenza in one shot. If a vaccine tweak is needed for omicron, authorities will have to decide to whether to make a separate omicron booster or add it to the original vaccine -- or maybe even follow the flu model and try another combination.

Theres some evidence that a COVID-19 combo shot could work. In a small Moderna study, a so-called bivalent booster containing the original vaccine and a beta-specific dose caused a bigger antibody jump than either an original Moderna booster or its experimental beta-specific shot.

And scientists already are working on next-generation vaccines that target parts of the virus less prone to mutate.

Omicron brings another important wake-up call, Wherry said -- not just to vaccinate the world but create more versatile options to get that job done.

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AP reporter Jamey Keaten contributed to this report.

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The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
WESTPORT  While residents agree the Greens Farms Road bridge needs to be replaced, theyve raised concerns about the noise and inevitable detours when construction starts.

Project engineer Andy Shepard said all of the residents concerns will be taken into consideration and properly addressed before construction work on the bridge starts in spring 2023, including where the equipment to fix the bridge will be stored.

The bridge will be closed for construction so that means that the approach can be used for staging, Shepard said during Tuesday nights virtual meeting. If anymore room is needed we can coordinate with the town once we have the contractor on board. The contractor wont be allowed to place any material or any of their equipment on any property that hasnt had any easements acquired for the project.

The DOT is replacing the bridge, which spans Sasco Brook near the Fairfield line, because it was deemed structurally deficient during the departments bi-yearly assessment of the bridge.

DOT spokesman Priti Bhardwaj said bridges that are more than 20 feet long, like the one over Sasco Brook, are inspected every two years with each element of the bridge being scaled on a range of one to nine  nine meaning excellent condition.

During the last bridge inspection, certain elements of the bridge were rated four or lower.

The DOT plans to reinforce the bridge with new concrete structures, even out the shoulders of the bridge because one side is currently bigger than the other side and create two, 12-foot travel lanes. The department also plans to make sure the bridge blends in with its surroundings to maintain Westports character.

The project is expected to cost about $2.3 million, 80 percent of which will be paid with federal funds and 20 percent with town money.

We are looking forward to a successful bridge replacement project with the town of Fairfield, Westport Town Engineer Keith Wilberg said.

Fairfields engineer was also on Tuesdays call.

Shepard said all coordination with emergency vehicles or buses will be verified with the town to ensure that there are not any delays or conflicts.

Wilberg said he had coordinated with the police and fire department regarding the detours.

One resident asked if all westbound traffic on Greens Farms Road will be diverted to Bulkley Avenue once construction starts, which is anticipated to begin in spring of 2023.

Shepard said the planned detour does include Bulkey. The current detour is 1.2 miles and should take a total of four minutes.

Another resident also asked if there will be time restrictions so that the neighbors surrounding the bridge will not be woken by construction.

There are statues and everything in place to make sure that we work with the town to make sure the public is aware of everything that is going on and are obviously not affected by any noise restraints or any thing like that, Shepard said.

Wilberg said that Westport does have a noise ordinance that doesnt allow construction before 7 a.m. or go any later than 8 p.m. on a weekday.

We definitely enforce that, he said.

The construction for the bridge replacement is estimated to be about eight months. For now, the DOT and the town will continue to take public comments into consideration as they continue to plan for the project.

serenity.bishop@hearstmediact.com
As we close out 2021, many things will change in the new year; there will also be many things that will stay the same. With millions of Americans either working from home, hybrid, or fully back in the office, teams must lean on one another for advice, support, and direction. Below are five quick tips to help keep you focused while working regardless of location.

Upkeep a designated workspace: Whether you are at home or in the office, creating a designated workstation is crucial as it will help you stay productive, uphold motivation, and maintain a sense of normalcy. Your primary needs must be accommodated. Set a routine: Being home all day or back in the office full-time can make it hard to establish boundaries and remain organized. Creating a realistic weekly routine makes it easier to stay on track and accomplish tasks. Continue waking up early, eating breakfast and lunch at regular times, and taking breaks throughout the day. The goal is to keep your schedule as normal as possible, so you feel less disorganized and more determined to do your best work. Dress for success: If you are remote, staying in your pajamas might seem appropriate, but getting dressed before starting your workday is important. If you are back in the office full-time, dust off your best business casual outfits and put your best foot forward. By doing so, you will be more motivated to do work, connected to the rest of the working world, and prepared to attend meetings. Monitor your Security platforms: If your company or IT team is experiencing (or expecting) capacity concerns, investing in a third-party managed security services platform can help provide extra security layers for your credit union. Additionally, you should consider a platform with a 24/7 SOC Service, which quickly addresses cybersecurity needs and strengthens IT operations. Establish a cut-off time: Knowing when to close your laptop is probably a hard decision you face each day. It is important that you set, and stick to, a time to stop working and attend to your evening routine. According to an article by Microsoft Office, a recent study of 1,400 information workers commissioned by Microsoft found that 40 percent of people work outside of regular hours in a way that interferes with family time. Of course, we all strive to finish as much work as possible, but maintaining a healthy balance is vital  especially in our current climate.

Finding the perfect balance between personal life and work life is almost impossible. Now, more than ever, prioritizing tasks, communicating frequently, and more are lifelines for remote teams. If your credit union has had some trouble adapting to this new normal, be reassured that you are not alone. However, you have a big responsibility to ensure that your employees find that healthy balance. Now is time we all be reflective and prioritize rest and preparation to be geared up for 2022.
NCUA headquarters

This year has seriously flown by! December is here, and we are knee-deep in the holiday season. Soon well be making (and breaking) New Years resolutions. Speaking of, I need to set up my planner for 2022  Ive got lots of big changes to look forward to, and that calls for plenty of planning. It really is my favorite time of the year!

In a decision and order on appeal published in November, the NCUA resolved a CAMEL rating appeal in favor of an unnamed (redacted) credit union. The appeal process took almost two full years, with the final decision coming in about one month short of that milestone.

The appeals procedure can be found in Part 746 of NCUAs regulations, which outlines the steps a credit union must take. It can be an arduous process, requiring various written submissions, firm deadlines, and oral hearings. Before a credit union can get to the Supervisory Review Committee (SRC), it must first request reconsideration in writing from the appropriate program office. From there, the rules permit a credit union to seek review by the Director of the Office of Examination and Insurance (OEI), or the credit union may go directly to the SRC.

The appeal to the SRC must be in writing, and filed with the Secretary of the NCUA Board within 30 calendar days of receiving a written decision by the program office or the Director of the OEI, depending on where the previous decision came from (since the review by the Director of the OEI is not a mandatory step). In this stage of the process, the credit union may submit any additional information or documentation that is requested by the SRC, and an oral hearing will be scheduled, unless the credit union specifically requests the appeal be based entirely on the written record. The credit union may designate up to two officers, employees, or other representatives including counsel to represent them in the oral presentation. The SRCs decision, which should be issued in writing within 30 calendar days of the hearing, gets published on NCUAs website either in redacted form, or as a summary.
Several months ago, I told my husband that I felt like I was in a funk. I couldnt explain whyI love my business, I enjoy working with my clients, and I have so much to be thankful for. My three kids are healthy, Im in the process of writing a book and we had just returned from a great family vacation in Tennessee. Yet, I couldnt shake this feeling of blah. My usual motivation, action and zest were replaced with melancholy and a sense of flatness. The only thing I felt like doing was drinking cappuccinos (OK, wine) and watching Hallmark movies all day. (Wouldnt that be nice!?) On a serious note, I felt worried. Why was I feeling this way? What was causing my lack of energy and passion? I didnt feel completely depressed, just blah. Ive had bad days before, and even bad weeks, but I had never experienced a prolonged period when I had to muster the energy to get through the day. I felt better on days when I worked with clients, but when I was working in my office, I lacked my normal drive.

Then, about a month ago, I read this article by Adam Grant in the New York Times. In it, Grant describes feeling like menot jumping out of bed in the morning, and a lack of concentration and excitement. He writes:
Photo-Illustration: Curbed; Photo: Christopher Garcia Valle

New Yorks 21 Questions column is back with an eye on creative New Yorkers. Paula Scher, the graphic designer, painter, and Pentagram Partner  who created brand identities for MoMA, the Public Theater, Shake Shack, and NYC Parks Department, among dozens of other organizations  currently has a retrospective on view at the Museo Nacional de Artes Decorativas, in Madrid.

Name: Paula Scher Age: 73 Neighborhood: NoMad Occupation: Graphic Designer

Whats hanging above your couch?

In pure honesty, nothing because my couch is in the middle of the room. But about 10 feet behind my couch is one of my paintings of the United States and on the side of my couch is one of my husband, Seymour Chwasts, paintings of war. We only hang our own work in the living room. Why give anyone else valuable space?

Whats the first job you had in New York?

Designing the inside of childrens books at Random House. I lasted about a year and a half.

What color are you always drawn to?

Black and white. No color. This is really in relation to how I start working and where I go first. If a design works in black and white  which is the clearest view of it  itll work in any color.

What art or artifact are you most surprised you own?

Artifacts are not a big part of our lives. We used to have lots of knickknacks  antique toys and things designers always have  but I decided it was really creepy and got rid of them.

Which New Yorker would you want to hang out with?

Fran Lebowitz. Well, I dont really want to hang out with her. I just want to listen to her. She doesnt have to talk to me. I just think shes hilarious and right all the time.

Whats the last thing you made with your hands?

I painted a roadmap of the United States on a 1977 Porsche for a collector during COVID. It took me a year to finish since I had to learn how to paint over curves.

Is there one thing you own multiple versions of?

I have three pairs of boots that are exactly the same style but in three different colors from Maria Cornejo. Theyre leather with a heel and come right up to the knee.

What New York City museum do you always go back to?

MoMA  I go there because it never disappoints. I go there because if it disappoints, theres always a gallery I go into that doesnt. I go there because I like to be mad at it when Im mad at it. I go there to go shopping. And also because they collect some of my work. Thats also nice.

What do you always have next to your computer?

I guess its usually a pad and a glass of water.

Where is the best view of the city?

Driving back from either LaGuardia or Kennedy, theres a part of the Long Island Expressway thats high on a hill right when youre starting to slide down to the Midtown tunnel where you have this perfect view of the New York City skyline. Its just amazing.

What building or object do you want to redesign every time you see it?

The so-called One World Trade Freedom Tower. Its screwing up the skyline. Its way out of scale. It looks dumb. It dwarfs everything in a bad way and it makes everything look imbalanced. If you could sort of just reduce it by 25 percent, it would be all right. Buildings with satisfying proportions are starting to disappear. There was nothing better than the Chrysler building. I mean, thats so totally gorgeous. But now theres this other skyscraper behind it that has kind of a zigzag-y pattern of lights that makes it look like the Chrysler building got fatter. I wish people would stop messing around with the skyline. I think its very greedy. You need a design commissioner, somebody to go out to that spot I was talking about on the Long Island Expressway and make an assessment and start giving fines.

Whats one thing you would change about your field?

I wish the general public understood clearly the difference between what a graphic design firm does and what an advertising agency does. People who design identities and things that are supposed to be lasting operate and do business differently than people who are doing promotion. Right now I feel like promotion is the driving force in design. For example, the logo that was just designed for Facebook and their silly company is a really a bad logo, but it animates nicely. So its a sort of thing thats going to tweet well and will be good on Instagram, but the form is horrible.

If you could live anywhere in New York City, where would it be?

NoMad. Reason one is we have enough space, two is I like the people in the building, three is that I can walk to work, four is Eataly and a pile of great restaurants have opened in the neighborhood and I never have to go off my block.

What would you hoard, if it stopped being produced?

Silverware. Its always disappearing in my home. Were always low on forks and spoons.

What do you do to get out of a creative rut?

I really like to walk uptown and downtown, and east and west, and look in the store windows and at signs on the street. I really liked doing this during COVID because I could actually see the landscape. My neighborhood is filled with really crummy signs and beat up things that need to be fixed. I walk down the street and think about how Id redo everything. I always wanted to be an art director of New York where I could just walk over and say, Change that.

Where was your first NYC apartment and how much was the rent?

It was on the Upper West Side: 92nd Street between West End and Riverside. This was in 1970 and I lived with three women. I think the total rent was something like $400 and we paid $125 a piece or something like that. One of them slept in the living room on a pullout couch. It wasnt great.

Where in the city do you go to be alone?

A taxi cab. It isnt that I go there to be alone. Thats where I am alone. Taxi cabs for me are very special because you sit in the back, you dont have to talk to anybody, you can look out the window and you can sort of let your mind wander.

Worst piece of career advice youve ever gotten?

Someone told me not to join Pentagram. Hows that for a terrible piece of career advice?

What have you given away to someone that you wish you could get back?

I gave away these posters I did in the early 80s at CBS records  one for Elvis Costello that said Trust Elvis and one called The Best of Jazz. I dont have a single copy left because I gave them all away. When I make something, I dont have any sense of it becoming collected. And then there are things I made that were horrible that are famous and that drives me nuts. Its terrible!

Whats your favorite NYC restaurant and regular order?

Im lazy so I go to the closest restaurant where I like the food and thats La Pecora Bianca.

What I really liked to do  before COVID, now its harder  is to sit at the counters and have dinner. We would go at least once a week and have meatballs and eggplant and a glass of red wine.

What descriptive phrase do you want on your obit headline?

Well, I can tell you what I dont want. Hows that? Dont put down Designer of the Boston cover. I always hated it and it just doesnt go away. It just doesnt go away.
Photo: Alexi Rosenfeld/Getty Images

Erehwon, the Los Angeles health food store where Miley Cyrus, various Kardashians (Kanye too), and even the likes of Eddie Huang shop for vegan coconut yogurt and smoothies made with chocho protein (if you know, you know), is pretty much a lifestyle brand at this point. It attracts guys who drive G-Wagons and girls who are sporty and rich and like Yeezys, Chris Black of the brand consultancy Public Announcement told Vanity Fair last year. Those people, 5 to 10 years ago, would have been in a club, doing coke, partying, drinking. Now, being healthy is cool. Having a $30 lunch at a grocery store is cool. It is not altogether surprising, then, as the Los Angeles Times reports, that its looking to expand beyond its seven Los Angelesarea stores  possibly even to New York.

We are looking at New York City; its definitely on the plate, Tony Anitoci, Erewhons CEO, told the Los Angeles Times. If that comes to pass, itd be akin to Whole Foods first hitting Time Warner Center or Wegmans opening at the Navy Yard. But for now, expansion will continue to focus on greater Los Angeles, with stores slated to open in Beverly Hills and Culver City next year and in Pasadena in 2023. Glendale, Orange County, Santa Barbara, and the Bay Area will also likely be snacking on Buffalo cauliflower bites and tossing back adaptogenic immunity shots before any New Yorkers living in New York will.

Despite its contemporary gloss, Erewhon started out as a macrobiotic wholesaler in the 1960s, selling mostly brown rice and tubs of miso. Its first outpost wasnt in L.A., however, but Boston. So really, Erewhon has northeastern roots, and maybe its time to (almost) come home.
Beatrice is an opinion columnist for the Daily Emerald. She is a first year student studying journalism at UO. She believes in the power of fair and educated opinions that come from a desire to help strengthen communities.

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It's time to punish Britain's five million vaccine refuseniks, writes ANDREW NEIL

Last night I took a friend out to dinner near my home in the South of France. At the restaurant door we were politely asked for our vaccine passports, the QR codes on our smartphones were scanned and we were ushered to our table.

The check had taken seconds  a very minor inconvenience when a new wave of the coronavirus pandemic is sweeping across the Continent.

There was a sense of safety in knowing that all the other diners had proved themselves to be fully vaccinated, or had very recently tested negative, or had contracted the virus and recovered.

If smartphones are a bit recherche for you, you can print out a paper version of your vaccine passport. It works just as well.

One friend who won't give up his ancient, very unsmart, mobile, has pasted his paper passport onto the back of his phone. That's probably even more efficient than fiddling with your smartphone to find the QR code.

It's been like this in France since early August when vaccine passports became mandatory for cinemas, museums, restaurants, theatres, bars, nightclubs, planes and long-distance trains.

At first, there was some pushback  and some argy-bargy from those who turned up at a venue but had forgotten their passports. Now it's just part of the routine of living with the virus.

Of course, it's not foolproof. Nothing is. People who have been vaccinated can still contract and pass on the virus.

ANDREW NEIL: There are still 5 million unvaccinated British adults, who through fear, ignorance, irresponsibility or sheer stupidity refuse to be jabbed. In doing so they endanger not just themselves but the rest of us. Pictured: A NHS Covid pass on a smartphone

But vaccination substantially reduces the risk of serious illness and hospitalisation, which is why medical experts are unanimous in their view that the more people who are vaccinated the better the chance we all have of beating this virus.

In France, vaccine scepticism was initially rampant but the week after President Emmanuel Macron announced the vaccine-passport policy, a record 3.7 million people booked to get their jabs.

As a result of vaccine passports now being mandatory for most things the French regard as making life worth living  such as going to restaurants, bars and cafes  France has now caught up with countries, such as Britain, which were once far ahead of it in the vaccine stakes.

The percentage of people with two jabs is now virtually the same on both sides of the Channel. France has vaccinated more citizens with one jab than Britain, Germany or Italy  50 million out of a population of 67 million.

Young French people, previously sceptical of the need to be jabbed, have rushed to get vaccine passports so they can go out at night with their friends.

Which is a very good reason why Britain should follow the French example  and also take note of what other European countries are doing  and penalise the vaccine refuseniks.

At a press conference on Wednesday, Boris Johnson hinted at tougher rules for the unvaccinated.

There are still 5 million unvaccinated British adults, who through fear, ignorance, irresponsibility or sheer stupidity refuse to be jabbed. In doing so they endanger not just themselves but the rest of us.

If they contract Covid, it is they who will put the biggest strain on the NHS, denying the rest of us with serious non-Covid ailments the treatment that is our right. We are all paying a heavy price for this hard core of the unvaccinated.

As long as they can be numbered in the millions, the nation will remain unnecessarily vulnerable to the latest variant, meaning more lockdowns, more restrictions on our lives, more lost jobs, more failing business, less economic growth  all of which will follow the Government's introduction of its so-called Plan B of enhanced restrictions this week.

Of course, there is a small number of people who, for medical reasons, cannot be vaccinated. Those in that category can be identified and helped with regular testing to make sure they're Covid-free.

But for the rest it is simply selfish not to be vaccinated. We all have a responsibility to act in ways that don't just protect our own health but also that of others.

Pictured: People hold up placards as they march during an anti-vax rally and protest against vaccination and government restrictions designed to control or mitigate the spread of the novel coronavirus, including the wearing of masks and lockdowns, in Liverpool last year

The evidence from France strongly suggests that if the unvaccinated see they will pay a price in terms of where they can go and what they can do, then they will think again and rush to be jabbed.

I am not, however, in favour of compulsory vaccination and yesterday I was relieved to hear Health Secretary Sajid Javid saying it would be 'unethical' to make jabs compulsory after some misinterpreted the Prime Minister's call for a 'national conversation on the way forward' to mean that mandatory jabs were being considered.

There is something very unBritish about compulsory vaccination. I don't understand how you'd do it in a free society. Are we really going to round up the unvaxxed, strap them to a chair and stick needles in their arms against their will?

I would not even go as far as Greece, which plans to fine all those over 60 who refuse to be jabbed 100 euros (85) a month from mid-January until they agree to be vaccinated.

Older people are more vulnerable than any other age group and those who refuse to be jabbed are foolish. But the over 60s can be pretty bolshie, so what happens when hundreds of thousands refuse to pay the fines?

Is the Greek government really going to fill its jails with pensioners? It might make more sense to pay them 100 euros to be jabbed.

Austria, which is already back in full lockdown, is also planning to fine adult refuseniks of any age, starting at 3,600 (3,075) and rising to 7,200 (6,150). Perhaps Austrians are more compliant than Greeks, but I reckon this policy will run into the same problems.

Even Germany is considering the nuclear option. The newly installed Chancellor Olaf Scholz is in favour of mandatory vaccination and is expected to offer a free vote on the issue in the Bundestag, Berlin's parliament.

The evidence from France strongly suggests that if the unvaccinated see they will pay a price in terms of where they can go and what they can do, then they will think again and rush to be jabbed. Pictured: A nurse prepares to give a vaccine to a woman in Glasgow on Wednesday

We are far from alone in implementing new restrictions as Christmas approaches, and throughout Europe infections are rising against the backdrop of growing concern about the Omicron variant.

But we can learn from what other countries are doing even if not all they are implementing would be right for us.

Under Plan B, vaccine passports will be required for entry to nightclubs and at major gatherings at large venues. It would not be difficult to extend them, French-style, to other public places, including restaurants, pubs and bars, and non-essential shops (even the unvaxxed need food and medicines!).

It would give those of us who've done the right thing more protection and for those who've not, pause for thought.

I'm not impressed by those who claim this is an egregious assault on our freedoms. Liberty is not the same as unbridled licence to do what you want, which is the road to anarchy.

You can't shout 'Fire!' in a crowded cinema if there is no fire. Real liberty for all involves a balance between rights and responsibilities.

My right to visit certain African countries is balanced by my responsibility to be inoculated for yellow fever before I go. You cannot practice medicine without being vaccinated against hepatitis B.

You have a right not to be vaccinated. But I have a right not have you near me in a restaurant or on a plane.

And of course, it is absolutely right that everybody working on the front line in the NHS and social care should be vaccinated as a condition of employment, as they will be in this country from next April.

As it stands, the unvaccinated are making more restrictions on our lives inevitable. It is time we imposed some on them.

In a free society the unvaccinated have a right not be jabbed. But they need to realise that right comes with consequences, which will inhibit their freedoms as they constrain ours.

One final thought. Singapore has decided that the unvaccinated who end up in hospital with Covid will have to foot their own medical bills.

I doubt we'd ever go that far. But you can see the logic  even the morality  of it.

By all means exercise your rights. But beware of the consequences.
Politics is tough on families. This was underlined when, in the midst of all the hysteria surrounding party-gate, the Prime Ministers wife Carrie Johnson quietly  and rather efficiently  walked into a central London hospital and gave birth to a baby girl.

Just a few hours earlier, her husband Boris Johnson had been up on his feet in the House of Commons fending off furious opposition before convening a cabinet meeting announcing tighter Covid restrictions.

I dont imagine that even in his wildest dreams he ever thought being PM would be this hard.

Whatever you think of Boris, you have to feel for him as a husband and father of seven children, two of them now under the age of two.

But while hes a bit of an old hand at parenthood, for Carrie its all still relatively new. And now  what joy!  shes added a little girl to her brood.

Of course a healthy baby of either sex would have been a delight; but theres something about having the set that just feels very serendipitous, very yin and yang.

At 7.40am Boris Johnson 's wife Carrie was pictured arriving before she gave birth to the Prime Minister's seventh child today - a baby girl

Boris Johnson (pictured) leaves a London NHS hospital this morning after his wife Carrie gave birth to a baby girl - their second

Perhaps thats not something were really supposed to admit to in these gender-fluid times; nevertheless, its true.

Little boys are wonderful, and they love their mummies like no other; but the relationship between a mother and a daughter is also very special, and close in a different way.

They so often share the same experiences, albeit at the distance of a generation. As a mother it can be bittersweet guiding ones daughter through the challenges of life, especially the difficult and complicated teenage years.

It can create a very special bond. It can also, at times, generate some spectacular fireworks.

And then theres the bond between siblings. The age gap between Wilfred and his new sister is about the same as the one between my two.

My daughter, now 18, was 16 months old when her brother came along. At first she was rather excited, not least because we made sure the new arrival came bearing gifts and treats for his big sister.

Perhaps young Wilfred might find himself enjoying another trip to Peppa Pig World in the weeks to come? Our equivalent was a season ticket to Legoland Windsor, which worked a treat to begin with.

After a while, though, the thought began to occur to my daughter that this new addition was permanent, and then it didnt go so smoothly.

Every ounce of attention he had was begrudged, as she felt it ought to have been hers. In fact, if Im honest, I dont think shes ever quite recovered from the realisation that her brother is here to stay.

I never really expected this. I naively assumed that, because they were so close in age, they would automatically be emotionally close too. But it quickly became apparent that was not going to be the case.

Perhaps its because theyre such different creatures. Small boys are like puppies: provided you feed, water and exercise them sufficiently, they tend to be fairly content.

Girls are more feline in nature  just that bit harder to read, and emotionally rather more demanding.

And yes, its true: a brother and sister fight like cat and dog. Only the other day, on a birthday shopping trip for my son, they were at each others throats to such an extent that I lost my temper, screamed at them both and stormed out.

Nothing gets under my skin more than my children arguing.

Carrie Johnsonpictured with son Wilfred as they walk on the beach during the G7 leaders Summit in Carbis Bay Cornwall earlier this year

Boris Johnson and son Wilfred ride in a miniature car at Peppa Pig World in the New Forest

But like I say, thats just my experience. Whats universally true is that, as a parent, moving from one to two is a much bigger leap than you ever think its going to be.

Its not just the sibling rivalry; its the fact that, in terms of having your hands full, one plus one does not so much equal two as 20.

When one of them is sleeping the other is guaranteed to be awake; when one is hungry the other is not; if one throws up the other ones not far behind.

There is never a second of downtime. Even going to the loo can seem like an impossible task.

Its just about manageable if you dont try to do anything else. But if you are at all the sort of person with outside interests  and I think its probably fair to say that both Boris and Carrie are  then it very quickly becomes exhausting.

It almost finished me off, and I wasnt trying to run a country during a global pandemic with the entire world on my case and every other minister in my cabinet vying for my job.

That said, No2 is always easier than No1, regardless of gender. Its not just a question of experience; its also the fact that, as a parent, youre not quite so highly strung about the second.

First child gets the organic homemade sweet potato puree, No2 gets whatevers in the freezer; No1 gets pristine cashmere cardigans, No2 gets machine washable; No1 gets educational wooden toys, No2 gets brightly coloured plastic tat. And so on.

The result is that No1, male or female, is always a bit of a princess, whereas No2 just gets on with it. If you get as far as three or four, then they practically bring themselves up.

Anyway. It has been a pig of a year in politics, so both Boris and Carrie deserve a little unalloyed joy.

And theres nothing like a new baby to smooth even the most furrowed of brows. Congratulations to them both, and to Wilfred.
Can we be absolutely sure that Carrie Antoinette really has had a baby? Or is it just another of Boris's diversionary tactics?

After all, who would put it past the Prime Minister to nip into Hamleys and buy a Cabbage Patch doll, which could then be paraded for the cameras.

Given that the media always pixelates the photos, most of us would be none the wiser.

The arrival of a newborn might buy Boris a bit of breathing space while he calculates how to wriggle out of the latest fine mess he's got himself into.

OK, so I jest. But you don't have to be a swivel-eyed conspiracy theorist to conclude the Lockdown Lite rushed out on Wednesday evening was cobbled together cynically to distract attention away from the multiple car crashes piling up in Downing Street.

The arrival of a newborn might buy Boris a bit of breathing space while he calculates how to wriggle out of the latest fine mess he's got himself into

When Boris turned up flanked by the Two Ronnies of Doom, with their familiar priapic graphs and blood-curdling predictions designed to terrify us into submission, talk of Christmas parties went on the back burner briefly as the full horror of Covid over-reaction dawned yet again.

Yes, the revelation (not for the first time) that there's one rule for them and another for all the rest of us is hugely damaging and won't be forgotten in a hurry.

But in the scheme of things, whether or not staff at No 10 had attended an illicit cheese-and-wine party this time last year pales into insignificance against the social and economic damage about to be inflicted by the new restrictions.

When Boris turned up flanked by the Two Ronnies of Doom, with their familiar priapic graphs and blood-curdling predictions designed to terrify us into submission, talk of Christmas parties went on the back burner briefly as the full horror of Covid over-reaction dawned yet again

Plan B, which we were assured just 36 hours earlier would not be needed, was dusted off and will be brought in next week.

But if the risks are so great, why next week, and not now?

If the Omicron variant is spreading so rapidly, goodness knows how many people could become infected before Monday.

Bring out your dead!

The Covid alarmists claim there will be at least one million people with the virus by the end of the year. But they've been wrong before, so why should we take any notice of their wilder forecasts now?

And with all the available evidence suggesting that those who contract this variant will suffer little more than a really nasty cold or bout of flu, why plunge the country back into virtual house arrest?

Thanks to Kate Bingham's brilliant vaccination programme, the risk of anyone dying from it is minuscule.

But the chances of Lockdown Lite delivering the coup de grace to struggling businesses in hospitality, which were relying on the Christmas period to make up crippling Covid-inflicted losses, have just shortened to odds-on.

Pubs and restaurants report an avalanche of cancellations, despite the PM exempting them from mandatory mask-wearing and urging people to go ahead with celebrations.

Talk about facing both ways at once. There's no logic to the new rules. Why are shops and cinemas, where mask wearing is once again compulsory, more dangerous than the Dog and Duck and Chez Guevara?

There's no logic to the new rules. Why are shops and cinemas, where mask wearing is once again compulsory, more dangerous than the Dog and Duck and Chez Guevara?

If Boris genuinely believes that Christmas parties in pubs and restaurants are safe, then why did he cave in cravenly to 'the experts', who would love lockdown to last for ever?

And seeing as the Government and broadcast media have spent the best part of two years trying to scare everyone to death, it's no wonder some people are still frightened and are happy to dive back under the duvet whenever a new 'variant' flexes its tentacles.

So there will be widespread compliance, particularly by those who have cheerfully succumbed to Covid Stockholm Syndrome. Others will probably fall into line, while fuming not so silently any more. The rest of us will simply ignore the new rules. If Downing Street can't be bothered to obey their own regulations, then why the hell should we?

Still, the official return to Working From Home is manna from heaven for the bone-idle work/life balancers at the Foreign Office who made such a mess of the Afghanistan evacuation.

Nothing to see here, folks, we were only obeying orders.

The most worrying development is the looming introduction of vaccine passports, which Boris 1.0 would have fought with every fibre of his being. Or, at least, would have said he would until push came to shove, when he'd either have changed his mind or gone missing. We're talking bulldozers and third runways here.

Look, as I've said before, it gives me no pleasure to tip a bucketload over Boris, who has added not just to the gaiety of the nation over the years, but also has substantial achievements to his name.

Firstly, saving London from Red Ken Livingstone, then freeing Britain from the tyranny of the EU and seeing off Oh, Jeremy Corbyn and his gormless middle-class groupies.

As the Mail said yesterday, Brexit  while not yet perfect  is beginning to bear fruit, bringing with it investment and thousands of new jobs in deprived areas such as Sunderland. Latterly, though, his record is starting to resemble Monty Python's What Have The Romans Ever Done For Us? sketch. In reverse.

Highest taxes since the 1950s; record cross-Channel migration; stop-start lockdowns; cycle lanes; sky-high fuel prices; scrapping conventional cars and gas boilers in pursuit of that elusive butterfly, Net Zero . . .

Who ever dreamed that a Conservative Government would be determined to make us colder, poorer and less free, whether we like it or not?

To his credit, Boris did defy the doomsters and open up Britain in the summer faster than most EU countries. But now he's switched back into 'safety first' mode, on the flimsiest of evidence.

He's at his best when he offers strong leadership, as he did over Brexit. Who cares if he's in it for himself, provided he gets the job done? He's a politician, not a philanthropist.

But of late he's been all over the shop. To be honest, he's never been quite himself since he came out of hospital after contracting the virus early doors.

I can't work out whether it's long Covid, or he's just pleased to see us. Whatever the reason, he needs to get a grip. Sharpish. There are too many teenyboppers running wild in Downing Street, too much infighting, too many leaks. That excruciating video, which cost Allegra Stratton her job, smacked of the 'We are the masters now' arrogance of the Blair years.

And Boris isn't immune, despite his bumbling 'Accidental Prime Minister' act and frequent attempts to pretend he's an innocent at the mercy of events.

There are too many teenyboppers running wild in Downing Street, too much infighting, too many leaks. That excruciating video, which cost Allegra Stratton (above) her job, smacked of the 'We are the masters now' arrogance of the Blair years

Loyalty to staff is commendable, but his characteristically disingenuous effort to front his way out of the cheese'n'wine scandal backfired spectacularly.

Most of us have long since factored in his economy with the actualite, when it suits him. But this week he came across all Lesley Gore:

It's my party and I'll lie if I want to . . .'

Which isn't a good look when the country is being condemned to a miserable Christmas, despite playing by the rules.

We've been double, triple, flu and pneumonia jabbed up the ying-yang. And yet we are still told that Plan B, which earlier this week wasn't necessary  cross your heart and hope to die  starts on Monday and lasts at least until the New Year.

How do we know Plan C isn't coming down the pipe in 2022?

So is this the last straw, the moment the scales fall from our eyes and we finally work out we've been sold a Boris-shaped pup?

Maybe. The Downing Street party might prove to be a five-minute wonder, but these things are incremental. They all add up. More than 50 per cent of people surveyed this week say they want to see the back of Boris.

And yet. I still don't detect any enthusiasm for Labour. Keir Starmer was in full shroud-waving mode at PMQs. And he had a point. But he still has all the charisma and populist appeal of, er, a Remainiac, Left-wing lawyer from Islington. Which is, of course, what he is.

Surveying the dross on both the Tory and Labour front benches, Boris remains our best bet. And he is a survivor.

I enjoyed Stephen Glover's description of Boris as a 'greased piglet'. He'll find it difficult to slip out from under the spectacular clustershambles currently engulfing Downing Street. But not impossible.

My guess is that he's banking on nobody taking much notice of the new rules over Christmas, and Omicron falling off a cliff by New Year. And voters cutting him some slack because he's got a new bay-bee.

Right now, a spell of paternity leave might be just what the doctor ordered.
Melanie had had enough. After watching Boris Johnson try to explain that there had not been a lockdown-busting party in No 10  and even if there had, no rules had been broken  she picked up the phone to Conservative Central Office and cancelled her party membership.

'I said, 'just cancel my membership. I resign; I will not support Boris',' she told a phone-in on BBC Five Live moments after Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday had finished.

'I've always voted Conservative. I only became a member when Boris came to the forefront, I really liked Boris,' she went on. 'But I just cannot believe what he says any more.'

Some Tory MPs are whispering feverishly about sending letters of no confidence to Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the 1922 Committee  the first step in triggering a leadership contest

She is not alone. Tory MPs report a growing tide of angry emails and phone calls from party members and constituents about the lack of grip in No 10, and the toxic claim that those at the heart of government believe the rules do not apply to them.

Some Tory MPs are also starting to wonder whether they might be better off without their talismanic leader, whose election-winning qualities are offset by a chaotic approach to life and government.

What started as a rumble of discontent over the handling of the Owen Paterson sleaze allegations last month, is fast becoming a roar.

Paul Goodman, editor of the Conservative Home website, which is broadly supportive of the PM, yesterday said a vote of no confidence in him had 'suddenly become more likely than not'.

Mr Johnson's old employer, The Daily Telegraph, asked on its front page: 'Is this the beginning of the end for Boris?'

Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, the treasurer of the 1922 Committee, said No 10 was 'just making too many own goals, frankly'. Does he think time's up for the PM? 'Not yet, but I think he's got to get a grip. We'll all go away for Christmas at the end of next week and no doubt everybody will be coming back hoping for a lot, lot better.'

On Tuesday, Mr Johnson faces what looks set to be the biggest Tory revolt of his premiership when MPs vote on the introduction of Plan B. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer is seen above at Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday

Matters look set to get worse before they get better.

The PM, whose wife Carrie gave birth to their second child yesterday, has had a tough week. A rare apology over a leaked video in which No 10 aides joked about the alleged Christmas party, singularly failed to end the anger over the affair.

Hours later, he announced Britain would be moving to Covid Plan B, prompting allegations that he was imposing new rules on the public to divert attention from the fact that his own staff had been breaking the rules.

Yesterday, the Electoral Commission fined the Conservative Party 17,800 for inaccurate reporting of donations to the refurbishment of the PM's Downing Street flat, leading to fresh questions about whether he had told the full story to his adviser on the Ministerial Code, Lord Geidt.

But, if anything, next week looks even tougher.

On Tuesday, Mr Johnson faces what looks set to be the biggest Tory revolt of his premiership when MPs vote on the introduction of Plan B.

By yesterday evening dozens of Tory MPs had publicly declared they would not support the new crackdown, with many apparently unaware the Government had already made significant concessions.

On Thursday, voters go to the polls in the Shropshire North by-election sparked by the resignation of Mr Paterson for breaking lobbying rules. The Conservatives hold a towering majority of 23,000, but Tory chiefs fear the difficult backdrop at Westminster could spark a shock defeat.

Some Tory MPs are whispering feverishly about sending letters of no confidence to Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the 1922 Committee  the first step in triggering a leadership contest. The PM is pictured above with Chancellor Rishi Sunak on December 1st

'We have a great candidate but the circumstances could not be worse,' said one insider.

'We face a real struggle to get our people out.' So is Boris Johnson really in trouble? Could the Tories really be poised to ditch the leader who secured them a landslide election victory just two years ago, vanquished Jeremy Corbyn and delivered Brexit?

In the past he has frequently confounded critics who have written him off, leading friends to nickname him the 'greased piglet'. But the current Tory mood is more febrile than anything seen since the election.

Sajid Javid yesterday revealed he had refused to go out and defend the Government on the airwaves on Wednesday morning after the video clip of the mock press conference emerged.

One MP was so dismayed by the PM's Commons performance on Wednesday that he drove straight home, ignoring a three-line whip.

Red Wall MPs, many of whom are sitting on wafer-thin majorities and have no experience of being behind, are getting jittery.

Some Tory MPs are whispering feverishly about sending letters of no confidence to Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the 1922 Committee  the first step in triggering a leadership contest.

No-one thinks the number is currently anywhere near the 54 needed to trigger a vote of no confidence. But some believe the situation could change fast.

One knight of the shires said: 'He is brilliant, but shambolic. We need him to stop being Boris, but we know that he won't. In the end, if the polls turn against him he would do well to remember that we can be ruthless.

'I don't think you will see anything now, but if things are not better by Easter then he could be in very serious trouble.'

A supportive Cabinet minister says the situation is 'recoverable  provided certain things happen', before reeling off a list which boils down to installing some discipline in the No 10 operation and being more collegiate.

Another says his critics have no answer to the question of which alternative leader could hold the Red Wall for the Tories.

'He is the only one who can hold together the electoral coalition,' the minister said.

'Rishi (Sunak), Liz (Truss)  they're on manoeuvres, but how do they win in Darlington?'

Much depends on what the PM does next. Most agree he needs to sharpen up his No 10 operation, stop making so many unforced errors and make greater efforts to show the parliamentary party a little more love.

If he turns inwards, and the polls start to dip in the New Year, then he may find his colleagues have finally run out of patience.
One of the upshots of the Downing Street party debacle is that it has left the Prime Minister somewhat short on friends.

Turns out even his Cabinet arent all that keen on going out to bat on his behalf. A stint in Brisbane against those terrifying Aussie quick bowlers without a box would probably be preferable. So Labours Urgent Question on the matter yesterday presented the Tory whips office with a problem. Who to send out and respond?

You can just imagine chief whip Mark Spencers discussion with his minions: Just send that clown Gavin Williamson. No, we sacked him. What about Saj Javid? Shampooing his hair, apparently. How they could have done with that trusty human flak jacket Matt Hancock.

And so it was that some bright spark hit upon the idea of dispatching Michael Ellis. Good man Ellis, they will have concurred. Sturdy. Dependable. QC Ellis answers to the modest title of Paymaster General, yet possesses the lofty pretensions of a powder-wigged courtier. For Ellis, the opportunity to throw his ample frame under a bus for the Prime Minister was not just some menial task. It was (cue French horns!) a signal honour. Michael Ellis! yelled Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle just after 10.30am.

One of the upshots of the Downing Street party debacle is that it has left the Prime Minister somewhat short on friends

Ellis informed the House that the Cabinet Secretary would be investigating alleged gatherings last November and December at both Downing Street and the Department for Education. Wonderful that description gathering. Far less gauche than party. One imagines the Ellis lip curling with satisfaction when he coined that one.

MPs sitting opposite Ellis erupted into hysterical bleating. Gathering? they chorused. Gathering? Gathering? The SNPs Martin Docherty-Hughes (W Dunbartonshire) said it was a party, plain and simple.

If something looks like a duck, walks like a duck, quacks like a duck and its at a Christmas party, its usually a duck! he chirped.

Fastidious little chap, Docherty-Hughes. In another life, he would have been an irritating planning officer who delights in informing people when their roof extension has been constructed at the wrong gradient. Worse, he appeared to be wearing white socks.

The consensus among opposition MPs was that the PM was a cad. Several called on him to resign. Ellis stiffened his spine and thumbed his lapels. I have known the Prime Minister many years, he intoned, voice as rich and creamy as thick butter soup. He is a man of honesty and integrity Yes, well. From the deserted government benches there came a brave suggestion from Sir Desmond Swayne (Con, New Forest W). He ventured that when these No 10 gatherings occurred, the PM could have been in his flat blissfully unaware they were taking place.

Ellis nodded approvingly. It is certainly true as a matter of geography that No 10 Downing Street is a very large property with a multitude of offices and with many, many people working inside it, he replied. A High Court might possibly consider such a defence to be the perfect illustration of clutching at straws.

So it was that some bright spark hit upon the idea of dispatching Michael Ellis. Good man Ellis, they will have concurred. Sturdy. Dependable

Labours benches heckled and wailed. Roisterer-in-chief was Andy McDonald (Middlesbrough) who behaved like he was at a Bernard Manning show. When someone mentioned that the PMs wife Carrie had given birth, they grumbled ungraciously. Not a soul murmured any approval. Classy. Insults for Boris continued thick and fast. That eternal rain cloud Carol Monaghan (SNP, Glasgow NW) suggested the PM go back to watching Peppa Pig and let the grown-ups run the country. Her attention-prone colleague Anum Qaisar (Airdrie) described the PM as sneaky, manipulative and corrupt.

Once again Ellis straightened himself and peered regally over his spectacles.

I know the Prime Minister, he replied. He is a friend of mine and I know him to be a man of honour and integrity Good man, Ellis. Sturdy. Dependable. That knighthood is in the bag, surely.
Liz Truss came out with some fine sentiments. Rather than be racked with shame about our history and doubt about our future, she said, it's time for the British to be proud once again of who we are and what we stand for. Warts and all, she added.

I agree with her. About the past and the future  and even the warts. The problem is the here and the now. The imperfect present. The day today.

The problem is what we have become, not what we were and could be again. We claim to be a caring people and the most civilised nation in the world but let's take a cold hard look at us today. Are we really?

Looking around, it is hard to see ourselves and our country as anything of which to be proud.

I am struggling to see past the second-raters, the posh entitled, the chisellers, snivellers and diddlers who seem to be in charge of running UK plc into the ground. Not just in Government, but in the Civil Service and elsewhere, too.

JAN MOIR: Liz Truss (pictured last month) came out with some fine sentiments. Rather than be racked with shame about our history and doubt about our future, she said, it's time for the British to be proud once again of who we are and what we stand for. Warts and all, she added

The only exceptionalism on display today is the uncomfortable fact that we are exceptionally lacking, on far too many fronts for comfort.

This week's scandal  whether those at No 10 had a party while the rest of the nation was obeying lockdown  is bad enough.

But this putative transgression shrivels to dust beside the can't-be-bovvered attitude of those politicians and civil servants who failed in their duty of care in getting people out of Afghanistan; in providing a safe passage to those who had risked their lives to help us.

WFH jobsworths who wouldn't pick up the phone or put in five minutes of overtime to help, thus ushering some of our allies and their families to almost certain death.

Let's not forget senior ministers who wouldn't interrupt their summer breaks to get back to their desks. Including Dominic Raab  paddle-boarding in Crete  and mandarin Sir Philip Barton, who has said he feels 'regret' for not returning sooner.

Regret? They should all burn with hot shame. In addition to the blood on their hands, what does this disgraceful episode make us look like on the world stage? Who will ever trust us again?

This image made available to AFP on August 20, 2021 by Human Rights Activist Omar Haidari, shows a US Marine grabbing an infant over a fence of barbed wire during an evacuation at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul on August 19, 2021

There have been terrible transgressions against our own people, too. The contaminated blood scandal, in which 3,000 people died after being given blood products containing HIV and hepatitis C in the 1970s and 1980s, is a case in point.

Nearly 40 years later an inquiry still rumbles on, with evidence hearings scheduled to continue into next year.

A final report is not likely until 2023, with compensation  if there is any to be had  after that. Thousands have also been left with life-changing conditions while relatives mourn without compensation or restitution for their loved ones.

Likewise the victims of the Post Office scandal, in which lives were ruined over a faulty computer system which saw many being found erroneously guilty of false accounting or theft and sent to jail.

Their suffering was made worse because those responsible for the malfunctions tried to cover up the errors to protect their own reputations. Where is the famous British sense of fair play in all this?

Why doesn't the Government just do the decent thing and look after these people, instead of dragging it all out and putting them through this bureaucratic torture?

These sub-postmasters have had to fight for every penny, which is not just unfair, it is an affront to public conscience.

JAN MOIR: Let's not forget senior ministers who wouldn't interrupt their summer breaks to get back to their desks. Including Dominic Raab (pictured earlier this year)  paddle-boarding in Crete  and mandarin Sir Philip Barton, who has said he feels 'regret' for not returning sooner

Seeping through Whitehall and elsewhere, there seems to be little sense of duty any more, while the notion of self-sacrifice or putting the needs of others first is notable by its absence. Is this what Prince Harry and all the other wokies mean when they talk about mental health and putting your own happiness first?

Listen kids, you don't even have to give up your job  just follow our leaders and don't do your job in the first place!

If you feel stressed by the demands made upon you by desperate Afghans, terminally ill patients or suicidal sub-postmasters, just chillax. Light a scented candle and have yourself some me time.

Toast another marshmallow, bubble up the hot chocolate, turn a deaf ear to the screams of desperation. You deserve it.

In the meantime, the Foreign Office is not fit for purpose and attitudes that stink abound elsewhere. For hundreds of years the Brits have prided themselves as being the most humane and civilised nation in the world, but that is not what it looks like right now, either from within or beyond our shores, despite what Liz Truss says. And that is a national tragedy.

In the US, a mask is not an ask

New restrictions? Why not? We don't know where Omicron is taking us, although it is certainly nowhere good.

I have just returned from a trip to America, where 'The Mask is Not An Ask' and the rules are enforced with a zeal that has been lacking here. In both New York and Los Angeles, proof of vaccination and photographic proof of identity were required to access every cinema, theatre, restaurant, diner and bar that I visited.

This led to a feeling of confidence and freedom, not constraint and control. I criss-crossed the country, flew on multiple aircraft where masking was rigorously enforced and came back four weeks later, to test negative. So thank you, America. If that is what it takes, fine by me.

Richard E. Grant, pictured, returning from a red-list country, has had to quarantine in a grotty 228-per-night Gatwick hotel, living on what looks like execrable prison food

On my return from the U.S., I needed a day-two PCR test. One chemist was charging 125 while another asked for 80  or 100 for a same-day result.

There are cheaper options (not much), while home-testing means you have to self-quarantine until you get the results.

Meanwhile, Richard E. Grant, right, returning from a red-list country, has had to quarantine in a grotty 228-per-night Gatwick hotel, living on what looks like execrable prison food.

What a racket it all is.

A lot of people are making a lot of money out of this pandemic. And making fools of us all, too.

It's time to vent the vol-au-vents

With sales up by 25 per cent, Waitrose claims the vol-au-vent is back with a bang, just in time for the festive season.

Nothing says Christmas more than a buffet table groaning with frozen pastry cases filled with curried turkey, but others beg to differ.

Jamie Oliver insists upon creamy mushroom vol-au-vents, The Hairy Bikers suggest smoked haddock and prawn, while Gordon Ramsay prefers a sweet version, with a mascarpone and Nutella cream filling. Bleurgh  what is wrong with him?

Of course, when it comes to retro nibbles, Nigella, scorns the v-a-v voom boom. She prefers to devil her eggs while Yotam Ottolenghi is putting yoghurt on his patties and Paul Hollywood is making his jumbo sausage roll.

I wish I were joking, but it's all true.

When it comes to retro nibbles, Nigella (pictured), scorns the v-a-v voom boom. She prefers to devil her eggs

Like hyenas galloping towards the fallen carcass, the SNP are making the most of the PM's troubles. Nicola Sturgeon complained about his 'inability to be straight and honest' while Ian Blackford  that weasel in a waistcoat  said that Boris had 'shattered the public trust'.

Honestly, it's enough to make a girl throw up into her sporran. Surely no one should take any lectures on integrity from a political party whose senior figures excused the behaviour of their former leader  because it was politically expedient for them to do so. Should I also mention the allegations of fraud following the disappearance of 600,000 from SNP coffers? Do you know, I think I will! Meanwhile, the money is still missing in action.

I'm afraid Allegra just had to go

Boris is still in power while Allegra Stratton has resigned in a flood of tears  is that fair? Yes, I am afraid it is.

After being filmed laughing at her own lame attempts to cover up a rule-breaking party at No 10, the ex-Downing Street press secretary (on a salary of 125,000) would have been unable to continue for a single day more in her job as an official spokesperson.

She seemed genuinely sorry in her apology and I thought more, not less of her, because of the manner of her leaving.

However, the stakes are high if you are part of a malfunctioning chumocracy instead of an efficient meritocracy and so she had to go. Thank u. . . Next.

Congratulations to Boris and Carrie on the birth of a baby girl.

No news yet as to names, but wouldn't it be marvellous if they called her Allegra? What a fitting tribute to the woman the PM honoured this week as a 'fine colleague' who had suffered 'a sad day' although by the time the cheese and wine came out at 9pm he was asking: 'What was Thingy's name again?'

Such an honour would surely help dry Allegra's tears and make sure he never forgets her sacrifice. Hang on. It's also his first wife's name! Perhaps not.

Why childless Jen is a Gem

After all her orchidaceous decades in the celebrity hothouse, Jennifer Aniston still blooms with good humour and common sense. All the more remarkable because being a successful, single, childless woman in Hollywood carries its own burden.

For 33 years and through two marriages, she has had to endure constant speculation about not being a mother. Jennifer Aniston chose her career over children, is one recurring accusation. '

You have no clue what's going with me personally, medically, why I cannot or can have kids. They don't know anything,' the actress told the Hollywood Reporter, calling the rampant speculation 'hurtful' and 'unjust'.

Rather sickening to realise that even in this day and age a woman's value is still assessed on whether or not she is married and has children. Dolly Parton, says Jen, is the only one who has escaped the curse.

She forgot about Miss Piggy. And Big Bird, too.

Rather sickening to realise that even in this day and age a woman's value is still assessed on whether or not she is married and has children. Dolly Parton (pictured), says Jennifer Aniston, is the only one who has escaped the curse.

If you have titters to spare, spend one on the plight of Sanna Marin, Finland's party-mad PM. The 36-year-old had to apologise after she went out clubbing till 4am and missed a text telling her she needed to quarantine.

Perhaps she should go on a date with Michael Gove? After watching footage of maskless Sanna dancing, some were not happy.

'It's a pleasure to be a taxpayer,' someone tweeted. We know that Feeling, Finns  it's Sickening. Or FFS as the emotion is commonly known.
From monks thought to have died from a lack of sex, to priests conjuring demons to lure women into bed, a new book offers fascinating glimpses into the history of sex in the Middle Ages.

Katherine Harvey's illuminating novel The Fires of Lust: Sex in the Middle Ages offers a peak into the bedrooms of ordinary mediaeval men and women living in western Europe.

Harvey is a London-based historian and author specialising in the medieval period and Honorary Research Fellow specialising in history, classics and archaeology at Birkbeck, University of London.

The book explains how the majority of ideas and attitudes towards sex and relationships were rooted in two dominant belief systems: Roman Catholic Christianity and Galenic medicine.

From women trying to reduce their breasts to look more virginal to drinking wine mixed with powdered hare testicles in a bid to conceive a son, the book reveals many astonishing practices.

As well as some surprises, like an emphasis on female pleasure when it came to reproduction, there are shocking anecdotes of brutal punishments for behaviour deemed immoral during the period.

Here, FEMAIL reveals some of the most fascinating revelations from the book.

Why you DIDNT have to have sex to lose you're virginity

Religious beliefs played a huge part in shaping medieval attitudes and understanding towards sex, with Roman catholic dogma stating that humans were never meant to feel lust. Pictured, an artwork showing a medieval bishop consecrating a virgin

Religious beliefs played a huge part in shaping medieval attitudes and understanding towards sex, with Roman catholic dogma stating that humans were never meant to feel lust.

God-fearing medieval people believed that humans were not supposed to derive pleasure from sex, women were not meant to menstruate and men not supposed to ejaculate - however did so thanks to the sins of Adam and Eve.

With this biblical story as a guiding principle when it came to sex, it's no surprise that it was believed the only certain way to achieve salvation was to remain pure and chaste until the day you died.

While being married was better than having sex out of wedlock, medieval people did not assume this was an automatic ticket into heaven - with many women staying chaste until death despite being married.

In fact, being a true virgin didn't just mean abstaining from sex and masturbation, but having no thoughts of a sexual nature at all.

For example one young monk claimed to be taunted by a demon who would rub against his genitals while he prayed until he ejaculated.

Despite never having had sex with another person, he was deemed by Bishop Hildegard of Le Mans (10961125) to no longer be a virgin after participating in the 'shameful act of fornication'.

Meanwhile, Norfolk mystic Margery Kempe (c. 1373 c. 1438) who despite being a married mother of fourteen claimed that after her lifelong dedication to religion Christ had reassured her she was 'a maiden in [her] soul'.

The Trotula was the most influential book of women's medicine in medieval Europe and included several remedies for re-gaining your virginity - including potions made of egg white, flowers and various herbs.

Alternatively, a woman who wanted to fake her virginity could place leeches in her vagina so 'blood comes out and is covered into a little clot. And thus the man will be deceived by the effusion of blood.'

Italian surgeon William of Saliceto suggested women should wash her genitals in a hot bath and rub on special ointments before placing a dove's intestine filled with blood in the vulva.

Virginity was held in high regard in the Middle Ages, and some believed it was possible assess how pure a woman was simply by the way she looked - with large, loose breasts thought to indicate sexual experience.

There were many medieval methods to prevent breasts from growing too large or to reduce their size, with numerous recipes based on ingredients with 'cooling and tightening properties'.

While some recommended binding, others opted for dosing them with blood from the testicles of a castrated piglet, hemlock, or vinegar.

Doctors who warned you could die from too much sex

Medieval medicine was based on the humoral system, a set of beliefs that says a person's health depends on the equilibrium of four humours - blood, phlegm, black bile and yellow bile. Pictured, a woodcut of a doctor taking a sample of a pregnant woman's urine (c.1480-1526)

Medieval medicine was based on the humoral system, a set of beliefs that says a person's health depends on the equilibrium of four humours - blood, phlegm, black bile and yellow bile.

How to get out of sex in the Middle Ages: Reasons spouses were allowed to turn their partner down In the Middle Ages spouses were taught to pay the 'marital debt' meaning they were obliged to have sex with each other on demand. However twelve factors were considered to be valid reasons a spouse might refuse the marital debt: When the demander's rights are suspended owing to fornication During the two months immediately after marriage When rendering is seriously detrimental to health When the demander is mad When the husband cannot render without weakening his body During menstruation When a foetus would be endangered In a holy place On grounds of consanguinity (that is, the marriage is incestuous) If the husband wants to commit sodomy If the spouses are spiritually related (and therefore they should not have married) If a pregnant wife is very close to her due date and believes rendering would endanger the child Advertisement

Another key belief system was that the balance of heat within the body was another key factor in determining how healthy a person was, with men generally hot and dry and women cold and wet.

It was believed that women were essentially defective men, who had the same genitalia which grew inside of the body and menstruated because they lacked body heat to 'dry up the bad and superfluous humours in them'.

Erections were believed to be the result of a 'windy spirit' meaning those suffering with impotence were advised to eat foods which caused wind and bloating like chickpeas, while semen was said to be derived from excess food.

Too much sex was said to be very dangerous because it could cause the body to dry out, leading to hair loss, heart and lung problems, and kidney failure.

German Dominican friar Albertus Magnus recounted the story of one unfortunate monk who died because he lusted over a woman so much his 'brain had shrunk to the size of a pomegranate, and his eyes had been destroyed'.

Meanwhile, physician and a religious reformer Arnau de Vilanova was tasked with curing a man who was ill as the result of too much sex - suggesting he 'sit naked in a clean tub in which 30 or 40 eggs have been broken, and draw all these eggs in through the anus.'

However too little sex was also dangerous, particularly for women, who needed to absorb heat and 'temper their frigid natures' through sex - according to The Secrets of Women, a medieval guide to female sexuality.

But a more serious consequence of not having sex as a woman was 'suffocation of the womb' which teenagers and widows were said to be very susceptible to.

Symptoms included fainting, stomach upsets and loss of appetite and while remedies including 'cupping of the inguinal and pubic area' and pessaries made from powdered fox penis however the best treatment was, of course, marriage.

In the most serious cases of women abstaining from sex, doctors would occasionally attempt to bring the woman to orgasm so she could release the 'excess seed' causing her illness.

But women should also be wary of too much sex, with prostitutes said to struggle to conceive because regular intercourse made their wombs too smooth to preserve semen.

Brutal punishments for immoral behaviour

Grave sins like incest, adultery or sex with a nun were passed on to the local bishop and required serious penance including fasting, genuflexions, beatings, sexual abstinence or even execution. Pictured, a woodcut of two men being executed from 1552

Everyone in the Middle Ages was forced to conform to restrictive rules about sex, and when those rules were broken the church were ready and waiting to doll out a punishment.

In minor case, once the priest had obtained a confession from the guilty party, he would offer a court-imposed penance often requiring the offender to walk before the congregation in shame.

The offender would have to carry a candle and stand or kneel in church for part of the service in a state of semi-undress and occasionally were whipped before financial punishments became the norm.

Grave sins like incest, adultery or sex with a nun were passed on to the local bishop and required serious penance including fasting, genuflexions, beatings, or sexual abstinence.

Public beatings were a particularly common punishment while adulterers would often have to run through the street tied together by the genitals while being flogged.

Under some legal systems adultery was a capital crime while in other areas common punishments included castration for men and nose slitting for women.

One 13th-century lay brother from Orte in Italy, was found guilty of bestiality and buried alive alongside the animals he had abused.

Female servants and enslaved women who were caught having sex with anyone but their master could be branded, whipped and banished.

Love magic to charm your beloved into sex

In the Middle Ages it was believed that you could charm your beloved into having sex with you by secretly feeding them a love potion made of common herbs or body parts and secretions. Pictured, A 15th century depiction of a love spell from Flemish artist from Bas-Rhin

In the Middle Ages it was believed that you could charm your beloved into having sex with you by secretly feeding them a love potion made of common herbs or body parts and secretions.

Theologian William of Montibus (d. 1213) claimed women were required to offer penance if they had 'given either a fish which has died in her vagina, or bread which was made on her buttocks with blood, or menstrual blood to her husband to eat or drink so that his love will be more inflamed'.

Another example is a Venetian nobleman called Domenico Contarini who in the early 1480s became infatuated with a poor Greek woman called Gratiosa.

However it was claimed that she won his love through a potion made from rooster's heart, wine, water and menstrual blood which was mixed with blood and cooked into a powder which she fed to the nobleman.

How medieval women proved their virginity, from small breasts to clear urine A bleeding hymen, with brides who could be easily penetrated viewed with suspicion. Large and loose breasts were a sign of sexual experience. According to the author, at least medieval bishop allegedly ordered nuns' breasts to be examined routinely to see whether they remained chaste. Touching the tip of the nose. A virgin was said to have dense and whole cartilage, but after sex it would feel broken into parts. Swollen veins in a woman's left arm indicated she was no longer pure. Virgin women were said to have thin, clear urine while a non-virgin would produce cloudy urine, with semen in it. If a woman was fumigated with coal and does not perceive the smell, then she was thought to be a virgin. If she is fumigated with dock flowers, a virgin would become pale while an impure woman would maintain the same complexion. According to the thirteenth-century astrologer Guido Bonatti, it was possible to tell if a woman was a virgin through the moon and planets Advertisement

The pair engaged in 'frequent and diligent copulation' while Gratiosa would continue to cast spells on her lover using 'dust or materials' collected from their respective navels mixed with wine.

A court found that the nobleman was a victim of black magic and his punishment for premarital sex was forgotten, while Gratiosa was branded on the face and banished from the city under the threat of her nose being chopped off.

Another way of charming your target included kissing them with a religious object, such as a communion wafer, in your mouth.

And while notions of magic throughout history are usually associated with women alone, it was widely regarded in the Middle Ages that both males and females would use love magic.

Men were seen as more likely to use love spells to charm someone into sex, while women were more likely to try and reinvigorate existing relationships.

Men, particularly priests, were said to be guilty of the most sophisticated form of magic - conjuring demons to try and lure a woman of their choice into bed.

One Belgian priest in the 1400s was accused of trying to seduce a girl by drawing her image on a tile in charcoal and baptising it with holy water. Next he made a wax image of the girl, which he also baptised, before reciting conjurations from a book which were supposed to invoke demons.

Women could only divorce if their husband was impotent

Divorce was massively frowned upon in the Middle Ages and the only time women should be granted a divorce, in the eyes of the church, is if her husband was impotent.

However the accusation was not taken lightly, and if a woman requested a divorce on the grounds of impotence, rigorous tests would be carried out to make sure this was true - often enlisting prostitutes to test out the theory.

In Krakow in 1453, married couple Marsko and Margaret Stanislaw who requested a divorce on the grounds that they had been living together for three years without having consummated the marriage.

However a court-ordered examination found that Marsko had 'a lively and functioning member', meaning no divorce was granted.

Medieval medical texts also offered food-based remedies for impotence including cow's milk mixed with cinnamon said to promote semen production.

Ointments including burnt deer's tail mixed with ashes of old wine, or mustard seed ground with oil was also an option.

Alternatively, impotence as said to be cured by creating a wax image of the couple in intimate positions and giving them to the afflicted man to carry around at all times.

As well as impotence, several medicines claimed to make the penis bigger including chopped earthworms or leeches mixed with jujube oil.

From powdered hare testicles to NEVER having sex during a storm - bizarre theories about reproduction

Medieval doctors believed that there was a connection between sexual pleasure and reproduction. Pictured, a work depicting medieval childbirth from the 13th century

Medieval doctors believed that there was a connection between sexual pleasure and reproduction, believing that both men and women had to have an orgasm simultaneously for conception to occur.

With this in mind, foreplay was encouraged by medieval doctors - with some even suggesting men apply chewed peppers to his penis to cause his wife 'incredible delectation'.

Men were encouraged to ejaculate as closely as they could do their partner's orgasm - however medieval understanding of female sexual pleasure was minimal to say the least, with claims men didn't discover the clitoris until the Renaissance.

Women who were looking to conceive a boy should do so by drink wine mixed with powdered hare testicles, while men should drink the same concoction made from powdered womb and vagina of the animal, according to The Trotula.

And it wasn't just the timing of sex, but the position in which couple's had it, which was said to significantly influence their pregnancy.

One medical text claimed that men should remain on top of their partner for at least an hour to make sure 'the seminal matter does not scatter and form a monster' while sex in an unconventional position could cause physical disabilities.

If a couple had sex during a storm it was said to kill or weaken the seed and cause 'alien characteristics - with tales of a women who gave birth to a toad after romping under bad weather conditions.

Fires of Lust: Sex in the Middle Ages by Katherine Harvey, Reaktion, is available for 20
Described by film critics as a 'sexy, satirical and spiritual' and a 'lesbian nun thriller', Benedetta certainly has people talking.

The film, directed by provocative film maker Paul Verhoeven, tells the story of Sister Benedetta Carlini (played by little-known Belgian actress Virginie Efira), a 17th century Italian nun who has a forbidden lesbian affair with a novice named Bartolomea (Daphne Patakia), while claiming to have erotic visions of Jesus.

It made headlines around the world when it premiered at the Cannes Film Festival and was met with religious protests when it played at the New York Film Festival.

Benedetta, which opens in the US this week and is slated for an April 2022 release in the UK, contains scenes of sex, self-flagellation and 'nun-on-nun kissing', as one commentator put it.

In one particularly provocative scene, Benedetta uses a wooden Virgin Mary figurine as a sex toy.

Yet what is perhaps most extraordinary of all is that Benedetta actually existed, and these events - or at least a version of them - actually took place.

Benedetta, directed by provocative film maker Paul Verhoeven, tells the story of Sister Benedetta Carlini (Virginie Efira, pictured), a 17th century Italian nun who has a lesbian affair with a novice, Bartolomea (Daphne Patakia), while claiming to have erotic visions of Jesus

The film, which premieres in the US this week and is slated for a UK release in 2022, contains scenes of sex, self-flagellation and 'nun-on-nun kissing', pictured, as one commentator put it

What is perhaps most extraordinary is that Benedetta actually existed, and these events - or at least a version of them - actually took place. Above, painting of a 17th century nun

Verhoeven based his film on Immodest Acts: The Life Of A Lesbian Nun In Renaissance Italy, published by American historian and professor Professor Judith C. Brown in 1986.

The story of Benedetta had attained mythical status in Italy and was passed down through generations but Prof Brown gave the story academic credibility by unearthing new documents in the state archives in Florence, which confirmed the authenticity of the story.

Born in 1591, Benedetta Carlini grew up in a respectable middle-class Italian family who educated her - a rarity for the time - and paid particular attention to her religious upbringing.

By the age of five, she knew the litany of the saints and other prayers by heart. At the age of six, Benedetta learned to read and even knew a little from Latin.

One day, when Benedetta was still a young girl, a black dog tried to drag her away but was frightened off by her screams. But when her mother appeared, the dog had vanished. The family decided that it had in fact been the devil disguised as an animal.

She also claimed to be able to communicate with a nightingale, a symbol of carnal love.

Benedetta entered The Convent of the Mother of God in Pescia, Tuscany, at the age of nine.

At the time in Renaissance Italy, middle-class families often 'bought' their daughters a place at a convent because it was a quarter of the cost of a marriage dowry and conferred respectability.

From the moment Benedetta and Bartolomea meet in the convent, the sexual attraction is clear. In one provocative scene, they use a wooden Virgin Mary figurine as a sex toy

Shortly after arriving at the convent, Benedetta was almost crushed by a statue of the Madonna while praying. She thought this was a miracle and showed that the statue wanted to kiss her. The young novice took this as a sign of the power of God.

However her early years in the convent were otherwise unremarkable. It was only at the age of 23 that she first reported the supernatural visions.

She reported 'visions' which came to her, including one in which Jesus asked to take her as his wife.

Other visions were more graphic and sexual. She would 'speak' in the voices of angels and underwent a mock marriage ceremony at the convent where only she could 'see' Jesus, her new husband.

Some of her visions occurred in front of witnesses who noted she had gone into a trance-like state in which she appeared to be in an altered state of consciousness. However others were less convinced by Benedetta and feared she could be a fraud.

She became a sensation with people flocking to see her and once showed stigmata on her hands bleeding wounds similar to the ones the Bible says Christ suffered during the Crucifixion. At the age of 30, she was made abbess of the convent.

The other nuns were so concerned by her increasingly disturbing claims that they reported her actions to the papal council in Rome and were ordered to confine Sister Benedetta to her room.

The film shows Benedetta experiencing erotic visions of a naked Jesus, who instructs her to remove her clothes. This apparent closeness to God elevates her above her fellow nuns and leads to the ousting of the convent's Abbess (Charlotte Rampling), pictured

A young novice nun, Sister Bartolomea Crivelli, was assigned to watch over her. However, the pair embarked on a lesbian affair, with Benedetta claiming she was possessed by a male demon and so it was not a sin.

Benedetta was subject to two inquiries. The first found she was truly blessed, but the second discovered many inconsistencies in her stories, and was backed by testimony from other nuns.

Nuns told how they saw Benedetta inflicting the apparent stigmata on herself, and testified that they had seen her eating meat and cheese, despite these foods apparently being banned by Christ in her visions.

Another nun had seen her put her blood on a statue of Christ, which Benedetta then claimed began to bleed in honour of her sanctity.

The most startling testimony came from Bartolomea, who detailed their sexual relationship.

As the investigators noted: 'This sister Benedetta, then, for two continuous years, at least three times a week, in the evening after disrobing and going to bed would wait for her companion to disrobe, and pretending to need her, would call.

'When Bartolomea would come over, Benedetta would grab her by the arm and throw her by force on the bed. Embracing her, she would put her under herself and kissing her as if she was a man, she would speak words of love to her.

'And she would stir on top of her so much that both of them corrupted themselves. And thus by force she held her sometimes one, sometimes two, and sometimes thee hours.

While some believe Benedetta's visions, others, including Rampling's character and the nuncio (Lambert Wilson), pictured, question her motives. Their suspicions lead to a trial that concludes with Benedetta losing her position

'And Benedetta would tell her that neither she nor Benedetta were sinning because it was the Angel Splenditello and not she that did these things. And she spoke always with the voice which Splenditello always spoke through Benedetta.'

In Verhoeven's movie, the title role is played by Belgian actress and former television presenter Virginie Efira.

Her lover is portrayed by Daphne Patakia, another unknown Belgian starlet. Both women are set to become stars thanks to their erotic on-screen lovemaking.

The film paints a more ambiguous portrait of Benedetta and what transpired in the convent.

The film shows an 18-year-old Benedetta experiencing erotic visions of a naked Jesus, who instructs her to remove her clothes.

This apparent closeness to God, as well as her stigmata, elevates her above her fellow nuns and leads to the ousting of the convent's Abbess (Charlotte Rampling).

From the moment Benedetta and Bartolomea meet in the convent, the sexual attraction is clear. Unlike in real life, it is Bartolomea who seeks out the relationship.

'She is, of course, very happy when Benedetta gains more and more power, even if she doesnt really believe her [visions],' Patakia told the New York Times.

'But she doesnt care, because what she wants she can get through Benedettas power, because they can have a room of their own and they can explore and experience whatever they want.

In the trailer, as the lead character enters, in habit and wimple, the nun 'slips', causing Benedetta to reach out, almost touching the novice's naked breast before recoiling

'They both want the power to do whatever they want, and I think thats also what they share in common, but maybe its more clear for Bartolomea.'

While some believe Benedetta's visions, others, including Rampling's character and the nuncio (Lambert Wilson), question her motives. Their suspicions lead to a trial that concludes with Benedetta losing her position.

A similar fate befell the real Benedetta.

Papal authorities determined her revelations were the work of the Devil, not God; 'a diabolical obsession'. They stripped her of her rank and she was in the convent's 'prison' for the remaining 35 years of her life until she died in 1661.
A model has revealed how she was left with 'the worst period of her life' after her pharmacist advised she take two morning after pills because she was 'too big.'

Lucy Bennett, from London, who said she weighs around 14st, was told by the clinician not to take just one pill, and instead to double her dose because of her size.

Posting on Instagram, she revealed: 'What transpired was a kick in the gut to my mental health, thrush, vaginosis and the WORST period of my entire life. I had pains I thought you only experienced in child birth.'

Lucy went on to attend a sexual health clinic where a nurse told her that she had been prescribed the double dose incorrectly, explaining: 'She told me there was no evidence to support what the pharmacist had said and that his knowledge was beyond out of date.'

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Lucy Bennett, from London, revealed how she was left with 'the worst period of her life' after her pharmacist advised she take two morning after pills because she was 'too big' (pictured)

Lucy, was told by the clinician not to take just one pill, and instead to double her dose because of her size (pictured)

Posting on Instagram, the model revealed how she felt 'apprehensive' after the pharmacist told her to double up the dose of the morning after pill

Posting online last week, the model, who is signed to Wilhelmina Models London and has posed for the likes of Dorothy Perkins and Body Shop, wrote: 'Soooo, I got laid (yay for me) and had the unpleasant experience of needing the morning after pill. Hey we all f*** up dont we?!'

Lucy, who told Refinery29 she had previously had an abortion and used a fertility tracking app as a method of contraception, went to the doctors after there was a condom mishap'.

She said she was taken into a side room by a male pharmacist where she was asked a variety of questions, including her weight, which she said was around 14st.

He told her that women who weigh more than 70kg should take a double dose of the morning after pill.

She said: 'When I got to the pharmacy I was told by the pharmacist that I was "too big" for one pill and that I would need to take two there and then.

Can a woman's weight impact the efficacy of emergency contraception? The link between weight and the morning after pill's effectiveness has been raised in previous studies but has proved controversial. Despite the reported link, previous guidance in the UK has not been clear on the subject until now. The issue first came to light in 2012, when an Edinburgh University study found that obese women were more than three times as likely as those of normal weight to become pregnant after taking the morning after pill. The link was particularly strong for levonorgestrel-based pills. Then in 2013, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) forced the makers of Levonelle (Norlevo in the US) to add a warning to its packaging that the product might be less effective for overweight women. But after a review, the agency had a u-turn in 2014 and said it is suitable for heavier women. In July 2016, a small study - with just 10 participants - found the amount of the hormone present in the 'overweight' women was 50 per cent less than in their lighter counterparts, meaning there was an increased risk of pregnancy. Meanwhile in 2017, guidelines warned the morning-after pill could fail when taken by those who weigh 11 stone or more. Advertisement

'I was pretty apprehensive about this, especially as someone no longer on contraceptives due to the impact they all had on my mental and physical health over the years, but under the guidance of not wanting to end up pregnant, I took them both.'

A week later, Lucy phoned her GP because her labia was 'red raw and bleeding' and she was struggling with an 'incredibly heavy and painful period'.

After being left in agonising pain, Lucy decided to go to a check up at the sexual health clinic.

She explained: 'I was seen by a female nurse who almost instantly told me Id been prescribed incorrectly.

'She said I was only to have one morning after pill if this ever happened again and no wonder I was feeling so shocking.'

Lucy continued: 'For me, this is only the most recent tip of the iceberg when it comes to struggling with diagnosing and treating female health issues correctly and Ive definitely found myself feeling bitter about how for women it seems sex is never "no strings attached".

'Besides that I just wanted anyone with my body type to know about my experience and not to feel pressured by the white coats calling you fat.'

In a follow up video posted to TikTok, she commented: 'When our bodies are reacting in a certain way, why is no one reacting to this?

'Just because it's an accepted guideline, why are we not questioning why we have to suffer like this?'

Guidelines released in 2017 warned the morning-after pill could fail when taken by those who weigh 11 stone or more.

Those who have a body mass index (BMI) that is over 26 are also at risk according to new guidance from sexual health experts.

Levonelle and ellaOne are the two most popular morning-after pills available and both are thought to be less effective for heavier women.

It is understood the drug may be diluted in bigger women or broken down more quickly by their bodies.

The new advice from the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare (FSRH) urges pharmacists and doctors to inform women of the risk of failure.

They have been told to recommend two morning-after pills be taken - double the dosage - or to urge the use of the emergency coil instead.

FSRH is a faculty of the Royal College of the Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.

The model revealed how she was later seen by a female nurse who told her she had been prescribed the morning after pill incorrectly

At the time, Dr Jane Dickson, vice president of FSRH, said: 'The morning-after pill works by delaying interfering with the release of eggs and disrupting fertilisation through delivering a higher dose of the hormone progestin that is found in regular birth control pills.

'We believe there is evidence to suggest that in heavier women, the drug may be less effective because the drug is diluted in their blood stream.

'The 11 stone figure is based on research. It is something of an arbitrary figure and it may be 15 stone is the danger point for some women. But for safety 11 stone or a BMI over 26 is the level we can say weight may create a risk.'

Dr Dickson explained that larger women worried about pregnancy after contraception failure or unprotected sex could take two morning after tablets.

Lucy said she was determined to share her story because she wants 'anyone with her body type' to 'not feel pressured by the white coats'

BMI has become a benchmark in measuring whether you're a healthy weight for your height.

FSRH is recommending health professionals advise women that an intrauterine device (IUD, or the coil) is the best emergency contraception.

Dr Dickson said: 'The coil's effectiveness is not affected by a woman's weight as it works differently to prevent fertilisation - it's toxic to sperm and eggs and works locally.

'And weight issues aside, it is more effective than the morning after pill.'
Orlando Bloom has horrified fans after he admitted that he and Katy Perry have snot-sucking competitions with their baby daughter Daisy.

Many of the 44-year-old's followers were left totally repulsed after he shared some intimate details about the joys of being a father online.

The actor, who welcomed his first child with Katy in August 2020, commented on a recent Instagram post from the parenting company Frida Baby about its product, the NoseFrida Snotsucker.

The parenting tool is designed to pull mucus right out of a baby's nose - and Orlando couldn't stop gushing over it.

After placing a syringe that is connected to a long tube in the baby's nostril, parents put the other end in their mouth and literally suck the boogers right out. There is a sponge in the syringe that stops the boogers from going up the tube and into your mouth - however the process has still left many people on Instagram appalled.

According to Orlando, he and his girlfriend are huge fans of the item, and they even use it to compete to see who can get the biggest booger out of their one-year-old daughter's nose - and his revelation made some of his supporters 'want to gag.'

Orlando Bloom has horrified fans after he admitted that he and Katy Perry have snot-sucking competitions with their baby daughter Daisy

Many of the 44-year-old's followers were left totally repulsed after he shared some intimate details about the joys of being a father online. He is pictured with his daughter in August

The actor, who welcomed his first child with Katy in August 2020, commented on a video post (pictured) by parenting company Frida Baby about its product the NoseFrida Snotsucker

The NoseFrida Snotsucker is a product designed to pull mucus right out of a baby's nose - and Orlando couldn't stop gushing over it. Pictured is a screenshot from the post

After placing a syringe that is connected to a long tube in the baby's nostril, parents put the other end in their mouth and suck the boogers out

According to Orlando, he and his girlfriend are huge fans of the item, and they even use it to compete to see who can get the biggest booger out of their one-year-old daughter's nose

'Ive sucked out so much snot with this thing,' he wrote. 'Katy and I take turns to see who can get out the biggest booger.

'So far shes winning or maybe that means shes losing? Lol parenthood is weird but at least our daughter can breathe at night.'

'Raise your hand if you swore you'd never suck snot as a parent,' the brand captioned the video.

According to Frida Baby, the 'natural' and 'hygienic' item was created by doctors.

'The Frida NoseFrida is your go-to natural, hygienic baby booger buster,' their website reads.

'It's totally safe (for parents AND baby), so you can say "sayonara" to snotty noses.

'NoseFrida creates a seal with the outside of the baby's nostril for gentle snot-suckin'.

'Disposable filters are clinically proven to prevent the transfer of mucus or bacterial germs to the snot sucker when clearing stuffy noses.'

Popular Instagram account CommentsByCelebs shared a screenshot of Orlando's message, and many people took to the comment section to share their thoughts.

Although some fellow-parents totally understood where he was coming from, others were pretty disgusted by his comment.

'That made me want to gag,' one person wrote. Another joked, 'This is birth control.'

Someone else shared a terrifying incident that happened to them while using the product.

He and Katy welcomed their daughter, Daisy, in August 2020 and she has since called the Lord of the Rings star an 'amazing and incredible' dad

Although some fellow-parents totally understood where he was coming from, others were pretty disgusted by his comment, with one writing that it made them 'want to gag'

'Its all fun and a wonderful invention until the little blue sponge isnt in all the way and you get a mouth full of your little kids snot. #Truestory,' they said.

'I tried this and I couldnt do it. My stomach couldnt handle it,' another person commented.

'This thing seriously freaks me out, but if its good enough for Katy and Orlando then its good enough for me,' a fifth comment read.

'Used to be so grossed out. Now I love to see a huge booger come out. So satisfying!' another parent wrote.

'Literally the best baby invention,' someone else agreed.

Orlando and Katy welcomed Daisy on August 26, 2021, and after she was born, Katy called becoming a mom the 'best decision she ever made in her life.'

She told Jimmy Kimmel during an appearance on his show in February 2021 that Orlando was by her side the entire time she gave birth, and that he was 'such a great support.'

'We had, like, a little boombox. He was there, and he was so wonderful and just holding my hand and looking into my eyes,' she gushed.

Orlando is also a dad to a 10-year-son that he shares with his ex-wife Miranda Kerr, and Katy explained that him already having that experience has definitely helped.

'As much as I was a little bit like, "I don't need to hear all those stories," they actually helped,' she explained. 'Like, "Oh, you've had a run at this. You know how to do this."

'He's been amazing, incredible, and we're so in love and we're so grateful.'
A handy mum has shared a clever hack to create a gorgeous Christmas gift bow using leftover wrapping paper.

Melbourne blogger Chantel Mila, who goes by Mama Mila online, demonstrated how to make the bow in a video posted to TikTok.

She starts by getting a long strip of scrap wrapping paper, folding it in half lengthways and cutting it into a fish-like or untied bowtie shape.

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Melbourne blogger Chantel Mila (pictured right), who goes by MamaMila online, shared her technique of creating a stunning bow for your Christmas gifts in a viral video posted to TikTok

After cutting a triangle out of the 'tail', Chantel snips two small slits at the narrowest points on either side, one at the top and one at the bottom.

She then slides the slits into one another and pushes down the opposite side to the centre to create a bow shape.

Chantel then secures the bow by using another small strip of wrapping paper in the centre and sticks it to her gift.

She starts by getting a long strip of scrap wrapping paper, folding it in half lengthways and cutting it into a fish-like or untied bowtie shape then after cutting a triangle out of the 'tail', Chantel snips two small slits at the narrowest points on either side

She then slots the slits into one another and pushes down the opposite side to the centre to create a bow shape and secures by using another small strip of wrapping paper in the middle

In another video, the mum-of-two, who has a TikTok following of more than half a million people for her handy hacks, shared how to wrap a Christmas gift when you don't have enough paper.

Rather than wrapping the Apple MacBook Pro laptop horizontal or vertically, she tilted it and wrapped it diagonally.

The corners of the paper met in the centre of the present and Chantel was able to wrap the gift perfectly.

Rather than wrapping the Apple MacBook Pro laptop horizontal or vertically (left), she tilted it and wrapped it diagonally (right)

'Hack: save paper when gift wrapping,' she captioned the video, which has already been viewed more than 35,000 times in 13 hours.

The unique wrapping style will not only save you money buying more paper, but the end result looks elegant and professional.

On TikTok user said the video was 'so satisfying' to watch, while another dubbed the idea as 'very clever'.

The corners of the paper met in the centre and Chantel was able to wrap the gift perfectly

Since no gift is complete without a bow, Chantel also revealed how to tie a Tiffany-style bows for festive gifts.

The key to the perfect ribbon is to cut it five times the length of the gift and wrap it on top of itself twice before tying the bow.
Its the last tolerated prejudice. But Femails had enough. Its time we called out those day-to-day moments when were patronised for no longer being young...

Im a big fan of George Clooney. He seems so much more real than other Hollywood stars, with his salt-and-pepper hair and proper wrinkles. True, he may have had his teeth done, but he is obviously not desperate to kid the world that he looks the same as he did in those early days of medical drama ER.

It gives him an elegance and authority that is missing in so many other male stars of his age. So it was very disappointing to read his views the other day on getting older.

George Clooney (pictured) revealed his thoughts on ageing saying, 'turning 60 is a bummer. But it's that or dead'

Turning 60 is a bummer, he said. But its that or dead. George! Could you not? Im not asking you to ditch the Nespresso for incontinence pants adverts, nor to lose your lovely wry sense of humour, but words like that from folks like you are exactly what keep the flag of ageism aloft and fluttering.

Next thing we know youll be getting your eyes done and having a tummy tuck.

We desperately need box-office stars such as yourself to big up, rather than put down, the experience of getting older.

You advocate for pretty much everything else. So why not advocate for us?
A granddaughter has captured her Italian Nonna's disgusted reaction to trying tinned spaghetti for the first time.

Sydney TikToker Maddie convinced her Nonna to try the Coles brand pasta after explaining she was going to eat it on toast with cheese for dinner.

In a 20-second TikTok video, the Nonna seemed confused as to why Maddie was going to eat the pre-cooked pasta, which she deemed was only good to feed pets.

'I thought you were giving it to the cat, this is very good for the cat,' the Nonna said in the now-viral clip.

A second video followed showing the Nonna trying a tiny spaghetti string before rushing off in disgust saying 'mamma mia'.

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Sydney TikToker Maddie convinced her Nonna to try the Coles brand pasta after explaining she was going to eat it on toast with cheese for dinner

The first video has since exceeded more than 1.1million views, while the sequel has been watched half a million times.

'Why do you want me to try this strange food?' the Nonna asked and said it looked 'fake'.

She instantly rushed off in disgust while Maddie can be heard laughing behind the camera in the video.

The Nonna said the pasta didn't taste 'al dente' (cooked to perfection) at all and instead was awfully 'mushy'.

A second video followed showing the Nonna trying a tiny spaghetti string before rushing off in disgust saying 'mamma mia'

Others agreed they too would 'never' try spaghetti in a tin because it's 'so gross'.

'At least she had the guts to try it!' one person wrote in the comments of the video.

'I'm with Nonna, I've never tried this and never will. As a kid I wanted to try it but my parents didn't let me,' another added.

'She just committed Italian infidelity,' a third wrote.

Earlier this year Maddie's Nonna settled the ongoing debate about whether pineapple belongs on pizza

Earlier this year Maddie's Nonna settled the ongoing debate about whether pineapple belongs on pizza.

In another video she asked if the pineapple slices should be put on pizza or not, but her Nonna quickly slammed the idea saying only tomato, mozzarella cheese, pepper 'and nothing else' should be used.

'I made pizza and I put pineapple on top,' Maddie said in the video, but her Nonna was disgusted by the idea and called it 'stupid'.

She was open to the idea of adding mushrooms, but not meat or fish.

'Don't put meat, fish, this and that... not on top of the pizza, come on!' she said.
Forget the usual dog collar and cassock  there is an unlikely new must-have in the Church of Englands wardrobe.

For a 19.50 M&S jumper has been adopted as the unofficial Christmas uniform among female clergy.

The black jumper adorned with a bold rainbow Believe slogan has become a hit with women priests  with many sharing photos of it under the hashtag TeamBelieve.

Among its fans is former Gogglebox star and Nottinghamshire priest, Reverend Kate Bottley.

Former Gogglebox star and Nottinghamshire priest, Reverend Kate Bottley (pictured) shared a picture of the popular knit with the hashtag #TeamBelieve

The 19.50 M&S jumper (above) has been adopted as the unofficial Christmas uniform among female clergy

Noting the jumpers popularity, the 46-year-old wrote on Twitter: Never one to shy away from a bandwagon, like most of the clerics I know Ive bought this jumper.

Ruth Bushyager, the bishop of Horsham in West Sussex, also praised the festive design.

Posting a photo of seven female priests in the Chichester diocese wearing it, she wrote: Vote of thanks to Marks & Spencer for the new clergy uniform.

More than 200 people have posted pictures of their jumper under the hashtag. Reverend Claire Jones, who is putting them all together in a photo montage, told The Guardian that it had really struck a chord.

The curate from Bodmin in Cornwall added: Im sure its not what [Marks and Spencer] intended but it taps into what Christmas is really all about.

Noting the popularity of the TeamBelieve hashtag, a spokesman for the retailer said its designers and customers have embraced optimistic and feel-good messages.
A mother-of-two whose crippling addiction to alcohol nearly killed her has revealed how 'mummy wine culture' and acceptance of parents needing a drink just to get through a long day will 'defraud you of life'.

Justine Whitchurch, from the Gold Coast, quit alcohol seven years ago when she saw what it was doing to both her own life and that of her children.

At her worst, in the last six months before she quit, the 48-year-old's drinking would see her consume at least three bottles of wine a day 'with some vodka shots occasionally thrown in if she wanted to go "undetected"'.

Since Justine gave up alcohol for good, she has made exercise and healthy living a priority - and she looks better in her 40s than she did in her 20s.

On Wednesday she shared a comparison photo to Instagram of her, wine glass in hand, at 36 and then now at 48 with both a clearer complexion and clearer mind.

On Wednesday she shared a comparison photo to Instagram of her, wine glass in hand, at 36 and then now at 48 with both a clearer complexion and clearer mind

Justine Whitchurch , from the Gold Coast, quit alcohol seven years ago when she saw what it was doing to both her own life and that of her children (pictured at the age of 44)

'By definition mummy wine culture basically makes using alcohol to cope with your day as a parent an accepted, even celebrated, part of modern life,' she captioned the image.

'All over social media we are flooded with quotes that advocate how primary caregivers need the escape of alcohol to cope with a long day of caring for their children, amongst other mundane motherly "tasky" things.

'Add a career or busy job to the mix and you 1000 per cent fall into the category of deserving of a reward for being superhuman. You actually do; just not one of this kind.'

Ms Whitchurch despises this wine culture and 'memes' that poke fun at needing a drink at the end of the day because it helped her conceal what she already knew was a deep seated issue with alcohol.

'I don't subscribe to the "mummy wine culture". I think it is dangerous,' she said.

'We are teaching our children that drinking is what you do when you can't otherwise cope with life. A dangerous introduction to chemically relieved coping mechanisms.

Ms Whitchurch quit alcohol when she was 40 years old after she spent most of her thirties 'medicated from alcohol 24/7' (pictured at the height of her addiction)

Since Justine gave up alcohol for good, she has made exercise and healthy living a priority - and she looks better in her 40s than she did in her 20s

HOW TO MANAGE YOUR DRINKING OVER CHRISTMAS: 1. You don't have to attend EVERY function offered to you. Choose the ones where you know you will feel comfortable and say no to the rest. You don't owe anyone an explanation either. 2. Nominate yourself as the designated driver. This always gives you a legitimate out when the champagne is being offered on tap. 3. Set yourself a limit on your intake and make a strong commitment to this and where necessary, fill your wine glass with something non alcoholic to fill the void. Although this is something I could never do, there is the odd person who can. 4. Exercise through the cravings. If you feel that your compulsion to drink during this time has increased, distract yourself with a healthier alternative. 5. Get plenty of sleep. Go to bed early where you can and allow your body to rest and recover. Advertisement

'We as a collective of women are voraciously enabling each other to avoid doing the work and treating our bodies and minds in the most health negative way, whilst hidden under the guise as "connecting."'

'You can laugh it off, put it in a meme, throw it as a tagline in a conversation and downplay its validity all you like, but the end result is simply a disastrous educational tool for the people that we should love the most.'

With the holiday season - and summer - fast upon us, now is the time where habits can slip and old problems can bubble to the surface.

To stay in control Ms Whitchurch recommends only choosing to attend functions you know you'll feel comfortable at, and nominating yourself as the designated driver.

With the holiday season - and summer - fast upon us, now is the time where habits can slip and old problems can bubble to the surface

Set a limit on your intake and fill your wine glass with something non alcoholic to fill the void if need be, exercise through the cravings and ensure you're getting plenty of sleep to recover

Set a limit on your intake and fill your wine glass with something non alcoholic to fill the void if need be, exercise through the cravings and ensure you're getting plenty of sleep to recover.

Ms Whitchurch quit alcohol when she was 40 years old after she spent most of her thirties 'medicated from alcohol 24/7'.

'The single turning point was my nine-year-old daughter looking at me with tears in her eyes and saying, "Mum I am scared you are not going to get better",' she said.

'I dropped 14 kilos in six months, my liver reading was around 2500 (it should have been 42), my triglycerides were so high I was a major heart attack risk, my platelet count was so low I had bruises from head to toe and my hair was falling out.

'It got to the point where my dad saw me for the first time in months and he said that if he had not known it was me he would not have recognised his own daughter.'

Doctors also told Ms Whitchurch that she had just months to live if she continued the way she was going.

Ms Whitchurch explained that when she first quit, it was the first few months that were the 'hardest'.

'The initial phase of recovery is a lot about self-protection,' she explained.

'You can't expect to be exposed to social situations with a nil effect.'

Ms Whitchurch explained that when she first quit, it was the first few months that were the 'hardest' (pictured before)

BEFORE AND AFTER: Once you have got over the initial first stage, the mum-of-two explained you still need to be careful with what you do and pick your social occasions wisely

If you are looking to give up, the 48-year-old recommends that you try and distract yourself as often as possible.

'Look to do things that will benefit your health, like exercise, good nutrition and sleep, as well as re-connecting with the things that you used to love,' she said.

Once you have got over the initial first stage, the mum-of-two explained you still need to be careful with what you do and pick your social occasions wisely:

'When you do start to socialise again, choose a time of the day that you know you are least likely to be enticed,' she said.

'For me, that was always breakfast or brunch. That time of the day, you are less likely to be faced with the opportunity to drink. And just remember, you don't need to do a whole heap of explaining.'

For support for alcohol-related problems and addiction you can contact one of the many services available, speak to your GP, local health service or call a helpline. There are trained telephone counsellors available in every Australian state and territory.

Justine's recovery story and the steps she took to get sober are detailed in her book, Sobriety delivered EVERYTHING alcohol Promised, is available on Amazon and her website.
Princess Beatrice and Pippa Middleton proved their eye for royal fashion as they stepped out in the same 645 coat by exclusive British brand The Fold on Wednesday.

Princess Beatrice, 33, who attended the Christmas carol service at Westminster Abbey hosted by Kate Middleton with her husband Edo Mapelli Mozzi, 38, opted for the collarless wrap in a camel shade.

Meanwhile Pippa Middleton opted to wear The Finchley Coat in a rich forest green hue, matching it with a pair of emerald drop earrings.

The brand has rocketed in popularity since starting up in a discreet Chelsea boutique in 2012, designed to feel like a 'members club', where it offers personal services to its clients - which include the likes of Kate Middleton, Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden and Holly Willoughby.

Princess Beatrice (left) and Pippa Middleton (right) proved their eye for royal fashion as they stepped out in the same 645 coat by exclusive British brand The Fold on Wednesday

And last night Pippa and Beatrice proved just why they had chosen the elegant coat, which boasts a flattering nipped-in hemline with black Fold logo buttons.

The tailored waist flows into a mid-length soft flared skirt, and is designed to fit perfectly over dresses.

Princess Beatrice opted for a velvet headband and coordinating clutch bag with midnight blue shoes, making a rare appearance since giving birth to baby Sienna in September.

Meanwhile Pippa, who shares son Arthur, 3, and Grace, eight months, with businessman husband James Matthews, teamed it with a black clutch, tights and classic court shoes.

Princess Beatrice, 33, who attended the Christmas carol service at Westminster Abbey hosted by Kate Middleton with her husband Edo Mapelli Mozzi, 38, opted for the collarless wrap in a camel shade

Meanwhile Pippa Middleton, seen with parents Michael and Carole, opted to wear The Finchley Coat in a rich forest green hue, matching it with a pair of emerald drop earrings

Princess Beatrice opted for a velvet headband and coordinating clutch bag with midnight blue shoes

e Pippa, who shares son Arthur, 3, and Grace, eight months, with businessman husband James Matthews, teamed it with a black clutch, tights and classic court shoes

The Fold was co-founded by former financier Polly McMaster, whose mission was to make women look 'as smart as a man in his bespoke suit'.

Its popularity no doubt lies in its clever design which boasts a 'contouring' wrapped waistline to give the illusion of a slimmer figure and a flattering, fit-and-flare silhouette.

With prices for a dress starting at 165, it's certainly not a budget brand but is still affordable enough to compete for custom with the likes of Reiss, L.K.Bennett and Hobbs.

The brand has also received the royal seal of approval from the Duchess of Cambridge, who first wore one of its smart grey dresses to visit a rehab centre at Send women's prison in 2015.

In 2018 'Camelot' dress boasted a waiting list of 700 as women scrambled to get their hands on one after it sold out in every size in just 30 minutes.

The blush pink, fit-and-flare dress costs 275 and has consistently sold out season after season, with TV presenter Holly Willoughby boosting sales after wearing it live on air.

The same year Pippa Middleton wore the 495 silk Hepburn dress to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding.

PThe brand is also a favourite with Line of Duty star Vicky McClure and Game of Thrones Star Maisie William who are fans of their tailored trouser suits.
Ten-year-old Savannah Phillips, who was born in 2010, is the Queen and Philip's eldest great-grandchild (left) while her younger sister, Isla, has just turned nine and was born in the Queen's Diamond Jubilee year of 2012 (pictured with Autumn and Peter in 2019)

1. Savannah Phillips

Ten-year-old Savannah Phillips, who was born in 2010, is the Queen and Philip's eldest great-grandchild.

She is the daughter of the Princess Royal's son, Peter Phillips, and his ex-wife Autumn.

The couple announced they were divorcing in 2020, but share custody and co-parent their children.

At Eugenie's wedding in 2018, bridesmaid Savannah had pageboy Prince George trying to stifle laughter when she entertained him by pretending to play the trumpet in St George's Chapel.

She was also once seen pushing George - her second cousin - down a grassy bank at a polo match, and also putting her hand over his mouth as the National anthem was played while they were on the Buckingham Palace balcony for Trooping The Colour.

2. Isla Phillips

Savannah's younger sister, Isla, has just turned nine and was born in the Queen's Diamond Jubilee year of 2012.

Her middle name is Elizabeth in honour of the monarch. The Phillips sisters are not entitled to a royal title.

They are usually kept out of the limelight - but sometimes join other members of the family on the Buckingham Palace balcony for major events.

They are mostly spotted enjoying themselves as they play together at horse trials.

3. Prince George

Future king George, born in 2013, is the oldest of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's children (pictured front left)

Future king George, born in 2013, is the oldest of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's children.

The seven-year-old has spent much of lockdown at William and Kate's countryside home, Anmer Hall in Norfolk.

The prince is known to be a fan of helicopters, and all things police-related.

Football-mad George is also a passionate Aston Villa fan, just like his father.

George is seen as shyer than his younger sister, Princess Charlotte, occasionally appearing a little reluctant in front of the cameras.

Third-in-line George and his siblings call the Queen 'Gan Gan'.

4. Mia Tindall

Mia is the eldest child of former England rugby star Mike Tindall and Olympic medal-winning horsewoman Zara, daughter of the Princess Royal (pictured together in 2019)

Mia is the eldest child of former England rugby star Mike Tindall and Olympic medal-winning horsewoman Zara, daughter of the Princess Royal.

The fun-loving youngster, who was born in 2014, has a reputation for being mischievous.

She is often spotted running around with her father and cousins, Isla and Savannah Phillips, at horse eventing competitions.

During a portrait shoot for the Queen's 90th birthday, Mia, then two, had the privilege of holding her great-grandmother's classic black handbag.

Like Savannah and Isla, she is not an HRH, nor does she have a title.

5. Princess Charlotte

The Cambridges' five-year-old middle child, Charlotte, is known for her confident, feisty character (pictured here with the Duchess of Cambridge in 2019)

The Cambridges' five-year-old middle child, Charlotte, is known for her confident, feisty character.

The princess, who was born in 2015, likes spicy food and is nicknamed 'Lottie'.

She shares a love of horses with the Queen, and bears a resemblance to her great-grandmother when she was a child.

At the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's wedding in 2018, the playful fourth in line to the throne stuck out her tongue as she arrived by car.

She repeated the gesture while watching a presentation ceremony at the King's Cup regatta on the Isle of Wight in 2019.

At the christening of younger brother Prince Louis, she was heard telling off photographers and declaring they were not allowed inside.

6. Prince Louis

William and Kate's youngest child Louis was born in 2018 (pictured with children Prince George (left), Princess Charlotte (right) at Anmer Hall in Norfolk)

William and Kate's youngest child was born in 2018. The toddler proudly joined his siblings, George and Charlotte, when they clapped for carers during lockdown.

In pictures released for his second birthday, he was shown with a paint-covered face and hands as he made a rainbow print for his window.

Louis, who has inherited the Middleton eyes, has been compared to his maternal grandfather, Michael Middleton.

7. Lena Tindall

The Tindalls welcomed a second daughter, Lena, in 2018, after suffering two miscarriages (pictured with Zara in 2019)

The Tindalls welcomed a second daughter, Lena, in 2018, after suffering two miscarriages.

The Queen and Philip's other three great-grandchildren were not in the photograph taken by Kate, having not yet been born in 2018.

8. Archie Mountbatten-Windsor

Archie, who was born in 2019, lives thousands of miles away in California after his parents, Harry and Meghan, stepped down as senior royals last year and moved to the US

Archie, who was born in 2019, lives thousands of miles away in California after his parents, Harry and Meghan, stepped down as senior royals last year and moved to the US.

He appears to have inherited his father's red hair, seen when he was pictured in a stylised image on the family's Christmas card.

In the Oprah interview which rocked the monarchy, Meghan accused a member of the royal family - neither the Queen nor Philip - of raising concerns before Archie was born about how dark his skin tone might be.

The duchess also said Archie was not made a prince because of his race - although he is not actually entitled to be one or to have an HRH style yet because of rules set down by King George V more than 100 years ago.

9. August Brooksbank

August Philip Hawke Brooksbank - born to the Duke of York's daughter Princess Eugenie and tequila brand ambassador Jack Brooksbank - arrived on February 9 this year

August Philip Hawke Brooksbank - born to the Duke of York's daughter Princess Eugenie and tequila brand ambassador Jack Brooksbank - arrived on February 9 this year.

Eugenie described their hearts as being 'full of love for this little human'.

His middle name was in honour of the duke.

10. Lucas Tindall

Zara delivered an 8lb 4oz son Lucas on March 21 - with the baby arriving on the bathroom floor in a surprise home birth.

Buckingham Palace said the Queen and the duke were 'delighted' at the news of their 10th great-grandchild.

Lucas has the middle name Philip in honour of both the duke and Mike Tindall's father.

11. Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex's second child is eighth in line to the throne despite being born a US citizen after the couple moved to LA to quit royal life.

Lilibet, who was born in June weighing 8oz and is a sibling for Archie Mountbatten-Windsor, two, has entered the line of royal succession behind her older brother and is set to nudge senior family members further from the throne.

12. Sienna Elizabeth Mapelli Mozzi

Princess Beatrice, 33, the oldest daughter of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, gave birth to a baby girl weighing 6lbs 2oz at 11.42pm on Saturday 18 September at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, in London.

Her husband Edo Mapelli Mozzi has announced their baby daughter is called Sienna Elizabeth, in a touching tribute to the Queen.

Although her mother is a princess, Sienna, who is the Queen's 12th great-grandchild, will not have a royal title. Only grandchildren of the monarch through the male line are automatically entitled to the styling of HRH. This means she will be plain Miss Mapelli Mozzi. The Queen could bestow a title on her great-grandchild if desired, but it is unlikely to be asked for.
TV chef Tom Kerridge has been ridiculed for selling a tiny Christmas turkey which he claims can feed eight people.

The 48-year-old's free-range Copas turkey breast roast will set you back a whopping 140, or 17.50 a head.

But there only seems to be 12 slices up for grabs on the piece of meat, making for just one-and-a-half slices for each dinner guest.

Fans joked that it would only go around that number of guests if they were vegan or miniature people from The Borrowers.

Another added that it looked so small, he could eat it himself.

Tom Kerridge was ridiculed on his Instagram post which showed the free-range turkey breast roast he is now selling on his website for 140 each

But Mr Kerridge boasted as he shared it to his 607,000 Instagram followers to say it was a good way of taking the hassle out of Christmas Day.

Michelin-starred chef Kerridge, who owns eight top restaurants across the country, is selling them from his website for punters to enjoy at home.

He boasted: 'Want something a bit quicker and easier that a whole turkey?

'Breast roasts are the perfect combination of fantastic flavour and convenience.'

The 48-year-old boasted as he shared it to his 607,000 Instagram followers to say it was a good way of taking the hassle out of Christmas Day

Besides the 'medium' sized roast, Kerridge also offers a larger breast for 160, which he says will serve ten.

But shocked Phil Hughes, commented on his post to say: 'Serves eight, what?!

'I could eat that myself.'

One fan called Kelly joked the eight guests would need to be from the the kids fantasy novel The Borrowers, which features a family of four-inch people.

She said: 'Borrowers.'

Pub landlady Ali Watson-Burge quipped: 'I'm guessing by "Serves eight", you mean when six of them are vegan?'

Yet one fan said: 'Convenience is crucial at Christmas.'

Some fans made a joke of the turkey breast roast, which they believe can only 'serve eight' if 'six of them are vegan', with another user adding that he could 'eat it myself!'

The listing for the turkey breast on Kerridge's website reads: 'If you are feeding fewer or need something quick and easy to carve then a boneless breast roast is a perfect combination of fantastic flavour and convenience.

'Plus there's the added bonus of two Turkey legs to give the extra choice of meat. Comes with Pigs in Blankets, Stuffing, Bread Sauce, Gravy and Cranberry Sauce.'

But Kerridge is no stranger to controversy - he was forced to knock 100 off his eat from home Christmas packages after a backlash over the price last year.

Kerridge is no stranger to controversy - he was forced to knock 100 off his eat from home Christmas packages after a backlash over the price last year

The TV chef described the turkey on his website as the 'perfect combination of fantastic flavour and convenience'

Three months ago he was blasted for his 12.50 steak cooking charge.

Also in September, Kerridge was slammed for charging 87 for sirloin steak at his The Hand and Flowers boozer.

One fan accused him of breaching data protection law in June when Kerridge shared CCTV footage picture from one of his restaurants, Butcher's Tap and Grill in Marlow, Berkshire, to show a customer leaving without paying his bill.

In an Instagram post that has since been removed, he captioned the picture: 'People, this man did a runner from the Butcher's Tap and Grill last night without paying.

'If you know him, could you please let him know he owes me 28.50 and he's a massive bell**d.'
Marks & Spencer's 'Believe' Christmas jumper has become the unofficial 'new uniform' for the British clergy after female priests rushed to buy the 19.50 garment.

The festive black jumper, with the word 'believe' emblazoned in colourful lettering, has become an unexpected hit with clergywoman across the UK.

Taking to Twitter to showcase they're part of #TeamBelieve, the women have been sharing selfies of their Christmas attire, with one dubbing it 'the new clergy uniform'.

Marks & Spencer's 'Believe' Christmas jumper has become the unofficial 'new uniform' for the British clergy after female priests rushed to buy the 19.50 garment. Pictured, former Gogglebox star Reverend Kate Bottley in the jumper

The festive black jumper, with the word 'believe' emblazoned in colourful lettering, has become an unexpected hit with clergywoman across the UK (pictured)

Taking to Twitter to showcase they're part of #TeamBelieve, the women have been sharing selfies of their Christmas attire (pictured), with one dubbing it 'the new clergy uniform'

One female priest is even creating a large photomontage of more than 200 clergy sporting their Believe jumpers - having called for those that 'fit the description to send their images across via Twitter.

'It has really struck a chord among women clergy,' Rev Claire Jones, a curate in Bodmin, Cornwall, told the Guardian.

'People want something fun and interesting to wear at Christmas carols and school nativity plays. Im sure its not what M&S intended but it taps into what Christmas is really all about.'

Meanwhile, Leigh Greenwood, a Baptist minister in Leicester, asked on Twitter: 'Do you think @marksandspencer have realised yet that theyve become the unofficial suppliers of clergy Christmas jumpers?'

Leigh Greenwood, a Baptist minister in Leicester, asked on Twitter: 'Do you think @marksandspencer have realised yet that theyve become the unofficial suppliers of clergy Christmas jumpers?'

Elsewhere, Ruth Bushyager, the bishop of Horsham, posted online a snap of female priests in the Chichester diocese donning the festive jumper

One female priest is even creating a large photomontage of more than 200 clergy sporting their Believe jumpers - having called for those that 'fit the description to send their images across via Twitter. Pictured, a clergywoman wearing the jumper

Elsewhere, Ruth Bushyager, the bishop of Horsham, posted online a snap of female priests in the Chichester diocese donning the festive jumper.

Another person joked online: 'Is it OK to buy the #TeamBelieve jumper from @marksandspencer even though you're not accessorising it with a dog collar?'

Even former Gogglebox star Reverend Kate Bottley, of Nottinghamshire, joined the trend and shared a photo of her wearing the Christmas garment using the hashtag #TeamBelieve.

'Never one to shy away from a bandwagon, like most of the clerics I know Ive bought this jumper,' she captioned the image.

In 2017, clergy were given the go-ahead to ditch their robes and wear more relaxed clothing for services following a vote by the church's General Synod, according to The Telegraph. Pictured, female priests wearing the jumper

Another person joked online: 'Is it OK to buy the #TeamBelieve jumper from @marksandspencer even though you're not accessorising it with a dog collar?'

Seemingly feeling left out, male clergy have took to social media to ask for a menswear version to be made.

Currently the menswear garment at Marks & Spencer boasts the slogan 'Ding Dong' instead of 'Believe'.

A spokesperson for Marks & Spencer told the publication: 'After another difficult year, our designers - and customers - have embraced optimistic and feelgood messages with fabulous and believe both proving very popular  as the #TeamBelieve posts show.'

In 2017, clergy were given the go-ahead to ditch their robes and wear more relaxed clothing for services following a vote by the church's General Synod, according to The Telegraph.
The courtroom artist covering the Ghislaine Maxwell trial has said they are 'now like buddies' after an image of them sketching each other went viral.

Dubbed the 'Holbein of crime', Jane Rosenberg, of New York, has spent 40 years covering the courts - including the R. Kelly and Harvey Weinstein trials - and is considered among the best in the business.

Now employed by news agency Reuters, Rosenberg is tasked with being the public's eyes in US federal courts, including the one where the Maxwell trial is taking place, where cameras are still prohibited.

In a matter of minutes, she can create a scene full of atmosphere, capturing the expressions, clothing and gestures of major players in the case.

The courtroom artist tasked with sketching the Ghislaine Maxwell trial has told how she and the defendant are 'now like buddies'. Artist Jane Rosenberg was thrust into the spotlight when Maxwell turned around and began sketching her, pictured, while she was sketching

Dubbed the 'Holbein of crime', Jane Rosenberg, above, has spent 40 years covering the courts - including the R. Kelly and Harvey Weinstein trials - and is considered the best in the business

Speaking to The Times, the sketch artist explained she leaves home every day before dawn in order to secure a prime seat in the courtroom, ready for Maxwell to enter the courtroom at about 8.30am.

She and the other artists then have roughly seven seconds to capture Maxwell from the front, before she takes her seat and faces the judge, The Times reported.

However Rosenberg, who studied art at the University of Buffalo, has built up something of a unique rapport with Maxwell and 'went viral' when the defendant started sketching her, while she was sketching.

Maxwell even waves at Rosenberg when she arrives in court.

'It's been wonderful for me,' Rosenberg said. 'I'm so happy, I want to keep it going. I need to see her face.' In one pre-trial hearing, Maxwell even spoke to Rosenberg, saying: 'Long day, isn't it?'

Rosenberg first sketched Maxwell last summer, when she appeared via video link at a bail hearing.

'She had her hair pulled back, she didn't look so great,' Rosenberg said. 'I think she looks not so bad now. Her hair's fluffy and shiny, she's all happy and smiley and kissy with her lawyers.'

Rosenberg first sketched Maxwell last summer, when she appeared via video link at a bail hearing, above, and said she 'didn't look so great'

Now Maxwell 'looks not so bad', Rosenberg said, and is 'kissy' with her lawyers. Above, Rosenberg's sketch of Maxwell and defense attorney Jeffrey Pagliuca in court yesterday

Rosenberg, who began courtroom sketching when she was in a tough financial position and is now world renowned, can pull together an image in a matter of seconds, drawing with broad strokes before filling in the detail.

Yesterday the trial heard how Jeffrey Epstein was once in a relationship with a blonde Norwegian heiress who also dated Donald Trump .

The pedophile was seeing Celina Midelfart in the mid 1990s around the same time he was dating other women, it was claimed.

Midelfart is the heir to her familys cosmetics fortune and flight logs show she took at least 13 trips on Epsteins private jet.

The claim was made by one of Maxwells lawyers during cross examination of Epsteins former pilot on day eight of the trial of Maxwell, who denies recruiting and trafficking underage girls for Epstein.

Pilot Dave Rodgers testified that Maxwell and Epstein were initially dating but later broke up.

Rosenberg sketched film producer Harvey Weinstein leans on his walker in Criminal Court on the first day of his sexual assault trial

R. Kelly sits with his attorneys Nicole Blank Becker and Thomas Farinella during his sex abuse trial at Brooklyn's Federal District Court, in another sketch by Rosenberg

Rodgers took the jury through flight logs of Epsteins private plane, infamously known as the Lolita Express.

Maxwell was on many of those flights, sometimes with Virginia Roberts, who has pursued criminal and civil actions against both Epstein and Maxwell.

He said he flew Roberts a total of 32 times in the early 2000s. He also claimed he flew four flights with Maxwell accuser Jane on board.

Prosecutors read off flights from the log book that included trips to Spain and Morocco in 2001 where Roberts was on board.

Lawyer Christian Everdell asked Rodgers about a number of women who Epstein was dating in the 1990s and 2000s.

It appeared to be an attempt to put distance between Maxwell and Epstein as prosecutors have said they were in a relationship.

The trial continues.
Celebrated author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has revealed how 'inhumane' social media users said her parents deaths were 'punishment' after she 'refused to agree that trans women were women.'

Adichie, who penned Purple Hibiscus, was earlier this year accused of being transphobic by fellow Nigerian writer Akwaeke Emezi, who is nonbinary, after she said, 'Trans women are trans women', in a 2017 interview.

Emezi went as far as to claim Adichie supported the 'murder' of trans children.

In response, Adichie published a three-part essay on her website entitled 'It is Obscene', which received a litany of praise on social media from fellow writers.

Now, speaking to the BBC, Adichie has revealed how she was prompted to write the essay after being attacked online and trolled over losing both her parents in quick succession.

She said: 'I think the one thing that really tipped me over, and in some ways to write this essay, was having my nephew call me and tell me there were people on social media who saying that my parents had died and it was good for me and it was punishment because I had refused to say that trans women are women.'

Her father, James Nwoye Adichie, died from complications of kidney failure last summer, while her mother Grace Ifeoma Adichie also died unexpectedly in March 2021.

Adichie, who penned Purple Hibiscus, was earlier this year accused of being transphobic by fellow Nigerian writer Akwaeke Emezi, who is nonbinary, after she said, 'Trans women are trans women', in a 2017 interview

She explained: 'Being truly myself is important to me, authenticity is important to me.

'Obviously there are consequences to refusing to perform, as a person living in this world, and I'm willing to take on those consequences.

'We now live in a world where there's just so much quickness to think the worst of someone and to put the worst possible spin on what somebody has said.

'These moral judgments that stick and the next thing is, that person needs to lose their job, that person needs to be fired from everything.

Celebrated author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has revealed how 'inhumane' social media users said her parents deaths were 'punishment' after she 'refused to say that transwomen were women'

'And I cannot help but think, where is this going to end?'

She explained how social media users had attacked her over her refusal to say that transwomen are women, adding: 'I just found that...I just found it so inhumane.'

She continued to explain how she 'never understood' why transwomen found being called transwomen 'offensive'.

Adichie continued: 'On the one hand, we say that we want to be inclusive and the premise of inclusivity is that there are differences between us.

'Why then are we so unwilling to say there are differences between us?

'So I'm, of course, deeply, and have always been in fact deeply supportive of difference in general.

'And so when it comes to transgender people, I am for example deeply supportive of gender affirming care.

Her father, James Nwoye Adichie, died from complications of kidney failure last summer, while her mother Grace Ifeoma Adichie also died unexpectedly within the same year (pictured)

'If there are countries in which transpeople want to transition and are being deprived of healthcare, I think that is immoral.

'But to then say that transwomen and women have the same experiences, just doesn't make sense because I think in some ways as well, it's denying the transness of transpeople.

'Fundamentally, this is about language orthodoxy. If I think that language orthodoxy has a problem, I will not participate in it.

'But I don't think it means that refusing to participate means that as I have been told, I want people dead? The whole thing is absurd.'

Adichie, who has written novels such as Americanah and Half of a Yellow Sun, is one of the most popular authors in the world, celebrated by the likes of the Obamas and Oprah Winfrey.

She sparked controversy back in 2017, however, when she gave an interview saying, 'I don't think it's a good thing to talk about women's issues being exactly the same as the issues of trans women.'

'My feeling is trans women are trans women,' Adichie said in the interview. 'I think the whole problem of gender in the world is about our experiences, it's not about how we wear our hair, or whether we have a vagina or a penis, it's about the way the world treats us.'

Author Emezi took offence to Adichie's essay and publicly slammed her former mentor on social media as a transphobe and even went as far as to claim Adichie supported the 'murder' of trans children

'I think if you've lived in the world as a man, with the privileges that the world accords to men, and then sort of changed, switched gender, it's difficult for me to accept that then we can equate to your experience with the experience of a woman who has lived from the beginning in the world as a woman, and who has not been accorded those privileges that men are,' Adichie continued.

'Transgender people should be allowed to be,' Adichie added.

The interview was the cause of an argument with fellow writer Emezi - Emezi took offence to the piece and publicly slammed her former mentor on social media as a transphobe and even went as far as to claim Adichie supported the 'murder' of trans children.

The feud was resurrected again last year when Adichie threw her support behind JK Rowling after she was accused of making transphobic comments - sparking more attacks from Emezi.

Her essay, which garnered so much attention when it was first published in July that her website briefly crashed, has received wide-spread praise among journalists and authors.

Emezi responded to Adichie's essay by taking to Instagram, saying, the essay was meant to 'incite hordes of transphobic nigerians to target me.'
Amy Duggar King has shared her prayers for the judge, jury, and victims in her cousin Josh Duggar's trial after he was found guilty of receiving and posessing child pornography this morning.

Amy, 35, has been by far the most vocal member of the family in condemning Josh since his arrest in April, and tweeted multiple times during his trial that she was praying for justice.

Now that Josh awaits sentencing  where he faces up to 40 years in prison and a half-a-million-dollar fine  Amy has tweeted her prayers for everyone involved, from the jurors that were exposed to child sexual abuse material at trial to the sisters who were abused.

She also prayed that those who were in 'disbelief' that Josh could do something so heinous now have their 'eyes opened.'

Finally, she praised Jesus for the guilty verdict, writing: 'Thank you Jesus. Justice has been served.'

Amy Duggar King has shared her prayers for the judge, jury, and victims in her cousin Josh Duggar's trial

Amy has tweeted her prayers for everyone involved, from the jurors that were exposed to child sexual abuse material at trial to the sisters who were abused

She also praised God for the guilty verdict, writing: 'Thank you Jesus. Justice has been served'

'May the jurors and Judge Brooks seek healing / counseling from all that was exposed to them,' she wrote.

The jurors had to watch some of the video and see images of children being sexually abused that Josh was convicted of downloading.

'May the children grow up with real Godly men as father figures who will guide and protect them,' she said.

'May the people who were once in disbelief have their eyes opened for the first time,' she went on.

In a second tweet, she continued her prayer with a shoutout to Josh's four sisters, whom he abused when they were children.

'May the daughters who were abused feel validated. You are truly beautiful and worthy of love,' Amy wrote.

'May there be intense counseling / healing. May there be wisdom for all those involved on how to move forward.'

Finally, she replied 'amen' to a commenter who wrote: 'May those prosecutors rest easy tonight before they have to get up tomorrow and do it all over again. They are subjected to the depths of depravity daily in the hunt for justice and to save those kids. For those people and all fighting child abuse, Im so very grateful.'

Josh (pictured today) awaits sentencing, where he faces up to 40 years in prison and a half-a-million-dollar fine for receiving and possessing child pornography

Amy also wrote about the trial on the first day, saying: 'Today is a heavy day. This whole week will be. Next week will be too. Until justice is served'

She added: 'Please pray for the victims and for the truth to be revealed. Pray that the judge will give the ultimate sentence'

Amy  who has a two-year-old son named Daxton Ryan with husband, Dillon King  has been quite clear about her feelings about the charges against her cousin, and has told fans that she wasn't even aware of the extent of the abuse he comitted as a teenager.

And as jury selection began on November 30, she unequivocally reiterated her stance, writing on Instagram: 'Today is a heavy day. This whole week will be. Next week will be too. Until justice is served.'

In another Instagram stories slide, she quoted Romans 12:19, writing: 'Vengeance is mine sayeth the Lord, I will repay thee.'

She added: 'Please pray for the victims and for the truth to be revealed. Pray that the judge will give the ultimate sentence.'

Then, on December 8, she tweeted again, responding to a tweet from Jill Duggar's husband Derick Dillard that read: 'Praying for justice this morning.'

Amy tweeted at him: 'Praying as well. Lord may justice be served ice cold.'

'JUSTICE FOR THE CHILDREN,' she wrote in another tweet.

On December 8, Derick Dillard, the husband of Jill Duggar, tweeted that he was 'praying for justice this morning' (pictured at court on Wednesday)

Derick's tweet was the first since the trial began, and came after Derick sat through every day of testimony since last Tuesday

Amy replied, tweeting at him: 'Praying as well. Lord may justice be served ice cold'

Amy  whose mother, Deanna, is the sister of Josh's father Jim Bob  had appeared in early episodes of the Duggars' TLC show, but was portrayed as the 'rebel' Duggar because she didn't share their evangelical upbringing.

In April, when Josh was arrested and charged for child pornography crimes stemming from a 2019 raid on his car dealership, most of the Duggar family released lukewarm condemnations of Josh  or, in the case of parents Jim Bob and Michelle, no condemnation at all.

Amy shared the clearest statement denouncing Josh and his alleged crimes.

'I will just say that whatever you do in the darkness comes out in the light,' the 34-year-old told Today in late May. 'If youre going to look at such disgusting and sickening images, justice has to be served.'

Amy also expressed her worries for Josh's kids, aged one month to 12 years, and said that her 'heart and brain' cannot comprehend the 'heartbreaking and disgusting and evil' things Josh has been charged with.

'Who wouldnt worry about that? My heart goes out to all those innocent, sweet victims... It breaks my heart,' she said. 'I really hope justice is served.'

She added: 'To look at my little guy who is 19 months old... my heart and my brain cannot comprehend that. It blows my mind. Its heartbreaking and disgusting and evil. Its so evil. I want nothing to do with it.'

'If youre going to look at such disgusting and sickening images, justice has to be served,' said Amy, who has a two-year-old son named Daxton Ryan with husband, Dillon King

'My heart goes out to all those innocent, sweet victims... It breaks my heart,' Amy said

Amy went on to quote a Bible verse, Matthew 18:6, which reads: 'But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.'

Amy also reflected on the previous sexual abuse allegations against Josh, saying that she learned with the rest of the world in 2015 that he had molested four of his younger sisters and a babysitter when he was a teenager.

On Instagram, she shared a photo of a sign made out of balloons reading: 'It's okay to cut off toxic family for your own well being'

After being confronted by his parents, Josh confessed to the molestation and was sent to a faith-based rehab facility in Little Rock, Arkansas in 2003.

Hw spent three months in the facility, which was owned by the Institute in Basic Life Principles (IBLP), a Christian ministry and training program founded by Bill Gothard.

While little has been revealed about the program, people associated with IBLP have claimed that Josh was required to do manual labor and was not allowed to speak during that time.

'I did not know anything about the whole Josh situation the first time. We were told that he went to camp... I definitely didnt know,' Amy said.

Amy, who owns a clothing boutique, also condemned the 'ultraconservative way' her cousins were raised, saying it isn't 'fair' that girls don't get proper school and are taught to have no other ambition but to be mothers.

Though she has created boundaries with some members of her family, she maintains a close relationship with Jill, who herself has distanced herself from her parents and some of her siblings.

Amy also talked about her close relationship with her cousin Jill, with whom she is still friendly

She said Jill is 'growing into her own' and living a 'life thats freeing and still godly, but not restrained'

In September, she made it clear once again that she doesn't approve of some of her extended family.

On Instagram, she shared a photo of a sign made out of balloons reading: 'It's okay to cut off toxic family for your own well being.'

She added the caption: 'Amen & Amen. Its not easy, but necessary.'

Later, speaking to Hollywood Life, she said: 'I 100% stand for that message. I have created those boundaries in our life to protect Daxton and to protect myself.'

Josh's trial officially began on Tuesday with jury selection, with opening statements scheduled for Wednesday morning.

A federal Homeland Security agent in May testified that pornographic images depicting the sexual abuse of children, including toddlers, had been downloaded in May 2019 by a computer at a car dealership that Josh owned.

Josh, 33, faces up to 20 years in prison and fines of up to $250,000 on each count if convicted.
James Middleton appeared in high spirits this evening as he stepped out with one of his beloved pet dogs at the Mirror Peoples Pet Awards.

The Duchess of Cambridge's brother was all smiles as he walked the red carpet with one of his nine dogs ahead of the award show, hosted in partnership with Dogs Trust, in London.

The 34-year-old entrepreneur, who recently tied the knot with Alizee Thevenet in the French Riveria, is a self-confessed dog-lover and launched his health and wellbeing company for dogs in June 2020.

He owns nine dogs; Golden Retriever Mabel, a black Labrador, two Cocker Spaniels, and five black Spaniels called Rafa, Ella, Zulu, Inka and Luna - who he has credited with helping him through tough times.

James Middleton appeared in high spirits this evening as he stepped out with one of his beloved pet dogs at the Mirror Peoples Pet Awards

James, who last night showed support for his sister Kate, 39, as she hosted a Christmas carol concert at Westminster Abbey, cut a sharp figure in a velvet blazer at the event.

He paired the statement piece with a polo neck jumper and smart suit trousers, while his adorable Cocker Spaniel wore a tartan dog coat.

The award ceremony celebrates animals 'who have overcome impossible odds, rescue cats and dogs who inspire everyone they meet, and others who are literally lifesavers'.

James, who is often vocal about how much dogs have helped his mental health, has also credited his new wife, French financial expert Alizee, 32, to bringing happiness to his life.

The Duchess of Cambridge's brother was all smiles as he walked the red carpet with one of his nine dogs ahead of the award show, hosted in partnership with Dogs Trust, in London

Last month, James took to Instagram and posted a snap of one of his Cocker Spaniels, believed to be Ella, breaking his 'unintentional' social media detox following his September wedding.

Alongside the photo, he penned: 'I've been so immersed in embracing and enjoying the first few months of being with my new wife. I've realised I have unintentionally taken a social detox which I suppose is no bad thingBUT we are back - hope you don't mind.'

James, who occasionally goes weeks without posting on social media, urged his follows to take the odd break from being online.

Prior to this, James' last post was on September 12, when he announced his marriage with a picture of him and bride Alizee on Instagram and penned: 'Words cannot describe how happy I am.'

Announcing his marriage with a picture of him and bride Alizee on Instagram, James said: 'Words cannot describe how happy I am'

Alizee, who swept her hair into a half-up do for the event, with two tendrils down each side of her face, opted for an off-the-shoulder gown which featured pretty lace detailing across the bodice.

Meanwhile, James looked every piece the proud groom, donning a white linen suit for the laid back event.

The newlyweds were joined by 50 guests including the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their three children at the Chateau Leoube, an exclusive vineyard in the village that produces some of France's finest rose wine.

Chateau Leoube is owned by British billionaire JCB chairman Anthony Bamford and his wife Carole.

Mr Middleton and Miss Thevenet, a trilingual French financial analyst, met in 2018 when his cocker spaniel, Ella, approached her at a private members' club in London.

The couple, who announced their engagement in 2019, had originally planned to get married in May last year.
A selected number of customers around Australia have been receiving huge $75 Woolworths Christmas hams for free.

The 'limited offer' was made to Woolworths' Bunch customers over the past week and many shared their excitement online.

Woolworths Bunch is a members-only community of loyal Everyday Rewards customers who are asked to test and share their opinion on different products.

Many reported they received the massive hams in the lead up to Christmas.

'I had to post my score today!! It was a limited Bunch offer. A 9.5kg ham worth $75 for free. Christmas is sorted!' customer Lucy wrote to the Markdown Addicts Australia Facebook group.

A selected number of Woolworths' Bunch members have been receiving huge $75 Christmas hams for free (pictured)

The 'limited offer' was made to Woolworths' Bunch customers over the past week and many shared their excitement online

The juicy, succulent whole leg ham saved Lucy $75.35, which she was thrilled about.

Another happy customer wrote: 'After going to not one but two Woolworths stores, we managed to grab my Bunch limited edition ham! Thanks Caloundra Woolworths for our Christmas Ham and Bunch for the opportunity.'

A third said: 'Took me quite a number of days and a number or stores to find an 8-10kg ham. Finally got the only one that had come in yesterday's delivery to my local. 9kg, $72 ham for free!'

Others claimed they were lucky enough to receive slightly larger hams and didn't need to pay a cent.

But the offer isn't available to all Bunch members, as other customers were only offered ice cream, chocolate, cakes, almonds, seasoning, cheese and pasta

But the offer isn't available to all Bunch members, as other customers were only offered ice cream, chocolate, cakes, almonds, seasoning, cheese and pasta.

'Oh man! I was super excited to get a choc chip panettone until I saw all these hams,' one jealous shopper wrote.

Others said they had to wait between 12 months and three years to get accepted into Bunch.

'I just got my bunch email after three freaking years!' another said.

It's free to register to join Woolworths' Bunch and customers can apply online here.
It sold out in just three hours, and now Heinz's Christmas dinner tinned soup is back as the British-loved brand releases a second helping in aid of charity.

Due to the unprecedented demand, Heinz has announced that a second drop of their Christmas Dinner Big Soup will land on www.heinztohome.co.uk at midday today.

This time around, Heinz is producing even more cans after 500 of their 1.50 tins - which contain turkey, roast potatoes and pigs-in-blankets in a festive sauce - sold out in just three hours after first being released.

All proceeds will be donated to The Soup Kitchen on Tottenham Court Road in London, which is a resource for the homeless, elderly, lonely and vulnerable in the city and provides free nutritious meals, clothing, toiletries.

FEMAIL previously put the soup to the test but was left disappointed - with the dish looking far less appetising at home than it does in promotional shots.

The tinned soup boasts roasties including Brussels sprouts, and large chunks of Turkey as well as pigs in blanket and cranberry sauce

The soup (pictured when put to the test by FEMAIL) is brown and thick in consistency, with lots of veggies, meat and sausages all thrown in together

The soup - which claimed to be the answer to families' alternative Christmas dinner following concerns of turkey shortages ahead of December 25 - is said to have all the flavour and trimmings of a Christmas meal inside.

It boasts 'big chunks' of turkey as well as sprouts and stuffing and the Big Soup Christmas Dinner also has roasties, pigs in blankets and a gravy and cranberry sauce.

Journalist Claire Toureille previously put the tin to the - taste - test and said: 'Heinz delivers on its promise and the soup does include a generous amount of turkey as well as veggies, and two pigs in blanket.

'The soup is easy to prep, and can be heated on the hob or in the microwave.

'The mix is salty and rich in flavour, although apart from the turkey and Brussels sprouts, which are easily recognisable, the rest of the soup could be described as salty mush and some ingredients are harder to distinguish from others.

Not quite photo ready! The Heinz Christmas dinner in a tin doesn't look nearly as appetising in real life (right) as it does in promotional shots shared by the company (left)

The soup is a funny novelty meal, but it doesn't stack up against a quintessentially British Christmas meal, and if it were a Christmas character, it wouldn't be Scrooge, but it'd definitely be the Grinch.'

Anke von Hanstein, Brand Manager, Heinz Soups said: 'It's been absolutely amazing to see the nation's response to our Heinz Christmas Dinner Big Soup. To have sold out in three hours was beyond our wildest expectations  Brits really do love a Christmas Dinner, even in soup form!

'Here at Heinz, we're keen to make sure that as many people as possible enjoy a Christmas dinner, regardless of what form that may come in.

'Which is why we've ramped up production and are very happy to be able to bring a second drop of this amazing product to our own virtual supermarket shelf heinztohome.co.uk.

'It's wonderful to be able to bring some additional festive magic to the nation this Christmas with our Christmas Dinner Big Soup, and the resulting donation to The Soup Kitchen, a resource for the homeless, elderly, lonely and vulnerable based on Tottenham Court Road in London.'

Due to high demand, orders are limited to 1 per person  any orders over this amount will be automatically cancelled and refunded.
When you think of a champagne bars, you probably imagine business meetings, extravagant dates and big bills.

But one of the UK's best value supermarkets has now ventured into the glamorous world of champagne bars.

In what they claim is the the UK's cheapest Champagne bar in one of the UK's most expensive postcodes, Aldi will be selling its award-winning Veuve Monsigny Champagne for just 2.33 a glass.

The supermarket's first ever premium drinkery is in an area where house prices average 1.8 million, and is just a stone's throw from the swanky bars of Selfridges and Claridge's, which sell Champagne at seven times the cost.

In what they claim is the the UK's cheapest Champagne bar in one of the UK's most expensive postcodes, Aldi will be selling its award-winning Veuve Monsigny Champagne for just 2.33 a glass

The luxurious 'Veuve Champagne Bar' stunned passers-by when it opened in 14 Gees Court, St Christopher's Place in London's busy West End on Wednesday and will be open until 11pm on Sunday 12th December.

Members of the public were invited in to sample the Champagne, not knowing Aldi was behind the bar.

On tasting the bubbles, shoppers described it as 'tasting like Moet & Chandon' and 'cheaper than you'd expect to pay anywhere in the country, let alone London' and estimated that it should be sold at an average of 13.50, before being shocked as Aldi was revealed as the brand behind the bubbles.

Olivia Jones, 26, from Manchester: 'The bar looked VERY interesting from the outside and I couldn't believe it when I was told the price  I thought a glass of Champagne like that would cost around 12, especially after trying it. But 2.33 is crazy.'

Another visitor, Abi Digby, 25, a nurse, from Southampton said: 'I came up with my husband for a taste of festive London - and the Aldi Champagne Bar has just topped everything off very nicely. I'm no Champagne expert but this tasted like Moet, and I was always told that's as good as it gets.

Caroline Branton, 51, from St Albans, Hertfordshire said: 'I thought Champagne was too expensive  but clearly that's no longer the case if this is anything to go by.'

The supermarket's first ever premium drinkery is in an area where house prices average 1.8 million, and is just a stone's throw from the swanky bars of Selfridges and Claridge's, which sell Champagne at seven times the cost.

Aldi's award-winning bubbly, which is now the second best-selling Champagne in the UK, in fact retails at just 13.99 a bottle  almost six times cheaper than shoppers thought  making it glass by glass the cheapest on offer in any Champagne bar in the nation.

As well as serving up Aldi's best-selling Champagne, customers can also choose from Veuve Monsigny Rose (2.83 a glass), Zerozecco (49p a glass) and a selection of Champagne cocktails (from 1.09 to 2.69) created by leading mixologist Pritesh Mody.

Adorned with teal velvet, brushed gold and marble interiors, and garnished with festive foliage, the 'Veuve Champagne Bar' has the ultimate luxury decor and is in good company with neighbours such as Mulberry, which is a couple of doors down.

Aldi's award-winning bubbly, which is now the second best-selling Champagne in the UK, in fact retails at just 13.99 a bottle  almost six times cheaper than shoppers thought  making it glass by glass the cheapest on offer in any Champagne bar in the nation

The launch comes as research by the supermarket shows the nation will enjoy approximately 480 million glasses of bubbly this festive period, and Aldi itself has recorded record Champagne sales to date, now selling over 2 miIIion bottles annually.

Julie Ashfield, Managing Director of Buying at Aldi UK, told FEMAIL: 'We are extremely proud of our award-winning Veuve Monsigny Champagne - it's up there with the best bubbles available, and we hope our Champagne and pop-up bar help spread some well-deserved cheer among the public this festive season.'

Aldi's own brand Veuve Monsigny Champagne was born almost ten years ago, in 2012, at the Philizot & Fils winery in the heart of Champagne, France. Lovingly produced by husband and wife duo Stephane and Virginie Philotz, Veuve Monsigny is matured for over 48 months  that's two and a half years longer than the minimum requirement for Champagne, and more than 12 months longer than any other UK supermarket own brand Champagne.
Maine has activated its national guard to assist hospitals across the state deal with a recent Covid surge, as the Northeast U.S. gets slammed by a surge in Covid cases.

The move was announced by Gov Janet Mills on Wednesday as hospitalizations in her state have increased by nearly 20 percent in the past two weeks.

Interestingly, states in the Northeast suffering from Covid surges are also leading the nation in vaccination rate.

Vermont (74 percent of population fully vaccinated); Rhode Island (74 percent); Maine (73 percent); Connecticut (73 percent) and Massachusetts (72 percent) are the top five U.S. states in vaccination rate.

New Hampshire also leads the nation in the share of people having received at least one shot, at 90 percent, with 63 percent of people being fully vaccinated.

All of these states are also suffering recent upticks in cases of the virus, though all by Massachusetts are among those in American with the lowest death rate per every 100,000 residents.

Maine Gov Janet Mills (pictured) announced on Wednesday that she is activating the National Guard to assist hospitals with a recent Covid surge that has struck her state

Maine is averaging around 600 new Covid cases, per day, a level that has remained consistent since August. The state has also suffered 17% surge is hospitalizations over the past two weeks

Vermont has suffered a 32% increase in COVID-19 cases over the past two weeks. The state also had a record of 92 Covid hospitalizations on Wednesday

'I am activating the Maine National Guard, and, in consultation with our health care systems, will be deploying them to expand our hospitals' ability to treat people with COVID-19 and other serious medical conditions,' Mills said on Wednesday.

'I do not take this action lightly, but we must take steps to alleviate the strain on our health care system and ensure care for all those who need it.'

She said the National Guard members will assist nursing facilities and other emergency facilities that are used to deal with patient overflow in a non-clinical role.

They will also assist in the process of delivering monoclonal antibody treatments to some patients.

Currently in the state, 27 out of every 100,000 residents are hospitalized with the virus, the 16th highest rate of any state in the nation, with that rate growing by 17 percent over the last two weeks.

The state is also averaging around 600 cases per day, a figure it has hovered around since the second half of the Delta surge in late August.

'Maine's hospitals have borne the lion's share of the impact of COVID-19, from treating COVID-19 patients to helping with testing and spearheading vaccination efforts  to say nothing of the secondary effects of the pandemic such as increased mental health challenges and problems from delayed health care,' Jeanne Lambrew, commissioner of the Maine Department of Health, said in the statement.

'We are profoundly grateful for the Governor's decisive action and our health care workers'  and National Guard's  heroic work.'

Vermont is the most vaccinated state in America, but still logged a record high in Covid hospitalizations on Wednesday.

State officials recorded 92 hospitalizations, including 28 people in intensive care, on December 8.

The state is averaging 13 hospitalizations per day for every 100,000 residents, up 30 percent over the past two weeks.

Cases are on the rise in the state as well, with 78 out of every 100,000 residents testing positive every day - up 32 percent over the past two weeks.

Connecticut has recorded the largest case growth over the past two weeks than any state in America, with daily positive tests doubling. It is also one of 20 U.S. states to record a case of the Omicron variant

Cases in Rhode Island have increased by 87% over the past two weeks, and has the third highest Covid rate in the nation with 83 or every 100,000 residents testing positive for the virus every day

New Hampshire is America's leader in infection rate, with 93 out of every 100,000 residents testing positive for Covid every days. Cases and hospitalizations have both jumped by more than 20% over the past two weeks as well

Connecticut and Rhode Island are the nationwide leaders in case growth over the past two weeks.

Cases have more than doubled over the last 14 days in Connecticut, the only state where that has occurred, with 44 out of every 100,000 residents testing positive each day.

Hospitalizations in the state have jumped by 70 percent as well, also the biggest jump in America, with 14 of every 100,000 residents being admitted due to complications with the virus.

Connecticut is also among the 20 U.S. states that has sequenced the Omicron variant, with two cases detected so far.

Cases is Rhode Island have increased by 87 percent over the past two weeks - second highest rate in the nation - with the state also being third in the nation in positive case rate with 85 out of every 100,000 residents testing positive every day.

New Hampshire currently lead the nation in infection rate, with 93 of every 100,000 residents testing positive for the virus every day, with cases and hospitalizations both increasing by more than 20 percent in the past week.

Massachusetts has also recorded a 67 percent increase in cases over the past two weeks, and a 50 percent increase in hospitalizations.

The Omicron variant has also been sequenced in the Bay State.

Dr Mark Levine, Vermont's health commissioner, pointed to a variety of factors for his state - and its neighbors - are having so much trouble despite high vaccination rates.

First he blamed the Delta variant, which still accounts for almost all new COVID-19 cases sequenced in the U.S.

'An infected person can spread the virus to five people or more, far faster than the original strain,' Levine said.

'This means it can spread faster than we can trace and alert contacts.'

Massachusetts has recorded a 67% increase in cases and a 50% increase in hospitalizations over the past two weeks, and it also one of 20 U.S. states to confirm a case of the Omicron COVID-19 variant

While the Omicron variant has dominated headlines recently, the Delta variant is still the cause of America's current Covid situation.

It is highly transmissible, and it is believed by some health experts that cases of Delta are equal to or more severe than cases of Omicron.

The states also had relative success compared to their peers earlier during the pandemic.

While that is certainly a good thing, it also means less people have natural antibodies for the virus.

Other experts have also previously pointed out that case surges this time of the year, and especially up north, can be tied to colder weather moving many gatherings indoors.

Levin mentions that the recent surge is an example of why states can not let their guards down in the fight against Covid.

'I know for many of us it can be frustrating to see Vermont looking so different from how we once did during the pandemic, but even after all this time, the virus is not something we have absolute control over,' Levine said.
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Dr Anthony Fauci, the U.S.'s top infectious disease expert, said Wednesday that the definition of 'fully vaccinated' in America will eventually change to require a booster dose as well.

The director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID) said that the change is unlikely to happen in the next week, but he expects it to happen at some point in the future.

He also said the health officials are already investigating the potential need for a fourth dose of the vaccine after people receive their boosters.

Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla also said that a fourth dose may be needed, even saying it might be needed 'faster' than Fauci's timeline suggests.

Fauci's statements come the same day that Pfizer announced that people who had received its jab require a COVID-19 booster shot to keep the same level of protection against the Omicron variant - and that those who have only received two doses are now at risk of a breakthrough infection.

The variant, which was discovered last month by South African health officials, has already managed to spread around the world, being sequenced 2,324 times in 61 countries across the world.

That includes 71 cases in 21 U.S. states, with New York leading the nation with 21 cases sequenced as of Thursday morning.

Officials around the world are instituting measures to prevent the spread of the new variant, which could be the most infectious yet and can evade protection provided by the Covid vaccines.

In the U.K, Prime Minister Boris Johnson took drastic action on Wednesday, announcing a work from home order, mask mandates, enhanced contact tracing efforts and even the use of vaccine passports to attend some events.

There have been 568 cases of the variant detected in the UK, while Johnson says the real figure is likely over 10,000.

Denmark is the world's leader in confirmed Omicron variant cases, having logged 577 cases of the variant, with at least 64 cases tied to a high school Christmas lunch event.

Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen also announced new measures Wednesday to combat the spread of the variant, with orders telling the population to work and attend school from home, and reducing the hours bars are allowed to stay open for.

In South Africa, where the variant was first detected, hospitalizations remain on the rise, and the nation recorded nearly 20,000 new Covid cases on Wednesday, bringing the seven day average up to 13,400.

Not many of the hospitalized patients are requiring intensive care, though, a positive sign as to how mild cases of the new variant may be.

Dr Anthony Fauci (pictured), the nation's top infectious disease expert, said on Wednesday that the definition of 'fully vaccinated' in America would eventually be changed to only included people who have received three doses of the COVID-19 vaccines. He also told CNBC that he is already mulling over the potential of rolling out fourth Covid shots for Americans

Pfizer unveiled data on Wednesday that shows people who have only received two doses of its Covid vaccine, which could be up to 110 million people, are not as protected against Omicron as they are other variants. The company says that receiving a booster shot could increase the level of virus-fighting antibodies 25-fold. Pictured: A man receives a shot of a COVID-19 vaccine in Detroit, Michigan, on June 21

An African research team found that the Pfizer vaccine provided 40 times less Covid antibodies to fight against the Omicron strain that it does against other variants, hinting that it may be less effective at preventing infection

'Certainly, when you want to talk about what optimal protection is, I don't think anybody would argue that optimal protection is going to be with a third shot,' Fauci told CNN on Wednesday.

On Wednesday, Pfizer released its first official batch of data of how its COVID-19 vaccine reacts to the Omicron variant.

Pfizer finds that third shot is needed to protect from Omicron The pharma giant Pfizer revealed data Wednesday showing that its two-dose Covid vaccine regimen may not be effective at preventing infection from the Omicron variant Data published by AHRI on Tuesday found that the jab had 41 times less antibodies effective against Omicron as it had against over variants Pfizer reports that a booster dose increases Omicron-fighting antibodies 25-fold when compared to only receiving the two-shots Officials could not say whether the jab is still effective at preventing severe Covid infection The Pfizer vaccine is the most popular in the U.S., having been administered over 275 million times to fully vaccinate more than 110 million people Advertisement

The company, that's vaccine has been used more than 200 million times to fully vaccinate over 110 million Americans, said the two-dose vaccine has diminished capability to prevent infection from Omicron.

Separate data from the African Health Research Institute, released Tuesday but pending peer-review, found that Pfizer vaccine recipients had 40 times less antibodies effective against the Omicron variant than they did against other virus strains.

Pfizer said that receiving its booster, which 25 million Americans have already gotten, could increase those antibody levels 25-fold.

'Although two doses of the vaccine may still offer protection against severe disease caused by the Omicron strain, it's clear from these preliminary data that protection is improved with a third dose of our vaccine,' Albert Bourla, CEO of Pfizer, said in a statement.

'Ensuring as many people as possible are fully vaccinated with the first two dose series and a booster remains the best course of action to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Dr Ugar Sahin, co-founder of BioNTech, who develops the vaccine being distributed by Pfizer, explained last month that the company's vaccine provides two layers of protection.

The first is the prevention of infection, where antibodies within a person react to the detection of the virus and respond by killing it before it can infect and replicate in cells.

A second layer of protection boosts the immune response against cells if they do become infected, and prevent a person from suffering more severe case.

The findings unveiled by Pfizer affect the first layer of protection, and the company is yet to reveal if the two-shot vaccine has a diminished ability to prevent severe infection as well.

CNBC reporter Meg Tirrell said Wednesday that Fauci had said during a conversation that some of his concerns about the variant were 'alleviated' by the data.

Moderna and Johnson & Johnson, the other two companies that manufacture vaccines used in the U.S., have not released data specific to their vaccine's effectiveness against the new variant.

The new variant has continued its spread throughout the U.S. in the meanwhile, now being confirmed in at least 21 states.

On Wednesday, Louisiana health officials reported 16 probably cases of the variant, alongside one confirmed case from earlier in the month.

The 17 potential cases in the state make it among those with the most cases in the nation, trailing only the 21 in New York.

While receiving the booster dose should be able to protect people from these cases of the variant, the efficacy of the shots may wane over time.

Fauci says that officials are already weighing the potential need for a fourth shot for Americans.

Tirrell reported that Fauci and others are will gather data over the next few months to determine whether Omicron can overtake the Delta variant - which still accounts for almost all of the new cases in the U.S. - and how much booster protection wanes over time.

Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said a fourth dose might eventually be needed as well.

'I think we will need the fourth dose ... With omicron, we need to wait and see because we have very little information. We may need it faster,' he told CNBC.

He later said it was unclear how durable the additional protection provided by the third dose would be.

The U.S. is slowly approaching 50 million confirmed Covid cases, and is currently averaging 120,000 new cases every day - the highest total since the summer Delta wave - and a 27 percent increase over the past two weeks.

Hospitalizations are up 20 percent over the past two weeks as well, with over 60,000 Americans being admitted for treatment for the virus.

Deaths in the U.S. are on the rise as well, with nearly 1,300 per day - a 12 percent jump over the last two weeks - as the country also creeps towards 800,000 Covid deaths since the pandemic first began.

Despite the variant already spreading across the globe, President Joe Biden's travel ban on eight southern African nations remains in place, with no other nations struggling with the variant added to the list.

Cases and hospitalizations are particularly rising in the U.S. Northeast, as states like Vermont, Maine, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island get hammered despite high vaccination rates.

According to official data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 71 percent of Americans have received at least one dose of the vaccine, and 60 percent of the population is fully vaccinated.

What are the new Covid rules in England? Boris Johnson announced this evening that the Government is implementing its Covid Plan B. It means: WFH The return of work from home guidance. People will be told to work from home in England from Monday if they are able to. Face masks Face masks will be made compulsory in most public indoor venues including in cinemas and theatres from this Friday. They will not be required in pubs, restaurants and gyms. Vaccine passports The NHS Covid pass will be compulsory to gain access to nightclubs and other large venues where large crowds gather. This will apply to all unseated indoor venues with more than 500 people, unseated outdoor venues with more than 4,000 people and any venue with more than 10,000 people. Two vaccine doses will be treated as fully-vaccinated but this will be kept under review because of the booster programme. A negative lateral flow test will also be sufficient. This requirement will be rolled out in one week's time to give businesses time to prepare. Contact testing Contacts of Omicron cases will be told to take daily coronavirus tests instead of having to self-isolate. They will have to quarantine if they test positive. Advertisement

Meanwhile in the UK, the Omicron situation is quickly spiraling, and health minister Sajid Javid warns that the country could have more than one million cases of the variant by the end of December.

To get ahead of an upcoming crisis, Prime Minister Johnson announced drastic measures on Wednesday to curb the spread of the variant.

Face masks will also now be compulsory in most public, indoor, venues, though restaurants, bars and gyms will be exempt from the order.

People who are believed to be a close contact to someone with a confirmed case of the Omicron variant will also be ordered to take daily Covid tests, and will have to enter quarantine if they test positive for Covid.

He also announced plans to use a vaccine passport titles the 'NHS Covid pass', which will be needed to attend many events, whether indoor or outdoor, though presentation of a negative Covid test will suffice in most cases.

The UK has recorded the second most Omicron cases of any country in the world, with 568 being sequenced.

Johnson warns that the true figure of cases of the variant in the country could be upwards of 10,000.

The nation is currently averaging around 50,000 cases per day, and is rapidly approaching the 60,000 case average record set by the nation in January.

Denmark is the world's leader in sequenced Omicron cases, with 577 having been recorded so far.

The nation's largest outbreak has been tied to a Christmas lunch event in the Viborg region, attended by 150 students on November 27 from two local high schools.

At least 64 case of the Omicron variant have been tied to the event.

More than 1,000 people have been deemed close contacts to those infected at the event, and it is believed to be among the largest outbreaks of the variant detected so far.

Covid cases in Denmark have jumped over 20 percent in the past two weeks, from around 4,000 on November 25, before the event took place, to 5,200 in early December.

In response the surge in cases, Prime Minister Fredericksen announced new measures to prevent spread of the virus on Wednesday.

People who can will now be ordered to work from home, and virtual schooling has been extended as well.

Bars and nightclubs will also have reduced operating hours, being forced to close at midnight now, in an effort to prevent transmission.

Another outbreak of the variant may have occurred at a holiday party held by Scatec, a Norwegian energy company.

The Oslo based company held a Christmas party in Cape Town, South Africa, in November, bringing dozens of employees to the nation before the discovery of the new strain.

Now, 70 employees of the company have been tested positive for Covid in the weeks since, with 50 others outside the company who were present at the same restaurant the party was held at also testing positive.

Only 13 of the 120 cases have been sequenced as a confirmed Omicron case, though it is believed that all the related cases may be of the new strain.

Denmark high school Christmas lunch leads to Omicron surge A Christmas lunch event in the Viborg region of Denmark has been tied to an Omicron variant outbreak of at lest 64 cases on November 27 The lunch was attended by 150 students from two high schools After the event, 64 people tested positive for Covid, and all were sequenced to have the Omicron variant More than 1,000 people in the area have been deemed close contacts to the infected Denmark is among the world leaders in sequenced Omicron cases, with 398 as of Wednesday morning Covid cases in the Nordic nation have jumped 20 percent over the past two weeks Advertisement

One Scatec staffer is believed to be 'patient zero' with the related infections all being tied back to them.

Those who were not a part of the party but were infected are believed to have contracted the virus during a period after the festivities where Scatec employees began to mingle with others in the bar.

All of the cases tied back to the event were reported to be mild.

The event turned into a warning call for many in Europe, as all the staffers were fully vaccinated yet the variant was still able to cause breakthrough infections in all of them.

Cases in Norway have doubled since the event in mid-November reaching 4,000 new cases every day in the Nordic nation - with more than 5,000 positive tests recorded on Thursday.

Some positive news has emerged from South Africa, though, the nation the variant was discovered in.

While hospitalizations are rising in the country, MailOnline.com reports that only eight percent of people admitted require ICU treatment - around a third of the usual rate of ICU admittance.

The figure is further evidence that the new Covid variant may be more mild than previous strains of the virus.

Still, though, cases and hospitalizations in the country - and particularly in the Gauteng province where it was first detected, are continuing the rise.

This week, more than 2,600 people have been hospitalized with the virus nationwide.

Last week, more than 3,500 people were hospitalized due to Covid, a 2.5-fold increase from the 1,300 admittances a week earlier.

In Gauteng, 1,200 people have been hospitalized so far this week.

Last week, hospitalizations in the province also increased 2.5-fold, from 874 to 2,157.

Cases in the nation continue their sharp climb, up to 13,000 new cases per day - up from around 3,000 new cases only two weeks ago.

One South African expert, Dr Angelique Coetzee, told CNN that cases she was seeing in the nation's capital of Pretoria are generally mild.

She did warn that people who were fully vaccinated, and had previously been infected with the virus, were testing positive for the virus at her practice, though.
The ability of the COVID-19 vaccines to prevent severe illness and hospitalization wanes over time, a CDC study finds.

Researchers at the agency found that the effectiveness of severe illness prevention drops from as high as 89 percent to as low as 75 percent 120 days after the second shot of the Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is received.

The data was gathered by the agency from February to September, though, meaning the Omicron variant had not yet been discovered at the time.

Still, the CDC researchers say that these data show the need for Covid booster shots, especially among people who are more vulnerable to the virus.

More recent data also finds that the initial two-shot vaccine regimen is not as effective against the new Omicron variant.

A CDC research team found that antibody levels of people who received the Moderna of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines slowly waned over time. They found that after four months, the Pfizer jab's (light blue) ability to prevent hospitalization had dropped to around 75%. The Moderna shot's (blue) effectiveness against hospitalization falls to 86% after four months

Researchers say the the study underscores the need for Covid booster shots, as people become more vulnerable to severe infection months after vaccination. The study was conducted before the Omicron variant was discovered - which is believed to be able to circumvent protection provided by the initial two-shot vaccine regimen. Pictured: An Army Sergeant in Fort Know, Kentucky, receives a shot of a COVID-19 vaccine on September 9

The CDC researchers gathered data from 1,900 fully vaccinated veteran patients at five Veterans Affairs hospitals around the country.

They followed the group, which included people of all ages 18 and older, from February to September 2021.

Study participants who had received the Moderna vaccine where found to have higher antibody levels than those who received the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine within the weeks following vaccination.

The research team found that, after gathering hospitalization data among participants and adjusting for age and risk factors, the Moderna shot reduced risk of hospitalization from Covid by 89.6 percent.

Pfizer vaccine recipients had their risk of hospitalization dropped by 86 percent.

Researchers continued to gather samples and test antibody levels through out the study period.

They found that, over the first four months after receiving vaccination, antibody levels would wane.

'Among recipients of Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines, anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike and RBD IgG levels declined with increasing time since vaccination,' researchers wrote.

'Although U.S. veterans who received the Moderna vaccine consistently had higher antibody levels compared with recipients of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine across age groups and time since vaccination.'

After four months, the antibody levels of people who had received the vaccine had fallen, and the shots' effectiveness are preventing hospitalization also dropped over time.

The researchers found that after 120 days, effectiveness of the Pfizer vaccine at preventing hospitalization dropped all the way to 75.1 percent.

For Moderna recipients, effectiveness against hospitalization fell slightly to around 86 percent.

'Although an immune correlate of protection for COVID-19 vaccination has yet to be established, studies have shown a relationship between binding antibody levels, neutralizing antibody levels, and vaccine efficacy in clinical trials,' researchers wrote.

This study was performed before the Omicron variant was discovered last month, and information that has been revealed about the virus strain since has only solidified the need for boosters.

Data revealed Tuesday night by the African Health Research Institute found that people fully vaccinated with the Pfizer vaccine do not have the same level of protection against Omicron that they have against other virus strains.

On Wednesday, the company said it had data showing people who had only received the first two shots were not as immune to the new strain, but that a booster shot would increase antibody levels 25-fold.

Moderna and Johnson & Johnson - the other two Covid vaccine manufacturers in the U.S. - have not revealed any information on the variant and their vaccines.

The Food and Drug Administration expanded eligibility of the Pfizer booster shots on Thursday, allowing 16 and 17 year old Americans to get the additional vaccine dose.

According to official CDC data, 49 million Americans have received the additional Covid shot, with around half of them opting to receive the Pfizer booster.
It's too early for Americans to cancel holiday plans due to the Omicron variant of COVID-19, physician and health policy expert Dr Leana Wen told CNN on Thursday.

While Omicron's capacities to spread more quickly and evade some protection from vaccines are causes for concern, Wen said that the Delta variant is still by far the dominant strain in the U.S.

The Omicron variant has been identified in 21 states as of Thursday, and public health officials say it is actively spreading in communities across the country.

To protect against this variant, experts recommend getting vaccinated - including a booster shot, for those eligible - utilizing tests, and wearing a mask in public, indoor settings.

In making decisions about holiday gatherings, Wen recommended considering the medical circumstances of one's family, precautions being taken at the event, and its personal value.

While the Omicron variant is cause for concern, it's not yet spreading in the U.S. to a degree that should lead Americans to cancel holiday plans, one expert said on CNN. (File image)

The variant has been identified in 21 states as of Thursday, and is likely already beginning to spread in communities across the country

The Omicron coronavirus variant was first identified in South Africa and Botswana in late November.

Since then, the variant has spread quickly in South Africa - with cases increasing 111 percent between the week ending November 29 and the week ending December 5.

Early data suggest that Omicron may be significantly more contagious than the Delta variant, and that vaccines are less effective at protecting against it than against previous strains.

Still, studies so far indicate that existing Covid vaccines will protect against severe disease and death from Omicron.

Omicron was first found in the U.S. last week, and has now been identified in 21 states.

This wide range of Omicron cases indicates that the variant is already spreading in communities across the country, experts say.

Still, the U.S. is not at a point where people should cancel holiday plans because of this variant, Dr Leana Wen told CNN on Thursday.

Wen is an emergency physician and professor of health policy and management at the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health.

When asked if people should change their holiday plans, Wen said, 'Not at the moment, no, at least in the United States.'

'That's because the dominant US variant, by far, is still the Delta variant,' Wen said.

'Omicron has been spreading rapidly in South Africa, but it has not yet outpaced Delta here; though it's possible this could occur in the coming weeks and months.'

Wen echoed remarks from Dr Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), at a press briefing on Tuesday.

'I want to reiterate that our updated Nowcast from late last week continues to demonstrate that over 99 percent of sequenced cases in the United States continue to be from the Delta variant,' Walensky said.

The Omicron variant has been detected in over 50 countries, and is spreading rapidly in South Africa, the U.K., and elsewhere

While not as alarming as Omicron, the Delta variant still provides plenty of reasons for concern, Wen told CNN, as cases, hospitalizations, and deaths are all trending up in the U.S.

As of Wednesday, the country is reporting about 120,000 new Covid cases a day - the highest level since this past summer's surge.

'People attending holiday gatherings should certainly be aware of the risk of Covid spread whenever they are around others, in indoor settings,' Wen said.

To better protect against Omicron, Wen and other experts recommend getting vaccinated - including a booster shot, for those eligible.

At-home rapid tests may also be a useful tool for holiday gatherings, as these tests can provide quick and convenient information about whether someone is infected with Covid.

In addition, masks are an important safety measure in indoor, public settings.

'If you stopped using masks indoors after getting vaccinated, now is a good time to mask up again,' wrote former CDC Director Dr Tom Frieden on Twitter earlier this week.

'If you've been wearing cloth masks, consider upgrading to more-protective N95/KN95 masks.'

Dr Leana Wen, a physician at George Washington University, spoke to CNN about considerations for holiday gatherings this year. Pictured: Wen during her medical residency in Boston, August 2012

When deciding whether to attend a holiday event, Wen recommended considering the medical circumstances of people in one's household.

'If everyone in your household is fully vaccinated and boosted, that's a very different situation than if no one is boosted and some family members, like younger children, are unvaccinated or have only had one dose,' Wen told CNN.

In addition, Wen recommended considering which precautions are being taken at the event - including vaccinations, testing, and masking.

'I'd feel a lot more comfortable if everyone is required to be vaccinated, and ideally is also boosted, and if proof of vaccination is asked at the door,' she said.

If events are indoors, hosts can increase safety by requiring masks or testing, such as rapid tests for all attendees.

Ideally, hosts should communicate these precautions in advance so that guests can prepare, she said.

Wen added: 'One important caveat to keep in mind is that events serving food and drink may say that they require masks, but unless you plan to keep your mask on the entire time, regardless of what others are doing, you should treat this as if the event does not require masks.'

Wen also recommended considering the personal value of an event.

Events such as family reunions and weddings may be important enough that some degree of risk could be worthwhile, she said.

Keeping an eye on Covid case numbers in a community can also be useful if one is planning or attending holiday gatherings, experts say.

If Covid cases in a certain community reach a certain threshold, such as the CDC's high transmission threshold, this could trigger a higher level of precaution.

'Stay flexible,' Wen told CNN. 'Check the COVID-19 infection rates in your area, just as you would a weather forecast.'

'Keep an eye on Omicron and, importantly, Delta. Be ready to modify plans, though I wouldn't cancel on account of the new variant just yet.'
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has expanded the availability of the COVID-19 vaccine booster shots in the wake of new data showing the Omicron variant can bypass protection provided by the first two doses.

The agency announced Thursday that it has expanded the eligibility of the Pfizer-BioNTech booster for people 16 and 17 years old.

It is the youngest age group to become eligible for the booster shot in America.

All Americans 16 or 17 will be able to receive the additional shot six months after completion of their initial vaccine series.

On Wednesday, Pfizer unveiled data showing that people who had received only the first two-shots were vulnerable to infection from the Omicron variant, but that the third shot could return protection back to original levels.

The company did not say whether the first two doses alone was enough to prevent sever illness caused by Covid.

The Pfizer COVID-19 booster has receive authorization from the FDA to be used in Americans aged 16 and 17 (file photo)

The Pfizer vaccine is the only jab available to minors in the U.S. Recent data revealed by the company finds that the initial two-dose vaccine series is less effective against the Omicron COVID-19 variant, but receiving a booster shot could increase antibody levels 25-fold. Pictured: A young woman in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, receives a shot of a COVID-19 vaccine on August 4

An African research team found that the Pfizer vaccine provided 40 times less Covid antibodies to fight against the Omicron strain that it does against other variants, hinting that it may be less effective at preventing infection

'Vaccination and getting a booster when eligible, along with other preventive measures like masking and avoiding large crowds and poorly ventilated spaces, remain our most effective methods for fighting COVID-19,' said Dr Janet Woodcock, acting commissioner of the agency in a statement.

'As people gather indoors with family and friends for the holidays, we can't let up on all the preventive public health measures that we have been taking during the pandemic.

'With both the delta and omicron variants continuing to spread, vaccination remains the best protection against COVID-19.'

On Wednesday, Pfizer announced that preliminary data as to how its vaccine responds to the Omicron variant.

The company announced that it had data showing its initial two-dose vaccine regimen was not as effective against the new strain of the virus as it was against others.

It came a day after the African Health Research Institute revealed pre-print data showing the vaccine had 40 times less antibodies effective against the Omicron variant than it had against others.

Pfizer said that receiving a booster, though, would increase the available antibodies for fighting Omicron 25-fold.

'Although two doses of the vaccine may still offer protection against severe disease caused by the Omicron strain, it's clear from these preliminary data that protection is improved with a third dose of our vaccine,' Albert Bourla, CEO of Pfizer, said in a statement.

'Ensuring as many people as possible are fully vaccinated with the first two dose series and a booster remains the best course of action to prevent the spread of COVID-19.'

The variant has been sequenced 71 times in 21 U.S. states as of Thursday afternoon, though the actual number of cases circulating is likely much higher.

It has also been sequenced more than 2,300 times worldwide in around 60 countries.

The FDA reports that myocarditis and pericarditis, both types of health inflammation, are the most common negative side effects reported during clinical trials.

While younger people are at a higher risk of developing the condition after vaccinated, regulators say the benefits of the shots outweigh the risks.

The Pfizer jab is the only one available to minors in America for the first two doses, and is also the most popular vaccine in America.

According to official data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 61 percent of people between the ages of 12 to 17 have received at least one dose of the Pfizer vaccine, and 52 percent are fully vaccinated.

'The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine has been available to individuals 16 years of age and older for nearly a year, and its benefits have been shown to clearly outweigh potential risks,' said Dr Peter Marks, director of the FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research in a statement.

'Since we first authorized the vaccine, new evidence indicates that vaccine effectiveness against COVID-19 is waning after the second dose of the vaccine for all adults and for those in the 16- and 17-year-old age group.

'A single booster dose of the vaccine for those vaccinated at least six months prior will help provide continued protection against COVID-19 in this and older age groups.'

The jab has been administered more than 275 million times since it first became available almost exactly one year ago.

It has also been used to fully vaccinate more than 110 million people, and 26 million Pfizer booster shots have been adminsitered.

Moderna and Johnson & Johnson booster shots are still only available to people 18 and older, though minors who have received those shots are allowed to mix-and-match and receive the Pfizer booster.

Neither of the other two vaccine manufacturers have released data on their vaccine's ability to prevent infection from the Omicron variant.

A study by National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) in England found that booster doses increase the T-cell response against the virus, which protect a person from severe infection even after infection.
COVID-19 vaccine boosters can significantly decrease the already low risk of death fully vaccinated people face from the virus, a new study finds.

A research team led by Clalit Health Services in Tel Aviv, Israel, found that a fully vaccinated person receiving a booster shot reduces their risk of death by up to 90 percent.

The study was conducted between August and September, while the Delta variant was dominant in the country, but before the discovery of the Omicron variant.

Fully vaccinated people still do not face a very high risk, with a death rate of less than 0.02 percent found in the study, but for people vulnerable to Covid due to their age or a comorbidity the study shows how important the booster can be for them.

Researchers found that getting a booster shot (blue line) could reduce the already low-risk of death faced by fully vaccinated (red line) people by 90%. They also found that being a male, diabetes, pulmonary disease and kidney failure all increase a person's risk of death, even if they are fully vaccinated

Israel has had relatively high vaccine demand among its population, and 40% of the population has already received their booster shots. Pictured: A woman in Netanya, Israel, receives a shot of a COVID-19 vaccine on January 20

The study, published Wednesday in the New England Journal of Medicine, gathered data from nearly 850,000 Israelis for the study.

Israelis generally have have a higher demand for the Covid vaccines than people in many other countries, with the Middle Eastern nation quickly getting ahead of the rest of the world in its rollout of the jabs early on.

Once boosters became available in recent months, many were quickly to take up the additional shots as well.

According to official data, 63 percent of the population is fully vaccinated, with 45 percent of residents having received their booster shot.

Within the study, 757,000 participants have received their booster, with 83,000 being fully vaccinated but not yet having received the additional shot.

Researchers followed up with the patients for the 54 days following the start of the study period in early August.

They found that people who had received their booster shot were only 10 percent as likely to be infected with Covid than those that were just fully vaccinated.

During the period, they also found that 137 of the nearly 84,000 participants of the study had died from Covid.

For people who had received their boosters, 65 of the 757,000 died during the 54 days.

Researchers then adjusted the data for other factors like age and comorbidities, and found that people who had gotten the additional shot were only ten percent likely to die of the virus than their fully vaccinated peers.

The research team also looked at other factors, and calculated differences in risk of death based on those factors.

They noted that despite the drastically different life styles of many in the country based of race or religion, there was no significant change in death risk among racial groups.

'The main population sectors in Israel  the general Jewish population, Arab population, and ultra-Orthodox Jewish population  have different health-related behavioral patterns. Our analysis was adjusted for these subpopulations, but the adjustment did not significantly affect the study outcomes,' researchers wrote.

'This observation may be explained by the fact that all participants included in our study had chosen to receive the first two doses early in the vaccination campaign, and therefore, it is possible that they had similar health careseeking behavior.'

They found that males were 149 percent more likely to die of Covid than women were during the period, though did not explain why.

People suffering from lung cancer were at the most risk, with a 220 percent increase in risk of death, and those with chronic kidney cancer were the next highest with a 127 percent increased death risk.

Other conditions like diabetes (29 percent increased risk of death), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (31 percent) and chronic heart failure (41 percent) also put people had an increased risk of death, whether they had received a booster or not.

Being obese increased death risk by 17 percent, and smokers are at a 10 percent increased risk of death.

While the study was performed before the emergence of the Omicron variant last month, is solidifies health officials case for why the additional shots are needed.

Pfizer, manufacturer of the most commonly used Covid vaccine in America, announced Wednesday that it had data showing its shot was less effective at preventing infection from Omicron, but receiving a booster would increase variant-fighting antibodies 25-fold.

So far, nearly 50 million Americans have received their booster shots, with around half having received the Pfizer jab.
FOREVER ELIZABETH by Robert Risko (ACC 45, 252 pp)

FOREVER ELIZABETH

by Robert Risko (ACC 45, 252 pp)

This is a huge and luxurious book full of photographs of Elizabeth Taylor in her prime  and one has to say, what a prime it was.

Eight photographers, including Norman Parkinson and Terry ONeill, contribute pictures some never before seen  and comment on how wonderful, marvellous, enigmatic and professional she was.

But its the images that count. She had the ability to look luminous even when she didnt know someone was taking her picture. And the love in her eyes whenever she looks at that boozy old wreck Richard Burton still takes the breath away half a century later.

I know what gift Ill be buying my mother . . .

BRITAIN AT WAR IN COLOUR

BRITAIN AT WAR IN COLOUR by Ian Carter (Imperial War Museum 25, 240 pp)

by Ian Carter (Imperial War Museum 25, 240 pp)

These astounding photographs of World War II, sourced from the Imperial War Museum archive, are not colourised versions of old black-and-white pictures, as I assumed, but real colour photos of the time shot on Kodachrome 35 mm stock, introduced in 1935. Theres an immediacy to these snaps that catches the eye and moves the heart, especially as you realise that most of the people in these photos are long since dead. Visually thrilling and never less than fascinating.

THE HUMAN ELEMENT

THE HUMAN ELEMENT by James Balog (Rizzoli 60, 456 pp)

by James Balog (Rizzoli 60, 456 pp)

Hugely important, this book bemoans the effects of climate change on our shrinking natural habitats.

Balogs photographs range from shots of flowing lava to power stations issuing vast plumes of smoke, from flooded streets to burning forests and some amazing endangered species.

Who would have thought that such destruction could be made so beautiful?

JUNGLE SPIRITS

JUNGLE SPIRITS by Christian Ziegler and Daisy Dent (teNeues 35, 240 pp)

by Christian Ziegler and Daisy Dent (teNeues 35, 240 pp)

Books of wildlife photography are many and various, but I have not until now seen one that makes all its plants and animals look like aliens from another planet.

Christian Ziegler has a very particular eye, and whether hes shooting ants eating a millipede or a group of bats that look as though they could happily eat us, he always chooses the odd and disturbing image over the obvious.

Daisy Dents accompanying text is full of good stuff. Did you know that bats have nipples in their armpits? Or that beetles fight their enemies by shooting gas out of their anuses?

Ziegler and Dent do. I bet theyre a wow at dinner parties.

A PORTRAIT OF THE TREE

A PORTRAIT OF THE TREE by Adrian Houston (Greenfinch 30, 304 pp)

by Adrian Houston (Greenfinch 30, 304 pp)

This book is, in essence, the purest form of tree porn.

If your idea of fun on a winters afternoon is to go to the local park and stare at trees, which is what I am going to do in a minute, then this is very much the volume for you.

Deciduous, coniferous, trees in full leaf, trees in bloom, old trees, new trees, incalculably ancient trees; this book has everything you would want, skilfully photographed by Houston and neatly annotated with oodles of fascinating facts.

MARILYN & ME by Lawrence Schiller (Taschen 50, 200 pp)

MARILYN & ME

by Lawrence Schiller (Taschen 50, 200 pp)

When Lawrence Schiller met Marilyn Monroe, he was a 25-year-old photojournalist working for Paris Match magazine, and she was about to make her final film. Over the next few weeks he took hundreds of photos of her, some formal, some private, some completely opportunistic, and about 100 of them are reproduced here with extensive notes by Schiller.

Its a blissful book, a portrait of a vanished era, and Marilyn can rock a blue bathrobe like no one in history. Marilyn was a photographers dream with her clothes on, writes Schiller, and even more stunning with them off. You wont get any disagreement from me on that score.

FREE: A LIFE IN IMAGES AND WORDS

By Sergei Polunin (teNeues 45, 272 pp)

FREE: A LIFE IN IMAGES AND WORDS By Sergei Polunin (teNeues 45, 272 pp)

Not a name that I had encountered before, Polunin is a Ukrainian-born, British-trained ballet dancer; rather a good-looking man, of apparently rare talents and extraordinary dedication.

This is an autobiography in words and pictures, the words rarely more than functional, the pictures often spell-bindingly good. Its usually only sportsmen who write autobiographies this early on in their lives (Polunin is 32), but this book is aimed at serious ballet fans and anyone keen on muscular young men jumping ridiculously high in the air. It also shows how often young Polunin gets his kit off. The clothes just seem to fall off the poor fellow.

Helen Mirren, who had a similar problem in her youth, contributes an appreciative introduction.

HER MAJESTY: A PHOTOGRAPHIC HISTORY 1926-TODAY

by Christopher Warwick (Taschen 50, 368 pp)

HER MAJESTY: A PHOTOGRAPHIC HISTORY 1926-TODAY by Christopher Warwick (Taschen 50, 368 pp)

In this lavishly appointed picture book celebrating the Queens reign, Christopher Warwick writes about her whole life so far. The photos range from childhood shots of a tiny, black-and-white Princess Elizabeth to the much-loved ruler of today.

While theres nothing new to write on this very familiar subject, at least Warwick does so without recourse to the usual cliches of royal reportage.

An impressively detailed piece of work, far better than the usual run of such books.
A catalogue of errors at Ofgem has left consumers with a multi-billion pound bill, a new report has claimed.

The regulator failed to act against unfit energy suppliers for nearly a decade, leaving the market vulnerable to this year's spike in wholesale prices, according to Citizens Advice.

The charity said mistakes and missed opportunities left the market in a precarious position when gas prices surged in 2021.

Since the rise in prices, 26 suppliers have now collapsed, hitting four million households and leaving consumers with a bill of 2.6billion - excluding the 1.7billion of taxpayer money set aside for Bulb.

A catalogue of errors at Ofgem has left consumers with a multi-billion pound bill, a report says

As a result, this will cost the average household around 94.

Citizens Advice said that, as customer service declined in the three years before the crisis, Ofgem only opened one formal customer service investigation.

Enforcement powers were not used

The charity said Ofgem had not made use of its powers to stop a supplier taking on new customers in relation to customer service concerns since February 2019.

In early 2021, the watchdog introduced new supplier monitoring, financial checks, and protections for customers of collapsed suppliers.

However, only one of the 20 suppliers that failed from August to mid-November 2021 had a Customer Continuity Plan, known as a 'living will', required under these new rules.

In the four years before the crisis, as firms began failing and supplier conduct worsened, the number of people working on enforcement at Ofgem fell by 25 per cent, Citizens Advice say.

Regulatory failings led to a culture of non-compliance with slow or missed action in response to evidence of licence breaches, and on issues including accurate billing, access to phone lines for customers and offering prepayment options.

Missed opportunities

The charity says there were a number of missed opportunities to reform the market.

As new suppliers entered the market from 2010 to 2019, Citizens Advice raised repeated concerns about poor practice and financial viability.

It called as early as 2013 for a formal review of the licensing regime that accredits new suppliers.

No review took place until 2018 with Ofgem only tightening the rules on new entrants in 2019, after 11 supplier failures. It took a further two years to introduce new rules for firms already in the market.

The charity claims poor practice was rife, with many companies showing clear evidence of financial unsustainability, including firms run out of the owners' living rooms and kitchens.

Citizens Advice said it raised repeated concerns about poor practice and financial viability

Customer money used to help suppliers

Long before this year's crisis, there was evidence of financial weakness, with a number of suppliers reliant on customer credit balances for working capital, Citizens Advice says.

Ofgem's own analysis showed suppliers held a total of 1.4billion in surplus credit in 2018, while other research suggested that some consumer balances were excessive.

People who contacted Citizens Advice for support, after their supplier failed, had average credit balances of 353, with some customers saying their energy supplier was holding over 1,000 of their money.

According to Ofgem, an average bill payer needs only 150 in credit to cover typical winter usage.

With energy bills now set to rise by hundreds of pounds next April, Citizens Advice says lessons must be learned, with changes to how the market is regulated.

The charity is calling for an independent review of the causes of the market collapse, including Ofgem's approach to compliance and enforcement, and its reforms, to ensure companies are fit to trade.

It also wants a new 'consumer duty', similar to that is being introduced by the Financial Conduct Authority, making companies accountable for the outcomes their customers experience

Citizens Advice added action by Government and Ofgem is needed to protect consumers from unnecessarily steep increases to bills to pay for supplier failures.

Dame Clare Moriarty, Chief Executive of Citizens Advice, said: 'Energy customers are facing a multi-billion pound bill, in large part because Ofgem missed multiple opportunities to regulate the market and tackle rule breaking by suppliers.

'Recent wholesale price rises would have been hard to handle in any circumstances, but they need not have led to the collapse of a third of companies in the market.

'It's now clear that reform is needed - and this isn't just about avoiding another crisis.

'If consumers lack confidence in the energy market, or feel they're getting a bad deal, it will be even harder to transition to net zero. So reform is vital for the future as well as for avoiding the mistakes of the past.'

Citizens Advice concerns with Avro Energy On 10 separate occasions from 2018 to 2021, Citizens Advice raised concerns with Ofgem regarding Avro Energy, as the company's customer base grew from 210,900 to 590,000. In 2018, Citizens Advice issued a formal letter to Ofgem raising concerns about Avro's potential breaches of licence conditions. Between 2019 and 2021, the charity also raised multiple concerns regarding Avro's conduct on transfer blocking, billing errors and poor customer service. In September 2021 Avro collapsed, owing creditors 250million and leaving consumers with a 679million bill. Administrator reports reveal the company was reliant on credit balances to fund its day-to-day operations and had failed to buy sufficient energy in advance from wholesale markets ('hedging').

However, Ofgem says it has helped protect customers with its Supplier of Last Resort scheme, where consumers with providers that have collapsed are automatically moved onto another supplier.

An Ofgem spokesperson said: 'Ofgem's top priority is to protect energy consumers and we understand the challenges households and businesses are facing in light of the unprecedented increase in global gas prices.

'Ofgem's safety net has protected more than four million customers, moving them to new suppliers, ensuring they don't need to worry about their energy supply and protecting their credit balances.

'In addition, the price cap is protecting millions more from the full impact of high gas prices this winter.

'However, we accept that the energy market needs reform and quickly - the current system was not designed for this sort of extreme market event.

'Building on the approach we set out in October at Energy UK and our subsequent open letter to industry, in the next few weeks we will be announcing changes that will demonstrate the seriousness with which we are tackling the pace of change needed, the concerns around the financial resilience of the market, as well as ensuring that fair prices are reflected through the price cap.

'We welcome the opportunity to work alongside all consumer groups, including Citizen Advice, as well as the Government and the energy industry to make the changes needed as we all share the same objective to protect energy consumers now and in the future.'

The spokesperson added that going forward Odgem will use its information gathering powers to an even greater degree to conduct more regular assessments of supplier finances, including audits, and apply increased scrutiny.

The regulator will also set a firmer expectation on the capital investment that suppliers should have in place, reflecting the higher risks in the market.

Finally, it will take a more robust approach to assessing suppliers' operational capacity, pricing and hedging strategies and planned investment as they reach the 50,000 and 200,000 domestic customer milestones.
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Britons are accustomed to facing unwanted and hidden additional charges before taking a flight from an airport, but for electric car owners a trip to Gatwick will soon have a charge they will welcome.

That's because Gatwick is set to become the first international airport in the world to have its own dedicated electric vehicle charging hub on site, which has been confirmed today and will open next autumn.

It will be located on the Ring Road South approach to Gatwick's South Terminal and adjacent to the M23 and will enable 36 EVs to charge simultaneously using high-speed devices capable of adding 100 miles of range in less than a 10-minute charge session.

An extra charge before a flight that finally makes sense! This is the new Gatwick Electric Forecourt - a dedicated charging station for electric vehicles that's due to be built and opened by autumn 2022

The news has been confirmed on Thursday by Gridserve, which operates the nation's Electric Highway network of charging locations and devices across motorways and other major routes.

The development will be built in partnership with Gatwick Airport, with the site called the Gatwick Electric Forecourt.

Multiple charging connectors will cater for all types of electric cars, with the most powerful of the 36 available being 350kW devices.

Drivers can use contactless payment to use the charge points.

Pricing is currently 30p per kWh of charging across the network. Gridserve says this is lowest cost pricing in the market for 'comparable ultra-high-power charging'.

A spokesperson told This is Money that prices could rise further in light of the energy crisis taking place.

'Whilst we wish to remain extremely competitive, similar to other EV charging networks, our pricing is currently under review given the substantial increase in wholesale energy costs in the last few months.'

Like other Gridserve locations - including the first dedicated electric charging forecourt in Braintree, Essex opened a year ago - it will feature a cafe, airport-style lounge with free superfast WiFi, supermarket, childrens play area and dedicated EV educational zone.

The site will be supplied with 'low cost, 100 per cent renewable net zero carbon energy', which will be generated by a Gridserve solar farms.

Toddington Harper, CEO of Gridserve and who is named after Toddington Services, said this morning: 'Gatwick isnt just an airport, its an ecosystem of commuters, travellers, staff, taxi drivers, car rental companies, local residents and businesses, all culminating in a transport hub that hosts tens of millions of drivers every single year.

'The Gatwick Electric Forecourt will give these drivers and businesses the confidence to switch away from petrol and diesel cars, making electric journeys to and from one of the countrys most important transport hubs straightforward and sustainable.'

The new site will enable 36 EVs to charge simultaneously using high-speed devices capable of adding 100 miles of range in less than a 10-minute charge session

The Gatwick Electric Forecourt will be the first dedicated EV charging site at an international airport anywhere in the world

The dedicated electric vehicle charging hub will be located on the Ring Road South approach to Gatwick's South Terminal and adjacent to the M23

The Electric Forecourt is said to play a pivotal role in Gatwick Airports commitment to reach net zero carbon emissions for its internal operations before 2040 and its broader aspirations to become the UKs most sustainable airport, including through involvement in UK industry plans to reach net zero aircraft emissions by 2050.

Jonathan Pollard, chief commercial officer at Gatwick Airport, added: 'We are on a journey to create a low carbon economy, and Gatwick is keen to play an important role by providing new infrastructure that everyone can use, so that together we can start reducing our dependence on fossil fuels.

'Our new high-powered charging facility  delivered by Gridserve  will help meet the increasing need for electric vehicle charging infrastructure at the airport, including the growing number of our passengers who own electric vehicles and need fast, convenient and effective charging facilities.

'The new charging infrastructure will also benefit people right across our community, including thousands of staff who live locally, businesses looking to introduce electric vehicle fleets  even those operating busses and trucks  and also local residents who may be considering buying an electric-powered car but were undecided due to the lack of charging facilities.'

Like other Gridserve locations it will feature a cafe, airport-style lounge with free superfast WiFi, supermarket, childrens play area and dedicated EV educational zone

The Electric Forecourt is said to play a pivotal role in Gatwick Airports commitment to reach net zero carbon emissions for its internal operations before 2040

The announcement of the new charging hub at Gatwick comes as Gridserve says it is ramping up its efforts to bolster the nation's EV charging infrastructure.

This includes the completion of Norwich Electric Forecourt, which is in the final construction phase ahead of its scheduled opening in April 2022.

The company also says it is underway with its wide-scale upgrade of the Electric Highway motorway charging network.

More than 20 electric hubs  each featuring between six and 12 350kW ultra high-power chargers  will open at service stations across the UK by the second quarter of 2022, with 11 already in construction and planned to be completed by the end of March.

A further 50 additional Electric Hub sites will follow, Gridserve says.
Private equity barons at Bain Capital could tap into supposedly ring-fenced member funds at LV following a successful purchase of the mutual insurer.

Bosses at both companies have repeatedly said that LV members cash is protected and could not be accessed by Bain except in extreme circumstances.

But a former Bank of England regulator has raised concerns that the pot of money could in fact be tapped in circumstances far from extreme.

Decision time: LV's 1.2m members have been voting on the mutual insurer's sale to private equity barons Bain Capital

The warning came as LVs future hangs in the balance 178 years after it was set up in Liverpool to help the citys poor give their families a decent burial.

Its 1.2m members have been voting on the deal with Bain, with the deadline of 2pm yesterday for doing so by post or online portal.

Those yet to vote can have their say at online meetings tomorrow at 2pm and 4pm. The proposed deal has sparked anger among LV customers, MPs and experts, who are furious it is being sold by its bosses to US private equity.

Fresh fears have now emerged over the Bain deal. Around 297,000 LV members own with-profits policies, meaning they share in the fortunes of the company.

Bain plans to break these policyholders away from the rest of the continuing business. It will ring-fence a pot of money to cover their payouts, replacing the cash they would get from future profits of the continuing business.

In communications to LV members, Bain has said it would not be able to touch this pot except in extreme circumstances, such as if the entire business went bust.

But former Bank of England regulator Dean Buckner warned LV is exposed to 630million of risky equity release mortgages, which could result in significant losses if the housing market does not grow at the rate LV forecasts.

If the housing market stalls, it could tap the with-profits fund for spare cash.

Buckner, who is on the board of the UK Shareholders Association, said: The 630million  forms a substantial portion of their annuity liabilities.

'It would not take an extreme scenario to exhaust their liquidity, for example stagnating house prices, unexpected variations in mortality and model error.

LV insists it has enough capital to cover severe shocks. It added that since 2016, all equity release mortgages have been underwritten by a third party. A spokesman said: We have a very prudent level of reserves to support the historic equity release business retained on the LV balance sheet.

We do not believe there is any reasonable basis on which LV members should feel exposed to the scenarios described.
Grocery delivery giant Ocado got a boost after a broker branded it the partner of choice for supermarkets looking to cash in on the online shopping boom accelerated by the pandemic.

Analysts at Jefferies said online shopping has a long way to go, noting that in the UK groceries bought online were still only 12 per cent of the total, but adding that many supermarkets would need to re-engineer business models to deliver groceries to customers, incurring expenses beyond the appetite of many.

As a result, these firms need a partner with a heritage in grocery [and] automation. In our view, Ocado remains a partner of choice in this regard, analysts said.

Tipped: Broker Jefferies upgraded Ocado to 'hold' from 'underperform' and nearly doubled their target price to 1850p from 950p. The stock rose 0.8%, or 13p, to 1633.5p

Jefferies noted that Ocados partnership with Marks & Spencer, signed in 2019, was proof of the pudding for its ability to run an effective online delivery service.

The firms technology arm, which provides robots that can pack orders automatically, was an economically viable option.

The broker upgraded Ocado to hold from underperform and nearly doubled their target price to 1850p from 950p. The stock rose 0.8 per cent, or 13p, to 1633.5p.

The FTSE 100 dipped 0.04 per cent, or 2.85 points to 7337.05 while the FTSE 250 fell 0.04 per cent, or 7.74 points, to 23,230.43.

Stock Watch - Equals Group Shares in Equals Group traded near a two-year high after it said it had significantly exceeded expectations. The international payments and money transfer firm raked in revenues of 40.4million in the year to date  51 per cent higher than the same period in 2020  with takings more than doubling across October and November to 11.6million. Its numbers were boosted by a transaction with a large corporate client during the period which had generated 1.5million in revenues. The shares rose 8.7 per cent, or 5.5p, to 68.5p.

Markets were unnerved by the seemingly imminent return of Covid restrictions in the UK, with the Government planning to introduce vaccine passports and order people to work from home once again.

Games Workshop, maker of Warhammer battle figurines, took a hit after higher costs ate into profits, which, for the six months to November 28, are expected to be at least 86million, down from 91.6million in the same period a year ago.

Revenue is expected to hit at least 190million, from 187million. It slid 0.7 per cent, or 70p, to 9690p after it revealed a deal with virtual reality firm Nexon to develop games based on Warhammer properties.

British Gas owner Centrica struck an 800million deal to sell its Norwegian oil and gas assets as part of plans to slim down. The sale includes the Statfjord oilfield at the UK-Norwegian boundary in the North Sea.

Shares ticked down 0.2 per cent, or 0.1p, to 67.58p.

Mid-cap miner Centamin posted the biggest increase in gold reserves in a decade at a mine in Egypt of more than 1m ounces.

The expansion underpins the plans to produce 500,000 ounces per year over the next decade.

However, the shares fell 0.8 per cent, or 0.74p, to 91.38p after analysts at broker Liberum said the increased gold reserves would be overshadowed by higher costs.

AIM heavyweight Clinigen agreed to a 1.2billion takeover deal with UK private equity firm Triton Investment Management.

The pharma groups shareholders will receive 883p in cash for each share they hold, a 41 per cent premium to the closing price on December 1, the day before the offer was first announced.

The shares were up 11.3 per cent, or 92.5p, at 910p, suggesting investors may be expecting a higher bid to appear.

Meanwhile, mid-cap oiler Diversified Energy lifted 2.8 per cent, or 2.8p, to 104.6p after a 32 per cent rise in its credit limit was approved by lenders.

It now has access to 623million from banks, which was attributed to a recent hike in oil and gas prices and an acquisition.

Blue-chip chemicals firm Croda rose 2.2 per cent, or 225p, to 10,285p after UBS upgraded the stock to buy from neutral, saying they expected higher than expected earnings in 2022.
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An undercover TV researcher who worked on Channel 4's Dispatches has been found guilty of torturing a father-of-two to death in front of his children at a cannabis farm - as pictures reveal his horrific final hours inside a filthy cow shed in what detectives described as scenes of 'absolutely shocking' violence.

Christopher Guest More Jr, now 43, murdered Brian Waters, 44, at a Cheshire farmhouse in a bid to get back a 20,000 drugs debt on June 19, 2003.

Over four hours, Mr Waters sustained 123 injuries as he was whipped, burned with acid, attacked with a staple gun, hung upside down, suspended head first into a liquid to simulate drowning and beaten at Burnt House Farm in Tabley, near Knutsford.

A Home Office post-mortem investigation recorded a cause of death of multiple injuries - including fractured ribs, a broken nose and breastbone, a bleed on the brain and bruising to the heart.

Evidence of strangulation was also found, while he had suffered burns to his back from a 'caustic substance' and had been attacked using the staple gun across his head and body. He was also beaten with bamboo canes with such ferocity that they snapped, as well as being struck with a metal bar and burned with melting plastic.

Police photographs from the scene show a chair with ligatures still attached to one of its arms, and a green barrel which was filled with dirty water and used to submerge Mr Waters' head under while he was hanged by his feet from the ceiling by a blue rope - which is also seen still attached to the rafters.

Mr Waters' son Gavin, then 25, and daughter Natalie, who turned 21 the day before his death, were tied up and forced to watch as their father was murdered by his attackers, who tied a bin bag over his head and set it alight, causing it to melt onto his head.

Natalie had the barrel of a gun placed in her mouth, the court heard, while Gavin had a rope tied around his neck and was beaten, before Mr Waters' wife Julie was brought to the site to discover his dead body.

Guest More Jr's conviction comes after a previous trial in May ended in a hung jury when jurors failed to reach a majority verdict following 15 hours of deliberation, leading to a re-trial.

Three other men - John Wilson, James Raven and Otis Matthews - were previously convicted of Mr Waters' murder and conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm to him and to Suleman Razak, who was also tortured at the site on the same day, following trials between 2004 and 2007.

A police handout shows the horrifying scene, featuring a barrel filled with liquid - which Mr Waters was lowered into and chair with ties around its arms, which he was tied to during the four-hour torture session

Christopher Guest More Jr, 43, (pictured left in a police mugshot after he was caught and right, after the murder) is guilty of murdering Brian Waters, 44, at a Cheshire farmhouse over a 20,000 drugs debt on June 19, 2003.

Chester Crown Court heard how Mr Waters (pictured) was killed in a disused cow shed at Burnt House Farm in Tabley, near Knutsford, while another man, Suleman Razak, was tortured at the same time

More pictured pointing a gun at a camera while posing shirtless next to a red Mercedes convertible and a Porsche

Three other men - John Wilson, James Raven and Otis Matthews - were previously convicted of Mr Waters' murder and conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm to him and to Mr Razak following trials between 2004 and 2007 (Pictured: Scene of torture and murder shows a chair with what appear to be restraints tied to its arm, alongside a green barrel which was filled with water and used to submerge the head of Mr Waters while he was hanging from the ceiling by his feet and beaten with bamboo canes and iron bars)

Mr Waters was tortured to death in front of his family at the farmhouse. He was murdered in the shed and his body dumped in milking parlour (Pictured: Scene of torture and murder)

Aerial shot shows the farmhouse in Knutsford, Cheshire, where Mr Waters was growing cannabis and was murdered over a drug debt

Gun found near the scene of the murder of Mr Waters

Mr Waters was found with staples in his head and on his body following his torture and murder (Pictured: Stapler found near the scene)

Scene photo shows rope tied to the rafters of the barn, believed to have been used to hoist up Mr Waters and suspend him head first into a barrel of liquid

James Raven, More's cousin, dons a balaclava and poses for the camera while brandishing a gun and axe in macabre photo taken in the run up to his arrest for murder

Christopher Guest More Jr fled the UK after the murder of Brian Waters, who was killed in front of his two adult children at Burnt House Farm (pictured) in Tabley, in June 2003

How convicted killer Christopher More fled UK to live life of luxury as a yacht captain in Malta for 16 YEARS - rubbing shoulders with the Moroccan royal family A murderer who went on the run for 16 years was living a luxurious lifestyle as a businessman and yacht captain in Malta. Christopher Guest More, now 43, had been working as an undercover TV researcher when he was involved in the torture of 44-year-old Brian Waters, who died during the four-hour ordeal, and Suleman Razak, at a cannabis farm in rural Cheshire in June 2003. Two days after the killing, More flew to Spain with his then-partner, who cannot be named for legal reasons. His girlfriend moved on to Ibiza to meet friends but More stayed in Malaga where his father, Christopher Guest More senior, flew out to see him the following month and returned with More's phone. His father was later sentenced to nine months in prison for assisting an offender. During a trial at Chester Crown Court, More junior told the jury he spent about six months in Spain and then travelled to South Africa, using a fake passport, before moving to Mozambique, Turkey and eventually settling in Malta, where police say he lived from 2007. Using the identity of Andrew Lamb, who was actually an adult living in a care home, More worked as a captain of luxury yachts and negotiated deals for import and export business. The trial heard he had sent surveyors to Tangier port after being invited by the Moroccan royal family and discussed deals to deliver goods to countries such as Iran and Libya. In his closing speech, Nigel Power QC, prosecuting, told the jury More must have 'told lie after lie' to his girlfriend of 15 years, who did not know he was on the run for murder. Sarah Pengelly, who was head of the major investigation team at Cheshire Police before she retired earlier this year, said: 'He was essentially involved in import/export, he also had a role as a yacht captain, all of which was under his assumed identity, his false identity of Andrew Lamb, and he established himself in the community, he had a partner out in Malta and to all intents and purposes he was an affluent businessman living a luxury lifestyle.' At the time of his arrest, More, worked out of Portomaso harbour, was living in a new-build apartment in the town of Swieqi in northern Malta but had previously been living in a large house with swimming pool, police said. He drove a white Porsche Cayenne. In 2019, the fugitive was put onto Europe's most wanted list, which police said led to crucial pieces of intelligence coming to light. Ms Pengelly said: 'We recognised that we were looking for a needle in a haystack, but being able to essentially reach into almost every law enforcement agency in Europe and really push forward and try and ask for intelligence and information about who he was, who he was representing himself to be, what identity he had, that was a real game-changer for us.' On June 6 2019 the European Arrest Warrant for More was executed and, although he originally claimed in court in Malta that he was Andrew Lamb and not a wanted man, he was later extradited to the UK to stand trial. He was found guilty of murder this week. Advertisement

More was convicted by a majority of 10 to 2 at Chester Crown Court on Monday.

On Thursday, after 12 hours and 14 minutes of deliberations, the jury also found him guilty of conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm to Mr Razak, who worked on the cannabis farm and was tortured alongside Mr Waters.

More, wearing a grey suit and white shirt, shook his head as the verdicts were returned.

Mr Razak described how he was punched and kicked in the face numerous times and knocked unconscious before suspended from rafters into a barrel which was filled with water.

After being electrocuted, he was burned with acid, had a pillowcase placed over his head and set on fire and was attacked with a staple gun, which was used on his feet and body.

Mr Waters' wife Julie, then 42, was abducted from their family home in Nantwich and also brought to the site, where she discovered the dead body of her husband.

He had staples in his head and body and was assaulted with an iron bar and other weapons, the jury was told.

Detective Inspector Kate Tomlinson, the senior investigating officer, said the violence used against the victims was 'absolutely shocking.'

She said: 'As police officers we are used to dealing with violent crime  but the barbaric nature of this attack is something that you never forget.

'When you look at what happened at the farm that day, and what those men did, it feels like something you only ever see in the movies. It doesn't feel like something that could ever happen in real life  let alone in rural Cheshire.'

She added that Mr Waters' family continued to be affected by the crime.

She said: 'They have remained very insular and haven't been able to move on with their lives.

'They have remained very scared to this day because somebody's been outstanding for the murder of their husband and father.'

The family said in a statement today: 'We are delighted with the guilty verdict and pleased that Christopher Guest More Jr is finally facing justice for his part in the horrific murder of a loving husband and father.

'We would like to thank detectives from Cheshire Constabulary, the prosecution team and everyone else involved in the case for all of their hard work and tireless and extensive investigations, which now span more than 18 years.

'We would also like to extend our thanks to the Family Liaison Officers for their help, advice and support over the years.

'What happened at Burnt House Farm on 19 June 2003 has had a significant and long-lasting effect on our family.

'We will never be able to forget events of that day and, even now, more than 18 years down the line, we feel the pain on a daily basis with constant flashbacks.

'We have remained a close-knit family and have provided much-needed support to each other  but this has been an isolating experience for us and not only have we lived in fear of reprisals we have also struggled to trust others as we normally would.

'It's similar to the feelings people have experienced in the current COVID crisis  not being able to leave their home and having to stay inside to feel safe. We have been living like that for more than 18 years.

'But we never gave up hope and the verdict today marks the end of an incredibly painful journey in our lives. We would now ask that our privacy is respected and we are left alone as a family as we try and move forward with the next chapter.'

Judge Sir Peter Openshaw said More would be sentenced on Friday.

The court heard how More had fled the UK for Spain two days after the murder and, after travelling to South Africa, Mozambique and Turkey, settled in Malta, where he was found living 16 years later in 2019 - working as a yacht captain and businessman.

More was finally arrested in Malta (pictured) in 2019, years after a European Arrest Warrant had been issued

The court heard how he had lived a life of luxury as a yacht captain and businessman in Malta before he was extradited (pictured)

Pictured left to right: John Wilson, James Raven and Otis Matthews, who were all convicted for the murder of Brain Waters following trials between 2004 and 2007

More (pictured left in 2003) fled the country two days after the killing, flying from Liverpool Airport to Malaga in Spain - before settling in Malta in 2007

Pictured: The torture scene while, right, police officers outside the farmhouse during the initial investigation

Timeline of Brian Waters murder and arrest and conviction of Christopher More 2002 Christopher More and his cousin James Raven are asked to locate a cannabis farm by a production company working for Channel 4's Dispatches. They report that they had found one but their work or findings were not used in the programme. June - Brian Waters sets up a cannabis farm in Knutsford, Cheshire with his friend Mujahid Majid. June 19 - More, now 43, murders Mr Waters, 44, at the Cheshire farmhouse over a 20,000 drugs debt owed to drug dealer John Wilson, who More had been in regular contact with as he carried out reconnaissance of the property in the days prior. 2003 June 21 - Two days after the killing, More flees Britain and flies from Liverpool Airport to Malaga. December - More travels to South Africa using a fake passport under the name of Andrew Christopher Lamb, before moving to Mozambique and then Turkey. 2004 May - European Arrest Warrant issued for More. August - James Raven and John Wilson are convicted of the murder of Mr Waters and must serve a minimum of 24 years in jail each. 2007 More settles in Malta, where he at first lives in a large villa with a pool, and works as a yacht captain and businessman. October - Otis Matthews is convicted of murder for his involvement in killing Mr Waters and is sentenced to a minimum of 22 years behind bars after his third re-trial. 2019 - More is placed on 'Europe's Most Wanted' list June - The European Arrest Warrant for More is finally executed as he is tracked down and arrested in Malta. 2020 March - More is extradited from Malta to the UK to stand trial. 2021 May - More's trial collapses when a jury was discharged after it failed to agree on a verdict, leading to a retrial in November. December - More is found guilty of the murder of Mr Waters and conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm to Suleman Razak, who worked on the cannabis farm and was tortured at the same time as Mr Waters. Advertisement

Nigel Power QC, prosecuting, previously told of how More's DNA was found on a glove, cigarette ends, a drinks bottle and faeces recovered from the cow shed of the farm, where the four-hour torture session took place.

More had denied being present when the attacks took place but Mr Power said he had made a number of reconnaissance visits to the open land of the farm before the day of the murder.

More claimed that that had been part of his role as an undercover television reporter.

He said he had only befriended drug dealer Wilson, one of three men already convicted of the murder, because he thought he could sell a story on him being a police informant to the media and he might lead him to a cannabis farm which he could film for a Dispatches documentary.

He admitted stealing cannabis and equipment from the farm on the morning of the murder but denied having any prior knowledge of the attacks, the jury was told.

He claimed he had left the site when he had an argument with Raven and realised Wilson, who was not at the scene, had discovered he was working undercover.

Mr Power said More flew to Malaga, Spain, in the early morning of June 21, 2003, two days after the murder.

A European Arrest Warrant was issued in 2004 but not executed until June 6 2019 in Malta.

The court heard that More was using a UK passport under the name Andrew Christopher Lamb.

At the trial of More in March this year, Mr Power added: 'This defendant, Christopher Guest More Jr, the man you are to try, fled the country on June 21, 2003 and for 16 years evaded capture until 2019, when he was discovered living a new life under an assumed name in Malta.'

The jury was told More, who was 25 at the time and living in Lymm, had been involved in undercover work for television programmes, often working with convicted killer Raven, his cousin.

In 2002, More and Raven were asked to locate a cannabis farm for covert filming by a production company working for Channel 4 show Dispatches, which was filming a programme about the reclassification of the drug, the court heard.

Mr Power said: 'But, although they said that they had located an illegal grow, what is sometimes called a cannabis farm, this avenue was not pursued and the programme was transmitted without any work from Mr More or Mr Raven.'

The court heard Mr Waters had set up a cannabis farm with his friend Mujahid Majid, known as Johnny, in June 2002.

Mr Power said: 'The farm was set up at Burnt House Farm in Tabley, that area where ultimately he was to be murdered.'

The jury was told Mr Waters also had a cannabis farm in Holland, where he would regularly travel and broker deals for other people, including drug dealer and one of his convicted killers Wilson, now 71.

Mr Power said Mr Waters owed money to Wilson and at one point had to work to pay off 20,000 which was confiscated from him as he travelled back from Holland.

More fled the UK for Malta and was living under the identity of Andrew Lamb (Pictured: Passport under name Andrew Christopher Lamb)

More is seen smiling at Liverpool Airport two days after the murder as he boarded a flight to Malaga in Spain

After flying to Malaga (pictured boarding flight), More travelled to various African countries before settling in Malta

More's driving licence under his assumed identity - Andrew Christopher Lamb

Mr Waters and Mr Razak were both hung head first into barrels of fluid during the torture session (Pictured: Barrel discovered at the scene)

Nigel Power QC, prosecuting, previously told of how More's DNA was found on a glove (pictured) , cigarette ends, a drinks bottle and faeces recovered from the cow shed of the farm, where the four-hour torture session took place

Balaclava and gloves found near the murder scene

A knife believed to have been used in the torture session (pictured) was also found near the scene

Police photo shows the inside of the barn at the farmhouse where the body of Mr Waters was found

Photo issued by Cheshire Constabulary of a baseball hat found near the scene of the murder of Brian Waters

Cannabis plants are pictured inside the farmhouse where Mr Waters was killed

Cheshire Constabulary photo of a horsebox inside the barn at the farmhouse in Cheshire

Christopher Guest More Jr arriving at Chester Crown Court under high security

The farmhouse where the body of Brian Waters was found following four hours of torture

Brian Waters was tortured to death in front of his family at the farmhouse in Tabley (pictured)

Family of Brian Waters 'delighted' over conviction of Christopher More almost 20 years after brutal torture and murder Following the guilty verdict on Thursday, the family of Brian Waters said in a statement: 'We are delighted with the guilty verdict and pleased that Christopher Guest More Jr is finally facing justice for his part in the horrific murder of a loving husband and father. 'We would like to thank detectives from Cheshire Constabulary, the prosecution team and everyone else involved in the case for all of their hard work and tireless and extensive investigations, which now span more than 18 years. We would also like to extend our thanks to the Family Liaison Officers for their help, advice and support over the years. 'What happened at Burnt House Farm on 19 June 2003 has had a significant and long-lasting effect on our family. We will never be able to forget events of that day and, even now, more than 18 years down the line, we feel the pain on a daily basis with constant flashbacks. 'We have remained a close-knit family and have provided much-needed support to each other  but this has been an isolating experience for us and not only have we lived in fear of reprisals we have also struggled to trust others as we normally would. 'Its similar to the feelings people have experienced in the current COVID crisis  not being able to leave their home and having to stay inside to feel safe. We have been living like that for more than 18 years. 'But we never gave up hope and the verdict today marks the end of an incredibly painful journey in our lives. We would now ask that our privacy is respected and we are left alone as a family as we try and move forward with the next chapter.' Advertisement

'When we come to tell you about about drug dealing shortly, you will hear that John Wilson was a drug dealer and provided this defendant with cocaine from time to time,' Mr Power said at the trial.

The court heard More, who drove a Porsche Boxster, did not pay for cocaine supplied to him by Wilson.

Mr Power said mobile phone evidence from nine days before the murder showed the defendant, who was described as a private investigator, appeared to drive to the Waters' home and follow the victim's son Gavin to Crewe.

The prosecutor told the court: 'As Mr More was travelling, following Gavin Waters to Crewe, who was he keeping in contact with but John Wilson.

'John Wilson, convicted of murder, John Wilson, to who Brian Waters owed a 20,000 drug debt.'

He said More then followed Gavin to his father's cannabis farm, which Mr Waters had kept secret from Wilson.

Phone records showed More continued to call Wilson while near Burnt House Farm, the court heard.

Mr Power said: 'Could that call, while Gavin's at the farm, be Mr More telling John Wilson 'bingo, I've found it'.'

More denied the murder of Mr Waters and conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm to Mr Waters and Mr Razak but was ultimately found guilty.

Nikki Holland, NCA Director of Investigations, said: 'We are utterly delighted that after very many years of cheating justice, Guest More Jnr is in prison where he belongs for a long time.

'The NCA and Cheshire Police worked quietly, hand-in-hand behind the scenes for all those years developing strategies and pursuing leads to find him.

'The Agency's investigators and International Liaison Officer network were instrumental in tracing and identifying Guest More Jnr to Malta.

'We used a range of specialist capabilities  which we lead for the benefit of all UK law enforcement  to pinpoint Guest More Jnr where our Maltese partners arrested him.

'More Jnr featured on the very successful Operation Capture fugitives hunt, and out of 96 fugitives there are now just nine evading justice.

'We were never going to give up the hunt to catch him. Other fugitives should remember that and ask themselves if it's worth living a life looking over their shoulder.'

Nicola Wyn Williams from the Crown Prosecution Service said: 'It has been a privilege to work as part of such a dedicated prosecution team to bring the defendant to justice and hopefully provide some closure for the victims and family in this case.'
A troubled man who spent more than four years behind bars is now making five-figures per month after giving up drugs and starting a lucrative OnlyFans career.

Dale Egan, 31, has become one of Australia's biggest adult film stars after moving on from a life of temptation and crime.

He is now in the top 0.2 per cent of influencers on the platform in Australia and earning tens of thousands of dollars a month, a stark contrast from his life even 12 months ago where he was having to borrow money just to put fuel in his car.

'I was in a deep, dark black hole and going through hurt in my life. Every time I was in emotional pain I was acting out,' he told Daily Mail Australia.

'I had depression, and that combined with drug use, I was just smashing my brain.'

Dale Egan, 31, has become one of Australia's biggest adult film and OnlyFans stars after moving on from a life of temptation and crime

The 31-year-old is now in the top 0.2 per cent of influencers on the platform in Australia and earning tens of thousands of dollars a month

He owes his new lease on life to giving up a life of crime and drugs, which saw him jailed for four-and-a-half years for a home invasion

Dale said he fell into crime and drugs because he was struggling to make ends meet and fell in with the wrong crowd.

Growing up on the Gold Coast, he said he was exposed to a lot of temptation that eventually turned criminal.

'When I was a teenager I started to rebel a lot. Combined with drug use, I started doing a lot of things you're not supposed to,' he said.

'I was hanging out with different people, then I started working in security and was thinking I was really tough.'

He said he had a good upbringing thanks to his 'great mum', but struggled with depression and his mental health sent him spiralling out of control.

Dale was arrested in 2015 for home invasion and sentenced for four-and-a-half years behind bars at just 25 years old, something he now reflects upon positively.

'Prison itself was fine, the worst part is missing out on everything out here,' he told Daily Mail Australia.

'Missing kids, birthdays, Christmas, Easter. You see your friends making new friends and their relationships grow strong.'

The 31-year-old says joining TikTok really helped his career skyrocket, posting the opening scenes of his role play videos to boost subcriptions on OnlyFans

'I'm so grateful and blessed, I reflect on it every day. I'm living in a five bedroom house by myself, just bought a new ute, bought a jet ski,' Dale said

He said he struggled to find meaning after leaving jail and went four months 'dead broke', having to borrow money to eat and pay rent.

'I was making a few mistakes when I first got out. Just last Christmas I was dead broke for four months, borrowing money to pay rent and put fuel in the car,' Dale said.

'I thought what the f*ck am I going to do, my love life hasn't been that great anyway, I'm going to try OnlyFans.'

He started with a social media following of nothing, slowly building a base by following similar accounts overseas.

After a couple of months Dale started to gain traction and got a lot of help from girls he knew who already used the platform.

The 31-year-old says joining TikTok really helped his career skyrocket, posting the opening scenes of his role play videos to boost subcriptions on OnlyFans.

Dale said his family and friends have been incredibly supportive of his new career and 'as long as I'm not involved in crime they're happy with it.'

'We have comple control over the content. It's a lot of fun, the women I work with are great,' he said.

'Most of us have consent forms and get regular tests, it's very safe.'

Dale said his family and friends have been incredibly supportive of his new career and 'as long as I'm not involved in crime they're happy with it.

'Jail humbled me a lot, there's not a lot of people who get a second chance, but I'm hugely grateful'

He said OnlyFans allows the performers to decide the direction of the videos and provides another level of comfortability for everyone involved in the scenes.

'For a filming day, it might not be too sexy. We'd have a chat, sign consent forms, talk about boundaries - what we want and don't want, role play, what kind of role play,' he said.

Dale admitted working in adult films has made him 'not desireable' to date, and said his past drug abuse means he wouldn't date anyone who takes substances, even recreationally.

'I can't say I'm desirable, [my work] is not the easiest thing to accept. I couldn't date someone who takes drugs either, so my pull to women is very limited,' he admitted.

The 31-year-old said he is hugely thankful for the second lease on life that sees him rake in five-figures per month and has him completely out of doubt.

'I'm so grateful and blessed, I reflect on it every day. I'm living in a five bedroom house by myself, just bought a new ute, bought a jet ski,' Dale said.

'Jail humbled me a lot, there's not a lot of people who get a second chance, but I'm hugely grateful.'
Healthcare manufacturer Johnson and Johnson is accused of keeping quiet about it's $1 billion diabetes drug Invokana after being warned of its potentially deadly side effect.

An investigation revealed that as far back as 2010, during clinical trials for Invokana J&J researchers learned that some patients showed increased levels of an acid known as ketones in their blood.

But J&J made no attempt to flag this issue to regulators, and even after the drug to treat type-2 diabetes was released J&J executives repeatedly overruled safety concerns, Reuters reported, and launched the drug in spring 2013.

During a 2014 meeting, less than one year after the drug had been on the market and earned Johnson and Johnson nearly $1 billion in sales, executives were told by the company's safety team that people taking Invokana were falling gravely ill.

Dr. Bruce Leslie (pictured) said he recommended that J&J executives alert regulators in order to get ahead of any future controversy but ultimately no action was taken

Among those who sued was Veronica Ryan, (pictured) a 58-year-old type 2 diabetes patient in Tennessee who became seriously ill after being prescribed the drug

Ryan has since recovered, and filed a lawsuit against J&J over her ordeal

At around the same time, the company also received similar reports from doctors from across the United States regarding 18 patients sickened by a rare and potentially fatal buildup of acid in the blood, known as diabetic ketoacidosis, or DKA, within days or weeks of starting Invokana.

Dr. Bruce Leslie, who led the safety team at the March 2014 meeting, told Reuters that he recommended that J&J executives alert U.S. and European regulators in order to get ahead of any future controversy 'otherwise, it could come back and bite us in the ass,' but ultimately no action was taken.

According to Leslie, in the weeks after the March 2014 meeting he received a letter from his boss warning him that he could be fired for contributing to 'an unnecessarily contentious' discussion on Invokana.

Just a few weeks after that, the Japanese company that developed the drug and licensed it told J&J that elevated ketones were a potential risk.

Among those injured by the drug was Veronica Ryan, a 58-year-old type 2 diabetes patient in Chattanooga, Tennessee, who later sued.

Ryan was prescribed Invokana in September 2015 but told Reuters that over the next few weeks she felt increasingly weak and nauseate and her heart raced, and she couldnt sit up in bed without feeling out of breath.

She was admitted to the hospital with a diagnosis of ketoacidosis, her medical records and court documents show. Doctors couldnt determine what caused the reaction, Ryan said, and Invokana was never mentioned.

Two weeks after she was discharged her prescription for Invokana was refilled and she landed back at the hospital.

Ryans medical records show she had lapsed into ketoacidosis again. She struggled to breathe, and her kidneys had begun to shut down. Her closest friends gathered at the hospital to pray. Her husband called her family to tell them her condition was critical.

'They thought it was my last day,' Ryan told Reuters.

During Ryans 12-day hospital stay in December 2015, the FDA announced that it would require Invokana and other drugs in its class to add warnings about ketoacidosis.

Ryan returned home in mid-December. But she didnt feel strong enough to go back to work until two months later. Ryan dropped her lawsuit against J&J in 2019. She said she couldnt comment on the resolution of her case and J&J declined to comment on Ryans case.

'I warn anybody who has diabetes to be cautious of Invokana,' Ryan said. 'It was like it was slowly killing me.'

'In my opinion, they wanted to make this safety issue go away because it threatened sales,' Leslie, who left the company several months after the 2014 meeting, told Reuters.

Documents revealed that months later, in July 2014, the company became aware of 39 cases of ketoacidosis but still remained silent, Reuters reported.

It wasn't until May 2015, two years and four million prescriptions after Invokana hit the market - that the public first heard of the drug's association with ketoacidosis.

The announcement came after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced an investigation which led to U.S and European regulators to place a warning on the label on Invokana and more recent entrants to this new class of drugs, known as SGLT2 inhibitors.

During all this, the company continued to pour tens of millions of dollars into marketing Invokana as a safe, effective treatment for millions of people with type 2 diabetes, Reuters reported.

The drug is currently still on the market even with thousands of reports to the FDA of ketoacidosis and related events, although sales have declined as the drug's label is packed with warnings about ketoacidosis and other possible adverse effects.

But ultimately J&J was able to make more than $6 billion in revenue from Invokana since its launch, and the drug continues to generate money.

In 2020, Invokana (pictured) and a sister drug pulled in $795 million worldwide for Johnson & Johnson

Johnson and Johnson said it cares 'deeply about the safety and well-being of patients treated with our medications' in a statement

In 2020, Invokana and a sister drug pulled-in $795 million worldwide for Johnson & Johnson, who defended their decision to ignore warning's regarding the drug.

In a statement to Reuters, the company said it cares 'deeply about the safety and well-being of patients treated with our medications. Both pre- and post-approval, (the company) has worked diligently and closely with regulatory authorities to monitor and investigate emerging safety data, to report credible signals to FDA, and to advise healthcare providers and their patients of the risk-benefit profile for Invokana.'

But Johnson and Johnson has been forced to settle many of the roughly 1,200 Invokana lawsuits gathered in multidistrict litigation in New Jersey federal court in connection to the drug that alleged fraud, negligence or failure to warn about the risk of diabetic ketoacidosis, amputation and other injuries.

According to Leslie, the company's delay in advising regulators was an unconscionable decision that led to people like Ryan getting sick.

'In my opinion, the company wasnt sufficiently proactive at notifying regulators, and hundreds of people got sick. That is the tragedy to me,' he told Reuters.
California has unveiled plans to become a 'sanctuary state' for abortion if Roe v Wade is overturned, and could pay the travel and accommodation costs of women traveling to the Golden State for terminations.

The California Future of Abortion Council, which was founded by Governor Gavin Newsom, is made up of more than 40 abortion providers and advocacy groups and released a list of 45 recommendations Wednesday.

They include suggestions that California should cover the expenses of women traveling from states where abortion has been banned to seek a termination, including the cost of the procedure, as well as travel and accommodation.

The recommendations, shared on Wednesday, are not just a liberal fantasy. Some of the state's most important policymakers helped write them, including Toni Atkins, the San Diego Democrat who leads the state Senate and attended multiple meetings.

Newsom told The Associated Press last week that some of the report's details will be included in his budget proposal in January.

'We'll be a sanctuary,' Newsom said, adding he's aware patients will likely travel to California from other states to seek abortions.

Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom (pictured left) started the California Future of Abortion Council, which has penned the proposal to cover abortions and the expenses associated with them for out-of-staters coming to California if Roe v. Wade is overturned. The measure is supported by mainstream policymakers, including San Diego Senator Toni Atkins (right)

People rally in support of abortion rights at the state Capitol in Sacramento, California in 2019. On Wednesday, a group of abortion providers and advocacy groups recommended California should use public money to bring people here from other states for abortion services should the U.S. Supreme Court overturn Roe v. Wade

'We are looking at ways to support that inevitability and looking at ways to expand our protections.'

New York State Attorney General Letitia James promoted a similar concept this week. The gubernatorial hopeful thinks her state should 'establish a dedicated fund that would help support and provide financial resources to women across the country so that they could continue to make their own reproductive choices.'

Abortion, perhaps more than any other issue, has divided the country for decades along mostly traditional partisan lines. A new decision overturning Roe v. Wade, which could come next summer, would be the culmination of more than 40 years of conservative activism to overturn the 48 year-old law permitting nationwide abortions.

But Wednesday's report offers a first glimpse of how Democratic-dominated states could respond and how the debate over abortion access would change.

California already pays for abortions for many low-income residents through the state's Medicaid program. And California is one of six states that require private insurance companies to cover abortions, although many patients still end up paying deductibles and co-payments.

Protesters are pictured on December 1 outside the Supreme Court in Washington, D.C. as the fate of Roe v. Wade is considered. More than two dozen states are poised to ban abortion if the precedent is overturned

Pro-choice and pro-life protesters stand off outside the Supreme Court on December 1 as abortion hangs in the balance

But money won't be a problem for state-funded abortion services for patients from other states. California's coffers have soared throughout the pandemic, fueling a record budget surplus this year. Next year, the state's independent Legislative Analyst's Office predicts California will have a surplus of about $31 billion.

Much of the cash comes from tech giants such as Apple and Facebook, whose headquarters are based in the San Francisco Bay area.

California's affiliates of Planned Parenthood, the nation's largest abortion provider, got a sneak preview of how people might seek abortions outside their home states this year when a Texas law that outlawed abortion after six weeks of pregnancy was allowed to take effect. California clinics reported a slight increase in patients from Texas.

What could happen if the Supreme Court sides with Mississippi The state is fighting to keep its ban on abortions after 15 weeks in place, and in a separate filing asked the high court to overturn Roe v. Wade altogether. Twelve states have already enacted 'trigger laws,' where if Roe is overturned, abortion in the state would be made illegal immediately without action from the legislature. Twenty-six states are likely to ban or restrict abortion quickly if such power is returned to the states. Ohio, Georgia, Louisiana, Missouri, Alabama, Kentucky, South Carolina, and Texas have all passed heartbeat bills, but none except Texas' have gone into effect due to court intervention. The JWHO has said that since a law in Texas banning abortions after six weeks took effect Sept. 1, one-fourth of its patients come from the Lone Star State. If the justices move to uphold the 15-week ban but not overturn Roe, the right to an abortion would likely remain in place but with a drastically shortened legal window. Current precedent established by Roe allows abortions up until the point of fetal viability outside the womb, about 24 weeks. Mississippi's law would shave off roughly two months and also signal a green light that states like Texas that want shorter timelines could have a case The law also does not make exceptions for rape or incest - which if approved by the Supreme Court could be a feature of anti-abortion laws throughout the country. Advertisement

Now, California abortion providers are asking California to make it easier for those people to get to the state.

The report recommends funding - including public spending - to support patients seeking abortion for travel expenses such as gas, lodging, transportation and child care.

It asks lawmakers to reimburse abortion providers for services to those who cant afford to pay - including those who travel to California from other states whose income is low enough that they would qualify for state-funded abortions under Medicaid if they lived there.

It's unclear about how many people would come to California for abortions if Roe v. Wade is overturned. California does not collect or report abortion statistics.

The Guttmacher Institute, a research group that supports abortion rights, said 132,680 abortions were performed in California in 2017, or about 15% of all abortions nationally. That number includes people from out of state as well as teenagers, who are not required to have their parents' permission for an abortion in California.

Planned Parenthood, which accounts for about half of California's abortion clinics, said it served 7,000 people from other states last year.

A huge influx of people from other states 'will definitely destabilize the abortion provider network,' said Fabiola Carrion, interim director for reproductive and sexual health at the national Health Law Program.

She said out-of-state abortions would also likely be later term procedures, which are more complicated and expensive.

The report asks lawmakers to help clinics increase their workforce to prepare for more patients by giving scholarships to medical students who pledge to offer abortion services in rural areas, help them pay off their student loans and assist with their monthly liability insurance premiums.

'Were looking at how to build capacity and build workforce,' said Jodi Hicks, CEO of Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California. 'It will take a partnership and investment with the state.'

Abortion opponents in California, meanwhile, are also preparing for a potential surge of patients from other states seeking the procedure - only they hope to convince them not to do it.

Jonathan Keller, president and CEO of the California Family Council, said California has about 160 pregnancy resource centers whose aim is to convince women not to get abortions. He said about half of those centers are medical clinics, while the rest are faith-based counseling centers.

Jonathan Keller (pictured), president and CEO of the California Family Council, said California has about 160 pregnancy resource centers whose aim is to convince women not to get abortions. He said about half of those centers are medical clinics, while the rest are faith-based counseling centers.

Many of the centers are located near abortion clinics in an attempt to entice people to seek their counseling before opting to end pregnancies. Keller said many are already planning on increasing their staffing if California gets an increase of patients.

'Even if we are not facing any immediate legislative opportunities or legislative victories, its a reminder that the work of changing hearts and minds and also providing real support and resources to women facing unplanned pregnancies - that work will always continue,' Keller said.

He added: 'In many ways, that work is going to be even more important, both in light of the Supreme Court's decision and in light of whatever Sacramento decides they are going to do in response.'

Abortion, perhaps more than any other issue, has divided the country for decades along mostly traditional partisan lines. A new decision overturning Roe v. Wade, which could come next summer, would be the culmination of more than 40 years of conservative activism
The U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned two Salvadoran government officials on Wednesday, accusing them of secretly negotiating a truce with the leaders of the country's powerful street gangs as long as they ensured 'that incidents of gang violence and the number of confirmed homicides remained low.'

The allegations contradicted El Salvador President Nayib Bukele denials that his government has not reached any agreements with leaders of the MS-13 and 18th Street Gang, raising tensions between the two nations.

The U.S government alleges that under Osiris Luna, director of the Salvadoran Penal System and Vice Minister of Justice and Public Security, and Carlos Marroquin, chairman of the Social Fabric Reconstruction Unit, Bukele's government bought the gangs' support with financial benefits and privileges for their imprisoned leaders including prostitutes and cellphones.

The explosive accusation cuts to the heart of one of Bukele's most highly touted successes in office: a plunge in the country's homicide rate.

Bukele slammed the U.S. government's assertions with a series of sarcastic tweets on Wednesday.

'Cell phones and prostitutes in the prisons? Money to the gangs?' he wrote. 'When did that happen? Didn't they even check the date? How can they put out a such an obvious lie without anyone questioning them?'

Bukele also revealed on Twitter that he privately met with U.S. charge daffaires James O'Brien on Tuesday.

'I offered to collaborate in the fight against drug trafficking and crime and to work to reduce forced migration,' he wrote. 'But I reminded him that our independence is not for sale.'

Bukele was back to Twitter on Thursday, claiming that 'it is clear that the United States Government does not accept collaboration, friendship or alliance. It is absolute submission, or nothing. These daily accusations seem absurd. I didn't know they were so interested in El Salvador. Perhaps what interests them is to stop the 'bad example.'

El Salvador's Osiris Luna (middle), the Vice Minister of Justice and Public Security and Salvadoran Penal System director, is one of two officials sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department for arranging a truce with gang leaders in secret meetings. Luna and Carlos Marroquin, the chairman of the Social Fabric Reconstruction Unit, reportedly granted 'financial incentives to Salvadoran gangs MS-13 and 18th Street Gang (Barrio 18) to ensure that incidents of gang violence and the number of confirmed homicides remained low.

Carlos Marroquin (pictured), the chairman of the Social Fabric Reconstruction Unit, allegedly participated in secret peace meetings with gang leaders in El Salvador and arranged for jailed gang leaders to have access to cell phones and prostitutes

The Salvadoran leader vehemently denied the accusation when it was reported in August 2020 by the local news site El Faro. And on Wednesday, he alluded to a gang truce negotiated by a previous administration for which several former officials are being prosecuted.

The U.S. Treasury Department said that in 2020, the administration of President Bukele 'provided financial incentives to Salvadoran gangs MS-13 and 18th Street Gang (Barrio 18) to ensure that incidents of gang violence and the number of confirmed homicides remained low.'

In the meetings, Luna and Marroquin were assured by the gang leaders that they would agree 'to provide political support to the Nuevas Ideas (New Ideas) political party in upcoming elections.'

Bukele's New Ideas party won legislative elections earlier this year in a landslide, giving it control of El Salvador's congress.

The announcement comes as a number of former officials from previous administrations are being prosecuted for negotiating a similar pact with the gangs.

El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele (pictured at Mexico's National Palace on March 12, 2019). Two administration officials are being accused of secretly negotiating a truce with leaders of the country's powerful street gangs, the U.S. Treasury Department announced Wednesday

El Salvador President Nayib Bukele criticized the U.S. Treasury Department's announcement of sanctions issued Wednesday against Osiris Luna, the Vice Minister of Justice and Public Security and Salvadoran Penal System director, and Carlos Marroquin, the chairman of the Social Fabric Reconstruction Unit

Former Attorney General Raul Melara said he would investigate the El Faro report at the time, but when Bukele's party took over congress, the new lawmakers ousted Melara and replaced him with someone linked to Bukele's administration.

The U.S. Treasury said that an investigation into government officials and gang leaders revealed the secret negotiations. Luna and Marroquin allegedly 'led, facilitated and organized a number of secret meetings involving incarcerated gang leaders, in which known gang members were allowed to enter the prison facilities and meet with senior gang leadership.'

In addition to financial benefits for the gang members, incarcerated leaders received special treatment in the prisons, including access to mobile phones and prostitutes. It said Luna also negotiated support from MS-13 and Barrio 18 gangs for Bukele's national quarantine during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Luna and his mother, Alma Meza, also allegedly put in motion a scheme to embezzle millions of dollars from the prison system and were stealing pandemic relief supplies and then re-selling them to the government. Meza was also designated.

The designations Wednesday mean that any assets Luna and Marroquin have in the United States are blocked and U.S. citizens are prohibited from any transactions with Luna and Marroquin.

The revelations are sure to raise tensions between Bukele and the Biden administration. After the new congress removed the attorney general and the justices of the constitutional chamber of the Supreme Court in May, the U.S. government expressed concern over the direction of the country.

El Salvador President Nayib Bukele met with interim U.S. charge daffaires Jean Manes on Wednesday

The U.S. Agency for International Development announced it would shift aid from government agencies in El Salvador to non-governmental organizations. The head of that agency, Samantha Power, then went to El Salvador and gave a speech about the fragility of democracy.

The new attorney general in June announced the government was cancelling the Organization of American States anti-corruption mission in El Salvador.

In May and July, the U.S. government published lists of allegedly corrupt officials in Central America that included the name of Bukele's Chief of Staff Carolina Recinos.

Last month, the United States top diplomat in El Salvador announced that she was leaving the post, adding that Bukele's government 'is showing no interest' in improving the bilateral relationship.

Bukele enjoys extremely high popularity. He stepped into a political vacuum left by discredited traditional parties from the left and right who had left a legacy of corruption.

In a series of Twitter messages Wednesday, Bukele went on to say that in his last meeting with interim U.S. charge daffaires Jean Manes, she asked him for several things, including the release of a former San Salvador mayor, not to re-elect Attorney General Rodolfo Delgado and to not pursue former President Alfredo Cristiani and former Attorney General Douglas Melendez.

Bukele said that after the meeting he cut off communication with Manes. He also said the U.S. had told El Salvador's foreign affairs minister to stop passage of proposed 'foreign agent' legislation or risk losing all international aid. That legislation has not been brought to a vote before the full Legislative Assembly.

Bukele said he told Manes he couldn't release the former San Salvador mayor, thought Delgado was doing a good job as Attorney General and even though he had nothing personal against Cristiani and Melendez, he wouldn't protect them.

Tom Shannon, a lobbyist for the El Salvador government in Washington, said the U.S. government had lobbed an 'artillery shell' into the country's domestic politics with the announcement Wednesday.

He noted that the statement did not include any explanation of the evidence the U.S. government had to support the allegations.

'It's quite remarkable the United States would treat an ally, a partner in this fashion,' said Shannon, former U.S. undersecretary of state for political affairs. He questioned whether the U.S. government was interested in having a constructive relationship with El Salvador if it turned to making public allegations rather than addressing it diplomatically directly with the government.

The U.S. Treasury did not immediately respond to a request for additional information about the investigation.
Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz said on Tuesday he was talking to former President Trump about making him House speaker after next year's midterms.

The idea has been floated by a certain brand of Republican for months, possibly as a joke or a fundraising ploy or a way to juice turnout in the 2022 elections.

But during a press conference, Gaetz went a step further.

He was asked by a reporter whether he wanted to see the former president as speaker.

'I would,' he answered.

And has he spoken to Trump about it?

'I have,' he said with a grin, before declining to say more.

'I keep my conversations with the former president between the two of us.'

Rep. Matt Gaetz has floated the idea of Speaker Trump in the past and on Tuesday said he had spoken to the former president about it

Trump said it was an 'interesting' idea when asked earlier this year whether he was interested in becoming House speaker, although skeptics see the suggestion as a way to troll Democrats

It is not the first time that Gaetz has raised the idea of turning the House over to Trump.

In July, at a Trump rally in Sarasota, Florida, he said: 'After the next election cycle when we take back the House of Representatives, when we send Nancy Pelosi back to the filth of San Francisco, my commitment to you is that my vote for speaker of the US House of Representatives will go to Donald J. Trump.'

Republicans are in pole position to win back the House. They need to take just five seats from a Democratic party that controls the House, the Senate and the White House - a recipe for voters turning against them in the midterms.

Under normal circumstances, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy might expect to be elevated to the role.

But he has been under intense criticism from Trump loyalists, who believe he has not been loyal enough.

He said in the past that Trump bore some responsibility for the Jan. 6 violence.

And his enemies want him to punish Republicans who backed the bipartisan infrastructure bill.

Last month, former Trump White House Chief of Staff blasted party leadership on Gaetz's podcast.

'They're not skating to where the puck is. And so I would give them a grade of a 'D,'' he said.

'I believe that on this tactic and strategy - listen, you need to make Democrats take tough votes. You need to make sure that when you've got them on the ropes that you don't throw in the white towel.'

So who might do the job?

'I would love to see the gavel go from Nancy Pelosi to Donald Trump,' he said during a separate appearance on Steve Bannon's podcast.

'You talk about melting down, people would go crazy.'

Trump, never one to miss stirring the pot, suggested he was in favor during an interview with conservative radio talk-show host Wayne Allyn Root in June.

Root asked: 'Why not, instead of just waiting for 2024 - and I'm hoping you run in 2024 - but why not run in 2022 for the United States Congress, a House seat in Florida, win big, lead us to a dramatic landslide victory, taking the House by 50 seats, and then you become the speaker of the House?'

'You know, it's very interesting,' replied Trump. 'That's so interesting.

'And people have said, run for the Senate, OK, run for the Senate, but you know what?

'Your idea might be better.'

Trump has repeatedly floated the idea of running for president in 2024 although aides say no decision is likely until after the midterms next year, when he can assess the political currents.
A billionaire ranked one of China's richest men has lost a High Court battle against the Australian Tax Office (ATO) relating to a $140million tax debt.

Huang Xiangmo, a former Australian resident who had his visa cancelled over character concerns in 2018, lost out as the ATO appealed against an earlier ruling which had overturned a freezing order on his local assets.

Among the assets was the lavish harbourside mansion he purchased at Beauty Point, Mosman on Sydney's North Shore in 2012.

The freezing order also applied to a unit and house purchased in Chatswood, both worth more than $3million.

The ATO kicked off an audit into Mr Huang's affairs in 2018 and is chasing him for over $140million, comprising $81.2million in tax and $59.3million in interest and penalties.

The bulk of the tax bill relates to capital gains from a commercial property sale by one of Mr Huang's companies in Shenzhen, China in 2014, when the ATO said he was an Australian resident for tax purposes.

Chinese tycoon Huang Xiangmo pictured with former Foreign Minister Julie Bishop. Mr Huang came to public attention in Australia after it was revealed he had donated millions of dollars to both the Liberal and Labor parties over a five-year period

Mr Huang's (left) association with Labor numbers man and former senator Sam Dastyari (right) was the cause of Mr Dastyari's resignation from politics in 2018. Pictured with former Prime Minister Julia Gillard (centre)

Mr Huang (left) with former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull (right). Mr Huang had his permanent residency cancelled in 2018 after advice by ASIO to the government that he was an agent of foreign political influence

Chinese billionaire Huang Xiangmo splashed $12.8 million on this lavish hillside mansion in 2012 at Beauty Point in Mosman - it's one of the Australian assets subject to a freezing order as the ATO seeks $140million from the former Australian resident

In 2020 Mr Huang had a victory in the Federal Court when the court decided in his favour, ruling that there was 'no realistic possibility' his alleged debt to the ATO could be enforced through a court in China or Hong Kong.

The Court's majority decision found that the freezing order should remain in place.

'The power ... is broad and flexible,' it stated in the judgement.

The High Court said a freezing order would be 'largely impotent' if it had to be proved an order to repay the debt could be enforced in other jurisdictions.

Mr Huang came to public attention in Australia after it was revealed he had donated millions of dollars to both the Liberal and Labor parties over a five-year period.

He had been pictured with a range of senior Australian politicians from both sides, including former prime ministers Tony Abbott, Julia Gillard and Malcom Turnbull.

His association with Labor numbers man and former senator Sam Dastyari was the cause of Mr Dastyari's resignation from politics in 2018.

Mr Huang, who is considered close to the Chinese government, had his permanent residency was cancelled in 2018 after advice by ASIO to the government that he was an agent of foreign political influence.

'Over the years, some representatives of the "deep state" in Australia have repeatedly accused me of being an "agent of influence",' Mr Huang claimed in a 2019 statement.

'Yet, despite years of stringent investigation on me, the ASIO had to eventually admit that there was not even a hair of evidence for such allegation.'

He had also attacked the ATO's pursuit of him over the $140million tax debt.

'The ATO is believed to be a professional government agency with some integrity but it really pains and saddens me that it has now surrendered itself to the pressure of some unknown dark forces, almost allowing itself to become a tool for political persecution against me,' he said.

In 2019 the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) heard evidence Mr Huang had provided $100,000 in an Aldi shopping bag to the NSW Labor Party as a donation.

In 2016 Daily Mail Australia revealed Mr Huang bought the multi-million dollar home at Beauty Point because he thought the area had good feng shui

His purchase caused a number of other wealthy Chinese investors to buy in the area, where Mr Huang became known as 'king of the mountain' because of the mansion's hilltop location

The tycoon's property interests in Australia were formerly held through his family's Yuhu Group, including One Circular Quay in Sydney, a residential tower in North Sydney and the Jewel development on the Gold Coast.

His son Jimmy Huang is now believed to run the company in Australia.

In 2016 Daily Mail Australia revealed Mr Huang bought the multi-million dollar home at Beauty Point because he thought the area had good feng shui.

Richard Simeon, of Simeon Manners Property, told Daily Mail Australia at the time that the sale only went ahead after the businessman flew in his feng shui consultant from China to assess the home.

His purchase caused a number of other wealthy Chinese investors to buy in the area, where Mr Huang became known as 'king of the mountain' because of the mansion's hilltop location.
Some Australian parents are forking out more than $40,000 annually to send their children to fancy private schools - some of which feature on and off-campus yoga studios, equestrian centres and heated pools.

And many of those elite private schools are set to raise their fees next year amid rising costs.

SCECGS Darlinghurst, a private school girl's school in Sydney's glitzy Eastern Suburbs, confirmed it will be hiking its annual fees to $42,000 in 2022, following a recent board meeting.

It was decided extra counsellors were required at the private school - whose alumni include actor Claudia Karvan and PR maven Roxy Jacenko - due to a spike in anxiety rates among students following the Covid pandemic and subsequent lockdowns.

The fees for parents in Year 12 this year were $41,090.

In an email sent to parents, principal Jenny Allum and the school's chair Peter Hicks said the pandemic meant there was additional equipment that needed to be purchased.

Extra cleaning costs and staff pay increases were also factored into the fee increases ahead of term one.

In an email to parents, SCECGS Darlinghurst in Sydney's inner city confirmed school fees will be as much as $42,000 annually following a recent board meeting at the school

One of the reasons given for the fee increase at SCEGCS Darlinghurst was the introduction of counsellors for girls at the school struggling with anxiety stemming from life during Covid-19 in the Harbour City

SCECGS Darlinghurst have also pledged to offer 'greater support' for further mental health initiatives at the elite girls school

'We also understand the added stress and anxiety levels being felt by many SCEGGS girls,' the letter read.

'The 2022 salary budget includes increased provisions for student services and counselling to assist SCEGGS girls navigate these difficult times, and more generally greater support for mental health initiatives.'

Other Sydney schools who will increase their fees next year include St Catherine's, Waverley in the east (from $36,590 to $37,322) and Danebank in Hurstville in the city's south (from $22,785 to $23,475), according to the Daily Telegraph.

The King's School at North Parramatta, which charge just north of $38,284 a year, opted to not increase its fees in 2020 due to the pandemic.

They remain tight-lipped on their fee structure for 2021 and beyond.

The high fees help pay for incredible facilities that resemble ritzy country clubs more than a traditional school.

Co-educational Geelong Grammar School in Victoria charge a reported $42,500 for students across four terms - and the education experience comes with all the bells and whistles.

A 10-lane indoor swimming pool, dance and yoga studios and even a world-class equestrian centre for budding horse enthusiasts are some of the standout features for pupils.

Meanwhile, in the Sunshine State, Brisbane Grammar School offers access to over 30 different clubs, including aviation, for those looking to pursue a career in the skies after completing their studies.

Co-educational Geelong Grammar School in Victoria charge a reported $42,500 each year - with a multi lane heated indoor pool one of the features for students
A former cadet who was expelled from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy after becoming a father filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday challenging the school's policy that prohibits students from being parents.

Isaak Olson was two months from graduating from the academy in 2014 with a degree in mechanical engineering and a commission as an officer when he disclosed that his fiancee had given birth to their first child several months earlier, according the lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Connecticut.

The academy expelled Olson under a regulation that requires cadets to either resign or be 'disenrolled' if they incur a 'parental obligation' from a pregnancy over 14 weeks, according to the lawsuit.

'The decision to become a parent is deeply personal, and no school or job should be able to interfere with that choice,' Elana Bildner, an ACLU of Connecticut staff attorney representing Olson, said in a statement.

'The U.S. Coast Guard Academy's archaic regulation, which forces cadets to choose between parenthood and their degrees, has been morally wrong and unconstitutional since its inception,' added Bildner.

Isaak Olson was two months from graduating from the academy in 2014 with a degree in mechanical engineering and a commission as an officer when he disclosed that his fiancee (with him above) had given birth to their first child, leading to his expulsion

Isaak Olson is seen making face masks for the community early in the pandemic. He lost his commission by becoming a father, but went on to join the Coast Guard as an enlisted man

The ban was introduced in the late 1970s, just after the academy began admitting women, Bildner said.

'It is likely no accident that the academy instituted its arcane ban on parenthood only after it began admitting women,' she said. 'This policy has no place in Connecticut or elsewhere, and it must end.'

Messages were left Wednesday seeking comment from both the school and the Coast Guard.

Olson learned of his fiancee's pregnancy in April of his junior year, according to the lawsuit. She decided not to have an abortion and he decided not to resign because that would have meant allowing the academy to recoup the cost of his education, estimated at up to $500,000, according to the lawsuit.

His fiancee gave birth in August 2013. Olson disclosed that he had a child on a duty screening application in March 2014, which was the first time he had been asked about dependents, according to the lawsuit.

The couple, in an effort to resolve the matter and allow him to graduate, had Olson's parental rights terminated, according to his attorneys. The couple is now married with two children, according to the lawsuit.

Olson enlisted in the Coast Guard shortly after his expulsion and is currently an aviation maintenance technician stationed in Alaska. He is seeking his commission and back pay

Cadets stand as President Joe Biden arrives to speak at the commencement for the United States Coast Guard Academy in New London, Conn., on May 19, 2021

He was never given a hearing and was 'disenrolled' from the academy, according to the lawsuit. He decided to sue after going through a lengthy administrative process in a effort to get his status restored, Bildner said.

Olson enlisted in the Coast Guard shortly after his expulsion and is currently an aviation maintenance technician stationed in Alaska.

He is seeking his commission and back pay as part of the lawsuit. The academy ultimately did not seek to recoup the cost of his education.

Olson and his family receive about $3,000 less per month than they would have if he had been granted his commission as an officer, according to the lawsuit.

The case is expected to have implications at other service academies, which have similar policies, according to the ACLU.

Senators Ted Cruz (left) and Kirsten Gillibrand (right) have teamed up across party lines to propose a bill ending the service academy ban on parenthood

'We believe such bans are wrong for every military service academy and that the academies should strike them from their regulations,' said Linda Morris, a staff attorney with the ACLU Womens Rights Project.

A bill introduced in the U.S. Senate this summer by Senator Ted Cruz, a Texas Republican, and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a New York Democrat, would mandate an end to policies that force students in military academies to withdraw or give up their children if they become pregnant.

'This policy is unfair, antiquated, and unacceptable,' Cruz said at the time.

Under the bill, military academies would treat pregnancies in line with the rest of the military.
A powerful Russian organised crime group have claimed credit for a sophisticated hacking attack that came within minutes of shutting off power to three million Australian homes.

The Chinese government was initially blamed for a 'sustained' ransomware attack on CS Energy's two thermal coal plants in Queensland on November 27.

Employees lost access to their emails and other critical internal data as hackers attempted to access generators circulating more than 3,500MW of electricity.

Wizard Spider - a notorious Saint Petersburg-based criminal gang wanted by the FBI and Interpol - have now claimed they were responsible for the major cyber attack.

Hackers came within minutes of shutting off power to three million Australian homes but were thwarted at the final hurdle. Pictured: CS Energy's Kogan Creek Power Station

The group use a software called Conti, an advanced ransomware capable of copying vast amounts of data from infected IT systems.

'I haven't seen anything linking this one to China,' Robert Potter, a fellow at the Center for Rule-making Strategies at Tama University in Tokyo, wrote on Twitter.

'So far the malware attribution seems to point to Conti, which is a Russian organised crime group.'

The attack would have knocked out power to between 1.4 and 3 million homes with no way of knowing how long it might take to regain control of the generators.

The hackers were foiled after IT specialists came up with a brilliant last-minute move to block access, by separating the company's corporate and operational computer systems.

Once the network was essentially cut in half, hackers had no way of seizing control of the generators.

People's Liberation Army soldiers march in Beijing, China next to the entrance to the Forbidden City. The Communist regime was initially blamed for the 'sustained' ransomware attack

Sources with knowledge of the cyber infiltration attempt said the cyber-attackers were less than 30 minutes away from shutting down power.

Intelligence and Security Committee chairman Senator James Paterson warned urgent reforms were needed to beef up Australia cyber defence capabilities.

'Our cyber vulnerabilities are increasing in complexity for two reasons: firstly, the increasingly interconnected digital nature of our lives,' he told the Daily Telegraph.

Scott Morrison last year revealed a malicious 'state-actor' launched a sophisticated and sustained cyber campaign to infiltrate Australian banks, transport networks, hospitals, universities, critical infrastructure and the military.

Wizard Spider - a notorious Saint Petersburg-based criminal gang - have now claimed they were responsible for the major cyber attack (file image of Saint Petersburg is pictured)

Security experts originally pointed the finger squarely at Beijing, with former officials claiming the cyber invasion was payback for Australia's decision to ban Huawei from the national 5G network.

The Chinese telecommunications giant is the world's largest 5G infrastructure builder but Canberra banned its involvement in Australia's critical infrastructure rollout in August 2018, citing national security concerns.

Since then, Canberra's relationship with Beijing has deteriorated even further with the totalitarian state still furious over the government's calls for an independent inquiry into the origins of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The hackers were foiled after IT specialists came up with a brilliant last-minute move to block access (stock image)

Xi Jinping responded with billions of dollars worth of arbitrary bans and tariffs on a range of Australia's exports.

But Australia is not alone when it comes to cyber attacks from Beijing.

Microsoft on Monday announced it 'disrupted the activities of a China-based hacking group that we call Nickel' which carried out attacks in the US and 28 other countries.

State actors working on behalf of Chinese President Xi Jinping (pictured) were originally blamed for the cyber attack, but a Russian organised crime group have now claimed credit

'We believe these attacks were largely being used for intelligence gathering from government agencies, think tanks and human rights organizations,' the software giant said.

Last month the China targeted Indian utilities and infrastructure sites with cyber-attacks also trying to shut down a coal-fired power plant.

Taiwanese officials said their small democratic nation just 180km off the coast of China receives up to 'five million attacks a day' with the vast majority likely to be directed by Beijing.
Facebook's parent company Meta has said it will go ahead with plans to fully-reopen its offices from next month, despite the emergence of the new COVID Omicron variant.

Meta, which also owns Instagram and WhatsApp, said that some workers will be allowed to delay their scheduled return until as late as June as part of what they're calling an 'office deferral program.'

Facebook has given workers the option to work full-time remotely, with those who wish to return to the office at least part-time told they have until June to do so.

Meta, which employs around 68,000 people globally, is headquartered in Menlo Park, California, with about 30,000 staff based at its huge campus there.

The program is meant to give employees the ability to determine their work space. Other companies, including Ford and Google, have chosen to announce further delays to return-to-work policies recently given the recent uptick in Covid cases and insecurity regarding the omicron variant.

Rideshare giants Lyft announced Tuesday that they're postponing staff's return-to-office from the original February plan. Workers can choose to return to the office as they please but can also continue working remotely through 2022.

An aerial view shows a newly unveiled logo for "Meta", the new name for Facebook's parent company, in front of Facebook headquarters in Menlo Park, California

Facebook - who's CEO and founder is Mark Zuckerberg (pictured) - will ask workers to return to offices in January but may allow some to stay home until June

Facebook rebranded their billboard sign featuring a new logo and name 'Meta' back in October of 2021

Hartford Financial Services Group had planned for senior employees to return to offices in Connecticut on Monday, but delayed it for now due to omicron.

A spokesman for Hartford said the company is still moving forward with plans to bring all employees back to work on January 18.

Dell Technologies is also delaying their plans to reopen remaining offices after January 4.

Apple has clashed with workers over its demand that they return to its Cupertino campus full time, after arguing that its hardware products require in-person work to perfect.

'Those whose work allows itand who choose to do somay continue to work virtually,' Jenn Saavedra, Dell's chief of human resources, said in a memo to employees. 'And as we move forward, we know one approach won't work for all.'

Meta's US offices, including the headquarters in California, have gone back to work in limited numbers in the past few months.

Over 68,100 employees work at Facebook, over half at Bay Area offices like the one in Menlo Park

The United States is closing in on a total of 50 million positive coronavirus cases and 800,000 deaths

Cases have ticked up in recent weeks with the announcement of the new Omicron variant of Covid-19

The company's office deferral program allows staffers to put off their return-to-work by between three and five months but not interested in permanent remote work.

Meta is one of many companies requiring American workers who return to the office to have the Covid-19 vaccine.

'For those wishing to return in January we look forward to providing a vibrant office experience that continues to prioritize health and safety. We also recognize that some aren't quite ready to come back,' Meta VP of Human Resources Janelle Gale said.

The United States is closing in on a total of 50 million positive coronavirus cases and 800,000 deaths. Cases have ticked up in recent weeks with the announcement of the new Omicron variant of Covid-19.
Former Trump White House chief of Staff Mark Meadows on Wednesday filed a lawsuit against members of the House Jan. 6 committee and Speaker Nancy Pelosi, after the panel said it would pursue a criminal contempt case against him.

Meadows launched the suit hours after he failed to appear for a deposition.

In the case, Meadows accuses the investigators of trying to 'violate' the principle of executive privilege that should protect his communications with Trump.

It asks a judge to invalidate two 'overly broad' subpoenas and accuses the committee of overreach by issuing a demand to Verizon for his cell phone records.

'After working with them - trying to work with them - it became obvious over the last 72 hours or so that they continued to plan to delve into both executive privilege and some of the deliberative speech that would have occurred as a result of my interactions with the president and other senior staff and so we had to make the tough decision to say that we're gonna no longer cooperate,' Meadows told the Jenna Ellis show.

He said revealing their conversations would set a dangerous precedent.

It came after the committee investigating the deadly attack on the U.S. Capitol building announced it would press ahead with contempt charges if he did not appear at 10am as requested.

'The select committee is left with no choice but to advance contempt proceedings and recommend that the body in which Mr Meadows once served refer him for criminal prosecution,' Chairman Bennie Thompson wrote on Tuesday.

Trump ally Mark Meadows launched a suit on Wednesday against the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 violence, after its chairman said it would push ahead with contempt charges after the former White House chief of staff stopped cooperating

The case asks a Washington judge to throw out two subpoenas which Meadows' lawyers said were 'overly broad' and unduly burdensome

The suit names panel chair Rep. Bennie Thompson as well as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi

Meadows and other key allies of Trump say their communications with Trump are protected because he was president.

'The select committee acts absent any valid legislative power and threatens to violate longstanding principles of executive privilege and immunity that are of constitutional origin and dimension,' his lawyers write in a court filing.

'Without intervention by this court, Mr Meadows faces the harm of both being illegally coerced into violating the Constitution and having a third party involuntarily violate Mr Meadows rights and the requirements of relevant laws governing records of electronic communications.

'Only this court can prevent these grave harms.'

But among the materials he did turn over is a 38-page PowerPoint presentation titled 'Election Fraud, Foreign Interference & Options for 6 JAN' that was to be provided 'on the hill.'

Thompson's letter reveals that Meadows was exchanging emails about the lengthy presentation up until the day before the Capitol attack.

The letter to Meadows' lawyer also revealed further bombshell details about communications that the former North Carolina congressman did send over to the committee.

One of the most damning appears to be a text exchange between Meadows and an unnamed federal lawmaker that took place after the November 2020 election.

The letter refers to a 'November 6, 2020, text exchange with a Member of Congress apparently about appointing alternate electors in certain states as part of a plan that the Member acknowledged would be "highly controversial" and to which Mr. Meadows apparently said, "I love it"...'

'We have made efforts over many weeks to reach an accommodation with the committee,' Meadows' attorney said

Thompson sent Meadows' lawyer a lengthy letter informing him that the House will vote on a criminal referral for the ex-Trump official

Thompson's letter means the House could set up a vote to refer Meadows to the Justice Department for criminal charges as early as this Friday.

Meadows is also accused of exchanging text messages with someone about the need for Trump to 'issue a public statement that could have stopped the January 6th attack on the Capitol.'

The lawmaker-turned-White House official also allegedly spoke via text with an unnamed organizer of the January 6 Stop the Steal rally in 'early January.'

On November 7, 2020, the letter claims, Meadows sent an email discussing appointing an alternate slate of electors in certain states, likely that voted for Biden, in a 'direct and collateral attack.'

The day before the riot Meadows allegedly sent an email about having the National Guard on standby.

'All of those documents raise issues about which the Select Committee would like to question Mr. Meadows and about which you appear to agree are not subject to a claim of privilege,' Thompson wrote.

Despite the newly-revealed information Thompson stated that there were still more than a thousand items Meadows withheld due to claims of executive privilege.

Meadows is the third person to face a contempt vote in the House in the Democrat-led committee's investigation, after ex-Trump adviser Steve Bannon and former DOJ official Jeffrey Clark.

Hours earlier on Tuesday, Meadows had announced he would cease compliance with the committee after he and the committee could not come to agreement on the terms of his testimony, according to his attorney.

Committee chair Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Mo., and Vice Chair Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., chided the former Trump official for ending cooperation with them as they say he reveals details about the day in his new book, 'The Chief's Chief.'

Committee chair Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Mo., and Vice Chair Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., chided the former Trump official for ending cooperation with them as they say he reveals details about the day in his new book, 'The Chief's Chief.'

'Mark Meadows has informed the Select Committee that he does not intend to cooperate further with our investigation despite his willingness to provide details about the facts and circumstances surrounding the January 6th attack, including conversations with President Trump, in the book he is now promoting and selling,' they wrote in a statement.

They also said that they had questions about official communications Meadows had carried from his personal accounts.

'We also need to hear from him about voluminous official records stored in his personal phone and email accounts, which were required to be turned over to the National Archives in accordance with the Presidential Records act.'

Meadows' attorney his client would no longer appear for a deposition in a letter to the committee released Tuesday. However, the letter noted that Meadows would still be willing to submit written answers to questions.

'We have made efforts over many weeks to reach an accommodation with the committee,' Meadows' attorney George Terwilliger told Fox, which first reported the news.

Just one week ago the committee said that Meadows had provided them records and agreed to give a deposition 'soon.' Prior to that, Meadows, along with former Trump strategist Steve Bannon, had refused to cooperate raising the prospect of criminal contempt proceedings.

Bannon was indicted for contempt of Congress following a referral from the House after he failed to appear for proceedings. Asked what his client would do if he is subject to the same treatment, Terwilliger said he and Meadows will 'cross that bridge when he come to it.'

He emphasized that the former senior Trump official 'has made every effort to try and accommodate and work with this committee' while still maintaining the position on privilege 'he must maintain.'

Terwilliger said the committee had not tried to meet him half way. He said the committee was forging ahead with plans to look into privileged subject matters, pointing to how it had already issued one subpoena for Meadows' phone records, even though he planned to turn them over voluntarily after screening them for privileged material.

The Jan. 6 Committee said Meadows still needed to appear to testify over non-privileged communications.

'Even as we litigate privilege issues, the Select Committee has numerous questions for Mr. Meadows about records he has turned over to the Committee with no claim of privilege, which include real-time communications with many individuals as the events of January 6th unfolded,' Thompson and Cheney wrote in the statement.

The attorney also pointed to a recent comment from Thompson, who said on MSNBC last week that when a defendant pleads the Fifth Amendment, 'in some instances, that says you are part and parcel guilty to what occurred.'

Trump has urged his acolytes not to comply with subpoenas from the committee

'The chairman of the committee  publicly said that another witness's claiming of the Fifth Amendment would be tantamount to an admission of guilt,' Terwilliger said, adding that this called into question 'exactly what is going on with this committee.'

Terwilliger said the committee had demonstrated a 'wholesale waiver of any notion of executive privilege,' or the right of the president to maintain certain private communications with his senior staff.

'It is well-established that Congresss subpoena authority is limited to the pursuit of a legitimate legislative purpose. Congress has no authority to conduct law enforcement investigations or free-standing fact finding missions. Even where there is a legislative purpose, requests that implicate the Separation of Powers by targeting current or former Executive officials must be narrowly tailored,' Terwilliger wrote in the letter.

Meadows' 'appreciation for our constitutional system and for the Separation of Powers dictates that he cannot voluntarily appear under these circumstances,' the letter continued.

In addition to the the two charges of contempt they've levied on Bannon, the committee has also approved contempt charges for former Justice Department lawyer Jeffrey Clark. He reportedly tried to pressure his seniors to ask state governments to investigate the 2020 results.

Prosecutors have not moved to indict Clark after he missed his hearing as he agreed to reschedule.

As former chief of staff, Meadows is seen as a key witness to understanding Trump's moves in the run up to Jan. 6 and the events on the day.

No one has been convicted of contempt of Congress since Watergate, and courts generally shy away from taking up such cases as as they are 'political questions.'

As former chief of staff, Meadows is seen as a key witness to understanding Trump's moves in the run up to Jan. 6 and the events on the day

Meadows has made headlines over the past few weeks for revealing new details on Trump's Covid diagnosis in his new book, 'The Chief's Chief.'

Meadows wrote that Trump tested positive, then negative, for the virus just three days before he got on the debate stage with Joe Biden.

Trump quickly denied the claim.

'The story of me having COVID prior to, or during, the first debate is Fake News,' he said.

Meadows reportedly wrote that the positive result came from an 'old model testing kit,' and that another COVID test came back negative - the White House never disclosed the first result, and the debate went on.

'Well, the president's right, it's fake news,' Meadows said in an interview with Newsmax Wednesday.

'If you actually read the book, the context of it, that story outlined a false positive.'
A woman whose two sons were hit and killed by an alleged drug driver has been granted bail while facing charges of robbing a woman at knifepoint.

Shayleen Frail was arrested on October 24 after allegedly threatening a woman with a kitchen knife and demanding she transfer $717 to her bank account.

Dubbo Local Court heard at the time Ms Frail was suffering post traumatic stress disorder after watching her sons Sheldon and Shane Shorey, aged six and seven, die 10 months earlier on January 6.

The boys, along with their older brother, were visiting their mum in Wellington in the NSW Central West for the school holidays when they were run over while walking to the local pool.

They normally lived with their father, Joseph Shorey, in Emerald in Queensland.

Shayleen Frail is suffering PTSD and depression after two of her sons were tragically killed in a car accident

Sheldon and Shane Shorey, aged six and seven, were hit and killed by an alleged drug driver while walking to the local aquatic centre

The boys' father Joseph Shorey (pictured) wanted them cremated so they could rest both in Queensland and Central West NSW

Following their deaths, their estranged parents were at odds over what to do with their remains.

Mr Shorey wanted the boys cremated so they could rest in both locations, while Ms Frail and her family wanted them buried nearby.

The matter was heard by a magistrate who determined the boys would be buried at Wellington Cemetery as per their mother's wishes.

As Mr Shorey contemplates moving his life from Queensland to Mudgee to be closer to his boys' resting place, Ms Frail is struggling with PTSD and depression.

Dubbo Local Court heard on October 25 she required weekly physiotherapy to deal with her own physical injuries and is on a methadone program to cope with her years-long addiction.

Jacob Steven Donn, 25, remains in jail and is facing 30 charges including manslaughter and negligent driving

Sheldon, 6, and Shane Shorey, 7, had been in Wellington to visit their mother after spending Christmas at home in Queensland with their father (The pair are pictured, left, at a Santa photo with their dad and stepmother)

Sheldon and Shane were 'playful' and 'cuddly', Mr Shorey recalled after their tragic deaths

The mother-of-four suffered a punctured lung, fractured knee and spinal injuries.

Defence lawyer Beth Maher told the court Ms Frail began using heroin aged 14 and is a woman 'of particular vulnerability given her circumstances'.

Magistrate Roger Prowse did not grant bail on that occasion, citing a 'very strong' police case and 'a very long record' of past offences.

But she appeared again in the Supreme Court on December 6 after six weeks in custody and was then granted bail with strict conditions.

She must report to Wellington Police Station once daily, seven days a week.

Ms Frail is due to appear in Wellington Local Court on December 21.

Defence lawyer Beth Maher told the court Ms Frail (pictured) began using heroin aged 14 and is a woman 'of particular vulnerability given her circumstances'

Mr Shorey has also decorated the boys' bedroom with some of their favourite toys and pictures of them

Joseph Shorey (pictured above) visited the scene where his two sons were killed, driving non-stop from Queensland after learning of the crash

Two days later, 25-year-old Jacob Donn will front Dubbo Local Court on 30 charges, including two counts of manslaughter, negligent driving, driving under the influence of illicit drugs, possessing drugs and dangerous driving occasioning death.

Mr Donn is accused of being behind the wheel and fleeing the scene in the moments immediately following the fatal crash, which occurred just metres from his home.

In addition to Sheldon and Shane's deaths, a young family friend lost his leg in the crash, while a fourth child, aged nine, escaped with only minor injuries.

After the brothers were buried, their father decorated their graves with pre-lit candles, solar lights and knick knacks.

He was devastated when he visited again last month after the Covid lockdown to find the site bare.

'It's heartbreaking to see it the way it is,' he told The Dubbo News.

His comments attracted significant criticism from Ms Frail's family. Her father accused Mr Shorey of 'putting [his] family down' and 'being a clown'.

Mr Shorey decorated their graves with pre-lit candles, solar lights and knick knacks, but was devastated when he visited again last month after the Covid lockdown to find the site bare

Donn was raised by his grandmother, who said he was devastated after the children's deaths

Brothers Sheldon, six, and Shane Shorey, 7, (pictured, left) were killed instantly when a car allegedly driven by Donn mounted the gutter and hit them with considerable force in Wellington, NSW

'Grow up and leave my family alone. We don't need anymore of your social media bulls**t about our grandsons and trying to put our family down,' a message sent to Mr Shorey read.

'I hope you have a lonely, sad life and go to hell.'

In the message, Ms Frail's father Steven Button also described Mr Shorey as 'a mutt with fleas'.

He was angered because Mr Shorey, still hurting that he has to travel 16 hours from the home he shared with Sheldon and Shane simply to visit them, was querying when their headstones would be completed.

It's now been 11 months since the boys were tragically killed while walking to Wellington Aquatic Centre with their mother on January 6.

'I want to put some concrete edging around it and some solar lights and blue and white rocks in the middle to brighten it up,' Mr Shorey said of the headstone.

The tragedy shocked the tight-knit community in country New South Wales where locals flocked to the scene with balloons and teddy bears

Police allege Donn was performing burnouts on Warne Street when he lost control, mounted the gutter and hit the group of five pedestrians

Wellington residents lay flowers and toys at the scene in Warne St where Shane and Sheldon were killed
A teacher accused of selling nuclear submarine secrets with her Navy engineer husband only wanted to flee the country because she hated Donald Trump, a court has been told.

Lawyers for Diana Toebbe, 45, claim she only wanted to exit the US because of her disdain for the former president, and not because she was worried about getting caught for allegedly trying to sell the classified information.

They made the claim in court papers filed Wednesday, complete with an exchange of messages said to have taken place between Toebbe and her husband Jonathan in March 2019.

Those texts also allegedly saw Diana Toebbe discuss fleeing to France. The country they tried to sell the secrets to has never been mentioned, and is said to be a US ally, although officials told NBC News that France was not the country targeted.

Diana begins: 'We need to get out.' Jonathan appears bored with her statement, answering: '*sigh* where? To do what?'

His wife then says: 'To anywhere. To do something else. To teach in international schools. To take Macron up on his offer to harbor scientific refugees.'

In an apparent attempt to calm Diana, Jonathan says: 'Biden/Warren will curb stomp Trump/Pence.'

But Diana was undeterred, and replied: 'WE NEED TO GET OUT. Hilary (sic) was going to curb stomp trump. Im done.'

Diana and Jonathan Toebbes are seen in their mugshots, following their arrest in Virginia in October. A judge is currently considering her bail application

Jonathan touted then then-unpublished Mueller Report into alleged collusion between Team Trump and Russia, which ended up posing no threat to Trump's presidency.

He wrote: 'The Mueller report is coming real soon.'

But Diana remained angry, answering: 'Its been too long. Nothing has changed. Hes still in power.'

Jonathan replied: 'Nothing in government moves that fast  believe me, I speak from personal experience.'

Diana then said: '(Trump crony) Manafort got a slap on the wrist. Its a signal that the entire system is rigged.'

The chat then turned to escaping, with Jonathan saying: 'Weve got passports, and some savings. In a real pinch we can flee quickly.'

And Diana answered: 'Right. Lets go sooner than later.'

The pair were arrested in October and charged with selling secret information about nuclear submarines to an undercover FBI agent who posed as an operative for a foreign country.

Diane Toebbe (left) and Jonathan Toebbe (right) are both accused of being involved in a plot to sell nuclear secrets to a foreign power for $100,000 in cryptocurrency

Diana Toebbe, a teacher, was suspended from her school following her arrest

He then says he does not 'want to go back to making $50k a year. Especially not in a country where we don't know the language.'

As a nuclear engineer in the Navy, he was paid $153,000 a year, and his wife was earning $60,000 a year.

Jonathan Toebbe said his nuclear engineering degree 'is basically worthless overseas,' because the commercial nuclear industry is 'dead.'

Undaunted, she replies: 'I cannot believe that the two of us wouldn't be welcomed and rewarded by a foreign govt.'

Her lawyers insist that she was unaware of his scheme, and in the documents filed on Wednesday they state that she 'has reason to believe that her husband has also informed the government that she was not involved in his alleged scheme to sell classified information.'

Diana Toebbe is pictured in court on October 12 in Martinsburg, West Virginia

Jonathan Toebbe is seen at his first court hearing, on October 12

After her detention hearing, the document says, Diana Toebbe's father received a letter from her husband, saying: 'I have high hopes that Diana will ultimately be exonerated.'

Prosecutors have not yet responded to the filing.

They have argued that Diana Toebbe was deeply involved in her husband's scheme and acted as a lookout while he left classified material for a person he thought was a foreign agent.

They point out that Jonathan Toebbe also wrote in a message to the person he thought was his handler  who was actually an FBI agent that 'there is only one other person with knowledge' of their arrangement. That person, the government alleges, was Diana Toebbe.

Prosecutors said Jonathan Toebbe, who worked on the Navy's nuclear propulsion program, mailed a package of classified information in April 2020 to representatives of a foreign country, offering to reveal many more secrets in exchange for up to $5 million in cryptocurrency.

He wrote that he was interested in selling information on Virginia-class nuclear submarine reactors.

The unidentified foreign government sat on the documents before turning them over to the U.S. in December 2020, after the election.

PICTURED: Diane Toebbe, 45, and Jonathan Toebbe, 42, were charged with espionage and violation of the Atomic Energy Act after the FBI received a package from an unidentified foreign country saying it had received sensitive classified information on American nuclear submarines in December 2020, a month after President Biden was elected

Toebbe was arrested in West Virginia in October along with his wife, a teacher, after he had placed a removable memory card at a prearranged 'dead drop' in the state, according to the Justice Department.

He hid encrypted memory cards in a peanut butter sandwich, a chewing gum packet and band-aid wrapper.

Toebbe worked for 15 months in the office of the chief of naval operations, the top officer in the military's branch.

He has worked on naval nuclear propulsion since 2012, including secret technology devised to reduce the noise and vibration of submarines, factors that can give away their location.

Toebbe stated in one message that he had hoped the foreign government would be able to extract him and his family if he was ever tracked down, saying 'we have passports and cash set aside for this purpose.'

Authorities say he provided instructions for how to conduct the furtive relationship, with a letter that said: 'I apologize for this poor translation into your language. Please forward this letter to your military intelligence agency. I believe this information will be of great value to your nation. This is not a hoax.'

An undercover FBI agent posing as a representative of the foreign government made contact with Toebbe and agreed to pay thousands of dollars in cryptocurrency for the information he was offering.

The emails show that at first Toebbe remained wary but that he came to trust the undercover agent due to the hefty amount he was going to be paid. It was agreed he would receive $100,000 in crypto.

He was paid $70,000 before he was caught.

The FBI also arranged a 'signal' to Toebbe from the country's embassy in Washington over the Memorial Day weekend. The papers do not describe how the FBI was able to arrange such a signal.

The leaked secrets contained 'militarily sensitive design elements, operating parameters and performance characteristics of Virginia-class submarine reactors,' according to a federal court affidavit.

A bird's eye show of Bettis Atomic Power Laboratory lab, where the FBI claims is the only place where Toebbe could have obtained the classified information on US nuclear subs

In June 2021, the FBI says, the undercover agent sent $10,000 in cryptocurrency to Toebbe, describing it as a sign of good faith and trust.

Weeks later, federal agents watched as the Toebbes arrived at an agreed-upon location in West Virginia for the exchange, with Diana Toebbe appearing to serve as a lookout for her husband during a dead-drop operation for which the FBI paid $20,000, according to the complaint.

The FBI recovered a blue memory card wrapped in plastic and placed between two slices of bread on a peanut butter sandwich, court documents said.

If convicted, the couple face life in prison.

Diana's social media accounts - which often featured pictures of her dogs, her family and selfies, a far cry from her alleged life as a spy - revealed that she was unhappy with the government and her country.

A post on her on Facebook page indicated that she organized a babysitter while she and her husband made their last secret drop of stolen intelligence before they were caught by the FBI.

Other posts reveal show that she was a staunch liberal who supported 'The Resistance,' once retweeting that 'America is Temporarily Out of Order' while Trump was president.

She supported liberal ideologies, including the Black Lives Matter movement. Her profile picture reads 'Black Lives Matter,' and a post last year celebrating the social media protest against racism called '#blackouttuesday.'

One post she shared in 2019 is a photo from an unidentified Women's March overlaid with the quote, 'Stay angry, little Meg. You will need all your anger now,' from Madeleine L'Engle's A Wrinkle in Time.

The social media posts on Diana Toebbe's Facebook account include one saying 'Women Can Stop Trump'

One retweet from the her account in 2017, just days after Trump's inauguration, shows a photo saying, 'To the rest of the world, due to an insufficient amount of moral courage, America is temporarily out of order. We hope to restore service as quickly as possible. In the meantime, we in the resistance movement join hands with those around the world who realize we are one people. May the forces of good be with us. #TheResistance.'

The accounts her Twitter profile follows are mostly 'resistance' accounts in protest of Trump, including the 'Rogue NASA' account described as 'the unofficial "Resistance" team of NASA' on its bio description.

In 2016, she retweeted a post from liberal activist group MoveOn about former First Lady Michelle Obama's speech criticism of then-presidential candidate Donald Trump for his treatment of women.

One retweet in 2017, just days after Trump's inauguration, shows a picture caption:, 'To the rest of the world, due to an insufficient amount of moral courage, America is temporarily out of order. We hope to restore service as quickly as possible. In the meantime, we in the resistance movement join hands with those around the world who realize we are one people. May the forces of good be with us. #TheResistance.'

Around the same time, she retweeted a post from self-proclaimed 'activist against Islamophobia' CJ Werleman which included a video of an Iranian-American discussing Trump's travel ban with the caption, 'Watch this video and then try to describe immigrants in dehumanizing terms such as "waves" or "floods." '

She followed up with another tweet from an account called ALT DOJ, which describes itself as the 'Resistance' Department of Justice, that included a photo of people protesting the travel ban outside then-Senator Orrin Hatch's office at the Capitol.

It's caption read: 'Scene in front of Hatch's office right now. capitol police threatening arrests for seated protesters! #RESIST #TheResistance #MuslimBan'

One Facebook post on Diana's account said 'Women Can Stop Trump;' while other profile pictures feature failed 2016 presidential candidate Hilary Clinton's campaign symbol; a photo of the transgender flag; and various profile photos supporting the LGBTQ+ community.

Diana also retweeted an anti-trump tweet from TED Talk follower and cosmologist Katie Mack, saying the Trump administration suppressed LGBT right

One post she shared in 2019 is a photo from an unidentified Women's March with the above quote about 'staying angry'

Meanwhile, her husband appears to be a wannabe medieval swashbuckler who took sword-fighting classes and owned his own swords.

About two months after Jonathan allegedly sent a package of secret Navy information to a foreign contact, he boasted about buying a new sword to members of the Mid-Atlantic Society for Historic Swordsmanship on Facebook.

'[That feeling when] a box from Amazon and Purpleheart Armoury arrive on the same day,' Toebbe wrote on the society's Facebook page, while also posting a photo of a new sleek sword, medieval-style armor and a book titled 'The Medieval Art of Swordsmanship.'

'New sword day is always a good day,' he added in 2020.

The group's founder, Larry Tom, told the New York Post that he knew Jonathan in the 'context' of historic swordplay.

Jonathan also attended classes at the group's nearby center.

According to public Navy records, he worked for 15 months in the office of the chief of naval operations, the top officer in the military's branch.

Since 2012, Toebbe has worked for the Navy and he had high-level clearances in nuclear engineering.

Toebbe started working in the military as a civilian in 2017. He was commissioned in the Navy and rose to the rank of lieutenant before moving to the Navy Rescue, which he left in December 2020  the month the FBI established contact with him.

According to court documents, he has worked on naval nuclear propulsion since 2012, including on technology devised to reduce the noise and vibration of submarines, factors that can give away their location.

He also worked on naval reactors in Arlington, Virginia, from 2012 to 2014. He then was a student at naval reactor school in Pittsburgh before returning to Arlington to work on reactors again.

The complaint alleges violations of the Atomic Energy Act, which restricts the disclosure of information related to atomic weapons or nuclear materials.

Diana Toebbe is a humanities teacher at the Key School, a private school in Annapolis.

She has been suspended indefinitely.

The FBI also stated that Toebbe would only have had access to the documents that he allegedly shared with the undercover FBI agent while working at the Bettis Atomic Power Laboratory, a government research facility in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania.

How the US Navy's deadly Virginia-class submarine stacks up Submarines are quiet, deadly and expensive. Boats like those in the Virginia class, which is a U.S. attack submarine, can cost $3.4 billion and take up to seven years to build. An attack submarine, also called a hunter-killer, is a submarine specifically designed to attack and sink other submarines, surface naval warships and sometimes merchant ships. Virginia-class submarines can move 25+ knots. These boats are among the quietest and are equipped with high-end sensors, giving the US Navy a degree of acoustic superiority in the undersea battlespace. They are also equipped with 12 vertical missile launch tubes and four 533mm torpedo tubes. They can launch 65 missiles and torpedos, including 16 Tomahawk cruise missiles (SLCM), in a single salvo. The Virginia-class submarine can strike missiles up to 550-600 mph and its costs is $3.5 billion per unit Tomahawk cruise missiles, which cost $1.8 million per unit, are a precision weapon that launches from ships and submarines and can strike targets precisely from 1,000 miles away, even in heavily defended airspace. There is also capacity for up to 26 MK 48 MOD 6 heavyweight torpedoes ($2.5 million per unit), and Harpoon anti-ship missiles ($1.4 million per unit) to be fired from the 21 inches torpedo tubes. MK 60 CAPTOR mines can also be deployed from the subs. Virginia-class submarines can stay submerged for up to three months at a time. Additionally, these subs can also be used to deploy unmanned undersea vehicles (UUV). UUVs have been used since the 1970s for mine countermeasures work and more recently environmental monitoring, including finding out open-water temperatures. They have unlimited range, and the reactor core, which uses highly-enriched uranium, does not require refueling for the life of the ship, which is more than three decades The most recent types of Virginia-class submarines (Block V) are one of the largest submarines to ever be built, with the length increased from 377 feet to 460 feet, and with greater displacement from 7,800 tons to 10,200 tons. As a result, the Block V versions of the Virginia-class are the second-largest US submarines produced behind only the Ohio-class. Virginia-class submarines are designed for the future as they are expected to be acquired through 2043 and expected to remain in service until at least 2060, perhaps even into the 2070s. To date, 19 of the planned US 66 Virginia-class attack submarines have been completed since its launch in December 2019, while 11 more are now under construction. They can fit up to 135 people (15 officers; 120 enlisted). Advertisement

Emails exchanged between Jonathan Toebbe and FBI agent posing as representative of unidentified country

On December 26, 2020, the FBI initiated the first of several emails to 'ALICE' on ProtonMail. The FBI utilized a ProtonMail account utilizing the pseudo name 'BOB.' The email stated, 'We received your letter. We want to work with you. It has been many months, so we need to know if you are still out there. Please respond to this message, then we will provide instructions on how to proceed.'

On February 10, 2021, 'ALICE' responded and stated, 'Thank you for contacting me. I am still here. The covid disease has made it more difficult to find chances to check this email. Let us discuss how to proceed.'

On February 24, 2021, an FBI agent acting in an undercover capacity ('the UC') responded and stated, 'We understand the delay and hope you are well. Our experts reviewed the information you provided. We would like to sample your [US. Navy Information  Specific Sections].' We have a trusted friend in your country who has a gift for you to compensate for your efforts...

On March 5, 2021, 'ALICE' replied with the following. ' I am uncomfortable with this arrangement. Face to face meetings are very risky for me, as I am sure you understand. I propose exchanging gifts electronically, for mutual safety. I can upload documents to a secure cloud storage account, encrypted with the key I have provided you. You can send me a suitable gift in Monero cryptocurrency to an address I will provide. 100,000 usd should be enough to prove to me that you are not an unwelcome third party looking to make trouble for me. When I have confirmed receipt of your gift, I will provide you with the download link. We are both protected. I understand this is a large request. However, please remember I am risking my life for your benefit and I have taken the first step. Please help me trust you fully.'

On March 18, 2021, the UC posing as a representative of COUNTRY1 wrote, 'We understand a face to face meeting would be uncomfortable. We suggest a neutral drop location. When you visit the location alone, you retrieve a g~fi and leave behind the sample we request. We hope to have a very long friendship that benefits mutually.'

On March 22, 2021, 'ALICE' replied. 'I understand your proposal to start a dead drop. I am concerned that using a dead drop location your friend prepares makes me very vulnerable. If other interested parties are observing the location, I will be unable to detect them. I am not a professional, and do not have a team supporting me. I am also concerned that a physical gift would be very difficult to explain if I am questioned. For now, I must consider the possibility that you are not the person I hope you are. It would be very easy for the serial numbers of bills to be recorded. Tracking devices and other nasty surprises must be considered as well. I propose to mod~ your plan in the following ways:

1. I will place the sample you requested on a memory card and place it in a drop location of my choosing... . I am not a professional and I am sure that publicly available information on this subject is incomplete.

2. The samples will be encrypted using GnuPG symmetric encryption with a randomly generated passphrase.

3. I will tell you the location and how to find the card. I will also give you a Monero address. This form of gift protects both of us very well. I am very aware of the risks of blockchain analysis of BitCoin and other cryptocurrencies, and believe Monero gives both of us excellent deniability.

4. Once I confirm receipt of my gift, I will give you the passphrase.

Your friend and I will never go to the same drop location twice. I will give you a new Monero address each time. The decryption key will be different each time. No patterns for third parties to observe. The only electronic footprints will be Proton to Proton, so there is less risk of encrypted traffic being collected for future analysis by third parties. That part is not perfect. Perhaps as our friendship develops we will change addresses periodically?'

On April 1, 2021, the UC posing as a representative of COUNTRY1 responded to 'ALICE' and stated, 'We understand your concern and appreciate the thoughtful plan... as a sign of good faith and trust we wish to pay you the equivalent of 10,000 USD immediately on Monero to address you provided.

Drop locations are safest and allow us to make exchanges without coming in contact and of course leave no electronic footprint... Your proposed method of memory card with encryption/passphrases is acceptable. For the small sample we requested you will receive another 20,000 USD. Once you confirm Monero address we will activate payment. Our next step will be information on the drop location we have selected. This method will build trust between usfor a larger transaction in future. Our experts are interested in the information you have but we insist on maintaining our discretion and security as a priority.'

On April 9, 2021, 'ALICE' wrote, 'I am sorry to be so stubborn and untrusting, but I can not agree to go to a location of your choosing. I must consider the possibility that l am communicating with an adversary who has intercepted my first message and is attempting to expose me. Would not such an adversary wish me to go to a place of his choosing, knowing that an amateur will be unlikely to detect his surveillance? If you insist on physically delivering the package, then it must be a place of my choosing.

I ask you to consider the viability of an electronic dead drop. I can establish an encrypted online storage account without providing any identifying information and without provoking any suspicion...Another possibility occurs to me: is there some physical signal you can make that proves your identity to me? I could plan to visit Washington D.C. over the Memorial Day weekend. I would just be another tourist in the crowd. Perhaps you could fly a signal flag on your roof? Something easily observable from the street, but nothing to arouse an adversary's suspicion?... '.

On April 23, 2021, the UC posing as a representative of COUNTRY1 emailed the following: 'You do not need to apologize. We appreciate you being careful. That is much better than someone reckless. Your thoughtful plans indicate you are not amateur. This relationship requires mutual comfort. There is risk on both sides and we understand your need for safety assurance of who you are communicating with. As you suggest we can accommodate a signal in Washington D.C. over the Memorial Day weekend. We will set a signal from our main building observable from the street. It will bring you comfort with signals on display from the area inside our property that we control and not a [sic] adversary. If you agree please acknowledge. We will then provide more instruction about the signal. We hope this plan will continue to build the necessary trust and comfort of our identity.'

On May 5, 2021 'ALICE' wrote, 'I will make plans to be in the capitol [sic] over the Memorial Day weekend. It would be best to leave the signal visible for the entire holiday weekend so I can plan to pass by in the natural course of my tourist day. I may be on foot or passing by in a bus or car or bicycle, so please plan for something easy to spot.

On May 17, 2021, the UC posing as a representative of COUNTRY1 responded and said, in part, 'We are happy to set a signal to bring you comfort and build necessary trust between us. The signal will be inside our main building from Saturday morning until Sunday evening Memorial Day weekend.'

During the weekend of May 29-30, 2021, the FBI conducted an operation in the Washington, D.C. area that involved placing a signal at a location associated with COUNTRY1 in an attempted effort to gain bona fides with 'ALICE.'

On May 31, 2021, the FBI received confirmation via the ProtonMail from 'ALICE' that the signal was received. 'ALICE' also wrote that, 'Now Jam comfortably telling you your assumption that Pittsburgh would be a convenient location for me is incorrect.. for now I can tell you I am located near Baltimore, Maryland. Please let me know when you are ready to proceed with our first exchange. Once you have dropped location details for me, I will give you the Monero address and prepare the sample you have requested.' 'ALICE' went on to request clarity of the U.S. Navy information requested by the UC posing as a representative of COUNTRY1.

On June 4, 2021, the UC posing as a representative of COUNTRY1 requested the Monero address to provide 'ALICE' a payment of $10,000 USD as a sign of good faith and trust. The UC also informed 'ALICE' that new communication instructions would be provided at the exchange location.

On June 8, 2021, 'ALICE' wrote that, 'For maximum security it is very important that you do not send Monero to the same address twice.' 'ALICE' then provided the FBI with a payment address. 'ALICE' then went on to state, 'I will place information you have requested~ encrypted, on a memory card along with the address for the second payment you offered in a plain text file. After I confirm the second payment I will provide you with the decryption passphrase using the new communication method. I am also excited to continue our relationship...'

On June 10, 2021, the FBI paid 'ALICE' approximately $10,000 USD in Monero cryptocurrency.

On June 17, 2021, 'ALICE' thanked the FBI for the first payment and stated that he/she was 'eagerly waiting for your instructions.'

On June 18, 2021, the UC posing as a representative of COUNTRY1 emailed 'ALICE' to provide detailed instructions on servicing a dead drop location in Jefferson County, West Virginia to occur on June 26, 2021.

The UC discussed instructions regarding the next payment to 'ALICE' as well as additional assurance that 'ALICE' would be paid $20,000 upon the sample verification and authenticity of the information provided at the drop location.

On June 23, 2021, 'ALICE' sent the FBI a confirmation email stating, 'I understand your instructions and am ready to move forward.'

On June 26, 2021, at approximately 10.41 a.m., the FBI observed Jonathan Toebbe physically service a dead drop location in Jefferson County, West Virginia. Records show that Jonathan Toebbe is a government employee working as a nuclear engineer for the United States Navy and holds an active Top Secret Security Clearance through the United States Department of Defense and an active Q clearance from the United States Department of Energy.
Latino voters are dividing their support between both political parties, which is bad news for the Democrats, who have historically counted on the minority group for outsized support.

A new Wall Street Journal poll found that when Hispanic voters were asked the party of candidates they'd support in the Congressional elections next year, 37 per cent chose the Democratic candidate, while another 37 per cent said Republican.

In a hypothetical rematch between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, 44 per cent said Biden while 43 per cent said Trump.

Supporters of former President Donald Trump hold up a 'Latinos for Trump' sign in Miami, Florida in October 2020. While Trump made inroads with Hispanic voters in 2020, polling shows the group now even more split among the parties, having formerly been Democratic

Once a reliably Democratic voting bloc, new polling from The Wall Street Journal showed even support for Democrats and Republicans among all Hispanic voters going into the 2022 midterm races

Biden's disapproval rating his higher than his approval rating among Hispanic voters as well.

The Journal poll found that 54 per cent of Latinos currently disapprove of the job Biden is doing, versus 42 per cent who approve.

In 2020, Trump - whose campaign dedicated significant resources to Latino outreach - did see gains.

According to a Pew Research Center report, Trump received 38 per cent of the Hispanic vote, compared to Biden's 59 per cent.

In 2016, Trump - the winner of the race - received just 28 per cent of the Hispanic vote, while Democrat Hillary Clinton walked away with 66 per cent.

The party of Trump had even worse midterm performance in 2018, Pew found, with 72 per cent of Latino voters supporting Democratic Congressional candidates and 25 per cent supporting Republicans.

The poll also showed President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump nearly tied for support among all Hispanic voters, despite Biden winning the group in 2020 by 21 points. Like in every demographic group, there's a gender gap, with women more supportive of Democrats

Driving the trend toward Republicans now could be Hispanic mens desire to see the country return to Trump's economic policies.

The Journal poll found that Hispanic men believed Republicans pushed better economic policies by a margin of 17 points.

The poll showed a greater gender gap, with Hispanic women more supportive of Democrats and Biden overall.

But this held true on economics as well, with Hispanic women favoring Democratic economic policy by a margin of 10 points.

Additionally, a majority of Hispanic men said they'd like to return to Trump's policies, while a majority of Hispanic women said they wanted to stay with Biden's.

'You see in this poll that there's a group of Hispanic men who were without a doubt enticed by Trump and have become more Republican. We have more work to do on that,' Democratic pollster John Anzalone told The Journal.
Disgraced Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes closed her fraud trial testimony by blaming any misleading comments she'd made to investors on what company experts had told her.

Holmes, 37, she spent her final day on the stand trying to drive home the argument that she didn't intend to mislead investors and instead relied on expert feedback to glean information on company prospects.

Explaining why she'd made false statements she claimed were just honest mistakes, Holmes told jurors: 'I wanted to convey the impact.

'I wanted to talk about what this company could do a year from now, five years from now, 10 years from now. They werent interested in today or tomorrow or next month  they were interested in what kind of change we could make.'

Echoing that claim, defense lawyer Lance Wade added: 'Theranos didnt see mistakes as crimes. They saw them as part of the path to success.'

Disgraced Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes claimed during her final day of testimony on December 8 that the deceiving comments she made about the company were based on feedback from experts

Prosecutor Robert Leach sought to remind Holmes of investors who'd been duped by false claims of Theranos' blood-testing capabilities.

He asked: 'You understand they were entitled to truthful answers about Theranoss capabilities?'

She answered: 'Of course.'

Wednesday repeatedly saw Holmes try to shun the blame for the blood-testing company's spectacular failure, which saw high profile investors duped into pumping hundreds of millions of dollars into the firm.

But on Wednesday, Holmes also admitted that the 'buck' stopped with her and that she was responsible for managing the company as its chief executive, the New York Times reported.

Holmes' comments Wednesday brought an end to hours of testimony, during which she presented herself as a domestic assault victim who was controlled by ex-boyfriend Sunny Balwani.

Her trial in San Jose, California, also heard how the former Silicon Valley wunderkind's lavish lifestyle and hunger for fame fueled the fraud.

The 37-year-old's reputation as a high-flying successful tech mogul began to unravel, as did her luxury lifestyle, after she was accused of defrauding investors and patients.

Prosecutors alleged she did so by failing to deliver on a promise to revolutionize health care with a technology that was supposed to be able to detect a wide range of diseases with just a few drops of blood.

Holmes currently faces nine counts of wires fraud, and two of conspiracy, and could face 20 years in prison if convicted.

She spent her last day on the stand trying to persuade jurors that she did not intentionally deceive investors.

Prosecutors alleged Holmes defrauded investors by failing to deliver on a promise to revolutionize health care with a technology at Theranos that was supposed to be able to detect a wide range of diseases with just a few drops of blood

She told her defense attorney during questioning that investors took a long-term approach to their investment strategies.

'They weren't interested in today or tomorrow or next month,' she said. 'They were interested in what kind of change we could make.'

The defense rested its case Wednesday, and closing arguments are set to begin December 16.

Jurors will then begin deliberating Holmes' fate.

Last week, Holmes tearfully told court how Balwani, 56, abused, controlled and raped her during their 12 year relationship, which ended in 2016.

'He would force me to have sex with him when I didn't want to because he would say that he wanted me to know he still loved me,' said Holmes, in tears.

In court, Holmes accused Balwani (pictured) of being abusive and controlling, and forcing her to have sex against her will during their 12 year relationship, which ended in 2016

Pictured: Holmes is seen with her ex Balwani, the company's chief operating officer, in 2015

Since the trial began in September, jurors in San Jose have heard evidence that prosecutors say proves Holmes defrauded investors between 2010 and 2015 and deceived patients once Theranos began making its tests commercially available, including through a partnership with Walgreens.

Prosecutors during opening statements said Holmes turned to fraud after pharmaceutical companies lost interest in the Theranos technology.

Conversely, her attorneys told jurors that Holmes was simply a young, hardworking entrepreneur whose company failed.

Holmes has testified that she believed Theranos could have achieved its goal of a miniaturized device that would make diagnostic testing cheaper and more accessible, pointing to positive results from early work with drugmakers including Pfizer Inc.

Pictured: Holmes became emotional as she was asked to read romantic texts between herself and Balwani during cross examination by prosecutor Robert Leach at Robert F. Peckham U.S. Courthouse during her trial, in San Jose, California, in this courtroom sketch on November 30

She also said plans to place Theranos devices in Walgreens stores hit regulatory and logistical challenges.

During the trial, jurors also have heard testimony from more than two dozen prosecution witnesses, including patients and investors who prosecutors have said Holmes deceived.

Holmes (center) walks with her mother Noel Holmes (left) and her partner Billy Evans (right) as they arrive for Elizabeth Holmes's trial at the Robert F. Peckham Federal Building on December 07 in San Jose, California

During Tuesday's testimony, she buckled under cross-examination as she admitted misleading a journalist about her company's capabilities - and claimed she'd forgotten breaking news of huge successes to investors.

Holmes admitted during cross-examination that she'd misled a Fortune magazine writer who wrote a 2014 piece claiming Theranos was offering 200 blood diagnostic tests, and was on the verge of offering 1,000 such examinations.

Asked by prosecutor Robert Leach if she agreed that was an incorrect statement, Holmes answered: 'I believe that now.'

During her final moments of testimony Wednesday, she shared her initial hopes for Theranos with the jury, CNBC reported.

'I wanted to change the impact the company could make for people and for health care,' Holmes said. 'There were people that were long-term investors and I wanted to talk about what this company could do a year from now, five years from now, 10 years from now.'

Balwani was also charged in the scheme and will stand trial next year.
Publix heiress Carol Jenkins Barnett, 65, daughter of the grocery chain's founder George W. Jenkins, died of complications from Alzheimer's disease on Tuesday night.

Barnett, who was diagnosed with the illness five years ago aged just 59, died 'late last evening in her home surrounded by her loving family,' according to a Wednesday Publix statement.

Although more than six million Americans suffer from the degenerative condition, only about 5 percent of them develop symptoms before age 65, according to the National Institute on Aging.

Barnett was the wealthiest resident of Polk County, Florida, and made Forbes magazine's list of World Billionaires each year for the last decade with an estimated net worth of $8.8 billion in 2020.

Her father, George W. Jenkins, opened the first Publix store in Winter Haven in 1930. Now, Publix Super Markets operates 1,300 stores in Florida, and is the largest employee-owned company in the country. The Jenkins' family own 20 per cent of the business, with the remaining 80 per cent in the hands of the firm's employees.

Publix heiress Carol Jenkins Barnett, 65 (pictured), daughter of the grocery chain's founder George W. Jenkins, died of complications from Alzheimer's disease on Tuesday night

Publix Founder George Jenkins, pictured right, founded the first Publix location in 1930, and passed away in 1996

George W. Jenkins (pictured) opened the first Publix store in Winter Haven in 1930

Carol Jenkins Barnett (left) is pictured with her father, Publix founder George Jenkins (bottom left), her brother Howard Jenkins (top right) and Lanier Upshaw at the Lakeland Yacht Club in 1995

Barnett is survived by her two grown sons, Wesley Barnett and Nicholas Barnett. Both live in Polk County, and both have become prominent area philanthropists like their mother, according to USA Today. Barnett is also survived by three grandchildren, Raleigh, Birdie and Zoey.

'My mother had a passion for helping others, especially children,' Wesley Barnett told the outlet.

'She felt privileged to be able to support many causes locally and beyond. Her father and mother instilled in her a sense of responsibility to her community and she has in turn taught that to my brother and me and our families by her shining example.'

The Lakeland native started her career as a cashier at a Publix store in the Grove Parks Shopping Center, the company said. She moved up to the company's corporate marketing research and development department in 1979.

She was elected to the Publix board of directors in 1983, where she served until her 2016 Alzheimer's diagnosis.

CEO Todd Jones said that the philanthropist had a 'generous heart and compassionate soul' in the news release:

'The Publix family is deeply saddened by the loss of a great humanitarian and community advocate,' he said.

'My mother had a passion for helping others, especially children,' Wesley Barnett, pictured second from left, told USA Today of his mother Carol Jenkins Barnett, pictured second from right with husband Barney Barnett

Carol Jenkins Barnett's son, Nick Barnett, is pictured in a Publix store. Wesley Barnett, Carol's other son, said that his mother had a 'sense of responsibility to her community' that she 'in turn taught that to my brother and me and our families by her shining example'

Publix Super Markets operates 1,300 stores in Florida, and is the largest employee-owned company in the country

'In addition to her service at Publix, Carol Jenkins Barnett made significant contributions to many nonprofit organizations and for the betterment of all children with investments in early childhood education programs.'

'Her efforts will continue to improve the lives of others for generations.'

The grocery giant issued a two-page list of Barnett's community service initiatives, among them the Junior League of Grater Lakeland, United Way of Central Florida, Lakeland Volunteers in Medicine and the Florida Partnership for School Readiness.

The Girl Scouts of West Central Florida, The Children's Home Society, the Florida Arts Council and the Barbara Bush Foundation were among organizations that had given the philanthropist awards.

In 1998, Florida Southern College awarded Barnett an honorary doctorate. She and her husband, Barney Barnett, donated many millions of dollars to their share alma mater.

College President Anne Kerr said Barnett left an 'indelible impact' in a statement sent on Wednesday to the college community.

'Her leadership and vision for education fostered a drive for learning and social betterment that has compelled countless FSC students and alumni to shape a better world for us all. Carol led the way as an exemplar of positive and transformative communal leadership.'

Pictured is the first stand-alone Publix Super Market in Winter Haven, photographed in 1940

'Carols legacy of intellectual understanding of the importance of education throughout life, advocacy for learning, helping others, and philanthropy lives on in the Florida Southern community and in each of us whom she touched. Carol manifested goodness and love throughout her life, transforming lives and organizations.'

In 2020, the college opened the Carol Jenkins Barnett Center for Early Childhood Learning and Health. Barnett attended a dedication ceremony for the building in 2018, but did not speak.

Barnett was inducted into the Polk County Schools Hall of Fame in 2003, and the Florida Women's Hall of Fame in 2016.

Barnett was inducted into the Polk County Schools Hall of Fame in 2003, and the Florida Women's Hall of Fame in 2016

She also served on the the board of Publix Super Markets Charities, which supported the United Way of Central Florida. Barnett established her own charitable programs as well, including the Family Fundamentals parent resource facility in Lakeland and the Community Foundation of Greater Lakeland.

In 2016, the heiress made the largest-ever donation to Lakeland Regional Medical Center - three years later, the hospital opened its eight-floor Carol Jenkins Barnett wing.

The hospital's President and CEO, Danielle Drummond, said that Barnett's 'compassionate heart and generous spirit helped thousands in our area over the years.'

'Carol was a remarkable woman who cared deeply and gave generously to leave the world a better place. She will be greatly missed by those who knew her best and by those who have been touched by her vibrant and considerate ways,' Drummond said in a Wednesday statement.

Barney and Carol Barnett founded Barnett Family Park near Like Mirror, and contributed to the creation of Bonnet Springs Park, a 168-acre recreation site under construction along George Jenkins Boulevard.

'Carol was a remarkable woman who cared deeply and gave generously to leave the world a better place. She will be greatly missed by those who knew her best and by those who have been touched by her vibrant and considerate ways,' said Lakeland Regional Medical Center CEO Drummond said in a Wednesday statement

Retired executive director of Volunteers in Service to the Elderly Alice O'Reilly told USA Today that Barnett made a point of shopping at locally-owned businesses: 'she loved Lakeland as much as I did and so we had a kinship that way,' O'Reilly said.

'Her love and strength of Lakeland really reflects in so many ways all of the progress that weve made in our city over the years. What a strong influence that she had on so many.'

'And I know everybodys going to say this, but she learned from the best. She learned from her dad.'

Retired Lakeland City Manager Tony Delgado paid tribute to Barnett on Facebook: 'Absolutely heartbreaking news,' he wrote. 'Carol was so instrumental in moving Lakeland, community education and philanthrophy efforts forward. She will be greatly missed and all our hearts go out to the family'

Retired Lakeland City Manager Tony Delgado paid tribute to Barnett on Facebook:

'Absolutely heartbreaking news,' he wrote. 'Carol was so instrumental in moving Lakeland, community education and philanthropy efforts forward. She will be greatly missed and all our hearts go out to the family.'

Barney and Carol Barnett have donated generously to conservative politicians and the Republican Party for decades. In 2016, Barnett's trust donated $800,000 to defeat a constitutional amendment that would legalize medical marijuana in Florida - the measure failed that year, but passed two years later.

Steve Scruggs, President of the Lakeland Economic Development Council, said that without Barnett and her family, Lakeland would be a 'community that missed the opportunity to learn and benefit from one of the most generous human beings of our time.'
Saga is to give its staff grandparental leave in a first for big business.

Grandparents among its 2,500 employees will get one week of paid time off work to celebrate the birth of newborns and help with their care.

The company, which offers services to over-50s, said the grandchildren of all staff will also now have access to its on-site nursery.

British business Saga (pictured, file photo), which offers services to the over 50s, has announced that they are going to give the grandparents amongst its 2,500 employees, a week paid time off from work to celebrate the birth of their grandchildren

Saga said the paid week off reflects its belief in the value of experience in the workplace, alongside a recognition of the role of grandparents to their families and society.

The company added that its research shows a quarter of working grandparents said they find it difficult to balance work with childcare commitments.

Jane Storm, chief people officer at Saga, said: This is about helping new grandparents celebrate a special moment and play a role in their growing families from day one. Its also a symbol of how important older workers are to their companies and to society.

As a purpose-led business we have a responsibility to build a representative, multigeneration workforce fit for the future, that serves the needs of our customers.

Our customers are mostly over 50 and we want to have more colleagues here that reflect the community we serve. We also think this idea should be a key attraction for retention and recruitment.

Shelley Whittam, who works in Sagas insurance department, plans to take the paid week off later this month.

The company said that its research shows a quarter of working grandparents said they find it difficult to balance work with childcare commitments

She said: Im so excited to be able to spend a week with my new grandchild and help our family with childcare at such an important moment.

'Ive been through this myself and have experience that I hope will help my child get to grips with parenthood.

Its great that Saga recognises this and the vital role grandparents play in family and society.

In 2015 David Camerons Conservative government championed the idea of paid leave for new grandparents, but later dropped the idea.

Parental leave rights were most recently updated in 2015, allowing couples to share 50 weeks of leave  37 weeks of which is paid between them.

Mothers and fathers can take leave in their childs first year at different times, or double up by taking it at the same time.

The rights apply to parents in work, including those who are adopting, and same-sex couples.

The 50 weeks are on top of two weeks leave given to mothers after birth, and the two weeks of paid paternity leave automatically given to fathers.
Queensland and the Northern Territory are the latest states to hit their 80 per cent vaccination double jabbed milestones.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison confirmed both jurisdictions had reached the mark, ahead of the full release of the latest vaccination statistics later on Thursday.

Western Australia is now the only state or territory not to have reached the 80 per cent target.

Nationally, more than 88 per cent of over 16s have been fully vaccinated while 93 per cent have had their first dose.

Queensland is among the latest states to hit its 80 per cent vaccination double jabbed milestones

As more cases of COVID-19 associated with the Omicron variant emerge, the World Health Organisation has urged countries not to be complacent with regards to the new strain.

WHO spokeswoman Margaret Harris said while work was being undertaken to investigate the severity of Omicron, people should be alert.

'We are saying take all the measures seriously now, whether its Delta or Omicron - we can't be relaxed right now,' she told ABC Radio.

'There's such an inequity in the distribution of vaccines, we have populations that are still exposed, and we've got highly vulnerable people in those populations.'

Meanwhile, a new study showed the Pfizer vaccine booster was an effective defence against the Omicron variant, despite the initial two doses being less effective.

The Northern Territory has also hit its 80 per cent double jabbed milestone

Vaccine expert and chair of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Jane Halton said Omicron would become the dominant variant in Australia and was here to stay.

"It's arrived and we're now seeing it spreading not just in Sydney but elsewhere," Ms Halton told the Nine Network.

'I think the horse has bolted.'

More than 580,000 adults have received a booster shot.

Australian medical regulators have also granted provisional approval to the Moderna vaccine to be used as a booster.

80 per cent of Queenslanders aged over-16 are now fully vaccinated, despite recent protests against vaccination mandates

A final decision on approval from Australia's leading vaccine body is expected next week.

There were 420 new infections in NSW reported on Thursday, along with one death.

In Victoria, the state had 1232 cases and nine fatalities.

Queensland also confirmed two cases of Omicron in people from overseas on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the ACT recorded eight new COVID-19 infections and one more death.

A baby girl was among two new cases in the Northern Territory.
Individual police officers could be held directly responsible for shoddy work  and even personally fined  under proposals floated by ministers today.

Justice Secretary Dominic Raab has asked whether regulators in the criminal justice system should get powers to impose consequences on individuals.

The measures could also apply to prosecutors, probation officers and other public sector workers whose mistakes let down victims of crime, a consultation paper indicates.

The document, published today, asks whether new disciplinary powers could be handed to outside bodies.

Individual police officers could be held directly responsible for shoddy work  and even personally fined  under proposals floated by ministers today (stock image)

It says they could be based on powers held by regulators in the care and financial services sectors, which allow individual workers to be suspended or personally fined if they make grave errors.

The paper, which sets out ways to improve victims rights ahead of a new Victims Bill, also says prosecutors could be ordered to meet with victims of the most serious crimes such as rape and families bereaved by homicides before deciding criminal charges.

It will give victims and their families the chance to describe the impact crimes have had on their lives before legal proceedings are launched, the Government said.

The document also proposes allowing communities to give community impact statements before criminals are sentenced for low-level crimes like anti-social behaviour, it says.

In a further measure, the victim surcharge  which is imposed on all criminals  could rise from as low as 20 to a minimum of 100.

Justice Secretary Dominic Raab (pictured) has asked whether regulators in the criminal justice system should get powers to impose consequences on individuals

Pilot schemes which have allowed rape victims to pre-record evidence for a trial will also be rolled out across England and Wales, it was confirmed.

Mr Raab said: Our plans will give victims a louder voice, a greater role in the criminal justice system, and make criminals pay more to help victims recover.

The Victims Commissioner Dame Vera Baird said: The Governments Victims Bill represents a once in a generation opportunity to drive real culture change, requiring agencies to see, hear and help victims  if necessary, with real consequences if this does not happen.

Diana Fawcett, chief executive of the charity Victim Support, said: Our research has found time and time again that victims do not always receive their rights and entitlements, and so the Governments focus on strengthening victims rights is welcome.

There will be an eight-week consultation on the proposals before a Victims Bill is published next year.
Ministers are considering another climbdown over a controversial law to ban conversion therapy.

After a huge backlash from parents and teachers, they are looking at delaying plans that could criminalise those who want to prevent children from changing gender.

They will press ahead with moves to ban conversion therapy designed to turn gay people straight.

But a ban on conversion therapy for gender identity could be put off until the summer amid fears it would criminalise parents, teachers and doctors who question children who want to change gender.

Dr Nicola Williams (pictured), of Fair Play for Women said: 'Rushing legislation means mistakes get made'

It comes as a group of gay men warned ministers the new law could put pressure to transition on thousands of children who might otherwise grow up happy and gay.

The Gay Mens Network said the plans would silence opposition to gender conversion and could destroy thousands of lives because many children would later regret changing gender.

The Government is expected to confirm today that a botched consultation on the proposals that was planned to end tomorrow will now run until February to allow more people to have their say.

The climbdown comes after threats of legal action from Fair Play For Women, whose director Dr Nicola Williams said: The Government has been rushing to get this bill into law before an LGBT conference its hosting next year.

Rushing legislation means mistakes get made. This law is complex, controversial and could harm children if they get it wrong. It is too important to be rushed.

Boris Johnson originally agreed to ban the cruel practice of therapists trying to make gay children straight.

But the proposals were extended to stop people trying to persuade children they should consider whether they really want to be the gender they want to be.

Boris Johnson originally agreed to ban the cruel practice of therapists trying to make gay children straight

A Government source said: One option under active consideration is decoupling orientation therapy and conversion therapy for gender identity.

The first is completely uncontroversial and could be fast tracked. The other could be delayed until the summer after an independent review into gender identity by Dr Hillary Cass reports.

The Gay Mens Network wrote a submission to the consultation to urge ministers not to bring in a ban on conversion therapy for gender identity in its name.

The group says the move towards promoting transition in effect erases people who are simply gay by telling them they are in the wrong body.

The Government Equality Hub said: This Government is committed to banning the practice of coercive conversion therapy and we want to hear all views on the best ways to do that.
In opening his two-day Democracy Summit on Thursday, President Joe Biden amended the U.S. Declaration of Independence when quoting it to make sure it included 'women and men'.

'American democracy is an ongoing struggle to live up to our highest ideals and to heal our divisions, to recommit ourselves to the founding idea of our nation captured in our Declaration of Independence, not unlike many of your documents,' Biden said in opening remarks.

'We say, 'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all women and men are created equal endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, among them life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,'' he said in quoting the document but changing it to be inclusive of women.

The Declaration of Independence was drafted by a committee made up of Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Roger Sherman and Robert R. Livingston.

In the past, Biden has flubbed the words or paraphrased the document.

Biden pledged while speaking to world leaders that he will keep voting rights legislation a 'priority' as he opened up his Summit for Democracy at the White House Thursday morning.

The president is convening participants from some 110 countries with the aim of reversing the 'backwards slide of democracy,' a trend on display around the world and in the United States.

'My administration is going to keep fighting to pass two critical pieces of legislation that will shore up the very foundation of American democracy, the sacred right of every person to make their voice heard through free, fair and secure elections,' Biden said, addressing his audience virtually from the South Court Auditorium.

President Joe Biden amended the U.S. Declaration of Independence to make sure it included 'women and men'

The president referenced the Freedom to Vote Act - a slimmed down version of the For the People Act - and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act.

Versions of both bills have passed the House of Representatives during this Congress, but are stuck in the Senate thanks to the filibuster still being intact.

Biden said passage of the bills would 'prevent voting discrimination, provide baselines for accessing the ballot box and ensure the will of the voters is upheld.'

'We should be making it easier for people to vote, not harder,' the president said. 'And that's going to remain a priority for my administration until we get it done.'

'Inaction is not an option,' he added.

Biden also quoted the late Rep. John Lewis, the civil rights leader who the latter bill is named for, during his opening remarks to world leaders and activists.

'My late friend, Congressman John Lewis, was a great champion of American democracy and for civil rights around the world. Learning from and gaining inspiration from other great leaders like Gandhi and Mandela,' Biden said. 'With his final words - he was dying - to our nation last year he reminded our country: 'democracy is not a state, it's an act. Democracy is not a state, it is an act.''

As the president launches the administration's inaugural Summit for Democracy, determined to show the world democracy can still work, the nation that's been long considered a shining example is seen by various measures as a backslider.

Local elected officials are resigning at an alarming rate amid confrontations with angry voices at school board meetings, elections offices and town halls.

States are passing laws to limit access to the ballot, making it more difficult for Americans to vote.

President Joe Biden pledged to keep voting rights legislation a 'priority' as he opened up his two-day Summit for Democracy at the White House Thursday morning

And the Jan. 6 attack at the Capitol has left many in one U.S. political party clinging to former President. Donald Trump's false claims of a stolen election, eroding trust in the accuracy of the vote.

Biden didn't mention Trump nor the January 6 insurrection in his opening remarks.

He did admit that the United States is not perfect.

'American democracy is an ongoing struggle to live up to our highest ideals and to heal our divisions and to recommit ourselves to the founding idea of our nation captured in our Declaration of Independence,' Biden noted.

'Here in the United States we know as well as anyone that renewing our democracy and strengthening our democratic institutions requires constant effort,' he also said.

It's an unsettling moment for the world's leading democracy as authoritarianism grows around the globe, raising questions about the United States' ability to lead by example and intensifying pressure on the Biden administration to not only promote democracy abroad but do more to shore it up at home.

As allies gather for the two-day virtual summit, the White House is approaching the meeting 'from a place of humility,' understanding that no democracy is perfect, not even the U.S., according to a senior official granted anonymity to discuss the thinking at the White House.

At the forum, intended for some 110 participating countries to announce new commitments for strengthening democracy, Biden plans to speak about the importance of voting rights at home, much as he did at an anniversary celebration of the capital's Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, the official said. At the time, the president called voting 'that fundamental right' and decried efforts to curtail it as 'the most un-American thing' imaginable.

The president said that passage of his ambitious domestic agenda - the $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill he signed into law, as well as the roughly $2 trillion 'Build Back Better Act' of social and climate change initiatives moving through the Senate - will demonstrate how democracy can improve peoples lives.

'The United States has a thriving democracy, but it's been hurting in recent years,' said Michael Abramowitz, the president of Freedom House, whose annual report marked a 15th consecutive year of a global democratic slide.

'Right now, we're going through a phase in America where it's very difficult to get things done and to really prove that democracy can deliver,' Abramowitz said.

Biden referenced the report in his opening speech, noting that the 'data we're seeing is largely pointing in the wrong direction.'

One early test will come Thursday as the U.S. House moves to approve the Protecting Our Democracy Act, the third in a trio of bills alongside the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act that Democrats in Congress have put forward.

A fourth bill being drafted would impose changes to the Electoral Count Act, the once-routine process of tallying and certifying the presidential election ballots that was severely tested on Jan. 6 as Trump urged followers to challenge the vote.

But the legislation churning through Congress seems destined to fail, facing opposition from Republicans who dismiss the bills as partisan overreach.

Some Republicans say the bills are unnecessary or need to be dramatically scaled back.

Others are perpetuating Trump's false claims of election fraud despite dozens of U.S. court cases that found no evidence of voting irregularities.

Some Republicans are now downplaying the attack at the Capitol, even as hundreds of rioters are facing charges in courts nationwide.

The White House is gearing up for a year of action on what it sees as rebuilding democracy.

'This summit is a kick-off of a year in action, for all of our countries. To follow through on our commitments and report back next year on the progress we've made,' Biden said Thursday morning.

The Republican blockade against the Democrats' bills in Congress has revived private Senate negotiations over changing the chamber's filibuster rules to muscle past a nearly impossible 60-vote threshold in the evenly split 50-50 chamber.

Some are pushing for action ahead the 2022 congressional elections amid fears of new restrictions on the right to vote and outside actors sowing misinformation.

'If President Biden really believes - as he should - that we're in an existential battle to protect democracy, when will he put the political capital behind these bills that such a crisis warrants?' said Ian Bassin, executive director of Protect Democracy, a nonpartisan, anti-authoritarianism organization.

Globally, meanwhile, this week's summit gets underway as outside groups are raising alarms about a worldwide slide of democracy, fueled by populations that have grown increasingly frustrated by stubborn income inequality and the COVID-19 crisis with its restrictions and millions of lives lost.

Authoritarianism is on the rise in some some ostensibly democratic countries, alongside shifting attitudes about the best forms of government amid anti-democratic influences and commentary from China and Russia.

A Pew report released this week said that while 'people like democracy, their commitment to it is often not very strong.' Even wealthy countries, including the U.S., have some people who favor military rule, the report said.

Another group, the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, said in its annual report that the number of countries experiencing democratic backsliding 'has never been as high' as the past decade, with the U.S. added to the list alongside India and Brazil.

Biden convened leaders from some 110 countries virtually and addressed them Thursday morning from the South Court Auditorium in the White House complex

The legislation being voted on Thursday in the House tries to claw back some of what its supporters consider executive overreach that has been building in the U.S. for years and intensified during Trump's term.

It includes provisions to strengthen enforcement of congressional subpoenas, protect whistleblowers and provide for congressional oversight of presidential emergency declarations, among other provisions, many of them previously backed by Republicans.

Rep. Adam Schiff, the Democratic chairman of the Intelligence Committee, said the House panel investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol has also been 'brainstorming' reforms to the electoral count that was disrupted that day the mob stormed the building.

'The Jan. 6 attack, and the image that gave the United States about the dysfunctionality of our system at present, I think, is a real body blow to the cause of democracy around the world,' Schiff said in an interview with The Associated Press.

Schiff said from his own recent talks with Biden, 'the president is very much focused like a laser on the challenge to democracy around the world, but also at home.'
Jeffrey Epstein was once in a relationship with a blonde Norwegian heiress who also dated Donald Trump, the Ghislaine Maxwell trial heard on Wednesday.

The pedophile was seeing Celina Midelfart in the mid 1990s around the same time he was dating other women, it was claimed.

Midelfart is the heir to her familys cosmetics fortune and flight logs show she took at least 13 trips on Epsteins private jet.

The claim was made by one of Maxwells lawyers during cross examination of Epsteins former pilot on day eight of the trial of Maxwell, who denies recruiting and trafficking underage girls for Epstein.

The pedophile Epstein was seeing Celina Midelfart in the mid 1990s around the same time he was dating other women, it was claimed

Midelfart later dated former President Donald Trump and is allegedly the woman he dumped to be with his eventual third wife, Melania

Epstein appears with his arm around Ghislaine as he takes a phone call in this evidence photo

A treasure trove of never-before-seen photos show a loved up Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell jet setting and flaunting their opulent lifestyle. One of the most shocking photos shows Maxwell massaging Epstein's feet on the Lolita Express

Pilot Dave Rodgers testified that Maxwell and Epstein were initially dating but later broke up.

Rodgers took the jury through flight logs of Epsteins private plane, infamously known as the Lolita Express.

Maxwell was on many of those flights, sometimes with Virginia Roberts, who has pursued criminal and civil actions against both Epstein and Maxwell.

He said he flew Roberts a total of 32 times in the early 2000s. He also claimed he flew four flights with Maxwell accuser Jane on board.

Prosecutors read off flights from the log book that included trips to Spain and Morocco in 2001 where Roberts was on board.

Lawyer Christian Everdell asked Rodgers about a number of women who Epstein was dating in the 1990s and 2000s.

Celina Midelfart, Donald Trump and Ivanka Trump attend Valentine's Day Birthday Party for Trump's first wife Ivana in 1998

Epstein was a regular at Mar-a-Lago resort. He is pictured with Midelfart at Mar-a-Lago in 1995

It appeared to be an attempt to put distance between Maxwell and Epstein as prosecutors have said they were in a relationship.

The girlfriends included Shelley Lewis, a British woman who dated Epstein between 1999 and 2002 - Rodgers confirmed he thought they had been a couple.

Everdell asked if Rodgers was aware Epstein was in a romantic relationship with Midelfart around 1996, and he said yes.

He then asked if she was in her 20s or early 30s at the time and Rodgers said yes.

Midelfart is said to have been the woman that Donald Trump dumped to date Melania Trump, his third wife.

Ghislaine Maxwell, the Jeffrey Epstein associate accused of sex trafficking, attends her trial as Epstein pilot David Rodgers testifies in a courtroom sketch

This courtroom sketch shows Jeffrey Epstein's pilot David Rodgers on the witness stand with flight records displayed on screen during Ghislaine Maxwell's sex-abuse trial

The former president supposedly ditched her in 1998, after she had been dating Epstein.

Trump and Midelfart were supposedly on a night out at the Kit Kat Club in New York when he saw Melania and asked her for her number. The former First Lady refused but Trump persisted and she eventually agreed.

Midelfart is the granddaughter of the founder of the Midelfart cosmetics company and in 2000 became the companys chairman.

Now married with one child, she grew up in Oslo, studied at the London School of Economics and NYU.

Her other boyfriends include pop star Robbie Williams and Haakon, Crown Prince of Norway.

Day eight of the trial began Wednesday morning with the boyfriend of alleged victim Carolyn, who testified that she began going to Epsteins house to give him massages when she was 14.

Boyfriend Shawn told the jury that he had driven his ex-girlfriend and two other teenage girls he was dating to Epsteins Palm Beach home regularly from around 2002 to 2004.

Outside the courtroom former model Lisa Phillips was seen arriving. She previously claimed a friend of hers slept with Prince Andrew on the orders of Epstein

Shawn said on the stand Virginia told Carolyn could make a lot of money massaging Epstein.

There was a woman who spoke 'proper English' who called to book massages, and Carolyn said there was a lady named Maxwell. Shawn said that Carolyn 'was a child' when asked about her intelligence levels.

He testified that Maxwell bought her lingerie and a movie as a gift.

Nicole Hesse, who was the Palm Beach maintenance manager from 2003-2004 took the stand and said she took three messages during that time from a woman named 'Carolyn.'

She said Maxwell instructed her where to leave messages when she wasn't home.

Outside the courtroom former model Lisa Phillips was seen arriving. She previously claimed a friend of hers slept with Prince Andrew on the orders of Epstein.

Another alleged victim who claims Maxwell groomed her is expected to testify before the government rests its case this week.
Barnaby Joyce's estranged father-in-law will stand at the next election for Clive Palmer's United Australia Party.

Peter Campion, the colourful father of Vikki Campion, will contest the north Queensland seat of Kennedy at the 2022 election.

Mr Campion has repeatedly lashed out at his son-in-law Barnaby Joyce in bizarre terms - describing him as a 'sheep' that deserved to be 'roasted on a spit.'

Peter Campion - the father of Vikki Campion - said he was going to 'roast' the Deputy PM 'like the lamb he is'

Mr Campion will be running against outspoken MP Bob Katter (pictured left) who has held the seat since 1993

Kennedy is currently held by maverick independent MP Bob Katter, who has represented the electorate since 1993.

Mr Campion said he would campaign for reducing large levels of government debt and stopping net-zero emissions targets.

'Net-zero means no jobs and no future for our community, and we have got to stop the Liberal-Labor alliance,' he said in a statement.

'I think all members of the community appreciate Mr Katter's service to the people of Queensland and recognise that he is entitled to spend more time with his family.'

Mr Campion found out through media that his daughter Vikki Campion (pictured) was pregnant with Mr Joyce and took to the media to slam the Deputy PM

It is believed Ms Campion and Mr Joyce began their affair while she was his employee and announced the pregnancy after the breakdown of Mr Joyce's previous marriage

Mr Campion publicly lashed out at Mr Joyce after learning about his daughter's pregnancy through the media.

Ms Campion and Mr Joyce were exposed as having a love affair that resulted in a child following the breakdown of his marriage in 2017.

Their relationship began while Ms Campion was still working for Mr Joyce at Parliament House in Canberra.

Mr Campion later told reporters Mr Joyce deserved to be roasted 'like the lamb he is.'

'We're saving a place by the fire and by the fire, I mean over the fire. I've got rather a taste for lamb roast at the moment and I think the Deputy Prime Minister on a spit would be quite a sight,' he said.

Barnaby Joyce's father-in-law Peter Campion has announced he will be running for the seat of Kennedy under the Clive Palmer's (pictured) United Australia Party

Prior to the announcement Ms Campion had not spoken to her father for several years but the now-politician had no reservations about criticising his son-in-law.

'Vikki's mother and I think that with Baaa-naby [sic] as dad the kid will probably be a perfect little lamb,' he said in a statement made to the Cairns Post.

Mr Campion's new opponent isn't without his fair share of controversies.

In early 2019 Mr Katter was slammed by Australian mental health groups after calling homosexuality a 'fashion statement.'

Mr Katter was criticised by Australian mental health institutions after he called homosexuality a 'fashion statement'

'In my whole life up to 50, I had never seen or heard of a homosexual person. Now it's fashionable, it's just like a fashion trend - tomorrow there'll be another fashion,' he said.

'I just don't want to waste any time on it.'

The comments were slammed as 'damaging' to young people at risk.

Mr Katter holds the seat on a 13 per cent margin, with the long-serving MP boosting his margin by more than two per cent at the last election.
Bereaved families staged a parliamentary protest yesterday to demand official investigations into all gambling-related suicides.

The Gambling Commission has investigated only three cases of gambling-related suicide in recent years, according to campaigners, a fraction of the 400 addicts who take their own lives annually.

The failure to find out what happened could be allowing firms to get away with breaking the law in the most devastating cases, according to Gambling With Lives, which represents bereaved families.

More than 2,000 gambling addicts have taken their own lives since 2016, according to Public Health England.

Members of 18 bereaved families gathered outside Parliament to demand regulators investigate all future gambling deaths

Yesterday, the gambling minister said the Government had a moral duty to do a lot more because it was clear to me there is a serious problem with the number of people who have gambling addictions.

The intervention by Chris Philp, the parliamentary under-secretary in the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, raised hopes the Government will rein in the gambling giants. The Daily Mail has been calling for greater protection for addicts with its Stop the Gambling Predators campaign.

Ministers are expected to announce proposals to reform the Gambling Act early next year in the biggest shake-up of the industrys laws for 16 years. Bookmakers may be forced to ask for customers payslips to prove they can afford their gambling.

Tragic engineer, 25, bet 119k in 5 days By Daily Mail Reporter The mother of high-flying engineer Chris Bruney, who took his own life hours after a gambling company gave him a 400 cash bonus to bet with, wants all gambling suicides to be fully investigated. Mr Bruney, 25, pictured, gambled 119,000 in five days, but instead of shutting his account, Playtech plied him with bonuses and free bets. His death in April 2017 is one of only three suicides to be examined by the Gambling Commission. The regulator found that Playtech broke the law and fined it 3.5 million. Mr Bruneys mother Judith said yesterday: We feel the pain of Chriss death every day. Four years later the Gambling Commission still dont record gambling suicides, yet alone investigate them. That needs to change. Pictured: Chris Bruney Advertisement

Firms will also be expected to share data to prevent problem gamblers losing more than they can afford with numerous casino websites.

But demands are growing for more pledges to tackle gambling-related suicide. Members of 18 bereaved families gathered outside Parliament to demand regulators investigate all future gambling deaths.

Charles and Liz Ritchie lost their son Jack, 24, after he was bombarded with offers and emails on his mobile phone drawing him back to gambling.

Mrs Ritchie said: We have ended up in a world where gambling is normalised by wall-to-wall advertising and sponsorship and those who have become addicted are seen as problem people who cant gamble safely.

Gambling products are highly addictive and the predatory practises of gambling companies have gone unchecked for too long. It has to stop now. Were asking that the Gambling Commission investigates every gambling-related suicide for lessons to inform regulation and to establish if companies have broken the law.

Addressing the families yesterday, Mr Philp promised reform, saying he had heard too many stories of bookmakers allowing customers to lose obviously unaffordable sums of money. He also expressed his anger that at-risk players have been led to a very dark place with direct offers, marketing, and VIP treatment.

He said: Gambling addiction is a clinical addiction as serious as drugs, and it is definitely a public health issue. We have a moral duty to do a lot more to protect those people. The gambling review will aim to do that.

Labour MP Carolyn Harris, the chairman of the all-party parliamentary group for gambling harm, said: It is good to see Chris Philp set out his desire for meaningful gambling reform today. There is still a long way to go, but we welcome his commitment to a public health approach preventing gambling related harm.

The Gambling Commission said: Any loss of life connected with gambling harm is one too many and we are absolutely committed to protecting the safety of the public and players.

But it should be remembered that we are a regulator and in Britain it is the role of Coroners court to investigate deaths.

Nevertheless, when we become aware that a person has taken their own life and that gambling may have been a factor, we consider whether the operators the person gambled with were correctly following the social responsibility requirements we put in place. Where they have failed to act appropriately we will take regulatory actions against them.
Energy bosses caused disbelief by blaming power cuts that left thousands blacked out for more than a week on wind coming from the wrong direction.

Hundreds of homes and businesses were without electricity again yesterday in the wake of Storm Barra just as properties were finally reconnected 12 days after Storm Arwen.

The suggestion that Arwens north-easterly gales caused more damage than would be expected from the prevailing south-westerly wind stunned MPs, who said power networks should be prepared for wind coming in multiple directions.

Paul McGimpsey, of the Energy Networks Association, told the Commons business, energy and industrial strategy committee that the wind coming from the North East meant that in many cases trees would fall differently on to the lines.

Committee chairman Darren Jones expressed incredulity at the suggestion that networks might base plans on wind coming only in a certain direction.

A fallen tree blocks the A702 near Coulter in South Lanarkshire as Storm Barra hits the UK and Ireland with disruptive winds, heavy rain and snow on Tuesday

Mr McGimpsey said this was not the case but wind direction was a particular issue with Arwen.

Almost one million homes in the North of England, Wales and Scotland were blacked out after Arwen.

The last few hundred in north-east England were finally reconnected yesterday.

Three flood warnings were in place in England and five in Wales after Barra yesterday, but forecasters predict lighter winds and drier spells today.

Mr McGimpsey told MPs: One of the particular issues we have faced with this storm which has been different to what we faced in the past - the wind direction coming from the north-east, he told MPs.

It is not prevailing winds that you would expect from the south and as such in some, many occasions, trees would fall differently onto the lines.

Labour MP Darren Jones, chair of the committee, retorted: Can I just check that Im hearing this right?

An Openreach engineer fixes telephone lines near Barnard Castle in County Durham in the aftermath of Storm Arwen

Soldiers pictured arriving at St John's Chapel in Weardale, County Durham last week to help local residents who had without power for days

We planned for resilience work on the basis that the wind would only come in a certain direction?

Mr McGimpsey replied: No, Im not saying that.

Im just saying that this storm has caused particular issues and the wind direction was one of those.

He added that power firms had spent 730million on resilience over the past five years, including flood defences and cutting down trees near electricity lines.

Mr Jones responded: It does seem to me that we ought to be prepared for wind coming in multiple directions and 730million over that number of years doesnt sound like a lot of investment from my perspective.

Mr McGimpsey was citing a Met Office report which said the unusual direction of the strongest winds may have been an additional factor influencing the number of trees brought down.
A woman has been condemned over a TikTok video showing her accusing a black man of stealing her phone in a shop - only to then find the phone in her own purse.

The unnamed woman was in a Spencer's store inside the Sunrise Mall in Sacramento when she told a shop assistant that her phone had been stolen.

A clip uploaded by a person claiming to be the partner of the black man, named only as Kinley, was shared on TikTok.

In the video, now seen 2.2 million times, the accuser rifles through her bag while accusing Kinley of theft at the branch of Spencer's.

'Can you call it, because she won't let us call it,' says the person who is filming to the assistant, who attempts to mediate.

'Well, he could have turned off the ringer,' the woman who made the accusation replies.

'Oh my God - do you want him to get f****** naked, lady?' the person filming says.

Kinley, who moved to California a month ago, was wrongly accused of stealing a woman's phone in a Sacramento store

The shop assistant at Spencer's then calls her phone - despite her claiming that Kinley could have put it on silent

She finds her phone, which had been in her bag all along

The woman apologizes to Kinley and his partner as they walk off, then follows them, apologizing again - but they refuse to accept her apology

Do you know who the accuser is? Email newsUS@dailymail.com Advertisement

'I really need my phone,' the accuser says.

'Do you want to pat him down?' the cameraperson asks sarcastically.

The accuser continues to allege that Kinley took her phone, saying: 'I had it, and then you walked right behind me and you took it.'

Kinley responds: 'I did not take it.'

The shop assistants hands over his phone to the woman so that she can call her mobile - which rings inside her bag.

'I'm so sorry,' she tells Kinley. 'I apologize.'

His partner replies: 'F*** off. No you're not.'

On TikTok, Kinley's partner wrote: 'My husband's first time in 28 years. He grew up in the south too. Not a month in Cali and this happens.'

Further details about the couple have yet to emerge. Kinley has shared gushing tributes to his partner on his Instagram, and appears to work with dogs for a living.

The story bore strong parallels to that of Miya Ponsetto, 23, who in December 2020 accused a 14-year-old black boy of stealing her phone inside the lobby of the Arlo Hotel in Manhattan.

Kinley is pictured with his partner, who filmed the encounter and posted it on TikTok

Kinley is pictured with his partner, who filmed the encounter

Ponsetto was initially charged with assault following the hotel scuffle, but was in June arraigned on three new counts: unlawful imprisonment as a hate crime, aggravated harassment and endangering the welfare of a child

Ponsetto remained unapologetic during ensuing media interviews, telling Gayle King that she only regretted making the boy 'feel inferior'

Ponsetto, 23, also known as 'SoHo Karen,' in court last month expressed regret for her previous non-apology to the black teen whom she had falsely accused of theft

Ponsetto, who was charged after falsely accusing a black teen of stealing her cell phone inside a boutique hotel last December, appeared at Manhattan Supreme Court in November

Dubbed the 'SoHo Karen', she later discovered that she forgot her phone in an Uber, and the driver returned it to her.

Ponsetto, who was unapologetic about her accusations, was charged with hate crimes.

Last month she appeared in the Manhattan Supreme Court for a status hearing on the charges - including unlawful imprisonment as a hate crime, aggravated harassment and endangering the welfare of a child.

She could be sentenced to up to 10 years in prison if found guilty.

Ponsetto's lawyer told the judge that he is trying to 'resolve' the hate crime charge in the case within the next few months.

**Do you know who the accuser is? Email newsUS@dailymail.com**
Former President Donald Trump blasted 'Old Crow' Mitch McConnell on Wednesday, accusing the Senate minority leader of folding to Democrats by agreeing a plan to let them raise the debt ceiling and pay for their spending plans.

He said McConnell should have used his position to prevent Democrats pushing through their '$5 Trillion Dollar (real number!) Build Back Worse Bill that will essentially change the fabric of our country forever.'

A number of Republicans have criticized McConnell for striking a deal.

His concession means Democrats may now have time to pass President Joe Biden's Build Back Better reconciliation bill - actually priced at about $1.8 trillion - before Majority Leader Chuck Schumer's Christmas deadline.

Trump weighed in with an emailed statement, accusing McConnell of wasting a winning position.

'The Dems would have folded completely if Mitch properly played his hand, and if not, the debt ceiling scenario would be far less destructive than the bill that will get passed,' he said.

'He has all the cards to win, but not the guts to play them. Instead, he gives our country away, just like he did with the two Senate seats in Georgia, and the presidency itself.

'The Old Crow is a disaster!'

Former President Donald Trump blasted Mitch McConnell, accusing the Senate minority leader of folding to Democrats by agreeing a plan to let them raise the debt ceiling

Some Republicans are grumbling about the debt ceiling deal Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (left) cut with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (right) that will allow Democrats to bypass the filibuster using a less cumbersome process than reconciliation

After the deal was reached, the House voted on the compromise Medicare-debt ceiling bill on Tuesday evening, passing it 222 to 212, with the support of just one Republican

He was not alone in his criticism.

'There's a lot of disagreement about the proposal,' Sen. Kevin Cramer, a North Dakota Republican, told The Hill newspaper. 'I wouldn't call it a great deal or a good deal,' Cramer also told Playbook.

For months, McConnell has said his 'red line' was that Democrats needed to hike the debt ceiling alone, which would allow Republicans to attack them in ads leading up to the midterms for being fiscally irresponsible.

However, the deal McConnell carved out with Schumer added a provision to a bill that delays Medicare sequestration cuts for three months that allows the debt ceiling to be raised using a simple majority vote in this one case.

McConnell had originally pushed Democrats to use the more cumbersome process of reconciliation to get a debt ceiling hike through.

McConnell's concession will allow Democrats to push up the debt ceiling before the December 15 deadline Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen cited.

It also gives them time to pass President Joe Biden's Build Back Better reconciliation bill before Schumer's Christmas deadline.

The House passed the Medicare-debt ceiling bill Tuesday night with a vote of 222 to 212, with the support of just one Republican, retiring GOP Rep. Adam Kinzinger.

This legislation will still need the help of 10 GOP senators to pass in the Senate, before, ultimately, a debt ceiling vote can go forward with just Senate Democrats.

A number of prominent Republicans have already indicated they'll vote no.

'I wouldn't vote for it,' Sen. Richard Shelby, a Republican from Alabama, told The Hill. 'I think we ought to keep our word with the base.'

Sen. Mike Rounds, a South Dakota Republican, told The Hill that he was 'leaning' toward voting it down.

'I just think they can do it with reconciliation,' Rounds said. 'They've known that from day one.'

Sen. Mike Lee, sharing a tweet about the complicated process under discussion that would allow Democrats this one time to bypass the filibuster, warned it would 'neuter the Senate.'

In a tweet Tuesday, Sen. Mike Lee, a Utah Republican, said the deal would 'neuter the Senate' and said it was 'AKIN TO "NUKING THE FILIBUSTER"'

Sen. Ted Cruz, a Texas Republican, also wasn't keen on the deal. 'I don't think Republicans should be facilitating adding trillions in debt,' Cruz offered

'IT IS AKIN TO "NUKING THE FILIBUSTER!"' he tweeted in all caps.

Sen. Ted Cruz pushed that Republicans were still giving Democrats assistance - even if GOP senators won't be needed for the final vote.

'I don't think Republicans should be facilitating adding trillions in debt,' the Texas Republican said, according to Playbook.

Over on the House side, GOP Rep. Kevin Brady, the ranking member of the House Ways and Means committee, complained that the deal mucked up what should have been a bipartisan Medicare bill, calling it a 'poison pill.'

'You wrecked a bipartisan agreement for your debt ceiling crisis,' Brady said Tuesday night on the floor.

And on Wednesday, Trump used the opportunity to attack McConnell - whom he has hassled over the debt ceiling for weeks - starting with a radio interview.

'So Mitch McConnell has the greatest hand, the greatest, the best, this is such an easy negotiation to kill the "Build Back Worse" plan of Biden.  And we have a thing called the debt ceiling. And this morning, I hear he gave it up,' Trump claimed on Hugh Hewitt's radio show.

'He gave it up for practically nothing. He could have used the debt ceiling card ... the debt ceiling is psychological. This is not psychological. This is fact. This will destroy our country, the fabric of the country as we know it,' Trump said of Biden's Build Back Better plan.

McConnell, in fact, couldn't use the debt ceiling to stop the Build Back Better bill, as Democrats already plan to use reconciliation to get it through, meaning they can bypass a GOP filibuster.

McConnell, could, however, have forced Democrats to use the tedious reconciliation process to get a separate debt ceiling bill through, but that could have caused Congress to miss Yellen's deadline.

The debt ceiling has generally been voted on by members of both parties, as the debt was taken on by both Republican and Democratic presidents.

But McConnell, with few cards in his hand with Democrats controlling the White House and both houses of Congress, decided earlier this year to make it a hurdle for his Democratic colleagues - telling them they must raise the debt ceiling alone.

He argued that the deal struck with Schumer still sticks to that.

'The red line is intact,' McConnell said. 'The red line is that you have a simple majority party-line vote on the debt ceiling. That's exactly where we will end up.'
A judge in upstate New York has ordered an 11-year-old girl to get the Covid-19 vaccine, siding with the girl's lawyer mother in a legal dispute with her scientist father.

The ruling comes in the re-opening of a 2012 divorce between Jeannie Figer and her ex, Donald Figer to ask the judge to let her vaccinate the child.

Donald, who has himself been vaccinated, didn't want them to rush the shot for his daughter as there were not any studies conducted on long-term side effects of the vaccine on kids, court papers say.

The father is a scientist and college professor 'at one of the area's premier institutions.' His Facebook page lists his place of employment as Rochester Institute of Technology.

But Monroe County Supreme Court Judge Richard Dollinger ruled that time is of the essence in getting the 11-year-old vaccinated against the virus, and sided with Jeannie, who works as an attorney.

Jeannie Figer reopened her 2012 divorce with ex-husband Donald to attempt to get a judge to order their daughter be vaccinated

Donald, a scientist and college professor 'at one of the area's premier institutions,' didn't want them to rush vaccination as there were not any studies conducted on long-term side effects of the vaccine on kids

Figer is pictured with two of her children and the family's dog. The former couple's 19 and 17-year-old daughters are both already vaccinated, with their 11 year-old now ordered to have the shot too

'Waiting  to be 'sure,' as the father asks  is simply untenable, when the specter of a killing or incapacitating disease is swirling in the environment surrounding this young girl,' Dollinger said in his ruling.

'Scientists may never catch up to this ever-evolving and elusive virus and variants.'

The judge ordered the mother to get her daughter a vaccination appointment as soon as possible. It is unclear if the girl has since had the shot.

Dollinger noted that Monroe County - where the girl lives - has the second-highest rolling seven-day average of new cases per day since November 22.

He's worried about the incoming Omicron variant of the virus and an uptick of cases locally.

Dollinger noted that he was confused as to why 'an accomplished scientist and professor would oppose a child vaccine authorized by the CDC and universally encouraged by state and local physicians and other health officials.'

Monroe County Supreme Court Judge Richard Dollinger ruled that time is of the essence in getting the 11-year-old vaccinated against the virus

Figer, according to his Facebook page, serves as a director at Rochester Institute of Technology in Upstate New York

Don Figer's profession was not detailed in the ruling. His Facebook says he serves as a 'director' at RIT.

Jeannie Figer pointed out that both she, Donald, and their 19 and 17-year-old daughters have already been vaccinated and wanted the 11-year-old to join them.

The ruling adds that the girl's doctor has also recommended the jab.

Dollinger said that the risks of side effects from the vaccine are lesser than what would happen if she tested positive for virus, including spreading it to others.

'This court is unwilling to kick this can down the road,' Dollinger added. 'It could be years before any researchers have exacting accounts of either the short or long term consequences of the administration of this vaccine on 11-year-old girls with this child's physiological makeup.'

Lawyers for both parties have yet to respond to requests for comment.

The Centers for Disease Control's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices in November unanimously voted 14-0 to recommend the Pfizer-BioNTech's Covid pediatric vaccine dose for five to 11-year-olds.

But many American parents have cited the relatively low risk COVID poses to children as reason to hold off on vaccinating younger children.

CDC data shows that just 757 children aged between 0 and 18 have died of COVID from when recording began on April 1 2020, and December 8 2021.

Vaccines can cause inflammation of the heart, a potentially deadly condition, with teenage boys at highest risk.

But statistics show the chances of suffering such a side effect is extremely small, with scientists saying kids are more at risk of suffering serious COVID-related side effects.
Social media has erupted with memes mocking Boris Johnson and No10 after fresh curbs were introduced last night.

Twitter users tried to find the funny side with posts portraying the PM as a busker and a sign reading '0 days since s**t show'.

Mr Johnson sparked mutiny on the Tory backbenches last night by triggering his Plan B restrictions in a bid to tackle the Omicron variant.

The Prime Minister announced that working from home guidance will return, vaccine passports will become mandatory in large venues and the wearing of face coverings will be extended to theatres and cinemas.

Mr Johnson also faces an uphill struggle to win over the public with No10 itself in meltdown over the allegations of an illegal Christmas party a year ago.

In one of the memes Mr Johnson was portrayed holding a guitar with the words: 'And I will tell 500 lies, and I will tell 500 more... Just to see the public scared s**tless to set foot outside their own front door... TORY PARTIES! (TORY PARTIES) TORY PARTIES! (TORY PARTIES)'

Twitter users tried to find the funny side with posts portraying the PM as a busker and a sign reading '0 days since s**t show'

Mr Johnson paid tribute to his former spokeswoman Allegra Stratton, who resigned on Wednesday afternoon after a bombshell video emerged of her giggling about the potentially lockdown-busting festive gathering in Downing Street.

He said there was 'no excuse' for the 'frivolity' that aides had displayed in the footage, but said Ms Stratton had been a 'fine colleague' and contributed to the COP26 summit.

Pushed repeatedly on why people should listen to his urging when his own staff were accused of flouting rules, the PM said: 'The British people... can see the vital importance of the medical information that we are giving. They can see the need to take it to heart and to act on it.'

Mr Johnson also flatly denied that the Plan B announcement had been brought forward as a 'dead cat' tactic to distract attention from the party scandal. He said the impact of the variant had become 'unmissable'.
People who are not vaccinated and fall ill with Covid-19 now have to pay for their own treatment in Singapore after the government withdrew support on Wednesday.

Singapore has covered the medical bills for nearly all Covid-19 patients since last year under a measure to ease the public's financial concerns during the pandemic.

But on Wednesday, the government lifted this policy for the unvaccinated, withdrawing free care for those who have so far chosen not to get the jab.

People who are not vaccinated and fall ill with Covid-19 now have to pay for their own treatment in Singapore after the government withdrew support on Wednesday. Pictured: People in protective masks sit at a food centre in Singapore October 23, 2021

Speaking last month, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said: 'We have to send this important signal, to urge everyone to get vaccinated if you are eligible.'

Like a number of countries around the world, Singapore has adopted measures in a bid to convince vaccine hold-outs to get the jab.

Some European governments, for example, are tightening restrictions on the vaccinated by barring their entry into restaurants and offices.

The US has also taken some steps in the hope of increasing the vaccination rate, such as requiring companies with more than 100 employees to ensure that their workers are either vaccinated or produce a weekly negatives Covid-19 test.

But while the EU and the US currently have a fully vaccinated rate of 67 percent and 60 percent respectively, the percentage of Singapore's eligible population that is fully vaccinated lies at over 96 percent, according to the government.

The rate - one of the highest in the world - has been put down to restrictions on the unvaccinated. For example, those who have not been jabbed are not allowed eat in Singapore's food courts or enter shopping centres.

Speaking last month, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung (pictured November 24) said of the policy: 'We have to send this important signal, to urge everyone to get vaccinated if you are eligible.'

However, some in the city state are still not convinced, with officials being particularly concerned with around 44,000 unvaccinated older citizens.

In November, the government said that roughly 95 percent of the deaths over the past six moths were of people at the age of 60 or older, with 72 percent of deaths being seen amongst those who had not been fully vaccinated.

Singapore saw Covid-19 cases spike in September and October, before falling sharply. The country is now seeing around 1,000 new cases per day amongst its population of 5.5 million people.

According to the Wall Street Journal, citing epidemiologists, Singapore is the first country to adopt a policy of withdrawing medical treatment and costs of Covid-19 patients to those who are specifically not vaccinated.

Some public health experts say the approach is warranted.

Hsien-Hsien Lei, chief executive officer of the American Chamber of Commerce in Singapore told the WSJ: 'They tried everything. They provided information, they provided facts, they've had people telling their personal stories, they've seen the ministers go and get their jabs, what else can we do?'

Pictured: People enter a Covid-19 coronavirus vaccination centre set up at a community centre in Singapore on October 7, 2021 (file photo). Singapore has one of the highest population vaccination rates in the world

Some, however, are opposed to the policy, with residents arguing that the practice is coercive and could discourage unvaccinated people from seeking medical care.

'The basic public-health principle is to provide free treatment for highly communicable diseases,' Paul Tambyah, chairman of a small opposition party, the Singapore Democratic Party, told the newspaper.

'This encourages people to come forward to be diagnosed and treated rather than remain in the community, where they may end up spreading the disease to even more people.'

Sabrina Chiu, a 47-year-old unvaccinated Singaporean, told the Wall Street Journal that she had chosen not to get the jab because she is allergic to many medicines, although doctors have not told her to avoid the shot. She said that it felt as if the government was indirectly forcing people to get vaccinated.

People seated at tables in groups of 2 as mandated by Covid-19 safety restrictions drink at bars in Singapore on October 23, 2021. The treatment costs of nearly all Covid-19 patients have been paid for since last year under a pandemic era-policy to ease the public's financial concerns over the virus

One doctor in Singapore, who chose not to be identified by the newspaper, said the measure sends the wrong message, and that healthcare should be for everyone.

A spokesperson for the Health Ministry told the WSJ the new policy 'reflects a civic and moral duty each of us have to ourselves and people around us, during exceptional times like a pandemic crisis.'

Those who do fall ill from Covid-19 will still receive government support, they said, even though the government won't cover the full treatment costs as before.

In Singapore, hospital bills for Covid-19 patients in intensive care wards can reach as high as $18,000 (13,600), the spokesperson told the newspaper.

However, means-tested government subsidies for healthcare and the country's national health insurance scheme significantly reduces these costs, with the bill more likely to fall to around $1,500 to $3,000.
Technology providers must put in place 'robust systems' to verify users' identity to tackle the prevalence of child abuse material.

Uniting Church senior social justice advocate Mark Zirnsak said the system is 'stacked against law enforcement with child sexual abuse investigations slowed by an inability to identify offenders.

The joint parliamentary committee examining law enforcement capabilities relating to child exploitation heard that 21,000 reports of online exploitation were received by the child protection triage unit in 2020.

From those, 191 people were charged with a total of 1847 offences.

Dr Zirnsak said platform providers must know who their users are at all times with the large volume of child sexual abuse online making standard police investigation 'inadequate".

A committee on child exploitation has been told that tech companies should know who their users are

'Unfortunately the current debate in public about this is exceedingly disappointing - you either have a completely public identity, or a completely anonymous identity...the platform provider in all cases should know who you are,' he said.

'If you misuse your account, then law enforcement is able to identify you and not waste a lot of time doing that.'

Dr Zirnsak described his 'significant disappointment' with human rights advocates championing privacy as vital in the debate, arguing they disregarded the privacy of survivors.

'If you read their submissions often in this space around online regulation they will not acknowledge the abuse of children in the online space is a human rights abuse,' he said.

'I just find that truly bizarre.'

The hearing continues.
The son of a notorious gang leader is on the run after fleeing from two Corrections officers while he was waiting for surgery in hospital.

Fairmont Joseph Wiringi, the 23-year-old son of Mongrel Mob Aotearoa president Joseph 'Junior' Wiringi, escaped from the Southern Cross Hospital in Christchurch at about 12.45am on Wednesday.

Corrections officers reportedly removed his shackles so he could use the toilet, Wiringi then took the opportunity to flee from the hospital.

Wiringi was being held in custody at Christchurch Men's Prison for aggravated robbery and firearms-related charges, Stuff reported.

Fairmont Joseph Wiringi fled the Southern Cross Hospital in Christchurch at about 12.45am on Wednesday. His shackles were reportedly removed by Corrections officers so he could use the toilet

Christchurch Men's Prison director Jo Harrex said a review into the circumstances of how Wiringi escaped is being carried out.

'Staff pursued the prisoner but were unable to locate him,' he said.

'Police were informed immediately and are actively searching for him. We are providing them with information to assist them to locate him.'

Judge Brian Callaghan on Thursday issued an arrest warrant on Wiringi for the charge of escaping from the lawful custody of the Department of Corrections.

The charge carries a maximum sentence of five years in jail.

Wiringi was shot in the arm and stomach on January 4 this year.

He was one of two gang members to suffer gunshot wounds during the attack believed to be drug-related.

The 23-year-old was rushed to hospital in a critical condition after the shooting which sparked fears of an all-out gang war.
With just 1,440 residents, Marazion makes for an unlikely city.

But the tourist hotspot next to St Michaels Mount on the Cornish coast is seeking urban status in a competition for the Queens platinum jubilee next year.

It is up against some tough competition, including much larger rivals Reading and Bournemouth.

Judges will look at civic pride, heritage and innovation before making a decision.

Tourist hotspot Marazion, which is on the Cornish coast, has just 1,440 residents (pictured)

It's seeking urban status in competition for Queens platinum jubilee next year, and is up against some tough competition, including much larger rivals Reading and Bournemouth

Marazion deserves to be celebrated and given city status, said town councillor Richard Stokoe.

The wonderful people, the fascinating history, stunning beauty and incredible community spirit mean Marazion would be a fitting and popular place to become the next town to be honoured with becoming a city.

St Davids in Wales is the smallest UK city, with 1,600 inhabitants. It won that status in 1994.

City status is rarely granted - in 2012 25 towns applied, with only three granted the status.

Mr Stokoe added: As it is often said, size is not important.

Despite being a David in a field of Goliaths applying for city status, anyone who has ever lived, worked or visited Marazion knows that there is something for everyone and that it would be a worthy winner of the award.
A toddler who died after a botched circumcision was sent home to recover from surgery before he began to deteriorate - as his baby brother fights for life after undergoing the same procedure.

Paramedics raced to a property in Seville Grove, in Perth's southeast suburbs, to save the lives of the two-year-old boy and his baby brother at about 6.30pm on Tuesday.

Both little boys underwent the procedure at Gosnells Medical Clinic near their family home.

A medical centre employee told Daily Mail Australia there were no complications immediately following the procedure.

'It happened when he got home,' he said.

A two-year-old boy died after he was circumcised at a medical clinic in Perth on Tuesday (stock image)

A spokeswoman from St John Ambulance confirmed the toddler was in a 'critical condition' when emergency workers arrived.

'He was taken from home to Armadale Hospital,' she said.

The two-year-old was declared dead on arrival at the hospital's emergency department.

His brother, believed to be seven or eight months old, was rushed to Perth Children's Hospital for emergency surgery and spent the night in ICU.

He is believed to be in a stable condition and recovering.

Paramedics took the brothers to Armadale Hospital on Tuesday evening, but the two-year-old was pronounced dead on arrival (stock image)

Homicide detectives were called in to investigate, but WA Police Commissioner Chris Dawson said the situation is not being treated as suspicious.

'There are no suspicious circumstances  this medical procedure took place at an authorised medical facility,' he said.

'It appears that this is a very tragic case.

'But I've got no information to suggest that there's anything untoward in terms of criminal acts or anything like that.'

Detectives worked with the family to complete a report for the coroner.
Two Senate Democrats - Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Jon Tester of Montana - joined 50 Republicans in voting to overturn President Biden's vaccine mandate for large businesses on Wednesday.

The 52-48 vote sends the proposed legislation to the Democratic-led House of Representatives, where the bill is not expected to be brought up for a vote, meaning that it has effectively been killed.

Biden's mandate ordered businesses with 100 workers or more to obtain proof of vaccination from their workers by January 4 or subject them to weekly testing and masking.

Two Senate Democrats - Joe Manchin (right) of West Virginia and Jon Tester (left) of Montana - joined 50 Republicans in voting to overturn President Biden's vaccine mandate for large businesses on Wednesday

It would have applied to around 84 million private sector workers, around 31 million of whom are estimated to be unvaccinated.

Wednesday's vote comes on the heels of a federal judge's decision on Tuesday to block the mandate on the basis that it 'exceeds government's authority.'

Manchin and Tester argued that the consequences of implementing the mandate would be largely felt on the country's already bruised economy.

The chamber's top Republican, Mitch McConnell, branded Biden's mandate as an 'illegal' and 'absurd' government effort to micromanage the lives of private citizens.

'President Biden's absurd private-sector vaccine mandate is a blatant overreach.' McConnell said. 'The United States of America is a free country. The federal government elites in Washington cannot micromanage citizens' personal choices without a legitimate basis in law and the Constitution.'

Biden's mandate ordered businesses with 100 workers or more to obtain proof of vaccination from their workers by January 4 or subject them to weekly testing and masking. Wednesday's vote comes on the heels of a federal judge's decision on Tuesday to block the mandate on the basis that it 'exceeds government's authority'

The 52-48 vote, which is unlikely to become law, sends the legislation to the Democratic-led House of Representatives, where the bill is not expected to be brought up for a vote

The initiative underscores the intense political opposition facing administration efforts to combat COVID-19 at a time when health officials are trying to contain the highly contagious Omicron variant.

'I have always supported a vaccine mandate for federal employees and the military because maintaining essential services and military readiness the federal government provides is a matter of national importance,' Manchin said in a statement following the vote.

'However, I do not support any government vaccine mandate for private businesses. It is not the place of the federal government to tell private business owners how to protect their employees from COVID-19 and operate their businesses,' he said.

Tester announced he would be voting to in favor of blocking the mandate on Twitter before the voting took place.

'Over the past few months, I've repeatedly heard concerns from Montana's small businesses and community leaders about the negative effect the private business vaccine mandate will have on their bottom lines and our state's economy,' he wrote in the statement.

'That's why I intend to join a bipartisan majority of my colleagues in defending Montana jobs and small businesses against these burdensome regulations. I strongly urge every eligible Montana to get vaccinates as soon as possible so we can end this pandemic once and for all.'

Tester announced he would be voting to in favor of blocking the mandate on Twitter before the voting took place

Manchin had priorly voiced his disapproval of Biden's vaccine mandate

Republicans have said they were inundated with calls from businesses with up to 500 workers that are concerned about having to fire employees who oppose COVID-19 vaccines and testing.

'It's got Main Street America scared,' Republican Senator Mike Braun, who was spearheading the legislative drive, said before the Senate vote.

The White House said in a statement on Tuesday that employers would face no burden from the mandate because the vast majority of American adults are fully vaccinated and noted that the rule exempts small businesses.

Biden's private business mandate has already been put on hold by a federal appeals court.

'Abuse of power by the Biden administration has been stopped cold again,' said Alan Wilson, a Republican who serves as South Carolina's attorney general.

Tuesday's ruling by Baker, an appointee of President Donald Trump, shut down temporarily the last remaining business mandates that Biden had announced, as courts have found the government overstepped its authority in imposing the rules.

Judges already issued a stay regarding one that applies to businesses with 100 or more employees and another for health care workers across the U.S.

Those mandates were challenged by Republican governors, business associations and conservative civil liberty groups.

The United States has the world's highest daily average of new reported coronavirus infections

The virus has infected 49.5 million Americans and killed more than 794,000, the highest death toll of any country, according to the Reuters COVID-19 Tracker

A US judge in Georgia also blocked a Biden vaccine mandate aimed at federal contractors on Tuesday.

The litigation will likely continue for months and could revive the rules, which covered nearly 100 million workers, although some 83 per cent of U.S. adults have received at least one shot, according to government data.

'We are in the middle of a public health crisis. Everyone sees the damage it causes,' Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, the top Democrat, said in a speech. 'The way to solve this is to be driven by science.'

The United States has the world's highest daily average of new reported coronavirus infections.

The virus has infected 49.5 million Americans and killed more than 794,000, the highest death toll of any country, according to the Reuters COVID-19 Tracker.

Republicans touted the measure's bipartisan support as a clear message of public concern about the mandate's potential impact on workers, businesses and the economy.
The son of Australia's first billionaire is trying to influence next year's federal election by funding independent candidates to oust Liberal MPs.

Clean energy investor Simon Holmes a Court, the son of late businessman Robert, set up a fundraising body called Climate 200 to raise huge sums for pro-climate candidates.

Before the 2019 Federal election it raised $500,000 but this time around Mr Holmes a Court wants to raise $20million with the aim of getting three more independents into Parliament.

The organisation says it needs to raise the cash to counter the huge sums of money donated to political parties by billionaire Clive Palmer and fossil fuel companies.

Clean energy investor Simon Holmes a Court (right with Seven weatherman Bob Gell) set up a fundraising body called Climate 200 to raise huge sums for pro-climate candidates

The group is vocal on three main issues: climate policy, integrity and gender equality.

'We back local communities who want to ditch stale politicians and elect fresh independent voices instead,' the group's website says.

'Taking on major parties is hard. So at the upcoming federal election, we're raising funds to support up to a dozen underdog candidates who stand for cleaning up politics and following the science on climate change.

'Together, we can make it happen.'

Mr Holmes a Court, who is hoping to secure funding from billionaire Atlassian co-founder and climate activist Mike Cannon-Brookes, says he doesn't select candidates or start campaigns but pours in funds once they have momentum and look like they can be successful.

He will be backing up to a dozen female independents against Government MPs.

Allegra Spender (in blue), the daughter of late fashion designer Carla Zampatti and former Liberal MP John Spender, is running for the Liberal seat of Wentworth

On the northern beaches Jason Falinski is under pressure from local doctor Sophie Scamps (pictured)

High-profile independents who have declared their candidacy include Allegra Spender, the daughter of late fashion designer Carla Zampatti and former Liberal MP John Spender.

She will be running against Dave Sharma in the eastern Sydney seat of Wentworth, which he holds on a slender 1.3 per cent margin.

Other blue-ribbon Sydney seats under attack include North Sydney where businesswoman Kylea Tink is challenging Trent Zimmerman and Mackellar on the northern beaches where Jason Falinski is under pressure from local doctor Sophie Scamps.

In Melbourne Mr Holmes a Court will back ABC journalist Zoe Daniel against Tim Wilson in Goldstein, local councillor Despi O'Connor in retiring Greg Hunt's seat of Flinders and children's doctor Monique Ryan in Treasurer Josh Frydenberg's seat of Kooyong.

Mr Holmes a Court will back ABC journalist Zoe Daniel (pictured) against Tim Wilson in Goldstein in Melbourne

Mr Holmes a Court describes himself as a 'Menzian Liberal' who believes in free markets and individual responsibility - but feels the Coalition has lost touch with these values.

Asked why he doesn't fund independents against Labor or the Greens, Mr Holmes a Court said he hasn't seen any good candidates for those seats.

'These campaigns come out of frustration and it's not surprising that people are frustrated with the party that's in power,' he told Sky News.

The climate activist will also back sitting independents including Warringah MP Zali Steggall, Indi MP Helen Haines, Mayo MP Rebekha Sharkie and Clark MP Andrew Wilkie.

Liberal MPs have hit back at his campaign. Mr Falinksi says independent candidates are left wing and has pointed to Ms Steggall's voting record to show she is closer to Labor than the Liberals.

Mr Sharma, meanwhile, says independents have limited influence on policy and has urged voters to stick with the Liberal Party.

Both have played up their roles encouraging Scott Morrison to adopt a net zero by 2050 target.

Mr Holmes a Court is a senior advisor to the Climate and Energy College at Melbourne University and director of the Smart Energy Council.

He was the founding chairman of Australia's first community-owned wind farm, Hepburn Wind, and is one of four children of Robert Holmes a Court and his wife Janet.

Robert was born in Johannesburg in 1937 and moved to Perth to study law in 1961.

After working as barrister and solicitor, he built a business empire made up of companies in the resources, transport, media and beverage industries.

He died of a heart attack aged 53 in 1990, leaving his fortune to wife Janet and his children.

Robert's eldest son Peter Holmes a Court is a multimillionaire entrepreneur who once owned the South Sydney Rabbitohs NRL team with Russell Crowe.

Climate 200 hopes independents will hold the balance of power after the next election which is expected to be in May and tipped to be close.

'If just a handful more fresh independents succeed at the next federal election, together they could have enough votes to finally force meaningful climate action and clean up politics,' the group's website says.
A brave survivor of the White Island eruption tragedy, which claimed the lives of her father and sister, has reflected on the day her family were 'ripped apart'.

Thursday marks two years since the volcano off the coast of Whakatane on New Zealand's North Island erupted on December 9, 2019, claiming the lives of 21 of the 47 people on the island at the time.

Stephanie Browitt, 25, survived with third-degree burns to 70 per cent of her body but her sister Krystal, 21, and their father Paul were killed.

Ms Browitt's mother Marie stayed behind on the Ovation of the Seas cruise ship and watched on helplessly as the volcano erupted.

Stephanie Browitt (left) lost her sister Krystal (right) and her father Paul in the White Island volcano tragedy two years ago

Stephanie Browitt pictured left with her mother Marie. Her mum did not go on the day excursion and watched on helplessly from their cruise ship as the tragedy unfolded

'Today marks two years since the incident... that ripped us apart,' Ms Browitt wrote on Instagram on Thursday

The young woman, who has since become an advocate for burns survivors, took to Instagram on Thursday afternoon to reflect both on her achievements over the past two years and the loss of her father and sister.

'Today marks two years since the incident my family and I were a part of,' she wrote. 'The day that ripped us apart.'

'I truly want to celebrate all that I have accomplished since I was severely burnt, just like other burn survivors do.

'Unfortunately today's not only the day I survived the unimaginable, it's the day I lost my dad, Paul and sister, Krystal. It's the day that they were taken from us.'

She said her accomplishments 'mean nothing' when she cannot share them with her father and sister.

Marie Browitt (left with her family) was the only member of the family to stay on the Ovation of the Seas cruise ship when the tragedy struck

Stephanie Browitt, 25, (pictured) was with her sister Krystal, 21, and their father Paul when a volcano erupted off the coast of Whakatane in New Zealand in December 2019

Stephanie survived with third-degree burns to 70 per cent of her body but her sister Krystal, 21, and their father Paul were killed in the eruption

'I'm extremely grateful that I was able to make it back home to my mum, but I'm also heartbroken that only I made it back.

'We are a family of four, not two. My heart hurts when I remember what I felt that day, but it hurts more not knowing what my dad and sister felt, that I wasn't next to them during their last moments.'

Some survivors saw their families wiped out, while others suffered excruciating burns to nearly all of their bodies.

Day tours out to the island once brought in more than $4million a year but it is now deserted, with layers of ash a reminder of the disaster.

In an interview with 60 Minutes Ms Browitt revealed how 12 perfect strangers saved her life by generously donating their skin

Ms Browitt took to Instagram on Thursday afternoon to reflect both on her achievements over the past two years and the loss of her father and sister

In an interview with 60 Minutes in August, Ms Browitt explained how 12 perfect strangers saved her life by generously donating their skin.

'I was very severely injured, very severely burnt and I knew that because I could tell my body was shutting down on me,' she said.

'That gift means everything to me, they gave me my life.

'Every day I think of that and how my life was dependent on that donation being available.'

Skin donations from 12 perfect strangers allowed Ms Browitt to undergo multiple life-saving skin graft surgeries at The Alfred Hospital in Melbourne

The donations allowed Ms Browitt to have numerous excruciating but life-saving skin graft surgeries at The Alfred Hospital in Melbourne.

However, a shortage of skin donors when the young woman arrived at the hospital meant doctors were forced to rely on tissue from the other side of the world.

Ms Browitt explained the majority of the tissue came from the US, a similar story for the victims of the Black Saturday bushfires and the Bali bombings.

She said donor skin needed to be readily available in Australia to ensure those affected by such catastrophic events have another shot at life.
U.S. authorities sent the first two migrants back to Mexico under the reinstated 'Remain in Mexico' policy.

Enrique Manzanares from Nicaragua and another man from Colombia were walked over from El Paso, Texas, across the Lerdo-Stanton International Bridge and turned over to their counterparts in Ciudad Juarez on Wednesday.

The Trump-era policy, considered controversial by human rights activists, makes asylum-seekers wait in Mexico for hearings in U.S. immigration courts.

'In the end, nothing was lost,' Manzanares told Reuters. 'Some of us make it, others don't.'

The two were greeted by Mexican officials who provided them with documents, and officials with the U.N. International Organization for Migration gave them coronavirus tests and took them to a shelter. Mexico says the U.S. government has agreed to vaccinate all migrants returned under the program.

At least six other migrant males were escorted by U.S. immigrations to Ciudad Juarez on Thursday morning.

The administration of U.S. President Joe Biden reinstated the policy Monday to comply with a court order and agreed to changes and additions demanded by Mexico.

Foreign relations secretary Marcelo Ebrard recently said that Mexico would only accept the migrants under 'humanitarian reasons and for temporary stays.'

Two migrants were sent from El Paso, Texas, to Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, under the Migrant Protection Protocols, also known as the 'Remain in Mexico' policy, that President Joe Biden was forced to reinstate after lawsuits were brought forward by Missouri and Texas

Migrants under the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP) program, are escorted by U.S. Border Patrol Agents through the Lerdo Stanton International Border Bridge

The returns were scheduled to begin in El Paso with up to 50 migrants to be returned daily to Ciudad Juarez, said a U.S. official who spoke on condition of anonymity because details were not made public.

A spokesperson for U.S. Customs and Border Protection said the Department of Homeland Security initiate the court order in El Paso and expects to expand it to ports of entries in San Diego, Calexico, Nogales, El Paso, Eagle Pass, Laredo and Brownsville.

Revival of the 'Remain in Mexico' policy comes even as the Biden administration maneuvers to end it in a way that survives legal scrutiny. Biden scrapped the policy, but a lawsuit by Texas and Missouri forced him to put it back into effect, subject to Mexico's acceptance.

The U.S. has pledged to try to complete cases within 180 days, a response to Mexico's concerns that applicants will languish in a court system that is backlogged with 1.5 million cases.

Two migrants were the first to be sent back from the United States to Mexico under the 'Remain in Mexico.' U.S. immigrations are expected to return 50 migrants daily to Ciudad Juarez. Mexican foreign relations secretary Marcelo Ebrard recently said that government agreed to accept the migrants under 'humanitarian reasons and for temporary stays'

U.S. immigration officials walk two migrants from El Paso, Texas, to Ciudad Juarez, on Wednesday across the Lerdo-Stanton International Bridge

About 70,000 asylum-seekers were forced to wait in Mexico, often for months, under the policy that President Donald Trump introduced in January 2019 and which Biden suspended on his first day in office.

Biden's version expands the policy to migrants from Western Hemisphere countries, while Trump largely limited it to the hemisphere's Spanish-speaking countries. Mexicans continue to be exempt.

The expansion is especially significant for Haitians, who formed a huge camp in the Texas border town of Del Rio in September. Brazilians, who were largely spared under Trump, may also be heavily affected.

U.S. authorities will ask migrants if they fear being returned to Mexico instead of relying on them to raise concerns unprompted. If migrants express fear, they will be screened and have 24 hours to find an attorney or representative.
Australia's most powerful banker has issued a chilling warning about cryptocurrencies as the government cracks down on decentralised finance.

While Bitcoin has fallen back below $70,000, it is still worth almost triple the $25,000 value of a year ago.

The volatility has prompted Reserve Bank of Australia Governor Philip Lowe to urge investors to be careful about investing in cryptocurrencies.

'Anyone purchasing these assets should take care,' he told the Australian Payments Network Summit on Thursday.

Australia's most powerful banker has issued a chilling warning about cryptocurrencies as the government cracks down on decentralised finance. While Bitcoin has fallen back below $70,000, it is still worth almost triple the $25,000 value of a year ago

'There is still a lot of uncertainty about the long-term usefulness of these assets,' he warned.

'Before investing, it is best to understand fully the underlying value proposition.'

Last month Tony Richards, the head of the Reserve Bank of Australia's payments policy section, warned cryptocurrency prices could crash.

'There are plausible scenarios where a range of factors could come together to significantly challenge the current fervour for cryptocurrencies, so that the current speculative demand could begin to reverse, and much of the price increases of recent years could be unwound,' he said.

'Households might be less influenced by fads and a fear of missing out and might start to pay more attention to the warnings of securities regulators and consumer protection agencies in many countries about the risks of investing in something with no issuer, no backing and highly uncertain value.'

Dr Lowe said a central bank digital currency would be a better version of decentralised finance than a volatile cryptocurrency market.

'It is likely that the asset used for the settlement of most transactions in the economy will remain some form of secure fiat currency with a stable value, rather than cryptocurrency with a volatile price,' he said.

The Reserve Bank is again talking down the stability of cryptocurrencies a day after Treasurer Josh Frydenberg flagged the biggest changes to Australia's payment system since the mid-1990s, to reflect the emergence of cryptocurrencies and buy now, pay later apps.

The volatility has prompted Reserve Bank of Australia Governor Philip Lowe to investors to be careful about investing in cryptocurrencies

A general distrust of banks has seen more than 800,000 Australian investors put their money into crypto, including Bitcoin, since 2018.

Cryptocurrency changes in 2022 LICENSING: New regulations would cover digital currency trading platforms CENTRAL BANK DIGITAL CURRENCY: Government exploring the idea of a retail central bank digital currency in Australia REGULATION: Treasury argued Australian regulation was needed so Australian businesses and consumers weren't governed by foreign government and big corporation rules Advertisement

Treasury in early 2022 will begin putting together a licensing system for digital currency exchanges.

Canberra bureaucrats will also be exploring the idea of a central bank digital currency, with recommendations by the end of next year.

Australian Taxation Office figures showed 819,000 Australians have bought a cryptocurrency since 2018, with the number of transactions in 2021 increasing by 63 per cent compared with 2020.

The Council of Financial Regulators - comprising Treasury, the Reserve Bank of Australia, the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission - will be providing recommendations by mid-2022.

Bitcoin has surged in value in 2021, climbing from less than $25,000 a year ago to $70,000 now.

But a month ago, it was worth more than $91,000.

In May, Bitcoin lost a third of its value within a week, plunging from $74,000 to $50,000, after billionaire Tesla founder Elon Musk changed his mind on accepting Bitcoin as payment for his electric cars.

The 50-year-old tycoon argued cryptocurrency mining, creating Bitcoin by solving complex mathematical puzzles, used too many fossil fuels and his declaration causing a 16 per cent plunge in just one day.

The Reserve Bank is again talking down the stability of cryptocurrencies a day after Treasurer Josh Frydenberg flagged the biggest changes to Australia's payment system since the mid-1990s, to reflect the emergence of cryptocurrencies and buy now, pay later apps

Until cryptocurrency is regulated, the only regulated products linked to cryptocurrency would be exchange traded funds on the Australian Securities Exchange.

BetaShares this month launched CRYP on the ASX which invests in companies that are involved in the broader crypto investments.

The Commonwealth Bank in November announced it would allow cryptocurrency to be traded on its banking app, making it the first bank in Australia to allow this.

The 6.5million customers of Australia's biggest bank will be able to buy and sell digital currencies like Bitcoin in the way they can make share transactions on a CommSec app.
Kenosha shooter Kyle Rittenhouse wants to hash things out with President Joe Biden, who he said never apologized for calling him a 'white supremacist' on a national stage.

In a Wednesday interview, Glenn Beck asked 18-year-old Rittenhouse whether President Joe Biden ever called him to apologize.

'He hasn't, and I would like to sit down with the president and have a conversation with him and tell him the facts of what happened,' Rittenhouse told the host matter-of-factly.

'Um, I don't expect that to happen, but it would be right for him to do it,' Beck replied.

Scroll down for video

'I would like to sit down with the President and have a conversation with him and tell him the facts of what happened,' said Kyle Rittenhouse in a Wednesday interview with Glenn Beck when he was asked whether Joe Biden had called him to apologize for calling him a 'white supremacist'

Glenn Beck (pictured left) replied that, although he didn't 'expect that to happen,' it 'would be right' for the President to sit down and talk with Rittenhouse

In a Wednesday interview, Glen Beck asked 18-year-old Rittenhouse whether President Joe Biden ever called him to apologize

Kyle Rittenhouse tells me he'd "like to sit down and have a conversation" with President @JoeBiden, who has yet to apologize for smearing his name. pic.twitter.com/nMCm8D4zDr  Glenn Beck (@glennbeck) December 9, 2021

Rittenhouse killed two men and wounded a third during confrontations amid anti-police protests in Kenosha last August, and testified that he acted in self-defense.

On November 20, the 18-year-old was found not guilty of first-degree intentional homicide and other charges, and walked out of court a free man.

Two months before Biden was elected president, he criticized then-President Trump for refusing to condemn people who are against the Black Lives Matter riots as 'white supremacists.'

The tweet from the then-candidate included an image of Rittenhouse, who was 17 at the time of the shooting.

'There's no other way to put it: the President of the United States refused to disavow white supremacists on the debate stage last night,' Biden tweeted in September 2020.

Rittenhouse fatally shot Joseph Rosenbaum (left), 36, with an AR-15-style semiautomatic rifle after Rosenbaum chased Rittenhouse across a parking lot and threw a plastic bag at him shortly before midnight on August 25, 2020. Moments later, as Rittenhouse was running down a street, he shot and killed Anthony Huber (right), 26, a protester from Silver Lake, Wisconsin

After a jury determined that Rittenhouse did not act with 'utter disregard for human life' when he shot the two protesters, Biden delicately weighed in on the verdict - but walk back on his pre-election Tweet.

'While the verdict in Kenosha will leave many Americans feeling angry and concerned, myself included, we must acknowledge that the jury has spoken.

'I urge everyone to express their views peacefully, consistent with the rule of law. Violence and destruction of property have no place in our democracy.'

In interviews since the verdict, Rittenhouse has vehemently denied claims that race played a role in his actions on August 25.

'I'm not a racist person, I support the BLM movement and peacefully demonstrating,' the teen said in an interview with FOX anchor Tucker Carlson.

Rittenhouse, 18, collapsed in tears as the jury in his double murder trial acquitted him of all charges after four torturous days of deliberation and weeks of testimony

Kyle Rittenhouse is pictured tearfully describing the events that led to the August 25 shooting in court

Since the teen was acquitted, many have called on the President to revisit his earlier characterization of the teen.

Rittenhouse's lawyer, Mark Richards, said he was dismayed by Biden's depiction of Rittenhouse as a white supremacist.

'I've never had a case, I don't think I ever will, where within two days or three days of one another, you know, the President and the presidential candidate comment on it. And both of them had such different beliefs,' Richards said.

'President Biden said some things, I think are so incorrect and untrue  he is not a white supremacist. I'm glad that he at least respects the jury verdict.'

Tom Cotton, the Republican senator for Arkansas, tweeted: 'Joe Biden needs to publicly apologize to Kyle Rittenhouse.'

Ronna McDaniel, chair of the Republican party, said: 'Before he knew the facts, Biden prejudged the Rittenhouse case. He smeared a teenager to score political points and spread lies about this case. What Biden did was dangerous and inflammatory.

'Biden needs to apologize and ACT NOW before the left uses his lies to fuel violence.'

Donald Trump's PAC, Save America, sent an email soliciting funds for his campaign coffers and stating: 'GREAT NEWS FOR KYLE RITTENHOUSE, who we knew was innocent all along.

'This trial was nothing more than a WITCH HUNT from the Radical Left. They want to PUNISH law-abiding citizens, including a CHILD, like Kyle Rittenhouse, for doing nothing more than following the LAW.'

Dan Bishop, a congressman representing North Carolina, said: 'Dont forget, Biden labeled a 17-year old Rittenhouse a white supremacist. Beyond shameful.'

Marjorie Taylor Greene, a congresswoman representing Georgia, said that Rittenhouse was 'one of the good guys'.

She attacked Biden for saying he was concerned at the verdict, warned that he was inciting violence, and angrily singled out fellow members of Congress who had condemned Rittenhouse's actions.

'Kyle Rittenhouse ACQUITTED on ALL charges! May Kyle and his family now live in peace. Those who help, protect, and defend are the good guys. Kyle is one of good ones.

'@JoeBiden is angry & concerned that the jury found Kyle Rittenhouse NOT GUILTY after being shown mountains of evidence proving his innocence.

'Biden calling for peaceful protest now against the verdict. We all know what it means when the left calls forpeaceful protest..

And Lauren Boebert, the Colorado congresswoman who has made defense of the Second Amendment a pillar of her policies, tweeted: 'Today is a great day for the Second Amendment and the right to self-defense. Kyle Rittenhouse is not guilty on all counts! Glory to God!'

On November 16, days before Rittenhouse was found not guilty, Jen Psaki refused to explain why the then-candidate made the comment.

'What I'm not going to speak to right now is anything about an ongoing trial nor the president's past comments,' Psaki said, even though the president commented on the situation before it was litigated.

'What I can reiterate for you is the president's view that we shouldn't have, broadly speaking, vigilantes patrolling our communities with assault weapons,' the White House press secretary said during her daily briefing. 'We shouldn't have opportunists corrupting peaceful protests by rioting and burning down the communities they claim to represent  anywhere in the country.'
Donald Trump has claimed China's hypersonic missile whose launch stunned the White House was created with technology stolen from the US via Russia.

Speaking on Hugh Hewitt's radio show on Wednesday, the former president said: 'You know, somebody gave them, during the Obama Administration, everything we had on hypersonic.'

'And Russia did it, and what I did is a catch-up program. And weve largely caught-up. But what happened is Russia got it and the China got it perhaps from Russia.'

'I doubt they did it themselves,' he said. 'They got it perhaps from Russia, maybe from some bad spy in the United States.'

Trump claimed that China stole their hypersonic missile technology from the United States during an interview with Hugh Hewitt (right) on Wednesday

In July China carried out a hypersonic weapon test with a missile fired at five times the speed of sound (president Xi Jinping pictured)

The president offered no further detail to his claims, and officials have yet to make any comment on claims it was stolen while Barack Obama was in office.

In September 2020, months before the July 2021 launch by China, the White House had admitted the US was trying to catch-up with China and Russia with hypersonic technology.

In July China carried out a hypersonic weapon test with a missile fired at five times the speed of sound.

The hypersonic glide vehicle - a spacecraft with the ability to carry a nuclear warhead - fired a missile mid-flight over the South China Sea, catching Pentagon scientists unawares.

Experts at Darpa - the Pentagon's advanced research agency were baffled at how China was able to defy the constraints of physics to fire a weapon from the vehicle travelling at hypersonic speed, the Financial Times reports.

China has reportedly been working on hypersonic weapons instead of the usual intercontinental ballistic missiles, which travel in a predictable arc and can be tracked by radars, according to CBS.

China is thought to have carried out two tests of a hypersonic orbital nuke - the first on July 27 and the second on August 13 this year

Hypersonic weapons are much harder for radars to pick up because they travel much closer to the planet's surface.

Joint Chiefs of Staff General John Hyten has referred to them as 'first-use weapons' and believes China could one day use the technology to launch a surprise nuclear attack on the US.

'They look like a first-use weapon,' Hyten told CBS News. 'That's what those weapons look like to me.'

China later launched a second test on August 13 and it involved a similar 'hypersonic glide vehicle' to one launched into space on board a Long March rocket back in July.

Beijing acknowledged one of the tests but claimed the country launched a 'peaceful' civilian spacecraft. Analysts believe the craft can actually be tipped with a nuclear warhead which would be able to evade existing missile defenses.

In November a National Security Council spokesman expressed concerns about the test.

'This development is concerning to us as it should be to all who seek peace and stability in the region and beyond.

'This also builds on our concern about many military capabilities that the People's Republic of China continues to pursue.'

Scientists have determined that the orbital bombardment system gives China more ways to hit US targets.

The revelation of the hypersonic test has emerged as China build upon its nuclear forces, in a manner which suggests it could be turning its back on the 'minimum deterrence' posture it has previously adopted.

Both Russia and the US have explored hypersonic weapons in recent years, but experts say China's firing of countermeasures is proof that Beijing's technology is more advanced than either the Kremlin or the Pentagon.

In response, the US has announced it will quadruple its nuclear warheads to as many as 1,000 weapons over the next ten years.
Australia has a plan to almost wipe out smoking by 2025 - with health experts demanding a radical New Zealand-style ban to make it happen.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is outlawing the next generation of Kiwis from ever being allowed to buy cigarettes in her bid for a smoke-free NZ.

When the new law comes in next year, anyone under the age of 14 will be banned from buying cigarettes in their lifetime.

Last puffs: A woman sits on a bench and smokes in Auckland. New Zealand's government says it plans to outlaw cigarettes.

When those young people turn the legal age of 18 in 2025, they will be the first generation unable to buy smokes - in a move designed to eventually phase out smoking.

The move has been hailed by health chiefs, but has sparked fury online with some smokers and tobacconists branding the move 'tyrannical' and 'ludicrous'.

Prime Minister Jacinda Adern (pictured, left with Prime Minister Scott Morrison) is outlawing an entire generation from ever being allowed to buy cigarettes

The ban is part of an overall strategy aiming to reduce smokers to just five per cent of the Kiwi population within three years.

On Thursday, Australia's Department of Health admitted it has a similar target, and plans to make 90 per cent of all Australians non-smokers by 2025.

But Australian expert Dr Colin Mendelsohn says that target will be impossible until the government re-thinks its strategy and follows the lead of the Kiwis' drastic plan.

'(The Federal government) just want to do more of the same and it just doesn't work,' he said. 'It's working a little but not fast enough.'

A retail ban of the kind introduced by New Zealand would have to be brought in by states and territories - and only Tasmania has so far attempted it. However, it was blocked by MPs.

In 2014, Tasmania's state parliament voted against a bill by Independent MP Ivan Dean to make it illegal for anyone born in 2000 from ever being allowed to buy cigarettes.

'What we are saying is that anyone who turns 18 in 2018 will not be able to buy cigarettes and eventually, when older smokers die out in 20, 30 years time, the sale will end,' said Mr Dean at the time.

A New Zealand man enjoys a cigarette while he still can. One of the most crucial aspects to the New Zealand plan was the reduction of nicotine content in cigarettes, said Dr Kathryn Barnsley, which research has shown does reduce smoking

'The important thing is that this is not about criminalising the smokers - it's ensuring retailers and suppliers can't sell to anybody born after the year 2000.'

MPs decided the potential financial impact on the retail industry was too great to create a smoke-free state and ditched the policy.

'Tassie had the chance to be a trailblazer but we blew it,' University of Tasmania adjunct researcher Dr Kathryn Barnsley admitted to Daily Mail Australia.

'But I think it will come in. South Australia or Western Australia will probably be the first to introduce and it will just snowball from there with the rest of the states falling in behind.

'This is an absolutely world-leading move by New Zealand. There is nothing as comprehensive, well-researched and widely consulted as this. It's vital we follow.'

University of Tasmania adjunct researcher Dr Kathryn Barnsley (pictured) says the New Zealand initiative was world-leading - but Tasmania could have been the trailblazer

But she warned the ban on young people from ever being allowed to smoke was just one small part of the Kiwi plan.

'It takes a long time for a ban like that to have any effect,' she said. 'It's decades before you get everyone banned from smoking.'

I think it will come in. South Australia or Western Australia will probably be the first to introduce and it will just snowball from there

She said one of the most crucial aspects to the plan was the reduction of nicotine content in cigarettes, which, she says, research has shown does reduce smoking, not increase it.

Other measures include restricting the number of stores where cigarettes can be bought - with just 500 shop licences to be made available, similar to a bottle shop licence to sell alcohol.

And there will also be even tighter restrictions on where smokers can puff away to make it even harder to indulge the habit.

Australia's Department of Health admitted it has a similar target, and plans to make 90 per cent of all Australians non-smokers by 2025

The New Zealand initiative received a bitter backlash from smokers and non-smokers online.

'I do not smoke myself, tweeted one. 'I do not particularly like to be around cigarette smoke. But this is taking tyranny up several notches.

'Next will be soft drinks and fast food. I do not consider NZ or Australia to be western democracies any longer...'

Amy Bayliss added: 'Okay, I thought we were bad but NZ has completely banned smoking and wants a completely smoke free country by 2025.

'This is absolutely LUDICROUS and taking away choices of the individual, like wth.'

The move by New Zealand sparked a furious reaction among smokers and non-smokers online (pictured)

Ben Thomas tweeted: 'Reducing nicotine in cigs is basically monstrous (the poisonous substances remain the same, and youll need to smoke more of them at much greater cost to get the same hit)'

Samuel Hill added: 'Labour didnt support decriminalising cannabis and now theyre implementing a slow ban on cigarettes. Welcome to another black market.

'Meanwhile you can get your pills tested at concerts to see whos got legit gear. These people are nuts. People will just smoke meth instead.'

The Kiwi assault on smokers has already had an incredible impact on the population.

Despite initially having had a higher percentage of smokers in NZ than Australia in 2012, the Kiwis overtook their neighbours in mid-2018, and has since seen numbers plummet to just 10.9 per cent of the population now still smoking.

Australia's numbers started to drop quickly between 2010 and 2013 from around 19 per cent to 16 per cent when plain packaging and graphic warnings were brought in (pictured)

Meanwhile Australia's numbers started to drop quickly between 2010 and 2013 from around 19 per cent to 16 per cent when plain packaging and graphic warnings were brought in.

But in the years since, the number has largely flatlined, despite soaring prices.

Between 2011 and 2020, New Zealand raised the cost of a packet of cigarettes by 10 per cent a year, sending the price up to NZ$33 for 20 Marlboro.

Australia followed suit and hiked it up by 12.5 per cent a year for nine years, making a packet of 25 Marlboro now cost around AU$50.

But the most recent data says 14.7 per cent of the Australian population are still smokers, with more than 20,000 of them dying every year, and many more disabled.

One key reason for the sudden drop in NZ smoking numbers over the last two years is vaping, says Australian expert Dr Colin Mendelsohn (pictured)

One key reason for the sudden drop in NZ smoking numbers over the last two years is vaping, says Australian expert Dr Colin Mendelsohn, author of a new book Stop Smoking Start Vaping.

He says that, unlike Australia where authorities are combatting both smoking and vaping, New Zealand has encouraged vaping as an alternative to smoking.

And the change in attitude has coincided with a massive decline in the number of smokers, he says.

'In the last 12 months, smoking rates fell by 20 per cent, which is unprecedented,' he said. 'Legislation last year made nicotine officially available as a consumer product [to vape].

'The only policy change in that time was in vaping. There were no other policy changes.

Dr Colin Mendelsohn believes vaping is a gateway out of smoking, not an entryway to the habit

'So it's almost certainly due to vaping, and because it's being encouraged by the government, people are taking it up and it's making a huge impact.

'More kids are vaping,' he admitted. 'But they don't progress to smoking.

'That's what going to kill them - smoking. Vaping for a few years isn't. We don't want them to vape, but it's not a gateway into smoking. It's actually a gateway out.'

He echoed the call for innovative new approaches to tackling smoking.

'We've gone as far as we can with traditional tobacco control methods and the fact that smoking rates aren't falling any further means it's not enough,' he said.

Health minister Greg Hunt has set targets of reducing smoking rates to below 10 per cent by 2025 and will work with states on tackling smoking and didn't rule out possible age-bans

A spokesman for health minister Greg Hunt said the government was working with states and territories to tackle smoking and didn't rule out possible age-bans.

'The government has set targets of reducing smoking rates to below 10 per cent by 2025,' said the spokesman.

'There is strong evidence that comprehensive public health strategies focusing on both the supply and demand of tobacco are most likely to achieve long-term health gains, prevent the uptake of smoking and reduce smoking prevalence.

'The government will continue to work with state and territory governments to explore new evidence-based measures to reduce smoking [using] both supply reduction and demand reduction measures.'
Queensland supermarkets, pharmacies and other essential businesses could have the ability to mandate vaccination and exclude unvaccinated people, according to the state's small business minister.

Anyone entering a cafe, restaurant, bar, club, pub, theatre, cinema, museum, library or sport stadium will need to be fully vaccinated under a statewide mandate from December 17.

The mandate doesn't extend to essential services like grocery stores, but Small Business Minister Di Farmer says all private business are allowed to opt in to the mandate.

'The ability to mandate that staff and patrons be vaccinated is available to every business,' Ms Farmer told reporters on Thursday.

'Any business is able to make that decision, and I think a lot of them are actually thinking about that very seriously.

'(When Queensland opens up) you will need to be protected and businesses all over Queensland will be making that decision.

'If a person decides not to be vaccinated, then those are the things that they will take into consideration.'

Anyone entering a cafe, restaurant, bar, club, pub, theatre, cinema, museum, library or sport stadium will need to be fully vaccinated under a statewide mandate from December 17 but essential businesses such as supermarkets and chemists were exempt. Now, one of Annastacia Palaszczuk's ministers has said private businesses could 'opt in' to the mandate

While the state will allow private businesses to do as they please, the Queensland Council of Civil Liberties said there must be a balance between people's rights and the public interest.

He said unvaccinated people need to be able to do essential shopping like buying food and medicine.

'We say that the correct balance is if you have a mandate, it must provide an exception of people who are conscientious objectors,' QCCL president Michael Pope told AAP.

'And on top of that, you've got to deal with the fact that people have to be able to buy food and get access to things like pharmacies and those sort of things.

'We accept that this is a serious emergency which requires responses in relation to civil liberties that in normal times we would not accept.

'But we've always argued that those responses have to be necessary and proportionate.'

Just fours days out from travel restrictions easing on fully vaccinated travellers from domestic COVID-19 hotspots, the government is yet to release guidelines for how business should deal with virus cases.

Venues and essential businesses still don't know how close contacts will be dealt with if a COVID-19 cases enters their premises.

Currently close contacts must self-isolate for 14-days regardless of their vaccination status.

A Woolworths supermarket in Brisbane. The mandate on unvaccinated people doesn't extend to essential services like supermarkets and grocery stores but Small Business Minister Di Farmer says all private businesses can participate in the mandate

Health Minister Yvette D'Ath promised new health directives, which may be less strict for mandated businesses, will be released before the border opening on Monday.

'In the coming days, the government will issue the guidelines required for business and industry as our border reopens," she said in a statement.

'This will include information on managing close contacts in the workplace.

'Our objective is to provide an environment where business, particularly essential business, remains open.'
Lame duck New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio is in hot water after a city ethics panel revealed he solicited donations from big developers after giving them the green light to build in New York.

The city's Conflicts of Interest Board sent the 2018 letter, which de Blasio fought to keep under wraps for several years and reveals fundraising efforts on behalf of his now-defunct nonprofit Campaign for One New York.

That refusal happened in 2019, when the city's Department of Investigation discovered that the mayor broke ethics laws by getting donations from three specific developers that got the OK to build in the city.

The donors in question: James Capalino of Capalino and Associates, which gave the mayor $10,000; David Von Spreckelsen, president of Toll Brothers who gave $25,000; and Jeffrey Levine, chairman of Douglaston Development who also gave $25,000.

In addition to the $10,000, Capalino arranged with his clients to give de Blasio's nonprofit another $90,000.

Bill de Blasio has been condemned for soliciting donations from developers given the green light to build in NYC

David Von Spreckelsen (pictured left) of Toll Brothers was among de Blasio's donors, giving $25,000.

Jeffrey Levine - chair of Douglaston Development - gave $25,000 to de Blasio's nonprofit, Campaign for One New York

The mayor asked these three developers - all of whom had business before city agencies - to support Campaign for One New York. He failed to provide the required disclaimer saying it 'would result in no official favor or disfavor,' the New York Times found.

'By soliciting these three donations from firms with business pending before executive agencies, and providing no disclaimers, you not only disregarded the Board's repeated written advice, but created the very appearance of of coercion and improper access to you and you staff that the Board's advice sought to help you avoid,' the letter from the city ethics panel said.

'A public servant who engages in solicitations such as these, either directly or through a surrogate, acts in conflict with that public servant's official duties, in violation of the City Charter,' it continues.

The mayor skated federal charges related to fundraising in 2017, as the board agreed not to sanction the mayor for disbanding the organization.

New York's City Council passed a law preventing these kinds of improper fundraising activities.

James Capalino gave $10,000 to de Blasio's nonprofit and got his clients to kick in another $90,000

Jeffrey D. Friedlander was appointed to New York City's Conflicts of Interests Board in March 2017

Campaign for One New York began as a way to promote de Blasio's eventually implemented universal pre-K program but eventually became a general nonprofit boosting his own agenda.

'The calls the Mayor was making at this time were to support affordable housing legislation and his effort to achieve Universal Pre-K for every child in New York City, which is now a national model. He has consistently acted in good faith and followed the process set out for him,' said City Hall Press Secretary Danielle Filson. 'The Board closed these cases and determined no enforcement action was necessary.'

The department of investigations has conducted their own search into the activities. The Times reported that the mayor has $300,000 in legal debts stemming from his defense.

It is unclear how much all of this cost New York City's taxpayers, as the citys law department worked to keep the conflicts board letters secret.

De Blasio steps down from his mayoral position next month, with Mayor-Elect Eric Adams set to move into Gracie Mansion.

The outgoing mayor is planning to launch a bid for the 2022 New York Governor's election, although he has proven unpopular among both liberal and conservative New Yorkers, and is currently considered a long-shot to win.
A Sydney man accused of supplying fake meth has been charged on the first day police ramp up the second phase of an international operation into organised crime.

The 33-year-old man was arrested on Wednesday, a day before officers launched a nationally coordinated strike against motorcycle gangs, organised crime and drug distributors.

He is the fourth person charged in conjunction with an investigation by Australian Federal Police into an alleged drug syndicate with links to a Turkey-based Comanchero gang member.

Police allege the man paid $75,000 for what he thought was one kilogram of methamphetamine before supplying it to another person but the drugs turned out to be soda crystals.

A 33-year-old Sydney man has been arrested after spending $75,000 on what he thought was meth (stock image)

The investigation forms part of the broader Operation Ironside where up to 160 alleged criminals are in police sights.

Ironside was a three-year covert operation by the AFP in partnership with the FBI which led to a law-enforcement controlled encrypted messaging service providing enough information to take down more than 300 alleged criminals.

Investigators were able to use the app to discover that drugs would be attached to the hull of large ships or thrown overboard before they docked in Australia to then be recovered by criminal dive teams.

Syndicates would also use garbage collection services to pick up drugs hidden in bins at ports around Australia.

AFP Assistant Commissioner Crime Command Nigel Ryan said the operation was continuing to reveal serious criminal syndicates as well as people who were providing a significant amount of assistance to gangs around Australia.

'It is just a matter of time before we scoop up those who believed they had gotten away with their crimes, like the alleged criminals who smashed or burned their (encrypted messaging) devices,' he said.

'You will see AFP or our state law enforcement partners executing search warrants across Australia in the coming months.'

More than 700 search warrants have been executed under the operation with over 6.3 tonnes of illegal drugs, $52 million in suspected proceeds of crime and 139 weapons seized in Australia.

Almost 1000 suspected criminals have been arrested around the world under the operation.
A Sydney nurse stole $1,000 from the account of an elderly cancer patient after forcibly obtaining her PIN and then lied at her trial, a tribunal has found.

'I could feel someone hurting me and holding me down', the patient reported, saying she was 'so frightened' as the female repeatedly asked for the PIN.

The 75-year-old woman was recovering from surgery in March 2018 at the Hospital for Specialist Surgery, Bella Vista.

The patient was recovering from surgery when the nurse held her down and demanded her pin number (stock image)

Two bank cards were in her purse in a handbag, hidden under a cabinet in her room.

In June 2019, registered nurse Percy McCarthy was found guilty in the District Court of dishonestly obtaining, and of attempting to obtain, a financial advantage by deception.

She had tried to withdraw $1000 from one account and succeeded in doing so with the second card.

McCarthy was sentenced to a two-year community correction order which included a requirement for 500 hours of community work.

Complaints were subsequently made to the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal, which on Thursday found all four proven including professional misconduct.

While McCarthy conceded she was guilty, she offered explanations why she failed to notify the Nursing and Midwifery Board of the charges.

She also disputed claims she had removed the two cards from the patient and forcibly sought the PINs, assertions rejected by the tribunal.

'The respondent has given dramatically inconsistent evidence as to the circumstances in which she obtained the cards and the disposal of the cash taken from the ATM,' it said.

Versions she gave to the police and the jury were inconsistent.

And 'the inconsistencies of these versions with the evidence of the respondent in these proceedings borders on the incredulous'.

Her claims included meeting an old lady with a band-aid on her left arm in a shopping centre car park and being asked for help in withdrawing $1000 from an ATM.

She later said the patient was walking around with two cards in her hand wrapped up with paper containing a PIN.

The nurse then withdrew $1,000 from the woman's account (stock image)

McCarthy also claimed the patient said her sister normally helped her with her banking but she had had an accident and asked for help to withdraw $1000.

'A rereading of the various factual versions is sufficient per se to demonstrate that it would be unsafe to rely on any evidence given by the respondent about these matters.'

The tribunal found McCarthy lied to police and lied on oath at her trial.

She obtained the cards without consent and forcibly obtained the PIN of one card 'in circumstances which caused the patient both physical and mental damage'.

In her statement, the patient said she thought she was dreaming.

'I was shaking my head thinking it was a dream and it was the anaesthetic,' she said.

'I could feel someone pinning me down by my arms and my legs.'

She felt so frightened and heard a female voice, getting agitated, asking for her PIN.

The tribunal found McCarthy's actions constituted 'improper and unethical conduct relating to the practice or purported practice of nursing'.

It concluded the conduct would justify cancellation or suspension of her registration, but will consider her penalty at a later date.
Rewards of $200,000 each have been offered in relation to three unsolved murders believed to be linked to the drug trade in Adelaide's southern suburbs.

Police previously established a special task force to investigate the deaths of Robert Atkins, Trevor King and Jeff Mundy.

Up to 15 people are believed to have been involved in the killings and detectives are also checking another 200 overdose deaths since 2019 to determine if any more are suspicious.

Deputy Police Commissioner Linda Williams (centre) has announced a $200,000 reward for information leading to conviction of three murdered Adelaide men as police investigate 200 suspicious 'overdose' deaths

The rewards will be provided to anyone who provides information leading to a conviction or convictions.

Deputy Police Commissioner Linda Williams said detectives had already taken more than 30 calls with people providing information about the killings and urged others to come forward.

"We know that the offenders are involved in low-level drug dealing and in the methamphetamine scene," she said.

Robert Atkins (above) is believed to have been murdered after a week of torture before his body was left near Orroroo

"We know that their tactics are to bully and threaten their victims in a variety of unimaginable ways.

"Their methodology is particularly brutal....apparently over very little amounts of money."

Mr Atkins, 31, was held captive and tortured for up to a week before being forced to commit crimes for his captors.

Detectives believe he was murdered near Port Pirie, in the state's mid-north, with his body left near Orroroo although it has still not been found.

Trevor King (above) was held in unlawful detention and suffered serious assault over drug debt before his body was found near West Lakes in a staged suicide

Mr King, 41, was found dead at suburban West Lakes in January last year with police now believing his death was staged to look like a suicide.

In the months before his death, he was the victim of unlawful detention and serious assaults, resulting from a drug debt.

The debt was initially $1000 but increased to $10,000 and then $50,000 when he failed to pay.

Jeff Mundy (above) was last seen in December 2020 with police suspecting his body was disposed of in Fleurieu Peninsula

Mr Mundy, 36, was last seen in December last year. His body has not been found, with police suspecting it was disposed of somewhere on SA's Fleurieu Peninsula.

Ms Williams said police were keen to help the families of the victims understand what happened.

"One day they're there and next day they were gone and people don't know why," she said.

"It's reasonable people should have answers."
A father-of-three has sparked concerns for his welfare after vanishing near a raging bushfire without his phone or car.

Jordan Marshall, a real estate agent from Fremantle in Western Australia, was last seen on Wednesday morning near the Margaret River.

Police issued an urgent welfare concern about 5.47pm that evening and as of Thursday afternoon, the 40-year-old is still missing.

Officers hold serious concerns for his welfare.

A friend of Mr Marshall's told local media the single dad was 'spiralling' and 'not well'.

'He's not been taking drugs... He has a mental health condition,' a friend told the Augusta Margaret River Times.

Jordan Marshall, a real estate agent from Fremantle in Western Australia, was last seen on Wednesday morning near the Margaret River

A fire in Chittering (pictured) began near the intersection of Chittering Road and Chittering Valley Road, about 60km north-east of Perth just after midday on Tuesday

Friends and family are begging him to make contact, after it was revealed he no longer had his phone or car with him.

There are concerns he 'crashed his car in a distressed state', although his father Ross, who founded Re-locate Real Estate with his son, would not comment, The West reported.

The bushfire surrounding Margaret River is currently uncontrolled and uncontained, officials say.

Schools and roads have been closed while an emergency alert has been issued for Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park and Redgate Road, Bussell Highway, Chapman Road, Hamelin Bay Road West and and the coastline.

Friends and family are begging him to make contact, after it was revealed he no longer had his phone or car with him

In these areas, there is a threat to lives and homes.

A watch and act alert has been issued for Blackboy Hollow Cave Road, Rainbow Cave Road, McLean Road, Hinton Road, Glenarty Road, Twenty Four Road and Bussell Highway.

An evacuation centre has been set up at Margaret River Recreation Centre and locals are urged to leave if it is safe to do so.

Premier Mark McGowan described the evolving situation as 'very serious and concerning' as he urged locals to stay on high alert.

Hot and windy conditions are testing firefighters on the scene with Perth expected to reach 40C and the Pilbara region to experience a similar heatwave.

Fire bans are currently in place in large parts of the state including the Gascoyne, Perth, the Mid-West and the Wheatbelt.

There are grave concerns Mr Marshall is somewhere in a high-risk danger zone.

Residents in the affected areas are advised to close all doors and windows and leave now if the way is clear, or prepare to shelter in their homes (pictured, the blaze in Margaret River)

The keen surfer made headlines in June after encountering a four metre great white shark off the coast of Rottnest Island.

'It was quite daunting actually,' he told Nine News at the time.

'[His friend] was a bit more game than me, patting the water and doing that kind of stuff.'

Mr Marshall is described as about 170cm tall, built solidly with short brown hair and brown eyes.

Anyone with information of the whereabouts of Mr Marshall should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or report online at crimestopperswa.com.au.

Keen anglers Jordan Marshall and Paul Marriott (pictured) had a recent close encounter with a great white shark in Western Australia. Mr Marshall is now missing in an unrelated incident
A beloved family dog that killed two pets will be put down after a last-minute High Court appeal to save him failed, devastating his owners.

Aspen, a Siberian Husky owned by Alexandra and Graham Johnston, was ordered to be destroyed in a district court decision after the dog bolted during an off-leash beach walk and killed a chicken and a guinea pig in May 2020.

Allowing Aspen off the leash without the training to return on command cost the dog 18 months in a pound cage and ultimately his life.

The Johnstons, who live in Auckland, New Zealand, filed a High Court appeal in a desperate attempt to save their dog from death row.

Aspen, a Siberian Husky owned by Alexandra and Graham Johnston, was ordered to be destroyed in a district court decision after the dog bolted during an off-leash beach walk and killed a chicken and a guinea pig in May 2020. They appealed to the High Court and lost

The beloved family dog which killed two pets is due to be put down after a last-minute High Court appeal to save it failed, devastating its owners

The couple's appeal was based on the 'exceptional circumstances' argument that it is in a large dog's nature to pursue smaller animals.

Ms Johnston also argued the chicken's owners, Sandra and Cesara Chwieduk, were to blame because the bird was roaming outside its home - which the dog ran 300m to reach.

The Johnstons also argued the guinea pig's enclosure was not sufficient to prevent Aspen from reaching it.

Eight months before Aspen killed the animals, he chased chickens outside the Chwieduk's property, and evidently remembered where they lived.

Judge Edwin Wylie was not convinced by the Johnstons' arguments.

'The appeal against conviction must be dismissed,' he said.

'There does not appear to be any authority to suggest that the onus is on owners of domestic animals to prevent a dog attack.

'The onus is clearly on the owner of the dog to prevent attacks on domestic animals.'

The Johnstons posted photos of chickens roaming outside a suburban property in a Facebook group used to campaign for Aspen. Part of their defence was the dog couldn't help its nature and was compelled to chase the loose chickens

From the failed court appeal it appeared that allowing Aspen off the leash without the training to return on command had cost the dog 18 months in a pound cage and ultimately its life

The judge accepted the decision could cause Aspen's owners and their son 'distress' as the dog was 'a much-loved member of their family'.

'I acknowledge that distress, however I must apply the law which is very clear. There were no exceptional circumstances,' he said.

The Johnstons were fined $750 and ordered to pay $150 for 'emotional harm' to the chicken's owners, and Belinda Tustin, who owned the guinea pig.

The couple used social media to try and campaign for their dog, arguing animal control laws are 'draconian'.

'Fine me, blame me, throw me in jail but don't destroy a beautiful dog,' Mr Johnston wrote in an emotional Facebook post.

'That just isn't right.'

He said the case was 'two years of hell' and lamented that Aspen was locked in a pound cage for months while the court cases rolled on with no visits allowed.
Amazon's cloud outage saw Alexa's, Roomba robot vacuum cleaners and Ring doorbells go down - leaving some users trapped outside their own 'smart' homes.

Some Ring customers said that they spent time rebooting or reinstalling their apps and devices before finding out about the outage on social media.

Many rely on a phone app to enter their homes, rather than a code that can also be used, with those that had forgotten the latter stuck outside their own homes as Ring doorbells went down.

Some Ring customers s aid that they spent time rebooting or reinstalling their apps and devices before finding out about the outage on social media

Amazon went down across the globe, frustrating thousands of users who are trying to purchase Christmas gifts. DownDetector, a site that monitors online outages, shows North America, parts of Europe and Asia are all experiencing issues

'So how can I get into my home? I dont remember the code. I always use my app,' one person tweeted.

'I've reset mine and tried to make a new account I'm completely locked out!! Not what we need right by Christmas. Stuck with a broken piece of plastic,' another person tweeted.

This was after Amazon and all of its services crashed across the globe for seven hours on Tuesday due to a major cloud services outage.

A source told DailyMail.com that the cause of the outbreak was a power failure in Virginia and not a malicious hacking.

Amazon services such as the popular voice assistant Alexa (pictured) and Ring smart-doorbell unit were down during Tuesday's outage

Thousands of Americans reported being left without working Roomba smart vacuums (pictured), fridges, or even lights in their home

Amazon said the outage was likely due to issues related to application programming interface (API), which is a set of protocols for building and integrating application software.

Thousands of Americans reported being left without working Roomba smart vacuums, fridges, or even lights in their homes as smart lightbulbs stopped responding to voice commands during the outage, Bloomberg reported.

Some Amazon customers said they werent able to turn on their Christmas lights either, putting a damper on the holiday season.

The outage was a reminder for some of the cons of having a 'smart home' that relies on internet access and on a single company. Some Twitter users gloated that their 'dumb' homes without internet-connected gadgets were working as well as ever during the outage.

The nearly eight-hour outage also disrupted the company's shipping operations on Tuesday, threatening to create lasting logjams during the Christmas season.

The outage shut down communications between Amazon and the fleet of thousands of drivers it relies on, preventing drivers from getting route assignments or packages.

It also came during the company's crucial and busy Christmas shopping season, and could potentially create persistent logjams at a time where there is already a critical crunch on the supply chain.

Some customers who were expecting packages on Tuesday were notified that delivery would be delayed for one to two days, according to complaints on social media.

Amazon and its delivery partners are said to be regrouping on Wednesday in an attempt to prevent the disruption from spiraling out of control.

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The incident at Amazon Web Services mostly affected the eastern U.S., but still impacted everything from airline reservations and auto dealerships to payment apps and video streaming services to Amazon's own massive e-commerce operation.

That included The Associated Press, whose publishing system was inoperable for much of the day, greatly limiting its ability to publish its news reports.

Amazon has still said nothing about what, exactly, went wrong. In fact, the company limited its communications Tuesday to terse technical explanations on an AWS dashboard and a brief statement delivered via spokesperson Richard Rocha that acknowledged the outage had affected Amazon's own warehouse and delivery operation but said the company was 'working to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.'

Roughly five hours after numerous companies and other organizations began reporting issues, the company said in a post on the AWS status page that it had 'mitigated' the underlying problem responsible for the outage, which it did not describe. It took some affected companies hours more to thoroughly check their systems and restart their own services.

Amazon Web Services was formerly run by Andy Jassy, who succeeded founder Jeff Bezos as Amazon CEO in July.

The cloud-service operation is a huge profit center for Amazon. It holds roughly a third of the $152 billion market for cloud services, according to a report by Synergy Research - a larger share than its closest rivals, Microsoft and Google, combined.
A two-year-old boy who tragically died after a circumcision had an allergic reaction to medication after surgery, doctors have revealed.

The toddler and his baby brother were discharged from Gosnells Medical Centre, in Perth's southeastern suburbs, after undergoing the same procedure on Tuesday.

An employee at the clinic told Daily Mail Australia there were no complications immediately after the operation, but the situation took a dire turn later that night.

At about 6.30pm, paramedics raced the little boys from friend's home in Seville Grove to Armadale Hospital.

The two-year-old boy had an allergic reaction after being circumcised on Tuesday (stock image)

An employee at Gosnells Medical Clinic (pictured) told Daily Mail Australia there were no complications immediately after the operation

It is believed the two-year-old had a reaction to anesthetic or medication and was pronounced dead before he arrived at the emergency department, The West Australian reported.

The younger boy, believed to be about seven or eight months old, suffered post-operative bleeding and was in intensive care overnight.

He is now in a stable condition.

WA Police Commissioner Chris Dawson described the situation as 'tragic'.

'There will be detectives involved in this matter and they will compile a report which will go to the State Coroner,' he said on Thursday.

A spokeswoman from St John Ambulance told Daily Mail Australia the toddler was in a 'critical condition'

'This medical procedure took place at an authorised medical facility ... it appears that this is a very tragic case.'

A spokeswoman from St John Ambulance told Daily Mail Australia the toddler was in a 'critical condition' when emergency workers arrived.

'He was taken from a home to Armadale Hospital,' she said.

Detectives worked with the family to complete a report for the coroner.
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Craig Tamanaha, the 49-year-old alleged arsonist who torched Fox News' Christmas tree, is back on the streets just hours after his arrests because all of his charges are misdemeanors, meaning that a judge can't set bail

The 49-year-old homeless man who was charged with arson for torching the Fox News 50-foot Christmas tree outside its Manhattan headquarters and then released without bail allegedly admitted to police that he had been 'thinking about lighting the tree on fire all day long.'

Craig Tamanaha, 49, is back on the street less than 24 hours after his arrest on a slew of charges, including second-degree criminal mischief, second-degree reckless endangerment and fifth-degree arson, because of the city's lenient bail reforms, weeks after he allegedly flashed outside Ghislaine Maxwell's trial court.

Tamanaha was seen on video being arraigned and released after being charged for setting Fox News' All-American Christmas Tree alight on 47th Street and Avenue of the Americas in Midtown.

According to a newly released criminal complaint, when police picked up the accused arsonist, he was quoted as telling a detective: 'I have been thinking about lighting the tree on fire all day long.'

A work crew was back outside the Fox News headquarters on Thursday morning to put up and decorate a new 50-foot Christmas tree, which Fox News Media CEO Suzanne Scott said in an internal memo to staff would serve 'as a message that there can be peace, light and joy even during a dark moment like this.'

Tamanaha, who is described as unhoused and 'emotionally disturbed', faces six misdemeanor charges and under the 2020 criminal justice reform laws, judges are advised to release the accused. Arson is only considered a felony in New York if the arsonist harms or attempts to harm a person, or carries out the attack as a hate crime.

Outgoing Mayor Bill de Blasio supported the bail reforms in 2019 before they came in, saying: 'With the lowest rate of incarceration of any major city, New York City is proving you dont need to arrest your way to safety.'

Crime has since spiraled out of control, with with violent attacks on subways and random assaults in the street happening far more frequently than in the past two years.

The latest NYPD data show robberies spiking 24.1 percent in November compared with November 2020. Grand Larceny has skyrocketed 40.6 percent last month, compared with November 2020.

The accused arsonist - wearing a blue jacket and jeans - was asked what happened and appeared incoherent.

'You see, the mother society that raped the daughter's mom, they set it on fire,' he said.

'Ask the moms who molest their daughters how they feel about it.' It was not clear what this was in reference to.

Tamanaha then asked for a cigarette and said he was going home. He then denied the charges before leaving.

The 49-year-old has a lengthy criminal record spanning at least 20 years and two states, and he was arrested last month for exposing himself outside the Ghislaine Maxwell trial in the city.

In 2002, the then-30-year-old Tamanaha was picked up in Abilene, Texas, on a public intoxication charge. Between 2017-2018, he was arrested on three separate occasions and charged with public intoxication, burglary and resisting arrest.

Tamanaha's father, Richard Tamanaha, from Hawaii, told the New York Post that his son is a drug addict and is prone to destructive behavior.

'Oh, hes a nut. I can't control him,' the elder Tamanaha told the tabloid. 'Mentally, he's not all there.'

Tamanaha was detained in November for exposing himself in front of the United States Court House in Manhattan as Maxwell's sex trafficking trial was going on inside.

An NYPD spokesperson said that Tamanaha had three prior arrests: two earlier this year in March for controlled substances in March and one in 2015 for an open container.

Fox News employees called police after watching Tamanaha climb the tree at 12.14am Wednesday and set it on fire. He tried to scramble away, but was taken into custody.

Good as new: A fully rebuilt 'All-American Christmas Tree' is pictured outside Fox News' headquarters in Midtown Manhattan on Thursday, two days after its predecessor had been torched

Craig Tamanaha was seen on video being arraigned and released after allegedly torching Fox News' All-American Christmas Tree on 47th Street and Avenue of the Americas in Midtown Manhattan

Fox News Christmas tree gets rebuilt on Thursday, two days after an arson fire destroyed the 50-foot display outside the headquarters of Fox News in Manhattan

Workers were seen on a lift putting the top of the tree with a big red star at the pinnacle and working their way down

Fox News Media CEO Suzanne Scott said in an internal memo to staff that the replacement tree, seen being build on Thursday, would serve 'as a message that there can be peace, light and joy even during a dark moment like this'

Holiday decorations and a giant red star are seen being handled by workers as they build the new tree on Thursday

After hours of work, the replacement tree outside Fox News HQ has started to take shape, with thousands of red, white and blue ornaments covering the display from top to bottom

'There's no question that the legislature has got to reevaluate the nooks and crannies of the bail statute because it's leading to absurd outcomes,' Mark Bederow, a former Manhattan prosecutor turned criminal defense lawyer, told Fox News.

In order for a judge to set bail, Tamanaha would have to have been charged with at least third-degree arson, which constitutes a hate crime.

'You'd have to intentionally damage a building or vehicle by starting a fire or explosion as a hate crime, which is an extraordinarily high bar for bail eligibility. Having a personal bias or animus toward Christmas doesn't legally cut it,' Bederow added.

When a suspect is released on bail for a crime against another person, that person can be granted an order of protection to make sure the suspect stays away from them.

But there is no legal order a judge could give to prevent Tamanaha from approaching the Fox News tree again. 'You can't give the Christmas tree an order of protection, so security will have to stand guard,' Bederow told Fox News.

Tamanaha caused about $500,000 in property damage, sources told the New York Post. It is still unclear why he targeted the Fox News tree. NYPD detectives told DailyMail.com that it was a completely random act and not politically motivated against Fox News or News Corp, which owns The New York Post and The Wall Street Journal.

The accused arsonist - wearing a blue jacket and jeans - was asked what happened and appeared incoherent

Tamanaha asked if anyone had a cigarette and said he was going home. He added that he didn't do it before leaving

Craig Tamanaha, who was later charged with setting fire to a Christmas tree outside the Fox News headquarters, is detained by police after exposing himself outside the court at the trial of Ghislaine Maxwell

An NYPD spokesperson said that Tamanaha had three prior arrests: two earlier this year in March for controlled substances in March and one in 2015 for an open container

Arson is only constituted as a felony in New York if the perpetrator harms or attempts to harm a person or if the act is considered a hate crime, meaning that Tamanaha was free to go. He is above being taken into custody outside the News Corp building on Tuesday night

Fox News employees watched as he climbed the tree and then as he tried to run away. It remains unclear exactly what he used to set it on fire

Tamanaha caused about $500,000 in property damage, sources told the New York Post

Craig Tamanaha's charges for torching Fox News' Christmas tree Craig Tamanaha faces with six misdemeanor charges for torching the tree, including fifth-degree arson, second-degree criminal mischief, second-degree reckless endangerment, second-degree criminal nuisance, third-degree criminal trespass, third-degree criminal tampering and disorderly conduct. Advertisement

Tamanaha could have been held by a judge for a psychiatric evaluation if he was experiencing mental illness. He was released from custody at the Midtown North Precinct.

Tamanaha is listed as having an address in Brooklyn, but regularly loiters in the area, police said.

'It's an individual that's known to us  he has a series of low level arrests and drug arrests. He was issued some earlier this year  some appearance tickets and didn't come back to court, which unfortunately is something we see all too often. He also has some low-level arrests out of state  I believe it's Texas,' Police Commissioner Dermot Shea told ABC 7.

'I think it's definitely one where he's working alone. That's what it appears. This is all very fresh  It's probably a little preliminary to say what the motivation was  was mental illness a factor? We're looking at all of that and we'll probably have more to say,' Shea added.

He had a lighter in his possession when he was arrested but the FDNY has not been able to confirm yet if that's what he used to set fire to the tree.

Tamanaha was arraigned on Wednesday on six charges including arson, criminal mischief, reckless endangerment and disorderly conduct.

The incident is another sad example of the senseless and random crime that is ravaging the city and is likely to deter tourists this Christmas, the first holiday season that New York has been able to welcome international visitors since 2019.

Plumes of black smoke billowed from the festive display after it was set ablaze shortly after midnight in Fox Square, by the building which houses Fox News

A worker disassembles a Christmas tree outside Fox News headquarters, in New York, Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2021. Police say a man is facing charges including arson for setting fire to a 50-foot Christmas tree in front of Fox News headquarters in midtown Manhattan

The clean up effort began in earnest on Wednesday morning as crews moved in to clear the burned remains

A worker on a crane disassembles the decorations around the Christmas tree outside Fox News headquarters, in New York, Wednesday

New York City Police stand outside Fox News headquarters as a Christmas tree is disassembled, in New York, Wednesday

An employee stands inside the charred remains during the clean up after the fire. NYPD detectives tell DailyMail.com that it was a completely random act and not politically motivated against Fox News or News Corp, which owns The New York Post and The Wall Street Journal

Workers clean up the burnt remains of a Christmas tree outside the News Corp. and Fox News building in New York City after the fire which ripped through the 50ft giant last night

De Blasio has been largely blamed for the surge in violence, after softening bail reform to let criminals out of jail early then moving homeless people out of shelters and onto the streets or into hotels during the height of the pandemic.

His term ends on December 31. Mayor-elect Eric Adams, a former NYPD cop and a Democrat like de Blasio, has promised a crackdown on crime.

Three nearby Christmas trees which were also decorated with lights were damaged by the blaze.

The red, white and blue decorations (shown, left, before the tree was set on fire) and (right) after the assault on Tuesday night

Police cordoned off the square as FDNY firefighters extinguished the fire.

Fox staff received this internal memo on Wednesday morning after the tree incident

'Units responded to 1211 Ave of the Americas at 00:14 hours for a report of a rubbish fire. FDNY members extinguished a tree on fire in front of location.

'No injuries, fire marshals to investigate,' the FDNY said on Wednesday morning.

'On Wednesday, December 8, 2021, at approximately 0014 hours, a 49-year-old male was observed by Fox News Channel security climbing the Christmas tree decorated outside their office building near the corner of West 48 Street and Sixth Avenue, within the confines of the Midtown North Precinct.

'Upon arrival, officers observed the male running from the location and he was taken into custody without further incident. The fire within the tree was extinguished without further injury or incident by responding FDNY personnel.

'The male suspect was removed to the MTN Precinct where he will be processed; there was a lighter removed from his person, but it's unclear if there were any accelerant used.

'The cause of the fire is to be determined by NYC Fire Marshall, there are no injuries reported and the investigation is ongoing,' an NYPD spokesman said.

The tree had been lit Sunday during an 'all-American Christmas tree lighting' ceremony.

The shell of the tree outside the News Corp HQ in Times Square on Wednesday morning

Workers removed charred branches and lights from the tree's metal structure on Wednesday morning. A new one will go up this week

Two NYPD officers still appeared to be in good spirits on Wednesday as they stood guard

A huge pile of burned decorations grows outside the News Corp. and Fox News building in New York City

It had been decorated with 10,000 glass ornaments, 100,000 lights and it had taken staff 21 hours to assemble.

Fox & Friends host Steve Doocy said at its unveiling: 'When we walk in at three and four o'clock in the morning on weekdays to go to work, the music is so orchestral, so dramatic, and so big, it just puts you in the Christmas spirit as you walk through the crossroads of the world.

'Rockefeller Center is famous for having a Christmas tree. Now we have two of the biggest Christmas trees in Rockefeller Center.'

Fox News Media CEO Scott told staff in a memo: 'This has become a wonderful new tradition on FOX Square over the last three years.

'We will not let this deliberate and brazen act of cowardice deter us.'
Bird flu is at a 'phenomenal level', Britain's chief veterinary officer has warned, after the disease was spread by migratory species as hundreds of thousands of birds are culled at 40 farms across the UK.

Concern has grown among conservationists and nature lovers today as the country's 'largest ever' outbreak continues to grow.

The RSPB said High Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) is affecting a range of poultry operations across the UK.

Wild bird species involved are mostly geese, ducks and swans, but a number of birds of prey have also been confirmed to have died.

Around half a million birds have been culled so far, according to UK chief veterinary officer Christine Middlemiss, who said there are 40 infected premises in the UK - 38 in Great Britain including 33 in England.

An Avian Influenza Prevention Zone was declared across the UK on November 3 before being extended on November 29 with the added requirement all captive birds have to be kept indoors, amid concerns that wild birds migrating from mainland Europe during the winter are carrying the disease.

The risk to human health from avian influenza remains very low, according to public health advice, and there is a low food safety risk.

WHAT IS BIRD FLU? Also known as avian influenza, bird flu is an infectious disease of birds caused by a variant of the standard influenza A virus. Bird flu is unique in that it can be transmitted directly from birds to humans. There are 15 different strains of the virus. It is the H5N1 strain which is infecting humans and causing high death rates. Humans can catch bird flu directly through close contact with live infected birds and those who work with infected chickens are most at risk. Advertisement

Speaking in the House of Commons, Environment Secretary George Eustice said: 'Each year the UK faces a seasonal risk in incursion of avian influenza associated with migratory wild birds.

'While we have that each year, I have to say this year we are now seeing the largest-ever outbreak in the UK of avian influenza with 36 confirmed cases.'

Defra confirmed the most up to date figure is 40 - 33 in England, three in Wales, two in Scotland and two in Northern Ireland.

Dr Middlemiss told the BBC the 'phenomenal level' of bird flu has 'huge human, animal and trade implications'.

She said the disease is being spread by migratory birds flying back from the north of Russia and eastern Europe.

The vet warned the UK is only a few weeks into a migratory season that goes on until March.

'We are going to need to keep up these levels of heightened biosecurity for all that time,' she said.

The protection zone means that in addition to keeping birds and poultry housed, keepers must continue to take precautions such as regularly cleaning and disinfecting clothing, equipment and vehicles and limiting access to non-essential workers and visitors.

Defra has said the new housing measures will be kept under regular review.

Dr Middlemiss said she is 'very concerned' about bird flu, and that having 40 infected premises is 'a really high number for the time of year'.

She told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that around half a million birds have had to be culled.

'I know that sounds a huge number, and of course for those keepers affected it's really devastating.

'But in terms of food supply impact it's actually relatively a very small number in terms of egg supply, meat, chicken and so on.'

She said they are continuing to get new detections, adding she confirmed another two on Wednesday night.

Yesterday, six pelicans that call St James's Park their home were being moved to an enclosure after the outbreak of bird flu in the UK

Swan rescue volunteer Cyril Bennis has said that his flock of birds are dying at 'a rapid rate' after a suspected Avian Flu outbreak

More swans dead at award-winning park Four more swans were reported to have died on the lake in an award-winning park at a seaside resort. It means one in three of the graceful birds on the pond in Stanley Park, Blackpool, have now succumbed to the disease which has swept across Britain, hitting poultry farms and wildfowl populations. Last week there were reports that all 10,500 Christmas turkeys will be culled at a farm in Northallerton, North Yorkshire, after the H5N8 strain of avian influenza was found. Officials said today that the death toll in the award-winning Stanley Park now stands at 21, with swans making up the vast majority of victims. There were 68 swans living on the pond in early November - there are just 48 today. It was cordoned off on November 11 after two swans and a Canada goose died. They were sent to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which confirmed the diagnosis. By November 2, 17 birds were dead, with Blackpool Council warning that three more swans were showing symptoms. Now another four have died. People have been asked by council chiefs to avoid the lake, and to steer clear of any dead or injured birds. People who would otherwise feed the swans, but are now unable to do so because of the restrictions, have the option to donate supplement feed to be distributed by the council by contacting the Brambles Wildlife Rescue Facebook page. Advertisement

Dr Middlemiss said people who keep chickens and want to feed wild birds need to make sure everything is kept 'scrupulously clean' and 'absolutely separate' to avoid infecting their own flocks.

She said there is an ongoing background risk of bird flu every year, adding that previously there would have been a reasonably sized outbreak followed by two or three quiet years.

'But that's not happening,' she told the Today programme, adding this is being seen across Europe, with outbreaks last year and some over the summer.

'And now we've got this massive increase with the migratory wild birds, and absolutely it's something we need to understand better about why we are getting these ongoing infections every year,' Dr Middlemiss said.

Her comments came as four more swans were reported to have died on the lake in an award-winning park at a seaside resort.

It means one in three of the graceful birds on the pond in Stanley Park, Blackpool, have now succumbed to the disease which has swept across Britain, hitting poultry farms and wildfowl populations.

Last week there were reports that all 10,500 Christmas turkeys will be culled at a farm in Northallerton, North Yorkshire, after the H5N8 strain of avian influenza was found.

Officials said today that the death toll in the award-winning Stanley Park now stands at 21, with swans making up the vast majority of victims.

There were 68 swans living on the pond in early November - there are just 48 today.

It was cordoned off on November 11 after two swans and a Canada goose died.

They were sent to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which confirmed the diagnosis.

By November 25, 17 birds were dead, with Blackpool Council warning that three more swans were showing symptoms. Now another four have died.

People have been asked by council chiefs to avoid the lake, and to steer clear of any dead or injured birds.

People who would otherwise feed the swans, but are now unable to do so because of the restrictions, have the option to donate supplement feed to be distributed by the council by contacting the Brambles Wildlife Rescue Facebook page.

UK chief veterinary officer Christine Middlemiss (pictured) told the BBC the 'phenomenal level' of bird flu has 'huge human, animal and trade implications'

Yesterday, six pelicans that call St James's Park their home were being moved to an enclosure after the outbreak of bird flu in the UK.

A ranger was spotted loading one of the huge birds into the boot of a car next to the lake in the central London park.

The Royal Parks said in a statement that they had been advised by the government to move the pelicans as a 'precaution' due the outbreak.

Paul Walton, head of habitats and species at RSPB Scotland, said: 'The presence of the High Pathogenic Avian Influenza virus in all UK countries, in both poultry premises and wild birds, and the high numbers of dead and sick birds now seen, is generating growing concern among conservationists and nature lovers.'

Another RSPB spokesperson said: 'Everyone should take care to maintain good hygiene when feeding garden birds, regularly cleaning feeders outside with mild disinfectant, removing old bird food, spacing out feeders as much as possible, and washing your hands.'

The bird flu outbreak is not expected to have any impact on the supplies of turkeys or other birds over Christmas.

NFU chief poultry adviser Aimee Mahony said it was a 'challenging' time for all bird owners.

'Vigilance is key and poultry farmers are doing all they can to ensure the continued health of their flocks, and that their welfare needs are being met,' she said.

'We are relying on all bird keepers, whether they have a small backyard flock or a commercial business, to follow the enhanced biosecurity and housing measures implemented by the chief veterinary officer to help prevent further disease outbreaks.'

British Poultry Council chief executive Richard Griffiths said they did not expect there to be an effect on overall production 'but we, as ever, urge all poultry keepers across the country to remain vigilant and look out for signs of the disease in your birds or bird'.

The British Hen Welfare Trust said it was committed - within legal guidelines and following strict biosecurity procedures - to collecting one more small flock of birds.

A spokesperson added: 'However, there will be no further rehoming activity with effect from December 12 until the AI (Avian Influenza) situation improves.

'When it is safe to recommence our lifesaving rehoming work, we will be up and running immediately.'
Baristas at a Starbucks in Buffalo have voted to establish the first union at one of the coffee giant's company-owned shops as workers continue to flex their might in a tight labor market that has seen millions quit their jobs.

Employees celebrated at the union office as the campaign won a decisive majority Thursday at the company's Elmwood Avenue location in the western New York city near the Canadian border.

It is the first union formed in Starbucks's 50-year history - and comes as some 4.2 million Americans left their jobs in October, part of a phenomenon dubbed 'The Great Resignation' that has added to the tightness in labor markets.

On Wednesday, more than 80 baristas and shift supervisors from three Buffalo-area stores had voted by mail on whether to be represented by Workers United of the Service Employees International Union.

'Starbucks made it almost impossible for us to win,' said employee Casey Moore, who backed the union.

'We are now the first union Starbucks store in the United States. It feels like we're on top of the world!'

But moments later, the mood became more subdued after officials with the National Labor Relations Board announced that a majority at a second Buffalo-area cafe voted against the union.

The election at a third Starbucks had still not been called in a process held via Zoom and orchestrated by the NLRB.

Workers voted to make a Buffalo Starbucks the first company-owned cafe in the United States with a union

Starbucks employees celebrate after the votes are counted, on December 9, 2021 in Buffalo, New York

Starbucks employee Brian Murray, center, and other employees and supporters react as votes are read during a viewing party for their union election on Thursday

Will Westlake, left, and Casey Moore, right, two employees at the Elmwood Avenue Starbucks location in Buffalo, watch as votes are counted during union election watch party on Thursday

Reaction by Starbucks workers reaching a majority in the union vote at the Elmwood Avenue location. It becomes the first unionized shop for the corporation in the US. @WGRZ pic.twitter.com/zNcMdTUusr  Steve Brown (@WGRZ_SteveBrown) December 9, 2021

Under the banner of 'Starbucks Workers United,' about 50 employees at cafes in Buffalo launched the campaign in late August.

A 'yes' vote might have a knock-on effect -- not just for Starbucks, but for other US firms like Amazon who are fighting similar efforts by workers to organize.

Earlier Thursday, Steve Boyd, a 60-year-old attorney, expressed support for the workers as he exited the Elmwood Avenue location with his daily fix.

'I see them every morning, they are sort of part of my day and they should have a living wage,' Boyd said.

'All across the US, businesses are complaining that they can't find people to work, and the best way to find people to work is to give them fair wages, fair working conditions,' Boyd said.

'So if unionizing supports this, then I support these people.'

Pictured: the Elmwood Avenue Starbucks location in Buffalo, NY, where workers voted to unionize on Wednesday. The location won a decisive majority in favor of unionizing Thursday

National Labor Relations Board's office in Buffalo, New York, pictured, is orchestrating an election at a third Starbucks location, which has still not been called as of Thursday evening

Pictured: Starbucks employees and supporters react as votes are read during a viewing of their union election on Thursday

The campaign shows how workers are becoming more assertive at a time when tight labor markets have given employees more clout, said Cedric de Leon, a labor expert at University of Massachusetts Amherst.

'The bargaining power of workers is very high at the moment,' de Leon told AFP.

There have been high-profile actions at other companies, such as a five-week strike at tractor maker John Deere & Co. earlier this fall.

Union leaders had criticized Starbucks' conduct during the campaign, calling out bare-knuckle corporate tactics that seemingly conflict with the brand's progressive image.

The coffee chain, which recently announced that it was lifting its minimum wage to $15 an hour, has stressed that it is not anti-union, but argued that the issues raised by workers do not justify a union.

Officials have argued that a union will disrupt the company's direct relationship with workers, dubbed 'partners' in the chain's lingo.

Pictured: members react during Starbucks union vote in Buffalo, New York, December 9, 2021

Starbucks employees alter a campaign sign, pictured, during a press conference after their union-election viewing party Thursday

Union supporters say Starbucks has sent in about 200 managers and supervisors, who have cycled through the stores since August, in an apparent effort to win over undecided employees.

The company's longtime architect and former CEO, Howard Schultz, led a meeting with employees in November.

Starbucks tried unsuccessfully to persuade the NLRB to replace the current election plan with one that comprises the 20-store region around Buffalo, which would presumably boost management's odds of victory.

The results could also be appealed, especially on the question of which specific employees are permitted to vote. Organizers say Starbucks rushed to hire new staff ahead of the election.

Whether by bringing in outside supervisors or urging employees to vote 'no' in a stream of texts and emails, 'it really is psychological warfare,' barista James Skretta said earlier this month.

'Starbucks' union-busting activities have swayed a good number of people actually towards supporting the union,' he added.

Union backers say Buffalo is just the start of an effort that has already spread to the southwestern state of Arizona, where workers recently demanded a vote.

'Why is Starbucks so worried about the unionization efforts at three locations when they have almost 9,000 locations?' de Leon said.

'It would start a wave within the company. It's already beginning.'
A five million-year-old pig-nosed turtle fossil found in Melbourne could rewrite the entire evolutionary history of the species and unlock the key to understanding climate change.

The pig-nosed turtle fossil was found during the 1920s in Beaumaris, thousands of kilometres south of where the endangered species lives.

The turtles, which were originally thought to have arrived a few thousand years ago, are usually found in tropical freshwater habitats in Australia and New Guinea.

The pig-nosed turtle fossil (pictured) was found in the 1920s in Beaumaris, thousands of kilometres south of where the endangered species typically reside

But now, a study lead by scientists from Monash University in collaboration with Museums Victoria has completely rewritten the evolutionary existence of the pig-nosed turtle.

'Almost the entire evolutionary history of Pig-nosed turtles occurred in the northern hemisphere, with their present limited occurrence on the northern margin of Australia,' said lead study author Dr James Rule from Monash University.

The endangered species, thought to be the sole survivors of an extinct group of tropical turtles - known as carettochelyids - that once inhabited the Northern Hemisphere.

'The discovery of a five million-year-old Pig-nosed turtle fossil in Beaumaris changes this picture entirely,' he said.

'This one fossil specimen reveals a previously unknown evolutionary history of tropical turtles in Australia, and suggests we still have much to learn about the endangered pig-nosed turtle.'

The finding could unlock a broader migration pattern of the endangered species after the fossil appeared on the wrong side of the continent.

A study lead by scientists from Monash University in collaboration with Museums Victoria has completely rewritten the evolutionary existence of the pig-nosed turtle (pictured, the pig-nosed turtle fossil in comparison to a modern pig-nosed turtle shell)

Scientists say the climate in Melbourne was much warmer five million years ago and housed more turtles that usually live in the tropics today.

'Climate change in the last few million years eliminated these tropical habitats, leaving the northern Australasian Pig-nosed turtles as sole survivors,' Dr Rule said.

'Our discovery provides key insights into ancient climate change shaping modern species distribution.'

This latest discovery highlighted the importance of the Beaumaris site, where fossils can be found by simply strolling along the beach.

'We are so lucky in Melbourne to have such fossils right here in our own backyard,' said Dr Erich Fitzgerald, a senior curator of vertebrate palaeontology at Museums Victoria and co-author of the paper.

'The fossils at Beaumaris still have so much to teach us about our past, present and future.'
Train operator Go-Ahead group has admitted to serious errors and failures in the way it ran the Southeastern rail franchise - and now expects to pay a fine.

Services on the network were taken over in October by the Government after Southeastern failed to declare more than 25million of taxpayers' cash.

The undeclared sums relate to 'variable track access charges', which are fees that Southeastern pays to a group of private investors in return for using the high-speed tracks running between Kent and London known as HS1.

Under the terms of the contract, the Government pays Southeastern a fee, which it passes on to HS1.

Any extra cash left over was meant to be returned to the taxman  but this was withheld. Errors have been identified dating back as far as 2014.

Go-Ahead said today it expects to pay a fine, although it said the full amount is unclear at this time.

Train operator Go-Ahead group has admitted to serious errors and failures in the way it ran the Southeastern rail franchise

Southeastern's network runs across South East England, covering London, Kent, East Sussex and the High Speed 1 line

What has Southeastern done wrong? The Department for Transport took over running services on Southeastern on October 17. The decision was taken after the operator failed to declare more than 25million of historic taxpayer funding since October 2014 which should have been returned to the Government. The DfT called this a 'significant breach of the franchise agreement, undermining trust', and warned at the time it could now financial penalties under the Railways Act 1993. The problem is thought to be focused on 'variable track access charges'. These relate to the High Speed 1 tracks - on which it operates services in and out of St Pancras - which are owned by a group of private investors. Southeastern's agreement with the Government meant the DfT would pay the operator a fee, which it was then supposed to pay to HS1  and any excess would be returned to the DfT. But it appears this did not happen. The issues are thought to have emerged during talks between the operator and the DfT over a new contract. The Go-Ahead Group, which ran the Southeastern network, today admitted to serious errors and failures and said it expects to pay a fine, although the full amount is currently unclear. Advertisement

The company said: 'Notwithstanding the complexity of the franchise agreements relating to LSER (London & South Eastern Railway Ltd), the review has found that serious errors were made by LSER with respect to its engagement with the DfT over several years.

'In particular, the group accepts that, by failing to notify the DfT of certain overpayments or monies due to the DfT, LSER breached contractual obligations of good faith contained in the franchise agreements. Accordingly, the group has apologised to the DfT.

'The behaviours identified by the independent committee which contributed to the management of LSER's contract with the DfT do not reflect the values and standards of conduct that the group expects of its colleagues.'

Go-Ahead said it believes it has a good corporate governance structure in place but that it will look at ways to improve it.

The company added that, as a result of the investigation, it will be delaying publication of its results until next year.

The Southeastern franchise had been owned by Govia - a joint venture between Go-Ahead Group (65%) and Keolis (35%) - since 2006.

The network is one of the busiest in Britain, stretching across south-east England including London, Kent, East Sussex and the High Speed 1 line.

Go-Ahead Group's chief financial officer Elodie Brian resigned after the decision to take over the franchise was announced.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said at the time an investigation by his department identified that Govia had not declared more than 25 million of historic taxpayer funding which should have been returned.
A man who bit off a chunk of his future brother-in-law's cheek in a vicious fight a day before his sister was to marry the victim, has begged to be sent to jail.

Luke Alan Lewis, 22, pleaded guilty to causing his sister's fiance grievous bodily harm at Mooloolaba Wharf on March 24.

He told Judge Glen Cash he was remorseful and 'genuinely guilty' at the end of the trial at Maroochydore District Court in Queensland's Sunshine Coast.

Luke Alan Lewis bit a chunk of his future brother-in-law's face off at Mooloolaba Wharf (pictured)

He was sentenced to two years' jail but was to be immediately released on parole, the Courier Mail reported.

On hearing this, Lewis said he would prefer to be sent to prison.

The court heard Lewis, his sister, and the 36-year-old victim were talking when the pair started fighting.

Judge Cash said Lewis punched the victim twice in the head which led to him tackling Lewis to the ground.

'You lifted yourself up to bite him on the left side of his face and you bit with what must have been quite an amount of force because you actually bit some flesh from his cheek and spat it onto the ground,' he told the court.

The judge said Lewis also bit the man's arm.

'When people grab me the first instinct is to bite something off,' Lewis told police after being arrested.

The court heard Lewis struggled with mental health and an alcohol problem.

A psychologist's report said he was diagnosed with depressive and social anxiety disorder, dyslexia, and schizotypal personality disorder.

Crown prosecutor Greg Cummings said Lewis had a history of violent crimes and without intervention could continue to react violently in the community.

He said the crime was a 'gross over-reaction', 'very vicious' and required 'a very significant application of force to remove the chunk of flesh'.

Mr Cummings said a sentence of up to three years was called for, but that it was up Judge Cash as to whether Lewis served time behind bars.

Luke Alan Lewis, 22, pleaded guilty to causing his sister's fiance grievous bodily harm during a trial at Maroochydore District Court (pictured) in Queensland's Sunshine Coast

Barrister Mark Dixon, acting for Lewis, said prison time could make his client's criminal behaviour worse and suggested a two-year prison sentence with immediate release on parole.

He said Lewis showed 'genuine' remorse for the offending.

'I feel horrible about it, there is no apology to what I did to that fella's face I think he would feel broken and hurt, he doesn't have much of a life and family like us,' Mr Dixon read from Lewis' statement.

But Lewis did not want parole, he wanted to be jailed.

'I would probably prefer imprisonment to pay back in some sort of way, I'm genuinely guilty,' he said to the judge after his parole was announced.

'No one is going to f**king help me, I'm sorry for swearing, but I know no one is going to help me. I have to help myself and I disagree on the matter.'

Lewis said he wouldn't be able to adhere to the parole regulations. 'I'm not going to lie to your face saying I'm going to stick to it, I don't think it's necessary,' he said.

But Judge Cash did not change the sentence, saying parole would help him to be rehabilitated.

'It's apparent to me, even if you won't acknowledge it, that you need assistance,' he said.
New Zealand is banning young people from ever being allowed to buy cigarettes in a rolling scheme that aims to make the entire country smoke-free.

People aged 14 and under in 2027 will never be allowed to purchase cigarettes in their lifetime in the Pacific country of five million, under Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's radical new laws.

Each year the age limit will be increased until it is illegal for the entire nation.

'We want to make sure young people never start smoking so we will make it an offence to sell or supply smoked tobacco products to new cohorts of youth,' associate health minister Ayesha Verrall said on Thursday.

However, the new law will not impact vaping, with Dr Verrall saying tobacco smoking is more harmful and remains a leading cause of preventable deaths in New Zealand, killing up to 5,000 people each year.

The measures will make New Zealand's retail tobacco industry one of the most restricted in the world, just behind Bhutan where cigarette sales are banned outright.

Official in New Zealand, where packets of 20 Marlboro cigarettes cost around NZ$33 (17), have not said how they plan to police the ban, nor which retailers would be barred from selling tobacco products. More detail is expected to be provided when legislation is brought before parliament next year.

At the moment, tobacco retailers face fines of between NZ$500 and NZ$1,000 for selling cigarettes to minors.

Although many experts have welcomed the move, others have warned that it could cause a 'gradual prohibition' and create a black market for tobacco, prompting a crime wave.

Meanwhile, one ACT politician slammed the Government for trying to 'engineer' people to change their behaviour, while also warning that 'nanny state prohibition' never works to curb a problem.

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New Zealand is banning youngsters from ever being allowed to buy cigarettes under a rolling bid to make the entire country smoke-free by 2025 (stock image

In theory, the age limit means that 65 years after the law takes effect, shoppers will only be able to buy cigarettes if they can prove they are at least 80 years old.

But in practice, officials hope smoking will fade away decades before then as the plan sets a goal of having fewer than 5 per cent of New Zealanders smoking by 2025.

Under the new NZ restrictions, Dr Verrall said: 'People aged 14 when the law comes into effect will never be able to legally purchase tobacco.

'We are also reducing the appeal, addictiveness and availability of smoked tobacco products.

'New laws will mean only smoked tobacco products containing very low-levels of nicotine can be sold, with a significant reduction in the number of shops who can sell them.'

The new approach, which has not been tried elsewhere, will not come into effect immediately to allow retailers to transition away from relying on cigarette sales, said Dr Verrall, who is spearheading the plan.

Other gradual changes under the plan include only allowing the sale of tobacco products with very low nicotine levels and slashing the number of stores that can sell them.

The current minimum age to buy cigarettes in New Zealand is 18, with only about 11 per cent of adults currently smoking in the country, while just 9 per cent smoke every day.

The daily rate among Indigenous Maori remains much higher at 22 per cent. Under the government's plan, a taskforce would be created to help reduce smoking among Maori.

Research found the Maori population would not hit the target until 2061 without the radical steps now being taken.

Just 500 shops nationwide will be allowed to sell cigarettes once the new legislation is implemented, and will need to apply for a licence similar to a bottle shop's licence to sell alcohol.

The national target is to have just five per cent or less of the New Zealand population still smoking by 2025.

NEW ZEALAND'S RADICAL PLAN TO COMBAT SMOKING Under the new proposals, young people aged under 14 will never be allowed to buy cigarettes in New Zealand. Each year that age limit will increase, expanding the percentage of the population who will never legally be allowed to smoke. The minimum age to buy cigarettes in New Zealand remains 18 for the moment. The government is also restricting the number of shops allowed to sell cigarettes. Each year an additional age group will be added to the ban list until it's illegal for the entire nation under NZ Prime Minister Jacinda Adern's radical plan (pictured) Just 500 nationwide will be issued with a licence, similar to a bottle shop's licence to sell alcohol. The nicotine strength in cigarettes is also being reduced in a bid to tackle their addictiveness. Cigarettes prices have gone up 10 per cent every year between 2011 and 2020 but that alone was not stopping smokers. Eventually - with existing smokers dying - health officials hope to see the entire country smoke-free. Advertisement

As part of the strategy, cigarette prices have increased by 10 per cent every year for the 10 years between 2011 and 2020, but no further tax hikes are now proposed.

The price hike has seen the creation of a black market for cigarettes and there has also been a spike in crime with groups targeting stores selling cigarettes.

A packet of 20 Marlboro cigarettes in New Zealand now costs around NZ$33 but that strategy alone was failing to have the impact needed to hit the 2025 target.

Although some have questioned why further tax increases are not being imposed instead, Dr Verrall insisted they do not believe hiking prices any higher will make any more of a difference.

She said: 'It's really hard to quit and we feel if we did that, we'd be punishing those people who are addicted to cigarettes even more.'

Dr Verrall added that the tax measures tend to place a higher burden on lower-income people, who are more likely to smoke.

The new law will not impact vaping, with Dr Verrall saying tobacco smoking is more harmful and remains a leading cause of preventable deaths in New Zealand, killing up to 5,000 people each year.

'We think vaping's a really appropriate quit tool,' she said, but added that she is looking 'really closely' at evidence of s rise in youth vaping.

The sale of vaping products is already restricted to those aged 18 and over in New Zealand and vaping is banned in schools.

Dr Verrall said studies have shown youth sales decrease when minimum ages are raised. In the US, the federal minimum age to buy tobacco products was raised from 18 to 21 two years ago.

Although public health experts have generally welcomed the plan, some experts argued that the strict rules could create a black market for tobacco and prompt a crime wave.

Karen Chhour, ACT Social Development and Children spokesperson, warned that the 'nanny state prohibition' will cause a black market and slammed the Government for trying to 'engineer' people to change their behaviour.

She said: 'As a former smoker, I'm sick and tired of Labour trying to socially engineer us into changing our behaviour.

'No one wants to see young people smoke, but the reality is, some will. And Labour's nanny state prohibition is going to cause problems.

'Prohibition has never worked  in any time or place  and it always has unintended consequences.

'Eventually, we will end up with a black market for tobacco, with no standards or regulation, and people will be harmed.

'The best way to wean people off tobacco is to allow the market to innovate and deliver products like vaping. Sadly, Labour has cracked down on that, too. This is just bad policymaking.'

Elsewhere, British American Tobacco New Zealand said the measures were 'untested, unproven and without any scientific evidence of effectiveness'.

'The combined impacts are effectively a gradual prohibition, which simply pushes supply underground to the black market,' it said in a statement.

Acknowledging the risk of black markets, the Government's proposals said: 'Evidence indicates that the amount of tobacco products being smuggled into New Zealand has increased substantially in recent years and organised criminal groups are involved in large-scale smuggling.'

A packet of 20 Marlboro cigarettes in New Zealand now costs around NZ$33 but the price-hike strategy was failing to have the impact needed to hit the 2025 target (stock image)

Sunny Kaushal, who chairs the Dairy and Business Owners Group, which represents nearly 5,000 corner stores - often called diaries, said the tax increases on tobacco had already created a black market that was being exploited by gangs.

He said: 'There's going to be a crime wave. Gangs and criminals will fill the gap with ciggie houses alongside tinnie houses.'

Dr Varrall noted that customs will need 'more resource to enforce border control' under the new restrictions.

Kaushal also argued that smoking was already in its twilight in New Zealand and would die away of its own accord, without the need for a ban.

'We all want a smoke-free New Zealand,' he said. 'But this is going to hugely impact small businesses. It should not be done so it is destroying dairies, lives and families in the process. It's not the way.'

'This is being driven by academics,' he added, saying stakeholders hadn't been consulted.

But the New Zealand Medical Association said it was thrilled the next generation won't join the more than 80 per cent of smokers who wish they never started.

'The Smokefree generation policy will be a defining moment,' NZMA Chair Dr Alistair Humphrey said on Thursday.

'Cigarette smoking kills 14 New Zealanders every day and two out of three smokers will die as a result of smoking.

'This action plan offers some hope of realising our 2025 Smokefree goal.'

And lobby group Action on Smoking and Health hailed the government for challenging 'Big Tobacco'.

The age group plan is part of a wider strategy with strict limits on smoking and vaping areas, bans on tobacco advertising and sponsorships, and uniform packaging (stock image)

'This collection of complementary measures will be the envy of countries struggling to combat the death and misery caused by smoked tobacco,' ASH chairman Robert Beaglehole said.

'We will lead the world in tobacco control.'

Dr Verrall said she doesn't believe the Government is overreaching because statistics showed the vast majority of smokers wanted to quit anyway, and the new policies would only help them achieve their goal.

She said the pandemic helped people gain a new appreciation for the benefits of public health measures and rallying communities, calling for the same energy to tackle diseases like diabetes.

Dr Verrall described tobacco as a 'really cruel product', and said she had never smoked herself but her late grandmother did, and it likely compromised her health.

She also said her work at a public hospital in Wellington involved telling several smokers they had developed cancer.

'You meet, every day, someone facing the misery caused by tobacco,' Verrall said. 'The most horrible ways people die. Being short of breath, caused by tobacco.'

The age group plan is part of a wider strategy with strict limits on smoking and vaping areas, bans on tobacco advertising and sponsorships, and uniform packaging.

In 2012, Tasmania considered a similar ban to New Zealand's, with a proposal to outlaw cigarette sales to anyone born after 2000.

A parliamentary committee found there was no 'significant legal impediment' but the plan never became law.
The wife of a leading academic at the centre of a free speech row has revealed students called her a 'b***h' after they stormed out of a speech by Rod Liddle.

Dorothy Luckhurst told how the 'baying' mob intimidated her and rounded on her husband Professor Tim for organising the talk at Durham University.

It comes as undergraduates try to gag guest speakers performing on campus by calling for 'content warnings' on their lectures before they arrive.

They said Durham needed to clamp down on future speeches by bringing in transparency of the processes by which people are invited.

Professor Luckhurst had angered students by shouting 'pathetic' when they staged a walk-out during Mr Liddle's talk on Friday - although he later apologised.

Mr Liddle addressed trans issues, women's rights and institutional racism in the talk - topics that are often weaponised by 'woke' activists on campuses.

He yesterday called for university bosses to apology for 'vilifying' his speech and said they should reimburse his 150 travel expenses.

Meanwhile Professor Luckhurst is under investigation and is barred from duties following the furore. It is understood he is gagged while the case is live.

The university announced yesterday Professor Jane Macnaughton will lead the probe into 'the arrangements of the event' and 'look into some behaviours displayed'.

Footage emerged of the professor and his wife Dorothy talking to 'woke' students who stormed out of the speech on Friday night

Professor Luckhurst tried to calm the students who gawped at him as he educated them on free speech at universities

Seun Twins, Jack Ballingham, Jonah Graham, Declan Merrington and Charlie Procter claimed hosting one of the UK's best known writers (left) was an 'abuse of power'. Right: Prof Luckhurst

After the talk, footage emerged of Professor and Mrs Luckhurst talking to students in a bid to calm them down.

They appeared to be helping them understand universities are supposed to be bastions of free speech.

The youths stood with their mouths wide open as Professor Luckhurst spoke before his wife interrupted him.

She asked: 'What are you frightened of you silly... what are you frightened of?' One of the students squealed back: 'What do you mean?'

The rest of their exchange was inaudible but Mrs Luckhurst went on to repeat the word 'a***'.

Mrs Luckhurst last night explained the video left out the context of the chat in which the vicious students hurled insults at the couple.

She said the 'baying' mob called her a 'b***h' and left her intimidated and frightened as they swarmed around them.

She told the Times: 'I shouldn't have said what I did but it had been a long day and it was very tense.'

Yesterday Durham students called for 'content warnings' on all future speakers and said they wanted a say in who was allowed to address the university.

They also want an investigation 'based on his [Luckhurst's] neglect of duty of care to students... and his wife's bullying'.

Societies including 'mature students'; 'working class students'; 'LGBT+'; 'students with disabilities'; 'international students'; 'people of colour'; and 'womxn' - a word activists use for females which includes trans women signed the statement.

They laid out a list of 'demands', saying: 'Under Durham University's Disciplinary Regulations... we believe these actions constitute gross misconduct.'

They also demanded a 'formal investigation' into Professor Luckhurst's 'neglect of duty of care to students' and 'his verbal condemnation of students.'

The statement added: 'By platforming Rod Liddle, Tim Luckhurst is promoting a culture of harm and hate towards disabled, LGBTQ+, POC [people of colour], and working-class students being normalised...

'These actions have resulted in students feeling unsafe to attend formals at their college.'

A small group of Left-wing students staged a protest at South College calling for what they deem a 'safer, more inclusive' campus

Around 200 students gathered at Durham University yesterday afternoon to protest about the row that blew up following a speech by writer Rod Liddle at an end of year event

Yesterday the placard-waving students who want him out gathered at South College, where the speech, which included Liddle joking about sex workers, had been given

The activists gathered on a green with placards reading 'mansplain, manipulate, manwife' and 'we're queer, we're here'

A small number of student activists marched on South College yesterday in their latest attempt to get the professor sacked

A crowd of 'woke' students took to South College, which Professor Luckhurst is head of, to ramp up calls for the academic and former newspaper editor to be sacked.

The placard-waving protesters held signs saying 'human rights are not up for the debate' and '#BinTim' as guest speakers took turns to address the group.

Chants such as 'hey hey, ho ho, Tim Luckhurst has got to go' continued to murmur through the mob.

But they could not draw a distinction between sacking the academic and banning Mr Liddle from speaking - and bizarrely claimed they backed free speech.

Some at the rally even admitted they had not been at the talk, but still felt they needed their anger to be heard.

Connie Harrison, 18, said: 'It's important we are here to support our peers.

'I didn't actually attend the dinner but my friends did and left early because they were just appalled by what was said in the speech.

'A few of them tried to speak to Tim at the end but he was not open to them. The only way I think they could have responded was by walking out.'

She added: 'They weren't allowed to debate, it just wasn't the right time for that conversation.

'Rod Liddle is entitled to his own free speech but not in that environment, not in that context. The students should be allowed to debate it and say their opinions too.'

The youngsters carried flags and banners with messages such as 'sod Rod', 'proud to be pathetic' and 'no hate'

The 'woke' mob had ramped up its campaign to oust Professor Luckhurst last night as seven societies accused him of 'gross misconduct'

A speaker talks to Durham University students as they stage a protest at South College yesterday

They claimed he promoted 'a culture of harm and hate' by inviting Mr Liddle to give his speech

Ben Bradley, also 18, continued: 'It was thrust upon the students without any prior warning.

'I don't think it was the time and place to be having that conversation, particularly with something as controversial as that.

'I believe in free speech but I whole heartedly disagree with what happened in that room.'

Another peer who claimed she did go to the dinner said around half upped and left with the other half remaining seated.

The female student, who did not want to be named, said: 'He made comments about single mothers and that their children should be taken away from them.

'He made comments about trans people, notably saying if you are born with a penis then you are scientifically a man which is scientifically wrong.

'He said that colonisation wasn't the force of Africa's problems and also made comments on prostitution.'

As she spoke another chant rang out, declaring: 'When my rights are under attack, what do we do? Fight back.'

The groups claimed the incident, at a formal dinner on Friday, made them feel 'unsafe' and 'distressed'

They claimed it breached the Equality Act and demanded 'disciplinary regulations' be brought to bear on the professor - who has been gagged from commenting

Durham University students stand with their banners as they stage a protest at South College yesterday

Newspaper editor turned professor: Who is Tim Luckhurst? Professor Tim Luckhurst is a former national newspaper editor who turned to academia and rose up the ranks at Kent and Durham Universities. He started as a reporter on the Today programme on BBC Radio 4 in the 1980s and early 90s. But from 1995 to 1997 he took a plumb job as the editor of news programmes at BBC Scotland. The top journalist won two Sony Radio Academy Awards for news broadcasting and particularly excelled in foreign coverage. After his stint at the Beeb, Luckhurst moved to the Scotsman and edited the newspaper before turning to academia. The 58-year-old from 2007 to November 2019 was Professor of Journalism Kent University. He also served as Director of KM Television Ltd - which he helped set up - between 2016 and 2019. In November 2019 he moved up to Durham to be head of South College, and associate pro vice-chancellor (engagement).

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French and Spanish student Yasmine Daniel, 18, said: 'He opened the speech with a joke which was 'I'm disappointed to see no sex workers here tonight'.

'That set the tone for the speech and it kind of got worse from there. By the end a lot had walked out but a lot of people were petrified to leave.

'About eight people walked out on the first table but they got a shocking response from the principal, who called them pathetic.

'Free speech does not equal hate speech - which is was what happened.' One man, who wanted to remain anonymous, called for Professor Luckhurst to step down.

He said: 'I think his place here is now wholly inappropriate because he has let down students so much.

'The comments Liddle made about people raised by single mothers turning to crime is unfounded.

'He is absolutely entitled to free speech but free speech doesn't include the right to hate speech.

'And also free speech doesn't give you the right to free speech anywhere. It was not an appropriate setting to have that conversation and it wasn't appropriate to have it without warning.'

It is understood guest speakers earlier attended a pre-dinner seminar, where they were able to listen and debate ideas with students.

But a student claimed Mr Liddle was unable to attend the seminar slot, and so could only speak at the dinner.

Junior Common Room president, Sean Hannigan cried out to the crowd: 'We were jumped with a speaker who we did not expect to be speaking.

'There was no chance to respond. We know these issues were deliberately inflammatory and it was not exactly the right way to raise any of these.

'I have heard from a lot of other people that they have been organising a rent strike, so this is exactly the momentum we need to get going.

'The only way that the university will listen is if it hits them financially. This country belongs to us, gay people and black people and every person who lives here.'

Echoing a slogan of ex-Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, he added: 'We need to stand up for this country and its rights and build a new country for the many not the few.'

It comes after Mr Liddle slammed Durham University for its 'despicable' treatment of Professor Luckhurst.

He also said in his article in the Sun today teenagers had got in touch and said they would not dream of applying for the institution now.

What did Rod Liddle say in his speech at the University of Durham? Rod Liddle's speech at the University of Durham has not been reported in full, but the contents of the speech have been reported by the university's student newspaper, the Palatinate. According to the newspaper, Liddle opened his Friday speech saying he was disappointed not to see any sex workers at the event. This was in reference to recent controversy surrounding safety training provided by Durham University to student sex workers. Liddle then claimed that the left was going against 'science or pure facts,' saying 'a person with an X and a Y chromosome, that has a long, dangling penis, is scientifically a man, and that is pretty much, scientifically, the end of the story', according to the paper. He continued, on a different topic, saying: 'It is fairly easily proven that colonialism is not remotely the major cause of Africa's problems, just as it is very easy to prove that the educational underachievement of British people of Caribbean descent or African Americans is nothing to do with institutional or structural racism'. Liddle also opined about the UK's forced adoption policy between 1945 and 1975. He said that attitudes now put woman, not children, first, adding that anger about the policy did not take into account the child's mental health and economic situation enough. He closed his speech with a message to the event's attendees about the importance of listening to, and doubting other people's opinions. The Palatinate reported that a dozen students walked out before the speech began, and several more during it. At the end, a very small number are reported to have applauded the speaker, and while it is protocol to rise for the high table as it leaves, nearly all students remaining in the hall stayed seated. Some shouted 'disgusting' and 'racist' at Liddle as he left the room. Advertisement

The columnist said the institution should issue a 'grovelling apology' to him and 'reinstate him immediately to all his duties'.

He also called for bosses to say sorry to him for 'vilifying' his speech and said they should reimburse his 150 travel expenses.

Mr Liddle leapt to his friend's aid yesterday, blasting Durham for 'scapegoating' the academic, who is the head of the newly established South College.

He said he expected that sort of behaviour from the students but was surprised by the universty's response.

He told GB News: 'Let's start with what Durham University should do. They've behaved despicably, far worse than the students have behaved.

'I expected that from the students, I expected that from some of them. What you don't expect is the kind of double think which Durham University has indulged in.

'Firstly by saying that they agree with freedom of speech, then by saying except if it's something we don't agree with, which the Labour Party on campus doesn't agree with, then they don't agree with it.

'Then most importantly of all you might argue, scapegoating poor Tim Luckhurst who asked me to come along in good faith having cleared it with the university authorities having told them what was happening in advance.

'They have now decided because they've got to appease these jabbering infants they've decided they've got to do something and so a hugely distinguished, reputable and incredibly competent journalist and professor is left hanging out to dry.

'And so what they should do now, immediately, is number one, decide whether they believe in free speech or not.

'Number two, write a grovelling apology to Professor Luckhurst, reinstating him immediately to all his duties, and call off this fatuous investigation...

'And accept that he invited me here in good faith.

'And thirdly, what they should do after that is write me a letter of apology and explain to me they were wrong to have vilified me in their comments about this whole affair and they might be better off in future rather than teaching extra courses to their students in how to become prostitutes, a course in good manners might not come amiss.

'And they can also forward me 150 quid for my travel expenses because I came there free of charge with a wish to do the right thing to give something to public service, all that palaver.'

He added: 'So they can apologise and reimburse my travel expenses and after that, I'll be happy.'

Mr Liddle leapt to his friend's aid yesterday, blasting Durham for 'scapegoating' the academic, who is the head of the newly-established South College

A friend of the professor said: 'Tim is one of the most decent, kindly and intelligent people I've ever had the pleasure of meeting. He's really being victimised here.'

The Free Speech Union said: 'The vilification and abuse of Professor Luckhurst for inviting Rod Liddle to give an after-dinner speech is an absolute disgrace.

'If students cannot cope with hearing opinions they find disagreeable they shouldn't be at university.

'Durham says it believes in upholding academic free speech, but if so why has it placed Professor Luckhurst under investigation for describing the decision of students to walk out of the speech as 'pathetic'?

'In expressing that perfectly lawful view, Professor Luckhurst was exercising his right to free speech and penalising him for doing so could well be a breach of the law that requires universities to uphold free speech on campus.

'Professor Luckhurst is a member of the Free Speech Union and we are supporting him in full.'

Durham students' union (SU) called for the professor to be sacked, calling his position 'untenable'.

Seun Twins, Jack Ballingham, Jonah Graham, Declan Merrington and Charlie Procter claimed hosting one of the UK's best known writers was an 'abuse of power'.

Ms Twins has previously written of her hatred of the Tories, calling for them to be 'dealt with'.

Durham Students' Union (pictured, two of its five officers) has been blasted for demanding a leading academic resign after he invited journalist Rod Liddle to talk at a dinner party

The Free Speech Union slammed the five officers (pictured, two of them) who penned a rambling statement in a bid to oust South College principal Professor Tim Luckhurst

Seun Twins, Jack Ballingham, Jonah Graham, Declan Merrington and Charlie Procter (pictured) claimed hosting one of the UK's best known writers was an 'abuse of power'

They wrote: 'The Principal of South College has insulted and humiliated the student members of the College.

'Tim Luckhurst, the former editor of a national newspaper, knew exactly what he was doing when he hijacked a Christmas party and allowed his personal friend to spout vile propaganda he knew would cause division.

'His shameful attempt to excuse this pantomime by pretending it was for the benefit of students' education is disgraceful.

'He has failed in his duty of care as Principal to South College students, and as a leader in our University community.'

During his appearance, Mr Liddle said the Left were ignoring science when it came to trans issues and said Colonialism was not the main cause of Africa's problems.

He also said the under-performance of pupils of Caribbean descent was not mainly due to institutional racism.

Later, he told the Daily Mail these are mainstream views held by many academics and government experts.

He added: 'I'm not racist and I'm not transphobic. I want a world where transgender people can live in happiness, dignity and equality. I loathe racism.'

He added the main point of his talk was to 'have tolerance of other opinions and doubt in our own opinions'.

Professor Luckhurst later emailed students to apologise for using the word 'pathetic' but defended his right to invite Liddle and said he was in favour of 'free speech'.

But the university announced an investigation, saying it was 'concerned at reports the behaviours exhibited at the occasion fall short of those that we expect.'

The university has refused to comment further. Professor Luckhurst has not been allowed to comment.

Revealed: Tory-hating ex-head girl behind Durham University protests launched 'culture commission' to 'deconstruct toxicity' on campus

Seun Twins was behind campaign to oust Durham Uni Professor Tim Luckhurst

Came after he branded walkout in Rod Liddle speech by woke students 'pathetic'

Twins has launched a 'culture commission' to 'locate and deconstruct toxicity' at her university

She has previously hailed ex-Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn as 'the white king'

The left-wing student leader behind a campaign to oust Professor Tim Luckhurst described Jeremy Corbyn as 'the white king' and suggested Tories should be 'dealt with'.

Seun Twins has said the union's objective is 'unravelling the unfair power dynamics which permeate into a culture of privilege' at the university.

She has launched a 'culture commission' to 'explore and locate and ultimately deconstruct toxicity at Durham'.

Seun Twins, the left-wing student leader behind a campaign to oust a Durham University lecturer, has previously described Jeremy Corbyn as 'the white king' and suggested Tories should be 'dealt with'

After she was elected, Miss Twins called for Tories to be 'dealt with' by 'roadmen' in a leaked post from her private Instagram account.

Roadman is a slang term defined as a young person who spends 'a lot of time on the streets in a group, and who may be involved in selling drugs', according to Collins dictionary.

She wrote: 'I don't condone violence in the slightest, but sometimes when you are in the presence of such grotesque entitlement, do you ever just want to say 'We need to take these tories to South London and let roadmen deal with them' but you realise that you have to be the palatable and charismatic black girl since you are going to be their president for the next year and you must to smile and wave.' [sic]

Miss Twins has said the union's objective is 'unravelling the unfair power dynamics which permeate into a culture of privilege' at the university. It comes after Professor Tim Luckhurst (pictured), principal of Durham's South College, branded a walkout by woke students 'pathetic' and is now facing investigation

The students staged a walkout during a speech by right-wing journalist Rod Liddle (pictured)

She later insisted the post was in response to a specific incident of bullying and was an expression of the way she felt she had to present herself 'because of racism and sexism'.

Now in her second year as Durham Students' Union president, Miss Twins has made no secret of where her political affiliations lie.

She has previously hailed former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn as 'the white king'.

Miss Twins, a former head girl at Camden School for Girls, a comprehensive in North London, became student union president after taking senior roles in the Durham People Of Colour Association and the Intersectional Feminism Society.
A former Tory councillor on trial in France for killing his wife by running her over with his Mercedes has denied manslaughter, telling a court he didn't see her in the driveway and only realised what had happened afterwards.

David Turtle, 67, appeared in before magistrates in Cahors, southwest France, on Wednesday charged with aggravated manslaughter over the death of wife Stephanie at their home in Prayssac in March 2017.

Prosecutors alleged that 50-year-old Stephanie had laid down in front of Turtle's car to stop him leaving after an argument which began over what TV programme to watch, and that he had knowingly run over her.

She suffered fatal injuries including multiple rib fractures, a broken collarbone, broken shoulder bone, lesions in her lungs, abdominal trauma and a fractured pelvis.

But Turtle denied the allegations, saying he intended to go for a drive after the argument and was unaware that his wife was in front of his two-and-a-half ton Mercedes E-class when he pulled away.

'I loved my wife,' he told the court. 'What happened has broken my heart.'

David Turtle, 67 (right), has appeared in court in southwestern France accused of aggravated manslaughter of wife Stephanie, 50 (left), who was run over and killed at their home

Turtle told the court how he had joined the RAF after school and worked in a shoe shop for 20 years before becoming a car dealer for Peugeot and Mercedes.

He met newly-divorced Stephanie in 1996 on a holiday in Turkey for single people when he was aged 40 and the pair had been 'drawn to each-other', he said.

They married shortly afterwards, in 2000, and had settled down near Bournemouth where Turtle became a councillor for the Kinson North ward and Stephanie had worked in Dorset council's human resources department.

'Stephanie was the love of my life, it took 40 years to find her,' he said.

But Stephanie harboured dreams of opening a B&B in France and in 2016 they moved after discovering the 'perfect' property, despite it needing 'a lot of work'.

Turtle told the court that he had been 'sad' to leave his life behind, but that his wife's dreams were more important to him.

Recounting the night of Stephanie's death, Turtle told the court that the couple began fighting over what TV programme to watch before she went to bed.

He said she came down later in the evening and, to avoid the argument restarting, he had decided to go out for a drive.

Turtle said he heard Stephanie follow him out of the house but hadn't seen her when he started the engine and drove a few metres.

He then stopped the car and climbed out, and it was only afterwards that he saw her trapped underneath and realised what had happened.

But prosecutors say the argument had restarted and was in full swing by the time Turtle went to leave the house.

They argue that Stephanie either laid down in front of the vehicle in an attempt to stop him leaving and that he had knowingly driven over her, or that she had been knocked unconscious in the row and he had placed her in front of the car.

Major Alain Chauvin, a now-retired police officer who led the investigation, told the magistrates that none of the witnesses his officers questioned believed the death was accidental.

He said there was no way that Stephanie could have got in front of the 37,000 Mercedes without Turtle seeing.

Prosecutors accuse Turtle (right) of deliberately running over Stephanie (left) after an argument, but he says it was an accident and he didn't know his wife was in the driveway

But defence lawyers hit back, saying there was no hard evidence that the death was either the result of an accident or willful act.

A court psychologist assessed Turtle to be of 'normal intelligence' with an 'obsessional' psychiatric profile, but otherwise an 'educated and responsible man'.

Turtle faces up to 30 years in prison if found guilty. The trial continues.

In previous accounts given to police, Turtle said the saga began on the evening of March 29, 2017, when the couple got into an argument after dinner.

He said the row was resolved when his wife went to bed, but later resumed when Stephanie came down from the bedroom after midnight to use the toilet.

The former councillor said he wanted to go for a late night drive to calm down, but 'had a feeling' he needed to stop as he pulled out.

He got out of the car to find Stephanie trapped under one of the Mercedes' wheels with two tonnes of metal pressing down into her ribcage, and claimed he had no idea that the car had hit her.

Prosecutors argue that Stephanie's death was not the result of an accident.

During questioning, the investigating judge, Cybele Ordoqui, said it was unlikely that a woman would put on a bra and get fully dressed before heading downstairs to use the toilet in the middle of the night.

Stephanie was found by police wearing a jacket, two t-shirts and a bra.

Forensic experts also alleged that Mr Turtle would have had to 'significantly engage the accelerator pedal' in order to run down and crush his wife, and tyre marks in the gravel driveway of the B&B suggested the car set off very quickly.

'[Mr Turtle] cannot answer the question why he did not see or hear his wife and has never been able to answer it,' his indictment said.

In the days following Stephanie's death, the police also discovered a blog she maintained online about the couple's journey abroad and their new life in France.

The home of Stephanie and David Turtle in the Prayssac region of France is pictured with the Mercedes E-class, which ultimately crushed Stephanie to death, on the gravel driveway

Mrs Turtle, who was aged 50 at the time of her death, wrote on her blog: 'I have come to question if I might have slipped from the number one spot of Mr T's affections  [Our] new Mercedes Benz E-class estate is clearly Mr T's pride and joy.'

Detectives said Mrs Turtle wrote that her husband 'put possibly as much effort' into buying the Mercedes 'as into the purchase of our new home'.

Referring to the car as 'she', Mrs Turtle listed 'a few examples of why I might be feeling a little put out', including: 'She has had more attention lavished on her than most anything else since we arrived in France, with weekly cleans and touches up in between

'She is mollycoddled. For example, she can't be parked within 20 feet of any painting activity. When leaving home, a physical check for traffic in our quiet country lane is required  I have to actually get out of the car.

'We approach junctions with the utmost caution, both of us straining our necks to check for oncoming traffic and chanting 'all clear my way'. No eating or drinking is allowed in the car lest we get greasy or sticky marks on her leather interior. The list goes on '

The blog was posted in September 2016, two months after the couple moved to Prayssac, with the intention of turning La Maison Cedre  The Cedar House  into a bed and breakfast.
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What are the new Covid rules in England? WFH The return of work from home guidance. People will be told to work from home in England from Monday if they are able to. Face masks Face masks will be made compulsory in most public indoor venues including in cinemas and theatres from this Friday. They will not be required in pubs, restaurants and gyms. Vaccine passports The NHS Covid pass will be compulsory to gain access to nightclubs and other large venues where large crowds gather. This will apply to all unseated indoor venues with more than 500 people, unseated outdoor venues with more than 4,000 people and any venue with more than 10,000 people. Two vaccine doses will be treated as fully-vaccinated but this will be kept under review because of the booster programme. A negative lateral flow test will also be sufficient. This requirement will be rolled out in one week's time to give businesses time to prepare. Contact testing Contacts of Omicron cases will be told to take daily coronavirus tests instead of having to self-isolate. They will have to quarantine if they test positive. Advertisement

SAGE scientists today hinted that tougher coronavirus restrictions could be in the pipeline as they warned the Government's 'Plan B' does not go far enough to stop Omicron.

Boris Johnson activated his Covid contingency plan last night in response to fears the highly-mutated strain may cause a million infections by New Year and trigger 1,000 daily NHS admissions if left to spread unchecked.

The Prime Minister faced fury from Tory MPs over the anti-Omicron measures, which were described as 'non-sensical'.

Millions of office staff will be urged to work from home from Monday, while masks will be required in theatres and cinemas, and Covid passports are being introduced for nightclubs and large venues. But the PM stressed that office Christmas parties should go ahead, sparking derision from critics.

Professor Andrew Hayward, a member of No10's top scientific advisory group, warned the UK could 'need much more severe restrictions'. While Plan B will 'slow the spread' of the super-strain, the University College London epidemiologist argued the measures are 'not going to turn around' the looming wave of cases and hospitalisations.

Sajid Javid today claimed that the sudden shift to Plan B was 'proportionate' and would 'buy time' to allow the NHS to dish out millions more booster jabs.

But the Health Secretary also dangled the threat of even tougher orders being rolled out in the coming weeks, admitting that ministers will keep the current policies under constant review.

It means Britons could still be stung by last-minute Christmas curbs again after millions were deprived from seeing their loved ones last year when the Alpha variant took off.

SAGE modeller Dr Mike Tildesley hinted at a watered down Christmas this year, claiming that it was 'very important' to allow people to be together this year  but in a 'safe way'.

Mr Johnson has already hinted that Covid jabs could eventually be compulsory, telling last night's Downing Street conference that a 'national conversation' on the matter is likely to be needed in the future. And while vaccine passports have only been imposed on large scale events at the moment, Mr Johnson suggested they could be rolled out more widely in society.

The Government is already being lobbied by independent scientists to go harder, with Independent SAGE, a 'zero Covid' group of experts, telling ministers to 'bring in more measures right now... then we may be able to avoid a lockdown'.

Yesterday Professor Neil Ferguson, one of SAGE's top modellers, warned a full-blown lockdown might be needed to protect the NHS from Omicron.

Professor Andrew Hayward, a member of No10's Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE), has warned that even the new raft of measures are 'not going to turn it around'. SAGE modeller Dr Mike Tildesley hinted at a watered down Christmas this year, claiming that it was 'very important' to allow families to be together this year  but in a 'safe way'

Infections of the highly evolved variant are doubling every two or three days. The above graph shows how the number of daily cases of Omicron could breach the 100,000 barrier before New Year's Day, if that pace continues

Britain wakes up to Plan B: PM faces mass Tory revolt over 'work from home but go to Christmas parties' message Boris Johnson is struggling to contain a Tory revolt today amid fury at 'non-sensical' new Covid restrictions and his handling of the No10 Christmas party debacle. The PM dramatically triggered 'Plan B' measures to control the rampant Omicron strain at a press conference last night, with fears that infections are now doubling every few days and the NHS could be crippled. Millions of office staff will be urged to work from home from Monday, while masks will be required in theatres and cinemas, and Covid passports are being introduced for nightclubs and large venues. But Mr Johnson stressed that office Christmas parties should go ahead, sparking derision from critics. Desperate businesses have complained that the differing restrictions for venues 'don't make any sense'. Dozens of Conservative MPs are now threatening to rebel against the measures when a Commons vote is held next week - although support from Labour means they will still pass. Backbencher Marcus Fysh said today that the latest curbs are an 'utter disgrace', while former chief whip Mark Harper has questioned whether the government has the moral authority to impose the limits given the row over rules being flouted in Downing Street. There was a further setback when the NHS Covid pass website crashed for several hours last night. In signs of Cabinet tensions, Sajid Javid this morning dismissed a hint from the PM that mandatory vaccination might be looked at in future, saying that would be 'ethically wrong'. And the Health Secretary revealed that he refused to continue with a scheduled round of broadcast interviews yesterday because he was 'upset' by the bombshell video of No10 aides giggling about an alleged lockdown-busting festive gathering last year. Advertisement

In minutes from SAGE's emergency meeting on Wednesday, the group said it expected Omicron to become the dominant strain 'in a few weeks' and trigger a wave of hospitalisations that could rival previous peaks.

The scientists warned that there will be 1,000 admissions per day by the end of this month in England alone and 'still increasing at that point', with 'several times' that number expected at the highest point.

Not a single one of the UK's 568 confirmed Omicron cases is thought to have been hospitalised with the virus but it takes several weeks to fall seriously unwell.

SAGE warned: 'The overall scale of any wave of hospitalisations without interventions is highly uncertain, but the peak could reach several times this level.'

The group said Omicron appears to make vaccines and prior infection 'significantly' weaker at stopping transmission, based on South Africa's trajectory and preliminary data within the UK.

While scientists won't know its true evasive abilities for several weeks, SAGE warned that even a small reduction in efficacy could trigger high waves of admissions.

SAGE's Professor Hayward, an epidemiologist at University College London, told Sky News today that the 'virus is moving very fast so it's important that we react to that fast'.

He said a doubling time of every two to three days was 'very fast' and 'you'll get a very large peak'.

'And it's a bit like if you think of a month's worth of rain falling in a few days, that leads to flooding and it's a similar type of scenario we can reduce that by reducing social mixing and allow time to slow the virus down and get vaccine into more people's arms.'

He said Plan B measures will 'slow the spread' but 'it's not going to turn it around', adding: 'I think you would need much more severe restrictions to turn it around, but I think what the encouraging thing is that we've started to see, through some of the laboratory data, is sort of that third dose of vaccine is really providing much better immunity, whereas just with the two doses, it's not really so good.

'So this idea of slowing it down more social distancing, not going to work if you don't have to, not going on public transport to go to work when you don't have to, will make a difference.

'I think it's very difficult to predict whether that's going to be enough but I think it's an essential first move.'

SAGE accepted that there is some evidence Omicron is weaker than Delta, with ICU rates about 60 per cent lower in South African now compared to at the same point in the Delta wave, and ventilator rates down 70 per cent.

But Professor Hayward added that even if the severity of Omicron compared to Delta 'was reduced to a moderate or to even quite a large extent, if you've got many-fold more cases at one time than you would have done, that's when you're going to get this flood of cases in the NHS and the NHS doesn't have a huge amount of capacity'.

He added: 'For example, if we compare ourselves to Germany, we've got less than half the amount of hospital beds so we haven't got that much to play with.'

Dr Tildesley, a member of the Scientific Pandemic Influenza Modelling group (Spi-M) within SAGE, could not be pinned down on whether Christmas parties should go ahead.

He told the Today programme: 'It's a really difficult one because I do think we do need to be responsible, of course.

In signs of Cabinet tensions, Sajid Javid (left) this morning dismissed a hint from the PM that mandatory vaccination might be looked at in future, saying that would be 'ethically wrong'. At a Downing Street press conference last night, the PM (right) declared that people should once again work from home where possible, as well as extending use of masks and introducing Covid passports for nightclubs

The public appeared to have already voted with their feet today as pictures showed London stations eerily quiet

Canada Water Tube station looked less busy than usual after the PM announced restrictions to combat the Omicron strain

King's College London scientists estimated that 83,658 people in the UK were catching the virus every day last week, up four per cent on the same time the week before

This slide was shown at a gloomy Downing Street press conference last night. It indicates the number of PCR tests where one of the three genes it tests for does not show up, an early sign of an Omicron infection. These are doubling every two to three days at present

Britain is currently recording around 50,000 cases a day and Professor Whitty warns the country could face a Delta wave on top of the Omicron variant

There are currently 757 daily hospital admissions across the UK and 680 in England (England shown above). SAGE members had previously suggested that 1,200 daily admissions would be the trigger point for more restrictions with Delta

Sajid Javid dismisses making Covid jabs compulsory in Britain and says it would be 'ethically wrong' after Boris hinted at the move Sajid Javid today said it would be 'ethically wrong' to make Covid vaccinations mandatory for everyone after Boris Johnson hinted the move could be considered in the future. Speaking to Sky News, the Health Secretary said: 'No, I've got no interest in mandatory vaccinations, apart from in high-risk settings in the NHS and social care, which we've already set out that we will legislate for. 'Other than that, if you talk about universal mandatory vaccination, I think ethically it is wrong but also, at a very practical level, it just wouldn't work. Getting vaccinated has to be a positive decision.' Asked whether more restrictions could be coming in January due to social mixing occurring over the Christmas period, he replied: 'I hope not. The action we've taken is very decisive, I think it is going to make a big difference.' Last night, Mr Johnson suggested jabs could eventually be made compulsory or Covid passes could be rolled out in wider society if a 'substantial proportion of the population' remains unvaccinated. The PM announced the Government is now triggering its Plan B to reimpose work from home guidance, make masks compulsory in more indoor settings and require people to show a Covid pass to go to nightclubs. The measures are being rolled out across England in a bid to slow the spread of the new Omicron variant of the disease. But Mr Johnson said a 'national conversation' is likely to be needed in the future on how the nation will live with the virus. He said he does not believe the Government can 'keep going indefinitely with non-pharmaceutical interventions' in a hint that jabs could be made compulsory or restrictions could be targeted at the unvaccinated. Advertisement

'We do need to be aware of the fact that this variant has not gone away, and so we have to take that into account. But of course we do need to think about people's mental health and wellbeing as well.

'We had a really, really tough year last year around Christmas, and I think it's actually very important that we allow people to be together but to be together in a safe way.'

The Government has claimed Christmas parties should go ahead but many businesses have already pre-empted official advice and cancelled.

Dr Zubaida Haque, a member of Independent SAGE, accused ministers of mixed messaging after telling people to work from home but encouraging festive work nights out.

The move to Plan B was described as 'too little, too late' by Professor Tim Spector, the lead scientist on the ZOE symptom tracking study.

He said: 'Im pleased the government has finally taken some action and implemented Plan B. We called for this back in September, but as usual, its too little too late, and many will suffer hardships this Christmas as a result.

'Unless we see major behavioural change as a result, I expect that COVID rates will climb higher than ever in 2022. ZOE has now introduced a new feature into the app that allows people to share their Omicron experiences and symptoms, so we will be analysing the data in the coming weeks.'

Meanwhile, the Health Secretary said the shift to the coronavirus Plan B is an attempt to 'buy time' to avoid the threat of a million Omicron infections by the end of the year.

The Health Secretary defended the sudden shift in the Government's approach to tackling the virus in England, with an extension of mask-wearing from Friday, a return to working from home on Monday and mandatory Covid passports for large venues from Wednesday.

Mr Javid acknowledged the decisions will have a 'real impact on our liberties' but insisted that taking action now is the only way to avoid having to impose tougher measures later.

He faced a barrage of Tory criticism when he announced the measures in the Commons at the same time as Boris Johnson addressed the nation on Wednesday.

Conservative anger has been fuelled by suspicions the new measures were introduced as an attempt to distract from the Prime Minister's troubles over an alleged staff party in Downing Street during last December's lockdown.

Mr Javid insisted the measures are necessary to 'build our collective defences' through the vaccination programme in the face of the rapidly-spreading Omicron.

With a doubling rate of two-and-a-half to three days, Mr Javid told Sky News: 'It would mean, at that rate, by the end of this month we could hit about one million infections in the community throughout the UK.

'We've always been clear that should the data change and should it move in the wrong direction and it looked like the NHS might come under unsustainable pressure - remember what that would mean, we wouldn't be able to get the emergency care not just for Covid but for a car accident, or anything like that - we would act and implement Plan B.

'I don't enjoy doing that, no-one does - it is a very difficult thing for many people, asking them to work from home or wearing face masks and things, it is a real impact on our liberties.

'But I hope that people will understand that by taking decisive action now, we can potentially avoid action later.'

Number of Britons falling ill with Covid rises by just 4% in a week, symptom-tracking app claims UK Covid infections grew by just four per cent last week, the country's biggest symptom-tracking study claimed today despite warnings Omicron is quickly outstripping Delta. King's College London scientists estimated 83,658 people caught the virus on average each day in the week to December 4, up from 80,483 the seven days prior. Cases are stagnant or falling in all over-55s thanks to the booster rollout but are rising in all younger age groups, especially children who make up about 30,000 daily cases alone. Broken down within the UK, London, the South East and Wales saw cases rise. Professor Tim Spector, who leads the ZOE symptom study, said that while it was too early to see Omicron in the data, he warned the NHS could be overwhelmed if cases of the super-strain begin to skyrocket as predicted. He said: 'The higher rate of transmission even in the vaccinated could have devastating consequences, and hundreds of people continue to die every week as we head into our second Christmas of this pandemic.' Professor Spector, who has been calling for more restrictions since September, welcomed Boris Johnson's Plan B announcement last night but feared it is 'too little, too late'. From next week, people in England will be advised to work from home, wear face masks in cinemas and theatres, and use vaccine passports for large events. SAGE, the Government's scientific advisory group, has warned that there could have been a million Omicron cases and 1,000 daily hospital admissions by the end of the year without Plan B. Advertisement

The new regulations will be put to a debate and vote in the Commons next week and with Labour's support they are certain to be approved, despite the prospect of a large Conservative revolt.

Unease about the measures on the Tory benches will have been amplified by a series of hostile front pages on usually supportive newspapers - The Sun mocked up the Prime Minister as The Grinch, the Daily Mail contrasted the announcement of Plan B with the Downing Street Christmas party, saying 'One rule for them, new rules for the rest of us'.

The Daily Telegraph, which former aide Dominic Cummings claims Mr Johnson still regards as his 'real boss', carried the headline 'Don't go to work, but do go to parties' - a reference to the Prime Minister's suggestion that festive bashes should still go ahead this year despite the call to stay away from offices.

In a sign of the anger on the Tory benches, MP Marcus Fysh described plans to bring in Covid health certificates as 'really draconian' and an 'utter disgrace'.

He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that vaccine passports are 'a massive imposition on our liberties'.

He added: 'It's a disgrace that they're pursuing that, utter disgrace.'

He accused Government scientific advisers and England's chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty of having a 'history of over-egging the data and picking data points out that suit their narrative'.

The Plan B measures will be reviewed on January 5, before their expiry date of January 26.

Former minister Steve Baker, a prominent figure in the Covid Recovery Group of Conservatives, said it is 'vital' the 'maximum number of Conservative MPs vote against Plan B'.

Meanwhile, critics claimed the fallout from the events in Downing Street in 2020 have undermined the Government's message.

Mr Johnson's former spokeswoman Allegra Stratton quit after footage emerged of her joking about a Christmas party at a mock press conference days after the alleged event, while Cabinet Secretary Simon Case has launched an investigation into what happened on December 18, 2020 in Downing Street.

There have also been a series of further allegations about parties involving senior Tories and officials during the lockdown.

Former minister David Davis questioned 'how are you going to prosecute people who don't obey it given the four previous parties?'

He told ITV's Peston: 'I think the real issue is on the authority of the Government to enforce a, as it were, new lockdown because people look at this and say why should we? It's them and us again.'

Data on Wednesday showed there were 568 cases of Omicron confirmed in the UK, but the true figure is estimated to be 'probably closer to 10,000', Mr Javid said.

Professor Andrew Hayward, a member of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies from University College London, told Sky News the 'virus is moving very fast so it's important that we react to that fast'.

He added: 'It's a bit like if you think of a month's worth of rain falling in a few days, that leads to flooding and it's a similar type of scenario... we can reduce that by reducing social mixing and allow time to slow the virus down and get vaccine into more people's arms.'

How will 'Plan B' affect me? From mask rules to working from home and Covid passports... Q&A on the new rules and when they come into force at Britain battles rising Omicron infections

Work-from-home guidance will return, Covid health certificates are to become mandatory in large venues and mask rules will be extended to combat the Omicron variant as Boris Johnson announced a move to his Plan B to tackle coronavirus.

The Prime Minister warned it is clear the new strain is 'growing much faster' than Delta, and cases of Omicron could be doubling every two or three days .

As he strengthened England's rules, the PM said Christmas parties and nativities could go ahead, but urged 'due caution' for people to get booster jabs as he came under pressure over allegations of a rule-breaching festive bash in No 10 last year.

Mandatory mask wearing will be extended tomorrow to indoor public venues such as cinemas, theatres and places of worship but will not be required in pubs and restaurants, while guidance to work from home where possible returns on Monday.

The NHS Covid pass, which can be obtained by having two vaccines or a negative lateral flow test, will be introduced for entry into nightclubs and other large venues from December 15, as the PM set out his 'proportionate and responsible' measures.

But Mr Johnson was forced to insist the public understands the 'vital importance' of the measures as he faced questions over how they can accept his rules amid anger over allegations staff broke Covid rules in a party on December 18 last year.

Here, MailOnline looks at what the changes to the rules will mean for you:

VACCINE PASSPORTS

What are vaccine passports?

Mandatory vaccine passports will be introduced for all people aged 18 or over when visiting certain indoor or outdoor settings, which are set out below.

This means adults visiting the likes of nightclubs, large indoor events and large sports events will need this passport to gain access from December 15.

What if you are not fully vaccinated?

Proof of a negative lateral flow test will also be accepted after the Government said it had 'considered the evidence since the emergence of Omicron'.

Where will vaccine passports be required?

The policy will be focused on settings where crowds mix and come into close contact. The Government had previously said these would be expected to include:

all nightclubs and other venues open after 1am with alcohol, music and dancing;

indoor events with 500 or more attendees where those attendees are likely to stand and mix to a significant degree, or move around during the event, such as music venues or large receptions;

outdoor, crowded settings with 4,000 or more attendees where those attendees are likely to stand, or move around during the event, such as outdoor festivals;

any settings with 10,000 or more attendees, such as large sports and music stadia.

Why are vaccine passports being brought in?

The Government said vaccine passports could allow venues that have been closed for long periods since the pandemic began to remain open, and they are preferable to closing venues entirely or reimposing capacity caps or social distancing.

What settings would be exempt?

The Government previously said settings that would be exempt from the passport requirements would include communal worship, wedding ceremonies and funerals.

Exemptions are also expected to apply to free, unticketed outdoor events in public spaces, such as street parties, protests and mass participation sporting events.

What can you use as a vaccine passport?

The NHS Covid Pass is accessible via the NHS App and NHS.UK and letter via NHS.UK or by calling 119, and is already in use in some settings to check vaccination status.

The Government said hundreds of events and venues have already made voluntary use of the NHS Covid Pass, which currently displays an individual's Covid status on the basis of vaccine, test or natural immunity status.

Why are the new measures not coming in immediately?

The Government said introducing the certification from next Wednesday, December 15 will give businesses a week's notice to help them implement it.

WORKING FROM HOME

What is the new guidance be on working from home?

The Government says that from next Monday (December 13), 'those who can will be advised to work from home'.

When did the working from home guidance last change?

On July 19, the Government lifted guidance on working from home lifted, but also said employers should ensure a 'gradual' return to the workplace over the summer.

Why is the Government introducing this?

The Government said it wants to reduce the transmission risk inside and outside offices, including by reducing the number of people taking public transport.

It also wants cut down on the number of face to face meetings and social activities, and thereby reduce community and household transmission.

What risks has the Government identified relating to WFH?

The Government has pointed out that many people have inadequate working conditions at home, particularly younger workers, while those living alone or with poorer mental health could suffer due to reduced interactions with colleagues.

There are also concerns that working from home guidance poses challenges such as hampering the exchange of ideas, stifling creativity and hindering collaboration.

The Government says working from home could make it harder for some businesses to carry out client engagement, and to train new and existing staff.

FACE MASKS

What changes are happening to face mask rules?

The Government has now expanded the list of settings where face masks will be required.

It said that from tomorrow, face coverings 'will become compulsory in most public indoor venues, such as cinemas, theatres and places of worship'.

Face covering regulations will be laid in Parliament later today when the full list of settings should become clearer.

Will face mask rules be brought in for pubs and restaurants?

No. The Government said there will be exemptions in venues where it is not practical to wear a face mask, such as when you are eating, drinking or exercising.

For that reason, face masks will not be required in hospitality settings.



What were the previous recent changes to face mask rules?

From November 30, face masks were made compulsory on public transport and in shops, banks and hairdressers in England - but not in pubs and restaurants.

That date marked the first time that face mask restrictions had been brought in for those settings under law since the lockdown officially ended on July 19.

Between those two dates, face masks were mandatory on the Transport for London network but only under the conditions of carriage and not under law.

This meant that until that point it was not illegal to travel on a Tube without a mask - but you could have be asked to leave if you were not wearing one.

Officials said masks were not extended to hospitality on November 30 for practical reasons, because you cannot eat or drink while wearing a mask.

SELF-ISOLATING AND TESTING

Will you have to self-isolate if you are a contact of a confirmed Omicron case?

No. The Government has now said: 'We intend to introduce daily contact tests for contacts of confirmed positive cases instead of the ten-day self-isolation period.'

They said testing would be a 'vital tool' in controlling the spread of Omicron and there was 'now demonstrated community transmission' of the variant.

Should you do more testing?

Yes. The Government has advised that everyone should test using a lateral flow device, 'particularly before entering a high-risk setting involving people you wouldnt normally come into contact with, or when visiting a vulnerable person'.

Are the tests free?

Yes. Lateral flow devices remain free of charge and can be collected from local pharmacies. You can generate a QR code for collection by clicking here.

What were the previous recent changes to self-isolating rules?

From November 30, people identified as contacts of suspected Omicron cases were told they would have to isolate for ten days regardless of their vaccination status.

However, this is now changing and being replaced by a daily testing requirement.

What does self-isolation actually mean?

You must not go to work, school or public places  and work from home if you can. You must not go on public transport or use taxis, or go out to get food and medicine.

You must also not have visitors in your home, including friends and family  except for people providing essential care. And you should not go out to exercise.

The NHS advises people to exercise at home or in your garden, if you have one.

TRAVEL RULES

Are the travel rules also now changing?

No, but they have changed in recent days as detailed below.

How have the travel rules changed recently?

From 4am on Tuesday, everyone over 12 travelling to the UK needs to have taken a pre-departure test  either lateral flow or PCR  to prove they don't have Covid-19. This test is mandatory, including for those who are vaccinated.

What if you test positive overseas?

Britons are advised to contact the British embassy or consulate for advice. You will have to abide by the quarantine rules that apply in that country.

This will involve a period of quarantine in a government-approved hotel or facility at your expense, which could run to several hundred pounds.

You will need to fund any medical treatment required. You can return home after testing negative, but will probably need to pay for a new flight.

What happens after you arrive home?

Returning travellers must self-isolate at home until they take a day two test. This must be a PCR test, which is booked before you travel and bought privately from a government-approved provider. You must self-isolate until you get a negative result.

What about travel insurance?

Some policies, such as those offered by the Post Office, include coronavirus cover. This will include trip cancellation and curtailment cover; overseas medical and repatriation costs.

What if you want to cancel a foreign trip?

You don't have a legal right to a refund. But most tour operators and airlines will give you a voucher to re-book at a later date.

What countries are on the red list now?

Ten southern African countries were added to the UK's travel red list because of Omicron  South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini, Angola, Mozambique, Malawi and Zambia. Nigeria was added from 4am on Monday.

What are the travel rules for red list countries?

You should not travel to red list countries for holidays. People returning to the UK from a red list country must take a pre-departure test and undergo a hotel quarantine for ten days, with a test at day two or eight.

Quarantine currently costs 2,285 for a single adult and 1,430 for a second adult.

What happens next?

These are temporary measures introduced to prevent further Omicron cases from entering the UK. They will be examined at the three-week review point on December 20.

HEALTH RATIONALE

Will Plan B slow the spread of Omicron?

Scientists advising the Government have said measures are needed to slow down the pace of Omicron.

Professor Neil Ferguson, from Imperial College London, whose data was instrumental to the UK going into lockdown in March 2020, said yesterday that 'case numbers of Omicron are doubling at least every three days, maybe even every two days at the moment, so it's accelerating very fast'.

He said lockdowns are a possibility and cannot be ruled out, but working from home guidance could slow the spread.

'There is a rationale, just epidemiologically, to try and slow this down, to buy us more time principally to get boosters into people's arms, because we do think people who are boosted will have the best level of protection possible, but also to buy us more time to really better characterise the threat,' he said.

He suggested 'a kind of Plan B Plus with working from home might slow it down' rather than stopping Omicron, reversing the doubling time to every five or six days.

What does the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies think?

Sage has said Plan B measures will have the greatest effect if brought in in one go.

Of the individual measures, the scientists advising Government believe working from home will have the biggest impact on slowing the spread of the virus.

The React study from Imperial College London showed working from home reduced the chance of catching Covid-19 during earlier stages of the pandemic.

Analyses of risk by occupation also shows a lower risk for those jobs with higher levels of working from home.

UK NATIONS

Each of the four nations' handling of the pandemic is managed by their own leaders - and here is how Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are different to England.

Scotland

In Scotland, vaccine passports are already in force and have been since October, with people who are attending nightclubs, indoor events (unseated) with 500 or more people, outdoor events (unseated) with 4,000 or more people and any event with 10,000 or more to show they are double vaccinated before entering.

Since December 6, a negative PCR test taken within 24 hours of entry to a venue or a negative lateral flow test have also been accepted as part of the passes. Scotland's Covid passes are called the NHS Scotland COVID Status app.

Wales

In Wales, vaccine passports are in force in cinemas, theatres, concert halls as well as nightclubs and large events.

They are also needed for unseated indoor venues with more than 500 people in the audience, outdoor or indoor unseated venues with a capacity over 4,000 and any event with more than 10,000 people.

The passes can be downloaded by people who are double vaccinated or have tested negatively within 48 hours of entering the venue.

Similarly to England, Wales uses the NHS Covid Pass.

Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland has followed the same rules as Wales, which have been in place since November 29. Enforcement will be applied from December 13. Residents who can download Covid passes include those who are double vaccinated or have tested negatively within 48 hours of entering the venue.

In Northern Ireland, the pass is called COVIDCert NI Mobile App.

How long will the new rules last in England?

The Government has said that the new rules will not be reviewed until January 5 - and the law imposing them would not run out until January 26.
Kyle Sandilands has been denied a gun owner's licence as police point to his connections to a convicted drug trafficker and the radio host's wild on-air antics as evidence he is not a 'fit and proper person' to own a firearm.

The 50-year-old broadcaster will take the NSW Police Commissioner to a tribunal to fight the decision, which hampered his plans to shoot competitively.

Sandilands already owns a handgun licence which permits him to operate guns under supervision at a pistol club in Sydney's southwest.

However, the notorious shock jock wants to take his passion for firearms to the next level by buying a pistol and a rifle - but has been blocked by police.

Kyle Sandilands (pictured at a gun range in LA with Karl Stefanovic in 2020) has been denied a gun licence as police tally a list of reasons against the host owning firearms

Authorities are concerned by the Sandiland's (left) friendship with convicted drug trafficker Simon Main (second from left) who spent four years in an Italian prison

Authorities claim they are concerned by the Sandiland's friendship with convicted drug trafficker Simon Main, who spent four years in an Italian prison.

Main attempted to shift 333,000 ecstasy pills worth about $10 million in 2000, considered the world's largest bust of the illicit drug at the time.

Sandilands is also a close personal friend of Kings Cross identity John Ibrahim and his model girlfriend Sarah Budge.

In 2018 Mr Ibrahim was served with a firearms prohibition order after police searched his Dover Heights home.

The search warrants also included the Double Bay apartment of Ms Budge - where police found a 9mm Glock 26 pistol.

Sandilands (left) is also a close personal friend of Kings Cross identity John Ibrahim (right) and his model girlfriend Sarah Budge

The notorious shock jock (pictured) wants to take his passion for firearms to the next level by purchasing a pistol and a rifle but has been blocked by police

After a lengthy court battle, Ms Budge was acquitted of possessing the unlicensed pistol and found not guilty of two other firearm possession charges.

Mr Ibrahim was not linked to the gun charge or any offences committed by his relatives which led to the raids.

These days he manages real estate investments in Darlinghurst and the inner-city, having left the nightclub industry when Sydney's lockout laws were introduced.

Mr Ibrahim is often spotted spending time with Sandilands, who speaks highly of their friendship on The Kyle and Jackie O Show he hosts with Jackie Henderson.

Ms Budge, Mr Ibrahim, and Mr Main were all pictured at the 35th birthday bash of the radio juggernaut's girlfriend Tegan Kynaston in December of last year.

Ms Budge (right), Mr Ibrahim (left) and Mr Main were all pictured at the 35th birthday bash of the radio juggernaut's girlfriend Tegan Kynaston (centre) in December 2020

Mr Ibrahim is often spotted spending time with Sandilands, who speaks highly of their friendship on The Kyle and Jackie O Show he hosts with Jackie Henderson (right)

The pair have been dating since January 2020, with Ms Kynaston previously working as Sandilands' assistant and now the communications director of King Kyle.

The couple are hoping to welcome their first child together.

A close friend of the radio host told The Australian that his sometimes chaotic on-air antics was also used as justification for why he could not be trusted with a firearm.

They said shooting was Sandiland's only hobby, adding pre-conceived ideas of how the host might handle a gun was 'quite the opposite'.

Police must determine if an individual applying for a gun permit is a 'fit and proper' person through a gruelling process including multiple background checks.

Applicants may be refused if they have a history of mental health problems, domestic violence charges, or are associated with any criminal intelligence.

A close friend of the radio host (pictured) told The Australian that his sometimes chaotic on-air antics was evidence as to why he could not be trusted with a firearm

Sandilands, who reportedly earns $5million a year hosting KIIS FM's Kyle And Jackie O Show, entered the business world in 2012 after he founded an investment company called King Kyle

A person seeking to own a gun can also be rejected if it is not in the 'public interest' for them to acquire one or if they could be a 'danger to public safety or the peace'.

The matter will be mentioned at the Civil and Administrative Tribunal later this month on December 21.

Sandilands, who reportedly earns $5 million a year hosting KIIS FM's Kyle And Jackie O Show, entered the business world in 2012 after he founded an investment company called King Kyle.

The company, which Sandilands says is now worth about $100 million, has also recently expanded into content creation and music production.

His latest venture is TapJar, an app that makes it easy for customers to tip staff without the need for cash.
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Sajid Javid today said it would be 'ethically wrong' to make Covid vaccinations mandatory for everyone after Boris Johnson hinted the move could be considered in the future.

Speaking to Sky News, the Health Secretary said: 'No, I've got no interest in mandatory vaccinations, apart from in high-risk settings in the NHS and social care, which we've already set out that we will legislate for.

'Other than that, if you talk about universal mandatory vaccination, I think ethically it is wrong but also, at a very practical level, it just wouldn't work. Getting vaccinated has to be a positive decision.'

Asked whether more restrictions could be coming in January due to social mixing occurring over the Christmas period, he replied: 'I hope not. The action we've taken is very decisive, I think it is going to make a big difference.'

Last night, Mr Johnson suggested jabs could eventually be made compulsory or Covid passes could be rolled out in wider society if a 'substantial proportion of the population' remains unvaccinated.

The PM announced the Government is now triggering its Plan B to reimpose work from home guidance, make masks compulsory in more indoor settings and require people to show a Covid pass to go to nightclubs.

The measures are being rolled out across England in a bid to slow the spread of the new Omicron variant of the disease.

But Mr Johnson said a 'national conversation' is likely to be needed in the future on how the nation will live with the virus.

He said he does not believe the Government can 'keep going indefinitely with non-pharmaceutical interventions' in a hint that jabs could be made compulsory or restrictions could be targeted at the unvaccinated.

New measures could include greater outreach attempts in communities where uptake is low, or an extension of Covid passes to more venues.

Boris Johnson last night hinted coronavirus jabs could eventually be made compulsory or Covid passes could be rolled out in wider society. But Sajid Javid dismissed any suggestion of compulsory jabs today, saying it would be 'ethically wrong'

Mr Johnson said a 'national conversation' is likely to be needed in the future on how the nation will live with the virus

Hosting a Downing Street press conference, Mr Johnson was asked by a member of the public if the Government could follow the lead of some European nations by making vaccinations compulsory.

When asked a question about introducing compulsory jabs at last night's Downing Street Press conference, Mr Johnson said: 'I think we are going to need to have a national conversation about the way forward and the other things that we can do to protect those who... haven't got vaccinated for one reason or another.

What are the new Covid rules in England? Boris Johnson announced last night that the Government is implementing its Covid Plan B. It means: WFH The return of work from home guidance. People will be told to work from home in England from Monday if they are able to. Face masks Face masks will be made compulsory in most public indoor venues including in cinemas and theatres from this Friday. They will not be required in pubs, restaurants and gyms. Vaccine passports The NHS Covid pass will be compulsory to gain access to nightclubs and other large venues where large crowds gather. This will apply to all unseated indoor venues with more than 500 people, unseated outdoor venues with more than 4,000 people and any venue with more than 10,000 people. Two vaccine doses will be treated as fully-vaccinated but this will be kept under review because of the booster programme. A negative lateral flow test will also be sufficient. This requirement will be rolled out in one week's time to give businesses time to prepare. Contact testing Contacts of Omicron cases will be told to take daily coronavirus tests instead of having to self-isolate. They will have to quarantine if they test positive. Advertisement

'I don't believe we can keep going indefinitely with non-pharmaceutical interventions  I mean restrictions on people's way of life  just because a substantial proportion of the population still sadly has not got vaccinated.'

He added: 'I said... as soon as we were really talking about vaccinations seriously that I didn't want us to have a society and a culture where we force people to get vaccinated.

'I don't think that has ever been the way we do things in this country.'

But he said a 'national conversation' on the way forward will be needed if the vaccines are proven to be effective at tackling Omicron.

He said: 'I think that there is going to come a point if we can show that the vaccines are capable of holding Omicron... I do think that we are going to have to have a conversation about ways in which we deal with this pandemic because, I want to be absolutely clear with you, I don't believe we can keep going indefinitely with non-pharmaceutical interventions, I mean restrictions on people's way of life, just because a substantial proportion of the population still sadly has not got vaccinated.

'I think we are going to need to have a national conversation about the way forward and the other things that we can do to protect those who are hard to reach, who haven't got vaccinated for one reason or another, medical reasons why they can't get vaccinated, other ways of protecting them.'

Mr Johnson said he believes 'that is a stage that I think we will come to if and when we establish... that the booster is effective against Omicron'.

He added: 'It is at that moment that I think we will have to talk seriously about moving on from the way we, from thinking about further NPIs and thinking about other ways in which we protect people.'

Although Britain has one of the highest uptakes of Covid vaccines, more than five million people - which equates to 12 per cent of the population - has not yet had their first jab.

The Government imposed new laws in November which forced all workers in the care sector to get vaccinated if they wanted to continue in their jobs.

Up to 51,000 care home staff were set to be barred from their workplace on November 11 as England's new rule kicked in, according to data which covered the period up to November 4.

The sector was already short of 100,000 workers before the pandemic struck and the new rule meant tens of thousands of employees were barred from their workplaces.

However, care industry bosses later said the move had little effect on boosting uptake.

Mike Padgham, chair of the Independent Care Group  which represents providers in Yorkshire, said making jabs compulsory only had 'a little bit of an effect' on the 1.5million-strong sector.

Health Secretary Sajid Javid also announced that all frontline NHS workers need to have have had jabs by April next year.

Whilst Downing Street acknowledged the policy would trigger a mass exodus from health and social care, the Government said it was needed to protect vulnerable patients.

The Government's own impact assessment suggests 126,000 healthcare staff  across the NHS and social care sector  are likely to be sacked when the rule is enforced.

Mr Johnson's hint that mandatory vaccinations could be imposed came just over a week after EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that it was time for the bloc to 'think about' making jabs compulsory.

People wait in a queue outside a pop-up vaccination centre for the Covid-19 vaccine or booster, in Hammersmith and Fulham in Greater London on December 3, 2021

In total, there are 46,000 Covid cases on average each day in the UK and data from the Covid Genomics UK Consortium (COG-UK) suggests the new strain is already behind around one in 66 of them, or 1.4 per cent

Infections of the highly evolved variant are doubling every two or three days. The above graph shows how the number of daily cases of Omicron could breach the 100,000 barrier before New Year's Day, if that pace continues

Pfizer's results are based on a laboratory study using the blood of 20 people, who were either double-jabbed three weeks earlier (left) or triple-jabbed one month earlier with its vaccine (right). The graph shows antibody levels against different strains of the virus: Wuhan (green), Beta (blue), Delta (orange) and Omicron (red). The results showed the third dose triggered a 25-fold jump in antibody levels against Omicron from 6 to 154. Pfizer said this equates to a 'high efficacy' based on data on other variants. The level of neutralising antibodies against Omicron after three jabs was 154, compared to 155 against the Wuhan strain after two jabs. But the figure was 60 per cent lower than levels seen for three doses against Delta (339)

Hosting a Downing Street press conference, Mr Johnson was asked by a member of the public if the Government could follow the lead of some European nations by making vaccinations compulsory

She said that whilst it would ultimately be up to member states to decide their own rules, it was her 'personal opinion' that the time was right discuss forcing people to get jabs.

'We have one third of the population which is not vaccinated. This is 150million people - that is a lot. Not each and every one could be vaccinated... but the vast majority could,' she said.

Boris Johnson insists Downing Street followed lockdown rules 'as far as I'm aware' Boris Johnson squirmed under questioning over the Downing Street Christmas party tonight - after a senior aide quit in tears for joking about the 'illegal' gathering. Facing the nation at a press conference tonight the Prime Minister repeated his claim that no Covid laws had been breached when aides in No10 met over wine and cheese last December. But after days of firm denials he added a new caveat, saying that the rules had not been broken 'as far as I'm aware' ahead of a probe into the affair to be led by top civil servant Simon Case. And he vowed that if rules were found to have been broken by the probe, those responsible faced 'proper sanctions' - including possibly criminal investigation. The stark nature of the allegations facing the Prime Minister and his top team were made stark by chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance. Standing next to the PM tonight as Mr Johnson introduced tough new Plan B restrictions, Sir Patrick bluntly said: 'Measures only work because people follow them. It is very important everyone follows them.' Mr Johnson told the press conference that Cabinet Secretary Mr Case's investigation will look into 'what took place on December 18' rather than other alleged parties. 'As for other events, dates ... as far as I'm aware, to the best of my knowledge we have followed the rules throughout,' he said. 'Indeed, as far as I'm aware, the rules were followed on December 18 as well.' Earlier Allegra Stratton had dramatically resigned as a government aide in the wake of bombshell video showing her giggling about an 'illegal' Christmas party in No10. The former spokeswoman for the PM announced she had quit her 125,000 a year role offering a 'profound apology' for appearing to 'make light' of Covid rules. Advertisement

A coordinated EU-wide move would follow measures imposed by Austria to make vaccines compulsory for all eligible citizens in February.

Asked by a journalist whether she supported making vaccines mandatory for everyone, she replied: ' First of all, this is pure member state competence - it is therefore not up to me to give any kind of recommendation.

'[But] if you're asking me what my personal position is, two or three years ago I would never have thought to witness what we see right now.

'That we have this horrible pandemic, we have the lifesaving vaccines, but they are not being used adequately everywhere, and thus this is an enormous health cost

'If you look at the numbers we have 66 per cent of whole EU population vaccinated, which means we have one third of the population which is not vaccinated.

'This is 150million people - that is a lot. Not each and every one could be vaccinated, these are very young children and people with medical conditions, but the vast majority could

'Therefore I think it is understandable and appropriate to lead this discussion now, how we can encourage and potentially think about how we can have mandatory vaccination within the European Union.

'This needs discussion, this needs a common approach, but it is a discussion that I think needs to be had.'

Elsewhere in his announcement yesterday, Mr Johnson said that working from home guidance would return, vaccine passports will become compulsory in large venues and the wearing of face coverings would be extended to theatres and cinemas.

At the same time as the announcement, Health Secretary Sajid Javid unveiled the plans in the House of Commons.

He said the measures were necessary because cases of the new Omicron variant were doubling 'every two or three days' and that they could hit more than a million by the end of the month.

But Mr Javid was heckled and even urged to resign by Tory MPs who were angry at the return of restrictions which strangle the economy - and also because the move came on the same day that Downing Street faced fury over the 'illegal' Christmas party held in Downing Street last year.

Mandatory mask wearing will be extended to cinemas and theatres from today but will not be needed in pubs and restaurants. The guidance will also include exemptions for when eating, drinking, exercising or singing.

The Covid health certificate will apply to unseated indoor venues with more than 500 attendees, and outside where there are more than 4,000 people.

The Prime Minister added that the pass can be obtained with a negative lateral flow test or by having had two doses of a vaccine but hinted this could change, saying 'we will keep this under review as the boosters roll out'.

The premier said it was necessary to move to Plan B to 'buy time' for the NHS and to learn more about the new strain.

'It has become increasingly clear that Omicron is growing much faster than the previous Delta variant and is spreading rapidly all around the world,' he said.

While 568 cases had been confirmed in the UK 'the true number is certain to be much higher' - potentially as many as 10,000.

'Most worryingly, there is evidence that the doubling time of Omicron could currently be between two and three days.'
A towns Christmas tree has been branded a shambles after only its bottom half was decorated because health and safety officials said it was too high to safely light the top.

The partially decorated pine in Bailiff Bridge, West Yorkshire, was slammed by residents while one councillor dubbed it the worst in the north.

Calderdale Council, the authority responsible for lighting it, said the natural tree had grown significantly larger over the last year and it was not safe to reach the highest sections.

But Conservative councillor George Robinson described it as a shambles and locals fumed that after two years of Covid regulations, they had hoped for some festive joy.

The partially decorated natural Christmas tree in Bailiff Bridge, West Yorkshire, has been criticised by residents, while councillor has dubbed it 'the worst in the north'

Cllr Robinson said: 'Weve had a torrid year with Covid and lockdowns, we just want a Christmas tree to enjoy.

'Its a shambles, the worst Christmas tree in the North.'

Ex-Halifax rugby league player Jamie Bloem also criticised it, saying a Christmas tree 'to bring a bit of cheer is a necessity', after the 'two years everyone has gone through'.

He added: 'It would be a bit of colour in an otherwise dull time.

'And now with tighter restrictions, I think a bit of cheer would be great right now.'

Conservative councillor George Robinson said: 'Weve had a torrid year with Covid and lockdowns, we just want a Christmas tree to enjoy. Its a shambles, the worst Christmas tree in the North.'

Margaret Bates said the tree looked 'ridiculous' while Dave Cocker asked whether it had been decorated by Mini Me.

Another described it as the most depressing Christmas tree decorations in the UK.

However, Matt Bell was quick to defend the council, saying that people who are laughing at health and safety restrictions 'are the same ones suing the council' when things happen to them.

The Labour-controlled council said it provided trees and decorations to bring 'some festive cheer to towns and villages'.

The tree remains in place all year round and was decorated as in previous years, it said.

But the council said the tree has now grown significantly larger over the years and due to safety and accessibility the decorations were 'spread amongst the lower branches'.

Calderdale Council, the authority responsible for lighting it, said the natural tree had grown significantly larger over the last year and it was not safe to reach the highest sections

Cllr Jenny Lynn, cabinet member for public services and communities, said: 'We provide Christmas trees and decorations across Calderdale to bring some festive cheer to our towns and villages, and we wish all our residents a very happy Christmas.

'The tree in Bailiff Bridge is a naturally growing one, which remains in place all year round and is now several years old.

'We have decorated the tree this year, like we have in previous years.

'As the tree has grown significantly larger over time, and due to its location, it is no longer safe or accessible to decorate the highest sections of the tree, as they cant be reached by any maintenance vehicles.

'Therefore, this year we are only able to decorate the lower branches.

'Next year we will ask local community groups to nominate another, more easily accessible tree, for a much fuller decoration.'
A young engineer died when he became wedged between a lift and the wall of its shaft while carrying out repair works at the headquarters of dairy giant Muller, an inquest has heard.

Lewis McFarlin, 24, of Tean, Stoke-on-Trent, suffered multiple traumatic injuries after becoming trapped at the site in Market Drayton on January 14 last year.

Mr McFarlin had been working for RJ Lift Services when he was asked to look at the two-ton goods elevator alongside colleagues Richard Fuller and Ryan Wintle.

The Stoke City fan - described by his friends as a 'legend' - was inspecting the top of the lift when it moved suddenly, causing him to fall and become stuck between the lift and the lift wall, jurors heard.

Emergency services were called to the scene but nothing could be done to save him.

Senior coroner for Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin, John Ellery, told the jury: 'This is an accident at work'.

Tragic: Lewis McFarlin, 24, of Tean, Stoke-on-Trent, died after he suffered multiple traumatic injuries after becoming trapped between a lift and the wall of its shaft on January 14 last year (Pictured: Lewis with his mother Leah Salt)

He added: 'Lewis and two colleagues were working at a premises, at Muller UK at Market Drayton.

'On the day in question Lewis and two colleagues went to repair lifts at Muller UK, having carried out certain repairs they were asked to look at a two-ton goods lift in the production area.

'At some point Lewis had been standing on the roof of the lift, the lift moved suddenly and unexpectedly, Lewis became trapped between the lift and the lift wall and suffered fatal injuries and that's what caused this inquest.'

Mr Ellery said that there was nothing significant in his toxicology report.

Mr Fuller, a lift engineer at RJ Lift Services for over 20 years, was asked to look at the goods lift, and told the inquest that when it was loaded, the doors on the ground floor would not open.

He added: 'We realised there was a problem. Lewis got on top, as far as I can remember it was on the middle floor.'

Mr Fuller told jurors that Mr McFarlin identified an issue with the locks on the landing doors and had brought the lift down to allow him to enter and work on fixing the issue from the inside.

Once they were happy they had finished the job, he said the plan was for Mr McFarlin, still on top of the lift, to take it down to the ground floor to allow him to exit, so it could be tested.

But he said the lift unexpectedly went up.

He said: 'I was expecting to go down and he went up.

Mr McFarlin had been working for RJ Lift Services when he was asked to look at the two-ton goods elevator alongside colleagues Richard Fuller and Ryan Wintle (Pictured: Muller UK factory in Market Drayton)

'I couldn't see anything as the doors were shut. I waited to go down, you can hear the pump kicking in, Lewis has shouted 'woah woah woah', then I heard a scream and it stopped.'

Mr Fuller said he was not in control of the lift.

Their co-worker Mr Wintle opened the doors on the first floor and saw the top of the lift was level with the floor.

He told the inquest that he could see Mr McFarlin's head and arm poking out and tried in vain to free him.

He then went to the motor room and slightly lowered the lift, which exposed the upper half of Mr McFarlin's chest.

However he 'still couldn't get him out' and rushed to call for help, but there was nothing emergency services could do to save him, jurors heard.

The inquest is scheduled to last for three days.
Sajid Javid today said he refused to do TV interviews defending the Government over the Number 10 Christmas party row after a bombshell video of aides giggling surfaced.

The Health Secretary said he was 'upset' by the video which showed Downing Street advisers joking about holding a party during the coronavirus lockdown.

Mr Javid had been due to conduct a broadcast round on Wednesday morning but he opted to dodge the interviews.

He said this morning that he had agreed with Number 10 it was 'best to take some time to respond to the video in the way that the Prime Minister has now' by announcing a formal probe into whether a party took place.

Boris Johnson yesterday announced he has asked Cabinet Secretary Simon Case to establish the facts surrounding an alleged event on December 18 and promised people will be punished if they are found to have broken lockdown rules.

Mr Javid said Mr Case will also be able to look into allegations of other parties taking place as he insisted the Cabinet Secretary is 'free to look at whatever dates he wants to consider'.

The Health Secretary's remarks raise the prospect of Mr Case potentially looking into claims made by Dominic Cummings that a party was held in the PM's flat on November 13.

A new poll published by Redfield & Wilton Strategies found almost two thirds of Brits believe Mr Johnson should resign if it is confirmed the December 18 party took place.

Some 63 per cent of people said the PM should quit if a party is confirmed to have been held in Number 10 at a time when coronavirus restrictions prohibited such an event from taking place while 24 per cent said he should not quit.

Sajid Javid today said he refused to do TV interviews defending the Government over the Number 10 Christmas party row after a bombshell video of aides giggling surfaced

Boris Johnson yesterday announced he has asked Cabinet Secretary Simon Case to establish the facts surrounding the alleged event

A new poll published by Redfield & Wilton Strategies found almost two thirds of Brits believe Mr Johnson should resign if it is confirmed the party took place

How many parties is the Government alleged to have held last year and when did they take place? November 13 Dominic Cummings alleges that the PM held a gathering at his grace-and-favour flat on November 13 last year, the day the adviser was ousted from Downing Street. Mr Cummings also suggested there had been 'other flat parties'. November 27 The Prime Minister reportedly gave a speech at a packed Number 10 leaving do for a 'senior aide'. Sources claimed that '40 or 50 people' were present. December 10 Then-education secretary Gavin Williamson hosted a Department for Education party for 'up to 24 people' on December 10. The gathering, which included food and drink, took place in the department's canteen. The department has admitted the event happened. December 18 Staff in Downing Street are believed to have held a Christmas party, with reports that dozens of people attended the event, some wearing festive jumpers and exchanging Secret Santa presents. London had been placed into Tier 3 restrictions on December 16 - the highest level of curbs on freedoms at the time which banned people from different households mixing indoors. Downing Street has said Boris Johnson did not attend the event. Also December Sources told the BBC that a separate Christmas quiz event was held for Number 10 staff at some point in December. Everyone was apparently invited to attend and to form teams. One source said some people attended virtually via Zoom but others did attend in person and sat in groups of six. Downing Street has insisted the quiz was 'virtual'. Advertisement

Mr Johnson yesterday apologised and a senior aide quit over footage which showed Number 10 officials joking about a party during the coronavirus lockdown.

The PM has ordered an investigation into claims staff broke lockdown rules by holding a Christmas party last year and told MPs he was 'furious' about the video apparently showing aides laughing about it.

Allegra Stratton, who was previously the PM's spokeswoman, resigned after the leaked clip emerged, offering 'profound apologies' and saying she would 'regret those remarks for the rest of my days'.

Mr Johnson has repeatedly insisted that rules were followed in Downing Street since the claims first emerged about the December 18, 2020 party.

However, at Prime Minister's Questions in the Commons he said he based that position on assurances from junior staff.

He said he had asked Mr Case 'to establish all the facts and to report back as soon as possible  and it goes without saying that if those rules were broken then there will be disciplinary action for all those involved'.

Mr Javid had been due to take part in TV interviews yesterday morning but withdrew from the broadcast round after the leaked video emerged.

Asked why no Government minister appeared on Wednesday morning, the Cabinet minister replied: 'I didn't appear because I saw that video  it upset me, it upset a lot of people I think across the country, it upset the Prime Minister.'

Asked whether he 'refused' to go onto the airwaves following the emergence of the footage, Mr Javid told Sky News: 'No, it wasn't about refusing  I spoke to my colleagues in Number 10 and we actually agreed it is best to take some time to respond to the video in the way that the Prime Minister has now, by ordering an investigation by the Cabinet Secretary (Simon Case).

'And so I think the idea was to give some space to react but I'm pleased the Prime Minister has asked for an investigation, and I can see also why so many people would have been upset by that video.'

Pressed on whether he thought an event did take place last December in Downing Street, he added: 'The truth is, I don't know.

'I have received assurances, like the Prime Minister has, that all rules were followed throughout the pandemic at all times.'

Mr Javid later told LBC Radio that if Covid rules were followed in Downing Street last December, then no party would have been able to take place.

Allegra Stratton, who was previously the PM's spokeswoman, resigned after the leaked clip emerged

Told that he had previously said there had been no Christmas party in Number 10, Mr Javid said: 'And I would still tell you that I have received assurances that there were no rules that were broken, in terms of Covid rules, at any time in Downing Street.

'That means a party could not take place. If the rules were not broken, then a party could not take place.

'But having this investigation, having the Cabinet Secretary look into this, is the right response because this is the individual who can talk to anyone, can get the data, the evidence together and establish the facts.'

Mr Javid said he did not know about another alleged party in December, as reported by The Times, but added: 'I do know that Simon Case is not just looking at a particular date. He is free to look at whatever dates he wants to consider.'
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NHS bosses tonight launched a crack down on the booster jab chaos that has embroiled the country by telling clinics to stop turning away eligible Britons and finally allow walk-ins for over-40s who were last vaccinated three months ago.

Images of massive queues at vaccine centres were also met with reports that people in the age group, who can now book an appointment on the NHS website, were being sent home because of a communications blunder.

Scores complained on social media that they were sent away after booking their appointment online, claiming they were told certain clinics couldn't dish out the jabs because guidance wasn't updated to reflect the fact that boosters can now be dished out after three months instead of six.

But the NHS called on vaccination sites to stop sending people away who have booked a jab and insisted eligible adults can walk in to clinics.

A spokesperson said: 'NHS sites are expected to vaccinate those most at risk from coronavirus first in line with JCVI guidance, which at present is people aged 40 and over, as well as those with health conditions and healthcare workers.

'Nobody who has booked an appointment and is eligible for a booster should be turned away, and people aged 40 and over who are three months on from their second dose can now get their booster at walk-in centres too.'

The latest blow to the beleaguered booster drive came after experts demanded Boris Johnson throw the 'kitchen sink' at the rollout, and allow 8million under 40s who got their second jab over three months ago to finally book their third jab online, stating delays will cost lives and livelihoods.

Currently only over-40s who had their second jab more than three months ago can use the NHS's online booking system.

The UK has pinned its hopes on avoiding a catastrophic Omicron wave of cases on the booster programme, with the controversial 'Plan B' restrictions introduced by the Prime Minister last night meant to buy time for as many people to get an extra jab as possible.

The announcement of new restrictions, such as working from home guidance, compulsory mask orders, came as studies suggested a third dose of Pfizer's vaccine  which Britain's roll-out is reliant on  was able to offer people people substantial protection from Omicron.

Massive queues at jabbing centres come alongside reports that some Britons who booked their booster appointment online are being turned away by staff telling them they need to wait six months between jabs, despite the NHS saying the wait is now three months

According to NHS data, many older age groups who have been eligible to get a Covid booster since September still have double digit percentage figures of people who are yet to get a third dose. Yesterday, the NHS online booking system for Covid boosters was opened up to the over 40s. 81 per cent of people aged 40-to-49 have yet to have a booster.

The majority of over 40s in got their second Covid vaccine by early July with most people aged 30-to-39 getting their second jab by the end of August. This means there are millions of people who are now eligible for a booster

The vast majority of adults and people over 16-years-old have now received their first Covid jab, and the proportion of children aged between 12-to-15 who have got their first vaccine is approaching 50 per cent

No10 has pledged to offer a booster to all 53million adults in the UK by the end of January, but at the current rate it would take until early March to meet this goal.

But the effort has suffered a fresh blow today as Britons keen to get their booster were turned away by staff at vaccination centres citing old guidance that people needed to wait six months between jabs.

Jose from London was furious about being turned away from the appointment he booked via the NSH website.

'I have just been turned away from my booster appointment, despite having booked in accordance with guidance (over 40 and over 3 months since dose 2). Apparently the centre I booked is only following old guidance which requires 182 days since dose 2 (I am 3 days away from that but still got turned away).,' he wrote.

'However the NHS site allowed me to book for this centre!'

Jeegar Kakkad said he was turned away twice from having a booster, even after making an appointment.

'Is this going to get sorted soon? I was turned away from two sites - even with an appointment - because of this problem with the booster rollout,' he wrote.

Another reported that her husband had been turned away from getting his booster despite arranging it using the official NHS app.

'Hello, can you explain why my husband booked a booster today on the official NHS app but when he arrived at the pharmacy he and everyone else was turned away being told they weren't eligible until 6 months?' she asked.

What are the new Covid rules in England? WFH The return of work from home guidance. People will be told to work from home in England from Monday if they are able to. Face masks Face masks will be made compulsory in most public indoor venues including in cinemas and theatres from this Friday. They will not be required in pubs, restaurants and gyms. Vaccine passports The NHS Covid pass will be compulsory to gain access to nightclubs and other large venues where large crowds gather. This will apply to all unseated indoor venues with more than 500 people, unseated outdoor venues with more than 4,000 people and any venue with more than 10,000 people. Two vaccine doses will be treated as fully-vaccinated but this will be kept under review because of the booster programme. A negative lateral flow test will also be sufficient. This requirement will be rolled out in one week's time to give businesses time to prepare. Contact testing Contacts of Omicron cases will be told to take daily coronavirus tests instead of having to self-isolate. They will have to quarantine if they test positive. Advertisement

Over-40s attempting to get a booster at a walk-in vaccine centre yesterday received the same pushback, with author Tim Harford, from Oxford, saying himself and five other people were told they couldn't get a booster.

'So, I queued at a walk-in centre for my booster today. I was turned away because my 2nd jab was not a full six months ago (just 5 months & 3 weeks). There were five other people queuing. They were all turned away for the same reason. I must say I don't understand,' he wrote.

NHS England was contacted for comment on people being turned away from their booster appointment.

The Telegraph this week claimed officials have blamed the lack of acceleration on the roll-out  which only saw over-40s able to book online yesterday  on red-tape due to waiting for legal instructions on the roll-out to be provided by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).

News of the chaos comes as experts demanded that more of England's double-jabbed be offered the chance to get a booster as the MailOnline revealed that more than 8million under 40s could get booster today if the NHS let them book a jab.

A total of 8.2million people aged from 18-to-39 got their second jab by September 1, meaning under the three-month wait between jabs they would be able to get a booster.

NHS bosses still send out formal invites to patients, so people who got jabbed early on can still be vaccinated. Walk-in clinics are also open across the country.

But critics say opening up the online booking portal to under-40s would help speed up the drive.

Matthew Lesh, head of research at the Adam Smith Institute thinktank, described the booster campaign as the only real way the UK could fend off Omicron, arguing the new 'Plan B' restrictions won't turn the rising tide.

'The booster programme is the only game in town. Omicron is spreading and new restrictions will barely have a dent,' he said.

'But, by all indications, it is a mild disease for those who have had three vaccine doses.

'Yet the NHS has entirely failed to accelerate boosters since Prime Minister Boris Johnson promised a few weeks ago.

'We are not on track to offer a booster to all adults by the end of January, and in any case, that could be too late considering the speed of the new variant.

Mr Lesh said the sluggish pace of the rollout will cause both deaths and economic devastation, adding it was a 'no-brainer' to focus all available resources on boosting the booster drive.

'The failure to accelerate the booster programme will cost lives and livelihoods,' he said.

'The new restrictions and guidance are going to cost our economy billions of pounds.

'It's an absolute no-brainer to throw the kitchen sink at getting boosters into arms as quickly as possible. We need a national war effort.'

He added that the NHS Covid booster booking system should be opened up to all eligible people, regardless of age, immediately referencing the fact that the country has enough Covid jabs to support such a move.

'The booking system should have been already opened up to all age groups, as the Prime Minister said would happen weeks ago,' he said.

'Anyone over three months since their second dose should be able to access a third immediately. There's no longer supply issues, it's all logistics, and can be done.'

Other experts however urged caution in such a move, stating that while the booster campaign definitely needed to be expanded, opening up the system to all age groups would create chaos, and that the country needed to prioritise those who's immunity was waning the most.

Dr Simon Clarke, a cellular microbiologist from the University of Reading, said: 'If the government just threw open the doors to the booster programme for all adults that could create chaos where people who have only recently been vaccinated take the places of people whose immunity is likely to have dropped much more.

'It's far better, I think, to copy the gradual release of boosters, but to work through the age groups as quickly as possible.'

The current rate of the booster rollout means Britain will miss the deadline to offer every eligible adult a Covid booster shot by the end January, instead hitting this target by 10 February

There is growing pressure on the Government to tighten restrictions after the total number of British Omicron cases rose to 568 today, with the highly evolved variant now in every country in the UK and almost every region of England

In total, there are 46,000 Covid cases on average each day in the UK and data from the Covid Genomics UK Consortium (COG-UK) suggests the new strain is already behind around one in 66 of them, or 1.4 per cent

This NHS graphic showing uptake of second dose by age group shows the vast majority (over 70 per cent) of over 50s received their second jab in May, followed by the majority of over 40s in mid-August. More half of over 30s had received their second dose of the Covid vaccine in the final week of August. Under the new three month wait between jabs rule, millions more people are now technically eligible for a Covid booster, but younger groups have no way to book one

Pfizer's booster vaccine CAN beat Omicron Pfizer's Covid booster vaccine triggers a 25-fold spike in antibody levels against Omicron, the drug firm claimed today but it admitted two doses may not be enough to thwart the mutant strain. The vaccine manufacturer argued three injections provide a 'more robust' defence against the variant, which has sown chaos since it was first identified in South Africa last month. A third jab triggers a similar antibody response against Omicron as two doses against previous strains of Covid, according to preliminary laboratory tests. It also 'strongly increases' T cell levels, offering the immune system an extra boost to protect against severe disease. But Pfizer also insisted that two doses should still be enough to slash rates of hospitalisations and deaths, in the event of fresh waves triggered by the super-mutant strain. And millions of doses of a new version of its vaccine tailored to the mutant strain  which has already been developed  can be ready by March if the current crop of jabs do not provide enough protection against Omicron. Pfizer's boss said they will know within weeks if it is needed and all of its production can be switched to the new vaccine. It comes as two separate studies released today show that vaccines appear to work better than expected against Omicron, which is quickly spreading in Britain and has left No10 on the brink of resorting to its 'Plan B' to save the NHS from being overwhelmed this winter. A South African research institute found people fully-vaccinated with Pfizer make up to 40-times fewer antibodies against Omicron compared to other variants. But the lead author of the research, the first of four laboratory-based studies released in the last 24 hours, insisted the results are 'better than expected'. Another study by Swedish virologists also found there is a drop in the body's ability to neutralise Omicron after jabs. But the Karolinska Institute researchers insisted the decline was not seen in everyone, with one of the paper authors saying the fall was 'lower than feared'. Meanwhile, a World Health Organization official insisted the vaccines should still work against Omicron, admitting that the strain appears to be milder than its rivals, such as Beta and Delta. Dr Michael Ryan, the agency's emergencies director, argued the current jabs 'have proved effective against all the variants so far' in preventing severe disease. He added that 'there's no reason to expect' vaccines would suddenly fail against Omicron. Advertisement

In total, across all age groups, there are nearly 18million people in England who are eligible for a booster under the three month waiting rule for jabs, but who have not got one.

According to NHS data, approximately 36 per cent of the population in England have received a Covid booster, but this varies widely across age demographics.

People aged between 70-79 were the most likely to receive their booster, with 86 per cent having done so as of December 8, based on National Immunisation Management System (NIMS) population estimates used by the NHS.

In terms of sheer numbers of boosters, the 60-69 age demographic recorded the most, with 4,398,841 third jabs as of yesterday, but this is only 68 per cent of this group.

There are multiple ways of estimating the population of England for vaccine uptake purposes. One of these is NIMS which records people registered with the NHS and is updated weekly.

However the NHS says this data set can overestimate population and therefore underestimate vaccine uptake as there is a lag between people registering with the NHS when they move, and could be counted twice, or have died and the record has not caught up.

The booster campaign launched in September, starting with the older groups, in response to the discovery that the protection offered by vaccines began to wane six months after the second dose of the jab was given.

The aim was to offer people additional protection ahead of what was predicted to be a difficult winter for the NHS.

However, this was ramped up significantly when Omicron burst onto the scene just a few weeks ago, with ministers promising to speed up the rollout and expand it to more groups in attempt to ward off a similar wave of cases to the one the UK experienced following the emergence of Delta.

Despite the ramp-up being launched with much aplomb, the behemoth booster campaign has so failed to speed up and has in fact performed worse on some days than prior to ministers' promises to put it on 'steroids'.

But this week Mr Johnson has insisted the Covid booster campaign was actually going faster than planned, despite data showing the country is still nowhere near meeting his 500,000-a-day target.

When questioned about the speed of the booster programme, Mr Johnson claimed it was actually ahead of schedule, before adding it could go faster .

He told reporters: 'The booster programme is the fastest in Europe, and I think we've done more boosters than any comparable country. That doesn't mean it couldn't go faster.

The latest NHS data shows the UK is nowhere near the 500,000-a-day goal and is in fact delivering fewer booster jabs on some days than before Mr Johnson's pledge.

Data has laid bare the sluggishness of the booster programme with only 391,050 jabs given on Tuesday, the date for which the latest figures are available.

Despite promises to ramp up the scale of the booster rollout the is only about 10,000 more jabs than the same day last week, when 318,671 were given.

At the current speed of 2.7million per week, it will take until mid-February for every eligible Briton to be offered get their third Covid vaccine, almost two weeks after the Government's end of January deadline.

News of 'Plan B' measures came as new a new study suggested that the booster campaign could thwart Omicron if enough jabs are rolled out.

A study by pharmaceutical giant Pfizer showed a third dose of its jab provided the same level of protection against Omicron as two doses against the original strain of Covid.

But Pfizer also insisted that two doses should still be enough to slash rates of hospitalisations and deaths, in the event of fresh waves triggered by the super-mutant strain.

The PM dramatically triggered 'Plan B' measures to control the rampant Omicron strain at a press conference last night, with fears that infections are now doubling every few days and the NHS could be crippled.

Why has the booster campaign been so slow? Since launching in September the Covid booster campaign has failed to take off at the same speed as the initial vaccine rollout. This is partly due to the number of staff and facilities being involved in the booster campaign being dramatically less than the resources committed to vaccine efforts earlier in the year. Mass vaccination centres have been replaced by smaller teams in GP surgeries and pharmacies. And despite minister urging people to come forward when they were eligible people seeking boosters have reported struggling to book jabs or being given appointment slots at inconvenient times or distant locations. As of today, people have also reported being turned away from their booster appointments due to conflicting guidance with staff at some vaccine centres still citing old guidelines that stated people need to wait six months between doses. The current guidance states the wait is now three months. Vaccine supply is not considered to be an issue in the rollout. Advertisement

Millions of office staff will be urged to work from home from Monday, while masks will be required in theatres and cinemas, and Covid passports are being introduced for nightclubs and large venues.

But Mr Johnson stressed that office Christmas parties should go ahead, sparking derision from critics. Desperate businesses have complained that the differing restrictions for venues 'don't make any sense'.

Dozens of Conservative MPs are now threatening to rebel against the measures when a Commons vote is held next week - although support from Labour means they will still pass.

Backbencher Marcus Fysh said today that the latest curbs are an 'utter disgrace', while former chief whip Mark Harper has questioned whether the government has the moral authority to impose the limits given the row over rules being flouted in Downing Street.

There was a further setback when the NHS Covid pass website crashed for several hours last night.

In signs of Cabinet tensions, Sajid Javid this morning dismissed a hint from the PM that mandatory vaccination might be looked at in future, saying that would be 'ethically wrong'.

And the Health Secretary revealed that he refused to continue with a scheduled round of broadcast interviews yesterday because he was 'upset' by the bombshell video of No10 aides giggling about an alleged lockdown-busting festive gathering last year.

Mr Javid insisted it is 'proportionate' to urge people not to go to the office

The scale of the damage to the Tories from the partying revelations, which followed the sleaze row, has been underlined with a poll showing 63 per cent of voters think the PM should resign.

Labour also had a four-point lead in the Redfield & Wilton poll, the largest since the 2019 general election.

At a downbeat Downing Street press conference, Mr Johnson said the new restrictions were a 'proportionate and responsible' reaction to a surge in Omicron cases.

But he faced accusations that he had accelerated the move to Plan B restrictions in order to shift the news agenda away from public outrage over claims that No10 staff held a Christmas party last December in defiance of tough lockdown rules.

William Wragg, Tory chairman of the Commons public administration committee, called the move a 'diversionary tactic'. Other MPs asked how the Government could expect people to abide by Covid rules when No10 staff were accused of recklessly breaking them.

Many Conservative backbenchers were also furious over the likely economic impact of the new curbs, with some even heckling Health Secretary Sajid Javid in the Commons to shouts of 'resign'.

The public appeared to have already voted with their feet today as pictures showed London stations eerily quiet.
A couple who put off their wedding for eleven years tied the knot three days before the bride tragically died of cancer.

Ben and Jen Cooper got engaged in 2010 but kept putting back their wedding day due to work, family losses and having three children together.

The couple finally managed to tied the knot last month in the Severn Hospice in Telford, Shropshire, just days before Jen passed away.

Last year the mother-of-five, 43, had celebrated five years of being cancer free after following treatment for breast cancer.

Months later, just before lockdown, the maths teacher was diagnosed with cancer again after she discovered a new lump under her armpit.

Jen began a new battle with the disease but died peacefully on November 20 with husband Ben, 34, by her side, after wishing each other one last 'good night'.

Ben and Jen Cooper got engaged in 2010 but kept putting back their wedding day due to work, family losses and having three children together

Last year the mother-of-five (pictured with three of her children), 43, had celebrated five years of being cancer free after following treatment for breast cancer

Ben and Jen during happy times together before she was diagnosed with cancer

Jen had two children with her ex-husband and after meeting Ben went on to have three more children

The couple brought their wedding day, which was planned for November 27, forward after Jen's health deteriorated so the beloved mum could have her special day.

Speaking today Ben, from Newport, Shropshire, said: 'There was just us, Jen's mom and two witnesses.

'We played Bon Jovi for Jen, got her in her dress, and had some bubbly.

'It was perfect. The nurses hung Jen's dress up in her room so she could look at it when she was in bed.

'The kids were so excited about the wedding I was worried about coming home and telling them we'd got married and that they hadn't been able to be there, but they were just so happy for us.

'One happy thing to come from the arrangements for the original wedding is that the 27th is going to be turned into a mega birthday party for my girls, who all have their birthdays before Xmas.'

Jen had two children with her ex-husband and after meeting Ben went on to have three more children.

Ben said: 'The community has also very kindly donated to a Just Giving page for the wedding costs and they have kept things open for a fund to help me and the kids stay afloat.

'I had no idea how I would get five kids through Christmas and three birthdays when my salary will barely cover the bills on my own, the donations will help me make sure that their first birthday/Christmas without mum is as happy as can be.

'My one daughter even insisted on wearing her wedding dress to school for children in need of a non-uniform day.

The couple finally managed to tied the knot last month in the Severn Hospice in Telford, Shropshire, just days before Jen passed away

Jen trying on her wedding dress before she finally tied the knot with her long-term partner

Just before lockdown, the maths teacher (left and right) was diagnosed with cancer again after she discovered a new lump under her armpit.

Jen began a new battle with the disease but died peacefully on November 20 with husband Ben, 34, by her side, after wishing each other one last 'good night'

'Her last moments were with me holding her hand. I told her that I loved her and the kids loved her.

'The movie that had been playing in the background had just finished and I sad to the nurse 'I can't believe the last film she'll ever watch is Big Momma's House', a stupid joke to break the tension and the nurse and I laughed.

'Then I noticed that her chest wasn't moving and asked the nurse to check and she'd gone.

'So either the last thing she heard was 'The kids love you' or another stupid comment from me. I think Jen would have been happy with either.

'I stayed with her for a while, holding her hand and talking to her while my friend came to pick me up.

'Then I gave her one last kiss and said 'Good night Beach' (her nickname from me), and I went home to the kids.'

Ben shared a photo of the couple after their nuptials on Twitter two days Jen passed away,, writing: 'I finally married the love of my life on Wednesday. Not the day we had planned but amazing.

'I'm heartbroken that this marriage will be counted in days not years. Don't put things off, tell the people you love that you love them now.'

The post has now collected over 99,800 likes, 4,500 retweets and 2,000 likes from users who shared their congratulations.
Kate Garraway has described the Downing Street Christmas party as 'heartbreaking and depressing' after her husband Derek Draper spent a year in hospital battling Covid.

The TV host, 54, told Good Morning Britain today she struggled to 'try and make things work' and follow lockdown rules during the period the party allegedly took place.

In her documentary Finding Derek, released earlier this year, she also spoke about the struggles her family faced as her husband spent a year in hospital gravely ill after contracting coronavirus.

Commenting on reports of the Downing Street party today, she said: 'I just don't want to throw stones, basically, because the obvious thing to say is it's heartbreaking and ridiculous and I can't believe it because I don't think they're a group of evil people.

'But there is definitely something very, very uncomfortable about it. Maybe they just didn't know the devastation... the rules were affecting all of us.'

Kate Garraway today said that reports of a Downing Street Christmas party are 'heartbreaking and depressing'

In her documentary Finding Derek, released earlier this year, she spoke about the struggles her family faced as her husband Derek Draper spent a year in hospital gravely ill after contracting coronavirus

Co-presenter Susanna Reid said: 'I don't think anyone is describing malign intent here.

'But Adam Wagner, who is a barrister - we regularly talk to Adam on the programme - has been, as you suggest, crunching the legals over this.'

She continued, quoting from a document: 'During that period, there were only two legal ways to have an indoor gathering of more than 30 people.

'There were permitted, organised gatherings - but that would mean guests weren't allowed to mingle with anyone not in their household. That doesn't seem to apply.

'And the only other legal route was if the gathering was 'reasonably necessary for work'. It seems doubtful any kind of party held for more than 30 people indoors where Covid was more likely to spread would be reasonably necessary for work.'

Garraway added: 'Because I just remember the scrutiny that we went through to try and make things work.

'And you know, Susanna, because I talked to you a lot about it, about even simple things like 'Can I leave them on their own? Am I allowed to have people in to look after the children?'

'It was just very complicated. But I think if I was doing that, I know every household in the land was doing that - 'Am I within the rules?'. And it's just depressing.'

Reid finished: 'How people at Downing Street weren't doing the same thing.... 'Are we doing this within the rules? We have set the rules'.'

Boris Johnson has agreed to an internal investigation into allegations of a Covid-rule-breaking Christmas party in Downing Street in the face of mounting anger.

The Prime Minister has repeatedly insisted the rules were followed that night but apologised over the impression made by leaked footage of No 10 staff joking about coronavirus restrictions.

Boris Johnson has agreed to an internal investigation into allegations of a Covid-rule-breaking Christmas party in Downing Street in the face of mounting anger

The Prime Minister has repeatedly insisted the rules were followed that night but apologised over the impression made by leaked footage of No 10 staff joking about coronavirus restrictions

The adviser who outed the Downing Street Christmas party in the notorious video refused to answer questions today as he fled a media scrum through Whitehall - as details of four separate gatherings emerged.

Ed Oldfield, a 23-year-old former public schoolboy, kept his head down as he strode purposely through Whitehall pursued by a press pack.

The row over last year's 'illicit' Downing Street Christmas party has rocked Westminster over the last week and led Ms Stratton to announce her resignation yesterday.

But it has now emerged that the December 18 event may have been only one of as many as six Whitehall bashes held in the run-up to Christmas  at a time when the country was under stringent Covid restrictions.

It was alleged there was a leaving do where the PM reportedly gave a speech, a quiz night and even a celebration in the Downing Street flat on the night Dominic Cummings left No10. There were also said to have been other parties in Whitehall departments and at Tory headquarters.

The 'raucous' dos, at which several officials were said to have been seen 'rat-a**ed' on copious amounts of wine, have certainly left Whitehall with a lasting hangover as the events are probed by the Cabinet Secretary and the Met Police.

Meanwhile, during a press conference on Wednesday, a tightening of rules was announced, including the return of work-from-home guidance, Covid health certificates becoming mandatory in large venues, and mask rules being extended to combat the rapidly-spreading Omicron variant in England.
A tiny watermelon on legs - otherwise known as a newborn pygmy hippo - has made her debut at Sydney's Taronga Zoo.

The ridiculously cute and chubby calf made her first public outing on Thursday, in time for the school holidays, delighting staff and visitors alike.

Zoo director Simon Duffy says baby pygmy hippos 'are like a small watermelon on little, tiny legs'.

A newborn pygmy hippo - has made her debut at Sydney's Taronga Zoo on Thursday (pictured)

Born to mum Kambiri and dad Fergus, the pygmy hippo is the first birth at the zoo in four years

'They are so beautiful,' he said.

Born to mum Kambiri and dad Fergus, the pygmy hippo is the first birth at the zoo in four years.

The arrival marks an important milestone for the conservation efforts to protect the endangered West African species, senior keeper Renae Moss said.

'There's fewer than 3000 of them left in the wild, so every birth in a zoo is extremely valuable to help bolster that population to ensure that we don't lose the species all together,' she said.

The baby hippo has spent the last two weeks in an off-exhibit nursery den, learning to walk and swim under the watchful eye of her mum.

Watching her graduate to the big exhibit was thrilling for Ms Moss who says the calf was initially hesitant to go into the pool, but eventually took the plunge with a little encouragement from mum.

The baby hippo has spent the last two weeks in an off-exhibit nursery den, learning to walk and swim

'As the calf masters the art of swimming and becomes more confident in and out of the water, we will begin to increase the depth of the pool and remove some baby proofing,' she said.

The pint-sized calf remains nameless and zookeepers are appealing to the public for help.

Options suggested by her keepers include Amara, which means 'filled with beauty and grace' and is of West African origin, Sierra after the country of Sierra Leone, and Sapo after the Sapo National Park in Sinoe County, Liberia.

Members of the public can submit their own suggestions through the zoo's website.

Pygmy hippos are native to West Africa and are generally solitary animals, only coming together for breeding.

There is estimated to be between 2,000 to 3,000 pygmy hippos remaining in the wild  classifying the species as endangered, with numbers continuing to decline in the wild.
A Missouri mother pleaded guilty to fraud after spending two years impersonating her estranged 22-year-old daughter and stealing her identity to enroll in university, secure student loans and get a driver's license.

Laura Oglesby, 48, adopted the identity of her estranged daughter Lauren Ashleigh Hays in 2016, who was 22 at the time, after applying for a Social Security card in her name.

Oglesby had lived with her daughter in Jonesboro, Arkansas, before moving by herself over two hours north to Missouri after the two lost contact.

To locals in the small town of Mountain View, Oglesby was a 22-year-old student called Lauren Hays who dated men who believed she was that young and had a job at the city library.

But in reality, she was a mother in her 40s who had assumed her estranged daughter's identity and embezzled over $25,000 - and who now faces up to five years in prison without parole for Social Security fraud.

'Everyone believed it,' Chief Jamie Perkins of the Mountain View Police Department told The New York Times . 'She even had boyfriends that believed that she was that age: 22 years old.'

Laura Oglesby (left), 48, adopted the identity of her estranged daughter Lauren Ashleigh Hays (right) in 2016, who was 22 at the time, after applying for a Social Security card in her name

Laura Oglesby (center) was pictured in a photo with her - Lauren Ashleigh Hays (left) and Hays' sister Chelsea (right), who shared the image to social media in 2012

Oglesby dressed as her daughter after assuming her identity in a different state

In 2016, on the day of obtaining a fraudulent Social Security card in her daughter's name, Oglesby used the card to obtain a Missouri driver's license, the US Attorney's Office for the Western District of Missouri said in a statement.

A year later, Oglesby used the Social Security card again to enroll at Southwest Baptist University in Missouri, where she applied for and received financial aid to attend.

She received $9,400 in federal student loans, $5,920 in Pell Grants, $337 for books she got from the University bookstore, and $1,863 in finance charges.

Southwest Baptist University said it had 'cooperated fully with the investigation.' The school did not confirm if Oglesby attended classes at the college, located about 135 miles northeast of Mountain View.

After pleading guilty to the charge of Social Security fraud, Oglesby must pay $17,521 to the university as well as restitution to her daughter Lauren for identity theft.

Oglesby will face a sentence of up to five years in federal prison without parole.

Her story unraveled in 2018 when authorities in Arkansas contacted Mountain View Police Department.

At the time, Oglesby was living with Avery and Wendy Parker, a couple in Mountain View who took her in from a nearby women's shelter after she claimed she was running away from a domestic violence situation.

'A woman in town had said that there was a girl who had had an abusive relationship and she was at the Christos House and wanted to know if we could help her out, get her on her feet, get her started, mentor her and get her a fresh new life. We said sure, absolutely,' the Parkers told KY3.

Avery and Wendy Parker, the couple in Mountain View who took in Oglesby

The Parkers allowed Oglesby to live with them after she told them she was running away from an abusive relationship, the couple said

Oglesby pleaded guilty to Social Security fraud and faces up to five years in prison after she assumed her estranged daughter's identity and embezzled over $25,000

Officers revealed that Oglesby, pictured here as her daughter, had been working at a city library in Mountain View for over a year under her daughter's identity

The Christos House, located in West Plains, is a non-profit shelter for women and women with children who are victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.

The couple said they treated Oglesby like she was their daughter.

'She was a giddy, silly girl. She was 22 but she acted 17,' Avery Parker said of Oglesby.

The Parkers said that they began to notice red flags with her shortly thereafter, so they eventually reached out to a family member of theirs who happened to live in the same town Oglesby said she was from.

Meanwhile, investigators were hot on her trail and already beginning to uncover the truth behind Oglesby's identity.

The couple told the outlet they were shocked and angered upon learning of her crimes.

'Within 24 hours, Laura surfaced and was arrested,' Wendy Parker said.

'I try real hard to see the 45-year-old Laura, so I can hate her. But all I can see is a 22-year-old Lauren, who I just wanted to help,' Avery Parker added.

'If I could give her a message it, I would just like to tell her that the people she hurt the most, we're nothing, was her kids. She hurt her kids,' Wendy said.

Map shows where Oglesby used to live with her daughter in Arkansas, the shelter for domestic violence victims where she stayed, and the town where she lived with couple before arrest

Oglesby used the Social Security card again to enroll at Southwest Baptist University (pictured) in Missouri where she applied for and received financial aid to attend

Oglesby had been working at a city library in Mountain View for over a year under her daughter's identity.

Chief Perkins told The New York Times: 'She actually was employed here, which was kind of off. And that's how we figured out who she was.'

Perkins said officers had pulled Oglesby over at a traffic stop. After initially denying that she was Oglesby, she admitted it after the police showed her proof that they knew her identity.

'She was just running because she was in a domestic violence relationship, and she'd been running for years,' Chief Perkins said Oglesby told the police. 'We don't know her life story outside of what she told us, but we know what happened here.'

'She had lived that life for a couple of years and basically just ruined her daughter's credit,' Chief Perkins said.
Travellers who were staying at a quarantine hotel awoke to scenes of chaos this morning after they were initially told not to leave their rooms during a fire alarm before being packed together with 'zero social distancing'.

The guests, some still wearing their pyjamas, were pictured huddled together in large groups, despite being told they must isolate from others, at the four-star Hotel Sofitel at London Gatwick on Thursday morning.

Eyewitnesses told MailOnline they were initially told to stay in their rooms, despite the fire alarm's siren blaring around them, before eventually being allowed to leave 15 minutes later by security.

Panicked patrons, both young and old, clutched towels as they were squeezed together in the car park as hotel staff desperately tried to grapple with the situation. Those mixing outside included guests who had arrived from red-list destinations.

Furious travellers, many of whom have paid upwards of 3,700 to quarantine at Sofitel, slammed the lack of social distancing and said they believed Thursday morning's chaos was a 'superspreader event'.

MailOnline understands he emergency services were eventually called and restored control of the situation after around an hour.

Guests, some still wearing their pyjamas, were pictured huddled together in large groups, despite being told they must isolate from others, at the four-star Hotel Sofitel at London Gatwick

Eyewitnesses told MailOnline that people of all ages, from babies to pensioners in a wheelchair, were panicking as they were caught up in the chaos at Sofitel Gatwick on Thursday

Travellers, some from red-list countries, were allowed to freely mix with other guests in the car park a the Sofitel Hotel in Gatwick on Thursday

Video shot at the scene by exasperated travellers showed dozens of people standing outside as two young members of Sofitel staff tried to conduct a roll call using a loudspeaker.

In one clip, security guards inexplicably told the guests to 'go back to bed' after the fire alarm, while others were still being shepherded out of the building.

Half-dressed patrons, some cradling babies and reassuring young children, were largely left to their own devices until the emergency services arrived, eyewitnesses explained to MailOnline.

Almost all were seen wearing their face coverings, while some were pictured wrapped in industrial blankets to protect them from the cold.

'It was freezing cold,' said one guest, who did not wish to be identified.

'There were elderly people and mothers with babies there. A staff member with a megaphone was trying to read a roll call of guests but no-one could hear. It was ridiculous.

'When we went back into the hotel there was congestion on the stairs and lifts. It was chaotic really. The hotel needs to look long and hard at all its procedures to ensure it had the ability to look after quarantining travellers in safety.'

MailOnline understands that the guests, who spent about an hour outside in chilly 35.6F (2C) temperatures, are now back inside.

Sofitel and Sussex Police have been contacted to provide comment.

Pierre de Villiers, 50, a travel journalist who had arrived from Cape Town told Mail Online that the alarms began to go off shortly before 8am.

'Everyone was in panic coming out of their rooms and wanting to get out of their rooms in case there really was a fire. There was no one from the hotel around at first. It was very chaotic. Eventually a guard came up and told us not to leave the hotel but he didn't seem to know if there was a fire or not so no one was doing that.

'We found our way out of the fire escapes and out into the airport. There were dozens of people who had all been cooped up along all spilling out together.

Quarantining travellers told MailOnline that Thursday morning's chaos at Sofitel Gatwick was like a 'superspreader event'

Half-dressed patrons, some cradling babies and reassuring young children, were largely left to their own devices until the emergency services arrived

MailOnline understands that the guests, who spent about an hour outside in chilly 35.6F (2C) temperatures, are now back inside

Eyewitnesses told MailOnline they were initially told to stay in their rooms, despite the fire alarm's siren blaring around them, before eventually being allowed to leave 15 minutes later by security

'There were women with babies, young children, an old person in a wheelchair, people still in their pyjamas, all in a panic.

'Airport security then showed up and started trying to get everyone together in a group - and people were saying 'What are you talking about - we are meant to be isolating... we have to remain distanced'.

'So we were spilling out onto the road as no one wanted to stand close to anyone else - and that meant the crowd was blocking the cars coming in trying to drop people off for flights.

'Finally the police got involved and started calming things down.

'Blankets were brought out to keep people warm who had fled half-dressed. And the Fire Brigade showed up so finally it was declared safe to return.

'But the whole episode was a shambles - as if they hadn't adapted their normal fire drill to allow for it being a quarantine hotel. Total chaos.'

Mr de Villiers, who came to the UK 23 years ago and lives in London, said guests were spilling down an embankment onto the road and police were forced to close a slip-road which leads to an airport departure drop-off.

He said: 'People refused to be herded together. We didn't want to create some sort of fire crews, police and an ambulance turned up at the hotel at Gatwick.'

Guests say staff came out with blankets and towels to keep guests - many of whom were dressed in just their pyjamas - warm.

Guests criticised the hotel's lack of organisation during the fire alarm and described conditions as 'unsafe' with 'zero social distancing'

One video shot at the scene saw two people arguing with a member of security about the chaotic evacuation procedure

Another 65-year-old traveller, who did not want to be named, said the evacuation was 'farcical' and claimed worried guests were told to stay in their room during the fire emergency.

She said: 'The fact of the matter was a smoke alarm had gone off but it could have been a fire and we were all told to stay in our rooms. It was farcical but also dangerous.'

The traveller, who flew in from Cape Town on Monday, is due to spend Christmas with her family after not seeing them for two years.

Her daughter, Sally Buckmaster, said: 'I'm furious about it because the hotel should not taking chances with people's lives and putting guests at risk.

'It is shocking and unacceptable and the whole thing was a shambles. My mother was quite worried about it all.

'The evacuation was chaotic, people couldn't social distance and one person even had an asthma attack and collapsed and an ambulance had to attend.'

She said her mother was being charged 285 a night for her room after she fell victim to the sudden changes in travel restrictions from Red List countries.

One video shot at the scene saw two people arguing with a member of security about the chaotic evacuation procedure, while other clips showed showed hundreds of confused guests waiting for further instruction.

Others criticised the hotel's lack of organisation during the fire alarm, and described conditions as 'unsafe'.

Robert Lee, who had arrived at the hotel just hours before, was told he was not able to leave his room by security guards despite the fire alarm going off around him.

Mr Lee explained that he was finally able to leave his room 'an hour later', but there were no senior managers around and hotel staff still are 'unaware' of who made it out of the hotel.

Other patrons took to social media to vent their frustration at the pandemonium at Sofitel

The Sofitel has 518 guest rooms and 11 meeting rooms and is connected to Gatwick North Terminal via a covered walkway. The South Terminal is a two-minute monorail journey away.

It comes as it was revealed families desperate to get back to Britain from red list countries are now being forced to split up and quarantine in hotels up to 100 miles apart.

A lack of available rooms for returning travellers in London has forced parents to separate from their children as the Government scrambles to increase capacity.

Government officials have now doubled the number of quarantine hotel rooms available after the expansion of the red list to include 11 countries in recent days.

One family from Sheffield returning from South Africa have been forced to split up with the mother in one room and their six-year-old son with the father in another.

They were told they could not all stay in one double room and instead had to pay for two rooms which will cost them more than 4,500, reported The Times.

The Dale family including parents Rachel (left) and Jason (second right) and their daughters Lilly (left), 15, and Poppy (right), 18, who arrived at London Gatwick Airport on Tuesday

Lewis Hunt and Ebony Cox stand next to their suitcases after arriving at Gatwick on Tuesday

A family from Sheffield returning from South Africa were forced to split up with the mother in one room at Gatwick and their six-year-old son with the father in another in Milton Keynes

A quarantine room at the Holiday Inn Express at Heathrow Terminal 4, pictured this week

How much quarantine hotels cost passengers Here are the prices of quarantine hotels which have to be paid for those returning from red list countries: 1 adult in 1 room for 10 days (11 nights) - 2,285

- 2,285 Additional rate for 1 adult (or child over 11) - 1,430

- 1,430 Additional rate for a child aged 5 to 11 - 325

- 325 Child under 5 - free The price includes transport to and from the hotel; accommodation, food and drink for the whole of the stay; and any Covid-19 tests which need to be taken during the quarantine period. Advertisement

One of the hotels is at London Gatwick and the other in Milton Keynes. Their MP Olivia Blake criticised the 'ridiculous' situation and said she knew of other examples.

The hotels cost 2,285 for 11 nights for one adult in one room, then 1,430 for an extra adult or child over 11, and 325 for a child aged 5 to 11. Under-fives are free.

A Government spokesman told MailOnline: 'The quarantine measures we have in place are minimising the risk of variants coming into the UK and safeguarding the hard-won progress of our vaccination programme.

'The majority of passengers who have used the Managed Quarantine Service have been satisfied with the service and we aim to keep families together. We would advise guests to raise any concerns with hotel staff in the first instance.'

It comes as travel industry leaders accused the government of over-reacting and demanded a package of financial support for an industry facing a collapse in bookings and mass cancellations.

British Airways' chairman and chief executive, Sean Doyle, said: 'The blanket re-introduction of testing to enter the UK, on top of the current regime of isolation and PCR testing on arrival is completely out of step with the rest of the world, with every other country taking a measured approach based on the science.

'Our customers will now be faced with uncertainty and chaos and yet again this a devastating blow for everyone who works in the travel industry.'

Travel industry trade body, ABTA, said: 'The re-introduction of pre-departure tests will be a huge blow to travellers and an already devastated travel industry, which has been the hardest hit sector throughout the crisis and which is now fast approaching the key booking season for next summer.

'While we have always been clear that public health must be the priority at this time, the Government must now step up to save jobs and businesses.'

** Are you stuck in a quarantine hotel? Please email: tips@dailymail.com **
A female manager at a City tech company has been awarded more than 12,000 in compensation after her job performance was downgraded because she took maternity leave.

Diana Ledkova took a discrimination claim to an east London tribunal after she returned to work in November 2019 and two months later was appraised as having 'met all or most expectations' for the year.

She complained that the annual review was unfair because in September 2018, two months before she went away, she had been rated as 'exceeding expectations'.

Ms Ledkova was also dismayed to find some of her duties had been handed to a male colleague without discussion and that she had been effectively 'demoted' as she was now listed as reporting to him.

She was awarded 12,597.83 in compensation this week after a panel at the tribunal ruled she had been the victim of 'unfavourable treatment'.

The tribunal heard Ms Ledkova had joined City financial tech firm Traiana as a Project Manager in 2014.

Diana Ledkova (pictured) took a discrimination claim to an east London tribunal after she returned to work in November 2019 to find her job performance had been downgraded

Ms Ledkova was also dismayed to find some of her duties had been handed to her male colleague Errol McKenzie (pictured ) without discussion and that she had been effectively 'demoted'

She was promoted after four years to lead a team of three employees in project managing key clients, before taking maternity leave in November 2018.

Instead of recruiting cover it was agreed her line management responsibilities would be taken on by an existing colleague, and Mrs Ledkova provided 'comprehensive handout documents' to assist them.

However, the same day Ms Ledkova left on maternity leave, Traiana Limited was bought by American company The CME Group.

She was informed by an HR advisor that under the new ownership she would be employed going forward in the Global Operations Division, reporting to a Mr Errol McKenzie.

The tribunal heard plans were discussed concerning her team whilst she was still away, without her 'consultation' or 'input'.

It was told: 'Specifically, the plan did not record that [Mrs Ledkova] would return to managing her team.

'There was no discussion about any changes to [Mrs Ledkova]'s role when she would return during this time.'

Ms Ledkova returned to work in November 2019 and was given an annual performance review two months later.

She was appraised by her line manager as 'meets all or most expectations' - a downgrade from her previous rating of 'exceeds expectations', the tribunal heard.

Mrs Ledkova challenged the rating, asking for it to be raised back up to her previous appraisal standing.

Later that month she also discovered she was now shown to be reporting to the employee who had taken on her line management duties.

The tribunal was told: 'Ms Ledkova was upset by this and complained... By this point [she] believed she had been overlooked whilst she was on maternity leave.

'(She) requested her pre-maternity position to be restored in terms of reporting to Mr McKenzie and managing her team.

'Whilst [her] grade and salary had not changed, Mrs Ledkova reasonably perceived what had happened to be a demotion in operational status.'

Mrs Ledkova filed a formal grievance against her employer but was 'not content' with the outcome.

Despite being appointed the role of Team Manager in June 2020 - which was similar to her pre-maternity leave role - she pursued her employment tribunal claims.

Though her claims of sex discrimination and unlawful victimisation failed, the tribunal ruled Traiana Limited had discriminated against Mrs Ledkova 'by reason of her taking maternity leave'.

Ms Ledkova (pictured) has been awarded 12,597.83 in compensation after a panel at the tribunal ruled she had been the victim of 'unfavourable treatment'

In its judgement, the tribunal said: 'Mrs Ledkova's maternity absence undermined her appraisal rating.

'She was not given a performance evaluation rating in respect of the seven months she worked in 2018 because she was on maternity leave when a performance review was due.

'[Mrs Ledkova] had completed her side of the performance review before going on maternity leave.

'[She] did not receive an appraisal in January 2019 for the 2018 year. This was because she was on maternity leave.

'Mrs Ledkova was not able to maintain her record of exceeds expectation appraisals and her 7 months work for 2018 was marked.

'This is therefore of unfavourable treatment because she was on maternity leave.

'The decision to remove her team (or not return them to her) [also] amounted to unfavourable treatment because she was on maternity leave.'

She was awarded 12,597.83 in compensation for injury to feelings and other costs.
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UK Covid infections grew by just four per cent last week, the country's biggest symptom-tracking study claimed today despite warnings Omicron is quickly outstripping Delta.

King's College London scientists estimated 83,658 people caught the virus on average each day in the week to December 4, up from 80,483 the seven days prior.

Cases are stagnant or falling in all over-55s thanks to the booster rollout but are rising in all younger age groups, especially children who make up about 30,000 daily cases alone. Broken down within the UK, London, the South East and Wales saw cases rise.

Professor Tim Spector, who leads the ZOE symptom study, said that while it was too early to see Omicron in the data, he warned the NHS could be overwhelmed if cases of the super-strain begin to skyrocket as predicted.

He said the evidence  alongside claims it may be more mild than other strains  was no reason to be 'relaxed', adding: 'The higher rate of transmission even in the vaccinated could have devastating consequences... Hundreds of people continue to die every week as we head into our second Christmas of this pandemic.'

Professor Spector, who has been calling for more restrictions since September, welcomed Boris Johnson's Plan B announcement last night but feared it is 'too little, too late'.

From next week, people in England will be advised to work from home, wear face masks in cinemas and theatres, and use vaccine passports for large events.

SAGE, the Government's scientific advisory group, has warned that there could have been a million Omicron cases and 1,000 daily hospital admissions by the end of the year without Plan B.

King's College London scientists estimated that 83,658 people in the UK were catching the virus every day last week, up four per cent on the same time the week before

They suggested cases were rising among the under-55s but remained low in older age groups that have already received a booster vaccine

London, the South East and Wales are seeing cases rise, they suggested. But these remain level in other age groups

At a Downing Street press conference last night, the PM declared that people should once again work from home where possible, as well as extending use of masks and introducing Covid passports for nightclubs

In total, there are 46,000 Covid cases on average each day in the UK and data from the Covid Genomics UK Consortium (COG-UK) suggests the new strain is already behind around one in 66 of them, or 1.4 per cent

There is growing pressure on the Government to tighten restrictions after the total number of British Omicron cases rose to 568 today, with the highly evolved variant now in every country in the UK and almost every region of England

There are currently 568 confirmed cases of the super-strain, but scientists say the true figure is in the thousands because only a small number of tests are analysed for variants.

The Covid symptom study  also run by health data science company ZOE  estimates the prevalence of the virus across the UK based on daily reports on whether they are feeling unwell from 650,000 contributors, and nearly 50,000 Covid tests.

The study has had no confirmed cases of Omicron to date but sources said they were hoping to be able to add a feature to ask users whether they had tested positive for the mutant strain.

Professor Spector said: 'Covid is unpredictable and even if most only feel like theyve got a cold, there are far more long-term risks than a cold carries.

What are the new Covid rules in England? Boris Johnson announced this evening that the Government is implementing its Covid Plan B. It means: WFH The return of work from home guidance. People will be told to work from home in England from Monday if they are able to. Face masks Face masks will be made compulsory in most public indoor venues including in cinemas and theatres from this Friday. They will not be required in pubs, restaurants and gyms. Vaccine passports The NHS Covid pass will be compulsory to gain access to nightclubs and other large venues where large crowds gather. This will apply to all unseated indoor venues with more than 500 people, unseated outdoor venues with more than 4,000 people and any venue with more than 10,000 people. Two vaccine doses will be treated as fully-vaccinated but this will be kept under review because of the booster programme. A negative lateral flow test will also be sufficient. This requirement will be rolled out in one week's time to give businesses time to prepare. Contact testing Contacts of Omicron cases will be told to take daily coronavirus tests instead of having to self-isolate. They will have to quarantine if they test positive. Advertisement

'If numbers skyrocket, it doesnt matter if the percentage of people being hospitalised or dying remain low, its about volume, not percentages.'

He added: 'Im pleased the government has finally taken some action and implemented Plan B.

'We called for this back in September, but as usual, its too little too late, and many will suffer hardships this Christmas as a result.

'Unless we see major behavioural change as a result, I expect that Covid rates will climb higher than ever in 2022.

'ZOE has now introduced a new feature into the app that allows people to share their Omicron experiences and symptoms, so we will be analysing the data in the coming weeks.'

SAGE scientists today hinted that tougher coronavirus restrictions could be in the pipeline as they warned the Government's 'Plan B' does not go far enough to stop Omicron.

Boris Johnson activated his Covid contingency plan last night in response to the highly-mutated strain after being warned it could cause a million infections and 1,000 daily NHS admissions by New Year if left to spread unchecked.

The Prime Minister is facing fury from several senior backbenchers over the anti-Omicron measures which include widespread working from home, more mask-wearing and vaccine passports.

But Professor Andrew Hayward, a member of No10's Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE), has warned that we 'need much more severe restrictions to turn it around'.

He said that while Plan B would 'slow the spread' of the super-strain, they are 'not going to turn around' the looming wave of cases and hospitalisations.

Sajid Javid, the Health Secretary, claimed that the Plan B measures were 'proportionate' but admitted they will be kept under constant review.

There are fears that Britons could be stung by last-minute Christmas curbs again after millions were deprived from seeing their loved ones last year when the Alpha variant took off.

SAGE modeller Dr Mike Tildesley hinted at a watered down Christmas this year, claiming that it was 'very important' to allow families to be together this year  but in a 'safe way'.

Mr Johnson has already hinted that Covid jabs could eventually be compulsory, telling last night's Downing Street conference that a 'national conversation' on the matter is likely to be needed in the future. And while vaccine passports have only been imposed on large scale events at the moment, Mr Johnson suggested they could be rolled out more widely in society.

The Government is already being lobbied by independent scientists to go harder, with Independent SAGE, a 'zero Covid' group of experts, telling ministers to 'bring in more measures right now... then we may be able to avoid a lockdown'.

Yesterday Professor Neil Ferguson, one of SAGE's top modellers, warned that a full-blown lockdown might be needed to protect the NHS from Omicron.
A disgruntled employee allegedly blew up an oil warehouse where she worked in Thailand because she was fed up of her boss 'complaining' and 'causing her stress'.

Ann Sriya, 38, allegedly set a piece of paper on fire and threw it on to a fuel container, causing a blaze that engulfed the Prapakorn Oil warehouse in Nakhon Pathom province on November 29.

She was arrested and confessed to committing arson, claiming she was driven by the stress her employer Pipat Ungprapakorn, 65, had caused her, according to police.

CCTV footage shows Ms Sriya, who worked as head of the warehouse, walking into the warehouse clutching what appears to be a piece of paper before walking behind a row of containers.

Ann Sriya allegedly blew up the Prapakorn Oil warehouse in Nakhon Pathom province, Thailand, on November 29. Pictured: Smoke and fire billowing out of warehouse

Video footage shows Ms Sriya, who worked as head of the warehouse, walking into the warehouse holding what appeared to be paper and standing behind a row of containers

The inferno spread quickly due to the flammable material in the tanks, and dramatic pictures show fireballs and dark plumes of smoke billowing out of the warehouse

Ms Sriya (pictured) was arrested and confessed to committing arson, claiming she was driven by the stress her employer Pipat Ungprapakorn, 65, had caused her, according to police

Another clip appears to show flames flickering on top of a container in the single-storey warehouse, which stores thousands of gallons of oil tanks.

The inferno, which caused 900,000 worth of damages, spread quickly due to the flammable material in the tanks, and dramatic pictures show fireballs and dark plumes of smoke billowing out of the warehouse.

More than 40 fire engines worked to extinguish the blaze, while video footage showed firefighters spraying water from high-pressure hoses on to the blackened structure.

As well as getting the blaze under control, firefighters had to stop the burning oil from spilling into a canal and reaching a residential area nearby.

It took four hours for emergency services to finally bring the raging fire under control.

A villager named Sirasini reportedly suffered burns on her arm and was rushed to hospital. She is now out of danger.

One video clip appears to show flames flickering on top of a container in the single-storey warehouse, which stores thousands of gallons of oil tanks

More than 40 fire engines worked to extinguish the blaze, while video footage showed firefighters spraying water from high-pressure hoses on to the blackened structure

As well as getting the blaze under control, firefighters had to stop the burning oil (charred tanks pictured) from spilling into a canal and reaching a residential area nearby

Officers estimated the cost of damage to the oil warehouse to be an estimated 40 million THB (900,000). Pictured: Firefighters tackling the blaze

More than ten houses were also reportedly damaged in the inferno.

Officers estimated the cost of damage to the oil warehouse to be an estimated 40 million THB (900,000).

Police arrested Ms Sriya, who has worked for Prapakorn Oil for 9 years, on December 1 and she allegedly confessed to committing arson.

According to police, she claimed she was driven in her actions by the stress her employer Pipat Ungprapakorn had caused her.

Major General Chomchawin Purthananon said: 'This is the second time a fire has started from this factory. The woman has been working for Prapakorn Oil for nine years.

'She said her employer complained to her and caused her stress every day, and she did not expect the fire she started to cause this level of damage.'

Ann was remanded in custody while police interviewed the factory owner.
Facebook and other social media giants could be forced to release data to researchers under a bipartisan bill unveiled by senators on Thursday, as the fallout from the Facebook leaks continues.

A day earlier, senators angrily accused the head of Instagram, which is owned by Facebook, of not doing enough to protect young users.

It follows weeks of criticism after a whistleblower released reams of internal documents and criticized Facebook for putting profits over safety.

Senators Chris Coons and Amy Klobuchar, both Democrats, announced the new bill along with Rob Portman, a Republican.

The Platform Accountability and Transparency Act would allow independent researchers to submit proposals to the National Science Foundation.

If approved, platforms would have to release internal data, albeit with certain privacy protections.

'Researchers would then be able to examine the data and release findings on the platforms' impact to the public,' the lawmakers said in a statement.

Instagram Chief Executive Adam Mosseri was given a rough ride by senators when he appeared before a consumer protection subcommittee on Wednesday. A day later three senators announced plans to try to force social media companies to hand over internal data

Senators Chris Coons and Amy Klobuchar, both Democrats, unveiled the The Platform Accountability and Transparency Act along with Rob Portman (r), a Republican

Companies that fail to turn over data could face enforcement from the Federal Trade Commission. As a last resort, they could lose their immunity under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which says they cannot be held responsible for posts made by users.

'Social media has connected the world in ways that were difficult to imagine only a decade ago, but the last few years have also made clear the tradeoffs that come with that,' said Coons.

'Its increasingly clear that more transparency is needed so that the billions of people who use Facebook, Twitter, and similar platforms can fully understand the impact of those tradeoffs.'

Photo-sharing app Instagram, a subsidiary of Meta - the new name for Facebook's parent company - has come under particular scrutiny over the impact of its services on the mental health and online safety of young users.

Instagram responded to the concerns by suspending plans for a children's version of the app. It also tightened some rules just this week.

But that was not enough to placate senators when its chief executive Adam Mosseri appeared before a Senate subcommittee on consumer protection.

Its chair, Sen. Richard Blumenthal, dismissed the move as a 'public relations gimmick' and said the platform was addictive.

Instagram, and its parent company Meta, face scrutiny over the potential detrimental impact its social media platform has on young people

Former Facebook staffer Frances Haugen has made a series of explosive claims that the company amplifies online hate and that it elevates profits over the safety of users

He called for legislation to set up an independent regulator.

'Facebooks own researchers have been warning management, including yourself, Mr. Mosseri, for years,' he said.

'Parents are asking, what is Congress doing to protect our kids and the resounding bipartisan message from this committee is that legislation is coming.

'We cant rely on self-policing.'

In September, his office set up a fake account for a teenage girl and, by following accounts that posted pro-anorexia messages, found it was quickly bombarded with other content that glorified eating disorders.

A repeat of the experiment on Monday, triggered the same results - despite Instagram taking action when the problem was raised the first time.

'Within an hour all of our recommendations promoted pro-anorexia and eating disorder content,' he said.

'Nothing has changed. Its all still happening.

Calls for legislation have intensified since a former employee went public with internal research that said Instagram led one in three teenagers to reel worse about their body, and prompted as many as one in 16 teens in Britain to think about suicide.

Mosseri is the most senior executive from Meta to face lawmakers since the information as leaked by Frances Haugen.

She has made the case before lawmakers in the U.S., Britain and Europe that Facebook's systems amplify online hate and extremism and that the company elevates profits over the safety of users.

Haugen, a data scientist who had worked in Facebook's civic integrity unit, buttressed her assertions with a trove of company documents she copied and provided to federal securities regulators and Congress.
There are an estimated 45,000 Australians stranded overseas, unable to get home due to Covid restrictions and a lack of flights.

But a Queensland woman is spending $45,000 on a private jet just to get her beloved dog home.

Natasha Corbin has spent the past six years trying trying to get former Bali street stray Munchkin to Australia, and her dream is about to finally come true.

In that time, Munchkin - who has her own Instagram account - has lived in her birthplace of Bali, in Singapore, and is now in New Zealand.

Natasha Corbin (right) is hiring a private jet to get Munchkin (left) from New Zealand to Australia for Christmas

Munchkin, who has her own Instagram account, has been on a journey for six years since being born in Bali

She has not yet been to Australia, but not for a want of trying by Ms Corbin and her fiance David Daynes.

They were living in Bali as Ms Corbin was able to work remotely for an online marketing business.

'When we decided to move to Bali, my partner had one rule for me because I'm such a dog lover and that was that I wasn't allowed to interact with any dog,' she told ABC.

'I just ignored all of the dogs as best as I could and this dog, Munchkin, she was just a little tiny puppy, would follow us around because she had just somehow ended up near our villa.'

Six years on, there has been a very circuitous route to what the Sunshine Coast woman hopes will be an Australian Christmas with Munchkin.

The couple and their pooch moved to New Zealand two years ago as pet quarantine restrictions make it easier to get a dog from there to Australia than from Indonesia.

But five months ago Ms Corbin returned to Australia for surgery, leaving Mr Daynes and Munchkin behind.

'Look into my beautiful brown eyes and tell me how much I'm worth to you'

The Covid-19 pandemic made getting Munchkin to Australia even more difficult and Ms Corbin decided that hiring a private jet was her only option.

She is trying to sell seats to human passengers to allay some of $45,000 cost.

'I just want them home and I want to take the option that's most likely to work and if that means we have to pay extra and try and sell these seats and do all of this extra work, I'm willing to do it,' she said.

Ms Corbin had a lot of inquiries but must ask delicate questions about people's weight and their baggage as the small jet can only carry so much.

'I don't know if we'll be able to take seven other people because of weight restrictions so we might only be able to fit five other people at this stage,' she said.

David Daynes (pictured right) is taking care of Munchkin (left) until they can both get from New Zealand to Queensland

After all these years of trying to get Munchkin to Australia, the final bill may end up topping $100,000.

'We were told the process would take about six to eight weeks and cost us about $10,000, but it's now been almost six years trying,' Ms Corbin said.

'I stopped counting how much it cost us when we hit $40,000 and that was about three years ago.'

But if the cost mattered, she wouldn't be doing it. What started out as puppy love has turned into full grown dog love.

'Wouldn't that be the ultimate success story from this street dog from Bali that we just found underneath our scooter one day,' Ms Corbin said.
Israel is preparing for an aerial training mission that will simulate an attack on Iran's nuclear facilities, as the country's defence chiefs meet with their US counterparts to plan their next moves should negotiation with Tehran fail.

The Israeli exercise will take place next year and involve F-35 stealth bombers accompanied by F-16 and F-15 fighters flying 600 miles out over the Mediterranean to replicate the distance required to strike nuclear targets in Iran.

News of the drill emerged ahead of a meeting between Israeli defence minister Benny Gantz and US defence chiefs today, with sources saying the two sides will discuss joint drills designed to prepare for strikes on Iran if they become necessary.

Zeev Elkin, Israel's housing an construction minister, said the aim of the exercises is to 'prepare for every eventuality' before adding: 'We will not allow Iran to go nuclear'.

Israel is drawing up plans for an aerial drill that would see warplanes fly 600 miles over the Mediterranean to simulate the distance required to strike Iran's nuclear facilities (file image)

Israel and Iran have been at loggerheads for decades over Tehran's nuclear ambitions, with the latter insisting the technology will be use for peaceful purposes while the former says it will be used for a weapon aimed at them.

In 2015, then-President Obama struck a deal with Tehran aimed at allowing the regime to create low-enriched uranium for use in nuclear reactors while committing it to inspections and other checks to prevent the mullahs creating a bomb.

Israel vociferously opposed the deal, and in 2018 succeeded in persuading President Trump to walk away from it by re-imposing sanctions and taking a much harder stance with Iran's rulers.

Since then, Iran has breached various terms of the deal including enriching uranium to 60 per cent - just shy of the 90 per cent needed to build a bomb - and doubling its stockpile of highly enriched material.

Joe Biden is now trying to bring Iran back to the negotiating table, but faced with a new hardline regime in Tehran - elected after moderate Hassan Rouhani's approach to deals with the West was deemed a failure - he has met with little success.

Talks in Vienna are ongoing, with US Special Envoy for Iran Rob Malley due in the city this weekend to try and push the issue forward, but few expect a breakthrough.

Faced with the possibility that negotiations will lead nowhere, Israel and the US now appear to be drawing up attack plans as a final deterrent to Tehran.

The U.S. official declined to offer details on the potential military exercises.

'We're in this pickle because Iran's nuclear program is advancing to a point beyond which it has any conventional rationale,' the official said, while still voicing hope for discussions.

The Israeli embassy in Washington and Iran's mission to the United Nations did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Iran has been ramping up its nuclear programme including enriching uranium to 60 per cent, just a short jump from the 90 per cent needed to build a bomb (pictured, Tehran's its main enrichment plant at Natanz)

Iran insists it will use nuclear technology for peaceful purposes, but Israel says Tehran wants to build a bomb which will be aimed at them (pictured, one of Iran's nuclear facilities at Karaj)

Gantz, in a post on Twitter as he departed for the United States, said: 'We will discuss possible modes of action to ensure the cessation of (Iran's) attempt to enter the nuclear sphere and broaden its activity in the region.' He did not elaborate.

Nuclear negotiations will resume on Thursday, according to the European Union official chairing the talks, and the U.S. special envoy for Iran plans to join them over the weekend.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said last week that Iran had started the process of enriching uranium to up to 20 per cent purity with one cascade, or cluster, of 166 advanced IR-6 machines at its Fordow plant, which is dug into a mountain, making it harder to attack.

The 2015 agreement gave Iran sanctions relief but imposed strict limits on its uranium enrichment activities, extending the time it would need to produce enough fissile material for a nuclear weapon, if it chose to, to at least a year from around two to three months. Most nuclear experts say that period is now considerably shorter.

Underlining how badly eroded the deal is, that pact does not allow Iran to enrich uranium at Fordow at all, let alone with advanced centrifuges.

With the deal's nuclear benefits now badly compromised, some Western officials say there is little time left before the foundation of the deal is damaged beyond repair.

Such drills by the United States and Israel could address calls by Dennis Ross, a former senior U.S. official and Middle East expert, and others to openly signal to Iran that the United States and Israel are still serious about preventing it from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

'Biden needs to disabuse Iran of the notion that Washington will not act militarily and will stop Israel from doing so,' Ross wrote last month.

Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz (pictured) is travelling to the US where sources say the two sides will discuss joint drills to prepare for attacks on Iran

Ross even suggested the United States should perhaps signal a willingness to give the Israeli's the U.S. military's bunker-busting Massive Ordnance Penetrator, a 30,000-pound bomb.

Asked about such remarks about deterrence, the senior U.S. official said: 'When President Biden says Iran will never get a nuclear weapon, I mean, he means it.'

Central Intelligence Agency Director Bill Burns said on Monday that the CIA does not believe Iran's supreme leader has decided to take steps to weaponize a nuclear device but noted advances in its ability to enrich uranium, one pathway to the fissile material for a bomb.

Burns cautioned that, even if Iran decided to go ahead, it would still require a lot of work to weaponize that fissile material before attaching a nuclear weapon to a missile or other delivery system.

'But they're further along in their mastery of the nuclear fuel cycle and that's the kind of knowledge that is very difficult to sanction away or make disappear, as well,' he said.

U.S. officials have also long worried about America's ability to detect and destroy dispersed components of Iran's nuclear weaponization program once enough fissile material for a bomb were produced.
A wealthy magistrate who was engaged to marry a 23-year-old law clerk has agreed to part ways with a portion of her $180,000 death payment he had previously withheld from her grieving mother.

'Rocketman' Rodney Higgins, 71, made headlines in 2019 when his relationship with 23-year-old law clerk Ashleigh Petrie, 45 years his junior, went public.

The Victorian magistrate was once again thrown into the spotlight when Ms Petrie was hit and killed by a car just six months after they started living together and just weeks after he popped the question.

Ms Petrie's grieving mother Tina was shocked to discover the cashed-up magistrate had claimed her daughter's $180,000 superannuation and life insurance payout.

Rodney 'Rocketman' Higgins, 71, (right) made headlines in 2019 when his relationship with 23-year-old law clerk Ashleigh Petrie, 45 years his junior, (left) went public

Ms Petrie (pictured) was hit and killed by a car just six months after she started living with Mr Higgins and just weeks after he popped the question

Mr Higgins contacted Rest Superannuation just days after Ms Petrie was killed in the accident, later claiming he acted off advice from his colleagues.

Despite earning a salary of $324,000 each year Mr Higgins stubbornly refused to part ways with the considerable payout, sparking waves of public outcry.

However, after a 20-month ordeal, Ms Petrie's heartbroken mother has finally been awarded a portion of the money in an agreement made public on Thursday.

Her lawyer Kimble Stynes told A Current Affair that though Ms Petrie nominated her mother to receive her death payment, it was a non-binding nomination.

This meant that someone else can make a claim to the money.

Mr Higgins (right) had contacted Rest Superannuation just days after Ms Petrie (left) was killed in the accident, later claiming he had acted off advice from his colleagues

Despite earning a salary of $324,000 each year Mr Higgins (pictured with Ms Petrie) has stubbornly refused to part ways with the payout, sparking waves of public outcry

The lawyer described Tina as hardworking and a woman of 'modest means' and said she had been shocked to discover Rest would allocate the money to Mr Higgins.

Due to confidentiality provisions, Mr Stynes can't reveal the exact amount Tina received, however other sources suggested she got half of the $180,000.

He said Ms Petrie's mother was relieved the ordeal was over, but said the payment would never replace the loss of her beloved daughter.

'Ashleigh was a gorgeous daughter and sister to her brother, and she is missed everyday,' Tina said in a statement.

'The whole process with the superannuation death benefit has been incredibly upsetting, stressful and emotional. Thankfully it is now over.'

Her lawyer Kimble Stynes (pictured) told A Current Affair that while Ms Petrie had nominated her mother to receive her death payment, it was a non-binding nomination

Magistrate Rodney Higgins proposed to his girlfriend Ashleigh Petrie, 23, in September 2019

In August, Mr Higgins claimed he was advised by colleagues to contact Ms Petrie's superannuation company after her death.

'I did that, they said, 'what's your relationship to her?' I said, 'I'm her fiance, we live together,' he recalled.

'They said, 'we will send you paperwork, fill it out and send it back'. And that was it.'

The couple's relationship raised eyebrows in legal circles given they two both worked in the Magistrates Court of Victoria and he was in a very senior position.

Mr Higgins defended his relationship with Ms Petrie but conceded it was unusual for a man of his age to 'be with a young girl of Ashleigh's age'.

The couple's relationship raised eyebrows in legal circles given they two both worked in the Magistrates Court of Victoria and he was in a very senior position. Ms Petrie is pictured right and left with her ring.

Mr Higgins (left) defended his relationship with Ms Petrie (right) but conceded it was unusual for a man of his age to 'be with a young girl of Ashleigh's age'

'The impression, if you like, was Ashleigh worked with me in court, and that I had some sort of hold on her,' he said.

'That's completely untrue, we never, ever worked together. We were in the same court here in Shepparton when I was solicitor and she was a court clerk.

'But it was just a normal professional relationship.'

In another blow to Ms Petrie's family, Mr Higgins returned to Shepparton in country Victoria and reunited with his ex-wife Lurline Le Neuf just months after her death.

While the magistrate agreed the death benefit should have been shared 'in some proportion', he claimed he had been frozen out by Ms Petrie's family.

'I don't like the intimidating and threatening manner that Ashleigh's mother's solicitor has taken,' Mr Higgins told A Current Affair in August.

'I wish things were different.

'I wish they hadn't have gone the way they have and I wish we had conciliation way back then and worked out a proper distribution.'

While the magistrate (pictured with Ms Petrie) agreed the death benefit should have been shared 'in some proportion', he claimed he had been frozen out by her family

In another blow to Ms Petrie's (left) family, Mr Higgins (right) returned to Shepparton in country Victoria and reunited with his ex-wife Lurline Le Neuf just months after her death

He also claimed that his former fiance had access to his bank account and had, unbeknownst to him, been giving her mother money.

'Ashleigh Petrie had full license to use my bank account to take whatever she wanted. I did not know that she was giving her mother money,' he said.

A coronial report found Ms Petrie died after she ran in front of a car in Metung in Victoria's southeast two years ago on October 28, 2019.

Her death came seven months after she began a relationship with Mr Higgins, who later revealed she had told him she had to go on a walk to 'clear her head'.

The now-retired magistrate began receiving worrying messages from the law clerk.

'She started to text me, 'you would be better off without me, you would be better off without me. I have ruined your career. I am ruining your life. You will find someone',' he said.

The 23-year-old's death came seven months after she began a relationship with Mr Higgins, who later revealed she had told him she had to go on a walk to 'clear her head'

Ms Petrie (right) was diagnosed as bipolar at 19, struggled with alcoholism, had a history of dating men significantly older than her, and made several attempts on her own life

'There were four or five messages on her phone all from her and it just got worse and worse, saying 'you will not see me again'.

''You are the love of my life'. And 'goodbye'.'

After her death, reports about her mental health began to emerge.

Ms Petrie was diagnosed as bipolar at 19, struggled with alcoholism, had a history of dating men significantly older than her, and made several attempts on her own life.

If you or anyone you know is in need of mental health support, you can call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636, for free confidential support.
The internet was flooded with memes after Boris Johnson ordered people to work from home - but urged them to attend Christmas parties.

Beleaguered Boris, who himself is under fire over alleged lockdown-breaking bashes at No 10, was widely ridiculed over his advice.

The Prime Minister, 57, was the subject of a flurry of hilarious mock-up pictures and graphics ribbing the apparently contrary guidance.

They included a mock-up of comedy legend Bob Mortimer on the panel show Would I Lie To You and of the PM wearing a hat.

Elsewhere the now-infamous slogans of the start of the pandemic were altered to feature the motto 'Go out, but stay in, stay safe at home, but go out, but don't'.

One joked they were selling tickets to the next Downing Street Christmas party.

There were a selection of memes that ridiculed the Prime Minister and his advice

Comedy hero Bob Mortimer was used in one of the memes mocking the Prime Minister

Another showed the PM with hands off the wheel of a car opening his month and thumbs-up

At a Downing St press conference last night the Prime Minister rejected the possibility of telling schools to send children home and cancel nativity plays or for office workers to scrap their festive dos because of creeping infection numbers.

It comes amid a doubling in Omicron Covid cases every two to three days that has seen the government push forward plans to implement restrictions across England from next week.

Just minutes before in his opening speech however, Mr Johnson set out the government's 'Plan B' to tackle the virus.

Employees should work from home 'if you can' or from the office 'if you must'. Rules around masks will also be tightened to include most public spaces.

Covid passports are also set to be made mandatory for hospitality venues 'where large crowds gather'.

With city workers already in Christmas party season, a reporter from The Telegraph asked the Prime Minister if his message to companies was to cancel office parties.

One Twitter user joked they were able to sell tickets to the next party at Downing Street

The coronavirus guidance was given a makeover with a new 'going out' twist on the theme

Hollywood actor Eddie Murphy was shown laughing at another person's post about the rules

The general confusion of the advice was displayed by this meme questioning its meaning

The PM replied: 'No in my view they should not be (cancelled) We think that its ok currently on what we can see to keep going with Christmas parties but obviously everybody should exercise due caution.

'Have ventilation, wash your hands, get a test before you go - a sensible thing to do - to give everybody else at the party the confidence to know theyre going to be meeting someone who is not contagious. Those are simple things that people can do.

Speaking about school closures, he added: 'We dont want kids to be taken out of school before the end of term not - not that there's long to go now.

'We dont want nativities plays to be cancelled.'

'The best way to ensure we have a Christmas as close to normal as possible is to get on with Plan B.

'Irritating though it may be it is not a lockdown, it is what we set out a while back, and to get your boosters and get your jabsis the best way forward.'

Mr Johnson also faced about Downing Street's own Christmas party for officials last year - which is now being probed by the Met Police and the Cabinet Secretary.

The PM however maintained that 'to the best of my knowledge' the rules were followed 'throughout' but could be drawn on what the event actually involved.

Following intense public criticism over the last week, the PM announced today the Simon Case, the Cabinet Secretary, would make a report into the alleged rule breach on December 18 last year.

At the time, the governments guidance specifically said that there should not be Christmas parties.

London was in Tier 3 restrictions on 18 December 2020 and the law said that there should not be indoor gatherings - unless they were 'reasonably necessary' for work.
Google has shut down a network of around one million hijacked devices used to commit online crimes around the world and is now suing the Russia-based hackers the tech giant claims are responsible.

The so-called 'botnet' of infected devices known as Glupteba was cut off from the hackers wielding it on the internet, Google said in a statement on Tuesday.

The tech giant announced it is suing Dmitry Starovikov and Alexander Filippov - the alleged creators of Glupteba - along with 15 of their associates for the creation of a 'modern technological and borderless incarnation of organised crime'.

Glupteba's malicious software was first detected in 2011 and is spread via by third-party download sites, online streaming services and a fraudulent website masquerading as an affiliate of the Google-owned YouTube.

Hackers who have access to devices infected by Glupteba can then steal device owners' private information, online accounts and logins, enabling them to commit crimes like fraud.

Glupteba's malicious software was first detected in 2011 and is spread via by third-party download sites, online streaming services and a fraudulent website masquerading as an affiliate of the Google-owned YouTube (stock image)

Google has shut down a network of around one million hijacked devices used to commit online crimes around the world and is now suing the Russia-based hackers the tech giant claims are responsible. The tech giant announced it is suing Dmitry Starovikov and Alexander Filippov - the alleged creators of malware Glupteba - along with 15 of their associates (The logo for Google LLC is seen at the Google Store Chelsea in Manhattan, New York City, U.S., November 17, 2021)

Large technology companies like Google and Microsoft are increasingly being dragged into the battle against cybercrime because attacks are conducted via their products.

Google said the Glupteba botnet of infected devices includes about one million Windows devices worldwide, which have been used to steal users' credentials and targeted victims from the United States, India, Brazil and southeast Asia.

The tech giant's lawsuit accuses Starovikov, Filippov and the 15 other unnamed defendants of computer fraud and abuse, trademark infringement and several other charges.

The action is being brought under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (Rico) Act - legislation often used to prosecute multiple members of organized crime networks simultaneously with one lawsuit.

The company also filed a lawsuit in a New York federal court against Dmitry Starovikov and Alexander Filippov seeking an injunction to block them from wrongdoing on its platforms.

Cybersecurity experts first noticed Glupteba in 2011, which spreads by masquerading as free, downloadable software, videos or movies that people unwittingly download onto their devices.

However, unlike conventional botnets that rely on predetermined channels to ensure their survival, Glupteba is programmed to find a replacement server in order to keep operating even after being attacked, says Google's lawsuit.

Large technology companies like Google and Microsoft are increasingly being dragged into the battle against cybercrime because attacks are conducted via their products

Because the botnet web combines the power of some one million devices it possesses unusual power that could be used for large-scale ransomware or other attacks.

To maintain that network, the organization 'uses Google advertisements to post job openings for the websites' carrying out the illegal work.

The hackers also used Google's own services to distribute the malware - the internet giant took down some 63 million Google Docs and terminated over 1,100 Google accounts used to spread Glupteba.

The lawsuit filed by Google also noted that Glupteba stands out for its 'technical sophistication,' which allows it to utilise blockchain technology to protect itself from disruption.

'The Glupteba botnet does not rely solely on predetermined (web) domains to ensure its survival,' Google wrote in its complaint.

The lawsuit filed by Google also noted that Glupteba stands out for its 'technical sophistication,' which allows it to utilise blockchain technology to protect itself from disruption by searching for Glupteba controlled bitcoin transactions (stock image)

'Instead, when the botnet's command and control server is interrupted, Glupteba malware is hard-coded to 'search' the public Bitcoin blockchain for transactions involving three specific Bitcoin addresses that are controlled by the Glupteba Enterprise. Thus, the Glupteba botnet cannot be eradicated entirely without neutralizing its blockchain-based infrastructure.'

This means that the botnets can 'recover more quickly from disruptions, making them that much harder to shutdown. We are working closely with industry and government as we combat this type of behavior,' Google said in a blog post.

Though the tech giant announced they were able to shut down the network 'for now', a pair of members from Google's threat analysis group said the hackers would likely try to retake the botnet.

'The operators of Glupteba are likely to attempt to regain control of the botnet using a backup command and control mechanism,' Google's Shane Huntley and Luca Nagy said.
Major sponsors are ditching the Royal Court theatre in London after it became embroiled in a toxic anti-Semitism row.

Corporate backers are pulling funding from Britain's most famous radical theatre after it gave a billionaire villain a Jewish name.

Leading law firms Kirkland & Ellis and Weil, Gotshal & Manges condemned the racism and said they would no longer worked with the Sloane Square venue.

Meanwhile the government's anti-Semitism tsar Lord Mann called for anti-Semitism awareness training across the arts world starting with the Royal Court.

The Royal Court was forced to apologise last month and change the name of the character following a huge backlash over 'perpetuating an anti-Semitic stereotype'.

Bosses said it would change Hershel Fink, a non-Jewish part featured in Rare Earth Mettle by Al Smith, to Henry Finn.

Corporate backers are pulling funding from Britain's most famous radical theatre after it gave a billionaire villain a Jewish name (pictured, the show)

Leading law firms Kirkland & Ellis and Weil, Gotshal & Manges condemned the racism and said they would no longer worked with the Sloane Square venue (pictured)

But despite the move, Kirkland & Ellis and Weil, Gotshal & Manges told the BBC they were severing ties with the theatre.

Kirkland & Ellis said: 'We condemn in the strongest possible terms any and all forms of racism and discrimination, including anti-Semitism, and in light of the recent events, we were unable to continue our sponsorship.'

Weil, Gotshal & Manges added: 'Weil strongly condemns any form of anti-Semitism or discrimination, whether conscious or unconscious, and we will be withdrawing our support for the Royal Court.'

The firm was founded by three Jewish businessmen - Frank Weil, Sylvan Gotshal and Horace Manges - in New York City in 1931.

Meanwhile Lord Mann told MailOnline: 'I think that there needs be antisemitism awareness training for the arts world, starting with the Royal Court.

'I wouldn't contemplate ever going there unless and until they sort themselves out and I know others who feel the same.'

In the play Fink, who is the CEO of an electric car company that was compared to Tesla , is not Jewish and there is no reference to him being so in the show.

But the Royal Court admitted the naming of the character was an example of 'unconscious bias' and changed it.

The Royal Court was forced to apologise last month and change the name of the character following a huge backlash over 'perpetuating an anti-Semitic stereotype'

The play centres around a leading doctor who travels to Bolivia to solve the British mental health crisis and advance her career.

She is joined there by the Silicon Valley billionaire who believes he can save the world building affordable electric cars.

The theatre was savaged online by Jewish people and companies who said Hershel Fink was 'obviously a Jewish name'.

Author David Baddiel wrote on Twitter: 'Apparently @royalcourt claim they didn't realise 'Hershel Fink' was a Jewish name.

'Hmm. Somehow it just sounded so right for a world conquering billionaire. I've written a play.

'Everything - particularly now and particularly about ethnicity - gets relentlessly discussed. Except as regards one ethnicity apparently.

'Anyway. To be fair @royalcourt have acknowledged their unconscious bias here and changed the name. It's still a very instructive Jews Don't Count episode.'

Theatre director Adam Lenson said: 'So, Al Smith at The Royal Court has taken a character clearly based on Elon Musk and when fictionalising him has given him an obviously Jewish name.

'Casually making a Silicon Valley billionaire Jewish perpetuates anti-Semitic stereotypes and will cause ideological harm.'

Interim Director of London's Jewish Museum Frances Jeens added: 'This image is a stereotype as it shows a Jewish person in a malevolent way, so it's a racist depiction of a Jewish person - rich, controlling, in power.

'These are deeply hurtful stereotypes that have existed for centuries and is something that is very hurtful to the Jewish community today.'



David Baddiel said 'everything - particularly now and particularly about ethnicity - gets relentlessly discussed' during the creation of play

The Royal Court had claimed in November they did not know Hershel Fink was a Jewish name.

But it later emerged the character's name had been brought up as early as September.

The said in a statement: 'On 8 November the leadership of the Royal Court was informed that the name had been raised by a Jewish director in a workshop discussion held as part of the series Directors: Working on New Plays in September 2021.

'We are in conversations with this director as we hold ourselves accountable for why this was not taken further or passed on to the writer.'

The Royal Court's artistic director Vicky Featherstone has repeatedly ducked requests for an interview.

The theatre is also sponsored by Aqua Financial Ltd, Cadogan, Colbert, Edwardian Hotels London, Kudos, Sloane Stanley, Bloomberg philanthropies, and Left Bank pictures which are yet to comment.

Sister and Auriens declined to comment.
A hotel nightstalker who sexually assaulted lone women in their rooms after conning receptionists he was their husband to get keys has been jailed for 14 years.

Wembley Stadium steward Hugo Delgado, 22, targeted victims as he lurked near where they were staying.

He followed them into the hotels and attempted to con receptionists he was their husband to get key cards so he could attack them.

Delgado, ruled a 'danger' in a his pre-sentence report, even carried on sexually offending after he was arrested - exposing himself to a female prison guard as he was on remand.

Today the criminal - described by Scotland Yard as a 'very organised and dangerous individual' - was taken off the streets for good.

He was jailed for 14 years at Wood Green Crown Court after being found guilty of assault by penetration, sexual assault and trespass with intent to commit a sexual offence. He must serve ten in custody and four on license.

It came after a seven-day trial and a police investigation lasting over a year that saw heart-stopping footage of him prowling hotel corridors after one attack.

And today officers urged any further victims to come forward, adding it was 'unlikely these were his first offences'.

Superintendent Daniel Rutland told MailOnline: 'He was a very organised and dangerous individual. He is a predatory offender and you can see from his history and the type of things he has done that he is opportunistic.

'These are two violent offences and someone that is offending in that sort of way  it's unlikely that these are his first offences.

Wembley Stadium steward Hugo Delgado, 21, targeted lone women in hotels during attacks

'If there are any other victims that have been attacked in that way they need to get in contact with the police.

'I think his crimes show sheer front. If you are as confident as he was I think people at hotel desks would take him at face value. His pattern of behaving, the fact he continued to offend on remand, in my mind he would have carried on offending.

'He is very opportunistic, the second hotel offence it's particularly worrying that he could come and go and do that. His offences are outrageous  he is capable of doing anything. It horrifies me that people like this are out there.'

Delgado's first known attack happened on October 6, 2019, at a hotel in Shoreditch,

He approached a lone woman, who was in her 50s, in a hotel corridor as she was entering her room.

Delgado lied he room was his and she showed him her key card to show him he was wrong.

At 10.51pm that night he claimed to be the husband of the victim and conned reception out of a key card.

He left the hotel but returned at 3am the next morning and used it to get into her room at 3.07am.

Delgado can be seen on chilling CCTV prowling through the hotel before catching the lift

The brazen sex attacker can be seen calmly waiting for the elevator to take him to the room

Footage then shows him without his hoody on as he leaves the crimescene and the hotel after he has carried out the sexual attack on his first known victim

Police support for victims of sexual assault or rape If you have been a victim of sexual assault or rape or you have information about an offender, contact police on 101 or 999 in an emergency  there are specially trained officers who will listen and investigate where needed. Further information, including details of agencies and charities that can offer support can be found on https://www.met.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/rsa/rape-and-sexual-assault/ Advertisement

The court heard just after 5am she woke up after he had stripped her naked and sexually assaulted her.

She screamed and he left, captured on CCTV as he exited the hotel. Police were called and the investigation was launched.

Just six days later he struck again, this time on a woman in her 20s.

She had been in Shoreditch at 4.45am when he approached her in Shoreditch and followed her, as she tried to get away from him.

The next memory she had was waking up in a hotel room, witnessing Delgado performing a sexual act on her.

She had also been sexually assaulted and reported the incident to police later that morning, who found him still in the room and arrested him.

It was then officers made the discovery Delgado had earlier on the evening before attended the same hotel and attempted to gain key cards for two of the rooms.

One did not have a guest in it and he gave the incorrect name for the other room.

Officers think he gained access to the second victim's room because the deadlock had not been put on.

In a harrowing impact statement to the court, his second victim said: 'He will go to prison but prison is a place like any other for someone with no ethics, values, ambitions or goals. Meanwhile, I am left with hours and hours of therapy, police phone calls, reminders of a trauma I hope will not follow me for the rest of my life and a challenge to find myself again and pick up from where I left off, despite what I'm still going through.'

'I still don't know what happened to me and I'm not sure I want the police to tell me. All I need to know is that no one deserves this - no matter who they are, where they are and the state they are in. I've always been incredibly careful with whom I give my body. It had to be an act of love because otherwise, it went against my values and principles. Being raped smashed these principles, along with everything I was built on.

Detective Constable Rob Johnston, the investigating officer from the police's Sapphire Investigations, said: 'It is undeniable that a very dangerous man has been taken off the streets.

'I commend both of the victims for their courage and commitment in supporting the case, without their support Delgado may have put further women at risk. There is no doubt it is difficult for victims to report these offences and recount their experiences. We have specially trained officers dedicated to providing ongoing support, care and guidance through these investigations. I'm satisfied with the outcome of the trial but I fully appreciate that these incidents may have lifelong effects on the victims.

'I would encourage any further victims who have been assaulted but not reported the incident to come forward.'
A 'greedy' homeowner who poisoned a protected tree which blocked light from his 900,000 home was today slammed by neighbours who said it was his fault it came crashing down in Storm Arwen, putting lives at risk.

The dying and unstable Monterey tree, killed by Robert Page, collapsed overnight between November 26 and 27 in Dorset amid ferocious gusts.

It landed on a block of garages, leaving the owners with a bill of thousands of pounds.

Fortunately nobody was around when it happened in the middle of the night, with many locals fearing passers-by could have been badly hurt, or even killed, otherwise.

Neighbours of Page, 71, have criticised him for his actions that, they say, ultimately caused the 65ft tall tree to fall.

Last week the retired chartered accountant was found guilty of breaching a Tree Preservation Order that had been placed on the 65-year-old specimen. He is due to be sentenced later this month.

The dying and unstable pine tree that was sabotaged by Robert Page came crashing down overnight between November 26 and 27 during Storm Arwen in Dorset

 Slide me  A slidey graphic shows how the tree looked in 2012, in full health, and in 2019, after it was sabotaged

Pictures show the tree which collapsed onto garages behind Page's 900,000 home following the storm

The court heard he had wanted rid of it as it had scuppered a property deal he stood to make 100,000 from. The tree had also cast a shadow over his 900,000 home near to Poole Harbour, Dorset.

In 2016, Page arranged to have it killed after the local council rejected his planning application to have it legally felled.

A deadly herbicide was injected into drill holes in the trunk and concrete poured around its base to choke it of oxygen.

Richard Smith, who lives on the same road as Page in Lilliput near Sandbanks, claimed Page had caused criminal damage to the garage block by his actions.

He said: 'The price of property in this area is high but what's the price for a life?

'That tree could have put someone's life at risk when it fell over and caused criminal damage, he should be held liable. He killed the tree and then the storm came and blew it over.'

Another neighbour, who wished not to be named, said: 'That tree could have killed someone when it came down - he needs to take some accountability for that. The financial motivation behind it makes matters worse. It was a very silly decision.'

David Kelsey, chairman of the local BCP Council's planning committee, said Page's 'sheer greed' had caused his neighbours to suffer.

He said: 'He should pay for the damage caused to the neighbouring garages, why should they or their insurance companies pay?

'Nobody should have to suffer because of his selfishness or greed. I hope he gets sued for the damage.

'I hope the judge hits him with a massive fine and maybe even a jail sentence to send a clear message. 100,000 is the amount he'd have made on his property so that's what he should pay back.

Robert Page, a retired chartered accountant, was last week found guilty of breaching a Tree Preservation Order that had been placed on the 65-year-old specimen. He is due to be sentenced later this month

'Cutting down a tree is not the way to increase the value of your home. To think someone could be so arrogant that they think they can get around the planning rules.'

However, some neighbours leapt to Page's defence and instead blamed the local council for not removing the dead and dangerous tree sooner.

Richard Cole, who manages the block of flats and garages the tree fell on, said he had told town hall officials about it three years ago.

Mr Cole, 78, said it cost 2,000 to remove the tree after it fell.

He said: 'I had been concerned for years that the tree was leaning towards our garages, there were two large branches right over them.

'The council repeatedly ignored my requests to have it removed. It's been dead for years, since 2018 at least, if not before.

'In May, I wrote to them and said: 'I am extremely concerned about the safety of residents as the tree has started to shed branches. We need to do something before somebody is injured.'

'In June, I again mentioned to them that branches were falling.

'In October they apologised for the delay and confirmed that the tree could be removed.

'But it keeled over in Storm Arwen. There was a loud, almighty crack which woke me at around 6am. We got out of bed and we saw it across the garages.

'It could have killed somebody - that was my concern. If it happened later, there might have been somebody walking beneath it.

'If it wasn't for the incompetence of the planning department, we wouldn't be in this position now where we're having to get repair work done.'

When asked for his thoughts on Mr Page's actions, he said: 'He is a good friend and it is not for me to comment.'

A spokesman for BCP Council said: 'A couple of refused planning applications and a tree works application for the removal of the tree had already been submitted on behalf of the landowner prior to its destruction.

'Communications suggesting it was dying raised our suspicions. Once we became aware the said tree was in serious rapid decline, we were quick to commence a criminal investigation which included a number of site visits to determine the cause.

'It soon became apparent that blatant attempts had been made to destroy the tree.

'The evidence gathered by our teams allowed us to bring forward a strong case to the Crown Court and we are pleased it has now been concluded, resulting in a successful prosecution against the landowner.'

The council refused to respond to allegations that they ignored residents' requests to have the tree removed sooner.
Two young women have been banned from driving after crashing into a parked car and travelling with no headlights on while drunk in two separate incidents in Manchester.

Receptionist Olivia Stuart-Cole, 25, and council assistant Chloe Horsfall, 23, were arrested on the same day last month after each of them were found to have consumed almost twice the legal alcohol limit.

They had both attended parties and misjudged their wine or alcohol intake, Manchester Magistrates Court heard.

Ms Stuart-Cole crashed her Mini Cooper while on her way to the shops ahead of returning to her family's 430,000 home in Sale, near Altrincham, Greater Manchester.

She told police she was not sure how much alcohol she had consumed.

Meanwhile, after drinking two to three glasses of wine, Ms Horsfall was stopped near her family's home in the rural village of Newhey, near Rochdale after a police patrol spotted her driving her VW Polo at 2.30am with no headlights on.

Olivia Stuart-Cole (pictured) crashed her Mini Cooper while on her way to the shops ahead of returning to her family's 430,000 pound home in Sale, near Altrincham, Greater Manchester

Ms Stuart-Cole misjudged how much she had had to drink before driving, the court heard

Ms Stuart-Cole was banned from driving for 18 months

Tests showed Ms Stuart-Cole had 66 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath while Ms Horsfall had 61mg. The legal limit is 35mg.

The women appeared for sentencing at separate hearings today at Manchester Magistrates Court.

Ms Stuart-Cole was banned from driving for 18 months while Ms Horsfall was disqualified for 17 months.

Ms Stuart-Cole, who was also fined 346 plus 119 in costs, told the court: 'I sometimes drink one glass of wine per night. I don't go out very often, I only drink alcohol with my tea.'

Ms Horsfall, who was also fined 290, with 119 costs said: 'I go out most weekends with my friends but I just go out social drinking. I do not drink throughout the week at all.'

The cases comes just days after a study by researchers at Cambridge University revealed 50 per cent of drivers cannot tell when they have reached the drink-drive limit.

The court heard the arrests occurred within 18 hours of each other on November 6.

Prosecutor Miss Eileen Rogers said: 'At around 2.30am police were on duty when they noticed Miss Horsfall's car had no front headlights illuminated.

Receptionist Olivia Stuart-Cole, 25, and council assistant Chloe Horsfall (pictured), 23, were arrested on the same day last month after each of them were found to have consumed almost twice the legal alcohol limit.

Ms Horsfall told the court she had consumed two to three glasses of wine before later driving home

'Officers followed and pulled the driver over. She identified herself and from checking their records, police could see that she was the registered keeper and insured.

'However, they could see her eyes were glazed and she confirmed that she had been drinking.

'She told the officer she had drank two pints of dark fruit cider. She was taken to Bury Police station and recorded 61mg in 100 millilitres of breath. She has no previous convictions.'

She added: 'On November 6 in Trafford, Ms Stuart-Cole was driving her vehicle along Derbyshire Road West at about 10.10pm when there was a road traffic collision.

'The road was blocked as a result and police received a report that the defendant may have been under the influence of alcohol.

'The car was facing the wrong way and there was damage to the front of her car and to another parked car. She admitted saying she had gone to the shop and did not know what had happened.

'She said she had consumed alcohol a couple of hours earlier but was unsure how much she did have.

'She was taken to the police station where her lowest reading was 66 micrograms. This lady is of previous good character.'

In mitigation for Stuart-Cole, defence lawyer Stephen Lickrish said: 'The facts of this case are very straightforward. She had been to a children's birthday party earlier in the day and had her last drink at about 7pm.

'She felt she was safe to drive and wanted to go to a local shop but clearly, she was over the limit. There was an accident and she was found to be driving with excess alcohol.

'She is a receptionist on the minimal wage. There is very little else that I can add.'

For Ms Horsfall Mr Likrish added: 'She went out with some friends to a friends house and drank two to three glasses of wine, not the two pints of dark fruit like she told the police officer.

'She lived close by, thought she was fine and took the foolish decision to drive home. She was stopped while making that journey. The matter is straightforward.'

Passing sentence JP David Chadwick told Stuart-Cole: ' You were involved in an accident whilst under the influence of drink. That is what drink does.' He offered Horsfall a place on a drink driving rehabilitation course.

In 2019, between 240 and 320 people were killed in a crash in Britain where at least one driver was over the limit - the highest level since 2009.
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Scuffles erupted outside Parliament last night as 'Kill the Bill' protesters clashed with police while the House of Lords debated the controversial legislation.

Officers were seen pushing back demonstrators who approached their lines in angry scenes. Another video posted on Twitter showed protesters swarming a policewoman who had fallen onto the ground.

One man, 27, was arrested for assaulting police after they moved in to turn off the sound system he had set up.

The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill will see new powers given to the police and Home Secretary to deal with protests that are deemed to have caused 'serious unease, alarm or distress', including banning protests that are 'too noisy'.

It will also raise the maximum sentence for defacing statues to 10 years, while amendments include allowing officers to stop and search anyone at a protest 'without suspicion'.

Anyone an officer 'reasonably believes' may 'lock on' or obstruct major transport works could be stopped after the tactic was widely adopted by Extinction Rebellion activists.

Campaigners believe such clauses would have made the Suffragettes protests illegal given they regularly mounted disruptive stunts, including chaining themselves to railings.

Officers were seen pushing back demonstrators who approached their lines in angry scenes at last night's Kill the Bill protest. Another video posted on Twitter showed protesters swarming a policewoman who had fallen onto the ground

A police officer tries to stop a protester from filming his badge number during a Kill the Bill protest outside the House of Commons last night

Demonstrators carried signs with slogans including 'Priti annoying yourself actually', a reference to Home Secretary Priti Patel

The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill will see new powers given to the police and Home Secretary to deal with protests that are deemed to have caused 'serious unease, alarm or distress'. Pic: A sign at last night's protest

Last night protesters carried banners with slogans including 'Priti annoying yourself actually' and 'It's beginning to look like a police state'.

One group was pictured wearing orange prison costumes with a black hood over their heads.

Protests chanted 'who do you protect?' and 'who do you serve?' at officers during clashes.

It came as ministers faced down opposition in the Lords to an amendment to the bill which will impose a mandatory life sentence for criminals who kill emergency workers.

During the evening session, peers supported the government-backed amendment, known as 'Harper's Law', 211 to 82, a majority of 129.

It followed a two-year campaign by Lissie Harper, the wife of police officer Andrew Harper, who was killed in the line of duty while answering a late-night burglary call.

Mrs Harper, 30, had been 'outraged' at the sentences handed to the three teenagers responsible for her husband's death.

Known as 'Harper's Law', the proposed tougher penalty was introduced by ministers as an amendment to the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, at report stage in the upper chamber.

However, the move faced a barrage of criticism when presented in the Lords and led to an unusual, albeit failed bid to adjourn the House to allow for behind-the-scenes discussions on the measure.

Justice minister Lord Wolfson of Tredegar told the chamber he had not been contacted by any peer about the amendment ahead of the debate.

Several clauses in the bill - including the right to ban protests for being 'too noisy' - have led to claims it tramples on civil liberties

One group outside Parliament last night was pictured wearing orange prison costumes with a black hood over their heads

Protestors playing music during the 'Kill the Bill' protest, which happened at the same time the Lords were debating the legislation

Proposing the law change, he said a court would be able to impose a different sentence to life in 'exceptional circumstances'.

He said: 'While thankfully emergency workers are not often killed on duty, these workers are required to put themselves at particular risk when carrying out their duties and protecting the public.'

But Tory former minister Viscount Hailsham, who previously sat in the Commons as Douglas Hogg, expressed 'grave concerns' about the move.

He said: 'All of us will have the greatest sympathy for PC Harper's wife and his family, however we should be very cautious about legislating as a consequence of a single case, or even of a number of cases, however, distressing they may be.'

Pointing out manslaughter covered a wide range of culpability and warning against limiting the discretion of the trial judge, he added: 'I am profoundly uncomfortable with this new clause and I would like to think that it will not pass.'

During the evening session - which took place at the same time as the Kill the Bill protest (pictured) peers supported the government-backed amendment, known as 'Harper's Law', 211 to 82, a majority of 129.

Hundreds of demonstrators gathered outside Parliament after assembling at around 5pm. There have been similar protests in other British cities

Former High Court judge Baroness Butler-Sloss shared the 'serious concerns' raised and told the Government: 'They may just have strayed too far into imposing upon the judiciary what in my view is not necessary.'

Former Brexit Party MEP and non-affiliated peer Baroness Fox of Buckley said: 'This feels so much like law made by press release and law made to virtue signal.'

Leading lawyer and independent crossbencher Lord Pannick said: 'To require a life sentence is pure deception because we all know that life sentences are not life sentences.'

Liberal Democrat QC Lord Marks of Henley-on-Thames said: 'We are unhappy with the proposal that such a sentence should be mandatory unless a judge can find exceptional circumstances.'

The sentence lasts for the rest of a person's life and means they can be sent back to prison if they commit another offence upon release from custody after serving at least the minimum sentence imposed by the courts.

A demonstrator in London holds a sign saying 'keep your Priti hands off my rights' at the protest by Parliament yesterday
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Covid cases appear to be peaking in the South African province at the epicentre of the Omicron outbreak, data suggests as a British expert hailed the data as 'tentative good news'.

Gauteng province has seen a meteoric rise infections since mid-November, when the first cases of the highly-evolved strain started appearing  jumping from 58 to 11,703 as of yesterday.

Professor Christina Pagel, a mathematician at University College London who has been following the outbreak, said infections have been increasing at a rate of around 25 per cent per day in the region since November 15.

She said infections over the last four days have dipped below this trend, suggesting cases may be rounding off their previous exponential rise.

As a member of the UK's Independent Sage Group, Professor Pagel has typically pushed for tougher restrictions and accused ministers of underestimating outbreaks. But her optimistic prediction suggesting Omicron may have burnt itself out in just a month in South Africa's 'ground zero' province could suggest the UK's outbreak will not be as large as some experts fear.

Writing on social media, she said: 'There is some tentative good news out of Gauteng this week, suggesting that cases might be reaching a peak there.'

Boris Johnson yesterday announced the UK would be following Plan B rules from next week after experts warned the variant would cause a million cases and 1,000 daily hospital admissions by New Year if left unchecked.

But MailOnline analysis of hospital rates in South Africa suggests Omicron is causing less severe illness than its predecessors. The variant has caused 60 per cent fewer hospitalised patients going to intensive care in Gauteng compared to Delta.

The World Health Organization (WHO) said today 'the number of admissions is very low' in South Africa compared to those seen during the Delta wave  despite infections being higher than with the previous strain.

But even if the strain does cause milder disease, if infections balloon to too high a level, hospitalisations will soon follow.

Covid cases appear to have already peaked in the in the South African province at the epicentre of the Omicron outbreak, figures suggest. Graph shows: Gauteng's daily cases (red line), average cases (blue line) compared to the predicted 25 per cent daily rise cases had been following since November 15

But cases are still increasing on a week-on-week basis, up 41 per cent on the 6,168 recorded the previous Wednesday. On average, there are now around 9,143 infections per day in the area, up from 2,897 last week

Professor Christina Pagel, a mathematician at University College London, said infections have been increasing at a rate of around 25 per cent per day in Gauteng, South Africa, since November 15. She said infections over the last four days have dipped below this trend, suggesting cases may be rounding off. Graph shows: The rate of infection growth in Gauteng (red line) compared to daily cases (dots). Black dots indicate case numbers on Sunday and Monday which are always lower due to falls in testing at the weekend

Broken down by province, most of the new cases are still being recorded in Gauteng at the epicentre of the outbreak. But cases are ticking up in every province of the country

Omicron may be milder than Delta, WHO chief claims Early data indicates the Omicron Covid variant may cause milder disease than previous variants but could also more easily reinfect people who have already had the virus or been vaccinated than previous variants, the WHO said Wednesday. 'Emerging data from South Africa suggests increased risk of reinfection with Omicron,' World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters, adding that 'there is also some evidence that Omicron causes milder disease than Delta'. But he stressed that more data was needed before drawing firm conclusions, and urged countries everywhere to boost their surveillance to help provide a clearer picture of how Omicron is behaving. The hopeful assessments came as global concern grew over the heavily mutated variant, which has forced dozens of nations to re-impose border restrictions and raised the possibility of a return to economically punishing lockdowns. Even if it does turn out that Omicron causes less severe disease, Tedros warned against slacking off vigilance against the virus. 'Any complacency now will cost lives,' he warned. WHO emergencies director Michael Ryan agreed, pointing out that so far the data indicates the variant is 'efficiently transmitting, and probably more efficiently transmitting even than the Delta variant.' 'That does not mean that the virus is unstoppable,' he said. 'But it means the virus is more efficient at transmitting between human beings. And therefore we have to redouble our efforts to break those chains of transmission to protect ourselves to protect others.' Even if the new variant turns out to be less dangerous than previous variants, if it transmits more rapidly, it could still sicken more people, overburden health systems, 'and more people die,' he said. The WHO experts stressed the importance of vaccination, highlighting that even if vaccines prove less effective against Omicron, as some data indicates, they are still expected to provide significant protection against severe disease. Chief WHO scientist Soumya Swaminathan cautioned against knee-jerk reactions to early studies hinting that the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine may have reduced efficacy against the new variant. She pointed out that the studies done so far were small and that the reduction in the 'neutralising activity' varied dramatically between different studies, from four to five fold in some experiments to up to 40-fold in others. They also only looked at the neutralisation of antibodies, when 'we know the immune system is much more complex than that,' she said. 'So I think it's premature to conclude that this reduction neutralising activity would result in a significant reduction in vaccine effectiveness,' she said. 'We do not know that.' Advertisement

Professor Pagel's analysis suggests cases in Gauteng have dropped off the exponential pace they had been growing at since November 15.

Infections were increasing on average at around 25 per cent per day since the middle of the month, she said, which would have taken them to around 19,000 by now.

But the Gauteng data show there were 11,703 new cases in the region yesterday, with daily infections below the growth trend for the last four days.

The early data suggests growth in the area may be slowing down, she said.

But cases are still increasing on a week-on-week basis, up 41 per cent on the 6,168 recorded the previous Wednesday.

On average, there are now around 9,143 infections per day in the area, up from 2,897 last week.

And the slowing down of positive cases could also be down to Gauteng reaching its maximum testing capacity.

Officials upped the number of daily tests given out from 89,020 in the week ending November 27 to 167,321 in the week ending December 4, the latest date data is available for.

During that period, positivity  the proportions of tests that came back positive  increased from 16.3 per cent to 35 per cent.

Positivity figures are not yet available for the days in which the recent trend in cases was highlighted, so it is not possible to determine whether real infections may be still be increasing exponentially even if positive tests are not.

Meanwhile, Mr Johnson activated his Covid contingency plan in England last night in response to fears the highly-mutated strain may cause a million infections by New Year and trigger 1,000 daily NHS admissions if left to spread unchecked.

The Prime Minister faced fury from Tory MPs over the anti-Omicron measures, which were described as 'non-sensical'.

Millions of office staff will be urged to work from home from Monday, while masks will be required in theatres and cinemas, and Covid passports are being introduced for nightclubs and large venues. But the PM stressed that office Christmas parties should go ahead, sparking derision from critics.

The decision to bring in the restrictions came after Sage warned the variant's vaccine escape and mutations make it much more virulent than any variant before, with infections doubling every two days compared to Delta's seven.

Even if the strain causes milder disease than its predecessors, it could trigger a hospital spike as large as previous waves because of the sheer number of people who could become infected.

The WHO said preliminary data in South Africa points to Omicron causing less hospitalisations and severe disease than its predecessors.

Speaking at a press briefing today, WHO Africa operational partnerships manager Dr Thierno Balde said: 'Over the past seven days we are seeing a major increase in cases, almost 250 per cent increase.

'We are also seeing a 12 per cent increase in hospitalisation over the last 24 hours.

'But when we compare the situation with Omicron to Delta, the number of admissions is very low but it is important to remember we are at the start of the wave so we need more time to see.'

He added: 'We are monitoring the situation on a daily basis.

'In terms of the situation now, yes, we are seeing an increase in hospitalisation, but we cannot say that the situation is causing tension on the hospitals.

'There are six per cent of ICU beds occupied by Covid patients, so there is still a large capacity left to look after patients  which may be needed in coming weeks or it may not.'

The above graphs compare cases (left), Covid hospitalisations (centre) and ICU admissions (right) during the Omicron (red) and Delta (blue) waves. The start date for both waves was set as when South Africa announced its first case of each variant. Although the number of Covid hospitalisations (centre) is similar during both waves doctors on South Africa's frontlines have said there are far fewer patients needing ICU admissions and ventilators than at the same point in the Delta wave. This is backed up by official data (left) which shows the number of ICU admissions is currently at a third of the level it was during the Delta wave

The proportion of Covid patients hospitalised in Gauteng, South Africa's Omicron epicentre, is shown during the Omicron (left) and Delta (right) waves. The start of each wave was marked as when South Africa announced its first case of the variant. Figures show that at present the ICU admission rate for Covid patients is just a third of the level seen at the same point during the Delta wave. Experts say this may suggest that the mutant strain is less severe than first feared

The above shows the proportion of hospitalised Covid patients on ventilators during the Omicron (left) and Delta (right) waves. It reveals that levels are currently at a third of what they were when Delta took hold as well. The start date for both waves was set as when South Africa announced its first case of each mutant strain in the country

The National Institute for Communicable Diseases publishes South Africa's daily case counts. Its figures today showed that infections had more than doubled in a week and reached their highest level for five months

The above map shows the week-on-week percentage change in Covid cases by province in South Africa. It shows cases areat least doubling in every province week-on-week except Gauteng, which has the highest infection rate and is at the epicentre

EU watchdog says Omicron 'mostly mild' The EU medicines watchdog said Thursday the Omicron variant of Covid-19 may cause milder disease, as the World Health Organization warned against a re-run of vaccine hoarding by rich nations as the new strain spreads. The tentative judgement from the European Medicines Agency comes after the WHO said this week there was some evidence that Omicron causes less severe disease than Delta, the currently dominant variant. The EMA echoed the finding, but said more investigation was being done. 'Cases appear to be mostly mild, however we need to gather more evidence to determine whether the spectrum of disease severity caused by Omicron is different (to) that of all the variants that have been circulating so far,' said Marco Cavaleri, EMA's head of biological health threats and vaccines strategy. The highly mutated variant first detected in South Africa sparked global panic when it emerged last month, prompting fears it could be more contagious, cause more severe illness or evade vaccines. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Wednesday said that 'emerging data from South Africa suggests increased risk of reinfection with Omicron'. Cavaleri said that early data suggested Omicron is more infectious than Delta, but it was not year clear whether it would replace the older dominant strain. He also stressed that there were better means of prevention and treatment available than last winter. Advertisement

And yesterday WHO director general Tedros Adhanom said: 'Emerging data from South Africa suggests increased risk of reinfection with Omicron.

'There is also some evidence that Omicron causes milder disease than Delta.'

But he stressed that more data was needed before drawing firm conclusions, and urged countries everywhere to boost their surveillance to help provide a clearer picture of how Omicron is behaving.

Even if it does turn out that Omicron causes less severe disease, Tedros warned against slacking off vigilance against the virus. 'Any complacency now will cost lives,' he warned.

WHO emergencies director Michael Ryan agreed, pointing out that so far the data indicates the variant is 'efficiently transmitting, and probably more efficiently transmitting even than the Delta variant.'

MailOnline analysis yesterday showed Omicron is causing less hospital admissions than Delta did at a comparable point after both variants were first detected in South Africa.

In Gauteng, 139 Covid patients in hospital were being cared for in intensive care wards on Monday, about two weeks into the nation's latest wave. This was the equivalent to 8 per cent of all infected patients who were admitted for treatment.

For comparison, there were 393 infected patients in ICUs in the two weeks after Delta took off in the province, or 24 per cent.

NICD figures showed that in the latest week  roughly a fortnight after the strain was first detected  there were 1,371 Covid-infected patients in the province's hospitals every day, on average.

Some 103 of these were in intensive care facilities (eight per cent), and 30 were hooked up to ventilators (two per cent).

For comparison, in the second week of the Delta wave there were 1,578 patients in hospital every day with 380 in the ICU (24 per cent) and 153 on ventilators (10 per cent).

Overall hospital admissions in the province are tracking at the same speed now as during the Delta wave.

But a much lower proportion involve serious disease where patients need to be treated in the ICU or hooked up to a ventilator.

British experts said the promising data offered evidence that the variant could trigger a milder illness than other mutant strains.

But experts point out it is still early days, and that it takes time for people infected with the virus to become ill enough to be admitted to hospital and develop severe disease.

They add that more people having immunity from vaccines or previous infection in the country may also play a role.
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A quirky eco home that looks like it has come straight from a galaxy far, far away has sold for $300,000.

The dome-shaped three-bedroom home in the mountains of Tonasket, Washington, has an uncanny resemblance to Luke Skywalker's hut on the sandy plains of Tatooine in Star Wars.

The one-storey home has three domed sections covered in mud-like stucco surrounded by 38 acres of land, with its very own solar generator energy system.

A quirky eco home that resembles Luke Skywalker's hut on the planet of Tatooine in Star Wars has sold for $300,000

Mark Hamill, who played Skywalker, is seen alongside Uncle Owen Lars in Star Wars: A New Hope outside the dome shaped home

The dome-shaped three-bedroom home in the mountains of Tonasket, Washington, has an uncanny resemblance to Skywalker's hut

Film bosses gained inspiration for the Tatooine huts while filming in Tunisia, where architects built dome-shaped huts above pits to keep family homes cool

Upper Valley Realty listed the house for $360,000 in September but it was eventually sold for $292,000.

The new owner can enjoy a vinyl-floored interior with an open-plan living room complete with a stone feature wall adorned with floral artwork.

One of the two bathrooms is furnished with a marble-topped sink area, while the spacious kitchen and dining area has wooden furniture and fittings.

The all-in-one wall and roof is painted white throughout, helping bring light to the property, and it also boasts skylights, heated flooring and a two-car garage.

The one-storey home has three domed sections covered in mud-like stucco surrounded by 38 acres of land, with its very own solar generator energy system

The new owner can enjoy a vinyl-floored interior with an open-plan living room complete with a stone feature wall adorned with floral artwork

The all-in-one wall and roof is painted white throughout, helping bring light to the property, and it also boasts skylights, heated flooring and a two-car garage

It is unclear what inspired this property's designer when it was originally built in 2000 but sci-fi fans have joked about its resemblance to the home in the Star Wars series

The home is set in the mountains of Tonasket in Washington, with its new owner able to enjoy stunning views over the countryside

One of the two bathrooms is furnished with a marble-topped sink area, while the spacious kitchen and dining area has wooden furniture and fittings

A sci-fi lover excited by the discovery shared the listing on Facebook where fellow users joked about its uncanny resemblance to Skywalker's home and admired the 'one-of-a-kind' structure.

The Zillow listing reads: 'Top of the mountain views from this unique home. Energy efficient dome home with radiant floor heating.

'In the event of a power outage, the home is equipped with a backup solar/generator system. Just shy of 40 acres surrounds this one-of-a-kind home. County-maintained road up to your driveway.

'Attached is a two-car garage. Open floor plan has a full kitchen, three bedrooms, and a bath and a half.'

From the unusual home, the windows offer unspoiled views over the surrounding mountains

The shape of the home allows for an unusual interior featuring a number of curved walls and furnishings

The master bedroom features wooden sliding wardrobes and a double bed while the white curved walls provide light

The energy efficient dome home comes with radiant floor heating and has 40 acres of beautiful land surrounding the property

The property listing reads: 'In the event of a power outage, the home is equipped with a backup solar/generator system'

It is not known if the original designer of the home had Tatooine in mind when constructing the dome in 2000

Film bosses gained inspiration for the Tatooine huts while filming in Tunisia, where architects built dome-shaped huts above pits to keep family homes cool.

It is unclear what inspired this property's designer when it was originally built in 2000.

Upper Valley Realty has been contacted for comment.
It was an extraordinary announcement after a tumultuous 24 hours for Downing Street that has led many observers to see the funny side.

And Twitter was abuzz today with a light-hearted look at how Boris Johnson's wife Carrie has given birth to her second child with the Prime Minister.

Some described it as 'Plan C', following Mr Johnson's announcement last night that England is entering Plan B to combat the spread of the Omicron variant.

And others referenced the fallout of an allegedly rule-breaking Number 10 party last December which forced the resignation of senior aide Allegra Stratton.

Among them was a Twitter user who said: 'I wonder if there will be another party at Downing Street to celebrate the birth of the PM and Carrie Johnson's daughter?'

A second said: 'Plan B hasn't worked in deflection. Quick, Carrie, go for Plan C, drop the sprog. Now!' A third added: 'I don't care Carrie! You're having this baby tonight.'

And a fourth tweeted: 'Plan C. Squeeze that kid out Carrie, I'm in a bit of bother.' Meanwhile a fifth added: 'What timing. F**kinellll [sic], what's next, a meteor strike?'

And a sixth said: 'Carrie, it's Bobo here, any chance you can sort out a baby this morning... yes, another f**k up... no, it was the parties this this time, see you later.'

Mr and Mrs Johnson announced the birth of a 'healthy baby girl' at a London hospital this morning. The Prime Minister was present throughout the birth.

A spokesman for the couple said: 'Both mother and daughter are doing very well. The couple would like to thank the brilliant NHS maternity team for all their care and support.'

The couple announced they were expecting their second child together at the end of July, as the 33-year-old environmental campaigner spoke of having a miscarriage earlier in the year.

The birth of a sister for Wilfred came the morning after the Prime Minister announced England is entering Plan B to combat the spread of the Omicron variant of coronavirus.

As well as facing Tory anger over the latest restrictions, Mr Johnson was battling the fallout of an allegedly rule-breaking Number 10 Christmas party last year which forced the resignation of senior Government aide Allegra Stratton.

Also this morning, the Conservatives were fined 17,800 over a controversial donation which helped cover the lavish refurbishments to the couple's Downing Street flat.

The pair were photographed walking into the hospital, reportedly at 7.40am.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer sent his congratulations to the couple on the arrival of their baby, and added: 'Wishing your family health and happiness.'

The new arrival means Mr Johnson has at least seven children, although he has frequently obfuscated when asked exactly how many.

Wilfred Lawrie Nicholas Johnson was born in April last year and was named in partly in tribute to two doctors, Nick Hart and Nick Price, who helped saved the Prime Minister's life when he was admitted to hospital with Covid-19 earlier that month.

The couple married during a secretly-planned wedding at Westminster Cathedral in May. Mr Johnson, 57, has four children with his barrister ex-wife Marina Wheeler.

It emerged during a court hearing in 2013 that he had fathered a daughter during an affair when he was London mayor in 2009.
Cabinet ministers Michael Gove, Grant Shapps and Dominic Raab are all self-isolating after meeting with the Australian deputy Prime Minister, who has tested positive for Covid following a visit to London.

Mr Gove was the third of the ministers to be revealed as having to take the measure having met with Barnaby Joyce in London on Monday, a spokesman for the Communities Secretary has said.

Mr Raab, Justice Secretary and Deputy Prime Minister, and Transport Secretary Grant Shapps also entered isolation after coming into contact with Mr Joyce this week.

The Australian politician subsequently tested positive while travelling to Washington DC and is now self-isolating for 10 days.

Grant Shapps (left) and Dominic Raab (right) have gone into self-isolation after meeting the Australian deputy PM on a trip to London

Britain's Housing Secretary Michael Gove is self-isolating after coming into contact with the Australian politician

Mr Shapps was forced to pull out of an HS2-related visit to Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, as he was due to mark a major contract signing with Hitachi to manufacture rolling stock.

Mr Shapps tweeted: 'Sorry not to be travelling to @HitachiRailENG in County Durham today to welcome huge new @HS2ltd rolling stock contract.

'Have taken precaution of cancelling visit & have taken PCR test after being in contact with Australian Deputy PM this week - who's tested positive for Covid.'

A spokeswoman for Mr Raab said: 'He is getting tested and he is self-isolating while we wait to hear whether the Australian Deputy Prime Minister has Omicron or not.'

The Cabinet ministers came into contact with Barnaby Joyce (pictured) in London earlier in the week

Mr Joyce, who is fully vaccinated, said in a Facebook post on Thursday that he had been experiencing mild symptoms and decided to get tested.

He said he will remain in isolation while seeking further advice.
A photo of Ghislaine Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein on the 'Lolita Express' jet with Jean-Luc Brunel could help French cops investigating rape and child-trafficking charges against the disgraced model boss, judicial police said today.

Twice-divorced Brunel, 75, was charged with rape, sexual assault, criminal conspiracy, and the trafficking of minors by the French police last year. Like Maxwell, Brunel denies any wrongdoing and has pledged to clear his name.

But according to claims from numerous alleged victims, Brunel, 75, performed the same role for Epstein which Maxwell has been accused of in New York  scouting and supplying under-age sex victims for the billionaire.

An investigating source in the French capital said the photograph  part of a bundle of prosecution evidence in the USA  points to an intimate working relationship between suspects who were said to be running a sex ring together.

Judicial police said the photograph will 'assist with their case against Brunel'.

Brunel was photographed on the Lolita Express sitting in front of Ghislaine Maxwell who appears to partially unbutton her blouse in front of the two men. Epstein chuckles and Brunel, dressed in a yellow jumper and flamboyant Paisley jogging bottoms, feigns shock as he turns away.

The newly-disclosed image of Brunel has emerged in the New York court where Maxwell, 59, is on trial for transporting minors to Epstein, the late billionaire financier.

Epstein and Maxwell are seen on board the Lolita Express with French modeling scout Jean-Luc Brunel. Brunel came under scrutiny for his close ties to Epstein and was arrested in 2020, charged with rape of minors by French prosecutors

Jean-Luc Brunel play-wrestles with Ghislaine Maxwell at Jeffrey Epstein's home on the private island of Little Saint James, in the US Virgin Islands

Lara Pomerantz, for the prosecution in Maxwells trial in New York, said that photographs including the one of Brunel on the plane, were found on a hard drive during a raid at Epsteins house in New York in 2019.

Ms Pomerantz said they pointed towards a close relationship over time, and suggested that Maxwell and Epstein were partners in crime.

Meanwhile Brunel, the former boss of agencies including Karin Models, was arrested at Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris a year ago as he tried to board a flight to Dakar, Senegal.

The indictment stems from an allegation that Brunel drugged a seventeen-year-old model at a nightclub and raped her in the 1990s. Brunel protested his innocence.

The latest complainant has not been named for legal reasons, but she is now in her 40s and believed to be living in the USA.

She told examining magistrates that Brunel raped her at her Paris home after a night out at a nightclub, where she believes that a drug was placed in her drinks.

The striking photos were submitted into evidence in Maxwell's sex trafficking trial and show the British socialite massaging Epstein's feet on the Lolita Express

The pictures of Ghislaine Maxwell massaging Epstein's feet were taken on his private plane where he is believed to have shuttled underage girls and high-powered figures

Twice-divorced Brunel, 75, was charged with rape, sexual assault, criminal conspiracy, and the trafficking of minors by the French police last year. He denies any wrongdoing. There is no suggestion that any of the women in this photo are involved in any criminality

Numerous women have made allegations against him, including Prince Andrews accuser, Virginia Guiffre.

Last November, Ms Giuffre, now 38, responded to an online English language appeal by French magistrates for alleged victims of Brunel to come forward.

She said she was raped by Brunel in the early 2000s  around the time that she is said to have had sex with Prince Andrew when she was 17.

The multiple rapes of Virginia Giuffre  now a mother of three formerly called Virginia Roberts were said to have mainly taken place at Epstein's home on the private island of Little Saint James, in the US Virgin Islands.

It follows alleges from numerous women that Brunel abused them while running an underage sex ring for Epstein, who committed suicide in a New York prison in 2019.

Like Prince Andrew, Brunel has vehemently denied any wrongdoing, with his lawyers saying he was being subjected to a media lynching.

According to French law, a French citizen such as Brunel can be tried in France for alleged offences committed abroad.

Brunel was last seen in public at the Paris Country Club on 5 July 2019. Following Epsteins death in August 2019, the French National Police launched an investigation into him and prosecutors first heard allegations that Brunel and Prince Andrew had both assaulted Ms Guiffre.

In September 2019, Brunels Paris home and offices were raided as part of an investigation into sex trafficking by Epstein.

Ms Guiffre, now 38  has told French police that Brunel committed multiple alleged attacks on her. She is also suing Prince Andrew, 61, (pictured together in 2001) for sexual assault

The multiple rapes of Virginia Giuffre  now a mother of three formerly called Virginia Roberts were said to have mainly taken place at Epstein's home on the private island of Little Saint James, (pictured) in the US Virgin Islands

Virginia Giuffre said she was forced to sleep with the Duke of York after being trafficked to him at least three times when she was 17.

Prince Andrew has consistently denied the accusations levelled by Giuffre, telling the BBC in 2019: I have no recollection of ever meeting this lady. None whatsoever.

Giuffre has told the French she was routinely raped by Brunel between the ages of 16 and 19.

Brunel, who has worked with celebrities including Jerry Hall, Sharon Stone and Monica Bellucci, is also suspected of using his contacts in the fashion industry to provide victims to Epstein and his friends.

Court documents unsealed in 2019 alleged Brunel flew 12-year-old sisters from a Paris housing estate to America as 'a birthday present' for Epstein.

Brunels lawyers, Marianne Abgrall and Mathias Chichportich, previously issued a statement saying: Our client has always firmly asserted that he has never abused any woman.

This accusation, which arises almost twenty years later and without the slightest proof, is a new illustration of the media-judicial lynching suffered by Jean-Luc Brunel since the suicide of Jeffrey Epstein.
France has said it will continue to fight for every last fishing licence ahead of Friday's deadline for the UK to agree to a post-Brexit deal for 100 more boats.

Just one day before the deadline, France claimed it was still waiting for Britain to approve almost 100 licences for its fishermen to operate in UK territorial waters and off the coast of Jersey, adding that last-minute negotiations were ongoing.

Under a deal agreed by London and Brussels late last year, European fishing vessels can continue to ply UK waters if they apply for new licences and can prove they operated there in the past.

But France has become infuriated that Britain and the Channel Islands of Jersey and Guernsey have not issued some French boats licences to fish in their waters after Brexit.

Now, France's seas minister Annick Girardin said the Government will continue to fight for every single licence ahead of the December 10 deadline for the UK, which was set by the European Union in a bid to resolve the worsening post-Brexit row.

France said it was waiting for Britain to approve almost 100 licences for fishermen to operate in UK territorial waters. Pictured: French fishermen wave a banner during a blockade in Calais

'Nobody should be left stranded on the dock,' she told ministers.

She said the licences were 'more or less confirmed', adding that 53 of the missing licences are to fish in in the water 6 to 12 miles off Britain's shores.

Girardin said these types of licences were sought by boats which had replaced older vessels, with Britain arguing that it cannot prove a history of fishing in these waters.

Fishing rights plagued Brexit talks and continue to poison relations between Britain and France due to the political resonance of the issue for both sides.

Paris has accused London repeatedly of acting in bad faith and failing to honour the post-Brexit trade deal it signed up to, a charge that Britain denies.

Britain and the EU agreed to set up a licensing system to grant fishing vessels access to each other's waters but France says it has not been given the full number it is due, while Britain says only those lacking the correct documentation have not been granted.

France's seas minister Annick Girardin (pictured) said the Government would continue to fight for every single licence ahead of the European Union's December 10 deadline for the UK

Last week, France's minister for Europe has called on the European Union to take retaliatory measures against Britain if there is no resolution to the post-Brexit row by December 10.

Clement Beaune stressed it is not a Franco-British issue, but a problem between the whole of the European Union and the UK.

Mr Beaune said French punitive measures  such as a ban on British trawlers landing their catches in French ports and tighter customs checks to hamper cross-Channel trade  remain 'on the table' if a deal cannot be reached.

He told French radio network RTL: 'It was the European Commission that told the British  so all of Europe together  that if you don't make big gestures with a lot of licences on December 10, we are no longer in a European dialogue.'

On the potential ban by the French, Mr Beaune added: 'It's one of the possible options but it's better, to be honest, to have European measures.

'All options are on the table, because it's better to have a dialogue, but if it doesn't bear fruit we can take European measures.'

Mr Beaune said talks between Britain, France and the European Commission on the issue have intensified and are happening daily.

France has become infuriated that Britain and the Channel Islands of Jersey and Guernsey have not issued some French boats licences to fish in their waters after Brexit. Pictured: French fisherman block the entrance to port of Saint Malo on November 26 amid row

France's maritime minister Annick Girardin also warned of European retaliatory measures, telling the Ouest France newspaper that 'London is testing the solidarity of the European Union' in the spat.

A UK Government spokesperson previously said: 'We continue to have technical discussions with the European Commission and French authorities.

'Our approach to fisheries licences is evidence-based and completely in line with the Trade and Cooperation Agreement.

'In total, we have licensed nearly 1,700 EU vessels to fish in our waters.

'Where vessels have provided the required evidence, we have issued licences and will continue to do so.'

Earlier this month, France claimed a significant victory in the fishing wars after Guernsey approved all licences Paris said its fishermen were untitled to under Brexit.

Some 40 vessels who had requested licences and were registered in either Brittany or Normandy have been approved, with another three to be issued later, authorities on the Channel island said.

'As the deadline fixed by the European Commission approaches, the issuance of 43 licences is excellent news for our fishermen,' Annick Girardin, France's seas minister, said on Twitter.

The licences that were agreed will enable 40 vessels to continue to fish in Guernsey waters from February 2022.

President Emmanuel Macron (pictured with Boris Johnson), who faces an election next year, said his government will not rest until his fishermen have all the licences Paris says are owed

France claimed a victory in the fishing wars after Guernsey approved all licences Paris said its fishermen were untitled to under Brexit. Pictured: Boats moored in port of Boulogne, France

The other vessels on the interim list will be able to fish until January 31, 2022.

After that, they will no longer be allowed, unless they can provide evidence that they historically fished in the waters.

'We have reached a significant milestone in our licensing roadmap announced back in September,' said Guernsey official Jonathan Le Tocq.

'We value our good relationships with Normandy, Brittany and La Manche, and I hope that today's announcement provides welcome certainty and stability in this new era,' he added.

Guernsey and Jersey, both British Crown Dependencies, lie far closer to the northern shores of France than to Britain.

President Emmanuel Macron, who faces an election next year, has said his government will not rest until his fishermen have all the licences Paris says are owed.

Amid the row, French fishermen temporarily blockaded the port of Calais and Channel Tunnel rail last month in an effort to disrupt trade between Britain and the continent.

Half a dozen fishing boats blocked access to ferries at the northern port of Calais and the port of Ouistreham in Normandy to the southwest.

In May, as tensions over access to the self-governing British crown dependencies in the Channel boiled over, French trawlers briefly encircled Jersey's main port (pictured)

And in May, as tensions over access to the self-governing British crown dependencies in the Channel boiled over, French trawlers briefly encircled Jersey's main port.

France and Britain have also been embroiled in a diplomatic row on migrants in the wake of dozens of people dying while attempting to cross the Channel to the UK last month.

France has rejected Boris Johnson's offer to help patrol its beaches, with prime minister Jean Castex saying hundreds British personnel would not be allowed on its shores to re-enforce efforts to stop desperate migrants from crossing the Channel.

Mr Johnson also called for a 'returns agreement', meaning all migrants who arrive in England will be sent back across the Channel, but Mr Castex rejected the proposal in a letter.

Meanwhile, No10 has rejected a French plan for a joint processing centre for migrants in Calais. The idea, which is thought to have been included in the letter from Mr Castex, would see the UK help fund and operate a centre for processing the asylum claims of migrants wanting to travel to this country.

The PM's official spokesman said the Government did not want to 'further incentivise' desperate people to make the perilous journey across the Mediterranean in the hope of getting to the UK.
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Prince Andrew went for another horse ride in Windsor this morning shortly after a photograph emerged of Ghislaine Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein at the Queen's log cabin at Balmoral.

The Duke of York, 61, appeared relaxed as he enjoyed his ride this morning, despite the emergence of the photo leading to questions about who invited the paedophile financier and his alleged 'madam' to Balmoral.

Although it is not clear when the image was taken, it was previously reported that the former couple were invited to Balmoral by Andrew in 1999.

Wearing a blue checked shirt in the photo, Maxwell rested her arm on Epstein's knee as they sat in the exact same spot in the hut in Glen Beg that the Queen has previously been pictured relaxing in.

Another image of members of the Royal Family in the log cabin showed Prince Philip with his great-granddaughter Mia, again on the same bench.

A cup of coffee or tea was seen resting on the wall of the cabin in the photo of Maxwell and Epstein, while the Queen had propped a cold drink in the same spot and Philip put a pint of beer there in their photos.

The jury in Maxwell's sex trafficking trial in New York were shown the image and many others of the couple yesterday as prosecutors characterised them as 'partners in crime'.

The photos are among a trove seized by the FBI in 2019 from Epstein's Manhattan mansion after he was arrested on sex trafficking charges. He then took his own life in prison while awaiting trial.

Prince Andrew, who was friends with both Epstein and Maxwell, has been mentioned three times in the high-profile trial so far.

Prince Andrew appeared relaxed as he went on a horse ride in Windsor today, just hours after a photo of Ghislaine Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein at a log cabin at Balmoral emerged

A picture of Ghislaine Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein relaxing in the Queen's log cabin at Balmoral has been shown at her sex trafficking trial. Wearing a blue checked shirt, the British socialite is seen resting her arm on Epstein's knee as they sit in the exact same spot in the hut in Glen Beg that the Queen has been pictured relaxing in

The Queen is pictured above in the cabin with her friend Margaret Rhodes. The pair are sitting in the same sun-exposed spot that Maxwell and Epstein enjoyed

Another image of the Royal family on the same bench in the Balmoral log cabin showed Prince Philip and his great- granddaughter Mia, the daughter of Zara Tindall

Although it is not clear when the image was taken, it was previously reported that the former couple were invited to Balmoral by Prince Andrew in 1999

He was mentioned by Epstein's pilot who said he flew with the disgraced financier; alleged sex trafficking victim Jane who said she remembered Andrew on the plane; and by his former housekeeper who said Andrew was 'always polite and a very nice guy. He was the only guy who left us a tip'.

Prosecutors in New York allege that Maxwell 'served up' girls for former lover Epstein to abuse and also took part in abuse herself. She denies the allegations.

One of Maxwell's accusers, Virginia Roberts, is the woman who claims that Epstein loaned her out to Prince Andrew for sex when she was 17, allegations he denies.

Maxwell's second accuser Carolyn said under cross examination that she had seen a photo in Epstein's home of Maxwell 'nude and pregnant.'

Maxwell is not known to be a mother, and no further details of the alleged pregnancy were given in court.

Taking the stand earlier on Tuesday, FBI analyst Kimberly Meder identified photos found by the FBI during a 2019 raid of Epstein's Manhattan mansion.

She testified as the court was shown 19 photos of Epstein and Maxwell found on CDs taken from the Manhattan home.

During cross-examination, Meder said she did not know if the images had been altered.

The nature of Maxwell and Epstein's relationship has come under question throughout Maxwell's trial, with prosecutors characterizing them as 'partners in crime' while others have testified they appeared to be a couple or as having a business relationship.

A much younger Maxwell and Epstein are seen on a motorcycle together. The undated photo was submitted into evidence by the prosecution in the sex trafficking case against Maxwell

The pair are seen in an undated photo flying around on a helicopter together. This was one of many never-before-seen photos submitted into evidence

The couple appear in one photo in what appears to be a European city. Ghislaine is seen kissing Jeffrey on the cheek. Many have testified that they believed Epstein and Ghislaine were boyfriend and girlfriend

This came after another photo of the pair kissing was submitted into evidence.

That photo showed Maxwell with her arms wrapped around Epstein as they passionately kissed. It sat on a table in Epstein's Palm Beach mansion.

Earlier in the day Tuesday, the court heard from FBI computer analyst Stephen Flatley who talked the jury through hard drives seized during the 2019 FBI raid.

One Microsoft Word document was created in October 2002 by Maxwell on a hard drive for a computer that was registered in Maxwell's name.

It was not clear who the document was for but appeared to be something Maxwell was writing for somebody else.

The document stated: 'Jeffrey and Ghislaine have been together, a couple, for the last 11 years. They are, contrary to what people think, rarely apart. I always see them together.

'Ghislaine is highly intelligent and great company with a ready smile and an infectious laugh.'

The document stated that Maxwell and Epstein 'share many mutual interests and are a lot of fun together,' adding that they both had 'inquisitive minds.'

The document said: 'Jeffrey and Ghislaine compliment each other really well and I cannot imagine one without the other. On top of being great partners they are also best friends.'

Another photo shows Maxwell sunbathing on a yacht in an unknown tropical location. Several of the photos show the couple in European cities posing for pictures together

One photo shows Maxwell kissing the pedophile's cheek with her arms wrapped around him. They appear to be on vacation somewhere warm

The striking photos were submitted into evidence in Maxwell's sex trafficking trial and show the British socialite massaging Epstein's feet on the Lolita Express - Epstein's private plane where he's believed to have shuttled underage girls and high-powered figures

A treasure trove of never-before-seen photos show a loved up Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell jet setting and flaunting their opulent lifestyle. One of the most shocking photos shows Maxwell massaging Epstein's feet on the Lolita Express

Another Word document on the same hard drive, also created by Maxwell, was an ad she wrote in September 2001.

It read: 'Help wanted. Are you a massage therapist? Work in Palm Beach home. Excellent pay. Mostly weekends. Please call 351-1000. Leave message.'

The same hard drive contained emails sent by Maxwell in May 2001 berating Epstein's Palm Beach house manager Juan Alessi, who she referred to as John.

Maxwell wrote to a woman named Sally that Alessi was 'doing a truly awful job.'

Maxwell complained about the 'filthy pool' and how Epstein's 'massage creams' were not tidied up.

Maxwell said that 'I am at a loss' about how to get John to follow her orders.

A photo of Ghislaine Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein kissing was shown Tuesday as FBI analyst Kimberly Meder testified

The photo of Maxwell massaging Epsteins feet was portrayed by the sketch artist inside the New York courtroom on Tuesday

Maxwell also asked about the progress of the 'household manual', which appeared to refer to the 58-page booklet with hundreds of checklist items for running the residence which was already admitted into evidence.

Another document from September 2002 created by Maxwell was titled: 'Palm Beach new shampoo and massage products'.

The list contained 16 different shampoos and 13 massage products to be used in the home including some from high end brands like Kiehls.

Also on Tuesday, Maxwell's second accuser Carolyn, who is going by only her first name instead of a pseudonym, testified that she was introduced to Jeffrey Epstein by Virginia Roberts when she was 14 years old, and went to Epstein's Palm Beach mansion where she gave him a massage.

Carolyn, wearing an orange, white and black striped sweater with shoulder length red hair, told the jury was met by Maxwell at the door.

'Maxwell came in and felt my boobs,' Carolyn said. 'She told me that I had a great body for Mr Epstein and his friends.'

She added that Maxwell 'took pictures of me nude' and also photographed 'the stuff with Epstein.'

Becoming emotional, Carolyn said that Maxwell 'took off her clothes' and Carolyn left her bra and underwear on. Carolyn said Virginia Roberts was also there.

Carolyn said after 45 minutes of massaging his back, Epstein turned over, and Epstein and Virginia Roberts began having sex. She said she watched from the couch and earned $300.

When asked why she continued to go back to Epstein's home, Carolyn said it was because she was young and '$300 was a lot of money.'

Carolyn's bombshell testimony came on Day Seven of Maxwell's trial.

She explained that she dropped out of school in seventh grade and never went back. She moved to Florida from New York when she was a child and had a troubled upbringing as her mother was an alcoholic and drug addict.

Maxwell is seen aboard a private plane. It's unclear if it is Epstein's infamous Lolita Express jet

Prosecutors have characterized Epstein and Maxwell as being 'partners in crime'. Maxwell is seen in this evidence photo cuddling up to Epstein

Epstein appears with his arm around Ghislaine as he takes a phone call in this evidence photo

This serves the prosecution's case that Maxwell and Epstein targeted young girls from broken homes.

Her grandfather abused her from the age of four, Carolyn told the jury.

She met Epstein when she was 14 through her boyfriend Shawn, who was 17.

Shawn was friends with Tony Figueroa who was dating Virginia Roberts, the Epstein victim who claims that she was forced to have sex with Prince Andrew when she was 17.

Carolyn said that the four of them used to hang out and 'smoke pot' until one day Roberts brought up Epstein.

Carolyn said: 'Virginia asked me if I wanted to go make money.'

Carolyn added that Roberts said: 'We were going to go to her friend's house in Palm Beach islandI would give him a massage. I was going to make a lot of money'.

On her first visit to Epstein's Palm Beach home, Carolyn said she entered through the kitchen with Roberts and met Maxwell

She said she was an 'older lady with an accent and shoulder length black hair. Carolyn called her Maxwell because she had trouble pronouncing her first name.

Roberts told Maxwell: 'This is my friend Carolyn'.

Maxwell said: 'You can bring her upstairs and show her what to do'.

Carolyn said that they went upstairs to Epstein's bathroom and Roberts got out the fold-up massage table and showed her where the massage oils were.

Carolyn said: 'Virginia had taken her clothes off and she asked me if I would be comfortable taking off mine. I told her I would like to keep my bra and underwear on'.

Epstein came into the room and lay face down on the massage table and for the next 45 minutes the two girls 'massaged the backs of his legs up to the buttocks', Carolyn said.

She said: 'After 45 minutes he turned over, Virginia got on top of him. They were having sex.'

Carolyn said: 'I was sitting on the couch right in front of them'.

Afterwards Carolyn was paid $300 in $100 and on the way out gave her phone number to Maxwell, she told the jury.

Carolyn told the jury that she would go on to visit Epstein's house 'over 100' times more from the ages of 14 to 18, with some kind of sexual activity happening every single time.

Maxwell would call her to schedule the appointment, and sometimes it was her assistant Sarah Kellen.

Carolyn said she sometimes called Epstein to set up an appointment because she was 'young and $300 was a lot of money'.

Sometimes Maxwell would call Carolyn's home and her mother would take the call, shouting to her daughter that she had a call.

Carolyn said that she used the money to pay for 'marijuana, cocaine, alcohol' to 'block out' her feelings so she could get to the next appointment with Epstein.

She also said she was addicted to painkillers.

Carolyn said that each time she went to the house she would go into the kitchen where she would see Maxwell. If Epstein was out she would say he would be back soon.

Carolyn admitted to Maxwell - and later Epstein - that her mother was an alcoholic and that she had been abused as a child, she told the jury.

One time Maxwell asked her if she wanted to travel to an island, which Carolyn took to mean Epstein's private island in the Caribbean.

Carolyn said: 'I told her there was no way in hell my mom was going to let me leave the country. I told her I was 14.

Asked by prosecutor Maurene Comey how old she was, Carolyn said: 'I was 14'.

After a grueling afternoon of cross examination, Carolyn sobbed uncontrollably when asked by Comey why she was giving evidence.

She said: 'Money will never fix what that woman did to me because what she did was wrong and she picked vulnerable young girls and trafficked them.

'I am so petrified that my daughters are going to be trafficked'.

The emotional moment came after Maxwell's defence lawyers revealed that Carolyn got $446,000 after settling a 2009 civil claim against Epstein.

She also got $2.8m after filing a more recent claim with the Epstein victims compensation fund.

In a bizarre exchange Maxwell's lawyer Jeff Pagliuca asked Carolyn if during her interviews with prosecutors she talked about a 'seeing a photograph of Ms Maxwell pregnant?'

He asked: 'You claimed you saw a photograph of her in Epstein's house, pregnant?'

Carolyn replied: 'Nude and pregnant'.

She was shown a photograph but said that was not the image.

At the end of the day prosecutors said they could rest their case as early as Thursday meaning the final accuser, Annie, is likely to be called next.
Debt-crippled Chinese property giant Evergrande has defaulted on its loans, with Bejing preparing a 'controlled demolition' of the firm to protect its economy.

Evergrande has been struggling to meet its loan commitments since the Chinese government launched a crackdown earlier this year to curb rampant borrowing and consumer speculation in the property sector.

After months on the brink, the company defaulted for the first time on $1.2billion worth of bond debt on Thursday. The company's total debts run to $300billion.

On Thursday, Fitch Ratings agency confirmed the company had defaulted as it downgraded the firm's status to a restricted default rating.

Fitch also declared Kaisa, a smaller property company but one of China's most indebted, had defaulted on $400 million of bonds.

A slowdown in the Chinese real estate sector, which accounts for a significant proportion of the country's economic output, could have ripple effects on global growth.

Evergrande, one of China's biggest real estate companies, has defaulted on a loan for the first time - sparking fears of a ripple effect on Chinese and global markets

At least 10 Chinese real estate firms have collapsed since the government launched a crackdown on the sector earlier this year, with Evergrande the highest-profile casualty

There have been concerns that the collapse of the real estate giant could cause another 'Lehman moment', referring to the collapse of Wall Street's Lehman Brothers, which is still the largest bankruptcy filing in US history.

The bankruptcy of the financial services firm came at the climax of a mortgage crisis in September 2008, and its sudden overnight collapse prompted global panic.

Analysts have suggested that Beijing will oversee a 'controlled demolition' of Evergrande in a bid to prevent another global crisis, similar to that seen in 2008, and protect its own economy.

Evergrande default: What it means for Chinese and global markets What happened to Evergrande? The Chinese government sparked a crisis last year when it launched a drive to curb excessive debt among real estate firms as well as rampant consumer speculation. Evergrande - a real estate giant with a presence in over 280 Chinese cities - was the most prominent developer to pay the price for the clampdown. More than $300billion in debt, it teetered for months on the edge of default, but returned each time thanks to a last-minute repayment. On Thursday, Fitch confirmed the company had defaulted on more than $1.2billion worth of bond debt, as it downgraded the firm's status to a restricted default rating. China's 'Lehman moment'? A slowdown in the Chinese real estate sector, which accounts for a significant proportion of the country's economic output, could have ripple effects on global growth. Evergrande's woes have rocked stock markets - and the real estate sector makes up much of distressed dollar-denominated debt internationally. But a default had long been expected, and fears over a 'Lehman moment' - a reference to the Wall Street titan whose collapse prompted panic worldwide during the 2008 global financial crisis - have failed to play out. Chinese authorities have appeared unlikely to allow the kind of overnight collapse seen in 2008, with analysts suggesting that Beijing will oversee a 'controlled demolition' of the firm. 'Is the financial system here, or elsewhere, as vulnerable as it turned out to be in the wake of Lehman? The answer to that is no,' the head of Hong Kong's Securities and Futures Commission Ashley Alder told Bloomberg TV. What happens now? The firm's admission prompted the local government in Guangdong - where it is headquartered - to summon billionaire chairman Xu Jiayin, and to announce they would send a 'working group' to the company. Analysts said this moment signalled the formal start of debt restructuring. 'I'd think the market has already priced in the default in Evergrande's and many others' prices,' Chuanyi Zhou, credit analyst at Lucror Analytics, said. And Thursday's default is likely to speed up that process, they said. With the default of Kaisa, China's 27th-largest real estate firm for sales, it may be too late to avoid a ripple effect. What does it mean for investors? Having already blamed the firm's woes on 'poor management and blind expansion', the head of China's central bank has now hinted that it would be dealt with in a 'market-oriented' way. Despite the state's reluctance to bail Evergrande out, its moves since have eased investor concern of a collapse. 'It's pretty clear that the state is seriously involved in managing the situation,' Shehzad Qazi, managing director of data analytics firm China Beige Book, told AFP. 'The priority would surely be to ensure that homes are delivered, and what remains afterwards will be repaid according to the priority level of bonds,' said Meng Ting, a senior credit strategist at ANZ Bank. What about Chinese developers? Around 11 property firms defaulted on bonds since concerns started to grow over Evergrande in June. Kaisa - which suspended share trading in Hong Kong on Wednesday - was among the latest. It is estimated to have $11.6b dollar notes outstanding. Property firms made up 36 per cent of the $10.2billion of offshore bonds that Chinese borrowers defaulted on this year, Bloomberg said. How will China's economy be impacted? The Evergrande crisis has drawn parallels with government intervention in other indebted companies, notably aviation conglomerate HNA Group. HNA's restructuring did not cause investor panic - although Evergrande's higher profile means this time will likely prove a bigger challenge. Beijing's broader clampdown has already had a major impact on the property sector and deepened worries over key firms' financial health, bringing home sales and prices down. Advertisement

Economists said Beijing can keep lending markets functioning amid Evergrande defaulting, and local officials can mobilise to contain turmoil in real estate markets.

'The defaults of Evergrande and Kaisa move us to the second step of this China Property downturn, with systemic risk being gradually replaced by idiosyncratic risk,' said Robin Usson, credit analyst at Federated Hermes.

'It will be interesting to see the role played by SOEs (state-owned enterprises) in the restructuring process, the level of 'control' exerted by the government over this 'marketed-oriented approach',' Usson added.

Ashley Alder, the head of Hong Kong's Securities and Futures Commission Ashley Alder, insisted that the financial system in China, is not as vulnerable as it was in the 2008 financial crisis.

More than 10 Chinese real estate firms have defaulted in the second half of this year.

But Ashley Alder, head of Hong Kong's Securities and Futures Commission, played down concerns that China's property sector woes could snowball into a something resembling the 2008 global crash.

'It's a significant event, you can't possibly underplay it, but it's basically not that category of event for the financial system,' he told Bloomberg Television.

China's property sector is one of the main drivers of the nation's economy and keys to the wealth of the booming middle class.

Intent on maintaining 'social stability', Beijing has been working to avoid a massive fallout from the collapse of Evergrande.

But it has eschewed a government bailout.

Instead, a 'risk management committee' stacked with officials from state entities was last week sent in to clean up the current mess.

Yi Gang, governor of the People's Bank of China, said Thursday Beijing planned to handle Evergrande's future in a market-oriented way.

'The rights and interests of creditors and shareholders will be fully respected in accordance to their legal seniority,' Chinese state media quoted Yi as saying in a pre-recorded video message to a top-level seminar in Hong Kong.

According to a transcript released by the central bank, Yi added: 'The short-term risks of individual real estate companies will not affect the normal financing function of the medium- and long-term market.

'Evergrande's hazard is a market event that will be properly handled in accordance with market principles and law.'

But even with those assurances, investors remain in the dark about what the future holds and what Beijing's overall plan is.

Neither Evergrande, nor Kaisa, have yet to make any comments on the default reports and what they plan to do next.

'In the next step, I think all the creditors will sue Evergrande,' Chen Long, a partner at research firm Plenum told AFP, adding Fitch's announcement formalised what investors already knew about the defaults.

Evergrande will have 'to enter a period of restructuring,' he said, adding that while creditors will hope to secure assets on the mainland 'I don't think it will be very successful'.

Evergrande's troubles first surfaced this year when it detailed how heavily leveraged the firm had become.

The eye-watering figures shook China's credit markets because of the sheer size of the company and the potential fallout should it collapse.

Last month it missed its first foreign bond repayment but there was a 30-day grace period attached. That ran out on Tuesday with some bond owners complaining they had yet to be repaid.

Questions had swirled over whether Evergrande is simply too big to be allowed to fail, given its collapse could send shock waves through the wider Chinese economy.

But it become increasingly clear in recent days that Beijing was willing to close the chapter on the 25-year-old real estate empire that has typified China's breakneck growth in recent decades.

After Evergrande said Friday it may not be able to meet its financial obligations, the government summoned the company's founder, Xu Jiayin, and the new risk management committee was announced.

Financial media in Hong Kong have reported that Xu, a billionaire who is also known as Hui Ka Yan in Cantonese, has been selling some of his own luxury assets to raise funds.

According to Bloomberg News, before Thursday, at least 10 lower-rated real estate firms have now defaulted on onshore or offshore bonds since the summer.

Before Thursday, Chinese borrowers had defaulted on a record $10.2 billion of offshore bonds, Bloomberg had reported, with real estate firms accounting for 36 percent of those non-repayments.

Total Chinese corporate, government and household debt has risen to about 300 per cent of annual economic output from 270 per cent in 2018, unusually high for a middle-income country.
An ex-reality TV star has opened up about her crippling $5,000-a-week drug addiction that left her 'deeply ashamed' and put her behind bars.

Onetime Beauty and The Geek runner-up Jordan Finlayson, 30, was sentenced to two years and three months in jail for drug dealing in April last year.

The former Cronulla Sharks cheerleader, became involved in a heroin trafficking ring with her then boyfriend Martin Roser.

Former Beauty and The Geek runner-up Jordan Finlayson, 30, (pictured) speaks out about her $5,000 a week drug habit that put her behind bars for two years and three months

At the point of her arrest she admitted to blowing $5,000 a week on heroin, Xanax, marijuana, GBL, and whatever else she could get, and overdosed.

Ten weeks after her release from prison, Ms Finlayson spoke candidly about how her drug use - fuelled by Sydney's party scene - robbed her of five years from her 20s.

'For two-and-a-half years before jail I did every drug; cocaine, GBL... my life was a blur, I let a lot of people down and made bad choices,' she told The Daily Telegraph.

'I was so destroyed, I overdosed and went to rehab six months before I was arrested, but I couldn't stop.'

The ex-Penthouse model has been waitressing in the city since her time at Silverwater, Mary Wade and Dillwynia correctional centres ended.

'Prison was scary, with some big, intimidating women and I was very sick coming off drugs in clinic,' Ms Finlayson said.

The ex-Penthouse model revealed she was waitressing in the city since her stint in jail

Ms Finlayson appeared on the Channel Seven show Beauty and The Geek (pictured) before her life spiralled into drug addiction

'It was the wrong place for me  there were no family visits in lockdown but it was the wake-up call I needed. I had broken the law and had done wrong. Until then I believed I was invincible.'

Ms Finlayson was a former Channel Seven reality TV star, successful model, dancer, and NRL cheerleader.

But in April 2020, Ms Finlayson appeared in front of a Sydney's Downing Centre Court and was handed a jail sentence for drug-related crimes.

Ms Finlayson sold 'H balls' (heroin) and 'eyeballs' (meth) and GBL to an undercover NSW Police officer over three months in 2019.

She made about $40,000 from dealing in total, but most of it was spent on heroin, GBL, Xanax, and marijuana to fuel her 'daily' drug use.

Ms Finlayson was a former Channel Seven reality TV star, successful model and dancer and NRL cheerleader before jail

In 2019, Ms Finlayson sold 'H balls' (heroin) and 'eyeballs' (meth) and GBL (a liquid) to an undercover NSW Police officer over three months

Ms Finlayson and her former boyfriend were arrested on Dank St, Waterloo, in the city's inner east in June 2019.

She plead guilty to drug supply charges and applied for parole earlier this year. Mr Roser was jailed for five years.

In a letter to the judge, the one-time dancer said going to jail had 'potentially saved her life'.

'I'm deeply sorry for all the hurt and pain I've caused to those involved,' she wrote to the judge. 'My actions let everyone down.'

Since Ms Finlayson's release, she said she's cut off toxic friendships and is studying a business course in between taking modelling assignments.

She added she was working on rebuilding bridges with family while she lives in Rosebery with her father, who suffers from multiple sclerosis.
A Hispanic school board member who released private information of white Forth Worth parents who sued the district over Covid-19 mask mandates has resigned, blaming 'relentless attacks' on her by 'white supremacists'.

Norma Garcia-Lopez, the Fort Worth Independent School District's Racial Equity Committee Co-Chair, had admitted that she released the information on social media and swore at a mother in a vulgar voicemail - but defended the decision.

Now, Garcia-Lopez has resigned from her position and said she could not allow the 'vile and relentless attacks on me by white supremacists to distract from the pursuit of equity in the Fort Worth Independent School District', reports Fox News.

Garcia-Lopez had been backed by the schoolboard at a news conference last Thursday after she allegedly received dozens of threatening and racist phone and social media messages, calling for her removal in November.

The alleged threatening messages came after Garcia-Lopez posted private information about parents who had filed a lawsuit against the Fort Worth Independent School District (ISD) over its mask mandate, securing a temporary injunction in August.

In one instance, Garcia-Lopez accused the parents - who are all white - of 'white power' and revealed in a Facebook post the phone number and addresses of four families, as well as the name of one's employer and work address.

She also left a foul-mouthed tirade on a voicemail for one of the parents.

'F**** you, you stupid b****. F**** you with your white privilege, not caring about the well-being of others, f*** you,' Garcia-Lopez said in the voicemail, according to a recording found by Dailymail.com.

Norma Garcia-Lopez (pictured) is the co-chair of the Fort Worth independent school district board's Racial Equity Committee. She resigned after doxxing personal information of parents online and leaving a profanity-laced voicemail attacking a mother who sued the school district over a COVID-19 mask mandate

Pictured: A quote tweet from Garcia -Lopez revealing the names of families against the school district's COVID-19 mask mandate

Pictured: A Facebook screenshot of a post from Norma Garcia-Lopez, sharing details of the parents who appealed against the school district's mask mandate. Later in the comments, Garcia-Lopez says that the parent 'definitely need to be called out'.

Announcing her resignation, in an email seen by Fox News, Garcia-Lopez wrote: 'I am writing to inform [Fort Worth Independent School District] that it has become necessary for me to resign from my volunteer positions with the District, including as member and co-chair of the Racial Equity Committee and as a member of the Redistricting Committee.

'Every student in FWISD deserves equity and respect. That is my passion and reason for serving on those committees,' Garcia-Lopez continued.

'I cannot allow the vile and relentless attacks on me by white supremacists to distract from or overshadow the continued pursuit of equity in FWISD. That work is too vital.

'Please notify the appropriate FWISD staff and committee members of my resignation.'

The resignation came after Garcia doxxed parents who had filed a lawsuit against the school district over its mask mandate.

Doxxing means to search for and publish private or identifying information about a particular individual on the internet, typically with malicious intent.

Before announcing her resignation, Garcia-Lopez defended her decision and said in a statement to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram: 'Some people consider my actions doxxing. It's not doxxing when you expose someone who filed a public motion in a public court of law that impacts public school children.'

Earlier, Garcia-Lopez wrote on her Twitter account, which no longer exists: 'It's astounding what the 'White Privilege' power from Tanglewood has vs a whole diverse community that cares for the well being of others.

'These are their names: Jennifer Treger, Todd Daniel, Kerri Rehmeyer and a coward Jane Doe. Internet do your thang.'

Garcia-Lopez then revealed the phone numbers as well as the addresses of the four families, along with Rehmeyer's employer and work email address, under a Facebook post. She later commented, under the same post, that the parents 'definitely need to be called out' after someone thanked her for sharing the information.

Fort Worth Independent School District has so far not taken any action against Garcia-Lopez

Kerri Rehmeyer, a real estate agent, said that the death threats Garcia-Lopez has so far received are 'totally uncalled-for' despite receiving a vulgar voicemail from the co-chair

Garcia-Lopez also defended her move to leave a voicemail full of swearing on Kerri Rehmeyer's phone, using a blocked number to call her. The call was made after the parents, who had sued FWISD for a mask mandate, won the lawsuit and before Garcia-Lopez was made co-chair of the Racial Equity Committee.

'F**** you, you stupid b****. F**** you with your white privilege, not caring about the well-being of others, f*** you,' Garcia-Lopez said in the voicemail, according to a recording found by Dailymail.com.

Speaking about Garcia-Lopez's resignation, Rehmeyer told Fox News: 'Ultimately, we are relieved to hear that Norma Garcia-Lopez will no longer hold positions of influence in Fort Worth ISD, but we are disappointed by the complete lack of action by the Board of Trustees.'

Rehmeyer said that the board 'haven't bothered to notify us she resigned,' adding that she believes the school board will 'continue to ignore our concerns'.

In a statement released before her resignation, Garcia-Lopez said of the abusive voicemail she left for Rehmeyer: 'My message contained harsh language  no threats.

'Some people find my choice of words in that message offensive. But what's really offensive is that four white parents could hold so much power.'

In a video showing her making a speech in front of the school district, Garcia-Lopez emphasizes that supporting local mask mandates is synonymous with advocating for children.

'When we're advocating for their health and safety, for mask mandates, for vaccines, for everything, for all the equity in the classrooms, that's because we care, not because we don't,' Garcia-Lopez said.

At Thursday's Racial Equity meeting, co-chair Garcia-Lopez slammed parents opposing the school district's COVID-19 mask mandate once more, saying: 'when did a healthcare crisis become political?'

Max Krochmal, a history professor at Texas Christian University, spoke at a press conference defending Norma Garcia-Lopez on Thursday, while targeted parents called for his colleague's removal

Max Krochmal, an award-winning history professor at Texas Christian University and a member of the committee, defended Garcia-Lopez at a news conference Thursday.

He said some members of the committee drafted a resolution, demanding the school district affirm its 'support for Garcia-Lopez as co-chair of the Racial Equity Committee, with a note of appreciation and thanks.'

The Racial Equity Committee was created in 2016 to recommend practices to the school board that support, rather than discriminate, students and staff of color.

But ever since she decided to turn against parents of the school district, Garcia-Lopez has received 'racist and fat-shaming statements,' requests to 'go back to Mexico,' and ill-wish memos calling her 'a great candidate for having a stroke.' She has also received death threats and remarks concerning the safety of her family.

'They sent a lynch mob to attack me,' Garcia-Lopez said. 'They want to silence me from advocating for equity, by pressuring me into resigning as co-chair of the Racial Equity Committee.'

Rehmeyer, who was the recipient of Garcia-Lopez's profanity-laced voicemail, said she did not participate in the release of Garcia-Lopez's personal information, which has been released by doxxers. Fearing for her safety, Garcia-Lopez has had to follow local law enforcement's recommendation to protect herself from danger.

Rehmeyer has also rebutted Garcia-Lopez's claim about being attacked by a lynch mob, saying that 'all we did was go to the media with what she had done to us.'

The targeted mother, who is also a real estate professional for Wilco Realtors, also criticized people who sent the committee co-chair any threats or racist messages, saying: 'That's just totally uncalled-for.'

While Rehmeyer acknowledged the findings of her name and address, as well as the ones of the three other families, in legal court documents, she accused Garcia-Lopez of telling to people to 'go after us, said where I worked.'

'I received 17 voicemails at work from one person,' Rehmeyer said, adding that some of the other targeted parents have local businesses that have received negative reviews online from people who 'don't even try to pretend that they were clients.'

'I had a previous client who said she hoped that I died,' the mother revealed.

On a further note, Rehmeyer said that the criticism went too far and that it 'has nothing to do with equity work.' Rather, she claims it has everything to do with the way she and and other parents were treated by Garcia-Lopez.

'She's not holding to the standards that they have for teachers and students,' she said. Her and the other targeted families forwarded screenshots of Garcia-Lopez's actions to the school board but never heard anything back.

'It's unacceptable to me that they're not holding her accountable,' Rehmeyer said.

Carlos Turcios, a 20-year-old former member of the school district's Racial Equity Committee, denounced the lack of consequences that Garcia-Lopez has had to face.

'It is unacceptable that the ISD is not holding the co-chair accountable for her actions,' Turcios told Fox News. 'She doxxed parents and financially impacted one of the parents' businesses. What type of leadership is the committee and FWISD showing to its students? That bullying and intimidation are OK? That it's fine to leave voicemails harassing parents if they disagree with you?'

'Superintendent [Kent] Scribner should resign for allowing this environment of bullying,' Turcios added.

Dailymail.com has reached out to the Fort Worth Independent School District for comment.
Rolls-Royce has announced almost 8,500 roles will be axed by the end of 2021 as the company nears the end of its planned job cuts that were announced 19 months ago.

The British aerospace and defence firm has already parted ways with thousands of staff in a desperate cash-cutting bid to save around 1.3billion by the end of 2022.

'The pace of restructuring (is) running ahead of our original plan and footprint rationalisation continuing through the second half of the year,' the business said on Thursday.

At one point, Rolls-Royce's cashburn was reaching 1 billion per quarter as its engine construction arm for aeroplanes, jets, submarines and more was crippled by the pandemic's lockdowns.

Other parts of the business, including its power systems and defence units, have shown more reason for shareholders to be cheerful.

Yet they did not immediately reward the company. Its stock prices slipped 3.8% to 124.6p per share at the start of Thursday trading after the news was shared.

Rolls-Royce has announced almost 8,500 roles will be axed by the end of 2021 as the company nears the end of its planned job cuts that were announced 19 months ago. Pictured: The firm's Derbyshire plant

At one point, Rolls-Royce's cashburn was reaching 1 billion per quarter as its engine construction arm for aeroplanes, jets, submarines and more was crippled by the pandemic's lockdowns

The engineering giant said its improved trading performance drove a return to positive free cash flow in the third quarter and reduced the outflow expected in the second half.

But for a business as focused on aviation as Rolls-Royce, many of the things that matter to the company have been far outside its control during the pandemic.

One of the key figures that the business tracks is how long its plane engines spend in the sky.

Historically, the civil aviation industry has fuelled more than half of the company's 15billion in annual revenue.

But with the onset of the Covid pandemic, and global non-essential travel being heavily restricted by lockdowns, Rolls-Royce has faced unprecedented challenges.

Historically, the civil aviation industry has fuelled more than half of the company's 15billion in annual revenue. Pictured: Rolls Royce Trent XWB engines at the assembly line in Derby

Chief executive Warren East said: 'We have achieved good results with our fundamental restructuring programme, as we sustainably reduce costs and deliver a leaner and more efficient company, and are firmly on course to complete our disposals programme.

'We are delivering on the elements within our control and are focused on our commitments.'

Mr East has previously said he did not expect the company to fully recover from the crisis until around 2025.

Rolls-Royce makes a loss when it sells the engines, but has long-term servicing contracts on them for which it is paid by the amount of time they spend flying.

At the moment, while they have been slowly rising, large engine flying hours are still half what they were in 2019.

Rolls-Royce chief executive Warren East (pictured) has previously said he did not expect the company to fully recover from the crisis until around 2025

'Large engine flying hours have continued to recover gradually, helped by the reopening of certain key travel corridors, especially the trans-Atlantic routes,' the business said.

'The pace of travel recovery remains uneven as countries around the world look to manage the ongoing challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic.'

Other parts of the business, including its power systems and defence units, have shown more reason for shareholders to be cheerful.

Yet they did not reward the company on Thursday. Shares dipped 3.8% after the news.

The business also said its new all-electric plane is the world's fastest, hitting speeds of 345mph - more than 100mph quicker than its closest rival.

'We are investing in the net-zero technologies and solutions that we need across the group to grasp the tremendous commercial opportunity of the global energy transition and drive long-term value,' Mr East said.

'This all underpins our strategy of creating a better quality and more balanced business which can deliver significantly improved returns and cash flow into the future.'
Spanish trawlers have been accused of landing fish in Cornwall legally too small to keep or sell - then driving them back to Spain in lorries.

The new dispute exacerbates post-Brexit fishing disputes with France that have already been rolling for months.

France has said it will continue to fight for every last fishing licence ahead of Friday's deadline for the UK to agree to a post-Brexit deal for 100 more boats.

Just one day before the deadline, France claimed it was still waiting for Britain to approve almost 100 licences for its fishermen to operate in UK territorial waters and off the coast of Jersey, adding that last-minute negotiations were ongoing.

Under a deal agreed by London and Brussels late last year, European fishing vessels can continue to ply UK waters if they apply for new licences and can prove they operated there in the past.

But France has become infuriated that Britain and the Channel Islands of Jersey and Guernsey have not issued some French boats licences to fish in their waters after Brexit.

Now, France's seas minister Annick Girardin said the Government will continue to fight for every single licence ahead of the December 10 deadline for the UK, which was set by the European Union in a bid to resolve the worsening post-Brexit row.

And today, the fishing community of Newlyn is rife with rumours of foreign vessels catching hake - and smuggling them back to the continent.

They say Spanish ships are catching hake below minimum landing size - which legally they are not allowed to flog because it is not sustainable.

The law protects fish stocks and states any catches below the minimum landing size must be thrown back into the water.

Footage was circulated online which purported to show the procedure in action

A forklift truck was said to have been used to elevate boxes of fish and put them in a van

But locals claim Spanish boats are catching them - then not declaring them at the Cornish port to the Marine Management Organisation (MMO).

It is claimed they are then loading them onto lorries and driving to Spain.

One source told The Fishing Daily: 'I was down there earlier on this week, and I was looking through the boxes there, I felt as though I was able to do, and the size of the hake is just ridiculous.

'They're coming in and landing them directly onto the back of the lorry to be shipped to Spain and they've even got the labels on their Merluza which is the Spanish name for hake.'

Locals have claimed Spanish boats are catching the fish then not declaring them at the port

It is claimed they go straight from the boat straight into the back of a lorry

One local wrote on Twitter: 'UK fishermen have worked hard for MSC certification to protect stocks for years, what, so everyone else can just help themselves?!'

Someone else commented: 'Does anyone inspect the catch from UK before they load up the lorries?'

British fisherman were promised exclusive access to UK waters following Brexit, but some claim they have seen more foreign vessels then ever before.

An MMO spokesperson said: 'The MMO's enforcement activities are risk-based and intelligence-led, focusing primarily on where seasonal fishing activity is taking place and where intelligence suggests there is heightened risk of illegal fishing activities.

'We would encourage people who suspect illegal activity to report their concerns to us so we can undertake assurance checks and take action where there is sufficient evidence to justify it.'
Italian regulators have fined Amazon nearly 1billion for abusing its dominant position to favour its own logistics service.

Italy's competition watchdog ordered Amazon to pay a 943million (1.1-billion-euro) antitrust fine on Thursday for allegedly abusing its dominance in the market.

The US big tech firms are the latest to fall foul of European fairness rules which has seen firms targeted across a range of issues, from the sale of consumer electronics, to the aggregation of news content on social media platforms.

Now, the Italian Competition Authority said Amazon abused its dominant position by promoting its own logistics service Fulfilment by Amazon, which ships and delivers packages, on its Italian platform to the detriment of third-party sellers who did not use it.

The 250-page decision read: 'The abusive strategy adopted by Amazon is particularly serious, since it is likely to discourage, if not eliminate, competition in the relevant markets.'

Amazon said it 'strongly' disagreed with the decision and would appeal.

Italy's competition watchdog ordered Amazon to pay a 943million antitrust fine on Thursday for allegedly abusing its dominance in the market (file image)

'The proposed fine and remedies are unjustified and disproportionate,' the company said in a statement.

The fine was calculated as a percentage of worldwide revenue of Seattle-based parent company Amazon.com, but the agency said it acted on its authority to boost it by 50 per cent, after taking into account the global size and dominance of the company.

The watchdog said Amazon's conduct under investigation dated from at least 2016, when it was possible to establish the online retailer's dominant market position in Italy based on revenue.

'In view of the need to ensure the effective deterrence of the sanction, taking into account the fact that the Amazon Group had a global turnover in 2020 of more than 330 billion euros and Amazon's absolute importance at a global level, it is considered appropriate to apply a increase of 50 percent of the amount of the fine,' it wrote.

Amazon must now grant sales privileges and visibility to all third-party sellers who meet fair and non-discriminatory standards for fulfilment, and must decide and publish such standards.

Those would be subject to review by a monitor, the agency said.

Amazon said it 'strongly' disagreed with the decision and would appeal. Amazon is owned by Jeff Bezos, the second richest man in the world after Elon Musk

In its decision, the Italian watchdog said third-party sellers who do not use Amazon's fulfilment service are excluded from 'a set of advantages essential for obtaining visibility and better sales prospects'.

Those included better access to Amazon's 'most loyal and high-end customers' who use Amazon Prime, the e-commerce giant's popular loyalty program.

The watchdog said a tough performance measurement system is also reserved for sellers who do not use Amazon's logistics system, which can lead, if failed, to suspension of the seller's account.

The decision comes just two weeks after the same Italian authority imposed a 58 million (68.7-million-euro) fine on Amazon for infringing EU laws, while Apple was ordered to pay 113 million (134.5 million euros) in the same action.

The tech firm and the e-commerce giant had entered into a deal to penalise official and non-official sellers of Apple products.

The agreement also covered Beats by Dre headphones, which are owned by Apple.

Both Amazon and Apple said they intended to appeal against the fines levied in Italy.

The Italian watchdog said a 2018 deal between the two US companies had 'barred official and unofficial resellers of Apple and Beats products from using Amazon.it, allowing the sale of those products in that marketplace only to Amazon and to selected parties in a discriminatory manner'.

The aim had been to restrict the number of retailers and limit cross-border sales, it said.

The agreement spelled bad news for consumers, because at least 70 percent of electronics goods bought in Italy were purchased on Amazon.

The decision comes after the same Italian authority imposed a 58 million fine on Amazon for infringing EU laws, while Apple was ordered to pay 113 million in the same action (file image)

Amazon said it made no sense to suggest the e-commerce company benefitted 'by excluding sellers' because its business model 'relies on their success'.

As Europe forges ahead with antitrust litigation, US regulators are closely watching its approach to big tech firms, after Washington pledged to intensify scrutiny of the technology industry.

In its statement, Apple said it believed 'we have done nothing wrong' and the agreement was part of efforts to ensure only genuine products were being sold through reseller partners.

The watchdog said its probe has inspired Germany and Spain antitrust authorities to 'launch similar procedures'.

A crackdown on big tech firms could lead to the breakup of the largest platforms, with Europe powering ahead with antitrust litigation and US lawmakers eyeing moves to make antitrust enforcement easier.

Just days later, Italy's antitrust watchdog confirmed it had also slapped Apple and Google with a total of 16million in fines.

The Italian competition authority said it fined Apple and Google 8million each for violations of the consumer code, including failing to provide enough information to customers and resorting to 'aggressive methods' in using their data.

'Neither Apple nor Google provided clear and immediate information on the acquisition and use of user data for commercial ends,' the statement said.

The bout of fines in Italy comes just weeks after a European Union court rejected a Google appeal against a 2billion (2.4-billion-euro) antitrust fine.

The bout of fines in Italy comes just weeks after a European Union court rejected a Google appeal against a 2billion antitrust fine (file image)

The Luxembourg-based European Court of Justice's General Court ruled that it 'largely dismisses' Google's appeal of that antitrust penalty and is upholding the fine.

In its appeal, Google and its parent company Alphabet had argued the EU was 'wrong on the law, the facts, and the economics' in the search engine case.

But the court said it dismissed 'for the most part the action brought by the two companies, and upholds the fine imposed by the Commission'.

Giants Google, Apple, Facebook, Amazon and Microsoft have been accused of stifling competition, not paying enough taxes, stealing media content and threatening democracy by spreading fake news.

Big Tech critics want Apple and Google to loosen the grip of their online app marketplaces; more competition in a digital advertising market dominated by Google and Facebook; and better access to Amazon's e-commerce platform by third-party sellers.

In terms of taxation, Italy, France, Germany and Spain won a major victory in June when the G7 richest nations agreed to a minimum global corporate tax rate for the world's biggest companies, which include the US tech giants.

Nearly 140 countries have since backed the 15-percent tax.

The reform seeks to end the practice of big firms such as Apple and Google of sheltering profits in low-tax countries.

The EU has also unveiled plans for mammoth fines of up to 10 percent of sales on tech firms that break competition rules, which could even lead to them being broken up.
Gladys Berejiklian will announce today that she will not run for federal parliament and her political career is over - for now - after resigning as NSW premier.

Her decision to pursue a corporate career instead of contest Tony Abbott's old seat will disappoint Scott Morrison, who was pushing hard for her to run.

Ms Berejiklian informed the prime minister of her decision on Thursday and Mr Morrison said he respected her decision.

'Gladys has been an extraordinary leader throughout the difficult past few years. She has been a rock for the state as well as a good friend to me and Jen,' he told The Australian.

'As much as I and other senior leaders in the party like John Howard, Tony Abbott and Bruce Baird would welcome her entry back into public life, we also respect her choices about the direction she would now like to take in her life.'

Former NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian will on Friday announce the end of her political career

Daily Mail Australia understands that Ms Berejiklian will instead seek out a far better paying corporate job.

'I completely understand and respect why Gladys would want to go in a different direction, post-politics,' Mr Morrison said.

'I appreciate the opportunity to have been able to talk these issues through with Gladys, as we go back a long way.'

The prime minister intensely lobbied for Ms Berejiklian to make the leap from state to federal politics, offering to parachute her in as the Liberal Party candidate for the northern Sydney seat of Warringah.

Though there was much speculation about her intentions, and praise from many quarters, including former prime minister John Howard, the one voice not heard from was Ms Berejiklian herself.

The Liberal Party fervently hoped that Ms Berejiklian, 51, would run.

Though she does not live in the Warringah electorate, many saw the former premier as the Liberals' best chance of regaining the seat won by independent Zali Steggall from Mr Abbott in 2019.

The prime minister publicly called on the ex-premier to consider running, despite an Independent Commission Against Corruption investigation into her relationship with disgraced MP Daryl Maguire still yet to deliver its findings.

Mr Morrison spent the past week talking up her credentials and attacking the ICAC investigation as unfair and unfounded.

'I know it's been a very difficult time for her in recent times,' he said.

'She has suffered terribly in terms of things that have been aired publicly and I think that was just awful to watch.'

Prime Minister Scott Morrison is disappointed that Gladys Berejiklian is not going to run for federal parliament

Mr Morrison used his influence to push back the party nomination deadline to January 14 from its original date of December 3.

Mr Abbott also backed Ms Berejiklian to make a successful transition into federal parliament in his old stomping ground.

'I'd like to see Gladys continue in public life,' the former prime minister said.

'Of all the premiers, she showed by far the most commitment to personal freedom and smaller government, notwithstanding the pandemic, and we sure need more conviction in our politics.'

Mr Abbott held Warringah for 25 years until he was trounced by Winter Olympic bronze medallist and climate activist Zali Steggall in 2019.

Mr Morrison said on Thursday that 'Jen and I wish Gladys all the best as she takes her next steps.'

Pictured: Ex-NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian in her Willoughby electorate on October 27
Hopes are fading for a father-of-three and real estate agent missing in an 'extremely serious' bushfire as locals are evacuated from the renowned wine region.

The intense blaze surrounding the Margaret River township in southwest Western Australia remains at emergency warning level on Friday morning.

Jordan Marshall, a real estate agent from Fremantle, was last seen on Wednesday morning near the Margaret River before disappearing without his phone or car.

Police issued an urgent welfare concern about 5.47pm that day and as of Thursday night, the 40-year-old father is still missing.

Jordan Marshall, a real estate agent from Fremantle, (pictured) was last seen on Wednesday morning near the Margaret River before disappearing without his phone or car

The intense blaze (pictured) surrounding the Margaret River township in southwest Western Australia's southwest remains at at emergency warning level on Thursday night

Officers hold concerns for Mr Marshall's welfare as a friend of the estate agent's told local media the single dad was 'spiralling' and 'not well'.

Friends and family are begging him to make contact, after it was revealed he no longer had his phone or car with him.

His four-wheel-drive was later found abandoned in the fire zone.

There are concerns he crashed his car 'in a distressed state', although his father Ross, who founded Re-locate Real Estate with his son, would not comment.

'He's not been taking drugs... He has a mental health condition,' a friend told the Augusta Margaret River Times.

Mr Marshall is described as about 170cm tall, with a solid build, short brown hair, and brown eyes.

Police believe Mr Marshall was last seen where the blaze ignited near the intersection of Caves and Calgardup roads on Wednesday morning (pictured, the Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park)

The bushfire is believed to have begun as a house fire that spilled into the Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park (pictured) where 5000ha have been burnt to a crisp

Police believe he was last seen where the blaze ignited near the intersection of Caves and Calgardup roads on Wednesday morning.

The bushfire is believed to have begun as a house fire that spilled into the Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park, where 5,000ha has been burned.

Schools and roads were closed while an emergency alert was issued for Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park and Redgate Road, Bussell Highway, Chapman Road, Hamelin Bay Road West, and and the coastline.

In these areas, there is a threat to lives and homes.

Department of Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner Darren Klemm described the situation in the area as 'extremely dangerous'.

Department of Fire and Emergency Services commissioner Darren Klemm has described the situation in the area as 'extremely dangerous' (pictured, the fire blazes in the National Park)

The combination of hot conditions, strong winds and cave systems was creating a tough job for the 150 firefighters currently battling the blaze (pictured, smoke rises over vegetation)

'The fire is moving fast in multiple directions. A number of properties are under threat on or about Caves Road,' Mr Klemm said.

He encouraged residents who lived on or around Caves Road, especially to the east, to enact their bushfire plans now.

Mr Klemm said the combination of hot weather, strong winds, and cave systems was creating a tough job for the 150 firefighters battling the blaze.

He added there was no indication yet that the fire was deliberately lit with what started the blaze under investigation by Busselton detectives.

There is no indication at this stage the fire had been deliberately lit with what started the blaze currently under investigation by Busselton detectives.

Resources were stretched thin on Thursday when an emergency warning was issued for nearby Yallinyup, just under 40km away from Margaret River.

A watch and act alert was issued for Blackboy Hollow Cave Road, Rainbow Cave Road, McLean Road, Hinton Road, Glenarty Road, Twenty Four Road, and Bussell Highway.

An evacuation centre has been set up at Margaret River Recreation Centre with locals urged to leave if it is safe to do so.

Residents can also seek shelter at an additional evacuation centre in Busselton where a community meeting was held on Thursday night.

Missing father-of-three Jordan Marshall is described as about 170cm tall, built solidly with short brown hair and brown eyes (pictured)

Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions incident controller Brad Barton briefed about 200 attendees on the bushfire.

Mr Barton told attendees firefighters were having a hard time containing the main front of the fire as it ripped across hard-earned containment lines on Thursday.

'We were unable to access the head fire at all today,' he told the crowd. 'Our efforts have been on protecting communities and the people in front of that fire.'

About 45 people have registered as evacuees of the fire-torn area however only a few have required temporary Department of Communities housing.

Anyone with information of the whereabouts of Mr Marshall should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or report online at crimestopperswa.com.au.
Watchdogs today demanded stronger protection for parcel customers as it was revealed two in three have had a problem with a delivery in the last three months.

Parcel deliveries in Britain have surged 50 per cent to more than four billion a year on the back of the pandemic and a switch to online shopping.

This has been accompanied by an explosion in complaints - running at 600 per hour - and now consumer groups are demanding fines on failing courier firms.

Hermes, Yodel, DPD, UPS, DHL, Amazon, Royal Mai, Parcelforce and others stand accused of failing to meet delivery promises and making it difficult to complain.

Average parcel deliveries are around 10million a day, but this balloons following Black Friday and a tidal wave of parcels is now flooding warehouses and streets.

This graphic was released as part of Ofcom's latest research into the parcel industry in Britain

These are the top ten issues experienced by Britons with deliveries in the past three months

A graphic shows the biggest issues with any supplier when sending a parcel in the past year

At the same time, every Christmas reveals tales of woe with items going missing, being mishandled and damaged.

Some of the most common complaints included being unable to get through to the right person and the company then refusing to take responsibility.

Customer satisfaction rating for parcel firms Amazon - 89% DPD - 85% DHL - 81% Royal Mail - 80% FedEx - 80% Parcelforce - 79% UPS - 74% Yodel - 61% Hermes - 57% Advertisement

People said it was difficult to find out how to complain and even when they did it would often take a very long time to get any sort of resolution.

Industry watchdog Ofcom has announced plans to improve how delivery firms handle complaints along with new rules to ensure disabled people are treated fairly by postal companies.

An Ofcom survey found that 64 per cent of customers have experienced problems with deliveries in the last three months.

It said: 'Around a quarter of senders find it difficult to make a complaint, or to contact parcel operators, when their delivery goes wrong.

'Two in five say their complaints are only partially resolved, while almost one in ten are left with their complaint completely unresolved.

'Our evidence also suggests an inconsistent level of service across the industry: customers' satisfaction scores on complaints handling range from just 29 per cent for one operator to 71 per cent for another.'

Ofcom would not say which firm had the worst record on handling complaints.

However, it has published a table giving an overall customer satisfaction rating, which puts Hermes at the bottom with a figure of 57 per cent.

This graphic shows why people contacted the retail or parcel operator about a package

The top difficulties experienced by people when making a complaint or contacting a supplier

This Ofcom graph shows who consumers complained to and whether the issue was resolved

Second worst was Yodel on 61 per cent with UPS on 74 per cent, Parcelforce on 79 per cent and both the Royal Mail and FedEx scored 80 per cent.

Fails by Hermes drivers in recent months A Hermes delivery driver claimed he made a delivery attempt of a customer's parcel by sharing a photo of himself wearing slippers and watching TV on a sofa. Thomas Gent, 30, received an email notification that his delivery had been attempted with the brazen photograph in September. He had been waiting on craft materials to arrive at his Preston home. Hermes apologised for the 'technical issue'. A Hermes driver was sacked last month after being caught taking parcels out of his car and appearing to dump them. Amy Taylor, 34, photographed the driver removing parcels from his car boot and leaving them in Carnwath, South Lanarkshire. She claimed she asked the driver was he was doing, only to be told that he was 'sorting parcels'. But she then alleged she found the heap of parcels discarded on the ground - including a Hermes package addressed to her. Hermes apologised and said the courier 'had his contract with us terminated with immediate effect as a result of this incident'. Hermes had to pay retailers 'hundreds of pounds' in compensation earlier this year after they missed out on processing fees after a computer glitch marked parcels as undelivered. The parcel company pays 35p to businesses for every package which is successfully processed and therefore able to be dropped off to customers. But computer issues saw scores of parcels processed by retailers not logged correctly in the system, meaning the money shop owners were being paid was not equal to the number of packages they had in fact handled. Advertisement

The highest rating of 89 per cent went to Amazon, however even it struggles to meet next day delivery promises under its Prime service ahead of Christmas.

Under existing rules, all postal operators must have a simple and transparent complaints process in place, but Ofcom is now toughening these up.

Firms will be required to make it clear to customers how to make a complaint and who to contact.

They will have to set out what the complaint process will be, and how long it will take to resolve, and staff will need to be trained in handling complaints.

Ofcom is also proposing a new requirement for parcel firms to establish, publish and comply with clear and effective policies and procedures for the fair treatment of disabled customers.

And it warns that a failure to comply could lead to enforcement action and further regulation.

Ofcom published today's plans alongside its annual monitoring report on the postal market.

A Hermes spokesman said: We welcome these proposals that are in line with steps we are already undertaking to improve the consumer journey.

A Yodel spokesman has been contacted for comment.

The director of policy at Citizens Advice, Matthew Upton, said the organisation's own research has revealed a failing courier system.

'The outbreak of the pandemic has brought to life how essential the parcel industry is, especially to disabled people or those told to shield,' he said.

'But our research shows that 36 per cent of consumers experienced a problem with their last parcel delivery, and almost half of them weren't able to get the help they needed when trying to resolve the problem.

'So we welcome Ofcom's commitment to look at ways that parcel delivery companies can improve their complaints processes. This is something we've long been calling for.

'However, there's still a way to go. With almost 600 people dealing with a lost or stolen parcel every hour, Ofcom needs to come forward and lay down fines for companies if their negligence causes problems for consumers.'

Ofcom's networks and communications group director, Lindsey Fussell, said: 'Parcel deliveries have become increasingly important to our daily lives and customers rightly expect a positive experience.

'We're planning to strengthen our rules to make sure people are treated fairly by delivery firms. If we don't see significant improvements in customer service, we'll consider enforcement action or tighten regulations further.'
Britain should follow the US and approve AstraZeneca's breakthrough drug to stop hundreds of thousands of vulnerable adults from becoming ill in the oncoming Omicron wave, experts said today.

The antibody cocktail, called Evusheld, was found to slash the risk of falling ill with Covid by around 80 per cent.

Last night it received emergency approval in the US for over-12s who are severely immunocompromised, including cancer and organ transplant recipients.

Doctors say the move will bolster the immune system of the most at-risk adults, who get less of a benefit from vaccines.

Britain has already ordered a million doses of the drug, which is given through two consecutive injections to the arm, while the US has ordered 700,000.

The UK's medicines regulator is considering the treatment as part of a rolling review, but neither AstraZeneca or the watchdog could advise when it could be approved in Britain.

But experts told MailOnline it's 'vital' the 500,000 adults with a weak immune system are protected against the Omicron variant, so it is 'important' to approve the drug in the UK.

The treatment is targeted at immunocompromised people who are at increased risk of Covid, because they do not produce an adequate immune response to vaccination.

Evusheld, which is given to patients through two consecutive injections to the arm, was shown to neutralise all Covid strains that came before Omicron and provided an 83 per cent protection against developing symptomatic Covid for at least six months

Professor Lawrence Young, a virologist at the University of Warwick, told MailOnline: 'This is a very restricted population but one where other approaches to protection are vital.'

And early data suggests it will work against Omicron, he said.

AstraZeneca itself published data showing it worked on all Covid strains that came before the super-mutant variant, offering protection against symptoms for at least six months.

Professor Young said: 'It is important that we have this (Evusheld) available in the UK as a backup.'

How does the Evusheld treatment work? AZD7442 is made from two long acting antibodies, tixagevimab and cilgavimab. These antibodies have been developed from B-cells donated by patients who recovered from a Covid infection. B-cells are a type of white blood cell forming part of the body's immune system and generate antibodies. Antibodies are a type of protein found in blood which binds to and neutralises foreign substances like bacteria and viruses preventing them from harming healthy cells. However, after an infection has passed, the level of antibodies in the body eventually decreases. So in AZD7442, scientists modified the two antibodies to last longer than conventional ones. This is what gives the treatment the long-lasting protection of up to 12 months according to Astrazeneca. Advertisement

Dr Kovilen Sawmynaden, principal scientist at medical research charity LifeArc, said the US decision to approve the treatment is 'great news' for a large proportion of immunocompromised people who don't respond to the vaccine or cannot have it.

It is for this reason they are recommended a third dose in Britain after just eight weeks, as well as a booster.

'However, efficacy against Omicron is still to be determined and it will be interesting to see how future-proof this drug remains,' Dr Sawmynaden said.

He added: 'Recently approved monoclonal drugs in the UK are currently only available as treatment options.

'Because of this, this new drug would bring real value in our fight to help protect the UK's immunocompromised population, if a similar application was to be made to the MHRA.'

The UK has already approved antibody treatments ronapreve, which can prevent and treat Covid, and sotrovimab, which cuts the risk of severe illness among infected people.

If the UK follows America, Evusheld would be the first Covid treatment in Britain to be given as a prophylaxis, with the intention of stopping people from getting ill in the first place.

Current vaccines train the body to recognise Covid  but the immune system still needs to produce its own antibodies.

Evusheld skips that process, making the antibodies readily available.

It contains two types of lab-made antibodies, which are extracted from survivors before being artificially manipulated to last longer.

The proteins bind to the virus' spike protein  which it uses to invade cells  to stop an infection, or to prevent the pathogen from replicating.

Most people's immune systems produce antibodies in response to the virus, either through vaccination or natural infection, in order to help the body fight it off in the future.

But many immunosuppressed people have an immune system that is so weak that even after vaccination, their body struggles to mount a response.

AstraZeneca trialled Evusheld on 5,000 immunosuppressed people across 87 sites in the US, UK, Spain, France and Belgium. Two-thirds of volunteers were given a 300mg dose of Evusheld.

Six months after the injection, those who had the drug were 83 per cent less likely to have symptomatic Covid six months later.

And among those who were given Evusheld and caught Covid, no severe illness or deaths were recorded.

AstraZeneca will monitor the participants for 15 months to determine how long the injection offers protection for.

The company said none of Omicron's mutations suggest that the treatment would work any less effectively against the variant, but studies are underway to confirm this.

The US Food and Drug Administration yesterday announced that it would dish out the injections to over-12s with moderate to severely compromised immune systems or a history of severe adverse reaction to Covid vaccines or what they are made of.

Dr Krishna Prasad, the MHRA's deputy director of licensing, told MailOnline that drug approval applications are commercially sensitive, so details of when it could approve the drug cannot be shared.

She added: 'Any that are received will be evaluated in the shortest time possible while maintaining our high standards of safety, quality and effectiveness.'

It comes as the Prime Minister last night confirmed the UK would move to Plan B in an attempt to control the spread of Omicron.

Just 568 cases have been confirmed across the UK, but Government scientists believe there are 20 times more cases than those that have been identified.

And health chiefs warned the country could see 1,000 hospitalisations a day by the end of the month if no action was taken.


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England's Omicron hotspot was today revealed as West Northamptonshire as No10's scientific advisers warned the mutant strain could trigger the biggest wave yet  but UK-wide daily Covid infections dropped for the first time in over a week.

Up to 83 cases of the highly-evolved variant have been detected in West Northants with 27 officially confirmed by lab analysis, according to the UK Health Security Agency.

Regionally, most cases are concentrated in London where the virus is believed to have been seeded by incoming travellers. Eight of the 10 areas with the highest Omicron counts are in the capital.

UK Omicron cases jumped 45 per cent in a day, with 817 cases confirmed so far. But Government scientists insist it is already in every corner of the country and is doubling every two to three days.

Separate data by the UKHSA that lends weight to the theory today showed around 90 per cent of local authorities in England saw Covid infections begin to rise in the week to December 5.

Yet despite fears about the mutant strain, the Department of Health said the UK's daily Covid cases fell 6 per cent in a week to 50,867 today. Daily deaths were up 5 per cent with 148 more victims. Latest hospital data shows there were 813 on December 5, marking a 16 per cent rise on the previous week.



SAGE has warned Omicron is likely to trigger a peak of infections larger than any previous wave, despite having vaccines and a wall of natural immunity on the country's side this time around.

Omicron has dozens of mutations on its spike protein and is spreading ferociously in South Africa where up to 80 per cent of people have natural immunity and lab tests suggest it can infect double-vaccinated people with relative ease.

Boris Johnson activated his Covid contingency plan last night in response to fears the highly-mutated strain may cause a million infections by New Year and trigger 1,000 NHS admissions by January if left unchecked. From next week, people in England will be advised to work from home, wear face masks in cinemas and theatres, and use vaccine passports for large events.

Sajid Javid today claimed that the sudden shift to Plan B was 'proportionate' and would 'buy time' to allow the NHS to dish out millions more booster jabs. But the Health Secretary also dangled the threat of even tougher orders being rolled out in the coming weeks, admitting that ministers will keep the current policies under constant review.

The above map shows the ten areas that have the most confirmed Omicron cases in England, according to the UK Health Security Agency. West Northamptonshire is the country's hotspot for the mutant strain, although eight in ten areas on the list are in London

The above graph shows the cumulative count for Omicron cases across the UK. Scientists say that there is no difference at present between England and Scotland's outbreaks

 Slide me  The UKHSA found that cases rose in 90 per cent of local authorities last week in England. It comes amid the spread of the Omicron variant

Boris Johnson (pictured today visiting his newborn daughter in hospital) announced on Wednesday that the Government is implementing its Covid Plan B to tackle Omicron

The UK Health Security Agency has revealed the ten areas with the highest number of Omicron infections. West Northamptonshire and Buckinghamshire were the only areas not in London.

The eight in the capital were Croydon (up to 10 cases), Hackney (14), Lambeth (16), Newham (22), Brent (14), Greenwich (16), Wandsworth (13) and Lewisham (26).

But it is likely that Omicron may already be in many local authorities. Some 817 cases in the UK  and 696 in England  have been confirmed to date, although the locations of many are not known.

Three of the areas recording the most Omicron cases are also seeing the fastest upticks in their infection in the country. These are Greenwich (up 63 per cent in a week), Daventry in West Northamptonshire (up 46 per cent) and Newham (up 45 per cent).

Separate data revealed today that 90 per cent of local authorities in England are now seeing their infections begin to rise as the variant spreads in the country.

Scientists say Britain's Omicron cases are already doubling every two to three days, and may be 20 times higher the actual figure. They say spikes in Covid cases are already being seen in some areas.

It comes after King's College London scientists suggested the country's Covid outbreak grew four per cent last week, despite the variant beginning to spread.

The UKHSA yesterday published a list of the top ten areas that have the most confirmed Omicron cases in England, and the number of suspected cases in each.

But they have refused to reveal the full list of areas where Omicron has emerged, although figures suggest it is already widespread.

Separate data showed that out of the ten areas with the fastest growing infection rates in England, five have already detected at least one case of Omicron.

These included Greenwich, Newham and Daventry with the biggest outbreaks in the country.

South and East of England have highest Covid rates since January Covid case rates in London, eastern England and the south-east have climbed to their highest level since the start of the year, new figures show. A total of 648.5 cases per 100,000 people were recorded in the South East in the week to December 5, the highest rate for the region since week to January 3. Eastern England is at 552.4 cases per 100,000, the highest since the week to January 10, while Londons rate stands at 461.1, the highest since the week ending January 17. The South East has recorded the highest regional rate in England in the three most recent weeks, suggesting it is one of the main areas of the UK driving the current spike in cases. The figures, from the UK Health Security Agency, show rates are rising in all regions along with most age groups. Children aged five to nine continue to have the highest rate, at 1,063.8 cases per 100,000, up week-on-week from 984.3. Rates also remain high among 10 to 19-year-olds, up from 849.8 to 903.4. For people aged 80 and over the rate continues to be low, at 65.4, up slightly from 61.5. The only age groups to see a drop in rates are people aged 60 to 69 and 70 to 79. Despite the widespread rise in case rates, hospital admissions remain stable and at a low level. The rate of Covid-19 admissions in England stood at 6.4 per 100,000 people in the week to December 5, unchanged from the previous week. Admission rates continue to be highest among people aged 85 and over, at 33.8 per 100,000 - up slightly from 29.0. Advertisement

But Portsmouth (up 44 per cent) and Southwark (up 43 per cent) were also on the list, having detected at least one case of the variant.

There were also surging outbreaks in Copeland, Barking and Dagenham, West Devon, the Forest of Dean and East Lindsey despite none having any confirmed variant cases to date.

For comparison, across England cases rose 11 per cent last week.

Britain checks about 20 per cent of its Covid cases for variants.

It means many are likely slipping under the radar, and No10's scientists suggest the current tally is likely around 20 times higher than confirmed cases.

Omicron cases can only be confirmed using sequencing to check the virus' genetics.

But PCRs can give an early indication of whether someone has the variant.

They look for three specific mutations to detect Covid, but in Omicron one is so mutated that it does not show up during the test.

Covid cases spiralled rapidly in South Africa after the mutant variant gained a foothold, with cases rocketing more than 300 per cent week-on-week for days on end.

SAGE adviser Professor Edmunds says this situation could be 'immidiately translated' to the UK because both countries have high levels of immunity.

In South Africa around 24 per cent of people are fully vaccinated, but most already have immunity from previous infection during a major wave.

In the UK around 70 per cent of people are now double-jabbed, and millions of others have immunity from previous infection.

He told a Royal Society of Medicine public lecture today: South Africas situation. I think you could immediately translate that to the UK. We both have high levels of immunity.

He added: Could we potentially have something double quickly here? Yes, and that is exactly what we are now seeing.'

The top epidemiologist added, however, that it was still too early to tell whether the mutant strain is more mild than other variants.

MailOnline analysis shows fewer patients are being admitted to ICU in South Africa's epicentre Gauteng now than at the same point during the Delta wave.

Experts said it was possible that the strain could be more mild, but added that more people have immunity now than when the other variant first took hold.

SAGE scientists are already ramping up the rhetoric to suggest that more restrictions could be needed in the country to keep the variant under control.

King's College London scientists estimated that 83,658 people in the UK were catching the virus every day last week, up four per cent on the same time the week before

Covid cases appear to have already peaked in the in the South African province at the epicentre of the Omicron outbreak, figures suggest. Graph shows: Gauteng's daily cases (red line), average cases (blue line) compared to the predicted 25 per cent daily rise cases had been following since November 15

But cases are still increasing on a week-on-week basis, up 41 per cent on the 6,168 recorded the previous Wednesday. On average, there are now around 9,143 infections per day in the area, up from 2,897 last week

Professor Christina Pagel, a mathematician at University College London, said infections have been increasing at a rate of around 25 per cent per day in Gauteng, South Africa, since November 15. She said infections over the last four days have dipped below this trend, suggesting cases may be rounding off. Graph shows: The rate of infection growth in Gauteng (red line) compared to daily cases (dots). Black dots indicate case numbers on Sunday and Monday which are always lower due to falls in testing at the weekend

What are the new Covid rules in England? WFH The return of work from home guidance. People will be told to work from home in England from Monday if they are able to. Face masks Face masks will be made compulsory in most public indoor venues including in cinemas and theatres from this Friday. They will not be required in pubs, restaurants and gyms. Vaccine passports The NHS Covid pass will be compulsory to gain access to nightclubs and other large venues where large crowds gather. This will apply to all unseated indoor venues with more than 500 people, unseated outdoor venues with more than 4,000 people and any venue with more than 10,000 people. Two vaccine doses will be treated as fully-vaccinated but this will be kept under review because of the booster programme. A negative lateral flow test will also be sufficient. This requirement will be rolled out in one week's time to give businesses time to prepare. Contact testing Contacts of Omicron cases will be told to take daily coronavirus tests instead of having to self-isolate. They will have to quarantine if they test positive. Advertisement

Documents from a sub-group of SAGE showed last night that the UK could face a bigger wave of infections than in January because of the varinat.

The documents  form the SPI-M-O group  did point to caveats in the work, however.

They said that it was difficult to make comparisons with South Africa because a much larger proportion of its population is young than in the UK.

They add: 'It is not yet clear whether or how Omicron escapes from natural immunity and/or vaccine-induced immunity and which of these is the likely main driver of its apparent fitness advantage.'

Professor Andrew Hayward, a member of No10's top scientific advisory group, warned the UK could 'need much more severe restrictions'. While Plan B will 'slow the spread' of the super-strain, the University College London epidemiologist argued the measures are 'not going to turn around' the looming wave of cases and hospitalisations.

Sajid Javid today claimed that the sudden shift to Plan B was 'proportionate' and would 'buy time' to allow the NHS to dish out millions more booster jabs.

But the Health Secretary also dangled the threat of even tougher orders being rolled out in the coming weeks, admitting that ministers will keep the current policies under constant review.

It means Britons could still be stung by last-minute Christmas curbs again after millions were deprived from seeing their loved ones last year when the Alpha variant took off.

SAGE modeller Dr Mike Tildesley hinted at a watered down Christmas this year, claiming that it was 'very important' to allow people to be together this year  but in a 'safe way'.

Mr Johnson has already hinted that Covid jabs could eventually be compulsory, telling last night's Downing Street conference that a 'national conversation' on the matter is likely to be needed in the future. And while vaccine passports have only been imposed on large scale events at the moment, Mr Johnson suggested they could be rolled out more widely in society.

The Government is already being lobbied by independent scientists to go harder, with Independent SAGE, a 'zero Covid' group of experts, telling ministers to 'bring in more measures right now... then we may be able to avoid a lockdown'.

Yesterday Professor Neil Ferguson, one of SAGE's top modellers, warned a full-blown lockdown might be needed to protect the NHS from Omicron.

UK Covid infections grew by just four per cent last week, the country's biggest symptom-tracking study claimed today despite warnings Omicron is quickly outstripping Delta.

King's College London scientists estimated 83,658 people caught the virus on average each day in the week to December 4, up from 80,483 the seven days prior.

Cases are stagnant or falling in all over-55s thanks to the booster rollout but are rising in all younger age groups, especially children who make up about 30,000 daily cases alone. Broken down within the UK, London, the South East and Wales saw cases rise.

In total, there are 46,000 Covid cases on average each day in the UK and data from the Covid Genomics UK Consortium (COG-UK) suggests the new strain is already behind around one in 66 of them, or 1.4 per cent

Professor Tim Spector, who leads the ZOE symptom study, said that while it was too early to see Omicron in the data, he warned the NHS could be overwhelmed if cases of the super-strain begin to skyrocket as predicted.

He said the evidence  alongside claims it may be more mild than other strains  was no reason to be 'relaxed', adding: 'The higher rate of transmission even in the vaccinated could have devastating consequences... Hundreds of people continue to die every week as we head into our second Christmas of this pandemic.'

Professor Spector, who has been calling for more restrictions since September, welcomed Boris Johnson's Plan B announcement last night but feared it is 'too little, too late'.

From next week, people in England will be advised to work from home, wear face masks in cinemas and theatres, and use vaccine passports for large events.

SAGE, the Government's scientific advisory group, has warned that there could have been a million Omicron cases and 1,000 daily hospital admissions by the end of the year without Plan B.
Plymouth mass shooter Jake Davison's GP declined to comment on whether he was suitable to hold a firearms licence when asked by the police force considering his application, a court has been told.

It comes as a third police worker was accused of gross misconduct for handing him a certificate.

Davison killed his mother Maxine Davison, 51, after a row at her home before going outside and shooting dead four others in a 12-minute attack on the evening of August 12 this year in the Keyham area of the city.

Three-year-old Sophie Martyn and her father Lee, 43, were shot dead in front of horrified onlookers as they walked their pet dog in Biddick Drive.

Davison then shot Stephen Washington, 59, in a nearby park, before shooting Kate Shepherd, 66, on Henderson Place.

The apprentice crane operator then turned the shotgun on himself before armed officers reached him.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct revealed the Devon and Cornwall employee - who has not been named - had been served with the notice over Davison (pictured)

Three-year-old Sophie Martyn and her father Lee, 43, were shot dead in front of horrified onlookers as they walked their pet dog

Davison applied for a shotgun certificate in July 2017 and after the application was processed by Devon and Cornwall Police, a certificate was issued to him in January 2018 which was valid for five years.

The pre-inquest hearing heard on Thursday that as part of a child death review being undertaken by the University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust into Sophie Martyn's homicide, investigators had sought information from Davison's GP about his firearms licence application.

Paediatric consultant Dr Carolyn Adcock, who is the trust's designated doctor for safeguarding children, told the hearing the review would be considering 'whether the GP involved had responded appropriately to a request for information by the police when there was a request for the provision of a gun licence by the perpetrator'.

'The GP's response was that there was a request made for information,' she said.

'The GP wrote declining to give information because he did not feel he was in a position to be qualified to comment on the personality of a patient to say whether or not they were safe to hold a gun licence.'

Davison killed his mother Maxine (pictured), 51, after a row at her home before shooting dead four others in a 12-minute attack on August 12 in the Keyham area of the city

He then shot Stephen Washington (right), 59, in a nearby park, before shooting Kate Shepherd (left), 66

In the wake of the shootings, the Home Office announced the police will now have to check someone's medical history before issuing a gun licence.

All firearms applications must be accompanied by a medical document signed by a registered, practising doctor.

New statutory guidance also says any relevant health records - particularly any information on mental health, neurological conditions and substance abuse - will have to be reviewed as part of the process.

It means police, for the first time, will be legally required to follow the guidance to help improve standards and consistency across forces in the UK.

Police have also been told to review an applicant's social media accounts and financial history as well as carry out domestic violence checks in cases where officers believe more evidence is needed before authorising a licence.

As well as the coroner's investigation, two other inquiries are already under way into the shootings.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is examining the decision by the Devon and Cornwall force to return Davison's shotgun certificate and weapon to him just weeks before the killings after they were seized following an allegation of assault.

The IOPC has previously said a police staff member who handled Davison's original shotgun application and also decided to return the weapon had been issued with a gross misconduct notice.

A police officer who investigated the assault against Davison was issued with a misconduct notice.

The National Police Chiefs Council is also leading an investigation, in conjunction with the local police and crime commissioner, into the force's firearms policies and procedures.

Ian Arrow, senior coroner for Plymouth and South Devon, was told the IOPC would be able to provide a final report by the end of January, but it was 'premature' to say whether disciplinary proceedings would follow.

Devon and Cornwall Police said it would be able to submit its report by the end of February but was still awaiting evidence relating to ballistics and the contents of Davison's mobile phone.

Members of the victims' families attended the hearing, as did relatives of Davison.

He had received mental health support during the coronavirus lockdown and had been in contact with a telephone helpline service in Plymouth run by the Livewell Southwest organisation.

Social media usage by Davison (pictured) suggested an obsession with 'incel' culture, meaning 'involuntary celibate', as well as an interest in guns and the US

Social media usage by Davison suggested an obsession with 'incel' culture, meaning 'involuntary celibate', as well as an interest in guns and the US.

Reports have suggested Davison's mother had been struggling to get help for her son, having become concerned about his mental health.

A further pre-inquest review will take place on March 15.

In a statement issued after the hearing, the IOPC said a third Devon and Cornwall employee had been served with a gross misconduct notice.

The watchdog said the employee was part of the force's firearms licensing department and was involved in granting a shotgun certificate to Davison in 2017.

A man has also come forward to allege he reported to police he was assaulted by Davison outside a supermarket in Plymouth in 2016, which the IOPC is investigating.

The IOPC said a one pump-action shotgun was recovered from Davison's possession for which he held a certificate. Several air weapons were found by police at his home address.

Regional director David Ford said: 'We have gathered and reviewed a considerable amount of information in the course of our investigation.

'While our investigative work is close to completion, we have followed the evidence as it has emerged and now have a small number of remaining actions to undertake.

'We have provided a preliminary report to the coroner this week and are keeping the families and Devon and Cornwall Police updated throughout our investigation.'

Lawyer Patrick Maguire, who represents the Shepherd, Washington and Martyn families, said: 'My clients are greatly concerned about how Davison came into possession of the firearm against the backdrop of matters aired at today's hearing.

'We welcome the IPOC investigation, and we will now await its conclusion and full report in order to respond appropriately.'
Liberal billionaire megadonor George Soros supplied $3million last year alone to a 'dark-money' group supporting left-wing organizations such as BLM that are dedicated to defunding the police, it has emerged.

The Foundation to Promote Open Society, which is one of two major grantmaking foundations funded by Soros' network, Open Society Foundations, funneled a total of $3million in 2020 to the Community Resource Hub for Safety and Accountability (CRH), according to a search of the charity's grant database.

Soros' foundation bankrolls CRH through New Venture Fund, the largest of four funds managed by Arabella Advisors that pulled in a combined $1.6 billion in secret donations last year, tax forms show.

Critics have argued that New Venture Fund is a 'dark money' organization, allowing left-wing donors to anonymously pour money into political causes.

In 2020, the New Venture Fund reported total revenues of $975million, up 111 percent compared to 2019, bringing its lifetime revenues to $3.3billion. In that time, the fund paid out $1.37billion in grants to mostly left-leaning organizations.

The funding of CRH fits neatly into Soros' years-long crusade to transform the criminal justice system, which has seen him pour tens of millions of dollars to help elect progressive district attorneys in cities like Philadelphia, Los Angeles and Chicago.

Billionaire George Soros poured $3million in 2020 into a 'dark-money' group supporting activists pushing to defund the police in cities across the US, grants show

The Soros Foundation to Promote Open Society has funneled money to the Community Resource Hub for Safety and Accountability, according to the charity's database

Soros' foundation bankrolls CRH through New Venture Fund, a fiscal sponsorship nonprofit that makes grants to left-wing advocacy projects.

Soros, a Hungarian-born financier-turned-activist and favorite right-wing punching bag, has a net worth of $8.6 billion. He has donated more than $32 billion to Open Society, according to Forbes.

In 2020, Soros' network spent $2million on creating CRH's year-long 'Budgeting Academy' program to train community safety advocates in how to advocate around their local municipal budgets, according to the grants search.

An additional $1million went toward providing support for CRH.

A year earlier, Soros' foundation shelled out $1million to get the Hub off the ground.

CRH states that it houses and staffs the group Defund The Police, which describes itself as 'a one-stop shop information source for campaign to defund police,' Fox News reported.

The group hosts weekly two-hour 'invest/divest learning communities' that are attended by 40 to 60 organizers across the country focused on 'Budget Advocacy, Community-Based Safety Strategies, Police Fraternal Association Contracts, and Reparations for police violence.'

The hub also hosts a Defund Police Fellowship 'supporting 16 fellows in 13 cities with funds to support organizing staff, and offers monthly trainings and skill building sessions, weekly office hours with budget, campaign strategy, and communications experts, and a peer mentor program.'

The 'defund the police' movement took root after the murder of George Floyd, a black man, by a white Minneapolis police officer in May 2020, which sparked protests and clashes with the police. Pictured: United States Park Police pushes back protestors near the White House on June 1, 2020

The Soros-backed CRH's website states that it houses and staffs the group Defund The Police

CRH offers more than 700 resources to grassroots organizations, including this 24-page memo on 'alternatives to policing'

Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx, left, was propped up by a PAC that Soros gave $2million to. San Francisco DA Chesa Boudin is pictured, right

CRH bills itself as 'a resource for local advocates and organizers working to address the harms of policing in the U.S. and seeking to cultivate community safety and accountability outside of the criminal legal system.'

The organization's website offers more than 700 resources, including research, data, reports and tools to progressive activists around the US pushing to defund local law enforcement agencies as part of a concerted effort to reform the criminal justice system and address systemic problems with policing in America.

The site includes a disclaimer that notes that 'resources that appear on the Community Resource Hub website are not necessarily supported or endorsed by the Hub.'

The 'defund the police' movement took root after the murder of George Floyd, a black man, by a white Minneapolis police officer in May 2020.

Black Lives Matter and other influential organizations are seeking to shrink police department budgets and reallocate resources to mental health professional and social workers, housing and education.

Critics of the billionaire have accused him of being responsible for skyrocketing crime rates in cities around the US, claiming that under the Soros-backed Democratic prosecutors, criminals have been allowed to walk out of jail without bonds and, in many cases, commit new crimes.

Since 2015, the deep-pocketed philanthropist spent $28million on district attorneys' races in dozens of cities, including $2million that went to a PAC that backed Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx in her successful re-election campaign in 2020.

A year later, Chicago, where Foxx is the top prosecutor, has the highest murder rate in 30 years.

Soros has also donated to PACs that support Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascon, who has been widely panned for failing to crack down on organized smash-and-grab shoplifters that have been terrorizing local businesses.

Soros has also poured funds into the campaign of Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner, who ran on a criminal justice reform platform and has been slammed by his opponents as being soft on crime.
The rapper Slim 400 has been shot and killed in Los Angeles.

The 33-year-old performer, whose real name is Vincent Cohran, was gunned down at around 7.50pm on Wednesday in Inglewood near the intersection of Manchester Boulevard and 7th Avenue.

No arrests have been made and the motive and circumstances of the shooting were not immediately clear.

The shooting came just hours after Slim 400 released a new music video for the song Caviar Gold, and follows a brush with death in 2019 when the rapper was shot eight times.

Separately, Slim 400 has also feuded with snitch rapper Tekashi 69 and got into a public shouting match with him in 2018.

The rapper Slim 400 has been shot and killed in Los Angeles hours after releasing a new video

Vincent Cohran, aka Slim 400, was gunned down at around 7.50pm on Wednesday in Inglewood near the intersection of Manchester Boulevard and 7th Avenue

Police respond to the scene after rapper Slim 400 was shot dead on Wednesday night

Cops block off an intersection in Inglewood near the scene of the fatal shooting

Police said that officers on patrol heard gunshots Wednesday night and responded to find a man on the ground with gunshot wounds, according to KCBS-TV.

The victim was transported to Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, where he died. TMZ first identified Slim 400 as the victim.

Born in Frankfurt, Germany to a military family, Cohran moved back to Los Angeles at a young age and grew up in Compton.

He was signed by the now-defunct label Pu$haz Ink and is best known for his 2015 album Foe Block.

On Wednesday, hours before his death, Slim 400 released the video for his new song Caviar Gold, which appears to reference a brand of high-THC cannabis products.

Slim 400 is also known for his association with the rapper YG, collaborating with him and Sad Boy Loko on the 2016 single Bruisin.

Born in Frankfort, Germany to a military family, Cohran moved back to Los Angeles at a young age and grew up in Compton

Slim 400 is also known for his association with the rapper YG, collaborating with him and Sad Boy Loko on the 2016 single Bruisin

Investigators canvass for clues after Wednesday's fatal shooting of Slim 400

Slim 400 also feuded with Tekashi 69 and got into a shouting match with him outside the Hyatt Regency in Long Beach in November 2018, according to TMZ.

The two could be heard yelling at each other in a video, and at one point Tekashi's security detail had to hold him back and rush him off before things could spiral out of control.

Tekashi 69, whose real name is Daniel Hernandez, has been a pariah in the hip-hop industry ever since turning state's witness against his fellow Nine Trey Gangsters in 2019 in a deal to avoid lengthy prison time.

In June 2019, Slim 400 was shot eight times in Compton and barely escaped death after emergency surgery.

That attack on Slim occurred on the three-month anniversary of the murder of Nipsey Hussle in Los Angeles.

YG, who has also had a rivalry with Tekashi 69, apparently remained with Slim 400 at the hospital through the night following the 2019 shooting.

Slim 400's death comes weeks after the murder of Memphis rapper Young Dolph, who was shot and killed on November 17.
A Bronx man was shot in the head and killed and his 18-year-old girlfriend was injured in their white BMW after three masked men pulled up beside them and fired multiple times at the couple.

Horrific footage shows the moment the men pull up in their black BMW sedan beside Sergio Jimenez, 21, on Sunday night in the Bronx, with one of the killers sticking his body out of the car's sunroof armed with a gun.

Another man fires from the back seat while a third gunman leaps out of the car to begin shooting at the couple.

The third gunman appears to have trouble reloading his gun after firing multiple shots, giving up and getting back into the car before all three of them drove off.

EMS pronounced Jimenez, the father of a three-year-old boy, dead, and his girlfriend was taken to BronxCare Health System to be treated for gunshot wounds to her hand and back. She was listed in stable condition.

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Sergio Jimenez, 21, (left) was shot in the head and killed inside his BMW on Sunday night. He is pictured with family during a birthday party

Sergio Jimenez, 21, was parked in his white BMW with his girlfriend, 18, when masked men in a black BMW pulled up beside them and opened fire on

The masked men fired multiple times, shooting Jimenez in the back of the head and his girlfriend in her hand and back

A third man stepped out of the car to help open fire before his gun failed to reload

Several bullet holes were seen on the car following the shooting

After the shooting, Jimenez lost control of the BMW, which rolled down a hill and struck parked vehicles, ABC reported.

Police and first responders arrived at the scene moments later after Jimenez's girlfriend flagged down a passersby for help.

The suspects were last seen driving westbound on East 172 Street as police continue to investigate the deadly shooting. No arrests have been made.

Jimenez's father, also named Sergio, told the New York Daily News he suspected the killers were neighborhood rivals who had thrown a brick at the family's home recently.

'He knew he was being threatened,' the father said. 'And they knew where he lived. The threats were to such an extent that he wanted to change apartments.'

The mourning dad added that his son was preparing to go to college.

'My only son,' Jimenez's father anguished. 'How can I explain how I feel? I spoke to him 15 minutes before it happened and we just talked about how we were doing. And 15 minutes later, they called me with the news.'

The New York Police Department said Jimenez has previous arrests records and was wanted for a 2020 misdemeanor assault. The wounded passenger has no criminal record.

First responders found Jimenez armed with a gun in the pocket of his hoodie, NY Daily News reported.

Family members suspect Jimenez was killed by a neighborhood rival who had previously thrown a brick through the family's window

After firing multiple shots, the masked men fled the scene. Jimenez lost control of his vehicle, which rolled down the hill and struck parked cars

After the shooting, Jimenez lost control of the BMW, which rolled down a hill and struck parked vehicles

It was the second shooting to take place in the Bronx on Sunday after Robert Brown, 62, was shot and killed in broad daylight while sitting on a bench in Aqueduct Walk, a park in University Heights.

Police said two men were trying to rob the victim when they shot him in the head. Brown was taken to St. Barnabas Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

No arrests have been made for this case either.

Violent crime has been on the rise in New York City with the the New York Police Department reporting 1,761 shooting victims so far this year, eight more than last year.

Felony assaults soared by more than 9 per cent, going up for 19,423 last year to 21,192. Murders also saw an increase of 1.4 per cent, with the NYPD reporting 443 incidents so far in 2021.

Robberies have gone up from 12,151 in 2020 to 12,692, a 4.5 per cent increase, and rapes went up by 2 per cent, from 1,361 to 1,388 this year.

All violent crime in New York City has seen an uptick so far in 2021

Among the recent streak of crimes in the Big Apple includes two assaults by a homeless man with an extensive criminal record and an assault case pending against him.

Darrell Johnson, 28, was arrested last week for allegedly attacking two women at random just minutes apart, leaving one of them with 'disfiguring' injuries, only to be released from jail under the state's controversial bail reform laws.

Johnson was charged with two misdemeanor counts of assault with intent to cause physical injury and multiple attempted assault and harassment charges.

The career criminal also faces additional assault, attempted assault and harassment charges pending against him stemming from an incident in August 2020 during which he allegedly punched and stomped on a man in Harlem.

Despite the slew of new and old charges against him, and his lengthy rap sheet listing at least 15 prior arrests, a Manhattan judge on Friday agreed to free Johnson without bail pending trial.

Johnson is due back in court on February 1, 2022, reported West Side Rag.

Serial offender Darrell Johnson, 28, has been charged with two misdemeanor counts of assault with intent to cause physical injury, and attempted assault and harassment counts for allegedly attacking two women in Manhattan last week

New York Police Department Commissioner Dermot Shea (right) earlier this year slammed the new crime reform laws as a failed 'soft-on-crime experiment'

Under former Governor Andrew Cuomo's controversial reform laws passed last year, bail can no longer be imposed on misdemeanors and non-violent felonies, even as New York City continues to be gripped by a crime wave, with murder, assault, rape and robbery rates all on the rise.

Back in August, New York Police Department Commissioner Dermot Shea begged Gov. Kathy Hochul, who took over for Cuomo after his resignation over sexual misconduct allegations, to undo her predecessor's crime reform laws, calling the 'soft-on-crime experiment' a failure that has led to the city's runaway crime.

'This city is built on public safety,' Shea told NY1. 'We're probably about two years into this soft-on-criminals experiment.  Show me a New Yorker that thinks this experiment has worked.

'It's been a disaster. By any definition, it's been a disaster.'
The family an Oxford High School student who was struck in the neck when 15-year-old Ethan Crumbley (pictured) allegedly open fired in the building has filed two $100 million lawsuits against the district and its employees

The Michigan attorney who filed two $100 million lawsuits against the Oxford School District on behalf of a family whose daughter survived after being shot in the neck while standing next to her sister promised to hold the district responsible for failing to stop the attack that left four students dead and six students and a teacher injured.

During a press conference Thursday, lawyer Geoffrey Fieger argued that Oxford Community School administrators 'violated the civil rights of the students who were injured and killed'.

'They failed to consider the safety of other students and allowed a deranged, homicidal student to return to class with a gun in his backpack  with over 30 rounds of ammo in his backpack when they knew he was a homicidal threat,' he said.

Fieger represents the family of siblings senior Riley Franz, 17, and freshman Bella Franz, 14, who 'were shot down like they were in a war zone' by accused gunman Ethan Crumbley.

Riley and Bella, along with their friend who Fieger did not identify, were attacked as they exited a high school bathroom. Riley was struck in the neck and their friend was killed. Riley is expected to recover, the lawyer said, while Bella was unharmed but is 'traumatized.'

He said that although the 15-year-old alleged shooter and his 'complacent parents' were charged, further action is necessary.

'The Oakland County prosecutor has done her job and she's extending the law to the parents of who encouraged disturbed children and put weapons of mass murder into their deranged son's hands, but that is not enough,' he argued. 'I now am going to prosecute the rest of this case for everyone else.'

'We are going to hold people responsible for betraying the trust we put in them to protect our children. The horror of November 30, 2021 was entirely preventable.'

The attorney contends the school did not take necessary steps to protect its students, including the Franz sisters, from Crumbley.

'Each and every defendant named herein created and increased the dangers then-existing at Oxford High School. The individually named Defendants are each responsible through their actions for making the student victims less safe,' he argued.

'At Oxford High School they'll search for backpack if they think you're vaping, but they refused to suspend or search a student who wrote what we now know was reams of homicidal notes and drawings  scenes of classroom slaughter and mayhem.

Attorney Geoffrey Fieger (pictured), who represents two Oxford High School shooting survivors, promised to hold the district responsible for the failing to stop the attack that left students dead, and six students and a teacher injured

The suits accuse school officials of failing to stop the attack (pictured) that left four students dead, and six students and a teacher injured

The suits name the Oxford Community School District Superintendent Timothy Throne, Oxford High School principal Steven Wolf, the dean of students, two counselors, two teachers and a staff member as defendants.

Ten students and a teacher were shot at the school in Oxford Township, roughly 30 miles north of Detroit, on Nov. 30.

Fieger claims all of society 'shares responsibility in protecting our children' and that the counselors, teachers and schools administrators 'could easily have prevented and stopped this slaughter'.

'We hope by this lawsuit by making the financial cost of allowing children to be slaughtered very high so as to compel people to do something.'

Fieger added: 'When the right to own a gun trumps the right to protect our children and to make them safe, you know in America we have misplaced our priorities.'

The school district did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com's request for comment.

The lawsuits name Oxford Community School District Superintendent Timothy Throne (left), Oxford High School principal Steven Wolf (right), the dean of students, two counselors, two teachers and a staff member

Crumbley, a sophomore at the school, was arrested at school and has been charged as an adult with with four counts of murder and domestic terror among a total of 24 charges.

His parents, James and Jennifer Crumbley, later were arrested and charged with involuntary manslaughter.

The teen is being held at the same jail as his parents.

Meanwhile, many community members are questioning the school's failure to search Crumbley's backpack and locker before the fatal shooting despite catching him searching for ammunition on his phone and for a disturbing drawing before the shooting.

In an interview with CNN on Monday, Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald said school officials had the legal authority to search Crumbley's belongings when they found a chilling note on his desk that featured disturbing drawings depicting a gun, a bullet, blood, a shooting victim and a laughing emoji.

The note included the words: 'Thoughts won't stop, help me'; 'my life is useless' and 'the world is dead,' according to prosecutors.

When questioned by school counselors just hours before his gun rampage, Ethan said the graphic drawing was a plan for a video game.

School counselors met with Crumbley and his parents after the drawing was found, according to Superintendent Thorne, and concluded he was not a risk to himself or others.

Thorne also noted that the parents 'flatly refused' to take their son home.

The Crumbleys were instructed to seek outside counseling for the child within 48 hours or the school would call child welfare officials.

School officials had the legal authority to search Crumbley's (pictured at his arraignment on Dec. 1) belongings when they found a chilling note on his desk that featured disturbing drawings depicting a gun, a bullet, blood, a shooting victim and a laughing emoji

Crumbley, a sophomore at the school, was arrested at the school and has been charged as an adult with murder, terrorism and other crimes. His parents, James (left) and Jennifer (right) Crumbley, later were arrested and charged with involuntary manslaughter

The day before the shooting, Ethan was spotted searching for ammunition on his phone, and when asked by a teacher he said it was for his parents' gun hobby.

When the school raised the issue with his parents, his mother sent him a text saying: 'LOL. I'm not even mad at you.'

When asked if school staff members could be prosecuted, McDonald told CNN's Brianna Keilar, 'We haven't ruled out charging anyone.

She later said in another interview with ABC's Good Morning America that she could charge the school officials in the shooting, noting: 'In this case, a lot could have been done different.'

McDonald said the investigation's findings will determine whether school officials will be charged in last Tuesday's attack at Oxford High School.

Despite the school's decision to allow Crumbley to remain on campus, many are doubtful the district can be successfully sued for letting him stay in school because Michigan law sets a high bar to wring liability out of public schools and other arms of government.

Feiger admitted that Michigan law will make it hard for the district and school officials to be prosecuted.

'We have a hard road ahead. I understand this will not be easy,' he explained. 'The law doesnt allow us to prosecute. It does allow us to make it so costly that it hurts in the pocket book so that they might not do it again.'

His statements that of other legal experts.

'You have to show that the administration or faculty members were grossly negligent, meaning they had a reckless disregard for whether an injury was likely to take place,' A. Vince Colella, a personal-injury lawyer, told the Associated Press earlier this week.

'Because the staff didn't hold the trigger, they can't be held liable because of government immunity. They knew he was distraught. Immunity is counterintuitive to public safety.'

'I see a lot of negligence, but I don't foresee charges against anyone in the school,' echoed David Steingold, a Detroit-area defense attorney.

'You would have to show specific intent. No one on the staff intended to commit a crime.'

Madisyn Baldwin, 17, (left) and Hana St Juliana, 14, (right) died in Tuesday's shooting rampage at Oxford High School in suburban Detroit

Justin Shilling, 17, (left) died in the hospital on Wednesday morning and Tate Myre (right) died in the school on Tuesday

Crumbley was charged as an adult last Wednesday with terrorism, first degree murder and other counts in the shooting that killed Madisyn Baldwin, 17; Tate Myre, 16; Hana St. Juliana, 14; and Justin Shilling, 17.

His parents were also charged with four counts of involuntary manslaughter. All three have pleaded not guilty.

Prosecutors say the parents bought the handgun their son used to kill four as a Christmas present on Black Friday, and failed to secure it.

In charging the parents, Oakland County prosecutor Karen McDonald alleged that the parents ignored multiple warning signs and refused to take their son out of school just hours before the shooting took place.

Jennifer bragged on social media about going out with Ethan to test his Christmas present - a 9mm handgun - just three days before the shooting at Oxford High School, and just one day after her husband James had purchased the gun for Ethan.
Punts are already being placed on the most likely name for Boris and Carrie Johnson's new baby girl - with Charlotte, Josephine and the more unusual Sephira leading the pack.

Also high in the rankings for one bookmaker was Maggie - inviting an obvious allusion to Margaret Thatcher - followed by Violet, Florence, Victoria and Sarah.

If you're looking for a more ambitious punt, Borissa is 100/1, Theresa 500/1 while Allegra - recently in the news after the PM's former press secretary Allegra Stratton's notorious video making fun of a lockdown party - is also 500/1 with one provider.

Mr Johnson, 57, had four children with his second wife, the barrister Marina Wheeler. They are Lara Lettice Johnson-Wheeler, 28; Milo Arthur Johnson, 26; Theodore Apollo Johnson, 21; and Cassia Peaches Johnson, 24.

Wilfred Johnson, his first son with Carrie Symonds, 33, is one-year-old Wilfred. Boris also has a love child from one of his many affairs.

11.45am: Boris Johnson leaves a London NHS hospital this morning after his wife Carrie gave birth to a baby girl - their second - and his seventh child. At 7.40am (right) Boris Johnson 's wife Carrie was pictured arriving before she gave birth to the Prime Minister's seventh child today - a baby girl

BETFAIR Josephine 5/1 Sephira 6/1 Sarah 8/1 Anne 10/1 Geromina 12/1 Alice 14/1 Esmee 14/1 Anais 16/1 Helena 18/1 Beatrice 20/1 Serephina 20/1 Olivia 22/1 Phoebe 22/1 Louise 33/1 Norah 40/1 Theresa 500/1 Allegra 500/1 Advertisement

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Mr and Mrs Johnson announced the birth of a 'healthy baby girl' at a London hospital this morning following a tumultuous 24 hours at Downing Street. The Prime Minister was present throughout the birth.

A spokesman for the couple said: 'Both mother and daughter are doing very well. The couple would like to thank the brilliant NHS maternity team for all their care and support.'

The couple announced they were expecting their second child together at the end of July, as the 33-year-old environmental campaigner spoke of having a miscarriage earlier in the year.

The birth of a sister for Wilfred came the morning after the Prime Minister announced England is entering Plan B to combat the spread of the Omicron variant of coronavirus.

As well as facing Tory anger over the latest restrictions, Mr Johnson was battling the fallout of an allegedly rule-breaking Number 10 Christmas party last year which forced the resignation of senior Government aide Allegra Stratton.

Also on Thursday morning, the Conservatives were fined 17,800 over a controversial donation which helped cover the lavish refurbishments to the couple's Downing Street flat.

The PM has a son, Wilfred, with third wife Carrie Johnson (above at the G7 in Cornwall) and four with his second wife Marina Wheeler. He also has a daughter from an affair in 2009.

Boris, Carrie and Wilf on holiday in Scotland when the little boy in a sling was just five months old

The pair were photographed walking into the hospital, reportedly at 7.40am.

Mr Johnson will spend some time with his family, although it appears he is unlikely to take an extended period of paternity leave.

The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: 'I think there's a recognition the Prime Minister has a unique role and this is a particularly challenging time for the country, and the Prime Minister will continue to lead, as the public would expect, while making time for his family.'

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer sent his congratulations to the couple on the arrival of their baby, and added: 'Wishing your family health and happiness.'

Boris' daughter Lara (together in 2012) reportedly branded her father a 'selfish b*****d' after allegations he had an affair with Carrie surfaced in 2018

Mr Johnson's children with Marina are Lara Lettice, 26, Milo Arthur, 24, (left) Cassia Peaches, 22, (centre) and Theodore Apollo, 20, (right)

Boris, pictured with his four children from his marriage to Marina, right, pictured together in London when she became a QC in 2016

The new arrival means Mr Johnson has at least seven children, although he has frequently obfuscated when asked exactly how many.

Wilfred Lawrie Nicholas Johnson was born in April last year and was named in partly in tribute to two doctors, Nick Hart and Nick Price, who helped saved the Prime Minister's life when he was admitted to hospital with Covid-19 earlier that month.

The couple married during a secretly-planned wedding at Westminster Cathedral in May.

Mr Johnson, 57, has four children with his barrister ex-wife Marina Wheeler.

It emerged during a court hearing in 2013 that he had fathered a daughter during an affair when he was London mayor in 2009.
The spectator who caused a massive pile-up at the Tour de France after holding up a sign for her grandparents in front of the cyclists has been fined 1,000.

The 31-year-old French woman, whose identity has been withheld, was also ordered to pay one symbolic euro to France's professional cyclist association.

Prosecutors had asked for a four-month suspended jail term on the charges of endangering lives and causing unintentional injuries.

A roadside spectator (left) who caused a massive crash in the Tour de France has been fined 1,000

The supporter stepped out looking at the TV cameras and the pack of cyclists rode into her, causing a huge crash

Race organisers had previously withdrawn their complaint and called for everyone to 'calm down' after the woman faced a torrent of abuse.

Under French law she could have faced a fine of up to 15,000 euros (12,700) and a year in prison for the charges.

Prosecutor Solenn Briand acknowledged that she recognised 'how dangerous' her conduct had been and had expressed regret.

She herself told the court that she felt ashamed at her 'stupidity'.

The woman, who has no criminal record, had attended the opening Tour stage on June 26 with the goal of getting a sign noticed by TV cameras.

It read 'Allez, Opi-Omi,' the German terms for 'grandpa and granny,' a nod to her German-speaking grandparents who are fans of the race.

But she stepped out too far in front of the tightly packed peloton as it sped along a narrow road toward the finish in Landerneau in western France.

The massive crash took place near the summit of the Saint-Rivoal hill in the town of Saint-Cadou, some 30 miles from the end of the 123-mile race from the Atlantic port city of Brest

The accident caused a massive blockage and saw more than 20 riders hit the deck injured in one of the Tour's worst crashes

German rider Tony Martin was unable to avoid bumping into her and fell, forcing dozens of riders to crash while others swerved into the crowds of onlookers.

Video footage of the collision and scenes of medics tending stunned or grimacing victims sparked outrage among fans and race organisers, especially when they realised the woman had fled the scene instead of staying to help.

She remained in hiding for four days before turning herself in to police.

Several riders had to pull out of the race, including Spain's Marc Soler, who broke both arms.

The woman's lawyer, Julien Bradmetz, said his client had 'a fragile personality for many years'.

Riders survey the damage after the crash during the 108th Tour de France 2021, with many left bruised and battling injuries

'This fragility has now increased tenfold so today my client is living through hell,' he said.

German cyclist Tony Martin was the first to go down, and then there was a horrifying domino effect that ended in a tangle of bikes and bodies.

There were numerous wounds, including ones to Jasha Sutterlin, another German rider, who had to pull out of the entire contest.

The tour's on-site surgeon Gilbert Versier, a three-star general operating out in Iraq and Afghanistan, said the aftermath of the crash resembled a war zone.

'It looks like a war scene, the same chaos, the same moans, bodies everywhere and tangled machines,' Versier told French daily newspaper L'Equipe.

'You can't imagine so much breakage. In the midst of the commotion, the runners getting up and wanting to start again, the most serious cases must be identified.

The crash has been labelled as one of the worst ever in the history of the Tour de France, which is in its 108th instalment

One of the cyclists, Swiss star Marc Hirschi, found himself thrown into the nearby hedges and he dislocated his shoulder

'In general, these are the ones who are furthest from the accident site, because they have been thrown.'

Christian Prudhomme, director of the Tour, adopted a conciliatory stance over the case.

'She did something daft, she's no terrorist. We just want people to take care when they come to the Tour and remember they are there to see the champions and not to get on television,' he told reporters.
The UK is to deploy additional troops in Eastern Europe amid tension in Belarus after thousands of migrants converged on the country's borders in the hope of entering the EU.

The Ministry of Defence announced on Thursday that 140 military engineers will be sent to Poland, adding to an existing team of 150 that are already based in the country. A separate team of reconnaissance specialists will also be sent to Lithuania.

'Poland and Lithuania, along with their Baltic neighbour Latvia, have been under significant pressure from migration originating from Belarus and facilitated by the Lukashenko regime for a number of months,' the MoD said.

In recent months, Belarus has become the epicentre of a fresh European migrant crisis when it was accused of hoarding thousands of families desperate to enter the EU along the Polish-Belarus border as tensions soared.

The deployment comes amid lingering concern that Russia is set to launch devastating military action against Ukraine, with US analysts fearing up to 170,000 troops are preparing to launch near the Voronezh region.

US President Joe Biden warned of economic sanctions 'like never have ever seen before' when he spoke with Russian premier Vladimir Putin during a tense two-hour call on Tuesday.

It comes as Boris Johnson joined Western leaders in vowing to form a 'united front' over Russian hostility toward Ukraine, with the Prime Minister Boris vowing to use all 'economic and diplomatic tools at the UK's disposal.

The Ministry of Defence announced on Thursday that 140 military engineers will be sent to Poland, adding that a separate team has also been sent to Lithuania. Pictured: Troops at the Belarus-Poland border

The Royal Engineers regiment will work with the Polish military at the border with Belarus, including providing 'infrastructure support', according to the MoD

Scene at the border weeks ago: Soldiers and police watch as migrants amass at the Poland-Belarus border near Kuznica, Poland, on November 12, 2021

The 140 troops from the Royal Engineers will arrive in Poland from the end of December, with the deployment expected to last until April.

The MoD said they will work with the Polish military at the border with Belarus, including providing 'infrastructure support'.

The troops are in addition to the 150 British personnel already based in Poland as part of Nato's enhanced forward presence.

In Lithuania, a reconnaissance team of British troops will 'establish if the UK can offer any expertise or capabilities to help counter current pressures', the MoD added.

The 140 troops from the Royal Engineers will arrive in Poland from the end of December, with the deployment expected to last until April. Above: British troops at the Poland-Belarus border

A British troop converses with his Polish counterpart as more engineers were committed to the Poland-Belarus border on Thursday

President Joe Biden and Russia's Vladimir Putin squared off in a two-hour video call tonight as the US president put Moscow on notice that a Russian invasion of Ukraine would bring enormous harm to the Russian economy

Vladimir Putin, who faced down US president Joe Biden on Tuesday in a two-hour virtual summit, has previously threatened to invade in response to increased Western military support for Ukraine

US President Joe Biden warned Putin in a two-hour video call on Tuesday that any invasion of Ukraine would bring enormous harm to the Russian economy. Above: Russian reservists firing rockets during a training exercise near the border with Ukraine on Tuesday

Migrants were promised a better life in the EU and Britain, and Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko's secret police and border guards choreographed multiple unsuccessful bids to illegally break through the border.

Lukashenko's aim had been to punish European countries for sanctions imposed on him for rigging a presidential election, and using a warplane to force down a Ryanair tourist plane in order to detain a political enemy.

The West say he colluded with people trafficking gangs in a blatant bid to cause migrant chaos across Europe.

Meanwhile, lingering fears of a Russian invasion of Ukraine also poses a significant headache for Western leaders.

Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, who took up the role of Chief of the Defence Staff last week, said of the build-up of Russian troops in Ukraine: It is deeply worrying. The significance of the worst scenarios in terms of a full invasion of Ukraine would be on a scale not seen in Europe since World War Two.

UK defence sources believe President Putins likely objective is to invade and occupy eastern Ukraine in 2022 and then seek a diplomatic solution, including the creation of a pro-Russian state there.

Mr Putin, who faced down US president Joe Biden on Tuesday in a two-hour virtual summit, has previously threatened to invade in response to increased Western military support for Ukraine.

UK defence sources believe President Putins likely objective is to invade and occupy eastern Ukraine in 2022. Pictured: Russian soldiers conduct sniper exercises in snowy conditions

A camp containing five battalions of Russian troops is pictured near Yelna, 150 miles from Ukraine's border, within the last month as US intelligence warns Putin now has 50 battalions camped out on Europe's doorstep

Russia now has 50 battalions comprising up to 94,000 troops stationed on the Ukrainian border with another 80,000 - 100,000 sitting in reserve and will be ready to invade within weeks, the US has warned

Putin has also sought assurances from Nato that Ukraine, a former Soviet republic, would not be permitted to join the defence alliance, but to no avail. He has described such a scenario as a red line.

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said on Wednesday that it would be a 'strategic mistake' for Russia to ramp up aggression against Ukraine.

She added that Russia must 'respect the sovereignty and the territorial integrity of Ukraine'.

That same day, Ukraine warned of a 'bloody massacre' and five million Ukrainian refugees fleeing into Europe if Russia pulled to trigger and invaded Kiev.

Satellite images have revealed huge new camps of Russian troops, tanks and artillery along the border as Putin continues massing his forces on Europe's doorstep.

US analysts believe there may be up to 175,000 soldiers amassing on the border of Ukraine.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said: 'Our commitment to European security is unwavering and we will always offer support to our allies.

'This non-combat support will assist Polish efforts to protect their border and pass on vital engineering expertise.'
Ex-MI6 boss said UK universities have become dependent on Chinese funding

Britain's science sector has been compromised by a 'malign Chinese communist influence' and so parroted China's party line that Covid did not leak from a lab in Wuhan, according to an ex-MI6 chief.

Sir Richard Dearlove, head of the intelligence service from 1999 to 2004, believes many universities in the UK have become dependent on Chinese funding over the past two decades.

While urging institutions to take 'greater steps to protect intellectual property', he expressed concern over the extent to which Britain echoed a potential 'information' campaign from China following the coronavirus outbreak in December 2019.

Since China alerted the world to a mysterious virus circulating in Wuhan in December 2019, a debate has been raging over its true source.

The Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV), which specialises in manipulating dangerous coronaviruses, is the high-security laboratory at the centre of an alleged cover-up.

Sir Richard Dearlove (pictured above), 76, head of the MI6 from 1999 to 2004, believes many universities in the UK have become dependent on Chinese funding over the past two decades

The Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV), which specialises in manipulating dangerous coronaviruses, is the high-security laboratory at the centre of an alleged cover-up (pictured: a virologist and her colleague in the P4 lab of WIV in February 2017)

Sir Richard, 76, told a podcast for The Australian: 'In the future, we will have to take very careful steps to control this in terms of registering where Chinese research students go and what their interests are, and take greater steps to protect intellectual property in our universities, particularly in areas of sensitive research.'

He added: 'I'm pretty sure that the Chinese after the outbreak in Wuhan, and they're very good at doing this, sat down and developed their own information campaign and this was almost certainly driven by the Ministry of State Security and run out of the PRC leadership to make sure that there was suppression of any suggestion that their narrative was not the correct one,' Sir Richard said in the podcast.

'What concerns me and what worries me is the extent to which the West went along with this.'

The ex-Cold War spy has previously spoken about his probes into the origin of the pandemic.

He once said that Covid had all the signs of 'taking a natural virus and mucking around with it'.

And Australian journalist Sharri Markson, who conducted the podcast interview with Sir Richard, earlier said her 18-month investigation into the 'lab leak' hypothesis left her 'beyond doubt' that the virus spilled out of a biomedical facility.

She urged for the so-called 'gain of function' research to either be shut down or Chinese labs put under more scrutiny to avoid future pandemics.

The risky experiments involve engineering viruses to make them more infectious or lethal in the hope of developing treatments and vaccines to get ahead of outbreaks.

China has repeatedly insisted the virus spilled naturally into humans from bats, with some scientists agreeing Covid most likely had natural origins.

But the communist Government has stymied efforts for independent investigations into how the virus first jumped to humans in epicentre Wuhan.

Australian journalist Sharri Markson (above) earlier said her 18-month investigation into the 'lab leak' hypothesis left her 'beyond doubt' that the virus spilled out of a biomedical facility

Since China alerted the world to a mysterious virus circulating in Wuhan in December 2019, a debate has been raging over its true source (pictured: WIV's P4 laboratory)

It has silenced journalists, wiped scientific databases and 'disappeared' WIV staff who were struck down with a mystery illness in autumn 2019.

Mike Pompeo, former US Secretary of State under President Trump, said intelligence about the origins of Covid pointed to the Wuhan lab being the 'centre point'.

Speaking to Markson in a documentary, Pompeo said: 'There is enormous  albeit indirect  evidence that the WIV was the centre point for this.

'Remember too there were 14 American diplomats on the ground in Wuhan at this time [late 2019], watching and observing what was taking place on the ground.

'I'm hoping one day we'll be able to get that information out more broadly but... the cumulative evidence... points singularly to the WIV.'
Some 34,000 students have not yet been vaccinated as required by the district

Employees were required to have received their second dose by November 15

Nearly 500 Los Angeles Unified School District employees were fired this week for refusing to comply with a mandate that they get vaccinated against Covid-19, while some 34,000 students have not yet been vaccinated as required.

The school board voted 7-0 in separate motions on Tuesday to terminate 496 employees, who make up less than 1 per cent of the district's approximately 73,000 workers.

Most of those fired had likely been on leave since mid-October when LAUSD staffers were to have received at least their first vaccine dose, the Los Angeles Daily News reported. Employees were required to receive their second dose by November 15.

But they may be eligible to get their jobs back if they choose to get vaccinated against Covid-19.

Nearly 500 Los Angeles Unified School District employees were fired this week for refusing to comply with a mandate that they get vaccinated against Covid-19. Pictured: Anti-vaccine mandate protesters rally outside the garage doors of the Los Angeles Unified School District headquarters in LA on September 9

'Parting ways with individuals who choose not to be vaccinated is an extremely difficult, but necessary decision to ensure the safety of all in our school communities,' interim Superintendent Megan Reilly said in a statement.

'We wish everyone the best in their future endeavors and encourage everyone to get vaccinated.'

It is not clear what roles the 496 fired members of staff held - such as teachers or support staff - in the district.

Meanwhile, with thousands of students not yet complying with the mandate, there's no longer enough time for children aged 12 and above who have not gotten their first shot to be fully inoculated by the January 10 start of the second semester, the Los Angeles Times reported.

LAUSD is one of several large districts in California to adopt their own rules requiring students to get the COVID-19 vaccination, ahead of a statewide policy that will take effect after federal officials fully approve the immunizations by age group.

The state policy, announced by Governor Gavin Newsom in October, is not expected to go into place before July, but the precise date is still unknown.

'Parting ways with individuals who choose not to be vaccinated is an extremely difficult, but necessary decision to ensure the safety of all in our school communities,' interim Superintendent Megan Reilly (pictured) said in a statement

Districts including San Diego Unified, Sacramento City Unified, Oakland and West Contra Costa are among those that have deadlines for student vaccine policies scheduled to take effect in early 2022.

The policies vary according to district, with some allowing students to opt for weekly testing and others making the shot a requirement for in-person classes.

In almost all California districts, students aged under 18 can only get vaccinated with parental consent, although San Francisco allows children aged 12 and up to decide for themselves.

In Los Angeles, students who are not fully vaccinated  or exempt  will be forced into the district's independent study program or will have to leave the Los Angeles public school system.

Shifting 34,000 students into independent study would be challenging because the program faces staffing shortages, according to the Times.

In a statement Wednesday, Los Angeles Unified said about 85% of the district's approximately 600,000 students are in compliance with the mandate requiring those 12 and older to get their COVID-19 shots.

That percentage includes students who have received at least one vaccine dose, individuals with a medical exemption or those who qualify for conditional admission to the district, the Times reported. This last group include homeless or foster youths, students whose families are in the military and certain special education students.

Of the 496 employee dismissals, 418 were classified employees who are non-credentialed but critical staff that can include positions such as instructional aides, custodians, cafeteria workers and others.

In Los Angeles, students who are not fully vaccinated  or exempt  will be forced into the district's independent study program or will have to leave the Los Angeles public school system

Attorney Jennifer Kennedy is following two cases currently making their way through court against the LAUSD seeking to end the mandate.

She told NBC Los Angeles that the parents may have a strong case because the district does no have the legal authority to enforce a mandate.

'The LAUSD does not have the power to add a vaccine to the California school schedule,' she said. 'You couldn't do it if you were a podunk school district and you can't do it if you're LAUSD, the second largest district in the nation. You don't have that legal authority.'

Last month the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention approved the Pfizer Inc and BioNTech SE Covid-19 vaccines for children aged 5 to 11.

The decision has caused a storm of controversy with opponents pointing to the fact there is little evidence to suggest vaccinating children is necessary.

Data from the Centers for Disease Control shows that just 741 children aged between 0 and 18 died of COVID between the start of the outbreak in March 2020 and December 1 2021.

The US was one of the first states to officially approve jabs for the 5-11 age group, with most countries, including the UK, only offering vaccines to children 12 and older.

Among the more serious potential side effects are inflammation of the heart, which scientists believe is more likely to affect teenage boys, but which they've also stressed is extremely rare.

The pandemic has killed more than 780,000 Americans and slowed economic growth and snarled supply chains.

Mandatory vaccination has become an increasingly popular tool in fighting the pandemic and has boosted U.S. vaccination rates.

Although the Biden administration's plans have been frustrated in court, judges have upheld mandates by private employers, universities and state and local governments.

The Biden administration's requirement for military and civilian government employees survived court challenges.
A young woman driver who was counting 100 in notes behind the wheel when she killed a teenager on his moped has been jailed for five years.

Chantelle Gleave, 22, was driving at 60mph with broken headlights when she ploughed into A-level pupil Ethan Ross, 17, on the A55 eastbound near St Asaph, Wales, on September 14.

Ethan, who was on his way home from his part-time job as a waiter, tragically died of his injuries and his family went on to donate his organs to save other lives.

Gleave had been counting the notes after being paid 100 to help a friend clean out his flat on the tragic night.

Today at Mold Crown Court, Judge Rhys Rowlands jailed her for five years after she admitted dangerous driving, with a seven and a half year driving ban upon her release.

He added that the case was one of the 'saddest he had ever heard.'

Chantelle Gleave, 22, who killed Ethan Ross after crashing her car into the back of his moped near St Asaph, Wales, while she counted her wages at the wheel, has been jailed for five years

Gleave, 22, of Shotton, Flintshire, was driving at 60mph in the dark, with two broken headlights, when she ploughed into the back of Ethan Ross

Ethan was on his way home from a shift as a waiter at Bodelwyddan Castle - a trip he had safely made many times. The court heard his last words to his mother Helen earlier that evening were: 'See you later, I love you' before riding off on his moped.

Gleave, of Shotton, North Wales, was on her way home in her Vauxhall Astra. Her headlights weren't working but she put on foglights in September last year.

She had started counting the 100 in 10 notes which were to her left on the central console or front passenger seat.

Just before 10pm, she came up behind the moped which had been overtaken by at least four other drivers. Ethan had been going at 29mph, just under his permitted 30mph.

But Gleave, travelling at about 60mph, collided with the moped. The impact knocked off rider Ethan. He suffered a catastrophic brain injury and died two days later in hospital.

A court heard Gleave told an off-duty police officer: 'I was looking down to the side, counting the money, and when I looked up he was just there in front of me and I hit him.

'I didn't see him. He was going so slowly. I didn't have time to stop.'

In an emotional victim impact statement, Ethan's mother Helen Ross told of her horror of the events that day and afterwards.

A-Level pupil Ethan Ross, 17, was airlifted to hospital, but died two days later of a catastrophic head injury. Judge Rhys Rowlands told pregnant Gleave that she had 'decimated' a family.

While her son was airlifted by helicopter to hospital in Stoke, she and Ethan's dad Paul had to follow by car.

In intensive care, she had said: 'He was so still, with machines and wires everywhere. I said 'No that's not my boy'. I wanted to squeeze the life back into his body.'

Simon Mills, defending Gleave, said of her driving: 'She had foglights. I accept they were not adequate but it's not that she was driving an unlit car.'

Mr Mills said the defendant had been 'very seriously negligent' but she had shown some remorse.

Gleave (left) became pregnant after being arrested - knowing that she may face charges for causing death by dangerous driving. The baby is due in April. Right: Ethan

She recognises the 'devastation she has caused and has flashbacks' after the tragedy on the A55 at St Asaph.

The court heard she had bought replacement headlight bulbs but could not afford to get them fitted at Halfords.

Mold Crown Court heard Gleave had become pregnant after being arrested - knowing that she may face charges. The baby is due in April.

Judge Rowlands told Gleave that using only foglights, which the court heard didn't travel as far, had been 'grossly irresponsible'.

He said: 'There's no sentence I can pass which will go anywhere near reflecting the loss of Ethan.'

Parents Helen and Paul Ross said: 'We are all totally devastated and our hearts ache so very much for the loss of our beautiful, selfless, kind, caring, determined, quiet, gifted, Chelsea FC loving son.

'He made us burst with pride every single day.'

They added that Ethan was able to donate his organs and 'give the most precious thing of all, a gift of life to others.'

Ethan's mother said she last saw her son when he left their house to start a double shift as a waiter at a castle restaurant.

Ethan's organs were donated after his death and his mother said her son 'has helped so many' lives.

The family has been contacted by the woman who has received Ethan's kidney after waiting for years for a transplant.

'It just means we can tell everybody about Ethan and keep him alive,' said Mrs Ross. 'He will never be forgotten'.
Republican presidential nominee Bob Dole, who valiantly fought during World War II and then represented his home state of Kansas as a powerful US Senator for decades, has died at 98.

Born into a working-class family in Russell, Kansas in 1923, the future senate majority leader paused his university studies to enlist in the army after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Dole would earn two Purple Hearts and a Bronze Star for his service.

In April 1945, Nazis shot Dole in the right shoulder during a fight in the hills of Italy. Given little odds to pull through, it took years for him to recover and his right arm was permanently disabled. Dole was always seen in public holding a pen in his right hand to discourage people from shaking it.

The decorated veteran entered politics in 1950 by winning a two-year term in the state's legislature. He then served as Russell County's prosecuting attorney for eight years until he made the jump to the US House of Representatives in 1961. Starting in 1969, he represented Kansas in the US Senate. During his long and influential tenure in upper chamber, Dole was a Republican party leader who reached across the aisle to broker deals and served as majority leader.

In 1976, President Gerald Ford picked Dole as his running mate but they lost to the Democratic ticket of Jimmy Carter and Walter Mondale. Dole vied for the Republican presidential nomination twice - in 1980 and 1988 - before finally securing it in 1996. After resigning from the Senate to focus on his campaign, Dole lost to incumbent Bill Clinton, a Democrat.

Dole married his first wife, Phyllis Holden, in 1948 and they have a daughter together, Robin, who was born in 1954. The couple divorced in 1972, and he met and then married Elizabeth Hanford in 1975. Elizabeth Dole has served in three Republican administrations and was also a US Senator representing North Carolina from 2003 until 2009.

On February 18, Dole announced that he had stage four lung cancer. He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth, and his daughter, Robin.

From 1969 until 1996, Dole served in the US Senate where he was a leader of his party, held powerful positions such as majority leader, and was a skilled negotiator to get legislation passed. He resigned from the Senate to focus on his presidential campaign. Above, Dole and his wife, Elizabeth, at a welcoming rally in San Diego during his run for the White House in 1996. The couple had come to the city for the race's last debate. Dole chose Jack Kemp, who had served nine terms in the US House of Representatives, as his running mate but they lost to the Democratic ticket of Clinton and Al Gore, then vice president

'I could see my platoon's radioman go down... After pulling his lifeless form into the foxhole, I scrambled back out again. As I did, I felt a sharp sting in my upper right back,' Dole wrote in his 1988 autobiography. That sharp sting was a bullet that tore through his right shoulder. A fellow soldier pulled him back to the American lines. Dole was given morphine but wasn't expected to make it. Using Dole's own blood, his fellow soldier marked his forehead with an 'M' to indicate he had already been given a shot: a second dose would have been fatal. Above, Dole recovering at Percy Jones Army Hospital in Battle Creek, Michigan in 1945

Robert Joseph Dole was born on July 22, 1923 in Russell, Kansas. His father, Dorian Ray, worked at a facility that stored grain, and his mother, Bina, sold sewing machines. The family of six, which included his brother Kenny and his two sisters, Gloria and Norma Jean, lived in a small house that a New York Times article pointed out was 'quite literally the wrong side of the tracks.'

Religious, hardworking and poor, the family struggled like many during the Great Depression of the 1930s. 'As a young man in a small town, my parents taught me to put my trust in God, not government, and never confuse the two,' he said, according to Biography.com.

At Russell High School, Dole was an athlete who was seen as handsome and popular, according to the Times profile, which was published as part of a series called Political Life in 1996. Dole was 'noted mainly for his shyness around girls' in the school newspaper about his class, according to the article. After graduating in 1941, Dole went to the University of Kansas with the goal of becoming a doctor. Like in high school, he was also on the college's basketball, track and football teams.

But since 1939, the global battle to fight Nazi Germany raged and after the bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, the United States entered the war. At the age of 19, Dole enlisted in the US Army Reserve Corps in 1942.

While Dole was rehabilitating, he met his first wife, Phyllis Holden, an occupational therapist, in 1948. They married soon after and had one daughter together, Robin, in 1954. Dole first ran for Congress in 1960. In the conservative Congressional district he sought to represent, the primary was key. To differentiate him from the other candidates, his wife Phyllis set to work making skirts for the 'Dolls for Dole.' On the skirts were 'applique elephants holding 'Dole for Congress' signs in their trunks,' according to a New York Times series in 1996. Above, Dole campaigns for Congress sometime in the 1960s

Robert Joseph Dole was born on July 22, 1923 in Russell, Kansas. His father, Dorian Ray, worked at a facility that stored grain, and his mother, Bina, sold sewing machines. 'My father missed only one day of work in 40 years,' Dole said, according to the Horatio Alger Association. 'My mother was a source of inspiration; sacrificing her comfort for others was a lifelong habit.' Above, Dole with his parents, Doran and Bina in 1968, which is the year he won his first Senate term after serving in the US House of Representatives since 1961

Dole was married to his first wife until they divorced in early 1972. That year, he met Elizabeth Hanford, a lawyer who would serve in three administrations and run for office herself. The pair met at his office on Capitol Hill, according to a Today interview. 'All of a sudden, the side door opens and in comes Bob Dole. And I look up and I think, 'Gee, he's a good-looking guy.' And he says he wrote my name on the back of his blotter,' Elizabeth said during the show. They married in December 1975 and are seen above on their wedding day

Dole started active duty in the summer of 1943 and was then deployed to Italy as a second lieutenant in the Army's 10th Mountain Division late the next year.

In April 1945, his company was fighting to take Hill 913 - northwest of Florence - from the Nazis when they came under heavy gunfire, including from a sniper, and were trapped by the hail of bullets and a minefield.

'Dole had to get that gunman. He selected a small group of men to help him take out the sniper and find a safer passage. As he climbed a rocky field, his radioman was hit,' according to his 1996 presidential campaign website.

'I could see my platoon's radioman go down... After pulling his lifeless form into the foxhole, I scrambled back out again. As I did, I felt a sharp sting in my upper right back,' Dole wrote in his 1988 autobiography.

That sharp sting was a bullet that tore through his shoulder. 'I lay face down in the dirt,' Dole said, according to the campaign website. 'I could not see or move my arms. I thought they were missing.'

Sergeant Frank Carafa bravely pulled the wounded Dole back. 'They had a perfect field of fire,' he told the Associated Press in 1995. The Germans 'could have killed every person that went out on that field.'

Dole was given morphine but wasn't expected to make it. Using Dole's blood, a fellow soldier marked his forehead with an 'M' to indicate he had already been given a shot: a second dose would have been fatal.

In 1968, Dole won his first Senate term after serving in the House - the same year Richard Nixon took the White House. Nixon tapped Dole to be the chairman of the Republican National Committee in 1971. During Nixon's second term, he resigned after the Watergate Scandal and Gerald Ford, right, became president in 1974. Ford chose Dole as his running mate and they are seen above at the 1976 Republican National Convention in Kansas City. The Democratic ticket of Jimmy Carter and Walter Mondale defeated them

Dole first sought the Republican presidential nomination during the 1980 election but soon bowed out. Republican Ronald Reagan won the White House for two terms. He again pursued the nomination in 1988, but George H W Bush, Reagan's vice president, won the nomination and the presidency. Bush lost to Democrat Bill Clinton in 1992. Dole secured the nomination in 1996 and took on Clinton. Above, supporters cheer Dole at a rally in March 1996

Above, First Lady Hillary Clinton, Chelsea Clinton, President Bill Clinton, Dole, the Republican nominee, his wife Elizabeth and his daughter Robin after a presidential debate on October 6, 1996. Two years earlier, there was a 'Republican Revolution' in which the party made substantial gains and won control of both houses of Congress during the midterm elections in November 1994. Momentum was believed to be on the side of the Republicans but with a strong economy, Clinton, the incumbent, prevailed

Dole did survive but was seriously wounded and temporarily paralyzed. But the 22-year-old persevered and eventually after the paralysis subsided, he was able to relearn simple tasks using his left arm due to the damage to his right.

His road to recovery was long but it was while he was recuperating that he met his first wife, Phyllis Holden, an occupational therapist. She saw him across the cafeteria at the Percy Jones Army Medical Center in March 1948. 'He was handsome, with dark, penetrating eyes and shiny hair - and because his right arm was up in a sling,' she told The Spokesman-Review in 1996 about why she noticed him.

At a party soon after, Dole asked her dance. Three months later, they were married, according to the article.

For a short period, the couple moved back to Russell and his fellow townspeople raised money - $1,800 in 1947 - for surgeries to straighten his right arm, according to the Times profile.

Dole went back to college, first at the University of Arizona before transferring to Washburn University in Topeka and switched his ambition from medicine to law. He then earned his undergraduate and law degrees. It was while he was in law school that he decided to enter politics and in 1950, he was elected to the state legislature. Four years later, his daughter, Robin, was born.

After the two-year term, Dole was the county's prosecuting attorney for eight years. By 1960, he was ready for a bigger stage and ran for Congress.

In the conservative Congressional district, the primary was key. To differentiate him from the other candidates, his wife Phyllis set to work making skirts for the 'Dolls for Dole.' On the skirts were 'applique elephants holding 'Dole for Congress' signs in their trunks,' according to the Times series.



Dole won his first term in the US House of Representatives and in 1961, the family split its time between Russell and Washington, DC. Phyllis told The Spokesman-Review that DC 'was kind of scary for me.'

In 1968, after serving as a Congressman for eight years, Dole sought a Senate seat and won  the same year Richard Nixon took the White House. Nixon tapped Dole for Republican National Committee chairman in 1971. And while he traveled the country, Dole spent time away from his wife and daughter. The couple divorced in January 1972.

When asked about his accomplishments in the Senate, Dole told The New York Times: 'Just being there. I mean being in the United States Senate. I can't think of very many days I went to work without being a little excited. You see the Capitol dome and know that you're part of something that most people would give anything for. It's a great opportunity, and a great privilege.' Above, Dole after speaking to VFW members in Louisville, Kentucky during his run for the White House in 1996

Dole kisses his wife, Elizabeth, above, on November 5, 2002 after her electoral victory. Born in Salisbury, North Carolina in 1936, Elizabeth Dole served in Lyndon B Johnson, Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan's administrations. A graduate of Harvard Law School, she ran for her native state's Senate seat in 2002. She won and was reelected in 2006. In 2012, she founded her namesake foundation dedicated to 'empowering, supporting, and honoring military and veteran caregivers,' according to the organization's Twitter page

After he lost the White House in 1996, Dole continued to advocate on the behalf of veterans. Above, Dole, who was then co-chair of a President's Commission on Care for America's Returning Wounded Warriors, speaks about the group's report as President George W Bush and Donna Shalala, left, then the Health and Human Services Secretary, listens in the Rose Garden in October 2007

But 1972 was also when he met his wife of 45 years: Elizabeth Hanford, a lawyer who would serve in three administrations and run for office herself. The pair met at his office on Capitol Hill, according to a Today interview from February 2019.

'All of a sudden, the side door opens and in comes Bob Dole. And I look up and I think, 'Gee, he's a good-looking guy.' And he says he wrote my name on the back of his blotter,' Elizabeth said during the show.

They went on their first date after talking on the phone and three years later they married in December 1975. 'I love his compassionate heart. And the fact that he loved to feel that each day he could make a difference for at least one person in need,' she told Today. 'And I loved the fact that he had such a great sense of humor.'

Dole won reelection several times and served in the Senate for nearly three decades. Throughout his tenure, he led his party and was able 'to maintain a unified Republican caucus, a job that grew increasingly difficult as the Senate grew more fractious and individual members more assertive,' according to The New York Times series. With his reputation as a pragmatist and a dealmaker, Dole was able to work with Democrats. He was also a strong supporter and advocate for 1990's American with Disabilities Act.

He was first elected the majority leader in 1984. Elizabeth told Today: 'I got a miniature schnauzer from the Humane Society and walked into his national press conference with this little dog with a big sign 'Leader' around his neck, and presented him to Bob.'

Dole was majority leader again in 1995 but did not hold the position long. In 1996, after he secured the Republican presidential nomination, he resigned from the Senate to focus on his campaign. He had first sought the nomination in 1980 but quickly dropped out. George H W Bush beat him in 1988 when he vied for it again.

During the midterm elections of 1994, there was a 'Republican Revolution': for the first time in 40 years, the party won both the House and the Senate. Many pointed to this momentum to push Democrat Bill Clinton out of the White House. Nonetheless, voters chose the incumbent and Dole lost.

'Sure, losing an election hurts, but I've experienced worse. And at an age when every day is precious, brooding over what might have been is self-defeating. In conceding the 1996 election, I remarked that 'tomorrow will be the first time in my life I don't have anything to do.' I was wrong. Seventy-two hours after conceding the election, I was swapping wisecracks with David Letterman on his late-night show,' Dole wrote in The Washington Post in 2012.

Dole was then a spokesman for Visa, Dunkin' Donuts and Viagra, worked at law firm and as a lobbyist as well as founded the Dole Institute of Politics at the University of Kansas. He also continued to work on behalf of veterans.

In 1997, Clinton awarded Dole the Presidential Medal Freedom.

'At every stage of my life, I've been a witness to the greatness of this country,' Dole said at the ceremony. 'I have seen this nation overcome Depression and segregation and communism, turning back mortal threats to human freedom. And I have stood in awe of American courage and decency, a virtue so rare in history and so common in this precious place.'
The Senate has approved one-time legislation allowing Democrats to raise the debt ceiling via a simple majority in a 59 to 35 vote on Thursday night.

Once President Joe Biden signs the bill into law, Congress will be able to take action on the debt limit with only Democratic votes.

Now Democrats will need to hash out the details of their plan to raise the U.S. debt ceiling. With a razor-thin 50-50 majority, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer will need every one of his party colleagues to vote yes in addition to Vice President Kamala Harris' tie-breaking vote.

The Senate voted earlier on Thursday to break a filibuster and set lawmakers on a path to lift the debt ceiling before the December 15 deadline.

Now the House and Senate will both have to pass their own versions of the legislation less than a week from today.

The Senate approved a one-time piece of legislation on Thursday night to let Democrats pass a debt ceiling bill with a simple majority vote

In a vote of 64 to 36, 14 Republicans joined the Democrats in a procedural vote on a bill that delays Medicare sequestration cuts for three months that also contains a provision that allows for the debt ceiling to be raised one time using a simple majority.

The vote continues a multi-step process to fast-track a debt ceiling hike, after Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell struck a deal earlier this week to avert the nation going into default.

Schumer thanked McConnell for playing ball and said on the Senate floor Thursday that their conversations were 'fruitful, candid, productive' and said this was the 'responsible' action to take.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer thanked Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell prior to the vote saying their conversations were 'fruitful, candid, productive' and said this was the 'responsible' action to take

Fourteen Republicans joined the Democrats Thursday to vote for a bill that contained a provision that will allow the Senate to pass a debt ceiling hike before the December 15 deadline using only Democratic votes

Thursday's vote will need to still be followed by a Senate vote and then a House vote on the actual debt ceiling raise.

Republicans who joined the Democrats included McConnell and Sens. John Thune, John Barrasso, Shelley Moore Capito, Roger Wicker, Susan Collins, Roy Blunt, Thom Tillis, Lisa Murkowski, Richard Burr, Joni Ernst, John Cornyn, Mitt Romney and Rob Portman.

Other Republicans have grumbled about the deal, having hoped that McConnell would force Democrats to use the more cumbersome process of reconciliation to push up the debt ceiling.

Critics, including former President Donald Trump, have pressed McConnell to drag out the process, with Trump incorrectly believing it would thwart Democratic efforts to push President Joe Biden's Build Back Better bill.

'So Mitch McConnell has the greatest hand, the greatest, the best, this is such an easy negotiation to kill the "Build Back Worse" plan of Biden.  And we have a thing called the debt ceiling. And this morning, I hear he gave it up,' Trump claimed on Hugh Hewitt's radio show Wednesday.

'He gave it up for practically nothing. He could have used the debt ceiling card ... the debt ceiling is psychological. This is not psychological. This is fact. This will destroy our country, the fabric of the country as we know it,' Trump said of Biden's Build Back Better plan.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, seen speaking at a service for the late Sen. Bob Dole earlier Thursday, agreed to a debt ceiling deal with Schumer that left some members of his party grumbling

Democrats already planned to use the reconciliation - which allows them to bypass a Republican filibuster threat - to get the $1.75 trillion bill over the line, so holding up the debt ceiling process would only create a delay.

Schumer has said he wants Build Back Better passed by Christmas.

Other Republicans feared that allowing Democrats to bypass the filibuster one time by adding a provision to a separate bill, would open the door for more carve-outs down the road.

Sen. Mike Lee, a Utah Republican, warned it could 'neuter the Senate.'

'IT IS AKIN TO "NUKING THE FILIBUSTER!"' he tweeted in all caps.

Still, 10 Republican votes were needed to push the process forward.

Sen. Ted Cruz, a Texas Republican, argued that Republicans were still giving Democrats assistance - even if GOP senators won't be needed for the final vote on the debt ceiling.

'I don't think Republicans should be facilitating adding trillions in debt,' the Texas Republican said, according to Wednesday's Playbook.

Over on the House side, GOP Rep. Kevin Brady, the ranking member of the House Ways and Means committee, complained that the deal mucked up what should have been a bipartisan Medicare bill, calling it a 'poison pill.'

'You wrecked a bipartisan agreement for your debt ceiling crisis,' Brady said Tuesday night on the floor.

On Tuesday night, the House passed the Medicare-debt ceiling bill with a vote of 222 to 212, with the support of just one Republican, retiring GOP Rep. Adam Kinzinger.

The debt ceiling has generally been voted on by members of both parties, as the debt was taken on by both Republican and Democratic presidents.

But McConnell, with few cards in his hand with Democrats controlling the White House and both houses of Congress, decided earlier this year to make it a hurdle for his Democratic colleagues - telling them they must raise the debt ceiling alone.

Republicans are eager to use the debt issue - as they did in the 2010 midterms to take Congress away from the Democrats - against the Democrats in Congressional races next year.

McConnell argued that the deal struck with Schumer still sticks to that.

'The red line is intact,' McConnell said. 'The red line is that you have a simple majority party-line vote on the debt ceiling. That's exactly where we will end up.'
The criminal justice system was today accused of 'failing to deliver for victims' as new data revealed the speed at which rape cases were concluded had worsened due to court delays.

The performance ratings - published for the first time on Thursday - show 'we are yet to see positive impacts' on how rape cases are being handled, the Government said.

Publicly released figures show it took more than 15 months (457 days) on average from a suspect being charged with rape to the case concluding in a crown court during April to June.

This is compared to 373 days in January to March, meaning the delays increased by nearly three months (84 days). In 2019 it was 301 days.

It also emerged that the Crown Prosecution Service was set to miss out on rape prosecution performance targets as a record-breaking total of rape offences, 61,158, were recorded in the year ending June 2021.

Justice Secretary Dominic Raab admitted on Thursday that Britain had a 'moral duty' to do better for victims and that there were parts of the system that were 'failing to deliver'.

It comes as the number of adult rape cases waiting to go to trial continued to pile up, with more than 1,300 waiting to be dealt with between April and June - more than double the same time period from two years ago.

The Crown Prosecution Service is set to miss out on rape prosecution performance targets as a record-breaking total of rape offences, 61,158, were recorded in the year ending June 2021

The speed at which the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) made a charging decision rose over the first six months of 2021 but in April to June still stood at 122 days (around four months) after receiving a referral from police. This is eight days longer than in 2019 (114 days).

The proportion of such cases which led to a charge fell from 4.1% in January to March to 3.6% in the following three months, but is still slightly higher than in 2019 (2.8%).

The backlog of adult rape cases waiting to be dealt with by crown courts was 1,309 in April to June - more than double the total for 2019 (621).

All the data contained in the scorecard - from the Ministry of Justice, the Home Office and the CPS - is already publicly available.

The Government said it is collected in one place for the first time to make it more accessible and to provide future comparisons.

There were 61,158 rapes recorded in the year to June, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS)

Earlier this year, Priti Patel and Robert Buckland apologised to rape victims after they admitted they were 'deeply ashamed' after a review found that just 1,439 rapists out of 128,000 rapes committed in the past year were convicted.

A 60-page review revealed that 57 per cent of rape victims withdraw from their cases because they feel judged or disbelieved, fear for their mental health, and cannot face the trauma of a trial.

In a separate report, also published on Thursday, Justice Secretary Dominic Raab said the scorecards pinpoint 'where the system is failing to deliver for victims'.

The six-month progress update on the Government's first end-to-end rape review acknowledged the rape scorecards demonstrated 'that we are yet to see positive impacts against key metrics in the system'.

It added: 'That is not surprising: we are still in the implementation phase of the review, and we have been upfront that the culture change needed - across the criminal justice system - is significant.

'However, we expect this to improve incrementally as the delivery of actions progresses.'

Justice Secretary Dominic Raab admitted on Thursday that Britain had a 'moral duty' to do better for victims and that there were parts of the system that were 'failing to deliver'

Speaking in the Commons last month, Mr Raab said the scorecards would aim to improve the Government's dismal record on rape, giving 'victims the confidence to come forward and get prosecutions to court'.

Deniz Ugur, deputy director of the End Violence Against Women coalition, said she was concerned about the way the data was presented.

She said: 'Given that the purpose of these scorecards is to increase accountability and enable greater scrutiny of our justice agencies, we're concerned and disappointed with the way in which the data was presented.

'The data contained comparisons with inconsistent baselines (2016 and 2019) and reporting periods (annual as well as quarterly data periods), and calls into question whether the data was presented in this way to distract from and obscure poor performance in charging, prosecution and convicting rape.

'It is critical for public accountability that such important data is presented transparently and clearly, with due consideration for accessibility, including the needs of disabled women and those with English as a second language.

'We urge Government to consult with expert women's organisations and rethink their approach to the rape scorecards.'
Russia has warned the escalating tensions with the US over Ukraine risked repeating the 1962 Cuban missile crisis.

'You know, it really could come to that,' deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov said as tensions continue to mount over the deployment of thousands of Russian troops on Ukraine's border.

'If things continue as they are, it is entirely possible by the logic of events to suddenly wake up and see yourself in something similar.'

He was referring to the 1962 standoff between the United States and the Soviet Union that brought the world to the brink of nuclear war.

The crisis was triggered by the stationing of Soviet nuclear missiles on the Caribbean island and prompted the US to impose a naval blockade to prevent Moscow shipping in more.

It was defused when Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev agreed to dismantle and remove the nuclear weapons in return for a pledge by U.S. President John F. Kennedy not to reinvade the Communist island.

Similar warnings were made yesterday by the head of the British armed forces who said a Russian invasion of Ukraine could trigger the biggest conflict in Europe since World War II.

At least 90,000 Russian soldiers, backed by hundreds of heavy artillery weapons and tanks, are already in place and reports suggest this figure could rise to 175,000 personnel by early next year.

Western and Ukrainian officials say they fear Russia - which already seized Ukraine's entire Crimea region in 2014 and backs a large-scale separatist force in the east - is preparing an even larger scale invasion.

Russia has warned the escalating tensions with the US over Ukraine risked repeating the 1962 Cuban missile crisis. Pictured: Russian troops amassing on a camp in Voronezh

Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, who took up the role of Chief of the Defence Staff last week, said of the build-up of Russian troops: 'It is deeply worrying. The significance of the worst scenarios in terms of a full invasion of Ukraine would be on a scale not seen in Europe since World War Two.'

UK defence sources believe President Putin's likely objective is to invade and occupy eastern Ukraine in 2022 and then seek a diplomatic solution, including the creation of a pro-Russian state there.

Moscow's stated fear in Ukraine, which seeks to join NATO, is that the alliance will deploy missiles there and target them against Russia. NATO says it is a defensive alliance and such concerns are unwarranted.

Ukraine says it fears an invasion by tens of thousands of Russian troops gathered near its borders, while Moscow says its posture is purely defensive.

Today, Russia accused Ukraine of moving heavy artillery towards the front line of fighting with pro-Russian separatists and failing to engage in a peace process.

The remarks by Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova gave no sign that Moscow is willing to tone down its bitter criticism.

'Negotiations on a peaceful settlement have practically hit a dead end,' Zakharova told reporters, referring to the seven-year conflict between Ukrainian and separatist forces in the eastern Donbass region.

The ministry's Twitter feed, quoting Zakharova, said: 'With the support of NATO countries pumping the country with weapons, Kiev is building up its contingent on the line of contact in Donbass.'

She said Ukraine was only 'imitating' the process of fulfilling its obligations under the 2014 and 2015 Minsk accords designed to end the conflict.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Joe Biden discussed the crisis in a two-hour video call on Tuesday and Biden has said he plans to organise a meeting between Russia and NATO countries to discuss Moscow's concerns and ways of 'bringing down the temperature on the eastern front'.

Ukrainian soldiers walk past destroyed buildings on the front line amid fears of a Russian invasion

After and during his call with Putin, Biden threatened his Russian counterpart with sanctions 'like he's never seen before' in the event of an attack on Ukraine.

Washington has also said it is ready to beef up its military presence in eastern Europe.

It comes as two French warplanes and a refuelling aircraft were tracked today by two Russian fighter jets in international air space over the Black Sea, the second such interaction this week, the French army said on Thursday.

A Russian jet had already escorted two French warplanes on Wednesday, which Moscow had said aimed to prevent the French aircraft from entering Russian air space.

The French planes are carrying out a NATO observation mission in accordance with international regulations, Armed Forces Spokesman Colonel Pascal Ianni told Reuters.

'The two (French) planes remotely detected two Russian fighter planes which have just come closer to them, but which are not disturbing or hindering the progress of the mission,' Ianni said, adding that this was 'strategic communication' by Moscow to show its planes were in the vicinity.

On Thursday, Germany's new foreign minister warned Russia that it would pay a 'high political and economic price' if it made any militaristic moves against Ukraine.

Annalena Baerbock, speaking in Paris while making her first foreign trip a day after taking office, emphasised the need to coordinate a common European position when dealing with hostile neighbours such as Russia.

General Valery Gerasimov, chief of the Russian General Staff, called media reports about Russia allegedly preparing an attack on Ukraine 'a lie' and said that Ukraine was to blame for escalating tensions in its war-torn eastern industrial heartland, known as Donbas, by deploying new weapons there.

Gen. Gerasimov warned Kyiv against using force in the area. 'Any provocations by Ukrainian authorities to settle the Donbas problems with force will be suppressed,' he said at a briefing with foreign military attaches.

Russia and Ukraine have been locked in a bitter tug-of-war since 2014, when Moscow annexed the peninsula of Crimea and threw its weight behind a separatist insurgency in eastern Ukraine. The fighting between Ukrainian forces and Russia-backed rebels has since killed more than 14,000 people.

Tensions have reignited this year amid reports of a Russian troop buildup near Ukraine's border.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visits combat positions and meets with servicemen at the frontline

US President Joe Biden said this week the US would take a more direct role in diplomacy to address Putin's concerns over Ukraine and Europe at large, part of a broader effort to dissuade the Russian leader from ordering a destabilising new invasion of Ukraine.

US intelligence officials have determined that Russia has stationed about 70,000 troops near its border with Ukraine and has begun planning for a possible invasion as soon as early next year.

Moscow has denied plans to attack Ukraine and in turn alleged that Kyiv might try to reclaim the areas controlled by the rebels. Ukrainian officials have denied an intention to do so.

President Putin has urged the west to provide guarantees that would preclude Nato from expanding to Ukraine and discussed the tense situation around Ukraine with President Biden on Tuesday.

President Biden, as well as officials in Europe, warned President Putin that Russia could face painful economic consequences if it invaded Ukraine.
New York Attorney General Letitia James wants Donald Trump to testify in person as part of her investigation into potential tax and financial fraud inside the Trump Organization, The Washington Post reports.

James is seeking a deposition from Trump on January 7 at her office in New York amid the probe into potential fraud at the company.

She is seeking the deposition in the long running investigation into the financial practices of the former president's company  including whether the Trump Organization pumped up valuations of its assets when seeking financing, then low-balled values when communicating with tax authorities.

His son Eric Trump, a Trump Organization executive, testified previously in the probe, after his lawyers initially put up resistance.

New York State Attorney General Letitia James is seeking testimony from former President Donald Trump in a Jan. 7th deposition, the Washington Post reported

James is looking at whether fraud 'permeated the Trump Organization,' according to the Post.

Trump himself has testified in numerous lawsuits over his career  and in October provided a four and a half hour deposition in connection with a lawsuit brought by protesters who claim they were roughed up by Trump's security outside Trump Tower in Manhattan in 2015.

Trump was dismissive of the probe, even after finally appearing in a suit that outlasted his presidential term.

'After years of litigation, I was pleased to have had the opportunity to tell my side of this ridiculous story,' Trump said.

Trump has repeatedly attacked the probe as a 'witch hunt.' He has not been accused of wrongdoing in the investigation of his company.

New York AG Letitia James wants Trump to testify next month, according to the Post

Longtime Trump CFO Allen Weisselberg has been indicted on tax charges

Former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen testified to Congress that the company inflated valuations when seeking financing

Investigators reportedly are looking closely at different valuations for the Seven Springs estate in upstate New York, which ranged from $56 million to $291 million

Prosecutors have convened a second grand jury in the ongoing probe. The Trump Organization's longtime Chief Financial Officer, Allen Weisselberg, was indicted in September by federal prosecutors in Manhattan. The government charges Weisselberg evaded nearly $2 million in taxes, in part by taking luxury perks. Weisselberg has pleaded not guilty. The Trump Organization also was indicted.

The New York case is just one of many legal challenges Trump is facing. Prosecutors in Georgia have undertaken a criminal investigation of his election overturn efforts in the state.

Trump settled a defamation case last month with accuser Sumner Zervos without paying compensation. Last week, a three-judge federal appeals court panel heard a case regarding a defamation suit by rape accuser E. Jean Carroll.

Prosecutors are reportedly investigating properties including the Trump Organization's Seven Springs in upstate New York. Trump bought it for $7.5 million in 1996, but company valuations for it have ranged from $56 million to $291 million in 2012.

Former Trump Organization lawyer Michael Cohen testified to Congress in 2019 about the alleged practice of inflating values of Trump assets when seeking financing from lenders. He has said he met with prosecutors multiple times.
The Saudi man wrongly arrested in France over the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi has said he felt like he was 'in a zoo' during his detention.

Khalid al-Otaibi, looking tired and pale and wearing a black sweater and black cap, was arrested at Paris's main airport on Tuesday before being released a day later.

'They took me to a room that is all glass and is used for criminals and has surveillance and does not have good ventilation,' he told Saudi state-owned Al-Ekhbariya TV.

'I was trying to sleep all night, but I couldn't because the place was uncomfortable,' he added. 'They were watching me like I was in a zoo.'

'They asked me if I wanted to eat and they gave me water in an unclean cup,' he said.

Saudi man Khalid al-Otaibi (pictured) who wrongly arrested in France on Tuesday over the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi has said he felt like he was 'in a zoo' during his detention

French police believed they had arrested Al-Otaibi (file image of his passport) on Tuesday morning in Paris, but released him a day later after realising they had the wrong man

DC to rename street in front of Saudi Arabian Embassy after Khashoggi to 'permanently shame and embarrass the diplomats and their visitors' Washington DC will rename a street in honor of slain Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in front of the Saudi Arabian Embassy in a slap at the autocratic Middle Eastern country responsible for his brutal murder. The City Council unanimously passed the Jamal Khashoggi Way Designation Act on Tuesday, saying it serves as a reminder that 'free press is fundamental to our democracy' and of the dangers journalists face dangers worldwide. 'Jamal Khashoggi Way will serve as a daily reminder for the Saudi Embassy and the Saudi government that Jamal Khashoggi and his legacy are just as powerful in death as in life, and that the principles of human rights and democracy for which he gave his life burn bright in those letters spelling out his name and in that sign right just across the street,' Sarah Leah Whitson, executive director of Democracy for the Arab World Now, told Yahoo News. Supporters of the bill said the name change will serve to 'permanently shame and embarrass' Saudi diplomats and their visitors for Khashoggi's government-ordered slaying. Advertisement

The arrest came the same day as the Washington DC City Council announced it would rename the street in front of the Saudi Embassy to Jamal Khashoggi Way in a slap at the autocratic Middle Eastern country responsible for his brutal murder.

Supporters of the bill said the name change will serve to 'permanently shame and embarrass' Saudi diplomats and their visitors for Khashoggi's government-ordered slaying.

Otaibi was the victim of a case of mistaken identity as he shares his name with a man wanted under an international arrest warrant in connection with Khashoggi's killing.

The other Otaibi is suspected of being part of the hit squad that carried out the murder at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in 2018.

Khalid al-Otaibi is a common name in Saudi Arabia.

'I tried to avoid problems,' the released man said of his ordeal. 'At the beginning they prevented me from talking to the embassy.

'In the morning an officer came and the communication became better. Then the embassy came with a lawyer and they took me out.'

The arrest came just days after French President Emmanuel Macron met Saudi crown prince and de facto leader Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh, dismissing suggestions that his visit was effectively endorsing Khashoggi's murder.

Prince Mohammed's international reputation took a major hit from Khashoggi's murder as he seeks to position himself as a champion of modernisation and reform.

The crown prince has said he accepts Saudi Arabia's overall responsibility but denies a personal link, with the kingdom saying it was the work of agents who had gone 'rogue'.

A security source in Saudi Arabia has said that the real Otaibi was actually in prison in Saudi Arabia, along with 'all the defendants in the case'.

On Thursday, a Saudi newspaper called for an apology from the French government.

'The release of the citizen is not a sufficient step to correct Paris' position,' the Riyadh newspaper said in an editorial.

'The matter requires judicial action to compensate the citizen for the psychological and moral damage he has suffered,' it added.

Jamal Khashoggi, a dissident journalist with links to the Saudi royals, was murdered in Istanbul in 2018 and 26 men are currently on trial in absentia in Turkey over his death

Khalid Al-Otaibi is a former member of the Saudi royal guard wanted over the 2018 murder of Jamal Khashoggi in Istanbul (file image, Al-Otaibi in Istanbul airport before the killing)

Khashoggi is seen entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on the day of his killing
An Italian churchman dubbed the 'pusher priest' who stole parish funds to throw drug-fuelled gay orgies has been sentenced to three years and eight months in jail.

Father Francesco Spagnesi, aged 40, and his legal team negotiated the sentence as part of a plea deal in which charges of drug dealing, trafficking and misappropriation were upheld.

But charges of attempted grievous harm against Spagnesi were dropped, despite the priest allegedly failing to tell the numerous male partners he had unprotected sex with that he was HIV-positive.

Spagnesi will serve part of his sentence in a therapeutic community, where he will receive treatment for his drug addiction, and he will also be required to perform community service.

The former priest, who expressed remorse over his actions, will also have to return the approximately EUR 300,000 (257,000) he stole from his parish.

The money had reportedly been donated by the faithful to help the poorest in society but he had pocketed it instead and used it to orchestrate the drug-fuelled orgies.

Spagnesi will serve part of his sentence in a therapeutic community, where he will receive treatment for his drug addiction, and he will also be required to perform community service

The former priest, who expressed remorse over his actions, will also have to return the approximately EUR 300,000 (257,000) he stole from his parish. The money had reportedly been donated by the faithful to help the poorest in society but he had pocketed it instead and used it to orchestrate the drug-fuelled orgies

According to the defendant's lawyers, the churchman was taking antiretroviral drugs, and the defendant himself had always maintained that he informed his partners about his HIV status.

His boyfriend, 40-year-old Alessio Regina, was given three years and two months in jail for complicity in the buying and selling of drugs, also as part of a plea deal.

Spagnesi became a parish priest at the age of just 27, and he reported that he began dabbling in drugs around a decade ago.

He has since been removed from his priestly functions by the Diocese of Prato in the region of Tuscany.

He told the Italian daily newspaper Corriere della Sera: 'I wanted to be the shepherd of my faithful, guide them towards the ways of the Lord, and I ended up in vice and perdition.'

The parties organised by Spagnesi typically involved the priest, his drug-dealing flatmate and at least one other person, whom they would find through gay dating sites, according to detectives.

However, on occasion, the weekly parties would involve much larger groups of up to 20 or 30 participants.

Investigations into Spagnesi began after police reportedly discovered that his flatmate had imported a litre of GHB from The Netherlands. The drug is often referred to as a 'date-rape' drug as it has been used to incapacitate victims of sexual assault.

Raids on the shared flat revealed bottles thought to be adapted to function as crack pipes.

The priest had initially claimed that the missing money had gone to families in need, but later admitted he suffered from a drug addiction

In recent months, a parish accountant found that 85,000 had been withdrawn from the parish's bank account - money which police believed was used by Spagnesi to buy drugs.

The local bishop stopped access to the funds, prompting Spagnesi to allegedly begin pocketing money from the church collection plate and soliciting funds from wealthy parishioners ostensibly to go to low-income families.

The Times reported that the priest was so successful at drumming up donations that he was soon bringing in hundreds of euros. Some parishioners made individual donations of as much as 1,281.

The priest had been ordained in 2007 and made a parish priest in 2009.

Bishop Giovanni Nerbini has appointed a new administrator for the parish who has been working with the faithful to help them to deal with the shock of the allegations against Spagnesi.
The woman who was in Daunte Wright's car with him the day he was shot has recalled her desperate efforts to revive him and apologized to his mother for turning her phone on the dying youth during a frantic video-call that day.

Alayna Albrecht-Payton took the stand at the start of the second day of the trial of ex-cop Kim Potter Thursday, in testimony so emotional that the 20-year-old was at times almost unintelligible as she struggled to hold back her tears.

She told the court that she and Wright, also 20, were 'just at the start' of becoming boyfriend and girlfriend having only met a couple of weeks earlier over social media.

Later in the day the judge in the case, Regina Chu, slapped down a defense move for a mistrial. Potters lawyers argued unsuccessfully that prosecutors had spent the second day presenting 'prejudicial evidence that had no relevance to the central questions of the case.

But it was Albrecht-Payton who provided the day's most dramatic evidence. She was the one who answered Wright's mother Katie Bryant's frantic calls, turning the camera of her phone onto Bryant's dying son.

Today she told the court of that call saying: 'It was his mom. She was asking what happened and I was delirious. I was screaming, 'They shot him they shot him!' and then I pointed the camera on him, and I'm so sorry I did that.

Daunte Wright's girlfriend Alayna Albrecht-Payton broke down in tears as she took the stand at the start of the second day of the trial of ex-cop Kim Potter Thursday

Jurors saw bodycam footage of hysterical Albrecht-Payton immediately after Wright crashed his car after being shot

Albrecht-Payton recalled the shot being fired and the crash that followed as Wright struck another vehicle after driving off

'No mom should have to see her son like that on her phone on a video-call. I know how my mom felt when she couldn't find me for hours after.

'I just know that I hurt her by doing that and I apologize, Katie.'

Wright was shot dead in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota on April 11 after he and Albrecht-Payton were pulled over for his expired license plate tags.

A struggled ensued when Potter and her trainee officer tried to arrest Wright after learning he had an outstanding warrant against him, and he jumped back into his car in an apparent attempt to flee.

After Potter aimed her gun at Wright and fired, he managed to drive several blocks before coming to a stop when he hit another car. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Albrecht-Payton's memories of the prelude to the shooting were limited. But she recalled the shot being fired and the crash that followed as Wright struck another vehicle after driving off.

Albrecht-Payton sustained a broken jaw, lacerations and a concussion in the collision.

Under questioning by prosecutor Erin Eldridge, Albrecht-Payton told the court: 'I just remember hearing the boom, the bang of the gun, then I remember looking up and seeing another white car coming towards us and I remember lifting my head and 'boom.'

'I remember trying to get him up. I was the only one out of everybody there who was trying to help him, and I was trying to push on his chest and call his name and he wasn't answering me he was just gasping, just taking bursts of air.'

Jurors saw bodycam footage of a hysterical Albrecht-Payton immediately after the crash as officers cuffed her, unclear of the situation they were dealing with.

They were also shown images of her injured jaw.

Officer Kim Potter, a 26-year veteran in the force, claims she accidentally shot Daunte Wright (right) when she reached for her gun instead of her taser during a traffic stop over his expired plates in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota

Former Brooklyn Center cop Kim Potter, 49, sits with her legal team during day two of her trial

Officers were seen placing Albrecht-Payton in handcuffs, as they were unclear of the situation they were dealing with

Albrecht-Payton told the court that she did not know what to do in the aftermath of the shooting. All she had in her head was images of CPR she had 'seen on the movies or on TV.'

'I didn't know what to do I just put my hands over his chest and tried to hold it and scream his name and have him talk to me,' she said.

'I kept saying, 'Daunte say something please, just talk to me,' and he just didn't. I know he wanted to. I replay that image in my head daily.'

In a brief cross-examination, defense counsel Earl Gray focused in on the hours before the traffic stop.

Albrecht-Payton admitted that she and Wright had split a joint at her mother's home that morning but said that it didn't have 'any disabling effects,' on either of them.

Albrecht-Payton said she did not recall if the car engine was off or on during the entire interaction with police.

She told Gray that she could only recall that 'his hands were never on the wheel, only his foot was on the gas.'

Eldridge and Gray repeatedly circled back on this point in both of their rebuttals. Whether or not the car engine was running is a central part of the state's case that Potter's behavior was reckless and in breach of Brooklyn Center Police Department's own taser policy.

The second witness of the day gave testimony in an apparent bid by prosecutors to bolster their claims that Potter was reckless and endangered others with her use of force.

Patricia Lundgren was the 84-year-old driver of the car struck by Wright when he lost control of his car after he sped away having been shot.

Assistant Attorney General Matthew Frank questioned Lundgren, drawing out the sequence of the crash in which her husband, who was her passenger, was injured.

What Lundgren's testimony lacked in drama was made up for by pictures of her smashed-up Subaru which were shown to the jury.

Prosecutor Erin Eldridge questioned Albrecht-Payton about the day of Wright's shooting

Patricia Lundgren was the 84-year-old driver of the car struck by Wright when he lost control of his car after he sped away having been shot

With its airbags inflated and doors caved in, the force with which Wright struck her car, which spun out across the road, was clear.

According to the state's case this is exactly the sort of eventuality that Potter was trained to avoid. Brooklyn Center PD's taser policy specifically says one should not be used on anyone 'operating a vehicle.'

According to Lundgren her husband Kenneth's health, which was not good before the accident, has been 'a lot worse' since it.

Again, Gray's cross-examination was brief and pointed. He noted that Lundgren's car had been 'destroyed' and drew from her police statement in which she had asked if the other party had insurance  a tacit reminder to jurors that Wright was driving without insurance that day.

Lundgren's daughter, Denise Lundgren-Wells, 62, testified directly after her mother. She said that her father's health, reasoning and memory had deteriorated significantly after the April 11 crash and that 'things had accelerated quickly.'

The rest of the morning's testimony focused on the crash that happened when Wright sped off from the traffic stop and smashed headlong into Lundgren's oncoming vehicle.

The jury heard from a neighbor who heard the collision and then, in more dramatic testimony, from Officer Alan Douglas Salvosa who headed to the traffic stop, when he heard of it over his radio, only to witness the crash.

Dashcam footage of Wright's car crashing into Lundgren's  behind whom Salvosa was driving  was played in court along with bodycam footage of Salvosa approaching the white Buick, gun drawn, yelling at its occupants to put their hands up and lower the window.

The officer explained that at that point all he knew was that the heavily tinted car was fleeing a traffic stop, which is a felony.

The images of officers administering CPR to Wright were shown in court but not broadcast under an earlier order from Judge Regina Chu

Jurors saw Wright, now out of his car, topless and lying on the grass by the side of the road, as multiple officers attempted to revive him

As the footage played on, jurors saw Wright, now out of his car, topless and lying on the grass by the side of the road, as multiple officers attempted to revive him.

None seemed aware of what had happened at the traffic stop moments earlier.

Jurors were later shown disturbing footage of Wright being pulled from his car, at gun point, his head lolling back as he was carried unconscious and bleeding and placed on the ground.

The images of officers administering CPR were shown in court but not broadcast according to an earlier order from Judge Regina Chu.

Officer Daniel Irish, of Champlin Police Department, took the stand Thursday afternoon to tell jurors how he and other officers battled in vain to save Wright

She has also ruled that autopsy photographs will be shown to the jury but not seen via the trial livestream.

The footage was shown as Officer Daniel Irish, of Champlin Police Department, took the stand Thursday afternoon to tell jurors how he and other officers battled in vain to save Wright.

Irish told jurors that he had checked for a pulse on Wright's wrist and neck but found none.

He placed a chest seal over the exit wound on Wright's side then held the young man's chin and kept his airways clear as a fellow officer administered CPR.

Defibrillator electrodes were applied to his chest and side to determine whether there was enough of a heartbeat to respond to a shock. There was not.

Ultimately, he said, a paramedic told officers to stop and pronounced Wright dead on the scene. Irish then helped get a sheet to cover up his body.

On audio of the bodycam footage a paramedic can clearly be heard saying, 'No pulse. Grab that sheet.'

Jurors were also shown several still images.

The pictures were not broadcast and were shown to the court despite the defense's objections.

They included a picture of Wright slumped at the wheel of his car, an image of officers attempting to save his life and one of a paramedic checking for a pulse.

Bodycam footage showed officers approaching the white Buick, gun drawn, yelling at its occupants to put their hands up and lower the window

None of the cops seemed aware of what had happened at the traffic stop moments earlier

As the afternoon continued with testimony from another officer who attended the scene of Wright's crash, the state earned a reprimand from the judge.

The caution came when prosecutor Joshua Larson showed yet more bodycam footage, this time from Officer Jeff Sommers's bodycam.

As Larson played footage and asked the Brooklyn Center cop to describe it Judge Chu stepped in to warn the state that their evidence was 'getting very cumulative' meaning the same evidence was effectively being used to reinforce itself by virtue of repetition, a prejudicial tactic.

She told them they would not be permitted to play any more video.

Moments after this warning, prosecutor Eldridge called for a still image of paramedic Mike Morelock attempting to find a pulse on Wright's neck to be shown.

Morelock was testifying directly after Officer Sommers.

No sooner was the photograph shown than defense attorney Gray objected again to the state's cumulative approach and Judge Chu stepped in to chastise prosecutors once more.

'I want this picture taken down,' she said, this time more sternly. 'I don't want that photograph shown again. The jury has already seen it.'

Morelock was the paramedic who declared Wright dead on the scene.

The caution came when prosecutor Joshua Larson showed yet more bodycam footage, this time from Officer Jeff Sommers's bodycam

Bodycam footage from Jeffrey Sommers shows police approaching the car that Daunte Wright was driving after being shot during a traffic stop

Police approach the car that Daunte Wright was driving after being shot during a traffic stop

The car Daunte was driving can be seen surrounded by officers in this police bodycam footage

Potter, 49, claims she shot Wright 'by accident' when she reached for her gun instead of her taser during a traffic stop. Her defense in the high-profile trial is expected to lean heavily on the fact that Wright was attempting to flee when she fired.

At the end of the Thursday's hearing, Engh made his mistrial request to Judge Chu saying the jury had primarily heard evidence relating not to the shooting, but to the crash that followed it, when Daunte Wright drove away from officers trying to arrest him.

Addressing the judge Engh said, The defense has expressed a concern about the presentation of the states case.

The issue is the thought process of Kim Potter at the moment that she yelled, Taser! Taser! Taser! and pulled the trigger of her gun.

We have spent the day rather on an accident that was caused by Daunte Wrights excessive speed. Weve heard from the elderly couple, the wife [involved in the crash] and the daughter in very sympathetic testimony.

And then we spent an unending amount of time on that aspect of the case without any time addressed to why were here.

According to Engh the state spent an inordinate amount of time on presenting prejudicial evidence to the point where the defendant is prejudiced.

Assistant Attorney General Matthew Frank hit back saying that all the evidence was relevant to the states seeking lengthier sentencing for Potter based on aggravating factors that include the danger her actions presented to others.

Judge Chu swiftly denied the defense request and trial will continue Friday.

During the trial's opening statements Wednesday morning, Eldridge told jurors that Potter betrayed her badge, her oath, and Wright when she drew her Glock 9 mm and shot him in the chest at point blank range.

Prosecutors argued that Potter betrayed her badge and oath by using her weapon 'rashly or recklessly' on the day of the botched traffic stop

The jury was shown body cam and dash cam footage of the dramatic moment Potter shot Wright dead after 'accidentally' pulling out her gun instead of her taser

Dash cam footage showed the struggle that broke out between the officers and Wright, who was still sitting inside his car

She also reminded the jury that Potter put on her duty belt every day with her gun on the right and her taser on the left.

In fact, Eldridge said, she had completed further training on her Taser 7 on March 2. Yet a little over one month later she shot Wright, claiming to have mistakenly used the wrong weapon.

Potter is expected to testify during the trial

But when addressing the court in his opening statements, defense attorney Paul Engh, said all Daunte Wright needed to do was 'surrender' and he would be alive today.

Where the prosecution had painted Potter as 'reckless and rash' Engh argued that Potter 'had to do what she had to do so save the life of a fellow officer.'

Officer Anthony Luckey the cop Potter was training that fateful day, testified against her.

Luckey, 31, who has been a police officer for three years joined Brooklyn Center Police Department in February just two months before the shooting.

The officer said that a taser is always worn on the opposite side from a duty firearm, 'so that way officers do not get their firearms confused with their tasers.'

Luckey said it was his decision to stop Wright after seeing him indicate right in the left turn lane before turning left and seeing an air-freshener hanging from the rear-view mirror.

Bodycam and dashcam footage played in court backed up the story that Luckey told of an initially calm traffic stop that devolved into chaos.

Potter is heard screaming hysterically, 'Oh s***. I shot him!' before collapsing with her head in hands on the sidewalk

Anthony Luckey, Kim Potter's trainee and witness to the shooting of Daunte Wright testifies on the first day of trial

In this image provided by the prosecution shows the difference between a Taser and a Glock

Under questioning he revealed how Wright had pulled his arm away as he tried to cuff him then tried to get back into his car.

The officer was struggling to regain control and get Wright out of the vehicle and still had hands on him when he heard Potter shout, 'I'm going to tase you,' twice.

Amid some confusion, Luckey said, he heard her shout 'Taser! Taser! Taser!'  a warning supposed to give officers time to move away before a taser is deployed. But almost immediately he saw a flash and smoke and heard the bang of Potter's gun.

He was so close to Potter when the shot was fired that the casing hit him in the face as it discharged. He said he still had hands on Wright when the bullet hit.

The proximity of the other officers and Wright's passenger when the shot was fired is key to the state's contention that Potter used her weapon, 'recklessly.'

As Wright drove off Luckey said that Potter 'immediately became hysterical' and 'stated that she had shot him.'

Footage of the shooting and its aftermath, shown during opening statements, was played extensively during Luckey's testimony.

Again and again the court watched Potter shoot Wright then collapse to the ground, as he drove off. Again and again they heard her scream 'I shot him! I grabbed the wrong f***ing gun! I shot him! Oh my God!'

A fellow cop is pictured on bodycam consoling Potter after she shot and killed Daunte Wright in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota

The jury was shown harrowing video of Wright's distraught mother arriving on the scene following a Facetime call in which she had seen her apparently lifeless son in his car

They listened as she wept and wailed and collapsed on the grass verge at the side of the road with her hands covering her face while her colleagues attempted to calm her.

Potter, a police officer for 26 years before she resigned five days after the shooting, has been charged on two counts; first-degree manslaughter predicated on reckless use/handling of a firearm and second-degree manslaughter.

With no criminal history, she is unlikely to receive the maximum sentence on either count should she be convicted. The maximum penalty for first degree manslaughter in Minnesota is 15 years but sentencing guidelines of 7-10 years mean she could be looking at less than half of that time behind bars.

But the prosecution has made it known that they intend to press for an upward departure from these sentencing guidelines and more prison time.
Britain's Covid vaccine rollout should be extended to primary school children to defend against the incoming Omicron wave, a senior SAGE scientist said today.

Professor John Edmunds, an epidemiologist at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, called for jabs for five to 11-year-olds 'as soon as possible'.

Britain's recent surge in cases  which had seen daily infections rise week-on-week for eight days before falling slightly today  is now being driven by children.

Cases have been highest in under-18s since early November, with more than 32,000 recorded per day last week compared to less than 2,000 in over-75s, according to ZOE data published today.

Speaking at Royal Society of Medicine event today, Professor Edmunds said: 'We've, had a large number of cases over the last few months, and unfortunately high numbers of hospitalisations and 100 to 150 deaths a day.

'I'm not saying all of that has been driven by children, but much of it unfortunately has.

'So from taking a population perspective, I think it's it's pretty clear we do need to vaccinate our children as well as everybody else.'

Experts fear Omicron may spread more easily in children than its predecessors after a spate of infections were spotted in youngsters in South Africa.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is currently 'moving at pace' to approve vaccines in the age group, with a decision expected next week.

And the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) 'won't hang around' on recommending No10 starts dishing them out across the country, one member said.

Vaccinating very young children still makes many scientists uneasy due to the vanishingly low risk posed to them.

Their concerns are amplified due to the slight risk of myocarditis  an ultra-rare form of heart inflammation spotted in some young people after they are jabbed.

Children as young as five should be given Covid vaccines to fight off the Omicron variant in Britain, according to SAGE member Professor John Edwards

Fears over a very rare heart condition side effect  called myocarditis  led No10's vaccine advisers, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), to opt against routinely jabbing healthy 12 to 15-year-olds, who face a tiny risk of getting seriously ill from the virus. It said the risk of healthy children being admitted to ICU from Covid was two in a million, rising to 100 per million among those with underlying conditions. Meanwhile, there would be three to 17 cases of myocarditis for every first dose dished out and 21 to 42 cases following each second dose given to under-16s

What are the risks of Covid and vaccines to five-year-olds? Covid Most children only experience mild symptoms after being infected with Covid. Just one in 300,000 children who test positive for Covid die, according to UK Government data. And the risk of being hospitalised and getting admitted to ICU is similarly low. But the risk is higher to children with serious underlying conditions. The JCVI has yet to release its updated guidance on vaccinating children aged 11 and under. But its latest advice on recommending first jabs to over-12s suggested one Pfizer dose only prevents 131 hospital admissions per million 12-15-year-olds. And second doses only prevent nine hospital admissions for every million dished out to the age group. The figures are likely to be less for five- to eleven-year-old, who are less vulnerable to the virus. Vaccines Myocarditis  an ultrarare form of heart inflammation  is the main side effect of the Pfizer vaccine that concerns experts. Data shows the risk is slightly higher in adolescents than adults, particularly in boys. The JCVI has not released data on how many cases are expected in children aged five to 11 but studies show children in younger age groups are less at risk than teenagers. It found myocarditis cases in between 2.6 to 17.7 million first vaccine doses in children aged 12 to 15. And the condition was found in between 20.9 to 42.2 children in the age group per million second doses dished out. Advertisement

The JCVI  which advises Government on vaccine policy  was reluctant to recommend jabs in over-12s previously, with the decision to extend the rollout taken by Britain's four chief medical officers.

Jabs have already been licensed for all over-fives in the US, Australia and the EU, but no under-12s are currently able to get a vaccine in the UK yet.

Ireland announced yesterday that it's going ahead with the move in the 'coming days'.

Asked if the roll-out should be extended to five-year-olds in Britain, Professor Edmunds said: 'I think so. I think if the vaccine is licensed, I don't see a strong reason why it shouldn't be used.

'It's licensed in Europe for use in children I think also in North America. Epidemiologically I think there's a strong reason for it.

'Overall, my view is if it's licensed by the MHRA, I think that the benefits to risk ratio is is worth it, then we should we should introduce it as soon as possible.'

Omicron cases are could be spreading even faster in England than in South Africa, he added.

He said it is 'extremely likely' there are more cases of the mutant variant in the community than have already been confirmed by testing.

Professor Edmunds: 'With the speed of spread of this virus, we may well have really significant numbers of cases by Christmas.

'I suspect that whatever we do now, we are unlikely to overreact.'

The MHRA is expected to license and approve Pfizer's vaccine for five-to-11-year-olds at some point this week.

But under-12s are not expected to be given the jab until the New Year at the earliest, with ministers prioritising the booster rollout in the fight against Omicron.

The JCVI, which holds the final say on recommending the jabs, is also thought to be keen on getting vaccines into young children as quickly as possible.

A JCVI member told The Independent: 'I do think that public opinion is shifting about vaccination of younger children which could widen our discussions.'

The US and Israel were two of the first countries to begin vaccinating 12- to 15-year-olds, with the JCVI holding back.

Jabs were approved in 12- to 15-year-olds in the UK after experts noticed myocarditis in all age groups was lower than in other countries.

They believe the 12-week gap in vaccinations in Britain helped keep numbers low, with a slightly higher risk found in second jabs which were being given out after a three-to-four week gap in other countries.

Experts also believe the risk of myocarditis is lower in younger children than adolescents.

Pfizer's vaccine is found to prevent two cases of intensive care admission per million healthy children and 100 per million in those with chronic health issues.

Although children mostly only get mild symptoms of Covid, some public health experts believe Immunising them should be a priority to reduce the virus' continued spread, which could theoretically lead to the emergence of a dangerous new variant.

Researchers disagree on the extent to which children have influenced the course of the pandemic.

Early research suggested they did not contribute much to viral spread.

But some experts say children played a significant role this year spreading the Alpha and Delta variants.

And emerging evidence in South Africa suggests the Omicron strain could be more transmissible in children.

South African officials warned higher hospital admissions among children during the fourth wave of infections in the country should prompt vigilance but not panic, will infections so far being mild.

Pfizer's own study suggested unjabbed 12 to 15-year-olds are just three per cent more likely to catch Covid compared to fully vaccinated children earlier this week

A large number of infants admitted with Covid last month in Tshwane, the metropolitan area that includes the capital Pretoria, raised concerns that the Omicron variant could pose greater risks for young children than other coronavirus variants.

Scientists have yet to confirm any link and have cautioned that other factors could be at play.

Ntsakisi Maluleke, a public health specialist in the Gauteng 'ground zero' province, said that out of the 1,511 Covid-positive patients in hospitals in the province, 113 were under nine years old, a greater proportion than during previous waves of infection.

'We are comforted by clinicians' reports that the children have mild disease,' she said.

Health officials and scientists are investigating what was driving the increased admissions in younger ages and were hoping to provide more clarity in the coming two weeks, she said.

Since only a small percentage of South Africa's positive Covid tests are sent for genomic sequencing, officials do not yet know which variants the children admitted to hospital have been infected with.

Maluleke said healthcare workers could be acting out of an abundance of caution. 'They would rather have a child under care for a day or two than having a child at home and complicating, but we really need to wait for the evidence,' she said.
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Jussie Smollett has been convicted of faking a racist and homophobic hate crime, and faces up to 20 years in jail for staging the attack and concocting a 'ridiculous story'.

The former Empire TV star stood rigid and showed no emotion as the guilty verdicts on five of the six counts of disorderly conduct were read out in the Chicago courtroom by Judge James Linn.

'For Mr Smollett to get up and lie for hours and hours, that really compounded his misconduct,' said Dan Webb, the special prosecutor. Webb reminded journalists that 26 police officers spent 3,000 hours probing the fake attack against Smollett in a bid to help the disgraced actor find the people who he falsely claimed attacked him.

Smollett  who was not guilty on the last count - had paced nervously, continually straightening his tie and adjusting the jacket of his gray suit before the jurors came in to deliver the devastating blow.

He could face up to 20 years behind bars.

Before the jury foreperson read the verdicts, Judge Linn appealed against court outbursts, adding: 'I understand how emotional this has been for everybody.'

After they were delivered, he said: 'You can tell by the tension in the courtroom that so much was at stake.'

Smollett is seen leaving the court on Thursday evening, after being convicted on five of the six counts

Smollett, 39, continued to clasp his hands in front of him as he sat back down and the judge thanked the jurors.

Linn ordered a pre-sentence investigation and agreed Smollett should remain on bond. He is set to be freed on bail until his sentencing.

Smollett left the court without responding to questions shouted by reporters.

'We respect the judiciary, the trial by jury process, we're obviously very disappointed,' said Nenye Uche, Smollett's lawyer, who also revealed plans to appeal.

'We obviously respectfully disagree with the jury's verdict. The verdict is inconsistent. You cannot say that Jussie is lying and Jussie is not lying for the same exact incidents.

'So we feel 100 per cent confident that this case will be won on appeal. Unfortunately that's not the route we wanted, but sometimes that's the route you have to take to win.'

Asked how Smollett was, Uche replied: 'He's a human being, he's disappointed, he's holding up and he's 100 per cent confident he's going to be cleared by an appellate court.'

Jussie Smollett is pictured arriving at court in Chicago on Thursday evening, shortly before he was convicted of faking a hate crime

Nenye Uche, Smollett's attorney, said after the verdict that they were 'disappointed' but he was confident they would win on appeal

Jussie Smollett - guilty on five of six charges of disorderly conduct Count 1 - GUILTY This count accuses him of telling responding Chicago Police Officer Muhammed Baig at around 2:45am, some 45 minutes after the purported attack, that he was the victim of a hate crime. He said two attackers put a rope around his neck. Count 2 - GUILTY This refers to Smollett telling the same officer he was a victim of a battery, describing attackers beating and pouring bleach on him. Counts 3 and 4 - GUILTY These are when Smollett made the same claims but to a different officer, Kimberly Murray, later that morning, at just before 6am. Count 5 - GUILTY This accuses Smollett of again telling Murray at around 7:15 p.m. that he was the victim of a battery. Count 6 - NOT GUILTY This refers to Smollett reporting on February 14, 2019, to detective Robert Graves that hed been a victim of an aggravated battery. Advertisement

Each of the level four felony counts Smollett has been convicted of carries a sentence of up to four years behind bars. Smollett has no prior convictions, but his decision to deny the charges, and present an unconvincing and ultimately unsuccessful defense to jurors means a judge is more likely to give him a harsher sentence.

'This jury worked so hard - and for Mr Smollett to get up and lie for hours and hours, that really compounded his misconduct,' said Webb, the special prosecutor.

'We don't expect defendants to do that. Defendants have a right to go to trial, but do not have the right to go in front of a jury and lie under oath.

'Mr Smollett would not have lost this case, had the jury not concluded that he'd lied to them.

'The fact that he came up with a completely ridiculous story to explain his misconduct did not affect the verdict.'

Webb said he did not think Smollett would be charged with perjury - lying under oath - as it was not common practice to do so for defendants who are ultimately convicted of the charges they face.

'The resounding verdict which we received form this jury which they found Mr Smollett guilty of exactly what we said he didthat verdict was a resounding message by the jury that Mr Smollett did exactly what we said he did,' he said.

'After hearing all the evidence, whether what Mr Smollett was right or wrong was very controversial. Whether we won or lost the trial was not the issue, what was the issue was that what Mr Smollett had done in this city should be aired in a public trial, all the evidence comes out, but the true facts, I thought, needed to come out.

'We've now won this case. We've come away with the jury agreeing that they should have heard the case, and he's now been found guilty.'

Webb also praised the Chicago police department for untangling the web of lies spun by Smollett.

'This police department responded that they absolutely took it seriously, he was the victim of a hate crime,' he said.

'They worked so hard, for the next three weeks 26 police officers spent over 3,000 hours investigating a hate crime that did not take place, and denigrates real hate crimes.

'The work they did was extraordinary. I have told the jury that what happened here was so wrong for the CPD. Maybe the CPD is not perfect, but what they did on this case was extraordinary.'

Dan Webb, the special prosecutor, is seen on Thursday speaking outside court in Chicago

Olabinjo 'Ola' Osundairo is seen leaving court on Thursday with his lawyer, Gloria Schmidt Rodriguez

Gloria Schmidt Rodriguez, seen addressing the press with her client Olabinjo 'Ola' Osundairo standing behind her, said her client 'could not be more thrilled and pleased with the verdict'

On social media, conservatives pointed out that many Democrats were quick to blame Trump supporters and accept Smollett's version of events.

Ben Shapiro, former editor of DailyWire.com, trolled all those who had expressed sympathy for Smollett in 2019 - among them Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.

'Never forget that Kamala Harris called Jussie Smolletts FAKE situation a modern-day lynching,' tweeted Lauren Boebert, the stridently pro-Trump Colorado congresswoman.

'Today a jury found him GUILTY of lying about the whole thing.'

Radio host Buck Sexton said: 'Jussie Smolletts obvious hoax was an intelligence test that millions of liberals failed from day one- Including Biden and Kamala.'

Former Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly tweeted: 'Jussie Smollett guilty on 5 felony counts. He perpetrated a hate crime hoax & made the road that much tougher for real victims.

'As for the press & politicos who gleefully bought his obvious nonsense & used it as an excuse to bash America, shame on you too.'

And Jason Whitlock, a frequent Fox commentator, said: 'The conviction of Jussie Smollett's attacker is further proof the American criminal justice system isn't racist. #JusticeForJussie.'

Some, however, continued to defend him, despite the verdict.

Melina Abdullah, the co-founder of BLM's Los Angeles chapter, tweeted: 'And I will continue to say it #PoliceLie #CopsLie

'We love you Jussie!'

The actor had returned to court on Thursday evening after around eight hours of deliberations to learn his fate with his family by his side, after being given a 30 minute warning around 5:30pm EST. He was photographed walking into court arm-in-arm with his mother.

Smollett arrived at the courthouse in a black Lincoln SUV shortly after it was announced the verdict had been reached. He wore a long gray coat, white shirt, black tie, black scarf and black leather gloves, as well as a black face mask.

The actor did not answer when asked by reporters what his desired outcome for the case was and if he was nervous to learn the jury's decision.

His trial has lasted just under two weeks and concluded on Wednesday with five hours of closing arguments, during which Smollett, whose biggest role was on Empire, was branded a 'serial liar' by the prosecution.

He denied paying Abimbola 'Abel' Osundairo and Olabinjo 'Ola' Osundairo - two Nigerian brothers who he knew - to stage the attack to boost his celebrity profile, as police had alleged.

His attorney failed to offer a motive for why the brothers might have lied, suggesting that it could have been because Abel was pretending not to be gay and Ola was a homophobe, or also that they wanted him to hire them as security guards so scared him into thinking that he needed them.

The case now draws to an end nearly three years after Smollett first claimed he had been the victim of the hate crime.

Smollett didn't answer reporters' questions about whether he was nervous about the verdict, and has since been convicted of five felony counts

Jussie Smollett is pictured arriving at court on Thursday evening shortly before jurors delivered their verdict

Jussie Smollett is pictured outside court Wednesday. A jury reached a verdict on his case Thursday

Smollett is accused of plotting a fake racist and homophobic attack with brothers Abimbola Osundairo, left and Olabinjo Osundairo, right. The brothers admit taking part, but insist Smollett planned the whole thing

The Osundairo brothers are pictured in the wake of the February 2019 'attack' Smollett has been found guilty of faking

Smollett, now 39, was supported by his family throughout the trial, as he has been over the last three years.

He could not explain why the brothers were there that night if it was not to attack him as they claimed he'd instructed them to do.

Among the claims he made during his testimony was that the brothers offered to change their story and retract their allegations that he'd paid them to stage the attack if he gave them $2million.

His attorneys said both of the brothers were 'sophisticated', seasoned criminals when in fact only one of them has a criminal record.

Gloria Schmidt Rodriguez, a lawyer for the Osunadairo brothers, said they 'could not be more thrilled and pleased with the verdict'.

'Humans are forgiving,' said Schmidt.

'It is time to cut the act. Just come clean.'

She said the brothers forgave Smollett, but were considering taking civil legal action.

Legal experts were dumbfounded that Smollett took the stand.

They called it a 'disaster' and a desperate attempt to either confuse the jury so they'd have no choice but to acquit, or save his defense.

Smollett is pictured in his mugshot after he was arrested on suspicion of faking the attack, which he said was racist and homophobic

It is a devastating blow for the former child actor who won millions of fans as gay black musician Jamal Lyon in the Fox TV drama.

His character was removed from the final two episodes of the series' fifth season because of the assault controversy  and he admitted in court: 'I've lost my livelihood'.

The black and gay actor created massive headlines and sparked a police manhunt after he falsely told cops he was attacked near his downtown Chicago apartment building around 2am on January 29, 2019  leaving him with a noose around his neck.

Celebrities and advocacy groups rallied around him. Former president Donald Trump branded the attack 'horrible'.

But his story began to unravel publicly within weeks of him claiming it was two white men in dark clothes and ski masks who pounced after he went out in freezing temperatures with the intention of buying eggs.

He said he was punched by one of them who yelled 'this is MAGA country n*****' in reference to Trump's Make America Great Again slogan. A noose was put around his neck and an unknown substance poured on him, he claimed.

Smollett insisted to police at first that the attackers were white, because he saw a glimpse of skin in a gap in one of the men's ski masks. He filed a hate crime and battery report.

In fact the fake attack was carried out by Nigerian brothers Abimbola and Olanbinjio Osundairo who the star had paid $3,500. And the actor changed his story, saying in court his attackers had 'pale' skin.

The brothers left for Nigeria shortly after the hoax and were arrested when they returned mid-February. They cooperated with the police, saying they were hired for the attack.

Smollett was first arrested in February, 2019, on allegations that he made a false police report. Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson claimed at the time the star staged the stunt because he was 'dissatisfied' with his $100,000 an episode salary on Empire.

The cop added Smollett 'took advantage of the pain and anger of racism to promote his career this publicity stunt was a scar that Chicago didn't earn and certainly didn't deserve'.

Smollett was hit with 16 disorderly conduct charges.

But at his first arraignment in March these were suddenly dropped by Cook County State's Attorney's Office, sparking fury with cops and then-mayor Rahm Emanuel.

Special Prosecutor Dan Webb took on the case in 2020, after Kim Foxx's office dropped a first set of charges against him in a decision that was widely criticized as an example of nepotism.

She had been in contact with one of Smollett's sisters in the days and weeks before he was arrested or was a suspect in the case.

She also spoke with Tina Chen, Michelle Obama's associate and friend who was also part of founding #MeToo.

Chen has since said she was never trying to influence the investigation and that Smollett was a victim at the time.

However a year later Special Prosecutor Webb announced the six new felony charges against Smollett after a grand jury revived the criminal case against him.

And Webb nailed Smollett by branding him a liar in his closing arguments at Chicago's Leighton Criminal Courthouse this week  with the jury agreeing.

Webb said there was 'no question' the Osundairo brothers carried out the hoax attack. He added: 'And there is no question that Mr Smollett is the person who orchestrated it.

'Mr Smollett went on that witness stand and made many, many false statements to you, he lied under oath to you jurors in the course of this trial.

'I clearly established he was providing you false testimony on critical issues. I cross examined him yesterday because it was clear to me that he was tailoring his testimony.

'He knew there was a substantial amount of evidence that showed he did exactly what the brothers said he did. And he knew there was surveillance and GPS evidence.'

The star had hired Abimbola, known as Bola, as fitness coach to help him get 'ripped' for a music video, the court heard. They met for the first time in 2017 on the set of Empire when the Nigerian was working as an extra.

Bola took the stand and told jurors that Smollett had asked him to 'fake beat him up'  and wanted him to use an anti-gay slur and say MAGA during a staged attack.

He said he and Smollett had a brotherly bond. 'We became good friends. I would say I would call him my brother,' he added.

'I was confused. I looked puzzled,' he told jurors. 'He explained that he wanted me to fake beat him up.

'I agreed to do it because.. I felt indebted to Jussie. I also believed he could help further my acting career. He told me that we needed another person to fake beat him up. He mentioned, could my brother do it. I said yes.'
The mayor of one of the richest cities in Puerto Rico was arrested on corruption charges during a predawn FBI raid at his residence on Thursday.

Guaynabo Mayor Angel Perez was charged with conspiracy, soliciting a bribe, and extortion, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office District of Puerto Rico.

W. Stephen Muldrow, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico, said Perez reportedly took in monthly payments of $5,000 in exchange for awarding contracts to the owner of a construction company, who has been identified as 'Individual A.'

Perez was released after paying a $10,000 bail bond.

'My lawyers have told me not to make expressions,' he said as he stepped out of the court, according to El Nuevo Dia newspaper.

Guaynabo Angel Perez, mayor of Guaynabo, Puerto, was taken into custody following a predawn raid of his residence Thursday. He was charged with three counts, including soliciting a bribe and extortion. He pleaded not guilty and was released Thursday afternoon after posting a $10,000 bail bond

Still image from a video recorded by a resident shows the moment Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, Mayor Angel Perez was led away in handcuffs by FBI agents on Thursday

Perez, the second mayor to be arrested on corruption charges this month, accepted the kickback payments from 2019 to May 2021, the indictment alleged.

Perez and the construction company owner, whose name has been withheld by the FBI and the U.S. Attorney's Office District of Puerto Rico, met in secret places and used coded text messages to cover up the scam.

A photograph released by the U.S. Attorney's Office District of Puerto Rico shows Perez accepting what appears to be a cash loaded envelope on August 18. A second undated photo also shows the mayor receiving an envelope.

'The constituents of these defendants entrusted them with serving their communities with honesty and integrity - instead they participated in the alleged illegal schemes and used their positions for personal gain,' Muldrow said. ''Public officials who fail to faithfully discharge the duties of their office, and those who conspire with them, will be investigated, prosecuted, and punished for their actions.'

Perez was sworn in as mayor in August 2017 following a special election after the former mayor, Hector ONeill, pleaded guilty to sexual harassment, gender violence and violating an ethics law.

Puerto Rico Governor Pedro Pierluisi said in a statement that he was disappointed and extremely upset about the arrest. He demanded that Perez resign immediately as mayor and as president of Puerto Rico's Federation of Mayors.

Guaynabo, Puerto, Mayor Angel Perez was caught on camera reportedly accepting a kickback payment in an image date from August 21 that was released by federal prosecutors in the U.S. territory

Still image from a hidden camera shows Puerto Rico mayor Angel Perez receiving an envelope that reportedly contained money as part of a kickback payment scheme

Angel Perez sale del edificio del FBI. No emitio declaraciones por recomendacion de su abogado. Se monto en una guagua y se marcho. pic.twitter.com/TcQ1CohyHB  Eric De Leon Soto (@edeleonsoto) December 9, 2021

In early December, federal officials announced that former Catano Mayor Felix Delgado pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery and receive kickbacks after he was accused of awarding 50 contracts worth nearly $10 million to an asphalt company.

U.S. Attorney Stephen Muldrow said that Radames Benitez Cardona, the executive assistant of the mayor of Trujillo Alto, also was arrested on federal charges including bribery and extortion.

He said Benitez, who pleaded not guilty, is accused of receiving a $200,000 advance payment and more than $17,000 a month from a solid waste company in exchange for securing a government contract for them.

Federal authorities said other investigations are ongoing.

'This is just the beginning,' said Joseph Gonzalez, special agent in charge of Puerto Rico's FBI office. 'Our work is not done.'
Three women have been fined for attending gatherings in breach of coronavirus rules on the same day as the alleged Christmas party at Downing Street last year.

The Metropolitan Police has said officers will not investigate the alleged December 18 event, where staff and aides are said to have ignored Covid restrictions to drink together, eat cheese and swap secret Santa presents at the festive jamboree.

But prosecutions for breaches of Covid-19 regulations at Westminster Magistrates Court last week included three women convicted over gatherings on the same day as the alleged festive bash, according to court records first reported by the Evening Standard.

Ami Goto, 23, from Marylebone, and Ebru Sen, 26, from Sittingbourne in Kent, were each fined 1,100 plus 210 costs for a gathering of two or more people in a flat in Holborn when London was under Tier 3 restrictions.

Emilia Petruta-Cristea, 24, was also fined 1,100 and ordered to pay 210 costs over a gathering at her home in Wanstead.

The trio were retrospectively prosecuted under the government's Health Protection regulations - which have been working through a myriad of cases in the capital since September 2020.

Over 2,000 people have been hit with fines totalling 1.2million for breaching Covid rules since the start of the pandemic under the Single Justice Procedure in London.

Three women have been fined for attending gatherings in breach of coronavirus rules on December 18, 2020, the same day as the alleged Christmas party at Downing Street last year. Pictured: Boris Johnson leaves 10 Downing Street on Wednesday

The Metropolitan Police has said officers will not investigate the alleged December 18 event, where staff and aides are said to have ignored Covid restrictions to drink together, eat cheese and swap secret Santa presents at the festive jamboree held within 10 Downing Street

The cases were dealt with behind closed doors by a magistrate sitting under the single justice procedure.

Court records also a 36-year-old man was being prosecuted this week for holding a gathering of two or more people in Ilford, east London, on the same day as the alleged event in Downing Street.

Sources say as many as 40 people attended Whitehall's 'unofficial' Christmas bash on Friday, December 18, 2020 - with casks of wine and camembert flowing throughout into the early hours of the morning.

The event took place two days after London was placed into what was the highest tier of coronavirus restrictions at the time, meaning people were not allowed to mix indoors with anyone outside their household or support bubble.

At that time, the Government website stated: 'Although there are exemptions for work purposes, you must not have a work Christmas lunch or party, where that is a primarily social activity and is not otherwise permitted by the rules in your tier.'

Since news of the gathering broke last week, Mr Johnson and his ministers had steadfastly insisted that no party had taken place and no rules had been broken.

But by yesterday the denials had become impossible to reconcile with the mounting evidence, after footage emerged of Allegra Stratton joking about what had happened.

Boris Johnson has ordered an investigation into the 'party', which was reportedly held in the Number 10 press office yards from his study less than 24 hours before the Prime Minister announced people could not see loved ones from other households over Christmas.

Allegra Stratton, a former spokeswoman for the Prime Minister, resigned on Wednesday after footage of a mock press briefing leaked to ITV News showed aides laughing about a party at No 10.

The leaked video was shot in the media room at 9 Downing Street, which was refurbished at a cost of 2.6 million in preparation for the televised broadcasts before the plan was ditched.

Parties were banned under Covid restrictions at the time. Mr Johnson has not confirmed or denied reports that members of his Downing Street team staged a party on December 18 last year when London was under Tier 3 restrictions but he has insisted that no rules were broken.

Speaking on her resignation, Mr Johnson said: 'Allegra Stratton has resigned and I wanted to pay tribute to her because she has been, in spite of what everybody has seen, and again, I make no excuses for the frivolity with which the subject was handed in that rehearsal that people saw in that clip.

'There can be no excuse for it. I can totally understand how infuriating it was.

Boris Johnson speaks at a press conference in London's Downing Street on Wednesday where he announced the implementation of the Government's 'Plan B' Covid measures

'But I want to say that Allegra has been a fine colleague, has achieved a great deal in her time in Government, and was a particularly effective spokesman for Cop26  she coined the coal, cars, cash, trees agenda and helped to marshal and rally the world behind the agreement.

'If you'll forgive me, I wanted to say that because it is a sad day for her, as well as an infuriating event for many people around the county.'

During interviews on Thursday, Sajid Javid said he had been given assurances by senior officials that no Covid rules were broken last year.

The Health Secretary said he was 'upset' by the video which showed Downing Street advisers joking about holding a party during the coronavirus lockdown.

Mr Javid had been due to conduct a broadcast round on Wednesday morning but he opted to dodge the interviews.
Despite being designated to run point for root migration problems for the White House, Kamala Harris has only spoken to Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei one time, he revealed Wednesday night.

Harris visited Guatemala last June where she met with the nation's president.

'Other than your meeting with Kamala Harris in June?' Fox News' John Roberts asked Giammattei. 'That is the only one,' he responded.

Roberts asked Giammattei if he found it 'odd' he had only spoken to Harris once, and had little contact with the Biden administration. The Guatemalan leader responded through a translator that he has had meetings with the US ambassador to Guatemala, spoke to President Biden once by phone to introduce himself and had one visit from Homeland Security Sec. Alejandro Mayorkas.

The Guatemalan leader recalled telling Harris that as a former prosecutor, she should understand the need to strengthen US criminal code against human and drug traffickers. He said he told her to turn trafficking into a federal crime. 'Then the US can ask us to expand our extradition conditions. These coyotes would land in prison with a severe penalty. This is something that these drug traffickers are very fearful of.'

Asked if Harris had taken the steps to address the root problems of migration, Giammattei said: 'Quite frankly I would say there is still much to be done.'

'First of all, migration cannot be stopped on the basis of circumstantial causes. Migration needs to be stopped on the basis of structural causes. It's a big business to run these trafficking person schemes - a $4 billion business for these criminals.'

Asked which president, Biden or Trump, was better at tackling immigration issues, Giammattei at first demurred. 'I believe that is something for the US citizens to state, not us.'

Pressed further, he added: 'I worked one year with the Trump administration and now almost one year with the Biden administration. With the Trump administration the communication was more direct. Maybe we were not in a agreement all the time, but we would have a conversation and we would finally reach some consensus.'

'The question now is who do we speak to,' he added.

Biden is currently hosting a summit of democracies with representatives from over 100 countries, which Guatemala was left out of for what the White House sees as 'widespread' corruption.

'Other than your meeting with Kamala Harris in June?' Fox News' John Roberts asked Giammattei. 'That is the only one,' he responded

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Harris met with Guatemalan President Giammattei once last June

Rampant violence and little economic opportunity is driving many from Guatemala to make the dangerous trek north to the US-Mexico border and to try to cross illegally.

Asked about being left out due to corruption, Giammattei said: 'The biggest corruption source is drug trafficking and the largest consumer is the United States.'

He suggested he may have been left out because he is not 'of the same ideology' of the Biden administration.

Giammattei said he was 'surprised the Biden administration had expressed 'so much happiness' with the president-elect of Honduras, leftist Xiomara Castro, who he pointed out is eyeing a cut of diplomatic ties with Taiwan in favor of a relationship with mainland China.

'We defend Taiwan, we are a ally of Taiwan. We have our embassy in Jerusalem,' he continued. 'Perhaps it's my ideology they do not approve of.'

The news that Harris has had little contact with the Guatemalan leader comes after reports last month that she feels underused by Biden.

A CNN report claimed Biden was distancing himself from Harris because of her sliding poll numbers while the vice president felt isolated and frustrated with being given some of the most difficult issues for the administration in her portfolio.

Rampant violence and little economic opportunity is driving many from Guatemala to make the dangerous trek north to the US-Mexico border and to try to cross illegally

Guatemalans deported from Harlingen, Texas stand on a tarmac after deplaning at La Aurora International Airport in Guatemala City on Wednesday

Senior Biden aides having been trying to pour cold water on the CNN article with background from nearly three dozen sources suggesting that Biden had 'given up' on Harris after a poll showed her approval at 28 percent.

Privately, Harris aides complain that she has been set up to fail, and handed a portfolio that is not commensurate with her historic status as the first woman, and first woman of color, to hold the vice president's office.

'They're consistently sending her out there on losing issues in the wrong situations for her skill set,' said a former high-level Harris aide.

Her aides also complain that on the issues that she has been given control over - such as the border crisis and voting rights - she doesn't have White House backing to follow through.
The embattled chancellor of the State University of New York resigned on Thursday, days after text messages surfaced of his attempts to belittle one of the women who accused former Gov. Andrew Cuomo of sexual harassment.

James Malatras, 43, submitted his letter of resignation to the SUNY Board of Trustees as calls grew on him to leave office for his actions as one of Cuomo's aids in 2019, when he tried to discredit Lindsey Boylan, the first of 11 women to accuse the former governor that eventually led him to resign in July.

'The recent events surrounding me over the past week have become a distraction over the important work that needs to be accomplished as SUNY emerges from COVID-19,' Malatras wrote in his resignation letter.

'I believe deeply in an individual's ability to evolve, change, and grow, but I also believe deeply in SUNY and would never want to be an impediment to its success therefore please accept my resignation effective January 14, 2022 as SUNY's Chancellor.'

SUNY Chancellor James Malatras resigned from his position after texts surfaced of his attempted to discredit Lindsey Boylan, who accused former Gov. Andrew Cuomo of sexual harassment in 2019. Malatras had worked as an aide for Cuomo

Boylan was the first of 11 women to accuse Cuomo of being a sex pest. The wave of accusations that began in late 2019 eventually caused Cuomo to resign in disgrace in July

Malatras had served as Cuomo's director of State Operations

Malatras had been urged to step down from his $450,000-a-year post at Albany headquartered-SUNY after a probe revealed he'd written 'Let's release some of her cray emails,' of Boylan.

Malatras, who has been branded an Cuomo 'henchman,' sent the texts in 2019 after Boylan accused then Governor Cuomo of fostering a bullying workplace, and went on to claim he was a sex pest.

The texts were revealed by New York Attorney General Letitia James last week from a months-long probe of sexual harassment allegations that forced Cuomo from office. Cuomo has denied harassing anyone.

Boylan, after leaving the administration, tweeted in 2019 that working in politics had been 'a toxic and demoralizing experience.'

At the time, she had yet to go public with her sexual harassment allegations against the governor.

'Let's release some of her cray emails,' Malatras texted, using slang for crazy.

SUNY Chancellor Jim Malatras who was a former aide to Governor Cuomo suggested in a text message 'Let's release some of her cray emails!'

The text messaging group had been given the title: 'Somehow, we're in charge'

After Boylan called him out in a series of tweets, Malatras texted to the group: 'Malatras to Boylan: Go f**k yourself.'

Malatras also forwarded Cuomo aides a picture of a nuclear explosion with the word 'kaboom' as he discussed Boylan.

One year later, Cuomo's team released portions of Boylan's personnel file to try to discount her claims of harassment.

The SUNY Student Assembly on Friday called for the trustees to remove Malatras with a vote of no confidence.

'Allowing the chancellor to remain in place damages the reputation of the system, detracting from our education and devaluing the degrees we are all working towards,' the group, which represents students in SUNY governance, said.

In a statement Friday, Malatras said he owed Boylan and the SUNY community an apology.

'Leadership in public service is a privilege and with it comes immense responsibility for upholding the values of professionalism, decency, and respect. I take that responsibility very seriously and in recent days it has been clear I have fallen short,' he wrote, calling his remarks 'inappropriate, disrespectful and wrong.'

Boylan later tweeted that she had not received any apology from Malatras.

'I'm glad he didn't apologize because, based on his email, he continues to lie,' she said.

Over the weekend, Boylan tweeted how she had not received any apology from Malatras

Boylan tweeted throughout the weekend as she called out SUNY Chancellor Jim Malatras' failure to apologize to her personally

Boylan, pictured, was active in her drive to see Governor Cuomo resign over the last year. She is pictured at a march in Washington Square Park last March

But not everyone was calling for Malatras to step aside as the leaders of New York's public college system were still standing behind him just a day before the resignation.

'Jim gave a full-throated apology which I thought was sincere. I hope [Boylan] can find in her heart to accept his apology,' SUNY board chairwoman Merryl Tisch had said.

'He's acknowledged he made a mistake, taken full responsibility for it, and apologized appropriately,' the State University of New York Board of Trustees said in a statement this weekend following a written apology from Malatras.

Malatras works for SUNY, whose administrative building in Albany is pictured

'He is fully focused on the critical work of keeping our facilities open and our students and faculty safe through the ongoing pandemic.'

The trustees' statement praised Malatras' leadership of the 64-campus system through the pandemic since his appointment in August 2020 with a salary of around $450,000.

'We have challenging days ahead and believe Jim Malatras, as chancellor of the State University of New York, remains the right leader to help us meet that challenge,' the statement continued.

The New York State Public Employees Federation and United University Professions, unions which represent SUNY faculty and staff, also issued statements expressing support for Malatras.

Messages also revealed that a current Facebook exec, Dani Lever played a key part in advising Cuomo aides on how to smear Lindsey Boylan, (pictured)

Messages revealed that Lever, a former Cuomo staffer, was afraid of her new bosses at Facebook would discover her involvement advising Cuomo

Last week, Boylan slammed a female Cuomo staffer turned Facebook exec, Dani Lever for trying to 'destroy' her by telling the then-governor's team to 'victim shame her on the record' by releasing her personal file.

Boylan tweeted out a defiant message as more documents detailing the intense effort by Cuomo's inner circle to discredit her continued to come to light.

'Incredible how many powerful people and organizations tried to destroy me behind the scenes and in plain sight,' she tweeted on Wednesday. 'They did not succeed. They never will.'

Her tweet comes as New York attorney general Letitia James released documents that include texts from Facebook communications manager Dani Lever who advised the former governor's team to victim shame accuser Boylan.

Lever sent a message to Cuomo's staff, including top aide 'mean girl' Melissa DeRosa, on December 13 last year saying 'I think we can victim shame on the record'.

It was in response to tweets sent by Lindsay Boylan accusing the governor of sexual harassment.

Shortly afterwards Cuomo's staff attempted to smear her by releasing her personal files.

New documents released by New York attorney general Letitia James include text from Facebook manager Dani Lever who advised the former governor's team to victim shame accuser Lindsay Boylan
A woman has claimed she was 'thrown around like a rag doll' by an enraged hippo which also 'ripped her cousin's stomach apart' at a South African petting farm.

Natasha Vrany, 39, from Alberton, alleged she and her cousin Belinda Newman, 62, were attacked by a hippo while visiting Jessica's Place in Hoedspruit, Limpopo, on November 14.

The world-famous nature reserve, run by Tonie and Shirley Joubert, is home to two hippos - Jessica, 21, and nine-year-old Richie, who Ms Vrany alleges attacked her and her cousin.

The two hippos were rescued by the couple when they were young and have lived 'like children' in the house ever since, while visitors are able to feed Jessica and give her a backrub, according to the reserve's website.

Ms Vrany told Independent Online (IOL) that she and her cousin were sitting on the Jouberts' lawn when Richie ran out of a nearby river and attacked them, claiming he knocked her to the ground and 'ripped' Ms Newman's stomach to 'pieces'.

But owner Mr Joubert claimed Richie did not attack the two women, saying a wild hippo was responsible for the horrifying ordeal. There are wild hippos living in the nearby Blyde River.

Natasha Vrany (pictured petting one of the hippos), 39, from Alberton, alleged she and her cousin Belinda Newman, 62, were attacked by hippo Richie while visiting Jessica's Place in Hoedspruit, Limpopo, on November 14

Ms Vrany claimed she and her cousin were sitting on the Jouberts' lawn when Richie ran out of a nearby river and attacked them. Pictured: Natasha's leg wound

Mr Joubert also claimed the incident did not happen on his premises and said he put his own life at risk trying to safe the two women from the wild animal.

Ms Vrany said she has undergone two operations since the attack, while her cousin Ms Newman, who has known the Joubert couple for more than 20 years, has also had surgery.

Ms Vrany left Jessica's Place a one-star review on TripAdvisor following the incident, where she detailed what happened in the alleged attack and urged others not to attend the nature reserve.

Speaking to IOL about the attack, Ms Vrany claimed Richie charged out of the river and pushed her to the ground, saying she tried to put her nails in his left eye to stop the attack.

She said: 'As I got on my feet, Richie pushed me down to the ground and proceeded to bite both my legs and throw me around like a rag doll. He had both legs in his mouth, biting harder with every second.'

Ms Vrany alleged that Richie carried her towards the river as she screamed for help, while Mr Joubert, who did not have a weapon at the time, was slapping the animal.

She claimed her cousin jumped on the hippo's back in a bid to get him to release her, but added that the animal turned on Ms Newman after letting her go.

Hippo, Jessica, who weighs more than 1500kg, lives freely on the nature reserve and is allowed inside the couple's kitchen, as she lives like their 'daughter'

Since they rescued her, Jessica has become world famous, having appeared on BBC News, in South African movie Mr. Bones and on an Animal Planet documentary named after her

She added: 'He then turned on Belinda, pushing her to the ground, and started ripping her stomach to pieces.'

Although she was injured, she claimed she ran to the house to ask Ms Joubert to bring a rifle outside, but said she passed out when she reached the kitchen.

Ms Vrany claimed that when she woke up, Ms Newman was standing over her 'holding her intestines in her hand to try and get them to stay inside'.

While they were waiting for an ambulance, she claimed Mr Joubert brought Jessica, the world-famous hippo who also lives on the nature reserve, to 'put her to bed' on the veranda.

Ms Vrany claimed she thought she was going to die after the attack and said she and her cousin were rushed to a nearby after the incident, where they were operated on.

She added: 'It was the most traumatic experience of my entire life, and I still have nightmares.'

The world-famous nature reserve, Jessica's Place, run by Tonie and Shirley Joubert, is home to two hippos - Jessica, 21, and nine-year-old Richie, in Hoedspruit, Limpopo, South Africa (pictured)

But Mr Joubert has instead claimed the incident took place outside of his premises, and said he hit the animal with a heavy rock after he saw it grab hold of Ms Vrany.

He said: 'I managed to hit him above the eye, where there is soft bone, and he dropped her, I saved her life while putting my own life at risk.'

Mr Joubert said the wild animal disappeared back into the water after the attack, while he claimed he ran back to the house to get help.

He claimed Jessica was already sleeping on the veranda when he reached the house, while Richie was also at the home. He insisted his animals were not involved in the incident.

He added that there are a lot of wild hippos who live in the same area and further along the Blyde River.

MailOnline has contacted Jessica's Place and Ms Vrany for further comment.

Ms Vrany wrote about her experience on Trip Advisor a week ago, giving the nature reserve one star.

She wrote: Myself and my cousin were brutally attacked by Richie the hippo on the 14th November at Jessicas place. We were rushed to Zaneen hospital having several operations and infections setting in.

'No comment and lies from Shirley Joubert and Tony Joubert - the owners of Jessica's Place. I urge anyone not to put you or your family at risk. This hippos are not tame and can attack at any time. I'm disgusted that they are denying everything and I want you all to know what to expect visiting Jessica's place.'

Mr and Ms Joubert rescued the now world-famous Jessica as a baby in March 2000 after devastating floods left her orphaned and alone on the banks of the Blyde River.

Park ranger Mr Joubert brought Jessica home to his wife, where they hand reared her and the animal has lived ever since.

Jessica, who weighs more than 1500kg, lives freely on the nature reserve and is allowed inside the couple's kitchen, as she lives like their 'daughter'.

In 2012, after a heavy storm and a flash flood, Richie, who was only a few hours old at the time, was found by Mr Joubert and after they were unable to find his mother, he took the tiny hippo back to the nature reserve to join Jessica.

Since they rescued her, Jessica has become world famous, having appeared on BBC News, in South African movie Mr. Bones and on an Animal Planet documentary named after her.

She also made a guest appearance in first season of I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! Australia in 2015, helping Chrissie Swan and Maureen McCormick win a box of chocolate.
An 'truly wicked' arsonist who murdered a mother-of-five and a young father in a house blaze has been jailed for life.

Craig Collier, 35, killed Samantha Mills, 31, and Reece Schofield, 24, when he started three fires in a disused house where men and women were known gather to take drugs and have sex.

Collier, of Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, was told he must serve a minimum term of 30 years for the murders at sentencing at Leeds Crown Court on Thursday.

He was also handed a total of 13 years in concurrent sentences for charges of arson with intent to endanger life, and to pervert the course of justice in relation to the incident in Clare Hill in Huddersfield in March, this year.

Collier (pictured), of Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, was told he must serve a minimum term of 30 years for the murders at sentencing at Leeds Crown Court on Thursday

Reece and Samantha were killed and and four others had to be rescued after they became trapped on the top floor of the empty home.

Both died from smoke inhalation and a second woman had to be treated in intensive care after two mattresses and a chair were 'deliberately' set in fire inside the property.

After sentencing, Samantha's brother and mother said in a statement: 'Sammy was only 31 years old. She had so much to look forward to in her life.

'Due to the actions of another person she will never get to watch her five children grow up, see them finish school/college and start their own families and she will never get that dream wedding she always wished for.

'I have had to watch my family fall apart for nine months and it's been absolutely horrendous to see. Life just isn't the same for us and I don't think it ever will be.

'Losing Sammy has had a huge impact on all of us. All we have now is photographs and memories.

Reece and Samantha (pictured) were killed and and four others had to be rescued after they became trapped on the top floor of the empty home

'We know we're not the only victims of this crime. There are other families suffering too and we feel for every other person affected by this. No family should ever have to go through something like this.

'On behalf of myself and my family we would like to thank the police who have supported the family through this awful time.

'We would also like to thank the fire service and ambulance service for their brave and heroic actions on that tragic morning.

Reece's mother, said there were 'no words strong enough' to describe the pain her and her family were feeling.

She added: 'I am utterly devastated by the loss of my son in such horrendous circumstances.

'I am haunted by his frightened, panicked voice during the 999 call he made.

'The thought of him being scared in his final moments is absolutely heart breaking and I lie awake hearing it every night.

'I never got to say goodbye, that chance was cruelly taken away from me. I never got to cuddle him one last time or tell him how much I loved him.

Three of those partygoers managed to escape through the skylight of the property, but three others, including Samantha and Reece (pictured), were unable to do so

Reece leaves behind a three-year old daughter, Ayla, who his family said he adored.

His mother added: 'Ayla will never get to know her dad properly and will suffer the emotional grief when she is old enough to understand the cruel way her dad was taken from her.

'Craig Collier is a truly wicked man. He has shown no remorse, nor has he explained why he did this.'

Detective Chief Inspector Sharron Kaye, who led the investigation, said: 'I would like to thank my team for their efforts and hard work in bringing Collier to justice.

'Our sympathies remain with the families of Reece and Samantha, as well as the four people who survived the incident, and I hope that today's outcome will give them some comfort at this very difficult time.'

The property in Clare Hill was unoccupied at the time but had previously been used by the homeless as a venue for 'drug taking and drinking'.

Pictured: A police presence is seen outside the scene in Huddersfield in March

Prosecutor Peter Moulson QC told jurors that at around 5.30am on March 23, six people were on the upper floor of the house engaged in 'drug taking and consensual intimate activity' when they became trapped on the top floor by the fire.

Three of those partygoers managed to escape through the skylight of the property, but three others, including Samantha and Reece, were unable to do so.

Another woman was rescued by firefighters and taken to intensive care where she later recovered.

He added that Collier was not engaged in either the drug taking or sex activity and returned to his room at the Cambridge Hotel, opposite the burning house, after the setting three fires.

Mr Moulson said: 'A mattress we say was set on fire by the defendant.

'We contend he then moved to the floor below that floor on the ground floor where he set fire to a further mattress in a room on that floor.

'Then while on that same floor he moved a chair to behind the front door and set fire to that before leaving through that door and going to his room at the Cambridge Hotel.

'As a result of those three fires in the positions below where those other six were, they had no option other than to attempt to escape through a skylight or attic window.'

Fire crews attended and three of those people, including Ms Mills, Mr Schofield and another woman, did not make it to the temporary safety of the roof.

Mr Moulson told jurors: 'All of them were rescued at the time alive from within that attic bedroom as a result of the bravery of the attending fire crews.

'Samantha Mills and Reece Schofield, despite the best efforts of those concerned with their rescue and subsequent medical treatment, ultimately died respectively on the 26 and 29 March.

'The third person rescued was admitted to intensive care and ultimately recovered from the effects of the fire upon her.'
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Pfizer boss Dr Albert Bourla said: 'I think we will need the fourth dose. Ive said that multiple times. With the previous [variants], I was projecting that that will be on 12 months after the third dose. With Omicron, we need to wait and see because we have very little information. We may need it faster'

The boss of Pfizer today confirmed that a fourth Covid jab will be needed to deal with Omicron and warned it will likely be required within a matter of months.

Dr Albert Bourla, chief executive of the pharmaceutical giant, has for weeks been floating the idea of annual boosters, even before concerns about the new super mutant variant were raised.

Now the Pfizer CEO claims vulnerable people might need two boosters in the same year to protect them against the highly-evolved variant which is thought to make vaccines significantly weaker at preventing infection, especially just two doses.

Dr Bourla said that three doses 'will give very good protection' against Covid this winter but scientists are unsure how fast immunity wanes.

He told CNBC: 'I think we will need the fourth dose. Ive said that multiple times.

'With the previous [variants], I was projecting that that will be on 12 months after the third dose. With Omicron, we need to wait and see because we have very little information. We may need it faster.'

It comes after Pfizer yesterday warned two doses of its vaccine won't prevent Omicron infections but 'may still offer protection against severe disease'. Independent scientists believe the same will be the case for other vaccines, such as AstraZeneca's.

But preliminary lab tests showed a third Pfizer vaccine triggers a 'more robust' antibody response to Omicron, similar to two doses against previous strains of Covid  suggesting the boosters will beat the mutant strain.

The company  which has earned billions through the pandemic after making an effective jab  also revealed millions of doses of a new version of its vaccine tailored to the mutant strain won't be ready until March if the current crop of jabs fail in the real world.

It comes as Dr Anthony Fauci, the US's top infectious disease expert, today said the definition of 'fully vaccinated' in America will change to require a booster dose as well. Health officials are already investigating the potential need for a fourth dose of the vaccine after people receive their boosters, he said.

Meanwhile, two separate studies released yesterday showed vaccines appear to work better than expected against Omicron, which is quickly spreading in Britain and has made No10 resort to its 'Plan B' to save the NHS from being overwhelmed this winter.

But top Government advisers have warned that the NHS could still face severe pressure this winter from Omicron if it is definitively proven to be more transmissible, simply because of the sheer number of people who would get infected.

UK officials hope the country's booster roll-out to all adults  which Boris Johnson pledged to deliver by the end of January  and implementing Plan B will save the NHS in the face of the oncoming wave of Omicron, which leading scientists believe will be dominant by Christmas.

But less than half of over-18s in Britain have had a booster, meaning 23million who will be eligible by the end of January are yet to get their third dose.

Pfizer's results are based on a laboratory study using the blood of 20 people, who were either double-jabbed three weeks earlier (left) or triple-jabbed one month earlier with its vaccine (right). The graph shows antibody levels against different strains of the virus: Wuhan (green), Beta (blue), Delta (orange) and Omicron (red). The results showed the third dose triggered a 25-fold jump in antibody levels against Omicron from 6 to 154. Pfizer said this equates to a 'high efficacy' based on data on other variants. The level of neutralising antibodies against Omicron after three jabs was 154, a similar level to those made against the Wuhan strain after two jabs. But the figure was 60 per cent lower than levels seen for three doses against Delta (339)

Researchers at the African Health Research Institute (AHRI) found the Pfizer vaccine triggers forty times fewer antibodies capable of fighting the Omicron variant compared to an older version of the virus. The graph shows that antibody levels  scientifically known as geometric mean titer (GMT) FRNT50  among 12 people jumped to an average of 1,321 when they were exposed to an older strain of the virus (D614G). But when scientists tested their blood against Omicron, antibody levels dropped to an average of 32, marking a 41.4-fold decrease. Six of the volunteers were double-jabbed with Pfizer (orange), while the other half were double-jabbed with Pfizer and had previously tested positive for Covid. People previously infected with Covid had the most protection

A separate study by researchers at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden found that while there is a drop in the body's ability to neutralise Omicron it is not seen in everyone and is a smaller drop than feared. Their findings are based on recent blood samples from 17 people in Stockholm (shown in middle graph), compared to 17 hospital workers who were previously infected with the original Wuhan strain (shown in right graph). The middle and right graphs show the participants antibody levels when exposed to the Wuhan variant (WT) compared to Omicron. The left graph shows the average antibody levels recorded among both groups when exposed to the original strain (purple), Delta (blue) and Omicron (green)

The above map shows the ten areas that have the most confirmed Omicron cases in England, according to the UK Health Security Agency. West Northamptonshire is the country's hotspot for the mutant strain, although eight in ten areas on the list are in London

The above graph shows the cumulative count for Omicron cases across the UK. Scientists say that there is no difference at present between England and Scotland's outbreaks

No10 announced last week that it plans to ramp up the booster programme to 500,000 jabs per day and offer a third dose to all 53million British adults by the end of January to shield against the incoming wave. But the scheme already appears to be stalling with less than 330,000 delivered across Britain yesterday and just 380,000 administered each day on average. At the current rate, all eligible adults will not be boosted until February 10

Pfizer's Covid booster jab triggers a 25-fold increase in antibody levels against Omicron, the company revealed

Full vaxxed is TRIPLE vaxxed says Fauci - while also saying a FOURTH Covid vaccine dose may be needed later as well Dr Anthony Fauci, the US's top infectious disease expert, said on Wednesday that the definition of 'fully vaccinated' in America will eventually change to require a booster dose as well. The director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID) said that the change is unlikely to happen in the next week, but he expects it to happen at some point in the future. He also said the health officials are already investigating the potential need for a fourth dose of the vaccine after people receive their boosters. Fauci's statements come the same day that Pfizer announced that people who had received its jab require a Covid booster shot to keep the same level of protection against the Omicron variant - and that those who have only received two doses are now at risk of a breakthrough infection. The variant, which was discovered last month by South African health officials, has already managed to spread around the world, being sequenced 2,324 times in 61 countries across the world. Officials around the world are instituting measures to prevent the spread of the new variant, which could be the most infectious yet and can evade protection provided by the Covid vaccines. Advertisement

Dr Bourla said a third dose 'will give very good protection' and allow countries to 'go without concerns through the winter'

'I think we should be in very good safe to control the winter based on what we say right now,' Dr Bourla said.

'And then if there is a need for something different better, we will be able to have in months,' he added.

His comments come after Pfizer announced results yesterday based on a laboratory study using the blood of 20 people, who were either double-jabbed three weeks earlier or triple-jabbed one month earlier with its vaccine, which Britain is using for its booster programme.

The results showed the third dose may provide a 'more robust protection', triggering a 25-fold jump in antibody levels.

Pfizer, which manufactured the jab with German partner firm BioNTech, said the levels equated to a 'high efficacy' based on data against other variants.

A booster jab offered a boost in antibody levels that are 'comparable to those observed' for the original Wuhan virus after two doses, the company said.

The level of neutralising antibodies against Omicron after three jabs was 154, compared to 155 against the Wuhan strain after two jabs.

But the figure was 60 per cent lower than levels seen for three doses against Delta.

Experts cautioned that a drop in antibody levels doesn't necessarily translate into vaccine efficacy, but merely gives an indicator as to what can be expected.

Announcing its results yesterday, Pfizer also said booster injections appeared to increase a specific kind of T cell, which is thought to play a crucial role in staving off severe illness.

Antibodies attack the virus and stop it attaching to and infecting the body's cells.

If the virus manages to breach that defence, T cell protection identifies them and stops them spreading further.

The company will collect data on whether the antibodies remain at that level in the months after a booster dose, with immunity known to wane slightly over time.

It will also monitor real-world data to better understand how its jabs perform against the strain.

Discussing the results with CNBC today, Dr Bourla said: 'The best way to see it is.... The first dose builds a wall but it is not very high.

'The second dose builds a wall on top of the first thats really high and now and it was very good for other variants. Now it looks like the Omicron has the ability to jump over this wall.

'The third dose takes the wall very high and should stop, expect to stop the Omicron.'

Meanwhile, blood samples among double-jabbed people showed a 25-fold reduction in antibody levels against Omicron, compared to the original strain.

WHAT DOES THE LAB EVIDENCE SHOW ABOUT VACCINE EFFECTIVENESS AGAINST OMICRON? 1. South Africa People vaccinated with Pfizer have 40 times less antibodies that can fight against Omicron compared to other variants, according to one lab-based study. Researchers at the African Health Research Institute (AHRI) took blood samples from 12 people double-jabbed with Pfizer. They examined levels of neutralising antibodies that can prevent infection from Omicron. The researchers found there is a 40-fold decrease in antibodies that fight against the strain, compared to the number that can defend against other variants. The study only looked at antibodies, which are just one part of the immune response that fights off the virus. Although they are normally a reliable indicator. It is not clear that this will translate into lower protection against severe illness, hospitalisation and death among those who catch the strain. The researchers also found that Omicron still uses the ACE2 receptor on cells to infect people. Professor Alex Sigal, a virologist at the AHRI who led the study, said this means the variant can be managed with the vaccines we have. 2. Sweden A separate study by researchers in Sweden found that while there is a drop in the body's ability to neutralise Omicron it is not seen in everyone and is a smaller drop than feared. Scientists at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm found there was an average seven-fold drop in neutralisation potency against Omicron. But it varied between a 1-fold and 23-fold reduction among patients. Researchers said almost all blood samples evaluated had some form of neutralising antibody response against Omicron. Their findings were based on recent blood samples from 17 people in Stockholm, compared to 17 hospital workers who were previously infected with the original Wuhan strain. Benjamin Murrell, an assistant professor in computational biology, virology and immunology and one of the researchers behind the study, said this is 'certainly worse than Delta' but is not 'as extreme as we expected'. He said the AHRI study reported a 'much more substantial average reduction' but noted 'what is common is that neutralisation is not completely lost for all samples, which is positive'. 3. Germany A third set of results shared by researchers in Germany found neutralising antibodies from two doses of the vaccines used in the UK are ineffective against the strain. Dr Sandra Ciesek, a virologist at the German Center for Infection Research, tweeted laboratory findings, which have not yet been published, show that six months after two doses of Pfizer or Moderna, or a first dose of AstraZeneca and second dose of Pfizer, there was no neutralising antibodies present that could protect against Omicron. And even three months after being boosted with the Pfizer jab, people had just 25 per cent protection from neutralising antibodies against Omicron, compared to 95 per cent protection at the same point against Delta. Dr Ciesek said this translates into a 37-fold reduction against Omicron compared to the Delta strain. The findings confirm that developing new vaccines that target Omicron 'makes sense', she said. But Dr Ciesek noted that the results 'cannot say anything' about whether people are still protected from severe illness, which other parts of the immune system play a key part in warding off. 4. Pfizer Pfizer's results are based on a laboratory study using the blood of 20 people, who were either double-jabbed three weeks earlier or triple-jabbed one month earlier with its vaccine. The results showed the third dose may provide a 'more robust protection', triggering a 25-fold jump in antibody levels. Pfizer, which manufactured the jab with German partner firm BioNTech, said the levels equated to a 'high efficacy' based on data against other variants. A booster jab offered a boost in antibody levels that are 'comparable to those observed' for the original Wuhan virus after two doses, the company said. The level of neutralising antibodies against Omicron after three jabs was 154, compared to 155 against the Wuhan strain after two jabs. But the figure was 60 per cent lower than levels seen for three doses against Delta. Advertisement

Three weeks after the second dose, antibody levels stood at 155 against the Wuhan stain, while it dropped to 6 against Omicron.

A sharp reduction was also seen against the Beta variant, which triggered six times less antibodies (36) than the original strain.

Pfizer said the data indicates two doses 'may not be sufficient to protect against infection with the Omicron variant'.





Speaking at a press conference yesterday, BioNTech's chief executive Dr Ugur Sahin, chief executive said this shows in comparison to Beta, Omicron is a 'much stronger antibody escape variant'.





He said the Omicron variant 'came as a surprise' because it has three times as many mutations as experts were used to seeing on variants.

The UK's decision to rollout boosters three months after the second dose is 'the right way to go' to ensure better protection over the winter, Dr Sahin said.

It is 'very clear' that three doses of Pfizer's vaccine are needed to provide protection against Omicron, although scientists do not yet understand why two doses do not provide sufficient protection, he added.



Pfizer's chief executive officer Albert Bourla said: 'Although two doses of the vaccine may still offer protection against severe disease caused by the Omicron strain, it's clear from these preliminary data that protection is improved with a third dose of our vaccine.

'Ensuring as many people as possible are fully vaccinated with the first two dose series and a booster remains the best course of action to prevent the spread of Covid.'

Dr Sahin added: 'Our preliminary, first dataset indicate that a third dose could still offer a sufficient level of protection from disease of any severity caused by the Omicron variant.

'Broad vaccination and booster campaigns around the world could help us to better protect people everywhere and to get through the winter season.

'We continue to work on an adapted vaccine which, we believe, will help to induce a high level of protection against Omicron-induced Covid disease as well as a prolonged protection compared to the current vaccine.'

Pfizer began developing a Covid vaccine to specifically targets the Omicron variant on November 25, which it can dish out tens of millions of doses from March 2022 if the current crop of jabs are not providing sufficient protection.

Earlier versions of the new vaccine will be ready for pre-clinical trials in January.

The company said all of its vaccine production  which will reach 4billion doses in 2022  could be switched to the new version of the vaccine, depending on the spread of Omicron.

More than 800 Omicron cases have been spotted in the UK since the virus was first identified in South Africa.

Boris Johnson last night signed off on Plan B, declaring people should once again work from home where possible. In a gloomy Downing Street press conference, he said ministers would extend the use of masks and introduce Covid passports for nightclubs.

In a move that bounced No10 into activating its back-up plan, SAGE warned ministers Omicron hospitalisations may breach 1,000 a day in England by the end of the year without tougher restrictions to stem the spread of the super-mutant Covid variant.

Meanwhile, a pre-print study, which is yet to be peer-reviewed, found Omicron could seemingly dodge many vaccine-triggered antibodies.

However, the study only looked at antibodies, which are just one part of the immune response that fights off the virus. Although they are normally a reliable indicator of immunity.

It is not clear whether the reduced number of antibodies will translate into lower protection against severe illness, hospitalisation and death among those who catch the strain.

Professor Alex Sigal, a virologist at the African Health Research Institute (AHRI) who led the study, tweeted that the results of the study are 'better than I expected of Omicron'.

He noted there is a 'very large drop' in protection from Pfizer compared to other variants, but those who previously had Covid and are vaccinated were more protected against the variant.

And Professor Jonathan Ball, a virologist at the University of Nottingham, noted that while 'the amount of virus killing observed in the lab is reduced markedly  up to 40-times reduction  there is still measurable virus neutralisation, especially in those who were vaccinated and previously infected.'

'This group effectively mimics what we would expect in people who had had two doses of vaccine plus a boost,' he said.

Professor Ball added: 'Whilst we do not fully understand what protective immunity looks like, the data should give us reassurance that the vaccine will still offer protection.

'The other thing to remember is that many of the vaccines also generate T cell immunity and we think that this will be less impacted by the high level of mutations that omicron has.

'Whilst this reduced antibody immunity might mean more people can be infected and have mild symptoms, I am still confident that the vaccines, especially after a boost, will still protect from serious disease.

Has Omicron outbreak already PEAKED in South Africa's 'ground zero'? Covid cases appear to be peaking in the South African province at the epicentre of the Omicron outbreak, data suggests as a British expert hailed the data as 'tentative good news'. Gauteng province has seen a meteoric rise infections since mid-November, when the first cases of the highly-evolved strain started appearing  jumping from 58 to 11,703 as of yesterday. Professor Christina Pagel, a mathematician at University College London who has been following the outbreak, said infections have been increasing at a rate of around 25 per cent per day in the region since November 15. She said infections over the last four days have dipped below this trend, suggesting cases may be rounding off their previous exponential rise. As a member of the UK's Independent Sage Group, Professor Pagel has typically pushed for tougher restrictions and accused ministers of underestimating outbreaks. But her optimistic prediction suggesting Omicron may have burnt itself out in just a month in South Africa's 'ground zero' province could suggest the UK's outbreak will not be as large as some experts fear. Writing on social media, she said: 'There is some tentative good news out of Gauteng this week, suggesting that cases might be reaching a peak there.' Advertisement

'That's why we still need to get the message across, get vaccinated, get boosted, even if you have been infected before.'

A separate study by researchers in Sweden found that while there is a drop in the body's ability to neutralise Omicron, it is not seen in everyone and is a smaller drop than feared.

Scientists at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm found there was an average seven-fold drop in neutralisation potency among 17 blood donors.

Benjamin Murrell, an assistant professor in computational biology, virology and immunology and one of the researchers behind the study, said this is 'certainly worse than Delta' but is not 'as extreme as we expected'.

He said Professor Sigal's study reported a 'much more substantial average reduction' but noted 'what is common is that neutralisation is not completely lost for all samples, which is positive'.

It comes as the US's top infectious disease expert Dr Fauci said the definition of 'fully vaccinated' in America will eventually change to require a booster dose as well.

The director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID) said that the change is unlikely to happen in the next week, but he expects it to happen at some point in the future.

He also said the health officials are already investigating the potential need for a fourth dose of the vaccine after people receive their boosters.

Meanwhile, Covid cases appear to be peaking in the South African province at the epicentre of the Omicron outbreak, data suggests.

The Gauteng province has seen a meteoric rise infections since mid-November, when the first cases of the highly-evolved strain started appearing  jumping from 58 to 11,703 as of yesterday.

Professor Christina Pagel, a mathematician at University College London who has been following the outbreak, said infections have been increasing at a rate of around 25 per cent per day in the region since November 15.

She said infections over the last four days have dipped below this trend, suggesting cases may be rounding off their previous exponential rise.
Police have disrupted seven 'late-stage' terror attacks since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, it has been revealed.

The latest figures take the total number of foiled terrorism plots in the last four years to 32, Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP) said.

It comes as senior police officers warned the public 'not to let their guard slip during the festive period'.

Since March 2017, there have been 18 disrupted plots related to Islamist extremism, 12 linked to extreme right-wing terrorism and two to left, anarchist or 'single issue terrorism'.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Dean Haydon, the senior national coordinator for CTP, said the public would be 'well aware of the fact that the UK has suffered two terror attacks in quick succession, with the national threat level raising to severe - meaning an attack is highly likely.'

Taxi carrying suicide bomber exploded outside a Liverpool hospital in what police and MI5 are now probing as a Poppy Day terror attack. Experts fear he was copying an ISIS attack on a maternity hospital in Kabul

He added: 'All of this combines to paint a picture of a sustained and high tempo threat, which our world-class police, security and intelligence services are doing everything in their power to combat.

'But it takes a whole society approach to effectively tackle terrorism, and co-operation between the police and the public is vital, so we need you to be vigilant, and we need you to be alert.

'As we approach the festive period, we need the public to help play their part in protecting the UK.'

He urged people to trust their 'instincts' and contact police over suspicious activity.

The UK's terrorism threat was recently increased to 'severe', meaning an attack is 'highly likely', after terrorists struck in Liverpool and Essex.

It comes after a senior Metropolitan Police officer previously warned Londoners and visitors to the capital to 'be alert, not alarmed' in crowded spaces in the lead-up to Christmas.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Specialist Operations Matt Twist urged people to be 'vigilant' and look out for anything that is unusual, suspicious or concerning.

Assistant Commissioner Twist described this year's festivities as 'the first proper Christmas we have had in a couple of years' because of last year's coronavirus restrictions.

He said: 'There are going to be lots of places that are busy. There are going to be lots of venues getting back on their feet, lots of crowded places, lots of gatherings.

'This is all around being alert, not alarmed.'

Forensic officers at the scene near the Belfairs Methodist Church in Essex on October 15 where Conservative MP Sir David Amess died after he was stabbed several times

Assistant Commissioner Twist also referred to the car crash at a Christmas parade in Wisconsin which killed at least five people as he emphasised the importance of forward planning from authorities ahead of the busy time of year.

He told Nick Ferrari on LBC radio: 'This is about vigilance. Theres a lot of work thats done in advance of gatherings and in advance of events in the UK.

'We ask our security officers to put in place things like vehicle mitigation or to put in place barriers, or to limit the risks to people.'

He added that the incident in Wisconsin does not appear to have been terror-related based on early media reports.

Urging the public to report anything suspicious to police in the build-up to Christmas, he added: 'We want people to be vigilant, looking out for whats unusual, looking out for things that may be suspicious, may concern them.

'That can be anything from a bag thats in the wrong place - I think the public are well aware of that sort of thing - but also to stuff in their home or family lives, their friends becoming withdrawn or isolated, or making concerning comments.

'Its all around getting ahead of this. If you report something, the message is: Youre not going to ruin someones life, but you might just save one.'
Britain will get 'Europe's fastest trains' - with a top speed of 225mph - after HS2 today signed a 2billion contract with manufacturers Hitachi and Alstom.

The rolling stock will start off at Hitachi's plant in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, before being finished and tested at Alstom's sites in Derby and Crewe.

The deal to build a fleet of 54 high-speed trains will support 2,500 jobs across Britain.

France's Alstom and Japan's Hitachi Rail said in a statement that they 'will deliver Europe's fastest operational train', capable of running at maximum speeds of 225mph (362kph).

This will narrowly beat Europe's current fastest trains in operation - Italy's Avelia AGV range, built by Alstom - which have a top speed of 223mph (360kph).

Britain will get 'Europe's fastest trains' - with a top speed of 225mph - after HS2 today signed a 2bn contract with manufacturers Hitachi and Alstom. Above, construction work being carried out for the HS2 line at Long Itchington Wood in Warwickshire today - via a tunnel-boring machine nicknamed 'Dorothy' after Dorothy Hodgkin, the first British woman to win the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1964

The rolling stock will start off at Hitachi's plant in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, before being finished and tested at Alstom's sites in Derby and Crewe. (Above, construction in Warwickshire on Thursday)

France's Alstom and Japan's Hitachi Rail said in a statement that they 'will deliver Europe's fastest operational train', capable of running at maximum speeds of 225mph (360kph). Over the next five months, the tunnel-boring machine, pictured, will carve a mile-long tunnel before starting all over again for the return leg of the track

The project will build on the Japanese bullet train technology, as well as European high-speed network expertise, to create some of the quietest and most energy-efficient trains in the world, HS2 said.

The fully electric trains will run on the first section of the new HS2 railway being built between London and the Midlands.

They will operate also on existing railways serving Glasgow, Liverpool and Manchester.

The first stages, including vehicle body assembly and initial fit-out, will be done at Hitachi Rail's facility at Newton Aycliffe.

The second stage of fit-out and testing will be done at Alstom's Litchurch Lane factory in Derby.

All the bogies - the framework which houses the wheelsets - will be assembled and maintained at Alstom's Crewe facility.

The deal to build a fleet of 54 high-speed trains will support 2,500 jobs across Britain. (Pictured, part of the construction site at London Euston train station)

The project will build on the Japanese bullet train technology, as well as European high-speed network expertise, to create some of the quietest and most energy-efficient trains in the world, HS2 said

The first train is expected to roll off the production line around 2027, and, following rigorous testing, its first passengers could be carried between two and six years later.

Each train will be around 200m (656ft) long, with the option to couple two units together to create a 400m (1,312ft) long train with up to 1,100 seats.

The trains will be able to run on the new HS2 network as well as existing lines, and will halve many journey times between major cities.

HS2 chief executive Mark Thurston said: 'Today is a massive day for HS2. The trains that will be built in Derby, Newton Aycliffe and Crewe will transform rail travel - offering passengers unparalleled levels of reliability, speed and comfort, and help in the fight to remove carbon from our transport system.

'I'd like to congratulate Alstom and Hitachi and we look forward to working with them to bring these exciting new trains to passengers across the UK.'

HS2's deal with Hitachi and Alstom had been subject to a legal challenge by rival manufacturer Siemens.

It is understood that Siemens will now seek damages about the procurement process, and HS2 will 'robustly' defend itself.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps had been due to attend the contract signing ceremony at Hitachi but pulled out because he has to self-isolate following contact with Australian Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce, who has tested positive for coronavirus.

Speaking via Zoom, the Cabinet minister said it was 'stunning news' for the North East, Derby, Crewe and also Birmingham, where the trains will be maintained, following a 12-year contract being agreed.

He said: 'Today's announcement places Britain firmly at the forefront of the high-speed rail revolution with these state-of-the-art trains serving communities right across the country from London to Glasgow.'

Asked about Siemens' legal action, Mr Shapps said the process to chose Hitachi and Alstom was 'full and proper' and their bid was the best.

The news comes one month after Boris Johnson scaled back his HS2 plans for northern England amid soaring costs.

HS2, forecast to cost more than 100billion of taxpayers' money, is to be built in stages.

The initial leg - connecting London to Birmingham - is due to open by around 2029-2033.

The second phase, extending the line north to Manchester but no longer to Leeds, was not due to be completed before 2035-2040.

'HS2 is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform Britain by building a sustainable transport system fit for the 21st Century,' added Nick Crossfield, Alstom managing director, UK & Ireland.

HS2 is Britain's second high-speed rail project after HS1, which links London with the Channel Tunnel that then connects the UK to France.
New York State Attorney General Letitia James suddenly suspended her campaign for governor and said she would instead focus on her work hours after her office announced a deposition against former President Donald Trump.

In a tweet on Thursday, James, 63, wrote that she would not seek the gubernatorial seat but instead run for re-election as attorney general in 2022 after a recent poll showed her trailing behind Gov. Kathy Hochul.

'I have come to the conclusion that I must continue my work as attorney general. There are a number of important investigations and cases that are underway, and I intend to finish the job,' James said.

Her office is currently seeking a deposition against Trump as part of a tax fraud probe of the Trump Organization, based in New York.

New York State Attorney General Letitia James (pictured in May) suspended her campaign for governor on Thursday

James had announced her candidacy for governor in late October, months after she filed the sex pest report that led former Gov. Andrew Cuomo to resign.

James, the first woman elected as the state's attorney general and first black person to serve in the role, was the leading candidate challenging current Hochul, but she was still falling behind.

A Siena College Research Institute survey released earlier this week showed James trailing behind Hochul, who enjoyed 36 per cent backing by Democratic voters while James only held 18 per cent.

Fellow challengers Jumaane Williams held 10 per cent of voters, and US Rep. Tom Suozzi and out-going New York City Mayor Bill De Blasio held 6 per cent each.

People familiar with the campaign told CNBC that James may not have been able to raise enough money for a successful candidacy after a number of large Democratic donors signaled that they would be sticking with Hochul.

Democratic Party Chairman Jay Jacobs told Spectrum News, 'I think she understands how difficult a year 2022 is going to be for Democrats. This is selfless for her to put her party ahead of her own preference.'

In a news conference on Thursday, Hochul said she was excited to run on the same ticket as James rather than against her.

'She let me know her intention was to remain doing the critically important work that she has undertaken in the attorney general's office. I want to thank her for her leadership.'

Geoff Burgan, communications director for the Democratic Attorneys General Association, told CNN the organization is proudly supporting James's re-election bid.

'She's a battle-tested leader who has fought for consumers, working people, and those in need, and we're excited that she'll be continuing her work as New York's Attorney General.'

The decision came hours after James announced her office subpoenaed Donald Trump to testify in person as part of her investigation into potential tax and financial fraud inside the Trump Organization, The Washington Post reported.

James is seeking a deposition from Trump on January 7 at her office in New York as part of a long running probe into the financial practices of the former president's company  including whether the Trump Organization pumped up valuations of its assets when seeking financing, then low-balled values when communicating with tax authorities.

His son Eric Trump, a Trump Organization executive, testified previously in the probe, after his lawyers initially put up resistance.

New York AG Letitia James wants Trump to testify next month, according to the Post

New York State Attorney General Letitia James is seeking testimony from former President Donald Trump in a Jan. 7th deposition, the Washington Post reported

James is looking at whether fraud 'permeated the Trump Organization,' according to the Post.

Trump himself has testified in numerous lawsuits over his career  and in October provided a four and a half hour deposition in connection with a lawsuit brought by protesters who claim they were roughed up by Trump's security outside Trump Tower in Manhattan in 2015.

Trump was dismissive of the probe, even after finally appearing in a suit that outlasted his presidential term.

'After years of litigation, I was pleased to have had the opportunity to tell my side of this ridiculous story,' Trump said.

Trump has repeatedly attacked the probe as a 'witch hunt.' He has not been accused of wrongdoing in the case.

Longtime Trump CFO Allen Weisselberg has been indicted on tax charges

Former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen testified to Congress that the company inflated valuations when seeking financing

Investigators reportedly are looking closely at different valuations for the Seven Springs estate in upstate New York, which ranged from $56 million to $291 million

Prosecutors have convened a second grand jury in the ongoing probe. The Trump Organization's longtime Chief Financial Officer, Allen Weisselberg, was indicted in September by federal prosecutors in Manhattan. The government charges Weisselberg evaded nearly $2 million in taxes, in part by taking luxury perks. Weisselberg has pleaded not guilty.

The New York case is just one of many legal challenges Trump is facing. Prosecutors in Georgia have undertaken a criminal investigation of his election overturn efforts in the state.

Trump settled a defamation case last month with accuser Sumner Zervos without paying compensation. Last week, a three-judge federal appeals court panel heard a case regarding a defamation suit by rape accuser E. Jean Carroll.

Prosecutors are reportedly investigating properties including the Trump Organization's Seven Springs in upstate New York. Trump bought it for $7.5 million in 1996, but company valuations for it have ranged from $56 million to $291 million in 2012.

Former Trump Organization lawyer Michael Cohen testified to Congress in 2019 about the alleged practice of inflating values of Trump assets when seeking financing from lenders. He has said he met with prosecutors multiple times.
Ghislaine Maxwell's sex trafficking trial has been delayed after a lawyer in the case became sick.

The jury was sent home Thursday morning after Judge Alison Nathan told the court that the lawyer was sick and needed medical treatment. She did not specify which attorney became ill and asked for the public to respect their privacy.

The judge said the illness is not Covid related.

The jurors were set to hear testimony from Annie Farmer, Maxwell's final accuser in the case who has claimed she was groped by Maxwell and Epstein when she was 16.

The Southern District of New York put out a statement saying the trial is scheduled to resume tomorrow.

Ghislaine Maxwell's sex trafficking was delayed Thursday after a lawyer in the case became sick and needed treatment

The jurors were set to hear testimony from Annie Farmer, Maxwell's final accuser in the case and the only one who has opted to use her real identity

Maxwell's defense team is seen walking into court Thursday before promptly being dismissed

Annie Farmer described her first meeting with Epstein to the New York Times last year, revealing that a sweatpants-clad Epstein welcomed her into his home with champagne and conversation about her college plans.

During her visit she went with her sister Maria Farmer and Epstein to a movie, where the financier began rubbing her hand and lower leg.

A trove of never-before-seen photos were submitted into evidence and speak to Maxwell and Epstein's close relationship

She wrote about the incident in a diary entry from January 1996, which reads: 'It was one of those things that just gave me a weird feeling but wasn't that weird + probably normal.

'The one thing that kind of weirded me out about it was he let go of my hand when he was talking to Maria.'

Epstein later invited Annie to visit his ranch in New Mexico for a weekend and she accepted, expecting that other students would be there as well.

When she arrived and found it was only her, Epstein and Maxwell, the weekend took an uncomfortable turn.

She said Epstein subjected her to more intimate touching, and that one morning he came into her room and got into her bed because he wanted to cuddle.

She remembers Maxwell persuading her to give Epstein a foot massage and then showing Annie how to do it.

Maxwell also repeatedly asked her if she wanted a massage and wore her down until she finally undressed and got on a massage table, where Maxwell groped her bare chest.

'I don't think there was any reason for her to be touching me that way,' Annie said.

Epstein did not participate in the massage, but Annie sensed that he may have been watching the encounter.

Annie Farmer has claimed she was groped by Maxwell and Epstein when she was 16

Maxwell's sister Isabel was seen arriving at court Thursday. She's shown up every day to trial to support Ghislaine

On Wednesday , the court heard that Epstein was once in a relationship with a blonde Norwegian heiress who also dated Donald Trump.

The pedophile was seeing Celina Midelfart in the mid 1990s around the same time he was dating other women, it was claimed.

Midelfart is the heir to her familys cosmetics fortune and flight logs show she took at least 13 trips on Epsteins private jet.

The claim was made by one of Maxwells lawyers during cross examination of Epsteins former pilot on Day Eight of the trial of Maxwell, who denies recruiting and trafficking underage girls for Epstein.

Pilot Dave Rodgers testified that Maxwell and Epstein were initially dating but later broke up.

Rodgers took the jury through flight logs of Epsteins private plane, infamously known as the Lolita Express.

Maxwell was on many of those flights, sometimes with Virginia Roberts, who has pursued criminal and civil actions against both Epstein and Maxwell.

He said he flew Roberts a total of 32 times in the early 2000s. He also claimed he flew four flights with Maxwell accuser Jane on board.

Prosecutors read off flights from the log book that included trips to Spain and Morocco in 2001 where Roberts was on board.

Lawyer Christian Everdell asked Rodgers about a number of women who Epstein was dating in the 1990s and 2000s.

The pedophile Epstein was seeing Celina Midelfart in the mid 1990s around the same time he was dating other women, it was claimed

Midelfart later dated former President Donald Trump and is allegedly the woman he dumped to be with his eventual third wife, Melania

A treasure trove of never-before-seen photos show a loved up Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell jet setting and flaunting their opulent lifestyle. One of the most shocking photos shows Maxwell massaging Epstein's feet on the Lolita Express

It appeared to be an attempt to put distance between Maxwell and Epstein as prosecutors have said they were in a relationship.

The girlfriends included Shelley Lewis, a British woman who dated Epstein between 1999 and 2002 - Rodgers confirmed he thought they had been a couple.

Everdell asked if Rodgers was aware Epstein was in a romantic relationship with Midelfart around 1996, and he said yes.

He then asked if she was in her 20s or early 30s at the time and Rodgers said yes.

Midelfart is said to have been the woman that Donald Trump dumped to date Melania Trump, his third wife.

Ghislaine Maxwell, the Jeffrey Epstein associate accused of sex trafficking, attends her trial as Epstein pilot David Rodgers testifies in a courtroom sketch

Epstein was a regular at Mar-a-Lago resort. He is pictured with Midelfart at Mar-a-Lago in 1995

Celina Midelfart, Donald Trump and Ivanka Trump attend Valentine's Day Birthday Party for Trump's first wife Ivana in 1998

The former president supposedly ditched her in 1998, after she had been dating Epstein.

Trump and Midelfart were supposedly on a night out at the Kit Kat Club in New York when he saw Melania and asked her for her number. The former First Lady refused but Trump persisted and she eventually agreed.

Midelfart is the granddaughter of the founder of the Midelfart cosmetics company and in 2000 became the companys chairman.

Now married with one child, she grew up in Oslo, studied at the London School of Economics and NYU.

Her other boyfriends include pop star Robbie Williams and Haakon, Crown Prince of Norway.
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The Royal Navy flagship has arrived home following the first operational deployment of the carrier strike group (CSG) which was dogged with incidents including the loss of a 100 million fighter jet at sea.

Aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth with seven warships and a submarine set off from Portsmouth Naval Base following a visit by the Queen in May for its show-of-force voyage to the Far East.

The 65,000-tonne warship arrived back at the Hampshire port on Thursday afternoon while Type 45 destroyers HMS Defender and HMS Diamond returned earlier in the day, with Type 23 frigate HMS Richmond returning to Plymouth.

The ship's crew were pictured waving to onlookers from its deck, before they hugged relatives after arriving on land. The photos also captured the emotion of sailors as they greeted their loved ones after months away at sea.

In a message to the captain and personnel, the Queen said: 'I was pleased to hear of the important work you have undertaken to build relationships between the United Kingdom and more than twenty nations during your seven-month long deployment.'

She also expressed her 'sincere thanks' to the carrier strike group and wished them 'a most enjoyable and restful Christmas'.

The ship's return comes around three weeks after one of its contingent of F-35B fighter jets crashed into the sea and its pilot had to eject.

Dramatic video showed the moment the jet toppled off the end of HMS Queen Elizabeth's runway before it sank into the Mediterranean, sparking a scramble to recover its wreckage before Russian or Chinese teams got their hands on the plane's top-secret military hardware and technology.

The biggest flashpoint of the seven-month mission occurred in June, when HMS Defender - which was part of the fleet that sailed with the Queen Elizabeth - provoked fury from Russia by sailing too close to the Crimea region.

It led to a standoff with a Russian vessel before the country's president Vladimir Putin to boasted that he could have sunk the vessel and gotten away with it.

In July, sister ship HMS Diamond suffered a mechanical issue with its engine forcing it to undergo repairs before returning to the CSG six weeks later.

In the same month, a number of ships in the CSG, including the carrier, experienced a Covid-19 outbreak despite all crew being double-vaccinated.

The Royal Navy flagship has arrived home following the first operational deployment of the carrier strike group (CSG) which was dogged with incidents including the loss of a 100 million fighter jet at sea. Aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth with seven warships and a submarine set off from Portsmouth Naval Base following a visit by the Queen in May for its show-of-force voyage to the Far East

The 65,000-tonne warship arrived back at the Hampshire port on Thursday afternoon while Type 45 destroyers HMS Defender and HMS Diamond returned earlier in the day, with Type 23 frigate HMS Richmond returning to Plymouth

The ship's crew were pictured waving to onlookers from its deck, before they hugged relatives after arriving on land. The photos also captured the emotion of sailors as they greeted their loved ones after months away at sea

HMS Queen Elizabeth's commanding officer Captain Ian Feasey said: 'This seven-month deployment has proven a resurgent carrier strike capability for UK Defence.

'It would not have been possible without the professionalism, determination and self-sacrifice of the 1,500 sailors, airmen and marines who have worked tirelessly to deliver all that was asked of them.

F-35 fiasco: How Britain's 100m fighter jet crashed and why it matters What happened to the F-35? One of Britain's 100million F-35 fighter jets crashed in the Mediterranean Sea last month. MoD officials said it plunged into the waters while conducting routine flying operations in the region on take-off from HMS Queen Elizabeth. The pilot managed to eject the plane before the aircraft ditched. A sailor leaked film of the warplane crashing into the sea on take-off. In a shocking security breach, the 16-second clip was copied using a smartphone and put on Twitter. The film is of poor quality and not operationally sensitive, but its appearance on social media dismayed Navy bosses. So what happened next? The incident triggered a frantic underwater race to find the wreckage. Britain is understood to have worked with the Americans to recover the jet. The operation, shrouded in secrecy, is understood to have involved divers, miniature submarines and inflatable bags which may be used to lift the plane to the surface of the Mediterranean. What caused the crash? It is unclear what exactly caused the crash. However, investigators suspect the jet plummeted into the Mediterranean while taking off because the cheap rain covers had not been taken off properly. Officials believe the rain cover was sucked into the stealth plane's engine as it took off from the flight deck of the HMS Queen Elizabeth. Why did security officials panic over the crash? The crash was embarrassing for the Government. The plane was the first F-35B that Britain has lost and the incident is the first mishap for both the RAF's F-35B fleet and for HMS Queen Elizabeth, Britain's biggest aircraft carrier. It raises questions about the quality of the F-35B, of which Britain currently has 24. The UK is set to buy 138 of the jets from US aviation giant Lockheed Martin for 9.1billion in the coming years, with 48 of those expected to be delivered by 2025. The technology aboard the US-designed aircraft, including top secret radar and sensors, is hugely sensitive as it allows the F-35 to fly 'unseen' in hostile territory at supersonic speeds  meaning it would be of interest to rivals such as Russian. However, it is likely that China already knows all there is to know about the jet due to its advanced spying. Is this the first time an F-35 has crashed? No, this is the seventh time an F-35 has crashed. June 23, 2014  A USAF F-35A had a catastrophic engine fire caused by a fractured rotor which saw it turn into a blaze as it took off in Florida;

 A USAF F-35A had a catastrophic engine fire caused by a fractured rotor which saw it turn into a blaze as it took off in Florida; October 27, 2016  A US Marine Corp F-35B set alight mid-flight due to a fire in its weapons bay before the pilot landed safely in Beaufort, South Carolina;

 A US Marine Corp F-35B set alight mid-flight due to a fire in its weapons bay before the pilot landed safely in Beaufort, South Carolina; September 28, 2018  All operational F-35s were grounded while a probe was launched into why a fuel tube failed in flight after a horror crash at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort in South Carolina;

 All operational F-35s were grounded while a probe was launched into why a fuel tube failed in flight after a horror crash at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort in South Carolina; April 9, 2019  Parts of the tail of a Japanese F-35 were found in the sea around 85 miles east of Misawa during a training mission;

 Parts of the tail of a Japanese F-35 were found in the sea around 85 miles east of Misawa during a training mission; May 19, 2020  This F-35 crash on landing was caused by a tired, distracted pilot and unresponsive tail glitch;

 This F-35 crash on landing was caused by a tired, distracted pilot and unresponsive tail glitch; September 20, 2020  A F-35 stealth fighter jet fell out of the sky and exploded on the ground after hitting a KC-130J tanker in a mid-air collision near the Salton Sea in Imperial County, California. Advertisement

'The safe return and operational successes of HMS Queen Elizabeth are testament to their commitment and energy.

'They have turned a Royal Navy aircraft carrier into a national flagship and it has been a privilege to be their commanding officer.'

During more than seven months away, the sailors consumed an 25.5 tonnes of sausages, 2.1 million eggs, 190,000 potatoes (equivalent weight of 15 London buses), 22,700kg of Angel Delight, 1.2 million rashers of bacons and 355,200 pints of milk. Also, 40 tonnes of mail was delivered to those on board.

Commander Vince Owen, Defender's commanding officer, said: 'Our exceptional success on this deployment is down to the superb men and women that make up my ship's company, and I am immensely proud of the dedication and professionalism they have shown throughout.

'We are also heavily reliant on the support of our families, for which I am incredibly grateful, and I am delighted that we are able to return home to them today in time for Christmas.'

The CSG ships with their combined crew of 3,700 sailors faced several incidents, both diplomatic and technical, during the 25,000 nautical mile round trip.

The pilot who ejected from the stricken F35 last month and was found safe but the state-of-the-art fighter jet languished at the bottom of the sea and has only recently been recovered.

A member of the 3 billion carrier's crew has been arrested on suspicion of leaking video footage of the incident.

The jets are operated by the renowned 617 'Dambusters' Squadron.

A visit to the carrier by the Prince of Wales scheduled for a few days later was cancelled following the incident.

The Kremlin claimed after the incident with HMS Defender that warning shots were fired by Russian vessels at the destroyer as it passed through the contested part of the Black Sea- an assertion dismissed by the UK Government, which said only that a routine 'gunnery exercise' took place.

Dramatic eyewitness accounts revealed Defender was buzzed by Russian military jets and the sound of naval gunfire could be heard as it sailed from Odessa in Ukraine to Georgia.

A sailor aboard the Type 23 frigate HMS Kent was also confirmed to have died in July with an investigation launched into the death.

The voyage culminated in the carrier taking part in a joint exercise with warships from the United States, the Netherlands, Canada and Japan before arriving in Yokosuka.

The exercise was part of efforts to achieve a 'free and open Indo-Pacific' vision led by Washington and Tokyo.

The carrier had been originally expected to return port on December 10, but the arrival was brought forward to Thursday because of concerns about the weather.

The narrow entrance to Portsmouth Harbour means that the Queen Elizabeth would not routinely enter during heavy winds.

It is not clear exactly what caused the F-35 crash but investigators suspect the jet plummeted into the Mediterranean because the cheap rain covers which protect its engines when not in use had not been taken off properly.

It meant that the cover may have been sucked into the plane's engine as it was taking off, meaning it dramatically lost power.

There were understood to be not only eight British F-35s aboard HMS Queen Elizabeth but also ten US aircraft.

They had conducted some 2,000 take-offs and landings without incident before the F-35 crashed.

When not deployed on the carrier, the UK's F-35Bs are stationed at RAF Marham in Norfolk as part of 617 Squadron (the 'Dambusters').

Sir Stephen told the Commons Defence Committee: 'The pilot was recovered safely and is still undergoing medical checks. We are hopefully that he will be absolutely fine. It would be premature of me to comment on the reasons for the accident.

'The recovery of the flight data recorder and the wreckage are really vital for an accurate investigation to determine the causes of the crash. Clearly the swift recovery of the aircraft is what we would like to do and we are working closely with allies on the mechanics of that. We haven't got the plane up yet.

The ship's return comes around three weeks after one of its contingent of F-35B fighter jets crashed into the sea and its pilot had to eject. Dramatic video showed the moment the jet toppled off the end of HMS Queen Elizabeth's runway before it sank into the Mediterranean, sparking a scramble to recover its wreckage before Russian or Chinese teams got their hands on the plane's top-secret military hardware and technology

The biggest flashpoint of the seven-month mission occurred in June, when HMS Defender - which was part of the fleet that sailed with the Queen Elizabeth - provoked fury from Russia by sailing through the Black Sea. It led to a standoff with a Russian vessel before the country's president Vladimir Putin to boasted that he could have sunk the vessel and gotten away with it. Above: HMS Defender is pictured in the sights of a Russian border vessel

An RAF pilot was forced to eject over the Mediterranean, sending his 100million stealth jet crashing into the sea

'We are aware of Russian undersea capabilities, and you are quite right to identify them as being state of the art.

'The kinds of precautions and operations that we are undertaking at the moment are designed at least in part to ensure that the technology of the F-35 remains as confidential as you would like it to be. Those security aspects are very much at the top of our mind.

'My understanding is that the experts know where the aircraft is.'

The plane was the first F-35B that Britain has lost and the incident raised questions about the quality of the jet, of which Britain currently has 24.

In June 2014 a USAF F-35A had a catastrophic engine fire caused by a fractured rotor as it took off in Florida.

Sailors on board wave towards Plymouth's Round Tower as the Royal Navy's aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth returns to base following her deployment to the Far East

Relatives and other onlookers are seen waving from the Round Tower as the ship arrives in port at Plymouth

Handout photo issued by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) of the Royal Navy's aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth returning to Portsmouth Naval Base at the end of her global seven month maiden operational deployment leading Carrier Strike Group 21

Friends and family celebrate an emotional homecoming as HMS Defender arrives back at Portsmouth Dockyard

The next generation: Twin girls are seen in mock Royal Navy uniforms as they are held tightly by a relative in Plymouth after HMS Queen Elizabeth's return

Flying the flag: A little boy is seen on his mother's shoulders as he holds two British flags aloft. Hundreds of families came to greet their relatives off the ship

This sailor holds her son aloft shortly after tearfully embracing him. The eventful seven-month voyage of HMS Queen Elizabeth's carrier group has finally come to an end

The Queen issued a statement welcoming her namesake ship back to the UK after her maiden voyage

However, it is likely that China already knows all there is to know about the jet due to its advanced spying.

After he ejected, the pilot was reportedly left dangling from the edge of the HMS Queen Elizabeth because the lines of his parachute became caught on the edge of the flight deck.

The US were understood to be helping with efforts to recover the plane.

The operation was expected to involve deep water remote-controlled vehicles to find the F-35, before huge inflatable bags would be attached to it so that it could float to the surface of the ocean on its own.

The US Navy was understood to be using a device called a TPL-25 towed pinger locator system to find the F-35's emergency relocation pinger.

The TPL-25 system consists of a device which is towed behind a search vessel. It can detect a pinger at depths of up to 20,000feet (3.8miles).

HMS Queen Elizabeth is seen returning to Portsmouth Naval Base at the end of its global seven-month mission leading Carrier Strike Group 21 (CSG21)

Handout photo issued by the Ministry of Defence of HMS Diamond sailing into Portsmouth Naval Base after deployment

Handout photo issued by the Ministry of Defence of HMS Defender sailing into Portsmouth Naval Base after deployment

Handout photo issued by the Ministry of Defence of HMS Richmond sailing into Devonport, Plymouth after deployment.

Two years later a US Marine Corp F-35B set alight mid-flight due to a fire in its weapons bay.

In 2018, a US F-35B pilot was forced to eject in mid-air after his jet crashed during a training exercise in South Carolina.

And last year, an F-35B aircraft crashed near Naval Air Facility El Centro in California after crashing into a KC-130J, US officials told USNI News.

The UK is set to buy 138 more from US aviation giant Lockheed Martin for 9.1billion in the coming years, with 48 of those expected to be delivered by 2025.

The technology aboard the US-designed aircraft, including top secret radar and sensors, is hugely sensitive as it allows the F-35 to fly 'unseen' in hostile territory at supersonic speeds  meaning it would be of interest to rivals such as Russian.
Washington DC is honoring slain journalist Jamal Khashoggi (pictured) by renaming the street in front of the Saudi Arabian Embassy to Khashoggi Way

Washington DC will rename a street in honor of slain Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in front of the Saudi Arabian Embassy in a slap at the autocratic Middle Eastern country responsible for his brutal murder.

The City Council unanimously passed the Jamal Khashoggi Way Designation Act on Tuesday, saying it serves as a reminder that 'free press is fundamental to our democracy' and of the dangers journalists face dangers worldwide.

'Jamal Khashoggi Way will serve as a daily reminder for the Saudi Embassy and the Saudi government that Jamal Khashoggi and his legacy are just as powerful in death as in life, and that the principles of human rights and democracy for which he gave his life burn bright in those letters spelling out his name and in that sign right just across the street,' Sarah Leah Whitson, executive director of Democracy for the Arab World Now, told Yahoo News.

Supporters of the bill said the name change will serve to 'permanently shame and embarrass' Saudi diplomats and their visitors for Khashoggi's government-ordered slaying.

Khashaoggi, a Washington Post journalist and critic of Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, founded the Democracy for the Arab World four months before his murder.

He was last seen entering the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2, 2018. Turkish officials believe his body was dismembered and removed. His remains have not been found.

'This name change demonstrates the values of District residents of a free and independent press,' Councilmember Brooke Pinto, who was the chief sponsor of the act, said in a statement.

Washington DC City Council unanimously passed the Jamal Khashoggi Way Designation Act on Tuesday, saying it serves as a reminder that 'free press is fundamental to our democracy' and dangers journalists face worldwide

Renaming the block in front of the Saudi Embassy (pictured) to Khashoggi Way will also serve to 'permanently shame and embarrass' Saudi diplomats and their visitors for the journalist's government-ordering slaying

Prince Mohammed bin Salman's (pictured) was accused by Western intelligence agencies of ordering Khashoggi's murder

The Jamal Khashoggi Way Designation Act is expected to be signed by Mayor Muriel Bowser in the near future and will then go to Congress for a 30-day review before it can become law.

Officials have indicated they expect the name change will be approved and that a signage unveiling ceremony will take place next month.

The Saudi Embassy is located on New Hampshire Ave NW, across the street from the Kennedy Center and down the road from the infamous Watergate Hotel. It is about two miles west of the White House.

Khashoggi, a former member of the Saudi royal family turned dissident, was a US citizen and working for the Washington Post as a columnist when he was killed.

The murder sparked international outrage that continues to reverberate, with Western intelligence agencies accusing the kingdom's de-facto ruler Prince Mohammed bin Salman of authorizing the killing.

Khashoggi is seen entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on the day of his killing

The prince has denied ordering his murder and the Saudi government has said it convicted those responsible during a closed-door 2019 trial. are 'serving their sentences' in Saudi Arabia.

There is still no public record of who was convicted.

The bill's passage comes as attention returned to the journalist's murder after French police, acting on the basis a Turkish warrant, held a Saudi man at a Paris airport over suspected links to the killing.

Khalid Aedh Al-Otaibi, who shares his name with a man wanted under an international arrest warrant in connection with Khashoggi's killing, was arrested because his passport triggered an alert.

The bill's passage comes as attention returned to the journalist's murder after French police, acting on the basis a Turkish warrant, held Khalid al-Otaibi (pictured) at a Paris airport over suspected links to the killing

Al-Otaibi, who shares his name with a man wanted under an international arrest warrant in connection with Khashoggi's killing, was arrested because his passport triggered an alert

However, he was freed Wednesday after officials deemed the arrest a case of mistaken identity.

Khalid Al-Otaibi is a common name in Saudi Arabia. The other Al-Otaibi is suspected of being part of the hit squad that carried out the murder at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in 2018.

Twenty-six Saudis, including Al-Otaibi, are currently on trial in absentia in Istanbul over the killing.

Turkey began the trials in October last year, but none of the Saudis accused has yet to face court in person.

Al-Otaibi is also one of 17 people that the US Treasury designated for sanctions in 2018 over the murder.
Jennifer Clyburn Reed, the daughter of House Majority Whip Rep. James Clyburn of South Carolina, has been confirmed by the Senate to lead a federal commission aimed at alleviating extreme poverty in part of the US South.

Reed, whose father is the number-three Democrat in the House, was nominated by President Joe Biden to serve as Federal co-chair of the Southeast Crescent Regional Commission (SCRC) in August.

The Democrat-majority Senate confirmed her appointment in a Wednesday voice vote after she was unanimously approved by the Environment and Public Works Committee earlier this month.

She joins a number of other children and siblings of Biden's inner circle in landing a federal government job, including Jen Psaki's sister and a White House adviser's son and daughter.

The previously inactive SCRC was originally commissioned under the Obama administration in 2008 to 'make direct federal investment in the Southeastern United States.'

Sometimes known as the US Blackbelt, the region includes the Carolinas, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee and Florida. Significant portions of it have been plagued by extreme poverty for decades and suffer from a lack of government resources.

Senator Tom Carper of Delaware congratulated Reed after her confirmation

Reed will be the first person to lead the SCRC since its inception, giving her new power to dictate federal investments in the region. And she's well-suited for the job, according to her job history.

According to her Linkedin profile Reed currently heads the Palmetto Issues Conference, an LLC company dedicated to tackling economic insecurity and championing progressive causes in South Carolina. She's also CEO and CFO of Beyond Limits, LLC, an education consulting firm Reed describes as 'on a mission to take the limits off of learning.' She's also president of a nonprofit called Carolina Civic Duty.

Reed was photographed alongside her father and Delaware Senator Tom Carper, chair of the Environment and Public Works Committee, after the vote on Wednesday.

'Congratulations to Dr. Jennifer Clyburn Reed for making history by becoming the first federal co-chair of the Southeast Crescent Regional Commission. Her leadership is going to make a difference for so many,' Carper wrote on Twitter.

Rep. Clyburn is a stalwart in the House, arriving on Capitol Hill in 1993. Former President Barack Obama famously once called the South Carolina lawmaker, 'one of a handful of people who, when they speak, the entire Congress listens.'

He's also been known to share a close friendship with Biden. His critical endorsement of Biden before the South Carolina Democratic primary in February 2020 is widely seen as an inflection point in the president's then-ailing campaign and a big reason why he made it to the White House at all.

Jim Clyburn's endorsement of Biden in the South Carolina primary in February 2020 (pictured) was critical to his eventual White House win

Clyburn and Biden have reportedly enjoyed a close relationship for years

DailyMail.com has reached out to the White House and Clyburn's office for comment.

Another Biden-friendly relative who joined the administration is Stephanie Psaki, Press Secretary Jen Psaki's sister. She currently serves as a senior adviser in the Department of Health and Human Services and has extensive experience in the field.

And in September, Vice President Kamala Harris hired Stephanie Psaki's husband Adam Frankel as a senior adviser. Frankel previously served on Harris' transition team and was a speechwriter to Obama.

Chief of Staff Ron Klain's wife, Monica Medina, was confirmed to serve in the State Department as Assistant Secretary for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs.

White House counselor Steve Ricchetti, deputy chief of staff Bruce Reed and presidential personnel office director Cathy Russell each have had at least one direct family member working for the Biden administration.

J.J. Ricchetti, one of the Biden adviser's sons, was hired by the Treasury's office of legislative affairs in June.

Steve Ricchettis daughter, Shannon, a 2016 college graduate, also works at the White House, serving as the deputy associate director of the office of the White House social secretary.

The Washington Post reported in June that she secured the job after working at the Aspen Institute and for the Biden-Harris transition team.

Steve Ricchetti's son Daniel serves as a senior adviser in the office of the undersecretary of state for arms control and international security.

He spent seven years working on Capitol Hill, on the staff of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, The Post said.

Bruce Reed's daughter Julia was previously a volunteer on the Biden-Harris campaign and now works as the president's day scheduler.

Russell's daughter Sarah Donilon works for the White House National Security Council.
He faces no mounting no confidence votes, a rebellion over new Covid measures and an uphill battle to recover from shambolic Christmas party scandal

Survation put the party on 40 points - highest since Tories took power in 2019

Boris Johnson has been hit by a double polling blow that today sees Labour increase their lead over the Conservatives following a week of crisis in Downing Street.

The Tories have slumped to their worst rating in 11 months - with a Times/YouGov poll putting the party on just 33 per cent, down three points.

Labour meanwhile have a four-point lead, its biggest since January when the country was in the middle of the winter lockdown.

Another poll by Survation for the Daily Mirror, carried out over the last two days, gives Labour a six-point lead at 40 per cent.

The significant turnaround in public opinion suggests that allegations surrounding a Christmas Party being held in No 10 last December - in breach of lockdown rules - have cut through.

Particular criticism has been levelled at a leaked video in which Mr Johnsons former spokeswoman Allegra Stratton and No10 aides laughed about it.

Boris Johnson has been hit by a double polling blow that today sees Labour increase their lead over the Conservatives following a week of crisis in Downing Street

Labour has surged into a six-point poll lead over Boris Johnson 's shell-shocked Tories after a week of crisis in Downing Street. Above: Leader Sir Keir Starmer during Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday

The Conservatives fell two points to 34 per cent in a poll today amid widespread fury at Covid rule-busting parties last Christmas

Data from YouGov also found that three quarters of those polled believe that there was a Christmas party in which rules were broken and just slightly less people think Mr Johnson has lied about it in the aftermath.

More worryingly, one fifth of Tory voters say the government's response to the allegations made them trust it less.

The Prime Minister now finds himself under enormous pressure on multiple front - with an investigation into the alleged parties last December and an enormous backbench rebellion over attempts to tighten Covid restrictions again.

A rebellion of 50 Tory MPs could be expected in a vote over mandating vaccine passports for entry to nightclubs and large venues.

One insider told The Times that the move was error and meant picking 'a massive fight with colleagues that wasnt needed.'

Support for the opposition is now at the highest level the pollster has recorded since Boris Johnson took power in 2019.

There is also mounting speculation about the number of letters of no confidence sent to Sir Graham Brady, the chairman of the Tory's 1922 Committee - although it is not clear who if anyone would challenge Mr Johnson's leadership if a vote was called.

Mr Johnson is also facing accusations of lying over what he knew about funding for a lavish refurbishment of his plush family flat in Downing Street.

On top of that, Mr Johnson also became a father again after his wife Carrie gave birth to a girl, their second child together.

Boris to take 'family time' as Covid chaos engulfs UK Boris Johnson is back on fatherly duties today as a series of crises engulfed No 10 while his wife Carrie gave birth to his at least seventh child today - a baby girl. Mr Johnson has also revealed that he will take some time off work - but not two weeks of paternity leave - despite the turmoil triggered by launching 'Plan B' on Omicron and new allegations he lied to Lord Geidt, his new adviser on ministerial standards, about the donor-funded refurbishment of his Downing Street flat including its 840-a-roll gold wallpaper. The furore over Christmas parties at No 10 also got worse for the PM today as the probe into alleged Covid rule-busting parties was widened to include another festive celebration and a reported staff leaving do where the PM is alleged to have given a speech. Hours after rebel Tories called on him to resign, Boris and Carrie walked into a central London NHS hospital at 7.40am this morning - around two hours after police officers turned up to secure the site ahead of their arrival, MailOnline can reveal. A masked Mrs Johnson, 33, was accompanied into a side entrance by a bodyguard carrying an overnight bag. Her husband, 57, wearing a mask and a trademark wooly hat, was flanked by two policemen as he followed her in carrying a suitcase and what appeared to be a bluetooth speaker. The baby girl, a younger sister to their son Wilf, one, was born within a couple of hours with Mr Johnson at his third wife's side throughout the labour and birth. The PM returned to Downing Street at lunchtime after leaving the maternity ward at around 11.45am. He later returned at 3pm with his hair even more ruffled than usual, suggesting he may have caught up on some sleep. In a statement the couple said: 'The Prime Minister and Mrs Johnson are delighted to announce the birth of a healthy baby girl at a London hospital earlier today. Both mother and daughter are doing very well. The couple would like to thank the brilliant NHS maternity team for all their care and support.' The Prime Minister will not take two weeks of paternity leave, his spokesman said, but added the father-of-seven will 'take some time with his family' and 'balance that' with his responsibilities including his daily red boxes and PMQs next week. Advertisement

It is not the first dismal poll this week for the PM. Labour also had a four-point lead in the Redfield & Wilton poll, the largest since the 2019 general election.

The scale of the damage to the Tories from the partying revelations, which followed the sleaze row, has been underlined with the poll showing 63 per cent of voters think the PM should resign.

Mr Johnson is struggling to contain a Tory revolt today amid fury at 'non-sensical' new Covid restrictions and his handling of the No10 Christmas party debacle.

The PM dramatically triggered 'Plan B' measures to control the rampant Omicron strain at a press conference last night, with fears that infections are now doubling every few days and the NHS could be crippled.

Millions of office staff will be urged to work from home from Monday, while masks will be required in theatres and cinemas, and Covid passports are being introduced for nightclubs and large venues.

But Mr Johnson stressed that office Christmas parties should go ahead, sparking derision from critics. Desperate businesses have complained that the differing restrictions for venues 'don't make any sense'.

Dozens of Conservative MPs are now threatening to rebel against the measures when a Commons vote is held next week - leaving the PM facing having to rely on Labour support to get them through.

Ringleaders have told MailOnline that it will be the biggest mutiny yet, with at least 60 expected to defy the government whip.

Backbencher Marcus Fysh said today that the latest curbs are an 'utter disgrace', while former chief whip Mark Harper has questioned whether the government has the moral authority to impose the limits given the row over rules being flouted in Downing Street.

At the same time, the PM was accused of lying about his knowledge of funding for a lavish renovation of his Downing Street flat.

The Conservatives have been fined 17,800 by the Electoral Commission for failing to register a five-figure cash donation from businessman and Tory peer Lord Brownlow in October last year.

The probe revealed that the payment of 52,000 connected to redecorating the No11 apartment was kept off the books, with worried staff told 'don't worry'.

But the investigation also suggested Mr Johnson could have been aware the cash was from Lord Brownlow and his firm Huntwood Associates in November last year.

It also showed that the PM successfully tapped him up via WhatsApp for another 60,000. In total the Tory peer gave 112,549.12 towards the renovation of the private flat.

However, in evidence to his adviser on ministerial standards Lord Geidt earlier this year, No10 said the PM told him he was unaware of the source of the money until February.

The peer's own probe cleared Mr Johnson of wrongdoing, saying there was 'no evidence that the Prime Minister had been informed by Lord Brownlow that he had personally settled the total costs'.

Mr Johnson's former top aide Dominic Cummings today said the PM had 'obviously lied to Geidt'.

Labour's deputy leader Angela Rayner today wrote to Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards Kathryn Stone to ask her to investigate the donations.
More than a dozen female scientists have made bombshell allegations of sexual misconduct and even rape by male supervisors at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, accusing the prestigious research facility located on a manmade island in Panama of turning a blind eye to a culture of sexual harassment and retaliation for years.

The claims by the 16 accusers - many of whom agreed to be fully identified, while some opted to retain their anonymity - were detailed in a sweeping expose that was published by BuzzFeed News on Thursday.

The women scientists described a pattern of pervasive sexual misconduct - ranging in some of the cases from inappropriate comments to touching and alleged rape - by a trio of senior male researchers, who controlled access to laboratories and data, and whose word could make or break a young researcher's fledgling career in science.

All of the suspected behavior played out over the course of more than a decade on Barro Colorado Island in the Panama Canal, which is home to the Smithsonian Institution's only research facility outside the US.

Nestled in a dense tropical jungle, the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) is made up of a string of laboratories, field houses and dining halls on the 9.3-square-mile island, which was formed by the creation of Lake Gatun in 1913 during the construction of the Panama Canal.

Sarah Batterman, a professor, has accused STRI scientist Benjamin Turner of raping her during a conference in 2011

STRI scientists Benjamin Turner (left) and Edgar Allen Herre (right) have been accused of sexual misconduct. Both have denied wrongdoing

Egbert Leigh has admitted to sexual misconduct. He retired from the STRI in 2019

Nestled in a dense tropical jungle, the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) is made up of a network of laboratories and forest field houses

The site employs 40 staff scientists and hosts some 1,400 visitors every year, from undergraduates and interns to postdoctoral fellows and research associates

According to STRI's website, the research facility was founded more than a century ago 'with the purpose of increasing and sharing knowledge about the past, present and future of tropical ecosystems and their relevance to human welfare.'

The site employs 40 staff scientists and hosts some 1,400 visitors every year, from undergraduates and interns to postdoctoral fellows and research associates.

One scientist accused Benjamin Turner, the married director of STRI's biogeochemistry lab, of pressuring her into a sexual relationship and raping her at a conference after a night of heavy drinking a decade ago.

Seven other women made sexual harassment claims against Turner, who has denied any wrongdoing in an email to a colleague. He left STRI in 2020, a year after receiving the Smithsonian Secretarys Distinguished Researcher Award, despite having at least one complaint made against him.

Two women researchers said that Edward Allen Herre, a STRI staff scientist who specializes in evolutionary ecology, made unwanted sexual advances, kissed one colleague without consent, and greeted women while wearing only a towel.

A total of 16 female scientists have alleged rampant sexual misconduct at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama

Located on an island in the Panama Canal, the STRI is the Smithsonian Institution's only research facility outside the US

Herre has denied ever engaging in anything approaching sexual harassment or retaliation, and dismissed one accuser's claims as 'perceived personal slights where none were intended,' according to BuzzFeed.

Two female researchers claimed that Egbert Leigh, a former emeritus staff scientist who retired from STRI in 2019 after 50 years, sexually harassed them. The alleged misconduct was said to have consisted of making sexually charged comments about 'pleasuring' his wife, pressing his body against a female colleague, and telling a group of scientists that one of them was causing him to get an erection.

Unlike the other two accused men, Leigh - described by one colleague as 'an old-fashioned lecher' - admitted to acting inappropriately and apologized 'for the hurt and discomfort my behavior caused,' he told Buzzfeed News.

The alleged inappropriate conduct was not limited to academics at the research facility: two former interns claimed they were sexually assaulted by a chef at the STRI cafeteria, who was reprimanded but not fired after officials concluded that his conduct did not merit termination.

BuzzFeed reported, citing internal emails and complaints, that past STRI directors did little beyond issuing warnings or imposing restrictions meant to keep male scientists accused of misconduct apart from their accusers.

'We are sorry if anyone has experienced harassment at STRI and are grateful for those who have come forward to tell us of their experiences,' current director Joshua Tewksbury told the outlets without addressing any of the specific claims. 'We take this responsibility very seriously and we have clear protocols in place to investigate and address peoples concerns as they arise.'

Meanwhile, seven of the female accusers said they have stopped visiting the STRI site because of the rampant unprofessional conduct they have either experienced personally or witnessed there.

Three women said that a male colleague they complained about has retaliated against them by withholding research data from them, or refusing to hand over samples needed for their projects.

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The women scientists who have identified themselves after accusing trio of senior male researchers of sexual harassment

Sarah Batterman claims Benjamin Turner raped her during a conference in 2011

Sarah Batterman, an assistant scientist at Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies and associate professor at the University of Leeds, first visited STRI as a PhD student in 2008 and met Benjamin Turner, who ran the lab that analyzed her samples.

Batterman said she and Turner struck up a conversation on a tour bus while attending a conference together in Iceland two years later, and the much more senior male scientist invited her and two other young female PhD students on a trip through the country.

When they returned to Panama, Batterman said Turner began taking her out for dinner and drinks, ostensibly to discuss her career and encourage her to apply for a postdoctoral fellowship.

On the eve of her departure from Panama, Batterman said Turner drove her back to the hotel and asked if he could come up to her room. As the woman wrote in a complaint to STRI last year, she repeatedly refused, but Turner 'would not take no for an answer.'

'I started to worry about all the opportunities that I could lose if I lost his support and felt powerless, so eventually, I gave in,' she said.

The two scientists met again at Turner's suggestion at a conference in Arizona, where Batterman said the male academic pressured her to have sex after heavy drinking.

Then in 2011, while the two attended another conference, this time in San Francisco, Batterman claimed that Turner anally raped her after she passed out drunk in a hotel room.

Following that encounter, Batterman said she told Turner, who was married and had no plans to divorce his wife, that they had to stop seeing each other because it was 'unhealthy and upsetting.'

Batterman claimed that over the next five years, Turner got back at her by withholding data they had jointly collected. The female scientist only got the data set earlier this week after involving a lawyer.

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Maga Gei also met Turner at the conference in Iceland in 2011 and claimed that he gave her a wet kiss near the mouth without consent and invited her to his room, but she shook her head no.

When Gai arrived at STRI as a fellow two years later, she said Edgar Allen Herre one day showed up on her doorstep announced, asking her to help him organize an event. At a later time, she claimed that he gave her a wet kiss near the mouth.

Gei left the island in 2013 and has since left the world of academia, opting to work in communications.

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Anthropologist Meg Carfoot claimed that former emeritus staff scientist Egbert Leigh told her he was madly in love with her and wanted to marry her

Meg Carfoot, an anthropologist, said that her relationship with Egbert 'Bert' Leigh began with a conversation over drinks in his field house, which he called his 'chambers,' during which the academic allegedly made an off-color joke about 'pleasuring' his wife during an earthquake, which Carfoot found 'uncomfortable and inappropriate.'

Leigh, who became Carfoot's sponsor during a three-month fellowship, often invited her over for drinks, and would have 'explosive reactions' if she were to rejected his invitations.

When Carfoot returned to STRI in 2008 as a postdoctoral researcher, she said she became Leigh's occasional chauffer. She said other young female researchers were expected to shop and cook for the elderly scientist, who had recently lost his wife.

Carfoot said that during her stay on the tropical island, the widowed Leigh 'confessed' to her that he was madly in lover with her and wanted to marry her. She turned him down.

In 2010, Carfoot said she rented an apartment in Panama City just to get away from Leigh. She complained about Leigh's behavior to then-STRI director Eldredge Bermingham, who barred the scientist from staying on the island on weekends, or host fewer than three people at any given time at his field house.

But as staff, including directors, came and went over the years, the restrictions on Leigh eventually had fallen by the wayside.

He retired form STRI in 2019, not long before another researcher filed a sexual misconduct complaint, resulting in his emeritus status being stripped from him.

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Tana Wood complained to an STRI director in 2018 after hearing from young researchers about Benjamin Turner's allegedly inappropriate conduct

Tana Wood, a research ecologist with the USDA Forest Service, began raising alarms about Benjamin Turner in 2016, when she said she observed the scientist trying to invite a female student on a sightseeing trip in Europe.

Around that time, Wood met a student who complained that older colleagues, among them Turner, were acting inappropriately towards her and other young researchers at a conference.

Alarmed, Wood began sending emails and speaking with leaders at the USDA Forest Service International Institute of Tropical Forestry.

When Wood heard a talk given in 2018 by a University of Puerto Rico professor who described sexual harassment in science as a 'loud secret,' she broke down in tears, and later approached then-STRI director, Matthew Larsen, telling him about Turner's alleged conduct.

Larsen was concerned and asked Wood to forward him any future complaints about Turner. by 2020, three women had come forward, accusing Turner of harassment and retaliation.

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Katherine Sinacore said she was sexually assaulted by a fellow intern in 2014

Katherine Sinacore, who was doctoral fellow at STRI in 2014, said she was sharing a field house in the forest with tow other interns. Her room had no lock, and she used a rock to keep the door closed.

She said one night, one of her roommates forced his way into her bedroom and sexually assaulted her.

She reported the incident to STRI, who referred her to the local police. Sinacore never heard of any arrests taking place.

Sinacore asked STRI to put locks on doors, but more than a year later, there was still no locks.

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Former intern Ellen Dyer said she was sexually assaulted by an STRI chef, who was allowed to keep his job

Ellen Dyer, who in 2018 was a 21-year-old intern researching spider monkey on Barro Colorad, said she was dancing at a party at STRI's cafeteria when a chef grabbed her bottom and pressed his erect penis against her.

Although Dyer said she rejected his advances, he allegedly followed her to her room and forcibly kissed her before she managed to get away from him.

In her complaint to STRI detailing the incident, Dyer said she stopped going to the cafeteria for fear of encountering the chef and experienced a panic attack.

A panel was convened to investigate Dyer's claims. During interview, the woman said she was asked about how much he had had to drink that night, what she had been wearing, and why she was found herself alone with the chef.

The chef was ultimately suspended for two months, but he was allowed to keep his job.
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Public Health Scotland has told people they should delay Christmas parties and Hogmanay celebrations due to fears over the rising number of Omicron cases in the country.

A total of 108 cases of the mutant Covid strain were reported in Scotland between November 1 and December 8, with official figures showing nearly half of all positive tests are in the 20-39 age bracket.

Dr Nick Phin, the director of public health science and medical director at Public Health Scotland, has now urged families to put off any planned Christmas and Hogmanay celebrations to help in the battle against the raging variant.

He said: 'To help minimise the further spread of Covid-19, and Omicron in particular, I would strongly urge people to defer their Christmas parties to another time.'

Last year's celebrations were also cancelled because of rising cases, with Ms Sturgeon suggesting that the public 'should ring in 2021 in our own homes'.

Latest Scottish Government figures also show there were 16 coronavirus deaths and 3,196 cases recorded within the past 24 hours.

It brought Scotland's Covid death toll, under the daily measure of people who first tested positive within the previous 28 days, to 9,688.

A total of 108 cases of the mutant Covid strain were reported in Scotland between November 1 and December 8

Christmas revellers have been urged to delay festive parties as part of a bid to tackle the rapid spread of the Omicron Covid variant

Back in 2019, thousands took part in an annual torchlight procession along Edinburgh's Royal Mile towards Holyrood Park as Scotland marked the start of its Hogmanay celebrations

The Scottish government is urging people to put their plans for winter festivities on hold while Omicron Covid variant cases continue to rise

In a plea to Scotland residents, Dr Phin said: 'There is much that we still need to learn about Omicron, but early evidence suggests that this new Covid variant is much more transmissible.

'The impact of this transmissibility has been seen in recent weeks, with a number of Omicron outbreaks linked to parties.

'We still need to learn more about the severity of disease caused by Omicron and the effectiveness of vaccines, but there are important things that we can do to help protect ourselves and our families now.

'I appreciate that everyone is keen to celebrate this festive season, particularly after the pressures of the last 20 months, but by postponing some plans we can all do our bit to protect ourselves and our loved ones.'

The health body has also urged people to test at least twice weekly with lateral flow devices and each time they are socialising with people outside their household.

It also advised that, as well as vaccinating and receiving booster jabs, people should follow other public health advice of handwashing and wearing face masks.

The latest data, published on Thursday, shows a total of 4,358,725 people have received their first dose of a Covid-19 vaccination in Scotland, while 3,967,477 are double jabbed and 2,000,915 have received a third dose or booster.

In Scotland, vaccine passports have been in force since October, with people who are attending nightclubs, indoor events (unseated) with 500 or more people, outdoor events (unseated) with 4,000 or more people and any event with 10,000 or more having to show they are double vaccinated before entering.

Since December 6, a negative PCR test taken within 24 hours of entry to a venue or a negative lateral flow test have also been accepted as part of the passes. Scotland's Covid passes are called the NHS Scotland COVID Status app.

Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon attends First Minster's Questions (FMQ's) at the Scottish Parliament on Thursday

A courier walks towards a testing station at Edinburgh Airport on Monday after the UK government tightened rules due to the spread of Omicron variant

Last year's celebrations were also cancelled because of rising cases, with Ms Sturgeon suggesting that the public 'should ring in 2021 in our own homes'. Pictured: Princes Street in Edinburgh late on December 31, 2020

It comes as a total of 389 confirmed confirmed or possible cases have now been reported, with 108 cases confirmed between November 1 and December 8.

Of that figure, 48 per cent were aged 20 to 39.

Public Health Scotland says there has been early detection of a large number of cases at events which typically attract younger people.

It includes six Omicron cases in Scotland being linked to a Steps concert at Glasgow's Hydro venue on November 22.

Nicola Sturgeon also ramped up work from home orders for Scots on Tuesday, demanding businesses make sure people stay away from offices.

Amid fears that the mutant strain is on track to sweep the country within weeks, the First Minister insisted that none of the current restrictions north of the border will be eased before Christmas.

The SNP leader said: 'I know this is difficult, but I cannot stress enough how much difference we think this could make in helping stem transmission and avoid the need for even more onerous measures.'

In a direct call to employers, Ms Sturgeon added: 'If you had staff working from home at this start of the pandemic, please now enable them to do so again'.

She also urged Scots to follow rules around testing and self-isolation should they have symptoms, as well as regular lateral flow testing.

England's Omicron hotspots revealed as variant cases rise 45% in a day but UK's overall daily Covid infections go DOWN: West Northants is super-mutant capital and SAGE says it'll cause biggest wave ever  but Britain's cases fall 5% in week to 50,867

ByLuke Andrews Health Reporter For Mailonline

England's Omicron hotspot was today revealed as West Northamptonshire as No10's scientific advisers warned the mutant strain could trigger the biggest wave yet  but UK-wide daily Covid infections dropped for the first time in over a week.

Up to 83 cases of the highly-evolved variant have been detected in West Northants with 27 officially confirmed by lab analysis, according to the UK Health Security Agency.

Regionally, most cases are concentrated in London where the virus is believed to have been seeded by incoming travellers. Eight of the 10 areas with the highest Omicron counts are in the capital.

UK Omicron cases jumped 45 per cent in a day, with 817 cases confirmed so far. But Government scientists insist it is already in every corner of the country and is doubling every two to three days.

Separate data by the UKHSA that lends weight to the theory today showed around 90 per cent of local authorities in England saw Covid infections begin to rise in the week to December 5.

Yet despite fears about the mutant strain, the Department of Health said the UK's daily Covid cases fell 6 per cent in a week to 50,867 today. Daily deaths were up 5 per cent with 148 more victims. Latest hospital data shows there were 813 on December 5, marking a 16 per cent rise on the previous week.



SAGE has warned Omicron is likely to trigger a peak of infections larger than any previous wave, despite having vaccines and a wall of natural immunity on the country's side this time around.

Omicron has dozens of mutations on its spike protein and is spreading ferociously in South Africa where up to 80 per cent of people have natural immunity and lab tests suggest it can infect double-vaccinated people with relative ease.

Boris Johnson activated his Covid contingency plan last night in response to fears the highly-mutated strain may cause a million infections by New Year and trigger 1,000 NHS admissions by January if left unchecked. From next week, people in England will be advised to work from home, wear face masks in cinemas and theatres, and use vaccine passports for large events.

Sajid Javid today claimed that the sudden shift to Plan B was 'proportionate' and would 'buy time' to allow the NHS to dish out millions more booster jabs. But the Health Secretary also dangled the threat of even tougher orders being rolled out in the coming weeks, admitting that ministers will keep the current policies under constant review.

The above map shows the ten areas that have the most confirmed Omicron cases in England, according to the UK Health Security Agency. West Northamptonshire is the country's hotspot for the mutant strain, although eight in ten areas on the list are in London

The above graph shows the cumulative count for Omicron cases across the UK. Scientists say that there is no difference at present between England and Scotland's outbreaks

 Slide me  The UKHSA found that cases rose in 90 per cent of local authorities last week in England. It comes amid the spread of the Omicron variant

Boris Johnson (pictured today visiting his newborn daughter in hospital) announced on Wednesday that the Government is implementing its Covid Plan B to tackle Omicron

The UK Health Security Agency has revealed the ten areas with the highest number of Omicron infections. West Northamptonshire and Buckinghamshire were the only areas not in London.

The eight in the capital were Croydon (up to 10 cases), Hackney (14), Lambeth (16), Newham (22), Brent (14), Greenwich (16), Wandsworth (13) and Lewisham (26).

But it is likely that Omicron may already be in many local authorities. Some 817 cases in the UK  and 696 in England  have been confirmed to date, although the locations of many are not known.

Three of the areas recording the most Omicron cases are also seeing the fastest upticks in their infection in the country. These are Greenwich (up 63 per cent in a week), Daventry in West Northamptonshire (up 46 per cent) and Newham (up 45 per cent).

Separate data revealed today that 90 per cent of local authorities in England are now seeing their infections begin to rise as the variant spreads in the country.

Scientists say Britain's Omicron cases are already doubling every two to three days, and may be 20 times higher the actual figure. They say spikes in Covid cases are already being seen in some areas.

It comes after King's College London scientists suggested the country's Covid outbreak grew four per cent last week, despite the variant beginning to spread.

The UKHSA yesterday published a list of the top ten areas that have the most confirmed Omicron cases in England, and the number of suspected cases in each.

But they have refused to reveal the full list of areas where Omicron has emerged, although figures suggest it is already widespread.

Separate data showed that out of the ten areas with the fastest growing infection rates in England, five have already detected at least one case of Omicron.

These included Greenwich, Newham and Daventry with the biggest outbreaks in the country.

South and East of England have highest Covid rates since January Covid case rates in London, eastern England and the south-east have climbed to their highest level since the start of the year, new figures show. A total of 648.5 cases per 100,000 people were recorded in the South East in the week to December 5, the highest rate for the region since week to January 3. Eastern England is at 552.4 cases per 100,000, the highest since the week to January 10, while Londons rate stands at 461.1, the highest since the week ending January 17. The South East has recorded the highest regional rate in England in the three most recent weeks, suggesting it is one of the main areas of the UK driving the current spike in cases. The figures, from the UK Health Security Agency, show rates are rising in all regions along with most age groups. Children aged five to nine continue to have the highest rate, at 1,063.8 cases per 100,000, up week-on-week from 984.3. Rates also remain high among 10 to 19-year-olds, up from 849.8 to 903.4. For people aged 80 and over the rate continues to be low, at 65.4, up slightly from 61.5. The only age groups to see a drop in rates are people aged 60 to 69 and 70 to 79. Despite the widespread rise in case rates, hospital admissions remain stable and at a low level. The rate of Covid-19 admissions in England stood at 6.4 per 100,000 people in the week to December 5, unchanged from the previous week. Admission rates continue to be highest among people aged 85 and over, at 33.8 per 100,000 - up slightly from 29.0. Advertisement

But Portsmouth (up 44 per cent) and Southwark (up 43 per cent) were also on the list, having detected at least one case of the variant.

There were also surging outbreaks in Copeland, Barking and Dagenham, West Devon, the Forest of Dean and East Lindsey despite none having any confirmed variant cases to date.

For comparison, across England cases rose 11 per cent last week.

Britain checks about 20 per cent of its Covid cases for variants.

It means many are likely slipping under the radar, and No10's scientists suggest the current tally is likely around 20 times higher than confirmed cases.

Omicron cases can only be confirmed using sequencing to check the virus' genetics.

But PCRs can give an early indication of whether someone has the variant.

They look for three specific mutations to detect Covid, but in Omicron one is so mutated that it does not show up during the test.

Covid cases spiralled rapidly in South Africa after the mutant variant gained a foothold, with cases rocketing more than 300 per cent week-on-week for days on end.

SAGE adviser Professor Edmunds says this situation could be 'immidiately translated' to the UK because both countries have high levels of immunity.

In South Africa around 24 per cent of people are fully vaccinated, but most already have immunity from previous infection during a major wave.

In the UK around 70 per cent of people are now double-jabbed, and millions of others have immunity from previous infection.

He told a Royal Society of Medicine public lecture today: South Africas situation. I think you could immediately translate that to the UK. We both have high levels of immunity.

He added: Could we potentially have something double quickly here? Yes, and that is exactly what we are now seeing.'

The top epidemiologist added, however, that it was still too early to tell whether the mutant strain is more mild than other variants.

MailOnline analysis shows fewer patients are being admitted to ICU in South Africa's epicentre Gauteng now than at the same point during the Delta wave.

Experts said it was possible that the strain could be more mild, but added that more people have immunity now than when the other variant first took hold.

SAGE scientists are already ramping up the rhetoric to suggest that more restrictions could be needed in the country to keep the variant under control.

King's College London scientists estimated that 83,658 people in the UK were catching the virus every day last week, up four per cent on the same time the week before

Covid cases appear to have already peaked in the in the South African province at the epicentre of the Omicron outbreak, figures suggest. Graph shows: Gauteng's daily cases (red line), average cases (blue line) compared to the predicted 25 per cent daily rise cases had been following since November 15

But cases are still increasing on a week-on-week basis, up 41 per cent on the 6,168 recorded the previous Wednesday. On average, there are now around 9,143 infections per day in the area, up from 2,897 last week

Professor Christina Pagel, a mathematician at University College London, said infections have been increasing at a rate of around 25 per cent per day in Gauteng, South Africa, since November 15. She said infections over the last four days have dipped below this trend, suggesting cases may be rounding off. Graph shows: The rate of infection growth in Gauteng (red line) compared to daily cases (dots). Black dots indicate case numbers on Sunday and Monday which are always lower due to falls in testing at the weekend

What are the new Covid rules in England? WFH The return of work from home guidance. People will be told to work from home in England from Monday if they are able to. Face masks Face masks will be made compulsory in most public indoor venues including in cinemas and theatres from this Friday. They will not be required in pubs, restaurants and gyms. Vaccine passports The NHS Covid pass will be compulsory to gain access to nightclubs and other large venues where large crowds gather. This will apply to all unseated indoor venues with more than 500 people, unseated outdoor venues with more than 4,000 people and any venue with more than 10,000 people. Two vaccine doses will be treated as fully-vaccinated but this will be kept under review because of the booster programme. A negative lateral flow test will also be sufficient. This requirement will be rolled out in one week's time to give businesses time to prepare. Contact testing Contacts of Omicron cases will be told to take daily coronavirus tests instead of having to self-isolate. They will have to quarantine if they test positive. Advertisement

Documents from a sub-group of SAGE showed last night that the UK could face a bigger wave of infections than in January because of the varinat.

The documents  form the SPI-M-O group  did point to caveats in the work, however.

They said that it was difficult to make comparisons with South Africa because a much larger proportion of its population is young than in the UK.

They add: 'It is not yet clear whether or how Omicron escapes from natural immunity and/or vaccine-induced immunity and which of these is the likely main driver of its apparent fitness advantage.'

Professor Andrew Hayward, a member of No10's top scientific advisory group, warned the UK could 'need much more severe restrictions'. While Plan B will 'slow the spread' of the super-strain, the University College London epidemiologist argued the measures are 'not going to turn around' the looming wave of cases and hospitalisations.

Sajid Javid today claimed that the sudden shift to Plan B was 'proportionate' and would 'buy time' to allow the NHS to dish out millions more booster jabs.

But the Health Secretary also dangled the threat of even tougher orders being rolled out in the coming weeks, admitting that ministers will keep the current policies under constant review.

It means Britons could still be stung by last-minute Christmas curbs again after millions were deprived from seeing their loved ones last year when the Alpha variant took off.

SAGE modeller Dr Mike Tildesley hinted at a watered down Christmas this year, claiming that it was 'very important' to allow people to be together this year  but in a 'safe way'.

Mr Johnson has already hinted that Covid jabs could eventually be compulsory, telling last night's Downing Street conference that a 'national conversation' on the matter is likely to be needed in the future. And while vaccine passports have only been imposed on large scale events at the moment, Mr Johnson suggested they could be rolled out more widely in society.

The Government is already being lobbied by independent scientists to go harder, with Independent SAGE, a 'zero Covid' group of experts, telling ministers to 'bring in more measures right now... then we may be able to avoid a lockdown'.

Yesterday Professor Neil Ferguson, one of SAGE's top modellers, warned a full-blown lockdown might be needed to protect the NHS from Omicron.

UK Covid infections grew by just four per cent last week, the country's biggest symptom-tracking study claimed today despite warnings Omicron is quickly outstripping Delta.

King's College London scientists estimated 83,658 people caught the virus on average each day in the week to December 4, up from 80,483 the seven days prior.

Cases are stagnant or falling in all over-55s thanks to the booster rollout but are rising in all younger age groups, especially children who make up about 30,000 daily cases alone. Broken down within the UK, London, the South East and Wales saw cases rise.

In total, there are 46,000 Covid cases on average each day in the UK and data from the Covid Genomics UK Consortium (COG-UK) suggests the new strain is already behind around one in 66 of them, or 1.4 per cent

Professor Tim Spector, who leads the ZOE symptom study, said that while it was too early to see Omicron in the data, he warned the NHS could be overwhelmed if cases of the super-strain begin to skyrocket as predicted.

He said the evidence  alongside claims it may be more mild than other strains  was no reason to be 'relaxed', adding: 'The higher rate of transmission even in the vaccinated could have devastating consequences... Hundreds of people continue to die every week as we head into our second Christmas of this pandemic.'

Professor Spector, who has been calling for more restrictions since September, welcomed Boris Johnson's Plan B announcement last night but feared it is 'too little, too late'.

From next week, people in England will be advised to work from home, wear face masks in cinemas and theatres, and use vaccine passports for large events.

SAGE, the Government's scientific advisory group, has warned that there could have been a million Omicron cases and 1,000 daily hospital admissions by the end of the year without Plan B.
Emmanuel Macron claimed the British government 'does not do what it says'

Emmanuel Macron has accused Boris Johnson's government of failing to keep its word on Brexit in a thinly veiled swipe at the row over fishing licences.

Speaking at a news conference, the French President made the dig at the Prime Minister before saying he was willing to re-engage 'in good faith'.

It comes just a week after Macron was reported to have called Boris Johnson a 'clown' and Britain a 'circus' during a furious briefing with advisors.

'The problem with the British government is that it does not do what it says,' Macron said, adding however that there 'had been progress' in the last weeks and that France wanted full cooperation with London.

Emmanuel Macron has accused Boris Johnson's government of failing to keep its word on Brexit in a thinly veiled swipe at the row over fishing licences

It comes just a week after Macron was reported to have called Boris Johnson a 'clown' and Britain a 'circus' during a furious briefing with advisors. Pictured: Macron and Johnson smile in front of the Trevi Fountain in Rome at the G20 summit on October 31

'I love Great Britain, I love its people. I have an overwhelming desire to have a government that wants to works with us in good faith,' he added.

Macron recalled recent tensions over migrants crossing the Channel and a row over the granting of British fishing licences to French fishermen, which he said he hoped would be resolved before a French deadline on Friday, despite the UK denying that they are working to any such time framework.

UK-French relations have been poor in recent months, with Macron slamming Mr Johnson's conduct during the sausage wars, fishing row and nuclear submarine affair.

French fishermen are angry at the British government for not granting more licences to fish in UK waters after Brexit. The fishing industry is economically tiny, but symbolically important for both Britain and France.

Insiders told the highly respected investigative weekly Le Canard Enchaine (The Chained Duck) that Macron had described his counterpart as a 'good for nothing' during a trip to Croatia.

French fishermen are angry at the British government for not granting more licences to fish in UK waters after Brexit. Pictured: Fishermen block trucks at the Eurotunnel Freight Terminal during a day of protests in November

The outburst came the day after 27 migrants crossing to Britain drowned in the Channel in one of the worst disasters on record.

Le Canard writes: 'As soon as he arrived in Zagreb on 24 November, Macron spoke to Boris Johnson on the phone about the tragedy in Calais.'

During this conversation, Mr Macon's advisors learned that the Prime Minister had already used Twitter to publish 'a letter he had just sent to Macron, which Macron had not yet been able to read.'

Mr Macron was incensed about this, and told advisors in Zagreb: 'Bojo talks to me, he's down to earth, everything's fine, we're having grown-up discussions and then he sticks it to us either beforehand or afterwards in an inelegant manner. It's always the same circus.'

Mr Macron, a massive opponent of Brexit, also blamed Britain leaving the EU as the 'starting point' of ongoing tensions between the UK and France.

Macron is unhappy with Mr Johnson's conduct over several issues, including the ongoing Channel migrant crisis. This is the first picture of the flimsy and dangerous dinghy that sank off Calais, killing 27 people

The new arrivals bring the total number to have made it to the UK this month to more than 6,000, exceeding the previous record of 3,879 in September. This year's total is now a record-breaking 25,772

Tensions are likely to continue in the run-up to France's presidential election next year which Macron is expected to run in but faces strong competition.

The row over fishing licences also coincides with France's rotating presidency of the European Union Council on a six-month mandate. Macron has vowed to work towards a strong and 'sovereign' EU.

One point Macron is keen to resolve is the migrant crisis in the Channel, which has seen Home Secretary Priti Patel criticise French efforts to stop traffickers on their beaches.

Macron has urged Britain to create clearer paths to asylum to deter people from making the dangerous crossing.

He also said some migrants are attracted by a British economic model that 'depends on illegal work by foreigners'.

Britain and France have accused each other of not doing enough to prevent the deaths of at least 27 migrants whose boat sank last month off the coast of Calais.

Macron was also left furious with Britain, the United States and Australia in September after they signed a new security deal called AUKUS that led Australia to abandon its purchase of French submarines.



Referring to Britain's role in secretly negotiating the sale of US-designed submarines to Australia in September - at the expense of French ones - he said this was 'not the most obvious sign of friendship, to use understatement'.
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Police in California are on the hunt for an arsonist they say set fire to a Christmas tree in Oakland's Jack London Square, just days before a Fox News tree was set ablaze by a homeless drug offender in New York City.

Oakland Fire Department spokesman Michael Hunt said crews found clues at the scene that pointed to arson.

'At the scene of the fire, there was what looked to be an aerosol canister found at the base of the tree,' Hunt told KTVU. 'So we are making a preliminary assumption that was directly involved in lighting the fire.'

The tree was decorated with ornaments and lights in preparation for the city's December 11 tree lighting ceremony, which is set to proceed Saturday despite the damage.

Oakland's 52-foot Christmas tree was targeted early Monday, but firefighters extinguished the blaze before flames completely devoured it. Damage was contained to mostly the bottom of the tree.

Broken ornaments and the tree's electrical box could be seen in images of the tree after the fire.

DailyMail.com reached out to the Oakland police and fire departments for more comment.

The California crime happened the same week a homeless man in Manhattan allegedly scaled Fox News' 'All-American Tree' early Wednesday in Midtown and set it ablaze before being arrested.

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A 52-foot Christmas tree in Oakland, California's Jack London Square, pictured before the arson on left, was damaged early Monday. Damage was contained mainly to the bottom of the tree, pictured after on the right

A local TV cameraman used a phone to take a video of the tree on Monday after it was damaged

According to a New York criminal complaint, when police picked up accused arsonist Craig Tamanaha, he told a detective: 'I have been thinking about lighting the tree on fire all day long.'

The fire on West 48th Street and 6th Avenue caused about $500,000 in property damage, sources told the New York Post. It is still unclear why the Fox News tree was targeted.

A work crew was back outside the Fox News headquarters on Thursday morning to put up and decorate a new 50-foot Christmas tree.

Fox News Media chief executive Suzanne Scott said in an internal memo to staff would serve 'as a message that there can be peace, light and joy even during a dark moment like this.'

Tamanaha, who is described as unhoused and 'emotionally disturbed', faces six misdemeanor charges and under the 2020 criminal justice reform laws, judges are advised to release the accused.

Arson is only considered a felony in New York if the arsonist harms or attempts to harm a person, or carries out the attack as a hate crime.

The red, white and blue decorations (shown, left, before the tree was set on fire) and (right) after the assault on Tuesday night

Fox News' 'All American Christmas Tree' was set destroyed by an arsonist early Wednesday. He is pictured above being taken into custody outside the News Corp building as the tree burned in the background

The tree is pictured going up in smoke, allegedly at the hands of a man with a lengthy criminal background

Craig Tamanaha, the 49-year-old alleged arsonist has a lengthy criminal record

Tamanaha, 49, has a lengthy criminal record spanning at least 20 years and two states, and he was arrested last month for exposing himself outside the Ghislaine Maxwell trial in the city.

In 2002, the then-30-year-old Tamanaha was picked up in Abilene, Texas, on a public intoxication charge.

Between 2017-2018, he was arrested on three separate occasions and charged with public intoxication, burglary and resisting arrest.

Tamanaha's father, Richard Tamanaha, from Hawaii, told the New York Post that his son is a drug addict and is prone to destructive behavior.

'Oh, hes a nut. I can't control him,' the elder Tamanaha told the tabloid. 'Mentally, he's not all there.'

Tamanaha was detained in November for exposing himself in front of the United States Court House in Manhattan as Maxwell's sex trafficking trial was going on inside.

An NYPD spokesperson said that Tamanaha had three prior arrests: two earlier this year in March for controlled substances in March and one in 2015 for an open container.

Oakland officials did not respond to DailyMail.com request for comment; it wasn't clear whether a suspect was arrested in the California Christmas tree arson.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art is dropping the Sackler name from seven exhibition spaces amid growing outrage over the role the shamed pharmaceutical dynasty may have played in the opioid crisis.

The Manhattan and the Sackler family jointly announced on Thursday that the institution and their once-deep-pocketed benefactors would part ways, removing the Sackler name from the iconic building, including the wing that houses the Temple of Dendur.

The wing is named after brothers Arthur, Mortimer and Raymond Sackler, who donated $3.5 million for it in the 1970s.

'Our families have always strongly supported The Met, and we believe this to be in the best interest of the Museum and the important mission that it serves,' Sackler descendants said in a statement.

Arthur, Mortimer and Raymond Sackler have all died, but descendants of Mortimer and Raymond Sackler currently are principal owners of Purdue Pharma, the company that developed OxyContin, a widely prescribed and widely abused painkiller.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art is dropping the Sackler name from seven exhibition spaces amid growing outrage over the role the family may have played in the opioid crisis. A sign with the Sackler name is displayed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, Thursday, January 17, 2019

The Sackler family has been criticized for its role in the opioid crisis as principal owners of Purdue Pharma, the company that developed OxyContin, a widely prescribed and widely abused painkiller

In September, a bankruptcy judge conditionally approved a settlement in which the Sacklers agreed to pay $4.5 billion and give up ownership of Purdue Pharma, which would be reorganized.

They would in turn receive immunity from future lawsuits.

Victims' families and a group of states criticized the deal.

Purdue Pharma pleaded guilty to criminal charges in late 2020.

Foundations run by members of the Sackler family have given tens of millions of dollars to museums, including the Guggenheim in New York and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, and funded work at Oxford and Yale.

In recent years, the Guggenheim, the Louvre in Paris, the Tate in London and the Jewish Museum in Berlin have all distanced themselves from the family.

In 2019, the Met itself announced it would stop taking monetary gifts from Sacklers connected to Purdue Pharma.

Foundations run by members of the Sackler family have given tens of millions of dollars to museums, including the Guggenheim in New York and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, and funded work at Oxford and Yale. A sign with some Sackler family names is displayed at the Met on January 17, 2019
Children as young as five will be eligible for vaccination against COVID-19, as polling shows one in two parents intend to take the opportunity.

The final approval of Pfizer vaccines for under-12s clears the way for the rollout to start from January 10, which a decision is pending on whether to give Moderna shots to younger children.

Polling by the Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne shows about half of parents surveyed intend to get their children aged between five and 11 vaccinated.

One-quarter of 1259 parents surveyed in July were against it while almost one-third were unsure.

Side effects, convenience and accessibility were key factors influencing parents' willingness to vaccinate their children.

Poll director and paediatrician Anthea Rhodes was not surprised a significant chunk of parents were undecided because trials and testing remained underway at the time of the survey.

One in two parents say they will have their child vaccinated against COVID-19, survey results show

The biggest questions parents had were 'is it safe enough?' and 'does it work well enough to be worth having?', Dr Rhodes said.

She said it highlighted the need to give parents reliable and clear information about the safety and efficacy of vaccines.

Pfizer vaccines to be given to children contain one-third of the standard dose following final approval from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison will discuss with state and territory leaders on Friday the situation of Australia's international border.

It follows a decision to delay to mid-December the country's reopening to international students and visa holders because of the Omicron variant.

An epidemiological update and internal borders will also be on the agenda at national cabinet.

Mr Morrison said the approval of vaccines for younger children would come as a relief to parents.

'They can have peace of mind knowing this has the tick from the best medical regulators in the world,' he said.
A top doctor has warned parents to carefully consider the risks of circumcising their child after a two-year-old boy died and his baby brother almost bled out.

WA Australian Medical Association president Mark Duncan-Smith urged parents to only follow through with the procedure if there was a valid medical reason.

'It's a very, very good conversation to have with your trusted GP,' he said.

'Your GP can advise you the proper indications for circumcision, the dangers, how it's done. And that has to be part of the evaluation of whether or not it's appropriate for a child to have a circumcision.'

His warning comes after a two-year-old boy died after suffering an allergic reaction to anaesthesia given to him during the procedure on Tuesday.

WA Australian Medical Association president Mark Duncan-Smith urged parents to only follow through with the procedure if there was a valid medical reason

The boy was discharged from hospital following the circumcision and was at a friend's Seville Grove home, in Perth, when he began to show signs of a reaction.

He was rushed by ambulance to Armadale Hospital before he was pronounced dead by paramedics.

His seven-month old brother was taken to Perth Children's Hospital for emergency surgery after suffering post-surgery bleeding.

'As with any medical procedure, proper consultation with the patient, parents and the child should be undertaken beforehand,' Dr Duncan-Smith told The West Australian.

'And also, clearly a history of bleeding in the family would be a red flag for for example.'

The top doctor pointed out rates of circumcision had declined in Western Australia over the last few decades.

Some 90 per cent of children were circumcised during the 1960s with rates dwindling to 10 per cent today.

Dr Duncan-Smith said more parents were turning away from the practice as there were few medical reasons to circumcise their child.

Some 90 per cent of children were circumcised during the 1960s with rates dwindling to 10 per cent today (stock image)

Rates continue to be remain high in developing countries such as Africa where HIV and HPV are prevalent.

Dr Duncan-Smith said circumcision was mainly still practised for religious reasons by members of the Jewish and Muslim community.

Homicide detectives were called in to investigate following the death of the toddler, but WA Police Commissioner Chris Dawson said the situation is not being treated as suspicious.

'There are no suspicious circumstances  this medical procedure took place at an authorised medical facility,' he said.

'It appears that this is a very tragic case.

'But I've got no information to suggest that there's anything untoward in terms of criminal acts or anything like that.'

Detectives worked with the family to complete a report for the coroner.
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The homeless man who set fire the Fox News tree on Tuesday night is already back on the streets a day after being arrested because the charges he was slapped with were so low they didn't require bond.

Craig Tamanaha, 49, was taken into custody in New York City shortly after midnight on Wednesday morning for setting fire to the tree, that is outside the News Corp HQ in Times Square.

It was not a political attack - the homeless man targeted the tree at random, climbing it as Fox News staffers watched on then using a lighter to set it alight.

He tried to scramble away but was arrested by NYPD police officers and he was charged with six counts including arson, reckless endangerment, criminal mischief and criminal trespassing.

But because of New York City's soft bail limits, he walked free. All of the charges are misdemeanors, meaning the judge couldn't set a bail for him.

Now, he is back on the streets, without any form of mental health support or supervision, awaiting his next court date.

Craig Tamanaha, 49, is pictured on Thursday outside a Starbucks in Lower Manhattan, a day after being arrested for setting fire to the Times Square tree

Tamanaha is now without any form of supervision or support, despite being a repeat criminal whose own father says he is mentally ill and can't be controlled

Tamanaha told police after he was arrested on Tuesday night that he'd been thinking of setting fire to the tree 'all day'. Fox has now rebuilt the tree, right

Fox News has now rebuilt their tree and it will be lit tonight in a new relighting ceremony.

The news organization and Fox Corporation donated $100,000 each to Answer The Call, a charity that supports the families of fallen NYPD and FDNY servicemembers, after the tree blaze.

Little is known about Tamanaha. Before Wednesday's incident at Times Square, he had been arrested in New York City twice on minor drugs possession charges.

The 49-year-old has a lengthy criminal record spanning at least 20 years and two states, and he was arrested last month for exposing himself outside the Ghislaine Maxwell trial in the city.

In 2002, the then-30-year-old Tamanaha was picked up in Abilene, Texas, on a public intoxication charge. Between 2017-2018, he was arrested on three separate occasions and charged with public intoxication, burglary and resisting arrest.

Tamanaha is shown being arrested next to the tree on Tuesday night shortly after midnight. He had a lighter on him

Craig Tamanaha is arraigned in Manhattan Criminal Court for setting fire to the Christmas Tree outside of Fox Studios on 6th Avenue in Midtown Manhattan. He was released under supervised release an has to report back to court on Jan 4th 2021

Craig Tamanaha is arraigned in Manhattan Criminal Court for setting fire to the Christmas Tree outside of Fox Studios on 6th Avenue in Midtown Manhattan.

Tamanaha's father, Richard Tamanaha, from Hawaii, told The New York Post that his son is a drug addict and is prone to destructive behavior.

'Oh, hes a nut. I can't control him,' the elder Tamanaha told the tabloid. 'Mentally, he's not all there.'

Craig Tamanaha, the 49-year-old alleged arsonist who torched Fox News' Christmas tree, is back on the streets just hours after his arrests because all of his charges are misdemeanors, meaning that a judge can't set bail

According to a newly released criminal complaint, when police picked up the accused arsonist, he was quoted as telling a detective: 'I have been thinking about lighting the tree on fire all day long.'

A work crew was back outside the Fox News headquarters on Thursday morning to put up and decorate a new 50-foot Christmas tree, which Fox News Media CEO Suzanne Scott said in an internal memo to staff would serve 'as a message that there can be peace, light and joy even during a dark moment like this.'

Tamanaha, who is described as unhoused and 'emotionally disturbed', faces six misdemeanor charges and under the 2020 criminal justice reform laws, judges are advised to release the accused. Arson is only considered a felony in New York if the arsonist harms or attempts to harm a person, or carries out the attack as a hate crime.

Outgoing Mayor Bill de Blasio supported the bail reforms in 2019 before they came in, saying: 'With the lowest rate of incarceration of any major city, New York City is proving you dont need to arrest your way to safety.'

Crime has since spiraled out of control, with with violent attacks on subways and random assaults in the street happening far more frequently than in the past two years.

The latest NYPD data show robberies spiking 24.1 percent in November compared with November 2020. Grand Larceny has skyrocketed 40.6 percent last month, compared with November 2020.

The accused arsonist - wearing a blue jacket and jeans - was asked what happened and appeared incoherent.

'You see, the mother society that raped the daughter's mom, they set it on fire,' he said.

'Ask the moms who molest their daughters how they feel about it.' It was not clear what this was in reference to.

Tamanaha then asked for a cigarette and said he was going home. He then denied the charges before leaving.

Craig Tamanaha was seen on video being arraigned and released after allegedly torching Fox News' All-American Christmas Tree on 47th Street and Avenue of the Americas in Midtown Manhattan

An NYPD spokesperson said that Tamanaha had three prior arrests: two earlier this year in March for controlled substances in March and one in 2015 for an open container

'There's no question that the legislature has got to reevaluate the nooks and crannies of the bail statute because it's leading to absurd outcomes,' Mark Bederow, a former Manhattan prosecutor turned criminal defense lawyer, told Fox News.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio is notoriously soft on crime and an advocate of bail reform

In order for a judge to set bail, Tamanaha would have to have been charged with at least third-degree arson, which constitutes a hate crime.

'You'd have to intentionally damage a building or vehicle by starting a fire or explosion as a hate crime, which is an extraordinarily high bar for bail eligibility. Having a personal bias or animus toward Christmas doesn't legally cut it,' Bederow added.

When a suspect is released on bail for a crime against another person, that person can be granted an order of protection to make sure the suspect stays away from them.

But there is no legal order a judge could give to prevent Tamanaha from approaching the Fox News tree again. 'You can't give the Christmas tree an order of protection, so security will have to stand guard,' Bederow told Fox News.

Tamanaha caused about $500,000 in property damage, sources told the New York Post.

NYPD detectives told DailyMail.com that it was a completely random act and not politically motivated against Fox News or News Corp, which owns The New York Post and The Wall Street Journal.
Authorities are hopeful improved weather conditions will ease the threat from an uncontrolled bushfire threatening Western Australia's renowned Margaret River region.

The fast-moving blaze had ripped through more than 5000 hectares of the Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park on Thursday night.

Residents on the eastern side of Caves Road were urged to leave as more than 150 firefighters battled to strengthen containment lines in hot and windy weather.

Fears continue to mount for a missing father-of-three after he disappeared from a campsite without his phone or car.

Jordan Marshall, a real estate agent from Fremantle in Western Australia, was last seen on Wednesday morning near the Margaret River.

A bushfire has ripped through more than 5000 hectares of the Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park

The cause of the huge fire still hasn't been determined

Police issued an urgent welfare concern about 5.47pm that evening and as of Thursday afternoon, the 40-year-old is still missing.

A friend of Mr Marshall's told local media the single dad was 'spiralling' and 'not well'.

'He's not been taking drugs... He has a mental health condition,' a friend told the Augusta Margaret River Times.

WA's Department of Fire and Emergency Services said conditions had improved throughout the evening but there was still a significant risk to the community.

Commissioner Darren Klemm earlier described the situation as 'extremely serious'.

'A number of properties are under threat on or about Caves Road," he told reporters.

'The safest option for people in this area is always to leave early. Don't wait until the last minute.

'Strong winds, cave systems and (lack of) access for machinery are making it incredibly difficult to control the bushfires and people need to listen to the warnings that are being placed.'

The warning area has expanded significantly since an emergency alert was first issued on Wednesday.

Authorities are particularly worried about farming properties on the eastern side of Caves Road as a trough passes through the area from the coast.

Evacuation centres have opened in Margaret River and Busselton.

Jordan Marshall, a real estate agent from Fremantle in Western Australia, was last seen on Wednesday morning near the Margaret River

Friends and family are begging him to make contact, after it was revealed he no longer had his phone or car with him

Mr Klemm said the cause of the blaze was yet to be determined, playing down the presence of WA Police arson squad officers in the area.

The bushfire started near the intersection of Caves Road and Calgarup Road in Boranup, almost 300km south of Perth.

Premier Mark McGowan urged residents to follow official updates on the blaze.

'It's potentially going to jump Caves Road later on today and if it does that it'll be into a farmland area, so that's in the proximity of more residences as well," he told reporters on Thursday.

'There's very high fuel loads so it's obviously burning quite ferociously.'

A fire in Chittering (pictured) began near the intersection of Chittering Road and Chittering Valley Road, about 60km north-east of Perth just after midday on Tuesday

Authorities have downgraded the threat from a separate fire in nearby Yallingup to 'watch and act'.

An emergency warning had been in place for people west of Caves Road between Spencer Road and Johnson Road.

The fire was moving slowly in a southeasterly direction on Thursday night but was not contained or controlled.

Mr Klemm said the Yallingup bushfire had originated at a house which was believed to have sustained some damage.
A bid to challenge the hotel quarantine scheme for people returning to the UK from red list countries has been blocked by a High Court judge.

On Thursday, three people brought a bid for a full hearing to challenge the Government's quarantine requirements for people travelling from red list countries.

Under the managed hotel quarantine scheme, travellers from countries on the red list - which currently stands at 11 nations - must spend ten days in a hotel regardless of vaccination status.

Jamie Burton QC, representing the three claimants, argued the scheme deprived the travellers of their liberty and was in breach of their human rights.

On Thursday, three people brought a bid for a full hearing to challenge the Government's quarantine requirements for people travelling from red list countries (stock image)

In written submissions, he said: 'It is at least arguable that being required by law to occupy a guarded hotel room with less than an hour's pre-approved guarded exercise per day, with no possibility of association except with those in your room, and under the threat of severe criminal sanctions for non-compliance, is a deprivation of liberty.'

Mr Burton added that under the scheme travellers do not choose the hotel they must stay in or how they get there.

He told the High Court: 'The managed hotel quarantine scheme applies to everybody ... This is about people returning home to their homes and to their families.

'It is not apt to describe this as some sort of free choice.'

Following the hearing on Thursday afternoon, Mr Justice Fordham (pictured) refused the bid for a full challenge at the High Court, finding the claim was not arguable and the scheme 'satisfies the rigours of the standards of necessity and proportionality'.

'This issue needs to be looked at once and for all and determined properly,' Mr Burton concluded.

Julia Smyth, for the Department of Health and Social Care, said the scheme was proportionate.

'There have been travel restrictions in some form or another since the start of the pandemic. The Government's concern is about variants,' she said.

The barrister said the Government advises against travel to red list countries, adding: 'In other words, 'don't travel but okay, if you do travel, there is a consequence'.'

She continued: 'It is unarguable, it is unrealistic to submit that this system of being required to buy a package and stay in a hotel is a depravation of liberty.'

Ms Smyth added that while the quarantine system was a restriction of liberty, it was proportionate and necessary for the aims of safeguarding public health, particularly against variants that may have vaccine-evading properties.

A hearing was held at the High Court (pictured) earlier today regarding a bid lodged by three people to challenge the hotel quarantine scheme

Following the hearing on Thursday afternoon, Mr Justice Fordham refused the bid for a full challenge at the High Court, finding the claim was not arguable and the scheme 'satisfies the rigours of the standards of necessity and proportionality'.

He later said: 'It must be relevant that there is an element of choice on the part of the individuals who travel to red list countries and then come back from them.'

Following the ruling, Tom Goodhead, managing partner at PGMBM representing the claimants, said they planned to take the case to the Court of Appeal.

He said: 'We consider the hotel quarantine policy to be a fundamental breach of people's human rights.

'Law-abiding citizens who have been double vaccinated and tested negative should be free from hotel quarantine.

'The idea that they need to pay for the privilege of their own imprisonment is outrageous.'
Fox News host Tucker Carlson has revealed that his son, a Congressional staffer, was working in the US Capitol during the January 6 riot.

Carlson was responding to criticism that his controversial series Patriot Purge was a whitewash or 'revisionist history' when he made the revelation on the Fourth Watch Podcast hosted by Steve Krakauer.

'I hated what happened on January 6,' Carlson said. He then added that 'one of my kids was actually in the building when it happened. I was on the phone in real time.'

Carlson appears to have been referring to his son Buckley Carlson, who works as a staffer for Rep. Jim Banks, an Indiana Republican.

Fox News host Tucker Carlson has revealed that his son, a Congressional staffer, was working in the US Capitol during the January 6 riot

Carlson appears to have been referring to his son Buckley Carlson (above), who works as a staffer for Rep. Jim Banks, an Indiana Republican

Tucker Carlson's Patriot Purge series drew strong criticism, including from some within Fox News, for its depiction of attack as a peaceful protest, and the response as an overblown and politically motivated crackdown.

But in his remarks on the podcast published Thursday, Carlson said that he did not approve of the 'disorder' and 'litter' created by the riot but felt the damage done had been exaggerated.

'I just don't like when people break windows or litter. I'm about order and my house is clean, I really believe in that,' he said.

'So if people covering January 6th had been willing to just roughly tell the truthbut not use it as a partisan instrument to suspend civil liberties, I kinda would've just let it lie,' he continued.

'So they lie about what actually happened, they repeat the lie with maximum aggression, and over time, that lie solidifies into the common understanding of what happened.'

Patriot Purge is a three-part documentary released on the Fox Nation streaming service in October.

Demonstrators breeched security and entered the Capitol as Congress debated the 2020 presidential election Electoral Vote Certification

In the series, Carlson argues that the events of January 6 are being used as a pretext for persecution of conservative Americans, comparing it to how false claims were used seduce the public into supporting the Iraq War.

The series on the riot spurred tensions at Fox, where two writers who were paid contributors resigned in fury over the show.

Writers Jonah Goldberg and Stephen Hayes called the documentary a collection of incoherent conspiracy-mongering, which is 'riddled with factual inaccuracies, half-truths, deceptive imagery and damning omissions.'

Fox had no comment on their criticisms. Carlson told The New York Times that their departure was great news. 'Our viewers will be grateful,' he said at the time.

Carlson in the podcast interview argued that the mob attack was not an insurrection, which is defined as a 'violent uprising against an authority or government.'

'Almost a year in, there's not one data point of evidence that it was a planned insurrection, which is to say, an effort to overthrow the U.S. government,' Carlson said in the new interview.

'That's not true, and we would know, and then there's no evidence of racial animus. Once you realize that everybody, including people on my channel, are participating in this lie and calling it an insurrection. Anyone who calls January 6th an insurrection is a liar, because there's no evidence.'
Sen. Lindsey Graham warned his Senate Republican colleagues in a private lunch Wednesday that they would face the wrath of President Donald Trump if they voted in favor of the debt ceiling deal.

The Hill newspaper reported Thursday that Graham said the deal Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell made with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer would get GOP lawmakers 'shot in the back.'

Graham also warned them that 'the president,' meaning Trump, 'is going to be engaged on this issue.

Still, 14 Republicans, including McConnell and other thorns-in-Trump's-side, like Sens. Mitt Romney, Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski, voted with all 50 Democrats on cloture for a bill that will allow lawmakers to lift the debt ceiling before the December 15 deadline using only Democratic votes.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (right) reportedly told his GOP colleagues at a private luncheon Wednesday that if they voted for the debt ceiling deal Thursday they would face the wrath of former President Donald Trump

In a vote of 64 to 36, the Senate cleared a procedural hurdle on a bill that delays Medicare sequestration cuts for three months that also contains a provision that allows for the debt ceiling to be raised one time using a simple majority.

The vote continues a multi-step process to fast-track a debt ceiling hike, after Schumer and McConnell struck a deal earlier this week to avert the nation going into default.

Schumer thanked McConnell for playing ball and said on the Senate floor Thursday that their conversations were 'fruitful, candid, productive' and said this was the 'responsible' action to take.

Thursday's vote will need to still be followed by a Senate vote and then a House vote on the actual debt ceiling raise.

Additional Republicans who joined the Democrats included Sens. John Thune, John Barrasso, Shelley Moore Capito, Roger Wicker, Roy Blunt, Thom Tillis, Richard Burr, Joni Ernst, John Cornyn and Rob Portman.

Other Republicans have grumbled about the deal, having hoped that McConnell would force Democrats to use the more cumbersome process of reconciliation to push up the debt ceiling.

Fourteen Republicans still joined the Democrats Thursday to vote for a bill that contained a provision that will allow the Senate to pass a debt ceiling hike before the December 15 deadline using only Democratic votes

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer thanked Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell prior to the vote saying their conversations were 'fruitful, candid, productive' and said this was the 'responsible' action to take

Critics, including Trump, have pressed McConnell to drag out the process, with Trump incorrectly believing it would thwart Democratic efforts to push President Joe Biden's Build Back Better bill.

'So Mitch McConnell has the greatest hand, the greatest, the best, this is such an easy negotiation to kill the "Build Back Worse" plan of Biden.  And we have a thing called the debt ceiling. And this morning, I hear he gave it up,' Trump claimed on Hugh Hewitt's radio show Wednesday.

'He gave it up for practically nothing. He could have used the debt ceiling card ... the debt ceiling is psychological. This is not psychological. This is fact. This will destroy our country, the fabric of the country as we know it,' Trump said of Biden's Build Back Better plan.

Democrats already planned to use the reconciliation - which allows them to bypass a Republican filibuster threat - to get the $1.75 trillion bill over the line, so holding up the debt ceiling process would only create a delay.

Schumer has said he wants Build Back Better passed by Christmas.

Other Republicans feared that allowing Democrats to bypass the filibuster one time by adding a provision to a separate bill, would open the door for more carve-outs down the road.

Trump pressed Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell to drag out the process incorrectly believing it would thwart Democratic efforts to push President Joe Biden's Build Back Better bill

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, seen speaking at a service for the late Sen. Bob Dole earlier Thursday, agreed to a debt ceiling deal with Schumer that left some members of his party grumbling

Sen. Mike Lee, a Utah Republican, warned it could 'neuter the Senate.'

'IT IS AKIN TO "NUKING THE FILIBUSTER!"' he tweeted in all caps.

Still, 10 Republican votes were needed to push the process forward.

Sen. Ted Cruz, a Texas Republican, argued that Republicans were still giving Democrats assistance - even if GOP senators won't be needed for the final vote on the debt ceiling.

'I don't think Republicans should be facilitating adding trillions in debt,' the Texas Republican said, according to Wednesday's Playbook.

Over on the House side, GOP Rep. Kevin Brady, the ranking member of the House Ways and Means committee, complained that the deal mucked up what should have been a bipartisan Medicare bill, calling it a 'poison pill.'

'You wrecked a bipartisan agreement for your debt ceiling crisis,' Brady said Tuesday night on the floor.

On Tuesday night, the House passed the Medicare-debt ceiling bill Tuesday night with a vote of 222 to 212, with the support of just one Republican, retiring GOP Rep. Adam Kinzinger.

The debt ceiling has generally been voted on by members of both parties, as the debt was taken on by both Republican and Democratic presidents.

But McConnell, with few cards in his hand with Democrats controlling the White House and both houses of Congress, decided earlier this year to make it a hurdle for his Democratic colleagues - telling them they must raise the debt ceiling alone.

Republicans are eager to use the debt issue - as they did in the 2010 midterms to take Congress away from the Democrats - against the Democrats in Congressional races next year.

McConnell argued that the deal struck with Schumer still sticks to that.

'The red line is intact,' McConnell said. 'The red line is that you have a simple majority party-line vote on the debt ceiling. That's exactly where we will end up.'
A House vote on whether to refer ex-Trump Chief of Staff Meadows to the DOJ for criminal charges will take place on Tuesday

A 38-page plan for overturning President Joe Biden's electoral victory reportedly involved declaring a nationwide national security emergency and invalidating all electronically-cast ballots.

Mark Meadows shared a PowerPoint presentation dated January 5 with the Capitol riot committee, titled 'Election Fraud, Foreign Interference & Options for 6 JAN,' as part of the trove of documents he was compelled to hand over in the House's ongoing probe.

Its existence was revealed by Committee Chair Rep. Bennie Thompson, the lone Democrat representing Mississippi in Congress, in a letter informing Meadows' lawyer that the panel had 'no choice' but to move forward with a criminal referral for the ex-White House Chief of Staff for refusing to appear for a deposition.

He's one of several people in Donald Trump's orbit subpoenaed by the committee for his role in the Stop the Steal rally that preceded the attack on the Capitol. House Democrats announced a vote to refer Meadows for criminal charges will take place on Tuesday.

The bombshell powerpoint that was included in an email exchange with Meadows was reportedly leaked online.

A spokesperson for Rep. Liz Cheney, the highest ranking Republican on the committee, declined to verify or confirm to DailyMail.com whether the 36-page file was indeed the one referenced by Thompson in his letter. DailyMail.com has also reached out to the committee in an attempt to verify the document but has not heard back.

The presentation is reportedly one of the materials Meadows handed over to the Select Committee investigating the Capitol riot

Portions of that presentation shared by The Guardian reporter Hugo Lowell detail a series of 'recommendations,' apparently for Trump, to follow ahead of the planned electoral vote certification the next day.

They include declaring a national security emergency over accusations that China 'gained control over our election system,' claiming US electronic voting systems were 'under foreign influence and control,' and briefing federal lawmakers on the alleged 'foreign interference.'

It also calls for Trump to declare all electronically-cast ballots invalid and instructing Congress to undergo a 'legal & genuine' count of paper ballots or other 'Constitutional remedy.'

Another slide features three recommendations for ex-Vice President Mike Pence, who it's now known told Trump on January 5th that he wanted no part of his efforts to overturn Biden's win:

'VP Pence seats Republican Electors over the objections of Democrats in states where fraud occurred,' the first point states.

'VP Pence rejects the electors from States where fraud occurred causing the election to be decided by remaining electoral votes.

'VP Pence delays the decision in order to allow for a vetting and subsequent counting of the all the legal paper ballots.'

It appears to be in line with a memo written by John Eastman, a law professor who advised Trump on how to overturn the election and was also subpoenaed by the committee.

The slides shared on Twitter by a Guardian journalist detail an alarming plan to flip the election for Trump

Eastman took part in a January 4 Oval Office meeting where participants debated whether Pence had the authority to not accept votes certified by states that ultimately made Biden president when Congress met to count votes on January 6.

Another slide in the PowerPoint allegedly linked to Meadows refers to all non-paper ballots as 'counterfeit.'

It claims that electronic voting machines 'are shifting votes from Trump to Biden' and therefore only paper ballots could be counted, which would 'almost certainly' hand victory to Trump.

By eliminating mail-in ballots, a majority of which went to Democrats in 2020, 'US Senators, US House Races, State, and Local races now turn to Republican,' the presentation states.

It also appears to call for all urban-area votes to be rendered invalid, claiming without evidence that foreign actors changed votes 'in traditionally Republican strongholds in order to deliver a Biden win because they could jam no more into the major cities (fraud votes).'

The purported plan goes on to outline a recount scenario in which the remaining paper ballots would be 'locked and physically protected' by Trump's government and the vote count would happen under the National Guard's watch.

Lawyer John Eastman (l) 'asserts his Fifth Amendment right not to be a witness against himself,' his lawyer said in a letter to the Jan. 6th Committee

'A Trusted Lead Counter will be appointed with authority from the POTUS to direct the actions of select federalized National Guard units and support from DOJ, DHS and other US government agencies as needed to complete a recount of the legal paper ballots for the federal elections in all 50 states,' the presentation details.

Thompson's Tuesday letter to Meadows' lawyer reveals the Trump ally was exchanging emails about the lengthy presentation up until the day before the Capitol attack and it was intended for presentation 'on the hill.'

The letter also revealed further bombshell details about communications that the former North Carolina congressman did send over to the committee.

One of the most damning appears to be a text exchange between Meadows and an unnamed federal lawmaker that took place after the November 2020 election.

The letter refers to a 'November 6, 2020, text exchange with a Member of Congress apparently about appointing alternate electors in certain states as part of a plan that the Member acknowledged would be "highly controversial" and to which Mr. Meadows apparently said, "I love it"...'

Committee Chair Rep. Bennie Thompson warned Meadows he could face criminal charges for refusing to appear before panel in a letter on Tuesday

Meadows is also accused of exchanging text messages with someone about the need for Trump to 'issue a public statement that could have stopped the January 6th attack on the Capitol.'

The lawmaker-turned-White House official also allegedly spoke via text with an unnamed organizer of the January 6 Stop the Steal rally in 'early January.'

On November 7, 2020, the letter claims, Meadows sent an email discussing appointing an alternate slate of electors in certain states, likely that voted for Biden, in a 'direct and collateral attack.'

The day before the riot Meadows allegedly sent an email about having the National Guard on standby.

'All of those documents raise issues about which the Select Committee would like to question Mr. Meadows and about which you appear to agree are not subject to a claim of privilege,' Thompson wrote.

Despite the newly-revealed information Thompson stated that there were still more than a thousand items Meadows withheld due to claims of executive privilege.
Capitol Police whistleblowers who raised the alarm about intelligence failures that led up to the Jan. 6 insurrection have raised retaliation for their actions, according to their lawyer.

Officers have publicly alleged that crucial intelligence was not shared ahead of the attack on the U.S. Capitol building by supporters of former President Donald Trump.

And they have said that senior officials did not act to help officers once the violence unfolded.

But internal complaints about mismanagement reportedly go much further.

Now they are complaining they face retaliation and - in two cases - removal from the force.

'I represent a group of U.S. Capitol Police whistleblowers who worked in IICD [Intelligence and Interagency Coordination Division] on January 6, 2021,' Dan Gebhardt of the Solomon Law Firm told Politico.

'They have made a multitude of internal complaints regarding gross mismanagement and intelligence failures by certain IICD managers that contributed to the events of January 6, 2021.

'As a result, there have been multiple retaliatory actions against the whistleblowers, including two proposed removals.'

Capitol Police faced the wrath of Trump supporters on Jan. 6 but a series of whistleblower reports suggest intelligence and management failures meant they were ill-prepared

Now officers are complaining that they face retaliation for raising concerns, according to an employment lawyer representing them

He offered no further details about the nature of the retaliation they faced, apart from the two potential removals.

'My clients are experiencing retaliation for speaking out about Capitol Police management failures related to January 6, 2021,' he added.

The response of Capitol Police as the violence unfolded has been under intense scrutiny.

A devastating internal report set out a string of missteps that left the force unprepared what happened when hundreds of Trump supporters marched on the Capitol.

Released in April, it described riot shields that shattered, weapons that were unserviceable, inadequate training and an intelligence division that had few set standards.

A November letter sent to the House investigation into Jan. 6, and obtained by Politico, alleged that a 'culture of retaliation and intimidation' existed in the departments intelligence division.

Officers who defended the Capitol were hailed as heroes when they gave evidence to the House committee investigating the attack

'The true heartbreak post January 6th is the ongoing retaliation and intimidation that continues against most members of the IICD that sounded the alarms about the intelligence and disorganization prior to tragedies of January 6th,' said the whistleblower, who is reportedly not represented by Gebhardt.

And it said that said Capitol Police intelligence analysts made at least 93 complaints about 'abuse and mismanagement of the USCP intelligence operations' before and after Jan. 6.

A spokesperson for the Capitol Police declined to comment, citing the possibility of litigation.

Another letter sent to Congress by a high-ranking officer laid out more complaints about the force's leadership.

It claimed two senior officials - assistant chief Yogananda Pittman and acting assistant chief Sean Gallagher - did not share vital intelligence with other police leadership and did not act to help officers once the violence began on January 6, yet had

The 16-page letter, obtained by news organizations including Politico and CNN, said the two had not seen any consequences in the months since the attack.
One of Boris Johnson's top advisers made a speech and handed out awards at the controversial Downing Street Christmas party and has since been briefing that the party never happened, it has been claimed.

Jack Doyle, then the PM's Deputy Director of Communications, is said to have made a 'thank you' speech to up to 50 people who attended the bash on December 18 last year.

The hugely criticised event is now the subject of an internal investigation by the Cabinet Office.

Reports say that Mr Doyle, now Number 10's most senior spin doctor, thanked staff working at No10 'like he does every week'.

However ITV News have claimed that he also handed out paper certificates to members of the communications team as part of a 'joke awards ceremony'.

Mr Doyle has been overseeing the response to claims about the party, which has seen Number 10 deny for a week that it ever happened - although the Prime Minister has given mixed messages about it when asked.

Jack Doyle, the Prime Minister's top spin doctor, is said to have made a 'thank you' speech to up to 50 people who attended the Downing Street bash on December 18 last year

Before joining Downing Street, Mr Doyle previously worked as a journalist in newspapers and at the Press Association agency.

He was promoted following the departure of Communications Director James Slack, who left to become deputy editor-in-chief at The Sun.

It comes days after senior Downing Street staff, including the PM's press secretary Allegra Stratton, were caught on camera joking about holding a Christmas party as they prepared responses in case asked questions by journalists.

Since then, Ms Stratton has tearfully resigned and Mr Johnson has apologised, saying he was 'furious' to see the leaked video.

Boris Johnson was forced to order Cabinet Secretary Simon Case to investigate allegations that on the final Friday before Christmas last year things got rather out of hand

He also asked Simon Case, the Cabinet Secretary, to investigate whether events in Number 10 last year broke strict lockdown rules, but added he has been 'repeatedly reassured' there was no party.

Reports this week however suggest there could have been as many as three other parties involving Downing Street and Cabinet Office staff.

There are said to have been two separate leaving dos for Communications Director Lee Cain and Cleo Watson, a protege of Dominic Cummings', in November.

A source told the Daily Mail that the event had been an impromptu leaving do for Cleo Watson (pictured with Cummings on December 17, 2019), an adviser who had effectively been Mr Cummings sidekick during his time in Downing Street

The festivities are said to have kicked off earlier, with the leaving do for Lee Cain, the Prime Minister's departing director of communications. Mr Johnson is said to have given a speech at the event

At the time Britain was in the grip of the second lockdown, with all indoor social gatherings banned unless they involved a single household bubble.

At each of the two parties there were 40 or 50 people crammed 'cheek by jowl' into a medium sized room, according to the Daily Mirror.

There is also said to have been a 'Christmas quiz' organised by Cabinet office staff at some point in December.

Staff were said to have arrived at the office wearing Christmas jumpers ahead of the event, and were unaware how ridiculous it was to hold a quiz while the country was in lockdown.

While some people joined the quiz via Zoom, the BBC reported that those who attended in person sat in groups of six.

One source said that Dan Rosenfield, the Prime Minister's newly-appointed chief of staff, took part, telling The Times that 'it was the first time many of us met him'.

A Downing Street Spokesperson said: 'There is an ongoing review, and we won't be commenting further while that is the case.'
A teenager has suffered burns from being doused with flammable liquid during a road rage incident with a motorbike rider in Melbourne.

Police were told a car and motorbike were caught up in a near collision on Narina Way in Epping in the city's north around 8pm on Thursday night.

It is alleged the motorcyclist followed the male driver, 19, to a nearby street 100 metres away.

The motorcyclist allegedly threw flammable liquid on the young man and his car before lighting a rag and throwing it at the victim.

Police were called to the scene of a road rage incident in Melbourne's north where a young man was doused in a flammable liquid by a motorcyclist

The man's clothing and car caught fire and the motorcyclist allegedly fled the scene as residents rushed to help the injured motorist.

He suffered serious burns and was taken to hospital.

A man, 35, was arrested during a raid on his Epping home on Friday morning.

He has been taken into custody to be questioned by police.

No charges have been laid.

Anyone with information is urged to call Crime Stoppers.
The Queen is set to enjoy a new normal Christmas this year  and may even appear in public for the first time since early autumn.

The 95-year-old monarch has either been resting or undertaking only light desk duties following a mystery health scare.

But she has been given the go-ahead by doctors to throw her annual private pre-festive season party for extended family members for the first time since 2019, the Mail can reveal.

This year, however, it will take place at Windsor Castle and not Buckingham Palace, where it has traditionally been held for several decades. The Queen has lived in Berkshire since the start of the pandemic and has rarely set foot out of it in recent months.

The Queen is set to enjoy a new normal Christmas this year  and may even appear in public for the first time since early autumn

But she will move her court to her Sandringham Estate in Norfolk for Christmas, where her nearest and dearest are all set to gather in time for Christmas Eve  as long as government advice does not change.

Her Majesty is expected to fly to East Anglia by helicopter, rather than take the train as she normally does, in light of her age and general health.

Before she does, she will record her annual Christmas message, again at Windsor. It is likely to reflect on her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, who died aged 99 in April, as well as the heartening show of community strength seen throughout the nation during the Covid pandemic.

The Mail understands that palace aides are also exploring options for the monarch to appear in public over the next two weeks to wish the country a very happy Christmas.

Although photographs and videos have been released by Buckingham Palace of the sovereign undertaking in-person and virtual audiences with foreign ambassadors, dignitaries and the Prime Minister, all meetings have taken place behind palace walls.

The hope is that the Queen will be well enough to take part in a short public engagement in the castle grounds. Her appearance will be seen as a small shot of joy in difficult times.

Pictured: The Prince of Wales is joined by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their children on December 25, 2019

It wont be a normal Christmas, but like many families around the country, it will be as normal as it can get, a source said.

The Queen was last seen in public at a Windsor Castle reception on October 19. The next day, she cancelled a trip to Northern Ireland and was taken to hospital overnight for undisclosed preliminary tests.

She was ordered to rest for several weeks and since then has undertaken a small number of low-key engagements, including recording a video message to be played at Cop26.

Also getting into the festive spirit yesterday was the Prince of Wales, who donated Christmas-themed snacks to Afghan refugees and people who lived in Grenfell Tower as he attended an Advent service in west London.
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A Michigan diocese has advised its priests to deny all Holy Sacraments to members of the LGBTQ community until they have repented for any behavior related to homosexuality or gender transitioning.

The Diocese of Marquette became one of the first dioceses in the United States to issue such sweeping restrictions for homosexual or transgender parishioners when it issued the policy in July.

The move sparked controversy on social media this week when James Martin, a prominent priest and advocate for LGBTQ Catholics, shared a segment from the doctrine and a link to the policy in full on Twitter.

From the Diocese of Marquette: "A person who publicly identifies as a different gender than his or her biological sex or has attempted 'gender transitioning' may not be Baptized, Confirmed, or received into full communion in the Church, unless the person has repented...,  James Martin shared in a post.

The Diocese of Marquette issued a sweeping rule that members of the LGBTQ community cannot be given holy sacraments until they have repented

In addition to repenting, the diocese explains that anyone in a same-sex relationship must leave their partner. Above is Diocese Bishop John Doefler, who signed a document issuing the guidance

Martin followed up by arguing that transgender worshippers are not sinful because of their identity and should be embraced by the church.

It is not a sin to be transgender. Transgender people are beloved children of God struggling to understand their identity. They need to be accepted with "respect, compassion and sensitivity." As Cardinal Gregory told a trans person, "You belong to the heart of this church,"  he added in a follow up tweet, referencing Cardinal Wilton Daniel Gregory, is an American prelate of the Catholic Church and the archbishop of Washington.

The Church teaches that persons experiencing feelings of same-sex attraction or gender dysphoria is not sinful, but freely acting upon them is, the dioceses instructions read. Experiencing feelings and desires that are not in accord with the true meaning and purpose of sexuality is not sinful. To commit a sin, we must know that something is wrong and freely choose to do it.

In addition to repenting, the diocese explains that anyone in a same-sex relationship must leave their partner in order to receive any holy sacraments. Transgender people must only repent, but are not expected to reverse any physical changes they have made to their body.

The experience of incongruence in ones sexual identity is not sinful if it does not arise from the persons free will, nor would it stand in the way of the person serving as a sponsor or a Christian witness. However, deliberate, freely chosen, and manifest behaviors to redefine ones sex do constitute such an obstacle, it reads.

The Diocese of Marquettes policy regarding LGBTQ parishioners receiving holy sacraments Under the instructions laid out by Michigans Diocese of Marquette, members of the LGBTQ community cannot be baptized, receive the Holy Communion or Anointing of the Sick or be confirmed until they have repented and received the Sacrament of Penance for any actions related to homosexuality or gender transitioning. The policy does not consider it a sin to be experience same-sex attraction or gender dysphoria unless a person has acted on such feelings. In addition to repenting, anyone in a same-sex relationship must leave their partner in order to receive any of the above sacraments. Anyone who has begun gender transitioning is not expected to reverse their transition in order to receive sacraments. Advertisement

Much of the backlash on social media argues that the policy is likely to drive away young people who are either part of the LGBTQ community or more likely to support the LGBTQ community than older generations. One in 6 adults in Generation Z identifies as LGBTQ, according to survey data released by Gallup in February.

Other dioceses have released guidance on transgender people, though a number of experts said Marquette may be the first to deny access to baptism and confirmation, according to the Washington Post.

The Diocese of Marquettes guidance also comes amid a lack of significant advice on the matter from the Vatican or the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, which have not said such about transgender or homosexual individuals and receiving the sacraments.

Others against the rules said that few diocese are likely to follow suit as the policy contradicts canon law, such as one rule that says any person who has not yet been baptized is eligible for that sacrament.

Jennifer Haselberger, a former chancellor for canonical affairs in the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, told the Washington Post that the denial of baptism was particularly staggering.

Theres nobody who approaches baptism from a state of perfection. The presumption is the opposite. You come to baptism as a sinner, and original sin is forgiven you, she said.

A transgender person denied baptism because of their identity could appeal to the Vatican, but Haselberger said that would carry with it the weight of public controversy and pushback.

Francis DeBernardo, executive director of LGBTQ rights organization New Ways Ministry, told the Washington Post that the dioceses strict rules could lead to decimation of the Catholic community by sowing division among Catholics, adding that it is certain to upset priets who welcome LGBTQ people as full members of the church.

I think that when the marriage equality debates in the U.S. ended in 2015, for the most part, with the Supreme Court decision, that the new issue for the U.S. bishops became gender identity, more than anything else, he told the news outlet.

And I think with the new generation  that theres new understanding of gender and more visibility for people who dont identify with the gender binary  that this is going to come up, he added.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has flagged Covid boosters shots could be brought forward in the fight against the new Omicron strain of the disease.

The news came as the PM launched the vaccine rollout for children as young as five at pharmacies and GPs across the country from January 10.

However, unlike adults, authorities will recommend children have an eight week pause between the two doses of the vaccine.

Speaking on Friday morning, Mr Morrison said he would be discussing accelerating the booster shots with state and territory leaders at National Cabinet later in the day.

'We are continuing to review the evidence about how that time period for the booster shot might be able to be reduced,' Mr Morrison said.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison (pictured) has flagged Covid boosters shots could be brought forward in the fight against the new Omicron strain of the disease

'We're working with the medical experts on those issues.'

He added: 'I want to encourage Australians, if you're eligible for your booster, go and get it.'

But the move to speed up the booster programme comes just a week after the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation had ruled it out.

Currently everyone must wait six months from the date of their second shot before being eligible for the third booster shot.

The news came as the PM launched the vaccine rollout for children as young as five at pharmacies and GPs across the country from January 10

Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly said last Friday there was no evidence to show a benefit to speeding up that cycle, despite the new Omicron variant.

'Is [Omicron] more severe? We don't know yet. But at the moment, there is the evidence that it's mild or the same,' he said in Canberra.

'It is only in the last few weeks this has been circulating in South Africa and elsewhere. They are seeing a rise in hospitalisations there.

'But even hospitalisations they are seeing with the Omicron variant are not any more severe than previous.'

ATAGI has now signed off the Pfizer vaccine rollout for children aged 5-11 from next month, but the PM stressed parents would decide if their child would be jabbed.

The PM said he would be discussing accelerating Covid booster shots with state and territory leaders at National Cabinet later on Friday

Pfizer vaccines to be given to children contain one-third of the standard dose.

'This is another important step forward in our vaccination program,' said the PM on Friday.

'There are no more important decisions that you make, then those you make about the health and wellbeing of your children.'

Mr Morrison said the approval of vaccines for younger children would come as a relief to parents.

'They can have peace of mind knowing this has the tick from the best medical regulators in the world,' he said.

Polling by the Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne shows about half of parents surveyed intend to get their children aged between five and 11 vaccinated.

ATAGI has now signed off the Pfizer vaccine rollout for children aged 5-11 from next month, but the PM stressed parents would decide if their child would be jabbed

One-quarter of 1259 parents surveyed in July were against it while almost one-third were unsure.

Side effects, convenience and accessibility were key factors influencing parents' willingness to vaccinate their children.

Poll director and paediatrician Anthea Rhodes was not surprised a significant chunk of parents were undecided because trials and testing remained underway at the time of the survey.

The biggest questions parents had were 'is it safe enough?' and 'does it work well enough to be worth having?', Dr Rhodes said.

Pfizer vaccine shots to be given to children contain one-third of the standard dose

She said it highlighted the need to give parents reliable and clear information about the safety and efficacy of vaccines.

Mr Morrison hailed the impact of the vaccination rollout which has seen an average of 137,000 jabs a day across the country to reach it current stage.

He said the focus now should not be the daily case numbers, but the numbers in hospital.

'The issue now is not case numbers,' he said. 'The issue is now the impact on on the hospital system and the public health system.

Polling by the Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne shows about half of parents surveyed intend to get their children aged between five and 11 vaccinated (pictured, 12 year old Harry Gooidson checks in for his Pfizer jab in Melbourne)

'And what we've already seen in New South Wales and in Victoria is that the hospital systems are managed incredibly as those states have opened up.

'That has occurred at the same time as them going past those 80 per cent vaccination rates.'

He added: 'We're going to go forward and we're going to live with this virus.

'The reason we can do that is because of the decisions we've taken, the achievements that have been made in the vaccination program, the strength of our economy, the resilience of our people.

'And now by bringing five to 11 year olds into that only further strengthens us to be able to deal with and live with this virus and live with it together.'

About 2.3 million children will be able to receive the vaccine from January 10, with bookings for the age cohort to open from late December.

The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation recommended doses be spaced eight weeks apart for the age group.

It's expected GPs and pharmacies will largely be delivering doses of the vaccines to children.

About 2.3 million children will be able to receive the vaccine from January 10, with bookings for the age cohort to open from late December.\

Individual jurisdictions will be responsible for school-based rollouts should they decide to use that strategy.

Mr Morrison said the January 10 start date for child vaccines would allow for five to 11-year-olds to get their first dose before the start of the next school year.

'It gives ample opportunity, but it's a decision for parents, they make the health decisions for their children and we provide them the opportunity to do that,' he said.

Advice from ATAGI about giving children aged between six and 11 the Moderna jab is expected over coming weeks.

Advice from ATAGI about giving children aged between six and 11 the Moderna jab is expected over coming weeks

Health Minister Greg Hunt said the decision on Pfizer would give parents confidence and choice.

'It protects our children, it protects their families, and it protects their schools and so these are really important steps,' he said.

'This has been a challenge for all of us but I tell you what, Australians have risen to that challenge.'

Immunisation expert Margie Danchin said the approval for children would mean transmission of the virus would reduce, particularly in schools.

'We do anticipate that the vaccine will have an impact on transmission in schools, but also in households as well, so that is a very important indirect consideration for these vaccines,' she told ABC Radio on Friday.

'I think parents are really going to welcome this news.'

Immunisation expert Margie Danchin said the approval for children would mean transmission of the virus would reduce, particularly in schools

The decision on child vaccines comes ahead of the last national cabinet meeting for the year on Friday.

All jurisdictions but Western Australia have reached the 80 per cent double vaccinated.

'My position hasn't changed for all premiers and chief ministers and to implement the national plan we've agreed to,' Mr Morrison said.

'We've got one more state to get through that gate.'

WA is at 79 per cent fully vaccinated for those in the state 16 and over.
A federal appeals court panel has ruled against former President Donald Trump as he tries to keep the National Archives from handing over his White House records being sought by the House Jan. 6th Committee.

The panel of three federal judges  two appointed by Barack Obama and one by Biden on the powerful U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia  unanimously upheld a lower court's ruling denying Trump a preliminary injunction to stop the release of records.

A separate administrative injunction pending the court fight is to dissolve within 14 days under the ruling, unless the U.S. Supreme Court agrees to take the case.

The opinion, authored by Judge Patricia Millet, an Obama appointee, said there was 'no basis' for overturning President Joe Biden's position that he would not exercise executive privilege to keep the documents sealed.

An Appeals Court panel ruled against former President Donald Trump as he tries to keep the National Archives from handing over his White House records to Congress

'On the record before us, former President Trump has provided no basis for this court to override President Biden's judgment and the agreement and accommodations worked out between the Political Branches over these documents,' the panel wrote.

Millet's opinion stated the question as one of whether the court could 'override' Biden's determination at Trump's request.

She wrote that Trump's lawyers had failed to demonstrate a likelihood of succeed in order to obtain the injunction.

The opinion cites 'Mr. Trumps failure even to allege, let alone demonstrate, any particularized harm that would arise from disclosure, any distinct and superseding interest in confidentiality attached to these particular documents, lack of relevance, or any other reasoned justification for withholding the documents.'

Trump sued Select Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., arguing against President Joe Biden's decision to waive any privilege on the documents

The unanimous order came from a three-judge panel on the U.S. Court of Appeals

The case could end up in the Supreme Court

Trump sued House Jan. 6th Committee Chairman Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) over the requests for documents following its requests for information held at the Archives.

'Both Branches agree that there is a unique legislative need for these documents and that they are directly relevant to the Committee's inquiry into an attack on the Legislative Branch and its constitutional role in the peaceful transfer of power.'

The House Select Committee on Jan. 6th, chaired by Thompson, is probing the Capitol riot. It has sought a trove of documents, including White House logs, images, documents, and internal communications as part of its probe.

Panel member Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) has said it has interviewed 300 witnesses.

The ruling, Millet noted, involved a subset of documents where Biden had 'expressly determined that asserting a claim of executive privilege to withhold the documents from the January 6th Committee is not warranted.'

Biden had determined a privilege assertion is 'not in the best interests of the United States' given the 'unique and extraordinary circumstances' of the riot.

The legal setback for Trump comes as some key witnesses have refused to talk to the Committee.

Former chief White House strategist Steve Bannon has a summer court date after being indicted for contempt of Congress for failing to comply with a subpoena. Former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows said this week he will not provide testimony, and faces his own potential contempt vote in the House.

Former top Pentagon official Kash Patel provided testimony Thursday.

He said in a statement: 'I have always been willing and able to share with the Committee, and the American people, the truth about the events of January 6including the Department of Defenses preparation for and response to unrest at the Capitol. Without prior outreach from the Committee, I learned about the subpoena through the media, and subsequently received violent threatening messages which were reported to the FBI.'

'Though I have had major concerns about the fairness of the proceedings, I appeared to answer questions to the best of my ability. The DOD Inspector General, under the Biden Administration, found no wrongdoing in its report on Jan. 6, as I shared with the Committee,' he said.

The opinion offers a biting assessment of the events that preceded the case.

'On November 3, 2020, Americans elected Joseph Biden as President, giving him 306 electoral college votes. ThenPresident Trump, though, refused to concede, claiming that the election was rigged and characterized by tremendous voter fraud and irregularities,' it states.

'Over the next several weeks, President Trump and his allies filed a series of lawsuits challenging the results of the election ... The courts rejected every one of the substantive claims of voter fraud that was raised.'
The BBC executive behind Fleabag and Killing Eve paid tens of thousands of pounds to two underworld figures who went on to torture a drug dealer to death in front of his children.

Christopher Guest More, 43  who was yesterday convicted of the murder of Brian Waters  and Jimmy Raven, 61, received almost 52,000 from the BBC for just one show.

Heavily-tattooed Raven was jailed for life a year after the savage killing, but millionaires son More went on the run and assumed a stolen identity.

He escaped justice for 16 years, until he was discovered in 2019 living a playboy lifestyle in Malta, where he skippered multi-million pound yachts.

He was extradited back to the UK and last month went on trial at Chester Crown Court for the 2003 murder.

Accomplice James Raven (pictured) posing for a picture in the run up to his arrest for the murder of Brian Waters

Christopher Guest More jnr (pictured in 2003) was the fugitive son of former millionaire businessman Chris More

Following the jurys guilty verdict yesterday the Mail can reveal that both More and Raven, who were cousins, worked as undercover operatives for Fiona Campbell, now the 215,000-a-year controller of BBC3. She is credited for hits including Fleabag, Normal People and Killing Eve.

An investigation by this newspaper has found that Miss Campbell knew Raven had a conviction for violence but allowed he and More, who had been cleared of rape aged 18, to work for the Corporation.

Documents obtained by the Mail reveal her approach was signed off by Peter Horrocks, the then-head of current affairs who went on to become the director of the World Service, Steven Whittle, the head of editorial policy, and Roger Law, the head of the BBC legal department.

The two men were paid 51,864.07 for one film on counterfeiters and were still being consulted over issues in post-production when they murdered Mr Waters.

The BBC broadcast the film, including the pairs secretly filmed footage, two years later  even though Raven had been jailed and More was on the run.

The men were also paid thousands for earlier BBC projects commissioned by Miss Campbell, with Mores payments for 2002 to 2003 totalling 42,000.

Miss Campbell, then a producer specialising in undercover crime documentaries, was More and Ravens senior handler.

She told police she did not ask them how they obtained information. She was criticised by a judge in a trial related to the pairs counterfeiting programme for allowing them to operate without effective scrutiny.

Both More and Raven, who were cousins, worked as undercover operatives for Fiona Campbell, (above) now the 215,000-a-year controller of BBC3

Mores trial heard that he and Raven were members of a six-strong gang who ambushed Mr Waters, 44, at the cannabis farm he owned in Tabley, near Knutsford, Cheshire, on the orders of cocaine boss John Wilson.

For three hours Mr Waters, who owed Wilson 20,000, was tortured while his children, Gavin and Natalie, were tied up and forced to watch.

He was strung upside down, whipped with canes, attacked with an industrial stapler, burned with molten plastic, given electric shocks, dipped into a barrel of water and beaten, before being sexually assaulted with an iron bar.

A pathologist who examined Mr Waters body told the court he suffered more than 100 injuries and would have died in excruciating pain. Mr Waterss farm manager Suleman Razak, then 20, was also tortured.

Yesterday Mr Waters wife, Julie, who was also kidnapped during the terrifying attack, and children said their ordeal has had a significant and long-lasting effect on their family.

Campbell is credited for hits including Fleabag, Normal People and Killing Eve (pictured)

Wilson, now 71, and his right hand man Otis Matthews, now 44, were convicted of Mr Waters murder in August 2004 and October 2007, respectively, and jailed for life.

More told the jury his DNA was at the murder scene because he had helped Wilson steal drugs and equipment from the cannabis farm on the morning of the attack. But he claimed it was as part of his journalistic research into Wilson, who he believed was a police informant.

The jury dismissed Mores version of events and convicted him of Mr Waters murder and conspiracy to commit grievous bodily harm to Mr Razak.

He will be jailed for life and ordered to serve a lengthy minimum term when he is sentenced today.

A BBC spokesman said: Neither James Raven nor Christopher Guest More was work- ing for the BBC at the time of these offences.

'With regard to the past, more than fifteen years ago a BBC undercover investigation exposed serious crime and led directly to the conviction and sentencing of two members of an international counterfeiting gang.'

Regarding the criticisms of Miss Campbell by the judge in the counterfeiting trial, they added: The BBC and its then employees accepted the overall findings of the judge.

As we said and as was reported at the time, the BBC made a number of changes to its editorial guidelines which considerably tightened up the procedures around investigations into crime and around undercover filming.
The alpaca whose fate divided the nation amid a four-year legal battle did not have tuberculosis, it can be revealed.

Geronimo was put down by Government vets in August over disputed claims he had the disease.

But post-mortem examinations carried out on the animal have found no trace of bovine tuberculosis.

Geronimos owner Helen Macdonald, 50, was adamant that he was not infected and launched a campaign to save him.

But after she lost her lengthy legal fight, officials escorted by police dragged him from her farm near Wickwar, Gloucestershire, to be killed.

It is understood that Miss Macdonald, a registered veterinary nurse, is now considering suing ministers over his slaughter.

Early tests carried out in September were inconclusive on whether the animal had bovine tuberculosis.

Geronimos owner Helen Macdonald (pictured), 50, was adamant that he was not infected and launched a campaign to save him. But after she lost her lengthy legal fight, officials escorted by police dragged him from her farm near Wickwar, Gloucestershire, to be killed

No lesions were found on Geronimos lungs or respiratory tract  the most common place they are exhibited in an animal with the disease.

However, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said its vets had discovered a number of TB-like lesions in the liver and lymph nodes.

Further tests have been carried out since to try to establish whether the animal in fact had the disease, including the developing of bacteriological cultures from tissue samples. The results, which have been finalised in the past week, showed no traces of the disease.

Miss Macdonald has previously called on Environment Secretary George Eustice to resign, accusing him of murdering an innocent animal.

Geronimos killing was the culmination of a David and Goliath legal fight between her and Defra that gripped the nation.

The eight-year-old champion alpaca, who was born in New Zealand before being brought to Britain, was consigned for slaughter after he twice tested positive for bTB in 2017.

Miss Macdonald has always disputed the results  but the legal battle concluded with a High Court ruling in July that he should be destroyed.

In August, Defra officials and dozens of police officers forced their way on to Miss Macdonalds farm to take Geronimo away.

She said Avon and Somerset Police had questions to answer for facilitating murder and accused Defra of bully boy tactics that are frankly unforgivable.

Miss Macdonald has a herd of alpacas that she uses to make luxury products including scarves and pashminas at her farm. She started breeding the animals 19 years ago. Geronimo, a pedigree alpaca worth 15,000, had won competitions in New Zealand for his jet black wool.

Leading vets had demanded the Environment Secretary commute Geronimos death sentence so he could be studied instead of slaughtered.

Early tests carried out in September were inconclusive on whether the animal (pictured being dragged away in August) had bovine tuberculosis

Thirteen experts urged Mr Eustice to call off the killing, allowing the alpaca to be reserved for observation and treatment, whereby his immune responses may be non-invasively studied by a range of tests.

They believed that would contribute to scientific understanding of bovine TB as well as the issue of testing accuracy in the animals. Following Geronimos death, Boris Johnsons father Stanley offered Miss Macdonald his condolences.

Nobody could have fought harder than you did, he said. May he rest in peace.

Defra previously said it had sympathy for Miss Macdonald but bovine TB had to be tackled. It said the animals removal was undertaken by trained and experienced Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) veterinarians in accordance with welfare guidelines.

Speaking at the time, chief veterinary officer Christine Middlemiss said: No one wants to have to cull infected animals if it can be avoided, but we need to follow the scientific evidence and cull animals that have tested positive for bTB to minimise spread of this insidious disease and eradicate the biggest threat to animal health in this country.

Not only is this essential to protect the livelihoods of our farming industry and rural communities, but it is also necessary to avoid more TB cases in humans.

Miss Macdonald declined to comment last night.

Chief Veterinary Officer Christine Middlemiss said: 'This animal tested positive for bovine tuberculosis on two separate occasions using highly specific tests. Due to the complexity of the disease, further testing has not enabled us to use Whole Genome Sequencing to try to understand how the animal became infected in the first place.

'Our sympathies remain with all those with animals affected by this terrible disease which devastates farmers livelihoods. It is important to remember that infected animals can spread the disease to both animals and people before displaying clinical signs, which is why we take action quickly to limit the risk of the disease spreading.

'We are grateful for the cooperation of livestock farmers to allow this to happen.'

A Defra source added that the additional bacteria culturing process is not used to validate previous test results.
A woman has been hit and killed by a truck after she stopped her car on the side of a busy Melbourne freeway.

She had pulled over to the side of the Monash Freeway opposite Darling Station at about 8.10 on Friday morning and stepped out of her car.

She was then tragically hit by a passing truck and died at the scene.

Police have closed all outbound lanes along the Monash Freeway with traffic queuing up along the busy motorway.

The truck driver is assisting police, while four other passing motorists stopped to help.

Meanwhile, a motorcyclist has died in a separate incident on the Monash Freeway on Friday morning, police confirmed.

A pedestrian was struck on the Monash Freeway in Melbourne on Friday morning

It's understood the motorcycle had crashed into a pole with emergency services being called to the freeway near Heatherton Road at about 7.50am.

The rider was treated by first responders but was unable to saved.

Friday's road collisions come after a devastating highway crash on Monday along Melbourne's Calder Freeway.

A two-year-old girl and her baby sister from Caulfield South in Melbourne's south-east, were sitting in the back of a Volkswagen SUV when a semi-trailer carrying grain crashed into their car and two others.

Their mother, 37, and father, 35, were airlifted to the Alfred Hospital, and the one-year-old girl was airlifted to the Royal Children's Hospital.

The toddler tragically died at the scene.

Friday's road collisions come after a devastating highway crash on Monday along Melbourne's Calder Freeway where a two-year-old girl was killed
A young Afghani woman killed by her cruel husband after an alleged arranged marriage had been duped into agreeing to the indecent proposal, a court has heard.

Sakina Muhammad Jan, 45, is facing a single charge of causing another person to enter a forced marriage.

Police allege Muhammad Jan pressured her daughter Ruqia Haidari, 21, to marry 25-year-old Uber driver Mohammad Ali Halimi in November 2019.

Sakina Muhammad Jan, 45, is facing a single charge of causing another person to enter a forced marriage, and faced Shepparton Magistrates Court for the first time this week

She had been told if she married the complete stranger she could move from Melbourne to Perth and attend university there.

Halimi was sentenced in August in the Supreme Court of Western Australia to life imprisonment with a 19-year minimum for murdering his wife.

The 26-year old had used a kitchen knife to twice slash Ms Haidari's throat in January last year after she refused to consummate their marriage.

On Thursday, the Shepparton Magistrates' Court - 180km north of Melbourne - heard Ms Haidari, who had just graduated Year 12, had been desperate to get out of the arranged marriage.

Family friend Shukria Muqadas, 31, told the court Ms Haidari's mum had asked her daughter's soon-to-be killer for $20,000 to marry her, but accepted $15,000.

Another friend of Ms Haidari, Zarah Haydar Big, claimed her friend had been too scared to raise her concerns with her mum over the arranged marriage.

She told the court her friend believed it was 'culturally inappropriate' to do so.

Ms Haydar Big said her friend was told her marriage would provide her with 'freedom'.

'She said that everything was going to be fine. She somehow was hoping she would get to her dream job, she could study, she could be free, she could have freedom of movement,' she said.

Ms Haydar Big said Ms Haidari was promised by both her mother and husband that she could enrol in university after the wedding in January - the eventual month she was murdered.

Ms Haidari had been keen to continue working with the Afghan community and study to become a social worker.

Abbey Gawne, Ms Haidari's best friend (pictured together on the day of graduation), previously told Daily Mail Australia she had dreams of travelling

Jenny Patterson, who had taught the young Afghani woman to drive, told the court Ms Haidari had been afraid of upsetting her mother.

Ms Haidari had been open in revealing her plight from their very first lesson, she said.

'She felt her choices were being taken away from her,' Ms Patterson said.

The court heard Ms Haidari had repeatedly failed to convince her mother to call-off the wedding.

The couple had met just four times before they were married in front of hundreds of guests just outside of Shepparton in a community hall in November 2019.

The marriage quickly soured upon returning to Perth, with Halimi complaining that she had failed to cook and clean for him adequately.

Ms Muqadas, who had been friends with Halimi, told the court in the weeks before he murdered Ms Haidari, he had complained his wife was 'not very experienced'.

In actual fact, a medical condition had halted her from consummating their marriage even if she had wanted to.

Ms Muqadas told the court Halimi had blamed his wife's mother for the marriage and that he was frustrated.

Ms Haidari (right) married Halimi (centre) in November 2019, and by January 2020, she had been killed

Police taped off Ms Haidari's home home and conducted forensic testing after her husband led them to the body

She further claimed she had now been forced to live in fear for providing police with information on the alleged arrangement.

'I'm stuck inside the house. I can't get outside,' she said through an interpreter. 'Everywhere I go, I have to go with my husband. '

During Halimi's sentence, the Supreme Court of Western Australia heard that on January 18 last year, Ms Haidari's brother Muhammad Taqi Haidari had listened helplessly on the phone as the pair argued - not realising it would be the last time he would hear his sister's voice.

Mr Haidari would however, speak to his brother-in-law again, when he phoned back to tell him: 'If you're a man, come get your sister's dead body.'

During the time between calls, Halimi found a stainless steel knife from the kitchen and slit Ms Haidari's throat twice, that court eventually determined.

Forced marriage is considered a form of slavery in Australia and a criminal offence, but statistics show up to 80 have taken place in the last financial year alone.

Nobody has ever been convicted for orchestrating a forced marriage in Australia.

AFP 131 237

www.mybluesky.org.au assists people who are at risk of a forced marriage
When homeowner Sophie Bichener, 29, bought her flat in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, in 2017 for 230,000, she had no idea about the potentially crippling costs that lay ahead.

She moved into the flat just before the fire at Grenfell Tower, in West London, which caused 72 deaths.

Like so many other purchasers, Sophie bought moved into her flat believing that it was safe because it complied with building regulations.

However, her flat has since deemed to be unsafe in the wake of the Grenfell fire.

Since the Grenfell Tower fire in 2017, concerns about cladding have become a national issue

Like so many other flat owners affected by fire safety issues, she has been left unable to sell her property, as mortgage lenders will no longer offer loans without fresh proof of safety.

Her block of flats has been deemed unsafe and fire safety repairs need to be carried out.

But the bill for the repairs are eye-watering, almost matching what she originally paid for the flat.

This summer she was quoted 202,077 to fix just her flat, which is not far from the 230,000 that she originally paid for her home.

She understands that some of the 14million-plus costs to fix her block will be met from the Building Safety Fund, but it is not yet known how much financial assistance - if any - she will get.

This leaves her facing the unknown, a situation many flat owners find themselves in through no fault of their own.

She says it is likely that she will have to relocate during the works for at least a month.

Sophie Bichener, 29, bought her flat in Stevenage, Hertfordshire in 2017 for 230,000, but has since been quoted 202,077 to fix her flat, which has deemed to be unsafe

Her block is home to 73 flats spread across 14 storeys. It is above 18 metres and had problems with combustible cladding and missing fire breaks.

It is unknown when the fire safety work is expected to begin as the Government has yet to confirm whether it will provide funding for her block.

But once the work does start, it is suggested that it could take 52 weeks, meaning Sophie would be effectively living on what would look like a building site for a year.

The block has already paid for six months of a waking watch at a cost of 600 a month per flat. Those payments stopped following the installation of new fire alarms.

Sophie told MailOnline Property: 'We have a supportive network of leaseholders and so you can take time out from dealing with it. However, being in lockdown and in the flat twenty-four seven means I've spent a lot of time trying to figure this out.

'Knowing that when you go to work that money has already been spent has been disheartening.

'We just have to do what we can. It is easier for me to talk about it now, but there are people I know who are suicidal. While the Government is playing 'who is to pay', leaseholders are struggling to survive.'

'We have had to put our life on hold. I can't spend any money as I know I shall have a bill at the end of all of this, although I don't know how much that will be.

'I'd like to get married and have children, but simply cannot afford to contemplate that at the moment.'

Campaigners have called ministers of ignoring cladding victims' screams for help.

Stephen McPartland, MP for Stevenage, said: 'Ministers have betrayed leaseholders like Sophie. Ignoring their screams for help, dismissing their dreams and refusing to listen.

'Leaseholders need practical support, not more weasel words and I will continue to fight for people like Sophie.

'Leaseholders are not to blame, but they are facing devastating mental health and financial costs as they are left to pay more in remediating their flats, than they are now worth. It is a tragic market failure and we must step in as a government to support them.'

It follows an announcement by Robert Jenrick that neither leaseholders nor taxpayers should pay for dangerous cladding to be removed.

He said that the law will be changed retrospectively to give homeowners 15 years to take action against their developers for shoddy workmanship.

A MHCLG spokesman responded, saying: Building owners should make buildings safe without passing on costs to leaseholders  and we will introduce a new legal requirement for owners of high-rise buildings to prove they have tried all routes to cover the cost of fixing their buildings.

We are processing applications to the Building Safety Fund as quickly as possible - and we have been clear that we will fund the removal of dangerous cladding from high rise building where remediation is necessary.

Our approach strikes the right balance in our continuing commitment to protecting leaseholders and being fair to taxpayers  while reassuring lenders that where cladding remediation is needed, costs will not be a barrier or mean that mortgage payments become unmanageable.
Remarkable footage of a rarely seen giant deep sea jellyfish has been recorded by scientists off the coast of California.

The giant but elusive creature, which was first officially documented in 1899, has only been filmed nine times over the course of thousands of dives in Monterey Bay and officially spotted just 110 times in 110 years worldwide.

It lives anywhere from surface level to 21,900ft, but mostly sticks to an area called the twilight zone, which is too deep for most light to reach.

In the latest sighting, the mysterious phantom jellyfish was caught on camera by a deepwater robot at a depth of 3,200ft (990 metres).

Deep sea giant: Remarkable footage of a rarely seen phantom jellyfish has been recorded by scientists off the coast of California

The giant but elusive creature, which was first officially documented in 1899, has only been filmed nine times over the course of thousands of dives in Monterey Bay

One angle shows the species' 3.3ft-wide (1m) bell pulsing as its four long tentacles undulate beneath it, while a shot from above makes the jellyfish look more like a hat

WHAT IS THE GIANT PHANTOM JELLYFISH? Stygiomedusa gigantea is a type of giant deep sea jellyfish that is rarely seen but believed to be widespread throughout the world. It is thought to be one of the largest invertebrate predators in the deep sea ecosystem. The jellyfish has an umbrella-shaped bell that can be up to a 3.3ft (1 metre) wide. It also has four 'paddle-like' arms up to 32ft (10m) long, which, as scientists believe may be used to trap prey because they lack stinging tentacles. Giant Stygiomedusa have been observed and filmed off the Pacific coast of the United States by and by deepwater robots off the coast of Japan and in the Gulf of Mexico. The reddish purple coloured creature lives anywhere from surface level to 21,900 feet, but mostly sticks to an area called the twilight zone, which is too deep for most light to reach. It is assumed they feed on plankton and small fishes, but very little is known about how the jellyfish survives. Advertisement

The amazing footage was taken by researchers at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI).

They managed to capture the deep sea creature, which has bizarre 33ft-long 'mouth arms' and is scientifically known as Stygiomedusa gigantea, from three different perspectives.

One angle shows the species' 3.3ft-wide (1m) bell pulsing as its four long tentacles undulate beneath it, while a shot from above makes the jellyfish look more like a hat.

A wider look reveals the reddish purple coloured creature's lengthy 'mouth arms', which scientists believe are used to grab and trap prey.

It is assumed they feed on plankton and small fishes, but very little is known about how the jellyfish survives.

Two sightings of it in the Gulf of Mexico suggest the species might hunt by clinging to subsea structures, so its arms are freed up to trap food, but that sort of behaviour has never been directly witnessed.

'Even now, scientists still know very little about this animal,' the research institute said.

'The challenges of accessing its deep-water habitat contribute to the relative scarcity of sightings for such a large and broadly distributed species.'

According to the scientists, giant phantom jellyfish appear to be in all oceans except for the Arctic.

Before underwater robots were invented, experts used trawling nets to study deep sea creatures such as Stygiomedusa gigantea.

However, when one is captured and brought to the surface, MBARI researchers said its silky-looking frame turns to 'gelatinous goo'.

That makes underwater robots the best way to observe the species and learn more about how it survives.

However, in 34 years of carrying out deep sea studies, MBARI has sent out thousands of remotely operated vehicles and observed the giant phantom jellyfish just nine times.

According to the scientists, giant phantom jellyfish appear to be in all oceans except for the Arctic

It is assumed they feed on plankton and small fishes, but very little is known about how the jellyfish survives

A wider look reveals the reddish purple coloured creature's lengthy 'mouth arms', which scientists believe are used to grab and trap prey

It is thought to be one of the largest invertebrate predators in the deep sea ecosystem.

Previous footage captured in 2004 also showed a fish swimming inside and in close proximity to the bell of the jellyfish.

It was even caught on camera resting its belly on the jellyfish.

The fish was believed to be Thalassobathia pelagica, a rare species itself that has a symbiotic relationship with the jellyfish.

By swimming within the jellyfish it is able to feed on scraps of food and have a certain level of protection in an otherwise shelterless abyss.

The research institute published the video on its website.
A novel sleeping bag could be key to stopping astronauts developing optical health complications in space, including swelling of the optical nerve and vision loss.

The sack, built at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, works by using vacuum tech to pull down body fluids that would otherwise pool in the head.

A similar increase in brain pressure occurs when you lie down at night, although on Earth, getting up in the morning fixes this by allowing gravity to pull the fluids down.

In space, this is not possible, and so the fluids cause the optic nerve to swell and the eyeball to flatten, which is why many returning astronauts have vision issues.

The team tested the sleeping bag on a brave participant in Texas, who spent three days lying on his back in bed.

While this is usually enough time to cause vision issues, wearing the special, suction-based sleeping bag at night for eight hours was enough to stop this change from occurring.

The technology, the team said, could prove critical for a future crewed missions to Mars, in which astronauts would need to spend long periods of time in low gravity.

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A novel sleeping bag could be key to stopping astronauts developing optical health complications in space, including swelling of the optical nerve and vision loss. Pictured: internal medicine hospitalist James Leidner lies in the sack, which works by using vacuum technology to pull down bodily fluid that would otherwise pool in the head

Spaceflight associated neuro-ocular syndrome  SANS, for short  has been linked with a number of structural changes in the body, including a progressive flattening of the eyeball, swelling of the optic nerve (as depicted above) and retinal haemorrhage

SANS MAY CAUSE OTHER PROBLEMS Alongside affecting the eye, Professor Levine and his team have also shown that spending time in a microgravity environment might also come with cardiovascular issues as well. A 2018 study, for example, found that spending six months in microgravity may increase the odds of so-called 'atrial fibrillation'  form of arrhythmia that can lead to blood clots, heart attacks and also stroke. 'It's certainly possible there are other effects of brain pressure we havent documented yet,' Professor Levine cautioned  noting that some could be long-term in nature. 'Astronauts report something they call the "space stupids"  they make more mistakes than they think they should.' 'Whether that has anything to do with the inability to lower the pressure, we don't know.' Regardless, the sleeping bag could also address the other, non-vision-related effects of SANS. Advertisement

After returning from the microgravity environment of the International Space Station, more than half of NASA astronauts who served for more than six months have reported changes to their vision.

Such shifts often include the development of farsightedness and mild headaches, but in more severe cases can manifest as losses in both near and distant acuity.

This condition, dubbed SANS (spaceflight associated neuro-ocular syndrome), is linked to a number of structural changes in the body, including a progressive flattening of the eyeball, swelling of the optic nerve and retinal haemorrhage.

'We dont know how bad the effects might be on a longer flight, like a two-year Mars operation,' said paper author and cardiologist Benjamin Levine of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, who is working with NASA on the SANS issue.

'It would be a disaster if astronauts had such severe impairments that they couldnt see what theyre doing and it compromised the mission.'

Previous research from the University of Texas has indicated that SANS is most likely caused by the pressure that bodily fluids apply to the brain when in microgravity.

This is not an issue down here on the Earth  as long as you're standing (or even seated) upright, gravity acts to pull fluids down into the body.

But in space, this unloading process doesn't happen, allowing more than half-a-gallon of bodily fluids to pool in the head, where it applies excessive pressure to the eyeball that can lead to damage in the long-term.

'You can't stand up in space to unload the pressure. That's the problem,' said biomedical engineering and SANS researcher Michael Stenger of NASA.

To explore this issue further, the researchers recruited cancer survivors who, as a result of having received chemotherapy, retained ports on their heads that allowed the team the rare opportunity to directly measure the pressure in their brains.

Each participant volunteered to go on a so-called 'vomit comet'  a parabolic flight into the upper atmosphere that temporarily simulates weightlessness and allowed their brain pressure to be measured as their body fluids floated upwards.

'It was hard,' commented Philadelphia's Wendy Hancock, a leukaemia survivor who agreed to go on more than three dozen of the special, up-and-down flights.

'But NASA is awesome, so, heck yeah, I was going to jump at the chance to help! I did it for the astronauts.'

Analysis of the data recorded revealed that the the brain pressure experienced by someone lying down in space is actually lower than on the Earth.

However, there is no natural way to release this pressure in space.

The researchers recruited cancer survivors who, as a result of having received chemotherapy, retained ports on their heads that allowed the team the rare opportunity to directly measure the pressure in their brains. Each participant volunteered to go on a so-called 'vomit comet' (left) a parabolic upper atmosphere flight (right) that temporarily simulates weightlessness and allowed their brain pressure to be measured as their body fluids floated upwards

Building on these findings, Professor Levine and colleagues teamed up with outdoor retail firm Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI) to develop a special sleeping bag that uses a vacuum around the lower body to relieve pressure on the brain.

Similar concepts have been used for decades to help astronauts maintain muscle and bone mass in space, but these had never been explored as an antidote for SANS.

Unlike the kind of sleeping bag you might take on a camping trip, the high-tech sack has a solid frame that loosely resembles an ice cream cone and is designed only to fit over a person from the waist down.

One of the 10 test subjects for the sack was James Leidner, an internal medicine hospitalist who is interested in a career in aerospace health, who undertook two three-day stints lying in bed in a research room, allowing his brain pressure to rise.

During the second visit, he was placed in the special sleeping bag for eight hours each night, letting the team show that the sack was effective in helping to lower the brain pressure that resulted from lying down (or from being in space.)

'Being productive has gone out the window,' Dr Leidner joked  noting how difficult it was for him to type on his laptop while lying flat on his back in the sack.

'But its an experience I could tell my kid one day, if it helps humans land on Mars.'

Although the team hope that SANS will have been vanquished by the time NASA is ready to launch a mission to Mars in the 2030s (as depicted), several questions remain to be answered before the agency can test the sack on the International Space Station. For example, it remains unclear how much time astronauts would need to spend in the special sleeping bag each day

Although the team hopes that SANS will have been vanquished by the time NASA is ready to launch a mission to Mars in the 2030s, several questions remain to be answered before the agency can test the sack on the International Space Station.

For example, it remains unclear how much time astronauts would need to spend in the special sleeping bag each day for it to prove effective.

'This is perhaps one of the most mission-critical medical issues that has been discovered in the last decade for the space program,' noted Professor Levine.

'I'm thankful for the volunteers who are helping us understand, and hopefully, fix the problem.'

The full findings of the study were published in the journal JAMA Ophthalmology.
Wetland and river damage is putting one in six dragonfly species at risk of extinction, the first global assessment of them has found.

The warning comes in the latest update of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of threatened species  which for the first time now has more than 40,000 species at risk of extinction.

An assessment of 6,016 species of dragonflies and damselflies found that 16 per cent are now under threat, as freshwater breeding grounds such as marshes, swamps and free-flowing rivers increasingly deteriorate.

Wildlife experts said a decline in dragonflies underscores the urgent need to protect wetlands, which provide humans with clean water and food, store carbon and are home to one in 10 of the world's known species.

Fighting for survival: Destruction and damage to wetlands and rivers is putting one in six dragonfly species at risk of extinction, the first global assessment of them has found

THE IUCN RED LIST Species on the endangered red list are animals of the highest conservation priority that need 'urgent action' to save. An Amber list is reserved for the next most critical group, followed by a green list. Red list criteria: Globally threatened

Historical population decline in UK during 18001995

Severe (at least 50 per cent) decline in UK breeding population over last 25 years

Severe (at least 50 per cent) contraction of UK breeding range over last 25 years Advertisement

The Pyrenean desman  a semiaquatic mammal related to moles, with a long sensitive nose and large webbed feet, and found only in rivers in Andorra, France, Portugal and Spain  has also seen its situation worsen, moving from vulnerable to extinction to the higher-risk category of endangered.

Its population has declined by as much as 50 per cent throughout its range since 2011, as human impacts such as hydropower plants, dam and reservoir construction, water taken for agriculture, invasive species, illegal fishing, water pollution, climate-driven droughts and excavation of rivers take their toll.

The reasons for dragonfly and damselfly declines vary around the world, the IUCN said, with pesticides, pollutants and climate change the greatest threats in Europe and North America and a growing risk worldwide.

More than a quarter of species are threatened in South and South East Asia, mostly due to clearing of rainforests and wetlands for crops such as palm oil.

In Central and South America, the major cause of their decline is clearing of forests for residential and commercial construction, the conservation body said.

Dr Bruno Oberle, IUCN director general, said: 'By revealing the global loss of dragonflies, today's Red List update underscores the urgent need to protect the world's wetlands and the rich tapestry of life they harbour.

'Globally, these ecosystems are disappearing three times faster than forests.

'Marshes and other wetlands may seem unproductive and inhospitable to humans, but in fact they provide us with essential services.

The assessment of 6,016 species of dragonflies and damselflies found 16 per cent threatened as freshwater breeding grounds, such as marshes and swamps, increasingly deteriorate

'They store carbon, give us clean water and food, protect us from floods, as well as offer habitats for one in ten of the world's known species.'

Dr Viola Clausnitzer, co-chair of the IUCN Species Survival Commission dragonfly specialist group, said: 'Dragonflies are highly sensitive indicators of the state of freshwater ecosystems, and this first global assessment finally reveals the scale of their decline.'

She added: 'To conserve these beautiful insects, it is critical that governments, agriculture and industry consider the protection of wetland ecosystems in development projects, for example by protecting key habitats and dedicating space to urban wetlands.'

With the latest update, the IUCN Red List assesses the status of 142,577 species, of which 40,084, or more than 28 per cent, are threatened with extinction.

That includes 8,722 species of mammal, amphibians, reptiles, birds, invertebrates and plants that are critically endangered  just one step away from extinction.
An intricate sword, buckle and arrows are among a treasure trove of goods discovered in a Viking burial in Orkney, dating back around 1,200 years.

The Mayback Viking burial in Papa Westray was first discovered back in 2015, but analysis of the precious items is now well underway.

One of the most exciting items is a sword, which is believed to be a Pederson Type D sword  one of the heaviest Viking weapons.

Andrew Morrison, from AOC Archaeology, said: 'Given very few Viking Age scabbards have survived, the Mayback example is a very important addition.

'We know of at least 30 of these blades throughout the Viking world. Approximately half have been found in Norway, with others discovered as far west as Dublin, and as far east as Slovakia, Poland, and Russia.

'However, the only other Type D sword is from the Isle of Eigg. That one was excavated in the 1830s.'

The sword was found in 2015 during excavations of a cemetery at Mayback, Papa Westray, but has only now been identified as one of the heaviest designs of the Viking era

The sword and its surrounding soil were lifted and transported to the lab in an entire block to preserve as much evidence as possible

Pederson Type D swords The researchers have identified the Mayback sword as a Pedersen Type D - a sword typically associated with the 9th century. Type D swords are some of the heaviest from the Viking Age, and would need the balance of a substantial hilt to stabilize them. They are characterized by decorative hilts. Elaborate geometric designs and contrasting non-ferrous metals were used to create impressive effects on the upper and lower guards, as well as the pommel. Advertisement

The sword was discovered in an unusual position within the burial  laid over the top of the body, with the hilt at the hip and the blade tip over the face.

According to the archaeologists, the placement of a sword alongside the body, with the blade facing downwards, is much more common.

To preserve as much evidence as possible, the researchers lifted the whole sword and its surrounding soil in a block to be transported to the lab and forensically excavated there.

'It's so fragile we don't even know what the underside looks like yet, so our understanding is sure to change in the coming months,' Mr Morrison said.

'The iron in the sword has heavily corroded, with many of the striking details only visible through x-ray!'

The researchers believe the sword is a Pederson Type D  a Viking sword associated with the 9th century.

'Type D swords are some of the heaviest from the Viking Age, which would need the balance of a substantial hilt to stabilize them,' Mr Morrison explained.

'They are characterized by decorative hilts.

Although currently only visible through X-ray, experts said the guards appear 'highly decorated', with a distinctive animal paw design on the buckle

The Mayback Viking burial in Papa Westray was first discovered back in 2015, but analysis of the precious items is now well underway

'Elaborate geometric designs and contrasting non-ferrous metals were used to create impressive effects on the upper and lower guards, as well as the pommel.'

Initial x-ray scans suggest that the Mayback sword's guards are highly decorated, featuring a honeycomb-like pattern of elongated hexagons.

Meanwhile, the hilt appears to be covered in mineralised organics, which could be evidence of a protective cover sewn directly onto the sword, according to the researchers.

Other key finds at the site were a bundle of arrowheads still attached to their arrow shafts, and two shield bosses (pictured)

'If so, we could be about to get a rare glimpse of how weaponry was stored when not in use,' Mr Morrison said.

A brass or bronze buckle loop was also discovered stuck to the sword due to corrosion, and may have been part of the sword scabbard, or part of a waist belt.

Other key finds at the site were a bundle of arrowheads still attached to their arrow shafts, and two shield bosses.

A brass or bronze buckle loop was also discovered stuck to the sword due to corrosion, and may have been part of the sword scabbard, or part of a waist belt

Mr Morrison said: 'It's not common to find arrows in Viking graves and when they are found, they're usually retrieved as single arrows. Interestingly, three quivers have now been found in Viking graves in Orkney, at Scar, Rousay, and now Mayback.'

Excavations at the site are still underway, and it's likely that even more Viking items will be uncovered, Mr Morrsion added.

'The work planned over the next few months has the potential to really blow some minds,' he said.

The Mayback Viking burial in Papa Westray was first discovered back in 2015, but analysis of the precious items is now well underway
Amazon is shutting down Alexa.com  its global website ranking system  after 25 years of service.

The system, unrelated to the firms voice assistant, has been monitoring traffic online to list the most popular websites around the globe since 1996.

Amazon released a statement Thursday saying Alexa.com will no longer exist starting on May 1, 2022, which will be the services 26th anniversary.

The Jeff Bezos-founded company did not say exactly why it was pulling the plug on the service, but the Alexa.com's popularity has been on the decline for the past few years, as it seems most website owners are not concerned with how Amazon ranks them.

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Amazon is shutting down Alexa.com  its global website ranking system  after 25 years of service. The system, unrelated to the firms voice assistant, has been monitoring traffic online to list the most popular websites around the globe since 1996

In addition to the global website ranking system, Amazon's Alexa.com, or Alexa Internet also offers a full suite of SEO and competitor analysis tools with its paid subscriptions.

The site stopped offering new subscriptions on December 8, but existing customers can use their account until Alexa.com goes offline.

Alexa.com, Alexa Internet, has similar functions as the Google Analytics and uses the technology to track the performance of the website.

It can also be used to track the performance of the competitors as well.

The news comes just two days after all of Amazons services crashed and took several websites with it. The outage, which hit on December 7, appeared at 10:40am ET and lasted worldwide for more than seven hours

The website also provides web traffic data, global rankings, and other information on over 30 million websites.

Alexa.com samples millions of Internet users using one of many different browser extensions, the website reads.

Our global traffic rank is a measure of how a website is doing relative to all other sites on the web over the past 3 months, Alexa.coms website reads.

The rank is calculated using a proprietary methodology that combines a site's estimated average of daily unique visitors and its estimated number of pageviews over the past 3 months.

We provide a similar country-specific ranking, which is a measurement of how a website ranks in a particular country relative to other sites over the past month.

The news comes just two days after all of Amazons services crashed and took several websites with it.

The outage, which hit on December 7, appeared at 10:40am ET and lasted worldwide for more than seven hours.

The platform, Amazon Music and Prime video, Alexa, Ring and Amazon Web Services, which offers a series of services for online applications, were all down.

Amazon Web Services is also used by hundreds of websites.

Warehouse workers reported that entire Amazon facilities were temporarily shuttered because of the outages and posted photos on Reddit showing what appear to be automated shelves sitting motionless, according to The Verge.

Amazon employees also reported system outages from coast to coast, including in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Florida, Illinois, Texas, Georgia, Kansas, Indiana, Michigan, Arizona and other states.

However, service for most of the platforms was restored by 8pm ET.
WhatsApp is allowing a limited number of users in the US to send and receive cryptocurrency within a chat using Metas Novi digital wallet.

Novi, which launched as a pilot in October, enables people to send and receive money using USDP (Pax Dollar) through a partnership with Paxos and Coinbase.

Payments are sent as an attachment within a chat and can be transferred instantly.

There are no fees for sending or receiving money, no limits on how often payments can be sent and no fees to keep a balance in your Novi account or to withdraw it to your bank account.

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WhatsApp is allowing a limited number of users in the US to send and receive cryptocurrency within a chat using Metas Novi digital wallet. Novi, which launched as a pilot in October, enables people to send and receive money using USDP (Pax Dollar) through a partnership with Paxos and Coinbase

Novi head Stephane Kasriel announced the WhatsApp pilot on Thursday in a tweet: We often hear that people use WhatsApp to coordinate sending money to loved ones, and Novi enables people to do that securely, instantly and with no fees. Payments will appear directly in peoples chat.

Novi is available in Guatemala and the US, but can only be used to send and receive cryptocurrency in the states.

The company says its focus is to help the 1.7 billion adults who do not have access to a bank account.

Being shut out of the global financial system has real consequences for peoples lives, and its often the most underserved people who pay the highest price, Novi shared in a press release.

Costs are high and waits are long when people want to send money to their families internationally.

The current system is failing them, and there is no digital financial architecture to support the innovation we need.

Novi is huge step for Meta, as the company has been working to integrate cryptocurrency to its platforms for years.

In June 2019, Meta, which was still Facebook at the time, unveiled its plans for Libra, its own Bitcoin-style digital currency, which would be integrated with the firms own digital wallet called Calibra.

There are no fees for sending or receiving money, no limits on how often payments can be sent and no fees to keep a balance in your Novi account or to withdraw it to your bank account

However, the proposal was greatly criticized by experts who said it could be used to spy on what you buy.

They said the social media giant could use information about what users of the site are buying to offer better targeted adverts to attract further investment from firms.

'A better understanding of who buys what or which brands or popular could aid Facebook in ad measurement, ranking, and targeting to amplify its core business,' Josh Constine, tech expert and boss of gadget site TechCrunch, said.

Plans to launch Libra have changed, as the currency was rebranded as Diem and Calibra is now Novi, which launched without Diem cryptocurrency - it is instead using Pax Dollars.
Ancient 30,000-year-old DNA of past environments found in permafrost from Yukon, Canada reveals woolly mammoths roamed the region as recently as 5,000 years ago.

The discovery was made by scientists at McMaster University, who built on its previous research that speculated the massive animals died out 9,700 years earlier during the mid-Holocene epoch - a time of climate instability.

The soil samples were taken from the Klondike region of Canada's Yukon in the early 2010s, but have were placed in a freezer and forgotten.

Tyler Murchie, an archaeologist specializing in ancient DNA at the university, told Gizmodo that when he saw the samples, he thought there may be 'cool stuff' inside them 'waiting for someone to study.'

Ancient 30,000-year-old DNA of past environments found in permafrost from Yukon, Canada reveals woolly mammoths roamed the region as recently as 5,000 years ago. The discovery was made by scientists at McMaster University, who built on its previous research that speculated the massive animals died out 9,700 years earlier during the mid-Holocene epoch

Murchie and his team isolated and rebuilt the DNA, showing the fluctuating animal and plant communities at different time points during the Pleistocene-Holocene transition, which was an unstable climatic period 11,000 to14,000 years ago when a several large species such as mammoths, mastodons and saber-toothed cats disappeared.

The analysis also showed that mammoths and Yukon horses, which lived alongside mammoths, were already disappearing from the Earth before the climate instability.

However, the researchers note that they did not go extinct due to humans overhunting them as previously thought.

The evidence shows that both the woolly mammoth and ancient horse persisted until as recently as 5,000 years ago, bringing them into the mid-Holocene, the interval beginning roughly 11,000 years ago that we live in today.

The soil samples were taken from the Klondike region of Canada's Yukon in the early 2010s, but have were placed in a freezer and forgotten

During the early Holocene, the environment in Yukon was dramatically changed due to a shifting climate.

It was previously flowing with lush grasslands, known as the 'Mammoth Steppe', but became overrun with shrubs and mosses that were not seen as food for large grazing herds of mammoths, horses and bison.

Grasslands cannot survive in that part of North America and experts say that is because there are no longer the large grazing animals to manage them.

'The rich data provides a unique window into the population dynamics of megafuana and nuances the discussion around their extinction through more subtle reconstructions of past ecosystems' evolutionary geneticist Hendrik Poinar, a lead author on the paper and director of the McMaster Ancient DNA Centre, said in a statement.

McMaster scientists were able to better date the extinction of the ancient animals with the help of new technology that was not available when they proposed the creatures were living in the Yukon 9,700 years ago.

'Now that we have these technologies, we realize how much life-history information is stored in permafrost,' said Murchie.

Murchie and his team isolated and rebuilt the DNA, showing the fluctuating animal and plant communities at different time points during the Pleistocene-Holocene transition, which was an unstable climatic period 11,000 to14,000 years ago when a several large species such as mammoths, mastodons and saber-toothed cats disappeared

'The amount of genetic data in permafrost is quite enormous and really allows for a scale of ecosystem and evolutionary reconstruction that is unparalleled with other methods to date' he says.

'Although mammoths are gone forever, horses are not' says Ross MacPhee of the American Museum of Natural History, another co-author.

'The horse that lived in the Yukon 5,000 years ago is directly related to the horse species we have today, Equus caballus.

'Biologically, this makes the horse a native North American mammal, and it should be treated as such.'
For a man so consistently on the fringes of the Liverpool first team, so often below the 11 starting names on the teamsheet, Divock Origi's reputation continues to grow in a manner befitting a star player year-on-year, moment after moment.

On Saturday, Wolves were on the receiving end of the King of the Late Late Show. The score deadlocked at 0-0, Mohamed Salah turned provider and found Origi in the box in the final minute of time added on.

And with a quick swivel and low shot, the points were Liverpool's, cueing crazy scenes on the pitch, in the away end and on the touchline.

Divock Origi scored another late winner to seal all three points for Liverpool against Wolves

The Belgian regularly produces in the big moments despite rarely starting for Jurgen Klopp

Origi has only scored twice in the Premier League this season - his other goal a late consolation at West Ham - but he makes an impact. He's only played 38 minutes in total, but is still on more goals than Tottenham's Harry Kane.

Afterwards, Jurgen Klopp could barely contain his fanatical admiration for the 26-year-old Belgian, who has now been at the club for over six years: 'Divock Origi, the legend, finished it off and its a great story. I told him when he came on it was his game. This kind of goal we see plenty of times, in training.

'Winning in the 95th minute is great but Div scoring it is even better. He has scored some of the most important goals in the history of this club.'

That is no exaggeration either. Throughout Klopp's six-year tenure at the club, Origi has regularly popped up with crucial goals, mostly late on in tightly-contested games.

In fact, one of Klopp's most famous moments in his first few months at Anfield can be credited with Origi's involvement.

Klopp said the Belgian was a 'legend' after his late strike at Molineux on Saturday afternoon

A late Origi goal against West Brom in 2015 triggered this odd celebration in front of the Kop

Down by a goal at home to West Brom in December 2015, a then 20-year-old Origi cut in from the left and struck a deflected shot which fortuitously spun into the bottom corner.

The relief was palpable. Yet in an odd move, Klopp gathered his players together and they formed a line in front of the Kop, linked arms and raised their hands in front of, presumably, a slightly confused set of supporters.

But it had the desired effect for Klopp, showing a connection between the players and the fanbase.

Later that season, Origi got the ball rolling in the famous Europa League quarter-final comeback against Borussia Dortmund, stabbing home from close range in a game remembered for Dejan Lovren's late winner.

Origi also scored the first goal in Liverpool's European comeback against Borussia Dortmund

He did not start the final though, and unusually couldn't influence proceedings as a substitute as the Reds slumped to a disappointing defeat against Sevilla.

The following season, where he appeared more regularly as a replacement, Origi scored big goals against Sunderland, West Ham and Everton, whom he has scored against five times in total.

Yet the most famous of these was the start of his real love affair with the Liverpool supporters.

After spending the 2017-18 season out on loan at Wolfsburg, Origi had not played a single Premier League minute when he came in the 84th minute of the Merseyside Derby at Anfield.

With a title-chasing Reds being held, all hope looked lost in the dying moments when Virgil van Dijk's volley sailed high towards the goal.

Origi watches on as Jordan Pickford makes a mess of a looping volley around his crossbar

The forward headed home when the ball rebounded to win the Merseyside Derby in 2018

Origi is swarmed by team-mates as Klopp sprints in celebration across the pitch

You know the rest. Everton keeper Jordan Pickford made a mess of it and Origi - right place, right time - was there to pounce, heading into an open net.

Cue bedlam all around, to the point where a perplexed Origi actually got the ball out of the net and started running towards the centre-circle, before being surrounded by team-mates. Klopp was too busy on the other side of the pitch, hugging Alisson Becker.

The forgotten man was in Reds' hearts everywhere.

Months later in May, Origi came on to score at the death with a header away at Newcastle, to keep Liverpool's Premier League title hopes alive.

He came to the rescue again for Liverpool late on against Newcastle in the 2018-19 season

A few days after that, he starred in one of the most famous Champions League comebacks ever against Barcelona, scoring the first and the last goal in an incredible 4-0 victory.

The latter strike was a moment of pure instinct after Trent Alexander-Arnold's ingenious quick corner, first time into the top corner.

Again, like the Europa League final three years earlier, Origi was consigned to a place on the bench for the final against Tottenham. But this time, his impact was felt.

As the Reds nervously sat on a 1-0 lead in the closing minutes, the ball broke to the Belgian on the edge of the box and he rifled home a left foot shot into the corner.

Liverpool's supersub had done it again.

His goal from May 2019 at the Kop end against Barcelona will go down in Anfield folklore

Origi also scored in the Champions League final against Tottenham to seal the Reds' triumph

In the years since, Origi's role has not increased despite his heroics. The following season - when the Reds stormed to the Premier League title - he only scored twice in the league, but both those goals came brilliantly in the derby yet again.

Last season, he regularly wasn't in the squad as the Reds struggled. Surely, this time, he was in the departure lounge and ready to take a flight?

Not so. Nobody came in for Origi. So, a much-valued member of Klopp's squad stayed, and on Saturday his patience was rewarded.

Now 26 and in his peak years, Origi still does not itch to leave, nor cause a scene of defiance despite his lack of game-time. It is that which is of huge credit to him, and a point not missed by his manager or team-mates.

Origi continues to make the difference in big moments despite his lack of regular minutes

Klopp added: 'Hes an incredible striker, for different reasons he did not play that often but I hope one day he finds a manager that plays him more than I do.

'Hes one of the best finishers Ive ever seen in my life. In this great team, with our [front] three, he doesnt play all the time but he is a very positive boy, loves the club, wants to contribute and he did in an incredible way.'

'If I would be in another club I would go for him. I thought that would happen but I cannot believe if you dont play for Liverpool, you cannot be good. But I am very happy he is still here.'

The 26-year-old is in his peak years but does not kick up a fuss about not starting for Liverpool

Andy Robertson, Virgil van Dijk and Jordan Henderson all praised Origi after his late winner

Andy Robertson, Jordan Henderson and Van Dijk were among the players raving about Origi in the aftermath on social media on Saturday.

Out of the Belgian's 21 Premier League goals, six have come in the final 15 minutes of games - 16 in the second half of matches.

And as the Reds target a second title in three years, he could well be Klopp's wild card once again.
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Anti-apartheid legend Nelson Mandela liked hearty, simple meals, like oxtail stew. It was a favourite dish of South Africa's first black president and now fills ravioli served in his former home, which has been transformed into a boutique hotel.

The inside of the building, hidden on a quiet street in a wealthy suburb of Johannesburg, had been defaced by squatters.

But after a floor-to-ceiling remodel, sunlight now floods in from generous skylights and bay windows. The white facade is all that remains of the original building.

The nine-bedroom boutique hotel Sanctuary Mandela is located on a quiet street in a wealthy suburb of Johannesburg. Mandela lived in this building for eight years following his release from prison in 1990

The Presidential Suite at Sanctuary Mandela was once the president's actual bedroom, although the room has been remodelled and refurbished

Mandela lived there for eight years before moving to another home around the corner with his third wife Graca Machel. He arrived shortly after his release from prison in 1990, and promptly set about meeting the neighbours, general manager Dimitri Maritz said.

'He went knocking on every door, to introduce himself and invite neighbours for canapes and cocktails,' Maritz said.

'A Chinese man shooed him away. When he realised he had shut the door in Mandela's face, it is said that he moved not long after that,' Maritz laughed, while noting the tale's whiff of urban legend.

The hotel, named Sanctuary Mandela, opened in September for guests seeking to bask in the ex-president's calm and positive energy.

Pictured is the bedroom in The Presidential Suite at Sanctuary Mandela. The heads of guests do not rest where his did, though. After the building's transformation, the bathroom is now where his bed once stood

In this shot a staff member at Sanctuary Mandela hotel walks across the hallway. The walls of the hotel are adorned with images of the anti-apartheid icon

The presidential suite was once actually the president's bedroom, though the heads of guests do not rest where his did. After the remodel, the bathroom is now where his bed once stood.

The window frames bear his nickname 'Madiba' and his Robben Island prison number '466/64' - scratched into the wood by his grandson.

After Mandela's release at age 71, he yearned for the simple pleasures he had been denied during 27 years in prison: playtime with his grandchildren, the scent of a rose, a sip of his favourite sweet Constantia wine.

In this shot, hotel staff members make up one of the nine bedrooms. Some of the rooms bear the nicknames Madiba and Tata, which South Africans fondly used for Mandela

'He was not a fussy person,' said chef Xoliswa Ndoyiya, who served Mandela's meals for two decades.

She now heads the kitchen of the hotel's restaurant, where every dish is inspired by his tastes.

'He did not want to see an oily plate. He didn't have a sweet tongue. Fruit he would eat all the time, throughout the day,' she recalled.

'He was more a father than a boss. He made you feel comfortable, like you were part of his family.'

The dishes on the menu in the hotel's restaurant have been inspired by the food that Mandela loved to eat, such as oxtail stew ravioli

The photos on the walls include shots of Mandela playing peek-a-boo with a baby, dressed to the nines as a young lawyer and standing with outstretched arms to read a newspaper

Like Mandela, Ndoyiya is ethnic Xhosa, giving her a shared food sensibility.

If she tried to impress Mandela's high-profile guests with food that he didn't fancy, she said he would say, 'Why are you not feeding me well?'

She added: 'I would feel guilty for trying to please the guests instead of my boss.

'He liked to eat his chicken with his fingers, cleaning the meat to the bone.

'With him, you must be humble. He taught us that people will know you for who you are. I miss him, very, very much.'

A client enjoys a drink at the bar in Sanctuary Mandela hotel. One of Mandela's favourite drinks is said to have been sweet Constantia wine

In this image Nelson Mandela's former personal chef Xoliswa Ndoyiya busies herself in the hotel kitchen. Mandela 'liked to eat his chicken with his fingers, cleaning the meat to the bone', she remembers

Pictured is the restaurant at Sanctuary Mandela. Mandela's former personal chef said: 'He did not want to see an oily plate, he didn't have a sweet tongue. Fruit he would eat all the time, throughout the day'

Nelson Mandela's personal chef Xoliswa Ndoyiya prepares a dish at the hotel restaurant. Ndoyiya prepared food for Mandela for 20 years and said 'he was not a fussy person'. On the right is the facade of Sanctuary Mandela. It is hoped that the hotel will appeal to guests who want to 'bask in the ex-president's calm and positive energy'

For as much as the building has been remodelled, the management wants it to feel like a home.

Images of Mandela on the walls show him playing peek-a-boo with a baby, dressed to the nines as a young lawyer, and standing with outstretched arms to read a newspaper.

Rooms bear the nicknames, Madiba and Tata, that South Africans fondly used for him.

'It is not supposed to be a museum,' Maritz said. 'We wish to maintain a legacy, but it needs to be self-sustaining, it needs to stay alive.'

The goal of financial sustainability is a key difference from other sites that memorialise the struggle against apartheid.

Here, the assumption is that people are coming for the peace and tranquility that the home offers. Which doesn't mean that they won't talk about Mandela.

'We have so many stories,' Maritz said. 'But we only tell these stories if we are asked.'

'At first you come for Madiba, the second time for the place itself,' he added, hoping that the new venture will embody Mandela's qualities: 'Humility and elegance.'
Kyle Richards has revealed that her daughter Farrah kept news of her own engagement a secret to make sure she didn't steal Paris Hilton's thunder at her extravagant nuptials last month.

The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star told the story on the podcast This is Paris, released Dec. 6., explaining: 'She actually got engaged right before Paris' wedding but didn't want to say because it was Paris' big wedding.'

'So she kept her ring turned around at the wedding because she was a bridesmaid. I had to keep it to myself. It was a lot.'

Inside scoop: Reality star Kyle Richards dished the inside scoop that her oldest daughter Farrah actually hid news of her engagement that happened just prior to Paris Hilton's extravagant wedding

It turns out Farrah, 33, waited over two weeks to reveal her news, as she announced her engagement to long-time boyfriend, car dealer Alex Manos, on Nov. 28.

Paris got hitched to Carter Reum on Nov. 11.

Meanwhile, Kyle, 52, added: 'She didn't say anything to Paris until the last night and then she just told her privately.'

Paris' aunt: Kyle, who married her real estate husband Mauricio Umansky in 1996, is Paris Hilton's aunt

'[Paris] of course was so excited for her. We decided to let Paris' time be her time and then finally we got to say!'

The last remaining original cast member of RHOBH, who married her real estate husband Mauricio Umansky in 1996, is Paris's aunt.

Farrah is the daughter of Kyle and Guraish Aldjufrie, who were married for four years until their divorce in 1992.

Meanwhile, Kyle and her current husband Mauricio have three daughters together: Alexia Simone, 25; Sophia Kylie, 20; and, Portia, 13.

Don't tell the Bride! Farrah is seen to the right of Paris Hilton at her lavish Nov. 11 wedding

Happy couple: 'Farrah is engaged. My eldest daughter is engaged, and I'm so excited. My husband is so excited. I've been waiting for this day for a long time,' said Richards

On the podcast, Kyle said she finally got to see the ring from Farrah while she and her husband were visiting New York City in late November, over two weeks after Hilton's Nov. 11 wedding to Carter Reum on the Bel-Air estate of the bride's late grandfather, Barron Hilton.

'Farrah is engaged. My eldest daughter is engaged, and I'm so excited. My husband is so excited. I've been waiting for this day for a long time,' said a giddy Kyle to the podcast host Hunter March.

'I was in New York City and that's how I found out,' Richards gushed.

How to blow out candles: Mom Kyle Richards gives daughter Farrah instructions on how to properly blow out candles

Kyle, who lives in the Los Angeles suburb of Encino, said she had to make a work-related visit to New York City in late November, and received the surprise call from Farrah while dining at Ralph Lauren's swanky Polo Bar.

Farrah placed a streaming video call on her phone to break the news.

'I look at Facetime and she was just holding up her hand like this, and I was like, "aaaaaaaahhhhhh,"' screamed the Little House on the Prairie star.

'We were so excited and I was like showing it (Facetime) to people around me (at Polo), saying that my daughter just got engaged.'
He's a living legend of the big screen, having received three Best Actor Oscar nominations during his illustrious career.

But Russell Crowe has spoken about his humble beginnings as a young actor in long forgotten commercials, in a video shared by the ABC show Gruen on Wednesday.

'Thank you for noticing some of my earlier work,' Crowe told the advertising-focused TV program.

Memory lane: Russell Crowe (pictured) has spoken about his humble beginnings as a young actor in long forgotten commercials, in a video shared by the ABC show Gruen on Wednesday

He described his early work in commercials as being 'part of the bridge between live performance with bands and theatre, via a few bits and pieces on television.'

The New Zealand-born actor then introduced three commercials.

The first advertisement, from 1987, featured a very young Crowe spruiking a Coca Cola promotion.

In it, Crowe played a service station attendant in Alice Springs, trying to win a 'surf action pack' including a four wheel drive.

Before stardom: The first advertisement, from 1987, featured a very young Crowe spruiking a Coca Cola promotion

The next commercial showed Crowe flirting with a young blonde woman outside a nightclub.

However when he tries to get in he's turned away because he doesn't have the ten dollar cover charge.

It then becomes clear it's advertising State Bank ATMs once Crowe dashes off to one to get money out.

In his walk down memory lane for Gruen, Crowe hilariously described the commercial as promoting 'the joys of ATMs, or some bulls**t like that.'

Humble beginnings: In it, Crowe played a service station attendant in Alice Springs, trying to win a 'surf action pack' including a four wheel drive

'The third one was quite a significant gig at the time,' Crowe recalled. 'Every young actor my age was going for it.'

The ad was part of a 1980s AIDS awareness campaign, and featured Crowe playing Russian roulette with a very young Rebecca Rigg.

The Australian actress went on to marry and subsequently divorce fellow Aussie and The Mentalist star Simon Baker.

Making ends meet: In his walk down memory lane for Gruen, Crowe hilariously described the above State Bank commercial as promoting 'the joys of ATMs, or some bulls**t like that'

Russell then went on to point out he had not returned to advertising since cracking the big time in Hollywood.

'I've yet to use my fame to do an endorsement commercial, which is a different thing.

'I seem to be quite out of step with the times,' he admitted, referring to very profitable endorsements of products by big names like Jennifer Aniston, Matthew McConaughey and Taylor Swift.

Building his profile: The third ad was part of a 1980s AIDS awareness campaign, and featured Crowe playing Russian roulette with a very young Rebecca Rigg (pictured right)

Not looking back: Russell then went on to point out he had not returned to advertising since cracking the big time in Hollywood

'[It's] some silly idea I have about respecting the artform that I work in,' he laughed.

'But that doesn't mean that I won't. Sooner or later, somebody will come up with a situation, and you can be guaranteed it will be for at least one whole f**ktonne of money.'

'And you can also be guaranteed that at that point of my life, if I do that, you can be reassured that I have given all my f**ks away.'
Cameron Daddo shared a gushing tribute to his wife Alison Brahe as they celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary on Wednesday.

The Australian actor, 59, posted a sweet photo to Instagram of the couple embracing and professed his love for her.

'Waking up 30yrs married and messing around trying to do a "cool shot" to say thank you to the @parkhyattsydney for leaving this pic of us taken 30years ago with a bottle of champers,' he wrote.

Milestone: Cameron Daddo shared a sweet tribute to his wife Alison Brahe as they celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary on Wednesday

'It was a fun, kind and thoughtful gesture that we really appreciated. PS it was also brilliant to revisit the place we spent 5hrs at 30yrs ago and finally really enjoy the majesty of the hotel and location. #notapaidadvertisement.'

The couple wed in 1991 and have three children together, daughters Lotus, 24, and Bodhi, 14, and a son, River, 20.

Back in 2019, Cameron revealed his marriage was never the same again after his extra-marital affair in 1994.

'Waking up 30 years married': The Australian actor, 59, posted a sweet photo to Instagram of himself embracing his wife and professed his love for her

Alison added that the couple had to go through a 'hell of a lot of work' before they could finally reach a happy place.

'I was the one who left the marriage,' Cameron told Woman's Day, clarifying that he had been unfaithful, not Alison.

His infidelity took place in America, after he had relocated there for his acting career.

Alison admitted that their marriage was hardly 'couple goals', but they worked on it and are better off today.

'You don't get to 28 years of marriage without a hell of a lot of work and struggles  and a fair chunk of pain and tears,' she said.

Family: The couple wed in 1991 and have three children together, daughters Lotus, 24, and Bodhi, 14, and a son, River, 20. Pictured on their wedding day

Marriage: Back in 2019, Cameron revealed his marriage was never the same again after his extra-marital affair in 1994

In 2017, the pair also discussed the financial struggles they'd experienced in the mid-2000s, when Cameron was a struggling actor in Los Angeles.

In an interview with Stellar magazine, Alison revealed that their friends were leaving groceries on their doorstep just so they could feed their three children.

'Cam still deals with feeling, you know, a lot of angst or shame around that,' she said.

At one point, Cameron thought he'd made it after he landed a part in David Lynch's Inland Empire, only to find out that the role paid just $500 in total.

'It looks great on the resume,' he confessed. 'But that's the going rate for those low-budget projects. The father part of me just went, 'I've got to get cash.''

The family have since returned to Australia, where Cameron works as an actor and radio presenter for Smooth FM.
She's been one of Australia's biggest supermodels since shooting to fame as a teenager.

And earlier this week, Gemma Ward turned heads while swimming at Suffolk Park Beach in Byron Bay.

The 34-year-old looked toned and tanned in a mismatched bikini.

Beach babe! Earlier this week, Gemma Ward turned heads while swimming at Suffolk Park Beach in Byron Bay

She accessorised with jewellery, which included a necklace and earrings, as well as a wristwatch and sunglasses.

After diving into the salty sea, Gemma returned to shore and strolled along the sand with her wet hair slicked back.

The runway model currently lives in Byron Bay with her longtime partner David Letts and their three children.

Style: She accessorised with jewellery, which included a necklace and earrings, as well as a wristwatch and sunglasses

The pair welcomed daughter Naia in December 2013, followed by son Jett in January 2017.

The welcomed daughter Kirra in June last year.

They recently relocated to Byron after living in both New York and Sydney's Northern Beaches.

Family: The runway model currently lives in Byron Bay with her longtime partner David Letts and their three children

Gemma is considered one of Australia's most successful models and made her Australian Fashion Week debut at just age 15 in 2003.

After a short break from modelling, she returned to the industry in 2018.

She previously told Vogue about her return: 'I came back to modelling because I felt in a place where I was accepting of myself and ready to continue my journey and accept opportunities placed in my way.'
Geena Davis and Dr. Reza Jarrahy have finalized their divorce in Los Angeles Superior Court, more than four years after their November 2017 separation.

The 65-year-old actress and Jarrahy, a 50-year-old plastic surgeon agreed in court docs filed December 3 that the details of the split 'shall not be disclosed by them to any third parties,' People reported, citing court docs it reviewed.

The former couple, who initially wed September 1, 2001, are parents to daughter Alizeh Keshvar, 19, and twin sons Kaiis Steven and Kian William, 17.

The latest: Geena Davis, 65, and Dr. Reza Jarrahy, 50, have finalized their divorce in Los Angeles Superior Court, more than four years after their November 2017 separation. The former couple was snapped in LA in 2016

As part of their divorce pact, Davis and Jarrahy said they would change the last names for their sons from Davis-Jarrahy to Jarrahy, with Davis as their second middle name, according to court docs.

Jarrahy initially filed for the split in May of 2018, citing irreconcilable differences and listing the date of separation as November 15, 2017.

The Academy Award-winning actress subsequently said in court docs in September 2018 that she and Jarrahy were never legally wed, as they did not get a marriage license or pay the related fees when they lad a 'marriage-like ceremony' in the Hamptons in 2001.

The A League of Their Own star told the court that the then-couple 'affirmatively decided not to obtain a marriage license' in either New York or California, as they had 'never intended to marry.'

The Academy Award-winning actress was seen this past June in LA

The Thelma & Louise actress actress and surgeon were snapped at an event in LA in November 2017

They were seen with kids Alizeh, Kian William and Kaiis Steven in LA in May 2017

Jarrahy, who is Iranian-American, said in court docs that the marriage to the Thelma & Louise actress was legally binding because his father, who officiated the proceedings, was an officiant under Islamic law, the Los Angeles Daily News reported in 2019.

The Grey's Anatomy alum was in three previous marriages: to restaurateur Richard Emmolo from 198283; actor Jeff Goldblum from 1987 to 1990; and filmmaker Renny Harlin from 1993 to 1998.

Davis chat with Good Housekeeping in 2006 about discussions she had with Jarrahy prior to getting married.

'I did say to Reza, "You're about to become someone's fourth husband. What on earth are you thinking?"' she said. 'But as for myself, I wasn't nervous at all. I really did feel that I had turned a corner, that I had pulled off changes that were real and permanent.

'And it was exciting to know I was marrying someone who I can be cranky or selfish in front of and he doesn't run screaming from the room or judge me for it. It's like I discovered a whole other way to live.'
Sofia Richie enjoyed a mid-week outing in Beverly Hills with her boyfriend Elliot Grainge by her side.

The 23-year-old model and the 27-year-old music executive were pictured doing a little holiday shopping at Hermes on Rodeo Drive before grabbing lunch at South Beverly Grill on Wednesday.

The always stylish daughter of Lionel Richie found a way to make even sweatpants look glam as she paired them with a chic winter coat.

Leisurely day: Sofia Richie and her boyfriend Elliot Grainge were pictured out and about on Wednesday as they did a bit of holiday shopping at Hermes before popping into the South Beverly Grill for lunch

Sofia opted for comfort for a day of shopping as she donned black joggers with a matching crew neck and crisp sneakers.

Dressed for cooler temperatures in Los Angeles, she layered a sweeping snap front trench coat over the monochromatic ensemble and carried a powder blue bag for a splash of color.

Her brunette locks were clipped back loosely and she shielded her face behind stylish sunglasses and a leopard printed face mask.

Elliot's look for the day included a pair of jogger style corduroys with a black long sleeve shirt and a camel colored down vest.

Fashion and function: Sofia opted for comfort for a day of shopping as she donned black joggers with a matching crew neck and crisp sneakers

Group outing: The reportedly 'very serious' couple were joined by another male companion for the lunch outing

He seemed to take the lead as he was pictured walking into the popular eatery ahead of Sofia who chatted with another male companion on what looked to be a group outing.

Richie and Grainge's relationship is said to be 'very serious' to the point where they're already living together and have talked about the future.

'They have talked about getting engaged and it's something that Sofia wants and is looking forward to' an insider divulged to E! News just last month.

'They are a great match and it's going really well. Sofia and Elliot currently live together and the adjustment has been so easy and seamless.'

Taking things up a notch: 'They have talked about getting engaged and it's something that Sofia wants and is looking forward to' an insider divulged to E! News just last month

Moving forward: The model held a number of items and her phone on the outing

It was added that the ex of Scott Disick loves that her relationship with the more age appropriate music executive is free of 'drama.'

'They have truly formed a solid bond recently and Sofia loves that they don't have any drama,' the source shared, noting that she 'loves how chill and calm' he is.

The pair first aired their romance to the world in the spring but had known each other for years as family friends.

Elliot's dad, Lucian Grainge (the CEO of Universal Music Group), and Sofia's dad, Lionel, had forged a bond over the years, making the pair's relationship a 'natural progression' per a source.

On Grainge's birthday (November 6) she gushed: 'You are everything to me. I love you, happy birthday babe.'

Heating up: Richie and Grainge's relationship is said to be 'very serious' to the point where they're already living together and have talked about the future
Australian supermodel Elle Macpherson has confirmed her split from disgraced former doctor Andrew Wakefield after breakup rumours earlier this year.

A spokesperson for the 57-year-old revealed the news to Daily Mail Australia on Thursday, saying the supermodel and anti-vaxxer actually broke up 'almost two years ago'.

'As a spokesperson for Elle I can unequivocally confirm that the relationship between Elle and Dr Wakefield terminated almost two years ago,' the spokesperson said in a statement.

EXCLUSIVE: Elle Macpherson has confirmed her split from disgraced former doctor Andrew Wakefield. A spokesperson for the 57-year-old revealed the news with Daily Mail Australia on Thursday, revealing the supermodel and anti-vaxxer actually broke up 'almost two years ago'

'There has been no contact subsequently.'

Elle reportedly first started dating British anti-vaxxer Wakefield in 2017.

Earlier this year when asked about the break-up rumours, a spokesperson for 65-year-old Wakefield said: 'He rarely answers press enquiries from mainstream news publications and doesn't comment on his private life.'

Wakefield, originally from Berkshire, was struck off the medical register in 2010 after his research showing the supposed link between the MMR jabs and autism was exposed as an 'elaborate fraud'.

His false claims led to a downturn in vaccination among children and renewed measles outbreaks.

Making headlines: The former couple were first spotted kissing at a farmers' market in Miami in 2018

Controversial: Wakefield, originally from Berkshire, was struck off the medical register in 2010 after his research showing the supposed link between the MMR jabs and autism was exposed as an 'elaborate fraud'

He moved to the US and reinvented himself as a filmmaker and campaigner, and it was reported last year that he had seized on paranoia owing to the coronavirus pandemic to spread conspiracy theories around vaccination.

He and his ex-wife Carmel, who settled in Austin, Texas, are said to have separated in early 2017. In November that year, he met Elle at a 'Doctors Who Rock' awards ceremony in Orlando, Florida.

The former couple were first spotted kissing at a farmers' market in Miami in 2018.

Wakefield has previously dismissed Covid-19, calling it the 'WuFlu,' after the city of Wuhan in China, where the pandemic began.

During an online 'Health Freedom Summit', he said the death toll had been 'greatly exaggerated' and the effects of the pandemic were 'based upon a fallacy'.

Reports: In November last year, it was reported that Elle dubbed the pandemic a 'divine time' to promote the campaign against vaccinations  backing anti-vaxxer Wakefield

In November last year, it was reported that Elle dubbed the pandemic a 'divine time' to promote the campaign against vaccinations  backing her disgraced former doctor boyfriend.

In video footage obtained by the Mail, she was introduced by Wakefield as 'Elle Macpherson, my girlfriend' ahead of a US screening of his most recent instalment of anti-vaccination propaganda.

Talking to him before an audience in North Carolina, she said: 'You made this film during Covid, and it's interesting because it's such beautiful, sacred timing when you watch the film, because it's so pertinent and so relevant... And for it to come in this divine time where vaccination and mandatory vaccination is on everybody's lips.'

This was the first time the model-turned-entrepreneur had acknowledged their relationship in public and endorsed his activism.

High-profile exes: Before dating Wakefield, Elle was married twice previously to French fashion photographer Gilles Bensimon from 1986 -1989 and American billionaire Jeffrey Soffer, who she wed in 2013

Elle said she was 'honoured' to be sharing the stage with Wakefield, saying she first heard about 'Andy' in 1998  the year his now-notorious sham research falsely claimed to have discovered evidence in 12 children that the MMR vaccine caused autism.

Before dating Wakefield, Elle was married twice previously to French fashion photographer Gilles Bensimon from 1986 -1989 and American billionaire Jeffrey Soffer, who she wed in 2013.

She has two children - Flynn and Cy - with her French financier ex Arpad Busson.
Veronica Mars alum Kristen Bell joked 'when it rains, she pours' of her new role as a lonely alcoholic in her new dark comedic thriller premiering January 28 on Netflix.

The eight-episode limited series' new title is quite a mouthful - The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window.

In the first trailer - which dropped Wednesday - the Michigan-born 41-year-old's heartbroken character Anna claims to have witnessed a gruesome murder involving her handsome neighbor (Tom Riley).

Premiering January 28 on Netflix! Veronica Mars alum Kristen Bell joked 'when it rains, she pours' of her new role as a lonely alcoholic in her new dark comedic thriller

Say what? The eight-episode limited series' new title is quite a mouthful - The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window

But after calling 911, she's chastized by the baffled police officer: 'Nothing happened. It's illegal to make a false report, Anna.'

Anna seems even more delusional after her therapist reminds her not to combine prescription meds with her many glasses of red wine: 'That can contribute to the hallucinations.'

There are fast flashes of violent, sexual imagery throughout the teaser including shots of sex scenes, someone falling off a tower, a hand in the mud, and a man holding a woman's mouth.

Curiously, the preview includes shots of Anna dropping and breaking at least three casserole dishes in different scenes.

Paranoid? In the first trailer - which dropped Wednesday - the Michigan-born 41-year-old's heartbroken character Anna claims to have witnessed a gruesome murder involving her handsome neighbor (Tom Riley)

But after calling 911, she's chastized by the baffled police officer: 'Nothing happened. It's illegal to make a false report, Anna'

Anna seems even more delusional after her therapist reminds her not to combine prescription meds with her many glasses of red wine: 'That can contribute to the hallucinations'

Confusing edit: There are fast flashes of violent, sexual imagery throughout the teaser including shots of sex scenes (pictured), someone falling off a tower, a hand in the mud, and a man holding a woman's mouth

Significant clue? Curiously, the preview includes shots of Anna dropping and breaking at least three casserole dishes in different scenes

Kristen - who also executive produced - tells a gravestone as Anna: 'I just feel like I'm falling apart. Like a house of cards, like a sand castle with a tide that's coming in, like a rickety chair, or an old jalopy. I don't know'

'I just feel like I'm falling apart,' Kristen - who also executive produced - tells a gravestone as Anna.

'Like a house of cards, like a sand castle with a tide that's coming in, like a rickety chair, or an old jalopy. I don't know.'

With all the spying through windows in the trailer, it reminded audiences that Bell got her start playing a teenage P.I. in four seasons of Veronica Mars as well as a big-screen spin-off.

Watch the iconic series Veronica Mars, on Stan in Australia.
Poh Ling Yeow has shared a little a little-known fact about her life before finding fame.

Speaking to Jessica Rowe's Big Talk Show on Wednesday, the MasterChef star, 48, revealed she grew up with the name Sharon, and only decided to adopt the name Poh Ling in her twenties.

'I was given [the name Sharon] at birth, but then at age 24 I found out it wasn't on my birth certificate,' the fifth-generation Chinese Malaysian star explained.

'I ditched Shazza! Poh Ling Yeow, 48, (pictured) has revealed she grew up using the name SHARON - and the surprising reason she changed it during her twenties

'And my husband Matt [Phipps] said, 'Hey, I've always felt really weird calling you Sharon. Why don't you go back to your Chinese name?''

Poh, who was working as an artist at the time, explained that she was nervous to drop the name Sharon because she thought it would make her appear pompous.

'I was like, 'Oh, I can't. Not now.' Because it was just when I'd started painting and I thought, 'Everyone's going to think I'm so pretentious',' she recalled.

Uncovered identity: 'I was given [the name Sharon] at birth, but then at age 24 I found out it wasn't on my birth certificate,' the fifth-generation Chinese Malaysian star told Jessica Rowe's Big Talk Show on Wednesday

Matt, a prominent filmmaker, wouldn't take no for an answer and decided to credit Poh using her Chinese name in his 2009 Jackie's Spring Palace.

Poh served as art director for the movie as well as playing the role of a waitress.

'[Matt] won this really big short film prize [for Jackie's Spring Palace]... so we got quite a lot of local press at the time,' Poh explained.

New name: Poh explained that her now ex-husband Matt Phipps (pictured left, with his new wife Sarah Rich) decided to credit her using her Chinese name in the credits of a film they worked on together in 2009

'Everyone's going to think I'm so pretentious': Poh, who was working as an artist at the time, said she was nervous to drop the name Sharon because she thought it would make her appear pompous. Poh is pictured in her early twenties

Sharon no more: The star ended up embracing her new name after everyone in the film and arts industry began calling her Poh Ling instead of Sharon

'And after that, he [told the media], 'Oh her name's Poh.' He actually named me in the film Poh Ling, and in the credits [it said] 'Poh Ling played by Poh Ling'.

'So that's how Poh started. And after that, everyone that knew me from that industry just called me Poh,' she said.

Laughing, the chef added: 'I ditched Shazza!'

Poh was born in Malaysia and immigrated with her family to Australia at age nine.
She was seen jetting out of JFK airport in New York a few days ago.

And it appears Dakota Johnson is making the most of her time in London, as she was pictured attending a performance of Cabaret in the Kit Kat Club at The Playhouse Theatre on Wednesday evening.

The actress, 32, cut a cool figure in a cropped grey T-shirt, which flashed her washboard abs with a pair of black tailored trousers and a white open shirt.

Theatre chic: Dakota Johnson is making the most of her time in London, as she was pictured attending a performance of Cabaret in the Kit Kat Club at The Playhouse Theatre on Wednesday evening

Dakota was wearing a black scarf and a pair of brogues, while she accessorised with a series of beaded necklaces and a pair of drop earrings.

The Fifty Shades Of Grey star opted for a neutral pallet of make-up and swept her brunette locks up into a stylish bun.

Dakota was one of the celebrity guests at the performance, which stars Eddie Redmayne and Jessie Buckley.

Low-key: The actress, 32, cut a cool figure in a cropped grey T-shirt, which flashed her washboard abs with a pair of black tailored trousers and a white open shirt

Dakota has been busy promoting the The Lost Daughter with writer-director Maggie Gyllenhaal in recent days.

In the adaptation of Elena Ferrante's 2006 novella, The High Note actress plays Nina, a mother whose young daughter goes missing at a resort on the Greek isle of Spetses.

She recently admitted: 'The initial feeling was, "Oh, I'm a little bit scared to play this young woman who's having a really difficult time as a mother," because that is typically a very unlikable person.

Accessories: Dakota was wearing a black scarf and a pair of brogues, while she accessorised with a series of beaded necklaces and a pair of drop earrings

'But it's so normal and it's so honest, and it was someone that I recognized more than, you know, a young mother who's who gets everything perfect and is feeling great about it and super happy and all the time doesn't waver from that.'

Olivia Colman, Ed Harris, and Peter Sarsgaard also star in Maggie's critically-acclaimed feature directorial debut - which hits US/UK theaters December 17 before streaming December 31 on Netflix.

December 15 will mark the 72nd birthday of Johnson's famous father, Miami Vice alum Don Johnson.

Subtle: The Fifty Shades Of Grey star opted for a neutral pallet of make-up and swept her brunette locks up into a stylish bun

Last month, the Emmy nominee, 71, said he'd have to have a 'talk' with his daughter's boyfriend since 2017 - Coldplay frontman Chris Martin - if they get engaged.

'If she's happy, I will be happy and he's a lovely guy,' Don told Fox 5's Good Day New York last month.

'And if she decides to get married, I would imagine that there would be grandchildren not too far after that. I'd be pretty excited about that part.'
I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! hosts Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly fired more shots at the government during Wednesday's episode of the show.

Viewers couldn't help but laugh after the presenters doubled down on their criticism of the Prime Minister Boris Johnson during the live segments.

Ant and Dec, both 46, joked about their mention in the Prime Ministers Questions and poked fun at the lack of inquiry into the No.10. Christmas party last year.

Not holding back: I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! hosts Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly fired more shots at the government during Wednesday's episode of the show

After spokesperson Allegra Stratton - who has today resigned - was recorded joking about the party days later, the presenters couldn't resist making a dig.

Ant and Dec discussed how campmates hid the fact they lost the challenge from David Ginola, because it meant he didn't receive his letter from home.

Dec said: 'Not a great idea that, is it?'

Reaction: Viewers couldn't help but laugh after the presenters doubled down on their criticism of the Prime Minister Boris Johnson during the live segments

While Ant added: 'If we've learned one thing in the last 24 hours, you can't cover something up.'

Dec continued: 'No, that will come back to bite them at some point. Might take a year - but it will happen.

'The situation was as clear as day, we all watched of them getting the question wrong. It was obvious what happened. Even Ant and Dec are ahead of the Prime Minister - sorry... Danny Miller... on this one.'

He added: 'Don't worry, we'll launch an inquiry on something - not that that'll do anything.'

What's going on? Ant and Dec, both 46, joked about their mention in the Prime Ministers Questions and poked fun at the lack of inquiry into the No.10. Christmas party last year

Anyway back to camp, where Frankie's been hitting Naughty Boy with a few personal music questions,' before Dec added: 'Or PMQs for short.'

Many viewers praised the presenting duo for their comments and insisted they had done the right thing by holding the government to account.

One person said: 'Evening Prime Minister. 2nd night in a row that Ant & Dec have single handledly destroyed Boris' reputation on live primetime TV & I'm absolutely here for it.

'2 Geordie lads are doing a much better job at jolding this shambolic goverment to account than Starmer is.'

While another agreed, and said: 'Well done Ant & Dec, it's about time we had an opposition which were credible.'

Ant and Dec were mentioned by Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer on Wednesday during Prime Minister's Questions - after making comments about the PM during Tuesday's episode.

Starmer said: 'We've all watched the video of the Prime Minister's staff... they knew there was a party, they knew it was against the rules, they knew they couldn't admit it, they thought it was funny.

Twitter: Many viewers praised the presenting duo for their comments

'It's obvious was happening. Ant and Dec are ahead of the Prime Minister on this. The Prime Minister has been caught red-handed.'

Another view joked: 'Once Ant & Dec turn on you you're screwed!'

While another said: 'When a govt loses Ant & Dec they've lost the entire Nation.'

The TV duo mocked Boris Johnson's Number 10 Christmas party cover up as they brand him 'the PM, for now' during a live taping of I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here.

The show's crew cheered behind the camera as Dec branded Mr Johnson 'the PM, for now' during the jibe at the Government's handling of claims a party was held in Downing Street despite lockdown measures last year.

Reference: Ant and Dec were mentioned by Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer on Wednesday during Prime Minister's Questions - after making comments about the PM during Tuesday's episode

Ant insisted the I'm a Celeb stars had not celebrated a change of camp leader with 'cheese, wine and a secret Santa'.

The joke comes after Downing Street aides laughed as they branded their Christmas party a 'business meeting' to hide the fact it broke Covid laws, a new video suggested.

They they took part in a fake press conference just days after the alleged December 18 event last year which has raised legal questions and denials of wrongdoing from No10.

The clip, discovered by ITV news, shows Stratton, then the PM's press secretary, and Ed Oldfield, No10's head of digital, rehearsing a question and answer session in the No9 briefing room.

Dec said: 'It is all change in camp now because yesterday the celebs chose a new leader via the gift of a secret vote.'

Ant added: 'That means David's reign is over but they weren't celebrating. They didn't have a party.

'They categorically deny any suggestions that they had a party. And this fictional party definitely didn't involve cheese and wine or a secret Santa.'

A dramatic Dec pointed at the camera as he said: 'Evening Prime Minister, for now.'

The show's crew erupted into laughter behind the scenes as the camera cut back to the campmates.

In the leaked video Oldfield asks a question about 'a Downing Street Christmas party on Friday night', to which Ms Stratton laughs and replies: 'I went home.'

When he asks if the Prime Minister would condone such a party, Ms Stratton appears unsure how to respond and asks the room: 'What's the answer?'

Ha! Ant insisted the I'm a Celeb stars had not celebrated a change of camp leader with 'cheese, wine and a secret Santa'

A third voice can be heard saying 'it wasn't a party, it was cheese and wine', before Ms Stratton added: 'It was a business meeting ... this fictional party was a business meeting and it was not socially distanced.'

The footage was released after Johnson had earlier refused to answer questions about the gathering, with questions raised over whether it breached social distancing rules in place at the time.

Asked about it on a visit to a London prison he would only say that all the rules had been followed at the time. Other ministers have refused to confirm if a party happened or not.

Starmer responded to the footage of Downing St aides joking about the party by saying that Mr Johnson needed to 'come clean and apologise'.

The Labour leader said: 'People across the country followed the rules even when that meant being separated from their families, locked down and - tragically for many - unable to say goodbye to their loved ones.

Footage: The clip, discovered by ITV news shows Allegra Stratton, then the PM's press secretary, and Ed Oldfield, No10's head of digital, rehearsing a question and answer session

'They had a right to expect that the government was doing the same.

'To lie and to laugh about those lies is shameful. The Prime Minister now needs to come clean, and apologise.

'It cannot be one rule for the Conservatives and another for everyone else.'

In response to the footage, a Downing Street spokesman said: 'There was no Christmas party. Covid rules have been followed at all times.'

The leaked footage was shot in the media room at 9 Downing Street, which was refurbished at a cost of 2.6 million in preparation for the televised broadcasts before the plan was ditched.

Parties were banned under Covid restrictions at the time. Mr Johnson has not confirmed or denied reports that members of his Downing Street team staged a party on December 18 last year when London was under Tier 3 restrictions but he has insisted that no rules were broken.

What's the story? In it Oldfield asks a question about 'a Downing Street Christmas party on Friday night', to which Ms Stratton laughed and replied: 'I went home.'

Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab reignited the party row after he said it would have been a clear breach of Covid rules at the time if Mr Johnson's staff held a party in Number 10 in the run-up to last Christmas.

The PM has insisted no rules were broken after the Times reported that staff wore festive jumpers and were asked to bring 'secret Santa' gifts.

They were reported to have brought alcohol and food to the event said to have been attended by dozens of colleagues

Mr Johnson's official spokesman has insisted 'there was not a party' but the Prime Minister declined to characterise the event during a visit to a prison in London on Tuesday.

'What I can tell you is that all the guidelines were observed, continue to be observed,' he told reporters.

Asked if he investigated personally, Mr Johnson said: 'I am satisfied myself that the guidelines were followed at all times.'

The spokesman later added that 'our position has not changed' following Mr Johnson's comments
Gabrielle Epstein is arguably one of the most talked about Aussie Instagram models right now thanks to her raunchy posts.

And this week, the 27-year-old pushed the limits even further by slipping her slender curves into an extremely skimpy green bikini.

The blonde beauty then mounted a scooter on the side of the road and perused through a map in a series of posed photos for social media.

Green with envy! Gabrielle Epstein dared to bare in a green bikini in an extremely raunchy Instagram post

The swimsuit left little to the imagination and could barely cover her chest and derriere.

It comes just one month after Gabby bared all for the Mexican edition of Playboy magazine.

She posed topless for the cover, with nothing more than two shot glasses to protect her modesty.

Alongside the cover, the stunner pleaded with Instagram not to delete the image - as the social media giant holds a strict policy to avoid nude images which display nipples.

Cheeky! The blonde beauty mounted a scooter on the side of the road and perused through a map in a series of posed photos for social media

'My @playboy November cover & editorial is out now! PS this is a magazine cover pls dont be a d**k and remove it lol,' she wrote.

Gabrielle last month fired back at critics who said her photos were 'too explicit'.

Speaking to Maxim, she called out the 'toxic double standard' between how men and women are treated differently on Instagram.

'There are plenty of photos of men without their shirts on showing their nipples but the fact that mine can be covered and a photo still gets removed creates a very toxic double standard,' she said.

Forget something? It comes just one month after Gabby bared all for the Mexican edition of Playboy magazine

'We are all human, we are all born with bodies and we should not be taught to be ashamed of how they look in a natural state.'

She said she'd turned to OnlyFans to get around Instagram's censorship.

'I also feel like I can be more of myself on OnlyFans,' she explained.

'To me showing my body isnt about me being objectified; its about me feeling confident, powerful and beautiful in my own skin.'
Kanye West is reportedly being eyed as the next creative director for Louis Vuitton after the passing of Virgil Abloh.

According to The Sun, West and Abloh 'masterminded' the 44-year-old rapper's alleged creative takeover prior to the late designer's death.

Abloh, who served as the luxury brand's artistic director for menswear, died on November 28 after battling a rare form of cancer, cardiac angiosarcoma, for two years. He was 41.

Next move? Kanye West is reportedly being eyed as the next creative director for Louis Vuitton after the passing of Virgil Abloh; West seen in 2019

'Kanye is devastated about Virgil's death because they had been friends for years and worked together a lot,' a source told the outlet on Wednesday.

'They shared a similar vision and now Kanye feels he owes it to Virgil to continue his work at Louis Vuitton.'

DailyMail.com has reached out to representatives for Kanye 'Ye' West who have yet to respond.

Back in 2009, West and Abloh met while serving as interns for the Italian luxury brand Fendi in Rome, Italy. It was there that the pair's 12 year friendship was born.

In it together: According to The Sun , West and Abloh 'masterminded' the 44-year-old rapper's alleged creative takeover prior to the late designer's death; West and Virgil pictured in 2018

Empire: According to Forbes , the Louis Vuitton empire - founded in Paris, France in 1854 - is currently valued at nearly $50billion with $15billion in worldwide sales

Kanye made Virgil the creative director of his content company Donda in 2010.

He'd go on to serve as artistic director for Kanye and longtime collaborator Jay-Z's Watch The Throne album, which earned him a grammy nod for art direction at the 2012 ceremony.

Along with his partnership with West, Abloh allowed his own designs and artistic vision to flourish through the launch of his own line Off-White in 2013.

Tragedy: Abloh, who served as the luxury brand's artistic director for menswear, died on November 28 after battling a rare form of cancer, cardiac angiosarcoma, for two years. He was 41; Virgil seen in 2019

His groundbreaking fusions of streetwear and high couture made him one of the most celebrated tastemakers.

Virgil would become the first black American creative director of a top French fashion house after he was named as Louis Vuitton's menswear creative director in 2018.

According to Forbes, the Louis Vuitton empire - founded in Paris, France in 1854 - is currently valued at nearly $50billion with $15billion in worldwide sales.

Same wavelength: 'They shared a similar vision and now Kanye feels he owes it to Virgil to continue his work at Louis Vuitton,' a source told The Sun; West and Abloh seen in 2018

Longtime pals: Back in 2009, West and Abloh met while serving as interns for the Italian luxury brand Fendi in Rome, Italy. It was there that the pair's 12 year friendship was born; Virgil and Kanye pictured in 2018

Over a decade ago, West's collaboration with the brand on a line of sneakers proved to be massive success.

As reported by GQ, the 12-year-old sneakers surpassed 'the $1.5 billion mark in annual sales; in 2019.

Though they were retailed at just over $1100 upon their 2009 release, the sneakers are now worth over $30,000, 'seeing a value increase of 2,532 per cent.'

Since 2009, Kanye has only further immersed himself into the fashion world with the launch of his Yeezy label in 2015.

Early collaboration: Over a decade ago, West's collaboration with Louis Vuitton on a line of sneakers proved to be massive success for the aspiring designer and the luxe brand; Kanye seen in 2020

The odd silhouettes and design choices that make Yeezy what it is has captured the hearts - and wallets - of fashion lovers around the world.

Though he may be slated to take over Louis Vuitton, West's alleged ascent to power in not without a heavy heart as he continues to grieve Abloh's very recent passing.

After news broke on November 29, the Grammy-Award winner hosted a Sunday Service vigil for his longtime friend.

As another display of unimaginable grief, West wiped his entire Instagram page of content.

Passion for fashion: Since 2009, Kanye has only further immersed himself into the fashion world with the launch of his Yeezy label in 2015; Kanye seen with daughter North West in 2020
Snoochie Shy has revealed what happened after Richard Madeley was hospitalised after being struck down with an illness during I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!

The radio presenter, 29, said the celebrities in Gwrych Castle were all 'definitely worried' after Richard was taken to hospital, which he later revealed was due to dehydration and exhaustion.

Speaking to The Sun, Snoochie said: 'In the middle of night, he just got ill, and then we was all told to just go to the campfire room, and then he just left, really.

Concerned: Snoochie Shy has revealed what happened after Richard Madeley was hospitalised after being struck down with an illness during I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!

'I think we was definitely worried. Obviously, he's our camp mate. And I know that obviously he was at The Clink so we only had, in the main camp, 24 hours of him.

'But then when we got the video message from him, I'm pretty sure the majority of us cried. But he seemed like he was in good spirits, as well. So it was really nice to have that video message, just because we had been worrying a lot.'

Snoochie, who became the third celebrity sent home on Tuesday, said the campmates were all relieved to know he was alright.

In a major blow to the show as one of their top signings, Richard, 65, was taken ill after participating in a gruelling trial and was unable to return as he had broken the show's 'Covid bubble' .

Scare: The radio presenter, 29, said the celebrities in Gwrych Castle were all 'definitely worried' after Richard was taken to hospital, which he later revealed was due to dehydration and exhaustion

Appearing on Good Morning Britain, the star said: 'I think I got dehydrated. It was actually quite disturbing. I'd been up for 20 hours, I don't think I got to bed until 4, 4.30 in the morning...

'I'm bad at remembering to drink anyway. As I snuggled in for the night, I thought I haven't had a drink, I'll have a big drink in the morning, I woke up babbling, I didn't know where I was, I couldn't string a sentence together.

He admitted that 'the penny didn't drop' that the hospital visit would mean he would have to leave the castle.

Richard said: 'I got a clean bill of health. But that's COVID precautions isn't it? If it wasn't for COVID I'd have been out for 2 hours and I would've been back by half 10 in the morning.

She said: 'I think we was definitely worried. Obviously, he's our camp mate. And I know that obviously he was at The Clink so we only had, in the main camp, 24 hours of him'

'I wanted to go back but there was no way I could risk going back in. It just wasn't an option, they are so strict about it. If I had the bug and went back to camp and it spread, it would have killed the series.

'We're all sleeping in the same dormitories, if anyone has the bug it's gonna spread. ITV has a proper duty of care. If you have someone in that castle talking nonsense, they have to check it out.'

Discussing the moment he was told he had to leave, he said: 'It wasn't until I picked up my meds, the producer was very upset, so here I am.'

Richard denied suggestions the trial had made him ill, saying: 'I don't think there was anything dangerous in the trial, I thought the trial was impossible to achieve. The knots had been tied incredibly tight.

Wow: Richard revealed extreme dehydration and not sleeping for 20 hours led to his hospital visit which ultimately caused his departure from the show

'I did that trial 36 hours before I fell ill. I do feel the trial was un-doable but it was not to do with why I fell ill.'

Discussing his motivations for appearing on the show, he said: 'I was curious as I wanted to know about this phenomenon, I've been asked for the last 15 years, I've always said no.

'It's a cultural phenomenon, it's not what I expected it to be like. It feels real. There's no behind-the-scenes chill out zone.

'We were freezing and cold and bored and it wasn't pleasant at all.'

Richard, who was paid a rumoured 200,000 to appear, said he didn't know what effect his exit would have on his paycheck, saying: 'I was in the castle for eight days, I don't know about the fee, my agent will sort that' before adding he'd lost '3 or 4lbs'.
A massive set for Thursday's concert featuring Kanye 'Ye' West and Drake is being put up at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

TMZ on Wednesday published photos of the crew at work in the middle of the outdoor facility, with a large evaluated platform in the center for the show, which is in an effort to free Larry Hoover from prison and raise funds for prison reform nonprofit organizations.

Insiders told the outlet that more than 200 crew members were working on the set for the show, which has a budget of around $10 million.

The latest: A massive set for Thursday's concert featuring Kanye 'Ye' West, 44, and Drake, 35, is being put up at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum

The show was set to be a unique 'environmental experience' with projectors in use, sources told the outlet.

West, 44, and Drake, 35, have been rehearsing at a separate off-site venue, with a slated rehearsal set for Thursday, sources told TMZ.

There is no general admission to the show, and the concert seats have been reserved, sources told the outlet. Organizers have been focused on beefed-up security just a month after the Astroworld tragedy in Houston in which 10 people died after a crowd surge.

The concert is slated to be streamed on Amazon Prime and in IMAX theaters.

There is no general admission to the show at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, and the concert seats have been reserved

Ye was seen in an Instagram clip uploaded by music executive and promoter J. Prince in which he spoke about the rivalry with Drake and his wish to put it behind them to help 'with the ultimate purpose being to free Larry Hoover'

West has past sought to free Hoover, the founder of Chicago's Gangster Disciples street gang, who in 1973 received a life sentence in prison following a murder conviction. Hoover was subsequently sentenced to six additional life sentences in 1997 after he was found guilty in connection with ongoing gang involvement.

Ye collaborated with Hoover's son, Larry Hoover Jr. on the song Jesus Lord earlier this year, in which Hoover Jr. showed his gratitude for West's continued efforts.

In his October 11, 2018 meeting with former President Donald Trump in the Oval Office, Ye lobbied the president to free Hoover 'because he started doing positive for the community' in Chicago.

'Its very important for me to get Hoover out because in an alternate universe, I am him and I have to go and get him free,' he said at the time.

This past July, a federal judge denied a motion to grant Hoover, 71, an abridged sentence under the FIRST STEP Act, a law that grants prisoners sentence leniency based on good behavior and training for a job.

Hoover is currently in custody at the ADX federal prison in Florence, Colorado.

West last month was seen in an Instagram clip uploaded by music executive and promoter J. Prince, 57, in which he spoke about his past rivalry with Drake and his wish to put it behind them to help 'with the ultimate purpose being to free Larry Hoover.'

In the clip, West stood alongside J. Prince and said, 'This is Ye and J. Prince. I'm making this video to address an ongoing back-and-forth between myself and Drake. Both me and Drake have taken shots at each other and it's time to put it to rest.'

West referenced the commercial success of his album Donda and Drake's Certified Lover Boy in extending the invitation for his event.

'I'm asking Drake ... to join me onstage as a special guest to share the two biggest albums of the year live in Los Angeles,' he said, adding the event 'will not only bring awareness to our cause, but prove to people everywhere how much more we can accomplish when we lay our pride to the side and come together.'
Dolly: The Sheep that Changed the World

Rating:

Walking with Monica Galetti

Rating:

Dolly the sheep, the first mammal ever created by cloning, is such a celebrity in Roslin, south of Edinburgh, the local cafe is called Dolly's Tea Room.

I hope they serve lambington sponges. And woolsh cakes.

Don't blame me for those terrible puns. Blame science. The unexpectedly hilarious documentary Dolly: The Sheep That Changed The World (BBC2) was crammed full of bad gags from the labs.

Even her name was a joke  chosen because Dolly was cloned with a cell taken from an adult sheep's mammaries. Mention mammaries and, when the white-coated bio-technicians have stopped sniggering, they'll start singing Dolly Parton numbers.

The country music queen took this dubious compliment in good part. 'There's no such thing as baaa-d publicity,' she said. ('Y'all know it costs a lot of money to look this sheep . . .' she might have added)

The unexpectedly hilarious documentary Dolly: The Sheep That Changed The World (BBC2) was crammed full of bad gags from the labs

Dolly, who was the world's first cloned sheep, lived to be only six years old, about half the span of an average sheep

Like her namesake, Dolly  created from an ovum fused with mammary cells via a hypodermic needle  was a bit of a diva, thrilled by her fame. 'Gosh, did she know she was beautiful,' said embryologist Karen Walker, who wielded the needle and thus called herself Dolly's dad.

'If she'd had a lipstick, she would have put it on for the reporters. She'd literally fluff herself up.'

Karen has a framed scrap of wool, salvaged from the day the world champion sheep shearer came to give Dolly a trim.

'It'll end up on the Antiques Roadshow,' she predicts. For all the pioneering science that led to cloning, Roslin Institute was an endearingly eccentric establishment.

When Karen transferred putative embryos from the lab to the farm, where vets implanted them into the wombs of ewes, she kept the cells at body temperature by tucking them under her bra strap.

Animal rights protesters objected to the experiments. One group, outraged that science might end natural reproduction, threatened to strip off and have sex on the lab lawns. 'Unfortunately,' sighed a boffin, 'it never happened.'

For a while, cloning seemed to be the future of the human race. One man contacted the Roslin team, begging them to clone his fiancee, who had died before their wedding. Gently, the scientists explained they could, in theory, do this  but his bride would be a baby.

Dolly lived to be only six years old, about half the span of an average sheep. She was overweight when she died, spoilt and cossetted by visitors, who all wanted to give her treats.

Beside this constant flow of witticism, the chatter of TV presenter and chef Monica Galetti seemed banal and dull

'Look at that,' she kept saying, stopping to take in the view. But of course we were looking at it  we were watching the programme

Today, she is stuffed and on display at the National Museum of Scotland. Well, it's better than ending up as a leg of mutton.

But spare a thought for her predecessor, a genetically engineered ewe whose milk contained human hormones. Her name was Tracy. And there were triplets all called Polly. The world didn't give a bleat about them.

The Pollys also produced human hormones, used in medical treatments. Asked why sheep were suitable for these experiments, one scientist mused: 'You could do it in mice . . . but you'd have to milk an awful lot of mice.'

Beside this constant flow of witticism, the chatter of TV presenter and chef Monica Galetti seemed banal and dull, on Walking With . . . (BBC2).

As she hiked across the North York Moors, from Chimney Bank to Church House, her breathless conversation consisted entirely of remarks like: 'I honestly can't remember the last time I was alone taking a walk like this.'

'Look at that,' she kept saying, stopping to take in the view. But of course we were looking at it  we were watching the programme. The producers should send some scientists next time. At least we'd get a few jokes.
Former Bachelor star Abbie Chatfield is fairly certain she's found 'The One' in new beau Konrad Bien-Stephens.

And on Wednesday, the reality TV pair looked nothing but smitten as they went furniture shopping together in Melbourne.

Abbie, 26, went makeup free and braless during the outing, turning heads in a bright mint ribbed dress.

Going strong: Make up free and braless Abbie Chatfield went furniture shopping with new boyfriend Konrad Bien-Stephens in Melbourne on Wednesday - after revealing her hopes to get married

Abbie's casual frock featured a plunging neckline and and it hugged her curves in all the right places.

She teamed the dress with a black leather jacket and wore her long locks out and over her shoulders.

Konrad, who appeared on Brooke Blurton's season of The Bachelorette this year, kept things casual in a black T-shirt and shorts.

Leaving little to the imagination: Abbie's casual frock featured a plunging neckline and and it hugged her curves in all the right places

Casual: Konrad, who appeared on Brooke Blurton's season of The Bachelorette this year, kept things casual in a black T-shirt and shorts

So in love: Abbie looked happy and nothing short of chuffed as she stepped out with her new man after they recently debuted their relationship

Big step! Over the weekend, Abbie revealed that she hopes she and Konrad will one day tie the knot and is even meeting Konrad's parents in Melbourne this week

Abbie looked happy and nothing short of chuffed as she stepped out with her new man after they recently debuted their relationship.

Over the weekend, Abbie revealed that she hopes she and Konrad will one day tie the knot and is even meeting Konrad's parents in Melbourne this week.

When asked about marriage plans, she told The Daily Telegraph: 'I think so, I hope so.'

The podcast host, who said she's dated a lot over the past two years, went on to say that she's 'never had anything like this before'.

He's the one: When asked about marriage plans, she told The Daily Telegraph : 'I think so, I hope so'

Smitten: The podcast host, who said she's dated a lot over the past two years, went on to say that she's 'never had anything like this before'

Family ties: Abbie is in Melbourne this week to meet the carpenter's family, and described their whirlwind romance as having gone from 'zero to 100'

The bubbly blonde described their whirlwind romance as having gone from 'zero to 100'.

Last week, Abbie issued a lengthy apology after she was criticised by Brooke Blurton for announcing their relationship the night before The Bachelorette finale.

In a lengthy Instagram post on Thursday, Abbie explained her decision to go public with Konrad, claiming she believed she had Brooke's blessing.

Backlash: Last week, Abbie issued a lengthy apology after she was criticised by Brooke Blurton for announcing their relationship the night before The Bachelorette finale

War of words: In a lengthy Instagram post on Thursday, Abbie explained her decision to go public with Konrad, claiming she believed she had Brooke's blessing

'This is to address the post made by Brooke. A month ago, a video of Konrad and I kissing was secretly captured by a patron and made public,' she began.

'Following this, Brooke and I had a conversation in which I apologised and expressed regret multiple times for our public affection as this was prior to Konrad's exit from the show. Konrad had a similar conversation with Brooke.

'We met as a result of him coming along to a catch up with a mutual friend, the public setting was an accident.

'We absolutely should have waited to be in private as we are public figures and these are things we need to consider, but we didn't. We also didn't consider the possible ramifications of our actions.

'We absolutely should have waited to be in private as we are public figures and these are things we need to consider, but we didn't. We also didn't consider the possible ramifications of our actions,' Abbie said

She's wrapped: Abbie later shared a series of photos of herself and Konrad on Instagram the day before The Bachelorette finale, confirming their relationship

'Immediately following this, we intentionally kept things quiet, and did not leave the house together in an effort to not be photographed out of respect for the show and to minimise press surrounding the spoiler of Konrad's exit.'

Abbie later shared a series of photos of herself and Konrad on Instagram the day before The Bachelorette finale, confirming their relationship.

But she insisted 'it was not with malice', and fan favourite Konrad had already been eliminated from the show when she made the announcement.

'The morning of, I mistook a message from Brooke expressing her happiness for and approval of our relationship as a green light to upload a post. Following the post, Konrad received an equally supportive message,' she continued.

'I see with hindsight that this assumption was naive. I now understand the timing of publicly sharing our relationship should have been more considered and that is my fault. I acknowledge that impact outweighs intent.'

Referencing Brooke's comment about 'another white woman displaying what white privilege looks like', Abbie admitted she 'didn't take into account... the inherent privilege that I hold as a white woman'.

No harm intended: But she insisted 'it was not with malice', and fan favourite Konrad had already been eliminated from the show when she made the announcement

Privilege: Referencing Brooke's comment about 'another white woman displaying what white privilege looks like', Abbie admitted she 'didn't take into account... the inherent privilege that I hold as a white woman'

'My actions had the potential to undermine the importance that this pivotal season of The Bachelorette holds to the First Nations and LGBTQIA+ Communities,' she added

'My actions had the potential to undermine the importance that this pivotal season of The Bachelorette holds to the First Nations and LGBTQIA+ Communities,' she added.

'This is an extremely important conversation to be having. In future, this will be at the forefront of my mind and I will continue to listen to and amplify minority communities, and endeavour to learn.'

She simply finished the post: 'I'm sorry.'

Without naming names, Brooke spoke about a 'close friend' who had pulled the focus from The Bachelorette finale with her actions.

Brooke said the person's behaviour 'hurts me' and 'literally pains me'.

'I've reached out to this person to resolve this "conflict" which in fact, classic naive me, adult me went to this person to communicate openly about the layers of complexity that this person's actions show and take away from NOT only me but what it meant for a queer woman of colour,' she said in part of her post.
Dami Im announced her first pregnancy with husband Noah Kim over the weekend.

And the former X Factor winner, 33, looked every inch the yummy mummy as she strolled through Sydney Airport on Wednesday.

The songstress looked effortlessly chic in a black-and-yellow jumpsuit, accessorised with white sneakers and a Karl Lagerfeld tote bag worth around $200.

Yummy mummy! Dami Im, 33, (pictured) looked stylish in a black-and-yellow jumpsuit as she strolled through Sydney Airport on Wednesday - days after announcing she's expecting her first child with husband Noah Kim

Covering her face beneath a blue mask, the expectant mother was seen merrily chatting on the phone as she made her way towards the departure gates.

Dami was en route to Melbourne, where she is scheduled to perform the last leg of her Piano, Songs & Stories tour.

The sighting comes days after Dami announced she's expecting her first chid with husband Noah Kim.

Chic: The songstress accessorised her look with white sneakers and a Karl Lagerfeld tote bag worth around $200

Bon voyage! Covering her face beneath a blue mask, the expectant mother was seen merrily chatting on the phone as she made her way towards the departure gates

She shared the exciting news on Sunday, uploading two photos of her sonograms to Instagram.

'I got a gig booked in Brisbane for May 2022 at the maternity ward,' she cheekily captioned the post.

Dami and Noah wed in Soul, Korea, in 2012.

In concert: Dami was en route to Melbourne, where she is scheduled to perform the last leg of her Piano, Songs & Stories tour

A year later she would become an instant celebrity after winning The X Factor Australia.

Dami - who is known for pop hits such as Super Love - also performed at the Eurovision Song Contest in 2016, coming second place overall.

She also recently made a musical comeback with her new record My Reality.

Baby joy! The sighting comes days after Dami announced she's expecting her first chid with husband Noah Kim

The album, on which Dami co-wrote every song, was released on October 29.

My Reality peaked at number 12 on the ARIA Australian albums chart.

Just before its release Dami told Yahoo Lifestyle that this is her 'dream album'.

'I had a moment when I was finishing the tracks like, oh my gosh, this is the album that I've been wanting to make for so long but it just never happened. It's quite an important moment for me,' she added.

'Every song I tried to tell a different story from something I was thinking about or an experience that I've had, and that's what I've always wanted to do.'

Big news: She shared the exciting news on Sunday, uploading two photos of her sonograms to Instagram

Gig of a lifetime! 'I got a gig booked in Brisbane for May 2022 at the maternity ward,' she cheekily captioned the post
Rosario Dawson modeled a ton of new looks for the online sunglass retailer Warby Parker.

The actress, 42, wore both light and dark-framed sunglasses while showing off her huge smile in each photo.

Her curly brunette hair was parted in the middle and strands of it fell down each side of her face, framing it in the photos.

Modeling some new looks: Rosario Dawson modeled a ton of new looks for the online sunglass retailer Warby Parker

One such brand of sunglasses the Daredevil actress put on were Essex, a vintage-inspired style which Dawson originally collaborated with the company on back in 2018.

Dawson donned a couple outfits including a blue blouse covered in white dots and a dress covered in red and white triangles. She stood with myriad models dressed up in colorful outfits.

One of the models was a tiny dog wearing a pair of green shades.

Colorful ensembles: Dawson donned a couple outfits including a blue blouse covered in white dots and a dress covered in red and white triangles. She stood with models dressed up in colorful outfits

Covering its puppy dog eyes: One of the models was a tiny dog wearing a pair of green shades

A bunch of roles on the way: While she's hard at work as a model, Dawson also has a number of upcoming movie roles on the way

While she's hard at work as a model, Dawson also has a number of upcoming movie roles on the way.

The Rent star is in the middle of filming three different projects right now. She's reprising her role of Becky in Clerks III, and she has parts in the movie Haunted Mansion and the television series DMZ.

She will also soon start work on the movie Speed of Light and the miniseries Ahsoka, in which she will reprise her role from the popular Disney+ show The Mandalorian.

Reprising some roles: Dawson will reprise a number of roles in movies including Clerks III and the miniseries Ahsoka

Happy personally and professionally: While the star's career has been jam-packed, she's also been very busy in her dating life as well

While the star's career has been jam-packed, she's also been very busy in her personal life as well.

Dawson's still dating Senator Cory Booker from New Jersey. The pair met in 2018 after attending a party of a mutual friend. While they're clearly head over heels about one another now, Booker made it clear that wasn't the case at first.

'She didnt give me the time of day,' Booker said on RuPauls talk show.' She gave me serious shade.'

Booker and Dawson kept running in to each other though and, eventually, Booker worked up the nerve to ask Dawson for her phone number.
She may only be eight-months-old, but Bindi Irwin's little girl Grace Warrior has an appetite to be amongst the wildlife just like her adventure-loving family.

And on Wednesday, the bub was in her element as her grandmother Terri Irwin took her on a hike in the bush.

Terri, 57, shared a photo to Twitter of her granddaughter happily observing a plant during the pair's walk.

Enjoying the wildlife: Terri Irwin shared a sweet photo with her granddaughter Grace Warrior during a hike in the bush

'Grace loves going on hikes and meeting all the pretty plants!,' the conservationist wrote.

Grace's mother and Terri's daughter, Bindi Irwin, responded to the post with, 'This photo', followed by a series of heart emojis.

On Tuesday, Bindi, 23, shared a video of her daughter meeting a giant tortoise at Australia Zoo to her Instagram profile.

Reply: Grace's mother and Terri's daughter, Bindi Irwin, responded to the post with, 'This photo', followed by a series of heart emojis

Out and about: On Tuesday, Bindi, 23, shared a video of her daughter meeting a giant tortoise at Australia Zoo to her Instagram profile

In the adorable footage, the wildlife warrior can be seen carrying little Grace as she reached out to rub the reptile.

Grace appeared to be fascinated with the gentle giant, looking on speechless.

'Tortoise smiles. Absolutely love spending time with Igloo. Grace is fascinated by this gentle giant,' Bindi captioned the post.

So cute! In the sweet footage, Bindi can be seen carrying little Grace as she reached out to rub the reptile

Bindi and Grace have spent the past few days spending quality time together at the zoo.

The TV star and her husband Chandler, 24, announced their daughter's birth on March 26, just a day after she was born on their first wedding anniversary.

The couple first met in 2013, when the American former wakeboarder went on a guided tour of Australia Zoo in Queensland.

The pair married in a surprise ceremony at Australia Zoo in March last year.
She gave birth to her baby daughter Dylan just three months ago.

And proud mother Georgia Fowler shared a sweet new photo of the adorable bub on Thursday.

In the black and white image, the model and her little one were seen resting on a bed head-to-head.

Two peas in a pod! Victoria's Secret supermodel Georgia Fowler shared a sweet new photo of her baby girl Dylan on Thursday

The New Zealand star was wearing a Crown Sydney robe as she nestled next to her cherubic daughter who had a cute expression on her face.

'My whole heart,' Georgia captioned the snap.

The runway star is currently enjoying a stay at Crown Sydney with her daughter and partner, Nathan Dalah.

On Wednesday, she showed off her incredible post-baby body in a blue and white Burberry bikini while enjoying the hotel's pool.

The swimsuit accentuated her slender midsection thanks to the strings which wrapped around her tummy.

She appeared to have been gifted the swimsuit as part of a sponsored post for the luxury hotel, along with a pair of sunglasses from the British luxury fashion house.

One hot mama! The runway star is currently enjoying a stay at Crown Sydney with her daughter and partner, Nathan Dalah, and on Wednesday she showed off her incredible post-baby body in a blue and white Burberry bikini while enjoying the hotel's pool

She later posed poolside in a long-sleeve one piece from the brand as she uploaded stunning pictures of the pool area set up with Burberry umbrellas.

Georgia showed off her sublime natural beauty by wearing minimal makeup and her brunette locks were coiffed in natural waves.

Georgia and her restaurateur partner Nathan welcomed their daughter Dylan in September, announcing her arrival on Instagram.

Blue crush: She later posed poolside in a long-sleeve one piece from the brand

'Dylan Aman Dalah. 17.9.21. Welcome to the world. We love you so much,' she wrote, sharing a series of photos of the adorable newborn.

Georgia first announced she was expecting her first child with the FISHBOWL co-founder back in April.

'We can't wait to meet you little one,' the New Zealand-born stunner wrote on Instagram at the time.

'It's been hard to keep this one quiet, but now it's pretty hard to hide,' Georgia added.

The genetically-blessed couple first confirmed their romance in February last year.
She famously declared in 2020 that she'd 'decided to be single for the rest of my life.'

But Sia, 45, surprised onlookers on Tuesday when she turned up at the Los Angeles premiere of West Side Story holding hands with a mystery man.

The Cheap Thrills hitmaker hid her face behind a colourful mask and oversized heart-shaped sunglasses.

A new start? Sia, 45, surprised onlookers on Tuesday when she turned up at the Los Angeles premiere of West Side Story holding hands with a mystery man

The Adelaide-born star wore head-to-toe black for her red carpet turn, pairing a billowy black dress with a dark bow in her blonde tresses.

Her date was unmissable in a brightly-patterned black jumpsuit and black slides worn over pink socks.

The pair wore matching masks for their red carpet turn.

Incognito mode: The Cheap Thrills hitmaker hid her face behind a colourful mask and oversized heart-shaped sunglasses

Back to black: The Adelaide-born star wore head-to-toe black for her red carpet turn, pairing a billowy black dress with a dark bow in her blonde tresses

In January last year, Sia told GQ, 'I've decided to be single for the rest of my life and I just adopted a son, I don't have time for a relationship.'

She made the comment after an ill-father romance with actor Shia LaBeouf.

Sia had first claimed in a cryptic tweet last year that LaBeouf, 34, had 'conned her into an adulterous relationship' as she blasted him a 'pathological liar'.

'I too have been hurt emotionally by Shia, a pathological liar, who conned me into an adulterous relationship claiming to be single,' her tweet read.

'I believe he's very sick and have compassion for him AND his victims.'

Unique: Her date was unmissable in a brightly-patterned black jumpsuit and black slides worn over pink socks

It came after 33-year-old Twigs - real name Tahliah Delbert Barnett  filed a lawsuit against her actor ex, accusing him of sexual battery, assault, and infliction of emotional distress.

Sia has said that LaBeouf was never physically abusive to her but that he misled her and she did not know he was still married to English actress Mia Goth at the time.

LaBeouf and Goth filed for divorce after two years in October 2018.

Twinning! The pair wore matching masks for their red carpet turn

Sia previously married film-maker Erik Lang in 2014 but the couple also divorced after two years.

She and LaBeouf have known each other for years and the actor infamously appeared in flesh-colored underpants in her music video for the song Elastic Heart in 2015.

Sia has not revealed a timeline for her relationship with LaBeouf but FKA Twigs dated him for less than a year ending in May 2019.
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Sex And The City's eagerly-anticipated reboot And Just Like That... hit screens on Thursday - with fans set to see major heartache when a main character dies as well as a wholly new woke take on the series.

The return comes 23 years after the original TV series debuted - and 11 years since the second movie, with Sarah Jessica Parker, playing Carrie Bradshaw, Cynthia Nixon, starring as Miranda Hobbes, and Kristin Davis, as Charlotte York, all returning without Kim Cattrall's Samantha Jones.

While the show loses one original cast member, it gains three new ones with Sarah Ramirez (Che Diaz), Nicole Ari Parker (Lisa Todd Wedley), Karen Pittman (Dr. Nya Wallace) and Sarita Chouhdury (Seema Patell) joining the ladies.

The first and second episodes are packed with glamour, sass, many nods to political correctness and sensitivity - however we soon see Carrie left as widower, when her husband Mr Big dies from a heart attack in the end of the first episode, while the second follows funeral plans and the final goodbye (and subtle nods to Samantha).

In August, DailyMail.com broke the news that Big was the major character to pass away and also that Samantha had not died - and was in fact living in London having broken ties with the rest of the girls.

BACK! Sex And The City's reboot And Just Like That... hit screens on Thursday, with Sarah Jessica Parker , playing Carrie Bradshaw, Cynthia Nixon, starring as Miranda Hobbes, and Kristin Davis, as Charlotte York

EPISODE ONE

The first episode begins at fictional New York hotspot Clee, where Carrie is waiting with Charlotte and Miranda. 'Remember when we legally had to stand six feet apart from one another?' Carrie asks, as Miranda says she misses it, as a crowd walks through them.

They see old pal, Bitsy Von Muffling (Julie Halston), who wonders how they should greet each other, post-COVID.

She asks where the 'fourth musketeer' is, referring to Samantha Jones (Kim Cattrall), as Charlotte says she's, 'no longer with us.'

Bitsy becomes quite sad, thinking Samantha had passed away, but Miranda adds she's not dead and Carrie confirms she's in London.

Pained: In the first and second episodes we see Carrie left as widower, when her husband Mr Big dies from a heart attack in the end of the first episode, while the second follows funeral plans and the final goodbye (and subtle nods to Samantha)

Shocking: Big's death will come as a shock to fans who saw his funeral scenes being filmed earlier this year

Bitsy says that she just assumed anyone she hasnt seen in so long either died or gave up and moved to Palm Beach.

Miranda added she moved to the U.K. for work, as Bitsy adds, sexy sirens in their 60s are still viable over there.

Bitsy leaves and Carries table is finally called as the group walks into the restaurant. As theyre looking over menus, Miranda says she stepped on one of her son Bradys condoms, adding now her floor is a minefield.

Carrie quickly changes the subject, which surprises Miranda and Charlotte, but Carrie just says life is too short. They all joke about their ages and Charlotte says she misses Mirandas red hair.

Hey there! She asks where the 'fourth musketeer' is, referring to Samantha Jones (Kim Cattrall), as Charlotte says she's, 'no longer with us'

Carrie arrives at her and Big's apartment - dubbed Heaven Of Fifth - where she locks lips with her husband and jokes about their fishmonger trying to oversell salmon - Big then jokes: 'I remember when you used to keep sweaters in your oven'.

Getting flirtatious and joking about his age once again, Carrie replies: 'I remember when your hair was black'.

The couple then discuss their 'dinner ritual' of listening to records, as Carrie selects Todd Rundgren - Hello It's Me from 1972. She then asks: 'Can we go to the Hamptons on Friday Charlotte wants me to go to Lily's recital'.

Come here you: Carrie arrives at her and Big's apartment - dubbed Heaven Of Fifth - where she locks lips with her husband

Hitting back: After attempting to get a glass of wine and being rebuffed due to the time of day, Miranda then goes to a law class in Columbia and begins an awkward conversation with professor Dr. Nya Wallace about her being black

In the next scene, Miranda attempts to get a glass of wine and being rebuffed due to the time of day, before then heading to her law class in Columbia and begins an awkward conversation with professor Dr. Nya Wallace about her being black.

Karen Pittman plays the character and is described as, 'a brilliant, challenging Columbia Law professor,' who is married to Andre, a successful musician (LeRoy McLain).

She first assumes that the professor is a man - leading to one of her classmates stating: 'You jumped to those pronouns pretty quick', before a panicked Miranda states: 'I didn't expect you to have braids' - and then locks into an awkward exchange about her being black.

Following on from Miranda's embarrassment comes a red-faced Carrie.

Role: Karen Pittman plays the character and is described as, 'a brilliant, challenging Columbia Law professor,' who is married to Andre, a successful musician (LeRoy McLain)

Charlotte: She asks where the 'fourth musketeer' is, referring to Samantha Jones (Kim Cattrall), as Charlotte says she's, 'no longer with us'

Her podcast appearance comes next as she chats to Che Diaz, a non-binary (they/them) stand-up comedian, and fellow guest Jackie Lee. Che opens the podcast, saying: 'I am your post, a queer non binary Mexican Irish diva' before launching a discussion about masturbation'.

In the podcast recording, Jackie asks: 'Why don't we see women jerking off on the subway?' Before stunned Carrie asks: 'I hope that's a multiple choice questions' - and then jokes about not doing anal sex.

Carrie then gets awkward while she is asked about masturbation and then says her 'not since Barneys closed' to the embarrassment on her fellow co-stars.

Her podcast boss Che is described as, 'a big presence with a big heart whose outrageous sense of humor and progressive, human overview of gender roles has made them and their podcast very popular.'

Che: Ramirez's Che Diaz is a non-binary (they/them) stand-up comedian who hosts a podcast that Carrie frequently appears on

Uptight: As she is leaving the building Che then approaches Carrie to ask about her appearance and Carrie gets awkward. In a bid to get her to be more saucy, Jackie points out: 'Trolls will label you the uptight cis old married lady'

As she is leaving the building Che then approaches Carrie to ask about her appearance and Carrie gets awkward. In a bid to get her to be more saucy, Jackie points out: 'Trolls will label you the uptight cis old married lady.'

Carrie replies: 'I'm not comfortable with the more graphic content, it's just not me'. She is continually criticised for not being more crass. Jackie tells her to 'step her p*ssy up'

In the next scene and showing more romance, Big and Carrie are then in her original apartment when she asks him if he masturbates to which Big says: 'I feel like that's a trick question'.

Hello lovers! Carrie gazes in her wardrobe at her wedding shoes

'Do you masturbate?' In the next scene and showing more romance, Big and Carrie are then in her original apartment when she asks him if he masturbates to which Big says: 'I feel like that's a trick question'

She then asks to watch Big masturbate as he appears shocked before indulging his wife and using lubricant as 'he's not 15' - yet soon backs out and instead grabs Carrie for kisses and says: 'Oh Carrie I must have you'.

Carrie shoots to her other apartment and reaches for her iconic Manolos - which Big used to propose with. Big enjoys one of his cigars and they make their further plans to head to the Hamptons. Carrie decides to change the date of their departure - in a move reflected back on.

We shoot to Charlotte's apartment, where she locks horns with her daughter Rose over wearing a dress to her recital - much to the teen's fury. As they agree on the dress, the scene shoots to Rose's punky take on the ensemble.

True love: She then asks to watch Big masturbate as he appears shocked before indulging his wife and using lubricant as 'he's not 15' - yet soon backs out and instead grabs Carrie for kisses and says: 'Oh Carrie I must have you'

Heartbreak: Anthony is then shocked and disgusted at the ensemble before Rose heads in. Willy Garson's Stanford then enters - in one of his last appearances before his real-life death earlier this year

Anthony is then shocked and disgusted at the ensemble before Rose heads in. Willy Garson's Stanford then enters - in one of his last appearances before his real-life death earlier this year.

Miranda then voices her worries about becoming a meme after her gaffes with her professor and says: 'I guess I was so worried about saying the wrong thing in this climate'.

Carrie says: 'It's funny you can't stop talking and I've been told I can't talk enough by my podcast boss'. The chat happens while Carrie is manning the door in the men's toilets while Miranda uses the bathroom.

Punking it up: We shoot to Charlotte's apartment, where she locks horns with her daughter Rose over wearing a dress to her recital - much to the teen's fury. As they agree on the dress, the scene shoots to Rose's punky take on the ensemble

It's then Lily's turn to take to the stage as she performs a epic performance which shoots between the recital and Big's bike workout at home

We then see Lisa Todd Wexley, played by Nicole, who introduces Charlotte to her mother and calls Carrie her hero. Parker's Lisa Todd Wexley, a Park Avenue mother of three who also works as a documentarian, married to a successful hedge fund manager Herbert (Hamilton's Christopher Jackson).

While the women squirm at Lisa's son's performance, Big hits the Peleton exercise bike at home and we then see Miranda's son Brady making out with his girlfriend in the recital - something Miranda tries to put a stop to.

It's then Lily's turn to take to the stage as she performs a epic performance which shoots between the recital and Big's bike workout at home.

Working out: Big is seen on his Peleton while the recital is taking place

Pained: As the music swells to epis proportions, Big is seen on his bike, working harder and harder before receiving a text and dropping his phone in the shower. As he reaches out to grab his phone, he is in great pain

Focus: The scenes shows Big's Peleton instructor

As the music swells to epis proportions, Big is seen on his bike, working harder and harder before receiving a text and dropping his phone in the shower. As he reaches out to grab his phone, he is in great pain.

Holding on to his arm, he then suffers a heart attack and is seen slumped next to the running shower. While viewers are uncertain of his fate, we shoot back to Carrie.

An unwitting Carrie tries to grab a cab outside the recital and returns to her own apartment. She finds Big slumped on the floor - after a shocked moment, Carrie yelps: 'JOHN' and runs to try and help her husband while sobbing and holding his weakened body.

Then leaving audience's jaws on the floor - Carrie says: 'And just like that... Big died'.

Agony: Holding on to his arm, he then suffers a heart attack and is seen slumped next to the running shower. While viewers are uncertain of his fate, we shoot back to Carrie

Help: Carrie yelps: 'JOHN' and runs to try and help her husband while sobbing and holding his weakened body

Died: Then leaving audience's jaws on the floor - Carrie says: 'And just like that... Big died'

EPISODE TWO

Episode two opens to Miranda and Steve listening to their neighbours having sex and appearing in a tense exchange before Carrie calls to share the news of her pain.

Miranda arrives at Carrie's apartment to find her sobbing and coroners collecting the body. The scene shoots to Carrie dreaming about first meeting Big and a flashback to season one when we first saw the male lead.

Miranda is staying with Carrie and comforts her in bed when she complains of a bad back.

Carrie goes on her laptop to look at funeral homes before Charlotte is seen helping Carrie pick the funeral before Carrie says Big would hate the place they were choosing.

Charlotte breaks down into floods of tears leading to Carrie comforting her. Charlotte fears the death was her fault as Carrie was at the recital during his death.

She is comforted by Carrie who puts her in an Uber and said she wants to be alone.

Agony: We shoot to Miranda and Steve getting ready and claiming he shouldnt have been on his Peleton: 'It wasn't the bike Steve, he used it for over 1000 rides'

Miranda is then back for her law class where she continues to discuss her professor's identity.

Charlotte is seen getting ready for the funeral and speaks her daughters through death: 'Death is the saddest part of life, it reminds us how much our loved ones mean to us'.

We shoot to Miranda and Steve getting ready and claiming he shouldnt have been on his Peleton: 'It wasn't the bike Steve, he used it for over 1000 rides'.

Miranda then says: 'Death sucks' while comforting her husband before Brady joins them for a hug.

Carrie sits in Big's wardrobe looking heartbroken before arriving at the funeral alongside Anthony and Stanford.

Heartbroken: Carrie is left alone and bereft after Charlotte is seen breaking down

Hysterical: Charlotte breaks down into floods of tears leading to Carrie comforting her. She fears the death was her fault as Carrie was at the recital during his death

She appears upset that there are flowers on the coffin - as Big had insisted he doesn't want flowers at his funeral.

Carrie says she wanted the funeral to be perfect

As they look at the flowers - they then said: 'Those flowers are for Samantha'. with all the woman looking sad - in the first nod to Kim Cattrall's absence.

Carrie speaks to Big's assistant Gloria who lauds the late businessman.

Heartfelt: It is Miranda's turn to speak as she takes the stage and delivers the eulogy saying: 'How lucky we all are to have known this amazing man'

Explaining: Charlotte is seen getting ready for the funeral and speaks her daughters through death: 'Death is the saddest part of life, it reminds us how much our loved ones mean to us'

It is Miranda's turn to speak as she takes the stage and delivers the eulogy saying: 'How lucky we all are to have known this amazing man...

'How lucky to share dinners, deals and cigars with this one of a kind. How long it seems we have known him. How very long and yet not near enough. How large he was in all of our lives.

'He will leave a big hole. How very sad but for today let us remember how lucky.'

Miranda reveals Carrie penned the beautiful words before Big's brother took to the stand and said: 'When I spoke to Big last week he said it was the happiest he had been in his life so Carrie I thank you for giving him that'.

Open and honest: Miranda reveals Carrie penned the beautiful words before Big's brother took to the stand and said: 'When I spoke to Big last week he said it was the happiest he had been in his life so Carrie I thank you for giving him that'

Helping out: A montage of Big's life then plays on the screen above his coffin while Gloria loudly sobs. Bitsy then appears to comfort Carrie and reveal that her husband Bobby passed away - and she is now with his pianist

A montage of Big's life then plays on the screen above his coffin while Gloria loudly sobs. Bitsy then appears to comfort Carrie and reveal that her husband Bobby passed away - and she is now with his pianist.

Susan Sharon - Carrie's friend from series three - surprises Carrie and announces that she held a grudge against Carrie, much to the widower's shock.

Miranda asks: 'What happened between you two?' before Carrie says: 'I hope you knew'.

Brady then smokes a bong with Che - leading to Miranda scolding Che saying: 'He's a minor - he's 17 - who the f**k are you anyway?' She then squares up to the podcaster and tells her to: 'Back the f**k up'.

All is forgiven? Susan Sharon - Carrie's friend from series three - surprises Carrie and announces that she held a grudge against Carrie, much to the widower's shock

Furious: Brady then smokes a bong with Che - leading to Miranda scolding Che saying: 'He's a minor - he's 17 - who the f**k are you anyway?' She then squares up to the podcaster and tells her to: 'Back the f**k up'

She then scolds Brady - even saying: 'Maybe I should kill myself?'

Miranda is left in shock as Carrie introduces Che as her boss, asking: 'Why didn't you tell me who you were?' before Che forgives her for the move.

The duo soon get flirty - in a possible nod to Miranda's rumoured lesbian life.

Carrie, Miranda and Charlotte are seen in a lift to Carrie's apartment, where her home is filled with flowers and gifts- including a gift playing disco music.

She then sits down with her phone and pens messages to Samantha - with the screen showing a slew of unread messages, with one calling her London Lady and another reading: 'I walked past La Perla today. Thought of you'.

Gone? She then sits down with her phone and pens messages to Samantha - with the screen showing a slew of unread messages, with one calling her London Lady and another reading: 'I walked past La Perla today. Thought of you'

Starring roles: Kim Cattrall (second right), who famously played sex positive, successful PR agent Samantha Jones, did not return for the highly-anticipated reboot, but Jones' absence will reportedly be addressed

Carrie then receives a delivery - containing Big's ashes. Stanford and Miranda sit with her drinking cocktails and look alarmed. Charlotte arrives and Carrie asks Stanford to hide to avoid Charlotte thinking she's not invited.

She says: 'I'll tell her I'm depressed, which I am'. Charlotte reveals she has bought Carrie Vogues from around the world.

As predicted, Charlotte bursts into tears and Carrie begs her 'not to make it about her' and insists she is mad because she went to the recital.

Carrie said: 'I'm mad at myself because I should have gone to the Hamptons on Wednesday night like I wanted to' and then invites Charlotte in.

Heartbreak: Carrie, Miranda and Charlotte are seen in a lift to Carrie's apartment, where her home is filled with flowers and gifts- including a gift playing disco music

Uh oh: She says: 'I'll tell her I'm depressed, which I am'. Charlotte reveals she has bought Carrie Vogues from around the world

She then lies awake in bed with Miranda while rain pours outside and says: 'I'm never goinG to fall asleep' - before asking for a sleeping tablet, which she is not allowed for another five hours.

She said: 'And just like that, I learned how long five hours can be'.

The final new character is Chouhdury's Seema Patel, described as a, 'single, self-made powerhouse Manhattan real estate broker.'

Filming started in New York City back in June, with production wrapping just days ago, with filming also taking place in locales such as Paris.

Mother of three: Parker's Lisa Todd Wexley, a Park Avenue mother of three who also works as a documentarian, married to a successful hedge fund manager Herbert (Hamilton's Christopher Jackson)

Nya: Pittman's Dr. Nya Wallace is described as, 'a brilliant, challenging Columbia Law professor,' who is married to Andre, a successful musician (LeRoy McLain)

Seema: The final new character is Chouhdury's Seema Patel, described as a, 'single, self-made powerhouse Manhattan real estate broker'

Big night! Sarah Jessica Parker, Cynthia Nixon, and Kristin Davis had all eyes on them while arriving to the premiere of the Sex And The City reboot, And Just Like That..., in NYC on Wednesday night

Photos taken from the Paris set caused quite the uproar among fans, as Parker's Carrie was spotted kissing a new character, played by Jon Tenney.

Fans began wildly speculating about the marital status of Carrie and her long-time on-and-off lover Mr. Big (Chris Noth), who finally tied the knot at the end of the first Sex and the City movie.

The trailers released for the new 10-episode series seem to indicate that they're still quite the happy couple, though given their on-and-off history, it's possible they could split at some time in the series.

Marital: Fans began wildly speculating about the marital status of Carrie and her long-time on-and-off lover Mr. Big (Chris Noth), who finally tied the knot at the end of the first Sex and the City movie

Happy couple: The trailers released for the new 10-episode series seem to indicate that they're still quite the happy couple, though given their on-and-off history, it's possible they could split at some time in the series

Still, while promoting the show Tuesday night on The Late Show with Steven Colbert, Cynthia Nixon and Kristin Davis essentially confirmed that they filmed 'fake scenes' to throw rabid fans off.

'Yes, definitely!' Davis exclaimed, while Nixon shook her head with a wry smile and said, 'Absolutely not.'

Colbert pointed at Davis and said, 'I believe you,' and when Colbert asked again, Nixon shrugged and conceded, 'It might be true.'

Fake scenes: Still, while promoting the show Tuesday night on The Late Show with Steven Colbert, Cynthia Nixon and Kristin Davis essentially confirmed that they filmed 'fake scenes' to throw rabid fans off

They didn't mention any specific scenes, so it's unclear if the Paris kissing scene with Jon Tenney was 'fake' or not.

Other returning stars include Mario Cantone (Anthony Marentino), Evan Handler (Harry Goldblatt), David Eigenberg (Steve Brady), and the late Willie Garson, who filmed three episodes as Carrie's longtime friend Stanford Blatch, before passing away from pancreatic cancer in September at age 57.

And Just Like That... was created by Michael Patrick King, based on the books by Candace Bushnell.

Passing: Other returning stars include Mario Cantone (Anthony Marentino), Evan Handler (Harry Goldblatt), David Eigenberg (Steve Brady), and the late Willie Garson (above), who filmed three episodes as Carrie's longtime friend Stanford Blatch, before passing away from pancreatic cancer in September at age 57

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'This is disrespect!' SATC reboot And Just Like That... is met with lukewarm early reaction as fans slam writers for 'devastating' major death and blast 'lazy' handling of Samantha's absence

Sex And The City's reboot And Just Like That... was met with lukewarm initial reviews from fans following its early morning premiere on Thursday.

The return comes 23 years after the original TV series debuted - and 11 years since the second movie, with Sarah Jessica Parker, playing Carrie Bradshaw, Cynthia Nixon, starring as Miranda Hobbes, and Kristin Davis, as Charlotte York all returning.

The biggest scandal of the return however was two major plot points - the absence of Kim Cattrall's character Samantha Jones and the death of Chris Noth's Mr Big, which we witness in heartbreaking scenes at the end of episode one.

After the first two episodes aired, fans flooded social media to lament his passing while also insisting SATC without Samantha is 'terrible'.

Oh... Sex And The City's reboot And Just Like That... was met with lukewarm initial reviews from fans following its early morning premiere on Thursday

The first and second episodes are packed with glamour, sass, many nods to political correctness and sensitivity - however we soon see Carrie left as widower.

At the end of Episode One, Mr Big is seen riding on his Peleton exercise bike before he dies from a heart attack and is found by a sobbing Carrie.

Viewers swiftly took issue with the scenes, writing on Twitter: 'So they killed big on sex and the city and now I wanna flip tables... @ #AndJustLikeThat writers.i am devastated x... i will never recover im being so serious #AndJustLikeThat...

'All these years we see Carrie chasing that love and once she has that, she loses it again?! What kind of disrespect is this to the fans!...

Shocking: The biggest scandal of the return however was a major plot after the death of Chris Noth's Mr Big, which we witness in heartbreaking scenes at the end of episode one

Uh oh: Others took issue with Samantha's absence, after Kim Cattrall refused to return to the show amid rumours of bad blood with Sarah

No! His death caused heartache among enraged fans

'I just want a fun series to escape to!#AndJustLikeThat... i am heartbroken... No Im sorry I do not accept the ending of #AndJustLikeThat I DO NOT ACCEPT'.

Fans also joked that Peloton exercise bikes would suffer due to the scenes, writing 'And just like that .. Peloton shares plummeted... Sex and The City might have just tanked Peloton, in the very first episode!

Others took issue with Samantha's absence, after Kim refused to return to the show amid rumours of bad blood with Sarah.

Pained: At the end of Episode One, Mr Big is seen riding on his Peleton exercise bike before he dies from a heart attack and is found by a sobbing Carrie

Pained: Fans were less than impressed

Her departure is quietly alluded to, as the girls reveal she is in London while Carrie later shows that a number of her messages have been rejected from the PR guru.

Fans wrote: 'Put more respect on Samantha Jones. She was the most understanding friend in that group and would never go ghost like that. Lazy-a*s writers...

'#AndJustLikeThat... Oh god. The way theyre handling Samanthas absence is far too much of a parallel for the real life situation and it is CRINGE. #andjustlikethat... Listening to the Samantha disrespect like #AndJustLikeThat.'

In more general reviews, Twitter users wrote:: 'I tried watching the new Sex and the city reboot Just like that and honestly it was terrible without Samantha. I won't be wasting my time again #SATC...

Gone? Her departure is quietly alluded to, as the girls reveal she is in London while Carrie later shows that a number of her messages have been rejected from the PR guru

Ouch: Fans wrote: 'Put more respect on Samantha Jones. She was the most understanding friend in that group and would never go ghost like that. Lazy-a*s writers'

Oh! Her return caused a mix of happiness and rage among viewers

'No offense, but I do not believe anyone who says the Sex and the City reboot is good... Sex and the city without Sam is just the city :/... watching #AndJustLikeThat - never watched Sex and the City but it MUST have been better than this, surely?'

While the show loses one original cast member, it gains three new ones with Sarah Ramirez (Che Diaz), Nicole Ari Parker (Lisa Todd Wedley), Karen Pittman (Dr. Nya Wallace) and Sarita Chouhdury (Seema Patell) joining the ladies.

While promoting the show on Tuesday night on The Late Show with Steven Colbert, Cynthia and Kristin essentially confirmed that they filmed 'fake scenes' to throw rabid fans off.

Happy couple: Early scenes show the couple putting on a romantic display

'Yes, definitely!' Davis exclaimed, while Nixon shook her head with a wry smile and said, 'Absolutely not.'

Colbert pointed at Davis and said, 'I believe you,' and when Colbert asked again, Nixon shrugged and conceded, 'It might be true.'

Other returning stars include Mario Cantone (Anthony Marentino), Evan Handler (Harry Goldblatt), David Eigenberg (Steve Brady), and the late Willie Garson, who filmed three episodes as Carrie's longtime friend Stanford Blatch, before passing away from pancreatic cancer in September at age 57.

And Just Like That... was created by Michael Patrick King, based on the books by Candace Bushnell.

Pained: In the first and second episodes we see Carrie left as widower, when her husband Mr Big dies from a heart attack in the end of the first episode, while the second follows funeral plans and the final goodbye (and subtle nods to Samantha)

HOW DAILYMAIL.COM EXCLUSIVELY REVEALED THE SHOW'S BIG PLOTLINES - FROM DEATH TO LONDON LADY SAM

The episode's unveiling comes after DailyMail.com exclusively revealed news of the big death. A major Sex and the City character will be killed off in the first episode of the show's new comeback series, sources claim.

A person close to the show teased that 'it is going to be a big death'  prompting fears that the return of actor Chris Noth, who plays Carrie Bradshaw's husband Mr. Big, could be a short one.

Other show insiders are speculating it could be the death of Samantha Jones, following the bitter feud between actresses Kim Cattrall and Sarah Jessica Parker.

The source did confirm that Carrie Bradshaw, played by Jessica Parker, will not die in episode one.

Only senior cast and crew have been made aware of the character kill-off, and are sworn to secrecy.

Executive producer Sarah Jessica Parker wants to 'shake up audiences from the get go to make them realize this is a different paced show from the previous one, where anything can happen and anyone can go just like life', the source said.

The insider says that the shock death in the show will lead column writer turned podcaster Bradshaw to reunite with characters with whom she has had rocky relations during the TV series.

Sources tell DailyMail.com that a major Sex and the City character will be killed off in the first episode of the show's reboot And Just Like That and speculate it could be Mr. Big

'Those in the know are calling it a ''big death'', which obviously has everyone leaping to the conclusion that Mr. Big will be no more,' the source said. On Monday, Sarah Jessica Parker was seen dressed as Bradshaw and Chris North, as Mr. Big, rehearsing lines and reading scripts

Photos of Noth, 66, on set in New York emerged on Monday. He was filming for the reboot, titled 'And Just Like That...' which will be shown on HBO Max

Jessica Parker has rejoined Cynthia Nixon and Kristin Davis, reuniting the girl gang in the last few weeks for filming around locations in New York.

Other show insiders are speculating it could be the death of Samantha Jones, following the bitter feud between Kim Cattrall and Sarah Jessica Parker

The source said: 'This is all top secret at the moment, because production has just started.

'But in the first episode fans will be served up a jaw-dropping storyline where one of the major names on the show will die.

'Those in the know are calling it a ''big death'', which obviously has everyone leaping to the conclusion that Mr. Big will be no more.

'But we have been implored not to say anything or divulge any other info, because HBO wants this to be one of their huge promotional points for the launch.

'Obviously Samantha Jones is a clear candidate for the chop too, given Sarah and Kim's ongoing war.

'Only the leading stars and show executives are aware of this presently and are desperate to keep a lid on it  a coffin lid.'

The source asked for anonymity to avoid reprisals from bosses, but added that they believe the tantalizing information will 'only excite fans more about what drama is in store for them next year.'

'From what we have read so far there are plenty of twists and turns ahead,' they said.

In May, HBO and show creator Michael Patrick King confirmed Mr. Big will be back, but did not specify for how long.

Photos of Noth, 66, on set in New York emerged on Monday. He was filming for the reboot, titled 'And Just Like That...' which will be shown on HBO Max.

Big will return with John Corbett and David Eigenberg who played Aiden and Steve, respectively, for the iconic revival.

'I'm thrilled to be working with Chris again on And Just Like That,' executive producer Michael Patrick King in a statement in May. 'How could we ever do a new chapter of the Sex And The City story without our Mr. Big?'

Jessica Parker has rejoined Cynthia Nixon and Kristin Davis, reuniting the girl gang in the last few weeks for filming around locations in New York

The insider says that the shock death in the show will lead column writer turned podcaster Bradshaw to reunite with characters with whom she has had rocky relations during the TV series

The Monday shoot saw Jessica Parker, dressed as Bradshaw and North, as Mr. Big, rehearsing lines and reading scripts.

Onlookers claimed that Parker, 56, and Noth appeared unhappy as they worked on the scene.

In recent weeks news broke that their characters are divorcing in one of the comeback series' plot twists.

Noth, in his character's trademark suit, was not wearing Big's wedding band.

In a leaked script passed to Page Six for the forthcoming series, Carrie reveals while dining with BFFs Stanford Blatch (played by Willie Garson), Miranda Hobbes (Cynthia Nixon) and Charlotte York Goldenblatt (Kristin Davis) that she isn't in a good place.

HBO Max's press release detailed that the show will 'navigate the even more complicated reality of life and friendship in their 50s.'

Fans first got hooked on the Darren Star-created series over six seasons, from 1998 to 2004, before two feature films followed in 2008 and 2010.

The first movie made $415million in 2008, its sequel fared less well but still earned $288million.

A third planned movie failed to happen amid the growing rifts fueled by Cattrall with SJP.

EXCLUSIVE: That's where Samantha Jones is! Sex and the City reboot sees Kim Cattrall's character move to LONDON where she's 'thriving

Back in August everyone was aksing where is Samantha Jones?

After DailyMail.com revealed that Kim Cattrall's character has not been killed off of the Sex and the City reboot, insiders now tell us that they've moved Samantha Jones to London.

'We couldn't have Samantha roaming around New York City and not have the other women (Charlotte and Miranda) not interacting with her. It just wouldn't have made sense,' show sources tell DailyMail.com.

'Sending her to Los Angeles wasn't an option as we'd done that in the first movie, so having her character based in London really was the perfect way to keep her alive and explain her absence.'

'Viewers will learn that she is thriving in England even though she has fallen out with Carrie.'

Kim Cattrall's character Samantha Jones has been moved to London in the Sex and the City reboot titled And Just Like That

'We couldn't have Samantha roaming around New York City and not have the other women (Charlotte and Miranda) not interacting with her,' sources say

The insider revealed that at the end of the season Carrie will make a grand gesture to get Samantha back.

'Carrie is the one who has the tough time without Samantha and by the end of ''And Just Like That'' you'll see Carrie extend the olive branch and try and rekindle the friendship,' they said.

Kim Cattrall and Sarah Jessica Parker famously had a falling out and Cattrall refused to join the reboot with her castmates.

DailyMail.com previously revealed that Samantha's absence from the series is explained as having a falling out with Parker's character Carrie Bradshaw.

'In the words of Oscar Wilde, life imitates art,' they said.

DailyMail.com previously revealed that Samantha has not been killed off, but instead has a falling out with Sarah Jessica Parker's character Carrie

Now sources tell us, 'We have high hopes that by the time we begin filming the second season, Kim will have joined the show and Samantha Jones can make a triumphant return to the big apple.'

'We want Kim back. She was missed on set. We all understand why she feels the way she does. We get it. We just want her to come back for future seasons.'

The source said the reboot has been a 'special project to film' and predict it 'can go on for many many years and we'd love for Kim to be a part of it.'

'Samantha Jones is one of television's all time much loved characters and Kim is a phenomenal actress who brings her to life perfectly. She needs to come home, if not for us, but for the fans that adore her.'

The insiders said the writers have left the plot open for Cattrall's return.

'We'll announce eventually that the show will have a second season. This isn't a one off, this will be a series,' they said.

'It will be quite a while between the first and second series as Sarah Jessica Parker has a busy schedule and we have a lot of work to do to get Kim Cattrall back.
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Nicole Ari Parker, Sara Ramirez, Sarita Choudhury and Karen Pittman stunned at the Sex And The City revival premiere in New York on Wednesday.

The quartet are among the new cast members who have been added to the rebooted show which is entitled And Just Like That....

They joined the stars of the original series at the Museum Of Modern Art where Sara, 46, posed up with Sarah Jessica Parker herself.

From left: Nicole Ari Parker, Sara Ramirez, Sarita Choudhury and Karen Pittman stunned at the Sex And The City revival premiere in New York on Wednesday

Meanwhile Nicole made a splash in a mirrored gold mini-dress that featured a sleek Nehru collar and a plunging neckline.

Her busty ensemble was cut off at the thigh allowing her to flaunt her vertiginous legs as she balanced expertly on sky-high stilettos.

She cuddled up at the premiere with her dashing husband Boris Kodjoe, a Viennese-born actor who stars on the Grey's Anatomy spin-off Station 19.

Karen modeled a floor-length floral frock and added a bit of black corsetry that cinched in the ensemble.

Warm welcome: They joined the stars of the original series at the Museum Of Modern Art where Sara, 46, posed up with Sarah Jessica Parker herself

Terrific: Letting her luxurious dark hair down, the Mississippi Masala actress threw in a pop of color with a scarlet shade of lipstick

Accentuating her features with makeup, she added a touch of dazzle with necklaces and a pair of mismatched earrings.

She was accompanied by LeRoy McClain, whom Deadline reported in August is playing her character's husband.

Sarita glowed in a white trouser suit and a matching top, treating the shutterbugs to her megawatt smile during the big event.

Letting her luxurious dark hair down, the Mississippi Masala actress threw in a pop of color with a scarlet shade of lipstick.

Looking fab: Nicole's busty ensemble was cut off at the thigh allowing her to flaunt her vertiginous legs as she balanced expertly on sky-high stilettos

Hot couple: She cuddled up at the premiere with her dashing husband Boris Kodjoe, a Viennese-born actor who stars on the Grey's Anatomy spin-off Station 19

New series: Nicole, Sarita and Karen were announced as part of the revival the show received praise on social media for adding diversity

The original series has in recent years come in for criticism over its scarcity of ethnic minorities and its perceived insensitivity to racial issues.

As a result when Nicole, Sarita and Karen were announced as part of the revival the show received praise on social media for adding diversity.

When a teaser dropped a swirl of speculation began that Cynthia Nixon's character Miranda would be involved with either Karen or Sara's characters.

Miranda is only shown being involved with men in the original series and the two movies, whereas in reality Cynthia is married to a woman.

Swank: Accentuating her features with makeup, Karen added a touch of dazzle with necklaces and a pair of mismatched earrings

Screen couple: She was accompanied by LeRoy McClain, whom Deadline reported in August is playing her character's husband

Incidentally Karen's character is a Columbia law professor and Miranda is an attorney, while Sara will play the franchise's first nonbinary character.

Meanwhile Sarita plays a real estate broker who made her own way and Nicole is featuring as a fabulously wealthy Park Avenue matron.

The show is going ahead without the participation of the fourth member of the original series' main cast Kim Cattrall.

Kim made a splash as the vivacious, sexually liberated Samantha Jones but declined to join the reboot after years of rumors she did not get along with her co-stars.
While most of the cast members of The Real World: Los Angeles have changed over the past three decades, one of them, Jon Brennan, has stayed the same in one major way: he's still a virgin.

Brennan, who was the youngest cast member at just 18 years of age during The Real World's second season in Los Angeles in 1993, is now 47 years old and works as a youth pastor.

The Owensboro, Kentucky native opened up on Wednesday's episode of The Real World Homecoming: Los Angeles - where the original cast members reunite in their original Venice Beach house - revealing he's still a virgin... but he doesn't want to talk about it.

Still: While most of the cast members of The Real World: Los Angeles have changed over the past three decades, one of them, Jon Brennan, has stayed the same in one major way: he's still a virgin

18: Brennan, who was the youngest cast member at just 18 years of age during The Real World's second season in Los Angeles in 1993, is now 47 years old and works as a youth pastor

The topic was broached when Brennan was talking with housemates Tami Ronan, David Edwards and Beth Stolarczyk.

When Beth asked if he planned on getting married, Brennan said he was fine where he was, before confirming he's still a virgin.

'I follow the Lord, wholeheartedly. I'm all in. I'm all in,' Brennan said.

Housemates: The topic was broached when Brennan was talking with housemates Tami Ronan, David Edwards and Beth Stolarczyk

Still a virgin: When Beth asked if he planned on getting married, Brennan said he was fine where he was, before confirming he's still a virgin

He also touched upon the subject briefly in a confessional, though he didn't exactly say he was a virgin.

'I don't drink alcohol, I don't live a promiscuous life, I try not to give into desires of the flesh,' he said.

'To people who say, "Aren't you like missing something?" No, I'm surrounded by people all the time, I'm a people person, I'm pretty happy,' he added.

Confessional: He also touched upon the subject briefly in a confessional, though he didn't exactly say he was a virgin

Tami chimed in and admitted she didn't understand his desire to stay abstinent when he was younger, but now she does, because her 27-year-old daughter is saving herself for marriage... though Jon admitted he'll probably never get married.

'You're gonna leave this world and never experience no coochie? You're just gonna go out of the world with no coochie whatsoever?' Tami said.

Jon replied, 'That's not a large priority at this stage,' clearly becoming uncomfortable with the conversation, which he admitted in a confessional.

Abstinent: Tami chimed in and admitted she didn't understand his desire to stay abstinent when he was younger, but now she does, because her 27-year-old daughter is saving herself for marriage... though Jon admitted he'll probably never get married

'It's really tacky to talk about the details of your sex life on a reality show. It's the same story 28 years later,' Brennan said.

"I would like for you to get some p***y before you die. If I had my druthers, I feel it's something everybody should experience once, at least,' Tami added, while Jon got angry at Beth for 'egging' the conversation.

'When I pivot away from it, don't keep egging it on. All of you, just drop it,' he said angrily.

Tacky: 'It's really tacky to talk about the details of your sex life on a reality show. It's the same story 28 years later,' Brennan said

While Tami apologized for the comment, she said they're all here to have conversations like this, though Jon explained why he pivots.

'When I'm done here, I go back to the people that I mentor. So I gotta really ask myself, "Is this conversation one where the parents are gonna say, You're not gonna mentor my kids,"' Brennan said, which the others respected, though Brennan did say he would try to be more open with the group.

The Real World Homecoming: Los Angeles debuts new episodes Wednesdays on Paramount Plus.
WWE legend Hacksaw Jim Duggan says doctors have declared him cancer-free amid his recent battle with prostate cancer.

The pro wrestling veteran, 67, took to social media with a clip Wednesday, saying, 'Let's kick off the day with an update from Hacksaw! Hoooooo!'

In the clip, the Glens Falls, New York native said, 'I just wanna share the great news I just received, that my cancer is all encapsulated inside my prostate.'

The latest: WWE legend Hacksaw Jim Duggan, 67, says doctors have declared him cancer-free amid his recent battle with prostate cancer

Duggan said doctors checked his bones, surrounding tissue and lymph nodes and all 'came out clear.'

He added, 'So thank God, I'm cancer-free.'

Duggan noted how he had past battled kidney cancer 20 years ago, urging his fans to keep up with their health.

'Folks, remember - early detection saves lives,' he said. 'And Merry, Merry Christmas  ho, ho, hooo!'

The pro wrestling veteran took to social media with a clip Wednesday, saying, 'Let's kick off the day with an update from Hacksaw! Hoooooo!'

In the clip, the Glens Falls, New York native said, 'I just wanna share the great news I just received, that my cancer is all encapsulated inside my prostate'

Duggan said doctors checked his bones, surrounding tissue and lymph nodes and all 'came out clear'

Duggan this past October was hospitalized and in South Carolina and underwent surgery.

His wife, Debra Duggan said at the time, 'Back where we don't want to be. Please pray for Jim and his doctors as he has emergency surgery this morning. Thank you.'

Duggan in 2018 was in hospitalized amid irregular heartbeat issues he was dealing with. He told TMZ at the time, 'My main concern, I have 2 daughters and my wife, I just wanted to survive it. Thankfully, it looks like I'll be able to.'

The WWE Hall of Famer, who famously brings a 2x4 to the ring, has spent parts of three decades wrestling for WWE. He had memorable feuds with late wrestling legends including Macho Man Randy Savage, Harley Race, Andre the Giant and Yokozuna.

The WWE Hall of Famer, who famously brings a 2x4 to the ring, has spent parts of three decades wrestling for WWE
Cynthia Nixon cut a stylish figure as she attended the premiere of the Sex And The City revival in New York on Wednesday.

Entitled And Just Like That... the new program is set to premiere on HBO Max that midnight on the west coast of the United States.

The 55-year-old, who as Miranda Hobbes played one of the main characters of the original show, modeled an ankle-length burnt-orange coat with a large collar.

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Looking fab: Cynthia Nixon cut a stylish figure as she attended the premiere of the Sex And The City revival in New York on Wednesday

Sharpening her unmistakable features with makeup, she balanced on a pair of dark orange high-heeled boots at the big event.

She gathered together with a large assemblage of people involved with the show for one dazzling group shot to remember.

Cynthia, who once launched a failed bid for Governor Of New York, also stood for a snap with her TV family David Eigenberg and Niall Cunningham.

David has a longstanding role as as Miranda's on-off love interest Steve while Niall is playing an older version of their son Brady who is born on the original show.

Incoming: Entitled And Just Like That... the new program is set to premiere on HBO Max that midnight on the west coast of the United States

Striking: Cynthia stood out from the crowd in her bright orange ensemble

Array: She gathered together with a large assemblage of people involved with the show for one dazzling group shot to remember

The cast: Cynthia pictured with Chris, Sarah Jessia Parker, Nathen Garson and Kristin Davis

Party of three: Cynthia, who once launched a failed bid for Governor Of New York, also stood for a snap with her TV family David Eigenberg and Niall Cunningham

A recent trailer for the upcoming reboot has set off a swirl of conjecture that Miranda may begin dating women on the show.

Miranda is only shown being involved with men in the original series and the two movies, whereas in reality Cynthia is married to a woman.

During the show Miranda, a high-powered lawyer, has a whirlwind on-off romance with David's bartender character Steve.

Orange you ready for your close-up? Cynthia strutted her stuff to the event

Hello sunshine: The star beamed as all eyes were on her

Pleased to see them: She was ecstatic as she walked up to the red carpet

Taking precaution: She kept dry under an umbrella

They have a baby, marry and then remain together through the Sex And The City movies - although their relationship is rocked by his infidelity.

David was initially coy in public about his potential return for the reboot, but it emerged in June that he will in fact be part of And Just Like That....

However the status of his and Miranda's relationship on the show remains unconfirmed, allowing for the possibility they may split.

They're back!: 23 years after the original TV series debuted - and 11 years since the second movie - the ladies of Sex and the City have returned in And Just Like That...
Kristen Wiig was seen attending the MacGruber premiere at the California Science Center in Los Angeles on Wednesday evening.

The 48-year-old performer appeared to be loving the spotlight as she sported an eye-catching outfit while posing for a few photos at the star-studded event.

The actress stars in the soon-to-be-released series, which will make its debut on the Peacock streaming service in the future.

Showing up: Kristen Wiig was seen attending the MacGruber premiere at the California Science Center in Los Angeles on Wednesday evening

Wiig wore a lovely low-cut black dress that showed off her toned arms during the event.

The Saturday Night Live alum accessorized with numerous articles of jewelry that gave her monotone outfit a little bit of shine.

The performer's gorgeous blonde hair was cut short and contrasted perfectly with the dominant tone of her clothing.

She notably posed for a few photos with Will Forte, who stars in the show, and she was seen hugging him at one point.

One and done: Wiig wore a lovely low-cut black dress that showed off her toned arms during the event. The Saturday Night Live alum accessorized with numerous articles of jewelry that gave her monotone outfit a little bit of shine

MacGruber is based on the Saturday Night Live sketch of the same name, which originally aired in 2007.

The sketch was a parody of the adventure series MacGyver, which ran from 1985 until 1992.

A film based on the character was previously released in 2010, and starred Forte, Wiig and Ryan Phillippe, as well as Maya Rudolph and Val Kilmer.

The actress portrayed Vicki St. Elmo, the titular character's assistant and confidant.

High-profile origin: MacGruber is based on the Saturday Night Live sketch of the same name, which originally aired in 2007

The feature was written by Forte and Jorma Taccone, the latter of whom created the sketch, and it was produced by Lorne Michaels.

MacGruber received mixed reviews upon its release, although the performances of the cast were praised.

Development on a television series based on the character began in 2019 when Forte revealed that he was planning on pitching a show to executives.

The project began attracting the attention of network figures, and it was picked up by Peacock in 2020.

Recent work: Development on a television series based on the character began in 2019 when Forte revealed that he was planning on pitching a show to executives

The show was officially given a greenlight in August of that year, and it was also announced that Wiig and Phillippe had joined its cast this past June.

Numerous other performers, including Sam Elliott, Laurence Fishburne and Mickey Rourke, were added that same.

Rourke eventually left the project and was replaced by Billy Zane, who portrays Brigadier Commander Enos Queeth.

Production on the series initially commenced this past June, with Albuquerque, New Mexico serving as a primary filming location.

Making it work: The show was officially given a greenlight in August of that year, and it was also announced that Wiig and Phillippe had joined its cast this past June

Boots on the ground: Production on the series initially commenced this past June, with Albuquerque, New Mexico serving as a primary filming location

Work continued for several months before the cast and crew wrapped in August.

MacGruber's first season is currently scheduled to make its debut on Peacock on December 16th.

Wiig spoke about working on the MacGruber film during an interview with Vanity Fair, where she noted that she was excited about being in good company during filming.

Future release: MacGruber's first season is currently scheduled to make its debut on Peacock on December 16th

'We all wanted to do it. We're all friends, and being able to work with your friends is the best part of this business. We just had the best time,' she said.

The actress briefly spoke about her working relationship with Forte, who encouraged her to express herself freely during the early stages of her career.

'When I got to SNL, I was writing a sketch [and said] something like, "I'm not sure if people will think this is funny." Will said, "You can't write for other people. You have to write what you think is funny." That stuck with me,' she recalled.
Burberry made over the pool deck at Crown Towers Sydney for the launch of its new TB Summer Monogram collection.

It's one of several Burberry takeovers all around the world, with other events taking place in Miami, Ibiza, Thailand and Dubai.

Sydney is the final destination for this year's takeovers, which 'captures the optimism of a new season and the spirit of summer', according to the brand.

Taking over: Burberry made over the pool deck at Crown Towers Sydney for the launch of its new TB Summer Monogram collection. Pictured, model Victoria Lee

The luxury label transformed the pool deck with Burberry's new monogram collection, with the blue hue channelling summers in the Mediterranean.

Plush lounges adorned with pillows sat in shallow pools, while day beds were lined up under Burberry umbrellas.

The latest collection is a tribute to the fashion house's founder, Thomas Burberry, with his initials also covering the deck's furniture.

Getting a makeover: The luxury label transformed the pool deck with Burberry's new monogram collection, with the blue hue channelling summers in the Mediterranean

Life of luxury: In a post on Instagram on Wednesday, Georgia Fowler (pictured) shared a series of photos of herself lounging by the pool in a Burberry bathing suit

Crown Towers Sydney was selected as the location of the Australian takeover thanks to its infinity pool, which boasts panoramic views across Sydney Harbour.

The Sydney takeover started on December 6, and is open to Crown Towers hotel guests only.

It's already attracted a host of local celebrities, including Georgia Fowler, Nicole Warne, Nadia Fairfax, Jade Tuncdoruk, Sarah Ellen, Josh Heuston, Brooke Hogan and Victoria Lee.

Decked out: Plush lounges adorned with pillows sat in shallow pools, while day beds were lined up under Burberry umbrellas

In a post on Instagram on Wednesday, Georgia, 29, shared a series of photos of herself lounging by the pool in a Burberry bathing suit.

Meanwhile, blogger Nicole, 31, shared a series of photos of herself relaxing on the couches in a Burberry lounge set.

'When @burberry takes over @crownsydney,' she captioned the post, adding a blue love heart emoji.
Kourtney Kardashian clapped back at an Instagram troll who accused her of getting 'plenty' of plastic surgery to achieve her flawless face and figure.

The 42-year-old reality star's appearance became a topic of conversation in the comment section of a post sharing 'before' photos of her and the rest of the Kardashian-Jenner clan.

One fan observed that Kourtney 'really didn't change' much over the years in comparison to her sisters, which inspired another commenter to aggressively object.

Clapping back: Kourtney Kardashian clapped back at an Instagram troll who accused her of getting 'plenty' of plastic surgery to achieve her flawless face and figure

'Kourtney got plenty of surgery,' they began. 'she just did it in an extremely natural way that still complimented her features instead of changed them.'

They then went on to accuse the POOSH founder of getting 'botox, nose job, some sort of butt shot or [Brazilian butt lift] just to start.'

Less than 24-hours later, Kardashian spotted the harsh comment and decided to fireback at the claims made.

'No better compliment that a too good to be real kind of compliment,' quipped the mother of three.

Criticism: The 42-year-old reality star's appearance became a topic of conversation in the comment section of a post sharing 'before' photos of her and the rest of the Kardashian-Jenner clan; (L-R) Kim, Khloe, and Kourtney pictured

Controntation: Less than 24-hours later, Kardashian spotted a harsh comment about her and decided to fireback at the claims being made

She continued: 'Butt shot and brazilian butt lift, um thanks [WOMAN TIPPING HAND EMOJI] and you were just getting started.'

Kourtney's sassy reply earned 17 'likes' from supportive fans while the troll's comment sits at 24 'likes.'

Just last week, Kardashian was forced to squash any body talk after sharing a host of sexy bikini snaps from her Palm Springs getaway with fiance Travis Barker.

Though she appeared on cloud nine while modeling a purple Fendi SKIMS set from sister Kim's brand, one fan to put a stop to her bliss after questioning if a baby was on the way for the bride-to-be.

Shutting it down: Just last week, Kardashian was forced to squash any body talk after sharing a host of sexy bikini snaps from her Palm Springs getaway with fiance Travis Barker

Kourtney shared a carousel of sunset snaps from her mother's desert retreat as she took a dip in the pool wearing a striking purple two-piece.

'Not to be that girl but... is that a preg belly,' Instagam user @belle24_97 wrote.

'Are we really gonna do this every time I post a photo?' Kourtney asked her follower.

She didn't seem too phased by the comment, though, as she kissed her main man while wrapped up in his arms as the sun set over the San Jacinto mountains.

Blessed: She didn't seem too phased by the comment, though, as she kissed her main man while wrapped up in his arms as the sun set over the San Jacinto mountains

'Are we really gonna do this every time I post a photo?' Kourtney asked her follower

Relax: Kourtney shared a carousel of sunset snaps from her mother's desert retreat as she took a dip in the pool wearing a striking purple two-piece

'life with you,' she captioned a photo of the couple, to which the Blink 182 drummer wrote: 'I couldn't love you more.'

Kourtney and Travis were joined on the trip by her nine-year-old daughter Penelope, who made a funny face beside her mother as they soaked in the hot tub.

Seemingly missing from the action were Kourtney's two sons Mason, 11, and Reign, six, as well as Barker's daughter Alabama, 15, son Landon, 18, and stepdaughter Atiana De La Hoya, 22.

Mom mode: Kourtney and Travis were joined on the trip by her nine-year-old daughter Penelope, who made a funny face beside her mother as they soaked in the hot tub

Smile! The Poosh founder was certainly feeling herself as she shared a few selfies to Instagram on Wednesday afternoon

Kourtney shares all three of her children with ex Scott Disick, while Travis shares Landon and Alabama with his ex-wife, Shanna Moakler.

The Poosh founder was certainly feeling herself as she shared a few selfies to Instagram on Wednesday afternoon.

Their blended families recently spent time together in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, for Travis' 46th birthday.

'The kids got along well. Alabama was playing with [Kourtney's 6-year-old son] Reign and really sweet with him,' an eyewitness told E! News. 'They left Kourtney and Travis alone for some one-on-one time and Alabama took Reign and Penelope to the pool. They all seemed very friendly and like they were having fun together. The younger kids looked up to the older kids and they looked like one big happy family.'

While the couple aren't having children right now, an insider told the publication that they are 'hoping to be expecting by next year.'
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Australia's fanciest Christmas bash brought together a glittering array of powerbrokers from showbiz, politics, business, sport and media on Thursday.

Dozens of smartly-dressed A-listers gathered at the palatial mansion News Corp co-chairman Lachlan Murdoch shares with wife Sarah in the exclusive Sydney suburb of Bellevue Hill.

The soiree is the annual end-of-year gathering for friends to the Newscorp world down under - and its biggest stars.

Home and Away and Nova radio star Kate Ritchie, Qantas boss Alan Joyce, Atlassian founder and billionaire Scott Farquhar topped the prestigious guest list.

But there was one very notable absentee: broadcasting legend and former Sky ratings champion Alan Jones, who snubbed the event.

Luxe look: Nova's drivetime radio host Kate Ritchie was seen making her way to the high profile event, she looked sophisticated in a chic black dress, and added a touch of luxury with a Chanel purse and matching espadrille heels

Lachlan Murdoch and wife Sarah were the hosts of the evening's A-list event

High profile shindig! Nova's Michael 'Wippa' Wipfli and his wife Lisa led the high profile arrivals for an exclusive Christmas drinks hosted by Sarah and Lachlan Murdoch in Sydney on Thursday

Some of the biggest names in Australian media attended too, including Sky boss Paul Whittaker, Sky News stars Peter Stefanovic, Chris Kenny, Paul Murray and Sharri Markson and top News Corp executives Siobhan McKenna and Michael Miller.

One of the big talking points for guests would have been the day's shock news of a proposed royal commission-style inquiry into media diversity in Australia.

The influence of the Murdoch empire is firmly in the sights of the a year-long Senate inquiry into media diversity, led by Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young.

The Greens and Labor senators recommended a judicial inquiry with the powers of a royal commission into media diversity, ownership and regulation.

Pictured: The Murdoch's palatial home in Sydney's east. Party host Lachlan Murdoch is the co-chairman of Sky's parent company News Corp

Sharri Markson, Sky News host and journalist at The Australian, added colour and glamour to the arrivals

Alan Jones, who hosted a top-rating show on Sky News Australia four nights a week for over a year snubbed the big bash

NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard, taking a break from an intense year of dealing with Covid was another heavy hitter at the party, arriving with wife Nicole.

Former NRL and FFA boss David Gallop and racing and rugby league administrator Peter V'landys were also on the guest list.

Nova radio hosts Michael 'Wippa' Wipfli and Ryan 'Fitzy' Fitzgerald were on hand with their partners to enjoy drinks on a rainy December night. Nova is owned by Lachlan Murdoch's private investment company.

Local Liberal MP Dave Sharma also attended with his wife.

But there was no sign of two major Liberal party figures - Scott Morrison and Josh Freydenberg - who controversially used the PM's private jet to fly from Canberra to Sydney for the soiree last year.

Sky News presenter Peter Stefanovic and Sky First Edition presenter Laura Jayes were also on the guest list.

Billionaire Atlassian founder Scott Farquhar arrives at the drinks with his wife Kim Jackson

Nova radio host Ryan 'Fitzy' Fitzgerald was on hand with his partner to enjoy drinks on a rainy December night

It was a mixed bag dress-wise with some opting for serious business attire, others very casual and others in between.

Farquhar didn't feel the need to impress, going ultra casual in jeans and a crew-neck jumper over a t-shirt.

Fitzy's wife Lisa, 39, opted for an elegant, embroidered black dress with puffy sleeves, which she teamed with a $3,100 white Bottega Veneta purse.

Ritchie opted for a sophisticated black dress, and added a touch of luxury with a Chanel purse and matching espadrille heels.

Following them was Sky News' Peter Stefanovic who dressed in a white shirt with jeans and carried his black blazer.

Alongside him was his First Edition co-host Laura Jayes who wowed in a festive red dress with a plunging neckline.



Qantas CEO Alan Joyce (pictured left) was one of the many major powerbrokers arriving for the annual mixing of showbiz and business worlds

Sky CEO Paul Whittaker was among the guests at the Newscorp Christmas party, as was Newscorp stalwart Col Allan, the former New York Post and Daily Telegraph editor

Former FFA and NRL boss David Gallop (left) arrives at Sarah and Lachlan Murdoch's Christmas drinks

Racing and rugby league administrator Peter V'landys (centre) arrives ahead of Newscorp boss Michael Miller (left)

NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard, after a tough year of dealing with Covid policy, attended with his wife Nicole

Sky News stalwarts Chris Kenny (left) and Paul Murray (right) arrive for the big bash at Bellevue Hill

Murdoch, the co-chairman of Sky's parent company News Corp, and his wife Sarah are understood to have invited Jones to the annual end-of-year party at their luxurious six-bedroom home in Bellevue Hill in Sydney's east.

Jones, who had recently departed Sky News and was critical of the network's change of editorial direction, said he would not attend the drinks as a result.

The broadcaster, 80, accused the network of 'cancelling' his conservative views and going 'woke' after they scrapped his weekday show in November.

Jones' snub comes hours before he is set to make a major career announcement, on Friday morning.

The veteran newsman is understood to be holding a press conference at Sydney's Hilton Hotel to reveal his next move.

The 80-year-old is also being encouraged by ex-Prime Minister Tony Abbott to run for the federal seat of Warringah on Sydney's Northern Beaches.
Nicole Kidman revealed that director Aaron Sorkin asked her over Zoom if she would be interested in playing Lucille Ball for the movie Being The Ricardos.

'Yes, I would love to do anything with you,' the 54-year-old actress remembered replying while promoting the film on Wednesday on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.

Nicole said after she read the script she was completely consumed and captivated by the story of Lucille and Desi Arnaz. She also said that Aaron was specific that he didn't want her to do an impersonation of Lucille Ball, which was not something she was interested in doing.

Zoom meeting: Nicole Kidman revealed that director Aaron Sorkin asked her over Zoom if she would be interested in playing Lucille Ball for the movie Being The Ricardos

She said the movie Being The Ricardo was really about the comedian's marriage with Desi.

Nicole also said once she started to study Lucille that she loved playing her because she was such a physical comedian.

'You are one of the best actors that ever lived,' Jimmy told her. 'You are amazing in every single thing.'

'I love acting,' said Nicole. 'I'm very privileged to be able to do what I love doing.'

Warm welcome: The actress received a warm welcome as she arrived on the talk show

Nicole also shared that her house was already decorated for Christmas and that she would spend the holidays in Australia. Her husband Keith Urban, 54, was there and she planned on heading there herself after the premiere of her new movie.

Nicole was also a good sport with Jimmy as he peppered her with holiday questions and asked her to play his game 'Can You Feel It' where he had guests guess what is inside a box only by feel.

Nicole, wearing a shiny brown double breasted suit, stuck in her hands in the box that contained a shrimp on a Barbie doll.

Christmas plans: Nicole also shared that her house was already decorated for Christmas and that she would spend the holidays in Australia with her husband Keith Urban

'I can't afford to lose any of my fingers,' said before she put her hands in the box. 'I'm done. It's some sort of animal.'

Nicole screamed when she put her hand inside the next box that contained a dancing Santa.

'This is a horrible game. I hate it,' said Nicole. 'I'm truly terrified.'

The last item was a live fire eel swimming around in water. Nicole screamed when she saw what was in the box. Neither of them were brave enough to reach into the water to touch it.

Being The Ricardos will be in theatres on December 10th and air on Prime Video on December 21.
Lydia Bright has revealed her 21-month-old daughter Loretta has been diagnosed with bronchitis.

The former TOWIE star, 30 - who shares the tot with former partner Lee Cronin - informed her fans of the news via her Instagram stories on Wednesday, where she told followers she had taken her baby to A&E amid concerns over her breathing.

Alongside images of the youngster in hospital, Lydia thanked fans, including an a pediatric nurse, for raising the alarm, adding that it had been a 'a really hard 48 hours.'

Poorly: Lydia Bright has revealed her 21-month-old daughter Loretta has been diagnosed with bronchitis

Lydia wrote on her stories: 'From the bottom of my heart, thank you. I received so many messages re Loretta's breathing.

'Last night, it got really bad and I thought it was best to go to A&E and get it checked out.'

She also shared a message from a nurse who shared her concerns, with the note reading: 'Hi Lydia, I'm a pediatric staff nurse in A&E and hope you don't mind me messaging but Loretta sounds as though she has a significant wheeze which may need an inhaler and steroids.

Oh no: The former TOWIE star, 30 - who shares the tot with former partner Lee Cronin - informed her fans of the news via her Instagram stories on Wednesday, where she told followers she had taken her baby to A&E amid concerns over her breathing

'If you feel her breathing becomes laboured and she starts sucking in under her ribs please seek medical advice. There are some really nasty bugs going around at the moment. As a mum myself it's awful when your little one is unwell. Keep safe x.'

And after rushing her daughter to hospital, Lydia later wrote: 'It turns out my poor baby has Bronchitis', with bronchitis being an infection of the main airways of the lungs.

The reality star also shared her text exchanges with mother Debbie, with a worried Lydia sharing her concern that little Loretta couldn't 'catch her breath'.

Concern: Alongside images of the youngster in hospital, Lydia thanked fans, including an a pediatric nurse, for raising the alarm, adding that it had been a 'a really hard 48 hours'

Panic: The reality star also shared her text exchanges with mother Debbie, with a worried Lydia sharing her concern that little Loretta couldn't 'catch her breath'

Sweet: Lydia also shared a collage of black and white images of Loretta with various family members as she highlighted the help she's received and how loved the tot is

She added alongside the messages: 'It's been a really hard 48 hours.

'No matter how old I get I will always need my mum and dad. Thank you for always being there.'

Lydia also shared a collage of black and white images of Loretta with various family members as she highlighted the help she's received and how loved the tot is.

She also shared a video on her grid of her baby girl showering her with kisses, alongside the caption: 'The love of my life, me and you, just us two .'

That's my girl: She also shared a video on her grid of her baby girl showering her with kisses, alongside the caption: 'The love of my life, me and you, just us two '

Split: The former TOWIE star called an end to her on-off romance with Lee Cronin in April 2020, but she confirmed he still sees their child every weekend (pictured in 2018)

Lydia has been raising Loretta as a single parent following her split from former boyfriend Lee Cronin, though Lee is said to still see Loretta at weekends.

Lee broke things off three months into Lydia's pregnancy, but the pair decided to rekindle their romance after he showed his supportive side during pre-natal appointments and the birth.

The couple met in Ibiza in June 2017 but separated and reunited three times, ultimately deciding to split for good in April 2020.

It follows the news that Lydia and ex-boyfriend James Argent have been meeting up in secret and spending time at each other's houses.

The TOWIE couple, who were childhood sweethearts and dated on and off between 2008-2016, are hoping to rekindle their romance  five years after Lydia discovered James, 34, slept with herself and Gemma Collins, 40, on the same day.

On again? It follows the news that Lydia and ex-boyfriend James Argent have been meeting up in secret and spending time at each other's houses

Sources close to the pair told MailOnline that James is still considered 'family' by Lydia's mum Debbie, and the prospect of them getting back together motivated him to lose weight because 'it's all he's ever wanted.'

An insider told MailOnline: 'James and Lydia have been spending a lot of time together in recent weeks.

'They became friends again at the beginning of the year but now they're starting to develop more serious feelings for each other.

'Everyone knows James has never stopped loving Lydia and the idea of her taking him back has spurred him on throughout his weight loss journey.

'Lydia has been supportive of his recovery, and he's still considered family  those closest to them are hoping this will be the happy ending they've always longed for.'

MailOnline has contacted James and Lydia's representatives for comment.
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Mark Wright looked downcast as he stepped out in Essex on Thursday for the first time since his terrifying cancer scare.

The TV presenter 34, revealed this week he'd had a 12cm tumour removed from his armpit after previously being reassured it was a 'fatty lump that didn't need treatment'.

Strolling to his car, Mark appeared glum as he buried his hands in the pockets of his gilet and kept things casual in a pair of tracksuit bottoms.

Glum: Mark Wright looked downcast as he stepped out in Essex on Thursday for the first time since his terrifying cancer scare

Putting on a brave face, Mark cut a stylish figure in a skintight long-sleeve grey T-shirt that showcased his muscles. He layered the cosy top under a winter-ready gilet and a pair of cuffed tracksuit bottoms.

The former TOWIE star completed his ensemble with a pair of box-fresh white trainers and matching tube socks. Mark accessorised with a grey baker boy hat and an Apple watch as he toted a enviable Louis Vuitton holdall.

The outing comes after Mark told of how he had a 12cm tumour removed from his armpit earlier this week.

Downcast: Mark appeared glum as he buried his hands in the pockets of his gilet and kept things casual in a pair of tracksuit bottoms and strolled to his car

Cancer scare: After having the tumour removed, Mark said he wanted to share his journey with his followers in the hopes of encouraging others to get lumps checked

Removal: Mark shared a picture of the tumour after its removal

The TV presenter took to Instagram on Wednesday to explain how he became concerned when a mass in his armpit began to grow, after previously being reassured it was a 'fatty lump that didn't need treatment'.

Mark went to reveal that he was later told that the tumour was benign, however doctors feared there was a chance it could turn cancerous and decided to remove it from his armpit.

After having the tumour removed, Mark said he wanted to share his journey with his followers in the hopes of encouraging others to get lumps checked.

Mark, who shared a picture of the lump in his arm, an image of himself in a hospital gown and the mass once it had been removed, wrote: 'Ok, its been a tough call whether or not to speak about this.

'One part of me wants to keep something like this private and the other part is thinking, if I can help/potentially save 1 person, well. this is the right thing to do.

Scary: The outing comes after Mark told of how he had a 12cm tumour removed from his armpit earlier this week

Comfortable: The former TOWIE star completed his ensemble with a pair of box-fresh white trainers and matching tube socks. He layered the cosy top under a winter-ready gilet and a pair of cuffed tracksuit bottoms

Details: Mark accessorised with a grey baker boy hat and an Apple watch as he toted a enviable Louis Vuitton holdall

After having the tumour removed, Mark said he wanted to share his journey with his followers in the hopes of encouraging others to get lumps checked.

Mark, who shared a picture of the lump in his arm, an image of himself in a hospital gown and the mass once it had been removed, wrote: 'Ok, its been a tough call whether or not to speak about this.

'One part of me wants to keep something like this private and the other part is thinking, if I can help/potentially save 1 person, well. this is the right thing to do.

Health: Mark, who shared a picture of the lump in his arm, an image of himself in a hospital gown and the mass once it had been removed, wrote: 'Ok, its been a tough call whether or not to speak about this'

He said: 'MORAL OF THE STORY: If you notice anything that doesnt look or feel quite right. Dont leave it'

'So here goes. I discovered a lump in my breast/armpit area. Not very big, but enough to cause concern and to be cautious enough to get it checked.

'I saw a doctor who passed it on as a fatty lump that doesnt need any treatment so I just left it.

'After some time the lump grew and began to bother me. I am someone that when it comes to life in general, I leave no stone unturned. When it involves health, this idiom quadruples.

Mark, who is married to actress Michelle Keegan, went on: 'I saw another specialist who happens to be a breast consultant for a second opinion.

'He was certain after seeing an ultrasound scan that it was a LIPOMA (a BENIGN soft tissue tumour) however with it being rather large, he had a tiny bit of concern that it has/could turn in to a SARCOMA (a cancerous malignant tumour) However he was not 100% either way so to be more sure I had an MRI.

'From the result of the MRI, still this consultant did not want to rule out the worst because of the speed and the size of the growth. At this stage I moved on to a SARCOMA specialist.

'This specialist saw the scans around 10 days ago and today I was in theatre having this little git removed.

Reaction: Mark's post gained a strong reaction from his friends and followers, who took to the comments section to wish the former TOWIE star well following his news

'His fast and incredible turn around was due to the fact he did not want to leave it any longer and wanted it out to prevent the rare risk of a LIPOMA turning into a sarcoma overtime.

'He also could not 100% confirm by the MRI that this was definitely a benign tumour and not something more sinister.

'The tumour will be sent off for further testing just to be 110% sure but this top doctor is certain from his incredible experience that we have done the job and there is nothing sinister to worry about. So Im all good.

'MORAL OF THE STORY: If you notice anything that doesnt look or feel quite right. Dont leave it.

'Nothing in life is more important than your health and well-being. Get checked, check yourself and make sure you take good care of yourself.'

Mark's post gained a strong reaction from his friends and followers, who took to the comments section to wish the former TOWIE star well following his news.

His former TOWIE co-star Lydia Bright, wrote: 'Thank goodness you followed this up and all is well.'

While Suzie Wells shared a heart emoji underneath.

British gymnast Max Whitlock, said: 'Glad all good Mark [thumbs up]'.

WHAT IS A LIPOMA? Lipomas are non-cancerous lumps caused by an overgrowth of fat cells. They can form anywhere on the body, but are most common on the neck, shoulders, abdomen and back. They are usually just under the skin, shaped like a dome and soft to touch. They occur in about one in every 1,000 people in the US. and about one in 100 people in the UK. Doctors are unsure of what causes lipomas, but believe it may be due to an inherited faulty gene or physical trauma. Most do not cause any pain unless they are deep in the body and press on nerves or organs. If a lipoma affects the bowels, it may cause constipation and nausea. Most lipomas do not need removing, but surgery may be necessary if the growth is large, causing symptoms or unsightly. Source: Cleveland Clinic Advertisement

Emmerdale actor Adam Thomas said: 'Glad all is well bro.'

Mark and Michele got engaged back in September 2013 after nine months of dating and married in Bury St. Edmonds in May 2015.

Michelle has been busy promoting the new series of Brassic and appeared on The One Show recently to chat with hosts about the series.

The couple, who are estimated to have a net worth of 12million, have been documenting the construction process after purchasing the original property for 1.3million in October 2019.

And despite months of delays due to the Covid pandemic, their five-bedroom mansion is beginning to resemble their architectural model.

Due to various lockdowns and Covid restrictions, construction has been stop- start after they demolished a farmhouse and began building a five-bedroom mansion complete with bar, gym, granny annexe and outdoor swimming pool.

The couple won planning approval for the colossal building project back in January 2020 - and it looks like it'll be over two years after that date until they can move in.

Construction experts have estimated the demolition and rebuild of the home will cost around 3.5million.
Cameron Daddo and Alison Brahe appeared loved-up when they stepped out for the Jagged Little Pill premiere in Sydney on Thursday, despite having spoken candidly about their marital problems in the past.

The premiere took place just one day after the couple celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary, with Cameron, 56, and Alison holding hands as they posed for photos together ahead of the event.

Alison, 52, looked chic in an all-black ensemble, smiling widely as she posed alongside her actor husband.

Still going strong: Cameron Daddo and Alison Brahe appeared loved-up when they stepped out for the Jagged Little Pill premiere in Sydney on Thursday, despite having spoken candidly about their marital problems in the past

The model rounded out her ensemble with a cross-body bag, woven leather belt and black boots.

Meanwhile, Cameron opted for jeans, a blue button-up shirt, black blazer and brown lace-up boots.

In a post on Instagram on Wednesday, Cameron revealed he and Alison had celebrated their anniversary at the Park Hyatt in Sydney.

Sticking together: The premiere took place just one day after the couple celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary, with Cameron and Alison holding hands as they posed for photos together ahead of the event

'It was brilliant to revisit the place we spent five hours at 30 years ago and finally really enjoy the majesty of the hotel and location,' he wrote.

But their long-lasting marriage hasn't been without its ups and downs, with the couple speaking openly about their past problems.

Speaking on their podcast, Separate Bathrooms - and Other Handy Marriage Tips, in December last year, Cameron admitted he had a few regrets about their 1991 wedding.

Marking a milestone: In a post on Instagram on Wednesday, Cameron revealed he and Alison had celebrated their anniversary at the Park Hyatt in Sydney

'Oh, I probably wouldn't have the Scotch I had before we did it,' he admitted.

Meanwhile, in a blog post in March 2019, Cameron sensationally confessed that he'd previously cheated on Alison, blaming alcohol for his infidelity.

'There were reasons how I got into that place. And a lot of it was alcohol and being alone, feeling really lonely and being literally oceans away from my partner,' he said.

Making mistakes: In a blog post in March 2019, Cameron sensationally confessed that he'd previously cheated on Alison, blaming alcohol for his infidelity

Cameron said that he and Alison both had counselling to repair their marriage, and that the experience ultimately became something they could grow from.

Speaking on the Separate Bathrooms and Other Handy Marriage Tips podcast in October last year, Cameron also confessed to gaslighting his wife in the past.

Alison brought up the issue of gaslighting after saying how much a heartfelt apology can help someone.

Moving on: Cameron said that he and Alison both had counselling to repair their marriage, and that the experience ultimately became something they could grow from

'The flip side of that is gaslighting. Like when I say, "That really hurt when you did that," and you say, "I didn't do that,"' she said.

Cameron then admitted he'd done that before: 'I've done that to you. I've done that. And you know I've done that.'

He added: 'This is where it's hard. This is why it's so difficult to look at the way we hurt people. And I've done that with you, [told you], "You're crazy, you're nuts." And I'll apologise again.'
Their relationship came crumbling down during the TOWIE Christmas special last year.

But Chloe Sims and Pete Wicks looked cosy as they headed on a romantic outing to buy a Christmas tree as part of a TOWIE special on Friday.

The reality stars, 40, and 33, grinned at Essex's Christmas Wrapped Up tree farm as they hunted for the perfect decorations.

Reconciled? Chloe Sims and Pete Wicks looked cosy as they headed on a romantic outing to buy a Christmas tree as part of a TOWIE special on Friday

Chloe looked stunning on the outing as she sported a festive all-white ensemble, including leather-look boots and a matching coat and gloves.

She sported a clinging turtleneck dress and accessorised with a mico bag and silver hoops.

The TOWIE star went full glam for the outing with lashings of lip liner and slicked back her tresses into a sleek low bun.

Meanwhile, Pete opted for his signature all-black ensemble in a leather jacket and matching skinny jeans.

Stunning: Chloe looked stunning on the outing as she sported a festive all-white ensemble, including leather-look boots and a matching coat and gloves

High spirits: She cosied up next to her ex-boyfriend outside the festive attraction and appeared in high spirits as she flashed a grin at onlookers

The Lothario wore his long locks loose and sported a golden tan as he made his entrance at the Christmas tree farm.

Pete and Chloe looked cosy as the bad boy rested his hand on the beauty's shoulder as they browsed decorations.

The pair appeared deep in conversation as they discussed tree ornaments while surrounded by the charming festive display.

Flawless: The TOWIE star went full glam for the outing with lashings of lip liner and slicked back her tresses into a sleek low bun.

Stylish: Meanwhile, Pete opted for his signature all-black ensemble in a leather jacket and matching skinny jeans

The outing comes Pete and Chloe ended their on-off romance during the TOWIE Christmas special in December last year.

Shocking viewers, Pete told Chloe: 'I can't be in a relationship, I can't give you what you want and I can't give you what you deserve and I know that.'

Chloe then walked off during filming and declined to speak to Pete for months, however the pair have reconciled this series.

Stepping out: The Lothario wore his long locks loose and sported a golden tan as he made his entrance at the Christmas tree farm

Tactile: Pete and Chloe looked cosy as the bad boy rested his hand on the beauty's shoulder as they browsed decorations

Close: The pair appeared deep in conversation as they discussed tree ornaments while surrounded by the charming festive display

It comes after Pete and Chloe looked very close as they descended on Lympne Castle in Folkstone last month to film the show's Halloween Special.

The pair shared what looked to be friendly banter and happily posed for photos, with Pete wrapping an arm around Chloe's waist.

MailOnline reached out to Chloe and Pete's representatives as to the status of their relationship at the time.

Deja vu: The outing comes Pete and Chloe ended their on-off romance during the TOWIE Christmas special in December last year

Ouch: Shocking viewers, Pete told Chloe: 'I can't be in a relationship, I can't give you what you want and I can't give you what you deserve and I know that'

The pair previously sparked reconciliation rumours when they departed the National Television Awards together in London.

However in an interview with The Sun following the red carpet event, Pete revealed they are just 'friends'.

'Things are all good. We have known each other so long and we have been through so much so it is nice that we are back to having fun and being pals,' he said.

Reflecting on their breakup, Pete added: 'What happened was in the past. We are both over the situation. The foundation of me and Chloe is that we were such good friends.'
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The honeymoon was in full swing on Thursday as newly married Nicola Hughes and Charlie Tupper let their hair down in Mauritius, where they were joined by close friend Montana Brown.

Nicole and businessman Charlie tied the knot in a lavish Surrey ceremony last Saturday, and have since been enjoying their tropical surroundings at the LUX* Grand Baie Resort in the north of the picturesque island.

Hitting the beach during their latest appearance, Nicola showed off her slender physique in a tasteful white top and matching skirt from online retailer PrettyLittleThing.

Happy couple: The honeymoon was in full swing on Thursday as newly married Nicola Hughes and Charlie Tupper let their hair down in Mauritius, where they were joined by close friend Montana Brown

In good company: The pair were joined by Love Island star Montana Brown, another guest at the luxury resort

She added to her look with a pair of strappy white heels, but they were left on dry land as she stretched out on a sun-lounger and topped up her tan.

Meanwhile Love Island star Montana, currently enjoying a sunshine break at the same lavish resort, ensured she turned heads in a bronze coloured bikini as she ventured out on a paddle-board.

Accompanied by an instructor, Montana was in high spirits as she tried her hand at the popular water sport, but appeared to lose her composure while struggling to stay afloat.

Looking good: Hitting the beach during their latest appearance, Nicola showed off her slender physique in a tasteful white top and matching skirt from online retailer PrettyLittleThing

Don't mind me: Nicola checked her phone as she relaxed on the beach during her current stay on the picturesque island

Here she comes: Montana Brown commanded attention in a bronze coloured bikini as she waded into the shallow surf

Make way: The TV personality was in high spirits as she pushed herself out on a paddleboard

Planned in just six weeks, Nicola and Charlie's blow-out ceremony took place at beautiful Botleys Mansion and had the likes of Lottie Moss and bridesmaids Tiffany and Lucy Watson in attendance alongside 105 other guests.

Speaking about their big day for the first time in a new interview, the couple revealed that their nuptials were originally set to take place across three days abroad, however, they were forced to make other plans due to the pandemic.

'It was hectic and a little stressful but we're so happy we were able to make it work,' Nicola, who has been with Charlie for five years, told OK! magazine.

Also sharing that she took control of the wedding herself and did not use a wedding planner, the TV personality added: 'I decided to take on the task myself.'

Asked how it feels to be husband and wife, Charlie gushed: 'Everything feels a lot more special. I have this ring on my finger now and I never wear rings, so it feels really weird. We just have so much to look forward to now.'

She's pleased: Montana was accompanied by an instructor as they tried their hand at the popular water sport

Toned: The TV personality's tanned physique was evident during her latest appearance in Mauritius

Steady on: Montana appeared to lose her composure while struggling to stay afloat on the sinking paddle-board

That's more like it: The pair managed to stay afloat while wading through what appeared to be very shallow water

On the day, Nicola looked stunning in a chic Bon Bride dress and the couple - who became engaged in Ibiza last summer - exchanged bespoke rings, with the bride even doing her own hair.

Nicola and Charlie's fast dance was to 'beautiful' song At Last - which they practiced at home before the big day - and guests tucked into a three-course wedding breakfast consisting of prawns on a bed of tomatoes, slow-cooked beef and an apple and raspberry crumble to finish.

Guests also enjoyed an impressive four-tiered wedding cake composed of a carrot, chocolate, lemon and red velvet layer.

My turn: Montana eventually set out on her own, and appeared to be something of a natural while venturing into deeper water

Looking lovely: Nicola's white outfit ensured she turned heads as she made her way across the exclusive beach outside her resort

Shady: With temperatures soaring in Mauritius, Nicola relaxed beneath the shelter of her parasol on Thursday

Once their vows had been exchanged, an eight-piece band kicked off the post-ceremony party, which went on until 3am.

Guests were also asked to take lateral tests before arriving at the venue, with Charlie telling the magazine that one person had tested positive meaning they weren't able to be part of their big day.

Nicola revealed that her favourite part of the day was unplanned, and happened when venue organisers pulled them aside and took them to a room to spend time alone and let everything sink in.

'I felt so grateful,' Nicola said of the gesture.

Looking to the future, she added that she and her husband are excited to start planning their honeymoon, buy a house and one day start a family.

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Brooke Blurton and Darvid Garayeli recently celebrated moving in together following the finale of The Bachelorette.

And on Thursday, the landscaper hunk announced exciting baby news - he has become an uncle.

The 27-year-old revealed in an Instagram Story that his sister and her partner have welcomed a son named Hudson.

Big news! Bachelorette Brooke Blurton's partner Darvid Garayeli announced exciting baby news in an Instagram Story post on Thursday evening

He shared a photo of the newborn wrapped up in a lion print blanket, wearing an adorable bonnet.

In a small panel located alongside the image, Darvid and Brooke are seen beaming as they watch the sleeping bub.

The reality TV star wrote in the caption: 'We are proud to announce that we are officially Uncle D and Aunty B to this little guy,' referring to himself and Brooke.

Adorable: Darvid revealed he has become an uncle. In a small panel located alongside the image, Darvid and Brooke are seen beaming as they watch the sleeping bub

Doting Uncle and Aunt! The reality TV star wrote in the caption: 'We are proud to announce that we are officially Uncle D and Aunty B to this little guy,' referring to himself and Brooke

This comes after the couple moved into their Melbourne love nest following the Bachelorette finale, last month.

They couple celebrated the milestone moment with a small get-together with friends who gifted them a cake that featured a photo of them from the show.

The loved-up couple also shared the celebration with Brooke's adorable dog Cobar.

'We're home!' Brooke and Darvid moved into their Melbourne love nest following the Bachelorette finale, last month

New chapter: They couple celebrated the milestone moment with a small get-together with friends who gifted them a cake that featured a photo of them from the show

Brooke declared her love for Darvid in the finale after breaking the heart of runner-up Jamie-Lee Dayz, who she first met on The Bachelor in 2018.

She tearfully told the Jamie-Lee: 'I've really, really loved exploring the possibility of a relationship, and how beautiful that story would be. But unfortunately, it's not ours... my heart is with someone else.'

After regaining composure, Brooke told her chosen man: 'You came in here and you granted me three wishes, and I still have one left.

'Will you make me the happiest girl?' before they shared a fairy tale ending kiss.
Her career has gone from strength-to-strength since her Love Island stint.

And Molly-Mae Hague left no doubt that she was the perfect fit for PrettyLittleThing's Creative Director, a role she snatched up back in August, as she modelled her winter edit for the brand in Budapest.

The fashionista, 22, pulled off a slew of cosy looks, showcasing not only her enviable style, but her undeniable ability to work the cameras.

Wow: Molly-Mae Hague looked phenomenal in a slew of cosy ensembles as she modelled her winter edit for PrettyLittleThing in Budapest

Gracing the streets of Hungary's capital, the influencer wowed in numerous winter ensembles which boasted not only sought-after neural tones, but darker hues too, including black, khaki and grey.

For one look, Molly-Mae posed candidly while kicking back with a cup of tea, dressed head-to-toe in cream: a padded coat, roll-neck jumper and tailored trousers completed perfectly with leather boots.

For this style, the blonde beauty wore her signature blonde waves loose, with leopard-print glasses perched on top as a chic accessory.

Creative Director: The fashionista, 22, pulled off a slew of cosy looks, showcasing not only her enviable style, but her undeniable ability to work the cameras

Stunner: Gracing the streets of Hungary's capital, the influencer wowed in numerous winter ensembles

Influencer: In other highlights during the photo shoot, Molly-Mae swept back her tresses into her trademark bun

Photoshoot: Her range boasted sought-after neural tones

Jet setter: Molly-Mae wore darker hues too, including black leather leggings

Yet in other highlights during the photo shoot, Molly-Mae swept back her tresses into her trademark bun - a coiffure which many begged her to demonstrate following her Love Island appearance - and sported the same chic shades from the previous photographs.

Molly-Mae also exhibited some must-have coats, as well as currently desired shoes, consisting mainly of platform boots which perfectly completed her outfits.

The coats ranged from a stylish leather, a trendy cream wrap, to a classic yet warm grey puffer.

Effortlessly chic: Molly-Mae also exhibited some must-have coats

Posing up a storm: Cream was one of the most commonly featured colours in Molly-Mae's latest edit

Radiant: Molly-Mae went all out with her makeup palette for the shoot

Sight seeing: Chunky boots were also featured consistently in her latest range with the fashion brand

Dream job: Back in August, an excited Molly-Mae announced that she was Pretty Little Thing's Creative Director on Instagram

Back in August, an excited Molly-Mae announced that she was Pretty Little Thing's Creative Director on Instagram, with the influencer remarking that it's a 'dream come true'.

She announced the amazing news alongside a picture of her in a taupe trouser suit sitting in front of large PLT light up letters.

She penned: 'I'm beyond ecstatic to announce that I am the new CREATIVE DIRECTOR of @prettylittlething for UK/EU. This is the biggest move in my career so far and I can't explain my gratitude to my favourite brand in the world for trusting me with this role.
Jennifer Aniston shared earlier this year that she had cut friends out of her life who opted to not get vaccinated against COVID-19.

And on Wednesday the siren, 52, told The Hollywood Reporter that she faced backlash over her comments.

'You know, someone literally called me a liberal Vax-hole the other day. I dont understand the disconnect right now, being bullied for wanting people not to be sick? I mean, thats what were talking about,' she said.

Slammed for her point of view: Jennifer Aniston shared earlier this year that she had cut friends out of her life who opted to not get vaccinated over COVID-19. And on Wednesday the siren, 52, told The Hollywood Reporter that she faced backlash over her comments. Seen Wednesday

Aniston has been careful to not mingle too much with people in public spaces. And she prefers it when pals come to her Bel-Air mansion instead of heading out.

'I used to be like, Lets go to dinner, and now Im like, No, lets not. Come over, come over, come over,"' she shared.

The Emmy Award winner claimed she had only been to about five different restaurants since the start of the pandemic, and she liked to stick with those establishments because they required proof of vaccination to enter.

Aniston also spoke about the highs and lows of fame.

Ouch: 'You know, someone literally called me a liberal Vax-hole the other day. I dont understand the disconnect right now, being bullied for wanting people not to be sick? I mean, thats what were talking about,' she said

When she was quizzed about she avoided the kind of 'public breakdown' that has harmed the careers of other women entertainers like Britney Spears, Jennifer shared the painful example of her strained relationship with her mother.

In a white bikini top for the cover of The Hollywood Reporter

She attributed her resilience to a 'godsend of support  just so many evolved, positive people around me,' including friends mentioned earlier like Courteney Cox, Jason Bateman and Jimmy Kimmel.

'I also grew up watching someone [Anistons late mother Nancy Dow] sit comfortably in victimhood, and I didnt like how it looked,' she continued. 'I knew that this person was giving me an example of what Id never want to be, and I will never ever be that. I think its toxic, and it erodes your insides and your soul.'

Aniston said that instead of staying home and moping, she chose to 'find a creative outlet and thrive, and thats what I did,' before joking that it was through filming her comedy The Break-Up.'

Back in 2015, Aniston previously told The Hollywood Reporter about how her actress mother had been 'very critical' of her because she couldn't live up to Dow's model looks when she was younger.

She also described how her mother  who died in 2016  held 'grudges' that were 'so petty,' something she's tried to ensure she doesn't do.

Although their relationship was testy throughout the 1990s, the turmoil intensified after Dow published From Mother And Daughter To Friends: A Memoir, though they later reconciled following Aniston's 2005 divorce from Brad Pitt.

She later struck up a relationship with actor and screenwriter Justin Theroux, and the couple married in 2015 before divorcing in 2017.

Bravo: She was a hit playing Blair Warner on The Facts Of Life revival for ABC; seen with original Blair, Lisa Whelchel

Elsewhere in her wide-ranging interview, Aniston admitted she was like so many other people who focused on improving their cooking in the early days of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

She admitted that she was surprised she 'didnt become bored immediately, which was partially due to her 'love' of cooking.

'I wasnt brilliant at it, but I found ways to make eggs every which way and I became a lover of pasta again,' she shared, adding, 'Carbs are not the boogeyman.'

Mother and daughter: Jennifer described how her mother Nancy Dow  who died in 2016  held 'grudges'

'Exercise and meditation and conversations,' were also ways she kept herself busy and occupied during her time at home.

'Like, youd find yourself on a weekly Zoom circle where youd get real metaphysical and woo-woo and talk about whats it all about,' she said.

Jennifer delved into her recent Friends reunion with the original cast, which most of them were unsure about until director Ben Winston helped put them at ease.

'I dont know if we were just seduced by his talent or his charm or a combination of all of it,' she said.

Aniston said that 'time travel is hard,' and admitted that looking back on the 'hardest time' in her life on the reunion was difficult for her.

The film and TV star also opined on how the focus on stars' personal lives is no longer led by 'the media,' but by 'regular people' thanks to the advent of social media.

'Its almost like the media handed over the sword to any Joe Schmo sitting behind a computer screen to be a troll or whatever they call them and bully people in comment sections,' she said.

'And I dont know why theres such a cruel streak in society. I often wonder what they get off on.'

Love: Jennifer began dating Brad Pitt in 1998, and they married in 2000 before divorcing in 2005. Jennifer previously told Vanity Fair in 2016, after their split she 'always wanted to have children' (pictured in 2004)

Jennifer made headlines after her cover story came out for addressing why she never had children.

She slammed assumptions she sacrificed her chance to be a mother for her Hollywood acting career, branding it 'hurtful' and 'just nasty'.

The actress described how she would take the constant questions of speculation she was going to have children 'personally', hitting back: 'You have no clue what's going on with me medically'.

Jennifer touched upon her private life, as well as her refusal to give in to victimhood like her late mother and her acceptance of carbohydrates.

In the interview, Jennifer, who has been an in-demand star since her massively popular run on Friends in the 1990s and 2000s, spoke about how her fame left her fans and critics feeling comfortable enough to make unwarranted assumptions about her private life.

The actress admitted 'people certainly project onto you,' but she said her 'job' was to 'show you what Im capable of, and you decide if you want to subscribe.'

'I used to take it all very personally  the pregnancy rumors and the whole Oh, she chose career over kids assumption,' she said.

'Its like, You have no clue whats going with me personally, medically, why I cant  can I have kids? They dont know anything,' she continued, calling the rampant speculation 'hurtful' and 'just nasty.'

Jennifer previously told Vanity Fair in 2016, after her split from Brad Pitt she 'always wanted to have children', saying at the time: 'I did and I do and I will!'
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Bronski Beat star Steve Bronski has passed away at the age of 61, his former bandmate Jimmy Somerville confirmed in an emotional Instagram post shared on Thursday.

The Scottish musician, born Steve Forrest in Glasgow, was deemed a gay icon when he co-founded the 80s synth pop group with Somerville and Larry Steinbachek in 1983.

The esteemed group would enjoy a string of top 40 hits during the early years of that decade, among them a cover of Donna Summer's disco classic I Feel Love and iconic gay anthem Smalltown Boy.

Bronski's death, the cause of which was yet to be confirmed at time of publication, follows the passing of bandmate Steinbachek, who died of cancer in 2016 aged 56.

Tragic: Bronski Beat star Steve Bronski has passed away at the age of 61, former bandmate Jimmy Somerville confirmed on Thursday (L-R: Larry Steinbachek, Jimmy Somerville and Steve Bronski)

Confirming Bronski's death in an Instagram post, Somerville, 60, penned: 'Sad to hear Steve has died. He was a talented and a very melodic man. Working with him on songs and the one song that changed our lives and touched so many other lives, was a fun and exciting time.'

His friend Josephine Samuel told BBC News he was a "gentle, kind and talented man".

Fans soon echoed the heartache, with floods of tributes pouring in on social media, with Twitter users writing: 'No way.... 61 that's no age. R. I. P. STEVE BRONSKI aka Jimmy Somerville...

'Hit that perfect beat boy. RIP Steve Bronski Confused face... Very saddened to hear of Steve Bronski's death. Steve, Larry and @JimmySomerville created #smalltownboy a true masterpiece and anthem of an era, which changed my life forever. RIP...

Farewell: Bronski in an undated, recent social media photo. The exact cause of his death is yet to be confirmed

Opening up: Discussing the band's impact on gay rights in an interview with The Guardian , Bronski admitted it was never their intention to do anything more than make music (pictured in 2014)

Reaching out: Fans were left devastated and took to Twitter to honour the late star

BRONSKI BEAT: The Hits 1984: SMALL TOWN BOY Their debut song soared to UK No.3 and became a gay anthem about a gay teen fleeing his family and home. 1984: WHY? Follow-up Why? peaked at UK No.6 and was more lyrically focused on anti-gay prejudice. 1984: IT AIN'T NECESSARILY SO Their third single was a resurrection of the George and Ira Gershwin classic and reached the UK Top 20. 1985: I FEEL LOVE Their Donna Summer cover was a roaring success and went to No.3. 1985: HIT THAT PERFECT BEAT Their first song with Jimmy Somerville, soared to UK No.3. 1995: TELL ME WHY '94 AND SMALLTOWN BOY '94 2007: STRANGER TO NONE Advertisement

'Sorry to hear that Steve Bronski, co-founder and keyboard player in Bronski Beat has died at the age of 61. I first saw them play at The Fridge above the gas showroom in Brixton in 1984. #RIP Steve and love @JimmySomerville...

'If you've ever sung or danced to 'Smalltown Boy' raise a glass to Steve Bronski tonight. A powerful and groundbreaking anthem from Bronski Beat.... Sad to hear about the passing of Steve Broski, founding member of the British synth-pop trio Bronski Beat...

'Gutted - those closest to me will know how important #bronskibeat have been in my life. Steve escaped his poverty-stricken roots to become a huge trailblazer for gay awareness as well as an incredibly gifted musician - his songs will live on forever. RIP...

'RIP Steve Bronski. Imagine being the keyboardist on Smalltown Boy! Haunting, decade defining music.One of my ten fave tunes.

'The album wasn't bad either... It's probably difficult for a lot of youngsters to understand just how exciting and radical bands such as Bronski Beat were in the 1980s. 'Smalltown Boy' is a stone cold classic and it's sad to learn that Steve Bronski has died at just 61...

'Gosh !! Really sad today the haunting high toned voice of Steve Bronski is no more !! Just heard on the news he passed away today !! What a Lovely voice !! We are all so sad, RIP u great guy.'

The musician was raised on Glasgow council estate Castlemilk, where he worked as a building labourer before moving to London in 1983, where he eventually shared a Brixton flat with his bandmates.

He would meet Steinbachek and Somerville through their involvement in the documentary Framed Youth - Revenge of the Teenage Perverts, made specifically for an LGBTQ arts festival.

Their debut single, Smalltown Boy, quickly became one of the decade's defining tracks, climbing to number three in the UK chart and turning the band into household names.

Ahead of its time, the song's lyrics focused on the homophobia and social alienation experienced by a young gay man who is forced to move away because of his sexuality.

The accompanying video featured lead vocalist Somerville being chased by a gang of homophobic men before being arrested and eventually disowned by his parents.

Bronski, Somerville and Steinbachek were tireless campaigners on gay rights issues at a time when society was less accepting of homosexuality and the AIDS epidemic had decimated the gay community.

Old times: The Scottish musician, who was born Steve Forrest in Glasgow, co-founded the 80s synth pop group with Somerville and Larry Steinbachek in 1983

Iconic: (L-R) Jimmy Somerville Larry Steinbachek And Steve Bronski at the height of their fame in 1985

Much missed: Jimmy is seen promoting World AIDS Day in 1990

Tragic loss: The pop singer is pictured in New York City in 1990

Debut album The Age Of Consent, released in 1984, was a direct reference to the contrasting legal ages for gay and straight sex, while its inner-sleeve featured the various consent ages for men in countries across the world.

Discussing the band's impact on gay rights in an interview with The Guardian, Bronski admitted it was never their intention to do anything more than make music.

He said: 'At the time we were just three gay guys who started a band - we didn't feel like part of any particular movement. Of course, it would transpire many years later that there were more gay artists than the public were led to believe.'

All change: (L-R) Larry Steinbachek, Steve Bronski and John Foster, who replaced Somerville following his departure from the band in 1985

Tribute: 'Sad to hear Steve has died. He was a talented and a very melodic man,' Somerville wrote in an Instagram post confirming his former bandmate's death

Somerville eventually left Bronski Beat to form The Communards in 1985, but he would be replaced by John Foster before the band scored another top ten hit with Hit That Perfect Beat later that year.

They remained together until 1995, returning briefly in 2017 with their first album in 22 years, The Age Of Reason.

Speaking about his reasons for coming back with the songe, he told Pennyblack Music: 'We should be living in an age of reason. The trans community should not live in fear, and gay kids should not be bullied. We have come a long way, but there is still a long way to go.'

Ahead of their time: Bronski, Somerville and Steinbachek were tireless campaigners on gay rights issues at a time when society was less accepting of homosexuality

Bronski remained heavily involved in music following the band's original disbandment, remixing the song Stranger to None by the band All Living Fear in 2007. He also worked with Darryl Pandy, Jayne County and members of Strawberry Switchblade.

He also remixed the track Flowers in the Morning by Electrobronze in 2007, while also working with vocalist Jessica James (aka Barbara Bush).

In his post-fame life, he spent most of the Noughties living in Thailand.
Alice Evans has stated that she 'needs to accept' that her estranged husband Ioan Gruffudd and his girlfriend Bianca Wallace 'are besotted' with one another.

The actress, 53, has made her split from Ioan, 48, extremely public, after their 14-year marriage broke down in January, with tensions only further rising when the actor stepped out with Bianca, 29, this month.

In the wake of their appearance together, Alice, Alice who is in a custody battle over her and Ioan's daughters Ella, 12, and Elsie, eight, took to Instagram once again to send her regards and also reveal she was seeing a rise in her own popularity.

Acceptance: Alice Evans has stated that she 'needs to accept' that her estranged husband Ioan Gruffudd and his girlfriend Bianca Wallace 'are besotted' with one another

Following the release of images of the couple making their first public outing together, Alice then reflected on how she felt about the shots in a kind message.

In her post, Alice penned: 'Ive been so careful for 20 years. because I wanted a private life. so I looked at them, felt a little embarrassed, also a little warm...

'If theyre that in love then lets try to make it work for them. and I deliberately did not post or mention anything. and no longer intend to...

'Theyre clearly besotted with each other abs i need to accept that. ( Besides, ive never had so many hot guys ask me out on DM Im quite overwhelmed!!!'

Bitter: The actress, 53, has made her split from Ioan, 48, extremely public, after their 14-year marriage broke down in January, with tensions only further rising when the actor stepped out with Bianca, 29, this month

Evans is now adjusting to life on her own after he publicly confirmed a new relationship with his Harrow co-star on Instagram, a move she described as 'every woman's nightmare.'

Ioan filed for divorce in March, citing irreconcilable differences as the reason behind their split.

The document, which was filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on March 1, revealed the former couple separated on New Year's Day - a month before they went public with their relationship status.

Warmed up: In the wake of their appearance together, Alice, Alice who is in a custody battle over her and Ioan's daughters Ella, 12, and Elsie, eight, took to Instagram once again to send her regards and also reveal she was seeing a rise in her own popularity

At the time, they had shared a joint statement that read: 'As you can imagine, this is an incredibly difficult time for our family and we remain committed to our children. Thank you for respecting our privacy.'

It was also reported the divorce papers state the exes are in a 'collaborative process and intend to resolve all issues including spousal support by written agreement'.

Last month, Alice claimed Bianca 'ruined her life' in a scathing social media post.

Hitting back at trolls claiming they're defending the actress, the star took to Instagram to share a playful snap, along with a caption claiming Bianca was 'a b***h who manifested Ioan away from their daughters.'

Way back when: Gruffudd hasn't publicly addressed the couple's divorce

Alice claimed the pair had been embroiled in a three-year affair - which has been denied by a friend of the couple.

Evans and Gruffudd met on the set of 102 Dalmatians in 2000, when Alice was in a relationship with Pablo Picasso's grandson Olivier.

The former couple became engaged six years later after she gave him an ultimatum about their relationship, and they tied the knot in an intimate ceremony in Mexico in September 2007.

Gruffudd hasn't publicly addressed the couple's divorce.
Actress Lucy Hale struggled to find her identity after the successful drama series Pretty Little Liars ended in 2017.

When she stepped outside of the limelight of the hit Freeform teen drama, the 32-year-old Hale said that the reality hit her hard as she went through a 'dark time' before regaining her poise and confidence.

'It was such a crazy experience to be a part of something that was massive on a global scale,' Hale told People magazine in this week's issue, on newsstands Friday.

Finding success: Actress Lucy Hale struggled to find her identity after the successful drama series Pretty Little Liars ended in 2017; seen in early November

Heady times: 'The show changed our lives overnight. We were so young, so busy and overworked,' Hale said. From left, Shay Mitchell, Troian Bellisario and Ashley Bensen

'The show changed our lives overnight. We were so young, so busy and overworked,' said Hale in the interview.

'But you're up on this mountain, and you're like, "Every thing is so great! People love us!"' said Hale, whose breakthrough role was Aria Montgomery in Pretty Little Liars for which aired from 2010 to 2017.

'When you step outside of that, you're like, "That's not normal,"' she said.

'After the show ended, it was a dark time in my life. It made me realize, "Oh God, I actually don't know what I like about myself,"' the actress added.

Loves down time: 'It's not unusual for me to not do anything social for months at a time,' Hale said; seen in early November

The busy actress, who had recently been filming the thriller series Ragdoll that AMC+ debuted last month, said she took a step back and looked inward to find the 'small' things that made her happy outside of her career.

'I just really had to hang out with myself,' she told the magazine. 'I'm at a point now where I love what I do, but I also like who I am outside of that. That, to me, is a big accomplishment because I didn't know if I'd ever be able to say that about myself.'

Hale also said that she loves her down time.

'I used to think one day I'd have these big hobbies, but it's more just quiet moments with myself. I don't know if it's because work constantly pulls me in a million different directions, but I love solitude. It's not unusual for me to not do anything social for months at a time,' she said.

Hale blows off steam when she's had a stressful day by exercising.

'I listen to what my body needs, and so I mix it up. I love Pilates and yoga, and I do strength training twice a week. I live across from a hiking trail, and I try to go every day for some quiet time,' the former Bionic Woman star said.

Ragdoll drama: The Ragdoll series focuses on six people who have been murdered, dismembered and stitched together into a single cadaver in the shape of a rag doll. Hale plays American detective Lake Edmunds to solve the crime in the six-part series

She also has no problems placing her phone on 'do not disturb' to 'keep me in higher spirits.'

The busy actress recently played a starring role in Ragdoll, a series that focuses on six people who have been murdered, dismembered and stitched together into a single cadaver in the shape of a Ragdoll.

She plays American detective Lake Edmunds to solve the crime in the six-part series.

She also is filming in a starring role in The Hating Game, a movie based on the novel of the same name, set for a December release.

She plays a businesswoman who tries to take down a male opponent while slowly falling for him.

Her upcoming part in The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry, a movie currently in pre-production, will see her star opposite Mad Men actress Christine Hendricks.
EastEnders star Shona McGarty looked far from pleased after her car was hit from behind by another driver in the early hours of Thursday morning.

The actress, 30, appeared visibly distressed as she approached the female road user after her white BMV was shunted during the minor collision near the BBC soap's set in Borehamwood.

Both cars sustained minor damage, with the Fiat 500 belonging to the other woman bearing the brunt of the force with visible damage seen on the bumper.

Distressed: EastEnders star Shona McGarty looked far from pleased after her car was hit from behind by another driver in the early hours of Thursday morning

It is said that the star, who plays Whitney Dean in EastEnders, was alone as she headed to work to film new scenes.

Shona, instantly recognisable with her bright red hair, bundled up from the cold in a long black coat and comic-print leggings.

She was seen in a tense exchange with the other driver, who looked upset over the incident.

Incident: The actress, 30, appeared visibly distressed as she approached the female road user after her white BMV was shunted during the minor collision near the BBC soap's set in Borehamwood

The duo were said to have exchanged details before going their separate ways.

MailOnline have contacted representatives of Shona for comment.

Elsewhere, the actress is set to be involved in a huge upcoming Christmas storyline on EastEnders in which her character discovers the truth about serial killer Gray Atkins.

With Gray (Toby-Alexander Smith) having killed three Walford residents, including her boyfriend Kush Kazemi, Whitney determines to expose him on his wedding day with Chelsea Fox.

Uh oh: Both cars sustained minor damage, with the Fiat 500 belonging to the other woman bearing the brunt of the force with visible damage seen on the bumper

Oh dear: The other driver's vehicle stained significantly more damage than Shona's

Drama: It is said that the star, who plays Whitney Dean in EastEnders, was alone as she headed to work to film new scenes

Cold winter morning: Shona, instantly recognisable with her bright red hair, bundled up from the cold in a long black coat and comic-print leggings

Road rage: She was seen in a tense exchange with the other driver, who looked upset over the incident

In an interview with Metro.co.uk, the actress revealed how Whitney is 'petrified' when in comes to exposing the cold-hearted killer.

She explained: 'Whitney and Chelsea have grown quite close, and she feels very protective of her. Shes pretty sure Gray murdered Chantelle, so when Chelsea rings her saying help me, help me, she drops everything and runs.'

She went on to say that after knowing the dodgy lawyer for 'a long time', she's grown concerned after spotting certain behaviours in him, including aggression.

Shona added: 'I think initially she put that down to the fact hed lost his wife, hes a single parent and hes finding it all very difficult, but the warning signs are there now and shes expecting to find out that there is more to it and that hes not a very nice person.'

She concluded: 'Shes definitely risking her own life. Whitney is very selfless. She would risk her own life to save someone else, shes very much like that.'

Car drama: The driver who caused the incident was seen sitting behind the wheel of her car after hitting the soap star's vehicle

Crash: The front of her car sustained some damage after it shunted the BMV front behind
Michael B. Jordan showed off his sharp sense of style for his Thursday appearance on Good Morning America.

The 34-year-old actor donned a green monochrome look and a pair of round sunglasses as he made his way into ABC studios in New York City.

He was there to promote his upcoming movie A Journal for Jordan, about an army sergeant who recorded a journal for his son before he was killed in war.

Dapper: Michael B. Jordan, 34, showed off his sharp sense of style for his Thursday appearance on Good Morning America

He sure loves his fans: He posed with several of his female supporters outside GMA

In his interview he noted that he is happier than ever as he has several films coming out and is dating model Lori Harvey.

'I'm doing great, man. I'm blessed. Everything's happening. I think it's like, the perfect time for me. Just like personally, professionally, everything seems to be clicking,' said the star.

The Santa Ana, California native sported green trousers with a green Henley shirt tucked into them. The pants were punctuated by a green pair of leather Duke + Dexter loafers.

Jordan layered the look in a green trench coat that boasted brown leather panels on the collar and over one shoulder, making the piece asymmetrical. He wore his hair in a low crop and rocked a beard on his dimpled face.

Fashion sense: The 34-year-old actor donned a green monochrome look and a pair of round sunglasses as he made his way into ABC studios in New York City

Upcoming work: He was there to promote his upcoming movie A Journal for Jordan, about an army sergeant who recorded a journal for his son before he was killed in war

Appreciative of his supporters: Jordan, who's dating Steve Harvey's daughter Lori Harvey, flashed a peace sign as he interacted with fans

The busy filmmaker smiled and waved to fans as he made a path through the Big Apple.

Jordan flashed a peace sign as he interacted with fans.

While on the television show he gushed about this moment in his life, calling it 'the perfect time.'

Dapper: The actor was seen leaving a filming of The View in a khaki suit

Stylish: The A-list actor rounded out his ensemble with black boots and a gold necklace

Beaming: The Wire alum flashed a peace sign as he continued on the promotional trail for his upcoming motion picture

'I'm doing great, man. I'm blessed. Everything's happening. I think it's like, the perfect time for me. Just like personally, professionally, everything seems to be clicking.'

To prepare for the role of the late 1st Sergeant Charles King, he spent time with the father and husband's son and wife.

'I think that's one of the hardest things to do - is just to be honest and truthful while honoring someone's legacy,' he said to the Good Morning America hosts in his interview.

Fashionable: The actor was later seen in a blue jacket over a black shirt with maroon pants as he went to appear on Live with Kelly and Ryan

Busy: Jordan donned multiple stylish ensemble as he promoted his new film A Journal for Jordan in the Big Apple

Another look: After he taped Good Morning America he changed his clothes to enter the studio where Live with Kelly and Ryan is taped

On the topic of his personal life, he touched on his relationship with Lori, who's the adopted daughter of Steve Harvey.

After celebrating their one year anniversary, the pair spent Thanksgiving with Lori's family in Georgia.

Speaking about the socialite's family he said, 'They're in Atlanta, where I'm filming at, so it's good to be able to have that extended family that's close by, to be able to hang out and spend the holidays with.'

His love: On the topic of his personal life, he touched on his relationship with Lori, who's the adopted daughter of Steve Harvey

On The View, Jordan explained how his personal experiences have helped navigate his career decisions.

'One of the things that helps me choose roles or which ones I stay away from is how much I feel like I have to give to the role,' he said. 'Certain life experiences I never had. So I didnt feel like I could pull from a personal place. I could not make it connect to me.

'Now that I am in a place where I have fallen in love. I know what thats like.'

A Journal for Jordan premieres in theaters on Christmas day.
Nicki Minaj is defending her sex offender husband Kenneth Petty in new legal documents in the couple's ongoing harassment lawsuit filed by a woman who he attempted to rape more than 25 years ago.

The hip hop star, 40, filed legal documents in the case slamming the plaintiff, Jennifer Hough, for allegedly making up lies all for the nefarious purpose of wheedling money out of Minaj, TMZ reported on Thursday.

In her initial lawsuit, Hough accused the couple of harassment, witness intimidation, and intentional infliction of emotional distress, as well as naming Petty specifically for sexual assault over an attack in 1994. Petty was convicted of the attempted rape of Hough the following year after pleading guilty to the charge.

Standing by her man: Nicki Minaj is defending her sex offender husband Kenneth Petty in new legal documents in the couple's ongoing harassment lawsuit filed by a woman who he attempted to rape more than 25 years ago

Hough claims in the lawsuit that Nicki, Kenneth and their team of attorneys tried to pressure her to recant her accusations of attempted rape.

In her new filing, however, Minaj denies the accusations and asked the court to 'sanction her for what they say are blatant falsehoods,' according to TMZ.

The outlet added that Nicki believes Jennifer is simply out for money. Her legal team included evidence in the documents of what they believe poke holes in Hough's story.

Hough alleged that she was forced to change her number due to the harassment but Nicki says in the filing that she received a text Hough using the same number after the fact.

Fighting back: The hip hop star, 40, filed legal documents in the case slamming the plaintiff, Jennifer Hough, for allegedly making up lies all for the nefarious purpose of wheedling money out of Minaj, TMZ reported on Thursday

Minaj's legal team also claims they found certain inconsistencies in a televised interview Hough did this year which didn't line up with what she had initially claimed in her lawsuit.

In September, Jennifer Hough and her lawyer appeared on The Real for an interview where she opened up about her experiences with both Minaj and Petty.

'I felt like the actions that were taken in regards to this whole situation, have put me in a different type of fear at my age now,' Hough said on the show. 'It was wrong. And I don't want to be afraid anymore, so the only way not to be afraid is to continue to speak up.'

Hough, who appeared with her lawyer Tyrone A. Blackburn, said that she filed the $500,000 suit against the couple in a move to make clear 'they were wrong' in their interactions with her.

Her side: In her initial lawsuit, Hough accused the couple of harassment, witness intimidation, and intentional infliction of emotional distress, as well as naming Petty specifically for sexual assault over an attack in 1994

She said of Petty: 'He did something a long time ago and he had consequences that he was supposed to stick with. What they did to me and my family wasn't OK.

'It wasn't right and it doesn't matter how much money you have. It doesn't matter what your status is, you can't intimidate people to make things go better for you. And that's what they did.'

Hough said that she was coming forward to set an example for her daughters amid the traumatic life experiences.

'I want my daughters to know that as they grow, as they experience life as they come in contact with friends, family, strangers whatever, that they'll have the strength to know that they have a voice, and they should use it,' she said. 'And don't ever let anybody try to silence them.'

In the emotional appearance, Hough explained the details of the 1994 incident in Jamaica, Queens, New York, which led to Petty's conviction the following year when he entered a guilty plea to attempted rape.

Hough said she was 16 when she was walking alongside Petty and that 'before you know it, he was grabbing a hold of my jacket.

'I felt something in my back so I just assumed there was a gun,' she said. 'And I started walking. And I'm pleading with him the whole way, trying to understand what he wants.'

She explained the details of the alleged sexual assault, as she said Petty told her that she 'knew what he wanted' prior to the attack.

Not adding up: Minaj's legal team claims they found certain inconsistencies in a televised interview Hough did this year on They Real which didn't line up with what she had initially claimed in her lawsuit

'I didn't know why it didn't dawn on me to like really fight,' she said on the show. 'I just held on to my pants and he held my arms down and squeezed the sides of my stomach so hard. I let go and as soon as I let go he grabbed my pants. It was like a tug of war and after a while I just got tired.'

Hough said Petty 'stood in the mirror and beat his chest' following the attack, after which she told a guard at a nearby school, who contacted police, leading to Petty's arrest at the house.

Hough said she looked to drop the charges in an effort to quell pressure from the situation that she blamed herself over, and that 'shortly after that,' she moved out of New York.

Asked if she felt that justice was served in the case, Petty said, 'I don't think I thought about justice per se, because I was still blaming myself.

'And thought it was something that I did or didn't do. I don't think I thought about if I got justice. I just knew he did what he did and he went to jail and I had to leave my family. I had to leave my home. And I had to move away.'

Back story: In 1995 Petty pled guilty to attempted rape of Hough over an incident in Jamaica, Queens the year before

Hough said that she was dismayed when Minaj and Petty wed October 21, 2019, as she felt 'so afraid of being known as the person [Petty] violated.'

She said she was 'so afraid of being found out,' and 'so afraid of being known as the person he violated.

'And I didn't want that. You know, it's Nicki Minaj. I didn't want that to reflect on my children.'

Petty's conviction forced Petty to register as a sex offender, but he failed to do so in the state of California when he moved there with Minaj, and he was arrested in March 2020.

Hough opened up about an exchange she had with Minaj in March of 2020 in which she claims the pop star looked to work out an arrangement in which she would pay her to recant her past allegations toward Petty.

'She called me and she said that she got word that I was willing to help them out in a situation,' she said. 'I didn't understand what she was referring to. She offered to fly me and my family to LA. I turned it down. And I told her, woman-to-woman, this really happened. And I hadn't spoken to her since.'

His story: He landed back behind bars in 2006 after pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the shooting death of Lamont Robinson. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison and served seven before being released in 2013

Hough claimed Minaj and Petty began harassing her immediately after Petty was arrested, and tried to get her to recant her testimony. She said that she has consistently declined offers from Minaj and Petty, which have led to their associates approaching her with counter offers.

'Nicki is the one who personally reached out to me, in regards to helping her, helping them in this situation,' she said. 'And then the threats that I received because I kept saying no to every offer, to every suggestion.

'The last incident was when one of their associates put $20,000 dollars on my lap. And I still kept saying no.'

In a lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court in Eastern New York, Hough says she 'has not worked since May of 2020 due to severe depression, paranoia, constant moving, harassment and threats from the defendants and their associates. She is currently living in isolation out of fear of retaliation.'

The lawsuit came just days after Petty accepted a plea deal on the count of failure to register as a sex offender in California.

Minaj reportedly started dating Petty after he got out of prison, when he was 21 and she was just 16.

He landed back behind bars in 2006 after pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the shooting death of Lamont Robinson. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison and served seven before being released in 2013.
Nicky Hilton, 38, was all dressed up on Thursday.

The sister of Paris Hilton wore a gorgeous Alice + Olivia tweed outfit with pearls to top it off while on the Upper East Side of New York City.

The socialite, 38, shared pictures to Instagram while at L'Avenue at Saks, where she was hosting a brunch with Bauble Stockings and Alice + Olivia, launching their holiday Baubles.

A lady who lunches: Nicky Hilton, 38, wore a gorgeous Alice + Olivia tweed outfit, with pearls to top it off in Uptown New York

The co-designer of Bauble Stockings looked elegant in a tweed outfit. She paired it with a black, crystalized Prada purse and pearl earrings.

Nicky's passion for helping others got her involved with Bauble Stockings last year. They are all hand needlepointed by women in Haiti for fair trade wages and proceeds also help support the Atlanta Children's Center.

Kate Stewart, an Atlanta housewife, launched this idea based on her own family traditions. Each Bauble contains the 'final gift of Christmas', or a clue to what that might be.

Looking elegant: The socialite took some pictures at L'Avenue at Saks in Manhattan, where she was hosting a brunch with Bauble Stockings and Alice + Olivia, launching their holiday Baubles

'Growing up, my mom always received the last gift of Christmas as a thank you for all she'd done that year, and it, or a clue to it, was found in her needlepoint stocking that hung on our tree,' Kate said about what sparked this idea.

Since the launch in 2018, Bauble Stockings has raised over $30,000 organizations trying to make the world a better place.

The fashion icon has also been staying busy with filming Paris in Love with older sister, Paris Hilton.

All dressed up: Nicky and James Rothschild attend the Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg Woman of Leadership award honoring Queen Elizabeth II at the Library of Congress in early December

It was no surprise that Nicky was recently the maid-of-honor in Paris' wedding. In a clip from Paris in Love, Nicky said, 'There is no one I have fun with more.'

The sisters went on to talk about how they go to each other for advice on everything, but a major topic is fashion.

On top of filming with family, the reality tv personality recently attended the Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg Woman of Leadership event with husband James Rothschild.

The 2021 award was honoring Queen Elizabeth II at the Library of Congress in early December.

Nicky and James were married in 2015 and share two children, Lily-Grace, five, and Teddy Rothschild, three.

Commitment is so hot: Paris Hilton posted on Instagram promoting her new series Paris in Love which aired in early November
She was mostly recently rumored to be in a relationship with John Mayer.

But sources told Page Six that Cazzie David is actually 'dating' Miller McCormick, the brother of late rapper Mac Miller.

David, 27, and McCormick, 32, are so serious, in fact, that they reportedly purchased a home together in his native Pittsburgh earlier this year.

New love: Cazzie David is actually 'dating' Miller McCormick, the brother of late rapper Mac Miller; seen in November

'They've been together for a while now,' a source told the publication. 'It's been over a year of them dating, possibly closer to two.'

Records obtained by Page Six showed that Cazzie and McCormick, a graphic designer, bought a home in February in the south-eastern part of Pennsylvania.

'Mac's family loves Cazzie,' a source said. 'Really, it's no surprise she ended up with his brother. She's a beautiful beacon in what has been an intensely tough period of navigation.'

Family: David, 27, and McCormick (left), 32, are so serious, in fact, that they reportedly purchased a home together in his native Pittsburgh earlier this year; (seen with his mother Karen and late brother Mac Miller)

Out with the old: Cazzie previously dated Pete Davidson for two years before their split in 2017

Their four-bedroom, four-bathroom property is situated in the Regent Square area on the city's East End.

'They seem like nice kids,' a neighbor said of the private couple. 'They keep to themselves.'

Cazzie detailed her 'agonizing' break-up from Pete Davidson following a two-year romance in her book No One Asked for This: Essays, published last year.

Just weeks after their split, Pete began dating Ariana Grande in the summer of 2018 shortly after she broke up with Mac Miller. He soon proposed, but their engagement ended months later.

Moving on quickly: Just weeks after their split, Pete began dating Ariana Grande in the summer of 2018 shortly after she broke up with Mac Miller. He soon proposed, but their engagement ended months later

Tragic: Mac, who's full name is Malcolm McCormick, died of an accidental drug overdose at the age of 26 in September 2018. He dated Ariana Grande for two years; seen in 2016

David connected with Mac when their exes became an item, and a source told Us Weekly that they 'leaned on each other' at the time.

Mac, who's full name is Malcolm McCormick, died of an accidental drug overdose at the age of 26 in September 2018.

Cazzie reached out to his mother, Karen, to offer condolences at the time, and formed a bond.

'It's still a relatively new friendship, and primarily limited to social media, but Cazzie and Karen think very highly of each other,' a source told E! News in November.

'Through their chats, the two have discovered they have much more in common than just Mac, Ariana and Pete. Karen thinks Cazzie is an intelligent and sweet person.'
He's been busy walking red carpets across the globe for the last couple of weeks.

However, Henry Cavill showed no signs of slowing down as he stepped out in Madrid on Thursday night for The Witcher season 2 premiere.

The actor, 38, looked dapper as he posed for snaps at the glitzy event in the Spanish capital.

Globetrotter: Henry Cavill showed no signs of slowing down as he stepped out in Madrid on Thursday night for The Witcher season 2 premiere

The movie star dressed to impress for the evening in an expertly checkered tailored grey suit.

Leading with the grey theme, the movie hunk matched the look with a grey tie and white fitted shirt and finished the look with a matching handkerchief.

Beaming from ear to ear, Henry is no doubt delighted to be back playing the role of Geralt of Rivia in Netflixs hotly-anticipated second season of The Witcher, which will start to explore some of the stoic adventurers hidden depths.

The actor will be back in the saddle next Friday in the long-awaited follow-up to 2019s smash hit fantasy drama.

Style: The actor, 38, looked dapper as he posed for snaps at the glitzy event

Thumbs up: Henry is no doubt delighted to be back playing the role of Geralt of Rivia next week in Netflixs hotly-anticipated second season of The Witcher

Based on a series of bestselling books, previously adapted as a trilogy of video games, Netflixs answer to Game of Thrones drew critical acclaim and a season two was quickly confirmed.

Appearing on the sofa alongside Lorraine Kelly on Monday morning to promote the imminent release of the fantasy drama Henry gushed about his dog.

The Hollywood star said his pet helps him keep calm and has done wonders for his mental health  while Lorraine and viewers at home all fawned over the animal.

Hit! Netflixs answer to Game of Thrones drew critical acclaim and a season two was quickly confirmed

He said: 'He really is my best friend, we go everywhere together. He's eight now and he has saved my emotional and psychological bacon plenty of times. We have an incredibly close bond'.

'He [Kal] kind of gets it. He senses it when Ive got my own stuff on, hell be close - hes almost always close, but hell be closer.'

Lorraine also probed Henry about his reputation of be Mr. Nice Guy on set and the Man From U.N.C.L.E star revealed explained that he says hello to everyone in the cast and crew before shooting begins.

Close: Henry Cavill, 38, revealed on the Lorraine show on Monday that his dog Kal is his 'best friend who has saved his emotional and psychological bacon plenty of times

Furry pal: Henry also brought his beloved pet dog Kal along to the star-studded The Witcher premiere at the start of the month

He told the presenter that '[Kindness] means a lot. We are busy these days, it doesn't take long, it takes five to ten minutes to shake everyone's hand,'

Adding, 'It doesn't delay the day. Everyone feels like a human.' It's not the first time the actor has let Kal accompany him on days out.

Kal was recently pictured the star at the Netflix season 2 premiere of the hit TV series The Witcher. The actor ensured his furry friend wouldn't miss out on the event and was seen bundling Kai into the back of the car on his way to the premiere.
The most moving moment for me, ever, in all six seasons of Sex and the City was when Carrie had moved to Paris and was pining for her girlfriends.

She was sobbing down a pay phone  that detail alone tells you how long ago this was (the last two episodes screened in 2004). And she managed to gulp these words: I miss you guys!

Thats exactly my sentiment, having been deprived of knowing how my four best friends  Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte and Miranda  have been doing in the years since.

They saw me through a divorce, bereavement, upheaval, loneliness.

They virtually spooned my lonely singleton back for hundreds and hundreds of nights, given the endless re-runs and the two films. I wouldnt have made it without them.

But Ive been longing for something new. And I especially need them now, when life is so strange. I need to snort something out of my nose with laughter. To wet myself, because some of us are of an age now, arent we? I want to feel seen, understood, part of something.

Cynthia Nixon, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kristin Davis pictured together in New York earlier this year

Happily, and at long, long last, And Just Like That  to coin Carries inimitable catchphrase the gals are back.

Minus Kim Cattralls Samantha Jones, who has inexplicably gone to live in London, and isnt returning their calls.

But still, even without the glorious resident man-eater, and Im certain Sex and the City invented this word: Yay!

It was with trepidation that I began to watch the two first episodes. Dont let me down. Please dont become grown-up and boring. Please still wear lovely clothes. Please have the jaunty music. Please can Carrie not have thrown away her tutu for being way too young for her.

At first, all is well on the island of Manhattan. Sarah Jessica Parker? I salute you. Absolutely radiant in her late fifties without, clearly, having had any work done.

Of all the gals, only Charlotte (Kristin Davis) looks a little Courteney Cox around the gills. Never mind! Shes still an uptight sweetheart  to husband Harry, whos fooling around on a skateboard in her penthouse: You better not have hands on those walls!

The men have all aged badly, and seem more subdued, which is as it should be.

The wardrobe, surely the fifth original cast member, is just as fabulous: hats, gloves, necklaces as thick as an adult python. Corsages the size of hippos.

And Carrie is in her blue spangled Manolos, the ones she wore when Big proposed. Ah. So, all is right with the world.

The women havent changed one bit. Because we are still the same, arent we, wanting to dress as fabulously as ever even as we hurtle towards 50, 60, even 70?

And Just Like That The dramady will foll ow the beloved characters Carrie Bradshaw (Parker), Miranda Hobbs (Nixon), and Charlotte York (Davis), now in their 50s, as they explore the complicated realities of life and friendship

Carrie, importantly, remains my doppelganger, wedded to her Apple laptop, and now a successful podcaster. Were still twins. Phew. I havent been left behind.

There are the one-liners weve grown to love and expect, and these flow as freely as the Cosmopolitans.

Whats Barneys? asks Carries young, woke podcast colleague, oblivious to the iconic status of New Yorks luxury department store, our heroines favourite haunt. Now, thats offensive, she quips.

The best humour comes from teasing each other about their age. In one scene, Miranda (Cynthia Nixon), commendably and chicly silver, retorts to Charlotte, resolutely bottle brunette: No, my grey hair doesnt age me, it ages YOU.

In another, Mirandas husband Steve carefully removes his hearing aid during a childs awful racket of a concert. Yes, yes, yes! as Samantha used to say.

I do that! I also see myself in Miranda when shes forced to endure two hours of tween Mozart  discreetly unscrewing the small bottle of wine shes stashed in her handbag in order to get through the ordeal.

Now thanks to Miranda, I have a new name for it: Purse wine. The similarities dont end there. Im 55! she shouts later in the episode. I need to pee! They are all still me. Thank you.

Now I, and women like me, feel seen. Charlotte is still wearing big-skirted Oscar de la Renta, which she foists on her reluctant daughter Rose with the line: Its not even poufy!

Best of all? Carrie is still in her wonderful apartment, and now happily married to the love of her life, Big.

True, she might now also shop for food as well as fashion but, aside from that, this opening episode proves there are happy endings for self-centred women with no children, and way more money than sense.

Sarah Jessica Parker and Chris Noth at the And Just Like That world premiere in New York on Wednesday

But then, once Id got over my initial excitement, just like seeing a long-lost friend at a party  as the late actor Willie Garson, who died in September, appeared in his final scenes I actually shouted, Oh, Stanford! I love you!  it all got a little less yay.

The acting is slightly stilted, at times verging on a bad episode of Dynasty. Predictably, its all very woke.

There are trans people in loos. Far too many references to Covid and lockdown, quips that are as well-worn as my original CD boxset. Can we mwah-mwah or not? Who cares?

At times Carrie seems cowed by this new, woke, out-there world. In one instance, our heroine, who as we fans all know, takes no nonsense from anyone, takes notes from a shaven-headed lesbian: You cant just sit there being an uptight cis married lady giggling. Um, yes, she can!

On another occasion, she actually returns home, having been berated for being too coy by her podcast co-host. Where is the wickedness?

Occasionally, the jokes seem a little too safe. Such as when Carrie was mugged at gunpoint, told to hand over a bag and retorts, Its a baguette.

Or Samantha, spotting a hunk in the desert: Lawrence of my labia! Theyre certainly not the kind that make you snort vodka out of your nose.

And then, we near the end of episode one. And the shock of what happens leaves me struggling for breath.

And Im back, inextricably woven into the weft and warp of these womens lives. Oh no. Oh my God no. Carrie returns home to find Big is dying of a heart attack while running a shower after too much pedalling on the Peloton.

Just like that. Her immaculate blue Manolos are now wet from the still running water as she cradles him.

Happily, and at long, long last, And Just Like That  to coin Carries inimitable catchphrase the gals are back, writes Liz Jones

Most heart-breaking of all, the disco classic by Candi Staton  you know the one, You Got the Love  plays over her bowed, artfully caramel and cream highlighted head.

Aficionados of the show will instantly remember that was the track playing over the closing minutes of the very last episode all those years ago.

That wonderful ending, when Big called Carrie on the tiny, pink, spangled mobile shed finally been forced to get, and said, Im a comin.

She had snapped it shut with a smile, radiating inner happiness. I still replay that scene whenever life becomes too much.

Suddenly, with this dramatic twist, this so-called girly, gossipy programme  over the years, it dealt with cancer, infertility, kinky sex, poverty, impotence, Alzheimers and on and on and on  has hit us in the solar plexus once more.

It shows us all this woke stuff is nonsense. Nice apartments are nonsense. Men come and go. But clothes and girlfriends? Theyre eternal.

Carrie is broken, but she still looks immaculate. Getting dressed, the very action of putting on something lovely, is about self-respect. Clothes are armour.

To care about fashion is not frivolous; and, boy, havent the clothes been criticised enough over the decades by feminists and men, who really need to understand THIS PROGRAMME IS NOT FOR YOU!

And female friendship, which is what this series has always really been about? Girls are there to rub our backs, and spoon us, and never, ever leave us because without friends, were the poorest people on the planet.

At the funeral, Bigs coffin  Its not rented! Carries assures us  is covered in breathtakingly beautiful white flowers. She reads the card with the display. It is signed simply: Samantha Jones.

My throat hurts. Im gone. Im gone This is real. This is life. This is the best TV programme ever made.
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Lourdes Leon gave her ultra famous mother a run for her money in a sultry cover shoot for PAPER magazine's January issue, captured by photographer Indiana Piorek.

For the stylized snaps, Madonna's 25-year-old daughter channeled '90s vibes as she modeled a myriad of barely-there ensembles in a variety of indoor and outdoor settings.

The sizzling photoshoot comes just weeks after Madonna, 63, went viral for exposing her bare breast on Instagram in a series of explicit bedroom shots that were later removed from the platform for violating community guidelines.

All grown up: Madonna's little girl, Lourdes Leon, simply sizzled as she struck a sultry pose as the cover star of PAPER magazine's January issue

Stylized: The images were captured by photographer Indiana Piorek

Lourdes, who goes by Lola, slipped into a shimmering blue halter top which crossed at the neck and matched a pair of bikini bottoms.

Leon, whose father is Madonna's ex Carlos Leon, sprawled out across the top of a BMW with her long blonde hair cascading down the hood for one photo.

She shared a few behind-the-scenes snaps earlier in the year of makeup artist loftjet applying a shimmering pink shade to her overlined lips.

She hopped into the back of a limousine wearing a strappy one-piece white lace lingerie set with black straps wrapped around her back.

Lourdes went all out with the aesthetic and showed off a hot pink manicure with leopard print tips.

Scandalous: The sizzling photoshoot comes just weeks after Madonna, 63, went viral for exposing her bare breast on Instagram in a series of explicit bedroom shots that were later removed from the platform for violating community guidelines

Her legs appeared to be endlessly long as she towered over the room wearing white knee-high fuzzy boots with thick heels, a look she put together with silver briefs and a pink crop top.

While Lourdes has dabbled in modeling through the years, dancing is where her heart is most content.

'With dance, and specifically performance, it's really an area where if you're not present and being authentically, fully immersed in the movement  you're half-a**ing it or you're nervous or shy  people can tell,' she said. 'There's no hiding in dance because it's an art form where you're wearing your emotions.

'And that's taught me in life to be authentically myself in any situation, because as soon as you're not, people clock you. And I'm not the one to be clocked. You know what I mean?'

Oiled up: The 25-year-old professional choreographer channeled '90s vibes in a series of sexy ensembles as she discussed looking toward the future for 'something bigger' with her dancing career

Model moment: Lourdes, who goes by Lola, slipped into a shimmering blue halter top which crossed at the neck and matched a pair of bikini bottoms

Casual: Leon, who's father is Madonna's ex Carlos Leon, sprawled out across the top of a BMW with her long blonde hair cascading down the hood for one photo

When it comes to her career, she explained: 'I want to choreograph for artists, people that make music, visual artists. I want to choreograph mainly, but there is a big part of me that still does want to perform.

'I don't know if I'm ready to throw that away yet, that performance side, but I think there's a way I can do both. Now I'm dipping my toes in the pond of choreography for music videos and stuff like that. I think something bigger will end up manifesting itself, but I have to take other steps in order to find that sweet spot of what is actually going to end up being my ... '

Interviewer and friend Raul Lopez helped Lourdes complete her sentence with 'aesthetic and legacy.'

Lourdes said: 'Exactly. I don't really have a huge end result, what I dream in mind. I just know what I love to do and I know that if I keep doing that then I'll get somewhere eventually.'

Wow: She hopped into the back of a limousine wearing a strappy one-piece white lace lingerie set with black straps wrapped around her back

Gorgeous: Her legs appeared to be endlessly long as she towered over the room wearing white knee-high fuzzy boots with thick heels, a look she put together with silver briefs and a pink crop top

When asked if she would consider dipping her toes in the music industry, Leon admitted that she's thought about it in the past despite revealing earlier this year that she 'doesn't have a passion for it' like her mother.

'I think about it, I have nothing against it. The thing is, I'm not really much of a writer,' she said, adding that if she were to make music of her own it would most likely be something with an 'electronic, experimental vibe.'

While citing some of her favorite underground pop artists, Lourdes revealed that it's the beats, not the vocals, that truly draw her in and that she'd need to 'find someone to produce my tracks' if she were to enter the scene.

Lourdes briefly mentioned her pop star mom while discussing her often 'hyper-sexualized' persona and the unfair equating of 'showing skin with wanting attention or being a hoe.'

Bold and beautiful: Leon switched gears into a black patent leather bikini top paired with a matching black skirt

Seeing red: She wore a fiery long wig which cascaded down her back with wispy fringe framing her face

'With dance, and specifically performance, it's really an area where if you're not present and being authentically, fully immersed in the movement  you're half-a**ing it or you're nervous or shy  people can tell,' she said.

She believes that she's often a target of unfair backlash and criticism on social media due to her being Madonna's daughter.

'I have a base layer of hatred because so many people like to hate on my mom, so it's obviously like I'm the spawn, I'm the oldest daughter, I'm going to see the tail end of that hate. So anything I do negative, it's "Like mother, like daughter.''

Lourdes has been opening up more about her relationship with the Material Girl hitmaker in recent months, including a bombshell Interview magazine feature in October where she labeled her mother a 'control freak.'

'My mom is such a control freak, and she has controlled me my whole life,' Leon told Madonna' longtime pal Debi Mazar in the interview. 'I needed to be completely independent from her as soon as I graduated high school.'

Work: She shared a few behind-the-scenes snaps earlier in the year of makeup artist loftjet applying a shimmering pink shade to her overlined lips

The model said that she gained a sense of independence by paying for her college and apartment, going into detail on her upbringing.

'We don't get any handouts in my family,' Leon said, adding that she 'obviously ... grew up with extreme privilege.'

She explained of Madonna's parenting philosophy, 'I think my mom saw all these other kids of famous people, and she was like, 'My kids are not going to be like this.' Also, I feel like if your parents pay for things, then it gives them leverage over you.'

Though her parenting philosophy may be strict, Madonna has no rules when it comes to her own self expression, as proven by an explicit slideshow shared last month where she exposed her bare breast to her 17.2million Instagram followers.

In the series of images taken on a bed, the sexagenarian mother-of-six wore lingerie while positioning herself in a number of compromising snaps, including images showing her breast and her fishnet-clad bottom.

Free as a bird: Madonna shocked fans last month by sharing an explicit slideshow to Instagram last month

Walking the line: In the series of images taken on a bed, the sexagenarian mother-of-six wore lingerie while positioning herself in a number of compromising snaps, including images showing her breast and her fishnet-clad bottom

Her astounded fans swiftly flooded the comment section, with a majority in shock over the 'porn' esque shots, while others praised the star for her daring post, which comes after courting further controversy on the site.

Madonna was seen showing off her breasts in a bondage-inspired bra with cut outs in the body to best showcase her ample cleavage. She put her pert behind on display while kneeling before the bed with her thong-clad derriere front and center and later bending over to show even more flesh.

A further image saw the Like A Virgin hitmaker lose her top altogether, while using a duvet to partially cover her eye-popping cleavage but still baring much of her naked breast.

Since the scantily-clad snapshots violated community guidelines due to their elements of nudity, they were swiftly removed from Instagram.

Removed: Since the scantily-clad snapshots violated community guidelines due to their elements of nudity, they were swiftly removed from Instagram

Back with a vengeance: Madonna, enraged by the removal, returned to the platform the following day to share edited versions of her NSFW images and penned a scathing caption aimed at Instagram's 'sexist' nudity policies

Madonna, enraged by the removal, returned to the platform the following day to share edited versions of her NSFW images.

In a lengthy caption, the hitmaker branded Instagram's strict nudity policies as 'sexist' and compared the unwavering social stigma around the female nipple to that of the 'lies' told about the Pilgrims' 'peaceful' treatment of Native Americans at Thanksgiving.

'I'm reposting photographs Instagram took down without warning or notification.. The reason they gave my management that does not handle my account was that a small portion of my nipple was exposed,' she began.

'It is still astounding to me that we live in a culture that allows every inch of a woman's body to be shown except a nipple. As if that is the only part of a woman's anatomy that could be sexualized. The nipple that nourishes the baby!

Unique upbringing: Lourdes has been opening up more about her relationship with the Material Girl hitmaker in recent months, including a bombshell Interview magazine feature in October where she labeled her mother a 'control freak'; Lourdes and Madonna pictured in 2016

'Can't a mans nipple be experienced as erotic ??!! And what about a woman's a** which is never censored anywhere.

'Giving thanks that I have managed to maintain my sanity through four decades of censorship sexismageism and misogyny.

'Perfectly timed with the lies we have been raised to believe about the pilgrims peacefully breaking bread with the Native American Indians when they landed on Plymouth Rock! God bless America,' concluded the songwriter before adding the hashtag '#artistsareheretodisturbthepeace'

Instagram's official Community Guidelines state that nudity is not allowed on the platform and that the female nipple is included under that umbrella.

There are exceptions to the rule such as 'photos in the context of breastfeeding, birth giving and after-birth moments, health-related situations (for example, post-mastectomy, breast cancer awareness or gender confirmation surgery) or an act of protest are allowed.'

Nudity shown in paintings and sculptures is also allowed.
Flavor Flav's misdemeanor domestic battery charge stemming from an alleged scuffle with his girlfriend at home in suburban Las Vegas has been dropped.

Instead of the original domestic battery charge, the rapper pled no contest to a misdemeanor nonviolent coercion charge.

The 62-year-old also admitted he took a cellphone and paid $640 in fines. Flav will not serve any time in jail, according to TMZ.

Flavor Flav's misdemeanor domestic battery charge stemming from an alleged scuffle with his girlfriend has been dismissed; mugshot pictured

Lawyers for the rap legend said the entertainer and his family were 'happy' to resolve the matter as the Public Enemy hype man continues his journey of sobriety.

'Mr. Drayton and his family are grateful to bring an amicable close to this matter and appreciate everyone's support as he continues his one-year journey of sobriety,' defense attorneys David Chesnoff and Richard Schonfeld said in a statement.

Drayton was arrested late Oct. 4 at home in Henderson. He was freed from jail the next day on $3,000 bond.

The alleged victim was identified as a woman with whom he has a dating relationship and a minor child in common. Her name was redacted in court and police documents.

The 62-year-old former rapper, hip-hop and reality TV star, whose legal name is William Jonathan Drayton Jr., pleaded no contest in Henderson Municipal Court to a misdemeanor nonviolent coercion charge, admitted he took a cellphone, and paid $640 in fines, a court official and his defense attorneys said; pictured 2013

Out and about: The rap legend was spotted out in Miami late last month

Flavor Flav is known for wearing a big clock on a chain around his neck. He was inducted with the group Public Enemy into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2013. Public Enemy began in the New York area in 1986.

The former rapper has a criminal history including arrests and convictions on traffic infractions, a month in jail over assaulting his then-girlfriend in 1991, and three months behind bars for shooting at a neighbor in New York in 1993.

He was arrested in October 2012 in Las Vegas after he was accused of wielding knives and threatening his then-fiancees 17-year-old son at their home.

That felony case was closed after he pleaded guilty in 2014 to reduced charges of misdemeanor attempted battery, served probation and completed a domestic violence counseling course.
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) - Australia's Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce said Thursday he'd tested positive for the coronavirus while traveling in Washington D.C.

Joyce, who is fully vaccinated, said in a Facebook post that he'd been experiencing mild symptoms and decided to get tested. He said he would remain in isolation while seeking further advice.

He said the remaining members of his traveling delegation had tested negative.

Two British Cabinet ministers - Justice Secretary Dominic Raab and Transport Secretary Grant Shapps - are self-isolating while awaiting the results of PCR tests after meeting earlier this week with Joyce.

It wasn't immediately clear what variant of the virus Joyce had contracted. Before arriving in the U.S., he'd traveled to London and met with top officials there as part of a 10-day trip to discuss his government's plans for regulating social media.

Joyce told ABC Radio New England he was "very frustrated Im going to be locked up in a room by myself for 10 days, but thats part of the process."

FILE - Barnaby Joyce takes the oath of office as he was sworn in as deputy prime minister at Government House in Canberra, Australia, on July 19, 2016. Joyce has tested positive for the coronavirus while travelling in Washington D.C. He is fully vaccinated and is now isolating in his hotel room. It's unclear what variant he has contracted. (AP Photo/Rob Griffith, File)

He joked that being alone in the room worried him more than his infection.

He told the radio station that part of his job involved traveling and meeting with counterparts.

"I really wanted to follow up on some of this online stuff, try to get better online protection laws and see where the United States are," he said. "But thats the way the cookie crumbles."

Australia has been a prominent voice in calling for international regulation of the internet.

It passed laws this year that oblige Google and Facebook to pay for journalism. Australia also defied the tech companies by creating a law that could imprison social media executives if their platforms stream violent images.

Australia has also announced plans to crack down on online advertisers targeting children by making social media platforms seek parental consent for users younger than 16 years old or face hefty fines.
After 16 years, Germany has a new Chancellor. Olaf Scholz was sworn-in as the new Chancellor on December 8. Before this, Scholz served as the Vice-Chancellor and Finance Minister (2018-2021) during Angela Merkel's tenure as Chancellor. So, who is Olaf Scholz, Germany's new Chancellor?

Here are 7 things you need to know about Olaf Scholz and his new government:

1. Scholz's centre-left Social Democrats will govern Germany alongside the business-friendly Free Democrats and the Greens in his new government.

2. Olaf Scholz joined the Social Democratic Party of Germany in 1975 as a student and has been the former vice-president of the International Union of Socialist Youth. He has also been Member of Parliament, first Mayor of Hamburg (20112018), and the Labour Minister (20072009) during multiple coalition governments under Merkel.

Olaf Scholz. Photo: Getty Images

3. Due to his deep understanding of political processes and 'how to get things done', Scholz is often compared to US President Joe Biden.

4. Scholz is known to be a calm, steady hand during crises, and a pragmatic leader who strives for compromise.

5. Scholz's new government has set a new record. All the ministries in charge of national security, international security and diplomacy are headed by women. The Greens' Annalena Baerbock will be the new Foreign Minister, the Social Democrats' Nancy Faeser will be the Interior Minister, and Christine Lambrecht will be the Defence Minister. 8 of the 16 Cabinet members in Scholz's governemnt will be women.

Olaf Scholz. Photo: Getty Images

6. He has been nicknamed as the 'Scholzomat' by the media because of his tendency to be consistent, and his choice of mechanical-sounding words in press conferences.

7. Scholz is married to a fellow SPD politician, Britta Erns, and he graduated from the University of Hamburg in labour law.
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First Day Hikes

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Thank you to all that attended a First Day Hike on January 1, 2022!

Thousands of New Yorkers celebrated the New Year in the outdoors with a First Day Hike at one of the many events across the state and nation.

DEC and State Parks invited New Yorkers to kick off 2022 by participating in one of the many hikes being held at state parks, historic sites, wildlife areas, trails, and public lands across the Empire State.

The event options for hikes ranged from self-guided treks to staff - or volunteer-led hikes, with some locations offering multiple options allowing people the time and space to social distance while still enjoying nature's winter wonders. The walks and hikes were family-friendly, and typically range from one to five miles depending on the location and conditions.

See photos from this 2021's event on DEC's Flickr album and check out photos from previous hikes on Flickr.

Check out the list of First day Hikes hosted this year to help plan your next winter

Long Island

New York City

Lower Hudson Valley/Catskills

Capital Region/Northern Catskills

Eastern Adirondacks

Western Adirondacks/Mohawk Valley

Central-Finger Lakes

Rochester/Western Finger Lakes

Western NY



Long Island

Ridge Conservation Area

Town of Ridge, Suffolk County

Enjoy a 2.25-mile hike that will wind its way through the 184-acre Ridge Conservation Area. The hike features 14 interpretive posts describing forest, grassland, and pond habitats. The interpretive trail hike will provide scenic viewing locations and be completely guided.

New York City

Mount Loretto Unique Area

Staten Island, Richmond County

Enjoy birding at Mt. Loretto Unique Area, which provides nature lovers with more than 200 acres of forest, grasslands, wetlands, and coastal shoreline on the southern shore of Staten Island.

Lower Hudson Valley/Catskills

Stony Kill Environmental Education Center

Wappingers Falls, Dutchess County

Take a two mile forest and field winter walk at Stony Kill Farm, starting at the Woodland Trail and up to the Verplanck Ridge to take in the views of Mt. Beacon and surroundings.

Meads Meadow Trail Loops

Town of Woodstock, Ulster County

Enjoy an easy Catskills 2-mile hike at Meads Meadow at Overlook Mountain Wild Forest.

Kelly Hollow Trail

Town of Middletown, Delaware County

Kelly Hollow is one of the most beautiful short trails in the Catskills with rocky streams and waterfalls. It has a combination of coniferous and deciduous forests with a lovely abandoned beaver pond near a lean-to at the top.

Overlook Mountain Fire Tower

Town of Woodstock, Ulster County

Enjoy a fun hike up to Overlook Mountain Fire Tower with a great view of the Catskills and the Hudson Valley. This hike is moderate to challenging, with an uphill for 2.5 miles and return hike 2.5 miles back down for an approximate 4-hour round trip.

Upper Esopus Fire Tower at the Catskills Visitor Center

For more information and registration: Catskills Visitor Center

Kick off the New Year by climbing the Upper Esopus Fire Tower on Saturday, January 1st, all who preregister can stop by the Catskills Visitor Center (leaves DEC website) to pick up a free pair of winter gloves after showing a staff person a selfie or a photo taken from the bottom or the top cab of the fire tower. Make sure to wear warm layers, hat and gloves, and sturdy hiking shoes are recommended for walking the trail and climbing the fire tower. Masks required when socially distancing isn't possible, and when in the top cab of the Upper Esopus Fire Tower.

Ashokan Quarry Trail

Meet at the Ashokan Quarry Trailhead (leaves DEC website) parking lot off Route 28A (look for signage about 0.2 miles after you pass the western Ashokan Reservoir Promenade Parking Area). This family- friendly, two mile trail has interpretive signage about the Catskills and the Watershed. Hikers pass by a quarry that was used in the construction of the Ashokan Reservoir in the early 1900s. A slight incline but relatively easy hiking brings you to a beautiful view of several Catskill Mountains including Ashokan High Point.

Biscuit Brook Lean-to

Ulster County

A moderate hike where the group will climb the ridge before descending again to the lean-to. Located 12 miles from Big Indian on Ulster County Route 47, the Biscuit Brook Trailhead offers access to the vast seclusion of the Big Indian Wilderness. This will be a moderately difficult hike with a 4-mile round trip.

Capital Region/Northern Catskills

Five Rivers Environmental Education Center

Delmar, Albany County

Happy New Year! Start the year on the right foot with some outdoor fun. Take a hike on one of the various trails at Five Rivers Environmental Education Center.

Eastern Adirondacks

Goodnow Mountain

Newcomb, Essex County (SUNY ESF Newcomb Adirondack Interpretive Center)

Prospect Mountain Hike

Lake George, Warren County

Prospect Mountain Trailhead is located on Smith Street in Village of Lake George. Parking is limited. If parking along Smith Street is full, hikers will need to find parking along nearby roads and walk to the trailhead. The pedestrian bridge over the Northway is metal grating and may be rough on dogs' feet. If dogs are brought they must be leashed. Trail typically has snow and ice at steep angles - hikers must bring appropriate footwear and traction devices such as microspikes or snowshoes with crampons. Wear and bring warm winter clothing and layers (might be windy and colder on top) as well as water and food. Cameras recommended.

Paul Smith's College

Paul Smith's, Franklin County

For information and registration (required) visit the Paul Smith's website (leaves DEC website).

Take a spin around Heron Marsh. You may catch glimpses of otters at play, birds checking back for the stash of seeds they carefully left behind last summer and/or tracks from other critters who have been out and about.

Western Adirondacks/Mohawk Valley

Rome Sand Plains

City of Rome, Oneida County

Follow the Wood Creek Trail (1.2 miles round trip) along the crest of a towering dune to the banks of historic Wood Creek at Rome Sand Plains Unique Area. The trail begins off a small parking lot on Hogsback Road. Visitors here are greeted by two informational signs which describe the geological formation of the sand dunes and the history of the east-west navigation on Wood Creek.

Winona State Forest

Town of Lorraine, Jefferson County

Explore Winona State Forest with snowshoes. Visit the Winona Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) buildings.

Rogers Environmental Education Center

Visit Rogers Environmental Education Center for a range of trails and hike distances.

Rochester/Western Finger Lakes

Hemlock-Canadice State Forest

Town of Canadice, Ontario County

Take a guided hike for 3.6 miles along Canadice Lake at Hemlock-Canadice State Forest.

Western NY

Reinstein Woods Environmental Education Center

Ring in the New Year with a hike through Reinstein Woods 292-acre complex of forests, ponds, and wetlands. Reinstein Woods offers a variety of opportunities to explore and learn about nature for families and people of all ages.

Swift Hill State Forest



Take a moderate hike approximately 3.5 miles at Swift Hill State Forest. Combination of dirt forest roads trails, and off-trail backcountry.

Tillman Road Wildlife Management Area

Take a guided hike at Tillman Road Wildlife Management Area. Enjoy a leisurely walk, stopping to talk about winter trees, watch a few birds, talk wetlands and their importance, invasive species impact. The hike will be 1.5 miles.
So, it is official. Salman Khan will not be present at his ex-girlfriend and co-star Katrina Kaifs wedding. The actor left for Riyadh on Wednesday night, closing all possibility of him attending the wedding. Salman has refrained from talking about Katrina in the recent past even though he does speak about her normally during interviews. It was a conscious decision from his end not to be a part of her life anymore, says a source.

Though Salman and Katrina had dated for a few years before moving on, Katrina is still close to Salmans family. A lot of his memes have been doing the rounds ever since news of the wedding between her and Vicky Kaushal gained momentum.

Salmans brother Sohail Khan, brother-in-law Aayush Sharma, actress Shilpa Shetty who was Salmans heroine in films like Garv, Phir Milenge and Shaadi Karke Phas Gaye Yaar, anchor and performer Maniesh Paul, comedian Sunil Grover and Salmans Dabangg 3 heroine Saiee Manjrekar were also spotted at the private airport at Kalina, Mumbai. They were leaving for Riyadh for their performances on December 9 and 10.

Interestingly, Jacqueline Fernandez, another of Salmans heroines, who has been talking to the Enforcement Directorate on her alleged links with conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar, could not be part of the tour as scheduled because she is not allowed to leave the country till the issue is sorted.

Earlier, Salman was a bit concerned about the tour because Shilpas husband Raj Kundra was in custody over a porn videos case. However, that issue is temporarily settled. They were keen to get Daisy Shah on board at the last moment to replace Jacqueline, but the paperwork is not complete, and she has so far not been able to leave for Riyadh, says a source.

It will be interesting to see whether Salman will get one of the better background performers to dance with him on the show if no actress is able to make it there, the source adds.
War of words erupted between the vice-chancellor of Osmania University Prof. Ravinder and ABVP with the former accusing that vandalism had resulted in damages in his chamber even as ABVP members insisted that they had staged a peaceful protest on Tuesday. (DC Image)

Hyderabad: Protests by students, led by ABVP, escalated as 3,000 students belonging to Osmania University, JNTU-Hyderabad, Mahatma Gandhi University and Kakatiya University demanded immediate withdrawal of the proposed fee hike in their institutions.

War of words erupted between the vice-chancellor of Osmania University Prof. Ravinder and ABVP with the former accusing that vandalism had resulted in damages in his chamber even as ABVP members insisted that they had staged a peaceful protest on Tuesday.

The VC said that the fee was not hiked in 15 years and to keep pace with the demands of students for better infrastructure and meet the salaries of faculties for self-finance courses that have been doubled, the fee hike was unavoidable.

"The students are here to study in government universities. If they start charging so highly, the private institutions would be tempted to charge even more," said Praveen Reddy, ABVP state secretary.

"Around 300 students barged into the campus and broke several glass doors by shoving away security guards and police personnel," said Prof Ravinder adding that such violent behaviours would not be tolerated in the campus.

ABVP members said that police lathi-charge had fractured one students hand.

"If the fee is not reduced within the next seven days, we will call for a bandh in all the four universities and colleges affiliated to them," said Praveen Reddy.

Meanwhile, inspector of Osmania University police station, L. Ramesh Naik said that based on a complaint from the universitys chief security officer, Ganapathu Jadhav, an FIR was registered against eight members of the ABVP.

New fee structure:

 AI engineering Rs 1.20 lakh; Engineering in mining up to Rs one lakh

 Regular engineering fee hiked from Rs 18,000 to Rs 35,000 and up to Rs 75,000 for self-finance courses

 MA in Arts and Social Science (regular) hiked from Rs 2,800 to Rs 14,000 and from Rs 3,800 to Rs 21,000 for self-finance courses

 M.Sc enhanced to Rs 20,490 from Rs 3,800

 M.Com revised to Rs 30,000 and MBA Rs 35,000
Kolkata: West Bengal governor Jagdeep Dhankhar on Thursday expressed his "deep concerns" to chief minister Mamata Banerjee about her recent direction to the state police to restrict the Border Security Force (BSF) to operate beyond their previous jurisdiction of 15 kms in the state. He also sought the Trinamul Congress supremo to review her instruction.

In a letter Mr Dhankhar wrote to Ms Banerjee, "Deeply concerned at your 'directives' concerning BSF, including BSF is allowed for 15 km, that too with the permission of the police to State apparatus during the course of the official administrative meeting at Gangarampur on 7.12.2021. These are not in sync with law or the recent Union Home Ministry notification increasing jurisdiction of the BSF in the State from 15 km to 50 km. Your stance has sent disturbing signals and is potentially alarming for federal polity and national security."

He observed, "In the State having international border with Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan, BSF and Central Armed Police Forces play significantly well defined crucial role from the perspective of national security and containing criminal illegal activities. There is obvious need to generate bonhomie and not confrontation; cooperation and not combat amongst these agencies and State apparatus."

The governor underlined, "To ensure this it is compulsively expedient that the law and order agencies of the State and the CAPF play their respective roles and perform their assigned duties in a coordinated and synergical manner to ensure overall safety and security. Towards this appropriate sensitization of the State apparatus is called for so that mutual confidence is bolstered, coordination and cooperation is enhanced amongst the various State and Central Security agencies that need to work in tandem and togetherness."

He added, "This imperatively calls for, in public and national interest, that your directives, instructions as also stance regarding functioning of BSF in the State be revisited so as to generate an environ of harmony and cooperation. Given the critical and momentous significance of the issue, while expecting an early update, am sure appropriate steps, as stated, would be urgently taken at your end."
Senior SKM leaders address a press conference on the future course of the farmers agitation, at Singhu Border in New Delhi, Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2021. (PTI)

NEW DELHI: Late on Wednesday night protesting farmers arrived at a consensus to accept the Central governments second draft proposal on their pending demands and will hold a crucial meeting on Thursday to decide on calling off their year-old agitation at Delhi borders.

A statement issued by the farmers unions umbrella body, Samyukta Kisan Morcha, said they were now awaiting a formal communication signed on the governments letterhead and thereafter will meet again to take a decision to lift their morchas.

The statement read: Samyukta Kisan Morcha confirms to have received a revised draft proposal from the Government of India and that a consensus has been arrived at within SKM, accepting the proposal. Now, a formal communication signed on the governments letterhead is awaited. SKM will meet again tomorrow at 12 noon, at Singhu Border, to take a formal decision thereafter to lift the morchas.

Farmer leader Gurnam Singh Chaduni said that the first draft proposal from the Central government on their pending demands was not acceptable to them, following which they received a fresh draft on Wednesday.

It is reliably learnt that the fresh proposal has clarified that the government will include SKM members in the committee on MSP and that governments of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Haryana have agreed to withdraw cases against farmers with immediate effect. The cases registered against farmers in Delhi will also be withdrawn.

Prominent farmer leader Darshan Pal said that the revised draft was received by farmers in the morning in which the government has removed some points and added some as suggested by SKM. The day started with an emergency meeting by the SKM's five-member empowered committee to deliberate on the pending demands of farmers and on the Centres fresh proposal and appeal to farmers to end their protest.

Ahead of the crucial meeting of the SKM, farmer leader Yogendra Yadav said that they have reached a decisive moment in the over-year-long farmers' agitation against the three Central farm laws. A ray of hope has emerged at the end of the long tunnel, Mr Yadav told reporters.

After the core committee meeting, Mr Chanduni said, We are in agreement with the government regarding our demands. We will decide about suspending the agitation after the meeting tomorrow. No decision has been taken yet on calling off the agitation. Another meeting of SKM will be held tomorrow (Thursday) at 12 noon."

The SKM has formed a five-member committee for a dialogue with the Center regarding pending demands of farmers including legal guarantee on MSP, withdrawal of cases against farmers registered during the movement and compensation to the families of farmers who died during the agitation.

On Tuesday, the SKM had demanded clarification on certain points in the government's first proposal, including on the precondition set for the withdrawal of "fake" cases against farmers.

In the first proposal, the government had assured the farmers that a committee would be formed to examine the MSP on all crops. But the farmers had emphasised that only members of the SKM (in addition to officials from the Center, concerned states and agricultural experts) should be chosen. They were of the firm view that those farmer leaders who had opposed the MSP should not be part of the committee.

The first proposal had urged the farmers to call off their protest before the police cases were dropped, something they were reluctant to do.

The farmer leaders have reportedly been assured that the contentious Electricity Amendment Bill will be tabled in Parliament only after holding a discussion with them.

The farmers had also underlined the need for financial compensation (to the families of more than 700 growers who died in the protests) along the lines of that offered by the Congress-led government in Punjab -- the state has given Rs 5 lakh and a job to a family member. The BJP-led governments in Haryana and UP have reportedly agreed, in principle, to this demand.
CBI counsel K. Surender argued in the court that Srilakshmi had committed abuse of power when she was holding a key post in granting mining licenses during Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddys regime. (Representational Image. PTI)

Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court on Wednesday questioned the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), why it did not record the statement of K.V.P. Ramachandra Rao, former adviser to the United AP government, when his name was broached up by one of the witnesses with regard to granting iron ore mining licenses at Obulapuram.

Justice K. Lakshman was dealing with the quash petition filed by senior IAS officer Y. Srilakshmi, who requested to discharge her name from the cases registered by the CBI, in the case related to granting of mining licenses to Gali Janardhan Reddy in Obulapuram of Anantapur district in Andhra Pradesh.

During the hearing, CBI counsel K. Surender argued that Srilakshmis request was not to be accepted. Explaining that Srilakshmi had committed abuse of power when she was holding a key post in granting mining licenses during Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddys regime, the CBI counsel informed the court that the officer rejected all other applications that came before her for mining licenses, just to do favour to Gali Jandardhan Reddy.

Further, the CBI counsel also brought to the notice of the court that the probing agency had a statement of one witness for that. One Shashi Kumar approached Srilakshmi to grant a license for mining. But, she asked him to contact

Ramachandra Rao, who was the then adviser to the government. She also said a larger amount would have to be paid for getting a license and she also suggested contacting V. D. Rajagopal, the then director of mines, to get help in this regard. Moreover, Shashi Kumar also testified that he was asked to arrange Rs 8 lakhs at the meeting, the counsel told the court.

With this, the judge inquired whether the probing agency recorded the statement of Ramachandra Rao and questioned its omission, when the CBI counsel replied no statement was recorded.

Earlier, Raghavacharyulu, counsel for Srilakshmi argued that there was no evidence to show that illegal mining activities were done at Obulapuram. He also submitted that his client acted upon following the rules and procedures in granting licenses at Obulapuram. The case was adjourned to Thursday for further arguments.
India, having the maximum number of dams after the US and China, has been managing its affairs without a comprehensive legislation ensuring the safety of the gargantuan made-made structures so far though the need for one was first felt and talked about over 34 years ago. (Representational Image. DC File Image)

The National Dam Safety Bill, passed by both Houses of Parliament, has given the nation a piece of legislation enabling surveillance, inspection, operation and maintenance of specific dams to prevent disasters related to dam failures by the Union Government through a National Committee on Dam Safety (NCDS), whose recommendations will be implemented by a National Dam Safety Authority.

How much of these bombastic officialese would turn to reality at the ground level is a big question since dams are under the control of the States, all of whom indeed upkeep them with due diligence. In fact, no State can afford to let things go awry with dams in any manner, whether it concerns the structures safety or functionality. Not just because dams are seen, as Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru once proudly said, as temples of modern India but they are essential for irrigation and water supply.

India, having the maximum number of dams after the US and China, has been managing its affairs without a comprehensive legislation ensuring the safety of the gargantuan made-made structures so far though the need for one was first felt and talked about over 34 years ago. Now that the legislation has come in, it could only open the floodgates of resentment and anger. One charge is that it goes against the spirit of federalism since water itself is a State subject, leave alone the fact every dam is taken care of by the State.

Despite open objections raised by States like Tamil Nadu over Parliament passing of the Bill, the Union Government pushed for it, giving rise to the impression that it wants to enhance its control over the States in various aspects. But what might make the implementation of the new law difficult is not just the States pique over infringement of rights but the possible non-cooperation, as it has happened in several water-sharing disputes.
Elon Musk built his electric car company, Tesla, around the promise that it represented the future of driving  a phrase emblazoned on the automakers website.

Much of that promise was centered on Autopilot, a system of features that could steer, brake and accelerate the companys sleek electric vehicles on highways. Over and over, Musk declared that truly autonomous driving was nearly at hand  the day when a Tesla could drive itself  and that the capability would be whisked to drivers over the air in software updates.

Unlike technologists at almost every other company working on self-driving vehicles, Musk insisted that autonomy could be achieved solely with cameras tracking their surroundings. But many Tesla engineers questioned whether it was safe enough to rely on cameras without the benefit of other sensing devices  and whether Musk was promising drivers too much about Autopilots capabilities.

Now those questions are at the heart of an investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration after at least 12 accidents in which Teslas using Autopilot drove into parked firetrucks, police cars and other emergency vehicles, killing one person and injuring 17 others.

Also Read | Civilisation will 'crumble' if people don't have more kids: Elon Musk

Families are suing Tesla over fatal crashes, and Tesla customers are suing the company for misrepresenting Autopilot and a set of sister services called Full Self Driving, or FSD.

As the guiding force behind Autopilot, Musk pushed it in directions other automakers were unwilling to take this kind of technology, interviews with 19 people who worked on the project over the past decade show. Musk repeatedly misled buyers about the services abilities, many of those people say. All spoke on the condition of anonymity, fearing retaliation from Musk and Tesla.

Musk and a top Tesla lawyer did not respond to multiple email requests for comment for this article over several weeks, including a detailed list of questions. But the company has consistently said that the onus is on drivers to stay alert and take control of their cars should Autopilot malfunction.

Since the start of Teslas work on Autopilot, there has been a tension between safety and Musks desire to market Tesla cars as technological marvels.

For years, Musk has said Tesla cars were on the verge of complete autonomy. The basic news is that all Tesla vehicles leaving the factory have all the hardware necessary for Level 5 autonomy, he declared in 2016. The statement surprised and concerned some working on the project, since the Society of Automotive Engineers defines Level 5 as full driving automation.

More recently, he has said that new software  currently part of a beta test by a limited number of Tesla owners who have bought the FSD package  will allow cars to drive themselves on city streets as well as highways. But as with Autopilot, Tesla documentation says drivers must keep their hands on the wheel, ready to take control of the car at any time.

Regulators have warned that Tesla and Musk have exaggerated the sophistication of Autopilot, encouraging some people to misuse it.

Where I get concerned is the language thats used to describe the capabilities of the vehicle, said Jennifer Homendy, chair of the National Transportation Safety Board, which has investigated accidents involving Autopilot and criticized the systems design. It can be very dangerous.

Also Read | Musk hiring engineers to solve problems that affects people's lives

In addition, some who have long worked on autonomous vehicles for other companies  as well as seven former members of the Autopilot team  have questioned Teslas practice of constant modifications to Autopilot and FSD, pushed out to drivers through software updates, saying it can be hazardous because buyers are never quite sure what the system can and cannot do.

Hardware choices have also raised safety questions. Within Tesla, some argued for pairing cameras with radar and other sensors that worked better in heavy rain and snow, bright sunshine and other difficult conditions. For several years, Autopilot incorporated radar, and for a time Tesla worked on developing its own radar technology. But three people who worked on the project said Musk had repeatedly told members of the Autopilot team that humans could drive with only two eyes and that this meant cars should be able to drive with cameras alone.

They said he saw this as returning to first principles  a term Musk and others in the technology industry have long used to refer to sweeping aside standard practices and rethinking problems from scratch.

In May, Musk said on Twitter that Tesla was no longer putting radar on new cars. He said the company had tested the safety implications of not using radar but provided no details.

Some people have applauded Musk, saying a certain amount of compromise and risk was justified as he strove to reach mass production and ultimately change the automobile industry.

But recently, even Musk has expressed some doubts about Teslas technology. After repeatedly describing FSD in speeches, in interviews and on social media as a system on the verge of full autonomy, Musk in August called it not great. The team working on it, he said on Twitter, is rallying to improve as fast as possible.

Cameras as Eyes

Tesla began developing Autopilot more than seven years ago as an effort to meet new safety standards in Europe, which required technology such as automatic braking, according to three people familiar with the origins of the project.

The company originally called this an advanced driver assistance project, but was soon exploring a new name. Executives led by Musk decided on Autopilot, although some Tesla engineers objected to the name as misleading, favoring Copilot and other options, these three people said.

The name was borrowed from the aviation systems that allow planes to fly themselves in ideal conditions with limited pilot input.

At Autopilots official announcement in October 2014, Tesla said that the system would brake automatically and keep the car in a lane but added that the driver is still responsible for, and ultimately in control of, the car. It said that self-driving cars were still years away from becoming a reality.

At the beginning, Autopilot used cameras, radar and sound-wave sensors. But Musk told engineers that the system should eventually be able to drive autonomously from door to door  and it should do so solely with cameras, according to three people who worked on the project.

They said the Autopilot team continued to develop the system using radar and even planned to expand the number of radar sensors on each car, as well as exploring lidar  light detection and ranging devices that measure distances using laser pulses.

But Musk insisted that his two-eyes metaphor was the way forward and questioned whether radar was ultimately worth the headache and expense of buying and integrating radar technology from third parties, four people who worked on the Autopilot team said.

Over time, the company and the team moved closer to his way of thinking, placing more emphasis on camera technology, these people said.

Other companies developing driver-assistance systems and fully autonomous cars thought cameras were not enough. Google, for example, outfitted its self-driving test cars with expensive lidar devices as big as buckets mounted on the roof.

Also Read | 'Avenge the dinosaurs': Elon Musk on NASA's asteroid defence test

Cameras, by contrast, were cheap and small, which made them appealing to Tesla for its sleek cars. Radar, which uses radio waves and has been around for decades, was cheaper than lidar, a less-common technology. But according to three people who worked on the project, some engineers backed Musks cameras-only approach, arguing that radar was not always accurate and that it was difficult to reconcile radar data with information from cameras.

Autonomous driving experts said Musks cameras-as-eyes analogy was deeply flawed, as did eight former Autopilot engineers interviewed for this article, although some said there were colleagues who supported Musks view.

Aesthetics also influenced decisions about radar.

In late 2014, Tesla began installing radar on its Model S sedans as it prepared to roll out the first version of Autopilot. But Musk did not like the way the radar looked inside an open hole in the front of the cars and told his engineers to install a rubber seal, according to two people who worked on the project at the time, even though some employees warned that the seal could trap snow and ice and prevent the system from working properly.

These people said the company went ahead with Musks instructions without testing the design in winter weather  but resolved the situation after customers complained that the radar stopped working in winter.

In mid-2015, Musk met with a group of Tesla engineering managers to discuss their plans for the second version of Autopilot. One manager, an auto industry veteran named Hal Ockerse, told Musk he wanted to include a computer chip and other hardware that could monitor the physical components of Autopilot and provide backup if parts of the system suddenly stopped working, according to two people with knowledge of the meeting.

But Musk slapped down the idea, they said, arguing it would slow the progress of the project as Tesla worked to build a system that could drive cars by themselves. Already angry after Autopilot malfunctioned on his morning drive that day, Musk berated Ockerse for even suggesting the idea. Ockerse soon left the company.

By the end of 2015, Musk was publicly saying that Teslas would drive themselves within about two years. I think we have all the pieces, and its just about refining those pieces, putting them in place, and making sure they work across a huge number of environments  and then were done, he told Fortune magazine.

Other companies such as Google, Toyota and Nissan exploring autonomous driving were not nearly as optimistic in their public statements.

A Fatal Accident

In May 2016, about six months after Musks remarks appeared in Fortune, a Model S owner, Joshua Brown, was killed in Florida when Autopilot failed to recognize a tractor-trailer crossing in front of him. His car had radar and a camera.

Musk held a short meeting with the Autopilot team and briefly addressed the accident. He did not delve into the details of what went wrong but told the team that the company must work to ensure that its cars did not hit anything, according to two people who were part of the meeting.

Tesla later said that during the crash, Autopilots camera could not distinguish between the white truck and the bright sky. Tesla has never publicly explained why the radar did not prevent the accident. Radar technology, like cameras and lidar, is not flawless. But most in the industry believe that this means you need as many types of sensors as possible.

Less than a month after the crash, Musk said at an event hosted by Recode, a tech publication, that autonomous driving was basically a solved problem and that Teslas could already drive more safely than humans. He made no mention of the accident in which Brown was killed, although Tesla said in a blog post a few weeks later  headlined A Tragic Loss  that it had immediately reported the episode to federal regulators.

Although it is not clear that they were influenced by the fatal accident, Musk and Tesla soon showed a renewed interest in radar, according to three engineers who worked on Autopilot. The company began an effort to build its own radar technology, rather than using sensors built by other suppliers. The company hired Duc Vu, an expert in the field, in October 2016 from the auto parts company Delphi.

But 16 months later, Vu suddenly parted ways with the company after a disagreement he had with another executive over a new wiring system in Teslas cars, the three people said. In the weeks and months that followed, other members of the radar team left as well.

Over several months after those departures, Tesla reclassified the radar effort as a research undertaking rather than one actively aimed at production, the three people said.

The Quest for Fully Autonomous Cars

As Tesla approached the introduction of Autopilot 2.0, most of the Autopilot team dropped their normal duties to work on a video meant to show just how autonomous the system could be. But the final video did not provide a full picture of how the car operated during the filming.

The route taken by the car had been charted ahead of time by software that created a 3D digital map, a feature unavailable to drivers using the commercial version of Autopilot, according to two former members of the Autopilot team. At one point during the filming of the video, the car hit a roadside barrier on Tesla property while using Autopilot and had to be repaired, three people who worked on the video said.

The video was later used to promote Autopilots capabilities, and it is still on Teslas website.

When Musk unveiled Autopilot 2.0 in October 2016, he said at the news conference that all new Tesla cars now included the cameras, computing power and all other hardware they would need for full self driving  not a technical term, but one that suggested truly autonomous operation.

His statements took the engineering team by surprise, and some felt that Musk was promising something that was not possible, according to two people who worked on the project.

Sterling Anderson, who led the project at the time and later started an autonomous driving company called Aurora, told Teslas sales and marketing teams that they should not refer to the companys technology as autonomous or self-driving because this would mislead the public, according to two former employees.

Some in the company may have heeded the advice, but Tesla was soon using the term full self driving as a standard way of describing its technology.

By 2017, Tesla began selling a set of services that the company has described as a more advanced version of Autopilot, calling the package Full Self Driving. Its features include responding to traffic lights and stop signs  and changing lanes without being prompted to by the driver. The company sold the package for up to $10,000.

Engineers who have worked on the technology acknowledge that these services have yet to reach the full autonomy implied in its name and promised by Musk in public statements. Im highly confident the car will drive itself for the reliability in excess of a human this year, he said during an earnings call in January. This is a very big deal.

In early November, Tesla recalled nearly 12,000 vehicles that were part of the beta test of new FSD features, after deploying a software update that the company said might cause crashes because of unexpected activation of the cars emergency braking system.

Schuyler Cullen, who oversaw a team that explored autonomous-driving possibilities at the South Korean tech giant Samsung, said in an interview that Musks cameras-only approach was fundamentally flawed. Cameras are not eyes! Pixels are not retinal ganglia! The FSD computer is nothing like the visual cortex! said Cullen, a computer-vision specialist who now runs a startup that is building a new kind of camera-based sensor.

Amnon Shashua, CEO of Mobileye, a former Tesla supplier that has been testing technology that is similar to the electric-car makers, said Musks idea of using only cameras in a self-driving system could ultimately work, although other sensors may be needed in the short term. He added that Musk might exaggerate the capabilities of the companys technology, but that those statements shouldnt be taken too seriously.

One should not be hung up on what Tesla says, Shashua said. Truth is not necessarily their end goal. The end goal is to build a business.
Twitter's new CEO Parag Agrawal is the latest alumnus of India's prestigious technical universities appointed to head a multi-billion-dollar US tech firm, and Shivani Nandgaonkar wants to follow in his footsteps.

The 22-year-old student at the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay -- Agrawal's alma mater -- has already been recruited by Google to become one of the thousands of IIT graduates at major American tech companies.

"When I heard about Parag, I was so happy," she said. "One IITian is also CEO of Google, Sundar Pichai. So this is my (stepping) stone now."

Twitter's Agrawal is the youngest chief executive in the S&P 500 at just 37.

Like Google-parent Alphabet's 49-year-old CEO Sundar Pichai, he left India after his IIT degree to pursue a postgrad in the United States before working at several American companies.

Other Indians at the highest corporate tech echelons include IBM's Arvind Krishna and Palo Alto Networks' Nikesh Arora -- both IIT alumni -- along with Satya Nadella of Microsoft and Shantanu Narayen at Adobe.

Executives and experts say that beyond the South Asian nation's sheer size, the phenomenon is due to multiple push-pull factors and skillsets including a culture of problem-solving, the English language, and relentless hard work.

IIT graduate and Sun Microsystems co-founder Vinod Khosla believes that after growing up with multiple communities, customs and languages, Indians have the ability to "navigate complex situations".

"Educational competition in India and societal chaos helps hone their skills in addition to the rigorous technical education at the IITs," the billionaire venture capitalist told AFP.

Also read: IIT Bombay congratulates alumnus Parag Agrawal on elevation as Twitter CEO

Silicon Valley demands technical expertise, managing diverse communities, and entrepreneurship in the face of uncertainty from its top executives.

"In innovation, you have to be able to break the rules, you're fearless. And... you can't survive a day in India without having to break one rule or the other or dealing with incompetent bureaucracy or corruption," said Indian-American academic Vivek Wadhwa.

"Those skills are very useful when you're innovating in Silicon Valley, because you have to constantly challenge authority."

And they are valuable: ride-hailing giant Uber this month offered IIT Bombay students first-year packages of $274,000 for jobs in the United States.

The contest for such prizes begins early in a country of more than 1.3 billion people with a longstanding focus on education.

The IITs are seen as India's top universities, and more than one million pupils apply each year for just 16,000 places.

For one-and-a-half years, Nandgaonkar studied up to 14 hours a day, seven days a week. Some other students started preparations at just 14 or 15, she added.

"Imagine having an entrance which is 10x more difficult than MIT and Harvard. That's what the IITs are," Wadhwa said. "So it's the creme de la creme of the country."

The IIT network was established in 1950 by the country's first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru, who envisaged a pool of highly trained science and engineering graduates to help build India after the end of British rule in 1947.

But the supply of engineers was not matched by sufficient domestic demand, so graduates looked further afield, particularly in the United States where there was hunger for highly skilled workers as the digital revolution took off.

"In the '60s '70s, and '80s, even into the '90s, Indian industry was not yet at the advanced (stages) and... a lot of those who wanted to do cutting-edge technology felt the need to go abroad," IIT Bombay Deputy Director S. Sudarshan said.

Agrawal, Pichai and Nadella spent a decade or more working their way through the ranks of their respective companies, building up insider knowledge while gaining the trust of the firms' American founders.

And for years, more than half the applicants for US H1-B skilled immigrant visas have been from India, and mostly from the tech sector.

In contrast, engineers from even more populous China had the option of finding jobs at home or returning after completing their US postgrads as their domestic economy boomed, said Johns Hopkins University professor Devesh Kapur, an IIT graduate himself.

The phenomenon may wane in time as India's own tech sector thrives, offering the country's best and brightest minds greater domestic opportunities, but for Nandgaonkar, becoming a tech boss like Agrawal or Pichai is not a far-fetched idea.

"Why not?" she said, "Dream big!"

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Group Captain Varun Singh, the lone survivor of the helicopter crash which claimed the lives of General Bipin Rawat and 13 others, was rushed to the Indian Air Forces Command Hospital in the city on Thursday evening.

Military sources said he had been flown to HAL Airport from the hospital at Wellington, located in Tamil Nadus Nilgiris district. He arrived at the Command Hospital at around 4 pm. A top team of experts is said to have started their medical investigation at the hospital.

Sources said the Group Captain had suffered severe burns (up to 90%) on his body and that his urine output was nil. While his vitals were normal, he was also said to be unconscious.

Officials from the Ministry of Defence and the Indian Air Force said the Group Captain is on life-support. His condition was described as critical as of Thursday evening.

The IAF declined to comment on the medical specifics of the case. However, an officer said the decision to transfer Singh from Wellington, where he was being treated at the Military Hospital, to Bengaluru could have been a matter of necessity. A military hospital is a smaller unit than a Command Hospital and if the medical experts [at Wellington] felt that his condition can be better treated at another facility with improved facilities, the officer said.

The decision to transfer could have been due to the severity of injuries. Speaking as an independent expert, Professor Dr Ramesha K T, an authority on burns and Head of the Department of Plastic Surgery at Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute, noted that the lack of urine was a red flag. Severe burns results in burn shock or hypovolemia, which causes fluid loss in the body, leading to lack of urine, he said.
New Zealand on Thursday said it will ban young people from buying cigarettes for life, one of the toughest approaches in the world to curbing smoking deaths as part of a wider plan that focuses on the disproportionate impact on its indigenous Maori population.

New Zealand is already one of 17 countries where plain cigarette packaging is compulsory. It also bans sales to anyone under 18, but it says those measures are not enough to reach its goal of a national adult smoking rate of less than 5 per cent by 2025.

A Lifetime Ban

New Zealand plans to make it illegal to sell cigarettes to anyone aged 14 and under from 2027. The ban will remain in place for the rest of the person's life. That means a person aged 60 in 2073 will be banned from buying cigarettes, while a person aged 61 would be allowed to do so.

Why 14 and Under?

New Zealand health authorities say smokers typically take up the habit during youth, with four in five New Zealanders who smoke beginning by age 18 and 96 per cent by age 25. By stopping a generation from taking up smoking, they hope to avoid about 5,000 preventable deaths a year.

What Other Changes Are Planned?

Under the proposed legislation, which the government plans to bring into law by the end of next year, it will first limit the number of stores that can sell cigarettes from 2024. It will then lower the level of nicotine - the most addictive ingredient - in cigarettes from 2025, to make them easier to quit. Finally, it will bring in the "smoke-free" generation from 2027.

How Will the Rules Be Enforced?

The New Zealand authorities have not said how they plan to police the ban, nor which retailers would be barred from selling tobacco products. More detail is expected to be provided when legislation is brought before parliament next year.

Will New Zealand Be the World's Toughest Anti-Tobacco Jurisdiction?

Not quite. The Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan banned cigarette sales outright in 2010 (although it lifted the ban temporarily in 2020 to stop black market imports from India during a COVID-19 border closure, Al-Jazeera reported).

What Happens Next?

A Maori taskforce involving tobacco control and public health experts will consult on the plan, which the New Zealand government wants to make law by the end of 2022. The government says it wants to introduce the changes in phases to lessen the economic shock on retailers and give people with mental health issues - a group with far higher smoking rates - time to manage the change.

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Queen Elizabeth II on Wednesday was pictured holding an audience at Windsor Castle in her first such appearance in two weeks as concerns mount over the monarch's state of health.

The 95-year-old was shown smiling as she bestowed a medal on concert organist Thomas Trotter, while standing close to a chair.

The Queen was last pictured holding an audience on November 24, when she received the Governor of the Bank of England, Andrew Bailey.

In October, royal officials said the monarch had spent the night at a private hospital in central London after unspecified tests.

Aides insisted the overnight stay was for "practical reasons" and she had resumed "light duties" shortly afterwards.

However she subsequently withdrew from a planned appearance at the UN climate change summit in Scotland in November, represented instead by her son, Prince Charles.

She also did not attend the annual Remembrance Sunday event honouring Britain's war dead on November 14 due to a "sprained back".

Since then she has cut down on her engagements and held some meetings online, while she attended the christening of two of her great-grandchildren on November 21.

The Queen, who lost her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, in April, is to celebrate her Platinum Jubilee next year.

She has made Windsor Castle around 27 miles (43 kilometres) west of London her main residence since the first coronavirus lockdown in March 2020.

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Pakistan has not offered any military bases to China in the strategic Gwadar port, National Security Adviser Moeed Yusuf has said while reiterating that any country can invest in the $60 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project since "we are not closed to anybody."

The Gwadar port on the Arabian Sea has long been portrayed as the jewel in the CPEC crown, but in the process, the city has become the very embodiment of a security state in the restive Balochistan province.

There are economic bases of China in Pakistan, where any country in the world can investthe same were also offered to the United States, Russia and the Middle East. We are open to all countries, Yusuf said in an interview with Stephen Sackur for BBC's HARDtalk.

Massive protests had erupted in Gwadar last month against unnecessary checkpoints, a severe shortage of water and electricity and threats to livelihoods from illegal fishing.

These protests were part of growing discontent over Chinas presence in Gwadar, whose port is an integral part of the $60 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the flagship project of China's multi-billion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative.

India has protested to China over the CPEC as it traverses through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

The massive infrastructure project connects China's Xinjiang province with Gwadar port in Pakistan.

Yusuf called China, "a close friend of Islamabad" and underlined that any country in the world can invest in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project since "we are not closed to anybody."

When asked whether Pakistan had developed close ties with China at the cost of raising its voice for Muslims around the world, particularly those in Xinjiang, Yusuf said that Pakistan does not agree with the Western version about the alleged atrocities being committed against Muslims in Xinjiang.

"We have relations of trust with China and our ambassador and other delegations from here also visited the Xinjiang province," he said, adding that if Western countries have a problem with China, they should talk to Beijing about it.

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An explosion on Wednesday in central Mali killed seven United Nations peacekeepers and seriously wounded three others, the UN mission said on Twitter.

A logistics convoy hit an improvised explosive device between the towns of Douentza and Sevare, an area where groups linked to al Qaeda and Islamic State operate. No group claimed responsibility on Wednesday.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres strongly condemns the attack against the convoy, spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a statement.

"He calls on the Malian authorities to spare no effort in identifying the perpetrators of these attacks so that they can be swiftly brought to justice," Dujarric said.

Mali, one of Africa's largest and poorest countries, is battling an Islamist insurgency that has flourished despite a nine-year effort by international forces led by former colonial power France to defeat it.

The UN's peacekeeping mission, known as MINUSMA, has deployed over 13,000 troops to contain the violence in the north and centre of the country.

It has recorded more than 230 fatalities since 2013, making it the deadliest of the UN's more than dozen peacekeeping missions.

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The High Court in England on Thursday rejected an appeal by Indian authorities seeking permission to appeal against a magistrates court order turning down the extradition on human rights grounds of Kuldeep Singh, wanted in India as an alleged senior member of the banned terrorist organisation Khalistan Zindabad Force (KZF).

Singh alias Keepa Sidhu is charged with conspiring with others to commit terror activities in Punjab dating back to 2015-16, including a plot to assassinate then chief minister and deputy chief minister Parkash Singh Badal and Sukhbir Singh Badal respectively.

The 44-year-old is also accused of recruiting youths in Punjab to the banned KZF organisation by offering them money and organising a meeting of separatists in a gurdwara.

District Judge Gareth Branston, presiding over the extradition case at Westminster Magistrates Court here, ruled in January that as the offences carry maximum sentences and no possibility of a review of such a life sentence with a view to its commutation, remission, termination or conditional release, it would be contrary to Article 3 of the European Convention of Human Rights.

The District Judges comprehensive and clearly reasoned judgment cannot be faulted, High Court Justices Nicola Davies and Pushpinder Saini said in their judgment, handed down at the Royal Courts of Justice here.

There are no grounds upon which it would be appropriate for this court to interfere with the discretion exercised by the District Judge, they conclude.

Singh faces a total of four charges in India, under sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act related to raising funds for terrorism, conspiracy and being a member of a terror outfit and of the Arms Act related to firearms offences.

The court documents note that he is accused of being a point of contact in Punjab and liaising with the head of the KZF, who was residing in Pakistan, and other co-accused members of the organisation, who lived in Belgium and England.

Singh, who entered the UK illegally in 2005, was on immigration bail when he was arrested at Loughborough Immigration Reporting Centre in eastern England in October 2019.

In September 2020, the Indian authorities were successful in revoking bail granted to him at the magistrates court level.

Singh  who used a Punjabi interpreter in court  then remained remanded in judicial custody for the duration of the extradition hearings before District Judge Branston, which concluded in December last year.

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Bouth Houses on Thursday mourned the death of Gen Bipin Rawat, his wife and 11 others in a helicopter crash, with the Deputy Chairman describing India's first Chief of Defence Staff as an exceptional and distinguished military leader.

Lok Sabha members stood in silence for a brief while as a mark of respect for the departed souls.

As soon as the House met for the day, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh made a statement on the crash, and said that an inquiry has started into the incident. He also paid tributes to the deceased.

Read | Tri-service inquiry ordered into chopper crash that killed CDS Bipin Rawat: Rajnath Singh in Lok Sabha

Paying tributes, Speaker Om Birla said that Rawat had worked a lot towards bringing in reforms in the system and would be remembered for his dedication.

Thirteen of the 14 people on board the helicopter died in the crash near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu on Wednesday.

Group Captain Varun Singh, who survived the crash, is on life support at a Wellington hospital.

When the Rajya Sabha met for the day, Deputy Chairman Harivansh informed the house about the tragic accident in Nilgiri district of Tamil Nadu on Wednesday afternoon.

Reading out Rawat's obituary, Harivansh said the CDS had an illustrious military career spanning over four decades during which he held several important staff positions and went on to become the Chief of Army Staff on December 31, 2016.

Read | Black box of IAF chopper that crashed with CDS Bipin Rawat on board recovered

"In the last two years, Gen Rawat tried to bring transformative reforms in the security architecture of our country," Harivansh said.

As an individual, he will always be remembered for his commitment to the nation as well as troops, he said.

"In the passing away of Gen Rawat, the country has lost an outstanding soldier and an exceptional and distinguished military leader," he said.

The House, he said, deeply mourns the passing away of Gen Rawat, his wife, and 11 others.

"The loss of precious lives is indeed painful and unfortunate," he said after which members stood in silence as a mark of respect to the memory of the departed.

Thereafter, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh made a statement about the incident, which was identical to the one made in the Lok Sabha earlier.

Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge wanted that floor leaders of all parties to be allowed to pay tributes but Harivansh said the House has collectivity mourned the deaths and there was no precedent to allow such a thing.

Congress leader Anand Sharma backed Kharge but the deputy chairman disallowed it.

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The Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed by Nagaland government began its investigation into massacre of 14 civilians in Mon district by seeking information from the public related to the incident on December 4.

The five-member SIT headed by an additional director general of police issued a phone number (+91 6009803048) and an email ID (otingsit@gmail.com) requesting the public to share photos, videos and any other information related to the incident and situations leading to massacre of the innocent civilians.

"Any person having photos, videos, suspicious activities from primary source or any other information connected with the incident in original not forwarded (Secondary Source), may kindly share it in the interest of police investigation," the state police said on Thursday.

The identity of the informant will be kept secret, it said.

Also read: Nagaland firing: Black flags in demand at Assam-Nagaland border

Nagaland cabinet on December 7 asked the SIT to complete an investigation into the incident within a month.

This comes amid growing demand for justice to families of the innocent villagers who were killed by army's 21 para commandos at Oting village in Mon district.

Home Minister Amit Shah told the Parliament that it was a case of "mistaken identity" during an operation launched by security forces based on "intelligence inputs" about movement of militants in the area.

The version, however, has been contested by Oting Citizen, the village council representing residents of Oting village and even by Nagaland police.

They claimed that security forces opened fire at the villagers returning from their work in a coal mine without any attempt for identification.

The Oting Citizen on Wednesday said the army even tried to brand the innocent villagers as militants by planting weapons and dressing them with camouflage uniforms and boots.

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Still in shock and anger, residents of Oting village in Mon district in Nagaland, where 13 villagers were gunned down by the army on Saturday, has barred the entry of security forces, all groups and political parties till justice is delivered to families of the victims.

Calling the killings as the barbaric cowardice act of the Indian armed forces, Oting Citizen, the village council on Wednesday warned that they should not be held responsible in any manner to whatsoever happens soon in case of violation of directive of the people.

The village body challenged the versions of the incident given by the Centre and said security forces ambushed the pick-up van carrying eight villagers at around 4.30 pm, without ascertaining anything about the passengers. The eight were returning home from their work in a mining site to spend the Sunday with their families at Oting.

Also Read | Nagaland Firing: Oting villagers claim Army tried to pass dead off as militants

We thought they (security forces) had a shootout with the insurgents. Then they blocked the road from all sides for vehicular and all other movements and diverted all vehicles to take the less used Pioneer Road, the Oting Citizen said in a statement.

As the workers did not return home, at around 8 pm, other villagers reached the spot where they found the empty pick-up truck with bullet marks pierced in the windshield at the drivers position, bloodstains covered with dust and mud.

From this, the villagers suspected something fishy and chased three vehicles of the armed forces and intercepted them by overtaking their vehicles. They first denied any knowledge about the whereabouts of the boys travelling in the pick-up truck. When the villagers searched their vehicles, found the bodies of all six boys covered with a tarpaulin and armymen sitting on it.

Also Read | 'They shot right at us, no signal to stop, we didnt flee,' says Nagaland ambush survivor

The security forces attempted trying to brand the boys as militants by planting weapons and dressed them in camouflage uniforms and boots. Two other boys were missing. So the situation turned into tense, and a scuffle took place between the two parties.

All of a sudden, the security forces started firing indiscriminately and abruptly killing and injuring a few others on the spot. They stole our bikes and it was while fleeing in our bikes, they kept firing in different directions, killing and injuring many others on the way, said the statement.

The Nagaland police said seven others were killed in the second firing.

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A final decision on calling off the farmer agitation was delayed by one more day as the Centre gave a fresh draft proposal to the Samyukta Kisan Morcha, which had flagged certain objections to the governments written proposal on Wednesday that talked about withdrawing cases against farmers after end of the agitation and including non-SKM members in the committee to discuss MSP issue.

No final decision could be taken on the second consecutive day of the meeting of SKM at the Singhu border on Wednesday even as farmer leaders claimed that a consensus among farmer leaders has been reached on the governments fresh proposal and they are now awaiting a formal communication regarding its acceptance on the letterhead of the central government.

Read | Data on farmer deaths maintained by state govts: Centre

Consensus has been reached on the governments fresh proposal. Now, a formal communication signed on the governments letterhead is awaited. SKM will meet again tomorrow at 12 noon at the Singhu Border, to take a formal decision thereafter to lift the morchas, the SKM said in a statement.

Indications emerged that the farmer unions could announce the end of the agitation on Thursday morning even as farmer leader Gurnam Singh Chaduni said no decision has yet been arrived on calling off the agitation.

The ball is now in the governments court. We will announce the final decision tomorrow, another farmer leader Yudhvir Singh, who is one among the five farmer leaders named by SMK to participate in the MSP discussion, told reporters after the farmer body meeting on Wednesday.

The five-member panel of SKM, which huddled to discuss the governments fresh proposal, said it was hopeful of a resolution.

After discussing the draft proposal among themselves, the panel members put forth their views on it in the larger meeting of SKM, an umbrella body of 40 farmer organisations, which had on Tuesday raised objections to the governments proposals saying they are opposed to the inclusion of pro farm bill leaders in the panel on MSP and demanded only members from SKM should be included in the MSP panel.

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Agitating farmers called on Thursday off their nearly 380-days long protest against the three contentious farm laws that were passed 15 months ago and repealed 10 days ago after the central government gave signed written assurance on an official letterhead to the protesting unions to meet their demands on issues including withdrawal of cases lodged against them during agitation and MSP.

Announcing the suspension of the ongoing agitation, which it called "historic" Samyukta Kisan Morcha, an umbrella group of 40 farmer unions said that farmers will begin vacating the protest sites from December 11 with a "victory march" but threatened to resume the agitation after January 15 if the government did not fulfil its promises.

Shiromani Akali Dal, which had walked out of NDA last year in solidarity with protesting farmers against the three contentious farm laws, said, "Though the farmers have suspended agitation, their wounds will take time to heal. Over 700 farmers died during the protest, aged people were forced to sit on protest in chilling cold and scorching summer. And then, they were tagged as Khalistanis. These wounds will take time to heal."

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi hailed the "victory of truth" in a short video on Twitter that captured moments of the year-long farm protest, which had seen events like tractor march and protest at Red Fort at the Republic Day.

"Farmers will start vacating Delhi border points from December 11 and this may take some time. I will go to my home on December 14 after going to Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple) on December 13," said the face of the farmer protest Rakesh Tikait.

"We are suspending the agitation for now. It is not over yet. It can be resumed if promises are not fulfilled," said farmer leader Gurnam Singh Chaduni at a press conference at Singhu border where the SKM announced to withdraw from the protest sites after the central government made a fresh reach out to them.

The missive on the official letterhead of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmer Welfare signed by its Secretary Sanjay Agarwal addressed to SKM informed them of the government having agreed to their demands through the proposal and said, "with this proposal, all the five demands stand addressed. And hence there is no justification for continuing the farmer agitation. Hence you are requested to end the farmer protest."

Centre told the protesting farmers that the government of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Haryana have given full consent regarding withdrawing all cases lodged during farmer protest "with immediate effect".

It said that even the departments and agencies of the central government and union territories like Delhi have also given consent to withdrawal of such cases against protestors with immediate effect. "The Government of India will also appeal to other states to withdraw cases related to farmer agitation," it said.

This was two days after farmers had objected to the conditionality of withdrawal of agitation for withdrawing the cases put forth by the government initially.

"As far as compensation is concerned the governments of UP and Haryana have given their in principle consent while regarding the Parali law, the government has freed the farmers from criminal liability under its sections 14 and 15, " it said.

On MSP, the government reiterated its decision about the committee with representatives from farmer unions, agriculture scientists and others to go into their demand for legal guarantee for MSP while continuing the existing format of MSP.

Calling it a "historic win for farmers, farmer leader Shiv Kumar Kakka said, "We apologise to people who faced problems due to protests while another farmer leader Balbir Singh Rajewal thanked people for "standing with the farmers during the agitation." Rajewal said that the fight for the rights of farmers will continue even in future even as the agitation has been suspended for the time being.

"Farmers will take out victory marches on Dec 11 to their homes," Rajewal said. "A review meeting will be convened on January 15 to see if the government met all the demands. If they do not, we can take a call on resuming the protest, said Gurnam Singh Chaduni.

The farmer agitation had begun on November 26 against the three contentious farm laws--Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020, Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020 and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020  in September 2020.

A week before the anniversary of farmer protest this year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 19 announced the decision of his government to repeal the law and the government got repealed on the very first day of Parliament's winter session on November 29.

But the agitation continued with farmers coming out with demands like legal guarantees for MSP and others after which Centre set up a committee in which SKM's five representatives were included.

The SKM panel had a discussion with the government on pending demands even on December 8. On November 9, the government sent its third and final communication on official letterhead on the agreements reached with farmer unions, paving the way for calling off the strike.

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Describing General Bipin Rawat as a "true leader and true friend" of Israel, the country's top leadership has expressed condolences to the government and people of India at the "tragic and shocking loss" of its first Chief of Defence Staff who died in a helicopter crash.

The Mi-17V5 helicopter of the Indian Air Force (IAF) carrying the 63-year-old tri-services chief crashed near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu on Wednesday, killing 13 of the 14 people on board, including his wife and 11 other armed forces personnel.

Also Read | RIP CDS Bipin Rawat: Five highlights from his decorated military career

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett in a tweet said, "My thoughts & prayers are with the families of those who perished in the tragic helicopter crash in India. May their souls rest in peace".

"General Bipin Rawat was a true leader & true friend of Israel. Much strength to @narendramodi & the Indian people at this difficult time", Bennett added.

My thoughts & prayers are with the families of those who perished in the tragic helicopter crash in India.

May their souls rest in peace. General Bipin Rawat was a true leader & true friend of Israel. Much strength to @narendramodi & the Indian people at this difficult time.  Naftali Bennett  (@naftalibennett) December 8, 2021

Defence Minister Benny Gantz, who in the past has served as the Israel Defence Forces' Chief of Staff, expressed condolences on behalf of the defence establishment and also "personal grief" on Twitter.

Also Read | Dalai Lama mourns demise of General Rawat

"I would like to extend condolences on behalf of Israel's defence establishment & to express my personal grief to the people of India & to the Indian defense establishment on the loss of Chief of Defence Staff Bipin Rawat, his wife & others who perished in the tragic accident", Gantz wrote.

General Rawat was a true partner of the IDF and Israel's defense establishment, and contributed greatly to the strengthening of security relations between the two countries. He was expected to visit Israel soon. May his memory and the memory of all the lives lost be a blessing.    - Benny Gantz (@gantzbe) December 8, 2021

Foreign Minister Yair Lapid used the same social media platform posting messages in Hindi and English.

Also Read | Mi17V5 reliable platform that the IAF has been using since 2012

"On behalf of the people of Israel, I extend my deepest condolences to the people and government of India on the loss of Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, his wife, and the 11 other military personnel lost in today's tragic accident," Lapid tweeted.

On behalf of the people of Israel, I extend my deepest condolences to the people and government of India on the loss of Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, his wife, and the 11 other military personnel lost in today's tragic accident.    - Yair Lapid (@yairlapid) December 8, 2021

Israeli Knesset's (Parliament) Speaker, Mickey Levy, also mourned the tragic loss. "On behalf of the Knesset and the citizens of Israel, I extend my heartfelt condolences to the Indian people on the shocking and tragic loss of Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, his wife and 11 other military personnel," Levy wrote.

On behalf of the Knesset and the citizens of Israel, I extend my heartfelt condolences to the Indian people on the shocking and tragic loss of Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, his wife and 11 other military personnel.@ombirlakota@indemtel@IsraelinIndia    - Mickey Levy (@MKMickeyLevy) December 8, 2021

According to Israel's former Ambassador to India, Daniel Carmon, Rawat was likely to visit Israel soon.

Carmon knew Rawat personally and also shared on Twitter pictures of the CDS leading the Haifa Day ceremony in Jaipur in 2018 to celebrate the centenary year of the liberation of the Israeli northern coastal city from the Ottomans during World War I by Indian cavalry regiments.

Also Read | 'General Bipin Rawat was a visionary, called a spade a spade'

"Mourning the loss of Indias CDS General #BipinRawat, remembering his leadership at the head of the Nations military. A great partner & friend @Israels Defence establishment, he contributed to the strengthening of relations & was supposed to visit our country soon. Condolences," the former Israeli Ambassador to India wrote.

"General #BipinRawat led the #HaifaDay ceremony in Jaipur, in 2018. Tribute to the Indian forces who fought the 1st WW, liberating the city from the Ottomans and a sign of friendship to Israel too. I Was privileged to have known him. Om Shanti," Carmon tweeted.

General #BipinRawat led the #HaifaDay ceremony in Jaipur, in 2018. Tribute to the Indian forces who fought the 1st WW, liberating the city from the Ottomans and a sign of friendship to Israel too. I Was privileged to have known him. Om Shanti. 2/2 pic.twitter.com/ROZ2gF7zAl  Daniel Carmon (@danielocarmon) December 8, 2021

General Rawat, along with his wife Madhulika Rawat who served as the President of Army Wives Welfare Association (AWWA), were on their way to Wellington, Tamil Nadu, on Wednesday when their helicopter crashed a few minutes before it was supposed to land.

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The Supreme Court on Thursday reserved its judgement on a plea by Zakia Jafri  wife of former Congress leader Ehsan Jafri who was killed during the violence at Gulberg Society  against a clean chit to then Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and others in connection with the 2002 riots.

Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for the special investigation team (SIT), told the bench headed by Justice AM Khanwilkar that the top court should endorse the decisions taken by the Gujarat High Court and the trial court with regard to Jafri's plea.

It would become an endless exercise, being pushed by social activist Teesta Setalvad, the second petitioner in the petition, he said.

Rohatgi also claimed before the bench, also comprising justices Dinesh Maheshwari and CT Ravikumar, that nobody had raised a finger against the SIT on the probe in the 2002 Gujarat riots.

Also Read  Plea alleging larger conspiracy in 2002 post-Godhra riots to keep 'pot boiling', SC told

After hearing detailed arguments in the matter, the bench reserved its verdict on Jafri's petition against the Gujarat High Court's order of 2017, which had rejected her plea against the SIT decision.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing the petitioners, cited work done by Setalvad's organisations. To paint somebody anti-Gujarat is unfair, he said.

Sibal said that this was yet another occasion when the majesty of the law is being tested and he is not keen on targeting anybody. He emphasised that it was the SITs task to find out who the offenders were and if any offence had been committed.

He said the matter can be closed if nobody had done it and if the incident had happened without anybody doing it, in the backdrop of the material before the court. But if you feel that offences have been committed then who is responsible is a matter of investigation, Sibal said.

The petitioner questioned the SIT's clean chit to 64 people, including Modi. The SIT report had ruled out any "larger conspiracy" by high state functionaries in instigating the communal riots post Godhra massacre.

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Even though India is among the six top space-faring nations of the world in technological capability and budget, it is the only one that has not yet allowed its private sector to participate in all aspects of space activities, in order to leverage its advanced technological capabilities.

Indias national space sector currently accounts for a minuscule two per cent of the $440 billion global industry, according to published figures. Although the emergence of space start-ups -- Indias New Space -- which is creating IPR and offering end-to-end solutions to customers, a new space think-tank noted that this private sector is hobbled by the restricted scope of opportunities in India.

This is quite unlike the clear policies to encourage and facilitate robust participation of the private sector in developed space economies, including the United States and France.

According to Dr Ranjana Kaul, member of the Board of the International Institute of Space Law (IISL) and Secretary-General of Spaceport SARABHAI (S2), a space-centric think-tank that was launched on December 1, little has changed on the ground despite the Indian government having announced the formation of the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Center (IN-SPACe) in June 2020.

Also Read  No Indian-origin scientists joined ISRO from foreign agencies in last five years: Jitendra Singh to LS

IN-SPACe is proposed to serve as a link between the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and private sector companies to leverage local technologies and resources to increase space-based activities. Indias space sector currently accounts for a minuscule two per cent of the $440 billion global industry according to published figures.

While the 2020 announcement by Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) had raised expectations in the private sector that it would be allowed participation in all aspects of space activities, there is also scepticism. We have not seen a policy framework document telling us how the government proposes to develop a national space economy through private sector participation and how it all unfolds for us, she said.

During the launch of the think-tank last week, Dr Kaul said that currently, the conversation in India is dominated by regulatory frameworks for rolling out 5G satellite communications services.

Already, India is the second-largest market for telecommunications and there are Indian companies with global footprints, all of whom are looking now to deliver this magic called 5G to the underserved and unserved across India. And it is in that context that space is being mentioned. However, conversation about space activities as a dedicated vertical of private sector participation, as the Prime Minister had announced, has stopped in other spaces, she said.

Also Read  ISRO scientists discover exoplanet bigger than Jupiter

She added that the first generation space start-ups have already reached a point where they want to do test flights. Indeed, the first space technology start-up Skyroot has already successfully test-fired the first privately developed fully cryogenic rocket engine called Dhawan 1. Already, Pixxel is waiting to launch its first satellite. In fact, each generation of start-ups is separated by a gap of five years, the next generation is already waiting in queue to get to space.

For Awais Ahmed, CEO of Pixxel, a space technology start-up in Bengaluru building a constellation of hyperspectral earth imaging satellites, there is a marked difference in how space technology entrepreneurs navigate the red tape of government in India while applying for licences and developing products, compared to how the system is set up in the United States.

Speaking during the think-tanks Conversations without Borders debut episode on December 1, Awais said that while participating in the Techstars Space Accelerator in Los Angeles, he found that while there were bureaucratic processes in the US, the regulatory and licensing regimes were, nevertheless, transparent and straightforward.

On websites, you can clearly download documents that say these are the steps that an organisation has to go through for licenses and send a spacecraft up into space, as well as the timelines that the government agencies are to get back with, as well as the costs that it will actually take; that kind of transparency just helps organisations plan out their activities as well, he said.

He said that this is something that has not yet been seen in India. The second thing that puts the US ecosystem ahead of everyone else is the availability of the funding from almost every government organisation that they work with; whether that's NASA, or the defense agencies, every one of them has certain parts of funding earmarked under the Small Business Innovation Research Grants that could be anywhere between half a million dollars to $2 million in the first two years of existence for a start-up, he said, adding that this kind of budget is vital to fund the early stages of prototype development, to drive innovation.

A third factor helping the US ecosystem is that the government is the largest buyer of all technologies, even those which have not yet been developed.

The think-tanks mandate is to give India an international voice, grow the body of knowledge that informs critical areas of space policy, provide policy guidance to the government and transform India into a developed space economy by 2030".

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A Delhi court on Thursday granted bail to Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) student Sharjeel Imam in a case related to violence at Jamia Millia Islamia University in December 2019.

Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Dinesh Kumar set bail on furnishing a bond of Rs 25,000, with one surety of like amount. "Considering the nature of the offence, and the fact that he was not arrested during the investigation, the [bail] application is allowed," the judge ordered.

The incident of violence in the varsity had taken place during student protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) in December 2019.

The FIR under which he is an accused involves offences such as rioting, conspiracy, attempt to commit culpable homicide, voluntarily obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions, and assault, under the Indian Penal Code.

Also Read  Delhi court denies bail to JNU student Sharjeel Imam in 2019 Jamia rioting case

Imam will, however, remain in jail as he is accused in three other cases related to violence in Delhi.

In October, the court had denied bail to Imam bail in connection with allegedly delivering an inflammatory speech and inciting violence during the CAA-NRC protests in 2019, saying free speech cannot be exercised at the cost of communal peace and harmony.

Besides this case, Imam is also accused of being one of the "masterminds" of the February 2020 riots, which had left 53 people dead and over 700 injured. He has been booked under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

He was also arrested in another case under UAPA and sedition for his speeches at two universities in 2019, where he allegedly threatened to cut off Assam and the rest of the Northeast from India.

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Following up his meeting with Rahul Gandhi, senior Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut on Wednesday held a meeting with Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi making it clear that the Uddhav Thackeray-led party sees the Grand Old Party as the fulcrum of the Opposition though it wants the grouping to be stronger.

After his meeting with Priyanka, the Sena leader described the discussions as positive and that they were thinking of working together in Uttar Pradesh and Goa. Priyanka is the party in-charge of Uttar Pradesh. With this, Sena has once again made it clear that it is not in favour of the TMCs latest efforts in taking the lead of the Opposition.

Also read: Not quitting Congress to join BJP, says ex-Goa CM Rane in a video message

Sources said Sena, which otherwise plans to contest in 22 of the 40 seats, is also exploring the possibility of an alliance with Congress in poll-bound Goa. Congress is also in talks with NCP.

Raut is learnt to have told Rahul that an alliance will pool in anti-BJP forces that could blunt the TMC-led efforts. Though unrelated to the meeting with Raut, Rahul also had a meeting with party observer P Chidambaram and party in-charge Dinesh Gundu Rao on poll strategy in Goa on Tuesday.

Sources said Raut has conveyed to Rahul during Tuesdays meeting that he needs to take the lead in reaching out to non-BJP parties and strengthen the existing United Progressive Alliance.

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After General Bipin Rawats death in a helicopter crash, General M M Naravane, the Chief of Army Staff, has emerged as the frontrunner for the post of Chief of Defence Staff whom the government will expect to carry forward military reforms taking all service chiefs on board.

General Rawats successor is likely to be appointed soon to carry on the military reforms initiated by him to create theatre commands and bring about jointness in the functioning of the Army, Navy and Air Force. The Ministry of Defence, of late, advanced the deadline for the Army, Navy and the Air Force to conclude internal studies and submit their reports and views on the proposal of creation of theatre commands from September 2022 to April 2022.

The differences within the military establishment over the basic structure of the theatre commands came to public domain earlier this year when the Chief of Defence Staff General Rawat said that the Indian Air Force remained a supporting arm of the ground forces just like the artillery or the engineers support the combatant arm in the Army. The then Indian Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal (ACM) R K S Bhadauria, however, publicly argued that the Air Force had a greater role to play in any integrated theatre.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh recently stressed that inputs of all stakeholders must be taken into consideration to bring about reforms and enhance jointness in the military structure.

The government is also likely to take a call on appointing the new Chief of Defence Staff soon in view of Chinas belligerence along its disputed boundary with India. Pakistan also, of late, restarted flouting the ceasefire along its Line of Control (LoC) with India after a lull for a few months in addition to facilitating infiltration of terrorists into Jammu and Kashmir.

General Rawat, who had taken over as the first CDS of the country on January 1, 2020, died in a helicopter crash at Coonoor in Tamil Nadu on Wednesday.

Also Read  Lone chopper crash survivor Varun Singh likely to be shifted to Bengaluru for treatment

General Naravane succeeded General Rawat to take over as the Army Chief on December 31, 2019 and, as the government starts looking for his successor, he again appears to be the frontrunner, if the appointment is made in accordance with the recommendation of the committee headed by Lt Gen (retd.) D B Shekatkar. The panel had recommended that the CDS should be appointed from among the service chiefs of the Army, Navy and Air Force.

General Naravane is senior to both Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal V R Chaudhary, and Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral R Hari Kumar who had taken over their respective offices on September 30 and November 30, respectively.

Though General Naravane, now 61, is due to retire in April 2022 on attaining the age of superannuation, he will continue to be in the top echelon of the defence establishment for three more years if the government selects him to be the successor of General Rawat in the office of the CDS.

A CDS can continue in office till the age of 65. The three service chiefs retire at the age of 62 or after completing three years in office, whichever is earlier.

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Civil rights activists on Friday lauded the Gujarat High Court for pulling up the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation over its recent drive against stalls selling non-vegetarian food, while a civic body functionary ruled out discrimination in the removal of the food carts.

The court on Thursday questioned how people could be stopped from "eating what they want" outside their house and slammed the civic body for its drive against handcarts selling non-vegetarian food items on the streets.

Civil rights activist and lawyer K R Koshti welcomed the court's observation saying no one has the right to infringe upon the fundamental right to personal liberty.

"Even the Gujarat government had earlier clarified that people are free to eat whatever they want. Article 21 of the Constitution guarantees people's fundamental right to personal liberty, such as what to eat and what to wear. No government has the right to infringe upon people's rights," Koshti said.

While asking the APP to call the commissioner, Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation before the court, justice Vaishnav posted the case for further hearing in the second half of the day, also directing the corporation's standing counsel Satyam Chhaya for appearance.

Also read: Meat, nutrition and the unpalatable politics of food

Mujahid Nafees, the convener of the Minority Coordination Committee, said the drive of removing handcarts selling only non-veg food items was another tactic by the BJP-led government to divide the society based on the food they eat.

I am glad that the court made some scathing remarks on it. Eventually, the AMC had to announce that there was no discrimination," he added. Devang Dani, chairman of AMC's a town planning and estate committee, last month said carts selling non-veg and egg dishes along the major roads and in a 100-metre radius from schools, colleges, gardens and religious places will be removed. However, after Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel intervened, Dani clarified that veg food vendors will also face action.

"That was an anti-encroachment drive only. There is no question of discrimination. We have removed carts irrespective of the food they were selling, Dani said on Friday. He said the anti-encroachment drive was stopped after a couple of days and the municipal body is at present not carrying out any such drive against street food carts.

The court made the remarks while disposing of a petition filed by nearly 20 street vendors claiming the AMC's recent anti-encroachment drive was targeted at handcarts selling non-vegetarian food items, an allegation denied by the civic body.

At one point, Justice Biren Vaishnav, who was hearing the petition, got agitated and asked the AMC "What is your problem? How can you decide what I should eat outside my house? How can you stop people from eating what they want? Suddenly because someone in power thinks that this is what they want to do?"

Street vendors from Ahmedabad, whose handcarts were seized by the BJP-ruled civic body, alleged the drive against vendors selling egg and non-veg food items was launched in the city after an elected representative in Rajkot city gave a negative opinion about such food being sold on roads.

Advocate Ronith Joy, appearing for petitioners, termed the move as an act of "bigotry" and claimed the civic body has removed the handcarts selling non-veg food on the ground they are not maintaining hygiene. Non-veg vendors were singled out for eviction on the ground that the food they were serving is not vegetarian food, he added.

Justice Vaishnav said, "Will the Municipal Commissioner decide what I will eat? Tomorrow they will tell me not to drink sugarcane juice because it will cause diabetes. Or tell me that coffee is bad for health." Civic bodies of Rajkot, Vadodara and Ahmedabad had earlier announced to remove non-veg food carts from city roads.

However, after the chief minister overruled such a move by local civic bodies, saying the state government has no problem with what people want to eat, the drive against non-veg food carts was converted into an "anti-encroachment" campaign.

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Naxals allegedly beat up labourers at a road construction site in Madhya Pradesh's Balaghat district, and also set ablaze some machines and a vehicle in Gariaband district of neighbouring Chhattisgarh, police said on Thursday.

Both the incidents took place on Wednesday evening and Naxals also forced the labourers in Balaghat to torch machines at the road construction site, they said.

At least 30 to 35 ultras reached the Harra Nala camp of a company, which is constructing Bithali-Pathri road in Balaghat, and threatened labourers, forcing them to torch machines like a hot-mix plant, a JCB machine, a roller and a motorcycle, sub-divisional officer of police, Baihar, Aditya Pratap Mishra said. The rebels, before fleeing the spot, also snatched mobile phones of the labourers and then forced them to leave, he said.

This is the third such incident of Naxals attacking labourers in the district, an official said.

Similar incidents took place on December 3 and 6 in Koraka and Bodaljhola areas of the district to create hurdles in the road construction projects, the official said. The ultras also left behind pamphlets calling for a bandh in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh on December 10 to protest the killing of rebels in Gadchiroli encounter, he said. A search operation has been launched to nab the Naxals involved in the incident, he added.

According to the police, the pamphlets mentioned about the killing of 26 Naxals, including prominent Maoist leader Milind Teltumbde (57), who was carrying a bounty of Rs 50 lakh, in the police encounter in Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra on November 13. Balaghat's Superintendent of Police Abhishek Tiwari said search parties were continuously combing the area to trace the Naxals involved in the attack.

Meanwhile, in Chhattisgarh, the violence took place in the remote Pipalkhuta village under Amlipadar police station limits where an anicut (structure built across a stream or river to supply water to fields) of the irrigation department was being built by a private contractor, another official said.

As per preliminary information, a group of four-five ultras reached the construction site, located over 200 km from the state capital Raipur, and set ablaze a tractor, a JCB machine and two concrete mixer machines parked there, he said. After being alerted, police rushed to the spot, located deep inside a forest bordering Odisha, he said.

The construction contractors in the area had been asked to stop their works for sometime in view of the Peoples' Liberation Guerilla Army (PLGA) week observed by ultras from December 2 to 8 every year, during which they step up their activities, the official said.

The rebels often pass through the dense forest of Amlipadar area to enter Kalahandi and Nuapada districts of Odisha from Chhattisgarh.

The area has witnessed such an incident of torching by Naxals after a long time, the official said. In July this year, a man was killed by Naxals in Mainpur area of the district on suspicion of being a police informer.

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With farmers set to vacate protest sites at Delhi's borders, commuters will heave a huge sigh of relief as roads that have been closed for over a year will reopen, ending their traffic woes.

After farmers agitating against the Centre's now-repealed farm laws occupied the three border points, Tikri, Singhu and Ghazipur, in November last year, those travelling from Delhi to Ghaziabad, Noida and parts of Haryana and vice versa had a tough time due to road closures and traffic diversions.

The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella body of 40 farm unions, on Thursday decided to suspend the movement against the farm laws and announced that farmers will return home on December 11 from the protest sites at Delhi's borders.

The announcement came after the SKM, which is spearheading the movement, received a Central government-signed letter of its agreement to farmers' pending demands, including the withdrawal of cases against protesters and constitution of a committee on minimum support price (MSP) for crops.

Also Read  Farmers finally end year-long agitation, to vacate protest sites by December 11

"After the government's announcement of the repeal of the three farm laws, I had thought that the farmers would end their protest but they continued it. Their announcement today will bring a huge relief to many commuters like me who have been facing severe issues," said Suman Rathore, who travels frequently from Delhi to Rewari in Haryana.

Neeti Rastogi, a resident of Noida Extension, who travels to Lutyens' Delhi daily for work, said, "I used to take the Delhi-Meerut Expressway to reach my office before the protests began. After the protesters occupied the border, I started taking the Metro to reach my office, which meant a longer commuting time, more hassle and the fear of contracting coronavirus."

Viplav Tripathi, also a regular commuter to Delhi from Noida, takes his car to office every day. Due to road closures, his commuting time was extended by 45 minutes. "Using the Noida-Meerut Expressway, I can reach my office in an hour but passing through Noida and the early morning traffic meant a longer commute to my office," he said.

Commuters said the traffic police issued advisories suggesting alternative routes whenever farmers had any events planned and that further added to their difficulties.

Farmers, mainly from Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, started protesting at Delhi's border points on November 26 last year against the three farm laws.

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A new research shows that both low-income and high-income households in Delhi record very high indoor PM2.5 levels during winter, with mean concentrations being 23 and 29 times the WHO's safe limit of 10 microgram per cubic metre, respectively.

The findings by the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago suggested that high-income households were 13 times more likely to own air purifiers than low-income households. Still, the indoor air pollution levels in those homes were only 10 per cent lower than those living in disadvantaged settings.

"In Delhi, the bottom line is, whether someone is rich or poor, no one gets to breathe clean air," says Kenneth Lee, the lead author of the study.

The study that surveyed thousands of Delhi households between 2018 and 2020 across varying socioeconomic strata also found the indoor PM2.5 levels to be substantially higher than the corresponding value reported by the nearest government monitor.

Also, it noted that indoor PM2.5 levels tend to spike in the mornings and evenings when households are most likely to be cooking.

Researchers also found that the demand for air pollution information and defensive technologies among residents in Delhi is low. Even when offered a free trial of indoor air quality monitors to track pollution levels inside their homes, the take-up rates were low.

Fifty-six per cent of the households surveyed showed no interest, while 15 per cent of them accepted the offer.

Households with access to real-time indoor air pollution data recorded an over eight per cent decline in indoor PM2.5 concentrations, and researchers observed modest changes in inexpensive defensive practices and ventilation behaviours in these houses.

"It's critical to address the information gaps related to indoor air pollution urgently. High-frequency accurate PM2.5 information communicated through either government monitor or by indoor air quality monitors is the first step but only when it is complemented with an increase in literacy around health consequences of air pollution and the benefits of adopting various defensive actions, can we expect more favourable outcomes," Lee said.

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The Indian Air Force has instituted a tri-service inquiry into the tragic crash of the Mi17V5 helicopter that killed Indias first Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat, his wife and 11 other armed forces personnel.

A tri-service enquiry regarding the incident has been ordered by Indian Air Force, headed by Air Marshal Manvendra Singh, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Training Command, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said in a statement made in both Houses of the Parliament on Thursday.

Narrating the sequence of events, Singh said, Gen Bipin Rawat was on a scheduled visit to Defence Services Staff College, Wellington to interact with the student Officers. The Air Force Mi17V5 helicopter took off from SulurAir Base at 11:48 am yesterday and was expected to land at Wellington by 12:15 pm.

Read | Black box of IAF chopper that crashed with CDS Bipin Rawat on board recovered

The Air Traffic Control at Sulur Air Base lost contact with the helicopter at approximately 12:08 pm. Subsequently, few locals spotted a fire in the forest near Coonoor and rushed to the spot where they observed the wreckage of the military helicopter engulfed in flames. Rescue teams from the local administration in the vicinity reached the site and attempted to recover the survivors from the crash site.

All those recovered from the wreckage were rushed to the Military Hospital, Wellington. Latest reports have confirmed that out of the total 14 persons onboard the ill-fated helicopter, 13 have succumbed to their injuries, he said.

The dead include the spouse of the CDS, Madhulika Rawat, his Defence Adviser Brig Lakhbinder Singh Lidder, Staff Officer Lt Col Harjinder Singh and nine other Armed Forces personnel including the Air Force helicopter crew.

Also Read | Bipin Rawat senior-most military official to die in an air crash

Their names are Wing Commander Prithvi Singh Chauhan, Squadron Leader Kuldeep Singh, Junior Warrant Officer Rana Pratap Das, Junior Warrant Officer Arakkal Pradeep, Havildar Satpal Rai, Naik Gursewak Singh, Naik Jitendra Kumar, Lance Naik Vivek Kumar, Lance Naik B Sai Teja.

The lone survivor Group Captain Varun Singh is on life support in the Military Hospital at Wellington and all efforts are being made to save his life, Singh said.

The defence Minister also said that the Chief of Defence Staff would be cremated with full military honours.

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The Uttar Pradesh government has suspended an official in connection with the alleged burying alive of 50 cows and other cattle from a 'gaushala' in Naraini here.

The action against Amar Bahadur, the executive officer of Naraini Nagar Panchayat was taken on Wednesday night after chief development officer Ved Prakash Maurya, who was asked to investigate the case, submitted his report to the district magistrate.

Rajkaran Kabir, the BJP MLA from Naraini constituency, who had alleged that 50 cows and other cattle from the gaushala were buried alive in Madhya Pradesh's Panna district, said the probe report was "misleading".

He said the executive officer was made a scapegoat and alleged the involvement of the sub-divisional magistrate.

Banda District Magistrate Anurag Patel had earlier said 134 cows and other cattle were taken from the temporary gaushala in Naraini and shifted to four other temporary gaushalas on Saturday.

On Monday, a report of these animals being buried alive in the forest of Madhya Pradesh was published in a newspaper.

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Opposition on Thursday suspended their protest demanding the revocation of suspension of 12 MPs for a day and did not disrupt the proceedings in Rajya Sabha "out of their profound respect and anguish at the sudden death" of Chief of Defence Staff Bipin Rawat, his wife and soldiers who were killed in a chopper crash in Tamil Nadu.

However, the Opposition made its displeasure clear against Deputy Chairman Harivansh's decision not to allow Opposition leaders to pay tributes to Gen Rawat inside Rajya Sabha after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh made a statement on the tragic incident with Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge saying it showed how the government was running Parliament.

The decision to suspend the protest inside and outside Parliament was taken at a meeting of Opposition parties at Kharge in the morning. All parties, including Trinamool Congress that has not been attending meetings called by Congress, had informally consulted about the course of action on Wednesday night itself and agreed on this. The protest inside and outside Rajya Sabha will resume on Friday morning.

Also read: New Chief of Defence Staff to be named soon; General Naravane frontrunner

The Opposition MPs, including the suspended lawmakers, gathered at the Gandhi Statue in the morning and observed silence at Gandhi Statue in memory of Gen Rawat. Inside the House, the Opposition did not disrupt the proceedings throughout the day, as a mark of respect to the first Chief of Defence Staff.

Soon after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh made a statement, Kharge appealed to Harivansh to allow him and other Opposition floor leaders to pay tributes to Gen Rawat.

However, Harivansh declined saying the rules did not allow it, leading to protests from Opposition MPs like Sushmita Dev, Nadimuk Haque and Vaiko among others.

Trinamool Congress MPs insisted on allowing the leaders to speak and later, they walked out of the House in protest against not allowing them to speak on Gen Rawat and suspension of MPs.

When his turn to raise an issue came up during the Zero Hour, MDMK's Vaiko requested that he be allowed to pay tributes to Gen Rawat and when the Deputy Chairman disallowed, he urged him to give him a chance to raise his admitted notice on Friday.

Also Read  Lone chopper crash survivor Varun Singh likely to be shifted to Bengaluru for treatment

Kharge said the Opposition condemned the decision not to allow leaders to speak on Gen Rawat. "What kind of democracy is this? You are not even allowing Opposition leaders to pay tributes to an accomplished General, who was the first Chief of Defence Staff. You saw how Parliament is run, To pay tributes to someone who died, we need to take the government's permission," he told reporters.

Trinamool's Sushmita Dev targeted the government saying, "even mourning is also monopolised by the Narendra Modi regime."

Asked about the future of the protest, a senior Opposition leader said none of the 12 MPs is "not going to sign any apology letter". He alleged that the government is "deliberately confusing" the public by "leaking wrong news" that they were individually trying to persuade parties to resolve the impasse.

RJD's Manoj Jha said normally the floor leaders make references and tributes when such a national tragedy has happened. "Obituary unites the House. But if obituaries are seen from partisan perspectives, then things are certainly not good," he told DH.

The opposition decided not to suspend the dharna because they wanted to convey their condolences, he said adding that the government could have utilised this opportunity to convey a collective message on such an unfortunate incident. "I feel the government has committed a big mistake. It is working with a 'my way or highway' attitude. Please do not see politics on such occasions," he said.

DMK's T K Elangovan said, "this government thinks that the Parliament is only for their use and not for opposition parties. This is sad."

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday greeted Congress president Sonia Gandhi on her birthday.

Gandhi, the longest serving president of her party, turned 75 on Thursday.

Modi tweeted, "Best wishes to Smt. Sonia Gandhi Ji on her birthday. Praying for her long life and good health."

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Bird flu has been confirmed among ducks in Alappuzha district of Kerala and around 20,000 ducks were being culled.

Kerala Animal Husbandry director A Kowsigan said that the disease was confirmed by Wednesday evening and culling activities were swiftly initiated in the region. Migratory birds frequenting the locality due to its wetlands has been a suspected source of infection. No cases were reported from any other parts of the state.

Alappuzha district animal husbandry officer Dr A G Geo said that the disease was found in samples tested from a batch of around 13,000 ducks and all the ducks were culled. Around 10,000 more birds, mainly ducks, in a radius of one kilometre were also being culled as a precaution.

Earlier, when bird flu was reported in the district among ducks large scale culling had to be initiated. With Christmas and New Year festivals right around the corner, farmers are concerned about the sales of duck that are usually high this time of the year. The government will pay compensations, to the farmers.

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A youth ended his life in Kerala after failing to raise money for sister's marriage. Now, help is pouring in for the family.

Vipin, 25, was found hanging in his house at Gandhi Nagar in Thrissur on Monday. He dropped his mother and sister at a jewellery shop to buy gold for the marriage and assured them that he would come back with money. But later, he was found hanging in the house. It was learnt that he approached many banks and private financial institutions for a loan by pledging the 2.5 cent family property, but the banks refused to lend him money. It is suspected that this is what prompted him to end his life.

Following the incident, individuals, business groups and voluntary organisations have offered assistance in the form of cash and gold to the bride Vidya. Bridegroom Nithin had said that he did not demand any dowry and would not backtrack from the marriage. Nithin and Vidya were in a relationship for about an year and the wedding that was scheduled for December 12 has been postponed to the end of the month.

With Vipin's father having died five years ago, the family was surviving with the low income jobs of Vipin, Vidya and their mother.

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Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday hit back at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "lal topi" comment, saying that the colour of the cap has reached Delhi, engulfing BJP's ranks in panic.

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Elon Musk doesnt want subsidies. Just delete them all, he said Monday at the Wall Street Journals CEO Council Summit, referring to state backing for the electric vehicle market. But that doesnt mean that Tesla Inc. hasnt benefited from incentives, or that other companies have no need for them  they do.

This is the second time Musk has come out swinging against government help in recent months. A few weeks ago, the company withdrew its application for state aid for a planned battery factory in Germany, where it was expected to get over 1 billion euros ($1.2 billion) in support. It has always been Teslas view that all subsidies should be eliminated, he posted on Twitter.

Its unclear what his exact rationale is, especially because Tesla  now valued at close to $1 trillion  is no stranger to preferential treatment from the state, including the US and China.

Musks company is built on the foundation of (mostly) good ideas that have been backed by public largesse. Government incentives have boosted sales in locations from Denmark to Hong Kong, while manufacturing operations in China have gone relatively smoothly thanks to state aid. In Europe, Tesla was looking to tap subsidies to get set up in Germany. For new markets, such as India, the firm is actively looking for an entry with exemptions. Few other automakers have been able to use global subsidies as effectively.

In the US, aid came in various forms, including loans, credits and tax breaks. In 2010, the firm got a $465 million loan from the Energy Department under a special program, which it repaid three year later. The state of Nevada gave the company $1.3 billion in incentives to build a battery factory near Reno. Other states have given Musk millions of dollars, too. Tax credits for consumers, meanwhile, helped make Teslas more affordable, until the company sold enough vehicles to render it ineligible for aid. Under Bidens Build Back Better spending bill, the automaker could re-qualify because the cap on cars sold will be removed. Tesla continues to benefit from pollution credits that it can sell to other manufacturers, too.

Also read: Inside Tesla as Elon Musk pushed an unflinching vision for self-driving cars

When the US market was rocky, though, Musk looked to China  a growing consumer base with supportive policies, where he was welcomed with open arms. Tesla has benefited from loans on loose terms, low-cost land, an investment agreement with the government, support for the speedy build-out of its manufacturing facility, a deep supply chain of suppliers, including for batteries  you name it. All that has allowed the company to churn out thousands of vehicles for sale in the worlds largest market and now exports them to other parts of the world.

With its market heft and record sales in some places, its easy for Musk to brush off the hand-holding. At the WSJ summit, when asked whether state support for charging networks is needed, Musk replied, Unnecessary  do we need support for gas stations?

Also Read | Civilisation will 'crumble' if people don't have more kids: Elon Musk

But heres the thing: History shows that electric vehicles got left behind internal-combustion-engine vehicles because of insufficient investment in electricity grids and infrastructure, such as charging facilities. In fact, one study has shown that when performance was taken into account, EVs were cheaper or on par with gasoline-driven cars. The most important factor in settling the race between gasoline and electric vehicles, it found, was that a 1520 year earlier diffusion of electricity would have tipped the balance in favor of EVs.

Even today, that cost barrier remains. By some estimates, its close to $6 trillion, around half of which is money that needs to be spent on electricity grids. The industry is capital intensive, as Musk knows well. The only way to cross the hurdle before uptake rises exponentially is public aid. Sure, theres a case for better policy design, more focused subsidies, and ways to drive more investment by companies alongside government aid. Without this, the EV market won't take off. Private investment alone, or a laissez-faire approach, isnt an option.

Perhaps Musk can test out his theory by sharing some of the generosity hes enjoyed, or better yet, refusing all the preferential treatment he gets around the world. His troubles in Germany may be an early taste of what could happen. Then well see where shares and sales end up, and how far policy support can go.

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Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Thursday said the government will take a call on restrictions for Christmas and New Year celebrations in a weeks time, specifying that the Covid-19 situation is under control for now.

Bommai was speaking after chairing a meeting of his Cabinet, where Covid-19 Technical Advisory Committee chief Dr MK Sudarshan was invited for a briefing on the pandemic situation in Karnataka.

We were given details on the current status and on the Omicron variant. Looking at the positivity rate at present, theres no need to panic. Still, we have been advised to take precautions, Bommai said.

Measures such as night curfew ahead of Christmas and New Year, we will wait for a week and decide based on how the situation evolves. We dont want to make any hasty decisions, Bommai said.

CORONAVIRUS SPECIAL COVERAGE ONLY ON DH

Much of the governments focus remains on Covid-19 clusters in educational institutions and hostels.

Special guidelines or standard operating procedures (SOP) for cluster management and hostels will be issued soon, Bommai said. Steps to reduce visitors, regular sanitisation of the premises, ensuring double-dose vaccination for hotel canteen staff and preparing isolation rooms are required, he added.

At the Cabinet meeting, Bommai said several ministers suggested a special vaccination drive like the one that was done in May-June this year. Based on this, a special drive will be carried out in the coming days," he said.

A strict vigil will continue in border areas of the state. "Restrictions for students from Kerala, such as double dose vaccines or RT-PCR tests after arriving in Karnataka will remain," he said.

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In the wake of new Covid-19 clusters emerging and the threats of the new Omicron variant of coronavirus, the Karnataka government on Thursday decided to focus on cluster management and to issue fresh guidelines to hostels, aimed at controlling spread of the infection. Not wanting to take any "hasty decision" regarding imposing curbs, it said, a decision regarding such measures like night curfew and restrictions on Christmas and New Year celebrations will be taken after analysing the situation for a week.

"Regarding Covid, our Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) head Dr M K Sudarshan has informed about the current situation, he has shared details about the Omicron variant. According to him, looking at the current figures and the positivity rate, there is no need for any major concern or worry," Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said.

Speaking to reporters after the cabinet meeting, he said, still the government felt it is necessary to take certain precautionary measures, like issuing new guidelines for hostels and their management like- sanitising, letting people for food in a staggered way, restricting visitors, double dose vaccination for all staff working there, and setting up a separate isolation room.

"We have already given similar guidelines for cluster management and have said that if there are more than three positive cases in a place it will be declared clusters, and such measures will continue," he said, adding that on the advice of the Ministers special vaccination drive will also be held, like it was held earlier this year.

The Chief Minister on Wednesday had received an 'informal' briefing by senior officials regarding the current Covid-19 situation in the state and had held discussions regarding managing the clusters that have emerged, the Omicron situation, and about the government's preparedness. Covid-19 clusters have emerged mostly at educational institutions and hostels in several places of the state like Bengaluru, Dharwad, Mysuru, Hassan, Mangaluru, among others; while at least two cases of Omicron were detected in Bengaluru.

Bommai, in response to a question said that the strict vigilance and measures in the border areas, specifically for students from Kerala like- mandatory vaccination and RT-PCR tests for entering the state, will continue. Regarding curbs on Christmas and New Year celebrations, the government will take a decision after analysing the situation for a week, he said, adding that, "regarding any special curbs like night curfew also, a decision we will decide after watching the situation for a week. We did not want to take any hasty decision."

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Statement

We also discussed key global challenges, including in the context of Irelands Security Council term. Ireland and Japan share a common approach and commitment to ending hunger and I thanked the Minister for Japans leadership in hosting this weeks successful Nutrition for Growth Summit.

I updated the Minister on the development of Ireland House in Tokyo, a flagship build under the Governments Global Ireland programme which reflects our commitment to growing our ties with Japan.

I was very pleased to be able to congratulate Minister Hayashi on his recent appointment as the Foreign Minister of Japan. Ireland and Japan share a close and warm relationship with great potential for development, as well as shared values and global priorities.

Minister Coveney thanked Japan for hosting the Nutrition for Growth Summit in Tokyo on 7 and 8 December 2021. At the Summit, both Ireland and Japan announced significant and comprehensive pledges to tackle hunger and support nutrition globally. Ireland pledged 800 million over the next five years on nutrition programmes and interventions.

The Ministers affirmed their commitment to strengthening the excellent bilateral relations between Ireland and Japan. They also exchanged views on global security challenges.

Notes for Editors:

Ireland House

Ireland House Tokyo will be the centre of Irelands presence in Japan, the third largest economy in the world. It will promote Irelands track record as a global centre of innovation and a great place to do business within the European Union. It will be a venue to learn about Ireland and will advertise Ireland as somewhere to study, do research and to visit. It will project all aspects of Irish culture, heritage and the arts, and will be the heartbeat of the Irish community in Japan.

Nutrition for Growth Summit (Tokyo), 7-8 December 2021

Borne out of our historical memory of famine, the eradication of hunger and a particular focus on tackling undernutrition has been a cornerstone of Irelands development programme since its inception, and a key pillar of our foreign policy.

Since the launch of the Hunger Task Force in 2008, Ireland has become a committed clear global leader in this space with prominent political leadership and funding on the world stage.

At the Nutrition for Growth Summit, Ireland championed a focus on hunger and acute malnutrition, with our emphasis on the furthest behind first and support to assist other countries in developing a sustainable food systems approach.

155 million people in 55 countries faced acute hunger in the past year. This is an increase of 20 million, with conflict as the main reason, combined with climate change challenges and economic shocks caused by the COVID -19 pandemic.

Irelands pledges responded to this stark context and included two policy pledges and one financial pledge as follows:

Policy Pledge 1: Hunger

Ireland pledges support for innovative programming approaches for the prevention and treatment of hunger, with a particular focus on tackling wasting for children aged 0-6 months. Zero hunger is the ultimate test of an effective sustainable food system. Wasting is the most visible form of malnutrition and carries the highest risk of death. Some 45 million children under the age of five currently suffer from wasting. This commitment positions Ireland to take a leadership role on the issue of wasting globally, backed up by programming targeted at small and nutritionally at-risk infants and children.

Policy Pledge 2: Food Systems Transformation

Ireland commits to providing technical and financial assistance to partner countries for the implementation of sustainable food systems pathways, emphasising nutrition and context specific approaches. We will do so by offering appropriate and realistic expertise and advice, as well as tools (from a range of partners) to bring about transformational systems change.

Ireland has developed its Food Strategy (Food Vision 2030) using a food systems and partnership approach. Ireland recognises many countries will need to draw on a partnership approach, as they pursue planning using a food systems approach. Each country embarking on its food systems journey must take account of its history, natural resources, human and social capital, and the current level of development of its agri-food sector. A food systems strategy must take account of these national realities: there is no single blueprint or one size fits all. The Irish experience of developing Food Vision 2030 produced some important lessons and Ireland commits to sharing this experience broadly and to working with partner countries as they develop their own strategies.

Financial Pledge

Ireland pledges to spend 800 million over the next 5 years on nutrition programmes and interventions. Equating to 160 million a year, this will include funding to multilateral organisations, country based NGOs, recipient governments and international NGOs.
Ireland, the home of Halloween, highlighted in Ljubljana

News

To mark the traditional Irish festival of Halloween and to better inform people on the home of Halloween, the Embassy had constructed on the eve of Halloween an outreach stall in the centre of Ljubljana. It was a great pleasure to meet in a safe environment and to share, including with members of the local Irish community, additional information on its origin and traditions, as well as to distribute mini-barmbracks and other goodies associated with this festival that has its home in Ireland.

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SEATTLE (AP)  A Snohomish insurance agent was sentenced to two years in prison after pleading guilty to wire fraud in the theft of premium payments from clients.

Vicki Boser, owner of InsuranceTek, Inc., pleaded guilty in August. At her sentencing Tuesday, she was also ordered to pay $273,137 in restitution to eight companies or insurance brokers she defrauded.





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SEATTLE  Swedish Health Services is partnering with Creative Energy, an owner and operator of district energy systems in North America, to decarbonize energy use for its flagship campus, Swedish First Hill.

The work supports the goal for Providence's family of organizations, which includes Swedish, to become carbon negative by the end of this decade.





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SPOKANE (AP)  A chain of upscale hotels in Spokane has been sold to Colorado-based KSL Capital Partners.

Terms of the sale of the Historic Davenport Hotel, built in 1914, and four other hotels in downtown Spokane were not released.





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Local author Valinora Troy has released her debut childrens novel The Lucky Diamond.

Valinora grew up in Blackrock, and after working for some years in Dublin, returned to Co Louth, and now lives in Dunleer.

Her mother, Geri Valentine, published a series of childrens books in the 1990s and she fondly remembers her influence as she grew up in Blackrock with ten brothers and sisters.

We all wrote stories, sometimes collaboratively, sometimes competitively!

The Lucky Diamond is a fantasy story about five orphaned siblings who discover an exciting new and dangerous world when they meet a magical talking Diamond called Lucky and agree to help her get home.

I think they [her stories] are influenced by growing up so near the border.

My countries are often divided politically and Luckys home is in a place called The Rock of Diamonds and she talks about the Rock a lot, much as when I was growing up we talked about going down the Rock meaning Blackrock village.

The book has already received some acclaim and was awarded an Indie Book We Love badge by the UK Book recommendation site LoveReading4kids, a fitting acknowledgement for a process that put Valinora through many highs and lows:

Buoyed by her early success, Valorina has other projects in the pipeline and is eager to get more of the series published:

I have five more books written in The Lucky Diamond series and I plan to publish book 2 and 3 next year.

The Lucky Diamond is available for purchase in Easons and Academy Books in Drogheda and is also available online on Amazon.
A group of keen second year historians in Colaiste Chu Chulainn have been working with a partner school in Northern Ireland as part of the Entwined Histories project.

Students visited Linen Hall Library and City Hall in Belfast last month where they got tours of the buildings and got a grounding in the history of partition from the instructors from Co-operation Ireland.

They also did a script development day with students from Lagan college Belfast in the Carrickdale Hotel on the 16th November, to plan how best to explore the lives and contributions of Michael Collins and James Craig to life on this island through the medium of film.

The Entwined Histories project brings schools, north and south, together to explore significant anniversaries and themes emerging from the Decade of Centenaries.

Students from each school have been tasked with, and given instructions on, creating a short film on a chosen topic.

Next, the groups will work together over two day-long workshops, directing and filming their production before a premiere of their films at the end of the year.

History teacher, Mr Fisher, speaking of the project said: "This is our fourth year involved with Entwined Histories, its an excellent incitive that creates a lot of excitement around our shared history and incentivises thorough historical research.

"Im glad we are continuing to play a role in it this year and the students are very much enjoying representing the school."
Dunleer has been awarded 100k to deliver the governments initial Town Centre First Plan in County Louth.

Each Local Authority in the country has received a 100k as part of an overall 2.6m investment from government which will deliver a focused town centre first master plan for a town within their respective areas, which is part of Our Rural Future  the Governments ambitious five year strategy designed to reimagine and revitalise Rural Ireland.

Local Fine Gael TD Fergus ODowd, welcoming the funding, said: I was delighted to receive the confirmation from my colleague Minister for Rural and Community Development Heather Humphreys, this money will provide a platform to revitalise Dunleer and tackle dereliction within the town.

The job now begins to prepare these masterplans and that will require considerable consultation with the local community, groups and organisations located in and around Dunleer.

The councils Town Team must ensure that this is a plan that represents the views and wishes of the people of Dunleer.

It is expected that funding will be provided for the development of plans in additional towns as the Town Centre First Policy is launched and fully operational.

This initial funding has been delivered to towns with populations of 10,000 or below.

Minister Heather Humphreys said: I am really pleased to announce the first ever Town Centre First Plans as part of a 2.6 million investment for Rural Ireland.

Each local authority has put forward one of their towns which will receive 100,000 from my Department to develop its own unique master plan. The development of these 26 Plans will feed into the Governments overall Town Centre First Policy, which will be launched in the coming weeks.

Finally, I should stress that this is the first phase of funding for these Plans under the Town Centre First Policy and other towns will be afforded opportunities to develop such plans as we move forward.
The man on trial by judge and jury for murdering a 52-year-old man at Bandon Road in Cork city told gardai in his first interview that he was at home in bed that night with his co-accused, watching the prison drama Orange is the New Black.

Keith OHara and Helen Jones both deny murdering Paul Jones at his home on Bandon Road on September 4 2019.

Garda interviews

Evidence was given to Mr Justice Michael McGrath and the jury of ten at the Central Criminal Court in Cork of four interviews of Keith OHara by Sergeant John OConnell and Sergeant Niall OConnell on September 10 and 11 2019.

In the memo of his first interview it was noted that Keith OHara was asked if he left the house where he was living with Helen Jones at 27 Cahergal Avenue, Mayfield, Cork, on the night of Wednesday September 4 2019.

He replied, Not that I recall.

He said of the Cahergal area, It is a quiet place  retired cops (live there) as far as I know.

Asked about how he got bruises to his upper left arm he replied, rough sex.

He also explained some abrasions by reference to a fall which he said he had on Thursday September 5 2019. He said that a week earlier he had a tattoo of Helens name on his neck from a tattoo shop.

Asked again about the night of Wednesday September 4 2019 Keith OHara said he and Helen Jones watched The Chase, Coronation Street and other soaps. He said they went to bed and watched Orange is the New Black on Netflix.

In the memo of his second interview, Keith OHara was presented with evidence from taxi driver Pat Moynihan that he picked up Helen Jones and a man at 27 Cahergal Avenue at 9.24 pm.

Keith OHara and Helen Jones both deny murdering Paul Jones (pictured) at his home on Bandon Road on September 4 2019.

Keith OHara responded to this by saying, Jesus f***ing Christ, that is sleep time for me.

Asked again about a taxi ordered from his phone for a return trip to Noonan Road from Cahergal Avenue, Keith OHara said, I did not murder Paul Jones.

"I did not stab him. I dont carry knives. I got no beef with anyone I did not draw blood from anyone.

Questioned again about going to Noonan Road and back, he said, I have the odd joint of hash and he said he went there to buy it and Helen Jones said she would go with him.

Evidence put to him

Further evidence was put to Keith OHara of travelling by the same taxi from Noonan Road to Bandon Road. It was put to him that witnesses saw three people at the front door of 108 Bandon Road and being in there for four minutes and 17 seconds.

He replied, I did not inflict injuries on that man with a knife.

It was put to him that he was saying he went to buy drugs and that he did not inflict injury on anyone but he was asked, What happened in the middle?

He replied, Maybe you are asking the wrong person.

Again it was put to him, Three people in the house  only two came out.

Keith OHara replied, I am an innocent positon 100%, I did not hurt anyone. I did not hurt that man whatsoever.

He was asked if the late Paul Jones hurt him, and he replied, No.

Asked if the deceased had hurt Helen Jones, Keith OHara replied, No.

Keith OHara said, I did not hurt anyone I have a lot to live for I did not murder anyone I did not hurt anyone.

Asked if he was protecting Helen Jones, he replied, I did not hurt anyone, it is up to you to prove it was me I wasnt in that house for four seconds.

Asked, Do you deny being in 108 Bandon Road? he replied, Yeah.

Forensic evidence

Forensic scientist Dr Yvonne ODowd examined a machete or bill-hook and said that blood on the blade had a DNA match for the late Paul Jones, and that blood on the handle had a DNA profile matching Keith OHara. She found blood on the soles of socks was a profile match for Paul Jones and that there was a DNA link between Helen Jones and one of the socks.

Helen Jones, 54, of 27 Cahergal Avenue, Mayfield, Cork, pleaded not guilty to the charge of murdering Paul Jones  her 52-year-old brother at his home - on September 4 2019 at 108 Bandon Road, Cork.

Her co-accused Keith OHara, 43, also of 27 Cahergal Avenue, also pleaded not guilty to the same murder charge.

Each defendant is additionally charged with a different count related to alleged trespass at the same time and place. Helen Jones is charged with trespass to cause serious harm while carrying a knife. Keith OHara is charged with trespassing to commit serious harm. The defendants also pleaded not guilty to these charges.

As a result of two jurors failing to appear last the week the case continues in front of Mr Justice Michael McGrath and a jury of ten.
MACROOM secondary school De La Salle College has received the go-ahead to construct a new state-of-the-art school on the Sandy Hill site overlooking the River Sullane. The proposed new school will be constructed on the 9.5 acre site adjoining the Town Park.

Their school principal John Murphy welcomed the news which was confirmed in recent days by the Department of Education.

There has been very positive feedback in the locality since the news broke, he said.

Macroom town is currently experiencing a construction renaissance with multiple residential projects underway or just completed.

Mr Murphy said the new school will meet the growing demand for school places in the local area.

Our numbers have increased significantly in recent years and we have had to put in temporary accommodation to meet the needs of the students, he said.

It will be a 21st century school for the town of Macroom.

A spokesperson for the Department of Education said: The department has determined that the accommodation needs of De La Salle College, Macroom will be met through the construction of a new school building on the site acquired at New Street, Gurteenroe, Macroom.

The project for the school is included in the departments ADAPT (Accelerated Delivery of Architectural Planning & Tendering) 3 Programme and a tender competition to appoint a Project Manager for this programme is currently underway.

It is expected that this process will be concluded early in the New Year. The Project Manager, when appointed, will be responsible for initiating the process for the appointment of a Design Team for the ADAPT 3 Programme, the spokesperson added.
A prizewinning artwork by 13-year old Cork student Becca Evans, from Regina Mundi Girls secondary school, Ballinlough, and another by Isabella Croce (10) from Cloghroe National School, Blarney, have been chosen to illustrate the 2022 Texaco Childrens Art Competition Calendar just published.

Two of 13 selected to illustrate the publication, Beccas piece, entitled Teatime, will appear during the month of January and Isabellas entitled Circle Of Life will feature in December. Both will be seen in thousands of homes throughout Ireland during the coming year.

Both winners of Special Merit Awards in the 2021 competition, they were two of a number said by a competition adjudicator to illustrate perfectly the outstanding talent, creativity and imagination that many of our young artists possess.

The artwork by 10-year old Cork student Isabella Croce.

No stranger to the Competition, Isabella won a Special Merit Award in 2019 and 2016 also.

Calendars are currently available through a select number of Texaco service stations and Texaco branded distributors countrywide and through Texoil, Valeros own home heating oil division.
National strategy helping to tackle bribery and corruption

New plans to tackle bribery and corruption have been launched by the Anti-Bribery and Corruption Project.

The national strategy will support efforts to maintain the Isle of Man's reputation as a well-regulated and responsible international business centre.

It will help to address an issue identified as part of the National Risk Assessment of money laundering, combating the financing of terrorism, and financial crime carried out in 2020.

The Anti-Bribery and Corruption Project will coordinate efforts to identify and address potential gaps through the introduction of a national framework aligned with existing legislation and codes of practice.



Cabinet Office Minister Kate Lord-Brennan MHK said: Bribery and corruption has a damaging effect on communities and the rule of law. This project reflects our commitment to ensuring that ours is an internationally compliant jurisdiction where financial crime, whether perpetrated at home or elsewhere, is not welcome.



While much good work is already taking place, we need a clear national strategy on this to support agencies to work together more effectively in identifying risks and taking action where necessary. Our intention is to create a lasting legacy by putting in place an online portal that provides access to advice, information, policies and legislation, as well as a means for the confidential reporting of concerns.
PCR tests of 'highest standard' says Manx Care

Manx Care says its PCR Covid testing process at Noble's Hospital is of the highest clinical standards.

A number of people have reported testing negative for coronavirus at the Grandstand - that's despite testing positive on lateral flow devices and PCR testing from private labs.

In a statement, the health body said: "In the Isle of Man, lateral flow devices are returning a positive predictive rate of about 90% (where people test positive for Covid-19 on a lateral flow device and subsequently return a positive PCR test too). Since PCR tests may not be 100% sensitive, it means there will inevitably be rare occasions when an LFD shows positive and a PCR shows negative."

Since the start of the pandemic in March last year, the lab has performed approximately 140,000 PCR tests.
Italy's antitrust authority (AGCM) has fined Amazon 1.13 billion ($1.28 billion) for "abuse of dominant position," the second penalty it has imposed on Amazon over the last month. Amazon holds a position of "absolute dominance" in the Italian brokerage services market, "which has allowed it to promote its own logistics service, called Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA)," the authority wrote in a (Google translated) press release.

According to the AGCM, companies must use Amazon's FBA service if they want access to key benefits like the Prime label, which in turn allows them to participate in Black Friday sales and other key events. "Amazon has thus prevented third-party sellers from associating the Prime label with offers not managed with FBA," it said.

The authority said access to those functions are "crucial" for seller success. It also noted that third-party sellers using FBA are not subject to the same stringent performance requirements as non-FBA sellers. As such, they're less likely to be suspended from the platform if they fail to meet certain goals. Finally, it noted that sellers using Amazon's logistics services are discouraged from offering their products on other online platforms, at least to the same extent they do on Amazon.

The AGCM said it imposed the steep fine as it considered Amazon's actions to be "particularly serious" given their duration and the effects they've caused. On top of the fine, it has demanded that Amazon grant the privileges enjoyed by FBA sellers to all third-party sellers, provided they respect other rules and laws. It will have to define and publish those standards within a year, and its actions will be enforced by a monitoring trustee.

In a statement to Engadget, an Amazon spokesperson said the company "strongly disagreed" with the decision and will appeal. It also noted that non-FBA sellers can use its Seller Fulfilled Prime (SFP) service, which gives them access to Prime benefits without having to use Amazons logistics services.

We strongly disagree with the decision of the Italian Competition Authority (ICA) and we will appeal. The proposed fine and remedies are unjustified and disproportionate. More than half of all annual sales on Amazon in Italy come from SMBs, and their success is at the heart of our business model. Small and medium-sized businesses have multiple channels to sell their products both online and offline: Amazon is just one of those options. We constantly invest to support the growth of the 18,000 Italian SMBs that sell on Amazon, and we provide multiple tools to our sellers, including those who manage shipments themselves.

Last month, Amazon and Apple were fined $228 million in Italy for unfairly restricting Beats sales by limiting them to select retailers. The EU also handed Amazon a record $888 million fine for violating the bloc's strict GDPR data privacy laws. Other tech giants are also under scrutiny in the EU. Notably, the EU recently opened an antitrust investigation into Apple's App Store rules, particularly over commissions related to in-app purchases.

Update 12/9/2021 4:43 AM ET: Amazon has provided a comment to Engadget which has been included in the article.
The Pound Australian Dollar (GBP/AUD) exchange rate has inched higher today as Sterling recovers slightly from yesterday's sharp selloff.

The Australian Dollar (AUD) has eased off recent highs but remains in a strong position as geopolitical tensions and new Covid restrictions see risk appetite soften slightly.

Pound (GBP) Exchange Rates Edge Up after Covid Plan B Sparks Selloff

The Pound (GBP) has managed to edged higher against the Australian Dollar today after slumping to a three-week low on new UK Covid restrictions.

Last night, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that the government would be implementing its Covid plan B to tackle the spread of the Omicron variant. Cases of the new strain are rising exponentially in the UK, and while it appears to produce milder symptoms it can still cause serious illness.

In addition, it seems to be more transmissible than the Delta variant and able to reinfect those who have some level of immunity, either through prior infection or from vaccination.

As a result, the government said it was best to implement plan B to slow the spread of Omicron, hopefully easing the burden on the National Health Service (NHS) and buying time for the UK to roll out more vaccinations.

Economists are concerned that the new restrictions could further hamper the UKs stalling economic recovery. Bill Blain, a market strategist and commentator, said:

Working from Home has very clear economic implications  and kills the December party season. Consequences, consequences. More and more the UK feels like a struggling health service with an inefficient nation attached. Its not a good look.

Sterling has also been hit by the political furore accompanying the announcement. There are multiple allegations that government departments, No. 10 and even Boris Johnson himself held parties over the Christmas period last year that would have broken lockdown laws.

Health experts are worried that many members of the public will choose not to follow Covid guidance if they believe that the government is flouting the rules. Meanwhile, MPs from both the opposition and the Conservative party have expressed outrage, with many saying that Johnson must resign if it is found that he has lied to parliament.

The potential economic, medical and political fallout from these events saw Sterling fall to its worst level in three weeks against the Aussie. This morning, the Pound is edging higher but remains near three-week lows.

Australian Dollar (AUD) Exchange Rates Ease off Highs as Risk-On Mood Cools

As for the Australian Dollar, AUD investors seem to be taking a breather after an impressive bullish run. The Aussie has risen almost 2.7% against the Pound so far this week and 2.6% against the US Dollar (USD) as markets are increasingly optimistic that the Omicron variant will not have a significant impact on the global economic recovery.

Early reports seem to indicate that the Omicron variant produces much milder symptoms than the Delta variant, although it is more transmissible. A few virologists are even hopeful that the less-dangerous but more-infectious Omicron will out-compete other strains, leading to fewer hospitalisations and deaths.

Today, the Aussie is easing off its recent highs, though it remains in a strong position. The slight downside comes amid the UKs new Covid restrictions, with other European countries also imposing tougher pandemic measures.

Geopolitical tensions have also chipped away at risk appetite somewhat. Russia has been building up its military presence on Ukraines borders, prompting fears of an invasion. In response, the US has warned of severe consequences. In addition, the US, UK and Australia have announced diplomatic boycotts of the Beijing Winter Olympics over human rights concerns.

As a result, the Australian Dollar has softened somewhat today. However, market risk sentiment remains positive overall, thereby buoying the risk-sensitive Aussie.

GBP/AUD Exchange Rate Forecast: UK GDP to Bolster the Pound?

As the day goes on, any shifts in risk appetite will likely affect the GBP/AUD pair. The market mood has steadily improved so far this week after last weeks volatility. Could the positive mood start to sour?

Tomorrows GDP data for the UK is likely the focus for GBP investors as the week comes to a close. GDP is forecast to have risen by 0.4% in October, which may give the Pound a much-needed boost. However, if the report misses forecasts then Sterling could slip even lower.
The number of consumers visiting the American Association for Medicare Supplement Insurance website during Medicare Open Enrollment increased significantly compared to the prior year.

"Website traffic increased 61.75 percent compared to last year's Medicare Open Enrollment," announced Jesse Slome, director of the Medicare advocacy organization. "Consumers are clearly seeking more information as well as experts who can help them compare Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement and prescription drug plans."

Medicare Open Enrollment began October 15 and concluded on December 7, 2021. "For the time period, over 23,000 individuals visited the website according to our Google Analytics data," Slome shared. "We know that the vast majority were looking for local Medicare agents and using the Association's online directory."

Some 90 percent of individuals were first time users of the Association's website. The most significant change was the use of mobile devices according to Slome. "Last year, 34 percent accessed the website using a mobile device, their phone," he reported. "This year, just over 40 percent of new users used a mobile device."

Individuals looking to learn more about Medicare insurance plan options and costs can utilize the Association's online directory to find local Medicare insurance agents. "Accessing the Medicare agent directory is free and completely private," Slome acknowledges. "Consumers see information on agents in their Zip Code without needing to submit personal data. The last thing seniors want are dozens of unsolicited phone calls."

The American Association for Medicare Supplement Insurance advocates for the importance of educated planning and supports insurance professionals who market Medicare insurance solutions. To find local Medicare insurance agents access the online directory at www.medicaresupp.org/find-local-agent/.

For more information about Medicare insurance options visit the organization's website at www.medicaresupp.org.
A San Antonio liquor businesss new owners legal battle to transfer its shares to a public corporation went before a federal appeals court Thursday.

Gabriel Investment Group sought a ruling from a three-judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit of Appeals in New Orleans that would allow the company to sell its stock to a public corporation. The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission opposed the request.

The state Legislature in 1995 imposed restrictions on permits for package stores, which sell hard liquor. As a result, public corporations may not hold or own a permit in the state. A public corporation is defined as any company that trades on a public stock exchange or has more than 35 owners.

Gabriel Investment Group, or GIG, is considered a public corporation because its had more than 35 owners. The company received an exemption to the public ban before it took effect in 1995, however.

GIG argues the grandfather exemption would transfer to any public corporation that buys its shares.

The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission says the exemption only attaches to GIG itself.

On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio liquor business loses appeal in battle with Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission

The company requests a court declaration that  the permit would be unimpaired by the acquisition of GIG by a non-exempt corporation, Russell Post, a Houston lawyer for GIG, told the three justices.

If the reading youre pushing for is, as you say, straightforward plain, you would have been sitting on a pot of gold for 25 years  because this thing has enormous value, we all know, if this thing works the way you say it does, Judge Gregg Costa said to Post.

But Costa added it seemed inconsistent with Posts position that for 25 years no one realized the tens of millions of dollars, if not more, this thing would be worth on the market.

Post replied that the current owners of GIG invested in it on the reliance of the opportunity to use the grandfather clause.

GIG, along with retailers Gabriels Liquor and Dons & Bens Liquor, sought Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in September 2019, blaming competition from big-box wine and spirit stores.

The businesses had been operated by the politically connected Gabriel family for more than 70 years.

While in Chapter 11 reorganization, GIG sued the Alcoholic Beverage Commission in an effort to get a bankruptcy judges approval to sell company shares to a non-exempt public company, such as Walmart.

In the summer of 2020, GIG, Gabriels Liquor and Dons & Bens came under new ownership as part of a reorganization plan. The bankrupt companies were consolidated into a single entity then split into two.

Omega Capital Group, led by James Pfirrmann and Ron Heller, took over operation of 32 area Gabriels and Dons & Bens stores, along with associated licenses and permits. The deal was valued from $6 million to $7 million.

GIGs new owners  Blake-Wilder Companies of St. Petersburg, Fla., Omega, and longtime shareholders  received the assets and permit of the Dons & Bens store at 810 S. Gen. McMullen Drive. GIG also retained the lawsuit against the TABC.

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In October of last year, a bankruptcy judge ruled against GIG in the dispute. It appealed to San Antonio federal court, but lost there in April.

An official with Blake-Wilder told the Express-News after losing the appeal that it would take the case all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, if necessary.

In Texas, any individual permit holder can have as many as 250 package-store permits. There are about 2,500 package stores in state.

One permit holder could potentially have 10 percent of the package store business in Texas, Rance Craft, assistant solicitor general in the state attorney generals office, said in his argument for the TABC. So there are significant consequences to the sale of liquor in Texas if GIG is correct.

If GIG is right, Craft said, it would mean a public corporation that long ago failed to qualify for the grandfather exemption could nonetheless control the holder of a package-store permit.

That is exactly what (the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code) says cannot happen, Craft said. That would be the odd result if GIGs reading were to prevail.

The justices didnt indicate when they will issue their ruling.

pdanner@express-news.net
Kyle Arnold, MBR / TNS

Texas has a new hotline for workers to report employers requiring COVID-19 vaccines, in violation of Gov. Greg Abbotts executive order banning such mandates.

The governor has issued several executive orders banning vaccine mandates, and hes spoken out against the Biden administrations efforts to require the shots nationwide for companies that employ more than 100 people. Abbotts latest order came in October, when he prohibited private businesses from issuing the mandates.
A loophole in state law that has allowed the proliferation of millions of fake temporary automobile tags onto streets nationwide is expected to be closed by the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles next week, a move police say could have  and should have  been done years ago.

The proposed rules, posted last month, could be approved by a DMV committee on Dec. 16, following a public comment period that ends Dec. 13. If approved, the new rules are expected to take effect early next year.

The changes to the states online registration system would allow the DMV to more quickly shutter suspected scam businesses and limit how many tags a single company can generate in a month.

The departments only recourse to stop dealers who were fraudulently obtaining temporary tags was license revocation, an administrative process that can take months or years to complete, all the while leaving the dealer or converter with access to the temporary tag database to continue the fraudulent activity, Texas DMV Executive Director Whitney Brewster said in a statement.

ALSO READ: The largest home price increases in the county are focused in this one S.A. neighborhood

It is welcome progress, but it took too long and falls well short of correcting many issues, Travis County Precinct 3 Constables Office Sgt. Jose Escribano said in an email.

What they do not mention is that the TxDMV board by statute can make simple changes and could have done so back in 2018 when they were made aware of the problem, said Escribano, who oversees Travis Countys clean air task force, charged with enforcing laws related to vehicle emissions, including vehicle registration fraud.

The task force, and a handful of other local agencies, including officers in Montgomery and Harris County, have chased fake tag users nationally with other police, trying to find fraudulent registrations created through a loophole Texas created when it streamlined registrations and made it easier for vehicle sellers to generate their own tags online. With limited oversight, individuals posing as auto dealers were gaining entry to the system and printing tens of thousands of tags monthly, leading police to play whack-a-mole across the web trying to shut down the fictitious dealerships.

Other than providing some basic personal information and photos, DMV and local tax officials routinely do not verify if a business is legitimate. Over the objections of police, applicants are not fingerprinted and DMV databases are not easily available to law enforcement.

In Travis County and Montgomery County, police have sought search warrants for DMV offices  rare cases of a warrant for a state facility  to obtain information related to fake auto sales companies.

The loophole, identified four years ago, allowed the creation of at least 2.1 million, and possibly as many as 6 million, fake Texas temporary tags. Based on online ads for the fraudulent tags and where the paper plates were discovered, the scam stretched across the nation, South America and western Africa. Anyone with a printer, Escribano said, could create the tags.

In some cases, fake dealers operating out of homes and abandoned storefronts issued tens of thousands of tags in a single month, an impossible sum that dwarfed the number of new tags issued by large, thriving car dealerships.

ALSO READ: Man insulted Joel Osteen on TikTok. He said he was fired days later.

Fake tags, meanwhile, pose a host of problems. Acquiring them skirts paying state and local taxes, ultimately costing drivers more and keeping pollution-spewing cars that cannot pass emissions standards on the street. Fake tags also make it more difficult to collect toll fees and other costs.

It is simply theft, and we are all paying for it, said Morris Lewis, 68, of Katy, who said he regularly sees temporary tags as he drives in the Houston area.

More ominously, police said, the fake tags often are used in robberies and other violent crimes, making it harder for police to track suspects.

Michael Wyke / Contributor

In December 2018, Escribano told DMV officials the system was compromised and fake companies were adding illegitimate records to the system. Those tags, unless the officer carefully studied the information, would appear valid in the system used to check fake tags, but include erroneous information on the vehicle and its owner.

In May, three people were indicted in federal court in Houston for a fake tag scheme stretching from Houston to New York, charged with 15 counts related to conspiracy and wire fraud. More investigations are ongoing, authorities say.

When it came to closing off the database, however, DMV officials said there was little they could do until they obtained more power from the Texas Legislature even as more fake tags hit the streets and indictments increased.

Recognizing the limited authority TxDMV had to proactively and quickly address the misuse of the temporary tag system by dealers who are committing fraud, the TxDMV board recommended changes to the law for the legislatures consideration, Brewster said in a statement posted to the agencys website.

ALSO READ: San Antonio, police union near deal on officer discipline in contract talks

Those recommendations led to HB 3927, passed in May and signed by Gov. Greg Abbott in June. Texas DMV officials said the changes would improve their ability to police tags and remove fake businesses while limiting how many tags can be issued.

New businesses, depending on whether they are a franchise or an independent dealer, will have 600 or 300 tags respectively that they can issue annually. Once a dealer has distributed half its allotment on sold vehicles, it can request the DMV to approve more.

Police, however, have said getting the changes in place has dragged out too long, as the DMV and state auto dealer associations inched along, debating the potential changes and their effects on the states 5,000 new car dealers and 20,000 used car dealers.

Escribano said the changes also avoid some of the easiest solutions.

To really prevent the fraud from the outset, the TxDMV must fix the dealer application process that allows rampant fraud, in-person vetting of the location of the dealership, in-person application process, finger printing dealers, and inter-connectivity of all systems, he said in an email.

dug.begley@chron.com
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A San Antonio teenager was one of two people arrested in connection with the death of a 19-year-old man who was shot and killed at an apartment complex near Texas State University, according to the San Marcos Police Department.

Lukas Javier Perez, a 17-year-old from San Antonio, and Michael Brandon Torres, a 25-year-old from Weslaco in the Rio Grande Valley, are both accused of killing Lavonte Craig Benford during the early morning hours of Nov. 28.
The University of Texas at San Antonios college of engineering will soon be renamed the Margie and Bill Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design, after the former Valero CEO and his wife, who have pledged a $20 million donation to the college.

The gift is expected to help create and support scholarships, create endowment opportunities to attract and retain faculty, and support student success programs such as tutoring, professional development and leadership training, the university announced Thursday.

In the announcement, UTSA President Taylor Eighmy called the donation an incredibly generous gift that will expand our innovative academic and research programs in the college  preparing graduates to go out and change the world.

It will be the second change of name in one year for the college, which was renamed in a merger of the school of engineering and the college of architecture, construction and planning, forming the College of Engineering and Integrated Design, said its dean, JoAnn Browning.

With about 4,241 students, 120 faculty and 40 staff members, the college houses three departments; biomedical and chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, and electrical and computer engineering. It also holds two schools; the School of Civil & Environmental Engineering and Construction Management and the School of Architecture and Planning.

William Luther / Staff file photo

We believe that earning degrees in STEM programs build valuable life and critical-thinking skills, and are thrilled to be able to support the College of Engineering and Integrated Design to continue opening doors for women and students of all backgrounds into these important fields, Margie Klesse said in the announcement.

Browning described the pledge as transformational and said it will be key to meeting students where they are and ensuring their success, including offering hands-on training in and out of the classroom.

Having the name of Margie and Bill Klesse associated with our college truly points to excellence in every way, and leadership, and the deep caring for San Antonio that they have shown over the years, Browning said. We are going to work very hard to continue to make them proud of the college that they have named.

(We are) making sure our students are exposed to a wealth of different areas that they will be impacted by in their careers while they are still in school, so that its not just getting a degree and going out and trying to figure out how their career fits into the world, but bringing a little bit of the world into the classroom and into their extracurricular, Browning said.

Bill Klesse pointed to Brownings vision for the future of the college, along with his familys passion for STEM education, as among the main reasons for the couples continued support. That and a nudge by the recent $20 million gift by beer magnate Carlos Alvarez to the college of business, Klesse said.

Universities need community support, and if our gift, Carlos Alvarezs gift and (other) significant gifts help other people say, We ought to give to the school, too, then that would be a great outcome, he said. Im happy we are helping them get to their goal; helping our beautiful university continue to grow; helping them get the best faculty we can get ahold of and have the best facilities.

In 2017, the couple donated $1 million for the creation of the Klesse Unit Operations Laboratory. This gift and the lab supported the establishment of the universitys chemical engineering program, which now houses 154 students and graduated its first class this May.

Bill Klesse, who is currently a director of Houston-based Occidental Petroleum, studied chemical engineering at the University of Dayton. His wife studied chemistry, and their children went into medicine, he said.

He and his wife noticed the lack of diversity  especially women  in classrooms while in college, so they seek to support strong programs that are also accessible to students of diverse backgrounds and support scholarships that help get them get to where they want to be.

They have 4,200 students in engineering at UTSA, 31 percent are women, Hispanics make up a huge number  about 50 percent, Klesse said. Now think of your life, everything around you is engineered, pretty much. ... Society wants an educated workforce, and you want to give young people today the opportunity for a good career.

danya.perez@express-news.net | @DanyaPH
Sujata Jana / EyeEm/Getty Images/EyeEm

A seventh-grader at North East ISD's Krueger Middle School is accused of posting threats on social media, the school district said Thursday.

Aubrey Chancellor, a spokeswoman for NEISD, said the student is facing felony terroristic threat charges.
A San Antonio man charged with conspiracy to help jihad fighters in Syria rejected a plea offer from the government Thursday that would have capped any prison sentence he got at eight years so long as he cooperated with the feds.

Imad Eddin Wadi, 64, was indicted in June on a charge of conspiracy to kill, kidnap, maim or injure people and damage property in another country, which carries a sentence of up to life in prison. He is also charged with conspiracy to provide material support to a designated terrorist organization, punishable by up to 20 years.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Roomberg told U.S. District Judge Fred Biery that his office made an offer that Wadi plead guilty to a separate count of providing material support to terrorists, which normally carries a maximum of 15 years in prison. The deal was crafted with a cap of eight years based on his cooperation in regard to another matter.

Biery asked Wadi if he understood that he possibly faced less time under a plea deal than if he went to trial, tentatively scheduled for June.

I understand the offer, and I reject it completely, Wadi answered.

Wadi maintains his innocence, and his public defender has argued that his words were distorted by federal agents.

The FBIs Joint Terrorism Task Force arrested Wadi in June as part of an investigation targeting activity between March 2017 and June 2019.

An indictment alleges Wadi and an unnamed suspect in Colombia talked about plans to find a wealthy investor to fund an export business Wadi runs in San Antonio. An undercover law enforcement officer and a confidential source witnessed the discussion.

The suspects agreed to use a percentage of the funds and profits from the business to conceal, launder and funnel funds for weapons to fighters overseas affiliated with the so-called al-Nusra Front to murder and maim individuals in Syria. The indictment does not identify the business but said Wadi traveled to South America.

The al-Nusra Front began as a group of extremists fighting the Syrian regime in that countrys civil war. In a video, the group said it was behind several suicide bombings that have rocked Syria since an uprising began in March 2011.

Policy experts said the group is aligned with al-Qaida and sought to establish an Islamic state in Syria. The group has changed its name several times and merged with and separated from other groups.

The indictment lists vague references to discussions and information Wadi and the suspect in Colombia shared with the government informant and the undercover agent. The conversations center on reports of fighters in Syria shooting down helicopters, beheadings and strikes on other interests of the regime.

In one conversation in January 2019, Wadi allegedly talked about daily reports that the unnamed suspect got from front-line fighters, including how many people they killed.

You feel the ecstasy of jihad when you talk to them, Wadi allegedly said, according to the indictment.

He added that investments in his company would be used to buy rifles, grenades, rockets and remote-controlled aircraft capable of carrying 50 kilograms, or 110 pounds, of explosives, the indictment said.

In another incident in June 2019, the unnamed suspect forwarded the informant a conversation he had with a front-line fighter who described the fight against the regime and used descriptions such as slaughtering them like dogs.

While the indictment does not identify the business, public records link Wadi to businesses with ties to San Antonio and Colombia, including South America Export & Investments and its version in Colombia, South America Export and Investments SAS.

Wadi also is linked to Habbiba International Food Export S.A.S. in Bogota. In an internet posting, that company said its operators have had business interests in Texas since 1985, starting with construction.

guillermo.contreras@express-news.net | Twitter: @gmaninfedland
Nearly a year into talks on a new contract, negotiators for the city of San Antonio and police union appear close to a compromise on the disciplinary process for officers accused of misconduct.

Over the last few months, the two sides have whittled away at their number of differences over discipline to two items. And on Wednesday, city and police union officials agreed that a deal on those remaining issues is imminent, too.

Were pretty close on those two items, Maria Villagomez, deputy city manager and head of the citys negotiating team, told union officials.

On ExpressNews.com: City contract proposal could prevent good San Antonio officers from being promoted, police union says

The two items in question involve the scope of a third-party arbitrators authority when determining whether to uphold or reverse the police chiefs decision during the appeals process and the so-called 180-day rule, a provision of the collective bargaining agreement that prevents the chief from disciplining an officer for alleged misconduct if the chief finds out about such an incident more than six months after it occurs.

Ron DeLord, the police unions chief negotiator, said the police union made a few minor tweaks to the citys most recent proposal on those two items. He urged the city to accept that language so they could move on.

Discipline has been a major sticking point for the two sides throughout the proceedings. City negotiators have said they want to limit arbitrators ability to overturn Police Chief William McManus disciplinary decisions.

By various estimates, about two-thirds of fired San Antonio Police Department officers who appealed their terminations in the past decade have returned to the force  reinstated either by McManus to avoid a drawn-out appeals process or by independent arbitrators.

One infamous case is that of former SAPD officer Matthew Luckhurst, who was fired after city officials said he gave a homeless man a sandwich filled with dog feces. Three years later, an arbitrator overturned the firing because Luckhurst wasnt punished within 180 days of the alleged incident.

On ExpressNews.com: Fired SAPD officer accused in feces sandwich prank loses second bid to get job back

Luckhurst was fired for a separate incident involving feces, and an arbitrator upheld that firing. He never returned to the force.

For the most part, union officials have agreed. But negotiators have maintained that officers deserve due process rights, and that a third-party arbitrator should be able to overturn punishment unless there is significant evidence of misconduct. They have also questioned who should be responsible for proving that misconduct.

The two parties have met nearly 30 times since mid-February. Their current agreement expired at the end of September, though an evergreen clause keeps most of that contracts terms in place for eight years.

Also on Wednesday, the two sides discussed provisions that govern off-duty employment and police vehicle maintenance. The latter has been an issue because of a computer chip shortage affecting automakers worldwide, severely limiting the supply chain.

On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio police officers, regardless of gender, may soon receive 4 weeks of parental leave

The orders for Ford for 2022 are closed, and the orders for 2023 are not open yet, Villagomez said. We cant place an order for vehicles because theyre not giving us the ability to.

Negotiations are scheduled to continue on Dec. 21. Besides discipline, the city and police union remain deadlocked on only a few other major items, including promotions, wages and health benefits.

eeaton@express-news.net
If youve ever wanted a perfectly legal way to own a unique city street sign, nows your chance.

The city of Kyle is having its annual Kyle Online Street Sign Sale this week so citizens, or friendly neighborhood street sign enthusiasts, can own a little piece of Kyle this holiday season.

The sale began Monday and ends at 5 p.m. Friday. The signs can be purchased on the Kyle Style Online Store for just $25 apiece. There were more than 125 signs available Wednesday.

Revenue from the sale will go toward the Kyle Style Online Stores revenue line. All signs not purchased during the sale will be made available after Dec. 10 for $30 apiece.

Those who purchase the signs can pick them up at City Hall between 1 and 5 p.m. Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday next week, according to a city news release.

Bad news if you had your heart set on Wild Buffalo Drive, Western Drive, Rebel Drive, Moonlight Place, Star Light Way and Wagon Crossing: Those signs are long gone.

Courtesy of City of Kyle

And, of course, given that Christmas is right around the corner, Mistletoe Drive was one of the first to go.

But as of Wednesday, Plum Pass remained, and if youre in the market for a Primrose Boulevard, Pasture Cove, Sheep Trail, Hickorywood Drive or dozens of other names, youre in luck.

Or if your family name is Olson, Nottingham, Myrtle, Kensington, Hutton or Holly, theres a sign with your name on it.

Kyles public works director, Harper Wilder, praised the idea for the sale in the news release.

Rather than sit and gather dust in our warehouse, Wilder said, wed rather (the old signs) be offered to the public to own a small piece of Kyle.

Annie Blanks writes for the Express-News through Report for America, a national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms. ReportforAmerica.org. annie.blanks@express-news.net.
A Pentagon deadline for Air National Guard personnel to get their coronavirus shots expired last week, but in the month leading up to it, hundreds of airmen in the Texas Guard had not complied, and their leaders suggested it was optional.

Its not optional. Air Force guidance on how to deal with personnel who are not vaccinated, released Wednesday, said they will be discharged from the service if they dont have an exemption.

The Texas Guard is the largest of 54 guard organizations in the U.S. Its spokesmen have refused to provide vaccination statistics, initially saying federal health privacy law forbids it and later saying they would release the numbers after a summer deadline for Army soldiers. The deadline for airmen was Dec. 2.

A Texas Guard statement Nov. 15 implied that soldiers and airmen do not need to follow the vaccination directive from Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin unless theyre ordered to federal duty.

By then, a guard commander in Oklahoma had voiced defiance of Austin and President Joe Biden, who ordered troops in all components of the armed services to be vaccinated.

2 1 of 2 Jessica Phelps /San Antonio Express-News Show More Show Less 2 of 2 Jessica Phelps, Staff photographer / San Antonio Express-News Show More Show Less



In an apparent response, Austin issued a Nov. 30 memorandum stating that guardsmen who dont follow the requirement will not be paid, even if they are part-timers who muster once a month under the control of state officials.

This weeks memo by Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall stated that refusal to comply with the vaccination mandate without an exemption will result in the member being subject to initiation of administrative discharge proceedings.

The policy, Kendall said, applies to service members who refuse to obey a lawful order to receive the COVID-19 vaccine and do not have a pending separation or retirement, or medical, religious or administrative exemption.

A Defense Department official said 2,900 of 3,300 airmen in the Texas Guard were fully immunized as of late October, the latest figures available for individual states. Only around 6,500 of 19,000 members of the Army Guard in Texas had gotten their shots, but soldiers have until June 30 to comply.

Neither the Texas Guards commander, Maj. Gen. Tracy Norris, nor Gov. Greg Abbott have explicitly said they plan to defy the Pentagon order. But the Texas Guard responded to questions about it Nov. 15 by saying, The decision whether or not to receive a vaccination is a personal matter each soldier and airman must weigh.

The Texas National Guard provides the resources necessary for each service member to make informed decisions, the guard said. It noted that Norris agrees with Abbotts prior statement that the COVID-19 vaccine is safe, effective and our best defense against the virus but should remain voluntary and never forced.

Billy Calzada /

In the days since, guard spokesmen have not responded to requests that they clarify this policy.

Austin had directed the secretaries of the Army and Air Force, the services that have guard forces, to publish policies outlining how they will deal with guardsmen who have not been vaccinated.

Vaccination is essential to the health and readiness of the force, Austin said.

His memo was a shot at the Oklahoma National Guards recent statement that troops serving under Title 32 of the United States Code did not have to be vaccinated. Guardsmen on Title 32 duty report to their states adjutant general and, ultimately, to their governor.

The National Defense Act of 1916 spells out uniform standards for the nations guard organizations in case those troops are ordered to federal duty. Section 108 of Title 32 requires forfeiture of federal benefits if the state fails to meet those standards, said Geoffrey Corn, a professor at South Texas College of Law.

One of the fitness requirements is inoculation against a host of diseases.

Austins memo cut the legs out from under the (Oklahoma) governor, Corn said. Hes basically said, The members of your National Guard who dont get vaccinated are not really the National Guard anymore. Theyre just state guard.

Antipathy for Bidens hard line on vaccinations is a principal driver of red state resistance to the Pentagon policy. Its a major feature of Abbotts stance as he prepares for a re-election bid next year that begins with Republican primary challenges. Abbott has led a high-profile effort to curb cross-border migration using 10,000 Texas Guard troops, at least some of whom have been given arrest powers.

On ExpressNews.com: Abbotts border wall is a chain-link fence, built by soldiers in a community tired of political games

Commanders of the national guard in each state, called adjutant generals, are political appointees, and that includes Norris, who serves under Abbott, noted Cal Jillson, a political scientist at Southern Methodist University.

That apparently is weighing very heavily on her decision-making, but it is also the case that the military, for very good historic reasons, takes the chain of command seriously. And when a command comes down from the Pentagon to a state national guard, it is generally taken seriously, Jillson said.

So politics has gotten in the way of the chain of command and in a way that military organizations simply cannot sustain, he said. Theyre either military organizations or theyre politicized, and historically theyve been careful not to allow politicization and to remain a military organization on call to national service.

The National Guard Bureau said the proportion of guardsmen nationwide who are fully vaccinated has reached 66 percent. The Army National Guard rate was 58.4 percent, and that of the Air National Guard was just under 91 percent.

It is important to note that soldiers and airmen are still providing civilian documentation to be entered into their electronic health record, so the numbers may be higher than what we are currently seeing in the military system, said a Guard Bureau spokesman, Wayne Hall.

The Air Force reported that 97 percent of active-duty airmen were fully vaccinated, and the Army said its rate was 89 percent. The Navy said 96 percent of its active-duty force had been fully vaccinated, and the rate for the Marines was 93 percent.

The Texas Guard was asked last month by the San Antonio Express-News if it intended to comply with the Pentagon edict and if it agreed that Austins requirement that troops receive the coronavirus vaccine was a lawful order.

The guards answer left room for interpretation.

The mandate in question applies to service members serving in a Title 10 status; as such, any Texas guardsmen on Title 10 orders will be in compliance with the mandate or have an approved exemption, the guard replied in its Nov. 15 statement.

As service members, we swear an oath to obey the orders of the governor, the president and the chain of command and are obligated to do so, providing orders are legal, moral and ethical.

Guardsmen on Title 10 status are under Pentagon control and over the past 20 years have served in combat overseas. They do not report to the governor under those circumstances.

Asked for vaccination statistics and whether Norris or her command staff had been vaccinated, the guard said it could not release information related to the vaccination status of any member or employee due to HIPAA constraints, a reference to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, which protects medical privacy.

On ExpressNews.com: First woman to head Texas National Guard had a hero  her mom

Officials at the guards Austin headquarters at Camp Mabry did confirm that Texas guardsmen had to get seasonal flu shots as required by the Defense Department, but they didnt answer a question about what disciplinary action troops might receive if they refused.

Reminded that HIPAA pertained to individual health information, not statistics for an entire military organization, the guard said the next day, We will provide the percentage of those vaccinated. However, to do so right now is premature as the National Guard deadline to be fully vaccinated is not until June 2022.

Abbott does have the power as governor to remove Texas Guard troops from service to the federal government, said Corn, the South Texas College of Law professor, adding, Its just another manifestation of the craziness of everything becoming political fodder.

Jillson, a one-time Army specialist who served from 1971 to 1973, said nothing was more central to a military organization than a willingness to take orders.

If you dont have that, you dont have a military organization, he said.This is dangerous in a number of different ways.  This is political dysfunction infecting our military, and it simply is destructive of the organization and culture of the military to allow this sort of political infection.

sigc@express-news.net
A month after an Express-News investigation put a spotlight on the problem, Bexar County officials unveiled proposals to spend up to $6.3 million to counter a surge in domestic violence by hiring more prosecutors and using tracking technology to protect victims from being ambushed by their abusers.

The money would allow the Bexar County District Attorneys Office to hire nearly 40 more prosecutors, investigators, advocates and other staff members to strengthen domestic violence prosecutions and guide victims through the court system, among other changes.

The Express-News has done a very good job in cataloging the issues that the county was weak on and that we havent done a good enough job on, Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff said Wednesday during a videoconference meeting with the newspapers editorial board.

On ExpressNews.com: How the system fails victims of family violence

Wolff was joined by District Attorney Joe D. Gonzales and County Commissioner Trish DeBerry.

We need to do something, and we need to do something now, Gonzales said.

RPIX /

People familiar with the plan said elements of it had been under discussion for months, but that the Express-News series, published in November, created a sense of urgency about acting.

Bexar County commissioners will consider the proposals during a special meeting on Dec. 21.

Wolff said there was strong support among commissioners for bolstering staffing in the DAs office, where prosecutors who handle misdemeanor domestic violence cases have staggered under heavy caseloads.

But Wolff said he was unsure about the extent of support for a separate proposal for a new civil court to hear child protection cases.

Wolff said the county could tap money received through the American Rescue Plan Act to fund some of the domestic violence proposals.

On ExpressNews.com: How abusers exploit gaps in the system

The Express-News investigation, Nowhere to Hide, documented a sharp increase in family violence killings in San Antonio since 2016 and described the justice systems shortcomings in holding abusers accountable and protecting victims.

The paper found that among Texas major urban counties, Bexar County had the highest dismissal rates and the lowest conviction rates for family violence assault cases from 2011 through 2020.

For instance, just 21 percent of misdemeanor family violence assault cases filed by Bexar County prosecutors ended with a conviction, the Express-News analysis found.

In Harris County, Texas most populous, the conviction rate was 41 percent. In Dallas and Travis counties, it was 27 percent. For the state as a whole, it was 35 percent.

Sixty percent of Bexar Countys misdemeanor family violence cases were dismissed over the same 10-year period, the Express-News reported. That was the highest dismissal rate among the states five most populous counties.

After the series ran, county officials asked leaders of the District Attorneys Office, the courts, the countys criminal justice office and the Bexar County Family Justice Center to draft proposals spelling out what they needed to address the crisis.

On ExpressNews.com: Domestic violence resources: How to get help

Gonzales submitted a proposal for $3.1 million to add 13 prosecutors, 11 investigators, eight victim advocates, four crime victim liaisons and one office assistant to work on misdemeanor family violence cases, the kind with the largest backlogs and longest delays.

Crystal Chandler, executive director of the Family Justice Center, a one-stop service center for victims of family violence, asked for $327,000 for more staff, including two coordinators for the countys domestic violence high risk team.

The team, established in September 2020, focuses on cases in which abuse victims appear to be in imminent danger of being killed or severely injured by their abusers.

The team is made up of police, prosecutors, social workers and medical providers who meet regularly to share information about women at high risk and identify ways to protect them and deter their abusers.

Mike Lozito, director of the countys Office of Criminal Justice Policy, Planning & Programs, submitted a $500,000 proposal for a new surveillance program to track domestic violence suspects and notify victims if their abusers come within a certain distance.

The victims would be alerted through an app downloaded to their smartphones. Law enforcement also would be notified.

The tracking device, called On Time Connect and manufactured by a San Antonio company, is worn on the suspects wrist, like a watch. A judge, in setting conditions for bail, could order someone charged with domestic violence to stay a certain distance away from the alleged victim and wear the tracking device at all times to ensure compliance.

If the suspect removed it, authorities would be notified automatically.

Civil District Court Judges Rosie Alvarado and Monique Diaz submitted a separate $2.1 million request to create a new civil court to handle Child Protective Services cases.

That funding also would pay for an associate judge to help with an overflow of cases and for legal representation for victims of domestic violence.

The proposals mark the latest effort by city and county officials to confront family violence in Bexar County.

In 2019, prosecutors, judges, policymakers and advocates joined forces to create a city-county collaborative aimed at addressing the problem in a comprehensive way.

More recently, county officials have made changes in how the courts handle domestic violence cases.

Previously, two judges were responsible for handling most cases, leading to big backlogs. Last year, seven other judges began handling some of the cases. Four more signed on earlier this year.

But some in the court system have said the problem is not too few judges but too few prosecutors to prepare cases.

Judge Rosie Speedlin-Gonzalez, who oversees one of two family violence specialty courts, has called for more prosecutors for the misdemeanor courts for more than two years.

My request for additional resources has been consistent, and Im glad to see that its finally happening, Gonzalez said.

The Express-News series showed that domestic violence killings in the region have been climbing faster than homicides overall. In 2016, they accounted for 16 percent of all homicides recorded by the San Antonio Police Department and the Bexar County Sheriffs Office. Last year, they represented 33 percent.

DA Gonzales applauded the newspaper for its role in reigniting the discussion over family violence, calling it incredible work.

eeaton@express-news.net
December is such a holy month in so many faith traditions that even those who arent particularly religious join in the spirit.

I love that nones, those unaffiliated with a religious tradition, celebrate them, and that even atheists participate in holidays so obviously tied to belief in the divine.

The dates on the calendar may also focus on gift-giving and family gatherings.

But for me, its also about a story  and love. Today is one of those days.

It marks a beloved moment for Catholics, who recognize Dec. 9 as the feast day of St. Juan Diego, an indigenous Mesoamerican who reported several miraculous apparitions in 1531.

Scholars may debate his existence, but the faithful believe he saw Our Lady of Guadalupe on a hill called Tepeyac in the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan, present-day Mexico City.

Three days later, on Dec. 12, Catholics celebrate her feast day. Shes adored worldwide, and her influence cant be overstated in the Americas.

The Marian figure is known by many names  Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe, La Virgen de Guadalupe, Empress of the Americas, Our Lady of Tepeyac and la morenita.

Shes the dark-skinned virgin mother who stands in front of the sun, atop a crescent moon, wearing a star-covered robe, the band around her stomach revealing shes about to give birth.

The story of her apparitions has been told as one of salvation and hope for indigenous peoples and a suffering world.

Juan Diegos world was suffering. The Spanish conquest was horrifically violent.

Those who werent killed saw their sacred deities attacked. They faced deadly diseases brought by the Spanish and for which they had no immunity.

The basilica to Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City was built atop the ruins of a temple for a revered goddess, Tonantzin.

For some, Guadalupe and Tonantzin are one and the same, referred to interchangeably.

This Saturday, for example, the Esperanza Peace & Justice Center will live-stream an event called Festejo Tonantzin, described as a celebration of our Nana Tonantzin/ Virgen de Guadalupe.

In 2031, just 10 years from now, devotees will celebrate the 500th anniversary of an event credited with the evangelization of millions in the Americas and beyond.

Her image continues to surface during trying times and critical moments: during Mexicos independence movement from Spain; the Mexican Revolution; and the disappearances and deaths of students, activists and others.

In the United States, Our Lady of Guadalupe banners have appeared in marches and protests for farm workers, immigrant lives and Black Lives Matter, as well as during the Chicano civil rights movement.

The late Enedina Vasquez, an influential San Antonio artist and religious leader, often spoke about Guadalupes accessibility and ability to travel. Originally Catholic, Vasquez tried the Episcopal Church before being ordained a Lutheran minister.

I couldnt leave her behind, she told me in 2011. She is my emblem. She is my flag. She is my clenched fist.

The Rev. David Garcia, a retired Catholic priest and author of the recently published book, Pandemic Preaching: The Pulpit in a Year Like No Other, calls Guadalupe omnipresent in the lives of the Mexican American parishioners he served.

He recalled that after the restoration of San Fernando Cathedral, the small area behind the altar  where a painting of Guadalupe is framed against a large-scale golden retablo  became the churchs biggest draw.

He also noted those who stopped in front of Guadalupe before or after walking across the street to the Bexar County Courthouse on the best or worst days of their lives.

Rosa Elia Rosas, who led the Guadalupanas at the cathedral for two years, likes to recount a story of a boy who became an early devotee.

Along with other children in catechism classes at the cathedral, he watched a skit about Guadalupe and had questions afterward.

Rosas doesnt remember saying it, but he remembered that she had said they, too, could bring their prayers to her.

After the holiday break, the boy searched her out.

Remember you told me to pray to that lady? Rosas recalls the boy saying. I prayed for my Daddy to come home.

His prayer was answered, he said. His father had been in prison and came home.

Rosas choked up in remembering his faith.

His is just one story. There are millions upon millions.

Rosas taught him something else  to go back before the beautiful lady and thank her.

They went together.

Shes still hearing us, Rosas said.

eayala@express-news.net
Puppy mill breeders could hit a road block trying to sell pets in San Marcos.

City Council is considering an outright ban on allowing commercial pet stores to sell pets, hoping to cut down on puppies sourced from inhumane breeding operations. The stores would be able to adopt out dogs and cats from the San Marcos Regional Animal Shelter, the only open-intake animal shelter in Hays County.

But commercial pet stores, such as the newly opened Pick-a-Pet at the San Marcos Premium Outlets, could not sell dogs or cats from mass breeders.

At its Tuesday night meeting, the council directed city staff to craft an ordinance. If it ultimately passes, San Marcos will join nine other Texas cities  San Antonio, Austin, El Paso, Fort Worth, The Colony, Sherman, Waco, Euless and College Station  that have banned the sale of puppy mill-sourced dogs and cats at commercial pet stores.

According to the Humane Society of the United States, puppy mills are inhumane commercial dog breeding facilities that may sell puppies in pet stores, online or directly to the public (in flea markets or via classified ads). The group says puppy mills often disregard the dogs physical and emotional well-being to maximize profit.

Stacy Sutton Kirby, director of government relations with the Texas Humane Legislation Network, spoke to the San Marcos council on Tuesday night and implored them to follow in the footsteps of Austin and San Antonio and implement the ordinance.

Though we do not believe in one-size-fits-all for Texas, we absolutely agree that dogs and cats sold in pet stores should be humanely sourced, Kirby told the council, adding that the ban has obvious benefits for the shelter, which is currently over capacity with adoptable dogs and cats.

Kirby said puppy mill dogs are especially vulnerable to illness and other health problems because of the facilities in which theyre bred and the conditions in which theyre forced to travel.

The dogs are shipped when their immune systems are still developing, she said. Puppies are crammed into shipment bins from various facilities.

In its discussion of the potential ordinance, the council twice referenced the newly opened Pick a Pet store, which opened Nov. 6 at the San Marcos Premium Outlets.

Pick a Pet is a for-profit pet store that advertises and sells dogs and cats. According to its website, the store works with U.S. Department of Agriculture-certified breeders, and all new arrivals undergo veterinary inspection when they arrive at the San Marcos store.

But one person who spoke to the City Council on Tuesday said she went to the store in mid-November to look at a dachshund puppy, and learned that the puppy  which cost $2,800  had come from a Missouri-based breeder that had 403 animals on her property.

That is a puppy mill, said the speaker, Shannon Graham.

An owner for Pick a Pet did not return multiple requests for comment.

If the ordinance passes, Pick a Pet would no longer be allowed to sell dogs and cats that it gets from its USDA-certified breeders. Instead, it would sell dogs and cats from the San Marcos Regional Animal Shelter, and the sale price would be the animals adoption fee, rather than the $2,000-plus price tags currently on its sales floor.

The city of San Marcos currently bans sale of all animals on roadsides and in commercial parking lots, but doesnt mention anything about commercial retail stores.

Annie Blanks writes for the Express-News through Report for America, a national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms. ReportforAmerica.org. annie.blanks@express-news.net.
Bridgeport, Fairfield and Trumbull school officials all fielded investigations into threats that turned out to be unfounded Wednesday and Thursday, and at least one official named social media as the source of the troubling rumors.

These incidents all come in the wake of hoax threats in Hamden and Norwalk. Earlier this week, two 14-year-old students at Eli Whitney Technical High School in Hamden were arrested in connection with threats that forced the school into lockdown. A juvenile student was also arrested in connection with three hoax threats directed at Norwalk High School this week.

Locally, Trumbull was the first district to report the rumors of threats. On Wednesday night, Trumbull High School Principal Marc Guarino issued a statement addressing some unsettling rumors that were circulating at the end of the school day today. School officials and Trumbull police investigated and found that there was not a threat nor a report of threat made against the school in general, either today or for tomorrow.

When contacted Thursday afternoon, Trumbull police Lt. Brian D. Weir said the problem originated from a conversation between two Trumbull High students. He said one student made a comment to another student, which got back to school administrators. Though Weir didnt elaborate on the nature of the comment, he clarified that it had nothing to do with a firearm.

Administrators met with the student who made the comment and the parent or guardian to discuss the incident and are currently handling that issue, Weir said.

However, he said, rumors started to spread about the incident.

These rumors included a planned school shooting which was determined not to be the case, Weir said. THS administrators and the Trumbull Police worked together to follow up on these claims and determined that this information was just rumors spreading and there was no credible threat.

The Trumbull investigation was followed Thursday morning by a similar one in Fairfield. The Fairfield Police Department said it was made aware of a text message that referenced a potential threat to the towns high schools. Officers immediately launched an investigation and security measures were implemented at Fairfield Warde and Fairfield Ludlowe high schools, police said.

It has since been determined that the text was in reference to an incident from Trumbull that occurred yesterday, police said around 8:20 a.m. Thursday. There are no threats to the students and staff of the Fairfield Public Schools.

Police said all schools have returned to normal operations.

In a letter to the school community on Thursday, Superintendent Mike Cummings said the high schools were briefly in lock-down mode. He urged anyone with information about any issues that could potentially pose a danger to students or staff to alert police immediately. Cummings said information can also be submitted through the report incident link on the district or any school websites.

When reached Thursday afternoon, Cummings slightly elaborated on the incident. This particular issue seems to be a result of sharing on social media, he said in an email.

Though Cummings said he didnt know where the posts originated from, both police and staff members saw the posts. We worked with the Fairfield Police to investigate and resolve the issue, Cummings said.

Also on Thursday, Bridgeport Superintendent of Schools Michael J. Testani sent a letter to families reporting that Bridgeport Public Schools had experienced some parents asking to dismiss their children early because of misinformation being disseminated in the community.

Testani said he has confirmed with city police that there have not been any threats or incidents in the community to raise any concerns.
U.S. health authorities again expanded the nation's booster campaign Thursday, opening extra doses of Pfizers COVID-19 vaccine to several million 16- and 17-year-olds.

The U.S. and many other nations already were urging adults to get booster shots to pump up immunity that can wane months after vaccination, calls that intensified with the discovery of the worrisome new omicron variant.

On Thursday, the Food and Drug Administration gave emergency authorization for 16- and 17-year-olds to get a third dose of the vaccine made by Pfizer and its partner BioNTech  once they're six months past their last dose. And hours later, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lifted the last barrier as Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the agency's director, issued a statement strongly encouraging those teens to get their booster as soon as it's time.

Boosters are important considering that protection against infection wanes over time and were facing a variant that has the potential to require more immunity to be protected," Walensky told The Associated Press.

About 200 million Americans are fully vaccinated, including about 4.7 million 16- and 17-year-olds, many of whom got their first shots in the spring and would be eligible for a booster.

Vaccination and getting a booster when eligible, along with other preventive measures like masking and avoiding large crowds and poorly ventilated spaces, remain our most effective methods for fighting COVID-19, Dr. Janet Woodcock, acting FDA commissioner, said in a statement.

The Pfizer vaccine is the only option in the U.S. for anyone younger than 18, either for initial vaccination or for use as a booster. Its not yet clear if or when teens younger than 16 might need a third Pfizer dose. But Walensky said the CDC and FDA would closely watch data on 12- to 15-year-olds because if they eventually need boosters, we again will want to act swiftly.

Vaccinations for children as young as 5 just began last month, using special low-dose Pfizer shots. By this week, about 5 million 5- to 11-year-olds had gotten a first dose.

The extra-contagious delta variant is causing nearly all COVID-19 infections in the U.S., and in much of the world. Its not yet clear how vaccines will hold up against the new and markedly different omicron mutant. But theres strong evidence that boosters offer a jump in protection against delta-caused infections, currently the biggest threat.

The booster vaccination increases the level of immunity and dramatically improves protection against COVID-19 in all age groups studied so far, BioNTech CEO Ugur Sahin said in a statement.

Complicating the decision to extend boosters to 16- and 17-year-olds is that the Pfizer shot  and a similar vaccine made by Moderna  have been linked to a rare side effect. Called myocarditis, its a type of heart inflammation seen mostly in younger men and teen boys.

The FDA said rising COVID-19 cases in the U.S. mean the benefits of boosters greatly outweighed the potential risk from the rare side effect, especially as the coronavirus itself can cause more serious heart inflammation.

Health officials in Israel, which already gives boosters to teens, have said the side effect continues to be rare with third doses.

A U.S. study this week offered additional reassurance. Researchers from childrens hospitals around the country checked medical records and found the rare side effect usually is mild and people recover quickly. The research was published Monday in the journal Circulation.

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Associated Press reporter Matthew Perrone contributed to this report.

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The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
WASHINGTON (AP)  The head of Instagram on Wednesday met with deep skepticism on Capitol Hill over new measures the social media platform is adopting to protect young users.

Adam Mosseri appeared before a Senate panel and faced off with lawmakers angry over revelations of how the photo-sharing platform can harm some young users. Senators are also demanding the company commit to making changes and increase its transparancy.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., who heads the Senate Commerce subcommittee on consumer protection, dismissed as a public relations tactic some safety measures announced by the popular photo-sharing platform.

I believe that the time for self-policing and self-regulation is over, Blumenthal said. Self-policing depends on trust. Trust is over.

Under sharp questioning by senators of both parties, Mosseri defended the companys conduct and the efficacy of its new safety measures. He challenged the assertion that Instagram has been shown by research to be addictive for young people. Instagram, which along with Facebook is part of Meta Platforms Inc., has an estimated 1 billion users of all ages.

On Tuesday, Instagram introduced a previously announced feature that urges teenagers to take breaks from the platform. The company also announced other tools, including parental controls due to come out early next year, that it says are aimed at protecting young users from harmful content.

Senators of both parties were united in condemnation of the social network giant and Instagram, the photo-sharing juggernaut valued at some $100 billion that Facebook acquired for $1 billion in 2012.

The hearing grew more confrontational and emotionally charged as it went on.

Sir, I have to tell you, you did sound callous, Sen. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, the panels senior Republican, told Mosseri near the end of the hearing.

Senators repeatedly tried to win commitments from Mosseri for Instagram to provide full results of its internal research and its computer formulas for ranking content to independent monitors and Congress. They also tried to enlist his support for legislation that would curb the ways in which Big Tech deploys social media geared toward young people.

Mosseri responded mostly with general endorsements of openness and accountability, insisting that Instagram is an industry leader in transparency.

The issue is becoming increasingly urgent. An alarming advisory issued Tuesday by U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy warned about a mental health crisis among children and young adults that has been worsened by the coronavirus pandemic. He said tech companies must design social media platforms that strengthen, rather than harm, young peoples mental health.

Meta, which is based in Menlo Park, California, has been roiled by public and political outrage over the disclosures by former Facebook employee Frances Haugen. She has made the case before lawmakers in the U.S., Britain and Europe that that the company's systems amplify online hate and extremism and that the company elevates profits over the safety of users.

Haugen, a data scientist who had worked in Facebooks civic integrity unit, buttressed her assertions with a trove of internal company documents she secretly copied and provided to federal securities regulators and Congress.

The Senate panel has examined Facebooks use of information from its own researchers that could indicate potential harm for some of its young users, especially girls, while it publicly downplayed the negative impacts. For some Instagram-devoted teens, peer pressure generated by the visually focused app led to mental-health and body-image problems, and in some cases, eating disorders and suicidal thoughts, the research detailed in the Facebook documents showed.

The revelations in a report by The Wall Street Journal, based on the documents leaked by Haugen, set off a wave of recriminations from lawmakers, critics of Big Tech, child-development experts and parents.

As head of Instagram, I am especially focused on the safety of the youngest people who use our services, Mosseri testified. This work includes keeping underage users off our platform, designing age-appropriate experiences for people ages 13 to 18, and building parental controls. Instagram is built for people 13 and older. If a child is under the age of 13, they are not permitted on Instagram.

Mosseri outlined the suite of measures he said Instagram has taken to protect young people on the platform. They include keeping kids under 13 off it, restricting direct messaging between kids and adults, and prohibiting posts that encourage suicide and self-harm.

But, as researchers both internal and external to Meta have documented, the reality is different. Kids under 13 often sign up for Instagram with or without their parents knowledge by lying about their age. And posts about suicide and self-harm still reach children and teens, sometimes with disastrous effects.

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Ortutay reported from Oakland, California.

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This story has been corrected to reflect that Adam Mosseri is the head of Instagram, not the CEO.

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Follow Marcy Gordon at https://twitter.com/mgordonap
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP)  NASAs newest X-ray observatory rocketed into orbit Thursday to shed light on exploded stars, black holes and other violent high-energy events unfolding in the universe.

SpaceX launched the spacecraft on its $214 million mission from Kennedy Space Center. Its called IXPE, short for Imaging X-ray Polarization Explorer.
RIDGEFIELD  On Tuesday the towns COVID task force reported that 15 new cases of the virus were recorded with the state Department of Public Health over the weekend.

The data was entered to the state between Friday, Saturday and Sunday, which showed 15 residents tested positive for COVID-19.

According to a report from the task force, 100 percent of those cases comprised unvaccinated individuals who were eligible to get a shot, and only four were 5-17 year olds.

First Selectman Rudy Marconi was trying to decide the best day to get his booster shot when he spoke last week to Hearst Connecticut Media about the towns latest COVID statistics.

Ridgefields positivity rate was 3.3 percent as of Sunday. Whereas Fairfield County is currently reporting 32 percent of new cases per 100,000 residents over a seven-day average, Ridgefield is reporting 25 percent.

Were running hot relative to the county and all the towns around us, Marconi said.

Ridgefield has reported 105 cases of COVID-19 cases since Nov. 1, according to a report from the towns contact tracer, Pamela Dunaway. Unvaccinated individuals comprised 82 percent of those cases, and 30 percent comprised 5-17 year olds.

If you were to add individuals who did not get a booster shot to that data set, Marconi said, the percentage would jump to 93 percent. Nineteen of the 105 cases were breakthroughs, he added.

COVID hospitalizations in Fairfield County have more than doubled since last month, with 103 people hospitalized as of Dec. 5, according to a report from Ridgefield data scientist Rick Lawrence.

About a month ago it was ... level for about a week, Marconi noted, and it just started growing from there.

The recent emergence of the COVID omicron variant has put world leaders on high alert; the first confirmed U.S. case was detected in California on Dec. 1. This weekend Gov. Ned Lamont announced that one Connecticut resident has been infected with the omicron variant.

Now that omicron has been identified in the state, Marconi is reminding residents to stay vigilant. Although the town lifted its indoor mask mandate for vaccinated individuals in late September, he is recommending people wear a mask while in indoor settings outside the home, regardless of vaccination status.

I went to do a little shopping last night, I wore my mask, he said. Im not telling anyone they have to, but the increase (suggests) that its out there.

Please also respect the fact that many local businesses require masks for everyone, vaccinated or not. Marconi said in a release. This is the time to support their efforts to protect their employees and customers.

Almost 74 percent of Rigdefielders age 5 and up are fully vaccinated, according to Lawrences numbers. Marconi said those due for their booster shot should get one to help out with the new variant.

The logical conclusion  (is to) get your shot, get your booster, get vaccinated, he added. The majority of people being hospitalized are unvaccinated people. If youre not gonna get vaccinated, youre taking a chance.

Recent data compiled by the towns COVID task force shows that relative to vaccinated people, unvaccinated people are almost 5 times more likely to contract the virus, 11 times more likely to become hospitalized and 33 times more likely to die from it.

Cover up, wear that mask and get vaccinated, Marconi added. Those are the two best things you can do to keep yourself safe and healthy.

alyssa.seidman@hearstmediact.com
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP)  Starbucks workers at a store in Buffalo, New York, voted to unionize on Thursday, a first for the 50-year-old coffee retailer in the U.S. and the latest sign that the labor movement is stirring after decades of decline.

The National Labor Relations Board said Thursday that workers voted 19-8 in favor of a union at the Elmwood Avenue location, one of three stores in Buffalo where elections were being held. A second store rejected the union in a vote of 12-8, but the union said it might challenge that result because it wasn't confident all of the eligible votes had been counted. The results of a third store could not be determined because both sides challenged seven separate votes.

Starbucks and Workers United, the union vying to represent the workers, have five business days to submit their objections to the election results, the labor board said. If objections are filed, there could be a series of hearings and appeals that delay certification of the votes. If no objections are filed, the results could be certified as early as Dec. 16.

If the labor board certifies the results and one or more of the stores unionizes, they would be the first Starbucks-owned stores in the U.S. to be represented by a union. The company has actively fought unionization at its stores for decades, saying its stores function best when it works directly with employees.

The election comes at a time of heightened labor unrest in the U.S. Striking cereal workers at Kellogg Co. rejected a new contract offer earlier this week. Thousands of workers were on strike at Deere & Co. earlier this fall. And the U.S. labor board recently approved a redo of a union vote at an Amazon warehouse in Alabama after finding the company pressured workers to vote against the union.

Labor shortages are giving workers a rare upper hand in wage negotiations. And Dan Graff, director of the Higgins Labor Program at the University of Notre Dame, said the pandemic gave many workers the time and space to rethink what they want from their jobs.

Starbucks workers watching the vote count on Thursday over Zoom on a big screen at a union office in Buffalo erupted into cheers and chants of Elmwood, Elmwood, Elmwood!" when the results of that location were announced, jumping up and down and hugging each other.

It has been an unbelievably long road to get to this point," said Michelle Eisen, an 11-year employee at the Elmwood store. "As of today, we have done it, in spite of everything the company has thrown at us. 

Starbucks spokesman Reggie Borges said the company hasn't yet determined its next steps, but noted that there were close votes at two of the Buffalo stores.

Every partner matters. It's how we built the company and how we will continue to run the company, Borges said. We will continue to focus on the best Starbucks experience we can deliver for every partner and our customers.

Workers at all three stores began voting by mail last month on whether they wanted to be represented by Workers United, an affiliate of the Service Employees International Union.

The NLRB began counting ballots Thursday from union elections held at the stores. Around 111 Starbucks workers were eligible to vote; 78 ballots  including those that were challenged by the union and Starbucks  were counted Thursday.

Yes votes could accelerate unionization efforts at other U.S. Starbucks stores. Already, three more stores in Buffalo and a store in Mesa, Arizona, have filed petitions with the labor board for their own union elections. Those cases are pending.

Kent Wong, the director of the UCLA Labor Center, says that its a big deal for even one Starbucks location to vote for a union, calling it a symbolic victory for the labor movement."

Wong noted that it could not only galvanize workers at other Starbucks locations but also at fast food chains.

People are looking at what is happening in Buffalo, Wong said.

But Matthew Dimick, an associate professor of law at the University of Buffalo, noted that Buffalo has a long tradition of labor organizing from its industrial past.

Most Buffalonians probably see unions as a positive, and are therefore more willing to join and form unions than in other parts of the country, Dimick said.

Rossann Williams, Starbucks executive vice president and president of North America, told The Associated Press that the Buffalo area also had acute problems coming out of the pandemic, including staff shortages and equipment problems.

We didnt have the right support here on the ground, Williams said. The company has hired more than 200 people in Buffalo over the past few months and turned one store into a training center to bring workers up to speed more quickly, she added.

Union backers at the three Buffalo stores that held elections say Starbucks had chronic problems like understaffing and faulty equipment even before the pandemic. They want more input on pay and store operations.

Starbucks insists its more than 8,000 company-owned U.S. stores function best when it works directly with its employees, which it calls partners. Many employees in the Buffalo area work at more than one store depending on demand, Starbucks says, and it wants to have the flexibility to move them between stores.

Starbucks asked the labor board to hold one vote with all 20 of its Buffalo-area stores, but the board rejected that request, saying store-by-store votes were appropriate under labor law.

In a letter to Starbucks U.S. employees this week, Starbucks President and CEO Kevin Johnson reminded them of the companys generous benefits, including paid parental and sick leave and free college tuition through Arizona State University. Late last month, the company also announced pay increases, saying all its U.S. workers will earn at least $15  and up to $23  per hour by next summer.

But backers of the union say Starbucks can do more.

If Starbucks can find the money to pay their CEO nearly $15 million in compensation, I think maybe they can afford to pay their workers a decent wage with decent benefits, said U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, a Vermont independent, in a recent Twitter post. Sanders held a virtual town hall with Buffalo Starbucks workers earlier this week.

Johnson earned $14.7 million in salary and stock awards in the companys 2020 fiscal year.

If the votes do get certified and a store opts to unionize, Starbucks is legally obligated to begin the process of collective bargaining with Workers United, said Cathy Creighton, the director of Cornell Universitys Industrial and Labor Relations Buffalo Co-Lab.

In some cases, companies have closed a location rather than deal with a union. But that's difficult for a retailer like Starbucks, since it would be illegal to close one store and then open another nearby, Creighton said.

Creighton called the union victory at the Elmwood store an incredibly momentous occasion for working people in America. She noted that it has been almost impossible to organize the food and beverage industry because the employers depend on a low wage workforce that turns over frequently.

To get a group of people to stay together and weather the campaign that Starbucks waged against them is pretty extraordinary," she added.

Starbucks has shown a willingness to bargain outside the U.S. In Victoria, Canada, workers at a Starbucks store voted to unionize in August 2020. It took Starbucks and the United Steelworkers union nearly a year to reach a collective bargaining agreement, which was ratified by workers in July.

In the U.S., there are around 4,000 Starbucks outlets in grocery stores, airports, casinos and other locations that are unionized. But they are licensed by Starbucks and owned and operated by separate companies.

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Thompson reported from Buffalo, New York, and Durbin reported from Detroit, Michigan. AP Business Writer Anne D'Innocenzio contributed from New York.
The Sundance Film Festival is returning to the Utah mountains in January armed with documentaries about Bill Cosby, Princess Diana, Kanye West and Lucille Ball and the directorial debuts of Eva Longoria, Tig Notaro and Jesse Eisenberg.

Festival organizers unveiled the lineup for the 2022 edition on Thursday, which includes 82 feature-length films culled from over 3,700 submissions.

This years program reflects the unsettling and uncertain times weve been living in for the past year and a half, said Kim Yutani, Sundances director of programming.

As in years past, the festival boasts a robust documentary lineup, including We Need to Talk About Cosby, in which director W. Kamau Bell attempts to examine the art and artist question as it applies to the actor/comedian, who spent time in prison before his sexual assault conviction was overturned.

Festival director Tabitha Jackson says the Cosby doc is, A real cultural analysis of what happened.

Lucy and Desi, which marks Amy Poehlers documentary debut, and The Princess from director Ed Perkins are also in the lineup.

Directors Clarence Coodie Simmons and Chike Ozah also have jeen-yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy, chronicling 21 years of Kanye West with never-before-seen footage, and Kathryn Ferguson charts the career of Sinead OConnor in Nothing Compares.

The documentaries also go beyond the big names and biopics. Director Ramin Bahrani will debut his film 2nd Chance, about the bankrupt pizzeria owner who invented the modern bulletproof vest, and Rory Kennedy has Downfall: The Case Against Boeing, which looks at the two Boeing 737 MAX crashes and the aftermath. Others look at the last ship carrying enslaved Africans to the U.S. (Descendant), the U.S. maternal health crisis (Aftershock), TikTok (TikTok, Boom) and midwives in Myanmar (Midwives).

Lena Dunham goes behind the camera once more with Sharp Stick, about a 26-year-old who begins an affair with her older boss, Michel Hazanavicius will premiere his zombie comedy, Final Cut, and Riley Stearns will debut Dual, starring Karen Gillan as a woman who attempts to clone herself after a terminal diagnosis.

There are some notable debuts, like AM I OK? a film about female friends directed by Tig Notaro and Stephanie Allynne and starring Dakota Johnson and Sonoya Mizuno. Eva Longoria directs a documentary about the rivalry between boxers Oscar De La Hoya and Julio Cesar Chavez, and Jesse Eisenberg has When You Finish Saving the World, starring Julianne Moore and Finn Wolfhard as mother and son. Carol screenwriter Phyllis Nagy has also written and directed Call Jane, about abortions in the late 1960s. It stars Elizabeth Banks and Sigourney Weaver.

The U.S. dramatic competition slate, which has launched films like CODA, Passing and Minari, includes one of Michael Kenneth Williams final projects, 892, starring John Boyega as a desperate veteran who is on the brink of homelessness.

We saw a lot of films that have psychological thriller or horror elements throughout the program. We do have a dedicated midnight section, but we were able to find places for so many of these films that were just doing really interesting things, Yutani said. And in our U.S. Dramatic section, there are several films written by women exploring racial injustice and the status of women of color in Academia through this horror film lens.

After going largely virtual in 2021, organizers are planning to return to an in-person festival in Park City, Utah, with some satellite screenings at regional theaters across the U.S. during the second weekend and virtual options as well. Earlier this year, the festival announced that all attendees, from filmmakers to ticket buyers and volunteers, would be required to have received the COVID-19 vaccine.

Were excited to return to our home in Utah, but also to come together in new ways, Jackson said. Building on our experience last year, weve discovered new possibilities of convergence, and we embrace the fact that we are now an expanded community in which active participation matters, and audience presence  however it manifests  is essential to our mission.

In that spirit, the festival will kick off on Jan. 20 with the immersive live-cinema documentary 32 Sounds, which will debut online and in Park Citys Egyptian Theater. Other day one premieres include Longorias La Guerra Civil and The Princess.

This year, we look forward to celebrating this generations most innovative storytellers as they share their work across a wide range of genres and forms, said Robert Redford, the founder and president of the Sundance Institute. These artists have provided a light through the darkest of times, and we look forward to welcoming their unique visions out into the world and experiencing them together.

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Follow AP Film Writer Lindsey Bahr on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ldbahr

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This story corrects the title of the documentary jeen-yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy.

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The festival will run from Jan 20 through Jan 30. Ticket packages go on sale starting Dec. 17 and individual tickets will be available on Jan. 6.
MOSCOW (AP)  When the leaders of the Soviet Union's three Slavic republics met at a secluded hunting lodge on Dec. 8, 1991, the fate of the vast country hung in the balance. With a stroke of their pens, they delivered a death blow to the USSR, triggering shockwaves that are still reverberating three decades later in the tensions between Russia and Ukraine.

The agreement they signed at the dacha in Viskuli, in the Belavezha forest near the border with Poland, declared that the USSR ceases to exist as a subject of international law and as a geopolitical reality. It also created the Commonwealth of Independent States, a loose alliance of ex-Soviet republics that still exists but carries little meaning.

Two weeks later, eight other Soviet republics joined the alliance, effectively terminating the authority of Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev, who stepped down on Dec. 25, 1991, with the hammer and sickle flag lowered over the Kremlin.

Stanislav Shushkevich, the head of the republic of Byelorussia, as Belarus was called at the time, spoke about the signing of the agreement with pride. The accord reached with Boris Yeltsin of Russia and Leonid Kravchuk of Ukraine, marked a diplomatic masterpiece, he said.

A great empire, a nuclear superpower, split into independent countries that could cooperate with each other as closely as they wanted, and not a single drop of blood was shed, added Shushkevich, 86, in an interview with The Associated Press.

But that blood would be spilled later  in multiple conflicts across the former Soviet republics once yoked under Moscow's tight control.

One of the deadliest began in eastern Ukraine shortly after Russia's 2014 annexation of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula, as Russian-backed separatists battled Ukrainian troops in fighting that has killed over 14,000 people.

The latest Russian troop buildup on its border with Ukraine has fueled Western concerns of an invasion. During a video conference Tuesday, U.S. President Joe Biden told Russian President Vladimir Putin that Moscow will face economy-jarring sanctions if it launches an offensive against its neighbor.

In his memoirs, Gorbachev expressed bitterness about the 1991 agreement, which doomed his desperate attempt to save the USSR from collapse by trying to negotiate a new union treaty among the republics, an effort he had begun months earlier.

What they so hastily and stealthily did in Belavezha was like a plot to kill an injured but still living person by dismembering it, wrote Gorbachev, now 90. The striving for power and personal interests prevailed over any legal arguments or doubts.

For Shushkevich, however, "It wasn't a tragedy at all!

We decided to shut the prison of nations," he added. "There was nothing to feel contrition for.

Shushkevich argued that he and the other leaders saw no point in Gorbachev's efforts to keep the remaining 12 Soviet republics together. The Baltic republics of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia already had seceded and the failed August coup against Gorbachev by hard-line members of the Communist Party had eroded his authority and encouraged other republics to seek independence.

All versions of the union treaty boiled down to the restoration of the old ways or to Gorbachev's proposal of a new structure where he still would be the boss, Shushkevich said.

Shushkevich, Yeltsin and Kravchuk had arrived at the Viskuli lodge near the border with Poland accompanied by a few senior aides on Dec. 7. Participants later described the atmosphere as tense  everyone realized that the stakes were high and they all faced the risk of being arrested on treason charges, if Gorbachev wanted.

Shushkevich noted that Eduard Shirkovsky, the head of the republic's KGB who was at the hunting lodge, had assured him there was no threat. Years later, however, the hard-line Shirkovsky voiced regret that he didn't order their arrest.

In the AP interview, Shushkevich said he didn't expect Gorbachev, whose power was waning rapidly, to try to arrest them.

I don't think there was such a threat, given Gorbachev's cowardice; at least I didn't feel it, he said.

Gorbachev said he decided against it for fear of provoking bloodshed in a volatile situation when the loyalties of the Soviet army and law enforcement were split.

If I decided to rely on some armed structures, it would have inevitably resulted in an acute political conflict fraught with bloodshed," he wrote.

Gorbachev blamed Yeltsin, his archrival, for spearheading the Soviet collapse in a bid to take over the Kremlin. Yeltsin, who died in 2007 at the age of 76, had defended his action by saying the USSR was doomed. The Belovezha agreement, he said, was the only way to avoid a conflict between the central government and the independence-minded republics.

Some participants in the historic meeting pointed to Ukraine's Kravchuk as playing the pivotal role in the demise of the Soviet Union.

Ukraine had declared its sovereignty after the August coup that dramatically weakened Gorbachev's authority. A week before the Belovezha agreement, Kravchuk was elected president of Ukraine in a vote that also overwhelmingly approved its independence from Moscow.

In the talks at the hunting lodge, Kravchuk took a forceful stand, rejecting any kind of revamped version of the Soviet Union.

Kravchuk was focused on Ukraine's independence, Shushkevich said. He was proud that Ukraine declared its independence in a referendum and he was elected president on Dec. 1, 1991.

Sergei Shakhrai, a top Yeltsin aide, also said Ukraine's vote played a decisive role.

The Ukrainian independence referendum and the subsequent decision by the Ukrainian Supreme Soviet to disavow the 1922 Treaty on creation of the USSR put a political and legal completion to the process of disintegration, Shakhrai said. Yeltsin and Shushkevich first tried to persuade Kravchuk to maintain some form of union, but after the referendum, he wouldn't even like to hear that word.

After signing the agreement, Yeltsin and Kravchuk asked Shushkevich to tell Gorbachev about the deal. Yeltsin also called Soviet Defense Minister Yevgeny Shaposhnikov to discourage him from using any force if Gorbachev ordered him to do so, and later called then-U.S. President George H.W. Bush.

Shushkevich recalled that Gorbachev was livid at the news declaring the Soviet Union dead.

Gorbachev told me in a mentor tone: Do you know what the international community would say?" Shushkevich said. And I responded that I do know. By that time, the conversation with Bush already started and I was hearing it. I said that Yeltsin was telling Bush about it and he (Bush) was reacting in a positive way.

While they focused on unseating Gorbachev, the three leaders put aside disputes among themselves, but those rifts resurfaced later.

Putin, who described the collapse of the Soviet Union as the greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the 20th century, has continuously alleged that Ukraine unfairly inherited historic parts of Russia in the demise of the USSR.

When Ukraines Kremlin-friendly president was driven from power by protests in 2014, Russia responded by annexing Crimea and throwing its support behind a separatist insurgency in eastern Ukraine.

Amid the recent Russian troop buildup reported by Washington and Kyiv, Putin has sought guarantees from Biden that the NATO military alliance will never expand to include Ukraine, which has long sought membership. The Americans and their NATO allies said that request was a nonstarter.

Modern Ukraine is entirely the product of the Soviet era, Putin said in an article published in July. We know and remember well that it was shaped  for a significant part  on the lands of historical Russia. It's crystal clear that Russia was effectively robbed."

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Karmanau reported from Kyiv, Ukraine.
After Special Counsel John Durham last month charged the primary source of the Steele dossier with lying to investigators about a Trump supporter providing its most explosive allegations, some high-profile journalists who made a connection between the supporter, Sergei Millian, and the dossier have retracted their published reporting.

But others have resisted doing so  including Yahoo News' Michael Isikoff and Mother Jones' David Corn, who co-authored a book erroneously linking Millian to the dossier.

In their 2018 bestseller, "Russian Roulette: The Inside Story of Putin's War on America and the Election of Donald Trump," the authors identified Millian as the source of the allegation that the Kremlin had a blackmail tape of Trump with prostitutes  the so-called "pee tape."

"Millian would come to play an oversized role in the Trump-Russia story by apparently making sensational and unverified claims about what had gone on inside a Moscow hotel room," Isikoff and Corn wrote. Only, Millian made no such claims.

According to a federal grand jury indictment of Igor Danchenko, a former Brookings Institution analyst who provided much of the dossier's content, Danchenko falsely attributed the dirt to Millian. The Belarusian-American businessman was described in the dossier as a "close associate" of Trump, which also is untrue, giving unwarranted credibility to the salacious sex rumor. The indictment suggests that the real source was another Clinton operative  former Hillary Clinton campaign adviser Charles Dolan  who confessed to Durham's investigators there was nothing to the rumor.

A few pages later, Isikoff and Corn reported, based on information passed on to them by paid Clinton campaign agent Glenn Simpson of Fusion GPS, that "Simpson would later learn from [ex-UK spy and dossier author Christopher] Steele the identity of Source D, the main source for the golden showers' allegation. It was Sergei Millian."

"Like all of those who had spoken to Steele's collector [Danchenko]," the authors added, "Millian was an unwitting source; he had no idea his conversation with the collector would be passed along to Trump's political foes."

But Durham's review of Danchenko's phone records and other evidence showed Millian never had such a conversation with Danchenko. The Clinton subcontractor simply made it up. (Danchenko also attributed to Millian the key dossier allegation of a "well-developed conspiracy of cooperation" between the Trump campaign and the Russian government, which formed the foundation of FBI warrants to spy on former Trump campaign adviser Carter Page for a year. This too was fabricated.)

In the wake of the Durham revelations, the Washington Post has retracted or corrected sections of no fewer than 14 stories about Millian and the dossier. The Wall Street Journal, which first made the connection based on a single anonymous source in a January 2017 story by Pulitzer-winning reporter Mark Maremont, now concedes that the indictment raises "serious questions" about its reporting. ABC News, which aired a January 2017 story by former correspondent Brian Ross and producer Matthew Mosk identifying Millian as a key dossier source, said it is "reviewing" its reporting "in light of new developments."

Corn, the Washington bureau chief for the leftist political magazine Mother Jones, and Isikoff, the chief investigative correspondent for Yahoo News, were among the first journalists to press the Steele dossier in the media, starting in the fall of 2016. Answering critics on Twitter last month, Isikoff claimed he had disavowed the dossier years ago: "I already did, some time ago (before [Justice Department IG Michael] Horowitz and Durham)," referring to remarks he made to USA Today in 2018.

In that interview, Isikoff indicated blandly that some of the information he was fed was wrong, stating that some of the dossier's "more sensational allegations are likely false." He summed up the dossier as a "mixed record." Now he knows for certain what he reported was incorrect and yet he has issued no corrections or mea culpas.

Isikoff once tweeted a link to his book "Russian Roulette" to President Trump, arguing "here is what is true, Mr. President." Currently atop his Twitter page, Isikoff still has a pinned 2018 tweet thanking MSNBC host Rachel Maddow for helping propel the book to No. 1 on Amazon.

In an attempt to face up to his own part in pushing the dossier fables, Corn last month penned a lengthy piece in Mother Jones arguing that just because the dossier turned out to be fiction doesn't mean the Russiagate narrative is a hoax. He insisted Trump is still "guilty" of betraying America by cozying up to Russia.

Corn avoided mentioning Millian a single time in his 4,000-word essay and even cited "Russian Roulette" in his defense. In his telling, the fact that he and Isikoff showed some skepticism by reporting that the Justice Department watchdog revealed Steele may have exaggerated his most sensational allegations, makes up for repeating those stories in their book. Corn also continues to feature "Russian Roulette" as the backdrop to his Twitter page.

Corn admits he "chased after some of the allegations" but "couldn't nail anything down." Even so, he called on the FBI to investigate Millian in a Jan. 19, 2017, Mother Jones story. Months earlier, Corn gave a copy of the dossier to then-FBI General Counsel James Baker, whom he knows socially. (The magazine has appended an editor's note to that article, stating: "Earlier Mother Jones reporting noted that Sergei Millian was reportedly a source for the Steele dossier  Content making reference to Millian has been appropriately updated.")

In an RCI interview, Millian said that in addition to correcting the record, both men owe him an apology.

"Isikoff and Corn played a role in spreading evil rumors and gossip about innocent American citizens," Millian said, noting he's retained a libel attorney. "Now they are simply ducking reasonable questions about their role, as if they were not a part of harming people."

Neither Corn nor Isikoff responded to requests for comment.

While it would be impossible to correct print editions published long ago, neither has the e-edition of their book been revised, as it was around the time of the first Trump impeachment from late 2019 to early 2020 ("completely updated and expanded to reflect the latest investigations," according to its cover).

Their publisher, Twelve, an imprint of Hachette Book Group, did not reply to emails seeking comment. On the book's official website, the New York-based publisher promotes "Russian Roulette" as a "# 1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER," but has not posted any updates or corrections to the webpage.

The site quotes "praise" for the authors from Maddow, who gushed, "Two of the best and most accomplished investigative reporters of their generation, two of the best investigative reporters we have in this country. ... [A] superpower reporting team."

It also includes this blurb from a New York Times review: "Russian Roulette is the most thorough and riveting account."

Steele first fed the false allegations to the authors in 2016. That fall, Simpson booked a private room at the Tabard Inn in Washington, where he introduced them to Steele. There, the former MI6 agent spilled his secret "intelligence" about Trump and Russia, Isikoff and Corn acknowledged in their book. Steele met for the off-the-record chats with the New York Times, The New Yorker, CNN, the Washington Post and Yahoo News and Mother Jones, but only Yahoo News and Mother Jones bit on his wild and unsubstantiated rumors back then.

"US intel officials probe ties between Trump adviser and Kremlin," proclaimed a Yahoo headline over the story Isikoff wrote on Sept. 23, 2016, a story the FBI shockingly used to help corroborate Steele's reporting cited in a warrant to spy on that same Trump adviser, Page, despite the fact that Steele was the main source for Isikoff's article.

Isikoff acknowledges his close relationship with Simpson in a personal note in the back of his book.

"Full disclosure: Glenn Simpson, a key player in these pages, is a longtime friend," he wrote in "Russian Roulette." "Over many years, I have benefited enormously from Glenn's insights into Putin's Russia and American politics. In recounting this story, we have tried to do what he would have done: play it straight."

Also close to Simpson, Corn was the earliest propagator of the dossier, doing the Clinton campaign's dirty work in the final stretch run of the presidential campaign. He allowed Steele, anonymously, to claim "there was an established exchange of information between the Trump campaign and the Kremlin of mutual benefit" in his Oct. 31, 2016, Mother Jones piece.

His story was one of the most detailed in alleging ties between the Trump campaign and Moscow, creating an important talking point for the Clinton campaign in the final days of the 2016 election. "Glen [sic] asked Chris [Steele] to speak to the Mother Jones reporter. It was Glen's[sic] Hail Mary attempt" to get the dossier dirt out in the media before Election Day, then-senior Justice Department official Bruce Ohr wrote in notes he took of a meeting he had with Simpson at the time.

Like Isikoff, Corn did not pin Steele down about how he knew his tale of a Trump-Russia conspiracy was true. This was an important omission. As it turned out, there was no "established exchange." Steele's primary source Danchenko fictionalized the whole thing.
(The Center Square)  Montanas outdoor recreation industry suffered huge losses in the first three months of 2020 because of the pandemic, but it made a major turnaround for the rest of the year, according to an industry representative.

Across the nation, the outdoor recreation economy fell 19% from 2019 to 2020, compared with a 3.4% decrease for the overall U.S. economy, according to recent data from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). The value of the goods and services produced by the nation's economy for the outdoor recreation economy decreased 17.4%, while outdoor recreation compensation fell 12.5% and employment decreased 17.1%.

In Montana, outdoor recreation value added was 4.3% of the state's gross domestic product, or $2.2 billion, according to BEA data. Outdoor recreation employment decreased in 2020 nationwide, and fell 17.5% in Montana. That still meant more than 26,000 people were employed in the industry in the state, with compensation of more than $1.1 billion, the agency said.

Staycations and hastily developed COVID health safety procedures helped the industry recover, according to Mac Minard, executive director of the Montana Outfitters and Guides Association (MOGA).

The fishing industry suffered probably somewhere in the neighborhood of 40 to 45% vacancy, we lost almost all of the spring turkey season, and we definitely were impacted by about 50% on the spring black bear season, Minard told The Center Square.

From June through the end of the year this part of the outdoor recreation industry had a strong rebound, he said, running at or near capacity. Families chose staycations within the state or picked Montana as a family destination.

That would be one factor of demand, just simply due to the restrictions in Canada and Mexico, you've really caused people to seek the recreational opportunity, particularly out here in the American West, Minard said.

Conventional outdoor recreation accounted for 37.4% of U.S. outdoor recreation value in 2020, an increase from 30.6% in 2019. The BEA attributed the increase to higher spending on boating/fishing and RVing.

Approximately $943 million was spent on these conventional outdoor recreation activities in Montana. Of that, $288 million was spent on boating and fishing, up from $168 million in 2019. And RVining increased to $139 million compared to $125 million in 2019.

Minard said his organization working to get COVID protocols approved so the recreation industry could operate. The association worked with the governors office and the Office of Outdoor Recreation to get protocols in place.

The outdoor industry began to understand things better as it moved from fishing to hunting season.

People were absolutely clamoring for the services of an outfitter, he said. Where they hadn't been booked before they were now being booked fully.

In 2020, Montana ended up with a tremendous amount of pent-up COVID demand for outdoor recreation. That translated to $63 million in hunting, shooting and trapping, though that was approximately $6 million less than what was spent in 2019.

The applications for big-game licenses set an all-time record entering the 2021 draw, with 30 to 40% more applicants than the number of non-resident licenses that were available.

And that created a pretty damn serious problem post-draw, Minard said.

The industry ended up with a 40 to 50% vacancy factor because many hunters who had booked for a hunting trip didnt get licenses, so they canceled plans to visit the state, he said. The random draw translated into a detriment to the industry because it didnt meet demand for the states fourth largest economic driver.

Minard said the state had 35% more applicants than ever before. The overbooking compared to license sales would have cost the industry potential revenue if the Legislature hadnt taken action.

He said MOGA approached the Montana Legislature for a one-time expansion of the number of licenses available.

Mind you, we are talking about the fourth largest economic driver in the state with non-resident spending, Minard said. And the first three are food, fuel and lodging. And nobody comes to Montana just to drive, sleep and eat.

The Legislature passed legislation for the one-time issue of additional licenses, which the governor signed.

It is vital to the well-being of rural communities across the state because of the commerce it generates, he said.

That legislation enabled the industry to get back to capacity and generated approximately $30 million in commerce, according to Minard.

More than 1,700 nonresident hunters with outfitters have purchased the newly available big game licenses as of September, the Ravalli Republic reported, adding approximately $1.6 million in new license revenue to Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks.

If we were able to generate that kind of commerce, put people back to work, this wasn't a handout, this was a jobs bill, Minard said.

He credited an astute legislature and a governor looking for creative ways to beat the COVID economic impact for making it happen by granting MOGAs request.

What we wanted to do was put people to work and hire people and buy tires and buy food and support, support the hotels, motels, he said. All this stuff like that is what the goal was, and it worked.

The industry got out of 2020 in good condition because the final three quarters of the year went well.

By 2021, the applications were off the charts, the application for big-game hunting, and for the fishing industry, Minard said. The fishing industry was absolutely slammed this year, record levels of fishermen out in the outdoors, both guided and unguided.
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A major dairy farming business which supplies cheese to UK retailers and to over 40 countries around the world has been ordered to pay out 37,000 for pollution offences.

Alvis Brothers Ltd, of Lye Cross Farm, Redhill, was ordered by Bristol Magistrates Court on 2 December to pay out the sum after pleading guilty to polluting a tributary of the River Yeo.

The Somerset farm supplies cheese to major supermarkets including Waitrose, Marks and Spencer and Sainsbury, and exports to dozens of countries.

On 28 June 2019 an Environment Agency officer attended Lye Cross Farm following a report of slurry pollution to a tributary of the the river, near Cheddar.

The source of the pollution was found to be run off from a heap of farmyard manure at Lye Cross Farm.

The run off had entered a surface water drain that led to the stream, and more than half a kilometre was polluted.

Alvis Brothers Ltd built a basic bund to contain the run off, but when officers returned to the farm on 2 July effluent was leaking from the bund and again contaminating the watercourse.

Assessments by the Environment Agency the following week found a chronic impact on the aquatic invertebrates living downstream of the farm, whilst sensitive species, indicating a good water quality, were only found upstream.

The leak of slurry from the bund was still happening on a return to the site, on 31 July, the agency said.

And on a visit on 18 September, officers witnessed a second pollution, this time as a result of pig slurry being spread on nearby fields.

The slurry had entered a field drain, discharging to the same watercourse.

In court District Judge Lynne Matthews described the offences as disgraceful and appalling.

She said that the company should not require nurse-maiding by the Environment Agency, given their farming experience.

Judge Matthews also said that in all the pollutions she had dealt with, offenders had not had as many slaps across the hand from the Environment Agency as in this case.

Environment officer, Jenny Hasell said: Repeated pollution events from Lye Cross Farm have caused protracted damage to the local environment.

We expect much better from such a large and experienced farming business, both for the environment and the local communities."
Around 500 Northern Irish farmers are expected to get the go ahead for environmental farming projects as part of a 14m government fund.

The fifth round of DAERAs Environmental Farming Scheme (EFS) will support farmers to undertake measures to help climate change mitigation.

The voluntary scheme, which has issued a total of 63m to date, allows applicants to choose from a range of options to create environmental benefit on their farms.

The fifth intake includes a range of arable options designed to enhance the biodiversity value of farms with minimal impact on cropping rotations or management.

Some 500 farmers across Northern Ireland will be given the green light before the Christmas period to start their projects, the department said.

NI's Minister for Agriculture, Edwin Poots said: The EFS is an important but voluntary scheme which supports farmers to maintain biodiversity and improve water quality through a range of options.

We are confident that most farmers who applied for EFS Wider Tranche 5, and provided the required information, can expect to receive their offers before the Christmas holidays.

"They will then have 21 days to confirm their acceptance of the five year agreement. The rest will be released in January 2022."

For queries on EFS agreements, farmers should contact the DAERA Helpline number 0300 200 7848, or email efs@daera-ni.gov.uk.
Farmers face a 'postcode lottery' if plans to reward them financially for increasing soil carbon stocks are to be introduced, two leading soil scientists have warned.

Presenting their data today at the University of Cambridge, Rothamsted professors Andrew Neal and David Powlson will say geological history alone, which determines the type of soil found on a farm, will make capturing more carbon in the soil 'nigh on impossible' for some farmers.

Speaking ahead of the university's soil conference, Professor Neal said: If you farm on sandy soils, as is the case for farmers in places such as Bedfordshire or Nottinghamshire, then you will struggle to increase the carbon content of your soil.

"You might be doing all the right things to increase the carbon flowing through your soil, but it wont show up when they come to test your soil.

Common ways to improve soil carbon include the addition of manures or crop residues, growing cover crops in the winter and the rearing of grazing livestock and crops together.

Under the government's post-Brexit Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) scheme proposals, farmers will be paid to manage their farms using such environmentally friendly practices, often termed regenerative agriculture.

The problem, says Professor Neal, is that the potential for carbon sequestration is strongly influenced by soil typeparticularly textureand the starting carbon content, which will be a legacy of past farming practices.

Changes in soil carbon in response to alterations in management practice occur slowly," he explained.

"Its also difficult to measure the likely small changes in soil carbon within a short time period; indicators such as soil microbial biomass are useful in showing whether organic carbon is increasing or decreasing in response to a change of management.

"But these measurements provide neither an estimate of soil carbon stocks, nor a prediction of absolute changes in carbon.

Speaking at today's annual IFS Agronomic Conference, Professor Neal and Professor Powlson will propose an alternative system that measures the flow of carbon through soil, rather than the actual amount in soil at a given time  what they call a 'dynamic rather than static' view of soil.

If a system of policy requirements or financial incentives for increasing soil carbon is to be instituted, we propose an alternative approach using carbon models to predict probable changes in soil carbon taking account of the farmers soil type, local climate, cropping practices and starting soil carbon content.

"This could be combined with closer monitoring at a network of benchmark sites.

Careful thought needs to go into designing replacements for current EU farm subsidies, added Professor Powlson, as there are formidable challenges to doing this in ways that are both fair and practical.

There is much interest in sequestering carbon in soil as a means of mitigating climate change by making payments to farmers in return for the amount of carbon sequestered.

"There are several early warning methods that may be successful in detecting whether or not a soil is increasing its carbon content, and this is helpful.

"But they will probably not provide direct evidence of the absolute change in total carbon that has occurred.

Soil organic matter contains about 50% carbon and influences virtually all soil properties. Recent Rothamsted research has shown how the structure of the soil is affected by the processing of organic matter inputs by soil microbes as metabolites form associations with mineral particles.

The resulting structure in turn impacts oxygen diffusion through the soil and the microbial processing of carbon and other nutrients important for crop and livestock nutrition.

Imaging of pore networks clearly shows how a clay-rich soil adapts to differences in organic inputs, but a sandy soil shows little adaptation," said Professor Neal.

"Thus, the physical structure and resulting changes in biological activity, are less influenced by organic inputs in sandy soils.

"This is consistent with the observation that sandy soils have much less capacity to sequester carbon than soils of finer texture, he said.
Sheep farmers are being reminded to look at the latest guidance on how best to deal with livestock worrying incidents as a rise in dog attacks is anticipated this festive season.

As the end of the year approaches, sheep sector groups are once again looking back on 2021 having experienced an increase in livestock worrying on flocks.

The latest available figures show that the cost of livestock worrying increased by over 10% to 1.3m as the pandemic saw a surge in people visiting the countryside.

A recent survey by the National Sheep Association (NSA) also showed a continued increase of attacks year-on-year, underlining the significant emotional cost experienced by farmers.

Despite the shorter days and colder temperatures, the group warns that the threat of dog attacks continues, with the festive period often seeing an increase in cases once again.

Because of this, sheep producers are being reminded to update themselves on the latest livestock worrying guidance.

NSA chief executive Phil Stocker comments: The past two years have brought an increase of dog walkers into the countryside as dog ownership has soared.

"This has led to many sheep farmers across the UK reporting an increase in sheep worrying attacks by dogs on their flocks.

"With Christmas and New Year holidays almost upon us, it is likely many people will once again get out and about walking with their pets, placing sheep flocks at risk.

"In the case of an attack happening, NSA hopes its advice available online will be useful to secure the best outcome.

To help farmers know how best to act should they suffer an attack on their flock, the NSA recently posed a series of questions to PC David Allen of North Wales Police who provided advice.

PC Allen is a member of the Livestock Worrying Roundtable with a number of years of experience of dealing with sheep worrying cases.

Having taken questions submitted by farmers, he was able to offer advice on the issue ranging from what producers are legally able to do if a dog is caught in the act of sheep worrying to how to best trace owners of straying dogs.

Farmers are also reminded of the downloadable warning signs that NSA has available on its website that can be used to inform walkers to keep their pets on a lead near sheep.

In addition to the traditional warning signs, the organisation is offering a downloadable sign designed by recent competition winner Max, aged nine, from Kent.

Max designed his winning sign in a recent NSA childrens competition, and it is hoped the sign could act as an effective method of communication to the public.

NSA communications officer Katie James said: It is hard to ignore a plea from a child and that was the thinking behind our recent competition.

"We believe it could catch the publics eye and shows them, through the eyes of children, the devastation that could take place if they fail to keep their dogs under control and on a lead when near livestock.
Temporary campsites set up on farms have given Britain's rural economy a major boost, but many businesses fear that relaxed permitted development rights will soon be reverted.

According to figures from Pitchup.com, on-farm temporary campsites across the UK have generated more than 25 million over the past twelve months.

And its not just so-called honey pot areas that have shared in the spoils, as poorer rural areas have also benefited from 'staycation' tourists.

Areas such as Staffordshire, Lincolnshire, and Herefordshire, which usually lose out to more popular destinations like the West Country and Lake District, all shared in the windfall.

According to the outdoor accommodation provider, 9.8m was generated through pitch fees alone, with an extra 2.9m being spent with campsite owners on firewood and farm produce.

But the lions share of the money  12.9m  was spent in local rural businesses including pubs, shops, and restaurants, throwing them a lifeline amid the pandemic.

The boom in pop-up campsites started in summer 2020 after the government temporarily extended the right to open them from 28 days to 56 days without applying for planning permission.

The change, which involved an aspect of planning legislation called permitted development rights (PDR), was enacted to help the power a post-Covid rural recovery.

However, this is due to revert to 28 days at the end of December.

Dan Yates, founder of Pitchup.com, said the 56-day extension had a positive impact on the rural economy 'just when it was needed'.

But while the world is still suffering from the ongoing pandemic, he said it was a 'shame' the government had no plans to extend the initiative this year.

The decision by the Westminster government to end the extended PDR this year is at odds with the Welsh government which is currently consulting on a permanent extension to 56 days.

According to the administration, "temporary permitted development rights have been particularly beneficial in enabling the provision of additional capacity for campsites and broadening the range of tourist provision available to cater for the increase in staycations."

Mr Yates added that one of the most positive results of extending PDR had been bringing tourism to areas of the UK that most needed a boost.

Thanks to the 56-day ruling, lots of temporary campsites were set up in these areas and campers flooded in, generating a whole new income stream for local businesses in some of the UKs less visited rural locations.

So, as well as being a shot in the arm for the rural economy as a whole, it has also helped ensure some poorer rural communities have shared in the gains.

"While foreign travel will of course recover, we believe that the pandemic has prompted a permanent shift towards outdoor accommodation in the UK.

Mr Yates added that demand for next year was showing no sign of abating. Bookings for 2022 are already 145% up on the same time in 2019 and one campsite has already taken 305 bookings for next year.

If the 56 day extension were to remain in place on an ongoing basis, the impact on the rural economy would be very significant, he said.
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The most awaited wedding of the month just got done and official images are out let us take a moment to breathe and let that sink in. Katrina Kaif and Vicky Kaushal are married and our hearts are full. As the ceremony was one of the most guarded affairs, we all waited desperately for that one look and now that the couple has posted pictures on their official social media handles, we cant have enough.





I am sure beauty enthusiasts like me were waiting to see Katrina in her bridal look - one of the most anticipated bridal looks of the year perhaps! And lets just accept that she didnt disappoint. In a bright red wedding attire and wearing her biggest and brightest smile, Katrina made a beautiful bride with minimal makeup. While the bridal look was bright, Katrina had her own element in it - she kept it simple and classy.



Daniel Bauer, celeb-favourite makeup artist, is the man behind Katrinas wedding look. He made Katrina wedding-ready with minimal makeup which goes well with her personality as the actor is seen sporting simple looks for her off-screen appearances.



Katrina wore earth-toned makeup with accentuated smokey eyes. The makeup was kept clean and simple to let the jewellery and outfit take the spotlight. Bauer went with a brown-toned earthy palette for her lips and eyes, amped up lashes, without sharp contouring of the face. Her eyebrows were kept natural and the look was completed with a bindi. Her hair, done by ace artist Amit Thakur, was pulled back in a bun adorned with a mathapatti which looked every bit stunning.





While Katrina made our heart skip a beat, its definitely a look to pin if youre getting married anytime soon. Congratulations to the couple!
This article was written exclusively for Fethiye Times by Casey Russell.

From 10th December, for six days, the mysterious and world-renowned whirling Dervishes will take centre stage at the Konya Mevlana Culture Centre, and perform their Sema dance on the evening of each day.

The Mevlana ritual dance  the Sema  is meant to represent the true journey to maturity and enlightenment, and, over time it has become part of Turkeys traditional culture and history, this is despite Rumi coming from Persia, which is, today, modern-day Iran.

Watching The Mevlana performance is one of the main reasons that people visit Konya, so, here is an informative guide to what to expect when you witness this once in a lifetime spectacle.

The Mevlana performance

The dance, when performed, is split into seven different parts.

The ritual begins with a nat-(I.e, eulogy)-exalting Prophet Muhammed, who represents divine love. The name for this part is called the Nat-l Serif

Afterwards, part two continues the same exalting as in the first one, but also in this section, the sound of the special dervish drum, called a Kudum, starts to echo through the hall.

When all of the exalting has stopped, the third part begins with the haunting sound of a special reed flute, which is called a Ney. The Ney is meant to represent the Breath of God.

The fourth section is when the dervishes, led by the master-(called a Seyh)-,walk out in a circle and give a greeting to their friends. They do this three times.

In the fifth part, there are many selams, a special prayer said by the Dervishes. Each selam has its own different meaning;

The first is the human perception of his own service and of his glorious creator.

The second is a human beings total amazement in the presence of Allahs power.

The third, is a human sacrificing his mind to love, and all of his feelings to love. This is said to be your way of surrendering to Allah and becoming part of him.

In Islam, it is called Fenafillah, meaning Die before you die.

The last Selam is the completion of his spiritual journey. The Seyh Efendi and the Semazenbasi take part in the turning of this Selam. At this point, they are both overjoyed having faith in the Prophets, Books-(I.e.- The Quran, The Torah)-, The Angels and Allah.

The master is called the Seyh

The Sema

After some more reading from the Quran, the dancing begins. After receiving permission from the eldest son of the Seyh-(master), by kissing him on the hand, the dervishes drop their large black hirka-( a long, heavy black coat)-representing their deliverance from worldly attachments.

Now with their black robes removed, a long white robe is revealed.

The start of the performance

With their right arms extended reaching up towards the heavens and their left arm pointing to the ground, Grace from above is received from Allah, and is distributed to humanity. The dancers gracefully spin, and in unison, all the dervishes eventually start spinning together, creating a hypnotic and mesmerising constellation.

Walking among them, the master checks to see if the dervishes are doing the performance correctly.

The dance is repeated over five, 10-minute sessions, and finishes with the hafiz, a scholar who remembers the whole Quran through memory, chants passages from the Quran, thus, completing the spectacular ritual

The performance takes place every Saturday throughout the year, but we went during December where, from the 10th-17th of December each year, theres a performance each evening in remembrance of Jalal Al-Din Rumi, renowned Afghan philosopher and poet who created the dance.

The Order of the Mevlevi

When Rumi died on the seventeenth of December, 1273, his son organised his followers into the brotherhood called the Mevlevi, or whirling dervishes.

In the centuries that followed, hundreds of schools were set up to teach the dance, but ultimately, the teachings of Rumi and his ideology started to influence the countrys political, economic and social life, so in 1925, Ataturk banned them as he considered them, an obstacle to the countrys advancement.

They were revived in 1957, however, and the Mevlana are now so popular, that in 2017, the Mevlana Museum was noted as Turkeys most visited museum. There is evidence in all walks of social media posted by people from all over the world that Rumis verse and poetry are still celebrated and followed today.

Rumi quote

Where to get your tickets

Tickets for the performances from the 10th to the 17th December can be pre-ordered or bought at the door. Usually, the performance will begin at 7pm, so to guarantee a seat, its advisable to arrive at the Culture Centre by 6:30pm. There are salep sellers outside the centre and traditional crafts and Mevlana souvenirs for sale at small stalls inside and the area has a really wintery, seasonal feel.

Getting there

Konya can be reached from Fethiye by car in under 7 hours. Buses also operate regularly to Ankara, where a connection can be caught to Konya.

You can also fly to Istanbul or Ankara, and catch a connecting flight or travel by train to Konya.
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Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - December 8, 2021) - Luxury retailer Lemonwood has added a sixth store to its growing chain of upscale boutiques with a move into a new location in the heart of the Kingsway Village shopping district - right in time for the holiday season. It's the second Toronto location for the fashion retailer, which also operates stores in Summerhill, Oakville, Collingwood, Unionville and a seasonal outlet in Port Carling.





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The new store, located at 2969 Bloor Street West, opens its doors at 10:00 am on Saturday, December 11th. Customers - established and new - are invited to join the day-long grand opening event and receive 20% off select purchases all weekend and a chance to win a $500 gift basket from Lemonwood.

Lemonwood is best known for its exquisite cashmere collection, which boasts over 100 different styles in 80 colours, including ponchos, wraps, scarves, shawls, sweaters, robes and sleepwear. Lemonwood products are ethically sourced, sustainable, and made from cruelty-free fabrics, non-toxic dyes and recycled and organic materials. The chain also sources collections from producers that strive to empower women working in their trade and ensure fair and safe working conditions.

"We couldn't be more excited to join the Kingsway community- I believe that Lemonwood will complement the existing retail landscape," says president and founder Christine Peters. "In a time when customers are seeking ethical and genuine shopping experiences, we look forward to fulfilling this need in such an iconic and thriving neighbourhood."





Christine Peters, President & Founder of Lemonwood

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With plans to expand next in Ottawa and Vancouver, Lemonwood also ships across North America.









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ABOUT LEMONWOOD

Lemonwood is a woman-owned and operated retailer and wholesaler of luxury apparel, accessories, and home decor items. It is one of Canada's most successful lifestyle boutique chains with a focus on high-quality designer products made from natural fibres, including cashmere, linen, silk, cotton, wool, bamboo, and alpaca. Every Lemonwood product has a story behind it, whether it's a dress inspired by a vintage pattern book, jewellery designed by Indigenous women or a handknit sweater made by a woman on the other side of the globe. The Lemonwood philosophy is focused on elegance and simplicity - on all levels.









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https://lemonwood.ca

https://www.instagram.com/lemonwood_luxury/

https://www.facebook.com/lemonwoodluxury

Media Contact

Michelle Kalman

Mkalman@ silverliningmarketing.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/107130
KPMG International announced today annual aggregated revenues for KPMG firms globally of $32.13 billion for the fiscal year ending 30 September 2021 (FY21). Reporting a 10% increase in US dollar revenues from FY20, this follows an extensive period of investment and focus on priority services and solutions addressing the challenges faced by businesses across the globe.

Strong growth across functions: Advisory growing at 17%, Audit at 4% and Tax Legal Services at 8%.

During FY21, the global organization committed to a more than $1.5 billion investment to focus on a multi-year program to accelerate the delivery of its global environmental, societal and governance (ESG) plan and solutions.

KPMG firms are focused on building an inclusive and diverse culture and have increased female diversity among leadership ranks to 27% of partners and directors.

"2021 was a strong year for KPMG. We achieved outstanding growth in a challenging business climate, unveiled KPMG: Our Impact Plan to help drive sustainable change across our organization, and launched a new global ESG plan to support our clients in achieving their goals of addressing the most existential challenges while making a difference in the world."

"I am thankful to our talented teams who have worked tirelessly, in difficult circumstances, to ensure we met the rapidly evolving needs of our clients. We have focused first and foremost on enhancing quality and building trust. We have also worked with our leading ecosystem of alliances to support business and technology transformation. This year's financial success is the result of KPMG firms coming together to chart a new trajectory for the global organization with a commitment to a bold ambition to become the most trusted and trustworthy professional services firm." Bill Thomas, Global Chairman CEO, KPMG International

Continued growth and investment across the business

Audit

Audit achieved total revenues of $11.46 billion across all KPMG firms globally in FY21.

Our unwavering commitment is to serve the public interest with audit quality as the foundation of our business. Our continued focus on innovation is enabling true global consistency and delivering deeper insights for clients and stakeholders.

KPMG is investing significantly in our system of quality management aligned to new global quality management standards and the continued rollout of KPMG Clara our global cloud-enabled, Microsoft Azure-powered smart audit platform.

ESG assurance, led by our Audit function, is a critical element of KPMG's new global ESG plan and will be a key area of investment for the global organization to help ensure the information that businesses report is robust and independently assured to meet the needs and gain the trust of investors, stakeholders and the wider public.

"Audit quality remains our top priority and we are investing heavily in this continuous journey. Over the past year, we have made significant investments in our system of quality management, global monitoring of audit quality, and enhanced support to all of our audit professionals globally. Building on KPMG's solid foundation, we need to continuously innovate, never losing our focus. We each own the responsibility for quality, underpinned by our mission to serve the public interest and the capital markets." Larry Bradley, Global Head of Audit, KPMG International

For more on our focus on quality, read KPMG International's Transparency Report 2021, which was published today, 9 December 2021.

Tax and Legal services

Tax and Legal services achieved total revenues of $7.02 billion across all KPMG firms globally in FY21. Growth was largely driven by demand for Tax services as clients continue to seek support in navigating tax and statutory compliance in an increasingly complex economic and regulatory environment.

The organization continued to invest significantly as part of its $1 billion investment in Tax and Legal technology to enable solutions like KPMG Digital Gateway our native cloud platform, also powered by Microsoft Azure, providing clients access to our full suite of tax technologies.

With ESG at the forefront of all leadership agendas, tax transparency is increasingly being used as a key metric of success, leading to the creation of KPMG Tax Impact Reporting a new service that helps clients mitigate risk, remain compliant and advance their responsible tax approach in a complex environment.

In FY21, KPMG built one of the most significant legal service offerings in the world through KPMG Law, expanding our footprint to 81 jurisdictions, with more than 2,800 lawyers. KPMG legal professionals work together to deliver globally connected, multidisciplinary and technology-enabled solutions and managed legal services, leading to eight global panel appointments in the past two years.

"We are in the midst of unprecedented developments for tax policy, globally. Tax transformation is now a global imperative. At KPMG, we're excited about how our people, technologies and approach to business transformation combine to help tax leaders take their place at the executive leadership table and shape corporate action. Tax now has an even greater influence on the broader business agenda, and KPMG Tax, Legal and Mobility professionals are better placed than ever to support clients in responding to the rapidly evolving regulatory environment." David Linke, Global Head of Tax Legal Services, KPMG International

Advisory

Advisory achieved total revenues of $13.65 billion across all KPMG firms globally in FY21. Growth was driven in large part by the success of our Transaction and Deal Advisory services, as well as continued demand for innovative technologies and advanced cyber security solutions.

Further boosting Advisory's revenue growth was the suite of digital and business transformation solutions delivered by our world-class management consulting talent, leveraging our market-leading 'Connected. Powered. Trusted.' approach. KPMG Regulatory Driven Transformation was also a key driver, providing bold solutions for clients' rapidly evolving digital security and operational needs by helping to optimize risk, automate compliance and support the identification of opportunities created by regulatory change.

KPMG's Advisory capabilities, powered by technology and supported by long-term relationships, are expert-led and deliver transformational solutions a fact recognized over the past year by the global analyst community, including being named a "Leader" by IDC, Forrester, and HFS for our digital strategy, data analytics and AI services.

"Clients are looking to KPMG's world-class professionals and experts as their trusted advisors to guide them through their toughest business challenges, especially now, in this highly competitive, increasingly digital-first global environment. By providing access to our tested solutions, high-performance tools and leading methodologies, we continue to equip clients with the solutions they need to help them remain competitive in a rapidly evolving landscape." Carl Carande, Global Head of Advisory, KPMG International

Other FY21 Highlights

KPMG Delivery Network (KDN) launch

KPMG established a new global delivery network (KDN), which was created to provide large-scale, cross-functional capabilities and technology through a network of delivery centers. KDN includes a multi-tiered global sales and delivery support organization that harnesses the power of KPMG teams globally and transforms how KPMG firms and people work together for better, helping to deliver a more seamless client experience across the globe. KDN provides services and solutions across all three functions Tax and Legal Services and Advisory are fully operational, with Audit planned in FY22.

ESG to be the watermark running through KPMG

Prioritizing the ESG agenda, KPMG committed over $1.5 billion over the next three years toward confronting the ESG challenges being faced by clients, communities and stakeholders across the globe. Designed to accelerate ESG solutions for clients, as well as the global organization, the multi-year program is anchored in five key focus areas that aim to drive measurable change: harnessing data to deliver solutions, training talent in leading ESG education, supporting developing nations' ESG journeys, delivering solutions in collaboration with strategic alliances, and driving action through advocacy.

The global ESG plan is underpinned by KPMG: Our Impact Plan, which holds the global organization accountable to fulfill its own ESG commitments, with the aim of leading by example to make a lasting, positive impact. We are focusing on supporting clients and stakeholders to transform their businesses and supply chains to help reduce their carbon footprint, integrate climate risk into corporate strategies and support the world's realization of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

"ESG has ascended the global agenda, and it is now incumbent upon business, political and civic leaders to tackle these challenges the world is facing with transparency, honesty, positivity and a sense of collective responsibility. It is vital that everyone collaborates to an unprecedented degree and holds each other accountable. Our people have the passion, talent and skills to make a difference, and help drive and encourage the change that is so sorely needed right now for everyone, everywhere." Richard Threlfall, Global Head of ESG and KPMG IMPACT

Technology reshaping every business and our own

KPMG is in the third year of its $5 billion commitment to digital transformation, focused on purpose-driven technology, people and innovation.

Co-creating solutions with world-class global alliances, KPMG firms continue to deliver leading-edge, multidisciplinary capabilities. New this year, KPMG expanded its alliance with ServiceNow to help clients accelerate their ESG impact and modernize their risk management and resilience-building.

To accelerate and safeguard its digital experience, KPMG has created a globally consistent and secure environment for our people and clients that leverages a common, cloud-based platform built on Microsoft Azure and Azure AI.

"Gone are the days when technology was considered just a tool to save costs or find quick efficiencies. Technology today is fundamentally transforming how we live and work, and the change of pace is only accelerating. That's why we continue to invest in our digital transformation to enhance our position as a leader in professional and ESG services. These investments will allow our teams to unlock the full potential of innovation, digitization and the use of data, analytics and AI, and to deliver leading-edge digital solutions and services with purpose and impact." Christian Rast, Global Head of Technology Knowledge, KPMG International

Our people define who we are

KPMG's global headcount in FY21 reached more than 236,000 partners and employees, securing its position as a leading employer of choice and being ranked as one of the World's Most Attractive Employers for business, IT and engineering students.

With a renewed focus on harnessing the potential of all our people, the firm launched an Inclusion, Diversity and Equity (IDE) Collective Action Plan, introduced a Global IDE Center of Excellence, rolled out a new global IDE policy and instated a new governance structure to ensure accountability and consistency to IDE. With IDE as a key driver of the global organization's success, it became a signatory to Valuable 500, further cementing its commitment to inclusive practices and diverse and equitable recruitment.

As part of our new global ESG plan, all of our people will receive ESG training that is aligned to a learning framework developed in partnership with the University of Cambridge Judge Business School.

Reimagining the future of work, the global organization has worked across regions to develop a set of globally consistent principles that offer flexibility and guide our teams as we adopt hybrid ways of working.

"Our success is reliant on our people. We have continued to listen to their voices, increasingly adapted to flexible ways of working, embedded an IDE Collective Action Plan based on their lived experiences and are heavily investing in ESG and digital and data training as well as strengthening all of our L&D programs to ensure we remain competitive and continue to do work that matters." Nhlamu Dlomu, Global Head of People, KPMG International

About KPMG International

KPMG is a global organization of independent professional services firms providing Audit, Tax and Advisory services. KPMG is the brand under which the member firms of KPMG International Limited ("KPMG International") operate and provide professional services. "KPMG" is used to refer to individual member firms within the KPMG organization or to one or more member firms collectively.

KPMG firms operate in 145 countries and territories with more than 236,000 partners and employees working in member firms around the world. Each KPMG firm is a legally distinct and separate entity and describes itself as such. Each KPMG member firm is responsible for its own obligations and liabilities.

KPMG International Limited is a private English company limited by guarantee. KPMG International Limited and its related entities do not provide services to clients.

For more detail about our structure, please visit https://home.kpmg/xx/en/home/misc/governance.html.

Notes to editors:

KPMG FY21 member firm revenues (US$ billions)

Regions FY21 FY20 USD Growth (%) Americas 11.88 11.22 6% Asia Pacific 5.97 5.26 13% EMA 14.28 12.74 12% Total 32.13 29.22 10%

Functions FY21 FY20 USD Growth (%) Audit 11.46 11.07 4% Tax and Legal Services 7.02 6.48 8% Advisory 13.65 11.67 17% Total 32.13 29.22 10%

The financial information set forth represents combined information of the independent KPMG member firms that perform professional services for clients, affiliated with KPMG International Limited. The information is combined here solely for presentation purposes. KPMG International Limited performs no services for clients nor, concomitantly, generates any client revenue.

FY21 revenues and growth rates, throughout this press release, reflect KPMG's financial year between 1 October 2020 and 30 September 2021 and are expressed in US dollars.

Headcount reported above based on partners and staff employed as at 30 September 2021. KPMG's average FTE (full-time equivalent) for FY21 was 230,477, increased from the 226,882 reported in FY20.

Legal services may not be offered to SEC registrant audit clients or where otherwise prohibited by law.

Throughout this press release, "we", "KPMG", "us" and "our" refers to the global organization or to one or more of the member firms of KPMG International Limited ("KPMG International"), each of which is a separate legal entity.

No member firm has any authority to obligate or bind KPMG International or any other member firm vis-a-vis third parties, nor does KPMG International have any such authority to obligate or bind any member firm.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211208005849/en/

Contacts:

Mark Walters

Global Head of Communications Global Corporate Affairs, KPMG

+1 212 872 7679

mgwalters@KPMG.com

KPMG.com/corporatereporting
- Vymo is trusted by global financial institutions such as Berkshire Hathaway, AIA, Generali & BNP Paribas for improving sales productivity & engagement effectiveness.

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Vymo ( https://www.getvymo.com ), the world's leading sales engagement platform for Financial Institutions, has been listed as a Representative Vendor by Gartner, a company that delivers actionable, objective insight to its executive and their teams in 2021 Market Guide for Sales Engagement Applications. We believe that the 13 global companies in this guide are recognized for their competitiveness, product portfolio, market coverage & business growth.

In its key findings, Gartner stated that, "Sellers are more efficient and productive using sales engagement applications because they simplify daily workflows such as engaging buyers with minimal clicks, keeping them organized and facilitating CRM adoption." In the past few years, Vymo has expanded its product capabilities to become the only sales engagement platform that meets the needs of sales agents, managers & business leaders.

With Vymo,

CRM usage by sales agents has gone up by >90%, with a 2x increase in sales activities performed,

Managers have enabled their teams to onboard 3x more customers due to better visibility & control,

Business leaders have reported a revenue impact of 3-10% within a year of deployment.

"We started Vymo with a mission to unleash the full potential of each salesperson - to help them become a trusted advisor to their customers and partners. After 60+ deployments around the globe, we have demonstrated how bottom-up behavioral changes are integral to driving business outcomes," says Yamini Bhat, Co-Founder & CEO of Vymo. "We believe this mention validates the problem sales leaders in financial institutions face and how sales engagement applications can be a game-changer."

Get complimentary access to the complete research - https://gtnr.it/3lI61Ce

Why are sales engagement platforms crucial for Financial Institutions?

Sales engagement platforms, such as Vymo, automatically capture sales & engagement activities of the remote or distributed sales teams. Vymo analyzes terabytes of combinations of granular activities, interactions, meetings & pipeline metrics to continuously suggest next best actions for sales officers, managers, and agents. 92% of sales development organizations rank sales engagement platforms as critical to their team's success. (Source: Gartner )

Vymo's growth over the years

Vymo has rapidly expanded its operations in Asia, Japan, & North America on the back of its growing user base in the region. 250,000+ users in over 65 global financial services institutions such as AXA, AIA, FE Credit, Berkshire Hathaway, Generali & HDFC Bank use Vymo across geographies to manage sales & distribution.

Jeff Morris, Vice President of Marketing & Operations at Berkshire Hathaway Homestate Companies, said, "We were looking for a sales platform that would allow us to better understand and serve our agent's needs while helping our marketing representatives focus on the best opportunities. Vymo checked all the boxes for our team. We are excited about the potential this product has to help us exceed our agents' expectations."

Recently, Vymo appointed global management consulting veteran Deepak Keni as Chief Customer Officer, Asia. A former CIO and Executive Vice President, Deepak has enabled digital transformation for Fortune 500 organizations in Business Technology consulting services and Sales.

Gartner Disclaimer

Gartner Market Guide for Sales Engagement Applications by Dan Gottlieb, Shayne Jackson, Ilona Hansen, 9 November 2021.



Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in its research publications, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner's research organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.

About Vymo

Vymo ( https://www.getvymo.com ) is the Sales Engagement Platform of choice for leading Financial Institutions around the globe trusted by over 250,000 salespeople across 65+ global enterprises such as Berkshire, AIA, FE Credit, Generali, AXA, Sunlife, and HDFC Bank. The platform solves for frontline personnel, sales managers, and business leaders through mobility, insights, and industry playbooks.

Vymo is recognized by Gartner as a 2018 Cool Vendors in CRM Sales and is funded by Emergence Capital and Sequoia Capital.

For more information, visit https://www.getvymo.com .

Useful Resources

Watch Vymo in action - https://youtu.be/9saePnvir4M

Explore the Vymo platform- https://www.getvymo.com/request-a-demo/

Gartner Market Guide for Sales Engagement Applications - https://gtnr.it/3lI61Ce

Media Contact

Gunjan Saha

pr@getvymo.com

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1705559/Gartner_vymo.jpg

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1026997/Vymo_Logo.jpg


LONDON (dpa-AFX) - AstraZeneca's (AZN.L, AZN) long-acting antibody combination Evusheld (formerly AZD7442) has received emergency use authorization in the U.S. for the pre-exposure prophylaxis (prevention) of COVID-19.



The Food and Drug Administration granted the authorization for Evusheld (tixagevimab co-packaged with cilgavimab and administered together) for pre-exposure prophylaxis of COVID-19 in adults and adolescents (aged 12 and older who weigh 40kg or more) with moderate to severe immune compromise due to a medical condition or immunosuppressive medications and who may not mount an adequate immune response to COVID-19 vaccination, as well as those individuals for whom COVID-19 vaccination is not recommended. Recipients should not be currently infected with or had recent known exposure to a person infected with SARS-CoV-2.



The company noted that Evusheld is not authorized for use in pediatric individuals under 12 years of age or weighing less than 40 kg.



According to the company, Evusheld is a combination of two long-acting monoclonal antibodies and is the only antibody therapy authorized in the US for COVID-19 pre-exposure prophylaxis and the only COVID-19 antibody delivered as an intramuscular dose (150mg tixagevimab and 150mg cilgavimab).



AstraZeneca said in August 2021 that Evusheld demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in the risk of developing symptomatic COVID-19 in the PROVENT trial. Efficacy was 83% compared to placebo in a six-month analysis announced on November 18, 2021.



The company has agreed to supply the US government with 700,000 doses of Evusheld. The US government has indicated that it plans to distribute the doses to states and territories at no cost and on a pro rata basis.



The company is progressing with filings around the globe for potential emergency use authorization or conditional approval of Evusheld in both COVID-19 prophylaxis and treatment.



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NEW YORK CITY (dpa-AFX) - Pfizer (PFE) CEO Albert Bourla told CNBC that he expects people might require a fourth Covid-19 dose sooner than expected.



Earlier on Wednesday, Pfizer and BioNTech SE (BNTX) reported results from an initial laboratory study showing that serum antibodies induced by the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine neutralized the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant after three doses.



The report was primarily based on a lab-created copy of the omicron variant and is not the original virus, therefore, the results may vary with real-world cases.



'When we see real-world data, will determine if the omicron is well covered by the third dose and for how long. And the second point, I think we will need a fourth dose,' Bourla told CNBC.



He had previously said that it will be needed after 12 months but now thinks that it might be required sooner, the CEO said. 'With omicron, we need to wait and see because we have very little information. We may need it faster.'



While it has not yet affected the world yet, but scientists and doctors have warned the citizens about the Omicron strain. Last month, the administration said that the variant is 'concerning' but there is nothing to panic, therefore, no drastic additional measure was taken. However, the stance of Bourla might cause a few raised eyebrows.



Bourla added that the two doses will still provide some protection against the strain. 'Although two doses of the vaccine may still offer protection against severe disease caused by the Omicron strain, it's clear from these preliminary data that protection is improved with the third dose of our vaccine,' added Bourla.



With the Christmas and new year celebration just around the curve, the health officials are worried about a possible spike in numbers as people gather indoors. Bourla added that the oral pill, Paxlovid, is also going to be effective in preventing hospitalizations.



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Principles that enable AI to achieve high recognition accuracy of OOD data by utilizing an original index indicating the degree of image recognition of AI

Cambridge, Massachusetts and Tokyo, Dec 9, 2021 - (JCN Newswire) - Fujitsu Limited and the Center for Brains, Minds and Machines (CBMM) headquartered at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have achieved an important milestone in a joint initiative to deliver improvements in the accuracy of artificial intelligence (AI) models. The results of the research collaboration between Fujitsu and CBMM are published in a paper discussing computational principles that draw inspiration from neuroscience to enable AI models to recognize unseen (out-of-distribution, OOD) data (1) that deviates from the original training data. Highlights of the paper will be presented at the NeurIPS 2021 (Conference on Neural Information Processing Systems) (2), showing improvements in the accuracy of AI models.The advent of deep neural networks (DNNs) in recent years has contributed to an increasing variety of real-world applications for AI and machine learning technologies, including for tasks like defect detection for the manufacturing industry and diagnostic imaging in the medical field. While these AI models can at times demonstrate performance equal to or better than that of humans, challenges remain as recognition accuracy tends to deteriorate when environmental conditions like lighting and perspective significantly differ from those in datasets used during the training process.To resolve this, researchers at Fujitsu and CBMM have made collaborative progress in understanding AI principles enabling recognition of OOD data with high accuracy by dividing the DNN into modules - for example shape and color, amongst other attributes - taking a unique approach inspired by the cognitive characteristics of humans and the structure of the brain. An AI model using this process was rated as the most accurate in an evaluation measuring image recognition accuracy against the "CLEVR-CoGenT" benchmark (3), as shown in the paper presented by the group at NeurIPS.Dr. Seishi Okamoto, Fellow at Fujitsu Limited commented, "Since 2019, Fujitsu has engaged in joint research with MIT's CBMM to deepen our understanding of how the human brain synthesizes information to generate intelligent behavior, pursuing how to realize such intelligence as AI and leveraging this knowledge that contributes to solving problems facing a variety of industries and society at large. This achievement marks a major milestone for the future development of AI technology that could deliver a new tool for training models that can respond flexibly to different situations and recognize even unknown data that differs considerably from the original training data with high accuracy, and we look forward to the exciting real-world possibilities this opens up."Dr. Tomaso Poggio, the Eugene McDermott Professor at the Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences at MIT and Director of the Center for Brains, Minds and Machines, remarked, "There is a significant gap between DNNs and humans when evaluated in out-of-distribution conditions, which severely compromises AI applications, especially in terms of their safety and fairness. Research inspired by neuroscience may lead to novel technologies capable of overcoming dataset bias. The results obtained so far in this research program are a good step in this direction."Future possible applications may include AI for monitoring traffic that can respond to changes in various observation conditions and a diagnostic medical imaging AI that can correctly recognize different types of lesions.About the New MethodResearch findings focus on the fact that the human brain can precisely capture and classify visual information, even if there are differences in shapes and colors of the objects we perceive. The new method calculates a unique index based on the way an object is perceived by neurons and how the DNN classifies the input images. The model encourages the increase of the index in order to improve recognizing OOD example objects more effectively.Up to now it was assumed that the best method to create an AI model with high recognition accuracy was to train the DNN as a single module without splitting it up. However, by splitting the DNN into separate modules depending on shapes, colors, and other attributes of the objects based on the newly developed index, researchers at Fujitsu and CBMM have successfully achieved higher recognition accuracy.Future PlansFujitsu and CBMM hope to further refine the findings to develop an AI able to make human-like flexible judgments with the aim to apply it in various areas like manufacturing and medical care.(1) OOD data:Data substantially different from the data seen during the AI training.(2 Presented at NeurIPS:"How Modular Should Neural Module Networks Be for Systematic Generalization?"; Planned presentation date and time: December 8, 4:30 PM PST/ December 9, 2021 9:30 AM JSTPresenters: Vanessa D'Amario (Massachusetts Institute of Technology), Tomotake Sasaki (Fujitsu) and Xavier Boix (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) https://neurips.cc/Conferences/2021/Schedule'showEvent=26740(3) CLEVR-CoGenT dataset:A benchmark developed by Stanford University to measure an AI's ability to recognize new combinations of objects and attributes.https://cs.stanford.edu/people/jcjohns/clevr/About FujitsuFujitsu is the leading Japanese information and communication technology (ICT) company offering a full range of technology products, solutions and services. Approximately 126,000 Fujitsu people support customers in more than 100 countries. We use our experience and the power of ICT to shape the future of society with our customers. Fujitsu Limited (TSE:6702) reported consolidated revenues of 3.6 trillion yen (US$34 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2021. For more information, please see www.fujitsu.com.About the Center for Brains, Minds, and Machines at MITA multi-institutional NSF Science and Technology Center headquartered at MIT, which is dedicated to developing a computationally based understanding of human intelligence and establishing an engineering practice based on that understanding. CBMM brings together computer scientists, cognitive scientists, and neuroscientists to create a new field--the Science and Engineering of Intelligence.This work was supported in part by the Center for Brains, Minds and Machines (CBMM), funded by NSF STC award CCF - 1231216.Source: Fujitsu LtdCopyright 2021 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved.
BILBAO (dpa-AFX) - The New Mexico Public Regulation Commission or NMPRC rejected the agreement reached by parties in the merger application involving PNM Resources Inc. (PNM), its wholly-owned subsidiary Public Service Company of New Mexico (PNM) and AVANGRID Inc.(AGR). The Commission voted 5-0 to reject the parties' agreements reached in the merger proceedings, following a 4-1 vote to deny a request for oral argument seeking to address concerns expressed by the NMPRC. 'I am disappointed the Commission didn't see the merits of the agreements reached by parties and also rejected our request to hear oral arguments....We will review and evaluate the order,' said Pat Vincent-Collawn, PNM Resources' chairman, president and CEO. 'We are disappointed with the Public Regulation Commission's decision to reject the agreement reached by the parties. We are evaluating the next steps before us,' AVANGRID said. In October 2020, Spanish utility Iberdrola S.A. (IBDSF.PK) said that its U.S. energy operations unit Avangrid agreed to buy PNM Resources in a deal with an enterprise value of about $8.3 billion. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.


OTTAWA (dpa-AFX) - Kinross Gold Corp. (K.TO, KGC) said it has agreed to acquire all of the outstanding common shares of Great Bear Resources Ltd. (GBR.V) for C$29.00 per Share, plus a contingent value right.



As per the terms of the deal, Great Bear shareholders will receive upfront consideration of about C$1.8 billion, representing C$29.00 per Great Bear common share on a fully diluted basis.



Great Bear shareholders will be able to elect to receive the upfront consideration as either C$29.00 in cash or 3.8564 Kinross shares per Great Bear share.



The upfront consideration will be subject to maximum aggregate cash consideration of about C$1.4 billion or maximum aggregate shares issuable of 95.8 million, depending on the election of Great Bear shareholders.



The transaction price represents a premium of 31% and 40% to the closing price and the volume weighted average price, respectively, of Great Bear's shares on the TSX-V for the 20 day period ending December 7, 2021.



Great Bear shareholders will also receive contingent consideration in the form of contingent value rights providing for further potential consideration equal to 0.1330 of a Kinross share per Great Bear common share which represents about C$58.2 million in aggregate consideration, or C$1.00 per Great Bear common share, on a partially diluted basis.



The contingent consideration will be payable in connection with Kinross' public announcement of commercial production at the Dixie project, provided that at least 8.5 million gold ounces of measured and indicated mineral resources have been disclosed.



On closing, the transaction is expected to result in Great Bear shareholders owning about 7% of Kinross, on a fully diluted basis, assuming full take-up of the share consideration. Upon satisfaction of the payment conditions under the terms of the CVRs, Great Bear shareholders would own approximately 8% of Kinross, on a fully diluted basis.



The transaction is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2022.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

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BEIJING, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The following is an excerpt from a CRI Online report:

"Power China is my second home!" "Go with Power China! They give priority to the safety of their employees." These are actual statements from Muhammad Ishtiaq, Power China's foreign safety manager, and Nabeel Hussain, a civil engineer. They are both from Pakistan, having been sent by Power China to build infrastructure and power projects in countries and regions targeted by the Belt and Road Initiative. Although they are not Chinese citizens, they have become important participants and witnesses of the superior performance of Power China.

Ishtiaq joined Power China's MGS Gas Booster Station Phase II Project Department in Saudi Arabia in 2015, and then transferred over to Power China's project department in Jazan, Saudi Arabia. "We should firmly grasp the development opportunities brought to us by Power China, and strive to build our beautiful home," Ishtiaq said when considering many infrastructure facilities built by Power China in Saudi Arabia. "At Power China, employees help and support each other. This sense of security gives me confidence. The company has really become my second home!"

In 2018, construction formally was started on the Rumaila power plant project in Basra Province, Iraq. Faced with the unstable situation in Iraq at that time, Nabeel made up his mind quickly: "Go! Go with Power China! I believe that they will give priority to the safety of their employees." True to their word, Power China implemented very strict management policies to effectively assure employee safety. If someone needs to go out, the company will provide special security personnel and vehicles to protect them.

At Power China, there are many foreign workers like Muhammad Ishtiaq and Nabeel Hussain who are working in countries around the world. They were able to become closely acquainted with Chinese companies and Chinese culture through Power China. With the ongoing construction of power stations in countries and regions targeted by the Belt and Road Initiative, these workers have jointly written a chapter on diversity.

Original link: http://news.cri.cn/20211207/866fa865-d2a5-939e-54bd-95136ec1106a.html
DUBAI, UAE, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --OPPO has announced it will host the annual OPPO INNO DAY on 14-15 December 2021 in Shenzhen, China. As OPPO's signature annual tech event to share strategy updates and showcase technological achievements, OPPO INNO DAY 2021 is also expected to draw worldwide attendees through its online OPPO INNO WORLD aside from the event in Shenzhen. This virtual launch event will go down as one of the most interactive online launch events in recent years.

Since its launch in 2019, OPPO INNO DAY, the event has been considered as the precursor of the company's roadmap. At the inaugural OPPO INNO DAY 2019, OPPO illustrated its integrated ecosystem of cutting-edge technologies, including AR Glasses, 5G CPE, and OPPO Band.

Last year, OPPO showcased three conceptual products, including a revolutionary rollable phone. For 2021, OPPO is digitalizing the launch event and exhibitions, transforming the conventional event into an entertaining and interactive world of virtual experiences.

OPPO INNO WORLD is the virtual stage of OPPO INNO DAY 2021. Visitors of OPPO INNO WORLD may join the launch remotely with their customized avatars. Moreover, they are given the freedom to visit all the virtual exhibition halls. By using customized avatars, visitors can also socialize and invite each other to hunt for the hidden easter eggs scattered in the virtual world. The OPPO INNO WORLD will be fully accessible from December 14.

Join us to create your avatar at OPPO INNO WORLD now and discover OPPO's latest technological achievements on 14-15 December. To learn more about OPPO INNO DAY, please click here.

About OPPO

OPPO is a leading global technology brand since 2004, dedicated to providing products that seamlessly combines art and innovative technology.

OPPO is on a mission to building a multiple-access smart device ecosystem for the era of intelligent connectivity. The smartphone devices have simply been a gateway for OPPO to deliver a diverse portfolio of smart and frontier technologies in hardware, software and system. In 2019, OPPO launched a $7 BillionUS Dollar three-year investment plan in R&D to develop core technologies furthering design through technology.

OPPO is firmly pursuing the creation of the best technology products and technological artistry for global users. Based on the brand elements of leading, young and beautiful, OPPO dedicates to the mission of letting the extraordinary users enjoy the beauty of technology.

For the last 10 years, OPPO has focused on manufacturing smartphones with camera capabilities that are second to none. OPPO launched the first mobile phone, the Smile Phone, in 2008, which marked the launch of the brand's epic journey in exploring and pioneering extraordinary technology. Over the years, OPPO has built a tradition of being number one, which became a reality through inventing the world's first rotating camera smartphone way back in 2013, launching the world's then thinnest smartphone in 2014, being the first to introduce 5X Zoom 'Periscope' camera technology and developing the first 5G commercial smartphone in Europe.

Today, OPPO was ranked as the number four smartphone brand globally. OPPO brings the aesthetics of technology of global consumers through the ColorOS system Experience, and Internet service like OPPO Cloud and OPPO+.

OPPO's business covers 40 countries with over six research institutes and five R&D centers across the world, from San Francisco to Shenzhen. OPPO also opened an International Design Centre headquartered in London, driving cutting edge technology that will shape the future not only for smartphones but for intelligent connectivity.

About OPPO MEA

OPPO started its journey in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region in 2015 after setting up its regional office in Egypt. Following the immense success of the brand's sales centre in Cairo in the first year, OPPO accelerated its expansion plan across the MEA region and inaugurated its country operations in the UAE in 2019. Now OPPO is physically present in more than 13 markets across the region, including Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, Qatar, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa and the Levant.

To empower its presence in the region in line with its product localisation strategy, OPPO further invested in MENA and set up its very own factory in Algeria in 2017, thus, becoming the first Chinese brand to build a manufacturing premises in North Africa. Based on insights of local consumers in each country, OPPO has evolved the progress of product localisation, taking into consideration several perspectives towards each market, including product localisation, to further meet the core needs of users; marketing localisation, to better communicate with local young customers; and talent localisation, to understand local consumers further and provide an optimum customer service.

Within the last year, OPPO has started to adjust its product line in the Middle East region specifically. This has included the launch of its flagship OPPO Find X Series and the introduction of the OPPO Reno Series. OPPO will continue to evolve its local product line to offer more premium series to consumers in the region.

A forward-thinking international technology company, OPPO strives to be a sustainable company that contributes to a better world and have enacted positive change in every way possible through activating local community initiatives and humanitarian, charity campaigns.

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The firm assigns equities and fixed income specialists in key financial hubs in the region

Liquidnet, the global institutional investment network, today announced it has enhanced its continental European coverage by deploying specialists in equities and fixed income in Paris, Madrid, Frankfurt and Copenhagen to offer a range of execution services including client coverage, sales trading and trading.

The strategic move taps into the existing geographic infrastructure and expertise within the pan-European TP ICAP Group allowing Liquidnet to deploy coverage teams locally to serve the buy side Member community.

John Ruskin, CEO of the Agency Execution division of TP ICAP Group said: "Leveraging the TP ICAP footprint means we have an amazing opportunity to enhance the Liquidnet offering in a very efficient and effective way. One of the reasons Liquidnet's model works so well is because we are focused on co-creating and delivering solutions that address the challenges our Members face. To do that, we need to be where they are and that is exactly what we are doing."

Equities coverage: strengthening its service model

Having local teams in key European hubs enables Liquidnet's Equity business to offer an ever more tailored client service in the region and deepen its pool of liquidity, which currently offers $74Bn of global average daily liquidity across 46 equity markets.

"We are a Member community. Enhancing our footprint in continental Europe enables us to grow this community, deepen the liquidity proposition for all Members and improve the service we provide," added Chris Jackson, Global Head of Equity Strategy and Head of EMEA Equities.

Fixed Income coverage: supporting growth and development

Now with offerings in both primary and secondary markets and one of the largest pools of buy side liquidity, the firm's Fixed Income business is also developing its coverage capabilities.

Mark Russell, Global Head of Fixed Income commented: "Having specialists in place who are close to our Members means that we are better placed to develop our offering."

About Liquidnet

Liquidnet is a technology-driven, global institutional investment network that intelligently connects the world's investors to the world's investments. Since our founding in 1999, our network has grown to include more than 1,000 institutional investors that collectively manage $33 trillion in equity and fixed income assets. Our network spans 46 markets across six continents and seamlessly connects institutional brokers, investment banks, exchanges, alternative trading venues, and a growing list of data and research providers. We built Liquidnet to make global capital markets more efficient, and continue to do so by adding additional participants, enabling trusted access to trading and investment opportunities, and delivering the actionable intelligence and insight that our customers need. Liquidnet Holdings, Inc. and its subsidiaries are part of TP ICAP Group plc. For more information, visit www.liquidnet.com and follow us on Twitter @Liquidnet.

About TP ICAP Group plc

TP ICAP is a leading global markets infrastructure and data solutions provider. The Group connects buyers and sellers in global financial, energy and commodities markets. We are the world's largest wholesale market intermediary, with a portfolio of businesses that provide broking services, trade execution, data analytics, and market intelligence. www.tpicap.com

2021 Liquidnet Holdings, Inc., and its subsidiaries. Liquidnet, Inc. is a member of FINRA/SIPC. Liquidnet Europe Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the UK, is licensed by the Financial Sector Conduct Authority in South Africa and is a member of the London Stock Exchange and a remote member of the SIX Swiss Exchange. Liquidnet EU Limited is authorised and regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland and is a remote member of the Warsaw Stock Exchange. Liquidnet Canada Inc. is a member of the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada and a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund. Liquidnet Asia Limited is regulated by the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission for Type 1 and Type 7 regulated activities and is regulated by the Monetary Authority of Singapore as a Recognized Market Operator. Liquidnet Japan Inc. is regulated by the Financial Services Agency of Japan and is a member of JSDA/JIPF. Liquidnet Australia Pty Ltd. is registered with the Australian Securities and Investment Commission as an Australian Financial Services Licensee, AFSL number 312525, and is registered with the New Zealand Financial Markets Authority as a Financial Service Provider, FSP number FSP3781. Liquidnet Singapore Private Limited is regulated by the Monetary Authority of Singapore as a Capital Markets Services Licensee, CMSL number CMS 100757-1. Liquidnet Holdings, Inc. and its subsidiaries are part of TP ICAP Group plc.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211209005062/en/

Contacts:

Sophonie Robichon, Liquidnet

Global Marketing Communications

+44-207-614-1753

srobichon@liquidnet.com
Cash concentration solution that automates FX conversion now available in an additional 14 European countries

Citi has today announced the expansion of its Cross-Currency Sweeps cash management solution across several European markets.

The solution, Citi Cross-Currency Sweeps, enables treasurers and finance teams to efficiently manage cash positions across multiple accounts, countries, and currencies, using one streamlined and automated solution.

Leveraging Citi's global cash concentration network and foreign exchange (FX) capabilities, it helps companies manage FX and cash positions and immediately convert available liquidity into the currency of their choice.

The solution is now available in an additional 14 countries across Europe including Bulgaria, Hungary, Czechia, Slovakia, Netherlands, Ireland, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Belgium, France, Spain, Portugal, and Austria.

"Our corporate clients are increasingly moving through a Digital Transformation journey for their Treasury and FX Risk Management," says Sam Hewson, Global Head of eFX Solutions and EMEA Head of Corporate Sales. "As technology has evolved, we are helping our clients to automate processes, using efficient, integrated and seamless strategies to provide transparent liquidity and FX activities. Citi Cross-Currency Sweeps brings together the power of our liquidity and FX technologies to help our clients automate their day-to-day activities, so that they can stay focused on creating smart treasuries of the future, today."

The tool addresses a wide range of cash management needs, making it easier for companies to fund accounts when and where balances are needed and to achieve optimized liquidity across their global banking structure.

Enabling the automation of FX dealings in a variety of major and exotic currency pairs, Citi Cross-Currency Sweeps allows treasurers to move funds seamlessly across the Citi network. Accounts in local currencies do not need to be pre-funded and companies can seek to realize same-day settlement of funds in the desired currency, on an intraday basis.

"Citi Cross-Currency Sweeps provides significant potential to enhance the way treasurers manage liquidity," says Stephen Randall, Global Head of Liquidity Management Services, Citi Treasury and Trade Solutions. "Managing liquidity in multiple currencies is often a manual process, with significant time taken up by forecasting, FX management and the movement of cash between accounts. Process inefficiencies can lead to excess cash buffers and operational challenges. This solution automates and streamlines multiple steps into one, helping clients optimize both efficiency and liquidity

-ENDS-

About Citi

Citi, the leading global bank, has approximately 200 million customer accounts and does business in more than 160 countries and jurisdictions. Citi provides consumers, corporations, governments and institutions with a broad range of financial products and services, including consumer banking and credit, corporate and investment banking, securities brokerage, transaction services, and wealth management.

Additional information may be found at www.citigroup.com Twitter: @Citi YouTube: www.youtube.com/citi Blog: blog.citigroup.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/citi LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/citi

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211209005089/en/

Contacts:

Media:

Belinda Marks

Belinda.marks@citi.com
Building on the success of its offices in Berlin, Luxembourg, London, Frankfurt and Vienna, Berlin-based fintech CrossLend is continuing its European expansion with the opening of a new office in Lisbon, Portugal. The Lisbon team consisting of experts with many years of experience in banking, risk management and investment in digital lending will help expand CrossLend's product offering for asset and fund managers, in particular building out the company's activities in the sphere of digital lending solutions.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211209005436/en/

Marco Hinz, COO at CrossLend (Photo: Business Wire)

There is a rapidly rising demand for private debt, alternative lending and digital lending opportunities in particular amongst institutional investors. In Europe, there is a wide array of prospective investments in these areas, however, these remain largely untapped due to regulatory, operational and technological obstacles across-the-board.

"The key is to provide access to and management of investment opportunities through technology and digitalisation. This is where the CrossLend platform comes in. CrossLend offers an end-to-end solution for lenders and investors to initiate, process and manage loan portfolio transactions. We are seeing a growing demand for this, especially amongst asset and fund managers," explains Marco Hinz, COO of CrossLend.

Pedro Carvalheiro, previously Head of Markets and Investments at the Portuguese bank Banco BNI Europa, heads the new Lisbon office. Together with his team, Carvalheiro is responsible for the expansion and development of CrossLend's solutions for asset and fund managers in the areas of private debt, alternative lending and digital lending. To this end, the company has placed particular emphasis on building a team specialised in digital lending solutions.

Lisbon has already attracted significant attention in recent years with its rapidly growing tech and fintech ecosystem. "Portugal offers an exciting environment for CrossLend's activities with the Portuguese government strongly supporting the development of the tech industry." says Hinz.

One example of the government's actions in this vein is the Council of Ministers' Decision No. 29/2020 which was recently approved. This decision enables new technologies and innovations to be fostered more intensively. In addition, the Bank of Portugal, the CMVM (Securities and Exchange Commission) and the ASF (Insurance Supervisory Authority) founded a new initiative called the Portugal FinLab in 2018 together with the industry network, Portugal Fintech. The Portugal FinLab brings together all Portuguese financial regulators, establishing a direct line of communication with innovators with the goal of encouraging and simplifying collaboration within the Portuguese fintech ecosystem between all stakeholders.

About CrossLend

CrossLend is a fintech company that is authorised and supervised by the German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFIN) and the Luxembourg CSSF. The company provides end-to-end solutions for loan asset transactions. Its mission is to make the world's lending and investment ecosystem more efficient, transparent, and profitable.

Lenders such as banks, savings banks, cooperative banks, specialised lending institutions, and lending platforms from across Europe can refinance their loans by connecting with European institutional investors using CrossLend's technology. CrossLend combines digital securitisation with standardised, plug-and-play processing procedures and the transparent presentation of loan data.

This makes it easy for investors such as other banks, insurance companies, fund companies, pension funds and pension schemes to identify and compare loans based on their criteria. By bringing together lenders and investors from across Europe on one central platform, CrossLend is actively contributing to the European Capital Markets Union.

CrossLend was founded in Berlin in 2014. The company employs more than 70 people from over 30 countries. In addition to its headquarters in Berlin, CrossLend has offices in Frankfurt, Vienna, Luxembourg, London, and now Lisbon.

CrossLend is backed by an array of prestigious equity investors from Europe and the US, including Mouro Capital (formerly Santander InnoVentures), Lakestar, CME Ventures, Earlybird, ABN AMRO's Digital Impact Fund, and the Luxembourg Future Fund (EIF and SNCI). For more information, visit crosslend.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211209005436/en/

Contacts:

Media contact:

Agnieszka Szczesna

media@crosslend.com

+49 30 208 488 100


Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope SU8600(Left), SU8700(Right)

TOKYO, Dec 9, 2021 - (JCN Newswire) - Hitachi High-Tech Corporation ("Hitachi High-Tech") announced today the launch of two cutting-edge FE-SEM(1) models, the SU8600 and SU8700 (hereinafter, "this product line"), that feature new detectors, capabilities, advanced automation, and more. This class of instrumentation is used to observe, measure, define and analyze microstructures across a wide range of fields including semiconductors, life sciences and materials development. To be effective in such fields today, data-driven research and development requiring the acquisition of large data sets is necessary. Therefore, this product line has been designed to support the rapid acquisition of large, high-quality data sets and reduce the effort required by operators through the utilization of next-generation automation.Background in the Development of the SU8600 and SU8700FE-SEMs in general are powerful instruments that provide not only high resolution images, but also a plethora of analytical, compositional, and morphological information. These SEMs are used in a wide range of fields including nanotechnology, semiconductors, electronics, life sciences, materials science, and more. Thus, with today's ever expanding application fields, including Materials Integration(2), the need to acquire large amounts of data in a short amount of time with minimal input has become crucial. To address this need, Hitachi has re-envisioned and transformed the implementation of automated functions as well as the design of hardware components in order to support the acquisition of superb data in vast quantities with the utmost efficiency.Features of the SU8700 and SU8600The SU8600 utilizes an ultra-stable cold-field emission source to enable exceptional low-energy imaging for fine structural analysis as well as high-resolution observation of beam sensitive materials like polymers. Conversely, the SU8700 employs a Schottky field-emission source to better address analytical requirements requiring high probe currents such as EBSD(3) analysis on ceramics or metals.This product line has the following key features:1. Automatic Data AcquisitionTraditionally, FE-SEM operators have been required to change and adjust observation conditions on case-by-case basis according to the object or analytical goal. The amount of time it takes to make these adjustments depends on the operator's proficiency and can lead to variations in data quality as well as throughput. Both the SU8600 and SU8700 now integrate functionality to automate many of these adjustment processes, creating simple, stable, high-throughput and repeatable operation.Additionally, as the capability of equipment increases, so does volume of data required and manually collecting these substantial amounts of data can translate to more work for operators.To address this point, the SU8600 and SU8700 can be equipped with an optional "EM Flow Creator" feature, which enables automatic data acquisition according to user-specific conditions and steps. This allows large-scale data sets to be acquired easily, efficiently, and automatically.2. More Information = Better ResultsA multitude of signals can be obtained from almost any SEM, however, this product line permits the display as well as capture of up to six detector signals simultaneously, allowing operators to collect more information in less time.Field of view (FOV) is important for maximizing data acquisition and resolution; therefore, the maximum number of pixels has been expanded(4) to 40,960 x 30,720 pixels, which is 64 times that of existing models(5)! This feature enables detailed evaluation of numerous regions of interest and localized microstructures using just a single image.3. Enhanced Signal Detection CapabilitiesNew optional detectors have been developed for the SU8600 to enhance the observation of topographical and cathode luminescence information. Also, the response speed of the new backscattered electron detector has been improved to increase throughput.Also, the SU8700 specimen chamber is structured in such a way that it allows for EDS(6) analysis at a short WD(7), improving the spatial resolution of the technique and making it possible to thoroughly analyze even smaller features with greater comprehension.Hitachi High-Tech will continue to provide innovative solutions such as this product line for upcoming technology challenges. Furthermore, Hitachi High-Tech will create new social and environmental value by helping our customers be fast-moving, successful in cutting-edge businesses, as well as contributing to cutting-edge manufacturing.(1) FE-SEM: Field-emission scanning electron microscope(2) Materials integration: Comprehensive material technologies that use a combination of theory, experiments, data analysis, simulations, and databases to shorten the development time of materials(3) EBSD: Electron backscatter diffraction. A method used for orientation analysis of crystalline samples(4) This expansion is an optional feature(5) Compared to Regulus Series FE-SEMs(6) EDS: Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy(7) WD: Working distanceAbout Hitachi High-TechHitachi High-Tech, headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is engaged in activities in a broad range of fields, including Analytical & Medical Solutions (manufacture and sales of clinical analyzers, biotechnology products, and analytical instruments), Nano-Technology Solutions (manufacture and sales of semiconductor manufacturing equipment and analysis equipment), and Industrial Solutions (providing high value-added solutions in fields of social & industrial infrastructures and mobility, etc.). The company's consolidated revenues for FY 2020 were approx. JPY 606.3 billion [USD 5.7 billion]. For further information, visit http://www.hitachi-hightech.com/global/Source: Hitachi, Ltd.Copyright 2021 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved.


BERLIN (dpa-AFX) - Germany's exports grew for the first time in three months in October and also logged its strongest expansion in more than a year, data published by Destatis showed on Thursday.



Exports grew by adjusted 4.1 percent on a monthly basis in October, reversing a 0.7 percent fall in September. This was the biggest growth since July 2020 and also above the economists' forecast of 0.9 percent.



Imports advanced 5 percent on month, compared to the 0.4 percent increase posted in September. Imports were forecast to grow again by 0.4 percent in October. This was also the strongest since March.



As the increase in imports exceeded that of exports, the trade surplus fell to EUR 12.5 billion from EUR 12.9 billion in the previous month. The expected level was EUR 13.4 billion.



On a yearly basis, exports growth improved to 8.1 percent from 7.2 percent. At the same time, imports surged 17.3 percent versus the 13.3 percent increase in the previous month.



Consequently, the trade surplus declined to an unadjusted EUR 12.8 billion from EUR 19.7 billion in the same period last year.



Exports to the People's Republic of China rose by 8.5 percent compared with October 2020. Likewise, shipments to the United States increased 11.4 percent.



At the same time, the value of the goods imported from China was up 28.6 percent annually and imports from the United States were up 4.0 percent.



Further, data showed that the current account balance showed a surplus EUR 15.4 billion versus EUR 24.4 billion in the same period last year.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

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FRANKFURT (dpa-AFX) - Deutsche Bank AG's shares were losing around 2 percent in German trading as well as in pre-market activity on the NYSE after media reported that the U.S. Justice Department has informed the German lender of possible violation of a criminal settlement.



The reports, citing people familiar with the matter, said the violation is related to an internal complaint in its asset-management unit's sustainable investing business. The DOJ said the bank failed to tell prosecutors about the complaint.



In the complaint, it was alleged that the asset manager, DWS Group, overstated how much it used environmental, social and governance criteria to manage its assets.



The bank did not disclose the issue to the DOJ, but the U.S. authorities learned about that in a Wall Street Journal article.



The bank already had ongoing disclosure and compliance obligations under the earlier criminal settlement with the agency.



In January, the bank reached a deferred prosecution agreement with the DOJ, in which it agreed to pay more than $130 million to settle charges that it bribed foreign officials and manipulated the market for precious-metals futures.



In Germany, Deutsche Bank shares were trading at 11.15 euros, down 2.24 percent. In pre-market activity on the NYSE, the shares were down 2.2 percent to trade at $12.62.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

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Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - December 9, 2021) - Cabral Gold Inc. (TSXV: CBR) (OTC: CBGZF) ("Cabral" or the "Company") is pleased to provide assay results from five diamond-drill holes completed at the MG gold-in-oxide blanket, and also results from reconnaissance drilling at the Alonso target within the Cuiu Cuiu gold district in northern Brazil.

Highlights are as follows:

Reconnaissance stream-sediment sampling has identified a new gold anomaly in streams 750m NE of the Alonso target and 3.4km ESE of the MG gold deposit

The new anomaly has been named Escondido and is very similar to the geochemical and magnetic anomaly which define the MG gold deposit. Five recently completed reconnaissance drill holes at the Alonso target did not intercept any significant gold values of interest, suggesting that the primary source of the boulders is farther afield than previously anticipated, possibly the Escondido area

Diamond-drill hole MET04 drilled for metallurgical testing at the gold-in-oxide blanket at MG returned 70.8m @ 1.0 g/t gold from surface, including 17.0m @ 3.3 g/t gold from 41.0m depth. Similarly, diamond-drill hole MET05 returned 43.6m @ 1.4g/t gold from surface

Diamond-drill hole MET03 also completed at the gold-in-oxide blanket at MG returned 54.0m @ 0.7 g/t gold from surface, including 21.8m @ 1.4 g/t gold, and diamond-drill hole MET02 returned 13m @ 0.9 g/t gold from surface and 21.7m @ 0.8 g/t gold from 32.2m depth

Alan Carter, Cabral's President and CEO commented, "We are extremely pleased with the assay results received on the five metallurgical test diamond drill holes recently completed at the MG gold-in-oxide blanket and look forward to receiving the results of the metallurgical test work during the first quarter of 2022, which will be key to understanding the economic viability of the blanket mineralization. The diamond drill results from the Alonso target suggest that the high-grade boulders that we see on surface at Alonso are not derived from the immediate vicinity and may have been eroded from a source that is located further away than we previously anticipated. The identification of a major gold anomaly in streams which is coincident with a major E-W trending magnetic anomaly, 750m north-east of Alonso, opens up the possibility of a more distal source for the high-grade boulders. The fact that our exploration team continues to identify highly prospective targets in parallel with the drilling efforts is very encouraging and demonstrates the enormous potential of the Cuiu Cuiu gold district. Cuiu Cuiu is a district which contains 43 mainly high-grade targets outside the two known gold deposits with resources. Cabral currently has four rigs turning on three separate targets."

Alonso Area Diamond Drilling and Reconnaissance Exploration

The Alonso target is located approximately 3.4km SE of the MG gold deposit (Figure 1) and is characterized by numerous high-grade mineralized boulders that were found on surface. These boulders previously returned very high gold values of 11.3 to 200.3 g/t gold (see press release dated February 11, 2020).





Figure 1: Map showing the location of the Alonso target and the major new Escondido gold anomaly in streams north-east of Alonso, as well as the MG and Central gold deposits and the overlying MG gold-in-oxide target, as well as the Pau de Merenda (PDM) gold-in-oxide blanket and other key targets within this part of the Cuiu Cuiu district

To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/3900/107191_eeee5b19d4ff19ce_002full.jpg

Cabral completed 816.5m in five reconnaissance diamond-drill holes testing around, and beneath, the Alonso high-grade boulder field (DDH230, 231, 234, 236, and 246). None of the five holes intersected significant gold mineralization. This indicates that the source of these boulders may be further afield than previously envisaged.

However, recent reconnaissance stream-sediment sampling in the drainage 750m north-east of Alonso identified very high levels of gold in stream sediments up to 1.65g/t gold (Figure 2). These are significantly higher than those encountered in most other areas at Cuiu Cuiu. In addition, the area is characterized by a very strong E-W trending magnetic anomaly and has peripheral historic placer gold workings. These also occur immediately west of a NE trending late diabase intrusive dyke. The presence of these coincident features is remarkably similar to the MG gold deposit which is located 3.4km to the NW.





Figure 2: Map showing location of the Escondido target, a major new gold anomaly in streams associated with major E-W trending magnetic anomaly 750m north-east of the Alonso target and 3.4km SE of both the MG gold deposit and the recently identified MG gold-in-oxide blanket

To view an enhanced version of Figure 2, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/3900/107191_eeee5b19d4ff19ce_003full.jpg

This new stream-sediment anomaly constitutes a major new target at Cuiu Cuiu. It will require further soil sampling, trenching and geophysics in advance of drilling. It is quite possible that the boulders that constitute the Alonso target could have been derived from this target area. This new target has been named the Escondido target.

Cabral's team is convinced that the source of the high-grade boulders at Alonso can be identified, but it will take further work. Over the last couple of years, the Company has learned that a post-mineral lake / river depositional event has resulted in the erosion and redeposition of weathered basement rocks. In places, this erosional event has resulted in the formation of mineralized colluvial gold-in-oxide blankets while in other areas, material (such as boulders) may have been transported further than previously thought.

MG Metallurgical Test Work Diamond Drilling

As previously announced (see press release dated December 2, 2021), five diamond-drill holes (MET01 - MET05) totaling 374m were recently completed at the MG gold-in-oxide blanket (Figure 3) with the specific objective of collecting sufficient material to allow for the completion of metallurgical test work, including column leach tests, at the Kappes Cassiday laboratory in Reno, Nevada (see press release dated November 9, 2021). This work is critical to understanding the economic viability of this unconsolidated surface oxide mineralization at MG, which may be amenable to low-cost heap-leach processing.





Figure 3: Map showing the outline of the MG gold-in-oxide blanket (in beige) and the underlying primary MG gold deposit (in pale yellow) and results from recently completed diamond drill holes (MET01 to MET05 plus historic drill holes from the same locations as the metallurgical test holes.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 3, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/3900/107191_eeee5b19d4ff19ce_004full.jpg

All five diamond-drill holes were located in parts of the blanket with previous RC or DDH results (Figure 3). Drill hole MET04 which 70.8m @ 1.0 g/t gold from surface including 17.0m @ 3.3 g/t gold from 41.0m depth. This hole was drilled on section 553700 from the same location as DDH214 which previously returned 60m @ 3.5 g/t gold from surface, including 2.6m @ 64.6 g/t gold (see press release dated May 19, 2021).

Drill hole MET05 was drilled on section 553210 and intersected 43.6m @ 1.4g/t gold from surface. RC205 was previously drilled from the same collar location and returned 46m @ 1.2g/t gold (see press release dated November 9, 2021). These mineralized intervals demonstrate that the RC and diamond drill results are reproduceable in the gold-in-oxide blanket at MG.

Drill hole MET02 was drilled on section 553300 and intersected 13m @ 0.9g/t gold from surface and 21.7m @ 0.8g/t gold from 27.0m depth. RC65 was previously drilled from the same collar location and returned 51m @ 0.8g/t gold (see press release dated July 8, 2021).

Drill hole MET03 was drilled on section 553745 and intersected 54m @ 0. 7g/t gold from surface, including 21.8m @ 1.4 g/t gold from 32.2m depth. RC157 was previously drilled from the same collar location and returned 66m @ 0.7 g/t gold (see press release dated October 14, 2021).

Diamond-drill hole MET01 was previously reported (see press release dated December 2, 2021) and was drilled on section 553300 located in the central western portion of the gold-in-oxide blanket at MG (Figure 3). MET01 returned 30m @ 2.2 g/t gold from surface including 8.2m @ 6.6 g/t gold from 2.8m depth and was sited approximately 20m south of RC66 which returned 47m @ 0.6 g/t gold from surface, and 20m north of RC65 which returned 51m @ 0.8 g/t gold (see press release dated July 8, 2021).

Drill Hole Weathering Mineralized Zone From to Width Grade # m m m g/t gold MET01 Oxide/Saprolite Blanket 0.0 30.0 30.0 2.2 incl. 2.8 11.0 8.2 6.6 Fresh Rock 56.6 60.5 3.9 0.5 73.0 81.6 8.6 0.4 EOH 90.8 MET02 Oxide/Saprolite Blanket 0.0 13.0 13.0 0.9 27.0 48.7 21.7 0.8 71.5 75.5 4.0 0.2 EOH 83.7 MET03 Oxide/Saprolite Blanket 0.0 54.0 54.0 0.7 incl. 32.2 54.0 21.8 1.4 EOH 71.0 MET04 Oxide/Saprolite Blanket 0.0 70.8 70.8 1.0 incl. 41.0 58.0 17.0 3.3 EOH 79.2 MET05 Oxide/Saprolite Blanket 0.0 43.6 43.6 1.4 EOH 49.3

Table 1: Table of drill results for diamond drill metallurgical test holes MET01 to MET05.

The results for MET01 were previously reported on December 2, 2021

Drilling Update

Diamond drilling at MG is continuing with results pending on an additional ten diamond drill holes.

Diamond drilling is continuing at the primary Central gold deposit with results pending on eight holes from a total program of 43 planned diamond-drill holes. These are designed to further define the high-grade zones at Central. Previous diamond drilling at Central included 220.7m @ 2.0 g/t gold including 9.8m @ 17.9 g/t gold.

RC drilling at Central is in progress with the objective of testing for the presence of gold-in-oxide blanket mineralization above the primary Central gold deposit. Results are currently pending on 12 holes.

Diamond drilling continues at the PDM target, located 2.5km NW of the Central gold deposit, and is aimed at testing for the presence of a primary gold deposit in the basement intrusive rock underlying the gold-in-oxide blanket. Results are currently pending on seven diamond-drill holes.

About Cabral Gold Inc.

The Company is a junior resource company engaged in the identification, exploration and development of mineral properties, with a primary focus on gold properties located in Brazil. The Company has a 100% interest in the Cuiu Cuiu gold district located in the Tapajos Region, within the state of Para in northern Brazil. Two gold deposits have so far been defined at Cuiu Cuiu and contain 43-101 compliant Indicated resources of 5.9Mt @ 0.90g/t (200,000 oz) and Inferred resources of 19.5Mt @ 1.24g/t (800,000 oz).

The Tapajos Gold Province is the site of the largest gold rush in Brazil's history producing an estimated 30 to 50 million ounces of placer gold between 1978 and 1995. Cuiu Cuiu was the largest area of placer workings in the Tapajos and produced an estimated 2Moz of placer gold historically.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

"Alan Carter"



President and Chief Executive Officer

Cabral Gold Inc.



Tel: 604.676.5660

Guillermo Hughes, MAusIMM and FAIG., a consultant to the Company as well as a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, supervised the preparation of the technical information in this news release.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as such term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-looking Statements

This news release contains certain forward-looking information and forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities legislation (collectively "forward-looking statements"). The use of the words "will", "expected" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements should not be unduly relied upon. This news release contains forward-looking statements and assumptions pertaining to the following: strategic plans and future operations, and results of exploration. Actual results achieved may vary from the information provided herein as a result of numerous known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors. The Company believes the expectations reflected in those forward-looking statements are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct.

Notes

Gold analysis has been conducted by SGS method FAA505 (fire assay of 50g charge), with higher grade samples checked by FAA525. Analytical quality is monitored by certified references and blanks. Until dispatch, samples are stored under the supervision the Company's exploration office. The samples are couriered to the assay laboratory using a commercial contractor. Pulps are returned to the Company and archived. Drill holes results are quoted as down-hole length weighted intersections.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/107191
- "Companies globally are getting ready for the 4th industrial revolution, powered by Digital technologies. Simplilearn partners with over 400 enterprises globally to solve this in the US, EU, and India. We see organizations in the Latin America region also having an acute problem of not finding digital skills talent and look forward to distributors and partners who can help us solve this problem with Simplilearn's digital skills bootcamps, Onboarding, and Digital Transformation skilling products," shares, Simplilearn Co-founder and CBO, Kashyap Dalal

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Simplilearn, the world's #1 online boot camp for digital economy skills training, has seen rapid growth of its enterprise arm, Simplilearn for Business, over the last two years. Simplilearn for Business has seen accelerating adoption of its offerings globally and over 100% YOY growth that is on track to build a $100mn B2B revenue in the next 2-3 years. Simplilearn for Business is now expanding its focus beyond the core markets of the US, EU, and India; for Latin America, Simplilearn has three core focus areas:

Powering new-hire onboarding for large enterprises in areas like programming, data, cloud, digital marketing, and others Powering Digital Transformation training across 35 critical Digital roles Building strategic relationships with channel partners and distributors to expand global reach and take Simplilearn's products across countries

Simplilearn has helped more than 3 million professionals upskill in digital technology skills across 150 countries. For enterprises, Simplilearn offers a scalable platform for live interactive workshops and bootcamps in digital skills. Globally, Simplilearn works through partners, which include channel partners like Accenture academy and PWC academy and distributors like Deviare in South Africa, Saudi Business Machines in the Middle East, and the ILX Group in the United Kingdom.

Kashyap Dalal, Co-founder & Chief Business Officer, Simplilearn, said, "Over the last two years, the pandemic has accelerated the move towards digital business models and created a global need for over 200mn digitally skilled professionals in areas like programming, data, cloud, cyber security. According to the World Economic Forum (WEF), Latin America has the biggest shortage of future-ready skills, which is a huge problem for large enterprises in this region. Our experience in other regions has shown that for ramping up digital skills, organizations need to hire for aptitude and have solutions to skill them for job readiness. We are excited to announce our plans to enter the Latin America market and work closely with enterprises and partners here to chase our goal of up-skilling 1 million professionals in the region on Digital skills."

Simplilearn's programs span across all critical digital domains like Data & AI, Programming, Cloud & Devops, Agile, Digital Transformation & Digital Marketing to name a few, and across 30+ critical digital economy roles in an enterprise, with comprehensive learning paths. These programs are co-created with leading universities like MIT and Caltech and leading industry partners like IBM, Microsoft Azure, and Facebook, ensuring the best learning outcomes.

To learn more, please visit https://www.simplilearn.com/reseller-partner-program-for-training- courses for partnerships or https://www.simplilearn.com/corporate-training for corporate inquiries.

If you are interested in potential partnership opportunities or seeking digital upskilling solutions for your organization, contact Simplilearn at rahul.goila@simplilearn.net .

About Simplilearn:

Founded in 2010 and based in San Francisco, California, and Bangalore, India, Simplilearn is the world's #1 online Bootcamp for digital economy skills training. Simplilearn offers access to world-class work-ready training to individuals and businesses around the world. The Bootcamps are designed and delivered with world-renowned universities, top corporations, and leading industry bodies via live online classes featuring top industry practitioners. For businesses, Simplilearn offers products to power New hire Onboarding, Digital Transformation skill development and Leadership development.

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1705432/Simplilearn_Latin_America.jpg

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1100016/Simplilearn_Logo.jpg
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Dec. 09, 2021))) ("Rockridge" or the "Company") is pleased to announce it has completed its geophysical program at the Knife Lake Copper Project located in Saskatchewan, Canada (the "Knife Lake Project" or "Property"). The Knife Lake Project, consisting of 81 claims totalling 55,471 hectares (137,069 acres), is an advanced-stage copper, silver, zinc and cobalt exploration property in Saskatchewan host to the Knife Lake Deposit.



Knife Lake VMS Project Location Map:

https://www.rockridgeresourcesltd.com/_resources/images/Knife-Lake-Region-20210331-003.jpg

Rockridge has received the final results from the Phase 2 helicopter-borne electromagnetic (EM) and horizontal magnetic gradiometer geophysical survey. The survey, which was completed in October, utilized Geotech Ltd.'s VTEM Plus system and significantly extends VTEM coverage of regional target areas from the Phase 1 survey completed last February. Phase 2 was successful in identifying multiple conductors that warrant follow-up investigation in regional target areas with no modern geophysics and limited to no detailed geological mapping or prospecting. The conductors, which form linear features with an approximate combined strike length of 19 km, correlate with highly prospective stratigraphy that hosts the Knife Lake VMS Deposit. Following completion of the VTEM survey, a field crew was deployed to investigate significant anomalies and further define drill targets through surficial mapping and prospecting. Analytical results from the field program are still pending. Geophysical plate modelling of the newly acquired VTEM data is underway and will be used to further refine targeting for Rockridge's future drill programs.

Knife Lake VTEM Survey Coverage:

https://www.rockridgeresourcesltd.com/_resources/images/KF-VTEM-Ext-20211206.pdf

Rockridge's CEO, Jonathan Wiesblatt, commented: "The initial results from this phase of geophysics are very encouraging as we have identified targets along 19 km of newly identified EM anomalies and prospective stratigraphy. Modern exploration tools such as airborne electromagnetic and horizontal geophysical surveys have been and will continue to be an important part of ROCK's exploration strategy at Knife Lake. We await the results from the recently completed field program and plan to commence another diamond-drilling program in the new year."

Knife Lake Geology and History:

The Knife Lake Deposit is interpreted to be a remobilized VMS deposit. The stratabound mineralized zone is approximately 15m thick and contains copper, silver, zinc, gold and cobalt mineralization which dips 30 to 50 eastward over a known strike length within Rockridge's claim area of 3,700 metres and a known average down-dip extension of approximately 300 metres.

Knife Lake Deposit Map:

https://www.rockridgeresourcesltd.com/_resources/projects/KnifeLake-Fig2.jpg

The deposit is hosted by felsic to intermediate volcanic and volcaniclastic rocks which have been metamorphosed to upper amphibolite facies. The deposit contains VMS mineralogy which has been significantly modified and partially remobilized during the emplacement of granitic rocks. The mineralization straddles the boundary between two rock units and occurs on both limbs of an interpreted overturned fold.

The Company has completed twenty-four holes consisting of 3,096 metres of diamond drilling in the 2019 and 2021 winter drilling programs. This represented the first drilling on the property since 2001. Both programs have given the Company's technical team valuable insights into the property geology, alteration, and mineralization that will be applied to future regional exploration on the highly prospective and underexplored land package.

Highlights from the drill programs include previously reported hole KF19003 which intersected net-textured to semi-massive sulphide mineralization from 11.2m to 48.8m downhole. This 37.6 metre interval returned 2.03% Cu, 0.19 g/t Au, 9.88 g/t Ag, 0.36% Zn, and 0.01% Co for an estimated 2.42% CuEq. Additionally, previously reported drill hole KF19001 intersected net-textured to fracture-controlled sulphide mineralization from 7.5 metres to 40.6 metres downhole. This 33.1 metre interval returned 1.28% Cu, 0.12 g/t Au, 4.80 g/t Ag, 0.13% Zn, and 0.01% Co for an estimated 1.49% CuEq.

In August 2019, Rockridge announced a maiden NI 43-101 resource estimate for the Knife Lake deposit which consisted of a pit-constrained indicated resource of 3.8 million tonnes at 1.02% CuEq and an inferred resource of 7.9 million tonnes at 0.67% CuEq using a 0.4% CuEq cut-off. For more information, please refer to the News Release dated August 14th, 2019 or the NI 43-101 Technical Report on the Mineral Resource Estimate for the Knife Lake Property, Saskatchewan dated September 27, 2019, filed on Sedar.

Qualified Person:

Kerry Bates, P. Geo., a "qualified person" for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, and a Geologist employed by TerraLogic Exploration Inc., has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical disclosure in this news release relating to the Knife Lake Project.

About Rockridge Resources Ltd.

Rockridge Resources (TSX.V: ROCK) is a public mineral exploration company focused on the acquisition, exploration and development of mineral resource properties in Canada, specifically copper and gold. The Company's core copper project is the Knife Lake Project located in Saskatchewan which is ranked as a top mining jurisdiction in the world by the Fraser Institute. The project hosts the Knife Lake Deposit, which is a VMS, near-surface Cu-Co-Au-Ag-Zn deposit open along strike and at depth. There is strong discovery potential in and around the deposit area as well as at regional targets on the large property package. The Company's secondary asset is the Raney Gold Project, which is a high-grade gold exploration project located in the same greenstone belt that hosts the world class Timmins and Kirkland Lake lode gold mining camps. Recently reported drill hole RN 20-06 intersected 28.0 g/t gold over 6.0 metres at a shallow vertical level of 95 metres, which is the best result from the project thus far. Rockridge's goal is to maximize shareholder value through new mineral discoveries, committed long-term partnerships, and the advancement of exploration projects in geopolitically favourable jurisdictions.

Additional information about Rockridge Resources and its project portfolio can be found on the Company's website at www.rockridgeresourcesltd.com.

Rockridge Resources Ltd.

"Jonathan Wiesblatt"

________________________

Jonathan Wiesblatt

CEO

For further information contact myself or:

Jordan Trimble, President or

Riley Trimble, Corporate Communications



Rockridge Resources Ltd.

Telephone: 604-687-3376

Toll Free: 800-567-8181

Facsimile: 604-687-3119

Email: info@rockridgeresourcesltd.com

NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THE CONTENT OF THIS NEWS RELEASE.

Forward Looking Information

This release includes certain statements that may be deemed to be "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that management of the Company expects, are forward-looking statements. Statements included in this announcement, including statements concerning our plans, intentions and expectations, which are not historical in nature are intended to be, and are hereby identified as, "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements may be identified by words including "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "expects" and similar expressions. Although management believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements if management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements, include market prices, exploration and development successes, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Please see the public filings of the Company at www.sedar.comfor further information.
~ Upon sale, World-Class will receive cash and shares of Fire & Flower, a leading technology-powered, adult-use cannabis retailer with 100 corporate-owned stores in its network

VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / December 9, 2021 / World-Class Extractions Inc. (CSE: PUMP) (FRA:WCF) (OTCQB:WCEXF) (the "Company" or "World-Class"), is pleased to provide an update on Pineapple Express Delivery Inc. ("Pineapple Express"), a company in which World-Class has an interest. Pineapple Express is Canada's largest delivery and logistics company serving the cannabis sector.

On December 8, 2021, Fire & Flower Holdings Corp. ("Fire & Flower") (TSX: FAF; OTCQX: FFLWF) and its wholly owned subsidiary Hifyre Inc. ("Hifyre") entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Pineapple Express (the "Transaction").

Total consideration for the Transaction is approximately up to C$11.7 million, payable by way of assumption and repayment of approximately $5.3 million in debt owed by Pineapple Express and the issuance of up to approximately 1,267,761 common shares of Fire & Flower (the "Consideration Shares"), subject to Pineapple Express achieving certain performance-based milestones in the fiscal 2022 year. Pineapple Express' revenue for the trailing 12-month period ended October 31, 2021 was approximately $10 million.(1)

The Transaction will be completed by way of a three-cornered amalgamation with a newly incorporated subsidiary of Hifyre. Completion of the Transaction is subject to the satisfaction or waiver of customary closing conditions, including the approval of the Toronto Stock Exchange and approval by the shareholders of Pineapple Express at a shareholders' meeting to be convened in January 2022. The Transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2022.

In connection with the Transaction, World Class will receive approximately $2,000,000 in cash and up to approximately 273,081 Consideration Shares.

About World-Class

World-Class is an innovation-driven company with a focus on the evolving cannabis and hemp industries. World-Class offers compliant and secure delivery of government regulated products through its subsidiary Pineapple Express Delivery Inc., including medical and recreational cannabis in Ontario, Manitoba and Saskatchewan, and liquor delivery in certain jurisdictions in Saskatchewan. World-Class continues to investigate opportunities to monetize its technology, including its extraction and processing systems, technology, and processes, manufactured and created by its subsidiary, Soma Labs Scientific Inc.

About Fire & Flower

Fire & Flower is a leading, technology-powered, adult-use cannabis retailer with 100 corporate-owned stores in its network. The Company leverages its wholly-owned technology development subsidiary, Hifyre Inc., to continually advance its proprietary retail operations model while also providing additional independent high-margin revenue streams. Fire & Flower guides consumers through the complex world of cannabis through education-focused, best-in-class retailing while the HifyreTM digital retail and analytics platform empowers retailers to optimize their connections with consumers. The Company's leadership team combines extensive experience in the technology, cannabis and retail industries.

Through the strategic investment of Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. (owner of Circle K convenience stores), the Company has set its sights on global expansion as new cannabis markets emerge and is poised to expand into the United States when permitted through its strategic licensing agreement with Fire & Flower U.S. Holdings upon the occurrence of certain changes to the cannabis regulatory regime.

Fire & Flower is a multi-banner cannabis retail operator that owns and operates the Fire & Flower, Friendly Stranger, Happy Dayz and Hotbox brands. Fire & Flower Holdings Corp. owns all issued and outstanding shares in Fire & Flower Inc. and Friendly Stranger Holdings Corp., licensed cannabis retailers that own and operate cannabis retail stores in the provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, British Columbia and Ontario, and the Yukon territory.

Contact

World-Class Extractions Inc.

1 (604) 473-9569 | ir@worldclassextractions.com

www.worldclassextractions.com

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release, which has been prepared by management.

Financial Outlook

This news release contains a financial outlook within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. The financial outlook has been prepared by management of Pineapple Express and Fire & Flower to provide an outlook for the Pineapple Express' revenue for the trailing 12 month period ended October 31, 2021 and may not be appropriate for any other purpose. The financial outlook has been prepared based on a number of assumptions including the assumptions discussed under the heading "Forward Looking Information" below. The actual results of Pineapple Express' operations for any period will likely vary from the amounts set forth in these projections and such variations may be material. The Company and its management believe that the financial outlook has been prepared on a reasonable basis. However, because this information is highly subjective and subject to numerous risks, including the risks discussed under the heading "Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information" below, it should not be relied on as necessarily indicative of future results.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains certain forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws ("forward-looking statements"). All statements other than statements of present or historical fact are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "anticipate", "achieve", "could", "believe", "plan", "intend", "objective", "continuous", "ongoing", "estimate", "outlook", "expect", "project" and similar words, including negatives thereof, suggesting future outcomes or that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. These statements are only predictions. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements in respect of completion of the Transaction and the potential benefits thereof to the Company and Pineapple Express' anticipated revenues.

Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management of the Company at the date the statements are made based on information then available to the Company. Various factors and assumptions are applied in drawing conclusions or making the forecasts or projections set out in forward-looking statements, including with respect to the closing of the Transaction on the terms described herein or at all. Forward-looking statements are subject to and involve a number of known and unknown, variables, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, which may cause Fire & Flower's and Pineapple Express' actual performance and results to differ materially from any projections of future performance or results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors, among other things, include: regulatory and other approvals or consents; fluctuations in general macroeconomic conditions; fluctuations in securities markets; the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic; the ability of the Fire & Flower and Pineapple Express to successfully achieve its business objectives and political and social uncertainties.

No assurance can be given that the expectations reflected in forward-looking statements will prove to be correct. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what management of the Company believes, or believed at the time, to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure shareholders that actual results will be consistent with such forward-looking statements, as there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release. Additional information regarding risks and uncertainties relating to the Company's business are contained in the Company's management discussion and analysis filed on its issuer profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release, and the Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements that are contained or referenced herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

(1) Preliminary and unaudited financial results are subject to customary financial statement procedures. Actual results could be affected by subsequent events or determinations. While the Company believes there is a reasonable basis for these preliminary financial results, the results involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially. These preliminary fiscal results represent forward-looking information. See "Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information" and "Financial Outlook".

SOURCE: World-Class Extractions Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/676739/Fire-Flower-To-Acquire-Pineapple-Express-Delivery
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - December 9, 2021) - ScreenPro Security Inc. (CSE: SCRN) (OTCQB: SCRSF) ("ScreenPro" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that its BC lab is now a trusted laboratory with Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention ("Africa CDC") for COVID-19 testing for travel to Africa and the only such lab in British Columbia.

Travellers to Africa shall produce evidence of a negative polymerise chain reaction ("PCR") COVID-19 test result. This test must have taken place within 72 hours of departure. Children under the age of five are exempt. For travellers, you can access info at the Africa CDC COVID-19 Trusted Travel Portal at www.africacdc.org/trusted-travel/.

This Trusted Travel Portal is a partnership with The Africa Union Commission and the Africa CDC, whose goal is to promote harmonized, standardized and coordinated entry and exit for travellers in Africa by providing access to information on travel restrictions and COVID-19 testing requirements for international travel.

Jean-Michel Dentinger, Laboratory Director commented, "We are very pleased to receive this accreditation from Africa CDC and we have already started processing travellers for Africa. With the many variants circulating globally, testing and contact tracing has become more important than before."

"With countries opening up its borders to fully vaccinated individuals, Canadian airports are getting busier with more passengers looking to travel by air, and we have seen a uptick in COVID-19 testing through both the clinic in Vancouver and through canvas," stated Lena Kozovski, CEO of ScreenPro Security.

About ScreenPro

ScreenPro is a Screening and Medical Technology company that provides turnkey screening solutions with its proprietary medical alerting software. ScreenPro's unique access to multiple manufacturers of high-quality test kits and its strategic partnership with labs in British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec allowing ScreenPro to be a full-service nationwide provider of COVID testing solutions across Canada. In addition, ScreenPro has its own medical doctor and nursing professionals along with on the ground support staff and transportation, as access to high quality PPEs to ensure that its clients are protected in all aspects of their testing needs. ScreenPro provides alerting software through its secure GoStop application that enables individuals to use the app for test screening results as well as provides automated identification codes for our laboratories and analytics to our clients on their testing cadence. For additional information on ScreenPro and other corporate information, please visit the Company's website at www.screenprosecurity.com.

For more information about the Company, please refer to the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange (the "CSE") nor it's Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

For further information please contact:

Jamie Hyland, Director

Email: info@screenprosecurity.com

P. (604) 442-2425

Forward-Looking Statements:

Certain statements contained in this news release may constitute forward-looking information, including statements relating to expectations regarding the acquisition and business of Concierge Medical Consultants Inc. and the future development of ScreenPro's business. Forward-looking information is often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "anticipate", "plan", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "intend", "should", and similar expressions. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information. The actual results of ScreenPro could differ materially from those anticipated in this forward-looking information as a result of regulatory decisions, competitive factors in the industries in which ScreenPro operates, prevailing economic conditions, changes to ScreenPro's strategic growth plans, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of ScreenPro. Management of ScreenPro believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information herein are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking information should not be unduly relied upon. Any forward-looking information contained in this news release represents ScreenPro's expectations as of the date hereof and is subject to change after such date. ScreenPro disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities legislation.

###

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/107173
B2C2, the counterparty of choice in the institutional crypto market, today announced the appointment of Dean C. Sovolos as General Counsel for the Americas and Head of Regulatory Affairs. Dean joins B2C2 from the United States Department of Justice (DOJ), where he most recently served as a federal prosecutor in the United States Attorney's Office in the District of New Jersey (DNJ) and the Southern District of New York (SDNY).

Dean brings extensive leadership experience from a varied and decorated career at the DOJ. As a federal prosecutor, Dean led many high-profile international investigations involving terrorism, money laundering, sanctions evasions, economic espionage, cybercrime, BSA, securities fraud, and bank fraud. He has conducted numerous investigations and prosecutions with U.S. and foreign law enforcement, intelligence services, and regulators, including OFAC, FinCEN, and the UK FCA.

Dean also previously served in a leadership capacity at the FBI, including as Associate Counsel for New York Field Office, acting as a legal advisor to Executive Management and investigators, as well as overseeing compliance with FBI and DOJ Policy. As an FBI Special Agent, he was appointed to serve overseas as Acting FBI Assistant Legal Attache, including at the U.S. Embassies in London and Paris, and was the lead case agent on numerous high-profile extraterritorial cases. Dean was regularly recognised for his notable contributions to the United States, including with the U.S. Attorney General Award for Distinguished Service, the FinCEN Transnational Security Threats team award, and, most recently, the 2021 Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys Director's Award.

Rob Catalanello, Co-CEO of B2C2, said: "We're thrilled to have Dean join B2C2. His distinguished career at the Department of Justice working in parallel with U.S. and foreign partners and regulators will reinforce our ability to raise industry standards as we prepare for regulatory changes ahead. Our product offering is fast-expanding to best meet the needs of our counterparts and we look forward to building on our position as the counterparty of choice in the global crypto market."

Dean Sovolos, General Counsel for the Americas and Head of Regulatory Affairs at B2C2, said: "I'm excited to join B2C2, an extraordinary team that is pioneering a new standard in crypto liquidity provision. B2C2 is a leader in the industry and, as such, effectively navigating the complex legal and policy issues while building important partnerships will be a priority for our legal and regulatory teams."

B2C2, which was acquired by innovative Japanese financial group SBI in December 2020, represents a natural entry point for financial institutions seeking to trade crypto with a well-capitalised counterparty. A true principal at risk firm, the vast majority of aggregators, FX brokers, exchanges, hedge funds and OTC desks rely on B2C2 for liquidity in all market conditions. 500+ clients in 50+ countries choose B2C2 for its competitive pricing, ability to minimise market impact and global 24/7 client service. The firm offers clients a full suite of products and services across spot and derivatives, including options and NDFs.

Ends

About B2C2

B2C2 is the counterparty of choice in the institutional crypto market. Founded in 2015 and headquartered in the UK, with offices in the US and Japan, B2C2 is relied on by aggregators, brokers, exchanges, hedge funds and OTC desks globally to provide 24/7 liquidity. In 2020, B2C2 was acquired by Japanese financial group SBI. B2C2 OTC Ltd. is authorised and regulated by the UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 810834). For more information, please visit https://www.b2c2.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211209005515/en/

Contacts:

Teresa Chick

press@b2c2.com
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - December 9, 2021) - Pantera Silver Corp. (TSXV: PNTR) ("Pantera" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has received a drill permit from the Mexican Government for the Company's Nuevo Taxco Silver Project in the state of Guerrero, Mexico. The Nuevo Taxco Silver Project is located 45 kms northwest of the municipality of Taxco, Mexico in the heart of the Pregones Mining District.

Jay Roberge, CEO of Pantera Silver commented, "We are very grateful to have received the drill permit for the Nuevo Taxco Silver project and for the support and patience of our shareholders. This concludes a rigorous process that required the attention and hard work of many individuals working under challenging Covid protocols. The end result was the completion of a comprehensive Manifiesto de Impacto Ambiental ("MIA") report which represents Pantera's commitment to high ESG standards and led to Pantera receiving the drill permit. We have prepared the site for initial drilling on select targets and we will be mobilizing the drill rig to site immediately. We will provide the market with a further update upon commencement of the drilling."

This maiden drill program by Pantera is following up on geochemistry, and geological mapping completed by IMPACT Silver (TSXV. IPT, "Impact") on the Nuevo Taxco Silver project in 2013.

Nuevo Taxco Property Highlights

Twenty-one (21) high grade veins mapped and sampled within a ~135 hectare area of the property. All have substantial width and mapped lengths run from 150 to 350 meters and remain open along strike and depth.

Over 395 samples taken to date have returned assays ranging from 100g/tonne to over 1,000 g/t Silver including three (3) samples (1,430, 1,230, 1,100 g/t), one hundred and nineteen (119) grading over 100 g/t Silver including eighteen (18) samples between 500-900 g/t Silver and ninety-two (92) between 100- 499 g/t Silver.

Maiden drill program is focussed on priority targets within the area historically prepared for drilling by Impact (~135 hectare area).

The entire ~1,100 hectare property is considered substantively unexplored offering additional upside exploration potential.

Qualified Person and NI 43-101 Disclosure

Carlos Cham Dominguez is a "qualified person" within the meaning of the NI 43-101, and is responsible for the technical information disclosed in this news release. Mr. Dominguez is a member of the American Institute of Professional Geologists and a Certified Professional Geologist (CPG) No. 11760.

About Pantera Silver Corp.



Pantera Silver Corp. is a mineral exploration and development company committed to enhancing shareholder value by advancing a diverse portfolio of mineral projects through collaborative partnerships and highly experienced technical teams. Pantera will continue to seek out and secure high-quality, unencumbered projects through research, staking and strategic acquisitions. Throughout the process, our mission is to help maintain prosperous communities by exploring for and discovering resource opportunities that build lasting relationships through honest and respectful business and environmental practices.



On behalf of the Board of Directors

"Jay Roberge"

CEO/Chairman

Pantera Silver Corp.

panterasilver@gmail.com

www.panterasilver.com

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual financial results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the estimated future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by those forward-looking statements and the forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. Pantera Silver Corp disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, events or otherwise, except as required by law.

Not for distribution to United States newswire services or for release publication, distribution or dissemination directly, or indirectly, in whole or in part, in or into the United States.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/107187
Alaya joins forces with Canada-based Benevity to offer companies around the world an unrivalled turnkey solution to corporate giving, volunteering and community investment

GENEVA, Switzerland, Dec. 09, 2021, a global leader in ESG technology, today announced the acquisition of Alaya, a purpose-driven employee engagement SaaS platform. With more than 90 clients around the world, Alaya enables businesses to engage employees in volunteering and positive actions through its innovative technology.



Based in Switzerland, with a presence in Spain, the United Kingdom, Germany, France and Singapore, Alaya is the leading European provider with expertise in localized volunteering and giving content, a scalable platform and a strong track record of client delight. Benevity is a global category leader, helping over 700 of the world's most iconic brands engage their stakeholders in ESG, purpose and social impact initiatives. Together, they deliver the market's only holistic suite of corporate purpose solutions to companies around the world.

The deal is expected to close December 15, 2021.

"Alaya was founded with the goal of putting purpose at the center of every company on the planet. By uniting with a visionary company like Benevity, we are getting one step closer to doing that," said Andre Abreu, Alaya's Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder. "Alaya's international expertise and engaging user experience, combined with Benevity's industry-leading ESG technology will enable companies and their stakeholders to bring more positive action to the world every day."

With Alaya's fresh and engaging UX, European and Asian footprint and localized volunteering activities, and Benevity's payroll giving, grants management and customer engagement solutions, more companies will have access to a single global partner who can help them bring purpose to life.

Alaya will become Alaya by Benevity and CEO Andre Abreu will transition to a new role at Benevity as President, International.

"Benevity is known for bringing bold vision and innovative solutions to the corporate social responsibility space," said Kelly Schmitt, Benevity's Chief Executive Officer. "The ESG-related technology sector is growing rapidly and its importance in helping attract, retain and engage employees and customers is critical. Alaya's localized expertise in Europe and Asia, its reputation for fantastic client service and its passionate, mission-driven culture are the perfect complement to Benevity."

"When we founded Benevity we were intentional about trying to create cultural impact at scale-both within companies and in broader society-mainly because collective action is required to solve most of the world's most pressing issues," said Bryan de Lottinville, Benevity's Founder and Executive Chairperson. "This joining of forces with a like-minded international star comes at a time when ESG and social impact are becoming paramount to investors, consumers, employees and the public looking for business to drive measurable social and environmental change. Together with Alaya, Benevity is poised to deliver hyper-local solutions for even more companies across the globe."

Benevity is a category leader, having pioneered software that enables companies to engage their customers and employees to support the causes they care about, manage their community investments and grants, match employee donations, engage employees in volunteering, and measure social and business impact on a global scale.

The acquisition of Alaya builds on Benevity's rapid growth in the past year, including investments by software investor, Hg, TPG's The Rise Fund, and Generation Investment Management.

"The role of purpose in business is a trend that is accelerating worldwide. Whilst getting to know Benevity and the amazing work it does across this sector, we have recognised other software businesses in Europe that are also making waves. This combination brings together world-class talent and solutions that will deliver even more Goodness and value to customers across all sizes and geographies. We set out to help Benevity and their mission to become even more pervasive and impactful and we're delighted that, so soon after our partnership with Benevity began, we're able to use our European heritage to do exactly that," said Nic Humphries, Senior Partner at Hg.

About Alaya

Alaya is a global software provider enabling companies to build a purpose-driven culture and engage employees to make an impact, one act at a time. Headquartered in Switzerland, Alaya has a presence in the UK, Germany, France, Spain and Singapore. More than 90 clients partner with Alaya to easily manage their purpose-driven CSR and employee engagement programs, through volunteering, giving or taking simple actions to support sustainability, diversity, equity and inclusion and wellbeing. For more information, visit alayagood.com.

About Benevity

Benevity , a certified B Corporation, is a leader in global corporate purpose software, providing the only integrated suite of community investment and employee, customer and nonprofit engagement solutions. Recognized as one of Fortune's Impact 20, Benevity offers cloud solutions that power purpose for many iconic brands in ways that better attract, retain and engage today's diverse workforce, embed social action into their customer experiences and positively impact their communities. With software that is available in 22 languages, Benevity has processed nearly $8 billion in donations and 43 million hours of volunteering time to support 326,000 nonprofits worldwide. The company's solutions also facilitated 530,000 positive actions and awarded 1.2 million grants worth $12 billion. For more information, visit www.benevity.com .

Media Contact: Kristin O'Connell Archetype for Benevity +1 9143742147 Kristin.oconnell@archetype.co

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e0600320-8653-4e29-acc1-a4bafe14df25

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4b02fd30-26f0-417b-a354-ed9b4d7db931
BOHEMIA, NY / ACCESSWIRE / December 9, 2021 / Scientific Industries, Inc. (OTCQB:SCND), a life sciences tool provider and developer of digitally simplified bioprocessing products, today announced that Scientific Bioprocessing, Inc. (SBI) has formed a unique partnership with BioMADE to bring state-of-the-art equipment and transformational learning experiences to college students across the United States. Together they will bring Scientific Bioprocessing's real-time solution for biomass monitoring and bioprocessing technology training resources to 20 community and technical college Biotech Career Technical Education programs.

BioMADE - the Bioindustrial Manufacturing and Design Ecosystem - is a new Manufacturing Innovation Institute dedicated to advancing bioindustrial manufacturing across the nation. Scientific Bioprocessing is a leader in the development of intelligent shake flasks designed to deliver a step change in the cost and time to develop new products using both microbial and mammalian cell culture. The Educational Module features innovative biomass monitoring sensors, liquid injection system, and integrated data analytics software which deliver bioreactor-like data with the cost and convenience of a shake flask - the most common reaction vessel in science.

BioMADE brings together a diverse range of member organizations, from large corporations to universities to start-ups. Launched with significant federal support in 2021, BioMADE harnesses the power of biology to create and domestically source the manufactured goods that people use every day.

Scientific Bioprocessing is a member of a team of industry and academic partners who were recently awarded $650,000 as part of BioMADE's first project call to develop curricula around affordable infrastructure for digital bioprocessing education. University of Georgia, Albany State University, and Solano Community College will be designing curriculum under the award for bioreactor monitoring and control and design of experiments.

With this generous contribution from Scientific Bioprocessing, BioMADE launched a call for interested institutions to apply to participate. Community and technical colleges will be selected based on institutional need, ability to implement curriculum, and industry engagement. Those awarded will receive $16,000 of equipment at no cost, bringing much-needed resources to schools working to provide valuable, hands-on experiences to students. Interested institutions may find the application form here, and sign up to attend an informational webinar on January 7 here.

"BioMADE is thrilled to have Scientific Bioprocessing invest in our mission through this partnership," said Thomas Tubon, Chief Workforce Development Officer at BioMADE. "Scientific Bioprocessing's strength in digital optical sensor technology and data analytics will bring critical experience and expertise to the BioMADE community and help us build and strengthen the foundation of the emerging bioindustrial manufacturing workforce."

"We're excited to partner with BioMADE and all of its member organizations to propel new biotechnology products from the laboratory to the commercial market and provide resources to train a skilled workforce," said John Moore, President of Scientific Bioprocessing. "Students who have solid understanding of engineering principles and hands-on experience with bioreactors are highly valuable to employers. Unfortunately, many technical colleges with biotechnology programs cannot afford bioreactors. Now, with our intelligent shake flasks, students can learn important engineering principles like mass transfer that improve their value to potential employers. The bioindustrial manufacturing ecosystem is poised for significant growth in the coming decade, and by joining BioMADE, we're ensuring that Scientific Bioprocessing will be part of that growth."

About BioMADE

BioMADE is one of nine Department of Defense-sponsored Manufacturing Innovation Institutes. Through funding, action, and engagement, BioMADE supports the development of biomanufacturing technologies to strengthen American competitiveness; create a more robust, resilient, and bio-based supply chain; and help the U.S. become more self-sufficient. BioMADE is also building a diverse and globally competitive STEM workforce by partnering with K-12 schools, community colleges, universities, and professional development organizations to ensure the workforce is prepared and ready to fill new jobs. Learn more about BioMADE by visiting biomade.org.

About Scientific Bioprocessing, Inc.

Scientific Bioprocessing, Inc. (SBI) is dedicated to providing state-of-the-art instruments, strategies, and technologies to expedite the production of viable cells and therapies with a streamlined process and product consistency. SBI's mission is to develop sensor technologies and instruments that make cell culture and bioprocessing work easier, experiments more reproducible, and culture conditions better suited to meet experimental objectives. SBI is a subsidiary of Scientific Industries Inc. (SCND-OTCQB) To learn more, visit www.scientificbio.com.

About Scientific Industries, Inc.

Scientific Industries (OTCQB:SCND), is a life science tool provider. It designs, manufactures, and markets laboratory equipment, including the world-renowned Vortex-Genie 2 Mixer and Torbal balances, and bioprocessing systems under the product name Cell Growth Quantifier and Liquid Injection System. Scientific Industries' products are generally used and designed for research purposes in laboratories of universities, hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, medical device manufacturers, and pharmacies. To learn more, visit www.scientificindustries.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

Statements made in this press release that relate to future events, performance or financial results of the Company are forward-looking statements which involve uncertainties that could cause actual events, performance or results to materially differ. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any of these statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as to the date hereof. Accordingly, any forward-looking statement should be read in conjunction with the additional information about risks and uncertainties set forth in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission reports, including our annual report on Form 10-K.

BioMADE Contact:

Christine Lee

Communications Manager

clee@biomade.org

Scientific Industries Contact:

Helena R. Santos

CEO and President

Phone: 631-567-4700

hsantos@scientificindustries.com

info@scientificindustries.com

or

Joe Dorame

Lytham Partners, LLC

Phone: (602) 889-9700

SCND@lythampartners.com

SOURCE: Scientific Industries, Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/676709/Scientific-Industries-AnnouncesBioMADE-and-Scientific-Bioprocessing-Partnership-to-Bring-Digitally-Simplified-Bioprocessing-to-20-US-Colleges
Membership Drive Continues to Attract Key Leadership from Government, Financial Institutions, Startups, Venture Capital and Academia Across Massachusetts

BOSTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / December 9, 2021 / In less than six months, the Mass Fintech Hub , a public-private partnership dedicated to making the Commonwealth a global leader in fintech, has more than doubled its membership and received hundreds of requests to join its growing programming geared towards developing fintechs. The expansion reflects the growing interest and investment in Massachusetts fintech as 350 fintech companies currently reside in the state with as much as $5.9 billion in capital raised. The new members represent the financial services, academic and fintech communities (listed below).

According to CB Insights' State of Venture Capital Q3 Report 2021, the fintech industry has received a record $91.5 billion in global funding -- almost twice as much as what the sector collected in the entirety of 2020. As fintech continues to boom, Mass Fintech Hub, which is under the Boston-based nonprofit FinTech Sandbox 's umbrella, has also expanded to keep pace with demand for fintech innovation and contributed to the community through events and programming.

During Boston FinTech Week , the organization hosted several new programs and over the summer, launched a Fintech Bootcamp for primarily Black and LatinX students from the Commonwealth. It has also increased its membership dues by 35 percent from financial institutions, fintechs and other stakeholders since June. The firm financial footing provides the organization with the opportunity to build additional programming in 2022 and set the bar higher for fintech ecosystem collaboration, knowledge-sharing and community engagement.

"Mass Fintech Hub is a strategic initiative that is helping bring together leaders from business, the public sector, and academia to encourage entrepreneurial growth and boost the fintech sector statewide," said Housing and Economic Development Secretary Mike Kennealy, Co-Chair of the Massachusetts Fintech Working Group. "Not only are we developing the next generation of fintech leaders, but also bringing together new coalitions that will make Massachusetts the leader of fintech globally. We're excited about the work to be done in 2022."

Nearly $19 billion was invested in Boston in 2021 (through early August), exceeding 2020's full-year record of $17.1 billion, according to the "Markets to watch: Boston" report from Bridge Bank and PitchBook Data (Boston Business Journal). The great momentum for Massachusetts startups, including fintechs, also reveals the economic opportunities available eventually as the pandemic subsides. New segments, such as decentralized finance, blockchain, AI, sustainable and inclusive finance and crypto provide ample fuel to propel the burgeoning fintech economy in the state.

"We share a common vision for building a thriving fintech and financial community in Massachusetts where startups and talent come to make their dreams reality," said Mike Fanning, Head of Mass Mutual US and Co-Chair of the Massachusetts Fintech Working Group. "By working together across industries and sectors, we can achieve our goal of making the Bay State #1 for fintech."

Members supporting the Mass Fintech Hub:

Advisor360 John Hancock Pebble Finance Brandeis University Massachusetts Competitive Partnership Posh Technologies Cake MassChallenge Putnam Investments CashQ Money Transfer Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Physis Investment Citizens Bank Massachusetts Mutual Insurance Company Reading Cooperative Bank Divizend Massachusetts Technology Collaborative Reliable Energy Analytics Eastern Bank Monit Surround Insurance Fidelity Investments Napkin Finance University of Massachusetts Amherst FinTech Sandbox New Silver Lending Vestigo Ventures Flywire Northeastern University Western New England University Insurify OurBanc Corporation Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI)

For more information please visit: www.massfintechhub.com ; stay up to date on recent developments and relevant content on Twitter at @MassFintechHub , and LinkedIn .

About the Mass Fintech Hub

The Mass Fintech Hub is a public-private partnership comprising a network of Fintech leaders, financial experts, academics, public sector leaders and venture capitalists who empower Fintech startups to achieve success around the world. The initiative supports the Fintech ecosystem through programs that attract investment, talent, collaboration and encourage regulatory innovation. The Mass Fintech Hub stimulates activity and connections, creates opportunities and aligns key stakeholders for a better entrepreneurial environment that supports Fintech startups in all development stages. Learn more here: www.massfintechhub.com/contact-us/ .

Media Contact:

Stephen Sumner

Caliber Corporate Advisers

stephen@calibercorporate.com

press@massfintechhub.com

845-489-0612 (m)

SOURCE: FinTech Sandbox

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/676696/Mass-Fintech-Hub-More-Than-Doubles-Membership-to-Bolster-Expanding-Fintech-Ecosystem-in-the-Commonwealth
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / December 9, 2021 / MAS Gold Corp. ("MAS Gold") (TSXV:MAS) is pleased to announce an updated Mineral Resource estimate for the North Lake gold deposit ("North Lake"), located on the La Ronge Gold Belt of northeastern Saskatchewan.

At a marginal grade cut-off of 0.40 grams per tonne gold ("g/t Au"), the North Lake gold deposit is estimated to contain an Inferred Mineral Resource of 18,100,000 tonnes ("t") grading 0.85 g/t Au, hence 494,000 contained ounces of gold ("oz Au"). David Thomas, P. Geo., of DKT Geosolutions Inc. is the Qualified Person ("QP", as defined by National Instrument 43-101) for the North Lake Mineral Resource update that has an effective date of December 01, 2021.

Category Tonnes Au

(g/t) Au

(oz) Inferred 18,100,000 0.85 494,000

The estimate updates the Mineral Resource estimate detailed in an April 2020 Technical Report that is available on the Company's website (www.masgoldcorp.com) and on www.sedar.com. Compared with the 2020 estimate, the 2021 update increased the estimated tonnes by 28.3% and the amount of insitu gold by 18.5%, despite a modest (7.6%) drop in the average estimated grade. The 2020 estimate totalled 14,110,000 t at 0.92 g/t Au for 417,000 oz Au, in the Inferred category.

The estimate follows MAS Gold's 2021, winter and summer drilling programs at North Lake (22 holes, 5,902.5 m), the results of which were reported in MAS Gold's news releases dated May 10, 2021, May 12, 2021, June 07, 2021 and November 11, 2021. The increases are important outcomes of the 2021 drilling programs that resulted in the west-southwest, downdip extension of the North Lake mineralization. This allowed for a larger optimized pit envelope, hence additional tonnes compared with the 2020 estimate.

Mr. Jim Engdahl CEO & Director of MAS Gold stated "With this expanded North Lake Mineral Resource estimate we have continued to grow our La Ronge asset base. Combining the updated North Lake Mineral Resource estimate with our updated Greywacke North Mineral Resource announced by MAS Gold on December 06, 2021, pushes us closer towards our goal of a million insitu ounces of gold."

Mr. Engdahl further stated "The low-grade North Lake Mineral Resource, when combined with the high- grade deposit at Greywacke North, supports our strategic mine development plan that envisions a centralized plant processing material from North Lake, co-mingled with high-grade material from MAS Gold's other La Ronge Gold Belt deposits."

Qualifying Statements

The North Lake Mineral Resources are constrained within an optimized pit shell with an overall average slope angle of 50. A long-term gold price of US$1,600/oz was used, along with a metallurgical recovery of 88%. The gold recovery rate is lower than the 92% value used for the 2020 estimate; the reduced rate is based on testwork performed by Blue Coast Research of Parksville, B.C., on behalf of MAS Gold and as part of the on-going PEA process.

A marginal grade cut-off of 0.43 g/t Au was estimated, based on a total process and G&A operating cost of US$19.50/t of mined mineralized material. For purposes of estimation, a marginal grade cut-off of 0.40 g/t Au was applied.

The contained gold ounces are in situ. No assurance can be given that the estimated quantities will be produced. All figures have been rounded to reflect accuracy and to comply with securities regulatory requirements. Summations within the tables may not agree due to rounding.

Mineral Resources, which are not Mineral Reserves, do not have demonstrated economic viability. The estimate of Mineral Resources may be materially affected by gold price, environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, socio-political, marketing or other relevant issues.

As part of the estimation process, QP Thomas concluded that the drillhole spacings and historical QA/QC protocols are sufficient to support Mineral Resources in the Inferred category. The quantity and grade of Inferred Mineral Resources are conceptual in nature and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in the upgrading of the reported Mineral Resources to either the Indicated or Measured category.

Method of Estimation

Domains were modelled in 3D to separate mineralized rock from surrounding waste rock. The domains were modelled based on quartz veining and gold grade continuity above a 0.1 g/t Au cut-off. Raw drillhole assays were composited to 5 m lengths broken at domain boundaries. Capping of high grades was considered necessary and was completed for each domain, prior to compositing.

Block grades for gold were estimated from the composited assays using ordinary kriging interpolation into 5 m blocks coded by domain. A dry bulk density of 2.64 g/cm3 was used for all material.

Blocks were classified in accordance with CIM Definition Standards 2014. QP Thomas classified blocks to the Inferred category if they fell within 60 m of a composite.

Technical Report and Qualified Persons

A Technical Report will be issued within 45 days of the December 06, 2021 news release about the Greywacke North Mineral Resource update. It will cover both the North Lake and Greywacke North Mineral Resource updates. The principal author and QP will be Stephen Godden, C.Eng. FIMMM, an Independent Mining Consultant; both David Thomas, P. Geo., and David Tupper, P. Geo., Vice President, Exploration of MAS Gold, will be co-authors (each being a QP). All three QPs are responsible for the preparation of this news release; they have read and approved its technical aspects.

North Lake Gold Project

The North Lake Gold project, located in the La Ronge Gold Belt in northeastern Saskatchewan, is 100% owned by MAS Gold. Gold mineralization is associated with quartz veining and minor sulphides (mainly pyrite) hosted primarily in felsites. The veins occur in several north-northeast trending, northwest dipping, branching and elongate structural zones that have been traced for approximately 600 m along strike and which have widths that vary between 5 m and 40 m. The deposit remains open both at depth and along strike.

Further to QP Thomas' recommendations, an approximately 5,000 m, 2021/22 winter drilling program on the North Lake deposit has been planned to both further increase the Mineral Resource base and to elevate a portion of the Mineral Resources to the Indicated category. This will be achieved by means of infill and step-out drilling, as well as by twinning historical drill holes.

About MAS Gold Corp.

MAS Gold Corp. is a Canadian mineral exploration company focused on exploration projects in the prospective La Ronge Gold Belt of Saskatchewan. In the belt, MAS Gold Corp. operates four properties totaling 33,843 hectares (83,628 acres), including the Greywacke Lake, Preview North, Elizabeth Lake and Henry Lake Properties that extend along a total of roughly 60 kilometres of the geologically prospective La Ronge, Kisseynew and Glennie Domains that make up the La Ronge Gold Belt.

MAS Gold's holdings include the Greywacke North, North Lake and Point gold deposits and the historically defined Elizabeth Lake copper-gold volcanic-hosted massive sulphide deposit.

The Greywacke deposit, which hosts multiple known stratabound, high-grade gold-bearing zones, has an updated, combined open-pit and underground Indicated Mineral Resource of 645,000 t averaging 4.90 g/t Au for 101,000 insitu ounces of gold (600,000 t at 4.89 g/t Au, and 45,000t at 5.03 g/t Au, respectively), plus a combined open-pit and underground Inferred Mineral Resource of 410,000 t averaging 4.12 g/t Au for 55,000 insitu ounces of gold (35,000 t at 1.97 g/t Au, and 375,000 t at 4.33 g/t Au, respectively). The Indicated and Inferred Mineral Resources were estimated using open-pit and underground cut-off grades of 0.65 g/t Au and 1.75 g/t Au, respectively. The Technical Report about the updated Mineral Resource estimate will be filed in January, 2022.

MAS Gold Corp.

Jim Engdahl

Director & CEO

Suite 420 - 789 West Pender Street

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, V6C 1H2

t: 604-685-8592

www.masgoldcorp.com

For further information about MAS Gold please visit both www.masgoldcorp.com or contact: Lubica Keighery, (778) 889-5476, lubica@masgoldcorp.com

Caution Regarding Forward Looking Information and Statements

Information set forth in this news release contains forward-looking statements that are based on assumptions as of the date of this news release. These statements reflect management's current estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations. They are not guarantees of future performance. MAS Gold cautions that all forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain and that actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, many of which are beyond their respective control. Such factors include, among other things: risks and uncertainties relating to MAS Gold's limited operating history, the need to comply with environmental and governmental regulations, results of exploration programs on their projects and those risks and uncertainties identified in each of their annual and interim financial statements and management discussion and analysis. Accordingly, actual and future events, conditions and results may differ materially from the estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations expressed or implied in the forward-looking information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, MAS Gold undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking information.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

SOURCE: MAS Gold Corp

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/676738/2021-Mineral-Resource-Estimate-Update-North-Lake-Gold-Deposit-Saskatchewan
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - December 9, 2021) - Karus Gold Corp. ("Karus Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to provide a corporate update which includes the 2021 exploration programs at its FG Gold project ("FG Gold") and Gold Creek project ("Gold Creek"), both part of the 1,000 square kilometer ("km") South Cariboo Gold Property in British Columbia (see Figure 1).

Andrew Kaip, President and CEO of Karus Gold comments, "Our 2021 exploration programs at our two highly prospective gold projects - FG Gold and Gold Creek - in the South Cariboo were a success. Both programs confirmed the orientation of the gold mineralization at each project and sets us up for targeted 2022 drilling programs that continue to expand the high-grade mineralization. We anxiously await assays from each project in the coming weeks."

FG Gold project

During 2021, Karus Gold drilled 7,142 metres ("m") in 19 diamond drill holes (see Figure 2). The program successfully (1) confirmed the orientation of vein corridors hosting high-grade gold mineralization identified by the 2020 drill program; (2) demonstrated continuity of gold mineralization within vein corridors through 50 m spaced drill holes along trend; and (3) opened the potential for stacked vein corridors with several zones of increased veining outside of the targeted corridors. Refer to the September 23, 2021 news release for more information.

Assays from the 2021 FG drill program and district area program are being processed with results expected in Q1 2022. Based on these results Karus Gold will begin preparing for a 2022 exploration program that will be directed toward expanding the high-grade gold vein corridors at FG Gold which remain open along strike and at depth.

Gold Creek project

During 2021, Karus Gold drilled 1,374.6 m in five diamond drill holes were completed at Gold Creek (see Figure 3). The Gold Creek drill program was designed to confirm the orientation of high-grade gold mineralization in the Camp Zone. Based on this drill program, Karus Gold is confident that high-grade at the Camp Zone strikes northwest and dips approximately 70 degrees to the northeast. The Camp Zone has been traced through wide-spaced drilling for 870 m along strike and to a depth of 280 m below surface. Refer to the July 29, 2021 news release for more information.

Assays are being processed and expect to be announced early 2022. The Company is planning a Phase 2 drill program at Gold Creek with the aim of expanding the dimensions of high-grade gold mineralization at the Camp Zone.

Current Offering Memorandum Financing and Public Listing Update

On November 29, 2021, Karus Gold Corp. filed an Offering Memorandum ("OM") on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) under the Company's profile. All proceeds raised pursuant to the OM will be used towards the Company's ongoing listing application with the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSX-V") and for general working capital purposes. The offering under the OM is expected to close by the end of December 2021 and will allow the Company to fulfill one of its requirements to be a "public company" as defined under subsection 89(1) of the Income Tax Act (Canada), thereby allowing Canadian shareholders that hold Karus Gold shares in registered and tax-free saving accounts. Shareholders should consult their own tax advisors on this matter.

Karus Gold filed an updated listing application in October 2021 and continues to work with the TSX-V to complete the listing process.

Technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Andrew Kaip, P.Geo., who is Karus Gold's President and CEO and is a qualified person under National Instrument 43-101 responsible for the technical matters of this news release.

About Karus Gold

Karus Gold is 100% owner of the 1,000 km2 South Caribou Gold Project that includes the drill-stage FG Gold and Gold Creek projects in British Columbia. Karus Gold is supported by strategic investors Eric Sprott; and insiders, together with the management and Board, own approximately 59% of the basic shares outstanding.

Further information on Karus Gold and its assets can be found on the Company's updated website at www.karusgold.com and at www.sedar.com, or by contacting us as info@karusgold.com or by telephone at (888) 455-7620.

On behalf of Karus Gold

"Andrew Kaip"

Chief Executive Officer

(647) 515-7858

Investor Relations

Victor Ostlund - Kin Communications

(604) 684-6730

KAR@kincommunications.com

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains forward-looking statements relating to the future operations of the Company, closing of the offering under the OM and proposed use of proceeds, and other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "will", "may", "should", "anticipate", "expects", "suggests" and similar expressions. All statements other than statements of historical fact, included in this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding the future plans and objectives of the Company are forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements, and any assumptions upon which they are based, are made in good faith and reflect our current judgment regarding the direction of our business. Management believes that these assumptions are reasonable. Forward looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information.

Such factors include, among others: risks related to exploration and development activities at the Company's projects, and factors relating to whether or not mineralization extraction will be commercially viable; risks related to mining operations and the hazards and risks normally encountered in the exploration, development and production of minerals, such as unusual and unexpected geological formations, rock falls, seismic activity, flooding and other conditions involved in the extraction and removal of materials; uncertainties regarding regulatory matters, including obtaining permits and complying with laws and regulations governing exploration, development, production, taxes, labour standards, occupational health, waste disposal, toxic substances, land use, environmental protection, site safety and other matters, and the potential for existing laws and regulations to be amended or more stringently implemented by the relevant authorities; uncertainties regarding estimating mineral resources, which estimates may require revision (either up or down) based on actual production experience; risks relating to fluctuating metals prices and the ability to operate the Company's projects at a profit in the event of declining metals prices and the need to reassess feasibility of a particular project that estimated resources will be recovered or that they will be recovered at the rates estimated; risks related to title to the Company's properties, including the risk that the Company's title may be challenged or impugned by third parties; the ability of the Company to access necessary resources, including mining equipment and crews, on a timely basis and at reasonable cost; competition within the mining industry for the discovery and acquisition of properties from other mining companies, many of which have greater financial, technical and other resources than the Company, for, among other things, the acquisition of mineral claims, leases and other mineral interests as well as for the recruitment and retention of qualified employees and other personnel; access to suitable infrastructure, such as roads, energy and water supplies in the vicinity of the Company's properties; and risks related to the stage of the Company's development, including risks relating to limited financial resources, limited availability of additional financing and potential dilution to existing shareholders; reliance on its management and key personnel; inability to obtain adequate or any insurance; exposure to litigation or similar claims; currently unprofitable operations; risks regarding the ability of the Company and its management to manage growth; and potential conflicts of interest.

Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this news release and the Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results, except as may be required by applicable securities laws. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information.

There is no certainty that all or any part of the mineral resource will be converted into mineral reserve. It is uncertain if further exploration will allow improving the classification of the Indicated or Inferred mineral resource. Mineral resources are not mineral reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability.

Figure 1: Location of the 1,000 square km South Cariboo Gold District.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit:

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Figure 2: Location of the drill holes for the 2021 program at FG Gold.

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Figure 3: Location of the drill holes for the 2021 program at Gold Creek.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 3, please visit:

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To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/107160
Collaboration on 5G roaming and security development to enhance roaming as a service offering to US networks large and small

With 5G roaming and interworking on the horizon, US-based Transaction Network Services (TNS) will collaborate with Irish solutions provider, Cellusys, in research, development, and testing of roaming and security solutions for 5G networks.

Utilizing the TNS 5G Innovation Lab, the team will combine TNS' expertise in steering of roaming and other services for regional and national US carriers for 3G, 4G, and soon 5G traffic with security solutions from the Cellusys portfolio, including Signalling (Diameter, GTP, SIP, SS7) and SMS Firewall.

"We see 5G as a pivotal component within every roadmap and are confident we will be able to offer first-rate solutions to our customers as 5G roaming and security continue to evolve," said Bill Versen, President of TNS' Communications Market business. "Developing new technologies requires creativity and competence, but also a flexible and agile approach, which is why we are excited to embark on this journey with Cellusys."

5G NSA, based on 4G infrastructure, has become prevalent in much of the country and is gaining traction around the world. Over 500 million 5G handsets are forecast to be sold in 2021, according to Gartner, signalling an appetite for faster download speeds. However, when 5G SA roaming is more prevalent, it may also bring new security threats to mobile operators' networks.

"Our multi-tenant solutions are designed with worldwide leading organizations like TNS in mind, as signalling is increasingly centralized," said Daniel McTague, Cellusys CTO. "TNS shares our zeal in having the best 5G solutions available to our customers and we are looking forward to working closely with them, as well as continuing our expansion into the Americas."

About Cellusys

Cellusys introduced the Signalling Firewall to the telecom industry in 2014 and are consistently recognized as a Tier-1 provider, focusing on the flexibility and agility of signalling-based solutions to offer mobile network groups and operators solutions for 5G, VoLTE, signalling security, anti-fraud, A2P monetisation, roaming, analytics, and IoT. Cellusys systems improve the quality of service and security for over 880 million subscribers worldwide and make communication service providers more secure, intelligent, and profitable.

About Transaction Network Services

TNS is a leading global provider of Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) solutions to the communications, payments and financial markets. Established more than 30 years ago, its extensive portfolio of innovative, value-added services now supports thousands of organizations across more than 60 countries to interact efficiently, conduct mission critical processes securely and adopt new technologies flexibly. TNS' pioneering Communications Markets business has been a continuous innovator interconnecting carrier networks efficiently, securely and reliably. The Communications Market's IaaS solutions support the demanding needs of carriers, from call analytics which identify unwanted robocalls while enabling enhanced mobile identity for legitimate callers, to interoperability, clearing, settlement and analytics for LTE and 5G. For more information please visit tnsi.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211209005014/en/

Contacts:

Cellusys PR Contact Info:

Bonnie Kimmel

Cellusys

+33 7 69 35 56 67

Bonnie.kimmel@cellusys.com

TNS Company Contact:

Clare Cockroft

TNS

703.814.8065

pr@tnsi.com

TNS Media Contact:

Thomas Walter, Bluetext for TNS

646.265.3144

TNS@bluetext.com
WESTBOROUGH, MA / ACCESSWIRE / December 9, 2021 / Cannapreneur Partners and its affiliate dispensary venture, Joint Operations, are teaming up to bring joy to the Massachusetts Community this holiday season. They are participating in charity runs, food donations, toy and clothing donations, and more.

The Thanksgiving holiday week was busy with activity for these partners. As a proclaimed Veteran mental health advocacy company, Cannapreneur Partners showed their support through donation and sponsorship of a water station check-in at the Run4Vet 5k race/walk hosted by Veterans Inc. The proceeds of this event benefit Veterans Inc, who provide support services to Veterans and their families during their re-acclimation to civilian life after returning from active duty.

"As a Veteran myself, I know what the transition looks like when returning home from active duty," Joint Operations Founder, Bill Duggan, stated. "These heroes come home and may need support on things from mental health to job placement, and Veterans Inc. plays a huge role in that adjustment."

Cannapreneur Partners and Joint Operations also participated in multiple donation efforts this past week by providing over $1500 worth of groceries, cleaning products, and toiletries to organizations such as the Veteran's Northeast Outreach Center, the Rowley Food Pantry, and Compassion New England Crisis Center in Mendon, MA.

"The goal is always to give back to our local community and assist those who need some extra support this holiday season. Community outreach and Veteran aid are pinnacles of the Cannapreneur Partners' and Joint Operations' business models, and we will come together to do our part in any way that we can," commented Cannapreneur Partners CEO, Michael Scott.

Leading into the Christmas holiday, Joint Operations and Cannapreneur Partners will focus on supporting local heroes by providing food and gift baskets to the Mendon Fire and Police Departments and the Rowley Fire and Police Departments. The Rowley and Mendon Town Halls will also receive gift baskets. Leadership from Cannapreneur Partners and Joint Operations will also participate in a Toys for Tots toy drive led by the United States Marine Corp Reserve. They will deliver $200-$300 worth of toys to the local USMC Reserve location in Rowley.

To stay up to date on all efforts and progress made by Cannapreneur Partners and Joint Operations, please use this link to receive our free weekly newsletter.

https://cannapreneurpartners.com/opt-in/

And, to learn more and make an impact on any of these organizations, please visit:

Veterans Inc.

https://www.veteransinc.org/

Veterans Northeast Outreach Center

https://vneoc.org/

Compassion New England Crisis Center, Mendon, MA

https://compassionne.com/

Rowley Food Pantry

https://rowleyfoodpantry.org/

US Marine Corps Toys for Tots Drive

https://www.townofrowley.net/home/news/toys-tots-donations

About Cannapreneur Partners

Cannapreneur Partners is the place for cannabis business owners. We provide top insights and business strategy for entrepreneurs that enables great synergies and explosive growth for your business.

About Joint Operations

Joint Operations is a series of adult-use dispensaries, founded by US Military veterans, that bring the benefits of the cannabis plant to the public. We are focused on wellness and education while creating a fun and comfortable environment.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

e: invest@CannapreneurPartners.com w: www.cannapreneurpartners.com

e: info@jointoperations.com

w: www.jointoperations.com

SOURCE: Cannapreneur Partners

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/676775/Cannapreneur-Partners-and-Joint-Operations-Dispensary-Combine-Efforts-to-Give-Back-to-the-State-of-Massachusetts-this-Holiday-Season
(Gearing Up for the Winter Drill Program - Commencing mid-January 2022)

B-horizon soil geochemistry now covers an area of 7,910 ha (79.1 sq km), just under 9% of the Albert Lake Property.

During the 2021 program, Fathom collected 3,723 soil samples and is incorporating the 2021 results with historic B-horizon soils collected in 2018 by Fathom and in 2002 collected by a previous operator.

The broader favourable soil geochemistry areas; highlighted in the enclosed Figure 1, are interpreted by the Company to be areas where "Rottenstone-like stratigraphy" is most likely to occur.

Significant clusters of anomalous to highly anomalous Ni values with associated base metals Cu, Co, plus locally Pd-Pt have been defined. Values up to 393 ppm Ni, 383 ppm Cu and 160 ppm Co were identified.

and were identified. In an area south-southeast of Kenyon Lake, and approximately 8 km south of the historic Rottenstone Mine, 2021 soil geochemistry results have identified two parallel to sub-parallel east-west trending zones of favourable soil geochemistry. The southernmost zone remains open for expansion to the south-southeast.

These zones occur coincident with areas of structural complexity interpreted from the April 2021 gradient MAG survey and coincident with occurrences of mafic-ultramafic rock defined in the 2021 surface mapping.

Soil sampling identified multiple zones of anomalous Ni-Cu-Co, Pd-Pt occurring north-northeast of the historic Rottenstone Mine; highlighting areas for further investigation. Many of the occurrences remain open for expansion to the south-southeast.

The Company is currently planning and is fully funded to complete its winter 2022 exploration program.

Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - December 9, 2021) - Fathom Nickel Inc. (CSE: FNI) (FSE: 6Q5) (OTCQB: FNICF) (the "Company" or "Fathom") is pleased to announce an updated initial interpretation of 2021 soil geochemistry results which indicate multiple favourable and highly anomalous zones of Ni-Cu-Co and Pd-Pt mineralization within soils at its wholly owned Albert Lake Property, host to the historic Rottenstone mine. The Rottenstone mine is a past producer of high-grade nickel, copper and platinum group metals.

Soil Geochemistry

B-horizon soil geochemistry (historic and current) is an important component of Fathom's exploration approach and strategy at the Albert Lake Property. The soil data set, combined with the gradient MAG data, geological mapping and prospecting, historic and ongoing geophysical surveys, and continuous structural interpretation from all available data sets are all integral components of the Company's drill targeting process.

Ultimately the Company is searching to identify additional areas of Rottenstone-like stratigraphy. The historic, high-grade Rottenstone Mine (28,724 tons @ 3.28% Ni, 1.83% Cu, 9.63 g/t Pd-Pt+Au; SMDI #0958) is comprised of ultramafic rock  pegmatitic inclusions, hosted within supracrustal rocks defined predominantly as metapelite.

Key highlights of the preliminary interpretation of the Albert Lake B-horizon soil geochemistry database (2002, 2018 and 2021; totaling 5,719 samples) includes:

Highest Ni value 393 ppm,

Highest Cu value 383 ppm,

Highest Co value 160 ppm,

Highest Pd value 187 ppb

Highest Pt value 411 ppb.

Further refinement of the anomalous Ni values and specifically the Ni >=98th percentile (>=27.56 ppm Ni, 114 samples) demonstrates good correlation with 98th percentile values for Cr and Mg, suggesting these anomalies are potentially derived from an ultramafic source. Furthermore; the associated Cu, Co values (98th percentile) and, where available, assays for Pd-Pt and Au (>90th percentile) also illustrate very good correlation. This geochemical signature (Ni-Cu-Co + PGE-Au) matches the geochemical signature of the historic Rottenstone Mine, and is a typical signature of a magmatic nickel deposit.

Ian Fraser, Fathom's VP Exploration stated, "The distribution of highly anomalous Ni values and the associated elements over such a large area and the confinement of these highly anomalous zones within what appear to be well-defined lineaments and zones of structural complexity is very encouraging and suggestive of additional magmatic nickel sources occurring at the Albert Lake Project. Soil geochemistry is proving to be a valuable mapping tool and guides our exploration and drill targeting process to areas where there appears to be favourable stratigraphy. It is also very exciting to see significant multi-element anomalies developing that are well removed from the historic Rottenstone deposit. Further evidence of management's belief that the historic Rottenstone deposit is not an isolated occurrence, but a hint of several more Rottenstone-like deposits to be discovered at Albert Lake. Also of note, the current soil geochemistry data base has only covered a small portion of the property area - less than 9% of the total land package".

Fall and Winter Drill Program

The Fall Drill Program is now complete and we await assay results. However, we can report that a hole that was drilled based on a 2021 soil geochemistry anomaly, located 4.3 km south-southwest of the historic Rottenstone deposit, did intersect Rottenstone-like stratigraphy over a significant width. Additional drillholes are being planned to follow-up this intersection as part of the 2022 Q1 drilling program. Assay results will be reported once received and interpreted.

Planning for the winter drill program is well underway and is expected to commence in mid-January 2022. Drilling from ice on Rottenstone Lake will target and follow up results of drillhole AL21021 (Press Release June 7, 2021), where Rottenstone-type stratigraphy and mineralization was intersected over 9.1m. Associated with this intercept is a strong borehole electromagnetic (BHEM) conductor located off-hole and south of the drill intersection. Several drillholes are being planned to test this zone which is located 550m north-northeast of the historic Rottenstone deposit. Details of the winter drill program will be forthcoming.

Quality Assurance / Quality Control

The Company contracted the services of TerraLogic Exploration Inc. ("TerraLogic") to conduct its soil geochemistry programs on the Albert Lake Property. Soil samples were collected at pre-determined sites utilizing a 100m x 100m sample spacing configuration and locally 200m x 200m. Certain areas were covered with a 50m x 50m configuration. Soils were placed in kraft soil sample bags and all metadata associated with each sample location was recorded. Once sorted and logged, samples were shipped to ALS Canada in North Vancouver, British Columbia. At ALS, individual samples were dried and sieved to -180 micron (80 mesh). Both fractions were retained. A 0.5g split of the sieved portion was partially digested (Aqua Regia) and analysis of 53 elements, inclusive of Au, Pd and Pt was performed by ICP-MS. This Super Trace Analysis technique provides extremely low detection limits. An additional very low detection Au analyses was performed by AR digestion ICP-MS on a 25g split. ALS is an ISO / IEC 17025 certified laboratory and independent of Fathom Nickel Inc. During the 2021 soil geochemistry program TerraLogic crews provided a field duplicate from every 25th sample and these field duplicates were inserted into the sample stream to monitor the quality of analyses for the soil sampling program. TerraLogic also used a similar approach during the 2018 program. QC samples were inserted at regular intervals during the 2002 soil geochemistry program. Note: three separate, certified laboratories have been used to assay the all-inclusive soil data base discussed in this press release.

Qualified Person and Data Verification

Ian Fraser, PGeo., VP Exploration and a Director of the Company and the "qualified person" as such term is defined by National Instrument 43-101, has verified the data disclosed in this news release, and has otherwise reviewed and approved the technical information in this news release on behalf of the Company.

About Fathom Nickel Inc.

Fathom Nickel is a resource exploration and development company that is targeting high-grade nickel sulphide discoveries for use in the rapidly growing global electric vehicle market.

The Company is accelerating exploration on its flagship Albert Lake Project, host to the historic Rottenstone mine, which is recognized as one of the highest-grade (Nickel, Copper, Platinum group metals) deposits of its type ever mined in Canada. The Albert Lake Project consists of over 90,000 ha of mineral claims located in the Trans-Hudson Corridor of Saskatchewan, which is home to numerous world-class mining camps.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

"Brad Van Den Bussche"

President and CEO, Director

For Further Information Please Contact:

Brad Van Den Bussche, President and CEO

or

Manish Grigo, Director of Corporate Development

+1-416-569-3292

Email: ir@fathomnickel.com

Forward Looking Statements:

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" that are based on expectations, estimates, projections and interpretations as at the date of this news release. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "seek", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "suggest", "indicate" and other similar words or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur, and include, without limitation, statements regarding the enhancement of the Company's geologic model and extending the areas of known mineralization and the Company's work towards defining a resource base. Such forward looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks and other factors may include, but are not limited to, the results of exploration activities; the ability of the Company to complete further exploration activities; timing and availability of external financing on acceptable terms. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

Figure 1: Albert Lake - Preliminary Soil Geochemistry - Ni in Soils



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NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES. ANY FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THIS RESTRICTION MAY CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF U.S. SECURITIES LAWS.

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ELKO, NV / ACCESSWIRE / December 9, 2021 / Lithium Corporation (OTCQB:LTUM) ("LTUM" or "the Company"), a North American corporation focused on energy metals for the growing energy storage sector and high-tech industries, wishes to update their shareholders with respect to recent events.

All preliminary actions have been performed by Altura Mining Limited in regard to our Fish Lake Valley option with the recent issue of 28,176,951 common shares of AJM stock, representing approximately 0.6% of the outstanding stock of the company. Work commenced earlier this week on the property with Rangefront Geological kicking off a passive seismic survey on the north end of the playa. This is the site of brine extraction in the 1800's where Francis M. (Borax) Smith's Pacific Borax Company produced Borax from the Lithium/Boron/Potassium enriched brine. Additionally, a concurrent mini-bulk sample of moderately mineralized brine will be extracted from this area for further process testing.

An agreement has been reached with Recion Technologies Inc. with respect to conducting further bench tests to determine how amenable the Fish Lake Valley brine is to their proprietary Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) process. Initial tests conducted this past summer on low grade brine were encouraging with recoveries up to 96% lithium at bench scale, with only modest consumption of ion exchange media.

Lithium Corporation continues to evaluate and develop other Lithium/hi-tech/battery metals prospects, and encourages all submissions from parties that hold prospective lands. Despite the recent softness in the junior energy metals equities market, the Company remains bullish on the short, medium and long term markets for energy metals, and is continually striving to position itself to benefit from such a robust market environment.

About Lithium Corporation

Lithium Corporation is an exploration company based in Nevada devoted to the exploration for energy storage related resources throughout North America, and looking to capitalize on opportunities within the ever-expanding next generation energy storage markets. The Company has maintained a strategic alliance with Altura Mining for the past eight years, and has recently entered signed a Letter of Intent with Altura with respect to an earn-in on the Company's Fish Lake Valley lithium-in-brine prospect in Esmeralda County, Nevada. Website: www.lithiumcorporation.com.

Contact Info

Tom Lewis, CEO

Lithium Corporation

775-410-5287

info@lithiumcorporation.com

Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This current report contains "forward-looking statements," as that term is defined in Section 27A of the United States Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Statements in this press release which are not purely historical are forward-looking statements and include any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future.

Actual results could differ from those projected in any forward-looking statements due to numerous factors. Such factors include, among others, the inherent uncertainties associated with mineral exploration and difficulties associated with obtaining financing on acceptable terms. We are not in control of minerals prices and these could vary to make development uneconomic. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release, and we assume no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Although we believe that the beliefs, plans, expectations and intentions contained in this press release are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions will prove to be accurate. Investors should consult all of the information set forth herein and should also refer to the risk factors disclosure outlined in our most recent annual report for our last fiscal year, our quarterly reports, and other periodic reports filed from time-to-time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

SOURCE: Lithium Corporation

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/676633/Lithium-Corporation-Fish-Lake-Valley-Seismic-Survey
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - December 9, 2021) - Southern Silver Exploration Corp. (TSXV: SSV) (the "Company" or "SSV") reports that subject to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSX-V"), it has engaged the services of Independent Trading Group (ITG), Inc. ("ITG") to provide services as a market maker in accordance with the policies of the TSX-V. ITG will trade common shares in the capital of the Company (the "SSV Shares") on the TSX-V with the primary objective of maintaining an orderly market and to provide liquidity of SSV Shares. SSV's market making activity will seek to correct temporary imbalances in the supply and demand of the SSV Shares.

Pursuant to the services agreement entered into between SSV and ITG (the "Agreement"), SSV shall pay ITG a fee of C$5,000 per month. The Agreement between the Company and ITG is for an initial term of 3 months and shall be automatically renewed for subsequent one-month periods, unless terminated by either party upon 30 days' written notice. There are no performance factors contained in the Agreement. Additionally, ITG will not receive SSV Shares, options, or any other form of equity-based compensation as payment. ITG will be responsible for the costs it incurs in buying and selling the SSV Shares, and no third party will be providing funds or securities for the market making activities.

ITG is an arm's length party to the Company. Neither ITG nor its affiliates or associates have any interest directly or indirectly in the Company or its securities, or any right or intent to acquire such an interest.

About ITG

Independent Trading Group (ITG) is Canada's only brokerage firm dedicated exclusively to professional trading. As Canada's foremost market making firm, Independent Trading Group provides liquidity services to issuers, focused on results and founded on integrity. Independent Trading Group is a member of the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC), Canadian Investor Protection Fund (CIPF), Toronto Stock Exchange and the Canadian Securities Exchange.

About Southern Silver Exploration Corp.

Southern Silver Exploration Corp. is an exploration and development company with a focus on the discovery of world-class mineral deposits. Our specific emphasis is the 100% owned Cerro Las Minitas silver-lead-zinc project located in the heart of Mexico's Faja de Plata, which hosts multiple world-class mineral deposits such as Penasquito, Los Gatos, San Martin, Naica and Pitarrilla. We have assembled a team of highly experienced technical, operational and transactional professionals to support our exploration efforts in developing the Cerro Las Minitas project into a premier, high-grade, silver-lead-zinc mine. The Company engages in the acquisition, exploration and development either directly or through joint-venture relationships in mineral properties in major jurisdictions.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

"Lawrence Page"

Lawrence Page, Q.C.

President & Director, Southern Silver Exploration Corp.

For further information, please visit Southern Silver's website at https://www.southernsilverexploration.com or contact us at 604.641.2759 or by email at ir@mnxltd.com.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and therefore involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include the timing and receipt of government and regulatory approvals, and continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions. Southern Silver Exploration Corp. does not assume any obligation to update or revise its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent required by applicable law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/107168
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - December 9, 2021) - Satori Resources Inc. (TSXV: BUD) ("Satori" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the completion of its spring / summer 2021 Phase One drilling campaign, where eleven (11) of thirteen (13) drill holes intersected anomalous gold mineralization from the 100% held Tartan Lake Gold Mine Project in Flin Flon, Manitoba. One hole (TLMZ21-03) failed due to mechanical issues, and one hole (TLSZ21-10) tested the eastern edge of the South Zone, returning insignificant gold grades. Twelve drill holes and one wedge hole totalled 7295 metres, having an estimated all-in cost of approximately C$ 275.00 per metre.

The Phase One program successfully expanded the resource footprint at both the Main and South Zones approximately 200 meters down plunge, and uncovered an interpreted new zone of mineralization sub-parallel to the Main Zone. Other highlights include:

Second highest grade interval ever reported at Tartan Lake Main Zone - TLMZ21-12 returning 23.76 Au g/t over 12.60 metres, and including 47.56 Au g/t over 5.80 metres.

Longest and highest grade interval ever reported at Tartan Lake South Zone - TLSZ21-05 returning 9.59 g/t Au over 11.75 metres, including 24.23 g/t Au over 2.00 metres and 13.05 g/t Au over 3.29 metres.

High grade mineralization intercepted at a 200 metre step out, down plunge of previously drilled holes at Main Zone.

Interpreted new zone of mineralization in the hanging wall zone situated sub-parallel to the Main Zone was not observed in earlier holes, and intersected 20-25 metres above the quartz-carbonate-tourmaline veins defining the Main Zone.

Unusually low water levels at the Sly Fox showing three kilometres east of the mine site area exposed significant outcrop along the shoreline of Batters Lake, exposing extensive zones of shearing similar to that at the Main and South Zones.

Geophysical anomalies were associated with regional scale folding along a northeast axis mapped at the Sly Fox area during the October, 2021 ground reconnaissance program, providing a compelling prospective target area for 2022.

A historically stripped (30 x 50 metres) area within an extensive regional shear zone at McFadden, where 20 historical channel samples were collected - some reporting highly anomalous results, contains extensive quartz-carbonate-tourmaline veining over several metres in width, similar to those observed at the Main and South Zone deposits.

Satori finalizing logistics for a ground based induced polarity (IP) survey to identify additional, undrilled targets within the host shear zone.

Table 1.0 - Summary of Phase One 2021 Drill Results

Target Hole ID

From

(metres) To

(metres) Interval

(metres) Grade

(Au g/t) Zone



Main Zone



























TLMZ21-01

including 807.00

814.85 820.00

819.00 13.00

4.15 3.58

9.73 Main TLMZ21-W1 752.00 754.00 2.00 3.26 Main TLMZ21-02

including 630.90

632.80 652.90

636.20 22.00

3.40 1.98

5.88 Main TLMZ21-03 Hole lost short of target TLMZ21-04

including 696.50

698.00 707.00

703.00 10.50

5.00 4.04

6.90 Main TLMZ21-11

and

including 715.25 720.50 5.25 2.15 HW 732.15

736.85 738.95

738.95 6.80

2.10 5.53

8.87 Main TLMZ21-12

including

and

including 769.00

770.90 781.60

776.70 12.60

5.80 23.76

47.56 HW 799.80

805.40 813.00

807.00 13.20

1.60 3.14

7.25 Main South Zone





















TLSZ21-05

including 190.30

198.00 218.10

209.75 27.80

11.75 4.76

9.59 South TLSZ21-06

and

and

including 8.00

159.75

227.00

231.00 12.75

162.50

235.80

235.80 4.75

2.75

8.80

4.80 3.00

14.11

5.81

8.79 HW South TLSZ21-07

including 9.75

253.00 13.50

258.00 3.75

5.00 4.91

6.73 HW South TLSZ21-08

including 233.00

234.00 242.50

238.00 9.50

4.00 4.44

8.03 South TLSZ21-09 164.45 167.60 3.15 1.08 South TLSZ21-10 No significant values South

Table 2.0 - Tartan Lake Highest Value Intercepts - Project to Date

Target

Rank

(#) Hole ID

From

(metres) To

(metres) Interval (1)

(metres) Grade

(Au g/t) Grade x Interval

(gram meters) Main

















1 NUG324 (3) 43.69 46.37 2.68 151.16 405.11 2 TLMZ21-12 770.90 776.70 5.80 47.56 275.85 3 NUG222 (3) 41.84 45.00 3.16 83.34 263.35 4 NAP43 (3) 64.00 67.20 3.20 78.54 251.33 5 NUG136 (3) 51.43 55.19 3.76 58.00 218.08 6 NUG221 (3) 25.39 36.96 11.57 17.35 200.74 7 NUG189 (3) 90.58 99.12 8.54 23.25 198.56 8 NAP86 (3) 221.59 231.83 10.24 18.77 192.20 9 NAP112W4 (3) 187.19 193.33 6.14 29.89 183.52 10 NUG255 (3) 17.39 20.08 2.69 67.31 181.06 South

















1 TLSZ21-05 198.00 209.75 11.75 9.59 112.68 2 NAP273 (3) 128.28 138.32 10.04 10.34 103.81 3 NAP294 (3) 127.66 130.83 3.17 32.25 102.23 4 NAP292 (3) 137.60 141.30 3.70 20.84 77.11 5 NUG014 (3) 61.35 72.21 10.86 7.08 76.89 6 NAP293 (3) 125.30 137.32 12.02 5.74 68.99 7 NAP227 (3) 95.62 101.19 5.57 7.80 43.45 8 NUG92 (3) 48.95 55.52 6.57 6.57 43.16 9 NUG86 (3) 79.38 84.29 4.91 6.39 31.37 10 NUG29 (3) 66.21 68.87 2.66 11.29 30.03



(1) Interval is measured down hole. There is insufficient information to estimate true width at this time.

(2) Previously reported

(3) Historical interval.

Private Placement Offering:

The Company further announces a non-brokered private placement offering of up to $3,000,000, by the issuance of both common shares and flow-through common shares. Each common share shall be issued at a price of $0.15 per share, and each flow-through common share shall be issued at a price of $0.19.

The gross proceeds raised from the issuance of flow-through shares will be used to incur eligible Canadian exploration expenditures, and the proceeds from the issuance of common shares shall be used for working capital.

Finders fees equal to 6% of the gross proceeds raised may be paid to eligible finders or other third parties, in connection with this offering.

The offering is subject to specific conditions, as well as approval by the TSX Venture Exchange and any other applicable securities legislation. It is intended that the flow-through common shares comprising the offering will qualify as 'flow through shares' within the meaning of the Income Tax Act (Canada), and will be offered to all Qualified Purchasers resident of any Canadian Province in reliance upon exemptions from the prospectus and registration requirements of applicable securities legislation. The securities issued upon the closing of the offering will be subject to a four month hold period from the date of issue, including any other re-sale restrictions imposed by applicable securities regulatory authorities. Insiders of Satori may, subject to regulatory approval, participate in the offering.

Wes Hanson P.Geo., Director of Satori, is the qualified person who has reviewed and approved the contents of this press release.

ABOUT SATORI RESOURCES INC. (TSX-V: BUD)

Satori is a Toronto-based mineral exploration and development company whose primary property is expanding the resource at the past producing Tartan Lake Gold Mine Project, located in the prolific Flin Flon Greenstone Belt, Manitoba.

The Tartan Lake Project (2,670 Ha.) is located approximately 12 kilometres northeast of Flin Flon, Manitoba, and includes the Tartan Lake Mine (1986-1989) which produced 36,000 ounces of gold before the mine was shut down due to, in part, the price of gold falling below USD$390. Remaining infrastructure includes: an indicated resource estimate of 240,000 ounces averaging 6.32 g/t Au (see news release February 23, 2017), an all-season access road, grid connected power supply, mill, mechanical, warehouse and office buildings, tailing impoundment and a 2,100 metre decline and developed underground mining galleries to a depth of 300 metres from surface. Gold mineralization is associated with anastomosing quartz-carbonate veins hosted in east-west striking, steeply dipping shear zones up to 30 metres in width. The veins vary from several centimetres to several metres in width and gold grades vary from 1.0 to +100 g/t. Satori believes the mineral resources of the project are currently limited by drill coverage.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

Jennifer Boyle, B.A., LL.B.

President and Chief Executive Officer

Satori Resources Inc.

(416) 904-2714

jennifer@capexgroupinc.com

Mr. Pete Shippen

Chair, Satori Resources Inc.

(416) 930-7711

pjs@extramedium.ca

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

CAUTION REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

This news release of Satori contains statements that constitute "forward-looking statements." Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause Satori's actual results, performance or achievements, or developments in the industry to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/107206
LONDON, UK / ACCESSWIRE / December 9, 2021 / Love Hemp Group PLC (AQSE:LIFE)(OTCQB:WRHLF), the brand-led consumer goods company focused on CBD health and wellness solutions, announces that its Annual General Meeting ("AGM") will be held on 31 December 2021 at 10 am at 48 Warwick Street, London, W1B 5AW.

Copies of the Notice of AGM, together with the Form of Proxy will be posted to shareholders and will be available to view on the Company's website shortly at www.lovehempgroup.com .

The Directors of the Company accept responsibility for the contents of this announcement.

-ENDS-

For further information please visit: www.lovehempgroup.comor contact:

Love Hemp Group

Andrew Male

Chairman & Director



Anna Legge

Chief Communications Officer +44 (0) 7926 397 675

andrew@lovehempgroup.com





+44 (0) 7500 773 415

Anna.legge@lovehempgroup.com Financial Advisor

Rupert Fane

H&P Advisory Limited +44 (0) 20 7907 8500

rf@hannam.partners AQSE Corporate Adviser

Mark Anwyl

Peterhouse Capital Limited +44 (0) 20 7469 0930

ma@peterhousecap.com Financial PR

Tim Blythe/Alice McLaren/Madeleine Gordon-Foxwell

Blytheweigh +44 (0) 207 138 3204

lovehemp@blytheweigh.com

About Love Hemp Group

Love Hemp Group is a brand-led consumer goods company focussed on health and wellness solutions for consumer use cases including sleep, pain, anxiety, stress and recovery. The Company is a pioneer in the UK-based premium high-quality CBD market, with over 40 products including oils, edibles, sprays, cosmetics and topicals. The Company's range of products are sold online across 70 websites and in over 2,000 stores including some of the biggest retailers in the UK, such as Holland & Barrett, Boots and Ocado. Listed on the Aquis Stock Exchange (AQSE: LIFE) the Company recently changed its name to Love Hemp Group plc, from World High Life, to better reflect its focus on supporting the "best in class" CBD brand as it embarks on a wider expansion of its core business and offering.

Market Abuse Regulation (MAR) Disclosure

The information contained within this announcement is deemed by the Company to constitute inside information. Upon the publication of this announcement via a Regulatory Information Service, this inside information is now considered to be in the public domain.

This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com.

SOURCE: Love Hemp Group PLC

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/676783/Love-Hemp-Group-PLC-Announces-Notice-of-Annual-General-Meeting
SHENZHEN, China, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Global-leading Shenzhen-based LED enterprise Unilumin Group, issued a public announcement. Unilumin's Chairman Lin Mingfeng signed an agreement to donate his private equity of 11 million shares of Unilumin stock (worth nearly RMB 100 million according to the transaction price on the settlement day) to the Unilumin Foundation, for charitable purposes.

Through an open letter, Lin Mingfeng explained the donation's intention. He mentioned the hard experience of his rural childhood, and attributes his success to the open policy in China and also the support from his colleagues. He hopes to light up rural roads with street lamps provided by Unilumin's leading edge in LED lighting and display, so as to give back to society.

Besides the Chairman's donation, Unilumin Group has always been committed to CSR. To fight Covid-19, for example, Unilumin created a global endowment consisting of 5 million yuan and supplies.

Early in 2017, Lin Mingfeng and his colleagues had the idea of engaging in public welfare, establishing the Unilumin Foundation in Shenzhen thereafter. Since then, he's noticed that making Unilumin Foundation a platform for Unilumin's stakeholders to demonstrate their philanthropy, and thus make the foundation thrive. As a result, he decided to donate his private equity of 11 million shares of Unilumin to the Unilumin Foundation to enrich the foundation's capital pool and motivate more Unilumin people to participate in charity.

Lin Mingfeng said that he bears primary responsibility for running the company well and providing excellent products and services to Unilumin's customers, and at the same time, maintaining ESG responsibility. In the future, the Unilumin Foundation will focus on "rural revitalization, medical assistance, student assistance and teaching assistance" and seek an innovative public welfare model of sustainable development.

Contact: Estella Yan, estella.yan@unilumin.com

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1706520/image_1.jpg

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1705313/2.jpg


WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - The number of people who were fully vaccinated against coronavirus crossed the 200 million mark Wednesday. 200,400,533 eligible Americans, or 60.4 percent of the population, have been administered both doses so far. This includes 86.9 percent of people above 65.



White House COVID-19 Response Team has claimed vaccination rates have picked up momentum after a lull in the past few months.



White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator Jeff Zients said at a news conference the other day that 12.5 million jabs were administered last week, the highest weekly total number of shots since May.



He also noted that more people are showing interest in getting booster shot than ever before.



Last week, nearly 7 million people got a booster, that's a million booster shots in arms a day.



More than 49 million Americans, or 24.4 percent of the population, have already received a booster shot.



It's still not clear how effective vaccines will be at resisting Omicron, but Pfizer and BioNTech announced that preliminary laboratory studies show a booster dose of their coronavirus vaccine can improve protection against the new variant.



'Ensuring as many people as possible are fully vaccinated with the first two dose series and a booster remains the best course of action to prevent the spread of Covid-19,' Pfizer chief executive Albert Bourla said in a statement on Wednesday.



Meanwhile, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris will meet with members of the White House COVID-19 Response Team at 3:30 PM Thursday to get an update on the latest developments related to the Omicron variant.



With 151739 additional coronavirus infections reporting on Wednesday, the national total has reached 49,538,960, as per the latest data from Johns Hopkins University.



An additional 1714 Covid deaths on the same day took the total number of people who died due to the pandemic to 793,228.



Michigan is the worst state in terms of both daily infections and deaths, with 18,605 new cases 407 casualties reporting on Wednesday.



The highest weekly average of Covid cases since September 24 was recorded on Wednesday - 121,311.



The seven-day average of daily deaths is 1,275 per day, showing a 12 percent surge in two weeks. The number of people admitted in hospital due to the pandemic has risen to 61,936, with a 20 percent increase in a fortnight, according to the New York Times.



39,815,866 people have so far recovered from the disease in the country.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de
Kyriba Appoints Four Executive Board Advisors to Stimulate Innovation Plans, Business Agility and Economic Growth

Kyriba Corp. ("the Company"), a global leader of cloud-based finance and IT solutions, announced today the creation of its Executive Advisory Board ("the Board") comprised of globally recognized leaders who bring a depth of experience and leadership to the Company. The new Executive Advisory Board will play a key role in accelerating the Company's innovation plans and propelling its international growth strategy in a constantly evolving global marketplace.

The members of the Global Executive Advisory Board, who can be credited with transforming some of the largest and most trusted brands in the world as Deloitte, HSBC and SAP, include:

Jim Moffatt , former Global Consulting CEO at Deloitte, brings more than 33 years of Senior Leadership experience at Deloitte

, former Global Consulting CEO at Deloitte, brings more than 33 years of Senior Leadership experience at Deloitte Philippe Henry , former Head of EMEA Global Banking at HSBC with 35 years in transformational leadership in banking and finance. Currently, CEO of Dewenson Partners, a Management Consulting Venture Capital company

, former Head of EMEA Global Banking at HSBC with 35 years in transformational leadership in banking and finance. Currently, CEO of Dewenson Partners, a Management Consulting Venture Capital company Brian Shniderman , US CEO Global Chief Strategy Officer at Openpay, brings 34 years of experience in the payments and fintech advisory industry

, US CEO Global Chief Strategy Officer at Openpay, brings 34 years of experience in the payments and fintech advisory industry Chakib Bouhdary, former President of SAP Ariba, with more than 30 years of multi-industry experience

In the post-COVID context, Financial Departments are increasingly turning to APIs, AI and data management technologies to increase their visibility on cash, drive strategic value and become trusted enterprise partners. The Board's mission is to provide strategic guidance to Kyriba business leaders on new growth drivers and bring to market solutions, practices and new talent capabilities as the sector matures and digitalizes.

"The demand for novel applications and practices stemming from the combined use of APIs, AI and data management from our clients creates a unique opportunity to think about how we can better support corporate Finance departments. It also opens the path to new growth drivers," said Jean-Luc Robert, Chairman and CEO of Kyriba. "I am both honored and thrilled to work with Jim, Philippe, Brian, and Chakib. I am confident they will play a valuable role in guiding our strategic decisions and our innovation plans to help us stimulate our business in any context."

Jim Moffatt will serve as the Chair of the Advisory Board and will be responsible to execute the Board's charter and support the expansion of the Board.

"Kyriba has transformed the way multinational CFOs, Finance and IT leaders unlock value creation through a unified liquidity management solution," said Jim Moffatt. "I am excited to share my perspectives with Jean-Luc and the executive team at Kyriba, and to join the Company's Executive Advisory Board."

For more information about Kyriba, please go to Kyriba.com.

About Kyriba Corp

Kyriba is a secure, scalable open platform that leverages artificial intelligence, automates payments workflows, and enables thousands of multinational corporations and banks to optimize liquidity, protect against loss from fraud and financial risk, and reduce operational costs. With more than 2,000 clients worldwide, including 25 percent of Fortune 500 and Eurostoxx 50 companies, Kyriba empowers CFOs, Treasurers, and their IT counterparts to transform how they optimize liquidity and manage risk, managing more than 1.3 billion bank transactions per year, and 200 million payments into 140 countries annually.

Kyriba is headquartered in San Diego, with offices in Dubai, Frankfurt, London, Minsk, Paris, Shanghai, Singapore, Tokyo, Warsaw and other major locations. For more information, visit www.kyriba.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211209005652/en/

Contacts:

Corporate Media Contact:

Daniel Shaffer

dshaffer@kryiba.com

+1858-263-2219
WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Telephone and Data Systems Inc. (TDS) said that Peter Sereda, currently Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of TDS, plans to retire in May 2022. He will be replaced by Vicki Villacrez, currently Senior Vice President - Finance and Chief Financial Officer of TDS Telecom. Replacing Ms. Villacrez as Chief Financial Officer of TDS Telecom will be Michelle Brukwicki, currently Vice President - Financial Analysis and Strategic Planning at TDS. Villacrez was named Vice President - Finance and CFO at TDS Telecom in May of 2012 and was promoted to Senior Vice President in 2017. She has been with the company for three decades, having first joined parent company TDS, Inc. in 1989, serving as an internal auditor. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
Lumen, the world's first portable metabolism tracker recognized for achievements in screening, monitoring and diagnostics

CB Insights named Lumen the company behind the world's first metabolism measurement device through the breath, to its third annual Digital Health 150, which showcases the 150 most promising private digital health companies in the world. This year's Digital Health 150 was unveiled live during CB Insights' annual Future of Health event.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211209005668/en/

Lumen metabolism tracking (Photo: Lumen)

The 2021 Digital Health 150 cohort has raised roughly $14.9B in aggregate funding across 522 deals since 2016, and includes startups at various investment stages of development, from early-stage to well-funded unicorns. Companies this year include startups working on data integration analytics, hybrid virtual in-person care, digital therapeutics, clinical intelligence, and more.

"This year's Digital Health 150 is one of our most expansive yet, spotlighting 16 categories including virtual care, clinical trials tech, and workflow automation, as well as adding new categories such as home health tech and computer-aided imaging," said Brian Lee, SVP of CB Insights' Intelligence Unit. "Last year's class has seen more than 20 exits, raised an additional $18.6B in aggregate funding, and announced over 250 partnerships since being recognized, and we're excited to see the future success of this year's winners."

"We're thrilled to be recognized as an innovative leader in the digital health space by CB Insights. Our mission is to make people metabolically healthier through our groundbreaking technology as we grow towards becoming the largest health platform of 1 million metabolism measurements a month," says Daniel Tal Mor, CEO and Co-founder of Lumen.

Through an evidence-based approach, the CB Insights research team selected the Digital Health 150 from a pool of over 11,000 companies, including applicants and nominees. They were chosen based on several factors, including data submitted by the companies, company business models and momentum in the market, and Mosaic scores, CB Insights' proprietary algorithm that measures the overall health and growth potential of private companies.

2021 Digital Health 150 Investment Highlights:

Unicorns: 17 of the 150 companies (11%) are valued at or above $1B as of their latest funding rounds.

Funding trends: In 2021 year-to-date (YTD), these 150 private companies have raised $9.2B in equity funding across 153 deals (as of 11/19/21).

Mega-rounds: Since 2020, there have been 39 mega-round ($100M+) equity investments to this year's Digital Health 150, with 31 (79%) of them taking place in 2021 YTD.

Global representation: 23% of the 2021 Digital Health 150 are based outside the US. After the US, the UK is home to the most Digital Health 150 companies (9), followed by India (4). This year's winners are based in 18 countries, including China, Israel, Nigeria, Germany, Argentina, and New Zealand.

Top VC investor: General Catalyst is the most active investor in this year's Digital Health 150 companies, having invested in 39 deals since 2016.

About CB Insights

CB Insights builds software that enables the world's best companies to discover, understand, and make technology decisions with confidence. By marrying data, expert insights, and work management tools, clients manage their end-to-end technology decision-making process on CB Insights. To learn more, please visit www.cbinsights.com.

About Lumen

Lumen helps people improve their health and fitness through technology on the forefront of personalized nutrition and metabolism. Conceived and designed by twin sisters, physiology PhDs and Ironman winners, Lumen harnesses the power of our breath to measure metabolism, which is closely linked to weight, fitness and personal health. The Lumen device measures metabolism in a single breath, in less than a minute, which previously was only possible through an hour-long lab test. Available at Lumen.me, Lumen devices ship globally, with the app available on the Apple App Store and Google Play. Lumen is headquartered in Israel, with offices in the United States.

Link https://www.lumen.me/

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211209005668/en/

Contacts:

CB Insights Press Contact:

press@cbinsights.com

Lumen Press Contact:

Kyla Blumenfeld

Head of Media Relations

Kyla@lumen.me

+972547748599
Edmonton, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - December 9, 2021) - Benchmark Metals Inc. (TSXV: BNCH) (OTCQX: BNCHF) (WKN: A2JM2X) (the "Company" or "Benchmark") - is pleased to announce that it has closed its previously announced bought deal financing (the "Offering") for aggregate gross proceeds of $40,266,720. The Company is also pleased to announce that Yamana Gold Inc. has made a strategic investment in Benchmark by participating in the Offering and as a result will own approximately 3.99% of Benchmark on a non-diluted basis.

CEO John Williamson commented, "Following the Offering we will have more than $50 million available to explore and advance the Lawyers Gold-Silver Project. The Company is encouraged by the significant participation in the Offering from existing shareholders and are pleased to welcome Yamana Gold as a new investor in Benchmark. The investment by Yamana is an important endorsement of the Lawyers Gold-Silver Project from a major precious metal producer and mine developer that has an established reputation and track record operating and developing world-class mines throughout the Americas in Tier 1 mining jurisdictions. We look forward to a positive working relationship with Yamana as we reach near-term milestones including an updated Mineral Resource Estimate and a Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA)."

Executive Chairman Peter Marrone at Yamana Gold Inc. commented, "Yamana's investment in Benchmark Metals recognizes the significant technical strengths of management and equally significant technical merits of its project along with an immediate value proposition, with upcoming milestones that will further enhance that value and future potential."

The Offering was led by PI Financial Corp. and Sprott Capital Partners LP on behalf of a syndicate of underwriters that included Cormark Securities Inc. and Clarus Securities Inc. (the "Underwriters"). Pursuant to the Offering, the Company issued a total of 12,000,000 units (the "Units") at $1.00 per Unit, 1,920,000 flow-through units (the "FT Units") at $1.25 per FT Unit and 18,216,000 charity flow-through units (the "Charity FT Units") at $1.42 per Charity FT Unit, which includes the exercise of the overallotment option granted to the Underwriters.

Each Unit consists of one (1) common share and one-half (1/2) of one transferable common share purchase warrant (each whole such common share purchase warrant, a "Warrant"). Each FT Unit consists of one flow-through common share and one-half (1/2) of one Warrant to be issued on a non-flow through basis. Each Charity FT Unit consist of one charity flow-through common share and one-half (1/2) of one Warrant to be issued on a non-flow through basis. Each Warrant shall be exercisable into one additional common share until December 9, 2023 at an exercise price of C$1.55. The Units, FT Units, and Charity FT Units are subject to a four month and a day hold period until April 10, 2022.

The net proceeds raised from the Units will be used to fund ongoing project development expenditures at the Company's Lawyers Gold-Silver Project, and for working capital and general corporate purposes.

The gross proceeds from the sale of the FT Units and the Charity FT Units will be used before 2022 by the Company to incur eligible "Canadian exploration expenses" that will qualify as "flow-through mining expenditures" as such terms are defined in the Income Tax Act (Canada) (the "Qualifying Expenditures") related to the Company's projects in Canada. All Qualifying Expenditures will be renounced in favour of the subscribers of the FT Units and the Charity FT Units effective December 31, 2021.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.

About Benchmark Metals

Benchmark Metals Inc. is a Canadian based gold and silver company advancing its 100% owned Lawyers Gold-Silver Project located in the prolific Golden Horseshoe of northern British Columbia, Canada. The Project consists of three mineralized deposits that remain open for expansion, in addition to +20 new target areas along the 20 kilometre trend. The Company trades on the TSX Venture Exchange in Canada, the OTCQX Best Market in the United States, and the Tradegate Exchange in Europe. Benchmark is managed by proven resource sector professionals, who have a track record of advancing exploration projects from grassroots scenarios through to production.

www.metalsgroup.com

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

s/ "John Williamson"

John Williamson, Chief Executive Officer

For further information, please contact:

Jim Greig

Email: jimg@BNCHmetals.com

Telephone: +1 604 260 6977

NEITHER TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

This news release may contain certain "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of this news release and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise.

Not for distribution to United States newswire services or for dissemination in the United States.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/107211
LONDON, UK / ACCESSWIRE / December 9, 2021 / It's been over 10 years and it is safe to say that cryptocurrency is here to stay. Since the launch of the first cryptocurrency, the Bitcoin, the crypto market has witnessed a proliferation of digital currencies. It is estimated that there are currently over 9,000 cryptocurrencies today. The crypto space has been met with resistance from governments and corporations but one can say that it is gradually winning the hearts of some governments and corporations. With the global dominance of the crypto market, the benefits of DeFi projects and crypto payments are becoming more apparent and everyone seems to be gradually catching the buzz. This article talks about what Bitpace customers and SMEs stand to benefit from crypto payments and the various DeFi projects in the crypto space.

Understanding Crypto Payments and DeFi Projects

Governments and corporations alike are becoming more receptive to the idea of digital currencies and accepting them as a form of payment for their products and services. For example, the Venezuelan government partnered with Litecoin to be used as a means of payment in Venezuela's mainstream international payments system. The Australian government does not tax cryptocurrency transactions. In the business world, corporations such as Microsoft, which started accepting Bitcoin as a form of payment as far back as 2014 for its games and apps have been receptive to crypto payments. PayPal, Starbucks, Etsy, and Overstock all accept Bitcoin as a form of payment for their products and services.

Crypto payments simply mean the act of using any cryptocurrency to pay for goods and services as against the conventional fiat currencies. Because of the digital nature of cryptocurrencies, crypto payments can only be done online via cryptocurrency payment gateways such as Bitpace. Payment gateways provide a platform for businesses to accept crypto payments from customers in exchange for their products and services. The payment gateway sector is gradually becoming a booming space and Bitpace has established itself as a reliable gateway for merchants and customers to exchange cryptocurrencies for products and services.

For investors, cryptocurrencies can also be used as a means of payment for other cryptocurrencies. For example, someone that has Litecoin and wants to exchange it for Bitcoin can use crypto payment platforms to do this. Depending on the terms and conditions of the exchange you're using, you can exchange Litecoin for Bitcoin for the value on the crypto exchange platform. You can also use crypto to pay for fiat currency. This is also a form of crypto payment. In this case, you will be using your crypto as a form of payment for fiat currency. Most crypto exchanges like Bitpace offer these crypto payment services. With Bitpace, you can make payments with cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Litecoin, Ethereum, Ripple, TRON, IOTA, and so many others.

DeFi projects, on the other hand, are decentralized finance projects that are based on blockchain technology. DeFi platforms use smart contracts on blockchains to offer financial instruments. A good example is Ethereum. This is different from the central financial intermediaries such as banks, brokerages, or exchanges that offer conventional financial instruments. In other words, users of DeFi platforms can trade cryptocurrencies, borrow or lend funds, speculate on the price movement of different assets using derivatives, earn interest in savings like accounts and insure against risk. All these transactions are done directly between the users of a DeFi platform. It eliminates the need for intermediaries. As of October 2020, it was estimated that a total of $11 billion in cryptocurrency had been deposited in various DeFi protocols. This figure rose to $20.5 in January 2021.

What SMEs Stand To Gain With Crypto Payments And DeFi

With the big corporations already driving up their interests in crypto payments and DeFi projects, there is no better time for SMEs to join in. They have a lot to gain in adopting the same for their businesses. Here are some benefits of crypto payments for SMEs:

More Option For International Payment - If your business involves receiving payment from across the border, you will agree that it is usually fraught with issues like limited payment options and lag in transaction approval. Checks are sometimes inefficient, payment may take days sometimes, and online payment platforms are not accepted in every country. Crypto payments by nature are peer-to-peer payment systems that allow your customers to make payments without any intermediary determining the transaction. With a crypto payment platform like Bitpace, you can receive payments within minutes. No Issue Of Chargebacks - Business owners are at a risk of credit card chargebacks when payment is reversed by the intermediary. With crypto payments, you do not have to worry about third-party intermediaries reversing payment because of the peer-to-peer technology. Lower Transaction Fees - The different payment methods available to businesses have high transaction fees. Most payment merchants have set up fees, flat transaction fees, and a percentage of the payment made. Cumulatively, this will be on the high side and affect your business. With crypto payments, peer-to-peer transactions do not charge any transaction fee. Penetration Of Younger Market - Cryptocurrency is most popular among the younger generation. They also have a better hang of it. They will be disposed to patronize a business that offers a crypto payment option as against the one that offers only fiat currency payment. Therefore, your business gains a wider market penetration in the youth demography. Secured Transactions - The decentralized nature of cryptocurrency guarantees a secured crypto transaction. Blockchain technology protects you from fraudsters. Blockchain technology also stops customers with insufficient funds to make payments. This prevents unnecessary time-wasting and chargebacks.

Bitpace Crypto Payment Gateway

Bitpace is a crypto platform that offers crypto-based financial services for individuals and businesses. This crypto payment platform provides businesses with a platform that has multi-payment acceptance features and cryptocurrency trading. You also get fixed and dynamic deposit options that allow businesses to accept cryptocurrencies for their products and services from customers. You can also install Bitpace plug-in on your website and use the platform directly to receive crypto payments from your customers. In addition to serving as a payment gateway, businesses can also trade cryptocurrencies on Bitpace.

Bitpace offers excellent crypto payment services that will ensure the smooth running of your business. Some of these services include:

Fixed Deposit - This service enables you to receive crypto payments from your customers in a wide range of cryptocurrencies. It also gives you the option to withdraw the value of these crypto payments in Fiat currency. Your transactions are guaranteed to be quick and secure. Dynamic Deposit Process - This service ensures that your customer can make their crypto payment anywhere and anytime without any hassle. There are complex payment processes. There is a dedicated payment address between you and your customer. Withdraw - Bitpace allows your customers to get their balance in coins without using another platform. All transactions are done on Bitpace. Trading - Bitpace is not only for business merchants to receive crypto payments. Individuals can also do their crypto trading on the platform. They offer the best crypto rates for traders and investors alike.

Bitpace is a reliable crypto payment gateway that guarantees easy, risk-free, secure, and convenient transactions for businesses and their customers. Once you install the Bitpace API and enter your secure login, you can begin to get paid in Bitcoin or other supported cryptocurrencies. You can choose to deposit your Fiat money in your bank account or have your crypto payment transferred into your crypto wallet.

Benefits Of Using Bitpace For Crypto Payments

Multiple Cryptocurrencies - For business owners, Bitpace allows you to receive a variety of cryptocurrencies as payment for your products and services. There is a wide range of digital coins you can receive as payment. From Bitcoin to Algorand. All you need to do is register as a merchant on the Bitpace platform and you can start receiving crypto payments for your business. Easy and Fast Payment Processing - Bitpace offers instant payment processing services when you use the platform. You will not have to worry about delays in transaction glitches. Your customer pays you in crypto and you receive the payment instantly. You also do not need coding knowledge to be able to integrate Bitpace crypto payment on your website. No Chargeback Fraud - Chargebacks are a major issue on payment platforms, be it fiat currency or cryptocurrency. Bitpace platform ensures you do not experience chargeback frauds on the crypto payment for your business. Affordable - The Bitpace crypto payment platform is very affordable for businesses to use. Bit Pace does not charge unnecessary fees such as commitment fees, monthly fees, or any other form of upfront charges. Global Presence - Bitpace has a worldwide reach that is an obvious advantage for businesses using the platform. Businesses that have customers all over the world can receive their crypto payments without any hassle. Refund Process - When you have issues with your payment transactions, Bitpace offers a fast and reliable refund payment system. Whether you're underpaid or overpaid, you can initiate a refund process that will ensure you get what is due to you. Partial Payment - This feature helps build your business, especially if you're just starting. It gives your customers enough time to fully pay for your products and services.

Conclusion

It is hard to deny that the world is becoming more and more digital each day; the introduction of the Metaverse, cryptocurrency getting adopted by not only businesses but also by countries, and so on. Cryptocurrency is sitting right in the middle of all these developments and the next phase of life. It is still not late to integrate cryptocurrency into your businesses, take advantage of the countless benefits the crypto payments offer and take your businesses to the next level.

Press Contact:

info@bitpace.com

https//www.bitpace.com

SOURCE: Atmedia

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/676734/Benefits-of-Crypto-Payments-and-DeFi-Projects-for-SMEs
BlackRock Greater Europe Investment Trust Plc - Result of AGM

BlackRock Greater Europe Investment Trust plc

LEI - 5493003R8FJ6I76ZUW55



Results of Annual General Meeting



BlackRock Greater Europe Investment Trust plc announces that, at the Annual General Meeting held today, all 14 resolutions were duly passed on a poll.



The full text of the resolutions can be found in the Notice of Annual General Meeting set out in the Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 August 2021, which has previously been submitted to the National Storage Mechanism and is available for inspection at:



https://data.fca.org.uk/#/nsm/nationalstoragemechanism



The results of the poll were as follows:



Votes

For

% Votes

Against

% % of Available Voting Rights* Votes

Withheld Resolution 1 14,289,568 99.93 10,657 0.07 14.30 31,293 Resolution 2 14,102,057 99.21 111,758 0.79 14.21 116,228 Resolution 3 14,285,930 99.93 10,693 0.07 14.29 31,945 Resolution 4 14,185,670 99.51 70,039 0.49 14.25 75,809 Resolution 5 12,304,926 86.27 1,958,445 13.73 14.26 59,289 Resolution 6 14,217,083 99.76 34,157 0.24 14.25 80,278 Resolution 7 14,196,285 99.46 76,621 0.54 14.27 58,612 Resolution 8 14,123,100 99.18 116,208 0.82 14.24 92,210 Resolution 9 14,194,345 99.62 53,957 0.38 14.25 83,216 Resolution 10 14,149,882 99.36 91,278 0.64 14.24 90,358 Resolution 11 12,381,130 86.97 1,855,134 13.03 14.23 95,254 Resolution 12 12,567,123 88.10 1,696,770 11.90 14.26 66,900 Resolution 13 14,137,566 99.23 110,249 0.77 14.25 83,603 Resolution 14 14,108,046 99.17 118,609 0.83 14.22 104,863



*Available Voting Rights equals 100,015,411







9 December 2021
TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / December 9, 2021 / Toronto-based CO2 GRO Inc. ("CO2 GRO")(TSXV:GROW)(OTCQB:BLONF)(Frankfurt:4021) is pleased to announce that a CO2 Delivery Solutions system is now operating at the Colombia rose greenhouse commercial feasibility, previously announced on June 24th, 2020. A leading global industrial CO2 gas supplier ("Gas Supplier") introduced the customer and is assisting in the management and execution of the project. The Gas Supplier requested the name and location of the grower facility remain confidential at this time.

The commercial feasibility was postponed due to significant delays in logistics for the CO2 Delivery Solutions system components followed by unavoidable COVID-19 related matters. In addition, the customer requested the start of the commercial feasibility coincide with the beginning of their main growing season to better evaluate the technology's benefits on roses.

The grower's operates several hectares (several hundreds of thousand square feet) of rose greenhouses. The main benefits being evaluated include faster time to flowering, greater flower bud production, increased stem length and the Pathogen Perimeter Protection benefit to suppress micro-pathogens. The commercial feasibility will be conducted for one year.

The Colombian Flower Market

According to a Statista update for 2020, Colombia exported $1.42B of flowers in 2020 of which $1.2B was to the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Colombia's flower production is led by roses (22.6%) and carnations (14.6%). Colombia is the largest exporter of roses and other flowers to the U.S. and the second largest exporter globally next to the Netherlands. Most export-targeted flowers from Colombia are grown in simple hoop houses and shade houses which typically do not employ atmospheric CO2 enrichment to enhance production, making CO2 Delivery Solutions a viable alternative.

Aaron Archibald, VP Sales and Strategic Initiatives commented "We are pleased to be announcing the start of the commercial feasibility in collaboration with the grower and the leading global industrial gas supplier that operates in dozens of countries. The Colombian rose market is another high value market where our CO2 Delivery Solutions technology can help growers increase production and profitability in a sustainable way. We are making good progress expanding into new high value plant markets and countries. Building strategic relationships with companies such as the global industrial gas supplier will help us expand our domestic and international reach to accelerate sales."

Visit www.co2delivery.ca?for more information on CO2 Delivery Solutions or ?watch this video.?To see a CO2 Delivery Solutions VCO2 system installation, watch this video.

About CO2 GRO Inc. CO2 GRO Inc.

CO2 GRO's proprietary CO2 Delivery Solutions technology is revolutionizing the global 600 billion square foot protected agriculture industry (Cuesta Roble 2019). We create a dissolved CO2 solution that when misted onto plants provides growers that cannot gas with CO2 the opportunity to increase plant yields by up to 30% and profits by up to 100%. Applying dissolved CO2 also suppressed the development of pathogens such as E.coli and powdery mildew, helping to reduce crop losses. CO2 GRO's CO2 Delivery Solutions is protected by a suite of patents and patents pending.

The worldwide market for CO2 GRO's disruptive CO2 Delivery Solutions technology is the 50 billion square feet of greenhouses and 550 billion square feet of protected agriculture facilities (Cuesta Roble 2019). Growers can maximize revenue and profits with our systems' low fixed and variable costs and ease of systems installation.

CO2 GRO's management is rapidly expanding its international marketing partner relationships into Mexico, Spain, the EU, the UK, South Africa, the Middle East, South East Asia and Latin America as well as in its North American base.

CO2 GRO is committed to good Environment, Social and Governance (ES&G) policy and practices. We are an equal opportunity employer of choice and opportunity.

Our mission is to accelerate the growth of all value plants safely, economically, naturally and sustainably using our patented advanced CO2 Delivery Solutions while accreting value to our customers, stakeholders and shareholders.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains statements which constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs and current expectations of the Company with respect to future business activities. Forward- looking information is often identified by the words "may," "would," "could," "should," "will," "intend," "plan," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect" or similar expressions and include information regarding: statements regarding the future direction of the Company; the ability of the Company to successfully achieve its business and financial objectives; plans for expansion and the ability of the Company to obtain, develop and foster its business relationships; and expectations for other economic, business, and/or competitive factors. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking information is not based on historical facts but instead reflect the Company's management's expectations, estimates or projections concerning the business of the Company's future results or events based on the opinions, assumptions and estimates that management considered reasonable at the date the statements are made. Such assumptions include but are not limited to: general business and economic conditions; the Company's ability to successfully execute its plans and intentions; the availability of financing on reasonable terms; the Company's ability to attract and retain skilled staff; market competition; the products and technology offered by the Company's competitors; and that good relationships with business partners will be maintained. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking information are reasonable, such information involves risks and uncertainties, and undue reliance should not be placed on such information, as unknown or unpredictable factors could have material adverse effects on future results, performance or achievements. Among the key factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information are the following: changes in general economic, business and political conditions, including changes in the financial markets; in particular, in the ability of the Company to raise debt and equity capital in the amounts and at the costs that it expects; adverse changes in applicable laws or adverse changes in the application or enforcement of current laws; the biotechnology industry and the greenhouse growers market are highly competitive, and technical advances in the industry will impact the success of the Company, and other risks described in the Company's filings that are available at www.sedar.com . Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking information prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as intended, planned, anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. Although the Company has attempted to identify important risks, uncertainties and factors which could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be others that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update this forward-looking information except as otherwise required by applicable law.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

For more information, please visit www.co2gro.ca or contact Michael O'Connor, Manager, and Investor Relations at 604-317-6197 or michael.oconnor@co2gro.ca .

SOURCE: CO2 Gro Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/676791/CO2-GRO-Inc-Announces-the-Commencement-of-the-Previously-Announced-Colombia-Rose-Commercial-Feasibility
WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - The Commerce Department released a report on Thursday showing a sharp increase in U.S. wholesale inventories in the month of October. The report said wholesale inventories surged up by 2.3 percent in October after jumping by 1.4 percent in September. Economists had expected inventories to shoot up by 2.1 percent. The bigger than expected increased came as inventories of durable goods spiked by 2.1 percent, while inventories of non-durable goods soared by 2.6 percent. The Commerce Department said wholesales also shot up by 2.2 percent in October after surging by 1.7 percent in September. Sales of non-durable goods skyrocketed by 3.0 percent, while sales of durable goods jumped by 1.4 percent. With inventories and sales both showing strong growth, the inventories/sales ratio for merchant wholesalers was unchanged from the previous month at 1.22. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
MHIRJ, the largest Regional MRO in the world, to market RAY product line to CRJ Series operators

RAY UV-C Robot disinfection reduces potential negative impact on aircraft interiors and sensitive equipment

Both RAY and the CRJ Series aircraft are proudly Canadian products

OTTAWA, ON, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Aero HygenX, makers of the "RAY" line of UV-C light disinfecting technologies for aviation, and MHI RJ Aviation Group (MHIRJ) are pleased to announce that they have signed an agreement for the marketing of Aero HygenX's autonomous UV-C cabin disinfecting products. The signing of this agreement marks the beginning of a new cooperation between Aero HygenX and MHIRJ. It will make faster, greener cabin disinfection readily available globally to operators of approximately 1300 CRJ Series aircraft.

Under the agreement, MHIRJ will support Aero HygenX in marketing the RAY line of chemical-free disinfection solutions. The RAY line, which uses UV-C light technology proven by Aero HygenX to eliminate pathogens from cabin surfaces and air, will be offered to CRJ operators as an alternative cabin disinfection method. Furthermore, MHIRJ will include information about the Aero HygenX's technologies within its technical publications.

Commenting on the agreement, Robert Duffield, Head of Aftermarket Customer and Product Support at MHIRJ stated:

"Aero HygenX is a dynamic start-up with global vision and advanced technology that's designed to improve health and safety as our industry gets back on track. At MHIRJ, we applaud solutions that aim at keeping our operators and their passengers safe while offering clean green alternatives."

Aero HygenX CEO, Arash Mahin said:

"We are thrilled to have been selected by MHIRJ as an innovative cabin disinfection option for their valued CRJ operators. MHIRJ has a long-standing reputation for superior aftermarket care and service, and we are committed to enhance the daily operations of CRJ operators through the abilities of RAY. It's especially rewarding to know that RAY products, which are manufactured in Ottawa, are now much more likely to be disinfecting a global fleet of Canadian-made aircraft."

Designed for the transportation industry, RAY is a compact and light-weight autonomous robot which uses motion sensing technology to autonomously navigate interior spaces and disinfect surfaces quickly, safely and without the use of harmful chemicals, using UV-C light.

Based on tests conducted by Aero HygenX, RAY has the ability to disinfect a CRJ aircraft in as little as five minutes and can also be used to disinfect lavatory and cockpit areas. RAY has been optimized for various aircraft types and comes equipped with HygenX Stream, a customizable software that records and transmits usage data wirelessly to the cloud, providing valuable system health monitoring and status updates to the operator.

About The MHI RJ Aviation Group

The MHI RJ Aviation Group (MHIRJ) provides comprehensive critical operational, engineering and customer support solutions including maintenance, refurbishment, technical publications, marketing and sales activities for the global regional aircraft industry. Headquartered in Montreal, Canada, and bolstered by an Aerospace Engineering Centre, MHIRJ's network of service centres, support offices and parts depots are positioned in important aviation hubs in the U.S., Canada and Germany. A wholly owned subsidiary of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd., the MHI RJ Aviation Group includes MHI RJ Aviation ULC (Canada), MHI RJ Aviation Inc. (U.S.A.) and MHI RJ Aviation GmbH (Germany).

For more information about MHIRJ, please visit: www.mhirj.com

About MHI

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI), headquartered in Tokyo, is one of the world's leading industrial firms with 80,000 group employees and annual consolidated revenues of around US$38 billion. For more than 130 years, the company has channeled big thinking into innovative and integrated solutions that move the world forward. MHI owns a unique business portfolio covering land, sea, sky and even space. MHI delivers innovative and integrated solutions across a wide range of industries from commercial aviation and transportation to power plants and gas turbines, and from machinery and infrastructure to integrated defense and space systems.

For more information, please visit MHI's website: www.mhi.com/index.html

*CRJ, CRJ Series and MHIRJ are trademarks of MHI RJ Aviation ULC or its affiliates.

About Aero HygenX

Aero HygenX is setting a new precedent for air and surface disinfection in the passenger transport sector. Headquartered in Ottawa, Canada, Aero HygenX is a dynamic technology company harnessing the power of Ultra-Violet (UV-C) light to develop safe, efficient, and autonomous hygiene solutions that promote kill pathogens, protect crews, reduce the need for harsh chemical agents and restore passenger confidence in travel. The company's founders and executives combine a passion for aviation industry with 80+ years of combined experience in safety, quality management, airline operations, software, electrical engineering, and electromagnetics. The company's vision is to instill confidence in passengers to travel again and set a new precedent in the transportation disinfecting industry.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/aerohygenx/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aerohygenx

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aerohygenx/

Press Contact: Maryann Simpson, press@aerohygenx.com, Sales: info@aerohygenx.com, Web: www.aerohygenx.com, Tel: 1-800-260-0787; Nathalie Scott, MHI RJ Aviation Group, 1. 514.518.7542, Nathalie.Scott@mhirj.com, press@mhirj.com

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1706680/Aero_HygenX_MHI_RJ_Aviation_Group_and_Aero_HygenX_sign_a_coopera.jpg
ROME, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- PhosAgro and the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (UN FAO) announced the expansion of their cooperation in global soil protection.

This agreement was reached following a meeting between PhosAgro CEO Andrey Guryev and Director General of the UN FAO Qu Dongyu at the organisation's headquarters in Rome.

The parties decided to extend their Cooperation Agreement until 2023 as part of a collaborative endeavour to enhance sustainable agriculture. To date, the FAO and PhosAgro have built a global network of 760 soil laboratories that span 150 countries. The parties are also developing the joint Soils Doctors project, which aims to educate farmers on efficient and environmentally friendly ways to manage land, as well as promote the use of best practices in compliance with the International Code of Conduct for Fertilizer Management.

For their new stage of cooperation, the FAO and PhosAgro plan to focus on solving the problem of soil contamination, including heavy metal pollution. Over the next two years, PhosAgro will provide another USD 1.2 million in funding for the initiative. As a result, by 2023, PhosAgro's total contribution to the project will reach USD 2.4 million.

In addition, starting next year, PhosAgro will join the FAO RECSOIL Global Soil Partnership (GSP) initiative, which focuses on organic soil carbon management and sequestration, critical in the fight against climate change.

PhosAgro also contributed USD 300,000 in funding for establishing a 'Russia Room' for official events at FAO headquarters. This initiative will showcase Russia's rising engagement in FAO activities, as well as the country's standing as a UN system partner in the field of sustainable development.

According to FAO CEO Qu Dongyu, soil health is the cornerstone for providing humanity with food and ecosystem services. Sustainable soil management is a key component of FAO's work to reform agri-food chains since it addresses people's requirements for safe and nutritious food. The relationship with PhosAgro, Qu Dongyu noted, will enable the organisation to scale up its efforts to improve soil health at all levels.

"Our collaboration with the FAO, which has become the gold standard for concentrating efforts in the fight against soil degradation around the world, will take on a new dimension: the implementation of solutions to eradicate hotspots of heavy metal pollution in soil. It is important that PhosAgro fertilizers are unique in that they are eco-efficient and do not contain hazardous levels of cadmium that could be harmful to human and soil health, meaning the Company contributes to solving soil pollution while ensuring food security in Russia and 102 other countries around the world," PhosAgro CEO Andrey Guryev commented on extending the partnership with the UN FAO.

Andrey Guryev recalled that in 2018, PhosAgro became the first Russian company ever to be selected to implement a global soil protection initiative: "This is a great honour and responsibility for us. This year we are celebrating our 20th anniversary. Throughout these 20 years, aspects of sustainable development have been the company's key priority. We embrace the UN FAO attitude and seek to create industry-leading quality and safety standards by offering our eco-efficient products to consumers on all inhabited continents."

Contact us

PJSC PhosAgro

Andrey Serov, Head of the Investor Relations Department

+7 495 231 2747 ext. 2183

ir@phosagro.ru

Timur Belov, Press Officer

+7 495 231 2747 ext. 2652

pr@phosagro.ru

EM

Sam VanDerlip

vanderlip@em-comms.com

+44 207 002 7859

About Us

PhosAgro (www.phosagro.ru) is one of the world's leading vertically integrated phosphate-based fertilizer producers in terms of production volumes of phosphate-based fertilizers and high-grade phosphate rock with a P2O5 content of 39% and higher. PhosAgro's environmentally friendly fertilizers stand out for their high efficiency, and they do not lead to the contamination of soils with heavy metals.

The Company is the largest phosphate-based fertilizer producer in Europe (by total combined capacity for DAP/MAP/NP/NPK/NPS), the largest producer of high-grade phosphate rock with a P2O5 content of 39%, a top-three producer of MAP/DAP globally, one of the leading producers of feed phosphates (MCP) in Europe, and the only producer in Russia, and Russia's only producer of nepheline concentrate (according to the RAFP).

PhosAgro's main products include phosphate rock, more than 50 grades of fertilizers, feed phosphates, ammonia, and sodium tripolyphosphate, which are used by customers in 102 countries spanning all of the world's inhabited continents. The Company's priority markets outside of Russia and the CIS are Latin America, Europe and Asia.

PhosAgro's shares are traded on the Moscow Exchange, and global depositary receipts (GDRs) for shares trade on the London Stock Exchange (under the ticker PHOR). Since 1 June 2016, the Company's GDRs have been included in the MSCI Russia and MSCI Emerging Markets indexes.

More information about PhosAgro can be found on the website: www.phosagro.ru.
Regulatory News:

Korian (Paris:KORI), the leading European care services group for elderly and fragile people, is launching an ESG impact share buyback programme with a maximum amount of 50 million, under the authorisation given by shareholders in its Combined General Meeting of 27 May 2021.

The buyback period will start on 10 December 2021 and end on 27 November 2022 at the latest.

The programme forms part of Korian's capital allocation policy, which aims to finance profitable growth and create sustainable value for all stakeholders.

The shares bought back will be allocated according to the objectives set out in the description of the share buyback programme1, with priority given to employee share ownership programmes and free performance share allocation plans.

In accordance with Korian's mission and values, and with its commitment to corporate citizenship and responsibility, the programme features an ESG component. As a result, most of the outperformance achieved by the repurchased shares will be allocated to projects undertaken by the Korian Foundation to promote the care profession, inclusion and professional integration of young people.

The programme will be carried out in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 April 2014 on market abuse, and with its implementing legislation, and subject to the limits of Korian's general authorisation to buy back shares in the market under the 18th resolution adopted by shareholders in Korian's General Meeting of Shareholders of 27 May 2021.

APPENDIX: DESCRIPTION OF THE SHARE BUYBACK PROGRAMME

The purpose of this description, which is prepared in accordance with Articles L. 22-10-62 and following of the French Commercial Code and Articles L. 241-1 and following of the AMF's General Regulation, is to describe the objectives and arrangements of the Company's programme to buy back its own shares under the authorisation given in the Combined General Meeting of Shareholders of 27 May 2021.

1) Breakdown of equity securities held at 8 December 2021 by objective:

On 8 December 2021, the number of shares held directly and indirectly by the Company was 130,983, representing 0.12% of the Company's capital.

All of those shares were allocated to making a market in the Company's shares under the liquidity agreement formed with Oddo BHF and Natixis on 29 June 2018.

2) Description of the share buyback programme authorised in the General Meeting of Shareholders:

Authorisation of the programme: 18th resolution of the Combined General Meeting of Shareholders of 27 May 2021

Securities concerned: ordinary shares

Maximum percentage of share capital that may be bought back under the authorisation granted in the General Meeting of Shareholders: 10% (i.e. 10,559,365 shares currently).

However, the number of shares bought with a view to keeping them or using them subsequently for payment or exchange in a merger, spin-off or asset transfer transaction may not legally exceed 5% of the share capital (i.e. 5,279,682 shares currently).

Since the Company cannot hold more than 10% of its capital and given that it already holds 130,983 of its own shares (i.e. 0.12% of the capital), the maximum number of shares that may be bought back will be 10,428,382 (i.e. 9.88% of the capital) unless shares already held are sold or cancelled.

Maximum purchase price authorised by the General Meeting of Shareholders: 75 per share, it being stipulated that if the par value of the shares is altered, if the capital is increased through a capitalisation of reserves or an award of bonus shares, if a share split or reverse split takes place, if the capital is amortised or reduced, if reserves or other assets are distributed or if any other transaction relating to the Company's equity takes place, this unit price will be adjusted using a multiplier equal to the number of shares making up the share capital before the transaction divided by the number of shares after the transaction.

Maximum amount of the programme authorised by the General Meeting of Shareholders: 787,786,125.

Objectives of the buyback programme authorised by the General Meeting of Shareholders: in the General Meeting of Shareholders, shareholders authorised the Board of Directors to carry out or arrange the Company's purchase of its own shares in accordance with the General Regulation of the Autorite des Marches Financiers (AMF) and with Articles L. 22-10-62 and following of the French Commercial Code, with a view to:

allotting or selling shares to employees as a profit-sharing bonus or implementing any employee savings plan in accordance with the law, and in particular Articles L. 3332-1 and following of the French Labour Code, and/or

- awarding free shares or free performance shares to employees and/or corporate officers of the Company and/or the group; and/or

- delivering shares to cover commitments under share option plans and/or similar plans to employees and/or corporate officers of the group, and/or any other forms of awards of shares to employees and/or corporate officers of the Company and/or of the group; and/or

- delivering shares in connection with the exercise of rights attached to transferable securities conferring access to the Company's share capital by the redemption, conversion, exchange or presentation of a warrant or in any other manner; and/or

- cancelling all or some of the securities thus repurchased; and/or retaining and delivering shares as part of an exchange during mergers, demergers, or transactions involving the contribution of assets, or in exchange, in payment, or otherwise as part of external growth transactions; and/or

- purchasing shares following a reverse stock split of the Company's shares, in order to facilitate reverse stock split transactions and the management of fractional shares; and/or

- stimulating the secondary market or promoting the liquidity of the Company's shares by an investment services provider acting under the terms of a liquidity agreement that complies with practices permitted by law; and/or

- any other purpose that is or may come to be authorised by laws or regulations in force, including any market practice that is or may come to be authorised by the AMF after the General Meeting of Shareholders. In that event, the Company would inform its shareholders through a press release.

Period during which implementation of the programme is authorised: 18 months from the Combined General Meeting of Shareholders of 27 May 2021, i.e. until 27 November 2022.

Next publication:

23 February 2022 Full-year 2021 revenue and earnings

About Korian

Korian, the leading European care services group for elderly and fragile people. www.korian.com

Korian has been listed on Euronext Paris Section A since November 2006 and is included in the following indices: SBF 120, CAC Health Care, CAC Mid 60, CAC Mid Small and MSCI Global Small Cap

Euronext ticker: KORI ISIN: FR0010386334 Reuters: KORI.PA Bloomberg: KORI.FP

1 See appendix and section 7.3.2.3 of the 2020 Universal Registration Document filed with the Autorite des Marches Financiers on 21 April 2021.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211209005852/en/

Contacts:

INVESTOR RELATIONS

Sarah Mingham

VP Investor Relations Financing

sarah.mingham@korian.com

Tel: +33 (0)1 55 37 53 55

Carole Alexandre

Deputy Head of Investor Relations

carole.alexandre@korian.com

Tel: +33 (0)7 64 65 22 44

MEDIA CONTACTS

Jean-Marc Plantade

Director of Communications

jean-marc.plantade@korian.fr

Tel: +33 (0)7 62 90 32 58

Cyrille Lachevre

Deputy Director of Press Relations

cyrille.lachevre@korian.fr

Tel: +33 (0)7 61 53 54 86

Marjorie Castoriadis

Head of Media Relations

marjorie.castoriadis@korian.fr

Tel: +33 (0)7 63 59 88 81
The company's proprietary technology powers its patented real-time sub-micron thickness measurement systems based on the science of optical interference

SAN ANTONIO, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Based on its recent assessment of the North American online non-contact coating thickness measurement market, Frost & Sullivan recognizes Sensory Analytics with a 2021 Technology Innovation Leadership Award. Sensory Analytics' measurement solution, consisting of its proprietary algorithms, software and 3-part gauging systems, is well-positioned to address existing and emerging challenges faced by customers in the automotive, aerospace, battery, building materials, electronics and packaging industries. The company's coating measurement technique precisely measures the coating thickness and basis weight in real-time while reducing coating costs to improve coated product quality.

Sensory Analytics' optical measurement technology delivers transformative online non-contact measurement data, creating new quality benchmarks for coated webs, glass and metal products. With coatings becoming increasingly thin and applied within tight tolerance limits, the ability to measure accurate, precise, and uniform layer thickness during production allows manufacturers to capture in-process defects and eliminate product waste. Sensory Analytics' innovative technology reduces scrap and coating use for material savings, enhances line utilization to increase saleable product yield, improves production throughput and improves overall product quality to reduce customer claims for overall outcome improvement.

"Innovation is at the core of Sensory Analytics' value creation framework, with R&D taking the largest portion of total spend every year. With a focus on developing commercially viable technology solutions that meet unsolved industrial customer needs, the company has consistently created innovative SpecMetrix product offerings that are properly aligned with evolving trends in end-market segments," said senior consultant, Isaac Premsingh.

ROI technology is a more reliable in-process thickness measurement method for metal coil coatings. This is mainly requested by architectural metal cladding, roofing, HVAC, appliance, electronics and lithium-ion battery electrode manufacturers. It solves the problems industrial customers working with metal were facing due to unreliable measurements of pigmented or opaque coatings using traditional methods. Sensory Analytics pushed the limits of conventional optical interference to create a new white space that has now become a standard in optical thickness measurement, solving unmet challenges and providing unprecedented levels of process data.

Premsingh further explained, "SpecMetrix algorithms and software calculate coating layer thickness to provide precise coating thickness measurement data as output. It is the only technology that can provide a substrate-agnostic direct absolute thickness and basis weight measurement solution for all wet and dry coatings within the measurement range. This technology's diverse application and stage-gate efficiency have led to its wide-scale global deployment and subsequent commercialization and strong customer acquisition success."

Each year, Frost & Sullivan presents this award to the company that has developed advanced products with innovative features and functionality that are gaining rapid acceptance in the market. The award recognizes the quality of the solution and the customer value enhancements it enables.

Frost & Sullivan Best Practices awards recognize companies in various regional and global markets for demonstrating outstanding achievement and superior performance in leadership, technological innovation, customer service, and strategic product development. Industry analysts compare market participants and measure performance through in-depth interviews, analyses, and extensive secondary research to identify best practices in the industry.

About Frost & Sullivan

For six decades, Frost & Sullivan has been world-renowned for its role in helping investors, corporate leaders, and governments navigate economic changes and identify disruptive technologies, Mega Trends, new business models, and companies to action, resulting in a continuous flow of growth opportunities to drive future success. Contact us: Start the discussion. Contact us: Start the discussion.

Contact:

Lindsey Whitaker

P: +1.210.477.8457

E: Lindsey.Whitaker@frost.com

About Sensory Analytics

Sensory Analytics supplies award-winning and patented SpecMetrix coating and layer thickness measurement systems to industrial manufacturing and coating leaders worldwide. The company's exclusive SpecMetrix offerings measure the absolute thickness of applied wet or dry coatings in real-time with nanometric precision during the coating process or in QA labs and R&D centers. SpecMetrix systems help global manufacturers to optimize coating usage, spray and roll process control, and the quality of their coated end-products. For additional information, visit www.specmetrix.com .

Contact:

Greg Frisby, Global Industry Manager - SpecMetrix Systems

Sensory Analytics

The Sensory Building,

405 Pomona Drive

Greensboro, NC 27407 USA

P: +1.336.615.6090

E: devon@specmetrix.com

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1706712/Sensory_Analytics_Award__1.jpg
Article L. 238-8-II of the French commercial Code and article 223-16 of the AMF (French Financial Markets Authority) general regulation

Regulatory News:

Veolia Environnement (Paris:VIE):

Corporate name of the issuer: Veolia Environnement 21 rue La Boetie 75008 PARIS FRANCE (ISIN code: FR0000124141-VIE)

Information closing date Total number of shares forming the share capital Total number of voting rights December 8, 2021 (1) 699,725,266 Total number of theoretical voting rights (2): 739 048 013 Total number of voting rights that may be exercised (3): 726 633 141

Inclusion in the Veolia Environnement Articles of Association of a clause requiring a reporting obligation of the declaration of crossing a shareholding threshold, complementary to the one relating to the thresholds provided by the French law and the regulations in force (article 8).

(1) On December 8, 2021, completion of Sequoia 2021 capital increase operation reserved to employees allowed Veolia Environnement to bring its share capital from 3,449,899,925 to 3,498,626,330.

(2) Number of theoretical voting rights after taking into account the number of shares with double voting rights as of December 8, 2021 (39 322 747 shares) and the number of treasury shares held as of December 8, 2021 (12 414 872 shares).

(3) Number of voting rights that may be exercised number of theoretical voting rights (or total number of voting rights attached to shares) shares without voting rights (number of treasury shares held as of December 8, 2021).

Veolia Environnement Siege social/head office: 21, rue La Boetie 75008 PARIS France Adresse postale/Correspondence address: 30, rue Madeleine Vionnet 93300 AUBERVILLIERS France tel.: +33 (0)1 85 57 70 00 Fax: +33 (0)1 71 75 10 45 www.veolia.com A Public Limited Company (Societe Anonyme) with a share capital of 3,498,626,330 403 210 032 RCS PARIS

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211209005870/en/

Contacts:

Veolia Environnement
SYDNEY, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --

Handcrafted by world-renowned designer for launch of new James Squire Pioneers' Collection, with all proceeds to be donated to Rural Aid

To the delight of discerning beer drinkers and design enthusiasts worldwide, James Squire has unveiled Australia's most valuable bottle opener worth over $30,000 AUD.

Multimedia Assets:

http://news.medianet.com.au/thinkerbell/james-squire

All profits from the sale of the bottle opener will be donated to Rural Aid, providing critical support to farmers in need. People can register their interest to participate in the silent auction to purchase the bottle opener by visiting https://www.jamessquire.com.au/agegate/.

The one-off engineering effort has been handcrafted from sterling silver, burl walnut, grade 5 titanium and incredibly rare damascus steel, which was used to make ancient swords and took three years to source.

Taking over 150 hours to meticulously craft, the collectors item is the brainchild of world-renowned founder of design firm Discommon, Neil Ferrier, to celebrate the launch of the James Squire Pioneers' Collection - a limited edition range of small batch, barrel-aged beers, reimagining the richly hopped English IPA. Only 5,000 bottles of the James Squire's Pioneers' Collection Release No.01 will be available for a limited time.

Bringing together a first class team of artists who specialise in each of the materials used, the beautiful piece blends rich history with the modern world. The mixing of classic artforms, such as hand finishing wood and casting silver with 3D printing and technical machining embodies the pioneering spirit of Jame Squire.

James Squire's Pioneers' Collection Release No.01 will be available nationwide for a limited time. The RRP is AUD $49.00 for a single hand-finished 750mL bottle and can be purchased from today at Dan Murphy's nationwide, and on tap at James Squire brewhouses from early December.

The Pioneers' Collection from James Squire builds on the success of The Wreck Preservation Ale, the world's oldest surviving beer made new. A groundbreaking partnership between the Queen Victoria Museum & Art Gallery, the Australian Wine Research Institute and James Squire, The Wreck was expertly crafted using yeast found in beer bottles on the Sydney Cove shipwreck off Preservation Island, making it the world's oldest beer resurrected.
The French natural cosmetics company, known for its Vegetalement Provence brand, announces a 6m capital raise from a group of investors led by Connect Pro, an investment fund based in Marseille.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211209005914/en/

(Photo: Vegetalement Provence)

New shareholders

The arrival of new investors to develop Vegetalement Provence, is led by Connect Pro alongside the private equity funds BNP Paribas Developpement and Etoile Capital, whose membership of leading banking groups, will ensure the sustainability of the support. The financing is completed by the Region Sud Investissement fund.

 We were won over by the commitment and geographic proximity of Connect Pro and its co-investors, to help companies of our region to grow in France and internationally.

Vincent Faraco,

Co-Founder of Universal Beauty Group

Following the transaction, the founders, Vincent Faraco and Jean-Marc Delabre, will remain reference shareholders and will continue to lead the group.

 We are proud to invest in Universal Beauty Group, which will be the first investment of our new Sud Rebound fund launched in June this year. This venture in the heart of the local economic ecosystem is fully in line with our strategy to support the development of key business in our region.

Franck Paoli,

President and Founder of Connect Pro

Partners in growth

The investors' entry into the company's capital will allow the business to accelerate its development in the rapidly expanding natural beauty sector, a market expected to show annual growth of 6-9% over the period 2021-2027.

This transaction follows the first investment in the company's capital in 2017 made by the private-equity fund Audacia, whose support has made it possible to double the number of product references and open 3 own-brand concept salons alongside about twenty independent concept salons under the Vegetalement Provence brand, including the most recent salon opened in Lyon in October.

Vegetalement Provence a committed beauty brand

In 2008, Universal Beauty Group started as a distributor of haircare brands before launching its own brand Vegetalement Provence in 2011 to offer hairdressing professionals a technical product that was kinder to the environment and customers' health. In the space of a few years, Vegetalement Provence has become a premium beauty brand recognized as much by professionals as by a general public in search of wellness.

With 170,000 products sold in 2020, Universal Beauty Group forecasts sales of 4m in 2021, with an EBITDA margin of around 20%. 70% of sales are made in mainland France, 15% in the French island of Reunion, and 15% internationally. Its eco-responsible products have been rewarded with numerous prizes for their innovation, and are acclaimed by international colourists and hair stylists in search of natural and high-performance products. The brand is distributed via more than 500 points of sale and through its own e-shop.

Established in Saint-Remy-de-Provence in the South of France since 2014, Universal Beauty Group, with the support of its teams, training academy, and logistics base, is ready to become a major player in alternative cosmetics and beauty.

 We are delighted to welcome our new partners who will bring their vision and support to the growth of Vegetalement Provence whose potential is limitless .

Jean-Marc Delabre,

Co-Founder of Universal Beauty Group

Among the projects for Vegetalement Provence

The product range, designed and developed in Saint-Remy-de-Provence will be further expanded. With the support of its new investor base focused on the region, Universal Beauty will place a particular emphasis on innovation

The company also plans to open a concept store in Paris in Spring 2022, a new base for Vegetalement Provence. A significant investment will be dedicated to the digital development of the brand and to support e-commerce. Previously centred more on its domestic market, the new round of financing will allow the company to consolidate its international expansion.

"We are delighted to accompany the leaders of Vegetalement Provence in this great adventure. With its unique products, Vegetalement Provence responds to a fundamental trend. The increase in the number of people looking for natural products continues to grow and will offer significant development opportunities."

Remy Garello,

Managing Director of Connect Pro

Fundraising process

The transaction is the conclusion of a competitive process launched in May 2021 to search for an investor. The process attracted very strong interest both in France and abroad from haircare and beauty companies, as well as private equity and family offices.

Universal Beauty Group was advised by Richard Morgan Advisory (Richard Morgan) and the law firm Volt Associes (Stephane Letranchant, Lucas d'Orgeval). The investors were advised by the law firm Nova Partners (Olivier Nett, Julien Immoff), with the financial audit carried out by Deloitte Finance (Thomas Gorguis).

Universal Beauty Group Vegetalement Provence

Since its launch in 2011, with its hair and skincare ranges, Vegetalement Provence quickly established itself as a real alternative to major brands among hairdressers and beauty professionals.

Its efficient plant-based product ranges, with natural and organic sourcing, meet the needs of a demanding professional public looking for technical prowess with a philosophy of eco-responsibility. In addition to the attractiveness and performance of its products, Universal Beauty Group benefits from a network of professional customers whose resale rate of Vegetalement Provence products is unparalleled. While the usual resale rate of the sector in France is around 5%, it exceeds 20% with Vegetalement Provence.

Today the brand offers a range of over 275 different beauty product references including 140 in hair and skincare for the general public, covering all needs.

Its ranges combine not just beauty and health, but also wellness based on the foundation of innovation and commitment.

The development of creative styling products, and the introduction of a specific line for ethnic hair, complete the product range. The Essentiels collection, with its shampoos and conditioners, has become a must-have for lovers of the brand.

For its professional clientele, Vegetalement Provence offers a range of more than 130 colouring references, with an offer by oxidation and an organic offer based on plant powder.

Vegetalement Provence currently has about twenty employees in its Saint-Remy-de-Provence headquarters.

www.vegetalement.com

Connect Pro

Since its creation in 2007, Connect Pro has been supporting small and midcap businesses in the South of France in their development and transmission needs with more than 70m in capital invested. Among the latest equity investments, Mariton designs, manufacturer and distributer of custom-made mosquito nets and interior blinds, EITP, a heating and air-conditioning company and Pharma Sante Developpement, a group of independent pharmacies. With Sud Rebond, Connect Pro launched its third fund in June 2021 with a fundraising of more than 15m from institutional investors and entrepreneurs in the South-East of France. It will be completed by a second round of fundraising in the first half of 2022 to reach 25m.

www.connect-pro.fr

BNP Paribas Developpement

One of the private equity funds of the BNP Paribas banking group, BNP Paribas Developpement, manages 1 billion of its own funds, investing directly to support the development of successful mid-sized companies. BNP Paribas Developpement, whose mission is to support management teams in the realization of medium-term strategic projects, has a portfolio of more than 400 holdings.

www.bnpparibasdeveloppement.com

Etoile Capital

Etoile Capital, a subsidiary of the bank Credit du Nord, is a shareholder of French small business in widely diversified sectors, with a portfolio currently of about twenty investments. It positions itself as a shareholder in the capital of corporate clients of the various regional banks that make up the Credit du Nord group. The fund brings to the shareholders and managers of its invested companies its expertise in strategic thinking and the means to accelerate development.

www.corporatefinance.groupe-credit-du-nord.fr

Region Sud Investissement

Region Sud Investissement is the regional investment company created in 2010 by the Southern Region of France to support the emergence and development of high growth companies.

Region Sud Investissement, endowed with 134m, benefits from the support of the European Union through the ERDF (European Regional Development Fund), which contributes 42% of its funding. Region Sud Investissement is advised by Turenne Groupe in the management of its holdings.

www.regionsudinvestissement.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211209005914/en/

Contacts:

Press relations

Marijke ZIJLSTRA SAMB

+ 33 4 26 78 45 76 +33 6 88 25 21 83

mzs@vegetalement.com

Financial communication

Stephanie MILLAS

+ 33 4 26 78 45 70 +33 6 77 85 02 38

sm@vegetalement.com
The "Acrylonitrile (ACN): 2021 World Market Outlook up to 2030 (with COVID-19 Impact Estimation)" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The report is an essential resource for a one looking for detailed information on the world acrylonitrile market. The report covers data on global, regional and national markets including present and future trends for supply and demand, prices, and downstream industries.

In addition to the analytical part, the report provides a range of tables and figures which all together give a true insight into the national, regional and global markets for acrylonitrile.

COVID-19 Impacts

The report features the impact of continuing COVID-19 pandemic on the market

The market situation is constantly being monitored, the latest developments are being tracked and consequently the most recent data are to be provided in the report

what is important, the report the report presents possible scenarios of market development

Report Scope

The report covers global, regional and country markets of acrylonitrile

It describes present situation, historical background and forecast

Comprehensive data showing acrylonitrile capacities, production, consumption, trade statistics, and prices in the recent years are provided (globally, regionally and by country)

The report indicates a wealth of information on acrylonitrile manufacturers and distributors

Region market overview covers the following: production of acrylonitrile in a region/country, consumption trends, price data, trade in the recent year and manufacturers

Acrylonitrile market forecast for next ten years, including market volumes and prices is also provided

Reasons to Buy

Your knowledge of acrylonitrile market will become wider

Analysis of the acrylonitrile market as well as detailed knowledge of both global and regional factors impacting the industry will take you one step further in managing your business environment

You will boost your company's business/sales activities by getting an insight into acrylonitrile market

Your search for prospective partners and suppliers will be largely facilitated

Acrylonitrile market forecast will strengthen your decision-making process

Key Topics Covered:

1. INTRODUCTION: ACRYLONITRILE PROPERTIES AND USES

2. ACRYLONITRILE MANUFACTURING PROCESSES

3. ACRYLONITRILE WORLD MARKET IN 2015-2020

3.1. World acrylonitrile capacity

Capacity broken down by region

Capacity divided by country

Manufacturers and their capacity by plant

3.2. World acrylonitrile production

Global output dynamics

Production by region

Production by country

3.3. Acrylonitrile consumption

World consumption

Consumption trends in Europe

Consumption trends in Asia Pacific

Consumption trends in North America

3.4. Acrylonitrile global trade

World trade dynamics

Export and import flows in regions

3.5. Acrylonitrile prices

4. ACRYLONITRILE REGIONAL MARKETS ANALYSIS

Each country section comprises the following parts:

Total installed capacity in country

Production in country

Manufacturers in country

Consumption of in country

Export and import in country

Prices in country

4.1. Acrylonitrile European market analysis

Countries covered:

Belarus

Bulgaria

Germany

Netherlands

Romania

Russia

Spain

UK

4.2. Acrylonitrile Asia Pacific market analysis

Countries included:

China

India

Japan

South Korea

Thailand

4.3. Acrylonitrile North American market analysis

Countries under consideration:

US

4.4. Acrylonitrile Latin American market analysis

Countries overviewed:

Brazil

Mexico

4.5. Acrylonitrile Africa Middle East market analysis

Countries examined:

South Africa

Turkey

5. ACRYLONITRILE GLOBAL MARKET FORECAST

5.1. Acrylonitrile capacity and production forecast up to 2030

Global production forecast

Projects

5.2. Acrylonitrile consumption forecast up to 2030

World consumption forecast

Forecast of consumption in Europe

Consumption forecast in Asia Pacific

Consumption forecast in North America

5.3. Acrylonitrile market prices forecast up to 2030

6. KEY COMPANIES IN THE ACRYLONITRILE MARKET WORLDWIDE

7. ACRYLONITRILE FEEDSTOCK MARKET

8. ACRYLONITRILE END-USE SECTOR

8.1. Consumption by application

8.2. Downstream markets review and forecast

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/axpw7

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211209005958/en/

Contacts:

ResearchAndMarkets.com

Laura Wood, Senior Press Manager

press@researchandmarkets.com



For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470

For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630

For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900


WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - American Airlines Group Inc. (AAL) on Thursday announced that it would be cutting down on the number of its international flights during the next summer as there had been long delays in delivery of Boeing's 787 Dreamliners. According to reports, Boeing will compensate the airlines for the delay.



The delivery of Boeing's wide-body Dreamliners were stopped for a major part of last year as the manufacturer and federal regulators took a second look at production flaws and required fixes.



The delays in production surface just when big Dreamliner customers like American and United Airlines are preparing for a hectic summer of international travel, after a two-year gap for what they expect to be a big summer for international travel after a two-year pandemic slump.



According to the original plan, American Airlines planned to bring back 89 percent of its 2019 international long-haul flying in the summer of 2022, but that has been turned back to around 80 percent.



Vasu Raja, American's chief revenue officer, said in an email to employees, 'This weekend we will load our summer 2022 long-haul schedule, but it will not have the growth we initially expected. Boeing continues to be unable to deliver the 787s we have on order, including as many as 13 aircraft that were slated to be in our fleet by this winter. Without these widebodies, we simply won't be able to fly as much internationally as we had planned next summer, or as we did in summer.'



As per the new plan, American Airlines won't serve Edinburgh, Scotland or Shannon, Ireland. The Airlines will also discontinue its Hong Kong service.



American also won't fly back from Prague and Dubrovnik, Croatia. The airline will also cut down the flights to Shanghai, Beijing and Sydney. Trans-Pacific travel is said to be the last to pick up, but in a very slow manner. American also plans to add non-stop service between New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport and Doha in June.



United Airlines didn't tell in detail how the delays could affect its international flying next year but said it was working with Boeing 'to know how the delivery delays can affect our schedule.'



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

BOEING-Aktie komplett kostenlos handeln - auf Smartbroker.de
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / December 9, 2021 / BTU METALS CORP. ("BTU" or the "Company") (TSXV:BTU)(OTCQB:BTUMF), in reference to yesterday's news of Kinross Gold Corp. agreeing to acquire all of Great Bear Resources Ltd., congratulates the entire team at Great Bear. Management has done great work on their Dixie Gold project in the Red Lake camp, Ontario. Their efforts have been ground-breaking, and its efforts have clearly benefitted all stakeholders.

BTU continues to explore for gold across its ~230km2 property that shares a 35km common boundary with Great Bear Resources Ltd. ("Great Bear").

Fig 1 Map showing BTU >35 km common border with Great Bear Resources

Paul Wood, CEO of BTU states "The proposed acquisition of Great Bear by Kinross for approximately $1.8 billion follows Barrick's announcements of transactions with Dixie Gold and Red Lake Gold, adjacent or proximal to the BTU Dixie Halo property. Clearly the tier one producers are recognizing the tremendous prospectivity for gold mineralization and gold production potential in the underexplored parts of the Red Lake area. We have just completed 10 holes on widely spaced targets, the core is being logged and samples will be sent to the lab shortly. Drilling will resume in the new year at both the Pakwash North (TNT) project and at Dixie Halo".

BTU Metals Corp. is a junior, mining exploration company focused on its Dixie Halo project located in Red Lake, Ontario.

Bruce Durham, P. Geo., a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 has reviewed and approved the technical information in this press release.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

"Paul Wood"

Paul Wood, CEO, Director

pwood@btumetals.com

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

Andreas Curkovic, Investor Relations

+1 416-577-9927

BTU Metals Corp.

Telephone: 1-604-683-3995

Toll Free: 1-888-945-4770

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE: BTU Metals Corp.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/676858/BTU-Comments-on-Proposed-Kinross-Great-Bear-Resources-Transaction
WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Crude oil futures came off two-week highs and settled lower on Thursday amid concerns about the outlook for energy demand following several countries imposing fresh restrictions on movements to curb the spread of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus. Traders weighed the latest reports on the new virus variant. While a study earlier in the week showed an additional vaccination dose from Pfizer might neutralize the variant, a report quoting a Japanese scientist says the Omicron variant is 4.2 times more transmissible. West Texas Intermediate Crude oil futures for January ended down by $1.42 or about 2% at $70.94 a barrel, after moving higher in the previous three sessions to gain a total of about 9%. Brent crude futures were down $1.72 or 2.27% at $74.10 a barrel a little while ago. Concerns about China's economic outlook due to the debt woes of two major Chinese property developers has raised worries about energy demand from the world's second largest economy. Several countries, including the U.K., have imposed tougher restrictions on movements to try and curb the spread of the Omicron variant of the virus. China, Denmark and South Korea are among the countries that have come out with fresh restrictions. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
Data from preclinical studies in collaboration with Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center will be presented at ASH and provide strong rationale for use of EOS-448 as a single agent and in combination with an immunomodulatory drug in patients with multiple myeloma





Preclinical data shared at TIGIT Therapies Digital Summit highlight evidence for multifaceted mechanism of action of EOS-448



CAMBRIDGE, Mass. and GOSSELIES, Belgium, Dec. 09, 2021and the TIGIT Therapies Digital Summit 2021.

"The data we presented this week at the TIGIT Therapies Digital Summit provide further evidence of the multifaceted mechanism of our high affinity, potent anti-TIGIT monoclonal antibody, EOS-448. We presented preclinical data showing activation of immune stimulatory cells is dependent on activating via Fc?R, and also show clinically that this activation is translating to depletion of immunosuppressive cells. Furthermore, the upcoming data presentations at ASH demonstrate the synergistic effect of combining an Fc?R active anti-TIGIT antibody with an IMiD in a preclinical model of multiple myeloma and provide strong rationale for our ongoing Phase 1/2 trial in this difficult to treat cancer," said Michel Detheux, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer of iTeos. "These results underscore our enthusiasm for EOS-448 as a potential therapy capable of harnessing the immune system to help improve outcomes for patients with advanced, aggressive cancers. We look forward to progressing our clinical development plan in 2022 in both multiple myeloma and solid tumors with several combinations."

ASH 2021:

The Combination of Anti-Tigit and Lenalidomide Promotes Synergistic Myeloma-Specific Immunity after ASCT

Presented by: Simone A. Minnie, Ph.D., Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA

Abstract #: 154087

Preclinical data demonstrating the efficacy of a mouse surrogate EOS-448 as a single agent and in combination with an immunomodulatory imide drug (IMiD) in a preclinical model of multiple myeloma was presented by our collaborator at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. The Fc-enabled anti-TIGIT monoclonal antibody elicited effective control of multiple myeloma disease progression, while an Fc-disabled version was inactive, indicating the importance of engaging the Fc?R. Furthermore, the Fc-enabled anti-TIGIT antibody demonstrated synergistic activity when combined with an IMiD, a class of drugs that has previously shown clinical activity in multiple myeloma.

TIG-007: Study of EOS884448/GSK4428859A Alone, and in Combination with Iberdomide with or without Dexamethasone, in Participants with Relapsed or Refractory Multiple Myeloma

Presented by: Philippe Moreau, M.D., Hematology Department, Nantes University Hospital, Nantes, France

Abstract #: 152395

The presentation highlighted TIG-007, an ongoing open-label, multicenter, dose-escalation/expansion Phase 1/2 trial evaluating the safety, tolerability, and preliminary activity of EOS-448 as monotherapy and in combination with Bristol Myers Squibb's IMiD, iberdomide, with or without dexamethasone, in adults with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. The preclinical data presented from the preclinical model of multiple myeloma provide a strong rationale for combining TIGIT inhibition with immunomodulatory drugs to prevent the progression of myeloma, and previous studies have shown notable clinical activity and acceptable tolerability with iberdomide in combination with dexamethasone or other antimyeloma agents in heavily pre-treated patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. The study aims to assess the therapeutic opportunity of EOS-448 alone or in combination with iberdomide, with or without dexamethasone to amplify myeloma-specific T cell anti-tumor responses in patients with difficult-to-treat relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma.

TIGIT Therapies Digital Summit 2021:

Targeting TIGIT: Which cell populations are modulated by Fc?R engagement?

Presented by: Gregory Driessens, Ph.D., Senior Director, Project Head, iTeos Therapeutics

The presentation featured both preclinical and clinical evidence for the multifaceted mechanism of action of EOS-448, including activation of T cells, modulation of antigen-presenting cells and depletion of regulatory T cells (Tregs) and terminally exhausted T cells. Preclinical data demonstrated that Fc?R engagement activated professional antigen-presenting cells either alone or synergistically with anti-PD1, both in the tumor and within the tumor draining lymph node. This effect was only evident when using a fully functional anti-TIGIT antibody, providing support for the design of EOS-448 as an IgG1 antibody. An update on the pharmacodynamic effect of EOS-448 in the blood of treated patients from the Phase 1 trial showed strong depletion of Tregs, an increase in the CD8/Treg ratio and a transient increase in proliferation (as assessed by the Ki67 marker), in line with previous observations with pembrolizumab.

About iTeos Therapeutics, Inc.

iTeos Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company pioneering the discovery and development of a new generation of highly differentiated immuno-oncology therapeutics for patients. iTeos Therapeutics leverages its deep understanding of tumor immunology and immunosuppressive pathways to design novel product candidates with the potential to fully restore the immune response against cancer. The Company's innovative pipeline includes two clinical-stage programs targeting novel, validated immuno-oncology pathways designed with optimized pharmacologic properties for improved clinical outcomes. The first antibody product candidate, EOS-448, is a high affinity, potent, anti-TIGIT antibody with a functional Fc domain, designed to enhance the anti-tumor response through a multifaceted immune modulatory mechanism, currently progressing in multiple indications in collaboration with GSK. The Company is also advancing inupadenant, a next-generation adenosine A2A receptor antagonist tailored to overcome cancer immunosuppression into proof-of concept trials in several indications following encouraging single-agent activity in Phase 1. iTeos Therapeutics is headquartered in Cambridge, MA with a research center in Gosselies, Belgium.

Internet Posting of Information

iTeos routinely posts information that may be important to investors in the 'Investors' section of its website at www.iteostherapeutics.com. The company encourages investors and potential investors to consult our website regularly for important information about iTeos.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other federal securities laws. Any statements that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Words such as "believe," "anticipate," "plan," "expect," "will," "may," "intend," "prepare," "look," "potential," "possible" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include statements relating to the potential benefits of our product candidates, including EOS-448's potential to harness the immune system to help improve outcomes for patients with advanced and aggressive cancers, and our plan to progress our EOS-448 clinical development plan in 2022 in both multiple myeloma and solid tumors with several combinations.

These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond iTeos' control. Actual results could materially differ from those stated or implied by these forward-looking statements as a result of such risks and uncertainties. Known risk factors include the following: success in preclinical testing and early clinical trials does not ensure that later clinical trials will be successful, and early results from a clinical trial do not necessarily predict final results; the data for our product candidates may not be sufficient for obtaining regulatory approval; iTeos may not be able to execute on its business plans, including meeting its expected or planned regulatory milestones and timelines, research and clinical development plans, and bringing its product candidates to market, for various reasons, some of which may be outside of iTeos' control, including possible limitations of company financial and other resources, manufacturing limitations that may not be anticipated or resolved for in a timely manner, regulatory, court or agency decisions such as decisions by the United States Patent and Trademark Office with respect to patents that cover our product candidates and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic; and those risks identified under the heading "Risk Factors" in iTeos's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2021 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as well as other SEC filings made by the Company which you are encouraged to review.

Any of the foregoing risks could materially and adversely affect iTeos' business, results of operations and the trading price of iTeos' common stock. We caution investors not to place considerable reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. iTeos does not undertake any obligation to publicly update its forward-looking statements based on events or circumstances after the date hereof.

For further information, please contact:

Investor Contacts:

Ryan Baker

iTeos Therapeutics, Inc.

Ryan.Baker@iteostherapeutics.com

Media Contacts:

media@iteostherapeutics.com
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - December 9, 2021) - Queensland Gold Hills Corp. (TSXV: OZAU) ("Queensland Gold Hills Corp" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the following marketing and market making initiatives.

Venture Liquidity Providers

The Company has engaged Venture Liquidity Providers Inc. ("VLP") to provide market-making services. The market making service will be undertaken by VLP through a registered broker, W.D. Latimer Co. Ltd. in compliance with TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV") policies. VLP will buy and sell shares of Queensland Gold Hills on the TSXV for the purpose of maintaining an orderly trading market or providing liquidity in the Company's shares.

The term of the agreement is one year and may be terminated by either party immediately upon receiving written notice. In consideration of the services to be provided Queensland Gold Hills will pay VLP $60,000. Following the initial term, the agreement will automatically renew for successive additional 12-month terms. The Company and VLP are unrelated and unaffiliated entities.

Stockhouse Publishing

The Company has engaged Stockhouse Publishing Ltd. to assist the company in enhancing its on-line profile with the global investment community. With more than one million unique visitors per month, Stockhouse is Canada's largest financial portal and one of North America's largest small cap investor communities. Stockhouse is the global hub for investors to find relevant financial news, access expert analysis and opinion, and share knowledge and information with each other. Pursuant to the terms of the Stockhouse agreement, Stockhouse will be paid an aggregate cash amount of $150,000 plus GST for its services over a 12-month period. Neither Stockhouse nor its affiliates currently own any securities of the company Stockhouse and the company are unrelated and unaffiliated entities.

Market One Media Group

The Company has engaged Market One Media Group to provide marketing and social media expertise to its marketing initiatives for the next 9 months. Pursuant to the terms of the Market One Media agreement, Market One will be paid $130,000 in cash plus GST. The scope of the marketing initiatives includes coverage and commercial spots on BNN, Canada's only TV station devoted to business and finance news as online articles on business investing networks such as the National Post. Market One is arm's length to the company and does not currently own any securities of the company.

GOLDINVEST Consulting GmbH

The Company has engaged GOLDINVEST Consulting GmbH to enhance its current marketing efforts by providing access to their extensive investor network in Europe. GOLDINVEST will provide commentary on news releases in German to its financial community. The term of the agreement is 6 months and GOLDINVEST will be paid $9,000 EURO. The Company and GOLDINVEST are unrelated and unaffiliated entities.

About Queensland Gold Hills Corp.

Queensland Gold Hills is focused on gold exploration in the historic goldfields of Queensland, Australia. The Big Hill Gold Project covers the historic mines of Big Hill, Queenslander, Monte Cristo and Sultan & Taylor of the Talgai Goldfields. This is one of eight historical Goldfields in the broader Warwick-Texas District. The Company will be conducting modern exploration in these historic gold fields.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

Blair Way, Chief Executive Officer & Director

Telephone: 1 (800) 482-7560

E-mail: info@queenslandgoldhills.com

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian legislation. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as: "believes", "expects", "anticipates", "intends", "estimates", "plans", "may", "should", "would", "will", "potential", "scheduled" or variations of such words and phrases and similar expressions, which, by their nature, refer to future events or results that may, could, would, might or will occur or be taken or achieved. Accordingly, all statements in this news release that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements and include statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations and orientations regarding the future including, without limitation, any statements or plans regard the geological prospects of the Property or the future exploration endeavors of Queensland Gold Hills. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable and reflect expectations of future developments and other factors which management believes to be reasonable and relevant, the Company can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such risks and other factors include, but are not limited to, the risk that the Proposed Transaction, the Offering and resulting name change may not be completed as set out herein or at all, and the inability of the Company to execute and raise funds necessary to complete its planned future activities and proposed business plans.

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to a U.S. Person unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/107241


SEATTLE (dpa-AFX) - Starbucks workers in Buffalo, New York were successful in building a union at least in one local cafe, after a month-long struggle. Workers at the Elmwood Avenue cafe voted 19 to eight in favor of forming a union under Workers United New York, a branch of the Service Employees International Union.



The formation of the union is the first successful effort by workers to unionize Starbuck's U.S company-owned locations since the company became public three decades ago.



A second cafe at Camp Road voted against the formation of the union with eight workers voting in favor and 12 opposing. One ballot was declared void, while two more were challenged by Starbucks or the Union. The Union also claimed that many submitted ballots were found to be missing. The National Labor Relations Board is still counting votes for one other Buffalo cafe.



Unions are not very common in the restaurant industry with only 1.2 percent of workers at food and drinking shops becoming union members in 2020, according to figures from the Bureau of Labor statistics. Things, however, are changing with unions being formed at Amazon and strikes by John Deere's and Kelloggs' employees.



After Thursday's vote counting, the ballots must be certified by the NLRB's regional director, which could take up to a week. If any of the stores' elections don't have definitive results, the regional director will have to examine any objections or challenges, which may need a hearing to resolve. Stores that voted against a union can petition for another election in a year.



The next hurdle is negotiating a contract with Starbucks. Labor laws don't mandate that the employer and union reach a collective bargaining agreement. On top of that, workers who lose faith in the union can petition to decertify after a year.



The NLRB had twice supported Starbucks Workers United, first allowing the stores to vote as single units instead of opening up the vote to all 20 stores in the region as Starbucks had wanted, a move that usually supports the employer. As a result, 81 workers were eligible to vote instead of 450 across the city.



Then, the NLRB this week allowed the vote count to move ahead for Thursday afternoon. Ballots were mailed in with a deadline of Wednesday evening and the count was streamed via Zoom.



The union effort at Starbucks was meet with strong opposition from the management. The company sent top executives and former CEO Howard Schultz to the Buffalo locations, a move that Starbucks Workers United called 'union busting.' In November, workers had filed a federal labor charge, accusing the company of illegal activity like issuing threats, intimidation and surveillance in response to the union push. The company has, however, denied the allegations.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

STARBUCKS-Aktie komplett kostenlos handeln - auf Smartbroker.de
GIBRALTAR, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- World Trade Center Gibraltar and a small team of partners have now completed a successful daring covert operation, code named 'Operation Magic Carpet' to evacuate 92 individuals, including 33 children and new-born babies from escalating and imminent danger in Kabul, Afghanistan.

Among the evacuees are 60 former staff members and their dependents of the international arm of the animal welfare charity "Mayhew London" (for which Megan Markle is a Patron) former NATO and MoD liaisons and a team of veterinarians, with their respective families.

The humanitarian operation, the largest privately funded humanitarian evacuation mission undertaken since the American led withdrawal at the end of August was conducted by an experienced extraction team in an increasingly hostile environment, with a rapidly closing window, amidst eye-witness reports of raids of properties and neighbourhoods in the immediate vicinity to these individuals.

Following the fall of Kabul to the Taliban, on 15th August, the entire world watched as the frenzied non-combatant evacuation operation ensued from Hamid Karzai International Airport. It was clear that despite the heroic efforts of Allied forces resulting in nearly 120,000 people being evacuated within this timescale, many vulnerable individuals were left behind at risk of acts of retribution by uncontrolled terror groups.

British based animal welfare campaigner Dominic Dyer, internationally recognised for his work in evacuating Pen Farthing and his Nowzad employees and animals from Kabul in August played a leading role in the rescue operation working alongside a British vet and a Jerusalem based translator.

Businessman and owner of World Trade Center Gibraltar, Gregory Butcher, also generously helped finance part of the operation along with several individuals from Britain and the United States.

The complex and dangerous evacuation took over 2 months to complete, during a period which has seen Afghanistan spiral into escalating violence and economic collapse. The growing threat of widespread famine, made all the more desperate by the approach of winter, puts the survival of millions of Afghan citizens at risk according to UN reports.

As of 8th December, all 92 evacuees have safely arrived in accommodation in Islamabad, Pakistan. The sense of relief, sadness and uncertainty will no doubt be overwhelming for this group, as they now embark on a new life outside of their home country, having left everything but a few belongings behind.

Speaking about the successful completion of Operation Magic Carpet, Dominic Dyer said:

"It has been immensely tough for all concerned, but these are the lucky ones, people for whom there is, at least, the chance of a better future. The rout of US, UK, and other forces from Kabul, leaving almost the entire country in the hands of the Taliban, means the prospect for millions is bleak indeed. Operation Magic Carpet could not help everyone, but this extraordinary band of committed individuals have done what they can for the Kabul 92. Every life is precious, and I will now be asking Britain and other nations to open their doors to these talented individuals who are looking for a safe place to call home."

Whilst the initial phase is complete, the time to redouble efforts begins now, and a public fundraising campaign will soon be established to help to provide food and accommodation to the 92 adults and children in Pakistan for the necessary timeframe in which onward travel documentation to third countries, such as the UK, USA and other European destinations and also their respective accommodation in those countries, is secured.

Gregory Butcher, owner of the World Trade Center Gibraltar and part-funder of the rescue said:

"Operation Magic Carpet is a miraculous coming together of volunteers in a time of need. Almost everyone will have seen the harrowing photos of the humanitarian disaster that is increasing in its intensity, with uncontrolled terror groups conducting retribution killings more frequently by the day.

I learnt of an Afghan Colonel who had worked with Coalition Forces, including Canadian, British and US representatives, having attended a NATO conference in Brussels and an Afghan team leader of a major British sub-contractor security firm, based in Kabul. They were all at risk of retribution at the hands of the Taliban and needed to be rescued as well.

At World Trade Center Gibraltar, we believe that large corporations have a specific role to play in society, one of humanitarian action, sustainable development, and corporate social responsibility. These principles and values guide us in our daily lives and throughout all our business endeavours. We are partners and friends and seek to support marginalized communities, non-profits and charitable groups that align with our mission.

When we learned of the developing crisis in Afghanistan and heard that others were trying to find a way to get those individuals out, some of whom were female and therefore at considerable risk in Kabul, we could not turn away the chance of helping. They and their children were desperate to leave and were without any hope of doing so, so we teamed up with those other kind people to try and get a total of 92 people out of Afghanistan.

I am so glad we worked tirelessly to achieve this. It really is a life and death situation, with the international community now calling on the Taliban to enforce an amnesty for former Afghan security personnel. We have just read that human rights groups cite scores of ex-soldiers have been rounded up and then executed since mid-August. The retribution has started, and we owe it to those who supported the Coalition to save them.

On the arrival of the 92 in Pakistan, it's been hard thinking what might have happened to them had we all not intervened. Their new lives and future are filled with uncertainty, and now we need to urgently get these brave now-stateless English-speaking people into a refugee resettlement program. Can you help us?"

World Trade Center Gibraltar is working to raise funds and offer vital help to those whose lives have been shattered by conflict and disaster, as they commence a new chapter in their lives, please contact us for more information at eaw@worldtradecenter.gi

Ed Allison-Wright

eaw@worldtradecenter.gi

+350 200 400 48

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1706939/Operation_Magic_Carpet.jpg

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1706937/Spin_Boldak_Border.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1706938/World_Trade_Center_Gibraltar_Logo.jpg
SYDNEY, Dec. 10, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- World's hunger for energy seems to be insatiable. In the recent times, a strong demand for recovery has pushed the energy commodities to new highs. The biggest benefactors of the recent rally are the upstream Oil and Gas players who have been involved in the exploration, development, and operation of various projects. And in Kalkine Media's upcoming exclusive INVEST NEST webinar titled - "ASX Opportunities in the Oil & Gas Sector: Meet the Upstream Players", the different aspects of the energy industry will be discussed. Get an opportunity to get your queries answered by some of the biggest energy players and Kalkine Media's valued clients including Invictus Energy, BPH Energy and AXP Energy.





Get insights from the Managing Director of Invictus Energy Limited Scott Macmillan, Managing Director and Executive Chairman of BPH Energy Limited David Breeze and Non-Executive Chairman and Non-Executive Director & Chairman of AXP Energy Simon William Johnson.

Invictus Energy Limited is an independent upstream oil and gas company focused on sub-Saharan Africa. Its asset portfolio consists of a highly prospective licence, Special Grant 4571, in the Cabora Bassa Basin in Zimbabwe, one of the largest under-explored interior rift basins in Africa. Invictus is opening one of the last untested large frontier rift basins in onshore Africa - the Cabora Bassa Basin - through a high impact exploration program.

BPH Energy Limited is an Australian-headquartered diversified company that holds significant investments in different sectors, including biotechnology and resources. The Company holds investments into the biotechnology sector through Cortical Dynamics Ltd and Molecular Discovery Systems and the oil & gas sector through Advent Energy Ltd. BPH holds a significant stake in oil and gas exploration and development firm Advent, which holds offshore and onshore exploration and near-term development assets around Australia.

AXP Energy Limited (formerly Fremont Petroleum) is a low-cost conventional oil and gas producer headquartered in Colorado, USA. The Company operates oil and gas fields in Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana and Colorado. AXP's focus on efficient development of low-risk and high reward assets using cutting edge technology has started showing results. The Company recorded its maiden positive cash flow during the October quarter. To boost production further, the Company will soon commence drilling campaigns over its assets in the Western Kentucky/Illinois basin.

About Kalkine Media?

Kalkine Media is an independent global media house and investor relations group with its wings spread across Australia, New Zealand, Canada, UK and the US. It aims to keep its readers abreast of the latest and trending news on the equity and commodity markets, the unravelling economy and other business developments.

Contact: honey.bhargava@kalkine.com.au

Registration link for webinar - https://kalkinemedia.com/webinar/register/84525243152?utm_source=press_release&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=asx-opportunities-in-the-oil-gas-sector-meet-the-upstream-players

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1341740/Kalkine_Logo.jpg
Las Vegas, Nevada--(Newsfile Corp. - December 9, 2021) - EXLA RESOURCES, INC. (OTC Pink: EXLA) (the "Company") is pleased to announce the expansion of its Technical Team to include Guy Lauzier as the Company's Senior Technical Advisor and Chairman of the Company's Technical Committee, along with the addition of Geological Consultant, Patrick LaForest. It is also pleased to announce the appointment of Ryan D. Long as the VP of Corporate Development and Investor Communications.

About our Technical Team

Guy Lauzier B.Eng, Senior Technical Advisor

Guy is a mining engineer with over 40 years' experience in both underground and open pit mining. He has managed the construction of several mineral processing plants and mines, located in North America, Europe, South America and Africa. These skills have permitted him to successfully develop his knowledge in the areas of mine operations, engineering, supervision, project management, safety and operational improvements.

Patrick Laforest B.Sc, MBA, P.Geo., Consulting Geologist

Patrick has over 10 years' experience in exploration and production. During this time, he has worked in base metal, battery metal and precious metal exploration, development and mining projects working with companies such as: Canadian Royalties; Hecla Mining; and Nemaska Lithium. He has recently completed an MBA at the University Laval in Quebec city, and currently acts as a as a consultant geologist to serval companies

About Our Business Development Team

Ryan D. Long, VP of Corporate Development and Investor Communications

Ryan has over 10 years' experience in the mining and finance industries. Trained as a geologist, he has worked on exploration, development and production projects with companies including Barrick Gold, Anglo American and Xstrata in a variety of jurisdictions. As a Mining Analyst he has held roles with Edison Group and Northland Capital Partners. He was previously a founder and Non-Executive Director of private exploration company, Taoudeni Resources, and was a Non-Executive Director of NEX listed Goldcrest Resources. Ryan is currently the MD of Mining and Metals Research Corporation, a private mining consultancy.

New Website Update

The Company has recently completed the first phase of it's new website. The site will be useful for following the Company as it moves forward with its various projects. It will also provide a means for information about our team and our corporate direction.

New Projects Update

Our technical team is in advanced due diligence on a number of projects, located in Nevada, Idaho and Arizonia. Once each of these are finalized, the Company will update the market.

Forward-Looking Statements:

This release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such statements include any that may predict, forecast, indicate, or imply future results, performance or achievements, and may contain the words "estimate", "project", "intend", "forecast", "anticipate", "plan", "planning", "expect", "believe", "likely", "should", "could", "would", "may" or similar words or expressions. Such statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause the company's actual results and financial position to differ materially from those in such statements, which involve risks and uncertainties, including those relating to the Company's ability to grow. Actual results may differ materially from those predicted and any reported should not be considered an indication of future performance. Potential risks and uncertainties include the Company's operating history and resources, together with all usual and common economic, competitive, and equity market conditions / risks.

Contact:

Ryan Long, Communications Manager

EXLA Resources, Inc.

info@EXLAresources.com

www.EXLAresources.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/107248
TOKYO (dpa-AFX) - Japan is on Friday scheduled to release November numbers for producer prices, highlighting a light day for Asia-Pacific economic activity. Producer prices are expected to add 0.3 percent on month and 8.5 percent on year after rising 1.2 percent on month and 8.0 percent on year in October. The Philippines will provide October figures for imports, exports and trade balance. In September, imports surged 24.8 percent on year and exports added 6.3 percent for a trade deficit of $3.995 billion. Finally, the markets in Thailand are closed on Friday for Constitution Day and will re-open on Monday. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
Data signal importance of serial genomic testing in order to appropriately adjust breast cancer treatment plans

Agendia, Inc., a world leader in precision oncology for breast cancer, today shared data demonstrating the ability of MammaPrint and BluePrint to predict patient outcomes following neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) at the 2021 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS 2021).

The poster, titled MammaPrint and BluePrint are prognostic of outcome following neoadjuvant chemotherapy, presents findings that indicate MammaPrint and BluePrint accurately correlated with chemosensitivity and outcomes in NAC-treated patients. The research was conducted in collaboration with Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

Notably, approximately 1 in 4 tumors which were MammaPrint High Risk (Luminal B) prior to NAC became MammaPrint Low Risk (Luminal A) when the post-treatment tissue was analyzed. Patients with reclassified MammaPrint Low Risk tumors had improved five-year outcomes compared to patients that remained High Risk after treatment. These data signal a role for serial genomic testing to determine proper classification of breast cancer tumors following NAC treatment in order to appropriately manage a woman's future treatment plan and prognosis.

"By analyzing MammaPrint and BluePrint on pre- and post-NAC tissue samples for those with residual disease, we unlock new insights about their clinical utility and potential impact on treatment decisions given the biological changes that may occur following initial intervention," said Alice P. Chung, MD, Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. "The importance of accurate genomic classification of a tumor is crucial, especially in the context of these findings where 1 in 4 High Risk tumors became Low Risk insights which can significantly affect our treatment planning discussions with patients."

The analysis presented at SABCS 2021 features data from 128 women (median age 50) with stage I-III early breast cancer (EBC), of any clinical subtype, diagnosed from 2007-2016 who received NAC at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Among 111 pre-treated tumors, MammaPrint High Risk tumors had a significantly higher pathological complete response (pCR) rate than Low Risk tumors. Amongst tumors that had discordant MammaPrint results between pre- and post-treatment samples, the only change observed was from High Risk to Low Risk. BluePrint results were very consistent between pre- and post-NAC samples (92% concordance) with reclassification only occurring in the HER2-Type cohort, consistent with the known heterogeneity in clinically HER2-positive tumors.

"Neoadjuvant chemotherapy is the standard of care for the initial treatment of certain types of breast cancer, and for many women, the clinical response to therapy is thought to carry prognostic implications. This study illustrates the additional information provided by our genomic assays regarding response to therapy and prognosis," said William Audeh, MD, Chief Medical Officer at Agendia and a study author. "While changes in the MammaPrint Risk index with treatment are clearly associated with outcome, it is also important to note the consistency of BluePrint results pre- and post- treatment with neoadjuvant chemotherapy. These data further demonstrate the prognostic accuracy of the assays and confirm the importance of genomic information in our quest to identify better biomarkers in patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy."

Future studies will study the effect of NAC on the breast cancer transcriptome and its association with clinical outcomes.

About Agendia

Agendia is a mission-driven company focused on enabling optimized treatment planning by providing physicians with next-generation diagnostic and information solutions that can be used to help improve outcomes and quality of life for breast cancer patients worldwide. The company currently offers two commercially-available genomic profiling tests that help surgeons, oncologists and pathologists to personalize treatment for women at critical intervention points throughout their patient journey.

MammaPrint is a 70-gene prognostic test that, along with other clinicopathologic factors, determines a specific patient's breast cancer recurrence risk. BluePrint is an 80-gene molecular subtyping test that identifies the underlying biology of an individual breast cancer to provide information about its behavior, long-term prognosis and potential response to systemic therapy. Together, MammaPrint and BluePrint provide a holistic view of an individual patient's breast cancer, enabling physicians to objectively select the best treatment plan.

For more information on Agendia's assays and ongoing trials, please visit www.agendia.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211209006022/en/

Contacts:

Terri Clevenger

Westwicke/ICR Healthcare PR

Tel: 203.856.4326

Terri.Clevenger@westwicke.com
NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - December 9, 2021) - Maple Gold Mines Ltd. (TSXV: MGM) (OTCQB: MGMLF) (FSE: M3G) ("Maple Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that further to its news release on November 18, 2021, the Company has completed a "bought deal" brokered private placement (the "Offering") of 13,020,000 common shares in the capital of the Company that will qualify as "flow-through shares" (within the meaning of subsection 66(15) of the Income Tax Act (Canada) and section 359.1 of the Taxation Act (Quebec)) (the "FT Shares") at a price of $0.54 per FT Share (the "Issue Price") for gross proceeds of C$7,030,800, including 3,720,000 FT Shares issued in connection with the exercise in full of the underwriters' option granted to Cormark Securities Inc. and Agentis Capital Markets Canada LP (together, the "Underwriters") under the Offering.

The Offering received support from new investors as well as existing shareholders, including Agnico Eagle Mines Limited. Strong demand for the Offering resulted in the full exercise of the underwriters' option for additional gross proceeds of over C$2 million.

Matthew Hornor, President and CEO of Maple Gold, commented: "I would like to thank all of our new and existing shareholders for their strong endorsement of Maple Gold's district-scale gold potential and planned exploration activities across our Quebec project portfolio. With the closing of this financing, the Company is heading into the winter exploration season with an even healthier treasury that will enable us to ramp up drilling throughout 2022, including at our 100%-controlled Eagle Mine Property."

The gross proceeds from the issuance of the FT Shares will be used to fund Canadian exploration expenses and will qualify as "flow-through mining expenditures" (within the meaning of the Income Tax Act (Canada) and the Taxation Act (Quebec)) related to the Company's projects in Quebec on or prior to December 31, 2022 for renunciation to subscribers of FT Shares effective December 31, 2021.

The Underwriters received a cash commission (the "Underwriting Fee") equal to 6% of the gross proceeds of the Offering, other than in respect of FT Shares sold to certain president's list subscribers, in which case the Underwriting Fee was reduced to 3%.

The Offering remains subject to final acceptance by the TSX Venture Exchange. All securities issued under the Offering will be subject to a hold period expiring four months and one day from the date hereof. The securities offered have not been, nor will they be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any state securities law, and may not be offered, sold or delivered, directly or indirectly, within the United States, or to or for the account or benefit of U.S. persons, absent registration or an exemption from such registration requirements. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of securities in any state in the United States in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

About Maple Gold

Maple Gold Mines Ltd. is a Canadian advanced exploration company in a 50/50 joint venture with Agnico Eagle Mines Limited to jointly advance the district-scale Douay and Joutel gold projects located in Quebec's prolific Abitibi Greenstone Gold Belt. The projects benefit from exceptional infrastructure access and boast ~400 km2 of highly prospective ground including an established gold resource at Douay (RPA 2019) that holds significant expansion potential as well as the past-producing Eagle, Telbel and Eagle West mines at Joutel. In addition, the Company holds an exclusive option to acquire 100% of the Eagle Mine Property.

The district-scale property package also hosts a significant number of regional exploration targets along a 55 km strike length of the Casa Berardi Deformation Zone that have yet to be tested through drilling, making the project ripe for new gold and polymetallic discoveries. The Company is well capitalized and is currently focused on carrying out exploration and drill programs to grow resources and make new discoveries to establish an exciting new gold district in the heart of the Abitibi. For more information, please visit www.maplegoldmines.com.

ON BEHALF OF MAPLE GOLD MINES LTD.

"Matthew Hornor"

B. Matthew Hornor, President & CEO

For Further Information Please Contact:

Mr. Joness Lang

Executive Vice-President

Cell: 778.686.6836

Email: jlang@maplegoldmines.com

Mr. Kiran Patankar

SVP, Growth Strategy

Cell: 604.935.9577

Email: kpatankar@maplegoldmines.com

NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS PRESS RELEASE.

Forward Looking Statements:

This press release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively referred to as "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation in Canada, including statements about the use of proceeds, tax treatment of the FT Shares, the renouncement of the flow-through mining expenditures, exploration work and results from current and future work programs. Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions, uncertainties and management's best estimate of future events. Actual events or results could differ materially from the Company's expectations and projections. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. For a more detailed discussion of such risks and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, refer to Maple Gold Mines Ltd.'s filings with Canadian securities regulators available on www.sedar.com or the Company's website at www.maplegoldmines.com. The Company does not intend, and expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to, update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/107167
Anyscale, a San Francisco CA-based provider of a platform to simplify scaling and productionizing of AI applications, raised $100M in Series C funding.

The round, which valued the company at $1 billion and brought total financing to $160m, was led by Andreessen Horowitz and Addition with participation from existing investors NEA, Intel Capital and Foundation Capital.

The company intends to use the funds to expand operations and accelerate growth.



Led by Robert Nishihara, CEO, Anyscale is the company behind Ray, a platform enabling instant scaling of AI applications. It combines the end-to-end AI lifecycle on a single scalable compute platform. With a large ecosystem of distributed machine learning libraries, Ray, an open source project in distributed AI with 18,000 GitHub stars, allows developers to scale everything from data ingestion, to model training, to hyperparameter tuning, to model deployment. It is used by thousands of organizations globally, including Amazon, Ant Group, LinkedIn, Shopify, Uber and Visa.

FinSMEs

09/12/2021
Blickfeld, a Munich, Germany-based startup developing high performance and mass-producible LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) sensing technology, extened its Series A funding to $31m.

New Future Capital (NFC), a private equity firm that provides growth capital primarily in Asia, North America, and Europe, participated as a new investor, along with existing investors Bayern Kapital, Continental, Fluxunit  ams OSRAM Ventures, High-Tech Grunderfonds, Tengelmann Ventures, and UVC Partners.

The company intends to use the funds for expansion into new markets and further development of sensors and software.

Founded by Dr. Mathias Muller, Dr. sc. Florian Petit and Rolf Wojtech in 2017, Blickfeld develops and produces LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) sensors and perception software. The solutions provide high-resolution three-dimensional environmental information enabling countless applications, spanning from autonomous transportation and mobility, through to smart cities, industrial use, and security.

Since the last funding, Blickfeld has already taken significant steps forward in launching products to market, including the series production launch of its versatile 3D-LiDAR sensors, Cube 1 and Cube Range 1, for multiple industrial applications. Furthermore, the company executed multiple large-scale rollout projects, such as passenger flow detection at airports and volume measurement of bulk material in product warehouses.

In addition to the companys current resellers in 13 countries, including Germany, Canada, China, and Japan, the new round will support the opening of offices in the US and Asia and therefore promote Blickfelds international presence. The new offices will be dedicated to expanding Blickfelds network of integrators, serving the growing demand in the US and Asia as key markets. Alongside growth into new markets, the number of employees will rise significantly with a focus on the sales team.

Early in 2022, Blickfeld will add to its product range with new perception software technology with features including object detection, classification, tracking, and counting. Fields of application for this new product include industry, smart traffic, security, unmanned aerial vehicles, and people analytics.

Documents for download

Download picture of Blickfeld founders here

Contacts

Press contact

R. Agency

Kirsty Five

+44 7515 554 845

[email protected]
Cerebral, Inc., a San Francisco, CA-based online mental health company, closed a $300m Series C funding round.

The round, which brought total funding to $462, was led by the SoftBank Vision Fund 2 with participation from new and existing investors, including Prysm Capital, Access Industries, WestCap Group, and ARTIS Ventures.

The company intends to use the funds to invest in new service offerings, strategic partnerships, international expansion, and M&A opportunities to further solidify its position as the one-stop shop for behavioral care and to provide top-quality treatment options through data science and precision medicine.

Led by Kyle Robertson, founder and CEO, Cerebral is a one-stop shop for comprehensive, high-quality online mental health care and wellness. The company offers counseling, therapy, and medication delivery and management online for mental and behavioral health conditions such as depression, anxiety, serious mental illnesses, substance use disorder, nutrition, and more.

Cerebral has a team of over 2,000 clinicians practicing across all 50 states and partnerships with major insurance providers such as Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Magellan, and Medicare, as well as a growing number of employers.

FinSMEs

09/12/2021
Enda, a Nairobi, Kenya-based high-performance brand of running shoes, raised $1.1M in Series A funding.

The round was led by Talanton, a U.S. based impact investment fund focused on values aligned scale-up businesses in developing countries, and included several Kenyan angel investors.



Led by CEO Navalayo Osembo, Enda is a high-performance brand of running shoes designed to give customers the most from each workout and improve running consistently.

The company intends to use the funds to expand its product lines and distribution, as well as to partner with East African Breweries Limited (EABL) to create a locally-sourced running-inspired sneaker called Mwanzo. The new casual shoe is 80% sourced from Kenya.

FinSMEs

09/12/2021
Mambu, a London, UK and Amsterdam, Netherlands-based provider of a SaaS based banking platform, rased 235m in Series E funding round, at a valuation to 4.9 billion post money.

The round was led by EQT Growth. In conjunction with the funding, Carolina Brochado, Partner within EQT Growths Advisory Team, will be joining Mambus Board of Directors.

The company plans to accelerate investments in new areas of innovation for its next-generation banking platform, build on its strategic commercial partnerships and to deepen its already-global footprint and customer success services.

Led by Eugene Danilkis, co-founder and CEO, Mambu provides a SaaS cloud banking platform that fast-tracks the design and building of nearly any type of financial product for banks, lenders, fintechs, retailers, telcos and more. Founded in 2011, the company has 800 employees and 200 customers globally, including N26, OakNorth, Tandem, ABN AMRO, Bank Islam, BancoEstado, League Data and Orange Bank.

FinSMEs

09/12/2021
Rivet, a Lenexa, KS-based Ethereum infrastructure service built on open-source technology, raised $1.5m in funding.

Digital Finance Group, a global blockchain and cryptocurrency investment firm, led the round.

The company intends to use the funds to grow the team, develop its product, and enable it to provide more services for its users.

Led by Austin Roberts, CEO, Rivet serves as a bridge toward web 3.0 and provides the infrastructure that developers need to leverage DeFi to a more advanced level. The open-source service interacts with smart contracts on the Ethereum blockchain. The company offers a privacy-first node service, gathering minimal data without selling it or sharing it with third parties.

FinSMEs

08/12/2021
Jin Stedge, CEO and Co-Founder of TrueNorth

TrueNorth, a San Francisco, CA-based platform that offers independent truckers a platform to run their businesses, secured $50M in a Series B funding.

Backers included Lachy Groom and Sam, Max, Jack Altman, Flexport Fund, Tribe Capital, Original Capital, K5 Global, 137 Ventures, and Fifth Down Capital, among others. Other early investors include Fronts Mathilde Collin, Figmas Dylan Field, Intercoms Eoghan McCabe and Des Traynor, Stripes Claire Hughes Johnson, and Color Genomicss Elad Gil.

The company, which has raised $61.8M in total funding to date, intends to use the funds to further invest in its platform.

Led by Jin Stedge, CEO and Co-Founder, TrueNorth is an end-to-end solution for independent truck drivers to manage their customers, find, book, and coordinate loads, optimize their routes, invoice customers, and collect payment. The platform also offers fleet cards that can be used as fuel and debit cards and support for meeting DOT Safety and other regulatory requirements.

The company, which participated in Y Combinator in 2020, has seen strong organic customer growth in the two years since its founding. In the last six months, the company has grown its revenue by 3.4x as it improved its contribution margin by 64%. It grew its headcount by 67% during that time.

FinSMEs

08/12/2021
POCO launched the POCO F3 GT handset back in July 2021 in India. The POCO F3 GT is the second POCO F-series handset to launch in India. The handset is a rebranded Redmi K40 Game Enhanced Edition that launched a few months back in China. POCO F3 GT boots the companys proprietary MIUI 12.5 on top of Android 11.

MIUI 12 brings all-new design and animations along with new features such as Super Wallpapers, Floating Window, New Control Center, Enhanced Privacy Protection features such as Interceptor, Flare, Hidden Mask Mode, and more to the devices, check out this post to learn more about MIUI 12 features.

This post will help our readers in keeping track of MIUI updates for POCO F3 GT (codename aresin), also check out our POCO F3 GT content,

Note that POCO follows staged roll-out, so the updates are randomly pushed to a limited number of users and a broader roll-out usually takes a few days after the company makes sure there are no critical bugs.

POCO F3 GT MIUI 12.5 Updates,

Also take a look at Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO MIUI 13 Update Tracker

[Dec 8, 2021]: POCO F3 GT MIUI 12.5.7.0.RKJINXM update is now rolling out for Pilot testers in India. The update weighs 160MBs in size.

[Dec 2, 2021]: As per a new report, Xiaomi has started testing Android 12 based MIUI 13 China Stable build for Redmi K40 Gaming (known POCO F3 GT in India).

China Stable build for Redmi K40 Gaming (known POCO F3 GT in India). [Nov 9, 2021]: Xiaomi, with MIUI China Beta 21.11.8 update, brings Android 12 to Redmi K40 Gaming (known as POCO F3 GT in India).

to Redmi K40 Gaming (known as POCO F3 GT in India). [Aug 30, 2021]: POCO has started rolling MIUI 12.5.5.0.RKJINXM update for POCO F3 GT users in India. The update weighs 295MBs in size, and brings August 2021 Android security patch to the device. [Download Link] System Optimization: Updated Android Security Patch to August 2021. Increased system security.

[Jul 21, 2021]: POCO has started rolling MIUI 12.5.4.0.RKJINXM update for POCO F3 GT users in India. The update weighs 118MBs in size, and brings July 2021 Android security patch to the device. [Download Link] System Optimization: Updated Android Security Patch to July 2021. Increased system security

Spotted a newer software version for POCO F3 GT? Tip us on Twitter!

Screenshot via
Oregon State University will be hosting a coronavirus vaccine booster clinic next week, Wednesday, Dec. 15 and Thursday, Dec. 16.

No appointment is necessary and the clinic is specifically for booster doses, not first or second doses.

Both Pfizer and Moderna vaccines will be on hand at the OSU Alumni Center, 725 SW 26th St. in Corvallis. The clinics will run from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that people ages 18 and older receive a booster dose of the coronavirus vaccine six months after their second dose.

Those who received a single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine are eligible for a booster after two months. J&J recipients can receive a booster dose of Moderna or Pfizer brand vaccines.
Overland Park, Kan., Dec. 08, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Utilities Service Alliance, Inc. (USA) and Koreas largest electric power generation company, Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co., Ltd. (KHNP), signed an agreement Dec. 3 to work mutually in support of USA objectives and services with utility peers and to help promote industry goodwill. USA and KHNP will cooperate in the development of innovative solutions to enhance nuclear power plant safety and performance within the USA fleet and in the broader international commercial nuclear power industry.

Through this landmark agreement, KHNP will work with USA, their subject matter experts and key plant leadership from leading U.S. commercial nuclear operators. More importantly, the agreement provides a platform for KHNP and USA to exchange the latest safety practices and innovations to improve plant performance.

Not only does this agreement expand engagement and opportunities for KHNP within USA, it formalizes our collaboration on safety practices and performance improvement  something from which the entire industry may benefit, said USA President and Chief Executive Officer John Christensen. USA and its members are also pleased to be taking actionable steps in advancing US-Korean commercial nuclear innovation and market cooperation.

Under the agreement, KHNP will share its operating expertise from its fleet of 24 operating reactors and its O&M technologies, equipment and services that the company has established through its nearly 40 years of developing and operating nuclear power plants.

With our new relationship, USA members will also be able to share their unique industry position and 25 years of experience in leveraging their proven business and supplier partnership programs with KHNP, said USA Board Chairman Joel Gebbie. USA has helped its utility members to achieve and maintain consistent, cost-effective, top-quartile performance  a proven and well-known measure of success within our industry  and we look forward to sharing our experiences through our new relationship with KHNP.

In alignment with the joint statement from US President Joe Biden and Republic of Korean President Moon Jae-in on nuclear cooperation earlier this year in Washington, DC, KHNP has been pursuing ways to partner and cooperate in overseas markets. KHNP viewed working with USA member utilities and supplier partners as a perfect fit to enhance cooperation and to unlock commercial opportunities to add mutual value.

As a leading top three global operator in nuclear, we look forward to exchanging information and collaborating on ideas with our new partners in the USA, said KHNP CEO Mr. Jae-hoon Chung. More importantly, In order for nuclear power to be competitive in the era of de-carbonization, the establishment of a reliable supply chain of equipment and materials must be premised above all else. I think if our experiences on operations and supply chains are shared and leveraged with USA member companies, it will pave the way for us to secure the competitiveness of the Korea-U.S. nuclear industry.



###

About Utilities Service Alliance (USA): The Utilities Service Alliance, Inc. (USA) is a not-for-profit cooperative, governed by a Board of Directors comprised of executives from the member utilities and headquartered in Overland Park, Kansas. USA is designed to facilitate collaboration among its eight member utilities. Together, it works to improve safety and performance, reduce operating and maintenance costs, and provide innovation and leadership within the nuclear power industry. By being a part of the Alliance, USAs member utilities get the best of both worlds; fleet benefits while keeping the flexibility of their independent operator status. For more information, please visit us at https:/www.usainc.org.

About Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co., Ltd. (KHNP): KHNP is the largest electric power company in Korea, generating approximately 29.8% of the total electric power (Dec. 31, 2020 / The Monthly Report on Major Electric Power Statistics). KHNP is a global top 3 utility providing 100% emissions solutions, including 24 operating nuclear power plants with 4 more units under construction in Korea. KHNP is also a global leader in delivering cost effective O&M solutions and on-time and on-budget construction of new nuclear power plants, including its advanced APR1400 reactor design. For more information on KHNP, please visit https://www.khnp.co.kr.

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HOUSTON, Dec. 08, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Zeta Energy, LLC is pleased to announce that it will be moving into a new 12,000-plus-square-foot facility in West Houston. This facility will be used for the advancement of Zeta Energy's material chemistry and process development for its proprietary lithium-sulfur battery technology. The facility is expected to be fully operational by Q2 2022 and will employ 40 employees, including 25 dedicated researchers, battery engineers and development personnel.

As noted by Chief Executive Officer Charles Maslin, "Houston's petrochemical industry and the availability of experienced technical talent will accelerate our growth towards commercialization of our exciting lithium-sulfur battery technology." Chief Operating Officer Tom Pilette adds, "Houston is the ideal location for us to advance our core battery/materials technology. There is no other location that can compare to Houston for a concentration of reactor processing."

Zeta Energy develops and produces high-density, long-lasting, cobalt-free lithium-sulfur batteries. Zeta Energy anticipates that its batteries will cost less than $70 kWh.

About Zeta Energy

Zeta Energy is a U.S.-based privately held company focused on developing and commercializing high-performance, safe, rechargeable batteries that are lower cost and sustainably manufactured. Zeta has filed more than 30 patents on its proprietary carbon nanotube anode and sulfur cathode technology. The Company may from time to time disclose public material events via its website at http://www.ZetaEnergy.com or its social media accounts at the following locations:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/zeta-energy-llc/about/

https://twitter.com/ZetaEnergy

Company Contact:

info@zetaenergy.com

www.zetaenergy.com

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This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com.

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TORONTO, Dec. 08, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rogers Communications Inc. ("RCI") announced today that it has priced a Canadian offering of $2 billion aggregate principal amount of 5.0% fixed-to-fixed rate subordinated notes due 2081 (the Notes). The net proceeds from the issuance of the Notes will be approximately $1.98 billion. RCI expects to use the net proceeds of this Canadian offering to fund a portion of the cash investment required to acquire the 3500 MHz spectrum licences that it was awarded following the ISEDs spectrum auction earlier this year. The sale of the Notes is expected to close on December 17, 2021.



The Notes were offered exclusively to persons resident in a Canadian province, through a syndicate of agents on a private placement basis. The Notes were not offered to investors outside of Canada. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities.

About Rogers:

Rogers is a proud Canadian company dedicated to making more possible for Canadians each and every day. Our founder, Ted Rogers, purchased his first radio station, CHFI, in 1960. We have grown to become a leading technology and media company that strives to provide the very best in wireless, residential, sports, and media to Canadians and Canadian businesses. Our shares are publicly traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: RCI.A and RCI.B) and on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: RCI). If you want to find out more about us, visit about.rogers.com.

For further information:

Investor Relations

1-(844)-801-4792

investor.relations@rci.rogers.com

Glenn Brandt, (416) 935-3571, gbrandt@rci.rogers.com
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Dec. 08, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Imperial Metals Corporation (the Company) (TSX:III) reports further drilling results continue to expand the mineralization at the East Ridge zone at the Red Chris mine. Hole RC739 returned 390 metres at 0.48% copper and 0.63 g/t gold from 1,088 metres, including 44 metres at 1.3% copper and 2.0 g/t gold from 1,402 metres. This hole is located 100 metres east of RC727 (previously reported). Hole RC745 located a further 100 metres east of RC739, returned 366 metres of 0.57% copper and 0.45 g/t gold from 728 metres, including 36 metres at 1.2% copper and 1.4 g/t gold from 960 metres. The mineralization at East Ridge is open to the east and at depth with ongoing drilling to define the extents.

Brian Kynoch, President of Imperial Metals, said, The East Ridge zone is well located, as the exploration ramp being driven to access the top of the deep East Zone is about 200 metres to the north of the East Ridge zone and could provide access for both underground drilling and potentially underground development. Drilling continues to expand the zone, with drillhole RC739 located 100 metres east of RC727 returning 390 metres grading 0.48% copper and 0.63 g/t gold, including a 44 metre interval grading 1.3% copper and 2.0 g/t gold.

Red Chris - Significant results since the September 2021 Quarterly Exploration Report:

Hole ID From (m) To (m) Width (m) Copper (%) Gold (g/t) RC735 888 1128 240 0.53 0.49 including 1012 1114 102 0.59 0.82 including 1068 1092 24 0.68 1.4 RC739 1088 1478 390 0.48 0.63 including 1302 1372 70 0.49 0.68 including 1402 1446 44 1.3 2.0 RC745 728 1094 366 0.57 0.45 including 958 1016 58 1.0 1.1 including 960 996 36 1.2 1.4 RC747 706 1012 306 0.39 0.28 including 880 926 46 0.86 0.77 including 896 916 20 1.2 1.1

The East Ridge zone, located in the porphyry corridor about 300 metres along strike east of the East Zone, is outside of the current Mineral Resource estimate. The drilling has confirmed continuity of the East Ridge zone mineralization (>0.4% copper and >0.4 g/t gold) over dimensions of 600 metre high, 500 metre long and 125 metre wide, and with the higher grade (>0.8% copper and >0.8 g/t gold) over 500 metre high, 300 metre long and 100 metre wide. The mineralization remains open to the east and at depth. Drilling is ongoing with 18 holes completed and four in progress. The follow up drilling is being completed with angle holes on a nominal 100 metre by 100 metre grid.

The Company has taken initial steps towards recommencement of operations at Mount Polley mine. Stripping operations began in November and about 344,000 tonnes of material were mined during the month. This work is being undertaken to complete the stripping required to enable milling operations to restart in 2022. Mechanical and electrical contractors continue to work on refurbishing the plant, including work on tailings slurry and reclaim water pipelines and pumps, crushers, conveyors, screens, grinding mills and plant water systems. In early December, the crushing plant was commissioned and a trial of the crushing plant was successfully completed providing crush material for winter road maintenance. The Mount Polley management team is targeting the plant to be ready for a Spring 2022 restart of plant operations.

Jim Miller-Tait, P.Geo., Imperial Metals Vice President Exploration, is the designated Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 for the Red Chris exploration program and has reviewed this news release. Red Chris samples for the 2021 drilling reported were analysed at Bureau Veritas Mineral Laboratories in Vancouver. A full QA/QC program using blanks, standards and duplicates was completed for all diamond drilling samples submitted to the labs. Significant assay intervals reported represent apparent widths. Insufficient geological information is available to confirm the geological model and true width of significant assay intervals.

Cross sections, drillhole data and plan view map are available on the Companys website at www.imperialmetals.com.

About Imperial

Imperial is a Vancouver based exploration, mine development and operating company. The Company, through its subsidiaries, owns a 30% interest in the Red Chris mine, and a 100% interest in both the Mount Polley and Huckleberry copper mines in British Columbia.

Company Contacts

Brian Kynoch | President | 604.669.8959

Jim Miller-Tait | Vice President Exploration | 604.488.2676

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain information contained in this news release are not statements of historical fact and are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect Company managements expectations or beliefs regarding future events and include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the Companys expectations with respect to current and further drilling at Red Chris, including plans to expand and define the extent of mineralization at the East Ridge zone; the belief of potential access for both underground drilling and underground development at the East Ridge zone; and the expectations and timing for restart of plant operations at Mount Polley mine.

In certain cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "outlook", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved" or the negative of these terms or comparable terminology. By their very nature forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements.

In making the forward-looking statements in this release, the Company has applied certain factors and assumptions that are based on information currently available to the Company as well as the Companys current beliefs and assumptions. These factors and assumptions and beliefs and assumptions include, the risk factors detailed from time to time in the Companys interim and annual financial statements and managements discussion and analysis of those statements, all of which are filed and available for review on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended, many of which are beyond the Companys ability to control or predict. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and all forward-looking statements in this news release are qualified by these cautionary statements. Such information is given only as of the date of this news release. The Company does not assume any obligation to update its forward-looking information to reflect new information, subsequent events or otherwise, except as required by law.
Volta Finance Limited (VTA/VTAS)

Dividend Declaration

NOT FOR RELEASE, DISTRIBUTION OR PUBLICATION,

IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES

Guernsey, 9 December 2021

Volta Finance Limited ("the Company") hereby announces a fourth interim dividend for the financial year commencing 1 August 2020.

The Company announces that it has declared a quarterly interim dividend of 0.15 per share payable on 27 January 2022 amounting to approximately 5.49 million, equating approximately to an annualised 8% of net asset value. The ex-dividend date is 16 December 2021 with a record date of 17 December 2021.

The Company has arranged for its shareholders to be able to elect to receive their dividends in either Euros or Pounds Sterling. Shareholders will, by default, receive their dividends in Euros, unless they have instructed the Companys Registrar, Computershare Investor Services (Guernsey) Limited (Computershare), to pay dividends in Pounds Sterling. Such instructions may be given to Computershare either electronically via CREST or by using the Currency Election Form which has been posted to shareholders and a copy of which is also available on the website www.voltafinance.com within the Investors  Other Documents section. The deadline for receipt of currency elections is 12:00 (midday) on 20 December 2021.

CONTACTS

For the Investment Manager

AXA Investment Managers Paris

Serge Demay

serge.demay@axa-im.com



+33 (0) 1 44 45 84 47

Company Secretary and Administrator

BNP Paribas Securities Services S.C.A, Guernsey Branch

guernsey.bp2s.volta.cosec@bnpparibas.com

+44 (0) 1481 750 853

Corporate Broker

Cenkos Securities plc

Andrew Worne

Daniel Balabanoff

+44 (0) 20 7397 8900

*****

ABOUT VOLTA FINANCE LIMITED

Volta Finance Limited is incorporated in Guernsey under The Companies (Guernsey) Law, 2008 (as amended) and listed on Euronext Amsterdam and the London Stock Exchange's Main Market for listed securities. Voltas home member state for the purposes of the EU Transparency Directive is the Netherlands. As such, Volta is subject to regulation and supervision by the AFM, being the regulator for financial markets in the Netherlands.

Voltas investment objectives are to preserve capital across the credit cycle and to provide a stable stream of income to its shareholders through dividends. Volta seeks to attain its investment objectives predominantly through diversified investments in structured finance assets. The assets that the Company may invest in either directly or indirectly include, but are not limited to: corporate credits; sovereign and quasi-sovereign debt; residential mortgage loans; and, automobile loans. The Companys approach to investment is through vehicles and arrangements that essentially provide leveraged exposure to portfolios of such underlying assets. The Company has appointed AXA Investment Managers Paris an investment management company with a division specialised in structured credit, for the investment management of all its assets.

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ABOUT AXA INVESTMENT MANAGERS

AXA Investment Managers (AXA IM) is a multi-expert asset management company within the AXA Group, a global leader in financial protection and wealth management. AXA IM is one of the largest European-based asset managers with 767 investment professionals and 866 billion in assets under management as of the end of June 2021.

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This press release is published by AXA Investment Managers Paris (AXA IM), in its capacity as alternative investment fund manager (within the meaning of Directive 2011/61/EU, the AIFM Directive) of Volta Finance Limited (the "Volta Finance") whose portfolio is managed by AXA IM.

This press release is for information only and does not constitute an invitation or inducement to acquire shares in Volta Finance. Its circulation may be prohibited in certain jurisdictions and no recipient may circulate copies of this document in breach of such limitations or restrictions. This document is not an offer for sale of the securities referred to herein in the United States or to persons who are U.S. persons for purposes of Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), or otherwise in circumstances where such offer would be restricted by applicable law. Such securities may not be sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration from the Securities Act. Volta Finance does not intend to register any portion of the offer of such securities in the United States or to conduct a public offering of such securities in the United States.

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This communication is only being distributed to and is only directed at (i) persons who are outside the United Kingdom or (ii) investment professionals falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the Order) or (iii) high net worth companies, and other persons to whom it may lawfully be communicated, falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order (all such persons together being referred to as relevant persons). The securities referred to herein are only available to, and any invitation, offer or agreement to subscribe, purchase or otherwise acquire such securities will be engaged in only with, relevant persons. Any person who is not a relevant person should not act or rely on this document or any of its contents. Past performance cannot be relied on as a guide to future performance.

*****

This press release contains statements that are, or may deemed to be, "forward-looking statements". These forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the terms "believes", "anticipated", "expects", "intends", "is/are expected", "may", "will" or "should". They include the statements regarding the level of the dividend, the current market context and its impact on the long-term return of Volta Finance's investments. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and readers are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. Volta Finance's actual results, portfolio composition and performance may differ materially from the impression created by the forward-looking statements. AXA IM does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking statements.

Any target information is based on certain assumptions as to future events which may not prove to be realised. Due to the uncertainty surrounding these future events, the targets are not intended to be and should not be regarded as profits or earnings or any other type of forecasts. There can be no assurance that any of these targets will be achieved. In addition, no assurance can be given that the investment objective will be achieved.

The figures provided that relate to past months or years and past performance cannot be relied on as a guide to future performance or construed as a reliable indicator as to future performance. Throughout this review, the citation of specific trades or strategies is intended to illustrate some of the investment methodologies and philosophies of Volta Finance, as implemented by AXA IM. The historical success or AXA IMs belief in the future success, of any of these trades or strategies is not indicative of, and has no bearing on, future results.

The valuation of financial assets can vary significantly from the prices that the AXA IM could obtain if it sought to liquidate the positions on behalf of the Volta Finance due to market conditions and general economic environment. Such valuations do not constitute a fairness or similar opinion and should not be regarded as such.

Editor: AXA INVESTMENT MANAGERS PARIS, a company incorporated under the laws of France, having its registered office located at Tour Majunga, 6, Place de la Pyramide - 92800 Puteaux. AXA IMP is authorized by the Autorite des Marches Financiers under registration number GP92008 as an alternative investment fund manager within the meaning of the AIFM Directive.

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Past performance cannot be relied on as a guide to future performance.
English French

Press contact Capgemini :

Helene Delannet

Tel.: +33 (0)1 57 99 44 51

E-mail: helene.delannet@capgemini.com











Press contacts SAP :

Sylvie Lechevin

Communication Director France

E-mail: sylvie.lechevin@sap.com



Mathilde Thireau

Publicis Consultants

Tel.: +33 (0)6 49 68 42 72

Email: presse-sap@publicisconsultants.com

Capgemini and SAP support the transformation of Carrefour's finance function in France

Paris - December 9 2021 - Capgemini and SAP announce the signing of a contract with Carrefour to support the financial transformation of its French subsidiary. This partnership covers the redesign of all financial back-office processes.

Efficiency, reliability, and speed: the expectations of operational staff and management with regard to financial processes are increasingly high in an ever more complex regulatory environment. To meet these requirements and anticipate market changes, Carrefour has chosen to revisit and modernize all of its financial processes through a program with an international dimension, following these objectives:

Define a common management framework for all finance teams and to ensure the deployment of efficient financial processes at Carrefour in France, for all functions: indirect purchases, third-party and general accounting, management control, etc.

Bring these processes into compliance, by making available standardized repositories shared by the Group's entities.

Unify and simplify the user experience within a single interface.





As part of the implementation of this program, Capgemini and SAP are supporting Carrefour France in the deployment of the SAP S/4HANA solution, a true digital foundation on which financial and accounting data will be articulated in a transparent, simple and accessible manner. As a result of this solution, Carrefours Finance and Management Department in France has a proven lever to accelerate its digitalization.

Javier Garcia Barbeyto, Director of Finance Management at Carrefour France, commented: "The transformation of the Finance function is at the heart of our concerns. It is essential to provide our customers with even more value, advice and services. Digitalization, and in particular the replacement of our financial back-office tool, is a timely challenge. We know that such a replacement can be very complex. This is why we have chosen to rely on SAP and its robust S/4HANA information system, as well as on Capgemini, which is a solid and committed partner to accompany us in this challenge.

Frederic Chauvire, General Manager, SAP France, adds: At SAP, we are delighted that Carrefour France Finance has trusted us to support them in their transformation program. We are confident that with our leading-edge technologies and our latest generation of real-time solutions, we will be able to provide the agility and transparency needed to meet compliance requirements and provide users with a responsive workplace.

Patrick Ferraris, Head of Consumer Goods and Retail, Capgemini in France, comments: "We are proud to accompany Carrefour in its transformation journey of its Finance function, which is at the heart of its performance challenges and an important lever for its future evolution projects. This collaboration is built on the trust and quality of Capgeminis long-term relationship with Carrefour.

About Capgemini

Capgemini is a global leader in partnering with companies to transform and manage their business by harnessing the power of technology. The Group is guided everyday by its purpose of unleashing human energy through technology for an inclusive and sustainable future. It is a responsible and diverse organization of over 300,000 team members in nearly 50 countries. With its strong 50-year heritage and deep industry expertise, Capgemini is trusted by its clients to address the entire breadth of their business needs, from strategy and design to operations, fueled by the fast evolving and innovative world of cloud, data, AI, connectivity, software, digital engineering and platforms. The Group reported in 2020 global revenues of 16 billion.

Get The Future You Want | www.capgemini.com

About SAP

SAP's strategy is to help every business run as an intelligent enterprise. As a market leader in enterprise application software, we help companies of all sizes and in all industries run at their best. Our machine learning, Internet of Things (IoT), and advanced analytics technologies help turn customers' businesses into intelligent enterprises. SAP helps to give people and organizations deep business insight and fosters collaboration that helps them stay ahead of their competition. We simplify technology for companies so they can consume our software the way they want  without disruption. Our end-to-end suite of applications and services enables business and public customers across 25 industries globally to operate profitably, adapt continuously, and make a difference. With a global network of customers, partners, employees, and thought leaders, SAP helps the world run better and improve people's lives.

For more information, visit http://www.sap.com.

Attachment
Zurich, Switzerland, Dec. 09, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hitachi Energy and National Grid have successfully energized a pilot project replacing SF6 in installed high-voltage gas-insulated lines with an eco-efficient fluoronitrile based gas mixture. This retrofill solution, in Richborough, UK is part of Hitachi Energys EconiQTM portfolio which is designed to deliver a superior environmental performance compared to conventional solutions.

As one of the worlds largest investor-owned transmission and distribution utilities, National Grid has the ambition to remove all SF6 from its fleet by 2050. In this pioneering project, National Grid has replaced SF6 from 420-kilovolt (kV) gas-insulated lines installed in 2016, eliminating 755 kilograms of SF6. This is equivalent to taking approximately 100 passenger cars1 off the road.

For decades, SF6 has been used in the electrical industry due to its excellent insulation and current interruption properties. However, it has a high Global Warming Potential (GWP) and requires careful handling. Hitachi Energy is continuously reducing the use of SF6, improving its lifecycle management, and accelerating the development of eco-efficient products.

We have a responsibility to help our customers like National Grid to accelerate the energy transition, said Markus Heimbach, Managing Director of High Voltage Products business in Hitachi Energy. Innovative EconiQ retrofill technology for installed gas-insulated lines along with the new EconiQ switchgear and breakers portfolio will enable our customers and the industry as a whole to reduce carbon footprint and rapidly transition to eco-efficient solutions.

Climate change is the greatest challenge of our time and this new transformational green technology will help achieve wide-scale decarbonisation on our electricity transmission network. The retrofill solution replaces SF6, cutting emissions and network outages at the same time as saving costs by avoiding the need to spend on costly replacement equipment, said Chris Bennett, Acting President of National Grid. We are proud to be working with Hitachi Energy, and to demonstrate a practical solution to a significant issue in the energy industrys transition to net zero.

EconiQ is Hitachi Energys eco-efficient portfolio for sustainability, where products, services and solutions are proven to deliver exceptional environmental performance. Recently, the company announced the acceleration of its development of eco-efficient solutions, outlining its extensive EconiQ roadmap of switchgear and breakers in various voltage levels. Hitachi Energy has placed sustainability at the heart of its Purpose and is advancing a sustainable energy future for all.

Notes

Retrofill is the process of replacing SF6 in an existing equipment with a new eco-efficient gas mixture to improve the environmental and life-cycle performance of the equipment.

About Hitachi Energy

Hitachi Energy is a global technology leader that is advancing a sustainable energy future for all. We serve customers in the utility, industry and infrastructure sectors with innovative solutions and services across the value chain. Together with customers and partners, we pioneer technologies and enable the digital transformation required to accelerate the energy transition towards a carbon-neutral future. We are advancing the worlds energy system to become more sustainable, flexible and secure whilst balancing social, environmental and economic value. Hitachi Energy has a proven track record and unparalleled installed base in more than 140 countries. Headquartered in Switzerland, we employ around 38,000 people in 90 countries and generate business volumes of approximately $10 billion USD.

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HOUSTON, Dec. 09, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Roboze, provider of high-performance additive manufacturing (AM) solutions using the world's most accurate 3D printers for metal replacement, has announced that Alfredo Altavilla and Boris Collardi have invested in the company and joined its Advisory Board, along with Sandro De Poli (Chairman of the Board of Avio Aero), Federico Faggin (co-inventor of the microprocessor) and Alain Harrus (venture capitalist in Silicon Valley).



Alfredo Altavilla is one of the best-known industrial leaders on the global scene, having served as Executive VP at FCA after having been CEO of Iveco, FPT and Tofas, working alongside Sergio Marchionne, and leading FIAT to merge with Chrysler and become one of the major global automotive players. He is currently Executive Chairman of ITA Airways, Italy's new national airline, with the task of launching and consolidating it. He sits on numerous boards in Italy and the US and is Senior Advisor to CVC, Europe's largest private equity fund with assets of 75 billion.



"Additive Manufacturing is among the technologies that will help us meet future manufacturing, logistics and raw material sourcing challenges, he said, adding: "Roboze has a disruptive proprietary technology, the vision and a team of experts to lead the way. It is a pleasure for me to be an investor and member of the Advisory Board".



Roboze aims to reshape the global supply chain with cutting-edge 3D printing technology and a marketplace based on the Manufacturing as a Service model. Boris Collardi is a recognised leader in the financial industry having served as CEO at Julius Baer Group and Managing Partner at Pictet, two of the largest banking and asset management institutions, and will work with the company to support it on its organic and inorganic growth in the years to come.



"Roboze is changing global manufacturing through its proprietary 3D printing technology and use of super materials. I met with a team of experienced scientists and engineers and gained insight into their vision for the future - smart, sustainable and distributed manufacturing, he said. "This is a moment that we at Roboze will remember for a long time. Having the support of people like Alfredo Altavilla and Boris Collardi, makes us realise that we have done something significant, but more importantly, it tells us that we are on the right track to do something that will leave a mark, concluded Alessio Lorusso, Founder & CEO of Roboze.

For more information:

LaPresse SpA Communication and Press Office Director

Barbara Sanicola - barbara.sanicola@lapresse.it

+39 02 26305578 M +39 333 3905243

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4365cd5c-fbaf-4019-9522-dabd9f063ef7
Dublin, Dec. 09, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Germany Crawler Excavator Market - Strategic Assessment & Forecast 2021-2027" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



Germany excavator market size to reach a volume of 24514 units by 2027, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.48% by volume during 2021-2027



Increasing demand for crawler excavators is attributed to investments by developed countries, favorable government policies and FDIs, shifting focus toward domestic manufacturing, and upcoming industrial developments in the mining and construction industries.

Intelligent systems driven by IoT and data analysis for service, networking, and sustainability, the crawler excavator market is transitioning to a more innovative industry. The Germany crawler excavator market is expected to show an incremental growth of 4,781 units, during the forecast period 2021-2027.



GERMANY CRAWLER EXCAVATOR MARKET INSIGHTS

In 2021, the Germany crawler excavator market size was USD 18846 units by revenue. The rise in fuel prices will increase mini the demand growth of mini excavators as they are more fuel-efficient, and manufacturers are coming up with electrically powered compact excavators in the German industry.

The mining industry majorly contributes to the large excavator market in the country. The demand for these excavators will be supported by an increasing preference for new mining projects in the country. Agriculture is one of the largest industries in Germany. The usage of mini and small excavators is estimated to increase in the sector owing to their high fuel efficiency and availability of the latest technology at a low cost.

The high market share is due to government investments in construction projects and the increasing preference from consumers towards lightweight and compact excavators.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE REPORT

Several global companies have their manufacturing base for a manufacturing base in Germany, increasing the competition in the market.

Machinery and equipment are some of the technological factors driving Germany as a high-tech nation and combining all key future technologies. Small and medium-sized enterprises dominate the domestic M&E sector.

Ongoing construction and infrastructure projects coupled with the nation's infrastructure development plans related to housing construction are expected to drive the market for 102 hp - 200 hp Crawler.

GERMANY CRAWLER EXCAVATOR MARKET - SEGMENTATION ANALYSIS

Germany mini crawler excavator market is expected to reach USD 787.4 million by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 4.86%.

The construction equipment industry contributes significantly to the growth of the country's GDP, with more than 5% of the annual gross output.

VENDOR LANDSCAPE

Komatsu collaborated with Honda motor to manufacture micro electric excavator powered by Honda mobile power pack batteries for civil Engineering and construction industries to add new eco-friendly products in its portfolio and cater to the rise in demand for eco-friendly products in construction machinery industries.

Volvo Construction Equipment is a global construction equipment company with headquarters in Gothenburg, Sweden. The company has partnered and collaborated with other leading companies to capitalize on the market demand.

Major Vendors

Caterpillar

Komatsu

Hitachi Construction Machinery

Hyundai Construction Equipment

SANY

Volvo Construction Equipment

Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction

Kobelco

Other Prominent Vendors

Sumitomo Heavy Industries

Kubota Corporation

Ingersoll Rand

Liebherr Group

Xuzhou Construction Machinery Group Co., Ltd. (XCMG)

LeeBoy

Key Topics Covered:

Section 1 - Introduction

Market Snapshot

Executive Summary

Section 2 - The Market Overview

Economic Scenario, Germany Opportunities, Equipment Financing Structure, Supply Chain Insight, COVID-19 Impact, COVID-19 Impact Analysis

Section 3- Technological Advances

Technology Adoption by Major Vendors with Examples

Section 4 Market Dynamics

Market Drivers, Restraints, Trends

Section 5 - Germany Crawler Excavator Market (Type & Operating Weight)

Germany Crawler Excavator Market by Excavator Type

Mini Crawler Excavator, Market Size and Forecast, Volume & Value

Small Crawler Excavator, Market Size and Forecast, Volume & Value

Medium Crawler Excavator, Market Size and Forecast, Volume & Value

Large Crawler Excavator, Market Size and Forecast, Volume & Value

Germany Crawler Excavator Market by Application

Crawler Excavator, Construction Market Size and Forecast, Volume & Value

Crawler Excavator, Mining Market Size and Forecast, Volume & Value

Crawler Excavator, Agriculture Market Size and Forecast, Volume & Value

Crawler Excavator, Forestry Market Size and Forecast, Volume & Value

Crawler Excavator, Other Market Size and Forecast, Volume & Value

Germany Crawler Excavator Market by Gross Power

Crawler Excavator Market by Gross Power Output, < 60hp, Volume

Crawler Excavator Market by Gross Power Output, 61hp-11hp, Volume

Crawler Excavator Market by Gross Power Output,12hp-200hp, Volume

Crawler Excavator Market by Gross Power Output, >21hp, Volume

Section 6 - Market Landscape

Supply Chain

Section 7 - Competitive Landscape

Company Profile of major Vendors (Komatsu, Hitachi Construction Machinery, Caterpillar, Hyundai Construction Equipment, Doosan, JCB, SANY)

Other Prominent vendors

Section 8 - Report Summary

Key Insights

Section 9 - Appendix

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/vpuzvz
59% of consumers feel it has become harder to spot counterfeits in the last 12 months



Illness, injury and fraud are among the ill effects experienced by 87% of consumers who have unintentionally bought a counterfeit product

Download full industry report now

LANCASTER, Pa., Dec. 09, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Damaging consequences have been experienced by 87% of consumers who unintentionally bought a fake product in the last 12 months, according to a global survey conducted on behalf of OpSec Security. More than a third (34%) became a victim of fraud, while 27% said the product damaged other equipment, 22% experienced personal injury, and 21% became unwell, according to OpSecs research.

Encouragingly, ninety-five percent of those who unintentionally bought a fake product in the last 12 months took some form of action, which is up 6% compared to the 12 months prior. The most popular form of action was to report it to the seller (41%), while 31% posted a negative review online, 30% posted a negative review on social media channels and 22% reported the incident to law enforcement. However, only 30% of unwitting consumers reported the incident to the brand directly, highlighting that there is still limited visibility of these incidents for brands, which can make it more difficult for organizations to monitor and ultimately shut down illegitimate operations.

Its clear that purchasing counterfeit goods remains an issue for companies worldwide, with over a quarter of global consumers (26%) having unintentionally bought a product in the last 12 months that turned out to be fake. For almost a quarter (24%) of these individuals, it wasnt the first time they had unintentionally bought a fake, with 36% accidentally buying more fakes this year than last. Of those who have unwittingly bought a fake product in the last 12 months, almost half (47%) bought 2-5 counterfeit products, while 42% bought just one.

Peter Waker, SVP and GM Authentication, OpSec Security comments, Often, it is thought that the worst thing that can happen when buying a counterfeit product is that the quality isnt as good as the real deal, but as we can see counterfeit products can have serious repercussions for both consumers and brands. While its positive that the majority of those who unintentionally bought a fake took action, the responsibility ultimately lies with brands to prevent their products from being counterfeited and ensure that consumers only receive authentic products.

Almost three in five (59%) consumers feel it has become harder to spot counterfeits in the last 12 months  a figure that rises to 64% in the US where more than a third of people (34%) have been duped into purchasing fake products.

Despite more consumers in the US having been fooled by counterfeiters, the research finds they are more cautious than their counterparts in the UK, with 59% saying they have become more skeptical and cautious when evaluating where and how they shop, compared to 49% of UK shoppers. This coincides with authentication having become more important to over half of consumers globally (56%) over the last 12 months.

Alessandra Vercelloni, Sales Director, Europe, OpSec Security says, The threat of counterfeiting isnt going to go away and it appears distinguishing real products from the fakes is a growing problem for consumers. Brands should take heed of this and do more to help consumers verify the authenticity of their products. Brand protection solutions, ranging from simple authenticity identifiers like QR codes to unique serialized labels with overt and covert authentication features tied to online systems for product provenance and traceability, can help brands guarantee authenticity to their customers. In taking this approach, they will be able to protect consumers from counterfeits, while also protecting their brands reputation and revenue.

About OpSec Security

OpSec Security is the global market leader in securing and protecting brands. After decades of leadership in brand protection technology, OpSec grew to become the leading provider of fully integrated brand and document security, providing companies and governments with myriad solutions to help our customers ensure brand quality, reputation, and integrity.

OpSec is a leading innovator in online brand and digital content protection, offering our clients end-to-end safeguards against counterfeiting, piracy, and unauthorized usage. We continue to innovate, finding increasingly advanced ways to meet an ever-growing range of threats. Even as the counterfeiters, pirates, and other bad actors employ more sophisticated ways to damage your brand, we never stop getting better at protecting it.

What is missing from your brand protection program? Find out more at opsecsecurity.com

Media Contact

Amanda Hershey

Marketing Communications Manager

Email: media@opsecsecurity.com

Phone: +1 (717) 475-9110

www.opsecsecurity.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0104d190-2fb1-4fe4-9ced-e6ad3538b3f2
LONDON, Dec. 09, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BrainBox AI, a pioneer in predictive and self-adaptive commercial building technology, has signed a new partnership with Landsec, one of the leading real estate companies in the UK, having installed its self-adapting artificial intelligence (AI) technology at Cardinal Place on Londons Victoria Street.



Using deep learning, cloud-based computing, and its bespoke proprietary process, BrainBox AIs engine autonomously and granularly optimizes the buildings existing heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system. With the technology, buildings can benefit from up to a 40% decrease in their carbon footprint as well as a reduction in HVAC energy costs of up to 25%.

Following a September installation, early results indicate that the system is on pace to generate significant energy savings and carbon footprint reductions.



Landsecs commitment to being an industry leader in sustainability is commendable, and we are delighted to be supporting as a clean technology partner, said Sam Ramadori, CEO of BrainBox AI. These initial steps demonstrate that Landsec is on track to reach the ESG targets it has put forth, said Frank Sullivan, Chief Commercial Officer at BrainBox AI, In collaboration with our trusted partner on the ground Clevernet, and the support of Schneider Electric, we see this effort as an excellent step toward a continued synergy between BrainBox AI and Landsec.

The partnership fits in with Landsecs aim to create places that make a lasting positive contribution to their communities and the planet. It also feeds into the companys wider sustainability strategy that has seen it become the first UK REIT to align its carbon reduction target to a 1.5-degree pathway of global warming.



Beyond the substantial sustainability and cost benefits, BrainBox AIs technology also provides an improvement in occupant comfort. This is supporting Landsec to meet its commitment to enhance the wellbeing of its buildings occupants which led the company to become the first UK REIT to participate in the WELL Portfolio programme. This year Landsec became the only UK REIT to make the CDP A list for five consecutive years. In addition, it was recently announced that it is one of only 19% of companies listed on the FTSE-100 that is currently on track to reach its net-zero goals.

Jennie Colville, Head of ESG and Sustainability at Landsec, added: We recognise that bridging the performance gap in buildings will have to come from innovative technology that is able to proactively optimise HVAC systems which are large source of inefficiency in buildings. To address this, weve partnered up with Brainbox AI to trial the introduction of Artificial Intelligence within 100 Victoria Street to help our drive toward net zero and improving comfort for the people within our buildings.

BrainBox AI offers artificial intelligence (AI) to combat climate change by making commercial buildings smarter and more efficient. Its flagship product is currently installed in over 100,000,000 sq. ft. of real estate across 17 countries. Through seamless communication with building management systems (BMS), the technology optimizes HVAC systems in real-time, permitting the existing infrastructure to become predictive and self-adaptive, while significantly reducing energy consumption and emissions.

BrainBox AI was chosen as the top innovation in the Tech For Our Planet challenge at COP26, designed to drive adoption of climate solutions and help the world reach its net zero targets. It follows news of the companys recent 24M USD Series A funding round led by ABB as well as its announcement on the activation of its global monitoring network, which provides 24/7 support and HVAC system analysis to its customers around the world.

About BrainBox AI

BrainBox AI was created in 2017 with the goal of redefining building automation through artificial intelligence to be at the forefront of a green building revolution. Headquartered in Montreal, a global AI hub, BrainBox AI has a workforce of over 100 employees and supports real estate clients in numerous sectors, including office buildings, airports, hotels, multi-residential, long-term care facilities, grocery stores and commercial retail.

BrainBox AI works in collaboration with research partners including the US Department of Energys National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), the Institute for Data Valorization (IVADO) as well as educational institutions including Montreals Ecole de technologie superieure (ETS) and McGill University.

Learn more about BrainBox AI.

For media inquiries:

For BrainBox AI

Charles Font

Montieth & Company

cfont@montiethco.com



For Landsec

Zara Lockwood

Corporate Public Relations Director

media@landsec.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2f504c76-105b-4945-8094-1b91bc3bcdbe
English French

MONTREAL, Dec. 09, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BrainBox AI, a pioneer in predictive and self-adaptive commercial building technology, has signed a new partnership with Landsec, one of the leading real estate companies in the UK, having installed its self-adapting artificial intelligence (AI) technology at Cardinal Place on Londons Victoria Street.



Using deep learning, cloud-based computing, and its bespoke proprietary process, BrainBox AIs engine autonomously and granularly optimizes the buildings existing heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system. With the technology, buildings can benefit from up to a 40% decrease in their carbon footprint as well as a reduction in HVAC energy costs of up to 25%.

Following a September installation, early results indicate that the system is on pace to generate significant energy savings and carbon footprint reductions.



Landsecs commitment to being an industry leader in sustainability is commendable, and we are delighted to be supporting as a clean technology partner, said Sam Ramadori, CEO of BrainBox AI. These initial steps demonstrate that Landsec is on track to reach the ESG targets it has put forth, said Frank Sullivan, Chief Commercial Officer at BrainBox AI, In collaboration with our trusted partner on the ground Clevernet, and the support of Schneider Electric, we see this effort as an excellent step toward a continued synergy between BrainBox AI and Landsec.

The partnership fits in with Landsecs aim to create places that make a lasting positive contribution to their communities and the planet. It also feeds into the companys wider sustainability strategy that has seen it become the first UK REIT to align its carbon reduction target to a 1.5-degree pathway of global warming.



Beyond the substantial sustainability and cost benefits, BrainBox AIs technology also provides an improvement in occupant comfort. This is supporting Landsec to meet its commitment to enhance the wellbeing of its buildings occupants which led the company to become the first UK REIT to participate in the WELL Portfolio programme. This year Landsec became the only UK REIT to make the CDP A list for five consecutive years. In addition, it was recently announced that it is one of only 19% of companies listed on the FTSE-100 that is currently on track to reach its net-zero goals.

Jennie Colville, Head of ESG and Sustainability at Landsec, added: We recognise that bridging the performance gap in buildings will have to come from innovative technology that is able to proactively optimise HVAC systems which are large source of inefficiency in buildings. To address this, weve partnered up with Brainbox AI to trial the introduction of Artificial Intelligence within 100 Victoria Street to help our drive toward net zero and improving comfort for the people within our buildings.

BrainBox AI offers artificial intelligence (AI) to combat climate change by making commercial buildings smarter and more efficient. Its flagship product is currently installed in over 100,000,000 sq. ft. of real estate across 17 countries. Through seamless communication with building management systems (BMS), the technology optimizes HVAC systems in real-time, permitting the existing infrastructure to become predictive and self-adaptive, while significantly reducing energy consumption and emissions.

BrainBox AI was chosen as the top innovation in the Tech For Our Planet challenge at COP26, designed to drive adoption of climate solutions and help the world reach its net zero targets. It follows news of the companys recent 24M USD Series A funding round led by ABB as well as its announcement on the activation of its global monitoring network, which provides 24/7 support and HVAC system analysis to its customers around the world.

About BrainBox AI

BrainBox AI was created in 2017 with the goal of redefining building automation through artificial intelligence to be at the forefront of a green building revolution. Headquartered in Montreal, a global AI hub, BrainBox AI has a workforce of over 100 employees and supports real estate clients in numerous sectors, including office buildings, airports, hotels, multi-residential, long-term care facilities, grocery stores and commercial retail.

BrainBox AI works in collaboration with research partners including the US Department of Energys National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), the Institute for Data Valorization (IVADO) as well as educational institutions including Montreals Ecole de technologie superieure (ETS) and McGill University.

Learn more about BrainBox AI.

For media inquiries:

For BrainBox AI

Liz Culley-Sullo

Director, Public Relations

l.culley-sullo@brainboxai.com

For Landsec

Zara Lockwood

Corporate Public Relations Director

media@landsec.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d84dafd1-bf92-42e0-9e81-e34870e3cca6
Houston, Dec. 09, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- iland, a leading VMware-based provider for application hosting, data protection and disaster recovery services delivered on the iland Secure Cloud Platform, today announced that Oceanscan is using iland Secure DRaaS to keep its business up and running in the wake of a recent ransomware attack.

Oceanscan is a leading international equipment company providing the latest and most advanced technology to the oil and gas, defence, petrochemical, renewables, and nuclear industries. Headquartered in Aberdeen, Scotland, and supported by a worldwide network of partner companies, the company is committed to around-the-clock support of its customers.

In late September 2021, a sophisticated strain of ransomware infected Oceanscans entire network, encrypting multiple file layers and putting the company at risk of potentially devastating downtime. Oceanscan, an iland customer for nearly a decade, had prepared for this moment and had both iland Secure Cloud DRaaS for Veeam and iland Secure Cloud Backup for Veeam Cloud Connect in place at the time of the attack.

I cannot stress this enough: We are where we are thanks to the technology and, perhaps most importantly, the people over at iland, said Sukumar Panchanathan, group IT manager at Oceanscan. Theres a lot that has to happen in the wake of an attack like this. Its a tough time. But the iland support team immediately answered our call and we were in a position to recover with just the click of a button. The iland services have been absolutely wonderful. From the bottom of my heart, I cannot thank the iland support staff enough.

With the companys on-premises environment compromised, but its workloads already successfully replicated to the cloud thanks to iland Secure Cloud DRaaS, the Oceanscan team decided to move away from its on-premises production environment entirely following the attack and leverage their cloud-based infrastructure with iland. In the weeks following, Oceanscan was able to seamlessly move from iland DRaaS to iland IaaS within a couple of hours, and has been running effectively ever since.

As the rates of cybercrime continue to rise, companies must prepare for the inevitable when rather than if when it comes to having the tools, people, and process in place to stay protected, said Brian Ussher, president and co-founder of iland. Oceanscan chose iland to provide the security, replication, and failover capabilities needed to ensure the companys data stayed online and available. Designed exactly for moments like this, ilands industry-leading disaster recovery technology allowed Oceanscan to failover all its applications, seamlessly and without detrimental delays.

iland provides the highest levels of security capabilities and features available today, integrated with all services, and ready to adapt to todays ever-increasing security requirements. From Secure Public or Private Cloud (IaaS) to Secure Cloud Disaster Recovery as a Service (DRaaS) and Secure Cloud Backup as a Service (BaaS), which can include Insider Protection to further protect organisations from internal and external security threats. iland is able to offer the solutions and support needed to protect your data at any time.

Learn more about iland Secure Cloud and iland Secure Cloud DRaaS for Veeam.

###

About iland

iland is a global cloud service provider and industry-recognized leader of secure and compliant hosting for infrastructure (IaaS), disaster recovery (DRaaS) and backup as a service (BaaS). ilands award-winning iland Secure Cloud Console natively combines deep layered security, predictive analytics, and compliance to deliver unmatched visibility and ease of management for all of ilands cloud services. Headquartered in Houston with regional offices in London and Sydney, iland delivers cloud services from its cloud regions throughout North America, Europe, Australia and Asia. Learn more at iland.com.
PRINCE FREDERICK, Md., Dec. 09, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Avenues Recovery, a leading national provider of drug rehab and alcohol rehab treatment facilities, announced today a grand expansion and ribbon-cutting ceremony at their Prince Frederick MD location.

Along with the rest of the country, the Maryland area is facing unprecedented spikes in overdose and relapse rates. Additional resources to combat this concerning rise are crucial. Alongside other valuable community treatment partners such as nearby CalvertHealth Medical Center, Avenues Recovery at Prince Frederick has committed to maintaining enough capacity to meet the increasing needs of Calvert County.

Avenues is deeply committed to providing clinical excellence and a supportive community to each and every person struggling with addiction. To that end, their Prince Frederick facility has undergone massive renovations in an effort to expand their already significant footprint in the Maryland area. The upgrades yielded space for 45 additional clients to begin their recovery journeys. Aside from extensive remodeling in the existing structures, a new building was added to campus, housing dedicated for spacious group therapy and one on one meeting rooms.

The entire community is invited to take part in the inauguration of the refurbished campus, to be held at 12 p.m. until 2 p.m., December 16, at 75 Monnett Rd. in Prince Frederick MD. Representatives from the Calvert Board of County Commissioners, the Calvert County Department of Economic Development, and Calvert County Chamber of Commerce, will join Avenues for a ribbon-cutting ceremony, accompanied by live music and a deluxe coffee and pastry bar.

"We are determined to do our part to help solve the opioid crisis in Calvert County and the entire state of Maryland," said Josh Goldstein, Regional Director for Avenues Recovery. "This new capacity will go a long way to helping the entire area".

The facility has been a fixture in the community since 2017 and has helped over 1,500 people learn the skills of sobriety. Avenues is an inclusive program that accepts all insurances, and people from all walks of life.

"We believe strongly in the idea of community-based treatment," said Hudi Alter, CEO of Avenues Recovery. "This expansion is another piece of our dedication to offering local drug and alcohol treatment that really works to every resident of Maryland."

Avenues Recovery of Prince Frederick accepts all insurances including Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, Hopkins, Tricare and Medicaid. They provide stabilization, inpatient rehab, as well as clinical counseling and life training skills.

Melissa August - Outreach Coordinator

(443) 771-0889

melissa.august@avenuesrecovery.com

avenuesrecoverymaryland.com

Press availability upon request or at the event.

---------

Avenues Recovery Centers is a fully accredited substance abuse treatment network founded in 2016 and serving communities nationwide. They are staffed by clinical and medical professionals and are focused on creating positive outcomes for the clients they serve.

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Dublin, Dec. 09, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Hard Seltzer Market: Global Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity and Forecast 2021-2026" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The global hard seltzer market exhibited robust growth during 2015-2020. Looking forward, the publisher expects the market to grow at a CAGR of 14.4% during 2021-2026. Keeping in mind the uncertainties of COVID-19, we are continuously tracking and evaluating the direct as well as the indirect influence of the pandemic. These insights are included in the report as a major market contributor.



Hard seltzer is a carbonated or sparkling beverage similar to beer, with almost 5% alcohol by volume. It is made from brewed cane sugar or malted rice, along with soda water and flavorings. Nowadays, hard seltzer is available in various flavors such as lemon, watermelon, lime, strawberry, passionfruit, pomegranate, and tangerine. It is considered a healthy alternative to regular alcoholic drinks as it is gluten-free with a low calorie, carbohydrate and sugar content. As a result, it is gaining popularity among health-conscious consumers and people suffering from allergies, and celiac, inflammatory and auto-immune diseases. The global hard seltzer market is primarily driven by the shifting consumer preferences toward beverages with a low alcohol by volume (ABV) content.

The growing popularity of flavored alcoholic beverages and healthier alternatives has resulted in high demand for ready-to-drink sparkling beverages, such as hard seltzer, across the globe. Besides this, several manufacturers are introducing innovative product variants to expand their existing portfolio.

For instance, Sudwerk Brewing Co., a California-based company, launched Life Is Hard Seltzer in May 2020 in black cherry, grapefruit and passionfruit flavors. It is fermented using sugar and yeast and then flavored with natural fruit concentrates. The leading alcohol companies are also developing 100% natural hard seltzer free from artificial preservatives, flavorings, or sweeteners. Furthermore, with the rising environmental concerns, manufacturers are launching new packaging designs that are portable and recyclable.



Key Market Segmentation:

The publisher provides an analysis of the key trends in each sub-segment of the global hard seltzer market, along with forecasts at the global, regional and country level from 2021-2026. Our report has categorized the market based on ABV content, packaging material, distribution channel and flavour.

Breakup by ABV Content: 1% to 4.9%

5% to 6.9%

7% and Above

Breakup by Packaging Material:

Cans

Glass

Others

Breakup by Distribution Channel:

Supermarkets and Hypermarkets

Online Stores

Others

Breakup by Flavour:

Cherry

Grapefruit

Mango

Lime

Others

Breakup by Region: North America

United States

Canada

Asia Pacific

China

Japan

India

South Korea

Australia

Indonesia

Others

Europe

Germany

France

United Kingdom

Italy

Spain

Russia

Others

Latin America

Brazil

Mexico

Others

Middle East and Africa

Competitive Landscape:

The competitive landscape of the industry has also been examined along with the profiles of the key players being Anheuser-Busch InBev, Barefoot Cellars (E. & J. Gallo Winery), Blue Marble Cocktails Inc., Ficks & Co, Future Proof Brands LLC, Hard Seltzer Beverage Company LLC (The Boston Beer Company Inc), Lift Bridge Brewing Co., Oskar Blues Brewery and White Claw Hard Seltzer.



Key Questions Answered in This Report:

How has the global hard seltzer market performed so far and how will it perform in the coming years?

What has been the impact of COVID-19 on the global hard seltzer market?

What are the key regional markets?

What is the breakup of the market based on the ABV content?

What is the breakup of the market based on the packaging material?

What is the breakup of the market based on the distribution channel?

What is the breakup of the market based on the flavour?

What are the various stages in the value chain of the industry?

What are the key driving factors and challenges in the industry?

What is the structure of the global hard seltzer market and who are the key players?

What is the degree of competition in the industry?

Key Topics Covered:



1 Preface



2 Scope and Methodology



3 Executive Summary



4 Introduction

4.1 Overview

4.2 Key Industry Trends



5 Global Hard Seltzer Market

5.1 Market Overview

5.2 Market Performance

5.3 Impact of COVID-19

5.4 Market Forecast



6 Market Breakup by ABV Content

6.1 1% to 4.9%

6.1.1 Market Trends

6.1.2 Market Forecast

6.2 5% to 6.9%

6.2.1 Market Trends

6.2.2 Market Forecast

6.3 7% and Above

6.3.1 Market Trends

6.3.2 Market Forecast



7 Market Breakup by Packaging Material

7.1 Cans

7.1.1 Market Trends

7.1.2 Market Forecast

7.2 Glass

7.2.1 Market Trends

7.2.2 Market Forecast

7.3 Others

7.3.1 Market Trends

7.3.2 Market Forecast



8 Market Breakup by Distribution Channel

8.1 Supermarkets and Hypermarkets

8.1.1 Market Trends

8.1.2 Market Forecast

8.2 Online Stores

8.2.1 Market Trends

8.2.2 Market Forecast

8.3 Others

8.3.1 Market Trends

8.3.2 Market Forecast



9 Market Breakup by Flavour

9.1 Cherry

9.1.1 Market Trends

9.1.2 Market Forecast

9.2 Grapefruit

9.2.1 Market Trends

9.2.2 Market Forecast

9.3 Mango

9.3.1 Market Trends

9.3.2 Market Forecast

9.4 Lime

9.4.1 Market Trends

9.4.2 Market Forecast

9.5 Others

9.5.1 Market Trends

9.5.2 Market Forecast



10 Market Breakup by Region



11 SWOT Analysis



12 Value Chain Analysis



13 Porters Five Forces Analysis



14 Price Analysis



15 Competitive Landscape

15.1 Market Structure

15.2 Key Players

15.3 Profiles of Key Players

15.3.1 Anheuser-Busch InBev

15.3.1.1 Company Overview

15.3.1.2 Product Portfolio

15.3.1.3 Financials

15.3.1.4 SWOT Analysis

15.3.2 Barefoot Cellars (E. & J. Gallo Winery)

15.3.2.1 Company Overview

15.3.2.2 Product Portfolio

15.3.3 Blue Marble Cocktails Inc.

15.3.3.1 Company Overview

15.3.3.2 Product Portfolio

15.3.4 Ficks & Co

15.3.4.1 Company Overview

15.3.4.2 Product Portfolio

15.3.5 Future Proof Brands LLC

15.3.5.1 Company Overview

15.3.5.2 Product Portfolio

15.3.6 Hard Seltzer Beverage Company LLC (The Boston Beer Company Inc)

15.3.6.1 Company Overview

15.3.6.2 Product Portfolio

15.3.7 Lift Bridge Brewing Co.

15.3.7.1 Company Overview

15.3.7.2 Product Portfolio

15.3.8 Oskar Blues Brewery

15.3.8.1 Company Overview

15.3.8.2 Product Portfolio

15.3.9 White Claw Hard Seltzer

15.3.9.1 Company Overview

15.3.9.2 Product Portfolio



For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/icl9s
LEAWOOD, Kan., Dec. 09, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Impact Communications, Inc., an award-winning marketing communications firm that has exclusively served independent financial advisors and allied institutions since its founding in 1993, today announced that its founder and CEO Marie Swift has been dubbed a "Luminary - Class of 2021" by ThinkAdvisor.com and a panel of special judges. The program celebrates top advisors, executives, firms, teams, and programs by telling the stories of how they are driving the financial industry forward. Award winners were announced in August and honored at the inaugural LUMINARIES awards ceremony and dinner that took place November 9, 2021, at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in New York City.

"Marie Swift deserves a big shout out for everything she does to shine a light on the positive things we are doing in this industry." Haleh Moddasser, SVP

Stearns Financial Group

Swift was recognized in the category of "Thought Leadership and Education: Individuals (Consulting and Partnerships)." This category honors those working to better understand, shape and improve industry practices, as well as those who strive to educate advisors and investors in timely and informative ways to improve client outcomes. Nominations were open to professionals conducting valuable research and leading educational efforts across a variety of platforms  social media, online apps, videos, podcasts, white papers, etc.  focused on topics such as behavioral finance, retirement income, ESG and other topics. Influential to many, these nominees relentlessly support the industry's efforts to educate both advisors and clients in beneficial ways that improve financial security, retirement security, financial literacy and related efforts.

"Marie Swift deserves a big shout out for everything she does to shine a light on the positive things we are doing in this industry," said Haleh Moddasser, Senior Vice President and Wealth Advisor for Stearns Financial Group. Moddasser, who also that night accepted her own Luminaries Award in the category "Executive Leadership: Individuals - RIAs," has worked directly with Swift and Impact Communications since 2018.

While in Manhattan that week, Swift also joined two clients  Haleh Moddasser of Stearns Financial Group and Kacie Swartz of Stone Wealth Management who spoke on the topic of ESG Investing  at the InvestmentNews "Women Adviser Summit" on November 10, 2021. Additionally, she led a panel discussion on leadership and executive presence at the "Women To Watch" Awards Luncheon hosted by InvestmentNews on November 11, 2021.

LUMINARIES METHODOLOGY

The 2021 Winners were selected by a distinguished and diverse panel of judges from across the advice industry, as well by the publication's editorial team. In evaluating entries, the judges took into account factors including:

The nominee's impact on the firm, its advisors and the broader professional community and industry.

This impact needed to include both quantitative and qualitative results - such as the number of advisors affected by the nominee and a clear description of the innovative way the nominee contributed to the particular program, firm and broader community, and industry.

A demonstrated ability to achieve goals and display ingenuity in terms of creative thinking and problem-solving.

A description of the nominee's dedication to furthering the development of advisors and the industry -- most notably its ability to serve the best interests of investor clients.

A personal commitment to the highest ethical standards, service and excellence.

All entries were required to include 3-5 examples that qualitatively and quantitatively demonstrated the impact their efforts made over the past 12-18 months.

To view the LUMINARIES Class of 2021, visit: https://event.thinkadvisor.com/luminaries-awards/class-2021

ABOUT MARIE SWIFT AND IMPACT COMMUNICATIONS, INC.

Marie Swift is president and chief executive officer, Impact Communications, a full-service marketing communications firm established in 1993. In August 2020, she and her colleagues initiated the "Conversations That Matter" project with strategic support from the Advisory Solutions arm of Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America. The project, which entailed original research, content creation, and promotional efforts, won a "Wealthies" Award from WealthManagement.com in September 2021. Additional awards for the Conversations That Matter project were conferred in 2021 by APEX - Awards for Publication Excellence (Grand Award - Campaigns, Programs and Plans), and the Academy of Interactive and Visual Arts (AIVA) (Award of Distinction - Integrated Campaign / Business-to-Business).

Learn more about Swift and Impact Communications at: www.ImpactCommunications.org.

Contact:

Colin Swift

Impact Communications, Inc.

913-649-5009

ColinSwift@ImpactCommunications.org

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Image 1: Impact Communications Founder and CEO Marie Swift Receives 2021 Luminaries Award





Kansas Marketing Maven Recognized for Thought Leadership and Education by ThinkAdvisor.com and Panel of Judges









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Cork, Ireland., Dec. 09, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Skibbereen, Cork, 09 December 2021 Spearline today announced that for the eighth consecutive year, it is among the top 50 fastest growing technology companies in Ireland. The tech company ranked in the 2021 Deloitte Technology Fast 50, a ranking of the 50 fastest growing technology companies in Ireland. Rankings are based on average percentage revenue growth over four years.

Speaking about the companys growth, Kevin Buckley, Co-Founder and CEO at Spearline said:

To be one of the fastest growing tech companies in Ireland for the eighth year in a row is testament to our products, people, customers and innovation. We respond to our customers' needs, adapting and adding new products, and that has fuelled our growth - team growth, and growth in our global network coverage. Today, Spearline has coverage in over 70 countries globally, covering almost 94% of GDP generation.

Earlier this month, Spearline announced the multi million euro acquisition of Israeli real-time communications solutions developer testRTC. Commenting on the acquisition of testRTC, Buckley said: Our acquisition of testRTC is a huge advancement towards the next step for Spearline. By integrating the testRTC technology with Spearlines current testing capabilities we are now in a position where we can provide our customers with a solution that no other vendor in the world can offer, and we have a team of experts to continue our development into the future.



The Deloitte Technology Fast 50 Awards is one of Irelands foremost technology award programmes. It is a ranking of the country's 50 fastest-growing technology companies based on revenue growth over the last four years, and this year marks 22 years of the programme celebrating innovation and entrepreneurship in Irelands indigenous technology sector.



Cumulatively, the 2021 Fast 50 winners generated approximately 1 billion in total annual revenues and employed over 16,000 people in 2020. The average revenue of companies featured in the ranking was approximately 19 million, while the average growth rate of the companies over the last four years was over 700%. The awards also saw a record number of new entrants this year  in total, 20 companies are appearing on the ranking for the first time.

Announcing the winners of the Deloitte Technology Fast 50 programme, David Shanahan, Partner, Deloitte said: Congratulations to all of the companies that ranked this year. This is the first year we have seen the impact the pandemic has had on revenues of Irish tech companies. It will come as no surprise that many of this years winners have achieved accelerated growth and scale as a result of the pandemic and being able to capitalise on the global move to a digital way of life.

From enabling us to better look after ourselves, to providing critical technologies to keep businesses connected to customers, for example, these companies have shown us the creativity, resilience, and commitment to driving progress that is present in the indigenous technology sector in Ireland. It is also encouraging to see so many new entrants to the ranking  with a strong cohort of younger companies, the future of the indigenous sector looks bright. We are thrilled to showcase their achievements and wish them continued success over the coming years.

The Deloitte Technology Fast 50 ranking features both private and public listed technology companies that have demonstrated innovative strategies, sound management practices and marketplace vision, driving them to achieve the status of high-growth leaders. Full details on the winners can be found at www.fast50.ie. Winners were announced at a virtual ceremony on Wednesday 8 December 2021.

- Ends -

For further information and/or to arrange interviews, please contact Caroline Leonard at caroline.leonard@spearline.com / +353(0)28 51460

Further information

Notes to Editors:

Attached image: Kevin Buckley, Spearline CEO & Co-founder.

About Spearline

Spearline is a technology company that proactively monitors toll and toll-free numbers for audio quality and connectivity globally. It is headquartered in Skibbereen, Cork, Ireland and has offices in Waterford, Romania and India. The Spearline solution enables enterprises and telecommunications service providers to test connectivity and audio quality on global telecoms networks. Spearline has conducted millions of test calls worldwide, resulting in billions of data-points. Our products have been built in response to customer needs, and we continue to listen to our customers to deliver solutions to their ongoing challenges.



About Deloitte

At Deloitte, we make an impact that matters for our clients, our people, our profession, and in the wider society by delivering the solutions and insights they need to address their most complex business challenges.

As the largest global professional services and consulting network, with over 312,000 professionals in more than 150 countries, we bring world-class capabilities and high-quality services to our clients. In Ireland, Deloitte has approximately 3,000 people providing audit, tax, consulting, and financial advisory services to public and private clients spanning multiple industries. Our people have the leadership capabilities, experience and insight to collaborate with clients so they can move forward with confidence. In this press release references to Deloitte are references to Deloitte Ireland LLP. The information contained in this press release is correct at the time of going to press. Deloitte Ireland LLP is the Ireland affiliate of Deloitte NSE LLP, a member firm of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, a UK private company limited by guarantee (DTTL). DTTL and each of its member firms are legally separate and independent entities. DTTL and Deloitte NSE LLP do not provide services to clients. Please see www.deloitte.com/about to learn more about our global network of member firms.

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LONDON, Dec. 09, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Unibuddy announces the addition of Nina Bilimoria Angelo as Chief Marketing and Strategy Officer, Sam Park as Vice President of Finance, and Dan Sommer as its newest Board Member. With decades of experience under their belts, Angelo, Park, and Sommer will guide the company as it continues to grow globally in partnership with higher education institutions.

"We are proud to welcome our new executive leaders to the team at Unibuddy, given their impressive backgrounds and combined wealth of knowledge," said Diego Fanara, Unibuddy chief executive officer. "Higher education is currently experiencing immense change. I believe that we are building the right team to achieve our bold mission of empowering 10 million students to make the right decisions along their journey."

As Chief Marketing and Strategy Officer, Angelo will be responsible for building brand awareness and accelerating global expansion of Unibuddy's unique peer-to-peer platform. "At such a critical time in higher ed's evolution, students need authentic peer support now more than ever," Angelo says. "I am thrilled to contribute to the growing success of Unibuddy, and to be part of a diverse executive team that puts students at the heart of what we do." Angelo joins Unibuddy from Top Hat, where she served on the executive team guiding the business through 15 major product launches, four publisher acquisitions, and three rounds of fundraising. Prior to her tenure at Top Hat, Angelo led teams at Pearson and HP and advised Fortune 500 companies as a management consultant. A seasoned higher ed leader, Angelo specializes in strategy creation, product conceptualization, and market positioning.

Park, who joins Unibuddy to oversee all finance, legal, and business intelligence functions, is a CIMA-qualified accountant. Her experience spans large corporations such as GSK, General Mills, and Intuit. As part of the UK leadership team at Quickbooks Online, she steered the business to double-digit growth. Park also secured investment to build the brand in the UK and develop a platform from core accounting to other financial services including payroll, payments, and time-tracking. "I enjoyed my time in higher education very much but for others in my network, their experiences weren't so positive. The Unibuddy mission is important to me, and I'm looking forward to bringing my experience to help the Unibuddy team succeed," says Park.

Sommer will sit on Unibuddy's board to assist in navigating the market as well as advising on growth and product vision. As CEO and Founder of 10X Impact, Sommer invests in and advises numerous growth stage EdTech companies and sits on the boards of high-impact for-profit and nonprofit organizations. As founder and former CEO of Trilogy Education, Sommer spearheaded the company's growth globally and, under his leadership, Trilogy was eventually acquired by 2U, Inc. for USD $750 million. "Unibuddy's platform provides an unfair advantage to universities that want to leverage their current students to engage their future students. I look forward to supporting Unibuddy's momentum as they continue to promote better decision-making through the higher ed journey," Sommer says.

Today, Unibuddy partners with 450+ higher education institutions across 35 countries. By connecting student ambassadors and staff with college and university applicants, institutions can attract a larger and more diverse student population of best-fit students. Unibuddy partner institutions achieve an average of 51% yield in terms of students who use Unibuddy that eventually apply to the institution. In September, Unibuddy launched its newest product, Unibuddy Community, a group messaging tool designed to support student retention through peer-to-peer engagement.

About Unibuddy:

Unibuddy offers smarter student recruitment to higher education institutions through the facilitation of peer-to-peer interactions. Our suite of products enables prospective students to virtually connect with student ambassadors and staff through one-on-one chat, communities, live events, and more. Partnering with universities around the world since 2017, Unibuddy has helped nearly one million students feel supported in making crucial decisions around their higher education experience.

To learn more, visit www.unibuddy.com .

For all media inquiries, please contact:

Maria Velasquez | Head of Marketing

media@unibuddy.com

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PALO ALTO, Calif., Dec. 09, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today Clear Ventures announced a new investment initiative to fund and support AI startups emerging from academic research institutions. The new initiative leverages Clears innovative CLEAR EDGE approach, bringing capital, resources and network to AI startups, which are backed by years of scientific research at top institutions.



Founded by Chris Rust and Rajeev Madhavan , who collectively founded 5 successful startups and invested in more than 60 companies, including 8 IPOs and 26 acquisitions from 36 exits, Clear focuses on early-stage Enterprise IT companies, thus many are aimed at the convergence of artificial intelligence (AI) and deep domain or functional expertise.

CLEAR EDGE creates a new channel and structure for research-based founders wanting a streamlined way to productize and supercharge go-to-market plans for their IP. It also furthers Clears growth and expansion into AI + X, or AI applied to a specific industry or function, leveraging the breakthrough research now taking place at universities seen as crucibles of innovation.

Leading this new channel is Clears newest partner , Vijay Reddy, who brings to the company a successful track record of investing in startups that have emerged from academia. These include SambaNova Systems, Matroid and Landing AI, all founded by faculty from Stanford University; Lilt and Opaque, originating from UC Berkeley, Katana Graph, started at UT Austin; and others from MIT, UCLA and University of Michigan.

The CLEAR EDGE approach for researchers focuses on three focal points:

Innovators: AI researchers at leading institutions

Validators: practitioners in the industry with vertical domain expertise

Implementers: leaders building teams to execute the vision



Pushing the boundaries of innovation is what motivates us, said Keshav Pingali, CEO and co-founder at Katana Graph. Its truly rewarding intellectually to be able to push the envelope in a research setting and at the same time be able to solve big problems that others have failed to tackle. Cutting-edge research and scientific investigation are at the core of our relentless pursuit of solutions to real-world problems. But were not operating in a silo  the convergence of research and industry is an emerging trend that is quickly gaining mainstream adoption.

As a former PhD student, I was drawn towards applied research and my PhD grant was partly funded through a collaboration with the industry, said Vijay Reddy, partner at Clear Ventures. I dropped out of the PhD program to commercialize research and wished there were structured programs to solicit industry feedback, which would have saved us years of effort.

University-based founders have access to a rich talent pool that is not easy to replicate in non-research settings, offering what many would say is an unfair advantage, said Rishabh Poddar, CEO of Opaque Systems. Weve seen the benefits of this in the development of our solution for commercializing the Open Source MC2 Platform, which has been adopted by several top institutions such as IBM, Scotiabank and Ericsson. Built upon years of research at UC Berkeley, our solution offers a powerful combination of secure hardware enclaves and cryptographic fortification to ensure that the overall computation is secure, fast and scalable.

Were excited to launch CLEAR EDGE for researchers, which is going to make a meaningful difference for academic startup founders, many of whom had previously thought it was cost-prohibitive to bring their solutions to market, added Vijay Reddy, partner at Clear Ventures. Not surprisingly, many state-of-the-art benchmarks are coming from academia, despite the lack of access to traditional resources that larger companies have. It is a natural progression that the next generation of AI+X companies will increasingly emerge from research-oriented founders with ideas that may even be a bit contrarian.

While some research is far into the future, in the areas of AI+X we see that the gap between research and what can have real-world impact, is a lot narrower and much more within reach for investors and businesses, said Rajeev Madhavan, founder and General Partner at Clear Ventures. As former entrepreneurs, we have this understanding deeply ingrained into our DNA. With that said, Clear looks forward to bringing CLEAR EDGE to research-based startups, marrying a practical approach with years of scientific rigor to efficiently harness the growth we are seeing at the intersection of AI, frontier technology and research.

About Clear

With $330 million of capital from a world-class investor base, Clear is a Silicon Valley venture capital firm that is purpose-built to help startup teams win in frontier technology and services. Founded by veteran company builders and venture investors Chris Rust and Rajeev Madhavan, formerly of Sequoia Capital and USVP and founders of five successful companies, Clear provides early capital, connections, and company-building insights to bold startup teams so their ideas can grow into market-leading companies. More at Clear online at www.clear.ventures .

CLEAR, CLEAR VENTURES, CLEAR VENTURE PARTNERS, CLEARVP, CLEAR VENTURE MANAGEMENT, CLEAR INDUSTRY PARTNERS, and the logos associated therewith are trademarks of Clear Venture Management LLC and are protected by trademark laws of the United States and other countries. All other product and company names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.
BOSTON, Dec. 09, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ambassador Labs , the cloud native developer experience leader, today announced the newest release of Ambassador Cloud . Built on leading open source CNCF projects Telepresence, Argo, Helm, and Emissary-ingress, Ambassador Cloud is now accessible to every developer as a free self-service offering. It also includes new features that reduce complexities of Kubernetes adoption to empower every developer to code and ship apps faster and with confidence. Any developer can start using Ambassador Cloud for free (no credit card required) and upgrade to a paid plan for as little as $5 per month.



Kubernetes is the de facto technology that individual developers and developer teams leverage to manage and deliver cloud native applications at scale, said Richard Li, Founder and CEO at Ambassador Labs. Were committed to improving the cloud native developer experience and delivering features that address challenges that developers face as part of our mission to accelerate Kubernetes adoption. Thats why weve made the newest release of Ambassador Cloud more accessible and easier and faster for all developers to code a change, ship it, and run it in production in mere minutes.

Setting up a productive development workflow for Kubernetes can be challenging. Additionally, keeping local development up-to-date as other microservices are updated results in an enormous amount of toil. Ambassador Cloud eliminates these complexities by making it possible for developers to deploy a private, infinitely scalable and low maintenance development environment with a few simple clicks. Developers can take a self-service approach to building and testing applications using a productive developer environment and safely ship code into production. It also detects configuration and code changes early so you can ship with confidence.

Ambassador Cloud includes a number of new features, including:

Unlimited application environments. New support for an unlimited number of environments, each consisting of one or more Kubernetes namespaces. Developers are no longer limited to just development, staging and production.

New support for an unlimited number of environments, each consisting of one or more Kubernetes namespaces. Developers are no longer limited to just development, staging and production. Drag-and-drop workflow. With an easy drag-and-drop interface, developers can configure code flow preferences from a local development environment, to a shared test environment, or to multiple different production environments.

With an easy drag-and-drop interface, developers can configure code flow preferences from a local development environment, to a shared test environment, or to multiple different production environments. Edge Stack and Emissary-ingress 2.1. The 2x series of the companys popular ingress controller and API Gateway integrates natively with GitOps workflow and includes UX. A simple upgrade path is now available for users not already on the newest versions.

The 2x series of the companys popular ingress controller and API Gateway integrates natively with GitOps workflow and includes UX. A simple upgrade path is now available for users not already on the newest versions. Helm support. New support for canary releases if developers are using Helm charts to manage your Kubernetes deployments.

New support for canary releases if developers are using Helm charts to manage your Kubernetes deployments. Argo integration . Now generally available, Ambassador Labs integrates with existing CI/CD workflows to automatically generate the necessary YAML needed for Argo Rollouts to initiate and manage canary releases.

. Now generally available, Ambassador Labs integrates with existing CI/CD workflows to automatically generate the necessary YAML needed for Argo Rollouts to initiate and manage canary releases. Faster on-boarding process. New Quick Start single-sign-on wizard for cloud users makes it easy for individual developers and extended team members to set up a dev environment for Kubernetes in a few minutes.

Pricing and Availability

The latest release of Ambassador Cloud is available today and free to use for one Kubertnetes namespace. Additional namespaces can be purchased with a credit card for as little as $5 per month.



Additional Resources

Read our announcement blog here

To learn more about Ambassador Cloud, Developer Edition visit: https://www.getambassador.io/products/ambassador-cloud/

Join the Ambassador Developer Community on Slack: https://a8r.io/slack



About Ambassador Labs

Ambassador Labs, the cloud native developer experience leader, enables developers to code, ship, and run applications faster and easier than ever. Maker of top Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF) open source projects, including Emissary-ingress and Telepresence, Ambassador Labs delivers a developer control plane for Kubernetes that integrates the development, deployment, and production infrastructure for developers and organizations worldwide including Microsoft, PTC, NVidia, and Ticketmaster. Ambassador Labs is backed by top investors including Insight Partners and Matrix Partners. Learn more and get started for free at www.getambassador.io .

Media Contact:

Lisa Williams

press@datawire.io

(339) 788-0067




NEW YORK, Dec. 09, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Tacombi, a food and beverage brand focused on connecting people to Mexico, today announced it has raised $27.5M to support Tacombis mission of sharing Mexican culture through exceptional hospitality and experiences at its taquerias, consumer products, and technology. The funding round was led by Enlightened Hospitality Investments, the growth equity fund affiliated with Danny Meyers Union Square Hospitality Group (USHG ) . Additional investors include Mexican firms Capital Mazapil and Rodina, a private investment firm and family office led by Andres and Felipe Chico, as well as Gary Hirshberg, Co-Founder and former CEO of Stonyfield Farm, who will also join Tacombis Board of Directors.



Launched as a taco stand on the beach in Mexico in 2006, Tacombi has grown to 13 locations in New York, Miami and Washington D.C., with several under development across existing and new markets. Tacombis neighborhood taquerias are limited-service restaurants that offer tacos, ice-cold beer, cocktails, and juices in unexpected, lively settings. The brand emerged from the pandemic stronger, already returning to growth versus 2019, with a rapidly expanding dine-out and delivery business, including outsized growth on Tacombi.com and the companys mobile app.

Tacombis first consumer packaged goods brand, Vista Hermosa, was created when the team couldnt find tortillas that met their standards of authenticity, quality, and freshness for their taquerias and started making their own. Today the brands corn and flour tortillas and tortilla chips (Totopos) are sold in 800 stores, including three regions of Whole Foods Market, Bristol Farms, online retailers like Fresh Direct, and an expanding list of Natural & Specialty Grocery Stores. Tacombi also sells proprietary brand Lupita, a line of juices and sodas, for purchase in its taquerias.

Since meeting Danny Meyer a few years ago, Ive appreciated his thought partnership as weve continued to build our omni-channel business and taken steps to prepare Tacombi to scale into a global brand, said Dario Wolos, founder and CEO of Tacombi. With the EHI teams expertise in international brand expansion and the support of all of our investors, were excited to share Mexican food and culture through our taquerias, products, and technology as we enter this next phase of growth.

The proceeds from this funding round will be used to scale Tacombi as a powerful omni-channel platform, doubling down on its three channel approach and targeting the $67B market for Mexican food. It will allow Tacombi to grow its taqueria footprint across multiple restaurant formats and accelerate its CPG business, including launching into new categories so that consumers can experience authentic Mexican food thats simple and high quality in their homes. Over the next five years, the company plans to reach at least 75 taquerias across multiple restaurant formats, while rolling out its CPG products and innovation to retailers across the United States. Tacombi will build on its digital sales momentum by developing and integrating technology that will enable more efficiencies and enhance consumer and employee experiences.

Dario Wolos founded and leads the kind of beloved brand, winning business and enlightened team-first culture that beautifully aligns with our mission at Enlightened Hospitality Investments, said Danny Meyer, co-founder and managing partner of Enlightened Hospitality Investments and Chairman & CEO of Union Square Hospitality Group. And of course we love the authentic food and drink, a loving expression of Darios desire to authentically share his love for Mexican hospitality with a broader American audience. Tacombi is building an incredibly dynamic business, solidly positioned for growth both with its bustling taquerias and exceptional line of quality packaged foods.

As Tacombi continues to grow, it remains committed to investing in its non-profit organization, The Tacombi Foundation. With the mission of advancing Mexican communities through education and food accessibility, the Foundation fights food insecurity with the Tacombi Community Kitchen program, which uses Tacombi kitchens to prepare and distribute 4,000 wholesome Mexican meals to people who need them every week. Started during the COVID-19 outbreak and with nearly 250,000 meals given to date, The Tacombi Foundation intends to extend this program for the long-term.

Advisors

Tacombi was advised by its legal counsel, Kirkland & Ellis LLP, in connection with the funding round.

About Tacombi

Tacombi began its journey in 2006 as a taco-serving bus on the sands of the Yucatan and now operates 13 taquerias across New York City, Miami, FL and the Greater Washington, D.C. area. Drawing on the rich culinary traditions across distinct regions of Mexico, its menu offers a variety of authentic taco recipes alongside traditional Mexican bites and beverages. With the opening of its first New York City location in 2010, Tacombi crafted its own line of fresh tortilla products under the brand Vista Hermosa that are made from scratch daily for use in its taquerias. Vista Hermosa now includes corn tortillas, flour tortillas and tortilla chips (Totopos) and are sold in the taquerias and in retail in 800 stores. As Tacombi opens kitchens in new cities, each new taqueria is participating in growing The Tacombi Foundations impact, with a mission to advance Mexican communities through education and food accessibility. As part of the foundation, The Tacombi Community Kitchen provides local food relief for families and neighbors in need by donating thousands of meals made at each taqueria kitchen.

About Enlightened Hospitality Investments

Enlightened Hospitality Investments (EHI) is a value-added strategic investor formed to leverage the brands, businesses and team of Union Square Hospitality Group to identify growth potential and investment opportunities in both internal and outside ventures. EHI partners with portfolio companies to provide strategic direction, operational experience, increased visibility and access to relationships, resulting in significant value creation for all stakeholders. For additional information on Enlightened Hospitality Investments, please visit www.ehi.fund .

Media Contact:

Liz DiTrapano, Smith Street Communications

(617) 717-8917

liz@smithstreetcomms.com

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

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SAN DIEGO, Dec. 09, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via InvestorWire -- Astra Energy Inc. (OTC Pink Sheets: ASRE) (Astra or the Company), a renewable and waste-to-energy project developer and technology acquisition company, announces initiation of joint ventures to develop and deploy energy transformation opportunities to meet Africas rising demands for modern renewable energy sources.

Astra Energy is taking giant steps to achieve its vision of developing clean energy projects that empower communities, protect the environment and shape a sustainable energy landscape for future generations.

In November 2021, Astra Energy Inc. established itself in Africa through the creation of a wholly owned subsidiary called Astra Energy Africa. The Company successfully completed the legal registration process, enabling it to conduct business beginning in the country of Uganda.

Additionally, Astra acquired both trading and investment licenses registered with the government of Ugandas public procurement authority. A similar process is being completed in Tanzania and neighboring Zanzibar.

As a market penetration strategy, Astra has signed multiple memorandums of understanding in joint ventures with both M&E Associates, one of Ugandas biggest and most experienced local engineering consulting firms, and Muttico Technical Services Ltd., a large, local high voltage powerline and substation construction and maintenance contractor. The two companies will benefit from both Astras ability to raise affordable project financing and its team of highly experienced technical personnel that has been gathered to propel the projects forward successfully.

The growing population and economic progress in Africa mean energy demands have soared, and a viable path to prosperity includes safeguarding Africas abundant renewable resources and introducing modern renewable energy sources to reduce the use of traditional biomass and provide access to reliable electricity. Astras involvement in Africa will play a transformative role in the transition to a sustainable energy future to accelerate the development of renewable energy goals set by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) for 2030.

About Astra Energy Inc.

Astra Energy Inc. is an emerging company in project development and renewable energy technology. The Company invests in and develops renewable and clean energy projects in markets where demand is high, supply is limited and there is opportunity to address other imminent market needs, while cultivating a portfolio of intellectual property and global licenses for innovative renewable energy technology and generating projects to deploy that technology.

Astras corporate strategy is rooted in securing technologies and assets; identifying viable market opportunities; and bringing together resources, expertise, technology and defined action plans to execute first-in-class projects that benefit communities, local economies, the planet and the Companys investors.

For further information about Astra Energy, please visit the Companys website at: www.astraenergyinc.com

Corporate Communications:

Heidi Thomasen

IR@astraenergyinc.com

1-800-705-2919
CAMDEN, N.J., Dec. 09, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Michaels Organization, a national leader in residential real estate, is set to begin construction on 780 Morrissey, a $95 million Class "A" development located in Boston's Dorchester neighborhood, following a successful financial closing in November.

"We want to thank the community members and neighborhood groups, city and state agencies, the Impact Advisory Group, and elected officials for their feedback, guidance, and thoughtful comments as we planned this community," said Michaels Vice President Jay Russo, who is serving as the lead developer. "Along with our partners at The Phillips Group, a long-standing Dorchester business owner, we look forward to completing this project and becoming an active member of the Dorchester community."

Dorchester is experiencing rapid growth in Boston's booming life science industry and the team has designed the community to appeal to the young professionals, grad students, and young couples in the area who are in need of high-quality housing. The community will offer ample indoor and outdoor amenity spaces, including well-designed work-from-home spaces, fitness centers, two courtyards providing active and passive outdoor opportunities for the residents, and a sixth-floor amenity space with uninterrupted harbor views.

The urban infill community is being built upon a planned bike path, slated to open just prior to 780 Morrissey's first occupancy, and the project will provide a shuttle bus to nearby amenities, employment centers, MBTA stations, and Logan Airport.

Designed as a six-story wood over podium building, 780 Morrissey will feature 219 apartments in a mix of studios, one- and two-bedroom layouts. Twenty-nine of the apartments will be offered at below market rents, in furtherance of the City's Inclusionary Development Policy.

Partners in the development include The Phillips Group, equity investor Verde Capital, and the locally based Cambridge Savings Bank, as the construction lender. The development team also includes the Architect, CUBE 3, Bohler Engineering, and the General Contractor, DF Pray, Inc.

About The Michaels Organization

The Michaels Organization is a national leader in residential real estate, offering full service capabilities in development, property management, construction, and investment management. Serving more than 175,000 residents in more than 440 communities across 37 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, Michaels is committed to crafting housing solutions that jumpstart education, civic engagement and neighborhood prosperity and to creating Communities That Lift Lives.

Media Contact: Laura Zaner, The Michaels Organization; lzaner@tmo.com; 856-988-5983

Related Images











Image 1: A Rendering of 780 Morrissey





780 Morrissey will be an amenity-rich community located in the rapidly growing neighborhood of Dorchester along Morrissey Blvd.









This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com.

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NEW YORK and SAN DIEGO, Dec. 09, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Wolf Haldenstein Adler Freeman & Herz LLP, a preeminent national consumer rights law firm, announces that it is investigating claims on behalf of current and former Metromile, Inc. (Metromile) customers.



Metromile is an insurance company. Defendant sells pay-per-mile automobile insurance and licenses its technology to other insurance companies.

On or about March 5, 2021, Metromile began notifying customers and state Attorneys General about a data breach that occurred between July 2020 and January 2021 (the Data Breach). Metromile discovered a cybersecurity incident arising out of a software bug related to its online pre-filled quote form and application process. Based on its initial investigation, Metromile determined that unknown persons exploited the software bug to obtain personal information of certain individuals. Hackers obtained information from Metromile including the personally identifiable information of over one hundred thousand consumers, including, but not limited to, their drivers license numbers.

If you received a NOTICE OF DATA BREACH from Metromile and you reside in the United States, if you wish to discuss this litigation, or if you have any questions regarding your rights and interests in this matter, please immediately contact Wolf Haldenstein by telephone at (800) 575-0735, via e-mail at gstone@whafh.com, or visit our website at www.whafh.com

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO FILL OUT CONTACT FORM

Wolf Haldenstein Adler Freeman & Herz LLP has extensive experience in the prosecution of consumer rights litigation in state and federal trial and appellate courts across the country. The firm has attorneys in various practice areas and offices in New York, Chicago and San Diego. Courts have repeatedly recognized the reputation and expertise of this firm and have appointed it to major positions in complex consolidated litigation.



Contact:

Wolf Haldenstein Adler Freeman & Herz LLP

Gregory Stone, Director of Case and Financial Analysis

Rachele R. Byrd, Esq., Partner

Email: gstone@whafh.com or byrd@whafh.com

Tel: (800) 575-0735 or (619) 239-4599

Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome.
LONDON, United Kingdom, Dec. 09, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cryptocurrency Exchange Traded Funds (Crypto-ETF) Platform Plethori just released their new website and staking platform. As crypto-ETFs are kicking up a global storm, no other projects are in a finer position than Plethori.



These and future developments (below) will help Plethori scoop up the value of the ETF-frenzy. Now users also can benefit from the craze by earning a whopping 40% APY when they choose to stake in Plethori's promising tech.

The Plethori Ecosystem

Plethori is a cryptocurrency ETF protocol that allows users to track and trade crypto-ETFs. With the release of the V2 platform, users will also have the added ability of creating their own ETFs. Creators will earn a percentage of transaction fees whenever their ETFs are traded. This proposition, unique in the market, will attract and reward the very best creators. For everyone else, transaction fees are kept low by the inherent nature of ETFs, which require just one transaction to invest in multiple assets.

This achieves an equilibrium, balancing the shared value across creators, traders, and the platform itself. The result? A platform designed to grow alongside its userbase of ETF managers and traders. All of this is possible thanks to Plethori's groundbreaking technology.

The Underlying Technology

For maximum growth, such an ambitious project must be stable, rapid, unique, versatile and novel. Here's how that's achieved:

Stability - Taking inspiration from the basket-like nature of ETFs themselves, Plethori has invested itself upon a "basket" of blockchains (namely Ethereum, Avalanche and Polkadot) making it a highly stable and infinitely scalable cross-chain ecosystem.

Rapidity - By utilising the world's fastest blockchain, Avalanche, as well as advanced Ethereum Layer 2 solutions, Plethori ensures maximum speed with minimum gas for its users.

Uniqueness - Plethori allows users to invest in a wide range of cryptocurrencies, underlying technologies, sectors, niche markets, or whatever they think is going to grow in the future -- there's an ETF for that. And if there's not, at Plethori users can make one.

Versatility - Leveraging the rapidity of Avalanche, the interoperability of Polkadot, and the ubiquity of Ethereum, Plethori is highly adaptive and primed to upgrade itself as new technologies emerge.

Novelty - ETF creators can compete against one another via Plethori's gamified leaderboard, where unique Chimera NFTs will reward users for achieving milestones within the platform.

All of Plethori's proprietary software is open source and aligned with the core values of DeFi.

The Year of the Crypto-ETF

Heading into 2022, which is being hailed as "the year of the crypto-ETF", Plethori's staking platform with 40% APY offers early-adopters a reliable method of earning passive income throughout 2022 while the Plethori ecosystem continues to evolve.

As is standard at Plethori, all smart contracts are fully audited by Hacken. There is no locking period. And for the first week, Plethori will be charging users zero fees for staking their PLE. So, if you're convinced of Plethori's potential, there is no better time to stake PLE than now.

Upcoming Developments

Scheduled for later this month is the launch of Plethori's ETH <> AVAX bridge. PLE holders will be able to move between the two blockchains seamlessly, without ever leaving Plethori's website. This development will provide users with all of the advantages the two DeFi power hubs have to offer. The bridge launch will be complemented by a new listing on Avalanche's most popular DEX - Trader Joe.

Make sure not to miss out on further developments, including Plethori's game-changing ETFX (ETF Exchange), join the telegram community and mailing list.

Media Contact:

Company Name: Plethori

Contact Person: Callum Mitchell-Clark

Email: callum@plethori.com

Website: https://plethori.com/

Source: Plethori
Chantilly, VA, Dec. 09, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Associa Community Management Corporation (CMC), Legum & Norman (L&N), and Select Community Services (SCS) recently hosted their 14th annual vendor fair to raise money for Associas national non-profit organization, Associa Cares.

The event was held at The Farm Brewery at Broad Run. More than 250 representatives from 84 vendor companies and nearly 200 Associa team members gathered to network and build relationships. Organized in a speed-dating format, participants shared business plans and materials, and then enjoyed food trucks and beautiful weather. The event raised $228,000, bringing the 14-year total to more than $3 million for Associa Cares.

Associa is proud to have 13 vendors who have graciously sponsored the annual vendor fair every year since its inception:

Brothers Paving & Concrete

GAM Graphics & Marketing

High Sierra Pools, Inc.

Johnson, Bremer & Ignacio CPAs, PC

Karl Riedel Architecture, PC

Minkoff Company, Inc.

NOVA Painting Company, Inc.

Rees Broome, PC

Securitas Security Services USA, Inc.

Toepfer Construction

TRC Engineering

TWC Services, LLC

Whiteford, Taylor & Preston, LLP

Our team members look forward to the annual vendor fair every year as an opportunity to connect with our valued business partners and be actively involved in giving back to our communities through the amazing work of Associa Cares, stated John Tsitos, CMCA, AMS, PCAM, Associa CMC and SCS president. This year, we were elated to be able to hold the event in-person again and are grateful to all of the event sponsors, employees, and vendor partners that help us continue our tradition of giving back.

The Brothers team is committed to giving back to the communities we work in by supporting them in their time of need, stated Paul Battista, Brothers Paving & Concrete founder and CEO. Associa Cares aligns with our beliefs and goals by improving the lives of residents in the communities we serve."

Associa Cares has provided assistance to nearly 3,000 families and over $4 million has been distributed since 2007. To view Associa Cares fundraising disclosure statement, please visit http://www.associacares.org/fundraising-disclosure-statement/.

Associa Cares funds are distributed to organizations and families of Associa-managed and non-Associa managed communities. To donate to Associa Cares or apply for assistance, please visit our website at http://www.associacares.org.

About Associa Cares

Associa Cares is a national nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization created to assist families and communities in crisis as a result of natural and man-made disasters. Through donations raised from Associa employees and at fundraising events across the country, Associa Cares is able to provide direct financial relief to those affected by these types of tragedies.

About Associa

With more than 200 branch offices across North America, Associa delivers unsurpassed management and lifestyle services to nearly five million residents worldwide. Our 10,000+ team members lead the industry with unrivaled education, expertise and trailblazing innovation. For more than 40 years, Associa has provided solutions designed to help communities achieve their vision. To learn more, visit www.associaonline.com.

Stay Connected:

Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/associa

Subscribe to the Blog: https://hub.associaonline.com/

Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/associa

Join us on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/associa

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LIVERMORE, Calif., Dec. 09, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- UNCLE Credit Union, serving four counties in the eastern region of the San Francisco Bay Area and the Central Valley, welcomes two new members to the organizations executive team: Terry Bishop, CPA as Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Betina Marcelo as Vice President of Mortgage Lending.



Terry Bishop brings with him nearly two decades of executive experience in the financial services industry at institutions ranging in size from $370 million to $1.5 billion. His sphere of leadership includes finance, accounting, regulatory compliance, enterprise risk management, treasury, operations and information technology. Bishop will steer the finance team in developing and implementing strategic planning objectives and practices to support growth and build long-term member value.

Bishop joins UNCLE after having most recently served as Vice President, Finance and Compliance for a state-chartered credit union located in Northern California. Prior to this role, he served as CFO for an $800 million financial cooperative headquartered in the Midwest. As a member of the United States Army Reserve, Bishop was instrumental in staging critical supplies for mission planning, while completing a tour of duty in Iraq. In addition, he currently serves as a board member for the Financial Managers Society, which serves nearly 1,500 professional members nationwide.

An industry veteran with deep expertise in lending, auditing and team building, Betina Marcelo has a demonstrated track record for exceeding member expectations, while driving outstanding organizational performance. In her new role, Marcelo is responsible for oversight and direction of the credit unions mortgage lending functions including underwriting, reporting, loan compliance, servicing and product development.

Before joining UNCLE, Marcelo served as Vice President of Consumer Lending for a Southern California-based credit union, where she was promoted three times to positions of increasing levels of responsibility. During this tenure, she led her team in achieving record-breaking growth in mortgage loans and excelled at risk management, business development and compliance. Early in her career, Marcelo used her experience as a licensed real estate broker to establish a mortgage loan business, which contributed to her professional growth and advancement in the industry. Marcelo holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and an active California real estate license.

Were thrilled that Terry Bishop and Betina Marcelo have joined our executive team. Both are highly capable and visionary leaders, whose talent extends to translating big-picture goals into actionable steps that create value for our members, and enhance our organizational well-being, said UNCLE Credit Union President and CEO Harold Roundtree.

About UNCLE Credit Union

Established in 1957, UNCLE Credit Union is a $625+ million, full-service financial institution serving approximately 30,000 members. The organization offers the benefits of credit union membership with a full array of financial services to anyone who lives, works, worships, or attends school in Alameda, Contra Costa, San Joaquin or Stanislaus counties. UNCLE Credit Union is renowned for its community involvement and strives to provide a seamless experience for members with high-value products, 24/7 convenience and personalized service. To learn more, visit www.unclecu.org.

CONTACT: Jennifer Hall

408.406.6251

jh@stonemediaconsulting.com

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7c6132bb-e8ae-4def-8695-737356ba0c97

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ANN ARBOR, Mich., Dec. 09, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Interoperability Institute (IOI), a 501(c)(3) organization designed to provide the products, services, leadership, and workforce to bring advanced interoperability solutions to the health information technology (HIT) market, has been awarded an AmeriCorps Planning Grant by the Michigan Community Service Commission.

The focus of this grant is to reinforce the work that IOI is presently undertaking to address the issue of Michigan's need for digital skill building of a diverse next-generation health IT and health informatics workforce. IOI and AmeriCorps, a national network of local, state, and national service programs, are working in collaboration to address this emerging need.

We are thrilled to be recipients of the AmeriCorps Planning Grant and further develop the health IT workforce in Michigan, said Mary Kratz, Executive Vice President of Interoperability Institute. We are grateful for the partnership that we have with AmeriCorps and look forward to enhancing the work that we do to ensure that todays students are prepared to become tomorrows leaders.

IOIs goal is to provide early career opportunities to address the talent gap in information technology and healthcare and ensure the supply of talent meets the current and emerging needs of the healthcare industry. That includes:

Building career awareness at critical stages along the talent pipeline

Establishing career pathways through college and university partnerships

Providing intern and mentor programs to train individuals at any stage in their health IT career

We currently have 60 students participating in the IOI workforce development program, said Morgan Schrauben, Workforce Development Program Manager. The experience that students get during their time with IOI closes gaps in the talent pipeline because the curricula is constantly informed by industry professionals to ensure that relevant competencies are included and interns are receiving valuable real-world experience. This, in turn, results in new graduates who are highly skilled and ready to join the workforce.

IOI is working with academic partners, private sector companies and the Michigan Health Information Network Shared Services (MiHIN) to solicit input into the proposed AmeriCorps Health IT program. This will ensure that the IOIs training experiences complement curricula at Michigan colleges and universities, in addition to career placements with Michigan companies. IOI will also solicit input on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) from its partners to ensure that the AmeriCorps program follows best practices for recruiting college students from populations currently under-represented in fields related to health IT and health informatics.

Members of the planning grant project team will attend a two-day AmeriCorps training program in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, as well as monthly meetings and trainings hosted by the Michigan Community Service Commission.

For additional information or to learn more about IOI or its workforce development program, click here.

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About Interoperability Institute

Interoperability Institute focuses on creating communities and environments that accelerate the adoption of interoperability in ways that result in greater health and more impactful delivery of human services through developing solutions and the next generation workforce to enable organizations and communities to harness the benefits of interoperability at scale. The Institute is as a limited liability company with the Michigan Health Information Network Shared Services (MiHIN) as the sole member. For more information, visit https://interoperabilityinstitute.org/.

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BOSTON, Dec. 09, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Innovation Leader today released a new research report exploring how large companies assess, test, and deploy cutting-edge technologies.

The report, "Delivering Value Through Emerging Tech and Innovation," combines quantitative data from 200-plus large organizations with qualitative interviews to reveal some of the stumbling blocks that these organizations face in trying to navigate a noisy technology landscape.

Among the survey's findings:

Just 32% of large companies have clear criteria they use to determine whether a particular technology is worth prioritizing and investing in.

When projects involving new technologies get shelved, the top reasons are resource constraints and competing priorities.

The three outcomes related to emerging technology and innovation that senior management care about most are incremental revenue, cost savings, and market perception.

"We're at a moment when both startup companies and established technology vendors are hyping technologies like artificial intelligence, the metaverse, and blockchain," says Scott Kirsner, CEO and Co-Founder of Innovation Leader. "What this report made clear was that companies need a coherent process for identifying real business challenges and new opportunities first  with input from their colleagues  rather than trying to experiment with a flashy technology just for PR value."

The report includes interviews with senior executives at Best Buy, Dell Technologies, iRobot, MetLife, and several other companies, along with insights from professionals who focus on emerging technologies at KPMG LLP. "In speaking with innovation leaders across multiple industries, we continue to hear that the charter for innovation groups can be as strategic as finding the next disruptive opportunity to as incremental as developing new tools and software for productivity improvement," says Cliff Justice, U.S. Leader, Enterprise Innovation, KPMG LLP.

The research also highlights that when projects leveraging new technology are put on the shelf, the cause can often be internal organizational issues  not the technology's potential. Survey respondents said that among the reasons emerging technology projects sometimes get abandoned are "lack of patience," "not invented here syndrome," and that "new business models are needed, but we try to fit it in the existing business model."

This report is part of the on-going "CxOs & Innovation" series, sponsored by KPMG LLP, the U.S. firm of the KPMG global organization of independent professional services firms providing audit, tax, and advisory services.

For more on the report, please visit innovationleader.com/emergingtech

To download previous reports in the "CxOs and Innovation" series, including "The New Imperatives: Innovation, Agility, and Openness," published in June, please visit https://www.kpmg.us/growth-strategy/cxos-and-innovation.html

About Innovation Leader

Innovation Leader is a fast-growing media and events company with a laser focus on helping the world's largest companies thrive. Since 2013, Innovation Leader has built the largest community of corporate innovation, strategy, and R&D executives in both public and private companies, helping these executives to strengthen their innovation programs; connect with useful resources, solutions, and vendors; and engage with peers inside innovative labs and workplaces around the globe. For more information about Innovation Leader membership and events, visit www.innovationleader.com or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook.

For more information, please contact:

Kristof Torok

Marketing & Communications Lead

kristof@innovationleader.com

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Vancouver, Dec. 09, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- APOLLO Insurance, Canadas leading online insurance provider, has partnered with Millbrook Cathedral to offer immediate digital insurance products, specifically tailored to weddings and events.

Launched in 2019, APOLLO Insurance now offers the largest selection of online insurance in Canada, through brokers and embedded partnerships like this one. Through APOLLO, consumers can get a quote and purchase insurance in five minutes, from any device, 24/7.

Built-in 1882 and fully restored in 2017, Millbrook Cathedral is designed to give their clients everything they need in one stunning location, all-year-round for weddings and events. With the ability to host weddings up to 150 people and 4 different packages that range from a traditional ceremony and reception to ceremonies only, including their all-inclusive Pop-Up Weddings for smaller guest lists.

We are thrilled to be working with Millbrook Cathedral who provides a stunning wedding location and multiple package options for brides and grooms, '' said APOLLO Director of Business Development Jill Carberry-Feldman. With APOLLO being able to provide an immediate digital solution to all of Millbrook clients, we will be able to make their wedding day that much easier by offering them immediate insurance.

Millbrook Cathedral hosts over 50 couples per year, with the aim to increase their average in 2022 with their pop-up wedding package and wedding concierge service.

There are so many small details that go into planning a wedding and with this partnership with APOLLO as part of our Wedding Concierge Program, we made one more decision easy and painless for our clients, said Millbrook Cathedral, Owner, Susan Avni.

APOLLOs proprietary technology platform, the APOLLO Exchange, transacts insurance business in real-time and leverages extensive data and sophisticated algorithms to quote, collect payment, create and deliver policies. Thousands of types of small businesses and individuals are able to buy online without human intervention.

About APOLLO Insurance

APOLLO is Canada's leading online insurance provider. Our proprietary platform, the APOLLO Exchange, allows insurance agents and their customers to purchase their policy immediately, from anywhere, on any device, 24/7. Unlike traditional paper-based processes, APOLLO leverages extensive data and sophisticated algorithms to quote, collect a payment, and issue policies for thousands of types of small businesses and individuals without human intervention. Through traditional agents and embedded finance partnerships, APOLLO is redefining the distribution of insurance. For more information, visit: apollocover.com

About Millbrook Cathedral Wedding & Event Venue

Built-in 1882 and fully restored in 2017, Millbrook Cathedral Wedding & Event Venue features grand indoor reception & ceremony spaces, and beautiful outdoor ceremony and cocktail spaces. Enjoy our lush forest, our gurgling stream, the cool and rustic cocktail lounge & the ultra-girly bride's room, and adjacent groom's dressing rooms - or 2 of the same! Millbrook Cathedral hosts weddings up to 150 people and offers 4 different packages that range from a traditional ceremony + reception to ceremonies only - including our all-inclusive Pop-Up Weddings for smaller guest lists. With ample photo opportunities on-site and all the amenities you need for getting ready, having a ceremony and reception, The Cathedral has been designed to give you everything you need in one stunning location, all year-round. For more information, visit: millbrookcathedral.com

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Fort Lauderdale, FLA, Dec. 09, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As jurors begin the second day of deliberations in actor Jussie Smolletts hate crime hoax trial, Red Banyan Founder Evan Nierman is providing expert crisis management analysis to the media about what this reputation management disaster means for Smolletts brand.

Smollett is the former Empire actor accused of falsely telling the police he was the victim of a hate crime in 2019. The actor told police two men attacked him, called him homophobic and racist slurs, put a noose around his neck, doused him with bleach and told him This is MAGA country. Police have accused Smollett of setting up the attack to gain media attention.

Evan was recently interviewed about Smollett on Fox News.

If Smollett were going to be redeemed in Hollywood, then you would have already seen high-profile supporters speaking out publicly in support of him. But most initial sympathy and encouragement have been replaced by actors and political leaders staying silent and avoiding him, Evan notes.

Evan, who has decades of experience in crisis PR and high-stakes reputation management , is discussing how Smollett has handled this public relations debacle from a crisis PR perspective, what comes next for him, and what lessons other celebrities can learn from Smolletts mistakes.

When all is said and done, the most serious beating will have actually been to Jussie Smolletts reputation and future career prospects. Our society is already grappling with race issues and deeply polarized, so why would any studio want the inflammatory baggage that he will inevitably carry with him? Evan points out.

He further notes that the jobs Jussie Smollett would most likely pick up down the road will be minor ones, and even those wont likely materialize for a long time.

Regardless of what the jury decides, Smollett has already lost in the court of public opinion," Evan said.

Evan is available to talk with the press about the Smollett case, with a focus on high-stakes crisis PR and reputation rehabilitation. Send media inquiries to info@redbanyan.com to secure an interview.

About Red Banyan

Red Banyan is a top crisis management firm focused on solving complex, highly sensitive and mission-critical communications challenges. Specializing in crisis communications, corporate public relations, government relations, and legal PR, Red Banyan provides an integrated approach to communications rooted in strategy. Learn more at http://www.redbanyan.com.
MINNEAPOLIS, Dec. 09, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- U.S. Customs and Border Protection (Customs) has determined the existence of an illegal scheme by 15 importers to evade existing tariffs and sell quartz surface products originating from China under The Enforce and Protect Act (EAPA). Ultimately, every one of these importers will have to pay tariffs in excess of 300% to 500% on the imported goods.

Through its investigation, Customs has found substantial evidence that the following importers imported quartz surface products from China into the United States by undervaluation, misclassification, and/or transshipment through Malaysia and therefore attempted to avoid the payment of existing antidumping and countervailing duties (AD/CVD):

AAA Innovation LLC

Astera Kitchen and Bath, Inc.

FTR LLC

GHS Group, LLC

Gin Investments Corp.

Gold Stone Kitchen Depot Inc.

Granite Collection Inc.

Ilkem Marble & Granite Inc.

Next Generation Marble and Granite LLC

North Creation Granite Co.

RQ Sales Co. LLC

RQ Sales LLC

The Top Shop, Inc.

Total Scope Cabinets and Tops LLC

YNJ Management LLC

Customs began its investigation after Cambria Company LLC, the leading U.S. producer of quartz surface products, submitted 15 EAPA allegations to the agency on October 16, 2020, that provided details of the evasion scheme by the 15 U.S. importers. After consolidating the allegations into a single case, Customs conducted a thorough and wide-ranging investigation that covered the illegal activities of multiple Chinese producers and exporters, several Malaysian companies involved in transshipping merchandise, and the 15 importers that were participating in this evasion scheme.

During the course of its investigation, Customs found that some of the parties had intentionally withheld information requested by the agency and submitted fraudulent documents as part of attempts to cover up their illegal evasion activities. Despite these attempts, Customs still found an overwhelming amount of incontrovertible evidence of illegal evasion. For example, Customs identified an email sent from a Chinese company to a U.S. importer that stated: It estimates that cargoes will arrive in the USA after one month. We sailed them from Xiamen to Malaysia, then Malaysia sailed to the USA.

In light of Customs determination, Customs will suspend or continue to suspend the entries of quartz surface products by the 15 importers that were subject to the agencys investigation until it receives instructions from the U.S. Department of Commerce as to the correct AD/CVD rates that should be applied to the entries, and then duties will be imposed.

Where imports were misclassified as merchandise other than quartz surface products, such as wooden furniture, Customs will reclassify the merchandise as quartz surface products subject to the AD/CVD duties. In addition, because Customs found that the importers had understated the value of the merchandise for some entries, it will correct the valuation of those entries so that the full duties are paid. Customs will also continue to evaluate the importers continuous bonds to ensure that the agency will be able to collect the total AD/CVD duties owed by the importers. Finally, based on the fact that some parties submitted false and fabricated information to Customs during its investigation, Customs warned that it could potentially pursue additional enforcement actions or penalties against those parties. In prior cases, Customs and the U.S. Department of Justice have filed civil and criminal actions against individuals who have made false statements to the U.S. government to avoid paying the correct AD/CVD duties.

Customs should be commended for its incredible and painstaking efforts in digging into the facts of this evasion scheme to ensure that the U.S. importers that were involved are held accountable for their illegal activity, said Luke Meisner of the law firm of Schagrin Associates, Cambrias legal counsel in this matter. Customs's enforcement action in this investigation targets an unprecedented large number of U.S. importers and should send a clear signal to the industry that evaders can and will be caught.

This illegal evasion of the antidumping and countervailing duties on quartz surface products will not be tolerated, said Arik Tendler, Chief Sales Officer of Cambria. We appreciate Customs taking this enforcement action to ensure that Americans are able to compete on a fair and equal playing field.

In April of 2018, Cambria initiated a case before the Department of Commerce and the United States International Trade Commission alleging unfair trading of quartz surface products from China. At that time, dumped and subsidized Chinese quartz imports harmed American industry and workers by displacing over $1 billion per year of domestic product. Cambrias successful petition resulted in U.S. Customs levying duties of up to 500% to halt the import of unfairly traded Chinese quartz into the U.S. marketplace.

Customs announcement confirms that quartz surface products made in China remain subject to the payment of AD/CVD duties, even when they undergo further processing in a third country. If you suspect an importer of duty evasion, you can submit an allegation through Customs online portal.

# # #

About Cambria

Cambria Company LLC, headquartered in Le Sueur, MN, is the leading domestic producer of quartz surface products. It is a family-owned, American-made company that employs more than 2,000 people in the United States. For more information visit CambriaUSA.com.

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SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 09, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hagens Berman urges Desktop Metal, Inc. (NYSE: DM) investors with significant losses to submit your losses now. The firm is investigating possible securities law violations and certain investors may have valuable claims.



Visit: www.hbsslaw.com/investor-fraud/DM Contact An Attorney Now: DM@hbsslaw.com 844-916-0895

Desktop Metal, Inc. (DM) Investigation:

The investigation focuses on Desktop Metals disclosures concerning its widely touted $300 million acquisition of EnvisionTEC, which closed on Feb. 16, 2021, and concerning claims that the acquisition well-positioned the company to offer customers a complete platform across polymers and metals for volume production photopolymer 3D printing solutions for end-use parts.

Within months after the acquisition, on Nov. 8, 2021, the company announced that in response to a whistleblower complaint its audit committee opened an internal investigation into manufacturing and compliance practices and procedures at the EnvisionTEC US facility in Dearborn, Michigan. The company said the complaint and investigation relate to EnvisionTECs manufacturing and compliance procedures with respect to certain polymer equipment and materials.

The same day, Desktop Metal announced the resignation of EnvisionTECs founder and CEO (Ali El Siblani).

Then, on Nov. 15, 2021, the company announced that, as of Nov. 12, 2021, based on compliance issues with certain shipments of EnvisionTECs Flexera dental resins and its PCA4000 curing box the company would notify the FDA.

These events sent the price of Desktop Metal shares sharply lower.

Were focused on investors losses and whether Desktop Metal lied about the benefits of the EnvisionTEC acquisition, said Reed Kathrein, the Hagens Berman partner leading the investigation.

If you invested in Desktop Metal and have significant losses, or have knowledge that may assist the firms investigation, click here to discuss your legal rights with Hagens Berman.

Whistleblowers: Persons with non-public information regarding Desktop Metal should consider their options to help in the investigation or take advantage of the SEC Whistleblower program. Under the new program, whistleblowers who provide original information may receive rewards totaling up to 30 percent of any successful recovery made by the SEC. For more information, call Reed Kathrein at 844-916-0895 or email DM@hbsslaw.com.

About Hagens Berman

Hagens Berman is a national law firm with eight offices in eight cities around the country and over eighty attorneys. The firm represents investors, whistleblowers, workers and consumers in complex litigation. More about the firm and its successes is located at hbsslaw.com. For the latest news visit our newsroom or follow us on Twitter at @classactionlaw .
Detroit, Dec. 09, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- DETROIT, Dec. 9, 2021 DTE Energy, Michigans largest energy company, will receive $84 million primarily to support the companys ongoing programs to modernize its natural gas infrastructure, which delivers safe and reliable gas to 1.3 million customers. This amount was approved today by the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC). The MPSC decision comes with a rate increase of $3.18 per month for the average residential customers bill. Yet, with the help of the companys buying strategy, heating bills for DTE Gas customers not using an alternative gas supplier will remain manageable and protected from the recent natural gas market price increases. DTE Gas contracted and stored natural gas earlier this year before the global run up in natural gas prices and is passing that savings directly to customers. As a result, the average customer will save nearly $20 per month this winter when compared to current natural gas prices.

We know that continuing to modernize our natural gas infrastructure is critical to the delivery of safe and reliable natural gas. In addition, the high-density pipes were installing across our service territory are much more effective in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, said Joi Harris, president of DTE Gas. While these investments will raise the average residential bill by a little over $3 per month, DTEs buying strategies will save customers more than six times that amount this winter, compared to the pricing of companies that didnt lock in lower prices early.

In addition to DTEs support of non-profits helping with utility bill assistance, like THAW and United Way, the company also offers several programs for families struggling with their bills. Customers can call DTE at 800.477.4747 for more information about these programs:

Low Income Self-Sufficiency Plan--available to customers below 150% of the federal poverty level. The program provides a fixed payment plan based on income and energy use

Winter Protection Plans--protects service to senior citizens and other vulnerable customers earning at or below 200% of the federal poverty level

Personalized Service Protection--customizes affordable payment plans based on an individuals situation and provides additional time to pay bills

Residential Income Assistance Credit, Low-Income Assistance Credit and the Home Heating Crediteach provides those who qualify with a monthly credit on their natural gas bill

As part of DTE Gass infrastructure modernization, 200 miles of pipe will be replaced in 2022 alone, impacting customers in 16 communities across the state. The infrastructure modernization program will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an amount equivalent to taking 100,000 cars off the road upon its completion in 2035. To learn more about ways in which DTE Gas is improving natural gas delivery to customers, visit our website.

DTE Gas has a long history of providing safe, reliable and clean energy. This is reflected in national customer satisfaction surveys that report DTE gas customers are among the most satisfied with their natural gas service.

About DTE Energy

DTE Energy (NYSE: DTE) is a Detroit-based diversified energy company involved in the development and management of energy-related businesses and services nationwide. Its operating units include an electric company serving 2.3 million customers in Southeast Michigan and a natural gas company serving 1.3 million customers in Michigan. The DTE portfolio also includes non-utility businesses focused on industrial energy services, renewable natural gas, and energy marketing and trading. As an environmental leader, DTE utility operations will reduce carbon dioxide and methane emissions by more than 80% by 2040 to produce cleaner energy while keeping it safe, reliable and affordable. DTE Electric and Gas aspire to achieve net zero carbon and greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. DTE is committed to serving with its energy through volunteerism, education and employment initiatives, philanthropy and economic progress. Information about DTE is available at dteenergy.com, empoweringmichigan.com, twitter.com/dte_energy and facebook.com/dteenergy.
PELHAM, Ala., Dec. 09, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ProcessBarron celebrated 40 years in business with a ribbon-cutting marking the grand opening of a new plant adjacent to the company's current manufacturing space in Pelham, Alabama. The new facility adds 75,000 square feet of usable space, doubling their production capacity and enabling ProcessBarron to meet global demand while creating dozens of new jobs in Shelby County.

"We continue to invest in the Pelham community and our team. The grand opening of our new plant is an exciting way to celebrate four decades in business," said ProcessBarron President Ken Nolen.

ProcessBarron is one of the nation's largest providers of air, gas, and materials handling equipment, including industrial fans. They also provide onsite maintenance, support, and outage planning services. Their facilities in Pelham are equipped to handle fabrication and restoration of the largest fans and equipment used by power generation facilities, cement and lime, steel, paper mills, and biomass. ProcessBarron has served these industries since 1981.

The anniversary celebration included employees, customers, the Shelby County Chamber of Commerce, and three of ProcessBarron's founders. Local community leaders also participated in the ribbon-cutting and celebration, including Pelham City Council President Maurice Mercer and State Representative Kenneth Pashal.

"We were thrilled to host three of our founders at our 40th-anniversary celebration. A.T. Scott, Jim Woods, and Bob Perry are responsible for the foundation we are building on today, along with M.C. Davis and Jerry Doyal," said ProcessBarron President Ken Nolen. "Our team loved getting to catch up with A.T., Jim, and Bob, and we look forward to working hard to build on their legacy."

After the ribbon-cutting, staff and guests marked the day with plant tours, food trucks, and a demonstration of ProcessBarron's unique drone inspection service for manufacturing facilities.

About ProcessBarron

ProcessBarron provides turnkey products and services that enable industrial manufacturing facilities to operate reliably, profitably, and efficiently so they can compete in the global economy. They provide custom-engineered solutions and expert technical field services with 24/7/365 support. ProcessBarron's sister company, Southern Field - EEC, is the industry leader in air pollution control equipment and are experts in industrial field maintenance.

For additional information, visit www.processbarron.com .

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Marcy Miller, Director of Marketing

ProcessBarron

888-663-2028

mmiller@processbarron.com

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VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Dec. 09, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ValOre Metals Corp. (ValOre or the Company) (TSX-V:VO, OTC:KVLQF, Frankfurt: KEQ) today announced the granting of 6,660,000 incentive stock options (the "Options") to certain Directors, Officers, Employees and Consultants of the Company. The Options are exercisable at $0.45 per share for a period of three years from the date of grant with  vesting upon grant and  vesting every 3 months thereafter. The Options were granted pursuant to the Company's shareholder-approved stock option plan and are subject to the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange and any applicable regulatory hold periods.



About ValOre Metals Corp.

ValOre Metals Corp. (TSXV: VO) is a Canadian company with a portfolio of highquality exploration projects. ValOre's team aims to deploy capital and knowledge on projects which benefit from substantial prior investment by previous owners, existence of high-value mineralization on a large scale, and the possibility of adding tangible value through exploration, process improvement, and innovation.

In May 2019, ValOre announced the acquisition of the Pedra Branca Platinum Group Elements (PGE) property, in Brazil, to bolster its existing Angilak uranium, Genesis/Hatchet uranium and Baffin gold projects in Canada.

The Pedra Branca PGE Project comprises 51 exploration licenses covering a total area of 55,984 hectares (138,339 acres) in northeastern Brazil. At Pedra Branca, 5 distinct PGE+Au deposit areas host, in aggregate, a current Inferred Resource of 1,067,000 ounces 2PGE+Au contained in 27.2 million tonnes grading 1.22 g/t 2PGE+Au ( See ValOre's July 23, 2019 news release). All the currently known Pedra Branca inferred PGE resources are potentially open pittable.

Comprehensive exploration programs have demonstrated the "District Scale" potential of ValOre's Angilak Property in Nunavut Territory, Canada that hosts the Lac 50 Trend having a current Inferred Resource of 2,831,000 tonnes grading 0.69% U3O8, totaling 43.3 million pounds U3O8. *For disclosure related to the inferred resource for the Lac 50 Trend uranium deposits, please see ValOre's news release dated March 1, 2013.

ValOre's team has forged strong relationships with sophisticated resource sector investors and partner Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. (NTI) on both the Angilak and Baffin Gold Properties. ValOre was the first company to sign a comprehensive agreement to explore for uranium on Inuit Owned Lands in Nunavut Territory and is committed to building shareholder value while adhering to high levels of environmental and safety standards and proactive local community engagement.

On behalf of the Board of Directors,

"Jim Paterson"

James R. Paterson, Chairman and CEO

ValOre Metals Corp.

For further information about ValOre Metals Corp., or this news release, please visit our website at www.valoremetals.com or contact Investor Relations at 604.653.9464, or by email at contact@valoremetals.com.

ValOre Metals Corp. is a proud member of Discovery Group. For more information, please visit: http://www.discoverygroup.ca/

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Although ValOre believes that the expectations reflected in its forward-looking statements are reasonable, such statements have been based on factors and assumptions concerning future events that may prove to be inaccurate. These factors and assumptions are based upon currently available information to ValOre. Such statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could influence actual results or events and cause actual results or events to differ materially from those stated, anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements. A number of important factors including those set forth in other public filings could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from those expressed in these forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include the future operations of ValOre and economic factors. Readers are cautioned to not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The statements in this press release are made as of the date of this release and, except as required by applicable law, ValOre does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or to revise any of the included forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. ValOre undertakes no obligation to comment on analyses, expectations or statements made by third parties in respect of ValOre, or its financial or operating results or (as applicable), their securities.
TUCSON, Ariz., Dec. 09, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On Oct 29, the Food and Drug Administration extended its Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine to include the vaccination of children aged 511. Naturally, parents are concerned and will have many questions. In the winter issue of the Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons, Steven Hatfill, M.D., reviews the most relevant medical literature and presents the possible effects of vaccinating young children aged 5-11.



Children are naturally resistant to serious COVID-19 infection, he states, for several reasons. In children aged 59 years, the infection fatality rate is an almost infinitesimal 0.001% to 0.002%, with a mean increase of 0.59% with each five-year increase in age past ten years. Overwhelmingly, childhood COVID-19 deaths are due to serious pre-existing conditions. There are currently more than 79 international high-quality research papers demonstrating natural immunity superior to individuals given the Pfizer COVID product. The limited benefit needs to be balanced against adverse effects, he writes.



The FDA has recently acknowledged, Dr. Hatfill observes, that it is incapable of accurately monitoring serious adverse side-effects. Thus, he states, any tally of effects such as the multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) will almost certainly represent a gross undercount with a lack of transparency to parents.



Dr. Hatfill examines reports to the Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System (VAERS) for each year from 2011 to 2021. Both the total number of reports and the number of deaths in 2021 have exceeded the combined total for all vaccines in previous years, he states.



Dr. Hatfill observes and discusses:

the international restriction of mRNA vaccines in young persons due to the risk of myocarditis;

the growing evidence of waning vaccine effectiveness;

antibody-dependent enhancement;

the emergence of variants;

blood clotting abnormalities; and

the early use of out-patient drug treatment.

Dr. Hatfill calls for a formal investigation into allegations of conflicts of interest and falsified data. Officials responsible for injuries and deaths must be held accountable, he states.



The Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons is published by the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons (AAPS), a national organization representing physicians in all specialties since 1943.
Waukesha, WI (53187)

Today

Occasional snow showers. Quite windy. High 19F. Winds W at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of snow 80%. About one inch of snow expected. Higher wind gusts possible..

Tonight

Cloudy. A few flurries or snow showers possible. Low 9F. Winds WNW at 15 to 25 mph.
Students from the Connecticut School of Music in Westport, and cellist Kenneth Kuo recently performed a concert to benefit the Rising Starr Horse Rescue service in Wilton.

Rising Starr Horse Rescue is an organization that saves, rehabilitates, retrains, and re-homes neglected, or abused horses. Instruments were largely provided by Norwalk based Rentalinstruments.com.

The performances were part of Rising Starr's Making Spirits Bright event, Dec. 4, at the Rising Starr Horse Rescue property. The event is a wine and craft spirits tasting event with both horses, and patrons in attendance. Students also performed various musical pieces for each individual horse.

Martin Luther King, Jr. celebration speaker announced

The life and work of civil rights activist Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., will be celebrated with the 16th annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. event at 3 p.m. on Jan. 16 in the Trefz Forum at Westport Library and via livestreaming.

The event will feature author Heather McGhee, who wrote the book, The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together. The program will also include a recital by the Bridgeport Boys Choir, and a dance performed by the Regional Center for the Arts.

The Westport Library, the Westport Country Playhouse, the Together Effectively Achieving Multiculturalism TEAM Westport official committee of the Town of Westport, the Westport Weston Interfaith Council and the Westport Weston Interfaith Clergy are hosting the event. The date and participants are subject to change.

Visit eventbrite.com/e/16th-annual-dr-martin-luther-king-jr-event-tickets-223572991837 to register.

The Westport Library is located at 20 Jesup Road.

Westport Book Shop welcoming photographer

The Westport Book Shop welcomed photographer Fruma Markowitz as its December guest art exhibitor for its Drew Friedman Art Place.

The Book Shop, and the Art Place, are located at 23 Jesup Road.

Fruma is exhibiting part of an ongoing project entitled Saras Trousseau, with an installation of nine cyanotype prints and collages using photographs, that she previously made of non-matching tea cups she inherited from her mother, together with imprints of crocheted and embroidered linens that she found at flea markets and tag sales.

Frumas work is on exhibit through Dec. 31. The art exhibit is open to the public during the Book Shops business hours: Tuesdays through Saturdays, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sundays from noon to 5 p.m.

Fruma says her photography functions as a visual diary, and she makes photographic images every day. She tries to bring focus to everyday things that other people might overlook, but that are significant, troubling, or wonderful to her. Family life, womanhood, and urban and natural environments are where she most often draws inspiration for making images.

Fruma is a member of The Artists Collective of Westport, The Silvermine Guild in New Canaan, the Rowayton Arts Center in Rowayton, the Ridgefield Guild of Artists, and The Creative Center in New York, N.Y.

Country playhouse presenting A Merry Little Christmas Carol

The Westport Country Playhouse is presenting an in-person and virtual script-in-hand playreading of A Merry Little Christmas Carol, at 7 p.m. on Monday.

A Merry Little Christmas Carol, is based off of the story, A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.

The performance will also be filmed for on-demand streaming available Thursday through Sunday.

The Westport Country Playhouse is located at 25 Powers Court in Westport.

Part ghost story, part celebration, A Merry Little Christmas Carol is written and directed by Mark Shanahan, the creator and curator of the Playhouses Script in Hand playreading series and the Playhouse Radio Theater.

The show will feature a cast of six actors, who will play a variety of roles.

The run time is 80 minutes with no intermission.

Tickets to attend in person are $20. Patrons will need to be masked, and fully vaccinated for COVID-19 to attend one of the indoor performances. Patrons must also show proof of their vaccination with their valid ticket to enter.

Tickets for the on demand streaming are $20 for an individual, $40 for a pair, and $80 for a household. Each purchase entitles a ticket buyer to one individual link.

Visit westportplayhouse.org, call 203-227-4177 or email boxoffice@westportplayhouse.org to purchase tickets.

Visit westportplayhouse.org/visit/covid19safety for updates about COVID-19 health, and safety protocols at the Westport Country Playhouse.

Donations sought for Westport Warm-Up Fund program

The Westport Warm-Up Fund is seeking donations.

The fund is a community-supported initiative that is managed by the Town of Westport's Department of Human Services. It helps income-qualified households with home heating expenses through the cold winter months. It annually assists hundreds of households that are experiencing financial hardships.

This winter season will be one of the most expensive on record forcing some households to choose whether to heat, or eat, according to information from Westport Department of Human Services Director Elaine Daignault.

Tax-deductible donations can be made to the Westport Warm-Up Fund program directly and will immediately benefit friends and neighbors.

Contributions are accepted online at westportct.gov/donate, or by mail to: Westport Warm-Up Fund, Department of Human Services, Westport Town Hall, 110 Myrtle Ave., Westport CT 06880

The Department of Human Services works with residents of all ages to provide resources, programs, and services, including income-based financial assistance, short-term counseling, and personal enrichment opportunities. For more information or to request assistance, visit westportct.gov, or contact 203-341-1050, or humansrv@westportct.gov.

Animal group marks 20 years of adoptions

The Alliance In Limiting Strays (TAILS), an all-volunteer spay/neuter specific organization, recently marked its 20th year of spaying and neutering local dogs and cats.

The group helps both dogs and cats but focuses on where it sees the most need: feral cats.

TAILS was formed in April 2001 and received their IRS, tax-exempt certification on November 7, 2001. The organization is a standalone, 501c3 organization which consists of a dedicated group of volunteers of all ages in the area with no paid staff. It is also a no-kill and only puts animals down when medically necessary as deemed by a veterinarian.

TAILS is based in Westport and serves as the town's de facto cat group which represents and protects local cats from homelessness whenever possible as local Animal Control does not currently have the ability to take-in or place cats. Additionally, the organization supports nine surrounding towns, has a robust TNR and Barn Cat program, has adoptable cats in two local Petco stores (Norwalk & Westport) and a dedicated group of more than 55 volunteers. Volunteers, participating veterinarians/vet techs, foster homes and donors are always being sought to continue their work.

More information or to support TAILS please visit http://www.tailsct.org, www.facebook.com/TAILSSpayNeuter, Instagram under tails_spay_neuter or via email at info@tailsct.org or phone at 203.222.1992.
GREENWICH  Plans are proceeding to make the Lyon House, a historic home dating to the 17th century in the west end of town, more accessible and engaging to the public.

The Planning & Zoning Commission reviewed an application by the the Greenwich Preservation Trust and gave a favorable response to the proposal during its informal, preliminary review at a meeting Tuesday night. The proposal is seeking to add parking, a handicap-accessible bathroom and landscape modifications at the site off 1 Byram Drive at West Putnam Avenue.

Commissioner Dennis Yeskey said he liked the concept that was presented.

This is a great project for Greenwich, he said, and added that any improvements made at the gateway site into town would be a welcome addition. Owned by the town of Greenwich, the site is managed by the Greenwich Preservation Trust.

The aim of the Greenwich Preservation Trust is to make the structure of the historic Lyon House more visitor-friendly. Under the proposal, the home would be used as a historical study center, an archive, a meeting space and a place to mark local history, according to the submission on file at Town Hall.

Creation of a pedestrian trail to the nearby Dorothy Hamill municipal ice rink parking lot would come at a later date, said Paul Pugliese, from the preservation trust. Well do that in the future. For now, we want to get the house accessible to the public with the least amount of disruption, he said.

Architect Norm Davis said the improvements in accessibility would be achieved without losing the historic character of the Lyon House.

A representative from the Byram Neighborhood Association spoke in favor of the improvements.

We are strongly in favor of the project. We think this is really important for this end of town, said Al Shehadi, chairman of the land-use committee of the Byram Neighborhood Association. He noted that the traffic circle nearby on West Putnam Avenue is a bad intersection in terms of traffic safety and called on town authorities to work on upgrades there.

P&Z Chairwoman Margarita Alban acknowledged the concerns and said the state Department of Transportation would have to coordinate any improvements, which she said could be a lengthy process. She said any future events held at the Lyon House should avoid peak rush-hour times.

Alban said the commission is eager to see a full proposal from the Greenwich Preservation Trust in the coming weeks for the Lyon House.

rmarchant@greenwichtime.com
BRUSSELS (AP)  Media freedom continued to be under attack across much of the world in 2021, with nine journalists killed in the line of duty in Afghanistan alone and 102 imprisoned in China, according to a new report released Thursday.

The International Federation of Journalists said in a bleak assessment that imprisonments were especially on the rise, with 365 journalists behind bars compared to 235 last year.

The world needs to wake up to the growing violations of journalists rights and media freedoms across the globe, IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger said. The report was released on the eve of the United Nations Human Rights Day.

Apart from China, Turkey had 34 journalists in prison, Belarus and Eritrea 29, Egypt 27 and Vietnam 21.

The IFJ said that the rise of detentions in China was linked to the coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic in Wuhan, the further arrests of Uyghur journalists reporting on the treatment of the Muslim minority in western China. Many have called it genocide. It said that coverage of the demonstrations in Hong Kong also led to further arrests.

Bellanger said the attacks on journalists went well beyond the personal losses suffered and affected society as a whole. They also point to the violation of the peoples fundamental right to access accurate, objective and fair information so that they can make properly informed choices about public affairs.

With three weeks left in the year, overall deaths in the line of duty were set to go down this year, with 45 so far, compared to 65 overall last year. With Afghanistan topping the list with nine journalists killed, Mexico came close behind with eight, all of them murders. India had four and Pakistan three.

The Brussels-based IFJ represents 600,000 media professionals from 187 trade unions and associations in more than 140 countries.

The group also highlighted a rare positive development, which was the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to two journalists. Maria Ressa of the Philippines and Dmitry Muratov of Russia won for their fight for freedom of expression in countries where reporters have faced persistent attacks, harassment and even murder.

Russia still has 12 journalists behind bars, and three reporters were killed in the Philippines.
CHICAGO (AP)  Jussie Smolletts conviction Thursday for lying to police about a racist, homophobic attack came nearly three years after his report of a horrifying hate crime quickly became part of a polarized political landscape, with people  including the president of the United States  weighing in from all over.

A prosecutor said the verdict was a resounding message by the jury that Mr. Smollett did exactly what we said he did  recruit two brothers to fake an attack so it could be recorded by a surveillance camera and posted on social media for publicity.

The brothers testified that the former Empire actor paid them $3,500 for the hoax and gave them lines to yell, including about MAGA country, an apparent reference to then-President Donald Trumps Make America Great Again slogan.

The report made headlines around the world and prompted a massive manhunt in Chicago, with roughly two dozen police joining the investigation. It also drew criticism from Trump, who called the police departments handling of the case an absolute embarrassment to our country.

Not only did Mr. Smollett lie to the police and wreak havoc here in the city for weeks on end for no reason whatsoever, but then he compounded the problem by lying under oath to a jury, special prosecutor Dan Webb said after Thursday's verdict.

Smollett, who is Black and gay, maintained throughout the nearly three-year legal battle that he was attacked in downtown Chicago in January 2019 by people who yelled racist and anti-gay slurs and put a noose around his neck.

His attorney declared Smollett's innocence again Thursday after the jury found him guilty on five of six counts of disorderly conduct for lying to police. Nenye Uche said Smollett would appeal the conviction, and is 100% confident his name will be cleared by an appellate court.

Unfortunately we were facing an uphill battle where Jussie was already tried and convicted in the media and then we had to somehow get the jury to forget or unsee all the news stories that they had been hearing that were negative for the last three years, Uche told reporters after the verdict.

The jury convicted the 39-year-old on five counts of disorderly conduct  for each separate time he was charged with lying to police in the days after the alleged attack. He was acquitted on a sixth count, of lying to a detective in mid-February, weeks after Smollett said he was attacked.

Smollett stood and faced the jury, showing no visible reaction as the verdict was read. He and his family later left the courthouse without comment.

Judge James Linn set a post-trial hearing for Jan. 27, and said he would schedule Smollett's sentencing at a later date. Disorderly conduct is a class 4 felony that carries a prison sentence of up to three years, but experts have said if convicted, Smollett would likely be placed on probation and ordered to perform community service.

The damage to his personal and professional life may be more severe. Smollett lost his role on the TV program Empire," which was filmed in Chicago, after prosecutors said the alleged attack was a hoax, and he told jurors earlier this week, Ive lost my livelihood.

The jury deliberated for just over nine hours Wednesday and Thursday after a roughly one-week trial.

Smollett testified that he was the victim of a real hate crime, telling jurors there was no hoax. He called the brothers who testified against him liars and said the $3,500 check he wrote them was for meal and workout plans.

His attorneys argued that the brothers attacked the actor because they are homophobic and didnt like who he was. They also alleged the brothers made up the story about the attack being staged to get money from Smollett, and that they said they wouldnt testify against him if Smollett paid them each $1 million.

Asked Thursday if Smollett could be charged with perjury for lying on the witness stand, Webb said perjury charges generally dont happen after a defendant is convicted, but that it was unclear what would happen in Smollett's case.

He also said the Chicago Police Department was vindicated by the jury's verdict.

A lot of times people say, Well, police officers sweep things under the rug. This police department responded by absolutely testifying in this trial that they took it seriously," Webb said. "They believed he was a victim of a crime and they worked so hard for the next three weeks.

But Uche said Chicago police should have investigated the case much more," and that there were some witnesses who were never interviewed.

He called the jury's split verdict inconsistent, saying it made no sense for Smollett to be convicted of five counts but not the sixth charge, since everything stems from one incident.

An attorney for Abimbola and Olabingo Osundairo, the brothers who testified against Smollett, said her clients could not be more thrilled and pleased with the results."

Chicago police got this one right, Gloria Rodriguez said.

___

Associated Press reporter Sophia Tareen contributed to this report.

___

Check out the APs complete coverage of the Jussie Smollett case.
BANGKOK (AP)  The U.S. has ordered an arms embargo on Cambodia, citing deepening Chinese military influence, corruption and human rights abuses by the government and armed forces in the Southeast Asian country.

The added restrictions on defense-related goods and services, issued by the State and Commerce departments, are due to be published and take effect Thursday.

A notice in the Federal Register said developments in Cambodia were contrary to U.S. national security and foreign policy interests."

The aim of the embargo is to ensure that defense-related items are not available to Cambodia's military and military intelligence services without advance review by the U.S. government, it said.

The latest restrictions follow the Treasury Department's ordering in November of sanctions against two senior Cambodian military officials for corruption and come amid increasing concern about Beijing's sway.

At the time, the U.S. government issued an advisory cautioning American businesses about potential exposure to entities Cambodia and its military that engage in human rights abuses, corruption and other destabilizing conduct."

Cambodia branded those sanctions as politically motivated" and said it would not discuss them with Washington.

The U.S. has similar controls on exports of items that might be diverted to military end users" in Myanmar, China, Russia and Venezuela.

U.S. exports to Cambodia in 2019 totaled $5.6 billion. The amount of military-related U.S. exports to Cambodia was not immediately available. The U.S. is the largest export market for Cambodia, a major garments manufacturing hub, but three-quarters of Cambodia's imports are from China and other countries in Asia.

The U.S. halted military assistance to Cambodia following a 1997 coup in which the country's leader, Hun Sen, grabbed full power after ousting his co-premier, Prince Norodom Ranariddh. Hun Sen remains prime minister. In August 2005, President George W. Bush waved the ban, citing Phnom Penhs agreement to exempt Americans in Cambodia from prosecution by the Netherlands-based International Criminal Court.

Since direct military ties between the two countries were restored in 2006, the U.S. has pledged millions in military aid to Cambodia, initially to help improve its border security and peacekeeping operations.

China is Cambodias biggest investor and closest political partner. It was the chief backer of the murderous regime of Pol Pot in the 1970s and has long maintained strong relations with Hun Sen, who has ruled for more than 30 years and grown increasingly repressive.

Beijings support allows Cambodia to disregard Western concerns about its poor record in human and political rights, and in turn Cambodia generally supports Beijings geopolitical positions on issues such as its territorial claims in the South China Sea.

The construction of new Chinese military facilities at Cambodia's Ream Naval Base is a point of strong contention with Washington.

Ream faces the Gulf of Thailand, adjacent to the South China Sea, where China has aggressively asserted its claim to virtually the entire strategic waterway. The U.S. has refused to recognize Chinas sweeping claims, and the Navys 7th Fleet routinely sails past Chinese-held islands in what it terms freedom of navigation operations.

In recent years, Hun Sen's government has cracked down on the political opposition, shut media outlets and forced hundreds of Cambodian politicians, human rights activists and journalists into exile.

Human rights groups say the government has engaged in arbitrary arrests and other abuses and worked to portray peaceful dissent over corruption, land rights and other issues as attempts to overthrow the government.

Corruption is another major concern.

The Treasury Department sanctions targeted the director general of the defense ministrys material and technical services department and a commander in the Royal Cambodian Navy.

In a statement, Treasury alleged that in 2020 and 2021, the two conspired with other Cambodian officials to inflate costs of a construction project at the Ream base and then planned to use the funds for their own benefit.

Washington has protested over work done at Ream, which officials said involved the demolition of two U.S. funded buildings without notification or explanation to the U.S.
When an opening for bishop arose in the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church in 2010, Teresa Jefferson-Snorton looked around to see if any women were offering to be candidates.

None were.

She knew that since its founding 140 years earlier by Black Methodists emerging from slavery, the denomination had never elected a woman bishop.

I was like, oh my goodness, this cant be, she recalled. If no one steps forward, it gives the church a pass.

Jefferson-Snorton, who had spent decades as a pastor, chaplain and theological educator, undertook several months of intensive prayer before discerning she was feeling a call to this from God. Then she put her name forward.

To an extent, it was a political statement, said Jefferson-Snorton.

Despite opposition from some who said the denomination wasnt ready for a woman bishop, she was elected the CMEs 59th bishop, overseeing 217 churches across Alabama and Florida.

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This story is part of a series by The Associated Press and Religion News Service on womens roles in male-led religions.

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Jefferson-Snorton said people there have come to accept her in the role  if awkwardly at times.

I cant tell you how many times people said, Yes sir, to me, she said. I just remind them, Yes maam is OK.

Eleven years later, she remains the CMEs only woman bishop, a status made vivid in an official photo of the churchs college of bishops, where she sits among 16 men, all in purple and white vestments.

Most major Black Christian denominations in the U.S. have no doctrinal bar to ordained women leaders in the way that Catholicism and some other denominations do, and women have preached and been ordained in historically Black churches since at least the 19th century.

Yet denominational leadership remained all-male until the 21st century, and women are still the exception in the top rungs.

Earlier this year, the Rev. Gina Stewart became the first woman president of a major Black Baptist organization, the Lott Carey Baptist Foreign Mission Society, an organization that responds to disasters and fights poverty, hunger and human trafficking.

Whenever a woman is placed in a role that is traditionally male, theres always some negativity that surrounds it, Stewart said, but in her first 90 days as president, she has received congratulatory calls from some male denominational leaders and support from her male predecessors, without encountering any major resistance.

Theres a shifting taking place, Stewart said, noting that more women have been promoted to lead important departments in the church.

We know that its long overdue, added Stewart, who is the senior pastor of Christ Missionary Baptist Church in Memphis, Tennessee. But we give those organizations that are making the effort credit, taking the initiative and giving women that opportunity.

Religious organizations still need to do more to provide women chances for leadership development, said the Rev. Maisha Handy, associate professor of religion and education at the Interdenominational Theological Center, a consortium of historically African American seminaries in Atlanta.

Weve certainly made strides around that in recent years, in recent decades, but we still have a long way to go, said Handy, who is also executive director of the Center for Black Womens Justice at ITC.

Women pastors often receive assignments to smaller congregations with fewer resources or opportunities to gain experience and preparation for denominational leadership, Handy said.

Its not just about ordination. Its about placement, said Handy.

When Black denominations got their start in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, according to Handy, their biblical interpretations were affected by the cultural attitudes around them. When you think about the kind of patriarchy and misogyny that is intrinsic to American history and culture, it makes sense that it was reflected also in those denominations, she said.

To be sure, women have long exercised authority in non-ordained roles, outnumbering men in local church membership and also leading their own organizations within denominations.

But from the first, women had limited access to the pulpit, though some challenged those barriers.

If the man may preach, because the savior died for him, why not the woman? Jarena Lee, the first woman lay preacher in the African Methodist Episcopal Church, asked in the early 19th century.

A sister denomination, the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, ordained Mary Small, its first woman minister, in 1898. By the mid-20th century, the CME and AME churches were ordaining women as well. Records are less precise among the more decentralized Baptists, but womens ordination was long the exception among them.

In 2000, Vashti Murphy McKenzie was elected the first woman bishop in the AME Church. McKenzie, now retired, was later joined by more women bishops, though men still comprise most of the AME episcopacy. The AME Zion Church followed, electing Mildred Bonnie Hines bishop in 2008, as did the CME with Jefferson-Snorton in 2010.

Jefferson-Snorton, who in October was elected chair of the governing board of the National Council of Churches, said she is still sometimes questioned about biblical passages that are cited to justify giving men sole power to preach or lead. She cites other passages, such as one declaring that in Christ there is neither male nor female.

I often start with the story of Resurrection morning, when Jesus female followers were told to go and proclaim he had risen from the dead, she added.

If Jesus had not intended for women to be bearers of good news, that would never have happened, said Jefferson-Snorton.

But to those who are more hostile in questioning womens ministry, I often say to them, God called me to this ministry, so if you have a problem with it, you need to talk to God, because I did not call myself, she said.

In the Church of God in Christ, a historically Black Pentecostal denomination, women have made their influence felt in other ways. Traditionally only men have been recognized as ordained ministers or bishops, while women have led its Womens Department, which oversees auxiliaries. COGIC officials didnt respond to questions about womens roles in the denomination.

But after the death of her husband, COGICs first elected presiding bishop, Mother Mary P. Patterson, a retired real estate agent who headed her own travel agency, founded the Pentecostal Heritage Connection, dedicated to planting historical markers honoring COGIC leaders across the South. In November, a ceremony unveiling the final marker, an 8-foot aluminum sign on a corner in Little Rock, Arkansas, was attended by regional religious leaders, a representative of the governor and scholars who traveled to the state for the occasion.

Sherry Sherrod DuPree, a Florida historian and former president of the Society for Pentecostal Studies, said Pattersons effort is an example of how women lead in a denomination known for its patriarchal hierarchy.

She is a quiet praying lady who stays in her lane but is active in getting jobs done without fanfare, one of the skills of COGIC women, said DuPree.

Patterson said, it shows other young women that you dont have to be behind the pulpit in order to do a work for the Lord.

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Associated Press religion coverage receives support from the Lilly Endowment through The Conversation U.S. The AP is solely responsible for this content.
GREENWICH  Police responded to a report of a disturbing message found in a womens bathroom at Greenwich High School on Thursday morning, and more officers will be posted at the school in coming days, police and school officials said.

We cleared the school and there were no incidents, Police Capt. Mark Zuccerella said Thursday afternoon about the message, which was reported at 9:30 a.m.

There are rumors about an arrest, a gun, as well as other claims, he said. There were no arrests or weapons-related issues. There was a medical incident unrelated to the issue and an accident that occurred in front of the school.

School district spokesman Jonathan Supranowitz said email advisories were sent to parents, noting there was no imminent threat at the time. School officials said an ambulance responded to an unrelated medical incident.

Additional police personnel will be stationed at Greenwich High School for the near future, and detectives were assigned to the case, Zuccerella said.

At the request of GHS, we will have a presence at the school, in addition to the two school resource officers. The Special Victims Section is conducting the investigation, he said Thursday afternoon.

At this time, we are not releasing any further information. The detectives have several leads they are working on, Zuccerella said.

In a Thursday evening email to Greenwich Public Schools families, Superintendent Toni Jones called for calm.

We are asking to work together as a community to stop the spread of rumors about dangerous weapons, using individual student names, and other social media untruths which are circulating about todays events, Jones said in the message.

She also shared facts about the incident to hopefully dispel any fictional stories going around our community. Jones said:

 The message in a GHS bathroom was discovered Thursday morning.

 Greenwich Police were called and their response time was immediate.

 There were no additional messages or threats to any of the schools in the district.

 No guns or weapons were found at the school.

 No arrests had been made regarding this situation at this time.

Classes continued Thursday as scheduled, according to an earlier email from Jones.

The building continues to conduct classes, and the students are passing in a pre-COVID route utilizing the inside of the building versus traveling outside on the sidewalk, she said in that email. While some families have chosen to pick up their children, or checked out their older children to drive home, the building is continuing the school day as advised by the police department.

It is understandable that students, staff and families (especially at GHS) experienced a level of high anxiety, Jones said in the email.

Additional counseling support will be available at GHS for students on Friday as we know today caused a great deal of anxiety, she said. In addition, there will be a greater police presence at school (Friday) to help all of our students and staff feel safe and secure. We want students to know that the building is safe and that we would not hesitate to cancel school if there were concerns.

Zuccerella said additional officers had been dispatched to the school after the message was found at 9:30 a.m. out of an abundance of caution. The police department also advised the public there that there was no imminent threat, he said.

The email from Jones also noted other recent threats at schools in nearby communities.

Unfortunately, Fairfield County has seen a wave of inappropriate phone calls and threats deemed not credible over the past week or so. Just today, our neighbors in Norwalk announced that they have arrested a juvenile who made at least three threats in the past nine days, she said.

In that incident, a 14-year-old male from Norwalk is facing multiple charges of conspiracy, threatening, falsely reporting an incident and breach of peace after allegedly making multiple false threats at Norwalk High School over the last week.

In Greenwich, Zuccerella said anyone with information about the message in the bathroom at Greenwich High is asked to contact police at TIPS@greenwichct.org or 203-622-3333.

We take matters like this very seriously and work in conjunction with the Board of Education to act with the best interest of the children and school staff in mind, he said.

Threats of harm to students, or anyone, will never be tolerated by the Greenwich Police Department. We will use all of our resources to identify the person responsible and hold them accountable for any threats of harm made to any school regardless if the threat was meant as a prank or not, the captain said.

Jones also praised the work of the police department. There is nothing more important than the safety of our students and staff. We are grateful for the strong support we have with the Greenwich Police Department, she said in an email.

Editors note: This story has been updated.
Italian antitrust watchdog fined Amazon 1.13 billion (about $1.28 billion) for abuse of market dominance, Reuters reports. According to the European country, Amazon.it leveraged its dominant position to push third-party sellers to use its own logistics service Fulfilment by Amazon (FBA).

Amazon Fulfilment Center near Rome, Italy

The regulator claimed Amazon tied exclusive benefits, such as the Prime membership, to the use of exclusive benefits such as using FBA, getting promotions and visibility on its website. The blue logo of Prime helps users to navigate through listings, but third-party sellers that had their product tied to the promotion were not allowed to use third-party delivery services.

Amazon responded that its partners are not obliged to do so, and a majority of sellers are not using FBA, without clarifying if they are tied to Prime or not. The company said they choose the service because it is efficient, convenient, and competitive. It also added that the proposed fines and remedies are unjustified and disproportionate.

Amazon can appeal the decision which also includes imposing corrective steps, monitored by a dedicated trustee.

Via
A CHamoru couple formerly from Dededo is brightening the holidays for a central Texas community with the donation of lighted arches that reflect a husbands love for his wife.

Joey Acfalle, 52, donated the arches lighting up Copperas Cove City Park in honor of his wife, Lisa, who turned 50 on Monday.

The couple has been living in Texas since 2010, where they settled with their two sons after living around the country for Joey Acfalles military assignments.

He had joined the Marines and left Guam in 1987 for boot camp. He returned in 1989 and married Lisa a year later. He served combat tours around the world, including in the first Gulf War and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

They eventually settled in 2010 in Copperas Cove, where he retired from military service four years later.

During the summer I told the wife Ive saved enough money to do her 50th birthday, what do you want to do?, Joey Acfalle said.  Do you want to have a party, do you want to travel? She said she didnt want to do any of that.

So OK, so what should we do? And she says, Well, we want to give something to the community. So I turn around and says, Well, let me go check the chamber, let me go check on some of the nonprofits.

After a discussion with chamber Executive Director Silvia Spires about the organizations plans for a holiday display in the city park, the Acfalles decided that was how they would give back to the community theyve lived in for the last 11 years.

So I said OK, let me go ahead and donate five arches. And she actually almost freaked out. Its a lot of money.  I told her Im buying those five arches in honor of my wife because shes terminally ill and each arch is 10 years of her accomplishments in life.

In spite of the heavy emotional burdens they carry, including Lisas illness and the deaths of their oldest son and of a grandchild, the Acfalles embody the true spirit of the holiday season with their donation as a gesture of goodwill and hope for others.

In his message on social media, Joey Acfalle noted that Fort Hood is next door (to Copperas Cove), where our island service members can have an opportunity to enjoy. The hope is the arches will be displayed each year.
Late Sunday afternoon I was feeling miserable. Allergies were making me feel like someone hit me with a bat between the eyes, and I was starving.

Heading home on Marine Drive on my way to Machanao, I didnt want to stop and park to pick up takeout, or even wait in line at a drive-thru.

Resigned to picking up a can of soup at UR Market, I spied salvation just a few minutes from home in the form of a food trailer set up on the side of Chalan Balako right off Ysengsong Road.

Inasal BBQ House, which opened their brick and mortar restaurant in the East West Business Center in 2019, sets up their trailer from 4-9 p.m. daily except for Mondays and Wednesdays.

When the sun goes down, they turn on the roof lights, beckoning tired commuters with a rotating line of red, green, blue and white flashes.

As you drive closer the trailer, the aroma of pork and chicken skewers grilling fills your nose and you cant help but pull over.

Their mobile menu mimics their Upper Tumon offerings, including some of the most popular dishes: grilled chicken feet, bulalo (beef shank soup), and isaw (grilled pig or chicken intestines).

The business is owned by two couples. Stephanie Lavarino serves as the general manager, and her husband, Executive Chef Jeffrey Lavarino, is the culinary talent behind the operation.

While the Lavarinos are devoted to the business full-time, they rotate shifts at the food trailer with their partners, who both have full-time jobs. Roberta Mendoza is a licensed practical nurse at HagatnaMED Clinic and her partner, Christian Dones, works as a facility manager at GTA.

Luvin Guam

Next to the food trailer is one of Guams favorite fruit slush stands, Luvin Guam. Owned by Joaquin Naputi, Luvin Guam attracted visitors from around the world to their stand at Two Lovers Point before the pandemic shut down the business.

Longtime Luvin fans can get their mango, calamansi, coconut, pineapple and strawberry slush fix once again on the Machanao property, which he owns, according to his daughter, Felicia Naputi.

The elder Naputi considers Jeffrey Lavarino as a son, and so it was a natural fit to partner together on his venture to bring fresh local foods to the Dededo community.

The food

For me, Filipino comfort food is anything fried. So I ordered a plate of lechon kawali, which comes with rice, as the main attraction.

The lechon is fried to order, and for that, I was willing to wait the 10 minutes for it.

The plate featured a generous helping of lechon, with hefty chunks of meat that were crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, and a generous cap of fat topped by the best part, the skin.

I also wanted to try the eponymous barbecued meats, so I got a skewer of pork and chicken. Both came with plump morsels of marinated meat, grilled with a slight char yet still tender.

At the last minute when paying, I spied a clear container of what appeared to be lumpia  but with a purple filling. Once Mendoza told me it was an ube malagkit, or sticky rice, turon with cheese, I had to add that to the order.

It. Was. Perfection. I could have had the ube malagkit just on its own, but to stuff it into a lumpia wrapper with cheese and fry it? Heaven. The texture was like traditional bibingka, but with ube flavoring. Didnt even taste the cheese.

With so many items on the menu to try, Ill be back!
PDN reporter Julianne Hernandez gives the good and the bad (possibly) of Meta
Guams missile defense needs to be improved, according to the Department of Defense, which stated the missile threat against Guam will increase in the coming years.

The Army since 2014 has operated a high-altitude THAAD missile defense system on Guam, at Andersen Air Force Base, and in November deployed the Iron Dome Missile Defense System at Andersen for testing.

Iron Dome

The Iron Dome system, which is intended to provide a lower layer of missile defense, is scheduled to leave Guam this month. One of the reasons for temporarily deploying the system on Guam was to determine how well it works with the THAAD, according to the military.

Todays missile defense capabilities in Guam are, as we know, only sufficient to protect against yesterdays threats, according to Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Stephen Sklenka, who was quoted in a written release by the Pentagon on Thursday.

Sklenka is deputy commander of the Indo-Pacific Command.

Defend Guam

To defend Guam against the (Chinese militarys) evolving capabilities, ... we require a land-based, persistent, 360-degree system. Theres no getting around that. The Guam defense system has got to be an architecture that fuses the most capable integrated air missile defense programs of record today and those that are developing into the future, Sklenka said.

According to Sklenka, one of the Indo-Pacific Commands top priorities is to obtain funding for an improved missile defense system on Guam. He said the threats to Guam arent idle.

Guam Del. Mike San Nicolas on Thursday said the militarys 2022 budget, which passed the House of Representatives, includes $765 million for military projects on Guam and prioritizes action on missile defense.

We specifically push the advancement of missile defense on Guam with direct language requiring the Secretary of Defense to ensure that we are secured over the next decade, San Nicolas said.

Our point is, we need something, Sklenka said. We dont care whether its led by (the) Army, whether its led by (the) Navy ... or whether its led (by the Missile Defense Agency). What were saying is we need the decisions to be made, the architecture to be agreed upon, and to move out. Because this is a problem that we dont have the luxury anymore of waiting and analyzing and assessing. Weve done all that stuff. Weve done all the studies, its time to move out, to get this thing into action.
Guam could start receiving money from a recent opioid settlement as early as July of next year.

According to Chief Deputy Attorney General Shannon Taitano, the island is poised to receive around $10 million, distributed for the next 18 years. The final figure was still up in the air while the AGs office waited on any updates, but the first payment should come in the summer of 2022.

Lawmakers on Thursday debated Bill 204, which would create a trust fund for the settlement and any other opioid lawsuits and create an advisory council to decide how the money is used. The Opioid Advisory Council would be made of government officials and nonprofit workers.

The bill was introduced by Sen. Amanda Shelton.

Bill 204 dedicates these funds for their intended purpose to treat and prevent opioid use and co-occurring substance abuse disorders or mental health conditions, Shelton said.

Similar laws were passed in other jurisdictions that were part of the multi-state opioid lawsuit, Taitano said, and Bill 204 was important to help iron out a plan for what recovery services the money would be used for. An FAQ provided by the AGs office outlines how the money ought to be used such as education campaigns and youth-prevention programs.

States have to agree to divide the money up, giving 15% to the state, 15% to subdivisions like cities and counties and 70% to a dedicated fund. The AGs office had asked whether Guam would have the 30% go directly to the state, but that portion would still have to be used for addiction treatment, prevention and recovery, Taitano said.

Speaker Therese Terlaje passed an amendment that would limit the use of money for administrative costs to 5%, and require the council to create a spending plan.

Back on their feet

Sen. Telena Nelson wanted some of the money to go toward direct payments to help victims of substance abuse get back on their feet. She introduced an amendment to allow the advisory to consider doing so.

This gives the recovering addicts an opportunity, only if the council should discuss it and come up with a program that would compensate the victims, she said.

But Sen. Joanne Brown objected to the amendment.

We have no idea how many victims are involved, what the amounts are going to be and whether or not this money is going to be distributed, she said, adding that it was more important to put the roughly $10 million towards prevention and education. Even adding direct payments on as a possibility would open up the council to a lawsuit, she said.

The amendment failed.

Bill 204 was moved into the third reading file with no objections.
A man and a woman were arrested in connection to a reported break-in.

Early Thursday morning, Guam Police Department officers conducted a check on a car in the parking lot of the old Bank of Guam near Adelup, as the building was recently broken into, according to a release sent by GPD acting spokeswoman Berlyn Savella.

Officers met with a man and woman later identified as Jimmy Lee Skilang, 36, and Tammy Jean Vawter, 35, who claimed they parked the car and began to rummage through trash bins to find items to possibly sell, the release stated.

Skilang and Vawter were arrested on allegations of illegal possession of a controlled substance.

Skilang also was arrested on allegations of home invasion, burglary, criminal mischief, family violence and assault. He was booked and confined at the Department of Corrections.

Vawter was booked and released, according to the release.

The report was forwarded to the Office of the Attorney General for prosecution.
My past two columns have focused on how decolonization is normally thought of as achieving political independence but becoming fully integrate




Haiti - FLASH : The World Bank promises the PM a substantial strengthening of its financial support





On the morning of Wednesday, December 8, 2021, the acting Prime Minister, Ariel Henry, spoke with Ms. Lilia Burunciuc, Director for the Caribbean region of the World Bank.



Henry explained to the World Bank delegation headed by Ms. Burunciuc his Government's priorities to get the country out of the current dire situation.



Ms. Burunciuc congratulated the Prime Minister for the courageous economic and fiscal decisions taken and pledged a substantial strengthening of the financial support of the World Bank in several areas of intervention.



On the other hand, major World Bank financing programs for Haiti are under study and should be approved in the coming months, Lilia Burunciuc said.



All that remains is to wait for details from the World Bank on this "substantial financial reinforcement", the targeted areas of intervention and the major programs that are being studied for Haiti...



HL/ HaitiLibre


















Published on 2021/12/09 | Source

Korean movies opening today 2021/12/09 in Korea: "My Stranger", "Sisyphus's Vacation", "I Am Chosun People" and "Men Who Won't Pick Up Guns 2: Breaking a Taboo"

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"My Stranger" (2021)

Directed by Cha Jin-woo

With Yoo Se-yoon, Im Woo-il,...

Synopsis

Popular gagman Yoon Se-yoon suddenly started to show strange behaviors, such as repeating weird movements or spitting unknown words one day when he was 14...

The behavior gradually disappeared, but it still remains a terrible memory for his family and acquaintances who witnessed him at that time.

Then one day, Se-yoon who is now a head of a family hears an unidentified sound once again. That thing starts to bother him more and more...

The 15-day record surrounding popular comedian Yoo Se-yoon!

In December, the shocking identity of 'the thing' is revealed!

"Sisyphus's Vacation" (2020)

Directed by Lim Hyun-mook

With Park Jong-hwan, Kim Sae-byuk, Ki Joo-bong, Moon Chang-gil, Ryu Je-seung, Kim Kyung-ik,...

Synopsis

Novelist Goo-bo who has been writing leaves the house early in the morning with an excited mind to decide whether to publish his novel at a small publishing company where his senior Ki-yeong is the editor-in-chief.

Upon hearing the unexpected news, Goo-bo wanders around the streets in despair and meets various acquaintances accidentally or inevitably...

"I Am Chosun People" (2020)

Directed by Kim Cheol-min

Synopsis

In October 2002, a South Korean documentary film director Kim Cheol-min attends an event hosted at Mt. Geumgang: National Rally for Reunification by Students and Youths from South and North Korea and Abroad. It was influenced by the June 15 South-North Joint Declaration. In the hope of contributing to the nation's reconciliation, unity, and reunification, around 500 students and youths from South and North Korea and abroad attended the event. Here, Kim encounters the Korean Japanese (Zainichi) for the first time. To get to know them better and deeper, he grabs his camera and heads to Japan. The Korean Japanese are neither 'South Korean' nor 'North Korean'. They refer to themselves as 'Chosun people'. Many people find the term difficult and awkward because the word 'Chosun' cannot be defined simply. Multiple discussions intertwine the word. In Japan, 'Chosun' is consciously and unconsciously connected with North Korea, making the word a form of hate speech. When the Korean Japanese say "I am from Chosun", they are making a declaration or pledge to proactively rescue the word that is engraved with a history of oppression and ordeal. LEE Jong-chan

Diaspora Film Festival 9

"Men Who Won't Pick Up Guns 2: Breaking a Taboo" (2020)

Directed by Kim Hwan-tae

Synopsis

15 years have passed since People without Gun. Since 2002, I've recorded conscientious objectors and stayed with them until the constitutional court ruled an alternative military service system in 2018, and times that proved their existence and moved the society. Let's go into the time of "Traces of Peace" and "Challenging the Taboo" that the conscientious objection movement has walked through.

12th DMZ International Documentary Festival
Syria continues to bleed, since 2011, due to the various struggles, whether between internal parties, agents of regional and international powers, or directly involved in the Syrian crisis, in which nearly half a million Syrians lost their lives.

Because of the conflicts, Syrians are still losing, despite affirmation of implementing UN Security Council Resolution 2,254, which calls for a cease-fire, and resorting to dialogue.

Politicians and intellectuals in Hasaka city, north and east of Syria, believe that prolonging the Syrian crisis serve countries greedy to plunder Syrias resources, and to occupy its lands, refusing to rely on powers and states interfering in Syrian affairs.

Faysal al-Hareth, Al-Mulhim clan's notable, regrets the absence of the implementation of UN Resolution 2,254, saying, "despite that everyone stresses the necessity of implementing Geneva Resolution 2,254, the Syrians still suffer from lack of political and military stability, because of the absence of clear implementation mechanisms to implement this resolution".

Abdullah al-Rwayshid, the Deputy Secretary-General of the National Democratic Change and Development Party, pointed out that the only way to end these violations and crimes committed against the Syrians, especially the Turkish occupation ones, and to make a new Syria is by Syrian dialogue among the people of Syria as a whole.

Al-Rwayshid refused any external intervention, excluding that Russia and America would give a solution, stressing that the dialogue between the Syrians would be the way to create a solution.

"The only solution is the dialogue that brings together Damascus Government and the Autonomous Administration on one table.

He said, "The only solution is the dialogue that bring together Damascus Government and the Autonomous Administration for discussion, away from any external interference".

Faysal Al-Harith, noted the uselessness of relying on the forces interfering in Syrian crisis, saying: "We do not count on any country in the world. We as Syrians now are relying on ourselves".

Syria Democratic Council calls for Syrian dialogue to end the Syrian crisis, and declared always its readiness to dialogue with all Syrian parties, and the active countries in the Syrian crisis, to end the crisis through Autonomous Administration project, stressing that it is the best solution to end the tragedy and the bleeding of Syrian blood.

With renewed calls for implementation of UN Resolution 2,254, SDC, AANES renewed their willingness to dialogue with Damascus government.

Abdullah al-Rwayshid, described the recent diplomatic moves in NES, and the announcement of Syrian Democratic Council and Autonomous Administration about its readiness for dialogue with Damascus Government, as a solution to end the crisis.

Faysal Al-Harith, praised Syrian Democratic Council and Autonomous Administration moves, stressing that the dialogue led by Syria people is the best solution to save the country.

Sh-S

ANHA
N.C. Supreme Court order delays primary until May

The North Carolina Supreme Court has jumped into the state's legal battle over new election maps, shutting down candidate filing and delaying all state primary elections until May 17.

The high court wants a trial court to rule on the merits of two pending redistricting lawsuits by Jan. 11.

"In light of the great public interest in the subject matter of these cases, the importance of the issues to the constitutional jurisprudence of this State, and the need for urgency in reaching a final resolution on the merits at the earliest possible opportunity, the Court grants a preliminary injunction and temporarily stays the candidate-filing period for the 2022 elections for all offices until such time as a final judgment on the merits of plaintiffs' claims, including any appeals, is entered and a remedy, if any is required, has been ordered," according to the Supreme Court's order.

The order blocks the state's scheduled March 8 primary election.

"Any individual who has already filed to run for public office in 2022 and whose filing has been accepted by the appropriate board of elections, will be deemed to have filed for the same office under the new election schedule for the May 2022 primary unless they provide timely notice of withdrawal of their candidacy to the board of elections during the newly-established filing period," the Supreme Court order said.

There is one exception: candidates whose districts get thrown out if the courts force lawmakers to redraw state election maps. In the court's words, a candidate is not deemed to have filed "to the extent that a remedy in this matter, if any, impacts a candidate's eligibility to hold the office for which they have currently filed. Any individual who has properly withdrawn their candidacy is free to file for any other office for which they may be eligible during the reopened filing period."

The Supreme Court wants action within a month on resolving the redistricting complaints through a trial. "The trial court is directed to hold proceedings necessary to reach a ruling on the merits of plaintiffs' claims and to provide a written ruling on or before Tuesday, January 11, 2022."

An appeal from that trial court ruling must be filed with the Supreme Court within two days. The process will bypass the intermediate-level N.C. Court of Appeals.

The Supreme Court's ruling responds to a request from redistricting challengers in two lawsuits. Both sets of plaintiffs had asked the high court to intervene after the full 15-member Appeals Court rejected their attempts to shut down candidate filing on Monday night.

In both cases, challengers argue that new state election maps violate the state constitution because of gerrymandering. Plaintiffs want maps for North Carolina's congressional seats, N.C. House and N.C. Senate to be thrown out.

A state Senate redistricting leader criticized the order.

"The court did not cite any basis in law for its move and did not criticize the maps," Sen. Ralph Hise, R-Mitchell, said in a news release. "It reached its secretive decision based only on two affidavits. The secretive, unnamed decision only states that elections are blocked because the case is 'important' and of 'public interest."

Hise refers to the fact the order does not indicate how the Supreme Court voted in reaching its decision. While the order is signed by Justice Tamara Barringer, according to the clerk of court, the signature is difficult to read.

"The court didn't even articulate a legal or factual basis for suspending elections," Hise said. "The Democrats on the Supreme Court want districts that elect more Democrats, so they're blocking every election in the state until they get their way."






SHINING LIGHT: Act as if this sign is already on the trail

A sign on the Trail of the Coeur dAlenes in northern Idaho warns against straying off the greenway.

Named one of the top riding paths in America by the Rails to Trails Conservancy, the Trail of the Coeur dAlenes is a 73-mile greenway spanning the Idaho panhandle.

I rode 42 miles of it in a 21-mile out-and-back one sweltering day this past July. The path along an old Union Pacific rail corridor runs past a series of lakes and through forest and farmland and abuts precious little civilization. I was worried that I would find no oasis to refill my water bottles until I rounded a bend and pedaled into Harrison, a tiny lake marina town. I stopped in Oneshot Charlies, where a bar gal filled my two bottles with water and ice. No charge, she said. I left a $3 tip.

If there was a dearth of water stops and a welcome absence of climbing  something road bikers are painfully accustomed to in our mountains  there was a more than ample supply of signs like the one accompanying this column. It seemed as if there was one every hundred yards.

We need to order some around here  sooner rather than later.

I didnt expect that wed be dealing with this situation this soon, and even my friends at the Friends of Ecusta Trail, on the Board of Commissioners and in the county managers office seemed caught off-guard. As soon as Watco pulled up the steel rails and railroad ties, people started walking and in some cases biking on what will become the paved Ecusta Trail.

A good problem to have it may be but make no mistake: This is a problem. The behavior of a few outliers straying off the trail into peoples yards or into any private property for that matter cannot be ignored or excused. As Barnie famously declared on an old Andy Griffith show, we need to nip it.

Last month, a reasonable and patient retired couple from Florida gently told the newly formed Henderson County Rail-Trail Advisory Committee that trail users are walking into the backyard of their home on West Allen Street.

Our concern is people that are on the trail with their dogs  theyre not leashed, Edward Wilson said. And on a regular basis, dogs are in our yards. People that own the dogs come on our property and weve got posted signs, no trespassing, and they still intrude.  The trail is being used heavily compared to when it was just a railroad, and weve seen multiple things come down the road. Were concerned about safety and the lack of law enforcement on the trail.

We embrace the trail, Wilson added. We want to use it. But we need some kind of barrier keeping people off our property. We want this to move forward.

Ken Shelton, a retired radiologist and an Ecusta Trail crusader since the movement was launched, pointed out to the Wilsons that the city has a leash law and the state of North Carolina has laws against trespassing. If trail users walk into the Wilsons yard, he said, theyre trespassers.

In an interview, County Commission Chair Bill Lapsley tried to thread the needle, pointing out that these early adapters are proving the demand for the trail already and underscoring the sense of urgency to get it open.

I guess I would say to the public, Can you walk on it? Yeah, you can but you do it at your own risk, he said. Its not in improved condition.

Trespassing is a problem beyond the instant case of the Wilsons on West Allen Street. The Friends of Ecusta Trail, Conserving Carolina, the cities of Hendersonville, Laurel Park and Brevard, the Tourism Development Authority and our county commissioners have come too far, invested too much and worked too hard to risk negative publicity and ill will just as the trail is gaining momentum toward asphalt on the ground and sneakers and bicycle, in-line skate and baby stroller wheels on the blacktop.

So, to coin a phrase, heres my advice: STAY ON TRAIL. RESPECT PRIVATE PROPERTY.

Or, put another way, if you love the trail, please, do not love it to death.

* * * * *



Contact editor Bill Moss at billmoss@hendersonvillelightning.com.
A MAN from Sonning Common is stuck in isolation after being in South Africa when the new coronavirus variant was discovered.

Alex Clarke was visiting his parents in Cape Town when the Omicron variant spread.

South Africa was put on the UKs red list, meaning you have to isolate in a quarantine hotel for 10 days on your return at a cost of more than 2,000, with less than 24 hours notice. Mr Clarke, who lives in Wood Lane Close with his wife Lisa and their sons Ben and Zak, was unable to get a flight back to Heathrow in time to isolate at home so is stuck in a four-star hotel in Hounslow.

He said: I travelled to South Africa in mid-November when it was on the green list to see my parents whom I hadnt seen in four years.

Then the Omicron variant became a great concern and there was a big dash about what to do and the British Government decided to put South Africa on the red list within less than 24 hours notice and British Airways cancelled their flights. This was on Thursday, November 25 and I was due to fly back on the Sunday night, arriving on the Monday morning, which was too late to have the option of isolating at home.

I did all I could do to try to get an earlier flight back so I could isolate at home rather than a quarantine hotel as I hadnt budgeted for that. BA has cancelled my original flight and I havent been offered a refund.

I managed to get from Cape Town to Johannesburg to fly to Amsterdam and then London. But about 10 minutes before I reached the front of the queue to get on the flight they told me Amsterdam wasnt allowing transit passengers.

There were other options but they werent realistic and I wouldnt have known where I might have got stuck so I returned to Cape Town the following day to work out how to get back.

Eventually, out of the blue, British Airways were taking flight bookings again and I managed to get a flight. I struggled getting a quarantine booking though and sort of had to juggle those to make sure they matched up.

Mr Clarke, who started his 10 days of isolation on Friday, said he receives three meals a day which are left outside his room door.

He spends his time working and meeting customers via video call and at the weekends tries to get some exercise by walking in the hotels car park under the supervision of security guards.

Mr Clarke said: Airport hotels are not known for having big rooms or views so I can see the car park but fortunately I do have a double room. We cant move around unattended and are limited as to where we can go. If we want to go outside we let security know and we can walk around the parking lot.

Mr Clarke said he felt as if he had been robbed due to the costs incurred paying for the flights and hotels, which total about 4,000.

He said: It was the fact it took the Government so little time to have a knee jerk reaction to the variant.

It was a pleasurable holiday and there were no concerns about flying out to a green list country but British Airways didnt say, We will get these people back so they can quarantine at home.

I now have a 4,000 credit card debt just before Christmas. Its about 238 per day to be in an airport hotel room with pretty mediocre food and 20 minutes of fresh air outside a day  its daylight robbery.

Mr Clarke said he was unhappy about being away from his family as his older son, Ben, has Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Ben and Zak have been quite upset, he said. Theyve been asking if I will be home for Christmas. I was supposed to be away for 10 days and it has been almost a month.

Mr Clarke is due to return home on Monday after he takes his second PCR test tomorrow (Saturday).
Author

Romain Vetter joined SWISSs Sales Channel Management in 2015. He went on to serve in Application Management as a project leader for new distribution channels such as the New Distribution Capability or NDC. Most recently he has been Head of Purchase Management Leisure for the Lufthansa Group, developing collaborations with key system partners within the travel sector. Before joining the aviation industry, Romain Vetter spent several years with Omnicom in Geneva, holding various management positions in the digital marketing segment. Romain Vetter holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from the University of Illinois. A native of Geneva, he is married and has two children.
Press Release

8 December 2021

With its acquisitions of Dafam Hotel Management, ARTOTEL Group continues its quest to create a strong Indonesian hospitality ecosystem that can deliver high-quality hospitality experiences for both domestic and international customers.

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JAKARTA, INDONESIA - ARTOTEL Group, the countrys leading boutique hospitality and lifestyle group, is announcing that it has acquired Dafam Hotel Management. This means that all the 24 Dafam Hotels now are part of the ARTOTEL Groups portfolio. The acquisitions are part of ARTOTEL Groups mission to create a robust hospitality ecosystem where both domestic and foreign customers can make the most of high-quality hospitality experiences.

This marks ARTOTEL Groups latest acquisitions the Group has made throughout the year, as part of its mission to establish Indonesias internationally-recognized hospitality empire. Since the beginning of the year, the Group has aggressively realized its mission, one of which is by acquiring the management of Kyriad Hotel Indonesia, a license holder of Kyriad Hotel Brand, one of the brands owned by France-based Louvre Hotels Group. The management manages 11 hotels spanning across Indonesia. Hence, as of the end of 2021, ARTOTEL Group has strengthened its position by altogether managing 50 hotels The number includes 15 hotels the Group itself has built and opened since it established its first hotel in 2012.

ARTOTEL Group has made a move with these acquisitions during the global pandemic that has unfavorably impacted the hospitality industrys performance across the world. We did not want to passively wait for the pandemic to end, so we took the initiative to acquire properties from Dafam Hotel Management and Kyriad Hotel Indonesia to further our dream of creating a unified hospitality ecosystem in Indonesia that can help hotels support one another in maintaining high standards of service as well as to broaden our market range, be it domestic and overseas, said Erastus Radjimin, founder & CEO of ARTOTEL Group.

With the goal of building a unified hospitality ecosystem, as Radjimin asserted above, the feasibility of the acquisitions has been realized through the completion of an undisclosed Series B round financing by Indies Capital Partners, a leading Southeast Asian alternative asset manager. The proceeds of the funding will also be used to strengthen the groups technology-based core business infrastructure. Its part of the groups long-term commitment to enhancing the standard of the hospitality industry in Indonesia.

The Group has also obtained Series B funding by Benson Capital, an angel investor focused on creative industries. Benson Capital has strong support, as the company aspires to the business model of ARTOTEL Group, from media coverage sources and lifestyle platforms. Prior to the rounding of Series B, ARTOTEL Group managed to get the investment injected from Series A by Intudo Ventures, an independent venture company.

To support the business roadmap in developing a robust hospitality ecosystem, the Group has also built a strategic alliance with Far East Hospitality (FEH), Singapores leading hospitality provider. Under the terms of this partnership, which was established in April earlier this year, the two parties have collaborated across operations, cross-branding exposure, and training to strengthen their respective businesses across markets. As a dynamic hospitality group, FEH operates a combined portfolio of more than 16,500 rooms under its management across 100 hotels and serviced residences in eight countries. This partnership allows ARTOTEL Group to work with FEH to scale up its presence at a more widespread regional level, not only in Southeast Asia but also in the Asia Pacific.

About Dafam HotelManagement

Founded in 2010 by entrepreneur Billy Dahlan in collaboration with hospitality expert Andhy Irawan, Dafam Hotel Management (or DHM) is an Indonesian hospitality management company under Dafam Group that specializes in hotel management services inspired by Indonesian hospitality culture. Its first hotel was opened in Semarang City in Central Java, which is also the location of its head office. Since then, DHM has constantly developed its service quality and has represented Indonesian heritage as its signature service.

DHM believes that Indonesia has a tradition of being very welcoming. It takes its brand roots from the essence of this culture of hospitality. Each of its hotels is designed to create a hospitality experience that makes its guests feel right at home. Each hotel unit is also responsible for introducing and promoting the local cultural richness around which it is located.

Through its Inspiring Hospitality slogan, DHM is committed to giving inspiration, comfort, and memorable experiences to all its guests by treating their senses to Indonesian-style hospitality through the interior and architectural design as well as a comfortable atmosphere. No less important are comprehensive services that cater to the needs of guests.

The company targets developing cities and areas in Indonesia and overseas and strives to be the benchmark of Indonesian hospitality services. As of July 2021, its presence extended to 17 cities, encompassing 24 hotels with 2,507 rooms, and employing 1,047 individuals in its human resources.
Press Release

8 December 2021

In celebration of its 75th anniversary, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts today unveils The Elegance of Worldliness, an exciting new art installation in collaboration with up-and-coming British artist Claire Luxton. More than an exploration of beauty and colour, the campaign is a celebration of travel, wanderlust, and time, inspired by distinctive InterContinental destinations around the world, and the glamour and exhilaration that comes with discovery.

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A contemporary multi-disciplinary artist, working with photography, installation, poetry and painting, Claire Luxtons visionary work will transform the facade of the iconic InterContinental London Park Lane with large-scale physical and digital artworks paying homage to the brands global journey from the first, to now the worlds largest, luxury hotel brand. The art installation can be experienced for the entire month from 8th December 2021.

The Elegance of Worldliness is expressed through a variety of motifs representing some of the destinations where the InterContinental brand has established a presence in its 75-year history. Portrayed through Luxtons signature flora and fauna; birds, butterflies, and botanicals, native to distinct parts of the world, are woven into natural, intertwining greenery, reflecting a sense of discovery and exploration, and embodying the desire and curiosity of the global traveller.

Motifs include a large South American parrot, the blue and yellow macaw, representing Brazil where the first InterContinental hotel opened in Belem, and a North American corn lily plant, also known as Indian basket grass, which pays tribute to InterContinental The Willard in Washington, D.C. where Martin Luther King Jnr. famously made the final touches to his I Have A Dream speech. The installations Bird-of-Paradise flower, named after Queen Charlotte of the United Kingdom, highlights the royal significance of InterContinental London Park Lane, the location (formerly 145 Piccadilly) where Queen Elizabeth spent much of her childhood.

Speaking on the partnership, Claire Luxton said, Im thrilled to be partnering with InterContinental Hotels & Resorts to mark its 75th anniversary with this unique art installation. Travelling is especially important to my work as I draw inspiration from places, cultures, and stories. The InterContinental brand stands for everything I love about travel  discovery through immersion into beautiful destinations accompanied by the most gracious hosts. The Elegance of Worldliness keeps to my quintessential natural wildlife aesthetic, using it to signify the global breadth of the InterContinental brand, and its 75 years of opening doors to new places and cultures.

Tom Rowntree, Vice President, Global Luxury Brands at IHG Hotels & Resorts commented, We were the very first international luxury hotel brand, a true pioneer in the industry. Today, we have more than 200 hotels in some of the worlds most exciting destinations and are looking forward to the next 75 years of continued innovation in delivering the best of luxury travel. Claire Luxtons modern and energetic work brings to life the delight of discovering beautiful places and the elegance of the InterContinental brand. Were delighted to partner with Claire for this art installation, with many more exciting plans in the works for 2022.

Members of the public are invited to enjoy The Elegance of Worldliness  a 20 metres projection and a 40 metres window installation at InterContinental London Park Lane, One Hamilton Place, Park Lane, London from 8th December 2021, with additional activity to take place from January 2022. Aspects of Luxton's work will also be available to global travellers through an interactive social media filter, available through Claires Instagram (open link on mobile device) and QR codes on the window installation.

For more information on the InterContinental 75th Diamond Anniversary, visit intercontinental.com/75thanniversary

#InterContinentalLife / Link to media assets

About The Elegance of Worldliness

The Elegance of Worldliness installation

The Elegance of Worldliness is an exploration of beauty and colour, as well as an experience of travel, wanderlust and time. The artwork celebrates the journey of InterContinental Hotels & Resorts over the past 75 years, from the very first hotel in Belem, Brazil, to new and exciting places, from Barcelona to Boston, and Beppu to Beijing. Through Claire Luxtons signature birds, butterflies and botanicals, the installation weaves together a unique ecosystem that captures the beauty and energy of these far-flung global destinations and represents the magic of travel and discovery.

About Claire Luxton

Claire Luxton is a British contemporary multidisciplinary artist represented by MTArt Agency working with photography, installation, poetry, and painting. After receiving a BFA from Goldsmiths University of London, Luxton created a challenging series of self-portraits & sculptures, pushing her emotional and physical boundaries by becoming both the subject matter and the materiality.

Her work explores the delicate equilibrium between humans and nature, the ominous undercurrents of her work oscillates between constructed femininity and alluring vulnerability, seducing the viewer with intrigue and uncertainty. Luxtons work draws on both the modern anxiety of society and the environment; each portrait, painting and accompanying poetry, becoming an exploration of isolation, desire and uncertainty.

In 2015 Luxtons exploration of human fragility, physicality and the female form culminated in her first solo exhibition Avalon. This was followed by her second solo exhibition BOTANICA in 2017. The artists work is part of the impressive Artemezia Foundation in the United States and her work has also been shown in London, Miami and Singapore, including exhibits at The London Art Fair and Art Basel. Recently, Luxton has recently had her works selected for an exhibition on peace at the UN in New York.

About MTArt Agency

MTArt Agency is an award-winning talent and creative agency connecting visual artists with brands, cultural projects and collectors. Founded in 2015, MTArt Agency is the first B Corp certified UK company within the art sector, using their expertise to make the world a better place. MTArt Agency is both a leading name in establishing artists and integrating art into the mainstream. For the artists who sign with the agency, MTArt covers studio costs, sells works, implements cultural & commercial partnerships and offers press exposure.
Press Release

9 December 2021

BETHESDA, Md. -- Courtyard by Marriott, the trailblazing brand with the largest global footprint of hotels within Marriott Bonvoy's portfolio of 30 extraordinary brands, announces its modern design evolution and robust renovation strategy for North America. More than 375 of the brand's earliest generation hotels throughout the U.S. and Canada are expected to be modernized with exterior renovations by 2024, including prominent displays of the refreshed Courtyard logo. Many hotels are also expected to be complemented by new interior design in their public spaces and guest rooms. With its extensive property renovations, Courtyard continues to elevate its holistic guest experience from arrival to departure.

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Courtyard by Marriott Exterior, Before and AfterCourtyard by Marriott Exterior After RenovationCourtyard by Marriotts New Generation ExteriorThe Bistro Bar at Courtyard by MarriottCourtyard by Marriott Inspired Classic Standard King Room

"Over 38 years ago, Courtyard was the first hotel brand specifically for business travelers. Our new design strategy builds on that Courtyard legacy in ways that are perfectly suited for both leisure and business travelers," said Diane Mayer, Vice President and Global Brand Leader, Classic Select Brands. "As the pioneer amongst select service brands, Courtyard continues to adapt to the changing ways that guests live, work, and play through thoughtful innovation to provide the best possible guest experience."

Courtyard by Marriott Exterior, Before and After  Photo: Marriott

Courtyard, Reimagined

To underscore the brand's commitment to providing an elevated guest experience, Courtyard is expanding renovations to include exterior facade and landscaping updates to the earliest generation hotels. Aimed at enhancing its North American portfolio, these updates will help shape the modern hotel experience from arrival to check-out, coupled with innovations taking place within the hotel.

The new facade is inspired by an elegant and minimal aesthetic to include a redesigned porte-cochere, reframed and repainted exterior surfaces, ambient lighting, new signage, and fresh landscaping. It features wood tones with gray hues to reflect the smart casual style of Courtyard's next-gen traveler. Landscape planting will accentuate the architectural elements of the hotel while creating an open, unobstructed view.

A New Era of Courtyard

In addition to the renovations, Courtyard has introduced its newest generational prototype featuring a sleek exterior and sophisticated, yet comfortable interior design that will also be adopted by earlier generation hotels. From day to night, hotel public spaces including a modernized lobby, versatile meeting spaces, and enhanced fitness centersthat are adaptable and welcoming.

As travelers arrive, they are graciously welcomed into an urban-inspired lobby with individual check-in desks accented by warm, wooden textures and modern light fixtures. At the center focal point of the lobby is the The Bistro Bar: a casual bar and dining destination featuring a Classic American menu with a contemporary twist. The recently revamped Bistro menu has a selection of classic-inspired breakfast and evening items including a full bar with a wide selection of beer, premium wine and specialty cocktails, from a Black Cherry Old Fashioned to a signature margarita, at participating hotels.

The open environment lobby also provides ample space for guests beyond their rooms with a large communal table for casual conversation and interaction. Courtyard's signature media pods, each with their own TV screens and a residential sectional sofa, offer semi-private workspaces that Courtyard guests have come to love, inspiring productivity while working remotely.

In the back of the lobby, increased lounge seating is anchored by large windows, giving way to expansive views of the outdoor courtyard complete with firepits and relaxed outdoor seating. Guests can stay nourished all day with Courtyard's CRATE market featuring a broad selection of premium snacks, Bistro-to-Go sandwiches and salads, and essential retail items.

Courtyard's expanded fitness centers with dedicated weightlifting and stretching areas, as well as the latest state-of-the-art exercise equipment, are designed to empower the active lifestyle of today's guests. Open 24/7, the redesigned fitness centers will also include a dedicated hydration station for guests to rest and refuel.

Courtyard's newly designed guest rooms feature solid colors with a warm and neutral palette, adding calm and sophistication to any stay, and subtle accents that add just a pop of color. Upon entry, guests can settle comfortably into a modern platform bed anchored by a plush upholstered headboard, illuminated by calming cove lighting that can easily be dimmed in-bed. A specially designed sleeper sofa with an accompanying ottoman provides a cozy corner to lounge or work and can fold out into a full-sized bed for extra space. Courtyard's upscale guest room also features a smartly designed valet station with a refrigerator and coffeemaker, plus a 55-inch TV that can be pulled out and swiveled for optimal viewing from either the bed or sofa.

At participating hotels, guest rooms will be equipped with electronic locks that allow guests to enter their rooms via a digital room key. This feature is available on the Marriott Bonvoy Mobile App, which gives guests access to an abundance of interactive technology features including mobile check-in and the ability to send requests for services and amenities.

Since its trailblazing inception, Courtyard has become the hotel brand of choice for savvy business and leisure travelers, no matter the purpose of their trip. From West Palm Beach to San Francisco, more than 375 hotels are expected to experience an exterior renovation by 2024, including more than 60 properties that have already been completed. With an eye toward the future, travelers can experience the newest Courtyard hotels, both new and renovated, including: Courtyard Jacksonville Butler Boulevard, Courtyard Atlanta Perimeter Center, Courtyard San Diego Miramar, Courtyard Raleigh/Cary Crossroads, and Courtyard Memphis East/Galleria.

Note on Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of United States federal securities laws, including statements related to expected renovations and renovation completion timelines, expected hotel openings, and similar statements concerning anticipated future events and expectations that are not historical facts. We caution you that these statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to numerous evolving risks and uncertainties that we may not be able to accurately predict or assess, including those we identify below and other risk factors that we identify in our U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including our most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q or Annual Report on Form 10-K. Risks that could affect forward-looking statements in this press release include the duration and scope of COVID-19, including the availability and distribution of effective vaccines or treatments; the pandemic's short and longer-term impact on the demand for travel, transient and group business, and levels of consumer confidence; actions governments, businesses and individuals have taken or may take in response to the pandemic, including limiting, banning, or cautioning against travel and/or in-person gatherings or imposing occupancy or other restrictions on lodging or other facilities; the impact of the pandemic and actions taken in response to the pandemic on global and regional economies, travel, and economic activity, including the duration and magnitude of the pandemic's impact on unemployment rates and consumer discretionary spending; the ability of our owners and franchisees to successfully navigate the impacts of COVID-19; the pace of recovery when the pandemic subsides and any dislocations in recovery as a result of resurgences of the pandemic; general economic uncertainty in key global markets and a worsening of global economic conditions or low levels of economic growth; the effects of steps we and our property owners and franchisees have taken and may continue to take to reduce operating costs and/or enhance certain health and cleanliness protocols at our hotels; the impacts of our employee furloughs and reduced work week schedules, our voluntary transition program and our other restructuring activities; competitive conditions in the lodging industry and in the labor market; relationships with customers and property owners; and the availability of capital to finance hotel growth and refurbishment. Any of these factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the expectations we express or imply in this press release. We make these forward-looking statements as of the date of this press release and undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

About Courtyard by Marriott 

Courtyard by Marriott is the hotel brand of choice for trailblazing guests who are inspired by a passion to do great things. With more than 1,200 locations in 60 countries and territories, Courtyard is passionate about empowering its guests and serving the needs of travelers everywhere, no matter the purpose of their trip. Its thoughtfully designed guestrooms provide an elevated experience to relax and recharge, complete with plush bedding and flexible workspaces. Guests are able to work, eat well, connect, and be at their best to keep moving forward to succeed. Courtyard is proud to participate in Marriott Bonvoy, the global travel program from Marriott International. The program offers members an extraordinary portfolio of global brands, exclusive experiences on Marriott Bonvoy Moments and unparalleled benefits including free nights and Elite status recognition. To enroll for free or for more information about the program, visit MarriottBonvoy.com . For more information or reservations, visit courtyard.marriott.com , become a fan on Facebook or follow @CourtyardHotels on Twitter .

SOURCE Marriott International, Inc.
Press Release

9 December 2021

Celebrating its 75th anniversary, the InterContinental brand unveils this new full-sized bathroom amenity initiative as part of IHGs commitment to reduce plastic waste by removing bathroom miniatures across its estate.

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Today, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts launch a new programme of bath amenities with European luxury brand Byredo, bringing some of the worlds favourite cosmetics  in a more sustainable full size  to some of the most beautiful hotel bathrooms across the globe.

This launch combines a response to the growing demand from travelers looking for unique stays while travelling more consciously, with meaningful luxury products of the highest quality like Byredo. The Byredo amenities will be rolled out across InterContinental properties globally from now. Including cult favourites within Byredos fragrance portfolio, such as Bal d'Afrique, a warm and romantic vetiver infused with neroli, African marigold and Moroccan cedarwood, and Blanche, a pure and fresh scent with hints of delicate rose and sandalwood, the Byredo ritual will become a highlight of InterContinental bathrooms over the next year.

Amongst the first hotels to carry the range will be the recently opened InterContinental Barcelona, InterContinental Fujairah Resort, InterContinental Shanghai Hongqiao NECC and InterContinental Sydney in their newly renovated rooms.

IHG is the first global hotel company to commit all its brands to removing bathroom miniatures in favour of full-size amenities. This initiative is the first major milestone under IHGs goal to eliminate single use items across the guest stay by 2030. It forms part of IHGs Journey to Tomorrow, a series of ambitious commitments to make a positive difference for our people, communities and planet over the next decade.

Byredo is a European luxury brand founded in Stockholm in 2006 by Ben Gorham, with an ambition to translate memories and emotions into products and experiences. A natural disruptor, Gorham set out to reinvent the world of luxury through a new approach, where creation is led by emotions, expressing a full and limitless brand universe.

Byredos founder and creative director, Ben Gorham, comments: I think one of the things people have missed the most in these last years has been travel  I hope we can start to open up again and people can start to create new memories of travel. The experience of something new has such an incredible value, and now by adding some of our signature scents to those moments, we hope that people can relive them again whenever they want. It is great to see IHG working towards a more sustainable mode of amenities too  we are happy to be part of that solution.

Jane Mackie, Senior Vice President, Global Marketing, Luxury and Upscale Brands at IHG Hotels & Resorts comments, The 75th anniversary year of InterContinental Hotels & Resorts is a moment to reflect on how the pioneering spirit of our founder Juan Trippe got us to where we are today and where we are heading. Byredo fragrances have such synergy with the InterContinental approach to hospitality; both are inherently modern but the thinking behind them is also timeless in its focus on elegance, worldliness, thoughtful sourcing and beautiful delivery. Im sure that if they could have met, Juan Trippe and Ben Gorham would have a lot in common. We have over 200 hotels across the world, and many more incredible openings coming soon, supported by a global network of colleagues who are expert in delivering global etiquette and highlighting local culture to the tastemakers. This is a great opportunity to look at how we can deliver luxury in a more sustainable way, which is something we know our guests value and is a small but significant part of IHGs sustainability commitments as part of our Journey to Tomorrow.

In April 1946 Juan Trippe, the founder of Pan American Airways, had a vision to pioneer international travel and quickly realized to truly achieve this, luxury hotels were needed, and so the InterContinental brand was born. Since the very first hotel opened in Belem, Brazil, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts has been trailblazing luxury travel in new and established destinations for 75 years. As the world's first truly international luxury hotel brand, the brand has been part of some of historys most defining moments. Today, with over 200 hotels in the worlds most exciting destinations from Danang to Paris, InterContinental hotels and resorts continue to delight luxury travellers with the exhilaration of fascinating places and the worldliness that travel brings. Through the launch of initiatives such as this exciting new Byredo amenity programme, the brand is redefining its ethos of discovery and modern luxury, setting the tone for the future of luxury travel.

About Byredo

Byredo is a European luxury brand founded in Stockholm in 2006 by Ben Gorham, with an ambition to translate memories and emotions into products and experiences. Byredo is reinventing the world of luxury through a new approach, where creation is led by emotions, expressing a full and limitless brand universe. Byredo conceives objects using the highest quality materials available, and high-end design details to fuel a renewed approach to modern luxury. They have created and developed a range of products such as fragrance, makeup, home, leather goods and accessories, and Byredo sold in more than 40 countries in a very high-end exclusive network worldwide. Byredo believe that through creativity, they are able to develop timeless products, both meaningful and inspirational, to people and their lives.
Press Release

9 December 2021

Over the course of three days, the 24th session of the UNWTO General Assembly underscored global tourisms commitment to restarting around the shared pillars of sustainability, innovation and solidarity.

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Representatives of 131 UNWTO Member States, including 59 Ministers and Vice-Ministers of Tourism, attended the Assembly in the Spanish capital, Madrid (30 November  3 December). Alongside the participation of Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism, Ms. Reyes Maroto, the political support to UNWTO from the Spanish government was underlined with the presence of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, and Minister of Foreign Affairs Jose Manuel Albares. On the eve of the General Assembly, the King of Spain Felipe VI expressed his recognition of tourisms socio-economic relevance and appreciation of the role of UNWTO.

Unprecedented reach and recognition

UNWTO presented its accomplishments over the past two years since the last General Assembly, most notably guiding tourism through the biggest crisis in the history of the sector. Against this backdrop. members endorsed the Programme of Work for the coming biennium and voted strongly (77%) in favour of the Secretary-General serving a second term (2022- 2025). United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, as well as the leaders of key UN agencies UNWTO has been working with throughout the pandemic - WHO, ICAO and UNCTAD  delivered dedicated messages to UNWTO.

Power of youth and private sector

The General Assembly united Member States and Affiliate Members around a shared vision for the future of tourism and UNWTO itself. Members endorsed a landmark International Code for the Protection of Tourists, making clear the responsibilities every part of the sector has in assisting tourists in crisis situations and so helping restore trust in international travel.

Sustainable, inclusive future

Away from the Plenary Sessions for Members, the General Assembly also saw UNWTO bring Tourism Ministers and representatives from international organizations and the private sector together for a special Thematic Session on Building for the Future: Innovation, Education and Rural Development. Here, the winners of the UNWTO Global Rural Tourism Competition were announced, as was the first list of Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO, recognizing the power of new ideas to create opportunities outside of big cities and those destinations that are already leading the way in harnessing the power of tourism as a driver of recovery and sustainable development.

At the same time, the best young talent was also celebrated with the winners of the UNWTO Students League sharing their ideas alongside established sector leaders. And the role of UNWTOs Affiliate Members in putting plans into action the ground was also emphasized. New Affiliate Members were welcomed and examples of effective public-private partnerships singled out, for helping tourism adapt to the challenges posed by the pandemic.

Members voted to hold the 25th Session of the General Assembly in 2023 in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. Before then, as also endorsed by Members, Bali in Indonesia will host World Tourism Day 2022, to be held around the timely theme of Rethinking Tourism, while the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will be the host country for World Tourism Day 2023, to be held around the theme of Tourism for Green Investment.

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Press Release

9 December 2021

CANNES -- More than 150 years ago, Georges Nagelmackers turned a dream into a reality when he launched the first luxury Orient Express train. Soon, Orient Express will head back on track to offer travellers an unforgettable journey through one of the worlds most beloved countries: Italy.

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From the luxury rail tourism project signed by Arsenale S.p.A., now in association with Orient Express of Accor Group, comes the Orient Express La Dolce Vita which will welcome its first passengers in 2023. Six trains will embark through several iconic itineraries across 14 regions and beyond, including three international destinations from Rome to Paris, Istanbul and Split. A magical stopover in Rome will feature the very first Orient Express Hotel, Minerva, scheduled to open in 2024.

The concept for the new Orient Express La Dolce Vita trains pay tribute to La Dolce Vita, a historical period of glamour, joie de vivre and artistic fervour in Italy during the 1960s. With support from Accor, La Dolce Vita trains official hospitality partner, and thanks to the partnership with Trenitalia and Fondazione FS Italiane, the journey invites passengers to travel through more than 16,000 km of workable railway lines - 7,000 km of which are not electrified and are vestiges of Italys storied history. The Orient Express La Dolce Vita offers a new way of experiencing the country: an environmentally-friendly adventure where forgotten roads are explored, hidden treasures discovered and where architectural triumphs take centre stage.

Designed by Dimorestudio, the global architectural and design studio founded by Emiliano Salci and Britt Moran in 2003, the Orient Express La Dolce Vita train embodies the Italian art of living and all its beautiful traditions with a more contemporary spirit of travel. The trains sumptuous decor will adorn 12 Deluxe cabins, 18 Suites, and one Honour Suite and restaurant, all boldly celebrating the craftsmanship, design and creativity of the 1960s and 1970s.

In collaboration with renowned local and international chefs and sommeliers, travellers will experience 5-star service on board, savoring the beauty and excellence of Made in Italy through award-winning Italian wines and exclusive haute cuisine. Before departure at the Roma Termini station, the Orient Express executive lounge will welcome passengers offering them a selection of refreshments in a convivial and elegant space, complete with dedicated services and staff to assist them.

The itineraries have been chosen to create unique travel experiences, all capable of awakening our five senses. Most will start in Italy, revealing the wonders of the Alps, the bucolic countryside, or the paradisiacal beaches of southern Italy. In addition, three dedicated itineraries will take you through eight countries, linking Rome to Paris, Istanbul, and Split.

Orient Express Suite Deluxe  Photo: Accor

Orient Express Suite  Photo: Accor

Orient Express Lounge  Photo: Accor

Orient Express Restaurant  Photo: Accor

Paolo Barletta, CEO of Arsenale S.p.A explains: It is a great honour and privilege to work with Orient Express, one of the most prestigious luxury brands in the world. This agreement marks a new stage for our La Dolce Vita trains  a mark of trust and esteem that enrichces the Italian tourist offer. We will take travelers to discover new itineraries, to unique places where they will be able to live a Made In Italy experience with a warmth entirely our own. The journey itself becomes the destination and Italy has never been so close and sensational.

Sebastien Bazin, Chairman and CEO Accor, expands: At Accor, we consider it an immense privilege to re-launch the historic Orient Express brand for passionate and discerning travelers. These trains offer a new vision of luxury travel that is beyond our imagination. Our association with Arsenale Group has opened up new horizons in perfect harmony with the heritage and philosophy of Orient Express, and marks our constant desire to keep moving forward.

Stephen Alden, CEO Raffles and Orient Express, Accor says: It is thrilling to be bringing the refined nomadic spirit of Orient Express back to life for a new generation of travellers. The original train route was innovative in the way it paradoxically brought cultures together  the Occident with the Orient, history with modernity. As artisans of travel, we wish to revive this old-world, awe-inspiring journey to elsewhere and reconcile certain paradoxes: a journey and a destination, astonishment and inspiration, movement and contemplation. Against the backdrop of breathtaking panoramas and a unique blend of cultures, we are convinced that travelers will have unforgettable experiences in Italy with Orient Express La Dolce Vita.
Press Release

9 December 2021

From International Luxury Travel Market (ILTM) Cannes, Marriott International, Inc. today announced it expects to debut more than 30 luxury hotels in 2022, creating the rare and enriching experiences today's luxury traveler craves with its unmatched portfolio of dynamic luxury brands. Through the world-renowned hospitality hallmarks of The Ritz-Carlton, Ritz-Carlton Reserve, St. Regis, W, The Luxury Collection, EDITION, JW Marriott and Bulgari, Marriott International continues to elevate travel, creating highly contextualized, distinct brand experiences that signal the future of luxury. With an unrivaled network of more than 460 landmark luxury hotels and resorts in 68 countries and territories today, Marriott International is poised to expand its luxury footprint with nearly 190 properties in the development pipeline, including the 30 hotels expected to open in 2022 , in iconic as well as emerging destinations from Mexico to Portugal and Australia to South Korea.

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Our guests are seeking deeper, more immersive experiences that allow them to indulge in global exploration while sparking personal regeneration," said Chris Gabaldon, Senior Vice President, Luxury Brands, Marriott International.

Luxury is Entering a New Era of Regeneration

A global luxury trends study conducted in collaboration with creative agency Team One revealed that todays affluent travelers are shifting from a box checking mindset to a traveling well mindset, taking a more thoughtful, intentional approach to trip planning. Gabaldon observed, As people reexamine and reprioritize what matters to them most, a shift that has accelerated over the past two years, were seeing a real embracing of deeper travel. Our guests are focusing more on where they travel and why they make the journey, seeking to foster a more meaningful connection to the destination as well as the people they meet. With a truly global footprint, Marriott International is poised to meet this evolving set of aspirations, inviting people to view travel as a canvas for regeneration that leads to lasting positive impact on locals and destinations. From the worlds most desirable destinations to undiscovered gems, we strive to go beyond offering moments of transformation for our guests and hope to create experiences that will inspire a newfound sense of personal wellbeing and joy, said Gabaldon.

The Ritz-Carlton Continues to Define the Future of Luxury Hospitality

With a focus on destination-driven design and unparalleled service, The Ritz-Carlton continues to drive innovation and set the standard for luxury hospitality. In 2021 the brand was introduced in some of the worlds most coveted locales, including the Maldives, Turks & Caicos, and Mexico City.

In 2022, the brand expects to expand in Arizona with The Ritz-Carlton Paradise Valley, The Palmeraie, as well as in New York City, debuting in the vibrant NoMad neighborhood, where guest rooms feature sweeping city views. The Ritz-Carlton, Melbourne is slated to grow the renowned brands footprint in Australia. Ritz-Carlton Reserve anticipates expanding its highly curated portfolio, debuting its sixth rare estate in the historic Chinese valley of Jiuzhaigou. In keeping with the brands forward-looking design aesthetic, The Ritz-Carlton Moscow, The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman, and The Ritz-Carlton, Naples, are all expected to celebrate major renovations in the year ahead. Additionally, the brand expects to mark the inaugural voyage of The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection in May 2022.

St. Regis Celebrates Timeless Glamour in Coveted Global Hot Spots

Through its celebrated rituals, rich heritage, and glamorous spirit, St. Regis Hotels & Resorts is blazing a path from iconic hospitality brand to a global luxury icon and in the year ahead expects to debut its 50th property. In 2021, the storied brand grew its footprint in the Middle East by introducing two properties each in Cairo

and Dubai and, in the year ahead, anticipates further expanding the brand in the region with the opening of The St. Regis Marsa Arabia Island, The Pearl in Qatar. In 2022, St. Regis is slated to debut in Chicago, with a Jeanne Gang designed building that has already become an exquisite new icon on the Windy Citys skyline, and the brand also expects to bring its bespoke service and avant-garde style to Belgrade. St. Regis continues to grow in leisure destinations, expecting to nearly double its number of resort properties over the next five years. This year saw the debut of The St. Regis Bermuda Resort, Marriott Internationals first luxury property on the island and, in the year ahead, the brand anticipates marking the opening of The St. Regis Kanai Resort in Riviera Maya, Mexico,which will feature ocean views from nearly every vantage point. The St. Regis San Francisco also expects to celebrate the completion of a comprehensive renovation, debuting a sophisticated new look and feel in 2022.

W Hotels Reimagines Luxury & Sparks Imagination

In 2021, W Hotels brought its unique lens on luxury to destinations including Nashville, Osaka, Philadelphia, Melbourne, Xiamen,

and Rome, where a 162-room hotel comprised of two 19th century palazzos marked the brands much-anticipated debut in Italy. With nearly 60 hotels around the globe, W is defined by detail-driven design, inspiring energy, a buzzing cocktail and dining culture, as well as elevated programming localized by destination. With a continuous focus on redefining and elevating the W experience, the brand is slated to open in exciting destinations next year including the Algarve, Sydney, Dubai and Toronto.

EDITION Continues Growth in Iconic Destinations Around the Globe

An unexpected and refreshing collection of one-of-a-kind hotels that redefine the concept of luxury, EDITION Hotels brought its personal and intimate hospitality experience to Reykjavik and Dubai

in 2021. The in-demand brand, recently named the hottest in the world by Forbes, offers sophisticated design, a curated taste of the destination, and modern service. EDITION Hotels announces its anticipated further international expansion in 2022 with the slated opening of six new properties, including sites in Madrid, Rome, Doha, Tampa, Riviera Maya in Kanai, and Ginza, the second property in Tokyo. With 14 hotels worldwide currently, all firmly established within the luxury space, the brand is expected to reach a footprint of 20 properties globally by the end of 2022.

The Luxury Collection Inspires Transformational Travel in New Destinations
Opinion Article

9 December 2021

While travel has not yet resumed its previous levels after a period of major depression, airlines are taking the time to take an introspective look and improve. We met with Romain Vetter, Head of Western Switzerland for SWISS International Air Lines, to talk about his perspective on the future and trends of air travel and the challenges that the industry is facing.

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Whats the future of air travel?

The future of air travel lies in the interconnectivity with other transport modes. In a world of constant innovation, people are looking for more efficient means to do everything. Our mindset must be global and not individual, its only whilst developing high interconnectivity that we will achieve the best ergonomic travelling means.



Using electric planes is one of the first solutions that comes to mind when talking about the future, unfortunately, I this day and age they could only have a utility for short-length flights. Today, the real innovation lies in alternative fueling reducing around 80% of CO2 emissions. For example, Lufthansa Group directed its focus towards innovation, by implementing sharkskin technology, a new kind of sustainable engineering on its cargos flights, to reduce friction air and fuel consumption.

But if the solution lies in alternative fuels, anyone is bound to ask: why is this so complicated to implement? The challenge here, is that they are on average 5 times more expensive than the current fuel. Adding to that, those new types of synthetic fuels are very scarce in resources, its incredibly complicated to reach productivity and the amount produced is very small.

Leadership Trends

After talking about the future of air travel, it is interesting to look at the industry's current state and analyze what the leaders are doing.

To no surprise, innovation is at the forefront, driving the industry forward regarding efficiency, design, and sustainability (to name a few). Nowadays, the air travel offer is vast, and these improvements help differentiate each company.

The focus is on efficient and effective design of planes, allowing for improvement in terms of sustainability. For example, the "Sharkskin" technology implemented for Lufthansa's Cargos allows savings of just under 11,700 tons of COD emissions per year.

Furthermore, another remarkable trend is centered around connecting with people online. After being forced into the virtual world, airlines are paying increased attention to improving the connection with customers from the first exposure to the service - online. As mentioned before, differentiation plays a crucial role, and therefore companies have to find creative ways to engage and relate to their customers. With the example of SWISS, them implementing their "SWISS Saveurs" food offer in-flight is an effort to express and represent the swiss culture, and thus establish a unique connection with the passengers.

In conclusion, the industry's out-of-the-box thinking allows air travel to survive and thrive after experiencing a significant recession. In addition, with a global mindset shifting towards personalized experiences, now and in the future, we can see how every aspect of the bond between the brand and the company is being carefully taken into consideration.

EHL Alliances founding member, Swiss International Air Lines is committed on various fronts to the careful and sustainable use of natural resources and regards a responsible attitude to the environment as an integral part of its corporate culture.

Reference: Schmid, C., Diaz, M., & Vetter, R. (2021, November 9). Interview about sustainabilty and the future of air travel with Romain Vetter. personal.
Update: A spokeswoman for United Memorial Medical Center said the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will delay terminating the hospital systems Medicare contracts pending a new inspection. The deficiencies have been corrected, the spokeswoman said. A spokesman for the federal agency could not immediately confirm that it had delayed the termination, scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 11.

The story has been updated to reflect the new information.

United Memorial Medical Center, a hospital system with four locations in Houston, was set to lose its contracts with Medicare after several inspections found health and safety violations from failing to screen staff for COVID-19 to rusted equipment to cockroaches in the operating room, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

The agency, which oversees the government health insurance for the elderly, said it would terminate the contract with United Memorial Medical Center on Saturday, meaning Medicare will no longer cover patients who use the hospital system. That would likely will cost United Memorial millions of dollars in reimbursements and potentially force the closure of the hospital system.

Intitially, United Memorial Medical Center initially did not respond to requests for comment. After publication, UMMC director of public relations and communications Duni Hebron said the termination has been delayed. She said the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is working with the hospital, and it will undergo another inspection. The deficiencies have been corrected, she added.

They will do one more inspection, and if all is well the hospital will continue to have Medicare and Medicaid, Hebron said. And all will be well.

A spokesman for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid could not immediately confirm that the agency was holding off on the termination, pending the a new inspectioon. He said the agency had had nothing more to share at this time.

Termination of contracts for Medicaid, the government health insurance for the poor, typically follows Medicare termination, according to Centers for Medicare and Medicaid said. No hospital can survive for long without revenue from Medicare and Medicaid, said Vivian Ho, a health economist at Rice University.

Its often half of a hospitals revenue, because elderly and lower-income people are most vulnerable to health problems, Ho said. It can also cause private insurers to terminate contracts, because insurers dont want their customers going to substandard facilities for care.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services conducted four inspections from Jan. 8 to Sept. 10 at locations of United Memorial Medical Center. In July, the federal agency sent a notice of a termination that would go into effect Sept. 13 if the hospital failed to fix the deficiencies. The federal agency extended the termination twice, according to Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

The agency sent its final termination letter in late November stating that patients health and safety are in immediate jeopardy.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Medicare premiums rising by 15 percent this year, the highest increase in programs history

Involuntary termination of a provider agreement is generally a last resort after all other attempts to remedy the deficiencies at a facility have been exhausted, said a spokesperson for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. In this instance, CMS has found that UMMC  despite proposed corrective actions  is out of compliance with CMS basic health and safety requirements.

The inspections found rusted equipment, such as operating tables and stools, and cockroaches in the operating rooms. More than 90 percent of the 35 nurses contracted from a staffing agency were missing at least one required certification. Seven of 24 hospital-employed intensive care unit registered nurses, or 29 percent did not meet all of the requirements for their position.

The nursing directors of UMMC North, located north of Beltway 8, and the Sugar Land location did not meet the educational requirements, including holding a masters degree. The main campus, in Houstons Northside, did not have a director of nurses or an emergency department nurse director.

The hospital also was not screening staff for COVID-19, according to a report filed in January by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. None of the follow-up reports indicated that this issue was addressed.

There are not any newly created or updated policy and procedures regarding COVID-19 and the need for the hospital to screen staff before their assigned shifts, one nurse said in an interview with CMS.

The loss of Medicare and Medicaid coverage often results in hospital closures, experts said. The end of the government programs is often followed by the exit of private insurers, many of which wont consider hospitals without Medicare contracts for their networks. Medicare coverage indicates that the hospitals meet standards of care, experts said.

Its rare for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to terminate contracts with hospitals, so the action suggests that deficiencies at United Memorial Medical Center were serious, said Jessica Mantel, co-director of the Health Law & Policy Institute at the University of Houston Law Center.

CMS does not take this step lightly, Mantel said. Communities rely very heavily on their hospitals. CMS will only take the step of terminating a hospitals provider agreement if it has really lost faith in the hospitals ability to make those corrective actions.

Losing Medicare and potentially Medicaid coverage can have a tremendous impact on access to care, experts said, particularly in poorer communities more likely to depend on the government health care programs. The hospitals flagship location is in a ZIP code where the median household income is $36,000, about half that of the Houston metropolitan area, according to census data.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Texas ranks among worst in the nation for racial health disparities

The decision by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services can still be overturned. The hospital has until Jan. 24 to request a hearing before an administrative law judge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services departmental appeal board.

If there arent nearby alternatives, sometimes community leaders will rally to keep a hospital open, Mantel said. Thats what happened with St. Joseph Medical Center in 2015. U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Houston, and Texas Rep. Garnet Coleman, D-Houston, assisted in the effort to negotiate a solution with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to save Houstons only downtown hospital.

United Memorial Medical Center, has had other problems. Recently, its chief medical officer prescribed patients with anti-parasite medication ivermectin to treat COVID despite warnings from the FDA and CDC that the drug was ineffective against the coronavirus and potentially dangerous. It also filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2005.

If the hospital decides not to appeal, and the termination goes through, Medicare and Medicaid will stop reimbursing the hospital for patients admitted after Dec 11. For patients admitted prior to that date, payment may continue to be made for up to 30 days after the services were performed.

becca.carballo@chron.com
The Biden administration shouldnt ban the export of crude oil, a bipartisan group of House lawmakers said in a letter to Biden.

Re-instating the ban on the export of domestic crude oil, which was lifted in 2015, was among the options the White House was considering as it sought ways to address gasoline prices that had been hovering around a seven-year high and have set off political alarm bells at the White House.

But the letter, spearheaded by Representative Henry Cuellar, a Texas Democrat, said the move would have the opposite effect, echoing what many analysts have also said.

Any suggestion that reinstating the crude export ban would lower gasoline prices is misguided, due to the likely spike in international crude prices, which many U.S. refineries process, said the letter, which was also signed by Democratic Representatives Vicente Gonzalez and Filemon Vela, both of Texas, and Democrat Sanford Bishop of Georgia. It was also signed by Texas Republicans Representatives August Pfluger, Roger Williams, Tony Gonzales and Representative Carol Miller, a Republican from West Virginia.

President Joe Biden announced last month that he planned to release 50 million barrels of crude from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve in concert with China, Japan, India, South Korea and the U.K. -- in an unprecedented, coordinated attempt by the worlds largest oil consumers to tame rising costs.

Since then the price of oil has dropped because of concern about the new omicron variant of Covid-19 and the White House is not actively considering a crude oil export ban at this time, according to a person familiar with the administrations deliberations.

Other negative effects of a ban on crude oil exports include straining international relationships, discouraging domestic production, and creating an imbalance between refining capacity and domestic production, the lawmakers wrote.

Its possible support for a ban could rise should crude oil prices rebound again, and several Democratic lawmakers have pressed the Biden administration to make that move.

This is something that were very concerned about and something were raising to the highest levels of our government, Mike Sommers, the chief executive of the American Petroleum Institute said Tuesday at an international oil conference taking place in Houston. I think were making great progress with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to communicate this.
The U.S. will lead the world in liquefied natural gas export capacity by the end of 2022, according to a new Energy Department report, putting Houston LNG companies and the Gulf Coast at the center of the global industry.

The U.S. is expected to surpass Australia and Qatar when new units come online next year at Cameron Parish, La., terminals owned by Houston LNG company Cheniere Energy, the nation's top exporter, and Virginia-based Venture Global.

U.S. LNG peak production in November was estimated at 11.6 billion cubic feet per day, the Energy Department said. By the end of 2022, that is expected to grow to 13.9 billion cubic feet per day. Estimates put Australia's peak production at 11.4 billion cubic feet per day and Qatar's at 10.4 billion cubic feet per day, according to the Energy Department.

The vast amount of natural gas produced in the Permian Basin has led to a vast expansion of LNG operations along the Texas and Louisiana coasts, employing thousands from Brownsville to Corpus Christi and Houston to east of Port Arthur. The growing number of terminals have injected billions of dollars into the economies of the two states.

The LNG produced here is often bound for countries in Europe and Asia, where it is replacing coal as a key source of affordable energy.

"As the world looks to reduce emissions and make good on Paris and COP26 commitments, we believe U.S. LNG will play a vital role," said Charlie Riedl, executive director at the Center for Liquefied Natural Gas. "DOEs announcement is a testament to our industrys ambitious climate goals. Thanks to an enormous supply of natural gas, LNG exports are helping to grow U.S. climate leadership, drive down global greenhouse gas emissions and bring reliable baseload energy to people living in poverty, all while making valuable contributions to our economy."

ENERGY TRANSITION: Transition from fossil fuels to green energy could be chaotic, with skyrocketing prices

Train 6 at Cheniere's Sabine Pass facility, which began producing LNG in late November, adds up to 760 million cubic feet per day of export capacity to the facility. The first export cargo from train 6 is expected to be shipped before the end of this year.

At Venture Global's Calcasieu Pass, production is expected to start before the end of this year. The new facility will have a capacity of up to 1.6 billion cubic feet per day.

In addition, the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in October approved requests to increase LNG production at Sabine Pass and at Corpus Christi LNG terminals by a combined 700 million cubic feet per day.

U.S. LNG peak export capacity will further increase to an estimated 16.3 billion cubic feet per day in 2024 when construction of Golden Pass LNG near Port Arthur, the eighth U.S. LNG export facility, begins operating.
Jordan Ranch

Jordan Ranch, a community by Johnson Development in Fulshear, opened new sections planned for 415 homes, including new designs by Perry Homes for smaller lots. Lots in the new sections range from 40 to 70 feet wide.

We will continue with our current mix of homesites, adding in 40-foot lots that will add even more variety and choices of homes, Steve Sams, General Manager of Jordan Ranch, said in an announcement.
In the more than 20 years its been naming a color of the year, Pantone has been known to march to its own beat. This year, as five other color and paint firms picked a shade of green, not only did Pantone go another route, they created a whole new color: Very Peri.

In an early morning announcement Thursday, Pantone announced Very Peri as its Color of the Year for 2022. Its a brand new color for the color marketing firm, a bluish periwinkle with deep violet-red undertones. While some shades periwinkle lean more blue, Very Peri definitely leans more purple.

Its easy to see how Very Peri will show up in fashion and lifestyle goods, but it remains to be seen how quickly it gets picked up in home decor, which often lags a year or so behind runway revelations.

In announcing the color, Pantone officials cited the shades novel presence that encourages personal inventiveness and creativity.

Earlier in the year, five other color and paint companies chose different shades of green: Benjamin Moores October Mist, Sherwin Williams Evergreen Fog, Gliddens Guacamole, PPGs Olive Sprig, and Behrs Breezeway.

While never citing political discord or social unrest  or even the coronavirus pandemic  each company said their shade of green represented hope for a calmer future and fresh start.

In Pantones announcement, they used words such as carefree confidence and daring curiosity and that this new color represented the happiest and warmest of all the blue hues.

For 2021, Pantone chose two colors  Ultimate Gray and Illuminating (yellow)  two colors they said represented strength and hopefulness. Past Pantone choices have included Classic Blue in 2020, Living Coral in 2019, Ultra Violet in 2018 and Greenery in 2017.

The paint and color companies dont confer with each other on color choices, but there have been similarities, such as 2020, when Pantone, Sherwin Williams and PPG each chose a eep dark blue.

For 2021, turquoise and teal were popular, and a green-ish shift away from the dominance of blue, a perennial favorite in fashion and home decor. Not only did Benjamin Moore choose Agean Teal, but PPG also chose a trio with Misty Aqua and Glidden chose a full-on turquoise, Aqua Fiesta.
Jingle Bell Run Sugar Land

The Arthritis Foundations original Jingle Bell Run is a fun way to get decked out and be festive, while racing to raise funds and awareness. This years event features a timed, untimed and virtual 5K run, a 1-mile Snowman Shuffle, a Kids Zone, a canine activity area, refreshments, costume contests and giveaways. 7 a.m. Dec. 11; HCSS Sugar Land, 13151 W. Airport Blvd., Sugar Land; events.arthritis.org.

Reindeer Fun Run

The 5K run and 2K walk fundraising event for Community Association for Nassau Bay Enhancement winds through the residential streets of Nassau Bay. 8 a.m. Dec. 11; David Braun Park, 18900 Upper Bay Road; nassaubaycanbe.org.

Zumba by Tiny Fitness

This 45-minute Zumba fitness class will have participants grooving, shaking and toning to salsa, hip-hop, samba and bhangra beats. Open to all fitness levels, no equipment necessary. 9 a.m. Dec. 12; Levy Park, 3801 Eastside; levyparkhouston.org.

HIIT

A fun and challenging bodyweight interval training class to burn calories while gaining strength and endurance. 6:30 p.m. Dec. 15; Discovery Green, 1500 McKinney; discoverygreen.com.

ana.khan@chron.com
A Pinehurst man on parole for the beating death of an elderly person was sentenced last week to nine years in a case where he was accused of leading police on a chase and spitting at them.

The sentencing comes as his attorney seeks civil action against Montgomery County in the January incident where his clients neck was broken.

On Dec. 2, a jury in the 435th District Court found Gary Allen Berger, 40, guilty of harassment of a public servant and evading arrest with a vehicle, both third-degree felonies.

Following a four-day trial, presiding Judge Patty Maginnis sentenced Berger to nine years each on both charges, according to the Montgomery County District Attorneys Office. Bergers sentences will run concurrent, First Assistant District Attorney Mike Holley said.

Bergers Harris County-based attorney, Adalberto Ruiz, said on Thursday during an interview that his client had not expressed an interest in appealing. The attorney said he is working with the Montgomery County Attorneys Office to settle Bergers civil case.

Mr. Berger may have lost the criminal case, but he still has a viable civil case, Ruiz said, asserting the officers actions during the arrest were not justifiable. We all know that police are not perfect. They make mistakes.

Shortly after midnight Jan. 19, Berger prompted the attention of Montgomery County Precinct 5 Constables deputies on a traffic stop along Texas 249 after allegedly nearly causing a collision with another vehicle while on his motorcycle. Berger had no license plate and passed a stop sign, according to the District Attorneys Office.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Pinehurst man facing felony charges alleges officers broke neck in arrest

Precinct 5 Deputy Jacob Hayden tried pulling over Berger, according to charging documents. The DAs Office noted there was a concern Berger was intoxicated.

Police cameras show officers used a stun gun on Berger after pulling him over, with one officer placing a knee on his neck.

You broke my neck, Berger repeatedly says on the body cam video, adding, I cant breathe.

In June, a federal suit was planned against three Precinct 5 deputies, including Hayden, and two Montgomery County Sheriffs deputies reportedly involved in Bergers arrest, a media contact on his defense team detailed at the time.

Ruiz played the body and dash cam videos during a May 3 press conference held at his Pearland law office.

At the time, Ruiz said Berger underwent an eight-hour surgery for injuries sustained in the arrest. Berger in a Feb. 24 sworn affidavit to the constables office, stated he lost consciousness after being taken into custody and did not awaken until three days later.

In the affidavit, Berger contends he was driving 10 mph while unaware police were pursuing him. Police video from the incident shows sirens flashing. The affidavit attributes Bergers spitting resulted from him getting mud in his mouth upon falling to the ground after being shocked by the stun gun.

Charging documents state Berger rode his motorcycle at 90 mph while weaving between vehicles.

An expert testified in trial about Berger having 60-percent hearing loss, the attorney said. Meanwhile, the District Attorneys Office noted jurors were taken outside the courthouse to hear the deputys patrol cars lights and sirens for themselves.

Ruiz during the press conference argued his clients neck was broken when officers on the body cam video apparently pushed Berger to the ground while trying to handcuff him.

Bergers neck injury, the District Attorneys Office stated on Thursday, occurred after he fell to the ground while resisting arrest. The District Attorneys Office mentioned treating physicians found Bergers serum blood alcohol concentration was .114.

A sergeant was spat on by Berger, the DAs Office stated. Police tried to restrain Berger in a patrol car as they worked to prevent him from continuing to spit on other deputies, but he physically resisted them and caused one of the officers to trip and fall, according to the DAs Office.

There was no proof Bergers spit ever made contact with the sergeant, Ruiz said he argued during the trial.

Berger had a stun gun discharged at him after refusing to comply with multiple commands from the deputy to get on the ground, the DAs Office noted. The stun gun was used by Deputy Hayden, according to Ruiz.

An internal investigation cleared all officers, Precinct 5 Chief Chad Walling said on Thursday. In late June, Walling said no officers faced suspension.

We did our job that night and were lucky that we have the citizens of Montgomery County that support law enforcement. They back us where we can do our job, Hayden said Thursday. I want to make (Montgomery County) a better place for (the citizens) as well as for my family.

Ruiz said that during closing arguments there were 10 to 15 officers present in the courtroom, including some of those involved in Bergers arrest. The defense lawyer said he objected to the police presence on grounds it would have undue influence and intimidation on jurors. His objections were overruled.

Among officers present, Ruiz said, was Haydens father, Montgomery County Precinct 4 Constable Kenneth Rowdy Hayden.

Montgomery County is notorious for being a very difficult county to try criminal cases in, Ruiz said, describing the county as punishment-oriented.

Holley, the first assistant district attorney, said some of those officers were present on Ruizs request.

On HoustonChronicle.com: $2M federal lawsuit says deputies arrested man for being Black

Assistant District Attorneys Taylor Vanegas and Adam McLane prosecuted the case.

Bergers sentencing by Maginnis as opposed to the jury, according to Ruiz, was part of a punishment deal between the defense and the judge.

By not facing jurors in the trials punishment phase, Berger was saved from a deadly weapon enhancement charge related to his use of a motorcycle, his attorney explained. Jurors never learned of Bergers criminal history, including a 2002 manslaughter conviction, the attorney continued.

Berger pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter in February 2002 in Knox County, Ohio, according to court documents there.

The defendant literally, beat, kicked and stomped the victim to death and has exhibited no remorse for the result of his actions, reads an Ohio judges sentencing recommendation on the case where Bergers victim was described as a 67-year-old man.

Berger was on parole for that conviction when the January offense happened.

jose.gonzalez@chron.com

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BEIJING (AP)  Chinese astronauts on Thursday beamed back a science lesson from the countrys under-construction space station.

The lecture focused on physics, aiming to illustrate how the weightless environment affects buoyancy, the movement of objects and optics.

Students from five cities, including Beijing and the semi-autonomous region of Hong Kong, peppered the astronauts with questions about living conditions in space and were treated to a virtual tour of the station. The event was also open to the public through a livestream.

Wang Yaping, the only woman aboard the station, served as the main instructor, while Ye Guangfu assisted and commander-in-chief Zhai Zhigang worked the camera. Wang had taught a similar lesson while aboard one of Chinas earlier experimental stations in 2013.

The three arrived at the station in October for a six-month stay, charged mainly with preparing the main Tianhe module for the arrival of two additional modules named Mengtian and Wentian ahead of completion by the end of next year.

Wang last month became the first Chinese woman to conduct a spacewalk when she and Zhai spent six hours outside the module to install equipment and carry out tests alongside the stations robotic service arm.

Their Shenzhou-13 mission is China's longest since it first put a human in space in 2003, becoming only the third country to do so after Russia and the U.S.

The three are the second crew on the permanent station, which upon completion will weigh about 66 tons, much smaller than the International Space Station, which launched its first module in 1998 and weighs around 450 tons.

Along with installing equipment in preparation for the stations expansion, the crew is assessing living conditions in the Tianhe module and conducting experiments in space medicine and other areas.

Chinas space program was barred from the International Space Station, mainly due to U.S. concerns over its intimate military connections.

China has also pushed ahead with un-crewed missions, and its lunar exploration program generated media buzz this week when its Yutu 2 rover sent back pictures of what was described by some as a mystery hut, but was most likely only a rock of some sort.

The rover is the first to be placed on the little-explored far side of the moon, while China's Change 5 probe returned lunar rocks to Earth for the first time since the 1970s last December. A Chinese rovernother, meanwhile, is searching for evidence of life on Mars.

The program has also drawn controversy. In October, Chinas Foreign Ministry brushed-off a report that China had tested a hypersonic missile two months earlier, saying it had merely tested whether a new spacecraft could be reused.

China is also reportedly developing a highly secretive space plane.

___

This story has been corrected to show that Yutu 2 is the rover exploring the far side of the moon.
Lynne Sladky/AP

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP)  A Florida ethics panel on Wednesday announced it has found probable cause that Democratic candidate for governor Nikki Fried violated state law for failing to properly disclose her income on financial forms.

The Florida Commission on Ethics found probable cause that Fried, who is also the state agriculture commissioner, did not correctly disclose lobbying income on financial forms from 2017 and 2018. A Republican Party official filed a complaint with the ethics board in June after Fried amended her filings to reflect the previously unreported income.
JACKSON, Miss. (AP)  Seven members of the recently suspended Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity at the University of Mississippi have been arrested after they were accused of using social media to harass a former frat member who reported the organization for hazing.

The fraternity members were arrested Friday after turning themselves in on cyberstalking charges, according to Lafayette County Justice Court records. They were released after a judge set bond for $5,000 each.

Jay Carmean, an Oxford-based attorney representing four of the students, declined to comment on the case to The Associated Press on Wednesday. Court records did not name an attorney for the other three students.

University of Mississippi spokesperson Lisa Stone told the AP the university is aware of the charges and is cooperating with investigators. She said university officials are reviewing the allegations internally, but cannot comment on an active criminal investigation.

As evidenced by the suspension of all operations of the Gamma Iota chapter of Pi Kappa Alpha of the University of Mississippi effective until May 1, 2025, hazing and related behavior, including cyberstalking, that put student health and safety at risk are contrary to the University of Mississippi Creed and will not be tolerated, Stone said in a statement.

The seven students have not been indicted. A Lafayette County grand jury will likely hear the cases when they meet in early February and determine whether any crimes were committed. An arraignment date is set for Feb. 28.

The students are accused of using social media to harass a former fraternity member who reported an incident of hazing at the fraternity house.

During an Oct. 11, 2020, hazing ritual, pledges were blindfolded with their neckties and made to sit in a hallway, according to a university campus police report. Active members then yelled, screamed, threw liquids and things on the pledges, and made them squat against the wall while reciting phrases.

One fraternity member grabbed a bottle of bleach or surface cleaner and started spraying it on a few pledges, according to police. During this time, one of the pledges threw up from inhaling some of the substances in his mouth, and another one had to go to the hospital because the bleach got into his eyes.

University of Mississippi officials said then they suspended a student in the case. On Nov. 17, 2020, university police charged a fraternity member with aggravated assault.

After the incident, the 158-member chapter was sanctioned, meaning members had to sign an anti-hazing agreement and receive anti-hazing education.

The fraternity was then suspended from campus until 2025 last month after another hazing incident was reported, breaking the agreement.

The 20-year-old student who reported the 2021 hazing incident was one of the students who was hazed during the first incident last October. His mother, Robyn Yerger, told the Clarion Ledger he reported the 2021 incident after seeing photos of the hazing on social media.

Yerger said her son has since left the university and enrolled virtually at a community college, but he is still recovering from the physical and emotional toll of what he experienced. As a result of ingesting bleach, he was diagnosed with Grade 4 severe erosive esophagitis.

In October, the Clarion Ledger reported that he filed a civil lawsuit in October against The Pi Kappa Alpha International Fraternity, Gamma Iota chapter of Ole Miss, officers of the chapter and others, requesting a jury trial and $10 million in damages.

___

Leah Willingham is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP)  The U.S. House has passed legislation to extend a year-end deadline for Alaska Native corporations and tribes to use federal coronavirus relief funds. But it isn't the same bill that earlier passed the Senate.

The House bill was introduced by Arizona Rep. Tom OHalleran, a Democrat, and Alaska Rep. Don Young, a Republican.

Kaitlin Hooker, a O'Halleran spokesperson, said the bill now goes to the Senate. Hooker noted the House has not considered the bill the Senate passed in October.

Young, in a statement, called for urgent Senate action.

Indigenous people were some of the hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, and pulling the rug out from under them by letting an arbitrary deadline take away these needed resources is a flagrant violation of our federal trust responsibility, he said.

Karina Borger, a spokesperson for Alaska U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, said Alaska's congressional delegation was working every angle possible to get an extension in place.

Zack Brown, a Young spokesperson, said in an email that whether it's the House legislation or the Senate legislation, the clock is ticking and Leadership needs to act and schedule one of these fixes for a final vote.

The U.S. Supreme Court in June ruled Alaska Native corporations were entitled to funds, but the executive director of the Alaska Native Village Corporation Association has said that some corporations have yet to receive funds and others face challenges distributing money they have received.

Tribes began receiving funds in the spring of 2020. A report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office cited issues with the rollout, including guidance from the Department of the Treasury for use of funds that changed over time.

The extensions proposed are for a year. The House bill would push the deadline to Dec. 30, 2022, according to O'Halleran's office. The Senate bill called for pushing it to Dec. 31, 2022, according to Alaska's U.S. senators.
LAS VEGAS (AP)  Voters not registered with either major party now constitute a majority in Clark County, Nevada  the most populous jurisdiction in the Western battleground state.

In Clark County, which encompasses Las Vegas and its suburbs, on Wednesday there were 479,977 registered Democrats, 338,342 registered Republicans and 480,235 voters registered as non-partisan or with other parties. The county updates registration statistics hourly and releases a full report weekly.
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP)  North Carolinas highest court on Wednesday pushed back the March election primaries for legislative, congressional and judicial seats to give state courts time to review lawsuits claiming the Republican-controlled legislature illegally gerrymandered some districts.

The decision by the state Supreme Court comes after a state Court of Appeals panel initially blocked filing for legislative and congressional candidates on Monday, only to have the decision reversed when the full 15-member intermediate appeals court was asked to weigh in on the matter. Filing began Tuesday for those races instead.

Wednesday's order suspends all candidate filing in the state until the litigation is resolved and delays the March 8 primary for two months. The Supreme Court says three trial judges hearing a pair of lawsuits must rule by Jan. 11. The ruling will then likely be appealed.

The delay is being granted in light of the great public interest" in the matter and the need for urgency in reaching a final resolution ... at the earliest possible opportunity, the order reads.

Primary elections for the U.S. Senate seat of the retiring GOP Sen. Richard Burr and U.S. House, General Assembly and judicial seats, along with elections for other local posts, will now be held May 17, according to the order.

The groups that filed the lawsuits  the North Carolina League of Conservation Voters and math experts in one case and voters backed by an affiliate of the National Democratic Redistricting Committee in the other  have said voters would be irrevocably harmed if elections went forward under the approved lines.

The lawsuits claim the legislature manipulated the boundaries according to the political leanings of voters, the racial composition of voters, or both. In doing so, the suits say, lawmakers gave Republicans nearly unbreakable majorities in the state House and Senate and nearly assured victories in at least 10 of the 14 U.S. House seats starting with the 2022 elections. The state is closely divided in statewide elections.

Republicans hold eight of the 13 current House seats. North Carolina is getting an additional seat due to population growth, so the delegation's partisan composition could affect whether the GOP regains the U.S. House next year.

The groups that filed the lawsuits want the courts to order the General Assembly to redraw the lines.

The delay will allow voters to be heard in court and to hopefully establish once and for all that our state constitution forbids partisan gerrymandering, League of Conservation Voters Executive Director Carrie Clark said in a news release. We will continue going to bat for voters so they will vote under fair maps for elections next year and beyond.

Lawyers for GOP legislative leaders who were sued say the boundaries are lawful, created through a transparent mapmaking process that prohibited the use of political data in map software programs. They also argue that state Supreme Court rulings in the early 2000s allow legislators to consider partisan advantage in mapmaking.

Last week, the three trial judges rejected requests by the plaintiffs to block the use of the approved lines, setting appeals in motion. Wednesday's order came from the entire Supreme Court, not individual justices. Four of the seven justices are registered Democrats.

The court didnt even articulate a legal or factual basis for suspending elections," said GOP state Rep. Ralph Hise, one of the lawsuits' defendants. "The Democrats on the Supreme Court want districts that elect more Democrats, so theyre blocking every election in the state until they get their way.

Over 1,400 people whom the State Board of Elections says had already filed across North Carolina this week will remain candidates for those same offices when filing resumes, unless they withdraw at that time, the order reads. Candidate filing had been supposed to continue through midday Dec. 17.

The ruling means candidates will have several more weeks to raise money and campaign before a primary.

The top-of-the-ballot races will be for the party nominations to succeed Burr, who isn't seeking reelection. Former Gov. Pat McCrory, U.S. Rep. Ted Budd and former Rep. Mark Walker remain among the announced candidates for the GOP nomination, with state Sen. Jeff Jackson and former Supreme Court Chief Justice Cheri Beasley among the Democratic hopefuls.

Republicans have controlled both the state House and Senate since 2011, allowing them to shape redistricting this past decade.

In 2019, a different three-judge panel declared there was evidence that GOP legislators created extreme partisan gerrymanders when drawing U.S. House districts in 2016 and legislative districts in 2017. The legislature redrew the maps in time for the 2020 elections. But the panels declarations were never affirmed on appeal.

Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper, whose veto stamp can't be used on redistricting maps, had urged in a friend-of-the-court brief for the Supreme Court to intervene.

Wednesday's order restores faith in the rule of law, Cooper said in a statement.

___

Associated Press/Report for America writer Bryan Anderson contributed to this report.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP)  A man inside a home in Ohio's capital exchanged gunfire Wednesday with members of a United States Marshal's task force that was serving a warrant at the residence, leaving the man dead and a deputy wounded, authorities said.

The man began firing from inside a closet as the officers were taking the subject of the warrant into custody, striking the deputy in the upper torso, a marshals service spokesman said.

At least one officer returned fire, and the man was shot at least once. He was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead a short time later.

The shooting in Columbus occurred around 9:20 a.m., shortly after marshals and members of the Southern Ohio Fugitive Apprehension Task Force arrived at the home.

The subject of the warrant and others in the home were taken into custody. Authorities have not provided details about why the person was wanted or other details about the case, citing the ongoing investigation.

The wounded deputy was being treated at a hospital for undisclosed injuries that are not considered life-threatening, authorities said. The deputy's name has not been released.

No other injuries were reported in the incident.

The Franklin County Sheriff's Office is leading the investigation, with assistance from the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation.

The shooting comes about a year after another man, Casey Goodson Jr., was shot and killed in Columbus during a similar task force operation. The sheriffs deputy in that case was charged with murder and has pleaded not guilty.
A man and a woman died in a plane crash after a five-minute flight from West Houston Wednesday night, according to police on Thursday.

State and local law enforcement reported the plane had been located Thursday around 1 p.m. in a heavily wooded area in the Barker reservoir not far from the Katy Freeway frontage road.

Texas Department of Public Safety Sgt. Richard Standifer said the two people on board both died, the pilot and one passenger. The male was ejected from the plane, he added, while the female remained in the main portion of the aircraft.

The cause of the crash is still unknown and will be investigated by the FAA and National Transportation Safety Board.

Standifer said the area in which the plane crashed is not easily accessible and will take time for investigators to examine.

It is a 45-minute walk and about a 25-minute drive by ATV, he said. Im here to tell you the brush is heavy back there. They had to bring dozers and chainsaws and cut their way through.

DPS said that tracking data from the airport showed the plane departing from West Houston to Pearland at 7:55 p.m. before it lost contact five minutes later above the crash site. West Houston airport officials attempted to locate the plane in that area but were unsuccessful due to a haze on the ground Wednesday night.

According to DPS, local law enforcement was brought out Wednesday night to look for debris but because of the inaccessibility of the area, they were unable to find anything.

The only way, I would think, they would have been able to see that is if it caught on fire and there doesnt seem to be any indication of that, Standifer added.

San Jacinto County: small plane crash lands near Highway 59, strikes SUV

The plane was found Thursday afternoon near the northwest end of Barker dam along George Bush Park's hike and bike trail near the Harris County Precinct 5 Constable's Office by HCSO on foot, Standifer said.

The plane was a 1967 Piper Cherokee, PA-28 and licensed with Federal Aviation Administration through July 2023. Standifer said, although the aircraft may have been registered in Rogers, Arkansas, one of the identification cards located on one of the people in the plane had a Houston address, leading him to believe the plane may have been recently purchased. Yet according to FAA records, the aircrafts owner is listed as Roger Rose of Cincinnati.

Both DPS and Harris County Precinct 5 Constables Office remained at the scene Thursday evening as Harris County Engineering Department trucks brought in equipment to begin sifting through the planes debris.

The NTSB will send an investigator to the site, a media spokesman confirmed Thursday evening. The agency typically investigates any fatal air incident.

joel.umanzor@chron.com
A Corpus Christi jury on Tuesday rendered a $301 billion verdict against a Corpus Christi sports bar that served a customer who later ran a red light at 91 miles an hour, killing a grandmother and her 16-year-old granddaughter.

The November 2017 drunk driving accident resulted in three deaths, including the death of the driver, and led to a lawsuit in Nueces County court by the victims' families against Beer Belly's Sports Bar in downtown Corpus Christi.

The lawsuit alleged that 29-year-old Joshua Delbosque had become "dangerously intoxicated" at the bar, yet was able to open a second tab and continued to be served drinks. Delbosque left the establishment with a blood alcohol content of .263 mg/dl, over three times the legal limit for driving and enough to render many people unconscious, according to expert testimony. A lawyer for the plaintiffs said Delbosque was served at least 11 drinks.

INVESTIGATION: 'Out of control' - Houston is ground zero for drunken and drugged driving

Minutes later, according to the lawsuit, Delbosque sped through a red light and crashed into a car driven by 59-year-old Tamra Kindred, killing Kindred and her passenger, Aujuni Anderson, a high school sophomore.

After initially writing down $300 million, the jury unanimously awarded $300 billion to Kindred's daughters, Jennifer Kindred and Elizabeth Anderson, in punitive damages against Beer Belly's, which closed in 2019.

The amount exceeds the $206 billion 1998 Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement and is double that of a $150 billion judgment in the 2011 personal injury case of Robbie Middleton, who died 12 years after being badly burned as a child during an attempted murder.

The Kindred/Anderson family does not expect to receive any money from the judgment, according lead attorney John Flood. Instead, the purpose of the verdict, Flood said, was to raise awareness about the impact of drunk driving and to warn bars not to overserve customers.

RELATED: Pappas Restaurants overserved Tesla driver before autopilot crash, MoCo cops say in $20M lawsuit

Texas law prohibits serving alcohol to people who are visibly drunk, but local officials have faced challenges enforcing the laws against bars and other businesses.

charlie.zong@chron.com
2 1 of 2 Jay R. Jordan / Jay Jordan, Staff Show More Show Less 2 of 2 Houston Police Department Show More Show Less



A 21-year-old Houston man is facing a murder charge in connection to the August fatal shooting of another man of the same age near the Midtown area, according to Houston Police.

Officers found Mathew Pietrzak with multiple gunshot wounds, lying in the road in the the 3000 block of Brazos Street, according to a Houston Police release. He was pronounced dead at Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center.
Medical examiners have determined chemical injuries killed Shawn Kuhleman and Dustin Day on July 27 when a liquid acetic acid mixture was released at the LyondellBasell facility where they were working.

Autopsy reports made public Thursday from the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences describe what the pair of contract employees suffered. Chemical burns from acetic acid and methyl iodide covered their bodies and injury marked their airways.

Burns covered about 80 or 90 percent of Kuhleman's skin, turning it brown and green and causing it to slough off in places, according to the report. There was a small cut on his wrist. He smelled like vinegar, which is made from diluted acetic acid.

The 32-year-old was wearing black overalls, a blue work shirt with emergency response agency badges and his wedding ring.

Chemicals appeared to have splashed on Day's face, centered at the bridge of his nose. His forehead was cut. He had burns elsewhere too. Day, 36, wore brown overalls and had a "mom" tattoo.

'You couldn't breathe': Workers ran from white chemical cloud during deadly LyondellBasell leak

The mens' airways were discolored. So were Kuhleman's lungs. Both were pronounced dead on the scene.

Co-workers fled for their lives, describing a cloud of chemicals that made it hard to breathe.

Attorneys in one lawsuit filed against the company alleged it knew of the leak but didnt hire specialized contractors to fix it. Others argued LyondellBasell knew conditions were dangerous and didnt warn workers.

LyondellBasell said no prior leak was detected and blamed workers who it said went beyond the scope of what they were supposed to do, removing a valve cover in error.

Kuhlmen was "a kid at heart," who had two kids of his own, according to a GoFundMe page. Day was an Army veteran who served in Afghanistan and Iraq and liked to fish. Each had been married for more than 10 years.

The company in late September began the process to restart the unit.

Multiple lawsuits are pending.

emily.foxhall@chron.com
Each week, the Houston Chronicles COVID Help Desk seeks to answer your pressing questions about the ever-evolving pandemic. This week, we talk more about the omicron variant, which appears to be gaining ground in Texas and the U.S. And whatever happened to pediatric vaccines? We look at how many kids have received their COVID shots.

The omicron variant contains more than 50 mutations, including 32 in the spike protein. For reference, the delta variant, which remains the dominant strain in the U.S., carries nine mutations.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Harris County woman contracts first known omicron case in Texas

Dr. Catherine Troisi, infectious disease epidemiologist at UTHealth School of Public Health, said omicrons spike protein mutations are concerning for two reasons:

First, the spike protein acts as the key to enter the bodys cells.So if the changes make that lock a little easier to break into, then the virus is more infectious, she said.

Second, the bodys immune defenses target the spike protein when creating antibodies to ward off a threat. More mutations mean vaccine antibodies may not recognize this omicrons spike proteins as well and may not do as good of a job eliminating the virus, Troisi said.

Scientists are still studying whether the variant is more infectious than delta, but early data shows it does evade some immunity from vaccines. Pfizer on Monday announced that omicron greatly reduces the immunity from its two-dose series. A third dose, however, offers robust protection against the variant, similar to the protection against previous strains, the company said.

How do the symptoms of omicron differ from those of delta?

Preliminary data from Africa suggests that omicron may cause milder sickness than previous strains. Despite the surge in cases throughout the continent  107,000 new cases last week, compared with 55,000 the previous week  hospitalizations have stayed relatively low, according to the World Health Organization.

An analysis of COVID patients in South Africas Steve Biko/Tshwane District Hospital Complex, located in the global epicenter of the omicron outbreak, shows few need supplemental oxygen. Of the 42 patients analyzed, 28 could breathe normal air, while nine required oxygen. The remaining five needed supplemental oxygen for another reason.

The reports author cautioned that further study is needed. Certain variables, including South Africas younger population, may be skewing the early findings, said Dr. Luis Ostrosky, chief of infectious diseases with McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston.

Nevertheless, we hang on to the silver linings, he said.

How many children have been vaccinated since pediatric shots became available?

Pediatric shots first became available to 5- to 11-year-olds Nov. 2. In Harris County, 11.4 percent of kids in that age group have received their first dose and 3.4 percent have been fully vaccinated, according to data from the Texas Department of State Health Services. That falls in line with the rate for the nine-county region that includes Houston.

On HoustonChronicle.com: More than half of Houstonians who died from COVID had diabetes

Nationally, 10.2 percent of people younger than 12 have received one dose, while 3.5 percent have received both shots, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Dr. Peter Hotez, co-director of Texas Childrens Hospitals Center for Vaccine Development, said those numbers are disappointing overall.

I think a lot of parents are still holding back, he said. But its possible now with concerns about omicron or concerns about this next winter wave, they might reconsider.

julian.gill@chron.com
A Houston-made COVID-19 vaccine will likely be approved for use in India by the end of the year, said Dr. Peter Hotez, co-director of the Center for Vaccine Development at Texas Childrens Hospital.

Hotez and his co-director, Dr. Maria Elena Bottazzi, created the vaccine as a cheap and easy-to-produce option to fill global gaps in vaccine coverage. Dubbed Corbevax, it uses a safe and traditional vaccine technology, called recombinant protein subunit, that has been used for decades in the hepatitis B vaccine and is therefore easier for other countries to make themselves.

Drugmaker Biological E has agreed to manufacture 300 million doses in India, where 36 percent of the population is fully vaccinated and 59 percent have at least one dose. Efficacy data has been submitted to the Drugs Controller General of India for authorization.

The vaccine does not have a patent, and Hotez hopes manufacturers in other low- or middle-income countries will take advantage of its availability.

If you leave large populations unvaccinated, thats where the greatest concerns of variants arise, he said, referring to the current spread of the omicron variant, which was first detected in South Africa, a country that has a low vaccination rate. So this vaccine is therefore needed not only for global health but also economic development.

Bottazzi, who is from Honduras, is especially interested in the vaccines proliferation throughout Latin America. Less than 40 percent of the population is fully vaccinated in several countries there, according to the New York Times global virus tracker.

Corbevax is gong to be a trailblazer, she said.

The vaccines development was swift. When data began coming to light on a novel coronavirus in January 2020, Bottazzi and Hotez looked back through years of past research on their vaccine that treated severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS, a closely related coronavirus. Their SARS vaccine never made it to human trials because that virus by then had died out. But the work helped them prepare the new vaccine for clinical trials in India by fall 2020.

Data on its efficacy has not been publicly released, and Hotez was reluctant to disclose that information before the company makes an official announcement.

It seems to stand up very well against delta and other variants, he said. Im hoping well know in the coming weeks how it looks against omicron.

The Houston vaccine never garnered support from the U.S. government, which threw its weight behind developing vaccines with newer technology, such as the Moderna and Pfizer shots. That means Hotez and Bottazzi were on their own when it came to funding.

So far, they have raised between $5 million and $10 million, largely from philanthropy.

The reasons for coming to Texas was to be part of this amazing Texas Medical Center, but the other side of that is to be part of the philanthropic environment in Texas, Hotez said. If we wouldnt have come to Texas, we would not have had this vaccine.

julian.gill@chron.com
Former police chief Art Acevedo may have unfinished business in Houston and the defense lawyers behind a man accused of killing a sergeant want him to come back.

An attorney for defendant Robert Soliz  charged with murder  said he believes Acevedo to be a vital witness to his case on whether his client was responsible for the November 2020 death of Sean Rios. Acevedo was subpoenaed in March ahead of his Houston Police Department departure but the court declined to enforce the request, said the lawyer, Wade Smith.

And now Acevedo cant be found, the lawyer continued, even as the former chief makes headlines for losing his police chief job with the Miami Police Department and mulling political office in California.

Hes not as easily found anymore, Smith said.

Acevedo, in a text message, said he has been back to Houston on unrelated matters but that he has not heard from anyone on the case.

FALSE ALARM: Ex-Houston police chief Art Acevedo says he will not run for Los Angeles county sheriff

The quandary over Acevedos whereabouts came up Thursday in court as Soliz  shackled and wearing an orange jumpsuit after a recent bond violation  went before a judge. Soliz was booked into the Harris County Jail last month following several reports of bond violations from violating curfew to not providing a urine sample.

He is being held without bail.

Smith stepped up to Judge Ana Martinezs bench in the 179th District Court and said that finding Acevedo ahead of their 2022 trial has been tough and that they needed help from the court. He also said prosecutors urged the court to quash the original subpoena.

The judge encouraged him to work it out with prosecutors.

It brings about an issue that we have to track him down and deal with the complexities of serving out-of-state subpoenas, Smith said.

Police believe the 25-year-old defendant shot and killed Rios during a gun battle near the Interstate 45 frontage road.

Then-chief Acevedo said Rios was likely confronting Soliz over a road rage clash  though no video or witness statements have been publicly shared to corroborate that narrative. Rios was off-duty and driving to his shift at Bush Intercontinental Airport at the time of the shooting along the Interstate 45 frontage road.

One of Smiths law partners, Paul Looney, has called Acevedos handling of the investigation one of his greatest failures and cited the arrest of his client as one example. Police swarmed Soliz with guns drawn on the highway as Looney drove him to the Harris County District Attorneys Office to surrender on the charges.

FALL FROM GRACE: Former HPD Chief Acevedo's leadership style won Houston over. What happened in Miami?

In addition, subpoenaing a police chief as a defense attorney is not an easy task. According to court records, when a HPD liaison received subpoena request, the defense was told it would likely be rejected.

Looney said he is hesitant to hire an investigator or process server to track him down.

I dont want to trace the nation, Looney said. What am I going to do? Spend thousands of dollars on something that we already had? Somebody needs to help us. Its a silly waste of money because we dont know if hes in Florida anymore.

Acevedo this week canceled plans to run for Los Angeles County sheriff, a political race he had considered in the months following his high-profile firing in Miami  a position he held for six months.

nicole.hensley@chron.com
Apparent human skeletal remains were found outside of a home Wednesday in northeast Houston, according to Houston police.

The discovery by a homeowner happened around noon on the 9900 block of Valley Lake Drive, just off Tidwell Road, where police said what appeared to be a human skull was found along the roadway. The skull was taken by the Harris County medical examiner.
To spend a day at the Port of Houston is to see a modern marvel of logistics. Dozens of container ships stocked with food, furniture, clothes, and cars from all over the world cruise up the Houston Ship Channel, docking at one of the ports two container terminals.

A team of longshoremen greet the vessels, using giant, diesel-powered cranes to remove and stack the 20- and 40-foot containers like multi-colored Legos. On the opposite end of the terminal, thousands of trucks snake to the gate, past security, over to the containers, where crane operators will carefully lower them on the trucks chassis. On a good day, the trucks are each in and out in 40 minutes.

The hyper-efficiency of the ports operations, while impressive, comes with a significant environmental cost: the ocean-going vessels, cargo-handling equipment, and trucks make up three of the largest sources of emissions at the Port of Houston.

The port handles around 3.5 million containers per year, but officials plan to double that number over the next decade. The 375-acre Bayport container terminal, for instance, will eventually grow to 550 acres, with three new wharves and nine more cranes. Such expansions only stand to worsen air quality.

While the Port of Houstons pollution is hardly unique for a major port  cargo ships collectively spew an average of 1 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere each year  rival ports are developing cohesive strategies to move toward cleaner, healthier practices. In 2017, Los Angeles and Long Beach officials pledged to transform the nations busiest port complex into a largely zero-emission operation by 2035. The Northwest Seaport Alliance, which includes the ports of Seattle, Tacoma and Vancouver, committed in April to zero emissions by 2050. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey approved last month a new interim target of eliminating or offsetting greenhouse gas emissions 50 percent by 2030.

Of course, these ports bold decarbonization goals are only as strong as the new policies that underpin them. The Port of Seattle, for example, developed a comprehensive greenhouse gas emissions inventory, allowing it to set goals of reducing its highest emissions. In March 2020, the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach voted to impose a small fee on shipping containers in order to help truckers buy cleaner vehicles.

While the Port of Houston has demonstrated that it is attuned to the challenges of climate change, its leadership has thus far declined to make any ambitious proclamations on reducing emissions and overall pollution, preferring an ad hoc approach that flies under the radar.

When questioned why the port isnt keeping up with its competitors in reaching a zero-emissions goal, Rich Byrnes, chief infrastructure officer for the Port of Houston, told the editorial board that the port is not going to promise what we cant deliver.

I think the tradition at the port has been don't boast about things that you're gonna do; talk about what you did, he said. So we don't go out and make these grandiose targets.

Grandiose is one thing. Serious goals are another. Any successful CEO, athlete or political leader will tell you that you reach greater heights by raising expectations, not lowering them.

Its true that the port has made strides in cleaning up its practices. Officials say they spend $10 million a year on sustainability initiatives. In 2020, the port entered into a 10-year renewable electricity contract through which all of its public facilities receive electricity from a solar farm in West Texas. It has also implemented a carbon reduction program, beginning to replace high-mast lighting with LEDs and purchasing new hybrid cranes to replace the older, diesel-powered machines. Most recently, after pressure from community and environmental groups, it agreed to move forward with cleaner equipment for Project 11, its signature $1 billion effort to dredge and widen the Houston Ship Channel.

Yet in declining to set measurable targets and benchmarks for environmental sustainability, the port is effectively skirting accountability for reducing its pollution. Its Sustainability Action Plan includes 27 potential projects that would advance the ports environmental goals, from investing in a fleet of electric trucks to enhancing green spaces in port-adjacent communities. Yet these initiatives are all unfunded ideas which rely heavily on outside funding and private sector partnerships to succeed. The $10 million commitment to environmental sustainability requires greater clarification  what is that money going toward that will substantially reduce pollution? Even the renewable energy program  which aims to reduce 250,000 tons of carbon emissions over 10 years  is relatively meaningless if its not attached to an inventory of how much emissions the port produces. Its not enough for port officials to proclaim theyve reduced the carbon footprint by 55 percent since 2016. Show us the work.

Cleaning up ports across the globe is a major component to solving the existential crisis of climate change, but its also crucial for improving the health of nearby neighborhoods where residents have been forced to inhale other forms of pollution every day. Greenhouse gases by themselves arent like traditional air pollution  they dont smog up a horizon, for instance, or make it harder to breathe. But many of the activities that produce carbon emissions also pump other pollution into the air, too.

The same heavy-duty, diesel-fueled trucks that transport containers and bulk freight between the port and various rail facilities and distribution centers belch diesel emissions that swirl into adjacent communities from Pleasantville to the Fifth Ward to Baytown. Families living along the Houston Ship Channel  where real estate and rents are far more affordable  live with daily assaults on on their health. The cancer risk for residents of Manchester and the neighboring community of Harrisburg, where Valero operates a refinery, is 22 percent higher than for the rest of Houston. A University of Texas School of Public Health study found that children living within 2 miles of the Ship Channel are 56 percent more likely to develop a specific type of leukemia than those living 10 miles away.

The port commissioners will have another chance to do right by these distressed communities when they unveil their long-awaited Clean Air Strategy Plan in the coming weeks. We urge commissioners and Chairman Ric Campo to commit to a goal of reducing greenhouse gases by 90 percent by 2050, with clear plans to fund the initiatives needed to fulfill that ambition.

The port leadership should also make a much more substantial financial commitment toward creating a zero-emissions supply chain. The Environmental Defense Fund has requested the port commit 5 percent of its gross revenues  roughly $20 million per year  toward cleaner equipment, from tugboats to trucks to trains. Thats a more than reasonable down payment on better air quality for all Houstonians.

Without these meaningful commitments, Port Houston will be left behind its competitors, and the city and its residents will suffer for it.
Regarding Opinion: Energy transition? Texans should plan expansion. (Dec. 5): While Tom Luce and Jeremy Mazur of Texas 2036 are correct that Texas could turn the energy transition into a Texan energy expansion, I wish they understood the urgency required to protect Texass environmental and economic future. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, we have until 2030 to cut emissions by about 50 percent in order to avert significant climate damage. The policies that Texas 2036 calls for, such as hydrogen-fueled energy and carbon capture, require massive funding and infrastructure to implement, and are probably at least a decade away from significantly impacting greenhouse gas emissions.

However, there is a policy that could lead to emissions reductions immediately  carbon pricing. If carbon pricing is implemented, it could lead to a 40 percent reduction in American emissions by 2030, while also helping the Texas natural gas industry and booming wind energy thrive. Texas 2036 is a wonderful organization dedicated to building a strong future for Texas, but in order to reach the bright future they envision, we need immediate greenhouse gas reduction in addition to long term investment.

John Sigren, Citizens Climate Lobby Houston

Changing our culture

Regarding What to do when the KKK shoots and other lessons from Houstons underground paper, (Dec. 4): I read, with some interest, Thorne Dreyers article on the role of the underground press and our divided society. His article is quite good, but it is lacking a key element. We as a country have not changed our culture to progress beyond our 1776 revolution. The Civil War, theoretically, resolved the issue of slavery if one believes that power changes history. In fact, the Union won the military war but lost the cultural war. As soon as the Union troops were withdrawn from the former Confederate states, Jim Crow laws emerged, once again reestablishing a form of slavery. The 1970s brought in a new political power of minorities and women, but, again, our current resurgence of neo-Nazis and Aryan supremacists coupled with internet myths (some no doubt supported by foreign entities), is the result of our continuing failure to change our culture. Worse, politicians believe that they can change the culture by making laws  wrong again! To change our society we need at least two key operatives  truth and reconciliation (not reparation). The task of changing culture is not easy. Rationalization and blame are quite easy, which is why conspiracy theories and finger-pointing are so endemic to our conversations. While we have the Bill of Rights to protect us from governmental harassment, we also need a Bill of Beatitudes to protect us from ourselves.

James A Babb, Friendswood

Memory

Regarding Chambers County seaman killed in Pearl Harbor attack makes final journey home  80 years later, (Dec. 7): On the Pearl Harbor anniversary, the Chronicle did have a really good article on the return of remains. No other mention what that day meant to our country and the world. Last month the anniversary of the JFK assassination, as big an event as that was in our country and state, went unmentioned by any of the media TV or newspapers. Are we getting to where if something significant did not happen while the majority of us were alive did it not happen?

Skip Fix, Katy

Overwhelmed health providers

Regarding No room for blame  patients, doctors and nurses all feel abandoned, (Dec. 8): Thank you for publishing Jere Pfister's account of her and her husbands struggles to obtain timely and appropriate medical care. It seems that at each step, providers who wanted to assist were overwhelmed by the numbers of COVID patients also requiring care, a now years-long burden. Her final paragraph was poignant. To it I would add an appeal to the ill-informed unvaccinated to take steps to protect their health and that of the public.

Doris Murdock, Houston

Vanishing libraries

Regarding Houston ISD has 276 schools, nearly 200,000 students  and only 58 librarians, (Dec. 6): Texas state officials want to ban certain books that they deem inappropriate. HISD has fewer and fewer school libraries and librarians. Seems like HISD has handled that so-called book banning problem by eliminating the libraries and librarians. Ironic, isnt it? The HISD librarian shortage story is so distressing. Literacy, gaining knowledge on how to do legitimate research, and the sheer joy of expanding ones world through reading is of utmost importance to our students. What a shame for HISD students and our greater community. Without a literate workforce, how will Houston thrive?

Lainie Gordon, Bellaire
The tech exodus from the West Coast to Texas gained speed in 2021. At least 17 companies announced moves to Houston, Dallas, and Austin  including Elon Musks tech-driven carmaker, Tesla  while others are expanding in the state. Samsung just announced a $17 billion factory, while Hewlett Packards new Texas headquarters, just outside Houston, will be finalized in the coming months.

The transformation is thrilling. But its not nearly enough.

I say that as a tech CEO who moved my company from Seattle to Texas in 2020. I believe Texas must shape the future of tech, making it more responsible, respectful and empowering for all. Yet for that to happen, we need more than companies moving their headquarters or setting up new campuses. We need to build a new tech ecosystem altogether, such that every company in Silicon Valley has competitors in the Lone Star State.

Put simply: Texas must replace Big Tech with New Tech. Everyone in America is counting on us.

Despite Texas rise as a tech hub, the industry itself is still on the wrong track. Thats clear no matter which side of the political aisle youre on. The right to free speech is increasingly on the outs, while censorship is in. The right to privacy is under siege, as tech companies look to profit off peoples most intimate information. Big Techs tendency toward monopoly is growing, too.

Having worked in Silicon Valley and Seattle, I know where these trends come from. Big Tech is funded, built and run by a tiny, radicalized elite. They typically train at the same schools, hold the same political and cultural beliefs, and look at the masses with the same disdain. The products and services they create tend to reflect it, enriching them without empowering the rest of us.

Americans know somethings wrong. A stunning 80 percent of the country wants Big Tech reined in, including the vast majority of Republicans, Democrats and independents. Yet techs problems wont be solved if the same West Coast elites create the next generation of products, platforms and algorithms. New tech leadership must come from somewhere. Texas is the obvious choice.

As Ive seen every day since moving here, Texans have a deep respect for the principles and practices that undergird America and human progress itself. Theres great respect for free speech and privacy. Theres a deep concern for lifting up the least fortunate. And theres a strong undercurrent of faith, from a variety of traditions, that recognizes human dignity and the necessity of individual freedom.

Tech should be built on that foundation  and Texans are the ones to build it. That means social media companies that allow a vigorous debate between opposing views and don't censor political opinions. It means platforms and software makers that respect the right to privacy, online retailers that dont ban books, apps that unlock peoples entrepreneurial ability instead of extracting value, and more.

Bottom line: We need a new tech ecosystem from top to bottom, from payment processing systems to cloud services to social media platforms to database providers to online retailers and more. Right now, were all at the mercy of Silicon Valley. With new and more principled tech companies to choose from, wed finally get out from under Big Techs thumb.

The Texas story is one of pioneering and engineering, and what Texas has done with energy, it can now do with tech. The results could be even more impressive, both in local prosperity and the broader benefits to humanity. Everyone has a role to play in making it happen, from policymakers to professors to investors, innovators and employees.

If Texas wont lead the way, no one will. Our state has the size, the swagger and the sense of right and wrong. Lets be glad 2021 saw more tech companies move here. But lets vow to make 2022 the year Texas moves tech in a new direction altogether.

Peter Rex is founder and CEO of Rex, which builds and invests in tech businesses.
This article first appeared on TexasTribune.org.

Locked in an expensive Republican primary for U.S. senator against a wealthy, better-known opponent, Ted Cruz loaned his campaign over $1 million in 2012.

The cash helped him defeat Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst in a runoff that essentially secured Cruz a seat in the Senate. But it came at a personal financial cost: Cruz has never been able to recoup $545,000 of that loan, according to a Federal Election Commission report.

GOVERNOR'S RACE: Greg Abbott has a huge early lead on Beto O'Rourke, new poll finds

A 2002 law bans victorious federal candidates from using more than $250,000 raised after an election to pay back loans they gave their own campaigns prior to Election Day. Congress passed it to help prevent the appearance of quid pro quo corruption. The idea behind the limit is that money collected after an election is no longer helping a candidate win office. Instead, the funds go to the electees pocket.

Cruz recouped a good chunk of that 2012 loan from money received before Election Day. But when Cruzs campaign determined that the loans could not be fully repaid due to the regulations, it began exploring ways to challenge the law, according to a May 2020 deposition of Cabell Hobbs, Ted Cruz Victory Committee treasurer.

Next month, his campaigns lawsuit against the FEC will reach the Supreme Court. Cruzs campaign lawyers are expected to argue the limit is unconstitutional, arbitrarily limits political speech and deters candidates from loaning money to their campaigns.

The federal governments restrictions on a candidates ability to loan his own money to his own campaign violate the First Amendment, a Cruz spokesperson told The Texas Tribune in an email. Senator Cruz seeks to vindicate his rights under the First Amendment and the rights of all those who would seek election to federal office.

Its unclear whether Cruz will ever get his money back, even if he wins his case. In 2015, after his campaign was audited by the FEC, Cruzs campaign converted the existing unpaid loans into a contribution, as required by law. But he still lists the loans as an asset in his most recent Senate financial disclosure, which could be a sign he hopes to eventually get the money back. Cruzs office did not respond to questions about his plans for the loan.

The lawsuit now pending before the Supreme Court is actually about a separate loan. One day before he won reelection in 2018, Cruz loaned his campaign $260,000  intentionally establishing the groundwork to sue to overturn the rule and raise money to recover the $10,000 that goes over the cap of $250,000.

The money they contribute is literally going into Ted Cruzs bank account, said Seth Nesin, the FECs former lead attorney on this case who left the agency in August after 13 years. Thats what really makes it seem, to at least me and some other people, quite sketchy.

Cruzs legal fight is a new front in a longtime effort by conservatives to peel back federal campaign finance rules they argue are antithetical to free speech. If the Supreme Court affirms lower courts rulings in Cruzs favor, the case would mark another blow to federal campaign finance laws under Chief Justice John Roberts.

In 2010s Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, the Supreme Court effectively allowed unions and corporations to spend as much as they like on independent political broadcasts in candidate elections. Campaign spending by outside groups more than doubled in the decisions wake, according to a 2015 analysis by the Brennan Center for Justice. In 2014s McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission, the Supreme Court ruled that the government cant cap the amount of money people donate to federal candidates in the aggregate every two years.

But this case goes a step further, according to some critics of Cruzs lawsuit, because the money raised after the election would replenish politicians personal funds  not their campaigns.

If the Supreme Court struck down the limit, Tara Malloy, senior director for appellate litigation and strategy at the Campaign Legal Center, said the effect would be bad but fairly narrow.

Its just common sense that when an election is over, a contributor is not giving money to fund election speech anymore. At most, they are trying to associate themselves to the candidate, said Malloy, whose group filed an amicus curiae brief supporting the FEC in the Supreme Court case. That money thats being raised will directly enrich the candidate in a way that almost no other campaign contribution will.

In a motion filed in July, the FEC pointed to a recent study of U.S. congressional campaigns from 1983-2018 by two finance professors at universities in France and Switzerland. The study found that nearly half of all political campaigns rely on debt in some form. Officeholders in debt are more likely to change their votes to benefit PACs making post-election campaign contributions, according to the study.

But conservatives have long argued in court that campaign contributions amount to political speech, which shouldnt be restricted.

In an amicus curiae brief filed in August, the nonprofit Institute for Free Speech argued that the limit hinders political speech by disincentivizing candidates from loaning money to their campaigns.

Contributions to a political campaign promote more expenditures by that campaign, which results in more political speech, wrote Donald A. Daugherty for the Institute for Free Speech.

FEC lawyers also argue that striking down the limit would allow candidates to engage further in debt stacking, a loophole where donors avoid contribution limits by giving money to previous campaigns with existing debts.

If there were no Loan Repayment Limit now, a contributor that had not previously given to Senator Cruz could donate $16,000 today: the maximum $5,000 to his 2012 primary and general campaigns an additional $5,400 to his 2018 campaigns and another $5,600 to his 2024 campaigns. And Senator Cruz would be able to make yet another loan to his 2024 campaign to keep the cycle going, the FEC wrote.

But Judge Neomi Rao  appointed by former President Donald Trump to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals  wrote in June that because the government did not sufficiently prove how the law prevents corruption, the limit runs afoul of the First Amendment.

Lawyers representing Ted Cruz for Senate have until Dec. 15 to file their brief in the case. Oral arguments are Jan. 19. If the limit is considered unconstitutional, future candidates could theoretically repay loans of infinite amounts with post-election contributions.

Nesin fears that the very hostile court to campaign finance laws may strike down the limit.

I think its very unlikely that the Supreme Court will find the FEC on the merits of the case, Nesin said. Just because of who is on the Supreme Court, the FEC doesnt win anything.

The Texas Tribune is a member-supported, nonpartisan newsroom informing and engaging Texans on state politics and policy. Learn more at texastribune.org.
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Santa and Mrs. Claus at the Pittsfield tree lighting in 2019. They and their helpers will be calling city children next week who have signed up for the North Pole calling program.

Santa to Continue Historical Tradition of Calling Pittsfield Children

PITTSFIELD, Mass.  Ho, ho ho, pick up the phone!

Santa's annual tradition of calling Pittsfield children around the holidays continues this year.



Kids will get a call from the man himself, Mrs. Claus, or one of their trusty elves on Wednesday, Dec. 15, and Thursday, Dec. 16, between 5 and 7:30 p.m.



The North Pole Calling Program is conducted through the city's Department of Community Development Recreation Program and has been around for even longer than people may expect; possibly almost eighty years.



"It's a long-standing program that we definitely want to keep the traditional alive for," Recreation & Special Events Coordinator Becky Manship said. "It's a great program."



Recently, Manship and Park, Open Space and Natural Resource Program Manager James McGrath were looking through city scrapbook archives and found evidence that suggested the program may have been going on since 1945.



"After the [World War II], recreation programs really took off in the city of Pittsfield, and this one is, we believe, one of the ones that was included as the Halloween parade, and the tree lighting and all the other programs started back then," she explained, adding that it is one of the most beloved programs the city has.



Forms are sent home through the schools so that parents can sign their children up for a call. Traditionally, it is aimed at children from kindergarten to second grade but older kids, or anyone who believes, are more than welcome to participate as well.



There are also virtual forms available on the city's website and additional hard copies at the city clerk's office at City Hall. Forms must be submitted by Monday, Dec. 13, so that Santa can plan accordingly.

Because of Santa's long calling list, there is no guarantee that a child will be called on a specific day. There is space on the form to request a preferred day but there is no guarantee that he will call on that day, though he will try.
New Clarksburg Board Begins Town Administrator Interviews

CLARKSBURG, Mass.  The chair of the Select Board on Wednesday wasted no time addressing the elephant in the room with one of the town administrator candidates.

"What draws you to Clarksburg, given its current situation?" Danielle Luchi asked Florida Town Administrator Christine Dobbert.

Dobbert's answer likely heartened town officials.

"Its current situation," Dobbert replied. "I think I can help. I think I'm a strong managerial person, so having a strong town administrator along with a strong board, things could definitely be changed."

Luchi and newly elected Select Board member Jeffrey Levanos spent about an hour apiece with three candidates at the Community Center on Wednesday morning.

In addition to Dobbert, they met with former Town Administrator Carl McKinney and Jeffrey Roucoulet, the director of Pittsfield's Retired Senior Volunteer Program. After the meeting, Luchi said the board may meet with one more candidate before making a decision.

The recent turmoil in town government  including the abrupt resignations of two Select Board members, the town manager, accountant, treasurer and administrative assistants  was very much on the minds of the interviewers, who asked each candidate how he or she would go about rebuilding the team at Town Hall.

"I was doing some research [about Clarksburg], and fairly aware of the things going on and knew this wouldn't be easy," Roucoulet said. "Maybe it's a matter of looking outside the box.  Take finance, for example, if someone came from a smaller area or a smaller company but was very good at what they did, maybe that's somebody who is more important to get in the position rather than former treasurer of a larger city.

"Finding transferable skills to meet your biggest weaknesses is important."

McKinney and Dobbert each said filling vacancies would be a top priority.

"I think that's the number one issue facing the town," McKinney said. "Finances are important, but when you get your personnel house in order, the rest will flow from that.

"We had done several times, and it needs to be done with a much broader brush  a payroll evaluation to see what we are paying our employees versus towns in the region who are in direct competition with us for those employees.  The Franklin Regional Council of Governments has a really nice feature on their website detailing by job with [member towns'] hours and starting wage and a very detailed analysis.

"You have to be competitive."

Dobbert agreed with McKinney that getting Town Hall fully staffed will allow Clarksburg to move forward in a number of areas.

"You definitely need a treasurer/collector," she said. "The town administrator and the treasurer/collector should work together to get things caught up, day-to-day stuff. And then you have the budget."

She talked about her strategy for retention of employees in Florida, a town roughly half the population of Clarksburg.

"As an administrator, you have to be aware there are differences, people work differently," Dobbert said. "You have to work together to get it done.

"It might be a matter of having, every other Friday, lunch together. I've been known to do that with the highway guys. Stuff like that. Or you decide to have a small potluck lunch once a month. And telling people when they've done a good job over and over  and not being so quick to say, 'Oh my God, you totally screwed that up. What were you thinking?' "

Roucoulet, the first candidate in the hot seat, was asked how he approaches dealing with difficult situations involving residents who are not satisfied with RSVP's services.

"Transparency and education are the biggest components in working with people," he said. "There are lots of people who like government and lots of people who hate it. When people come in with expectations that the city works for them  which it does, but there's a give and take to it  you have to provide educated explanations for the reasons why we do things.

"With our service, there are limitations  federal limitations, state limitations, city limitations. You explain to people, these are the reasons why we have limitations, and these are the avenues you can pursue, and these are the things you can work on in the future. That's helpful in de-escalating the situation."

As the only candidate without direct experience in town government, Roucoulet addressed that question head on.

"What I do whenever I get into a new position is immerse myself in it," he said in answer to a question about how he would serve the Select Board to make sure it stays within the bounds of Massachusetts General Law. "I signed up for the Massachusetts Municipal Association to find out more about what happens in cities and towns. I adopted a mentor who has been working with me to help hone my skills as a manager because he knows I want to be a town administrator or town manager. I have a municipal finance class coming up in the spring.

"I don't have all the answers now, but I will find the answers."

McKinney, who has a long history with town government in Clarksburg as a former Select Board member, Finance Committee member and town administrator, was asked about his departure from the latter position and whether he would do anything differently in his relationship with the Select Board at the time.

"It wasn't specifically personalities," McKinney said. "I get along with a wide range of people.

"I had a contract, and, in their minds, they ripped it up and threw it away, and it was an attempt on their part to humiliate me in front of town meeting. When both of them signed on to that endeavor  you can't work for somebody who has no moral compass."

The Select Board had planned an executive session on Wednesday to discuss the candidates, but after consulting with town counsel, it decided to put off that step until it had time to post an additional meeting to gather in executive session to "discuss the reputation, character, physical condition or mental health, rather than professional competence, of an individual."
Police Reforms Could Cause Shift Deficit for Lanesborough Police Department

LANESBOROUGH, Mass.  Police Chief Robert Derksen said the state's new police reforms could cause a shift deficit, meaning the town likely has to hire a sixth full-time police officer in the coming years.



The Finance Committee invited Derksen to speak in detail about the police budget, staffing and training at their Monday meeting. Derksen said when taking into account allotted time off, the current five full-time officers is not enough to keep the station staffed at all times.



"What I've communicated with not only the police advisory commission, but the select board themselves is I did a staff and analysis," he said. "And if you take our full-time officers and you factor in the days off that they get per-contract, whether it be vacation or sick time and assume that they use their accruals, and just to have one officer 24/7, five officers can't do it. Five full-time officers can't cover it. It actually leaves you a deficit of about 111 shifts a year."



Derksen said the seven part-time officers currently on staff would usually cover these extra open shifts. He noted, however, that state police reform will quickly make this significantly harder, with two part-timers becoming essentially decertified as soon as June 2022.



"I have a great concern as the police reform is implemented," he said. "So basically they the state set up a system where over the next three years, any part-time officer has to basically raise the level of training to be equivalent to what a full-time officer would have received in the past."



This new training, which Derksen referred to as the bridge academy, requires officers to have five years of part-time experience and 2,400 hours of patrol experience to attend. In addition to the academy's cost, which Derksen estimated to be about $6,500 per officer, he said this is a significant hurdle for some of the town's part-time officers, many of whom are officers as a secondary job.



"What this means is a lot of your true part-time officers just don't have the hours," he said. "If they have less than five years, they would almost have to be working three or four shifts a week in order to reach that 2,400 hours."



A sixth officer would resolve the shift deficit issue, according to Derksen. He said the department currently has 10 part-time officers budgeted, despite only having seven, meaning they could potentially use that money, in addition to other sources of money, to hire someone full time.



"If the part-timers are gonna go away eventually in three years, why not get ahead of the game and add that sixth position now," he said. "That's six full-time positions to cover those vacant shifts. And then it's going to take me time to get that person up to training. Even when I hire someone new, typically, it's a three- or four-month field training program, even if they're already an experienced police officer."
EforAll Celebration Planned at the BIC

PITTSFIELD, Mass.  Entrepreneurship for All Berkshire County will celebrate graduates of its 2022 Fall Accelerator Program and award $10,000 in prize money at an in-person event on Dec. 21, 2021 at the Berkshire Innovation Center in Pittsfield.

Former Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick will keynote.

Entrepreneurship for All (EforAll) began its fourth Accelerator in Berkshire County in September 2021 and will "graduate" 13 individuals (representing 12 organizations) from the intensive 12 week program. They have been learning twice a week from experts on a variety of topics about business and entrepreneurship. With the help of an amazing group of mentors, the entrepreneurs have developed solid plans to take their businesses to the next level.

At the event, each entrepreneur will "table," allowing members of the community to learn about each business. Additionally, EforAll's three previous cohorts will also be "tabling," since their final celebrations were all virtual due to Covid. Distribution of a $10,000 prize pool for the Fall 2021 graduates will be announced at this celebration.

Former Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, a resident of Richmond, Massachusetts, will be the featured keynote speaker, along with a class speaker chosen by the group. Additionally, the class will pay tribute to Paula Buxbaum of North Adams, who was one of the cohort members before losing her life in an automobile accident in late October.

The event will begin at 5:30pm on Tuesday, Dec. 21 at the Berkshire Innovation Center on Woodlawn Avenue in Pittsfield. A light dinner will be served. Masks will be required except when eating/drinking, per the City of Pittsfield health directive.
BMC Earns 2021 Leapfrog Top Hospital Award for Outstanding Quality and Safety

PITTSFIELD, Mass.  Highlighting its nationally recognized achievements in patient safety and quality, Berkshire Medical Center was named a Top Teaching Hospital nationally by The Leapfrog Group.

Announced Wednesday, the Leapfrog Top Hospital award is widely acknowledged as one of the most competitive awards American hospitals can receive. The Top Hospital designation is bestowed by The Leapfrog Group, a national watchdog organization of employers and other purchasers recognized as the toughest standard-setters for health care safety and quality.

Berkshire Medical Center is one of only four Massachusetts hospitals honored with a Top Teaching Hospital award and the only one in Western Massachusetts. This is the second time in a row that Leapfrog has awarded BMC a Top Teaching Hospital recognition.

"Berkshire Medical Center has a long history of providing safe and high-quality care to our community," said James Lederer, MD, Berkshire Health Systems Chief Medical Officer/Chief Quality Officer. "The Top Teaching Hospitals are measured by a rigorous set of standards, including ICU physician staffing, receiving an "A" grade in the Leapfrog Patient Safety ratings, having high standards for high-risk surgeries and procedures and others. We are proud of our providers and support staff for this continuing recognition of their excellence in patient care."

Over 2,200 hospitals were considered for the award. Among those, Berkshire Medical Center received a Top Teaching Hospital distinction. A total of 149 top hospitals nationwide were selected as Top Hospitals, including:

8 Top Children's

46 Top General

23 Top Rural

72 Top Teaching

The quality of patient care across many areas of hospital performance is considered in establishing the qualifications for the award, including infection rates, surgery, maternity care, and the hospital's capacity to prevent medication and other errors. The rigorous standards are defined in each year's Top Hospital Methodology.

"We are pleased to recognize Berkshire Medical Center as a Top Hospital this year," said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. "Even with the continued strain of the COVID-19 pandemic, Berkshire Medical Center has demonstrated an extraordinary dedication to excellent healthcare in the Berkshire County community. We congratulate the board, leadership, staff and clinicians who put their patients first."
BCC Professor and UMass Amherst Grad Student Study 'Social Resilience'

PITTSFIELD, Mass.  Berkshire Community College (BCC) Professor of Psychology Wayne Klug and University of Massachusetts Amherst graduate student David Wasielewski Study 'Social Resilience as a factor in healing for trauma patients.

Wasielewski, who recently completed a master's degree in public policy and administration, was a BCC student when he initiated the idea for a study investigating this topic.

After surviving a stroke sixteen years ago, he became a patient in the rehabilitation unit at Berkshire Medical Center (BMC). There, he was struck by the difference between patients who appeared eager to heal and others who seemed lost in depression. He wondered if resilience might be a factor in motivation, with less resilient patients inclined toward depression.

In order to test this theory, he and Klug partnered with BMC to design a study that explored whether patients' self-reported resilience scores would predict motivation ratings given to them by therapists. Together, they recently presented their findings at the New England Psychological Association (NEPA) Annual Conference.

The NEPA conference brings together those interested in psychological science and the teaching of psychology to focus on empirical research, as well as best practices and innovations in teaching.

Fifty-four adult trauma patients in the study, including 25 inpatients and 29 outpatients, responded to a 33- item resilience scale. The scale provides scores for six components of resilience, comprising three "personal" components (perception of self, perception of future and structured style) and three "social" components (social competence, family cohesion and social resources).

Results indicate that "socially competent" inpatients display greater motivation to heal and suggest the same may be true for outpatients who find support from social resources in the community. These two closely related concepts, which together can be called "social resilience," stand in contrast to the scale's "personal" components, which show no significant connection with motivation in the study.

"The finding is interesting as it suggests that healing may be more of a social process than a personal one," Klug said, noting that the study undermines the concept of "rugged individualism" as the crucial factor in recovery. Instead, it highlights the role of social factors such as enjoying the company of others and forming supportive friendships.

Klug and Wasielewski's study may lead to future related research, including an examination of how the differences in patients' social contextsin the hospital or at homeaccount for differing results between inpatients and outpatients. "We also wonder if rehabilitation hospitals might develop therapeutic interventions aimed at boosting all patients' social resilience," Klug said.

The study is part of a 20-year program in which Klug has partnered with students to examine questions important to them, and to present reports of their findings. For example, "Reproducing Inequality" identified students' high school "track"and not socio-economic status aloneas predicting life outcomes, and "Cognitive Dissonance in Iraq War Veterans" found that American soldiers who had killed Iraqis disparaged not their victims but American civilians. Several of these studies have been presented at regional or national conferences, and some have been published
BMM Welcomes Client Care Team Member

DALTON, Mass.  Berkshire Money Management (BMM), a wealth management firm, Welcomed Chelsea Smith to its Client Care Team.

She will assist with client onboarding, scheduling, and assisting current clients with all of their service needs.

"Zack, our Director of Financial Planning, was the officiant at Chelsea's wedding. I thought that was auspicious," said BMM founder and CEO, Allen Harris. "Chelsea's experience and know-how would have won us over by themselves, but it's nice to know that you're bringing on someone that aligns with the company culture of people over profits."

Smith is a veteran customer service professional, and prior to joining the BMM family, was an administrative assistant in a busy orthopedic office. She also spent six years as a financial services representative/assistant branch manager in the banking industry, opening personal and business accounts, IRAs, trusts, CDs, and estates, as well as processing auto, home equity and business loans. She is also a Notary Public.

Smith earned her associate degree in Liberal Arts with a concentration in Business Administration from Berkshire Community College.

She is a native of Dalton and enjoys the outdoors, especially snowmobiling, relaxing by Ashmere Lake, running, and hiking with her German shepherd, Maverick. She and her husband Ryan live on 100 acres in Peru and are making plans to build their "forever home" on the property.
Name: Ross Hosman

Organisation: Drata

Job title: CISO

Date started current role: July 2021

Location: Colorado

Ross Hosman has spent his nearly 20-year career working in a variety of technical and leadership positions across the security space. Currently CISO of Drata, a technology company leading in security and compliance automation, Hosman brings his decades of experience to growing the company's own security program as well as providing current Drata customers with relevant support and expertise. Hosman also spent time as JPMorgan Chases Head of Cloud Security, building out an automation-focused security strategy for one of the largest financial institutions in the world. Hosman is a member of Silicon Valley CISO Investments, an angel investment syndicate made up of the world's leading CISOs.

What was your first job? My first job was detasseling corn in the fields of Iowa on a farm wage, which is less than minimum wage. You often start work at 4:30 a.m. (when the sun is still rising) - youre driven to a field in the middle of nowhere, and you just start working, which means walking down mile-long rows of corn and pulling the tops out of them. I specifically remember getting drenched in all the dew that appears each morning, and how cut up my hands would be when I initially started the job. Some days I just hated it and wanted to quit, but I would just start daydreaming about what my life would be like in the future and that powered me through.

My first real professional job was very confidential, as I did information protection for a military contractor.

How did you get involved in cybersecurity? I have been in cybersecurity and cloud/hosting for a long long time. I was drawn to security for my love of problem-solving. Theres nothing like figuring out a problem that no one else can solve - security is one big problem to solve and it is a challenge I welcome every day.

When Im thinking of providing a security solution to the business, I actually reverse it and think, If I were breaking into this, how would I do it? and start problem-solving from there. When you take that approach, you often see the easy vulnerabilities people will try to exploit instead of just trying to over engineer a solution from a security perspective. It reminds me of the well-known XKCD Comic (#538) - a team of security engineers create this security solution and the attackers solution to bypass it is to just make the end user give them their password by physical force (via a $5 wrench).

What was your education? Do you hold any certifications? What are they? Im an AWS Solutions Architect and a CISSP. I have college experience but when it comes to security, the bulk of my knowledge comes from being self-taught and what I learned from my career thus far.

Explain your career path. Did you take any detours? If so, discuss. While I didnt take detours, I worked in cybersecurity for a variety of companies - from networking technology, education, to financial services. Its given me a broad perspective across the market and different needs of each industry. Ive been able to bring that experience with me to Drata and help our customers security and compliance needs across the board. I was at one of the largest financial services companies in the world and now Im at a fast-growing startup - while theyre completely different in speed and size, the skills I acquired throughout my career are essential to both organisations.

Was there anyone who has inspired or mentored you in your career? Im so lucky to have some great mentors in my life that, without them I wouldnt be where I am today. Mark Buchanan was my direct leader at Savvis and he is just an incredibly smart and talented engineer. He often pushed me well past my comfort zone in the engineering work I was doing and the problems I had to solve. Without his guidance, I dont think Id be half as technical as I am today. The other mentor was Savvis CISO Don Betier, who is one of the best people you could ever meet; he radiates positivity and confidence. He helped me a lot with the people problem-solving skills which is a critical part of your job in cybersecurity, and sometimes it can be the hardest.

What do you feel is the most important aspect of your job? There are a lot of things that you have to do as a CISO but Id say three of the most important are communication, relationships, and hiring.

Communication - Explain the WHY and take feedback. People are usually okay with what you are doing if you can explain why you are doing it and it makes sense.

Relationships - Your peers need to have trust that you are doing the right thing for the company. You need to build those relationships and show them what you all are doing and why so they understand. Keeping everything secret is not the way to go: share and over share.

Hiring - Hire the smart/motivated people, train them to have the same skills as your engineering team, and make their job enable those teams so your business can be successful.

What metrics or KPIs do you use to measure security effectiveness? There are a lot of great security leaders who can give you endless metrics to measure security effectiveness depending on your goals.

Id like to share another set of metrics that help B2B CISOs show the impact of their security organisation to the business, thats often overlooked:

Number of sales deals you directly brought in (if any) to the business. A CISOs job should also be to help their business and earn revenue, and you dont have to sell security to do this.

Number of customers asking for compliance documents and their respective deal sizes (e.g. 57 SOC 2, 26 HIPAA, etc.).

Number of security questionnaires the team filled out, for which company, and their respective estimated deal sizes.

Number of sales meetings that security/compliance needed to attend to help close a deal.

Number of times security collateral was downloaded or sent to prospects.

Tie these numbers back to revenue and key logos your executive team will remember to really show the impact (i.e. I helped land the largest chipmaker in the world because I filled out a massive questionnaire, held two meetings and had SOC 2 compliance, which generated $XX in revenue).

Is the security skills shortage affecting your organisation? What roles or skills are you finding the most difficult to fill? I dont believe we have a skills shortage, I believe we have an expectations and investment issue. If you look at other tech roles that involve networking, storage, development, etc., companies are clearly looking for candidates with role-specific skills.

Security roles are often required to have the general tech skills on top of security, cloud, encryption, etc. This is a high expectation and often related to how we hire and invest in people. We need more generic job descriptions that focus on general experience and professional traits.

For instance, I assess whether candidates are smart and motivated during the hiring process - you can uncover those traits in an interview and determine if they have the right amount of drive youre looking for in an organisation. Its not about having 5 years of AWS experience, its being able to problem-solve with the cloud provider you do have experience and are most comfortable with. With every interview I conduct, the questions are custom tailored to the individual and their resume to really understand the details of their experience and if they can speak to it on a deeper technical level.

Additionally, Ive seen companies silo security folks into a specific area which doesnt allow them to grow, experiment, and develop their careers. If youre a security analyst just responding to SIEM alerts all day, its hard to gain the knowledge you need to take your career to the next level. Security leaders need to give their employees lab time to experiment, put them in security DevOps teams to work on different projects and problems, and send them to conferences outside of security, such as an event focused on development or containers.

Cybersecurity is constantly changing  how do you keep learning? For me, the opportunities I have to interact and brainstorm with my colleagues is critical in keeping up with the constant changes in cybersecurity. Ive helped run the CISO Unconference where a group of CISOs get together and privately share their learnings. Its been incredibly valuable to get to learn from your peers in a private setting. Being a part of Silicon Valley CISO Investments (SVCI) has also been extremely helpful to me, as I get to see and evaluate the newest technology on the market behind the scenes. It keeps me on my toes.

In addition, the best way to learn is by being hands on. Nothing keeps you updated more with whats happening on the ground than rolling up your sleeves and getting projects done yourself.

What conferences are on your must-attend list? I really like conferences that get security people thinking about how they can help their engineering counterparts go faster in a secure manner; AWS:Reinvent, Kubecon would be great ones for your security team.

What is the best current trend in cybersecurity? The worst? The best current trend is security teams now really focusing on automation and seeing how it can enable their business. For instance, if you have a cloud account and you know you should never have a public bucket on it, why not have automation that can alert and lock it down within 60 seconds? Go beyond the legacy approach where you assign it to the security team and wait for them to respond, instead use rapid automated remediation to quickly respond in a trustworthy and predictable manner. I believe this is the future of where cybersecurity is headed.

One of the worst trends in cybersecurity is attempting to use legacy solutions to solve issues in the cloud. Ive seen a number of people in this field refuse to adopt cloud security solutions and its a major hindrance to their business.

What's the best career advice you ever received? Some of the best career advice Ive ever received was from Patrick Opet, Global CISO at JP Morgan Chase & Co. Patrick advised me that its ok to take risks as a security professional. Youre in this high-pressure environment where you feel responsible for all things security and any little risk could cause catastrophe; in reality, we take risks every day. For example, at the bank, a mortgage, loan, and credit card are all risks, and millions of decisions are based on these actions every day. Businesses are ok with risks as long as theyre smart, informed risks. That really pushed me to take risks, which was hard to do as I used to be incredibly risk-averse.

What advice would you give to aspiring security leaders? Aspiring security leaders need to know the weight of the world isnt on their shoulders, and they dont have to do it all. Just because there are security issues at your company, doesnt make you bad at your job - every company has issues, and its more common than you think. We often put so much pressure on ourselves to fix the entire world, we forget to step back and remember we can only change what we control. This is why its important to make relationships with the people in your company and earn their trust. When the time comes to approach them with a security issue, they know its serious and they will help you fix it. Also, spend time with your peers at other companies and learn from them. One of my greatest resources are the security Slack channels Im in, which allows me to bounce ideas off peers or talk through frustrations I have and how my peers solved them.

What has been your greatest career achievement? A career highlight has definitely been joining Silicon Valley CISO Investments (SVCI) as an investor. Its made up of amazing individuals and Im ecstatic to be a part of the exclusive group. Its an honour to be a part of the organisation and help advance cybersecurity technology.

Looking back with 20:20 hindsight, what would you have done differently? Looking back on my career, there isnt anything I would have done differently. Im a firm believer that the decisions you make along the way get you to where you are, and Im happy where Im at in life. I know Ive made mistakes but I dont think I would change them - as long as we learn from them, we become better people.
To mark International Human Rights Day on December 10, the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has published the lists of imprisoned and killed journalists in 2021. According to the Federations statistics, 45 journalists have been killed since 1 January 2021 and 365 are still behind bars.

The two lists underscore the deepening crisis in journalism, with rights and freedom of journalists under sustained threat in many regions of the world.

According to the two IFJ lists - killed and imprisoned journalists -, 365 journalists are still in jail as of 10 December 2021, up from 235 last year. China (102), Turkey (34), Belarus (29), Eritrea (29), Egypt (27), Vietnam (21), Myanmar (18), Russia (12), Azerbaijan and Yemen (11), Cambodia (10) and Iran (9) are the biggest jailers of journalists.

Asia tops the IFJ regional list with 162 journalists in prison, followed by Europe (87), the Middle East and Arab World (65), Africa (49) and the Americas (2) .

The crackdown on media professionals in authoritarian regimes, including massive arrests of journalists in Myanmar, Belarus, Azerbaijan and Hong Kong account for the growing number of colleagues behind bars today.

The IFJs list of journalists and media staff killed so far in 2021 is down from last year, with 45 killings recorded against 65 in 2020. While this decrease is welcome news, it is small comfort in the face of continued violence which claimed lives of journalists in countries like Afghanistan (9), Mexico (8), India (4) and Pakistan (3).

Again, Asia leads the regional pack with 20 killings, before Americas (9) Africa (8), Europe (6) and the Middle East and Arab World on just one.

The Asia Pacific region owes its top position on the killed list to the situation of journalists in Afghanistan as highlighted by the safety crisis in media, after the return to power of the Taliban with their avowed intolerance to independent reporting and hostile attitude to womens participation in public life, including working as journalists. The collapse of the Afghan government and the withdrawal of Western troops left thousands of journalists scrambling to get to safety, outside their country and abandoning their careers and livelihood.

These are not the only violations of journalists right to exercise their profession in safety and independence. The IFJ denounced the new form of mass surveillance on journalists, Pegasus, a highly advanced spying device which was used to interfere with communications of thousands of people, including journalists.

Even the only rare positive development for journalists, the award of the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize to two journalists Maria Ressa and Dimitry Muratov, served as a reminder of the sacrifices they made in the service of press freedom and democracy in their countries, like so many any of their colleagues around the world.

The world needs to wake up to the growing violations of journalists rights and media freedoms across the globe, said IFJ General Secretary, Anthony Bellanger. These lists of journalists in jail and colleagues who have been killed are clear evidence of deliberate acts to suppress independent reporting. They also point to the violation of the peoples fundamental right to access accurate, objective and fair information so that they can make properly informed choices about public affairs, which is a requisite for an inclusive society and true rule by consent.
For most employed Filipinos, Petsa de Peligro is all-too-familiar. It is that period during the month when their cash is running low, and payday is still a week or so away. It is also during this time when emergencies and other unforeseen expenses force people to borrow cash to meet these circumstances.

But what if banks and employers can empower employees to get their wages whenever they need them to avoid these situations instead of waiting for payday? Now, there is a solution, and its pretty simple.

Earned Wage Access (EWA), a concept that is now fast becoming a global trend, enables employees to access their salary before payday and release their already earned salary with a click of a button. Although its now seen everywhere around the world, EWA is still a very new concept that started in the USA. This solution gives employees or workers access to their accrued salaries on any given day of the month so that they can use it to pay any immediate expense if they wish in only a matter of seconds.

Traditionally employees get paid twice a month on two separate dates but, this solution challenges the old way of doing things and presents flexibility by allowing employees to take charge of their finances and cater to their wellbeing.

The concept of EWA has been known and used in the West for some time now. In fact, in 2017, Walmart in the USA decided to implement this for all its workers with the help of an external fintech company.

One of the companies to offer EWA is PayKey, a fintech company based in Israel, which developed the end-to-end, white-labeled EWA solution that banks can offer to their corporate clients so employers can include it as an employment benefit to their Filipino workers.

People get paid once or twice a month on payday, and its been like this for many years. Its a very outdated way of looking at how salaries are paid, said Roy Gabriel, chief innovation officer, and general manager of PayKey. If they need money to pay bills and other unanticipated expenses, especially amid the new normal, they need to find another solution. They would ask for an advance, or what Filipinos call bale, from their employers, or even borrow from their family and friends, or take a loan from external lenders, which, sometimes can get stressful and painful.

All these happen because theyre waiting for their payday even if they already have worked and earned their money. Employees have this money but cannot access it even when they need it. Its a very archaic way of looking at employees and salaries and, we want to change that by empowering them through EWA, he added.

How EWA works

If an employer offers EWA to his employees, their staff can simply go into the app to see how much money they earned to date. Then, they can request an advance on salary via the app. Since PakyKeys EWA feature allows them to transfer the funds to their linked bank account immediately, they can expect the money to be credited as soon as the payment has been confirmed.

PayKey works with many of the leading banks worldwide to develop a standalone app. It is now working with some of the top local banks to allow this solution to their cooperate accounts, so expect to see EWA in the Philippines early next year.

Empowering Employees to Take Charge

A recent study published by Visa revealed that 84 percent of the 1,000 surveyed participants worry about finances while at work, and 68% indicated that financial worries truly affect their health and productiveness. The same survey indicates that more than 8 out of 10 employees spend time at work thinking about or dealing with finances each week.

Needless to say, the time employees spend on their personal finances takes away from their work productivity and motivation. With EWA, employees are given flexible pay dates, allowing them to take charge of their finances and reduce their worries as they go to work every day.

Simply put, everyone earns with EWA. The employer gets a happier, more productive worker, the employee feels less stress and is taking control over his life, and the bank gets to offer a new product in the salary arena. This is an area where we did not see any innovation in such a long time, Gabriel said.

Helping Improve Employee Retention

EWA trend improves an employers reputation as it shows a companys dedication to supporting the financial wellbeing of their employees, delivering a positive look for present and future workers. This service is typically offered as part of a workplace benefits package for the employee.

Based on the 2018 Special Report: Financial Stress and the Bottom Line by PwC, the production cost due to the financial stress amounts to an estimated $3.3 million, excluding the 166,000-dollar cost for failure to report to work for a company with 10,000 employees.

But if employees have control over their salaries through EWA, then they can handle their finances better. They would also be more encouraged to report to work and be more productive. Gabriel also explained that the solution serves as a major selling point in a competitive job market as it aids easier recruitment.

In the Philippines, the generation is getting younger. With the coming of age of digital native generations, such as millennials and GenZs, employees now expect everything to happen fast and with just a few clicks. Integrating EWA is one great way for banks to ensure that they thrive now and, in the future, Gabriel added.

Today, PayKey is in advance talks with some leading banks in the Philippines and plans to introduce the first EWA app in the local market in early 2022, proving that the future of how people get paid is already here.

To learn more about PayKey, visit its website at paykey.com.
Facebook--or Meta, as the company is now called--announced on Tuesday that employees will have the option to push back their return to the office until later in 2022. The company had planned to have everyone back in January, after scrapping earlier plans to require workers to return this fall as Covid-19 cases surge amid the emergence of new variants.

That's according to a report in The Wall Street Journal. "For those wishing to return in January we look forward to providing a vibrant office experience that continues to prioritize health and safety," said Janelle Gale, a vice president of human resources at Meta.

"We also recognize that some aren't quite ready to come back," she added. "We continue to offer a variety of options to choose what works best for them, so our employees can make informed decisions about where they work."

Gale refers to the plan as an "office deferral program." On the surface, that sounds like the company really gets it: that some employees are just not going to feel comfortable or safe returning to the office right now. But, when you think about it, it assumes that--at some point--they will. That's not necessarily true, and those three words tell you everything you need to know about what's wrong with Meta's plan.

That's because it assumes the default is having people in the office. It assumes that, at some point, people will return to the office, it's just temporarily deferred.

It's understandable why a company like Meta would think that--it's how most tech companies have operated ever since they started building expensive campuses with open floor plans, and cafeterias, and fitness centers. All of those perks were designed to keep employees "at the office," as long as possible.

Earlier this year, Facebook told employees that it expected most employees to eventually be back in the office at least half of the time, unless they received permission to continue working remotely on a full-time basis. While that hasn't changed with this new policy, it's worth considering that words matter because how you talk about things creates expectations.

It's clear that Meta is setting the expectation that it would prefer employees be in the office, and that any delay is a temporary deviation from what it would like to be the norm. That's a disconnect from how most employees are thinking about work moving forward, especially since many have adapted to remote work and built their lives around the flexibility and control it gives them over their work environment.

It's also different than Amazon, for example, which told employees that the decision of whether an individual could continue working remotely would be left up to individual teams and managers. At the time I wrote that it was one of the best examples I've seen since it allows the people closest to the work to figure out how to balance the needs of the team with the needs of the individual team members.

While that will obviously look different for every company, the default shouldn't be an assumption that everyone will eventually come back and remote work will be the exception to that rule. Ultimately, every company has to figure out that balance and build a policy that makes the most sense for all stakeholders.
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OTTAWA, ON, Dec. 6, 2021 - The Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations, the Honourable Marc Miller; and the Minister of Indigenous Services Canada and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario, the Honourable Patty Hajdu, issued the following statement today:

On this day 32 years ago, 14 women at lEcole Polytechnique de Montreal were murdered and many others wounded in a misogynistic act of unspeakable violence and cruelty, simply because they were women. This tragedy led Parliament to designate December 6 as the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, to honour the memory of the victims of gender-based violence, and inspire Canadians to take action and end all forms of violence against women and girls.

As we commemorate and mourn the victims of this senseless act of hate, we must reflect on what still needs to be done to prevent such tragedies from ever happening again and ensure that we build a better and safer society for everyone.

In Canada, far too many women and girls still live in fear of violence. Research shows that Indigenous women and girls are significantly more likely to experience violence than non-Indigenous women. This ongoing national tragedy was clearly presented in the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and the resulting Calls for Justice, which called upon us to substantially increase efforts to end violence against Indigenous women, girls, and Two Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex and asexual plus (2SLGBTQQIA+) people.

Families and survivors, provincial, territorial, and Indigenous partners together with our government, developed and launched a National Action Plan (NAP) to respond to those issues. The Federal Pathway, launched at the same time, represents our Governments contribution to the NAP. Work with partners to implement this plan continues and will be adapted to address the unique experiences and cultural differences of Indigenous Peoples and communities. Regional perspectives from across Canada and the views of families and survivors of gender-based violence will be critical.

Together, we will end the systemic causes of violence against Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people, to honour the spirits and memories of the lives lost, protect future generations, and foster healing for families and survivors. This is a shared responsibility, and all must take action to be part of the solution. Through vigilance, education, and positive actions, we can build a Canada free from gender-based violence, where everyone has the opportunity to achieve their full potential.

Stay connected

Join the conversation about Indigenous Peoples in Canada:

Twitter: @GCIndigenous

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You can subscribe to receive our news releases and speeches via RSS feeds. For more information or to subscribe, visit www.cirnac.gc.ca/RSS.

There is a national, toll-free 24/7 crisis call line providing mental health support for anyone who requires emotional assistance related to missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people. For assistance, call 1-844-413-6649.

Supports are also available through the MMIWG health and cultural support services: https://www.rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca/eng/1548700698392/1548701361628

Support could include professional counselling with a focus on healing, emotional supports such as listening and referrals to additional services, and culturally-specific help centered around traditional healing methods and Elder services.
After a huge frenzy and months of speculations, Vicky Kaushal and Katrina Kaif are married. They are officially man and wife now.

(Also Read: Fireworks In The Sky, Welcome Note For Guests: Vicky-Katrina's Wedding Is Making Quite A Buzz)



Twitter

Vicky Kaushal and Katrina Kaif tied the knot today, on December 9, at Hotel Six Senses Fort Barwara in Sawai Madhopur, Rajasthan.

(Also Read: Secrecy And Hype Around Vicky Kaushal-Katrina Kaif's Wedding Have Given Rise To Hilarious Memes)



Instagram

Rajendra Kishan, the district collector (DC) of Sawai Madhopur district of Rajasthan had earlier revealed 120 guests attended the wedding. He said, "120 guests have been invited to the wedding as per the information given by the organisers, and the events will take place between December 7 to December 10.



Also, the collector had called for a meeting of officials of administration, police, forest, hotel and event managers last week to make arrangements for crowd control, smooth traffic, law and order and VIP movement.

Vicky and Katrina will reportedly host a wedding reception for their friends and colleagues from the industry.

Vicky Kaushal and Katrina Kaif had never earlier spilled beans on their relationship, but Harsh Varrdhan Kapoor had confirmed that they were dating.

"Vicky and Katrina are together, that's true. Am I going to get in trouble for saying this? I don't know. I think they're quite open about it," he was quoted as saying in Zoom's By Invite Only.

Congratulations, Katrina and Vicky!



(Also Read: Ahead Of Wedding, Advocate Files Complaint Against Vicky Kaushal, Katrina Kaif Over Road Closure)



(For more news and updates from the world of celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment, and let us know your thoughts on this story in the comments below.)


Former Indian Army Chief and the first Chief of Defence Staff of India, General Bipin Laxman Singh Rawat, was killed along with his wife and some top Army officials in an Air Force helicopter crash in Coonoor near Ooty in Tamil Nadu.

The official handle of the Indian Army posted the tragic news on their social media account.

With deep regret, it has now been ascertained that Gen Bipin Rawat, Mrs Madhulika Rawat and 11 other persons on board have died in the unfortunate accident.  Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) December 8, 2021





ANI

Army family

The 63-year-old joined the Indian Army on 16 December 1978, when was commissioned into the 5th battalion of 11 Gorkha Rifles. His family had been serving in the Indian Army for many generations, and his father was Lieutenant General Laxman Singh Rawat.

Early life and education

Gen Bipin Rawat who was born in Pauri, Uttarakhand went to Cambrian Hall School, Dehradun and the St Edwards School in Shimla. He later on joined the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla and the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun where he was awarded the Sword of Honour.

Graduated from the Defence Services Staff College (DSSC), Wellington and the Higher Command Course at the United States Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

AFP

In the year 2011, he was awarded the Doctorate of Philosophy by Chaudhary Charan Singh University Meerut for his research on Military Media Strategic Studies. CDS Rawat was commissioned in the 5th battalion of 11 Gorkha Rifles on 16 December 1978, it was the same post as his fathers. Rawat has a lot of experience in high altitude warfare and spent ten years of his career in conducting counter-insurgency operations.

Positions held

He was also commanding a company in Uri,Jammu and Kashmir as a Major. As a colonel, he was commanding his 5th Gorkha Rifles Battalion in the Eastern sector.

He was then promoted to the rank of Brigadier, Rawat then took the command of 5 Sector Rashtriya Rifles in Sapore.

He was then commanding the multinational Brigade in a Chapter VII mission in the Democratic Republic of the congo. Here he was also awarded twice with the force of Commanders commendation.

AFP

After getting promoted to Major General, Gen Rawat took over as the General Officer Commanding 19th Infantry Division (Uri). As a Lieutenant General he was commanding III corps, headquartered in Dimapur before taking over the Southern Army in Pune.

Third CoAS from Gorkha Brigade

He is the third person to become an officer from the Gorkha Brigade to become the Chief of army Staff, after Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw and General Dalbir Singh Suhag.

AP

First CDS

On 30 December 2019, he was appointed as the first CDS of India and assumed office from 1 January 2020. Prior to taking over as the CDS, he served as 57th and last Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee as well as 26th Chief of Army Staff of the Indian Army.

For more on news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.
In a tragic incident, The Chief of Indias Defence staff General Bipin Rawat died in a helicopter crash on December 8 along with 12 others on board. India's first Chief Defence of Staff (CDS) succumbed to injuries when a Russian Mi-17 V5 helicopter carrying him and his wife Madhulika Rawat crashed in Coonoor in Tamil Nadu on Wednesday afternoon.



Group Captain Varun Singh, the only survivor of the helicopter crash in which Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat and 12 others were killed, is "critical, but stable". Defence Minister Rajnath Singh told parliament that he is on life support and "all efforts are being made to save him". Group Captain Singh is being treated for severe burn injuries at the military hospital in Wellington.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) announced the demise of CDS General Bipin Rawat along with 12 others in a tweet.
Imagine a train driver stopping the journey midway to pick up groceries! Hilarious, right?

Well, it is true - a train driver from Pakistan and his assistant have been suspended after they made an unscheduled stop to buy some dahi. A video of the incident was posted on social media.

Twitter

According to reports, the train was stopped near the Kanha railway station. It had started its journey from Lahore and was moving south towards Karachi.

In the now-viral video, the driver's assistant collects dahi from a street stall and gets back into the train. The person recording the incident says, "Look at his swag. He has stopped the train right in the middle and is buying dahi."

Watch the video here:

Inter-city train driver in Lahore gets suspended after making unscheduled stop to pick up some yoghurt.#pakistan #Railway #ViralVideo pic.twitter.com/n6csvNXksQ  Naila Tanveer (@nailatanveer) December 8, 2021

The person also says that this is the condition of the Pakistan railway where a driver is able to stop the train to buy dahi.

People on the internet have been questioning the authorities regarding the same.

One user wrote, "Dahi lene ke liye train rokta hai to mithai lane plane se jaoge (He stopped train to buy yoghurt and will use a plane to get dessert)."

Once the video was viral, Pakistan Minister for Railways Azam Khan Swati ordered the Pakistan Railways Lahore administration to suspend driver Rana Mohammad Shehzad and his assistant Iftikhar Hussain, Dawn reported.

"I will not tolerate such events in the future and allow anyone to use national assets for personal use," the minister warned in a statement.

"When you stop a train in the middle (of the tracks) it becomes a safety issue. Safety is our priority. We cannot tolerate anything which compromises safety," Syed Ijaz-ul-Hassan Shah, a spokesman for the railway ministry, told AFP.

Twitter

A railway official told the news agency that such incidents are not uncommon in Pakistan.

For more trending, click here.
A professor at the Boise State University in Idaho, USA, has caused outrage with his discreditable statement - saying women should be kept out of professions like engineering, medicine and law.

Political science professor Scott Yenor sparked controversy while speaking at the National Conservatism Conference in Orlando, Florida. He was delivering a speech titled The Family Form that Nations Need, when he made disparaging remarks about women and spoke critically of feminism, CNN reported.

Twitter/@theidaho97

During the speech, Yenor said: Every effort made must be made not to recruit women into engineering, but rather to recruit and demand more of men who become engineers. Ditto for med school, and the law, and every trade.



As Yenor's speech prompted social media backlash, he doubled down on his statements. In a post on Twitter, he said that "making special efforts to recruit women into fields where they don't seem to want to be" are not worthwhile. He claimed that he did not want to prevent women from entering those careers.

So when I argue to stop making special efforts to recruit women into fields where they dont seem to want to be, I am accused of keeping women out of these professions--and (insanely) wanting to deny them an education altogether.  Scott Yenor (@scottyenor) December 3, 2021

The state college issued a statement saying that while it did not agree with Mr Yenor's comments, it "cannot infringe" on his ability to express his views.

Boise State University understands that the open exchange of ideas, which is fundamental to education, can introduce uncomfortable and even offensive ideas, the statement said. However, the university cannot infringe upon the First Amendment rights of anyone in our community, regardless of whether we, as individual leaders, agree or disagree with the message. No single faculty member defines what Boise State  or any public university  endorses or stands for.

Meanwhile, hundreds of men and women took part in the protest against Yenors comments on Saturday, December 4.

#MeddlesomeWomen a thread. .@BoiseBrooke and .@Walton_Emily did something big with all of you! Thank you for coming out and supporting women at #BSU and in all of Idaho! #idpol pic.twitter.com/jFlWGPWnXw  theidaho97 (@theidaho97) December 4, 2021

Talking about the controversy, Idaho State Representative Brooke Green, who helped organise the event, stressed that Yenors beliefs are not only outdated but completely sexist and reflect a society that no longer exists.



The university also acknowledged that women have made significant and meaningful contributions to all areas of academia, industry, and society, and said it supports all women in our community.



As well as causing the protests, Yenors comments prompted social media users to brand him as misogynistic.

Boise State is the largest university in Idaho with nearly 20,000 students.

For more trending stories, click here.


File photo of Rohingya refugees showing their UNHCR cards as they wait in a queue to get a dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, at a vaccination center in Jammu on Sept. 18, 2021. (ANI photo)
India's farm leader Gurnam Singh Charuni with farmers celebrating after the Samyukta Kisan Morcha press conference that announced the suspension of the farmers' protest, at Singhu border in New Delhi on Dec. 9. (ANI photo)
Flutter 2.8, the latest version of the companys open source, cross-platform toolkit for building web, mobile, and desktop applications, has been released, highlighted by mobile performance improvements and improved compatibility with back-end services.

The Flutter 2.8 release on December 8 coincided with the 1.0 release of the Flame modular 2D game engine, a game engine built on Flutter that offers a collection of tools for building games quickly.

Google said mobile apps built with Flutter 2.8 should start faster and use less memory. The company said it has leveraged its experiences with large Google apps like Google Pay to make Flutter more performant and to provide better tools to guide profiling and optimization.

Flutter 2.8 also makes it easier to to connect to back-end services including Firebase and Google Cloud. Production-quality support for Google Ads is featured, along with major updates to the camera and embedded web plug-ins.

The Flutter 2.8 release also includes Dart 2.15, an update to the programming language that brings concurrency improvements, enhanced enumerations, and optimizations that provide a 10 percent reduction in memory utilization.

Developer productivity is boosted in Flutter 2.8 with capabilities including stateful hot reload. Google also is exploring higher-level abstractions to make it easier for developers to get running faster. Among these is a sign-in widget that uses Firebase to handle authentication. The widget deals with tasks such as two-factor authentications and users password resets.

Flutter is for building multi-platform applications from a single codebase. It is intended to change how apps are built, allowing mobile, web, desktop, and embedded applications to be developed using a single toolkit. The framework now features 375,000 apps on the Google Play store, as well as iOS apps available on the Apple App Store. Instructions for getting started with Flutter 2.8 can be found at the Flutter website.

Beyond Flutter 2.8, engineering teams on the project in the past year have rewritten developer tools, shipped null safety and web support, completed a foreign function interface for native code integration, and added initial Material You design support.

For 2022, plans call for more investments in the core developer experience, including language enhancements, documentation updates, and higher-level abstractions for building sophisticated apps with Flutter. Stable desktop support will be completed as well. Interoperability also will be expanded with other platforms.

This story, "Flutter 2.8 boosts mobile performance" was originally published by PCWorld .
Six months ago, Ron van Kemenade became INGs first ever chief technology officer (CTO). It was more than a symbolic gesture. Technology has become essential for banks to stay relevant for the years to come. So how ready are we for the future? And hows life in the board room? An interview with Ron.

Ron van Kemenade, chief technology officer

How do you see the future of banking?

Looking at the total banking landscape, it has become more open and complex. New players, including Big Tech, have moved into transactions with services like Apple Pay or Amazon Checkout. Fintechs offer solutions in the areas of lending and even companies like Booking.com have developed their own payment products. New technologies, whether regulated or not, are on the rise, like distributed ledger technology and cryptocurrencies. Then theres customers, wanting to do all of their banking online and in real time, and finally the regulator, protecting the privacy of customers and trying to steer banks on stability. How all of these will interact and what it means for the future of banking, I cant exactly tell. But the trends are clear and its obvious that we have some challenging and interesting times ahead of us. So, we need to try to find ways to play a leading role.

How should ING prepare for this?

Its not so much a matter of preparing, because the future is today. So, we shouldnt wait for things to happen, but act now. Focus on the things that matter most to customers, like putting new propositions in the market and investing heavily in digitalisation. This requires experimenting, but also listening to customers to get continuous feedback. In addition, we have to make sure that our services become even more resilient, secure and real time.

Are we ready to act now?

On the technology side we are. Weve built a global technology platform, which includes modular IT building blocks, shared data lakes and INGs Private Cloud. Multiple countries are using these components both for global and local propositions. These not only allow us to be more efficient and scalable, but also enable us to act quicker in a safe and secure way. For instance, we were able to build a retail bank in the Philippines in just nine months by using global components like Touchpoint. Germanys new investment platform also uses components like OnePam, for storing customer data, and OneGate, for authenticating customers.

Its most important to keep the bank safe, secure and compliant. That simply has priority over the next cool feature.  Ron van Kemenade

What do customers want as far as technology goes?

They want banking to be digital, personalised and in real time without having to be concerned about the protection of their data. Being personalised does require us to take in a lot of data in real time to provide customers the right offer while at the same time they want their data to be fully protected. So, its a bit ambiguous.

Whats our biggest priority?

Its most important to keep the bank safe, secure and compliant. That simply has priority over the next cool feature. Having said that, its a balancing act as we also need to continuously adjust products to meet customer requirements and invest in our channels to make them more digital.

What about sustainability? How is Tech contributing to this?

One of the biggest consumers of electricity in the world are data centres. Just to give you an example, all the energy that is needed to support Bitcoin is the equivalent of the energy that a country like New Zealand uses annually. Thats huge. Im not saying were doing the same, but more digital interactions with the bank require further storage of data and more fully digitalised channels and processes mean more servers in our data centres. They all lead to more consumption of power. Thats why were using 100 percent green energy and we're trying to make our servers as energy efficient as possible.

To remain competitive in a world of tech disruption, highly skilled engineers are essential. Are we winning the war on talent for tech workers?

In some countries yes, especially where were considered a top employer like the Netherlands and Romania. But in countries where we are less prominent, we need to step up and make ourselves more visible and attractive. Thats not easy when you're a small player.

What does ING have to offer engineers?

Engineers like to work with the most modern technology and love to code, so we make sure we offer them the right tools and that theyre able to work in an environment where they can do what they love to do. We recently launched an initiative for this, called NextGen Tech.

Why was it important for ING to include technology on the Board?

Technology plays a very important role in the future of banking, so you need someone on the Board who has deep knowledge of the topic. Someone who can put the technology perspective into every single discussion and decision we take. Its also something that is expected from our regulators.

Your domain comprises of Tech, Data Management and the Chief Information Security Office (CISO). How are they interlinked?

There are multiple connections between the domains. For example, many engineers work for the purpose of information security, while our CISO department sets requirements for how engineers work. Data is closely linked to technology as we store it in our systems and use it for our processes.

To become a data-driven digital leader, was it necessary to put them together?

Well, it helps. But becoming a data-driven digital bank is something for all of us. So, all functions should be included.

You started six months ago, what has been your experience so far?

So far, Ive enjoyed myself a lot. It's a great team to work with and I enjoy bringing the Tech perspective to discussions. It feels good to contribute to ING and its future.

What do you find challenging?

I want to have a deep understanding of all the relevant Board topics, so I can form an opinion and make a meaningful contribution. Theres simply not enough time to go through all of them, so I need to compromise sometimes, which I dont like.

What IT project are you most proud of?

Its not the projects, but the people in the CTO domain Im most proud of. They keep the bank running and try to make it more reliable and better, every day. I want to acknowledge them for that.

Related stories
This edition of International People Moves details appointments at brokers Willis Towers Watson and Tysers.

A summary of these new hires follows here.

WTW Promotes Rourke to UK Head of P/C Pricing, Product, Claims and Underwriting

Willis Towers Watson has appointed Tim Rourke as the new UK Head of P&C Pricing, Product, Claims and Underwriting in the companys Insurance Consulting and Technology business. Rourke succeeds Graham Wright in this role, who is taking on a new challenge outside of the company.

Rourke most recently served as head of Intermediated Insurance and Distribution within Willis Towers Watsons Insurance Consulting and Technology business and has over 20 years insurance industry experience. Before joining WTW, he held a number of senior roles at LV=, including head of Broker Pricing and head of Personal Lines Underwriting, where he delivered business transformation to maximise the benefits achieved from broker partnerships.

***

Tysers Hires Locktons Appleford for Political Violence Team, Lonmars Jenkins for Bloodstock Team

Tysers, the London-based independent Lloyds broker, this week announced two appointments: Ciara Appleford from Lockton and Lee Jenkins from Lonmar.

When she joins in early March, Appleford will lead Tysers global Political Violence and Terrorism team and will play a key role in driving growth across Tysers broking hubs in London, Dubai, Miami and Singapore. Appleford has more than 13 years of broking experience, market expertise and technical ability to Tysers, which will help to deepen its client relationships both locally and with the London market.

She currently is a vice president for Lockton (MENA) where she has worked for more than six years, according to her LinkedIn profile. She also had brokerage roles at Crescent Global, RK Harrison Insurance Brokers and Arthur J. Gallagher & Co., the profile added.

In a separate announcement, Tysers welcomed Lee Jenkins, director, to its Bloodstock team in London, to focus on developing new market opportunities and identifying areas for business growth.

With more than 25 years of experience, Jenkins is a highly regarded and trusted broker with a proven track record and strong underwriter network. He will be an invaluable addition to Tysers dynamic and skilled bloodstock team, and his in-depth market knowledge and expertise will be instrumental in driving Tysers growth trajectory in this strategic market, the company said in a statement.

He joins Tysers from Lonmar (part of Global Risks Partners), where he was an executive director in its specialist bloodstock team. Previously, he held a senior position at BMG Insurance Brokers, according to his profile on Lonmars website.

Topics Claims Underwriting Property Casualty Willis Towers Watson Lockton
Stan Koch and Sons Trucking, based in Minneapolis, will pay $500,000 and furnish other relief to settle a sex discrimination lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

According to the EEOCs lawsuit, Kochs use of the CRT Test, an isokinetic strength test developed by Davenport, Iowa-based Cost Reduction Technologies, Inc., discriminated against women truck drivers because of their sex. Specifically, the EEOC alleged that the CRT Test disproportionately screened out women who are qualified for truck driver positions at Koch.

Such alleged conduct violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits workplace discrimination, including the use of employment practices that have a disparate impact on women because of their sex and that are not job-related and consistent with business necessity. The EEOC filed suit in U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota after first attempting to reach a pre-litigation settlement through its conciliation process.

The EEOC recently won a similar case against Iowa-based tucking company Schuster Co. for use of the same physical abilities test.

Prior to the parties coming to an agreement on damages and other equitable relief, a federal judge had ruled in the EEOCs favor on liability, finding that the test disproportionately screened out women who had been given conditional offers of hire by Koch to work as truck drivers or who were already employed by the company and were required to take the test to return to work following an injury. In addition, the judge found that Koch did not present evidence to show that the test was job-related and consistent with business necessity.

The five-year consent decree resolving the EEOCs lawsuit against Koch was approved by Magistrate Judge Hildy Bowbeer on Dec. 6. The decree requires Koch to pay $500,000 in monetary damages and make job offers to a class of women whose job offers were revoked by Koch after they failed the CRT test. The decree enjoins Koch from using the CRT test, and, if it chooses to use any other physical abilities test that has a disparate impact on female drivers, it must first demonstrate that the test is job-related for the position in question and consistent with business necessity. The decree also requires Koch to make regular reports to the EEOC regarding its hiring practices for the duration of the decree.

Source: EEOC

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Lawsuits Minnesota Trucking
AbbVie Inc. agreed to pay $200 million to settle claims by New York that its Allergan unit helped fuel an epidemic of opioid addiction in the state, shortly before jurors heard closing arguments from remaining defendant Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. in a trial that has lasted more than five months.

New York Attorney General Letitia James announced the deal on Wednesday, saying more than $150 million would be used to remedy harms caused by opioid addiction. Allergan, which AbbVie acquired in 2020, said in a statement it was pleased to have reached the settlement.

James, along with New Yorks Nassau and Suffolk Counties, had been seeking to hold Teva and AbbVie liable for marketing practices that they said encouraged addiction. The settlement resolves the counties claims against Allergan as well.

Harvey Bartle, a lawyer for Teva, told jurors in his closing argument that the state and counties had not presented any testimony supporting their claim that marketing by Teva or any of its affiliates improperly influenced doctors to prescribe opioids.

The governments have not shown you a single prescription, let alone a considerable number, of our clients medicines in Nassau, Suffolk or New York that should not have been written, he said.

Bartle also said that the increase of opioid prescriptions in the 2000s was driven by changing medical standards, endorsed by government regulators, that emphasized treating pain more aggressively.

The state and counties are expected to present their closing arguments later this week or next.

The case is one of more than 3,300 filed by state, local and tribal governments across the country accusing drugmakers of minimizing the addictiveness of opioid pain medications, and distributors and pharmacies of ignoring red flags that they were being diverted into illegal channels.

More than 100,000 people died from drug overdoses during the 12-month period ending April 2021, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a report https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-drug-overdose-deaths-top-100000-annually-cdc-2021-11-17 in November, a record driven largely by opioids.

The three largest U.S. drug distributors and drugmaker Johnson & Johnson in July agreed to pay up to $26 billion to resolve the lawsuits against them.

A bankruptcy judge in September approved a settlement by OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma LP, including about $4.5 billion from its wealthy Sackler family owners.

(Reporting By Brendan Pierson in New York; Editing by Alexia Garamfalvi, Aurora Ellis and Bill Berkrot)
According to wholesale insurance executives, their segment of the property/casualty insurance industry is more exciting and fulfilling than other sectors of the industry.

Its also full of potential for young insurance professionals starting out in the current hard market and looking to build long-term careers, these executives told attendees at the recent Wholesale & Specialty Insurance Associations (WSIA) annual convention.

Obviously there are many different paths you can take in the insurance industry, but what I would say about the wholesale/specialty side is this is where the fun is, this is where the magic happens. This is where we get to be creative, we get to be entrepreneurial, said panelist Bryan Clark, president of California wholesaler Gorst & Compass. We get to react to the market faster than any other segment of the industry we get to do it all, and we all get to be friends along the way.

WSIAs Under-40 group is working to raise awareness of the wholesale market among young insurance professionals through education and networking including internships and college outreach programs.

Erin Dolan, immediate past U40 president and senior vice president of analytics and communications for RSUI Group in Atlanta, spoke of her accidental journey into the industry 20 years ago, emphasizing that she has never looked back.

I feel like Ive been learning almost every day; every week theres a new challenge or theres a change in the market, so theres something new to pick up on, she said. I dont know that theres many industries that can do that for you. I dont worry about the market  it doesnt change the way we operate, the way we underwrite, the way we provide service to our customers.

Other WSIA panelists included Carlton Maner, CEO and Global Property Practice leader of Axis U.S. Division, and Cristi Carrington principal and director of underwriting for Brown & Riding in Los Angeles.

As experts in hard-to-place risks, wholesaler brokers work together to figure out a way to provide insurance to companies when new and emerging issues come up, Maner said.

He cautioned young insurance professionals against focusing on whether the market is hard or soft; instead he urged them to focus on delivering the best products and service to their clients.

I come from the school of the market is the market is the market, and you have to provide excellent service, whether its a soft market or a hard market, he said. I dont worry about the market  it doesnt change the way we operate, the way we underwrite, the way we provide service to our customers.

Clark said that while the current hard market may make it easier for wholesalers to write business, its imperative that young professionals develop and stick to efficient processes and principles, as well as prioritize submissions and maintain good relationships.

On the wholesale side, were seeing a lot more submissions due to the hard market, and with that obviously comes a lot more opportunity to write business, he said. The key is properly managing those submissions and focusing on the ones that make sense.

Because the hard market has increased demand on wholesalers, Carrington said young professionals need to be extremely organized and leave time in the day for any problems that will inevitably come up. Your reputation is really the most important thing you have in this industry. I would say to lead with integrity in everything you do.

The best advice she ever received was to focus on providing a reputable and consistent experience for clients, she said.

It doesnt matter what service industry you are in  clients are going to go where they like, and do business with folks that are knowledgeable in their field with consistent expectations, she said. So, I would suggest to really think about your processes and how you can nail them down in a consistent, reputable pattern.

Good relationships are especially critical in the wholesale market, so young professionals must be true to their word and have integrity, Carrington said.

Your reputation is really the most important thing you have in this industry, she said. I would say to lead with integrity in everything you do.

Standout Employees

The panelists said companies in the wholesale space are looking to increase diversity and identify standout talent.

Maner, who also serves as chair of the WSIA Diversity Foundation, said standout employees arent measured by the number of hours they work in a day or how much premium they write, but by the ideas they bring to the table, the creativity they bring, and their understanding and seeing into the future.

WSIAs U40 group is one example of the industrys efforts to attract young people to insurance careers amid an ongoing battle against employee attrition and competition for top talent.

According to AmTrust Financials 2021 report The Impact of the Aging Insurance Workforce, more than 400,000 employees are expected to retire from the insurance industry workforce in the next few years.

The Jacobson Groups most recent labor study reported that for the first time in its 12-year history, positions in all functional areas of the insurance industry are currently considered moderately difficult or difficult to fill.

The executive panelists agreed that young professionals often dont know or understand the different career paths the industry offers, or the resources available to help them get started, such as networking groups and mentorships.

I like to say its more about the people than the insurance  if you can figure out the people, the insurance part is easy, Clark said.

Photo: Wholesale brokerage executives at the 2021 WSIA annual conference. Left to right: Cristi Carrington, principal and director of underwriting for Brown & Riding; Bryan Clark, president of Gorst & Compass; Erin Dolan, senior vice president of analytics and communications for RSUI Group in Atlanta and Carlton Maner, CEO and Global Property Practice leader of Axis U.S. Division.

Topics Insurance Wholesale
Goldman Sachs Group Inc .must again face a class action by shareholders who said they lost $13 billion because the Wall Street bank hid conflicts of interest when creating risky subprime securities before the 2008 financial crisis, a judge ruled on Wednesday.

U.S. District Judge Paul Crotty in Manhattan rejected Goldmans claim that its general statements about its business, including that client interests always come first and integrity and honesty are at the heart of our business, were too generic to mislead investors and affect its stock price.

Shareholders accused Goldman of concealing its packaging and selling of collateralized debt obligations it wanted to fail so favored clients like hedge fund billionaire John Paulson could secretly bet against them. They said Goldmans stock price fell as the truth became known.

Goldman declined to comment. Darren Robbins, a lawyer for shareholders including the Arkansas Teacher Retirement System, said they were ready to move the 11-year-old case to trial.

The case had gone to the U.S. Supreme Court, which in June said lower courts could use expert testimony and a good dose of common sense in deciding whether generic statements affected stock prices.

Applying that decision, Crotty said even Goldmans more generic statements could reinforce misconceptions about its practices, and that Goldman offered no evidence its stock price would have held fast had it disclosed its conflicts.

Noting Goldmans claim that dozens of blue-chip companies make similar statements, Crotty said he was hard pressed to understand why such statements would achieve such ubiquity if they had no effect on stock prices.

The judge said Goldman did not show it more likely than not that its alleged misstatements had no price impact whatsoever.

In 1988, the Supreme Court said investors could rely on a presumption that all public information about a company was reflected in its stock price.

Goldman reached a $550 million settlement in 2010 resolving U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission charges it concealed Paulsons role in creating the Abacus 2007-AC1 CDO, and that he made $1 billion betting against it.

The case is In re Goldman Sachs Group Inc Securities Litigation, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No. 10-03461.

(Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York Editing by Marguerita Choy)

Photo: Goldman Sachs headquarters.

Topics Lawsuits Legislation Fraud
Alphabet Inc.s Google is suing two Russian nationals it claims are part of a criminal enterprise that has silently infiltrated more than a million computers and devices around the world, creating a modern technological and borderless incarnation of organized crime.

In a complaint being unsealed Tuesday in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, Google names two defendants, Dmitry Starovikov and Alexander Filippov, as well as 15 unnamed individuals. Google claims the defendants have created a botnet known as Glupteba, to use for illicit purposes, including the theft and unauthorized use of Google users login and account information.

A botnet is a network of internet-connected devices that have been infected with malware. When summoned together, they can do the bidding of a hacker, often with the devices owners not realizing their machines have been hijacked. A swarm of devices can jam traffic at websites, run malware to steal login credentials, sell fraudulent credit cards online and grant unauthorized access to other cyber criminals.

The Glupteba botnet stands out from others because of its technical sophistication, using blockchain technology to protect itself from disruption, Google said in the complaint. At any moment, the power of the Glupteba botnet could be used in a ransomware attack or distributed denial of service attack, Google said.

Chainalysis Inc., a blockchain forensic analysis firm, said its products and services were used to investigate the botnet.

Whenever one of Gluptebas command-and-control servers  which hackers use to manage compromised networks  is shut down, it could scan the blockchain to find a new command-and-control server domain address, according to a Chainalysis statement.

This tactic makes the Glupteba botnet extremely difficult to disrupt through conventional cybersecurity techniques, which are focused on disabling command-and-control server server domains, according to Chainalysis. This is the first known case of a botnet using this approach.

Its also the first time that Google is going after a botnet, a spokesperson for the Mountain View, California-based company said in an email. We are taking this action to further protect internet users and to send a message to cyber criminals that we will not tolerate this type of activity.

The spokesperson said the company worked with the U.S. Department of Justice on the investigation. The Department of Justice declined to comment. Starovikov and Filippov couldnt immediately be located for comment.

The tech giant brought the action to court to create a legal liability for the cyber criminals, the spokesperson said. To bring to light their identities and the infrastructure they are using.

Google said Starovikov and Filippov were connected to Glupteba by the servers used to set up their Gmail addresses.

Glupteba is notorious for stealing users credentials and data, mining cryptocurrencies on infected hosts, and setting up proxies to funnel other peoples internet traffic through infected machines and routers, Googles General Counsel Halimah DeLaine Prado and Google Vice President of Engineering Royal Hansen wrote in a blog post.

In June 2020, security firm Sophos published a report on the Glupteba malware, noting it was able to continuously thwart efforts at removing it from an infected machine, researcher Luca Nagy wrote at the time. Glupteba also takes a variety of approaches to lay low and avoid being noticed.

Google said it was bringing the action under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, known as RICO, as well as the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, Electronic Communications Privacy Act and others, to disrupt the botnet, prevent it from causing further harm, and to recover damages.

Some of the most notorious cybercriminal gangs have ties to Russia, which has been accused of providing them with safe haven. The Kremlin has repeatedly denied responsibility for any hacking attacks.

Photo: A visitor passes a sign featuring Google Inc.s logo inside its U.K. headquarters at Six St Pancras Square in London. Photo credit: Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg

Copyright 2022 Bloomberg.

Topics Lawsuits Cyber Fraud
The judge presiding over the Boy Scouts of America bankruptcy issued a ruling Tuesday removing a former Delaware bankruptcy judge as a mediator, saying a court filing by the Boy Scouts raised questions about his impartiality.

Judge Laura Selber Silverstein removed Kevin Carey as one of the mediators tasked with trying to help opposing parties in the case resolve various disputes and reach settlement agreements.

Mr. Carey is no longer a mediator, Silverstein said during a brief online hearing, noting that she had even considered terminating the mediation process entirely.

The removal of Carey, who retired as a judge in 2019, leaves only one of the three mediators who had been appointed by the judge last year. Another mediator, Paul Finn, resigned three weeks ago. Finn told The Associated Press afterward that he resigned because of philosophical differences that have existed for some time with other parties and can no longer be reconciled.

Silverstein said she was forced to act against Carey after the Boy Scouts named him in a court filing as the initial special reviewer who would assist the trustee overseeing a proposed fund to compensate victims of child sexual abuse.

That is a nonstarter, the judge said.

To put it simply, Mr. Carey now has a stake in the outcome of the mediation, Silverstein explained. . I believe there is a reason to question his impartiality.

Carey declined to comment.

Under the Boy Scouts reorganization plan, the appointment of the special reviewer requires the approval of a group called the Coalition of Abused Scouts for Justice, which is a leading supporter of the plan. The coalition represents almost 18,000 abuse claimants and is affiliated with more than two dozen law firms that collectively represent more than 60,000 claimants. The group has played a dominant role in the bankruptcy despite the existence of an official committee charged with representing the best interests of all 82,000-odd abuse claimants. The coalition also has been at the center of various disputes over information sharing and how the BSAs reorganization plan and trust distribution procedures were crafted.

The Boy Scouts, based in Irving, Texas, sought bankruptcy protection in February 2020, seeking to halt hundreds of individual lawsuits and create a fund for men who say they were sexually abused as children. Although the organization was facing 275 lawsuits at the time, its now facing more than 82,000 sexual abuse claims in the bankruptcy.

The plan calls for the Boys Scouts and its roughly 250 local councils to contribute up to $820 million in cash and property into a fund for abuse claimants. They also would assign certain insurance rights to the fund. In return, the local councils and national organization would be released from further liability for sexual abuse claims.

The plan also includes settlement agreements involving one of the Boy Scouts major insurers, The Hartford, and its former largest troop sponsor, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, commonly known as the Mormon church. The Hartford has agreed to pay $787 million into the fund for abuse claimants, and the Mormons have agreed to contribute $250 million. In exchange, both entities would be released from any further liability involving child sex abuse claims.

Silverstein on Monday agreed to extend the Dec. 14 plan voting deadline by two weeks. The extension comes amid concerns by some attorneys, and the judge herself, that an email and letter distributed last month by attorneys for the official committee representing abuse claimants may have caused confusion and tainted the voting process. BSA attorneys also have suggested that an extension would allow more time to try to negotiate additional settlements.

Meanwhile, BSA attorney Jessica Lauria told Silverstein last week that only 4,300 abuse claimants had voted as of Nov. 24.

The email and letter that prompted concerns about the voting process were sent on behalf of attorney Tim Kosnoff, a vehement opponent of the plan who is urging his clients to vote against it. The problem is that Kosnoff shares those clients with two other law firms, one of which is adamantly urging those same clients to vote for the plan.

Attorneys for the official committee, which also opposes the BSA plan as grossly unfair, sent Kosnoffs email and letter to some 12,900 abuse claimants for whom he serves as co-counsel, but mistakenly added more than 7,500 other recipients, including other law firms and claimants represented by other attorneys.

Attorneys for the Boy Scouts and the coalition claim that the email and letter have created confusion among abuse claimants and disrupted the voting process. They also contend that committee attorneys acted deliberately.

Photo: A sign for the National Office outside the Boy Scouts of America Headquarters on February 4, 2013 in Irving, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Legislation
Automobile insurance carriers in Florida may limit reimbursement to health providers in keeping with a fee schedule in a personal injury protection policy, the Florida Supreme Court decided in a decision posted today.

We agree with the Second District Court of Appeal that the PIP policy issued by State Farm was effective to authorize the use of the schedule of maximum charges under the relevant provisions of a 2013 state law, the court said in its opinion in MRI Associates of Tampa vs. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance.

MRI Associates had filed suit against State Farm over 19 PIP claims. The imaging firm argued that the much-debated Florida PIP insurance law demands that insurers choose one of two reimbursement methodologies: a fact-based calculation of reasonable charges, or the schedule of maximum charges. State Farm used both methods in an unauthorized hybrid model, costing the imaging firm revenue, MRI Associates said.

The high courts per curiam opinion, which answered a question from the appeals court, disagreed.

We have never held that the reasonable charge method and the schedule of maximum charges are mutually exclusive methods for determining the reasonableness of reimbursements, the court wrote.

The auto policies at issue noted that State Farm would pay properly billed and documented reasonable charges for bodily injury. The policies also said those charges are defined by the statutory fee schedule of maximum charges, which takes into account usual and customary charges, Medicare pricing, and other factors.

The policies also cautioned that the insurer would in no event pay more than 80% of the no-fault insurance statutes schedule of maximum charges.

The Supreme Court noted that this is the third time in the last decade that it has considered a case in which a health care provider challenged an insurers use of the PIP statutes schedule of maximum charges. In the previous cases, the court held that the insurer must properly notify providers in order to take advantage of the fee schedules.

This may not be the last time the court reviews a PIP case. A move to repeal the Florida PIP insurance requirement passed the Legislature early this year but was vetoed by the governor. Legislative leaders have said the issue will probably not go far if raised again in the session that begins Jan. 11, but that it could be considered in 2023.

Topics Carriers Legislation Florida Auto
Pathpoint Inc. named Melissa Chi head of product.

Chi comes to Pathpoint from Stord where she was the director of product.

Chis technology and startup background also includes experience as product manager at SigFig and product manager & capital markets at Earnest.

Pathpoint a self-service excess and surplus platform that is licensed in all 50 states and is a coverholder at Lloyds of London.

Lockton Cos. named Aaron Cahoon executive vice president.

Cahoon is the newest addition to Locktons expanding Seattle-based Washington practice.

Cahoon joins Lockton from USI, where he was executive vice president in the commercial insurance division for the past nine years.

Lockton is an independent insurance brokerage and risk management firm.

Topics Washington Lockton
A Snohomish, Washington, insurance agent was sentenced to two years in prison after pleading guilty to wire fraud in the theft of premium payments from clients.

Vicki Boser, owner of InsuranceTek, Inc., pleaded guilty in August. At her sentencing Tuesday, she was also ordered to pay $273,137 in restitution to eight companies or insurance brokers she defrauded.

Boser used the money to support her gambling habit at area casinos, federal prosecutors said in a press release. At the sentencing hearing U.S. District Judge James L. Robart likened the conduct to a Ponzi scheme saying, The conduct is classic in terms of embezzling from clients.

Bosers company specialized in helping small businesses that work in high-risk fields secure insurance policies to cover their operations. Clients included private investigators, process servers and security guard companies.

She was required to collect premium payments from the clients and pay them to the insurance companies, but prosecutors said she pocketed some of the payments, created false insurance certificates and led her clients to believe they were insured.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Agencies Fraud Washington
One of the largest U.S. health insurance companies and its branches in Nevada were found liable for $60 million in punitive damages for underpaying out-of-network emergency medical providers.

A state court jury said three plaintiffs headed by urgent care staffing service TeamHealth should each receive shares of $20 million from Connecticut-based United Healthcare Insurance Co. and five subsidiaries, including the two dominant providers in the Las Vegas area: Sierra Health and Life Insurance Co., and Health Plan of Nevada Inc.

They were able to get away with this until now, plaintiffs attorney John Zavitsanos told the eight jurors who last week awarded $2.65 million in compensatory damages to plaintiffs Fremont Emergency Services (Mandavia) Ltd., Team Physicians of Nevada-Mandavia PC and the parent company of Ruby Crest Emergency Medicine.

Appeals are expected. Daniel Polsenberg, a Las Vegas attorney representing defendants, asked Clark County District Court Judge Nancy Allf to schedule post-verdict hearings. No dates were immediately set.

Although attorneys were prohibited in court from telling the jury who might end up paying monetary damages, a company statement after the verdict suggested the costs could be passed to others.

Everyone agrees health care costs too much, and todays decision only adds to the problem, said the statement, provided by Dustin Clark, communications vice president for parent company United Healthcare.

We will be appealing this decision immediately in order to protect our customers and members from private equity-backed physician staffing companies who demand unreasonable and anticompetitive rates for their services and drive up the cost of care for everyone, the statement said.

Zavitsanos and Houston-based law partner Joseph Ahmad had asked for punitive damages of between $100 million and $1 billion from United Healthcare. They characterized the parent company, UnitedHealth Group, as a Fortune 5 member, among the largest businesses in the nation.

The only thing they understand is money, Zavitsanos said, as he called for jurors to send a message that defendants also including United Healthcare Insurance Co., United Health Care Services Inc. and UMR Inc. harmed doctors, anesthesiologists and nurses.

Dr. Scott Scherr, emergency department director at Sunrise Hospital & Medical Center in Las Vegas and regional medical director of TeamHealth, testified during the monthlong trial. He expressed relief after the verdicts.

A jury of my peers realized the value of emergency medicine in Nevada, said Scherr, who headed trauma teams treating critically injured victims after the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history in October 2017 at a Las Vegas Strip concert. Fifty-eight people died that night; hundreds were injured.

I hope this sends a message to United Healthcare about the importance of our frontline workers, Scherr said.

In emergency rooms, where patients cannot by law be turned away, attending medical care providers treating sore throats, broken ankles, heart attacks and gunshot wounds may not be covered by patients insurance plans.

Testimony showed that United Healthcare cut reimbursements to out-of-network providers by more than half from 2017 to 2020  from $528 to $246.

For too long United just thought they could do whatever they wanted, Zavatsanos said after the jury was dismissed. Despite enormous efforts by TeamHealth to have legislators and people in the industry listen, it took eight ordinary citizens to hopefully bring about more change than anything that has been done to date.

He added: This today is a victory for all of the frontline heroes in Nevada, front line emergency room workers, physician assistants and nurse practitioners.

In court, attorney K Lee Blalack II, representing defendants, reminded jurors that the compensatory damages award they reached with their Nov. 29 liability verdict represented about one-fourth of the $10.4 million in disputed billing charges at the heart the breach-of-contact case.

My clients heard you loud and clear, he said, adding that he hoped the jury would conduct an equally careful analysis on Tuesday. Jurors deliberated about two hours.

Conceding that punitive damages were on the table, Blalack called $5.5 million a reasonable sum for what he said amounted to a payment dispute between big companies.

More than that would be monstrous, unjust and represent an obscene windfall for the largest ER staffing company in the country, Blalack said, referring to Tennessee-based TeamHealth.

The civil lawsuit was filed in April 2019 by Fremont and the two other groups representing out-of-network providers at hospitals in and around Las Vegas, and in the rural Nevada cities of Fallon and Elko.

Rebecca Paradise, United Healthcares senior vice president for out-of-network payment strategy, underwent intense and repetitive questioning by Ahmed on Tuesday about the effect of the verdict on her company.

In more than an hour of testimony, Paradise refused to specify any changes administrators might make to billing practices based on a verdict she called impactful but said had been reached only a week ago.

United Healthcare has tens of millions of insurance policyholders in the U.S.

Im not saying I agree or disagree. The verdict is the verdict, Paradise said. We believe we are paying fair and reasonable rates. The jury found otherwise in this case and we will have to evaluate that. We need to understand what that means going forward.

Ahmed showed the jury that while cutting reimbursement rates, the insurer reaped billions of dollars in profits and bought back stock shares, driving up prices for company executives and shareholders.

Wayne Dolcefino, a Houston-based media consultant and former journalist who closely monitored the Nevada trial, said he was aware of similar reimbursement lawsuits pending in states including Arizona, Florida, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and Texas.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Carriers Nevada
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Read our full Opinion Policies here. Updated on 10/7/2020
A social media campaign has allowed the voices of Irelands forgotten female farmers to be heard, without the fear of stigma or reprisal.

Within just 24 hours of its launch, more than 100 women had shared their experiences of sexism in the agricultural industry.

One woman said the careers advisor at her school would not help her with her application for agricultural college because it wasnt for girls, another said her parents had told her they wanted to leave the farm to her brother because he will carry on the family name.

There are three girls and one boy in the family. All of us girls were farm mad growing up, but my father died 12 months ago and left the farm to my brother. Within a year, the farm was sold and my brother didnt even give us the chance to buy it.

Hannah Quinn-Mulligan, chairperson of the Women in Agriculture Stakeholders Group came up with the idea to ask female farmers to anonymously share their experiences.

The newly founded group, which aims to lobby on behalf of women involved in farming, has already made major gains in its work.

Ms Quinn-Mulligan said she started the campaign after her own experience of sexism.

A salesman called into our yard and asked me could he speak to the boss. I said, what?! And he said, your husband  and I am, as far as I know, not married, said Ms Quinn-Mulligan.

This is a common occurrence for women who are farming in their own right, who are farming in equal partnership with their husbands or their sons or their brothers.

I asked for positive experiences as well as negative, and we have had a deluge of comments.

Some of them have been positive, and thats fantastic to see, but I would say 98% of them have been negative and it ranges from women working with their brothers and fathers on farms and knowing they will not inherit the land, to girls being passed over for inheritance, girls feeling very awkward going into marts, sales reps going in and refusing to accept a cheque off a woman, asking for the boss instead.

We are publishing these anonymously.

We have already put in a CAP submission with our concerns about the criteria limiting women from applying for TAMS. I am going to update our submission ahead of the deadline and attach all of the anonymous letters to personalise it for the department.

I did not, in all honesty, expect to get a response like this. The call has been out for less than 24 hours and we have already had around 100 women contact us.

More heartening comments include women who say they have been supported by their family in farming or that sales reps have never treated them any differently.

From casual sexism to the increasingly deliberate acts of cruelty. It's been quite a rollercoaster but thank to everyone who has kept sending them in.



The CAP deadline is fast approaching & we intend to send the experiences anonymously along with our submission  pic.twitter.com/yMAQDRVnMN  Women in Agriculture Stakeholders Group (@WomensAgriGroup) December 6, 2021

There is a cultural legacy that land is always passed from father to son, and we talk in Ireland about colonisation and when land came back to the people, but it never came to the people of Ireland, it came back to the men of Ireland.

Figures show that only 16,000 women are farming officially, yet CSO figures show that 70,000 are farming every day unrecognised.

Thats why it so important that the minister takes this seriously and doesnt just pay lip service, said Ms Quinn-Mulligan.

However, there were positives too.

Niamh Hendy, a cereal grower and beef finisher, is the Irish Grain Growers Group representative on the Women in Agriculture Stakeholders Group.

My own experiences on the home farm have been positive, she said.

Niamh Hendy, spraying crops in November on her family's tillage farm. Niamh is the IGGG representative on the Women in Agriculture Stakeholders Group

I have never had any issues with my father or brothers and come from a long line of female farmers so it was never looked on as strange for me to want to come home to farm, but if someone sees me driving the tractor or even at the mart, Id sometimes get the odd look or comment.

I just take it on the chin now, but Im used to it now. Its water off a ducks back to me, but I worry it could discourage other young women from taking an active role on their farm and becoming farmers.

I was absolutely shocked by some of the womens experiences [shared in the Instagram campaign]  women who have been actively farming at home and the farm still going to go to a brother with no interest; its hard to believe that kind of thing is still happening today.

I would like to see it encourage more women to be officially recognised for their role on the farm  not just helping out because its a lot more than that.

Theres a patriarchal notion that the farm goes to the son. People think that doesnt happen any more but it does.

Vanessa Kiely OConnor, a dairy farmer from West Cork, said she has had both positive and negative experiences as a woman in farming.

My experiences have changed over the years, she said.

The farming families I worked for at the start gave me every encouragement. I was coming from a non-farming background, but they recognised the fact that I loved my work and working with cows.

But when I was doing the farm apprenticeship, the opportunities to work abroad were really set up for male candidates. I applied to go to France but they didnt have families that were willing to have a female student.

I went to the interview and I was told straight out that they, unfortunately, didnt have any family that was open to it. Now, that was back in the 1990s, so I would hope things are better now.

Ms Kiely OConnor said that she also had to carry out a three-month work placement before she was accepted for the course.

They said they would speak to the farmer first to see how I got on. I dont know whether other non-farming background men who applied were asked to do the same but that was my experience.
A book by journalist Fintan O'Toole has received the top award at the An Post Irish Book Awards.

We Dont Know Ourselves: A Personal History of Ireland since 1958 by OToole was named An Post Irish Book of the Year 2021 during a one-hour special television show hosted by Oliver Callan on RTE One on Wednesday night.

It was in the running with five other books that were category winners from the recent An Post Irish Book Awards: Your One Wild and Precious Life by Maureen Gaffney, A Hug For You by David King, illustrated by Rhiannon Archard, Aisling and the City by Emer McLysaght and Sarah Breen, Did Ye Hear Mammy Died? by Seamas OReilly and Beautiful World, Where Are You? by Sally Rooney. OTooles book won the Odgers Berndtson Non-Fiction Book of the Year award last month.

Over 187,500 votes were cast by readers to select the winners in each category for last month's award ceremony and the public was also invited to vote for the overall An Post Irish Book of the Year.

We Dont Know Ourselves is described as a clear-eyed, myth-dispelling masterpiece that combines the personal with the political and has been lauded as OTooles finest work to date.

Maria Dickenson, chairperson of the judging panel, says We Don't Know Ourselves is "a book for the ages" and an important reflection of Ireland.

"In the opinion of the five-person judging panel, We Don't Know Ourselves is a book that will remain important for a very long time - a reflection of who we are and where we came from. Truly, this is a book for the ages," she says.

We Don't Know Ourselves: A Personal History of Ireland Since 1958

"Fintan O'Toole understands Ireland in a visceral way  it isnt just politics, but culture and popular culture. He gets all of Ireland and its turbulent history during his lifetime."

CEO of An Post, David Redmond, says it is the most remarkable book he has read in the last decade.

"I think its an astonishing book, fresh and passionate. Deeply moving but often funny and wry, a chronicle for our times. The most remarkable Irish non-fiction book Ive read in the last 10 years," he says.

O'Toole describes the book as "pretty personal".

"To have a book that you hope speaks to people outside of a particular category, I suppose its trying to recognise something that maybe hits a chord more generally with Irish people with where Ireland is right now," he says.

"Also, unlike other books Ive written in the past, this one is pretty personal  theres quite a lot of me in it, so it feels a bit more vulnerable and therefore youre just a bit more grateful if people like it!"

Previous winners of the Irish Book of the Year award include Cork-based poet Doireann Ni Ghriofa, activist Vicky Phelan, and Irish Examiner columnist Louise ONeill.

O'Toole has been a polemicist, literary editor, journalist and drama critic for The Irish Times since 1988 and his book A History of Ireland in 100 Objects won an Irish Book Award in 2013.

Born in Crumlin and educated at Colaiste Chaoimhin and University College Dublin, he now lives in America where he is a visiting lecturer in Irish Letters at Princeton University.

The An Post Book of the Year television programme is now available to watch back on the RTE Player.
The chief medical officer has welcomed the news that the Covid-19 vaccine will soon be made available to children aged 5 to 11.

Dr Tony Holohan said the move is a "significant positive step".

His comments come as the Department of Health confirms a further 4,152 cases of Covid-19 in Ireland.

As of Wednesday morning, there were 543 people in hospitals with the virus, up 38 since yesterday, with 118 patients in intensive care units, up one.

There has been a total of 5,788 deaths related to Covid-19 notified in Ireland.

Dr Holohan said new data on the Omicron variant are emerging every day and that scientists need time to complete studies and interpret the results.

"Our high incidence of disease from COVID-19 is driven by the Delta variant.

"We know how to break the chains of transmission of Covid-19  these measures have worked against previous variants of Covid-19, they can successfully suppress transmission of the Delta variant and we are optimistic that they will work against the Omicron variant."

He added: "Vaccination remains one of the best ways to protect ourselves from severe illness and death from Covid-19."

In the North, a further 1,933 positive Covid cases have been reported, along with five further deaths.

Pfizer Covid vaccine neutralises Omicron

Three doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine appear to neutralise the new Omicron variant, according to preliminary studies.

Pfizer and BioNTech said the antibody levels reached with three doses of the vaccine were just as good as for two doses against the original Wuhan strain of the virus, which have already been shown to offer high levels of protection.

Laboratory work found that two doses of the vaccine resulted in a significantly reduced effectiveness against Omicron, suggesting people can still get infected with the variant.

However, the firms said two jabs are still expected to work against severe disease owing to how the body uses a range of immune cells, including T cells, for protection.

The work showed that, when it comes to boosters, three doses of the vaccine increased neutralising antibody titers against Omicron in peoples blood 25-fold compared with two doses.

Pfizer and BioNTech said this showed that booster doses could offer good protection against Omicron.

Niac recommends use of Covid-19 vaccine on children aged 5 to 11

The National Immunisation Advisory Committee (Niac) has recommended that Covid-19 vaccinations be offered to children aged five to 11 years.

The advice has been given to Government today, meaning approximately 480,000 primary school children will now be offered a vaccine.

The vaccine for this group is a lower dose and is expected to arrive in the country soon.

Niac advised Government today that children aged 5 to 11 should be vaccinated. Picture: File.

It is likely to be January when the rollout for this age group begins, while some children with an underlying medical condition or living with someone who is immunocompromised, may receive their vaccine this month.

Up to now, vaccines had only been approved for use in people aged 12 and older.

Health Minister Stephen Donnelly said today's announcement "is another positive step forward in our countrys response to the Covid-19 pandemic."

Mr Donnelly said extending vaccination to this age group will "offer another layer of protection to our children, and to those around them."

The vaccine given to children called Comirnaty, developed by Pfizer/BioNTech, is a weaker dose of the vaccine given to adults and will be given as a two-dose schedule, three weeks apart.

Speaking on the booster vaccine, which has now been extended to those over 50, Mr Donnelly told people do not hesitate in getting their third shot.

We are already beginning to see a significant reduction in incidence of Covid-19 infection in the over 75 age group, where people have been taking up the offer of a third dose of a Covid-19 vaccine in high numbers.

"This is really good news and shows the benefits of receiving a third/booster dose.

Do not wait until after Christmas to receive your booster vaccine or come forward for your first dose, the benefits of receiving your booster dose far outweigh any potential risks that may arise in the meantime.

It is vital that all of us prioritise our booster appointments as soon as we receive them or make the time to attend a walk-in vaccination clinic if that option is available.
The Taoiseach has refused to walk back comments be made during the week that people were not showing up for booster vaccine appointments.

The issue had emerged in recent days and was even the subject of a testy discussion in the Dail where the Taoiseach said large numbers of appointments were not being taken up.

The Tanaiste Leo Varadkar apologised for the issues earlier on Thursday, however, the Taoiseach did not walk back his comments.

The core point I was making the Dail during the week was the booster really enhances your protection, and it is the primary weapon we have and the people have in terms of protecting themselves against Covid, Micheal Martin said.

My point at the time was to encourage people and that same sense of urgency.

It didn't mean it was people were postponing or delaying, but that it is important to get that message across.

Now the HSE have acknowledged there has been systems issues, but in terms of getting a pharmacy appointment and so on, if you look at the totality of of pharmacies, 25,000 last week that was the highest ever weekly rate for pharmacies.

A million have been now been vaccinated.

Of course we dont want any mix-up or any inconvenience for people, we want to make vaccines as accessible to people as we possibly can.

I think that is I think there's a clear sense of people coming forward with urgency now in terms of getting that booster.

On international travel, the Taoiseach says Ireland wants to align with European Union in respect of travel and The World Health Organisation DCDC I'm not advocating travel restrictions.

'Queuing for hours'

The Government is sorry for the inconvenience faced by people who were queuing for hours at the walk-in vaccination centre at University College Dublin, Tanaiste Leo Varadkar said.

The rollout of booster vaccines for Covid-19 for those aged between 50 and 59 started today.

This morning, the HSE had to warn people not to attend the walk-in booster clinic at UCD due to "very large queuing times."

Some 600 people have turned up to the walk-in clinic for the over 50s, but the centre only has the capacity to deal with 100 people per hour.

Speaking in the Dail, Mr Varadkar explained there have been IT and teething problems that have impacted the rollout of the vaccination booster campaign.

I just want to express my regrets and apologise on behalf of the Government and HSE for the inconvenience faced by people this morning who were queuing for their dose and werent able to get it, Mr Varadkar said.

In the round, the third dose programme is going very well, over a million people in Ireland have received their third dose. I think were very close to the top of the league table in the European Union in terms of third doses. Were now in fourth place out of 27 countries, but I know that if youre left standing in the cold waiting for a vaccine that they dont get, thats pretty cold comfort, he said.

There have been IT problems and teething problems, and we will get them right just like we got them right during the first period of the vaccine programme, he said.

He was responding to Right To Change TD Joan Collins who asked why more pharmacies and local centres could not administer booster shots.

Prior to Thursday, boosters were only being offered to healthcare workers, people over the age of 60, those living in a nursing home or a long-term healthcare facility, and people aged 16 to 59 with an underlying condition.

The HSE said: "Walk-in vaccination clinics will be operating at Croke Park this afternoon in a limited capacity"

As of 9.30am, the Ireland East Hospital Group confirmed that the UCD clinic was "at capacity and cannot take any further people today".

Queuing times of around an hour and a half were recorded in Limerick and in Ennis earlier this morning.

Cork City Hall's walk-in vaccination clinic will be offering only Moderna booster vaccines to those aged 5069 from 11 am to 5 pm on Friday, 10th December.

The HSE is updating queuing times for the centres via Twitter.

What to know about the booster: The booster jab can be administered five months after the second vaccine dose. If you had the single-dose Janssen vaccine, you need to wait at least 3 months. People will not need to register for a booster dose. Those under the age of 70 will get a text message from the HSE with a vaccination centre appointment when your booster is due. If you want to ask for a new appointment because you can't attend the one offered, you can reply to the message with the word NEW. If someone gets a text about a booster appointment and they have already received the jab, they can cancel it by replying to the text with the word 'REJECT.' People dont need to confirm the appointment but people do have to bring photo ID that shows your date of birth. If the booster is due now, you may also be able to get a vaccine at a pharmacy or a walk-in vaccination clinic. People over the age of 30 will be offered the Moderna or the Pfizer/BioNTech jab. If you are 29 or younger, you will be offered a single dose booster of the Pfizer vaccine. Manufacturers have said that a third dose of the Pfizer jab is enough to combat the immediate threat of the Omicron variant. The next cohorts to be offered a booster are people aged 16 and older who are pregnant, people aged 40 to 49 and people aged 16 to 39  in stages with older age groups being called first. The HSE has advised people that if they have had Covid since they were vaccinated, they should get their booster dose at least 6 months after the positive test result. The various walk-in clinics are open at different times for different jabs. A full list can be found on HSE.ie. The health service has advised people not to go to a walk-in booster clinic if their age group is not being called at this time. Healthcare workers will need to bring a photo ID and proof of employment.

Here is a list of what walk-in vaccination centres that are open on Thursday:

Kilmore Hotel, Cavan

60 to 69-year-olds: 8.30am to 12.30pm and 1.30pm to 5pm

Healthcare workers over 30: 8.30am to 12.30pm and 1.30pm to 5pm.

Ennis

50-59-year-olds: 9am to 4pm

Croke Park

60 to 69-year-olds: 10.30am to 12.00pm, 1.40pm to 4pm, and 5.20pm to 7pm

Dose 1 and dose 2: 10.30am to 12.00pm, 1.40pm to 4pm, and 5.20pm to 7pm

National Show Centre

Over 50-year-olds: 1.40pm to 4pm Round

Punchestown Racecourse

60 to 69-year-olds: 4pm to 7pm

Cillin Hill Conference Centre

Healthcare workers: 1.40pm to 4pm

St Fintans Campus

60 to 69-year-olds: 9am to 11am

Scoil Carmel, Limerick

50 to 59-year-olds: 9am to 11am

Clonguish GAA Centre

Over 50-year-olds: 9.15am to 3pm

Healthcare workers: 9.15am to 3pm

Dose 1 and dose 2 walk-in clinics: 9.15am to 3pm

Breaffy House Resort

60 to 69-year-olds: 6pm to 8pm

Healthcare workers: 6pm to 8pm

Dose 1 and dose 2 walk-in clinics: 6pm to 8pm

Fairyhouse Racecourse

60 to 69-year-olds: 5pm to 7pm

Glencarn Hotel

Healthcare workers over 30 only: 1.30pm to 5.30pm

Mucklagh Community Centre

60 to 69-year-olds: 9.15am to 5pm

Over 50-year-olds: 10am to 3pm

Sligo Racecourse

60 to 69-year-olds: 4.30pm to 7.30pm

Healthcare workers: 4pm to 7.30pm

Abbeycourt Hotel

50 to 59-year-olds: 3.30pm to 7pm

Clonmel Park Hotel

50 to 59-year-olds: 1.15pm to 4pm

Moate Youth and Community Sports Centre

50 to 59-year-olds: 4pm to 6pm
The HSE has moved to upgrade its vaccination portal and booking system in a move to resolve the issue of multiple appointments and no-shows.

The issue had emerged in recent days and was even the subject of a testy discussion in the Dail where the Taoiseach said large numbers of appointments were not being taken up.

It comes as the HSE has this morning had to warn people not to attend the walk-in booster clinic at UCD due to "very large queuing times." Some 600 people have turned up to the walk-in clinic for the over 50s, but the centre only has the capacity to deal with 100 people per hour.

The HSEs national lead for the vaccination programme has acknowledged the vagaries of the system and problems with databases, following confusion around the number of people who have got their booster shot.

Damien McCallion said that the priority was to ensure maximum choice and maximum capacity.

Earlier this week, the Taoiseach told the Dail that between November 22 and 28, a total of 208,000 appointments were issued but only 80,000 people turned up.

Micheal Martin said between November 29 and December 5, another 180,000 appointments were issued but only 93,000 showed up.

Mr McCallion said the time lag between the HSEs vaccination database and the IT systems used by pharmacies and GPs was being addressed and he accepted that the system had not worked as smoothly as it should.

There had been a further upgrade to the HSEs system last night, he told RTE radios Morning Ireland.

If people were vaccinated in a pharmacy or at their GP then it would be recorded in the system and the issue of multiple appointments would cease.

Pharmacies and GPs, both of whom offer the booster, have reported delays in people being marked as having had the jab in the main HSE database.

Darragh OLoughlin, general secretary of the Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU) told RTE that if somebody got their booster vaccine in a pharmacy their details were entered into the Pharmavax system, which is a HSE developed and owned system that feeds the national CoVax database.

The details are going in from the pharmacy as we are doing the vaccine, but when they transfer over to that central CoVax database, it doesn't automatically trigger a cancellation of a booster appointment.

What that means is that people are having a vaccine in a pharmacy  they are getting a booster, they are going home  and then a day or two later they might be issued an appointment in a vaccination centre by text and they are then struggling to cancel that appointment.

"As a result, these people turn up as a no show in a vaccination centre despite the fact that they've already had their booster.

Mr O'Loughlin called for the system to be made smoother.

Queues at Cork City Hall for the walk-in Covid-19 vaccination clinic earlier this month. Picture: Larry Cummins

Dr Nuala OConnor, Covid-19 lead for the Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP), explained that there was a similar lag when GPs enter vaccination details into the Socrates or Helix IT systems used by the HSE.

We understand this data can take up to 48 hours to be inputted to the Covax database.

Mr McCallion said that records will be updated more swiftly and the multiple texts to people will cease. The aim was to accelerate vaccination uptake.

We are trying to enhance the system.

If a person was vaccinated in a pharmacy or through a GP then they would now be in the system. According to the HSE, if someone gets a text about a booster appointment and they have already received the jab, they can cancel it by replying to the text with the word 'REJECT.'

Appointments for vaccination centres will be made as close as possible to home addresses, he said, if the appointment time was not convenient people had a number of ways to change it, the aim was to be as flexible as possible which was why walk-in clinics were being introduced  to increase capacity, he said.

Mr McCallion said that vaccination clinics would close for only two days over Christmas  on Christmas Day and St Stephens Day.
Gardai in Limerick are asking for the public's help in tracing the whereabouts of a young man missing from the city.

Gbubemi David, 25, has been missing from his home in Mungret Street since around 10am on Monday, December 6.
If the lake view was the sole reason for the purchase of a derelict property, according to homeowner Bobby, flooding it with light would be key to its transformation.

Dublin couple Bobby and Ciara bought their 1980s bungalow, on the shores of the Poulaphouca reservoir, for 325,000 in late 2019.

Ciara and Bobby in their newly revamped home.

Architect Hugh Wallace visited them at the County Wicklow property, just off Lake Drive Road, at the start of the second episode of RTE One's My Bungalow Bliss.

Visual merchandiser Ciara and typographer Bobby had a budget of between 130,000 and 140,000 to turn what Bobby describes as the beautiful wreck into their dream home.

We always wanted a bungalow that overlooked the lakes, said Bobby.

Before: Homeowners Ciara and Bobby with architects Kathryn and Shane.

We could have bought a house in the suburbs in a brand-new-built housing estate  but that's not what we wanted.

Its in quite a serious state of disrepair. You know, single-paned windows, birds living in the ceiling, holes in the roof  no vents either, so the moisture gets trapped inside.

But Hugh shared their admiration for the property's setting. Its the most extraordinary location, you could spend your lifetime looking for it, he said.

Ciara and Bobby with Kathryn and Shane of Architectural Farm.

Husband-and-wife team Shane Cotter and Kathryn Wilson from Architectural Farm created a design plan to open up the residence, featuring imaginative use of light  including big picture windows in the living area, roof-light windows at different angles in the corridor, and roof-lights in the north-facing kitchen.

They are inspired by Scandinavian design practices having lived and worked in Denmark for many years, as well as drawing influence from traditional Irish building vernacular.

After: The kitchen.

Speaking of his respect for the latter, Midleton native Shane said: For me, it wasnt that you threw the baby out with the bathwater  bungalows are part of our landscape.

The finished County Wicklow residence exceeded their expectations, he added.

It was great that Bobby and Ciara had the ambition to take on this project. A lot of people could have viewed this bungalow and said, no thanks, said Kathryn.

Polished concrete floors throughout were on Ciaras wish list while vertical timber finishes and a granite seat (the property, after all, is located near a quarry) in the living area add to the appeal.

Its a complete dream walking through that front door, it still feels surreal, said Ciara.

Bobby added: Weve been staring at the drawings for the space for the last year and a half. Its quite surreal to be in the space instead of picturing what the space will be like.

Ciara and Bobby with Ava.

Even the once-dark corridor was transformed, with roof-lights allowing shafts of natural sunlight to bounce around, maximising the light.

The entire build took 18 months  and at one stage Bobby was holding down four jobs. "Bobby worked every hour under the sun," said Ciara.

Bobby added: We had to push through no matter what. Now were absolutely over the moon, he said.

They was joy for another reason too: During this time, the couple welcomed baby Ava. Its just really beautiful to have a new daughter and a house at the same time, said Bobby.

After: The nursery.

As for how the figures tallied? The couples initial budget had to expand. It was 312,000 on the nose for the build, said Bobby. Its grown exponentially in ways we could never have imagined.

I found the financial aspect of it really worrying and to have that behind me is probably the greatest relief Ive ever experienced.

But they agreed with Hughs verdict that it represents a great investment. I cant wait for Ava to grow up in this home and for future brothers and sisters to come along to build on this family, to expand, said Ciara. Finally we have a home  and what a home.
Allegra Stratton has resigned as an adviser to Boris Johnson and offered her profound apologies in an emotional statement after footage emerged of her joking about a Downing Street Christmas party.

MS Stratton apologised for her remarks about the Christmas party as she made a tearful resignation statement outside her home.

Quitting her role as the British prime ministers spokeswoman for the Cop26 climate summit she said: My remarks seemed to make light of the rules, rules that people were doing everything to obey.

That was never my intention. I will regret those remarks for the rest of my days and I offer my profound apologies to all of you at home for them.

Ms Stratton told reporters: Working in government is an immense privilege.

I tried to do right by you all, to behave with civility and decency and up to the high standards you expect of Number 10. She said she understood the anger and frustration people feel.

To all of you who lost loved ones, who endured intolerable loneliness and who struggled with your businesses, I am truly sorry and this afternoon I am offering my resignation to the Prime Minister.

Johnson apologises for offence caused by aides joking about Christmas party

Prime Minister Boris Johnson leaves 10 Downing Street to attend Prime Ministers Questions (PA)

Boris Johnson has ordered an investigation into claims Downing Street staff broke lockdown rules by holding a Christmas party last year and told MPs he was furious about footage apparently showing aides joking about it.

The British prime minister apologised unreservedly for the offence caused by the footage of his then-spokeswoman Allegra Stratton at a mock press conference.

But he insisted he had been repeatedly assured there was no party and that no Covid rules were broken.

Mr Johnson said he had asked Cabinet Secretary Simon Case to establish all the facts and to report back as soon as possible  and it goes without saying that if those rules were broken then there will be disciplinary action for all those involved.

At Prime Ministers Questions, Mr Johnson said: I understand and share the anger up and down the country at seeing No 10 staff seeming to make light of lockdown measures, and I can understand how infuriating it must be to think that people who have been setting the rules have not been following the rules because I was also furious to see that clip.

I apologise unreservedly for the offence that it has caused up and down the country and I apologise for the impression that it gives.

But I repeat that I have been repeatedly assured since these allegations emerged that there was no party and that no Covid rules were broken, and that is what I have been repeatedly assured.

Mr Johnsons intervention followed a week of official insistence that no party took place on December 18, 2020, when London was under Tier 3 restrictions  despite reports staff drank alcohol and exchanged secret Santa gifts.

Allegra Stratton laughs in the footage as she appears to rehearse answers to questions over a lockdown-busting Christmas party (PA)

Downing Streets official line has now shifted with the announcement of the Case inquiry, with the British prime ministers press secretary declining to repeat the statement that there was no party.

She said it wouldnt be right to comment further while Mr Case was investigating.

Number 10 would not give a timetable for Mr Cases investigation to conclude but Mr Johnsons official spokesman said we want it to be as soon as possible.

Labour leader Keir Starmer said Boris Johnsons apology raises more questions than answers as he had been caught red-handed.

Millions of people now think the Prime Minister was taking them for fools, that they were lied to. They are right arent they?

Labour leader Keir Starmer said Boris Johnsons apology raises more questions than answers as he had been caught red-handed. Picture: House of Commons/PA Wire

In response to questioning from Mr Starmer, the Prime Minister agreed that any evidence uncovered by the Cabinet Secretary about parties in Downing Street would be handed over to police.

Leaked footage from No 10s 2.6 million press briefing room emerged on Tuesday night which showed former press secretary Ms Stratton laughing as she appeared to rehearse answers to questions over a lockdown-busting Christmas party.

The video, which is reported to be from December 22 last year, refers to a party on Friday  which would have been December 18, the same day The Daily Mirror reported there was a staff party where games were played, food and drinks were served, and revelries went on past midnight.

The emergence of the footage  in which Ms Stratton and aides joked about how to respond to questions on the party  fuelled anger on the Tory benches about Mr Johnsons Number 10 operation.

This fictional party was a business meeting and it wasnt socially distanced



Video obtained by @ITVNews shows No10 staff laughing about a Downing Street party last Christmas



Watch analysis from @PaulbrandITV and @Peston on News at Ten



Full story: https://t.co/0ItROuHAv6 pic.twitter.com/ayBSl77oLS  ITV News (@itvnews) December 7, 2021

Charles Walker, a former vice-chairman of the 1922 Committee of backbench Tory MPs, said the British government is likely to now find it almost impossible to introduce very proscriptive Covid-19 restrictions due to the saga.

It comes amid suggestions ministers are considering moving to Plan B measures in England, such as calling for people to work from home and implementing vaccine passports.

Mr Walker told Times Radio: I think now that, going forward, any measures will be advisory. I think it would be very difficult to enshrine them in law and then once again ask our poor police forces to enforce them.

Former minister Tracey Crouch, MP for Chatham and Aylesford, demanded an apology, Kent Online reported.

She said: I am fuming. My constituents have every right to be angry.

Fellow Tory Peter Aldous, MP for Waveney, said the leaked footage looks very bad and casts the situation in a different light.

Tory peer and former Conservative Party chairwoman Sayeeda Warsi said all those present at any party should quit.

Chairman of the Commons Education Committee and Tory MP for Harlow Robert Halfon said: I certainly think that those who were doing the video should apologise for the insensitivity of it when people were suffering and struggling all through that time.

In a sign of further potential difficulties for Mr Johnson, his former aide Dominic Cummings  who has become a prominent critic  suggested Mr Cases investigation should look at parties in the Prime Ministers Downing Street flat.

Will the CABSEC also be asked to investigate the *flat* party on Fri 13 Nov, the other flat parties, & the flat's 'bubble' policy...?  Dominic Cummings (@Dominic2306) December 8, 2021

In the footage obtained by ITV News, Ms Stratton and adviser Ed Oldfield, along with other aides, were filmed joking about a fictional Downing Street party.

Mr Oldfield can be heard asking Ms Stratton: Ive just seen reports on Twitter that there was a Downing Street Christmas party on Friday night, do you recognise those reports?

Ms Stratton replied I went home, before appearing to consider what the correct answer should be.

During the rehearsal, filmed as part of a subsequently-abandoned plan for Ms Stratton to lead televised press briefings, one aide is heard saying: It wasnt a party, it was cheese and wine.

Is cheese and wine all right? It was a business meeting, Ms Stratton replied, to laughter in the room.

Ms Stratton then noted this is recorded, adding: This fictional party was a business meeting and it was not socially distanced.

The Metropolitan Police confirmed officers are reviewing the leaked video in relation to alleged breaches of coronavirus regulations.
The probe into alleged Covid rule-busting parties in Government has been widened to include another festive celebration and a reported staff leaving do.

British Cabinet Office minister Michael Ellis has told MPs that Cabinet Secretary Simon Case will, as well as investigating reports of a staff Christmas bash at Downing Street on December 18 2020, also look into two other alleged events.

He will include in his review a confirmed gathering at the Department for Educations Whitehall headquarters on December 10 last year, and a reported leaving event for a No 10 aide on November 27.

The two December dates coincide with when mixing between households in London was restricted, with England in a month-long lockdown during November.

Both the British Prime Minister and Health Secretary had suggested Mr Case could choose to extend his investigation  a move he has decided to make  beyond the main allegation that a Christmas party took place in Downing Street only 24 hours before the Government announced Christmas was cancelled,

The finding means that some claims, including that there was a party in Mr and Mrs Johnsons No 11 flat on November 13  the night the Prime Ministers former chief aide Dominic Cummings departed  is not currently included in the scope of the review.

Answering an urgent question in the Commons, Mr Ellis said: The primary purpose of the Cabinet Secretarys investigation will be to establish swiftly a general understanding of the nature of the gatherings, including attendance, the setting and the purpose, and with reference to adherence to the guidance in place at the time.

If required, the investigation will establish whether individual disciplinary action is warranted.
Burma Civilians Flee Junta Airstrikes, Raids and Shelling in Upper Myanmar

A military gunship seen during airstrikes against PDFs in Saw Township, Magwe Region on November 19. / CJ

Over 2,000 civilians from around 10 villages in Sagaing Region were forced to flee their homes because of Myanmar military raids and shelling.

The exodus of local residents follows an intense clash between junta forces and civilian resistance fighters in Sagaings Tabayin Township on Tuesday that culminated in the regime deploying an attack helicopter to launch airstrikes.

Around 120 junta troops are currently occupying Nagadwin Village in the west of Tabayin, which is also known as Depayin, Township and have been randomly bombarding nearby villages since Wednesday, according to locals. At the same time, some 60 regime reinforcements from Ye-U Township are heading to the area to carry out raids.

Nagadwin Village is located two to three miles east of Aung Si Myay Village, where junta forces clashed on Tuesday with Peoples Defense Forces (PDFs).

On Tuesday morning, a fierce firefight erupted in the west of Tabayin Township when three civilian resistance groups surrounded a group of 100 junta troops who had been stationed outside Aung Si Myay Village for three days.

After sustaining heavy losses in two hours of battle, the regime troops called in a Russian-made Mi-35 helicopter gunship to attack the PDFs.

A civilian resistance fighter from the Depayin-PDF told The Irrawaddy on Thursday that the gunship used both machine guns and rockets to attack the civilian fighters, forcing them to retreat.

Actually, our mission was to exterminate the whole military detachment there, said the PDF member.

More than 50 junta troops, including a lieutenant, were reportedly killed or wounded, while two civilian resistance fighters were killed. However, The Irrawaddy was unable to verify the military casualties independently.

Civilian resistance forces claimed that at around 11am on Tuesday, the junta used two helicopters to take away the bodies of the soldiers killed or wounded.

In late November, the military regime also used two gunships and three other helicopters to attack civilian targets and deploy reinforcements in Nyaung Hla Village in the east of Tabayin Township, without engaging with any PDFs.

Two civilians were killed and three others wounded by the junta airstrikes, while some 30,000 residents from around 15 villages were forced to flee their homes.

Most of the 30,000 villagers who fled have since returned to their homes, according to an official from a local group that sheltered some of the displaced villagers.

In late March, Sagaing was the first region of Myanmar where civilian armed resistance to the junta began, when locals started using homemade and traditional weapons to attack regime forces, following their brutal crackdowns on peaceful anti-coup protesters across the country.

After Sagaing became the center of armed resistance, including inflicting the highest number of regime casualties each month, the military regime responded by bringing in thousands of reinforcements and extra weapon systems such as helicopter gunships and gunboats.

We have no more comment about the juntas actions in our region. But I want to urge our National Unity Government to come up with a specific plan for our region to resist the military regime, said the Depayin-PDF member.

We are resisting junta troops with old and unserviceable firearms and we are sacrificing our lives. If we are not supplied with more modern and useful weapons, we wont be able to resist them in the long term, he added.

The junta has continued to escalate its atrocities including arbitrarily killing civilians, burning people alive, using detained civilians as human shields, bombarding residential areas, looting and burning houses and committing acts of sexual violence, especially in the most restive regions and states of Sagaing and Magwe and Chin, Shan and Kayah.

Regime forces reportedly burned alive 10 villagers, including five teenagers, during a raid on a village in Salingyi Township in Sagaing on Tuesday.

As of Wednesday, 1,318 people have been slain by regime forces, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), a rights group that records deaths and arrests at the hands of the military since their February 1 coup.

Another 10,793 people including democratically elected government leaders have been arrested by the junta, said the AAPP.



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Burma Myanmar Set to Shut Down With 'Silent Strike' to Defy Junta

A campaign poster for the silent strike.

People across Myanmar are vowing to take part in a silent strike on Friday, with many businesses and shops announcing they will be closed for the day and people planning to stay home with the aim of shutting down entire towns and cities, in a sign of their rejection of military rule.

Timed to coincide with Human Rights Day, which falls on Dec. 10, the strike is the Myanmar peoples deliberate attempt to defy the regime and make clear that it has no authority to rule their lives and activities. A slogan associated with the strike proclaims: We own our town. Staying active or silent is our choice. They [the regime] shall absolutely never be allowed to rule.

The Homalin Peoples Administrative Team in Sagaing Region, which was formed by anti-regime protesters, said in a statement on Wednesday that they urged locals to join the strike, adding that on Friday, as the world reaffirms its commitment to promote and protect human rights for all people, Myanmars people will continue to face a vortex of repression and human rights atrocities by the junta, which has been accused of crimes against humanity. Thus, the silent strike was planned for the day to show the Myanmar peoples continued opposition to the junta.

The military seized power from the democratically elected government led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi on Feb. 1 and formed its so-called governing body, the State Administration Council. Struggling to rule the country in the face of public resistance, the regime has in recent months escalated its crackdown on opponents of its rule.

According to one rights groups count, regime forces have killed at least 1,318 civilians and arrested some 10,700 people over the past 10 months.

A general strike committee, as well as student unions and local public administration groups across the country, have urged the public to remain indoors and businesses to close from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday to show solidarity with the silent strike.

The silent voice is the loudest Through the strike we will show that we dont let our blood grow cold [and become complacent], that human rights have been extinguished [at the hands of the junta], and we will remember our heroic martyrs who sacrificed their lives in the revolution, said Tayzar San, a prominent protest leaders from Mandalay.

The juntas most recent acts of brutalityramming a vehicle into a group of protesters in Yangon on Sunday and burning villagers to death in Salingyi, Sagaing Region on Tuesdayhave sparked outrage and saw the call for a strike to go viral, both online and by word of mouth at markets and among vendors.

Many business and shop owners, as well as online sellers and vendors, said on Wednesday and Thursday that they would take a day off on Friday, while others said they will stay at home in order to participate in the strike.

In response, regime forces reportedly issued threats against vendors in Magwe Region, warning them to open their stalls on Friday.

A fake statement purportedly issued by the National League for Democracy (NLD)the party led by detained State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyiappeared, urging the public not to observe the silent strike. The ruse failed, however, as no one believed the statement, which was widely believed to have been spread by military-linked social media accounts.

An earlier silent strike on March 24 disproved the juntas claim to have reasserted normalcy in the country after the coup, and gave the public another channel through which to show their defiance of the junta. It had a big impact, with the streets of Yangon and other cities practically deserted.

On Friday, activists and other civilians also plan to stage a Black Campaign, in which they will post pictures of themselves wearing black and flashing three-finger salutes of resistance.



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Burma Nearly 500 Clashes Between Myanmar Junta Troops and Karen Rebels Recorded in Two Months

Karen National Liberation Army troops on Karen Martyrs Day in August 2018 in Papun District. / The Irrawaddy

Almost 500 violent clashes were recorded between Myanmars junta and the Karen National Union (KNU) during the last two months, killing 461 regime soldiers, according to the KNU.

In October and November, 481 clashes were reported in areas controlled by the KNUs armed wing, the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA), in Karen and Mon states and Bago Region, leaving 461 junta soldiers dead and injuring another 425, according to the KNU.

The KNU said its forces only lost nine troops and suffered 30 injuries.

The Irrawaddy could not independently verify any of the reports.

Brigadier General Shar Htu Waw of the KNLA said the armed group was defending its land after regime troops advanced into its territory without warning.

Fighting was inevitable when regime troops encroached on KNU territory, the brigadier said.

The KNU has been fighting for autonomy for more than 70 years.

It signed the National Ceasefire Agreement in October 2015 and remains a signatory.

Despite that pact, the KNLA clashed with the military in Papun District since 2018 in response to troop deployments and road construction in KNU-controlled territory.

Papun District in Karen State has seen most of the fighting since the coup.

On Monday in Papun, KNLAs Brigade 5 and a people defense force (PDF) resistance group ambushed junta forces in a village, killing four soldiers and injuring six, according to the KNU.

The attack suggested the KNLA is increasingly working with civilian resistance groups to fight the regime.

Brig-Gen Shar Htu Waw denied the KNLAs command has a policy to fight with the PDFs.

If there is a policy, we will formally announce it, he said.

The KNU denounced the February coup and since March the KNLA has attacked military outposts in Papun District. Thousands of Papun civilians fled their homes after the regime retaliated with airstrikes in March and April.

Some KNLA brigades have sheltered the PDFs and trained civilian volunteers in their territory, attracting condemnation from the regime.

Engagements have also been reported in at least five out of seven KNLA brigades in eastern Myanmar.

More than 82,000 residents  almost the entire rural population of Papun  have abandoned their homes since June, according to a report by the Karen Peace Support Network last week.

It recorded 770 reports of regime shelling, causing civilian injuries and damage to property in Papun between June 6 and Nov. 22, with the heaviest shelling in September.



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Top US Diplomat Headed to Southeast Asia with China, Myanmar on Agenda
Burma Top US Diplomat Headed to Southeast Asia with China, Myanmar on Agenda

Secretary of State Antony Blinken participates in a virtual meeting with ASEAN foreign ministers, from the US State Department in Washington on July 13, 2021. / State Department / Flickr

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will head to Southeast Asia next week on a tour designed to show the regions importance to the US strategy of confronting China, and to further address the worsening crisis in military-ruled Myanmar.

State Department spokesman Ned Price said in a statement Wednesday that Blinken will start off his round-the-world journey with a meeting with his G7 colleagues Friday through Sunday in Liverpool, England.

Then, Blinken will visit Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand from Dec. 13-16 to stress the top priority of US foreign policy, which is to challenge an ever more assertive China.

The trip will come right after US State Department Counselor Derek Chollets trip to Cambodia and Indonesia on Dec. 8-13 to engage with stakeholders on key regional issues, including the crisis in Myanmar, which has been in social and political turmoil since a military coup in February.

In Phnom Penh, Chollet will discuss Cambodias upcoming chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Myanmar, an ASEAN member, was excluded from the blocs summit in October after its regime failed to honor commitments it made to ASEAN to take steps to resolve its countrys crisis. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen will visit Myanmar in January, becoming the first head of government to meet regime leader Min Aung Hlaing. In Jakarta, Chollet will focus on further deepening the US-Indonesia strategic partnership.

Throughout the counselors trip, he will underscore the importance of strengthening US-ASEAN cooperation to press the Myanmar military regime to cease violence, release all those unjustly detained, allow unhindered humanitarian access, and restore Myanmars path to inclusive democracy, the State Department said.

Chollet will then join Blinken for his engagements in Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand.

In Jakarta, Blinken will give a speech on the significance of the Indo-Pacific region while in Kuala Lumpur he will address the need for the region to remain free and open, Price said.

In each country, Secretary Blinken will address the worsening crisis in Burma, Price said, using Myanmars former name.

Since the coup, Myanmars military regime has repeatedly committed atrocities including extrajudicial killings, arrests, tortures and arson attacks against protesters and their property, despite international condemnation. So far, it has killed more than 1,300 civilians.

In July, the US imposed fresh sanctions on 22 individuals including four Myanmar ministers in response to the coup and the militarys attacks against the countrys pro-democracy movement.

Under the Biden administration several US delegations have visited Southeast Asia. Daniel Kritenbrink, the US assistant secretary of state for East Asia, visited the region last week.

US President Joe Biden joined ASEAN leaders in a virtual summit last month, the first time in four years Washington has engaged at the top level with the bloc.

The US has repeatedly denounced the Feb. 1 military coup that ousted the civilian government of Myanmar, and the jailing of civilian leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

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Myanmar coup leader Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing

A UK-based nongovernmental organization has submitted evidence to the International Criminal Court (ICC) it says proves that Myanmar junta leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaing is guilty of crimes against humanity.

As commander-in-chief, Min Aung Hlaing led a military coup on Feb. 1 that overthrew Myanmars elected government led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy (NLD).

In its submission under Article 15 of the Rome Statutethe international treaty that established the Hague-based ICCthe Myanmar Accountability Project (MAP) urged the court to open a criminal investigation into the widespread and systematic use of torture as part of the regimes violent crackdown against the protest movement in the country.

The leader of the illegal coup is criminally responsible for the security forces under his command committing mass atrocity crimes, said MAP director Chris Gunness. The prospects of a conviction are good and we believe that grounds for issuing an arrest warrant against Min Aung Hlaing are overwhelming.

The MAP said it submitted to the ICC clear evidence of torture against a named individual, along with legal analysis to show that the use of torture in Myanmar is widespread, systematic and the result of state-wide policies. This clearly meets the threshold of crimes against humanity, the NGO said in a statement Thursday.

Our submission to the ICC sets out a powerful case for criminal responsibility for these crimes going all the way up to Min Aung Hlaing himself, Gunness said.

In its statement, the MAP said the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM) has collected over 219,000 items of information since the coup. It quoted IIMM head Nicholas Koumjian as saying there is evidence [that] shows security forces acting in a coordinated manner across different regions, systematically targeting specific categories of persons, such as journalists and medical professionals. The IIMM was established in 2018 by the UN Human Rights Council to collect evidence of international crimes and violations of international law committed in Myanmar since 2011.

Meanwhile, Myanmars shadow civilian National Unity Government (NUG) is also working to prosecute Myanmars military at the ICC. The NUG was set up in the wake of the coup by ousted NLD lawmakers and their ethnic allies.

Myanmar is not an ICC member, but Acting President Duwa Lashi La of the NUG lodged a declaration with the ICC registrar in August, accepting the ICCs jurisdiction with respect to international crimes committed in Myanmar since July 1, 2002, the earliest date permitted by the Rome Statute.

Myanmars military regime has attracted international condemnation since the February coup for its use of deadly violence against pro-democracy protesters and other civilians including children. Among the most recent incidents to make international headlines, junta forces used a vehicle to ram a peaceful anti-coup protest in Yangons Kyimyindaing Township on Dec. 5, killing at least four people and injuring dozens, and regime forces allegedly burned alive 10 villagers, including five teenagers aged between 14 and 17, in Salingyi Township, Sagaing Region, on Dec. 8.

As of Tuesday, 1,305 people had been killed by junta forces since the coup, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, a rights group that has been monitoring deaths and arrests since the military seized power. Another 10,756 people, including democratically elected government leaders, have been detained by the junta, it said.



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Equinix says that PE3 is the companys 18th IBX in Australia. With an initial investment of US$54 million, the data centre strengthens Perths position as the digital gateway between Australia, Asia-Pacific, and Middle East.

According to Equinix, Perth is a strategic part of Australias internet infrastructure due to its proximity to Southeast Asia and direct connectivity with Asia Pacific, European, Middle East, and Africa regions via subsea cables.

As the alternative path from Sydney for redundancy and a faster route to key global markets, Equinix describes Perth as a strategic location for global cloud, network and over-the-top (OTT) providers, as well as governments, mining, and the resources sectors.

Equinix notes that Perth is undergoing accelerated digital transformation over the past 18 months due to the pandemic and the Digital Strategy initiative announced by the Western Australian Government.

In September 2021, the Western Australian Government recorded a $5.6 billion surplus, pledging to allocate it on health, infrastructure, housing, and climate change as part of its 2021-22 State Budget.

This includes a $500 million to upgrade its digital technology infrastructure over the next four years. Equinix says the PE3 meets the growing demand for private low-latency connectivity in Western Australia and provides access to the digital infrastructure building blocks organisations need to support their digital transformation journeys.



Equinix highlights the following key facts about PE3:

The PE3 IBX is located adjacent to the PE2 IBX approximately 22km (13 miles) from Perth Airport with a secure link bridge connecting the two facilities. The first phase of PE3 provides an initial capacity of approximately 700 cabinets and a colocation space of more than 1,830 square km (approximately 38,600 square feet). When fully built, PE3 will offer 1,650 cabinets and a colocation space of more than 10,600 square metres (approximately 114,200 square feet).

The Equinix campus in Perth provides direct access to multiple subsea cables, including the Australian Singapore Cable (ASC) and Indigo Cable systems. In addition, the Oman Australia Cable (OAC) connecting Perth to Muscat through Platform Equinix will be the first express submarine network to link Australia and the European, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) region when complete in the second quarter of 2022.

Interconnected with Equinixs existing facilities in Australia, PE3 connects customers to more than 1,000 organisations, including 215 networks and 395 cloud providers who utilise Platform Equinix in Australia to address the rising demand from digital leaders that need essential digital infrastructure to ensure future business success.

The PE3 IBX provides interconnection solutions, including Equinix Fabric, a SDN-enabled interconnection service that allows enterprises to connect between its own distributed infrastructure and any other companys distributed infrastructure. This enables customers in Perth to set up directly with international and local cloud service providers in Australia including Alibaba, AWS, Google Cloud, Microsoft Azure, Oracle Cloud, SAP Cloud, and IBM Cloud, as well as major network service providers like Telstra, Optus, and Vocus.

As part of its commitment to reaching 100% renewable energy and achieving Science-Based Target and global climate neutrality by 2030, Equinix is increasing and expanding its renewable energy commitment. In August 2021, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) granted authorisation for a joint renewable energy purchasing group led by Equinix, where applicants will pool their demand and collectively tender and negotiate to purchase power from a solar or wind electricity generation facility in Australia.

Equinix Australia data centres are certified to meet rigorous environmental and energy management standards. PE3 has adopted a number of green features and measures, including motion-activated LED lights, high temperature chilled water set points, DCIM and Adaptive Control Systems, as well as cold/hot aisle containment to reduce the consumption of resources.



With the addition of PE3, Equinix now has a national footprint of 18 IBX data centres across Perth, Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Adelaide, and Brisbane. In Asia-Pacific, Equinix operates 51 IBX data centres across 13 metros in Australia, China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Korea and Singapore. Globally, Platform Equinix comprises more than 235 data centres across 65 metros and 27 countries.

JTSIs Invest and Trade WA team welcomes Equinixs investment in the State and the positioning of Perths growing importance as a digital gateway to global markets. Invest and Trade WA looks forward continuing to work with Equinix as the State develops a thriving local technology industry, says Western Australia Government Department of Jobs Tourism, Science, and Innovation (JTSI) director general Rebecca Brown.

In todays environment, our partnership with Equinix is essential to getting edge compute as close to our customers as possible, improving the customer experience and helping them pursue a digital-first strategy. Perth is a strategic digital gateway into and out of Australia. The opening of PE3 presents more collaboration opportunities for us to grow in the fast-developing Perth market, says Telstra head of state and group owner mining and energy Malcolm De Silva.

The opening of Equinixs third data centre in Perth will enable us to further support the continued acceleration of digitalisation among businesses with our unified cloud and telecommunications solutions. Critical infrastructure like PE3 will provide the essential digital building blocks we need to develop transformative technology pathways for our customers, says CorpCloud executive director James Reid.

The opening of our 18th IBX in Australia is a milestone for Equinix. The West Australian market has experienced substantial growth driven by the acceleration of digital transformation across industries. Digital leaders are increasingly coming to Equinix to access all the necessary essential infrastructure required to create a digital advantage. With continued investment in subsea cables, Perth is becoming a key gateway for digital expansion and collaboration into Asia Pacific and the Middle East, enabling our customers and partners to expand into new regions, countries and metros around the world, concludes Equinix Australia managing director Guy Danskine.
TPG Telecom has unveiled a new enterprise strategy to position itself as the telco of choice for small and large business and government customers.

The new strategy reveal comes as TPG Telecom announced it has been awarded a five-year, multi-million-dollar contract with Qantas to supply fixed and mobile voice services as the airline modernises its domestic communications network.

TPG Telecom says it's new business and enterprise strategy is being led the companys group executive enterprise and government, Jonathan Rutherford who joined the telco in July.

Since the merger of TPG Telecom and Vodafone, the company has undergone significant investment in its business sales capability with new hires across sales, marketing and support roles as well as the consolidation of its four existing business divisions (Vodafone, TPG, iiNet and Internode) under the single TPG Telecom brand.

We are building Australias newest and smartest 5G network, which, alongside our extensive fibre network and access to the NBN, will put us on a path to disrupt the market and be the number one communications provider for business innovation, choice and value, Rutherford said.

As we accelerate the benefits from the merger of TPG Telecom and Vodafone, now is the time to put a strategic stake in the ground to show all Australian businesses that TPG Telecom has the infrastructure, reach, innovation and connectivity solutions to help them grow and compete across Australia and the world. Given the size of the business market and our strong network assets and products, TPG Telecom should be able to reach $1 billion-a-year business revenue and we think thats achievable by 2025.

As part of its strategy to grow business, enterprise and government revenue TPG Telecom said it will target sectors including small and medium enterprise, government, mining and manufacturing, transport and logistics, retail and healthcare.

Across these sectors, TPG Telecom says it has identified three core strategic priorities. These include:

Supporting business growth and competitiveness through fast, reliable and secure, converged communication services

Delivering best-in-class managed network, cloud and security services for enterprise and government customers

Becoming a market leader in Internet of Things (IoT) and mobile private network (MPN) innovations and solutions.

The past two years have shown how vital connectivity is to our everyday lives and it is now clearer than ever that every business in Australia must be a technology business if they want to thrive in the digital world, Rutherford said.

Over the next five to ten years, we will see a seismic shift in the digital capability of all Australian businesses as voice and data connectivity solutions, new mobile applications and products, managed services, and the data capability made possible by IoT, transforms how we all connect.

Underpinning all of this will be robust, reliable and fast mobile and fixed-line networks. At TPG Telecom we have the right mix of networks, talent and innovation to support Australian businesses as we help kickstart the economic engine of the nation and help build a more connected and prosperous future.

Qantas connects to TPG Telecom

In one of its first major customer wins, TPG Telecoms re-launched business and government division has been named the major supplier of fixed and mobile voice services for Qantas.

Under the new five-year deal, TPG Telecom says it will transform the Qantas communications network with the addition of a new, fibre network that will provide voice and data carriage services across its head offices and airport terminals in Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, Adelaide and Darwin.

The transition of fixed voice services has already commenced with the transfer of the Qantas 1300/1800 inbound customer support numbers to TPG Telecoms mobile network, with more voice services to follow.

The partnership comes as TPG Telecom continues to deliver the vast majority of mobility services to Qantas. 90% of the flag carriers mobile services have moved to the companys mobile network, resulting in reduced costs and increased service levels for the airline.

Like Qantas, we are in the business of connecting people, so we are excited to partner with this iconic business to support its connectivity needs as it moves into the next phase of its transformation journey, Rutherford said.

The whole-of-business connectivity solution being provided by TPG Telecom will play an important role in Qantass IT delivery transformation to reduce cost and complexity as it implements its three-year, post-COVID recovery plan.

As we recover from COVID, it is more important than ever that Qantas has a reliable, fast and secure communications network so that we can stay connected as an organisation and importantly, to our customers, said Qantas group chief information officer Sam Charmand.

TPG Telecom has proven its capability and experience in delivering large and complex infrastructure programs. They have successfully transitioned the majority of our fixed voice services within weeks, showcasing the value of their automation capability, and they have been responsive and flexible which is exactly what we need our suppliers to be."

This first appeared in the subscription newsletter CommsWire on 7 December 2021.
If your call centre hardware or software isn't serving your business needs anymore, the good news is changing your platform is as easy as can be with no great effort or expense.

Perhaps your call centre still runs on individual phone lines and an on-premises PABX. Its not so long ago this was the standard, with businesses of all sizes and types running their own telephone hardware. In fact, even the name PABX refers to the office phone system being an extension of the public telephone exchange.

Problems with physical phone lines are many; your business pays a rental fee for every line every month. Subscribe to too few and you cant make or receive enough calls for demand; subscribe to too many and you cant answer them all, pay excess fees, and annoy customers with unanswered phone calls.

Of course, in this modern age, we're no strangers to server virtualisation and while the traditional data centre has moved off-premises, the phone system has not always followed suit. Yet, it can; and not only can you virtualise a phone system, but you can subscribe to Internet-based SIP trunks instead of the traditional phone line.

It doesn't end there; in the same way software-as-a-service - or SaaS - options now exist for all manner of business software like accounting (NetSuite), customer relations and sales (SalesForce), and more, so too you can run your whole call centre on cloud-based software.

It comes down to this: your business may well be using call-centre software that you have to install and manage yourself, on servers you have to buy and manage, using fixed phone line services you have to provision in advance and carefully balance against customer volumes and staff numbers. If this is you, in whole or part, theres a whole new world of opportunity for you.

Or, perhaps you know all this, and your call centre is modern but running with software thats costly, inflexible, and lacking in features.

Whatever your situation, Aircall says there's a better way. Aircall is a French startup providing a VoIP - voice-over-IP, or voice over the Internet - phone system to companies across Australia, Europe, and the United States. It offers a full call centre offering meaning its more than adequate for small to medium businesses also.

You pay a fixed fee per phone user per month with the flexibility to scale up and down as your campaigns require. Depending on your audience and the features you require you can select one of several plans that include either 1000 minutes of outbound calls or unlimited outbound calls, and unlimited inbound calls from any device or unlimited calls domestically, along with other features like analytics, live call monitoring and more. Each plan includes voicemail, IVR, text messaging, and call recording, as well as more than 80 integrations with other popular applications.

You can provision new phone numbers when you need for a small fee, for as little or as long as you require. You have desktop, laptop, smartphone, and tablet softphone clients allowing you and your staff to work from anywhere.

Imagine the ease during - oh, let's say a global pandemic - of sending your staff to work from home and so long as they have an Internet connection, a computer, and a headset they can still work equally as well as they did in the office with absolutely no effort on your part to divert phone numbers? Compare that to the expense and work involved in diverting landline phone numbers to staff mobile phones or trying to set up computers, desk phones, and telephone numbers in another location.

So, with all this said, we promised you it was only a few easy steps to change your platform.

In fact, you can start in as much time as it takes to fill in a form. Aircall offers a free seven-day trial letting you make and receive calls from whatever device you have at hand, right away. The trial includes call monitoring, performance analytics, integrations, click-to-dial (so you can simply click on a phone number in an email signature, for example) and more.

Now, if you're ready to go live, the steps are

Set up your Aircall account with the number of user licenses you want, based on how many concurrent calls you will need to cater for at one time, both inbound and outbound. Set up your users with the softphone app on whatever devices you choose. With nothing more than an Internet connection and a headset needed, you can have your call centre up in minutes. Choose whether you want to start with a new number or re-use your existing number. Aircall can supply you with a new phone number, but you can also port your existing number in most cases, no matter the type of technology it currently uses. There may be some caveats, depending on your current carriers restrictions. Porting your existing number means your customers dont need to make any change whatsoever. If you start with a new number you can still divert calls from your pre-existing services, but there will typically be a fee for this, so be sure to place a timeframe on long you intend to redirect for. Update any marketing collateral, email signatures, websites, etc., to list your new phone number. Explore the options you have within Aircall to ensure you get the best results. Monitor your users calls to ensure theyre following your guidelines and best practices. Explore the analytics to figure out your busy periods to make sure you have sufficient staff numbers. Cancel services with your previous telephony, call centre hardware, and call centre software suppliers.

Actually, of these steps, you can see besides figuring out which phone number to use, your only real work is in signing up for Aircall and getting started within minutes.

It really is that easy. So, if you want the best for your business, for your staff and customers, give Aircall a try and see for yourself how easy it is to change your call centre software today.
Chinese multinational technology company Lenovos infrastructure solutions group adds the ThinkEdge SE450 to its portfolio, an artificial intelligence platform that accelerates business insights.

Lenovo says the ThinkEdge SE450 puts forward intelligent edge capabilities with AI-ready technology that provides insights and computing performance to environments, ramping real-time decision making at the edge and realising full business potential.

To better address challenges and capture competitive advantage from todays Smart Normal, businesses must be able to harness real-time AI insights directly at the edge-sites. With speed and agility being top-of-mind, we are developing powerful, secure, and flexible solutions that reduce response time to market and increase value to customers, explains Lenovo ISG president Sumir Bhatia.

We have designed the ThinkEdge SE450 server to minimise business complexities and enhance compute power in remote locations with a wide variety of workloads. Whether it is real-time patient monitoring, diagnoses in healthcare, or efficient traffic management systems in smart cities, or predictive maintenance on the manufacturing line, we are delivering on our promise of AI at the edge, Bhatia claims.

Research firm Gartner estimates that 75% of enterprise-generated data will be processed at the edge by 2025 and 80% of enterprise IoT projects will incorporate AI by 2022. Lenovo customers are using edge-driven data sources for decision making on factory floors, retail shelves, city streets, and telecommunication mobile sites. Lenovo says the ThinkEdge portfolio goes beyond the data centre to deliver computing power experience.

Expanding our cloud to on-premise enables faster data processing while adding resiliency, performance and enhanced user experiences. As an early testing partner, our current deployment of Lenovos ThinkEdge SE450 server is hosting a 5G network delivered on edge sites and introducing new edge applications to enterprises, explains Etisalat vice president fixed and mobile core Khaled Al Suwaidi.

It gives us a compact, ruggedise platform with the necessary performance to host our telecom infrastructure and deliver applications, such as e-learning, to users, Suwaidi says.

Lenovos ThinkEdge SE450 delivers real-time insights with compute power and deployment capabilities that can support multiple AI workloads while allowing customers to scale.

Lenovo says it meets the demands of critical workloads with a unique, quieter go-anywhere form factor, featuring a shorter depth that allows it to be easily installed in space constrained locations.

The GPU-rich server is built to meet the requirements of vertically specific edge environments with a rugged design that withstands a wider operating temperature, as well as high dust, shock and vibration for harsh settings.

As one of the first Nvidia-Certified Edge systems, Lenovos ThinkEdge SE450 leverages Nvidia GPUs for enterprise and industrial AI at the edge applications.

Businesses can navigate the edge-to-cloud platform by using resilient, better secured infrastructure solutions that mitigate security risks and data threats. The ThinkEdge portfolio provides connectivity and security options that are easily deployed and more securely managed in todays remote environments, including a new locking bezel to help prevent unauthorised access and robust security features to better protect data.

The ThinkEdge SE450 is built on 3rd Gen Intel Xeon Scalable processor with Intel Deep Learning Boost technologies, featuring all-flash storage for running AI and analytics at the edge and optimised for delivering intelligence.

It has been verified by Intel as an Intel Select Solution for vRAN. This pre-validated solution takes the guesswork out of the evaluation and procurement process by meeting defined hardware and software configuration requirements and rigorous system-wide performance benchmarks to speed deployment and lower risk for communications service providers.

Our collaboration with Lenovo helps enterprises across many sectors drive business value through network transformation and edge computing, comments Intel vice president and general manager of the network and edge platforms division Jeni Panhorst.

Resilient and flexible edge servers built with 3rd Gen Intel Xeon Scalable processors provide enhanced performance enabling the delivery of innovative AI-driven services where customers will expect them, adds Panhorst.

The ThinkEdge SE450 is automatically installed and managed with Lenovo Open Cloud Automation (LOC-A) and easily configured with Lenovo XClarity Orchestrator software. Remote access to the server, via a completely out-of-band wired or wireless access, avoids any unnecessary trip to the edge locations.

Lenovo says the ThinkEdge SE450 is the culmination of multiple prototypes with live trials running real workloads in telecommunication, retail and smart city settings. Its AI-ready server makes it easier for customers to deploy these edge solutions. As enterprises build out their hybrid infrastructures from the cloud to the edge, it is the extension for the on-premise cloud currently supporting Microsoft, Nvidia, Red Hat, and VMware technologies.

Lenovo offerings are also available as-a-Service through Lenovo TruScale, which extends workloads from the edge to the cloud in a consumption-based model.
High school students in South Australia can gain cyber skills with a focus on artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and security through the SkillsBuild for Students, a six-month online program in collaboration with IBM, the South Australian Government, and AustCybers South Australian Cyber Security Innovation Code.

Minister for Innovation and Skills David Pisoni says the initiative will help students gain cyber skills that will have a real-world application when they enter the workforce.

Today, South Australian high school students will have the opportunity to begin skilling themselves for a future career in cyber thanks to a new program on offer to all schools that is free to all learnersbe it public, private or independent, Pisoni says.

South Australia is in prime position to seize the opportunities created by the global demand for cyber security solutions and high-quality talent.

The IBM SkillsBuild program will give high schools access to a free resource for students and educators. It also includes courses on emerging technologies and courses on professional competencies, both leading to free digital badges that students can share on their online resumes, Pisoni says.

Pisoni says the program can help students prepare for internships and jobs and earn the same badges as professionals in the field. The platform will provide skills development in both technical as well as workplace readiness topics.

The partnership is part of IBMs global commitment to provide 30 million people of all ages with new skills needed for the jobs of tomorrow by 2030, and to address critical skills shortages in Australia.

IBM Australia and New Zealand managing director Katrina Troughton warns that without intervention, Australia faces extreme shortages of cyber security talent which is needed across all industries.

Cyber security is one of the biggest issues of this decade. It impacts nearly every facet of lifefrom national security through to personal safety and mental wellbeing. But with a shortage of people with cyber skills in Australia, we need to look at ways to fast track young people into these critical areas of need, and that challenge is bigger than any organisation to address alone, Troughton says.

Our partnership with the South Australian Government and AustCyber South Australian Node is unlocks opportunities for high school students and gives them access to the range of possibilities that a career in technology holds, Troughton says. More than that, students will be able to enter the workforce of tomorrow with the digital acumen they need to be able to fully participate in and contribute to the digital economy.

AustCyber CEO Michelle Price says the SkillsBuild iniative would build on curriculum-based cyber security initiatives in the classroom and promote the cyber sector to Australias workforce of the future.

With an estimated 7,000 new direct jobs needed in the cyber security sector by 2024, now is the time to give our students the skills they need to be ready to meet our future challenges, Price suggests.

Students will have the opportunity to embed learning on everythingfrom the basics, right through to the complexities in cloud computing, artificial intelligence and the emerging technology of tomorrow. It will give them an edge in any vocation they decide to go on to further study and/or when entering the workforce.

This is not the first time that IBM has launched educational initiatives. IBM says it has been preparing students for the future through the P-Tech (Pathways to Technology Early College High School) program for 10 years.

Launched in 2011, the P-Tech model has been adopted in more than 300 schools across 28 countries with over 600 corporate partners. Now, IBM and its industry partners have created the IBM SkillsBuild for Students program to bring those same benefits to students around the world.

In Australia, IBM has successfully piloted SkillsBuild in New South Wales in partnership with AustCybers New South Wales Node and the New South Wales Government, which saw almost 70 schools participate, and platform content mapped to the New South Wales curriculum.

The IBM SkillsBuild for Students online program is available for South Australian high schools to register from today.
There's now a single solution to manage all of the information in your organisation, structured and unstructured, with AI to classify it all, and it's an Australian success story making waves on the global stage doing what was once infeasible - and today, a must for every organisation.

Castlepoint Systems. This multi award-winning regtech firm offers something new and disruptive - a single system that controls and manages all of the information in your company, government department, university or any other organisation.

The article has much more information about Castlepoint, and the video is embedded a second time below, so feel free to watch the video now if you want, or to keep reading more where you can watch it - and more - below.

The company explains it registers every record in every business system, and uses Artificial Intelligence to classify it against rules and regulations (including Records Authorities), and applies appropriate lifecycle controls.

Castlepoint acts as "a single pane of glass" to find, relate, manage, and audit every record in your network, no matter what system it is stored in, and it does this without any impact on your existing systems or your user base, and without complex rules engines.

So, how does Castlepoint Systems do this? It all starts with the "Data Castle."

The company asks us to imagine a castle on a hilltop. In the castle live the lawmakers, the guards and the overseers. From the castle, they can see the whole kingdom, enforce order, and protect the citizens. Those citizens can carry out their normal business outside the castle walls, in the normal way, under the aegis of the castle keep.

Castlepoint is a Data Castle. Your data stays in its existing systems, meaning there is no impact on users. Castlepoint sees, reads and registers every record in your environment, in any system, and classifies its contents using AI.

It then maps all applicable regulatory rules against the record automatically, to tell your compliance teams what needs to be retained for how long; what is high-risk; and what has high or low value.

Using everything it knows about each record, including its audit trail, Castlepoint helps protect information assets by alerting on breaches and providing powerful, contextual discovery across all systems.

And it does this without agents or connectors, and without performance impacts, easily scaling up to ingest huge amounts of information by simply adding more servers, delivering a new paradigm for information management command and control.

Compliance is no longer an issue, as it is handled by Castlepoint - even if the data is in dozens or even hundreds of systems, while security is absolutely a priority, enabling effortless discovery, with an accuracy that can do in one scan of the ingested information what took humans months of manual labour, as you'll learn about in the video interview.

There's a lot more to know about Castlepoint Systems, with its "about us" page an excellent summary of what the company does, how and why it does it, and its values, which are making the company a highly sought after place to work, and with its recent $3 million capital raising from the CSIRO's Main Sequence https://www.mseq.vc/ investment fund, and its latest award, being named in the Global 100 AI FinTech List.

So, to discover what else makes this remarkable company and its Canberra-based team special, we spoke with Rachael Greaves, the CEO and Co-Founder to learn more! The video interview is above, and directly below, after which is a summary of the topics we spoke about, after which you'll find two more video interviews Rachael conducted earlier this year with Ticker News and AusBiz Startup Daily, followed by more information on Castlepoint!

I started by introducing Rachael, welcoming her to the program, and asking what Castlepoint Systems offers the market today.





I naturally wanted to know what was the spark that encouraged Rachael and her co-founder Gavin McKay to create Castlepoint Systems, and to learn about their backgrounds in this area - what got both excited to building a business around modern data management?





Next we spoke about the fact data management is something people would be familiar with, given software like Microsoft's SharePoint as an EDRMS or electronic document and records management system, and how is Castlepoint's system different - and better.





We then discussed Castlepoint's "Data Castle" approach, and why it is a superior way to manage, search and secure all an organisations data.





This was followed by acknowledging the increasing growth in cyber-attacks and the risk exposure organisations face from not having control around their data, where Rachael explained the regulatory need for the highest levels of security, given the records retention and handling and requirements under various acts and regulations.





After this came Rachaels thoughts on the new Federal Government Data Strategy due to arrive in the very near future.





I then asked about Castepoints recent $3m capital raise and how that money is being used, followed by a question about the companys international expansion.





Rachael highlighted some customer success stories, after which came the COVID question regarding digital acceleration, how it affected the company and its clients, and lessons learned.





I also wanted to know what lessons Rachael could share to other startup founders about creating a company, growing it to nearly 30 employees, gaining the trust and business of customers, getting funding and growing internationally?





We discussed Castlepoints awards since its founding in 2018, including the recent listing in the Global 100 AI FinTech List, and the importance of industry accolades to the business.





After sharing what else we should know about Castlepoint I hadnt yet asked about, Rachael shared memories of her first computer and how some of the educational games she played and loved as a child on an early Windows PC are still available decades later for her five year old to play and learn from on an iPad and via Steam.





Rachael shared how she saw Castlepoint Systems evolving over the next couple of years, and how she sees the industry evolving into the 2030s.





I ended by asking Rachael to share the best piece of advice she has ever received to help her get where she is are today, followed by her final message to iTWire and iTWireTV viewers and readers, and to Castlepoints current and future customers and partners.

So, I genuinely urge you to watch this fascinating interview, where we learn about a great world-beating Australian company enjoying well earned-success, growing revenue by 20% per month, with an on-point team of founders and experts disruptively revolutionising the management and search of information - at just the right time, without disruption to the organisation, right when the exponentially flood of information cant be handled anymore by legacy systems.

I really enjoyed speaking with Rachael, as I do with all of my video interview subjects, and it really is fascinating to see the ongoing creation and innovation of technology solving humanitys ever evolving needs.

Technology gives humans super powers, with Castlepoints technology one to use, and one to watch!

Here's Rachael on Ticker News:

Here's the AusBiz Startup Daily video interview with Rachael Greaves:

Here's more information on why Castlepoint Systems has revolutionised and utterly disrupted information management for the better:



The digital age is well and truly upon us. Its impact on organisations has been profound and its disruptive nature continues to bring threats and opportunities. Organisations that once relied on traditional methods of controlling information are using systems that are no longer relevant or effective  data is growing too fast and increased regulatory requirements are making it impossible to keep up. Information is spread across hundreds of systems, devices, locations, and in many different formats. Whats more, there are many more people making data, using it, and sharing it further afield, heightening the risk of high-profile breaches and data theft.

The result is that too many regulated organisations are not secure or compliant. They cannot integrate information across different systems, they are losing documents, they are failing audits, they are wasting money, and they are at risk of large fines and reputational damage if breaches occur. The traditional systems intended to take care of this, such as EDRMS, were once considered non-strategic and often ignored. But this new world of digital disruption, exponential information growth, and increased regulatory scrutiny means attitudes are changing. Information and records management and security are now regarded as strategically important. The risks of failure are simply too high.

Recognising this shift in attitudes, and a gap in the market, Castlepoint was born. Developed from the ground up by two-founders who are specialists in this field, it uses a new approach called a Data Castle. This is a software system that oversees and controls all the information within a network kingdom from its vantage point above those systems, without ever needing to customise, integrate, duplicate data, or cause manual work for users or managers. Using AI, it can find, relate, manage, and audit every record in the network, regardless of what system or format it is stored in. And it does this without any impact on an organisations systems or user base, and without any complex rules engines required to maintain it.

That means organisations can not only see what types of information they have, but also calculate their data risk and value, where is it held, who interacts with it, and what happens to it. This ensures the organisation is compliant, that the data is secure, all information is quickly discoverable, and the correct rules are being applied to it. Castlepoint provides productivity gains, new controls to meet regulatory requirements, and delivers significant savings in time and cost.

Castlepoint is a great example of Australian innovation and entrepreneurship using applied intelligence to achieve better outcomes. Better outcomes for clients and their customers, and better outcomes for society. Ultimately, when Castlepoint is implemented, organisations can for the first time have a complete understanding of what they have, where it is, who is doing what to it, and whether it is being managed according to their rules and policies.
GUEST RESEARCH: Artificial intelligence, machine learning, and deep learning are applied in cybersecurity, but their applications may not always work as intended. To ensure that its applications work, AI Uses in Blue Team Security, a new publication by IT governance professional association Isaca, takes a look at AI, ML, and DL applications in cybersecurity to determine what is working, what is not, what looks encouraging for the future, and what may be more hype than substance.

Leveraging interviews with engineers behind these technologies, first-hand examination and use of some of the related products, and observations of chief information security officers (CISOs) and chief information officers (CIOs), AI Uses in Blue Team Security seeks to determine whether marketing tactics obscure reality when it comes to new security technology.

Of the 13 engineers who commented, none felt that the marketing associated with the products they were working on was accurate with respect to advertised capabilities. However, the engineers were optimistic about the direction they were heading and the technologies they would be creating as they relate to ML and DL.

The publication outlines the three areas in cybersecurity where the engineers believe that ML helps most significantly:

Network intrusion detection/security information and event management (SIEM) solutions: Keeping an intrusion detection system (IDS) up to date can be a manual and time-consuming process. In the market today, ML capabilities are helping to enhance and reimagine the IDS methods of signature-based intrusion detection and anomaly-based intrusion detection.

Phishing attack prevention: There are bots and automated call centres that pretend to be human. ML solutions such as natural language processing (NLP) and Completely Automated Public Turing tests to tell Computers and Humans Apart (Captcha) help prove whether users are human or a machine, in turn detecting potential phishing attacks.

Offensive cybersecurity application: ML is being applied to help with phases of penetration testing, specifically in reconnaissance, scanning, and fuzzing/exploit development.

On the other hand, there are a few areas where ML is overused, the whitepaper says. Developers may be using ML for problems that do not require it, or in some instances, ML solutions may be ineffective. The paper explores those areas as well as malicious uses of ML and DL, specifically in social engineering and phishing.

Machine learnings gradual adoption in cybersecurity has led to good results, and there are innovative products in the market that should take ML and DL to new levels, comments Infosec principal security researcher and lead developer of the publication Keatron Evans.

However, its possible cybercriminals may be outpacing the cyber defenders when it comes to developing and employing new technologies, and not all ML/AI-based products are as innovative as they claim to be. Cybersecurity professionals need to continuously educate themselves to be able to not only stay on top of the latest developments, but also discern which technology tools will best meet their needs, Evans concludes.
Queensland's CS Energy has denied that there was any indication a network attack on the company in November was by a state-based group.

Chief executive Andrew Bills said in a statement issued on Wednesday: "We continue to progressively restore our systems and are working closely with cyber security experts and relevant state and federal agencies."

Papers belonging to the Murdoch stable claimed on Wednesday that the attack was staged by a group from China.

In a somewhat exaggerated account, the Daily Telegraph's political editor James Morrow wrote: "Chinese hackers came within minutes of shutting down a series of power stations capable of lighting three million homes..."

Morrow appeared to be unaware that a group using the Conti ransomware hadfor the attack back in November.

The tale was picked up by the equally excitable Daily Mirror.

TIL that Conti is not a Russia or CIS-based for-profit cybercrime operation; it's actually a Chinese APT. ?https://t.co/RHtkyJ6ez9  Brett Callow (@BrettCallow) December 8, 2021

Bills said further that CS Energy's "ICT systems and safeguards had layers of separation and protection, which enabled it to contain and protect its critical infrastructure to ensure continuity of power to Queenslanders".

Somewhat strangely, the first person to call out Morrow was the Australian Financial Review's Joe Aston, one of the writers of the Rear Window column.

In his withering style Aston wrote: "Sydneys Daily Telegraph splashed its Wednesday edition with the revelation of 'Chinas Dark Plot', an exclusive on Beijings 'cyber hit on our power network'.

"The tableau, rendered in Dulux customer favourite 'Communist Red', depicted Xi Jinping shaking a clenched fist and looming over a defenceless Queensland power station. It was a front page entirely free of the burden of nuance or sophistication. Or facts."

The gang behind Conti has a website on the dark web, where it lists all its victims. But there is also a site on that portion of the web accessible to world+dog, which is more or less a mirror of its site on the dark web.

But then perhaps one should not be surprised at reports of this nature from the Mudroch media, trying to implicate China and lacking facts. As iTWire has pointed out, two recent reports indulged in fiction about the Chinese telecommunication giant Huawei Technologies recently, claiming the company was pulling out of Australia.
This Week in Review

A weekly review of the best and most popular stories published in the Imperial Valley Press. Also, featured upcoming events, new movies at local theaters, the week in photos and much more.
Monticello, IL (61856)

Today

Windy. Cloudy skies will become partly cloudy this afternoon. High around 25F. Winds W at 25 to 35 mph. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph..

Tonight

Cloudy. Low 9F. Winds WNW at 15 to 25 mph.
China committed genocide in the Xinjiang region by preventing births in the Uyghur population, a London panel investigating alleged human rights abuses concluded Friday.

Nine lawyers and human rights experts published their opinion after hearing allegations of torture, rape and inhumane treatment at two evidence sessions this year.

The tribunal was set up at the request of the World Uyghur Congress, the largest group representing exiled Uyghurs, which lobbies the international community to act against China over the alleged abuses.

Beijing has criticised the Uyghur Tribunal, which is not affiliated with any government, as a mendacious anti-China smear and slapped sanctions on its chairman.

In a 63-page report, the panel said there was no evidence of mass killing, which has been the traditional test of genocide under international law.

But it said it was satisfied beyond reasonable doubt the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) intended to destroy a significant part of the Muslim Uyghur minority in the countrys northwest and as such has committed genocide.

The CCP put in place a comprehensive system of measures to optimise the population in Xinjiang to reduce the Uyghur birth rate, including forced sterilisation, birth control and abortion.

The population of Uyghurs in future generations will be smaller than it would have been without these policies. This will result in a partial destruction of the Uyghurs, it added.

In accordance with the Genocide Conventions use of the word destroy this satisfies a prohibited act required for the proof of genocide.

 Xi responsible 

Panel chair Geoffrey Nice, a former UN war crimes prosecutor, and the other members acknowledged that testimony came from people opposed to the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) and the CCP.

But they also examined thousands of pages of documentary evidence from independent researchers and human rights organisations.

The panel concluded that hundreds of thousands of Uyghurs, and possibly more than one million, had been detained without cause, and treated cruelly and inhumanely.

It said it was satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that torture had occurred by or at the instigation of, or with the consent or acquiescence of, public officials or other persons acting in official capacities of the PRC and/or CCP.

It upheld claims of imprisonment, forced transfer, enforced disappearances, rape and sexual violence, persecution and inhumane acts to the same standard of proof.

The tribunal is satisfied that a comprehensive plan for the enactment of multiple but interlinked policies targeting the Uyghurs had been formulated by the PRC, it added, saying President Xi Jinping and other senior officials bear primary responsibility.

The plight of the Uyghurs has contributed to worsening diplomatic relations between Western powers and Beijing, which denies any abuses.

The United States has called Chinas treatment of the Uyghurs genocide, and is mounting a diplomatic boycott of the upcoming Winter Olympics in Beijing with several other Western nations.
An alleged leader of a rebel group in the Central African Republic will go on trial to face charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity, the International Criminal Court (ICC) said on Thursday.

The Hague-based court, which has been considering a slew of accusations against alleged Seleka leader Mahamat Said Abdel Kani, 51, said in a statement it partially confirms the charges and commits the suspect to trial.

One of the poorest countries in the world, the CAR spiralled into conflict in 2013 when president Francois Bozize was ousted by a rebel coalition called the Seleka, drawn largely from the Muslim minority.

The coup triggered a sectarian bloodbath between the Seleka and anti-Balaka forces, who were mainly Christian or animist.

The ICC said the court retained charges against Said that were committed in the capital Bangui between April and August 2013 against detained people suspected to be Bozize supporters.

The crimes included torture, imprisonment and cruel treatment.

The Chamber found that there is sufficient evidence to establish substantial grounds to believe that Mr Said was a senior member of the Seleka coalition and is criminally responsible for those acts, the statement said.

The court rejected accusations against him from a different location in Bangui between September and November 2013.

The CAR authorities handed Said to the ICC in January in response to an international arrest warrant.

Two former anti-Balaka leaders, Patrice-Edouard Ngaissona and Alfred Yekatom, are on trial at the ICC.
Incense wafted in the air as a funeral cortege made its way to a cemetery in northern Iraq for the burial of 41 Yazidis killed by jihadists and recovered from mass graves.

After seizing swathes of Iraq in 2014, Islamic State group jihadists carried out horrific massacres, including in the northern region of Sinjar where the Kurdish-speaking Yazidi minority has long been rooted.

After Iraqi authorities declared victory over the jihadists in 2017, scores of mass graves were discovered across the country, including in the Sinjar town of Kojo.

The first of several mass grave was exhumed in Kojo in mid-March 2019, followed by a long and painstaking process of identifying the remains.

In November, a German court, in a historic first, jailed an Iraqi IS member to life in prison for war crimes against the Yazidis, finding him guilty of genocide.

On Thursday, drums rolled and traditional flutes played as Iraqi soldiers carried 41 wooden coffins.

Portraits of the victims  both men and women  were placed in front of each coffin before it was lowered into the ground.

Flowers and the Iraqi flag were laid on top of the coffins.

Yazidi religious hymns were recited during the ceremony, as women wailed and beat their chest in mourning.

Suleiman Hussein, 53, stood among the mourners to pay respects to his father, a cousin and several uncles.

 Wound reopens 

Hussein helped identify his relatives whose remains were found in mass graves around Kojo thanks to items of clothing and other personal effects.

Iraqi authorities have also taken thousands of DNA samples from families in Sinjar to help identify the victims.

Kiji Ammo Sello, 49, buried his sister-in-law and uncles. In February, he had already laid to rest his sisters and their children.

Each time our wound reopens, he said. It has been seven years and we have known no respite.

Yazidi survivor and 2018 Nobel Peace Prize winner Nadia Murad lamented the delayed final farewells, in a tweet.

Today, my community buried 41 Yazidi victims (26 men and 15 women) of the Kojo massacre, she said of her hometown.

My heart is with all families who will finally be able to honour their loved ones, she wrote.

Yet, thousands of families still wait to bury relatives, which is why we must push for expedited exhumations.

Murad was seized by IS from her home village of Kojo in August 2014 and taken to the city of Mosul.

As a captive of the reviled extremist group, Murad said she was tortured and raped.

 One survivor not enough 

The Yazidis follow an ancient religion rooted in Zoroastrianism, and IS considered them apostates and devil-worshippers.

According to religious authorities, more than 1,280 Yazidis were killed by IS, leaving several hundred children orphaned.

Nearly 70 of their shrines were destroyed.

The mass graves in Iraq where jihadists are believed to have dumped their victims contain up to 12,000 bodies, according to the UN.

Some 5,000 other bodies are thought to be in mass graves in neighbouring Syria.

Iraqi forensics expert Zeid Ali Abbas, who was at Thursdays funeral, said huge challenges face the identification process.

Many families have left Iraq while entire ones are listed as missing with only one survivor around to provide DNA, and that is not enough.

Mourners said they hope other countries will follow Germanys example and put on trial IS members for the crimes they committed.

More action must be taken against other jihadists so that we can find peace and avenge our honour, our martyrs, our children and our parents, Hussein said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday said that the conflict in eastern Ukraine between Kievs army and pro-Russian separatists looks like genocide, at a time of heightened tensions with the West.

Putins comments came as US President Joe Biden was scheduled to speak with Ukraine leader Volodymyr Zelensky and the heads of other countries on Russias borders concerned over Kremlin military aggression.

They came in response to a question during a meeting of the presidential rights council, during which Putin fielded a query on discrimination against Russian speakers beyond Russias borders.

I have to say that Russophobia is a first step towards genocide, the Russian leader said.

You and I know what is happening in Donbass, referring to the conflict zone in the east of the country, adding that: It certainly looks like genocide.

Putin has previously made similar comparisons about the war in eastern Ukraine including in 2015 and 2019.

Most people in Ukraine speak both Ukrainian and Russian, though regions in the south and east  and some in the centre  are predominantly Russian-speaking and have traditionally been more Russia friendly.

A popular uprising in Ukraine forced a Moscow-backed regime out of office in 2014.

Since then Moscow has annexed Crimea and Kievs forces are locked in conflict with separatists supported by Russia in the east of Ukraine. The fighting there has cost some 13,000 lives so far.

The United States and its allies have for weeks accused Russia of planning an invasion of Ukraine and massing troops along Kievs borders.

Biden earlier this week spoke with Putin via video link and warned Russia of crippling sanctions if it took military action against Ukraine.
The United States is expanding its COVID-19 booster, requiring 16- and 17-year-olds to receive a third dose of Pfizers vaccine.

The United States and many other countries are already urging adults to get booster shots to increase immunity that may weaken within months of vaccination, and this call is even stronger with the discovery of worrying new omicron variants.

On Thursday, the US Food and Drug Administration urgently authorized 16- and 17-year-olds to receive a third dose of the vaccine produced by Pfizer and its partner BioNTech-if six months have passed since the last injection.

One more step: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention must formally recommend boosters for this age group, and a decision is expected to be made soon.

The Pfizer vaccine is the only option for anyone under the age of 18 in the United States, whether it is an initial vaccination or as a booster vaccine. It is not clear whether or when adolescents under 16 may need a third dose of Pfizer.

Vaccinations for 5-year-old children only started last month, using a special low-dose Pfizer vaccine. By this week, about 5 million children between the ages of 5 and 11 had received their first dose of the vaccine.

Not a modern healthcare subscriber? Register today.

In the United States and most parts of the world, the highly contagious delta variant causes almost all COVID-19 infections. It is not yet clear how the vaccine will resist the new and significantly different omicron mutants. But there is strong evidence that boosters provide a leap in protection against infections caused by the delta, which is currently the biggest threat.

The decision to extend the booster to 16- and 17-year-olds is complicated by the fact that Pfizer injections  and similar vaccines made by Moderna  are associated with rare side effects. It is called myocarditis, and it is an inflammation of the heart mainly seen in young men and teenage boys.

Israeli health officials have provided boosters for teenagers, and they say that side effects from the third dose are still rare.

A study in the United States this week provided additional assurance. Researchers from the National Childrens Hospital checked the medical records and found that this rare side effect is usually mild, and people recover quickly, and COVID-19 itself can cause more serious heart inflammation. The research was published in the journal Circulation on Monday.
According to the World Health Organization, early evidence suggests that the omicron variant may spread faster than the highly spread delta variant, but the coronavirus disease it brings is not as serious-although it is too early to make a conclusion.

This new variant, which first appeared in southern Africa last month, has attracted widespread attention. This has prompted some countries to close their borders and shake the stock market, worrying that a possible new variant of the virus may have long-term effects. At least 267 million people died and more than 5.2 million people died.

Dr. Michael Ryan, the head of the WHO emergency, told reporters on Wednesday that the data so far on the omicron variant shows that a virus can spread effectively, and may even be more effective than the delta variant, which is by far the most widespread and spreading The most widespread virus. Fatal version.

Maria Van Kerkhove, head of COVID-19 technology at the United Nations health agency, warned that it is too early to determine the severity of the disease caused by omicron. She said there is only anecdotal information.

Of course we have information from South Africa, and many patients identified as omicron have a milder course, she said. But it does take time for people to go through the entire infection process.

At the same time, WHO officials insisted on their position that booster injections for people who have already been vaccinated should be a secondary priority, rather than providing people with the first dose of vaccine where vaccination coverage is relatively low. .

Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, Chief Scientist of the World Health Organization, said that promoting wholesale is not the solution at the moment. This seems to imply the policies of some countries, especially in hard-hit Europe and the United States, which encourage a wide range of people to be vaccinated, not just Only the groups that are considered particularly vulnerable.

She said: Data from country after country shows that people living in intensive care units, people who are seriously ill, and people who are dying are not vaccinated. I think this message is loud and clear. It is to prevent serious diseases and The main vaccination process for death-this must be our goal.

She added that in countries where there is a large supply of vaccines but as many as 50% of people are not vaccinated, boosters are useless, whether for concerns about secondary effects or other reasons.

Swaminathan said: At this point, the benefits we get from people who have not received a primary vaccination course will be higher than providing additional doses to people who have completed the primary course.

The agency had hoped to vaccinate priority populationsthe elderly, people with weakened immune systems, and health care workersin all countries before the end of this year. But wealthy countries with large stocks of vaccines monopolize most vaccines.
Kwon Yool made a massive transformation for his upcoming film "The Policeman's Lineage" with lead stars Jo Jin Woong and Choi Woo Shik.

The mystery crime film follows the story of two police officers who are set to undergo a dangerous investigation.

Unfortunately, despite being in the same police organization, they have opposing principles - one is an honorable police officer while the other is a corrupt official who receives huge sums of money from unknown sources.

Kwon Yool Gains 12 Kg to Play the Villain in 'The Policeman's Lineage'

Set to premiere on January 5, 2022, and helmed by Lee Kyoo Man, who is also the director of the upcoming Kdrama "Snow White Must Die," the PD revealed Kwon Yool's preparation to play the villain, Na Young Bin.

He shared that the actor ditched his boy next door image and transformed as an anti-hero by gaining a few pounds.

The director also noted that he reached an additional 12 kg and even changed his speaking style to give justice to the role.

"Kwon Yul threw away his existing image and gave the impression of playing on his own. For a visual impact, he increased his weight by 12 kg and completely changed his vocalizations, and it was a fierce character preparation process," the PD explained.

In the drama, Na Young Bin is the fearless criminal who works alongside Cha Dong Chul, played by Park Myung Hoon.

On the other hand, the "Dali and the Cocky Prince" also mentioned that to portray a high-class criminal, it is not all about the body built but as well as the visuals.

He revealed that the costumes were hand-made and the production really paid attention to every detail.

Apart from the movie's unique plot, "The Policeman's Lineage" also boasts a roster of talented stars.

Joining the cast is Lee Hyun Wook as team leader Han, Park Sang Hoon as the young Choi Woo Shik and "My Name" star Park Hee Soon, who took on the role of Hwang In Ho, the chief inspector who instructed Choi Min to go undercover to find information about his father.

Kwon Yool's 'Dali and Cocky Prince' and Upcoming Projects

Fans would get to see Kwon Yool in a different character for his new movie "The Policeman's Lineage."

To recall, he recently appeared as Kim Dal Li's ex-lover Jang Tae Jin in the rom-com Kdrama "Dali and Cocky Prince" with Kim Min Jae and Park Gyu Young.

During the KBS series' finale, the actor shared his thoughts, saying that the cast and crew became a family throughout the filming session.

He also gets honest and expresses his "regret" that the rom-com series has finally ended.

"It feels both refreshing and regretful. I think that the scene where I first met Dal Li at the funeral was one of the most memorable scenes. Working on this drama was like the refreshing feeling you get when you take your mask off," he explained, adding that the "Dali and Cocky Prince" did not just entertain the viewers but also gave him a certain "comfortable and holiday feeling."

Apart from "The Policeman's Lineage," Kwon Yool will have a new Kdrama "No, Thank You Season 2" under Kakao TV and is also in talks to star in Netflix's "Queen Maker" with Kim Hee Ae and Moon So Ri.

KDramastars owns this article

Geca Wills wrote this
Jung Woo Sung was released from self-quarantine after showing signs of recovery. He completed home treatment and is now ready to return to work and continue his activities.

Jung Woo Sung Finishes Self-Isolation

On the early morning of December 9, Jung Woo Sung's label, Artist Company, released an official statement regarding the actor's health. They said, "Actor Jung Woo Jung was released from self-quarantine as of this day."

"According to the clinical judgment of the health practitioners and medical authorities, actor Jung Woo Sung was released from quarantine after he completed his self-isolation and home treatment," the actor's agency continued.

Artist Company also stated that both the actor and the label will continue their activities by thoroughly complying with the quarantine guidelines of the health authorities.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: 'Only One Person' Staff Member Tests Positive for COVID-19, Drama Pauses Filming

"We would like to express our deepest gratitude to the fans who have been concerned about the well-being of the actor as well as to the staff," Artist Company concluded in their statement.

Jung Woo Sung to Continue Work-Related Activities

Jung Woo Sung is set to star in the much awaited chase action film "Hunt."

He will lead the drama alongside veteran star Lee Jung Jae, who is also looking over the drama as the director.

"Hunt" follows the story of National Security Agency tactical agents Park Kyung Ho (Lee Jung Jae) and Kim Jung Do (Jung Woo Sung) who are both great at their jobs, eventually becoming rivals.

However, the situation calls for them to work together to catch the North Korean spy director who is sent to South Korea.

With its unconventional plot and combination of two great actors, it is one of the most anticipated works in the year 2021.

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE THIS: Lee Jung Jae's First Directorial Movie 'Hunt' Starring Jung Woo Sung Officially Wraps Up Filming

"Hunt" is distributed by Megabox Plus M, and the official release of the film is yet to be announced.

While waiting for the actor's new masterpiece, fans and viewers can see more of him in other popular films ""A Moment to Remember," "Don't Forget Me," "Illang: The World Brigade," "Beasts Clawing at Straws" and "Steel Rain" film series, to name a few.

His latest work is the 2021 SBS TV legal crime drama "Delayed Justice" with Kwon Sang Woo, Kim Ju Hyun and Jung Woo In.

YOU MIGHT ALSO BE INTERESTED IN: Golden Child Bomin Steals Attention For Impressive Performance in Thriller Drama 'Shadow Beauty' + Fun Facts You Should Know About the Actor

In particular, the upcoming television series "The Silent Sea" is produced by Jung Woo Sung with Artist Company.

Set in the outerspace, the star-studded series follows the story of space explorers who try to retrievesamples in an abandoned research facilities. However, secrets begin to unfold right in front of their eyes.

"The Silent Sea" stars Gong Yoo, Bae Doona, Lee Joon, Heo Sung Tae and more. It is scheduled to premiere on Christmas Eve, December 24 on Netflix.

Follow KDramaStars for more KMovie, KDrama, and celebrity updates!





KDramaStars owns this article.

Written by Elijah Mully.
San Francisco Police Chief William Scott said Tuesday that an incident last week when police officers were refused service at a local restaurant was "upsetting" and a disappointment.

Scott praised the officers' professionalism at the Hilda and Jesse restaurant in the city's North Beach neighborhood Friday when three uniformed, on-duty officers were asked to leave because employees were uneasy about their service weapons.

"We wear uniforms but we're all humans," Scott told CNN's Michael Smerconish. "We get things done to us and said to us that are hurtful, but we have to rise above it and be professional. That's what these officers did."

In a since-deleted post reported by local media, the restaurant's social media account stated that staff felt "uncomfortable with the presence of their multiple weapons" and the officers were asked to leave.

"We respect the San Francisco Police Department and are grateful for the work they do. We welcome them into the restaurant when they are off duty, out of uniform, and without their weapons," the post said.

The restaurant's stance sparked a fierce reaction online and it was subsequently inundated with negative comments on review sites such as Yelp.

The owners, Rachel Sillcocks and Kristina Liedags Compton, later apologized in another social media post, stating "We are grateful to all members of the force who work hard to keep us safe, especially during these challenging times. We hope this will be a teachable moment for us as we repair and continue to build bridges with the SFPD.

"These are stressful times, and we handled this badly," they said.

Scott said he spoke with the owners over the phone on Tuesday and has accepted their apology.

"One of the things that we have to do, and this was said by the owners of the restaurant, is we have to sit down and have conversations," Scott said. "We know that there are sometimes opposite sides of conversations about police officers and policing. But we sit down, we have conversations, and we can agree to disagree, but there has to be some civility in this process."

The-CNN-Wire

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By Pedram Javaheri

(CNN) -- One of North America's most active fault lines sprung to life on Tuesday after a swarm of more than 40 earthquakes -- ranging from a magnitude 3.5 to 5.8 -- rattled off the coast of Oregon, catching the attention and concern of millions in the region.

Timely to repost this great @NWS_PTWC-produced animation of 40 years of recorded earthquakes in the Cascadia region -- watch the very busy Blanco Fracture Zone just left of center as the years go by. https://t.co/YQWP2FRpA6 pic.twitter.com/3ENoNIJ1dN  Harold Tobin (@Harold_Tobin) December 8, 2021

The series of quakes, which began early Tuesday morning and continued into Wednesday, were all clustered between 200-250 miles west of the coastal town of Newport, OR, far enough to be mostly undetected on land, but given the area's seismic history, it is creating quite a buzz.

"If you had asked me yesterday where on Earth would be most likely to produce a bunch of magnitude 5.0+ quakes in a single day, this would have been high on my list," Harold Tobin, Director of the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network at the University of Washington, told CNN.

The fault line responsible for the quakes is the Blanco Fracture Zone. According to an analysis by Oregon State University, it is more active than the infamous San Andreas Fault in California, having produced more than 1,500 quakes of magnitude 4.0 or greater since the 1970s.

Not all quakes are created equal

What has been most impressive about this week's quakes is the swarm has included at least 9 tremors reaching a magnitude 5.0 to 5.8, with the majority occurring at a shallow depth of only 10 km.

The sheer number of magnitude 5.0 or greater quakes in the region triples the annual average (three 5.0+ quakes per year) since 1980, according to the USGS database.

Fortunately, according to the US National Tsunami Warning Center, none of this week's quakes have triggered a tsunami alert.

However, the activity has heightened the concern level for some, as the region is among the most earthquake-prone areas in North America and has already produced one of the largest quakes in the continental United States on January 26, 1700. The quake occurred on the neighboring Cascadia Subduction Zone, a megathrust fault much closer to land, where the Juan de Fuca plate dives underneath the North American Plate. This fault can not only trigger devastating tsunamis but also destructive shaking.

This is not necessarily a precursor for the so-called 'big one'

Though the epicenter of this week's swarm of quakes, the Blanco Fracture Zone, is among the most seismically active in North America, it rarely leads to destructive quakes.

The fault is some 275 miles west of the Oregon coastline and about 200 miles west of the Cascadia Subduction Zone, where the largest and most destructive Northwest quakes have historically taken place.

"Blanco Fracture zone quakes are strike-slip (lateral motions of the crustal blocks on either side, rather than up-down displacement), so it is very unlikely for them to pose a tsunami threat, even if a bigger quake happened, like a magnitude 7.0 for example," Tobin told CNN.

According to seismologist Dr. Lucy Jones, there have been more than 133 quakes of magnitude 5 or greater on the Blanco Fracture Zone since 1980 and have never been followed by something on land.

"Today's quakes can be thought of as something like a main-shock and a swarm of aftershocks, the one distinction being that in this case, there's not a lot of magnitude difference among them," Tobin said.

Though this week's quakes have raised the concerns the so-called "big one" could be near, Tobin assured it is not necessarily the case.

"There's quite a lot of distance from these quakes to the Cascadia Subduction Zone," Tobin explained. "Our best current understanding of how stress transfers through the crust (and mantle) would suggest that these events don't change stress on the subduction zone appreciably."

He pointed out, although we have had a remarkable number of magnitude 5.5+ quakes in a short period of time, it is not inherently alarming but rather seismologically interesting.

A similar swarm of quakes, though not to this week's magnitude, occurred earlier this year near the Salton Sea in Southern California.
MEDFORD, Ore.  The charred remnants of a plane that crashed into the Airport Chevrolet dealership lot on Sunday were hauled away Wednesday by investigators from the federal National Transportation Safety Board, the next stage in an investigation aimed at discovering what went wrong.

Two people died when the aircraft, a Piper PA-31-350 "Navajo Chieftain" twin-propeller plane, crashed into the dealership lot Sunday evening  producing an explosion and fire that also destroyed several cars parked in the lot and damaged Airport Chevrolet's Service wing.

NewsWatch 12 learned Wednesday that customer vehicles awaiting pick up after being serviced were among the wreckage.

The pilot and a single passenger killed in the crash were identified Monday as 69-year-old Donald Harbert Sefton and 67-year-old Valerie Jean Serpa, both of Fallon, Nevada, a small city located east of Reno and Carson City. The aircraft was registered to Sefton.

Officials from the NTSB and FAA arrived in Medford on Monday afternoon to take control of the inquest from local authorities. NTSB senior aircraft accident investigator Zoe Keliher said that the two bodies were recovered by the medical examiner soon after their arrival.

The team spent Tuesday working through the remains of the aircraft and documenting ground scars from the impact it caused on the surface of the dealership parking lot, Keliher said  working to salvage any possible clues from components that weren't obliterated by the explosion and flames.

As of Tuesday, NTSB was still in the "fact-finding phase," which means that we're documenting everything at the scene and trying to determine what could produce meaningful data. When they do find something of interest, it is taken off-site for analysis.

With the debris cataloged, the agency began hauling it away on Wednesday morning  loading pieces, much of it charred beyond recognition, into a trailer so that it can be transported up to the Seattle area for the next stage of the investigation.

A preliminary crash report from the NTSB is expected to be released within the next two weeks. But according to the NTSB's normal procedures during a crash investigation, the final report with a probable cause for the crash may not be determined for 12 to 18 months after it occurred.

According to flight logs, Sefton's plane originally left Fallon Municipal Airport on the morning of Wednesday, November 24 and arrived in Medford at noon that day. On Sunday, he departed the Medford airport at 4:50 p.m. and was supposed to arrive back in Fallon at 6:50 p.m., but crashed just minutes after takeoff.

Video provided to NewsWatch 12 from two sources shows that the plane ultimately descended rapidly and at a near-vertical angle before slamming into the Airport Chevy lot, creating a plume of smoke and then exploding into flame seconds later. But one of the videos also shows Sefton's plane prior to the crash apparently fighting to gain altitude  swooping down into the frame and pulling back up, remaining out of the frame for several long seconds, then reappearing in a terminal loop earthward.

Shortly after takeoff from the Medford airport, a plane descended rapidly and at a near-vertical angle before slamming into the Airport Chevy lot. This video was provided to NewsWatch 12 by Kelly's Automotive. Some viewers may consider this footage disturbing. pic.twitter.com/YSoi6r8VuW  NewsWatch 12 (@KDRV) December 6, 2021

In a recording of the air traffic control chatter, it's possible to hear the airport tower communicating with Sefton in the lead-up to the crash, giving him instructions on how to maneuver after takeoff. Then an alarm begins to sound.

"Low altitude alert, Navajo six-four Bravo Romeo, check your altitude immediately," the air traffic controller says. "That's altimeter at 3-0-3-9er, your altitude indicates 1,700 ... Navajo six-four Bravo Romeo, are you on top? Navajo six-four Bravo Romeo, how do you hear?"

Moments later, when the air traffic controller begins speaking again, his voice is charged with urgency as he calls for the Medford airport's rescue and firefighter team:

"Truck 80, Medford Tower, the aircraft appears to have crashed over by the Subaru Chevron [sic] dealer, approximately one mile from the airport due south."

There were no reports of injuries to anyone on the ground. It took several hours for fire crews from the Medford Fire Department and the Medford airport to extinguish flames from the gas-fueled fire.

Airport Chevrolet said on Monday morning that it had reopened its Sales Department, but its Service Department remained closed due to the damage caused by the crash and the adjacent investigation.

Automation Way, the street to the north of the dealership off Biddle Road, was back open as of Sunday night following the initial crash response. Medford Police announced Tuesday that Chevy Way, the street to the south that was closest to the crash, was back open for through traffic.
MEDFORD, Ore.  Medford School District administrators and the Medford Police Department reacted to reports of a threat made against South Medford High School on Wednesday, but ultimately determined that it wasn't a credible threat against the school.

According to MSD officials, the report came in late Tuesday night through the SafeOregon tip line, which allows students, parents, and teacher report suspicious incidents.

Medford Police responded to South Medford High School before school started Wednesday morning and spoke to the student involved. They determined that the precipitating comments were not a credible threat.

"Yes, we assisted with a suspicious statement that was made and talked to the individual who made it and it was taken out of context," said Lt. Mike Budreau with the Medford Police Department. "Its definitely non-criminal."

The agency maintained an extra presence on campus out of an abundance of caution.

"This originated with a student who felt a little uncomfortable hearing something, took it to a parent who put in a tip through SafeOregon, and that tip was investigated," said MSD Superintendent Dr. Bret Champion. "They saw something, they said something, and then our police got involved and did something with it. So, while we always have our hearts race and are concerned and we always take student safety as our top priority, we also want to ensure we have a system in place whenever there are threats that are made."

Later on Wednesday morning, MSD sent a message out to parents to notify them of the situation.

The recent school shooting at Oxford High School in Michigan has likely elevated both vigilance and anxiety at schools across the country. South Medford High School in particular experienced a close brush with a similarly serious threat in August, when a custodian surrendered to police after allegedly planning a mass shooting at the school and other locations.
By Theresa Waldrop, Stella Chan and Holly Yan, CNN

(CNN) -- Scott Peterson has been re-sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the deaths of his wife and unborn child, a California judge ruled Wednesday.

Peterson, 49, was convicted in 2004 for the murders of his wife Laci and their unborn son Conner. Peterson was originally sentenced to death.

In August 2020, the California Supreme Court reversed Peterson's death sentence after finding that potential jurors were dismissed erroneously, in part because they expressed general objections to the death penalty on a questionnaire.

On Wednesday, Judge Anne-Christine Massullo ordered Peterson to serve life in prison without the possibility of parole for the first-degree murder of Laci and a concurrent sentence of 15 years to life for the second-degree murder of Conner.

Laci Peterson's family members tearfully addressed Peterson in court Wednesday.

"You didn't want the responsibility of being a father. You're a coward," Laci's mother Sharon Rocha said.

She also spoke of the young man Conner never became.

"He would have been 18 years old by now. Ten months ago you would have been free of child support and not have to worry about being responsible for a child," Rocha said.

But she said two things will never change: "Laci and Conner will always be dead, and you will always be their murderer."

The legal saga leading up to resentencing

Laci Peterson, seven months pregnant with Conner, was reported missing on December 24, 2002. Their bodies washed ashore and were found separately in April 2003.

A jury convicted Scott of their murders, and he was formally sentenced to death in 2005.

Prior to Wednesday, Peterson had been in prison limbo since the California Supreme Court reversed his death sentence in August 2020 for murdering his wife and unborn child.

Stanislaus County District Attorney Birgit Fladager said earlier this year she would not seek to reinstate the death penalty after consulting with the victims' family, who said the "process is simply too painful to endure once again."

"The People submit to the Court that the only sentence available for this defendant is a sentence of life without the possibility of parole plus 15 years to life for the murders of Laci and Conner," Peterson's wife and unborn son, the prosecutor's December 1 filing stated.

The resentencing comes amid yet another legal tangle in Peterson's case: In October 2020, the California Supreme Court ordered a lower court to reexamine his murder convictions because a juror did not disclose involvement in other legal proceedings.

"Juror No. 7 committed prejudicial misconduct by not disclosing her prior involvement with other legal proceedings, including but not limited to being the victim of a crime," the court wrote.

Peterson's lawyers said the juror's answers on her voir dire questionnaire were false, and she committed misconduct, which raised the presumption of prejudice.

Peterson was sentenced to death in 2005 for the 2002 murders of Laci and Conner in what was arguably one of the most publicized trials in recent memory. But in 2020, the state's highest court found prospective jurors were dismissed in error after they expressed general objections to the death penalty on a questionnaire.

"Here, the trial court erroneously dismissed many prospective jurors because of written questionnaire responses expressing opposition to the death penalty, even though the jurors gave no indication that their views would prevent them from following the law  and, indeed, specifically attested in their questionnaire responses that they would have no such difficulty," the court wrote in its 2020 decision.

Prosecutors charged that Scott Peterson killed her at their Modesto home, then dumped her body in the San Francisco Bay from a fishing boat he had recently bought.

Peterson has always maintained his innocence, and his appeals have focused on various aspects of the trial, including the publicity surrounding it, the way the jurors were chosen, evidence admitted and not admitted at trial, and on prosecutorial statements.

A slew of circumstantial evidence convinced the jury of his guilt, including testimony from a woman who said she had been dating Peterson -- who pretended to be single -- and the fact Peterson claimed to be fishing on the San Francisco Bay the day his wife disappeared.

The court on November 23 ordered Peterson to be transported from the San Quentin State Prison to the San Mateo County Jail for the resentencing.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom issued a moratorium on the death penalty in 2019. The moratorium is only in effect while Newsom is in office.

California has not executed an inmate since 2006.
By Veronica Stracqualursi and Ali Zaslav, CNN

(CNN) -- The Senate voted Wednesday night to overturn President Joe Biden's Covid-19 vaccine mandate for private businesses with 100 or more employees.

While it likely won't become law since its chances of getting a vote in the House are uncertain and Biden is certain to veto it, the effort demonstrates the bipartisan opposition in Congress to the federal government's vaccine mandate for large employers.

The effort was led by Indiana Republican Sen. Mike Braun, and it needed just a simple majority of 51 votes to be approved by the chamber.

Biden back in September announced that he would be directing the Labor Department to require all businesses with 100 or more employees to mandate that their workers are either fully vaccinated or undergo weekly testing for Covid-19 and wear masks. The emergency rule was issued in November, prompting lawsuits from Republican-led states and private employers but also from liberal leaning unions.

A federal appeals court last month temporarily blocked the Biden administration's vaccine rules, which had been planned to take effect on January 4. The multiple lawsuits against the mandate have since been consolidated and reassigned to a federal appeals court in Ohio, with many expecting the case to end up before the US Supreme Court.

Senate Republicans last month filed their challenge to Biden's mandate under the Congressional Review Act, a legislative tool that allows Congress to roll back an executive branch rule.

Braun and other Senate Republicans have argued that the vaccine mandate is an overstep of authority by the federal government and puts further strain on already struggling businesses, while also insisting that vaccines are a personal choice.

Last week, as Congress faced a deadline to fund the government, a few Senate Republicans threatened to force a government shutdown unless they got a vote on an amendment that would prohibit the use of federal funding for Biden's Covid-19 vaccine mandates. The amendment, however, ultimately failed in a 50-48 vote.

While he voted to extend government funding into February to avoid a shutdown, Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia announced that he had signed on as a cosponsor to the GOP resolution to overturn the vaccine mandate for businesses and "will strongly support" it.

"I have long said we should incentivize, not penalize, private employers whose responsibility it is to protect their employees from Covid-19," the West Virginia Democrat said in a statement last week.

Manchin isn't the only Democratic to express support for repealing the vaccine mandate.

Explaining his opposition to the vaccine mandate, Democratic Sen. Jon Tester of Montana said he "repeatedly heard concerns from Montana's small business and community leaders about the negative effect the private business vaccine mandate will have on their bottom lines and our state's economy."

"That's why I intend to join a bipartisan majority of my colleagues in defending Montana jobs and small businesses against these burdensome regulations," he said in a statement Tuesday.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell previously told Fox News that the Senate will vote on the resolution this week, adding that he thinks it will have a "decent chance of passing the Senate."

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer slammed the Republicans-led challenge to the Covid-19 vaccine mandate as an "anti-science, anti-vaccine vote."

"If their plans go into effect, Covid will linger longer and the chance of new variants and new more dangerous variants occurring increases," Schumer said on Capitol Hill. "It is anti-science, anti-common sense, it makes no sense."

Many businesses, however, have voluntarily put in place safety measures early in the Covid-19 pandemic to protect their employees and customers, and are moving forward with Covid vaccine mandates regardless of whether the courts strike down or uphold the Biden administration's regulations.
A Lifelabs employee speaks with a traveller who arrived at Vancouver International Airport, in the COVID-19 testing centre for arriving international passengers in Richmond, B.C., on Thursday, December 2, 2021. B.C. health officials are reporting 379 new cases of COVID-19 and six new deaths.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
As the snow season is about to hit southeast Wisconsin, the City of Kenosha has asked residents to help keep Kenoshas streets and sidewalks clean and safe in the winter months ahead.

In a release, the city explained that residents can help by removing snow from their sidewalks, handicapped ramps, fire hydrants and roadway inlets, as well as watching for snow emergency information through the local media.

Sidewalks and ramps

Property owners and occupants are required to clear their sidewalks clear of snow and ice within 24 hours following the end of a winter storm. All properties that abut handicap ramps are also required to clear snow from the full width of the ramp and the adjacent curbline to maintain accessibility. Snow may not be shoveled, dumped, snow blown or otherwise placed in any public street or alley right-of-way according to city ordinances. Additionally, snow should be stored on the same property on which it accumulates. Violators may be fined and can be reported to the City of Kenosha Department of Public Works at 262-653-4050. The City of Kenosha will begin strongly enforcing these regulations, the release stated.

When clearing snow from sidewalks, driveways and approaches, residents are encouraged to place the snow in their front yards and toward their homes when possible.

This lessens the amount of snow in the parkways, giving additional storage for street plowing operations, the city press release explained. This also may help to reduce the amount of snow in driveway approaches and on sidewalks.

Hydrants and inlets

The city press release explained that in case of emergency and to ensure safety  and also to help reduce the risk of roadway flooding during heavy rain and snow melting  fire hydrants and roadway inlets should be kept free and clear of snow and ice. In the event snow depth prevents plowing up to the street-side mailboxes, residents are responsible for clearing a path for the delivery of mail.

Automated carts

Residents are also asked to clear an area to place automated trash collection carts. A possible location is on either side of the driveway approach. If a cart is knocked over by a snowplow, residents can call the Public Works Division Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at 262-653-4050 and press 0 to speak to the clerical staff.

For more information, visit kenosha.org/departments/public-works/seasonal-operations or pick up a free copy of the City Snow & Ice Control brochure at the City of Kenosha Department of Public Works or call 262-653-4070 between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m.

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SALEM, Ore.  After years of failed attempts, Oregon is poised to enact a cap-and-trade program to combat climate change. Unlike past attempts, this version comes from the governors office rather than the state legislature.

The Oregon Environmental Quality Commission will meet next week to vote on the Climate Protection Program, a proposed set of rules drafted by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) that would place an immediate upper limit on Oregons emissions from burning fossil fuels and steadily ratchet the cap down over the next 30 years.

Its critically important that we take action, and the Climate Protection Program can result in dramatic reductions in greenhouse gas emissions throughout Oregon, Gov. Kate Brown said.

Oregon Democrats made back-to-back attempts to pass a legislative version of cap-and-trade in 2019 and 2020, but both versions were stymied when Republican lawmakers walked out, denying Democrats the necessary quorum to pass the legislation.

Immediately following the second failure in March 2020, Brown issued an executive order directing DEQ to implement its own version of cap-and-trade. The agency has spent the past 18 months developing the framework that will be under consideration next week.

Aggressive targets

In its report to the Environmental Quality Commission, DEQ said it received over 7,500 public comments about the proposed plan, 75% of which asked for fast action to combat climate change and deep cuts to emissions. Other comments expressed concerns about affordable compliance options for businesses regulated under the plan, as well as increased fuel costs for consumers and small businesses.

The agency said it tightened up the plan in response to the feedback; the original draft set targets of a 45% reduction in emissions by 2035 and an 80% reduction by 2050, in keeping with the metrics outlined in Browns executive order, but the final version raises those targets to 50% by 2035 and 90% by 2050.

The plan primarily impacts three types of businesses: liquid fuel suppliers, natural gas utilities and stationary emitters, meaning companies that produce significant emissions as a byproduct of their fabrication processes such as steel mills, cement makers and semiconductor manufacturers.

DEQs report estimated that 61 large businesses  meaning companies with at least 50 employees  would be directly affected by the rules, either immediately or at some point in the next 30 years as the emission limit tightens.

The report includes a list of 32 companies that could be impacted beginning immediately in 2022, including Northwest Natural Gas, several vehicle gas suppliers, the Ash Grove Cement Company and Intels Aloha and Ronler campuses.

Reduction mechanism

Rather than charging businesses for each metric ton of carbon emitted, DEQ would issue free compliance instruments, each of which would essentially be a permit to emit one metric ton of greenhouse gas. The annual number of available instruments will decrease over time, but companies can trade unused compliance instruments or bank them for future years.

Companies would face fines if they dont eliminate their excess emissions or cover them through other methods included in the plan. One option is to contribute funding to an approved Community Climate Investment (CCI) entity. CCIs are nonprofits or other groups that will invest in projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

In a hypothetical example outlined in the DEQ report, a company that emits 1 million tons of carbon annually might initially be issued 950,000 compliance instruments, meaning it would need to either eliminate the remaining 50,000 tons or find another way of permitting them such as through CCI investments.

Fast forward a few years and the hypothetical company would only receive 800,000 compliance instruments, meaning it would need to further reduce its own emissions or increase its CCI investments (there is an upper limit to how much of its overall emissions a company is allowed to offset through CCI investments, and the cost of CCI credits goes up over time).

The DEQ report estimated that the cost of reducing emissions for natural gas companies could range from $64 to $188 per metric ton reduced. For liquid fuel providers, the estimate was $50 to $55 per metric ton reduced, and the estimate for stationary businesses was $47 to $190 per metric ton reduced.

Cost concerns

The public comments that were critical of the program generally focused on concerns about compliance costs. In a lengthy letter included in the DEQ report, the Oregon Business and Industry association wrote that DEQs proposal would not adequately control costs to impacted businesses and will have a domino effect on families, jobs, cost of goods and services and critical public services.

The association argued that the planned CCI availability is too low and the programs other compliance options are too limited and could lead to market volatility if, for example, fuel suppliers were to choose to sell less fuel in Oregon in order to meet the targets, driving prices up for consumers.

One result of the extremely restrictive structure of the proposed rule is likely to be that the only way for businesses to comply with this program is to limit their participation in the Oregon market or leave it altogether, the association wrote.

The DEQ report did acknowledge that the plan carries risks of impacts such as rising fuel prices or businesses opting to move their operations out of the state, but said that the plan includes efforts to mitigate those risks. Oregon is also pursuing separate initiatives aimed at decreasing the demand for fossil fuels, the agency noted, such as spurring the adoption of electric vehicles.
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Final reports on the costs associated with desilting and clearing the Kings River in Callan have all but scuppered the project, unless a monumental sum of funding becomes available.

Based on the latest data, the 72,000 awarded to the Callan Kings River Improvement Project under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme in 2017 is far off the sum required to carry out the necessary works.

Director of Services at Kilkenny County Council Mary Mulholland stressed that desilting a river is now a far more complicated process than it used to be in a report presented to Callan-Thomastown Municipal District councillors this week.

There are also vast amounts of rules and regulations relating to planning which involve the Office of Public Works, Inland Fisheries Ireland and the Department of the Environment.

This is because there are now multiple waste categories and there are a variety of means of extracting different materials, as well as different means of disposing of each at various locations.

The discovery of trace specimens of asbestos in the subsoil of the river and the clean-up process associated with this would also bring huge implications to the overall cost.

The desilting option would require funding in excess of 400,000 based on current project pricing and would require ongoing maintenance on a bi-annual basis.

Ongoing maintenance over a ten year period, subject to current regulatory requirements, was estimated at a further 500,000.

The report states that, as a result, the cost benefit for silt removal is not justified and that continued significant investment would hugely impact the Councils revenue budget.

It concludes that an alternative approach to retain the silt banks and use them to form part of a wetlands project to document the cultural importance of the Kings River would also not be covered under the funding.

Part of this would involve the preparation and implementation of a vegetation management plan over a ten to twenty year period at a cost of 20,000 per year.

The plan itself would cost 50,000 to conduct initial investigations and a further 50,000 to implement.

Cllr Matt Doran stated that the general public in Callan will find this absolutely unacceptable.

Mulholland acknowledged the councillors point that local people feel very strongly about the issue.

We are aware that people have been looking at this project for years but we have exhausted all potential funding streams, she stated.

Cllr Michael Doyle said that the report goes to show that in-river works have become so complicated and costly.

Cllr Joe Lyons stated that clean-up operations on the bridge on Bridge Street in the town ought to be completed, at the very least, due to blockages.
Urlingford has been awarded funding to develop one of the first ever Town Centre First Plans, which will be key to tackling dereliction and revitalising town centres, Fine Gael TD John Paul Phelan has said.

Urlingford in Kilkenny have been selected for Phase 1 of the initiative, under which Kilkenny County Council will be provided with 100,000 to support the development of a Town Centre plans. Deputy Phelan said the local authorities will now work closely with local community groups, retailers and other stakeholders in devising and delivering the plans.

This is about ensuring our towns have the right plan in place to tackle the issues of dereliction, vacant properties, and above all, to become better places to live, work and run a business, Deputy Phelan commented. The development of these Town Plans will feed into the Governments overall Town Centre First Policy, which will be launched in the coming weeks.

The funding will support each local authority, working with a collaborative Town Team, to develop a bespoke plan. It is envisaged that these plans will cover the importance of place-making, town centre living, the social and economic purpose of the town, and respond to emerging opportunities such as those linked to remote working, climate action and digitalisation. The plans will also be central to addressing vacancy and dereliction in Urlingford. The focus will be on the town centre and immediate surrounds and each Plan will set out specific actions and interventions and help unlock national funding streams such as the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund and the Town & Village Renewal Scheme to resource delivery of these interventions. This is the first phase of funding for these Plans under the Town Centre First Policy and other towns will be afforded opportunities to develop such plans as we move forward.

This initiative is a key part of Our Rural Future  the Governments ambitious five year strategy designed to reimagine and revitalise Rural Ireland. It is also linked to the Governments Housing for All strategy and the forthcoming Town Centre First Policy, which will be announced in the coming weeks.
Glanbia Ireland has collaborated with An Post subsidiary PostPoint to bring a range of convenient services to Glanbia Ireland Branches and the rural communities they serve.

This Christmas, Kilkenny customers will be able to pick up and return their parcels through Glanbia Ireland branches nationwide. Using the long-established PointPoint service in Glanbia Ireland branches, shoppers will be able to collect and return purchases from more than 180 online retailers.

In Kilkenny, PostPoint services are now available in Glanbia Ireland branches in Freshford, Bennettsbridge and Piltown. The more extensive parcel post offering is available in Castlecomer, Windgap, Ballyhale and Glenmore.

In addition to the parcel collection and return services, all 32 Glanbia Ireland branches will also offer PostPoint services including bill payment, gift cards, stamps, mobile top up and National Lottery Quickpick and scratch cards.

Paul Byrne, PostPoint National Sales Manager said: Parcel collections and returns have boomed in recent years, with many more people shopping from home particularly over the last 18 months. Were delighted to partner with Glanbia Ireland to provide a convenient local facility for Irish online shoppers.

PostPoint services are available across convenience stores nationwide, and were partnered with many of the big multiples. Teaming up with Glanbia Ireland provides Irish customers with even more choice and convenience on their doorstep.

Brendan Hayes, Glanbia Ireland Vice Chairman said: Our local branches are often stitched into the heartbeat of many rural communities. By offering these additional services, and as part of our Living Proof sustainability agenda, were delighted to play our part in helping to secure the long-term sustainability of rural Ireland.

Senan Foley, Head of Retail at Glanbia Ireland said: Our 52 branches and all our dedicated people have been servicing the needs of farmers and rural communities for decades. This collaboration with PostPoint is the latest expansion of our offering and acts as an important part of our commitment to offer a broad range of services to the communities we operate in. We look forward to continuing to build on this long into the future.
The Tanaiste has been asked if he trusts the women of Ireland amid calls for a review of the country's abortion law.

Health Minister Stephen Donnelly announced on Wednesday that a scheduled review of the law would look at its operation, but was not intended to examine policy on terminations.

Labour leader Alan Kelly TD said the approach in effect ruled out any changes to the law, and suggested it was being taken because many Fianna Fail TDs were opposed to it in the first place.

Do you and the Minister for Health not trust the women of Ireland? asks @alankellylabour questioning the Tanaiste on the terms of review for the operation of the law on terminations of pregnancy. Was this decision made at Cabinet not to look at the policy of the Act? pic.twitter.com/zbqygwmsBo  The Labour Party (@labour) December 9, 2021

Deputy Kelly told the Dail: This review wont consider any policy changes to the act. It amounts to a predetermined process and is at odds with previous statutory reviews.

How can he (Minister Donnelly) realistically just look at how it is currently operating, without in any way considering the constraints on policy caused by the law?

Speaking during Leaders Questions today (December 9th) Deputy Kelly asked Tanaiste Leo Varadkar if the Government was taking this course because so many members of your partners in Government in Fianna Fail opposed and voted against this legislation in the first place and this is the most politically expedient thing to do?

The deputy said there were a range of problems with the law as it stands.

We know only 10 maternity units offer full termination services and very few GPs, he said.

There are geographical issues across the board.

Three years on, legislation for safer access zones around maternity hospitals hasnt been published.

But the reality is, for women, is that the three-day waiting period and 12-week limit creates serious access problems.

In the middle of a global pandemic, imagine, 375 women travelled to the UK last year. I know some of them.

There are real problems with this legislation, and it should be reviewed.

Deputy Kelly pointed out that in recent years three similar reviews had all examined policy  the Lobbying Act, the Gender Recognition Act and the Protected Disclosures Act.

What is the point of review of the operation of law and terminations in Ireland if it doesnt take on board the concerns of those impacted by the constraints of the legislation in the first place? he asked.

Are you and why are you categorically ruling out any changes to the law? And if so, what is the point of such a review?

Why are you treating this review differently?

Mr Varadkar said he did not recall seeing the terms of reference for the review.

He said he believed that issues arising from the legislation should be examined.

He said that when the law was introduced in 2018 by then Health Minister Simon Harris, he believed there would be a comprehensive review, and not just the operation of it.

I do agree with your basic point that we should, at least at some point, examine some of the issues around the legislation, he said.

You mentioned the issue of safe access zones, thats certainly one.

You mentioned an issue of the waiting period. A lot of people feel the waiting period is a good idea. I appreciate some people dont.

We also need to look at the issue that does come up quite a lot now around non-fatal foetal abnormalities, which is a difficult one and is one of the reasons why people travel to the UK.
A street that has been fondly named as the 'most Christmassy' in Northern Ireland has become an unexpected and exciting visitor attraction.

Hundreds of people have been descending on Racecourse Drive in Derry in recent weeks to catch a glimpse of its spectacular festive display.

Residents of around 30 homes in the tightknit street in Derrys Shantallow area have teamed up to decorate their homes with decorations and lights.

The charity venture, which has seen the neighbourhood unofficially renamed Christmas Drive, started during lockdown last year and has grown even bigger this year.

Preparations began in March with the construction of billboards and other yuletide props.

The process of transforming the street into a winter wonderland started in October and took four weeks to complete.

Emma Curran, 29, has been decorating the outside of her own familys home in Racecourse Drive for the last five years.

She said the whole street decided to get on board last year in a bid to bring some festive cheer to the community during the pandemic.

Weve all sort of come together, were a great wee street, we all get on like a house on fire, and weve all come together and everybodys chipped in and put up their lights, she said.

Emma Curran outside her home in Racecourse Drive in Derry

The residents are raising funds for two local charities  Foyle Hospice and addiction charity HURT  and visitors to the street can leave donations.

Ms Curran said they raised around 1,000 last year but are on course to collect much more this year given the number of people who have stopped by.

The first weekend we had a couple of thousand through, she said.

Three-year-old AJ Cairns and his one-year-old brother Teddy pose on Santas sleigh in Racecourse Drive

She said while the congestion has reduced since the switch-on in November, the numbers spike again whenever news spreads of an imminent visit by a local Santa Claus.

Whenever everybody sees him out its back to madness again, she said.

Ms Curran, who works in a nearby deli, said the most rewarding aspect of Christmas Street is the reaction of visiting children.

People love it, its great for the weans, we love seeing all the different weans come and go and the families come and go, she said.

Seeing their faces is just great.
Boris Johnsons wife Carrie has given birth to her second child with the Prime Minister after a tumultuous 24 hours for Downing Street.

Mr and Mrs Johnson announced the birth of a healthy baby girl at a London hospital this morning (December 9th).

The new arrival means Mr Johnson, 57, has at least seven children, although he has frequently obfuscated when asked exactly how many.

He has four children with his barrister ex-wife Marina Wheeler, as well as a son, Wilfred, born in April last year by his current wife.

It emerged during a court hearing in 2013 that he had fathered a daughter during an affair when he was London mayor in 2009.

Mr Johnson was reportedly present throughout the birth of his youngest daughter this morning.

A spokeswoman for the couple said: Both mother and daughter are doing very well. The couple would like to thank the brilliant NHS maternity team for all their care and support.

The couple announced they were expecting their second child together at the end of July, as the 33-year-old environmental campaigner spoke of having a miscarriage earlier in the year.

The birth of a sister for Wilfred came the morning after the Prime Minister announced England is entering Plan B to combat the spread of the Omicron variant of coronavirus.

As well as facing Tory anger over the latest restrictions, Mr Johnson was battling the fallout of an allegedly rule-breaking Number 10 Christmas party last year which forced the resignation of senior Government aide Allegra Stratton.

Also on Thursday morning, the Conservatives were fined 17,800 over a controversial donation which helped cover the lavish refurbishments to the couples Downing Street flat.

The pair were photographed walking into the hospital, reportedly at 7.40am.

Mr Johnson will spend some time with his family, although it appears he is unlikely to take an extended period of paternity leave.

The Prime Ministers official spokesman said: I think theres a recognition the Prime Minister has a unique role and this is a particularly challenging time for the country, and the Prime Minister will continue to lead, as the public would expect, while making time for his family.
A Sinn Fein TD is calling on the government to condemn a proposed border Bill currently going through the UK's House of Commons.

Deputy Pearse Doherty raised concerns in the Dail today about the UK's Nationality and Borders Bill which, if passed, means any non-Irish or non-UK citizens would need to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) to enter the UK, including Northern Ireland.

The British government's intention to introduce a requirement for travel clearance for EU citizens, who are not Irish citizens, to cross the border in Ireland is disgraceful and shameful and undermines the Good Friday Agreement and the Common Travel Area  @PearseDoherty pic.twitter.com/Rgb4phQ8Zj  Sinn Fein (@sinnfeinireland) December 9, 2021

The deputy raised the matter with Tanaiste Leo Varadkar, saying it was a disgrace.

Deputy Doherty claimed it threatened livelihoods and the tourism sector in the north-west and placed stress on residents.

It undermines the Good Friday Agreement and the Common Travel Area and Ireland once again faces the prospect of the collateral damage of a Tory government in Westminster that doesnt give a damn about Ireland and its so divorced from the reality of life on the border that it could even countenance such a measure like this, he said.

He pressed Varadkar to make it absolutely clear to the British government that this is not on.

The Tanaiste said the Irish government would communicate its concerns and objections to the measure to the UK.

Unfortunately, it doesnt come as a huge surprise, he said.

If you recall, part of the argument in favour of Brexit was about controlling their borders, and also about reducing and stopping immigration from the European Union, and this is part of the outworking of that.

It may be the case that some people who voted for Brexit didnt realise that but it is part of the outworking of Brexit that the United Kingdom is going to harden its borders and is going to reduce immigration, including from the European Union.

Ending free movement was a big part of the argument that they made. But we will absolutely be making our views known.
Former Missouri police chief speaks after sentencing for assaulting man who tried to drown baby
DGB Financial Group Chairman Kim Tae-oh / Courtesy of DGB Financial Group

By Park Jae-hyuk



DGB Financial Group Chairman Kim Tae-oh is facing growing calls from the bank's union and civic groups to step down. He was indicted without detention Monday for allegedly giving $3.5 million to a Cambodian broker last year to enable DGB's subsidiary, Daegu Bank, obtain a commercial banking license from the Southeast Asian country's financial authorities.



"Getting a license by offering a bribe is a serious crime, as it weakens Korea's credibility and competitiveness in the international community," said a representative from the Daegu District Prosecutors' Office. "This is the first time for us to apply the Act on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials, which enables punishments of those who bribed brokers."



Kim's attorney denied the charge, saying the chairman will sincerely participate in his trial to clarify any misunderstandings and reveal the truth.



Daegu Bank's union, however, issued a statement Tuesday demanding he resign immediately.



"If the trial incurs another leadership vacuum, DGB will eternally lag behind its rivals in the competition for survival," the union said. "Considering the worsening reputation and declining morale among employees, a responsible CEO can only have one definite choice."



Between 2017 and 2018, DGB suffered from a leadership vacuum as Kim's predecessor, Park In-kyu, was investigated by police on allegations of embezzlement and illegal hiring.



The Daegu Citizens' Coalition for Economic Justice also issued a statement the same day urging the DGB chairman to step down, and demanding that the group's board of directors punish the executives involved in the corruption scandal.



The Daegu People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy demanded an apology from Kim and other DGB executives involved in the case, even if the allegation is only partially true.



"The prosecutors should conduct a thorough investigation into the chairman, reveal the truth and punish him," the progressive civic group said in a statement, Monday.



Kim has already been criticized for being reappointed as the chairman in December last year, after engaging in a competition with two other candidates, both of whom were considered to have had no chance of winning.



The recent bribery scandal in Cambodia is therefore viewed as another negative factor against him and DGB's expansion across Southeast Asia, which as chairman he has pursued.



Over the past few years, DGB has pushed forward with its expansion into Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam under Kim's leadership, and so he was selected as the only regional banking group chief who accompanied President Moon Jae-in on his trip to Southeast Asia in 2019.


In the last decade, Aung San Suu Kyi has gone from being one of the most prominent symbols of democracy in the world to being one of the most rebuked.



Her father, the founder of Myanmar's military, became a politician and activist who devoted himself to the effort to win independence from Britain but was assassinated before he could see that achieved.



Suu Kyi studied in India and England before returning to Myanmar and becoming involved in the democracy movement and rising in its leadership, co-founding the National League for Democracy party.



A prominent opponent of the military that controlled the oil- and mineral-rich country of Myanmar, also known as Burma, she was put under house arrest for years, winning the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991 "for her nonviolent struggle for democracy and human rights."



Eventually she became the de facto leader of a blended government, in which the military agreed to share power with civilians elected by the people of Myanmar. It was an extraordinary  if imperfect  collaboration and it put Myanmar, once shunned and sanctioned by the U.S. government and other Western countries, on a new footing with the U.S.



But things went wrong in just a matter of years. It became shockingly clear that Suu Kyi had no interest in extending democratic rights to her country's Rohingya Muslims, one of the most oppressed minorities in the world.



When the military was accused of the massacre of Rohingya  deemed to be genocide by U.N. investigators  at the United Nations' International Court of Justice at The Hague in 2017, she spoke in defense of the military, cementing her transition from revered to reviled in the eyes of former admirers.



In February, the fragile democracy crumbled and the military retook power, ousting Suu Kyi (and other civilian leaders) and holding her at an undisclosed location. In the last year, the military has killed 1,300 people and arrested more than 10,700, according to the most recent count by the Assistance Assn. for Political Prisoners, a Thailand-based human rights group.



Now, Suu Kyi has been found guilty of absurd charges  inciting public unrest and breaching COVID protocols  and sentenced to two years under house arrest. She faces more charges that could put her in prison for the rest of her life. She is 76.



No matter how disappointing and grievous Suu Kyi's refusal to protect the Rohingya has been, everyone who believes in democracy and the rule of law should be outraged about her ongoing imprisonment by the military. The conviction is nothing less than an attempt to permanently sideline a political figure whose party won two landslide elections in a row, the most recent in November 2020.



It is one more alarming sign of the Myanmar military's grip on a country that only several years ago looked like it might prosper as a democracy. And it is an urgent signal to the U.S. and its allies to put more economic pressure on Myanmar to return the country to civilian hands and free the leaders, including Suu Kyi, that it is holding.



The nonprofit Human Rights Watch has urged large investors in oil and gas companies doing business in Myanmar to take actions to stop the flow of billions into the hands of the military, which controls most of those industries.



Brad Adams, the Asia director of Human Rights Watch, says his organization would like to see Congress require U.S. energy companies doing business in Myanmar to put their revenue into an escrow account for the people of Myanmar instead of the military until the government is returned to civilians.



That's a bold and creative idea. And it's possible. There's bipartisan support for Suu Kyi and a civilian-led government in Congress.



The conviction of Suu Kyi indicates that banning military officials and their families from using property and goods they own in the U.S. or making transactions in U.S. dollars  as the U.S. Treasury Department did in the months after the coup  is not having much of an effect.



If the U.S. wants to help the people of Myanmar to have a chance again at life under democratic rule, it's time to do something more drastic.





The above editorial appeared in the Los Angeles Times and as distributed by Tribune Content Agency.


Angola, IN (46703)

Today

Cloudy and windy. A few flurries or snow showers possible. Morning high of 35F with temps falling to near 15. Winds WSW at 20 to 30 mph..

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Cloudy. A few flurries or snow showers possible. Low 12F. Winds WSW at 15 to 25 mph.
Kendallville, IN (46755)

Today

Cloudy and windy. A few flurries or snow showers possible. Morning high of 35F with temps falling to near 15. Winds WSW at 20 to 30 mph..

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Considerable cloudiness. Low 12F. Winds WSW at 15 to 25 mph.
Auburn, IN (46706)

Today

Cloudy and windy. A few flurries or snow showers possible. Morning high of 35F with temps falling to near 20. Winds WSW at 20 to 30 mph..

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Mostly cloudy. Low 13F. Winds WSW at 15 to 25 mph.
Advocates rarely call for immigrants living in the U.S. to be immediately given citizen status, but rather allow all those living in the U.S. a path to citizenship free of fear of deportation.

Immigration reform can help the Wisconsin economy at a time when the demographics of an aging society are chipping away at the states workforce, from its kitchens, farms and resorts to its research laboratories and tech companies, Tom Still, president of the Wisconsin Technology Council, wrote in a newspaper editorial published in 2013.

One of the barriers keeping undocumented immigrants from working, and thus filling gaps in the ongoing labor shortage, is that it is illegal for them to have a drivers license in most states, including Wisconsin. As such, there are more legal barriers to working in many industries that are hurting for workers, such as construction or in supply chains.

Approximately 30% of American jobs require driving, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. And so, it is effectively impossible for undocumented immigrants  even if they are on a path to citizenship  to fill approximately 30% of the countrys open jobs.

Truckers, who obviously need to be able to legally drive, are among the most desired workers in the country right now because of their essentiality in the supply chain. Reports over the course of the past three years point to the shortage being somewhere between 55,000 and 80,000 truckers nationwide.

The absence of drivers licenses for undocumented workers at the state level impacts the construction industry, said Christine Neumann-Ortiz, executive director of Voces de la Frontera, a Milwaukee-based advocacy nonprofit focused on workers rights and immigration issues.

Unlike many service jobs, construction workers need to travel from one job site to the next on a daily basis. If someones transport is not flexible, working in construction is nearly impossible.

Last month, HousingWire.com reported that the construction worker shortage has reached crisis levels with there being currently 300,000 to 400,000 open construction positions on a monthly basis, citing data from the Home Builders Institute.

There are approximately 32,000 people living in Wisconsin who cannot get a drivers license and 28,000 Wisconsin drivers without car insurance because they are undocumented, notes a 2018 report from Kids Forward, a liberal-leaning research organization.

Gov. Tony Evers has proposed allowing undocumented people living in Wisconsin to get drivers licenses, but the Republican-controlled Legislature has not allowed it. Among their concerns are that allowing non-citizens to get drivers licenses would make it easier for them to vote illegally, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, said in 2014.
A longtime Lake Geneva childrens librarian is being remembered as a kind, loving person who instilled a passion for reading in others.

Sara Soukup, who worked as the director of youth services at the Lake Geneva Public Library for about 20 years, died Dec. 2. at the Avera Sacred Heart Hospital in Yankton, South Dakota. She was 44 years old.

Soukup's family is working with library staff to plan a memorial for Soukup in the future.

Emily Kornak, executive director for the Lake Geneva Public Library, and Maria Cordova, library employee, said Soukup was a delightful, loving and kind person who enjoyed working with children. Both said they enjoyed working with Soukup.

It was always fun. She always made you laugh, Kornak and Cordova said in a joint statement. She was a great listener and knew the right thing to say whether to colleagues, visitors or regular patrons of all ages.

Soukup began working for the Lake Geneva Public Library in September 2002 and hosted events and activities for children. She worked with Lake Geneva schools, Geneva Lakes Family YMCA and local businesses to host youth outreach programs.

She was known for her Ms. Saras story times and reading programs.

Kornak and Cordova said Soukup had a passion for her job and enjoyed interacting with the librarys patrons.

She was always working, Kornak and Cordova said. She worked at the library, she worked from home because she loved her job and her work was also her fun.

Kornak and Cordova said Soukup was familiar with most of the materials at the library and knew which books would capture peoples imaginations.

She knew all the books, Kornak and Cordova said. Sara knew the covers, the contents and which books would capture reluctant readers, which meant she was able to inspire a love of books and reading in generations of young Lake Genevans.

Wen-D Kersten, Lake Geneva Public Library Board member, said Soukup worked well with teenagers and helped many of them develop an interest in reading.

Her ability to interact with teens was especially amazing, Kersten said. At an age where so many feel withdrawn and alienated from their peers, Sara reached out to these disenfranchised kids and made them part of a special community, a part of her library family.

Kornak and Cordova said Soukup was well liked by many of the librarys patrons. She said people would visit the library just to talk with Soukup.

They loved her more than we can describe, Kornak and Cordova said. Children made sure to make special trips to the library to visit with her. She had a gift for memorable conversations and inspiring imaginations.

Kersten said Soukup had a charming personality and knew how to make people laugh.

Sara was a legend in this community, Kersten said. She was well known for her giggles that entranced a generation of children, drawing them in with an amazing understanding and appreciation of their needs and interests.

Kornak and Cordova said, besides here librarian skills, Soukup also was known for her cookies and seafood pasta salad.

Just the experience of working with her and watching her engage with children and teens and connect with them in ways that others couldnt was very, very special, Kornak and Cordova said.

According to the librarys Facebook page, Soukups visitation will be held 7 p.m., Dec. 16 at St. Vincents Catholic Church in Springfield, South Dakota. Her funeral will be held 10:30 a.m., Dec. 17 at the church.

The library is collecting memories and photos of Soukup for its youth webpage, www.lakegeneva.lib.wi.us/kids-and-teens.

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A business attorney and a western Wisconsin prosecutor will decide whether to file charges against a former police officer who killed a man in a suburban Milwaukee park five years ago, a judge announced Wednesday.

Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Glenn Yamahiro said during a hearing he has selected attorney Scott Hansen and La Crosse County District Attorney Tim Gruenke to serve as special prosecutors in former Wauwatosa Officer Joseph Mensah's case. Mensah shot and killed Jay Anderson Jr. after discovering him sleeping in a park after hours in June 2016. Mensah said Anderson was reaching for a gun.

Anderson was one of three people Mensah killed during a five-year stint at the Wauwatosa Police Department. Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm's office chose not to charge him with criminal wrongdoing in any of the deaths.

But Anderson's family's attorney used a John Doe proceeding, a little-known Wisconsin legal maneuver similar to a grand jury inquiry, to persuade Yamahiro in July that there was probable cause to support charges against Mensah in Anderson's death and to convince him to appoint special prosecutors to decide whether to file any counts.

Yamahiro said he wanted special prosecutors with reputations for "honesty and integrity" and found them in Hansen and Gruenke. He especially wanted someone who wasn't a career prosecutor who could give the case a "fresh look," he said.

"These are not a couple of guys with big egos," Yamahiro said. "They are people who focus on the facts, on the law, and understanding the total situation and I'm comfortable that's what they're going to do in this case."

Hansen works for the Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren law firm in Milwaukee. According to the firm's website, he focuses primarily on business disputes and commercial law. The Milwaukee Bar Association named him Lawyer of the Year in 2018. He holds law and economics degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Yamahiro said Hansen will be paid $40 an hour and $50 for every hour spent in court.

Gruenke, a Democrat, has been a prosecutor for 25 years and the district attorney in La Crosse for 13 years. Yamahiro said he was named prosecutor of the year twice by the Wisconsin Association of Homicide Investigators.

State law mandates that before a judge can appoint a special prosecutor he or she must seek help from a prosecutor outside that jurisdiction. The State Prosecutor's Office recommended Gruenke as the best candidate for the Mensah case because he operates on the other side of the state from the Milwaukee metro area and will not cost taxpayers anything beyond his current salary.

Anderson's family's attorney, Kimberley Motley, said she's impressed with Hansen and Gruenke's credentials and she's "cautiously optimistic" they'll find their way to charging Mensah.

"We believe they should come to the same conclusion we did, that Joseph Mensah should be criminally charged," she said. "We'll see what happens."

Mensah's attorney, Jonathan Cermele, didn't immediately return a message left at his office.

Mensah joined the Wauwatosa department in 2015. That year he fatally shot Antonio Gonzales. Prosecutors said Gonzales refused to drop a sword. The following year he shot Anderson in the park. Last year he fatally shot 17-year-old Alvin Cole as he fled from police following a disturbance in a mall. Mensah said Cole pointed a gun at him. That shooting sparked months of protests.

Mensah is Black. Gonzales identified as American Indian. Anderson and Cole were Black.

Mensah resigned from the Wauwatosa department in November 2020 and joined the Waukesha County Sheriff's Department.
New Delhi [India], December 9 (ANI): The air quality in the national capital continued to remain in the 'poor' category on Thursday.

The Air Quality Index (AQI) in the city (overall) read 208 at 7.40 am.

Also Read | Mundra Port Drug Seizure Case Being Investigated by NIA, Says Govt in Parliament.

According to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR), the level of PM 2.5 and PM 10 in the air at 7.40 am stood at 'poor' and 'moderate' levels, respectively.

The air quality in the NCR region - Noida and Gurugram has improved.

Also Read | RIP General Bipin Rawat: Lata Mangeshkar Condoles the Demise of Chief of Defence Staff, Says Tearful Tributes to These Brave Sons of Mother India.

With the AQI at 180, the air quality in Gurugram has slipped to the 'moderate' category, while the air quality in Noida has gone down to the 'poor' category with AQI at 204.

An AQI between zero and 50 is considered 'good', 51 and 100 'satisfactory', 101 and 200 'moderate', 201 and 300 'poor', 301 and 400 'very poor', and 401 and 500 'severe'.

Meanwhile, the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) on Tuesday ordered the immediate closure of industries not running on PNG or cleaner fuels in industrial areas despite the availability of gas infrastructure and supply.

The Commission had directed States to prepare an implementable Action plan by clearly specifying definite timelines for switching over of all identified industries units to PNG, where infrastructure and supply of gas are already available.

After the Supreme Court pulled it up for the opening of schools amid the rising air pollution level in the city, the Delhi government directed that schools will remain closed until further orders. The schools in the four districts of Haryana adjoining Delhi has been closed till further orders. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], December 9 (ANI): Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope on Wednesday said people do not need to panic about Omicron as the severity of the coronavirus variant is low.

Breifing mediapersons, Tope said, "There is a total of 10 Omicron cases in Maharashtra till today. About 65 swabs have been sent for genome sequencing, their reports are awaited. Screenings are being conducted at International airports. The Omicron variant is spread over 54 countries so far. Transmissibility is higher. But, the severity or virulence is low. So we do not need to panic."

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Asked about the State's strategy to counter the spread, the Health Minister said, "We are working with the 3T Principle - tracking, tracing and testing. For genome sequence, we have currently three labs. We will expand the facility further in Nagpur and Aurangabad."

Meanwhile, India reported nearly two dozen Omicron cases so far. Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan on Wednesday asked all the States to submit all the samples of positive cases of international travellers and their contacts as well as from emerging hotspots.

Also Read | RIP General Bipin Rawat: Lata Mangeshkar Condoles the Demise of Chief of Defence Staff, Says Tearful Tributes to These Brave Sons of Mother India.

A new variant of COVID-19 was first reported to the World Health Organisation (WHO) from South Africa on November 25.

As per the WHO, the first known confirmed B.1.1.529 infection was from a specimen collected on November 9 this year. On November 26, the WHO named the new COVID-19 variant B.1.1.529, which has been detected in South Africa, as 'Omicron'. The WHO has classified Omicron as a 'variant of concern'.

Dozens of countries have imposed travel restrictions on the southern African nations since the mutation was discovered.

The new Omicron coronavirus variant has been confirmed in 23 countries and their number is expected to rise, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus had said.

India has also added several countries to the list from where travellers would need to follow additional measures on arrival in the country, including post-arrival testing for infection. (ANI)

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New Delhi, December 9: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday paid tributes to members of the first Constituent Assembly that met on this day 75 years ago for the first time and urged youngsters to know more about this gathering's proceedings and about the eminent stalwarts who were a part of it.

Taking to Twitter, the Prime Minister said, "Today, 75 years ago our Constituent Assembly met for the first time. Distinguished people from different parts of India, different backgrounds and even differing ideologies came together with one aim- to give the people of India a worthy Constitution. Tributes to these greats."

Also Read | Samsung Busts Counterfeit TV Racket in Delhi.

Today, as we mark 75 years of the historic sitting of our Constituent Assembly, I would urge my young friends to know more about this august gatherings proceedings and about the eminent stalwarts who were a part of it. Doing so would be an intellectually enriching experience.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 9, 2021

The first sitting of the Constituent Assembly was Presided over by Dr Sachchidananda Sinha, who was the eldest member of the Assembly, the Prime Minister said.

"He was introduced and conducted to the Chair by Acharya Kripalani," the PM noted.

Also Read | IAF Helicopter Crash: Mortal Remains of CDS General Bipin Rawat, Others Leave for Sulur Airbase From Madras Regimental Centre.

"Today, as we mark 75 years of the historic sitting of our Constituent Assembly, I would urge my young friends to know more about this august gathering's proceedings and about the eminent stalwarts who were a part of it.

Doing so would be an intellectually enriching experience," the PM added.

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New Delhi, Dec 9 (PTI) Biopharmaceutical multinational AstraZeneca on Thursday said it has initiated engagements with Indian health authorities to provide the latest evidence of Evusheld, its COVID-19 prevention drug for people with weakened immune system which has received emergency use authorisation (EUA) in the US.

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The long acting antibody combination has been granted the EUA in the US for COVID-19 prevention in adults and adolescents (above 12 years and weighing 40kg or more) with moderate to severely weakened immune system who may not have an adequate immune response to COVID-19 vaccination, as well as those individuals for whom COVID-19 vaccination is not recommended, the company said.

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"We welcome this news and the opportunity it provides to support the unmet needs of high risk and immune-compromised patients and we have already initiated engagements with the relevant health authorities in India to provide them with the latest evidence," AstraZeneca India Pharma Ltd Managing Director Gagandeep Singh Bedi said in a statement.

Stating that the Food and Drug Administration's EUA approval for Evusheld is an important milestone globally, he said, "Recent data from the Phase III PROVENT trial showed a robust efficacy profile and AZD7442 (Evusheld) has so far demonstrated protection of up to six months against COVID-19 in this population."

"In India, the company intends to submit its application after emergency use authorisation by USFDA with a hope that addition of this monoclonal antibody cocktail will provide adequate ammunition in fight against COVID-19 disease especially for high risk vulnerable and immunocompromised patients," AstraZeneca said.

About 2 per cent of the global population is considered at increased risk of an inadequate response to a COVID-19 vaccine, it added.

"In India, this percentage could be a bit higher given the problem of underdiagnosis and ignorance. This includes people with blood cancers or other cancers being treated with chemotherapy, and those taking medications after an organ transplant or who are taking immunosuppressive drugs for conditions including multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis," the company said.

Evusheld is a combination of two long-acting monoclonal antibodies and is the only antibody therapy authorised in the US for COVID-19 pre-exposure prophylaxis. It is delivered as an intramuscular dose, the company said.

AstraZeneca Executive Vice President, BioPharmaceuticals R&D Mene Pangalos said, "...with Evusheld, we now have the first antibody therapy authorised in the US to prevent COVID-19 symptoms before virus exposure, while also providing long lasting protection with a single dose."

Pangalos further said, "Evusheld neutralises all previous SARs-CoV-2 variants to date, and we are working quickly to establish its efficacy against the new Omicron variant. We thank our clinical trial participants, the investigators, scientists, and government agencies and our colleagues at AstraZeneca who have all contributed to the development of Evusheld."

The company also said studies are underway to provide information on the impact of the new Omicron variant on Evusheld, which is being developed with support from the US government.

AstraZeneca said it has agreed to supply the US government with 7 lakh doses of Evusheld, while it is progressing with filings around the globe for potential emergency use authorisation or conditional approval of Evusheld in both COVID-19 prophylaxis and treatment.

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The news of the sudden demise of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat has shaken the whole nation. Actor Siddharth Malhotra also expressed grief over the sad news and shared his recent picture with the late dignitary, on his social media handle. Siddharth who played the titular role in the recently released patriotic movie 'Shershaah', took to his Instagram handle and shared a group picture from the movie's trailer launch held at Kargil on the eve of Kargil Vijay Diwas, this year. RIP General Bipin Rawat: Lata Mangeshkar Condoles the Demise of Chief of Defence Staff, Says 'Tearful Tributes to These Brave Sons of Mother India'.

The snap features the family members of late Indian army captain Vikram Batra, whose life and valour were depicted in the movie. The picture also featured the lead cast of 'Shershaah'-- Siddharth Malhotra and Kiara Advani, movie producer Karan Johar and director Vishnuvardhan posing with CDS General Bipin Rawat. Sharing the picture, Siddharth wrote, "Really sad and shocked at the tragic loss of CDS General Bipin Rawat, his wife, and 11 others.It was an honour to meet him recently at Shershaah's trailer launch. Om Shanti #RestIn Peace #BipinRawat." CDS General Bipin Rawat, 12 Others Die in IAF Helicopter Crash: Sunny Deol, Tamannaah Bhatia, Yami Gautam and Other Celebs Offer Condolences.

The sad news was confirmed by Indian Air Force today through their official Twitter handle that read, "With deep regret, it has now been ascertained that Gen Bipin Rawat, Mrs Madhulika Rawat, and 11 other persons on board have died in the unfortunate accident." The helicopter crashed around noon shortly after it took off from the Air Force base in Sulur, Coimbatore, for Wellington in the Nilgiri Hills. The General was heading to the Defence Services Staff College in Wellington to address the faculty and student officers of the Staff Course today.

Check Out Sidharth Malhotra's Instagram Story Below:

Sidharth Malhotra's Instagram Story (Photo Credits: Instagram)

A veteran of counterinsurgency warfare, CDS Rawat served in the most difficult terrains including northern and eastern commands. CDS Rawat was commissioned into the Indian Army in December 1978. He previously served as Chief of the Army Staff from January 2017 to December 2019.

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Washington, December 9: The US Indo-Pacific Command has expressed grief over the passing away of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat, his wife Madhulika, and the others who died in the tragic accident caused by a chopper crash.

On Wednesday, an IAF chopper crash in Tamil Nadu claimed the lives of 13 people including General Bipin Rawat.

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"I am deeply saddened to hear of the tragic passing of my friend General Bipin Rawat, his wife Madhulika, and the others who perished," US Admiral John Aquilino, Commander, US Indo-Pacific Command said in a statement.

General Rawat was a great partner to US Indo-Pacific Command, and to the United States military, said US Indo-Pacific Command in a tweet. "His stalwart leadership and commitment to upholding peace and stability across the Indo-Pacific will be sorely missed."

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In another tweet, US Command added, "Gen. Rawat's legacy includes an enduring impact on the strategic U.S. and India defence partnership and people-to-people ties. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Rawat family, the families and friends of all those who perished, and the Indian Armed Forces."

General Rawat, India's first CDS, was on a visit to the Defence Services Staff College in Wellington to address the faculty and student officers of the Staff Course when his chopper crashed near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu on Wednesday.

General Rawat was appointed as India's first Chief of Defence Staff on December 31, 2019. He previously served as Chief of the Army Staff from January 2017 to December 2019. He was commissioned into the Indian Army in December 1978.

A veteran of counterinsurgency warfare, CDS Rawat served in the most difficult terrains including Northern and Eastern commands.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Actor Jacqueline Fernandez on Wednesday appeared before Enforcement Directorate (ED) at its office in Delhi in connection with Rs 200 crore extortion case involving conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar, said sources. Earlier, the ED asked Fernandez to be present at the ED office by 11 am on December 8 as her questioning is significant in the case as a witness in the alleged multi-crore extortion racket operated by Chandrasekhar. Jacqueline Fernandez Detained at Mumbai Airport Because of the Ongoing Extortion Case.

The actor had earlier skipped various summons issued by the federal agency citing different reasons. The ED's move come a day after Fernandez was offloaded from an Air India flight at about 5.25 pm by Immigration Officials as a Look Out Circular in the case of the Enforcement Directorate is pending against her.

She was supposed to fly to Muscat by "AI-985 flight scheduled at 5.5O pm on Sunday". The LOC was issued with directions that Fernandez should not be permitted to leave India. Jacqueline Fernandez Being Questioned by ED in Money Laundering Case.

Earlier, the ED has questioned the actress here in August. The federal agency then recorded Fernandez's statement in its more than six-hour questioning here in August end.

Another actress Nora Fatehi was also questioned by the ED here in connection with the same case for the second time on Thursday. ED is looking into various people who are directly or indirectly connected to this case.
Scott Peterson was resentenced on Wednesday to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the murder of his pregnant wife Laci Peterson and their unborn son, Conner.

The judge has sentenced Peterson to 15 years to life in prison for the death of Conner, with the sentences running concurrently, according to an NBC News report.

The California Supreme Court ruled a year ago that Peterson's jury was improperly screened for bias against the death penalty. Peterson's defense lawyers claimed that Juror 7 had kept the details of her personal life that could have been a conflict during his initial trial.

The juror, named Richelle Nice, is accused of "prejudicial misconduct" for not disclosing that she was the victim of domestic violence and had sought a restraining order in 2000 for fears that her boyfriend's ex-girlfriend would be a threat to her unborn baby.

Meanwhile, Nice has denied that she was influenced by her experiences with domestic abuse. She has co-written a book about the case with other jurors.

A hearing on juror misconduct allegations is set to take place in late February.

READ NEXT: Scott Peterson to Be Resentenced to Life Imprisonment for Murdering His Pregnant Wife

Scott Peterson Resentenced

Laci's mother, Sharon Rocha, addressed Peterson directly as he sat "expressionless" during the resentencing of his case. Rocha told Peterson that 19 years ago, he was in the midst of "planning Laci's murder," according to an Associated Press News report.

Rocha went on to say that Peterson's "evil, self-centered, and unforgivable" act had taken the souls of her daughter and grandson.

Laci's mother called Peterson a coward, adding that he did not have any other reason to kill them other than that he did not want them anymore.

Rocha recounted putting her hand on Laci to feel the baby moving weeks before she was killed. She said that Laci told her Peterson does not want to "feel the baby move," according to a San Francisco Gate report.

Peterson had reportedly prepared a statement to read in court. However, Superior Court Judge Anne-Christine Massullo said it would not be allowed.

Peterson's attorney, Pat Harris, and Stanislaus County Assistant District Attorney Dave Harris had argued during Peterson's pre-sentencing probation report. However, it was not made public.

The prosecutor said that in it, Peterson was claiming he was wrongfully convicted and that he is innocent.

Meanwhile, Peterson's defense attorney accused prosecutors of "insinuation" and taking incidents out of context. He said that when Peterson lied, it was to hide his extramarital affair as he knew it would derail any further investigation.

Laci Peterson's Murder

Laci disappeared on Christmas Eve 2002, and Peterson had left the day to go fishing at the Berkeley Marina.

Peterson came under suspicion immediately. Detectives noted that he seemed far too calm for a man whose pregnant wife had suddenly disappeared.

A passerby found the bodies of Laci and the fetus of her son Conner washed up on the shoreline near Richmond in April 2003.

Their remains were badly decomposed from time in the water, and the cause of death was never determined.

Police had arrested Peterson a few days later and found he had dyed his hair blond and filled his car with survival gear, with a $15,000 in cash on hand.

A massage therapist in Fresno, Amber Frey, told police that they had started dating a month before his wife's death. However, she claimed Peterson told her that his wife was dead.

READ MORE: Scott Peterson Wants a New Trial in His Murder Case

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Written by: Mary Webber

WATCH: Scott Peterson Returning To San Mateo County Courtroom Wednesday For Re-Sentencing - from KPIX CBS SF Bay Area






After the arrest of Colombian drug kingpin Dairo Antonio Usuga, known as Otoniel, Colombia's defense minister called on other armed Colombian gangs to surrender or they will be hunted down.

Colombian Minister of Defense Diego Molano noted that other gangs have 13,000 members, with half of those armed and the other half acting as support, according to a BBC News report.

Official figures show that the number of displaced families jumped by 213 percent in 2021 as compared to the previous year.

Meanwhile, children recruited by gangs also remain high, as well as the murder rate of environmentalists and social activists defending land and human rights.

Molano claimed that the key to bringing down the violence is by addressing the drugs trade in the country. The defense minister said that each hectare planted with coca means more death, "more destruction of the environment," and more killings of social activists.

READ NEXT: Colombia Seizes 10 Tons of Cocaine Worth Over $300 Million, the Largest Drug Bust This Year

Dario Antonio Usuga's Arrest

In November, Colombia's armed forces captured Otoniel. His arrest was described by Colombian President Ivan Duque as comparable to "the fall of Pablo Escobar," Business Insider reported.

Otoniel led Gulf Clan, which was also called Autodefensas Gaitanistas de Colombia. Colombian authorities considered the group to be a "Class A Organized Armed Group."

U.S. authorities noted that the group is the main Colombian ally of Mexico's Sinaloa Cartel. The two are partnering to profit from drug trafficking and human-smuggling rings worth millions of dollars.

Usuga is charged with drug trafficking and the killing of police officers. In addition, he also faces charges over recruitment of minors and abuse of children.

Otoniel was not only compared to Escobar for their arrests. The huge quantities of cocaine he smuggled also drew comparisons with the fallen Colombian drug kingpin and his notorious Medellin Cartel.

However, many Colombians claimed that Duque's pronouncement was a media stunt to get some press attention and legitimize his administration.

Carlos Bohorquez, a Medellin resident, said that having lived through the Escobar years, Usuga has nothing to do with it.

Bohorquez said that it was not a good thing that Otoniel was arrested and put behind bars.

Sergio Guzman, director of Colombia Risk Analysis, Colombia-based security and risk-analysis firm, said that the market has diversified immediately after Otoniel's arrest, with his detention opening doors to new players in drug trafficking.

Molano insisted that Otoniel's arrest marked the end of the Gulf Clan.

BBC News reported that Molano said to have spoken to one of Otoniel's men, who surrendered. One of Otoniel's gang members said that Usuga was in control of everything, adding that the arrested drug lord was like their father.

Colombia's security forces are now hunting for his deputies, with one known as "Siopas" and "Evil Shorty."

A police officer died during the arrest operation of Usuga.

The Gulf clan has about 1,200 armed men. Most of their members were far-right militaries.

U.S. and U.K. intelligence provided information, which led more than 500 soldiers and Colombia's special forces to the hideout of the drug lord, according to The Guardian report.

In 2016, Colombian officials started Operation Agamemnon, which led to the death and capture of Usuga's lieutenants.

READ MORE: Colombia's Most-Wanted Drug Lord Dairo Antonio Usuga Arrested; Pres. Ivan Duque Likened It to Capture of Pablo Escobar

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Written by: Mary Webber

WATCH: Colombia says it captured drug kingpin Otoniel - from Reuters






Former U.S. President Donald Trump claimed that his camp would be "very angry" if he decided not to run as president in 2024.

During his Wednesday interview with radio host Hugh Hewitt, Trump noted that he will reveal someday who he thinks should lead a Republican Party presidential nomination if it were not him, Daily Mail reported.

However, the former president did not elaborate on who he had in mind for the presidential ticket. Trump noted that they have some good people when Hewitt asked if he can narrow down the list to five people.

Trump told Hewitt that he is positive about 2022 and 2024 as Republicans eye to retake the House, Senate, and later the White House.

However, the former president also warned that the elections cannot be trusted as Democrats "cheat like hell in the elections."

Trump often claims that the 2020 election was rigged in favor of U.S. President Joe Biden, who received more votes than any presidential candidate in U.S. history.

READ NEXT: Donald Trump Dismisses Claims That Former First Lady Melania Trump Refuses to Go Back to the White House if He Becomes President Again in 2024

Trump Running for President in 2024

The former president has been making statements about a 2024 presidential bid since the day he left office in January.

Trump has also hosted numerous rallies across the country, which is not often done by an ex-president in the first months of his successor's term, according to an Independent report.

He continued fundraising for his massive campaign at his different properties.

In June, Trump adviser Jason Miller said that if Trump feels like he is in a good position, he thinks there is a good chance that he would vie for the presidency again, according to an NBC News report.

Trump lost the popular vote by more than seven million last year during the presidential election. However, he got more votes than any other Republican nominee in history.

Meanwhile, Republicans, including the former president's allies, said it is too early to know what he will do or what the political landscape will look like in four years.

Possible Republican candidates include Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis; former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo; former U.S. ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley; and Sens. Tom Cotton from Arkansas, Josh Hawley of Missouri, Rick Scott, and Marco Rubio of Florida.

Meanwhile, some of Trump's former allies seem skeptical he will run in 2024.

John Kelly, Trump's longest-serving White House chief of staff, said that Trump would continue to tease a run but would not follow through in the end, according to a Business Insider report.

Kelly said that Trump will not run for the sole reason that he cannot be seen as a loser.

Trump Organization did not immediately comment regarding the matter.

However, Trump said that he thinks he will get it if he runs in 2024, adding that many people said that if he has decided to run, they will not run against him.

Trump noted that he will get it "very easily" if he decides to join the presidential run.

READ MORE: Donald Trump Has a Sculpture of Altered Mount Rushmore With His Own Face on It Alongside Other U.S. Presidents

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Written by: Mary Webber

WATCH: Trump Hints At 2024 Run As He Battles Jan. 6 Committee - from TODAY


A U.S. boss or CEO of a mortgage website company known as "Better" apologized on Wednesday for firing 900 employees from his company over a Zoom conference meeting last week.

Identified as Vishal Garg, the chief executive officer relayed his apologies to his employees through a statement, Al Jazeera reported.

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U.S. Boss Offers Apology After Firing People Over the Internet

In the statement, Garg addressed his employees as "team," as he conveyed his apologies over what happened in the previous week.

"Team, I want to apologize for the way I handled the layoffs last week... I failed to show the appropriate amount of respect and appreciation for the individuals who were affected and for their contributions to Better," Garg said.

The boss also said that the way he laid off his employees last week "embarrassed" the workers, claiming that what he did "made a difficult decision worse."

Garg also highlighted that he is "committed" to learning from what happened and will strive to be the leader his employees aspire him to be.

Garg also expressed his gratitude to the employees he abruptly laid off last week for what they accomplished for the customers that they serve.

The U.S. boss concluded his statement by urging his employees to take part in their upcoming "All Hands meeting," where they will discuss what their company, Better, expects this upcoming year.

Better Boss Fires 900 Employees Over Zoom

It can be recalled that last week, Garg was placed under fire after a video of him mass firing his employees surfaced on social media, The Straits Times reported.

.@betterdotcoms CEO @vishalgarg_ lays off ~900 employees right before the holidays and ahead of the companys public market debut.



The firm also got a $750 million cash infusion from its backers THIS WEEK, which include @SoftBank. pic.twitter.com/F8EfSkCRF6  Bucky with the Good Arm (@benjancewicz) December 3, 2021

"I come to you with not great news," Vishal Garg said on the video call over Zoom that occurred on Wednesday.

The CEO then said that the employees on his Zoom call were part of the "unlucky group" that will be laid off, adding that their employment with Better was terminated "effective immediately."

The 45-year-old CEO also explained that the termination was due to the change in the market, adding that they have to ride with it for their company to survive.

"Ultimately, it was my decision and I want you to hear it from me," Garg said. The CEO also revealed in the Zoom call that it was his second time in his career that he will fire hundreds of his employees, explaining that he does not want to do it.

"The last time I did it, I cried. This time, I hope to be stronger," Garg pointed out.

According to reports, the company laid off at least nine percent of its employees after the Zoom call. Furthermore, Better reportedly received a $750 million cash infusion from their investors last week, making the company value around $7 billion.

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Written By: Joshua Summers

WATCH: US Boss Fires 900 Employees Over Zoom - From BBC News
Pfizer-BioNTech reported that their initial studies showed that two-dose of their COVID vaccine, along with a booster shot, could provide protection against the new Omicron variant.

On Wednesday, the big pharma said that two shots showed decreased protection in studies. However, the companies noted that a booster dose significantly raises protection against the new COVID variant, The Daily Wire reported.

Pfizer-BioNTech likened the third dose's ability to two doses of their vaccine that provides a level of neutralizing antibodies to Omicron and other previous COVID variants.

The companies noted that the booster shot brought levels of virus-fighting antibodies back to those seen after two doses against the original COVID strain.

They also said that after a booster dose, more durable immune responses involving T cells were also higher against Omicron. According to BioNTech CEO and co-founder Uger Sahin, the preliminary data "very clearly" indicate the value of a third dose.

READ NEXT: Dr. Anthony Fauci Says COVID Variant Omicron Might Evade Protections Gained by Vaccination, Previous Infection

Pfizer CEO Says 4th COVID Vaccine Doses May Be Needed Due to Omicron Variant

Pfizer's CEO Albert Bourla said Wednesday that people might need a fourth COVID shot sooner than expected due to Omicron, CNBC reported.

Bourla noted that they would determine if the Omicron is well covered by the third dose and for how long after they see the "real-world data."

He said the company's preliminary study was based on a synthetic, lab-created copy of the Omicron variant, and more information was still needed from tests against the real virus.

Bourla noted that those real-world results were expected in the next two weeks as they waited for more data to come in so the results could be more accurate.

But he said he thinks a fourth shot is needed, even though he believes that a third dose will already provide very good protection. The Pfizer CEO earlier said a fourth dose would likely be required 12 months after the third shot.

According to Bourla, Pfizer and BioNTech can develop a vaccine that specifically targets Omicron by March 2022 if deemed necessary. Bourla said the company is also monitoring to see if vaccine adjustments are needed as they anticipate new variants to show up in the future.

President Joe Biden's administration has been promoting booster shots, particularly on seniors, who are more vulnerable to the virus.

Lawrence Gostin, the director of the WHO Collaborating Center on Public Health Law and Human Rights at Georgetown University, said the COVID would find hosts that are not immune, USA Today reported.

Scientists and health officials are studying the Omicron variant to learn more about it. However, early information suggests that it could be more contagious but probably less dangerous than the Delta variant.

U.S. Amid Omicron Variant

New cases across the county saw an increase from an average of nearly 95,000 a day on November 22 to almost 119,000 a day this week. Hospitalizations also jumped up to 25 percent from a month ago, with the cases almost entirely from the Delta variant.

On average, deaths were reported close to 1,600 a day that was back up to where they were in October. More than 35 percent of eligible Americans are still not fully vaccinated, with 28 percent of that number were adults.

A survey found that 94 percent of Americans have heard of the Omicron. Axios-Ipsos poll conducted the survey from December 3 to December 6.

However, only 23 percent said they would cancel holiday travel. Meanwhile, 28 percent noted that they would stop gathering with people outside their households.

READ MORE: Dr. Anthony Fauci Says Early Data Show COVID Variant Omicron Less Dangerous As Compared to Delta; South African Travel Ban to Be Reviewed

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Written by Mary Webber

WATCH: Pfizer Releases New Data About Effectiveness Of Its Booster Against Omicron - From TODAY






The U.S. Senate on Wednesday voted to revoke President Joe Biden's vaccine and testing mandate aimed at private-sector employers.

According to ABC News, two Democrats reportedly crossed party lines and voted with the Republicans present to repeal the mandate by a 52-48 vote.

READ NEXT: Florida Governor Ron DeSantis Says He Will Not Allow 'Fauci-ism' in Their State; Promises No Lockdowns Despite Omicron's Emergence

2 Democrats Voted in Favor to Repeal President Joe Biden's Vaccine Mandate

The two Democrats who voted "yes" were senators Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Jon Tester of Montana.

"I'm not crazy about mandates," Tester said before he voted, adding that Biden's vaccine mandate was a "burdensome" regulation.

Manchin has yet to provide a statement for his recent. But the senator said last week that he would "strongly support" a bill that will overturn the federal government's vaccine mandate for private businesses.

"I have long said we should incentivize, not penalize, private employers whose responsibility it is to protect their employees from COVID-19," Manchin noted in a statement.

Republicans brought up to revoke Biden's vaccine mandate through a vote using a procedural tool known as Congressional Review Act. The said procedure allows Congress to overturn the rules, which federal agencies created.

Furthermore, this procedure only requires 51 votes to pass the Senate. Senator Mike Braun of Indiana introduced the resolution.

Braun celebrated the bipartisan vote Wednesday evening, saying it was a crystal clear message to the White House to "back off" and "stop this crazy federal overreach immediately."

Braun earlier argued that Joe Biden had no authority to impose the requirements. Aside from the senators who voted to repeal the vaccine mandate, other entities also sounded their opposition.

CNBC reported that more than two dozen lawsuits were filed in federal courts across the country, challenging Biden's vaccine mandate.

The American Trucking Association, National Retail Federation, and National Federation of Independent Business were among those who wanted the requirements overturned.

President Joe Biden Asked to 'Veto' the Senate Decision to Repeal Vaccine Mandate

On Tuesday, the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) said it would strongly encourage Joe Biden to veto the Senate legislation if it passes.

The OMB noted that it makes "no sense" for Congress to reverse the vaccine mandate since it was for the protection of the workforce.

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said the president would certainly veto the legislation once it comes to his desk.

"If it [Senate resolution] comes to the president's desk, he will veto it," Psaki noted.

In a joint statement last month, dozens of groups representing health care professionals asked the business community to implement Biden's vaccine mandate.

Under Joe Biden's vaccine mandate, businesses with 100 or more employees are required to make sure their personnel was vaccinated by January 4 or have them tested weekly and wear face masks in the workplace.

The Department of Labor's Division of Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued the requirements under an emergency authority established by Congress.

READ MORE: Los Angeles Firefighter Drops His Pants, Wipes Butt With Vaccine Mandate Letter in Protest of City's Vaccination Order

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Written by: Joshua Summers

WATCH: Senate Passes Resolution To Repeal Biden's Private Sector Vaccine Mandate - From NBC News
A U.S. federal court sentenced a Guatemalan man to more than 11 years in prison after pleading guilty to charges related to a "Colombia-to-United States cocaine conspiracy."

In a statement released on Wednesday, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Ohio said Jose Luis DeLeon-Baltazar, 40, was sentenced to 140 months in prison for distributing at least five kilograms or more of cocaine on the high seas.

Guatemalan Man Extradited to Ohio From Colombia

The Guatemalan man was extradited to Columbus, Ohio from Bogota, Colombia in March 2020. The U.S. Attorney's office said DeLeon-Baltazar is the second defendant to be extradited to the U.S. in this case.

DeLeon-Baltazar, also known as "Enano," was indicted in September 2018. As part of his plea, DeLeon-Baltazar admitted last June that he conspired with others to ship hundreds of kilograms of cocaine from Colombia, via sea and land, through Central America and Mexico to the U.S.

Specifically, he pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute at least five kilograms or more of cocaine on the high seas, which is a federal crime punishable by at least 10 years in jail.

READ NEXT: 500 Packages of Cocaine With Liverpool FC Branding Bound for Brazil Seized in Paraguay

Colombia-to-U.S. Cocaine Pipeline

Court documents revealed that as part of the "conspiracy," drug traffickers would use "load" coordinators to assist with the logistics of cocaine shipments.

The coordinators would also assist in locating drivers and boat operators for narcotic-laden vehicles and vessels and securing shared investments from multiple co-conspirators in specific cocaine shipments.

Conspirators allegedly recruited fishermen and other commercial maritime laborers to transport cocaine and refuel vessels.

Conspirators also paid a "tax" or "fee" to send cocaine through areas controlled by a different drug cartel. Members of the drug trafficking group reportedly shared information on the activities and locations of law enforcement and military personnel assigned to interdict narcotics shipments.

They also sheltered individuals who were at risk of extradition to other countries. The U.S. Attorney's Office said low-level co-conspirators would take responsibility for the seized cocaine to free higher-level members.

Court documents showed that DeLeon-Baltazar received multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine transported on go-fast speed boats from Colombia into Guatemala.

Authorities said once the cocaine arrived in Guatemala, DeLeon-Baltazar would hide the cocaine in buildings at Tecun Uman, Guatemala. The illegal drugs would then be transported across Guatemala's northern border into Mexico.

The U.S. Coast Guard intercepted a go-fast boat on May 19, 2016. This operation, which was carried out some 400 miles south of the Guatemala-Mexico border, led to the confiscation of 880 kilograms of cocaine.

Authorities said that shipment was supposed to be received by DeLeon-Baltazar in Guatemala, where he would store it before being transported to Mexico.

Additional cocaine shipments related to this case were seized in several operations that also led to the arrest of other co-conspirators.

READ MORE: Brazilian Model Who Lived a Secret Life as 'Drug Cartel Queen' Had Husband Shot at Son's Birthday Party

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Jess Smith

WATCH: $12 Million Worth Of Cocaine Confiscated In Guatemala - From WJZ
Gabby Petito's dad, Joe Petito, has joined in the efforts to find a New York mother-of-five who went missing weeks ago.

Joe recently shared the information about the missing mom on his Twitter page, hoping to drum up more awareness on the case.

Petito's dad asked the public to help find Melissa Molinari, who was last seen on November 21 when she left her vehicle at her home in Lolly Lane, Centereach.

"Please help find #MelissaMolinari. Last seen 11/21/2021 at 45 Lilly Ln Centereach, NY. Please help bring her home safe," Joe wrote.

#twitter, you are all amazing. Thank you for all you do to help. Please help find #MelissaMolinari. Last seen 11/21/2021 at 45 Lilly Ln Centereach, NY. Please help bring her home safe. #MissingPerson #TogetherWeCan #gabbypetito #everybithelps pic.twitter.com/pBuL7KjsMS  joseph petito (@josephpetito) December 5, 2021

According to Crime Online, Molinari is described as a 38-year-old white female who stands 5-feet-4-inches tall and weighs around 120 pounds. She has blue eyes and red hair and has no known medical issues.

Authorities declined to comment if Molinari's disappearance was suspicious. But they noted that "the circumstances are under investigation." A friend of Molinari reported her missing.

READ NEXT: With Brian Laundrie Dead, Gabby Petito's Parents Find Their Justice by Helping Others, Launch New Twitter Page to Help Find Missing Persons

Gabby Petito's Dad Sends Messages to Artists Urging Them to Post Info About Missing Persons

Gabby Petito's father was not only reposting information about missing persons on his Twitter page. But he also started tweeting directly at celebrities and influencers to help out.

Some of the notable artists he messaged on Twitter this week were Kelley Clarkson, Ludacris, and Jordana Brewster.

"Sorry to bother you, If you can find the time, I know you have a lot going on. But if you can post about a missing person at least once a month, maybe inspiring others to do the same in the process would be huge," Joe Petito wrote to Kelly Clarkson.

Sorry to bother you, If you can find the time, I know you have a lot going on. But if you can post about a missing person at least once a month, maybe inspire others to do the same in the process would be huge. It could help save a life. I understand if you cant. Thank you  joseph petito (@josephpetito) December 8, 2021

"I know you do a lot for communities. If possible, if you get a chance. Please post a missing person flyer to help bring someone home safe. Maybe inspire others with large platforms to do the same at least once a month," Petito's dad told Ludacris.

I know you do a lot for communities. If possible, if you get a chance. Please post a missing person flyer to help bring someone home safe. Maybe inspire others with large platforms to do the same at least once a month. I hope all is well. Thank you again for all you do.  joseph petito (@josephpetito) December 7, 2021

He also sent almost a similar message to Jordana Brewster. Joe Petito was not the only one in Gabby Petito's family, who tried to help in finding missing persons. Last week, Petito's mom, Nichole Schmidt launched a new Twitter page named "Gabby - Find the Missing," with the primary purpose of helping find other missing people.

The Petito family also launched the Gabby Petito Foundation in late September, shortly after federal officials confirmed the death of Brian Laundrie's fiancee.

The family formed the foundation to address the needs of organizations that support locating missing persons. The foundation also aims to provide aid to organizations that assist victims of domestic violence through education, awareness, and prevention strategies.

Petito's mom earlier said, "the foundation is a way of us grieving."

Gabby Petito and Brian Laundrie's Death

Gabby Petito disappeared on a cross-country road trip with her fiance, Brian Laundrie. The couple was traveling to Oregon when Petito stopped communicating with her family in Wyoming in late August.

Brian Laundrie was named a person of interest by the North Port police after returning home alone on September 1 or 10 days before Gabby Petito was reported missing by her family.

On September 19, Petito's body was found at the Spread Creek Dispersed Campground near Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming.

A Teton County, Wyoming coroner said she was strangled to death by a "human being," and the manner of death was homicide.

After a month-long manhunt, the North Port police and the FBI agents found Laundrie's remains in a swampy area of Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park on October 20.

The partial skeletal remains were confirmed to belong to him after a review of dental records. According to the autopsy report, Laundrie died of a gunshot wound to the head, and the manner of death was suicide.

Brian Laundrie was never charged in connection with Gabby Petito's murder. But an arrest warrant was issued for him for allegedly using his fiancee's debit card after her death.

READ MORE: Brian Laundrie's Parents Will Not Move Out of Their Florida Home, Family Lawyer Calls 'For Sale' Sign on Lawn a 'Hoax'

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Joshua Summers

WATCH: Gabby Petito's Father Says Her Tragic Story Could Help Save Lives - From 60 Minutes Australia
A Laois student who won a top prize in this years 67th Texaco Childrens Art Competition, will also have her work featured in the famous calendar that is published along side the competition.

In the 6 years and under age category, Kelly Hynes (5), a pupil at Anne Kelly School of Art, Craft & Design in Clonaslee, won second prize for her painting entitled Easter Eggs Hunt at Grannys.

Texaco said it illustrated perfectly the outstanding talent, creativity and imagination that many of our young artists possess and the important role schools have in encouraging and inspiring their students through art education.

Her work was described by Final Adjudicator, Professor Declan McGonagle as a soft and delicate use of the watercolour medium.

It is now among those selected to appear during the month of April and will be seen in thousands of homes throughout Ireland during the coming year.

Calendars are currently available through a select number of Texaco service stations and Texaco branded distributors countrywide and through Texoil, Valeros own home heating oil division.

The Texaco Childrens Art Competition is popularly regarded as the longest-running sponsorship in the history of arts sponsoring in Ireland, with an unbroken history that dates back to the very first Competition held in 1955. Texaco said this year, as has been the case throughout its life, it has been a platform on which young artists from Laois and counties throughout Ireland have had their talents recognised and their creativity commended.
The 'lack of' abortion services in the Midlands is of 'particularly concern' to a Laois Offaly public representative who sits at the Government table with Micheal Martin and Leo Varadkar.

Minister of State Pippa Hackett issued a statement welcoming the review of abortion services in Ireland. She said the review will comprise a public consultation, research on abortion care, and research on the views of the service providers.

The introduction of abortion services in this country in 2018 was a milestone for women, but we now need to ensure that those who need termination of pregnancy services are receiving quality care in all parts of the country, says Minister Hackett.

The Midland Regional Hospital Mullingar does provide termination under the law. The Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise, which also has a maternity unit, is not on the HSE list of approved centres.

However, the Laois hospital is part of a shared network maternity service network with the Coombe Women & Infants University Hospital in Dublin. It is approved for terminations.

Nevertheless, the provision of services in Laois, Offaly and other Midlands counties was an issue for the Minister.

I have been particularly concerned about the lack of services to women in the Midlands and other rural areas, said the Green Party reprsentative.

Along with the Oireachtas All Party Group on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, Minister Hackett said she has been pressing the Minister for Health to implement this review, with an independent chair.

The senator's also called for a geographical overview of services to be included in the review.

Her statement said that in 2020, 14 people from Laois, 28 from Offaly and 19 from Westmeath contacted the HSE My Options Helpline. The Geashill based politician said this helpline provides information and support on all options, including continued pregnancy supports and abortion services.

Its important that people are not disadvantaged by their geographic location, nor should they experience any cost barrier to accessing services. I want to be sure we use this review effectively to close the gaps in care, says Minister Hackett

I would encourage everyone who has used abortion services  or found it difficult to access services  to have their say in the public consultation," said the Minister of State.

The Department of Health has invited the public and interested parties to make submissions as part of the review of the operation of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018.

The online survey is available at https://ec.europa.eu/ eusurvey/runner/PublicConsultationOperationofA ct2021
A new study has revealed where Ireland's most generous gift givers live.

With Christmas fast approaching, PayPal's Gifting and Giving 2021 study  involving over 1,000 Irish consumers  shows that Irish people are planning to spend 33% more on Christmas gifts this year.

Compared to Christmas 2020, where the average spend on Christmas gifts was 541, those polled in Ireland plan to spend an average of 721 on gifts this Christmas. As for the most generous counties, these were revealed as Offaly (1,004), Kildare (928), Sligo (890), Tipperary (888) and Clare (843).

No Late Late Shoppers

It seems the majority of respondents arent hanging around either when it comes to ticking items off their list, with 32% having a head start and finished with their Christmas shopping by the end of November. Furthermore, a quarter (25%) expect to have theirs completed by this first week in December.

However, a fifth (20%) of Christmas shoppers did admit that they usually leave their shopping until the last minute. Men are more prone to this than women with 30 per cent of male respondents leaving shopping to the last minute, compared to just 17% of female respondents.

When it comes to how people are shopping, over half (53%) of Irish consumers Christmas shopping this year are doing more of their Christmas shopping online in order to avoid crowds. Meanwhile, some 37% plan to head into stores during quiet times for the same reason and almost a fifth (17%) intend to buy fewer physical gifts as a result of COVID-19.

Christmas with a COVID twist

The pandemic is causing some consumers a concern with 31 per cent worried about presents not arriving in time due to supply chain issues. Another main worry is that lockdown restrictions could prevent people from celebrating with family and friends in person (52%).

On a more positive note, 38% of Irish people agree that it feels like Christmas will be back to normal this year and 56% of Christmas hosts are not anxious about hosting people over the holidays. Although, more than half (57%) of Christmas hosts said they will only invite double vaccinated guests for celebrations at home.

The Gift of Giving

The PayPal study also revealed that more than a third of Irish people (38%) say the pandemic has caused them to be more generous with their time and money in relation to charitable causes, with 92% saying they donated to charity by giving money, donating items, offering raffle prizes or giving to a food bank.

According to the research, Irish people donate an average of 87 a year to causes dear to their hearts. Based on donations during the average year, the most generous givers are from Carlow (178), Wicklow (106), Sligo (103), Meath (102) and Wexford (100).

Speaking about the findings, Maeve Dorman, Senior Vice President at PayPal, commented: Its that magical time of the year when people want to give back to their loved ones and their communities. After all, being generous to others makes us feel good and  something that is ever more important these days  helps us stay connected. Irish people, in particular, are known for their generosity and thoughtfulness, so its not surprising that they are going above and beyond this year when it comes to buying gifts for family and friends, and making donations to causes they care about.

At PayPal, we want to make it easy to support charities this Christmas and beyond, which is where Give At Checkout comes in. It enables people to add a micro-donation when they shop online with PayPal.

Give at Checkout allows people to make micro donations of 1 when they do their Christmas shopping online with PayPal by selecting their favourite charity on this website or via the mobile app.
Funding of 100,000 is set to fund a masterplan for Rathdowney that has the potential to be a major boost for the Laois town.

As part of the first ever Town Centre First Plans, funding is going to Laois County Council to work closely with local community groups, retailers and others to devise and develop objectives of their respective masterplans.

The Department of Rural and Community Development says central the plans will be addressing vacancy and dereliction in Rathdowey and other towns around Ireland that selected in each county.

The Department says the focus will be on the town centre and immediate surrounds. Each Plan will set out specific actions and interventions and help unlock national funding streams such as the rural Regeneration and Development Fund and the Town & Village Renewal Scheme to resource delivery of these interventions.

The funding was welcomed in Laois. Sean Fleming, Minister of State at the Department of Finance, looked forward to the process starting for Rathdowney which has a population of abut 1,300.

"I look forward to Laois County Council working with all in Rathdowney to identify and develop their plan and the positive impact which will be of benefit to the local community, residents and businesses which will now be possible as a result of this funding.

"This funding is about delivering on the objectives of Our Rural Future and ensuring our towns have the right plan in place to tackle the issues of dereliction, vacant properties, and above all, to become better places to live, work and run a business," said the Fianna Fail TD.

His Government colleague Charlie Flanagan TD was also pleased.

"Like many towns across the country, Rathdowney has suffered from some dereliction and the change in pattern in town centre living over the past thirty years.

"I warmly welcome the sum of 100,000 to assist in enhancing Rathdowney Town centre. I urge owners of premises occupied & vacant to assist with this scheme to revitalise the town of Rathdowney & I'm pleased the Government is playing a lead role," said the Fine Gael TD.

His party colleague on Laois County Council Cllr John King said he is delighted that the government has acknowledged that there are serious town centre issues to be addressed.

"Owners and occupiers cannot do this alone, and this funding will help," he said.

Laois Offaly Green Party Minister of State Pippa Hackett was also happy.

Im delighted to see Rathdowney among the 26 towns earmarked for town centre mapping. Developing town centres first is a core Green Party policy and we pushed hard to have it included in the Programme for Government. Its all about bringing derelict and vacant housing back in to use, and enhancing the public realm in a town.

"What follows is more town centre residents, more footfall and better business. I held a public online meeting about this policy in Portlaoise earlier this year, with my Green Party colleague, architect Cllr Lousie Heavin. It really got the conversation going with community and business interests who are eager to revitalise the town centre, she said.

The masterplan initiative is part of the Our Rural Future  the Governments five year strategy for rural Ireland. It is also linked to the Governments Housing for All strategy and the forthcoming Town Centre First Policy, which will be announced in the coming weeks.

Towns in 26 counties were selected based on submissions received from the local authorities.

The Department said the funding will support each local authority, working with a collaborative Town Team, to develop a be-spoke TCF plan to guide the development of each town.

The Minister for Rural and Community Development, is Heather Humphreys.

Our rural towns and villages play a central role in the lives of people in rural areas," she said.

"They are where we live, work, shop and socialise. It is important that we ensure our towns and villages remain vibrant, vital and relevant places.

Each town selected as part of this initiative will has its own strengths and each will face different challenges as it maps out its future path. No one size fits all policy will work.

The Plans will be developed in tandem with Town Teams that are representative of the local towns and who can bring a wealth of knowledge and local expertise.

I am delighted that Our Rural Future continues to deliver tangible benefits across Rural Ireland. We are rolling out a range of investments for our towns and villages, particularly through the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund and the Town & Village Renewal Scheme.

The 7 million Streetscape Enhancement Scheme is also having a really positive impact in approximately 120 towns and villages right across the county.

These Plans being announced today will form part of the Governments wider Town Centre First Policy which will be published shortly in conjunction with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

Finally, I should stress that this is the first phase of funding for these Plans under the Town Centre First Policy and other towns will be afforded opportunities to develop such plans as we move forward, she said.
The book of tributes to the late Fr Jimmy Doyle has been a huge seller since it was released last Thursday.

Due to the popularity of Sportsman and a Shepherd, a reprint is already underway to satisfy demand for the book.

Many book stores in Kildare and Carlow have had to increase their stocks of the book, and some stores have run out of copies.

Additional books will be available in about a weeks time when the reprint is completed.

Many purchasers are keen to have the book before Christmas and to send it to relatives abroad.

Fr Doyle had served in five Kildare parishes before his death in October 2020. He ministered in Kilcock, Balyna, Newbridge, Naas and at the time of his sudden death was PP of Staplestown Cooleragh.

Fr Jimmy and Fr Enhirt Mpete from Tanzania at St Conleth's Park in 2009. Picture: Adrian Melia

He was closely associated with many Kildare GAA players and managers over the decades. The book contains about 50 tributes from friends, colleagues and parishioners who admired Fr Jimmy.

The book is available in Barker & Jones (Naas), Farrell & Nephew (Newbridge), Woodbine Books (Kilcullen), ONeills Centra (Johnstownbridge) and at the Parish Centres in Newbridge, Naas, Kildare, Clane and Carbury.

Bishop Denis Nulty has described the book as superb.

The tributes were compiled by Joe OBrien, Lorcan ORourke and Mairead Ryan.

Others have said the book is a beautiful production, a wonderful keepsake and people who knew Fr. Jimmy will love it.
Martin Kemp has dressed up as Father Christmas for a festive film encouraging the public to get vaccinated against coronavirus this winter.

The video shows the actor and musician preparing for Christmas by booking an MOT for his sleigh, polishing his boots and trimming his beard.

Kemp, who turned 60 in October, is also seen getting his coronavirus booster before heading out with a sack full of presents.

He said: We all know the run-up to Christmas can be one of the busiest times of the year  buying presents, decorating the tree, eating mince pies with family and friends.

I cant stress enough how important it is to tick your Covid-19 booster or flu jab off your to do list this festive season, among all your other preparations, to ensure that you can enjoy Christmas with your loved ones.

Its quick and easy and will keep us all protected as best as possible this winter. Now go book your jabs  Father Christmas said so!

Kemp starred in EastEnders between 1998 and 2002 as the villainous Steve Owen and is the father of Capital FM breakfast show host Roman Kemp.

His band Spandau Ballet produced hits including Gold, Through the Barricades and True during their 1980s heyday.

The short film is part of the Governments campaign to encourage the public to get a coronavirus booster or flu jab when they are eligible.

Some 20 million people have had a booster or third dose in the UK.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has promised that everyone eligible would be offered a booster by the end of January, with at least 400 military personnel helping the NHS.

It comes after the emergence of the new coronavirus variant known as Omicron impacted travel rules and sparked a return to compulsory mask-wearing on public transport.

Vaccines minister Maggie Throup said: More than 20 million people have already had their booster jab, securing the vital protection they need to enjoy Christmas safely.

I am delighted to see Martin Kemp play his part, encouraging others to do their bit in this national mission.

Its never too late to get your first and second dose  I encourage everybody to come forward to protect yourself and those around you.

Deputy lead of the NHS Vaccination Programme, Dr Nikki Kanani said: Seeing Martin Kemp step into Santas shoes to encourage as many as possible to take up their lifesaving booster vaccination is pure Gold.

None of us is indestructible, but by joining 17 million others in getting that vital Covid booster, you know you and your loved ones are protected this Christmas.
Minister Frank Feighan has this morning, Thursday 9th, welcomed the announcement from Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, 2.6 million in funding to deliver the first ever Town Centre First Plans, which will be key to tackling dereliction and revitalising town centres.

Included in this announcement is 100,000 for Leitrims County town, Carrick-on-Shannon.

As part of the initiative, each local authority will be provided with 100,000 to support the development of its own unique master plan.

Leitrim County Council will now work closely with local community groups, retailers and the other members of the Chamber in devising and delivering on the objectives of their respective masterplans.

This initiative is a key part of Our Rural Future  the Governments ambitious five year strategy designed to reimagine and revitalise Rural Ireland.

It is also linked to the Governments Housing for All strategy and the forthcoming Town Centre First Policy, which will be announced in the coming weeks.

Announcing the details of the 26 towns, Minister Humphreys said:

This is about delivering on the objectives of Our Rural Future and ensuring our towns have the right plan in place to tackle the issues of dereliction, vacant properties, and above all, to become better places to live, work and run a business.

Minister Feighan stated that the Plans will cover the importance of place-making, town centre living, the social and economic purpose of the town, and respond to emerging opportunities such as those linked to remote working, climate action and digitalisation.

The Plans will also be central to addressing vacancy and dereliction in these locations.

It is hoped that the Carrick plan will set out specific actions and interventions and help unlock national funding streams such as the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund and the Town & Village Renewal Scheme to resource delivery of these interventions, concluded Minister Feighan.
Over the past two weeks Clean Coasts have honoured winning groups, individuals, communities and businesses who have won an Ocean Hero Award for outstanding work and commitment to their coastlines and areas.

Each year, the Ocean Hero Awards honour the invaluable contribution Clean Coasts volunteers, groups and communities have made towards conserving our spectacular coastline. The awards, originally called the Clean Coasts Merit Awards, were conceived in 2006.

Being Irelands foremost community-based coastal education programme, the Clean Coasts programme can count on the work of over 1,800 volunteer groups and over 37,000 volunteers. The involvement and support of the whole community are essential to the work of Clean Coasts and the Ocean Hero Awards is an award thought to recognise the invaluable contribution volunteers, groups and communities have made towards conserving the Irish coastline.

It has been an unusual year, and, like everyone, Clean Coasts and their volunteers have had to adapt. The continued support, engagement, and interest from the many Clean Coasts volunteers around the country has been outstanding, showing dedication and resilience through these testing times.

Clean Coasts understands that it was not possible for everybody to take part in clean-up activities this year and for some it was incredibly frustrating not to be able to get out to those places that they love and normally care for. Nonetheless, there is great value in sharing examples of the creative solutions that groups have come up with to inspire us all to look ahead to the new year.

In an effort to recognise the growth of our volunteer groups, the number of Ocean Hero categories have expanded to include ten categories in 2021.

This year Leitrim based volunteer Martina Healy (who goes by the name @LeitrimLitterPicker on Instagram) was shortlisted in the #2minutebeachclean Leader Award category for the Ocean Hero Awards 2021.

The #2minutebeachclean Leader Award recognises the use of social media and direct action to empower, educate, inspire, and enable individuals, groups, and businesses to make simple changes or take part in simple actions that will contribute to the planets wellbeing, as well as their own.

When asked about her litter picking work Martina said: With my passion for walking, and healthy living, it was no surprise that the eyesore of litter in beautiful Leitrim, could steer me on a course of action, to reverse the tide in favour of a cleaner and sustainable environment.
Irish Water is working with Cavan County Council to restore water as quickly as possible to impacted customers supplied by Doobally Water Supply Scheme following a power outage at the water treatment plant.

The outage is impacting water supply to homes in Dowra and surrounding areas in Co Cavan. Power is expected to be restored by 9pm this evening.

Dedicated water service crews have mobilised and water is being tankered to Dowra reservoir. This tankering should restore water to the town by 9pm this evening.

Following power restoration this evening it is expected that normal service will be restored to Dowra from Doobally Group Water Scheme by tomorrow morning.

Peter Gallagher, Irish Water, commented: The works are being conducted as quickly and efficiently as possible to minimise disruption to the area and restore water for all customers. We understand the inconvenience unplanned outages can have on customers and we appreciate your patience as we work to return the water supply to homes as quickly as possible.

Vulnerable customers who have registered with Irish Water receive direct communications from us for planned and unplanned outages lasting more than four hours.

Irish Water understands the inconvenience when an outage occurs and thanks customers for their patience while we work to restore normal supply to impacted customers.

The Irish Water customer care helpline is open 24/7 on 1800 278 278 and customers can also contact us on Twitter @IWCare with any queries. For updates please visit the Water Supply Updates section of the Irish Water website.
Storm Barra may be behind us by tonight - but there could be snow and another storm on the way in the next fortnight.

Friday will see "wintry showers" - which could mean sleet or snow - according to Irish Weather Online.

In their general nationwide forecast, the experts also said that during a period between December 19 up to before Christmas Eve "it could quickly turn stormy again".

In the meantime this Thursday will be rather windy again, with northwesterly increasing to about 50-80 km/hr.

Temperatures will also fall back to as low as 2 degrees that evening.

The experts added: "Friday will be windy and cold with passing wintry showers, some accumulations of snow possible on hills.

"Northwest winds will be 50-80 km/hr and morning temperatures could be as low as -1 C."

Referring to a period between December 19 and 23, Irish Weather Online said "it could quickly turn rather stormy again."

Following Barra, the next named storm for the 2021-2022 season will be Corrie, then Dudley and Eunice.

Met Eireann, along with the national weather services of the UK and Netherlands have compiled the list of storm names for the 2021-22 storm season.

Similar to previous years, each weather service has contributed names reflective of their nation and culture, mainly suggested by members of the public.

Irish names that have made it onto this years list include Barra (Finbarr), Meabh, Pol and Sean.
Alumni Spotlights

The Department of Government is proud of our alumni. We encourage you to stay connected with us! Read the latest Alumni News below.

Andrews-Lee (PhD Government, '19) recently received a grant from Canadas Social Science and Humanities Research Council to launch her next research project, titled Breaking Boundaries: Women Leaders in Charismatic Movements.

Read more.

At IDEA, an intergovernmental organisation that functions in part as a think tank, but also provides technical assistance around the world, Hudson's (PhD Government, '18) own work centres on the annual updates to their Global State of Democracy dataset.

Read more.
Gardai in Limerick are offering advice as "Theres an increasing amount of mobile phones being stolen , especially the more expensive smart phones such as Iphones" states John Finnerty from Henry Street Garda station.

"Some thieves are specifically targeting smart phones , because of their value. Were encouraging owners of mobile phones to note and retain a code number that is specific to each individual phone. This code is known as an IMEI code. It contains 15 digits. IMEI stands for international mobile equipment identity. If your phone is subsequently stolen and you have retained this number, your service provider can disable your phone and in effect render it useless to thieves. Also, if your phone is recovered you will be able to identify it by the aforementioned number" he added.

"Were advising all mobile phone users to be very careful when using their mobile phones in public. When out and about, be streetwise and always take into account your surroundings when using same. If making or receiving a call in public, always do so with your back up against a wall, so that you can see around you and reduce the opportunity to be attacked from behind. If you are out socialising , avoid leaving your mobile phone on a bar, or on a table in a restaurant, especially late at night. And finally never buy devices from untrustworthy sources." Garda Finnerty concluded.
NEW DELHI : Indias telecom czars on Wednesday called for a reduction in litigation and levies, months after the embattled industry was extended a lifeline by the government.

Speaking at the India Mobile Congress, where top telecom executives congregate annually, Mukesh Ambani, chairman of Indias largest telecom operator Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd, said the economy would bounce back rapidly because of the quick adoption of technology, which had kept the country going since the pandemic.

During covid, when the chips were down, it was the chipsets that kept us going. When covid-induced lockdowns rocked our boats, it was technology that kept our lives and livelihoods afloat," Ambani said.

Given the crucial role of the sector in digitization, Bharti Airtel Ltd chairman Sunil Mittal urged the Centre to cut down on litigation, reduce levies and make spectrum affordable for operators. One area where they need to lower the temperature of our industry is really in the area of litigation. A lot of litigation still remains. There are cases right from TDSAT, high courts to Supreme Court," Mittal said at the virtual event, adding that old cases should be settled and new cases must be avoided.

In September, the government moved to reduce the burden on the stressed sector by approving a relief package. It included a four-year moratorium on payment of statutory dues by telecom companies and 100% foreign direct investment in telecom operators through the automatic route.

Ambani called for migration of telecom subscribers to 4G and 5G from legacy networks, affordable data and devices for driving digital inclusion while batting for the national rollout of 5G on priority and countrywide fibre connectivity. He said policy tools such as the Universal Services Obligation (USO) Fund should subsidize devices and help in digital inclusion.

Mittal said high levies and exorbitant spectrum prices required urgent resolution to fuel growth. Duties still remain high. That has been an industry demand for a long time. Spectrum also remains expensive," he said.

Aditya Birla group chairman Kumar Mangalam Birla said support from the banking sector was crucial for the growth of the telecom industry. Further steps in ease of doing business, and support from the banking sector would significantly enhance the sector strength and ensure India remains at the cutting edge of global technology trends," he said, adding that the mobile industry would play a vital role in achieving the governments vision of a $5 trillion economy by 2025. Birla added that the industry should collectively address the need for continued investments to accelerate the digital shift.

Communications and information technology minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the government was open to reforms and sought suggestions from the industry on issues of network security and the regulatory framework. People want telecom devices, telecom equipment, network, operating systems, everything to be from trusted sources. New geopolitical realities are facing us," he said, asking the industry for suggestions of a good framework under such circumstances.

The minister said the industry should provide suggestions for coping with rapid changes in technology, making digital services more inclusive, the transition from legacy networks without disruption and bettering the quality of services for consumers.

Our government is open to new ideas. We are open to more reforms," he said, while explaining that the government wanted to benchmark its regulatory framework with the best in the world, and the industry should come up with suggestions.

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Covid-19 boosters are available for all adults in the U.S., and could soon be authorized for use in some teenagers.

The Food and Drug Administration could authorize boosters from Pfizer Inc. and its partner BioNTech SE for use in 16- and 17-year-olds sometime in early December, The Wall Street Journal reported.

The move could come as concerns rise over the new B.1.1.529 variant, also known as the Omicron variant. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention identified the first confirmed U.S. case of the Omicron variant in California on Dec. 1.

The agency had already greenlighted booster shots from Pfizer and BioNTech and from Moderna Inc. for people 18 years and older, so long as they received their second shot at least six months ago.

The CDC had also recommended boosters from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna for people with weakened immune systems and those who are at high-risk, as well as for any adult who received a single-dose from Johnson & Johnson. The agency also already cleared the way for people to mix and match booster shots that are different from their first vaccine doses.

Boosters, health authorities have said, might help extend the protection conferred by immunization, and help fight contagious variants such as Delta and likely Omicron. Here is what we know about the need for boosters.

What is a booster shot?

It is an extra dose of the vaccine. In the case of the messenger RNA vaccines, it would be a third dose. For the Pfizer-BioNTech shot, the third dose will likely be the same. For the Moderna vaccine, the FDA is studying whether to give a lower dose than the first two. The extra dose mobilizes your bodys immune system defenses further to protect against Covid-19, health authorities say. Pfizer and partner BioNTech said early testing indicates a booster shot given at least six months after the second vaccine dose produces antibody levels five to 10 times higher than after two doses. Johnson & Johnson said, in announcing it had asked the FDA to authorize a booster, that the shot increased the protection of the companys one-dose vaccine to 94% in the U.S.

Should I get a booster shot?

The CDC strengthened its position on Covid-19 boosters on Nov. 29, recommending that everyone 18 and older get an additional shot after completing a first course of Covid-19 vaccination, based on the threat of the Omicron variant.

The FDAs latest authorizations of Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna boosters could make extra doses available to many adults who have been fully vaccinated and have passed the recommended waiting period.

The latest authorizations apply to adults at least six months past their second shot, whether they got the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine initially.

Adults who got a J&J vaccine had already been authorized to get a booster at least two months after the single-dose shot.

Pfizer Chief Executive Albert Bourla has said that annual booster shots are likely and that the protection from the vaccines third shot would probably fall after about a year.

An extra Covid-19 vaccine dose could mobilize more antibodies against the coronavirus, though the evidence supporting an additional dose isnt definitive. The immune system is complicated, involving more than antibodies. Other studies are still under way evaluating any benefit from an extra dose.

Data published in the New England Journal of Medicine from Israel, which began offering boosters to people over 60 in July, found that rates of infection and severe illness were substantially lower among study participants age 60 and over who had been vaccinated at least five months earlier and then received a booster dose of the Pfizer vaccine. The study analyzed the medical records of 1.1 million people.

People with weakened immune systems might stand to benefit most from the additional dose. Shots were already available for some of these people, who are known as being immunocompromised. Those eligible include people who have received an organ transplant or are taking a drug that weakens their immune responses.

A number of countries have been rolling out boosters. Israel has made them available to people 12 years and older. In Europe, France and the U.K. have started giving boosters to older people and those with compromised immune systems. The European Medicines Agency has recommended boosters for adults.

Where can I get the booster shot?

Getting the booster will be similar to getting the initial course of vaccination, federal health officials said.

The vaccines are expected to be available at some 80,000 locations around the U.S., including retail pharmacies such as CVS Health Corp. and Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc., as well as mass-vaccination sites and doctors offices. The Biden administration and Pfizer have said that there should be enough supply for the boosters, which will be available at no cost to people in the U.S.

Should I get a booster now, or wait until theres a new vaccine targeting Omicron?

Doctors recommend getting a booster now rather than waiting. Even if the booster is less effective at preventing severe disease or hospitalization against Omicron than against earlier variants, doctors expect boosters to provide at least some protection against Omicron.

Early findings from Pfizer and BioNTech indicate that a third dose of their Covid-19 vaccine neutralized the Omicron variant in lab tests, but the two-dose regimen was significantly less effective at blocking the virus. Still, the two-dose regimen may prove effective in preventing severe illness from Covid-19, the companies said.

The development of an Omicron-specific booster is expected to take at least three months, and there could be manufacturing or authorization delays beyond that. Waiting would leave people more exposed in the meantime.

Researchers previously said the current vaccines appear to work well against variants of concern that have emerged prior to Omicron. Yet they might not work as strongly against newer variants as they do against earlier ones. For that reason, people might want booster shots to ensure that they get the fullest level of protection possible against the variants. And they would want a third shot if any variants emerge that prove better able to evade current vaccines. Drugmakers are working on shots targeting variants.

Is it safe for me to get a booster shot from a different vaccine brand?

The CDC backed booster mixing and matching on Oct. 21, saying people can get a shot that is different from what they had received previously.

For immunocompromised people who already are authorized to get a third messenger RNA dose, the CDC says they should try to get the same type of vaccine as their first two shots but can mix and match if they have to.

The CDCs recommendation follows the FDAs authorization of mixing and matching on Oct. 20.

The permission to mix and match vaccines and boosters would help ensure doses are available to anyone who wants one, while also increasing options for fully vaccinated people, according to health authorities.

The FDAs mixing-and-matching decision was informed by a National Institutes of Health study that showed that receiving a different vaccine than the original one received boosted antibody levels across all three vaccine types, particularly among Johnson & Johnson recipients.

The NIH study showed that J&J vaccine recipients boosted with a Moderna dose saw a 76-fold increase in antibody levels, while a Pfizer booster increased antibody levels 35-fold and a J&J dose increased antibody levels fourfold.

I got Johnson & Johnsons vaccine. What does this mean for me?

Any adult who got a Johnson & Johnson vaccine may get a booster from Pfizer and BioNTech, Moderna or Johnson & Johnson at least two months after the single-dose shot, according to the FDA.

Advisers to the FDA had voted unanimously Oct. 15 to recommend the agency authorize an extra dose of J&J, to shore up protection against the coronavirus.

The panel of outside doctors and experts voted to recommend that all adults who received a first dose of the J&J vaccine should get the second dose at least two months later.

The committee members opted not to take a vote on whether it would be better for people to wait at least six months after the first dose to get the J&J booster shot, citing that evidence was too limited.

J&J said studies found the booster increased protection. An international study, in which subjects received two doses of its vaccine, 56 days apart, found the two-dose series was 75% effective against symptomatic Covid-19 disease overall, and 94% effective in the U.S. portion of the study. And the two-dose series was 100% effective against severe to critical cases, J&J said.

J&J also said studies found that the second dose boosted levels of immune-system agents known as antibodies significantly in the weeks following the booster.

Ive been vaccinated and had Covid-19. Does a booster shot make sense for me?

People who both had Covid-19 and are vaccinated dont need to rush to get the boosters now rolling out across the U.S., health experts say.

Several studies suggest that people who have had Covid-19 and were fully vaccinated have strong protection, including against variants, and probably dont need the boost. Such research is preliminary and data is incomplete, according to scientists who specialize in vaccines and immunology. More is known about people who had Covid-19 and then were vaccinated, scientists said, than those who were vaccinated and had breakthrough infections.

Can I get the flu vaccine and a Covid-19 booster shot at the same time?

The CDC says that flu shots and Covid-19 vaccines can be given together. It also recommends that everyone age 6 months and older receive a flu shot by the end of October because flu activity peaks December through February. Health experts have warned that the coming flu season is on track to be worse than the last cycle as Covid-19 restrictions that also helped prevent the spread of the flu virus are eased.

What about people with weakened immune systems?

The FDA had already authorized the additional dose for certain people with compromised immune systems. Research shows that immunocompromised people are more likely to get severely ill from Covid-19, are more likely to transmit it to household contacts and more likely to have breakthrough infections.

The immunocompromised include transplant recipients, some cancer survivors and people living with HIV; their weakened immune systems make them less responsive to vaccines, which stimulate the immune system to provide protection. The elderly also tend to have weaker immune systems, and they are also likely candidates for boosters.

Why wouldnt Covid-19 immunity last?

Studies suggest and many researchers say the immunity provided by Covid-19 vaccines will wane over time.

The vaccines work by generating neutralizing antibodies, which prevent the virus from entering cells and replicating.

Pfizer has said that antibody levels start to decline from their earlier peaks about eight months after the second dose. After a third shot, antibody levels were up more than five times among people ages 18 to 55 and more than 11 times in people ages 65 to 85, compared with two doses, according to Pfizers data.

Even with reduced antibodies, vaccines are protecting against severe disease, according to researchers and published research. That is because the vaccines help other immune-system weapons: the T-cells that hunt down infected cells and destroy them, and memory B-cells, which circulate in the blood and help churn out antibodies upon detecting a virus. Both are likely helping prevent severe disease, according to researchers.

This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text

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This week, reports and bizarre images of a group of five mummy-like bodies from Peru that have three-fingered hands led to claims by some that the mummies are not human  and may be aliens.

Clearly, they aren't aliens. But even so, what gives? Are they even real mummies?

Live Science has found that some of these mummies may represent a combination of the looting and manipulation of real human mummy parts.

One of the mummies "looks like a typical Nazca mummy, in the flexed, seated position," said Andrew Nelson, a professor of anthropology at the University of Western Ontario, in London, Canada. (The Nazca people were an ancient culture in Peru who bundled up their mummies in textiles and constructed the sprawling geoglyphs called the Nazca lines.)

Grotesquely, the hands and feet seen on this mummy, and possibly the others, may also be parts of real human mummies that have been manipulated by forgers, the white coating added afterward to hide the manipulations, said Nelson, who is not involved with research on the mummies. [Photos: The Amazing Mummies of Peru and Egypt]

A number of other researchers also believe that real human mummy parts were used to create these fakes. A dozen Peruvian mummy researchers have put out a statement condemning the practice saying that it "has violated numerous national and international norms."

One of the researchers who signed the statement told Live Science that "I particularly find repulsive that anyone would [dare] to dehumanize deceased human bodies. You can't take away the condition of human to a human being!" said Guido Lombardi a professor of forensic sciences at Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia.

According to Jose Jaime Maussan Flota, who is a journalist working with researchers studying these mummies, members of the team pay Mario an undisclosed sum to view the mummies, take samples of them and conduct X-rays and CT scans on them.

Looted in Nazca

The mummies were supposedly discovered in 2015 by tomb robbers working in the Nazca region, an area where the ancient Nazca culture flourished. The mummies come from "a group of 'huaqueros,' or archaeological treasure hunters, from the city of Palpa," said Thierry Jamin, president of the Inkari-Cusco institute. Jamin is involved with research on the mummies and refers to the head of this looting group as Mario.

"Mario is a treasure hunter. He is a delinquent, who is well known to the police services of the Nazca region. It [his group] has looted archaeological sites on the Peruvian coast for more than 20 years. And justice does not do much to stop him," Jamin said, claiming that he informed Peru's Ministry of Culture about Mario's activities, but has not heard back from the ministry. Officials from the Ministry of Culture did not return requests for comment from Live Science.

Mysterious researcher

Videos showing investigations of the mummies have appeared on the sites gaia.com and the-alien-project.com. The lead researcher for the group studying the mummies, a man named Konstantin Korotkov, gave an interview recently in Russian for the Russian Mir 24 TV station. The news site RT (formerly Russia Today) claims that Korotkov said that the mummies have 23 pairs of chromosomes (like a human), but their anatomy looks non-human. "They [the mummies] could be extraterrestrials or bio robots," RT quotes Korotkov as saying. In a video on gaia.com, Korotkov claims that radiocarbon-dating results show that one of the mummies (the same one that Nelson says looks like it was made with parts from a Nazca mummy) dates back around 1,700 years, a time when the Nazca culture was flourishing.

Korotkov did not reply to requests for comment and the university gaia.com claims he is affiliated with (St. Petersburg University in Russia) shows no record of him online. Officials at the university did not reply to requests for comment.

Another affiliation given in the media for Korotkov  the National Research University in St. Petersburg  doesn't seem to exist.

The National Research University Higher School of Economics has a campus in St. Petersburg  but again no mention of Korotkov on that university's website and officials with the university did not return requests for comment. Korotkov's personal website sells a product called Bio-Well that he claims can detect "human light." He makes no mention on his website of being a professor at St. Petersburg University in Russia or a National Research University in St. Petersburg.

Mummy looting

While the three-fingered mummies clearly seem to be fakes of some kind, scientists have discovered numerous mummified remains in Peru, including 171 mummies from tombs excavated near the site of Tenahaha, which date back around 1,200 years. [Photos: Hundreds of Mummies Found in Peru]

While some mummies in Peru have been discovered by scientists, others, such as the ones that may have been used to create these "aliens," are stolen by looters, who are known to ransack ancient Peruvian tombs before archaeologists are able to scientifically excavate them. The United States has restricted the import of artifacts from Peru in an attempt to stem the tide of looting.

While Mario and his gang may still be pillaging tombs, the situation has been improving, said Ann Peters, a consulting scholar at the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology.

"The protection of archaeological sites has greatly improved in the last decade with the establishment of legal requirements for environmental and heritage impact studies, the establishment of the Ministry of Culture and the employment of more professional archaeologists," Peters said. "However, some looters and traffickers in antiquities still exist in Peru, as well as in the United States and other countries."

Originally published on Live Science.
If the Olympics awarded medals for long-distance pooping, penguins would take home the gold.

These tubby, aquatic birds can squirt arcing jets of poop to distances nearly twice their own body length, and scientists recently calculated just how much force their tiny rectums produce in order to do so  and how far the poop can fly.

Over a decade ago, scientists had explored the pressure needed for chinstrap and Adelie penguins to expel poop along a mostly horizontal path, which they identified as penguins' most common poop direction. For a new study, which appeared on the preprint site arXiv on July 2 and has not been peer-reviewed, another team of researchers analyzed a different fecal trajectory in Humboldt penguins (Spheniscus humboldti), which often poop in a descending arc away from their nests on higher ground.

Related: Photos of Flightless Birds: All 18 Penguin Species

The team of scientists who first addressed the penguin poo puzzle published their results in 2003, in the journal Polar Biology ; that pioneering study won the authors an Ig Nobel Prize in 2005 for fluid dynamics.

When a new team of researchers revisited the question, they expanded on the earlier results by recalculating internal pressures inside the penguin's gut and rectum, correcting for viscosity of the poo, and factoring in air resistance along an arcing trajectory. They then discovered that the forces at work were even more extreme than previously suggested.

Pressure is measured in units called kilopascals (kPa), where 1 kPa is 1,000 newtons per square meter. In the new study, the scientists calculated that the pressure generated in the rectums of pooping penguins was as much as 28.2 kPa  about 1.4 times the estimate in the 2003 study.

"I was surprised by the extremely strong penguin's rectal pressure," said lead study author Hiroyuki Tajima, an assistant professor in the Department of Natural Science at Kochi University in Japan.

To estimate penguins' pooping prowess, researchers examined variables such as stomach pressure (P = P0+Pt), atmospheric pressure (P0 = 1013 hPa) and rectal pressure (Pt). (Image credit: Hiroyuki Tajima and Fumiya Fujisawa)

Though Humboldt penguins stand only 28 inches (71 centimeters) tall, the scientists discovered that the birds can generate enough poo-propelling energy to send fecal "bombs" flying at speeds of nearly 5 mph (8 km/h), landing up to 53 inches (134 cm) away. This achievement would be comparable to an adult human shooting their feces to a distance of more than 10 feet (3 meters), Tajima told Live Science in an email.

Victor Benno Meyer-Rochow, lead author of the 2003 study, declared that he was "very pleased that other researchers have taken up our ideas to look into penguin pooping," according to Improbable Research , the humorous science organization that awarded Benno Meyer-Rochow the 2005 Ig Nobel Prize.

The new study described the penguins expelling a fecal arc that curved upward before descending, which Benno Meyer-Rochow and his colleague had not seen in Adelie penguins. Nevertheless, "it is of course possible that either we missed that or that these penguins sometimes do that when they stand on an uneven rock and/or bend forward more than what we had observed," Benno Meyer-Rochow told Improbable Research.

Birds that eat meat or fish typically poop with more force than seed-eaters, likely because their waste contains higher amounts of irritating uric acid, Benno Meyer-Rochow wrote in a 2019 blog post .

While blasting poop jets helps penguins keep their nests tidy, their high-pressure pooping poses an occupational hazard for penguin caregivers in zoos and aquariums, the study authors reported. Their findings therefore have a practical side: helping wildlife experts who care for penguins to establish a foolproof "safety zone," so they can keep well out of range during the birds' explosive bathroom breaks, Tajima said.

Originally published on Live Science.
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Kelly Edwards has experience in television on every side of the table. The industry veteran has worked as a writer and producer, shes worked as a development executive, as an advocate and as a leader of diversity and inclusion efforts for HBO.

That background gives her unusual perspective on the business. Shes taken many of the lessons learned in the trenches and put it down in a primer designed to help aspiring writers navigate the business side of television, as Edwards explains on the latest episode of Variety podcast Strictly Business.

The Executive Chair: A Writers Guide to TV Series Development is a breezy guide to the things they dont teach you in film school. Like what to do when you meet an executive that youve just pitched in the wild, before youve heard back on that pitch.

Edwards talks about how the process of writing the book helped her gain insight into a changing business. We have to get comfortable with being uncomfortable, she says.



In her executive posts, Edwards said she often felt like the person who was in charge of validating peoples

dreams to work as a creative in television.

Ive seen so many people with so much talent out there, Edwards said. There are people out there that just need a shot and I thought if I can give them a little bit more of an edge, they should take it.

The Executive Chair, published this month by Michael Wiese Productions, was a labor of love for Edwards that she worked on even while juggling productions and her own development work. If theres one message she wants readers to take from the book, its this: Go for it. Theres never been a better time to take a shot.

The door is open, Edwards said. I cannot stand the fact for so long that this industry has had gatekeepers that kept people out.

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Distributors Beyond Rights, Blue Ant International, Cineflix Rights, DCD Rights, Hat Trick International, Passion Distribution, and Studiocanal have confirmed their participation at The London TV Screenings 2022.

They join an already strong lineup that includes All3Media International, Banijay Rights, eOne, Fremantle and ITV Studios.

The distributors are working together to coordinate a series of screenings, meetings and events taking place in-person in London from Feb. 28 through March 4.

Each company will host individual events across the week, and will be held in line with COVID-19 guidelines and protocols as advised at the time by the U.K. government.

The screenings developed out of a drive by distributors to have their own showcase events in the U.K. on the back of the major BBC Studios Showcase, when all the new BBC shows are put on display for global buyers.

Pre-pandemic, these buyers normally travelled to the U.K. for the BBC Showcase in Liverpool, and then went to London to attend the events of other distributors. In 2020, the distributors made their week of events official, though the pandemic forced the undertaking to go virtual.

The BBC Studios Showcase will remain virtual in 2022. The dates, Feb. 28  March 2, 2022, overlap with the London TV Screenings.

A London TV Screenings spokesperson said: With all our customers in mind, we are working together as a group and in consultation with each other, to co-ordinate a curated program which will avoid timing conflicts and ensure all our clients have the opportunity to see the very best new content and meet with our teams in central London.

The London TV Screenings has now become a real focus for international buyers who we know are eager to engage with as many distributors as possible during their spring visit to the U.K. The addition of these seven distributors to the schedule makes the London week even more compelling, the spokesperson added.

Further distributors are expected to join in the coming weeks.

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Tom Holland is heading back into the dance studio to prepare for his role as Fred Astaire in an upcoming biopic about the legendary entertainer. Im going to dust off the old tap shoes and go back to Pineapple Dance Studios [in London] and start taking tap lessons, he told Variety shortly after it was announced that he will play Astaire in an Amy Pascal-produced film.

The movie certainly wont be the first time Holland has shown off his dance skills. Im quite a good tap dancer, he said while promoting Spider-Man: No Way Home with his co-stars Zendaya and Jacob Batalon. Its something Ive done for a very, very long time so its something Im sure Ill be able to pick up.

Holland first tapped extensively when he played the titular role in the West End production of Billy Elliott the Musical from 2008 to 2010. Fred Astaire does have a very particular style, he said. Billy Elliot was very much a kind of like scuffy boot kind of tap dancer whereas he is very elegant and graceful so Ill probably have to learn how to do that. But its something Im gonna practice, something Im very excited for and I think it will be a fantastic film.

Asked who should play Ginger Rogers, Holland cracked to Variety, Amy Pascal is going to be my Ginger Rogers.

Holland first revealed the news on Dec. 5 during a Spider-Man: No Way Home event in London. The script came in a week ago, he told reporters. I havent read it yet; they havent given it to me.

Watch the interview above. No Way Home debuts in theaters on Dec. 17.

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CANCUN, Mexico (AP)  Gunfire broke out on a beach in Mexicos Caribbean coast resort of Cancun Tuesday, sending tourists scrambling for cover, but authorities said nobody appeared to be injured.

Lucio Hernandez Gutierrez, the chief of police of the coastal state of Quintana Roo, said the attackers apparently pulled up to the beach on jet skis and opened fire at a beach in Cancuns hotel zone. Hernandez Gutierrez said the jet skis had been found and seized.

One witness to the attack, Rick Lebassa, a tourist from Maine, said two or three gunmen appeared to be shooting into the air with pistols, not at the beach.

There were two guys and maybe even a third, who came in on jet skis, and what I saw was them shooting up into the sky, Lebassa said. I did not see any shots coming in toward the shoreline.

Lebassa says this was the first incident of this kind hes seen in his 31 years of coming to Cancun.

Im not overly concerned because this is the first time ever, Lebassa said. Weve been coming down for 31 years and weve never had any issues.

Not everyone was as unflappable as Lebassa, though.

Andy Guyrich and Kerry Arms, who were visiting from Minnesota, described more gunshots and terror on the beach.

We just had to hit the deck, Guyrich said.

Arms initially thought it was some kind of show.

There was a delayed reaction for about maybe five seconds, then everybody started scrambling and screaming and crying, and running, Arms recounted.

The shooting is the latest in a string of violent incidents on the resort-studded coast, and came in the same week that a special battalion of National Guard troops were assigned to protect the area. Mexican marines with bulletproof vests, helmets and assault rifles were seen patrolling Cancuns tourist-crowded beaches following the Tuesday shooting.

On Nov. 5, a commando of drug gang gunmen stormed a beach at Puerto Morelos, a resort just south of Cancun, and opened fire in front of luxury hotels, executing two drug dealers from a rival gang. The dramatic shooting attack sent tourists scrambling for cover.

State authorities called it a clash between rival groups of drug dealers on a beach near two hotels. Several cartels are fighting for the areas lucrative retail drug trade, including the Jalisco cartel and the a gang allied with the Gulf cartel.

The shootings were the latest chapter in drug gang violence that has sullied the reputation of Mexicos Caribbean coast as a once-tranquil oasis.

Rival cartels often kill another gangs street-level dealers in Mexico to eliminate competition and ensure their drugs are sold first. It is not the first time that tourists have been caught in the crossfire of such battles.

The Puerto Morelos shooting came two weeks after a California travel blogger and a German tourist were killed in a similar shootout in the beach town of Tulum in October.

A San Jose, California woman born in India, Anjali Ryot, and German citizen Jennifer Henzold were apparently hit by crossfire from the Oct. 20 drug dealers shootout in Tulum, south of Puerto Morelos.

Three other foreign tourists were wounded in the shooting at a street-side eatery that has some outdoor tables, right off Tulums main strip. They included two German men and a Dutch woman.

The Tulum gunfight also apparently broke out between two groups that operate street-level drug sales in the area, according to prosecutors.

There have been signs that the situation in Quintana Roo state, where all the resorts are located, was out of control months ago. In June, two men were shot to death on the beach in Tulum and a third was wounded.

And in nearby Playa del Carmen, police stage a massive raid in October on the beach towns restaurant-lined Quinta Avenida, detaining 26 suspects  most apparently for drug sales  after a city policewoman was shot to death and locked in the trunk of a car last week. Prosecutors said Friday they have arrested a suspect in that killing.

The administration of President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has pinned its hopes on the so-called Maya Riviera, where it has announced plans to build an international airport and a stop for the Maya train, which will run in a loop around the Yucatan peninsula.
LANSING, Mich. (AP)  Michigan newspapers sued the state's redistricting commission, demanding that it release a recording of a closed meeting and make public two memos that panel members discussed during the meeting.

The lawsuit was filed Tuesday by The Detroit News, the Detroit Free Press, The Center for Michigan Inc./Bridge Michigan and the Michigan Press Association. It seeks judgments from the Michigan Supreme Court that the 13-member independent citizens panel violated the state constitution by conducting business in a nonpublic meeting, must do all future business in open meetings and release all materials used to develop redistricting plans  including eight other memos.

The commission, which is drawing congressional and legislative maps for the first time following a 2018 voter-approved ballot initiative to curb partisan gerrymandering, called the closed session with its lawyer on Oct. 27 to discuss two memos, titled Voting Rights Act and The History of Discrimination in the State of Michigan and its Influence on Voting.

It was the panel's first meeting after it received public feedback about draft congressional and legislative lines at hearings across the state. In Detroit, residents and the states civil rights director had criticized how the proposals had no majority-Black districts.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel on Nov. 22 issued a nonbinding legal opinion saying commissioners should not have met privately. The panel has said the communications are protected by attorney-client privilege and last week, in split votes, blocked their release at the request of its legal team.

Michigan voters went to great lengths to ensure transparency and meaningful public participation in the redistricting process, the newspapers' lawyers wrote in the suit, which requests an expedited review. Accordingly, plaintiffs, as members of the public, have the necessary clear legal right to public disclosure of the redistricting materials.

Edward Woods III, spokesman for the commission, said it looks forward to asserting its right to attorney-client privilege in court. He said the panel has held 133 regular meetings and hearings open to the public.

Commissioners will meet Dec. 28 to vote on final maps. There are four U.S. House options, three state House options and three state Senate options that were collaboratively drawn. Individual commissioners

___

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The Clean Air Laredo Coalition hosted a town hall on Wednesday night to address the November report from ProPublica indicating residents of the city to be at a higher risk of contracting cancer due to ethylene oxide (EtO) emissions in the community.

District VII City Councilmember Vanessa Perez brought up the report from ProPublica at a Nov. 15 City Council meeting and was one of several councilmembers, along with Alyssa Cigarroa and Dr. Marte Martinez, who attended Wednesdays event.

Involving the people is always very important, Perez said prior to the town hall.

Weve been working on this for a few months now, and one of the reasons why we were hesitant to bring the people in is because we dont have a lot of answers. But once this ProPublica map dropped and it was starting to get shared, we decided that we needed to bring the people together.

What was discussed?

Tricia Cortez of the Rio Grande International Study Center presented the findings from ProPublicas report at Nov. 15s City Council meeting.

She also brought the information to the public during Wednesdays town hall.

A big part of the problem is that we didnt know, she said. So many of us didnt know. The science behind ethylene oxide has been changing, and five years ago the EPA changed the rules.

Prior to 2016, there wasnt much known about ethylene oxide, according to Dr. Kimberly Terrell, who presented on behalf of the Clean Air Coalition.

Studies became more intense on the substance back in the early 2000s, and it was later identified that EtO was more dangerous than initially believed.

As a result, the Environmental Protection Agency changed its allowances for EtO emissions on behalf of companies using the substance. Prior to 2016, companies were allowed to emit 16,000 pounds of emissions into the air  not necessarily all being EtO. Since then, emissions have been recommended to be below 12,000.

According to ProPublicas report which included data up to 2019, Midwest Sterilization in Laredo was the second-highest producer of EtO emissions in the nation emitting more than 16,000 pounds back in 2019.

However, the company reduced its emissions in 2020 to around 6,100 after the EPA adjusted its recommendations. The Texas Center on Environmental Quality allows companies to emit 12,000 pounds of emissions into the air every year.

The question Laredo City Manager Robert Eads had back at the Nov. 15 meeting was, is the 12,000-pound limit OK with them? He said at the time, Maybe not.

The TCEQ says it does all it can to make sure companies are compliant with regulations. It also says some estimations on emissions can be inaccurate.

EPAs Toxic Release Inventory groups multiple chemicals together into one chemical category, and RSEI assigns a toxicity value for that category, a statement from TCEQ reads. Since the toxicity of individual chemicals within the group can vary widely, coupled with overestimating air emissions reporting, this practice results in inaccurate cancer risk estimations that can be vastly exaggerated.

TCEQ maintains a robust air monitoring network including over 200 stationary air monitors, multiple rapid assessment survey vans and 16 regional offices with handheld air monitoring capabilities to ensure protection of public health and the environment.

TCEQ is dedicated to constantly improving air quality, and over the last 20 years has done just that. Texas has seen vast improvements in Ozone levels  Benzene, 1, 3 Butadiene and much more  all while seeing an increase in population. For example, measured levels of benzene have decreased in the Houston area by up to 65% since 2000.

Although we have seen success across the state, we understand that there is more work to be done. TCEQ will continue to work hard to constantly improve air quality for all Texans.

What the public was asked to do

ProPublicas report which was released is based on a model. The model includes estimations for emissions. For the City of Laredo, it wants more precise measurements.

Perez broached the topic of installing air monitors at and around Midwest Sterilization at the Nov. 15 meeting, and according to speakers at Wednesdays town hall, the company was receptive to putting said monitors in.

Individuals from around Chicago, Illinois who were part of shutting down a company called Sterigenics, which was releasing EtO emissions, said they were able to install air monitors of their own which allowed them to monitor what was in their air.

The hope of the Clean Air Laredo Coalition is to also find access to such equipment.

Dr. Victor Trevino of the Laredo Health Authority was in attendance on behalf of the Clean Air Coalition on Wednesday as well. He is in favor of installing the air monitors to get a true look at what is going on in the citys air.

We have to understand the concept of correlation and causation, he said. This has been expressed. The correlation has to create a causation, and that is why we need the data. We need all the information that we can get.

Trevino said he also would like the community to get involved with a new program, which would test the blood of children in the area to see if they have been exposed to EtO.

According to ProPublicas report, 94 of 95 schools in Laredo are in the top 6 percent of schools in the nation in cancer risk. Getting students into a pilot program to test their blood would give the city more data as to how its youth might be affected by EtO emissions.

Daniel Elizondo is a co-founder of Clean Air Laredo Coalition. He urged citizens to get involved at Wednesdays meeting.

This is going to be a community effort to have ethylene oxide out of our air, he said. To have clean air.

Arguably the most important thing to do is to reach out to your local leaders  the city councilmembers in your district  and demand that they take this seriously because this is a (big) problem, and then demand for surveillance.

This is the No. 1 thing that is being refuted and argued right now in city hall. That this is model data. We dont have hard data, and theyre kind of right. This is model data, but we can get real data. We can install air monitoring on the fence line of Midwest, throughout the city of Laredo and especially at the schools that are in the top 1 percent in being the most toxic in the entire United States.

Whats next?

The Clean Air Laredo Coalition provided attendees with a pamphlet directing them to the groups website where they could find links to articles speaking about the issue, a petition to sign and a option to sign up to volunteer with the organization.

The groups Facebook page is at facebook.com/CleanAirLaredoCoalition.

It takes years of exposure to chemicals for cancer to manifest itself, Cortez said. Its not necessarily overnight. It can sometimes take decades of exposure, and this is what were trying to stop and prevent.

thomas.lott@lmtonline.com
Cllr Paul Ross has called on Longford County Council to formally take ownership of Ardagh Clock Tower in order to allow the local committee to draw down grants to aid in the restoration of the tower and thus secure the long term future of this protected structure, which is a key feature of county Longfords architectural heritage.

At the moment the local committee are betwixt and between insofar as theyve tried to draw down substantial funding to restore the clock tower, which is urgently in need of major restoration, Cllr Ross explained at a recent meeting of Ballymahon MD.

When they go down the LEADER route, theyre hit with the fact that theres no correct ownership of the title deeds of the clock tower.

Theres also a community monuments fund, which was only launched in the last week and, once again, when they look into applying for that, theyre also being hit with the same issue as regards the title.

This is a piece of ground with a very key piece of Longfords architectural heritage that currently has no ownership whatsoever. Its something that I feel the council have to take ownership of.

We have a local committee who will draw down grants and raise money to keep the clock tower going and assist in the maintenance of the clock tower but it cannot be done without someone taking ownership of the site.

My other fear is that perhaps a third party will come in as happened in a carpark in south County Dublin and just register the title deeds and claim it for themselves, which we have seen before and thatll leave us all in court.

So Im looking for the good will of the council to try and resolve this situation, albeit somewhat complex. But if we do take it in charge, we have a very good local committee who are more than willing to run it and apply for all the grants and ensure that its kept in the condition it should be for the future.

Cllr Colm Murray seconded the proposal stating that this is an issue that has come to the attention of most of the members thanks to the initiative of the Tidy Towns committee in Ardagh.

The ownership of the clock, or lack thereof, is causing a major headache in terms of securing funding to protect the future of the clock in Ardagh. All reference to debates year and year with regards the running cost - to be honest, we didnt have much debate here, we were happy to support the day to day running cost of the clock every time an application came in for electricity costs and that.

But we have a limited amount of funding at our discretion here and certainly it wouldnt put a hole in the level of money required to repair the railings which are in a bad state at the moment.

So if the council could see to facilitating a process whereby the ownership was formalised in the local authoritys name or the local committees name and therefore allow the local committee to draw down significant funding - and the county council to help them in any way they can. It would go a long, long way towards protecting the future of what is certainly a famous monument in county Longford.

Cathaoirleach of Ballymahon Municipal District Cllr Mick Cahill agreed that the clock tower is a very important structure and a focal point of Ardagh village and highlighted that there are a number of other buildings in the county.

Cllr Pat OToole suggested helping the local committee to be autonomous and to set themselves up as limited company.

Its an easy enough thing to set up and will cost them very little but it will give them autonomy to apply for CLAR and things like that, he said.

I think the problem they have in making applications at the moment is they have no legal standing. Whereas if they go down that route, you are legally entitled and you have a legal standing. Ive seen it done before and it has worked extremely well.

Head of Finance for Longford County Council, John McKeon, thanked the members for their input and agreed that the committee is hampered when it comes to getting funding.

This has been referred to our Heritage Officer. I think it goes back to the time the estate itself was broken up and sold through the land commission decades ago - a lifetime ago - and its going back to that, he said.

Its very hard to establish the current ownership and the title. We have to go through legal channels to do that. Time is of the essence as well so if were going up a blind alley and were not getting anything I think we should scope a deed rectification and try and establish our ownership for the group on it then.

Cllr Ross thanked his colleagues for their support and thanked Mr McKeon for a very positive response.

What kind of timeline could you put on that? he asked.

If youre applying for a deed rectification, you have to prove that youve exhausted all other avenues, Mr McKeon replied.

In my own head, the timeline Id give is the end of quarter one in 2022 and at that stage, if were getting nowhere, we would apply for that.

Cllr Colm Murray requested that the item be kept on the agenda, so that were kept fully in the loop until such time as we have a solution found here.

Cathaoirleach Mick Cahill agreed and stressed the importance of supporting all our community groups in their efforts.
Local authority officials have been handed a 100,000 cash injection to breathe new life into Longford town by tackling vacancy and dereliction rates.

The funding has been allocated through the State's Town Centre First policy, an initiative first set up by former Minister for Community and Rural Affairs Michael Ring in October 2018.

The aim of the drive was to explore how to encourage increased residential occupancy in rural towns and villages and, at the same time, address the issue of vacant properties.

Fine Gael Senator Micheal Carrigy, who announced the funding this morning, said the six figure allocation would go a long way towards copper-fastening Longford's burgeoning potential as a key shopping and residential destination.

"The funding will be used to develop plans to address vacancy and dereliction in Longford town," he said.

"This initiative will also highlight the central role that Local Authorities play in town centre revival.

"More attractive urban spaces can revive our high streets through supporting increased footfall which leads to higher levels of local spending and also encourage property owners to bring vacant buildings back into use."

The announcement comes after Chambers Ireland, the body under which Longford Chamber of Commerce operates, called for a national urban strategy to radically address the issues of vacancy and dereliction in the States cities and towns.

It advocated a series measures around the reclaiming and refurbishment of vacant and derelict properties and the rezoning of brownfield sites.

It suggested the Government should set vacancy reduction targets for local authorities; introduce legislation to strengthen the powers of local authorities to compulsory purchase vacant sites; and increase and expand the existing vacant site levy.
Macra na Feirme has recently written to Green party MEP Ciaran Cuffe requesting a meeting over his letter regarding lending to young farmers for growth in their livestock enterprises.

To date, they say no response has been received by Macra na Feirme to the invitation to meet.

"It would appear that this politician has little interest in solution design or engagement with the Irish citizens that his comments directly impact, young farmers," said Macra na Feirme National President John Keane

Macra said the Green MEP's comments earlier today had done little to appease the anger among Macra na Feirmes young farming members.

It reinforces the common belief among the farming community and young farmers that the Green party have little regard for life outside the M50 Mr Keane said.

Earier today, Ciaran Cuffe accepted that it was "wrong to single out young farmers" as the whole economy needs to reduce emissions.

Speaking on RTE's News at One, Mr Cuffe said: "I certainly shouldn't have singled out agriculture when the entire economy needs to reduce its emissions and in fairness to what my colleagues are doing in Government, they are working to incentivise organics, biomethane, forestry, and all of these have a role to play in reducing our emissions.

"But I do think that we are reaching limits in some areas and an area that has seen a real explosion in greenhouse gas emissions in recent years has been dairy farming."

At the recent annual Macra na Feirme conference, attendees heard from Eoin Lowry of Bank of Ireland that across all farms in Ireland, only 30% have debt on farms. The level of debt across all farms decreasing by 25% over the past decade.

"It may come as a surprise to those flying back and forth to Brussels on aircrafts that are currently not included in any climate targets of actions, that Irish young farmers are leading the way in environmental practices," Mr Keane said.

Macra stressed that Irish livestock sector is widely regarded as a global leader in terms of emissions and embracing environmentally friendly measures.

Macra na Feirme says it wants to engage constructively with MEP Cuffe and wishes to outline the positive role young farmers are playing and will continue to play in climate action.
Ireland needs to move on from the divisions of the past, the Taoiseach has said.

Micheal Martin was speaking at an event setting out the next stages of his Governments Shared Island initiative, a year on from its launch.

The impact of Brexit and the legacy of the Troubles were both flagged as potential obstacles to reconciliation on the island.

"After two decades of peace, we do have more common ground and goodwill on this island than in the past. A deeper reconciliation, a better future for our children and grandchildren, can be achieved." WATCH LIVE | The Taoiseach at the #SharedIsland Forumhttps://t.co/FN9yxrNaGo  MerrionStreet.ie (@merrionstreet) December 9, 2021

Education, climate change and transport were highlighted as areas for greater co-operation between the administrations on both sides of the border.

The long road of peacebuilding and the current challenges including on Brexit and dealing equitably with the legacy of the Troubles, can sometimes obscure just what has been achieved since 1998, Martin said.

The initiative has seen the Government focus on building new cross-border and all-island relationships, backed by millions in funding.

This has included co-operation on cross-border issues, including the Ulster Canal and the Narrow Water Bridge.

The Government also arranged a series of shared island dialogues involving around 1,000 people, with work co-ordinated by a new Shared Island Unit.

The speech came in the same week Ireland marked 100 years since the signing of the Anglo-Irish Treaty that brought to an end the countrys war of independence against British rule.

Taoiseach Martin said the century of marking the signing of the treaty was a reminder that a failure to resolve how people lived on the island of Ireland had often led to violence.

We have begun to reconcile. But we must also acknowledge that 2021 has been a difficult year as we continue to grapple with the Covid pandemic, the outworkings of Brexit and dealing with the legacy of the past, Martin said.

On Brexit, the Taoiseach said that the EU had been listening to unionist concerns on the contentious Northern Ireland Protocol.

We want to see an agreed outcome that works in the best way possible for the people of Northern Ireland, he said.

We want to finally and definitively move beyond the divisions of our past, to build together a truly shared future.

Among the new initiatives announced on Thursday, Martin said that his Government would be working with the Northern Ireland executive on investment in cross-border electric vehicle charging points, as well as on a new pilot project on green hydrogen for the islands road network.

Promising funding and support for climate change partnerships, the Taoiseach also said his Government was committed to creating an island-wide network of greenways.

Stressing the importance of co-operation, he warned: There is no predetermined constitutional outcome.
Local News, Business & Finance

By Chris Boyle Published: December 09 2021

This event is for homeowners and renters who want to learn about State and County programs to assist people with COVID-19 related financial difficulties.

Nassau County Legislator Siela A. Bynoe (D - Westbury) will be hosting a virtual Homeowner and Rental Relief Informational Session on Thursday, December 9, 2021 at 7:00pm.

This event is for homeowners and renters who want to learn about State and County programs to assist those who have had COVID-19 related financial difficulties. Topics to be covered include New York State Homeowner Assistance Fund, Nassau County COVID-19 Rental Assistance Program, and the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP).
Community, Charity & Cause

By Chris Boyle Published: December 09 2021

The Shop with A Cop program helps foster strong community relationships, as children from the Westbury area will shop with police officers.

Commissioner of Police Patrick Ryder and the Nassau Police Foundation announce Shop with A Cop, an annual event that pairs 50 deserving children from the Westbury School District with police officers who will assist them with holiday shopping.

The Shop with A Cop program helps foster strong community relationships, as children from the Westbury area will shop with police officers from Community Affairs, COPE and POP Units and our Super Heros for holiday gifts for their families. The NCPD Foundation is generously donating $150 per student for this shopping spree.

Ten students, grades 1 through 12, from each of the five schools have been identified by their respective schools as meeting the criteria for this event, which will be held on Thursday, December 9, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. at the Walmart at 1220 Old Country Road, Westbury.

The children and a guidance counselor from each school will be transported in NCPD Department vehicles to the Westbury Walmart by Police Officers from Community Affairs.

A welcoming celebration with the NCPD LEO the LION and Police Officers dressed as superheroes will kick off the event followed by refreshments and a shopping spree. Upon completion, the students will be returned to their schools by police officers.
(Alliance News) - Downing Street has said it does not recognise the EU's Friday deadline for resolving the ongoing fishing row with France.

The European Commission has said the dispute over post-Brexit fishing licences must be settled by December 10.

But Number 10 said on Thursday that the UK had "never set a deadline" itself, and the EU cut-off point is "not one we're working to".

Environment Secretary George Eustice is expected to hold further talks with EU environment commissioner Virginijus Sinkevicius on Friday.

The prime minister's official spokesman said: "I'm not aware of certainly any communication we've had from the French government, certainly not to the prime minister. There's a technical process still ongoing based on evidence rather than set deadlines.

"We've never set a deadline. I recognise they themselves have set one but it's not one we're working to.

"George Eustice spoke to commissioner Sinkevicius last night about the progress on a range of licensing issues and they agreed to speak again later this week to take stock.

"All the talks on this issue have been constructive."

The row surrounds licences to fish in UK and Channel Islands waters under the terms of Britain's post-Brexit trade deal with the EU a the Trade & Co-operation Agreement.

France says Britain has not handed out enough licences to its fishermen, while the UK government has insisted the overwhelming majority of applications for licences have been granted.

Last week, France's minister for Europe Clement Beaune said the dispute is not a Franco-British issue but a problem between the whole of the EU and the UK.

He called on the EU to take retaliatory measures against Britain if the December 10 deadline is missed.

Beaune said French punitive measures a such as a ban on British trawlers landing their catches in French ports and tighter customs checks to hamper cross-Channel trade a remain "on the table" if a deal cannot be reached.

He told French radio network RTL: "It was the European Commission that told the British a so all of Europe together a that if you don't make big gestures with a lot of licences on December 10, we are no longer in a European dialogue."

On the potential ban by the French, Beaune added: "It's one of the possible options but it's better, to be honest, to have European measures.

"All options are on the table, because it's better to have a dialogue, buta if it doesn't bear fruit we can take European measures."

France's maritime minister Annick Girardin also warned of European retaliatory measures, telling the Ouest France newspaper that "London is testing the solidarity of the EU" in the spat.

The fishing dispute sits against a backdrop of tensions between Britain and France, recently inflamed by the deaths of 27 people attempting to cross the Channel in November.

source: PA

Copyright 2021 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
(Alliance News) - HS2 has signed a GBP2 billion contract with manufacturers Hitachi Ltd and Alstom SA to build the fastest trains ever produced in the UK.

The 225mph rolling stock will start off at Hitachi's plant in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, before being finished and tested at Alstom's sites in Derby and Crewe.

The deal to build a fleet of 54 high-speed trains will support 2,500 jobs across the UK.

The project will build on the Japanese bullet train technology, as well as European high-speed network expertise, to create some of the fastest, quietest and most energy-efficient trains in the world, HS2 said.

The first stages, including vehicle body assembly and initial fit-out, will be done at Hitachi Rail's facility at Newton Aycliffe.

The second stage of fit-out and testing will be done at Alstom's Litchurch Lane factory in Derby.

All the bogies, which house the wheelsets, will be both assembled and maintained at Alstom's Crewe facility.

The first train is expected to roll off the production line around 2027, and, following rigorous testing, its first passengers could be carried between two and six years later.

Each train will be around 200 metres long, with the option to couple two units together to create a 400 metres long train with up to 1,100 seats.

The trains will be able to run on the new HS2 network as well as existing lines, and will halve many journey times between major cities.

HS2 chief executive Mark Thurston said: "Today is a massive day for HS2.

"The trains that will be built in Derby, Newton Aycliffe and Crewe will transform rail travel a offering passengers unparalleled levels of reliability, speed and comfort, and help in the fight to remove carbon from our transport system.

"I'd like to congratulate Alstom and Hitachi and we look forward to working with them to bring these exciting new trains to passengers across the UK."

HS2's deal with Hitachi and Alstom had been subject to a legal challenge by rival manufacturer Siemens.

It is understood that Siemens will now seek damages about the procurement process, and HS2 will "robustly" defend itself.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps had been due to attend the contract signing ceremony at Hitachi on Thursday but pulled out because he has to self-isolate following contact with Australian Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce, who has tested positive for coronavirus.

By Tom Wilkinson, PA

source: PA

Copyright 2021 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
(Alliance News) - A probe into alleged Covid rule-busting parties within the UK government last year has been branded a "sham" as fresh claims emerged about a Christmas gathering reported to have taken place in Downing Street.

According to reports, Number 10's most senior spin doctor, Jack Doyle, made a speech and handed out awards at the alleged event on December 18, 2020.

The UK prime minister announced on Wednesday that an internal investigation led by Cabinet Secretary Simon Case would look into reports of a staff gathering held at Downing Street on that date.

The probe was subsequently widened to include another festive celebration and a reported staff leaving do.

ITV News reported on Thursday that Doyle, who was then deputy director of communications at No 10, addressed up to 50 people at the Christmas gathering a said to have been held on December 18.

It is understood that Doyle spoke to the press office to thank them for their work, as he did every week, and presented some awards to mark the team's efforts.

Following the latest claims, Labour's deputy leader Angela Rayner said the inquiry "has been exposed as a sham" as she argued more detail had emerged from the media than the Cabinet Office.

Rayner said: "As more details emerge about the Downing Street Christmas party, the government's internal investigation has been exposed as the sham it is. The investigation has only just published its terms of reference and we are already seeing more details from the media than the Cabinet Office about the parties.

"We all know there was a party that broke the rules. The Conservatives think it's one rule for them, and another for everyone else.

"The prime minister is unfit to lead."

Downing Street refused to comment further than to say a fact-finding review was ongoing.

Doyle has been approached for comment.

Alongside the alleged December 18 party, Case will include in his review a confirmed gathering at the Department for Education's Whitehall headquarters on December 10 last year, and a reported leaving event for a No 10 aide a allegedly attended by Boris Johnson a on November 27.

And the terms of reference for the investigation, published on Thursday afternoon, said "where there are credible allegations relating to other gatherings, these may be investigated".

The two December dates coincide with when mixing between households in London was restricted, with England in a month-long lockdown during November.

Both the prime minister and health secretary had suggested Case could choose to extend his investigation a a move he has decided to make a beyond the main allegation that a Christmas party took place in Downing Street only 24 hours before the government announced Christmas was cancelled.

The latest announcement means that some claims, including that there was a party in Mr and Mrs Johnson's No 11 flat on November 13 a the night the prime minister's former chief aide Dominic Cummings departed a are not currently included in the scope of the review, but could be added at a later date.

A later statement to peers by Cabinet Office minister Nicholas True suggested "credible allegations" of socialising could still be probed, keeping the door open for the flat claims to be potentially delved into.

Answering an urgent question in the Commons, Ellis said: "The primary purpose of the Cabinet Secretary's investigation will be to establish swiftly a general understanding of the nature of the gatherings, including attendance, the setting and the purpose, and with reference to adherence to the guidance in place at the time.

"If required, the investigation will establish whether individual disciplinary action is warranted."

The Paymaster General said that any evidence of potentially criminal behaviour "will be referred to the police and the Cabinet Office's work may be paused".

Ministers, special advisers and civil servants will be "expected to co-operate with this investigation", said Ellis, who added it would be for Case to determine how long his inquiry lasts.

MPs were told the Cabinet Secretary was "not at any relevant gathering" included in the review.

Downing Street had refused on Wednesday to explicitly declare that Case had not been at the December 18 event, where staff and aides are said to have drunk together, eaten cheese and swapped Secret Santa presents.

Fleur Anderson, Labour's shadow Cabinet Office minister who asked the urgent question, called for the government to "be straight with the British people" over what happened last year.

Conservatives also demanded answers over who had given reassurances to Johnson that coronavirus regulations had been followed, with Kettering MP Philip Hollobone going so far as to suggest "possibly criminal" behaviour might have taken place.

Case's inquiry was ordered by the prime minister after a leaked video emerged showing Downing Street aides laughing about a "fictional" party at No 10 in December 2020.

The Commons announcement means that an alleged staff leaving do on November 27, which the Daily Mirror said the prime minister attended to give a farewell speech, will be investigated.

Downing Street was asked on Thursday how long the prime minister allegedly stayed at the goodbye party.

His official spokesman said: "There is an ongoing piece of work by the Cabinet Secretary, I'm not going to comment on specific allegations while that's ongoing."

DfE has already conceded that its December party, which the Mirror has suggested former education secretary Gavin Williamson spoke at, was a mistake, with the department saying "it would have been better not to have gathered in this way at that particular time".

Meanwhile, Health Secretary Sajid Javid, who was not in government at the time the parties are said to have taken place, repeated his past comment that he had been given assurances by senior officials that no Covid rules were broken last year.

But the Cabinet minister, speaking to LBC, said that if the rules had not been broken, then "a party could not take place".

source: PA

Copyright 2021 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
London, 9 December 2021

JSC Bank of Georgia signs US$ 200 million long-term facility with ADB and JICA

Bank of Georgia Group PLC ("the Group") announces that its subsidiary, JSC Bank of Georgia (the "Bank" or "Bank of Georgia") has signed a US$ 200 million loan agreement with a maturity of five years with the Asian Development Bank ("ADB") and the Japan International Cooperation Agency ("JICA"). The facility aims to support micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises in Georgia, including female-led businesses, through providing continued access to long-term finance to minimise the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic-related economic implications in Georgia. Half of the facility is also available for disbursement in local currency and promotes access to increasingly demanded long-term local currency funding.

Bank of Georgia will also be supported by the ADB's technical assistance resources dedicated to enhancing the growth of women-owned MSMEs, and addressing gender equality and women's empowerment.

Sulkhan Gvalia, Bank CFO commented: "I am delighted to join forces with ADB and JICA on this successful partnership, which will enable us to continue extending much-needed long-term financing to MSMEs in Georgia. This is our first cooperation with JICA and we are very happy to be the first partner in Georgia under their Private Sector Investment and Finance (PSIF) scheme since its relaunch in 2012. I would like to thank both ADB and JICA for their cooperation and look forward to further strengthening our collaboration in the future."

Ashok Lavasa, Vice-President, Private Sector Operations and Public-Private Partnerships at ADB commented: "ADB always aims to join forces with best-in-class partners whose goals are aligned with those of ADB. In this case, both institutions share the objectives of achieving greater financial inclusion, gender equality, job creation, and access to affordable financial services. This project contributes to such goals."

Shohei Hara, Director General, Private Sector Partnership and Finance Department at JICA commented: "The facility will promote further sustainable economic growth of MSMEs and women's social success in Georgia by improving their access to financial services."

Name of authorised official of issuer responsible for making notification: Natia Kalandarishvili, Head of Investor Relations and Funding

About Bank of Georgia Group PLC

Bank of Georgia Group PLC ("Bank of Georgia Group" or the "Group" - LSE: BGEO LN) is a UK incorporated holding company, which comprises: a) retail banking and payment services; b) corporate banking and investment banking operations in Georgia; and c) banking operations in Belarus ("BNB"). JSC Bank of Georgia ("Bank of Georgia", "BOG" or the "Bank"), the systemically important and leading universal bank in Georgia, is the core entity of the Group. The Bank is a leader in payments business and financial mobile application, with the strong retail and corporate banking franchise in Georgia. With a continued focus on increasing digitalisation and expanding technological and data analytics capabilities, the Group aims to offer more personalised solutions and seamless experiences to its customers to enable them to achieve more of their potential. The Group aims to benefit from growth of the Georgian economy, and through both its Retail Banking and Corporate and Investment Banking services targets to deliver on its strategy, which is based on at least 20% ROAE and c.10% growth of its loan book in the medium-term.

JSC Bank of Georgia has, as of the date hereof, the following credit ratings: Fitch Ratings 'BB-/B' Moody's 'Ba2/NP'

For further information, please visit www.bankofgeorgiagroup.com or contact:

Archil Gachechiladze Michael Oliver Sulkhan Gvalia Natia Kalandarishvili CEO Adviser to the CEO CFO Head of Investor Relations +995 322 444 144 +44 203 178 4034 +995 322 444 108 +995 322 444 444 (9282) agachechiladze@bog.ge moliver@bgeo.com sgvalia@bog.ge ir@bog.ge

This report is presented for general informational purposes only and should not be construed as an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities
8 December 2021

Metal Tiger plc

("Metal Tiger" or the "Company")

Kalahari Metals Limited: Endurance Prospect Provisional Drilling Results

Metal Tiger plc (AIM: MTR, ASX: MTR), the AIM and ASX listed investor in natural resource opportunities, is pleased to provide an update in respect of the Botswana Kalahari Copper Belt (KCB) discovery focused explorer, Kalahari Metals Limited (KML) and its ongoing diamond core (DC) drilling programme at the Kitlanya East Projects Endurance Prospect (the Endurance Prospect).

As announced on 18 October 20211, the Endurance Prospect drilling programme has been designed to evaluate priority targets associated with airborne electromagnetic (AEM) geophysical conductors prospective for copper-silver (Cu-Ag) mineralisation. The provisional drilling results, based on detailed geological logging of the first 8 holes (totalling 2,336m drilled), completed over the last six weeks, are now available.

Highlights from the drill programme include:

Drill holes have intersected significant hydrothermal alteration including chlorite, albite and sericite alteration along with multi-generational quartz-carbonate vein stockworks typically associated with Cu-Ag deposits in the Kalahari Copperbelt;Several intersections of minor Cu-mineralisation have been recorded in visual logs associated with zones of more intense alteration; andResults have significantly prioritised target areas within the Endurance Prospect and offer an effective method for vectoring to higher grades of mineralisation.

Based on these encouraging provisional results and excellent drill production rates, to complete the exploration programme for 2021, a further two follow-up DC holes have been added to the current phase of drilling. Core cutting and sampling is currently ongoing, and laboratory assay results will be reported when available.

Following the recent approval by the Minister of Mineral Resources, Green Technology and Energy Security in Botswana to the application for a change of controlling interest in KML, Metal Tiger holds a 49.0% interest in KML, with Cobre Limited (Cobre) holding the majority 51% of the shareholding.

A link to Cobres announcement released today is set out below:

https://cdn-api.markitdigital.com/apiman-gateway/ASX/asx-research/1.0/file/2924-02463874-2A1344508?access_token=83ff96335c2d45a094df02a206a39ff4

Michael McNeilly, Chief Executive Officer of Metal Tiger, commented:

We are pleased to provide an update for the diamond core drilling of compelling targets at the Endurance Prospect on the Kalahari Copper Belt.

The provisional results based on detailed geological core logging show alteration, quartz-carbonate veining and sulphide minerals typically associated with Cu-Ag deposits in the Kalahari Copper Belt.

Based on the success of this drilling and the extra exploration vectoring data it has provided, the planned eight hole programme has been extended by a further two holes, and we look forward to receiving the sample laboratory assay results and providing further updates in due course.

Illustrative figures and tables for viewing in conjunction with this announcement can be viewed on the Companys website at: https://www.metaltigerplc.com/kml-kit-e-endurance-drilling

Endurance Prospect Drill Targets

The Endurance Prospect has been modelled as an extensive, 25km long, anticlinorium located in a similar structural setting to ASX listed Sandfire Resources (ASX: SFR) T3 and A4 deposits, which are situated 5km and 10km to the north of the prospect area respectively (see Figure 1). This extensive prospect area is notable for: anomalous Cu and Zn soil results; prospective stratigraphy including lower DKar Formation units, which host Cu-Ag mineralisation at T3 and A4; and folded conductors related to carbonaceous marker units which share similarities to T3 and A4.

Stratigraphic drilling completed in 2020 identified trace Cu, Pb and Zn mineralisation on shear planes along with sericite, albite and hematite alteration often associated with the distal portions of mineral deposits in the Kalahari Copper Belt.

All results combined provide evidence for an extensive mineralising hydrothermal system. Results from reverse circulation (RC) drilling carried out earlier in the year were utilised to vector into several priority target areas, which are the focus of the current phase of diamond drilling 2.

A total of eight diamond holes totalling 2,336m drilled, have been completed to date in the current programme (hole name range KIT-E-D020 to KIT-E-D027).

Geological, structural and alteration logging results are summarised in Table 1 and illustrated in Figures 2, Figure 3 and Figure 4. Drill hole details are summarised in Table 2.

Key results from the ongoing drilling include:

Target drilling into disruptions in folded AEM conductors related to lower DKar Formation stratigraphy has consistently intersected significant alteration, multi-generational veins and stockworks further substantiating the target methodology;Increased Cu mineralisation associated with the more intense portions of the alteration zones has been identified in several drill holes, most notably KIT-E-D020, KIT-E-D023, KIT-E-D025 and KIT-E-D026; andBy carefully logging alteration intensity and vein architecture along with sulphide content, composition, and stratigraphy, it has been possible to generate vectors to potential mineralisation within each of the targets tested.

Follow-on Drill Programme

Two additional 200m holes have been added to the current work programme to test the down-dip and lateral extension of promising alteration and mineralisation intersected in hole KIT-E-D023. These holes will target (and provide vectors to) potential higher grade Cu mineralisation. Sections illustrating the location of the follow-up holes are illustrated in Figure 5.

More detailed follow-up programmes for 2022 will be designed when assay results are available from the current round of drilling.

Project Background

Kalahari Metals Limited, which was incorporated in England & Wales on 3 May 2017, holds interests in twelve highly prospective exploration licences covering a total area of 8,595km2 in the Kalahari Copper Belt of Botswana, comprising two 100% owned exploration licences, five exploration licences subject to a binding earn-in agreement with Triprop Holdings (Pty) Limited (includes the Ngami Copper Project), and five exploration licences held by 100% owned subsidiary, Kitlanya Limited.

Metal Tiger holds a 2% net smelter royalty over all KMLs wholly owned licences, being seven licences covering, in aggregate, 6,650km2 (together, the Royalties) and the main areas. The five exploration licences owned by Triprop Holdings (Pty) Limited (in which KML has a 51% interest) do not form part of the Royalties.

Further details are available under the Project Investments section of the Companys website at: https://www.metaltigerplc.com/portfolio/project-investments/kalahari-metals.

Qualified Person's Statement

The technical information contained in this announcement has been read and approved by Mr Nick O'Reilly (MSc, DIC, MIMMM, MAusIMM, FGS), who is a qualified geologist and acts as the Qualified Person under the AIM Rules - Note for Mining and Oil & Gas Companies. Mr O'Reilly is a Principal consultant working for Mining Analyst Consulting Ltd which has been retained by Metal Tiger PLC to provide technical support.

Reference note:

https://polaris.brighterir.com/public/metal_tiger/news/rns/story/w3z9y3r

Metal Tiger company announcement (AIM) 18 October 2021 ( source:

For further information on the Company, visit: https://www.metaltigerplc.com/

Enquiries:

Michael McNeilly (Chief Executive Officer) Tel: +44 (0)20 7099 0738 Mark Potter (Chief Investment Officer) James Dance James Harris Robert Collins Strand Hanson Limited (Nominated Adviser) Tel +44 (0)20 7409 3494 Paul Shackleton Steve Douglas Arden Partners plc (Broker) Tel: +44 (0)20 7614 5900 Gordon Poole James Crothers Rebecca Waterworth Camarco (Financial PR) Tel: +44 (0)20 3757 4980

Notes to Editors:

Metal Tiger PLC is admitted to the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange AIM Market ("AIM") and the ASX Market of the Australian Securities Exchange Market ("ASX") with the trading code MTR and invests in high potential mineral projects with a base, precious and strategic metals focus.

The Company's target is to deliver a high return for shareholders by investing in significantly undervalued and/or high potential opportunities in the mineral exploration and development sector. Metal Tiger has two investment divisions: Equity Investments and Project Investments.

Equity Investments invests in undervalued natural resource companies. The majority of its investments are listed on AIM, the TSX and the ASX, which includes its interest in Sandfire Resources Limited (ASX: SFR). The Company also considers selective opportunities to invest in private natural resource companies, typically where there is an identifiable path to IPO. Through the trading of equities and warrants, Metal Tiger seeks to generate cash for investment for the Project Investments division.

Project Investments is focused on the development of its key project interests in Botswana, where Metal Tiger has a growing interest in the large and highly prospective Kalahari copper/silver belt through its interest in Kalahari Metals Limited.

The Company actively assesses new investment opportunities on an on-going basis and has access to a diverse pipeline of new opportunities in the natural resources and mining sectors. For pipeline opportunities deemed sufficiently attractive, Metal Tiger may invest in the project or entity by buying publicly listed shares, by financing privately and/or by entering into a joint venture.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211208005407/en/

Copyright Business Wire 2021
Manchester Center, VT (05254)

Today

Generally cloudy. A few flurries or snow showers possible. High around 40F. Winds SSW at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Mostly cloudy skies with late-night snow showers. Low 24F. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 50%.
MANISTEE  The state of Michigan has awarded over $600,000 in funding for drinking water improvements under the Drinking Water Asset Management grant program.

"Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) announced (on Dec. 7) that six communities will receive more than $2 million in grants awarded under the umbrella of the MI Clean Water plan that supports work including replacing lead service lines, enhancing water affordability plans, and connecting homes with contaminated drinking water wells to safe community water supplies," read a news release from Whitmer's office.

The grants will "help protect access to safe drinking water" by investing in communities.

Todays grants will invest in communities across Michigan because every Michigander deserves access to safe drinking water," Whitmer said in the news release. "With the $500 million MI Clean Water plan, we are helping communities replace lead service lines, tackle toxic contaminants like PFAS, repair failing septic systems, lower water rates, and do so much more for their residents.

The MI Clean Water plan is a $500 million investment announced by Whitmer last year in order to rebuild the states water infrastructure to help provide clean, affordable water to Michiganders through investments in communities, the release said.

The grants are intended to address water infrastructure issues that Michigan faces such as lead-laden water service lines, toxic contamination like polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), undersized sewers, failing septic systems, unaffordable water rates and constrained local budgets.

The release said, "the Drinking Water Quality portion of this historic investment has already been approved and includes federal dollars for lead service line replacement in low-income communities ($102.1 million) and General Fund programs that address PFAS or other contaminants, planning and/or rate studies, asset management plan development and lead service line identification ($105M). Gov. Whitmer continues to advocate for the Wastewater Protection program that would be funded through the existing bonding authority ($293 million)."

According to the release, more than half of EGLEs budget is funneled to Michigan communities in the form of financial assistance to help address water infrastructure and other environmental  and health-protection efforts.

We recognize that Michigan communities often struggle to find resources to address the threat of lead in drinking water, said Liesl Clark, EGLE director, in the news release. These problems are decades in the making and will take a coordinated effort of local, state and federal commitments. These grants help move these communities forward in addressing those challenges.

The Drinking Water Asset Management grant assists water supplies in asset management plan development or updates, and/or distribution system materials inventory as defined in Michigan's Lead and Copper Rule. All funds have been allocated and EGLE is no longer accepting applications.

The Affordability and Planning Grant (AP) grant is also available to any community water supply and local unit of government, including counties, townships, cities, villages and others to assist in planning and/or rate studies. EGLE is not currently accepting applications.

Another program, the Consolidation and Contamination Risk Reduction (C2R2) grant, funds projects that remove or reduce PFAS or other contaminants, as defined under state or federal drinking water regulations, or efforts to consolidate systems or connect private residential wells to a local municipal system. All funds have been allocated and EGLE is no longer accepting applications, the release said.

The grants were all awarded in November through the Drinking Water Asset Management program and the cities include Manistee, Livonia, Owosso, Oak Park and Fennville as well as the Village of Howard City. Manistee received a total of $606,932 in DWAM grant funding.
WASHINGTON

Dec. 9, 2021

COVID Collaborative

Social Policy Analytics

report

the United States

California

Florida

Georgia

New York

Texas

John Bridgeland

Dan Treglia

University of Pennsylvania

Dirk Kempthorne

Deval Patrick

COVIDCollaborative.us

Juliet K. Choi

Dante Desiderio

Derrick Johnson

Janet Murguia

Gary Edson

Chi Kim

Annette March-Grier

Roberta's

Heather Nesle

Karen Niemi

Francie Schnipke Richards

David Shapiro

Caryl M. Stern

/PRNewswire/ -- The COVID-19 pandemic has been the single deadliest acute public health crisis in American history. More than 760,000 Americans have died in 22 short months, many leaving behind children who have lost a caretaker, role model, and provider. Today,andreleased aestimating that 167,082 children  roughly one of every 450  inlost a parent or other caregiver in the home to COVID-19, and offering a roadmap to support and provide for these children in their most vulnerable moments.Non-White children lost caregiving adults at higher rates than their White peers, with American Indian and Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander children experiencing the highest rate of loss at nearly four times that of White children. Black and Hispanic children experienced more than twice the rate of loss of White children. Youth in every state experienced loss, but, andaccounted for half of total caregiver loss from COVID-19. Seventy percent of caregiver loss affected those 13 and younger. Half of COVID-bereaved children (83,798) were elementary and middle-school age (5-13 years old) and 20 percent (34,150) were from birth to 4 years old."As the nation looks to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, there is an urgent need to address the crisis of children left behind," said, Co-Founder and CEO of COVID Collaborative. "For these children, their whole sky has fallen, and supporting them through this trauma must be a top priority. Today's report is a rallying cry for the nation to help the children who have lost parents and other caregivers to COVID-19.""The children most likely to lose a caregiver to COVID-19 are also most likely to have faced previous adversities that hinder their ability to cope and show resilience," said, co-author of the report and Associate Professor of Practice at the. "They are dealing with personal tragedies in the midst of national uncertainty, stress, and turmoil, and leaders face a responsibility to support COVID-bereaved children and their remaining caregivers to maximize their chances of resilience and success."Children and adolescents depend on their caregivers for financial, emotional, and developmental support, and the death of a parent or caregiver can hinder a child's development and success for the rest of their lives. The impacts of losing one or both parents can include anxiety, depression, PTSD, substance abuse, suicide, poor academic outcomes, increased rates of high school dropout, economic turmoil, and general instability.Policymakers, educators, nonprofits, and the private sector can take steps to help children and youth to address their grief and trauma. The report outlines recommendations, including evidence-based policies, programs, and practices to address grief and trauma. The report recommends: concerted efforts within schools, health care, and faith-based communities to identify and connect children and families to supports; a COVID-Bereaved Children's Fund; expanding access to high-quality early childhood programming and social and emotional learning in schools; structured mentoring, peer support, and grief camps; expansion of mental health care; and executive action from the federal government to support these children now."The consequences of losing a parent can persist throughout a child's lifetime," said Governorsand, Co-Chairs of COVID Collaborative, in a joint statement. "As a compassionate nation, America must provide the support these children need during this time of great challenge."The report,is available on"COVID-19 has taken a gut-wrenching toll on our country, including the loss of so many parents and caregivers of children. This loss has disproportionately affected communities of color, including Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, and Asian American communities. We urge our nation to act, in unity, to ensure these children and their families have the support they so desperately need, now and in the years to come.""The heartbreaking truth is that American Indian and Alaska Native children have the highest rates of caregiver loss in the nation stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic. We need a comprehensive effort to support these children and their families as they work to navigate such difficult times.""COVID-19 has disproportionately affected communities of color. One of the most serious consequences has been the loss of a parent or other in-home caregiver for so many children in these communities who often lack the resources and support to respond.""This alarming report shows that Black and Hispanic children are more than twice as likely to have lost a parent or caregiver due to the pandemic. The consequences of these losses are devastating and can last for a lifetime. It is critically important for them and for our country's future to support a comprehensive response that will help restore their social, economic, and emotional health and well-being as quickly as possible.""COVID-19 has unnecessarily divided us at a time when this crisis should have united us. Lending a helping hand to the children who have lost parents, grandparents and other caregivers is a moral imperative that can knit our nation back together in a common enterprise.""We have spent years working to advance the social and emotional development of children. The COVID pandemic has devastated families and taken so many lives, including parents and caregivers, away from their children. We need to redouble our efforts in the nation's schools to teach and foster those very strategies to help heal the heart and develop tools to flourish.""We are working with children and families every day who have experienced trauma and loss, including children who lost a parent or other caregiver to COVID. Children and teens have been greatly impacted from so much loss and are at risk psychologically, physically and spiritually. America needs to come together to support this vulnerable population that represents so much potential for the future.""We have worked for well over a decade to provide bereavement support to children and families. And we know from our recent survey that parents say they need more support on this subject, particularly from schools. So we are strongly behind a public-private effort to expand proven strategies and services to help these children build a better future.""We are working across many states and school districts to help students acquire the very skills they will need to do better in school, work and life. These skills are also invaluable in helping students cope with grief and trauma, including loss caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.""It's critical that our nation prioritizes equitable access to evidenced-based social-emotional support for youth. Social and emotional learning can help youth in many ways: from facing the trauma of losing a parent or caregiver, supporting mental health needs and resilience through pandemic recovery, to strengthening youth confidence, leadership and relationship skills for years to come.""MENTOR and the mentoring field are proud to join COVID Collaborative in placing healing and resilience at the center of our nation's response to the trauma and loss faced by too many young people as a result of the pandemic. Nothing will replace a parent or caregiver, but we must do all we can to take on these complicated and long-term challenges including providing the personalized and proven response of positive and enduring mentoring relationships for young people left in the turbulent wake of loss. We will work diligently in a combined effort toward the goals of coping, healing and thriving by fulfilling the promise of human connection at a time and in circumstances when our young people need it most.""In the midst of unspeakable grief from the COVID-19 pandemic, those who have experienced painful losses are looking to all of us for strength, solidarity, and love. In these moments where so many children grieve, it is our great privilege as families, friends and citizens to support them in their sadness and strengthen them in their recovery.""The past two years have called upon so many Americans to summon courage, resilience and determination in the face of tragic loss from the pandemic. The loss of so many parents and other caregivers is devastating to hundreds of thousands of children and families. We know our nation will summon the will to act."

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/covid-collaborative-report-shows-more-than-167-000-children-lost-parents-and-caregivers-to-covid-19-and-includes-plan-of-action-to-help-them-301440831.html



SOURCE COVID Collaborative




The makers of SS Rajamouli's RRR, featuring Ram Charan and Jr NTR in lead roles, have finally released the trailer of the much-hyped film. Alia Bhatt and Ajay Devgn, who are playing pivotal roles in the magnum opus attended the trailer launch event along with Rajamouli and Jr NTR. While interacting with the press during the grand event in Mumbai, Alia smartly answers an indirect question about her boyfriend Ranbir Kapoor.

At the event, one of the reporters asked Alia about the alphabet R being the lucky factor in her life. The question, which turned out to be one of the highlights of the event, made the actress blush.

Replying to the question, the Badrinath Ki Dulhania star said, "I am stumped. I don't have an answer. I am trying to be intelligent. Ummm.. R is a good alphabet but so is A".

Hmm...smart answer! At the trailer launch event, Alia was looking stunning as ever in a red saree. Take a look at a few more pictures and videos from the event here:

Talking about being a part of RRR at the event, Alia shared that it has been a dream come true moment for her. She added that it is a magical moment for her to be a part of Rajamouli's film, spectacle. She never expected this dream to come true and now, she just can't wait for the film's release.

The trailer of RRR is getting a positive response from fans. Taking to social media, fans are thanking the Baahubali helmer for creating a great cinematic experience once again. They are looking forward to seeing the actor nailing their parts.

Watch the trailer here:

After the humongous success of the Baahubali series, RRR is SS Rajamouli's first film and fans are super-excited for its release. The much-hyped movie is slated to release on January 7, 2022, in Telugu, Tamil, Hindi, and Malayalam.

Talking about Alia, she is currently shooting for Karan Johar's next directorial venture titled Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani opposite Ranveer Singh in Delhi. She also has films like Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Gangubai Kathiawadi, Brahmastra with beau Ranbir, and her first production venture Darlings in her kitty.
Wednesday (December 08) was a tragic day for our country as we got to know about the horrible news of the death of Indian Army Chief Of Staff General Bipin Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat, and 11 other persons on board the IAF chopper, which crashed in Tamil Nadu.



The entire nation came together to pay tribute to the departed souls and prayed for their families.

 Reuters

It truly was a very sad day as India lost some really, really good men, with General Bipin Rawat, being one of its finest.



Here are some things you should know about the highly respectable late Army man:

1. Early Life & Indian Army

 iStock

Born in Pauri district in the northern state of Uttarakhand, Gen. Bipin Rawat followed the generations-old tradition of his family in joining the Indian Army.



His father, Laxman Singh Rawat had served as the Lieutenant General in the army, and Gen. Rawat reached every milestone there was to in order to make his family and indeed entire India proud of him.

2. A Braveheart Who Served In The Most Difficult & Deadly Terrains

 Twitter

Gen Bipin Rawat was a veteran of counterinsurgency warfare and throughout his career, served & fought in some of India's most difficult terrains which included the northern and eastern commands.



He also played a crucial part in reducing the militancy in the Northeast, with the 2015 cross-border operation into Myanmar being one of his finest exploits.

3. A Super Decorated Army Official

 Twitter

Unsurprisingly, he earned the respect of everyone across the country, and for all that he did for the country, he was decorated with the Param Vishisht Seva Medal, Uttam Yudh Seva Medal, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, Vishisht Seva Medal, Yudh Seva Medal, and Sena Medal.



4. Became India's 1st Chief Of Defence Staff (CDS)

 Twitter

In what was a sensational announcement just two years back, Gen Bipin Rawat, was appointed as Indias first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) on December 30, 2019.



The phenomenal Army officer then joined the office to contribute more to his country on January 1, 2020.

5. Brains Behind 2016 Surgical Strike

 Zee5

Remember the 2016 Surgical Strike against Pakistan, on which the highly successful Vicky Kaushal film Uri was based?



Well, Gen. Rawat was one of the brains behind the actual operation under which the Indian Army went across the Line of Control (LoC) into Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

According to reports, Gen Bipin Rawat monitored the developments from South Block in New Delhi.

He was also instrumental in the Indian Army taking stringent actions against the exploits of Iron Brothers Pakistan and China as a whole.

And by the looks of it, we've lost one of the most tremendously respected and commanding Army officials to date.

He lived to serve his country and passed away while serving it.

RIP sir.
CSN is planning to build a long steel unit in the US, with investments estimated around $350 million. The company did not disclose capacity or location of the new unit but said studies will be concluded for the greenfield project in the first quarter of next year.We have defined site location, investments and suppliers [to the project], commercial executive director Luis Fernando Martinez said on Wednesday December 8. We want to benefit from the growth in the US infrastructure sector."

Fastmarkets price assessment for steel reinforcing bar (rebar), fob mill US rose to $51.50 per...
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Mt. Clemens Man Charged with Threatening Macomb County Judge

Mt. Clemens Man Charged with Threatening Macomb County Judge

Attorney General

Media contact: Lynsey Mukomel 517-599-2746

Public inquiries: 517-335-7622

December 8, 2021

LANSING - A Macomb County man is charged in connection to a threatening voicemail left for a circuit court judge, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced today.

Robert Scruggs, 44, of Mt. Clemens, was arraigned via Zoom on one count of misdemeanor malicious use of a telecommunications device in Macomb County's 41B District Court this afternoon. If convicted, he could face up to 6 months in jail.

In mid-August, Judge Richard Caretti at Macomb County Circuit Court received a two-minute voicemail that included death threats. Scruggs was determined to be the caller.

"Those who cross the line between statements protected by the First Amendment and direct threats will be held accountable by my office," Nessel said.

Scruggs was given a $10,000 personal bond, referred to community mental health for an assessment, placed on house arrest and ordered to wear a tether.

A probable cause conference is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. on Dec. 20.

###
A ribbon-cutting ceremony marking completion of a $600,000 multi-use, recreational trail bridge replacement project was held today in Foster City in Dickinson County. The ceremony capped off a successful season of trail improvement efforts on behalf of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources in the central Upper Peninsula. "This bridge is a grand addition to our regional trail system that will benefit trail users and local residents," said Rob Katona, central U.P. trails specialist with the DNR's Parks and Recreation Division. "We are excited to see this project completed just in time for the (Dec. 1) opening of the snowmobile season." The project along the Felch Grade Rail-Trail involved complete replacement of a former railroad trestle with a 130-foot-long, prefabricated, steel bridge with a timber deck. The bridge measures 14 feet wide. The span over the East Branch of the Sturgeon River, off Cheese Factory Road, had been closed for more than 14 years until the trestle could be replaced. "The new bridge will eliminate a safety problem for snowmobilers," said Henry Wender, chairman of the Dickinson County Board of Commissioners. The Felch Grade is a primary east-west trail in the south-central U.P. that connects communities along the M-69 corridor, providing through travel to other cities and towns, including Republic and Gwinn to the north, Iron Mountain and Norway to the south and Escanaba to the east. Before replacing the center pilings and bridge abutments, a DNR fisheries biologist and staffers from Whitewater and Associates of Amasa surveyed and relocated freshwater mussels about 1,000 feet upstream from the project site. At the bridge, 172 freshwater mussels, composed of eight species - four listed as species of special concern in Michigan - were relocated. The surveys confirmed that the river is home to a vibrant population of native mussels. "This project involved a lot of preliminary work to secure a long-term lease agreement with Dickinson County, which made funding for this project possible," Katona said. "We thank Dickinson County for partnering with the DNR in the construction of this project that will enhance outdoor recreation in this area." The contractor for the project was the Hebert Construction Co. of Iron River. The work and was funded through DNR off-road vehicle and snowmobile trail improvement funds. Meanwhile, the DNR has completed numerous additional ORV trail and nonmotorized pathway improvement projects in the central U.P. over the past few months, which totaled more than half a million dollars. ORV trail projects Among these efforts, 20 projects were completed to revitalize trail surfaces, repair aging infrastructure and improve environmental conditions across 200 miles of ORV trails and routes through portions of Delta, Dickinson, Marquette and Menominee counties. Surface projects included dust control, filling, graveling and grading. Culverts were replaced at several locations on ORV trails and routes. Six bridges were repaired. New boardwalks were built on a single-track motorcycle trail. The total cost of the improvements was $423,000, funded by the state's Off-Road Vehicle Trail Improvement Fund, which consists of revenue from ORV license and trail permit sales. "ORV use across the area is at an all-time high," Katona said. "We are dedicated to putting the revenue gained through ORV sticker sales back on the ground to benefit the ORV community and ensure we have a well-maintained and safe trail system." Project work was performed by various local contractors including Gagne Custom Logging & Excavating of Spalding, Pine Creek Excavating of Norway, Geomaterials, ATP, Jacobson Landscaping, Bilski Enterprises, Big Creek Builders, Tembreull's Excavation Inc. of Michigamme, Sam Dirt Works and Conery Contracting of Champion. "We are especially thankful for the ORV clubs who assist with maintenance needs," Katona said. "Without their commitment and partnership, we would not have the high-quality and well-managed trail system that we have today." Nonmotorized pathway projects Work to construct sections of raised trail, install culverts, build boardwalk, harden trail surfaces, reroute trails and improve parking areas took place at state pathways in three counties. Nonmotorized trail fund grants paid for the $87,000 total cost. "The pathway work was necessary to improve wet areas and replace old boardwalks that were in poor shape," Katona said. "The work improved the overall quality of these pathways. Pathway users should be pleased with these improvements. We are planning on continuing to improve more of these areas in the next couple of years." The pathways included in the projects were the Days River Pathway in Delta County, the Cedar River Pathway in Menominee County and the Little Presque Isle and Anderson Lake pathways in Marquette County. Contractors included Gagne Custom Logging and Excavating, Geomaterials and Atlas Contracting. All state pathways are open to all nonmotorized use, but Cedar River is primarily for equestrians, while the others have a mix of hiking and biking as primary uses. For more information on Michigan's state trails and pathways, visit Michigan.gov/DNRTrails.
Michigan Indigent Defense Commission Selects Kristen Staley as Executive Director

Michigan Indigent Defense Commission Selects Kristen Staley as Executive Director

December 2, 2021 - The Michigan Indigent Defense Commission (MIDC) has announced that Kristen Staley will be the organization's next Executive Director.

"Kristen's life's work has been about promoting justice and due process," said Presiding Officer Christine Green. "Kristen has shown remarkable patience and vision in her role as a Regional Manager for MIDC, and these qualities will serve her well as Executive Director. Her knowledge of how all the components of the criminal justice system fit together will help guide the Commission's important work moving forward. She has demonstrated an ability to build strong relationships with all partners in the criminal justice system across all levels of government."

Ms. Staley previously served the MIDC as its South-Central Michigan Regional Manager, where she oversaw the compliance of MIDC standards and development of best practices in public defense among twelve counties. Prior to joining the MIDC, Kristen was the Deputy Director of the Michigan Council on Crime and Delinquency, a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing effective policies and practices within the adult and youth justice systems.

Kristen is Co-Director of the Midwest Juvenile Defender Center and a member of the National Juvenile Defender Center's national advisory board. She also worked as a legal advocate in the Vermont Legal Aid's Health Care Ombudsman Office, was an appellate clerk with the Kentucky Department of Public Advocacy's Juvenile Post-Disposition Unit and is an experienced facilitator of restorative justice panels. Kristen received her B.A. from American University and J.D. from the University of Louisville, Brandeis School of Law.

The MIDC selected Ms. Staley to fill the role of Executive Director after an application and interview process that began last July when former Executive Director Loren Khogali stepped down. The Commission interviewed six candidates for the position at a public meeting in late October and announced its selection at a public meeting on November 22, 2021.

More information about the MIDC is available on the MIDC website.
96% Pass Rate Among East Lansing Liquor Licensees Checking IDs - Not Selling Alcohol to Minors

96% Pass Rate Among East Lansing Liquor Licensees Checking IDs - Not Selling Alcohol to Minors

December 8, 2021 - Results are in for the recent mystery shopper program that checked East Lansing area liquor stores for checking identification and not selling alcohol to those underage. The Michigan Alcohol Responsibility Program (MI ARP) conducted this fall by the Responsible Retailing Forum (RRForum) on behalf of the Michigan Liquor Control Commission (MLCC) found that in East Lansing, 26 of 27 retail liquor licensees checked IDs - a 96% pass rate. This is above the MLCC's Enforcement Division's statewide average compliance rate of 86%.

The MI ARP is helping to enhance the MLCC's own highly successful Controlled Buy Operation Program by preparing licensees to pass compliance checks designed to curtail the sale of alcohol to minors. The MI ARP is sponsored by the MLCC through a funding grant award from the National Alcohol Beverage Control Association (NABCA)* of which the MLCC is a member as a state regulator. The program is administered by the RRForum.

"The mystery shopper program is intended to provide licensees 'teachable moments' in preparing them to pass a compliance check either by the MLCC or local law enforcement," said MLCC Chair Pat Gagliardi. "We want licensees to be the best they can be and to stay on top of making sure that their managers and staff are not selling or serving alcohol to minors, reminding them every day to check IDs every time."

The principal goal of the MI ARP is to educate licensees and their employees on the importance of checking IDs prior to the completion of every sale. Since the MLCC Enforcement Division's primary goal is compliance with the Liquor Control Code and Administrative Rules, this additional measure and program goal will, most likely, reduce the incidence of sales to minors thereby raising the compliance rate in Michigan overall.

The MI ARP provided East Lansing area licensees with on-the-spot feedback on actual staff ID-checking conduct as observed by young, legal-age mystery shoppers. If staff asked for and checked the shopper's ID, the licensee received a Green Card to display, showing that it had acted as a responsible retailer. Failure to check IDs resulted in a Red Card. Area liquor licensees also received a Community Report from the RRForum that provided mystery shopper aggregate results (specific licensees were not identified), along with responsible retailing resources.

The safe sale and service of alcohol not only protects public health and safety, it allows the industry to expand. In Michigan, the spirits industry has more than doubled within the last 10 years to a projected record of $1.92 billion in state spirit sales to retail licensees for fiscal year 2021. Safety is good for business. The MLCC applauds licensees who check IDs conscientiously.

The MLCC is partnering with the RRForum and the Michigan Coalition to Reduce Underage Drinking, along with industry partners and local stakeholders to promote the responsible sale, service and consumption of alcohol in college communities and throughout Michigan.

* NABCA provides such awards to support efforts toward protecting public health and safety and strengthening responsible and efficient alcohol regulatory systems.

It is the mission of the MLCC to make alcoholic beverages available for consumption while protecting the consumer and the general public through the regulation of those involved in the importation, sale, consumption, distribution, and delivery of these alcohol products.
Secretary Benson shares resources for National Older Driver Safety Awareness Week

Secretary Benson shares resources for National Older Driver Safety Awareness Week

DECEMBER 3, 2021

Ahead of National Older Driver Safety Awareness Week - Dec. 6-10 - Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson encourages residents of all ages to take advantage of state resources for safe driving.

"These resources help Michiganders continue to drive safely as they age and access other transportation when they stop driving so they can continue to enjoy their independence and our great state," said Benson.

Residents can learn more at Michigan.gov/AgingDriver, which was designed for easy navigation among resources to help aging drivers. During National Older Driver Safety Awareness Week, the site will feature information on the following topics:

Monday: Anticipating changes that can affect driving

Tuesday: Family conversations

Wednesday: Screening and evaluations with an occupational therapist

Thursday: Interventions that can empower drivers

Friday: Staying engaged in the community with or without a car

Recognized for excellence by the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators, the website was developed through a collaboration of public and private agencies to promote safety and mobility for Michigan's aging adults. It regularly includes the following resources:

Older driver self-assessment driving tools and videos

Links to driver refresher courses and other community supports for older drivers

Information about how medications and health problems may affect driving and lists of resources available to drivers once they stop driving

Strategies for initiating conversations about when and how to transition to a non-driving lifestyle

Procedures for referring an unsafe driver for a driver reexamination

Information about the aspects of aging and how best to interact with older residents for audiences such as law enforcement, healthcare, and other professionals

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For media questions, contact

Tracy Wimmer at 517-281-1876.

We welcome questions and comments at the Contact the Secretary of State page.

Customers may call the Department of State Information Center to

speak to a customer-service representative at 888-SOS-MICH (767-6424).
Governor Whitmer Announces Over 35,000 four-year-olds enrolled in the Great Start Readiness Preschool Program

Governor Whitmer Announces Over 35,000 four-year-olds enrolled in the Great Start Readiness Preschool Program

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

December 8, 2021

Contact: press@michigan.gov

Governor Whitmer Announces Over 35,000 four-year-olds enrolled in the Great Start Readiness Preschool Program

Spaces remain for children to start preschool in January 2022, governor encourages eligible families to apply

LANSING, Mich. - Today, Governor Whitmer celebrated the bipartisan expansion of the Great Start Readiness Program, or GSRP, Michigan's homegrown preschool program for four-year-olds. She encouraged families to enroll their children now to start preschool in January 2022. Over 35,000 four-year-olds are enrolled right now.

"Every parent wants the best possible start for their child, and for many families, this includes a high-quality preschool experience," said Governor Gretchen Whitmer. "Here in Michigan, we are fortunate to have a homegrown program that takes the guesswork out of picking a quality, affordable preschool. The Great Start Readiness Program provides eligible families access to quality, no-cost preschool that works. I'm proud of the progress we've made to enroll more four-year-olds and encourage more families to consider this option for their young Michiganders."

"I appreciate the governor and legislature's partnership on the funding of universal preschool for all eligible four-year-olds," said State Superintendent Dr. Michael Rice. "Once fully realized, this effort to add a full year of education for tens of thousands of Michigan children a year will have a profound impact on student outcomes including literacy, graduation and post-secondary attainment rates for decades to come."

"Our Great Start Readiness Program provides more than 800 Muskegon County children a high-quality preschool experience each year in both public school and private childcare settings," said Dr. John Severson, Superintendent of Muskegon ISD and Chair of the Instructional Committee at the Michigan Association for Intermediate School Districts. "Outcome data show that 'graduates' of local GSRP programs consistently score higher on 3rd-grade assessments than their peers. In addition, a large focus of the GSRP curriculum is placed on developing children's social skills, which are so crucial for success later in their school careers. GSRP is an invaluable tool in building strong foundations in Muskegon County children."

"Our partnership with GSRP has helped to bridge major gaps within our organization. We can provide our staff with access to reliable resources, and we can provide competitive pay rates and room to grow within the early childhood industry," said Monique Snyder, Director of Brainiacs Clubhouse, a child development center in Detroit. "Our parents can breathe more easily knowing that their children are able to attend a high quality educational program without the financial stress that usually yields a program of this magnitude. Most importantly our students have opportunities that are not readily available within our demographics. We value our 7 year partnership with GSRP and can't wait to see what the future holds!"

Enrollment Information

Programs are still enrolling, and children can start preschool in January. To be eligible for free preschool, children must be at least four years old by December 1, 2021 and meet income eligibility requirements. Parents can find sites in their community by visiting Michigan.gov/GSRP or calling the Great Start to Quality Resource Center at 877-614-7328.

The expansion is the first of a three-year phase-in which seeks to ensure access to 22,000 additional income-eligible children by the fourth year. Since September, more sites have opened expanding access for children across Michigan-including new sites affiliated with 61 community-based organizations and 21 school districts.

Budget

In July, Governor Whitmer signed the school aid budget, which made the largest education investment in state history and eliminated wait lists and expanded access to GSRP for all eligible children. The new investment includes an $121 million in federal funding and $47.5 million from the School Aid Fund, for a total new investment of $168.5 million. Michigan now invests a total of $418 million annually in GSRP.

Investments in preschool pay massive dividends and improve health, educational, and social outcomes for children throughout their education. GSRP not only provides quality early education for young children, it is also good for working families that need more safe, affordable childcare options while they work.

In September, the governor signed the Fiscal Year 2022 budget bill that includes game-changing investments in childcare and delivers on the kitchen-table issues that matter most to families, communities, and small business. The budget puts 167,000 Michiganders on a tuition-free path to higher-education or skills training, repairs or replaces 100 bridges while creating 2,500 jobs, and makes a $500 million deposit into our rainy day fund, the largest one-time ever, bringing its balance to nearly $1.4 billion, the highest ever.

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Gov. Whitmer Announces Michigan Education Trust Lowering Rates for Families to Make College More Affordable

Gov. Whitmer Announces Michigan Education Trust Lowering Rates for Families to Make College More Affordable

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 8, 2021

Contact: Ron Leix, LeixR@michigan.gov

Gov. Whitmer Announces Michigan Education Trust Lowering Rates for Families to Make College More Affordable

Change will help more Michiganders pursue their potential, help state achieve its broader 'Sixty by 30' goal to have 60% of working age adults with postsecondary education or skills

LANSING, Mich. - Governor Gretchen Whitmer today announced that the Michigan Education Trust (MET) is lowering the rates of its contracts so families will realize significant savings the earlier they start saving for a college education.

"Today's decision by the MET Board lowers costs for working families and helps us put Michiganders first by empowering them to pursue their potential," said Gov. Whitmer. "On top of Michigan Reconnect, Futures for Frontliners and other initiatives, setting the MET contract prices lower today will help us achieve our Sixty by 30 goal to increase the number of working-age adults with a skill certificate or college degree to 60% by 2030 and put more Michiganders on a path to attain the education and skills they need to get better jobs and earn bigger paychecks. I applaud the MET Board for its action, and I urge any family interested in saving for education to start."

A prudent investment strategy over the last decade has resulted in a record surplus for the MET which can be used to invest in Michiganders. At their meeting on November 16, the MET Board of Directors unanimously agreed that the surplus should be used to help more Michigan children access a college education that will help them prepare to compete in a modern workforce and solve future challenges. MET last offered reduced pricing in 2007.

"We are constantly striving to deliver to parents, grandparents and others a safe, secure and flexible way to make sure their loved ones meet their higher education goals," said State Treasurer Rachael Eubanks, who also serves on the MET Board of Directors. "While the new price structure will make it easier for those with young children to save, MET will continue to provide families with older children advantages as they work and plan to help them pursue their dreams."

"As a dad with three young kids, I know that saving for college is a crucial investment for so many Michigan families," said Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist II. "A good education enriches a student's life, unlocks better jobs, and results in more lifetime income. Today's action by the Michigan Education Trust will make it easier for working families to save, helping them share in the prosperity we are working hard to build in Michigan and giving students throughout Michigan a chance to explore and live up to their full potential. Through lower MET contract prices and the fully funded Michigan Reconnect and Futures for Frontliners Programs, Governor Whitmer and I are committed to boosting the number of Michiganders with postsecondary degrees or certificates and helping every Michigander achieve their educational goals."

In addition, MET will offer a $150 match on the first 200 contracts purchased for new beneficiaries in December. Eligibility and rules are posted at SETwithMET.com along with pricing details. Families who make a MET purchase by December 31 will qualify for a deduction on their 2021 Michigan tax returns.

About the Michigan Education Trust

Administered by the Michigan Department of Treasury, MET lets families pay today's prices for future higher education costs. Signed into law in 1986, it was the first prepaid tuition program in the nation.

More than 96% of high school graduates participating in MET have attended a college, university or technical school.

There are three types of MET plans: the full benefits plan, the limited benefits plan and the community college plan. Families can purchase one plan or mix and match options.

MET benefits can be used for postsecondary education at universities, colleges and technical schools. If a child chooses to attend a private Michigan school or out-of-state college or university, funds can be directed to that institution. MET benefits may also be transferred to other eligible family members and are refundable if the student does not attend college.

Parents, grandparents or other family and friends can make MET contributions on behalf of beneficiaries. MET has flexible and convenient payment options that allow purchasers to pay as they go, pay all at once or make monthly payments.

Contributions to MET plans are tax deductible on Michigan tax returns. Earnings are tax exempt if they are used for higher education.

More information about MET, including one-on-one consultation sessions with MET experts, is available at SETwithMET.com, 800-MET-4-KID or treasMET@Michigan.gov.

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BLAINE TWP. -- Blaine Christian Church invites everyone to be part of its church family as it celebrates the season.

Its special celebrations are open to all in our community.

The first celebration will be at 10 a.m. on Dec. 19 at the church, located at 7018 Putney Road in Blaine Township.

"The usual two services will be combined into one, with refreshments afterward. The churchs choir will present "God's Great Love," reads a news release in part. "This will be a time for families to be together and hear Christmas music that celebrates the baby who came and changed everything. There will be separate programming offered for young children."

At 4 p.m. on Dec. 19, children and youth can "relive the events of Jesus birth through an outside living nativity (weather permitting) and will include live animals."

There will be hot chocolate and cookies during this event. Those who would like to sit during the approximately 25 minute program should bring a chair.

For more information or questions, call 231-352-9148, email blainechurch@gmail.com or visit the church on Facebook at Facebook.com/BlaineChristianChurch.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP)  Nearly 17 years after being sentenced to die, Scott Peterson was resentenced to life without parole Wednesday during an emotional hearing in which family members of his slain pregnant wife, Laci, called him out for the Christmas Eve killing in 2002 and his apparent lack of remorse.

Scott, 19 years ago today, you were in the midst of planning Laci's murder, said her mother, Sharon Rocha, addressing Peterson directly as he sat expressionless, handcuffed in a red and orange jail uniform.

I still feel the grief every day, after 19 years, she said. Your evil, self-centered, unforgiveable selfish act ended two beautiful souls. And for what reason? There was no reason other than that you just didnt want them anymore. You didnt want a baby nor the responsibility of being a father. Youre a coward."

I have dreams about her, she added about her daughter, who was 27 and eight months pregnant when she was killed carrying the boy the couple planned to name Connor. And sometimes when I wake up, I cry because theyre so realistic and I know Ill never see her again.

She also envisions what Connor would be like now, at age 18, had he lived.

The California Supreme Court ruled a year ago that Peterson's jury was improperly screened for bias against the death penalty. Stanislaus County District Attorney Birgit Fladager, who came to fame as one of three prosecutors in Petersons trial, opted this time to settle for life without parole.

Petersons attorney, Pat Harris, said his client has shown no remorse because hes not guilty. He said, as he has in the past, that the defense can now prove that burglars were nearby on the day Laci disappeared  though investigators say they were ruled out as suspects.

Peterson was uniformly described as a loving husband and expectant father, Harris said, until it became public that he was having an affair at the time of his wifes disappearance.

Then he quickly became the most hated man in America, Harris said, with a billboard outside the courthouse during his trial asking if he was a man or monster.

Peterson was prepared to speak, something he didnt do during his initial trial and sentencing, Harris said, but Superior Court Judge Anne-Christine Massullo didn't allow it.

But Harris and Stanislaus County Assistant District Attorney Dave Harris sparred over Peterson's pre-sentencing probation report. It was not made public, but the prosecutor said that in it Peterson is claiming hes wrongfully convicted, that hes innocent, and that he has sorrow for the loss of his family.

His defense attorney accused prosecutors of insinuation and taking incidents out of context. Where Peterson did lie, he said, it was to hide his extramarital affair because he knew it would derail any further investigation.

Laci Petersons brother and sister, Brent Rocha and Amy Rocha, added their own emotional comments during the hearing.

Because of you. our holidays have never been the same. Every Christmas Eve I relived the nightmare that we still live in now, said Amy Rocha, sometimes in tears. Even though the death penalty has been lifted, you will still be punished in this life and after."

Massullo resentenced Peterson without adding her own significant comment. She is separately considering if Peterson was prejudiced by juror misconduct.

He had been in San Quentin State Prison, home to Californias death row, since he was condemned to death in March 2005. That followed his conviction in November 2004 during a trial that was moved 90 miles (145 kilometers) to San Mateo County because of worldwide publicity.

But Massullo said he couldnt stay on death row once prosecutors said they would not again seek his execution. He was moved to the county jail for resentencing and is expected to remain there until Massullo decides on whether he should get a new trial.

She plans about a weeklong hearing from Feb. 25 through March 4 to hear defense claims that the woman known as Juror 7 falsely answered questions during the selection process.

They say she actively sought to join the jury and later co-authored a book on the case.

Massullo will have 90 days after next years hearing to decide if Peterson should get a new trial.

Prosecutors say Peterson took his wifes body from their Modesto home on Christmas Eve 2002 and dumped her from his fishing boat into the San Francisco Bay, where they washed ashore in April 2003.

No matter what happens, no matter what transpires in the future, there are two things that will never change: Laci and Connor will always be dead and you will always be their murderer, said Laci's mother.

Supreme Court justices said in their August 2020 decision overturning his death sentence that there was considerable circumstantial evidence incriminating Peterson in the first-degree murder of Laci and the second-degree murder of Connor.

It included that the bodies washed ashore near where Peterson admitted he was fishing on the day they disappeared. He had researched ocean currents, bought a boat without telling anyone, and couldnt explain what type of fish he was trying to catch that day.

Also, in the weeks after Laci disappeared but before the bodies washed ashore, he sold his wifes car, looked into selling their house, and turned the baby nursery into a storage room.

Peterson was eventually arrested after Amber Frey, a massage therapist living in Fresno, told police that they had begun dating a month before his wifes death, but that he had told her his wife was dead.
WASHINGTON (AP)  President Joe Biden reached out to Ukraine's leader Thursday as the United States moved to take a more direct role in diplomacy between that country and Russia, part of a broader effort to dissuade Russia from a destabilizing invasion of its western neighbor.

But any negotiations to peacefully resolve Europes tangled East-West rivalries will present minefields for the U.S. president.

Biden made his offer of American diplomacy during a two-hour online session with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday. Biden proposed joining the Europeans in negotiations not just to settle the conflict in eastern Ukraine but to address Putins larger strategic objections to NATO expanding its membership and building military capacity ever closer to Russias borders.

Biden spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy by phone for more than an hour Thursday. Biden assured Zelenskyy of support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. He also renewed a pledge that the U.S. and its allies would hit Russia with economic sanctions and intensify defensive aid to Ukraine and NATO allies nearest to Russia if Russia did invade, the White House said.

The two called on Putin to calm the crisis and urged diplomacy. Biden said the U.S. was prepared to help with confidence-building measures to implement a 2015 peace deal.

In a statement after the call with Biden, Ukraine said Zelenskyy was offering clear proposals to unblock the peace process and is ready to discuss them in various formats.

Administration officials have suggested that the U.S. will press Ukraine to formally cede a measure of autonomy within its eastern Donbas region, which is now under de facto control by Russia-backed separatists who rose up against Kyiv in 2014.

Decentralization of Ukraine and a special status for Donbas were laid out in an ambiguous, European-brokered peace deal in 2015, but it has never taken hold.

More autonomy could formally give residents of that region more authority over some local issues. The administration officials made no mention of ceding any territory.

Biden also will have to finesse Ukraine's desire to join NATO. The U.S. and NATO reject Putin's demands that they guarantee Ukraine won't be admitted to the Western military alliance.

But senior State Department officials have told Ukraine that NATO membership is unlikely to be approved in the next decade, according to a person familiar with those private talks who spoke on condition of anonymity.

For Biden, the challenge will be encouraging Kyiv to accept some of the facts on the ground in eastern Ukraine, without appearing to cave to Putin  a perception that could embolden the Russian leader and unleash a fresh line of condemnations by Republicans as Bidens popularity is already in decline.

Ukraine may be asked "can you make some step forward on these areas, said Steven Pifer, a former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine. That could include measures such as allowing the Russia-allied Donbas region to control its own health care, police and schools, he said.

But I dont see Washington pushing the Ukrainians to take steps that would compromise their sovereignty or the ability of the national government when it came to making decisions," Pifer said.

Ukraine, a former Soviet republic with deep cultural and historic ties to Russia, has in recent years sought closer integration with the West and membership in NATO. The alliance has held out the promise of membership but it has declined to set a timeline. Even before the current crisis, Ukraine was a long way from joining.

Since 2014, however, when Russia invaded and annexed Crimea and then threw its weight behind the armed separatists in the industrial Donbas region, the United States and other NATO members have been helping Ukraine build up its defenses.

The call between Biden and Putin took place as tensions grew over the threat of Russian forces again rolling into Ukraine. Putin denies any such intention and charges that it is NATO strengthening its hold in former Soviet satellites and republics that is threatening Russia.

U.S. intelligence reports last week said Russia had moved 70,000 troops to Ukraines borders as it builds toward a possible invasion early next year.

After speaking with Zelenskyy, Biden briefed leaders of nine NATO members in Eastern Europe, including three former Soviet republics. It's part of weeks of coordination with NATO allies on the response to the Russian military buildup on Ukraine's border.

Before and after his call with Putin, Biden spoke with the leaders of Britain, France, Germany and Italy. France and Germany took the lead in brokering the 2015 peace deal between Ukraine and the Russia-backed rebels, in what's known as the Normandy format.

We hope by Friday were gonna be able to say, announce to you, were having meetings at a higher level, Biden said Wednesday. Not just with us, but with at least four of our major NATO allies, and Russia."

The meetings would address "the future of Russias concern relative to NATO writ large, and whether or not we could work out any accommodations as it relates to bringing down the temperature" in Ukraine's east," Biden said.

Speaking at a news conference in Paris on Thursday, French President Emmanuel Macron defended French-German diplomatic efforts over the past several years to mediate between Russia and Ukraine, but said he welcomed Biden's outreach to his European allies on the matter.

Our aim  all of us Europeans and our American partners -- is first to be at Ukraines side to ensure its security ... and to start a demanding dialogue with Russia," Macron said.

Asked about any need for Ukrainian compromises, Sullivan told reporters Tuesday that Ukrainians have come forward with constructive ideas for how to move the diplomacy forward. We're encouraging that."

Under the 2015 deal, Ukraine agreed to change its constitution to accommodate the peculiarities of the two Donbas separatist republics and to legalize their special status. Some analysts said the deal's vagueness, and some conflicting requirements, make its provisions effectively unworkable.

Ukraine is willing to engage in talks on defining special status, including possible changes that account for the cultural and linguistic differences of its eastern Donbas region, which has a higher proportion of native Russian speakers, the person familiar with the private talks between Ukraine and the United States said.

But Ukraine would reject any change that gives the region virtual veto power over national policy, the person said.



Associated Press writers Robert Burns and Aamer Madhani in Washington contributed to this story.
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP)  The U.N. political chief ended a three-day visit to Afghanistan on Thursday saying she had frank and useful discussions with a wide range of people, including senior Taliban officials about what needs to be done to bring about an Afghanistan that is inclusive, abides by its human rights obligations and is a resolute partner in suppressing terrorism.

U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said that during her discussions with Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Mutaqi and senior Taliban representative Mawlavi Abdul Kabir, Rosemary DiCarlo emphasized the paramount importance of ensuring that all Afghans  men, women, youth and religious and ethnic groups and minorities, as well  can all take part in governance and public life.

DiCarlo said in a statement that there is serious concern about the situation of women and girls in Afghanistan.

As I heard again during my visit, the women and girls of Afghanistan want to be able to go to school, work and take part in public life, free of discrimination, she said. The progress that was made in this area must not be erased.

Womens rights activists in the Afghan capital, Kabul, said earlier this month that a recent Taliban decree banning forced marriage was not enough to address the issue of womens rights and they would continue fighting for their rights to education, employment and participation in Afghan political and social life.

The Taliban overran most of Afghanistan as U.S. and NATO forces were in the final stages of their chaotic withdrawal from the country after 20 years. Taljban forces entered Kabul on Aug. 15 without any resistance from the Afghan army or the countrys president, Ashraf Ghani, who fled.

Thee Taliban initially promised tolerance and inclusiveness toward women and ethnic minorities. However, Taliban actions so far, such as renewed restrictions on women and the appointment of an all-male government, have been met with dismay by the international community.

During her visit, DiCarlo also met with political figures, women leaders, members of civil society and the diplomatic community and reiterated that the UN will stay and provide help and assistance in Afghanistan, where political turmoil has contributed to a dire humanitarian situation.

The U.N. has been in Afghanistan since 1949 and, as demonstrated during the recent crisis, we do not intend to abandon the Afghan people, she said.
CHICAGO (AP)  The twists, turns and oddities of the legal saga surrounding Jussie Smolletts claim in 2019 that he was the target of a racist and homophobic attack in Chicago culminated in a weeklong trial, which concluded with a jury convicting Smollett on five counts of disorderly conduct. Smollett was acquitted on a sixth count.

Initial charges brought in February 2019 that accused the former Empire actor of faking the assault were soon after tossed. But in February 2020, after a special prosecutor looked into the case, a new six-count indictment was filed.

Heres a look at the charges Cook County jurors heard testimony about:

WHAT WERE THE CHARGES AGAINST SMOLLETT?

The 39-year-old was charged under Illinois disorderly conduct statute, which encompasses a wide range of offenses, from making prank 911 calls to placing harassing calls as a debt collector.

He faced six counts of disorderly conduct under a subsection of the law that prohibits false reports to police. Some states dont categorize false police reports as disorderly conduct.

The charges were listed as class 4 felonies, which are among the least serious felonies in Illinois. But convictions can still carry potential prison time of up to three years.

Although Smollett was found guilty Thursday of five of the six counts, his lack of criminal history and the fact that no one was seriously hurt make actual time behind bars unlikely. Its more likely that a judge would sentence him to probation and perhaps order him to perform community service.

Id be shocked if he spent one day in jail, said Andrew Weisberg, a Chicago-based criminal attorney and a former Cook County prosecutor.

HOW UNIQUE IS IT FOR SUCH CHARGES TO BE BROUGHT?

The Smollett case was certainly unique in how it involved a star actor and in its sensational claims and counterclaims  first by Smollett, who is Black and gay, that he was the subject of an attack and then by police that he had made it all up.

While it is among the biggest disorderly conduct cases in Illinois history, it's not the only such case to have made a splash in the news.

A Canadian, Robert Spearing, was charged with disorderly conduct in 2011 after Chicago police said he lied about being beaten and robbed of tickets to an Oprah Winfrey show. He concocted the story, even cutting his own forehead with a rock, to conceal from his wife that he never had any tickets. He pleaded guilty and did no time in prison.

Disorderly conduct charges for filing a false police report arent uncommon and are sometimes tied to insurance fraud. Last month, a man in the Chicago suburb of Wheaton was charged with disorderly conduct for allegedly lying to police that he had been robbed in a parking garage at gunpoint.

Weisberg says those who fib in initial reports to police are frequently quick to recant and often arent charged if they take it back immediately. After police accused him of lying, Smollett doubled down and insisted it was all true.

Smollett's case stands out in that it got to trial at all, Weisberg added. In many cases, those accused of lying to police seek a plea deal or plead guilty without a deal.

WHY SIX COUNTS AGAINST SMOLLETT FOR THE SAME INCIDENT?

Each count of disorderly conduct represents an instance during Jan. 29, 2019, and then on Feb. 14, 2019, in which Smollett allegedly lied to police.

Count 1 accused him of telling responding Chicago Police Officer Muhammed Baig at around 2:45 a.m., some 45 minutes after the purported attack, that he was the victim of a hate crime. He said two attackers put a rope around his neck. Count 2 referred to Smollett telling the same officer he was a victim of a battery, describing attackers beating and pouring bleach on him.

Counts 3 and 4 stemmed from Smollett making the same claims but to a different officer, Kimberly Murray, later that morning, at just before 6 a.m.

Count 5 accused Smollett of again telling Murray at around 7:15 p.m. that he was the victim of a battery. Count 6 referred to Smollett reporting on Feb. 14, 2019, to detective Robert Graves that hed been a victim of an aggravated battery.

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Check out The APs complete coverage of the Jussie Smollett case.

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Follow Michael Tarm on Twitter at http://twitter.com/mtarm
LAS VEGAS (AP)  Attorneys for entertainer Flavor Flav said Wednesday hes working to stay sober following dismissal of a misdemeanor domestic battery charge stemming from a scuffle with his girlfriend at home in suburban Las Vegas.

The 62-year-old former rapper, hip-hop and reality TV star, whose legal name is William Jonathan Drayton Jr., pleaded no contest in Henderson Municipal Court to a misdemeanor nonviolent coercion charge, admitted he took a cellphone, and paid $640 in fines, a court official and his defense attorneys said.

Mr. Drayton and his family are grateful to bring an amicable close to this matter and appreciate everyones support as he continues his one-year journey of sobriety, defense attorneys David Chesnoff and Richard Schonfeld said in a statement.

Drayton was arrested late Oct. 4 at home in Henderson. He was freed from jail the next day on $3,000 bond.

The alleged victim was identified as a woman with whom he has a dating relationship and a minor child in common. Her name was redacted in court and police documents.

Flavor Flav is known for wearing a big clock on a chain around his neck. He was inducted with the group Public Enemy into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2013. Public Enemy began in the New York area in 1986.

The former rapper has a criminal history including arrests and convictions on traffic infractions, a month in jail over assaulting his then-girlfriend in 1991, and three months behind bars for shooting at a neighbor in New York in 1993.

He was arrested in October 2012 in Las Vegas after he was accused of wielding knives and threatening his then-fiancees 17-year-old son at their home.

That felony case was closed after he pleaded guilty in 2014 to reduced charges of misdemeanor attempted battery, served probation and completed a domestic violence counseling course.
PORTLAND The Planning and Zoning Commission approved the application for a nearly 52,000-square-foot gun retail and range business on Main Street, after dozens of residents expressed opinions both for and against the project.

The newly approved facility will offer retail sale of firearms, a gun range, gunsmithing, archery sales and service, an archery range, ax throwing, a deli/food service and a state of the art training center for law enforcement, plans show.

The developer, Central Connecticut Arms, LLC., is a veteran owned and operated business. Their plan is to construct a 51,902 square foot building on a 5.2 acre parcel at 1390 Main St. This was formerly the site of the Portland Drive-In movie theater.

The applicant initially brought this proposal to the commission on Oct. 21, and was brought to public hearing on Nov. 4.

According to PZC chairman Robert Ellsworth, the commission voted to continue the public hearing to Dec. 2, partially so the engineers could work out a drainage plan due to the site being in a flood zone, and partially in anticipation that more residents would like to weigh in.

It was originally planned to be held over two meetings because of the anticipated public interest, and also because its a big project, Ellsworth said.

On Thursday, the PZC opened the continued public hearing, and heard from several residents sharing their thoughts on the proposed project. Dozens of other residents had submitted statements to be read into the record as well.

Some residents, such as Donna Rini, said that this development would be better suited elsewhere because of the health, safety and financial impact it would have on the town.

I urge the planning and zoning committee members to protect our towns mental and physical health and safety by voting no, Rini said.

Bob Benashski said that while he supports the Second Amendment, he doesnt feel a business that promotes the use of guns as a smart move for the town.

I would be embarrassed to tell people we live in a town that supports such a business, Benashski said.

Those in favor of the proposal said it would provide a needed source of recreation, a safe place for people to shoot and bring more business to town. Wally Robley raised several of those points.

The jobs and income created for our town from this decades-old vacant land will be a jolt for our economy, Robley said. It should also cut down on the noise complaints generated from people shooting on their own private property.

Longtime resident Ed Gould expressed a similar sentiment.

This project will utilize property that has been vacant for the 27 years that Ive resided in Portland, Gould said. Land development, jobs, economic growth, recreation, in a safe, regulated environment sounds like a win for Portland.

The members of the PZC agreed, and voted unanimously to approve the application, but not before adding a few conditions.

Some of the major stipulations include receiving approval from the state for entrance to the property from state roads, and to file a report with the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.
WASHINGTON (AP)  President Joe Biden is convening global leaders Thursday to pledge strong new commitments to democracy, even as the U.S. itself is facing some of the gravest threats in years to its democratic traditions and institutions at home.

As the president launches the administrations inaugural Summit for Democracy, determined to show the world democracy can still work, the nation thats been long considered a shining example is seen by various measures as a backslider.

Local elected officials are resigning at an alarming rate amid confrontations with angry voices at school board meetings, elections offices and town halls. States are passing laws to limit access to the ballot, making it more difficult for Americans to vote. And the Jan. 6 attack at the Capitol has left many in one U.S. political party clinging to Donald Trumps false claims of a stolen election, eroding trust in the accuracy of the vote.

America must do better, critics at home and abroad insist.

Can our democracy overcome the lies, anger, hate, and fears that have pulled us apart? Biden asked during a joint session of Congress at the start of his presidency, months after the Capitol insurrection.

Americas adversaries  the autocrats of the world  are betting we cant.

Its an unsettling moment for the worlds leading democracy as authoritarianism grows around the globe, raising questions about the United States ability to lead by example and intensifying pressure on the Biden administration to not only promote democracy abroad but do more to shore it up at home.

As allies gather for the two-day virtual summit, the White House is approaching the meeting from a place of humility, understanding that no democracy is perfect, not even the U.S., according to a senior official granted anonymity to discuss the thinking at the White House.

At the forum, intended for some 110 participating countries to announce new commitments for strengthening democracy, Biden plans to speak about the importance of voting rights at home, much as he did at an anniversary celebration of the capitals Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, the official said. At the time, the president called voting that fundamental right and decried efforts to curtail it as the most un-American thing imaginable.

The president has also said that passage of his ambitious domestic agenda  the $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill he signed into law, as well as the roughly $2 trillion Build Back Better Act of social and climate change initiatives moving through the Senate  will demonstrate how democracy can improve peoples lives.

The United States has a thriving democracy, but its been hurting in recent years, said Michael Abramowitz, the president of Freedom House, whose annual report marked a 15th consecutive year of a global democratic slide.

Right now, were going through a phase in America where its very difficult to get things done and to really prove that democracy can deliver, he said.

One early test will come Thursday as the U.S. House moves to approve the Protecting Our Democracy Act, the third in a trio of bills alongside the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act that Democrats in Congress have put forward.

A fourth bill being drafted would impose changes to the Electoral Count Act, the once-routine process of tallying and certifying the presidential election ballots that was severely tested on Jan. 6 as Trump urged followers to challenge the vote.

But the legislation churning through Congress seems destined to fail, facing opposition from Republicans who dismiss the bills as partisan overreach.

Some Republicans say the bills are unnecessary or need to be dramatically scaled back. Others are perpetuating Trumps false claims of election fraud despite dozens of U.S. court cases that found no evidence of voting irregularities. Some Republicans are now downplaying the attack at the Capitol, even as hundreds of rioters are facing charges in courts nationwide.

The White House is gearing up for a year of action on what it sees as rebuilding democracy. The Republican blockade against the Democrats bills in Congress has revived private Senate negotiations over changing the chambers filibuster rules to muscle past a nearly impossible 60-vote threshold in the evenly split 50-50 chamber.

Some are pushing for action ahead the 2022 congressional elections amid fears of new restrictions on the right to vote and outside actors sowing misinformation.

If President Biden really believes  as he should  that were in an existential battle to protect democracy, when will he put the political capital behind these bills that such a crisis warrants? said Ian Bassin, executive director of Protect Democracy, a nonpartisan, anti-authoritarianism organization.

Globally, meanwhile, this week's summit gets underway as outside groups are raising alarms about a worldwide slide of democracy, fueled by populations that have grown increasingly frustrated by stubborn income inequality and the COVID-19 crisis with its restrictions and millions of lives lost.

Authoritarianism is on the rise in some some ostensibly democratic countries, alongside shifting attitudes about the best forms of government amid anti-democratic influences and commentary from China and Russia. A Pew report released this week said that while people like democracy, their commitment to it is often not very strong. Even wealthy countries, including the U.S., have some people who favor military rule, the report said.

Another group, the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, said in its annual report that the number of countries experiencing democratic backsliding has never been as high as the past decade, with the U.S. added to the list alongside India and Brazil.

The legislation being voted on Thursday in the House tries to claw back some of what its supporters consider executive overreach that has been building in the U.S. for years and intensified during Trump's term. It includes provisions to strengthen enforcement of congressional subpoenas, protect whistleblowers and provide for congressional oversight of presidential emergency declarations, among other provisions, many of them previously backed by Republicans.

Rep. Adam Schiff, the Democratic chairman of the Intelligence Committee, said the House panel investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol has also been brainstorming" reforms to the electoral count that was disrupted that day the mob stormed the building.

The Jan. 6 attack, and the image that gave the United States about the dysfunctionality of our system at present, I think, is a real body blow to the cause of democracy around the world," Schiff said in an interview with The Associated Press.

Schiff said from his own recent talks with Biden, "the president is very much focused like a laser on the challenge to democracy around the world, but also at home.

___

Staff writer Aamer Madhani contributed to this report.
WASHINGTON (AP)  After years of debate, Congress is on track to change how the U.S. military handles sexual assault cases, by taking some authority out of the hands of commanders and instead using independent prosecutors.

Spurred on by a growing number of sexual misconduct cases in the military, and buoyed by support from President Joe Biden and senior Pentagon leaders, the changes were included in a broader defense bill that passed the House late Tuesday and is headed to the Senate for almost certain approval.

But several senators on Wednesday, led by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., said the measure doesn't go far enough. She said the Pentagon was able to argue successfully against fully removing commanders from the cases.

Still, Rep. Jackie Speier, the head of the House Armed Services military personnel subcommittee, described it as a historic change the likes of which we have not seen in over 70 years.

By moving the decision to prosecute a servicemember for rape, domestic violence, murder and other serious crimes out of the chain of command to an independent military prosecutor, we would finally address a gaping wound for sexual assault survivors and provide a pathway to justice, she said.

The campaign to improve military prosecutions has been struggling for years, but it gained momentum when Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and other leaders began to publicly acknowledge this year that the military has failed to make progress in preventing sexual assaults and that changes were needed.

Reports of sexual assaults in the military have steadily gone up since 2006, according to Defense Department reports, including a 13% jump in 2018 and a 3% increase in 2019. Reports in 2020  when much of the military was on lockdown due to COVID-19 restrictions  went up by about 1%, and officials said it wasnt clear what impact the pandemic or any new programs had on the numbers.

Gillibrand and others who had pushed for a broader overhaul agreed that the changes in the bill represent strides forward. But they vowed to try again to get a separate bill passed that would eliminate commanders from the process and expand the number of crimes that would be handled by the independent prosecutors.

The key problem, Gillibrand said on Wednesday, is that commanders still will play a key role in sexual assault cases.

Commanders can still pick the jury, select the witnesses, grant or deny witness immunity requests, order depositions and approve the hiring of expert witnesses and consultants, she said. When the commander is so deeply involved in a case, theres no independence for the prosecutor and theres no perception of independence for the accused or the accuser.

She added that keeping commanders involved will add layers of bureaucracy and slow the process down, making it longer for survivors to seek justice and to see justice. Instead, her legislation would have independent prosecutors handle felonies that call for more than a year in prison.

Other key lawmakers and leaders of the military services, however, balked at including all major crimes, saying stripping control of all crimes from commanders could hurt military readiness, erode command authority, and require far more time and resources.

Victims rights advocates and others have argued that service members dont trust the system and are often unwilling to go to their commanders with a complaint for fear of retribution. They also worry that commanders may not press ahead with some cases if they know the accused. Using independent prosecutors, they said, would make the process more fair, and make victims more comfortable coming forward.

In his first directive after taking office in January, Austin gave senior leaders two weeks to send him reports on sexual assault prevention programs. He created a commission to study the matter, and that panel  in its first recommendations  concluded that decisions to prosecute service members for sexual assault should be made by independent authorities, not commanders. Austin and Biden endorsed the change, but they stopped short of backing Gillibrands bill to strip commanders of oversight of all major crimes.

Gillibrand, however, has pressed for a Senate vote on her bill, which has the support of 65 other senators  a fillibuster-proof majority. She said Wednesday that commanders should not be allowed to continue as the so-called convening authority in each case, with a range of powers to include the ability to grant immunity, approve delays and decide any pre-trial confinement of the accused. She said she believes she has leadership support for a separate vote on her bill.

Others who back Gillibrands effort said they were pleased that any legislation is moving forward.

We really have made some progress, said Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, a former Army commander who served in Iraq. I am disappointed that we did not get every aspect of our bill included and we should have the ability to do that.

Asked Wednesday about the legislation, which passed the House on a 363-70 vote, Karine Jean-Pierre, the White House principal deputy press secretary, said Biden "believes that this legislation takes groundbreaking steps to improve the response to and prevention of sexual assault in the military.
BRUSSELS (AP)  The European Union reached a political agreement Thursday to extend cuts to costly mobile-phone roaming costs in the bloc for another decade, affecting travel for tens of millions of EU citizens.

The deal will allow EU consumers to continue to make mobile calls, send text messages and use the internet in other countries within the 27-nation bloc at the same cost as they do from home.
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP)  A New Mexico state senator said Thursday that he has tested positive for COVID-19 and will quarantine at home, with a special legislative session underway on political redistricting.

Democratic Sen. Bobby Gonzales of Taos told The Associated Press that he tested positive for the coronavirus Wednesday through a rapid test. He informed Senate leadership out of concern for anyone who might also have been exposed through close contact.

Gonzales said he was scheduled on Thursday to undergo another coronavirus test at a hospital in Taos. He is fully vaccinated, including a recent booster shot, and was experiencing some mild nasal discomfort.

Gonzales said he also was tested on Saturday with a negative result before meeting that day with Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham. He underwent another test Wednesday as required by the governor's office in anticipation of another meeting with Lujan Grisham that did not occur.

In response to Gonzales situation, contact tracing was underway at the state Capitol. A Senate floor session was canceled for unspecified reasons.

A member of the governor's staff is quarantining out of an abundance of caution after interacting with Gonzales on Wednesday, Lujan Grisham spokeswoman Nora Sackett Meyers said in an email. She said a coronavirus PCR test of the governor came back negative on Thursday.

The governor is tested regularly and has never returned a positive test, Meyers said. After the senators positive rapid test, the governors scheduled meeting with legislative leadership this morning was conducted remotely ... out of an abundance of caution.

Meyers said the legislative session presents a heightened COVID-19 risk and that those meeting in-person with the governor are being asked to take a rapid test before. She did not address whether there are health concerns related to Saturdays meeting between Gonzales and the governor.

Gonzales said a prolonged quarantine would likely exclude him from participation in Senate decisions, under rules that restrict online participation.

Gonzales said he was open to sharing his medical information to help others make informed decisions.

I have nothing to hide, Gonzales said. The more people are aware of it, fine. That's the world we are in today.

Legislative leaders are requiring proof of vaccination for the public to gain entrance to the Capitol during the current legislative session. Masks are required indoors with few exceptions.

News about the positive test prompted a Navajo Nation delegation to cut short its stay in Santa Fe.

We're very concerned, said Leonard Gorman, executive director of the Navajo Nation Civil Rights Commission. We prefer to protect our families and not be in this situation. ... I think, for the Navajo Nation, we will be returning home this evening.

New Mexico legislators are not required to be vaccinated for COVID-19, while immunizations are required under a state public health order for employees of the governors office  located on the top floor of the state Capitol.

Lujan Grisham has been vaccinated for COVID-19, including a booster shot.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP)  Legal arguments for and against Ohio's new maps of state legislative districts centered Wednesday on whether it was okay for a powerful new redistricting commission to disregard constitutional language that required at least an attempt at avoiding partisan favoritism.

The issue is pivotal to three lawsuits that are serving as the first test of the Ohio Supreme Court's authority to enforce a new redistricting system overwhelmingly approved by Ohio voters in 2015.

Wednesdays court and government television livestreams of the hotly contested cases were viewed by more than 3,300 people.

The dispute comes amid the process of redrawing legislative and congressional district maps that states must undertake once per decade to reflect changes from the U.S. Census. Wednesdays arguments related only to legislative maps, not the one for U.S. House districts.

Advocacy and Democratic groups  the plaintiffs  argue the new boundaries undermine voters rights. Lawyers for the state defend the district boundaries, which maintain Republicans Statehouse supermajorities, as constitutional.

Justices can either affirm the maps or send them back to the Ohio Redistricting Commission to be redrawn.

ACLU of Ohio legal director Freda Levenson told justices Wednesday that the court cant simply throw out the section of the Ohio Constitution that talks about maps not being drawn primarily to favor or disfavor a political party."

The only way the enacted plan can stand is if the respondents convince you that (Title XI) Section 6 consists of empty words that they were free to ignore, Levenson said. But this provision is real and this court has the authority to enforce it.

Attorney Phillip Strach, one of the outside lawyers representing Republicans, disagreed. He said Section 6 is part of a carrot-and-stick approach contained in the constitutional amendment aimed at encouraging compromise, arguing that justices have no authority to enforce the section as long as other sections were met.

Were not arguing that Section 6 is like the appendix in the body, it's just of no use out there hanging," he said, suggesting it's of use when the other requirements are violated.

Besides requiring an attempt at avoiding partisan favoritism, the section also requires an attempt to balance districts based on the proportion of voters they contain of each party.

Justice Jennifer Brunner said its clear from the evidence that the commission didnt attempt proportionality.

Opponents hope the court rules against the maps and includes in that decision clear guidance for the Ohio Redistricting Commission for making new maps that are constitutional.

Chief Justice Maureen O'Connor, a potentially key swing vote amid the court's 4-3 Republican majority, asked a series of questions on what that guidance might entail  and what would happen if the map, again, was viewed by opponents as unconstitutional.

Strach said a challenge could be taken to federal court and the litigation could potentially go on ad nauseum.

Justices noted the time pressure in the cases, given the candidate deadline for 2022 is Feb. 2.

Among groups involved in the challenges are the National Democratic Redistricting Committees legal arm, the ACLU, the Ohio Organizing Collaborative, CAIR-Ohio, the League of Women Voters and the A. Philip Randolph Institute.

After the arguments concluded, about three dozen people rallied outside the Supreme Court, holding signs that said Ohio is all in for fair maps and calling on the court to order that the legislative maps be redrawn.

Pierrette Talley of Toledo, one of the named lawsuit plaintiffs, said the maps as drawn exclude her as a Black voter by diluting the power of her ballot.

Fair maps are important because it affords the citizens of Ohio a more balanced approach to discussions and debates at the state and federal level that ensure that every community is represented, said Talley, 65, who runs a nonprofit coalition that works to register Black Ohio voters.

___

Associated Press writer Andrew Welsh-Huggins contributed to this report.

___

This story has been corrected to reflect that 3,300 people, not 15,000, watched livestreams of the arguments.
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP)  Beverly Guliuzza was overcome with a mix of shock, sadness and relief when military officials told her they had identified the remains of her brother, Benjamin Bazzell, an Army corporal who went missing in action during the Korean War in 1950 when she was just 12.

The notification to Guliuzza, now 84 and living with family in Everett, Washington, came last year, seven decades after she had last seen her older brother in their hometown of Seymour, Connecticut. The identification was publicly announced Tuesday by the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, an arm of the U.S. Defense Department.

When I found out all of this, it was just very sad but also very thankful that there was closure because it had always been missing in action and we never knew," Guliuzza said in a phone interview Wednesday. When someone is reported missing in action its like youre in limbo. My mom never got to have closure.

Bazzell was only 18 when he was killed on Nov. 30, 1950, when enemy forces attacked his unit in North Korea near the Chosin Reservoir, military officials say. He served with the 57th Field Artillery Battalion, 7th Infantry Division.

His body could not be recovered after the battle and remained missing until 2018, when North Korea gave the U.S. 55 boxes purportedly containing the remains of American service members killed during the Korean War. The exchange happened after then-President Donald Trump met with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

Military officials say they used DNA and anthropological tests, as well as reviewed circumstantial evidence, to identify Bazzell and 76 other missing service members whose remains were in the boxes.

More than 7,500 Americans remain unaccounted for from the Korean War. The military has identified the remains of more than 600 Americans who went missing during the war and returned their bodies to their families since 1982, officials say.

Bazzell was among more than 1,000 U.S. soldiers and Marines killed in the fighting near the Chosin Reservoir from the end of November to mid-December in 1950, according to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency. They were among a United Nations force of about 30,000 soldiers and Marines that was overwhelmed by an estimated 120,000 Chinese soldiers who flooded into North Korea during the war, the agency says.

Guliuzza has warm memories of her brother, who was nicknamed Benny. She said he was just a sweet, sweet boy" who would wake her up late at night when he got home from his bowling alley job to tell her he had candy.

She said he voluntarily enlisted in the Army to the dismay of their mother, Helen Bazzell, who was never the same after he went missing.

The effect on my mother was horrible, Guliuzza said. It changed the rest of her life. ... My mom used to be a happy person, and I remember she was always whistling. She stopped. She became kind of obsessed with trying to found out more information from the Army. Mom never gave up, never. She always felt that he would be coming home."

Guliuzza said her brother will be buried at Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent, Washington. A date has not been set.
SHELTON  Caloroso remains a staple of the citys downtown business community, surviving a pandemic that has closed countless restaurants throughout the state.

According to owner Mat Calandro, his eaterys continued success is thanks in large part to those employees that stuck with him during times he calls extremely difficult and unpredictable.

Now Calandro has chosen to use the coming Connecticut Sales Tax Relief Stimulus Week to repay those individuals for their loyalty.

I decided to reward these essential workers that came in day in and day out during the pandemic with hazard pay, Calandro said. I just feel we need to take care of folks who had been with me for 18 months or more.

They mean so much to us, Calandro added.

Any sales tax collected between Dec. 12 and 18, what was established as a stimulus for the restaurant owner, is going back to 10 employees presently on staff that have stayed on since March 2020. Calandro is also giving those employees 10 percent of the restaurants gross sales for that week as well.

(Calandro) is extremely generous, given what he has gone through, staying open and providing jobs, Stephanie Champagne, who has worked for Calandro for more than five years, said. He does everything he can for the staff, and now he is giving even more after all he has done for us.

Champagne, the restaurants operations manager, said this latest move speaks to Calandros desire to treat staff like family, which is why she chose to stay when given the choice between working or taking a layoff and the unemployment checks that came with that move.

He has stood up for us since this started, trying to make it work for the business and for us, said Lou Como, the restaurants general manager who has worked with Calandro for a decade. Thats the person he is.

Calandro is also offering special discounts to customers next week as well.

I remember sitting here, in this room, Calandro said, referencing his meeting with staff back in the early weeks of the pandemic in 2020. I looked at them and said I am opening back up  if you want to work, great, if not, fine, I would not say anything.

These 10 people had a choice  they all had options to not work and they didnt, they worked, I promised them good will prevail, he added. No one knew what to expect. We all went through hell, and were still going through hell, even though the pandemic for many is over.

Months of offering just take out, then indoor dining  on a much smaller scale  forced Calandro to lower his workforce from a high of about 30 in early 2020 to eight at the height of the pandemic. Now he has returned to some 30 employees as the business began to thrive again with the completion of the new Sky Terrace  a 1,000-square-foot area with a roof which is open air  this past spring.

It has been hard enough to run a restaurant, then you add in the uncertainty of the pandemic, rising food costs, personal issues, he said, but we have a committed crew. I want to make sure they understand I appreciate them. They are still here grinding, and they deserve it.

brian.gioiele@hearstmediact.com
NEW YORK (AP)  Will Smith rappelled into a live volcano and kayaked down an Icelandic whitewater river for his latest project. But he wasnt making an action movie. It was personal.

Smith, a Hollywood leading man who admits that hes far from outdoorsy, has put himself in dangers way while filming Welcome to Earth, a kinetic Disney+ original series from National Geographic. He was intimidated, but that brought clarity.

Its really difficult to enjoy things if youre scared, he says. I think the ability to see how beautiful things are is directly connected to your openness to it and fear closes you down.

The six-part series that debuts Wednesday finds the I Am Legend star donning scuba gear to dive in an underground lake, crossing a raging, crocodile-infested river on a rope and sitting still in the stifling Namibia desert to capture a lizard eating a bug.

Throughout is Smith's authenticity, sweetness and humor. Damn, thats a crunchy bug, he says at one point when the lizard strikes. After making a difficult crossing that surprises even him, he notes: In a movie, my stunt man would have did that.

A self-described West Philly boy who says he was once scared of everything and hated water, Smith learns to read the rapids while whitewater rafting, rescues turtles near the Great Barrier Reef and goes 3,000 feet (914 meters) below the sea in a deep-water submersible.

Smith, 53, says the series came at a time in his life when he was opening up to nature. Of course, I got to do it the way I got to do it, and its the way National Geographic does it, he says, laughing. That part works really well with my personality.

Dr. Albert Lin, an engineer and explorer who has uncovered lost cities previously for National Geographic, was stunned to find that Smith was able to control his fears even in the face of real danger.

While scuba diving in the underground lake in Namibia, Smith had trouble with his buoyancy and Lin watched him dropping at a rate that felt like maybe we wouldnt see him again. But Smith was able to control his mind and grapple with the situation.

I respected Will Smith, the actor, before, but now I definitely have grown to truly respect Will Smith, the human being, now, says Lin, who grew up watching Smith in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and was overjoyed to go camping and exploring with him.

This really was a personal journey for him, adds Lin. He just wanted to know what was on planet Earth and feel it and really push himself. And if the worst happened and Smith perished in that cold lake? If I had lost him there, I think I would have just stayed back there myself.

Produced by Oscar-nominated filmmaker Darren Aronofsky, the series carries on the tradition of National Geographic pushing the exploring envelope and embracing the latest in technology to help us understand our world.

I hope that this becomes a portal for so many people out there to just get a sense of absolutely how incredible our planet is, says Lin. The way that the old magazines  the old yellow-bordered magazines  used to do it for a lot of us growing up, I hope this becomes something of that caliber and is meaningful to others. To me, that would feel like mission accomplished.

Part of the series' sense of freshness comes from the fact that Smith  who hopes to do another set soon  isn't told what the plan is on a particular day out in the wilderness. When I hit the ground, I have no idea what were doing, he says.

The experts he's paired with teach him about speed, smell and sound and the colors out there he might miss. You cant really want to protect something that you dont understand. And you cant want to protect something that you cant recognize as beautiful, Smith says.

My job now is to see it and feel it and understand it. You know, its making this phase of my life that much more enjoyable and opening me up to wonder and awe in a way that is just absolutely delightful.

___

Mark Kennedy is at http://twitter.com/KennedyTwits
Frustrated by the Defense Department's pace of identifying installations contaminated with chemicals used in firefighting foam as well as industrial and commercial products, Congress plans to order the Pentagon to complete the task in two years.

The fiscal 2022 National Defense Authorization Act, approved by the House on Tuesday and expected to pass the Senate next week, requires the DoD to complete preliminary assessments and site testing at all bases and National Guard facilities by the end of 2023.

The deadline is needed, legislators say, because the timeline and lack of transparency by the Defense Department has left communities wondering whether their water and the ground they occupy are contaminated with perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, collectively known as PFAS.

Read Next: The US Just Ended Combat in Iraq, but Thousands of Troops Will Stay Put for Now

"I'm outraged every time I hear the stories from the service members in my state who unknowingly raised their families near PFAS-contaminated bases and had no idea of the danger," Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., said during a hearing Thursday.

The Pentagon's inspector general released a report in July saying that the DoD waited five years to reduce the use of PFAS-containing aqueous film forming foam used for firefighting in training and emergencies, even though its Emerging Chemicals Program issued an alert in 2011 describing PFAS as a concern.

The delay possibly exposed "people and the environment" to preventable risks, the DoD IG concluded.

As the result of a bureaucratic loophole, the DoD was not required to take action to address the risks highlighted in the alert until 2016, allowing years to pass while troops continued to be exposed.

The delay -- and a subsequent focus on firefighting foams while largely ignoring other sources -- continued to expose service members and their families to the dangerous substances, the report found.

Concern has grown in the past decade over PFAS, which have been linked to cancer and birth defects, although research remains insufficient to understand the full impact of the chemicals on people. They are known as "forever chemicals" because they do not break down in the environment and can build up in the human body.

The compounds are used not only in firefighting foam but in industrial lubricants, non-stick cookware, cosmetics, stain repellents and food wrappers.

The 2020 defense policy bill required the Defense Department to test the blood of military and civilian installation firefighters for PFAS.

The DoD's work, according to Laura Macaluso, DoD's acting deputy assistant secretary for force safety and occupational health, will help expand the body of scientific knowledge on these substances and lead to advances in care, if needed.

"We are hopeful that there will be evidence connecting particular blood levels of one or more PFAS to specific adverse health effects in the next two years, and that we could expedite this trend analysis," Macaluso said.

Firefighting foams containing PFAS have been used on military installations since the early 1970s, with thousands of people exposed during training and emergencies and an unknown number possibly exposed as the result of runoff.

As of Thursday, the DoD had identified 699 active or former military bases and National Guard facilities where two of the chemicals, perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) or perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), may have been used or released into the environment.

During the Thursday hearing, Richard Kidd, the DoD's deputy assistant secretary for environment and energy resilience, said 190 of those installations have been assessed, with 115 needing further review and possibly remediation.

The other 75 showed no record of any use of firefighting foam, and "the investigation process has essentially stopped" for those facilities, Kidd said.

He added that the Pentagon had planned to complete the identification and testing process of all installations by the end of 2023.

The Pentagon has banned the use of PFAS-containing foams for training on military installations, although the product is still used on installations during emergencies and aboard ships.

The DoD has faced challenges finding an effective PFAS-free firefighting foam, since none is commercially available that meets its standards, according to the Pentagon.

The department is currently funding research to develop a replacement.

-- Patricia Kime can be reached at Patricia.Kime@Monster.com. Follow her on Twitter @patriciakime.

Related: Military Firefighters Say DoD Isn't Moving Fast Enough to Protect Them from Toxic Chemicals
WASHINGTON -- Unvaccinated airmen denied medical, administrative or religious exemptions to the Defense Department's coronavirus vaccine mandate must get immunized within five days or face possible punishment including separation, the Air Force announced in a policy issued Wednesday.

More than 97% of active-duty airmen were vaccinated against the coronavirus as of Tuesday, according to the Air Force. The remaining troops are either waiting for decisions on their exemption requests, have not started the vaccination process or have verbally declined the shots.

So far, the service has approved 1,133 medical exemptions, 184 administrative exemptions, but no religious exemptions for its active-duty force of about 326,000, the service said Tuesday. About 4,756 active-duty airmen are awaiting decisions on religious exemptions requests.

The service required all active-duty troops to become fully vaccinated by Nov. 2 after Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in August ordered all service members to receive the vaccine.

"Immediately following notification of final adjudication, [Air Force] members must comply with the vaccination requirement," the service said in its new policy. "Any refusal to receive the [coronavirus] vaccine, absent an approved exemption, may be punishable under the [Uniform Code of Military Justice]."

The UCMJ is the military's legal framework, which includes a provision that allows for the separation of troops for failing to obey a lawful order.

Airmen denied medical exemptions may delay the five-day deadline by requesting a second opinion or submitting an appeal to the service's final appeal authority, according to the policy. However, the clock will restart to get vaccinated if the appeal is denied.

The policy also stated that after Dec. 31, unvaccinated Air National Guard members without pending or approved exemptions "may not participate in drills, training or other duty" under federal or state authority.

The National Guard provision comes after Oklahoma Adjutant General Tommy Mancino canceled the state's coronavirus vaccine requirement last month, arguing Oklahoma did not have to enforce the Pentagon's mandate. The Defense Department has said its mandate is still valid for Oklahoma troops.

More than 92% of the Air National Guard are at least partially vaccinated, the Air Force said Tuesday. The service has approved 643 medical exemptions, 1,405 administrative exemptions and no religious exemptions for Guard troops, though about 3,553 are awaiting decisions on religious accommodation requests.

The Air Force is not alone in its lack of religious-exemption approvals. To date, no military branch has approved requests for a religious exemption to the vaccine, chief Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said Wednesday.

"This has absolutely nothing to do with trampling on the religious liberties of our men and women in uniform," he said. "Just because none have been approved doesn't mean that they can't still be applied for."

This story originally appeared on Stars and Stripes.
The Navy is rolling out an experimental new program that aims to put sailors in select occupations out to sea for longer tours while offering hefty pay and promotion incentives.

Starting on March 1, 2022, the program, called the Detailing Marketplace Assignment Policy, or DMAP, will allow sailors in four sea-intensive jobs to volunteer to follow up an initial four years at sea with another three years.

In exchange, once on that second assignment, sailors will earn extra incentive pay, get promoted to E-5, and have more priority for orders for a shore-duty assignment after their seven years at sea.

Read Next: SEAL Team Commander Dies After Training Accident

To start, aircraft fuel specialists, aircraft handlers, gas turbine mechanics and culinary specialists will be able to volunteer for the program, which was unveiled Thursday.

Rear Adm. James Waters, the Navy's director of military personnel, plans and policy, told reporters that he hopes the program will be a win-win for both sailors and the Navy.

"At that four-year mark at sea, the sailor is just developing a critical skill set for us, and we value that," Waters said. "We want that experience to remain at sea, and we're willing to offer some real incentives to keep it there."

The cash incentives will range between $200 a month and $800 a month depending on location and type of sea duty, Waters explained. This pay would be in addition to the "sea pay" bonus the Navy offers sailors who are stationed aboard ships.

However, Fleet Master Chief Wes Koshoffer emphasized that the program aims to offer sailors more than just money. "Geographic stability and advancement are extremely strong incentives for sailors," Koshoffer said.

"The money is nice; the advancement is very nice; and perhaps the stability is also much desired," he added.

The Navy has acknowledged that it needs to do more to retain sailors past their first enlistment. One study conducted by Navy researchers showed that sailors are more likely to stay if they feel they are given a sense of belonging and treated more like family. Meanwhile, an Army survey showed that the impact of service on family relationships and goals were top reasons for getting out.

Officials said they hope to get about 250 sailors to volunteer for an extra sea tour from each of the four specialties in the first phase of the program.

The program will break the Navy's five-year limit on sea time that has existed for the past 50 years, but the service says that the lack of sailors in sea-intensive jobs is having serious impacts on the fleet.

"Under-manning at sea impacts the implementation of circadian rhythm watch bills, affects the number of in-port duty sections, contributes to degraded materiel readiness, limits time to train and reduces opportunities for leave and liberty," the message announcing the policy explained.

Waters said that the Navy will run the program for about nine months to a year before it considers broadening it to more sea-intensive specialties. He listed 12 specialties that might be included in a second phase, including three aviation jobs, as well as navigators, retail specialists, electricians, and damage control specialists.

This program is hardly the first time the Navy has tried to incentivize sailors to stay at sea. The branch has offered money to sailors to stay at forward-deployed locations and, more recently, to fight shortages in manning caused by COVID-19.

"We're trying to have a range of incentives to ensure that those specific reasons people would stay at sea can be incentivized or rewarded, based on how the Navy benefits from that as well as the sailor," Waters said.

-- Konstantin Toropin can be reached at konstantin.toropin@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @ktoropin.

Related: Navy Fighting Health Department Order to Drain Fuel Tanks over Tainted Water Concerns
The U.S. military ended its combat operations in Iraq this week under terms from an earlier agreement, though thousands of troops will remain in the country for now, the Pentagon said Thursday.

About 2,500 service members are in Iraq after months of winding down the mission against the Islamic State group; they will continue advising and training Iraqi security forces after the transition was completed this week. The change was finalized at the conclusion of technical talks between the two countries Thursday.

The move marks a de-escalation of the U.S.-led coalition's war against the Islamic State, or ISIS, that began in 2014 as the terrorist group swept through Iraq, staged public executions, and sponsored attacks around the world.

Read Next: A New Program Promises More Pay and Perks for Sailors to Stay at Sea

"This is the natural evolution," Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said, but will not result in any immediate change to the laydown and number of U.S. forces there.

The U.S.-Iraq agreement to pull all combat troops from the country by the end of this year was hammered out in July.

Former Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi declared the military defeat of ISIS in 2017, after all territory such as the city of Mosul was reclaimed and the border with Syria was secured. But an insurgency waged by the group continued.

The terrorist group has been dramatically reduced to underground networks with no territory, but it once claimed 40,000 soldiers and controlled 110,000 square kilometers, according to the U.S.-led coalition.

"Many brave men and women gave their lives to ensure Daesh never returns, and as we complete our combat role, we will remain here to advise, assist, and enable the ISF, at the invitation of the Republic of Iraq," Maj. Gen. John W. Brennan Jr., commander of Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve, said in a released statement, referring to ISIS with the term used by Iraqis.

ISIS "is down, but not out," Brennan said in the statement.

It is the second time in a decade that the U.S. has pulled back forces amid an apparent calming in Iraq. In 2011, President Barack Obama announced an end to the earlier Iraq War launched in 2003 to topple Saddam Hussein, only to re-enter the country three years later to fight the burgeoning terrorist group.

The main threat now to U.S. troops remaining in the country is Shia militia groups backed by Iran. The groups are blamed for drone and rocket attacks on U.S. bases in Iraq and Syria.

"We have to assume threats to U.S. forces remain credible in Iraq," Kirby said.

-- Travis Tritten can be reached at travis.tritten@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @Travis_Tritten.

Related: US Ending Combat Role in Iraq by End of Year
The turbaned Taliban gather in front of the entrance to the deserted barracks. They fish their smartphones out of their vest pockets, switch on their flashlights, and illuminate the ghostly darkness inside. There are no windows in the corridor, nor the small, neat rooms to the left and right. If it werent for the nice office chairs and the comfortable bathroom cubicles, one might mistake them for cells. But the rooms are part of a section of a now abandoned military base in Shkin, in southeastern Afghanistan, that was once occupied by U.S. forces, including CIA officers. Now, with the base empty and the Taliban back in power, Washingtons ability to monitor the assorted militants who are still in the area has become far more limited.

Shkin lies on a godforsaken high plateau framed by ridges of forested hills less than five miles west of the Pakistani frontier, the border denoted by the colonial-era Durand Line that Afghanistan has never recognized.

This remote backwater in Afghanistans southeastern Paktika Province would be of little strategic value, if it werent for it reportedly being a longstanding home to al-Qaida and other jihadists. Accordingly, soon after the U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan in the wake of the 9/11 attacks, U.S. forces established a base in Shkin that was also used by the CIA. Reports from 2003 described it as looking like a cross between an old Wild West fort and the Alamo. By the time SpyTalk visited the abandoned base in early November 2021, it was a labyrinth of sand-packed HESCO barriers hiding various deserted barracks. A few abandoned pickup trucks also remained in the base. In nearby Barmal District, the Taliban claimed to have captured 100 vehicles. Dozens of Rangers and Humvees could be seen there in Novembernot that they were very useful: The Taliban lacked fuel for them.

The Evilest Place

Front line paramilitary bases were integral in pursuing our counter-terrorism mission, conducting intelligence operations against high value targets in an active combat environment, Marc Polymeropoulos, a former CIA senior operations officer who served as a base chief told SpyTalk. When I served in the region in 2011 and 2012, we were hit nearly every morning, with 107mm rocket fire. Never needed an alarm clock was the running joke.

The attacks were conducted not only by local Taliban, but also Arab al-Qaida fighters, he said. Skirmishes in Shkin were so intense that, in 2003, U.S. Army Colonel Rodney Davis described it as the evilest place in Afghanistan.

Some paid the ultimate price, like William Carlson and Christopher Glenn Mueller, two former U.S. Special Forces working as contract employees in counterterrorism for the CIA, who were killed near Shkin in late October 2003. Back then, the CIA officially acknowledged their deaths, stating that they were killed while "tracking terrorists operating in the region."

That said, it is understood that the CIA used Shkin not only to monitor the Afghan province of Paktika, but also nearby Waziristan on the Pakistani side of the border, another infamous hideout of local and foreign jihadists. When SpyTalk visited Shkin in early November, long-range binoculars, pointed straight across the plain to the nearby hills of Waziristan, were still mounted on a watch tower above the former American part of the base. The group of cheerful Taliban touring the abandoned base peeked through them, but they were broken. Back in the day, the CIA also had more sophisticated gear in Shkin to monitor jihadist activities across the region.

Hot Pursuit

The CIA was not only watching and listening, though. Not long after settling in, agency advisers in Shkin stood up a Counter-Terrorism Pursuit Team consisting of locally recruited Afghans. Over the years, the teams there and elsewhere gained renown for conducting raids against suspected high-value targetsalong with a reputation for human rights violations. In 2014, after the CIA began to disband at least some of the teams, including the allegedly 900-man strong force in Shkin, the base temporarily fell to the Taliban, but it was soon recaptured and again manned by special counter-terrorism forces that continued their operations until the very end.

"The NDS 08 unit which worked together with the Americans was in Shkin until the night before Shkin and Kabul fell," an Afghan who had served in the Afghan Border Force in the regular part of the base, told SpyTalk. (The NDS was the National Directorate of Security, the now defunct intelligence service of the toppled Afghan Republic.)

In November, the abandoned U.S. quarters at Shkin looked not much different than they might have on August 14, 2021, the day before the Afghan government collapsedexcept for the darkness. With the retreat of the Americans and their Afghan allies went the electricity.

Lit up by Taliban flashlights, most bedrooms were clean, several beds still neatly made, shower stalls intact. A brand new-looking refrigerator in the spotless canteen sported an unfaded printout announcing "FROZEN DINNERS." A couple plastic bottles of Frenchs Classic Yellow Mustard and packets of salt and pepper remained on a few tables. An adjacent sunroom featured a stone counter that once served as a bar. A Longhorn skull that once graced a wall lay on the floor.

One of the Taliban pointed to it. "They only left us bones," he said. It wasnt clear if he was joking. In any event, he was not wrong. The rooms in the barracks were yawning empty. A charred door was evidence that a fire may have been set by the former occupants as they departed.

Be careful to not ruin your clothes, another Talib warned, pointing to ash on a door. The Americans set everything on fire when they left, he saidan exaggeration, since most of the rooms were unscarred.

They left us nothing, he later added in disgust. Apparently the insurgents thought the retreating troops would generously donate all their equipment.

Filling the Vacuum

In any event, while the Americans and Afghan government forces left, the jihadists didnt. While the Taliban never tire of saying they will not let anyone use Afghanistan to threaten other countries, at least some al-Qaida members were still in Paktika as recently as October, a jihadist source told SpyTalk. Weeks later, some of them had left Paktika, he said, but another source said others had stayed. That would hardly be a surprise: In June 2020 the U.S. suspected al-Qaida leader Ayman al-Zawahiri was hiding out in the area, and dropped leaflets asking the locals for help.

Meanwhile, in Barmal, SpyTalk met armed jihadists of uncertain allegiance, hailing from across the border in Pakistani Waziristan. Such militants have been residing in the area since a Pakistani military operation in the summer of 2014 drove them out of Waziristan.

"We are with the Emirate, Sayd Yodgor, a commander of the armed Waziristanis in Barmal, told SpyTalk, referring to the Afghan Taliban. However, two Afghans who have personal contacts in the jihadist milieu doubted his story. "He and his men are all members of the Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan [TTP]," an umbrella group of Pakistani militants, said one man, who had met Yodgor. Another man, peering at a photo of Yodgor, said he belonged to the Hafiz Gul Bahadur Group, which analysts say was once a TTP faction but is now thought to be operating separately.

Asfandyar Mir, a senior expert on militants at the U.S. Institute of Peace, told SpyTalk that "there have been consistent reports of the TTP and al-Qaida not only being allied, but also co-located in parts of Afghanistan, including Paktika, over the last five years.

Al-Qaida affiliates are a prime concern to the CIA, of course, but with the base in Shkin lost, gathering intelligence on their activities in the region got considerably harder.

Douglas London, the CIAs Counterterrorism Chief for South and Southwest Asia prior to his retirement in 2019, wrote recently that the CIA likely "prepared a stable of Afghan stay behind agents in advance of its retreat last August. But without an official U.S. presence in the country, meetings between CIA case officers and Afghan sources would be difficult now, if at all possible. This, as well as the circumstances in a remote place with little infrastructure like Afghanistan, he wrote, poses a tradecraft nightmare," with problems ranging from agents having to rely on covert electronic communication devices to "[limitations of] means to test and evaluate the authenticity, veracity or motives" of sources. "Operating via surrogates and proxies," London added, "is the least reliable and most dangerous means of collecting intelligence."

There could still be some CIA Afghan assets in or around Shkin, but re-establishing and maintaining regular, reliable relationships with them is problematic at best. The Taliban would likely also try to hunt them down or turn them into double agents, although the Talibans capability to do so successfully is questionable.

In the eastern Afghan province of Nangarhar, the Taliban chose a heavy-handed approach, rounding up suspected members of the Islamic State group in a dragnet that caught more innocent men than guilty ones, according to various sources. The sweep suggested that the Taliban are either unwilling or unable to engage in the kind of precise counterintelligence work normally required to root out trained covert CIA assets.

But back in Shkin, meanwhile, one thing was certain: Where once CIA case officers drank bourbon around a fire pit or under the Longhorn skull, celebrating a counter-terrorism success or honoring lost comrades, the Taliban now pray.

This article by Franz J. Marty first appeared on Spytalk.co.
There's nothing wrong with a drink or two when consumed in moderation. Everyone has their favorite libation for game time, happy hour or just kicking back with friends.

Some cocktail aficionados take their drinks as seriously as Ernest Hemingway, and even have home setups that would make the most famous cocktail bar look like a dive bar on the wrong side of the tracks. Some even go as far as to create their own cocktails at home.

Or at work, depending on the events of the day. (U.S. Air Force/Staff Sgt. Derek Davis)

If that sounds like you, and you're a veteran, you're in luck: The Fighting 69th Irish Whiskey is holding its first-ever cocktail contest for vets to submit their original favorite recipes for a chance to win a three-day trip to New York City, including airfare, lodging and ground transportation. While there, the winner will take part in the 2022 St. Patrick's Day Parade, a parade led by the Fighting 69th Regiment since 1851.

Every year, members of the unit raise a glass before the parade and toast to the heritage of the unit, the sacrifices the people in the unit have made in service to their country and to the people of Ireland and the United States. To ensure the whiskey is appropriate, the Sixty-Ninth Infantry Regiment Historical Trust decided to distill its own.

The Sixty-Ninth Infantry Regiment Historical Trust is a nonprofit created to preserve the history and traditions of the regiment while providing financial assistance to unit members, veterans and their families. A portion from the sales of the whiskey go toward supporting its mission.

(Courtesy of the Fighting 69th Irish Whiskey)

This is the chance potentially to leave a mark on bars across the country, as winners of the trip to the St. Patrick's Day Parade also will have their recipe featured in an upcoming Fighting 69th cocktail book.

The 69th New York Infantry Regiment, now a National Guard unit consisting of a single light infantry battalion, is based in the New York borough of Manhattan. It is one of the oldest and most storied units of the U.S. Army. Officially founded in 1849, it can trace its lineage back to the American Revolution and, as a unit, has participated in multiple American wars.

During the Civil War, the "Fighting 69th" saw action at Bull Run, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg and Appomattox, among other battles. Reactivated for World War I as the 165th Infantry Regiment, it fought at Saint-Mihiel and in the Meuse-Argonne offensive. In World War II, it saw action on Saipan and Okinawa. Reborn as the 69th in 1992, it also fought in Iraq and Afghanistan.

It's been in so many campaigns, its regimental colors are authorized to be one foot longer than others so it can hold its 23 silver battle rings.

Do you prefer your cocktails shaken or stirred? Sweet or sour? Is your favorite beverage whiskey and Hawaiian Punch? All that matters is that entries are submitted properly. All a veteran has to do to be a part of the Fighting 69th's heritage and history (aside from joining the unit) is to fill out the official entry form on the Veterans page on the Fighting 69th Irish Whiskey website.

Your Mess Night creation might finally have its day in the sun. (U.S. Army/Maj. Ryan Donald)

Entries will need to have a name, a unique recipe (one that features Fighting 69th Irish Whiskey) and instructions for preparation and serving. All entrants must be at least 21 years of age and have served in the U.S. armed forces. The contest ends on Jan. 28, 2022, winner takes all and will be notified by email by Feb. 22, 2022.

-- Blake Stilwell can be reached at blake.stilwell@military.com. He can also be found on Twitter @blakestilwell or on Facebook.

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Minister for Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, is hopeful that the Tax Exemptions Bill 2021 will be passed by Parliament at its next meeting.

Speaking at a press briefing to inform Ghanaians about the progress of negotiations between the government, the Minority in Parliament, and other stakeholders on the 2022 Budget statement and economic policy, the Minister noted that given the importance of the Bill, Parliament will consider and pass it in at its next meeting.

The Tax Exemptions Bill 2021 was laid in Parliament and read for the first time, a day before the presentation of the 2022 Budget statement in November.

The next meeting of Parliament is expected to commence in January 2022.

With the first reading of the bill done, there are three more important thresholds to be crossed in the parliamentary process before the passage of the bill- is the second reading stage, the consideration stage, and the third reading stage before an assent from the President to make it law.

Tax Exemptions Bill

It is estimated that for every one Ghana cedi of tax collected, the corresponding amount given away as exemptions increased from six pesewas to 12.5 pesewas between 2010 and 2018.

Subsequently, the Ministry of Finance, in the first quarter of 2019, introduced the Tax Exemptions Bill to consolidate and streamline the applicable exemptions in different laws and improve the transparency and certainty in dealing with the exemptions, but the bill was not passed by the 7th Parliament for a number of reasons.

In August 2021, a group of civil society Organisations; Tax Justice Coalition, Ghana (TJC), the Parliamentary Network Africa (PNAfrica), and the Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition Ghana (GACC), under the umbrella of the Legislative Advocacy Programme with funding from OXFAM rekindled efforts to ensure that the right tax exemptions regime is instituted in the country.

The object of the Bill is to rationalize the current exemptions regime on taxes, levies, fees, and charges to improve domestic revenue mobilization.

This is to be achieved by consolidating existing statutory provisions on tax and other exemptions and to provide for the administration of exemptions.

---citinewsroom
Ms. Barbara Clemens has assumed her position as Representative and Country Director of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in Ghana.

She brings over thirty years of progressive experience in multi-functional roles in humanitarian and development programmes around the world.

Barbara joins us directly from WFP Nigeria where she was the Head of Programme for one of WFPs large emergency operations where she played a pivotal role in cultivating and strengthening partnerships with the Federal Government at the national, subnational and community levels, working to ensure sustainability of food security and nutrition interventions. Under her leadership, the programme team successfully carried out operational research, and designed evidence-based food, nutrition and livelihood interventions which included a graduation component into national social safety-net programmes. Ms. Clemens has also worked as WFP Deputy Country Director in Bangladesh, Head of Support Services in Jordan, Zimbabwe, and Malawi along with other roles in Sudan and Italy. Barbara is credited with writing WFPs directive on the scaled use of cash-based transfers in field operations.

Prior to joining WFP, she worked in the banking, finance and business assurance sectors with JPMorgan Chase Bank and Ernst & Young.

In Ghana, Ms Clemens aims to support the countrys development agenda by helping to link private sector trade and investment opportunities to food systems, and assist in building resilience through a graduation road map from social protection to sustainable livelihoods. Anchored in this undertaking will be her work to enhance the food system value chain through impact investment and leveraging strategic partnerships for technical knowledge transfer to underserved communities in Ghana.

Barbara has an Associates in Money and Banking, a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting and a Masters in Business and Finance.
A collection of five firearms and a sword carried by France's former emperor Napoleon Bonaparte during a 1799 coup have been sold for nearly $3 million (2.65 million) by the Illinois-based Rock Island Auction Company.

The lot was sold on the 3rd of December via phone to a buyer who has remained anonymous, Rock Island Auction company president Kevin Hogan told French news agency AFP.

The sword and five ornamented pistols had initially been valued at $1.5 million to $3.5 million ( 1.3 million - 3.1 million)

"With the $2.87 million (2.53 million) price tag the buyer of the Napoleon Garniture is taking home a very rare piece of history," Hogan said. "We are pleased to have provided the opportunity for them to acquire such a historic object."

The sword, with its scabbard, was the "crown jewel" of the collection, according to the auctioneers.

The weapon was made by Nicolas-Noel Boutet, who was director of the state arms factory in Versailles.

After being crowned emperor, Napoleon is believed to have presented the sword to general Jean-Andoche Junot, but the general's wife later was forced to sell it to pay off debts.

It was then recovered by a London museum. A US collector was its last owner, but the man recently died, according to the auction house.

In May, France celebrated the bicentennial of Napoleon's death.

The famed Corsican is one of the most divisive figures in French history, with his huge contribution to the creation of the modern state set against his imperialism and war-mongering.

Josephine's jewels

Meanwhile, a pair of "highly rare" centuries-old headpieces encrusted with jewels and believed to have belonged to Napoleon's wife, French empress Josephine Bonaparte, sold at auction in London Tuesday for more than .670,000

The two tiaras  offered from a private British collection dating back at least 150 years  are thought to have been given to Napoleon's wife by his sister Caroline early in the 19th century, according to Sotheby's.

Both headpieces, each part of a parure  a set of matching jewellery designed to be worn together  are set with gemstones engraved with classical heads, several of which are possibly ancient, the auction house said.

(with AFP)
Twenty models with disabilities have taken to the catwalk in Ivory Coast in a ground-breaking assault on taboo and stigma.

Decked out in a red suit, traditional Sahelian boubou robes, multi-coloured African bogolan prints and a blue tunic with printed motifs, the models showed off the latest creations of Abidjan designers in an event dubbed "Strong and Beautiful Together."

Grace Beho had her right forearm amputated after a road accident.

Six months ago, she created the Mougnan Foundation, an organisation set up to improve the quality of life for disabled Ivorian women. Its name means "moving forward despite difficulties" in the Guere language of western Ivory Coast.

Empowering disabled women at the Mougnan Foundation show. By Sia KAMBOU (AFP)

"I think that the women who are going to be watching us and who do not yet have confidence in themselves... are going to assert themselves and show themselves to the world as they are," she said as she stepped off the stage.

Leslie Antsere, who suffers from neurofibromatosis, a genetic disease which can cause disfiguring tumours, said she was delighted to take part in an event that had stopped her from "feeling ashamed."

The MC at the fashion show, Nelly Aka, was sporting high heels despite a foot disability.

"Even in a situation of disability, we can go beyond ourselves and do many things," she said.

"Overcoming disability is about accepting yourself -- the way people look at you and criticise you will not affect who you are," she said.

A model called Sylvia, dressed in a green-and-white dress, opened the show, coming down the catwalk on crutches by the side of a swimming pool in front of an enthusiastic audience in a hotel in the Ivorian economic capital.

The event took place on December 3 -- the UN's International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

'Marginalised'

Officially, Ivory Coast has 453,000 people who are disabled in some way, two percent of the population. For them such an event is unheard of.

Two of the women who were helping to break the taboo in Ivory Coast. By Sia KAMBOU (AFP)

"Even mentioning a disabled person in the world of beauty is taboo in Ivory Coast," said Ange Prisca Gnagbo, one of organisers for the special evening.

"They are sidelined in all the beauty shows," she added.

But such practices are entrenched in Ivory Coast, where disabilities are often viewed -- as elsewhere in Africa -- as an affliction.

"Many disabled women are very vulnerable, rejected and marginalised. So they hide away for fear of being judged," said sociologist Yves Ouya.

For Dr Abdoudramane Coulibaly, consultant at the World Health Organization and head of a disability NGO, the issue also faces a lack of political will.

The women paraded in front of an enthusiastic audience in an Abidjan hotel. By Sia KAMBOU (AFP)

"Let's suggest to able-bodied people that they walk with crutches for a day -- (that way) we will be gain more understanding than with big speeches," he suggested.

"My dream is that in the coming decades I will see a handicapped person making a name for himself or herself in areas where the doors have been closed," said Beho.
Tema West MP Carlos Ahenkorah has said the 1.75% e-levy is not compulsory.

He noted that those who do not want to pay it can choose to keep their money in the mobile money wallet.

According to the Chairman of the Trade and Industry Committee of Parliament, I have always been saying that the MoMo tax is not a compulsory tax.

You only pay when you use it; when you dont use it, you dont pay, he explained.

If you think it is expensive, there is no other procedure for making payments that will be equal to MoMo, he noted.

So, what we are saying is that the tax is targeted at those who have the ability to pay not those who are receiving, he said.

So, if you are receiving, it is OK to go and negotiate with the person who has gone to the bank to borrow money to be a MoMo agent to pay money out.

Otherwise, keep the money on your phone, and you dont owe anyone any money, he told journalists in parliament.

Meanwhile, the Majority Caucus in parliament has said it is ready to work together with the Minority Caucus to come to an agreement on the 1.75% proposed E-levy in the 2022 budget.

This follows the insistence of the Minority Caucus that it is still against the levy in all its entirety.

Mr Speaker, we believe that the e-levy is punitive; it will undermine our quest to grow a digital economy, its seeking to tax transactions  Mr Speaker, you just can imagine remittance was sent to your mother; GHS1,000; he sends GHS800 to a sister; GHS400 to a brother, GHS400 to another brother, all those transactions will be taxed, Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu said on the floor of parliament on Tuesday, 7 December 2021 after Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta submitted his amendments to the budget to the house for adoption.

The Tamale South MP continued: Mr Speaker, we are guided by the public good and we think that monies recoverable from the auditor-generals report can, as well, compensate for the imposition of an e-levy; so, Mr Speaker, we, on this side, are unable to support the government in its quest to impose an e-levy at 1.75% on MoMo and associated transactions including remittances and bank transactions.

He added: Therefore, we stand opposed, and at every level that e-levy is introduced, we will stand united to oppose it because it will inflict hardships on the core poor of the Ghanaian people and we stand opposed to it as I indicated earlier that you dont tax capital; you tax income and revenue.

So, Mr Speaker, on the vexed issue of e-levy, we are unable to support the government and well continue to oppose it and oppose it in its entirety, in its character now at the threshold of GHS100 at 1.75%. We will stand with the Ghanaian people just as the people of Cameroon have done in raising our fundamental objections to it, he noted.

However, Deputy Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin said: Mr Speaker, on the e-levy, yes, we respect their views but the minister [of finance] has indicated that there are two important things that they seek to do.

I believe that in the final analysis, it is how this is applied that will matter and he has even ensured that hes going to continue with the consultations and engagements.

Mr Afenyo-Markin said: We are of the view that the whole essence of democracy is not to shut the door but to open it up for continuous engagement.

Mr Speaker, having said these, I would want to assure our colleagues on the other side that we may be emotional at times, we may disagree and be at each others throat at times but in the final analysis, we are ready to work together for the sake of Mother Ghana.

---classfmonline.com
The Tamale circuit court has ordered a Social Studies teacher of Kulpi RC Junior High School at Salaga involved in the sodomy case, Mr Natomah Yamousa Otabel, to undergo a psychiatric assessment at the Pantang Hospital in Accra.

The teacher was arrested in September by the Salaga police for allegedly sodomising 18 pupils of the school.

The court subsequently granted him bail on Thursday, 4 November 2021 after a motion requesting bail was filed by his lawyer.

The lawyer for the accused, however, told the court when he appeared before it on Wednesday, 8 December 2021 that his client was yet to undergo psychiatric examination.

The court, therefore, ordered the accused person to undergo a medical assessment at the Pantang Hospital.

The case has been adjourned to Wednesday, 5 January 2021.

---classfmonline.com
The Ghana Oil Company (GOIL) has suspended its membership from the Association of Oil Marketing Companies (AOMCs) following accusations that its recent reduction in fuel prices was due to government influence.

Government had urged Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) to reduce prices of petroleum products to cushion the motoring public, following a sit-down strike by some Driver Unions.

GOIL complied with the appeal and reduced its prices by 15 pesewas per liter at the pumps. But the AOMCs, wrote to the Minister of Energy, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, asking the government to stay clear of price deregulation as is being implemented by the OMCs.

This appears not to have gone down well with GOIL as captured in a statement dated December 8, 2021.

In the statement signed by the Managing Director, Kwame Osei-Prempeh, Goil said categorically that at no point did the government 'direct' the company to reduce its fuel prices as is being alleged and circulated.

It said GOIL is a listed company with a constituted Board of Directors and Management and takes decisions based on prudent commercial principles.

The statement stressed that the recent reduction in prices was as a result of consideration of the welfare of the ordinary Ghanaian. It said the motive was to cushion Ghanaians in this difficult post-Covid period.

It has therefore challenged the Association of Oil Marketing Companies, AOMC to provide proof of its allegations.

---DGN online
Eskom has alleged that recent incidents at its power stations were sabotage. - Source: Mujahid Safodien/AFP via Getty Images

09.12.2021 LISTEN

Hybrid warfare is gaining traction globally as the preferred option for conducting malicious statecraft in the grey zone between peace and war. There is a growing international trend in attacking a nation's specific vulnerabilities, including the national power grid and its critical infrastructure.

The term hybrid warfare was coined by William Nemeth in 2002. He described it as

warfare  where a wide range of overt and covert military, paramilitary, and civilian measures are employed in a highly integrated design. The adversary tries to influence influential policymakers and key decision makers by combining kinetic operations with subversive effort. The aggressor often resorts to clandestine actions, to avoid attribution and retribution.

This kind of warfare is also associated with grey zones  in other words actions that fall just short of war.

A hybrid attack and by implication a hybrid threat, is

an emerging, but ill-defined notion in conflict studies. It refers to the use of unconventional methods as part of a multi-domain warfighting approach. These methods aim to disrupt and disable an opponent's actions without engaging in open hostilities.

Hybrid threats are also commonly associated with terrorism , organised crime and militants within society.

We have been involved in defence and security studies for many years and one of us has been researching the new security challenges of the 21st Century such as hybrid warfare and the use of lawfare.

Hybrid attacks on national power generation's critical infrastructure are a known strategy. This raises questions about recent incidents in South Africa during which the country's electricity infrastructure was allegedly sabotaged . The target was the national power utility Eskom.

Growing evidence of attacks

An ever-growing portfolio of academic opinion is being published about this phenomenon and its specific linkages to Russia and China.

At the end of 2015 and 2016 the Ukrainian power grid fell victim to a directed Russian hybrid attack. German power infrastructure was also attacked during 2018 and 2020 by Russian cyberterrorists.

Read more: Is the Belarus migrant crisis a 'new type of war'? A conflict expert explains

The North Atlantic Treaty Alliance (NATO) has accused Russsia of using hybrid warfare to achieve a number of objectives. These include undermining pro-Western governmentsm, dividing and weakening the NATO Alliance, or advancing its own economic interests.

More passive applications have also been identified. For example, the installation of equipment that could be used as a backdoor entry into a country's energy system.

Last year, the US government seized a Chinese electricity transformer that was to be installed in Colorado . The fear of the then US Administration was that it might be used to compromise the country's power grid. This led to an US Executive Order blocking the installation of foreign manufactured and supplied systems and components on the US power grid.

The case of South Africa's power utility

In mid-November this year there were incidents at two strategic power stations in South Africa that raised alarm bells.

In the first, an electricity tower that powered the coal conveyor belt at the Lethaba facility collapsed . This came shortly after an extension cord was dropped on a transformer at the Matimba power station. Three power units were taken out of action, and contributed to a renewed bout of power cuts in the country.

Both incidents were investigated as possible attempts at sabotage . Shortly afterwards the chief executive officer of Eskom Andre de Ruyter issued a statement saying that there was evidence of sabotage at the Lethaba plant.

In our view these two incidents can be classified as hybrid threats  or more aptly, hybrid attacks. They highlight the continued hybrid threat to the South African power grid.

Our view is informed by narratives equating the mismanagement and corruption of the past decade as domestic terrorism or commercial terrorism . These use a combination of various tools within the trade of hybrid warfare.

In addition, a recent report highlighted South African vulnerability to several types of terrorism-related risks, one of which is domestic terrorism. The report was on evaluation of anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing measures released by the National Treasury.

Sabotage is an instrument from the counterinsurgency toolbox. In South Africa it's been used in the past to destabilise the status quo.

The Lethaba and Matimba incidents point to acts of precision that affected the stability of the power grid .

In addition, they cast further suspicion on the August 2021 explosion at the Medupi power station, South Africa's latest and largest fossil fuel burning electricity plant.

These attacks can (and are) combined with other (hybrid) threats such as fraud and corruption within the tender processes for procurement programmes, crippling the maintenance and repair budget of Eskom.

What to expect

The cases of Eskom sabotage seem to be quite primitive, albeit effective. But there's considerable scope for growth in sophistication and effectiveness once modern (off-the-shelf) technology and software capabilities are combined with the malicious intent inherent in political, bureaucratic, commercial and altruistic rivalry.

The intended effects of hybrid threats and attacks on national power grids cover a number of potential possibilities.

Firstly, there is simply the aim to bring about a typical power outage. But this can be escalated to destabilise the entire power grid.

Secondly, the intention could be to undermine confidence in local municipalities which in turn would affect support of political parties.

Thirdly, parties that have political or commercial interests may use them to sway opinions.

So who could be behind them?

One considerable motive for a variety of actors in South Africa is its position as the eighth largest per capita emitter of greenhouse gases in the world. Eskom alone is emitting two-fifths of South Africa's greenhouse gases.

One potential originator of the attack could be eco activists who might want to destabilise the power grid. Attacks on the power utility could be used to bolster the growing national and international call for carbon free energy production.

Another potential originator of the attack could be those pursuing the considerable commercial interests at stake in the growing renewable energy market in South Africa and internationally. For example, a country like China, which is the largest solar panels manufacturer , would benefit tremendously from a flourishing renewable energy market in South Africa following the destabilisation of Eskom.

Lessons need to be learnt

South Africa needs to take note of these events, learn from them and categorise them correctly within the growing theory and practice of hybrid warfare.

Such awareness will enable the country to formulate appropriate responses based on international practice in building resilience. It would also help the country avoid responses that could result in further destabilisation of the economy and society.

Sascha-Dominik (Dov) Bachmann has received and is receiving funding from the Australian Department of Defence for research regarding grey zone and information operations targeting Australia. Sascha Dov is a Research Fellow with The Security Institute for Governance and Leadership in Africa, Faculty of Military Science, Stellenbosch University.

Dries Putter does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

By Sascha-Dominik (Dov) Bachmann, Professor in Law and Co-Convener National Security Hub (University of Canberra), University of Canberra And

Dries Putter, Lecturer at the Faculty of Military Science, Stellenbosch University
09.12.2021 LISTEN

The Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources in charge of Mines, Mr George Mireku Duker, has sounded a strong warning to small-scale illegal miners who operate nocturnally to stop at once.

He said, "those who are determined to destroy our heritage, we will come after you and I'm using this medium to sound a stern warning to these recalcitrant to refrain from mining in our river bodies".

The deputy minister said they are aware the illegal miners now operate at night and said the army is reviewing its strategies to fight the new trend.

Mr Duker said this during the minister's press briefing held at the Ministry of Information on Wednesday, 8 December 2021.

Presenting the updates on the fight against galamsey, Mr Duker said 256 equipment have been decommissioned including some chanfans, water pumps and excavators.

He added that 26 suspects have also been arrested and handed over to the police.

Touching on the progress made with the Community Mining Scheme (CMS), the deputy minister said the government, through the ministry, has, so far, opened a total of six CMS in various mining communities in the country.

These six schemes are expected to generate about 10,000 direct jobs and 21,000 indirect jobs.

He employed the opportunity to announce that the 7th CMS will soon be launched in Tepa in the Ashanti Region.

He also announced that there has been an establishment of a Minerals Development Unit at the Agricultural Development Bank (Bank) to ensure that Small Scale Mining operators have access to credit facilities for their operations.

As part of the many initiatives underway for the proper implementation of the Operation Halt II, he said the Ministry has been able to come up with systems such as the Equipment Tracking System, Practical License Verification and Traceability of Gold, all in the efforts to ensure the smooth re-tooling and regularisation of the Small-Scale Mining sector.

On the way forward, the deputy minister said trained officers including river guards have been deployed to various districts to monitor the activities of the miners and also ensure that no one ventures into the red zones.

Mr Duker commended the military for assisting in the fight so far.

He also called on the media and the general public to assist the ministry and the government to take out these recalcitrant galamseyers to salvage the river bodies.

Also present at the briefing were Mr Martin Ayisi, Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Commission; Mr Benjamin Aryee, the Advisor on Mines; Mr Peter Awuah, the Technical Director on Mines and other officials from the Ministry.

---Classfmonline.com
Tanzania marked its 60th independence anniversary on Thursday, with President Samia Suluhu Hassan hailing the country's progress even as fears grow over the precarious state of political freedoms in the East African nation.

The former British colony known as Tanganyika won independence in 1961, officially becoming Tanzania after merging with Zanzibar three years later, and adopting a system of multi-party democracy in 1992.

But in recent years, threats to basic freedoms have increased in the country, particularly under the rule of Hassan's late predecessor, John Magufuli, who presided over a crackdown on the media, activists and free speech.

In an address to the nation on the eve of the anniversary, Hassan said: "The success we have recorded during the last 60 years of independence was powered by democratic administration and rule of law."

"Our country has... a system that allows citizens to exercise their freedom of expression without any disturbance," she said, adding that conditions for journalists had improved, with the number of media organisations increasing from just one in 1961 to hundreds today.

Since Hassan took power in March this year, following Magufuli's death, she has sought to break with some of the policies of her predecessor, who was nicknamed "Bulldozer" for his uncompromising leadership style.

But the arrest of Freeman Mbowe, leader of the main opposition party Chadema, on terrorism charges, has prompted detractors to openly refer to Tanzania's first female president as a "dictator".

Ringisai Chikohomero, a researcher with the Pretoria-based Institute of Security Studies (ISS), said Hassan was hamstrung by her allegiance to Magufuli's backers in the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party.

Although she served as vice president under Magufuli, "she has yet to build her own support base," Chikohomero told AFP.

"She has to toe the party line otherwise she can be thrown out."

Party divisions

Hassan has dropped some of Magufuli's policies, reopening barred media outlets and reversing a ban on pregnant girls and teenaged mothers attending school last month.

She also reinstated an outspoken Magufuli critic to cabinet and launched a Covid-19 vaccination campaign, a clear departure from her predecessor who questioned the existence and seriousness of the disease.

Nevertheless, Chikohomero stressed that her "space to manoeuvre within the CCM is fairly limited."

The divisions within the party's ranks have become public in recent days, with Hassan on Saturday accusing internal rivals of trying to smear her leadership with corruption allegations.

In unusually fiery remarks, Hassan said: "This rot happened under past leaders, but these factions are trying to lay the blame on my government."

In August, the government suspended a newspaper owned by the ruling party for publishing a story saying Hassan would not run for office in 2025.

The CCM has ruled Tanzania since independence.
The Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) in partnership with the Kofi Annan Foundation in Geneva has successfully held the 2 nd edition of the Kofi Annan Peace and Security Forum (KAPS Forum) in Accra, Ghana.

The two institutions put together the 2021 KAPS Forum based on their shared commitment to the values of the late Mr. Kofi Annan, whose understanding of peace was founded on a holistic vision of societies based on good governance, democracy, and human rights, especially in Africa.

Delivering an address on day one of the Forum on Wednesday, December 8, 2021, Major General Francis Ofori, the Commandant of KAIPTC said there cannot be a more opportune time to discuss democracy and governance in West Africa than now, considering the developments in the Sub- Region in particular, and Africa in general.

He said the state of democracy globally points to a democratic backsliding characterized by a sustained and deliberate process of subversion of basic democratic tenets by some political actors and governments.

..it is worrying that despite efforts by Africas Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and the international community at institutionalizing democratic governance, the continent is currently experiencing a democratic reversal with increasing patterns of, as well as endeavors at, evading fixed term limits.

The decline in democracy is manifested by a clampdown on civil liberties in such instances which pose a threat to the stability and security of the region. The recent successive coups detat in Mali and Guinea, among others, are all indicative of the decline of the state of democracy in the region, the KAIPTC Commandant shared.

Indicating that this has all the potential to become a different kind of pandemic that threatens to afflict very large and influential democracies that account for a quarter of the worlds population, Major General Francis Ofori called on leaders to tackle the issues.

According to the KAIPTC Commandant, if the situation is not confronted with the seriousness it deserves, it can embolden some political systems to intensify their practices and engage in ever more brazen attempts to distort the workings of democracies.

In his concluding remarks where he extended special appreciation to Ghana President H.E Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Major General Francis Ofori thanked KAIPTC partners especially the Governments of Norway, Sweden, Germany, and Ghana, whose funds and support made the 2021 KAPS Forum successful.

On his part, Chairman of the Kofi Annan Foundation, El Hadj As Sy paid tribute to the former UN Secretary-General while stressing that he knew there could be no lasting peace without democracy, both domestically and internationally, which is why he worked tirelessly to promote and support democracy, first at the helm of the United Nations and later through his Foundation.

He said from events over the past few years, and particularly the coups in Mali and Guinea, the democratic gains of yesterday are in jeopardy today.

What this means, ladies and gentlemen; is that if we do not shore up the democratic legitimacy of our political systems by ensuring the integrity of elections, the respect of fundamental human rights and freedoms, the political, but also economic and social inclusion of disenfranchised groups in our societies, particularly women and youth, West Africa will face growing unrest and violence in the years to come, El Hadj As Sy said at the KAPS Forum.

The Chairman of the Kofi Annan Foundation in applauding President Akufo-Addo for gracing the Conference commended the ECOWAS Chair for calling for a revision of the landmark Protocol on Democracy to include term limits and constitutional protections.

As the leader of one of Africas leading democratic success stories, and an eloquent advocate, democracy in West Africa could not have hoped for a better champion, he noted.

El Hadj As Sy further charged the hundreds of experts, stakeholders, and political actors taking part in the 2nd KAPS Forum to work together to come up with solutions to West Africas democratic crisis.

About KAPS Forum:

The KAPS Forum is funded by the Government of Norway, the Federal Government of Germany, and the Swedish Government.

The Forum brings together over two hundred delegates including former African Heads of State and high-level diplomats from governmental and intergovernmental organizations, including Kofi Annan Foundation Chair of the Board Elhajd As Sy.

The first edition of the Forum was successfully hosted in 2019 but the 2020 edition had to be canceled due to the major impact of the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.
The Minister for Education, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, has described as impressive the performance of the pioneering students of the Double Track System introduced in 2018 into the nation's Senior High School system as a leapfrogging.

He explained that an account of the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) result which has just been released by the West African Examination Council (WAEC) attest to the fact that the students did very well although many critics of the concept doubted the quality of education being offered to the students.

Speaking to the media in Accra in an interview on Wednesday, December 8, 2021 Dr Adutwum was particularly excited because more than 50 per cent of the students passed in all core subjects.

Commendation

The Education Minister commended the management of GES for its role and effort put in to ensure that the students stayed in school to prepare for the examination despite the invasion of the Covid-19 pandemic.

He also lauded all other stakeholders who contributed in diverse ways to ensure that teachers and non-teaching staff were provided with the right resources which enabled them to work well.

The Education Minister hinted that the government has initiated moves to improve the teaching and learning of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) across the country.

He mentioned for instance the construction of 35 STEM SHS across the country which has been captured in the 2022 budget statement as some of the measures that had been put in place to increase the number of students pursuing STEM in all schools.

Dr Adutwum also assured the nation of government's readiness to continue to put in place the right measures to improve education development in the country.

He stated that everything possible would be done to ensure that the right resources would be provided to enhance effective teaching and learning in all schools irrespective of where it was located.

Results specific

Out of the 446,352 candidates comprising of 221,439 males and 224,913 females who sat for the WASSCE, 238,819 students representing 54.08 scored A1-C6 in the English Language as against 57.34 per cent in 2020.

A total of 238,539 students representing 54.11 per cent also scored A1-C6 in mathematics as against 56.71 per cent in 2020.

The results for Integrated Science was however different as 289,329 students representing 65.70 per cent scored A1-C6 in 2021 as against 52.53 per cent in the previous year.

On Social Studies, the results also showed an improvement from 64.31 per cent in 2020 to 66.03 per cent in 2021.

Background

The introduction of the Free Senior High School (FSHS) system in 2017 by the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo-led government led to many people criticizing the government for lowering the education standard to the huge intake.

After the rollout of the FSHS concept, the government introduced interventions such as the training of all mathematics and science teachers in all SHS, the distribution of core textbooks to all students and the training of all core subject teachers among other interventions to boost effective teaching and learning.

The introduction of the double-track system led to increased enrolment as many more students were enrolled into SHS in all regions across the country.
The Deputy Finance Minister, John Ampontuah Kumah

09.12.2021 LISTEN

The Deputy Finance Minister John Ampontuah Kumah has said the Finance Ministry will do the needful for the passage of the Appropriation Bill following the approval of the 2022 Budget Statement and Economic Policy before parliament rises for the Christmas break.

The Minister believes the country has no choice but to see to the passage of the financial statement for the smooth running of the country come 2022. He added that the Appropriation Bill, when passed, will give authorization for the expenditure of government funds.

Finance Minister Ken Ofori Atta in accordance with Article 179 of the 1992 Constitution and Section 21 (3) of the Public Financial Management Act, 2016, (Act 921), presented the 2022 Budget Statement of the Akufo-Addo government to Parliament on Wednesday, November 17, 2021.

Members of the Minority in Parliament however chastised the government over some proposed taxes in the 2022 budget.

The Minority in Parliament argued that the Finance Minister failed to demonstrate it has solutions to the most pressing problems affecting the economy, unsustainable debt, hardships, high cost of living, fiscal indiscipline, unemployment, arrears clearance and misuse of public resources in the 2022 Budget.

Parliament on Tuesday, December 7, 2021 adopted the modification made by Finance Minister Ken Ofori Atta to aspects of the 2022 budget statement.

The modification followed agitations by the Minority in Parliament on some policy statements in the budget.

But the Ejisu Member of Parliament in an interview on the Kumasi based OTEC FMs breakfast show dubbed "Nyansapo" on Wednesday, December 8, 2021, said the Finance Ministry after broader consultations will all interested parties is optimistic that the Appropriation Bill will be passed before Parliament retires for the Christmas break.

Parliament has already begun considering the budget or the estimates of the Ministries, Departments and Agencies on an individual basis, and our expectation is that, before Parliament should receive and pass the Appropriation Bill which is what will give the Ministry responsible for Finance the mandate to spend in 2021," Hon John Kuma told the programmes host, Captain Koda.

The Deputy Minister called on Members of Parliament to support the measures outlined in the budget for the smooth running of the country.
Coffin Makers at Asafo in the Kumasi Metropolis of the Ashanti are appealing to Ghanaians to patronise made in Ghana coffins to support the growth of their business.

The association have also appealed to authorities to buy locally manufactured coffins anytime a high profile person or top political leader dies in the country.

The coffin makers who expressed worry over the gradual collapse of their business accused some top political leaders in the country of buying foreign-made products for the burial of some statesmen.

Speaking to this reporter on Wednesday, December 8, 2021 in Kumasi, a leading member of the association Mr Effa Poku explained that, patronising made in Ghana coffins will create additional employment avenues for the youth and also boost the country's economy.

According to him, government must support the private sector to help revive the economy and the coffin industry remains one of the vibrant sectors the country could invest in.

"It baffles me how our top political leaders preach innovation and entrepreneurship among the youth and still import common coffin from other countries.

"We are numbering over 500, produce and export quality coffins in the country with high end woods yet the leaders have consistently shunned our products and go outside the country anytime the nation needs a coffin to burry a prominent person," he intimated.

The association have therefore called on government to create enabling environment it always preaches for coffin makers in the country to produce more and employ more youth in the country.
Wednesday's session of the Paris terror trial was devoted to Belgian police evidence on the backgrounds of Abdellah Chouaa and Ali Oulkadi, two of the accused who are not in police custody and who sit near, but not inside, the prisoners' enclosure.

Chouaa would be the last person to ask for help if you were planning to go to Syria to fight in the ranks of Islamic State.

On two separate occasions Chouaa went voluntarily to the Belgian police to denounce family members  his father and his brother Abderrahmane  whom he had reason to believe they wanted to join radical armed groups, the father in Afghanistan, the brother in Syria.

Nonetheless, when Mohamed Abrini, another of the accused in this trial, and a suspect in the 2016 Brussels bombings, needed a lift to the airport in June 2015 for a flight to Turkey, en route to the zone under Islamic State control, he asked his friend Abdellah Chouaa to drive him.

Chouaa told investigators he had no idea that his friend's ultimate destination was Syria. Abrini contradicts this, saying Chouaa knew very well but did not approve of the plan.

Cash transfer

Whatever his attitude to the excursion, Chouaa appears not to have hesitated a few days later when Abrini lost his belongings on the way to Gaziantiep and asked for some cash to tide him over. The Belgian police believe that Abdellah Chouaa sent 350 through Western Union.

And when Abrini returned to Paris in July 2015, via London, Birmingham, and Manchester, it was Chouaa who went to pick him up at Charles de Gaulle airport.

The police evidence was not particularly enlightening as far as Chouaa is concerned, being firmly anchored on facts associated with Mohamed Abrini, facts already covered in greater detail by other investigators.

There is no clear evidence that Chouaa was ever radicalised.

After three hours of police evidence and legal questioning, he remained as he was initially described: a "generous and helpful" non-practicing Muslim.

Childhood friends

Ali Oulkadi, the second of the day's accused to have his career described from Belgium, is yet another native of the Brussels suburb of Molenbeek.

Married, the father of two children, Oulkadi has no criminal record and no association with any form of islamist extremism. He was, however, the best friend from childhood of returned IS fighter and terrorist killer Brahim Abdeslam.

He had more distant relationships with several others of the accused, notably Hamza Attou, Mohammed Amri and Mohamed Abrini.

Ali Oulkadi is suspected of having helped Salah Abdeslam evade arrest when Abdeslam returned to Brussels on 14 November 2015.
To quote the Economist Adam Smith, it is not from the benevolence of the butcher, the brewer, or the baker that we expect our dinner, but from their regard to their own interest. By this, he was referring to the advantages of the motivation that self-interest of these professionals can provide and the importance of collaboration and inter-dependency to the national economic unit. This position is however not complete without considering the consumer. Whilst some states leave the free market to decide the balance of interests, some necessarily have to regulate to ensure that there is an even playing field that aligns with the national interest. It is therefore not farfetched that the treatment of Real Estate regulation varies from country to country.

In Ghana, the growth of the real estate industry in recent times has seen a corresponding increase in the number of Real Estate agents, property brokers and consultants. Their role is to act as intermediaries in negotiating and arranging Real Estate transactions. The industry has however been without a regulator and therefore left to the mercy of arbitrary practices of industry players. This has resulted in the sector becoming an avenue where taxable gains are hidden from the state and criminals hide or use their gains to fund terrorism and other unlawful activities.

The sector has also seen undesirable practices where for instance, prospective tenants have had to pay over the odds to view properties, agents have acted for both sides of transactions and obtained double fees by coercion, and agents have disappeared and left customers with no recourse amongst a host of others.

In a bid to protect consumers, it became necessary for the government to put regulation measures in given the sector's importance to the economic performance of the country. This ensures that the services delivered reflect modern day mutually beneficial practices, standardisation, transparency and professionalism.

The Estate Agency Act, 2020 (Act 1047) came into effect on the 29th of December 2020. The Act set out the rules and structures to regulate the Real Estate Sector. In addition to effective regulation of industry practitioners, the Act also seeks to plug the avenues via which Real Estate transactions are used to launder money. It allows for a detailed tracking of transactions and those persons involved in the transactions.

The Act further provides a framework within which the Real Estate Agency Council can facilitate, promote and regulate the desired progressive sector practices in Ghana. The Council is to achieve this end through the provision of courses and exams for persons interested in becoming Brokers, licensing of estate agents, issuing of Real Estate Transaction Certificates, establishing programmmes of continued professional development for both brokers and agents, establishing a code of practice, prescribing the scale of fees, as well as collaborating with other agencies on anti-money laundering to counter the financing of terrorism through Real Estate practices.

The Act creates a number of ways in which one can become a licensed estate agent or broker. Persons who are Valuation and Estate Surveyors registered by the Ghana Institution of Surveyors or Lawyers licensed by the General Legal Council can apply to become brokers or agents. There is also a route for persons who have continuously practiced as Real Estate brokers in Ghana for at least five years before the Act came into force. A further route is for those who pass a qualifying examination conducted by the Council.

When the Act becomes fully operational, one would require a licence to be able to provide Real Estate agency or brokerage services or engage in any business connected with the provision of Real Estate agency services or Real Estate transactions. Failure to abide by the relevant provisions of the Act will result in criminal penalties.

The Act also makes reference to cashless payments and Transaction Certificates, mandating that, with each Real Estate transaction, payment should be made by bank draft, cheque or through electronic money transfer exclusively. Cash transactions will no longer be permitted.

Further, a Real Estate transaction will not be complete unless a Real Estate Transaction Certificate has been issued. It is with this certificate that you can register your land or property with the Lands Commission and therefore it should be taking very seriously. The Act prevents the Lands Commission from registering any real property or interest in real property which is not accompanied by a Transaction Certificate.

The establishment of the Real Estate Agency Council could not have come at a more appropriate time. The country has taken the course of regulation and licensing by statute in a drive to sanitise the system and level the playing field. The sector is a key driver to economic growth particularly in contributing to job creation for our teaming skilled and unskilled youth. The Act also has the potential to help increase our housing stock and reduce the price of real estate as well as open up the sector for both local and foreign direct investment thereby benefiting developers. The Act provides an opportunity to streamline a sector that is imperative to the country's future economic wellbeing. The Council has now been constituted and is working to ensure that all the structures are in place as quickly as possible. We must all give them our support so that we can reap the benefits in the years ahead.

The author, a development planner and a fellow of the Ghana Institute of Planners, is the Minister for Works and Housing and Member of Parliament for Bantama.

By Hon. Francis Asenso-Boakye, MP


Forewarned, forearmed: burnt children dread the fire. - Robert Green: A Notable, Discovery of Coosnage

Forewarned is forearmed or to be forewarned is to be forearmed or for a tinge of Latin praemoritus, praemunitus has its origin in the 16th century. In the play 'Julius Caesar', when the soothsayer or prognosticator told Julius Caesar: Beware the ideas of March , Ceasar dismissed him as a dreamer Caesar shared his thoughts with Marcus Antonius: Let me have men about me that are fat: sleek-headed men, and such as sleep o'night: Yond Cassius has a lean and hungry look: he thinks too much: such men are dangerous. Artemidorus, reading: Caesar, beware of Brutus, take heed of Cassius, come not near Casca, have an eye to Cinna: trust not Trebonius, Mark well Mettellus Cimber; Decius Brutus loves thee not; thou hast wronged Caius Ligarius. There is but one mind in all these men, and it is bent against Caesar. If thou beest not immortal, look about you; security gives way to conspiracy And when Brutus stabs Caesar, he is surprised, and shouts Et tu, Brute? (You too, Brutus?). That was a rehash of the murder of Emperor Caesar in 44 BC.

The scene in Parliament on that fateful Tuesdaywas funereal and sickening.

The acts and speeches were, at best unparliamentary; at worst, fatuous (not only foolish and stupid, but complacent and self-motivated. The whole parliament should apologize to the nation.

On 26th November, after the Minister of Finance had read the Agyenkwa Budget, the Speaker and the 137 Members of the Minority NDC voted to reject it (after the Majority had walked out of the Chamber). After the act, the Speaker left for, we hear, Dubai for a medical check-up, and it was the turn of the First Deputy Speaker. Joe Osei-Wusu, the MP for Bekwa to act.

The Agyenkwa Budget came up again, and this time round, the NDC Minority walked out, leaving the NPP Majority to pass the Budget, with the presence of Adwoa Safo. Joe Osei-Wusu rightly counted himself among the MPs. Unbelievable, an MP pulled the Speaker's chair and sang Revo revolution. What kind of revolution? Is it like the stupid J.J. Rawlings's revolution of 1979? No, we were pricked and we immediately took a painful decision not to write on POLITICS again Until, our mentor, Frank Apeagyei, Veteran journalist and proprietor of Beverly Hotel, Asylum Down, Accra invited us for a pep-talk. We would say, all went well!

But what would happen if the Budget was not approved? Kwaku Kwarteng MP for Obuasi West and Chairman of the Finance Committee of Parliament supplies the answer: If we don't approve the budget and by 1st of January 2022, there is no approved Appropriation, public sector workers (including military, police and other security service staff) cannot be paid. Ghana cannot honour its international obligations and we will throw this country into chaos He reminded the nation of using GH33.00 out of every GH100.00 collected as revenue to pay off interest on loans collected by Mahama in 2016!

The following day, we went to see Kent Gyapong, the proprietor of Great Homes Company. In a chat, it emerged that he felt a bit disillusioned about the goings-on in the country now. He would have increased the E-levy if he were the Finance Minister  but there would have been wide consultations and discussions before the introduction in the Parliament. NPP has not been fair to those who helped it to come to power; remember 2008 and 2012. Look at what the NDC did to

It was time to return to Kumasi. The Bolt driver we took from Tema to the V.I.P. bus station at the Circle did not feel enthused about the cessation of the tolls at the Toll booth. Why should we deny the physically impaired the right to survival? Why should we sack all those who earned a living here, by selling ice water, doughnuts, chips, fruits We wanted the government to reduce the price of fuel and not stop the toll-collection. All my earnings for a day goes into the buying of petrol Look at the pot-holes on the motor-way. Question: Where do you come from? Have you looked at the roads in your area Answer: I come from for three years, I have not been home. I eke out a living here in Accra. I hear there are developments in my home area Question: So don't you feel obliged to contribute to the development of the country that is what the E-levy seeks to do Answer: Government should find money from elsewhere and not tax the little money I earn to cater for my kids. Question: You don't pay school fees, do you? Answer: No, but that's not enough Question: will you vote for NPP? Answer: No but I'll not vote for NDC either.

We had arrived at the V.I.P. Station, and our charge was GH46.00. We pulled out a GH50.00 note. We told the driver to keep the GH4 change and were dashing to buy our ticket. Just at that time Mr. Yaw Amponsah Marfo, also known as Ewiase the unstinting, hard-working Managing Director of the V.I.P. Company saw us and beckoned us to come to the top while he charged one of his boys to get us a ticket. The satisfaction for the GH60.00 ticket was as great as the GH5,000.00 he had dashed us a few years before.

Sitting at the lone seat, numbered 12, we mused about the whole journey. It had been enriching, and we dismissed Mahama's dictum that Ghanaians were forgetful. No, not all. But NPP as a party could be! What has the party done for its communicators? Where is Nana Bonsu? We recall how this gentleman would trek from office to office to solicit a few cedis to keep him going as NPP communicator on FM stations. How do NPP members, especially the executive of the party see him? A tick, a nuisance?

Who in NPP say they do not know us? Is it the Majority Leader, Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu, our Mpomponsuo mate? Yes, we were editors of the 1980s newspaper named after the sword of the Asantehene. It has an embossment symbolizing responsibility and touting patience, prudence and circumspection. Mr. Kwame Awuah will not be just an erudite lawyer. As a nationalistic octogenarian he is committed to peace within the country. He is touched by the plight of the victims of the Keta flooding, just as he is worried about what happens to the victims of flooding anywhere else, including Ashanti. But he thinks part of the GH10m fund for feasibility studies of the coastal belt could have been given to support the victims of the Keta flooding.

As the top hierarchy of the NPP hop from country to country in the world, or cruise in their V8 they should not forget those of us down: who made it possible for them to climb to the top.

If you find us shifting from the high falutin phrases to the humdrum, don't be surprised. As for those who are enjoying now, we have told them before: We will not phone you again because we have our self-dignity to protect!

[email protected]

From AfricanusOwusu-Ansah
A former Minister of Defense, Dr. Benjamin Kumbour has disclosed that agitations surrounding the Electronic Transaction Levy (E-Levy) stem from hardships in the country and many other things.

Ghanaians have largely expressed opposition to the E-Levy since it was announced by Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta in the 2022 Budget Statement presented to Parliament on November 17.

Although a section wants the 1.75% levy reduced, the larger population of the people in opposition to the levy wants it scrapped.

Sharing his thoughts on the matter, Dr. Benjamin Kumbour says he is convinced Ghanaians are not only against the 2022 budget because of the E-Levy.

According to him, the hardship in the country is a major factor but Ghanaians are riding on the e-levy to drum home their displeasure.

That particular levy I can tell you is just a metaphor for a bigger issue. The bigger issue is the relative hardship in the country. So, people will always look for the weakest link as the basis or point of reference. But I think its an amalgamation of so many things within the economy that is generating this whirlwind of agitation, the former Defense Minister shared in a conversation on Asaase Radio.

He continued, And the ordinary people will always reduce it to things are difficult, everybody says that but theyre just picking the idea of the E-Levy which is not too novel but because of its prominence now.

The urge to have the E-Levy scrapped from the 2022 budget held by the Minority.

The group has been fighting the Majority in Parliament and has given Ghanaians the assurance that they will not relent until the draconian levy is removed by the government.
09.12.2021 LISTEN

Femi Fala has established himself as a sought-after lawyer dealing with high-profile police brutality and human rights violation cases involving the Nigerian community. Falana, an Ekiti State born Nigerian is a Senior Advocate in Nigeria.

The Falana law firm has built and maintained its reputation as a leading Civil Rights law firm by successfully representing hundreds of people who were injured and/or killed by police.

As the chief defense lawyer, he has obtained verdicts and settlements worth hundreds of Millions of naira for victims of police misconduct and has successfully represented people of all social economic status all over the country.

He has fought for and obtained justice on behalf of police shooting victims, beating victims, false arrest victims and those who have been wrongfully convicted.

An outstanding trial lawyer, civil libertarian, and philanthropist throughout Nigeria. His name stands out as a Nigerian trial lawyer who has gained international prominence with his skillful defense in the mouths of domicile and diaspora Nigerians.

As a lawyer and civil rights activist, Falana strives to protect the rights of all. When he speaks, he displays a fresh, passionate voice and remains a champion of civil rights.

On a psychological level, he detests the Nigerias two-tiered justice system where the poor and the rich receive different justice outcomes. He believes that no one should suffer from police brutality which happens when officers use unwarranted force or threats when questioning, investigating, arresting, or transporting a suspect.

As a way to develop our young democracy, he continues to cry against police brutality and abuses perpetrated by officials of law enforcement agencies and the military.

There are few like him in recent times that continue to reprimand the Nigerian military and security officials of their serious human rights violations and abuses of the people.

In matters of Journalism, Falana once told Nigeria, in fact Africa, that the protection of journalists from government suppression is non-negotiable because press freedom is the freedom of the society.

No other lawyer like him has specifically defended and obtained victories for dozens of journalists and activists in Nigerian courtrooms and at the ECOWAS Court.

Falana, continues his fights against pre-trial media parade of criminal suspects and has even approached the court system asking it to declare media parade by the police and other law enforcement as unconstitutional. Especially when the lowly placed criminal offenders are mostly the victims, unlike politically and economically high-up persons. Illegal parading is an issue this writer has taken on for a very long time from a psychological angle. Falanas cry in this area was heard recently when the Lagos legislature outlawed media parade of suspects.

Falana bites equally, as he is known to call out successive Nigeria regimes, both military and civilian governments regarding human and civil rights violations.

The world will always remember Fela Anikulapo Kuti, who used music as weapon to actively defend the people, a man Falana defended and went to jail for.

Falana, is continuously using his legal creativity and activism to raise the people's consciousness, educating the people and the society of the importance of civil resistance.

Falana is not stopping soon in his shaping of democratic consciousness of the people, as he believes that democratic governance and human rights are essential components of sustainable development and lasting peace.

Falanas commitment for civil Rights under law is here to stay.

It is my hope that all law faculties in universities will establish the Femi Falana Center for Justice (FFCJ). It is about time to establish the FFCJ Award, recognizing lawyers in public and private practice for their extraordinary work in civil, human, and constitutional rights, and social justice.

At the time of this writing, Femi Falana and his law firm have accepted to take the case of Sylvester Oromoni, a 12-year-old student of Dowen College, Lagos, who was ostensibly bullied and tortured to death by some students at the college. This is the psychological issue that pushed me to write this notation. No cover up this time, Nigeria.

John Egbeazien Oshodi who was born in Uromi, Edo State in Nigeria, is an American based Police/Prison Scientist and Forensic/Clinical/Legal Psychologist. A government Consultant on matters of forensic-clinical adult/child psychological services in the USA; Chief Educator and Clinician at the Transatlantic Enrichment and Refresher Institute, an Online Lifelong Center for Personal, Professional and Career Development. A former Interim Associate Dean/Assistant Professor at the Broward College, Florida. The Founder of the Dr. John Egbeazien Oshodi Foundation, Center for Psychological Health and Behavioral Change in African settings. In 2011, he introduced the State-of-the-Art Forensic Psychology into Nigeria through N.U.C and the Nasarawa State University where he served in the Department of Psychology as an Associate Professor. The Development Professor and International Liaison Consultant at the African University of Benin, and a Virtual Faculty at the ISCOM University, Benin of Republic. Founder of the Proposed Transatlantic Egbeazien University (TEU) of Values and Ethics, a digital project of Truth, Ethics, Openness. Author of over 40 academic publications/creations, at least 200 public opinion writeups on African issues, and various books.

John Egbeazien Oshodi wrote in via [email protected]
The Minister of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) has called on farmers and Ghanaians as a whole to embrace the government's proposed electronic levy (e-levy).

According to Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, the Akufo-Addo administration was working assiduously to raise money to support farmers in the country, hence the introduction of the levy.

He lamented that the National Democratic Congress' entrenched position on the matter was very worrying.

Dr Afriyie Akoto made the assertion when he visited one of the government's built warehouses at Gambaga in the North East Region on his first-day visit to the region as part of his 13-day tour of the northern sector.

The warehouse contained thousands of tons of harvested rice for safe keeping.

Prior to the visit to the warehouse, Dr Afriyie Akoto held a durbar with stakeholders and farmers in the agriculture industry in the region, where he encouraged them to support the government's policies in the sector.

These, he said, included Fertiliser Subsidy, Planting For Food and Jobs (PFJ) among others aimed at improving farming activities in the region.

On the shortage of fertilisers, he indicated that the government was seriously working to address it.

We are making arrangements to ensure that farmers in the country have fertilisers to apply to their crops, he assured.

He explained that the problem has come about because of the global shortage of fertiliser, adding that this has caused increases in the price of fertiliser.

He said, regrettably Ghana does not produce fertiliser, and added that the government has subsidised fertiliser for farmers by 50%.

This facility, he said, started when the government began its PFJ programme.

While admitting that there were demands for warehouses, he averred that the uncompleted ones would be worked on as quickly as possible.

The Minister also paid a courtesy call on the Overlord of Mamprugu Kingdom, Naa Bohagu Mahami Abdulai Sherigu, at his Nayiri Palace.

Naa Bohagu Mahami Abdulai Sherigu thanked the minister and his directors for making time to visit his community.

He recounted how his senior brother who was an agriculture extension officer, helped him in his farming activities.

He, therefore, challenged the agriculture minister to ensure that extension officers carry out the needed knowledge to the farmers to improve their yields, adding that the region was one of the leading food baskets in the country.

Speaking to journalists, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Mamprusi West, Aremeyaw Somo Lucky Basiutaly, who spoke on behalf of the farmers, mainly rice farmers, mentioned some challenges bedeviling the farmers.

These, he mentioned, included no power at the processing centre and a lack of warehouses in the district for rice farmers.

He, therefore, appealed to the minister to help resolve these challenges.

From the palace of the Overlord of Mamprusi, the minister's team visited the Presbyterian Agriculture Services at Lanbinsi Tenguri where he interacted with the women farmers and promised to support their activities.

He then took his visit to Tamanaa Rice Factory located along the Tamale Highway where rice in its raw state were processed, packaged and sold to the final consumer or exported.

---Agric Ministry
The Special Prosecutor Mr Kissi Agyebeng has called on government to allocate adequate resources to his office to enable it deliver on its mandate.

In his view, without the material resources available, the good intention to fight graft will be an illusion.

I look forward to the provision of adequate funding and the necessary materials resources as stipulated in Article 6 and 36 of the UN Convention in carrying this challenging and solemn mandate.

I cannot help but state without adequate funding and the provision of the necessary material resources, the good intentions of my staff would remain just good intentions, nothing concrete to show for it.

As we mark the International anti-Corruption day and Anti-corruption week, I invite all well-meaning Ghanaians, let us turn the negative narrative of corruption, transform this republic and place it on a solid developmental track, he said speaking at an forum to mark International Anti-Corruption day and anti-corruption week in Accra on Thursday December 9.

Recently, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo gave the assurance that his government was committed to resourcing the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) to deliver on its mandate.

Speaking on Accra-based Peace FM on Thursday, Akufo-Addo said the process of giving the new special prosecutor resources to be able to do his work is on course.

These things, like all of us when appointed to public office to some extent is like a leap in the dark. So we will see that the new Special Prosecutor to what extent we can count on him to live up to the responsibilities of his mandate, Akufo-Addo said.

He assured that every effort is being made to make sure that in reality, he is capable of doing the work.

---3news.com
The Campaign Manager for the 2020 general elections of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Prof. Joshua Alabi, has stated that the party will do all that is legitimate to protect the votes of Ghanaians in the next general elections slated for December 2024 at every polling station.

He said the party will not permit any form of rigging from anyone.

This, according to him, is what the 2020 flagbearer of the party, Mr John Mahama, meant when he said the 2024 polls will be a do or die affair.

Prof Alabi was speaking at a meeting with Ga chiefs in the Madina/Abokobi area at the palace of the Teiman chief.

He was there to thank them on behalf of former President Mahama who, before the 2020 presidential and parliamentary elections, sought their blessing for victory.

Prof Alabi said Mr Mahama saw it proper to call on them again to thank them especially, as the NDC won the Madina parliamentary election while Mr Mahama polled more votes than his closest competitor in that constituency.

Prof Alabi is confident that former President Mahama will lead the NDC in the 2024 general elections and will be counting on their prayers and support even more than before.

According to the former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), the vast majority of Ghanaians believe the integrity of the last elections were compromised.

But for that, he said Mr Mahama would have been president again with 145 NDC MPs.

This, he said, cannot and will not be tolerated in the 2024 general elections.

Nii Teiman was grateful to former President Mahama for showing gratitude to them and wished him well.

Prof Alabi was accompanied by the MP for the Madina Constituency, Mr Francis-Xavier Sosu and the partys Constituency Chairman and other executives.

---classfmonline.com
The Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng has disclosed that his office is currently in the process of investigating 31 active cases.

The young but experienced legal practitioner was sworn in as head of the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) earlier this year in August by President Akufo-Addo to replace Martin Amidu.

Three months on, Kissi Agyebeng says his office has reviewed all alleged cases of corruption and is now investigation 31 cases.

The OSP has completed the review of all the alleged cases of corruption and corruption-related offences before it.

Currently, the OSP is investigating 31 active cases and it will in due course commence the prosecution in court of the cases it considers probatively strong. Kissi Agyebeng told journalists at a press conference in Accra on Thursday, December 8, 2021.

Kissi Agyebeng added, There is no case commenced by the OSP pending in the courts at the moment.

The Special Prosecutor in October finalised the review of the case between the Republic of Ghana and Mahama Ayariga.

After being convinced there was nothing enough to continue the case against Mahama Ayariga, the Special Prosecutor went to court to discontinue the case.

He has given the assurance that he will do everything in his power to fight corruption.
The National General Secretary of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr John Boadu says the proposed e-Levy is expected to transform the Ghanaian economy and in effect protect the vulnerable.

Addressing journalists in Tamale as part of his working visit to the Northern Region, Mr Boadu mentioned that the controversial levy is designed to protect the vulnerable in Ghanaian society.

He charged party and government communicator's to continue demystifying the e-levy policy to the citizenry at any given opportunity.

On covid-19, Mr. Boadu appealed to the Ghana Health Service to re-advertise locations where the vaccines are available.

According to him, the third wave of the covid-19 pandemic is gradually taking a centre stage in the globe, hence the public should take the safety protocols serious.

He however used the opportunity to thank Cyril Ramaphosa, President of the Republic of South Africa, Aliko Dangote, Nigerian business magnate, Forbes African and the Annual National Black Caucus of State Legislators of the United States of America for the glowing endorsement of President Akufo Addo's leadership and advocacy for equity, partnership and trade between Africa and the world.
The Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ghana, Angela Lusigi, has commended the President of Ghana, H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, for his strong commitment and advocacy towards the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in his role as a Co-chair of the UN Secretary-General's SDG Advocates.

The UNDP Resident Representative made the remark when she paid a courtesy call on the President at the Jubilee House. Ms. Lusigi thanked the Government of Ghana for its efforts in the implementation of the SDGs through the Ghana Beyond Aid agenda and the focus on sustainable and inclusive economic transformation.

Thank you, His Excellency for leading a transformational agenda for Ghana and the continent which has influenced UNDPs strategic offer for Africa that aims at enabling the acceleration of the SDGs in the decade of action, stated Ms. Lusigi.

She seized the opportunity to brief the President on UNDPs key intervention areas in Ghana, noting that in the context of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and national priorities and the Ghana CARES programme, UNDP has been working within the One UN systems coordination framework with a focus on inclusive development, environment and climate change, and on governance and peacebuilding. This she emphasized, is to support the Governments development drive.

The President of Ghana, H.E. Nana Akufo-Addo expressed his appreciation to UNDP for its continued support to Ghanas development efforts. He mentioned that, despite global challenges such as COVID-19 and climate change, the Government remains resolute and will continue to work towards the agenda 2030.

We are grateful to UNDP for its continued support towards Ghanas development agenda and looking forward to continue to work together towards the achievement of the SDGs, noted H.E. Nana Akufo Addo.

As a trusted development partner to Government, moving forward, as informed by its new strategic plan for 2022-2025 and working within the One UN coordination framework with Ghana, UNDP will continue to support the Governments efforts towards three directions of change: structural transformation, leaving no-one behind (empowerment, inclusion, and equity), and resilience building.

UNDP will also work with national partners to fully harness the potential of digital technologies, innovations, and mobilize additional green finance to facilitate sustainable and inclusive development.
The Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng is unhappy over what he said is low allocation of resources for his office in the 2022 budget statement and economic policy proposal of the ruling government.

As earlier indicated by Mr. Agyebeng after he was sworn into office by President Akufo-Addo, the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) is challenged and needs a lot of funds to conduct the work it was set up to do.

Speaking at a press conference in Accra to commemorate international anti-corruption day, the Special Prosecutor has noted that the funds allocated for his office in the 2022 budget is inadequate.

Without money, we cant do anything. We will be reduced to writing long letters without any force because we need money for everything especially our operations and the question as to whether what was allotted to the OSP is sufficient, I will say generally in Ghana nothing is sufficient, and what was put there I have seen, Kissi Agyebeng told journalists today.

Admitting that the allocation didnt meet his expectation, Mr. Agyebeng said he will continue to push to receive additional money from government to help operationalise his office.

It doesnt much up to my expectations but cannot give up. I will continue pushing the envelope. I see things written on paper but I will keep asking and I will keep pushing so that we can get what we require to establish and operationalise this office to work, the Special Prosecutor noted.

Among many other things, Kissi Agyebeng indicated that the OSP needs resources to establish a running finance, administration, operations, investigations, prosecutions, strategy communications, assets recovery, and a management department to fight corruption in the country.

Meanwhile, the Special Prosecutor has disclosed that his outfit is currently investigating 31 active cases and will soon go to court to seek prosecution.
09.12.2021 LISTEN

The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), has said it is hoping to restore power to the people of the Manya and Yilo Krobo areas in the Eastern Region by the close of this week.

The power supply has been cut to Somanya and Odumase.

The latest assurance by the ECG follows a crunch meeting between the power distributor and traditional leaders of the two affected areas on Wednesday at the Head office of the ECG.

Citi News sources at the ECG indicate that a draft document aimed at consensus building was agreed upon at the meeting.

Per the agreement, security and technical officers from the ECG will today, Thursday, gain access to the service lines that went off on Monday, after which power is expected to be restored.

Since the power went out, business owners in the Yilo Krobo and Lower Manya Krobo Municipalities of the Eastern Region have been contending with the attendant negative impact.

As it stands now, there is the need for us to go and rent a generator to power our devices, a pub owner said.

Everything that we do here is about the light, so since we don't have light, everything has been at a standstill, the owner of a printing business complained.

The ECG had relocated its Somanya office to Juapong in the North Tongu Constituency of the Volta Region following an ultimatum given to them by United Krobo Foundation to pack out and leave.

The ECG had also cited insecurity and threats to the lives of its workers as reasons for moving.

The groups had issued the ultimatum after a series of demonstrations following the introduction of prepaid meters in the communities.

---Citi Newsroom
Minister of Agriculture, Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto, says rehabilitation works on the Tono Irrigation Project, when completed, would benefit over 3000 rice farmers and others in the Kassena-Nankana District in the Upper East Region.

According to the Minister, the Tono irrigation facility, which was established in 1974, benefited over 2,000 farmers.

The $35-million World Bank project, Dr Akoto said, was rehabilitated to stop the spillage of water, which normally destroys millions of acres of farm lands in the district, causing huge losses to farmers.

Speaking to the media after visiting the site, the minister said the project was about 95% completed.

What you see here is complete work because the constant rainfall washed away the steel way as well as the walls, so we ran to the World Bank and within two years, the project is about 95% completed, he said.

He charged the Chairman of the Water Users Association Federation, Mr Robert Kwame Abokah, to write to his office and table down all their concerns and needs, so his ministry could assist them.

This was after Mr Akobah appealed to the minister to support the Federation with land preparation implements to enable farmers to cultivate large farms to feed the country.

Mr Akobah used the opportunity to appeal to the minister to reduce the price of fertiliser and ensure its early release for farmers.

However, responding to this request, Dr Akoto made it clear that Ghana does not produce fertiliser, explaining that they should be prepared to pay more this year for the product because this year alone the price has gone up three times.

Earlier, at the Bolgatanga Regional Coordinating Council, the minister told stakeholders in agriculture, who included farmers and agricultural extension officers, that because of the Planting For Food and Jobs (PFJ), Ghana had become the food basket of West Africa.

Five years ago, lots of farmers didnt know the effects of fertiliser, but through the government's Fertiliser Subsidy, many farmers are now keen on getting the product for use, he said.

He, therefore, directed the Director in charge of Women in Agriculture at the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to present a paper on how women can fully participate in food processing and modalities to improve women's participation in the sector.

The minister's tour of the region took him to Zualogu also in the Kassena-Nankana District, to inspect ongoing construction work on a 44,000 metric ton warehouse, which is around 90% completed.

Source: Agric Ministry
The Coalition of Krobo Youth has said it is prepared to provide security for the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) to operate its District Offices at Somanya in the Yilo Krobo District of the Eastern Region.

They have appealed to the power distributor to rescind its decision to relocate to Juapong.

This follows the relocation of the offices of the ECG from Somanya due to safety concerns and the total power outage being experienced within the Manya and Yilo Krobo communities.

A statement issued by the coalition co-singed by its Convenor Frederick Narh Okley, Secretary Samuel Nartey and Organiser Peter Boateng said: We dont support the ultimatum given the ECG to leave Kroboland in three weeks. We are prepared to give security for ECG to function.

All over the country, prepaid metres have become the order of the day. We in Krobland cannot say we dont like prepaid metres. We are aware that people who had issues with their bills were allowed to submit them for corrections. Anyone who has not taken advantage of this should do so immediately.

According to the Coalition, the effect of this blackout in Kroboland has brought enormous hardship to the people including state institutions.

It indicated that there were rumours that the current blackout was a plan by the power distributing company to punish the people of Kroboland.

The deployment of generator plants to the Somanya Polyclinic, Atua Government hospital and St Martins hospital at Agormanya confirm the suspicions that the Blackout is intentional.

The Coalition further noted that the blackout by the ECG and its negative impact on Kroboland portrays government as uncaring and this will negatively affect the government. ECG cannot use the sin of a handful to punish the entire Krobo population of over 200, 000 people. That is unacceptable!

It described the ECGs explanation for the blackout as preposterous.

It also cautioned the United Krobo Foundation against dragging the image of Krobos in the mud.

We will meet them boot-for-boot at the peril of our lives. If state securities that are paid to protect us fail to arrest these miscreants, we will take the law into our own hands and deal with them mercilessly. The name of KROBOLAND which our forefathers fought for shall be protected.

The Coalition added that: We are prepared to work with any government agency, private sector, and investor who wish us well and appealed to the management and Board of ECG to reconsider their exit from Somanya and come back.

The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) recently said the total power outage being experienced within the Krobo area is due to the activities of unscrupulous persons which caused overloading on some transformers and destroyed several others within the various communities.

The ECG made this known in a statement issued on Tuesday, 7 December 2021.

According to the ECG, its investigations have established that the current outage is due to the activities of unscrupulous persons who transferred customers from a transformer with a phase-off problem to adjacent transformers, thereby overloading them and destroying several transformers within the communities.

The total illegal hijack of our network is unacceptable, the company noted.

The statement continued that the company has decided to shut down the feeders at the Bulk Supply Point (BSP) directly feeding the communities in order to protect its network, lives and properties of innocent customers and the general public within the Lower Manya Krobo and Yilo Krobo communities.

This, the company noted, is a result of the reduction in its operations within the Krobo area, which was necessitated by the threat to its staff.

Affected customers should please note that ECG is engaging traditional authorities to find a lasting solution to address the various issues particularly the insecurity which does not permit us to operate in the district office at Somanya, the statement added.

ECG recently shut down its office in Somanya in the Yilo Krobo District of the Eastern Region due to safety concerns.

This was announced by the Managing Director of ECG, Mr Kwame Agyemang, on Monday, 6 December 2021, at a press conference in Tema.

The office, which was shut down on Wednesday, 1 December 2021, has been relocated to Juapong in the Volta Region.

According to the Managing Director, the district office was shut down to protect the lives of the workers of the state power distributor.

---classfmonline.com
New Patriotic Party has cautioned doomsayers in the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) to stop inciting the youth to rise up against the government in connection with the 2022 budget, as it portends dangerous consequences for the countrys growing democracy.

According to the NPP, some of these unguarded comments on traditional and social media platforms could injure Ghanas fledgling democracy.

The NPP explained that the fourth republican dispensation will suffer if some of these statements go unchecked.

Reacting to the NDCs public forum held on the 2022 budget in Accra on Wednesday, 8 December 2021, the NPPs Director of Communications warned that the pronouncements of the NDC could reverse the countrys gains.

He told Awudu Iddrisu on Accra100.5FMs morning show Ghana Yensom on Thursday, 9 December 2021 that: It is high time we were all seen safeguarding the current democratic dispensation because it has served us well.

The former Adentan MP noted: We must not be seen to be undermining the current democracy with some of these unguarded utterances.

He further warned that if the teeming youth should rise against the government and subsequently topple it, we will all not be here, let alone have an opposition party like the NDC.

Mr Buaben Asamoa said the current democratic dispensation has served Ghanaians well, so, if the people who are speaking freely as a result of its fruits are seen inciting the teeming youth to topple the government, then it is worrying.

To him, the NDC, as a party, must not be seen fueling some of these dangerous comments just for political capital because, not too long ago, they were in government under the current dispensation.

He said the 2022 budget means well for Ghanaians and this must be paramount to everyone.

---Classfmonline.com
The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has encouraged people who have taken their COVID-19 jabs to visit district health directorates to verify their vaccination details if they have challenges doing that electronically.

Dr Franklyn Aseidu-Bekoe, the Director of Public Health, Ghana Health Service, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, said the Service had some challenges with its data entry system and advised people who were unable to rectify their details, to visit the offices to rectify them.

The verification has become necessary following news report that people without COVID-19 vaccination cards would not be allowed entry into public places during the yuletide.

The Director said individuals who could not find their information in the system could visit their district health directorates to input their data again to be verified by the system.

Steps to verify vaccination are: scanning the bar code behind the vaccination card using the QR Scanner software, clicking on the website address that pops up, and entering the card number for verification.

He said people who had taken their jabs should be able to verify their details even if they had taken just a shot, adding that any other thing apart from a message, which confirms one's verification must be reported.

Also, persons whose information on the vaccination card did not match that of the vaccination tracker could also visit the health directorate for rectification.

Dr Asiedu-Bekoe said a verification desk had been set up at the Kotoka International Airport for travellers to verify their vaccination.

He assured the public of the vaccines safety and urged them to get vaccinated to stem the spread of the disease.

The Director of Public Health encouraged the populace to continue to adhere to the safety protocols.

GNA
Member of Parliament for Nhyiaeso, Stephen Amoah, has been put before the La Magistrate Court for flouting Road Traffic Regulations.

The MP was arrested alongside six drivers during a special exercise to check V8 vehicles on Tuesday, December 7, 2021.

A warrant was however issued for his arrest after he failed to appear before the court on Wednesday, December 8, 2021.

A statement from the Police Service said the MP subsequently presented himself to the Police.

Details regarding his appearance in court will be provided by the Accra Regional Police Command in due course, the statement added.

Four of the five, namely; Dominic Atuahene-Ababio, Daniel Boateng, Emmanuel Kofi Ofori, and Joseph Brown were sentenced to pay a fine of GHS 1,800.00 each or in default serve three months prison terms.

According to a statement from police, these four convicted drivers paid their fines while a driver, Thomas Atinga, was convicted to sign a bond to be of good behaviour for three months or in default serve a three-month prison term.

The Police Administration has directed all Police formations throughout the country to clamp down on recalcitrant drivers, especially those who drive V8 vehicles.

---citinewsroom
A group calling itself Coalition of Krobo Youth, which has condemned the threatening actions of another youth group in the area, United Krobo Foundation, against state power distributor Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), has said the recent total blackout in Manya and Yilo Krobo is intentional.

At a press conference on Thursday, 9 December 2021, the group said ECG is using the "sins" of a few people to punish the entire Krobo population of about 200,000.

It said the relocation of the ECG's Somanya office to Juapong in the Volta region and the sudden localised blackout coupled with the "deployment of generator plants to the Somanya Polyclinic, Atua Government hospital and St. Martins hospital at Agormanya confirm the suspicions that the blackout is intentional".

The group, however, noted that "ECG cannot use the sin of a handful to punish the entire Krobo population of over 200, 000 people. That is unacceptable!"

It added that the "excuse" by ECG that "the blackout is a result of the breakdown of their transformers is preposterous".

"The mistake by a few should not be brought on the majority", the group stressed, adding: "The chiefs, MPs, MCEs and former DCEs, former MPs, and many opinion leaders have come out openly to condemn the United Krobo Foundation for their actions, which have brought the hard-won name of Krobos into disrepute and pledged to safeguard every public property should the said miscreants try any other thing. This is refreshing and should give the ECG hope that stakeholders are ready to defend and protect them".

Read the coalitions full statement below:

PRESS CONFERENCE BY THE COALITION OF KROBO YOUTH ON THE ECG IMPASSE AND THE BLACKOUT IN KROBOLAND SINCE MONDAY 6TH DECEMBER 2021

The media, fellow Krobo youth assembled, chiefs, opinion leaders, businessmen and women present, ladies and gentlemen. We, the undersigned, write on behalf of the Coalition of Krobo Youth and state as follows:

1. That we do not support the view by the United Krobo Foundation that we Krobos wont work with ECG but want to deal directly with VRA. We know VRA generates power, and that GRIDCO distributes the power for ECG to sell the power and therefore it will be ill will on our part to fight against such a national strategic asset.

2. That we dont support the ultimatum given the ECG to leave Kroboland in three weeks. We are prepared to give security for ECG to function.

3. That we Krobos dont want prepaid meters. It is not true. All over the country, prepaid meters have become the order of the day. We in Krobland cannot say we dont like prepaid meters. We are aware that people who had issues with their bills were allowed to submit them for corrections. Anyone who has not taken advantage of this should do so immediately. The effect of this blackout in Kroboland has brought enormous hardship to the people including state institutions.

Sadly, all the rumours about the plans of ECG to punish Krobos have come to light.

1. The relocation of their office to Juapong.

2. A total blackout in Krobo area.

The deployment of generator plants to the Somanya Polyclinic, Atua Government hospital and St. Martins hospital at Agormanya confirm the suspicions that the Blackout is intentional.

Ladies and gentlemen, traders, Secondary Schools, Universities, and businesses are bearing the brunt of this blackout. For instance, the private Public Health Institution in Kpong, Ensign College, spent not less than GHS 6, 000.00 to keep their generator on in 24 hours. Is this sustainable? Will this not affect their finances and further lead to the layoff of employees? These are Institutions paying their legitimate bills and do not deserve the treatment from the power distributor. To further aggravate the issue, what about the cold store operator whose life and family depend on such business? How would they be feeling in the midst of all these?

As a result of that, the Government is being seen as uncaring and this will negatively affect the government. ECG cannot use the sin of a handful to punish the entire Krobo population of over 200, 000 people. That is unacceptable!

The excuse by ECG that, the blackout is a result of the breakdown of their Transformers is preposterous.

The mistake by a few should not be brought on the majority. The chiefs MPs, MCEs and former DCEs, former MPs, and many opinion leaders have come out openly to condemn the United Krobo Foundation for their actions which have brought the hard-won name of Krobos into disrepute and pledged to safeguard every public property should the said miscreants try any other thing. This is refreshing and should give the ECG hope that stakeholders are ready to defend and protect them.

Ladies and gentlemen, we are by this letter serving notice to United Krobo Foundation that we are ready for them. We are aware of their extortions and would never sit down for them to use their selfish gains to drag the name of Krobos in through the mud. We will meet them boot-for-boot at the peril of our lives. If state securities that are paid to protect us fail to arrest these miscreants, we will take the law into our own hands and deal with them mercilessly. The name of KROBOLAND which our forefathers fought for shall be protected.

Ladies and gentlemen, Krobos are hardworking, humble, respectful, and committed to development. You can find a Krobo in any corner of this country and people can attest to the fact that Krobos are humble and hardworking. We will not allow some selfish and self-centred individuals to soil the name of our land and birth.

Ladies and gentlemen, let me state unequivocally that some of us and many law-abiding citizens of Kroboland are paying our legitimate monthly bills and we do not deserve this wholesome approach by the ECG in the name of punishment. We are prepared to work with any government agency, private sector, and investor who wish us well.

We, therefore, passionately appeal to management and the Board of ECG to reconsider their exit from Somanya and come back. We want to encourage all those who owe/ or have issues with their Electricity bills to settle it through dialogue and mutual understanding. We wish to further state that we the youth are ever ready to provide the ECG staff with 24-hour protection through our watchdog committees that will be launched very soon to safeguard and protect public properties since the security setups including the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB), the Police Service have woefully failed to arrest those miscreants causing problems and stoking conflicts between the citizens and the ECG.

God bless Kroboland

God bless our homeland Ghana and

Make it great and strong.

Thank you.

Signed

Frederick Narh Okley

Convenor

0208325347

Samuel Nartey

Secretary

0240273064

Peter Boateng

Organizer

0243170019

---classfmonline.com
Center-left leader Olaf Scholz on Wednesday became Germany's ninth post-World War II chancellor, opening a new era for the European Union's most populous nation and largest economy, after Angela Merkel's 16-year tenure. He also has to co-drive, together with Emmanuel Macron, the motor of the EU: the pivotal French-German relationship.

Scholz's government takes office with high hopes of modernising Germany and combating climate change but faces the immediate challenge of handling the country's toughest phase yet of the coronavirus pandemic.

Lawmakers voted 395-303 with six abstentions to elect Scholz  a comfortable majority  though short of the 416 seats his three-party coalition holds in the 736-seat lower house of parliament. Merkel, who is no longer a member of parliament, looked on from the spectators' gallery as parliament voted. Lawmakers gave her a standing ovation.

Scholz, 63, who had been Germany's vice chancellor and finance minister since 2018, brings a wealth of experience and discipline to an untried coalition of his center-left Social Democrats, the environmentalist Greens and the pro-business Free Democrats.

The three parties are portraying the combination of former rivals as a progressive alliance that will bring new energy to the country after Merkel's near-record time in office.

'North-east German mentality'

Scholz said Wednesday that he would stick with Merkel's north-east German mentality and that not so much would change on that front.

The new government aims to step up efforts against climate change by expanding the use of renewable energy and bringing Germany's exit from coal-fired power forward from 2038, ideally to 2030.

It also wants to do more to modernise the country of 83 million people, including improving its notoriously poor cellphone and internet networks.

Scholz has signaled continuity in foreign policy, saying the government would stand up for a strong European Union and nurture the transatlantic alliance. He makes his first trip abroad to Paris on Friday, maintaining a tradition for German chancellors, travel to Brussels the same day to meet EU and NATO leaders.

'De-escalation'

Preparing the Friday meet, German and French top diplomats already met.

French Foreign Minister Jean Yves Le Drian emphasised the importance of the Franco-German relationship at a press conference after a meeting with his newly elected German counterpart, Annalena Baerbock, at the Quai d'Orsay in Paris on Thursday.

He said the relationship between the two countries was "vital" for both nations' populations and also important for the EU.

The minister also called on France and Germany to "promote multilateralism", adding "by preserving the instruments that contribute to international stability, but which are in danger of being called into question".

He pointed to efforts to ensure the Non-Proliferation Treaty with Iran is "preserved and strengthened", with the help of the EU and the UN.

Russian threat

Le Drian also said the two discussed Ukraine, amid Russian military mobilisation near the Ukraine-Russian border.

He said "we must seek de-escalation", before welcoming dialogue between US President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Le Drian repeated his will "to provoke at ministerial level, as soon as possible", a Normandy Format with his Ukrainian and Russian colleagues on the basis of the Minsk agreements.

The Normandy Format are talks involving the representatives of Germany, Russia, Ukraine and France to end the conflict in eastern Ukraine.

(With wires)
Blessed Godsbrain Smart, aka Captain Smart, a broadcaster with Onua Television and radio station, on Thursday appeared before an Accra Circuit Court over "unsavoury" comments.

He is said to have made the comments on December 1, this year, to wit: " where we have gotten to, we require an uprising."

Captain Smart, charged with offensive conduct to the breach of peace, pleaded not guilty.

The Court, presided over by Mrs Ellen Ofei Ayeh, admitted him to GHC100,000 bail with two sureties, one to be justified.

He is to report every Tuesday and Friday to the Police.

He will reappear on January 11, 2022.

Mr Martin Kpebu represented him.

GNA
A Filipino journalist who helped cover President Rodrigo Duterte's war on drugs campaign for an international news agency was shot dead in the eastern Philippines, police said on Thursday.

Jesus Malabanan, 58, was shot in the head and declared dead on arrival at hospital in Calbayog City, 482 kilometers south-east of Manila, on Wednesday evening, police said.

Malabanan was a reporter for an English-language newspaper and a television news network in Manila. He was a stringer for the international news agency Reuters and contributed to its reporting on the war on drugs, which won a Pulitzer Prize in 2018.

He was watching television in a small neighborhood store owned by his family in Calbayog City, when he was shot in the head by an unidentified gunman who fled onboard a motorcycle driven by another suspect, a police report said.

Police have yet to identify a suspect or motive for the killing, but colleagues said Malabanan received death threats before he was killed.

"Jess helped Reuters a lot in the drug war stories that won a Pulitzer in 2018," said Manny Mogato, a retired correspondent of the international news agency who was part of the Manila team that worked on the award-winning reports.

Malabanan is the 22nd journalist killed in the South-East Asian country since Duterte became president in 2016, based on a count by the National Union of Journalist of the Philippines.

The Philippines has been ranked as one of the world's most dangerous places for journalists by press freedom groups, including the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists.

GNA
Paris Mayor and Socialist presidential candidate Anne Hidalgo's proposal to hold a primary has been met by mixed reactions from left-wing leaders, just four months out from the 2022 elections. The left of the political spectrum is suffering from historically low support, and is fragmented between seven candidates, including two from the far left.

"There are many differences between us," Communist Party leader and presidential candidate Fabien Roussel told BFM TV on Thursday in response to Hidalgo's suggestion nof a primary during a television interview on TF1 on Wednesday night.

Therefore, choosing a unique candidate to represent the left for him is "not a solution".

"It's not a person we need to find, but the issues that unite us," he said.

Greens leader and presidential candidate Yannick Jadot said it was "not the choice for his party" and he would not be involved in a primary.

"I will not participate in a primary for the left ... because the election is four and a half months away. We need to get a bit serious about all of this," adding that he had already been through the primary process with his own Greens party (EELV).

Surprise factor

"She's realised her candidacy is facing a dead end, and the fact that she's having trouble getting her ideas accepted by the public," Jadot told Europe 1 radio on Thursday.

"There's a need for her to get out of this situation by creating a surprise."

Polls show Hidalgo has between 3 and 7 percent of voter intentions, while Jadot is estimated to have between 6 and 9 percent.

Hidalgo's idea, however, was supported by Socialist party leader Olivier Faure, who called it "necessary collective awareness" rather than a cry for help.

Speaking to France Inter radio, he expressed concern that the "election would be largely dominated by issues brought up by the far-right".

"Everyone is saying they have something else to do because no one wants to face reality. But we cannot remain in denial," he concluded.

Arnaud Montebourg, who was minister of industrial renewal from May 2012 to August 2014 under Socialist president Francois Hollande, was thrilled by Hidalgo's idea and says he's very willing to fall behind a main candidate.

"I think Anne Hidalgo's proposal is a good one. Finally, some action," he said, adding that although he is running independently, he would make way for the stronger candidates.

Montebourg, who ran in the 2012 and 2017 presidential elections, had himself earlier on Wednesday called for "a gathering of the left" in order to back a "common project" and "a common candidate".

Two left feet

However, on the far-left, the France Unbowed (La France Insoumise, or LFI) party scoffed at the notion of a primary, calling it a "last ditch bid".

"Anne Hidalgo is not going to get a way with passing on the losing machine that the Socialists inherited in 2016," LFI MP Eric Coquerel told France Info.

"Between Anne Hidalgo, who is still close to the remnants of the Francois Hollande era, and us, the differences are enormous."

The France Unbowed leader and presidential candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon, who formed an alliance with the communists back in 2012 and 2017, has decided to go it alone this time.

"This is not a responsible way to act," Hidalgo's spokesman Stephane Troussel said in response to Jadot's refusal.

"Does he just want to cause more despair among Socialists and Ecologists?" he asked on Public Senate television.

"What has helped us win local elections? It's joining forces."

Lack of coherence

A cautious response also came from former President Francois Hollande himself.

"This kind of thing can't be improvised," he warned. "Uniting around a candidate only makes sense if there is a coherent, shared programme and we know that is not the case."

Interestingly enough, Hidalgo herself was not in favour of having a primary with regards to the Socialist party nomination, as suggested by her rival Stephane Le Foll.

A compromise was found: a vote was held among party members only and in October, Hidalgo came out on top.

When challenged about the logistics of holding a primary so close to the presidential election, Hidalgo proposed to attach it to an existing initiative known as the "Primaire populaire".

The online vote to be held between the 27 and 30 January 2022, allowing ordinary citizens to put forward the name of a public figure they would like to see run as candidate.
One person died and several others were injured including two leading figures from Tunisia's Islamist-inspired Ennahdha party in a fire at its headquarters Thursday, the party said.

Ennahdha said on Facebook that one of its "activists" died in the blaze.

Tunisian media cited judiciary sources as saying the person had "set himself ablaze on the ground floor" of the building.

The movement's Vice President Ali Laaryadh and advisory board head Abdelkarim Harouni were both hospitalised after jumping from the second floor of the building to escape the flames, party members said.

An AFP correspondent saw smoke pouring out of the windows of the building in central Tunis as people clambered out.

The party's president Rached Ghannouchi, speaker of Tunisia's suspended parliament, was not in the building at the time, party official Mondher Lounisi said.

Ennahdha, a banned opposition movement under dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, has been the largest force in Tunisia's parliament since shortly after the country's 2011 revolution.

It played a central role in national politics until President Kais Saied sacked the government, suspended the assembly and seized a string of powers on July 25.

The blaze came three days after the party warned it was facing an orchestrated "defamation" campaign aimed at shutting it out of national politics.
One person died and 18 others were injured including two leading figures from Tunisia's Islamist-inspired Ennahdha party in a fire at its headquarters Thursday, authorities and party members said.

Ennahdha said on Facebook that one of its "activists", a former receptionist born in 1970, had died in the blaze.

The interior ministry said his "charred" body had been found in the building.

Tunisian media cited judiciary sources as saying the person had "set himself ablaze on the ground floor" of the building.

Former prime minister and Ennahdha Vice President Ali Laaryadh was hospitalised after jumping from the second floor of the building to escape the flames, as was advisory board head Abdelkarim Harouni, party members said.

An AFP correspondent saw smoke pouring out of the windows of the building in central Tunis as people clambered out.

The party's president Rached Ghannouchi, speaker of Tunisia's suspended parliament, was not in the building at the time, party official Mondher Lounisi said.

Ennahdha, a banned opposition movement under dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, has been the largest force in Tunisia's parliament since shortly after the country's 2011 revolution.

It played a central role in national politics until President Kais Saied sacked the government, suspended the assembly and seized a string of powers on July 25.

The blaze came three days after the party warned it was facing an orchestrated "defamation" campaign aimed at shutting it out of national politics.
09.12.2021 LISTEN

Onua FM/TV presenter, Blessed Godsbrain Smart, popularly known as Captain Smart , has pleaded not guilty to the charge of offensive conduct conducive to the breach of the peace under Section 207 of the Criminal Offences Act 1960 (Act 29).

This was when he made his appearance in court on Thursday, December 9, 2021.

He has since been granted bail to the tune of GHS 100,000 with one surety.

The case has been adjourned to January 11, 2022.

Meanwhile, he is to report to the police every Tuesday and Friday.

Captain Smart and his lawyers had earlier reported to the Kaneshie District Court on Wednesday for the hearing of the case, but there was no show as the judge was not present.

His lawyers, who waited for about three hours for the court to commence the hearing, got fed up with the time wasted. They were later called to agree on a later date, which is some two weeks away.

The date agreed was December 20, 2021, but it appears that was later changed.

The court is not sitting today, so we were told to come on 20th December. We suggested the date and it was granted We are yet to see the charge sheet so what for now we can say is that it is a thriving democracy that we are building, so we should accommodate as many views as possible, Martin Kpebu, Captain Smarts lawyer said in an earlier Citi News interview.

Captain Smart was invited by the Nima Divisional Police Command on December 2, 2021, for what a police statement described as pronouncements that threaten the peace and security of the country in one of his programs.

The management of Onua TV insists that their staff did nothing wrong and has pledged to stand by him.

---citinewsroom
09.12.2021 LISTEN

Beneficiaries of the Youth in Afforestation program under the Forestry Commission said the government must do well to honour its promise to pay allowances owed them.

They said they will embark on a demonstration on Thursday, December 16 if nothing is done.

The Chief Executive Officer of the program, John Allotey earlier announced that the government has released funds to pay at least three months arrears of allowances to the personnel by the end of next week.

But in an interview with Citi News, the beneficiaries indicated that previous promises did not yield results and are yet to receive official communication from the Ministry of Finance over the said payments.

The spokesperson for the Youth In Afforestation Program, Bossman Adutwum said government owes us 6 months allowances. We were informed by our CEO that the government has given us green light to pay for three months. Some documents need to be signed before the payment will be made.

Despite this assurance, we are not at rest because we have been disappointed before. I, together with three others, have decided to go to the office to ascertain if indeed we will be given the allowances. If we do not get any such assurance, we will embark on a peaceful demonstration on Thursday.

In March, some workers threatened to demonstrate if managers of the program failed to pay their five-month unpaid allowance.

This followed their alleged disengagement from the scheme for registering for the Nations Builders Corps (NaBCo).

According to them, the management of youth in afforestation asked them to resign from NaBCo to earn their unpaid five-month allowance.

But, upon their resignation, managers of youth in afforestation served them notice of their disengagement from the program, an action they believed was unfair to them.

In an interview with Citi News, some of the beneficiaries demanded full payment of their allowance and their re-engagement.

The Deputy CEO told us to go for resignation letters from NaBCo and bring it to Forestry Commission for them to know that we are no longer part of the NaBCo system. We have that and the evidence is here. We have the resignation letter, and we have sent it to them. Last week, the Deputy CEO told us that although we have brought the letters, we have been taken off the system. They have not treated us fairly, another said.

Last year, some of them in the Eastern Region threatened to embark on a series of demonstrations over the non-payment of allowances and poor working conditions.

Prior to that, several others in Greater Accra and other areas had also protested the non-payment of allowances.

---Citi Newsroom
Minister of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), has called on farmers and Ghanaians as a whole to embrace the governments proposed electronic levy (e-levy) which was announced in the 2022 budget statement by the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, last month.

According to Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto, the Akufo-Addo administration was working assiduously to raise money to support farmers in the country, and that the e-levy would help in that regard.

The finance minister, who introduced the levy in the 2022 budget told Parliament a huge chunk of the proceeds will support entrepreneurship.

The Agric Minister said the National Democratic Congress entrenched position on the levy is very worrying.

Dr Afriyie Akoto made the assertion when he visited one of the governments built warehouses at Gambaga in the North East Region on his first-day visit to the region as part of his 13-day tour of the northern sector.

There are two markets in Ghana; the subsidised fertiliser market, which is the planting for foods and jobs, and the commercial or open market for anyone who wants to buy. These two markets have existed side by side, but because the subsidised fertiliser market was so big, there was very little for the open market. Now with the price increases on the open market, we are also facing problems with revenue collection in Ghana and everywhere else because international trades have also shrunk.

We get most of our government revenue from international trade  imports and exports. That is why its become necessary for this government to look for alternative sources of revenue to close the gap, hence the introduction of the electronic levy. The opposition (NDC) is making the electronic levy a big issue. What they dont realise is that its affecting other areas. So, if we are to remove the levy, where are we going to find the money to give subsidies to farmers? There would be nothing, he said.

The warehouse contained thousands of tons of harvested rice for safekeeping.

Prior to the visit to the warehouse, Dr Afriyie Akoto held a durbar with stakeholders and farmers in the agriculture sector in the region, where he encouraged them to support the governments policies in the sector.

These, he said, included Fertiliser Subsidy, Planting For Food and Jobs (PFJ) among others aimed at improving farming activities in the region.

On the shortage of fertiliser, he indicated that the government was seriously working to address it.

We are making arrangements to ensure that farmers in the country have fertilisers to apply to their crops, he assured.

He explained that the problem has come about because of the global shortage of fertiliser, adding that this has caused increases in the price of fertiliser.

He said, regrettably Ghana does not produce fertiliser, and added that the government has subsidised fertilizer for farmers by 50%.

This facility, he said, started when the government began its PFJ programme.

While admitting that there were demands for warehouses, he averred that the uncompleted ones would be worked on as quickly as possible.

The Minister also paid a courtesy call on the Overlord of Mamprugu Kingdom, Naa Bohagu Mahami Abdulai Sherigu, at his Nayiri Palace.

Naa Bohagu Mahami Abdulai Sherigu thanked the minister and his directors for making time to visit his community.

He recounted how his senior brother, who was an agriculture extension officer, helped him in his farming activities.

He, therefore, challenged the agriculture minister to ensure that extension officers disseminate the needed knowledge to farmers to improve their yields, adding that the region was one of the leading food baskets in the country.

Speaking to journalists, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Mamprusi West, Aremeyaw Somo Lucky Basiutaly, who spoke on behalf of the farmers, mainly rice farmers, mentioned some challenges bedevilling the farmers.

These, he mentioned, included no power at the processing centre and a lack of warehouses in the district for rice farmers.

He, therefore, appealed to the Minister to help resolve these challenges.

From the palace of the Overlord of Mamprusi, the Ministers team visited the Presbyterian Agriculture Services at Lanbinsi Tenguri where he interacted with the women farmers and promised to support their activities.

He then took his visit to Tamanaa Rice Factory located along the Tamale Highway where rice in its raw state was processed, packaged, and sold to the final consumer or exported.

Source: Ministry of Agriculture
09.12.2021 LISTEN

Onua TV/FMs Captain Smart has pleaded not guilty to the charge of offensive conduct conducive to the breach of the peace under Section 207 of the Criminal Offences Act 1960 (Act 29) after appearing in court on Thursday, December 9, 2021.

Born Blessed Godsbrain Smart, the former Multimedia and ABN broadcaster is in court for making some unsavoury pronouncements that according to the Police hinge on peace and security.

Today, the Police arraigned Captain Smart at Circuit Court 7 in Accra for the hearing of his case.

In a statement from the Ghana Police Service this evening, it says the renowned broadcaster pleaded not guilty to the charge of offensive conduct conducive to the breach of the peace under Section 207 of the Criminal Offences Act 1960 (Act 29).

Subsequently, the court admitted him to bail in the sum of Hundred Thousand Ghana Cedis (GH 100,000.00) with one surety to be justified.

Meanwhile, the case has been adjourned to January 11, 2022, and he has been directed to report to the Police every Tuesday and Friday.
Reverend Joyce Aryee, a Member of the Board of Trustees of the National Cathedral Secretariat, has rallied all Ghanaians to contribute their quota towards the realisation of the National Cathedral project.

She said the Cathedral was a unique structure that would not only serve as a place of worship but also make Ghana a tourist destination.

She made the call when the National Clergy Association of Ghana (NACAG) donated a cheque for GH10,000, in support of the construction of the Cathedral, in Accra, on Thursday.

The cheque was handed over to Rev Aryee on behalf of the Secretariat by Dr S. K.Boafo, Chairman of NACAG.

Rev Aryee said support from the public would help quicken the construction of the Cathedral for it to serve the intended purpose.

Mr Ken Ofori-Atta, Finance Minister, while presenting the 2021 Mid-Year review Budget Statement and Economic Policy in July, urged all, including Members of Parliament, to be part of the one million Ghanaians projected to support the initiative dubbed, Ketewa biara nsua with GHC100 a month.

Since the appeal, several individuals and religious sects, including the Chief Imam, Sheikh Osmanu Nuhu Sharabutu, have contributed towards the construction of the $200 million edifice.

Rev Aryee, who is also the Executive Director, Salt and Light Ministries, said response to the appeal had been overwhelming and urged more Ghanaians, including corporate organisations to come on board to enable early completion of the facility.

"I can't tell the quantum that we have made because different people have been bringing different amount so I can't tell you the amount but i know that now more people are interested in giving and it is amazing. You get people sending MoMo, small or big amount, because they know that giving something for God's work has several blessings," she said.

She assured Ghanaians of the Trustees' commitment to ensure all donations received were put into the construction of the project to facilitate the speed of work.

"Our appeal to Ghanaians is that it is a continuing work and so, we urged them to continue to donate towards the project," she said.

Dr Boafo explained that though the Cathedral was a vision giving to the President by God, it was necessary that Ghanaians supported the President to bring it to fruition.

He said the Association would contribute more to the Secretariat to facilitate the completion of the construction of the Cathedral.

Dr Boafo entreated members of NACAG to, in their individual capacities donate towards the construction of the edifice.

Bishop Charles Abban, Executive Director of NACAG, also assured of the Association's continuous support to the construction of the cathedral.

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, in March 2020, cut sod for the commencement of construction works on the national cathedral.

The 5,000-seater auditorium Cathedral project, if completed, will bequeath to the country a gracious national park for all Ghanaians, bring new skills, technology and jobs to the country, and will act as a beacon to national, regional and international tourists.

It is expected to be officially opened on March 6, 2024.

GNA
The Nkawie Circuit Court has sentenced a 20-year-old illegal small scale miner to 15 years imprisonment for robbery at Betinko, near Nkawie, in the Atwima Nwabiagya South Municipality.

Alhassan Sammy was said to have attacked and robbed his victim together with other accomplices who are on the run, of his mobile phones and monies at a footpath between Betinko and Nkrumah-Nkwanta.

He pleaded guilty to the charges and was convicted on his own plea by the court presided over by Nana Bruce.

Prosecuting, Police Detective Chief Inspector Anthony Acheampong told the court that the incident happened at about 1730 hours on July 29, 2020.

He said the convict and his accomplices laid ambush on a footpath between Betinko and Nkrumah Nkwanta and robbed their victim with two single barrel guns.

The Prosecution said they took away a tecno camon 15 mobile phone valued at GHc 896 and a cash of GHc 12, 000.00 and escaped into the bush.

He said a report was made to the Adiembra police who arrested the convict upon a tip-off.

Chief Inspector Acheampong said the convict led the police to the crime scene where the two guns, eight BB cartridges and other stolen items were retrieved.

He said the convict admitted the offence in his cautioned statement and was charged and brought before the court after investigations.

GNA
The Nkawie Circuit Court has sentenced a 31-year-old driver to 10 years imprisonment for stealing at Abuakwa-Maakro in the Atwima Nwabiagya South Municipality.

Darko Mensah, who was a caretaker of a house belonging to a woman domiciled in Belgium, was said to have stolen various household appliances installed in the house and bolted away.

He pleaded guilty to the charge and was convicted on his own plea by the court presided over by Nana Bruce.

Police Chief Inspector Comfort Amankwaa, prosecuting, told the court that the complainant was an evangelist who resides at Anomangye, a suburb of Kumasi.

She said the complainant's daughter who is domiciled in Belgium entrusted her house at Maakro into the care of the convict about five years ago.

The prosecution said on August 13, 2019, the complainant called and informed the convict that his daughter and husband were coming to Ghana and that they would be staying in their house at Maakro.

The convict agreed and assured the complainant that he would be in the house waiting for them on that day.

She said however, when they went to the house, the convict was nowhere to be found but a neighbor brought the keys to the complainant and his daughter.

The prosecution said when the owners entered the house, to their surprise, all the household items including deep freezers and fridges, microwave ovens, television sets, mattresses and beds, generator and others, valued at over GHc 150,000.00 had been stolen from the house.

She said a report was made to the Abuakwa Police who arrested the convict and upon investigations, he was charged and brought before the court.

GNA
The Human Rights Division of the Accra High Court has thrown out an interlocutory injunction against the ongoing re-registration of the SIM Cards.

This was after the applicant, Mr Francis Kwarteng Arthur, a Private Legal Practitioner, through his lawyers led by Dr Justice Srem Sai withdrew the application.

Mr Arthur on November 22, 2021, sued the National Communication Authority and the owners of telecommunication services over the re-registration of SIM cards.

The applicant prayed the High Court to stop the collection of personal data of subscribers for the re-registration exercise.

Aside from the originating motion seeking for enforcement of his fundamental human rights to administrative justice, to speech, to information and to privacy, the applicant also filed an interlocutory injunction to halt the process until the final determination of the case.

When the case was called on Thursday, December 9, 2021, Dr Sai withdrew the application for an interlocutory injunction after the Court had said it could not stop the ongoing re-registration before the injunction was heard.

Mr Gary Nimako Marfo, a lawyer for the NCA, had indicated to the Court that, they had filed their affidavit in opposition to the application for interlocutory injunction and followed with their statement of case.

It was when counsel prayed the Court for the case to be adjourned to enable the NCA serve the applicant with its processes.

While the parties wanted the injunction heard on December 15, the court said they should pick a date in January.

Mr Marfo, responding to the prayer of the Counsel for the applicant, said, the over-riding interest of over 30 million Ghanaians should not be sacrificed for the applicant.

He said per the ongoing exercise, the Government was working with timeliness and State Institutions should not be stopped in the manner Counsel for the applicant was requesting from the Court.

The Court presided over by Justice Barbara N. Tetteh-Charway, said, this kind of application to restrain the Government before the application is taken, could not be exercised by the Court.

 The interest of the public must also be taken into consideration as against the harm the applicant stands to suffer, hence the Court cannot make such an order before the injunction is taken, she said.

It was this that made the applicant through his Counsel to withdraw the application and same struck out as withdrawn.

Meanwhile, the parties have been directed to file their processes for hearing of the substantive matter to commence.

Mr Arthur sued NCA (1st Respondent) together with Ghana Telecommunications Company Limited (2nd Respondent), SCANCOM PLC (3rd Respondent), AIRTELTIGO Ghana Limited (4th Respondent) while the Attorney General was put on notice.

The applicant as per his case filed on Monday, November 22, 2021, is asking the Court to make an order directing at the 1st Respondent/Respondent to suspend its notice to Mobile network operators directing, instructing, or requesting them to procure, store or use the Applicant's personal information (including the fingerprint of other subscribers), pending the determination of the issues in the originating motion on notice.

The applicant is also seeking the Court to make an order of mandatory injunction firecrest at the 2nd Respondent/Respondent, the 3rd Respondent/Respondent, the 4th Respondent/Respondent to suspend the collection, storage or use of the Applicant's personal information including his fingerprint, iris or facial pattern record or other biometric data or particulars and of other subscribers, pending the determination of the issues on the originating motion on notice.

Any order that the honourable court may deem fit under the circumstances for the protection of the fundamental human rights and freedom of the public at large.

GNA
Member of Parliament (MP) for Tema West, Hon. Carlos Ahenkorah has lambasted TV3 over what he says is a misquotation of his thoughts on the Electronic Transaction Levy (E-Levy) to suit the mischievous interest of the media outlet.

The lawmaker in an interview with TV3s Komla Klutse in Parliament on Wednesday, December 8 stated, No human being or no person likes to pay tax but it is a known fact that taxes are generally appalled by people who are supposed to pay them.

So, what is happening is quite understandable. But to the extent that it has been used to gain some political points or it is being done for political expediency, for me, is very unfortunate.

I will tell you something, I have always been saying that the MoMo tax is not a compulsory tax, you only pay when you use it. If you dont use it you dont pay so for me, there is no way any other procedure for making payments is going to equal MoMo.

Right now, what we are saying is the tax is targeted at those who have the ability to pay, not those who are receiving. If you are receiving it is okay to go and negotiate with the person who has gone to the bank to borrow money and be a MoMo agent, pay money out, otherwise keep the money on your phone and you dont pay any money.

Having cited the headline in the above Twitter post that has gone viral, Carlos Ahenkorah has released a statement accusing TV3 of mischief.

According to him, the headline was skewed by TV3 to mislead Ghanaians.

He indicated that the video posted was heavily edited as well.

My attention has been drawn to a skewed headline by TV3 and cohorts on an interview granted them in Parliament on 8th of December 2021.

I entreat all discerning and well-meaning people to ignore the misleading headline which only does not in any way measure to what I meant and I shudder to understand why after a lengthy and fruitful Interview, TV3 would choose an answer to a question posed as a headline and contort my words to sound imitating to their good viewership. Please ignore this mischief and with the video they posted on their Instagram page which in itself is heavily edited, parts of the Carlos Ahenkorah statement reads.

Below is the statement in full:
Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) are not happy following the government's directive to Ghana Oil Company (GOIL) to reduce fuel prices by 15pesewas.

The OMCs said if government believes it cannot abide by the market rules of the deregulation regime, it should halt the process and revert to the old regime where government subsidises fuel prices as a form of intervention to cushion consumers.

The 175 OMCs argue that government cannot be a player and referee in a field that allows industries to operate business more freely, make decisions efficiently and remove corporate restrictions.

Their reaction follows President Akufo-Addo's alleged directive to GOIL to reduce the price of fuel at the pumps effective Tuesday, December 7.

This was after government held a meeting with transport operators at the Presidency on Monday evening when the latter embarked on a sit-down strike in the morning over the rising cost of fuel prices in Ghana.

"If Government thinks that the foregoing (deregulation regime) cannot be adhered to, we must, as a matter of urgency, halt the Deregulation process and revert to the regulation regime," The Chief Executive Officer of the Association of Oil Marketing Companies (AOMCs) Kwaku Agyemang-Duah said in a letter addressed to the Energy Minister.

The letter intercepted by ModernGhana News stated, "For the purpose of mutual understanding, Deregulation is the process of removing or reducing state regulations, typically in economic sphere or removal or reduction of laws or other demands of Government control. The goals are to allow industries to operate business more freely, make decision efficiently and remove corporate restrictions. The business of Government in deregulated exercise is to ensure the playing field is levelled for all players, which is duly exercised by National Petroleum Authority (NPA). For most of the past six (6) years, that Deregulation has been in vogue, OMCs/LPGMCs have been subsidizing the ex-pump prices with huge recoveries.

"Philippines affords us, as an example of a country which has deregulated its downstream industry with non- govemmental interference even when prices escalated to unimaginable levels a year after deregulation. It is worthy to note that, by this singular purported action of Government, it is not only distorting the market for the other One Hundred and Seventy-Five (175) private OMCs/LPGMCs, Government is thus acting as both a player and a referee."

The AOMCs noted that the cumulative effects of government's actions are threatening the survival of OMCs/LPGMCs.

It added that the directive to Goil, a major downstream player to reduce its ex-pump prices of fuel in a supposed level playing field is dangerous and unfortunate.

The AOMCs in the letter is asking government should immediately withdraw the directive to Goil and desists from ever interfering in the market in one way or the other if the deregulation regime is to succeed.

"Goil will consequently not be efficient and will end up as another 'TOR spectacle'. We of the Association of Oil Marketing Companies (AOMC) on behalf of silent majority of One Hundred and Seventy-Five (175) OMCs /LPGMCs hereby request that: Government INithdraws the directive to Goil and desists from ever interfering in the market in one way or the other if the Deregulation regime is to succeed," the AOMCs emphasised in the letter.
Almost 15 months after the agitation began, triggered by the now-repealed three farm laws, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) on Thursday said they have suspended their protests after positive assurances from the government on their demands, but said a review would be taken on 15 January 2022.

The farmers have said they would vacate the Delhi borders on Saturday and meet again on 15 January 2022. Following a meeting of the SKM in Delhi, farmer leader Gurnam Singh Charuni told the media: We have decided to suspend our agitation. We will hold a review meeting on 15 January 2022. If the government does not fulfil its promises, we could resume our agitation.

The farmers wanted to celebrate on Friday itself, however, in view of the solemn occasion of the funeral of chief of defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, who perished in a helicopter crash with 12 others on Wednesday, the celebrations will take place on Saturday, when the farmers return to their homes. The SKM leaders' meeting started with a two-minute silence for the deceased in the crash.

The letter from the government had been in the making for two days as the farmers demanded additional assurances not mentioned in the earlier two drafts. The current one promises formation of a committee that will include farmers' representatives to discuss how to arrive at the minimum support price (MSP) among other demands.

SKM says, "We dedicate the fabulous and historic victory of the struggle to around 715 martyrs of the movement, including those in Lakhimpur Kheri," adding, "Farmers' unity, peace and patience has been the key to the victory, and this will not be allowed to erode in any circumstance. We shall collectively stay alert and ensure that promises are kept."

Soon after receiving the Union governments revised proposal, the Samyukta Kisan Morcha or SKM, the umbrella body of the farmers union spearheading the protests, huddled into a meeting to chart out the future course of action.

Following the revocation of the law, the Union government had come up with a proposal which the farmers accepted. Based on their demand, the Union government has come out with the same in writing.

Meanwhile, the farmers protesting at the Singhu border have started removing their tents. They were also seen exchanging sweets.

Earlier, Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) national spokesperson Rakesh Tikait told IANS, We are accepting the consensus arrived at by our five-member committee and the government.

On the Lakhimpur Kheri incident not finding a mention in the farmers proposal, Mr Tikait says, So many issues are pending, talks will be held on those issues too. Many demands were also withdrawn.

Asked whether Mission Uttar Pradesh-UP will continue in the poll-bound state, the farmers leader says, Right now, no decision has been taken. We will be able to tell you on the matter only after the model code of conduct comes into force in UP.

Electricity is very expensive in UP. We will soon hold a meeting with state chief minister Yogi Adityanath and put forth our demands, he added.

Replying to a question on whether he will ally with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as in the previous polls, Mr Tikait told the newswire, Lakhimpur Kheri victims are yet to get compensation, even though it was included in our letter. Rate and clearance of sugarcane dues is also a big issue. There are several other issues on which we want to hold talks with the government.

Last month, prime minister (PM) Narendra Modi announced that the Union government has decided to repeal all three farm laws. In an address to the nation, he says, Today I have come to tell you, the whole country, that we have decided to withdraw all three agricultural laws. In the Parliament session starting later this month, we will complete the constitutional process to repeal these three agricultural laws.

Such a sacred thing, absolutely pure, a matter of farmers interest, we could not explain to some farmers despite our efforts. Agricultural economists, scientists, progressive farmers also tried their best to make them understand the importance of agricultural laws, the PM says.

On 29 November 2021, both the houses of the Parliament passed the Farm Laws Repeal Bill 2021 without any discussion amid sloganeering by opposition members.

Last year on 27th Septmber, the president gave his assent to the three farm Bills that were passed in the monsoon session of the Parliament. The three Bills were: the Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020, Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020 and Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill 2020.

However, ahead of these becoming laws and soon after that, farmers across the platforms had embarked on agitation, some of them peaceful, some resulting in damage to government property, including the riotous agitation at the Red Fort on 26 January 2021, and also including the loss of lives of more than 600 farmers at various places during the agitation.

Hundreds of these farmersmost of them from western Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and Haryana under the banner of Samyukt Kisan Morchahave been camping at various entry points to Delhi. They were not buying the Union governments argument that the three farm laws would bring in reforms in the agriculture sector and remove the intermediaries, because of which the small farmers would benefit.

After the farmers agitation erupted, the Supreme Court in January 2021 stayed the three farm laws and appointed a committee, which had submitted its report, which is not yet made public.

The PM pointed out that many initiatives have been taken for farmers to get the right price for their produce in return for their hard work, and the country has strengthened its rural market infrastructure. He says, When I was given the opportunity to serve the country as prime minister in 2014, we gave the highest priority to agriculture development and farmer welfare. We increased the minimum support price (MSP) and created a record number of government procurement centres. The procurement of the produce made by our government has broken the records of the last several decades.

The objective of the three farm laws was that the farmers of the country, especially small farmers, should be strengthened. They should get the right price for their produce and maximum options to sell the produce. These laws were brought for the welfare of farmers, especially small farmers, in the interest of the agriculture sector, for a bright future of gaanv-gareeb - village-poor, with full integrity, clear conscience and dedication towards farmers.

He also announced the formation of a committee to promote zero-budgeting-based agriculture, change crop pattern as per the countrys changing needs, and make MSP more effective and transparent. The committee will have representatives of the Central government, state governments, farmers, agricultural scientists, and agricultural economists.
The Supreme Court has rejected the plea of diplomatic immunity raised by Aircel founder C. Sivasankaran to resist the prosecution in money laundering cases in India, LiveLaw reported.

A bench comprising Justices A.M. Khanwilkar, Dinesh Maheshwari and C.T. Ravikumar dismissed the writ petition filed in 2019 by Sivasankaran, who claimed that he was an Ambassador of the Republic of Seychelles.

The bench noted that the Madras High Court had rejected Sivasankaran's plea for diplomatic immunity in 2019 and that he had filed the writ petition in the Supreme Court without challenging the High Court judgment, the report said.

Further, the bench also took note of a communication from the Seychelles Government to the Ministry of External Affairs in which it was stated that while Sivasankaran was the ambassador-at-large of Seychelles and had a diplomatic passport, his presence in India had no diplomatic purpose.

Senior Advocate Maninder Singh, who appeared for Sivasankaran, submitted that the petitioner was a serving Ambassador of the Republic of Seychelles and he has immunity under the Vienna Convention from criminal proceedings in India.

Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Union Government, relied on the Seychelles Government's communication to submit that Sivasankaran's presence in India was not on official duty.

Taking note of these factors, the bench held that Sivasankaran's claims for diplomatic immunity cannot be accepted. Further, the bench observed that the Madras High Court's judgment "stares at the petitioner". It also expressed its agreement with the views of the Madras High Court, the report said.

Disclaimer: Information, facts or opinions expressed in this news article are presented as sourced from IANS and do not reflect views of Moneylife and hence Moneylife is not responsible or liable for the same. As a source and news provider, IANS is responsible for accuracy, completeness, suitability and validity of any information in this article.
The workers and investors of Sahara together staged a protest against SEBI at the Jantar Mantar here on Wednesday.

The workers and investors are linked to Sahara through some scheme or the other, and have been earning from Sahara India for the past 25-30 years. But due to the embargo imposed on the entire Sahara Group by the Supreme Court over the past eight years owing to the Sahara-SEBI dispute, a situation of delay in payments has arisen, impacting their earnings in a big way, they said.

"So much so that our investors are not giving us new business as their old repayments are delayed. This has led to our income dwindling to near negligible. As a result, lakhs of our 'karyakartas' are now on the brink of starvation and unemployment," they added.

Over the past eight years, SEBI has repaid merely Rs 125 crore, with interest, despite taking out four rounds of advertisements in regional and national newspapers.

In a status report submitted at the beginning of this year with the Supreme Court, Sebi has acknowledged it.

In response to Sebi's advertisement published on March 26, 2018, it received repayment applications from 19,598 investors. These came attached with the original applications. In response, SEBI repaid 16,663 applications, which came to Rs 125 crore with interest. This in itself shows that all the investors didn't approach SEBI for repayment.

"But due to Sebi's stubborn attitude, lakhs of Sahara karyakartas are facing darkness in their lives. When SEBI has no pending repayment left for any investor at present, it should submit an affidavit that it has no investors awaiting repayments. Then it may lead to the Supreme Court lifting the embargo placed over all the Sahara companies, and Sahara receiving the Rs 24,000 crore (with interest) from the Sahara-SEBI account. This will mean regular repayments to all the investors and depositors," the protesters said.

Disclaimer: Information, facts or opinions expressed in this news article are presented as sourced from IANS and do not reflect views of Moneylife and hence Moneylife is not responsible or liable for the same. As a source and news provider, IANS is responsible for accuracy, completeness, suitability and validity of any information in this article.
Indias investor population has almost doubled since the COVID pandemic forced people to work from home in March 2020. The number of retail investors rose by 14.2mn (million) in FY20-21 alone. The significance of this becomes evident when I tell you that our investor population was just 21mn in FY2000-01 (National Council for Applied Economic Research study) and dropped to a mere 0.8mn by 2009 ( Read: Investor Population: Vanishing Investors ) and has suddenly soared after the pandemic.

This vast new investor population has sent stock indices spiralling up with their purchases and initial public offerings (IPOs) are being snapped up at dizzying valuations. In the middle of all this euphoria, the one event that ought to have celebrated this stupendous development went completely unnoticed, and largely unreported, was the celebration of World Investor Week! Yes, this happened at the end of November (22nd-28th).

World Investor Week (WIW) is a global event which is celebrated by securities market regulators worldwide at the behest of International Organisation of Securities Market Commission (IOSCO), says our regulator in a press release. In line with this, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) set up a grand pavilion at the India International Trade Fair in Delhi, called Bharat Ka Share Bazaar to spread awareness and educate investors.

It also ensured that all stocks and commodity exchanges, led by National Stock Exchange (NSE) and the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), along with depositories, market intermediaries, brokerage firms, mutual funds and brokers associations participated in the celebration, probably, with a few business schools, training institutions and listed companies thrown in to drum up an audience. A fun time was apparently had by all, with SEBI and the others having organised quizzes, skits, muppet shows and a display of its investor friendly policies and facilities.

But were investors invited to this party? Apart from press releases by intermediaries, WIW appears to have been a damp squib with absolutely no buzz on social media or reportage in the mainstream media. I checked this with a Google and Twitter search, with appropriate hashtags and keywords, but found only posts and photos from intermediaries publicising the stalls set up at the trade fair. There was almost nothing from, or about, retail investors. Did SEBI, and the club of regulated market intermediaries that it exclusively engages with, forget to invite investors to the party? What would have got new investors flocking to the trade fair at this time?

 Algos: A discussion by SEBI on retail algorithm (algo) trading, which has attracted a vast majority of the new market entrants, would have been a hit. A warning is well warranted, since badly written algos could decimate investors wealth if the market goes through sharp fluctuations. But wait; SEBI has A discussion by SEBI on retail algorithm (algo) trading, which has attracted a vast majority of the new market entrants, would have been a hit. A warning is well warranted, since badly written algos could decimate investors wealth if the market goes through sharp fluctuations. But wait; SEBI has reluctantly begun the process of gathering information from algo writers with a view to regulate algo trading . So that was not on the cards.

 Crypto: The other big rush is to invest in crypto assets. According to SEBIs release, it has been cautioning investors about illegal money mobilization schemes. While it failed to warn investors about such schemes in the regulated space (like Anugrah Stock & Broking, mentioned later), it surely could have held special sessions on cryptos and crypto-exchanges. These digital assets and unregulated exchanges on which they are traded are the biggest advertisers today; The other big rush is to invest in crypto assets. According to SEBIs release, it has been cautioning investors about illegal money mobilization schemes. While it failed to warn investors about such schemes in the regulated space (like Anugrah Stock & Broking, mentioned later), it surely could have held special sessions on cryptos and crypto-exchanges. These digital assets and unregulated exchanges on which they are traded are the biggest advertisers today; social media is awash with videos luring youngsters with high returns. WIW was an excellent opportunity to go all out to caution investors about unregulated exchanges, crypto-currencies and even digital gold. After all, SEBI recently issued a formal warning to registered debenture trustees and investment advisers against offering services on unregulated products. Again, it doesnt seem to have been on the agenda.

 Failed Brokerage Firms: What about a discussion on the raft of brokerage firms that failed and were found to be running dubious Ponzi schemes to ensnare guileless and ignorant investors with the promise of high returns? There have been What about a discussion on the raft of brokerage firms that failed and were found to be running dubious Ponzi schemes to ensnare guileless and ignorant investors with the promise of high returns? There have been 28 broker defaults only in the past two years, inflicting losses that run into a few thousand crores of rupees on investors. This is the highest concentration of defaults since SEBI was set up. Again, it was not part of WIWs celebratory events.

 Commodity Trading and Derivatives: According to a SEBI release, it had conducted 47,000 workshops on commodity derivatives. Yet, this market remains a domain of those who understand commodities and has seen frequent regulatory action, forensic audits of exchanges, ban on certain derivatives contracts and closure of brokerage firms as well as commodity exchanges. There is very little reportage on this market in the English media; so we know very little about the state of investor awareness of grievance redress here.

 SCORES Redress System: Although SEBIs own data shows that it had done very well with grievance redress, I have to constantly o enlighten aggrieved investors about the existence of SEBI Complaint Redress System. ( Although SEBIs own data shows that it had done very well with grievance redress, I have to constantly o enlighten aggrieved investors about the existence of SEBI Complaint Redress System. ( https://scores.gov.in/scores/Welcome.html ). Investors of the 28-odd brokerage firms, including Karvy, Anugrah and others, havent received much help there. Instead, they have been forced to file litigation in various high courts. Maybe a muppet show or a quiz would have explained why a specialised sector regulator, set up nearly 30 years ago, ought to be the last option for investors? It was apparently not on the agenda.

I got around to thinking that if SEBI had spent a tiny fraction of interest on the large corpus of investors funds (unclaimed shares, dividends, mutual funds add up to nearly Rs20,000 crore) under its control to publicise WIW, it would have gone a long way in getting visibility and attracting investors. It was a rare opportunity to meet and engage with SEBI officials and those from exchanges. Maybe, the SEBI chairman, who inaugurated the pavilion, and senior officials could have spent some time talking to ordinary investors too?

Would this have persuaded investors to make a trip to Delhi? Well, investors may not have the same determination as farmers; but I am quite certain that thousands of investors who are part of informal groups fighting for the money they have lost to failed brokers such as Karvy, Anugrah, Modex, BMA Wealth and 25 others would have turned up to meet the regulator and for guidance on how to get their money back.

Instead, these investors, especially those of Anugrah Stock & Broking Pvt Ltd are in court because (NSE has taken the stand that they knowingly invested in what were essentially Ponzi schemes offering high returns under the guise of derivatives advisory services.

But wasnt it NSEs job to ensure that regulated brokerages do not run Ponzi schemes on the Exchange? Werent NSEs annual inspections supposed to catch any shady activity on the part of the brokerage firm? After all, NSE is not like a crypto exchange, although it is just as profitable with an incredibly high operating margin of 73%. Let us rewind a little. In 2014, when it ought to have been investigating Anugrahs inexplicable rise in trading turnover by a breath-taking 2,546%, NSE was congratulating the firm rather than shutting down its Ponzi operations after a proper inspection and investigation. After all, it is such operations and frothy trading that has made the Exchange so profitable.
(Bloomberg) -- The Biden administration shouldnt ban the export of crude oil, a bipartisan group of House lawmakers said in a letter to Biden.

Re-instating the ban on the export of domestic crude oil, which was lifted in 2015, was among the options the White House was considering as it sought ways to address gasoline prices that had been hovering around a seven-year high and have set off political alarm bells at the White House.

But the letter, spearheaded by Representative Henry Cuellar, a Texas Democrat, said the move would have the opposite effect, echoing what many analysts have also said.

Any suggestion that reinstating the crude export ban would lower gasoline prices is misguided, due to the likely spike in international crude prices, which many U.S. refineries process, said the letter, which was also signed by Democratic Representatives Vicente Gonzalez and Filemon Vela, both of Texas, and Democrat Sanford Bishop of Georgia. It was also signed by Texas Republicans Representatives August Pfluger, Roger Williams, Tony Gonzales and Representative Carol Miller, a Republican from West Virginia.

President Joe Biden announced last month that he planned to release 50 million barrels of crude from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve in concert with China, Japan, India, South Korea and the U.K. -- in an unprecedented, coordinated attempt by the worlds largest oil consumers to tame rising costs.

Since then the price of oil has dropped because of concern about the new omicron variant of Covid-19 and the White House is not actively considering a crude oil export ban at this time, according to a person familiar with the administrations deliberations.

Other negative effects of a ban on crude oil exports include straining international relationships, discouraging domestic production, and creating an imbalance between refining capacity and domestic production, the lawmakers wrote.

Its possible support for a ban could rise should crude oil prices rebound again, and several Democratic lawmakers have pressed the Biden administration to make that move.

This is something that were very concerned about and something were raising to the highest levels of our government, Mike Sommers, the chief executive of the American Petroleum Institute said Tuesday at an international oil conference taking place in Houston. I think were making great progress with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to communicate this.

2021 Bloomberg L.P.
The temperatures were mild Wednesday, but the freezing temperatures of Februarys Winter Storm Uri were not far from the thoughts of Texas oil and gas operators and electric grid operators.

In the aftermath of Uris impact on the states energy industry  from the wellhead to the light switch  the industry is eager to show how they are preparing for future severe weather events. To that end, the Texas Oil and Gas Association led a Winterready winterization press tour of Ovintiv and Diamondback Energy production facilities in Midland County.

Ovinitiv said that it had approximately 80 percent of its production still online on Feb. 14 when power to its facilities was lost, knocking production offline. Likewise, Diamondback had 90 percent of its production still online when power was lost. Diamondback added that when third-party partners which take the companys crude, water and natural gas production also lost power, the company had no choice but to shut in wells. Since the liquids come out of the wellhead at 100 to 150 degrees, they would have continued to flow if not for the loss of power, Diamondback personnel said.

Diamondback has used an extensive winterization checklist since 2014 and at its Gridiron North battery, personnel showed some of those measures, including insulating meters, injecting methanol into the pipes, which acts much as antifreeze does in automobiles, and building shelters for its equipment. The bottoms of the vessels will also be insulated. Approximately 95 percent of Diamondbacks production is carried through pipes that are buried at least 3 feet underground, insulating them from extreme temperatures. The Gridiron North battery takes in production from nine wells to the west, with 10 additional wells expected to come online.

At Ovintivs Abbie Laine site, personnel displayed the methanol injection atomizers, insulation to be placed around meters and infrared thermometers and cameras linked to iPhones and iPads to alert field personnel to temperature changes. A number of Ovintizs Permian Basin field personnel came from the companys Colorado operations, so they are used to cold weather.

Ovintiv pointed out that production is actually more vulnerable to downtime in the summer months, which bring electrical storms, rain, high winds and high temperatures.

Both companies said efforts are also made to station personnel closer to the sites in case of issues, but only if its not dangerous for them to travel to the site.

The events in February show how complex the supply chain is and how failure of one part will affect all the other pieces, said Todd Staples, president of TXOGA. Its a complex supply chain to move natural gas from the Permian Basin 600 miles, he said.

The operators have built a great depth of winterization technology  methanol injection, insulation, windbreaks, Staples said.

Staples said one of the benefits coming from the legislation enacted after the storm was significant improvement in communications between operators, processers, power generators and grid operators. Facilities like Ovintivs Abbie Raine and Diamondbacks Gridiron North are now eligible to receive critical load designation, something he called a game-changer that will alert power distributors like Oncor and Texas New Mexico Power that they should not lose electricity in load-shedding events. Staples praised the Railroad Commissions efforts in seeing that companies list their facilities.

There is a mapping project, led by the commission, Public Utility Commission and Electric Reliability Council of Texas, to map all assets that make up the electric supply chain. Though that project is not due to end until next September, Staples said the current critical designation effort plus the mapping equals mandatory winterization.
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP)  Former North Carolina U.S. Rep. Renee Ellmers announced Wednesday that she will seek a congressional comeback.

The former Republican congresswoman who has been a staunch ally and early supporter of former President Donald Trump said in a news release that she is 100% on board with President Trumps Make America Great agenda, a political framework she called desperately needed.

Ellmers wrote on Twitter that she would formally file for the 4th Congressional District on Friday, but that was upended late Wednesday afternoon when the state Supreme Court directed elections officials to hold the 2022 primaries for all offices on May 17 instead of March 8.

The 4th District includes many communities Ellmers represented from 2011 to 2017. The newly drawn district also includes her home in Harnett County.

Despite having the backing of Trump, Ellmers lost her 2016 primary reelection bid by nearly 30 percentage points after being placed in a district where she had to compete against Rep. George Holding, another sitting Republican member of Congress. She also ran unsuccessfully for lieutenant governor in 2020, when she placed fifth in a field of nine candidates in a race that current GOP Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson decisively won.

Ellmers, who was the first congresswoman to support then-candidate Donald Trump and now works as a registered nurse, will run in one of three U.S. House districts expected to be somewhat competitive in November 2022, though Republicans are expected to win the seat.

Joe Biden is trying to tear apart the very foundations on which this country was formed," she said in a statement. We need experienced people to counter his agenda of destruction on Capitol Hill and Im ready to go and be part of that fight to get our country back on track.

State Rep. John Szoka, a Cumberland County Republican, is among the small handful of candidates who has already filed for the GOP primary. Former Fayetteville Mayor Nat Robertson also submitted his paperwork with the state.

Bo Hines, a former North Carolina State University wide receiver and forceful Trump loyalist, this summer announced a bid for a congressional seat in the surrounding Greensboro area before the GOP unveiled its newly drawn maps. He is backed by North Carolina Rep. Madison Cawthorn.

If U.S. Senate candidate and former Rep. Mark Walker decides to run in the district Hines had announced his candidacy for, Hines may move to the 4th district, where he could compete against Ellmers, according to a document obtained by The Associated Press that Cawthorn handed Trump over the weekend.

The handout titled Congressman Cawthorn's plan for North Carolina lists Hines in the 4th District and Walker in the 7th. But Wednesday's announcement from the state Supreme Court will delay the filing period, which had begun on Wednesday for U.S. House and North Carolina General Assembly candidates.

Hines has not yet filed with the State Board of Elections, and his campaign did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.

Candidate filing was set to end Dec. 17, but the filing period is now delayed in light of the Supreme Court's decision. The court ordered the primary pushed back to give state courts time to consider legal challenges from groups accusing Republicans of drawing maps that are partisan and racial gerrymanders.

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Follow Anderson on Twitter at https://twitter.com/BryanRAnderson.

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Anderson is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP)  New Zealand's government believes it has come up with a unique plan to end tobacco smoking  a lifetime ban for those aged 14 or younger.

Under a new law the government announced Thursday and plans to pass next year, the minimum age to buy cigarettes would keep rising year after year.

That means, in theory at least, 65 years after the law takes effect, shoppers could still buy cigarettes  but only if they could prove they were at least 80 years old.

In practice, officials hope smoking will fade away decades before then. Indeed, the plan sets a goal of having fewer than 5% of New Zealanders smoking by 2025.

Other parts of the plan include allowing only the sale of tobacco products with very low nicotine levels and slashing the number of stores that can sell them. The changes would be brought in over time to help retailers adjust.

Because the current minimum age to buy cigarettes in New Zealand is 18, the lifetime smoking ban for youth wouldn't have an impact for a few years.

In an interview with The Associated Press, New Zealand's Associate Health Minister Dr. Ayesha Verrall, who is spearheading the plan, said her work at a public hospital in Wellington involved telling several smokers they had developed cancer.

You meet, every day, someone facing the misery caused by tobacco, Verrall said. The most horrible ways people die. Being short of breath, caused by tobacco."

Smoking rates have steadily fallen in New Zealand for years, with only about 11% of adults now smoking and 9% smoking every day. The daily rate among Indigenous Maori remains much higher at 22%. Under the government's plan, a taskforce would be created to help reduce smoking among Maori.

Big tax increases have already been imposed on cigarettes in recent years and some question why they aren't hiked even higher.

We dont think tax increases will have any further impact," Verrall said. "Its really hard to quit and we feel if we did that, we'd be punishing those people who are addicted to cigarettes even more.

And she said the tax measures tend to place a higher burden on lower-income people, who are more likely to smoke.

The new law wouldn't impact vaping. Verrall said that tobacco smoking is far more harmful and remains a leading cause of preventable deaths in New Zealand, killing up to 5,000 people each year.

We think vaping's a really appropriate quit tool, she said.

The sale of vaping products is already restricted to those aged 18 and over in New Zealand and vaping is banned in schools. Verrall said there was some evidence of a rise in youth vaping, a trend she is following really closely.

New Zealand's approach to ban the next generation from tobacco smoking hasn't been tried elsewhere, she said.

But she said studies have shown youth sales decrease when minimum ages are raised. In the U.S., the federal minimum age to buy tobacco products was raised from 18 to 21 two years ago.

While public health experts have generally welcomed the New Zealand plan, not everybody is happy.

Sunny Kaushal said some stores could be put out of business. Kaushal chairs the Dairy and Business Owners Group, which represents nearly 5,000 corner stores  often called dairies in New Zealand  and gas stations.

We all want a smoke-free New Zealand, he said. But this is going to hugely impact small businesses. It should not be done so it is destroying dairies, lives and families in the process. It's not the way.

Kaushal said the tax increases on tobacco had already created a black market that was being exploited by gangs, and the problem would only get worse. He said smoking was already in its twilight in New Zealand and would die away of its own accord.

This is being driven by academics, he said, adding that stakeholders hadn't been consulted.

But Verrall said she didn't believe the government was overreaching because statistics showed the vast majority of smokers wanted to quit anyway, and the new policies would only help them achieve their goal.

She said the pandemic had helped people gain a new appreciation for the benefits of public health measures and rallying communities, and that perhaps that energy could be harnessed not only to tackle smoking but also diseases like diabetes.

Verrall said she had never smoked herself but her late grandmother did, and it likely compromised her health.

It's a really cruel product, Verrall said.
A Midland County jury stated that David Wilson is not guilty of murder in the shooting death of Officer Nathan Hayden Heidelberg.

The verdict came after around 90 minutes of deliberations as the jury was sent off to deliberate at 4:25 p.m. after emotional and dramatic closing arguments. The jurys decision marked the end of the one of the most high-profile cases in recent Midland County history.

Defense attorney Brian Carney said Wilson is very relieved and grateful for the outcome.

Its nice that this case is finally over, and that the jury saw the true facts, Carney stated.

District Attorney Laura Nodolf said she had always believed that this case should be tried by a jury that would weigh the evidence and hold trial participants to the burden of proof. While she said her office hoped for a different result because a policeman died, perhaps the message is that we should all be responsible gun owners.

The closing of the case

Before the case was sent to the jury for deliberations, the defense called several character witnesses to attest to Wilsons honesty and peaceable, law-abiding nature, which provided him with a good reputation in both Midland and Snyder, his hometown. The jury heard from former employer and partner Carl Smith (co-founder of Ira Pump and Supply), JaLynn Hogan (executive director of High Sky Childrens Ranch), engineer Angel Valles, former Midland City Councilman Berry Simpson, Snyder dairy farmer Will Collier, oilmen Todd Cage and Dale Redman.

Judge Tryon Lewis read the 22-page court charge that included the law of self-defense, use of deadly force, the presumption of reasonable belief, the felony offense of deadly conduct, the defense of third party and the defense of personal property.

Since more than six days of trial had featured numerous projected images, closing arguments followed suit. For the state, prosecutor Andrew Van Der Hoeven presented a power point that further illustrated the court charge. First slide showed three ways to commit murder: 1) intentionally or knowingly kill; 2) intend to cause serious bodily injury; 3) intentionally commit deadly conduct that causes death. He commented that fear and panic are not a license to kill. As he ran through the timeline of the events of March 5, 2019, he said that the castle doctrine did not apply in this case nor did defense of property since the doorbell was rung.

Defense attorney Daniel Hurleys first power point slide focused on the case from Wilsons point of view that night, not in hindsight. He told the jury the situation doesnt have to be actual, just apparent and what the defendant perceived. He said that when police procedure and the castle doctrine are opposed, the jury is bound to follow Texas strong castle doctrine. It also overrides gun safety concerns. Furthermore, Hurley stated, Wilson had the right to use deadly force against force, in this case, the push of the front door lever, which occurred twice.

Defense attorney Brian Carney sobbed as he revealed he had known Heidelberg. He was also a former neighbor of Wilson, and he blamed the state for subjecting both families to this trial. Stating fear can make you do things you otherwise wouldnt do, Carney reminded jurors of the soundproof walls, the 40-foot distance from the master closet to the front door, the fight or flight response of Wilsons body when he realized the threat at the front door was between him and his daughters bedrooms, and the refraction of light bouncing off decorative mirrors into his eyes.

Regarding the initial interviews with Ranger Cody Allen, Carney said the Texas Ranger was unable to rule out the possibility that the defendant couldnt hear the MPD announcement or the fear he had about an attempted unlawful entry. PPO Victoria Allee told the Allen much the same thing about the defendants fear.

Carney concluded by saying that the verdict cannot be about the death of a police officer or what jurors themselves would have done. Deliberations must focus on Wilsons point of view.

District Attorney Laura Nodolf gave a dramatic speech with slides asking what ordinary and prudent people would do. She reminded jurors that all reasonable doubt, not all possible doubt is the standard they must agree on. She acknowledged one can be afraid of a lot of things, but not justified to act. She concluded by saying that the defendant decided he was going to shoot whatever was out there when he exited the closet.

A packed courtroom, including a blue line of at least two dozen uniform-clad MPD officers and Chief Seth Herman, heard closing arguments. For the entirety of the trial, both sides of the aisle had been full of relatives, friends and associates of the two families. All of a sudden, it was standing room only.
Bias is a funny thing. You cant see it until you acknowledge it. Biological sciences instructor Brigitte Morin challenges students to shine a light on the cognitive elephant in the room.

In this Michigan Tech Unscripted essay, Morin, an award-winning senior lecturer, shares her teaching approach  and lessons personally learned  about the science of bias and how the ingrained belief systems we all bring to the table historically and currently affect vaccination conversations.

About the Author Brigitte Morin bemorin@mtu.edu

906-487-3373 Teaching Interests Clinical Lab Techniques

Clinical Immunology and Serology

Human Anatomy and Physiology

Human Nutrition

Parasitology Researcher Profile

Two conversations regarding vaccination: One, with a close family member, ends with said relative making a trip all the way from North Carolina to the Upper Peninsula but leaving my address off her itinerary. Another, with a Wisconsin local, results in mutual agreement to switch topics and chat about local sites of interest instead.

My stance on vaccination is clear and unmoving  they work, they save lives, theyre safe. Getting your COVID-19 shot isnt an option, its an obligation to help keep our immunocompromised community members safe and get us past this pandemic. My views stem from almost 10 years as an educator of all things immunology, a degree in medical laboratory science, and a thorough understanding of the scientific methods twists and turns when tracking a pandemic.

Morin receives her 2018 Distinguished Teaching Award from Michigan Tech President Rick Koubek.

Bias is always present but not always negative. A kind of mental shortcut that continuously influences the way we interact with the world, biases help us avoid information overload and make decisions more rapidly. But sometimes bias leads us down a path thats unnecessary, fear-inducing and illogical. Say you take a trip to New York City and your wallet is stolen on the subway. From then on, your brain tells you New York and cities in general arent safe. Your experience led you to form a cognitive bias that might not be true. Your experience is certainly valid  getting pickpocketed is no fun!  but allowing that experience to dictate your outlook on urban travel diminishes your freedom. To layer the complexity of this human condition, say a friend travels to Chicago and loses their purse. All you can think is, I told you so!  bias confirmed thanks to anecdotal evidence.

This process of forming and solidifying biases happens every day. None of us are immune. Much of the time were unaware because most biases are subconscious. It takes an event or conversation to bring them to light. However, once confronted with information that contradicts our own interpretation of the world, its our responsibility to investigate  because new information and different perspectives are how we solve big challenges, like keeping us all healthy.

"Personal growth and universal well-being come from a willingness to learn, unlearn and relearn in order to do better over and over again." Brigitte Morin

The Scientific Method Helps Us Understand Vaccination Pushback

The arguments surrounding vaccinations, including COVID-19 and many others throughout history, present a fantastic opportunity to illuminate the role biases play in our beliefs and interactions with others. An entire week of my summer Current Health Issues course is dedicated to the anti-vaccination argument, the anti-science that fuels it and how to have a conversation surrounding the topic when you and your buddy are polar opposites.

We begin with immunology basics, including how vaccinations were developed, how they stimulate the immune system and how immunity changes over time. We investigate the many types of vaccinations, including how mRNA vaccines work. The background leads us to the real meat of the module, addressing up-front the biases that contribute to the anti-vaccination movement. Inspired by Hank Greens popular and informative SciShow episode, The Science of Anti-Vaccination, students learn how to identify and define biases and understand how biases play a significant role in hesitancy to vaccinate.

The week culminates in a mock debate with students randomly situated on either side of the argument. When confronted with an anti-vaccination argument, pro-vaccination debaters are asked to identify their opponents' bias. For example, if an anti-vaccination proponent states, Vaccines are just ways for pharmaceutical companies to make money, the pro-vaccination proponent would (hopefully!) rebut the statement by saying, Oh, interesting, it seems that your big-business bias is playing a role here. The rebuttal continues with a scientifically supported counterstatement to solidify their statement. Then, students switch sides.

Down the Anti-Vax Rabbit Hole (Armed with a CRAAP Test)

In order to gather and understand various anti-vaccination arguments, students are asked to scour the internet for sites surrounding the topic. Earlier in the course, they learned how to evaluate credible sources by applying the CRAAP Test to evaluate how current, reliable and authoritative content is, asking what its purpose and point of view are. Inevitably, students come across blogs, Twitter posts and Facebook tirades that most often stem from unsupported anecdotes (The vaccine gave my husband testicular cancer.) or feature science-like statements linked to redacted studies (for example, the Wakefield Lancet study linking autism to the MMR vaccine, which has long since been disproven). Other content may purport a belief that vaccination isnt natural and that contracting the disease in the real world is a safer way of being exposed (hello, naturalness bias!).

The anti-vaccination movement is old and deep. It doesnt take much time on the internet to land yourself in a space where the voices against vaccination are loud, determined and looking for an audience whose biases they can feed. In these spaces, the real work begins  the work of staying open to listening without immediately shutting down while staying confident in the science informing us that vaccines are safe and save lives, and that now, more than ever, we each need to do our part.

Do our class debates make a difference? Change anyones mind? I cant make direct attributions about our courseworks outcome, but there is evidence that family and friends are, in general, strong influencers in convincing loved ones to get vaccinated. None of my students have reported making vaccine proponents out of opponents. But, they have told me that understanding bias psychology helps them have conversations where they listen without immediately reacting; engage in confident discourse supported by science and softened by compassion; and recognize that in order to grow as humans, we must be willing to acknowledge and unpack our biases. If nothing else, I hope it helps prevent them from knee-jerk Facebook-blocking their opposing-view-holding great aunt and burning familial bridges.

Eventually this pandemic will end. Families will sit around the dinner table to celebrate birthdays and weddings. And the arguments that come up, although still biased, will revolve around who picked on who more when they were growing up. I truly hope that relationships strained over vaccination status will heal  including my own.

Michigan Technological University is a public research university founded in 1885 in Houghton, Michigan, and is home to more than 7,000 students from 55 countries around the world. Consistently ranked among the best universities in the country for return on investment, the University offers more than 125 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in science and technology, engineering, computing, forestry, business and economics, health professions, humanities, mathematics, social sciences, and the arts. The rural campus is situated just miles from Lake Superior in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, offering year-round opportunities for outdoor adventure.
Temperatures across west-central Illinois have been on the warmer side for this time of year, a trend weather experts say will continue through Christmas and into the new year.

"We are looking at a mild winter," said Mike Albano, meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Lincoln. "It's pretty unusual but not rare."

As the weekend approaches, temperatures are expected to creep up into the 60s, with possible storms rolling in overnight Friday and continuing through Saturday to cool the region back into the 50s.

However, by midweek, the area is likely to see temperatures around 70 degrees Fahrenheit, which isn't common for mid-December.

"We will definitely be breaking some records next week," Albano said.

Precipitation in west-central Illinois is looking to be on the higher side in coming months, Albano said, adding that the area could see more thunderstorms than snow.

"The outlook for a white Christmas is terrible," Albano said. "We have a signal for a mild stretch and a wet pattern."

Cooler temperatures will be apparent during the evening hours, but nothing like recent years.

"We'll be on the fringe of freezing temperatures," as the new year rolls in, he said.

But don't rule out snow in January or February.

"If the jet stream moves slightly south we could see a storm or two that could bring 4 to 6 inches of snow," Albano said. "There's the chance of multiple storms in the beginning of 2022," though they mostly will involve rain.

Outside of the Midwest, temperatures also are leaning toward the warmer side.

Accuweather.com is reporting that normal highs in the 20s, 30s and 40s for this time of year will be swapped for highs in the 50s, 60s and 70s.

Temperatures from southern Texas heading northeast toward Indiana are expected to be from 10 to 20 degrees Fahrenheit warmer than in normal years. Stretching from northern Texas north toward Minneapolis will experience temperatures from 20 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit above normal.

For the Jacksonville area, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reports that monthly temperatures from 1991 to 2020 averaged 32.2 degrees Fahrenheit with a mean maximum of 41.2 degrees Fahrenheit and a mean low of 23.3 degrees Fahrenheit.
Journal-Courier

The South Jacksonville Board of Trustees is scheduled to meet in special session at 6 p.m. today in Village Hall, 301 Dewey Drive.

Among the items on the agenda ae:
BANGKOK (AP)  Outrage spread on social media in Myanmar on Wednesday over images and accounts of the alleged killing and burning of 11 villagers captured by government troops in the country's northwest.

Photos and a video of charred corpses in Done Taw village in Sagaing region circulated widely Tuesday. They were said to be have been taken shortly after the men were killed and their bodies set on fire.

The material could not be independently verified. An account given to The Associated Press by a person who said he went to the scene generally matched descriptions of the incident carried by independent Myanmar media.

The government has not commented on the allegations. If confirmed, they would be the latest atrocity in an increasingly bitter struggle following the military's seizure of power in February and ouster of the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi.

The takeover was initially met with nonviolent street protests, but after police and soldiers used lethal force against demonstrators, violence escalated as opponents of military rule took up arms in self defense.

The witness who spoke to the AP said about 50 troops marched into Done Taw village at about 11 a.m. Tuesday, seizing anyone who did not manage to flee.

They arrested 11 innocent villagers, said the witness, who described himself as a farmer and an activist and asked to remain anonymous for his own safety,

He added that the captured men were not members of the locally organized Peoples Defense Force, which sometimes engages the army in combat. He said the captives had their hands tied behind them and were set on fire.

He did not give a reason for the soldiers' assault. Accounts in Myanmar media said they appeared to have acted in retaliation for an attack earlier that morning by Peoples Defense Force members.

Other witnesses cited in Myanmar media said the victims were members of a defense force, though the witness who spoke to the AP described them as members of a less formally organized village protection group.

There are resistance activities in the cities and the countryside, but the fighting is deadliest in rural areas where the army can unleash greater force against its targets. In recent months the struggle has been sharpest in Sagaing and other areas of the northwest.

U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric expressed deep concern at the reports of the horrific killing of 11 people and strongly condemned such violence, saying credible reports indicate that five children were among those people killed.

Dujarric reminded Myanmars military authorities of their obligations under international law to ensure the safety and protection of civilians and called for those responsible for this heinous act to be held accountable.

He reiterated the U.N.s condemnation of violence by Myanmars security forces and stressed that this demands a unified international response. As of Dec. 8, he said, security forces have killed more than 1,300 unarmed individuals, including more than 75 children, through their use of lethal force or while in their custody since the military takeover on Feb. 1.

The alleged killing in Done Taw was sharply decried by Myanmars underground National Unity Government, which has established itself as the countrys alternative administrative body in place of the military-installed government.

On the 7th of December in Sagaing region, sickening scenes reminiscent of the Islamic State terrorist group bore witness to the the militarys escalation of their acts of terror, the organizations spokesperson, Dr. Sasa, said in a statement.

The sheer brutality, savagery, and cruelty of these acts shows a new depth of depravity, and proves that, despite the pretense of the relative detente seen over the last few months, the junta never had any intention of deescalating their campaign of violence, said Sasa, who uses one name.

The allegations follow Monday's conviction of Suu Kyi on charges of incitement and violating coronavirus restrictions and sentencing to four years in prison, which was quickly cut in half. The court's action was widely criticized as a further effort by the countrys military rulers to roll back the democratic gains of recent years.

In New York, the U.N. Security Council on Wednesday expressed deep concern" at the sentencing of Suu Kyi, ousted President Win Myint and others and reiterated previous calls for the release of all those arbitrarily detained since the Feb. 1 military takeover.

The members of the Security Council once again stressed their continued support for the democratic transition in Myanmar, and underlined the need to uphold democratic institutions and processes, refrain from violence, pursue constructive dialogue and reconciliation in accordance with the will and interests of the people of Myanmar, fully respect human rights and fundamental freedoms and uphold the rule of law," a council statement said.
WASHINGTON (AP)  President Joe Biden expressed alarm at a backward slide of democracy around the globe on Thursday, calling on fellow world leaders to work with him to bolster democratic institutions as his administration grows increasingly concerned about China's and Russia's push for global influence.

Biden's comments to more than 100 leaders at the White House's first virtual Summit for Democracy came as they pointed to a host of challenges confronting democracies, including corruption, inequality, and limitations on press freedom. The leaders also expressed increasing worry about the perils of disinformation and strengthening autocracies.

Will we allow the backward slide of rights and democracy to continue unchecked? Biden asked. Or will we together -- together -- have a vision ... and courage to once more lead the march of human progress and human freedom forward?

He didnt mention either China or Russia by name. But he has repeatedly made a case that the U.S. and like-minded allies need to show the world that democracies are a far better vehicle for societies than autocracies. It is a central tenet of Bidens foreign policy outlook  one that he vowed would be more outward looking than his predecessor Trumps America First approach.

Biden underscored that even long-established democracies, like the United States, haven't been immune to the strains, and he called the moment an inflection point in history.

Local elected officials are resigning at an alarming rate amid confrontations with angry voices at school board meetings, elections offices and town halls. States are passing laws to limit access to the ballot, making it more difficult for Americans to vote. And the Jan. 6 attack at the Capitol has left many in Donald Trumps Republican Party clinging to his false claims of a stolen election, eroding trust in the accuracy of the vote.

Here in the United States we know as well as anyone that renewing our democracy and strengthening our democratic institutions requires constant effort, Biden said..

Beyond rhetoric, the president announced he was launching an initiative to spend up to $424 million for programming around the world that supports independent media, anti-corruption work and more.

Thursday's video gathering drew backlash from the United States chief adversaries and other nations that were not invited.

The ambassadors to the U.S. from China and Russia wrote a joint essay describing the Biden administration as exhibiting a Cold-War mentality that will stoke up ideological confrontation and a rift in the world. The administration also faced scrutiny over how it went about deciding which countries to invite. China and Russia were among those that did not receive invitations.

Other leaders at the summit delivered their own remarks on the state of democracy  many prerecorded  often reflecting on the stress that rapidly evolving technology is having on their nations. They also bemoaned the increase of disinformation campaigns aimed at undermining institutions and elections.

The democratic conversation is changing, said Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen. New technologies and large tech companies are increasingly setting the stage for the democratic dialogue, sometimes with more emphasis on reach than on freedom of speech.

The summit comes as Biden is pressing Russia's Vladimir Putin to step back after a massive buildup of troops on the Ukraine border that has created growing concern in Washington and European capitals as well as Ukraine itself. Biden on Wednesday said that he warned Putin of severe consequences if Russia invaded.

Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who took part in Thursdays summit and later spoke by phone with Biden, said on Twitter, Democracy is not a given, it must be fought for."

Poland's Andrzej Duda spoke out against Russia in his address, decrying Moscow and its support of Belarus.

Poland and Western allies have accused Russian ally Belarus of using migrants as pawns to destabilize the European Union in retaliation for its sanctions on his authoritarian regime. Hundreds of migrants, mostly from the Middle East, have flocked to the Belarus-Poland border.

Poland took on a commitment to be a support for democracy in Eastern Europe, Duda said. It is a beautiful task, but it has its consequences. It has made us the target of the Kremlin propaganda.

Putin made no public comment on the summit Thursday as he took part in his own video call with members of the Kremlin council for human rights.

Biden has said passage of his ambitious domestic agenda at home  the $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill he signed into law, as well as the roughly $2 trillion Build Back Better Act of social and climate change initiatives moving through the Senate  will demonstrate how democracy can improve peoples lives.

Some advocates also want Biden to focus more on shoring up democracy at home. One early test came Thursday as the House approved the Protecting Our Democracy Act, the third in a trio of bills  alongside the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act  largely backed by Democrats. All three are expected to be stalled by Republicans in the Senate.

Here in the United States, we know that our democracy is not immune from threats," Vice President Kamala Harris said in remarks to close out the first day of the summit. Jan. 6 looms large in our collective conscience, and the anti-voter laws that many states have passed are part of an intentional effort to exclude Americans from participating in our democracy.

The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, said in its annual report that the number of countries experiencing democratic backsliding has never been as high as the past decade, with the U.S. added to the list along with India and Brazil.

Chinese officials have offered a stream of public criticism about the summit. They have also expressed outrage over the administration inviting Taiwan to take part. China claims the self-governing island as part of its territory and objects to it having contacts on its own with foreign governments.

Pakistans Prime Minister Imran Khan declined to attend the conference. In a statement issued ahead of the meeting, the foreign ministry said, "We value our partnership with the U.S., which we wish to expand both bilaterally as well as in terms of regional and international cooperation.

Yet Pakistans relationship with the U.S. has been fraught with suspicion on both sides. Islamabad has balked at Washingtons often-stated criticism that Pakistan has not been a reliable partner in the war on terror, accusing it of harboring the Taliban even as that group fought a U.S.-led coalition. Pakistan says it has lost 70,000 people to the war on terror since 2001 and is ready to be a partner in peace but not in war.

Other uninvited countries have shown their displeasure. Hungary, the only European Union member not invited, tried unsuccessfully to block the EU Commission's president from speaking on behalf of the bloc at the summit. Last year, Biden referred to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban as a thug.

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto dismissed the summit as a domestic political-type of event where countries whose leaders had a good relationship with Trump were not invited.

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Associated Press writers Lisa Mascaro in Washington, Justin Spike in Budapest, Munir Ahmed in Islamabad, Vladimir Isachenkov in Moscow and video producer Liu Zheng in Beijing contributed to this report.
To Illinois prisoners, commissary is more than candy bars, shaving cream and socks. It represents normality and choice.

Its everything to them, said Melly Rios, whose husband is in Stateville Correctional Center, serving 45 years for murder.

A report from the John Howard Association, a prison watchdog group, has detailed widespread supply shortages at Illinois Department of Corrections prison commissaries around the state.

Soap, deodorant, detergent, writing materials, thermal shirts, socks, underwear and canned meat and noodles all are in short supply.

Its not like luxury items like candy bars or the hot new Christmas gift. These commissaries provide items that are basic necessities, said Alan Mills, executive director of Uptown Peoples Law Center. Mills has litigated prisoner civil rights cases for more than 40 years.

The report did not mention the minimum-security Jacksonville Correctional Center specifically, but did include comments from prisoners at nearby Western Illinois Correctional Center in Mount Sterling.

"Today is day number 57 and I still haven't gotten any toothpaste. ... A friend of mine that's on C-grade (privilege-restricted) came by and asked me if I could help him with laundry liquid to wash his work clothes but I didn't have any to spare because I ain't been to the store and I felt so bad because I always helped him in the past with stuff. He keeps asking ... and they keep giving them the run around," one prisoner at Western Illinois Correctional Center wrote.

Another person at the prison said the commissary was out of hygiene products such as toothpaste and toilet paper and many food items, "even Ramen noodles ... not just one flavor, but all flavors."

An Illinois Department of Corrections spokesman wrote in an email that COVID-19 has impacted global supply chains, leading to shortages. Essential raw materials are not making it to distribution centers and there is a shortage of workers in manufacturing centers and logistic companies, she wrote.

But the John Howard report released this week points to a new vendor and a contentious bidding process. In June, Keefe Group was awarded the contract for the entire Illinois Department of Corrections system. The contract award was contested by another vendor that was not awarded the contract. The corrections department then contracted on an emergency basis with Keefe to provide items.

Jennifer Vollen-Katz, executive director for the John Howard Association, believes both things are contributing to the shortages.

I think that its a combination of those things, Vollen-Katz said, "but its confounding to me why it has taken so long to resolve.

Illinois Department of Corrections received approval and entered into five emergency contracts with vendors, according to a department spokesman. The department expects the expanded contracts and more available avenues for purchasing will allow for the restocking of prison commissaries.

Two weeks ago, Illinois Department of Corrections distributed bags of food and hygiene items, toothpaste and brushes, in care packages to all prisoners.

Its a nice short-term solution, Mills said. But with an agency facing staffing shortages and a global pandemic, Mills said this should be an easy fix.

Under current security protocols, care packages from the public cannot be accepted at prisons. The John Howard Association put forth the suggestion to allow friends and family members of prisoners to purchase care packages from already approved vendors so they could be shipped directly to prisoners.

Right now, that is not approved, but we hope they will consider it, Vollen-Katz said.

Rios told Capitol News Illinois in a phone call that she talks to her husband every day. As she headed home late Tuesday to call him, she raised her voice to speak over the traffic noise. Shes worried, she said. Hes lost weight since he is unable to get noodles and canned meat.

But its more than that. Its his state of mind at losing one more thing, she said.

I know many people may think that they are bad people, but if you are going to put them in there, you have to take care of them, Rios said. I have to be his voice. Its the only one he has right now.
HERAT, Afghanistan (AP)  Since the Taliban took over Afghanistan more than three and a half months ago amid a chaotic withdrawal of U.S. and NATO troops, their fighters have changed roles, from insurgents fighting in the mountains and fields to an armed force running the country.

Many Taliban foot soldiers now have new jobs: manning checkpoints on the streets and carrying out security patrols in and around Afghan cities and towns. Last month, several Taliban fighters posed for portrait photographs for The Associated Press on nighttime patrols and at checkpoints in the western city of Herat.

One of them, 21-year-old Ahmad Wali, was on patrol in the village of Kamar Kalagh, north of Herat. A student in an Islamic religious school known as a madrassa, he said he joined the Taliban because he believed in the teachings of the Quran and was against the American presence in his country and against the previous Afghan government, which was widely criticized for corruption.

Now, he said, he is very busy with his new responsibilities providing security in the area he was assigned to. He hopes both he and his country will have a bright future, and said he was 99% sure better days will come for all people in Afghanistan.

After the Taliban takeover in mid-August, Afghanistans already dilapidated and aid-dependent economy careened into full-blown crisis. The international community has withheld hundreds of millions of dollars in financing that the country of 38 million people relied on. Billions of dollars in Afghan assets abroad have been frozen.

Afghanistans banking system has been largely cut off from the world, and the new Taliban rulers have been largely unable to pay salaries, while jobs across the economy have disappeared.

Women have been mostly barred from the job market, except in certain professions, and from a high school education, while tens of thousands of people, including highly educated professionals, have fled or are trying to flee Afghanistan, leading to a massive brain drain.

____

Associated Press writer Elena Becatoros in Kabul, Afghanistan, contributed to this report.

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VIRGINIA Virginia ninth- through 12th-graders have been switched to remote learning for the rest of the week in an attempt to prevent a large quarantine as COVID-19 infections and close contacts within the high school continue to rise, according to school officials.

Superintendent Gary DePatis and Cass County Health Department officials discussed the rising numbers and decided it was best to make the switch, DePatis said.

"We wanted to be proactive," he said. "We felt it was better to send student on a four-day adaptive pause to prevent a longer 10- to 14-day quarantine if the spread were to continue."

The brief switch only affects ninth- through 12-grade students, who will be required to attend classes remotely via Google Meets before resuming in-person learning on Monday.

About 25% of the high school's population is currently affected by the virus, either as a positive case or a close contact of one, DePatis said.

The uptick in cases being seen at the high school has not been seen at the elementary and junior high school levels, which will continue in-person learning, DePatis said.

High school extra-curricular activities, including sporting events, also are canceled for the week.

"No matter what decision we make, it's not a good situation," DePatis said. "For the most part, it looks like cases are coming from outside school, but it's hard to judge where people come into contact sometimes."

There are 59 active COVID-19 cases in Cass County, according to the health department. Since March 2020, there have been 2,827 coronavirus cases and 44 related deaths in the county.

While sending student to remote learning is not ideal, DePatis would rather students be out for a shorter period of time, he said.

"We are trying to get to the end of the semester," he said. "We want to be able to keep people in-person as much as possible. We hope that with the break things will calm down and we'll come back and be able to stay in-person."
Filipino journalist shot dead while watching TV in store View Photo

MANILA, Philippines (AP)  A gunman shot and killed a journalist who was watching TV at a store in a central Philippine city, in a brazen attack in what has long been regarded as one of the worlds most dangerous countries for journalists.

Jesus Malabanan, a 58-year-old provincial correspondent for the Manila Standard newspaper, died while being transported to a hospital after being shot once in the head by one of two motorcycle-riding men Wednesday night at a family store he was tending in Calbayog city in Samar province, police and officials said Thursday.

The suspects escaped and a police investigation is underway to identify them and a motive for the attack.

Media watchdog groups condemned the killing, including Malabanans colleagues in Pampanga, a province north of Manila where he was based and worked for years as a news correspondent and as a stringer for Reuters.

A media protection body created by President Rodrigo Duterte strongly condemned the killing and vowed to arrest the killers. But Duterte himself has long been in the crosshairs of media watchdogs and human rights groups, which have repeatedly condemned him for fostering impunity among the police forces that have enforced his crackdown against illegal drugs and left thousands of mostly petty suspects dead.

Dozens of journalists have been killed or come under attack under Duterte and his predecessors. In 2009, members of a powerful political clan and their associates gunned down 58 people, including 32 media workers, in a brazen execution-style attack in southern Maguindanao province that horrified the world.

While the mass killing was later linked to a violent electoral rivalry common in many rural areas, it also showcased the threats faced by journalists in the Philippines. A surfeit of unlicensed guns and private armies controlled by powerful clans and weak law enforcement in rural regions are among the security concerns journalists face in the poverty-stricken Southeast Asian country.

Thirty-two of those gunned down in Maguindanaos Ampatuan town were local reporters and media workers. It was the deadliest single attack on journalists in recent history, media watchdogs say.

A Philippine court found key members of the Ampatuan family guilty of the mass killings in 2019 but many more suspects remain at large.

By JIM GOMEZ

Associated Press
Indian farmers suspend year-long protest against new laws View Photo

NEW DELHI (AP)  Thousands of Indian farmers suspended a year-long protest on Thursday after the government withdrew contentious farm laws and set up a committee to consider their other demands, including guaranteed prices for key crops and the withdrawal of criminal cases against the protesters.

Its a big victory for farmers. We have forced the government to bow to our demands, said Balbir Singh Rajewal, a farmer leader. He said they will review on Jan. 15 the steps taken by the government and decide their future course of action.

We have suspended our protest, not ended it, said Gurnam Singh Chandoni, another leader.

Farmers started removing their tents and prepared to vacate highways ringing New Delhi where they have camped since November last year. Leaders said they will leave after celebrating their victory on Saturday.

Most are from the neighboring states of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.

A breakthrough came this week when the farmers leaders received letters from the government listing steps it would take to meet their demands. In an about-turn last month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the withdrawal of the farm laws passed by Parliament in September last year.

The government had insisted that the laws, which would lead to a deregulated market with more private-sector control of agriculture, were urgently needed to modernize Indian farming.

The protesters said the laws would drastically reduce their incomes and leave them at the mercy of big corporations. They demanded that the government guarantee prices for certain essential crops such as wheat and rice, a system introduced in the 1960s to help India shore up its food reserves and prevent shortages.

Currently, an overwhelming majority of farmers sell only to government-sanctioned marketplaces at fixed prices.

Farmers form one of Indias most influential voting blocs. Modis decision to scrap the laws came ahead of elections early next year in key states Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Punjab, where his Bharatiya Janata Party is eager to increase its power.

The protest, which drew international support, has been largely peaceful. However, violence erupted on Jan. 26 when thousands of farmers briefly took over New Delhis historic Red Fort and hoisted a Sikh religious flag. Most are members of the Sikh minority. At least one farmer died and a number of protesters and police were injured.

Farmers leaders say more than 500 protesters have died due to suicide, bitter cold weather and COVID-19 since November last year and the government should pay 500,000 rupees ($6,750) in compensation per family. But the government says it has no figures on the number of deaths during the movement.

By ASHOK SHARMA

Associated Press
Russia military chief warns Ukraine against attacking rebels View Photo

MOSCOW (AP)  Russias top military officer on Thursday sternly warned neighboring Ukraine against trying to reclaim control over separatist areas by force, saying that Moscow will suppress any such attempt.

The statement by Gen. Valery Gerasimov, chief of the Russian militarys General Staff, comes amid soaring tensions over a Russian troop buildup near the border with Ukraine that stoked Ukrainian and Western fears of a possible invasion.

A senior Russian diplomat doubled down on Gerasimovs warning by saying that the failure to stem the mounting tensions could push Russia and the West to a redux of the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis that put the world on the verge of a nuclear war.

Tension briefly rose later Thursday when Russias Federal Security Service said a Ukrainian navy ship was heading toward the Kerch Strait between the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea, ignoring Russian coast guard vessels signals. The FSB charged that maneuvering by the Ukrainian ship Donbas jeopardized navigation safety. The agency reported later that the ship changed course and sailed away from the Kerch Strait.

The Ukrainian military dismissed the Russian claims, saying the Donbas didnt come anywhere close to any sensitive areas and was now heading back to its base. Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov denounced the Russian report as manipulations, expressing surprise that Moscow saw the unarmed vessel as a threat.

Moscow demands that all ships passing through the narrow strait that separates the Russia-annexed Crimea from Russias Taman Peninsula notify Russian authorities, citing the need to ensure the safety of navigation.

In November 2018, Russian coast guard ships opened fire on three Ukrainian ships near the strait and then seized them. Ukraine insisted the vessels were in international waters when Russia intercepted them.

U.S. President Joe Biden warned his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in a video call Tuesday that the West would respond with bruising economic sanctions that would inflict acute pain on Moscow if it invades Ukraine. At the same time, Biden made it clear Wednesday that U.S. troops wouldnt be sent to Ukraine to confront the Russians, and announced future talks between the U.S., its top NATO allies and Russia to address some of Moscows security concerns.

Russia has rejected Ukrainian and Western claims of plotting an attack and described them as a cover-up for a possible attempt by Ukraine to retake the rebel-held areas. Ukraine has denied such plans.

On Thursday, Gerasimov reinforced Moscows warning to Ukraine not to try to use force to reclaim control of the east, saying that any provocations by Ukrainian authorities to settle the Donbas problems by force will be suppressed.

U.S. intelligence officials say Russia has stationed about 70,000 troops near its border with Ukraine and has begun planning for a possible invasion as soon as early next year.

British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace told a press briefing in Stockholm that President Putin would face a severe economic response, a severe diplomatic response from the international community if he launches an attack on Ukraine. I dont think Russia wants those consequences, I dont think it will help everyone, especially at this time with COVID, for these things to play out, he added.

Speaking to foreign military attaches, Gerasimov dismissed Western concerns about the Russian military buildup, arguing that Moscow is free to deploy its troops wherever it likes on its territory and calling the claim of a possible Russian invasion a lie.

He charged that Ukraine is to blame for escalating tensions in its war-torn eastern industrial heartland, known as Donbas, by deploying new weapons there, including U.S.-supplied Javelin anti-tank missiles and Turkish drones.

Russia and Ukraine have been locked in a bitter tug-of-war since 2014, when Moscow annexed the Ukrainian Crimean Peninsula and threw its support behind a separatist insurgency in eastern Ukraine that has killed more than 14,000 people. Ukraine and the West accused Russia of sending troops and weapons to back the separatists, which Moscow has repeatedly denied.

Gerasimov complained about NATOs growing presence near Russian borders and the increasing number and scope of drills by alliance troops. He particularly noted an increase in patrol flights by U.S. strategic bombers near Russian territory, saying they practiced launching cruise missiles at targets in Russia.

In remarks that followed up on Putins push for Western security guarantees to preclude NATOs expansion to Ukraine and other ex-Soviet neighbors, Gerasimov said Moscow is open to discussions on European and global security to de-escalate tensions and increase the level of mutual trust.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov also voiced hope that the U.S. and its NATO allies would listen to Moscows security concerns and engage in meaningful discussions.

It primarily refers to refraining from military activities near our borders and the development of military and military-technical presence in those territories, Ryabkov said during a panel discussion on international affairs.

He emphasized that Russia wants legally-binding guarantees of its security, noting that Western powers broke verbal promises  given to Moscow in the early 1990s  that NATO wouldnt expand eastward.

There is a deep crisis in the Euro-Atlantic region that is fraught with a potential conflict, Ryabkov said, adding that a controversy similar in scope to the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis between the U.S. and the Soviet Union couldnt be excluded.

The Cuban Missile Crisis erupted when the Soviet Union deployed its missiles to Cuba and the U.S. imposed a naval blockade of the island. U.S. President John F. Kennedy and Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev agreed to defuse tensions by making a deal for Moscow to withdraw its missiles in exchange for Washingtons pledge not to invade Cuba and the removal of U.S. missiles from Turkey.

If the other side doesnt get it and it continues like it goes now, the logic of developments could lead us to suddenly waking up to something like that, Ryabkov. It may easily come to that. It would represent the failure of diplomacy, but there is still time to try to reach agreements based on common sense.

___

Pan Pylas in London contributed to this report.

By DASHA LITVINOVA and VLADIMIR ISACHENKOV

Associated Press
Tuolumne County Public Health reports the death of a man in his 70s. There are eight new Covid cases since yesterday with seven who are unvaccinated, the man who passed away was unvaccinated. Active cases are down 31 to 80 including eight people who are hospitalized, one person who is hospitalized is vaccinated. Todays newly reported cases had one case age 17 or younger and one case age 60 or older. New Covid cases by gender and age: one girl age 0 to 11, three men in their 30s, one man in their 40s, one woman and one man in their 50s, and one woman in her 60s.

The total current case rate, a 14-day average for Tuolumne County decreased to 19.4 from 20.7 per 100,000 population. A total of 38 individuals were released from isolation, in all 6,119 have been released from isolation. There have been 6,336 community cases and 145 deaths. A total of 58% of the population eligible to get vaccinated has been vaccinated. There have been 1,621 inmate cases, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) reports no active Covid case at the Sierra Conservation Center. The SCC manages 3,271 inmates including all the southern fire conservation camps.

Tuolumne Public Health also shares this week is National Influenza Vaccination Week noting, If you havent received a flu shot yet, theres still time. People with certain chronic conditions are more likely to develop serious flu complications. To protect yourself and your loved ones, flu shot appointments are available every Tuesday morning from 8:30-11:30 at the Tuolumne County Public Health Department, call to schedule at 209-533-7401.

Calaveras County Public Health reports 11 new cases, active cases increased five to 35 with one hospitalized. The total number of confirmed cases is 4,440. A total of three of the new cases are age 17 or younger and one is age 65 and older, in total 818 under age 17 and 756 over 65 have been identified with covid. There are six more recovered cases for a total of 4,314 cases recovered and 54.63% of the eligible population is fully vaccinated in the county.

Mariposa County states in an effort to be proactive they are hosting a Webinar for local businesses in regard to the Omicron Variant. Mariposa County Public Health Officer, Dr. Eric Sergienko who is also Tuolumne Countys intrim health officer, will provide a briefing regarding Omicron Variant related to the variant being identified in San Francisco. Dr. Sergienko will answer any questions or concerns. Join the webinar, Friday, December 10 at 9am go at:

https://www.gotomeet.me/MariposaCountyVR03

Or Dial In from the United States: +1(872)240-3212 Access Code: 612-485-181

COVID-19 Testing Public health recommends if you believe you have been exposed to Covid, schedule an appointment to get tested 5 days after exposure and if you are having any symptoms, get tested right away. The Tuolumne County State testing site is open 7 days a week beginning from 7 AM to 7 PM (closed on Thanksgiving Day) at the Mother Lode Fairgrounds. Appointments can be scheduled at www.lhi.care/covidtesting or by calling 888-634-1123 the same website and phone number can be used to schedule tests in other counties. Testing is also available through some pharmacies, at Rapid Care, the hospital emergency department if you are experiencing any symptoms, or contact your healthcare provider.

Mariposa LHI/OptumServe testing site will move from the Senior Center to the YARTS Park and Ride beside Rite Aid on December 14. This week testing is open Tuesday to Thursday at the Senior Center site from 7:00  11:30 am, 1:00  4:00 pm, and 5:00  7:00 pm. Friday, December 10 the Senior Center site will be open from 7:00  11:30 am only. Saturday, December 11 the Senior Center site will be closed and Tuesday, December 14 the testing site will open at the YARTS Park and Ride beside Rite Aid at 7:00 am and have the following hours: Tuesdays  Saturdays, 7:00 am  12:00 pm, 1:00  4:00 pm, 5:00  7:00 pm.

COVID-19 Vaccine appointments and booster vaccine shots available to adults over 18 as detailed here or for children ages 5 to 11 can be made through myturn.ca.gov, by calling 833-422-4255, or the pediatric vaccine may also be available through some pharmacies and healthcare providers. Adventist Health is hosting a walk-in childrens COVID-19 vaccine clinic this Friday, Dec. 3 from 4  6 p.m

The Calaveras Public Health mobile vaccination and testing team is now offering COVID-19 vaccinations (a pediatric Pfizer dose) for 5-11 year-olds. Appointments are necessary, go to myturn.ca.gov.

COVID-19 vaccine appointments are available at local pharmacies more details are here. Appointments for COVID-19 boosters can be made at myturn.ca.gov. If you would like to get a different booster from your initial vaccine series, call Tuolumne Countys COVID-19 Information line to arrange an appointment (209) 533-7440.

Tuolumne Public Health says, There are positive actions we can take to protect ourselves and those around us from illness, hospitalization, and death from COVID-19. Vaccination is the most important step we can take to reduce the spread of disease, and reduce the impact to our healthcare system. Also, the continued practice of other preventive actions like wearing a mask in public, keeping your distance, avoiding crowds, washing hands, cleaning surfaces, and staying home when sick will help slow the spread of the virus. These actions remain the same in light of the Omicron variant.

County/Date

Active

New

Total Deaths Amador 12/8 43 8 3,852 60 Calaveras 12/8 35 11 4,440 91 Mariposa 12/8 30 2 1,640 18 Mono 12/8 54 4 1,716 5 Stanislaus 12/8 1,173 81 82,175 1,441 Tuolumne 12/8 80 8 7,965 145
Israeli foreign minister in Cairo to strengthen ties View Photo

CAIRO (AP)  Israels foreign minister arrived in Cairo on Thursday on a diplomatic visit aimed at strengthening ties and shoring up a tenuous cease-fire between Israel and Gazas militant Hamas rulers.

Foreign Minister Yair Lapid met with Egypts president, Abdel Fattah el-Sissi, and the countrys foreign minister, Sameh Shokry, for talks that reflected budding ties between Egypt and Israels new government. Egypts intelligence chief also participated in the meetings.

Egypt, the first Arab country to reach a peace agreement with Israel, has served as a key mediator between Israel and Hamas. The bitter enemies have fought four wars since Hamas seized control of the Gaza Strip in 2007, most an recently an 11-day conflict in May, and Egypt has been working quietly to arrange a long-term truce.

Hamas is demanding that a crippling Israeli-Egyptian blockade be eased, while Israel is seeking the release of two Israeli captives and the remains of two dead soldiers held by Hamas.

Israels foreign ministry said Lapid presented a plan to develop Gazas economy in return for assurances of quiet, and eventually disarmament, by Hamas. It said the plan must address the issue of captives and missing persons.

Lapid also discussed Israeli efforts to strengthen the rival Palestinian Authority, whose forces were toppled by Hamas in 2007. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas governs only limited autonomous areas in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

Lapid raised Israels concerns about Irans nuclear program and expressed his countrys desire to ramp up cooperation with Israel in the civilian fields of economics, energy, agriculture, and trade, according to the Israeli Foreign Ministry.

Egypt is an especially important strategic partner for Israel, Lapid said. My goal is to strengthen our security, diplomatic, and economic relations with Egypt. Its important to continue to work on the peace between our two nations.

Upon his arrival, Lapid was welcomed by el-Sissi, who stressed his countrys commitment to a two-state solution and to achieving a comprehensive and just peace in the Middle East, according to statement released by el-Sissis office.

The Palestinians seek an independent state in the West Bank, east Jerusalem and Gaza  areas captured by Israel in the 1967 Mideast war. Egypt, like most of the international community, has been consistently supportive of the Palestinian right to an independent state. Israels new prime minister, Naftali Bennett, opposes Palestinian independence and has ruled out peace talks, though he favors steps at reducing tensions and boosting the Palestinian economy.

During separate talks with his Egyptian counterpart, Lapid handed over 95 stolen Egyptian archeological items that were seized in Israel.

Israels Foreign Ministry said a smuggler was caught with the some of the items in 2013 at the airport when arriving from a flight from Egypt. More than 90 others were found at a Jerusalem antiques store the same year.

It said the items included hieroglyphic inscriptions on stone, a fragment of a wooden sarcophagus, inscriptions on papyrus, figurines of Egyptian goddesses and other figures placed inside tombs as burial offerings. Israel released a photo of Lapid and Shokry in front of a table filled with the artifacts.

Egypt and Israel reached a historic peace accord in 1979. Relations have generally been cool between the countries, though behind-the-scenes security cooperation remains strong. There have been growing signs of overall cooperation in recent months.

Lapids visit came three months after Bennett held talks with el-Sissi in the Red Sea resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh. It was the first official trip to Egypt by an Israeli premier in over a decade. At the time, the visit signaled a warming in a relationship that had been security-focused but somewhat cool under Bennetts predecessor, Israeli hard-liner Benjamin Netanyahu.

Also in May, Israels then foreign minister, Gabi Ashkenazi, met his Egyptian counterpart in Cairo. It was the first by Israels top diplomat to Egypt in 13 years.

___

Associated Press writer Josef Federman in Jerusalem contributed to this report.

By NOHA ELHENNAWY

Associated Press
EXPLAINER: How does an officer use a gun instead of a Taser?

EXPLAINER: How does an officer use a gun instead of a Taser? View Photo

At former Minnesota police officer Kim Potters manslaughter trial for fatally shooting Daunte Wright, a Black motorist, the core of her defense is clear: She says she meant to use her Taser but grabbed her handgun instead.

Potters body-camera video recorded the shooting, with Potter heard saying, Taser, Taser, Taser before she fired, followed by, I grabbed the wrong (expletive) gun.

Many activists have refused to accept the former Brooklyn Center officers explanation. And the prosecution argued in its opening statement that Potter  a 26-year police veteran  had the experience and training to know better.

Taser-gun mix-ups are rare but they have happened in several states in recent years.

Here are some questions and answers about such incidents:

HOW FREQUENTLY DOES THIS HAPPEN?

Experts agree that such incidents are rare and probably happen fewer than once per year throughout the U.S. A 2012 article published in the monthly law journal Americans for Effective Law Enforcement documented nine cases dating back to 2001 in which officers shot suspects with handguns when they said they meant to fire stun guns.

WHY DOES IT HAPPEN?

Reasons that have been cited include officer training, the way they carry their weapons and the pressure they feel during dangerous and chaotic situations. To avoid confusion, officers typically carry their stun guns on their weak sides  the side of their nondominant hand  and away from handguns that are carried on their dominant hands side. Thats how Potter carried hers, and the chief of her suburban Minneapolis police department at the time of the shooting said thats how the departments officers were trained.

Prosecutor Erin Eldridge told jurors in her opening statement that the Brooklyn Center Police Departments policy requires that officers carry their Taser on their nondominant side and their firearm on their dominant side. In keeping with that, Potter carried her gun on her right and her Taser on her left.

Officers can choose how they want to position their Tasers in their duty belts, so that they have the option of drawing it from across their body with their dominant hand, or they can choose to draw it with their nondominant hand. Potter had her Taser positioned in a straight draw position on her left, so she would draw it with her left hand.

The only weapon she draws with her right hand is her gun, not her Taser, Eldridge said.

Eldridge also detailed how Brooklyn Center officers go through Taser training every year, and get training materials that include warnings on how confusing a Taser with a handgun can cause death or serious injury.

And she told jurors theyll hear about how Potters Taser and her handgun both had a very different look and feel, starting with the color. A Taser is bright yellow. Potters gun was black.

The jury heard Sam McGinnis, a senior special agent with the states Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, testify in more detail about the differences between the two weapons and how officers use them, bolstering the prosecutions contention that Potters experience and training should have led her to realize her mistake in the several seconds between when she drew her gun and when she fired.

Backed up by photographs, McGinnis said the holsters on Potters duty belt require an officer to take deliberate actions to release the weapons. The gun holster has a snap, while the Taser holster has a lever. The handgun, which is black, weighs just over 2 pounds (0.9 kilograms), while the Taser, which is yellow, weighs just under a pound (0.45 kilograms), he said.

The Taser and gun also have different triggers, grips and safety mechanisms that must be engaged before firing, McGinnis testified. The Taser also has a laser and LED lights that display before it is fired, which he demonstrated for the jury, while the handgun does not.

McGinnis also testified that Potter didnt perform a function test on her Taser before her shift on the day that she shot Wright, or on the previous day. He said she did run the check six times in her last 10 shifts. The Brooklyn Center Police Departments policy is that officers are required to run the check before each shift. McGinnis acknowledged under cross-examination that he didnt check to see how widely the departments officers complied with the policy.

WHAT DOES THE DEFENSE SAY?

Defense attorney Paul Engh told jurors in his opening statement that an expert will testify about how in chaotic situations like this shooting, a persons ingrained training takes over. He said Potter had 26 years of gun training, but fewer years of training on her Taser, which is a newer weapon.

Engh said theyll hear that Potter made an action error, the sort in which someone does something while meaning to do something else, such as writing the previous year on a check out of habit, or typing an old password into a computer. He also compared them with errors made under stress by experienced pilots or surgeons.

We are in a human business, Engh said. Police officers are human beings. And thats what occurred.

Bill Lewinski, an expert on police psychology and the founder of the Force Science Institute in Mankato, Minnesota, has used the phrase slip and capture errors to describe the phenomenon.

Lewinski, who has testified on behalf of police, has said officers sometimes perform the direct opposite of their intended actions under stress  that their actions slip and are captured by a stronger response. He notes that officers train far more often on drawing and firing their handguns than they do on using their stun guns.

Other experts are skeptical of the theory.

Theres no science behind it, said Geoffrey Alpert, a criminology professor at the University of South Carolina and an expert on police use of force. Its a good theory, but we have no idea if its accurate.

Alpert said a major factor in why officers mistakenly draw their firearm is that stun guns typically look and feel like a firearm.

WHAT ARE SOME OTHER CASES?

In one of the best-known cases, a transit officer responding to a fight at a train station in Oakland, California, killed 22-year-old Oscar Grant in 2009. The officer, Johannes Mehserle, testified at trial that, fearing Grant had a weapon, he reached for his stun gun but mistakenly pulled his .40-caliber handgun instead. Grant was shot as he lay face down.

Mehserle was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to two years in prison. His department paid $2.8 million to Grants daughter and her mother.

In Tulsa, Oklahoma, a white volunteer sheriffs deputy, Robert Bates, said he accidentally fired his handgun when he meant to deploy his stun gun on an unarmed Black man, Eric Harris, who was being held down by other officers in 2015.

Bates apologized for killing Harris but described his deadly mistake as a common problem in law enforcement, saying This has happened a number of times around the country You must believe me, it can happen to anyone.

Bates was convicted of second-degree manslaughter and sentenced to four years in prison. Tulsa County ultimately agreed to pay $6 million to Harris estate to settle a federal civil rights lawsuit.

In 2019, a suburban St. Louis police officer, Julia Crews, said she meant to use her stun gun but mistakenly grabbed her service revolver and shot a suspected shoplifter, Ashley Hall, who suffered serious injuries. Crews resigned and was charged with second-degree assault. That was eventually dropped at Halls request after the victim and the former officer agreed to participate in restorative justice mediation. Separately, the city of Ladue agreed to a $2 million settlement with Hall.

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Find the APs full coverage of the Daunte Wright case: https://apnews.com/hub/death-of-daunte-wright

By SEAN MURPHY

Associated Press
HONOLULU (AP)  The Navy will stop operations at fuel storage tanks above a Hawaii aquifer until the completion of its own investigation into how petroleum got into tap water.

In a memo dated Tuesday, Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro said corrective actions shall be performed as expeditiously as possible.

The Navy told Department of Health officials Wednesday that it shut down the Aiea Halawa shaft Friday, the second since it quietly shut down the Red Hill shaft on Nov. 28, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, reported.

The Navy previously said it was suspending use of the massive fuel storage complex near Pearl Harbor following days of complaints that tap water smells like fuel and has sickened some people.

But the Navy also informed Hawaii officials it was contesting a state order demanding that the suspension remain in effect until independent evaluators can ensure that appropriate actions are taken to protect drinking water.

State officials want the Navy to treat contaminated drinking water and remove fuel from the massive 20 underground storage tanks at the complex called the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility.

In response to the memo, Hawaiis deputy director of environmental health said state officials appreciate the Navys suspension of operations but that an independent analysis of the situation is still needed.

The state order provides clear parameters to pause operations, treat contaminated drinking water and safely defuel the Red Hill underground storage tanks, said the deputy director, Kathleen Ho.

It also ensures that this framework remains in place until an independent assessment can ensure that appropriate actions are taken to protect human health and the environment, Ho said in a statement.

The Navy will consult with an independent third party to assess operations and system integrity of the tank facility and develop a plan for necessary repairs, said the memo, which was made public Wednesday.

The recent incident at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, in which military housing units and other facilities received tap water containing petroleum products is not acceptable, the memo said.

The Navys water system serves about 93,000 people in and near Pearl Harbor and nearly 1,000 military households have complained about their tap water. Some said they suffered ailments such as cramps and vomiting after drinking it recently.

Testing last week showed the presence of petroleum in water that comes from a well near the underground fuel tank complex that has been the source of multiple fuel leaks over the years.

___

This story has been updated to correct the name of the newspaper to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, not the Star Adviser.

Associated Press
Father, son arrested in wildfire that threatened Lake Tahoe View Photo

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP)  A father and son were arrested Wednesday on suspicion of starting a massive California wildfire that destroyed many homes and forced tens of thousands of people to flee Lake Tahoe communities earlier this year, authorities said.

David Scott Smith, 66, and his son, Travis Shane Smith, 32, are accused of reckless arson in a warrant issued before formal charges are filed, the El Dorado County District Attorneys office said.

Mark Reichel, the attorney for both men, said they were arrested Wednesday afternoon and that reckless arson means starting a blaze by accident but to such a degree that it was considered reckless.

Authorities allege they caused homes to burn and people to be seriously injured in the fire that began in August. The Caldor fire scorched more than 346 square miles (897 square kilometers) from east of Sacramento to the Nevada border, threatening ski resorts and other prominent recreational areas.

The fire destroyed more than 1,000 homes and other buildings while crossing a mostly remote forested area of seasonal cabins.

The fire crossed through three northern counties, destroyed much of the small community of Grizzly Flats and forced tens of thousands of people to evacuate the resort town of South Lake Tahoe before it was contained in October. Five people were injured.

It was one of two massive fires last summer that for the first time in modern history crossed the Sierra Nevada range.

El Dorado County District Attorney Vern Pierson provided few details about the arrest of the Smiths, citing the investigation.

Reichel, the mens lawyer, said: They are absolutely 100% innocent.

Reichel said he did not know details of the accusation, such as how authorities allege the fire was set.

He said Travis Smith is an electrician and was with his father near where the fire started. The son called 911 to report seeing flames, Reichel said.

The son made several 911 calls because the calls kept dropping in the rugged area, and both men also warned campers about the fire, Reichel said.

Neither one has ever been in trouble with the law in their life. Theyre very law-abiding people, he said.

The pair have a scheduled court appearance on Friday, Reichel said.

There has been no evidence submitted into a court subject to my cross-examination  that proves any of the prosecutions evidence yet. So I urge everyone to wait and hear what really happened before they form any opinions, Reichel added.

The district attorneys office said the case was developed with the U.S. Forest Service, Californias firefighting agency and the California Department of Justice, with help from the Sacramento County District Attorneys crime lab.

___

Associated Press Writer Robert Jablon contributed from Los Angeles.

By DON THOMPSON

Associated Press
In a blog post titled No Dollar Signs This Time, billionaire philanthropist MacKenzie Scott said she wont reveal how much she has given to charity since her last round of donations earlier this year, in an effort to reduce the attention she draws. Instead, she wrote a reflection on what philanthropy means.

Im not including here any amounts of money Ive donated since my prior posts," Scott wrote in the post Wednesday. I want to let each of these incredible teams speak for themselves first if they choose to, with the hope that when they do, media focuses on their contributions instead of mine.

Scott's post intentionally offered few details on her giving. Even by the traditional yardstick  money  contributions to the welfare of others by financially wealthy people dont merit disproportionate attention, she wrote.

The reclusive novelist, whose fortune is estimated by Forbes at $59 billion, had expressed similar sentiments in her last post in June when she announced that she gave $2.7 billion to charity. She remains a private person and doesn't make public comments about her giving  or anything else  aside from what she writes on her Medium blog posts.

But her latest comments are likely going to increase calls for more transparency about her giving style. Scott is advised by the nonprofit consulting giant The Bridgespan Group, but little is known about how she selects groups to fund apart from the little she puts on her blog posts every few months. And this time, the public also doesn't know how much she's giving away or who she's giving it to.

The efforts to try to redefine who should get the most respect and attention as a donor is really laudable, said Ben Soskis, a historian of philanthropy and a senior researcher at the Urban Institute. But its problematic and a kind of disavowal of any responsibility towards transparency and accountability. It suggests one response to a discomfort with power is to try to deny it, in some sense.

Soskis said her approach of trying to focus on the grantee is admirable, but it also undermines the publics right to hold the wealthiest among us to account in terms of where theyre giving away money.

Though Scott hasn't named any recipients, a spokesperson for the nonprofit Public Allies said it received a $10 million gift from her and her husband, Dan Jewett, in September.

Jaime Ernesto Uzeta, the organization's CEO, declined to discuss how the gift was made, saying they had agreed with Scott's team not to reveal much about the process. The organization, which aims to advance social justice, said it was the largest gift it has ever received and would put it towards its racial equity fundraising campaign.

The educational nonprofit Global Citizen Year also announced a $12 million gift from Scott in October.

Scott's last three rounds of contributions have totaled nearly $8.7 billion, with much of the money going towards pandemic relief, colleges and universities, and organizations that serve minority communities. After the police killing of George Floyd, she funded the top recipients of racial equity donations in 27 states, according to an AP analysis of preliminary data from the philanthropy research organization Candid.

She has previously tied her philanthropic motivation, in part, to her concerns about the concentration of vast wealth among a small group of individuals, writing in her last blog post that she, along with husband Dan Jewett, and a team of advisors were attempting to give away a fortune that was enabled by systems in need of change.

Scott has promised to give her wealth away until the safe is empty. But thanks to Amazon's climbing stock price, it has only grown since she divorced Amazon founder Jeff Bezos in 2019 and walked away with a 4% stake in the company.

Her giving approach -- which doesn't come with any strings attached  is rare in the philanthropic world, where wealthy donors usually restrict what charities can do with money they give them. Scott doesnt do that, or require the nonprofits to report to her how theyve spent the money  a gold standard for gifts. She can also bypass public reporting requirements because she does her giving as an individual, instead of through a foundation like many other wealthy donors.

Scott says in her post that she wants to broaden the definition of what is considered philanthropy and who is considered a philanthropist. How much or how little money changes hands doesnt make it philanthropy, she wrote. Intention and effort make it philanthropy. If we acknowledge what it all has in common, there will be more of it.

Tyrone Freeman, a professor at Indiana Universitys Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, said that Scott's statement shines a spotlight to an ongoing debate about philanthropy.

A focus on the size of financial donations and limitations in tax policy on the types of gifts that may be deducted has skewed our imagination of exactly what a gift is, who gives them, and how we actually give to others every day, Freeman said. "Shes emphasizing that anyone can give because philanthropy is not mainly about money and does not belong to the wealthiest 1%it belongs to all of us and is part of our common, collective human heritage.

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The Associated Press receives support from the Lilly Endowment for coverage of philanthropy and nonprofits. The AP is solely responsible for all content. For all of APs philanthropy coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/philanthropy.
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP)  More than six months after the wife and son of a prominent South Carolina lawyer were gunned down at the family's estate, their killings remain unsolved.

But while little is said about the deaths, the legal drama around Alex Murdaugh continues, from lawsuits demanding tens of millions of dollars to attorneys fighting over whether they are violating ethics standards in national TV and podcast interviews.

The lawyer whose father, grandfather and great-grandfather were prosecutors and whose family founded one of the more prestigious law firms in South Carolina called 911 on June 7 after finding the bodies of his wife and son.

That seven-minute phone call from a deeply upset and agitated Murdaugh and pages of heavily redacted police reports contained few new details about the crime  and marked the last release of any information by state agents in charge of the investigation.

No suspects have been named and no one ruled out  at least publicly  by State Law Enforcement Division agents. The agency has repeatedly said the investigation continues and it will release information when it is prudent.

A $100,000 reward offered by Murdaugh's law firm  before it accused him of stealing money and fired him  expired without any apparent takers.

Through his lawyers, Murdaugh has said he regrets that the unsolved killings of his wife, Maggie, 52, and son Paul, 22, have been overshadowed by his own problems: three different indictments for financial crimes and an attempt to arrange his own death so his surviving son could get a $10 million life insurance benefit.

Murdaugh has been held without bond for more than seven weeks  a judge said it was for the defendant's own safety after his arrest on charges he stole $3.4 million in insurance money meant for the sons of his housekeeper Gloria Satterfield. She died after a fall at one of the family's homes in 2018. Murdaugh's lawyers are appealing the no bond decision to the state Supreme Court.

Murdaugh will be in court again Friday for a virtual bond hearing on the latest charges against him: 27 counts for what prosecutors said were schemes to steal nearly $5 million in settlement money from a trooper injured on the job and other clients.

Even with so little said about the deaths, Murdaugh has remained in the news the past six months. First, there was the September shooting in which police said Murdaugh was trying to arrange his own death. Murdaugh told investigators that a family friend agreed to kill him. The friend, who was charged with assisted suicide, insurance fraud and several other counts, said he was trying to wrestle the gun away from a suicidal Murdaugh when it fired.

Lawsuits have also kept the once-prominent attorney in the spotlight. Murdaugh had his assets turned over from his surviving son to independent monitors after attorneys argued he was trying to hide money from them in a wrongful death suit over a boat crash in which Paul Murdaugh was charged with boating under the influence causing death.

This week, Satterfield's sons, who already sued Murdaugh, also sued Bank of America, saying the company should have detected Murdaugh was using their bank accounts to divert money from a company called Forge Consulting, which handles legal settlements, to one he created called Alexander Murdaugh d/b/a Forge."

Bank of America was at all times just one question away from finding out the truth had they simply asked, What is the nature of Forges business'? as was their duty to do, the attorneys for the sons wrote in their lawsuit.

They are asking a jury to award more than $4 million  the amount of insurance claims Murdaugh's policies were set to pay Satterfield's estate  and to levy punitive damages against Bank of America for triple that amount.

The bank will ask the court to dismiss the suit, a spokesman said.

The wrongdoer here was Mr. Murdaugh, and the diversion of these funds occurred away from Bank of America," Bill Halldin said in a statement. We had no knowledge of any theft and followed standard procedures in account openings for a sole proprietor business."

Meanwhile, a war of words is also escalating. Murdaugh's attorneys have asked a judge to order one of the lawyers for Satterfield's family, Eric Bland, to stop talking publicly and requested he be disciplined for statements disparaging them and jeopardizing Murdaugh's right to a fair trial.

Bland called the request an illusionists attempt to distract attention.

Also in the past week, the boyfriend of 19-year-old Mallory Beach, a woman who was killed in the February 2019 boat crash involving Paul Murdaugh, has sued. Anthony Cook joins lawsuits by Beach's estate and his cousin Connor Cook, who was also on the boat. Connor Cook said Alex Murdaugh and other family members tried to make it look like he was driving the boat.

___

Follow Jeffrey Collins on Twitter at https://twitter.com/JSCollinsAP.
HOUSTON (AP)  Texas largest county jail was under renewed scrutiny on Wednesday following the reported sexual assault of a female sergeant and a recent state inspection that found a lack of sufficient staffing has contributed to the heightened level of tension and inmate hostility.

A five-page report by the Texas Commission on Jail Standards following a surprise inspection last month found employees at Harris County Jail in Houston were often late in conducting required checks of inmates in their cells and the jail was using supervisors and essential personnel to work housing unit assignments in order to meet the required staffing ratio of one officer for every 48 inmates. It also found a lack of cleanliness in inmate cells.

The county jail has received six notices of noncompliance between 2017 and 2019 from the commission, four of which mentioned the jail staffs failure to conduct adequate visual checks on high-risk inmates. The jail has also dealt with overcrowding and was described by some inmates in January as a  metal can of contagion  because of concerns about a potential COVID-19 outbreak.

The commission's latest report was completed on Monday, the same day authorities say the female sergeant was attacked.

The sheriffs office alleges that as Jeremiah Williams, 27, was walking back to his cell from a Bible study class on Monday afternoon, he walked into an administrative office and attacked the female sergeant, who was alone.

The sergeant was taken to a local hospital and later released.

Were working on this. Were not minimizing, saying everything is great, Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said during a news conference on Wednesday.

David Cuevas, president of the Harris County Deputies Organization, the union representing deputies, said his group has been trying to bring attention to these problems for years but its concerns have fallen on deaf ears.

Cuevas said the attack on the sergeant showed we dont have the security measures in place to protect our employees. He said the sergeant was in good spirits all things considering."

In September, the union filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of current and former jail workers against county officials alleging the county had created unsafe conditions at the jail by failing to adequately fund and staff the facility.

Williams has been charged with aggravated sexual assault in connection with the alleged attack. He was being held in the county jail after being arrested for allegedly sexual assaulting a woman at a park in September 2020 and trying to attack another woman. Williams' attorney did not immediately respond to a request seeking comment.

Were going to do everything we can to make this better, to make sure that our facility is safe for our team members  but also for those who are under our care and custody, Gonzalez said.

Part of the sheriffs office internal investigation will determine if Williams should have been escorted back to his cell by a detention officer, Gonzalez said.

Gonzalez said he is working with officials to increase staffing beyond the minimum amount required by the state and to try to reduce the backlog of cases in the court system caused in part by the pandemic that has kept the jail population high. The average stay of an inmate at the Harris County Jail is around 200 days while in the rest of the state, its around 60 days, Gonzalez said. There were nearly 8,900 inmates in the jail on Tuesday.

I have and continue to commit to doing everything possible to ensure the sheriffs office gets the resources it needs to improve jail conditions, said Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, the countys top elected official.

County officials have increased the jails funding from $186 million in fiscal year 2017 to $245 million in fiscal year 2022 and have approved funding to increase training class sizes and recruitment efforts.

Cuevas said he doesnt think Hidalgo and other county leaders have done enough to fix the jails problems.

Gonzalez said his agency is still trying to determine if the attack on the sergeant was a result of understaffing.

There are some things that need improvement, but I do not believe structurally the jail is broken, Gonzalez said.

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Follow Juan A. Lozano on Twitter: https://twitter.com/juanlozano70
Bob Daemmrich, Photojournalist / Bob Daemmrich/CapitolPressPhoto

State Rep. Eddie Rodriguez officially filed to represent District 35 on Wednesday, December 8. The news comes nearly a month after he first announced his run for U.S. Congress. Rodriguez is facing off against against Austin City Council member Greg Casar, among other candidates. The pair lead the pack in the Democratic primary to represent the congressional district, which includes portions of Austin and San Antonio.

I was the first in my family  even extended family  to go to college. Im running because I remember coming home from college, seeing emptier pantries and my parents struggling to make ends meet so that I could afford this opportunity, and no one should have to experience that," says Rodriguez in a statement announcing his official run.
For more than 15 years, reporter Joy Diaz has been a constant presence on Texas' public radio airwaves. A reporter at KUT, Austin's NPR station, Diaz most recently took a position on the "Texas Standard," a show that runs on stations across the state. In November, Diaz left journalism to pursue a new passion: public service. After rolling out a series of teaser videos earlier this week, Diaz officially joined the Texas gubernatorial race as a Democratic challenger to former congressman Beto O'Rourke.

"I recently left journalism to fulfill a mission, an unshakeable dream, a fire in my soul to serve you as governor of the great state of Texas," Diaz said in her announcement video on December 8.

The new candidate said her platform will focus on three issues: the border, education, and state preparedness. Born in Mexico City, Diaz points to her experience crossing the border for years alongside her American missionary dad as a key influence.

"The border has been a part of my life since I was born...," Diaz said. "I've been crossing that border since I was a child. And now, as a Texas reporter for almost two decades, I've been going to all corners of the state learning from Texans on the ground about how policy affects them."

Diaz also touts her time as a teacher and mother of two children educated in Texas public schools. Among her priorities, she says, is installing an educator to lead the Texas Education Agency. (The current commissioner, Gov. Greg Abbott's appointee Mike Morath, is a software developer.)

Eric Gay, POOL / AP

Before launching her campaign, Diaz enrolled in a six-month course at the LBJ Women's Campaign School, part of the University of Texas at Austin's LBJ School of Public Affairs, according to the Austin American-Statesman. While there, she was paired with state Rep. Vikki Goodwin as her mentor.

In an interview with the Statesman, Diaz said that she's not interested in challenging other Democrats like O'Rourke. Instead, she told the newspaper, she's interested in defeating one person: Gov. Abbott.

"Our current leadership has forgotten that their mission is to serve us," Diaz continued in her video. "And yes, conventional wisdom may say that it's unlikely for an average person, even a qualified one, even one with expertise, even one with a huge heart. Texans don't solely rely on conventional wisdom, we believe in miracles."
Kin Man Hui/San Antonio Express-News

Cold weather is blowing into town in this weekend. The National Weather Service tells MySA that temperatures in the upper 30s are expected in San Antonio Saturday and Sunday, with a chance for freezing temps near the outskirts of the Northeast and Northwest sides.

Before the cold front comes, San Antonio will experience near-record highs on Thursday and Friday with temps in the 80s, NWS metrologist Nick Hampshire says. San Antonio has not seen freezing temperatures yet thanks to La Nina, which is predicted to bring a warmer and drier winter, according to NWS.
By Lambert Strether of Corrente.

Bird Song of the Day

Another one of Darwins finches. I skipped the one that had never been recorded!

* * *

#COVID19

On the word mild. To me, mild means status quo, i.e. Were enduring the present situation, and what is to come will be no worse. Well, the present situation, whether you look at cases, deaths, or hospitalizations  isnt mild at all. In a civilized country, 812,205 deaths  we lost 750,000 in the Civil War  would be regarded as a catastrophe. Yet we soldier on. Its weird. I dont understand the mass psychology at all.

Vaccination by region:

A roller coaster. More data problems? (I have also not said, because its too obvious, that if by Bubba we mean The South, then Bubba has done pretty well on vax.)

60.4% of the US is fully (doubly) vaccinated (CDC data, as of December 7.) We have broken the important 60% psychological barrier! Mediocre by world standards, being just below Estonia, and just above Taiwan in the Financial Times league tables as of this Monday). Big jump today, a change from the stately 0.1% rise per day. I would bet that the stately rise = word of mouth from actual cases. Or perhaps the numbers are being managed, like earnings. However, as readers point out, every day those vaccinated become less protected from severe illness and hospitalization, especially the earliest. So we are trying to outrun the Delta With Omicron coming up fast on the outside!

Case count by United States regions:

Fiddling and diddling (which often happens at peaks). The Midwests numbers are down, so here is that chart:

Not as encouraging as it might be. The drop, and hence a big part of the fiddling and diddling, is due to Michigan.

At a minimum, the official narrative that Covid is behind us, or that the pandemic will be over by January (Gottlieb), or I know some people seem to not want to give up on the wonderful pandemic, but you know what? Its over (Bill Maher) is clearly problematic. (This chart is a seven-day average, so changes in direction only show up when a train is really rolling.)

One of the sources of the idea that Covid is on the way out, I would speculate, is the CDCs modeling hub (whose projections also seem to have been used to justify school re-opening). Here is the current version of the chart from the CDC modeling hub, which aggregates the results of eight models in four scenarios, with the last run (Round 9) having taken place on 2021-08-30, and plots current case data (black dotted line) against the aggregated model predictions (grey area), including the average of the aggregated model predictions (black line). I have helpfully highlighted the case data discussed above:

Case data (black dotted line) has been within the tolerance of the models; it does not conform to the models average (black line), but it stays within aggregated predictions (the grey area).

I wrote: Its too early to say Dammit, CDC, your models were broken; but its not too soon to consider the possibility that they might be. The case data still looks like its trying to break out of the grey area. We shall see. The case data has now broken out of the grey area (see at Oopsie!). Since the models are aggregated conventional wisdom, its not fair to call them propaganda, exactly. Nevertheless. conventional wisdom is looking a little shaky, and anybody who relied on them to predict that we would be back to normal by early next year should be taking another look at their assumptions. And this is  I assume  before Omicron!

MWRA (Boston-area) wastewater detection, not updated:

I wrote: Now well see how much higher it goes. Its hard to know how pessimistic to be, but this tapewatchers guess is that this years peak will surpass 2020s. This tapewatcher expected to be right. But not instantly!

The Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) service area includes 43 municipalities in and around Boston, including not only multiple school systems but several large universities. Since Boston is so very education-heavy, then, I think it could be a good leading indicator for Covid spread in schools generally.

From CDC: Community Profile Report (PDF), Rapid Riser counties. Not updated:

Some red going pink, or even yellow or green. Good news?

The previous release:

Hospitalization (CDC Community Profile), not updated:

I have helpfully highlighted the states where the trend arrow points up in yellow, and where it is vertical, in orange. (Note trend, whether up or down, is marked by the arrow, at top. Admissions are presented in the graph, at the bottom.)

Death rate (Our World in Data):

Total: 813,904 812,205 . At this rate, I dont think well hit the million mark by New Years.

Excess deaths (total, not only from Covid), updated:

Hard to believe we have no excess deaths now, but very fortunate if so. (CDC explains there are data lags).

(Adding: I know the data is bad. This is the United States. Needless to see, this is a public health debacle. Its the public health establishments duty to take care of public health, not the health of certain favored political factions. Also adding: I like a death rate because it gives me a rough indication of my risk should I, heaven forfend, end up in a hospital.)

Covid cases in historic variant sources, with additions from the Brain Trust:

South Africas rise looks linear, even though this is a log scale. Sorry for the kerfuffle at the left. No matter how I tinker, it doesnt go away.

* * *

Politics

But what is government itself, but the greatest of all reflections on human nature? James Madison, Federalist 51

They had one weapon left and both knew it: treachery. Frank Herbert, Dune

They had learned nothing, and forgotten nothing. Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Perigord

Biden Administration

Billionaire Koch-Backed Group Sues FTC Over Antitrust Enforcement [Bloomberg]. A nonprofit backed by billionaire Charles Koch sued the U.S. Federal Trade Commission to obtain documents related to a series of policy changes that have been criticized by the countrys biggest business lobbying group as an attack on American companies. The Americans for Prosperity Foundation filed a complaint on Wednesday in federal court in Washington seeking an order requiring the FTC to produce records in response to a Freedom of Information Act request the group filed with the agency. The FTCs aggressive agenda on antitrust enforcement is out of step with mainstream legal thinking and is best regarded as anti-consumer, anti-innovation, and harmful to economic growth and prosperity, it said. Sending U.S. combat troops to Ukraine not in the cards right now, Biden says [Politico]. President Joe Biden on Wednesday ruled out the possibility of unilaterally sending U.S. combat troops to Ukraine if Russia invades the country  at least for now. Thats not on the table, Biden told reporters as he departed the White House en route to Kansas City, Mo. We have a moral obligation and a legal obligation to our NATO allies if [Russia] were to attack, under Article 5. Its a sacred obligation. That obligation does not extend  to Ukraine. It would depend upon what the rest of the NATO countries were willing to do, as well, Biden added. But the idea that the United States is going to unilaterally use force to confront Russia invading Ukraine is not in the cards right now. What will happen is there will be severe consequences.' Florida National Guard troops are somehow caught up in Russias showdown with Ukraine [Task & Purpose]. ore than 100 Florida National Guard troops are currently deployed to Ukraine as U.S. intelligence officials continue to warn that Russia is poised to launch a crushing invasion of the country early next year. While this small American force is based in western Ukraine  nearly 700 miles from the countrys eastern borders, where up to 175,000 Russian troops are reportedly massing  the presence of U.S. troops in Ukraine adds even more volatility to an already combustible situation. These National Guard troops are not allowed to accompany Ukrainian forces into combat, said Marine Lt. Col. Anton T. Semelroth, a Pentagon spokesman. Semelroth also said that U.S. special operations forces regularly conduct exercises with their Ukrainian counterparts. He declined to say how many American troops are currently deployed to Ukraine, citing security concerns.  Holy moley, get those [family blogging] human tripwires outta there, before some Azov Battalion loon whacks one of em and points the finger at Putin. Fauci says Santa received his booster shot and is good to go for Christmas [USA Today]. Santa already has great innate immunity, Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told USA TODAY. This year he is even more protected because he has been fully vaccinated and boosted. Santa will be just fine and is good to go! I vaccinated Santa Claus myself, he added. I measured his level of immunity and he is good to go.'  Since vaccination doesnt prevent transmission, Santa Claus could be the Father Christmas of all super-spreaders. Well just have to hope Santa masks up  though Fauci didnt say anything about that  and isnt an asymptomatic transmitter, shedding millions of virions all over the naughty and nice. If those quotes dont persuade you that Faucis a [family blogging] psycho, nothing will.

Democrats en Deshabille

Lambert here: Obviously, the Democrat Party is a rotting corpse that cant bury itself. Why is that? First, the Democrat Party is the political expression of the class power of PMC, their base (lucidly explained by Thomas Frank in Listen, Liberal!). It follows that the Democrat Party is as unreformable as the PMC is unreformable ; if the Democrat Party did not exist, the PMC would have to invent it. If the Democrat Party fails to govern, thats because the PMC lacks the capability to govern . (PMC modulo class expatriates, of course.) Second, all the working parts of the Party reinforce each other. Leave aside characterizing the relationships between elements of the Party (ka-ching, but not entirely) those elements comprise a network  a Flex Net? An iron octagon?  of funders, vendors, apparatchiks, electeds, NGOs, and miscellaneous mercenaries, with assets in the press and the intelligence community. (Note that voters do not appear within this structure. Thats because, unlike say UK Labour or DSA, the Democrat Party is not a membership organization. Dull normals may identify with the Democrat Party, but they cannot join it, except as apparatchiks at whatever level.) Whatever, if anything, that is to replace the Democrat Party needs to demonstrate the operational capability to contend with all this. Sadly, I see nothing of the requisite scale and scope on the horizon, though I would love to be wrong. (If Sanders had leaped nimbly from the electoral train to the strike wave train after losing in 2020, instead of that weak charity sh*t he went with, things might be different today. I am not sure that was in him to do, and Im not sure he had the staff to do it, although I believe such a pivot to a war of movement would have been very popular with his small donors. What a shame the app wasnt two-way.) Ah well, nevertheless. For an example of the class power that the PMC can wield, look no further than RussiaGate. All the working parts of the Democrat Party fired on all cylinders to cripple an elected President; it was very effective, and went on for years. Now imagine that the same Party had worked, during Covid, to create an alternative narrative  see Ferguson et al., supra, to see what such a narrative might have looked like, and with the unions (especially teachers) involved. At the very least, the Biden Administration would have had a plan, and the ground prepared for it. At the best, a parallel government (Gene Sharp #198) would have emerged, ready to take power in 2020. Instead, all we got was [genuflects] Tony Fauci. And Cuomo and Newsom butchering their respective Blue States, of course. The difference? With RussiaGate, Democrats were preventing governance. In my alternative scenario, they would have been preparing for it. And while were at it: Think of the lefts programs, and lay them against the PMCs interests. (1) Free College, even community college. Could devalue PMC credentials. Na ga happen. (2) MedicareForAll. Ends jobs guarantee for means-testing gatekeepers in government, profit-through-denial-of-care gatekeepers in the health insurance business, not to mention opposition from some medical guilds. Na ga happen. (3) Ending the empire (and reining in the national security state). The lights would go out all over Fairfax and Loudon counties. Na ga happen. These are all excellent policy goals. But lets be clear that its not only billionaires who oppose them. Showing the PMCs inability to govern, as a class they seem unable to expand their scope of operations into new fields. Consider the possibilities of the Swiss Cheese Model. Layered defenses include extensive testing, contact tracing, ventilation systems (not merely blue collar HVAC work, but design and evaluation), and quarantines. If we look at each layer as a jobs guarantee for credentialed professionals and managers, like ObamaCare, the opportunities are tremendous (and thats before we get to all the training and consulting). And yet the PMC hasnt advocated for this model at all. Instead, we get authoritarian followership (Fauci) and a totalizing and tribalizing faith in an extremely risky vax-only solution. Why? Its almost as if theyre acting against their own self-interest, and I dont pretend to understand it. And Im not the only one whos puzzled. Even if you already did suspend the filibuster for specific reasons in the past and would now for SC nominees. It has razor-thin margins yet can still pass massive spending bills. Invoking Manchin or Sinema doesn't really explain the puzzle; it just re-describes it.  corey robin (@CoreyRobin) December 2, 2021 * * * Opinion: David Perdue confesses he would have aided a coup. Hes not the only one. [Jennifer Rubin, WaPo]. Democratic Sens. Joe Manchin III (W.Va.) and Kyrsten Sinema (Ariz.) are aiding this effort by refusing to install breakers that would short-circuit a coup in 2022 or 2024. They refuse to touch the filibuster, so there will be no law to head off the next John Eastman memo or to prevent the replacement of impartial election officials. This pre-planned coup is what President Biden enables when he refuses to raise the filibuster in speeches and does not signal that this is a red line for his party.  Rubin is a Republican, for pitys sake. And shes only saying what the Democrat NGOs are saying. But the electeds just dont seem to care. Are they right?

Stats Watch

Employment Situation: United States Initial Jobless Claims [Trading Economics]. The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits dropped by 43 thousand from the previous period to 184 thousand in the week ending December 4th, the lowest level since early September 1969 and below market expectations of 215 thousand, as demand for labor remains strong amid the ongoing economic recovery and as many employers seek to retain workers. The 4-week moving average of claims, which removes week-to-week volatility, dropped to 218.75 thousand, a new pandemic low.

Inventories: United States Wholesale Inventories [Trading Economics]. Wholesale inventories in the US went up at a record 2.3% mom to $759.4 billion in October of 2021, slightly higher than initial estimates of a 2.2% rise. Increases were seen in inventories of durables (2.1%), namely metals (6.6%), hardware (3.6%) and autos (2.3%). Stocks of nondurable goods jumped 2.6%, namely petroleum (12.1%), apparel (4.4%) and farm products (4.2%).

* * *

Commodities:

BoA on Tin. Not like them to write on a minor metal. #tinbarons pic.twitter.com/EqGxQZApFp  mh (@miningbase) December 7, 2021

Commodities: China Steps Up Overseas Hunt for Ore Needed to Make Aluminum [Bloomberg]. Chinas aluminum industry, the worlds biggest, is becoming increasingly dependent on overseas supplies of the ore needed to make the metal, another sign of the nations chronic reliance on raw-material imports. The aluminum used in everything from aircraft to drinks cans is made from alumina, an intermediate material produced from bauxite ore. Some 49% of Chinas alumina capacity will be fed by overseas bauxite next year, up from 47% in 2021 and 30% in 2015, according to state-owned researcher Beijing Antaike Information Development Co. Bauxite imports may climb to 130 million tons in 2022 from around 110 million tons this year.

The Bezzle: Self-Described Bitcoin Creator Must Pay $100 Million in Suit [Bloomberg]. The Australian computer scientist who claims he invented Bitcoin was told by a U.S. jury to pay $100 million in damages over claims that he cheated a deceased friend over intellectual property for the cryptocurrency. Jurors in Miami federal court took about a week to reach Mondays verdict, following about three weeks of trial. The jury rejected most claims against Craig Wright and the outcome probably wont resolve the debate over whether Wright is the mythical creator of the peer-to-peer currency, Satoshi Nakamoto. The brother of Dave Kleiman, a computer security expert who died in 2013, alleged that the late Florida man worked with Wright to create and mine Bitcoin in its early years. As a result, the plaintiffs claimed the estate was entitled to half of a cache of as many as 1.1 million Bitcoins worth some $70 billion, which are thought to be held by Satoshi. Some cryptocurrency investors see Wright as a fake, and yearslong litigation in Florida has done little to quiet the skeptics. Wright has declared many times in court that he invented Bitcoin, as he has previously in news interviews. Had the jurys verdict gone against Wright, that would have forced to him to produce the Satoshi fortune. To some observers, that would have been the true test.  So the Satoshi sardine tin is for trading, not for eating?

The Bezzle: Cryptocurrencies: A Necessary Scam? [Matt Stoller, BIG].  Cryptocurrencies are a social movement based on the belief that markings in a ledger on the internet have intrinsic value. The organizers of these ledgers call these markings Bitcoin, or Dogecoin, or offer other names based on the specific ledger. Thats really all a cryptocurrency is. Theres no magic. Its not money, though it has money-like properties. Its not anything except a set of markings. Sure, the technology behind the ledgers and how to create more of these markings is kind of neat. But crypto is a movement based on energetic storytellers who spin fables about the utopian future to come. In a lot of ways, cryptocurrencies are like Florida land that no one ever intends to use. It has value in the moment it is traded, but only because theres a collective belief that it has some intrinsic worth. (There is a wide variety of tools in the crypto world, like NFTs, smart contracts, and global computing systems, but they dont work, and none of them have any use cases except speculation and money-laundering, and even in their idealized form they have no use cases aside from doing stuff you can already do far more easily through existing technology, with a different permissioning model.) That said, the crypto narrative is one that anti-monopolists in general find deeply compelling, since both the anti-monopoly movement and the cryptocurrency movement emerged out of the financial crisis.  Well worth reading. Twice.

Tech: Dead Roombas, stranded packages and delayed exams: How the AWS outage wreaked havoc across the U.S. [CNBC]. Amazon Web Services, the leading provider of cloud infrastructure technology for businesses large and small, was hit with a historic, hourslong outage on Tuesday. Popular websites and heavily used services were knocked offline, angering users and underscoring the severity of problems that can arise from having so much economic activity reliant on technology from just a few vendors. AWS controlled 33% of the global cloud infrastructure market in the second quarter, according to Synergy Research Group, followed by Microsoft at 20% and Google at 10%. Revenue at AWS jumped 39% in the third quarter from a year earlier to $16.1 billion, outpacing growth of 15% across all of Amazon. Tuesdays outage began around 11 a.m. ET and was mostly resolved by Tuesday night. Amazon confirmed that service issues with AWS main US-East-1 region, located in Northern Virginia, were causing problems for its warehouse and delivery network. The company hasnt said what caused the outage.  Commentary:

Amazon AWS has been down going on 7 hours now. I just got off work & due to the network outage nobody can work at any of the Amazon facilities therefore we cant even check trucks nor send packages out for delivery. This was the current situation when I left work.. pic.twitter.com/JRjVoWTE9w  Bethany (@RockinRebel4) December 7, 2021

Tech: Explainer: What caused Amazons outage? Will there be more? [Associated Press]. Some cybersecurity experts have warned for years about the potentially ugly consequences of allowing a handful of big tech companies to dominate key internet operations. The latest AWS outage is a prime example of the danger of centralized network infrastructure, said Sean OBrien, a visiting lecturer in cybersecurity at Yale Law School. Though most people browsing the internet or using an app dont know it, Amazon is baked into most of the apps and websites they use each day. OBrien said its important to build a new network model that resembles the peer-to-peer roots of the early internet.  Commentary:

1970: We're going to build a global network that can withstand a nuclear war. 2021: AWS is down and my coffee machine doesn't work.  Vess (@VessOnSecurity) December 8, 2021

Tech: AWS Is the Internets Biggest Single Point of Failure [Vice]. AWS is a single point of failure, but the fact that it doesnt fail too often has lulled many into a sense of security where they should prepare better.  Commentary:

Im almost certain the images on the McDonalds kiosk are hosted in an S3 bucket in us-east pic.twitter.com/kdQdvfejX0  shh (@worldwise001) December 7, 2021

Tech: AWS Resolved Its Outage. What Happens Now? [Bloomberg]. It could still be a few days before Amazon discovers and reveals precisely what went wrong. But by Tuesday night, the company said it had resolved a network device issue that led to the outage. More information should follow, since most of the industry discloses the causes of big failures to help avoid repeats. For example, in 2017 a major AWS outage was attributed days later to an employee who goofed while trying to fix a bug in a billing system. Oh.

Tech: Americas most secretive utility is Amazon Web Services [Newsday]. Given that governments and corporations have outsourced so much of their network management, and given how the internet has become as essential as other necessities such as water and electricity, it would be useful to think of cloud services as a public utility of sorts  with all of the requisite disclosure and supervision that comes with that.

Talking Tech: Internet outages are the worst, but weve got to get used to them [USA Today]. Multiple sites including Roku, Venmo, Doordash, Spotify, Instacart and Disney+ were down. Not great. The good news is those sites are back up as normal. The bad news is these outages are going to be a normal part of digital life and we have to get used to them.  Translation: Live with it.

* * *

Todays Fear & Greed Index: 36 Fear (previous close: 39 Fear) [CNN]. One week ago: 25 (Extreme Fear). (0 is Extreme Fear; 100 is Extreme Greed). Last updated Dec 8 at 12:01pm.

Health Care

Omicron has been found in wastewater in California and Texas [NPR]. Dr. Sara Cody, the chief health officer in Santa Clara County, says the beauty of wastewater surveillance is that everyone in a given area gets tested because, as the childrens book says, everyone poops  even people who are infected but dont have symptoms and dont seek out a lab test, even people taking at-home rapid tests.  I dont have data to back this up, Ive noticed the word poop coming up on the charts for a couple of years, I would say. Some weird premonitory twitch of the zeitgeist, perhaps.

For Nursing Homes, Complacency Could Be a Killer [Zeynep Tufekci, New York Times]. [T]he older you are, the more dangerous Covid can be: Someone who is 75 to 84 years old has about six times the chance of being killed by the virus as those between 50 and 65, for example, while the risk goes to about 15 times as high for those above 85. All this means we have to act immediately to ramp up protections for the elderly in nursing homes, assisted living facilities and retirement communities. Tufecki recommends boosters, then: [M]itigations need to target the means of transmission correctly. The coronavirus is airborne, so stopping its spread requires more focus on ventilation, air filtering and better masks, like N95s or KN94s, or surgical masks, preferably with braces that make them fit better. (Those more protective masks should be mandated for staff members and distributed for free to them.) Air can be filtered with HEPA filters, and opening windows can help when the weather allows. (Plexiglass barriers, however, are not only a waste of money, they can create dead spots with less ventilation, increasing risks.)  I dont know how to apply the precautionary principle to boosters for an population of elders. Perhaps just ask them?

Healthy buildings can help stop Covid-19 spread and boost worker productivity [CNBC]. [Joseph G. Allen, Harvards T.H. Chan School of Public Health] said the increased interest in the air quality inside buildings stems from a better understanding of how Covid-19 spreads. Cleaning surfaces and obeying the six-foot distancing rule made sense when the belief was that the virus spread through droplets emitted when we coughed or sneezed and these droplets couldnt travel further than six feet. The reality is that Covid-19 is spread through respiratory aerosols that travel well beyond six feet, Allen said. When were talking, coughing, sneezing, or just breathing, were constantly emitting respiratory aerosols of different sizes, he added. If were infected, those particles carry the virus and can travel across any room and stay aloft for hours. The droplet dogma is over .'  This is CNBC. Its like everybody knows droplet dogma is over but the molasses-brained Biden administration.

The Coronavirus Attacks Fat Tissue, Scientists Find [New York Times]. Now researchers have found that the coronavirus infects both fat cells and certain immune cells within body fat, prompting a damaging defensive response in the body. The studys senior authors, Dr. Tracey McLaughlin and Dr. Catherine Blish of the Stanford University School of Medicine, suggested the evidence could point to new Covid treatments that target body fat. Maybe thats the Achilles heel that the virus utilizes to evade our protective immune responses  by hiding in this place, Dr. Vishwa Deep Dixit, a professor of comparative medicine and immunology at Yale School of Medicine, said. The finding is particularly relevant to the United States, which has one of the highest rates of obesity in the world. Most American adults are overweight, and 42 percent have obesity.  Hmm.

Changing the definition of fully vaccinated is more than just semantics, experts argue [STAT]. [Keri Althoff, an associate professor of epidemiology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health] said the term up-to-date could replace fully vaccinated, particularly as more research comes out about long-term protection from the Covid vaccines.  I can see the subscription model coming

Zeitgeist Watch

Pantones 2022 color of the year symbolizes how COVID-19 has transformed the world [USA Today]. 2021 has been a transformative year: Coming out of COVID-19 quarantine, much of the world has reexamined daily life practices and invented new ways to interact, conduct business and live their lives. What color could symbolize all that? Very Peri, according to the Pantone Color Institute. For the first time, the color authoritys color of the year is a brand new color of their creation: The dynamic periwinkle blue hue with a vivifying violet-red undertone blends the faithfulness and constancy of blue with the energy and excitement of red, which together creates an empowering mix of newness, the company announced Wednesday.  Empowering mix of newness. Ill write that in my diary tonight. Here it is:

Its Christmas day for color lovers everywhere, with The Pantone Color Institute officially unveiling their 2022 Pantone Color of the YearPANTONE 17-3938 Very Peri. https://t.co/8prA3mnQgY pic.twitter.com/xgVmeECmJf  Print magazine (@printmag) December 9, 2021

Kill it with fire:

Videos of a life-like robot, known as Ameca, have gone viral online. https://t.co/yyJy7UMKrt pic.twitter.com/iKhujJK3H4  CNN (@CNN) December 9, 2021

LAffaire Joffrey Epstein

Key accuser of Ghislaine Maxwell not expected to testify in her trial [Miami Herald]. The prosecution in the Ghislaine Maxwell sex-trafficking case is about to rest  weeks ahead of schedule  with one of Maxwells most prominent accusers conspicuously absent from the witness list. Virginia Roberts Giuffre  who has previously cast Maxwell as a central player in Jeffrey Epsteins sex-trafficking operation  apparently isnt going to testify, even though she has been mentioned by witnesses and prosecutors almost daily during the trial: as a minor who visited Epsteins homes multiple times; as a girl who had sex with Epstein; as a victim who was allegedly recruited by Maxwell; and as a teenager who flew on Epsteins private plane, often with Maxwell  32 times. Her absence in the room is striking, considering that there is physical evidence that appears to support her story of sexual abuse: photographs of her with Maxwell and Prince Andrew and of her at Epsteins ranch in New Mexico, pictures of her with Epstein and Maxwell at a birthday party aboard a yacht where she looks barely out of childhood. Its hard to know why prosecutors have narrowly constructed the case around these particular victims. Its a deliberate effort to frame the case in a specific way that really only prosecutors understand, said Jill Steinberg, a former assistant U.S. attorney who prosecuted child exploitation and human trafficking cases. Omitting people who are mentioned during the trial as being integral to the crimes leaves a gaping hole that jurors may find unsettling, she said.

Ghislaine Maxwell Sex-Trafficking Trial Delayed After Lawyer Becomes Ill [New York Times]. The jury in Ghislaine Maxwells sex-trafficking trial was sent home on Thursday morning, and the trial put on temporary hold, after a federal judge told the court that a lawyer in the case was sick and needed medical attention.  Drank the glass of water meant for Maxwell? Kidding!

Ghislaine Maxwell trial: third accusers ex-boyfriend corroborates her account [Guardian]. The former boyfriend of the third accuser to testify in Ghislaine Maxwells sex-trafficking trial in New York corroborated details of her account during his testimony Wednesday.

Epstein and Maxwell pictured at Queens residence at Balmoral [BBC].  Surely the Windsors arent lizards.

Class Warfare

What Youre Really Worried About When Youre Worried About Money [The Atlantic]. Money is one of the things Americans worry about most in the world. Even in 2018, when the economy was expanding, a survey by the life-insurance company Northwestern Mutual found that more than half of Americans felt anxious or insecure about money sometimes, often, or all the time. And during the pandemic, another survey found that workers were almost five times more likely to worry about money than their health.  I would guess that, for a very large number, what youre really worried about when youre worried about money, is money. I mean, thats why joining the reserve army of labor is a fearsome thing.

News of the Wired

My private cul de sac:

I'm still not sure what they expected us to do outside pic.twitter.com/eQCgHajYDM  pinkocatgirl (@pinkocatgirl) December 8, 2021

How to run a small social network site for your friends [Run Your Own Social]. This document exists to lay out some general principles of running a small social network site that have worked for me. These principles are related to community building more than they are related to specific technologies. This is because the big problems with social network sites are not technical: the problems are social problems related to things like policy, values, and power. There are still some areas where technical progress is needed, and one section of this document discusses some of those areas. Running a social network site is community building first and a technical task second. And while community building is hard work, its often worth it. This is my pitch to you: using big social media sites is easy, but you pay a steep price for it. You should consider running your own site, which is harder, but can be extremely rewarding.

* * *

Contact information: Readers, feel free to contact me at lambert [UNDERSCORE] strether [DOT] corrente [AT] yahoo [DOT] com, with (a) links, and even better (b) sources I should curate regularly, (c) how to send me a check if you are allergic to PayPal, and (d) to find out how to send me images of plants. Vegetables are fine! Fungi and coral are deemed to be honorary plants! If you want your handle to appear as a credit, please place it at the start of your mail in parentheses: (thus). Otherwise, I will anonymize by using your initials. See the previous Water Cooler (with plant) here. Todays plant (AM):

AM: 11/7/21 looking across the lake in Roger Williams Park in Providence, RI. Low key colors on the first day of fall ahead. Somehow, I blew past fall foliage, so this is nice to have.

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Readers, I could still use just a few more plants, so if you could send some photos to the address below, that would be great! Id really like to see photos of harvests or completed projects, to inspire people to plan for spring over the winter. Also fall foliage? Thank you!

* * *









: Water Cooler is a standalone entity not covered by the recently concluded and  thank you!  successful annual NC fundraiser. So if you see a link you especially like, or an item you wouldnt see anywhere else, please do not hesitate to express your appreciation in tangible form. Remember, a tip jar is for tipping! Regular positive feedback both makes me feel good and lets me know Im on the right track with coverage. When I get no donations for five or ten days I get worried. More tangibly, a constant trickle of donations helps me with expenses, and I factor in that trickle when setting fundraising goals:

Here is the screen that will appear, which I have helpfully annotated.

If you hate PayPal, you can email me at lambert [UNDERSCORE] strether [DOT] corrente [AT] yahoo [DOT] com, and I will give you directions on how to send a check. Thank you!
The Soap Bubble Trope JSTOR Daily

Apple wins Epic court ruling: Devs will pay up for now as legal case churns on The Register

Apple CEO Tim Cook Secretly Signed $275 Billion Deal With China in 2016 MacRumors

Why U.S. Infrastructure Costs So Much Bloomberg

Climate

#COVID19

China?

Myanmar

India

Half of India is so poor it owns almost nothing Quartz (Re SIlc).

The West Asian Polycrisis  From Afghanistan to Lebanon Adam Tooze, Chartbook

Syraqistan

UK/EU

New Cold War

New Clothes, Old Threads: The Dangerous Right-Wing Offensive in Latin America Tricontinental

Biden Administration

Supply Chain

Health Care

LAffaire Joffrey Epstein

The Prosecution Is Fumbling Its Case Against Ghislaine Maxwell Vanity Fair

Clinton Legacy

Hillary Clinton Announces MasterClass in Losing to Donald Trump New York Magazine. Wowsers.

Groves of Academe

Guillotine Watch

Class Warfare

Jogging is only good for you if the air is clean: Exercising in polluted areas could have adverse effect on the brain, research suggests Daily Mail

Groups Never Admit Failure Naval. Hmm.

Antidote du Jour (via):

See yesterdays Links and Antidote du Jour here.
(Natural News) On Nov. 23, a world-renowned German chemist by the name of Dr. Andreas Noack put out a video (you can watch it at the Daily Expose) exposing the presence of graphene hydroxide in Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccines. Three days later, Noack mysteriously died.

While the specific circumstances surrounding Noacks death remain unknown, it is being reported that he was attacked, which resulted in his passing. This is according to Noacks pregnant wife, who published her own video after his death to sound the alarm.

On the day of his graphene hydroxide video, he developed breathing difficulty and died in the early morning on Nov. 26, 2021, Noacks wife revealed in the video.

Noacks wife further made the suggestion that perhaps Noack was targeted with a directed energy weapon, or DEW, since he was not attacked in an obvious sense with a blunt object. Instead, Noack developed some kind of strange respiratory ailment on the very same day that he exposed one of the contents of Fauci Flu shots.

It was on the day when the graphene hydroxide video was released and the interview with herald Thiers took place, Noacks wife explained in German. Then we went upstairs onto the gallery; we relaxed, talked, laughed, told each other how much we love each other.

Then, he wanted to go downstairs into the kitchen to get something to nibble on, and normally he does not spend more than one minute there, so I went downstairs and said jokingly, you eat everything away from me again. In that moment, he started to sway and I thought he was making fun of me  it looked like he was playing.

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Was Noack murdered by the powers that be?

It was at this point that Noacks wife still thought he was pretending and tried to kiss him, telling him to stop. But Noack did not stop, and what happened next is even more shocking.

In that moment, the electricity went off and the whole thing happened 20-30 minutes after the interview, and then Andreas collapsed in his arms, she went on to explain. He began to moan, had severe pain.

His body completely tensed, and all of a sudden he could not talk anymore. At first, I thought he might have been poisoned because he made some choking sounds. So, I instilled him with Sole (like salt water), then he vomited what he had eaten during the day, which wasnt much. I just couldnt do anything.

Noacks wife stayed with him while he remained paralyzed in a way that she could not describe, and helped keep his body upright so he would not strike his head. Noack was eventually able to go upstairs on his own but continued to have trouble breathing before eventually succumbing to a second round of paralysis.

He couldnt breathe anymore and I started to scream, she recalls. I yelled at him that he should get out of this condition and come back to me. I cried and he tried to comfort me. I was busy then to make sure Andreas can breathe well.

Emergency responders tried to help Noacks wife resuscitate him over the phone for what she says felt like hours. Eventually, six of them showed up in person and connected him to machines, as well as to a ventilator.

Noacks wife was told that her husband would be saved during this process, but that never panned out. He was taken to the hospital where he would never leave, with doctors saying that his large heart valve ha[d] failed completely due to a heart attack.

The latest news about Chinese Virus tyranny and terrorism can be found at Fascism.news.

Sources for this article include:

DailyExpose.uk

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) Remember in 2009 how an internal investigation into child pornography revealed hundreds of civilian and military employees of the DoD had bought child porn, yet only a handful of cases were prosecuted?

(Article by Tyler Durden republished from ZeroHedge.com)

Nine years later, an internal investigation revealed that An untold number of Department of Defense (DOD) employees and contractors have subscriptions to child pornography websites.

Now, BuzzFeed News (which ejected one of its own suspected pedophiles last year for plagiarism) reports that the CIA has secretly amassed credible evidence that at least 10 of its employees and contractors committed sexual crimes involving children), yet while most of the cases were referred to US attorneys for prosecution, only one of the individuals was ever charged with a crime (who also allegedly mishandled classified information), and the rest were sent back to the CIA to handle internally  which meant few faced any consequences beyond the possible loss of their jobs and security clearances.

Details of the egregious pass given to said agency employees were revealed in a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit.

One employee had sexual contact with a 2-year-old and a 6-year-old. He was fired. A second employee purchased three sexually explicit videos of young girls, filmed by their mothers. He resigned. A third employee estimated that he had viewed up to 1,400 sexually abusive images of children while on agency assignments. The records do not say what action, if any, the CIA took against him. A contractor who arranged for sex with an undercover FBI agent posing as a child had his contract revoked. Only one of the individuals cited in these documents was charged with a crime. In that case, as in the only previously known case of a CIA staffer being charged with child sexual crimes, the employee was also under investigation for mishandling classified material. -BuzzFeed

When asked why the CIA might not pursue a criminal case, four former officials told BuzzFeedthat the agency might be concerned that they would lose control of sensitive information.

We cant have these people testify, they may inadvertently be forced to disclose sources and methods, said the official, who added that the agencys problem with child abuse stretches back decades.

For those with long memories, the CIA also quashed an investigation into The Finders, a 1970s Washington DC-based cult under investigation by the DC Police over claims of child sexual abuse  only to have the case dropped as a CIA internal matter and classified as secret.

The FOIA reports, totaling more than 3,000 pages, cover Inspector General investigations between 2004  2009.

Read the rest of the report here, and view the released documents here and here.

Read more at: ZeroHedge.com
(Natural News) Life360, a popular family safety app used by over 33 million people worldwide, was found to be selling data on the precise locations of children and other family members to data brokers, who then sell the information to virtually anyone who wants to buy it.

Two former employees of Life360 and two individuals formerly employed by data brokers revealed that the app acts as a firehose of data for information brokers in an industry which has few safeguards to prevent the misuse of sensitive information.

When confronted with the evidence, Life360 founder and CEO Chris Hulls indicated that he had no problems with his business model, saying: We see data as an important part of our business model that allows us to keep the core Life360 services free for the majority of our users, including features that have improved driver safety and saved numerous lives.

Selling data has become a crucial component of the companys revenue, which jumped from $693,000 in 2016 to $16 million in 2020. Life360 reported a loss of $16.3 million in 2020, but financial disclosures showed they made $16 million selling user location data, making up a bulk of their revenue.

According to a former X-Mode engineer, the raw location data from Life360 that his previous company gained was one of the most valuable sources there is as it included precise data. The former Cuebiq employee added that the company wouldnt be able to run marketing campaigns without Life360s constant flow of location data.

The company claimed that it maintains industry best practices and does not sell data on users below 13 in accordance with the Childrens Online Privacy Protection Rule (COPPA). However, they did admit to disclosing information from younger children to third parties as needed.

Data brokers purchase information from Life360

Data broker companies purchase data from companies like Life360 and supply data and insights to other industry players and customers, which include hedge funds and advertising agencies. (Related: Tech companies roll out wearable child tracking devices to normalize intrusive surveillance for new generation.)

While Cuebiq only provides access to aggregated data through its workbench tool, the tool itself uses raw location data from Life360. The Centers for Disease and Control Prevention, for instance, has been using the data to track mobility trends during the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Cuebiq spokesman Bill Daddi said in an email: The CDC only exports aggregate, privacy-safe analytics for research purposes, which completely anonymizes any individual user data. Cuebiq does not sell data to law enforcement agencies or provide raw data feeds to government partners (unlike others, such as X-Mode and SafeGraph).

Life360 noted that it has policies against selling or marketing data to any government agencies that may use the information for law enforcement purposes in 2020. Hulls said that they do not believe it is appropriate for government agencies to attempt to obtain data in the commercial market to bypass an individuals right to due process. He added that the policy extends to data brokers, although they did not detail how this is enforced.

Two former Life360 employees said that the companys data security precautions are shady, and location histories can be traced back to individuals by failing to hash data or reduce the precision of the location data to preserve privacy.

Life360 is expanding into other digital safety products that include data breach alerts, credit monitoring and identity-theft protection features. It also acquired companies that allow it to expand tracking and potentially harvest data. In 2019, for instance, Life360 acquired ZenScreen, a screen-time monitor for families. In April, it acquired Jiobit, a wearable location device company that focuses on the whereabouts of younger children, pets and seniors.

Hulls made clear that he has no plans to sell data from Jiobit devices or its digital safety services.

Im sure there are lots of families who do find very real comfort in an application like this, and thats valid. That doesnt mean that there arent ways that other people are harmed with this data, said Justin Sherman, a cyber policy fellow at the Duke Tech Policy Lab.

Read more news related to surveillance at PrivacyWatch.news.

Sources include:

ZeroHedge.com

BusinessInsider.in
(Natural News) Ambulance workers fired for being unvaccinated against the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) in the Australian state of Victoria have decided to fight back and challenge the mass layoff.

Unvaccinated ambulance workers in Victoria, including over two dozen paramedics, were recently notified that their employment with Ambulance Victoria would end soon. Ambulance Victoria is the main state agency responsible for handling ambulance services and pre-hospital emergency care.

According to the states vaccine mandate, all Ambulance Victoria employees were required to receive the first dose of the experimental and dangerous COVID-19 vaccine back in October.

The following month, those who remained unvaccinated were required to explain why they did not comply with the mandate. Employees who remained adamant in their refusal were then forced into taking leaves and asked to consider their future positions.

Having carefully considered all individual circumstances, unvaccinated staff have been notified that their employment with Ambulance Victoria will end, including 25 paramedics, said one spokeswoman for Ambulance Victoria.

Only six of the services more than 4,000 employees have been given exemptions to the vaccine mandate. (Related: Christian pastor warns that Victorias COVID-19 rules and vaccine mandate are leading it down the path of dictatorship.)

Fired unvaccinated staffers want the court to force Ambulance Victoria to hire them back

At least two dozen workers of Ambulance Victoria have filed a case in the Fair Work Commission (FWC) against their employer. The FWC is the main Australian body that handles disputes between laborers and their employers.

According to the Ambulance Victoria workers, their termination went beyond the states vaccine mandate policy. In a statement, lawyers for the staffers said that at least 29 people have either been forced to resign or coerced into compliance to keep their jobs.

We were called heroes last year, said paramedic Jessica Davis. This year were accused of serious misconduct and our employment is terminated. Davis added that she believes her employer has overstepped its authority as, according to Victoria Chief Health Officer (CHO) Dr. Brett Sutton, vaccine mandates do not require all unvaccinated employees to comply.

Staff that have been working from home for the last 18 months are now fired because [Ambulance Victoria] states they must be able to enter workplace premises, said Davis. This goes beyond the CHOs directions.

So far, Ambulance Victoria has fired at least 23 of its employees. According to Davis, dozens more unvaccinated workers are scheduled to meet with their bosses one last time, where they will presumably be coerced into taking the experimental and dangerous vaccine or be fired on the spot.

Davis said that she and many of her unvaccinated peers have been degraded or mocked when they tried to reach out for support to retain their positions at Ambulance Victoria.

Benedict Coyne, one of the lawyers representing Davis and her unvaccinated fellows, has requested an interim order preventing any changes to their employment status ahead of a conciliation meeting with Ambulance Victoria executives. If this meeting fails, Coyne wants the interim order to remain in place until arbitration talks with either the FWC or another government authority.

Coyne and the other lawyers have released a statement clarifying that they are not anti-vaccination and that their opposition to the mandates is based on the desire to uphold health freedom.

Several members of the group felt coerced into having a first dose and are prepared to get a second dose but want to wait until a proven safe vaccine becomes available such as Novavax and COVAX, read the groups statement.

The group added that many of the recently fired employees are refusing to be vaccinated due to medical or religious grounds, but they were not provided exemptions to the vaccine mandate. All the fired employees have offered to abide by strict PPE rules and screening occupancy limits as well as other means of ensuring the safety of others without vaccination.

Jack Tracey, a lawyer working for Ambulance Victoria, said he does not believe conciliation talks or arbitration talks with the FWC will achieve anything, given the very pro-vaccine stance of Victorias leaders.

FWC Deputy President Amanda Mansini is expected to meet with the petitioners by early next week.

Learn more about how Australias COVID-19 vaccine mandate policies are hurting the employment status of thousands of Australians by reading the latest articles at Vaccines.news.

Sources include:

DailyMail.co.uk

CanberraTimes.com.au

Ambulance.vic.gov

10Play.com.au
(Natural News) Fort Worth, TEXAS  A member of the Fort Worth Independent School Districts (FWISD) school board released personal information of school parents online, encouraging the internet to go after them as revenge on the parents who sued the school district over a mask mandate.

(Article by Amber Crawford republished from 100PercentFedUp.com)

Four White parents were involved in this lawsuit, which has temporarily postponed the mandate pending the case going to trial in January 2022. A disgruntled school board member, Norma Garcia-Lopez, left a scathing, explicit voice message for one of the involved parents from a blocked number.

F*** you, you stupid b****. F*** you with your White privilege, not caring about the well-being of others, f*** you, Garcia-Lopez said in the voicemail left for one of the parents.

Then she went and publicized the personal information of these parents such as where they work, where they live, and their phone numbers on social media. Garcia-Lopez even encouraged her followers to go after these parents.

Its astounding what the White Privilege power from Tanglewood has vs a whole diverse community that cares for the well being of others. These are their names: Jennifer Treger, Todd Daniel, Kerri Rehmeyer and a coward Jane Doe. Internet do your thang. #FortWorth #MaskMandates

Kerri Rehmeyer, one of the involved parents, has received angry voicemails at work as a result of Garcia-Lopezs social media posts. A prior client also told Rehmeyer she hoped she died. Some of the parents businesses are even getting negative reviews online now from people who arent even clients.

Meanwhile, Garcia-Lopez, co-chair of the Racial Equity Committee, has complained about the backlash she has received which somehow, in her opinion, is unwarranted and unjust. Although her social media actions have led to the parents being threatened and publicly shamed, Garcia-Lopez is now playing the victim because she, in turn, has received threats and offensive comments as a result of her own inappropriate actions.

They sent a lynch mob to attack me, complained Garcia-Lopez, They want to silence me from advocating for equity, by pressuring me into resigning as co-chair of the Racial Equity Committee.

All that happened to Garcia-Lopez was public backlash for the unprofessional and damaging posts she chose to make on her social media accounts. She seems surprised that she was not held up on a pedestal for her social media and telephone outbursts. Did she expect everyone would praise her for her improper behavior?

Even after this all came to light, the school board continues to defend Garcia-Lopez and has not held her accountable for her actions. That a co-chair should get away with treating parents like this is totally unacceptable and should undoubtedly result in termination. However, because she isnt White and claims to be fighting against social injustice, she faces no consequences for her actions.

A former member of the Racial Equity Committee, Carlos Turcios, criticized the school board for supporting Garcia-Lopezs actions. It is unacceptable that the ISD is not holding the co-chair accountable for her actions. She doxxed parents and financially impacted one of the parents businesses, Turcios said. What type of leadership is the committee and FWISD showing to its students? That bullying and intimidation are OK? That its fine to leave voicemails harassing parents if they disagree with you?

Despite the school boards support, Forth Worth parents are demanding that Garcia-Lopez be fired over her appalling actions.

Read more at: 100PercentFedUp.com
(Natural News) (Opinion) Big Pharma company Pfizer has a long list of crimes against humanity.

While Pfizer may be more known today as one of the main companies pushing the narrative that the world needs its Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines to finally bring the pandemic to an end, the Big Pharma company has a decades-long history of committing criminal acts. (Related: Criminal conspiracy unraveling: Pfizer and the government concealed thousands of deaths, mass injuries caused by experimental covid jabs.)

In recent years, Pfizer has been accused of committing dozens of crimes. Between 2002 and 2010, the Big Pharma company was fined upwards of $3 billion in criminal convictions, civil penalties and jury awards. This includes a $2.3 billion fine in 2009.

In 2011, the company paid nearly $15 million to settle charges of illegal marketing. In 2014, it settled multiple charges of unlawful marketing for $35 million. In that same year, it paid out $75 million to settle charges relating to the companys illegal testing of a new broad-spectrum antibiotic on critically ill children in Nigeria.

Pfizer uses pandemic to profit and expand influence

None of Pfizers previous convictions have deterred its criminal behavior. Now, the company is using the engineered need for a quick cure to COVID-19 to continue its rampant expansion into every corner of the world.

Writing for his website, Dr. Joseph Mercola said Pfizer is expanding not just to profit off of the engineered pandemic, but also to install unelected technocratic regimes that are based on the idea that a global biosecurity, biosurveillance apparatus is necessary for the continued survival of the human race.

To achieve that, Pfizer is willing to blackmail countries into accepting its COVID shot terms  terms that make sure Pfizer always comes out on top, wrote Mercola.

One key term Pfizer forces countries to place in their contracts with the Big Pharma company is that it cannot be held liable for any harm caused by its COVID vaccine. Pfizer has gone so far as to bully other countries into putting up sovereign assets such as military bases as collateral if it is suddenly forced into paying for any vaccine injury lawsuits.

While not technically illegal, Mercola pointed out that it is definitely unethical to convince countries that the vaccines are necessary, and then not allow those same companies to sue Pfizer once the vaccine causes untold harm to people.

Another way Pfizer is making sure it comes out on top after this pandemic is by forcing countries to pay more for vaccine doses, and then delaying supposedly necessary COVID-19 vaccine shipments.

By the end of Sept. 2020, several months before Pfizers first vaccines would even be available for widespread use, just 30 nations  those who were able to pay the companys excessively high prices  had cleared out Pfizers stock of doses through advanced purchase orders.

This led to a system known as vaccine apartheid, where a countrys ability to procure vaccinations was based on its willingness to pay off Pfizer and other Big Pharma companies. The leaders of the countries who were unable to pay were fed a narrative that they were killing off their people due to their unwillingness to shell out more money to Big Pharma companies like Pfizer.

Now, it is expected that the worlds richest nations will be sitting on over a billion unused COVID-19 doses by the end of 2021. The United Kingdom alone has fully vaccinated nearly 70 percent of its entire population, while the 50 least wealthy nations of the world  which account for around 20 percent of the global population  have yet to vaccinate more than two percent of their combined population.

Pfizer was one of the top 30 most profitable companies in the world in 2020. It raked in a total of $41.9 billion in revenue that year. This year, Pfizer is predicted to make $36 billion in vaccine sales alone. During the third quarter, Pfizers sales of vaccines netted it $13 billion.

Unless more people wake up to the reality that the supposed need for vaccines has been engineered by Big Pharma companies like Pfizer, their profits are only going to continue increasing  and the influence they have on peoples everyday lives will increase as well.

Read more about Pfizers crimes against humanity at BigPharmaNews.com.

Sources include:

GlobalResearch.ca

CommonDreams.org

BusinessInsider.com

CNBC.com
(Natural News) The National Pulse (NP) found that two members of Pfizers board of directors have links to mainstream media outlets and Big Tech companies. The conservative news websites revelation cemented rumors of a collusion between Big Pharma and other entities regarding the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine.

NP investigative reporter Natalie Winters wrote in a Dec. 6 article that Pfizer board member Dr. Susan Desmond-Hellmann served as Facebooks lead independent director prior to her tenure with the vaccine maker. She was appointed to the social media platforms board and sat in the directorship from June 2015 until October 2019. Hellmann joined the New York-based drug firm the following year.

Hellmann also serves as a member of the Presidents Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (CAST) under President Joe Biden. CAST is the advisory body assigned to make policy recommendations related to science, technology and innovation to the White House.

Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Facebooks parent company Meta Platforms, responded to Hellmanns departure in an Oct. 30, 2019 press release. He described her as a wonderful and thoughtful voice on the board of directors, and expressed his gratefulness toward Hellmanns contributions to the company.

The platform established by Zuckerberg has set it sights on censoring all content that promotes vaccine hesitancy  as revealed by Project Veritas. Two company insiders reached out to the whistle-blower website with leaked documents showing Facebooks plan to block comments critical of COVID-19 vaccines via comment demotion.

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One insider explained: [Vaccine hesitancy comments dont] match the narrative. The narrative being Get the vaccine, the vaccine is good for you. Everyone should get it and if you dont, you will be singled out.' Another insider said: [Facebook is] trying to control this content before it even makes it onto your page, before you even see it.

Both Facebook insiders agree that regardless if the vaccine hesitancy comments are true and factual, they will be demoted, buried and concealed if they go against the system. (Related: Project Veritas blows lid on Facebooks global censorship of vaccine hesitancy.)

Former Reuters CEO also sitting on Pfizer board

In a separate NP article, writer Kay Smythe revealed that the chairman and former CEO of news agency Reuters is also a director for Pfizer. James C. Smith sat as Reuters president and CEO from 2012 until his retirement in 2020. Two years into his tenure, Smith was appointed to the vaccine manufacturers board of directors in 2014, a position he still holds until now.

Alongside his stint in Pfizer, Smith concurrently chairs the London-based Thomson Reuters Foundation  which the news agency supports. He is also a board member of the World Economic Forums Partnering Against Corruption Initiative. Furthermore, Smith serves as a member of three other groups under the entity founded by Klaus Schwab.

Former Pfizer Chairman and CEO Ian Read said of Smiths appointment: We are pleased to have Smith join Pfizers board of directors. He brings leadership and operational and international business experience to [the] board, and will be an excellent asset to the company.

Read was at the helm of Pfizer from 2010 to 2019, before current CEO Albert Bourla took over.

Smythe wrote that the revelation about the Reuters official raises serious conflict of interest concerns. She added: Corporate media outlets such as Reuters continue to promote Pfizer products, defend pharmaceutical companies from criticism and move to silent skeptics. (Related: Conflict: Reuters chairman is Pfizer investor and board member.)

Smythe cited articles published in Reuters over the past year to bolster her claims. She found that in the last year alone, the agency has published more than 22,000 articles mentioning Pfizer. Published articles about Johnson & Johnson, many of which had a negative sentiment, numbered more than 18,000. Meanwhile, Massachusetts-based Moderna only had 8,191 articles churned out by Reuters.

BigPharmaNews.com has more articles about conflicts of interest surrounding Pfizers directors.

Sources include:

TheNationalPulse.com 1

Pfizer.com 1

WhiteHouse.gov

About.FB.com

ProjectVeritas.com

TheNationalPulse.com 2

Pfizer.com 2

WEForum.org
(Natural News) Two babies in Brazil were hospitalized after being mistakenly injected with Pfizers Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine. A nurse vaccinated the two with the mRNA COVID-19 shot by accident instead of the vaccine meant to protect against five diseases.

The two babies  a two-month-old girl and a four-month-old boy  visited a medical facility at the Sorocaba municipality in Brazils Sao Paulo state to get the pentavalent vaccine on Dec. 1. The vaccine protects children from diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), tetanus, hepatitis B and Haemophilis influenzae type B disease.

But the two infants experienced high fever and vomiting shortly after returning home. They refused to drink milk, and medicine given by their parents did not help. It was only after Sorocaba Health Secretary Dr. Vinicius Rodrigues got in touch with the two families that the truth emerged: Both babies received the COVID-19 vaccine by mistake instead of the five-in-one shot.

My life turned upside down. I know everyone makes mistakes, but a mistake like that is unacceptable, the two-month-old girls mother said.

The two babies were sent to the local Child Cancer Research and Assistance Group (GPACI) hospital on Dec. 2 for further treatment. While both babies have improved since then, they would not be able to return home for some time. The GPACI hospitals clinical director said this was the first time the facility handled a case of infants mistakenly injected with the COVID-19 vaccine.

Authorities in Sorocaba have also reached out to Pfizer, which told them that the infants should be monitored for the next 10 to 15 days. The two are now being tested every 48 hours  through blood sample extractions, ultrasound and ECG exams. No complications from the COVID-19 vaccine so far have been observed in the infants.

Meanwhile, health care personnel only discovered the mistake the next day as they were checking the vaccine stocks. The erring nurse said she confused the vials of the COVID-19 vaccine and pentavalent vaccines because they looked too similar. She has been suspended pending an administrative probe.

Pfizer vaccine more dangerous to infants than COVID

The mRNA vaccine from Pfizer also played a role in the death of a six-week-old baby  the youngest casualty by far. According to a LifeSiteNews report, the babys mother  a 36-year-old from New Mexico  got injected with the COVID-19 vaccine on June 4 while breastfeeding her son.

On June 21, the baby became very sick with a high fever which caused his hospitalization for a two-week period. Hospital tests found no specific bacteria responsible for the illness, and the baby was discharged.

The appearance of further symptoms at home prompted the babys mother to return him to the hospital on July 15. He passed away shortly thereafter from clots in his severely inflamed arteries, the mother said.

She added: I am curious if the [SARS-CoV-2] spike protein [in the vaccine] could have gone through the breast milk and caused an inflammatory response in my child. (Related: KILLING BABIES: Death of infant linked to Pfizer Covid vaccine that mother took while breastfeeding.)

The two incidents illustrate the dangers of the COVID-19 vaccine on infants. However, Pfizer has remained adamant in seeking approval from the Food and Drug Administration to inject its COVID-19 shot on babies.

Back in September, the New York-based vaccine maker said it could begin vaccine trials to babies as young as six months. It added that it plans to apply for FDA authorization to vaccinate infants. According to Pfizer, infants would be receiving a lower dose of the COVID-19 vaccine compared to adults.

Pfizer Chief Financial Officer Frank DAmelio said at the time that the company would file for authorization by November. He added, however, that the timeline would depend on the data from Pfizers in-house clinical trials.

We would expect to have data for children between the ages of six months and five years old that we would file with the FDA. Ill call it in the weeks shortly thereafter the filing of the data for the five- to 11-year-olds, DAmelio said. (Related: Pfizer pushes ahead with plans to push coronavirus vaccines on younger children, including toddlers and infants.)

VaccineInjuryNews.com has more articles about the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine harming infants.

Sources include:

RT.com

IBTimes.com

LifeSiteNews.com

DailyMail.co.uk
(Natural News) Washington Post editorial page editor Fred Hiatt, a bloodthirsty neocon who used his position to shill America into the war in Iraq and push forced vaccines, died on Monday after suffering from sudden cardiac arrest.

(Article by Chris Menahan republished from InformationLiberation.com)

From the Washington Post Editorial Board: The rights reckless anti-vaccine campaign is not mere pandering. Its fatal. @postopinions https://t.co/aRUgleDDfw  Fred Hiatt (@hiattf) July 15, 2021

From the WaPo editorial board: Covid-19 is the No. 1 killer of police officers. Unions are supposed to protect their members' health and welfare. So why do their unions oppose mandating vaccines? @postopinions https://t.co/1Njn2UTSEG  Fred Hiatt (@hiattf) October 15, 2021

From the WaPo editorial board: Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida, a Republican, has descended to a jaw-dropping level of cynicism. Fining local governments that impose vaccine mandates promoting false claims about life-saving vaccines @postopinionshttps://t.co/2P7BaJR68t  Fred Hiatt (@hiattf) September 14, 2021

Today the Washington Post and the world lost an exceptional journalist and remarkable man: long-time Editorial Page Editor Fred Hiatt. I will miss his thoughtfulness, professionalism, and warm friendship. Our thoughts are with his beloved family at this difficult time. pic.twitter.com/NoATYyyy7A  Jeff Bezos (@JeffBezos) December 6, 2021

We at @postopinions are devastated at the loss of our leader and our friend, Fred Hiatt. Fred was the soul of our section, as kind as he was smart, the antithesis of pompous, the finest judgment, the finest person. https://t.co/KtZsJZwNfV  Ruth Marcus (@RuthMarcus) December 6, 2021

Hiatt, 66, had sudden cardiac arrest on Nov. 24 while visiting his daughter in Brooklyn, said his wife, Margaret Pooh Shapiro, and did not regain consciousness, the Post reported.

The Post imposed a vaccine mandate back in July to help safeguard the health and safety of employees, though they provided exceptions for medical and religious reasons.

Hiatts vaccination/booster status is not clear but as we all know, the sudden surge in heart disease throughout the West is purely a coincidence.

Under Hiatts leadership, the Post hired neocon agents like Jennifer Rubin, Michael Gerson and Anne Applebaum who helped lie the American public into the war in Iraq.

Hiatt published at least 27 editorials pushing for war in the six months preceding the invasion, according to PBSs Bill Moyers.

Despite relentlessly pushing the Russiagate hoax and attacking Donald Trump from all fronts on the Posts editorial page, Hiatt published articles praising him for attacking Syria (based on lies).

Though Hiatt was a rabid neocon when it came to American foreign policy, he was a radical leftist on domestic policy. He published endless editorials advocating for Big Tech censorship, hate speech laws, mass immigration, gun control, forced vaccines, covid tyranny, transgenderism, anti-white critical race theory, fake meat and so on.

Hiatt embodied the worst of the worst in America.

Read more at: InformationLiberation.com
(Natural News) The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) raised the travel advisory level for France, Portugal and five other countries to Level 4  the highest classification for the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) risk.

Interestingly, France has a vaccination rate of nearly 90 percent while Portugal has vaccinated 87.4 percent of its eligible population.

Also getting classified as Level 4 are Andorra and Liechtenstein in Europe, Cyprus and Jordan in the Middle East and Tanzania in East Africa. Countries in Level 4 have had more than 500 COVID-19 cases per 100,o00 people in the past 28 days. Americans were advised to avoid traveling to those countries.

As of Dec. 4, more than 80 countries are listed under the CDCs Level 4 risk category. In a broader guidance on Dec. 2, the CDC advised people to refrain from traveling internationally until they are fully vaccinated.

Fully vaccinated travelers are less likely to get and spread COVID-19, the CDC said in its advisory. However, international travel poses additional risks, and even fully vaccinated travelers might be at increased risk for getting and possibly spreading some COVID-19 variants.

Separately, the CDC on Dec. 3 unveiled rules requiring all travelers seeking to enter the U.S. to test negative for COVID-19 within one day of departure starting Dec. 6. People who recovered from COVID-19 in the past 90 days and have documents to prove that can also enter the country, according to the CDC.

Countries scramble to curb spread of omicron

These actions by the CDC come amid a newly detected COVID-19 variant of concern called omicron, which was first reported by South Africa to the World Health Organization (WHO) in late November. The new variant has sparked a flurry of travel restrictions, as well as local restrictions by dozens of countries seeking to curb its spread.

In France, Prime Minister Jean Castex announced that nightclubs will be ordered to close for four weeks to counter a COVID surge that has put hospitals under severe strain.

We have all had a tendency to lower our guard, said Castex, who just finished his quarantine after contracting the virus. He said schoolchildren will also face stricter social distancing and extended use of face masks as infection rates rise among young people.

Castex said employers should encourage staff to work from home. He also urged people to shy away from office parties as the year-end holidays approach.

The situation demands an individual as well as a collective effort, Castex said in a televised address. But its no longer the time for lockdowns.

Nightclub owners reacted furiously to the new shutdown, saying that clubs were being unfairly targeted. Clubs have been closed for most of last winter before reopening in July.

Once again theres no clampdown for any other sector, Thierry Fontaine of the UMIH Nuit industry association said. They cancel New Years Eve for us, but theyll be dancing in all the restaurants.

He also doubted that financial aid promised by Castex would be enough to compensate for losing out on the key holiday season.

Nearly all of the analyzed virus cases in France involve the delta variant, which has proven itself to be highly transmissible even among vaccinated people. France has so far confirmed only 25 cases of the omicron variant, but officials say the number could jump significantly in the coming weeks.

WHO admits travel bans wont keep omicron away

WHO spokesperson Dr. Margaret Harris said that travel bans imposed on southern African countries will not prevent the spread of the omicron variant worldwide.

If you do something as drastic as a travel ban, use it well to buy time, Harris told CNN. But we do know that it wont keep cases out. Usually, by the time where countries are aware that there is a risk of importation, thats already happened.

Omicron cases have been detected in Israel, the United States, Canada, several European nations and more. (Related: WHO using COVID omicron variant to push for global pandemic treaty.)

Several countries have issued travel bans on eight southern African nations after omicron cases were found in South Africa and Botswana. Top South African officials headed by President Cyrisl Ramaphosa criticized the recent travel curbs, branding those as unscientific and discriminatory.

This is a clear and completely unjustified departure from the commitment that many of these countries made at the meeting of the G-20 countries in Rome last month, Ramaphosa said in a televised address.

Dr. Angelique Coetzee, chair of the South African Medical Association, said that omicron patients are showing extremely mild COVID-19 symptoms. Worldwide, there have been no reported deaths from the new variant.

Coetzee urged other countries to not panic. The majority of what we are presenting to primary health care practitioners are extremely mild cases, so mild to moderate. And so, these patients, it means they dont need to be hospitalized for now, Coetzee said

Follow Pandemic.news for more news and information related to the coronavirus pandemic.

Sources include:

TheEpochTimes.com 1

France24.com

TheEpochTimes.com 2
(Natural News) Australia is planning to have a digital currency issued by its central bank and regulate the crypto market in a bid to overhaul how the nations consumers and businesses pay for goods and services.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg stressed the need to reform Australias current framework to prevent Silicon Valley from determining the future of its payments system.

Frydenberg earlier said that the government will consider a digital version of cash that will be universally accessible. It will also consider a licensing framework that will allow crypto transactions within a regulated environment.

These are significant shifts which we need to be in front of, Frydenberg said.

The Reserve Bank of Australia and some of its biggest global peers are trying to come to terms with emerging payment technologies pioneered by tech giants, including Chinas Ant Group Co.

Meta Platforms Inc.s Diem project is building a global payments network to service its own stablecoin  digital assets that attempt to peg their value to something like the U.S. dollar  or central bank digital currencies.

The Australian Taxation Office pegged the number of Australians who transacted using digital assets in 2018 at 800,000. The figure is currently bigger.

There is no doubt that the rapid growth of cryptocurrencies, which are distinct from digital ones issued by central banks, poses a potential threat to monetary regimes and adding urgency to debates on handling cross-border money transfers. (Related: CRYPTO RESET coming  Nearly the entire crypto ecosystem appears to be based on DIGITAL fiat currency counterfeiting operations tied to communist China.)

Jonathan Miller, Australian managing director of crypto-exchange Kraken, said Australia needs to nurture the industry as a hub of innovation. However, Miller warned that any new regulation must not go overboard.

What weve seen in other markets, where theres too heavy a hand, is a rejection of the market, he said.

Australia joined an experiment by the Bank for International Settlements on the use of central bank digital currencies aimed at creating a more efficient global payments platform. The proposed reforms are in response to three separate reviews of the nations payments system and similar developments in the U.K., Singapore and Canada.

The Reserve Bank of Australia clarified that its project examining the potential use of wholesale type of central bank digital currency using distributed ledger technology is directly opposed to the retail version proposed by the government. The RBA remained silent when asked whether it will launch a wholesale currency but stressed it would continue its research.

Six crypto companies to testify before Congress

In the U.S., the future of the crypto industry will be the topic of six cryptocurrency company leaders as they testify before the House Financial Services Committee. They will also tackle the necessary regulations for stablecoins.

According to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, stablecoin is well designed and has the potential to support beneficial payments options. Yellen, however, stressed the need for regulation.

Current oversight is inconsistent and fragmented, with some stablecoins effectively falling outside the regulatory perimeter, she said.

Stablecoin is different from cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin or Ethereum, which are mined by computers. Stablecoin derives its value from some underlying external assets, such as the U.S. dollar or the price of gold. Investors and companies are drawn to stablecoins because of their supposed price stability. In contrast, Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are known for being volatile.

U.S. dollar can be converted to stablecoins which can also be used to buy and sell cryptocurrencies on exchanges. Beginners are attracted to stablecoins because many exchanges dont charge trading fees between U.S. dollars and stablecoin. More than $150 billion worth of stablecoins are up in circulation presently.

The current leading stablecoins include: Tether, USD Coin and Binance USD.

But with no regulations currently in place to monitor stablecoin reserves, the cryptocurrency had run-ins with the authorities. In February, New York State Attorney General Letitia James accused Tether and crypto exchange Bitfinex of hiding massive losses. The companies agreed to pay a combined total of $18.5 million in fines.

Follow CryptoCult.news for more news related to cryptocurrency.

Sources include:

FinancialPost.com

Fortune.com

CNet.com
(Natural News) In Los Angeles, a 13-year-old student came home with a COVID-19 vaccine card and told his mother he was awarded pizza for taking the COVID-19 vaccine. The boy attends the Barack Obama Global Prep Academy, which has already inoculated 80 percent of the student population using prizes and other bribes. The boys mother never consented to the medical experiment, and told NBC News that she did not want her child to receive any COVID-19 vaccinations. The school inoculated her son anyway, using junk food to bribe him into compliance. The boy said the person who injected him did not want him to tell his parents.

The lady that gave him the shot and signed the paper told my son, Please dont say anything. I dont want to get in trouble,' Mrs. Duarte told NBC. She had already chosen not to have him vaccinated against covid because he has problems with asthma and allergy problems, she said. Mrs. Duarte, who had already received two doses of the vaccine earlier in the year, did not want her son taking it. It hurt to know he got a shot without my permission, without knowing and without signing any papers for him to get the shot, Duarte said.

The medical tyranny did not happen overnight

California is rapidly being converted into a vaccine police state, where human rights are threatened at nearly every place of business. While the vaccine passports and vaccine mandates seem suddenly over-the-top and abrupt, this medical tyranny has been brewing for several years now. In 2015, the state shuttered parental rights completely when Governor Brown signed Senator Richard Pans SB277 into law. This corrupt statute took ownership over all children in the state by eliminating all parental objections to vaccines. This compelled many California families to either leave the state, begin homeschooling, or seek the permission of a medical doctor who might present an acceptable medical exemption for their family. This attack on parental rights inflicts various degrees of financial burden on families  families that are NOT a threat to their community! The situation is so depraved now, California schools no longer respect the medical privacy of students and go behind the parents back to inoculate their children with bribes and prizes.

The power of the elements: Discover Colloidal Silver Mouthwash with quality, natural ingredients like Sangre de Drago sap, black walnut hulls, menthol crystals and more. Zero artificial sweeteners, colors or alcohol. Learn more at the Health Ranger Store and help support this news site.

Los Angeles schools using bribery to illegally inoculate children with vaccines that arent even on the schedule

The Los Angeles School District has already set up an illegal program that offers prizes to students if they line up and take the shots. The program is called safe schools to safe steps incentive program. The predatory program falsely labels the covid vaccines safe, even though the vaccines are proven harmful and not medically necessary, especially for children. Vaccinating children against COVID makes zero sense; more children are actually harmed by the vaccines than from COVID. (Related: As America rushes to mass inject children with COVID vaccines, other countries exercise sensible caution.)

This public-school-vaccine-bribery is going on behind parents backs, without their consent. These programs are illegal in the first place, because schools are barred from administering vaccines that are not on the California school vaccine schedule. Attorney Jennifer Kennedy says the school district does not have the legal authority to vaccinate the kids with covid shots, let alone prey on children behind their parents backs. The LAUSD does not have the power to add a vaccine to the California school schedule, Kennedy said. You couldnt do it if you were a podunk school district and you cant do it if youre LAUSD, the second largest district in the nation. You dont have that legal authority. The school district did not comment on the matter.

Sources include:

ThePostMillenial.com

IHPL.LLU.edu [PDF]

NaturalNews.com

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) A new Axios-Ipsos poll has found that 82 percent of all Democrats in the United States are willing to wear a mask indoors at all times now that the Omicron (Moronic) variant has arrived. Conversely, only 38 percent of Republicans are willing to do the same.

Axios, which is admittedly far-left, complained that these results show that [m]ost Americans arent willing to make big changes in their behavior to minimize the risk from the Omicron variant, like avoiding indoor restaurant dining or canceling their holiday travel plans.

It turns out that only 33 percent of Americans overall are willing to stop eating inside at restaurants this winter, and only 28 percent are willing to stop gathering with other people outside of their own household.

That same 28 percent do not want to have to self-quarantine for 14 days again just because the government came up with a new scary mutation, and only 23 percent say they would cancel their holiday travel plans over this latest scariant.

Even fewer, just 13 percent, indicated that they will stop going into work. Apparently the vast majority of the country is just not scared about Moronic like the media and government hoped people would be. (RELATED: the only people we know of so far who are catching Moronic are the fully vaccinated.)

67 percent of America supposedly supports vaccine mandates for flying

As for another round of mask mandates, a whopping 94 percent of Democrats say they support the government forcing these medical devices on people who visit local businesses.

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When it comes to murdering unborn children (abortion), Democrats demand that the government stay out of it  my body, my choice, they say. But when it comes to forcing everyone to cover their breathing holes with Chinese plastic, Democrats are all about some medical fascism.

Shockingly, 43 percent of Republicans (if you believe the polls results) also said they would support more mask mandates. Overall, 69 percent of the country is supposedly in favor of this.

Axios-Ipsos further claims that 67 percent of the country, including 72 percent of Democrats and 66 percent of Republicans, support a government-imposed travel mandate to help flatten the curve.

Where the poll gets even further questionable is the results to the question about whether or not Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccination should be required in order to fly on commercial airlines. Sixty-seven percent of the country supposedly supports this.

As for more lockdowns, however, only 35 percent of respondents indicated that they support another round of that.

The government claims that the Moronic variant has now been detected in the following 18 states: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Utah, Washington, and Wisconsin.

Fake president Joe Biden has promised to shut down the virus, which does not sound too promising for the future of Americans last remaining rights and liberties.

I think 82% of Democrats should wear plastic bags over their heads and tightly tied around their necks, joked one commenter at Breitbart News about the poll results.

82% of Democrats are severely mentally ill, wrote another.

Another wrote that these are the same people he sees driving in their car alone and wearing a mask with all the windows up.

I guess it would be asking too much for them to just shut up and let us enjoy the flu season, wrote another.

Remember when the cold and flu season was marked by TV ads for Dristan, Nyquil, etc.? We just dealt with it and lived our lives, wrote another.

You will find more of the latest news about the Omicron variant deception at Propaganda.news.

Sources for this article include:

Breitbart.com

Axios.com

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) As Mark Twain famously noted: history may not always repeat, but it rhymes. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has taken the leading elements of a dark time in history and now openly advocates for their repetition. Can these people not hear themselves? This is madness.

(Article by Sundance republished from TheConservativeTreehouse.com)

Mrs. von der Leyens husband is Heiko von der Leyen, the Director of the US biotech company Orgenesis which specializes in medical research to include cell and gene therapies.

Mr. Heiko von der Leyen organizes the scientific experiments, and then his wife Ursula advocates for forced vaccinations for all citizens within the European Union; and the removal of the prohibitive Nuremberg Code. This would be a twisted and sick plot within a science fiction movie; however, it is very real.

Austria has already announced compulsory COVID vaccinations which will be enforced starting in February of 2022. Greece has recently decided to fine all unvaccinated citizens 100 (85) a month for their non compliance, and Germany announced Thursday a nationwide lockdown for the unvaccinated, as its leaders backed plans for mandatory vaccinations in the coming months. Germanys incoming Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, said he supports compulsory vaccinations beginning in March 2022.

These European leaders are insane.

There is no better time than right now for Russia to invade Ukraine, and for the American people to tell our elected officials its none of our business. If returning to the era where Fascist government fiats are acceptable to the people in Europe, then let them fight or fall  we have our own axe handles, tar and feathers to carry.

On the domestic side, Naomi Wolf sees what is coming..

It is quite remarkable how Omicron suddenly triggered this latest wave of totalitarianism. I doubt the timing or delivery was accidental.

Read more at: TheConservativeTreehouse.com
(Natural News) Los Angeles firefighter John Knox told the Health Ranger Mike Adams that he and his fellow firefighters have filed multiple lawsuits against the citys vaccine mandate for first responders.

A 21-year veteran of the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD), Knox also heads the pro-health freedom group Firefighters For Freedom (FFF). The FFF was organized after L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti announced a Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine mandate for all city employees.

The L.A. Times reported back in July 2021 that the city will require employees to get the vaccine. Those unable to show proof of vaccinations would be required to show a negative COVID-19 test. Garcetti later said that the city would mandate injections without the testing alternative.

Our group saw that the city [would] start imposing vaccine mandates  and we didnt agree with that, being its a mandate. We cant get into that. So we got together, we got a board of directors together and then out of that, we put together a legal team. We [then] filed [a] suit against the city of L.A., Knox said during the Dec. 6 episode of the Health Ranger Report on Brighteon.TV.

FFFs initial suit against the city was based on two issues: the vaccine mandates constitutionality and vaccination being the safest way to protect the workforce and the public. The group filed a subsequent lawsuit seeking $2.1 billion in punitive damages. It alleged that the mandate gave rise to harassment and coercion in the LAFD.

Knox said: The second lawsuit that we filed was based on harassment and coercion. We have [a] zero harassment policy in our department; theres a whole manual on it. And now youve got senior officers and chief officers that are creating that environment.

The firefighter said his groups second lawsuit seeks to stop the harassment faced by LAFD employees turning down the COVID-19 vaccine. No ones happy right now. Ive never seen morale inside of the fire service at a lower point than right now. (Related: LA requires city employees to take the coronavirus vaccine or get tested weekly.)

Knox fired for refusing the vaccine

Knox revealed to Adams that he himself had been terminated at the LAFD for refusing to comply with Garcettis vaccine mandate. He said that 15 minutes after he clocked out of his shift, he received a letter from the city stating his noncompliance with the citys vaccine policy.

According to the letter, Knox had been placed on off-duty leave without pay, pending his termination effective Dec. 18. If youre going to be terminated here, youre going without incomes  even though youve dedicated your lives to the city and to public safety, Adams commented.

Citing the Supreme Court ruling on the 1975 Skelly v. State Personnel Board case, Knox expressed optimism that he and other FFF would be reinstated as the city overstepped the states labor laws.

Theres a whole process  [its] called the Skelly process  that has to happen before you go to a board of rights, undergo disciplinary action and be terminated. There has to be a whole process that [everyone] goes through, and the [LAFD] has violated every single rule in that process, Knox said.

He added that the Skelly process entitles unlawfully terminated employees to back pay.

In the Skelly ruling, it even says that you would be reinstated with back pay. Theyre opening a can of worms [and] that is not good for them, Knox said. (Related: LA cops sue city over its coronavirus vaccine mandate.)

We have a preliminary injunction hearing on Dec. 20. Our termination date is technically supposed to be December 18. But if the city goes ahead and does that two days prior to that court date, thats going to throw up a lot of red flags. The judge would, I think, have some serious questions as to why they wouldnt have waited for the hearing to go through.

Watch the full Dec. 6 episode of the Health Ranger Report at the video below. Tune in to the Health Ranger Report from Monday to Friday at 3-3:30 p.m. on Brighteon.TV.

Resist.news has more articles about people pushing back against vaccine mandates.

Sources include:

Brighteon.com

LATimes.com
(Natural News) A survey has found that only 37 percent of Democratic-leaning Americans want President Joe Biden to run again in 2024. The polls results came amid the former vice presidents dwindling popularity as he nears his first anniversary in office.

The poll by news website Issues & Insights (I&I) and Tipp Insights asked respondents who they want to see as the Democratic presidential candidate for 2024. More than a thousand respondents participated in the survey conducted from Dec. 1 to Dec. 4.

According to the survey results, 37 percent of Democratic-leaning respondents wanted Biden to run as the 2024 presidential candidate. Vice President Kamala Harris followed at 16 percent. Overall results reflect badly for Biden, with only 22 percent wanting him to run for a second term.

Other Democratic Party politicians received less than five percent support, the survey revealed. Four percent of respondents wanted New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and former Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams to run as president.

Three percent of respondents wanted Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren or New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker on the presidential ticket. Only two percent of participants supported California Gov. Gavin Newsom running on the ticket, while only one percent wanted Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer as a presidential candidate.

I&I editor Terry Jones wrote that even Democrats [themselves] seem less than enthused about Biden holding the top spot. He also mentioned that Harris garnering only 16 percent of support was alarming, given that she was next in line to the presidency should Biden not complete his first term.

Only eight percent of independents and other non-major party voters also want Biden back as Democratic standard-bearer, and 10 percent want Harris. For Biden, that suggests near non-existent support among independents  the swing voters who make up a third or more of all those who go to the polls each election, Jones added. (Related: New moms who picked Biden over Trump are horrified to discover they got exactly what they voted for.)

With no one else getting even more than low single-digit support, the 2024 presidential election is shaping up to be a wild one for the Democrats.

Democrats plagued by infighting despite grip on power

According to Jones, Bidens health issues and declining popularity have led some pundits to speculate that he will not have a second term. Several major issues  the abrupt Afghanistan pullout, supply chain crunches, border policy and the vaccine mandate  contributed to the slide in Bidens popularity.

In a Nov. 15, 2021 op-ed, Spectator contributing editor Stephen L. Miller pointed out that Bidens term in the White House is a sacrificial presidency despite those setbacks. The worst-kept secret in Washington, D.C. is that Joe Biden is a one-term president, whether he knows it or not, he wrote. (Related: Biden  the Manchurian candidate decline & fall of America.)

Biden doesnt acknowledge this. Hes signaled multiple times that he intends to run for a second term in 2024. He has been trying to capture the White House for over 30 years, [and] hes not just going to give that up willingly  as he managed to go from party punchline to party patriarch in the span of one election.

Jones mentioned that Harris and Buttigieg were already in conflict as to who is next in line after Biden. Miller called it a case of the kids fighting over grandpas inheritance while still alive.

Miller warned that the uncertainties surrounding Bidens future only made him more dangerous. He could inflict real reform  and real harm, the kind of harm we are seeing right now. The infliction of this pain appears to be very intentional, Miller wrote.

JoeBiden.news has more articles about Bidens plans for the upcoming 2024 elections.

Sources include:

Breitbart.com

TIPPInsights.com

SpectatorWorld.com
(Natural News) Many people are still unaware of this, but the infamous PCR test for the Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) is not an accurate tool for detecting the presence of this alleged virus inside peoples bodies. Not only that, but the presence of a virus does not equate to the presence of disease, despite what the government claims.

The Brownstone Institute put together an excellent paper about this subject that exposes the PCR testing scheme as a fraud.

Before the PCR test was invented in 1983, scientists had to wait for viruses to grow naturally in order to identify them. PCR technology changed all this by rapidly multiplying very small amounts of viral DNA in an exponential series of heating and cooling cycles.

The process is fully automated and only takes about an hour. The problem is that it can be tuned (i.e. misused) to pick up things that are not necessarily there.

PCR revolutionised molecular biology but its most notable application was in genetic fingerprinting, where its ability to magnify even the smallest traces of DNA became a major weapon in the fight against crime, the paper explains.

But, like a powerful magnifying glass or zoom lens, if its powerful enough to find a needle in a haystack its powerful enough to make mountains out of molehills.

PCR test inventor vehemently opposed to using it to diagnose diseases

Even Kary Mullis, the inventor of the PCR test and winner of the 1993 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, recognized this. He went so far as to warn against using his PCR test to try to diagnose disease.

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PCR is a process thats used to make a whole lot of something out of something, Mullis stated. It allows you to take a very miniscule amount of anything and make it measurable and then talk about it like its important.

In other words, PCR tests should never have been used to try to diagnose people with covid. And yet this is what health authorities all around the world have been doing, deceiving and enslaving the public in the process.

It turns out that the PCR test can be calibrated to a cycle count so high that it will pick up pretty much anything and render someone positive. This is exactly what happened with covid, especially in areas with low rates of mask-wearing and vaccine-taking.

If the government wanted to make it seem like masks were working to stop the spread, then it would cycle down the PCR tests in areas of high compliance  and vice versa.

The other thing to keep in mind is that trace amounts of covid, assuming it even exists, would not be the same kind of threat as large amounts of covid. And yet the PCR test when applied in this manner sees no difference between small or large quantities of whatever it is that is being tested.

Bacteria and viruses are different from other toxins, but the principle is the same, Brownstone says. Because they multiply and increase their dose with time, maximum permissible doses need to be based on the minimum dose likely to start an infection, known as the Minimum Infective Dose (MID).

PCR tests magnify the number of target DNA particles in a swab exponentially until they become visible. Like a powerful zoom lens, the greater the magnification needed to see something, the smaller it actually is.

There is currently no standard measure of viral load in clinical samples. There is also no way to reproduce PCR test results because the nucleic acid target (the pathogen of interest), platform and format all differ.

More related news about coronavirus deception can be found at Pandemic.news.

Sources for this article include:

NaturalNews.com

Brownstone.org
(Natural News) The World Health Organization (WHO) recently stated that Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine mandates should be an absolute last resort in response to some European countries considering making vaccinations compulsory.

Dr. Hans Kluge, WHO regional director for Europe, told reporters during a press briefing: Mandates around vaccination are an absolute last resort, and only applicable when all feasible options to improve vaccination uptake have been exhausted.

According to the WHO official, public confidence and public trust in authorities and vaccination uptake must be considered before vaccine mandates are imposed on populations. He advised countries to hold imposing such mandates if [they] havent reached out first to communities.

Kluge admitted that vaccine mandates had been proven effective in some environments to increase vaccination rates. However, he reiterated that requiring vaccines is not a one-size-fits-all solution. The effectiveness of [vaccine] mandates is very context-specific. What is acceptable in one society and community may not be effective and acceptable in another, he said.

Ultimately, mandates should never contribute to increasing social inequalities in access to health and social services.

Kluge is not the only WHO official advising against draconian measures to curb the spread of COVID-19. Back in October 2020, WHO special envoy on COVID-19 Dr. David Nabarro said in an interview with Spectator Chairman Andrew Neil that coronavirus lockdowns cause more harm than the disease it aims to address.

We in the WHO do not advocate lockdowns as the primary means of control of this virus. Lockdowns just have one consequence that you must never belittle, and that is making poor people an awful lot poorer, Nabarro said. We may well have a doubling of world poverty by next year and at least a doubling of child malnutrition.

The only time we believe a lockdown is justified is to buy time to reorganize, regroup, rebalance resources [and] protect health workers who are exhausted, the envoy added. (Related: WHO reverses course, again: Lockdowns as primary response to COVID-19 now said to be damaging.)

European countries beg to disagree with Kluge

Despite Kluges advice, a number of European nations still made vaccines mandatory. The Guardian reported that Austria will make COVID-19 injections mandatory beginning Feb. 1, 2022.

Austrian Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg announced the mandate, adding that the government has been preparing the legal groundwork for the order. Austrians turning down the shot will face administrative fines, which can be converted into prison sentences if violators are unable to pay.

For a long time, the consensus in this country was that we dont want a vaccine mandate. In spite of months of persuasion, we have not managed to convince enough people to be vaccinated, he said. The chancellor added that while implementing more stringent vaccine passport rules and testing requirements have started to make a difference, they havent convinced enough Austrians to get injected.

We dont want a fifth wave, we dont want a sixth or a seventh wave, Schallenberg added. Only 66 percent of Austrians have been fully vaccinated, according to The Guardian. (Related: Austria mandates COVID-19 vaccines for ALL residents; those who refuse will pay steep fines.)

Germany is also planning to make COVID-19 vaccines mandatory, a POLITICO report said. Incoming German Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed support toward a vaccine mandate for all citizens, according to an official close to the new German leader.

The official told POLITICO that Scholz signaled his sympathy for such a regulation, adding that the mandate could come at the beginning of February. However, such a mandate would have to be approved by the Bundestag, Germanys parliament.

Germany also has a lower vaccination rate compared to its neighbors. Only 68.5 percent of Germans have completed their COVID-19 vaccination schedule, just slightly higher than Austria.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said mandating COVID-19 vaccinations was understandable and appropriate. But she added that there should be discussion about vaccine mandates in countries across the bloc.

How can we encourage and potentially think about mandatory vaccination within the EU? This needs a common approach, but it is a discussion that, I think, has to be led, von der Leyen said.

Sources include:

TheEpochTimes.com

UNRIC.org

TheGuardian.com

POLITICO.eu
Many parts of Russia were badly affected by the freezing rains and gusts winds on November 18 and 19, which caused major power outages, traffic chaos and disruption key infrastructure systems in the Far East area. (Photo : Pixabay)

Parts of Siberia have been experiencing some of the coldest air on the planet in recent days, resulting in bone-chilling temperatures. Despite having the coldest temperatures in over eight years, "zombie fire" continued to rage beneath the frozen terrain.

Drop in Temperature

In Delyankir, Russia, the temperature dropped to an unholy 75 degrees below zero Fahrenheit (59.2 degrees below zero Celsius) on Tuesday evening, the lowest temperature there since January 2014. Last winter, the temperature dropped to 73 degrees below zero Fahrenheit (58.3 degrees below zero Celsius) on Jan. 18.

Delyankir is roughly 300 miles (483 kilometers) north of the Sea of Oshkosh in distant eastern Russia.

Extreme cold is a feature of the area. Oymyakon, about 90 miles (145 kilometers) southwest of Delyankir, is billed as the world's coldest permanently inhabited settlement, with a record low of 90 degrees below zero Fahrenheit (67.8 degrees below zero Celsius) set in 1933.

On Tuesday evening, local time, the temperature in Oymyakon plummeted to - 72 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 57.7 degrees Celsius), a devastating low but only one degree above the record low set in January.

According to The Siberian Times, it was chilly enough for local schools to close late last week. When the temperature drops below minus 63 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 53 degrees Celsius), children under the age of 11 must stay at home. All pupils must attend class if the weather is "milder" than 63 degrees below zero. All in-person classes are canceled when the temperature drops below negative 65 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 55 degrees Celsius).

Zombie Fires

The intense cold may have forced some students in the region to miss school, but it had a stricter difficulty putting out some of Nature's most ferocious flames, which have raged on despite the terrible weather. Peat fires, commonly called "zombie fires," can last months or even years. Last week, while the flames continued to burn underground, video acquired by The Siberian Times and released on Twitter showed smoke rising from the depths of a snowy landscape.

Zombie fires burn at -60C outside Oymyakon, the worlds coldest permanently inhabited place. Local photographer captures pillars of smoke rising above the underground peat fire https://t.co/71IjPxc49c pic.twitter.com/o8CTLO0nPE  The Siberian Times (@siberian_times) December 2, 2021

"I [saw] them amid meadows near Khara Tumul hamlet, not far from Oymyakon," local photographer Semyon Sivtsev told The Siberian Times. "It was in the summertime, and there were flames in the region."

"I know of at least one zombie peat fire in the Mundullakh area, not far from Oymyakon, that has been burning for several years," Sivtsev added. According to Sivtsev, snowmelt and intense rainfall eventually put out the fire.

Peat Fires

Peat fires smolder under ice and snow during the winter and emerge in the spring. Peat is a layer of soil that frequently consists primarily of decaying plant material. Since peatlands are carbon-rich, the fires that it feeds may release significant amounts of carbon dioxide into the sky.

The Siberian Times reported that the wildfire season in Yakutia, Russia's biggest territory and home to Oymyakon, was one of the worst on record for the region, with roughly 31,000 square miles (8 million hectares) scorched. These flames can ignite peat, which can smolder for years, even under snow and ice, even in the coldest parts of the earth.

According to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Jim Andrews, the harsh winter environment of far northeastern Asia is also known as the "Pole of Cold."

"In northern Asia, the Siberian 'Pole of Cold' is located within the Sakha Republic, or Yakutia," Andrews explained. "Only the peaks of vast Antarctica and Greenland ice sheets are colder in the winter than it is in the summer."

High temperatures of 40 to 50 degrees below zero Fahrenheit (40 to 50 degrees below zero Celsius) are typical in Delyankir from the middle of November until the middle of February. During this period, the average low temperature is minus 60s Fahrenheit (51 below zero to 56 below zero C).

Current Situations

Yakutsk witnessed one of the longest stretches of temperatures below minus 40 F (minus 40 C) in at least 14 years during a record cold spell last winter. Yakutsk, located roughly 500 miles (825 kilometers) southwest of Delyankir, is also in eastern Russia.

The region is prone to freezing temperatures throughout the winter due to widespread snow cover, a lack of heating due to a low sun angle, and the lack of adjacent significant bodies of water.

Big bodies of water tend to hold heat better than land. Therefore areas adjacent to large amounts of water are milder than those that are landlocked and distant from a body of water.

This frigid storm arrives just six months after the region saw record temperatures. Temperatures in Oymyakon reached 88.8 degrees Fahrenheit (31.6 degrees Celsius) in late June, the warmest June temperature on record.

While temperatures in the region seldom stay above freezing for more than a few days to a week at a time, it is doubtful that the area will experience a substantial shift to warmer weather anytime soon.
The new technique enhances NASA JPL's Center for Near Earth Object Studies' ability to analyze the impact danger of asteroids approaching our planet.

Nearly 28,000 near-Earth asteroids (NEAs) have been discovered so far using survey telescopes that continuously monitor the night sky, with roughly 3,000 discoveries every year. Over the next several years, however, as larger and more powerful survey telescopes turbocharge the search, a substantial spike in findings is projected.

NASA scientists have created Sentry-II, a next-generation impact monitoring algorithm, better to analyze NEA impact probability in anticipation of this rise

Asteroids are frequently depicted in popular culture as chaotic objects that speed carelessly through our solar system, changing course unpredictably and posing a threat to our planet at any time. This is far from the case. Asteroids are celestial bodies that follow well-defined orbital routes around the Sun and obey the rules of physics.

However, such routes can occasionally approach incredibly near to Earth's future position. Experts cannot entirely rule out a future Earth impact due to slight uncertainties in the asteroids' placements. As a result, astronomers employ advanced impact monitoring algorithms to determine the impact risk automatically.

DART

DART is a planetary defense-driven test of technology to prevent an asteroid from colliding with Earth. DART will be the first time a kinetic impactor will be used to alter an asteroid's velocity in space. The DART mission is directed by APL and administered at Marshall Space Flight Center for NASA's Planetary Defense Coordination Office and the Science Mission Directorate's Planetary Science Division at NASA Headquarters in Washington, DC, under NASA's Solar System Exploration Program.

Related Article: NASA Plans to Deflect Asteroids to Defend the Planet from Cosmic Disaster



SENTRY Algorithm

The Center for Near Earth Object Studies (CNEOS), managed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, calculates every known NEA orbit to enhance impact hazard estimates supporting NASA's Planetary Defense Coordination Office (PDCO). CNEOS has used the Sentry software, created by JPL in 2002, to monitor the impact danger presented by NEAs.

"The first version of Sentry was a highly sophisticated system that was in service for about 20 years," said Javier Roa Vicens, a navigation engineer at JPL. They just went to SpaceX and spearheaded the development of Sentry-II. "It was based on some pretty clever mathematics: you could confidently calculate the impact probability for a freshly found asteroid over the next 100 years in under an hour - an astonishing achievement."

On the other hand, Sentry-II gives NASA a tool that can quickly compute impact probability for all known NEAs, even some that the first Sentry missed. In the CNEOS Sentry Table, Sentry-II reports the most dangerous things.

Improved Monitoring System

The researchers have made the impact monitoring system more robust by routinely computing impact probabilities in this new approach, allowing NASA to accurately analyze all potential impacts with odds as low as a few chances in 10 million.

The asteroid's dayside is heated by sunlight as it rotates. The hot surface will cool down when it turns to the asteroid's shadowed nightside. As it cools, infrared energy is released, creating a small but constant force on the asteroid. The Yarkovsky effect is a phenomenon that has minimal impact on the asteroid's speed over short periods of time but may drastically alter its course over decades and millennia.

Another flaw in the initial Sentry algorithm was that it couldn't always forecast the impact probability of asteroids colliding with Earth at extremely close range. Our planet's gravity deflects the velocity of these NEAs, increasing the post-encounter orbital uncertainty significantly. The original Sentry's calculations may fail in some situations, necessitating manual intervention. Sentry-II is not limited in this way.

Tracking NEA

When telescopes track a new NEA, astronomers record the asteroid's observed locations in the sky and submit them to the Minor Planet Center, which calculates impact probability. CNEOS then uses the information to calculate the asteroid's most likely orbit around the Sun. However, because the asteroid's measured location is subject to minor inaccuracies, its "best likely orbit" may not accurately reflect the asteroid's actual orbit. The accurate orbit is located somewhere inside a rocky area, which resembles a cloud of possibilities encircling the most probable orbit.

The original Sentry would make certain assumptions about how the uncertainty zone would change to determine whether an impact is conceivable and narrow down where the genuine orbit might be. It would then choose a group of points that were uniformly spaced along a line that spanned the uncertainty zone. Each point reflected a probable current position of the asteroid that was somewhat different.

Comparing Sentry I and II

The Sentry would then advance the clock, keeping an eye on the "virtual asteroids" as they orbited the Sun to see if any came close to Earth in the future. If that's the case, more computations would be needed to "zoom in" on whether any intermediate points may collide with Earth, and if so, what the impact probability would be.

Sentry-II, on the other hand, follows a different concept. The new method generates tens of thousands of random points without making assumptions about how the uncertainty zone will grow; instead, it picks random points from throughout the uncertainty region. Sentry-algorithm II then asks, "What are the probable orbits that may impact Earth inside the full zone of uncertainty?"

Also Read: How Ancient Asteroids and Comets Helped Alter Early Earth's Oxygen Levels

For more Space news, don't forget to follow Nature World News!
We are living in a wonderful period of time where women can do previously impossible things. Women today are more innovative, faster, and stronger than they have ever been before. But where there is light, darkness also exists.

A recent study of violence against women found that crimes against women have risen by double digits in many countries. It is estimated that 1 out of every 3 women will be victims of violence or sexual assault at least once in their lifetime.

For this reason, we've compiled a list of the five most dangerous countries for women according to statistics compiled by UN Women. While no one is claiming that these places are "no-go-areas" for women, knowing about dangers ahead of time may help you make better decisions and reduce your risk if you visit or live in one of these areas.

Pakistan

Pakistan is one of the most dangerous countries for women, mainly because male violence is not only tolerated but condoned. Pakistan was found to have some of the highest incidences of violence against women in all of Asia. Pakistani culture often requires that women be subordinate to men and accept whatever punishments are dealt out for their perceived transgressions, however small they may be.

This country has some stringent laws when it comes to sexual misconduct, which can make life difficult if you are a woman, particularly since these laws are enforced more harshly on the female population than the male population. This disparity between how crimes are handled can make even minor indiscretions costly affairs. Therefore, if you are a woman traveling in Pakistan, it might be safer to travel with someone else than alone.

Jamaica

Jamaica is one of the most dangerous countries for women because it has one of the highest incidences of violence against women in all of North America and one of the lowest rates at which that violence is prosecuted. It's estimated that their partners or other loved ones kill 60% of Jamaican female murder victims. In addition, Jamaican law enforcement often cannot prove cases brought against someone who committed a crime against a woman, mainly if she is related to him somehow. While traveling alone may be safe, it's important to remember that you are not immune to danger just because you are abroad. It would be best if you took precautions even when you are visiting family or friends.

India

India is one of the most dangerous countries for women because it has a very high rate of violence against women. Half of all Indian females will be raped in their lifetime, and you are ten times more likely to suffer from sexual assault if you are traveling alone. In addition, over 90% of Indian rape victims knew their attackers before the crime, which puts solo female travelers at a much higher risk.

Women in India often face severe gender discrimination when seeking employment or applying for certain forms of government assistance. You may also encounter harassment or worse while traveling in this country since many men see international tourists as up-market escorts willing to trade sex for money.

This is one country where it's essential that you don't let your guard down while you are visiting -- you must be careful at all times.

Uganda

In Uganda, one in five women will be raped in their lifetime, and over half of female murder victims were killed by their partners or other loved ones. This is one of the most dangerous countries for women because it has one of the highest incidences of violence against women in all of Africa. Rape outside marriage is illegal, but that doesn't mean that attackers won't try to punish a woman for her supposed indiscretions with the law. Despite the fact that Ugandan authorities have taken strides to toughen up punishment for violent crimes against women, many cases still go uninvestigated due to lack of resources and unwillingness on the part of local police to do their jobs.

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)

This is one of the most dangerous countries for women in part because it's estimated that their partners or family members killed forty percent of the country's female murder victims, and only five percent of reported attacks against women result in a conviction. In addition, the DRC suffers from a high rate of domestic violence, sexual assaults, and forced prostitution. However, these crimes go primarily unpunished due to political unrest and lack of resources. Therefore, it's better to avoid this region altogether if at all possible. Those who find themselves there should always be aware that they are vulnerable no matter where they are or who they're with.

The Bottom Line

While you might think that traveling makes you safer, this is not the case. The countries listed above are dangerous for women because they have either a high crime rate or specific circumstances are surrounding the crimes committed against them that make it difficult for victims to seek justice. Therefore, women who travel should always be aware of their surroundings and take precautions to protect themselves no matter where they are.
COVID-19 affects not just humans, but also our closest relatives - the great apes. According to a group of specialists, including Oxford Brookes University academics, jungle hikers may be putting the lives of Critically Endangered orangutans at risk by spreading human viruses such as COVID-19.

How Tourists Expose Orangutans to Human Viruses

The researchers looked at Instagram photos of visitors in Indonesia and discovered that they were disobeying the rule of keeping a 10 meter distance by taking photographs, touching, hugging, or feeding orangutans in the wild.

This practice exposes orangutans to human viruses, which may lead to infections that are could cause death, according to Phys.org.

Andrea Molyneaux, the study paper's lead author and a dedicated champion for safe jungle trekking practice in North Sumatra, stated, that danger of zoonotic disease transmission between people and orangutans is quite worrying.

There are rules in national parks that warn visitors about the consequences, but findings suggest that tourists may be unaware of them. The conservation community as a whole seems to be uninterested in raising awareness of these regulations.

There is an urgent need to raise awareness of these guidelines so that visitors understand they must not approach or feed orangutans.

Also Read: Tapanuli Orangutans: Rarest Great Ape on Earth Might Be Heading to Extinction Soon

Possible Disease Transmission

Only two islands in the world are home to orangutans: Sumatra and Borneo, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources has classified all three species as "Critically Endangered" on the Red List of Threatened Species.

The staff at Gunung Leuser National Park in Indonesia's North Sumatra noted a lack of attention to rules when people visited the orangutans there.

In the images reviewed, researchers noticed people stroking, petting, snuggling, feeding, and going extremely near to orangutans for selfies, said Emma Hankinson, an ecologist and Ph.D. student at Oxford Brookes University.

Emma also said she spent a lot of time in Sumatra and has seen such things firsthand. Between humans and the orangutans they visit, there is a significant risk of disease transmission.

She claimed that COVID-19 pandemic has raised public awareness of disease risk, and researchers hope that this will have a beneficial influence on visitors to Gunung Leuser National Park and other great ape tourist locations, encouraging them to follow the guidelines.

Animals Affected by the Pandemic

Three captive western lowland gorillas at the San Diego Zoo tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 in January 2021, prompting the zoo to vaccinate four orangutans and five bonobos with the Zoetis COVID-19 vaccine.

Nine captive western gorillas at the Atlanta Zoo tested positive in September 2021. The virus that causes COVID-19 is SARS-CoV-2, indicating that the present pandemic may potentially infect great apes.

This essential and relevant article highlights a lack of respect for orangutans, by people demanding near closeness for a selfie, who appear ignorant that this conduct might put orangutans at danger of illness, stated Ashley Leiman OBE, Director/Trustee of Orangutan Foundation UK.

Visitors should remain 10 meters away from Critically Endangered orangutans if they want to observe them now that the world is beginning to open up.

Related Article: Malaysia's Critically Endangered Orangutans Tested for Coronavirus

For more news, updates about orangutans and similar topics don't forget to follow Nature World News!
MANCHESTER, UNITED KINGDOM - DECEMBER 08: Christmas shoppers walk a past a sign saying 'Mask Up For Christmas" on December 08, 2021 in Manchester, United Kingdom. A year ago today, the UK began its Covid-19 vaccination campaign, giving the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine to NHS staff, over-80s, and care home residents. A year later, amid concerns that vaccines are less effective against the more transmissible Omicron variant, the government is pushing booster jabs, and reintroducing public safety measures seen earlier in the pandemic. (Photo : Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

As shown by initial information from a South African trial that is currently undergoing critical analysis, the Omicron version significantly lowered immunogenicity created by the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccination.

These are just the first experimental data showing how well COVID-19 vaccination performs in the presence of Omicron.

A study by experts leads by Alex Sigal of the Africa Health Research Organization compared 14 biological specimens from 12 persons against with a live specimen of the Omicron type. Overall, the 12 persons had been immunized, and six had formerly been afflicted.

"Prior infections, accompanied by immunization or booster, is helpful to enhance the demineralization concentration and probably give resistance from life threatening illness in Omicron infectious disease," the investigators said.

Omicron Variant Continue To Be A Threat

Sigal spoke on Tuesday in an interactive platform of his findings and stated that, "A decent supplement will certainly minimize your likelihood of contamination, notably extreme infectious disease contributing to much more serious infection."

Former lab experiments revealed that the Delta version resulted in a 2 to 3 fold decrease in resistance when matched to the initial infection, while the Beta mutant resulted in a 7 to 8 fold decrease.

When opposed to the earlier strain of the disease, the researchers showed an approximately 40-fold drop in the quantities of specific antibodies, the virus-fighting enzymes that holds a significant part in human antibody.

"If we reach a 10-fold decline in Omicron neutralization, I believe we are into the yellow to red domain, wherein human resistance is likely weakened and there is little opportunity following the booster before fading," Dolsten stated in an appearance on November 29.

The South African research only looked at clinical specimens from those who had undergone two doses of Pfizer's vaccination, not those who had gotten a supplementary injection.

However, the significant decrease in immunoglobulin expresses concern about how long vaccination immunity towards Omicron will last, specifically, when booster injections will be enough to keep illness at bay or if new vaccines will be necessary in the future.

"We are witnessing emerging outbreaks of individuals who have now been immunized, but the illnesses are really reasonably low," remarked by the CEO of Netcare and South Africa's largest private medical provider, Richard Friedland.

Also read: Omicron vs. Delta: Which is More Contagious? Here's What Experts Know so Far

Available Vaccines Still Protects From Severe Effect of COVID Strains

Omicron did not exactly dodge vaccination safety, according to Sigal's tweet, implying that getting vaccinated against all this different variety is still beneficial.

Pfizer Chief Scientific Officer Mikael Dolsten initially told Insider that a 10-fold decrease in antibody responses would worry him.

Immediately following Sigal presented his league's observations, a further team of scientists from Sweden's Karolinska Institutet revealed their independent conclusions, which indicated a significant but less severe reduction in antibody response.

"Those who has not had a supplementary injection should get one, whereas those who have been affected in the past should be immunized."

Additional variations also have demonstrated the capacity to substantially bypass the vaccine's efficacy.

Notwithstanding considerable reductions in antibody response, doctors and scientists are cautiously hopeful that the immunizations might still actually mitigate catastrophic disease.

They discovered that the influence of Omicron differed widely between specimens, and they employed a lab-created variant of Omicron rather than the live virus. Five of the six plasma samples from patients who had both been immunized and formerly afflicted exhibited rather extremely high levels of Omicron neutralization antibody.

Also read: 230,000 Cases of PTSD in England Due to COVID Forecasted by the NHS
A recent study headed by researchers at the University of Maine revealed that exposure to mercury is associated with a 10% drop in nest survival in two species of tidal marsh songbirds that were studied in four states, from Maine to New Jersey.

Sea level rise is causing habitat loss for several of these species, and mercury might worsen already-existing population decline prompted by climate change.

Decline in Sparrow Population

According to a 2017 research sponsored by the University of Maine, the population of Maine's native saltmarsh sparrows (Ammospiza caudacutua) and Acadian Nelson's sparrows (A. nelsoni subvirgatus) is dropping by 9.1% and 4.21%, respectively, throughout the northeastern United States, according to Phys.org.

Mercury contents in the blood of saltmarsh sparrows were 24% higher than those in Acadian Nelson's sparrows, according to recent research published in Ecotoxicology.

Endangered species status for the saltmarsh sparrow will be examined in 2024, according to research performed by Christopher Field of the University of Connecticut.

Because tidal marshes are significant habitats for birds, and because the biogeochemistry of sediments enhances the translation of mercury (Hg) into physiologically accessible methylmercury, they are considered high-risk settings for mercury exposure.

Mercury levels in the blood indicate the amount of mercury ingested recently via food. Pregnancy may be affected by high levels of Hg poisoning.

Also Read: Simple Steps You Can Do to Help Conserve Birds

Variation of Mercury Exposure in Two Sparrow Species

Researchers used blood samples from 127 female birds banded and released throughout almost 348 miles of coastline at nine study plots in four states which includes Maine, New Hampshire, Connecticut, and New Jersey to evaluate geographical and temporal heterogeneity in mercury exposure in the two species.

The saltmarsh sparrow's worldwide breeding range is around 60 percent of the studied area. The four Maine and one New Hampshire field site researched the Acadian Nelson's sparrow, which has a range that extends from the Canadian provinces to northern Massachusetts.

77% of the blood samples from the two sparrow species tested above the lowest concentration of adverse effects seen and 4.8% tested above the moderate risk threshold, when compared to risk criteria for wild birds.

According to the research team, led by Kate Ruskin, a UMaine instructor in ecology and environmental sciences, one bird surpassed the high-risk level.

THg concentrations in New Jersey and Maine, the two states with the highest and lowest values, were found in the research region.

Effects of Mercury on Sparrow Reproduction

During the mating season, which runs from the middle of May to the end of August, the researchers collected blood samples from individual birds and analyzed the variations in total mercury levels over time to see whether there was any indication of mercury bioaccumulation that was growing over time.

Using measures of nest survival and breeding female blood mercury concentrations, researchers were able to determine whether the effects of mercury on sparrow reproduction could be discerned after correcting for other environmental conditions, such as water level during high tides.

One of the primary causes of nest damage due to rising sea levels is flooding, which the research revealed a negative correlation between mercury exposure and breeding success.

Nest survival was higher on research plots with higher mean mercury concentrations, which seems to be a contradiction given that some of these plots had lower nest flooding levels than others.

Although the link between nest survival and mercury is weaker than the one between sea level rise and large-scale population declines in these species, this pattern shows that reproductive success can be negatively impacted by high levels of mercury in the environment.

Related Article: New Study: House Sparrow Population in Europe Faces Huge Decline

For more news, updates about sparrows and similar topics don't forget to follow Nature World News!


Music outreach boost for South Norfolk church Music outreach boost for South Norfolk church

St Marys Church in Attleborough has been awarded a grant from Youth Music to employ a music outreach worker for two years as part of the churchs music and building project.

In partnership with the Norfolk Music Hub, the new outreach worker will visit schools in and around Attleborough to bring musical engagement to their pupils and share in the joy of music-making.



The project programme will also involve the setting up and running of free after-school music clubs for primary-aged children. These activities will be held at St Marys Attleborough, using the church building and its linked community hall. In addition to the free after-school choirs established there will be a series of one-off music workshops run by external specialists.



The focus will be on singing as this can be accessed by all children, without great expense, and has proven links to improved mental health and well-being.



This first phase in the project is to work towards the churchs vision of being a centre for musical excellence in its part of Norfolk. The church is also planning a series of high profile concerts which will in time lead to fund-raising to restore the churchs historic pipe organ to its former glory.



Following a recent feasibility study there is also a plan to extend the church hall enabling wider access to members of the community, to restore and re-order the historic church building and to make it environmentally sustainable and fit for a zero-carbon society.



Rev Matthew Jackson, Rector of St Marys, said: I sang in a choir as a child and developed a love of music which I still have today. Its wonderful that we have the opportunity to pass on this gift to the next generation.



Dr Ben Miller, Director of Music at St Marys, said: When we looked at a map of music activities for children across Norfolk we noticed that there was very little happening around Attleborough. By having events focused locally within Attleborough, with a dedicated person on the ground to lead these activities, we will offer new opportunities to inspire local children and young people through music.



Pictured above is St Marys Attleborough.



Keith Morris, 09/12/2021
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP)  Democratic legislators on Wednesday advanced a plan to redraw New Mexicos three congressional districts and reshape a southern district that has traditionally been dominated by Republicans.

The map revamp from Democratic Sen. Joseph Cervantes of Las Cruces would bolster a Hispanic majority in New Mexico's southern 2nd Congressional District by extending its boundaries into Albuquerque, the state's largest metropolitan area.

The map also would break up a conservative stronghold in the state's southeastern oil production zone into multiple districts. The change to the state's 2nd Congressional District has been condemned by Republican state senators.

The new map moved forward after a Senate committee endorsed the redistricting bill on a 7-4, party-line vote Wednesday. Another committee review of the redistricting proposal is scheduled before a possible Senate floor vote.

The plan has deep implications for New Mexico's three first-term congresswomen, including Republican U.S. Rep. Yvette Herrell, a staunch ally of former President Donald Trump who ousted a Democratic incumbent in 2020. New Mexico's other two congressional representatives are Democrats.

Republicans need a net gain of just five seats in 2022 to take control of the U.S. House and effectively freeze President Joe Bidens agenda on everything from climate change to the economy.

Two of the state's congressional seats have been held by Democrats for more than a decade. Democrats hold the upper hand in New Mexico's redistricting process because they control the governor's office and have broad majorities in the state House and Senate.

Cervantes said his proposed congressional map would make the 2nd Congressional District more representative of New Mexico as a whole and break with a longstanding political pact that ceded the southern part of the state to Republicans.

Southern New Mexico has elected almost consistently conservative Republicans largely because of where the lines are drawn, Cervantes said.

Republican Sen. Gay Kernan labeled the proposal offensive to the largely conservative region, claiming it was aimed at imposing political representation that is hostile to the area's important oil and natural gas industry.

It's an injustice to my community and to the industry that has provided so much to this state," said Kernan, whose hometown of Hobbs would be divided between two districts under the plan.

She warned Democratic colleagues to be careful what they wish for, saying many Hispanic voters support Republican values and the oil industry and that the redistricting plan is likely to energize conservatives.

You have certainly gotten the attention of people in my area, Kernan said.

The Democratic proposal sticks roughly to a congressional redistricting map brought forward by the progressive leaning Center for Civic Policy group that promotes greater representation for disadvantaged communities and a coalition of advocacy groups that called for a strong Latino majority in the state's southern district. They have said that the region's minority populations feel overlooked by politicians.

Under the new congressional district map, Hispanics would account for about 56% of the proposed southern congressional district, up from about 51% currently.

Albuquerque resident Fernanda Banda, a 24-year-old organizer for an advocacy group that supports immigrant rights, applauded the plan.

It's time for my people to have a Hispanic majority district and exercise their power," Banda testified.

About 48% of New Mexico residents claim Hispanic ancestry  the highest share of any state. For many, ties to the region date back to periods of Mexican and Spanish-colonial oversight. The state has elected three consecutive Hispanic governors  two of them women.

Democratic Sen. Gerald Ortiz y Pino of Albuquerque said the redistricting proposal would create three districts that more closely mirror the state as a whole by combining urban and rural areas.

Republican Sen. Cliff Pirtle, a dairy farmer from Roswell, denounced the new map as a blatant move by Democrats to capture all three congressional seats in New Mexico.

We should have at least one Republican congressperson from the state of New Mexico, or at least one conservative congressperson, he said.

Also Wednesday, a legislative panel endorsed a state House redistricting plan in a separate bill to shore up Native American voting majorities in six districts across the heavily Indigenous northwestern region of the state.

Democratic House Speaker Brian Egolf said he cast his committee vote for the plan in deference to Native American self-determination, as Indigenous communities pursue improvements in public education and infrastructure.

A broad spectrum of Native American leaders united behind that portion of the map amid efforts to improve educational and economic opportunity in Indian Country. New Mexico has 23 federally recognized Indigenous communities.

Republican House Minority Leader James Townsend of Artesia cast a committee vote against the plan, saying it would undermine minority representation in other ways including changes to a district held by state Rep. Jane Powdrell-Culbert of Corrales, who is Black.

The Democrat-sponsored bill is assigned one more House committee review before a possible floor vote.
At former Minnesota police officer Kim Potters manslaughter trial for fatally shooting Daunte Wright, a Black motorist, the core of her defense is clear: She says she meant to use her Taser but grabbed her handgun instead.

Potters body-camera video recorded the shooting, with Potter heard saying, Taser, Taser, Taser before she fired, followed by, I grabbed the wrong (expletive) gun.

Many activists have refused to accept the former Brooklyn Center officers explanation. And the prosecution argued in its opening statement that Potter  a 26-year police veteran  had the experience and training to know better.

Taser-gun mix-ups are rare but they have happened in several states in recent years.

Here are some questions and answers about such incidents:

HOW FREQUENTLY DOES THIS HAPPEN?

Experts agree that such incidents are rare and probably happen fewer than once per year throughout the U.S. A 2012 article published in the monthly law journal Americans for Effective Law Enforcement documented nine cases dating back to 2001 in which officers shot suspects with handguns when they said they meant to fire stun guns.

WHY DOES IT HAPPEN?

Reasons that have been cited include officer training, the way they carry their weapons and the pressure they feel during dangerous and chaotic situations. To avoid confusion, officers typically carry their stun guns on their weak sides  the side of their nondominant hand  and away from handguns that are carried on their dominant hands side. Thats how Potter carried hers, and the chief of her suburban Minneapolis police department at the time of the shooting said thats how the departments officers were trained.

Prosecutor Erin Eldridge told jurors in her opening statement that the Brooklyn Center Police Department's policy requires that officers carry their Taser on their nondominant side and their firearm on their dominant side. In keeping with that, Potter carried her gun on her right and her Taser on her left.

Officers can choose how they want to position their Tasers in their duty belts, so that they have the option of drawing it from across their body with their dominant hand, or they can choose to draw it with their nondominant hand. Potter had her Taser positioned in a straight draw position on her left, so she would draw it with her left hand.

The only weapon she draws with her right hand is her gun, not her Taser, Eldridge said.

Eldridge also detailed how Brooklyn Center officers go through Taser training every year, and get training materials that include warnings on how confusing a Taser with a handgun can cause death or serious injury.

And she told jurors they'll hear about how Potter's Taser and her handgun both had a very different look and feel, starting with the color. A Taser is bright yellow. Potter's gun was black.

The jury heard Sam McGinnis, a senior special agent with the states Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, testify in more detail about the differences between the two weapons and how officers use them, bolstering the prosecution's contention that Potter's experience and training should have led her to realize her mistake in the several seconds between when she drew her gun and when she fired.

Backed up by photographs, McGinnis said the holsters on Potters duty belt require an officer to take deliberate actions to release the weapons. The gun holster has a snap, while the Taser holster has a lever. The handgun, which is black, weighs just over 2 pounds (0.9 kilograms), while the Taser, which is yellow, weighs just under a pound (0.45 kilograms), he said.

The Taser and gun also have different triggers, grips and safety mechanisms that must be engaged before firing, McGinnis testified. The Taser also has a laser and LED lights that display before it is fired, which he demonstrated for the jury, while the handgun does not.

McGinnis also testified that Potter didnt perform a function test on her Taser before her shift on the day that she shot Wright, or on the previous day. He said she did run the check six times in her last 10 shifts. The Brooklyn Center Police Departments policy is that officers are required to run the check before each shift. McGinnis acknowledged under cross-examination that he didnt check to see how widely the departments officers complied with the policy.

WHAT DOES THE DEFENSE SAY?

Defense attorney Paul Engh told jurors in his opening statement that an expert will testify about how in chaotic situations like this shooting, a persons ingrained training takes over. He said Potter had 26 years of gun training, but fewer years of training on her Taser, which is a newer weapon.

Engh said they'll hear that Potter made an action error, the sort in which someone does something while meaning to do something else, such as writing the previous year on a check out of habit, or typing an old password into a computer. He also compared them with errors made under stress by experienced pilots or surgeons.

We are in a human business, Engh said. "Police officers are human beings. And thats what occurred.

Bill Lewinski, an expert on police psychology and the founder of the Force Science Institute in Mankato, Minnesota, has used the phrase slip and capture errors to describe the phenomenon.

Lewinski, who has testified on behalf of police, has said officers sometimes perform the direct opposite of their intended actions under stress  that their actions slip and are captured by a stronger response. He notes that officers train far more often on drawing and firing their handguns than they do on using their stun guns.

Other experts are skeptical of the theory.

Theres no science behind it, said Geoffrey Alpert, a criminology professor at the University of South Carolina and an expert on police use of force. Its a good theory, but we have no idea if its accurate.

Alpert said a major factor in why officers mistakenly draw their firearm is that stun guns typically look and feel like a firearm.

WHAT ARE SOME OTHER CASES?

In one of the best-known cases, a transit officer responding to a fight at a train station in Oakland, California, killed 22-year-old Oscar Grant in 2009. The officer, Johannes Mehserle, testified at trial that, fearing Grant had a weapon, he reached for his stun gun but mistakenly pulled his .40-caliber handgun instead. Grant was shot as he lay face down.

Mehserle was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to two years in prison. His department paid $2.8 million to Grants daughter and her mother.

In Tulsa, Oklahoma, a white volunteer sheriffs deputy, Robert Bates, said he accidentally fired his handgun when he meant to deploy his stun gun on an unarmed Black man, Eric Harris, who was being held down by other officers in 2015.

Bates apologized for killing Harris but described his deadly mistake as a common problem in law enforcement, saying This has happened a number of times around the country... You must believe me, it can happen to anyone.

Bates was convicted of second-degree manslaughter and sentenced to four years in prison. Tulsa County ultimately agreed to pay $6 million to Harris estate to settle a federal civil rights lawsuit.

In 2019, a suburban St. Louis police officer, Julia Crews, said she meant to use her stun gun but mistakenly grabbed her service revolver and shot a suspected shoplifter, Ashley Hall, who suffered serious injuries. Crews resigned and was charged with second-degree assault. That was eventually dropped at Halls request after the victim and the former officer agreed to participate in restorative justice mediation. Separately, the city of Ladue agreed to a $2 million settlement with Hall.

___

Find the APs full coverage of the Daunte Wright case: https://apnews.com/hub/death-of-daunte-wright
GROTON  The First Lady is coming to Connecticut Thursday to meet with U.S. Navy families of the USS Delaware.

First Lady Jill Biden and Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro are scheduled to arrive at Groton-New London Airport around 4:30 p.m.

At 5:15 p.m., they will attend a holiday gathering with the families of the USS Delaware, the submarine for which the First Lady serves as a sponsor, at the U.S. Submarine Veterans Club in Groton. The gathering will be hosted by United Through Reading.

6:31 p.m.  Biden departs

First Lady Jill Biden departed Connecticut from Grotons airport.

6 p.m.  Biden leaves U.S. Submarine Veterans Club

First Lady Jill Biden blew a kiss on her way out of the U.S. Submarine Veterans Club in Groton Thursday, which was met with the applause of dozens of family members of the crew of the USS Delaware.

During her 40 minute visit, Biden posed for photos and shook hands with many attendees. At one point, a woman handed Biden her baby for a picture, prompting a smile from Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro, who also tickled the babys toes. The two officials were surrounded by tables of Poinsettias, Hershey kisses and decorated Christmas trees.

5:30 p.m.  Student, daughter of sailor introduces First Lady

Brooklyn Fineran, a student at East Lyme Middle School and the daughter of one of the sailors on the USS Delaware, introduced First Lady Jill Biden, who arrived at the club shortly after 5:20 p.m. The First Lady gave a few remarks before walking around to greet the families. Brooklyn was with her parents, Dan and Amber Fineran.

5:15 p.m.  Family members of USS Delaware crew await First Ladys arrival

Inside the U.S. Submarine Veterans Club in Groton, about 80 family members of the crew of the USS Delaware awaited the arrival of the First Lady.

Victoria Miles, whose husband Derek Johnson is a nuclear engineer on the Delaware, and was eager for her nine-year-old son to meet the events special guest.

Ive explained Dr. Bidens work in cancer research specifically and of course her dedication to education. But, you know, for a child its just the presidents wife.

For Miles, Bidens dedication to cancer research is personal. Her maternal grandmother is currently fighting stage four brain cancer and her aunt was recently diagnosed with cervical cancer.

4:54 p.m.  Biden meets officials

First Lady Jill Biden exited the airplane and shook hands with Gov. Ned Lamont, U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney, D-Vernon, and Groton Mayor Keith Hedrick at the Groton-New London Airport.

Just before 5 p.m., Biden and a fleet of SUVs left for the U.S. Submarine Veterans Club in Groton.

4:40 p.m.  Biden arrives

First Lady Jill Bidens airplane has landed at Grotons airport.

4 p.m.  Government officials are waiting to greet the First Lady

Gov. Ned Lamont, U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney, D-Vernon, and Groton Mayor Keith Hedrick are waiting to meet Biden on the tarmac.

12 p.m.  There will be no road closures in Groton

Groton Police Capt. Gregory J. McCarthy said there will be no road closures in town during the First Ladys visit.

There will be some minor, temporary interruptions to traffic in Groton around the Groton-New London Airport, but nothing a little patience will not rectify, McCarthy said. The delays will certainly be nothing like a presidential visit shutdown.

Bidens last trip to Connecticut in March brought her to a Meriden school with U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. He left his post as head of Connecticuts education department to join President Joe Bidens cabinet.

Her husband has made two stops in Connecticut since being sworn in as president. He spoke at the U.S. Coast Guard Academys graduation in May and visited a child care center in Hartford and the University of Connecticut in October.
Waterbury Police / Contributed

WATERBURY  Police say they will increase their presence at a city high school Tuesday after a threat was posted online.

Lt. Ryan Bessette said the police department is actively investigating a threat made on a social media website that involved a school identified only as Career.
Champaign, IL (61820)

Today

Decreasing cloudiness and windy. Morning high of 25F with temps falling to near 15. Winds W at 25 to 35 mph. Winds could occasionally gust over 50 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. Low 9F. Winds WNW at 15 to 25 mph.
Thanks to the relentless efforts of medical researchers around the world, several different messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) and vector-based vaccines were authorized for use by regulatory bodies worldwide.

Study: Guillain-Barre Syndrome after COVID-19 Vaccination in the Vaccine Safety Datalink. Image Credit: PalSand / Shutterstock.com

Background

To date, three vaccines have been authorized for emergency use or FDA-approved in the United States (U.S.) to prevent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). These vaccines include BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech - FDA-approved) and mRNA-1273 (Moderna -authorized for emergency use), both of which are mRNA-based vaccines, as well as Ad.26.COV2.S (Janssen -authorized for emergency use).

BNT162b2 and mRNA-1273 are both administered primarily as double-doses, with a third booster shot that has recently been approved after six months. The Ad.26.COV2.S is a replication-incompetent adenoviral vector vaccine and is primarily administered as a single dose; however, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently advised Ad.26.COV2.S recipients to receive a booster dose of any approved COVID-19 vaccine after two months.

Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) is a rare neurological disorder with an incidence rate of 1-2 per 100,000 person-years. In July 2021, data from the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) indicated that more cases of GBS were being reported after vaccination with Ad.26.COV2.S in comparison to other mRNA vaccines.

On July 12, 2021, the U.S. FDA added a warning about GBS to the Ad.26.COV2.S vaccine fact sheet. GBS is being monitored in the Vaccine Safety Datalink as part of ongoing rapid and prospective COVID-19 vaccine safety surveillance efforts.

In a recent study published on the preprint server medRxiv*, researchers compiled available data from the interim analysis of the number of cases of GBS and the risks posed by different vaccines.

Study details

All relevant data for the current study were obtained from the Vaccine Safety Datalink, a collaboration between nine U.S. integrated healthcare systems and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Eight data-contributing organizations contributed data, including Kaiser Permanente in Colorado, Northern California, Northwest, Southern California, and Washington, Marshfield Clinic, HealthPartners, and Denver Health. All organizations had access to comprehensive medical records, including vaccinations for a total of 10,158,003 people over the age of 12 years as of November 10, 2021.

The current study analyzed vaccination data between December 13, 2020, through November 13, 2021. During this time, a total of 14,723,318 doses of COVID-19 vaccines were administered, including 467,126 doses of Ad.26.COV2.S, 8,573,823 doses of BNT162b2, and 5,682,369 doses of mRNA-1273. Eleven cases of GBS after Ad.26.COV2.S were confirmed.

Weekly analyses were used to compare the outcome incidence observed during a risk interval after vaccination between 1-21 days or 1-42 days with outcome incidence expected. The expected outcome incidence was derived from vaccinated comparators who were concurrently (on the same day) in a postvaccination comparison interval between 22-42 days or 43-84 days, respectively. Separate analyses were also obtained from unvaccinated comparators who were concurrently unvaccinated.

Timing of GBS Symptom Onset after COVID-19 Vaccination

Patients who had received two doses of an mRNA vaccine were considered for analyses 1-21 days after dose 1 and again 1-21 days old after receiving their second dose. However, once they received dose 2, the follow-up time after dose 1 was censored; hence, most of the comparison time in the vaccinated concurrent comparator analyses was after dose 2.

This surveillance approach used two post-vaccination risk intervals, 1-21 days and 1-42 days. The 1-21 day risk interval allowed for on-time analyses and avoided bias introduced from the short interval between two mRNA vaccine doses. However, a 1-42 day risk interval was also used, as this was the standard interval used in vaccine safety studies of GBS and other outcomes.

Potential cases of GBS were identified using International Classification of Diseases 10th Revision (ICD10) code G61.0 in the emergency or inpatient setting, specifically when G61.0 first appeared in an individuals record in the 1-84 day window after any COVID-19 vaccination.

Since disease onset may begin before a diagnosis is recorded in the medical record, potential cases with the ICD-10 code in the 85-98 day window after vaccination were also reviewed. After review, all cases underwent adjudication according to the Brighton Collaboration criteria.

The unadjusted incidence rate of confirmed cases of GBS per 100,000 person-years in the 1-21 days window post-Ad.26.COV2.S vaccination was 34.6, which is significantly higher than the background rate. The adjusted rate ratios (R.R.) in the 1-21 versus 22-42 day windows following Ad.26.COV2.S vaccination was 6.03.

Thirty-four cases of GBS were confirmed post mRNA vaccination. The unadjusted incidence rate of confirmed cases per 100,000 person-years in the 1-21 day window after administration of mRNA vaccines was 1.4, whereas the adjusted R.R. in the 1-21 versus 22-42 day windows following mRNA vaccination was 0.56. When comparing Ad.26.COV2.S and mRNA vaccinations, the adjusted R.R. was 20.56.

Implications

This interim analysis of surveillance data of COVID-19 vaccines demonstrates an elevated risk of GBS observed after primary Ad.26.COV2.S vaccination. There is ongoing surveillance, and more results are expected soon.

*Important notice

medRxiv publishes preliminary scientific reports that are not peer-reviewed and, therefore, should not be regarded as conclusive, guide clinical practice/health-related behavior, or treated as established information.
New data from the World Health Organization reveal that the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted malaria services, leading to a marked increase in cases and deaths.

According to WHO's latest World malaria report, there were an estimated 241 million malaria cases and 627 000 malaria deaths worldwide in 2020. This represents about 14 million more cases in 2020 compared to 2019, and 69 000 more deaths. Approximately two-thirds of these additional deaths (47 000) were linked to disruptions in the provision of malaria prevention, diagnosis and treatment during the pandemic.

However, the situation could have been far worse. In the early days of pandemic, WHO had projected that  with severe service disruptions  malaria deaths in sub-Saharan Africa could potentially double in 2020. But many countries took urgent action to shore up their malaria programmes, averting this worst-case scenario.

Sub-Saharan Africa continues to carry the heaviest malaria burden, accounting for about 95% of all malaria cases and 96% of all deaths in 2020. About 80% of deaths in the region are among children under 5 years of age.

The pandemic struck at a point when global progress against malaria had already plateaued. By around 2017, there were signs that the phenomenal gains made since 2000-;including a 27% reduction in global malaria case incidence and a nearly 51% reduction in the malaria mortality rate-;were stalling.

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic struck, global gains against malaria had levelled off. Thanks to the hard work of public health agencies in malaria-affected countries, the worst projections of COVID's impact have not come to pass. Now, we need to harness that same energy and commitment to reverse the setbacks caused by the pandemic and step up the pace of progress against this disease." Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General

Since 2015, the baseline date for WHO's global malaria strategy, 24 countries have registered increases in malaria deaths. In the 11 countries that carry the highest burden of malaria worldwide, cases increased from 150 million in 2015 to 163 million cases in 2020, and malaria deaths increased from 390 000 to 444 600 over that same period.

To get back on track, WHO and its partners recognize the need to ensure better and more equitable access to all health services  including malaria prevention, diagnosis and treatment  by strengthening primary health care and stepping up both domestic and international investments.

Innovation in new tools is also a critical strategy for accelerating progress. One important new prevention tool is RTS,S/AS01 (RTS,S), the first vaccine ever to be recommended by WHO against a human parasite. In October 2021, WHO recommended RTS,S for children living in sub-Saharan Africa and in other regions with moderate to high P. falciparum malaria transmission.

Delivering malaria services against the odds

Despite the challenges imposed by COVID-19, about three-quarters (72%) of insecticide-treated mosquito nets had been distributed in malaria-endemic countries as planned by the end of 2020. Thirteen countries in Africa's Sahel subregion reached 11.8 million more children with preventive antimalarial medicines during the high-transmission rainy season in 2020 compared to 2019.

Some countries, particularly with a low burden of malaria and relatively strong health systems, even registered gains against malaria during the pandemic. China and El Salvador were certified by WHO as malaria-free in 2021, and the Islamic Republic of Iran attained 3 consecutive years of zero indigenous cases in 2020.

The six countries of the Greater Mekong subregion continue to achieve impressive declines in their malaria caseload. By the end of 2020, there were approximately 82 000 cases of malaria in the subregion, down from a peak of 650 000 cases in 2012 and about 100 000 cases in 2019.

Despite these achievements, the WHO African Region saw a 12% increase in malaria deaths in 2020 over the previous year, highlighting the consequences of even moderate service disruptions in a population at risk of malaria.

"While African countries rallied to the challenge and averted the worst predictions of fallout from COVID-19, the pandemic's knock-on effect still translates to thousands of lives lost to malaria," said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa. "African governments and their partners need to intensify their efforts so that we do not lose even more ground to this preventable disease."

According to the report, 15 countries with a high burden of malaria reported reductions in malaria testing of more than 20% in April-June 2020 compared to the same period in 2019. National Malaria Programmes distributed about 48 million fewer courses of treatment in 2020 compared to the previous year. And, of the world's 11 highest burden countries, only India registered progress against malaria. The 10 other countries, all in Africa, reported increases in cases and deaths.

Meeting global targets

According to the report, progress towards the 2020 milestones of the WHO global malaria strategy was substantially off track. In 2020, the global malaria case incidence rate was 59 cases per 1000 people at risk against a target of 35 -; putting it off track by 40%. The global mortality rate was 15.3 deaths per 100 000 people at risk against a target of 8.9 -; putting it off track by 42%.

Reaching the 2030 goals of the WHO malaria strategy, including a 90% reduction in global malaria incidence and mortality rates by 2030, will require new approaches, new tools and the better implementation of existing ones.

WHO's malaria strategy emphasizes the need to carefully tailor existing approaches to prevention, diagnosis and treatment to local contexts, and to strengthen health systems overall, with a view to achieving universal health coverage.

Meeting global targets will also require robust funding. According to the report, current funding levels (estimated at US$3.3 billion in 2020) will need to more than triple, reaching US$ 10.3 billion per year by 2030.

Applying a new methodology

This year's report applied a new WHO-wide statistical method to estimate the cause of death among children under five years of age for all major diseases, including malaria. The methodology was applied to 32 countries in sub-Saharan Africa that shoulder about 93% of all malaria deaths globally. Doing so revealed higher numbers of estimated deaths among young children every year since 2000.

Even after applying the new methodology, the malaria death rate maintained an overall downward trend since 2000; globally, the malaria mortality rate (deaths per 100 000 population at risk) fell by 49% between 2000 and 2020. Between 2019 and 2020, the death rate increased for the first time since 2000 as a result of disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Electronic cigarettes with cigarette-like nicotine delivery may help some people stop smoking cigarettes, according to a new study by Penn State College of Medicine and Virginia Commonwealth University researchers. By switching to e-cigarettes, the researchers said tobacco users may reduce their exposure to certain carcinogens, or cancer causing substances.

For six months, the research team followed 520 smokers who were looking to reduce their cigarette consumption by at least 50% but had no plans to quit. They observed whether the use of various electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS)  used by around 10 million U.S. adults  led to reduced cigarette consumption. Participants randomly received an ENDS containing 0 mg/mL (placebo), 8 mg/mL or 36 mg/mL nicotine, or a cigarette substitute with no nicotine, electronics or aerosols.

Throughout the study, researchers encouraged participants to reduce their cigarette consumption. At the end of six months, significantly more participants who had received the 36 mg/mL nicotine ENDS, which has similar nicotine delivery to a cigarette, reported remaining abstinent from cigarettes compared to the other study groups.

Across the board, quit rates were low as none of the participants entering the trial had plans to quit, nor did they receive advice to quit during those six months. However, over time, we noticed that the number of those receiving the high nicotine-delivery ENDS who abstained from cigarettes gradually increased. That trend was not observed in those receiving the placebo ENDS or the non-ENDS cigarette substitute. This is the first randomized clinical trial of electronic cigarettes to find that a nicotine e-cig produced a significant increase in smoking cessation at six months follow-up, compared with a placebo e-cig as well as compared to a non-ENDS cigarette substitute." Jonathan Foulds, lead author and professor of public health sciences, Penn State College of Medicine

Previous trials have examined the effects of ENDS on cigarette cessation, but the researchers noted many of those studies used devices and liquids with unknown or unconfirmed nicotine delivery profiles.

"One of the strengths of our study was that the nicotine delivery of the specific ENDS device paired with the different liquids used in this study were confirmed before the trial," said Thomas Eissenberg, co-author and professor at Virginia Commonwealth University. "It is evident based on our findings that ENDS with ineffective or less potent nicotine delivery likely won't help participants to quit cigarette smoking."

The researchers encouraged participants to reduce their cigarette consumption by 50% and then 75% for a six-month period. They measured cigarette consumption and various biomarkers, such as exhaled carbon monoxide levels, during eight follow-up visits. They determined the proportion of participants in each group who reported that they had smoked no cigarettes in the prior week. At the six-month mark, significantly more participants in the 36 mg/mL nicotine group (about 11%) reported cigarette abstinence than in the 0 mg/mL (1%) and cigarette substitute (3%) groups. Approximately 5% of participants in the 8 mg/mL group reported cigarette abstinence at the six-month mark.

"We were surprised to see that the 8 mg/mL group didn't have a significantly higher quit rate than the placebo group," said Jessica Yingst, Penn State Cancer Institute researcher and assistant professor of public health sciences at Penn State College of Medicine. "These results indicate that if an ENDS doesn't deliver as much nicotine as a cigarette, then it's less likely that smokers using those devices will abstain from using cigarettes."

According to the researchers, the main conclusion of their study is that when people seeking to reduce smoking try ENDS, few quit cigarettes in the short term. However, smokers that continued to use an ENDS with cigarette-like nicotine delivery (the 36 mg/mL group), were more likely to stop smoking in the short term and completely switch to ENDS, compared to those who used a placebo ENDS. Devices with nicotine delivery similar to a cigarette may be more effective in enabling ambivalent smokers to quit cigarettes. The results were published in the journal Nicotine and Tobacco Research.

"In addition to having a higher quit rate at the end of the trial, the 36 mg/mL group also reported more days without smoking cigarettes throughout the trial than the other three groups," noted Caroline Cobb, co-author and associate professor at Virginia Commonwealth University.

The study team said that more research is needed to confirm and expand upon their findings, but they were encouraged that participants using ENDS products while still smoking cigarettes did not have a higher frequency of serious adverse events. They noted that the medical monitors did not attribute any serious adverse events observed during the study to the use of the ENDS devices.

"The results of our study reflect many patterns of ENDS use that have been found in other studies and in society in general," said Foulds, a Penn State Cancer Institute researcher. "Many people use ENDS and continue smoking cigarettes for a period of time before quitting smoking. ENDS are not a magic bullet, but our results support the idea that ENDS with cigarette-like nicotine delivery may be critical to someone's ability to abstain from cigarettes."

Susan Veldheer, Shari Hrabovsky, Sophia Allen, Xi Wang, Chris Sciamanna, Erin Hammett, Breianna Hummer, Courtney Lester and John Richie of Penn State College of Medicine; Miao-Shan Yen, Phoebe Brosnan, Nadia Chowdhury, Jacob Graham, Le Kang and Shumei Sun of Virginia Commonwealth University; Alexa Lopez of University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee; and Christopher Bullen of University of Auckland also contributed to this research. Jonathan Foulds has done paid consulting for pharmaceutical companies involved in manufacturing smoking-cessation medications (e.g., Pfizer, GlaxoSmithKline, Johnson & Johnson); and has acted as a deposed and compensated expert witness on behalf of plaintiffs suing cigarette manufacturers. Other author disclosures can be read in the published manuscript.

This research was supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health (grants P50DA036105 and U54DA036105) and the Center for Tobacco Products of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Data collection was supported by the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences through grants (UL1TR002649 to Virginia Commonwealth University and UL1TR002014 to Penn State University through Penn State Clinical and Translational Science Institute). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health or the Food and Drug Administration.
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), since its emergence, has continuously evolved to evade host hostilities as well as increase transmission by raising new variants of concerns (VOCs). Virus host adaptation is evident by the rise of VOCs (beta, beta, gamma, and delta variants) that impede the neutralization effect of antibodies. Recently (Nov. 24th, 2021), a novel strain of SARS-CoV-2 named Omicron emerged in South Africa and quickly spread worldwide.

Currently, scientists are trying to understand how Omicron is spread, and whether current therapeutics will still be effective against it. Researchers studied the binding strength of Omicron with ACE2 and seven monoclonal antibodies either approved by the FDA or undergoing phase III clinical trials, in a study published on the bioRxiv* preprint server.

The Omicron Variant

The Omicron variant has many novel mutations in both structural and non-structural proteins. For example, scientists have observed more than 32 mutations in the Spike protein alone, with 15 of these residing in the receptor-binding domain (RBD). Such a large number of mutations have raised concerns over increased transmissibility, immune escape, and vaccine failure.

The non-structural proteins encoded by the ORF1ab contain mutations in the nsp3, nsp4, nsp5, nsp6, nsp12, and nsp14. In addition, Omicron harbors mutations in the other structural proteins, including Envelope (E), Membrane (M), and Nucleocapsid (N). Since N is highly immunogenic, these mutations could help escape the host immune response. About half of the mutations possess the potential to dampen the potency of therapeutic and enhance ACE2 binding. A significant cause for concern is that this variant can infect vaccinated people, as has been demonstrated by vaccinated people in South Africa and Hong Kong being affected.

Phylogeny of the Omicron and annotation of the mutation in Spike protein. The Unrooted phylogenetic tree was constructed from the Nextstrain servers. Wuhan-Hu-1/2019 strains were taken as a reference sequence. B) The full-length Delta and Omicron Spike were built to annotate the relative (not exact) positions of the mutations on the surface map of Spike. C) The amino acids mutated in the RBD of Omicron are shown concerning the ACE2 interface. Residues are colored according to the electrostatic map of the WT strain. Respective Omicron mutations are depicted in the panel below the RBD surface map.

A New Study

By conducting molecular modeling and mutational analyses, scientists sought to understand how the Omicron variant enhanced its transmissibility and whether it can escape the FDA-approved Spike-neutralizing COVID-19 therapeutic antibodies.

The researchers selected seven therapeutic antibodies, including Etesevimab, Bamlanivimab, AZD8895, AZD1061, Imdevimab, Casirivimab, and CT-p59.

Mutations in the Omicron RBD distort the epitopes of therapeutic mAbs. A-D) Crude epitopes of seven selected mAbs are shown on the RBD. Antibodies used as cocktails are labeled with their sponsors. All variable light chains are colored yellow or orange and variable heavy chains are colored red. E) Changes in the binding affinity of the RBDOmic-mAbs relative to RBDWT-mAbs are shown. The Binding energies were calculated through endpoint MM/GBSA). F) Changes in the electrostatic potentials and polar solvation energies are shown to each RBD-mAb complex.

Main Findings

The spike-ACE2 interaction: Researchers observed three deletion sites in the N-terminus domains (NTD) and at least 15 substitutions in the RBD region in the Omicron variant. The Spike also harbors mutations, such as K417, T478, E484, and N501, which have been reported in previous VOCs.

An important observation was that at least 11 (out of the 15) mutated residues could influence ACE2 binding and significantly affect the binding affinity.

The Omicron spike (compared to the prototype SARS-CoV-2) had three deletions, i.e., 69-70, 143-145, and 211, and one highly charged insertion at 214 positions in the Spike, i.e., ins214EPE.

Per-residue changes in the binding affinity of RBD-mAbs were monitored, and the hotspots on CDRs of (A) Bamlanivimab and (B) CT-p59 are labeled. The change in the hydrogen bonds network of the selected hotspots is shown at the right.

In order to monitor the relative binding strength of RBD-ACE2 complexes of both the prototype Wuhan and Omicron strains, scientists used a protein design strategy and calculated binding affinity and stability changes.

Individually substituted residues were seen to have a slight effect on the local stability of the RBD-ACE2 complexes. However, a large increase in the binding affinity by T478K, Q493K, and Q498R led to an overall increase in the binding affinity of the RBDOmic with ACE2.

Researchers studied the change in electrostatic potential of the RBDOmic relative to that of RBDWT. The electrostatic energy of ACE2-RBDOmic was found to be double that of ACE2-RBDWT. The energy distribution suggested that mutations in the RBDOmic directly enhance the binding strength of amino acids in the same network. Overall, the data showed that Omicron binds to ACE2 with greater affinity, partly explaining its increased transmissibility. However, the pathogenicity of the new strain could not be predicted.

Binding of therapeutic antibodies: Scientists constructed structural models of seven mAbs bound to RBDOmic and showed a substantial drop in the total binding energies of Bamlanivimab and CT-p59. Except for AZD1061 (AstraZeneca), all other mAbs showed a significant drop.

Changes in energies were calculated for CT-p59 and Bamlanivimab to gain a better understanding of the mutations involved in weakening the RBDOmic -mAbs interactions.

It was observed that R96 and R50 of the Bamlanivimab, which establish highly stable salt bridges with the E484 of RBDWT, completely lost their binding upon E484A mutation. E102 and R104 in CDRH3 also showed a 50% reduction in binding energies. E484A, Q493K, and Y505H mutations in RBDOmic were responsible for the lowering of the bindings.

Overall, these data raise grave concerns about the efficacy of therapeutic mAbs in Omicron patients.

Concluding Remarks

The Omicron variant has been proven to be more transmissible than the Delta variation, and the threat is now global. Therefore, there is an urgent need to closely monitor the COVID-19 variant and accelerate vaccination, as this could reduce COVID-19 infections dramatically. Additionally, the search for more effective therapeutics must continue.

*Important Notice

bioRxiv publishes preliminary scientific reports that are not peer-reviewed and, therefore, should not be regarded as conclusive, guide clinical practice/health-related behavior, or treated as established information.
Pediatric surgeons are urging parents not to buy toys that include small, often brightly colored magnets as Christmas presents, following a dramatic rise in the number of children needing operations after swallowing them.

The Children's Surery Foundation issued the warning as research showed a five-fold increase in children swallowing magnets in the last five years.

Mr Hemanshoo Thakkar, consultant pediatric surgeon at Evelina London Children's Hospital, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London (UK), says: "This year alone Evelina London has seen 15 new cases of children swallowing magnets and have operated on seven of them, a couple of whom were very unwell."

Research carried out in four major hospitals in south-east England found that 251 children were admitted after swallowing foreign objects between 2016-2020. Of these, 37% were coins (93 cases), 21% were magnets (52 cases) and 17% were button batteries (42 cases).

During this period, there was a five-fold increase in the number of children who swallowed magnets, most of which were brightly-colored matchstick-shaped pieces found in children's building sets. More than 40% of the children needed surgery and in half of the cases the children experienced complications as their intestines had holes in them, which led to infections." Mr Hemanshoo Thakkar, consultant pediatric surgeon, Evelina London Children's Hospital, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London

Only 2% of children swallowing button batteries required surgery, but 42% of those who swallowed magnets required either keyhole surgery (laparoscopy) or more invasive laparotomy, which involves incisions in the abdominal wall to gain access to the gut.

"If children swallow one magnet it will probably pass through their body harmlessly but if they swallow two or more magnets, especially at different times, the magnets, which are increasingly very powerful, are forced together in the intestines, squeezing the tissue so that the blood supply is cut off. Significant damage can be caused within hours with holes being made in the children's intestines which cause the children to be unwell, and sometimes seriously ill, with many requiring complex operations to remove the magnets and requiring long periods of recovery time in hospital," says Mr Thakkar.

Trustee of The Children's Surgery Foundation, Miss Caroline Pardy, a pediatric surgeon at Evelina London Children's Hospital, says "The increasing number of referrals we receive regarding children who have swallowed multiple magnets is very worrying. Fortunately, the majority can be monitored using x-rays to follow the passage of the magnets out of the bowel and can avoid surgery, but we have seen a number of children who have become seriously unwell, particularly in young non-verbal children and in whom the magnet ingestion has not been recognized. I have also spoken to many parents who are very angry that their child has swallowed the magnets whilst at school. Such magnets are sometimes used as 'sensory' toys for children with additional needs. In other circumstances the magnets have been brought into school by other children. I would urge all schools to ban such magnets, regardless of the age of the children.

"The majority of children whom I have managed with ingested magnets are of an age that parents may not feel are at risk of doing this. They are also usually embarrassed, and even when the magnets have been identified on an x-ray will often deny the ingestion. This reluctance to tell a parent is also dangerous, because the ingestion may go unrecognized for a longer period resulting in greater potential risk."

The surgeons say they are seeing children as young as two years old who have swallowed magnets, but also teenagers. The average age of children being admitted to hospital after swallowing magnets is seven years.

Mr Thakkar adds: "These magnets are promoted on several websites and on social media. We are seeing some children who follow influencers on TikTok who use magnets to create false piercings on their tongues and cheeks and when the children have copied them, they have accidentally swallowed the magnets."

Mr Munther Haddad, chairman of The Children's Surgery Foundation, President of the British Association of Paediatric Surgeons (BAPS) and a consultant pediatric and neonatal surgeon at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, says: "Our main message especially in the build up to Christmas, is not to buy your children toys with magnets in them. If families already have toy magnets at home it is essential children are supervised carefully when they are playing with them and if the children are old enough, please warn them of the dangers of swallowing magnets.

"There is a statutory requirement within the UK, specified in The Magnetic Toys (Safety) Regulations 2008, for all magnetic toys sold to be accompanied by a warning, but most manufacturers do not display these. This means that many parents don't realize the problems magnets can cause until their children end up in hospital."

Jimmy Bui, aged two, from Ramsgate in Kent, required open surgery in June this year after swallowing three magnets.

His father, Hung Bui, says: "Jimmy swallowed tiny magnets used to stick a note onto the fridge. He started to get tired and then stopped eating and going to the toilet, so we took him to our local A&E.

"We had no idea that he had swallowed three of the magnets until we saw it on the x-ray.

The 33-year-old adds: "The magnets had stuck together causing a hole in Jimmy's bowel. He was transferred to Evelina London Children's Hospital for open surgery and spent three weeks recovering there.

"We are always very careful, but this still happened, so I want to warn other parents out there to be very vigilant. I would urge them not to buy toys containing these magnets. We don't have any of these magnets in our household anymore."
People's mobility, livelihoods, access to health services, and public health infrastructure have been adversely affected by the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Additionally, routine immunization (RI) coveragewhich is estimated to prevent four to five million deaths worldwide every yearhas seen a downward trend.

A new study published on the medRxiv* preprint server investigated changes in RI coverage using two key indicators  diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis first-dose (DTP1) and third-dose (DTP3). DTP3 serves as a general marker for immunization system performance, while DTP1 is used as a proxy for inequity - quantifying Zero Dose (ZD) childrenthose that receive no childhood vaccinations.

Study: Worldwide routine immunization coverage regressed during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Image Credit: SamaraHeisz5 / Shutterstock

The Study

In this study, vaccination coverage data of the past 20 years were extracted from the World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Estimates of National Immunization Coverage (WUENIC).

The Results

The findings revealed a global decline in DTP3 coverage of 2.9% from an expected 89.2% to a reported 86.3% across 167 reporting countries. Similar low coverage was last recorded in these countries in 2005 and demarcated a 15-year setback in RI progress.

Expected and reported 2020 vaccine coverage for DTP1 and DTP3: example of five countries with most additional missed DTP3 immunizations in 2020. These graphs show WUENIC-reported coverage data (black dots) and the corresponding ARIMA predictions and the associated 95% confidence intervals (red bars).

For DTP1, the average global coverage decline was 2.2%  from an expected 92.9% to a reported 90.7% across the 167 countries. This signified increases in the quantity of ZD children in some countries  this suggested that the most vulnerable populations have been strongly impacted by the reductions in RI observed in the first year of the pandemic. Hence, the current pandemic has widened the gap between people with limited healthcare access.

Patterns of RI coverage depicted marked variations across United Nations regions, with the most substantial decline observed in the Americas, Asia, and Africa compared to Europe and Oceania. Meanwhile, stronger declines in RI coverage were observed in lower-middle-income countries and upper-middle-income countries than in low-income countries. However, high-income countries did not show notable changes in their RI coverage.

Comparison between 2020 WUENIC-reported DTP3 coverage and expectations derived from historical trends. This scatterplot shows country coverage (WUENIC-reported actuals and ARIMA-predicted expectations) as dots. Lines around individual points illustrate the 95% confidence intervals (CI) of ARIMA predictions. Countries showing significant departure from expected values, i.e., for which actual coverage is outside the 95% CI of predictions, are indicated in red.

Furthermore, regional differences remained after accounting for differences in income groups; however, the converse wasn't true. India estimated 3.5 million unvaccinated children for DTP3 in 2020, of which 52% were associated with the pandemic disruption. There were 1.1 million missed DTP3 vaccinations in Indonesia, of which 35% were associated with RI coverage declines in 2020. Besides, similar trends were observed for ZD children using DTP1 results.

Nonetheless, this study's estimated changes in RI coverage suggest a smaller global decline than previously found. Moreover, these findings may be more robust owing to a more comprehensive dataset including data from more countries.

The findings indicate a greater risk of vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks in the near future, especially in the absence of Supplementary Immunization Activities (SIAs) to reach missed children. In addition, ZD populations in key ZD "hotspots"  India, Pakistan, and Indonesia, are estimated to have increased significantly in 2020, posing a genuine public health threat.

Differences between expected and reported DTP3 vaccine coverage in 2020 across (A) UN regions and (B) income groups Points represent individual countries, grouped, and colored according to (A) UN region classification and (B) World Bank income groups. Country coordinates on the X-axis were jittered for visibility. Values on the y-axis are indicated as absolute differences between reported and expected vaccine coverage, in percentages. Boxes show the median (50%), upper (75%) and lower (25%) quartile changes in coverage for each group, with whiskers extending to either the minimum/ maximum changes or the quartile value plus 1.5 times the interquartile range, and crosses indicating the average. The black dashed horizontal lines indicate no change in coverage. LIC: Low-income Country. LMIC: Lower-middle-income Country. UMIC: Upper-middle-income Country. HIC: High-income Country

It was suggested that to alleviate such risks and reduce immunization inequities, SIAs should be targeted towards populations who have limited access to healthcare and encounter vaccine deprivation. In addition, future research should investigate heterogeneities in RI decline at finer scales and identify subpopulations that may have experienced even greater losses to RI coverage.

It was also stated that RI disruption might be worsened by the acceleration of COVID-19 vaccination campaigns, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, potentially competing with RI services. Therefore, careful monitoring is essential. Further studies are needed to understand which factors linked to the COVID-19 crisis impacted vaccination coverage to successfully and efficiently address pandemic-associated losses to coverage.

The findings of this study render a transparent and replicable rationale for estimating lapses in RI coverage across countries, producing an objective measure for missed immunizations and coverage disruptions. The results may serve as a basis for identifying countries most affected by declines in RI coverage and prioritizing efforts to modulate the indirect impact of COVID-19.

*Important Notice

medRxiv publishes preliminary scientific reports that are not peer-reviewed and, therefore, should not be regarded as conclusive, guide clinical practice/health-related behavior, or treated as established information.
Continued replication of severe acute respiratory syndrome-associated coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) under selective pressure from natural and vaccine-induced immunity has led to the emergence of variants of concern (VOCs) with increased transmissibility or virulence.

These variants acquire mutations in the spike protein receptor-binding domain (RBD) that binds the cellular receptor angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). The RBD and spike protein N-terminal domain (NTD) are targets of neutralizing antibodies.

VOCs elicit one to three RBD mutations, which may overlap. For instance, the B.1.617.2 (Delta) variant can acquire the K417NRBD mutation found in the B.1.351 (Beta) variant, generating the Delta AY.2 variant. However, variant monitoring efforts are still under-sampling viral evolution, and an undocumented combination of RBD mutations may have the potential for antibody escape.

The Study

A recent study published in the journal Science investigated the structural pliability of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein RBD and its capacity to evade neutralizing antibodies.

In this study, monoclonal antibodies were isolated from the blood of a COVID-19 convalescent individual. Venous blood samples were derived from healthy mRNA-1273 and BNT162b2 vaccine recipients.

Findings

The results showed that many RBD mutations occur in a persistently infected immunocompromised host. Furthermore, structural plasticity at the ACE2-RBD interface facilitates the accumulation of such mutations.

Thus, the phenotypes indicate that further evolved variants were likely to be more elusive to therapeutic antibody neutralization than currently circulating VOCs  and could prove to be resistant to two-component antibody cocktails.

Structure of intra-host evolved RBD bound to human ACE2.(A) Key RBD substitutions discussed in the manuscript and the SARS-CoV-2 variants that contain them. (B) Day 146* RBD/ACE2 ectodomain X-ray crystal structure. RBD residues that are mutated in variants discussed in the text are shown. Boxed residues are mutated in the day 146* RBD as compared to the Wuhan-Hu-1 (wild-type) SARS-CoV-2 RBD. RBM: receptor-binding motif. *In addition to the mutations that are shown, the Delta +3 variant contains an additional RBD mutation that is not shown in the schematic diagram (see table S2). (C) Wild-type RBD ACE2 contacts near N501RBD (PDB ID: 6M0J) (2). (D) Day 146* RBD contacts near Y501RBD. (E) Wild-type SARS-CoV-2 RBD ACE2 interactions near Q493RBD. (F) Day 146* RBD interactions near K493RBD. (G) cryo-EM structure of the SARS-CoV-2 RBD bound to the C1C-A3 antibody Fab. RBD residues discussed in the text are labeled.

It was observed that after two messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) vaccine immunizations and seven days after the second dose, all mRNA vaccine recipients had detectable neutralizing activity against pseudotypes containing an NTD supersite deletion and RBDs with six to seven mutations. However, precise epitopes targeted by this residual neutralizing activity are yet to be identified.

Antibodies targeting the RBD core is speculated to be responsible for the residual vaccine-elicited serum neutralizing activity. The receptor-binding motif (RBM) is a critical site of potent neutralizing antibody binding that is the most antibody accessible and the least masked by glycan and conformational shielding. Hence, continued RBM evolution may modulate antibody responses toward more conserved neutralizing epitopes on the RBD core.

Comparison of immune evasion revealed that variants with an NTD supersite deletion and an E484 RBD substitution are the most concerning with respect to resistance to polyclonal antibodies. In fact, E484 RBD acts as a significant driver in neutralization escape; furthermore, the pseudotype  Beta, more robustly escapes antibody neutralization than Gamma.

Neutralization of SARS-CoV-2 variants by an RBD core targeting antibody.(A) Summary of neutralization IC50 values for pseudotypes and the indicated antibodies. (B) Summary of the results of biolayer interferometry-based competition assays. (C) Superposition of the CR3022 (PDB: 6W41) (55) and S309 (PDB: 6WPS) (44) structures onto the C1C-A3 bound RBD structure. Antibody Fabs are shown as ribbon diagrams and the RBD is shown in surface representation. Antibody footprints are shown on the RBD surface. (D) RBD footprint of C1C-A3. (E) RBD footprint of S309 (PDB: 6WPS) (44). (F) RBD footprint of CR3022 (PDB: 6W41) (55). In panels (D) to (F), key RBD residues discussed in the main text are highlighted.

Here, D364N RBD was identified as an additional mutation that would introduce a putative N-linked glycosylation site. This independent acquisition on the same surface of the RBD core suggests that this region may be a target of immune selective pressure.

It was stated that the addition of the N370 RBD glycan might be associated with reduced virulence, but chances of secondary mutations nevertheless, which may again restore the viral fitness. Such compensatory mutations would promote ACE2 binding and RBD opening.

In summary, viral replication in human hosts under antibody selective pressure will continue to cause further mutations and newer VOCs. Therefore, future strategies to tackle the ongoing pandemic must involve aggressive variant monitoring efforts, designing next-generation antibody-based therapeutics, updating mRNA- or DNA-based vaccines to rapidly adapt to new variants, and examining the consequences of further viral evolution prior to the emergence of the next highly antibody resistant strain.
A collaborative team from the School of Medicine at the University of Cardiff, Wales and a range of US institutions used the UK's national synchrotron, Diamond Light Source, to help reveal the details of how a protein in the blood is attracted to a key component of Adenovirus based vaccines.

They think this protein kicks off a chain reaction, involving the immune system, that can culminate in extremely rare but dangerous blood clots. The Cardiff team were given emergency government funding to find the answers. In collaboration with scientists in the US and from AstraZeneca, they set out to collect data on the structure of the vaccines and perform computer simulations and related experiments to try and uncover why some of the vaccines based on Adenovirus were causing blood clots in rare cases.

Moderna and BioNTech are based on mRNA, whereas AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson are based on Adenoviruses. Blood clots have only been associated with vaccines that use Adenoviruses.

Understanding the thrombotic effect

The study, published in the journal Science Advances, reveals the outer surface of the adenovirus attracts the platelet factor four (PF4) protein to it like a magnet. Their data confirm that PF4 is capable of forming stable complexes with clinically relevant adenoviruses, an important step in unraveling the mechanisms underlying thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS).

Prof Alan Parker, one of the researchers at Cardiff University, told BBC News: "The adenovirus has an extremely negative surface, and platelet factor four is extremely positive and the two things fit together quite well." He added: "We've been able to prove the link between the key smoking guns of adenoviruses and platelet factor four. What we have is the trigger, but there's a lot of steps that have to happen next."

Focus on protein structures

Researchers set out to collect data on the structure of the vaccines and perform computer simulations to try and uncover why some of the vaccines were causing blood clots. They began by gathering structural data on the Adenovirus ChAdOx1 which is used in the AstraZeneca vaccine. The team used Cryo-Electron Microscopy (cryo-EM) - which achieves near atomic resolution -to solve the structure of the virus capsid, however they need higher resolution images of the knob proteins that interact with human cells. For this, they performed protein crystallography at the I03 beamline at Diamond. . Using these two complementary techniques, they were able to get accurate and high-resolution structures of the Adenovirus.

Once the structure was known, the research team could then test which human proteins were binding to the virus. They found a receptor that binds strongly to the ChAdOx1 fibre-knob protein. This receptor known as "CAR" is highly conserved between humans and chimpanzees, which makes sense as this virus can infect both species. This finding is important as it is the first verified example of human and primate adenoviruses sharing the same receptor.

High-resolution experimental structural information is vital to align alongside and inform lab-based and clinical experiments. Coupled with computational analyses, it can draw the link between what is happening at an atomistic level and the cellular level, all the way through to the impact on human health." Dave Hall, Diamond's Macromolecular Crystallography (MX) Group Leader

The research team performed computer simulations with the ChAdOx1 and the PF4 protein. They found that there were two factors that led to the Adenovirus and PF4 interacting more than was expected by chance. The first was that the Adenovirus had some flexibility and that led to a conformation allowing PF4 to fit snugly with the Adenovirus. The second finding was that the electrostatic charge on the Adenovirus was attracting PF4. These two factors created ideal conditions for interaction, and it was this that could lead to PF4 being recognised as foreign by the human immune system.

How the immune response is triggered

The team used their data and compared it to previously published work. They concurred with previous work that the presence of ChAdOx1 was causing an immune response against PF4. However, the research team suggested a brand-new mechanism by which this occurred. They proposed that small quantities of ChAdOx1 are entering the bloodstream at the injection site. The injection may cause the release of PF4 which then associates with the adenovirus in the blood and causes the immune response.

While extremely rare, the blood clots associated with certain vaccines have caused concern among the public and experts alike. Finding explanations for the clots is the first step to preventing them in the future. The team already noted that not all adenoviruses have the same electrostatic charge, so reducing the number of blood clots could be a matter of choosing a different viral vector for the vaccine.
WHO welcomes the historic decision by the Gavi Alliance Board to invest in the first malaria vaccine programme. The decision secures investment in the long-awaited malaria vaccine and assures that many more children at risk will benefit from this life-saving vaccine and additional malaria prevention.

The Gavi Board approved an investment to support the malaria vaccine introduction, procurement and delivery for Gavi-eligible countries in sub-Saharan Africa in 2022-2025. An initial investment of US$ 155.7 million for 2022-2025 will initiate the implementation of this additional tool to "help drive down child mortality in Africa," according to Gavi.

In response to the decision, Minister of Health of Ghana and Gavi Board member Hon. Kwaku Agyeman-Manu said in the announcement: "Ghana, together with several countries on the continent, is proud to have been involved in the pilot program and the development of the first approved malaria vaccine, and today we welcome the decision made by the Gavi board to invest in the malaria vaccine programme. We must now work together to ensure children across the continent can benefit from this additional malaria intervention."

This global investment is another milestone for the first malaria vaccine, which will boost child survival and extend the reach of malaria prevention through the existing platform of childhood vaccination. This international financing of malaria vaccine doses for country implementation is a concrete step forward to increase access to the RTS,S malaria vaccine." Dr Kate O'Brien, Director of the Department of Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals

The WHO recommendation for the RTS,S malaria vaccine and this follow-on decision was achieved through the support and contributions of WHO across many departments and all levels of the Organization, the Ministries of Health in the pilot countries of Ghana, Kenya and Malawi, African-based evaluation partners, UNICEF, PATH, GSK, the Malaria Vaccine Implementation Programme (MVIP) funders (Gavi, the Global Fund and Unitaid) and other international and country-level public and private partners.

Interest in the malaria vaccine in endemic countries is high and demand for the vaccine is expected to outpace the currently limited supply. Current vaccine production estimates are for up to 15 million doses per year; however, demand is estimated at more than 80 million doses annually.

"The significance of these two announcements  first, the WHO recommendation, and second, Gavi's decision to open a funding window for the vaccine  is truly historic," said Dr Pedro Alonso, Director of the Global Malaria Programme. "We need new tools to reach our global malaria targets. And now, for the first time, we have a malaria vaccine that we estimate can save an additional 40 000 to 80 000 lives of African children each year. This represents a scientific and public health breakthrough."

WHO and partners are committed to finding approaches and taking actions to accelerate vaccine availability to increase vaccine access and reduce child illness and deaths.
A study of over 200,500 women who had a hysterectomy for non-cancerous reasons found an increased risk of death in women under 50 years of age when the ovaries and fallopian tubes were also removed during the surgery. The same association was not found in women over 50.

The study, published in The BMJ, followed participants over 20 years and found the risk of death declined gradually in the years approaching menopause and was eliminated after the average age of menopause. The findings suggest that surgical removal of the ovaries and fallopian tubes, a procedure known as bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (BSO), may have health risks for younger pre-menopausal women, but is safer in older post-menopausal women.

BSO is offered to patients undergoing hysterectomy to prevent the development of ovarian cancer later in life. In Ontario, approximately 12,000 women undergo hysterectomy for non-cancerous gynecologic conditions each year. It is the most common major surgery performed on non-pregnant women worldwide, according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development.

Previous research suggested that BSO may be associated with an increased risk of death in younger women. However, limited data are available on BSO in older women, creating uncertainty for surgeons about what to recommend for women over 50.

Our core goal was to try to understand the health risks associated with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy for women of different ages, and provide information that patients and surgeons need to make the right treatment decisions." Dr Maria Cusimano, Study Lead Author and Resident Physician in Obstetrics and Gynecology, St. Michael's Hospital of Unity Health Toronto

Researchers at Unity Health Toronto and ICES evaluated 200,549 women who underwent hysterectomy either with or without concurrent BSO, from 1996 to 2015, and split the women into four age groups. The analysis found an increased risk of death in women who had undergone BSO in the under 45 and the 45-49 age groups, but not in the 50-54 or over 55 groups. The median follow-up to assess survival was 12 years post-procedure.

Researchers acknowledged one downside to the analysis is that it artificially separates the data by age. In reality, there is unlikely to be an actual sudden drop in mortality between the ages of 49 and 50. To most accurately map out the relationship between BSO and mortality as women age, researchers also used a different, more advanced modelling technique and still found the overall relationship gradually shifted from harmful to not harmful around the years when most women begin the transition to menopause.

"We know that bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy can prevent ovarian cancer, but this benefit must be weighed against other potential risks of the procedure," said Dr. Sarah Ferguson, co-author of the study and Professor, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Toronto. "There are definite cancerous and non-cancerous conditions where we actually do need to remove the ovaries, even if a woman is premenopausal. Our study shows that surgeons need to be cautious about removing the ovaries without a clear reason in premenopausal women. However, this strategy may be a safe and effective way to prevent ovarian cancer in older postmenopausal women."

The authors believe the risk of death in women who undergo BSO prior to menopause is higher because BSO in these patients prematurely stops all ovarian hormone production, which may predispose them to serious health problems later in life. The production of estrogen affects multiple organs and a sudden loss of the hormone may contribute to the development or progression of disease.

When the ovaries are removed during hysterectomy in pre-menopausal patients, the sudden loss of hormone production effectively puts patients in "sudden menopause" and patients will immediately begin to experience menopausal symptoms. Side effects include fatigue, hot flashes, insomnia, and increased risk of osteoporosis and heart disease, according to the Canadian Women's Health Network. These same downsides would not be expected to occur in postmenopausal women, whose ovaries have already stopped producing estrogen on their own.

Researchers say the findings will allow surgeons to help patients make more informed choices about their health, but that more research is needed on the impact of BSO to quality of life and sexual function to more fully guide decision-making in this area.
New research has determined that the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic led to increased depression, anxiety and social risks among urban, racial, and ethnic minority children aged five to 11 years old compared to the prior six months.

Led by researchers at Boston Medical Center, study findings show that a reduction in school assignment completion, increased screen time, and caregiver depression are all significantly associated with worse mid-pandemic mental health in children.

Published in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health, this study is one of the first to quantify the negative psychosocial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on urban children using pre and mid-pandemic data. Rates of depression and anxiety problems had increased from 5 percent before the pandemic to 18 percent during the pandemic.

This study also examined the social risks of these families throughout the pandemic, with caregivers reporting higher social risks compared to before the pandemic, including food and housing insecurity. Fifty percent of families reported food insecurity during the pandemic, compared to 16 percent before.

Our fear is that the pandemic has led to a mental health crisis for both caregivers and children following the incredible stressors that COVID-19 has put on families. We specifically looked at our urban and diverse patient population who are already at higher psychosocial risk and also most susceptible to the impacts of the pandemic, therefore raising particular concern for their mental health." Andrea Spencer, MD, Adult, Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, Boston Medical Center

Fifty-four percent of the caregivers in this study identified as non-Hispanic Black, 29 percent Hispanic and 22 percent were non-English speaking. The study visits were conducted in three languages, of which 79 percent were in English, 16 percent in Haitian Creole and 5 percent in Spanish.

Social risk was determined using BMC's THRIVE screener, a social determinants of health screener used to better identify and address patients' unmet social needs. The screener is filled out by patients and entered into their electronic health record (EHR).

This model allows patients to identify their needs and request assistance for specific things, such as food and housing insecurity. Because the information is embedded into the EHR, providers can easily facilitate referrals to resources both at BMC and in the community to help address the patients' needs, with the goal of improving overall health.

Mental health symptoms were significantly correlated with the number of social risks before the pandemic, but the study found that this was not the case at the time of the mid-pandemic survey. Mental health symptoms in children are worse due to factors beyond those unmet social needs. With the exception of transportation, all THRIVE items were significantly more prevalent mid-pandemic compared to before the pandemic, highlighting the social and financial impacts that these urban and diverse families were experiencing.

This cohort study was conducted between September 2019 and January 2021 and included 168 child caregivers from an urban safety-net hospital-based pediatric program. The Pediatric Symptom Checklist (PSC), measured emotional and behavioral symptoms including attention, internalizing and externalizing symptoms. The children that were eligible for this study had attended a pre-pandemic well-visit with their primary care physician between September 1, 2019 and March 1, 2020 and their PSC results were obtained from their EHR.

The initial mid-pandemic assessment was completed between August 2020 and January 2021 by caregivers and included the PSC, THRIVE, and items on school participation, screen time, and COVID exposure. Caregiver mental health was assessed using the General Anxiety Disorder-2 and Patient Health Questionnaires. Analyses compared pre-pandemic to mid-pandemic mental health and social risks. Path-analysis was then used to examine the relationship between patients' mental health and their social risks before and throughout the pandemic.

"These findings point to the critical need for public health efforts to mitigate the psychosocial effects of the pandemic on racial and ethnic minority children and communities while searching for solutions to support the increased demand," says Spencer, also an assistant professor of psychiatry at Boston University School of Medicine. "We need new or expanded community-based, school-based, family-based, and trauma-informed treatment and prevention programs to reach the most affected families."
Even with the new omicron variant of the covid virus spreading in the U.S., Republicans on Capitol Hill are pushing to stop President Joe Biden from requiring workers to either be tested regularly or vaccinated. The effort is likely to end in failure  even if it reaches Biden's desk, he has vowed to veto it. But apparently Republicans think the effort will boost their popularity with their base.

Meanwhile, Congress is also moving to block scheduled Medicare cuts, and the Supreme Court heard two health cases that are not about abortion.

This week's panelists are Julie Rovner of Kaiser Health News, Joanne Kenen of Politico and the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Sarah Karlin-Smith of the Pink Sheet and Rachel Cohrs of Stat News.

Among the takeaways from this week's episode:

Congress is expected to pass a bill shortly that will protect Medicare reimbursements for hospitals and doctors, who faced some automatic pay cuts based on previous laws that sought to rein in federal spending. Some physicians were looking at a 10% cut in payments.

Republican and Democratic leaders agreed this week to add to that Medicare bill a complicated scheme that will allow Congress to approve an extension of the federal debt limit. The measure will give the Senate a one-time option to pass the debt ceiling bill by a simple majority and not face the threat of a filibuster.

Public health officials say preliminary data suggests that the newest covid-19 variant, omicron, may be more contagious than delta but perhaps may cause less severe symptoms. Still, more infections could create problems for the already-straining health care system.

Senate Republicans  with the support of two Democrats  launched an attack on Biden's vaccination mandates at work and passed a bill that would repeal that regulation. That effort is a sign of how the political opposition to the effort to force vaccines is growing. It's an outgrowth of other efforts by conservatives to oppose public health measures designed to fight the pandemic, including mask mandates and business shutdowns.

A successful effort to stop covid requires robust testing, but in this country getting rapid tests to the public has been lacking. Overseas, those tests often are ubiquitous and cheap. But here, they are relatively expensive and often hard to find. Biden's efforts to help consumers by requiring insurers to cover the costs is still a month from starting and will be cumbersome to set up. It will help only those who have private insurance because the requirement does not apply to people who don't have insurance or are covered by Medicare or Medicaid.

Often overlooked last week in the hype about the Supreme Court arguments on the Mississippi abortion law were two recent cases about federal hospital payments. Both are complex cases, one dealing with administrative rules about hospital funding for poor patients and the other concerning a drug discount pricing program.

The highly publicized trial of Elizabeth Holmes, former head of the now-defunct company Theranos, points to a federal regulatory issue. Both the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services have authority over diagnostic lab testing, but neither apparently made much of an impact in stopping what prosecutors allege was a fraudulent scheme by Theranos to test people for maladies by analyzing a few drops of blood.

Sen. Bob Dole (R-Kan.), who is being lauded this week after his death Sunday, was a strong Republican. But that never meant he wouldn't work with people from the Democratic Party. For him, issues were about policy and were not personal. It was an era far different from today.

Plus, for extra credit, the panelists recommend their favorite health policy stories of the week they think you should read, too:

Julie Rovner: NPR's "Inside the Growing Alliance Between Anti-Vaccine Activists and Pro-Trump Republicans," by Geoff Brumfiel

Joanne Kenen: Slate's "We're Not Going Back to 'Before Roe,'" by Dahlia Lithwick.

Sarah Karlin-Smith: Axios' "Documents Reveal the Secrecy of America's Drug Pricing Matrix," by Bob Herman.

Rachel Cohrs: Stat News' "Biogen's Reckoning: How the Aduhelm Debacle Pushed a Troubled Company and Its Fractured Leadership to the Brink," by Adam Feuerstein and Damian Garde.

To hear all our podcasts, click here.

And subscribe to KHNs What the Health? on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Pocket Casts or wherever you listen to podcasts.
In a recent study published on the preprint server medRxiv*, researchers discuss the long-term humoral immune responses in hemodialysis patients after being vaccinated with the severe acute respiratory syndrome 2 (SARS-CoV-2) BNT162b2 messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) vaccine (Pfizer-BioNTech). To this end, 40% of the patients regressed to a borderline or negative antibody status at six months post full immunization. The researchers also observed that patients with prior coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) developed higher antibody levels than those without any history.

Study: Long term humoral immunity decline in hemodialysis patients following SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. Image Credit: sunti teapia / Shutterstock.com

Background

Patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) on hemodialysis are at a higher risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection due to impaired immune responses and constant exposure to hospital facilities.

Previous reports show that a considerably large proportion (80-90%) of ESKD patients develop immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies against the spike protein receptor-binding domain (RBD) of SARS-CoV-2. However, these rates remain lower than those observed in healthy individuals. Dialysis patients have also been shown to attain lower antibody levels in response to mRNA vaccines as compared to healthy controls.

The data on long-term durability of humoral immune responses in hemodialysis patients following a standard two dose vaccine regimen is not available. Therefore, the team from the University of Virginia undertook this cohort study to characterize the time-dependent antibody decline in such patients, measuring monthly IgG antibody levels to the SARS-CoV-2 spike RBD for up to six months in fully vaccinated dialysis patients.

Study methods

Thirty-five hemodialytic patients who had received two doses of the BNT162b2 vaccine between January and February 2021 were enrolled for the current study. Blood samples were collected monthly starting from two months post-full immunization for up to six months.

Plasma was separated from the blood and tested for anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies against the spike S1 domain. Results were considered negative for BAU/mL of less than 25.6, borderline for BAU/mL greater than or equal to 25.6 but less than 35.2, and positive for BAU/mL greater than or equal to 35.2.

The team also performed qualitative detection of total antibodies to the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein in order to confirm reported histories of prior infection and detect an undiagnosed prior infection.

A linear mixed model with a random slope and random intercept was used for evaluating temporal antibody levels accounting for patient-specific changes and variation over the entire follow-up period.

A multivariable model was used to estimate the slope of antibody levels by adjusting for selected patient characteristics including age, gender, prior SARS-CoV-2 infection, and immune suppression. In addition, based on the estimated intercepts and slopes for each subject from the unadjusted model, ten-month antibody levels were projected.

Antibody levels wane at a steady rate with a faster decay in older hemodialytic patients

Eighty-eight percent of patients were found qualitatively positive for IgG antibodies to spike protein, thus confirming the previous reports. The team observed a stable decline in IgG spike protein antibody levels from month to month, regardless of subgroup or initial antibody peak.

The mean baseline antibody level was 647.59 BAU/mL at two months; however, this declined to 491.4, 365.6, 302.0, and 177.9 BAU/mL at three, four, five, and six months following full vaccination, respectively. Taken together, mean antibody levels decayed by an average of 31% per month. Older patients experienced greater decay in the antibody levels at an additional 4% decline for a one-year increment in age.

This relatively stable decay rate suggests that peak attained antibody level post-vaccination is a predictive factor determining the duration of detectable IgG spike protein antibody levels.

Immune suppression and prior infection impact post-vaccination antibody levels

The adjusted multivariable linear mixed model demonstrated that prior SARS-CoV-2 infection and immune suppression were significantly associated with the trajectory of antibody level, whereas age marginally impacted these levels. Patients with prior SARS-CoV-2 infection had five times higher antibody levels than infection naive patients and these remained higher six months post full vaccination at 888.01 BAU/mL in prior infected individuals versus 61.01 BAU/mL in infection naive patients.

Immune suppressed patients, on average, had 65% lower antibody levels as compared to patients without immune suppression.

At six months post full immunization, 61% of patients maintained positive antibody levels, while 39% regressed to borderline or negative antibody levels. Surprisingly, patients already in the borderline or negative group are mostly drawn from the infection naive group, and not the immune-suppressed group.

The forecast of antibody levels predicted the regression of more than 65% of the study population to borderline or negative antibody status at ten-months post full vaccination. However, none of the previously infected patients were projected to lose detectable antibody levels at ten months.

These results suggest that dialysis patients vaccinated with BNT162b2 and without prior infection may benefit from receipt of a booster dose.

A) Observed antibody level of SARS-CoV-2, the lines are colored by prior COVID-19 infection and immune suppression status. B) Logarithmic scale (y axis) prediction graph on individuals post 10 month since full vaccination. The dark lines are observed values and the dotted lines are predicted values (dashed line not shown for subjects who are negative or borderline at month 6). Individual intercept and slope estimated from unadjusted linear mixed model were used for prediction. The cutoff for borderline/negative antibody level is 35.2 (red dashed line).

Limitations

The team warns to interpret the results with caution due to certain limitations of the study, including a small cohort sample size, a majority of the study population being African American, a large proportion of patients being immune-suppressed, and the results being derived from using the BNT162b2 vaccine only.

*Important notice

medRxiv publishes preliminary scientific reports that are not peer-reviewed and, therefore, should not be regarded as conclusive, guide clinical practice/health-related behavior, or treated as established information.
America's hospitals, strained by nearly two years of fighting the covid-19 pandemic, are now scrounging for basic medical supplies.

In another consequence of the global supply chain crisis, hospitals managing holiday covid surges and all their other patients are running short of many necessities of care: crutches, syringes, needles, tubing, gloves, catheters, drapes for surgery, suction canisters for medical waste and even urine cups.

After the difficulties that health care workers faced in securing personal protective equipment in 2020, supply chain managers and other experts say shortages and delays of other common supplies escalated this year.

President Joe Biden's promises to speed supplies into the country have repeatedly focused on ensuring that holiday gifts fill U.S. store shelves. "Only Santa Claus" can make sure they arrive on time, Biden said in a Dec. 1 speech about his administration's efforts. Medical supplies received a passing reference.

In the meantime, clinicians describe making do, which sometimes requires piecing together what's needed with odds and ends. And while they play MacGyver, their attention can be diverted from patient care.

In late November, executives at CentraCare in Minnesota said a lack of the urine collection kits the health system uses forced them to secure four alternatives and even order individual parts to make their own. Some of the cups can't be transported through normal hospital tube systems, so workers must walk samples to the lab instead of tending to patients.

Dr. George Morris, CentraCare's physician incident commander for covid response, worries about higher risk of harm for patients: "Now our supply shortage is actually affecting our ability to do the care."

"When you throw in all these variations  four different types of collection kits, an infinite number of different types of crutches  there's always that little slight chance of error," Morris said. "And that's unfortunate, but that's the reality."

"We just cant get enough volume," said Kelsey Ochsner, CentraCare's manager of procurement. Federal emergency medical teams were dispatched to Minnesota in late November to help hospitals  including CentraCare's St. Cloud Hospital, the system's largest  manage a spike in covid infections.

The scarcity of supplies is driven by raw material shortages, port backlogs, shipping delays and a dearth of truck drivers for transporting goods. Another factor making things worse for hospitals in general: staff shortages.

"If you don't have health care workers, you can't do the work," said Debbie White, a registered nurse and president of Health Professionals and Allied Employees, a union in New Jersey. "Whatever supplies you have are kind of a moot point if you can't even take care of your patients."

A global aluminum shortage has left hospitals short on crutches, so clinicians have organized donation drives for gently used items. "Imagine trying to get around after hip surgery or after breaking your leg without the aid of these devices," read one recent call for walkers, canes and crutches from Utah hospitals, including Intermountain Healthcare and University of Utah Health.

The campaign, called Lean on Utah, collected items on three Saturdays this fall, bringing in 963 sets of crutches, 652 walkers, 333 canes and 153 nonmotorized wheelchairs.

Gordon Slade, Intermountain's senior director of supply chain logistics, said lead times are so long that the health system has paid for expedited shipping, pushing costs ever higher.

"In some cases, you're paying more for freight than the product," he said.

Microchip and metals shortages have slowed the production of wheelchairs and other medical equipment. Also scarce are resin and silicone, used for canisters, catheters and the kits used to insert them in patients.

"Anything plastic-wise has been a little bit slowed down," said Mark Welch, senior vice president of supply chain for North Carolina-based Novant Health. Among the items delayed are catheters, syringes, gauze and medical tape. As of early December, about 6.5% of items in Novant Health's inventory were delayed, compared with 1% or less during normal operations.

The hospital has urged clinicians to conserve supplies like tape and gauze. "We're asking them to really think before you use," Welch said. "If you happen to just grab extra things to take to the room because you think you might use it, a lot of times it gets wasted."

"This degree of disruption for this period of time is unusual," said Melanie Fisher, a senior vice president for Beaumont Health, which operates hospitals in Michigan.

"To have 100 back orders a day is much different than traditionally having 25," she said. "And to have back orders with either no substitutes available or having to make the kits ourselves when we're already short-staffed  these are the complexities of what we're working through now."

Still, "this is very different from the shortages we saw last year" related to PPE, said Tinglong Dai, a professor of operations management and business analytics at Johns Hopkins University. With those, Dai said, the danger was grave: "People were actually infected, in certain cases actually died."

Hospital executives were split on whether actions taken by the Biden administration  forcing major ports to operate round-the-clock, lowering container fees and allowing truck drivers to work longer hours  were improving the situations in their facilities. Some, like Welch of Novant Health, haven't seen meaningful differences. Still, Fisher of Beaumont Health said, it's hard to imagine what would have happened without them.

Hospital workers hope for some improvement after the holiday season. Industry reports, however, are "predicting another 18 to 24 months of supply chain challenges," said Alyssa Kangas, CentraCare's senior director of contracting and procurement.

Many hospitals contract with group-purchasing organizations to secure discounts from vendors. Managers said the contracts have offered protection against price gouging. But with the supply logjam, they might have to go off-contract to lock down goods  and risk escalating prices.

"At that point, we're kind of at the mercy of the market," said Slade of Intermountain Healthcare, adding that he's concerned about price gouging when contracts come up for renewal. Oxygen tanks, he said, cost 600% more than they did a year ago. "I do see an avalanche of price increases in the future."
Optibrium, a leading provider of software and artificial intelligence (AI) solutions for drug discovery, today announced the publication of a peer-reviewed study in the Journal of Computer-Aided Molecular Design, Imputation of Sensory Properties Using Deep Learning. In collaboration with International Flavors & Fragrances (IFF), a global leader in co-creating sensorial experiences, and Intellegens, an AI company, the team applied Optibriums Augmented Chemistry platform to predict human panel-based assessments, including sensory properties, such as odour intensity and odour detection threshold. The study demonstrated the platforms high predictive reliability and the opportunity to reduce the need for human testing when developing new flavour and fragrance ingredients, opening the potential for cost and time savings. The study also reinforced the translational ability of the method for related applications, including offering new insights into drug discovery data to identify opportunities for new drugs and streamline the drug discovery process [1].

Fragrance ingredient development currently requires human panel-based trials. Critical for the success of new fragrance ingredients are properties such as odour detection threshold, which are hard to predict reliably in silico as small changes in a molecules structure can substantially impact an individuals odour perception. Furthermore, only limited data on attributes such as odour perception are available due to being assessed in trials with human panellists. Such studies are both costly and time-consuming to undertake. Leveraging the Alchemite deep learning imputation method developed by Intellegens, Augmented Chemistry draws on data for the property of interest whilst also utilising measurements and data from other endpoints and assays to make predictions. This increases the predictive power for critical endpoints like the odour perception threshold by learning the relationships between different experiments and exploiting earlier-stage measurements to make robust predictions of critical downstream properties.

The study demonstrated translational capabilities that expand the applicability of computational approaches to resource-intensive late-stage discovery, including human trial data and otherwise intractable complex endpoints. The method also provides robust uncertainty estimates for each individual prediction, increasing the confidence in decisions based on the method. Consequently, Augmented Chemistry offers unique opportunities to reduce the time and cost of developing new flavours and fragrances and in related fields like drug discovery.

Samar Mahmoud, Senior Scientist at Optibrium, said: We have demonstrated Augmented Chemistrys unprecedented capabilities to robustly predict otherwise intractable complex endpoints in several drug discovery collaborations with leading pharma and biotech companies. This study further underlines its translational capabilities, providing further evidence for its applicability to other related trial outcomes across fields such as drug discovery

Dmitriy Chekmarev, Senior Research Investigator at IFF, said: We were impressed by the outcomes of the collaboration. Not just because it is the first approach that offers meaningful overall predictive power, but because its reliable uncertainty estimates give us the confidence to make critical project decisions based on computational methods.
Leonard Hayflick revealed in the 1960s that cultured human diploid cells had limited proliferative ability, with cells ceasing to multiply after serial passage in vitro. This was the first time the term "cellular senescence" was used to describe a permanent condition of cell cycle halt.

Study: Role of Senescence and Aging in SARS-CoV-2 Infection and COVID-19 Disease. Image Credit: eyeidea/Shutterstock

Hayflick is now regarded as one of history's most influential biologists, even though his study and results at the time were contentious because they contradicted Alexis Carrel's earlier notion that cells are eternal. Hayflick entirely disproved this orthodoxy, which had been held for 60 years, and as a result, the "Hayflick Limit" was born.

Dasatinib (D, an FDA-approved tyrosine kinase inhibitor), Quercetin (Q, a flavonoid found in many fruits and vegetables), Navitoclax, A1331852, and A1155463 (Bcl-2 pro-survival family inhibitors), and Fistein have all been tested as senolytic agents (F, a flavonoid). Cardiac glycosides, such as digoxin, which is currently used to treat irregular heartbeats associated with atrial fibrillation, have also been shown to have broad senolytic activity. Such senolytic compounds have been shown to work by temporarily limiting the pro-survival linkages that protect senescent cells from apoptosis while not negatively affecting proliferating or quiescent, differentiated cells.

Currently, no such senescence-aging-related biomarker signatures have been identified for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) risk stratification. Such novel biomarker signatures will inevitably improve clinical outcomes for patients by allowing for early intervention and stratification.

Because COVID-19 research is still in its early stages, more research is needed to explore, identify, and validate potential novel stratification signatures that have robust clinical utility in identifying the risk of severe infection versus non-severe infection and helping recognize patients who are more likely to require ICU admission versus those who can be treated in non-intensive care wards. A review published in Cells discussed characteristics of cellular senescence, the role of senescence in cancer, and the role of the telomere clock in aging.

The review

COVID-19 research is now working on discovering and verifying prognostic, diagnostic, and predictive markers that are more robust and reliable than current inflammatory markers using proteomics and transcriptome analysis. Researchers are also attempting to determine whether the presence of specific biomarkers makes a patient more vulnerable to a more severe infection.

The discovery of such biomarkers could aid in predicting the severity of an infection and, as a result, in determining the level of medical intervention that would be far more effective and could be given to the patient much more quickly. For example, long pentraxin 3 (PTX3) is an independent, strong prognostic signal for predicting death in COVID-19 and is a superior biomarker compared to traditional inflammatory markers, according to a recent study.

Another study, on the other hand, refuted this finding, claiming that PTX3 is no more helpful than other markers and that there are more relevant inflammatory pathway indicators. Another study found that patients with COVID-19 have greater Growth Differentiation Factor 15 (GDF-15) levels and that higher levels are linked to a worse result. This biomarker, once again, was found to be superior to commonly used cardiovascular and inflammatory indicators.

Several differently expressed proteins that are unique to COVID-19 severity have also been discovered in other research. Telomere shortening is linked to senescence, as previously stated. A recent study found that patients with shorter telomeres have a higher probability of acquiring severe COVID-19 diseases, reinforcing the concept that senescence is associated with COVID-19.

China was the first country to report severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in its population. COVID-19's case fatality ratio (CFR) appears to grow with age, according to early data from China. The CFR for patients aged 40 years or less was reported to be less than 0.4%, increasing to 8% for patients in their 70s, and then to a staggering 14.8% for patients aged 80 years and above [141,149].

In its COVID-19 CFR data, Italy reported the same severe effect of aging, with the CFR being less than 0.4% for patients aged 40 years or less, increasing to 12.8% for patients in their 70s, and then to 20.2% for patients in their 80s and above.

Furthermore, Italy's overall CFR was substantially higher than China's, at 7.2% vs. 2.3%, which could be explained by the fact that Italy has one of the world's greatest numbers of senior persons. Similar findings have been reported from many nations, demonstrating the strong link between COVID-19 CFR and aging, with the CFR for COVID-19 increasing exponentially with age. The median age of patients seriously ill with COVID-19 was 63 years old, according to a separate retrospective analysis of 1591 patients in Italy.

COVID-19 data released by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on September 15, 2021, shows that the older age group of 65 years and above accounted for 77.7% of COVID-19 deaths, while the younger age group of 45 years or less accounted for only 3.3%, highlighting age as a major determinant factor in COVID-19 mortality once again.

Conclusion

To further understand why some people develop more severe COVID-19 than others and to uncover particular elements of the aged immune system, such as novel sendotypes (senescent endotypes) that predispose the elderly to more severe clinical consequences, including mortality, more research is needed.

It will also be intriguing to see if senescence plays a complicating role in fading immune responses, particularly in the elderly, and if senolytic treatments could ameliorate immune response declines after vaccination. It would also be interesting to see if senescence has a role in patients' susceptibility to long COVID.
Sleeping people respond to both wind farm noise and road traffic noise, but not usually enough to wake them up, according to new Flinders University research.

Image Credit: Flinders University

Published in the Journal of Sleep Research, researchers used an electroencephalogram (EEG) to analyse the brainwaves of 23 young healthy people while they experienced 3-minute samples of wind farm noise and road traffic noise played at different noise levels (33, 38 and 43 dBA).

These noise levels span the approximate range of recommended maximum average indoor and outdoor noise levels at night, says lead author Claire Dunbar from Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute: Sleep Health.

By noting changes in their brain waves, we found the participants responded similarly to both wind farm and road noise, especially when the sound was louder. Then, during light sleep, we found low-level wind farm noise caused a greater brain activation response, compared to road traffic noise played at the same noise level.

However, the authors say the effects of the sounds were brief, with most participants brain waves returning to baseline sleep activity levels 30 seconds after the start of each noise, with very few people actually waking up, either briefly or for a prolonged period.

This tells us the overall impacts of the noise on the participants sleep was relatively small, says Ms Dunbar.

The research is an important step towards applying more sensitive brain signal analysis techniques, compared to traditional manual sleep scoring methods, the authors say. With the new approach, researchers can better understand the impacts of noise on sleep, particularly at low noise levels and with different noise characteristics, where sensitive methods are most needed.

While this study shows there is a response to wind farm and road traffic noise while an individual is sleeping, more research using a similar technique with a larger group of people and longer exposure times is still needed to help better understand noise impacts on sleep and potential longer-term effects. Claire Dunbar, Lead Author, Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute: Sleep Health

The research is part of an ongoing series of studies being undertaken at Flinders University to investigate the effects of wind farm noise compared to traffic noise on different aspects of sleep.

EEG power spectral responses to wind farm compared with road traffic noise during sleep: A laboratory study by Claire Dunbar, Peter Catcheside, Bastien Lechat, Kristy Hansen, Branko Zajamsek, Tessa Liebich, Duc Phuc Nguyen, Hannah Scott, Leon Lack, Felix Decup, Andrew Vakulin and Gorica Micic is published in the Journal of Sleep Research. DOI: 10.1111/jsr.13517.

This research was supported by grants from the National Health and Medical Research Council and the Australian Research Council. Claire Dunbar acknowledges The Hospital Research Foundation for PhD scholarship support.
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been caused by the rapid outbreak of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus and has already claimed more than 5.28 million lives worldwide. Long COVID or post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 (PASC) affect between 10-30% of patients and is a long-term manifestation of acute COVID-19.

Scientists have defined PASC as the emergence or persistence of symptoms extending beyond four weeks from the start of acute illness. Many reports of cardiopulmonary symptoms associated with PASC have been documented. However, research on cardiovascular manifestations remains limited.

In a new study published on the medRxiv* preprint server, scientists discuss the characteristics, diagnostic evaluations, and cardiac diagnoses in patients who were referred to a cardiovascular disease clinic designed for patients with PASC.

Study: Characteristics of Patients Referred to a Cardiovascular Disease Clinic for Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 Infection. Image Credit: Alessandro Pintus / Shutterstock.com

About the study

This was an observational study, where the sample included all individuals who were referred to the Yale cardiovascular clinic for PASC between May 2020 and September 2021. Diagnostic evaluation of the patients included vital signs, cardiopulmonary physical examination, electrocardiogram (ECG), laboratory studies, and echocardiogram.

Scientists were able to manually extract this information from the electronic medical record. N-terminal (NT) pro-hormone BNP (NT-proBNP_, troponin, d-dimer, and C-reactive protein (CRP) tests were only conducted based on clinical suspicion.

In patients with orthostatic intolerance, a stand test for postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) was conducted. Further investigation was carried out to detect cardiovascular disease pathology and understand cardiovascular symptoms that were not readily attributable to a cardiovascular diagnosis.

In the current study, the researchers describe the clinical characteristics and diagnostic yield of testing. They also reported the predictors of having cardiovascular symptoms without an identified diagnosis.

Study findings

Of the 126 patients included in the study, the average age was 44 years, 9% were above 65 years of age, and 66% were female. About 24% of the patients were hospitalized due to acute COVID-19, of which 9% and 11% of patients were critically and severely ill, respectively.

A total of 120 patients had confirmed antigen studies for COVID-19. Primary care (54%), pulmonology (26%), and cardiology (12%) were the top three sources of referrals.

The patients also had comorbidities such as hypertension (23%), hyperlipidemia (25%), diabetes (17%), and obesity (37%), whereas 10% of patients had underlying cardiovascular disease and 32% had an underlying pulmonary or rheumatologic disease. The most common cardiovascular symptoms included dyspnea (52%), chest pain/pressure (48%), and palpitations (44%), with 84% of patients exhibiting at least one of these symptoms.

Baseline Symptoms of Patients Referred for Cardiovascular Symptoms associated with Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 (PASC).

The current study shows that cardiovascular manifestations of PASC are common and mainly affect non-elderly individuals. Only 23% of patients suspected to have a cardiac etiology led to a cardiovascular diagnosis, including new cardiomyopathy, ischemia, arrhythmias, and myocardial involvement.

Many patients suffered from exercise intolerance, describing fatigue on performing activities of daily living. However, in the majority of cases (77%), cardiovascular disease was not detected.

While many individuals also suffered from brain fog, characterized by memory problems, difficulty concentrating, and sleep disturbance, others also reported body aches. It is important to note that these symptoms overlap with myalgic encephalomyelitis-chronic fatigue syndrome (ME-CFS).

Previous research has shown that COVID-19 could impact the cardiovascular system through several mechanisms. These mechanisms could include viral injury, inflammation, dysregulation of the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE-2), along with metabolic and autonomic impairment. However, these are difficult to discern in a standard clinical evaluation.

In some patients who underwent invasive coronary vasomotion testing and cardiopulmonary exercise testing, scientists observed downstream physiological dysregulation. Calcium channel blockers, nitrates, statins, and L-arginine were prescribed for these patients.

The majority of patients had low peak maximal oxygen consumption (VO 2 ) with normal cardiac and pulmonary function. This could have been secondary to bedrest deconditioning and/or impaired oxygen extraction. For all patients with exercise intolerance, scientists employed principles from the Levine protocol, which was developed for patients with POTS.

Limitations

It must be noted that the referrals and diagnostic evaluations were not systematic and they could be generalized to other practices witnessing high volumes of patients with PASC. Further, scientists point out that the understanding of PASC evolved with time, which led to the reduction in the number of diagnostic tests.

Despite these limitations, all patients had a thorough cardiovascular physical exam, ECG, and echocardiogram. New diagnoses that better define the PASC cardiovascular syndrome may emerge; however, the diagnostic algorithms need to be further developed.

Conclusion

The current study provides new insights into patients with cardiovascular manifestations of PASC. The findings discussed here emphasize the need for rapid research and multidisciplinary teams to treat a heterogenous group of COVID-19 patients.

*Important notice

medRxiv publishes preliminary scientific reports that are not peer-reviewed and, therefore, should not be regarded as conclusive, guide clinical practice/health-related behavior, or treated as established information.
(Newser)  Update: A Maryland man has been convicted of murdering his wife before trying to pin it on a panhandler. Keith Smith, 55, was found guilty Thursday of stabbing Jacquelyn Smith in 2018, reports the Baltimore Sun. Smith told police a panhandler killed his wife while trying to steal her purse, an accusation that drew national headlines. However, the story soon fell apart. Smith's adult daughter, Valeria Smith, previously pleaded guilty to acting as an accessory after the slaying, for helping her father try to get away with the crime. Our original story from March 2019 follows:

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After Keith Smith and daughter Valeria Smith told police that a panhandler fatally stabbed Keith Smith's wife, Jacquelyn Smith, panhandlers nationwide faced increased suspicion. Police now believe the real killers were Keith and Valeria Smith. They were arrested Sunday in Texas, near the US-Mexico border, and charged with first-degree murder in the December stabbing death of the 52-year-old woman, Fox reports. Keith Smith, 54, told police on Dec. 1 that his 28-year-old daughter was in the back seat and Jacquelyn Smith was in the front seat when she gave money to a woman with an infant begging at a Baltimore intersection.

Smith claimed that after his wife rolled down her window, a man arrived, tried to steal her wallet, and stabbed her before running off with the panhandler. Officials including Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh accused the Smiths of using the city's reputation for violence to try to cover up their crime, the Baltimore Sun reports. "To now learn that family members staged this brutal killing is beyond belief and represents a double tragedy," Pugh said in a statement. "They were responsible for taking Jacquelyn's life with unconscionable cruelty and contrived to do so in our city under the guise of random violence, exploiting the legitimate fears of our residents." Some of Jacquelyn Smith's relatives say they doubted the story from the beginning. (Read more Baltimore stories.)
(Newser)  Rose McGowan's racketeering lawsuit against Harvey Weinstein has been dismissed, apparently because she missed a filing deadline. The suit accused the former movie mogul of trying to discredit McGowan before the publication of her memoir, which was to include her account of being sexually assaulted by Weinstein in 1997, NPR reports. The suit said Weinstein plotted to get an advance copy of the memoir; the judge had ruled that did not constitute racketeering. Weinstein denied the assault accusation, and the two negotiated a $100,000 settlement in which Weinstein did not admit guilt, per the New York Times.

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A spokesperson for Weinstein praised the dismissal of the suit, in which McGowan was representing herself, by the federal judge in Los Angeles. "Out of the public glare, with proper time, legal work, evidence and facts, this is the way we believe they ultimately will all go," the spokesperson said, per NBC. The lawsuit also named lawyers and investigators it said were working for Weinstein against McGowan. The former producer has been convicted of raping and sexually assaulting two other women and is imprisoned in New York. He also will be tried in Los Angeles on other rape and sexual assault counts. Weinstein's legal team failed Tuesday in a bid to have those indictments dismissed, per Deadline. (Read more Rose McGowan stories.)
(Newser)  The defense wrapped up its case in Elizabeth Holmes' trial Wednesday with her declaration that she didn't mislead investors in her blood tech startup"Never," she said. "You understand they were entitled to truthful answers about Theranos' capabilities?" a prosecutor asked. "Of course," Holmes answered. That was the end of the former Theranos CEO's seven days of testimony in the criminal wire fraud trial, the Washington Post reports. Holmes has blamed employees for giving her bad information that she relayed to investors. Closing arguments are scheduled for Dec. 16.

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But before closing arguments begin, both sides have to agree on jury instructions, per the New York Times. The trial already has lasted nearly four months. Waiting more than a week after testimony ends before closing arguments begin is one reason, said the president of West Coast Trial Lawyers. "It's one of the slowest trials I've ever heard of," Neama Rahmani said. Despite largely blaming others for the 2018 collapse of Theranos and its blood testing technology, Holmes mentioned a few regrets.

One was putting pharmaceutical companies' logos on validation reports that went to investors, fostering the idea that drug companies were behind Theranos' technology. Another was attacking former employees, complete with private investigators, in response to a Wall Street Journal expose. At one point, Holmes talked about the goals of her sales pitches to potential investors. "I wanted to convey the impact," she testified. "I wanted to talk about what this company could do a year from now, five years from now, 10 years from now." Holmes committed mistakes but not fraud, her lawyers said. "Theranos didn't see mistakes as crimes," one said. "They saw them as part of the path to success." (Read more Elizabeth Holmes stories.)
(Newser)  A US Coast Guard diver lowered from the sky Wednesday braved frigid rapids to get to a car partly submerged in water near the brink of Niagara Falls, only to find it was too late to rescue the driver trapped inside. Petty Officer 2nd Class Derrian Duryea, a Detroit-based rescue swimmer, descended from a hovering helicopter, the AP reports. He climbed into the car and pulled out the body of its lone occupant, a woman in her 60s, officials from New York's State Park Police and Coast Guard said.

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Video showed Duryea, in an orange suit and with an axe in his left hand, buffeted by winds and spraying water as he was lowered toward the car through falling snow. After slowly spinning and swinging past the car, he was able to grab hold on the passenger side, open the door and disappear inside. About two minutes later, with water surging around the vehicle and over the precipice about 50 yards downstream, Duryea emerged and signaled to the helicopter, which then hoisted him and the motionless driver from the water. "It was an incredible job by the Coast Guard," Park Police Capt. Christopher Rola said at a news conference. He said rescuers have never been called to a vehicle so close to the edge.

It was unclear how the car got into the Niagara River. Witnesses reported seeing it floating near a pedestrian bridge, where it was believed to have gone in. Roads in the area were slippery from a light snow. Authorities said the woman lived in the area. Her name was not released pending notification of her relatives. The car was in the rapids upstream from the American Falls, one of three waterfalls that make up Niagara Falls. Rola said the State Park department's swift-water rescue teams had been unable to get to the car because of its location. Police had used a drone to determine it was occupied.

(Read more Niagara Falls, NY stories.)
(Newser)  For two years, a 48-year-old Missouri woman lived as an undergraduate college student in her 20sand did so by stealing her own daughter's identity. Laura Oglesby pleaded guilty to one count of intentionally providing false information to the Social Security Administration Monday, and faces up to five years behind bars for the scheme. Authorities say she used the Social Security card information belonging to Lauren Ashleigh Hays, her estranged daughter, to get into Southwest Baptist University and obtain student loans and grants, the New York Times reports. She used her daughter's name as well, and "everybody believed it," the Mountain View police chief says. "She even had boyfriends that believed that she was that age: 22 years old."

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A sentencing date has not yet been set, but as part of her plea agreement, she must pay $17,521 in restitution to the school and her daughter. Oglesby admitted to fraudulently applying for a Social Security card in 2016, then using that to apply for a Missouri driver's license, before enrolling in the university the following year. On the run from charges she faced in Arkansas over fraud involving company credit cards, she fled to Missouri, and in 2018 Arkansas police got in touch with Missouri authorities to search for her in that state, MarketWatch reports. "She had lived that life for a couple of years and basically just ruined her daughters credit," the police chief says. (Read more weird crimes stories.)
(Newser)  A California man described by neighbors as an "unbelievable craftsman" apparently used those skills to take his own life with a homemade guillotineand the case only gets more disturbing from there. The death of Robert Enger, who was 62 years old when he was last seen in July 2019, was uncovered after his skull was found in a neighbor's backyard in Santa Rosa, the Los Angeles Times reports. Investigators believe Enger's head was separated from his body not by his contraptionwhich impaled him with a spikebut by Robert Melvin Ross III, a methamphetamine user who moved into Enger's home in late 2020 and apparently lived with the man's remains for some time.

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Neighbors say Enger was friendly and helpful but struggled with mental health issues, the Santa Rosa Press Democrat reports. He told neighbors he had been sexually abused by a high-ranking Marine as a child and feared the military was following him. Police say Ross, 25, moved into the home after hearing from other homeless people that it was vacant. Santa Rosa Police Det. Anthony Turner says Ross invited other meth users to party at the home, which "was just absolutely filthy and just filled with debris, trash, foods, piles of stuff." Enger's headless remains were found under trash.

After the skull was found in March this year, a person who had been to a party at the home told police they had seen Ross remove the head from the body and scrape it with a knife. Police say Ross told them he found Enger's body under the homemade guillotine. Enger "placed himself under that contraption, manipulated it, was killed, and then his body was manipulated later by Robert Ross and others," Turner tells the Press Democrat. Ross pleaded no contest in November to one count of possession of a memento from human remains but later tried to withdraw the plea, reports the San Francisco Chronicle. (Read more California stories.)
(Newser)  The Senate narrowly approved a resolution Wednesday to nullify the Biden administration's requirement that businesses with 100 or more workers have their employees be vaccinated against the coronavirus or submit to weekly testing, the AP reports. The vote was 52-48. The Democratic-led House is unlikely to take the measure up, which means the mandate would stand, though courts have put it on hold for now. Still, the vote gave senators a chance to voice opposition to a policy that they say has sparked fears back home from businesses and from unvaccinated constituents who worry about losing their jobs should the rule go into effect. Every so often Washington DC does something that lights up the phone lines. This is one of these moments, said Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont. At home, he said, "this issue is what I hear about. This issue is a top-of-mind issue.

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Lawmakers can invalidate certain federal agency regulations if a joint resolution is approved by both houses of Congress and signed by the president, or if Congress overrides a presidential veto. That's unlikely to happen in this case. Under the rule, private-sector companies with 100 or more workers must require their employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or be tested for the virus weekly and wear masks on the job. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration said it would work with companies on compliance but would fine them up to more than $13,000 for each violation, though implementation and enforcement is suspended as the litigation unfolds. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-NY, said Americans who have refused to get vaccinated are the biggest impediment to ending the pandemic. He implied that some of the resistance to mandated vaccines is based on politics.

Republicans said they are supportive of the vaccine, but that the mandate amounts to government overreach. Some argued that the mandate may even contribute to people not getting vaccinated. I think, actually, the mandate has made it worse in terms of hardening people who dont want to be told what to do by the government, said Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo. In the end, two Democratic lawmakers voted with 50 Republicans to void the mandate, Sens. Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Jon Tester of Montana. Manchin had said in a tweet that he does not support any federal vaccine mandate for private businesses. Tester's office said his opposition is based on conversations with Montana businesses who expressed deep concerns about the negative effect on their bottom lines and our state's economy during this fragile recovery period."

(Read more vaccine mandate stories.)
(Newser)  People who are 12 years old or younger in New Zealand today will never reach an age where they will be legally allowed to smoke cigarettes, the government says. A new law expected to be introduced next year will ban smoking for future generations, with the legal smoking age increasing every year, the Guardian reports. Associate Health Minister Ayesha Verrall said Thursday that while details of the plan are still being worked out, the ban is likely to start with people who will be 14 in 2023, the year the law is expected to kick in, reports Stuff.co.nz.

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Verrall said smoking rates are higher among older teens, but studies have found under 1% of 14-year-olds smoke tobacco. "That's where we see the opportunity to really make the future difference for that generation," she said. Other measures in the New Zealand government's Smokefree 2025 action include reducing the amount of nicotine in tobacco products to very low levels and cutting the number of outlets where cigarettes are sold from 8,000 down to around 500, the BBC reports. The law, which also boosts funding for addiction services, will not apply to vaping products, though Verrall said efforts to persuade young people not to vape will be stepped up.

New Zealand aims to get the smoking rate down to 5% by 2025 and eventually eradicate smoking. The current smoking rate is around 13%, but it is close to 30% among the Maori population, which also has much higher rates of smoking-related illness and death, per the BBC. "We're going to have on-the-ground support for individuals as well as mobilizing the community," Verrall said. "Ultimately, they'll wind up with a lot more money in their pocket." (Read more smoking stories.)
(Newser)  Conversion therapy is officially outlawed in Canada. A bill making it a criminal offense to provide, promote, advertise, or profit from conversion therapyused in an effort to change a person's sexual orientation or identityunanimously passed the Senate "with little debate and no committee study" on Tuesday, less than a week after it unanimously passed the House of Commons, per CTV News. The billwhich additionally bars a person from removing a "child from Canada with the intention that the child undergo conversion therapy outside Canada"then received Governor General Mary Simon's royal assent on Wednesday, making it law. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau celebrated the ban on the

"despicable and degrading practice" in a tweet.

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The bill defines conversion therapy, discredited by various medical associations and already banned in certain jurisdictions, as a practice intended to "change an individual's sexual orientation to heterosexual, change a person's gender identity to cisgender or change their gender expression to conform to the sex assigned to the person at birth," per Axios. The practice, which once involved shock therapy, is carried out by licensed clinicians, but more often by religious leaders. Criminal offenses will take effect in 30 days, meaning as of Jan. 7, anyone who causes someone to undergo conversion therapy could face up to five years in prison, per CTV. A person who promotes, advertises, or profits from conversion therapy could face up to two years in prison.

"I'm really happy and hopeful that no other person will have to go through what I had to go through," Jules Sherred of British Columbia tells CityNews. He says he underwent conversion therapy at age 17, as he was uncomfortable with his assigned gender, but was left suicidal into his 30s. It's often presented "as trauma therapy or reparative therapy" for trans and nonbinary people, with gender dysphoria blamed on past trauma, he explains, adding, "If you are not working through that trauma and not feeling comfortable in your body, then you are basically failing." Other countries, including Malta and Germany, have also imposed bans on the practice, in addition to 20 US states, per CNN. (That includes Utah.)
(Newser)  When life hands you lemons, make lemonade. When it hands you ruined grapes, make ... vodka? That's what Napa Valley's Pine Ridge Vineyards opted to do when its grape crops were sullied by smoke from last year's California wildfires, thanks in part to a partnership with an Almeda distillery. Nicolas Quille, COO and head winemaker for vineyard owner Crimson Wine Group, tells Reuters he rushed to harvest the winery's grapes as the 2020 wildfires burned in the Golden State, but the resulting wine "wasn't that good."

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Quille and his team could've dumped the whole batch, but instead they sent a few samples over to Hangar 1 Vodka, and voilaSmoke Point Vodka, the "first vodka made from smoke-tinged grapes." Tasting notes for the beverage indicate a "bold palate with notes of fruit, licorice, and allspice," with the Hangar site calling the libation "an experiment in terroir and sustainability."

"The texture is very nice. It's smooth," Michael Kudra, head bartender at San Francisco's Quince restaurant, tells Reuters, adding, "You get almost like the taste of a barbecue from far away, you know someone's using coals." The 7x7 website notes the vodka "has virtually no trace of smoke, which was extracted during the distilling process, and, yes, it's completely safe to drink."

Other California vineyards have also been trying to creatively use grapes affected by the wildfires, including in brandy and grappa, but Pine Ridge appears to be the first to repurpose the fruit to make vodka. "If things turn for the worse and those fires become more violent and more frequent, it's definitely an option that needs to be on the table," Quille tells Reuters. All proceeds from sales of the vodka will go toward the California Fire Foundation, a nonprofit that helps communities, individual victims, and firefighters affected by wildfires and other natural disasters in the state. (Read more wine stories.)
(Newser)  A Paris judge has dismissed a rape allegation against French director Luc Besson by the actress Sand Van Roy. The Dutch-Belgian actress, who starred in Besson films including 2017's Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets and 2018's Taxi 5, claimed the director raped her in a Paris hotel in May 2018. Besson denied the accusation. "After a procedure that lasted three and a half years through which many witnesses were questioned and during which a crossed interrogation of Besson and Van Roy took place, the judge had decided to finally dismiss this case," Besson's lawyer, Thierry Marembert, said Thursday, per Variety. Among the witnesses were Besson's former romantic partners, actor-director Maiwenn and actor Anne Parillaud, according to the outlet.

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The judge dismissed the case based on the Paris prosecutor's recommendation. The prosecutor had likewise dismissed the allegation in February 2019 following a nine-month investigation, determining "that the criminal acts of rape were not committed, that the absence of consent has not been demonstrated, and that the presence of a constraint, threat, and violence had not been characterized," Marembert said. Van Roy filed a lawsuit a month later with her lawyer arguing the investigation was cursory and rushed. A judge was then appointed to review the case. Van Roywho appeared at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival with the words "stop violence against women" prominently tattooed across her backhadn't responded to the decision as of this writing.

She previously described herself as Besson's "private Barbie doll whom he could control, dress, and break," per IndieWire. She also said she lost work as a result of her allegation. MailOnline had outed her within days of her complaint to French police. The outlet agreed to pay damages and legal costs to Van Roy earlier this year, per the Guardian. "I had always intended to remain anonymous in my complaint, and to have that choice taken away from me so soon after the event was almost too much to bear," the actress said in a statement after the reward was announced. "I realized that my life was never going to be the same." Van Roy has since left acting and is pursuing a law degree, per the Guardian. (Read more Luc Besson stories.)
(Newser)  The rapper Slim 400 cheated death in 2019 when he was shot at least eight times but survived. On Wednesday night, however, the rapper was shot once again, this time fatally, reports NBC News. Slim 400's real name was Vincent Cochran, and reports differed on whether he was 33 or 34. The shooting took place about 8pm in Inglewood, California, and no arrests have been made. Slim 400 was born in Germany to military parents but raised in Compton. The Los Angeles Times lists some of his better-known songs as Goapele, with YG, and Piru, with YG and Redrum 187.

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Police sources tell TMZ, which first reported the shooting, that it appears to be a case of "wrong place, wrong time" and not part of a gang feud. People collects this tribute from journalist Jeff "Passion" Weiss: "RIP Slim 400," he tweeted. "A Compton gangsta rap prototype, an ambassador for a tradition, lineage, and historywho made a whole lot of hard-as-hell rap songs full of sober gravity and blunt force." (Read more rapper stories.)
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A crowd of mostly-unmasked and often angry commenters disrupted parts of the Fairbanks North Star Borough Board of Education meeting Tuesday as the topic of face masks in schools drew heated debate. The board voted 5-4 to make masking optional. Courtesy Tamara Kruse Roselius
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa will officially inaugurate the largest Catholic church in the Gulf region  the Our Lady of Arabia Cathedral  at 11am today, a day before it will be consecrated in front of a small congregation.

Located in Awali, the arkshaped structure will be able to accommodate 2,300 worshippers and is intended to serve as a reference point for the Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Arabia, which includes Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and, formally, Saudi Arabia.

Present in the solemn inauguration ceremony are His Eminence Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples, and His Excellency Archbishop Eugene M. Nugent, Apostolic Nuncio to Kuwait and Apostolic Nuncio in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

The entire community of northern Arabia is currently headed by Cardinal Tagle following the death in April last year of Bishop Camillo Ballin, Apostolic Vicar for Northern Arabia, who was the driving force behind the project.

Unfortunately, due to existing coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions, only a small number of people will be allowed to attend the inaugural ceremony and consecration. Vatican statistics estimate that Christians make up ten per cent of the Kingdoms population, including around 80,000 Catholics, most of whom are migrant workers from India and the Philippines.

Royal donation The Our Lady of Arabia Cathedral was built on 9,000 square metres plot of land that was given as donation eight years ago, in February 2013, by HM King Hamad to the local Catholic community.

It is part of a complex of around 95,000 square feet in Awali, a small municipality in the centre of the country, which has a population of 1.7 million people. Aside from the cathedral, the palm tree-lined complex features a multi-purpose building, a courtyard, and a two-story parking area.

The cathedrals altar, baptistery, pews and other furnishings are crafted in Italy. The cathedral is topped with an octagonal dome, a deeply symbolic geometric detail that can be seen in a number of churches around the world such as the Basilica of San Vitale in Ravenna, Italy, and Germanys Aachen Cathedral.
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain has been pioneering in promoting international cooperation to combat corruption. This was the gist of a speech delivered yesterday by Interior Minister, General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, as Bahrain celebrates the International Anti-Corruption Day today.

The Kingdom joins the international community in marking the occasion which has been observed annually, on 9 December, since the passage of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption on 31 October 2003 to raise public awareness for anti-corruption Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah affirmed Bahrains rejection and relentless fight against the crime that is hindering sustainable development and going against the future of communities and economies globally.

The Day represents an international dedication to achieving economic recovery through integrity standards; thus, the Kingdom of Bahrain has been pioneering in promoting international cooperation to combat corruption, the minister said.

It renews its commitment to fight corruption to meet national strategies and international conventions, especially the United Nations Convention against Corruption. He spoke about the reform project of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa which has created a foundation that reflects Bahrains dedication to moving ahead with its efforts to reinforce awareness and integrity, in addition to promoting more open and transparent prac

tices within a comprehensive system to be protected from corruption.

Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah emphasised the dedication of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, to protect public money with integrity, trustworthy and responsibility.
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

Interior Minister, General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, yesterday attended the graduation ceremony of the fifth batch of masters degree students of the Royal Academy of Police (RAP).

The academy offers two masters degree programmes: criminal and police science and administration and security science, along with a masters degree in cooperation with the University of Huddersfield.

The event, held for 178 graduates, was attended by Chief of Public Security, Lieutenant-General Tariq Al Hassan, and RAP Commander, Brigadier Fawaz Al Hassan. The minister expressed thanks and appreciation to His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa for his support and care for the police personnel to promote their national security protection role.

He also expressed gratitude for the follow-up of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, to reinforce security preparedness.

General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah asserted that promoting higher education, the development of security approach, and the police policies for positive dealing with future challenges are crucial for tackling security changes and the expansion of smart policing and the utilisation of artificial intelligence.

He noted that the development and modernisation process of the Interior Ministry covers many security areas to meet requirements and develop capabilities and skills.

The minister congratulated the graduates and expressed thanks and appreciation for their efforts and the rich contents of their research that could contribute to advanced security services and enhance performance to meet inspirations and future development requirements.

Brigadier Al Hassan, in a speech, highlighted the academys dedication to promoting higher education programme, as the Supreme Council for Education accredited in 2021 around 12 programmes, including six masters degrees and six PhD degrees in various security and legal fields.
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, today met with The Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, His Eminence Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, at Riffa Palace.

His Royal Highness commended HM the Kings vision, which has placed Bahrain as an inspiring model in promoting tolerance, openness.

His Royal Highness welcomed His Eminence Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle to the Kingdom of Bahrain.

His Royal Highness further noted that the Kingdom of Bahrains policies and principles are based on the teachings of compassion, tolerance and liberalism from the Islamic religion, values which are enshrined in the core of Bahraini society.
H John Voorhees III / Hearst Connecticut Media file photo

DANBURY  The local police department continues to look for those responsible for the non-credible threats against Danbury High School last Friday.

Our detectives are investigating the incidents that occurred here in Danbury, Police Chief Patrick Ridenhour told the City Council on Tuesday. Were confident that were going to be able to get some information to maybe identify some of the people who are doing this here in Danbury, and were working closely with the schools to get information as much as possible to parents.
HOUSTON (AP)  The more than 300 lawsuits that have been filed so far in Houston following a massive crowd surge at the Astroworld festival that left 10 people dead have been consolidated and will be handled by one judge as the cases proceed through the court system, a judicial board ruled.

In an order issued on Tuesday, the Board of Judges of the Civil Trial Division of the Harris County District Courts in Houston granted a request by attorney Brent Coon to have all pretrial matters in the various lawsuits be handled by one judge. If any of the lawsuits go to trial, the case would return to its original court.

This consolidation will promote the expeditious and efficient administration of justice, the two-page order said.

All pretrial motions and issues in the lawsuits will be heard by state District Judge Kristen Hawkins.

Those who have been sued include rap superstar Travis Scott, who created the festival and was the headliner, concert promoter Live Nation and other companies connected to the event.

The 10 people who died were among 50,000 who had attended the festival and were in the audience on Nov. 5 when Scotts concert turned deadly as fans surged toward the stage during his set.

The youngest victim was 9-year-old Ezra Blount. The others who died ranged in age from 14 to 27. Some 300 people were injured and treated at the festival site and 25 were taken to hospitals.

Coon, who is representing about 2,000 concertgoers and is asking for $10 billion in damages, made his consolidation request last month. He said Wednesday that having all the cases before one judge will create efficiency, eliminate redundancy and spread costs in the cases to everyone involved in the litigation.

You dont want to have all the same issues argued and all the same witnesses deposed over and over again in every courtroom, Coon said.

But the consolidation that was granted on Tuesday might conflict with a similar request made by lawyers for ASM Global Parent, Inc. and its subsidiaries, which manage events at NRG Park, where the Astroworld festival was held.

Lawyers for ASM Global have also asked in a motion filed with the Texas Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation, which is overseen by the Texas Supreme Court, to consolidate the lawsuits but assign them to a different Harris County judge, Lauren Reeder.

Counsel representing more than 2,500 plaintiffs or potential plaintiffs and all principal defendants have agreed to this motion, ASM Globals attorneys said in their motion, which was filed on Dec. 1.

ASM Globals attorneys have asked that all discovery in the lawsuits  when attorneys can request or obtain documents or other information or depose witnesses  be halted until the state panel issues a ruling.

Attorneys for ASM Global didnt immediately return emails on Wednesday seeking comment.

Coon said he believes the company's request is no longer needed. If the state panel were to issue a decision, it would overrule the local order.

Harris County has already addressed that with this order. So, if the (Texas) Supreme Court did anything now, they would just be meddling, Coon said.

Earlier this week, Scott's attorneys also filed his first response to several of the lawsuits, denying the accusations against him and asking that the cases be dismissed.

Coon said Scotts denial of the accusations and his request for dismissal are standard in such lawsuits and similar to an individual entering a not guilty plea at the start of a criminal case.

Scott and the event organizers are the focus of a criminal investigation by Houston police. No one has been charged, and no timetable has been set for when the investigation would be completed.

Scotts attorney had previously reached out to the families of the 10 who died, offering to pay for their loved ones funeral costs. Several of the families turned down the offer.

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Find the APs coverage of the Astroworld festival: https://apnews.com/hub/astroworld-festival-deaths

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Follow Juan A. Lozano on Twitter: https://twitter.com/juanlozano70
Brookfield and New Milford are pausing a program that, in certain cases, allows students who dont have COVID-19 symptoms to stay in school, even if theyve been exposed to the virus.

The two school districts are halting participation in the states Screen and Stay protocol, which the governor launched at the beginning of November. The districts cited rising COVID cases. The states positivity rate was 6.48 percent on Thursday.

The program is no longer available for New Milford students as of Wednesday, while the pause in Brookfield went into effect on Thursday.

Recently, the number of children who have been affected by COVID-19 has risen in the community, and consequently, the number of children in quarantine has risen, New Milford Superintendent Alisha DiCorpo said in a Wednesday letter to families.

Brookfield students currently on Screen and Stay protocol may remain, Superintendent John Barile said in a message to families.

Moving forward, until further notice, students considered close contacts of a COVID positive individual will return to the district quarantine protocol if they are not vaccinated, he wrote. We will consult with the Health Department and reassess COVID metrics after the Winter Recess with the hope of returning to the implementation of the Screen & Stay protocol.

Barile said the district halted the program at the recommendation of its health director due to the recent spike in COVID-19 cases in town and the state.

The largest school district in the area, Danbury, is keeping the protocol for now.

At this time, we are continuing with our Screen & Stay Protocol, Superintendent Kevin Walston said in an email. However, we will continue to work with our local health department to reassess this position as we monitor Covid-19 cases in the Danbury community and region.

Other school districts in the area plan to continue to use the program.

We will be sticking with Screen and Stay for now and will reevaluate next week, New Fairfield Superintendent Pat Cosentino said.

The protocol allows students with limited exposure in school, on school transportation or outside under school supervision to remain in the classroom if they dont have symptoms. Parents must monitor kids for symptoms.

It's probably the best thing that theyve (the state) done since this started, Bethel Superintendent Christine Carver said. Were absolutely staying with it.

School districts have strategies to prevent in-school transmission, which has been negligible, she said. The new protocol has been popular with families, who have had to deal with the inconvenience of quarantines less. she said.

They love it because its allowing their children to attend school, Carver said. Every time you quarantine, its disrupted education.

About 30 percent of close contacts in Easton, Redding and Region 9 quality for Screen and Stay, Superintendent Jason McKinnon said. Those districts plan to continue with the protocol, too.

Newtown will keep Screen and Stay, as well.

The protocol is helpful but it does require more work on the part of nurses and administrators to work more closely with parents in understanding the criteria, Superintendent Lorrie Rodrigue said in an email.

Rising COVID cases in schools

COVID cases have increased in recent days and weeks in schools, communities and the state.

After Thanksgiving, we definitely saw a much bigger uptick, Carver said.

Contract tracing showed cases stemmed from Thanksgiving gatherings, she said. Carver estimated 99 percent of cases were from unvaccinated members of the school community. Bethel schools has had 65 COVID cases this academic year.

New Milford has 24 active cases in the schools, with 86 students in isolation or quarantine, according to the most recent data on the districts website.

New Milford is strongly recommending students and staff quarantine for 10 days when exposed, but still allows them the option to test out on day five or later and return on day eight, DiCorpo said.

Officials continue to urge families to vaccinate their children and to take precautions during holiday gatherings.

The New Milford Department of Health strongly encourages people to get vaccinated or get their booster shots if they have not done so already, especially for those who plan on attending social gatherings this holiday season, Lisa Morrissey, New Milfords health director, said in the school district letter.

Danbury has had 68 positive cases in the schools since Thanksgiving, with 376 close contacts identified, 322 school members in quarantine and 12 on Screen and Stay, according to the districts dashboard.

In Brookfield, three staff members and nine students were isolating because they have COVID, according to the districts dashboard, which was last updated last Friday. There were 28 students quarantining due to close contact.

Easton, Redding and Region 9 has 12 students and one staff member who are COVID positive, according to the districts data updated Tuesday. One staff member and 57 students are quarantining due to exposure. Ten students are on Screen and Stay.

The districts have seen cases rise due to Thanksgiving, as well, McKinnon said.

These confirmed positive cases were as a result of family contacts or outside activities, he wrote in a message to families this week. The mitigation strategies that are utilized in schools continue to work.

Ridgefield has had 40 cases since Thanksgiving and 119 cases this academic year. There are 87 students quarantining.

Cases in Newtown schools are still lower than earlier this fall, Rodrigue said. There have been four cases among staff and 16 cases among students so far in December, according to the districts dashboard. There were 7 staff cases and 32 student cases in August and September, with 4 staff cases and 27 student cases in October.

While we have seen a recent spike, we still have fewer cases and fewer direct contacts/quarantines than in September and October, she said.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP)  A white suburban Minneapolis police officer charged with manslaughter in the death of Daunte Wright, a Black man, said she meant to use her Taser to try to stop him from fleeing during an attempted arrest but accidentally grabbed her gun instead.

A jury has been seated and opening statements were Wednesday. Prosecutors are seeking to prove that Kim Potter, who quit the Brooklyn Center police force two days after the shooting, committed first- and second-degree manslaughter when she killed the 20-year-old man during an April 11 traffic stop. Here's a look at the charges and potential penalties:

THE CHARGES

First-degree manslaughter in this case means prosecutors allege that Potter caused Wright's death while committing a misdemeanor  the reckless handling or use of a firearm so as to endanger the safety of another with such force and violence that death or great bodily harm to any person was reasonably foreseeable.

The second-degree manslaughter charge alleges that she caused his death by her culpable negligence," meaning that Potter caused an unreasonable risk and consciously took a chance of causing death or great bodily harm to Wright, while using or possessing a firearm.

Neither charge requires prosecutors to prove Potter intended to kill Wright, and they pointed that out to the jury in opening statements.

Defense attorney Paul Engh seemed to push against that with his opening statement, telling the jury that Potter didn't know she was holding a gun when she fired, adding: It's not just shooting somebody, that's not the crime. It's being consciously aware of some kind of fact.

The attorney generals office added the first-degree manslaughter charge after it took over the case, though it fell short of the murder charge that Wright's family and activists wanted.

POTENTIAL PENALTIES

The maximum for first-degree manslaughter is 15 years; for second-degree, it's 10 years. But Minnesota judges follow sentencing guidelines that normally call for less  just over seven years for first-degree, and four years for second-degree.

But prosecutors have said they will seek a longer sentence due to aggravating factors, which is what they did in former Minneapolis Officer Derek Chauvin's murder trial for killing George Floyd.

The longest sentences that could conceivably stick on appeal are double the top of the guidelines range. But that's more than the statutory maximum of 15 years for first-degree manslaughter, so 15 years would be the cap for Potter if she's convicted. The realistic maximum on the lesser charge would be 9 1/2 years.

Presuming good behavior, Minnesota offenders typically serve two-thirds of their time in prison and one-third on supervised release.

RECENT PRECEDENTS

The judge in Chauvin's case sentenced him to 22 1/2 years for second-degree unintentional murder. The presumptive sentence was 12 1/2 years. But Judge Peter Cahill found several aggravating factors, including that Chauvin abused his position of authority and treated Floyd with particular cruelty, and that several children witnessed the crime live. He also said Chauvin knew that kneeling on Floyd's neck was dangerous.

More recently, Judge Kathryn Quaintance resentenced former Minneapolis Officer Mohamed Noor to four years and nine months in prison for second-degree manslaughter in the shooting death of Justine Damond Ruszczyk, which was at the top of the guidelines' range. She said she did so because Noor shot across the nose of his partner and endangered others. She couldn't sentence him to more because prosecutors did not request an upward departure from the sentencing guidelines.

Quaintance originally sentenced Noor to 12 1/2 years for third-degree murder, which was what the guidelines called for, but the Minnesota Supreme Court later clarified the definition of third-degree murder and sent the case back for resentencing only on the manslaughter charge.

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Find the APs full coverage of the Daunte Wright case at: https://apnews.com/hub/death-of-daunte-wright
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP)  It will be up New Mexico regulators to clear the way for the states largest electric provider to transfer its shares in one of the Southwests remaining coal-fired power plants to a Navajo energy company.

A hearing examiner with the Public Regulation Commission presented his recommendations to commissioners during a meeting Thursday, saying it would result in savings for Public Service Co. of New Mexico customers, reduce emissions from the utility's portfolio and strengthen the Navajo Nations position when it comes to determining the future of the plant.

Environmentalists have been pushing for Four Corners to be shuttered and have criticized the proposed transfer, suggesting it would prevent an early closure.

Hearing examiner Anthony Medeiros told commissioners that adoption of the recommendation wouldn't prevent an early closure but that there doesn't seem to be any willingness by the plant's majority owner  Arizona Public Service Co.  to end operations before 2031 since doing so would undermine the reliability of its network.

He said evidence gathered in the case shows the plant likely will continue operating at least for another decade whether PNM transfers its shares or not.

Under the proposal, Navajo Transitional Energy Co. would take over PNM's interest in Four Corners, becoming the second largest owner of shares in the plant. PNM shareholders would pay NTEC $75 million to assume its obligations under a coal supply agreement.

Located on tribal land, the Four Corners Power Plant has been a huge economic driver for the Navajo Nation for decades. The plant and the neighboring mine that feeds it provide hundreds of jobs for tribal members and the operations account for nearly a quarter of the Navajo Nation's annual general fund revenues.

The tribe already is feeling the economic sting from the closure of the Navajo Generating Station in northeastern Arizona and more will come next year with the closure of the San Juan Generating Station in northwestern New Mexico, which is just miles away from the Four Corners plant.

With a larger ownership share in Four Corners, supporters of the proposed transfer have said it would help the Navajo Nation as it makes the switch to more renewable energy generation over the coming years.

The Navajo Nation has asked for a just transition, Medeiros told commissioners, saying any economic development funds for the tribe and local communities required under New Mexico's Energy Transition Act would be delayed by several years and other benefits squandered without the early transfer of shares.

PNMs abandonment request seeks to recover $300 million it has invested in Four Corners using bonds that would be paid off by utility customers. Commissioners on Thursday raised questions about what costs the utility should be allowed to recover and how much authority regulators have to determine whether those costs are prudent.

The commission is expected to make a final decision later this month.
The Penn State trustees on Thursday named the University of Louisvilles president Neeli Bendapudi to succeed Eric Barron as the schools top administrator.

The unanimous board vote to hire Bendapudi makes her the first woman and first person of color to serve as the 98,000-student institution's next president.

Bendapudi, 58, is a marketing professor whose research involves consumer behavior. She became Louisville's president three years ago.

Barron, retiring in June, came to Penn State from Florida State University in 2014 while fallout from Jerry Sandusky child molestation scandal was still a major problem for campus leaders in State College.

Being president of this institution is a sacred trust, and its truly the honor of a lifetime. I am in awe of Penn States we are spirit and of the transformative power of a Penn State education, she told the board after the vote at a State College hotel and conference center. And the Penn State community, which is like no other, anywhere.

She won the job over 10 others who had been winnowed down to get formal interviews, officials said.

We have found a values-driven leader who will help realize the very best of this institution, said trustee David M. Kleppinger, who helped lead the search. He called her dynamic, accessible and a savvy business and financial manager.

Bendapudi said her goal is for every single Penn Stater to feel invested, invested in our mission of teaching, research and service. She said she hoped to stay involved with teaching by guest lecturing at Penn State classes.

Bendapudi was hired as University of Louisvilles president in 2018 to lead the school beyond a series of scandals and has received positive reviews for her job performance there. A predecessor at Louisville had been criticized for lucrative compensation and there had been problems with mismanagement as well as excessive spending and flawed investments by the school's investment arm.

I loved, loved my time at the University of Louisville. Its a phenomenal university, Bendapudi said at a news conference after the vote.

Before leading Louisville, she had been provost and executive vice chancellor at the University of Kansas and dean of the Kansas business school. Bendapudi has a bachelor's degree and MBA from Andhra University in India and a doctorate from the University of Kansas. She has also taught at Ohio State University and Texas A&M University. She has also worked as a banker and business consultant.

Bendapudi was born in Visakhapatnam, India, and came to the United States in 1986 for graduate school. Her spouse, Venkat Bendapudi, is a retired faculty member who taught at Ohio State, Kansas and Louisville.

She will take office by July with a five-year contract that calls for an initial annual base salary of $950,000. The school will pay her $350,000 in annual deferred compensation, and if shes still in the job in five years, she will collect a $1.25 million payment. She also will get $200,000 in transition payments, be eligible for business school tenure and have limited hours of access to a university plane for personal use.

Her biography on the University of Louisville's website says her academic research deals with customers willingness and ability to maintain long-term relationships with firms and with the brands and employees that represent them.

Barron had been a former professor and dean at Penn State when he returned to lead the university seven years ago.
LONDON (AP)  U.K. authorities reported an unprecedented jump in early season cases of avian flu in both domestic and wild birds, triggering tight restrictions on poultry farmers across the country.

The government has confirmed 40 outbreaks of avian flu among poultry and other captive birds this year, resulting in the culling of about 500,000 birds, Chief Veterinary Officer Christine Middlemiss said Thursday. There were 24 outbreaks during the entire 2020-21 bird flu season, which ran through the spring.

Im very concerned about whats happening, Middlemiss told the BBC. Thats a really high number for the time of year for anything weve experienced before, and thats because of the high level of infection in the migratory wild birds. So its really, really concerning because those birds will stay with us over the winter until early spring and the risk of infection remains.

U.K. authorities keep a close eye on avian flu cases around the world because it is spread by migrating birds and can be devastating to poultry producers. Experts estimate that outbreaks during the 2014-15 and 2016-17 seasons cost U.K. poultry producers about 125 million pounds ($165 million).

While the risk to humans is low, bird flu can affect people in rare cases.

To control the spread of the disease, poultry producers must kill all birds at sites where infections are confirmed. In addition, they have been ordered to keep all birds inside or under nets to stop them from coming in contact with wild fowl, and to implement strict hygiene measures.

While the number of birds culled so far this season sounds large, it is relatively small compared with the number of birds on U.K. poultry farms. Between the beginning of August and the end of October, poultry producers slaughtered about 20 million birds a week, according to the latest government statistics.

In terms of food supply impact, its actually a relatively small number, Middlemiss said of flu-related culling.

The situation in Britain is part of a larger trend across Europe, where authorities are seeing more frequent outbreaks of avian flu, Middlemiss said.

Although researchers dont know the reasons for the trend, one theory is that climate change has altered the migration patterns of wild birds, she said.

The birds migrate to the north of Russia over the summer and mix with other birds and other global flight pathways there and they exchange the viruses, so its quite plausible that with climate change and change in pathways different mixing is going on, Middlemiss said. But that hasnt been fully investigated yet.
BARINAS, Venezuela (AP)  Farmer Julio Alvarez hasnt sold milk in about a year and a half even though the cows at his farm in northwestern Venezuela are milked at dawn every day.

Fuel shortages and rationing amid Venezuela's economic meltdown make it impossible to transport it to market, except in 18-gallon (70-liter) plastic containers strapped to a motorcycle. So he switched to making a much-less-profitable cheese.

Fed up, Alvarez was among the many people who voted for opposition candidate Freddy Superlano in last month's gubernatorial election in Barinas, the state that produced Hugo Chavez, founder of Venezuela's socialist system, and has been long governed by members of the late president's family.

Alvarez's vote contributed to the apparent defeat of Chavez's brother, Argenis Chavez, a stunning result that sent leaders of Venezuela's ruling party into an all-out battle to keep control of the state by retroactively disqualifying Superlano and scheduling a new election.

The moves in Barinas raised further doubts about the fairness of Venezuelas electoral system following the first vote in years in which most major political movements took part, one monitored by over 130 observers from the European Union, the U.N. and the U.S.-based Carter Center.

The country's regional elections had followed months of formal and informal negotiations between the opposition and President Nicolas Maduro's government as well as the implementation of measures to improve relations with the Biden administration.

For many residents of this bastion of Chavismo, the Nov. 21 election was the moment to show the government that enough is enough regardless of last names.

At this moment, even if they bring all the gasoline they want here, I don't think they will have a victory because ... the people are no fools, said Alvarez.

Regardless of who wins the special election set for Jan. 9, for first time in more than two decades a Chavez will not occupy the governors office. Argenis Chavez  who is not running in the new vote  along with Adan Chavez and father Hugo de los Reyes Chavez have served as governors of Barinas since 1998.

Opposition supporters here say they want a change, hoping for a reliable supply of water, gas and electricity, as well as health care facilities, jobs and affordable food. They desperately want fuel.

Gasoline shortages are common across Venezuela, which holds one of the world's largest deposits of petroleum, but people in Barinas loathe a rationing system implemented by Argenis Chavezs administration that effectively limited people to buying only a few gallons of subsidized gas every 10 days. That makes it impossible to drive the long distances typical of rural areas. Diesel is also in short supply, so tractors and other farm equipment are rarely used.

Superlano was ahead by less than 1 percentage point when the countrys highest court disqualified him on Nov. 29. The court ruled he should not have been on the ballot because of an administrative sanction imposed in August stemming from his work as a legislator between 2015 and 2020.

The court, which is one of many government bodies seen as loyal to the Maduro government, ignored a presidential pardon that had made Superlano and other members of the opposition eligible to run.

Argenis Chavez resigned as governor and candidate after the disqualification. The ruling partys heavy hitters then arrived in Barinas and gasoline rationing ended before they even named a new candidate.

Oscar Valles, political analyst and professor at Metropolitan University of Caracas, said the apparent defeat of Argenis Chavez disconcerted national leaders as well as "the official internal forces of Barinas state.

"They never thought Superlano could win the governorship and it seems that Mr. Superlano has enough capacity to be a real threat to the political-economic forces  that is, to the revolution's circle of power in Barinas, Valles said.

The ruling party rallied its base with a gathering Sunday at a gymnasium that featured Maduro speaking via a livestream, urging unity and admitting that the party needed a new candidate to go to the rescue of the gubernatorial race. He announced former Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza as the next candidate.

After the rally, Superlanos wife, Aurora Silva, was barred from taking his place on the ballot. Her substitute was disqualified, too.

A preliminary report from European Union observers concluded Venezuela's regional contests were held under better conditions than other ballots in recent years but were still marred by structural deficiencies, including the disqualification of opposition contenders.

The EU team has not commented on the situation in Barinas, but a report from the Carter Center criticized the courts intervention.

There was also a general atmosphere of political repression, and more than 250 people are being held as political prisoners, the center said. The tribunals recent decision to suspend the tabulation of votes for the governorship of Barinas is another example of its interference in the electoral process.

Many of those who voted for Argenis Chavez blame the annulled outcome on a mix of overconfidence and divisions during internal elections. Party leaders never alleged fraud during the rally, but some attendees were spreading the rumor.

Others adopted the belief presented by national leader Iris Varela that Superlanos disqualification was the "work of God. Government supporters blame the country's problems on economic sanctions imposed by the United States.

We are very happy and very proud of the decision of our dear President Nicolas Maduro, local party activist Herlinda Roa said referring to Arreazas selection as the new candidate. Long live Chavez, long live Maduro and long live Jorge Arreaza!

Alvarez could not disagree more. He plans to vote for whoever ends up on the ballot for the opposition, though he concedes he has no hope the candidate will make anything better.

"He is only going to give us the satisfaction of defeating them. But other than that, he is not going to give us anything at all, Alvarez said.
SOUTHBURY  It may be some time before the skeletal remains discovered this week in a wooded area near Berkshire Road are identified.

It can be quite the process, Trooper Sarah Salerno, spokeswoman for Connecticut State Police, said Wednesday.

Two days earlier, state polices Western District Major Crime Squad announced that human skeletal remains had been found in a wooded area near Berkshire Road during a search for Mark Gasso, a Southbury man who has been missing since April.

A Silver Alert was issued for the 63-year-old on April 19, after a co-worker went to Gassos Berkshire Road residence to check on him after he failed to show up to work that day.

The co-worker told police Gasso was nowhere to be found, but his truck was in the driveway, the shower was on and his cell phone and wallet were also there, according to an investigation report.

At the residence, police said they found a small, dried red-colored stain on a mattress but no apparent signs of a struggle inside the dwelling.

A state police K-9 was brought in to search Gassos residence and the surrounding wooded area, but the track yielded no results. Police said another search was conducted the following day, but that also yielded no results.

Mondays search was scheduled to take place because the lack of foliage provided enhanced visibility this time of year, according to Connecticut State Polices Western District Major Crime Squad, who conducted the search with members of the State Police Emergency Services Search & Rescue K9 Unit and Dive Team, FBI Task Force officers, Southbury police and Naugatuck police detectives.

The unspecified human skeletal remains were found about 20 minutes into the search, which began at 9:30 a.m.

State police did not provide any information on where exactly the remains were located, but said the scene was processed by the Western District Major Crime Squad and the remains were transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for examination and identification.

Not only could it take a significant amount of time to come up with an identification, Salerno said, but it depends on what authorities have to work with in terms of the condition of the remains.

If they have DNA to work with, they would have to get elimination DNA from relatives, family members, she said. Worst case, if theres no DNA to work with, theyll generally go to dental records from there.

Connecticut State Polices public information office did not have any details pertaining to the type or condition of the skeletal remains.

Salerno said the first step in the process is to have the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner conduct a thorough review to make sure the remains are in fact human.

We have certainly seen cases where it was not human, although it did look like it  but when OCME did the analysis, they (determined that it was not), she said. We always send it to be reviewed to be absolutely sure that its human.

State police said the investigation into Gassos disappearance is ongoing.
The bodies would be brought to his house on Friday and people would be allowed to pay last respect from 11 am to 2 pm, followed by a funeral procession.

The cremation of Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat and his wife is planned to be done on Friday in Delhi Cantonment, informed sources. Their mortal remains are expected to arrive in the national capital in a military plane by today evening, the sources said.

The bodies would be brought to his house on Friday and people would be allowed to pay last respect from 11 am to 2 pm, followed by a funeral procession which will start from Kamraj Marg to Brar Square crematorium in Delhi Cantonment.

General Rawat, his wife, and 11 other personnel of the Armed Forces died after a military helicopter crashed in Coonoor in Tamil Nadu on Wednesday, the Indian Air Force said today.

With deep regret, it has now been ascertained that Gen Bipin Rawat, Mrs Madhulika Rawat, and 11 other persons on board have died in the unfortunate accident, tweeted IAF.

Gen Rawat, Indias first CDS was on a visit to the Defence Services Staff College in Wellington to address the faculty and student officers of the Staff Course when his chopper crashed near Coonor in the Nilgiris district.
Informing about the timeline of the fatal crash, the Defence Minister said that the IAF chopper lost contact with the Sulur base control room at around 12.08 pm after it took off at 11.48 am.

The mortal remains of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat and 12 others will be brought to Delhi via IAF plane by Thursday evening and the last rites will be performed with full military honours, said Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. While addressing the Lok Sabha on the chopper crash in Tamil Nadu, the Defence Minister said, The last rites of CDS General Bipin Rawat will be performed with full military honours. The last rites of other military personnel will be performed with appropriate military honour.

Informing about the timeline of the fatal crash, the Defence Minister said that the IAF chopper lost contact with the Sulur base control room at around 12.08 pm after it took off at 11.48 am. CDS General Bipin Rawat was on a scheduled visit to Defence Services Staff College in Wellington to address the faculty and student officers of the Staff Course. IAF Mi-17V5 helicopter took off from Sulur airbase at 11.48 am. The helicopter was to land at Wellington at 12.15 pm. At around 12.08 pm, the helicopter lost contact with Sulur airbases air traffic control room, the Defence Minister noted.

He further said Indian Air Force (IAF) has ordered a tri-service inquiry into the accident and the investigation will be led by Air Marshal Manavendra Singh. Air Marshal Manvendra Singh is Commander of Indian Air Force. The inquiry team reached Wellington yesterday itself and started the investigation, the minister said.

A total of 14 people were on-board the IAF Mi-17V5 helicopter that crashed near Coonoor on Wednesday claiming the lives of 13 people including General Rawat and his wife Madhulika Rawat.

Group Captain Varun Singh is on life support in Military Hospital, Wellington. All efforts are being made to save his life, said Rajnath.

Those who died in the crash include General Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat, his Defence Adviser Brigadier Lakhbinder Singh Lidder, Staff Officer Lieutenant Colonel Harjinder Singh and nine other Armed Forces personnel including the Air Force helicopter crew. Their names are Wing Commander Prithvi Singh Chauhan, Squadron Leader Kuldeep Singh, Junior Warrant Officer Rana Pratap Das, Junior Warrant Officer Arakkal Pradeep, Havildar Satpal Rai, Naik Gursewak Singh, Naik Jitendra Kumar, Lance Naik Vivek Kumar, Lance Naik B Sai Teja, Rajnath informed.

Soon after the news of the chopper crash on Wednesday, the minister visited General Rawats residence in the national capital.

General Rawat was appointed as Indias first Chief of Defense Staff on December 31, 2019. He previously served as Chief of the Army Staff from January 2017 to December 2019. He was commissioned into the Indian Army in December 1978. A veteran of counterinsurgency warfare, CDS Rawat served in the most difficult terrains including Northern and Eastern commands.
The Defence Ministry in an official statement has informed that the minister will give a statement in Rajya Sabha at 11.30 am and in Lok Sabha at 12.15 pm.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will make a statement in both Houses of Parliament today on the chopper crash in Tamil Nadu that claimed the lives of 13 people including the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat. The Defence Ministry in an official statement has informed that the minister will give a statement in Rajya Sabha at 11.30 am and in Lok Sabha at 12.15 pm.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) confirmed the demise of General Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat and 11 others, who were on-board the IAF Mi-17V5 helicopter.

General Rawat, Indias first CDS, was on a visit to the Defence Services Staff College in Wellington to address the faculty and student officers of the Staff Course when his chopper crashed near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu on Wednesday.

General Rawat was appointed as Indias first Chief of Defense Staff on December 31, 2019. He previously served as Chief of the Army Staff from January 2017 to December 2019. He was commissioned into the Indian Army in December 1978.

A veteran of counterinsurgency warfare, CDS Rawat served in the most difficult terrains including Northern and Eastern commands.
According to the sources, the health condition of the Shaurya Chakra awardee is critical but stable and he can be shifted from the Military Hospital, Wellington to the Command Hospital in Bengaluru.

In his statement in Lok Sabha, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday informed that IAF Group Captain Varun Singh, the lone survivor of the military chopper crash in Tamil Nadu, is on life support in Military Hospital at Wellington. Group Captain Varun Singh is on life support in Military Hospital, Wellington. All efforts are being made to save his life, the Defence Minister said. According to the sources, the health condition of the Shaurya Chakra awardee is critical but stable and he can be shifted from the Military Hospital, Wellington to the Command Hospital in Bengaluru. The Group Captain was recently conferred with the Shaurya Chakra by President Ram Nath Kovind for his act of exceptional gallantry.

Meanwhile, the mortal remains of those killed in the military chopper crash on Wednesday were brought to Madras Regimental Centre today from Military Hospital, Wellington in Nilgiris district of Tamil Nadu.

The accident claimed the lives of 13 people including Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat and his wife Madhulika Rawat. General Rawat was travelling from Sulur to Wellington when his helicopter crashed near Coonoor.

General Rawat, Indias first CDS, was on a visit to the Defence Services Staff College in Wellington to address the faculty and student officers of the Staff Course when his chopper crashed. The Indian Air Force has ordered an inquiry into the accident.

General Rawat was appointed as Indias first Chief of Defense Staff on December 31, 2019. He previously served as Chief of the Army Staff from January 2017 to December 2019. He was commissioned into the Indian Army in December 1978.
Uttarakhand Government on Wednesday declared a three-day State mourning from December 9 over the sudden demise of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat.

Uttarakhand Government on Wednesday declared a three-day State mourning from December 9 over the sudden demise of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat. Chief Minister has declared three-day State mourning in Uttarkhand on the demise of Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, his wife and other Armed Forces personnel in a helicopter crash in Coonoor, Tamil Nadu earlier today, Abhinav Kumar, Additional Principal Secretary to Uttarakhand CM said in a statement issued by Chief Ministers Office (CMO).

General Bipin Rawat, his wife, and 11 other personnel of the Armed Forces died after a military helicopter crashed in Coonoor in Tamil Nadu today, the Indian Air Force said.

With deep regret, it has now been ascertained that Gen Bipin Rawat, Mrs. Madhulika Rawat, and 11 other persons on board have died in the unfortunate accident, tweeted IAF.

Gen Rawat, Indias first CDS was on a visit to the Defence Services Staff College in Wellington to address the faculty and student officers of the Staff Course when his chopper crashed near Coonor in the Nilgiris district.
GLASTONBURY  A Hartford man was charged with negligent homicide in connection with a fatal crash on Route 2 in Glastonbury in January, according to Connecticut State Police.

An arrest affidavit for Mark Herbst, 63, of Park Place in Hartford, indicated he was charged Wednesday with negligent homicide with a motor vehicle, failure to wear a safety belt in a motor vehicle and failure to maintain a proper lane.

Herbst was taken into custody without incident around 11 a.m. Wednesday. He posted the $2,500 bond and was released from custody. A Jan. 7, 2022, court date was set.

Police said Marie Mathieu, 59, of Colchester, was killed in the Jan. 4 crash around 5:30 p.m. on Route 2 west near the Exit 9 on-ramp.

Troopers that day responded to a reported two-vehicle collision involving a 2012 Mercedes-Benz driven by Herbst and a Toyota Camry driven by Mathieu.

The highway was shut down as troopers investigated the crash. Police said when they arrived Glastonbury EMS was administering CPR after extricating Mathieu from her car.

Troopers found Herbst walking around his vehicle, complaining of minor pain to one of his hands, the affidavit said.

The investigating troopers found that Herbst had been driving on Route 2 west near the Exit 9 on-ramp in the right of two lanes when he rear-ended Mathieus vehicle, which was stopped between the right lane and the on-ramp, the affidavit said. The impact pushed Mathieus vehicle into the metal beam guide rail, police said.

State police said Herbst displayed no signs of impairment at the scene.

Mathieu was rushed to Hartford Hospital with serious injuries after the crash. She was pronounced dead at the hospital at 6:45 p.m. An autopsy on the morning of Jan. 5 indicated she died of blunt impact injury to the head, neck and torso, the affidavit said.

In a sworn statement to state police, provided in the affidavit, Herbst said he was driving from New London to his office in Hartford, where he owns a home improvement company. He said he was using cruise control, with the speed set to 62 mph. He said while approaching the on-ramp, a small car without any lights on moved from the right shoulder into the right lane, the affidavit stated.

Herbst claimed in his sworn statement that the vehicle moved to the left directly in front of me and he braked and swerved to the left, hitting the back of the other vehicle, the affidavit said. Herbst wrote that the lack of lights prevented him from seeing the vehicle sooner, the affidavit stated.

Troopers found that Herbst was not wearing his seat belt at the time of the collision, the affidavit said.

A witness, who state police said was one of the first 911 callers to report the crash, told investigators that Mathieus vehicle had its headlights and taillights on prior to the collision.

The witnesses told police Mathieus vehicle was completely within the gore area of the road and wasnt near either of the white lines, the affidavit said. The witness said she saw sparks in her rear-view mirror moments after she passed the vehicle, realized it was hit and called police, the affidavit said.

Investigators indicated in the affidavit that after an investigation, Herbst was found at fault for the collision.

Citing specific roadway evidence located within the gore, the investigators said in the affidavit that Herbst drove from the left lane, into the shoulder and hit the back of Mathieus vehicle. The affidavit said investigators listed driver inattentiveness as a contributing factor in the crash.
FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP)  Kentucky's governor declared the state's chronic nursing shortage to be an emergency Thursday, taking executive actions amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic to boost enrollment in nurse-training programs.

Kentucky is projected to need more than 16,000 additional nurses by 2024, to help fill gaps caused by retirements and people leaving the profession, Gov. Andy Beshear said. His new executive order includes immediate actions that we believe will provide some relief," the Democratic governor said. "Obviously long term there is a lot to do.

The nurse staffing emergency in Kentucky reflects a national epidemic created by the pandemic. Health leaders say the problem is twofold: Nurses are quitting or retiring, exhausted or demoralized by the crisis. And many are leaving for lucrative temporary jobs with traveling-nurse agencies.

Such severe shortages threaten not only the health of patients but the entire health care delivery system, Beshear said at a news conference.

He added that Kentucky is operating 12% to 20% short of needed nursing volume.

In the midst of a pandemic, and in the midst of a shortage this dire, weve got to do things a little bit differently, to make sure that we get the results we need at the time that we need them the most, the governor said.

His executive order aims to get more students into Kentucky nursing programs.

It requires the state Board of Nursing to approve requests for enrollment increases from schools that show sufficient resources to accommodate more students, he said.

Nursing schools will be expected to report the number of vacant student slots to the state nursing board each month, the governor said. Those vacancies will be posted on the boards website to let prospective students know where spots are available.

The order aims to allow nursing schools to open new campuses more quickly, provided they have sufficient resources, he said. Nursing schools at full capacity will be required to refer qualified student applicants to other schools with vacancies, he said.

And schools unable to accommodate their full student capacity due to staffing shortages will be expected to notify state officials, with the goal of helping them hire more faculty, he said. Also, an advisory committee will be formed to offer additional proposals to overcome nursing shortages.

The governor also signaled that his upcoming state budget package will include proposals to attract and retain nurses. His plan will include some form of loan forgiveness or scholarship program for nurses who agree to remain in Kentucky for a designated amount of time, Beshear said. The governor will present his budget plan to the Republican-dominated legislature in early 2022.

Also, nurses who worked throughout the pandemic will be included in his proposal to award essential-worker bonuses. Beshear said he wants to use $400 million in federal pandemic aid to award the extra pay to a range of frontline workers employed throughout the pandemic.

Beshear made another pitch for the bonuses in hopes of winning support from GOP lawmakers.

This isnt about process, this isnt about party," he said. "This is about the people that have kept us alive, kept us safe, kept us healthy, kept us fed, kept us safely in our home with our lights and our heat on during this pandemic. Saying no to this program is saying no to them.

It's the second straight day the governor took executive action to confront a nagging state problem.

On Wednesday, Beshear awarded a 10% pay raise to Kentuckys social service workers. The pay boost is aimed at halting the widespread loss of frontline employees demoralized by low salaries and bulging workloads who are serving vulnerable children and adults.

The pay increase takes effect Dec. 16 for social workers and family support services staff, the governor said. Its the result of his action to reclassify their jobs to a higher grade.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP)  Forget speeding tickets  California truck drivers will soon have to watch out for pollution tickets.

State regulators on Thursday voted to crack down on heavy duty trucks weighing more than 14,000 pounds (6,350 kilograms)  those big semi-trailers that make up just 3% of all vehicles in California but spend so much time on the road they account for more than half of all pollution from cars and trucks each year.

New rules will require these big trucks, including ones from other states passing through Califonria  to be tested at least four times per year to make sure they meet the state's standards for particulate matter and ozone pollution.

To enforce the rules, state officials say they will install roadside monitoring devices to catch trucks that pollute too much. Automated license plate readers would help authorities identify offenders, who could be cited if they refuse to make repairs.

The state has two of these unattended monitoring devices in place and plans to install more. The devices resemble toll booths and capture a sample of the trucks exhaust as it passes through without stopping.

Environmental advocates said the rule  mandated by a 2019 law authored by state Sen. Connie Leyva  is the most significant action in a dozen years to clean up California's air, which consistently ranks among the dirtiest in the country. State officials estimate the rules will prevent more than 7,000 premature deaths because of respiratory illnesses by 2050, avoiding more than $75 billion in health care costs.

(The rules) have some significance for climate, but what were really talking about here is the smog and the particulate matter that is making people sick and killing people, said Bill Magavern, policy director for the Coalition for Clean Air, a statewide advocacy group.

The proposal is one of a flurry of forthcoming changes that could dramatically reshape consumer and industry behavior in the nation's most populous state that, were it an independent country, would have the world's fifth-largest economy.

Also on Thursday, the California Air Resources Board agreed to ban the sale of new products run by small gas-powered engines, including leaf blowers, lawn mowers and portable generators  a rule recently mandated by the state's Democratic-dominated state Legislature. Next year, regulators are poised to tighten emission standards for barges, ferries, fishing boats and tugboats that line California's coastal cities.

And, further down the road, regulators plan to ban the sale of all new gas-powered cars by 2035.

These are the decisions we have to make if we're serious about reducing our reliance on fossil fuels and leaving future generations with healthier communities, said Assemblyman Marc Berman, a Democrat from Palo Alto who authored the law requiring the ban on new gas-powered lawn equipment.

While the new smog check rules for big trucks will have the largest impact on air quality  preventing more than 680,000 tons of smog by 2050  banning the sale of new gas-powered lawn equipment will be the rule consumers notice the most.

Car engines have advanced over the years to pollute less. But the small engines that power most lawn equipment haven't made as much progress. State regulators say the amount of pollution that comes from running a gas-powered leaf blower for one hour is comparable to driving a gas-powered car about 1,100 miles (1,770 kilometers)  or roughly the distance between Los Angeles and Denver.

Nobody will have to give up or stop using equipment they already own. The force of this regulation falls on manufacturers," Berman said.

The rules will have the biggest impact on professional landscapers, who rely on gas-powered equipment to do multiple jobs per day. California lawmakers included $30 million in the most recent state budget to assist these companies converting to battery-powered equipment. But on Thursday, some landscapers testified that equipment would not be as reliable.

Trucking companies and small engine manufacturers have mostly complained about how fast these new standards would imposed. Both the smog check rules for trucks and the ban on the sale of new gas-powered lawn equipment would be fully implemented by 2024, while a similar ban sales of new gas-powered generators would take effect in 2028.

Some trucking industry representatives on Thursday urged regulators to first test the rule with a pilot program before implementing it statewide. Parts truckers need to comply with these rules are becoming harder and more expensive to find, raising fears it could force some trucks off the road while waiting for repairs and could worsen supply chain problems that have hobbled businesses and frustrated consumers.

Chris Shimoda, senior vice president for government affairs with the California Trucking Association, said one sensor truckers often need normally costs around $300 now can cost $7,000 or more. But the new rules do allow for extensions for people who have trouble getting parts.

We just want to make sure that, again, anybody experiencing those sort of issues is not left high and dry, Shimoda said.

Jeff Coad, vice president for marketing and product management for the small engine manufacturer Briggs & Stratton, said the company is ambivalent about how their products are powered but said it won't have enough time to fully comply.

Converting a product such as a large zero turn mower from gas to lithium battery power is not just a matter of replacing the engine with the battery, he said, adding the development time can take up to two years.

Liane Randolph, chair of the California Air Resources Board, said the state is sensitive to those concerns, adding that regulators do a careful analysis of both the costs and the health benefits of any proposed rule.

These regulations result in less trips to the emergency room, less long term health impacts, and, frankly, less medical costs for the community, she said.
HAMDEN  School drop-off Wednesday looked different than usual for Hamden High School students, as the district adjusts to new security protocols aimed at addressing threats of violence.

Staff used metal-detecting wands to check students entering the building for contraband. Some students had to wait in line, and images from a Facebook group show a queue stretching the length of the building.

It took me 10 minutes to get in and we had to, like, unzip our bags and everything so (we) could go through it. It was just weird to have that happen, said said student Ben Shamsian. I wouldnt say it was unpleasant.  It was just a new feeling.

Ben had arrived 20 minutes before his class started, he said, but other students, especially those who rode the bus to school, experienced longer wait times.

Classes start at 7:30 a.m., according to paraprofessional Kim Washington.

It took until around 8:45 a.m. to get all the students into the building, police Lt. William Onofrio said, emphasizing that school security staff  not police  conduct the checks.

As the winter deepens and officials look for ways to reduce delays  and they hope the walk-through detectors the district ordered will help  Ben hopes he will not have to wait outside in bad weather.

Still, he thinks implementing the metal detectors is the right call.

It makes me feel safer, at least, he said.

Some of Washingtons students complained about having to wait in the cold, she said.

It was a little chilly outside, and they said they had to wait outside for like 15 to 20 minutes, she said.

She joked about it, asking how many of them would stand outside in the cold if the school was giving out PlayStation 5s.

My entire class raised their hands and said that they would sleep outside for that, Washington said. We laughed about it, we talked about it.

But generally, Washington felt the transition went well. While some students were a little nervous, she said, they told her they felt safe going through the screening, comparing it to a trip to the airport.

The checks did not turn up any contraband, Onofrio said.

Reducing delays

Once the district gets walk-through detectors, the process should go more quickly, according to Onofrio, who said it takes security staff about 20 to 30 seconds to scan a student with a wand.

The walk-through detectors should get that down to a second or two, he said.

Staff also is looking at adding a third entrance to speed-up the process, Onofrio said.

Officials warned the community to expect delays and said they would tweak the protocol where necessary.

Onofrio said officers stood outside with students Wednesday. We had pretty good coverage, he said.

Authorities are trying to juggle a number of safety concerns, Onofrio said.

Were definitely weighing the factors and trying to balance things out, he said.

The high school shut down for three days due to social media posts that included threats of violence. Officials learned of the first threat last week.

Authorities on Wednesday also arrested a 13-year-old they allege threatened Hamden Middle School. Those threats were made Tuesday, according to police.

Looking ahead

Ultimately, the most important part of the screening is that it acts as a deterrent, according to Onofrio.

We try to deter it and reduce the risk as much as we can, he said.

Once the district shortens the lines, Onofrio expects the school will not need as much police presence, he said, with the student resource officer available if necessary.

Its also unclear whether metal detectors will be used long-term.

Theres still some debate (about) how permanent this is, Onofrio said. Metal detectors might be a tool the school utilizes at times of threat or higher risk.

Diana Theriault is one parent who hopes the metal detectors will not be used long-term, as she does not view them as an effective solution.

In light of the recent threats, Theriault, whose son is a sophomore at the high school, does not blame the district for implementing them.

I understand that the district is doing everything that they can do and everything that they think they need to do in order to keep the kids safe, she said.

But she also does not like the metal detectors and would be upset if we keep these metal detectors in place year after year.

How do I feel about metal detectors in our school? I think theyre a terrible idea because schools are not prisons  and I dont think metal detectors really keep them safe from actual threats, she said. Metal detectors are a Band-Aid. ... Its just something to make us feel safe for today.

meghan.friedmann@hearstmediact.com
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP)  The Maryland General Assembly voted Thursday to override Gov. Larry Hogan's veto of a redrawn Maryland congressional map, but the governor said the new boundaries make a mockery of our democracy and will be challenged in court.

Politicians across the U.S. this year have been gerrymandering  drawing districts that either pack voters of the opposing party into a few districts or split them among multiple ones to dilute their influence. Republicans have done so in such states as Georgia and Texas and Democrats have done it in Illinois and Oregon.

Democrats who control the legislature in Maryland said the map is an improvement over the current one, which has long been criticized for sprawling, gerrymandered districts favoring their party. They say the district lines will be cleaner, more compact, and keep a significant portion of Marylanders in their current districts.

The bottom line is this was a transparent, fair process," said Sen. Craig Zucker, a Montgomery County Democrat, just before the Senate overrode the veto.

But Hogan said the new lines for the states eight U.S. House seats are drawn even more unfairly.

This is not the end of the process, Hogan said, before signing the veto at a desk. This is just the beginning. The courts will be the final arbiter, not the partisan legislature. These maps cannot and will not stand.

In a state where Democrats outnumber Republicans 2-1, Democrats currently hold a 7-1 advantage over the GOP in the states U.S. House delegation. The map approved by lawmakers would likely maintain that advantage and potentially enable Democrats to go 8-0.

Some of the most closely watched changes affect the 1st Congressional District, which includes the Eastern Shore and is now represented by Republican Rep. Andy Harris. The change to what is now a strongly Republican district would add enough registered Democrats to outnumber Republicans, though the district would still be competitive.

The governor, who has long pushed for redistricting reform, had submitted a different proposal developed by a commission he created. He said the three Democrats, three Republicans and three independents on the panel were citizens who took politicians out of the process of drawing maps.

The map that lawmakers supported was approved in a 4-2 vote by a different commission formed by leaders in the General Assembly with six legislators. The panel's four Democrats, including House Speaker Adrienne Jones and Senate President Bill Ferguson, supported the map while the two Republicans, Senate Minority Leader Bryan Simonaire and House Minority Leader Jason Buckel, opposed it.

A grassroots organization called Fair Maps Maryland pledged to take aggressive legal action against the map.

Make no mistake  this level of gerrymandering is voter suppression," said Doug Mayer, a spokesman for the group who is a former Hogan spokesman. As a consequence of the legislatures actions, we have been forced to obtain legal counsel and are currently exploring suits on both the state and federal levels that will prosecute the obvious Voting Rights Act and many other illegal partisan gerrymandering violations.

A new map of legislative districts for Maryland's 188 seats in the General Assembly will be taken up in the regular session, which begins next month.

The once-a-decade redistricting process happens after the census.
WASHINGTON (AP)  Jill Biden says being first lady is a little harder than I imagined."

She tells CBS Sunday Morning in an interview set to air next week that her new role is a 24-hour undertaking and not the kind of job that ends at a certain hour.

I think its a little harder than I imagined, the first lady said after being asked if she was prepared for what her new life would be like. "Its not like a job that you do, its a lifestyle that you live, and its not something you leave at 5:00 or at 3:00. And its 24 hours a day.

In the interview, Jill Biden also scoffed at speculation about President Joe Biden's mental fitness and said she understood why he cut a proposal for free community college from a major social welfare bill he's trying to get Congress to pass.

Her observation about being first lady all the time comes from someone who has lived most of her adult life in the public eye and has watched  and worked with  some of her predecessors.

Joe Biden was already a public figure, a U.S. senator from Delaware, when they married in 1977. Jill Biden campaigned for and with him during his many Senate reelection bids and his three campaigns for president. When Joe Biden was vice president to President Barack Obama, Jill Biden and first lady Michelle Obama worked closely together on military family issues.

Asked about dropping the community college proposal, Jill Biden sounded like her husband when she said: I understand compromise. And I knew this was not the right moment for it.

She is a veteran community college professor who still teaches as first lady. She held out hope that her longtime advocacy for free tuition at these schools will pay off in the future.

President Biden dropped free community college and other proposals from the bill in an attempt to make the it more palatable to Democratic senators who had said they were uncomfortable with its original size.

The president, the oldest officeholder at age 79, has been the subject of unrelenting social media memes and comments from political opponents suggesting he is mentally unfit for office.

His wife, who is 70, said polls questioning his mental fitness are ridiculous.

President Biden joined a portion of the interview at the White House and was asked about sharing the experience with his wife of 44 years.

Im a lucky man," he said. "Jill is the life of my love and the love of my life.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP)  A Republican-controlled state House committee planned to vote on a proposed map of Pennsylvania's new congressional districts that its chair introduced into legislation Wednesday, as a rival map was being prepared in the Senate where lawmakers promise an open process with debate and public comment.

House State Government Committee Chairman Seth Grove, R-York, said Wednesday the map he introduced into legislation was among 19 submitted to his committee.

Democrats, however, immediately criticized the process, saying the map was sprung on them and is being sent to a vote before the public can comment on it. And they swiftly criticized the map as heavily favoring Republicans.

Pennsylvania last year voted on a court-drawn map of districts, after the state Supreme Court threw out a map drawn and approved by Republicans in 2011 that became a national poster child for gerrymandering.

In next years election, Pennsylvania is losing a congressional seat, dropping from 18 to 17, to reflect population changes over the past decade reported by the U.S. Census that shows it growing more slowly than the rest of the nation. The delegation is currently split evenly, with nine Democrats and nine Republicans.

Grove said he did not expect lawmakers to adopt the map wholesale, but said introducing it is rather about putting forward a citizens map.

The map meets constitutional standards for equal population, limits splits of municipalities and offers compact and contiguous districts, Grove said.

It was drawn by Amanda Holt, a piano teacher and graphic artist who served on the Lehigh County board of commissioners as a Republican. In 2012, her alternative legislative redistricting plan helped persuade the state Supreme Court to order revisions after the 2010 Census.

Rep. Scott Conklin, the Democratic chair of the House State Government Committee, said testifiers in hearings have roundly said they want to be able to comment in public hearings on a map before it goes to a vote. Grove did not discuss his choice with Democrats before making it, Conklin said.

There is nothing transparent about this process, Conklin said.

In a statement, David Thornburgh, chair of Draw the Lines PA, a project of good government group Committee of Seventy, said the State Government Committee should publish an explanation of the drawing decisions that went into making the map and every district to help people make sense of it.

We also would like the Legislature to allow more opportunities for the public to comment on the preliminary map, Thornburgh said. "It is one thing to make a map public, it is another thing to take action based on public input."

The map legislation requires approval by majorities in both houses of the Legislature and Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf before it can take effect.

The Republican and Democratic chairs of the Senate State Government Committee plan to introduce a map in the coming days, with committee and floor votes expected in January after a public comment period.

However, the map will not necessarily have support from Senate or House leaders or Wolf when it is introduced, said Senate State Government Committee Chairman David Argall, R-Schuylkill.

Weve got a lot of boxes to check, Argall said.

In any case, Argall said he expects a lot of different ideas in the House and Senate, public comment and public hearings in the coming weeks.

Any final product could be the subject of a court challenge.

If Wolf and the Republican-controlled Legislature deadlock on drawing a map, the state Supreme Court may again end up performing the task.

Time is tight, with candidates allowed to begin collecting voter signatures Feb. 15 to get on the ballot. The primary is May 17.

Holt's map keeps major features of the existing districts intact, such as maintaining a Bucks County-based seat, a Lehigh Valley-based seat and two Philadelphia-based seats, and largely gives incumbents a district of their own.

It keeps Scranton and Wilkes-Barre together, barely, in a northeastern Pennsylvania district now represented by Democratic Rep. Matt Cartwright, but adds heavily conservative areas in northern Pennsylvania.

It shifts the heavily Democratic city of Harrisburg out of a district with York now represented by Republican Rep. Scott Perry and into a sprawling central Pennsylvania district that includes the homes of Republican Reps. Fred Keller and John Joyce reaching all the way west to Altoona.

It squeezes four districts that cover a large swath of rural northern and central Pennsylvania down to three, and drags a Chester County-based district held by Democrat Chrissy Houlahan in suburban Philadelphia into conservative Lebanon County.

___

This story has been corrected to show that Harrisburg is in a district with Altoona, not Lancaster.
NEW LONDON  A former Coast Guard Academy cadet, who was dismissed weeks before he was due to graduate after revealing he and his fiancee at the time had a child, is suing over an academy policy banning cadets from being parents.

Isaak Olson, in a lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Hartford Wednesday, claims the parenthood ban is unconstitutional. Olson is seeking to end the ban and to be granted his bachelors degree in mechanical engineering and commission, which he did not receive because he was dismissed from the Connecticut academy.

The Academys blanket ban on parents infringes on all cadets constitutional right to parenthood and is based on outdated and harmful stereotypes about gender, the suit states.

David Santos, a spokesman for the academy, said by email Thursday that the Coast Guard does not comment on pending legal matters.

The defendants are Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Karl L. Schultz and Coast Guard Academy Superintendent Rear Adm. William G. Kelly.

The Veterans Legal Services Clinic at Yale Law School, the American Civil Liberties Union Womens Rights Project, and the ACLU of Connecticut filed the federal lawsuit on behalf of Olson.

Olson attended the academy from June 2010 until June 2014. He learned in April 2013, at the end of his third year, that his girlfriend, now wife, was 19 weeks pregnant. He did not inform academy officials of the pregnancy, the lawsuit stated. The child was born in August 2013.

Olson knew that he could be dismissed from the academy for becoming a parent due to its regulations, which state that a cadet may not have any maternal or paternal obligation or responsibility at the time of appointment or while enrolled as a cadet.

Pregnancy past fourteen (14) weeks will be considered an obligation and will be applicable to both prospective parents, the rule states. A cadet who incurs a maternal or paternal obligation may resign, be disenrolled, or may apply for a hardship resignation to return upon resolution of parental responsibilities.

The Coast Guard is not unique in its policy, which also is in place at other military service academies.

Olson knew if he resigned the Coast Guard had the legal right to recoup the cost of his education, estimated to be as much as $500,000, and was concerned that he would have to surrender his parental rights to be eligible for readmission if he chose to apply for a hardship resignation, according to the lawsuit.

He hoped the sparse guidance provided under the regulation and the use of the permissive phrasing  may resign and may apply  meant the academy was encouraging cadets to exercise caution, rather than imposing a blanket ban on parenthood, the lawsuit stated. He also noted another academy regulation that cadets are not required to self-incriminate.

Olson kept the pregnancy and the child a secret, which caused him significant stress and anguish, the lawsuit stated. In March 2014, he had to complete a screening application for his assignment post-graduation, which, among other things, required him to disclose whether he had dependents, the lawsuit stated.

This was the first time since the birth of his child that the Coast Guard had asked Mr. Olson if he was a parent, the lawsuit stated. He promptly disclosed that he was.

Olson and his girlfriend then took steps to legally relieve him of his parental rights, hiring a lawyer to file a custody and visitation agreement in a California family court, stipulating that Olsons girlfriend would have sole legal and physical custody of their child, the lawsuit stated.

The court granted the request on April 24, 2014  10 days after the academys superintendent informed Olson he would be dismissed, the lawsuit stated. That decision became final in June 2014.

Olson is filing the lawsuit now  more than six years later  after going through a lengthy administrative process seeking to reverse the decision and correct his military record, his lawyers said.

Mr. Olson contested the Academys decision for a number of reasons, including that the Academy rules against parenthood are arbitrary, based on invidious social discrimination rather than the services needs, and deprived him of substantive due process, the lawsuit stated.

The only way for Olson to continue his service in the Coast Guard, and avoid paying back the cost of his education, was to enlist at a much lower rank, which he did on the same day his dismissal became effective.

But his lawyers argue the harm done by his dismissal persist because he makes far less money as an enlisted member of the Coast Guard than he would have if he was a commissioned officer. At the time of the filing, Olson and his family receive approximately $3,000 less per month than they would receive if he was an officer, the lawsuit stated.

Without a college degree, Olsons job prospects outside the Coast Guard are significantly limited, the suit argued.

julia.bergman@hearstmediact.com
NORWALK  City police say the juvenile suspect arrested for allegedly making multiple false threats at Norwalk High School over the last week conspired with a foreign actor.

Weve identified a conspirator internationally, Deputy Chief James Walsh said during a news conference on Thursday outside the high school. Through digital forensics, we were able to identify (virtual private networks) used internationally which initially slowed us down in our investigation.

The suspect, identified by police as a 14-year-old male, faces three charges of conspiracy as well as charges for first- and second-degree threatening, three counts of first-degree falsely reporting an incident, and three counts of second-degree breach of peace.

While Norwalk Police Chief Thomas Kulhawik said the threats could be characterized as domestic terrorism, he didnt believe that was the intent of the suspect.

Police arrested the youth at his home on Wednesday night. Walsh said the parents were surprised at the time of the arrest.

The parents of the juvenile were very cooperative, which helped us resolve this as quickly as we did, Kulhawik said.

The only motive given by the police chief for the suspects actions was just to cause what was caused and to see the outcome and to watch the turmoil that was created, basically. The suspect did not have the intention or the means to cause any harm, and students and staff were not in any physical danger, according to Kulhawik.

Reports of the alleged threats came into the police departments communications center. When asked whether the caller disguised their voice, Kulhawik and Walsh would not offer any details about the method of the calls.

The police didnt anticipate any other local arrests to be made in connection with the threats and didnt know at this time if the individual was connected to threats made at other Connecticut schools recently.

Mayor Harry Rilling said he hoped the arrest made in this case acted as a deterrent for anyone else who would considering making a similar threat in the future. Early in the investigation, the mayor gave Kulhawik the assurance to use any resource to bring the situation to a quick conclusion.

I think most of the time, these are kids that think this is a joke, Kulhawik said. I think in this case, once he realized that this was taken seriously  we had the FBI involved, we were working around the clock to find out who it was  I think that played a part in why this came to a conclusion. The gravity was not seen until afterward.

Officers worked with the technology department at Norwalk Public Schools and the FBI during their investigation, which remains ongoing.

This story will be updated. emily.morgan@hearstmediact.com
(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.)

Robin Chazdon, University of Connecticut; Bruno Herault, Cirad; Catarina Conte Jakovac, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, and Lourens Poorter, Wageningen University

(THE CONVERSATION) Tropical forests are among the worlds best tools for fighting climate change and the loss of wild species. They store huge quantities of carbon, shelter thousands of plants and animals and are home to Indigenous peoples who sustain them. Thats why more than 100 world leaders pledged to halt deforestation by 2030 at the recent United Nations conference on climate change in Glasgow.

Many organizations and communities are working to restore native forests by reclaiming unproductive or abandoned land and carrying out costly tree-planting efforts. These efforts are designed to encourage the return of native plants and animals and to recover the ecological functions and goods that those forests once provided. But in many cases forests can recover naturally, with little or no human assistance.

We are forest ecologists and members of a collaborative research network that studies secondary forests  those that regrow naturally after an area has been cleared and cultivated or grazed. In a newly published study in the journal Science, our group pioneers an approach to forest recovery that provides insights from over 2,200 forest plots in naturally regrowing tropical forests across the American and West African tropics.

Our research shows that tropical forests recover surprisingly quickly: They can regrow on abandoned lands and recover many of their old-growth features, such as soil health, tree attributes and ecosystem functions, in as little as 10 to 20 years. However, to support effective forest restoration and planning, it is important to understand how quickly different forest functions and attributes recover.

Forests come back

Most forests around the world today have regrown after human and natural disturbances, including fires, floods, logging and clearance for agriculture. For example, forests recovered in Europe during the 18th and 19th centuries and in the eastern U.S. from the early to mid-20th century. Today the northeastern U.S. has more forest cover than it did 100 to 200 years ago.

Now, across the worlds tropical regions, forests are regrowing on approximately 3 million square miles (8 million square kilometers) of former farm and ranch land. Scientists and policymakers widely agree that it is critical to protect these regrowing forests and prevent more destruction and conversion of old-growth forests.

Tropical forests are more than just trees  they are complex, dynamic networks of plants, animals and microbes. Forest recovery takes time and often has unpredictable outcomes and variable pathways. Recovery patterns differ between wet and dry tropical forests.

To date, this active research area emphasizes studies that examined how specific features of forests, such as the number of species they contain or tree biomass, change over time and space. We believe it is important to understand forest recovery as an integrated process that is shaped by local, landscape and historical conditions.

A multidimensional view of tropical forest recovery

Our study focused on 12 attributes that are essential components of healthy forests. They include:

-

Soil: How much organic carbon and nitrogen does it contain, and how compacted is it? Soil that is too densely compacted  for example, by the hooves of grazing cattle  is hard for plant roots to penetrate and doesnt absorb water well, which can lead to erosion.

-

Ecosystem functioning: How does the abundance and size of trees change as the forest regrows? What is the role in forest regrowth of trees that have root associations with nitrogen-fixing bacteria? How does regrowth affect the average density of wood and the durability of leaf tissues?

-

Forest structure: How do maximum tree size, variation in tree size, and total biomass  the quantity of plant matter above ground in tree trunks, branches and leaves  change as forests regrow?

-

Diversity and composition of tree species: How do the numbers of tree species present and the diversity and abundance patterns of species change and become more similar to nearby old-growth forests?

To assess long-term recovery rates, we compared attributes across forests growing on farmlands that had been abandoned at different times and compared regrowing forests with neighboring old-growth forests. We developed a new modeling approach to estimate how quickly each attribute recovered.

Many of these attributes depend on one another. For example, if trees regrow quickly they may produce a lot of leaf litter, which will restore levels of organic carbon in the soil when it decomposes. We analyzed these connections by comparing how strongly forest attributes were associated with one another.

The forests we studied were in areas of low- to moderate-intensity land use, meaning that soils were not exhausted or eroded and quickly supported regrowing native vegetation. For example, in Brazils Atlantic Forest region, 10,425 square miles (2.7 million hectares) of forest regrew naturally from 1996 to 2015. There is much less potential for tropical forests to recover in areas where soils are heavily overworked and no neighboring forests remain.

All of the forest attributes that we examined recovered within 120 years of regrowth. Some recovered 100% of their old-growth values in the first 20 years of regrowth.

For example, the soil attributes that we analyzed reached 90% of old-growth values within 10 years and 98% to 100% within 20 years. In other words, after 20 years of regrowth, soils in the forests contained virtually as much organic carbon and had similar bulk density as soils in old-growth forests.

This quick recovery reflects the fact that the soils at our study sites had not been heavily degraded when forest regrowth started. Ecosystem function attributes also bounced back quickly, with 82% to 100% recovery within 20 years.

Forest structure attributes, such as maximum tree diameter, recovered more slowly. On average they reached 96% of old-growth values after 80 years of regrowth. Tree species composition and above-ground biomass recovered after 120 years.

[Youre smart and curious about the world. So are The Conversations authors and editors. You can read us daily by subscribing to our newsletter.]

We identified a set of three attributes  maximum tree size, overall variation in tree size and the number of tree species in a forest  that, viewed together, provide a reliable snapshot of how well a forest is recovering. These three indicators are relatively easy to measure, and managers can use them to monitor forest restoration. It is now possible to monitor tree size and forest structure over large areas and time scales using data collected by satellites and drones.

The importance of natural regrowth

Our findings show that tropical forest regrowth is an effective and low-cost, nature-based strategy for promoting sustainable development, restoring ecosystems, slowing climate change and protecting biodiversity. And since regrown forests in areas where the land has not been heavily damaged quickly recover many of their key attributes, forest recovery doesnt always require planting trees.

In our view, a range of suitable reforestation methods can be implemented, depending on local site conditions and local peoples needs. We recommend relying on natural regrowth wherever and whenever possible, and using active restoration planting when needed.

Masha van der Sande at Wageningen University and Dylan Craven at the Universidad Mayor in Chile contributed to the data compilation and analyses for this study.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here: https://theconversation.com/tropical-forests-can-recover-surprisingly-quickly-on-deforested-lands-and-letting-them-regrow-naturally-is-an-effective-and-low-cost-way-to-slow-climate-change-173302.
Another Veterans Day has passed and once again the newspapers were full of commentaries of how we should show respect and appreciation to our veterans. Unfortunately, reality paints a different picture. In October, I received an email from the Department of Veterans Affairs. In it the secretary of the Veterans Affairs, Denis McDonough, explains how he is hiring more personnel to process over 200,000 disability cases that are backlogged for veterans, and hopes to get it down to 100,000 by the year 2024. These are veterans, myself included, who waited 50 years for the Department of Defense to finally admit they used Agent Orange at bases in Thailand that were supplying air support during the Vietnam conflict. Most of these veterans are in their 70s with serious health issues. The main excuse the VA has for the delay is the veteran must provide their 201 military personnel record to prove they were actually at these bases. Ironically, the catch 22 snag here is ... its the VA that has custody of these files and are stored at a VA facility in St. Louis. Once the files are requested it takes years for the VA to release them. It seems clear to me the VA does have a plan, a plan of attrition. Just outlast the veterans.

Raymond J. Mastrangelo
President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday alleged that former President Olusegun Obasanjos diabolical double-cross cost Chief Bisi Akande, the...





President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday alleged that former President Olusegun Obasanjos diabolical double-cross cost Chief Bisi Akande, the All Progressives Congress, APC, chieftain his second term aspiration.





Buhari said Obasanjos diabolical acts ended Akandes governorship aspiration.





The president disclosed this at the public presentation of the autobiography of Akande, titled: My Participations, in Lagos State.





It is common knowledge that Akande was the victim  along with other AD Governors  of a diabolical double-cross which ended his gubernatorial career. Only the steadfast Asiwaju Bola Tinubu escaped the electoral massacre masterminded by President Obasanjo.





Desperately disappointed though he was, and being a good Muslim, he accepted this setback as part of the trials of life. He looked to the future of service to the country, he said.





Buhari described Akande as a perfect public officer and the type of person he could go into the jungle with.





He explained that the APC chieftain retained his inflexible integrity, in and out of public office, never accepting or offering bribes.
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in 19 Northern states and Abuja has condemned in strong terms the gruesome murder of innocent tra...





The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in 19 Northern states and Abuja has condemned in strong terms the gruesome murder of innocent travellers by bandits in Sokoto State and attacks on citizens of Nigeria by bandits.





The association lamented that the activities of bandits have further showed that human life was cheaper than that of chickens today in Nigeria.





A statement personally issued by the Vice Chairman, Rev. John Joseph Hayab called on the Federal Government and Governors in the north, especially north west region, to take proactive measures to stop the evil permanently.





CAN asked, How can people be productive when they are living in fear both at home and anywhere they go?





The statement observed that security of lives and properties was a serious government business, lamenting, but what we are seeing today is how some of our leaders are playing politics with a serious matter that has almost destroyed the peace, joy and hope of the citizens.





CAN appealed to security agencies to stop the unhealthy competition amongst them and work together in unity for the common good of all Nigerians, stressing that the security agencies had all it would take to defeat the bandits.





CAN said that on its part, it would continue to offer its prayers, support and play any role that will help to bring the evil being perpetrated in the society to an end.





CAN Northern States commiserated with families of those who lost their lives and every genuine well wisher and peace lovers.
Suspected hoodlums have attacked and killed a pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God in FESTAC Town, in the Amuwo Odofin Local Gover...





Suspected hoodlums have attacked and killed a pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God in FESTAC Town, in the Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area of Lagos State.





Our correspondent gathered that the victim, Pastor Babatunde Dada, was killed inside the RCCG Chapel of Resurrection on 13 Road, 6th Avenue, FESTAC Town.





The killing, which happened on Thursday, December 2, was said to have been perpetrated by two new converts who came to the church for the first time a Sunday before the incident.





The two youths were said to have come out during an altar call and surrendered their lives to Jesus.





The church accommodated them on its premises after they claimed to be stranded.





They had barely spent a week in the church when they reportedly stabbed the cleric to death.





A senior pastor in the church, Akin Odejare, declined comment on the incident when contacted.





However, the wife of the pastor, Bose, told our correspondent on the phone that she called her husband on the day of the incident and he promised to come home to rest.





She said, My husband was killed on December 2 at the church. He was the admin/accounts officer, as well as the parish pastor. I was not with him when he was killed, but I was told that they collected money from him. I heard that those who killed him were new converts.





A family member, who is also a security expert, Mr Abolarinwa Olatunbosun, told our correspondent on Wednesday that the pastor was killed after withdrawing money from a bank.





He said, The pastor went to a bank to withdraw some money and went to rest on the first floor of the church. Two persons said to be new converts went to meet him upstairs, broke his head and killed him.





The matter was reported to the police and one of the suspects, who ran to Ilorin, has been arrested.





Olatunbosun said the killing might be for ritual purposes, adding that the assailants were suspected Internet fraudsters, aka Yahoo boys.





The expert said criminals were beginning to attack churches and pastors because they believed there was money in church.





He advised religious centres to be security conscious and put in place strategies that could stop criminals from killing, kidnapping and robbing leaders and worshippers.





A friend of the slain pastor, Fred Enemigin, who is the founder, Highflyers International, Lagos, said in a Facebook post that the pastor was stabbed multiple times.





He wrote, Two boys had come to church last Sunday and they responded to the altar call by giving their lives to Christ. After church service, they waited to see the head pastor and told him that they were stranded without any place to stay.





On compassionate grounds, the pastor allowed them to stay somewhere within the church premises pending when they would be resettled. Pastor Tunde Dada, who had for almost a decade been the accountant of RCCG Chapel of Resurrection Parish, was assigned to provide needed welfare for the boys until their matter would be sorted.





On the fateful Thursday, Tunde was seated in his office and the boys targeting that they were alone on the church premises with him, entered his office and attacked him with knives and other sharp weapons. He was stabbed multiple times and places until they had him killed right there on the spot.





Our minds are still searching for what the rift between the boys and Tunde was considering the fact that the Tunde we knew was a very gentle soul. Could they have asked for more welfare than what was approved for them and Tunde declined? What on earth would warrant this brutal killing by those who were recipients of a server of the churchs benevolence? There are many more questions that we have not found answers to.





The state Police Public Relations Officer, Adekunle Ajisebutu, said he had yet to be briefed about the case.
Watertown, NY (13601)

Today

Partly cloudy skies this morning will give way to occasional showers during the afternoon. A few flurries or snow showers possible. High 38F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Cloudy with rain and snow this evening. Snow showers overnight. Low 26F. Winds WSW at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of precip 80%. Snowfall around one inch.
An exhibit produced by the Hermann-Grima + Gallier Historic Houses, Artistry in Iron, tells the often overlooked story of New Orleans enslaved blacksmiths and free blacksmiths of color who built much of the French Quarters iconic iron work.

New Orleans Library patrons can see the exhibition at the Nora Navra Library, 1902 St Bernard Ave., through the end of the year.

That area (in the 7th Ward) is where blacksmiths have traditionally lived throughout the history of New Orleans and is where quite a few still-practicing blacksmiths today live, said Tessa Jagger, executive director of the group. So we also wanted to connect with that history.

Artistry in Iron will travel in January to East New Orleans Regional Library, 5641 Read Blvd.

The exhibit was funded by a Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities Rebirth Grant, and was built in partnership with the New Orleans Public Librarys City Archives & Special Collections.

Also, library cardholders who live in Orleans Parish can visit both the Hermann-Grima and Gallier historic houses free through the Culture Pass Program. (A culture pass is not required to see Artistry in Iron.) Tickets must be reserved in advance at culturepass.nolalibrary.org.

The two houses are National Historic Landmark properties located in the French Quarter and built in the 1800s. Visitors can tour the houses and learn about the daily life of the properties inhabitants, including enslaved and free people of color, and wealthy New Orleans families.

Also included in the Culture Pass Program for free admission are Audubon Nature Institute, The National WWII Museum, New Canal Lighthouse Museum, New Orleans Museum of Art and Ogden Museum of Southern Art.

TECH FOR TEENS: The librarys Best Buy Teen Tech Center will host a virtual open house on Twitch at 4 p.m. Dec. 15. Attendees will meet the centers staff while engaging in games like Among Us, Minecraft and Roblox, and exploring what tech is available to Teen Tech Center members.

Located on the second floor of the Main Library, the center is designed to be a safe, comfortable and engaging space for teens and is equipped with technology and multimedia tools that can be used for music and video production, interactive programming, graphic design and much more.

Membership is limited to ages 13 to 18, and all members must complete an application with signed permission from a parent or legal guardian in order to use the center.

Visit bbttc.nolalibrary.org for more information and to submit an application.

WHO DUN IT? Librarian and mystery-lover Shelby Goddard will host the monthly Who Dun It? Book Club from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Dec. 16.

Participants will discuss The Mystery of Mrs. Christie'' by Marie Benedict, a historical fiction book exploring the true story of the 11-day disappearance of Agatha Christie in 1926.

For details, including the title of next month's book and Zoom information, email sgoddard@nolalibrary.org or visit nolalibrary.org/events. New members are always welcome.

STORY TELLING: Three weekly storytimes are available through the library.

A new virtual, prerecorded storytime premiers online at 10 a.m. every Monday at nolalibrary.org/early-literacy.

In-person, outdoor storytimes are held at 10:30 a.m. every Tuesday at Algiers Regional, 3014 Holiday Drive; Milton H. Latter Memorial, 5120 St. Charles Ave.; and East New Orleans Regional, 5641 Read Blvd.

A series of Zoom storytimes designed to teach children age 5 and up about social justice concepts.

The topic for the Dec. 15 session, the last in the series, is titled Each Kindness: Sharing is Strength! This storytime was inspired by Each Kindness, written by Jacqueline Woodson and illustrated by E.B. Lewis. Social Justice Storytime is sponsored by the Friends of the New Orleans Public Library.

Jane LeGros is the director of marketing and communications for the Orleans Parish Library.
During the holidays, many families travel and either bring the pets along or leave them with a sitter. Its a joyous time of the year, but it also is a time with increased chances of pets becoming separated from their families. It is important to make sure pets are microchipped because this greatly increases the chances of a happy reunion.

An estimated 10 million dogs and cats are lost in the U.S. every year, and 1 in 3 pets will become lost at some point during their life. It happens to the best of us, even the most cautious of us. My dog, Stewie, has managed to briefly escape a couple of times during the last 12 years.

Here are some tips to make sure a lost pet finds his way home:

PROPER ID: Making sure the pet is wearing a secure buckle collar with an identification tag that includes current contact information is so important. This is the fastest way for a finder to get in contact with an owner. Both times Stewie went out on his lone adventures, we were quickly called thanks to his tags with our info on them.

GET MICROCHIPPED: A vet can insert a little chip, the size of a grain of rice, under the animals skin, usually between the shoulder blades. This microchip has a unique number that can be read by a scanner. The procedure takes seconds and offers secure, reliable, unique and permanent identification. Unlike a collar with tags, a pets microchip cannot fall off or be removed. Have your veterinarian scan and locate the chip at annual visits to ensure that the chip has not moved and can still be easily detected.

REGISTER THE MICROCHIP: Getting a pet microchipped is only the first step. Registering it with the microchip company means it has the owners contact information, as well as a good description of the pet. I provide as many contact phone numbers as possible, so if the owner cannot be reached, a friend or family member is on the call list as well. If the owner is on vacation and unreachable, having an alternative number is important, as most shelters hold animals only for five days before making them available for adoption. Registered microchips give lost pets the best chance of returning home.

Statistics indicate that less than 25% of lost pets are reunited with their families. However, the return-to-owner rate for microchipped pets is over 50%. Only about half of microchips had been registered in a database with the owners contact information. Registration is vital to increasing the chance of a happy reunion.

A common misunderstanding about microchips is that they are tracking devices, like a GPS tracking device. The location of an animal cannot be pinpointed from the microchip. Rather, the animal must be scanned to see if they have a chip. If an animal is lost, someone must first find it and then bring it to a vet or shelter to be scanned to see if it is chipped. Only then can the owner be contacted.

We hope our pets never become lost, but if they do, having proper ID tags and a registered microchip will increase the chances of a happy reunion. If a pet does become lost, contact the microchip company right away and confirm that all information is current. It is also important to alert area shelters, vets, groomers and neighbors so everyone can be on the lookout.

Events

SATURDAY: Animal Rescue New Orleans will be at the Kendra Scott store in Lakeside Shopping Center in Metairie from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. A portion of sales will be donated to ARNO and adoptable dogs will be on site. For more info: adopt@animalrescueneworleans.org

Traci D. Howerton is the volunteer coordinator for Animal Rescue New Orleans (ARNO), a nonprofit, volunteer-based, no-kill shelter. For topic suggestions, email animalrescuecolumn@gmail.com or for more info on ARNO, visit www.animalrescueneworleans.org.
Yes. We need to do more to get this wave under control.

No. The vaccine is here and we're done with mask rules.

I never stopped wearing my mask.

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The first probable case of the omicron variant of the coronavirus has been detected in Louisiana, the state Health Department said Friday night.

UPDATE: Louisiana confirms first case of omicron variant in domestic traveler

The case involves someone from the New Orleans area who had recently traveled within the United States. The Health Department did not say whether the person had been vaccinated.

"We now know omicron is here in Louisiana," health officer Dr. Joe Kanter said. "We have been expecting and preparing for this moment. To all Louisianans, the single best action you can take to protect yourselves and your families is to get yourself and loved ones vaccinated and boosted if eligible."

'Time to pay attention': Louisiana urges COVID vaccines, boosters as omicron variant looms Though much is still unknown about the new omicron variant of COVID-19, vaccinations remain Louisiana's best defense at preventing another dea

The news came just hours after Gov. John Bel Edwards called a news conference - his first COVID-19 media briefing in weeks - to encourage the public to get vaccinated, and when eligible, to get a booster shot in preparation for the spread of omicron. He called it the "smartest, best decision" for yourself and your community.

Little is known about the omicron variant, which has now been detected in more than 30 countries and at least 9 U.S. states. Researchers have identified more than 50 mutations, primarily on the virus' spike proteins, which play an important role in how the virus infects its host. At the moment, however, there isn't sufficient data to determine whether the variant spreads more quickly or makes patients sicker than the original strain of the virus.

3rd case of omicron variant of coronavirus confirmed in U.S., this one in Colorado DENVER -- Colorado became the third U.S. state to detect a case of the omicron variant in a woman who had recently traveled to Africa, state h

It's also unclear to what degree the variant will be resistant, if at all, to the vaccines and therapeutics currently available, Kanter said.

Blake Paterson contributed to this report.
The mother of Criminal District Court Judge Robin Pittman was shot and critically wounded while driving through a New Orleans East neighborhood Thursday, apparently by stray gunfire from a group of suspected car burglars firing on residents who confronted them.

Pittmans mother underwent one emergency surgery late Thursday and was scheduled for another on Friday, according to multiple criminal justice sources familiar with the situation.

"Our prayers are with Judge Pittman and her family at this difficult time," said Chief Criminal District Court Judge Karen Herman, who declined further comment.

Police havent publicly named any suspects in the shooting. Sources made clear that they believe the victim was in the wrong place at the wrong time and was not the intended target of the attack. Also, they said, there is no indication the shooting had anything to do with her daughter's position in elected office.

According to accounts from neighbors and video obtained by WWL-TV, residents in the 5900 block of Babylon Street in Pines Village had just confronted a group of people they suspected of pulling on car door handles. The residents said they were calling 911. The group of suspected burglars began walking away.

"Shoot those people," one suspected burglar says to the others, on video obtained by the station.

Can't see the video below? Click here.

Moments later, gunfire broke out. Pittmans mom, whose name hasnt been publicly released by police, was driving down the street when the shooting happened about 6:40 p.m.

Struck by gunfire, she was behind the wheel as her four-door vehicle barreled through a fence at the corner of Babylon and Dorian Street, circled around one house and came to a stop near the driveway of another house on Dorian.

At the same time, another surveillance video shows at least two people hopping into a sedan parked at the corner of Babylon and Dorian streets, then two more people running after them as the sedan peels away.

Panicked neighbors paused before they poked their heads out of their front doors, unsure of whether gunmen were still in the area.

Finally, a woman who lives nearby walked to the victim's car. Cellphone video she captured shows Pittmans mother wearing a Who Dat Saints shirt, suffering with a gunshot wound to her mid-section.

They started shooting and just shooting, Pittmans mother appears to say on the video.

Stay still, babe, stay still, the woman responds.

The woman said that when she first called 911, she was placed on hold. When paramedics arrived, they loaded Pittmans mother onto a gurney. In the meantime, the woman did her best to keep the woman calm, she said.

All she could remember was the fact that she was just passing through and getting shot at, the woman said. All she wanted was her husband and her daughter.

Pittmans mom was in critical condition when paramedics got her to University Medical Center. Updates on her medical condition werent immediately available Friday.

Even in a neighborhood where gunfire is so common that a resident called it a sort of grim background music, the suddenness and intensity of the shooting caught people off guard.

It was something else. It sounded like a cannon, said Maxine Payton, 66. My nerves got so bad.

Payton said she was shocked that the shooting injured an elderly woman who appeared to simply be passing through the area.

Its gotta be God that shes still living, because that was too many shots, Payton said.

Mother of criminal court Judge Robin Pittman shot in New Orleans East, sources say The mother of Orleans Parish Criminal District Court Judge Robin Pittman was shot and critically wounded in New Orleans East on Thursday, acco

The shooting left the local legal community in shock. The court's deputy chief judge, Pittman was first elected to the bench in 2008. She has developed a reputation for moving cases to resolution quickly.

Many of the cases Pittman presides over are rooted in the citys perennial problems with gun violence. Last month, she oversaw the courts second case to reach a jury verdict since the pandemic, an armed robbery trial. On the campaign trail in 2008, she promised to offer drug treatment to low-level offenders but be tough on violent and career criminals.

Pittman also has been a staunch supporter of the Louis A. Martinet Legal Society, an organization which is named after a renowned civil rights activist and which helped elevate Black attorneys to the states judicial benches.

She not only has offered her courtroom as a meeting space for law students and events held by the Martinet group. She is also seen as a mentor by numerous attorneys, both well established and just embarking on their careers, Martinet Legal Society President Ebony Morris said.

The Martinet group recently gave Pittman its annual Ernest N. Morial Award. The award is named after New Orleans first Black mayor, and its recipients are recognized as judicial pacesetters.

Judge Pittman is there for young attorneys, and she is there for seasoned attorneys, Morris said. Our organization offers our prayers and thoughts to her and her family  were all in shock right now.

Thursdays violence comes amid a yearlong increase in both killings and non-fatal shootings across the city.

As of Thursday night, there had been at least 187 murders and 442 non-fatal shootings reported across New Orleans this year. Those numbers represented increases of 4.5% and 17.5%, respectively, when compared to the same date last year.

Anyone with information about the shooting on Babylon Street has been asked to call Crimestoppers at (504) 822-1111 or NOPD 7th District detectives at (504) 658-6070.

Lead detective in killing of former Saints player Will Smith shot on duty in Alaska At this week's high-profile trial of a man charged in the fatal shooting of a nurse on Bourbon Street, the lead detective was noticeably absent.

Baton Rouge-area judge's grandson dies after falling off Pat O'Brien's balcony in New Orleans A 19-year-old man died after falling from a second-floor balcony at Pat OBriens Bar in the French Quarter last week, according to New Orlean
The mother of Orleans Parish Criminal District Court Judge Robin Pittman was shot and critically wounded in New Orleans East on Thursday, according to multiple criminal justice sources.

"Our prayers are with Judge Pittman and her family at this difficult time," said Chief Criminal District Court Judge Karen Herman, who declined further comment.

UPDATE: Search on for suspects in shooting of Judge Robin Pittman's mother: 'They started ... just shooting'

The victim, whose name has not been released by police, was driving in the 5900 block of Babylon Street in Pines Village about 6:40 p.m. when a gun battle erupted, a source with knowledge of the case said. At least one stray bullet entered the car and hit her.

Paramedics brought the victim to University Medical Center in critical condition, authorities said. She was undergoing emergency surgery late Thursday, sources said. Updates on her medical condition were nto available Friday morning.

Police havent publicly named any suspects in the shooting. Sources made clear that they believe the victim was in the wrong place at the wrong time, and there is no indication the shooting had anything to do her daughter's rulings from the bench.

However, the shooting left the local legal bar in shock. The court's deputy chief judge, Pittman was first elected to the bench in 2008. She has developed a reputation for moving cases to resolution quickly.

Many of the cases Pittman oversees are rooted in the citys perennial problems with gun violence. Last month, she oversaw the courts second case to reach a jury verdict since the pandemic, an armed robbery trial. On the campaign trail in 2008, she promised to offer drug treatment to low-level offenders but be tough on violent and career criminals.

The shooting comes amid a yearlong increase in both killings and non-fatal shootings across the city.

As of Thursday night, there had been at least 187 murders and 442 non-fatal shootings reported across New Orleans this year. Those numbers represented increases of 4.5% and 17.5%, respectively, when compared to the same date last year.

No other details were immediately available.

Check back later with NOLA.com for any updates.

Lead detective in killing of former Saints player Will Smith shot on duty in Alaska At this week's high-profile trial of a man charged in the fatal shooting of a nurse on Bourbon Street, the lead detective was noticeably absent.

+11 New Orleans DA Jason Williams to appeal decision tossing 91-year sentence for Endymion drunk driver Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams says he will appeal a decision that vacated the 91-year sentence of a drunk driver who plowed 
A valet working at the Ace Hotel downtown was shot to death about midnight Saturday after an argument with a customer caused the two to draw guns on each other, a source with knowledge of the situation said.

The hotel, which is located in the 600 block of Carondelet Street (map), referred all questions to the New Orleans Police Department.

The valet employee was possibly the aggressor in the killing, the source said, and the customer was not taken into custody, though the case remains under investigation.

The incident was the latest example of how the prevalence of arms in the city allows an argument in a public setting to escalate to gunfire and death.

The homicide is the second to take place in the city since Saturday morning, when a man was found dead on his front porch in the 3100 block of Mistletoe Street (map) in Hollygrove.

The NOPD said the shooting was the result of a domestic argument and a woman has been taken into custody.

In other crimes reported Sunday by the NOPD:

A woman was shot while sitting in her car in the 700 block of South Hennessy Street (map) in Mid-City Sunday about 2 a.m. Sunday. She was brought to the hospital in a personal vehicle.

Someone was carjacked at gunpoint at Lakeshore and Leroy Johnson Drives (map) Sunday about 6 a.m. The victim walking up to a parked car was blocked by two men. The subjects demanded the victim's car, and the victim gave it up. One man drove away in his car, and the other left in the victim's black 2017 Chevrolet Cruz with a Texas temporary tag.

No other details were immediately available. Anyone with information regarding this crime is asked to call Crimestoppers at (504) 822-1111. Tipsters may be eligible for a cash reward.

Tulane University crime data breach exposes health records, sexual assault victims' names Health records and names of people who visited Tulane University Medical Centers emergency department, including for attempted suicide. Graph
The National Federation of the Blind acknowledged leadership within its affiliated training centers knew about multiple complaints of sexual misconduct but failed to take significant action in a report released on Wednesday, which also did not mention whether those leaders would face consequences for their inaction.

In fact, its internal committee of four NFB leaders, Denise Avant, Tim Elder, Ronza Othman and Sharon Krevor-Weisbaum, said they discovered at least four instances "where Center staff were made aware of a complaint, but there was minimal intervention or no intervention at all, and the alleged perpetrator later re-offended.

In its report, the committee also said they are aware of 23 separate alleged incidents of sexual misconduct at the NFB-affiliated Louisiana Center for the Blind in Ruston, a dozen of which they believe occurred. The report does not lay out the criteria for which the committee was using to determine the validity of the allegations or say whether the organization has referred any of the incidents to law enforcement.

Between the 84 complaints the National Federation of the Blind has received since December 2020 pertaining to sexual misconduct and assault within the organization, eight leaders in the organization have been accused of not responding adequately to allegations of sexual misconduct. Of the total formal complaints, 46 involved alleged incidents at the three NFB-affiliated training centers over more than 20 years.

But the report also acknowledges that while investigating other complaints, the committee learned of more alleged incidents of sexual misconduct that werent formally reported through the NFB Code of Conduct process. At the Louisiana center, the committee learned of six allegations and found three of them likely occurred. Similarly, the committee believes an additional five incidents of misconduct happened at the Colorado Center of the Blind and another six happened at BLIND, Inc. in Minneapolis.

The 30-page report follows a longer report made public in July, which marked the first time the organization had addressed any specific allegations since people started publicly sharing their stories of sexual misconduct and assault within the organization, which has state affiliates, training centers, conventions and other events.

National Federation of the Blind has received 69 sexual misconduct complaints since December, according to new report Since December, people with ties to the National Federation of the Blind have formally submitted 69 complaints alleging sexual misconduct with

Earlier this year police made one arrest of a former LCB employee for allegedly repeatedly molesting a student when she attended a summer program there as a teenager. Including this incident that was reported before December 2020, there have been nine total code violations at the center involving sexual misconduct, one of which involved a minor. While the report also provides no discussions on what repercussions  if any  leadership at the centers may face, it does go through great lengths to give extensive rationale on why leadership may have mishandled complaints. They also insisted that in the majority of instances, once a complaint was raised, Center staff quickly intervened to isolate the alleged offender from other program participants and determine what in fact had occurred, adding, The responses, however, were not always consistent or adequate. The committee said center directors reported concerns about the inaccuracy of the rumor mill, concerns about consequences for participants in the event of termination from a program (including termination of rehabilitation services, inability to obtain necessary independent living skills, and inability to obtain employment), and uncertainty about reporting and confidentiality requirements and the scope of permitted disclosures. The committee also found that center leadership sometimes reached informal resolutions without formal and complete investigations but said it was because they were at times dealing with serious issues outside their expertise with little or no support. The staff members critical to ensuring that training is delivered in a safe environment are underpaid in comparison to personnel in equivalent positions in other non-NFB affiliated training centers, the report said. At the same time, those people are being asked to fulfill more roles than can reasonably be expected of them." Instead of listing any consequences for existing center leaders, the NFB is now working with those same leaders and board members of centers where many alleged instances of abuse occurred to update center policies for addressing sexual misconduct. The Centers and their respective boards are in the process of updating their response protocols for addressing and preventing sexual misconduct, the report said. To that end, each Center is collaborating with the NFB to develop specific protocols to address complaints that present an immediate issue  e.g., where the accused is a current employee or participant  parallel with the investigation to be conducted by the External Investigator.

+10 Months after National Federation of the Blinds abuse scandal, survivors want accountability More incidents of abuse and misconduct have been uncovered, with little in the way of accountability or systemic change.
The body of a second victim was recovered from the Pearl River on Thursday morning, 10 days after two men went missing during a boating mishap in Washington Parish, authorities said.

Man's body found after boating mishap on Pearl River; search continues for second victim Authorities found the body of one man and are still searching for another after the pair went missing while boating on the Pearl River in Wash

After days of dragging the water and checking logjams, officials with the state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries recovered the body just under two miles downstream from the Poole's Bluff boat launch on the Louisiana side of the river, said Sgt. Toby Miller, an official with the LDWF.

The body is presumed to be Eric Josh Williams, of Holden, who launched into the Pearl River at Pool's Bluff launch in Bogalusa around 3 p.m. Nov. 29 with Joe Newby, of Covington. After they hadn't returned home and couldn't be reached by phone, authorities began to search for the men around 9 p.m. A few hours into the night, Newby's body was recovered.

After Newby was recovered, representatives from the Cajun Navy used sonar to locate a boat in the water. It's unclear if the boat they found was the one Newby and Williams were in because several boats that have been lost in accidents around the area are believed to still be underwater there, Miller said.

Authorities believe the undercurrent near the turbine sill, a wall that regulates the water level in the lock system, caused the boat to capsize.

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Washington Parish Sheriff's Office called off their search on Tuesday.

I am so grateful for all who were involved in the search process," Washington Parish Sheriff Randy "Country" Seal said in a statement. "Our officers, along with LDWF, St. Tammany Sheriffs Office and representatives of the Cajun Navy, spent many hours on the river as they searched for the body. I express my sincere condolences to the families of the two men and I hope this final recovery brings some solace to them.

Body of missing woman found in Bogue Chitto River The body of 31-year-old Jonie Morgan was found Wednesday in the Bogue Chitto River, less than a mile from where Morgan vanished under the turb

+2 Search continues for woman missing in Pearl River canal Joel Cromp rubbed his face wearily as he stood on the bank of the Pearl River Navigational Canal late Monday morning, the third day of fruitle

The location of where Williams' body was found was updated based on new information from LDWF.
The long-held dream of a passenger rail link between Baton Rouge and New Orleans inched closer after officials from Canadian Pacific Railway, which is close to gaining ownership of the tracks between the two cities, committed to re-introducing service on the line.

Canadian Pacific shareholders on Wednesday approved a $31 billion takeover of Kansas City Southern, which owns the local train lines as part of its regional network. Kansas City Southern shareholders are expected to approve the deal later this week, ending a contentious ownership fight that hinged in part on the rail link between Louisiana's two most populous cities.

Also Wednesday, James Clements, Canadian Pacific's head of strategic planning, told Gov. John Bel Edwards, business executives and other politicians attending a meeting in New Orleans that Canadian Pacific would now work with state and local governments, passenger rail operator Amtrak and other interested parties to restart the local passenger service as soon as possible.

"We are very aware of the importance of expanding the passenger rail services in southern Louisiana and our objective is to help achieve that goal," Clements said, noting that Amtrak last year cited the Baton Rouge to New Orleans rail link as a priority in its spending plans.

The company, he said, is willing to start by freeing up capacity for one round-trip per day between the cities. The frequency could be increased depending on whether upgrades are made to the line.

Officials did not provide a timeline or any detailed plans on when trips might begin.

Edwards said that Canadian Pacific's commitment comes at the same time that there is federal money available for the necessary train-line upgrades following the passage of President Joe Biden's Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

The bipartisan legislation included $66 billion earmarked for rail improvements, including programs such as the Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail grants, which would help fund Amtrak's inter-city goal to increase passenger traffic by 20 million by 2035.

"Louisiana now has an opportunity to ensure that these dollars come to our state rather than other states for these purposes," Edwards said.

A passenger train has not run between Baton Rouge and New Orleans since 1969, when Kansas City Southerns Southern Belle service was discontinued. Restarting the service has the support of the public. A 2019 poll of voters in Ascension, East Baton Rouge, Jefferson, Orleans, St. James and St. John parishes found 63% would be interested in riding the line.

For more than a decade, area economic development officials have touted a passenger rail connection as a key way to help foster growth in the region. The line would include stops in Baton Rouge at the Electric Depot on Government Street and in the Bluebonnet-Essen-Perkins medical district, in Gonzales, LaPlace and at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, with a terminus at the Union Passenger Terminal in New Orleans near the Caesars Superdome.

Still, there are many hurdles ahead before the line could restart. Previous attempts to do so have failed, largely because of opposition by lawmakers to spending state money on the infrastructure upgrades.

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The most recent example: The Louisiana Legislature in 2018 declined to apply for grants made available under the Federal Railroad Administration's Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements Program. The funding, which could have at least partly helped to pay for the approximately $260 million of improvements needed, required 50% state matching funds, which lawmakers balked at.

Funding made available by the economic stimulus bills signed by President Barack Obama in the wake of the 2008-2009 financial crisis was rejected by then-governor Bobby Jindal, who was one of several Republican governors to balk at the federal support.

Backers of a passenger rail link argue that this time the stars may align. With Canadian Pacific in charge of the line and with some of the federal rail money requiring only 20% local matching funding, it may mean that there would be none or only minimal local funding required.

The largest single portion of the needed spending identified in a 2014 report on rail link upgrades was $62 million to replace the 1.8-mile wooden rail bridge that crosses the Bonnet Carre Spillway. Freight trains running on that now must slow to 10 miles per hour, which would make a passenger trip too slow to be feasible.

John Spain, executive vice president of the Baton Rouge Area Foundation, a non-profit civic organization, and a member of the Southern Rail Commission, said that the Bonnet Carre rail bridge replacement and other upgrades are going to have to be made whether or not the passenger link is revived, so Canadian Pacific may have an incentive to invest its own money in order to get federal funds to help pay for improving the assets it owns.

"This is the start of the conversation," Spain said. "Nobody is going to come to the poker table and say, 'I'm going to put all my money up first.' I think at some point CP is going to say, 'Well of course we know we're going to have to fix it and I can't apply for all this federal money unless I put some up.'"

Canadian Pacific had been battling against a competing offer by Canadian National Railway to buy Kansas City Southern, which had long opposed running passenger trains on the track it owned between Baton Rouge and New Orleans.

A key intervention with regulators came in the summer from Amtrak, which opposed Canadian National Railway's offer on the grounds that it would have derailed plans to revive the passenger link and would have reduced freight competition in the region.

The Canadian Pacific win now has revived hopes that the link could finally return.

"This has been talked about for decades and studied many times, but what is important about today is we finally have a partner," said Spain. "We now have a freight operator who says we will let you run passenger service on our tracks, and that is a dramatic departure."
The omicron variant of COVID-19 was identified last month, and at a Friday press conference state health officer Dr. Joe Kanter likened it to storm looming in the Gulf.

You dont know what the track is going to be, said Kanter. You dont know exactly how strong its going to be when it gets there. But youre paying attention and youre probably preparing.

Since then, the "variant of concern" has made landfall, with confirmed cases in at least 21 states, including one in Louisiana. There are an additional 16 probable cases in Louisiana.

Here's what we know the omicron variant so far.

This new variant was first detected in Botswana on Nov. 11. Omicron includes about 50 mutations across the SARS-CoV-2 genome.

Omicron may spread more easily than previous strains and carry an increased risk of reinfection, but cases are milder than those caused by the delta variant, World Health Organization officials said Wednesday.

The U.S. recorded its first confirmed case of the omicron variant on Dec. 1 in a person in California who had been to South Africa. Omicron is now present in at least 18 U.S. states and 50 countries.

The first case in Louisiana was confirmed Dec. 3 in a 23-year-old woman with a history of domestic travel. The Louisiana Department of Health also confirmed a "probable" case of the omicron variant among the seven COVID-infected passengers and crew of a Norwegian Cruse Lines ship that returned to New Orleans on Sunday.

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7 new COVID cases found on cruise ship docked in New Orleans, one probable omicron case detected The Louisiana Department of Health has confirmed another seven cases of COVID-19 infection among the passengers and crew of a Norwegian Cruse 

Governor John Bel Edwards said getting vaccinated or boosted if eligible is the "smartest, best decision" for keeping yourself and your community safe. See where to go to get the shot at NOLA Ready.

Pfizer said Wednesday that a booster dose of its COVID-19 vaccine may offer protection against the new omicron variant even though the initial two doses appear significantly less effective.

16 more cases of omicron variant reported in Louisiana, bringing total to 17 The Louisiana Department of Health reported 16 probable cases of the omicron variant of the coronavirus Wednesday, bringing the total number o

Emily Woodruff and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Three juveniles who escaped from the Bridge City Center for Youth last month have been caught and returned to custody, according to the Louisiana Office of Juvenile Justice.

The teens, ages 16, 17 and 18, escaped from the River Road facility on Nov. 21. They were apprehended Dec. 7 in three parishes.

A 16-year-old boy who'd been incarcerated for theft and sexual battery was taken into custody in Jefferson Parish.

Errol Gillet, 18, who was sent to the West Bank facility for theft of a motor vehicle and armed robbery charges, was taken into custody in Livingston Parish.

A 14-year-old boy was apprehended in St. Bernard Parish. He was one of two juveniles accused of trying to carjack a Tesla in Mid-City, an act caught on video, according to WWL-TV reporter Mike Perlstein.

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The 14-year-old and his alleged accomplice, a 17-year-old boy, were arrested in Chalmette. The 17-year-old boy was not involved in the Bridge City facility escape.

The Louisiana State Police, the Jefferson Parish Sheriffs Office, the Livingston Parish Sheriffs Office, the Orleans Parish Sheriffs Office and the St. Bernard Parish Sheriffs Office aided in the teens' recapture.

WWL-TV, NOLA.com and The Times-Picayune are news partners.
A top-earning New Orleans Police Department sergeant who was recently caught racing cars on the West Bank or lounging at his house while clocked in for paid policework has retired.

Sgt. Todd Morrell, 53, the head of the NOPDs bomb squad who for years has stood among the highest earners on the force thanks to lucrative detail gig at the Fair Grounds, retired on Nov. 29, a police spokesman confirmed.

The 32-year NOPD veteran was suspended from detail work along with more than two dozen other officers pending an internal investigation prompted by news reports raising questions about the timesheets of Morrell and several other officers.

Morrells father, Orleans Parish Clerk of Criminal Court Arthur Morrell, also confirmed his sons retirement, which WVUE-TV first reported Wednesday. The station last month aired a series of investigative stories finding Todd Morrell at home or racing cars at NOLA Motorsports Park when he was clocked in for on-duty shifts or his regular Fair Grounds detail.

Todd Morrell is one of two Morrell siblings on the force. He and Officer Nicholas Morrell were both among the officers suspended from the off-duty work in the latest off-duty detail scandal to erupt in the NOPD. Their brother, former state Sen. JP Morrell, won election last month to an at-large seat on the City Council. He will be sworn in next month.

Arthur Morrell said Todd Morrell had submitted his retirement papers over the summer with a scheduled retirement date in April 2022. With the loss of detail work, he fast-forwarded his departure, Arthur Morrell said.

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Todd Morrell was a consistent high-earner in the NOPD and among 28 NOPD officers who managed to pad their pay by more than $50,000 last year by moonlighting in uniform.

Last year he raked in $55,000 in detail pay administered through the citys Office of Police Secondary Employment. That brought his total pay to $192,900. In 2019, Morrell made almost $213,000 in combined on-duty and detail pay. He made $190,900 from the combined work in 2018.

A report in the Times-Picayune and The Advocate in October detailed how Todd and Nicholas Morrell, along with several other officers, landed fat paychecks while their time sheets reflected excessive or implausible hours.

Those timesheets showed several top earners seemingly unconstrained by rules that have loosened significantly since the off-duty police detail system came under a federal consent decree and city oversight in 2013.

Previously, the detail system was run by the officers themselves, before the federal Justice Department in 2011 spelled out a litany of ills within that system, describing it as the NOPDs aorta of corruption.

An NOPD spokesman said the department has restored detail privileges to 16 of 26 officers who were suspended from the moonlighting work last month.
New Orleans voters will decide Saturday whether to continue paying a $4 million property tax for housing assistance.

The 0.91-mill levy is relatively small compared to other citywide property taxes, but housing advocates say it provides important financing to develop affordable housing, help homeowners and eliminate blight.

The nonprofit Bureau of Governmental Research, however, advises voters to reject it. It says Mayor LaToya Cantrells administration has failed to account for the revenue from the existing tax and to come up with adequate spending plans.

On New Orleans tax propositions, BGR says yes for library and no for housing A prominent government watchdog group is recommending New Orleans voters renew one expiring property tax on the Dec. 11 ballot but reject another.

While some housing advocates disagree on Cantrells record, they are unified in their scathing criticism of BGRs report. They point to a 12-year-old BGR report raising alarms about a radical increase in subsidized housing, which they say hampered rebuilding after Hurricane Katrina struck in 2005.

We are not surprised BGR opposes this affordable housing fund, said Maxwell Ciardullo, policy director for the Louisiana Fair Housing Action Center. They actually helped create the housing crisis we are still in.

Voters first approved the tax in 1991. Renewing it Saturday would extend it 20 years.

Early voting for New Orleans City Council, sheriff, library millage starts Saturday Early voting in the Dec. 11 runoff elections for New Orleans City Council, Sheriff and Clerk of Criminal Court begins Saturday, and voters wil

The revenue goes into the Neighborhood Housing Improvement Fund, which City Hall may use for a variety of housing initiatives. With that flexibility, the Cantrell administration last year quickly set up a rental assistance program when the pandemic struck, months before federal funding became available.

BGR approvingly highlighted that achievement in a December 2020 report, saying federal funding cannot match the flexibility and stability of the local housing fund. Similarly, the Cantrell administration tapped the housing fund to help cover insurance deductibles after Hurricane Ida hit Aug. 29.

Those are all real things the money has been used for. I havent heard anyone argue against any of them, Ciardullo said.

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New Orleans City Council puts library, housing taxes on November ballot The New Orleans City Council agreed Thursday to ask voters to renew taxes for public libraries, a move that if approved would preserve library

But in its latest report on the tax, in November, BGR said the Cantrell administration has not provided precise breakdowns of how the revenue has been used. Nor has the administration articulated plans for how it will spend future proceeds, according to the report.

BGR Vice President Stephen Stuart said the suggestion that BGR is biased against affordable housing is unfair.

BGR has consistently been concerned with governments ability to plan strategically, pay for the programs it promises and achieve effective outcomes, Stuart said. The report also found critical deficiencies in the citys planning and accountability for the housing tax that undermine its potential effectiveness.

Cantrell's spokesperson, Beau Tidwell, countered that the administration has "successfully leveraged" tax proceeds with state and federal money, calling the housing fund "a very important tool used to address housing issues facing New Orleanians."

HousingNOLA Executive Director Andreanecia Morris agrees the administration has not been transparent with the housing tax. But she said BGR is setting up false choices where the only options are mismanagement of the money or no money.

There is a third option: These people can do their jobs, and they can do their jobs well, Morris said, referring to the administration and City Council.

Morris pointed to a 2015 ordinance, which Cantrell sponsored as a council member, requiring that an expert advisory committee provide recommendations on how the housing fund is used. The committee, which consists of nine mayoral appointees, is to review funding applications and proposed projects, and to meet in public at least once a year.

But it is not clear how active the committee has been in recent years. A municipal government website listing the members indicates their terms expired in 2019. Cantrells housing director, Marjorianna Willman, said in a City Council meeting in August that the committee met in 2020 to set a budget for the housing fund, but the budget she shared did contain line items.

In any case, Morris said the committee is not living up to the requirements that Cantrell spearheaded six years ago.

That is legislation that Councilwoman Cantrell enacted that Mayor Cantrell has not been following, Morris said.
An organization backed by Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg donated $200,000 last week to a local political action committee trying to unseat Sheriff Marlin Gusman, underscoring the national attention his re-election bid on Saturday has drawn.

The tax-exempt group, FWD.us, made the donation to the PAC for Justice on Dec. 1. The national group is not required to disclose its donors, but Zuckerberg is among several Silicon Valley figures who took part in its creation.

The donation is the fifth-largest single contribution to a PAC for an election in Louisiana this year. The top four went to a PAC supporting a proposed casino in Slidell. Unlike candidates, PACs do not have contribution limits.

Gusman, a four-term incumbent, is facing a stiff challenge from Susan Hutson, the citys former independent police monitor. The PAC for Justice has flooded local airwaves and social media with last-minute attack ads accusing Gusman of self-dealing and mismanagement. Meanwhile Gusman, whose donors have included Sheriffs Office contractors and law enforcement leaders in suburban parishes like Sheriff Joe Lopinto, has fired back in ads that accuse Hutson of being soft on crime.

Zuckerbergs Washington, D.C.-based group first came to national attention advocating for immigration reform, but its expanded its focus to include criminal justice reform. In 2018, it donated $500,000 to the successful effort to outlaw non-unanimous jury verdicts in criminal cases. FWD.us didnt disclose who donated the money it sent for use in the sheriff's race.

The single money drop from Zuckerbergs group represents more money than Hutson has raised from donors her entire campaign, at $131,000.

By comparison, Gusmans last contested election was in 2014. Since 2015, he has raised $969,000 from contributors, including $443,000 this year.

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Gusman has seized on donations to the PAC for Justice as a campaign issue.

+8 Deputy in choking incident under federal probe, Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office says For the court-appointed monitors who oversee the reform effort at the New Orleans jail, it was a disturbing incident worthy of reporting to a 

Out-of-state interests are funding mailers, robocalls, TV and social media, so they can have their puppet go easy on crime, Gusman said in a recent video.

The PAC for Justice was also involved in last years effort to flip the bench by electing progressives to Orleans Parish Criminal District Court judgeships. In a statement, the PAC noted that many of Gusmans donors are contractors for the Sheriffs Office.

Marlin Gusman may want to distract from the jail contractors that fund his campaign, but at the end of the day, voters will choose if New Orleans is ready to turn the page on 17 years of scandals and mismanagement of our citys jail, Sade Dumas, co-chair of the PAC, said in a statement.

A FWD.us vice president, Zoe Towns, said in a statement that the group is proud to support PAC for Justice in their work to ensure that the next New Orleans sheriff is committed to advancing ongoing reforms that deliver safety and justice to more New Orleanians.

The donations to PAC for Justice werent the only developments in the races final days that prompted finger pointing. Over the weekend, a misogynistic, anti-Hutson mailer attributed to Gusmans campaign drew condemnation from Gusman and Hutson alike. Gusman disavowed it and alleged that it may have been a sham designed to embarrass him, while acknowledging that he had no evidence of that. No one has come forward to claim ownership of the mailer.

Meanwhile, an obscure group called Citizens for a Safer New Orleans has been distributing mailers purporting to offer the scary, scary truth about Susan Hutson. That group does not have a website or Facebook page, has not filed campaign finance reports with the Louisiana Ethics Administration Program and is not listed in a state registry of incorporated entities.
"And anybody that thinks this is a good idea, imagine the next time it happens when you're on the wrong side of whatever the merits of the case would be," he added. "That's why, for me, it was easy to do."

Braun's resolution was made possible by the Congressional Review Act, enacted in 1996 by Democratic President Bill Clinton, which allows Congress to prevent a federal executive agency regulation from taking effect if both chambers object to the policy and the president agrees.

In this case, Braun's resolution is unlikely to win approval in the Democratic-controlled House. Though Braun believes there may be just enough House Democrats concerned about their reelection prospects to get the rule repeal over the finish line.

But even if it passes the House, Biden has pledged to veto repeal of his vax-or-test rule, and Braun almost certainly will not be able to muster the two-thirds Senate and House majorities needed to override the president's veto.

The rule is unlikely to take effect as scheduled on Jan. 4 anyway.
Hussein said he's honored to be included in the category of royal photographers.

"It's not something anyone can do. It took a long time to build that relationship with the palace," he said. His father, who is now in his 80s, has been photographing the royal family for the past six decades. Father Anwar now just occasionally will shoot a larger scale event.

Hussein said he and his brother also had to build their own relationship with the palace apart from their father's relationship.

Hussein and his brother would sometimes go on shoots with their dad and saw him in action. At one shoot, the elder Hussein photographed his son Zak next to Queen Elizabeth II. The photo is pictured in the exhibit.

Many of Anwar Hussein's photographs, which star in the display, are candid shots and not posed. That was one of the characteristics of his photography that people loved and remains so attractive to viewers of the photos.

Hussein said it's been interesting to photograph the British royal family.

"They are unique. And you're documenting history," he said. Hussein added his family is not in anyway in the category of "paparazzi."
The Indiana Dunes National Park will again host its annual Christmas Bird Count a few days after Christmas.

Birders, scientists, students, families and the general public flock to the Indiana Dunes every year after Christmas Day and fan out on an annual mission to count the number of birds. It's part of a long-running wildlife census that Audubon and other groups use to determine the health of area bird populations so they know where to best steer their conservation efforts.

Many set out before dawn to see how many different bird species they can spot at or near the National Park, which is the fourth most biodiverse in the country and home to hundreds of bird species.

The Indiana Dunes National Park will coordinate a circle count at Indiana Dunes West on Wednesday, Dec. 29. Park Rangers seek bird counts in the part of the 15,000-acre park that falls within northeast Lake County and northwest Porter County, such as West Beach, the Miller Woods and the Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk.

Homeowners also can submit data of bird feeder counts at their homes if they're near the Indiana Dunes National Park.
ST. JOHN  One man was arrested after leading officers on a high-speed chase into Illinois Wednesday night in a stolen vehicle, police say.

St. John police said after noticing the Dodge Charger Hellcat cross a double yellow line shortly after 11 p.m. on westbound 109th Avenue, a check of the Florida license plate came back for another type of vehicle.

A traffic stop was attempted and the vehicle fled at high speeds south on Wicker Avenue and then east on 119th Avenue, St. John Police Public Information Officer Roger Patz said.

Tire deflation devices were set up at 109th and Calumet avenues, which the vehicle struck before continuing to flee on Exchange Street into Illinois and then northbound on Ill. 394, he said.

"As the pursuit continued north on 394, officers could tell that the vehicle was shedding pieces of the deflated tires and the driver was having a difficult time steering and maintaining speed," Patz said. "The suspect vehicle lost control about a half-mile south of 80/94 and drove off of the roadway on the east side coming to a stop in a wooded area."
A flurry of high-speed chases and foot pursuits ended in officers recovering two stolen vehicles and arresting two suspects Tuesday night.

At 7:22 p.m. Tuesday an officer with the Lake County Sheriff's Auto Theft Unit was in the area of 165th Street and Indianapolis Boulevard in Hammond when he saw a Jeep change lanes without using a turn signal and disregard a stop light, said Lake County Sheriff Oscar Martinez.

The officer tried to pull the Jeep over but the driver refused to stop, leading chase north on Indianapolis Boulevard.

During the chase, the driver disregarded another stop light and crashed into a car in the 900 block of Summer Street, police said.

Two suspects got out of the Jeep and ran away on foot. A police dog and officers searched for the suspects but they were not found. Two occupants of the second vehicle were taken to a hospital and their current conditions are unknown.

Upon investigation, police learned the Jeep had just been stolen within an hour before the chase, Martinez said.
HAMMOND  An Illinois man is going to prison for robbing banks last year in Hammond and south suburban Chicago.

U.S. District Court Judge Philip P. Simon imposed a 46-month sentence Wednesday on 20-year-old Matayo H. Young.

Young and Myron McKinney, also 20, of Illinois, pleaded guilty July 22 to a string of robberies in August 2020.

They admitted the guilt to avoid more lengthy prison terms they might have faced if they had gone to trial and been found guilty.

A Federal Bureau of Investigation inquiry states their first robbery took place Aug. 3, 2020 when Young walked into the TCF Bank branch, 17830 Halsted St., Homewood, wearing a black mask and clothing and glasses. McKinney stayed outside in a car, acting as a lookout.

Young handed a bank teller a note stating, This a robbery. Put all the money in an envelope. Do not make any sudden movements or pull alarm or say anything or people will get hurt  $5,000.
GARY  Two Region officers are currently stranded in a motel in the Dominican Republic after contracting COVID-19 and being forced from the hospital, police said. Local police have began efforts in raising money to help the officers safely return home.

Just after Thanksgiving, Gary Police Department Detective Olivia Vasquez and Sgt. Chris Taylor went on vacation to the Dominican Republic. However, not long into their trip, they began to feel ill and were admitted into a hospital with severe coronavirus symptoms.

Because the police department insurance cannot cover medical expenses incurred in a foreign country, the two were forced to exhaust their personal finances to pay medical costs, Gary Police Department Sgt. William Fazekas wrote on the GoFundMe page.

Because of lack of funds, Vasquez and Taylor were forced to leave the hospital. They are currently suffering from coronavirus in a motel near the airport, waiting to be able to travel back to Northwest Indiana.
HAMMOND  A federal judge has denied a new trial for an Indianapolis man accused of swindling dozens of area families in an investment scam.

U.S. District Court Judge Philip P. Simon ruled Wednesday there was ample evidence during a five day trial in late October proving George R. McKown defrauded investors of millions in life savings.

McKown, 67, claimed in recent court motions the jurys guilty verdict should be tossed out because it was nothing more than speculation based on government accusations, not hard proof.

But the judge, who presided over the trial earlier this fall, disagreed.

Simon cited just one example of McKowns many victims from the evidence the prosecution used to win McKowns fraud conviction.

It involves 91-year-old Mark Griffith, who met McKown in August 2008 and gave him a half million dollars on guarantees that money would earn 8% returns and Griffith could have all his money back any time he asked for it.

This was all false, the judge said.

When Mark Griffith died three years later, his son, David, attempted to recover the investment, but McKown repeatedly rebuffed him.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP)  The U.S. Department of Justice on Wednesday issued a strong condemnation of the way Iowa treats people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, telling the state it must find ways to care for people in community settings and not in institutions.

In a letter and a 33-page report sent to state officials, Kristen Clarke, an assistant attorney general in the Justice Department's civil rights division, said that after a yearlong investigation they have concluded there is reasonable cause to believe Iowa violates the federal Americans with Disabilities Act by failing to provide services that integrate people with intellectual disabilities into their communities.

Iowa has failed to address known deficiencies in the availability of community-based services and supports that contribute to needless institutionalization of people with IDD, the report said.

It said state officials have known for years that community-based support for people with complex medical and behavioral needs is insufficient and have acknowledged that they have failed to meaningfully assess the capacity of the community service system.

State officials largely agreed and promised to explore new services.
WASHINGTON (AP)  Jill Biden says being first lady is a little harder than I imagined."

She tells CBS Sunday Morning in an interview set to air next week that her new role is a 24-hour undertaking and not the kind of job that ends at a certain hour.

I think its a little harder than I imagined, the first lady said after being asked if she was prepared for what her new life would be like. "Its not like a job that you do, its a lifestyle that you live, and its not something you leave at 5:00 or at 3:00. And its 24 hours a day.

In the interview, Jill Biden also scoffed at speculation about President Joe Biden's mental fitness and said she understood why he cut a proposal for free community college from a major social welfare bill he's trying to get Congress to pass.

Her observation about being first lady all the time comes from someone who has lived most of her adult life in the public eye and has watched  and worked with  some of her predecessors.
Military officials in Mali ousted the countrys interim civilian leaders on Tuesday, setting up a new crisis for the West African nation, just nine months after the previous president was forced out in a military coup.

The leaders  Bah NDaou, the president, and Moctar Ouane, the prime minister  were appointed last year to lead a transitional government to prepare for new elections. They were both detained by the military on Monday and taken to a base outside the capital, Bamako. On Tuesday, they were officially stripped of their duties, the military said.

President Emmanuel Macron of France denounced the ouster as a coup on Tuesday and threatened to impose sanctions on the military leaders. France has remained involved in the affairs of Mali, a former colony, intervening in 2012 to fight an Islamist insurgency there and in the broader Sahel region.

Boubacar Sangare, an independent journalist and researcher in Bamako, said that military interference in politics was a recurring problem in Mali.
Sylvia Weinstock, the wedding cake visionary who died Nov. 22 at the age of 91, was known by fans as the queen of cake for her ornate, colorful and realistic confectionery designs.

The Brooklyn native and former schoolteacher didnt start baking professionally until she was 50, after surviving breast cancer. She began specializing in wedding cakes when William Greenberg Jr., an Upper East Side baker in business since 1946, passed orders along to her. (He didnt do wedding cakes.)

She founded Sylvia Weinstock Cakes in the early 80s in a four-story townhouse in Manhattans TriBeCa neighborhood, where she also lived. Ms. Weinstock had three daughters with her husband, Benjamin Weinstock, who died in 2018.

With a deep dislike for fondant, she was among the first to perfect and include sugar flowers, edible pieces of art that quickly became her signature. The first cake I sold was a single-layer cake filled with sugar flowers, she said in a 2019 interview. It was for a private party at the Carlyle Hotel. Then I went to two-tier cakes. The tallest Ive made was 10 feet and had thousands of flowers.
The jury tasked with deciding whether Jussie Smollett falsely told the police that he had been the victim of a racist and homophobic assault began deliberations on Wednesday and started to grapple with the two differing narratives of what happened on a freezing Chicago night in 2019.

Prosecutors have accused Mr. Smollett of orchestrating the attack himself by instructing two brothers, Abimbola Osundairo and Olabinjo Osundairo, to punch him just hard enough to create bruises, pour bleach on his clothing and place a rope around his neck like a noose while yelling racist and homophobic slurs.

But the defense, which relied on more than seven hours of testimony by Mr. Smollett himself, has argued he was the victim of a real attack, perpetrated by the brothers, who then lied to investigators to avoid being prosecuted themselves.

After six days of testimony, and a full day of closing arguments by both sides, the 12-person jury began considering the disorderly conduct charges late on Wednesday afternoon. But Judge James B. Linn agreed to suspend deliberations just after 5 p.m. because one of the jurors had reported to the court that he had made a prior commitment to attend a concert in which his child was participating.
Russia supplies more than a third of Europes gas through the existing Nord Stream pipeline and has already been accused of withholding supplies as a way of pressuring Germany to approve Nord Stream 2.

Washington could impose much more sweeping sanctions on particular companies and banks in Russia that would more severely curtail investment and production in the energy sector. The risk of tough sanctions on a company like Gazprom, which supplies natural gas, is that Russia could retaliate by cutting its deliveries to Europe.

That would hurt Russia a lot but also hurt Europe, Mr. Schott said.

In terms of ratcheting up the pressure, James Nixey, the director of the Russia-Eurasia program at the Chatham House think tank, suggested that financially squeezing the oligarchs who help Mr. Putin maintain power could be one way of bringing more targeted pressure.

I would place a great premium on going after the inner and outer circle around Putin, which have connections back to the regime, he said.

At the moment, the swirl of ambiguity about possible United States actions is useful, he added: Its quite good if the Russians are kept guessing.

Russia, the United States and the European Union  which on Wednesday proposed expanding its power to use economic sanctions  are all playing something of a guessing game in order to pursue their policy goals. Russia is deploying troops on the border and at the same time is insisting on a guarantee that Ukraine wont join NATO, while the West is warning there will be painful economic consequences if an invasion occurs.
A large pharmaceutical manufacturer has agreed to pay $200 million in a settlement reached just before closing arguments began in a monthslong opioid trial in New York, the states attorney general announced on Wednesday.

The settlement with Allergan, a company that has made opioids but whose most well-known product is Botox, is the latest agreement in a trial jointly argued by New York State and two counties that began in June. The case was the first of its kind brought against the entire opioid supply chain, from pharmaceutical companies that manufacture the pills to the distributors and pharmacy chains that filled the prescriptions.

Other defendants in the sprawling case, such as Johnson & Johnson and the pharmacy chain CVS, agreed to multimillion-dollar settlements, before and during the trial. In July, three of the drug distributors settled for more than $1 billion combined as part of an overarching $26 billion nationwide deal to settle a raft of more than 3,000 lawsuits filed by tribes, states and municipalities that said various companies helped foster a drug crisis that has killed hundreds of thousands of Americans in the last decade.

In the New York trial, only two companies, Teva Pharmaceuticals USA Inc., a manufacturer, and Anda Inc., one of its subsidiary companies that distributes drugs to pharmacies, remain defendants. The state and Nassau and Suffolk Counties jointly argued the case in New York State Supreme Court in Central Islip on Long Island.
Student workers on strike at Columbia formed picket lines that blocked off entrances to campus and prevented other students from getting to class. A giant inflatable fat cat waved in the breeze as dozens of drivers heading down Broadway honked their car horns in support. A 10-foot-banner reading Fair Contract Now was unfurled along an overpass on Amsterdam Avenue.

The scenes of protest dotting the campus on Wednesday came six weeks into a strike by the Student Workers of Columbia, a United Auto Workers Local 2110 union with about 3,000 graduate and undergraduate students. The strike, which is being waged over higher pay, expanded health care and greater protections against harassment and discrimination, has embroiled the campus administration in a lengthy struggle with its own student body.

Wednesdays action brought one of the largest turnouts since the strike began, as union members were joined by members of student worker unions and faculty from New York University, Fordham University and the City University of New York, and labor unions such as Teamsters Local 804.

Today, I think, theres a real show that we are the backbone of this university, and without us, the university doesnt really function, said Mandi Spishak-Thomas, a doctoral student at the School of Social Work and a member of the unions bargaining committee.
The school system is grappling with profound challenges.

Enrollment has dropped by over 50,000 children since fall 2019. Roughly 100,000 public school students are homeless, and New York has struggled for years to meet their needs. The citys school system is among the most racially segregated in the country. Many dozens of schools are still extremely low-performing, and some of the citys 200,000 students with disabilities are not receiving all of their support services, a longstanding issue exacerbated by the pandemic.

Mr. Banks and Mr. Adams will face urgent decisions as soon as they take over, including how and whether to admit students into gifted and talented classes, after Mr. de Blasio announced this fall that he intended to end the programs entirely, and whether to implement a vaccine mandate for students.

Mr. Banks has already begun to build out his cabinet. Daniel Weisberg, who served as the lead labor strategist for schools under former Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and now runs an organization focused on teacher training and quality, will serve as Mr. Bankss first deputy. And Mr. Banks has recruited Kenita Lloyd, the chief operating officer of the Eagle Academy Foundation, to be deputy chancellor for family engagement.

The Eagle schools embody elements of both traditional and progressive education models that Mr. Banks has sought to prove should not be contradictory. They employ many male teachers of color  a rarity in many city schools  and encourage students to have frequent discussions about racial identity and cultural pride.

Boys are required to wear jackets and ties, follow a strict discipline code and attend a longer school day than many other public school students, which has left some with the mistaken impression that the schools are charters.

Despite the schools positive qualities, some have struggled with performance, particularly in the middle school years when students are new to Eagle. Three of the five Eagle schools in New York have posted middle school test scores that have led to them being ranked some of the lowest-performing schools in the state, which has raised questions about what other support the schools at-risk students might need.

The first Eagle school was created in 2004 in the Bronx, the first public single-sex boys school to open in New York City in roughly 30 years, under Mr. Bloombergs initiative to replace some of the citys long-troubled high schools with smaller schools. There is now a school in each borough and one in Newark, N.J.
In July, Michael Saag, a professor of medicine and infectious diseases expert at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, told The Guardian: Unvaccinated people are basically the cannon fodder of the virus. The virus needs people to infect in order to replicate and the more people it has that are vulnerable or susceptible to infection, the more likely it will mutate.

The unvaccinated dont leave only themselves vulnerable to the virus; they make everyone more vulnerable.

I have heard all the reasons for resistance. There are the people who have politicized the virus and see getting vaccinated through a partisan lens. There are the people who view government pressure, and especially mandates, to put something in your body as overreach and anathema to the American ideal of independence and freedom. There are people who dont trust the government, sometimes with good reason.

I have heard it all. And I reject it all.

There are just too many fresh graves pocking the land to entertain these objections. And too many lives disrupted, as people grieve lost loved ones, alter their employment, and keep their children home from school.

When this pandemic first exploded, I thought that it would be a disruption of a few months. We are now closing in on year two, and while some offices and schools have reopened, cases are again surging in many parts of this country, and the Omicron variant has spooked markets around the world.

We now have to consider the very real possibility that the virus will not be eradicated, but will become endemic. The journal Nature put this more directly in February: The coronavirus is here to stay. In a survey of more than 100 immunologists, researchers and virologists, the journal found that almost 90 percent thought that the coronavirus would become endemic. As Nature put it at the time, it will continue to circulate in pockets of the global population for years to come.

Even if eradication is all but impossible, it is possible to control the virus and mitigate its spread, if more people are vaccinated.
To hear more audio stories from publications like The New York Times, download Audm for iPhone or Android.

On a Friday afternoon in the spring of 2020, Hope Bagozzi, the chief marketing officer at the Canadian coffee chain Tim Hortons, was on a Zoom call with representatives for Justin Bieber.

The agenda for the meeting? Exploring a possible partnership between the two Canadian greats.

The call was business-as-usual but took a surreal turn when suddenly, Ms. Bagozzi remembered, a black box that had been silent on the screen turned on, revealing the presence of Mr. Bieber himself. He spoke about how much he enjoyed eating Timbits, the restaurants bite-size doughnuts. At one point, Mr. Bieber pulled out a guitar to perform a song about Tim Hortons that he used to sing to his siblings.

I was texting my husband saying, Justin Bieber is singing to us, Ms. Bagozzi said, laughing. You couldve knocked me out of my chair.
WASHINGTON  When a special counsel accused a prominent cybersecurity lawyer of lying to the F.B.I. during a September 2016 meeting about Donald J. Trumps possible links to Russia, the indictment presented a lengthy narrative but the direct evidence appeared lean.

The indictment said the lawyer, Michael A. Sussmann, had made a false statement by telling an F.B.I. official that he was not representing a client in presenting the information. Mr. Sussmann, who has pleaded not guilty, has denied saying that. No one else was present and their conversation was not recorded, so the direct and clearly admissible evidence appeared to boil down to one witness.

This week, additional pieces of evidence emerged into public view that were not in the indictment  one of which appears to dovetail with the accusation against Mr. Sussmann by the special counsel, John H. Durham, who was appointed during the Trump administration, while several others appear to conflict with it.

The material emerged in court filings and at a status conference before a judge on Wednesday.

It is not clear whether all of the newly disclosed evidence will be admissible. But the jostling between prosecutors and defense lawyers could offer a preview of aspects of the trial, which they said on Wednesday would last about two weeks and Judge Christopher R. Cooper said could begin in May or early June.
I dream of going up to her, and sitting down next to her, taking her in my arms, and saying, Look at me. Listen to me. You will survive, Mrs. Clinton says. You will have a good family of your own and three children. And as hard as it might be to imagine, your daughter will grow up and become the president of the United States.

Kathleen Hall Jamieson, a professor of communication at the University of Pennsylvanias Annenberg School for Communication, said she found that part of the speech striking.

Had Hillary Clinton communicated more of that narrative, she would have had more of a successful presidential run, Professor Jamieson said. I read that as an interesting, coherent explanation of what would have motivated Hillary Clinton to be a public servant.

Mrs. Clinton had planned to deliver the speech at an elaborate celebration on the night of Nov. 8, 2016, complete with confetti shaped like glass shards that would fall from the glass ceiling of the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in Manhattan.

Instead, she gave a hastily scheduled speech in a dreary hotel ballroom on the day after the election, in which she said the country was more deeply divided than we thought.

This loss hurts, she said that day. But please never stop believing that fighting for whats right is worth it.

For scholars of the American presidency, the speeches candidates prepare and then discard on election night can be fascinating, Professor Jamieson said, adding that she would have loved to have read the victory speeches prepared by Barry Goldwater, Hubert H. Humphrey and George McGovern, among other losing candidates.
Ms. Oglesby and her lawyer did not immediately respond to calls on Wednesday requesting comment.

Her story unraveled in August 2018, after the Mountain View Police Department was contacted by the authorities in Arkansas. They were searching for Ms. Oglesby, who they said had stolen Ms. Hayss identity in that state in 2017 to commit financial fraud and embezzle more than $25,000. The authorities in Arkansas told the Mountain View police that they believed that Ms. Oglesby had been living under the fake identity in Mountain View, Mo., a city about 40 miles north of the Missouri-Arkansas state line.

The Mountain View police investigated and learned that Ms. Oglesby was living there and working at a city library, Chief Perkins said.

She actually was employed here, which was kind of odd, Chief Perkins said. And thats how we figured out who she was.

The police then pulled her over during a traffic stop. She initially denied that she was Laura Oglesby, Chief Perkins said, but once they showed her proof that they knew who she was, she admitted it.

She was just running because she was in a domestic violence relationship, and shed been running for years, Chief Perkins said Ms. Oglesby told the police. We dont know her life story outside of what she told us, but we know what happened here.

The Mountain View police then arrested Ms. Oglesby on the bench warrants from Arkansas, Chief Perkins said. Her case in Missouri encompassed allegations of federal crimes in both states. She had lived that life for a couple of years and basically just ruined her daughters credit, Chief Perkins said.

Ms. Hays did not respond to calls on Wednesday requesting comment.

In a statement on Tuesday night, Southwest Baptist University said that it had cooperated fully with the investigation.
The vaccines have proved to be safe and effective in stemming the spread of the coronavirus. Laboratory experiments also indicated that a booster shot of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine might provide some protection against the Omicron variant, according to a study published online on Tuesday.

The legislative action is likely to further politicize the pandemic response, particularly as Republican leaders have struggled to quell vaccine misinformation and skepticism in their ranks and draw a distinction between opposing the mandates rather than the vaccines. Republicans, who conceded that they would not be successful in overturning the rule without veto-proof majorities, said they would weaponize the mandate as further evidence of the Biden administrations heavy-handed approach to governance and continue to push for action.

If you keep plowing forward with it, and with everything thats been done to say that Hey, this is falling flat across the country, thats his liability, said Senator Mike Braun, Republican of Indiana, who spearheaded the effort. I think its just another bad subject that hes been doctrinaire about and not flexible.

The concern from centrist Democrats signaled that some in the presidents party are wary of fully embracing the mandates beyond those for federal workers and members of the military. Mr. Tester and Mr. Manchin both cited concerns from businesses in their states about the ability to retain workers should the regulation prevail over continuing court challenges.

What it says is, it was put forth with all the best of intentions, but its putting some businesses in a bind, Mr. Tester said before the vote, adding that he was supportive of vaccines as well as federal mandates for health care workers and military personnel. Its about certainty for businesses moving forward.
Companies including Nike, Coca-Cola and Apple lobbied Congress in an attempt to weaken that provision, claiming that the passage of the bill could wreak havoc on already crippled supply chains. Roughly one in five cotton garments sold globally contains cotton or yarn from Xinjiang, and the region produces a significant portion of the worlds polysilicon, which is used to make solar panels and smartphones.

It is a piece of legislation that will impose substantial constraints and costs on corporations that have been operating their supply chains in ways that ignore labor rights with impunity, said Scott Nova, the executive director of the Worker Rights Consortium, an independent labor rights organization. And it is vehemently opposed by powerful corporations across industrial sectors.

Representative Thomas Suozzi, Democrat of New York and the chairman of the Uyghur Caucus, acknowledged in an interview that a number of counterarguments had quietly loomed over the bill, from corporate lobbyists nervous about profits and supply chains to climate hawks worried about endangering the nations access to solar panels.

To all those things, I say, Thats too damn bad, Mr. Suozzi said. We have to do this. This is so egregious that well have to just figure out another solution. Were just going to have to innovate our way around it. We cant allow this to continue.

The legislation passed the House in September 2020 by a 406-to-3 vote. At that time, it faced headwinds in the Senate, especially on the Banking Committee, where some lawmakers were sensitive to corporate concerns about a stringent reporting requirement embedded in the text.

That provision, which would require companies to disclose the extent of a wide range of activities conducted in the Xinjiang region, was ultimately stripped out of the Senate bill, which passed unanimously in July.

But the measure languished, with neither the House nor the Senate interested in taking up the others bill. The House advanced a larger China-focused measure that included a version of the Uyghur legislation with the reporting mandate intact, but the Senate declined to take it up.
The North Carolina Supreme Court ordered a two-month delay in the states 2022 primary elections on Wednesday, giving critics of the state legislatures gerrymandered political maps additional time to pursue a legal battle to redraw them.

The unsigned ruling was a setback for the Republican-controlled General Assembly, which created the maps and had argued that a delay in the primaries would sow chaos among both candidates and voters.

The court ordered the March 8 primary elections for all offices postponed until May 17, citing the importance of the issues to the constitutional jurisprudence of this state, and the need for urgency in deciding the maps legality. New boundaries for state legislative districts and for North Carolinas 14 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives face three lawsuits filed by Democrats and voting-rights advocates in a state court in Raleigh.

In a state split almost evenly between Republican and Democratic voters, the new maps give Republicans a sweeping political advantage. The new House map, for example, would all but ensure victory for G.O.P. candidates in 10 of the 14 districts, with a decent shot at winning an 11th seat.
A federal judge on Wednesday appointed a so-called special master to determine whether materials the F.B.I. seized from current and former Project Veritas employees can be used by prosecutors as evidence in their investigation into the apparent theft last year of a diary kept by President Bidens daughter.

The ruling by Judge Analisa Torres of U.S. District Court came as a victory for Project Veritas, the conservative group that has found its conduct under scrutiny in recent weeks by the U.S. attorneys office in Manhattan as it investigates how the diary kept by Ashley Biden made its way to Project Veritas in the weeks before Election Day last year.

The group asked the judge to appoint the special master to ensure that the authorities did not gain access to materials covered by attorney-client privilege and that the groups First Amendment rights as a media organization were protected.

Despite ruling in Project Veritass favor, Judge Torres declined a request by the group to order the Justice Department to conduct a leak investigation into who provided information about the searches to The New York Times, which reported on them shortly after they occurred in early November.
Barry Harris, a pianist and educator who was the resident scholar of the bebop movement  and ultimately, one of its last original ambassadors  died on Wednesday in North Bergen, N.J. He was 91.

His death, in a hospital, was caused by complications of the coronavirus, which exacerbated a number of underlying health problems, said Howard Rees, his longtime business partner and collaborator.

[Those Weve Lost: Read about other people who have died in the coronavirus pandemic here.]

Starting in his teens and continuing beyond his 90th year, Mr. Harris performed, taught and toured with unflagging devotion, evangelizing for bebops stature as a form of high American modernism and helping to lay the foundation for the widespread academic study of jazz. Yet throughout his career he remained an independent educator: He never joined the faculty of a major institution, instead choosing to embed himself within New Yorks music community, reaching students of all ages.

For almost half a century, Mr. Harris led a weekly series of low-cost classes in the city, while also playing at prominent clubs around town and jetting off to perform and teach overseas. He was known for his acerbic tongue and his demanding nature, evidence of his passion for teaching.
So John becomes his last Op-Ed, and then I have to hate him, and he has to hate me, Ali said, because I disagree with his concept of wokeness, and we have to fight to the death.

The two other panelists offered a more literary approach to the question of who should be allowed, or allow themselves, to say what. Jennifer Finney Boylan, a memoirist and transgender activist, took on the issue of cultural appropriation, a subject on which she said she had two brains.

Boylan, a contributing Opinion writer for The New York Times, cited the recent furor over the novel American Dirt, and whether its white author had the right to tell a story (badly, some argued) about Mexican migrants to the United States.

Surely if freedom of expression means anything, it means the right to tell the stories we want to tell, to answer the demands of our own imaginations, period, she said. You can accuse writers of not writing well. But erasing artists because we do not like their art is despicable.

But at the same time, she said, as a transgender person, she understood the frustration at works that misrepresent your experience. Maybe a single movie or book doesnt matter that much, she said. But if you think defending freedom of expression is really all that important, then you have to think it does matter. A single movie or book can really shape the way people see the world.

Carmen Maria Machado, a memoirist and fiction writer, said she was worried about the impact of recent fierce online debates over the ethics of using another persons real-life experiences in fiction.
Will boosters worsen the vaccine gap?

As wealthy nations step up their booster campaigns to confront the Omicron variant of the coronavirus, the World Health Organization is concerned that vaccine equity could be further undermined.

Broad-based administration of booster doses risks exacerbating inequities in vaccine access, Alejandro Cravioto, a W.H.O. immunization official, told reporters on Thursday.

The rate of booster shots that are being given daily is outpacing first shots around the world.

Most current infections, which are still overwhelmingly being driven by the Delta variant, are affecting unvaccinated people, the W.H.O. said, which means that getting vaccines to those who have no protection should be the priority.

In some countries with low vaccination rates, supply is only part of the story. A New York Times analysis of data highlights the countries where infrastructure issues and the publics level of willingness to get vaccinated may pose larger obstacles than supply.
In its early years, the semiconductor industry did not have many customers. Few businesses in the 1950s could make use of the expensive new devices that allowed computers to function. But one organization could: the federal government.

The first shipment from Fairchild Semiconductor  the company that helped create Silicon Valley  was for the computers inside the Air Forces B-70 bomber. The Minuteman missile soon needed semiconductors too, as did other Cold War weapons systems and NASA equipment. It was government that created the large demand that facilitated mass production of semiconductors, as the author Fred Kaplan wrote in Slate.

This story is common across the history of technological progress. Individual businesses often cant afford to spend much on basic scientific research. Its outcomes are too uncertain for any one company to know which research will be profitable. In many cases, research that seems likely to benefit one industry ends up benefiting a different one.

Only the federal government tends to have the resources to make these investments. After it does, private companies then use its fruits to develop innovative and profitable products, spurring economic growth and tax revenues that comfortably cover the cost of the original research.
Bobby Kotick, the chief executive of Activision Blizzard, continues to face pressure over accusations that he didnt respond to claims of sexual misconduct from employees at the video game company. Now, a union-led investment group plans to demand that Mr. Kotick leave his position as an outside director at Coca-Cola, the DealBook newsletter was first to report.

The SOC Investment Group will ask Coca-Cola not to renominate Mr. Kotick to its board next year. The call by SOC, which works with union pension funds that it says manage more than $250 billion in assets (and was previously known as the CtW Investment Group), comes weeks after the group called for Mr. Kotick to resign as Activisions chief.

The group had initially campaigned against what it said was Mr. Koticks outsize pay package. It shifted gears after a California regulator accused Activision of tolerating pervasive sexual harassment, the Securities and Exchange Commission started an investigation and The Wall Street Journal reported that Mr. Kotick had known about complaints for years, often without acting. (Mr. Kotick denied many of the accusations in the report.)

SOC is focusing on Coca-Cola because of its public commitments to diversity and inclusion. We dont think hes an adequate person to serve as a director, Richard Clayton, SOCs research director, told DealBook. It is the latest effort to hold the beverage company to its stated commitment to social justice; the National Legal and Policy Center also cited the companys willingness to speak out on social issues when it demanded Mr. Koticks resignation from the board last month.
Amazon on Thursday was fined nearly $1.3 billion by Italian regulators who accused the company of breaking antitrust laws by giving special perks to third-party merchants who use Amazons warehouse and delivery system.

The decision by the Italian Competition Authority is one of the first instances of a regulator investigating how Amazon uses the combination of its vast logistics network and online marketplace to gain an advantage over competitors.

The regulator said Amazon gave merchants who pay to use the system, called Fulfillment by Amazon, enticements like access to Amazon Prime customers, meaning their products can often be shipped within 24 hours without delivery fees. The vendors also can participate in promotions like Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Prime Day that are not available to those who do not use Amazons fulfillment system.

The investigation found that these are functions of the Amazon.it platform that are crucial for the success of sellers and for increasing their sales, the competition authority said in a statement.
American Airlines said Thursday that it would fly fewer international flights next summer than it had planned because it was waiting for Boeing to address quality concerns and restart delivering the 787 Dreamliner jet.

The disclosure, made in a securities filing, is the latest sign that Boeing is struggling to overcome quality and other problems that have eroded its credibility and led to the ouster of its chief executive. The manufacturers troubles have also hurt its customers who cannot easily buy planes from another producer. Boeing has just one main rival, Airbus, and that company has a long backlog of orders.

American was expecting 13 new Dreamliners this winter, but Boeing has delayed deliveries of all of those planes. The manufacturer has said that the disruption to the production of 787 planes will cost it about $1 billion.

Boeing had paused deliveries of the plane briefly last year and again in May as it worked with the Federal Aviation Administration to address the quality concerns. The company slowed production of the plane over the summer and suffered another setback in October, when a supplier to Boeing said that it had provided parts that were made with the wrong titanium alloy.
HONG KONG  For weeks, global markets have been watching the struggles of China Evergrande, a teetering real estate giant weighed down by $300 billion or more in obligations that just barely seemed able to make its required payments to global investors.

On Thursday, three days after a deadline passed leaving bondholders with nothing but silence from the company, a major credit ratings firm declared that Evergrande was in default. Instead of resolving questions about the fate of the Chinese behemoth, the announcement only deepened them.

The firm, Fitch Ratings, said in its statement that it had placed the Chinese property developer in its restricted default category. The designation means Evergrande had formally defaulted but had not yet entered into any kind of bankruptcy filing, liquidation or other process that would stop its operations.

Its the nature of that next step  bankruptcy, a fire sale or business as usual  that remains unknown. In the United States and many other places, bondholders could push an unwilling company into some form of reorganization, usually in court, and divvy up the pieces.
Employees at a Buffalo-area Starbucks store have voted to form a union, making it the only one of the nearly 9,000 company-owned stores in the United States to be organized and notching an important symbolic victory for labor at a time when workers across the country are expressing frustration with wages and working conditions.

The result, announced on Thursday by the National Labor Relations Board, represents a major challenge to the labor model at the giant coffee retailer, which has argued that its workers enjoy some of the best wages and benefits in the retail and restaurant industry and dont need a union.

The union was leading in an election at another store, but by a margin smaller than the number of ballots the union was seeking to disqualify through challenges. The challenges must be resolved by the labor agencys regional director in the coming days or weeks before there is a result. Workers at a third store voted against unionizing, according to the board, though a union lawyer contended that some ballots had been delivered to the agency and not counted.

Although its a small number of workers, the result has huge symbolic importance and symbols are important when it comes to union organizing, John Logan, a labor studies professor at San Francisco State University, said in an email. Workers who want to form a union in the United States are forced to take a considerable amount of risk, and it helps if they can see others who have taken that risk and it has paid off.
Ernesta G. Procope, who transformed a storefront insurance brokerage in Brooklyn into what was billed as the nations largest insurance agency owned by a Black woman, with headquarters on Wall Street, died on Nov. 30 at her home in Queens. She was 98.

Her death was confirmed by her brother-in-law, Frederick O. Terrell. His wife, Jonelle Procope, who was the sister of Mrs. Procopes late husband and who was mentored by her, is president and chief executive of the Apollo Theater in Harlem.

Mrs. Procope began brokering policies for local small businesses and homeowners when she opened her business, E.G. Bowman Co., in the early 1950s. Decades later, she was handling accounts for major commercial, institutional and nonprofit clients like Pepsico and other Fortune 500 corporations as well as the New York City Housing Authority.

Along the way, she fought to provide African Americans and people in poor areas with access to insurance. When major insurers were reluctant to underwrite policies in Bedford-Stuyvesant, a largely Black Brooklyn neighborhood that they considered marginal, Mrs. Procopes firm hired limousines to ferry insurance executives there from Manhattan.
J. Carlo Cannell, whose hedge fund is Lees largest shareholder, with a more than 8 percent stake, is also opposed to Aldens bid. I have greater aspirations for my investors, Mr. Cannell said in an interview this week, and I see a path, that wont be an easy path but its not that difficult, to completely rejigger the company and grow it.

Harris Kupperman, the chief investment officer of the hedge fund Praetorian Capital Management, Lees second-largest shareholder, objected to the Alden proposal in a letter to Lees board on Wednesday.

Aldens proposed purchase price is clearly insufficient and opportunistic, grossly undervaluing the business, Mr. Kupperman wrote. Furthermore, their proposal comes precisely as the digital business transformation gains momentum, dramatically unlocking value for long-suffering shareholders.

Alden already owns a 6 percent stake in Lee and is seeking to add it to its stable of newspaper publishers. The hedge fund controls roughly 200 publications through its MediaNews Group subsidiary. In May, it purchased Tribune Publishing, the company behind metropolitan dailies including The Chicago Tribune and The Baltimore Sun, in a deal valued at $633 million.

Alden's critics have said that its approach is to buy newspapers and wring profits from them while making drastic cost cuts that are detrimental to local journalism. Alden, which did not immediately reply to a request for comment, has said that it saves dying newspapers.
Even when the citations are upheld by this federal court, some never make their way onto the Medicare website, known as Care Compare. In November, for example, the court sustained a major punishment against Life Care Center of Kirkland, Wash.  the nursing home that faced the first coronavirus outbreak in the United States  yet the citation is absent from the Medicare site. The facility has a five-star rating.

The pattern gives nursing homes a powerful incentive to pursue every available appeal. Even if they lose, the process eats up time and reduces the odds of damaging information ever becoming public.

There is every advantage to the facility not to have an opinion issued for as long as they could possibly delay, and theres no advantage to the public for that to occur, said Richard Routman, a lawyer who represented the federal government in nursing home appeals until 2014.

Once I realized that people wouldnt see cases that are on appeal, I thought, why would anybody ever look at this again?

Representatives of the nursing home industry say it is only fair that they be allowed to appeal citations before they are made public, especially since many end up getting overturned or downgraded. But The Times found that the appeals process can be one-sided, excluding patients and their families.

Jonathan Blum, the chief operating officer for C.M.S., said that citations are omitted during state-level appeals to be fair to nursing homes that are disputing inspectors findings. He acknowledged that even after appeals are exhausted, some citations still dont appear on Care Compare. He said C.M.S. is working to correct this issue.
For much of this year, Joseph Norwoods next breath was locked in a zero-sum competition with people eager to upgrade their iPhones.

Mr. Norwood has sleep apnea, meaning that he frequently stops breathing while sleeping.

A device known as a CPAP  or continuous positive airway pressure machine  can pump air into his body through a face mask while he sleeps, greatly reducing his risk of sudden death.

But such machines require computer chips, a component that is in critically short supply amid the Great Supply Chain Disruption. Mr. Norwood waited more than six agonizing months before he received his device.

It felt like forever, he said. I havent been working. I havent been doing much of anything.

Around the world, many of the largest industries are jockeying to secure scarce stocks of computer chips. Automakers have slashed production for a lack of chips, threatening jobs from Japan to Germany to the United States. Apple has cut back on making iPads. Retailers have prepared for a holiday shopping season pockmarked by shortages of must-have electronics.
Domaine des Ardoisieres Vin des Allobroges Argile Blanc 2019

Ive been enjoying the wines of the Savoie region of France for a long time, though primarily the reds and sparklers. This was the year I fell in love with Savoie whites.

Savoie is in the Alpine foothills of eastern France, where the border intersects with Switzerland and Italy. The whites, made of local grapes like altesse, mondeuse blanche and jacquere, all seem to have a breezy, cool feel to them, as if a fresh mountain wind were blowing right at you.

This bottle epitomizes the appeal of the Savoie whites. Its made of jacquere and mondeuse blanche, along with chardonnay, all organically farmed, and its almost shocking in its incisive precision and purity. Its easy to toss around the word terroir, but these wines truly have a sense of place.

Image Credit... Courtesy of Tess Bryant

Travis Tausend Adelaide Hills Riesling Opa, Watch Out! 2018

Travis Tausend is a thoughtful Australian producer who makes natural wines in the town of Hope Forest, on the southern edge of the Adelaide Hills, which, as he points out on the bottle, was originally the domain of the Peramangk people.

I was drawn to his carefully considered wines when I visited him in the Adelaide Hills in 2019. Ive rarely seen a bottle in the United States, but I spotted this one in June at Dame, a seafood restaurant that divides its wine list into two sections: one called James Bond, for the classics, and another titled Austin Powers, for the new-wave.

The riesling was even better than I remembered  fresh, energetic, textured and eminently digestible, a favorite word of Mr. Tausends, as I recall. At our outdoor table in Greenwich Village, the wine seemed to capture the peacefulness of the Hope Forest countryside.
The second act focuses on Agness friend, Mary (Molly C. Quinn), after she leaves the convent. As she navigates normal life, she connects with Agness former lover, a comedian named Paul Satchimo (Sean Gunn).

If that all sounds confusing and pointless, thats because it mostly is. There is a clear through line of faithlessness in the script by Reece and John Selvidge, but it is otherwise so aimless and underdeveloped as to turn this 93-minute film into a plodding slog. (If youre expecting to learn anything substantial about Agnes herself, for instance, you wont.) Couple that with erratic editing and endless horror cliches and you have a boring movie that, like its titular character, causes some bloodshed but for the most part does absolutely nothing at all.

Agnes

Not rated. Running time: 1 hour 33 minutes. In theaters and available to rent or buy on Apple TV, Google Play and other streaming platforms and pay TV operators.
An animated zoological romp about animals escaping Australian captivity, Back to the Outback plays, in many ways, like Netflixs response to Madagascar. Forget zebras and giraffes cavorting outdoors: Here, our heroes are smaller, grosser creatures confined in glass vivariums. Reptiles, arachnids and amphibians, oh my!

When the story begins, the venomous taipan Maddie (voiced by Isla Fisher) is crestfallen to find that zoo visitors recoil from her. She finds little solace in Chaz (Eric Bana), her macho handler who encourages onlookers to treat Maddie and her cast of invertebrate mates as dangerous gross-outs. A gentle creature, Maddie feels betrayed; she and her friends are coldblooded, but theyre warmhearted.
When members of the independent film community descend on Park City, Utah, for the Sundance Film Festival in January  after experiencing the previous edition virtually  they will bring with them movies that reflect the times from directors as varied as Lena Dunham and Michel Hazanavicius of The Artist.

Culling from 3,762 feature submissions, the Sundance programmers chose a diverse slate of 82 titles  including 39 by first-time feature directors  in a variety of genres that explore myriad themes, like tackling grief and battling the status quo.

Weve been through a lot these past two years and I think that has had a huge influence on what artists are concentrating on, Sundances director of programming, Kim Yutani, said. Some of that is fighting the system, really calling into question institutions, corporations. We saw a lot of films that are looking at the fight for democracy.

Examples include Rory Kennedys documentary Downfall: The Case Against Boeing, from Netflix, which investigates the two Boeing 737 Max crashes that killed 346 people; The Exiles, a nonfiction film centering on three dissidents after the Tiananmen Square massacre; and two films that examine the Jane Collective  an underground group of women from Chicago who between 1969 and 1973 helped women secure safe, illegal abortions before Roe v. Wade was handed down. One, the documentary The Janes, was directed by Tia Lessin and Emma Pildes, with HBO producing. The other, Call Jane, is a fictional feature from Phyllis Nagy (the screenwriter of Carol) with a cast that includes Elizabeth Banks and Sigourney Weaver.
The network, which has five schools in each New York City borough and one in Newark, N.J., stands apart from neighboring public schools by employing many male teachers of color, instituting a strict discipline code and holding longer school days and gatherings on Saturdays. The schools encouraged students to have frequent discussions about racial identity and cultural pride long before culturally responsive education was a subject of national debate.

But while two of the schools have done well on standardized tests, three have extremely low test scores and are considered some of the lowest-performing schools in the state.

The lowest scores are concentrated in the middle school grades, when students are new to the Eagle schools. The schools, which serve students in grades 6 through 12, have relatively high graduation rates, indicating that many students improve over their years there.

Mr. Banks spoke broadly about exams and accountability on Thursday, without mentioning his own schools struggles. The very fabric of how were actually measuring our children, and measuring progress for our schools, is fundamentally flawed, he said. It doesnt mean that test scores dont mean anything; they do. They just dont mean everything.

The lagging standardized test performance in some Eagle schools  despite their strong leadership and focus on structure  shows just how much work Mr. Banks has ahead of him as he seeks to improve hundreds of schools that have been struggling for decades.

How Mr. Banks and Mr. Adams will actually go about addressing the segregation, discrimination and a long list of failed initiatives that have helped create the citys extremely uneven school system is an open question.

Mr. Adams has immense power to change any aspect of the sprawling school district, with its nearly 1 million children and 1,600 schools. But he pledged Thursday to empower Mr. Banks and to disagree only behind closed doors.
Follow our live coverage of the Ghislaine Maxwell trial on federal sex trafficking charges.

Not long after prosecutors announce that they are resting their case in the trial of Ghislaine Maxwell, which could happen as early as Thursday, she and her defense team will be presented with a choice.

Judge Alison J. Nathan will ask Ms. Maxwell, who has been charged with recruiting, grooming and ultimately helping Jeffrey Epstein sexually abuse underage girls, if she wants to take the witness stand to tell her side of the story.

Defense lawyers generally advise clients against testifying in their own trial, but the decision is ultimately a defendants, and it could be pivotal in her case.

I think she would do more harm than good, said Mark D. Richards, the veteran lawyer who represented Kyle Rittenhouse, who was acquitted of two fatal shootings amid protests over police conduct in Kenosha, Wis., last year. At his trial last month, Mr. Rittenhouse testified in his own defense.
Mr. Malatrass allies had defended his actions by pointing out that he sent the text messages about 18 months before Ms. Boylan first accused Mr. Cuomo of sexual harassment. Mr. Malatras was also not among the Cuomo surrogates involved in the effort to retaliate against Ms. Boylan months later by leaking her personnel file to reporters, according to the state attorney generals report.

In the end, however, Mr. Malatras said the recent controversies had created an insurmountable distraction.

The recent events surrounding me over the past week have become a distraction over the important work that needs to be accomplished as SUNY emerges from Covid-19, he wrote in a letter to SUNYs Board of Trustees. I believe deeply in an individuals ability to evolve, change, and grow, but I also believe deeply in SUNY and would never want to be an impediment to its success.

The controversy around Mr. Malatras had grown into a political headache for Gov. Kathy Hochul, who replaced Mr. Cuomo and vowed to bring civility back to Albany by rooting out the bullying tactics that tarnished the Cuomo administration. Ms. Hochul this week had refused to call on Mr. Malatras to resign, saying that only the board of trustees could remove him.

On Thursday, however, Ms. Hochul confirmed reports that she had spoken on Wednesday night to Ms. Tisch about Mr. Malatrass future just before he decided to resign.

I think people understand that the position of the governor is not to stand out and make proclamations and statements, Ms. Hochul said about her reluctance to publicly call on Mr. Malatras to resign. Im more inclined to work behind the scenes and focus on results, and that is what Im going to continue to do.

Ms. Hochuls attempts to distance herself from Mr. Cuomo have lead to the resignation of nearly all of the officials who were part of Mr. Cuomos inner orbit, including most of his top staff, as well as his inspector general and health commissioner. Mr. Malatras had been one of the last holdovers.
The other day, something extraordinary happened. I went six hours  maybe even seven  without seeing anything on the internet about what a disaster Kamala Harris is.

I must have been haunting the wrong sites. Id clearly failed to check in with Twitter. Whatever the reason, I had a reprieve from Democratic carping about Democratic crises that reflected Democratic disunity and brimmed with Democratic doomsaying. Being briefly starved of it made me even more aware of the usual buffet  and of Democrats insatiable hunger for devouring their own.

To follow Harriss media coverage, made possible by the keening and wailing of her Democratic colleagues and Democratic analysts, shes not merely mismanaging an apparently restless, frustrated staff. Shes bursting into flames and incinerating everything in her midst, including Democrats hopes of holding on to the White House in 2024.

The chatter around Joe Biden is hardly cheerier. Riveted by low approval ratings for him that theyve helped to create, Democrats in government murmur to Democrats in the media that hes in dire political straits  which is partly true, thanks in some measure to all those fellow Democrats. As Jonathan Chait wrote recently in a cover story for New York magazine, Biden is trapped between a well-funded left wing that has poisoned the partys image with many of its former supporters and centrists unable to conceive of their job in any terms save as valets for the business elite.
Proposals to regulate algorithms are tempting, but many likely would run into the same First Amendment barriers as direct speech regulations. The First Amendment protects hate speech, misinformation and a good deal of other harmful speech. Regulating the algorithm would not avoid these problems. Courts have held that laws chilling the distribution of protected speech raise First Amendment concerns.

Some concerns that people raise about algorithms involve the platforms collection and use of personal data to target users with harmful content. Congress could address these issues more directly  and without the same constitutional problems as speech restrictions  via a strong national privacy law.

What is the most dangerous bill that has been proposed, and what is the best idea you have seen?

Its hard to pick just one dangerous bill. Im concerned about many proposals at the state and federal levels to restrict platforms ability to moderate. Conservatives have argued that platforms have unfairly blocked them from expressing their views. But the First Amendment protects platforms ability to exercise this discretion, no matter how unfair it might seem. Im worried about the Klobuchar-Lujan bill, which, during a public-health emergency, would remove platforms Section 230 protection for any health misinformation that a platform algorithmically promotes in a nonneutral manner. How does the bill define health misinformation? It leaves that to guidance issued by the secretary of health and human services. It shouldnt be difficult to imagine a scenario in which an H.H.S. secretary abuses this remarkable authority to suppress criticism of the administration. This comes far too close to a Ministry of Truth for my comfort.

Im intrigued by [Stanford Law professor] Nate Persilys proposal to require platforms to provide outside researchers with access to data. One of the biggest problems with the current debate is the lack of transparency among the large social media companies. The proposal would help to address this and inform the debate. But any such requirement would need to address the very real privacy concerns of providing access to such data. Relatedly, Ill give a plug for a nonpartisan, expert fact-finding commission that Ive been proposing for the past few years.

I also like some elements of the PACT Act. The bill contains many reforms, including an exemption to Section 230 if a platform declines to remove content that has been found defamatory in a lawsuit between the subject and the poster. Section 230s co-author, former congressman Chris Cox, does not think that Section 230 should cover such cases. I agree.

Will tech companies have to rely on other defenses like the First Amendment to protect themselves if Section 230 gets worn down? What does the post-230 world look like?

Many platforms have relied on other defenses in recent years, particularly as judges have increasingly voiced their distaste for Section 230. These defenses often involve more complex judicial inquiries than Section 230, requiring the platforms to engage in costly depositions, document production and other discovery. A trillion-dollar company like Meta could easily afford such expenses (and gee whiz, Meta is calling for Section 230 reforms). But a start-up that wants to be the next Meta probably couldnt. We dont know exactly what level of First Amendment protections courts would provide to online platforms, as Section 230s passage has made it mostly unnecessary for courts to determine that. But the First Amendment precedent, as applied to bookstores and other pre-internet defendants for decades, suggests that even without Section 230, plaintiffs would have a heavy burden to persuade courts to impose liability on platforms.
Regimes persist across decades. The Jeffersonian regime lasted from 1800 to 1828; the Jacksonian regime, from 1828 to 1860; the Republican regime, from 1860 to 1932; the New Deal order, from 1932 to 1980.

Opinion Debate Will the Democrats face a midterm wipeout? Mark Penn and Andrew Stein write that "only a broader course correction to the center will give Democrats a fighting chance in 2022" and beyond.

write that "only a broader course correction to the center will give Democrats a fighting chance in 2022" and beyond. Matthew Continetti writes that time and again, the biggest obstacle to a red wave hasnt been the Democratic Party. Its been the Republican Party.

writes that time and again, the biggest obstacle to a red wave hasnt been the Democratic Party. Its been the Republican Party. Ezra Klein speaks to David Shor, who discusses his fear that Democrats face electoral catastrophe unless they shift their messaging.

speaks to David Shor, who discusses his fear that Democrats face electoral catastrophe unless they shift their messaging. Michelle Cottle examines two primary contests that will shake the parties well beyond the states in play.

Reagans market regime of deference to the white and the wealthy has outlasted two Democratic presidencies and may survive a third. We see its presence in high returns to the rich and low wages for work, continents of the economy cordoned off from democratic control and resegregated neighborhoods and schools. Corporations are viewed, by liberals, as more advanced reformers of structural racism than parties and laws, and tech billionaires are seen as saviors of the planet.

Eventually, however, regimes grow brittle. Their ideology no longer speaks to the questions of the day; important interests lose pride of place; the opposition refuses to accept the leading party and its values.

Every president presides over a regime that is either resilient or vulnerable. That is his situation. When Eisenhower was elected, the New Deal was strong; when Jimmy Carter was elected, it was weak. Every president is affiliated or opposed to the regime. That is his story. James Knox Polk sought to extend the slavocracy, Abraham Lincoln to end it. The situation and the story are the keys to the presidents power  or powerlessness.

When the president is aligned with a strong regime, he has considerable authority, as Lyndon Johnson realized when he expanded the New Deal with the Great Society. When the president is opposed to a strong regime, he has less authority, as Mr. Obama recognized when he tried to get a public option in the Affordable Care Act. When the president is aligned with a weak regime, he has the least authority, as everyone from John Adams to Mr. Carter was forced to confront. When the president is opposed to a weak regime, he has the greatest authority, as Thomas Jefferson, Andrew Jackson, Lincoln, Roosevelt and Reagan discovered. These presidents, whom Mr. Skowronek calls reconstructive, can reorder the political universe.

All presidents are transformative actors. With each speech and every action, they make or unmake the regime. Sometimes, they do both at the same time: Johnson reportedly declared that with the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Democrats had lost the South for a generation, thereby setting the stage for the unraveling of the New Deal.

What distinguishes reconstructive presidents from other presidents, even the most transformative like Johnson, is that their words and deeds have a binding effect on their successors from both parties. They create the language that all serious contestants for power must speak. They construct political institutions and social realities that cannot be easily dismantled. They build coalitions that provide lasting support to the regime. Alexander Hamilton thought every president would reverse and undo what has been done by a predecessor. Reconstructive presidents do that  in fact, they reverse and undo the work of many predecessors  but they also ensure that their heirs cannot.
The Christmas tree went up in smoke within minutes early on Wednesday morning, a fiery blaze of artificial boughs raging outside the Fox News headquarters in Midtown Manhattan.

A man has been arrested, and, according to The Times, the police said they believed that he was homeless and they were investigating whether drugs or mental illness had played a factor. Inside the studio, the demise of the Fox Christmas tree struck a nerve: It was more evidence that New York, and maybe America, might be too far gone to be saved. It is about everything that we stand for as a country, an anchor said on-air on Wednesday of the tree. Its kind of all we have left.

A few conservatives in this largely liberal town arent feeling festive this year. Their neighbors keep voting for Democrats, and some of them are even protesting the police at regular intervals. The de Blasio mayoralty was one long nightmare of wokeness. Liberals have even taken over the Metropolitan Opera!

The difficult trials have driven a pair of famous conservatives to pen essays about why they are leaving New York.
Incidentally, many non-coronavirus vaccines are given in a three-dose primary series because that number of exposures has been shown to create a more robust immune response. It looks as though these vaccines may well follow a similar path.

Since this variant will cause breakthroughs in fully vaccinated individuals, its important to expand nursing home staff vaccine mandates to include third shots because of the gravity of the threat to the vulnerable population they work with. If staff members are less likely to get infected, they will be less likely to transmit.

The stakes are high enough to request that all visitors should be required to have received boosters, and also do a rapid test right before entering.

Rapid tests are good at detecting people when they are infectious, so workers should receive one before every shift. Its not a big deal. It can take about 60 seconds, with results in about 15 minutes. Employees should be guaranteed paid sick leave if infected so there would be no excuse for coming to work while sick. (Raising pay would also help make these jobs attractive enough for people to feel more motivated keep them by adhering to the necessary standards.) The costs of all this are far less than the costs of hospitalizations.

Residents should be closely monitored for symptoms and randomly tested. Increasingly, there are therapeutic drugs that can save lives, but most of them need to be administered early in the disease, which makes early detection crucial. Exactly how effective antivirals will be for the most frail remains to be seen, so an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Plus, mitigations need to target the means of transmission correctly. The coronavirus is airborne, so stopping its spread requires more focus on ventilation, air filtering and better masks, like N95s or KF94s, or surgical masks, preferably with braces that make them fit better. (Those more protective masks should be mandated for staff members and distributed for free to them.) Air can be filtered with HEPA filters, and opening windows can help when the weather allows. (Plexiglass barriers, however, are not only a waste of money, they can create dead spots with less ventilation, increasing risks.)

All these facilities should have outbreak plans in place. Its inhumane to simply lock everything down. Social support is crucial at every stage of life, and too often we are both late to react to threats, and slow to relax restrictions.
But social media platforms are different from newspapers in important ways. They are primarily vehicles for others speech, rather than their own. They do not exercise close curatorial control over the content they publish. They do not take responsibility for the content they publish in the same way that newspapers do  and the law does not require them to. There is also an incredible disparity in scale between (many) social media platforms and newspapers. Over the course of a day, the newspaper you are reading publishes a couple of hundred articles, but the big platforms publish hundreds of millions of posts.

Florida and Texas contend that these kinds of differences mean that social media companies are outside the protection of the First Amendment. That is clearly wrong. But the First Amendment should apply differently to social media companies than it does to newspapers, because social media companies and newspapers exercise editorial judgment in different ways.

The stakes here are high. The constitutional protection the Supreme Court has afforded to editorial judgment is essential and worth defending  for newspapers and for social media companies as well. This protection safeguards the right of editors of all kinds to decide for themselves which speech to publish and promote. It also serves as a crucial bulwark against government efforts to distort and control public discourse.

But the companies arguments would make it almost impossible for legislatures to enact carefully drawn laws that protect the integrity of the digital public sphere. They would make it difficult for legislatures to impose even modest transparency requirements on the companies, to require the companies to share data with academic researchers or to require them to provide explanations to users whose posts are removed or whose accounts are suspended. They would also make it difficult for legislatures to pass straightforward privacy laws limiting the information companies can collect and how they can use it.

Of course, whether any particular legislative proposal is constitutional will turn on its specifics. If the courts accept the companies arguments, however, many legislative proposals worth considering will be dead on arrival.

The federal appeals courts should not allow the companies to turn the First Amendment against the values it was meant to serve. They should strike down the Florida and Texas laws but reject the social media companies broader arguments. It would be terrible if the First Amendment were allowed to become an obstacle to carefully drawn legislation meant to strengthen democratic values online.
Ever since Stephen Sondheim died last month, certain images have been flaring in my head, so insistently that I have to catch my breath. They come with sound, of course  theyre inseparable from the music that feeds them. And they possess those heightened but elusive qualities that only firsthand memory confers.

Alexis Smith, in red spangles, winking at the audience as she launches into an irresistibly rhymed confession of a divided self in Follies (from 1971, and my first Broadway show). Angela Lansbury and Len Cariou rising through the stage floor as waxwork corpses, singing one of the most chilling reprises in Broadway musical history, in Sweeney Todd (1979). Mandy Patinkin finding anguished, atomic energy in a painters obsessive quest to render a hat on canvas in Sunday in the Park With George (1984).

Strangely, the visuals that come closest to evoking such moments are not the photos or videos of performances but, instead, black lines  and whorls and swirls and loops  on white paper. They are the work of the great theater caricaturist Al Hirschfeld, whose drawings of all things theatrical in the Sunday New York Times have entranced me since I was a child in North Carolina. Even then, these pictures seemed to breathe and move in a way the photographs in the same pages never could. Somehow, they even smelled like Broadway to me.
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When Stephen Sondheim died on Nov. 26, at age 91, my first impulse wasnt to listen to his songs or watch snippets of his Broadway musicals. Something in me instead wanted to see the wonderful Al Hirschfeld drawings of Sondheims shows and characters over the decades  how Hirschfeld captured the beating hearts of West Side Story and Company and Follies and Sweeney Todd and Sunday in the Park With George and Into the Woods and more.

As a boy growing up in the Boston suburbs in the 1970s, Hirschfelds images were my first ticket to Broadway, transported by their publication in the Timess Arts & Leisure section. And they were also how I formed an early bond with my parents, one that endured over time and even into their years with Alzheimers.

My parents werent really Sondheim fans; they loved Send In the Clowns because of Judy Collins, not his A Little Night Music. But they grew up going to Broadway shows and revered Sondheims mentor Oscar Hammerstein II and Hammersteins shows with Richard Rodgers; Oklahoma! was the first musical they took me to, in Boston, when I was 6. Around that time, I asked my parents why we got The Times when we didnt live in New York. They said they still considered themselves New Yorkers and they loved Arts & Leisure and the stories and drawings about theater.
Many homeowners across the country have seen spectacular gains on their investments amid the pandemic, though the soaring values have created a growing obstacle for would-be buyers. An extreme alternative for those who want to break free from renting is to hit the road in a recreational vehicle, as portrayed in the Academy Award-winning Nomadland. But between that lifestyle and the conventional American dream lies another option: the mobile home.

Mobile homes, unlike RVs, function the same as traditional stationary homes, except they can be moved to another site. And like traditional homes, theyve seen their values rise steadily, according to a study by LendingTree. In fact, the study found, mobile-home values increased faster than those of traditional homes between 2014 and 2019, including in 27 out of 49 U.S. states. (Mobile homes were generally not allowed until recently in Hawaii). Though the timeline predates the pandemic, it shows that the return on investment has long been comparable.

The study, which used data from the U.S. Census Bureaus latest American Community Survey, found that the national median value of a mobile home in 2019 was $53,000  about $180,000 less than a traditional home. That was a 39 percent spike over the median value in 2014, while traditional homes rose by 33 percent over those five years.

Much of this depends on where youre buying. In some states, like Nebraska, Iowa and Ohio, a mobile home could be had for less than $25,000, while in Washington, which had the highest mobile-home values, the median value was over $125,000. In Nevada, the value of a mobile home more than doubled over the five years; Delaware and Kansas were the only states where the value dropped.
To hear more audio stories from publications like The New York Times, download Audm for iPhone or Android.

One of the thus-far theoretical duties of the astronomer is to inform the public that something very big and horrible is about to happen: The sun will soon explode, a black hole has just wandered into Earths path, hostile aliens have amassed an armada right behind the moon.

In the new Netflix film Dont Look Up, a pair of astronomers, played by Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence, assume this responsibility when they discover that a planet-killing comet is headed straight for Earth and must spread the news.

It doesnt go well. The president of the United States, played by Meryl Streep, is more concerned with her poll numbers. Television talk show hosts ridicule the scientists. Rich oligarchs want to exploit the comets minerals. Dont Look Up may be the most cinematic fun anyone has had with the End of the World since Stanley Kubricks 1964 classic black comedy, Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb.
A brand-new space telescope will soon reveal a hidden vision of the cosmos, potentially transforming our understanding of black holes, supernovas and even the nature of the universe itself.

No, not that one.

Much attention is being devoted this month to the James Webb Space Telescope, from NASA and the European Space Agency, which is set to launch on Dec. 22. But a more exclusive cadre of astronomers watched excitedly on Thursday during the trip to space of a smaller, but also transformative, observatory.

NASA launched the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer, or IXPE mission, on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 1 a.m. Eastern. The spacecraft cost a mere $188 million, compared with the James Webbs mammoth budget of $9.7 billion, and is expected to demonstrate a new form of astronomy. It will, for the first time, perform imaging X-ray polarimetry in orbit, a technique that could offer astronomers insights that no other telescope can match.

Its giving us information about some of the most bizarre and exciting objects in space, said Thomas Zurbuchen, the associate administrator of NASAs science mission directorate.
In 2019, the year leading up to the pandemic, I had spent considerable time in Louisiana, sustaining the work I do as an artist and photographer, and seeking to create an engagement with African American history and the ways that those inherent tensions and traumas not only point us back to the past, but also find resonance in our contemporary moment. The long year of self-quarantine that followed afforded me the time and space to reflect even more deeply on what this work of mine might mean now.

Image Dawoud Bey. Credit... Sean Kelly

I had been researching and then beginning to make photographs on and around the landscapes of the Evergreen, Destrehan, Laura, Oak Alley and Whitney plantations on the western banks of the Mississippi. My choice of these locations  the sugar cane fields, cabins, swamps and trees  reflects my desire to make the sites of the foundational relationship between America and its Black citizens more resonant, and in so doing, to continue to make that troubled relationship present in our current conversations on race.

As history can often explain the present, so too does the narrative of the violent and inhuman exploitation of enslaved Blacks, a captive and unpaid labor force conscripted to work on American plantation soil. From that relationship, in which Black lives were exploited, expendable and deemed not worthy of basic human compassion, one can draw a straight line to the murder of Floyd. His merciless killing by a Minneapolis policeman echoes the brutality and cruelty enslaved African Americans faced at the hands of their overseers, on the very plantations I was now photographing.

After being away from the Louisiana plantation landscape for more than a year, I was finally able to return to those sites and resume my work. With all that had taken place since my last visit, the need to be there felt even more urgent. It made me wonder if the global response to George Floyds murder suggests that, more than a year later, we are in a very different place as a country than we were before.

Dawoud Bey is a MacArthur Fellow and artist whose work examines the African American past in the contemporary moment. His recent project of Louisiana plantation photographs, In This Here Place, is currently on view in Prospect.5 in New Orleans, and a major survey of his work will open at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston in 2022.
Shortly after she and my grandfather arrived in the United States from Mexico, they both worked in the Garment District of Los Angeles. As undocumented immigrants, the need to make ends meet and the fear of being deported were constant challenges. One day, immigration authorities detained my grandparents and drove them to a processing center. My grandmother told me that on the way she vividly remembered listening to radio coverage of the Apollo astronauts and marveled at how surreal it was that humans were exploring the moon. I imagine that, so many years later, it felt just as surreal when she visited our lab. I kept that story close to me.

In February, as Perseverance plunged into the Martian atmosphere just seconds before landing, I looked at the faces of my family, who were there with me via Zoom. I was standing on their shoulders. As they cheered, my eyes welled up with tears. Mija, ya llegamos a Marte, my Nana Tonita said. Somos exploradoras! (We made it to Mars. We are explorers!)

I flashed back to her Apollo story, and everything came full circle. So many of us are products of immigrants like my grandmother, who believed that there was something more out there for them. Whether they came to America for more opportunities, education or safety, they bravely took those first steps into an unknown, intimidating world. They risked everything, and they faced the many challenges of being first. But through their struggles and successes, they marked a landing site for the next generation and created a path for us to follow and build upon. My grandmother had been my Pathfinder, and I was her Perseverance.

I have come to appreciate that humanity is more like our anthropomorphized robotic explorers than we perceive. Like us, they come from generations of explorers. On Mars, we stand on the foundations built in years past by previous rovers: Curiosity, Opportunity and Spirit. Now Perseverance and Ingenuity push the boundaries of possibility.

Meanwhile, we will continue to weave our heritage, ideas and imaginations together. We will design and engineer new technology that helps us to better see whats out there. We will continuously push forward toward a better tomorrow.

Christina Diaz Hernandez is a payload systems engineer at NASA. The illustration at the top is by Luz Maria Martinez, who is a natural space environments engineer at NASA.
This is what the new way to wear makeup is all about.

After years of romanticizing no-makeup makeup, a catchall for the products to give the illusion of a bare (yet perfect) face, people are opting for self-expression as they weigh their appearance in a largely post-lockdown world. Many are back to socializing, eating out, vacationing, going to the office, events and, soon, holiday parties, and theyre hungry for ways to express their individuality.

The pandemic is one of few experiences that affected people all at once at a global scale. Those who were trapped at home, reduced to three inches of real estate on video calls, are now looking to identify or showcase themselves as special or unique. Makeup is one of the most approachable, affordable ways to do that, and it gives the opportunity, at its purest form, to be an artist with a blank canvas and a paintbrush.

There is a huge collision of cultural trends that are affecting the reinvention of makeup, said Sam Cheow, the global head of makeup innovation, portfolio and product development of the Estee Lauder Companies, including lockdowns, social media, Gen Z and a more discerning shopper. People hate to be told that this is the trend.

Its why the pandemic ignited a makeup rebirth in terms of how we apply it, the products and colors we use, and our attitudes toward beauty. Modern makeup is meant to reflect whats going on inside; it isnt about looking hot or as if youre not wearing any at all  its colorful, expressive, imperfect and meant to be seen.

According to 1010data, which analyzes consumer habits, online makeup sales in the United States (lip, eye and face categories combined) have increased by 29 percent in 2021, compared with 2019.
For more than a decade, Whitney White, a.k.a. @naptural85, has posted hair tutorials on YouTube for Black women, like herself, with natural, coily hair. A self-described natural hair OG, Ms. White, 35, mastered the art of the wash and go (the signature, curl-defining look for naturalistas), the pineapple (a way to gather hair at the crown to maintain hairstyles for sleeping) and the twist-out (a twisted, dried, then untwisted hairdo). She also taught viewers how to create nourishing shampoos, deep conditioners and hair masks for optimal hair health and growth.

Eventually many of her more than two million followers encouraged her to produce her own line of hair products. Now, as the co-founder of Melanin Haircare, she joins the ranks of Black, female-owned companies that sell products that cater to the needs of Black hair.

I am a Black woman, so I know what we want, Ms. White said. Its kind of our FUBU moment.

The global hair-care industry, worth an estimated $77.15 billion, is projected to reach $112.97 billion by 2028, according to Fortune Business Insights. Black-owned hair care companies are growing, increasing their market share to $2.5 billion in 2021, according to Mintel, spawning waves of Black, female hair-care enthusiasts with business acumen.

Recognizing the industrys considerable size, Monique Rodriguez thought that with her ingenuity she might have success in an industry dominated by people who didnt look like her.
Among cognoscenti, Guido Palau is one of the select few in fashion to have achieved mononym status. Mention the first name of the British hairstylist to insiders and they can readily reel off a litany of his memorable style moments. Think blowzy glam supermodels in the George Michael Freedom! 90 video; grunge-era Calvin Klein campaigns featuring Kate Moss when still a waif; stark theatrical collaborations with Alexander McQueen; and campy Versace shoots staged by Richard Avedon.

In ordinary times, Mr. Palau and his team spend months each year jetting around the planet to create influential ad campaigns and to style hair for top designer runways. The pandemic limited those activities, of course, and yet did little to curtail Mr. Palaus creativity. He still assisted at shows and photo shoots, not least an arresting January 2022 British Vogue cover that features the 56-year-old model Kristen McMenamy with her gray mane center-parted and dyed in rainbow hues. For much of the last two years, though, Mr. Palau has focused his energies on a series of coiffure experiments posted to Instagram and now assembled in a new book published by Idea: #HairTests.

Reached by telephone at his weekend house in Bridgehampton, N.Y., the hairstylist, who is 59, talked about his unlikely career trajectory and his conviction that hair can be a transformative medium.

Guy Trebay Youve been at the top so long people tend to forget how you got there.

Guido Palau To be honest, growing up in the England of the 60s and 70s, I was probably the least likely to succeed.
Megan Vices family lives on Long Island and wants her to come home for the holidays, but for the past few years, spending Christmas there has been a bummer. My parents dont even have a tree anymore, said Ms. Vice, a 31-year-old musician who lives in Los Angeles. I need to be doing things that make me happy, and for me, Christmas is not an enjoyable experience. As much as I love my parents, this holiday does not make me feel good.

This year, she will fly to Chiapas, Mexico, for a 10-day silent meditation retreat in the mountains. Its going to be intense, but I think it will be meaningful, Ms. Vice said. The pandemic has made me crave not just new experiences, but ones that are intentional.

The pandemic has taught other Americans that virtual connections can be as meaningful as in-person ones. If that is the case, they figure, why spend all the money and time to travel to be with family in person?

Tracy Lee, 40, who works in financial tech in Manhattan, loves visiting her parents and siblings who live in Montana, Arizona and Indiana. But Thanksgiving, when airfare is generally more expensive and the airports are packed, is not an ideal time to fly there. I would rather see my family when we can actually do things and not feel forced, said Ms. Lee, 40. Why not meet up in August and enjoy a nice week together and not force this holiday on all of us?

When she was away from her family over the pandemic, she learned how easy it was to keep in touch with them virtually. So she decided to do that for the holiday this year instead. We played a trivia game with them, some version of Heads Up, she said. It feels so natural to interact virtually since the pandemic. This is now how we make the holidays work.

Thom Tran, a stand-up comedian in Los Angeles, said the pandemic normalized virtual connections so much that this year he felt free to celebrate Thanksgiving away from his parents, who live in New York, completely without guilt.
A beauty-and-wellness-themed stocking is sure to leave loved ones in need of a little extra pampering looking and feeling their best. To that end  Gilded Body offers a handmade Marble Body Brush, a dry brush that tackles rough winter skin. Then theres Bathes Anointing Oils, which, when massaged into the skin before a bath or shower, create an immersive, aromatherapeutic experience. (Try any of the brands four calming scents  palo santo and vetiver; neroli and myrrh; lavender and sandalwood; and clary sage and citrus  or its Discovery Set, which includes a one-ounce bottle of each.) To spoil someone in need of serious unwinding, Crystal Greene, a facialist based in New York City, offers gift cards for her deeply relaxing La Sculpture facial, a rejuvenating treatment that incorporates massage techniques and leaves skin luminous. Once glowing from head to toe, your recipient will be in need of a finishing touch, perhaps in the form of Byredos Mad Red lipstick, a vibrant raspberry shade with a matte finish and a sculptural applicator thats perfect for any holiday party. Or, for a more unexpected trinket, throw in an elegant acetate toothbrush with silk bristles from Officine Universelle Buly 1803, which can be engraved with the future brushers initials in the font of your choice.
The Visit, one of the few postwar German-language plays to achieve international success, has had many lives since its 1956 premiere in Zurich. Its been adapted for the big screen and turned into an opera and a Kander and Ebb musical. Shortly before the pandemic hit, a misbegotten version by Tony Kushner played the National Theater in London. Yet the Stuttgart production, by the theaters artistic director, Burkhard C. Kosminski, is perhaps the most unusual of all these incarnations.

Durrenmatts perverse plot, about a wealthy woman who returns to her impoverished hometown and offers to make the villagers rich in exchange for lynching the man who wronged her long ago, has often been interpreted as an allegory for postwar European life in the shadow of National Socialist crimes. That reading is made explicit by this fascinating and frustrating production, in which the plays titular character is a Jewish woman whose being driven out of town in 1940 saved her from perishing in a concentration camp.

When she meets her old flame (Matthias Leja, another of the theaters 31 ensemble actors), they flirt nervously in both German and Hebrew. While Kosminski reimagines the main characters background, Dodina periodically steps out of the play to narrate, in Hebrew, her own biography as well as her mothers and grandmothers wartime experiences fleeing the Nazis across Central Asia. Dodina is mesmerizing as the plays avenging fury, as well as in her personal monologues, but its hard to see how the various elements add up. In the end, the modified and abridged Durrenmatt text and the actresss family reminiscences are an odd match, despite Dodinas committed and captivating portrayal.

The performance of The Visit I attended was the last that played to a full house. The next day, much of southern Germany slashed the numbers allowed in theaters there. Stuttgart got off lightly with 50 percent of capacity; in nearby Munich, most cultural events can go ahead with only a quarter. But for the most part, theaters, and their actors, have soldiered on as best they can while performing, once again, to comically small audiences.
Raising the question of cost does not mean I support discrimination against people with disabilities, he remarked in one committee hearing, where he argued that it was necessary to consider the bills costs and what could be done to mitigate them.

At the time the A.D.A. was introduced, Mr. Dole was being pressured by other Republican senators to draft his own competing disability bill, according to Maureen West, the legislative assistant who advised him on disability issues. In testimony around that time, Mr. Dole said he supported the concept of the bill, but he expressed concern that it would create unreasonable burdens for businesses and cause a flood of unnecessary litigation.

But after hearing from dozens of people with disabilities, Mr. Dole, then the Senate minority leader, decided to support the A.D.A.

It just made him rethink the importance and the momentum that there was behind this bill at that time, Ms. West said. I walked out with him, he was pretty quiet, and he said, We gotta make this bill happen.

Without Mr. Dole, several advocates said, it was possible the A.D.A. never would have passed. Or that, at the least, passage would have been significantly harder.

Dole was our linchpin to the Republicans, said former Senator Tom Harkin, a Democrat from Iowa and one of the lawmakers who introduced the A.D.A. He explained that Mr. Dole often told him of any problems Republicans had with the bill and helped legislators modify the bill to address those concerns. He also helped sell businesses on the bill by framing it as an investment they could make to gain a new customer base.

Mr. Doles involvement led to key provisions in the bill, Mr. Harkin said, such as the requirement that accommodations needed to be reasonable, ensuring that complying with the A.D.A. would not bankrupt a company, and tax credits that helped small businesses pay for the costs of putting accommodations into place.
SACRAMENTO  Californias big, domed, white Capitol is a grand and inspiring building. But Californias governors office? How to say this delicately?

Rinky-dink.

Thats how Arnold Schwarzenegger put it this week as he remembered the grand tour the departing governor, Gray Davis, gave him shortly after Schwarzenegger won the 2003 election in which Davis was recalled.

The cramped quarters. The drab decor. The way you could walk right past the entrance  in a bland, six-story space completed in 1952  and not even know its occupant was the leader of one of the worlds largest economies.

He showed me the bathroom and I was like, How do you have enough room even to pull your pants down? Schwarzenegger remembered, chomping a cigar and laughing during an interview on FaceTime from his home in Brentwood. It was not at all what California is about. It was embarrassing.
Four students were killed and several others were seriously injured in the Oxford shooting. Ethan Crumbley, 15, was charged with murder and terrorism. His parents, Jennifer and James Crumbley, were charged with involuntary manslaughter because the prosecutor said they should have known that their son was a danger to his school after buying him a gun. All have pleaded not guilty.

The actions of the school district, Oxford Community Schools, have also been under a microscope. At a news conference last week, the Oakland County prosecutor, Karen D. McDonald, outlined a chilling sequence of events that led to the shooting.

The day before the shooting, a teacher found Ethan Crumbley searching for ammunition on his phone. The school was aware, Ms. McDonald said, that he had recently visited a shooting range with his mother. And on the morning of the shooting, a teacher discovered an alarming drawing from Mr. Crumbley that included a gun, a person who had been shot and the words The thoughts wont stop. Help me.

Mr. Crumbleys parents were called to an immediate meeting at the school with their son. They were told to put him into counseling within 48 hours or risk being reported to Childrens Protective Services. They refused to take him home when asked to do so, according to the prosecutor.

The school district has said that staff members chose to return Mr. Crumbley to class following that meeting, after observing him behave normally in the guidance office. Mr. Crumbleys belongings were not searched for a weapon, and later that day, he began shooting after emerging from a bathroom, according to authorities.
This is the defining challenge of our time, Mr. Biden said, reprising a theme from his 2020 campaign, during which he argued that Mr. Trump had undermined democracy at home and coddled dictators abroad.

Aiming to put substance behind that rhetoric, the White House announced on Thursday that Mr. Biden planned to work with Congress to spend about $424 million to support independent news media overseas, combat corruption, aid activists, advance technology and defend fair elections. The administration also intends to combat digital authoritarianism through greater export controls of technologies that can empower surveillance states.

Particulars of how such initiatives might work were being discussed at the summit in sessions on elections, technology, the rule of law and human rights.

The summits two main foils, Russia and China, denounced the event before it even began. Last Friday, Chinas foreign ministry issued a report depicting an American government ruled by dollars and paralyzed by division and, citing the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, said that the gunshots and farce on Capitol Hill have completely revealed what is underneath the gorgeous appearance of the American-style democracy.

Russias foreign ministry spokeswoman last month called it pathetic that the United States claims the right to decide who is worthy of being called a democracy and who is not. The two nations even teamed up in the form of an unusual joint opinion essay by their respective ambassadors to Washington, which charged that the summit was based on a Cold War mentality that divided the world into competing blocs.

Gergely Gulyas, a leading member of Hungarys parliament, said his country does not have the same serious democratic problems as the United States, citing the millions of Americans who believe the 2020 election result was fraudulent, Hungarian news media reported.

But the event drew supportive words from participants on Thursday. Democracy is not a given, it must be fought for, Ukraines president, Volodymyr Zelensky, wrote on Twitter. Polands president, Andrzej Duda, said that his countrys support for democracy in Eastern Europe was a beautiful task, but it has its consequences. It has made us the target of the Kremlin propaganda. (Freedom House, a democracy advocacy group, finds that Polands ruling Law and Justice party has rolled back some of that countrys democratic progress, but still rates the country just below the United States in terms of political freedom.)
WASHINGTON  Beneath the dome of the Capitol he loved, Bob Dole was celebrated on Thursday for wit and grace, principle and persistence, but above all for civility and bipartisanship, in a subtle rebuke to a Republican Party that has changed much since Mr. Dole was its standard-bearer.

Addressing dignitaries of both parties gathered to honor the son of the Kansas Dust Bowl and a former Senate majority leader, President Biden used Mr. Doles own words as a pointed message to adversaries whom he sees as drifting from the moorings of democracy itself.

I cannot pretend that I have not been a loyal champion of my party, but I always served my country best when I did so first and foremost as an American, Mr. Biden said, quoting what he said were Mr. Doles final words to the nation. When we prioritize principles over party and humanity over personal legacy  when we do that, we accomplish far more as a nation. By leading with shared faith in each other, we become America at its best.
For Democrats, it was a crucial step toward completing a slew of must-pass bills this month, coming after Republicans and Democrats clinched an agreement on the annual defense policy legislation earlier this week, and on the heels of enacting a stopgap spending measure to fund the government until mid-February. Democrats were eager to focus their full attention on muscling through Mr. Bidens marquee domestic policy legislation before Christmas, though the prospects for doing so were murky.

While Democrats have not said how much they will increase the borrowing cap, it is expected that they will try to delay another fiscal standoff until after the midterm elections next year. One Treasury estimate suggested they would need to raise it by as much as $2.5 trillion to cover that period, according to a person familiar with the preliminary accounting who disclosed it on the condition of anonymity.

The legislative contortions were necessary because of Republicans intransigence on the debt limit. Given that Democrats are using the fast-track budget reconciliation process to muscle through Mr. Bidens $2.2 trillion climate, tax and social spending bill over their opposition, Republicans had demanded that Democrats use the same maneuver to address the debt limit.

Democrats objected, arguing that both parties were responsible for raising the borrowing cap to accommodate spending that had been approved by and incurred under both Republican and Democratic administrations. Reconciliation, they added, would be an unnecessarily complex and time-consuming way to do so.

In October, Mr. McConnell relented temporarily, corralling 10 of his colleagues to join him in breaking his own partys filibuster of a short-term increase to the debt limit, which then passed with only Democratic votes. But he warned in a scathing letter to Mr. Biden that he would not do so again. Two Republicans who supported the measure in October, Senators Richard C. Shelby of Alabama and Mike Rounds of South Dakota, withheld their votes on Thursday.

They could do this through reconciliation without any Republican support, Mr. Rounds told reporters ahead of the vote. We bailed them out by calling the question last time to give them an opportunity to do so, and yet they seem to have simply sat back and expected that we would once again provide special opportunities for them.

Mr. McConnell and Mr. Schumer began quietly discussing alternatives in November, including the possibility of attaching a debt-limit increase to the annual defense policy bill, the last must-pass piece of legislation trudging through Congress before the end of the year.
William Hartmann, one of two Republican election officials from Michigan who initially refused to certify the results of the 2020 presidential election in Wayne County, where Joseph R. Biden Jr. had trounced Donald J. Trump, died on Nov. 30 at a hospital in Wyandotte, Mich., near Detroit. He was 63.

About two weeks before his death, which was confirmed by the Michigan Republican Party, his sister, Elizabeth Hartmann, wrote on Facebook that Mr. Hartmann was in ICU with Covid pneumonia and currently on a ventilator. He had been outspoken in his opposition to Covid vaccines.

Mr. Hartmann drew national attention after he and another Republican member of the Wayne County Board of Canvassers, Monica Palmer, refused to certify the election results. Mr. Biden had won the county, which includes the city of Detroit, with 68 percent of the vote, compared with 31 percent for Mr. Trump.

The two election officials pointed to minor recording discrepancies involving a few hundred votes, though the discrepancies had no effect on the outcome: Mr. Biden won the county by more than 330,000 votes. But their refusal to certify the results left the Wayne County board, made up of two Republicans and two Democrats, deadlocked. It also threatened to hold up the certification of Michigans entire vote.
Some people are likely born more resilient than others, he added, but there is plenty of wiggle room to shore yourself up, and building social support is one of the biggest protective factors, according to decades of studies.

Find moments for optimism.

After the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, surveys found, up to 70 percent of people said they felt depressed. But 60 percent also reported that their relationships felt stronger, along with feelings of affection for loved ones. Based on a study of several dozen college students at the time, researchers concluded that gratitude, love and other positive emotions in the weeks after the event, even amid trouble sleeping and concentrating, provided a crucial buffer against depression.

To cultivate positivity, the researchers recommended seeking comfort in spiritual or religious beliefs, doing enjoyable activities and talking about the best of times  in therapy, if needed. Humor, relaxation and optimistic thinking can all help evoke positivity and facilitate coping in the midst of tough times, according to studies dating back to the 1990s. In our pandemic era, that might mean settling in with friends or family for a beloved comedy show.

Even if optimism doesnt come naturally to you, its a skill you can nurture, said George Everly Jr., a psychologist and public health expert at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, who has done research with dialysis patients and war veterans. There is neuroscience research indicating that even if you were born a pessimist, you can become an optimist, he said. We must come from this and say: What are the lessons learned?

Looking on the bright side can help people make sense of whats happening, Dr. Coulombe said. The pandemic was so disruptive, some people used that disruption as a way to do a fresh start.

This urge to make significant life changes struck Audrey Anderson, 30, who was coordinating cancer research trials at Stony Brook University in New York when the pandemic began. Quickly, she got reassigned to a trial testing plasma as a treatment for Covid-19  getting paperwork from patients, delivering plasma to clinicians and doing whatever else was needed. As part of her job, she also sat with cancer patients who were suddenly no longer allowed to have visitors to the hospital, keeping them company and answering questions about their treatment and Covid-19.

Working 80 hours a week, Ms. Anderson saw people get extremely sick and depressed, and some died. But she found strength in helping, echoing studies that find helping others can breed resilience and post-traumatic growth. And that positive outlook helped her start something new.
Increased government intolerance of independent reporting pushed the number of imprisoned journalists worldwide to a record high of 293 this year, more than a quarter of them in China alone, a monitoring group said in an annual survey released on Thursday.

The total is up from 280 in 2020 and is the sixth consecutive annual record for the number of jailed journalists worldwide as tallied by the monitoring group, the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists. Since the group established the database of imprisonments in 1992, it has become a global benchmark for measuring repression of journalists.

Joel Simon, the groups executive director, and Arlene Getz, its editorial director, said in releasing the survey that the relentless climb in the number of jailed journalists reflected differing circumstances by country, but that a common denominator was an increasing unwillingness among authoritarian governments to abide the public release of information that they considered a threat.

The number reflects two inextricable challenges  governments are determined to control and manage information, and they are increasingly brazen in their efforts to do so, Mr. Simon said. Imprisoning journalists for reporting the news is the hallmark of an authoritarian regime.
In the middle of one of the more politically perilous weeks of Boris Johnsons tenure, the British prime ministers office said on Thursday that his wife, Carrie Johnson, had given birth to the couples second child.

Mr. Johnsons office provided no other details. Britains Press Association reported that a spokeswoman for the couple said that it was a girl and that both mother and daughter are doing very well.

Ms. Johnson announced the pregnancy in July in an Instagram post. At the time, she also revealed that she had had a miscarriage earlier in the year, according to the BBC.

Ms. Johnson, 33, a former communications chief for Mr. Johnsons Conservative Party, had their first child, a son named Wilfred, in April 2020. At the time, Mr. Johnson was confronted by a slate of challenges, including the rising death toll in the early months of the coronavirus pandemic and his own bout with Covid-19, when he was one of the first world leaders to test positive.
In Denmark, theyre calling it minkgate.

A government decision last year to cull Denmarks herd of 17 million minks for fear that infected animals could transmit the coronavirus to humans prompted a huge outcry in a country that had been the worlds top exporter of the high-quality mink skins commonly used in coats.

On Thursday, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen was grilled by a parliamentary commission about the decision last year by her government, which resulted in the loss of 5,000 jobs in Denmark  and also turned out to be illegal.

Testifying on Thursday about the decision to cull the mink herd, Ms. Frederiksen denied knowing that the government lacked the legal authority to order the slaughter of the entire population of the animals, as she has done before.

She said she was only made aware of this on Nov. 8, 2020, days after she announced the governments decision. The government later acknowledged that it only had legal powers to kill infected animals, prompting the minister of agriculture to resign.
Prime Minister Sanna Marin of Finland apologized late Wednesday after photographs surfaced of her dancing maskless in a nightclub on Saturday night, one day after she came into contact with a government official who had tested positive for the coronavirus.

I did wrong, she said in a television interview on the public broadcaster Yle. I should have considered the situation more carefully.

Coronavirus restrictions in Finland, as in many European countries, have evolved and changed over the past two years. Currently, those who are double vaccinated, like Ms. Marin, do not need to isolate after coming into contact with someone who tests positive for the virus.

But separate guidelines for government ministers and employees recommend that they limit social contact immediately after exposure, according to Finlands Helsingin Sanomat newspaper.
PARIS  President Emmanuel Macron, in a rare news conference, called on Thursday for the European Union to change from a Europe of internal cooperation to a powerful Europe active in the world, fully sovereign, free in its choices and master of its own destiny.

Speaking on the eve of the six-month French presidency of the European Union, which begins Jan. 1, Mr. Macron said the slogan chosen for this period would be relaunch, power and belonging. Power is not a word often held up as a goal by a union that emerged from the ashes of war.

The presidents assertive tone over a two-hour meeting with journalists, the first half of it taken up by his own speech, reflected his determination to forge European sovereignty as the only means for the continent to count in the 21st century between an autocratic China and a United States whose focus has moved away from Europe.

Many Europeans have become convinced of the unreliability of the United States as an ally and protector, and of the economic and ideological threat from China  reasons to build a more independent Europe. But how ready other European states, especially Germany, are to embrace Mr. Macrons vision is not clear.
The Nobel committee cited the pairs courageous fight for freedom of expression. They were the first journalists to win the Nobel Peace Prize since 1935, when it was awarded to Carl von Ossietzky, a German who was then detained in a concentration camp by the Nazis. Ms. Ressa has said she believes the Nobel committees focus on journalists this year signaled that, once again, we are on the brink of the rise of fascism.

Mr. Muratov lamented on Sunday that Propaganda has convinced the majority of the Russian people that democracy is harmful and that it leads to collapse.

He accepted the award as some 100,000 Russian troops were massing on the countrys border with Ukraine, raising anxieties about a potential invasion. At a news conference on Thursday in Oslo, Mr. Muratov warned that authoritarianism is inextricably linked to war.

Disbelief in democracy means that the countries that have abandoned it will get a dictator, he said. And where there is a dictatorship, there is a war. If we refuse democracy, we agree to war.

It was a message similar to the one contained in Mr. Sakharovs Nobel address in 1975. It was delivered by his wife, the activist Yelena Bonner, because he was barred from leaving the Soviet Union to deliver it in person.

Mr. Sakharov is considered the father of the Soviet hydrogen bomb. Realizing the destructive power of nuclear weapons and concerned about the ethical implications of his work, he later became an advocate for nuclear disarmament and human rights.
LONDON  With cases of the Omicron variant doubling every three days and the government doing an about-face on restrictions it had long resisted, Britain is bracing for a new coronavirus surge, unsure if it will be a relatively minor event or a return to the dark days of earlier pandemic waves.

So far, the number of Omicron cases  817 confirmed by Thursday, though officials say the real figure is likely much higher  is small compared with the daily average of 48,000 new coronavirus cases overall. But the governments Health Security Agency warned that if the recent growth rate continues, we expect to see at least 50 percent of Covid-19 cases to be caused by the Omicron variant in the next two to four weeks.

Early evidence in Britain backs up tentative findings elsewhere, notably in South Africa, where the heavily mutated new variant is already widespread: It appears to be the most contagious form of the virus yet, a previous case of Covid-19 provides little immunity to it, and vaccines seem less effective against it. But it also seems to cause less severe illness than earlier variants.

Britains experience with Omicron may be a harbinger of what others can expect. Until now, it has been looser about social restrictions than many other nations in Western Europe, and Britain ordinarily has extensive travel to and from South Africa, so it could be the first wealthy country to be hit hard by Omicron. It also has one of the worlds most robust systems for sequencing viral genomes, so it can identify and track new variants earlier and more thoroughly than other countries.
BAGHDAD  The U.S. military on Thursday said it had completed its transition from a combat mission in Iraq to one meant to advise, assist and enable Iraqi forces that are battling the remnants of the Islamic State.

While the announcement signaled the latest shift in the mission in Iraq since the United States invaded 18 years ago, the move does not reduce the number of American forces in the country; rather, it will keep the same numbers of soldiers  roughly 2,500  on the ground in support roles.

We have come a long way since the coalition answered the call for help, Maj. Gen. John W. Brennan Jr., the commander of the anti-ISIS task force in Iraq, said in a statement. In this new phase, our transformative partnership with Iraq symbolizes the need for constant vigilance.

For the Iraqi government, the stated removal of combat troops was a political victory aimed at fending off pressure from Iranian-backed political parties and militias opposed to any presence of U.S. forces. It follows talks between President Biden and Mustafa al-Kadhimi, Iraqs prime minister, in July, after which the president committed to removing all combat forces by the end of the year.
Moon Cube and Mysteries of the Solar System Shannon Stirone  Gazing at the planets and stars

CNSA

Experts say the cube is just a rock. The rover is driving over to study it.

Paul Byrne at Washington University in St. Louis said, That cube thing? Its a boulder. Possibly of interest to those of us who like rocks. But thats all it is.
Lily Sullivan spent years bouncing among rentals and roommates, happy to explore different Brooklyn neighborhoods but never quite finding the right place.

Her last rental was a large two-bedroom in Williamsburg, a wild unicorn of an apartment above a vape shop, she said. The walls were textured, the bathtub purple. She paid $1,250 a month for her half and filled her room with vintage finds. The walk to her office at Maude, a sexual wellness company, where she works in marketing, was 20 minutes.

A year after Ms. Sullivan graduated from Washington University in St. Louis, her mother died and left her a small inheritance. Ms. Sullivan, now 27, decided early this year that it was finally time to give myself the sense of stability you lose when a parent dies so young. Besides, she said, I was ready not to live with a roommate.

[Did you recently buy or rent a home in the New York metro area? We want to hear from you. Email: thehunt@nytimes.com]

As a first-time buyer, she was nervous about making such a big commitment. Online, she connected with Manek Mathur, a real estate agent who was then at Elegran and is now at Serhant.

Ms. Sullivans budget was $600,000, and in many Brooklyn neighborhoods, you can get something pretty comfortable in a co-op studio for that price range, Mr. Mathur said.

It was fortunate, however, that Lily preferred a charming older building, he added. If she had been looking for a condo that was shiny and brand-new, it would have been tough to find something in her price range.

I wanted something with character, with a story, something that felt like a community, Ms. Sullivan said. With her background in graphic design, she was eager to do some cosmetic work, but she wanted to avoid extensive renovations.

Another goal was to remain close to her Brooklyn friends, although she wanted something quieter than the Williamsburg experience.

Gauging size and proportion from listing photos, she found, was difficult. It wasnt until she saw a place in person that she could understand how far the door frame is from the fireplace, she said. She readily declined a tiny garret (all of 375 square feet) on the fifth floor of a Brooklyn Heights walk-up, as well as a 700-square-foot, ground-floor duplex in Clinton Hill, with a basement sleeping area.

She knew she would be both picky and decisive. I looked at four on a Saturday and two on a Sunday, and put an offer in on Sunday night, she said. It was fast.

Among her options:
Editors note: This article focuses on suicide and contains details about those who have taken their own lives. If you are having thoughts of suicide, or are concerned that someone you know may be, resources are available here .

As Matthew van Antwerpen, a 17-year-old in suburban Dallas, struggled with remote schooling during the pandemic last year, he grew increasingly despondent. Searching online, he found a website about suicide.

Any enjoyment or progress I make in my life simply comes across as forced, he wrote on the site after signing up. I know it is all just a distraction to blow time until the end.

Roberta Barbos, a 22-year-old student at the University of Glasgow, first posted after a breakup, writing that she was unbearably lonely. Shawn Shatto, 25, described feeling miserable at her warehouse job in Pennsylvania. And Daniel Dal Canto, a 16-year-old in Salt Lake City, shared his fears that an undiagnosed stomach ailment might never get better.

Soon after joining, each of them was dead.

Most suicide websites are about prevention. This one  started in March 2018 by two shadowy figures calling themselves Marquis and Serge  provides explicit directions on how to die.

The four young members were among tens of thousands around the world who have been pulled in. On the sites public forums, in live chats and through private messaging, they discuss hanging, poison, guns and gas. Strangers seek out partners to meet face to face and kill themselves together.

Participants routinely nudge one another along as they share suicide plans, posting reassuring messages, thumbs-up and heart emojis, and praise for those who follow through: brave, a legend, a hero.

Though members are anonymous, The New York Times identified 45 who had killed themselves in the United States, the United Kingdom, Italy, Canada and Australia  and found that the trail of deaths is likely much longer.

More than 500 members  a rate of more than two a week  wrote goodbye threads announcing how and when they planned to end their lives, and then never posted again. In many of them, people narrated their attempts in real-time posts. Some described watching as other members live-streamed their deaths off the site.

Most of the narratives cited the same lethal method, a preservative used for curing meat, The Times found. By promoting the preservative as a poison, the site has helped give rise to a means of suicide that is alarming some coroners and doctors. Yet many public health and law enforcement officials are unaware of it.

Its disgusting that anyone would create a platform like this, said Dr. Daniel Reidenberg, a psychologist and the executive director of Suicide Awareness Voices of Education, a national nonprofit. Theres no question that this site, the way they created it, operate it and allow it to continue, is extremely dangerous.

While 10 of the identified suicides have been previously reported, the Times investigation reveals the broader scope of the deaths, the growing use of the poison and the influence of the site. Reporters analyzed more than 1.2 million messages from the site, examined members online histories, reviewed hundreds of pages of police and coroner records, and interviewed dozens of families left behind.

The site now draws six million page views a month, on average  quadruple that of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, according to data from Similarweb, a web analytics company.

Most members reported that they had experienced mental illness and were 30 or younger, according to a survey last year by the site. That age group roughly aligns with the demographic in the United States  15 to 24  that had the sharpest rise in suicide rate from 2009 to 2019, the most recent data available.

Change in U.S. Suicide Death Rates in the Past Decade While those ages 45 to 54 had the highest suicide rate in 2019, the greatest percentage increase in the decade leading up to 2019 was among those ages 15 to 24. 60% higher than in 2009 15-24 years old 45% higher than in 2009 40 25-34 years 20 45-54 years 0 Older age groups 20 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 60% higher than in 2009 15-24 years old 45% higher than in 2009 40 25-34 years 20 45-54 years 0 Older age groups 20 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 60% higher than in 2009 15-24 years old 45% higher than in 2009 40 20 0 Older age groups 20 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Note: The chart shows the percentage change in suicide deaths per 100,000 people in the United States for each age group. Each line is based on a three-year rolling average. Data for those ages 14 and younger are not included because their suicide rate is very low.

Among them was Matthew. Despite the strain of virtual high school, he had appeared to be looking to the future. He and his older brother were mapping out a summer road trip with friends. He had applied to Texas A&M University and intended to become a public defender.

I want to help people, his mother, Sharon Luft, recalled him telling her. He was just a sweet kid.

Matthew van Antwerpens bedroom. He was 17. Ashley Gilbertson for The New York Times

His other plans took shape quickly and secretly. In only 29 days, Matthew joined the site, learned of the lethal preservative and ended his life, listening to a playlist that hed said made him nostalgic for his childhood.

My son committed suicide at 17 two weeks ago, Ms. Luft tweeted in January, calling out the site. They told him how to, encouraged him after he took the mix.

Please help me, she wrote, joining the calls of other parents for Marquis and Serge to be held accountable and for the banning of the site, called Sanctioned Suicide.

In considering how much detail to provide about the website and its content, Times journalists interviewed mental health officials and suicide researchers, as well as parents and former members of the forum. Editors decided to identify the site and the preservative used in many of the suicides  as some other news outlets have done  in order to fully inform readers about the dangers they pose, particularly to the young and vulnerable.

Australia, Germany and Italy succeeded in restricting access to the site within their borders, but American law enforcement officials, lawmakers and technology companies have been reluctant to act.

While most states have laws against assisting suicide, they are inconsistent, rarely enforced and dont explicitly address online activity. Federal law shields website operators from liability for most harmful content posted by users. Court decisions have left unsettled questions about protected speech.

And when asked to stop steering visitors to the suicide site, the worlds most powerful search engine deflected responsibility. Google Search holds a mirror up to what is on the internet, a senior manager for the company wrote to Australian officials in February 2019.

Marquis and Serge have vowed to fight any efforts to take down the site. They have experience running websites with dark content: They operate several online forums for incels, or involuntary celibates, men who believe that women will never have sex with them because of their looks or social status. Many on those sites openly discuss a fatalistic outlook, including thoughts of self-harm.

The two men have worked to shield the suicide site and to frustrate efforts to learn who is behind it. The servers have been moved from country to country. Marquis and Serge use multiple aliases and have removed nearly every trace of their real identities from the internet. Still, The Times found them, thousands of miles apart, in a city in Alabama and the capital of Uruguay.

In online posts, Marquis repeatedly said that the site complied with U.S. law and did not permit the assisting or encouraging of suicide.

He has several times referred to the site as a pro-choice forum that supports members decisions to live or to die. People are responsible for their own actions at the end of the day, Marquis wrote last year, and theres not much we can do about that.

Family photos of Daniel Dal Canto end at age 16. Ashley Gilbertson for The New York Times

You Sort of Felt Safe, but You Werent Safe

Daniel Dal Canto, a high school junior, arrived on the suicide site with little idea of how to end his life.

Three years earlier, he had been depressed, prompting his parents to steer him into months of therapy and medication. Now he was drumming in a jazz band, playing video games with friends and getting straight As. To those around him, including his father, a physician, the 16-year-old seemed to be doing well.

It almost created a false sense of security for me because I thought I knew what a depressed Daniel looked like, his mother, Pam Dal Canto, said in an interview.

To Daniels parents, Richard and Pam Dal Canto, he had seemed to be doing well. Ashley Gilbertson for The New York Times

But in September 2019, Daniel, expressing anxiety over his stomach pain, was gathering information and advice from the website.

It came online after Reddit shut down a group where people had been sharing suicide methods and encouraging self-harm. Reddit prohibited such discussion, as did Facebook, Twitter and other platforms. Serge wrote days after the new site opened that the two men had started working on it because they hated to see the community disperse and disappear. He assured users that this isnt our first rodeo and we know how to keep the website safe.

On their site, Daniel could browse a resource thread, a table of contents linking to methods that were compiled by members and stretched for dozens of pages. Or he could click on a suicide wiki page with similar instructions. Fellow members often derided therapy and other treatments and encouraged one another to keep their suicidal intentions hidden from relatives and medical professionals.

In posts, Serge and Marquis noted their own struggles.

Not much to tell about myself except that Ive never really found a reason to be here, Serge wrote. There is little that I find worthy in this life.

Marquis had been on the brink of suicide at one point, he disclosed. And he had concluded that the mental health system fails everyone and treats people with problems as outcasts.

Explaining the purpose of the site, he wrote, This community was made as a place where people can freely speak about their issues without having to worry about being saved or giving empty platitudes.

While some of those drawn to the website described suffering from physical pain, most mentioned depression, bipolar disorder or other mental illnesses.

About half were 25 or younger, the survey showed; like Daniel, some were minors. One shared, Im 13, I ran away from home 1 month ago. Another, who claimed to be 14, wrote in a post about contemplating suicide, My dad would probably be really angry.

The suicide rate has risen over the past 20 years in the United States. About 45,000 people take their own lives each year  more than die from traffic accidents. (That figure does not count the hundreds of physician-assisted deaths in the nine states where they are legal and restricted to the terminally ill.)

Suicide Deaths in the United States 2019 14 deaths per 100,000 15 deaths per 100,000 10 2000 10.7 deaths per 100,000 5 0 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2019 14 deaths per 100,000 15 deaths per 100,000 10 2000 10.7 deaths per 100,000 5 0 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2019 14 deaths per 100,000 15 deaths per 100,000 10 2000 10.7 deaths per 100,000 5 0 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Note: Chart shows the age-adjusted three-year rolling average.

For many people, suicidal thoughts will eventually pass, experts say. Treatment and detailed plans to keep safe can help. But clinicians and researchers warn that people are much more likely to attempt suicide if they learn about methods and become convinced that its the right thing to do. The suicide site facilitates both.

Its like when someones having road rage, handing them a gun, said Dr. Matthew Nock, a psychology professor and suicide researcher at Harvard University.

While there is discussion on the site about not giving up hope and the merits of staying alive, there is much more about the reasons to die. Among the most viewed posts, for example, are the goodbye threads.

One member, a 45-year-old Englishwoman named Emma Davis, recalled feeling shocked the first time she read a goodbye thread and the messages of support it drew. But reading more and more of them, it just becomes normal, she said in an interview.

It felt like you were wrapping yourself up in this blanket of all of this misery and darkness, said Ms. Davis, who eventually found the site dangerous and quit. You sort of felt safe, but you werent safe.

Within several weeks, Daniel settled on the lethal preservative, sodium nitrite, one of the most discussed topics on the website. Members guided one another to online sellers. They advised on obtaining it without alerting family. And they shared directions for using it.

As Daniel took in the information, he asked in a post: What could he do if his attempt with the preservative failed?

Moments later, a member calling himself Stan responded.

Stan, who had shared on the site that he was depressed, divorced and largely estranged from his children, made it his mission to learn all he could about the preservative as poison. He would later write a guide on the method that turned him into a celebrity on the site.

In September 2019, when someone posted that she was planning to die by poisoning the next night, Stan quickly replied, Keep talking to us, you are not alone. When another member wrote that he had booked a hotel and decided on dosage, then asked if the plan was OK, Stan responded, Dont stray from the method now.

And he had an answer for Daniel about trying again. Still, the teenager had doubts as he planned his demise.

I thought that you were supposed to feel happy as you near your bus date, Daniel wrote, shorthand for catch the bus, a phrase that members use in referring to suicide. Is a part of me just desperately hanging on?

In the sites written rules, assisting and encouraging suicide were prohibited, while providing factual information and emotional support was not. In practice, some members urged others on, whether with gentle reassurance or with more force.

When a woman with bipolar disorder from Brighton, England, explained that she had twice attempted suicide and didnt want to further distress her two sons, another member messaged her, Im sorry your sons got traumatized but you know you need to kill yourself.

When an Australian disclosed that he had become suicidal because of persistent behavioral problems, several members taunted him. Maybe he/she can film it, wrote one person, joining others in sarcastically calling for popcorn for a viewing. Weeks later, the young man took his life.

No sooner had Daniel expressed his uncertainty than another member commented: Setting a date has always upset me. I just keep extending it, but I wont be able to forever. I dont think youre doing anything wrong. Hang in there.

Then, on Oct. 3, the teenager posted a photograph of a bottle of the lethal preservative and announced that he would take it that weekend. But hours later, he posted again. Things had changed: A disagreement with his parents had prompted him to move up his plans.

I hope youll be there :), he wrote.

Later that night, he thanked other members for all of the good wishes. He noted that he was a little scared but had specific plans, drawing a flood of messages: 11 hugs, four likes, three loves and two awws  the emoji crying a single tear.

At 2:30 a.m., Ms. Dal Canto lay awake and got up to check on Daniel. There was her son, dead in bed.

Daniels room, more than two years after his death. Ashley Gilbertson for The New York Times Thank you for all of the good wishes, and for the amazing community. You have all been a great help in many ways. Im a little scared... 3 11 4 2

Theyll Never Prevail With Censorship

In December 2019, two months after Daniels death, a coroner in England called for a government inquiry after discovering that members of the site had advised a troubled young woman on ending her life. German officials had already begun an investigation, worried about potential harm to children.

And Australias eSafety Commission, the nations regulator for online safety, had been looking into the site for months, after a father reported that his 22-year-old son had poisoned himself with the preservative.

We were very concerned about having it out there in the open, what that would mean to potentially thousands of other families who had a vulnerable child or a vulnerable person, Julie Inman Grant, the eSafety commissioner, said in an interview.

Julie Inman Grant, Australias eSafety commissioner, and Toby Dagg, chief investigator with the commission. Matthew Abbott for The New York Times

Later, a site member in Leeds, England, would ask in his parting words for the forum to be shut down. Please do your best in closing that website for anyone else, Joe Nihill, 23, implored in a suicide note.

An excerpt from a suicide note left by Joe Nihill, who died in April 2020.

Serge and Marquis were determined to protect the site  and themselves.

The two men had taken pains to scrub their personal identifying information from the internet and obscure the names of companies hosting the website, making it difficult for authorities and families of the deceased to take action against them.

As Australia began its investigation, the site was moved to a new server, according to a post by Marquis. And when Australian law enforcement officials tried to contact the site, he later wrote, We ignored their emails and requests for information.

In March 2020, after the site was removed from online search results in Germany, the company hosting the site threatened to take it down over its violation of German law. Once again, the site was moved.

We have been planning for the worst for years, Marquis wrote in November 2020, citing daily server backups and the purchase of alternative domains, and we are confident even if they coordinated all those takedowns at the same time (which is very unlikely), we could be back online within 24 hours.

The two took other precautions. Serge warned members they would crack down on anyone publicly sharing personal contact information. He also said they would begin closing the accounts of those who had posted goodbye threads, a step that kept loved ones and law enforcement from gaining access to them later.

If youre preparing your departure, please contact a mod so we can help with preparations, Serge wrote, directing members to moderators.

The Times identified 45 people who died by suicide after spending time on the website. (Their names, and in some cases their cities, have been withheld here.) 16-year-old female, Illinois 16-year-old male, Salt Lake City 17-year-old male, Frisco, Texas 18-year-old male, Houston 18-year-old male, Bassano del Grappa, Italy 19-year-old female, Richmond, Va. 19-year-old male, Rome 19-year-old male, Rome 20-year-old male, Texas 20-year-old female, Costa Mesa, Calif. 20-year-old female, Radcliffe, England 20-year-old female, Palermo, Italy 21-year-old male, Langley, British Columbia 21-year-old male, Sunderland, England 22-year-old male, Australia 22-year-old male, Perth, Australia 23-year-old male, Leeds, England 23-year-old female, Glasgow 24-year-old female, Cumbria, England 24-year-old female, Scotland 25-year-old female, York Haven, Pa. 25-year-old male, Connecticut 25-year-old male, Portadown, Northern Ireland 25-year-old female, Wisconsin 26-year-old male, North Carolina 27-year-old male, Schertz, Texas 28-year-old female, New Jersey 28-year-old female, North Haven, Conn. 28-year-old male, Scotland 29-year-old male, Widnes, England 30-year-old male, Canada 30-year-old male, Italy 30-year-old male, Grapevine, Texas 31-year-old female, Amherst, Ohio 31-year-old male, Leiston, England 31-year-old male, Kansas City, Mo. 31-year-old female, England 32-year-old female, Missouri 32-year-old male, Leicestershire, England 35-year-old male, Mississippi 35-year-old female, Kirkhill, Inverness, Scotland 42-year-old male, Hilliard, Ohio 49-year-old male, Darlington, England 56-year-old male, California 58-year-old male, Texas

Concerned about legal liability, Marquis explained, the men were requiring prospective members to tick a box affirming they were 18 or older, though he made clear in a post that the site would not ask for proof.

Links to a suicide hotline and other mental health resources appeared on the site, as did a new public forum focusing on recovery from suicidal thoughts. But Marquis also noted that people who registered only to use the recovery forum will be denied most likely.

As several deaths drew scrutiny from news organizations, he claimed that critics wanted total annihilation of this website, dismissed coverage as the usual pro-life BS and vowed to take drastic measures  going to court  to stop efforts to take it down.

Theyll never prevail with censorship and we will fight every one of their attempts to do so, Marquis wrote.

His fierce defense drew praise from members. Many said the site was a rare safe space to share their feelings. Some said it had helped them realize they did not want to die.

People idolized him, Ms. Davis, the former member, said of Marquis, the more vocal of the two men.

For all the devotion they commanded online, website participants had little idea who Marquis and Serge actually were.

Marquis dropped some hints in his posts. His father had been in the military. He was about 7-8 years old on Sept. 11. And he acknowledged his struggles with suicidal thoughts and wrote that he was among those who had been immensely helped by talking to people on the forum.

Serge was more private. He didnt appear to share biographical information and would later remove his posts from the site, essentially erasing his visible connection to it. (The Times viewed screenshots and archived web pages that had captured messages posted by Serge before he deleted them.)

On video chats and other virtual events, neither man showed his face.

But in June 2019, BuzzFeed News reported that in addition to the suicide site, the two men were running the incel websites.

Money didnt appear to be the motivation. Both men seemed to have found their identity and sense of purpose in the online world of incels, many of whom share a dark outlook known as black pill. In 2017, when Reddit had banned an online group of incels for encouraging violence, Serge started an independent site for them, soon joined by Marquis, who had written to him about his interest and skills as a system administrator.

By then, several deadly attacks had been carried out by men expressing grievances common among incels. American authorities would later flag incels as an emerging extremist threat. Radicalization experts warned that some were prone to misogyny, suicide and violence.

On the incel sites that Serge and Marquis run, many members have expressed anger at society; some commend those who commit violence, and fantasize about doing the same. An Ohio man who was a frequent poster on one site was indicted this past July for allegedly plotting to slaughter women. In a podcast interview about incels, Serge said that much of the discussion was suicide fuel.

But he and Marquis claimed they were helping those on the sites by allowing them to freely express themselves and face hard truths, a rationale similar to one they have offered about their suicide site.

100 Most-Viewed Posts on the Suicide Forum 53 Instruction or discussion posts about suicide methods 28 Posts narrating suicide attempts 19 Other discussions Note: Posts represented are the 100 with the largest numbers of pageviews, as of Oct. 3, in the Suicide Discussion section of the website. This section contains about 75 percent of the websites posts, while the Recovery section contains about 5 percent and the Offtopic section about 20 percent.

If people want to change, if they want self-improvement, basically the whole web is out there to go for that  Reddit, Facebook, Twitter, all the big ones, Serge said during a virtual panel discussion about incels in January. But if we are being honest, not everyone has a way out.

The sites rely on search engines to drive traffic. About half of all visits to the suicide site come that way, according to data from Similarweb.

But when Australian officials asked Google, the dominant business, and Microsofts Bing in 2019 to remove the site from their search results, they refused to do so absent a legal requirement.

It was not Googles role to pass judgment on any sites containing content that was legal, as objectionable as it might be, a senior manager told the Australians.

Parents of those who had died would later get a similar answer.

Jess Miers, a legal policy specialist in Googles Trust and Safety division, responded to a request for help from Kelli Wilson, whose 18-year-old son hanged himself in Texas last year after finding instructions on the site. Ms. Miers told her in a private written exchange that she had spoken with someone running the site  who was using one of Serges known aliases  and found him unhinged.

In tweets, Ms. Miers acknowledged that the site had moderation problems and that content encouraging suicide slipped through. But she also said that the website and Google were shielded by the First Amendment. (Ms. Miers said in a recent interview that she hadnt been speaking on behalf of Google.)

Asked about the website, a Google spokeswoman, Lara Levin, said, This is a deeply painful and challenging issue.

In a written statement, she said Google tried to help protect vulnerable users, including ensuring that suicide hotlines are visible. But, she said, we balance these safeguards with our commitment to give people open access to information.

As for Bing, a Microsoft spokesperson said the company was continually working to help keep users safe.

Shawn Shattos bedroom. She was 25. Ashley Gilbertson for The New York Times

Look, Heres the Crimes Code

Jackie Bieber went to the district attorneys office in York County, Pa., in July 2019, pleading with officials to investigate the death of her daughter, Shawn Shatto, two months earlier.

In most states, including Pennsylvania, assisting suicide is a crime. Ms. Bieber shared with prosecutors some exchanges on the suicide site that she thought showed just that activity.

When Ms. Shatto, who suffered from severe social anxiety, depression and other mental health conditions, posted that she wanted to die because she hated her Amazon warehouse job, members offered affirmation.

When she worried that she had screwed up her suicide plans, others assured her she was on track. And when she shared after taking the preservative that she was terrified, several wished her success and safe travels.

Ms. Bieber, in an interview, recalled identifying the relevant section of the Pennsylvania statute and telling the officials, Look, heres the Crimes Code.

Jackie Bieber, with her husband, Chip. She pleaded with law enforcement officials to investigate her daughters death. Ashley Gilbertson for The New York Times

While federal law protects the site operators from being held liable for most content posted by users, the members could be vulnerable to criminal charges.

William Haider, a retired detective in St. Paul, Minn., helped investigate a man convicted in 2011 for assisting in the suicide of someone he had met on a previous suicide website and sent instructions on hanging. Im convinced that there are smart people out there wearing a badge that could handle this type of internet crime, Mr. Haider said in an interview.

But the definition of a crime depends on the jurisdiction. State suicide laws vary. Some specify that assistance must be physical. Only a handful criminalize encouragement.

And the laws havent always withstood court scrutiny. In the Minnesota case, the state Supreme Court found that the law was overly broad: While it affirmed that assisting suicide by offering instructions was a crime, the court ruled that prohibiting the encouragement of suicide was an infringement on free speech.

Whats more, police forces and prosecutors are often unaware of the state laws, The Times found. And because suicide is no longer considered a crime, as it was for centuries, they see little reason to investigate it.

Law enforcement is reflecting societal attitudes, said Guyora Binder, a law professor at the University at Buffalo, who has written about suicide laws. We typically see suicide as the unfortunate decision of an individual.

In Pennsylvania, the local police told Ms. Bieber they didnt have jurisdiction if the site members who had communicated with her daughter lived out of state. The county prosecutor promised to pursue the case, but two years later, there is no sign that he did.

In Long Beach, Miss., a friend of a 35-year-old man who died from the preservative also sought police help. One site member had offered to advise the man on acquiring the poison discreetly; another exchanged private messages as he was ingesting it.

But Detective Brad Gross, who handled the case, said in an interview that without evidence of physical assistance with the suicide, it wouldnt be considered criminal behavior. To him, online communication didnt feel malicious.

It would have been different if it was, Hey look, man, I need you to do this, and hold the pillow, he said. As far as any kind of cybercrime, he added, were far from equipped to deal with any of that.

Some law enforcement officials outside the United States have also declined to investigate the operators and members of the site, believing the online activity falls outside their jurisdiction.

Officials in several countries consider the forum an American website. Italian investigators said they concluded that because a site administrator  apparently Marquis, using another of his fake names  provided them with a business address in the United States.

Those factors influenced an investigation in Scotland. Roberta Barbos, a Romanian psychology student at the University of Glasgow, was contacted by a man after she posted a message in November 2019 that she was 22, based in Scotland and looking for a male partner to hold her hand through her suicide.

She and her boyfriend had broken up, and she had sunk into a deep depression, writing, Sometimes loneliness hurts so much that I can barely hold myself together. In private messages on the suicide site and later on WhatsApp, a fellow member said he could help.

Im based in Glasgow, and have a hell of a lot of experience with hanging  Id be happy to aid if you want. No pressure, no judgment and at your own pace.

Ms. Barbos met the man, Craig McInally, at a local cafe. But afterward she cut off communication.

Within weeks, prosecutors in Glasgow contacted her. Mr. McInally had persuaded two other women from the site to meet him, and then had sexually assaulted and tried to hang each of them, court documents say. (Last week, he pleaded guilty to reckless conduct; charges involving the second woman had been dropped after she declined to participate.)

Law enforcement officials, however, were not investigating the site, which a spokeswoman for the Scottish police said was hosted out of its jurisdiction.

Ms. Barbos got pulled deeper into the suicide forum. She was learning more and more about poisoning. And she was getting swept up in private messaging with a member in Bulgaria, who had offered support. I wish I couldve felt real affection before doing this, she told him.

She managed to escape a predator. But she didnt escape suicide. In February 2020, Ms. Barbos ended her life while messaging with that member on the site.

It swallowed her, said her mother, Maria.

How Is This Site Still Allowed?

The Times investigation led to an elegant three-story apartment building in Montevideo, Uruguay, and a modest two-bedroom townhouse in Huntsville, Ala.

The man calling himself Serge is Diego Joaquin Galante; Marquis is Lamarcus Small.

Reporters pieced together their identities and roles with the site from domain registration and financial documents, their online activity, public documents including court records, and interviews with seven people who had interacted with either of them.

The domain and financial records were never intended to become public. They came to light after a domain seller the site operators had used was hacked this fall, resulting in the release of millions of records. In addition, The Times obtained photographs of Mr. Small and Mr. Galante that were a match with Marquis and Serge.

Records show that Mr. Galante, 29, resides in the Montevideo apartment with his family  several siblings, his mother and his father, who is a lawyer. Mr. Small, 28, lives with his mother and brother in the townhouse.

Mr. Smalls family life has been tumultuous. His father, who has served as an Army officer, and his mother divorced. She was accused of attacking her husband in 2010, and then her adult daughter four years later, according to police complaints.

Mr. Small had his own troubles. In 2017, a bank sued him for $6,578, and wages from his remote work for a Colorado tech company were garnished until that job ended in 2019.

In two recent phone interviews, Mr. Small denied any involvement with the site. He said that he did not know how his credit card number, name, address and phone number had appeared on an invoice for the suicide website domain name. He suggested first that the information might have been stolen, then that his brother, whose name appears on several documents, might have made the purchase.

Mr. Small did not respond to subsequent phone calls, texts, emails and a letter delivered to his townhouse. Despite similar efforts by The Times to contact his brother, he did not respond.

Mr. Galante, when reached by phone, initially said he knew nothing about the suicide website and hung up. Days later, after receiving a letter from The Times, he acknowledged in an email that he had posted on the site as Serge, but he denied that he was a founder or operator of it.

Records show that Marquis described him as a co-founder of the site and often mentioned in posts that the two had conferred on rules and practices. Serges own posts identified him as an administrator.

In his email to The Times, Mr. Galante defended the site as a positive influence that improved the lives of some members. But, he said, I am deeply sorry that there are people who decide to end their life. He noted that the suicide wiki page has been taken down. The extensive information about methods remains, however.

Sharon Luft, Matthews mother, and other parents want more.

Im talking to moms that their kids are dying, theyre so frustrated, Ms. Luft said in an interview. And friends ask, How is this site still allowed?

He was just a sweet kid, said Matthews mother, Sharon Luft. Ashley Gilbertson for The New York Times

In January, Robert Davis, a senior vice president at Epik, the domain seller that was later hacked, read Ms. Lufts tweet pleading for help.

Concerned, he had several phone conversations with someone he identified as the site owner. In an email to The Times, Mr. Davis said he had concluded that that person and the site administrators lacked the empathy, compassion or intent to appropriately utilize the platform for future good. Epik terminated its services for the suicide site, effectively removing it from the internet.

Within days, it was back, with a slightly different domain name.

Some parents had taken their battle to shut down the site to Washington, in phone calls and Zoom meetings with lawmakers. Those efforts also had little effect.

There has been growing bipartisan agreement that a 1996 law governing online activity  Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act  is in need of reform. In most circumstances, the law shields websites from liability for content that users post on their platforms.

The need for more regulation was repeatedly raised during congressional hearings in October, as Democrats and Republicans alike blasted Facebook and Instagram for content about body image and eating disorders that harms teenage girls. But with tech companies resisting sweeping reform, and the two political parties pursuing different agendas, not much has changed.

As the months went by, more members of the suicide site died. A 21-year-old lifeguard outside Vancouver. A 25-year-old online gamer in Portadown, Northern Ireland. A 31-year-old musician in Kansas City, Mo. An 18-year-old high school student in Italy.

And just this fall, a 30-year-old man in Grapevine, Texas. Newly unemployed, going through a breakup and deeply in debt, he found his way to the site, making his first post in late September. Three days later, he was gone.
Mark Paoletta

Project Veritas is using Mark Paoletta, ex-counsel to vice president Mike Pence, to inform members of Congress of the FBI Nov. 6 raid of the Mamaroneck home of its founder & conservative activist James OKeefe.

The FBI launched the effort to seek information about the alleged theft of a diary belonging to President Bidens daughter, Ashley.

Project Veritas has said it received a copy of the diary last year but has not published any of its contents.

Journalist groups have condemned the FBIs action as a gross violation of the First Amendment.

A Manhattan federal judge on Dec. 7 rejected a bid by The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press to force the FBI to divulge the legal reasoning behind the raid.

Paoletta, who also was chief counsel for oversight & investigations for the House Energy & Commerce Committee, is with the firm of Schaerr Jaffe.
Donelle Harder

Pinkston, a strategy and communications consultancy based in Falls Church, VA, acquires messaging and communications firm Pliris Strategies. Pliris founder and CEO Donelle Harder, who previously served as a senior advisor to Oklahoma governor Kevin Stitt, will join Pinkston as a senior vice president. Pliris and its existing staff will remain based in downtown Oklahoma City, where the agency has offices. Donelle has built an incredible practice during some of the hardest years to build a business in recent history, said Pinkston founder and partner Christian Pinkston. She and her team bring breadth and depth of perspective that will fuel our continued growth and help us make a bigger impact for and through our clients.

The DRAM Agency, which will provide digital marketing consulting and services to wine and spirits suppliers, is launched by beverage alcohol distributor Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits. DRAM (which stands for the Digital Revolution of Alcohol Marketing) has already been working with Southern Glazers suppliers to provide access to key platforms and equip them with the necessary tools and information to maximize media effectiveness. With this new agency service, Southern Glazers can provide industry-leading data and analytics, as well as media buying power to increase the efficacy of suppliers digital strategies and improve share of shelf across digital platforms, said Southern Glazers vice president, B2C eCommerce Nathan Mansperger.

PROI Worldwide creates the PROI Founders Award to recognize outstanding contributions to the organization. The first Founders Awards have been awarded to Allard and Valerie van Veen, and Claire Parsons. Allard van Veen, along with his wife Valerie, was the owner of a leading Canadian communications agency when he served as one of the founders of PROI. In the more than 50 years since, he served as global chair of the organization, and then was global managing director from 1994-2020. In the van Veens honor, PROI made a contribution to Doctors Without Borders. Clare Parsons, chair of longtime PROI partner Lansons, was the first woman to serve as global chair of PROI, during the 2018-2020 term. In Clares honor, PROI made a contribution to The Felix Project, a London-based organization that collects fresh, nutritious food that cannot be sold, and delivers this surplus food to charities and schools.
Devin Nunes

Guess the Presidential Medal of Freedom wasnt enough for Congressman Devin Nunes, who plans to become CEO of Trump Media & Technology Group in January.

Donald Trump said Nunes, who has a degree in agricultural business and began his career as a farmer, will make an excellent leader of his media empire.

But as chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, Nunes served as Trumps chief lackey to the point where he made a secret trip to the White House to brief the then-president on the House probe into the Russian intervention in the US elections.

Trump rewarded his guy with the Medal for helping to "unearth the crime of the century" and "thwart a plot to take down a sitting United States president." Fake news.

Good government groups didnt exactly applaud Trump bestowing the Medal on Nunes.

Irvin McCullough of the The Government Accountability Project criticized Nunes for abandoning the bipartisan tradition of whistleblower protection and said it was dangerous to reward misconduct.

Nunes claims to be humbled and honored that Trump picked him to head his company. Cmon Devin, its your payback for shilling for Trump.

The press release issued by Trump Media and Technology Group cited Nunes' Presidential Medal of Freedom award among his achievements.

Thats pretty rich.

Global income inequalities are about as great today as they were at the peak of Western imperialism of the early 20th century, according to the 2022 World Inequality Report.

The share of income captured by half of the worlds people is about half of what it was in 1820, according to the Report.

Nations have become richer over the past 40 years but their governments have been poorer. COVID-19 escalated the trend as governments had to borrow from the private sector to fight the pandemic.

The Report predicts the low levels of government wealth will make it harder for them to tackle inequality and challenges presented by climate change.

The average adult earned $23,380, while people in the Top Ten income group earned $122,110. A person in the poorest half of income distribution made $3,920 in 2021.

The Report found that the US, Russia and India chalked up spectacular increases in inequality," while Europe and China experienced small increases.

What a difference a pandemic makes Moderna, a little-known biotech startup prior to the COVID-19 outbreak that hit it big time by developing a vaccine, ranked as one of Morning Consults fast growing brands for 2021 among Baby Boomers and Gen Xers.

Factoring in Gen Z adults and Millennials, Moderna took the No. 2 slot, while better known vaccine rival Pfizer weighed in at No. 17.

Baby Boomers also were bullish on Smirnoff Vodka, Crown Royal, Vizzy Hard Seltzer and Tylenol, while Gen Z loaded up on Wendys, Chipotle Mexican Grill, Snickers and Ruffles.

The War on Christmas comes home to roost. A 50-foot artificial Christmas tree that stands outside News Corp's Rockefeller Center headquarters that houses Fox News, Wall Street Journal and New York Post, was set afire in the early morning hours of Dec. 8.

A 49-year-old man climbed up the trees metal superstructure, shoved papers into the trees branches, lit them and then climbed down to watch it burn.

Police arrested the suspect but have not yet determined if he is a fan of Fox News, which launched the modern day War on Christmas.

Former Fox News entertainer Bill OReilly kicked off the farcical onslaught on Dec. 7, 2004 when The OReilly Factor aired a segment called Christmas Under Siege.

He told viewers: All over the country, Christmas is taking flak. In Denver this past weekend, no religious floats were permitted in the holiday parade there. In New York City, Mayor Bloomberg unveiled the holiday tree, and no Christian Christmas symbols are allowed in the public schools. Federated Department Storesthats Macyshave done away with the Christmas greeting Merry Christmas.

News Corp has vowed to rebuild the tree, which stars in its holiday promotions, in time for Dec. 25.

Its Rupert Murdochs way of saying, Merry Christmas.
A review of abortion services in Ireland is being welcomed by Offaly Minister Pippa Hackett.

The review will comprise a public consultation, research on abortion care, and research on the views of the service providers.

The introduction of abortion services in this country in 2018 was a milestone for women, but we now need to ensure that those who need termination of pregnancy services are receiving quality care in all parts of the country, says Minister Hackett.

I have been particularly concerned about the lack of services to women in the Midlands and other rural areas.

Along with the Oireachtas All Party Group on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, Minister Hackett has been pressing the Minister for Health to implement this review, with an independent chair. She also called for a geographical overview of services to be included in the review.

In 2020, 14 people from Laois, 28 from Offaly and 19 from Westmeath contacted the HSE My Options Helpline. This helpline provides information and support on all options, including continued pregnancy supports and abortion services.

Its important that people are not disadvantaged by their geographic location, nor should they experience any cost barrier to accessing services. I want to be sure we use this review effectively to close the gaps in care, says Minister Hackett

I would encourage everyone who has used abortion services  or found it difficult to access services  to have their say in the public consultation.

You can contribute through the online survey HERE or by emailing your submission as an attachment (PDF or Word doc) to Bioethics2Unit@health.gov.ie with the subject line: Review of the Operation of the Act.
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Unexplained delays by the NSW governments property tribunal has forced a Sydney woman, her five-year-old daughter and her elderly parents to move back into a damp, mouldy apartment.
The judge ruled that the 49-year-old must spend the rest of his life behind bars without the possibility of parole.
New German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has begun her inaugural trip to some of Germany's neighbors. First stop: Paris. She has pledged to put international climate policies front and center.
Social Democrat Nancy Faeser is one of the lesser-known members of Chancellor Olaf Scholz's new team.She has vowed to make the fight against racism and right-wing extremism her priority. That's why she entered politics.
Australia, the UK and the United States will pay the price for their "mistaken acts", after deciding not to send government delegations to February's Winter Olympics in Beijing, China's foreign ministry has said.
The health secretary says other gatherings held last year could be included in an official investigation.
Police have released an e-fit image of a man they want to identify after the sexual assault of a woman in south London, near where Sarah Everard was abducted earlier this year.
A tribunal has found that China is guilty of genocide against the Uyghur people and other minorities in Xinjiang.
Tamworth Herald 22 Dec 2021

The Prime Minister says no new measures will be brought in in England before Christmas - but he doesn't rule it out for afterwards
The bipartisan vote shows support for ramping up economic sanctions against the Chinese government. It bars any goods manufactured by Uyghurs in internment camps in Xinjiang.
President Joe Biden presented a new tagline for his $1 trillion infrastructure deal on Wednesday as he tries to get the Americans' trust about the proposal.
Germany's Angela Merkel handed over the chancellor's office to Olaf Scholz, marking a new beginning to Europe's largest democracy. The new chancellor is expected to face a difficult road in leading the nation and living up to expectations left by Merkel's government.
Abortion remains safe after Canada removed restrictions on the medical abortion pill mifepristone in November 2017, according to a new study. The study used comprehensive government health data to examine 315,000 abortions in Ontario between 2012 and 2020. An analysis showed no increase in abortion-related health complications following the removal of restrictions on mifepristone.
Beijing (AFP) Dec 8, 2021



As Chinese real estate behemoth Evergrande reportedly prepares for a government-backed mega-restructure, here is an explainer on what Beijing's bid to limit a contagion could mean for the wider economy: - What happened to Evergrande? - The Chinese government sparked a crisis in the property industry when it launched a drive last year to curb excessive debt among real estate firms as well
Boris Johnson is facing questions over whether he misled an investigation into a donation for refurbishments to his Downing Street flat after a watchdog fined the Tories 17,800.
Russias military has warned the Ukrainian government against trying to settle a separatist conflict in eastern Ukraine with force, a statement that adds to the tensions sparked by a Russian troop buildup near the Ukrainian border.
Under sharp questioning by senators of both parties, Mosseri challenged statements that research found Instagram to be addictive for children. He said the site has take steps to protect young users.
The Senate approved a resolution Wednesday overturning the Biden administration's requirement that businesses with 100 or more workers have their employees be vaccinated against the coronavirus or submit to weekly testing. (Dec. 9)


The head of a U.S. Senate panel examining social media's negative effects on young people has dismissed as "a public relations tactic" some safety measures announced by Instagram, the popular photo-sharing platform associated with Facebook.
The Finnish Prime Minister has admitted that she "should have used better judgment" even though she did not break any official..

euronews 07 Dec 2021
New Zealand plans to make it illegal to sell cigarettes to anyone aged 14 and under from 2027. The ban will remain in place for the..

News24 09 Dec 2021
South Africa has seen increased cases of Covid-19 with the Omicron variant, which has pushed the government to make this move.
"South Africans may travel to Germany", says its government, under a short list of very specific circumstances.
Canada on Wednesday banned conversion therapy, which are treatments that claim to be able to change a person's sexual orientation..

Upworthy 09 Dec 2021
Newsday 05 Jan 2022

The odds of rain is 60%A today andA it will be mild, withA a high of 50 degrees, the National Weather Service said.
(AP)  A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter crew braved poor visibility and frigid rapids to reach a car partly submerged in water near the brink of Niagara Falls, then lowered a rescue swimmer on a hoist who pulled out the woman trapped inside.

She did not survive.

Video from the harrowing rescue attempt showed Petty Officer 2nd Class Derrian Duryea, in an orange suit and with an axe in his left hand, buffeted by winds and spraying water as he was lowered 80 feet (24 meters) to the car through falling snow. After slowly spinning and swinging past the car, he was able to grab hold on the passenger side and open the door.

As I was coming down I was just really focused on how am I going to get in this car when theres, you know, pretty much rapids coming over the car right next to Niagara Falls, Duryea said by phone later after returning to Selfridge Air National Guard Base, northeast of Detroit, where the crew is stationed. My sole focus was which window or door am I going in."

Luckily, the car was unlocked and I didnt have to break out any windows and I was able to open up the passenger side door and push it up against the current, he said.

Throughout the operation, the helicopter's pilot, Lt. Chris Monacelli, and flight mechanic Jon Finnerty kept a wary eye on the waterfall's icy mist as it coated the hovering aircraft, including the windows, further limiting what they could see.

A lot of bigger planes have deicing capabilities, but we dont, Monacelli said. We have a lot of discussions and training for what we'd do if we got into that situation because if you do accumulate enough ice on the helicopter, it will fall out of the sky.

About two minutes after entering the car, with water surging around the vehicle and over the brink of the falls about 50 yards (45 meters) downstream, Duryea emerged and signaled for Finnerty to hoist him and the motionless driver, a woman in her 60s, from the water.

The current was ripping pretty good through there and the car was close to the edge of the falls. If it moved, we didnt want him getting dragged out with it, Finnerty said.

It was unclear how the car got into the Niagara River. Witnesses reported seeing it floating near a pedestrian bridge, where it was believed to have gone in. Roads in the area were slippery.

Conditions in the air were no easier, with snow limiting visibility to a half mile for the Coast Guard crew that had assembled for a training flight at Lake St. Clair, Michigan, when they were dispatched to Niagara Falls, New York.

At one point we were literally just flying down a street because we saw the road and we were trying to avoid the windmill farm thats just west of Niagara, Monacelli said. So were flying the road as these gigantic windmills are popping up like a half mile away from us."

After the rescue, the car remained almost completely submerged, with only part of the roof and open trunk hatch visible, in the rapids upstream from the American Falls, one of three waterfalls that make up Niagara Falls. Onlookers watched as emergency crews prepared to try to pull the vehicle from the water.

Authorities said the driver lived in the area. Her name was not released pending notification of her relatives.

New York Park Police Capt. Christopher Rola said his department's swift-water rescue teams were unable to get to the car because of its location. Police had used a drone to determine it was occupied.

It was an incredible job by the Coast Guard, Rola said at a news conference. He said rescuers have never been called to a vehicle so close to the edge.

He said investigators would try to determine whether the vehicle wound up in the water by accident or intentionally.

Niagara Falls has a history of attracting both daredevils who try to cheat death by plunging over the falls in homemade contraptions, and those driven by suicide.
Gladwin-Midland United will host a press conference Friday to bring together community leaders from Gladwin and Midland counties to alert citizens in the region that the Michigan Independent Redistricting Commission is proposing legislative districts which separate Gladwin County from Midland County, fracture the City of Midland from the County of Midland and place parts of Midland County in a district with Flint.

Gladwin-Midland United claims the separation is a radical effort of partisan gerrymandering. According to the group, Gladwin and Midland Counties have been grouped together historically and Midland County has always been intact and kept whole.
The following includes reports from the Midland County Sheriff's Office and the Midland Police Department. Compiled by Managing Editor Dan Chalk.

11:11 p.m.  Deputies were dispatched to an alarm at a Mount Haley Township location, but were disregarded prior to arrival.

10:43 p.m.  Deputy made contact with a Lee Township female who had civil questions pertaining to her allowing her boyfriend to use her car. The deputy answered her questions. No crime was committed.

10:23 p.m.  Officer responded to a property damage crash at South Poseyville and St. Charles.

10:10 p.m.  Deputy handled a civil complaint between a 50-year-old Jerome Township female and a 20-year-old Jerome Township male about a key to an apartment. The deputy provided advice to the female on how to handle the situation.

9:48 p.m.  Deputies were dispatched to an Jerome Township residence about an alarm. They checked the residence and did not observe anything suspicious.

9:31 p.m.  Deputies spoke to a 38-year-old Edenville Township female and her 14-year-old live-in son regarding suicidal statements he made.

9:19 p.m.  Deputy responded to a Greendale Township roadway for a report of a vehicle parked in the center turn lane. The deputy checked the area and the vehicle had left prior to his arrival.

8:46 p.m.  Deputy responded to a Lincoln Township roadway for a single-vehicle traffic crash. Enforcement action was taken for a driving violation.

8:40 p.m.  Deputy made contact with a Jerome Township man who had questions about a civil complaint involving a cell phone. The man was directed to the courts for further assistance.

8:38 p.m.  Deputy responded to a single-vehicle property damage accident in Ingersoll Township.

8:37 p.m.  Deputy responded to a property damage accident in Porter Township.

8:29 p.m.  Officer provided general assistance in the 2300 block of Carol Court.

8:20 p.m.  Deputy responded to a delayed car-deer accident that occurred on a Hope Township roadway.

8 p.m.  Deputy responded to a vehicle in a Mills Township roadway that was causing a traffic hazard. The vehicle was impounded.

7:27 p.m.  Deputy responded to a single-vehicle property damage accident in Ingersoll Township.

7:19 p.m.  Officer responded to a domestic verbal in the 2500 block of Abbott Road.

6:10 p.m.  Deputy responded to a Larkin Township home for a report of a dog bite. An isolation notice was served and Animal Control was advised. The victim suffered a minor injury.

5:44 p.m.  Officer provided general assistance in the 2300 block of Rockwell Drive.

5:09 p.m.  Deputy was dispatched to a Lee Township business regarding a vehicle driving recklessly, and checked the area.

4:05 p.m.  Deputy responded to a property damage accident in Lincoln Township.

3:55 p.m.  Officer responded to a property damage crash in the area of Jefferson and West Wacklerly.

3:51 p.m.  Deputy responded to a property damage accident in Jerome Township. No injuries.

2:44 p.m.  Deputy responded to a property damage accident in Jerome Township. No injuries.

2:31 p.m.  Deputy responded to a property damage accident in Hope Township.

2:23 p.m.  Deputy responded to a property damage accident in Jerome Township. No injuries.

1:22 p.m.  Officer responded to a suspicious situation in the area of Rockwell and East Ashman.

11:39 a.m.  Deputies responded to a verbal dispute between a 57-year-old male and his 25-year-old son. The son left prior to deputies' arrival. No assault occurred.

10:09 a.m.  Officer responded to a larceny in the 700 block of Village East.

8:29 a.m.  Officer responded to a death investigation in the 3400 block of Swede Avenue.

8:32 a.m.  Officer responded to a suspicious situation in the 2400 block of Damman Drive.

8:48 a.m.  Officer responded to a suspicious situation in the 5500 block of Perrine.

7:54 a.m.  Officer provided general assistance in the 600 block of Townsend.

4:51 a.m.  Deputies were dispatched to a Warren Township residence for an alarm. Upon arrival, deputies checked the doors and windows. The residence was secure and deputies cleared the scene without incident.

4:23 a.m.  Officer responded to a domestic verbal at 5300 Dublin Avenue.

4:18 a.m.  Officer responded to a suspicious situation in the 1600 block of Elizabeth Street.

3:43 a.m.  Officer responded to an ordinance violation in the 3900 block of East Patrick.

1:57 a.m.  Officer responded to a suspicious person in the 2800 block of Ronan Street.

1:56 a.m.  Deputies were dispatched to a Geneva Township residence for an alarm. Upon arrival, deputies checked the doors and windows of the residence and everything was secure. Deputies cleared the scene without incident.

12:41 a.m.  Deputies responded to a Mills Township residence to assist Midland Police Department with follow-up regarding an assault that occurred within city limits.
Senate Bill 728, Extend Open Meetings requirements to independent citizens redistricting commission: Passed 34 to 0 in the Senate

To extend an Open Meetings Act requirement that public bodies hold their meetings in public to the independent citizens redistricting commission authorized by a 2018 ballot initiative. The bill was introduced after this controversial commission met behind closed doors to discuss secret legal memos related to its potential violations of the federal Voting Rights Act.

35 Sen. Curt. VanderWall R-Ludington Y





Senate Bill 656, Authorize robo-bartenders: Passed 35 to 1 in the Senate

To authorize the use of robo-bartender alcoholic dispensing machines that are located at a customer's table or booth in restaurants, and in in certain hotel rooms, if the machine does not dispense more than 96 ounces of beer, wine, or mixed spirit drink in a single order, or does not dispense spirituous liquor straight, with the customer still required to order the beer, wine, or mixed drinks from a human staff member, and subject to requirements that a staff member monitors the service.

35 Sen. Curt. VanderWall R-Ludington Y



Senate Bill 633, Permit another government authority to hold virtual meetings indefinitely: Passed 31 to 6 in the Senate

To permit government agencies authorized by a 1978 "energy employment law created to provide or subsidize municipal power plants and related projects and dubbed joint agencies, to hold virtual board meetings electronically on a permanent basis, not just during epidemics. This is one of at least 10 bills proposed this year to grant this privilege to certain government authorities, some obscure and some that are not.

35 Sen. Curt. VanderWall R-Ludington Y



Senate Bill 4257, Revise state memorandum of understanding procedures: Passed 25 to 12 in the Senate

To establish that if the governor signs a memorandum of understanding with another party - defined as an informal agreement that does not impose contractual duties or obligations on this state - when that governor has left office its terms only apply until they are rejected by a subsequent governor. The bill would also require that these agreements be signed by the governor and filed in the state office of the great seal.

35 Sen. Curt. VanderWall R-Ludington Y



Senate Bill 4521, Permit HIV-positive organ donors for HIV-positive organ recipients: Passed 34 to 0 in the Senate

To revise a prohibition against organ donations by a HIV virus carrier, allowing this if the recipient is also a carrier.

35 Sen. Curt. VanderWall R-Ludington Y



House Bill 5132, Prohibit higher-education requirements for specified police: Passed 95 to 4 in the House

To prohibit municipal police departments from establishing education requirements of more than a high school equivalency GED certificate for a prospective officer who is a military veteran, firefighter, EMT or current police employee with certain training.

100 Rep. Michele Hoitenga R - Manton Y

101 Rep. Jack O'Malley R - Lake Ann Y

102 Rep. Scott VanSingel R - Mount Pleasant Y



Senate Bill 99, Expand promise zone tax increment financing authority spending: Passed 32 to 2 in the Senate

To add paying for on-campus room and board to the benefits a local government promise zone tax increment financing authority (TIFA) may provide to students eligible for its scholarships. These entities were authorized in 2008 to capture" a portion of any increases in the state portion of school property tax revenue in the area, and use the money to partially subsidize college tuition for local students.

35 Sen. Curt. VanderWall R-Ludington Y



House Bill 5190, Revise "financial literacy" in state high school graduation requirements: Passed 57 to 43 in the House

To revise state high school graduation standards that require 2.0 credits in a language other than English by reducing this to 1.5 credits, and adding a .5 credit financial literacy requirement. The Michigan Department of Education would be required to develop "content expectations" for the personal finance course. This would also consolidate similar provisions already in this law.

100 Rep. Michele Hoitenga R - Manton Y

101 Rep. Jack O'Malley R - Lake Ann Y

102 Rep. Scott VanSingel R - Mount Pleasant Y



Source: MichiganVotes.org, a free, non-partisan website created by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, providing concise, non-partisan, plain-English descriptions of every bill and vote in the Michigan House and Senate. Visit www.MichiganVotes.org.
BOSTON (AP)  Boston's top prosecutor was narrowly confirmed Wednesday by the full U.S. Senate to be the next U.S. attorney for Massachusetts, making her the first Black woman to hold the position.

Suffolk District Attorney Rachael Rollins was confirmed 51-50 along party lines, with Vice President Kamala Harris casting the deciding vote.

Some Republican senators had criticized her progressive approach to crime, most notably Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton, who said she is soft on criminals and her approach leads to an increase in violent crime.

Her confirmation as U.S. Attorney would put Americans in danger, a spokesperson for Cotton said in an email in October.

Rollins, who is the top prosecutor for the city of Boston and the suburbs of Chelsea, Winthrop and Revere, responded to GOP criticism in a radio interview on GBH News, saying her approach, including her decision to not prosecute nonviolent, low-level crimes and to back police reform, is working and that violent crime is actually down in Boston.

Rollins also had letters of support from several law enforcement officials, including a number of former Republican U.S. Attorneys for Massachusetts.

In a statement Wednesday, Rollins said she was honored and humbled" by the opportunity, and looks forward to applying what she called data-driven, evidence-based approaches" on the federal level.

She said violent crime  including homicides  in her jurisdiction is down this year by more than 20% from the five-year average, at a time when most other major cities have experienced increases in violence.

Every policy and initiative that I have put in place as Suffolk County District Attorney has been designed to improve the safety and well-being of the communities I serve, to improve the publics trust in law enforcement and our courts and to improve the fairness and equity of the criminal legal system, she said.

The confirmation process was long and contentious by Senate standards. A Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on her nomination in September ended in an 11-11 tie along party lines, forcing Wednesday's unusual roll call vote.

Rollins, 50, is a former assistant U.S. attorney in Massachusetts and was elected in 2018 as the first woman of color to serve as Suffolk district attorney. A successor to complete her term, which ends in 2022, will be selected by Republican Gov. Charlie Baker.
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (PANA) - The UN humanitarian workers are continuing to provide support to communities affected by the war in Tigray and other regions, the UN Office for Humanitarian Affairs said on Thursday
Photo: (Photo : kaboompics/Pixabay)

More than a thousand families attended the public town hall meeting at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii with Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro to detail their health issues and demand answers and solutions following the harrowing discovery of their tap water contamination.

According to Military Times, emotional families told authorities during the four-hour town hall meeting that they were given unclear and conflicting information about the tap water contamination. They also asked why no one in command bothered to go door to door to notify them earlier or supply them with potable drinking water, except for the 25th Infantry Division soldiers for a handful of homes.

On November 22, the Navy revealed that 14,000 gallons of fuel from a storage facility spilled over the town's tap water supply, prompting a closure of the site nearest to the residential areas. The Navy also flushed clean water in the system to remove the petroleum products.

However, since the incident, residents have complained of stomach pain, headaches, and other health issues as a fuel-like odor emitted from their tap water sources. Locals said that the smell of fuel occurred on November 28, but they experienced unexplained health issues nearly a week before observing that something was wrong with their water supply.

Related Article: Flint Water Crisis: $626 Million Settlement Approved for Thousands of Kids Exposed to Lead Poisoning

'Most Catastrophic Scenario'

"I'm here to ask why you did not protect us (when) the most catastrophic real life scenario happened in excess," mom Lauren Bauer asked, who has been drinking spoiled tap water while nursing a 13-month-old baby. She also directed her questions to the Hawaii Board of Health and Water, which obtained "incriminating" water test results for July, August, and September but didn't raise any warning signs until late November.

Bauer said she is worried for her baby, who has been bathing in water mixed with fuel. The mother added that her son has been "throwing up for days on end" due to the tap water contamination. The family also had to put down their dog after exhibiting a mysterious illness and refused to go without water because she vomited after drinking.

Del Toro personally addressed Bauer's concern and said he would be consulting with the Surgeon General on some guidance for breastfeeding mothers and their babies in this situation. But Del Toro also had to hear the complaints of more families in about 7,000 housing units for the Navy and the Air Force at the Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.

Medical care, food, and alternative housing accommodations have been provided for around 700 families as officials are still investigating the fuel spill. Those in command said they weren't ruling out anything, including sabotage. Despite the temporary housing solution and lodging allowance and compensation, the families are hoping to return to their houses in time for Christmas.

Halting Operations at the Fuel Storage Site

Meanwhile, the Hawaii Department of Health advised the Navy to immediately suspend the fuel storage site's operations. The agency also asks them to install a drinking water system for the residents and defuel the underground site tanks for 30 days.

According to CNN, Katie Arita-Chang, the health department spokesperson, said the Navy has been negotiating with the terms of the continuance of the facility. However, records also revealed that the Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam had a history of fuel leaks, and the Navy has been cited with violations following routine inspections of the water sources in 2014 and 2020.

Read Also: Carbon Monoxide Poisoning: 5 Idaho Siblings Miraculously Survived Gas Leak
Photo: (Photo : Pixnio)

A Texas mother was surprised to learn that her five-year-old daughter had been stashing money inside one of her plastic toys. While stealing in kids is typical for those five and below, experts provide some tips on how to handle this situation.

Clarissa Garza shared to her followers on TikTok that she initially couldn't understand how her young daughter acquired a handful of dollar bills. The mom discovered the money while cleaning her daughter's room and counted $247 stashed away in her little girl's stuff.

In the TikTok video, which has since gone viral, Garza showed the "evidence" of folded dollar bills hidden in a pink toy drawer, prompting the mother to "confront" the thief.

Read Also: Tennessee High School Suspends 50 Students, Called the Cops Over a TikTok Challenge

The 'Thief' Admits to the Crime

In a separate video, Garza filmed her "investigation" and asked her daughter about the money in her toys. She admitted that she took those from her mother's purse because she wanted "to keep it safe." The girl confessed while smiling and giggling away as she looked at the video to talk to her mother. Garza is then heard in the video explaining to her five-year-old that she has to stop taking money from her wallet. She also told her daughter that they would have to get a piggy bank to start saving money.

The mom's TikTok followers commended her for how she handled stealing in kids. They also praised her for her approach because her daughter was not afraid to admit to the truth."The fact that she's smiling and giggling instead of being afraid as well as how you talk to her tell[s] me you treat her well," one of the commenters said. Another follower said that this is how parents should "parent" -- by not yelling, hitting, or threatening their children while telling them what they cannot do.

The other commenters also said that Garza was able to save $247 without even realizing it, and the mother admitted that the money would have been spent if she had it in her purse. However, some of her followers didn't like that she went through her daughter's things while the girl was with her father. They told Garza to put the money back in her toy instead of reclaiming the money.

When Stealing in Kids Becomes an Issue

According to the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, stealing in kids may be typical because they still do not understand that taking something that doesn't belong to them is wrong. Thus, parents have the duty to "actively teach" their kids about property rights and consideration for the things of other people.

Stealing in kids may also result from poor impulse control in younger children, and parents should not be emotional or hysterical when confronting this behavior. In most cases, it's part of growing up and will not become a serious problem, per Johns Hopkins Medicine.

On the other hand, older children may be stealing for many reasons, including seeking attention from their parents. In cases of a serious offense, the experts said that this could indicate a serious emotional problem in development or the environment. A persistent stealer should receive professional help to understand the underlying reasons for the behavior.

Related Article: Students Are Stealing School Items for 'Devious Licks' Tiktok Trend, Prompts School Officials to Raise the Alarm
Photo: (Photo : CaptainMK/Pixabay)

Christmas may not be the most wonderful time of the year for some people who develop an unpleasant allergic reaction. While some people attribute these allergies to the weather, experts suggest that it may be triggered by the Christmas trees and other decorations displayed at home during this festive time.

Professor Michael Rudenko of the London Allergy and Immunology Centre revealed that Christmas ornaments, especially the old and dusty decorations hidden away for most of the year, contain dust mites that can cause allergies and asthma attacks. However, even new trees and decorations are prone to mold and fungi formation that can lead to allergic rhinitis, a lot of sneezing, and an itchy or blocked nose, among other symptoms.

Read Also: Holiday Travel: Emergency Items to Have In Your Car While Going on Long Drives

Here are some ways to prevent an allergic reaction from Christmas trees and holiday decorations:

1. Clean the decors before putting them up.

Before putting any Christmas decorations on display, it makes a lot of sense to thoroughly wipe these clean with a damp cloth to get rid of the dust mites. If necessary, use a vacuum cleaner for those hard-to-reach places on the tree and then wash off other pieces of the ornaments that will not rust or bear water damage.

If you're putting up a real tree, these come with allergens as well since molds will grow into anything organic. Dr. J. Allen Meadows of the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology said that whether it's a natural or artificial tree, he makes it a habit to leave it outside of his house for at least a day to "air it out." He also makes use of a leaf blower for "blasting mold or dust" before he brings stuff inside for the decoration.

2. Cover up when putting Christmas stuff for display.

Dr. Kara Wada of the Wexner Medical Center recommends covering up while decorating your house. She said that wearing long sleeves and gloves would protect the skin from the sap and needle pricks of the tree. After decorating, you'll need to change into new clothes and dispose of what you've worn in the washer, so you don't spread the allergens around the house, in case it's on your shirt or pants.

Since you're likely to have stacks of face masks at home, put this on as well when you're unpacking and setting up the decorations. Face masks effectively reduce flare-ups due to dust mites and molds.

3. Use a vinegar and water solution.

Dr. Sharmilee M. Nyenhuis of the University of Illinois Hospital and Health Sciences System recommends having a 50-50 vinegar and water solution to spray on the tree from time to time. This will easily kill the molds that form on the leaves and branches. The expert also suggests avoiding decorating too early if there's someone at home prone to allergy attacks because molds will start to build up around the decorations within a week of your setup.

4. Change your old storage containers.

If you're still using cardboard boxes to store these decorations, it might be time for an upgrade and look for storage solutions that will keep the dust mites off. If the allergy attacks worsen, consider moving the tree outside to avoid the allergy build-up and just bring it back inside before the children open their presents.

If the situation doesn't change, this might be your cue to pack the decorations as soon as possible, even if it's not yet Christmas. At the risk of ruining your holidays, no decorations might be best in this case.

Related Article: Doctor Recommends Making COVID-19 Vaccinations a Family Affair as Best Protection Against Omicron
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On December first Patently Apple posted a report titled "Apple is seeking to halt the decision by Judge Rogers to make App Store Changes on December 9 with a filing with the U.S. Court of Appeals." Our report noted that "Given the injunctions effective date of Dec. 9, Apple seeks immediate entry of an administrative stay that would expire 30 days after the Courts ruling on the stay motion." It's being reported this afternoon that Apple Inc. won a delay to court-mandated changes to its App Store as it appeals the ruling.

Bloomberg is reporting this afternoon that "A federal appeals court on Wednesday granted Apples request to halt a Dec. 9 deadline to comply with a judges directive that the company allow app developers to steer customers to payment methods outside the store. The ruling is a significant victory for the iPhone maker as it fights a broad challenge by Epic Games Inc. to its domination of the $142 billion mobile-app distribution market.

The worlds most-valuable technology company has argued to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals that the changes ordered by U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers "will harm customers, developers, and Apple itself." Now, the overhaul she ordered in September will be paused until Apples appeal is resolved, which could take at least a year.

Apple told the Ninth Circuit that it had already satisfied half of the judges order by changing its guidelines to allow "out-of-app communications" between all developers and users. The part of the order targeted in Apples stay request involves in-app advertising and links.

Epic declined to comment and Apple had no immediate comment on the ruling. For more on this read the full report on BNN Bloomberg. You could review the ruling here.
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Today, the American Film Institute (AFI) announced that four Apple Originals have been selected as recipients of the prestigious AFI Awards 2021, including acclaimed Apple Original Films CODA and The Tragedy of Macbeth, as well as global hit original series Ted Lasso and Schmigadoon! AFI honorees will be celebrated on January 7, 2022 at the annual AFI Awards in Los Angeles, CA.

CODA and The Tragedy of Macbeth have been named to the list of AFI Movies of the Year, and Schmigadoon! and Ted Lasso are honored among AFIs Television Programs of the Year.

This years AFI Awards honors mark the first for Apple Original Films, and the second recognition for Ted Lasso, which was named as an official section for AFI's Television Programs of the Year at the AFI Awards 2020.

AFI Awards honorees include 10 outstanding films and 10 outstanding TV programs deemed culturally and artistically representative of this years most significant achievements in the art of the moving image.

Celebrating film and television arts collaborative nature, the AFI Awards is the only national program that honors creative teams as a whole, recognizing those in front of and behind the camera. All of the honored works advance the art of the moving image, inspire audiences and artists alike, enhance the rich cultural heritage of Americas art form and make a mark on American society. When placed in a historical context, these stories provide a complex and rich visual record of our modern world.

Since the debut of Apple TV+ just over two years ago, Apple Original series and films have earned 174 wins and 623 nominations, and have recently received recognition from the Academy Awards, SAG Awards, Critics Choice Awards, Critics Choice Documentary Awards, NAACP Image Awards, as well as past Daytime and Primetime Emmy Awards, plus more.

For more, read Apple's full press release.

Archive: Apple TV News
Renowned Ghanaian economist, Investment Banker and Global Business Strategist, Dr Sam Ankrah has urged fellow economists to lead and not be lead to enhance growth in Ghanas economy.



Speaking at the Institute of Chartered Economists Ghana (ICEG)s Annual Economist Conference 2021, as the main speaker, he said, economists must redefine the economic models and create systems.



According to him, to support the government or successive governments with the reform and revitalization agenda, the community of economists and other related technical minds must change the modus operandi by evolving a new non-partisan professional relationship with the economic managers of the national resources.



A system where regardless of ones political leanings, we will be involved in the unearthing, analysing, promoting, and executing policy options in the following interrelated areas and also ensure that this important matter may not be subjected to the usual partisanship which helps no one but is bound to leave us more divided, deprived, and disillusioned.



He We must redefine our economic models and create systems that speak to the African experience, resources, and opportunities. It must provide skills that enable a strong tri-partite relationship between academia, industry, and government.



Dr Ankrah who is also the president of the African Investment Group (AIG), commended economists to make a real impact in the new dispensation of Africas renewed energy for transformation, then we must uphold collectively and solemnly, our shared values of honesty, transparency and be accountable to the people we represent. Our technical commentaries and critiques must be constructive and not favour one partys administration over the other unless it is supported by the facts and figures.



We have a greater responsibility to say and do what is right or say nothing at all if it cannot contribute towards the development of sound and actionable policy interventions to lift our country and people out of the vicious cycle of poverty. We are not politicians if I need to remind us all, me included and for that matter this august institution of ours, ICE-GHANA; which I proudly hold a fellowship and must rise to the occasion. He continued



The lecture was held under the auspices of the Institute of Chartered Economists will be on the theme Restoring Ghanas macroeconomic stability and revitalization: The Word becoming flesh.



Other renowned speakers also addressed the conference.



The address came on the back of the current state of the economy and the continuous miss and hit the state of Ghanas economy since independence.



About the main Speaker:



Dr Ankrah is an Investment Banker, a global business strategist and Development Economist. He has had more than 20 years of successful experience in providing fiscal, strategic and operations leadership in uniquely challenging situations. He has repeatedly produced sustained revenue and EBITA growth in dynamic and changing markets.

Dr Ankrah has a proven track record in management, finance and Economics, investment banking, factoring, and forfeiting oil and gas, private pension management, and international trade.



About ICEG



The Institute of Chartered Economists of Ghana (ICEG) was established by the Professional Bodies Registration Decree, 1973, with the responsibility of promoting Professional Economics in Ghana.



Therefore, The Institute of Chartered Economists of Ghana was established out of a burning desire to promote and encourage the study and development of the art and science of economics in public practice, industries, commerce, etc and to inculcate professionalism and specialization in the economics profession in Ghana.



The Institute of Chartered Economists of Ghana (ICEG) is a professional body, established on 26th November 2007 with the pioneering statutory right to regulate the practice of Economics in Ghana and create a unified body to which economics professionals could identify themselves.



The vision of the Institute of Chartered Economists of Ghana is to become a leading professional association of Economists and an Institute of professional competence and excellence in Ghana and beyond.

Source: Peacefmonline.com/ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The leader and founder of Mesukkah Organizations ministries international PROPHETESS MERCY COFFIE KAKPO has been honoured with a Doctorate Degree by the American Bible University based in Houston, the United States of America, with its affiliates here in Accra. The event took place on Sunday, the 5th of December, 2021 at Sowutuom here in Accra.



The renowned PanAfricanist was among a few distinguished personalities whose humanitarian and divine activities through their respective ministries as well as their personal qualities had caught the eyes of the organizers.



The thunderous applause that met her by the congregation that had filled the over a thousand sitting capacity Pentecost University Auditorium in Sowutuom here in Accra when she was called to receive her award testified clearly, this hard-working Ghanaian's good works she has shown over the years.



Mama Mercy as affectionately called has among her good works, adopted a few Orphanage homes and have impacted greatly in the lives of many people both old and young. As her quota in solving the COVI-19 canker that has rocked the world recently, she has also invented a locally-manufactured had the washing machine called the Aunty Aku System. This is a one-stock shop that houses all components needed to fight the virus.



Mesukkah which is a Hebrew word and means protection is the name God dawned her heart through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and had since named her ministry, Mesukkah Organization ministry international.



The American Bible University with its affiliates here in Ghana yearly awards students who have completed and excelled in their respective religious educational disciplines with the associated certificates. Some of the certificates include Honorary Doctorate Degree in Divinity; Doctorate Degree in Theology, Masters Degree in Theology, Counselling, various bachelor's degree in the religious field.



In her speech, the president of the American Bible University Retired Army Captain chaplain centered her presentation on Integrity. Dr. Olayinka Olubunmi-Williams advised graduands as well as all gathered to uphold integrity in all aspects of their lives. She reminded them how integrity as a value and virtue breeds favor and trust which eventually leads to favour.



In an interview after the program, the now Dr. Prophetess Mercy Coffie Kakpo thanked all Mesukkah members for the love they showed her by coming in their numbers to support this worthy course. She was also grateful for the massive support she had had from her husband, Apostle Justin Coffie, her daughters and grandchild as well as all family members. She finally gave her thanks to the Almighty God for rewarding her works.



She however advised all members to remain steadfast in the Lord and keep their faith and hope alive.

Source: Peacefmonline.com/ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Government has launched six (6) community mining schemes in "galamsey" endemic areas of the country to address the issue of illegal mining.



The schemes, which are being rolled out in six (6) mining areas in the Western, Ashanti and Eastern Regions of the country is expected to enable willing persons to mine in a responsible manner and create 10,300 direct jobs and 21,000 indirect jobs.



Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, George Mireku Duker made this known at the regular Meet the Press session organized by the Ministry of Information in Accra on Wednesday, November 8, 2021.



According to him, government is sanitizing the extractive sector of the country with the introduction of the community mining scheme which paves the way for the commencement of regulated, responsible, and sustainable community mining, aimed at helping to get rid of illegal mining.



We are creating community mining schemes to hold onto those who will be moved out of the illegal mining and to cushion them as well. So far, we have created these schemes in six (6) mining areas of the Western, Ashanti and Eastern Regions. The schemes are intended to provide livelihoods for members in the mining communities, promote sustainable and responsible mining and therefore prevent illegal mining, Mr. Duker said.



He said community mining had become the main fulcrum around which the nation sought to organize responsible small scale mining explaining that it is the reason government has developed a Small Scale and Community Mining operational manual to guide the operations of small scale miners.



Establishment of Mineral Development Unit at ADB



Mr. Duker also disclosed that government as part of efforts to continuously support relevant players within the mining sector and ensure that small scale miners have access to credit facilities for their operations has established a Minerals Development Unit at the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB).



This he said will help tackle the issue of operational capital as the lack of credit facilities for small scale mining operators has been identified as one of the driving forces behind foreigners involvement in the small scale mining space.

Source: Peacefmonline.com/ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The Akropong School For the Blind was once West Africa's only school offering education to the visually impaired. The Soul Clinic International School, noting the effort of the staff and students of the school for the blind, has made a commitment to supporting the management and visually impaired students.



In line with the commitment, the Soul Clinic International School will on 10th December 2021 hold a fashion show under the theme, "Revealed at 70", in benefit of the Akropong School For the Blind and in honor of Ghanaian fashion history.



Speaking with students from the Akropong School For the Blind, they expressed gratitude to their friends from Soul Clinic International School for previously assisting in providing hundreds of braille and other teaching/learning materials. Speaking with an independent reporter, a female student of the school for the blind, urged the public to assist Soul Clinic's efforts to support visually impaired students, by attending the Revealed at 70 fashion show.



Speaking to a rep of Soul Clinic, she stated that the school is poised to cultivate an attitude of helpfulness and gratitude amongst it's students and is commitment in their quest to help the differently abled, achieved their full potential.









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The premier free edition of the GDIW featured over 20 exclusive conversations, plenaries, and presentations under the principle theme; Mobilising Collective Action and Investment to Catalyse Growth in Ghana's Digital Innovation Ecosystem.



The Ghana Digital Innovation Week was designed to bring together entrepreneurs, investors, researchers, university faculties, venture capitalists, as well as other technical service providers such as accountants, designers, contract manufacturers and providers of skills training and professional development to provide a common platform for practical conversations on turning innovative ideas into useful reality to address societal problems.



The Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia was at the opening ceremony on Monday, 22nd November at the Grand Arena to commensurate the week-long event. As part of his speech, he commended the organizers for an excellent collaborative work done. He mentioned that it was imperative that all stakeholders talk to each other as the nation strives towards achieving a digital economy fit for the Fourth Industrial Revolution. This Ghana Digital Innovation Week will serve as a platform to discuss and define a common national vision that drives Ghanas digital innovation agenda, generates wide interest, and prompts concrete actions in the policy, legislative, regulatory spaces and the needed infrastructure



The subsequent days of the event witnessed a variety of stakeholders undertaking various discussions that touched on aspects of the digital ecosystem.



One of the most significant days; the closing ceremony saw the Ghana Innovation Ecosystem Game Changers (Gh-IEGC) Honors. It seeks to recognize ecosystem players who have made immense contributions towards the advancement of digital innovation in Ghana and their works have made a visible impact on an economic sector through the use of digital innovation or advancing the use of digital innovation.



Find below the honorees;



Zipline Ghana was honored with the Innovation Ecosystem Game Changer - Digital Inclusion (Financial Inclusion/PWD/Gender/Rural).



ASHESI D: Lab was honored with Ecosystem Game Changer- Academia-Industry Support Programme.



Regina Honu was honored with the Innovation Ecosystem Game Changer - Digital Literacy,



Ghana Airports Company Limited was honored with Innovation Ecosystem Game Changer- Industrial Transformation .



Dr Ernest Addison (Governor of the Bank of Ghana) was honored with Innovation Ecosystem Game Changer - Regulation and Governance.



Professor Elsie Effah Kaufmann (Associate Professor and founding Head of the Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Ghana) was honored with Innovation Ecosystem Game Changer - Advancement of STEM.



Jorge Appiah, Solar Taxi (Founder and CEO of SolarTaxi) was honored with Innovation Ecosystem Game Changer - Smart and Sustainable Society.



GhanaPostGPS (Digital Property Addressing System) was honored with Innovation Ecosystem Game Changer- Infrastructure Development.



MacCarthy Mac-Gbathy, Hopin Academy - Tamale (Co-founder and Executive Director) was honored with Innovation Ecosystem Game Changer- Startup Ecosystem Development.



Honorees shall be given, framed honor certificate, citation and plaque/medal/trophy.



The maiden Ghana Innovation Fair is under the auspicious of the Vice Presidents office with support from multi-stakeholders including the Ministry of Communications and Digitalization; the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI) as well as the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MoTI). The Accra Digital Centre (ADC); the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP); the Ghana-India Kofi Annan Center of Excellence in ICT plus the Ghana Chamber of Technology are onboard as private sector stakeholders in addition to Ashesi University College and the University of Ghana.

















Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The Sekondi High Court has issued a warrant for the arrest of the Member of Parliament for Jomoro, Dorcas Affo Toffey.



The presiding judge, Sedina Agbemava, according to a report by Myjoyonline sighted by GhanaWeb, issued the warrant after the MP failed to attend the court sitting on Monday, December 6, 2021.



The qualification of Madam Affo Toffey to represent the people of Jomoro in Parliament is being challenged in a case in which she has been sued for allegedly possessing dual citizenship prior to her contesting in the 2020 election.



A contempt case was filed against the MP by one Joshua Emuah Kofie, a resident of Nuba-Mpataba in the Jomoro Constituency when Madam Tooffey reportedly failed to deposit with the court registrar documents supporting the renunciation of her alleged Ivorian citizenship as ordered by the Sekondi High Court.



Although the MP filed for a stay of execution of the High Court's order, the court dismissed the application in July this year.







Source: ghanaweb.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Ernest Norgbey, MP, Ashaiman, has regretted his actions of seizing the chair of the Speaker of Parliament when chaos erupted in the Chamber on Wednesday, December 1, 2021.



He told Joy FM on Tuesday, December 7, that the incident that occurred in the Chamber was unfortunate and he apologizes for his action.



There is nothing wrong when you err, you just apologize to the very person you erred against. That is why I said it was an unfortunate incident that happened in the Chamber. I am ever ready to apologize.



Its just an unfortunate incident that happened, it occurred during a situation that all of us found ourselves in and so if my actions have offended anybody, I take full responsibility for that and then apologize, Ernest Norgbey told Evans Mensah.



There was chaos in Parliament after the First Deputy Speaker, Joseph Osei-Owusu gave a ruling which didnt favour the Minority Caucus.



The Minority, through its leader, Haruna Iddrisu, had challenged the approval of the 2022 budget statement and requested that a motion be adopted to set aside the approval of the policy document.



According to the Minority, it was wrong for the Deputy Speaker who chaired proceedings on Tuesday, November 30, 2021, to count himself as part of the Majority while he assumed the speaker position.



After listening to the arguments for and against the motion, Joe Wise, as he is known popularly ruled that he did no wrong, hence could not accept the proposal from the Minority.



He argued, although he is sitting in for the Speaker, he cannot be described as the Speaker of Parliament since he is a Member of Parliament and was only assisting the substantive Speaker, Alban Bagbin, who is currently in Dubai for a medical check-up.



He, then, suspended the House after the ruling because of the confusion that ensued after his decision on Wednesday.



Amid the heckling, shouting and shoving from members of both sides, the Ashaiman MP walked straight to the place where the Speaker sits and dragged the chair towards the Minority section of the House.



Some Marshals of Parliament had to intervene to restore the chair to its original position.



Defending his actions, the MP told TV3 that he did nothing wrong relocating the seat of the Speaker of Parliament.



I didnt snatch the seat of the Speaker, I was only preserving it. Yes, it is not my duty to preserve the seat of the Speaker, but when he rules that he is not the Speaker, then we would have to preserve it [the seat] for the Speaker till he comes.



I dont agree with the view that touching the Speakers seat, is sacrilegious. The Speaker was not on the seat when I touched it. So many people touch the Speakers seat. I can also touch it. When I touch it, what happens? And no, my action did not attract the Marshals. They were already there. They were already positioned around the mace and the seat. No one intended to carry the seat outside the chamber, Ernest Norgbey said.









Source: ghanaweb.com









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Bawku Central Member of Parliament, Mahama Ayariga has asked the General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Johnson Asiedu Nketia not to contest for the position of the National Chair against the current chairman Samuel Ofosu Ampofo.



Mr Ayariga believes that if Mr Asiedu Nketia contests for the posotion, it will put the party in a very difficult situation because the party cannot afford to lose one of them from the leadership.



Asked who he is supporting for the chairmanship position, while speaking on the Good Evening Ghana show on Tuesday December 7, he said I actually havent given a thought. I believe that the two of them should find a way of continuing to work together, if you ask for my honest view. Because whatever Asiedu Nketia will accuse the chairman of, the chairman can equally accuse Asiedu Nketia of. They were together when we won elections, they were together when we lost two elections so the two of them are equally responsible.



We have confidence in the two of them and so we want them to remain to work together but if they force us to have to make a choice it will be a difficult choice but we will prefer that the two of them find a way of continuing to work together.



I dont see the difference between the powers of a General Secretary vis-a-vis the National Chairman, If you ask me.



The General Secretary is more of the engine of the party so, to move yourself from General Secretary and go to chairmanship, I dont know what will happen but I prefer that they are all there because Asiedu Nketia, in a way, has become the soul of the party, everybody in the party likes Asiedu Nketia, the grassroots like him, everybody feels that he worked very hard for the party. At the same time, they also have respect for the chairman of the party.



So he is putting us in a very difficult situation given that it is not the chairman who wants to go and contest General Secretary , it is he who wants to go and contest the chairman.



So he is the one who is putting us in a very difficult situation . We like him so much.



I know he has quite some weight in the party and he is one of the very few people who can have their way through anything that they want in the party except that in this instance, I will plead with him to reconsider his decision because it is going to put us all in a very difficult situation.



We like him, under any circumstance we cannot lose Asiedu Nketia but at the same time we dont want to also throw away our chairman.

Source: 3news.com









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National Communications Director of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Yaw Buaben Asamoa is urging Ghanaians to support the government's e-levy.



According to him, the e-levy is the right step to developing the nation.



There is a strong opposition against the e-levy that's expected to start in February next year.



The Minority in Parliament argue this initiative will not help Ghanaians but compound their hardships.



Other critics also complain about the deduction rate of 1.75% saying it is too high, hence appealing to the government to reconsider and reduce it.



Touching on the matter during Peace FM's ''Kokrokoo'', Yaw Buaben Asamoa acknowledged the concerns shared on the e-levy calling on the government to be attentive to the criticisms.



However, he objected to the calls for the e-levy to be scrapped.



He noted that the e-levy is the savior for Ghanaians as it will be used for proper infrastructure developments as well as improve other relevant things to make Ghana a prosperous nation.



He charged the entire citizenry to embrace this initiative.



"The e-levy investment is our saviour. By God's grace, when he gets the 6.9 billion and we plead that Ghanaians will accept that we do this, when that happens, we will see what the money will be used for. You will know this sum of money is used for road construction, so you will see the roads being constructed. You will see that the money is being used for youth employment, to defray our debt and so forth," he said.





Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.
MultiChoice Ghana last Friday hosted a star-studded season premiere of Inspector Bediako, which will air on Akwaaba Magic on DStv and GOtv.



The premiere was attended by actors, producers, directors and other creative arts industry players who gathered to be the first see the series before it hits our screens.



Inspector Bediako airs every Monday at 22:30 CAT on Akwaaba Magic on DStv channel 150 and GOtv channel 101.



The series follows the life of Inspector Bediako Jnr, the son of the legendary Inspector Bediako Snr who used smart and creative detective techniques in investigating and solving various crimes, like kidnappings, corruption cases, murders and robberies. The show is a remake of the 1990s hit investigative series. Fridays event was a prelude to the series coming to Akwaaba Magic this December.



Delivering his welcome address, MultiChoice Ghana Managing Director, Alex Okyere, emphasised the support MultiChoice has given the creative industry following the rollout of the Hyper-Local strategy in 2019 to support local film industries in the countries we operate in to transform them into economic power houses.



He added this strategy informed the creation of plethora of local channels including Akwaaba Magic, Honey and Novela Magic amongst others.



Mr. Okyere added that the success of Akwaaba Magic shows has not only been on linear platforms (DStv & GOtv) but has been extended to video on demand platform, Showmax.



On her part, the Executive Head of Content & West Africa Channels, MultiChoice Group, Busola Tejumola, commended the Akwaaba Magic team for the diligent work they have done so far. Adding, In March, when we launched this channel, we set very high viewership targets and Ghana didnt disappoint. In month one, the channel went up to number 8 most viewed on DStv.



Since then, Dede, our tentpole show has shattered the ceiling raking in exciting numbers on DStv, Showmax and recently GOtv.



The Channel Head for Akwaaba Magic, Kennedy Dankyi-Appah, also highlighted other exciting shows to look forward to this festive season and beyond. According to him, Inspector Bediako is just the first of a number of shows lined up including Date My Family Ghana, which is set to hit our screens on December 17, and added two new shows DStv and GOtv customers can look forward to  Korle Bu and Co-Habit, which will start airing in January 2022 on Akwaaba Magic.



The event was climaxed with a panel discussion among selected actors and director of the series.









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh and Nunavut NDP MP Lori Idlout speak before a press conference in Iqaluit, Nunavut, on Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2021. Three federal New Democrat MPs have signed a petition denouncing British Columbia's NDP government for its handling of an Indigenous protest at a pipeline work site and voicing distress at the federal NDP's response. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Emma Tranter
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla.  Anne Bogenrief, a volunteer with more than 21 years of service at the Memorial Tournament presented by Workday (Dublin, Ohio), was honored Thursday as the 2021 PGA TOUR Volunteer of the Year. With the award, the PGA TOUR will donate $5,000 to Nationwide Childrens Hospital, where Bogenriefs daughter, Caitie, was treated at birth.

Bogenrief has been a volunteer at the Memorial Tournament presented by Workday since the mid-1990s. In 1992, when Caitie was born, they spent the first two months of her life in the Memorial Tournament Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Nationwide Childrens Hospital. Caitie was eight weeks premature and rushed to the hospital at birth, where she underwent lifesaving surgery just days after her delivery. Anne began volunteering at the hospital, and, with the hospitals connection to the tournament, at the Memorial shortly thereafter. She is currently a Captain of the Nationwide Childrens Hospital Committee in charge of Spectator Services  a top leadership position.

Anne has been an incredible contributor to the Memorial Tournament for over 20 years and counting, said Dan Sullivan, Executive Director, the Memorial Tournament presented by Workday. She is always ready to support the tournament and serves as a bright light that perfectly represents the thousands of volunteers that help make the Memorial one of the top tournaments on the PGA TOUR each year. I speak for the entire tournament team when I say that it is a wonderful feeling to be surrounded by people that are caring and selfless and want to give to others. The Memorial is indebted to Anne and all of our volunteers for their dedication and willingness to help this event raise critical funds for Central Ohio charities, specifically Nationwide Childrens Hospital.

Tournaments would not be possible without the support of volunteers, who not only help events operate, but also contribute to the overall charitable impact. With the support of more than 100,000 volunteers annually, the TOUR assists approximately 3,000 charities each year. Virtually all tournaments are organized as non-profit organizations to maximize charitable giving, and to date, tournaments across all Tours have generated more than $3.2 billion.

I am immensely humbled by this amazing recognition, said Bogenrief. My involvement initially stemmed from a desire to give back to Nationwide Childrens Hospital for the wonderful care our daughter received in the NICU, but over the past two decades, it has blossomed into a passion for the Memorial Tournament, its patrons, staff and volunteers. Ive always felt that I receive far more than I give to this great cause and am eternally grateful to the Nicklaus family and the Memorial staff for continually seeking ways to create exciting new tournament-related events that expand the impact on Nationwide Childrens Hospital, both from increased funding as well as community awareness and support. I accept the PGA TOUR Volunteer of the Year Award on behalf of each of the 2,500-plus volunteers who make the Memorial Tournament a world-class event. Without their dedicated service, the ever-growing impact the tournament has on the Central Ohio community would simply not be possible.

The Memorial Tournament presented by Workday, won by Patrick Cantlay in 2021, will be played May 30-June 5, 2022.
2021 EPT Online Day 1: Series Kicks Off In Style

December 09, 2021 Matthew Pitt

The 2021 European Poker Tour (EPT) Online festival shuffled up and dealt on December 8, and the series crowned its first three champions. Day 1 of the bustling schedule also saw the $1,050 buy-in Series Opener whittle its 334-strong field to a more manageable 47, who return to the virtual felt on December 9 and compete for the $62,516 top prize.

"Amadeus7777" is the player to catch when Day 2 begins at 5:05 p.m. GMT on December 9. They sit down with 2,294,131 chips, and lead two other Austrian players in Stefan "mindgamer" Jedlicka (1,886,867) and "Gogac sniper" (1,758,995).

Here is what went down on the opening day of the 2021 EPT Online.

Follow all the latest from the EPT Online - LIVE! The PokerNews live reporting team is on top of all things EPT Online. Don't miss a beat! FOLLOW HERE

"Henk88" Takes Down $215 8-Max PKO Event

Germanys "Henk88" got their 2021 EPT Online off to the best possible start by becoming the EPT Online 02: $215 NLHE [8-Max, Progressive KO] champion. The tournament attracted 1,495 players, which meant the $299,000 prize pool blew the $150,000 guarantee out of the water.

Henk88 got their hands on $35,234 of that sum, thanks to securing the $19,519 top prize, which $15,715 worth of bounties boosted considerably. A large percentage of that impressive bounty payment came from elimination Brazils "Marcelinhobf" heads-up to secure the title.

Yuri \"tecaoo\" Dzivielevsk finished in fourth place.

The victory was made sweeter by the fact Henk88 locked horns with two of online pokers greats at the final table. Brazilian superstar Yuri "tecaoo" Dzivielevski eventually crashed out in fourth for $12,111 while Russias Arsenii "josef_shvejk" Karmatckii busted one place deeper, in third, for $16,307.

EPT Online 02: $215 NLHE [8-Max, Progressive KO] Final Table Results

Place Player Country Bounties Prize Total Prize 1 Henk88 Germany $15,715 $19,519 $35,234 2 Marcelinhobf Brazil $3,058 $19,518 $22,576 3 Arsenii "josef_shvejk" Karmatckii Russia $4,727 $11,580 $16,307 4 Yuri "tecaoo" Dzivielevski Brazil $3,856 $8,255 $12,111 5 PANIC.PLAYER Greece $1,253 $5,884 $7,137 6 koos7aa Estonia $1,232 $4,194 $5,426 7 toddy.JmBrazil $2,057 $2,990 $5,047 8 nameLarsen Russia $3,233 $2,131 $5,346

atimmy0308 Chops Mini Opener For $36,111

The $1,050 buy-in Series Opener may span two day but the $109 buy-in Mini Opener was done and dusted in in less than 11 hours. Some 2,902 players bought in and created a $290,200 prize pool, and two players walked away with more than $72,000 of that princely sum.

After the likes of "Blondin1986," "Caldini00," and Victor "VzB_Poker" Begara fell by the wayside, the surviving players locked in a five-figure score. Germanys "crazome" won the $10,886 fifth-place prize before Augusto "yaguipoker" Hagen saw his tournament in a fourth-place finish worth $15,272.

"twalvo147" of Switzerland bowed out in third, leaving "atimmy0308" heads-up with Brazils Daniel "dani aziz" Aziz. The heads-up duo opted to strike an even chop deal that saw both stars have $36,111 deposited into the PokerStars accounts.

PokerStars Reveals New Dates for EPT Prague; Add EPT Online December 8-20

EPT Online Mini 01: $109 NLHE [8-Max Mini Opener] Final Table Results

Place Player Country Prize 1 atimmy0308 Germany $36,111* 2 Daniel "dani aziz" Aziz Brazil $36,111* 3 twalvo147 Switzerland $21,425 4 Augusto "yaguipoker" Hagen Argentina $15,272 5 crazome Germany $10,886 6 Victor "VzB_Poker" Begara Brazil $7,760 7 Caldini00 United Kingdom $5,531 8 Blondin1986 Russia $3,943

*reflects a heads-up deal

"izilose" Secured EPT Online Title For Ukraine

Ukraines "izilose" triumphed in the EPT Online Mini 02: $22 [8-Max, Progressive KO] event, a $100,000 guaranteed affair that ended up paying out $216,800 in total. The Ukrainian grinder walked away with $17,153 of the pot after becoming the last player standing from the 10,840 entrants.

iziloses heads-up opponent, "ImlykwagwanG" of the United Kingdom, was the only other player to turn their $22 investment into five figures. The Brit saw $13,994 make its way to his account, giving them plenty of ammunition for the remainder of the series.

EPT Online Mini 02: $22 NLHE [8-Max, Progressive KO] Final Table Results

Place Player Country Bounties Prize Total Prize 1 izilose Ukraine $4,983 $12,170 $17,153 2 ImlykwagwanG United Kingdom $1,833 $12,161 $13,994 3 Emseglade Denmark $1,328 $7,215 $8,543 4 willy3bet Argentina $529 $5,143 $5,672 5 gui.hrimbano Brazil $1,003 $3,666 $4,669 6 playerkingi Georgia $284 $2,613 $2,897 7 Matt P 1 United Kingdom $336 $1,863 $2,199 8 BelveyDeer United Kingdom $615 $1,328 $1,943

Romanias "andreeadeea" Wins PokerStars Big 20 Finale for $438K

2021 EPT Online Events Scheduled For December 9

Six fresh events get underway on December 9, including a massive $2,100 buy-on 8-Max PKO tournament that comes with a $300,000 guaranteed prize pool. Return to PokerNews on December 10 for a full recap of the days action.
Josef Gulas Jr Wins the 2021 WSOP Europe Main Event (1,276,712)

December 09, 2021 Matt Hansen

The coveted gold bracelet in Event #14: 10,350 WSOPE Main Event will remain on home soil as Josef Gulas Jr defeated Johan Guilbert in heads-up. In the 2021 edition, a new attendance record for the WSOP Europe Main Event was set as 688 entries created a prize pool of 6,536,000, surpassing the previous record by 95 entries. Only the top 104 spots were paid and Gulas earned the far biggest payday of his career so far and walked away with the top prize of 1,276,712.

He has become the eighth player from the Czech Republic to win a WSOP gold bracelet and more than half of the victories were recorded on home soil. Martin Kabrhel won both of his career bracelets at the King's Resort, which has also been the home casino for Gulas as well.

Final Result 2021 WSOPE Main Event

Place Winner Country Prize (EUR) 1 Josef Gulas Jr Czech Republic 1,276,712 2 Johan Guilbert France 789,031 3 Alexander Tkatschew Germany 558,505 4 Athanasios Kidas Greece 401,344 5 Stanislav Koleno Slovakia 292,862 6 Aleksandar Trajkovski Macedonia 217,854 7 Thomas Denie Netherlands 163,434 8 Ilija Savevski Macedonia 125,052

"It's an incredible feeling. I am truly thankful and happy," an overwhelmed Gulas said in the interview after his victory. "It was a perfect tournament with a very nice structure in the best casino in Europe. Just incredible!"

During the entire festival, he only entered Event #1: 350 Opener and then spent the days on the cash game tables while waiting for the Main Event to start, for which he had an entry locked up thanks to his third place finish in the 250 IPS Main Event this past June. He would have entered the Main Event via direct buy-in anyways as the many ticket winners at King's Resort promised a big field but instead did so at a bargain.

"It's an incredible feeling. I am truly thankful and happy"

"It is something incredible, I would wish it to everyone. Everyone should participate and play in such circumstances, to feel the atmosphere and the feel of the final table," the winner said with regards to the special atmosphere on the live-streamed final table.

When asked what he will do with the money, Gulas was pretty certain he was going to build a house and save the remainder of the money. The 24 year old, who was railed by his family, usually sells cars but a career change may be in order. His father who bears the same name, was right there when everything unfolded and came up a few spots short of the money after bowing out on Day 3.

Runner-up Guilbert, also known under his online moniker "YoH ViraL", has become one of the most popular streamers and vloggers in Europe and padded his bankroll with a consolation prize of 789,031. The Frenchman resides in Malta and recently entered the fray in international High Roller competitions where he notched up six-figure cashes. Two years ago, Guilbert was heads-up for the coveted gold bracelet as well and missed out on the maiden victory in Event #36: $3,000 No-Limit Hold'em Shootout.

Another three of the final eight players joined eventual champion Gulas in the event thanks to winning an entry to the flagship tournament in competitions with buy-ins below 500. Ilija Savevski earned 125,052 in 8th place, Thomas Denie collected 163,434 for his 7th place and Stanislav Koleno scored a payday of 292,862.
The coveted gold bracelet in Event #14: 10,350 WSOPE Main Event will remain on home soil as Josef Gulas Jr defeated Johan Guilbert in heads-up. In the 2021 edition, a new attendance record for the WSOP Europe Main Event was set as 688 entries created a prize pool of 6,536,000, surpassing the previous record by 95 entries. Only the top 104 spots were paid and Gulas earned the far biggest payday of his career so far and walked away with the top prize of 1,276,712.

He has become the 8th player from the Czech Republic to win a WSOP gold bracelet and more than half of the victories were recorded on home soil. Martin Kabrhel won both of his career bracelets at the King's Resort, which has also become the home casino for Gulas as well.

Final Result 2021 WSOPE Main Event

Place Winner Country Prize (in EUR) 1 Josef Gulas Jr Czech Republic 1,276,712 2 Johan Guilbert France 789,031 3 Alexander Tkatschew Germany 558,505 4 Athanasios Kidas Greece 401,344 5 Stanislav Koleno Slovakia 292,862 6 Aleksandar Trajkovski Macedonia 217,854 7 Thomas Denie Netherlands 163,434 8 Ilija Savevski Macedonia 125,052

"It's an incredible feeling. I am truly thankful and happy," an overwhelmed Gulas said in the interview after his victory. "It was a perfect tournament with a very nice structure in the best casino in Europe. Just incredible!"

During the entire festival, he only entered the Opener and then spent the days on the cash game tables while waiting for the Main Event to start, for which he had an entry locked up thanks to his third place finish in the 250 IPS Main Event this past June. He would have entered the Main Event via direct buy-in anyways as the many ticket winners at King's Resort promised a big field but instead did so at a bargain.

"It is something incredible, I would wish it to everyone. Everyone should participate and play in such circumstances, to feel the atmosphere and the feel of the final table," the winner said with regards to the special atmosphere on the live-streamed final table.

When asked what he will do with the money, Gulas was pretty certain he was going to build a house and save the remainder of the money. The 24 year old, who was railed by his family, usually sells cars but a career change may be in order. His father who bears the same name, was right there when everything unfolded and came up a few spots short of the money after bowing out on Day 3.

Johan Guilbert and Josef Gulas await the flop during the final hand of the 2021 WSOPE Main Event Final Table

Runner-up Guilbert, also known under his online moniker "YoH ViraL", has become one of the most popular streamers and vloggers in Europe and padded his bankroll with a consolation prize of 789,031. The Frenchman resides in Malta and recently entered the fray in international High Roller competitions where he notched up six-figure cashes. Two years ago, Guilbert was heads-up for the coveted gold bracelet as well and missed out on the maiden victory in Event #36: $3,000 No-Limit Hold'em Shootout.

Another three of the final eight players joined eventual champion Gulas in the event thanks to winning an entry to the flagship tournament in competitions with buy-ins below 500. Ilija Savevski earned 125,052 in 8th place, Thomas Denie collected 163,434 for his 7th place and Stanislav Koleno scored a payday of 292,862.

The Action of the Final Day

Only seven players returned to the feature table in Europe's biggest poker arena and all had locked up a six-figure prize already. Eventual champion Gulas started with the lead but it wasn't smooth sailing by any means for the Czech player as he dropped to the shortest stack with four contenders remaining.

By then, Thomas Denie was already on the rail after running his queens into the pocket kings of Athanasios Kidas. Aleksandar Trajkovski then missed a flush draw against Johan Guilbert to become the next casualty and Stanislav Koleno followed shortly thereafter.

One of the pivotal hands of the final day was the clash between Gulas and Guilbert when the former held kings and the latter tabled aces to soar into the top spot. Even though Guilbert temporarily conceded the lead to Alexander Tkatschew, the Frenchman then won several pots including a large one with a gutsy move holding king-ten.

Kidas then lost a battle of the short stacks against Gulas and Tkatschew saw his stack reduced before he jammed into the nut flush of Guilbert. Only a few minutes into the heads-up duel, the chips went into the middle when Guilbert jammed it in with king-queen suited only to get dominated by the ace-king of Gulas.

Guilbert wrestled his way back into the lead but ultimately, the run of cards and aggressive playing style of Gulas prevailed against the min-bet strategy of his opponent to keep the WSOP Europe Main Event gold bracelet on home soil.

Another runner-up finish in a WSOP Event for Johan Guilbert

This wraps up the PokerNews coverage of the 2021 World Series of Poker Europe, as all 15 gold bracelets at the King's Resort have been awarded.
After almost five years in jail and two mistrials, Dawon Wells was released from the Aiken County detention center Wednesday afternoon.

Captain Nick Gallam, jail administrator at the Aiken County detention center, confirmed Wells was released around 2:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Solicitor Bill Weeks dismissed the murder charge against Wells earlier this week; however, Wells was still in jail for an assault and battery by a mob charge he picked up while incarcerated.

On Wednesday, Wells pleaded guilty to third-degree assault and battery by a mob, a charge that carries a maximum one year sentence. Since Wells has been incarcerated for the last four years, he was able to use his time served.
SOUTHFIELD, MICH.  The parents of a 17-year-old girl who was shot in the neck at Oxford High School during a mass shooting that left four students dead filed a pair of lawsuits seeking $100 million each against a Michigan school district, saying Thursday that the violence could have been prevented.

The lawsuits were filed in federal court in Detroit by Jeffrey and Brandi Franz on behalf of their daughters, Riley, a senior who was wounded Nov. 30, and her sister Bella, a 14-year-old ninth grader who was next to her at the time she was shot, attorney Geoffrey Fieger said.

The parents attended a news conference Thursday with Fieger in his Southfield offices. Jeffrey Franz appeared stoic, staring ahead as the personal injury lawyer accused school officials and staff at Oxford High of not doing enough to prevent the shooting and protect students.

Brandi Franz sat, often with head bowed. The parents did not address reporters.

The lawsuits are the first known civil suits filed in connection with the shooting. Named in the suits are the Oxford school district, Superintendent Tim Throne, Oxford High School principal Steven Wolf, the dean of students, two counselors, two teachers and a staff member.

The Associated Press sent an email Thursday seeking comment from the district.

Ten students and a teacher were shot at the school in Oxford Township, roughly 30 miles north of Detroit.

Ethan Crumbley, a 15-year-old sophomore at the school, was arrested at the school and has been charged as an adult with murder, terrorism and other crimes. His parents, James and Jennifer Crumbley, later were charged with involuntary manslaughter and arrested.

Personal-injury lawyers have expressed doubt that the school district could be successfully sued for letting Crumbley stay in school. That's because Michigan law sets a high bar to wring liability out of public schools and other arms of government.

"You have to show that the administration or faculty members were grossly negligent, meaning they had a reckless disregard for whether an injury was likely to take place," said attorney A. Vince Colella.

Fieger acknowledged Thursday that state law makes it difficult to successfully sue public bodies like school districts. He said a federal lawsuit allows him to subpoena the school district for records and evidence connected to Crumbley and the shooting.

"I understand that this is not going to be easy," Fieger said. "However, now is the time to do something about it."

The gun used in the shooting was bought days before by James Crumbley and their son had full access to it, prosecutors said.

The morning before the shooting school officials met with Ethan Crumbley and his parents after the school after a teacher found a drawing of a gun, a bullet and a person who appeared to have been shot, along with messages stating "My life is useless" and "The world is dead."

The Crumbleys "flatly refused" to take their son home, Throne has said.

The Franz family lives in Leonard, just northwest of Oxford. One of the lawsuits criticized school officials for not expelling, disciplining or searching Crumbley prior to the shooting which allowed Crumbley to return to his classroom "and carry out his murderous rampage."

The lawsuit alleges civil rights violations under the 14th Amendment and also said the school district "knew or should have known that the policies, procedures, training supervision and discipline" staff members named in the suit "were inadequate for the tasks that each defendant was required to perform."

"There's a responsibility that our society shares in protecting our children," Fieger said. "There is a responsibility among teachers, counselors and school administrators who could easily have prevented and stopped this slaughter."

Riley Franz was hospitalized following the shooting. She now is recovering at home, Fieger said.

On Wednesday, a statement posted on the district's website by Throne said that after all the facts have been obtained and released through the course of the prosecution, he will recommend to the Oxford Board of Education that the district initiate a review of its entire system "as other communities have done when facing similar experiences."

"Our goal with all of this is to bring together all of the facts of what happened before, during and after this horrific incident," he wrote. "We are committed to doing this in a way that allows our community to move forward and does not re-traumatize our community members, who are reeling and suffering from this horrible event."

The criminal cases against Ethan Crumbley and his parents are being overseen by the Oakland County prosecutor's office, and Michigan's attorney general said Tuesday her office will review events that occurred before the mass shooting, despite the district's rejection of her offer to be its third-party investigator.

The district's lawyer told the attorney general's office Monday it was fully cooperating with local law enforcement.

___

Williams reported from West Bloomfield, Michigan. Associated Press reporter David Eggert in Lansing, Michigan, contributed to this report.
WEST COLUMBIA  A fugitive in Lexington County escaped from an ambulance in handcuffs, stole a pickup truck and then took a gun from the truck before being picked up by another car on Dec. 8, authorities said.

Deputies caught up to Daniel Hill inside the home off Lawrence Road in Red Bank later that evening, the Lexington County Sheriff's Department said.

After a SWAT team negotiated with him through a window for about 90 minutes, Hill was arrested without incident at about 10 p.m.

"He is still in handcuffs and has made no threats," the department tweeted after the house was surrounded.

Earlier in the day, Hill, 30, was being transported to a hospital after a fight with deputies arresting him on multiple warrants, including drug-related and resisting arrest charges, sheriff's spokesman Capt. Adam Myrick said.

Hill had just finished a parole stint on other charges after his fourth trip to prison in the past decade, authorities said.

Hill was being transported to a hospital to ensure he was fit to be booked into the Lexington County Detention Center, Myrick said.

Hill escaped from the back of an ambulance while handcuffed near the intersection of Sunset Boulevard and Leaphart Road around 1 p.m. It was unclear how Hill escaped from the ambulance, but it started a nine-hour manhunt.

Lexington County deputies set up a perimeter around the search area with K-9s on the ground and drones in the air. Lexington School District One placed River Bluff High School, Meadow Glen elementary and middle schools and Oak Grove Elementary School on lockdown.

Hill stole a truck and was later seen at the Bojangles on Augusta Highway outside Lexington, the sheriff's department said.

While deputies have recovered the stolen truck in Red Bank, they have not recovered a gun reported to be inside the vehicle, Myrick said.

"We have every reason to believe that he has continued on with that gun in his possession since stealing the truck," Myrick said.

Deputies believe Hill was picked up in a silver SUV in the Red Bank area after dumping the truck, Myrick said.

Tips helped deputies find Hill at the Red Bank home where he was arrested, Lexington County Sheriff Jay Koon told reporters. More charges will be announced Dec. 9.

Hill was released on parole in February after serving three years of a seven-year prison sentence for robbery and burglary charges, S.C. Department of Corrections spokeswoman Chrysti Shain said.

Hill's parole period ended Dec. 5, according to records from the S.C. Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services.

Hill has had three previous stints in the S.C. prisons since 2010, starting with a six-month youthful offender sentence, Shain said. His was in prison from 2011 to 2014 and again in 2015.

Since 2010, in addition to burglary and robbery, Hill has pleaded guilty to larceny, financial card theft, forgery, impersonating an officer, threatening to kill someone, pointing a firearm at a person, failure to stop for police, receiving stolen goods and harassing a police dog, according to online court records.

The West Columbia Police Department and town of Lexington Police Department assisted with the search for Hill.
The King Street Public House is under new ownership after Prohibition owner James Walsh announced he and his partners would take over the 549 King St. space and turn it into a holiday pop-up, which debuted Nov. 22.

Walsh said operating next door to the bar caused challenges on some nights when patrons would spill onto the streets before and after closing time. The change in ownership comes 10 months after a King Street Public House employee was shot outside of the King Street Public House.

Walsh says he hopes this and a subsequent rum-inspired pop-up will give the space a fresh start.

We had to make a move; it wasnt good for us as neighbors and our clientele. Its going to be great for King Street I think," said Walsh, who opened his popular Upper King Street bar and restaurant in 2013 before adding a Prohibition in Savannah in 2017. "For us, we run a much tighter ship. Thats what the plans are here, to have another quality place.

The King Street Public House did not respond to requests for comment. Some of Prohibitions King Street neighbors did, however, weigh in on the decision.

Im very excited to see what James and his team create in the old OMalleys space, said Nathan Wheeler, co-owner of Vintage Lounge, located on the other side of Prohibition. I think with this addition, the 500 block of King Street continues to level up and be the premier food and beverage destination downtown.

James Walsh is one of the best operators Ive ever come across, said Uptown Social co-owner Keith Benjamin. His commitment to creating high-end establishments with tremendous character is great for King Street and Charleston as a whole.

After taking over the space, Walsh collaborated with the Miracle franchise to bring the Sippin Santa holiday pop-up to 549 King St. Look for holiday beverages and light bites from chef Marco Gibson seven days a week through Dec. 31, when Walsh will transform the space into another tiki-themed pop-up focused on rum cocktails. The food menu will feature fresh seafood and Caribbean-inspired dishes, Walsh said.

Walsh will announce the permanent plans for the space in the coming months. He anticipates the forthcoming concept to be up and running by spring 2022.

A similar transformation is taking place in Columbia in the 1556 Main St. space previously occupied by the Main Street Public House, operated by the same group as the King Street Public House.

After the Miracle on Main holiday pop-up, another Miracle franchise production, the space will become a third Prohibition outpost. According to Walsh, tighter regulations for bars in the historic Five Points neighborhood attracted him to Columbia.

A lot of quality restaurants are starting to pop up on Main Street now, Walsh said. Its a good time to be launching in Columbia.

Moving forward, chef and partner Greg Garrison will lead the Prohibition kitchens in Charleston, Savannah and Columbia, and Gibson will continue to serve as head chef at 549 King St.
GEORGETOWN  Hasty Point Plantation in Plantersville, once one of world's largest rice plantations, is becoming part of a federal nature preserve with more than 770 acres of longleaf pine trees, wetlands, rice fields and massive oak trees sitting on the Pee Dee River.

More than 100 enslaved people once lived on the property, and a group of Georgetown residents want to ensure their stories are told accurately at the site.

"What I am interested in learning (from this property) is how we can connect the true history before the great planters, or Europeans, came there," resident and local historian Steve Williams said during a meeting with a consultant working on programs at the preserve. "I am interested in how they treated the land, because here we are trying to preserve it decades and centuries later, but they must have found ways to preserve that land, too."

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service purchased the property with the help of the Open Space Institute in July 2020 for $5 million from owner Bob Schofield to become part of the Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge covers 55,000 acres in Georgetown, Horry and Marion counties.

On Dec. 7, representatives of the refuge and Mandala Research, hired to design the programs for the preserve, held their first of four meetings with residents to talk about what opportunities they want to see on the property.

To accurately tell the stories of the enslaved people who worked on the plantation, Georgetown County resident Ebony Hughes suggested that Laura Mandala, who heads the research firm, reach out to local African American foundations and Native American tribes to get their input.

"I think it is important that those funds that are being generated (by the plantation) are pumped back into the African American community ... and maybe include African American businesses that can offer and provide those types of services for education, because they do exist," Hughes said.

Mandala agreed with Hughes, and said several Native American tribes have been contacted about the property and included in planning.

"From day one, when we started working with the (Waccamaw) National Wildlife Refuge, the first priority was the community and the indigenous population, their needs and ensuring that whatever is done there is done in a way that benefits them culturally, socially and economically," Mandala said.

Several other residents agreed with Hughes, and said they would like to see guided tours of the property's many historic buildings, spaces where groups could meet and conduct business and even rentable rooms for visitors who wish to stay overnight on the property.

The wildlife refuge will hold three more meetings over the next two weeks to get more public input for what the plantation should offer visitors, and will also be conducting a virtual survey later on.
ORLANDO, Fla.  A civilian officer at Joint Base Charleston was arrested Dec. 7 after threatening to drive his car into a hospital, among other mass killings, in a series of text messages written to another law enforcement officer at the base.

Thomas James Stephan, 30, was charged by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement with writing texts threatening to kill, do bodily injury, conduct a mass shooting or an act of terrorism.

Stephan is a civilian member of the 628th Air Base Wings security forces squadron, a spokeswoman for Joint Base Charleston said. He is not an enlisted member of the military, she said.

His town of residence and address were not immediately available and was redacted in the available report.

Stephan wrote suicidal text messages in Florida to another police officer at Joint Base Charleston. Stephan threatened to die through suicide-by-cop, according to an arrest warrant affidavit. Suicide by cop is when a person deliberately behaves in a threatening manner, with intent to provoke a lethal response by police.

Experts estimate there are approximately 100 suicide-by-cop shootings each year, according to the Police Executive Research Forum. The majority of the cases involve people who are in a mental crisis, the research suggests.

The person Stephan texted repeatedly asked if the two of them could speak over the phone. Stephan replied that he did not want to talk. The person then asked whether Stephan was armed with a weapon.

Meet me and find out, Stephan wrote, according to a text chain attached to the affidavit.

Stephan wrote suicide-by-cop cases were difficult for small towns, adding that They cant handle it.

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The person replied: Lets not put that on them.

Stephan then told the person to stop contacting him, according to the text chain. Stephan wrote he intended to die by suicide-by-cop and there would be a mass casualty if he were stopped.

Another text, or message and we make this from one death to a Mass case, Stephans text said. Do we understand each other? Its a lot what a car full of fuel can do to a hospital. ... By your silence, you understand.

They continued to text.

Stephan also threatened that he would drive his car into a military base, according to the affidavit.

Law enforcement found Stephan had sent some of these threats outside the Patrick Space Force Base, a U.S. Space Force installation in Brevard County, Fla., the affidavit said. Stephan, however, remained outside of the secured base.

The affidavit said Stephan was later found at an overpass near Universal Studios in Orlando, Fla., threatening to jump. He was detained by the Orlando Police Department for evaluation and investigation. Stephan was arrested and booked into the Orange County jail that day.

Stephan was denied bail, officials said. If convicted of the felony offense in Florida, Stephan could face up to 30 years in prison.
President Joe Biden is reportedly preparing to award the Medal of Honor posthumously to a Citadel cadet-turned-Army Ranger from Summerville whose death at the hands of enemy gunfire in Afghanistan helped save his fellow soldiers.

Sgt. 1st Class Christopher Celiz, 32, was believed to be a part of a CIA effort to capture or kill militant targets at a time when the broader U.S. military mission was geared toward training and supporting Afghan defense forces.

A Dec. 8 report from The Washington Post said the South Carolinian is among two other soldiers, Master Sgt. Earl Plumlee and Sgt. 1st Class Alwyn Cashe, who fought in Afghanistan and Iraq that could be awarded the military's highest honor for valor as soon as next week.

Celiz, a Summerville native, died July 12, 2018, from wounds suffered as a result of enemy small-arms fire in eastern Afghanistans Paktiya province.

The combat engineer with the elite 75th Ranger Regiment exposed himself to enemy gunfire to protect a helicopter that was carrying out a medical evacuation, per an Army report about the incident.

The pilot, Capt. Ben Krzeczowski, said he would have died if it weren't for the actions of the Summerville native.

"My aircraft would have been critically damaged if it werent for Chris, and we owed him our lives. Krzeczowski told the Army.

Celiz's wife, Katherine, told The Post and Courier she didn't want to comment until the White House made an official statement.

White House and Pentagon personnel did not respond to questions from The Post and Courier on Dec. 9.

The Post reported the medals could be delivered as soon as Dec. 16, basing its story on comments from four current and former U.S. officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity ahead of an expected White House announcement.

Celiz's roots in the Palmetto State run deep. He attended Summerville High School and later The Citadel, where he was enrolled for two years before enlisting in 2007. At the time of his death, he was on his fifth deployment as an Army Ranger.

U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace, R-Charleston, praised Celiz's courage and said the Citadel cadet's dedication to the country wouldn't be forgotten.

"Because of his heroic deeds, Sgt. First Class Celiz will be posthumously awarded the congressional Medal of Honor," said Mace, a Citadel graduate. "Today, and every day, our hearts are with Sgt. First Class Celiz and his family."

To be considered for the Medal of Honor, a deed performed by the service member must have been one of personal bravery or self-sacrifice so conspicuous as to clearly distinguish the individual above his comrades and must have involved risk of life.

By law, Medals of Honor must be awarded within five years of the combat action recognized, but in legislation passed early this year, Congress made additional consideration for Cashe, Plumlee and two other soldiers. Celiz's death fell within the half-decade time frame.

The White House's anticipated announcement comes as Biden faces criticism for harried withdrawal from Afghanistan that left at least 13 service members dead as well as some American and Afghan partners stranded under Taliban rule.

In the nearly 20 years America spent in Afghanistan and Iraq since 9/11, an estimated 101 service members from South Carolina died, according to a review of data from the Military Times and iCasualties.org.

Nearly 20 graduates from The Citadel died overseas during the wars, according to the schools website.
COLUMBIA  The S.C. Supreme Court ruled in 2017 that 29 parishes that broke away from the Episcopal Church were to hand over their properties, while seven of the breakaway congregations could keep their churches.

When the decision was sent to a lower court for clarification, a circuit judge ruled in 2020 that all 36 of the breakaway parishes with the newly formed Anglican Diocese of South Carolina could keep their churches, in addition to a 300-acre camp on Johns Island.

Now both parties are back before the Supreme Court, and there appears to be confusion over what the justices initially decided in 2017.

Chief Justice Donald Beatty acknowledged the befuddlement in the legal dispute, which involves dozens of parishes that stretch from the Lowcountry to the Grand Strand. The properties are valued at roughly $500 million.

Id like to apologize for any confusion the court created in its multiple opinions in this case, Beatty said. Its obvious we werent clear as to what we wanted you all to do, and what was meant by that opinion.

The Episcopal Church of South Carolina argued Dec. 8 before the state's top court that it should own the properties of 29 parishes that broke away from the denomination years ago.

"The decisions of this court are not subject to attack in any inferior court," said attorney Bert Utsey III with the Episcopal Church.

The Anglican Diocese said that the lower court's 2020 decision should stand. The diocese argued that Circuit Judge Edgar Dickson, tasked with clarifying the Supreme Court's earlier ruling, was authorized to make the decision.

"(Judge Dickson) did, most importantly, apply the issue that I think should be focus of this court: What is the law of South Carolina when it comes to the application of trusts to religious organizations," said attorney Alan Runyan with the Anglican group.

Clarification around the Supreme Court's initial decision was needed since the case involved five separate decisions.

The case was sent before Dickson, who offered a clarification in 2020 that determined that the Anglican Diocese's 36 parishes could keep their churches.

Regarding the 314-acre Camp St. Christopher on Johns Island, which the national church has argued belongs in trust to the Episcopal denomination, Dickson affirmed in last year's ruling that a nonprofit corporation that takes the correct steps to sever itself from another association does so with its property intact.

The camp should remain as titled in the Trustees of the Protestant Episcopal Church in South Carolina as stated in the 1951 deed, the decision said.

There is no timeline for when the Supreme Court will make its ruling, a decision that still may not mark the end of the legal dispute.
Funding for infrastructure development for the city of North Augusta could be coming soon.

On Monday city council discussed federal and state funding coming from the American Rescue Plan Act, passed by Congress in March 2021.

The city of North Augusta received the first portion of federal money, $5,935,544.61, in early November. The city, under the law, must have allocated the ARPA money by Dec. 2024 and spent it by Dec. 2026.

Council received an update on reporting deadlines and broad plans on how to spend the money within the city. The city will give its first annual report to the federal government showing its allocation as a non-entitlement unit by April 30, 2022.

No money will be transferred from that account without council direction, so for the citizens at home, that money has now gone into you call it a savings account or a checking account, and the city staff is not authorized to withdraw funds from that without direct council permission, city administrator Jim Clifford said.

Infrastructure development surrounding water, stormwater, wastewater and tourism are likely projects the city will spend the money on, according to Clifford.

The big question mark that I have right now is to see what the state is going to do with their ARPA money relative to infrastructure matches, Clifford said. There is some discussion now matching their ARPA funds against infrastructure funds in municipalities and cities and if that occurs, that may change some of the calculus on the ratios of how we look at one of our projects, meaning that we can get more infrastructure projects completed if the state chooses to match those funds and that is yet to be determined and likely not to be determined until the legislature goes back into session.

A duo of resolutions for public safety regarding radio technology updates will be voted on in the upcoming meeting.

The resolutions provide a payment plan in conjunction with Aiken County for new Motorola radios for public safety officers via a county 911 landline fund. The current radios used in North Augusta are 11 years old.

The arrangement would be that the county pays for 75 percent of the cost of the radios and the city would be encumbered with 25 percent cost, so that 75 percent from the county comes out of that specific fund that would pay that, Clifford said. The city of Aiken has already taken advantage of that specific program and have outfitted their public safety department with radios and updated radios based on that funding source.

The old radios that our current public safety officers have are outdated, Clifford said. They dont make those kinds of radios anymore and it is becoming increasingly difficult to attain replacement parts for those radios, as well as some connectivity issues just in neighboring jurisdictions with the older style radios.

Mayor Briton Williams was not in attendance.

Other business:
President Joe Biden speaks as he meets virtually via a secure videoconference with Russian President Vladimir Putin from the Situation Room at the White House in Washington, D.C., Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2021. At far left is White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan along with Secretary of State Antony Blinken (right), and National Security Council senior director for Russian and Central Asia, Eric Green. Adam Schultz/AP
The Biden administration's effort to require businesses to enforce COVID-19 vaccine mandates was always a stretch.

The idea of the federal government  or a state or local government  requiring its own employees to be vaccinated was not.

Even less of a stretch is the idea of private employers requiring some or all of their employees to be vaccinated  whether theyre motivated by public health concerns or simply want to keep down their medical and operating costs by reducing the risk of infection and quarantines in their workplaces.

Its particularly not a stretch in South Carolina, where elected officials have always balked at government restrictions on employer-employee relationships.

South Carolina, with the rarest of exceptions, has always taken the position that businesses should decide the conditions under which their employees remain employed, and employees can decide whether they can live with those conditions or want to find work elsewhere. And appropriately so.

Thats what makes the effort by the S.C. House leadership to rush through legislation stripping not just local governments and state agencies but also private businesses of that right when it comes to vaccine requirements so extraordinary. And disturbing.

Nearly as disturbing as the legislation itself is the length to which House leaders have gone to advance the bill to mollify a vocal contingent of extremist anti-vaccine advocates.

The Senate has adjourned for the year, and the only things the House is supposed to take up before the next session starts in mid-January are reapportionment and spending bills related to COVID-19. But on Tuesday morning, House Ways and Means Chairman Murrell Smith suddenly scheduled a subcommittee meeting that afternoon on H.3126 after 100 or so vaccine opponents massed at the Statehouse last week to demand that the House upend its rules and relieve them of the burden of meeting the job requirements their employers impose on them.

The bill purported to nullify federal vaccine and mask requirements, which made it an embarrassment, since nullification is such a thoroughly discredited concept, but it had little practical effect: The legislation simply prohibited state and local government from accepting any federal funds to enforce any federal mandates  which no one was going to do anyhow.

But after the subcommittee heard from a trio of anti-vaxxers, and without any debate or discussion, Mr. Smith launched into a scripted show of having a staffer read a summary of the committee amendment that replaced the text of the innocuous bill with the measure to bar state and local government and schools from imposing vaccine requirements and to bar businesses from firing workers who refused to be vaccinated, at the risk of having to rehire them and pay back wages. Critically, the amendment includes $20 million to provide free weekly alternate COVID testing for workers covered by federal vaccine mandates, making it technically qualify as a COVID spending bill. Less than three minutes after the summary was read, the panel approved the amendment and adjourned.

The full committee is scheduled to meet Thursday morning to take up the bill and, if all goes as House leaders plan, send it on to the full House, where they plan to bypass normal procedure to pass it just hours later.

The whole effort makes us wonder: What rights will the mob demand be taken away from businesses next?

Our business community is wondering the same thing. On Wednesday, a whos-who of South Carolinas business elite  led by the S.C. Chamber of Commerce, S.C. Manufacturers Alliance, S.C. Retail Association, National Federation of Independent Businesses, Home Builders Association of South Carolina, S.C. Trucking Association and Carolinas Association of General Contractors  released a joint statement urging the House to reject this unprecedented step against the internal operations of our states job creators.

South Carolina has a long-held tradition of being a pro-business state that allows businesses to operate with minimal government intervention, the group said, noting that the ability for businesses to operate without government overreach is a key building block of our states booming economy.

We hope House members take that message very seriously.

We hope that even if they dont believe COVID is real or that vaccines work or that we all have a moral and a pragmatic obligation to protect others from infection, they will recognize the larger implications of this legislation.

We hope they think about whether its really more important to cater to a small minority of extremists than to heed the concerns of the people who create most of South Carolinas jobs.

We hope they think about what it says about their belief in their core principles about the free-enterprise system if they vote to interject themselves into the internal decision of those job creators.

We hope, for that matter, they recall that Gov. Henry McMaster's opposition to the Biden administrations vaccine mandates is based precisely on his argument that businesses should be able to decide for themselves what sort of workforce conditions they will require  that is, the exact opposite of what this bill calls for.

We believe the House should reject the entire bill, and let towns and cities and schools and even state agencies decide for themselves whether they need to require vaccines.

But it must remove the restriction on businesses. Unless our lawmakers truly believe that politicians know better how to run South Carolinas businesses than South Carolinas businesses do.
Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley has released a new book online which lays out a road map for conservative policies ahead of the 2022 election cycle.

The free e-book, "American Strength: Conservative Solutions Worth Fighting For," features excerpts on a variety of foreign and domestic policy issues from a wide range of GOP political voices, such as conservative commentator Dennis Prager, retired Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster and South Carolina's own U.S. Sen. Tim Scott.

Haley's Stand for America nonprofit advocacy organization published the book and it's available to download on the group's website.

The tone of the book, as well as the content, further grows speculation the former governor and Donald Trump-era U.N. ambassador is positioning to be a 2024 White House contender.

"Theres no combination of elected or unelected experts, elites and do-gooders who are smarter than the American people," Haley writes in the introduction. "The more than 330 million women and men and children who call America home are infinitely creative and capable of creating opportunities for themselves and their communities."

"They simply need the chance to prove it by pursuing their passions, something socialism only stifles," she continues.

Haley's book makes no mention of her relationship with Trump. He is praised as the "most pro-life president in history" by one of the section's authors, and his economic and foreign policy is praised throughout the text.

In April, Haley said publicly she does not plan to run for president in 2024 if Trump seeks office again.

It was a stark turnaround from comments Haley made in interviews with Politico after Jan. 6, when a violent mob stormed the U.S. Capitol over Trumps unfounded allegations the 2020 election was fraudulent.

In a lengthy story about Haleys approach to Trump and her own future, she was quoted as saying Trump would not run for federal office again.

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I dont think hes going to be in the picture, Haley told Politico at the time. I dont think he can. Hes fallen so far.

Since then, Haley has worked to publicly mend her relationship with the former president. It's unclear where their relationship stands, but Haley reportedly met Trump this past week for a brief but pleasant meeting at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Fla., according to Politico.

Scott, who like Haley said he would not run for the White House in 2024 if Trump enters the picture, wrote a section in the book titled "A Plan for Safety and Healing in America."

The Republican senator's section opens by recalling the 2015 shooting death of Walter Scott, a Black motorist, at the hands of a White police officer in North Charleston, and lays out the times he has tried to pass police reform bills in Washington. Notably, he blames Democrats for the reforms' failure.

"But Im still at the table because I know that millions of Americans are counting on us to make our communities safer and heal the divides that others wish to exploit," Scott writes. "I remain optimistic we will get there."

Haley offers the introduction to the domestic and foreign policy sections of the book and mostly regurgitates lines and themes she has stated publicly during her 2020 speech at the Republican National Convention or, most recently, at The Citadel Republican Society's Patriot Dinner, where she was honored with the "Nathan Hale Patriot Award" last week.

"By all means, lets root out discrimination and injustice wherever they exist, and lets do it by applying Americas principles more fully," Haley writes. Take it from me, the first female governor of South Carolina and the first minority female governor in the United States: America is not a racist country."

"American Strength: Conservative Solutions Worth Fighting For" can be downloaded for free from Stand For America's website and print copies may be circulated in the future.

This is Haley's third book. The first, "Can't Is Not An Option," is about her time as governor and was released in 2012. In 2019, she released "With All Due Respect" about her time in the United Nations.
SPARTANBURG  Beginning in early 2022, the redistricting process will begin in Spartanburg to redraw some of the city's six City Council districts to reflect population changes based on the latest U.S. Census results.

The city grew by 4.6 percent over the past decade, from 37,013 residents to 38,732 residents, according to the 2020 U.S. Census. According to a redistricting report created for Spartanburg by the South Carolina Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office, the ideal size of a district increased from 6,169 to 6,455. District 4 grew to 7,057 residents while District 5 decreased to 6,099 residents, according to the report.

City Communications and Marketing Manager Christopher George said City Council will make adjustments in District 4, District 5 and District 6 before the 2023 municipal election in the city. The lines might be reshaped in other districts as well, he said.

"We don't want to split precincts and try as much as we can not to split neighborhoods and communities where there is shared interest," George told The Post and Courier. "There will be public input sessions and we will get help from the state agency that issued the benchmark report on how to rebalance our map."

The report showed that District 1 was 35 residents over the recommended 6,455 while District 2 was 98 residents over the recommendation. District 3 was 187 residents short of the recommended 6,455. District 4 was 602 residents over the recommendation while District 5 was 356 under the new benchmark set. District 6 was also under the newly established recommendation by 190 residents, according to the report.

"We will have four districts at minimum get some kind of adjustment," George said. "The deviation range recommended is no more than 5 percent."

George said the census results showed the city had experienced growth for the first time in decades. He expects the trend to continue as new housing construction continues and companies create new jobs.

"I think it is definitely going to keep going," George said. "That is the kind of momentum we have got right now."

Spartanburg City Councilman Jerome Rice, who has served District 5 over the past decade, said the reshaping of the district boundaries will be transparent and include public input throughout the process. He was a member of City Council when the districts were reshaped based on the U.S. Census in 2010.

"It is very important for the city to make sure the districts are balanced out," Rice said. "We want to go ahead and get the lines redrawn and give the public the opportunity to see the process as well."

Rice said the process will likely begin in late January or early February.

District 4 City Councilman Jamie Fulmer said there will be several opportunities for resident to express their opinions and preferences on how the lines should be reshaped to represent population shifts in the city.

"I look forward to getting into the process and working through it, " Fulmer said.
'INCREDIBLE': Esther Spengler, 33, spends her second night on her own in Morocco during a Get Lost trip in October. Photo courtesy of Esther Spengler
Guam has been included in legislation that passed the House Judiciary Committee that would allow qualified island residents to seek radiation exposure compensation, Del. Michael San Nicolas announced Thursday evening.

The legislation, H.R. 5338, now states radiation exposure compensation covers the following areas: Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Guam.

"After working with two different primary authors in both the 116th and 117th Congress, we are finally at a place to bring this to a full vote by the House of Representatives," said San Nicolas, who originally co-sponsored the legislation.

He acknowledged "the advocacy of PARS Guam over many years for bringing passionate voice and advocacy to this issue."

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The Pacific Association for Radiation Survivors, or PARS, is a 20-year-old nonprofit organization that advocates for the inclusion of Guam as a downwinder area under the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act, or RECA, according to a press release.

Retired U.S. Navy Lt. Bert Schreiber, in a sworn affidavit, noted that Guam's radiation exposure during the nuclear testing in the Marshall Islands - from 1946 to 1958  was "off the charts" on scales measuring radiation exposure. Information related to exposure in Guam was classified until the 1990s.

PARS President Robert Celestial discovered the unclassified documents and pursued the affidavit from Schreiber.

After a congressionally mandated investigation, the National Academies of Science concluded in a 2002 published report that Guam should be included as a "downwinder" under the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act.
With three weeks still to go in 2021, at least 12 major U.S. cities have broken their annual homicide records. Two other cities are on the verge of doing so.

The cities that have already suffered a record number of homicides are:

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Columbus, Ohio

Indianapolis, Indiana

Louisville, Kentucky

St. Paul, Minnesota

Portland, Oregon

Tucson, Arizona

Toledo, Ohio

Austin, Texas

Rochester, New York

Albuquerque, New Mexico

Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Five of these cities  Columbus, Indianapolis, Louisville, Toledo, and Baton Rouge  broke records set in 2020. That was the year when homicides increased 30 percent nationally, the largest single-year jump since the FBI began recording crime statistics 60 years ago.

The two cites that are likely to break their annual record before the end of the month are Minneapolis and Milwaukee.

Chicago will not break the record it set way back in 1970. However, it leads the nation with 739 homicides as of the end of November, a small increase from 2020.

What do the 15 homicide-plagued cities mentioned above have in common? Every one of them has a Democrat as mayor.

I cant speak to the specifics of law enforcement in all 15 cities. However, we have covered the abdication, in effect, by the police forces in Portland and Minneapolis. We also know about the pro-criminal, anti-police policies of Philadelphias Soros-backed chief prosecutor, Larry Krasner.

Krasner, by the way, claims that Philadelphia isnt experiencing a crime wave. This willfully ignorant statement has drawn howls of derision from Philadelphia residents and officials:

Former Philly mayor Michael Nutter did not mince words

[Krasners statements are] some of the worst, most ignorant, and most insulting comments I have ever heard spoken by an elected official. It takes a certain audacity of ignorance and white privilege to say that right now. . . . I have to wonder what kind of messed-up world of white wokeness Krasner is living in to have so little regard for human lives lost, many of them Black and brown, while he advances his own national profile as a progressive district attorney.

(Emphasis added)

Darnetta Arce, executive director of the Brewerytown and Sharswood civic association in North Philadelphia, complained:

People get carjacked at the gas station. We have people getting robbed as they walk down the street. We have people getting shot. So, no, its not safe in our community right now.

Current Philadelphia mayor Jim Kenney acknowledged:

Its terrible to every morning get up and have to go look at the numbers and then look at the news and see the stories. Its just crazy. Its just crazy and this needs to stop.

But it wont stop, not with a radical leftist chief prosecutor who refuses to acknowledge the problem, even in the face of statistics showing that his city of roughly 1.5 million people has had more homicides this year (521 as of December 6) than the nations two largest cities, New York (443 as of December 5) and Los Angeles (352 as of Nov. 27). The 521 homicides represent an increase of 13 percent from 2020, a near-record year in Philadelphia.

I suspect that, for Krasner, this isnt a problem, not one hes concerned about anyway. Hes concerned about the incarceration of Blacks  about social justice, not public safety or, indeed, actual justice.

Krasner may an extreme case, but his views have taken hold elsewhere. Thats a major reason why more than a dozen cities will set homicides records this year.
A reader from Northern Virginia follows up on my post about the elimination of grades below C in many California school districts by informing me about a lowering of educational standards in his state. He reports:

Here in Virginia students can still fail the statewide Standards of Learning (SOL) reading test, but the method used to determine failure was changed so that fewer children would be seen as failing. In November 2020 the Virginia State Board of Education reduced the cut score for reading (score needed to achieve a passing grade of 400) by 10-15% below the prior years equivalent.

For example, to have the same level of rigor as the 2019 SOLs, a third grade student had to get 25 out of 40 questions right to pass the exam. For this last year, the Virginia Board of Education reduced that number to 21 out of 40 (16% lower). The result is that the pass rate on the reading test would be higher only because the Board of Education changed the previous benchmark for failure.

I cannot attribute the motivation for the State Boards decision to a desire to make the pass rate look better during the pandemic. Apparently, changes to testing benchmarks are made over time. And the State Board did not change the benchmark for passing the state math exam.

However, by changing the benchmark for passing the reading exam, school administrators were able to avoid uncomfortable questions about students reading performance during the pandemic. For example, when Arlington Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Francisco Duran, who sits on the State Board, presented the test results to the Arlington School Board this past August, he failed to mention that reading scores only looked acceptable because the threshold for passing had been lowered. Instead, he allowed the public (and parents) to believe that reading performance had not dropped as much as it really had during the pandemic.

Given Dr. Durans role on the State Board, he was surely aware of the benchmark change.

I suspect that this kind of lowering of educational standards is widespread in America. Its likely to result in a lowering of reading skills, since the less one expects of students, the less one is probably going to get.
Ellah Lakes Plc has announced its partnership with the Enugu State government via a joint venture for the development of the Ada Rice Company and plantation. The deal also involves expanding the rice firm into a Staple Crop Processing Zone.

Ellah Lakes Plc made the disclosure in a statement on the Nigerian Exchange Limited on Wednesday, signed by the companys secretary Kenechi Ezezika and seen by PREMIUM TIMES.

The company entered into an agreement with the Enugu State Government through the Enugu State Technical Committee on Privatisation and Commercialisation, for the expansion and further development of the rice company in Adani Uzo-Uwani LGA.

Ellah Lakes will produce and process rice with the participation of over Two Hundred (200) indigenous Farmers in the local out-grower program. Ellah Lakes will also develop a Feed Mill and Ethanol processing plant on the site in Adani.

The development is expected to create a minimum of Five Thousand (5,000) jobs over the next 24 months, and work is scheduled to begin immediately, it said.

The chief executive officer, Chuka Mordi, said this is a significant landmark for the company in fulfilling our strategic objective of diversifying our portfolio and production base, & we are very excited to be working with the Enugu State Government.

We are very pleased at this collaboration with the very progressive Government of Enugu State. For us, this is the beginning of a great journey to expand the industrial base of the state, and we look forward to a mutually beneficial, valuable and fruitful venture.

In October 2021, the company began a partnership with the Ekiti State government with the aim of improving the biodiversity of the landscape and increasing employment in the state.

The firm will restore the forest assets in the state within the stipulated period.

Ellah Lakes is considering a listing on the London Stock Exchange and its board is hoping to get shareholders nod to proceed with the ambition.
President Muhammadu Buhari did not order the removal of the management of the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), the presidency has said, contradicting an earlier announcement by the Ministry of Power.

The power minister, Abubakar Aliyu, on Tuesday announced the president had authorised the replacement of the management of the troubled firm, but critics accused the government of interfering in a private company, a move capable of turning potential investors away.

A former head of the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission, Sam Amadi, told PREMIUM TIMES the president lacked such powers.

Mr Aliyu on Wednesday claimed the announcement was reported out of context, and said the decision was taken instead by UBA, which has took over the electricity firm following AEDCs loan repayment default.

The AEDC is one of 11 electricity distribution companies that emerged from the 2013 privatisation of the sector. The government holds 40 per cent in the AEDC while the lead investor, KANN Utility, holds 60 per cent.

Since coming on stream, the AEDC, like most other distribution companies, has struggled to improve power supply to its consumers and has failed to break even.

Workers commenced an industrial action on Monday over non-remittance of employees benefits. They shut down electricity facilities, throwing the federal capital, Abuja, Kogi, Nasarawa, Niger, and parts of Kaduna into darkness.

Mr Buharis spokesperson, Garba Shehu, said the president was not involved in the removal of the companys leadership.

This cannot be true. Since the privatisation of the Power Sector in 2013, the management of the successor companies has reverted to the new owners. It is, therefore, totally out of place and inconceivable that the President would be linked to the management of a private organisation, let alone sacking it, he said in a statement Wednesday.

It is gladdening to note that the minister quoted in the statement has distanced himself from it.

The Presidency, therefore, wishes to state expressly and reassure investors in the economy that President Buhari did not order the sack of the management of AEDC, nor does he intend to interfere in the running of the affairs of private business entities.

The Presidency, however, welcomes ongoing discussions with relevant stakeholders to resolve the issues surrounding the recent developments in the company.
One month after his Morrocan wife, Laila Charani, broke the news of their separation, Ned Nwoko, a former lawmaker and husband of Nollywood star, Regina Daniels, has set the records straight.

Ms Charani broke the news of their separation on her Instagram handle on November 1.

As a result, fans linked their separation to the influence of a local aphrodisiac called Kayamata sold by Hauwa Mohammed, popularly known as Jaruma.

Laila was his fifth wife.

The businessman confirmed the news of their separation on his official Instagram page on Wednesday.

He set the record straight and quelled several rumours.

Mr Nwoko, an international lawyer, said his marriage to his Moroccan wife, which produced three children, ended due to irreconcilable differences rooted in indecent conduct on the latters part which started whilst she was on holiday in London.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CXN_Oi2MZVj/

Mrs Charani did not respond to enquiries sent to her via her Instagram account which sought her reactions to the allegations.

Allegations

In the statement, which was issued by Mr Nwokos media team, he denied rumours that their separation was as a result of the use of a local aphrodisiac called Kayamata sold by Jaruma.

Mr Nwoko accused his ex-wife of meeting with a man at a hotel while she was vacating in London with their kids. He also accused her of abandoning their kids during her stay in London.

Explaining the circumstances that led to the separation, the statement partly read: When she got to London, she abandoned the kids. No money was spent on them for their clothes. She did not take them to shops but spent money on herself. She was also in contact with a man.

Laila was always on the phone with a strange man. From secret findings, the relationship with the man started sometime in January 2021.

The statement also said that his estranged wife contracted COVID-19 at a nightclub in London and had undergone plastic surgery without her husbands knowledge.

She did plastic surgery without informing her husband. She went to a nightclub and got coronavirus there. The neglect of the kids, violence on them, plastic surgery without knowledge of her husband, wayward lifestyle abroad, contact with a man, police case, and involvement of a lawyer in London were the major concerns that Ned Nwoko found disturbing and unacceptable.

In all the weighty allegations, her only defense was that someone set her up She never explained who did and for what purpose. When she returned to Nigeria from the UK, Ned Nwoko refused to see her and instead asked her to leave, as he could not condone her indiscretions anymore.

In conclusion, Mr Nwoko said his initial reaction was to have completely ignored the silly insinuation.

He, however, said, he decided to speak out because of his global reputation as a foremost philanthropist, distinguished patriot, and conscientious billionaire business mogul who can never allow shallow tale mongers to impugn his impeccable character and pedigree.

Mr Nwoko became a household name after he wedded Nollywood star, Regina Daniels, in April 2019.
A former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, has said Precious Chikwendu, the mother of his four sons, is suffering from bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.

Mr Fani-Koyode said this in a statement issued by his lawyer, Ayodeji Ibikunle, and made available to PREMIUM TIMES, on Thursday.

Bipolar is a disorder associated with episodes of mood swings ranging from depressive lows to manic highs. schizophrenia, on the other hand, is a disorder that affects a persons ability to think, feel and behave clearly.

The ex-ministers remarks comes days after Ms Chikwendu said she was forced to remain celibate for six years while they cohabited and alleged that their four children were conceived via artificial insemination.

The estranged couple has been locked in a messy legal battle over the custody of their four sons since they split in 2020.

Mental illness?

In the statement, the politician also maintained that Chikwendu is allegedly clinically unstable, and is as mad as a hater and is prone to telling monstrous lies and making delusional statements.

The statement partly reads:

 We are constrained to point out the fact that Miss Precious Chikwendu, the former partner of our client Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, Sadaukin Shinkafi, is suffering from bipolar disorder and schizophrenia and we acknowledge the fact that she is totally insane.

Ordinarily we cannot be expected to respond to the crass, filthy, delusional, salacious, disgraceful and absurd allegations of an insane person.

It also stated that none of his clients sons was suffering from COVID-19 or that any of them had head injuries, contrary to Chikwendus allegations.

He described the allegations as pernicious lies and diabolical fabrication from the pit of hell.

Chikwendu hits back

Chikwendu hit back at the father of her children and threatened to respond with pictures and video evidence. She also alleged that he is the one with bipolar.

She also alleged that Mr Fani-Kayodes lawyer physically insulted her in court on Wednesday and is still unapologetic.

She said: I gave it back to him as he had got away with insulting me at the federal high court Apo several times in March, and April whilst i kept mute . He forgets he is but a messanger. All these aggression came up the moment the panel ruled that both lawyers should sit and fix dates and venue for me to see my kids this holiday.

 His lawyer refused to give his office address to my lawyer to enable us send a letter to this effect and that led to the argument that made his lawyer insult me who was minding my business o,over a conversation i was in no way involved in.

She also said when the panel inquired about the reason for the arguments, FFKs lawyer claimed she cant be granted access as one of the sons has COVID.

She said : Mr short fuse has never been present to any court, be it on custody or customary court hearing since March , yet he is releasing statements in defense of his lawyer.

I am a mother who is only interested in raising her kids and not dragging with a man who sees no value in respecting at least his over hyped past offices and records. Soon you would force me to release videos of the much damages you did. You are obviously shocked i have pictures and figured the school right?.

Chikwendu, an ex-beauty queen, had told a Customary Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, that FFK never consummated his six-year relationship with her because he allegedly had erectile dysfunction.

The mother-of-four said her relationship with Mr Fani-Kayode, her former estranged cohabiter, was full of woes, lies, deceits, quarrels, assaults, battery, and domestic violence.

The 32-year-old model also said that since August 2020 that she walked out of the cohabitation with Mr Fani-Kayode, she had been continuously denied access to her children and her children have been continuously deprived of parental motherly care and protection.

Rebuttals

According to Mr Ibikunle, his clients wife had made a series of sinister and cruel claims about her own children.

He also insisted that he would continue to ignore her allegations till they meet in court.

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He wrote: Other than to make the above clarification we will continue to ignore her rantings, falsehood and mendacious fabrications and to pray for her recovery.

Meanwhile, we will meet her in court where she will be exposed for who and what she is and what she suffers from.

The lawyer described Chikwendu as a pathological liar with a troubled and twisted mind that is in urgent need of medical attention.

Mr Fani-Kayode and Chikwendus affair was made public in 2014 while the news of their separation made news headlines in September 2020.
Veteran Yoruba actor, Ojo Arowosafe, popularly known as Fadeyi Oloro has cried out to Nigerians, seeking financial assistance amidst health challenges.

The ailing actor who spoke with PREMIUM TIMES on Thursday said he has conducted a series of tests to ascertain the nature of his ailment to no avail. He also said he has sold all his properties while moving from one hospital to another in search of a solution.

The veteran actor who became a household name after he starred in the 1986 television drama, Arelu, told this newspaper that he can not walk properly and is experiencing excruciating pains in his body. He pleaded for financial assistance from Nigerians.

He also complained about his colleagues, who he said had failed to reach out or help him.

In May 2021, the actor attended the Synagogue Church of all Nations where he was healed by late TB Joshua. Before the encounter, he said he suffered from an illness that caused decay in his leg.

When he spoke with this newspaper, the veteran actor also confirmed that he was indeed healed by the late philanthropic prophet after battling ill health for two years.

Appeal

Fadeyi said he would appreciate any form of help he can receive from Nigerians. He showered prayers and blessings upon anyone who had helped him, while he appealed and solicited support, he said,

I need help from everyone that has smiled by watching me on TV. 

While confirming that he is still interested in acting, he revealed that he has written a movie that he would love to produce titled Fadeyi Oloro Ogbodoku, meaning Fadeyi must not die but cant do that until after adequate treatment.

Abandoned by politicians

Meanwhile, during an interview on a Yoruba programme, Agbagba, the actor said despite working with people in authority he had been left alone to suffer, he said amidst tears:

The suffering is too much, despite my closeness to the government- governors and ministers, I worked with them with all I had and almost lost my life in the process. They should all come to my aid now that I need them.

Explaining his closeness to politicians, the actor said: I was not a politician, I only worked for them. When it is time for their campaign, I will volunteer to do whatever they want me to do not only for them but for all of the South-west.

According to Fadeyi, he had worked with a former governor of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu, and other top politicians which included Raji Fashola, and Lai Mohammed, the minister of information. He said when he reached out to them they did not get any positive response.

He said: I dont want to reveal some secrets involved in my association with them before they became who they are. Including Rauf Aregbesola and Lai Mohammed.

I have been calling them, but no response from them. They should help me too. I also worked for Sanwo-Olu and I even called his secretary recently, Prince Adedeji, saying that I need their help, that they want me dead before they come to my aid. They want to say RIP but I forbid it..

The veteran actor who hails from Igbra-Odo in Ekiti State, also mentioned that Kayode Fayose cannot deny knowing him.

Fadeyi has starred in many Yoruba movies like, Alagbara Ilu, Jagun Ina, Inu Bibi, IJA Abija, Osimi Ika, Adani Lori, Fitu Fona, Ruke Rudo , Bola Ele, Ade Ogun and many others.
Indian defence chief, Bipin Rawat, died in a helicopter crash that occurred Wednesday morning, Indian Air Force confirmed in a tweet.

Also, Mr Rawatss wife, Madhulika Rawat, and 11 other persons on board the helicopter, also died in the accident.

With deep regret, it has now been ascertained that Gen Bipin Rawat, Mrs Madhulika Rawat and 11 other persons on board have died in the unfortunate accident, Indian air force tweeted.

The defence chief was on an official assignment when the accident occurred.

Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) was on a visit to Defence Services Staff College, Wellington (Nilgiri Hills) to address the faculty and student officers of the Staff Course today, the countrys air force tweeted.

There was only one survivor from the crash, Varun Singh, and he was said to be receiving treatment at a hospital.

PREMIUM TIMES reported how the helicopter crashed in Tamil Nadu, a Southern Indian State, Wednesday morning.

An IAF Mi-17V5 helicopter, with CDS Gen Bipin Rawat on board, met with an accident today near Coonoor, Tamil Nadu, the air force tweeted.

The air force did not provide any detail on the cause of the crash.
My husband died a year after we got married, began Chinwe Eze (not real name), a young mother of three who told the story of how she was forced into marriage when she fell pregnant for the young man that rejected her pregnancy. I was 16 then, and he was 65.

My husband died on the 3rd of December, 2011, she explained further, pointing to the wall of her sparsely decorated living room where the date 3/12/2011 was written with white chalk as if to constantly remind her of the death of the elderly man whom she got married to but barely knew.

Chinwes countenance, as she narrated her story, was that of one who has resigned to the fate life had thrown at her. She was only a teenager living with her uncle and his wife at Aba in Abia State, South-eastern Nigeria when she was put in the family way.

My mother was selling okpa (a traditional Igbo food). She used the little money she made to take care of me and my five siblings. My father had no job, so he left everything for my mother to do. And since she couldnt take care of all of us with her meagre income, she sent us to our relatives to live with them, she narrated.

Chinwe, who hails from Ezinifite in Anambra State, was sent to stay with her uncle when she was ten. Six years later, a twenty-year-old trade apprentice impregnated her. He accepted the pregnancy but wondered how he, a boy-boy (an apprentice), could take care of a pregnant girl. Chinwes uncle accepted the N20,000 that the apprentice could raise and bundled her back home to her mother.

They brought me back home to my parents and my family insisted that I must get married. I refused, but they warned that if I put to bed at home, that I and the baby would have it rough as there was no money to look after us. I had to accept one of the elderly men who came seeking my hand in marriage. He was a widower whose wife died without giving him any issue. I was five months pregnant then, she narrated.

Chinwe gave birth to her son four months later but the celebration of her childbirth was cut short when her elderly husband died. He was a sickly man whose family desperately wanted him to have an heir before dying; in a society that promotes male ascendancy.

After his death, Chinwe decided to return to her fathers house since her late husbands family was not treating her nicely. She however did not get that succour she craved in her fathers house.

My mother was still struggling. I tried to join her in the okpa business but things were not working. My late husbands family started pressurizing me to come back. I weighed the two options and decided to go back, she added.

But the option Chinwe took came with a price. Her husbands family promised to take care of her and her son in exchange for her breeding more babies for her late husband.

They told me that one of my husbands brothers would be the one to be sleeping with me. I had to do as they instructed. I now have two more children, a boy and a girl, she further narrated.

For eleven years, Chinwe, now 27, has had no life of her own as she survives on the little income her husbands family provides her with. She explained that she wanted to start a business but her family opposed the decision.

I was learning how to sew when I first got pregnant. Now, even if I want to go back to the trade, who will sign the agreement for me? Who will pay for my training when my husbands brother seems not to care? she asked rhetorically.

Chinwes life mirrors the condition of many other girls who were forced into marriage on account of unwanted pregnancies. These hapless girls have become easy prey to elderly men and even women who desperately want to have their own heirs. They are unceremoniously married off to such people to breed babies for them. In some parts of South-east Nigeria, this practice is seen as normal due to the elevated status given to the male child by customs and traditions.

Randomly sampled opinions across South-eastern Nigeria suggest a woman in the region is duly recognised and is customarily elevated by virtue of her birthing at least one male child. And this makes her fulfilled as she would be accorded more respect than her counterparts who are unable to achieve the same.

In Bondage

While Chinwe was in her own case forced into an unceremonious marriage, Ngozi Asogwa (not real name) was deceived into it. A native of Nsukka in Enugu State, Ngozi got pregnant at the age of 17 in 2016. Her family accepted to marry her off to a man whom she had never seen before. The sister to the said husband approached Ngozis family members and told them that her brother had asked her to act on his behalf. Even while they were sceptical about the whole affair, the woman persuaded them to accept the offer by insisting that her brother who resided in Onitsha was busy with his business and would be back as soon as he could.

The woman then came with her family members and performed the marital rites, and months later, Ngozi gave birth to a baby girl. The woman then returned and took her and the baby to her own home where they were to stay and wait for the arrival of the supposed husband. Two years went by, and no husband showed up. This got Ngozi and her family members worried. In spite of this, the woman continued to calm them with the same tale of the man being busy in Onitsha. One day, Ngozi managed to get hold of her supposed husbands phone number and called him, and that was how she got the shock of her life.

The man told me that he knew nothing about me and the baby. He then informed me that he was already married. That was how we got to know that the said man had been married for years with no issue and that his sister, the one that approached my family, wanted desperately to help him get children, she narrated in tears.

Now, Ngozi wants out of the sham marriage but the woman who paid her supposed bride price is insisting that Ngozis family must pay back the whole money she spent for the marriage, including the bride price, she said.

She told my family that we will have to pay her N273,000. Where will I get such money from? I am in bondage right now, and I dont know how to free myself from it, she lamented.

Ngozi who is only 22 is now determined to start a new life, but with the issue of the unpaid money still hounding her about, she has not been able to move on.

If I go back there, the next thing is for them to insist that I give them more babies and they wont even care how I make the babies. That is not what I want for my life. Any man that comes for me will run away because of this issue. The woman is heartless. She should at least collect a little sum of money and let me be, she lamented.

Ngozis brother, Michael Eze, said all we want is money to pay off the woman holding his sister.

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Many girls who get pregnant while still with their guardians are not only forced into marrying elderly men but also women who are in desperate need of children, especially male children. A research work published in the Pan-African Studies journal of 2012, revealed that woman-to-woman marriages in Igbo Land were not contracted in response to the sexual emotions or attractions of the couples, but simply as an instrument for the preservation and extension of patriarchy and its traditions.

Sleeping with random men to breed babies

Kosarachi Amadi, a native of Umunachi in Anambra State, was forced to marry a woman at age 15.

I wasnt really forced per se, she said. I just looked at my condition and decided to jump into the marriage. My mother gave birth to me when she was 14. She wasnt married then. Growing up, I knew I wasnt accepted in my family. So, when I got pregnant, I decided to find a home for my baby. I didnt want the baby to pass through what I went through.

Kosarachi explained that the young man who impregnated her was only 16 at the time and could not take care of her. His family was not interested. So, when an elderly woman approached her family for her hand in marriage, she hurriedly accepted.

The woman in question had lost her husband some years back and had no children, so she married Kosarachi to fill her compound with children. Kosarachi further revealed that she slept with any young man that appealed to her and eventually had six more children for the woman that married her.

Although I was still young, I understood what I was there for. Mama (the woman that married her) didnt care where the children come from. All she wanted was to have so many of them, and she takes care of us. So, what do I care? she asked rhetorically.

She however lamented that with her kind of lifestyle, she has had to treat sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) several times.

More challenges for girls forced into marriage

Chioma Okeke, the Executive Director of Shoulder for Gender Support and Development Initiative (SGSDI) in Anambra State, who has worked with girls that were forced into such marriages, revealed that these girls are prone to diseases and that they easily spread it because they sleep with multiple partners.

She added that many of them are living in abject poverty and have had their lives muddled up by the situation.

It is pathetic! Many of the women who have passed through this condition are elderly now, but they are still in pain. Yet the society is still condoning this sort of thing. I feel the women involved should come out and speak up against a practice that destroyed their childhood, she said.

Why do such marriages persist?

Mrs Okeke attributed the reason for the continuity of this sort of marriage to the culture of the people which mandates that every child must have a father whose name he will bear.

They will tell you that it is against their culture to have an illegitimate child in their house. They maintain that every child must have a father, she said.

She added that the solution to this concern is to ensure that there is a drastic reduction or outright elimination of cases of unwanted pregnancies in the area since the menace is clearly skewed against girls who fall pregnant unwantedly. She then advocated that sex education be taught to children early enough at home as that would help expose them to the realities of their life. She expressed worry over the fact that many families are still uneducated and uninformed about sex-related issues which eventually translates to their children not knowing much about sex education.

Some families see it as a taboo to discuss these issues with their children. It was so in our time. Nobody taught us. My mother then would tell me that if any man crossed my leg, I would get pregnant because I had just started menstruating. This was the type of education we got from our mothers. It is a pity that this later generation is doing the same. They should wake up! she said.

Mrs Okeke harped on the need for everyone in the South-east of Nigeria, including religious and community leaders, to speak up against the practice because it negatively impacts not only the girls but on everyone in the society.

When it is happening to other people, you will think it has nothing to do with you. Your husband, son, or brother might be one of the people sleeping with these girls, and he will bring the infection or disease back to you. We have to come out and speak up, she said.

Is it Culture?

In an interview, Nnadozie Anene, an 80-year-old community leader in Abatete, Anambra State, explained that the practice has been in existence long before he was born. He stated that because the Igbo tradition places a higher premium on the boy-child over the girl-child, such practices would continue to exist.

On why many girls with unwanted pregnancies are pushed into early marriages, the octogenarian said that children born out of wedlock are usually treated disdainfully and that to prevent that and ensure that such children (particularly the boys) are not born illegitimately, such marriages are contracted.

The young girl is forced to marry, sometimes even to a woman who doesnt have any children, so that the girls child will become hers and be eligible for some rights and properties in the family of his adopter, he said.

Also speaking on the same issue, another community leader from Nibo in Anambra State, Patrick Okpala, added that such a practice varies from community to community.

In my hometown in Nibo, we accept a girl and her pregnancy because one cannot tell what the child would become in future, he asserted.

Mr Okpala however added that sometimes, it is because of the uncertainty of the childs destiny that some families do not allow the child to be born into their homes as such a child could, for instance, grow into a very prosperous person and even outshine the male siblings of the pregnant girl and command more respect.

There is currently a case in my village where such children are struggling for the ownership of land with their mothers siblings. They have become wealthier and are insisting on getting the same share of land as the legitimate children in the family, he narrated.

What the government is doing

The Co-Chair of Anambra State Childs Rights Law Implementation Committee (ASCRIC), Hope Okoye, stated that the committees are working assiduously to ensure that practices that violate the Child Rights Law and the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law are eliminated in the state.

Mrs Okoye, who is also the Coordinator of the VAPP Law Implementation Committee in Anambra, said they were working with the local governments and community leaders to set up a response team that would ensure that gender-based violence of any form is eradicated and that justice is served to the survivors.

We are also planning on identifying endemic communities where child marriage is prevalent so that we will carry out sensitization on the provisions of the Child Right Law and the VAPP Law. We take advantage of the existing platforms and liaise with communities and then sensitize them. Sometimes, we go to their market and churches to create the awareness, she added.

Mrs Okoye, who is also the Executive Director of the Integrated Anti-Human Trafficking and Community Development Initiative (IATCDI), urged families whose daughters had unwanted pregnancies and are finding it difficult to take care of the babies, to give them out in adoption.

The Ministry of Women Affairs is responsible for facilitating the processes of adopting a child. There are people who are ready to officially adopt a child through the ministry. The ministry still reserves the right to revoke the adoption if anything goes wrong. People are ignorant of these facts, and that is the reason they would want to push out their girls with unwanted pregnancies, she concluded.

Support for this story was provided by the Media and Gender Project of Premium Times Centre for Investigative Journalism#CREATESAFESPACES.
The government of Burkina Faso, on Wednesday, resigned following demonstrations denouncing its inability to tackle jihadist attacks.

Christophe Joseph-Marie Dabire, the Prime Minister of Burkina Faso, on Wednesday presented a letter of resignation to the president, Roch Marc Christian Kabore, who accepted it.

The resignation of a prime minister indicates the end of an administration, according to Burkinabe law.

Announcing Mr Dabires resignation, the secretary-general of the government, Stephane Sanou, read a presidential declaration, saying The functions of Prime Minister of Mr. Dabire are terminated, on public television.

In accordance with the texts, the members of the outgoing government ensure the dispatch of the current affairs of the ministerial departments until the formation of a new government, said Mr. Sanou.

I invite the Burkinabes, as a whole, to mobilize, to support the president of Faso and the new executive that will be put in place. I remain convinced that it is through unity of action that we will be able to meet the challenges facing our country and our people,  said Mr Dabire on his Facebook page.

For several weeks, Burkinabes have expressed anger over the inability of the government to tackle rising security issues in the West African country.

The opposition on November 9, gave the incumbent a month ultimatum to take urgent measures in the face of the deterioration of the security situation.

On November 27, hundreds of demonstrators descended on the capital, Ouagadougou, to denounce the inability of the government to counter the jihadist violence that is hitting the country. Civil society organisations also demanded the departure of the Head of State. About ten people, including a child and two journalists, were injured in the dispersal of these steps.

On November 14, the country saw one of the deadliest attacks against its security force  gendarmerie detachment in Inata (north). At least 57 people, including 53 gendarmes, were killed by armed jihadists.

Burkina Faso since 2015 has been faced with crises attributed to jihadist armed groups, affiliated with Al-Qaida and the Islamic State organization. The attacks, which target civilians and soldiers, are increasingly frequent and the vast majority are concentrated in the north and east of the country. They have left around 2,000 dead and 1.4 million displaced.
The Independent National Electoral Commission says it will not fund party primaries, whether direct or indirect.

The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations, Muktar Batera, disclosed this to journalists after a meeting with Mahmood Yakubu, the Chairman of INEC, on Thursday in Abuja.

According to Mr Batera, the committee discussed INEC budget and the cost implications of direct primaries on the Commission.

He stated that INEC role in the process of primaries is minimal because political parties are in charge of primaries.

In our discussions with the INEC Chairman, we wanted to know his requirements for the 2023 elections as well as the cost of direct or indirect primaries.

On the primaries, when we discussed with him, he specifically told us the role of INEC in direct or indirect primaries which he said is just minimal. He said the responsibility lies with all the political parties. He said conducting primaries is the role of political parties and not INEC.

For direct primaries, what the INEC Chairman told us is that only the political parties have the responsibility on primaries and the funding of the primaries, he said.

Mr Yakubu, while speaking with journalists after the meeting, said the Commission is yet to give an estimate for the conduct of primaries. He also refused to divulge the content of his letter to President Muhammadu Buhari.

PREMIUM TIMES had reported that Mr Buhari wrote a letter to INEC, requesting counsel on the controversial direct primaries.

The House had resolved that the Committees on Appropriations and Communications to interface with Mr Yakubu on the cost of direct primaries.

The resolution was a sequel to a motion moved last week by Leke Abejide.

Direct Primaries

The direct primaries clause in the Electoral Act Amendment Bill has created friction between the members of the National Assembly and the governors.

Direct primary election is the mode of the election where registered members of a party vote for who they want to be the candidate of their party.

The indirect primary election, on the other hand, involves the use of a delegate system. It is the delegates who decide who will be the candidate of the party.

The bill was transmitted to Mr Buhari after the two-chamber had adopted the harmonised report of the joint committee of the National Assembly.

The APC governors under the aegis of Progressives Governors Forum (PGF), opposed the clause on direct primaries in the bill.

The Chairman of the forum, Governor Abubakar Bagudu of Kebbi State, after the meeting of the governors, said the political parties should be allowed to decide on the mode of selection.

The cost of direct primaries has been the recurring argument against the bill. This paper had reported that INEC endorsed the direct primaries clause.
At least nine worshippers have been reported killed in an attack by suspected armed bandits in Baare in Mashegu Local Government Area of Niger State.

The police commissioner in the state, Bala Kuryas, told reporters on Thursday that nine people were killed in the attack which occurred on Wednesday.

Mr Kuryas said security have been beefed up in the affected community.

But residents of the area said 16 people were killed and 12 others injured in the attack.

The attackers invaded the mosque in the early hours of Wednesday when residents were performing the dawn congregational prayers, a resident said, asking not to be named for security reasons.

The source said the injured were taken to the Kontagora General Hospital for treatment.

The latest mosque attack followed an earlier one in October in Maza-Kula in the same council area where 17 worshippers were reportedly killed.

In that previous attack, many people were also abducted and many others injured.

In Niger State, armed bandits have in the last few years killed hundreds of people and displaced thousands of others.

The state government says at least over 151, 380 people, mostly peasant farmers, were displaced in the last two years in the state.

In Mashegu Local Government Area where the latest attack took place, over 2,010 residents have been displaced in the last two years.
A 30-year old worker at a car wash centre in Kano, Abdullahi Sabo, has been arrested after allegedly absconding with a customers car.

The police spokesperson in the state, Abdullahi Kiyawa, said the suspect was arrested in Daura, Katsina State with the stolen vehicle.

Mr Kiyawa said the police had, on November 30, received a complaint from a resident of Badawa Quarters in Kano that a car wash operator had run away with her Honda Accord 2017 model car.

On the 30/11/2021 at about 1400hrs, a report was received from a resident of Badawa Quarters Kano, that, on the same date at about 1200hrs, she took her Motor Vehicle, Honda Accord 2017 Model, valued Eight Million Five Hundred Thousand Naira (N8,500,000:00) to a Carwash located at Maidile Quarters, Kumbotso LGA, Kano State.

When she went back, she discovered that the motor vehicle and the carwash cleaner are nowhere to be found.

On preliminary investigation, the owner of the Carwash was invited. He claimed to have hired the service of one Abdullahi, without knowing his identity. He left him alone based on trust at the carwash centre where he made away with the said customers Motor Vehicle.

According to Mr Kiyawa, the suspect has confessed to stealing the vehicle at the said carwash in Kano where he was hired, with the intent to sell it.
President Muhammadu Buhari has condoled with the families as the remains of 23 travellers killed on a road in Sokoto by bandits were laid to rest.

An initial report by PREMIUM TIMES had confirmed five deaths in the incident, but later reports by other platforms had quoted figures as high as 40 deaths.

But the state government on Wednesday confirmed that bandits killed 23 travellers in the attack they carried out on a road in the Isa Local Government Area of the state.

Governor Aminu Tambuwals media aide, Muhammad Bello, confirmed the tragedy in a statement he issued in Sokoto.

Contrary to speculations that over 40 people lost their lives in a bandits attack on a 42-seater bus traveling to Kaduna on Monday, facts emerged that 23 people lost their lives during an attack at Gidan Bawa village in Isa local government area of Sokoto State, the government said.

Mr Bello said the police commissioner in the state, Kamaludeen Okunola, had briefed the governor on the incident.

He said the vehicle in which the victims were travelling caught fire after it came under gunshots by the bandits.

The official said six persons who escaped with injuries from the incident were responding to treatment at the hospital.

Mr Bello said Mr Tambuwal had condoled with the families of the victims.

President Buhari also expressed sadness over the gruesome attack on the innocent travellers.

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The president, in a statement by his media aide, Femi Adesina, said the dastardly act of the bandits showed that the evil his administration was confronting required the support and involvement of all Nigerians.

I am very distressed at the manner of death visited on these hapless citizens who were undertaking a legitimate journey to another part of the country.

It shows that the evil this administration is confronting is one that requires the support and involvement of all Nigerians.

I extend deep condolences to the families of the victims as I assure that the security agencies will continue to give their all to bring to an end the operations of these despicable people, the statement quoted the president.
The House of Representatives has passed for second reading a bill to make it mandatory for private and public organisations to provide creches at workplaces.

The bill, sponsored by Sergius Ogun (PDP, Edo), seeks to amend the Labour Act and was debated on Thursday at the plenary.

Clause two of the bill is proposing that It shall be the duty of every employer to provide a creche facility within the precincts of the workplace, where employees who are breast-feeding and/or nursing mothers can keep their sucking children within work hours under the watch of a nanny employed by the employer at a reasonable fee.

Mr Ogun, in the lead debate, said availability of creches in workplaces will allow nursing mothers to resume work and still be able to breastfeed their babies as recommended by the WHO and UNICEF.

He noted that only nine per cent of organisations in Nigeria have a workplace breastfeeding policy, hence, 71%of infants in Nigeria do not enjoy the full benefits of breast milk in their formative years.

The bill was passed for second reading without any debate. When it was put to question by the Deputy Speaker, Idris Wase, who presided over the session, the ayes had it.

The bill was then referred to the Committee on Labour for further legislative action.
Telecommunication company, MTN-Nigeria, on Wednesday, said it is perfecting paper works to commence the construction work on the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway project.

Lynda Saint-Nwafor, chief enterprise officer, MTN-Nigeria, disclosed this at the announcement of the companys N97 billion public offer to retail investors for the sale of 575 million shares, in Awka.

Mrs Saint-Nwafor said: The Federal Government is having a public-private partnership with companies to carry out intervention on projects in the country.

It is the responsibility of the government to fix roads but MTN-Nigeria is going to construct and complete the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway on behalf of the government.

We are making an investment regarding the project and once we finish the paperwork, work will commence on that road, she said.

Mrs Saint-Nwafor said that sale of the 575 million shares was to offer South-east investors the opportunity to own a share of MTN.

She urged people from the region to embrace the opportunity, describing it as democratised participation in share sales.

As a leading telecommunications company in the last 20 years, we have worked diligently to connect 68 million subscribers onto voice and data networks and ensure that we deliver the benefits of a modern connected life.

With the sale of these shares, we are giving many Nigerians the opportunity to become a part of the progress of MTN, she said.

Also speaking, Ademola Olaniyan, senior manager, Financial Reporting Finance, said the company was not selling shares because of scarcity of funds but to give Nigerians the opportunity to be part of the business.

As at September 2021, MTN-Nigeria has generated N1.2 trillion as revenue. This means that whatever investment you have with MTN is safe and would continue to generate revenue for you, he said.

Chidozie Nnewuihe of Chapel Hill Denham Ltd explained that the opportunity is open to everyone and its subscription would be technologically processed.

Everyone can at least buy 20 shares from the 575 million shares which would be sold at the rate of N169 per share and you get a dividend at the end of the year.

This offer started since December 1 and it will close on Dec. 14. We want Nigerians to benefit from the revenue MTN is generating yearly.

The shares purchase can be done online and it is very easy to process, Mr Nnewuihe said

(NAN)
Some parents in Enugu State, Nigerias South-east, have called on school authorities to jettison corporal punishment and instead adopt counselling to correct students.

The controversy over the death of a student at Dowen College, Lagos State, has elicited other debates on the activities in Nigerian schools, apart from how authorities could curb bullying among students.

The parents, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu on Thursday, said corporal punishment was outdated and not the best way to correct errant children.

Sam Udekwe, a parent and vice-chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Enugu State Council, said corporal punishment was no more acceptable by the society.

What is happening in schools is an extension of what happens at home.

The strategy of managing human beings needs to be applied and that should start from the home.

I am averse to corporal punishment because it is now outdated owing to our modern way of living, he said.

Mr Udekwe called for the use of guidance and counselling in schools to help build the wellbeing of the students.

Ikechukwu Okoronkwo, a parent and an erstwhile international boxer, said children needed proper guidance and to be taught the truth about life.

According to him, childrens negative behaviour would best be curtailed by telling them the truth about life.

I do not believe in meting harsh punishment on them but I believe in the democracy type of training and teaching.

Most times, children could be wrongly beaten. Inflicting physical injury on a child amounts to hatred by the teacher, thereby leaving a vacuum between the teacher and the learner.

Once there is hatred, the relationship between the teacher and the learner will be in jeopardy, he said.

Norbert Okolie, a parent and a spokesperson for the Rangers, said corporal punishment helped to some extent, but should not be the final solution.

He said parents have a lot of responsibilities at home to ensure the children were properly guided at the early stage of their lives.

No doubt, introducing corporal punishment will help but a lot needs to be done by parents, rather for them to be chasing after money.

Proper home training will go a long way to ensure our children imbibe good morals from home before being refined by the school, he said.

Maureen Ikpeama, a civil servant, said counselling was what the modern era required and should be used properly, considering the age of the learners.

Some students or pupils may not even understand the reason they are being given corporal punishment because they cannot correctly interpret their misbehaviour.

Besides, the teacher should be a role model of the behaviour they want from their wards as many of the latter now learn from what they see, she said.

Chinwe Ukaejiofor, the principal, St. Bartholomew Secondary School, Asata, Enugu, said there were many ways of handling errant learners and that the punishment to be meted out depends on the gravity of the offence committed.

Mrs Ukaejiofor said some misbehaviours needed to be traced to the home of the student to ascertain the cause.

In spite of the existence of other forms of correction, we cannot remove corporal punishment because that is the only language some students understood, she said.

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Meanwhile, the Head Teacher of the Nursery Section of the school, Evelyn Obiora, said a child at nursery level needs close monitoring.

According to her, some of the childrens misbehaviour required prompt discipline in order to curb them and that is where corporal punishment comes in.

Corporal punishment is not meant to be used all the time because it scares away children, she said.

Mrs Obiora said developing a cordial relationship with the children makes it easy to detect awkward behaviour from them.

The Head Mistress of Richard Nursery and Primary School, Asata, Maureen Ude, said the best way was to be friendly with the learners.

We do not use corporal punishment these days because a child can open up to you when he or she is relaxed.

As for the adolescents, we counsel them on the right things to do as using corporal punishment can make them go wild, Mrs Ude said.

(NAN)
A bill seeking to amend the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015 scaled second reading at the Senate on Wednesday.

The bill also seeks to amend some sections of the Act that contradict the principles of fair hearing and court jurisdiction as provided in the Constitution as well as avert some loggerheads between the Act and the Constitution.

The bill is sponsored by Orji Kalu (APC, Abia North), who was sentenced to 12 years in prison for N7.1 billion fraud in December 2019.

He was tried alongside his company, Slok Nigeria Limited, and Udeh Udeogu, who was Director of Finance and Accounts at the Abia State Government House during Mr Kalus tenure as governor between 1999 and 2007.

They were accused of stealing and mismanaging funds belonging to Abia State.

Details of bill

Leading the debate, the lawmaker noted that the Constitution is supreme and its provisions shall have binding force on all authorities and persons throughout the country.

He said all authorities in Nigeria including the ACJA shall conform to the constitutional provision.

Section 253 of the Constitution, he explained, provides that the Federal High Court shall be duly constituted if it consists of at least one Judge of that Court.

And Section 273 states that for the purpose of exercising any jurisdiction conferred upon it under the Constitution or any law, a High Court of a State shall be duly constituted if it consist of at least one Judge of that Court.

The Court of Appeal has held that by the provision of Section 273 of the Constitution, a simple judge sitting in the High Court is qualified and had the power to try criminal offenses, he said.

The provisions of Sections 253 and Section 273 of the Constitution, spells out the composition of the judges of the High Court, the Court of Appeal and the powers to hear and determine matters before them equally provided for by the same Constitution.

The Constitution should be read together on provisions with establishment ,composition and jurisdiction of courts as the various High Court as Court of Appeal rules have provisions for the position of pending cases, when judges are elevated.

The lawmaker complained that allowing a judge who is elevated to a Court of Appeal to determine cases before him, while he served as a High Court judge, will raise the issue of jurisdiction.

It will be advisable that the Constitution be amended to expressly handle the gap created when judges are elevated to the next bench and be given the powers to conclude heard cases on elevation before moving to the next level.

In view of the aforementioned we submit that a Constitutional amendment is the best option to take care of such lacuna. Further general observation, our judicial system recognises and applies the rule of stare decisis, meaning rules of precedent and hierarchy of courts.

More so, courts are classified according to the Constitution and other extent laws. We should clearly demarcate or spell out the jurisdiction of the court to avoid contradiction and uncertainty.

On his part, Gabriel Suswam (APC, Benue North-east), noted that many states are yet to domesticate the Act.

When the judges had a conference here recently, some came to see me. And their complaint was about the ACJA. Most of the states have not domesticated the Act.

The lawmakers hoped that with the amendment, a more humane and effective criminal justice legislation will be created.

The Senate said it will ensure that response to crime produces socially desirable results, greater safety, less fear, less suffering, greater respect for the rule of law and less injustice.

The bill was read for the second time and referred to the Senate committee on judiciary, human rights and legal matters to report back within four weeks.
Since the Omicron variant of the coronavirus emerged, there have been concerns that existing COVID-19 vaccines and treatment could be less effective against it.

The new variant, which according to researchers shows an extremely high number of mutations, has been reported in more than 50 countries of the world including Nigeria, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).

The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has warned of the impending fourth wave of the pandemic in the country, noting that the positivity ratio has since increased to as much as 6 per cent in the past week as against 0.1 per cent as of the middle of November.

However, to mitigate the spread of the new variant, manufacturers are testing the efficacy of their vaccines against it.

Among the existing COVID-19 vaccines, the United Kingdom (UK) only recognises four manufacturers of the vaccines used in Nigeria: the Oxford-AstraZeneca, Moderna, Pfizer and Johnson and Johnson.

The manufacturers say the existing vaccines may not be totally effective against the new variant of concern.

For Moderna, its existing COVID-19 vaccines are unlikely to be as effective against the Omicron variant of the coronavirus as they have been on other variants.

The companys chief executive officer, Stephane Bancel, in an interview with Financial Times, said the company could work on the production of COVID-19 booster shot targeted at the Omicron variant tested and ready for U.S. authorisation as soon as March.

Similarly, Johnson and Johnson said it was testing blood serum from participants in various trials to look for neutralising activity against the Omicron variant. It was also pursuing an Omicron-specific vaccine and would progress it as needed.

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) which approved AstraZeneca maintained that its vaccine which was developed with Oxford University is still under examination on the impact of Omicron on it, hoping that its combination drug would retain efficacy.

Pfizer said a three-shot course of their COVID-19 vaccine was able to neutralise the new Omicron variant in a laboratory test, an early signal that booster shots could be key to protection against infection from the newly identified variant.

Omicron in Nigeria

On December 1, 2021, Nigeria joined the growing number of countries that have recorded the first cases of the Omicron variant.

The country has so far recorded six cases of the variant in persons with recent travel history to South Africa in November.

Meanwhile, the director-general of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Ifedayo Adetifa, recently recommended vaccination as a means of reducing the spread of the new variant.

He said;,All viruses naturally mutate over time and will continue to happen as long as the world does not act in concert to significantly reduce transmission through vaccination and adherence to effective public health measures such as mask use, physical distancing, hand hygiene, and ensuring good ventilation.

Booster doses

In the wake of the Omicron variant in Nigeria, the government disclosed plans to begin the administration of the COVID-19 booster doses for eligible Nigerians from December 10, across all states of the federation.

A statement released by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) on Friday, noted that the booster doses will only be administered on Nigerians who have completed the two doses of Astrazeneca, Moderna or Pfizer Bio-N-Tech or one dose of Johnson and Johnson vaccines, for persons 18 years and above.

According to the executive director, NPHCDA, Faisal Shuaib, a COVID-19 booster dose gives greater protection against the virus.

Vaccination goal

Before the discovery of the Omicron variant, which has heightened concerns on how to curb the spread of COVID-19, Nigeria had set a goal of vaccinating 40 per cent of its estimated 206 million population before the end of 2021, and 70 per cent by the end of 2022.

According to the latest Reuters COVID-19 tracker, Nigeria has administered at least 10,917,191 doses of COVID vaccines so far.
On Wednesday, Nigeria recorded 268 additional COVID-19 infections across 10 states of the federation.

The consistent rise in number of fresh cases in the country is being experienced after Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State warned of an impending fourth wave of the pandemic in the country.

The governor had noted that the positivity ratio of tests conducted in the state has since increased to as much as 6 per cent in the past week as against 0.1 per cent as of the middle of November.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), disclosed the latest infection statistics on its Facebook page late Wednesday night, but said no fatalities were recorded

The centre added that the infection toll has increased to 215,164, while the fatality toll from the disease still stands at 2,980.

It also added that 4,664 people are currently down with the illness, while 207,520 people have been treated and discharged.

It added that Bayelsa and Lagos states reported a backlog of five and two discharged cases respectively for December 7, 2021.

Breakdown

The new update shows that Lagos State, the epicentre of the disease, reported more than half of the new cases.

The state reported a backlog of 225 cases for December 7, 2021.

Rivers State in the South-south followed on the log with 17 cases, Enugu State, 10; while Edo State reported five cases.

Bauchi and Ogun States reported three cases each, while Oyo State recorded two cases.

Kaduna, Bayelsa and Delta states also reported a single case each.

The NCDC noted that Ondo, Osun and Sokoto States reported that no new cases were recorded on Wednesday.
Sterling Bank obtained the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)s go-ahead to transform to a holding company subject to meeting certain conditions outlined by the regulator.

It also got an approval-in-principle for a permit to start a non-interest banking unit to be known as Alternative Bank Limited, the lender said in a regulatory filing on Wednesday seen by PREMIUM TIMES.

With the holdco structure, the financial services group to emerge from Sterling Bank and its subsidiaries will own controlling stakes in them, while overseeing management resolutions without direct involvement in their day-to-day business.

The model offers protection against risk of exposure in that the parent company is not liable for the loss of any of the subsidiaries in the event of bankruptcy.

The Alternative Bank Limited will focus on building partnerships that connect individuals and businesses leveraging technology to create business optimization while solving an individuals daily financial needs, the note said.

The overall business will focus on social impact, corporate responsibility, and ensure religious compliance in all its dealings.

Sterling Bank joins GTCO, Nigerias biggest lender by market value, as the second bank to restructure to a holdco this year. FBN Holdings, the FCMB Group and Stanbic IBTC Holdings have already joined the fold while Access Bank is on course to adopting that corporate identity.

Shares in Sterling Bank traded up 2.05 per cent in Lagos on Wednesday following the news.
French officials have freed a Saudi man that was arrested at the Charles De Gaulle airport on suspicion of links to the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

The authorities said it was a case of mistaken identity.

French police had on Tuesday arrested the man because his name and age matched that of Khalid Al-Otaibi, who is accused of being part of the squad that killed Mr Khashoggi inside the Saudi embassy in Istanbul in 2018.

Associated Press (AP) reports that the Paris General Prosecutors office issued a short statement Wednesday saying the arrested man was not the Khalid Al-Otaibi who is wanted under a 2019 Turkish arrest warrant.

The statement said extensive verifications of the mans identity show that the arrest warrant does not apply to him.

The Saudi embassy in Paris said the arrested man was released later Wednesday and boarded a flight to Saudi Arabia. The embassy maintained it was a case of mistaken identity, adding that the man had nothing to do with the case in question.

The AP noted that a person named Khalid Al-Otaibi was one of the Saudi officials sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury in 2018 over Khashoggis killing.

He was also mentioned in the U.S. intelligence report that said Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman had approved the operation that killed Khashoggi.

Mr Khashoggi, a prominent Saudi writer, was killed in October 2018 after entering the Saudi consulate to obtain documents he needed to marry his Turkish fiancee.

Turkish officials alleged that Saudi agents tried to persuade him to return to the kingdom. When he refused, they killed him. His body was dismembered and his remains have never been found. Riyadh has repeatedly denied these allegations, saying the murder was carried out by a rogue security unit whose members were later punished.
The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Thursday, ordered the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to allow the proprietor of Hilton Hotel in Ile-Ife, Ramon Adedoyin, access to a medical facility of his choice pending the hearing and determination of his fundamental human rights enforcement suit.

The police in Osun State had on November 17 announced Mr Adegokes arrest in connection with the murder of a Masters student of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Timothy Adegoke, in the hotel.

In his ruling on an application by Mr Adedoyin, who is also the founder of Oduduwa University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, the judge, Inyang Ekwo, ordered that the police should allow grant him access to medical facilities of his choice pending the hearing and determination of the fundamental human rights suit.

The judge then adjourned the matter till January 21, 2022.

Earlier denied bail

Mr Adedoyin, had through his lawyer, Kunle Olagoke, applied to the court for bail in an ex parte motion he filed along with a fundamental rights enforcement suit.

In the ex-parte motion, Mr Adedoyin had prayed for bail pending the conclusion of the police investigation or pending the determination of his fundamental human rights enforcement suit.

In the alternative, Mr Adedoyin asked the court to permit him access to a quality medical facility of his choice, pending the conclusion of the investigation by the police and his possible arraignment.

But ruling on the application on Monday, the judge declined to grant any of the prayers. Instead, he ordered that the Inspector-General of Police, who is the sole defendant in the suit, be served with the court documents for his lawyer to appear in court.

The judge also ordered the police to appear in court for the case on Thursday.

But at Thursdays proceedings, Mr Adedoyins lawyer, Mr Adegoke, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, expressed surprise that the IGP was not represented by any lawyer in court, despite being served with courts December 6 order.

Mr Adegoke said this also despite that he, on December 8, personally visited the Force Headquarters in Abuja and reminded the authorities of Thursdays court sitting.

The plaintiffs lawyer urged the court to take the ex-parte application already filed as the respondent had been put on notice as directed.

The judge went on to grant part of the application ordering the police to grant him access to medical care.

Mr Adegoke was said to have travelled to Osun State to sit an examination at OAU Distance Learning Centre, Moro, Ife North Local Government Area of the state, when he was declared missing on November 7.

The remains of the deceased were later reportedly evacuated from a forest on Ede/Ife road by the police.

The police said that six suspects, said to be staff members of Hilton Hotels and Resort, Ile-Ife, and the owner, Ramon Adedoyin, were arrested by the police after investigation revealed that the late Adegoke checked into the facility before he was declared missing.
President Muhammadu Buhari has described Bisi Akande, a former Interim Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) party as a perfect public officer, and the type of person he can go into the jungle with.

Femi Adesina, the Presidents spokesperson in a statement, quoted Mr Buhari as stating this at the public presentation of My Participation, the autobiography of Mr Akande in Lagos on Thursday.

Mr Buhari said the author had retained his inflexible integrity, in and out of public office, never accepting or offering bribes.

The president, who heaped praises on the former governor of Osun, further described Mr Akande as a decent, truthful, and friendly person as well as an administrator of the first order, whose leadership qualities made him the unanimous choice as the first Chairman of the APC.

Mr Buhari used the occasion to narrate his first meeting with Mr Akande, his passion for Nigeria, achievements, and disappointment as governor of Osun as well as his many battles to wrest power from the then ruling party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

My first personal contact with Chief Akande was, if I recall correctly, in 2006 when preliminary consultations were coming to fruition for a grand coalition to unseat the PDP Government.

Those efforts eventually came to nothing.

Neither he, nor I, nor many of our friends and associates gave up as in Chief Akandes words: the country was going down and down under PDP, he said.

He also narrated how Mr Akande had risen to prominence from his participation in the Constituent Assembly established by the military government of Olusegun Obasanjo.

He was always in the thick of things through the difficulties and political discontinuities of the 1980s and 90s.

He emerged as governor of Osun State in 1999 when the military handed over to civilians.

Chief Akande had a horrendous baptism as Governor of Osun State with discord from his own party; his State Assembly (including an attempt to impeach him without any reason whatsoever); from the trade unions and from his own deputy governor!

On top of that, he inherited a deeply indebted Treasury, huge arrears of salary, allowances, and pensions. Enough challenges to overwhelm many aspiring leaders.

Bisi Akande stood four square and faced all the challenges head-on and overcame most of them.

His first action was to stop payment of critical allowances a euphemism for government money customarily shared by the big boys in Osun State.

This set the tone of his administration, the President said.

While recounting the achievements of the former governor, Mr Buhari noted that it was on record that within one year, Mr Akande had paid off all the salaries and other arrears, showing his mettle as a competent and serious administrator.

By 2003 Chief Akande had virtually sanitised governance in Osun State having cleared some of the troublemakers from his government and, although reluctant to serve a second term, he was persuaded to run again, he said.

Reflecting on the political history of the author, particularly his bid to seek a second term as Governor of Osun, President Buhari declared:

It is common knowledge that Akande was the victim  along with other AD Governors  of a diabolical double-cross which ended his gubernatorial career. Only the steadfast Asiwaju Bola Tinubu escaped the electoral massacre masterminded by President Obasanjo.

Desperately disappointed though he was, and being a good Muslim, he accepted this setback as part of the trials of life. He looked to the future of service to the country.

Reminiscing on APCs ascent to governance at the Federal level in 2015, President Buhari said:

Chief Akande was in the thick of further attempts in 2011 and 2014 to fuse together different groups and dislodge PDP from governance.

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The key to his thinking which coincides with mine is that Nigeria can only be successfully managed by alliances between major groups.

Although we failed in 2011 but by persistence and knowledge that PDP was driving the country towards disaster, several major parties were able to finally coalesce into APC in 2014.

Chief Akande was unanimously chosen as the first Chairman of this great coalition.

Throughout the difficult negotiations, I found Akande truthful, steady, and always with an eye to the ultimate goal.

In or out of office, he has retained his inflexible integrity. On p.400 of his book, he wrote: I never gave to or demanded bribe from anyone all my life. A perfect gentleman. A perfect public officer, he said.

Quoting a famous Hausa saying, Labarin zucciya a tambayi fuska (loosely translated -if you want to know what is in a mans heart watch his face),

President Buhari affirmed that Mr Akande has a permanent smile on his face, saying He is the type I will go into the jungle with.

On the book, President Buhari recommended it to students of Nigerian politics and the general public alike.

This book is a historical document. Students will find this an invaluable source of Nigerias politics, notably between 1999 and 2020, he said.

(NAN)
President Muhammadu Buhari, on Thursday, commended the Nigerian Navy for its efforts in the fight against piracy in the nations maritime domain.

Mr Buhari spoke at the commissioning of some Nigerian Navy Ships (NNS), boats, and helicopter at the Naval Dockyard, Victoria Island in Lagos.

The President noted that there had been improved security in the countrys maritime domain and the Gulf of Guinea.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the President commissioned NNS LANA, NNS ABA, NNS KANO, NNS IKENNE, NNS SOKOTO, and NNS Oji, 111 boats, and an Agusta Westland 139 helicopter.

Mr Buhari said he was particularly delighted to commission the NNS Oji, a Seaward Defence Boat (SDB) 3 because it was locally built by the Nigerian Navy engineers.

I am delighted to witness the commissioning ceremony of some recently acquired platforms as well as the commissioning of the indigenously constructed SDB 3 and the keel-laying ceremony for the construction of SDB 4 and SDB 5.

It is gratifying to see that this area of platforms would shortly be indebted in the inventory of the Nigerian Navy fleet.

This will no doubt boost the capability of the navy in securing the Nigerian maritime domain, he said.

Mr Buhari acknowledged the navys efforts towards securing the nations oil and gas industry in the maritime environment, as well as sea means of communications.

He described the Nigerian Navy as an undeniable major contributor to the economic well-being of the country, given our present high dependence on oil and gas revenues.

The arrest of those involved in illegalities has yielded results of some pirates, illegal bunkering syndicates, pipeline vandals and other miscreants being convicted during this year (2021).

Such successes were made possible through enforcement of our new anti-piracy law on Suppression of Piracy and Other Maritime Offensive Act 2019.

Therefore, the significance of the commissioning of these platforms cannot be over-emphasized, he said.

Mr Buhari said the provision of the new policy directives of the navy had given the service credible guidelines and leverage for improved operational efficiency.

He noted that those directives were codified in such documents as the Nigerian Navy Strategic Plan 2021-2030; the Chief of the Naval Staff Strategic Directive 2021-2025 and the Total Spectrum Maritime Strategy.

The President charged the personnel to be professional and make good use of the platforms.

We should note that we are in a critical period where our country is faced with a decline in our revenue and the security challenges we are facing.

The present realities, therefore, calls for prudent resource management, innovativeness, accountability and careful maintenance, he said.

(NAN)
The Katsina State government has lifted the ban on mobile telecommunications network service in the state.

The state government had imposed the ban three months ago as part of measures to contain insecurity.

Frontline local government areas that included: Jibia, Batsari, Safana, Kurfi, Danmusa, Dutsin Ma, Kankara, Matazu, Musawa, Funtua, Faskari, Sabuwa, Dandume, Bakori, Danja and Malunfashi were all disconnected from the telecoms network.

In a phone conversation with PREMIUM TIMES, the Special Adviser to Governor Bello Masari on security matters, Ibrahim Katsina, said relative peace was being witnessed in the areas.

As I speak to you, networks have been restored in some local government areas.

A statement is expected to be released by the state government soon, he said.

On Monday, the state government also directed the review of selling of domestic animals in weekly markets.

In a statement on Thursday, the police spokesperson in the state, Gambo Isa, said Mr Masari had directed that smaller animals such as goats and sheep should not be affected by the containment order.
The Bayelsa State Government has confirmed the outbreak of cholera in Ofoni, a coastline settlement in Sagbama Local Government Area of the state.

Pabara Igwele, the commissioner for health in the state, who confirmed this on Thursday in Yenagoa, said that five persons had so far died of the disease.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) learnt that at least 22 cases of cholera have so far been reported in the area.

We have received a report of an outbreak of cholera in one of our communities, Ofoni to be precise, in Sagbama Local Government Area.

Samples have been taken and tests confirmed that we have about 22 line listed cases already and we have lost five persons.

It is an emergency situation that needs emergency response. The ministry has set up a rapid response team to move into the Ofoni community.

I spoke with the Country Representative of World Health Organisation (WHO) for some support and we are hoping that in the next 24 hours we will be getting support from the WHO and UNICEF, the commissioner said.

He urged the people of the community to be mindful of the source of their water since cholera is a water borne disease.

For now, I know it is quite worrisome. Within the next 24 hours, we will be able to handle and curb the situation to prevent further spread of the bacteria, Mr Igwele said.

(NAN)
The Commissioner of Police in Katsina State, Sanusi Buba, says an arrest has been made in the killing of the state commissioner of science, technology and innovation, Rabe Nasir.

Mr Nasir was killed on Thursday after the Asr prayer in his residence in Fatima Shema Housing Estate, Katsina.

Premium Times reported the killing.

Speaking with journalists at the scene of the crime, Mr Buba said the police have started investigating the case.

As you can see, we have successfully evacuated the corpse to the hospital and investigation has started. An arrest has also been made. A suspect has been arrested and investigation has since begun, the police chief said.

The corpse has been taken to the Federal Medical Centre, Katsina.
that was Friday, December 11, 2020, slipping into the dawn of another day. Femi Fani-Kayode had not yet seen the light; he had not yet been led by a divine hand back to the All Progressives Congress (APC) which, today, is looking far less eligible than the party Sam was excoriating in his presidential campaign speech. Sam would need a bigger tent for his sons-of-a-bitch. They have multiplied in one year.

I still remember that night like yesterday. Our lives had been turned upside down by the resurgence of the second wave of COVID-19. Like most people, my sleeping pattern was no longer regular; which is to say, out of fear and boredom, I was now learning to sleep before midnight, and waking up without any idea of what to expect.

On that Friday, I had drifted off to sleep when my son rushed into my room with a phone.

Dad, he said, I think theres a problem. I grumbled that except if the world was about to end, there was no problem that could not wait till daybreak.

I think you should see this, Dad. Sam Nda-Isaiah is dead.

Sleep disappeared.

It must have been at about one in the morning. I jumped out of bed and grabbed my phone, that little pestilence of the modern age from which we try, without much success, to save ourselves. As I grabbed the phone a thousand thoughts flashed through my mind.

Maybe its fake news. Maybe its mistaken identity. Maybe it was another Sam Nda-Isaiah. Maybe

Then I saw that the phone had registered 24 missed calls in about two hours. All of them were familiar numbers, mostly from LEADERSHIP. One was from my friend and outstanding journalist, Louis Odion, who called to say that he had just picked up the news and that Aremo Segun Osoba had called to confirm. I told him I wasnt sure but promised to call back.

Then the flood of maybes suddenly froze into a solid block of fear and panic. I didnt know what to think or whose call to return first. I didnt want to believe that I was awake. Maybe it was a bad dream after all?

Instead of dialing, I collected my sons phone and read the breaking story from an obscure, unfamiliar website. The details were still sketchy but there was a ring of credibility to it. Sams name was correctly spelt, and his association with the media and references to his involvement in politics were also correctly cited.

I lingered on in denial, but somehow summoned the courage to dial back one of the earlier callers who confirmed my worst fears. Then I called the second, the third and the fourth previous callers. All confirmed the news. Then, the questions started colliding in my head at dizzying speed. How did it happen? When? Where? What? How can it be true?

Of all the questions, I couldnt easily get past the how question for many, many reasons. Forty-eight hours before the news broke, Sam Nda-Isaiah had sent me a text  which he did almost daily  to ask my opinion about a set of captions for Ghana Must Go, the popular newspaper back page cartoon strip in LEADERSHIP, which was, quite often, the surrogate vendor of some of Sams irreverent ideas! And boy, they were witty, presumptuous, quick-tempered, vivacious, mischievous and funny, just like Sam.

He loved and adored his family, cherished his friends, was gracious to strangers and sacrificial towards all. Sam was a loyal friend. He endured private grief for a few he called my sons-of-a-bitch  those who could do no wrong in his eyes, especially a few of his friends in government with whom he had come a long, long way.

I had, of course, replied with my own suggestions and was waiting for either feedback or any other ideas he might come back with before that Friday night. I had not the slightest idea that anything was wrong with him.

About one week earlier, before I left Abuja for Lagos, he called to ask if I would be available for a meeting to inaugurate the Advisory Board of NATIONAL ECONOMY, a daily business and economic newspaper that he was determined to launch in defiance of the adverse economic conditions in the country, worsened by the global health crisis. The only thing too big, or impossible, for Sam to do was what he did not think about. For him, to think it, is to do it. And to do it, is now. This was obviously another dangerous idea that he was determined to see through.

I told him I would not be in Abuja, that I was done for the year and Lagos was missing me. He replied that my problem was that I overestimated Lagos. He railed about the traffic jam that had messed up his visit. He was in Lagos for the Annual General Meeting of the Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN), among other business pursuits, but commuting from one part of the city to the other had become almost impossible.

The traffic jam was horrendous, the sort of chaos for which true Lagosians love and hate the city with equal passion. Sam said he had spent more time in traffic than at all of his scheduled appointments combined, leaving him drained, feverish and irritable. He couldnt understand my rush into this madness. But he knew he couldnt save me either. As it turned out, that would be his last visit to Lagos.

I understood his exasperation, but I could never have guessed that it was more than that  the traffic misery of disdainful Lagos visitors. He showed no other signs of distress and gave no hint of being unwell, although he had gained a little more weight the last time I saw him and was complaining of gout and allergies.

On November 2, 2020, Sam Nda-Isaiah hosted the annual editors selection panel of LEADERSHIP to choose the Persons of the Year. He was at his boisterous best, shifting gears between directing and moderating the meeting, to debating suggestions by others, while at the same time pitching his own candidates whom he had penciled in red in his jotter, which he looked at from time to time. Sam debated ideas with the feistiness of a professional boxer, never shy to give as much as he was prepared to take in defence of his position.

But that award selection meeting in November was only one of our recent combats. We had a particularly testy one the month before, in the wake of the #EndSARS riots and the statement of the minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, demanding a retraction from CNN for its coverage of the riots and threatening to penalise the station.

I criticised the minister very harshly  and deservedly too  I thought, tracking back to some of his own harsh criticism of the incompetent, knee-jerk reactions of the President Goodluck Jonathan government when he was in the opposition.

Of course, I had left LEADERSHIP at this time, but I always shared an advance copy of my column with Sam before it was published on the back page of LEADERSHIP, among other syndicated platforms.

Shortly after he got it, he called. Azu, he said, you know I hardly interfere with what people write in their columns, because its their opinion. But youre not just another columnist And then he went on to say how he thought the protesters had lost their way and how he believed, very strongly, that Mohammed was right to call out CNN for its tendentious reporting done by rookies and hatchet anchors.

I disagreed with him, insisting that multiple sources indicated that there was more deadly official complicity in what happened at the Lekki Toll Gate than the government was willing to admit. Threatening CNN was not the answer.

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That Friday night, one year ago, as I sat on the edge of my bed, distraught at the news I just heard, it dawned on me just how much the world can change in the twinkle of an eye. Its incredible!

Neither of us yielded ground and even though it was well within his rights as Publisher not to publish, he ended the encounter by assuring me that the article would run as written, no holds barred.

There were many such testy moments in the nearly two decades that I was acquainted with him, out of which I knew him closely and worked with him for five years. Yet not once did a disagreement or feisty debate end in malicious outrage. It just wasnt Sam; he was incapable of malice or bitterness. He hollered very stupid or very useless over a dozen times a day in conversations with this or that errant person, but hardly ever brought himself to cut them loose.

He loved and adored his family, cherished his friends, was gracious to strangers and sacrificial towards all. Sam was a loyal friend. He endured private grief for a few he called my sons-of-a-bitch  those who could do no wrong in his eyes, especially a few of his friends in government with whom he had come a long, long way.

He lived his Christian faith in dignified restraint, but wore his patriotism on his sleeve. He could not hide his jealousy for good governance. That was why he did not see eye-to-eye with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government under President Jonathan. He spent acres of his newspaper columns calling the government out, attacking corruption in its rank-and-file and criticising its incompetence, especially at the height of the insecurity that brought the country to its knees.

A memorable line in Sams Big Ideas presidential campaign speech was that anyone of the five APC candidates who became president  Muhammadu Buhari, Atiku Abubakar, Rabiu Kwankwaso, Rochas Okorocha or himself  would be infinitely better than the one we have now. That one, of course, was Jonathan. And the year was 2014.

But that was Friday, December 11, 2020, slipping into the dawn of another day. Femi Fani-Kayode had not yet seen the light; he had not yet been led by a divine hand back to the All Progressives Congress (APC) which, today, is looking far less eligible than the party Sam was excoriating in his presidential campaign speech. Sam would need a bigger tent for his sons-of-a-bitch. They have multiplied in one year.

I did not expect to be back here in LEADERSHIP, in my day job. One week before Sam asked if I could wait for him to return to Abuja, I had other plans for the New Year.

And then all of that changed. Sometimes, I stand here, outside the office, looking at where he used to park his car, and wondering if hes coming late today or not. He doesnt come. But I see his wife, Zainab, his best friend, fortuitous successor and the legacy matriarch made of steel. I wait for the text messages about Ghana-Must-Go, and they dont arrive. And I listen for the resonant, heartfelt laughter and passionate debates, but nothing happens.

That Friday night, one year ago, as I sat on the edge of my bed, distraught at the news I just heard, it dawned on me just how much the world can change in the twinkle of an eye. Its incredible!

Azu Ishiekwene is Editor-in-Chief of LEADERSHIP.
The State Departments background documentation sends a similar signal: All democracies, including the United States, face challenges, it says. The U.S. government views the summit as an opportunity to listen, learn, and speak about the challenges facing democracy within the United States and abroad. Participating governments  including the United States  will pledge to support domestic and international commitments in our shared push to bolster democracy from local to global levels.

Leaders from 17 African nations will this week join a Summit for Democracy organised by an American administration clearly aware that the United States is itself under scrutiny over its own commitment to the democratic process.

The two-day summit, with a participant list the includes 110 countries, will be hosted by President Joe Biden, who emphasised soon after taking office last January, that democracy doesnt happen by accident. We have to defend it, fight for it, strengthen it, renew it.

The summit is the first in a year-long campaign during which participating nations will take initiatives, in the words of the Biden administration, to make democracies more responsive and resilient, and to build a broader community of partners committed to global democratic renewal.

Who is not invited

Notable are some of the African nations whose leaders will not be taking part in the virtual gathering.

The administration offers no country-by-country explanation, but among those excluded are countries where presidential term limits have been overturned (Cote dIvoire), where elections have been marred by repression (Tanzania and Uganda) or whose governments have been installed by military coups (Egypt, Mali, Guinea Bissau and Sudan).

Also uninvited are the governments of Mozambique, where allegations of corruption have strained ties with the U.S., and Ethiopia, where President Biden has revoked the countrys trade privileges and signed an executive order enabling the U.S. to impose sanctions on those most responsible for the conflict of the last year.

(The African countries invited are listed at the end of this report).

Also notable is the administrations tacit recognition that the United States cannot afford to take a holier-than-thou stance on democracy in its dealings with the world.

Support for democracy strong across the continent

Demand for democracy is strong and resilient, the pan-African, independent, non-partisan research network, Afrobarometer found in a recent survey across 34 African countries. The same cant be said for Africans confidence that they actually live in well-functioning democracies, leaving a democratic disappointment gap, the Accra-based organisation reported earlier this month.

The decline in confidence is happening in Africas up-to-now leading democracies  Botswana, Cabo Verde, Ghana, Mauritius, Namibia, South Africa, and Tunisia. The trends are most striking in the three countries that have anchored democracy in southern Africa for three decades  Botswana, Namibia and South Africa.

All three have encountered democratic challenges, Afrobarometer reports. Most notably, despite regular and free elections, each has been ruled by a single dominant political party throughout the democratic period. The lack of a viable opposition is a fundamental weakness in their political systems, although South Africas recent election  in which the ruling African National Congress (ANC) won only 46% of the vote nationwide  suggests that ANC dominance may be waning.

The 2020 Ibrahim Index of African Governance (IIAG) reports growing dissatisfaction with governance among citizens on the continent and the first year-on-year governance performance decline since 2010. While progress has been made in overall governance performance on the continent over the last decade  as of 2019, over 6 in 10 of Africas citizens live in a country where governance is better than in 2010  this progress has slowed down in the latter half of the decade, the Foundations executive director, Nathalie Delapalme, wrote in the 2021 Foresight Africa Report published by Brookings.

Backsliding not just an African problem

During a visit to Nigeria in November, Bidens Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, stressed that democratic backsliding is not just an African problem. Its a global problem. My own country is struggling with threats to our democracy.

The State Departments background documentation sends a similar signal: All democracies, including the United States, face challenges, it says. The U.S. government views the summit as an opportunity to listen, learn, and speak about the challenges facing democracy within the United States and abroad. Participating governments  including the United States  will pledge to support domestic and international commitments in our shared push to bolster democracy from local to global levels.

The Biden administrations acknowledgement of the countrys backsliding is highlighted by an April 2021 report of Freedom House, a non-partisan but partly government-funded American NGO, which aims to promote democracy.

Under the headline, United States in Decline, the report says the U.S. is among the 25 countries in the world which have seen the worst erosions in freedoms in the past decade.

Freedom House researchers, Sarah Repucci and Amy Slipowitz, wrote that the final weeks of the [Donald] Trump presidency featured unprecedented attacks on one of the worlds most visible and influential democracies.

After four years of condoning and indeed pardoning official malfeasance, ducking accountability for his own transgressions, and encouraging racist and right-wing extremists, the outgoing president openly strove to illegally overturn his loss at the polls, culminating in his incitement of an armed mob to disrupt Congresss certification of the results

They added: Rulers and propagandists in authoritarian states have always pointed to Americas domestic flaws to deflect attention from their own abuses, but the events of the past year will give them ample new fodder for this tactic, and the evidence they cite will remain in the worlds collective memory for a long time to come.

Defending against authoritarianism

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The Biden administration says this weeks Summit for Democracy will focus on three objectives: strengthening democracy and defending against authoritarianism; addressing and fighting corruption; and promoting respect for human rights.

In a commentary on the summit, Zainab Usman, director of the Africa Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington, D.C., said these objectives must address the pressing socio-economic needs of [the] 17 African participants.

Call for Biden to vaccinate the world and combat illicit financial flows

She highlighted the Sahel region, where existential governance challenges confronting countries like Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali are compounded by violent extremism, the flow of weapons from an unstable Libya, and the absence of public services in remote villages.

Or, she added, take South Africa, one of Africas most-industrialised countries, which is undergoing persistent political and economic decline and risks becoming a lower-middle-income economy by 2028, according to forecasts.

Will the summit be contextualised to these everyday realities of African countries?

Focus on economic implications

Underlining her emphasis on economic issues, she said that at a domestic level democracy is sustained by the material prosperity of citizens in terms of good jobs, rising incomes, and overall well-being.

Well-paid bureaucrats are less likely to siphon public funds. Young people with good job prospects living in secure communities with decent roads, hospitals, and health services are less likely to heed the siren songs of violent insurgencies and criminal gangs. A prosperous and informed citizenry is better placed to hold local and national governments accountable.

She concluded her commentary with an appeal for President Biden: to mobilise his countrys financial and technological muscle to vaccinate the world against the coronavirus, and to rally global action to combat illicit financial flows, which she noted drain close to $90 billion from Africa annually  money that could otherwise be used to invest in needed public services on the continent.

Several Africans are featured participants taking part in a day-long series of pre-Summit discussions. Mwila Chriseddy Bwanga, founder of the Zambian youth organisation, BeRelevant Africa is on the Young Democratic Leaders panel moderated by Blinken. Lola Adekanye from the Center for International Private Enterprise Ethics is taking part in the Private Sector Forum. Peter Biar Ajak, a South Sudanese peace activist, scholar, and former detainee is one of the Voices of Political Prisoners. Speaking on the Democracy-Affirming Technology panel is Gbenga Sesan, executive director of Paradigm Initiative, a pan-African social enterprise working on digital inclusion and digital rights, with offices in Cameroon, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, Zambia and Zimbabwe. And former Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is delivering closing remarks for the panel on Advancing the Status of Women to Advance the State of Democracy.

The 17 African nations invited to the summit are:

1. Angola

2. Botswana

3. Cabo Verde

4. Democratic Republic of Congo

5. Ghana

6. Kenya

7. Liberia

8. Malawi

9. Mauritius

10. Namibia

11. Niger

12. Nigeria

13. Sao Tome and Principe

14. Senegal

15. Seychelles

16. South Africa

17. Zambia
An operative of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and four contract staff at Conoil field in Bayelsa State, kidnapped by suspected pirates on December 1, have regained freedom.

The spokesperson for the NSCDC in Bayelsa, Solomon Ogbere, confirmed in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday.

Our colleague and four others abducted are back, and we are still on the trail of the hoodlums who perpetrated the dastardly act.

We were supported by members of the community and sister security agencies.

The command has always built a cordial relationship with members of communities where our men are deployed, and this helped us in this situation.

We are still on the trail of the criminals and remain optimistic that they will be soon apprehended to face the law, Mr Ogbere said.

NAN reported that the five victims were kidnapped on their way from Yenagoa to Koluama 1 in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa.

The four contract staff are employees of a catering contractor to Conoil.

They were seized along with supplies for personnel at the Conoil location in Koluama 1.

Community youth in Southern Ijaw had raised a search party shortly after the abduction.

Armed men, on November 27, attacked and killed an NSCDC personnel and two oil workers, and kidnapped seven others at the creek of Nembe Local Government Area.

The state government had imposed a curfew on waterways in the state and banned the use of speed boats with 200 horsepower engines on all waterways.

NAN could not immediately get the reaction of the spokesperson of Conoil, Abiodun Azeez.

(NAN)
The Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, on Wednesday, swore in 40 special assistants and five senior special assistants in Benin.

The swearing-in followed the harmonisation of the Peoples Democratic Partys (PDP) members in the Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of the state.

The governor commended party leaders in the council for their political sagacity in organising the party in the area.

Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area has the highest number of PDP members in the country. I can confirm this because I am the chairman of e-registration of PDP.

We have appointed and inaugurated SAs and SSAs and we have harmonised Ikpoba-Okha and now we are one big family.

Ikpoba-Okha is the largest local government in terms of population in Edo and its setting the example in terms of politics, Mr Obaseki said.

Continuing, the governor said of Ikpoba-Okha, You people are well organised, and it shows in the unity of leaders in the area, which has made harmonisation possible.

You are the most challenged, and politicians in the area are doing a great job in helping to organise the council area politically. The council area is working.

The council is facing a lot of social crises and problems, but my administration is doing all within its power to change the narrative as we are working to solve them with the right kind of politics.

You know the challenges facing our people and you are our eyes and ears as we accept reports from you from various communities to help us to achieve our MEGA agenda for Edo people.

You have to report to us every month on what is going on in education, healthcare and other areas.

This will help us to realise the challenges as we work to fulfil our promises to Edo people.

In spite of security challenges in the area, we are equal to the task as we will rise to the occasion using limited resources to tackle issues and better the lives of Edo people.

Mr Obaseki commended leaders and people of the council area for doing a great job in terms of e-registration as almost 60,000 people were registered.

One of the political appointees, Stella Aigbe, who spoke on behalf of the rest of them, promised that they would not disappoint the people and the government of Edo State.

(NAN)
The Edo State Government has ordered indefinite closure of Idogbo Secondary School in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of the state, following the attack on teachers and a police officer by students.

The Commissioner for Education in the state, Joan Osa-Oviawe, gave the order on Thursday in Benin.

Some students had, on December 3, chased away one of the police officers brought in to maintain law and order in the school, as the students were about to take their first term examinations.

NAN reported that Governor Godwin Obaseki, accompanied by the secretary to the state government, commissioner for education and other government officials, visited the school to assess the extent of damage.

Mrs Osa-Oviawe said the state government would take serious action on the crisis in the school in order to serve as a deterrent.

One of the government approaches, according to her, is to compel the parents of the students to pay some damages.

We condemn, in strongest terms, what those students did. It is unacceptable. We have zero tolerance for destruction of government property.

The students and their parents are going to be held accountable for this. Somebody has to pay for the repairs and it will not just be the government.

So, the school will be shut down and we will regroup and reorganise.

If you go to the school, what was destroyed will cost a minimum of N30 million, and that is a very conservative estimate.

Government is not going to start putting money that would have been used for other schools or things. So, all the parents of the students in that school are going to be held responsible, she said.

Mrs Osa-Oviawe said that another approach would be to expand the school infrastructure to make learning more conducive for the students.

We want to strengthen the curriculum and amenities in that school and other schools so that students are gainfully engaged throughout their time in school.

Sporting activities will also be reintroduced in the school, along with experts in guidance and counseling.

The fifth pillar of EdoBest is value. We want to ensure we bring back value into our system. Discipline is going to be restored in that school and all our schools across the state, she said.

The NAN correspondent, who visited the school on Thursday, reported that the administrative block was completely vandalised, while documents and other property were set ablaze.

(NAN)
The Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) said it has arrested nine people who allegedly specialise in vandalising electricity transformers within communities in the South-east.

The spokesperson for the EEDC, Emeka Ezeh, disclosed this in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Enugu.

Mr Ezeh said the vandal activities took place within two states in the South-east  Anambra and Enugu.

The suspected vandals have been handed over to the police for further investigation and prosecution, he said.

Mr Ezeh urged electricity customers to be more vigilant during this Yuletide as activities of vandals have been on the rise, to avoid customers being subjected to darkness during the festive period.

The company arrested two suspected vandals on Friday, December 3, through the vigilante team of Nri community in Aniocha Local Government Area of Anambra.

The suspects, identified as Ugochukwu Nweri and Eugene Azali, were arrested for vandalising the Ugwuokporo D7 distribution substation located at Agukwu in Nri community.

Having lifted the transformer from the plinth, the duo went ahead to drain the oil, cut some parts of the upriser and porcelain large cables.

They were immediately handed over to the Neni Police Station, while effort is being made to transfer the suspects to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Awka, for further investigation and possible arraignment in court, Mr Ezeh said.

He said five suspected vandals were arrested by a vigilante group in Nara community in Nkanu East Local Government Area of Enugu State for alleged vandalism of EEDC transformers in the community.

The suspects have been identified as Chidera Ogbu, Ede Sunday, Onyedika Ani, Chinedu Ani, while the receiver of the stolen items has been identified as Onyebuchi Igwe.

Within the period, two suspects  Nwankwo, 22, and Chinedu Nwankwo, 21, both from Ezza Umuhuali community in Ebonyi, were arrested by Amayi Vigilante team for vandalising Amayi Akamili-Uruagu in Nnewi distribution substation, according to the spokesperson of the electricity company.

(NAN)
The Police in Ogun have arrested a suspected serial killer in the state, Ibiyemi Wasiri.

This is contained in a statement by Abimbola Oyeyemi, the police spokesperson in the state on Thursday.

Mr Oyeyemi said the suspect was arrested on December 6, adding that Mr Wasiri, an ex-convict, had been on the wanted list of the police in connection with two murder cases.

He said the suspect was arrested by operatives of the Ilaro Divisional Headquarters, following intelligence that he was sighted at a criminal hideout at Igboro in Ilaro.

Upon the information, the DPO, Ilaro Division, CSP Olayemi Jacob, mobilised his men to the scene, where the suspect was arrested in the midst of some hoodlums, while others escaped.

A bag recovered from him was searched, and one cut to size locally made pistol and seven live cartridges were recovered, he said.

Mr Oyeyemi said the suspect had been declared wanted for actively participating in the killing of one Michael Abiodun, a.k.a S1, on July 22, and one Kola Fagbemi, on July 24.

He said the Commissioner of Police in the state, Lanre Bankole, has ordered the immediate transfer of the suspect to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, for discreet investigation.

(NAN)
The governments of Ogun and Lagos States are set for a showdown over demolition notice served on residents of the former to pave way for the construction of Rail Mass Transit Project.

The affected residents live in Itoki-Agbado-Ijoko in Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State, a border community between both states.

The notice of demolition was served on property owners by the officials of the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA).

One of the notices obtained by PREMIUM TIMES was signed by the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of LAMATA, Abimbola Akinajo, and dated November 8, 2021.

The noticed was titled Lagos Rail Mass Transit Red Line Project Development: Removal Notice On Physical Development Within The Right of Way.

PREMIUM TIMES gathered that based on the removal notices, about 1,000 houses would be affected.

According to the Lagos State government, the 37-kilometre Red Line will run from Marina in Lagos to Agbado in Ogun State and is to move more than one million passengers daily when operational.

The state said the construction of the Agbado station and associated infrastructure is in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Transportation and Nigerian Railway Corporation.

It added that its agency, LAMATA is also in close consultation with the Ogun State Ministry of Transportation about the development.

The notice reads In order to establish the Right of Way (RoW) for this proposed development, houses and businesses will be affected.

Therefore, this letter serves as a notice to inform you that your property is likely to be acquired in overriding public interest.

However, the Ogun State House of Assembly on Thursday declared the removal notice as null and void.

In response to the development, the assembly called for a formal agreement between the two states through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) regarding the planned demolition.

The assembly said the MoU would ensure that the required compensation is paid to property owners, whose structures may be affected.

The Speaker of the Assembly, Olakunle Oluomo, gave the directive, while responding to the submission of the lawmaker representing Ifo II State Constituency, Ganiyu Oyedeji.

Mr Oyedeji, while addressing the plenary under, informed lawmakers of an unauthorized distribution of the demolition notice by LAMATA to residents of Itoki-Agbado-Ijoko.

His words: We need to assure the residents that an MOU between Lagos and Ogun will ensure that necessary compensation is paid to all the owners of affected properties before the demolition and commencement of work on the project.
Team GB Olympic medal hopefuls Joel Fearon , one of the fastest hundred-metre sprinters in British history and member of the Team GB four-person bobsled team, and freestyle skier Katie Summerhayes who would compete in her third Winter Olympics both feature in the new Ben Sherman campaign. The athletes wear the Winter Opening and Closing Ceremony look, which will retail as a limited-edition Ben Sherman x Team GB collection available to purchase online from Ben Sherman and Team GB websites December 9, 2021.

The athlete's Opening Ceremony attire has a luxurious deep roll-neck cream sweater featuring a bold and colourful deconstructed union jack flag. The knitwear is paired with navy mini-dogtooth print trousers and a warm, heavy, classic quilted peacoat in true navy with GREAT BRITAIN in reflective lettering on the back. The outfit includes a matching GREAT BRITAIN bobble-hat and scarf set with lug sole Chelsea boots to finish the look.

The Closing Ceremony uniform features a blue crew neck checked sweater paired with the mini-dogtooth print trouser and an all-over repeated logo bobble-hat. The limited-edition knits feature the official Team GB badge and Olympic rings on the chest.

Tim Reid, Senior Vice President, Fashion and Lifestyle for Ben Sherman, commented, "We are thrilled to support Team GB with another stylish athlete collection for the upcoming Olympic Winter Games. The partnership between Ben Sherman and Team GB has supported athletes from Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and we're pleased to continue our support as they go for gold in Beijing."

British Olympic Association CEO Andy Anson said: "We are very excited to partner with Ben Sherman once again on the launch of the Beijing 2022 ceremony wear following the delivery of the hugely successful Tokyo designs. The clothes embody the key symbols that form Team GB's identity, most notably the British flag, alongside the proud history and heritage of Ben Sherman. Katie and Joel were great ambassadors for the shoot and loved the products. We have no doubt the team going to Beijing will wear it with great pride."

The partnership for Beijing is the second time Ben Sherman has worked with Team GB this year, previously providing the official kit for the delayed Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. The Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games Opening Ceremony will occur on February 4 2022, with the Closing Ceremony on February 20, 2022.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

Ben Sherman is an Official Supporter of Team GB; the brand has launched the 2nd lifestyle retail apparel collection and provided the Opening and Closing Ceremony uniforms for Team GB delegates attending the upcoming Beijing 2022 Olympic Games. The brand also previously dressed the BOA delegation that participated in Tokyo's summer Olympic Games.

The Team GB x Ben Sherman retail capsule collection is available on the Ben Sherman and Team GB website.

The athletes will wear their winter uniforms at the Opening and Closing Ceremony in Beijing, China, in February 2022.

ABOUT BEN SHERMAN

Ben Sherman was a legend in his own right. He was often described as always embracing the new and the different, and he constantly searched for the very best. Born Arthur Benjamin Sugarman, he began his career making shirts for other designers; it wasn't long before his creative flair took over, and he started designing his own shirts. By 1963 Ben Sherman was ready to launch his own clothing line. For decades the iconic Ben Sherman shirt and brand has been adopted by almost every seminal youth culture and style movement; it is revered and worn by today's style leaders. A global lifestyle brand, Ben Sherman and the original Oxford shirt still remain a modern icon; there is simply nothing quite like an original Ben Sherman shirt.

www.bensherman.com

ABOUT MARQUEE BRANDS

Marquee Brands is a brand acquisition, management and development company. Sponsored by Neuberger Berman Private Equity, a business of Neuberger Berman, one of the world's leading employee-owned investment managers, Marquee Brands targets high-quality brands with strong consumer awareness and long-term growth potential. Marquee Brands seeks to identify brands in various consumer product segments with the goal of expanding their reach across retail channels, geography and product category while preserving the brand heritage and enhancing the ultimate consumer experience. Through its global team of professionals and partners, Marquee Brands monitors trends and markets in order to grow and manage brands in partnership with retailers, product partners and manufacturers through engaging, impactful marketing and strategic planning. www.marqueebrands.com

ABOUT BRITISH OLYMPIC ASSOCIATION

The British Olympic Association (BOA) is the National Olympic Committee for Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Its mission is to develop, promote and protect the Olympic Movement in our territory in accordance with the Olympic Charter. The BOA achieves this through:

Working in partnership with our members and key stakeholders to deliver world-leading services and support to enable British athletes to reach their full potential at the Olympic Games, Olympic Winter Games and other IOC-sanctioned events.

Working in partnership with our members and key stakeholders to provide athletes with relevant support on the journey to, during and following their Olympic careers.

Engaging people throughout the United Kingdom to pursue their very own goals and dreams through the Olympic Values and the example of Team GB Olympians.

to pursue their very own goals and dreams through the Olympic Values and the example of Team GB Olympians. Being the independent voice of Olympic Sport and collaborating with our members and other sport stakeholders, both domestically and internationally, to support the continued growth and overall health of the Olympic Movement in the UK.

https://www.teamgb.com

For all press enquires: Monet Aluko, 02072546517, monet@wearevillage.com

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Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1706689/Ben_Sherman_Logo.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1706688/Team_GB_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Ben Sherman
MUMBAI, India, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Institute of Risk Management (IRM), headquartered in the UK, along with its India Affiliate, has partnered with NMIMS, one of India's pioneering education institutions, to offer a Professional Programme in Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) through NMIMS' Centre of International Studies (NMIMS CIS). The programme provides a structured pathway towards becoming a dynamic, globally-focused, risk-intelligent business leader, entrepreneur or manager. It will cover live, virtual study sessions, delivered by NMIMS, and integrated with IRM's global ERM examinations from Level 1 to Level 3. The highly interactive online lectures, exercises, mock tests and case studies qualify for academic credits and certification from NMIMS (Deemed to be University), with globally-recognised professional designations from IRM, the world leader for ERM qualifications across 140+ countries.

Entry into the ERM Programme is not restricted to NMIMS students; the programme is open to students studying at any other college, working professionals as well as entrepreneurs and business owners. Aspirants from across India can enroll virtually in separate batches, starting with Level 1 all the way up to Level 3, which is at par with an International Master's degree. Achieving success in ERM, after passing IRM's rigorous qualifications through this programme, signifies expertise and proficiency in the essential knowledge and skills needed to manage enterprise-wide risks across sectors and economies, including cybersecurity, supply chain, climate change, reputation, and more.

Elaborating further, Hersh Shah, CEO, IRM India Affiliate, said: "In today's complex business environment, a risk-intelligent leader is now preferred over a domain specialist who may not have the acumen to navigate through uncertainties like the pandemic or climate change or even a cyber-attack."

"Furthermore, with SEBI, RBI, IRDAI and the Companies Act, 2013, mandating risk management in specified organisations, there is a huge demand for qualified risk professionals. With NMIMS' legacy in quality management education and IRM's global leadership and expertise in ERM qualifications, the Professional Programme in Enterprise Risk Management will produce talent equipped with complex problem-solving, risk-based decision-making and analytical thinking skills for every function and sector."

"Market and recruitment data suggest that the average annual salary for qualified risk professionals ranges from INR 9 to 35 lakhs, while the average remuneration of a Chief Risk Officer in India ranges from INR 70 lakhs to 2.5 crores. This is an indication of the priority organisations are placing on their risk strategies and on building teams with qualified risk-intelligent talent."

Dr. Ramesh Bhat, Vice Chancellor, NMIMS (Deemed-to-be University) said, "Organizations and regulators recognize the importance of qualified risk-analysts. These professionals possess expertise in managing enterprise-wide risks and can help develop a strong risk culture to enhance the survival of all types of organizations across sectors. With an advanced understanding of leading global risk frameworks, growing, interconnected uncertainties, and strategic threats, we are confident that candidates going through this program will gain the knowledge and skills, in areas of risk identification, risk mitigation, and crisis management strategies, required to achieve business objectives with the least risk exposure."

"The Blended Learning Enterprise Risk Programme will address the demand-supply gap in ERM by helping aspirants enhance and develop the necessary skills and knowledge base in this area. The intensive classroom-oriented virtual learning will be delivered by experienced faculty from NMIMS CIS, enabling faster doubt clarification and more effective preparation through appropriate evaluation approaches. We recognize IRM's global leadership in professional ERM education, and together we are committed to creating a globally-qualified talent pool of professionals."

Ms. Deepali Kamle, In-charge Director, NMIMS Centre for International Studies, said, "Businesses face multiple challenges in the form of legal and regulatory frameworks, financial resources, market access, business support, development structures and training. Poor risk assessment can impact a firm's overall performance. Mitigation of threats, as well as identification of relevant opportunities, albeit the risks, are the answers to the success of any business. The COVID-19 pandemic has given us myriad reasons to think and plan about the risks prevalent in our environment and around us. Traditionally, risk management was restricted to the finance and insurance spheres, but with the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic which crippled most of the industries, and with major corporate failures happening all around, the desideratum is robust Enterprise Risk Management."

"This opens up a plethora of opportunities for students, young professionals, and even senior management, who wish to gain a deeper insight in the domain of risk. Risk management is actually a stimulus for growth and success, and being risk-ready is the need of the hour. We are very happy to be offering this niche professional qualification to candidates, in collaboration with IRM."

IRM's 5-level qualification and membership pathway, recognised across 140+ countries, provides an ideal opportunity for students, working professionals and entrepreneurs/business owners to leverage the demand for risk-intelligent experts and build a successful career. Candidates can enroll in the Professional Programme in Enterprise Risk Management while pursuing their studies or working anywhere in India. Upon clearing IRM's examinations, they will receive IRM's global certification in ERM, along with the opportunity to become a Certified Fellow of the Institute (CFIRM - Level 5), and eventually even becoming a risk-intelligent leader.

More information about the Professional Programme in ERM and enrollment details are available at: https://cis.nmims.edu/professional-programme-in-enterprise-risk-management

About IRM India Affiliate:

The Institute of Risk Management is the world's leading professional body for enterprise risk management qualifications and memberships (Level 1 to 5). IRM publishes research and guidance, and also professional standards across the world. Our members (including members of the Institute of Operational Risk) work in all industries, in all risk disciplines and across the public, private and not-for-profit sectors in more than 140 countries. With 360 exam centers in India, candidates can earn the IRM designations by pursuing the global examinations through IRM India Affiliate. IRM in India has been working with apex bodies and organisations like the AICTE (Ministry of Education), Invest India, Cipla, ICICI Lombard, Deloitte, JB Boda Group, NIMSME (Ministry of MSME), Bombay Chartered Accountants' Society and CNBC-TV18.

Website: www.theirmindia.org

About NMIMS CIS:

Established in 2006 as "SVKM's Institute of International Studies" and with a legacy of over 15 years, the Centre for International Studies (CIS) has created a niche for itself by providing a conducive learning environment, which is very important for the conduct of international programmes. At CIS, students receive quality education in state-of-the-art, well-equipped classrooms with new teaching techniques, and the latest e-learning environment of global standards. A talent base of teaching faculty that is committed, enthusiastic and professionally accredited, encourage the students to develop and express their creative and competitive talents and therefore foster holistic development. CIS, in its truest essence, is a "happy learning place".

Website: cis.nmims.edu

About SVKM's NMIMS University:

Established in 1981, NMIMS is today recognized as a globally reputed university with strong industry linkages. It offers multiple disciplines across 8 campuses that consist of 17 specialized schools, more than 17000 students, and about 750 full-time faculty members, 10 faculty members with Fulbright Scholarship and Humboldt International Scholarship for post-doctoral researchers. It is known for its consistent academic quality and research-focused approach towards holistic education. SVKM's NMIMS has been granted Category-I Deemed University status by Graded Autonomy Regulation 2018 by MHRD/UGC and NMIMS Mumbai Campus is NAAC accredited with a CGPA of 3.59.

Website: www.nmims.edu

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1706300/IRM__NMIMS.jpg

SOURCE Institute of Risk Management, India Affiliate
BALTIMORE, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Urological Association (AUA) announced today the list of its 2022 award recipients. The honorees will be recognized at the Association's Annual Meeting in New Orleans, LA next May marking the 59th anniversary of the awards program. The ceremony will celebrate physician researchers and educators for their contributions to the field of medicine, the specialty of urology and the AUA.

The following awards will be presented:

AUA Announces 59th AUA Annual Award Winners

Ramon Guiteras Award: The Ramon Guiteras Award is presented annually to an individual for outstanding contributions to the art and science of urology. Glenn M. Preminger, MD will receive this award for outstanding service to the AUA and for pioneering and innovative work in the field of endourology.

Hugh Hampton Young Award: The Hugh Hampton Young Award is presented annually to an individual for their outstanding contributions to the study of genitourinary tract disease. Arthur L. Burnett II, MD, MBA will receive this award for groundbreaking advances in male sexual health, as well as advocacy, diversity and humanitarian contributions.

Gold Cystoscope Award: The Gold Cystoscope Award is presented annually to a urologist distinguished by outstanding contributions to the profession within 10 years of completing residency training. Angela M. Smith, MD, MS will receive this award for outstanding leadership and contributions in bladder cancer and outcomes research.

Lifetime Achievement Award: The Lifetime Achievement Award is presented annually to an individual for outstanding contributions to advance the mission and goals of the AUA. Barry A. Kogan, MD will receive this award for outstanding leadership and contributions to the practice, science and education of pediatric urology.

Eugene Fuller Triennial Prostate Award: The Eugene Fuller Triennial Prostate Award is given once every three years to an individual who has made outstanding contributions to the study of the prostate gland and all its associated diseases. Claus G. Roehrborn, MD will receive this award for numerous contributions to the scientific study of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) and its treatment.

Victor A. Politano Award: The Victor A. Politano Award is presented annually to an individual for outstanding research and work in the field of incontinence and for enhancing the treatment of incontinent patients, thereby helping to improve their quality of life. Craig V. Comiter, MD will receive this award for a defining career centered on investigation, innovation and education in treating incontinence.

William P. Didusch Art and History Award: The William P. Didusch Art and History Award promotes and recognizes contributions to urological art, including, but not limited to, illustrations, sculpture, still photography, motion pictures and television productions. Kevin R. Loughlin, MD, MBA will receive this award for demonstrating a passion for medical history and extensive publications on urological history.

Mid-Career Award: The Mid-Career Award is presented to a urologist distinguished by outstanding contributions to the profession in research, clinical urology or advocacy between 10 and 20 years of completing residency training. Kirsten L. Greene, MD, MS will receive this award for inspired institutional leadership, clinical expertise and service in the development of AUA clinical guidelines.

Distinguished Contribution Awards: The Distinguished Contribution Awards are presented annually to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the science and practice of urology, including, but not limited to, contributions made in a sub-specialty area or military service. The following individuals will be recognized with this award:

Aria F. Olumi, MD for outstanding contributions as AUA Research Chair, strengthening the pipeline of surgeon-scientists and researchers

for outstanding contributions as AUA Research Chair, strengthening the pipeline of surgeon-scientists and researchers Chandru P. Sundaram , MD, MS for outstanding contributions in endourology and as a member of the AUA Board of Directors

Distinguished Service Awards: The Distinguished Service Awards are presented annually to individuals for outstanding service in advancing the goals of the AUA. The following individuals will receive this award:

Toby C. Chai , MD for exemplary contributions to the science of urology and advocacy for urological research

for exemplary contributions to the science of urology and advocacy for urological research Barbara B. Hartford , MS for innovative and impactful management of AUA finances, especially during the worldwide pandemic

for innovative and impactful management of AUA finances, especially during the worldwide pandemic Janet V. Skorepa for exemplary service in enriching AUA education, the Annual Meeting and AUA member services

for exemplary service in enriching AUA education, the Annual Meeting and AUA member services Martha K. Terris , MD for outstanding contributions to urological research and to the creation of the Shared Equal Access Regional Cancer Hospital (SEARCH) Database

Gold-Headed Cane Award: The Gold-Headed Cane Award is presented to a senior urologist distinguished by outstanding contributions to the profession and to the AUA. The inspiration for the AUA Gold-Headed Cane dates back to a highly respected tradition that began in the 17th century. The gold headed cane was first carried by Dr. Radcliffe from 1689 to 1714 and it accompanied him on many consultations in London, England. He was known by royalty for his medical skills and was considered an outstanding practitioner. Dr. Radcliffe was the first to pass the cane along to a successor whom he considered to be the greatest English physician of his time. AUA continues this tradition by presenting this award to Julio M. Pow-Sang, MD for a superlative career dedicated to advancing urologic oncology, resident education and physician development.

Presidential Citations: Presidential Citations are presented to individuals deemed to have significantly promoted the cause of urology. Each recipient is chosen by the AUA President. This honor will be bestowed upon the following individuals:

Patricia M. Banks , MS for outstanding leadership in advancing AUA programs during the worldwide pandemic

for outstanding leadership in advancing AUA programs during the worldwide pandemic Diane E. Bieri, Esq. for outstanding service and teamwork in navigating AUA operations during the worldwide pandemic

for outstanding service and teamwork in navigating AUA operations during the worldwide pandemic Christian G. Chaussy , MD for world-renowned leadership and unsurpassed contributions in shock wave lithotripsy and high-intensity focused ultrasound

for world-renowned leadership and unsurpassed contributions in shock wave lithotripsy and high-intensity focused ultrasound Rodney Davis , MD for dedicated military service and for outstanding contributions to minimally invasive techniques for the treatment of urological malignancies

for dedicated military service and for outstanding contributions to minimally invasive techniques for the treatment of urological malignancies Inderbir S. Gill , MD for scientific innovations in robotic and laparoscopic oncologic surgery

for scientific innovations in robotic and laparoscopic oncologic surgery Victor W. Nitti , MD For outstanding contributions as the AUA Education Chair, advancing the Urology Core Curriculum and AUAUniversity

Learn more about the AUA Awards

About the American Urological Association: Founded in 1902 and headquartered near Baltimore, Maryland, the American Urological Association is a leading advocate for the specialty of urology and has more than 24,000 members throughout the world. The AUA is a premier urologic association, providing invaluable support to the urologic community as it pursues its mission of fostering the highest standards of urologic care through education, research and the formulation of health policy. For more information, visit AUAnet.org.

Media Contact: Christine Frey, AUA

410-689-3731, [email protected]

SOURCE American Urological Association
BALTIMORE, Dec. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Adams Natural Resources Fund, Inc. (NYSE: PEO) has determined that $16.73 per share is the issue price for the closed-end fund's year-end distribution to shareholders who have elected to receive all or a portion of the distribution in the form of stock. This price is the mean between the high and low sales prices of the Fund's stock on the New York Stock Exchange on December 8, 2021.

The shares of common stock will be issued in connection with payment of the $0.61 year-end distribution, consisting of $0.29 in net investment income and $0.32 in net realized capital gains. The year-end distribution is payable on December 17, 2021.

The Fund has committed to distributing each year an amount equal to at least 6% of the Fund's trailing 12-month average month-end market price. This year, the Fund is distributing an amount that results in a 6.3% annual distribution rate, exceeding the 6% commitment. Please see the information posted on our website, adamsfunds.com, for more details concerning the annual 6% minimum distribution rate commitment.

The Fund has paid out capital gains to its shareholders for 70 consecutive years and has paid dividends for 87 consecutive years.

Since 1929, Adams Funds has consistently helped generations of investors reach their investment goals. Adams Funds is comprised of two closed-end funds, Adams Diversified Equity Fund, Inc. (NYSE: ADX) and Adams Natural Resources Fund, Inc. (NYSE: PEO). The Funds are actively managed by an experienced team with a disciplined approach and have paid dividends for more than 80 years across many market cycles. The Funds are committed to paying an annual distribution rate of 6% or more, providing reliable income to long-term investors. Shares can be purchased through our transfer agent or through a broker. For more information about Adams Funds, please visit: adamsfunds.com .

For further information please contact:

Shareholder Communications

800.638.2479

[email protected]

SOURCE Adams Funds
ALBANY, N.Y, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The growth of the aerospace & defense chemical distribution market is driven by the expected proliferation of the commercial aerospace segment, rise in air cargo, and continued use of older fleet of aircraft that require maintenance, repair, and overhaul of its parts.

Initiatives for innovations in processes of the chemicals sector serving the aerospace industry are creating new frontiers in the aerospace & defense chemical distribution market. The digitization of manufacturing of chemicals is anticipated to have a profound impact on the distribution lifecycle of aerospace chemical products. Chemical companies in India that serve the aerospace industry are leveraging the opportunity to increase the need of digitization of distribution of chemicals for the aerospace industry. This is in line with the ongoing Digital India movement for improved process productivity.

The aerospace & defense chemical distribution market is projected to cross US$ 1.8 Bn by 2031.

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Aerospace & Defense Chemical Distribution Market  Key Findings of Report

Advantages of Cost and Short Lead Cycle of FAA Approved Products to Offer Opportunities

The aerospace & defense sector displays demand for custom packaging and custom quantity of aerospace adhesives and sealants. In order to serve this, some companies involved in the chemical distribution chain are working along with OEMs, large corporations, and small maintenance shops for custom quantities and custom packaging. The collaboration of NSL Aerospace  an aircraft adhesive and sealant sourcing, packaging, and distribution enterprise with different sizes of packaging companies is an example.

The increasing availability of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approved products is favoring the growth of the aerospace & defense chemical distribution market. Moreover, FAA certified sealants are emerging as an alternative to PRC/PPG sealants with advantages of cost savings and smaller lead cycles. The use of high strength PMA silicones to produce aerospace sealants is what manufacturers are engaged in to some extent.

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Demand for Specialty Chemicals for Array of Applications to Fuel Market Growth

The aerospace & defense sector witnesses demand for specialty chemicals for plating, cleaning, and conversion coating applications. This involves the use of specialty chemicals for surface treatments and preparation chemicals for multiple applications. For instance, specialty chemicals are used for paints and coatings of cabin interiors and internal & external structures of aircraft.

Expansion of Military Fleet to Bolster Demand

The expansion of aircraft fleet for defense, especially in emerging economies is creating the demand for aviation chemicals. This, in turn, is boosting the chemical distribution chain for the aerospace & defense industry sector.

The development of highly advanced airplanes for military use is fuelling the demand for aviation chemicals. Innovations in combat helicopters are based on a number of latest technologies, and expanding air cargo fleet for the defense sector require several aviation chemicals. This is creating opportunities in the aerospace & defense chemical distribution market.

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Aerospace & Defense Chemical Distribution Market  Growth Drivers

Expansion of defense budgets by several governments to address the rising security threat is propelling the aerospace and defense chemical distribution market

Demand for aerospace and defense chemicals due to their properties to provide corrosion and heat resistance to the inside and outside of aircraft fuels the growth of the aerospace & defense chemical distribution market

Aerospace & Defense Chemical Distribution Market  Key Players

Some of the key players operating in the aerospace & defense chemical distribution market are Univar Solutions Inc., Boeing Distribution Services Inc., AVIOCOM B.V., Aviation Chemical solutions Inc., Sky Mart Sales Corp., Aerospace Chemical Supplies Ltd, Aviall Inc., Westco Aircraft Holdings Inc., Jaco Aerospace, GracoRoberts, Spectrum Aerospace GmbH, and AirChem Consumables.

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Aerospace & Defense Chemical Distribution Market is segmented as follows;

Aerospace & Defense Chemical Distribution Market, by Product

Lubricants & Greases

Oils & Hydraulic Fluids

Adhesives & Sealants

Paints & Coatings

Cleaners & Solvents

Others (including Wax and Polish)

Aerospace & Defense Chemical Distribution Market, by Distribution Channel

OEM

Aftermarket

Aerospace & Defense Chemical Distribution Market, by End-use

Aerospace

Defense

Aerospace & Defense Chemical Distribution Market, by Region

Global

North America

U.S.



Canada

Asia Pacific

Japan



China



India



ASEAN



Rest of Asia Pacific

Chemicals & Materials Industry battles Tangible Impact of Economic and Cultural changes, Explore Transparency Market Research's award-winning coverage of the global Chemicals & Materials Market:

Chemical Distribution Market - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/chemical-distribution-market.html

Aerospace Materials Market - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/aerospace-materials-market.html

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SOURCE Transparency Market Research
BOGOTA, Colombia, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- aptuno , a proptech company transforming the property rental market in Latin America, today announced it has raised $5.1 million in seed funding led by Dalus Capital and Kayyak Ventures after previously raising $2 million from FJ Labs, former CEO of REA Group Simon Baker, and additional backers in a pre-seed round.

Aptuno is the next-generation proptech company focused on revolutionizing the burdensome property rental process across Latin America. With 80 percent faster closings for landlords and brokerages, three times the qualified listings to search weekly than the nearest competitor, and two-hour digital credit verification, aptuno provides a fast, seamless, and digital process for tenants and landlords from search to signing.

Aptuno already operates the largest platform for rental listings in Colombia, currently serving Bogota and Medellin, and recently expanded to Mexico City. With this funding, aptuno will hire top tech talent across the region to continue building its product and scaling operations throughout the region.

"Aptuno is building an end-to-end solution to make the rental process more efficient for tenants, landlords and brokerages alike," said Cristina Palacios, co-founder and COO of aptuno. "The addressable market for aptuno is only growing, and we intend to grow with it. We're thrilled to have our investors' support as we build the technology needed to make renting properties in Latin America more accessible."

"With this capital, aptuno will scale our fintech product line and machine learning capabilities to further tap the true market potential of rental properties in key markets across Latin America," said Alejandro Gomez de Greiff, co-founder and co-CEO of aptuno. "There are over 25 million households for rent in Spanish-speaking Latin America, mostly in the hands of individual landlords, yet renting remains a very cumbersome process for renters, owners and brokers. By simplifying the process with fast credit approvals for rent guarantee insurance, rent discount loans, a 100 percent digital transaction and tech-enabled property management services, our technology provides liquidity to the massive but historically inefficient single-family rentals market."

In addition to Dalus Capital and Kayyak Ventures, investors in the seed round include Amador Holdings , Salkantay Ventures , Shaun di Gregorio, CEO and founder of Frontier Digital Ventures , Tomas Uribe, Rodrigo Sanchez-Rios, and Jeronimo Uribe, the founders and CEO of La Haus; Michael Lahyani, CEO of PropertyFinder, the largest property portal in the Middle East; as well as U.S.-based backers FJ Labs , SOMA Capital , and Jonathan Wasserstrum, CEO of leading commercial leasing platform SquareFoot.

"Dalus is thrilled to welcome aptuno to Mexico City and support their expansion across the region," said Diego Serebrisky, Founding Managing Partner at Dalus Capital. "Aptuno is bringing groundbreaking tech and artificial intelligence to solve the headaches of property rentals across Latin America. We're confident aptuno will improve the rental experience for landlords, tenants and brokers."

"We strongly believe aptuno will become the one-stop shop for renters, landlords and brokers in Latin America. Its unique acquisition strategy, data-driven technology, and fintech product roadmap give the company an important edge inside the proptech market," said Evelyn Von Bischhoffshausen, partner at Kayyak Ventures. "We look forward to supporting aptuno on their mission to make renting easier and more efficient on every side of the transaction."

Renting homes in Latin America is hard for everyone involved.

For renters: Listing information is low-quality and unreliable, and renters can have trouble finding co-signers that fulfill all requirements.

For landlords: Long vacancy periods are common, as finding a suitable tenant with the income and collateral necessary takes months.

For brokerages: Information for showing homes is similarly unreliable, and finding reliable tenants for landlords with vacancies is difficult.

These hurdles make obtaining proper housing time- and cost-prohibitive for residents and limits return on investment for landlords. Aptuno hosts qualified, quantity rental listings to help renters find homes while also helping them sign leases sooner by providing the financial insurance required by a market built on a lack of trust.

Aptuno was founded by Alejandro Gomez de Greiff, Juan Martin Delgado and Brian Requarth in late 2019. Aptuno has since grown to close an average of over 100 deals per month, host 1,500 unique listings, and has already closed 900 transactions in 2021, 11 times the transactions closed in the same period during the previous year.

About aptuno

Aptuno's mission is to provide liquidity to the multibillion residential real estate rentals providing a seamless end-to-end experience to an ever-growing set of digital-native renters. The company was founded in late 2019, launched its first product in April 2020 and today operates in Bogota, CDMX and Medellin with over 1,500 unique listings making it the largest rental inventory in Colombia, with verified listings and transactional functionalities. Aptuno's team operates in decentralized locations in the cities where it operates.

SOURCE aptuno
VANCOUVER, BC, December 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - B2Gold Corp. (TSX: BTO) (NYSE AMERICAN: BTG) (NSX: B2G) ("B2Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has reached an agreement in principle with the State of Mali in connection with the issuance of the Menankoto exploration permit (the "Menankoto Permit"). The Government of Mali has recently announced that it will grant a new exploration permit covering the same perimeter as the Menankoto Permit to a new Malian subsidiary of B2Gold. In consideration of this issuance of a new permit, B2Gold has undertaken to withdraw the arbitration proceedings that its Malian subsidiary, Menankoto SARL ("Menankoto"), commenced in June 2021 against the Republic of Mali under the Convention on the Settlement of Investment Disputes Between States and Nationals of Other States.

Based on the Government of Mali's recent announcement and related discussions, B2Gold expects that the new Menankoto Permit will be issued to its new Malian subsidiary prior to the end of 2021 in compliance with the procedures and requirements set out under the Malian 2019 Mining Code (previous permit had been issued under the Malian 2012 Mining Code), which provides for an initial term of three years and renewable for 2 additional three year periods. The Company and the State of Mali are both pleased with this outcome and the process to reach this agreement, which was conducted in a fair and transparent manner and restores the Company's interest in the Menankoto Permit that it believes Menankoto was entitled to under its original extension application.

The operations at the Fekola Mine, which is situated on a separate mining licence 20 kilometres from the Menankoto Permit and is projected to produce 560,000 to 570,000 ounces of gold in 2021, have continued normally and were not impacted by the dispute relating to the Menankoto Permit. In addition, the Fekola Mine has not included the Mineral Resources from the Anaconda area (comprised of the Menankoto Permit and the Bantako North permit) in the current Fekola life of mine plan. The Bantako North permit area (wholly owned with B2Gold's 10% Malian partner and which permit was recently renewed for an additional 3-year term) contains a significant portion of the Mamba deposit saprolite material and remains open. Preliminary planning by the Company has demonstrated that a pit situated on the Bantako North permit area could provide saprolite material for at least 1.5 to 2 years to feed the Fekola mill commencing in the second half of 2022 subject to obtaining all necessary permits and completion of a final mine plan. This additional feed from the Anaconda area to the Fekola Mine has the potential to provide immediate value to the State of Mali, B2Gold's 20% partner at the Fekola Mine, and communities near the project, and creating significant long-term benefits for the Government of Mali as well as value generation for the communities located both near the Menankoto deposit, regionally and nationally.

The Malian authorities have also recently reviewed and approved an update to the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment for the Fekola Mine required to include the Cardinal zone, located within 500 metres of the current Fekola resource pit. The Company is in the process of updating the Fekola Mine Plan to include production from Cardinal, which has the potential to add an average of approximately 60,000 ounces per year over the next 6 to 8 years (based on Cardinal's inferred resource only) to Fekola's annual gold production. Grade control drilling at Cardinal is ongoing to upgrade a portion of the Mineral Resource estimate to the Indicated category for 2022 production budget purposes.

Since the Company commenced its investment in Mali, B2Gold has enjoyed a positive and mutually beneficial relationship with the Government of Mali. Most recently, B2Gold partnered with the Government of Mali to assist the people of Mali facing challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as its impact on the mining sector. B2Gold continues to explore additional ways in which it might help the Government deal with the impact of the pandemic.

About B2Gold Corp.

B2Gold is a low-cost international senior gold producer headquartered in Vancouver, Canada. Founded in 2007, today, B2Gold has operating gold mines in Mali, Namibia and the Philippines and numerous exploration and development projects in various countries including Mali, Colombia, Finland and Uzbekistan. B2Gold forecasts total consolidated gold production of between 1,015,000 and 1,050,000 ounces in 2021.

On Behalf of B2GOLD CORP.

"Clive T. Johnson"

President & Chief Executive Officer

For more information on B2Gold please visit the Company website at www.b2gold.com or contact:

Ian MacLean Katie Bromley Vice President, Investor Relations Manager, Investor Relations & Public Relations 604-681-8371 604-681-8371 [email protected] [email protected]

The Toronto Stock Exchange and NYSE American LLC neither approve nor disapprove the information contained in this news release.

Production guidance presented in this news release reflect total production at the mines B2Gold operates on a 100% project basis. Please see our Annual Information Form dated March 30, 2021 for a discussion of our ownership interest in the mines B2Gold operates.

This news release includes certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation, including: projections; outlook; guidance; forecasts; estimates; and other statements regarding future or estimated financial and operational performance, gold production and sales, revenues and cash flows, and capital costs (sustaining and non-sustaining) and operating costs, and including, without limitation: total consolidated gold production of between 1,015,000 and 1,050,000 ounces in 2021;and the receipt of the new Menankoto permit by B2Gold's Malian subsidiary by the end of 2021. All statements in this news release that address events or developments that we expect to occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, although not always, identified by words such as "expect", "plan", "anticipate", "project", "target", "potential", "schedule", "forecast", "budget", "estimate", "intend" or "believe" and similar expressions or their negative connotations, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could", "should" or "might" occur. All such forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made.

Forward-looking statements necessarily involve assumptions, risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond B2Gold's control, including risks associated with or related to: the duration and extent of the COVID-19 pandemic, the effectiveness of preventative measures and contingency plans put in place by the Company to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, including, but not limited to, social distancing, a non-essential travel ban, business continuity plans, and efforts to mitigate supply chain disruptions; escalation of travel restrictions on people or products and reductions in the ability of the Company to transport and refine dore; the volatility of metal prices and B2Gold's common shares; changes in tax laws; the dangers inherent in exploration, development and mining activities; the uncertainty of reserve and resource estimates; not achieving production, cost or other estimates; actual production, development plans and costs differing materially from the estimates in B2Gold's feasibility and other studies; the ability to obtain and maintain any necessary permits, consents or authorizations required for mining activities; environmental regulations or hazards and compliance with complex regulations associated with mining activities; climate change and climate change regulations; the ability to replace mineral reserves and identify acquisition opportunities; the unknown liabilities of companies acquired by B2Gold; the ability to successfully integrate new acquisitions; fluctuations in exchange rates; the availability of financing; financing and debt activities, including potential restrictions imposed on B2Gold's operations as a result thereof and the ability to generate sufficient cash flows; operations in foreign and developing countries and the compliance with foreign laws, including those associated with operations in Mali, Namibia, the Philippine and Colombia and including risks related to changes in foreign laws and changing policies related to mining and local ownership requirements or resource nationalization generally, including in response to the COVID-19 outbreak; remote operations and the availability of adequate infrastructure; fluctuations in price and availability of energy and other inputs necessary for mining operations; shortages or cost increases in necessary equipment, supplies and labour; regulatory, political and country risks, including local instability or acts of terrorism and the effects thereof; the reliance upon contractors, third parties and joint venture partners; the lack of sole decision-making authority related to Filminera Resources Corporation, which owns the Masbate Project; challenges to title or surface rights; the dependence on key personnel and the ability to attract and retain skilled personnel; the risk of an uninsurable or uninsured loss; adverse climate and weather conditions; litigation risk; competition with other mining companies; community support for B2Gold's operations, including risks related to strikes and the halting of such operations from time to time; conflicts with small scale miners; failures of information systems or information security threats; the ability to maintain adequate internal controls over financial reporting as required by law, including Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act; compliance with anti-corruption laws, and sanctions or other similar measures; social media and B2Gold's reputation; risks affecting Calibre having an impact on the value of the Company's investment in Calibre, and potential dilution of our equity interest in Calibre; as well as other factors identified and as described in more detail under the heading "Risk Factors" in B2Gold's most recent Annual Information Form, B2Gold's current Form 40-F Annual Report and B2Gold's other filings with Canadian securities regulators and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), which may be viewed at www.sedar.com and www.sec.gov, respectively (the "Websites"). The list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect B2Gold's forward-looking statements

B2Gold's forward-looking statements are based on the applicable assumptions and factors management considers reasonable as of the date hereof, based on the information available to management at such time. These assumptions and factors include, but are not limited to, assumptions and factors related to B2Gold's ability to carry on current and future operations, including: the duration and effects of COVID-19 on our operations and workforce; development and exploration activities; the timing, extent, duration and economic viability of such operations, including any mineral resources or reserves identified thereby; the accuracy and reliability of estimates, projections, forecasts, studies and assessments; B2Gold's ability to meet or achieve estimates, projections and forecasts; the availability and cost of inputs; the price and market for outputs, including gold; foreign exchange rates; taxation levels; the timely receipt of necessary approvals or permits; the ability to meet current and future obligations; the ability to obtain timely financing on reasonable terms when required; the current and future social, economic and political conditions; and other assumptions and factors generally associated with the mining industry.

B2Gold's forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management and reflect their current expectations regarding future events and operating performance and speak only as of the date hereof. B2Gold does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances or management's beliefs, expectations or opinions should change other than as required by applicable law. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements. Accordingly, no assurance can be given that any events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or occur, or if any of them do, what benefits or liabilities B2Gold will derive therefrom. For the reasons set forth above, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements.

SOURCE B2Gold Corp.
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla., Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA's Imaging X-Ray Polarimetry Explorer spacecraft built by Ball Aerospace successfully launched today aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. After reaching its final orbital position, the small explorer will begin its mission of observing polarized X-rays from extreme objects, such as neutron stars, stellar and super massive black holes.

NASA IXPE mission launches from Kennedy Space Center in Fla.

"IXPE is going to provide unprecedented insight into how the universe works," said Dr. Makenzie Lystrup, vice president and general manager, Ball Aerospace. "By measuring X-ray polarization with spatial, spectral and temporal resolution, we will gain a far better understanding of the geometry of extreme magnetic fields over a wide range of spatial scales, from the polar jets of Active Galactic Nuclei, to the near-surface of extremely magnetic neutron stars called magnetars."

As part of the NASA Astrophysics Explorers Program, the mission addresses NASA's science goal "to probe the origin and destiny of our universe, including the nature of black holes, dark energy, dark matter, and gravity." It is led by principal investigator Dr. Martin C. Weisskopf at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, with support from Ball Aerospace, the Italian Space Agency (ASI), Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) at University of Colorado Boulder and other partners.

In addition to the mechanical and structural elements of the payload and observatory assembly, Ball Aerospace provided the IXPE spacecraft and conducted integration and testing. The spacecraft is based on the smallest Ball Configurable Platform (BCP) model. The BCP has a broad spectrum of capabilities, is highly reliable with proven stability and pointing performance, which are essential for astrophysics missions, such as IXPE.

As part of Ball Aerospace's commitment to sustainability, a similar BCP was developed for NASA's technology demonstration Green Propellant Infusion Mission (GPIM) and is currently in the design phase for the BCP spacecraft for NASA's Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization and Ices Explorer (SPHEREx).

Powered by endlessly curious people with an unwavering mission focus, Ball Aerospace pioneers discoveries that enable our customers to perform beyond expectation and protect what matters most. We create innovative space solutions, enable more accurate weather forecasts, drive insightful observations of our planet, deliver actionable data and intelligence, and ensure those who defend our freedom go forward bravely and return home safely. Go Beyond with Ball. For more information, visit www.ball.com/aerospace or connect with us on Facebook or Twitter.

About Ball Corporation

Ball Corporation (NYSE: BLL) supplies innovative, sustainable aluminum packaging solutions for beverage, personal care and household products customers, as well as aerospace and other technologies and services primarily for the U.S. government. Ball Corporation and its subsidiaries employ 21,500 people worldwide and reported 2020 net sales of $11.8 billion. For more information, visit www.ball.com, or connect with us on Facebook or Twitter.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains "forward-looking" statements concerning future events and financial performance. Words such as "expects," "anticipates," "estimates," "believes," and similar expressions typically identify forward-looking statements, which are generally any statements other than statements of historical fact. Such statements are based on current expectations or views of the future and are subject to risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied. You should therefore not place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements and any such statements should be read in conjunction with, and qualified in their entirety by, the cautionary statements referenced below. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Key factors, risks and uncertainties that could cause actual outcomes and results to be different are summarized in filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including Exhibit 99 in our Form 10-K, which are available on our website and at www.sec.gov. Additional factors that might affect: a) our packaging segments include product capacity, supply, and demand constraints and fluctuations and changes in consumption patterns; availability/cost of raw materials, equipment, and logistics; competitive packaging, pricing and substitution; changes in climate and weather; footprint adjustments and other manufacturing changes, including the startup of new facilities and lines; failure to achieve synergies, productivity improvements or cost reductions; unfavorable mandatory deposit or packaging laws; customer and supplier consolidation; power and supply chain interruptions; changes in major customer or supplier contracts or loss of a major customer or supplier; political instability and sanctions; currency controls; changes in foreign exchange or tax rates; and tariffs, trade actions, or other governmental actions, including business restrictions and shelter-in-place orders in any country or jurisdiction affecting goods produced by us or in our supply chain, including imported raw materials; b) our aerospace segment include funding, authorization, availability and returns of government and commercial contracts; and delays, extensions and technical uncertainties affecting segment contracts; c) the Company as a whole include those listed above plus: the extent to which sustainability-related opportunities arise and can be capitalized upon; changes in senior management, succession, and the ability to attract and retain skilled labor; regulatory actions or issues including those related to tax, ESG reporting, competition, environmental, health and workplace safety, including U.S. FDA and other actions or public concerns affecting products filled in our containers, or chemicals or substances used in raw materials or in the manufacturing process; technological developments and innovations; the ability to manage cyber threats; litigation; strikes; disease; pandemic; labor cost changes; rates of return on assets of the Company's defined benefit retirement plans; pension changes; uncertainties surrounding geopolitical events and governmental policies both in the U.S. and in other countries, including policies, orders, and actions related to COVID-19; reduced cash flow; interest rates affecting our debt; and successful or unsuccessful joint ventures, acquisitions and divestitures, and their effects on our operating results and business generally.

SOURCE Ball Aerospace
CHARLES TOWN, W.Va., Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- (OTC:PTBS)  BCT-Bank of Charles Town, also known as The Community's Bank, was recently approved as a Small Business Administration (SBA) Preferred Lender, the first for a West Virginia chartered bank. As a Preferred Lender, BCT will be authorized to directly approve loan applications instead of processing them through the SBA for approval. This added authority benefits small business owners with a more stream-lined application, cost savings, and quicker approval process.

There is a stringent review process by the SBA to be approved as a Preferred Lender and BCT was found to be reputable with an experienced SBA lender and management team. BCT's ongoing relationship with the SBA and demonstrated knowledge and expertise with SBA loan requirements were also considerations in their selection as an SBA Preferred Lender.

"Supporting small businesses is essential to fulfilling our vision of helping our communities grow. Being selected as a Preferred Lender for the SBA allows us to keep decision-making local to provide access to a broad range of SBA-backed loans," stated Alice Frazier, President and CEO. "Small business owners who apply for an SBA loan through BCT will work with a team of SBA experts ensuring a quality customer experience."

"The Bank of Charles Town is the first community bank in West Virginia to receive the Preferred Lender Program status," states SBA West Virginia District Director Karen Friel. "The PLP status can help borrowers get the funds they need quicker than a standard 7(a) loan as the lender has delegated authority."

The SBA is a cabinet-level federal agency fully dedicated to small business and provides counseling, capital, and contracting expertise to small business owners and entrepreneurs. To learn more about the SBA, visit their website at https://www.sba.gov/.

About the Company

Founded in 1871 and celebrating their 150th year of service, BCT - Bank of Charles Town, also known as The Community's Bank, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Potomac Bancshares, Inc. (OTC:PTBS). With approximately $701 million in assets as of September 30, 2021, the Company conducts operations through its main office, an additional eight branch offices, and two loan production offices. BCT's offices are located in Jefferson and Berkeley Counties (WV), Washington County (MD), and Loudoun and Stafford Counties (VA). The Bank provides various banking products and services including free access to over 55,000 ATMs through the Allpoint network plus online and mobile banking for individuals, businesses, and local governments. The Bank also offers commercial lines and term loans, residential and commercial construction, commercial real estate loans and agricultural loans. The Residential Lending division offers secondary market and portfolio mortgage loans, one-time close construction to perm loans, as well as home equity loans and lines of credit. For over 60 years, BCT Wealth Advisors has provided financial management, investment, trust, and estate services to its clients. In 2019 and 2020, the Bank was named a "Best Bank To Work For" by American Banker. In 2018, Forbes named BCT a "Best In State Bank" for Maryland.

The Company's shares are quoted on the OTC Pink Sheet marketplace under the symbol "PTBS." For more information about Potomac Bancshares, Inc., and the Bank, please visit our website at www.mybct.bank.

SOURCE BCT - Bank of Charles Town
PROVIDENCE, R.I., Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Beeline, a digital start-up mortgage lender that provides the shortest path to homeownership, has completed a Series A round of financing for an undisclosed amount. The capital will be invested in automation and artificial intelligence (AI) to provide a totally unprecedented user experience (UX) for borrowers.

The round of financing was led by the Cavalry Fund and included participation from strategic co-investors Atalaya Capital Management, Ellington Financial Inc., and Australia-based Pipeline Capital. The latest transaction brings the total capital raised by Beeline to $22 million.

"We're thrilled to welcome our new equity partners, who are aligned with our vision of using automation to disrupt the housing industry and revolutionize how people get mortgages," said Beeline President and Co-Founder Peter Gonzalez. "This transaction positions Beeline to provide consumers with a home financing experience that surpasses all other currently available options."

The new funding will accelerate development of Beeline's groundbreaking mortgage automation platform, which identifies, processes, and resolves underwriting conditions in real-time so borrowers can instantly know if they are pre-approved for a loan.

Beeline launched in June 2020 and has already closed nearly $500 million in mortgages. The company is currently licensed in 26 states and plans to add more.

In just 15 minutes, Beeline gives borrowers "Purchase-Ready Approvals," day or night, by using a borrower's exact financial information and predictive analytics rather than relying solely on information that borrowers declare, as traditional pre-approvals do. With the borrower's consent, Beeline securely accesses their bank, income, and tax information online, verifies the numbers instantly, and provides a reliable, accurate approval upfront, so borrowers are far less likely to encounter roadblocks or be disappointed later.

Beeline borrowers can then choose a customizable loan option and lock their mortgage rate all in one session, from the comfort of their sofa, without having to talk to their Beeline Loan Guide, who is always on-hand if needed.

Currently, over 95% of Beeline's customers who receive automated mortgage decisions are ultimately approved during the underwriting process. This high level of automation and accuracy reduces Beeline's origination costs, which enables the company to offer more attractive pricing compared to other lenders.

"This is the classic example of David up against the Goliaths of the mortgage industry," said Greg Ellis, chief brand officer and co-founder of Beeline. "Our unique, mobile-first platform combines automation, AI, and a simple UX in new ways to free people from the usual back-and-forth loan process B.S., so they can celebrate the thrill of buying a home or the benefits of a refinance as quickly as possible."

"Beeline's tech platform delights customers by streamlining the process to arrive quickly at their end goal, whether it's buying their dream home, doing a refinance, or buying an investment property," said Gonzalez. "It is also built to lower the cost of creating a mortgage, so we need fewer employees per loan than traditional lenders  and our borrowers benefit from that in lower rates and costs."

For more information, please visit www.makeabeeline.com . Company updates can be found on Instagram , and LinkedIn .

About Beeline

Beeline is a U.S. home lender that gives consumers the shortest path to realize their dreams of a new home or refinancing. A radical new way to apply without the hassle of filling out long, tedious documents gives Beeline customers more certainty with a Beeline Ready-Approval than from a typical pre-approval with much less effort, by letting consumers link directly to their exact financial info in seconds. This gives Beeline accurate information and users the lowest rates. Best of all, applying takes only 15 minutes from the sofa on a mobile device day or night. Speeding up approvals also means Beeline can give low rates to its customers. Based in Providence, R.I., Beeline is licensed in 26 states, including the District of Columbia. Find out more at www.makeabeeline.com .

About Cavalry Fund

Cavalry Fund I LP is a privately held investment firm with a flexible and creative approach to investing in emerging growth companies. Cavalry Fund identifies and creates investment opportunities with asymmetric risk/reward profiles by focusing on the underserved small-cap market. By providing capital solutions to companies seeking non-traditional funding sources, Cavalry is able to generate superior risk-adjusted returns without being subject to the typical day-to-day market volatility. http://cavalryfund.com/

About Atalaya Capital Management

Atalaya Capital Management is a privately held, SEC-registered, alternative investment advisory firm. Atalaya primarily focuses on making private credit and special opportunities investments in three principal asset classes  financial assets, real estate, and corporate. Founded in 2006, Atalaya is headquartered in New York City and has approximately $6 billion in assets under management. For more information, please visit www.atalayacap.com .

About Ellington Financial Inc

Ellington Financial Inc invests in a diverse array of financial assets, including residential and commercial mortgage loans, residential and commercial mortgage-backed securities, consumer loans and asset-backed securities backed by consumer loans, collateralized loan obligations, non-mortgage and mortgage-related derivatives, equity investments in loan origination companies, and other strategic investments. www.ellington.com

Press Contacts:

Jess Kennedy

Beeline

[email protected]

Sam Garcia, Publicist

Strategic Vantage

214.762.4457

[email protected]

SOURCE Beeline
DENVER, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Policy Center for Public Health & Safety (PH&S) and ASTM International, a global standards organization, have awarded Colorado-based Botanacor Laboratories with ASTM's CANNQ/HEMPQ Program Certification. Botanacor leads the hemp industry in consistent and accurate hemp testing for all types of matrices, from biomass and concentrates to finished products. Botanacor participated in PH&S' and ASTM's pilot inspection for the Program Certification, and even contributed to the development of requirements for testing laboratories at large.

The Program Certification is an effort by ASTM to align with quality and regulatory procedures in the cannabis and hemp sectors that ensure consumer safety and confidence in manufactured products. The Program Certification is the first independent Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) product-safety certification for the cannabis and hemp industry. PH&S' and ASTM's Program Certification received input during its formation from state Attorneys General and various law enforcement agencies.

The CANNQ/HEMPQ Program Certification will help protect consumer public health and safety, because Program members are bound to the highest standards in cannabis and hemp product testing production. As the hemp and cannabis industries mature, standards for manufacturing protocols will become more rigorous, reflecting regulatory demand for the assurance of public health and consumer protection, and this new Program advances that cause.

"Through our multi-year affiliation with multiple regulatory bodies, now including ASTM, Botanacor has taken extraordinary steps to demonstrate that we meet or exceed the highest possible standards for product safety," said Dr. Carl Craig, CEO of Botanacor and Agricor. "Both of our laboratories have long been ISO/IEC 17025 accredited, and now, with the addition of ASTM, Botanacor offers one more layer of assurance to our customers (and their end users) that products tested by our labs are the safest on the market."

"At PH&S, we were continually impressed by the discipline, training, and integrity of the Botanacor team," said Fred Niehaus, PH&S Chairman. "Their exemplary operation is exactly what PH&S seeks to reward and recognize with our Certification Program, and it's all in the service of assuring producers and consumers of product safety, our common goal."

The certification program is open to cultivators, extractors, and producers, allowing industry stakeholders to:

Efficiently test cannabis flower samples using ASTM standards.

Leverage ASTM's Quality System GxP Certification Platform to track and manage data.

Scientifically verify that participants' products and facilities adhere to the strictest industry safety standards.

About ASTM International: Committed to serving global societal needs, ASTM International positively impacts public health and safety, consumer confidence, and overall quality of life. We integrate consensus standards  developed with our international membership of volunteer technical experts  and innovate services to improve lives. Helping our world work better. Visit www.astmcannabis.org

About PH&S: Is a 501(c)(4) company addressing the challenges facing law enforcement, regulators, cannabis investors & operators as well as financial institutions. View www.publichealthsafety.org/

About Botanacor

Botanacor was founded in 2014 and leads the U.S. in third-party testing for industrial hemp and CBD products. The company is committed to providing consistent and accurate hemp testing services to ensure its customers meet regulatory compliance and industry safety demands. By following cGMP and GLP practices in an ISO 17025 accredited laboratory, and by working intensively to validate its facilities, equipment, and processes, Botanacor remains the first choice in testing throughout the hemp supply chain. Learn more: http://www.Botanacor.com; 888-800-8223.

Contact:

Monica McCafferty

303-903-3394

[email protected]

SOURCE Policy Center for Public Health and Safety
As part of bp's ambition to reach net zero by 2050 or sooner and help the world get there too, its offering new business models and service platforms to deliver the future of mobility, energy and services for its customers.

"We are always looking for innovative solutions that bring a more seamless experience to our customers," said Lisa Blalock, vice president of marketing, mobility & convenience Americas for bp. "We believe this technology will positively change the scale of retail and create a wave reaction in the marketplace. Today it's just our first 10 locations. Tomorrow, there is potential to bring Grabango's technology to our entire network."

bp will offer Grabango's checkout-free solution at 10 locations throughout the country, including seven ampm stations in northern California and three Amoco locations in western Pennsylvania. Grabango-powered ampm and Amoco stores will be live to shoppers in mid-2022.

Grabango is free and allows shoppers to skip the line altogether and save time. There are no special shelves, carts, baskets, or turnstiles required to enter or shop. To get started, shoppers download the free Grabango app and shop as they normally would. The Grabango system keeps a running tally of items picked up so there's no need to scan each one on the way out. Payment is automatic and contactless, saving additional time for the shopper.

"It's exciting to team up with bp to delight their shoppers with how easy checkout has become," said Will Glaser, CEO of Grabango. "This is a unique opportunity to leverage our offering to usher in the future of retail for bp. By working together, we will deploy our largest rollout ever, spanning multiple brands and regions. We know shoppers will appreciate the option of a more streamlined checkout at Amoco and ampm locations where Grabango technology is available."

The new convenience store technology integration comes on the heels of bp acquiring Thorntons, a beloved convenience store brand in the Midwest and Florida. Thorntons' customer-focused business will help enhance innovative offers including high-quality food, loyalty programs and next generation mobility solutions. As bp grows its convenience store retail network, it aims to bring innovative solutions to its customers, such as checkout-free shopping.

To learn more about bp's new efforts to reach customers and its partnership with Grabango visit bp.com.

Notes to editors:

bp's portfolio of brands in the US services more than three million consumers daily.

bp's US retail presence spans 7,300 sites in 35 states, including bp, ARCO/ampm, Amoco and Thorntons.

bp has different retail models across the US, ranging from company-owned retail stores, strategic partnerships, brand licensing, wholesale, business-to-business, dealer-owned, and franchise-owned.

In August 2021 , bp took full ownership of Thorntons, marking re-entry into fully owned and operated stores in the US.

, bp took full ownership of Thorntons, marking re-entry into fully owned and operated stores in the US. Convenience and mobility is core to bp's strategy and bp seeks to develop new business models and services working with innovative partners. bp aims to have 20 million consumer touchpoints per day globally by 2030.

About bp

bp's ambition is to become a net zero company by 2050 or sooner, and to help the world get to net zero. bp is America's largest energy investor since 2005, investing more than $130 billion in the economy and supporting about 230,000 jobs through its business activities. For more information on bp in the US, visit www.bp.com/us.

About Grabango

Grabango is the leading provider of checkout-free technology for existing, large-scale store chains. Grabango delivers a next-generation shopper experience and is the only enterprise-class, checkout-free solution deployed at multiple chains coast to coast. The Grabango platform is a fault-tolerant, edge computing network that accurately processes millions of simultaneous transactions. The system places no limits on who can enter the store, what can be sold there, or how the shelving is configured. For more information, visit www.grabango.com.

Contacts:

Cathleen Koo

[email protected]

347.834.5580

bp press office, US

[email protected]

SOURCE bp
LOUISVILLE, Ky., Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Brennan Investment Group, a private real estate investment firm that acquires, develops, and operates industrial facilities throughout the United States, has announced its acquisition of 16 acres of land at 5710 Cane Run Road in Louisville, KY. The site is located in one of Louisville's most established industrial parks, the Riverport submarket. The plan is to develop a state-of-the-art logistics building totaling approximately 243,613 SF.

The Property is adjacent to the Greenbelt Highway in Riverport. Riverport's proximity to major roadways, rail, the Ohio River and a large and skilled labor pool make it especially attractive to logistics, distribution and light manufacturers. The site is also in close proximity to the Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport, the UPS Worldport Hub and the Port of Louisville. The new development is designed for two tenants but can accommodate a single-tenant user, offering ultimate flexibility during the lease-up period.

"The Louisville Industrial market has seen robust activity over the past few years. Riverport is one of the top industrial locations within Louisville and companies that reside here can reach most of their customers within a day's drive or by overnight flights out of UPS Worldport," explained Doug Lance, Vice President of the Ohio Valley Region. "We are scheduled for a Q4 2022 delivery."

"We are pleased to complete this land acquisition in a market with 22 consecutive quarters of positive net absorption," remarked Kevin Brennan, Managing Principal of Brennan's Midwest Region. "A key element of our development strategy is to identify in-fill parcels in submarkets with high occupancy and high levels of net absorption."

About Brennan Investment Group

Brennan Investment Group, a Chicago-based private real estate investment firm, acquires, develops, and operates industrial properties in select major metropolitan markets throughout the United States. Since 2010, Brennan Investment Group has acquired over $4 billion in industrial real estate. The company's current portfolio spans 29 states and encompasses 44 million square feet.

Brennan Investment Group co-invests with private and institutional capital to achieve outstanding risk-adjusted returns. The firm's management team is among the most accomplished in its industry, having invested in over 4,000 properties covering more than 60 cities throughout the United States, Canada and Europe.

For more information on Brennan Investment Group, go to brennanllc.com.

Contact:

Ursula Walendzewicz,

[email protected]



SOURCE Brennan Investment Group, LLC
WASHINGTON, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- This week, the not-for-profit Center for U.S. Policy (CUSP) is urging the federal government not to pursue any claims it may have to state opioid litigation proceeds.

More than 3,000 state, local, and tribal governments have filed lawsuits against opioid manufacturers, distributors, pharmacies, and related defendants for their alleged contributions to substance use disorder (SUD) and related harms. Some of those cases have reached settlements, others have concluded after trial, and many remain unresolved. Communities are collectively expecting to receive tens, if not hundreds, of billions of dollars in opioid litigation proceeds over the next two decades.

Precedent exists for the federal government, which helps fund state Medicaid programs, to recover a portion of proceeds from state lawsuits against drug makers. In 2011, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit ruled the federal government was entitled to reimbursement for its share of proceeds of a settlement between West Virginia and a pharmaceutical company stemming from West Virginia Medicaid overpayments for the company's medication.

"U.S. communities desperately need more resources to prevent and treat substance use disorders, provide compassionate care for people who use drugs, and support people in recovery," Michael C. Barnes, CUSP's chairman, said. "It is essential for the federal government to strengthen efforts to address drug-related harms, not to weaken them."

CUSP submitted a letter on Monday, December 7, and on Thursday, December 9, will speak by videoconference to the federal Interagency Substance Use Disorder Coordinating Committee (ISUDCC). Congress established the ISUDCC in 2018 to evaluate and publicly report the extent to which federal policies are aligned with state and local SUD prevention and treatment strategies.

Other recommendations CUSP made to the ISUDCC include:

Extending COVID-19 flexibilities permanently to reduce barriers to patient access to medications for opioid use disorder (OUD);





Enabling Medicare and Medicaid participants to access FDA-cleared prescription digital therapeutics for SUD and mental health as covered benefits;





Requiring federally reimbursed hospitals to implement SUD warm handoff programs and have a practitioner who is qualified to prescribe buprenorphine for OUD on duty or on call at all times;





Funding community paramedicine programs that address SUD;





Requiring health plans to cover health services provided by community paramedics;





Mandating that federal law enforcement obtain a referral from a state a licensing board before instituting, aiding in, or defending an investigation or criminal or civil action against a prescriber or dispenser of FDA-approved medications in which medical need or patient care is at issue; and





Encouraging states, localities, and tribes to incorporate the public health priorities set forth in the Model Opioid Litigation Proceeds Act into governing law and future opioid litigation settlement agreements.

About the Center for U.S. Policy

CUSP is a nonpartisan, 501(c)(3) not-for-profit research and education organization. CUSP's 2021 and 2022 issue priorities include reducing substance use disorders and their consequences, including drug poisonings. The organization is home to the Finding the 'ME' in Treatment, Warm Handoff, and Prescriber Safety initiatives.

For more information on CUSP and its initiatives, go to c4usp.org and follow @USPolicyCenter on Twitter.

SOURCE Center for U.S. Policy
CHICAGO, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Berlin Packaging is excited to announce that it has been awarded a Top Workplaces 2021 honor by Chicago Tribune Top Workplaces.

Related Documents View PDF Chicago Tribune Names Berlin Packaging a Winner of the Chicagoland Top Workplaces 2021 Award - PDF with Graphics

"We're very proud and honored to have been named one of the Top Workplaces in Chicago this year! But the true reward for us is the '1Berlin' spirit that our employees bring to work every single day. We're a top place to work because our employees make us great with their passion, loyalty, and 'Anything is Possible' mindset. And even though we earned this achievement in Chicago, our award-winning culture extends across our 26+ locations across North America," said Tom Culhane, Chief Human Resources Officer.

The list of Top Workplaces is based solely on anonymous employee feedback gathered through a third-party survey administered by employee engagement technology partner Energage LLC. The survey uniquely measures 15 culture drivers that are critical to the success of any organization, including alignment, execution, and connection.

About Berlin Packaging

Berlin Packaging is the world's largest Hybrid Packaging Supplier of glass, plastic, and metal containers and closures. The company supplies billions of items annually along with package design & innovation, global sourcing, warehousing & logistics, quality advocacy, financing & consulting services for customers across all industries. Berlin Packaging brings together the best of manufacturing, distribution, and income-adding service providers. Its mission is to increase the net income of its customers through packaging products and services. See BerlinPackaging.com for more information.

Media Contact

Celeste Osborne, [email protected], (708) 272-7046

SOURCE Berlin Packaging
NEW YORK, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- CWA Capital Partners, a leading mergers and acquisitions advisor for privately owned car wash businesses, is pleased to announce the sale of its client Fast Eddie's Express Car Wash ("Fast Eddie's"), a Maine-based car wash brand with two locations in Augusta and Brunswick, to an undisclosed buyer.

Ed Goff, owner of Fast Eddie's, commented "Harry and Colin from CWA have been great to deal with and made the transaction a very smooth process from beginning to end."

Fast Eddie's Express Car Washes

"The car wash industry throughout the country is so fortunate to have such wonderful owners. Anytime we are able to advise one in the successful sale of the businesses they have worked so very hard to build  it's a true pleasure" commented Harry Caruso of CWA Capital Partners.

CWA Capital Partners, led by founder and principal Harry Caruso and assisted by Colin May, Managing Director, provided sell side advisory services to Fast Eddie's on the transaction.

About Fast Eddie's

Fast Eddie's Express Car Wash operates two high-volume express exterior car washes in central Maine in Augusta and Brunswick. The brand was created by its founder Ed Goff and opened its doors at its Augusta, ME location in 2016 and subsequently in Brunswick, ME in 2019. Fast Eddie's also offers complimentary services including express detailing and pet washes. To learn more, visit Fast Eddie's website: https://fasteddiesexpresscarwash.com.

About CWA

CWA Capital Partners, a fully and wholly owned subsidiary of Car Wash Advisory, LLC, is a leading nationwide investment banking and brokerage firm based in New York City specializing in and focused solely on the car wash industry. Founded by CEO Harry Caruso, Car Wash Advisory's team of financial professionals provides sellside M&A advisory and debt and equity capital raising services to car wash owners and operators across the United States. To learn more or reach out to the CWA team, visit www.carwashadvisory.com.

Disclaimer

The principal Harry H. Caruso of CWA Capital Partners is a registered representative offering securities and investment banking services through Britehorn Securities, a registered broker-dealer (member FINRA/SIPC). Britehorn Securities and CWA Capital Partners are not affiliated entities.

Media Contact:

Brittany Webb

[email protected]

929-372-0902

SOURCE CWA Capital Partners
VANCOUVER, BC, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Lithium South Development Corporation (the "Company") (TSX-V: LIS) (OTCQB: LISMF) (Frankfurt: OGPQ). The Company is pleased to provide an update on drill preparation at the Hombre Muerto North Lithium Project, Salta, Argentina. The Company has contracted Minera Santa Rita for the construction of roads and drill pads. Minera Santa Rita is a well-known local contractor having recently completed work for project neighbor POSCO.

Based on the results form a recent TEM study (see October 4 News release) three core wells are planned for the Alba Sabrina claim block. The Alba Sabrina claim block, 2,089 hectares and the largest block of the HMN Li Project, has never been drill tested. Road and pad construction will provide access to the three well locations. Local access is good, and the project area will only require approximately two kilometers of road construction along with three drill pads. The pad dimensions will be thirty meters by thirty meters square.

Company Vice President Fernando Villarroel is quoted, "We are very excited to be moving the project forward for the potential expansion of the current resource. The Alba Sabrina block is the largest in the package and represents an excellent drill target."

About Lithium South

Lithium South is focused on developing the Hombre Muerto North Lithium Project (HMN Li Project), located on the Hombre Muerto Salar, a major lithium-producing salar in Argentina. The property is adjacent to land under development by the Korean multinational corporation POSCO, which acquired the ground from Galaxy Resources Ltd. for US $280 million. The Company completed a Preliminary Economic Assessment of the HMN Li Project in 2019, utilizing conventional evaporation extraction.

The Company is evaluating conventional evaporation as a process method, and Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) as an alternative method. Three candidates for DLE are currently being evaluated. Two, 2,000-gallon bulk brine samples are in transit; one sample is heading to Oakland California for testing by Lilac Solutions, and the second sample is heading to Chengdu China for testing by Chemphys. DLE test work is also currently underway in Salta, Argentina by Eon Minerals.

In addition, the Company is planning to potentially expand the known resource by drilling various areas of interest identified in a recent TEM survey. The Company is awaiting approval of drill permits currently under review by the Mining Secretariat in Salta, Argentina.

This news release has been reviewed and approved by Marcela Casini, advisor to the Company and a Qualified Person as that term is defined in National Instrument 43-101.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. The TSX Venture Exchange has not reviewed the content of this news release and therefore does not accept responsibility or liability for the adequacy or accuracy of the contents of this news release.

This news release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 21E of the United States Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Except for statements of historical fact relating to the Company, certain information contained herein constitutes forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based upon opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward- looking statements. We seek safe harbor.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

Adrian F. C. Hobkirk

President and Chief Executive Officer

Investors / Shareholders call 855-415-8100 / website: www.lithiumsouth.com

SOURCE Lithium South Development
Johnson studied the progress of more than 15,000 schoolchildren through adulthood. He found those who attended integrated schools experienced greater educational attainment, earned more income, faced less poverty, were healthier and were not as likely to go to prison as adults than those who attended segregated schools.

"Many people believe integration was a failure when in fact it was actually a success," Johnson said.

Today the country is more racially diverse than ever, but school segregation is up and student achievement gaps linked to race and socioeconomic status still exist, he noted. The best way to fix the problem is to restore integration, boost funding for high-need schools and improve early learning, he suggests.

"Our public schools can play a transformative role in creating opportunity, lowering poverty and encouraging upward mobility or they can reinforce inequality. The choice is up to us."

Johnson, who has studied topics ranging from Head Start spending to the effects of school reform on education and the economy, has been invited to give policy briefings at the White House and Capitol Hill.

Despite a belief by some that the school integration of several decades ago did more harm than good, Johnson found the opposite to be true, said Jeffrey Valentine, who directs the education award.

"His study offers compelling evidence of how integration and more equitable school funding can improve life outcomes for black students without harming other students," Valentine said. "He also makes a strong case for improving the U.S. educational system through public policies that promote integration, strengthen early education and create fairer funding for schools."

Recipients of next year's Grawemeyer Awards are being named this week pending formal approval by university trustees. The annual, $100,000 prizes also honor seminal ideas in music, world order, psychology and religion. Winners will visit Louisville in April to accept their awards and give free talks on their winning ideas.

SOURCE University of Louisville

Related Links

http://www.louisville.edu


ANNAPOLIS, Md., Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Significance Inc. announces today that Eric Hansen Army Lt Col (ret) has joined the company as Director of Operations. This newly-created position reflects the rapid growth of the organization and its commitment to scalable processes and systems that support both internal and external stakeholders. He will serve on the company's leadership team.

Hansen began his career in the US Army Military Intelligence Corps, serving in numerous tactical intelligence roles, including combat operations during Operations Desert Storm and Iraqi Freedom. While on active duty, he began working in the military operations research field specializing in the application of quantitative methods to intelligence and counter-terrorism efforts. Since retiring from the Army, Eric has continued to focus on applied analytic solutions to solve the mission critical challenges of the US Government for a range of companies, including SAP N2S and SAS.

"Given the nature of our business and our rapid growth, this is a critical role for us. Eric is a perfect fit for where we are in our growth trajectory and for our culture," said Mary Ahern Snyder, Founder and President of Significance Inc. "We feel very fortunate to have him on our leadership team and I'm confident that his extensive operations and government contracting experience will benefit Significance for many years to come."

Hansen added: "The thing that has impressed me about Significance is the quality of the people and the focus on employees and customers, which makes it an amazing company to work for. I'm looking forward to working with this great team and contributing to the company's success."

Hansen holds a bachelor's degree from Northeastern University in Electrical Engineering and a master's degree in Operations Research from Colorado School of Mines. He lives in Alexandria VA with his wife Mary and enjoys photography, cooking, and outdoor recreation.

About Significance Inc.

Significance Inc. is designated an Economically-Disadvantaged Woman-Owned Small Business with offices in Alexandria, VA and Annapolis, MD. Founded in 2014 by Mary Ahern Snyder, the company provides government consulting services in the areas of Financial Management & Audit Support; SAP; Business Systems; Program & Project Management; Advanced Analytics & Decision Support; Transformation & Strategy; and Systems Support Training. To learn more, visit www.significanceinc.com

SOURCE Significance Inc

Related Links

http://www.significanceinc.com/


NEW YORK, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- BizVibe has made available 1,000+ company profiles for the bus manufacturers and suppliers category on its B2B platform. Companies listed in this product category are primarily engaged in manufacturing or supplying various types of buses and related products (such as electric buses, hydrogen fuel cell buses, bus flooring, etc.). Companies which provide various bus-related services are also included in the category.

Get Free Access to These 1,000+ Profiles

Snapshot of BizVibe's bus supplier profiles and categories.

Each profile is free to view and packed with high-quality insights, providing businesses with detailed company information. Users can take advantage of these insights to identify, target, and connect with the right bus manufacturers and suppliers. This company information includes employee insights, company competitors, the impact of emerging trends and challenges, the latest news, and more.

Free Insights Included for all Bus Manufacturer and Supplier Profiles:

List of product and service category offerings and primary operating industries

Risk of doing business score across four different metrics

List of key executives and their roles within the company

Company financials and general organizational information

Global, national, and regional competitors

List of key clients

Top trends and challenges within operating industry and expected influence on business impact

Latest company news with the ability to sign up for timely news alerts

Get Started to View Free Company Insights

Bus Companies on BizVibe

BizVibe's platform contains 30M+ company profiles, spanning across 200+ countries, categorized into 40,000+ products and services. There are 1,000+ company profiles related to bus manufacturers and suppliers on BizVibe, covering 15+ product and service categories. Each company profile contains detailed insights dedicated to helping procurement and sales teams find trusted suppliers and target sales prospects.

Examples of bus manufacturer and supplier company profiles that can be discovered on BizVibe include:

Articulated bus manufacturers

Electric bus manufacturers

Hydrogen fuel cell bus manufacturers

Bus flooring manufacturers

Luxury bus seat manufacturers

Get Free Company Profile Access for all Categories

Company Profiles for Buyers and Sellers

BizVibe's modern B2B platform is designed to help both global buyers and sellers. Powered by the latest best-in-class solutions, BizVibe provides outstanding product features for both category managers and sales professionals.

Features for Buyers:

Quickly discover the right suppliers

Create short lists and custom alerts

Mitigate supplier risk and evaluate suppliers

Send RFIs/RFPs

Learn how BizVibe helps buyers: https://www.bizvibe.com/find-suppliers

Features for Sellers:

Target the right sales prospects

Qualify leads

Analyze buyer potential

API integration and data enrichment

Learn how BizVibe helps sellers: https://www.bizvibe.com/sellers

About BizVibe

BizVibe has been conceptualized and built by a team based out of Toronto, Bangalore, and London. We are a branch of Infiniti Research and have dedicated units in all three locations. BizVibe helps buyers find the most relevant suppliers from around the world and help sellers target prospects who need their products and/or services. For more information, please visit www.bizvibe.com and start for free today.

Contact

BizVibe

Jesse Maida

Email: [email protected]

+1 855-897-5880

Website: https://www.bizvibe.com/

SOURCE BizVibe
DUBLIN, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Generic Pharmaceuticals Global Market Report 2021: COVID-19 Growth and Change to 2030" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global generic pharmaceuticals market is expected to grow from $233.66 billion in 2020 to $245.6 billion in 2021 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.1%. The market is expected to reach $331.54 billion in 2025 at a CAGR of 7.8%.



Major players in the generic pharmaceuticals market are Teva Pharmaceuticals, Mylan NV, Sandoz International GmbH, Hospira (Pfizer Inc.) and Sun Pharmaceutical.



The generic pharmaceuticals market covered in this report is segmented by therapy into CNS, cardiovascular, dermatology, genitourinary/harmonal, respiratory, rheumatology, diabetes, oncology. It is also segmented by distribution channel into hospital pharmacies, retail pharmacies, online pharmacies; by type into biosimilar, simple generic, super generic and by drug delivery into oral, inectables, dermal/topical, inhaler.



The lack of awareness about generic drugs is one of the restraints on the generic pharmaceuticals market. The high marketing and advertisement of branded drugs overshadow the availability of generic drugs which are substitute for expensive branded drugs. Thus, consumers opt branded drugs despite the fact that the generic drugs carry the same chemical formulation as their counter branded drugs.

According to an article published on CVS HEALTH, many doctors and pharmacists preferred to offer branded drugs to their patients over generic drugs. This prevents the patients to go for generic drugs as they develop a preconceived notion of generic drugs not being at par with branded drugs. Thus, lack of awareness about the availability of generic drugs hamper the generic pharmaceuticals market.



3D printing technology has the ability to transform the manufacturing of drugs in the generic pharmaceuticals market. 3D printed pharmaceuticals help in improve R&D productivity and deliver new benefits to patients. 3D printing allows the manufacturer to produce drugs with customized size, shape, and texture which is not possible in traditional manufacturing of generic drugs. 3D printing can help the manufacturer to make generic drugs that have different release dates, appearances and taste.



The rising incidence of chronic diseases is one of the major drivers of the generic pharmaceuticals market. As more individuals are diagnosed with chronic diseases, they look for more medicines for the treatment. Branded drugs come at a premium price, while generic drugs are available at a lower cost having the same chemical composition of branded drugs.

The low cost and same chemical composition and strength of generic drugs make a patient buy generic drugs instead of branded drugs. If it is a chronic disease, the treatment goes for a longer period of time and hence, the sales of generic drugs also increase.



The drug manufacturers must comply with the CGMP (Current Good Manufacturing Practice) regulations that come under the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) which includes generic pharmaceuticals. The CGMP regulations require manufacturers to maintain a minimum quality standard for the methods, controls, and facilities used in manufacturing, packaging, and processing of drug product.

The part- 99 of chapter 1 under title 21-Food And Drugs of CFR (Code of Federal Regulations) contains subparts from A to H. The whole part-99 describes the guidelines that need to be followed by drug manufacturers regarding the dissemination of information on human drugs, including biologics, and devices.

The guidelines concern with the safety, effectiveness, or benefit of use that is not included in the approved labelling for a drug or device approved by the Food and Drug Administration for marketing. The guidelines regulate the information regarding the drugs that should be delivered to the health care practitioner, pharmacy benefit manager, health insurance issuer, group health plan, or federal or state government agency.



Key Topics Covered:



1. Executive Summary



2. Generic Pharmaceuticals Market Characteristics



3. Generic Pharmaceuticals Market Trends and Strategies



4. Impact Of COVID-19 On Generic Pharmaceuticals



5. Generic Pharmaceuticals Market Size and Growth

5.1. Global Generic Pharmaceuticals Historic Market, 2015-2020, $ Billion

5.1.1. Drivers Of the Market

5.1.2. Restraints On the Market

5.2. Global Generic Pharmaceuticals Forecast Market, 2020-2025F, 2030F, $ Billion

5.2.1. Drivers Of the Market

5.2.2. Restraints On the Market



6. Generic Pharmaceuticals Market Segmentation

6.1. Global Generic Pharmaceuticals Market, Segmentation by therapy, Historic and Forecast, 2015-2020, 2020-2025F, 2030F, $ Billion

CNS

Cardiovascular

Dermatology

Genitourinary/Harmonal

Respiratory

Rheumatology

Diabetes

Oncology

6.2. Global Generic Pharmaceuticals Market, Segmentation by Distribution Channel, Historic and Forecast, 2015-2020, 2020-2025F, 2030F, $ Billion

Hospital Pharmacies

Retail Pharmacies

Online Pharmacies

6.3. Global Generic Pharmaceuticals Market, Segmentation by Type, Historic and Forecast, 2015-2020, 2020-2025F, 2030F, $ Billion

Biosimilar

Simple Generic

Super Generic

6.4. Global Generic Pharmaceuticals Market, Segmentation by Drug Delivery, Historic and Forecast, 2015-2020, 2020-2025F, 2030F, $ Billion

Oral

Inectables

Dermal/Topical

Inhaler

7. Generic Pharmaceuticals Market Regional and Country Analysis

7.1. Global Generic Pharmaceuticals Market, Split by Region, Historic and Forecast, 2015-2020, 2020-2025F, 2030F, $ Billion

7.2. Global Generic Pharmaceuticals Market, Split by Country, Historic and Forecast, 2015-2020, 2020-2025F, 2030F, $ Billion



Companies Mentioned

Teva Pharmaceuticals

Mylan NV

Sandoz International GmbH

Hospira (Pfizer Inc.)

Sun Pharmaceutical

Lupin Limited

Endo International Plc

Dr Reddy's Laboratories

Apotex Holdings

Fresenius Kabi Ag

Aurbindo Pharma

Aspen Pharmacare

Sanofi

Cipla

Hikma Pharmaceuticals

Stada Arzneimittel

Krka Group

Nichi-Iko Pharmaceutical

Valeant

Zydus Cadila

Merck & Co

Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma

Momenta Pharmaceuticals

Nexus Pharmaceuticals

Novo Nordisk

Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd

Sawai Pharmaceuticals

Novartis AG

Pfizer

Johnson & Johnson Services

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/6sj8vc

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]



For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630

For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900



U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907

Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716

SOURCE Research and Markets

Related Links

http://www.researchandmarkets.com


DUBLIN, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Global Electric Light Commercial Vehicle Growth Opportunities" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

This report provides an overview of the electric light commercial vehicle (e-LCV) market in North America, Europe, China, and Asia-Pacific, presenting growth opportunities, comparisons between select models, sales percentage forecasts, and total cost of ownership (TCO) analysis.

The e-LCV market across these regions is expected to reach 5.6 million units by 2030. Similarly, e-LCV penetration is forecast to be the highest in Europe at 40% followed by China at 35% by 2030. Battery electric vehicles (BEV) are anticipated to dominate the overall electric market with a small fraction belonging to fuel cell electric vehicles, while plug-in hybrid electric vehicles are likely to be phased out by 2030.

China and North America are expected to contribute 69.6% to global e-LCV volumes collectively by 2030. Europe's contribution is estimated to drop to 23.8% as North America overtakes Europe through aggressive volume growth. In the light commercial vehicle segment, North America and Europe show electrification potential for heavier vehicles (more than 3.5 tons) whereas China and Asia-Pacific lean toward lighter vehicles (less than 3.5 tons).

In North America, light commercial vehicles have higher daily mileage and are heavier and costlier. As such, e-LCVs in North America are expected to have significantly higher power output and battery capacity than those in other regions.

Although e-LCVs in Europe are slightly heavier and priced higher, Europe, China, and Asia-Pacific share common vehicle specifications in terms of battery capacity, range, and power requirements. In terms of applications, the overall market's primary focus is on parcel and delivery services.

European manufacturers cover a broader range of applications with their existing e-LCVs, while their counterparts in North America plan to deploy vehicle electrification in slightly heavier applications, such as construction. Established original equipment manufacturers face increasing competition from new entrants that are pure play electric vehicle makers in specific applications.

BEVs provide greater TCO advantage in high mileage applications, achieving TCO parity faster with diesel-based vehicles than in low mileage applications.

Moving forward, the TCO advantage is anticipated to drive BEV adoption and capture the market share predominantly held by diesel powertrain. Lower acquisition costs due to declining prices of key electric vehicle components will further accelerate BEV adoption.

Key Topics Covered:

1. Growth Environment

Key Findings

e-LCV Penetration Forecast

e-LCV Market - Regional Contribution

Growth of e-LCV Adoption

Electrification Potential by Body Type

e-LCV Regional Focus - Select OEMs

2. Strategic Imperatives

Why Is It Increasingly Difficult to Grow?

The Strategic Imperative

The Impact of the Top Three Strategic Imperatives on the e-LCV Industry

Growth Opportunities Fuel the Growth Pipeline Engine

3. Growth Opportunity Analysis

Scope of Analysis

Market Segmentation

4. Electrification in LCVs

e-LCV Ecosystem

Growth Drivers and Restraints

e-LCV Service Roadmap

e-LCV Technology Roadmap

Battery Chemistry - Technology Roadmap

Existing Battery Chemistry

Battery Chemistry Suppliers - OEM Mapping

Electric Motor Types

Electric Motor Placement

e-LCV Regional Benchmarking - Average Battery Capacity

e-LCV Regional Benchmarking - Average Range and Average Power

e-LCV Regional Benchmarking - Average GVWR and Average Price

Electrification Use Cases for e-LCVs

e-LCV Application Focus - Established OEMs

e-LCV Application Focus - Start-ups

5. Growth Opportunity Analysis, NA

EV Incentives

LCV Total Sales and Market Share of Major Participants

Sales Percentage by Powertrain Split

Anticipated e-LCV Launches

Select e-LCV Models - Specification Comparison

Select e-LCV Models - Price Range

LCV Total Sales and EV Penetration Forecast

LCV Total Sales and EV Penetration Forecast Discussion

Sales Percentage Forecast by Powertrain

6. Growth Opportunity Analysis, Europe

EV Incentives

LCV Total Sales and Market Share of Major Participants

Sales Percentage by Powertrain Split

Existing and Anticipated e-LCV Models

Select e-LCV Models - Specification Comparison

Select e-LCV Models - Price Range

LCV Total Sales and EV Penetration Forecast

LCV Total Sales and EV Penetration Forecast Discussion

Sales Percentage Forecast by Powertrain

7. Growth Opportunity Analysis, China

EV Incentives

LCV Total Sales and Market Share of Major Participants

Sales Percentage by Powertrain Split

Existing e-LCV Models

e-LCV Models - Specification Comparison

e-LCV Models - Price Range

LCV Total Sales and EV Penetration Forecast

LCV Total Sales and EV Penetration Forecast Discussion

Sales Percentage Forecast by Powertrain

8. Growth Opportunity Analysis, APAC

EV Incentives

LCV Total Sales and Market Share of Major Participants

Sales Percentage by Powertrain Split

Existing e-LCV Models

e-LCV Models - Specification Comparison

e-LCV Models - Price Range

LCV Total Sales and EV Penetration Forecast

LCV Total Sales and EV Penetration Forecast Discussion

Sales Percentage Forecast by Powertrain

9. TCO Analysis, Europe

TCO Analysis, Europe - Assumptions

- Assumptions TCO Analysis, Europe - Low Mileage

- Low Mileage TCO Analysis, Europe - Medium Mileage

- Medium Mileage TCO Analysis, Europe - High Mileage

10. Growth Opportunity Universe

Growth Opportunity 1 - Commonality in Product Requirements Across Europe, China , and APAC Decreases Costs

, and APAC Decreases Costs Growth Opportunity 2 - Low Barriers to Entry for New Participants in the e-LCV Space

Growth Opportunity 3 - Rising Electrification Potential in Previously Unattractive Heavy-duty Applications

11. Appendix

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/16qzym

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]



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SOURCE Research and Markets

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Key Lab Supplies Services Sourcing and Procurement Report Highlights:

Market growth 2020-2024: USD 13 Billion Growth momentum & CAGR: Accelerate at a CAGR of 6.69% Top Pricing Models: Volume-based pricing, and Cost Plus pricing Key consumer countries: North America , Europe , and APAC Supplier Selection Criteria: Technical specifications, Operational requirements, Acceptance criteria, and Evaluation criteria Top Suppliers: Sartorius AG, DWK Life Sciences GmbH, and VITLAB GmbH.

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Insights into buyer strategies and tactical negotiation levers:

Several strategic and tactical negotiation levers are explained in the report to help buyers achieve the best prices for the Lab Supplies Services market. The report also aids buyers with relevant Lab Supplies Services pricing levels, pros, and cons of prevalent pricing models such as Unit-based pricing, and Bundled pricing, category management strategies and best practices to fulfil their category objectives.

For more insights on buyer strategies and tactical negotiation levers, www.spendedge.com/report/lab-supplies--sourcing-and-procurement-intelligence-report

Key Drivers and Trends Fueling Market Growth:

The pressure from substitutes and a moderate level of threat from new entrants has resulted in the low bargaining power of suppliers.

Price forecasts are beneficial in purchase planning, especially when supplemented by the constant monitoring of price influencing factors.

Identify favorable opportunities in Lab Supplies Services TCO (total cost of ownership).

Expected changes in price forecast and factors driving the current and future price changes.

Identify pricing models that offer the most rewarding opportunities.

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Table of Content

Executive Summary

Market Insights

Category Pricing Insights

Cost-saving Opportunities

Best Practices

Category Ecosystem

Category Management Strategy

Category Management Enablers

Suppliers Selection

Suppliers under Coverage

US Market Insights

Category scope

Appendix

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SOURCE SpendEdge
FACTS AT A GLANCE Edition: 9; Released: November 2021 Executive Pool: 372 Companies: 143 - Players covered include Cerner Corporation; Core Solutions, Inc.; Epic Systems Corporation; Mindlinc; Netsmart Technologies, Inc.; NextGen Healthcare Information Systems LLC; Qualifacts Systems, Inc.; Valant, Inc.; Welligent Inc. and Others. Coverage: All major geographies and key segments Segments: Component (Software, Support Services); Function (Clinical, Administrative, Financial); End-Use (Providers, Payers, Patients) Geographies: World; United States; Canada; Japan; China; Europe (France; Germany; Italy; United Kingdom; and Rest of Europe); Asia-Pacific; Rest of World.

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ABSTRACT-



Global Mental Health Software Market to Reach US$4.5 Billion by the Year 2026

Mental health software solutions are designed to address specific requirements of the mental health or behavioral health sector. These platforms bridge the gap between general or standalone healthcare solutions that are sometimes unable to deliver all functions needed by a practice. Mental health software enables health professionals to prepare a treatment plan for patients suffering from various behavioral ailments such as anxiety, addiction, stress, and anxiety. Mental health software allows physicians, therapists and other users to simplify patient-facing and front-office workflows. Supporting mental health is now considered an important component for overall health and becoming a global priority. The application of health information technology (HIT) provides participants with considerable opportunities to improve mental healthcare. Stakeholders need to consider computerized clinical decision support to treat people who don't respond to telemedicine, initial drug trials and computer-based adaptation of psychosocial treatments intended for people suffering from SMI. Moreover, the training of HIT along with integration of the technology into behavioral health settings facilitates cross-provider and interdisciplinary collaboration. Mental health software and tools address this ever-growing healthcare challenge. Solutions embedded with the science of mental health integration empower all individuals requiring care and the people closest to them with the capability to prioritize mental health by finding an inclusive and supportive pathway to overall wellness. Mental health software is anticipated to play an important role in extending availability of mental healthcare services to people living in remote areas or individuals amid emergencies like the COVID-19 pandemic.

Amid the COVID-19 crisis, the global market for Mental Health Software estimated at US$1.9 Billion in the year 2020, is projected to reach a revised size of US$4.5 Billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 14.9% over the analysis period. Software, one of the segments analyzed in the report, is projected to grow at a 15.4% CAGR to reach US$4.3 Billion by the end of the analysis period. After a thorough analysis of the business implications of the pandemic and its induced economic crisis, growth in the Support Services segment is readjusted to a revised 12.5% CAGR for the next 7-year period. This segment currently accounts for a 18.2% share of the global Mental Health Software market. Advancements in artificial intelligence, voice recognition, and optical recognition technologies could enable online mental health software to make more accurate diagnosis and provide more personalized treatment. Mental health software also supports virtual reality (VR) treatments intended to assist patients in relieving trauma-related incidents in a safe, controlled environment like physician's office.

The U.S. Market is Estimated at $806.1 Million in 2021, While China is Forecast to Reach $305.8 Million by 2026

The Mental Health Software market in the U.S. is estimated at US$806.1 Million in the year 2021. The country currently accounts for a 36.7% share in the global market. China, the world's second largest economy, is forecast to reach an estimated market size of US$305.8 Million in the year 2026 trailing a CAGR of 18.1% through the analysis period. Among the other noteworthy geographic markets are Japan and Canada, each forecast to grow at 12.8% and 14.1% respectively over the analysis period. Within Europe, Germany is forecast to grow at approximately 14.2% CAGR while Rest of European market (as defined in the study) will reach US$217.7 Million by the end of the analysis period. Increasing US health reforms along with aging demography that require health services are factors driving growth in this region. Growing awareness of mental healthcare software across China and India is driving demand for the same in Asia Pacific. More

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SOURCE Global Industry Analysts, Inc.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The General Services Administration (GSA) has awarded Sigma Defense Systems LLC a five-year Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract, with a $250,000,000 ceiling value, to support DoD enterprise and site-level installations to operationalize ground entry points/gateways and other data centers. These gateways support the dissemination of sensor data from manned and unmanned airborne intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (AISR) assets supporting both conventional and special operations forces (SOF) operations globally. This effort includes the integration of ISR sensors and communication components to support sensor data processing and dissemination.

"Sigma is proud to have the opportunity to support and expand our relationship with the whole of the Department of Defense. This program is another step forward in ensuring joint all domain command and control capabilities are available on demand for our forces globally. We're committed to partnering with our customers to convert their vision into deployed reality," said President and CEO Matt Jones.

Sigma Defense Systems LLC, based in Perry, Georgia, is a provider of integrated technical solutions that encompass ground, air, and space-based Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) systems and sensors.

Contact:

Mark Semer

Gasthalter & Co.

(212) 257-4170

SOURCE Sigma Defense Systems LLC
NEW YORK, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- GTIS Partners ("GTIS"), a real assets investment firm that manages in excess of $4 billion in gross assets, today announced that the GTIS Brazil Real Estate Fund I has been recognized as 2021's most sustainable private equity real estate investment fund in South America by the Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark ("GRESB"). This is the seventh consecutive year the fund has taken the top ranking. GTIS Brazil Real Estate Funds III and II took second and third-place honors, respectively, rounding out the top three.

The 2021 GRESB survey saw the largest ever total participation, with 1,520 real estate entities submitting globally, up 24% from 2020. This is the highest percentage increase GRESB has seen since 2012 and the highest ever increase in total submissions. As of 2021, GRESB now covers $5.7 trillion of AUM (up from $4.8 trillion in 2020) and nearly 117,000 individual assets.

As one of the largest foreign real estate investors in Brazil, GTIS has committed more than $2.4 billion of equity to its Brazil platform. The firm has been actively investing in Brazil real estate since 2005, and has been participating in the GRESB survey for its Brazil funds since 2012, making it one of the first institutional investors in Brazil to recognize the importance of sustainability and governance.

"We are very proud to have been recognized once again by GRESB as a leader in the ESG space. GTIS has made great progress expanding upon our existing ESG platform, which we feel is reflected in our top rankings and the steady improvement in our scores," said Josh Pristaw, Partner, Head of Capital Markets and Co-head of Brazil at GTIS.

"While reporting and transparency are key parts of the ESG process, implementation is necessary to drive change. 2021 was a busy year on the ESG implementation front at GTIS, with several key initiatives being launched and executed. We look forward to building upon our already strong results moving forward," added Robert Sun, Vice President, Corporate Strategy at GTIS.

In 2021, GTIS migrated several of its office and hotel assets in Brazil from regulated energy to less expensive free market renewable energy. By doing so, GTIS not only generated cost savings but simultaneously reduced the overall environmental impact of its funds by securing clean energy. Through October 2021, the transition to renewable energy has already created over R$4.6 million in savings.

GTIS continues to evaluate opportunities to install solar panels at its assets in both the US and Brazil. As of December 2021, rooftop solar has been installed at DCC, one of GTIS' industrial assets located in Brazil's Cajamar market, and is being researched at several of its properties in the US. Additionally, GTIS' pipeline of utility scale renewable energy deals in Brazil has grown substantially in 2021, reaching 8.1 gigawatts.

About GTIS Partners

GTIS Partners is a leading real asset investment and development firm headquartered in New York with offices in Sao Paulo, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Paris and Munich. The firm was founded in 2005 by Tom Shapiro and is managed by President Tom Shapiro and Partners Amy Boyle, Thomas Feldstein, Josh Pristaw, Joao Teixeira and Rob Vahradian. The firm manages over $4 billion in gross assets and is active across a wide range of real estate sectors including single family and multifamily housing, office, industrial/logistics and hospitality as well as renewable energy infrastructure and opportunity zone investments. The firm invests at various points in the capital structure including credit, common equity and structured equity. In the US, GTIS has invested in over 130 assets across 40 unique markets including growth areas such as Phoenix, Dallas, Houston, Denver, Atlanta, Tampa and Charlotte. In Brazil, GTIS is among the largest real assets private equity firms with holdings including office, residential, logistics, hospitality and renewable energy investments. Marquee assets in Sao Paulo include the Infinity office building and Palacio Tangara, a five-star resort style hotel. For more information, please visit www.gtispartners.com.

For more information, please visit www.gtispartners.com.

About GRESB

GRESB is a mission driven and investor led organization providing standardized and validated Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) data to the capital markets. Established in 2009, GRESB has become the leading ESG benchmark for real estate and infrastructure investments across the world. The 2020 real estate benchmark covers more than 1,200 property companies, real estate investment trusts (REITs), funds, and developers. Our coverage for infrastructure includes more than 540 infrastructure funds and assets. Combined, GRESB represents US $5.3 trillion in real asset value. The reported ESG data is used by more than 100 institutional and financial investors to monitor investments across portfolios and understand the opportunities, risks and choices that need to be made as the industry transitions to a more sustainable future.

For more information, please refer to www.GRESB.com.

Contacts: Steve Bruce / Mary Beth Grover

ASC Advisors

(203) 992-1230

[email protected] / [email protected]

SOURCE GTIS Partners
BANGALORE, India, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Hinduja Global Solutions (HGS) (listed in BSE & NSE) today unveiled a new brand identity for its ongoing evolution into a digital-led, people-driven organization that is transforming customer experiences (CX). Building on its legacy of making clients more competitive, HGS serves as the preferred CX and business process transformation partner for some of the world's largest brands.

HGS unveils new brand vision

HGS has renewed its vision and mission as it evolves as a comprehensive digital and CX services partner and employer of choice for roles critical to transformation - digital professionals, data analysts, automation experts, and CX ambassadors.

Vision: Be the world's leading expert in transforming customer experiences for the most admired brands.

HGS will leverage its experience handling billions of interactions every year to keep pace with rapidly rising expectations in the digital CX economy.

Mission: Innovate, optimize, and grow our clients' businesses with the perfect balance of people and technology.

Partha DeSarkar, Global CEO of HGS, stated: "HGS is positioned at an exciting juncture today, led by technology adoption, changing client demands and rising expectations of the modern customer. We believe it's the right time to refresh our value proposition to our stakeholders. Our new brand identity is a distinctive and future-forward expression of how we are evolving as a transformation partner. Critical to the new positioning is attracting and providing opportunities for top talent to drive digital-led customer experiences for our clients and their customers today."

The new brand identity symbolizes the enhanced value of the business and represents HGS's focus on continually creating more satisfying customer experiences, stronger employee engagement, and more rewarding investor outcomes.The contemporary HGS logo is a visual expression of our key pillars: innovation, optimization, and growth. It has synthesized visual depictions of a handshake (trusted advisor and partnership), microchip (digital-first with strong technology integration capabilities), and fingerprint (personalized experiences and security).

Watch the new HGS brand vision video:

https://hgs.cx/press-releases/hgs-unveils-new-digital-led-vision

Mr. DeSarkar added, "The focus of HGS in the future is to aggressively grow the business by leveraging an industry-specific go-to-market approach, BPaaS (business process as a service) delivery led by the 3As (automation, analytics and AI), coupled with acquisitions for new capabilities."

About Hinduja Global Solutions (HGS):

A global leader in optimizing the customer experience lifecycle, digital transformation, and business process management, HGS is helping its clients become more competitive every day. HGS combines automation, analytics, and artificial intelligence with deep domain expertise focusing on digital customer experiences, back-office processing, contact centers, and HRO solutions. Part of the multi-billion dollar conglomerate Hinduja Group, HGS takes a "globally local" approach, with over 46,698 employees across 52 delivery centers in seven countries, making a difference to some of the world's leading brands across nine key verticals. For the year ended March 31, 2021, HGS had revenues of Rs. 55,889 million (US$ 753.9 million).

Visit https://hgs.cx to learn how HGS transforms customer experiences and builds businesses for the future.

For more information, contact:

INDIA

Thanuja B M

Hinduja Global Solutions Limited

Tel: +91 80 4643 1000

[email protected]

US

Andrew Kokes

Hinduja Global Solutions Limited

Tel: +1 888 747 7911

[email protected]

SOURCE HGS
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- In an interview released December 9, 2021 Travis Scott broke his silence on the tragic Astroworld Concert that killed 10 people. Scott claims he was not aware anyone had died in the horrific event.

Attorney Robert Hilliard, who represents five-hundred individuals who attended the concert, as well as Ezra Blount, the 9-year-old boy who died as a result of injuries sustained at the concert, has provided the following response:

"It is clear from carefully watching Mr. Scott's interview that he and others were clearly aware of the potential safety dangers of this concert and of the catastrophic deficiencies that led to these terrible deaths and injuries.

Throughout the interview, he seems intent on not 'lawyering up' just to benefit his civil case.

If he does want to 'lead' as he says, he must understand that he cannot protect the 'business of Travis Scott' or protect other defendants who may attempt to dodge responsibility for this tragedy.

I am asking that the defendants, including Mr. Scott, not allow this litigation, and the pain of the families as a result, to be unduly prolonged through delay. We need to get to the full unvarnished truth as quickly as possible so healing can begin."

Plaintiffs are represented by:

Robert C. Hilliard

Hilliard Martinez Gonzales, LLP

Ben Crump

Ben Crump Law, PLLC

Schedule an Interview

Contact Alex Hilliard  361-882-1612

About Hilliard Martinez Gonzales, LLP

Hilliard Martinez Gonzales LLP (HMG) specializes in mass torts, personal injury, product liability, commercial and business litigation, and wrongful death. HMG has been successfully representing clients in the United States and Mexico since 1986. Our experienced, tenacious legal team has earned a national and international reputation for taking on large, powerful, wealthy companies and bringing them to justice for causing personal injury or wrongful death. Bob Hilliard obtained the Largest Verdict in the country in 2012 and the #1 verdict in Texas.

SOURCE Hilliard Martinez Gonzales, LLP

Related Links

http://www.hmglawfirm.com


MELBOURNE, Australia, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- An augmented reality concept that links an intelligent holographic assistant to products, will soon provide information and advice to shoppers, potentially turning every product into its own sales, marketing, and support centre. A second-stage prototype developed by tech start-up, Immertia, creates the holographic person that can only be seen by viewing through a smartphone camera, and appears to be inside the product packaging.

Artist rendition of a Hologram within product packaging - activated by a Smartphone Artist rendition of a Hologram Available through product packaging, powered by Augmented Reality

A video demonstration, available on the Immertia website, shows a smartphone user scanning product packaging to activate the virtual assistant, and subsequently unlocking a range of information, presented in a range of virtual settings.

Dave Chaffey, Managing Director of Immertia, said the response to the prototype had been overwhelmingly positive. "It's been an absolute showstopper for us. People are stunned - some describe it as overwhelming."

"There's a real power to augmented reality, but many people are only just starting to realise it. This demonstration shows a tangible use, and a game-changing concept. You can see the moment the penny drops."

In the demonstration, the female holograph provides information in English, or in Spanish, and leads an interactive experience where packaging design is fluid, clickable links hover in mid-air, and other products are presented in a three-dimensional space.

The content is streamed from the product manufacturer in real-time, which Chaffey believes will be a powerful trust factor for tomorrow's consumers as they first try the technology.

Conversational Commerce

This prototype completes the second stage of development for the Immertia team. The first prototype, demonstrated in 2020, virtually links an intelligent voice assistant through a product, so that a consumers can ask product-related questions and receive spoken answers.

The company is now working on the third stage - bringing the two prototype technologies together to produce a human concierge, who can answer product questions, and facilitate sales.

Chaffey describes it: "Consumers wanting information will scan a product to activate the product concierge, they'll ask their questions, without the need to type, and they'll receive an answer from a friendly, helpful person in plain language.

"It's a simple, intuitive way to receive information, and it's great to know that the information is always current."

"The concierge will be able to pull up other information too  instructional videos, ingredients, where the product is sourced from, anything the manufacturer thinks offers value."

"And, in some cases, consumers will be able to purchase the product, from the product, with the help of the concierge."

Overcoming Challenges

The commercial applications are large, with use cases in food and beverage, FMCG, manufacturing, health, education, and many more industries.

There are still several challenges that the company faces to reach their goal, and Chaffey says that the team are "waiting for technology to catch up" before they can take the next step forward.

"Augmented reality is headed for explosive growth  so the technology won't be too far away. It will be coming to market at a great time."

According to Immertia's roadmap, the first hologram product will launch in 2022, with the conversational version anticipated for the second half of 2023.

The company has commenced an equity capital raise to accelerate its moves to market. The company has two AR platforms in-market currently, with plans to release an additional four platforms in 2022. More information is available from the website - immertia.io

Media Enquiries

Media enquiries are welcome. Please visit our media center where a priority response service is maintained.



Media Liaison: Dave Chaffey, Founding Partner

Media Center: immertia.io/media/

Phone: +61 1300 633 390

Web: immertia.io

IMMERTIA is a commercial product of Third Aurora  a Collaborative Tech Engine

SOURCE Immertia
PITTSBURGH, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- "I purchased a new car, and was tired of the dings and scratches I was getting from other careless drivers," said an inventor from Chula Vista, Calif. "So, I created the CAR SHIELD."

The invention fulfills the need for an impact-absorbing shield for the sides of a parked car. The covering would prevent nicks, dents, and paint scratches caused by other careless motorists opening their car doors too far in parking lots. This would help protect the original appearance and condition of an automobile, and could help to avoid insurance claims and costly body shop repairs. The invention could provide some protection against runaway shopping carts, children's bicycles, and other objects that tend to scratch the painted finish of car doors. Additionally, it would be user-friendly, dependable, and easily stored following use.

The original design was submitted to the San Diego sales office of InventHelp. It is currently available for licensing or sale to manufacturers or marketers. For more information, write Dept. 20-SDB-1276, InventHelp, 217 Ninth Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, or call (412) 288-1300 ext. 1368. Learn more about InventHelp's Invention Submission Services at http://www.InventHelp.com.

SOURCE InventHelp
New EU Directive announced today includes a presumption that gig workers will be treated as employees.

More than five million workers, including ride-hail drivers and food delivery riders, could see a big step forward in standards of pay and conditions as the EU introduces rules to stop their misclassification as independent contractors.

Legal loopholes used by platform companies to misclassify workers and avoid unions are disappearing, it's now time for them to engage and negotiate constructively with unions.

LONDON and BRUSSELS, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Ride-hail drivers, food deliverers and other workers have been treated unfairly by app-based companies who dodge responsibilities and cut costs by dealing with them as independent contractors rather than employees. This has resulted in workers being stripped of basic rights including minimum pay, holidays, or access to personal protective equipment. The misclassification also means that workers have not been able to bargain collectively.

A new EU Directive announced today includes a presumption that gig workers will be treated as employees. The Directive is broadly welcomed by the International Transport Worker's Federation (ITF), the European Transport Worker's Federation (ETF) (see ETF press release here) and affiliated unions. Unions have campaigned publicly and worked tirelessly behind the scenes at the EU and elsewhere to achieve better legal protection for platform workers. The presumption coupled with a 'reversal in the burden of proof' in any disputes on employment status are important because it should cut down the need for workers to engage in expensive legal action to defend their rights.

"This Directive is a landmark for raising standards of employment in the platform economy," said ITF General Secretary Stephen Cotton. "Platform companies like Uber, Bolt, Deliveroo, Glovo and others for too long have been able to use loopholes in legislation to exploit workers.

"Although we have some concerns about certain provisions of the Directive that may allow for platform companies to exploit loopholes and evade employment responsibilities, we're glad to see that EU regulators are catching up and following unions' lead on this.

"The Directive sets sound principles on how workers should be treated, and we hope it will signal a path forward for regulators around the world. The point of contention is now over. It's time for platform companies to engage constructively with unions. Let's work together to improve working conditions in the sector. The ITF will work with any company that respects the rules," said Cotton.

The Directive also tackles some of the most egregious aspects of algorithmic management. People have found themselves losing work or coerced into unsympathetic work patterns by unmonitored software. The ITF supports the Directive's stance that algorithmic management must be more transparent and should allow for workers to appeal employment-related decisions like deactivations to real people. However, amendments must go further to mandate formal hearings and ensure trade union representation in all disciplinary cases and to ensure protection against algorithmic discrimination and bias.

Big tech companies have been fighting internationally to keep misclassifying workers under the 'flexibility' myth. Workers' rights groups including the ITF have had to take a tough stance against their legal challenges and well-funded lobbying tactics.

In California, big tech spent hundreds of millions of dollars to introduce a law striking out worker protection in the US state. They tried to overturn a law stopping the misclassification of workers as independent contractors. Unions took it to court, and the court declared their actions unconstitutional.

Platform companies have started a similar campaign in Massachusetts, where they are slated to again spend millions to effectively buy a law that would support their exploitative business models. In the EU, they have also been spending freely and lobbying hard, trying to stop or water down this new Directive.

"It's heartening to see the EU stand up to these bullying tactics," said Frank Moreels, ETF President. "But to the platform employers we say this: 'It's time to stop fighting and start talking. Negotiate with us. Treat your people fairly as employees and embrace a new model that may actually see your business improve'."

Unions have been campaigning to end the misclassification of ride-hail drivers, food deliverers and other gig workers globally for many years. The Directive now gives these workers in the EU genuine rights to collectively bargain as employees. The ITF will continue to support the ETF through the legislative process to ensure that we settle with a strong set of rules that protect transport workers and ensure fair competition.

"Collective bargaining is the way forward for platform workers," said Moreels. "The Directive will make that easier in the EU. But even before it comes into force in Europe and spreads to other regions of the world, workers are standing together to fight for their rights. We urge all gig-workers to join a union because together your voices are louder and carry much more weight."

It could take several years for the draft Directive to progress through the European Parliament and other EU institutions before it is implemented in the national laws of member states. At that stage, enforcement authorities in individual EU countries will take action against companies who illegally misclassify employees.

"The writing is on the wall. We're asking platform employers to make the move long before the enforcers come to call. You've been exploiting your workers for too long. Now it's time to clean up your act," Moreels added.

About the ITF:

The ITF is a democratic, affiliate-led federation of nearly 700 transport workers' unions. We fight passionately to improve working lives, connecting trade unions and workers' networks from 147 countries to secure rights, equality and justice for their members. We are the voice of 20 million women and men who move the world.

SOURCE International Transport Workers Federation (ITF)
SYDNEY, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --

Handcrafted by world-renowned designer for launch of new James Squire Pioneers' Collection, with all proceeds to be donated to Rural Aid

To the delight of discerning beer drinkers and design enthusiasts worldwide, James Squire has unveiled Australia's most valuable bottle opener worth over $30,000 AUD.

Multimedia Assets:

http://news.medianet.com.au/thinkerbell/james-squire

All profits from the sale of the bottle opener will be donated to Rural Aid, providing critical support to farmers in need. People can register their interest to participate in the silent auction to purchase the bottle opener by visiting https://www.jamessquire.com.au/agegate/.

The one-off engineering effort has been handcrafted from sterling silver, burl walnut, grade 5 titanium and incredibly rare damascus steel, which was used to make ancient swords and took three years to source.

Taking over 150 hours to meticulously craft, the collectors item is the brainchild of world-renowned founder of design firm Discommon, Neil Ferrier, to celebrate the launch of the James Squire Pioneers' Collection - a limited edition range of small batch, barrel-aged beers, reimagining the richly hopped English IPA. Only 5,000 bottles of the James Squire's Pioneers' Collection Release No.01 will be available for a limited time.

Bringing together a first class team of artists who specialise in each of the materials used, the beautiful piece blends rich history with the modern world. The mixing of classic artforms, such as hand finishing wood and casting silver with 3D printing and technical machining embodies the pioneering spirit of Jame Squire.

James Squire's Pioneers' Collection Release No.01 will be available nationwide for a limited time. The RRP is AUD $49.00 for a single hand-finished 750mL bottle and can be purchased from today at Dan Murphy's nationwide, and on tap at James Squire brewhouses from early December.

The Pioneers' Collection from James Squire builds on the success of The Wreck Preservation Ale, the world's oldest surviving beer made new. A groundbreaking partnership between the Queen Victoria Museum & Art Gallery, the Australian Wine Research Institute and James Squire, The Wreck was expertly crafted using yeast found in beer bottles on the Sydney Cove shipwreck off Preservation Island, making it the world's oldest beer resurrected.

SOURCE James Squire
In recent years, Indonesia has focused on digital growth, with the country's Ministry of Communications and Informatics launching various campaigns to help out tech and IT startups gain ground.

With its consistent efforts, Indonesia now becomes the largest digital economy in Southeast Asia with a projected online spending of USD $146 billion by 2025. This is largely due to the exponential growth of four main digital markets: e-commerce, online travel, ride-hailing services, and online media.

This huge increase in the growth of Indonesia's digital economy has also been partly due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which accelerated digitization plans for most businesses. IT spending in Indonesia is expected to become the highest in the Asia-Pacific region as businesses shift to digital and cloud-based services.

Further initiatives to strengthen the startup scene

With all these positive developments in Indonesia's digital landscape, the government has increased initiatives to promote the immense investment opportunities in the startup scene, such as the aforementioned JEJALA ID.

JEJALA ID is a 3-month, multi-faceted event and roadshow meant to share information for investors interested in taking advantage of the growing tech startup scene in Indonesia.

It does this through workshops and modules as well as insightful talks from some of the tech industries most notable personalities from all over the world through JEJALA ID's on-going multi-region roadshow.

This December, JEJALA ID is slated to commence its United States roadshow and keynote speakers from different companies will share their expertise to help attendees gain insight to the Indonesia's startups ecosystem.

Participants will also learn from other business experts, including the Ministry's Director-General of Informatics Applications, Semuel Abrijani Pangerapan, and founders from growing start-up sectors in the country, namely Benedicto Haryono (Co-Founder at Lunaria Annua Teknologi, company creator of KoinWorks) and Anggi Utami (Operation, People and Customer Service at Nicslab).

"There has never been a better time to support and invest in Indonesian startups, which are really doing incredible things for various markets. It's a win-win: US investors get to penetrate a new market with enormous potential and Indonesian founders will have the resources to continue innovating and expanding within the region." said Semuel Abrijani Pangerapan, Ministry's Director-General of Informatics Applications.

The JEJALA ID  US Roadshow will run on December 13, 2021 at 5PM-6PM Pacific Los Angeles time.

For more information, and to register, please visit https://jejala.id

About the Ministry of Communications and Informatics

The Ministry of Communications and Informatics is the official government agency of Indonesia tasked with formulating and implementing national policies in the field of communication and informatics. It is also responsible for accelerating the distribution of information technology and digital infrastructure so that the public can have efficient access to up-to-date telecommunications and internet networks.

For more information about JEJALA ID as well as the startup industry in Indonesia, visit the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology's website at www.kominfo.go.id.

SOURCE Ministry of Communication and Informatics of Republic of Indonesia
SOUTH COAST METRO, Calif., Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Golden State, an investment advisor registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, continues to expand their presence in California with the addition of Jordan Vander Poorten and his firm TVN Wealth Management located in Newport Beach, CA. Jordan and his associates began TVN Advisors, an accounting firm, and has now expanded advisory services under TVN Wealth Management. The firm is comprised of Certified Public Accountants and Business Advisors who offer full-service bookkeeping and tax services for individuals, businesses, trusts and estates, along with individual and business wealth advisory services. He focuses on real estate, start-ups, high-net-worth individuals and closely held businesses.

"We are excited to add the depth and breadth of Jordan Vander Poorten and his firm to Golden State" says John Nahas, Founder and President of Golden State. "We continue to prove to advisors across the country that we can give them the platforms, infrastructure and support they need to build, grow and strengthen their practices while they maintain their complete independence to provide their clients with the level of service and commitment they deserve and expect."

More information about Jordan Vander Poorten and TVN Wealth Management can be found at www.TVNwealth.com.

About Golden State

The Golden State family of companies, comprised of Golden State Wealth Management, Golden State Equity Partners and Golden State Asset Management, are investment advisers registered with the SEC dedicated to financial professionals and their clients. The firm's initial company was founded in 2013 by a group of executives who collectively contribute over 50 years of industry experience and has partnered with advisors serving over $1.3 billion in advisory assets1. Golden State's infrastructure provides an extensive support network through succession planning, compliance oversight, dedicated transition support, and a Turnkey Asset Management Program. The Golden State family of companies maintain business alignments with LPL Financial, the nation's largest independent broker/dealer2, Raymond James, TD Ameritrade Institutional and Charles Schwab, some of the nation's largest independent custodians, who provide comprehensive tools and research necessary in today's complex markets.

Recognized as one of Orange County's largest RIAs3, Golden State's flagship office is located in South Coast Metro, California. With a goal to continue expanding offices across the country, Golden State is committed to creating an atmosphere that benefits both advisors and their investors. For more information about Golden State, visit www.teamgoldenstate.com.

1As of April 2021.

2As reported in Financial Planning magazine, June 1996-2021, based on total revenue.

3As reported in Orange County Business Journal, June 1, 2021, based on assets under management.

The Golden State family of companies is composed of Golden State Wealth Management ("GSWM"), Golden State Equity Partners ("GSEP"), and Golden State Asset Management ("GSAM"), collectively referred to as "Golden State." TVN Wealth Management is a DBA of GSEP. All firms are federally registered investment advisers under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. Registration as an investment adviser does not imply a certain level of skill or training. For information pertaining to the registration status of our firm, you may refer to the Investment Adviser Public Disclosure web site (www.adviserinfo.sec.gov).

Media Inquiries:

Jennifer Nahas

CMO, Golden State

[email protected]

949-433-6860

SOURCE Golden State Wealth Management
SALT LAKE CITY, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Recently, a federal jury in Kansas rejected a fraud lawsuit brought by Ad Astra Recovery Services, a debt collector and credit furnisher, against Lexington Law, Progrexion, and several attorneys and credit repair professionals affiliated with Lexington and Progrexion.

Ad Astra's case centered on letters that Lexington prepared and submitted on its clients' behalf to credit reporting agencies and furnishers (like Ad Astra) regarding potential errors and other reporting issues on the consumer's credit report. Ad Astra, the debt collection arm of a conglomerate that offers short-term, high-interest loans, argued that Lexington had committed "fraud" because these letters were signed with the consumer's electronic signature and were not specifically marked as coming from Lexington. Progrexion was included in the lawsuit because it is a long-running provider of synergistic services for the benefit of Lexington's clients including intellectual property and client interfaces.

This is now the second federal court to reject cynical and unfounded allegations against Lexington, the leading provider of credit repair services in the United States. Last year, a federal court in Texas rejected the very same arguments from two debt collectors, CBE Group and RGS Financial. That decision was upheld on appeal by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals earlier this year.

"This victory is a significant win for consumers and a huge setback for the debt collection industry's ongoing campaign to cut off consumer access to affordable credit repair services offered by experienced legal professionals and other consumer advocates. Yet again a federal court has rejected a debt collector's unfounded accusations against Lexington and affirmed that Lexington's business model is appropriate and fully compliant with all relevant laws. Consumers have a right to a credit report that is accurate, fair, and substantiated. This victory means that Lexington will continue to be able to provide high quality advocacy and advice at extremely affordable rates ensuring that millions of consumers are able to get the help they need," said Lexington Law's Directing Attorney, John C. Heath.

From the beginning, Ad Astra's objective was clear: to stifle Lexington's convenient and affordable services, which have enabled many more Americans to challenge errors and other issues on their credit reports, and thereby avoid its "burden" of demonstrating its tradelines are fair, accurate, and substantiated.

Federal law requires that furnishers like Ad Astra respond to non-frivolous disputes from consumers by reinvestigating the tradeline to ensure that it is correct and substantiated. However, as Ad Astra repeatedly emphasized in the litigation, the law does not extend this requirement to dispute correspondence submitted, or prepared on behalf of the consumer, by a suspected credit repair organization. Unscrupulous furnishers use this loophole as a justification for ignoring, without consideration or explanation, correspondence sent on behalf of a consumer. In addition to the Ad Astra and CBE cases, lobbyists for the debt collection industry are currently pushing bills in different states that would require credit repair organizations and other third parties to "mark" correspondence that they prepare on behalf of consumerspresumably to allow furnishers to penalize more consumers for turning to an advocate for help.

The case is Ad Astra Recovery Serv., Inc. v. Heath et al., No. 6:18-cv-01145, D. Kan.

SOURCE Lexington Law
WASHINGTON, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Army Reserve Command (USARC) recently selected Lumen Technologies (NYSE: LUMN) to provide Virtual Private Network (VPN) services, including remote access solutions, to more than 650 Army Reserve locations across the country.

Supporting U.S. Army Reservists with Lumen Solutions.

"Our secure, high-speed networking services will help Army Reservists accomplish their mission wherever they are," said Zain Ahmed, senior vice president, Lumen public sector. "Lumen is providing the Army Reserve with modern networking services, including remote access solutions, that enable them to conduct important operations that help keep America safe."

The 11-year task order, which has an initial term of one year with 10 one-year options, is worth $23 million and was awarded under the General Services Administration's 15-year, $50 billion Enterprise Infrastructure Solutions (EIS) program.

Lumen supplies government agencies with innovative adaptive networking, edge cloud, connected security and collaboration solutions over its carrier-class fiber network. The company provides the platform for IT modernization that delivers the security and reliability agencies need to carry out their important missions.

Additional Resources

Learn more about Lumen recently winning a U.S. Army Recruiting communications contract:

https://news.lumen.com/2021-07-22-Lumen-Wins-U-S-Army-Recruiting-Communications-Contract

https://news.lumen.com/2021-07-22-Lumen-Wins-U-S-Army-Recruiting-Communications-Contract Learn more about Lumen recently winning a U.S. Navy JAG Corps connectivity contract:

https://news.lumen.com/2021-05-11-Lumen-Wins-U-S-Navy-JAG-Connectivity-Contract

https://news.lumen.com/2021-05-11-Lumen-Wins-U-S-Navy-JAG-Connectivity-Contract Learn more about our U.S. Department of Defense Learning Network contract award:

https://ir.lumen.com/news/news-details/2020/CenturyLink-Wins-Department-of-Defense-Learning-Network-EIS-Award/default.aspx

https://ir.lumen.com/news/news-details/2020/CenturyLink-Wins-Department-of-Defense-Learning-Network-EIS-Award/default.aspx Learn more about how Lumen is supporting the public sector here:

https://www.lumen.com/public-sector.html

https://www.lumen.com/public-sector.html Learn more about CenturyLink's transformation to Lumen here:

https://news.lumen.com/2020-09-14-CenturyLink-Transforms-Rebrands-as-Lumen-R

About Lumen

Lumen is guided by our belief that humanity is at its best when technology advances the way we live and work. With approximately 450,000 route fiber miles and serving customers in more than 60 countries, we deliver the fastest, most secure platform for applications and data to help businesses, government and communities deliver amazing experiences. Learn more about the Lumen network, edge cloud, security, communication and collaboration solutions and our purpose to further human progress through technology at news.lumen.com, LinkedIn: /lumentechnologies, Twitter: @lumentechco, Facebook: /lumentechnologies, Instagram: @lumentechnologies and YouTube: /lumentechnologies. Learn more about Lumen's public sector capabilities on Twitter at @lumengov and on LinkedIn at @lumenpublicsector. Lumen and Lumen Technologies are registered trademarks in the United States.

SOURCE Lumen Technologies
OAKLAND, Calif., Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Nearly 50,000 health care workers have overwhelmingly voted to ratify a 4-year contract with Kaiser Permanente that will help to ensure it remains a great place to work and receive care. The employees are represented by 22 local unions that are part of the Alliance of Health Care Unions and work across hundreds of job classifications in every geographic area where Kaiser Permanente has a presence.

The agreement includes annual wage increases and new staffing language for patient and worker safety, and maintains excellent benefits and innovative programs providing career development and advancement opportunities. This contract renews our shared commitment to the Labor Management Partnership and begins a new chapter where front-line caregivers and managers come together to address affordability and changing market conditions without sacrificing quality care or service.

""Our members have resoundingly endorsed a new national agreement that ensures Kaiser Permanente members can count on excellent care and service, and union members can count on the best jobs and benefits," said Hal Ruddick, executive director, Alliance of Health Care Unions. "These negotiations were difficult, especially as our members are still battling the pandemic, but in the end the parties affirmed a joint commitment to working together, in partnership, to ensure the best future for union members, Kaiser Permanente, and our patients."

"This contract reflects our deep appreciation for the extraordinary commitment and dedication of our employees throughout our response to the COVID-19 pandemic while also ensuring that we remain affordable for our members in the future," said Christian Meisner , senior vice president and chief human resources officer at Kaiser Permanente. "We look forward to working together with our labor partners to implement the contract and further our mission of providing high-quality, affordable care."

The ratified contract, which has an effective date retroactive to October 1, 2021, includes:

Wage increases: Guaranteed across-the-board wage increases each year through 2025 in every region for all Alliance-represented employees

Health benefits: Continues family medical and dental coverage with the same low copays for prescriptions and office visits

Retirement benefits: Maintains generous retirement income benefits and employer-subsidized retiree medical benefits

Performance sharing: Continues the Labor Management Partnership Performance Sharing Program, which provides annual payouts for achieving new mutually agreed-to objectives

Safe staffing and workloads: New language to ensure every Kaiser Permanente patient receives extraordinary care, every time and in every place

Career growth opportunities: Continued excellent career development and advancement opportunities

The Alliance locals that ratified the contract and Kaiser Permanente also agreed to form a national Affordability and Competitiveness Task Force with specific targets to increase affordability while continuing to work together to provide the highest quality patient care.

Members of one bargaining unit, representing 1,500 United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals pharmacists in Southern California, did not ratify the agreement. The contract will go into effect for all union members except that bargaining unit. UNAC/UHCP will return to the bargaining table with Kaiser Permanente.

Kaiser Permanente and the Alliance are part of an innovative relationship known as the Labor Management Partnership, a joint strategy to lead organizational change, create an environment of continuous learning and improvement, and involve the workforce in decision making.

About the Alliance of Health Care Unions

The Alliance of Health Care Unions includes locals of AFSCME, UFCW, USW (Steelworkers), IBT (Teamsters), the Kaiser Permanente Registered Nurse Anesthetists, IUOE, AFT, UNITE HERE, ILWU, and HNHP. The member unions share a deep commitment to providing the highest-quality patient care and service at Kaiser Permanente. We work to improve community health through higher living standards, and keep Kaiser Permanente the best place to work. Alliance workers are in every Kaiser Permanente service region: 34,000 workers in Southern California; 1,350 in Northern California; 6,300 in Oregon and Washington; 2,100 in Colorado; 2,300 in Maryland, Washington, D.C. and northern Virginia; 3,000 in Georgia; and 1,900 in Hawaii. For more information, go to: ahcunions.org .

About Kaiser Permanente

Kaiser Permanente is committed to helping shape the future of health care. We are recognized as one of America's leading health care providers and not-for-profit health plans. Founded in 1945, Kaiser Permanente has a mission to provide high-quality, affordable health care services and to improve the health of our members and the communities we serve. We currently serve approximately 12.5 million members in 8 states and the District of Columbia. Care for members and patients is focused on their total health and guided by their personal Permanente Medical Group physicians, specialists, and team of caregivers. Our expert and caring medical teams are empowered and supported by industry-leading technology advances and tools for health promotion, disease prevention, state-of-the-art care delivery, and world-class chronic disease management. Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to care innovations, clinical research, health education, and the support of community health. For more information, go to about.kp.org.

Contacts:

Stephen Shivinsky, Kaiser Permanente

[email protected]

925-393-3911

Jeff Rogers, United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals [email protected]

909-263-7230

Maureen Anderson, Alliance of Health Care Unions

[email protected]

909-962-9410

SOURCE Kaiser Permanente
Great Place to Work selected the Best Workplaces for Parents by gathering and analyzing confidential survey responses from companies representing more than 6 million U.S. employees. Respondents provided feedback to over 60 survey questions describing how their organization creates a Great Place to Work. The analysis focuses primarily on parents' feedback.

In the survey, 96% of New American Funding employees stated that it is a great place to work compared to 59% of employees at a typical U.S.-based company.

"As a working mother, it's an honor to have been recognized as one of the Best Workplaces for Parents," said company President Patty Arvielo. "Nothing is more important than family, yet it's the biggest struggle for parents to combine family life and work life. I believe we have built a company where family is at the core of who we are, who we represent, and who we serve!"

New American Funding currently offers flexible work schedules and remote work opportunities, as well as several mentorship programs to encourage employee growth.

In addition, the company promotes a family atmosphere with its NAF 360 culture that stresses treating each employee with dignity, integrity, and respect. The company also periodically offers virtual contests rewarding employees and their families for art, singing, dancing and more.

This year the company has hired 1,947 new employees, with diversity key in its recruitment. Millennials comprise 40% of the company's workforce, while women and minorities comprise 59% and 45%, respectively.

To learn more about working at New American Funding, visit their careers page today.

About New American Funding

New American Funding is an independent mortgage lender with a servicing portfolio of 216,000+ loans for approximately $56.8 billion, 171 nationwide locations, and about 4,500 employees. The company is a 2021 Mortgage Professional America 5-Star Retail Lender and has made Inc. 5000's list of Fastest-Growing Companies in America seven times. It offers state-of-the-art career training and provides its branch Loan Officers with innovative technologies to streamline the mortgage process.

SOURCE New American Funding
SOUTH ORANGE, N.J., Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Is your blood sugar within a proper range? Dr. Nelson Aluya, an Internal Medicine Physician who treats patients for diabetes will provide insight in response to this question. Join in and ask him along with other medical experts questions about diabetes on the free OBHEALTHY Q&A Physician Health Network zoom webinar set for Saturday, Dec 11, ET 1-3 pm, click here to sign up early.

OBHealthy Free Webinar on Identifying Diabetes, Sat. Dec 11, ET 1-2 pm

Dr. Aluya shall address the importance of a person diagnosed with type-1 or type-2 diabetes knowing the result of a Hemoglobin A1C blood test. The test determines whether your blood sugar was in a normal range over a three month period, by determining the percentage of proteins in the blood that are coated with sugar. In reviewing goals recommended for a diabetic person, he will explain the importance of keeping sugar and carbs under control during the holidays.

This webinar is also a chance to better understand the consequence of being diagnosed with prediabetes, which can lead to a higher risk of developing diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Staying on track with self-monitoring to maintain a proper sugar level when testing at home, involves eating healthy, exercise, and daily treatment targets. It's good for diabetics to eat more proteins, salads and vegetables, to help increase vitamins and minerals needed to build stronger immunity and lose weight. Moreover, proteins metabolize slower, reducing periods of hunger.

About OBHealthy Webinar

OBHealthy Physician Health Network hosts a free zoom webinar from 1-3 pm ET on the second Saturday of each month. The "Ask Your Medical Questions" webinars help individuals get answers to medical questions from physicians and healthcare providers located in the New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania (Tri-State) area. Previous webinar sessions are available on youtube.com.

www.obhealthy.com

Reporters or journalists interested in additional information, email [email protected] with your request.

Contact:

Teri Major

862-240-9016

[email protected]

SOURCE OBHealthy.com
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- OncoPep, Inc., a developer of transformative immunotherapeutics, announced $11 million in Series D funding. The Series D was led by Tera Science and Kukje Pharma with participation from SX Company and CrystalBioScience.

The Series D funding will enable OncoPep to continue its clinical trials and advance preclinical development of novel pipeline agents. OncoPep's lead investigational candidate, PVX-410, is a cancer vaccine in clinical development for smoldering multiple myeloma (SMM) and triple negative breast cancer (TNBC).

"The financial support provided by these global investors is a crucial step in our journey to transform cancer care," said Michael Krepps, SVP of OncoPep. "This funding will allow us to continue clinical exploration of our cancer vaccine in combination with proven cancer therapeutics such as pembrolizumab and lenalidomide, and also accelerate preclinical studies for our novel cell therapies and immunotherapeutics," he added.

In anticipation of expanding its discovery pipeline and clinical development programs, the Massachusetts-based OncoPep has secured new laboratory space in Waltham, MA and office space in Boston's Kendall Square. OncoPep is also growing its advisory team with the addition of Dr. Dennis Klinman, MD, PhD and Dr. Christopher Bahl, PhD to the Scientific Advisory Board.

Dr. Klinman has given pivotal contributions to the field of immuno-oncology and vaccinology by being the first to discover CpG oligonucleotides (TLR9 agonists), which are used as immune modifiers in FDA-approved vaccines and for cancer therapy. He spent 15 years at the National Cancer Institute as a Senior Investigator and served as the head of the NCI Cancer and Inflammation Program's Immune Modulation Section. Dr. Klinman earned his MD and PhD in Medicine from the University of Pennsylvania. His extensive experience in pre-clinical and clinical trial development of novel immunotherapeutics will be a valuable contribution to OncoPep's efforts to improve cancer patient outcomes.

Dr. Bahl is fusing cutting-edge computer science with synthetic protein biology to develop a new class of therapeutics. In 2019, Dr. Bahl was selected as a TED Fellow for his pioneering work on the de novo design of novel mini-proteins and constrained peptides, an innovative approach for creating therapeutics with potential to tackle long-standing challenges in medicine. In his postdoctoral studies, he successfully developed computational design methods to create constrained peptides, molecules that meld the best attributes of antibodies and small molecules into promising biologic drugs. He is the former Head of Protein Design at the Institute for Protein Innovation and his experience in advancing the protein design field will contribute immensely to OncoPep's efforts to develop transformative immunotherapeutics. He earned his PhD in Biochemistry from Dartmouth University and holds a BS and MS from the University of Maine.

About OncoPep, Inc:

OncoPep, Inc. is developing novel immunotherapeutics to prevent the progression of cancer, extend survival, and restore the quality of life of patients. OncoPep's lead program, PVX-410, is an investigational, multi-peptide therapeutic vaccine being evaluated in treating multiple myeloma and triple-negative breast cancer by stimulating an immune response against cancer cells.

SOURCE OncoPep, Inc.
As we look ahead to the future, our hope is that everyone who needs a Papa Pal is afforded that opportunity. Tweet this

"This year's Digital Health 150 is one of our most expansive yet, spotlighting 16 categories including virtual care, clinical trials tech, and workflow automation, as well as adding new categories such as home health tech and computer-aided imaging," said Brian Lee, SVP of CB Insights' Intelligence Unit. "Last year's class has seen more than 20 exits, raised an additional $18.6B in aggregate funding, and announced over 250 partnerships since being recognized, and we're excited to see the future success of this year's winners."

"We are honored that Papa is included in the Digital Health 150," added Andrew Parker, founder and CEO of Papa. "The designation recognizes our build of a new category of care, centered on companionship, that supports older adults, families and others  reducing loneliness and improving health. As we look ahead to the future, our hope is that everyone who needs a Papa Pal is afforded that opportunity."

Through an evidence-based approach, the CB Insights research team selected the Digital Health 150 from a pool of over 11,000 companies, including applicants and nominees. They were chosen based on several factors, including data submitted by the companies, company business models and momentum in the market, and Mosaic scores , as generated by CB Insights' proprietary algorithm that measures the overall health and growth potential of private companies.

By using technology to match older adults and other appropriate health plan members with vetted and trained companions, called "Papa Pals," Papa meets needs that promote one's health, but are non-medical in nature  ranging from technology assistance, meal preparation, light housework, transportation, and, of course, social interaction.

Over the past year, Papa has grown membership by 333% and is now partnering with more than 65 Medicare, Medicaid, and employer health plans. This growth comes amid significant investment from health plans to address members' social determinants of health (SDoH), including social isolation and loneliness, that are shown to have a direct link to negative health outcomes. In one study of chronically ill and lonely members conducted over a 6-month intervention period, 69% reported improvement in loneliness, many with significant improvement. Papa participants also had a reduction in the number of days they felt physically unhealthy by 4.5 days and mentally unhealthy by four.1

2021 Digital Health 150 Investment Highlights:

Unicorns : 17 of the 150 companies (11%) are valued at or above $1B as of their latest funding rounds.

: 17 of the 150 companies (11%) are valued at or above as of their latest funding rounds. Funding trends : In 2021 year-to-date (YTD), these 150 private companies have raised $9.2B in equity funding across 153 deals (as of 11/19/21).

: In 2021 year-to-date (YTD), these 150 private companies have raised in equity funding across 153 deals (as of 11/19/21). Mega-rounds : Since 2020, there have been 39 mega-round ($100M+) equity investments to this year's Digital Health 150, with 31 (79%) of them taking place in 2021 YTD.

: Since 2020, there have been 39 mega-round ($100M+) equity investments to this year's Digital Health 150, with 31 (79%) of them taking place in 2021 YTD. Global representation : 23% of the 2021 Digital Health 150 are based outside the US. After the US, the UK is home to the most Digital Health 150 companies (9), followed by India (4). This year's winners are based in 18 countries, including China , Israel , Nigeria , Germany , Argentina , and New Zealand .

: 23% of the 2021 Digital Health 150 are based outside the US. After the US, the UK is home to the most Digital Health 150 companies (9), followed by (4). This year's winners are based in 18 countries, including , , , , , and . Top VC investor: General Catalyst is the most active investor in this year's Digital Health 150 companies, having invested in 39 deals since 2016.

This recognition comes on the heels of two other Papa accolades announced this week. The first, from Crunchbase, featured the 30 Black and Latinx-founded U.S. companies that raised the most funding during 2021. Additionally, Rock Health recognized Papa's impact as a Top 50 in Digital Health : Equity Advocates award winner.

About Papa

Papa and its Papa Pals platform provide "family on demand," by working with Medicare, Medicaid, and employer-sponsored health plans to provide a companionship and care benefit for older adults and families. Founded in 2017 and headquartered in Miami, Papa is backed by Canaan, Tiger Global Management, Comcast Ventures, SoftBank Vision Fund 2, TCG, Initialized Capital, and Seven Seven Six, among other revered institutional and individual investors. For more information, visit papa.com.

About CB Insights

CB Insights builds software that enables the world's best companies to discover, understand, and make technology decisions with confidence. By marrying data, expert insights, and work management tools, clients manage their end-to-end technology decision-making process on CB Insights. To learn more, please visit www.cbinsights.com.

Papa media contact:

[email protected]

CB Insights media contact:

[email protected]

1 Social connections with Papa pals and older adults improved loneliness scores over 6 months, Academy Health Annual Research Meeting 2021

SOURCE Papa Inc.
"Perchwell is bringing real estate into the twenty-first century" said Keith Rabois, General Partner at Founders Fund. Tweet this

Perchwell was subsequently selected by the Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY) to operate its Residential Listing Service, NYC's de facto MLS. Perchwell is now expanding its MLS and brokerage product offerings into new geographies amid significant customer demand.

"We are thrilled to have the support of such talented investors and operators as we enter our next phase of growth," said Brendan Fairbanks, founder and CEO of Perchwell. "It is critical that agents have the technology they need to compete in today's market and we are excited to bring Perchwell to agents everywhere."

Perchwell's end-to-end platform not only streamlines agents' day-to-day workflows, but also facilitates interoperability among other technology products via API. Perchwell's focus on interoperability is a major differentiator relative to the monolithic, closed systems that have proliferated in the past. "Perchwell has come at real estate's technology problems from an entirely new angle and is doing something new to solve them, said Art Carter, CEO of California Regional MLS, the largest in the country. "Perchwell will be an important partner of ours and will play a major role in shaping the industry's technology ecosystem more broadly. We are excited to work together in building the technology that our agents need."

"Perchwell is bringing real estate into the twenty-first century" said Keith Rabois, General Partner at Founders Fund. "Brendan and his team are delivering much-needed innovation in real estate technology. They've proven themselves in the competitive New York market and we're looking forward to their rapid expansion to even more markets."

"Real estate is the world's largest asset class, and the industry is in the early innings of a complete digital transformation," said Peter Hebert, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Lux Capital. "We believe Perchwell and its interoperable technology platform will lead that transition for the residential market."

About Perchwell

Perchwell is the premier data and workflow technology platform for the residential real estate industry. Perchwell's product offering includes a suite of data management, market research, and client collaboration tools for MLSs, brokers, and agents. For more information, please visit https://www.perchwell.com.

Contact

[email protected], 305-209-9439

SOURCE Perchwell

Related Links

https://www.perchwell.com/


"We're proud to fully support Kohler Power Systems now in the state of Alaska," says Brad Lyons, Power Systems West President. "Our experienced team is used to navigating difficult terrain and harsh weather, to ensure uninterrupted operation of our customer's generators. We believe trust is earned by planning and delivering on our promises. We are excited that Kohler has chosen us to support this critical market."

PSW has specialized experience maintaining mission critical backup systems including those at remote cell towers and airports. Because of Alaska's vastness, its numerous airports and cell towers play a key role in the transportation and communication between communities. Power Systems West will be in place to support the network of mission critical generators in Alaska.

Power Systems West has established parts and service networks across seven states ensuring plenty of inventory of new generators and parts. The vast experience of people within PSW's team will ensure that the product has available technical support 24/7.

"We're pleased that Power Systems West is expanding its territory into the state of Alaska." said Joe Lange, senior channel manager for Kohler Power Systems. "Customers throughout Alaska will have a strong point of access for their complete power systems needs and will benefit from the significant sales and service resources available with this experienced authorized Kohler distributor. Power Systems West is a long-standing distributor and is the right partner to drive sales and service excellence in Alaska."

To learn more about Power Systems West and their plans to support this territory. Visit the News Page or contact them:

Power Systems West

6110 N Cutter Circle

Portland, OR 97217

(503) 224-3623

Press Contact: Kimberly Myers

[email protected]

(971).291.7780

PowerSystemsWest.com



SOURCE Power Systems West
Mr. Lane joins Pretium after nearly ten years at Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA), most recently as Deputy Head of Americas, Real Estate. In that role, George was responsible for acquisitions and asset management across property types and geographies throughout the United States, and oversaw certain key operating partner and fund manager relationships.

"We are excited to welcome George, an experienced industry leader with a diversified background in real estate investment," said Don Mullen, founder and CEO of Pretium. "As we continue to grow our platform and expand accessibility of quality, affordable housing to help solve for our nation's housing shortage, we are focused on assembling the most sophisticated and experienced team possible to support our stakeholders."

Mr. Lane said, "I look forward to working with the exceptional team at Pretium, leveraging my global institutional expertise to create value, identify new opportunities and support our diversified and growing investor base and clients around the world."

Prior to ADIA, Mr. Lane served as Vice President in the global opportunity funds group at Deutsche Bank (RREEF). Mr. Lane began his career at Deloitte in the audit group before moving to the real estate consulting group. George holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology/Anthropology from Carleton College, a Master of Science in Accountancy from DePaul University, and a Master of Business Administration from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

About Pretium

Pretium is a specialized alternative investment management firm focused on U.S. residential real estate, residential credit, and corporate credit. Pretium was founded in 2012 to capitalize on secular investment and lending opportunities arising as a result of structural changes, disruptions, and inefficiencies within the economy. Pretium has built an integrated analytical and operational ecosystem within the U.S. housing, residential credit, and corporate credit markets, and believes that its insight and experience within these markets create a strategic advantage over other investment managers. Pretium's platform has approximately $30 billion of assets under management as of October 31, 2021 and employs approximately 3,000 people across 30 offices. Please visit www.pretium.com for additional information.

SOURCE Pretium

Related Links

http://www.pretium.com


TORONTO, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Qmerit is expanding its operations into Canada to help accelerate the country's transition to electric vehicles. As a leader in electrification services across the United States, Qmerit is known for making electrification easy and delivering an exceptional experience for new EV owners and fleet managers.

Qmerit is bringing its expertise in offering its unique, quality-based EV-systems integration and installation platform from the U.S. to Canada, where they will be offering consumers the same exemplary charger installation experience. Qmerit's turnkey approach simplifies Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) installations with Upfront Pricing, certified professional installers, and seamless customer concierge service.

Building on its American client base with a roster that includes major charger and global automobile manufacturers like Ford Motor Company, Mercedes-Benz, Chevrolet, Jaguar, Rivian, Volvo, ChargePoint, Enel X, FLO, Wallbox and more, Qmerit brings the expertise of home charging to the Canadian market.

"Our experience with fleet managers, auto dealers, contractors, utilities and EV buyers allows us to offer turnkey operations and earn high customer praise," noted Tracy K. Price, Founder and CEO, Qmerit. "We are excited to offer that same best value service and do our part to support the coming electrification transition in Canada."

Need for Expert Installation Help Will Grow

As newer EV models arrive from all automakers and as Canada moves toward its goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, its electric vehicle market has shown a dramatic increase in adoption. Canada has also previously announced its intention to mandate that all light duty vehicles sold in the country be zero emission vehicles, starting in 2035.

These new EV buyers will be looking for the experienced installer help, project safety and proper permitting that Qmerit is known for. Charger installations are complicated and require expertise, particularly for Level 2 chargers that often require electrical upgrades. Qmerit's Network has installed over 150,000 Level 2 EV charging stations in countless settings.

"For years, our customers and industry partners have been encouraging us to bring our services to Canada. We took the time to make sure it was done correctly by ensuring service coverage across a vast geography, building our digital platform in English and French, setting up a bi-lingual customer support infrastructure, and assembling a network with field expertise in all the provinces," adds Ken Sapp, SVP, Business Development at Qmerit.

Qmerit's Canadian operations will be revved up and ready with installers and service throughout the country. They offer a French and English bilingual customer call center to ensure quality service to all customers as they expand their solutions and extend the electrification initiative.

For more information about Qmerit Canada services, please visit Qmerit.ca.

About Qmerit

Qmerit, with US headquarters in Irvine, CA and Canadian headquarters in Toronto, ON, simplifies the adoption of electrification products for residential and small business markets. A leader in green energy transformation, the company provides value-driven services throughout the renewable energy equipment implementation life cycle. Services are delivered through Qmerit's network of company-owned contractors, independent Certified Solutions Partners and Certified Installers who are skilled in system implementation and integration as well as in ongoing support and maintenance. Combining this nationwide network of certified electrical contractors with the company's purpose-built digital managed services platform and white-glove concierge services, Qmerit delivers customers an unmatched quality experience related to electric vehicle charging stations, battery storage systems, solar system integration and microgrid solutions. For more information about Qmerit, please visit Qmerit.ca.

Contact: Samantha Graham, [email protected]

SOURCE Qmerit
LOS ANGELES, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --QuickFee, a fast-growing online payment and financing solution provider to professional service firms and ISOs across the United States and Australia, is pleased to announce a new partnership with Elite Merchant Solutions, which will bring Buy Now, Pay Later powered by QuickFee to their broad merchant base.

Based in Los Angeles, Elite Merchant Solutions (EMS) is a payment processing service provider committed to delivering innovative payment options, PCI compliance solutions, and responsive customer service for small businesses.

QuickFee positioned to bring Buy Now, Pay Later to ISOs across the US.

EMS was looking for a Buy Now, Pay Later solution that would allow their merchants to meet the growing consumer need for payment flexibility and increase average transaction values at the same time. According to a McKinsey study in July 2021, 60% of consumers said they were likely to use point-of-sale financing options like BNPL in the next six to twelve months.

Speaking about the partnership, EMS President Justin Milmeister said:

"Elite Merchant Solutions is excited to offer our merchants a simple Buy Now, Pay Later option. Since 2002, Elite Merchant Solutions has been on the cutting edge of the financial services industry, and we carefully select all our payment vendors to address real merchant concerns. Businesses frequently tell us they're interested in BNPL due to customer demand  so after some consideration, we decided to go with QuickFee as the best option for meeting those needs."

QuickFee's BNPL solution works by splitting a payment of the customer's choice into four interest-free monthly charges, with the total pre-authorized on the customer's existing credit card. This reduces the hassle of applying for new credit on the customer side, while the merchant gets paid upfront.

QuickFee CRO Aubrey Amatelli said:

"We're thrilled to join Elite Merchant Solutions in delivering a Buy Now, Pay Later option that benefits merchants and customers. BNPL boosts purchasing power and flexibility on the customer side at minimal cost to the business, which is why this option has seen dramatic adoption rates over the last few years. Working alongside Elite Merchant Solutions, it's our goal to help businesses drive new revenue with this tool while maintaining strong customer loyalty."

About QuickFee

QuickFee provides a personalized payment experience designed to help merchants increase revenue and meet the growing demand for flexible payments. With more than a decade of experience serving the global professional services market, QuickFee is now bringing its proven payments model to a wider range of businesses than ever before, from personal and home services to the commercial space. As a trusted payments partner, QuickFee empowers your customers to pay how and when they want, so you can focus on what you do best.

For additional information, visit www.quickfee.com.

SOURCE QuickFee
APAC Expansion plus Greater China coverage to provide company incorporation, business accounts, credit cards, and payments services from a single platform

HONG KONG and LONDON, Dec. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Rapyd, a global Fintech-as-a-Service company has agreed to acquire Hong Kong-based Neat, a cross-border trade enabling platform for SMBs and startups. Neat provides full company incorporation, business accounts, global payment collection and disbursements, as well as credit card-based capital expansion services. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, and it is subject to regulatory approval.

By integrating Neat into the Rapyd Global Payments Network, small and medium businesses will be able to:

Incorporate new companies in minutes, streamline receivables and payables in a single venue, starting with Hong Kong and soon in other trade-friendly markets around the world

and soon in other trade-friendly markets around the world Offer real-time high-value payments in Hong Kong via FPS, CHATS, and SWIFT

via FPS, CHATS, and SWIFT Accelerate payments to suppliers across Greater China

Empower smart business and employee spending via virtual and physical Visa cards

Provide eligible businesses with fast working capital through an in-wallet credit line

Rapyd's expertise in delivering fintech services at scale coupled with its global payments network that supports more than 900 payment methods in over 100 countries and global payouts in over 200 countries makes it uniquely suited to support entrepreneurs and Small and Medium Businesses (SMBs) looking to incorporate, get online, and access new markets quickly and inexpensively. Its easy-to-use API-based platform simplifies complex cross-border payments processes which are critical for businesses looking to engage in global trade. Neat's services, capabilities, and licenses will be integrated into Rapyd's platform providing an easy-to-use online global trade solution optimized for SMBs, entrepreneurs, and growing young companies.

Joel Yarbrough, Managing Director of Rapyd Ventures and Vice President of Asia Pacific, commented on the acquisition, stating: "Neat has enabled thousands of businesses to intelligently manage their trade flows and working capital, through fast incorporation, virtual accounts, payables, and spend management. As SMBs need to go digital and globalize at an even faster rate due to the pandemic, together Neat and Rapyd can help businesses everywhere sell their goods and services in new markets with less complexity, flatten FX fees, to unlock revenue and growth potential that would otherwise be inaccessible to them."

David Rosa, CEO and co-founder of Neat, commented further about the acquisition, stating: "Neat has been executing towards a vision of becoming the most popular payment platform for international SMBs. Joining the Rapyd family turbo-charges our capabilities and we are super excited about it. Our comprehensive business solution, high-touch support model, excellent onboarding experience and easy-to-use capabilities are an ideal complement to Rapyd's world-class technology and global payments network. Together, this makes us a strategic partner to SMBs that want the freedom and ability to realize their own ambitions, regardless of their location or wherever they see business opportunities across the globe."

About Rapyd

Rapyd is the fastest way to power local payments anywhere in the world, enabling companies across the globe to access markets quicker than ever before. By utilizing Rapyd's unparalleled payments network and fintech as a service platform, businesses and consumers can engage in local and cross-border transactions in any market. The Rapyd platform is unifying fragmented payment systems worldwide by bringing together 900-plus payment methods in over 100 countries. Rapyd's investors include Stripe, General Catalyst, Oak HC/FT, Coatue, Tiger Global, Durable Capital, Target Global, Fidelity Management and Research Company, Altimeter Capital, BlackRock Funds and Tal Capital. To learn more about the company that is accelerating the fintech as a service revolution, visit www.rapyd.net, read our blog, or follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter.

About Neat

Neat makes the world of international trade more accessible to entrepreneurs, SMEs and ambitious young companies from across the globe. Its purpose-built, financial services platform enables businesses to quickly, simply and securely incorporate and open an account in Hong Kong, allowing them to receive and transfer multi-currency funds at competitive rates, issue Visa corporate cards to employees, integrate with accounting and payment gateways and more. The application process is fully online and can be completed in just 15 minutes  no paperwork, no mandatory travel, no inflated fees, high exchange rates, hefty minimum balances or lengthy waiting times. Learn more at https://www.neatcommerce.com.

Media contact:

Raanan Loew

Headline Media

[email protected]

+1-347-897-9276

SOURCE Rapyd
Technavio's 120-page report analyzes the recruitment process outsourcing market by End-user (IT and telecom, Manufacturing, BFSI, Healthcare, and Others) and Geography (North America, Europe, APAC, MEA, and South America). According to the report, the market will observe an incremental growth of USD 4.55 billion between 2020 and 2025, accelerating at a CAGR of 13.51% during the forecast period.

Purchase our full report to know the exact growth variance and end explore opportunities across various regions.

Enquire Before Purchasing

The recruitment process outsourcing market growth will be driven by the need for reducing operational costs by streamlining the hiring process. Businesses across the world are actively approaching recruitment process outsourcing (RPO) companies to reduce their cost per hire. RPO firms help businesses streamline the hiring process by reducing the supply-demand imbalance in the market. Outsourcing of the recruitment process also helps businesses to share the price-associated risks with their RPO partners. Such benefits are encouraging businesses to actively look out for recruitment process outsourcing firms, which is driving the growth of the market.

In addition, the increased use of neo-sourcing is expected to have an accelerating effect on the growth of the market. However, the risk of overdependence on a single vendor might reduce the growth potential in the market.

Get additional insights on other trends and drivers impacting the future of the recruitment process outsourcing market.

Talk to our Analyst Now!

Major Five Recruitment Process Outsourcing Companies:

Accenture Plc:

The company offers recruitment process outsourcing solutions that help HR leaders achieve business outcomes through tailored solutions that embed data and analytics, artificial intelligence, and consumer-centric digital channels into the employee experience, under the brand name Accenture.

Alexander Mann Solutions:

The company offers recruitment process outsourcing solutions that design, build, and run a fully optimized talent acquisition capability, under the brand name Alexander Mann Solutions.

Allegis Group:

The company offers recruitment process outsourcing solutions that include talent acquisition strategy development, sourcing talent mapping, screening assessments selection, program performance tracking and reporting, internal candidate management, digital recruiting and social media strategy, and many more activities, under the brand name Allegis.

AMN Healthcare Services Inc.:

The company offers recruitment process outsourcing solutions that streamline permanent workforce planning and recruitment process through one efficient, agile solution by providing technology and data intelligence that enable sustainable, long-term improvement, under the brand name AMN Healthcare.

Automatic Data Processing Inc.:

The company offers recruitment process outsourcing solutions using data, experience, and scalability to help improve quality of hire and process efficiency, while managing complex business needs and aggressive timelines, under the brand name of ADP.

Download our Free Sample to identify other dominant players listed in our full report on the recruitment process outsourcing market.

Recruitment Process Outsourcing Market End-user Outlook (Revenue, USDBn, 2020-2025)

IT and telecom - size and forecast 2020-2025

Manufacturing - size and forecast 2020-2025

BFSI - size and forecast 2020-2025

Healthcare - size and forecast 2020-2025

Others - size and forecast 2020-2025

Recruitment Process Outsourcing Market Geography Outlook (Revenue, USD Bn, 2020-2025)

North America - size and forecast 2020-2025

- size and forecast 2020-2025 Europe - size and forecast 2020-2025

- size and forecast 2020-2025 APAC - size and forecast 2020-2025

MEA - size and forecast 2020-2025

South America - size and forecast 2020-2025

Related Reports:

Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO) Market in APAC by End-user, Service, and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2021-2025

Human Capital Management Solutions Market by Application and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2021-2025

Recruitment Process Outsourcing Market Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2020 Forecast period 2021-2025 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 13.51% Market growth 2021-2025 USD 4.55 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 7.34 Regional analysis North America, Europe, APAC, MEA, and South America Performing market contribution North America at 41% Key consumer countries US, UK, Canada, Australia, and India Competitive landscape Leading companies, competitive strategies, consumer engagement scope Companies profiled Accenture Plc, Alexander Mann Solutions, Allegis Group, AMN Healthcare Services Inc., Automatic Data Processing Inc., Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Ltd., Hudson Global Inc., Infosys Ltd., International Business Machines Corp., and Randstad Sourceright EMEA B.V. Market Dynamics Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and future consumer dynamics, market condition analysis for the forecast period. Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized.

About Technavio

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions.

With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

Contacts:

Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media & Marketing Executive

US: +1 844 364 1100

UK: +44 203 893 3200

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.technavio.com/

SOURCE Technavio
TAVARES, Fla., Dec. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Richmond American Homes of Florida, LP, a subsidiary of M.D.C. Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: MDC), is pleased to announce that it recently purchased and closed on land for 134 future homesites in Tavares.



The land is set to become a new Lake County community, Seasons at Lakeside Forest, which is scheduled to open in winter of 2022. This notable new neighborhood will offer nine ranch and two-story floor plans, including seven from the builder's popular Seasons Collection (RichmondAmerican.com/SeasonsOrlando), designed to put homeownership within reach for a variety of buyers. The Ammolite, Azure, Coral, Moonstone, Pearl, Ruby and Slate floor plans are ideal for homebuyers seeking design flexibility and those looking to downsize without downgrading. They will also appeal to buyers relocating from Orange and Seminole Counties and Metro Orlando in search of more affordable housing options.



In addition, the builder is excited to offer a pair of floor plansthe Copper and the Zincfeaturing the UltraGarage (RichmondAmerican.com/UltraGarage) at Seasons at Lakeside Forest. This attached, extra-tall garage is designed to house a range of vehicles to accommodate an array of storage needs.

Richmond American's Seasons at Lakeside Forest community will offer two floor plans with the UltraGarage which can accommodate boats, RVs and more.

More about Seasons at Lakeside Forest

New ranch and two-story homes with designer details

Nine versatile floor plans ranging from approx. 1,710 to 3,030 sq. ft.

Easy access to historic Mt. Dora and downtown Orlando

and downtown Close proximity to FL-19

Abundant open space, trails and a community dock on scenic Lake Harris

Enhanced exteriors available!

Everyone who builds a brand-new Richmond American home from the ground up at Seasons at Lakeside Forest will have the opportunity to meet with a professional design consultant to choose colors, textures, finishes and fixtures for their new living spacesa complimentary service!

Seasons at Lakeside Forest will be located at Royal Harbor Boulevard and FL-19 in Tavares. Call 407.287.6285 or visit RichmondAmerican.com for more information.

View health and safety updates at RichmondAmerican.com/COVID-19.

About M.D.C. Holdings, Inc.

Operating under the name Richmond American Homes, MDC's homebuilding subsidiaries have built more than 220,000 homes since 1977. Among the nation's largest homebuilders, MDC's subsidiary companies have operations in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Maryland, Nevada, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia and Washington. Mortgage lending, plus insurance and title services are offered by the following MDC subsidiaries, respectively: HomeAmerican Mortgage Corporation, American Home Insurance Agency, Inc. and American Home Title and Escrow Company. M.D.C. Holdings, Inc. is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "MDC." For more information, visit MDCHoldings.com.

SOURCE M.D.C. Holdings, Inc.

Related Links

www.richmondamerican.com


"Bob has scaled multiple cybersecurity companies, including SentinelOne and WhiteHat security. He's a natural coach and 'learn-it-all' who will elevate our culture, people, and company. We are thrilled to have Bob join us as Chief Revenue Officer and we're ready to put our Series B funding to work!"  Snehal Antani, CEO and co-founder, Horizon3.ai

In his role as CRO, Cariddi will lead sales, marketing, and go-to-market. In his previous role at SentinelOne, Bob spearheaded the company's initial hyper-growth and global success. Prior to SentinelOne, Cariddi held global sales leadership roles at WhiteHat Security, later acquired by NTT.

In addition to his strong history in go-to-market and sales leadership, Cariddi also serves as an investor and advisor for a number of tech startups, as well as an advisory board member for the Leading Disruptive Innovation Program at Rutgers University.

"I'm super excited to join this visionary team that has the perfect technology, culture and intelligence to find, verify and fix attack vectors before criminals can exploit them. Horizon3.ai solves a very complex problem with an extremely simple and affordable solution."  Robert Cariddi, CRO, Horizon3.ai

About Horizon3.ai

Horizon3.ai's mission is to help you find and fix attack vectors before attackers can exploit them. NodeZero, our autonomous penetration testing solution, is a true self-service SaaS offering that is safe to run in production and requires no persistent or credentialed agents. You will see your enterprise through the eyes of the attacker, identify your ineffective security controls, and ensure your limited resources are spent fixing problems that can actually be exploited. Founded in 2019 by industry, US Special Operations, and US National Security veterans, Horizon3.ai is headquartered in San Francisco, CA, and made in the USA.

Learn about our new Ransomware Impact feature here https://www.horizon3.ai/ransomware/

For a free trial of NodeZero, visit https://portal.horizon3ai.com/trial

Global Press Contacts:

Hillary Blair Bisset and Ann Rinaldi

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Horizon3.ai

Related Links

https://www.horizon3.ai


PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Roundtrip, the leading healthcare transportation solution, announced the closing of its largest fundraising round yet led by Motley Fool Ventures, with additional investments from ZOLL Medical Corporation, University Hospitals Ventures, Early Light Ventures, Gaingels & Sapien Capital, Grays Ferry Capital, Global Opportunity Philadelphia Fund (GO Philly Fund), Provco Ventures, HCN Ventures, and Nightingale Partners LLC. The new investment will fuel growth initiatives, accelerate product development for its health plan offering, and further Roundtrip's mission of removing transportation as a barrier to healthcare.

Roundtrip was founded in 2016 and has grown its footprint to 24 states. The company experienced significant traction through 2021, expanding its customer base in California, Ohio and New Jersey, landing marquee customers like RWJ Barnabas Health, Clover Health, and OhioHealth. Earlier this year, Roundtrip announced a nationwide partnership with the American Cancer Society to coordinate transportation to and from cancer treatments for individuals who do not have a ride or are unable to drive themselves. "Roundtrip will continue shaping the future of the NEMT industry," says Roundtrip Founder and CEO, Mark Switaj. "Our clinical and logistical integration portfolio is the strongest in in the industry. We know the future is in patient-centered transportation and by connecting these disparate systems, we can craft ride benefits and business rules to empower patients and care teams right in the moment."

Mark Switaj brings extensive experience in the non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) space as he previously worked as an EMT and in a leadership role for the nation's largest ambulance company. "We invest in smart, thoughtful founders with a true commitment in their ideas. Roundtrip's passion for reliable transportation paired with our market expertise will be critical for the future of the non-emergency medical transportation industry," says Chairman and Founder of HCN Ventures, Harris Schwartzberg. HCN Ventures is the investment arm of a private family-owned company with over 50 years of experience operating and investing in healthcare as well as other asset classes.

Roundtrip will more than double its Medicare Advantage health insurance payer customer base in the new year. In 2019, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) increased flexibility for Medicare Advantage (MA) plans by redefining "primarily health-related" supplemental benefits for MA members. The regulatory changes to expand supplemental benefits, combined with the current national focus on health equity, has magnified the need for reliable transportation for elderly and at-risk populations across the country.

"Nearly 50% of Medicare Advantage payers are offering a transportation benefit to their membership. Not only can transportation be used for medical appointments and surgeries but also for pharmacy visits, grocery store trips and community engagement to combat social isolation. We are eager for Roundtrip and its unique solution to capitalize on this market signal that transportation security is a crucial component of healthcare delivery in the US," says Nightingale Partners LLC Chairman, John Gorman.

The continued focus in the United States on improving access to healthcare, reducing the cost of care, and addressing the non-medical factors of health present significant opportunity for Roundtrip and its partners heading into 2022.

About Roundtrip

Roundtrip is the leading digital transportation solution for better health outcomes. We provide a simple ride-ordering software that connects ride requests to a community of qualified transportation companies. The company is leading the industry in reducing patient no-shows and creating organizational efficiencies through improved ride management.

Roundtrip is built for healthcare professionals  care coordinators, social workers, nurses, and other transport requestors  and offers easy-to-use online and mobile platforms that connect riders with non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT). Roundtrip is a comprehensive solution that supports all levels of transport: medical cars, wheelchair vans, stretcher vehicles, ALS/BLS ambulances, all payers, and all trips delivered when and where they are needed.

Roundtrip is doing more than expanding access to care; we are changing how people manage their health in their everyday lives. As we address social determinants of health and aging in place, Roundtrip is driven to deliver engaged and empowered transportation experiences for riders.

To learn more about Roundtrip, please visit www.roundtriphealth.com

Press Contact: Megan McGinley, [email protected]

SOURCE Roundtrip
STUTTGART, Germany, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- AnyDesk, one of the leading companies for remote desktop solutions, is launching AnyDesk 7.0. For the company, the update is the next step in further simplifying their remote access solution. AnyDesk 7.0 is initially available for Windows users, with other operating systems to follow at a later stage. Many new features address user feedback and preferences.

Simple: New permission profiles and a more intuitive user interface

The update to Version 7.0 sees numerous innovations to the AnyDesk Client. Users can now create different permission profiles for access to their devices. If others want to access the user's own device via AnyDesk, the user can choose between different permission profiles with just one click. Pre-authorized profiles can have immediate access to your device with individual controls over their level of access. For example, it is now possible to oversee whether the accessing user is granted full access or just access to shared screen content. This means, on the one hand, that users can grant full access rights to trusted AnyDesk users, such as family members. Conversely, people who cannot be trusted to that extent can be assigned a profile with restricted permission rights, such as just "share screen".

In addition, every profile can be secured using an individual unattended access password. If several people are meant to have access to the same device, they can now also be given different passwords  and consequently different authorizations when accessing the device, increasing security and monitoring.

The user interface has also been further developed. The intuitive and much-simplified user interface (UI) in Version 7.0 is geared to a conventional web browser layout. It employs a tile view for selecting devices, and a search bar for finding available devices. Another new feature is the option to invite another user directly to a remote desktop session. The user on the invitation page receives a message and can accept or refuse the session invitation within a two-minute window.

Safe: Greater privacy during the remote session

Many new functions increase security and privacy during use. For instance, there is a session indicator, which signals the incoming session in the form of a highlighted frame. In addition, private desktop backgrounds can be replaced automatically, as soon as an incoming session starts, by a preinstalled background. The accessing user then sees only this configured desktop background. Users of Version 7.0 also have the option of disabling the online status display of other users in their own client.

Fast: Still best performance on the market

With Version 7.0, AnyDesk is confirming its market position as one of the fastest remote solutions. Due to the high frame rates, it is capable of fluid imaging with refresh rates of 60 images per second. And thanks to the in-house developed video-codec DeskRT, the version offers latency of under 16 milliseconds in the LAN  a delay that is imperceptible to the human eye. Even in areas with low bandwidths of 100 kB/s, users can look forward to judder-free remote working. Version 7.0 again ships with a bank-level security standard, in its TLS 1.2 technology. All sessions support perfect forward secrecy and can be further protected against unsupervised access using two-factor authentication. This also applies for the User Account login.

Version 7 coincides with company anniversary

The launch of Version 7.0 also sees the company, founded in 2014, celebrating its seven-year anniversary. For CEO Philipp Weiser, the update is an important step into the future: "For us, product development means cooperation with our users. Good tech companies listen to the feedback from their community, to criticism every bit as much as future wishes. The new features in Version 7.0 are the best evidence of how users become co-developers."

Further product information available here

High-resolution image material and a factsheet available here

About AnyDesk

AnyDesk is one of the world's leading providers of remote desktop software. The scaleup's innovative solution has already been installed 500 million times  in 2020 alone, the number of downloads has doubled. This makes AnyDesk one of the 50 fastest growing tech-companies in Europe. In more than 190 countries, over 80,000 customers rely on AnyDesk, including internationally renowned companies such as Bosch, McDonald's and Google:

| Blog | Twitter | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram

Press contact

AnyDesk North America

Felix Mann

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE AnyDesk
DALLAS, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Snacks for a Cause, an online gift giving site, was launched to help support Union Gospel Mission (UGM) Dallas. Snacks for a Cause enables consumers to shop for snack gift boxes while supporting a great cause, as a portion of the proceeds go to support UGM Dallas Homeless Shelter. The gift boxes vary in size and price, are packed with a variety of the top snacks and offer a great alternative for holiday or corporate gift giving. Click for Photos

"UGM Dallas is so excited to be one of the beneficiaries of Snacks for a Cause," stated Bruce Butler, CEO of UGM Dallas. "They offer an exceptional gift idea that is perfect for the holidays, birthdays, graduation, as thank you gifts and even corporate gifts that allow the givers to also help out a local non-profit."

Offering delivery in the continental United States, Snacks for a Cause is not only benefiting the homeless shelter through financial donations, but students of their discipleship program are learning job training skills through their involvement in packaging and shipping the gift boxes.

"One of the best things about UGM Dallas is their emphasis on job training that provides residents with a skill set which enables them to establish their independence," noted Margaret McKoin, owner of Snacks for a Cause. "Each gift box is hand crafted with love from women who are getting a hand up not a handout. We are providing the ladies training on customer service, order processing, packaging, shipping and sales."

For more information on Snacks for a Cause, visit www.snacksforacause.com. For more information on UGM Dallas, visit www.ugmdallas.org.

About Snacks for a Cause

Snacks for a Cause allows consumers to purchase treats for themselves or others all while supporting worthy causes, such as women and children's shelters, fighting to end human trafficking, helping benefit local homeless shelters and supporting various veterans' programs.

About the Union Gospel Mission Dallas

Established in 1949, Union Gospel Mission Dallas supports individuals and families experiencing homelessness with shelter, food and clothing, as well as a Discipleship and recovery program, vocational job training and development, state-licensed childcare services, medical care, transportation, substance abuse prevention, and transitional and permanent housing.

In 2020, the Mission provided 496,705 meals and 128,206 nights of shelter. UGM Dallas also served 113 veterans in their men's shelter.

Media Contact:

Margaret McKoin, The Time Group

[email protected]

elephone: 817-403-0866

SOURCE UGM Dallas
NEW ORLEANS, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- STEM Global Action (SGA) announced today that its STEM NOLA affiliate is working with a Tanzania youth education group to train its staff, students and teachers in the best practices to advance science, math, engineering and technology (STEM) education in the East African nation.

Supported by the US Embassy, STEM NOLA was selected for the engagement after an external evaluation found that 69% of the New Orleans non-profit's K-12 students improved their performance in math, science and reading after one year in their afterschool program. The evaluation concluded: "Regular attendance and participation helped students develop interest, exposure to, and engagement in STEM and STEM-based learning."

The findings inspired the partnership with Tanzania-based ProjeKt Inspire, a youth-based and youth-led initiative aimed at expanding career options for younger generations. The program helps students choose the best courses in universities and get involved in extracurricular activities that prepare them with knowledge and skills needed in the global market.

"We are proud to be working with Tanzania to expand STEM learning in their country and encourage young students to enjoy STEM subjects and plan careers in STEM," said Dr. Calvin Mackie, president and founder of STEM Global Action and STEM NOLA. "Our programs have achieved great success in New Orleans, and in communities across the country, making a positive impact on students. We can spur STEM education across the globe."

Eight years ago, Dr. Mackie founded STEM NOLA and committed to bringing STEM education to neighborhood churches, community centers and schools, especially communities that have lacked resources. His innovative approach to STEM learning has attracted support from some of America's biggest corporations and philanthropic foundations, including the Entergy Corporation, Boeing Company, Ochsner Health System, Chevron Corporation, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, AT&T Foundation and Fund II Foundation. In July, Dr. Mackie launched STEM Global Action, a campaign and network of affiliates, including STEM NOLA, that pursues STEM education for children, parents and communities across the U.S., and abroad.

Specifically, Tanzania officials said they are leveraging the experience, knowledge and systems of STEM NOLA's successful U.S.-based STEM education program for low-income children of color to train staff at ProjeKt Inspire. Their goal is to implement effective STEM education programs in Tanzania. Two representatives of Tanzania group, Lwidiko Edward and Vanessa Chilunda, will be at attending a STEM NOLA event on Saturday.

ABOUT STEM GLOBAL ACTION

In 2013, Dr. Calvin Mackie founded STEM NOLA, a New Orleans-based, non-profit committed to expanding STEM education at churches, community centers and schools, particularly in communities of color. His goal is to make STEM education available in ALL communities. In July 2021, Dr. Mackie launched STEM Global Action , a campaign and network of affiliates, including STEM NOLA, that pursues STEM education for children, parents and communities across the U.S., and abroad. His initiatives have impacted more than 100,000 students, 20,000 families and 5,000 schools across the U.S., and in five other countries. In addition to an informative website with a data center, newsroom and newsletter, Dr. Mackie hosts the Let's Talk STEM with Dr. Calvin Mackie podcast series. It features interviews with guests from all aspects of STEM  entrepreneurs, educators, corporate leaders, students  who will talk about the importance of STEM in their lives today. They are the mentors for the next generation of STEM leaders, models of success for others to follow.

Contact:

Michael K. Frisby

[email protected]/202-625-4328

SOURCE STEM Global Action
HARLEM, N.Y., Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Board of Directors of the 57-year-old Harlem School of the Arts (HSA) today announced that Eric G. Pryor, the organization's President since 2015, will be departing at the end of the year to become President & CEO of the historic 216-year-old Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA) in Philadelphia.

Eric G. Pryor

"Eric Pryor leaves an impressive legacy of accomplishments as a trusted leader who proved to be an exceptional steward of the organization, founded by the legendary concert soprano Dorothy Maynor," commented Charles J. Hamilton, Jr. Esq., Chairman of HSA's Board of Directors.

During his tenure at the famed arts organization, Mr. Pryor was able to help HSA achieve financial stability by reducing its negative debt ratio. He has worked jointly with key staff members and the Board to further relationships with influential funders like the Ford Foundation and the Herb Alpert Foundation. Along with HSA's senior management team, he oversaw the completion of a $9.5 million transformative renovation of the 42-year-old building into a cultural hub, fully underwritten by artist and philanthropist Herb Alpert through his Foundation. Under his leadership, the organization navigated past the unprecedented challenges of the 2020 COVID-19 shutdown, which forced closure to in-person classes for more than 15 months. During that time HSA was able to quickly pivot to an online art curriculum on the [email protected] platform. Mr. Pryor spearheaded the triumphant re-opening of in-person classes, beginning with the 2021 Summer Arts Experience and continuing with Fall classes. He leaves the organization, well positioned for sustainable growth having recently completed a detailed, five-year strategic plan, to be implemented by the next occupant of the office he is vacating.

"The past six-plus years have been both wonderful and challenging. Through it all, it has been an honor to be a part of this historic arts organization, built by Ms. Maynor on the belief that the arts are transformative, that all children should have access to quality arts education and world-class training no matter their financial circumstance. Working with the team of committed and passionate professionals at HSA, the teaching artists who train our students, and our network of partners and supporters, has been a privilege. I will be following HSA's bright future and the numerous opportunities for continued growth that lay ahead," said Mr. Pryor.

Mr. Hamilton added, "The Board and I have formed a search committee, tasked with finding the very best candidate to take up the mantle of guiding the organization through this transition. We are confident that we will find top tier individuals who are as passionate and devoted to Ms. Maynor's mission, as Eric. At this time though, we want to thank Eric for his years of service and look forward to his continued involvement with HSA down the line, as a member of the Advisory Board."

To learn more about the Harlem School of the Arts, please visit www.HSAnyc.org.

Contact:

Sam Mattingly

SMC Solutions

(917) 331-9375

SOURCE Harlem School of the Arts
PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA) is pleased to announce that Eric Pryor has been appointed president of the historic museum and college, beginning January 18, 2022.

One of America's cornerstone cultural institutions, PAFA is poised to move forward into its next significant institutional chapter. A strategic, creative, and collaborative leader, Pryor is skilled at guiding institutions through transitions and will partner with PAFA's constituents to reimagine the organization and ensure its long-term sustainability.

Eric Pryor, incoming PAFA President

"I am profoundly honored to be taking on the leadership of this historic and celebrated institution," said incoming PAFA President Eric Pryor. "I am eager to work in partnership with the PAFA board, staff, faculty, students, and alumni, and start writing its next chapter together. I'm also delighted to be returning to Philadelphia and its varied communities. It is a city of great art and artistry, with PAFA as one of its crown jewels."

Eric Pryor brings over 25 years of experience in education, museum administration and community-building initiatives to PAFA. He joins PAFA from the Harlem School of the Arts (HSA), where he has served as president since 2015. During his tenure he secured a significant gift that enabled the school to undertake its first major renovation in 40 years and move toward becoming a cultural hub for the neighborhood. Previously, he served as Executive Director of The Center for Arts Education, was Executive Director of the New Jersey State Museum, and President of the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey. Pryor began his arts career as Executive Director of the Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation's Center for Arts and Culture (CAC) in Brooklyn, New York. He is a graduate of Tyler School of Art, Temple University (Master of Fine Arts) and Wayne State University (Bachelor of Fine Arts, Painting), and Columbia University's Executive Leadership Program for Nonprofits.

"We unanimously chose Eric Pryor as the next President of PAFA because he has all the qualities we hoped for in our next leader: he is strategic, collaborative, and innovative, with the sensibility of an artist," said PAFA Board of Trustees Chair Anne E. McCollum. "He will bring a new dynamic to our 216-year old institution that will help us respond to our changing society. I'd like to thank everyone involved in our extensive and inclusive search process resulting in the best possible outcome as we move forward together as an institution."

"Eric Pryor resonates with PAFA's shared core values as an institutionits traditions, commitment to diversity and inclusion as well as to education and stewardship, and its foundational bedrock of community," said Board of Trustees Vice Chair and Board of Governors Chair Reginald M. Browne. "He made a palpable connection with the PAFA community, and I am confident that he will be a passionate advocate for PAFA's legacy."

About the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts

Founded in 1805, the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts is America's first school and museum of fine arts. A recipient of the National Medal of Arts, PAFA offers undergraduate and graduate programs in the fine arts, innovative exhibitions of historic and contemporary American art, and a world-class collection of American art. PAFA's esteemed alumni include Mary Cassatt, Njideka Akunyili Crosby, Maxfield Parrish, William Glackens, Barkley L. Hendricks, Violet Oakley, Louis Kahn, David Lynch, and Henry Ossawa Tanner. Learn more at PAFA.org .

CONTACT:

Katherine Blodgett, Communications Consultant

[email protected]

215.431.1230

SOURCE Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
NEW YORK, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Torchy's Tacos , the popular Austin-based brand known for its Damn Good Tacos and addictive Green Chile Queso, has partnered with DailyPay  the leading provider of on-demand pay  to provide its hourly employees with access to their earned wages as they need it.

Torchy's Tacos is growing its U.S. footprint with over 95 locations in 10 states, and this partnership enables its employees to have instant access to their wages as they earn them rather than waiting weeks for payday. As a result, employees will be able to have more flexibility and control over their finances to suit their individual needs.

"Employees are looking for more fulfilling work, and it's up to brands to invest in their people and provide compelling incentives that support not only the worker, but their day-to-day lives as a whole," said Elizabeth Baxter, Chief People Officer of Torchy's Tacos. "Our new partnership with DailyPay will empower our team members with more control over their finances and access to their pay to suit their individual needs and that of their families."

With DailyPay, companies are able to fill open positions 52% faster than those that don't offer a daily payment option, while experiencing a 50% reduction in turnover. Recent research commissioned by DailyPay with the Aite-Novarica Group shows that 95% of those who once relied on payday loans or who paid overdraft fees can break the cycle of debt when they have a DailyPay option. As a result, 77% of employees who use DailyPay feel less financial stress.

The majority of Fortune 200 companies that have an on-demand pay benefit offer DailyPay, including 7 out of 10 of the country's largest quick-service restaurant chains.

About DailyPay

DailyPay, Inc., powered by its industry-leading technology platform, is on a mission to build a new financial system. Partnering with America's best-in-class employers, including Dollar Tree, Berkshire Hathaway and Adecco. DailyPay is the recognized gold standard in on-demand pay. Through its massive data network, proprietary funding model, and connections into over 6,000 endpoints in the banking system, DailyPay works to ensure that money is always in the right place at the right time for employers, merchants, and financial institutions. DailyPay is building technology and the mindset to reimagine the way money moves, from the moment work starts. DailyPay is headquartered in New York City, with operations based in Minneapolis. For more information, visit www.dailypay.com/press .

About Torchy's Tacos

The Torchy's Tacos story began 15 years ago in Austin, Texas, when a man with a dream bought a food trailer and a vibrant red Vespa. Mike Rypka, founder of Torchy's Tacos, built a menu out of experimental tacos that were coined by fans as "damn good." Today, Torchy's Tacos has over 95 locations across Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado, Arkansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Kansas, Indiana, North Carolina and Tennessee that are committed to serving only the highest quality ingredients. By living the Damn Good mantra, Torchy's Tacos is always innovating to deliver the most unique tacos, coveted queso and refreshing margaritas in the taco game, including the Taco of the Month, an untraditional taco offering that keeps taco junkies coming back for more. Visit www.torchystacos.com and follow on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for more information on Torchy's Tacos.

Media Contacts

David Schwarz

Email: [email protected]

Adriana Ball

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE DailyPay

Related Links

www.dailypay.com


LOS ANGELES, Dec. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Trending Today , an award-winning show airing on Fox Business on Saturdays at 12:30 pm EST, profiles marketplace leaders making business news headlines. Art Basel, Miami Beach sets the scene for the latest episode profiling artists and entrepreneurs innovating the marketplace. Trending Today traveled to Miami Beach for the global art fair, where artists, collectors, and celebrities converge for the business of blue-chip art. Other headliners in the latest episode include the following companies:

Quality Enterprises , a family-owned business focused on civil and large-scale construction projects, earned its INC. 5000 ranking for its 52-year legacy. "My grandfather started the business in 1969 out of Virginia Beach, Virginia, as a small electrical company. We do underground utilities, paving, concrete, and directional drilling. Our goal is to self-perform the entire project," says Allison Murrell, Chief Information Officer of Quality Enterprises. Today, the company resides in Naples, Florida, and has built a reputation for its directional drilling capabilities that reduce traffic disruptions during the construction process.

Stirista , a data-driven company based in San Antonio, Texas, made the INC. 5000 list for making the most of marketing dollars. The company uses proprietary data solutions to match marketing campaigns with ideal customers. "Stirista has data sets that we utilize for companies to make their data better or take our data to find new customers," says Ajay Gupta, C.E.O. Stirista. Stirista's omnichannel targeting matches the interests and knowledge of potential customers with marketing campaigns. "Our data is the best of the breed. Instead of spraying and praying and trying to hit anybody and everybody with your impressions, the idea is to efficiently and effectively spend your budget," says Brain Gold, Director of Strategic Partnerships, Stirista.

Ink Factory, based in Chicago, Illinois, is making business news headlines for its visual notetaking that transforms the way companies communicate complex information. "Ink Factory is a visual communications firm that specializes in visual notetaking. We take complex information and draw those words and pictures to make it more accessible and easy to understand. We can do that in a live format or with videos and illustrations. We also teach what we do," says Dusty Folwarczny, Co-founder and C.E.O. of Ink Factory. The company uses visuals to make connections between the content and the audience. "Our mission is to create visual experiences that inspire and engage. We pair with that our vision of a world where visuals are a universal language," says Ryan Robinson, Co-founder and C.M.O. of Ink Factory.

Trending Today also introduces you to the couple who launched a reality show about Overlanding, a form of adventure travel that goes off the road and sometimes off the grid to explore the world's remote places. Clay and Rachelle Croft founded Expedition Overland in 2010, investing their life savings to inspire people to transform their lives through travel. "At the end of the road, you realize that it's just the end of the road. It's what's in between them," says Clay Croft about exploring off the beaten path. "What drives the series is the opportunity to inspire, educate and equip our community of Overlanders." Episodes air on The Overlander Network and Amazon Prime.

The latest episode of Trending Today is now streaming on Binge Networks and YouTube.

About Trending Today:

Trending Today is a business show that features entrepreneurs and companies disrupting and innovating the business world. Learn how they build their brands as guests share their stories, passion, knowledge, and expertise to inspire entrepreneurship. Trending Today airs on Fox Business on Saturdays at 12:30 pm EST. Learn more about the show at www.TrendingToday.com

Media Contacts:

Liz Plummer, Executive Producer, C: 561 201 0506, [email protected]

Karen LeBlanc, Director of Publicity, C: 407.416.1566, [email protected]

SOURCE Trending Today
Walker & Dunlop's Joshua Rosen and Brad Annis leveraged their vast expertise and knowledge of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) programs to refinance the existing loans from the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) for each property. The team structured the financing for all five Aperion Care facilities under Section 232/223(a)7, and the debt for Rock River Health Care was arranged using Section 232/223(f). For Aperion Care Dekalb, the team effectively assisted the client in facilitating a transfer of physical assets (TPA), working through the complex processes associated with a change in the property's mortgagor and operator.

"Walker & Dunlop was happy to secure over $43 million in HUD-insured proceeds for our clients, helping these vital skilled nursing facilities  totaling to 640 beds across 277 units  continue operations throughout the pandemic," said Mr. Rosen. "Our team completely streamlined the process of the often time-intensive financing process, especially for the Aperion Care Dekalb financing assignment, which we successfully expedited using Section 232/223(a)7 in conjunction with a TPA."

Walker & Dunlop is the #1 provider of capital to the U.S. multifamily market and is ranked the 5th largest HUD lender1. In 2020 alone, the firm originated nearly $600 million of seniors housing, skilled nursing, and healthcare transactions through various capital sources. To learn more about our capabilities and financing options, visit our website.

About Walker & Dunlop

Walker & Dunlop (NYSE: WD) is the largest provider of capital to the multifamily industry in the United States and the fourth largest lender on all commercial real estate including industrial, office, retail, and hospitality. Walker & Dunlop enables real estate owners and operators to bring their visions of communities  where Americans live, work, shop and play  to life. The power of our people, premier brand, and industry-leading technology make us more insightful and valuable to our clients, providing an unmatched experience every step of the way. With over 1,000 employees across every major U.S. market, Walker & Dunlop has consistently been named one of Fortune's Great Places to Work and is committed to making the commercial real estate industry more inclusive and diverse while creating meaningful social, environmental, and economic change in our communities.

1 HUD.gov, based on origination volume for the agency's 2020 fiscal year

SOURCE Walker & Dunlop, Inc.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Walton Family Foundation announced today that Amy Saltzman will serve as a senior program officer leading the foundation's Mississippi River initiative, which seeks to support healthy soils, clean water and a restored and resilient Mississippi River system.

"Over the past five years, Amy has built an extensive understanding of the relationships and ecosystems in the Mississippi River region. That is exactly what the foundation needs as we continue to focus on building stronger communities centered on conserving nature," said Moira Mcdonald, director of the Walton Family Foundation Environment Program. "To be successful nationally, our climate adaptation strategies must center on water -- as we know that flooding, storm and drought are how people are experiencing climate change -- and must include people in rural communities who are living these impacts every day."

Since 2016, Amy has managed grants focused on agricultural conservation and climate resilience in the upper Mississippi River basin, as well as federal agricultural policy. She will now lead the team on its next five-year strategic plan. Before joining the foundation, Amy was a senior program analyst at the International Food Policy Research Institute's HarvestPlus program, focusing on the intersection of agriculture and nutrition in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Amy has also held positions at the Rural Coalition and the U.S. Department of State, and was a Fulbright fellow in Malawi, where she studied farmer behavior change. Amy received her B.A. from Cornell University and her M.P.A. from the University of Colorado. She grew up on a farm in southwest Iowa, where her family still produces corn and soybeans.

About the Walton Family Foundation

The Walton Family Foundation is, at its core, a family-led foundation. Three generations of the descendants of our founders, Sam and Helen Walton, and their spouses, work together to lead the foundation and create access to opportunity for people and communities. We work in three areas: improving K-12 education, protecting rivers and oceans and the communities they support, and investing in our home region of Northwest Arkansas and the Arkansas-Mississippi Delta. To learn more, visit waltonfamilyfoundation.org and follow us on Facebook , Twitter and Instagram .

SOURCE Walton Family Foundation
DUBLIN, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Smart Trash Bin Market Research Report by Distribution, End-user, and Region - Global Forecast to 2026 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The Global Smart Trash Bin Market size was estimated at USD 266.51 million in 2020, is expected to reach USD 301.55 million in 2021, and projected to grow at a CAGR of 13.48% reaching USD 569.33 million by 2026.

Market Statistics

The report provides market sizing and forecast across five major currencies - USD, EUR GBP, JPY, and AUD. It helps organization leaders make better decisions when currency exchange data is readily available. In this report, the years 2018 and 2019 are considered historical years, 2020 as the base year, 2021 as the estimated year, and years from 2022 to 2026 are considered the forecast period.

Competitive Strategic Window

The Competitive Strategic Window analyses the competitive landscape in terms of markets, applications, and geographies to help the vendor define an alignment or fit between their capabilities and opportunities for future growth prospects. It describes the optimal or favorable fit for the vendors to adopt successive merger and acquisition strategies, geography expansion, research & development, and new product introduction strategies to execute further business expansion and growth during a forecast period.



FPNV Positioning Matrix

The FPNV Positioning Matrix evaluates and categorizes the vendors in the Smart Trash Bin Market based on Business Strategy (Business Growth, Industry Coverage, Financial Viability, and Channel Support) and Product Satisfaction (Value for Money, Ease of Use, Product Features, and Customer Support) that aids businesses in better decision making and understanding the competitive landscape.



Market Share Analysis

The Market Share Analysis offers the analysis of vendors considering their contribution to the overall market. It provides the idea of its revenue generation into the overall market compared to other vendors in the space. It provides insights into how vendors are performing in terms of revenue generation and customer base compared to others. Knowing market share offers an idea of the size and competitiveness of the vendors for the base year. It reveals the market characteristics in terms of accumulation, fragmentation, dominance, and amalgamation traits.



Company Usability Profiles

The report profoundly explores the recent significant developments by the leading vendors and innovation profiles in the Global Smart Trash Bin Market, including BIN-e, BioEnable Technologies Pvt. Ltd., EKO USA, Enevo Oy, Garbi, Honey- Can -Do International, Inc., iTouchless Housewares & Products, Inc., Modernhome, Nine Stars Group (USA)Inc, Simplehuman, Smartbin, SmartTrash, Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc.,, Temboo, Inc, and The Home Depot Inc.



The report provides insights on the following pointers:

1. Market Penetration: Provides comprehensive information on the market offered by the key players

2. Market Development: Provides in-depth information about lucrative emerging markets and analyze penetration across mature segments of the markets

3. Market Diversification: Provides detailed information about new product launches, untapped geographies, recent developments, and investments

4. Competitive Assessment & Intelligence: Provides an exhaustive assessment of market shares, strategies, products, certification, regulatory approvals, patent landscape, and manufacturing capabilities of the leading players

5. Product Development & Innovation: Provides intelligent insights on future technologies, R&D activities, and breakthrough product developments



The report answers questions such as:

1. What is the market size and forecast of the Global Smart Trash Bin Market?

2. What are the inhibiting factors and impact of COVID-19 shaping the Global Smart Trash Bin Market during the forecast period?

3. Which are the products/segments/applications/areas to invest in over the forecast period in the Global Smart Trash Bin Market?

4. What is the competitive strategic window for opportunities in the Global Smart Trash Bin Market?

5. What are the technology trends and regulatory frameworks in the Global Smart Trash Bin Market?

6. What is the market share of the leading vendors in the Global Smart Trash Bin Market?

7. What modes and strategic moves are considered suitable for entering the Global Smart Trash Bin Market?



Key Topics Covered:



1. Preface



2. Research Methodology



3. Executive Summary



4. Market Overview

4.1. Introduction

4.2. Cumulative Impact of COVID-19



5. Market Dynamics

5.1. Introduction

5.2. Drivers

5.2.1. Preferences for touchless trash bins offering convenience and preventing cross-contamination of germs

5.2.2. Increasing applications in smart cities and efficient waste management systems

5.2.3. Increased use of wireless connecting devices and Internet of Things (IoT)

5.2.4. Older consumers and people with disabilities find touch-free option as value addition and convenient to operate

5.3. Restraints

5.3.1. Low and slow adoption of smart solutions in developing countries

5.4. Opportunities

5.4.1. Product innovation and technology improvement

5.5. Challenges

5.5.1. Technology providers converting any trash bin into a smart one



6. Smart Trash Bin Market, by Distribution

6.1. Introduction

6.2. Offline Mode

6.3. Online Mode



7. Smart Trash Bin Market, by End-user

7.1. Introduction

7.2. Commercial Segment

7.3. Residential Segment



8. Americas Smart Trash Bin Market

8.1. Introduction

8.2. Argentina

8.3. Brazil

8.4. Canada

8.5. Mexico

8.6. United States



9. Asia-Pacific Smart Trash Bin Market

9.1. Introduction

9.2. Australia

9.3. China

9.4. India

9.5. Indonesia

9.6. Japan

9.7. Malaysia

9.8. Philippines

9.9. Singapore

9.10. South Korea

9.11. Taiwan

9.12. Thailand



10. Europe, Middle East & Africa Smart Trash Bin Market

10.1. Introduction

10.2. France

10.3. Germany

10.4. Italy

10.5. Netherlands

10.6. Qatar

10.7. Russia

10.8. Saudi Arabia

10.9. South Africa

10.10. Spain

10.11. United Arab Emirates

10.12. United Kingdom



11. Competitive Landscape

11.1. FPNV Positioning Matrix

11.1.1. Quadrants

11.1.2. Business Strategy

11.1.3. Product Satisfaction

11.2. Market Ranking Analysis

11.3. Market Share Analysis, by Key Player

11.4. Competitive Scenario

11.4.1. Merger & Acquisition

11.4.2. Agreement, Collaboration, & Partnership

11.4.3. New Product Launch & Enhancement

11.4.4. Investment & Funding

11.4.5. Award, Recognition, & Expansion



12. Company Usability Profiles

12.1. BIN-e

12.2. BioEnable Technologies Pvt. Ltd.

12.3. EKO USA

12.4. Enevo Oy

12.5. Garbi

12.6. Honey- Can -Do International, Inc.

12.7. iTouchless Housewares & Products, Inc.

12.8. Modernhome

12.9. Nine Stars Group (USA)Inc.

12.10. Simplehuman

12.11. Smartbin

12.12. SmartTrash

12.13. Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc.,

12.14. Temboo, Inc.

12.15. The Home Depot Inc.



13. Appendix

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/gclk8i

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]



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Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716

SOURCE Research and Markets

Related Links

http://www.researchandmarkets.com


Situated in the heart of Panama City's Financial District, the sophisticated hotel provides easy access to the city's top attractions like the Old Quarter, Panama Canal, and Biomuseum. With 125 luxurious bedrooms and 48 executive residences, the hotel appeals to business and leisure travelers, corporate groups, and prominent social events, with more than 10,000 square feet of event space including a stylish Ballroom. One of the most recognized hotel in Panama City since it opened its doors in 1997, the elegantly designed property pays homage to Panama's rich architectural heritage, in a framework set with more than 50 works of modern art by renowned Latin American Artists and the hotel also offers a full-service spa, outdoor swimming pool, and modern Panamanian fusion cuisine.

Bristol Panama a Registry Collection Hotel is managed by VerdeAzul Hotels, a leading Panamanian company in the hotel sector. The hotel has been recognized as one of the 10 best hotels in the Caribbean and Central America by Conde Nast Traveler, by the travel guide "Forbes," and TripAdvisor's Travelers Choice Award. For more than 10 years it has been part of the Signature and Virtuoso programs for luxury travelers.

Handpicked to deliver incredible experiences in spectacular destinations, Registry Collection Hotels combine individuality with thoughtful design and world-class service. From unique architectural details to dream-worthy locations, every stay with Registry Collection Hotels is meant to be as unique and indulgent as the hotels themselves. The Bristol Panama, a Registry Collection Hotel, joins Grand Residences Riviera Cancun, a Registry Collection Hotel, which was introduced in June 2021 as the collection's flagship property.

"With our prestigious new Registry Collection Hotels brand, independent luxury hoteliers can take advantage of Wyndham's global reach and services," said Scott LePage, President Americas, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts. "The Bristol Panama is a luxury hospitality icon in Panama City, and we're honored to welcome the property to the Wyndham portfolio."

About Bristol Panama, a Registry Collection Hotel

Considered one of the most elegant hotels in the city, the Bristol Panama, a Registry Collection Hotel reflects Panama's rich architectural heritage in an atmosphere of magnificent sophistication in the heart of the financial district. Minutes from many lively and leisurely attractions, the hotel features 125 guestrooms, a Panamanian decor inspired bar and terrace, an outdoor swimming pool and solarium, a locally renowned Spa with breathtaking views and an extraordinary culinary experience inspired in Panamanian cuisine.

About Registry Collection Hotels

Get lost in your travels and let Registry Collection Hotels meet you there. With thoughtful design, brilliant service and unsurpassed attention to detail, our handpicked hotels and resorts deliver incredible experiences in spectacular destinations around the world. Book your next stay at www.registrycollectionhotels.com or visit www.wyndhamdevelopment.com to learn more about how we're elevating individuality for independent-minded luxury hotel owners and developers around the world. Registry Collection Hotels are affiliated with but separate from The Registry Collection, the world's largest luxury exchange program.

About Wyndham Hotels & Resorts

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts (NYSE: WH) is the world's largest hotel franchising company by the number of properties, with approximately 9,000 hotels across nearly 95 countries on six continents. Through its network of approximately 803,000 rooms appealing to the everyday traveler, Wyndham commands a leading presence in the economy and midscale segments of the lodging industry. The Company operates a portfolio of 22 hotel brands, including Super 8, Days Inn, Ramada, Microtel, La Quinta, Baymont, Wingate, AmericInn, Hawthorn Suites, Trademark Collection and Wyndham. Wyndham Hotels & Resorts is also a leading provider of hotel management services. The Company's award-winning Wyndham Rewards loyalty program offers over 90 million enrolled members the opportunity to redeem points at thousands of hotels, vacation club resorts and vacation rentals globally. For more information, visit www.wyndhamhotels.com .

Media Contacts:

Scott Carman

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts

[email protected]

SOURCE Wyndham Hotels & Resorts
NORWALK, Conn., Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Cybersecurity software company Zorus, Inc., announced today it has closed its Series A investment round led by Asymmetric Capital Partners with additional capital coming from Innospark Ventures and existing seed investor General Catalyst.

Fueled by rapid expansion in 2021, Zorus will be utilizing the $9 million in additional funding to introduce new services to its cyber security suite. Zorus plans to add extensive detection and response security solutions on top of its filtering engine. Currently, Zorus sells A.I.-focused web filtering and productivity monitoring software as a service exclusively through the managed service provider network.

Zorus CEO Ian McChord explained, "Today's I.T. infrastructure requires an endpoint-first approach. Security starting at the user provides a better level of protection than previous router- or network-based solutions. What we can do to protect users and their businesses on top of the Zorus filtering agent is almost limitless." Prior to running Zorus, McChord led the product team at Datto, from early 2011 to the company's sale to Vista Equity Partners in 2018.

Zorus also announced the formation of a new board of directors that includes: Austin McChord, founder and CEO of Datto until the company's acquisition, and currently CEO of Casana; and Paul Sagan, a senior advisor at General Catalyst, and formerly CEO of Akamai and Non-Executive Chair of Datto.

About Zorus

Zorus, Inc., focuses exclusively on developing innovative new technologies for the I.T. channel, providing best-in-class cybersecurity products to MSP partners to help them grow their business and protect their clients. Zorus was founded in 2017 by Greg Gage, former Director of Research and Development at Datto. Gage now leads engineering at Zorus as CTO. The company's leadership team also includes CEO Ian McChord, another Datto veteran, Chris Keith and Mike Hruza, who are responsible for revenue and finance, respectively. For more: www.zorustech.com

About Asymmetric

Asymmetric Capital Partners ("Asymmetric'') seeks to partner with disruptive technology and internet companies by offering founders, early investors, and limited partners transparent, research-driven, and operator-centric capital. The firm uses a thesis-driven approach to preemptively identify opportunities and takes pride in being both open-minded and rigorous in its investment approach. Asymmetric invests primarily in the Seed through Series C stages, with an aim to back visionary leaders seeking to disrupt large markets and, when sensible, to invest throughout a company's life cycle.

About General Catalyst

General Catalyst is a venture capital firm that invests in powerful, positive change that endures  for our entrepreneurs, our investors, our people, and society. We support founders with a long-term view who challenge the status quo, partnering with them from seed to growth stage and beyond to build companies that withstand the test of time. With offices in San Francisco, Palo Alto, New York City, London, and Boston, the firm has helped support the growth of businesses such as: Airbnb, Datto, Deliveroo, Guild, Gusto, Hubspot, Illumio, Lemonade, Livongo, Oscar, Samsara, Snap, Stripe, and Warby Parker. For more: www.generalcatalyst.com.

About Innospark

Innospark Ventures is a new breed of early-stage venture capital firm, investing in impact-driven AI startups in Boston/New England.

SOURCE Zorus
GUANGZHOU, China, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Themed "Multilateralism 2.0: Global Cooperation in the Post-Pandemic Era", the 2021 Imperial Springs International Forum concluded in Guangzhou on December 6. Over 160 guests from political, academic, and business circles in more than 30 countries attended the forum online or on-site.

Guests exchanged insights and inspirations on six key themes, respectively "Multilateralism and Sustainable Development", "Advancing Reform and Opening-up, Promoting Win-Win Cooperation", "Global Governance and China's Perspective", "Inclusive, Sustainable and Resilient Cities in the Belt and Road Initiative", "The Belt and Road Initiative for New Opportunities and New Cooperation" and "China-Australia Economic and Trade Relations". The discussions are highlighted by the consensus on the major role multilateralism plays in post-pandemic global cooperation, and the release of the 2021 Imperial Springs Statement.

As the Statement suggests, human beings are a community of shared future. Delegates from various nations agreed on fighting the pandemic and addressing global challenges as a unified whole. No country is immune to the threats of COVID-19, which is why solidarity and cooperation are the essential components of the cure, something the world needs now more than ever.

Margaret Chan, Founding Dean of Tsinghua Vanke School of Public Health and former Director-General of the World Health Organization, said at a session on the morning of Dec. 6th that the pandemic has exposed the weakness in global health governance and cooperation. In this interconnected world full of uncertainties, global cooperation is necessary to solving our common challenges and improving global health governance.

The 2021 Imperial Springs Statement calls for concrete actions from all countries to enhance multilateral cooperation, uphold the international system with UN at its core, and stand by the basic norms governing international relations based on the principles of the UN Charter.

In his video message, Antonio Guterres, former Secretary-General of the United Nations called for "a more inclusive network and effective multilateralism", suggesting that new multilateralism solutions are needed to address common challenges facing mankind.

Gordon Brown, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom said at the forum that problems like social injustices, climate change, vaccine inequalities and digital insecurities are global in nature, which require global solutions. The world needs to act together at this very time.

Esko Aho, former Prime Minister of Finland said countries must work together to make common rules and promote open, multilateral trade to enable win-win and make sure everyone is "able to be joined to the common goals and objectives".

A prevalent belief among participants is that, to address global challenges, countries should advocate common values of mankind, consistently uphold multilateralism and promote the democratization of international relations. Only by advancing solidarity and cooperation under the new paradigm of win-win and common development, can the world build a community with a shared future for mankind.

SOURCE 2021 Imperial Springs International Forum
NEW YORK, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Capping off a strong year, 360PR+ has made a string of new hires, adding capacity and additional expertise in several sectors and service areas. Bethany Mousseau joins as Vice President, Nadine Gaynor joins as Account Director, Ryan Hathaway joins as Influencer Marketing Manager and Brianna Coleman joins as Senior Designer, among other new staff who have recently joined the agency.

Mousseau brings 20 years of experience for lifestyle brands and a passion for outdoor, active living. While at Momentum Media, she oversaw public relations, influencer marketing and affiliate programs for well-known, coveted brands, among them Teva, Stanley, Superfeet, ECCO, Mustang Survival and Sea to Summit. Mousseau also worked with New Balance and Powerbar while at Stanwood & Partners and began her career at Weber Shandwick.

Gaynor brings more than a decade of experience in beauty, wellness, and hospitality. She joins 360PR+ from RVD Communications, where she had the opportunity to work with prominent hospitality clients throughout the New York metropolitan area. Her previous experience includes working at ShopPR and Creative Media Marketing, with clients including John Paul Mitchell Systems, La Roche Posay, Dermalogica, Weleda, NuFACE, and SkinMedica. Gaynor is a hands-on media strategist who has led both C-suite thought-leadership communications and extensive product PR campaigns.

Ryan Hathaway joins 360PR+ from Influence Central, where he managed influencer programs for clients such as Reebok, Invisalign, Amazon and SONIC. At 360, he provides trends and best practices in influencer marketing to clients across the agency and directly manages influencer activations for clients such as Nintendo, illy, WellPet and Silver Hills Sprouted Bakery. Hathaway's experience is rooted in a combination of influencer marketing, social media, content creation and journalism.

Brianna Coleman joins 360PR+ as a Senior Designer in the Content Innovation & Integration practice. Brianna has a background in creative design and studio photography. Previously, Brianna served as an Art Director for Milk Street, helping to establish Milk Street as an influential multi-media cooking company.

Also joining 360PR+ recently are Lucy Kaneb, Account Executive, and Bella DiPietro, Account Coordinator.

"We're so pleased to be adding the significant expertise and different perspectives these new team members bring to their roles and our culture at 360," commented Victoria Renwick, Partner and Executive Vice President at the agency. "We continue to attract and retain the very best talent at 360 and are well-positioned to serve clients in new ways and in new sectors as we head into 2022 and beyond."

About 360PR+

Celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2021, 360PR+ is an award-winning, creative, independent agency recognized for its bold, headline-making and business-driving campaigns for some of the most trusted global brands and forward-thinking marketplace challengers. 360PR+ clients include ACPS Automotive, America's Test Kitchen, Buitoni, Bright Horizons Family Solutions, Gerber Childrenswear, Hasbro, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Co., Netflix, Nintendo of America, illy caffe, Pete & Gerry's Organic Eggs, Drizly, Mass. Bay Brewing Co., Sagamore Spirit, The Rockport Company, Travelpro, Trek Bicycle, Virgin Airlines, Vrbo and WellPet among others. 360PR+ is a partner in PROI Worldwide, bringing clients expertise in 100+ cities globally. For more, visit www.360PR.plus.

SOURCE 360PR+
Why:

The fight for social justice is central to the work that CAPA does to reduce alcohol-related harm in our

communities. This year's summit is an invitation to continue together in the direction of reclaiming our

collective power to make systems change. With this summit, CAPA is launching a series of discussions that will continue

to move us further along in our journey. In 2022 CAPA will be hosting panels, discussions and presentations to further our

analysis and our capacity for partnership and advocacy. We hope you will join us as we identify intersectional partnerships

in public health, policy, and research to inform social justice in alcohol policy.
NEW YORK, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- A data of a year-long study of Livestream shopping, based on 30 live shopping sessions hosted on buywith by a global fashion brand, showed unprecedented KPI:

15% average conversion rate (with the highest 22% for a single session)

Up to 10x conversion rate vs. on-site conversions

Average ROI 10

Increased AOV

Access to new audiences

The most determining Livestream shopping sessions' success factors were:

The host's knowledge of the brand and ability to maintain high session engagement

Cross-channel session promotion

Exclusive offers as a session sign-up incentive

"We are thrilled to learn the results of this case study. Livestream shopping is a powerful sale channel, and it is here to stay. Livestream shopping not only demonstrates outstanding ROI but also fosters loyalty and enables brands to capture new audiences", said Adi Ronen Almagor , the CEO and Co-Founder of buywith.

Liel Anisenko, buywith's Head of Marketing, added, "The case study underlines how remarkable the Livestream shopping channel is. The power of the influencers combined with the buywith technology helps speed up the buyer's journey from awareness to purchase in a record time."

About buywith

buywith is a Livestream Shopping platform based on innovative patent-pending technology. In the hot Livestream shopping space, the uniqueness of the buywith solution lies in the session host's ability to take viewers on an exciting shopping journey experience directly on the e-commerce site, combined with a video, chat, and a shoppable "WANT" button.

Buywith's frictionless Livestream shopping experience enables end-users to join sessions without a need for mobile app download. Brands can use the solution on their e-commerce website without code integration, and the hosts don't need any equipment other than a mobile phone.

The Livestream shopping trend is booming in China and growing fast in the US, estimated to reach $25 billion by 2023.

The company was founded in 2018 by Adi Ronen (CEO & Co-Founder) and Eyal Sinai (CTO & Co-Founder) with offices in Tel Aviv and New York. buywith is working with world-class brands in the fashion and beauty industries across the US, Europe, and the Middle East and is backed by private investors and VCs from Europe and the US.

For more information, please visit www.buywith.com or contact Ms. Liel Anisenko: [email protected].

SOURCE buywith
LAKE FOREST, Ill., Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- "Relationships matter" has been the motto of Diamond Residential Mortgage Corporation (DRMC) since its inception in 2009. Diamond Residential Mortgage Corporation strives to preserve this core value while growing and embracing new technologies. One area of focus is the digital age of mortgage loan origination which brings to mind this question:

How do you transition into the digital age of mortgage loan origination while preserving this core value?

Paul Diamond (CEO) and Richard Smith (CPO) posed this question to Matt Eskew in the fall of 2019. Matt has spent the last 15+ years of his professional career fully immersed in analytics and digital marketing. His roles span from managing performance-based marketing campaigns for fortune 500 companies to managing multimillion-dollar budgets for digital retailers to, most recently, running a lead generation company in the financial services vertical. So, when Matt approached DRMC in the late summer of 2019, he was looking for an opportunity to build a digital channel that optimized the borrowers' experience from their first click to post-close.

Matt's approach to digital marketing has always been very hands-on. He embraced the opportunity to build a digital channel at DRMC by achieving full licensing as a mortgage loan originator. After personally beta testing the lead program and optimizing it for over two years while successfully closing nearly 100 loans, the lead program moves out of beta testing and is offered to the DRMC branches. Matt has been promoted to the Director of Digital Strategy and will continue to manage the online lead program at DRMC.

The lead program is built around the strengths of DRMC. We value the strong relationships our loan officers have established in their local communities and the financial expertise they provide to their referral partners and borrowers. The program's goal is to strengthen the loan officers' position in the market. We see a hyper-aggressive market competing for business online. This has resulted in an impersonal rate-driven approach with companies compromising quality, relying too heavily on automation, and unqualified customer service call centers. We believe this does not result in the best customer service and financial advice for the borrowers and is a zero-sum game DRMC does not want to play.

Instead, DRMC is marketing niche programs and focusing on solutions-based digital marketing. We use targeted digital marketing methods to reach users looking for specific products and/or solutions and connect them directly to a local, fully licensed loan officer.

Quote:

"Most lenders that provide company leads are sourcing leads for FHA and conventional loans which are highly competitive. The beautiful thing about the leads Diamond Residential Mortgage Corporation provides is that they are sourcing leads on niche products with little to no competition. This improves conversion ratios."  Jennifer Goldsby, VP, Renovation Lending

About Diamond Residential Mortgage Corporation

Diamond Residential Mortgage Corporation is a Midwestern-based mortgage banker with corporate headquarters in Lake Forest, Illinois. Founded in 2009 by Paul Diamond, DRMC has since expanded to over 30 branch locations across the United States.

For more information on Product:

https://diamondresidential.com/

SOURCE Diamond Residential Mortgage Corporation
Using a fundamentally different approach, scientists at Gladstone Institutes discovered a new type of antivirals that can track the evolution of the virus, which significantly reduces the chance that new variants could reduce the efficacy of the treatment.

In a new study published in the journal Cell, the researchers engineered a single-dose treatment for SARS-CoV-2 that can be delivered intranasally. Their novel approach is based on the concept of therapeutic interfering particles, often called TIPs, which was pioneered by Gladstone Senior Investigator Leor Weinberger, PhD.

He and his team report the discovery of the first TIP, showing it can inhibit SARS-CoV-2 and its variants, and withstand the virus's ability to evolve new resistant variants. They showed, in animals, that TIPs dramatically reduced the amount of SARS-CoV-2 virus found in the lungs and protected the animals from disease.

"The past 2 years have impressed upon the world how much we need new antiviral strategies," says Harmit Malik, PhD, professor at the Basic Sciences Division at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, who was not involved in the study. "The design and use of TIPs has always held incredible promise of providing a simple-to-administer, highly effective antiviral strategy that can resist viral adaptation. This study is a true inflection point, showing that the powerful TIPs technology is not just theoretically possible, but imminently within reach."

A New "Hijacker" Therapy

When a virus like SARS-CoV-2 infects a cell, it takes over the cell's machinery and transforms it into a factory to produce more virus. TIPs are designed to exploit the virus's machinery, converting the infected cell from a virus-producing factory into a therapy-producing factory. If the virus is said to hijack the cell, the TIP "hijacks the hijacker."

And as the virus evolves, TIPs adopt the same mutations as the virus in order to survive, because they need the virus's machinery to replicate. As a result, TIPs continually track the virus's evolution.

"Viruses are dynamic, they mutate, yet our current medical countermeasures are staticthere is a fundamental mismatch between our tools and the diseases we're trying to treat," says Weinberger, William and Ute Bowes Distinguished Professor, director of the Center for Cell Circuitry at Gladstone, and professor of biochemistry and biophysics, and pharmaceutical chemistry at UC San Francisco. "Ultimately, if we want to effectively control viruses like SARS-CoV-2, we will need therapies that bridge this mismatch and keep up with the virus as it evolves."

Weinberger's team has now developed a TIP for SARS-CoV-2the first antiviral with the capacity to track viral evolution.

In the study, the researchers tested the TIP in cells derived from patients. Using lipid nanoparticles (similar to how mRNA vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer are delivered), they also delivered the TIP as a single dose in the nose of live infected hamsters, either before or after infection. The treatment reduced the viral load in the lungs by 100-fold.

They found that TIPs prevented disease by reducing the number of viral particles released from an infected cell. TIPs also reduced the inflammation that can cause many COVID-19 complications and prevented pulmonary edema, the main driver of COVID-19 related deaths. What's more, only the single dose was required since TIPs could spread their antiviral properties to new cells when the virus was present.

The researchers then demonstrated that TIPs are effective against variants of SARS-CoV-2. They specifically tested the Alpha variant first identified in the United Kingdom and the Beta variant first identified in South Africa, as well as TIPs' potential against the SARS virus that spread in 2003. They are now testing against new variants.

"Our study provides proof-of-concept that TIPs could overcome the need to constantly update our therapies and vaccines to fight against new virus mutations," says Sonali Chaturvedi, PhD, first and co-corresponding author of the study and research investigator at Gladstone. "In the case of SARS-CoV-2, this single-administration intranasal treatment could provide longer lasting protection against the virus and its variants than current vaccines."

Decades in the Making

More than two decades ago, while Weinberger was a graduate student, he proposed the theoretical underpinnings of the TIP concept and how to engineer them, based on discoveries from the 1950s by a Danish microbiologist showing that viruses form defective particles that "piggyback" to interfere with viral replication. The term "TIP" was coined in a follow-up paper published by Weinberger in 2011.

The idea for TIPs was conceived to address problems in HIV treatment with an approach that could overcome antiviral drug resistance and act as a single-administration therapy. It was specifically designed to treat the highest-risk populations in the most resource-limited settings, such as sub-Saharan Africa.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Weinberger and his team were approached by the US government, who was funding their HIV clinical trials, to repurpose the TIP approach to the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

The team is now working to rapidly move TIPs for both HIV and SARS-CoV-2 to clinical trials, which are already funded by the National Institutes of Health and the US Department of Defense.

"These data show for the first time that the interfering particle concept is a reality in vivo, opening the door for a new class of antivirals that should be broadly applicable when tailored for different viruses," says Nancy Haigwood, PhD, professor and director of the Oregon National Primate Center, who was not involved in the research. "The current study clearly demonstrates mitigation of inflammation and disease in a relevant model for SARS-CoV-2, and the use of single-dose nasal delivery is icing on the cake. It is welcome news for a disease that has battered the planet's inhabitants since 2019."

About the Study

The paper "Identification of a Therapeutic Interfering Particlea single-dose SARS-CoV-2 antiviral intervention with a high barrier to resistance" was published in the print issue of the journal Cell on December 9, 2021.

Other authors include Gustavo Vasen, Michael Pablo, Xinyue Chen, Arjun Kumar, Elizabeth Tanner, Pei-Yi Chen, Blaise Ndjamen, and Melanie Ott from Gladstone; Nathan Beutler, Thomas Rogers, and David M. Smith from UC San Diego; Sylvia Illouz, Donna Rahgoshay, and Robert Rodick from VxBiosciences Inc.; and John Burnett and Leo Holguin from the Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope.

This work was supported by Pamela and Edward Taft, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (grant DP1DA051144-01S1), and a grant from the Military Infectious Diseases Research Program (MTEC 2020-492) to VxBiosciences Inc.

About Gladstone Institutes

To ensure our work does the greatest good, Gladstone Institutes focuses on conditions with profound medical, economic, and social impactunsolved diseases. Gladstone is an independent, nonprofit life science research organization that uses visionary science and technology to overcome disease. It has an academic affiliation with the University of California, San Francisco.

Media Contact:

Julie Langelier,

Associate Director, Communications,

[email protected],

415.734.5000,

1650 Owens Street,

San Francisco, CA 94158,

gladstone.org,

@GladstoneInst

SOURCE Gladstone Institutes

Related Links

https://gladstone.org


PHOENIX, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Advisor Group, the nation's largest network of independent wealth management firms, today announced the successful recruitment to its network of Wade Roberts and John Hachey, two independent financial advisors based in Georgia that between them oversee $164 million in total client assets.

The separate solo advisory practices have joined Advisor Group through its subsidiary and network member firm Triad Advisors for brokerage services and Triad Hybrid Solutions, one of Triad's two corporate registered investment advisors, to support their fee-based books of business. Advisor Group also includes FSC Securities, Royal Alliance Associates, SagePoint Financial, Securities America and Woodbury Financial Services.

Jeff Rosenthal, CEO and President of Triad Advisors, said, "It's a tremendous win for Triad Advisors and Triad Hybrid Solutions to bring aboard two experienced professionals such as Wade Roberts and John Hachey. These are experienced advisors with decades of success serving investors in central Georgia who have the entrepreneurial spirit and drive to grow that we look for in the advisors with whom we collaborate. We look forward to partnering with both towards our mutual success."

With 25 years of experience as financial advisor, Mr. Roberts' transition to Advisor Group and Triad mark his first entry into the independent channel. Through his practice based in Woodstock, Ga., he specializes in wealth planning, estate planning and overall portfolio management.

Mr. Roberts said, "I had been searching for the most fitting partners to help me take the next step in the growth and development of my business, and I can say wholeheartedly that I have found those partners in Advisor Group and Triad. Working with them will give me the chance to explore true independence while still leveraging the support, technology and services of a world-class wealth management organization."

Based in Kennesaw, Ga., Mr. Hachey provides his clients investment counsel, holistic financial planning services, life-transition planning and retirement planning. He has 19 years' experience as a financial advisor.

Mr. Hachey said, "For years, my clients have trusted me to provide financial counsel through all stages of their lives, and collaborating with Triad and Advisor Group broadens and enhances my ability to serve them. They give me the flexibility and freedom as an independent business owner to serve my clients as I choose, to the best of my ability."

Greg Cornick, Advisor Group's President, Advice & Wealth Management, said, "Jeff Rosenthal and the Triad team continue to drive strong results in recruiting outstanding advisors to the Advisor Group platform. Triad's versatility in supporting diverse business models is a true differentiator in the market, and Triad continues to demonstrate its strength as a destination firm for entrepreneurial advisors such as Wade Roberts and John Hachey, effectively supporting them in raising their growth trajectory."

About Triad Advisors

Triad Advisors is part of Advisor Group, one of the nation's largest networks of independent financial professionals. Headquartered in Atlanta, Triad is a national broker-dealer as well as a multi-custodial registered investment adviser firm that was an early pioneer and continued leader in the hybrid registered investment adviser marketplace. The company has more than 600 financial providers on its platform and provides a comprehensive set of products, trading and technology systems, as well as customized wealth management strategies. For more information, please visit www.triad-advisors.com.

About Advisor Group

Advisor Group, Inc. is the nation's largest network of independent wealth management firms, serving approximately 10,100 financial professionals and overseeing over $475 billion in client assets. The firm is mission-driven to support the strategic role that advisors can play in the lives of their clients. Cultivating a spirit of entrepreneurship and independence, Advisor Group champions the enduring value of financial professionals and is committed to being in their corner every step of the way. For more information visit http://www.advisorgroup.com.

Securities and investment advisory services are offered through the firms: FSC Securities Corporation, Royal Alliance Associates, Inc., SagePoint Financial, Inc., Triad Advisors, LLC, and Woodbury Financial Services, Inc., broker-dealers, registered investment advisers, and members of FINRA and SIPC. Securities are offered through Securities America, Inc., a broker-dealer and member of FINRA and SIPC. Advisory services are offered through Arbor Point Advisors, LLC, Ladenburg Thalmann Asset Management, Inc., Securities America Advisors, Inc., and Triad Hybrid Solutions, LLC, registered investment advisers. Advisory programs offered by FSC Securities Corporation, Royal Alliance Associates, Inc., SagePoint Financial, Inc., and Woodbury Financial Services, Inc., are sponsored by VISION2020 Wealth Management Corp., an affiliated registered investment adviser. Advisor Group, Inc. is an affiliate of these firms. 20 E. Thomas Rd., Ste. 2000, Phoenix, AZ, 85012. 866.481.0379.

Media Inquiries

Joseph Kuo / Chris Clemens

Haven Tower Group

[email protected] or [email protected]

424 317 4851 or 424 317 4854

SOURCE Advisor Group
BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Mich., Dec. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Agree Realty Corporation (NYSE: ADC) (the "Company") today announced the pricing of its public offering of 5,000,000 shares of its common stock at a public offering price of $68.15 per share in connection with the forward sale agreements described below. The Company also granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 750,000 shares of common stock. The offering is expected to close on or about December 13, 2021.

Wells Fargo Securities, BofA Securities and Morgan Stanley are acting as lead joint book-running managers for the offering. Citi, Jefferies and J.P. Morgan are acting as book-running managers for the offering and Raymond James, Stifel, Mizuho Securities, BTIG, Capital One Securities, Regions Securities, Baird, Berenberg Capital Markets, Janney Montgomery Scott, and Ladenburg Thalmann are acting as co-managers for the offering.

The Company has entered into forward sale agreements with Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, Bank of America, N.A. and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC (the "forward purchasers") with respect to 5,000,000 shares of its common stock (and expects to enter into forward sale agreements with respect to an aggregate of 5,750,000 shares if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional shares in full). In connection with the forward sale agreements, the forward purchasers or their affiliates are expected to borrow and sell to the underwriters an aggregate of 5,000,000 shares of the common stock that will be delivered in this offering (or an aggregate of 5,750,000 shares if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional shares in full). Subject to its right to elect cash or net share settlement, which right is subject to certain conditions, the Company intends to deliver, upon physical settlement of such forward sale agreements on one or more dates specified by the Company occurring no later than December 8, 2022, an aggregate of 5,000,000 shares of its common stock (or an aggregate of 5,750,000 shares if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional shares in full) to the forward purchasers in exchange for cash proceeds per share equal to the applicable forward sale price, which will be the public offering price, less underwriting discounts and commissions, and will be subject to certain adjustments as provided in the forward sale agreements.

The Company will not initially receive any proceeds from the sale of shares of its common stock by the forward purchasers. The Company expects to use the net proceeds, if any, it receives upon the future settlement of the forward sale agreements for general corporate purposes, including to fund property acquisitions and development activity. Selling common stock through the forward sale agreements enables the Company to set the price of such shares upon pricing the offering (subject to certain adjustments) while delaying the issuance of such shares and the receipt of the net proceeds by the Company until the expected funding requirements described above have occurred.

Copies of the prospectus supplement relating to this offering, when available, may be obtained by contacting: Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, 500 West 33rd Street, 14th Floor, New York, New York 10001, Attention: Equity Syndicate Department, telephone: (800) 326-5897, email: [email protected], BofA Securities, Inc., 200 North College Street, 3rd Floor, Charlotte, NC 28255-0001, Attention Prospectus Department, email: [email protected], or Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Attn: Prospectus Department, 180 Varick Street, 2nd Floor, New York, New York 10014.

This offering is being made pursuant to an effective shelf registration statement and related prospectus filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). A prospectus supplement relating to the offering will be filed with the SEC. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.

About Agree Realty Corporation

Agree Realty Corporation is a publicly traded real estate investment trust that is RETHINKING RETAIL through the acquisition and development of properties net leased to industry-leading, omni-channel retail tenants. As of September 30, 2021, the Company owned and operated a portfolio of 1,338 properties, located in 47 states and containing approximately 27.7 million square feet of gross leasable area. The Company's common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "ADC".

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including statements about the terms and size of the offering, the intended use of proceeds from the offering, if any, and future settlement of its forward sales agreements, that represent the Company's expectations and projections for the future. No assurance can be given that the offering discussed above will be completed on the terms described or at all, or that the net proceeds of the offering will be used as indicated. Although these forward-looking statements are based on good faith beliefs, reasonable assumptions and the Company's best judgment reflecting current information, you should not rely on forward-looking statements since they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which are, in some cases, beyond the Company's control and which could materially affect the Company's results of operations, financial condition, cash flows, performance or future achievements or events. Currently, one of the most significant factors, however, is the potential adverse effect of the current pandemic of the novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, on the financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and performance of the Company and its tenants, the real estate market and the global economy and financial markets. The extent to which COVID-19 impacts the Company and its tenants will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted with confidence, including the scope, severity and duration of the pandemic, the actions taken to contain the pandemic or mitigate its impact, and the direct and indirect economic effects of the pandemic and containment measures, among others. Moreover, investors are cautioned to interpret many of the risks identified in the risk factors discussed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 and other SEC filings, as well as the risks set forth below, as being heightened as a result of the ongoing and numerous adverse impacts of COVID-19. Additional important factors, among others, that may cause the Company's actual results to vary include the general deterioration in national economic conditions, weakening of real estate markets, decreases in the availability of credit, increases in interest rates, adverse changes in the retail industry, the Company's continuing ability to qualify as a REIT and other factors discussed in the Company's reports filed with the SEC. The forward-looking statements included in this press release are made as of the date hereof. Unless legally required, the Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in the Company's expectations or assumptions or otherwise.

For further information about the Company's business and financial results, please refer to the "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and "Risk Factors" sections of the Company's SEC filings, including, but not limited to, its Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, copies of which may be obtained at the Investor Relations section of the Company's website.

SOURCE Agree Realty Corporation
The air freshener market in India is expected to grow by USD 98.33 bn from 2021 to 2026. The growth momentum of the market will decelerate at a CAGR of 7.61%. The market is expected to post a year-over-year growth rate of 8.97%.

Are you looking for customized information about the air freshener market in India? Speak to Our Analyst Now

Key Vendors and their Offerings

Some of the key vendor offerings in the air freshener market share in India are mentioned below:

Air France-KLM Group - The company offers different types of car air fresheners products such as Pet-Friendly Air Freshener Refill, Incense Cone, Sambrani Cup, and others.

The company offers different types of car air fresheners products such as Pet-Friendly Air Freshener Refill, Incense Cone, Sambrani Cup, and others. Dabur India Ltd. - The company offers different types of air fresheners under the brand name Odonil.

The company offers different types of air fresheners under the brand name Odonil. Godrej Consumer Products Ltd. - The company offers different types of air fresheners products for homes, cars, and others.

The company offers different types of air fresheners products for homes, cars, and others. Mangalam Organics Ltd. - The company offers air fresheners under the brand name CamPure in different types of flavors such as Cone - Original, Cone - Rose, Air Purifier - Original Camphor, and others.

The company offers air fresheners under the brand name CamPure in different types of flavors such as Cone - Original, Cone - Rose, Air Purifier - Original Camphor, and others. MCL INDIA - The company offers different types of air fresheners for rooms, cars, and others.

For more information on the key vendors operating in the air freshener market share in India, View Our Free Sample

Market Segmentation Analysis

The market has been segmented by type (spray, liquid, gel, electric, and others) and application (automotive, home, and bathroom).

By type, the spray segment is expected to have significant market share growth during the forecast period.

is expected to have significant market share growth during the forecast period. The benefits of spray or aerosol air fresheners have increased their demand for multiple applications.

To learn about the contribution of each segment of the market, View Our Free Sample

Notes:

The air freshener market in India is expected to decelerate at a CAGR of 7.61% during the forecast period.

is expected to during the forecast period. The air freshener market in India is segmented by type (spray, liquid, gel, electric, and others) and application (automotive, home, and bathroom).

is segmented by type (spray, liquid, gel, electric, and others) and application (automotive, home, and bathroom). The market is fragmented due to the presence of many vendors holding significant market share.

due to the presence of many vendors holding significant market share. The research report offers information on several market vendors, including Air France-KLM Group, Dabur India Ltd., Godrej Consumer Products Ltd., Mangalam Organics Ltd., MCL INDIA , MidasCare Pharmaceuticals Pvt. Ltd., Reckitt Benckiser Group Plc, S. C. Johnson and Son Inc., The Procter and Gamble Co., and The Raymond Corp.

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Air Freshener Market In India Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2021 Forecast period 2022-2026 Growth momentum & CAGR Decelerate at a CAGR of 7.61% Market growth 2022-2026 USD 98.33 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 8.97 Regional analysis India Performing market contribution India at 100% Key consumer countries India Competitive landscape Leading companies, competitive strategies, consumer engagement scope Companies profiled Air France-KLM Group, Dabur India Ltd., Godrej Consumer Products Ltd., Mangalam Organics Ltd., MCL INDIA, MidasCare Pharmaceuticals Pvt. Ltd., Reckitt Benckiser Group Plc, S. C. Johnson and Son Inc., The Procter and Gamble Co., and The Raymond Corp. Market Dynamics Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and future consumer dynamics, market condition analysis for the forecast period Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized.

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Contact

Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media & Marketing Executive

US: +1 844 364 1100

UK: +44 203 893 3200

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.technavio.com/

SOURCE Technavio
OSLO, Norway, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Akastor ASA's (OSE: AKAST) 50% owned affiliate AKOFS Offshore AS (AKOFS Offshore) has signed a firm three-year contract with Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. (Petrobras) for its vessel "Skandi Santos" which will perform a broad scope of subsea services in Brazil. The services will commence in Q4 2022 and the total contract value is about USD 107 million. AKOFS Offshore will be performing the Skandi Santos operations with its partners Bravante for marine services and IKM Subsea for ROV services.

The Skandi Santos is designed to install and retrieve subsea trees and modules, including subsea structures and manifolds at water depths of up to 2,500 meters. The vessel is now completing its current contract with Petrobras which began March 1, 2010.

AKOFS Offshore, headquartered in Oslo, Norway, is a global provider of vessel based subsea well intervention and installation services to the oil and gas industry. In addition to the vessel "Skandi Santos", it also operates the vessels "Aker Wayfarer" and "AKOFS Seafarer", respectively for Petrobras and Equinor. The Company is owned by Akastor AS (50%), Mitsui & Co., Ltd (25%) and Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (25%).

For further information, please contact:

yvind Paaske

Chief Financial Officer

Tel: +47 917 59 705

E-mail: [email protected]

This press release may include forward-looking information or statements and is subject to our disclaimer; see https://akastor.com.

Akastor is a Norway-based oil-services investment company with a portfolio of industrial holdings and other investments. The company has a flexible mandate for active ownership and long-term value creation.

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

SOURCE Akastor ASA
SEGUIN, Texas, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Alamo Group Inc. (NYSE: ALG) is pleased to announce that it has expanded the membership of its Board of Directors from eight to nine members and has appointed Nina Grooms as a new independent member of the Board, effective December 9, 2021.

Ms. Grooms has three decades of industry experience and is currently Chief Product Officer of May Mobility. Based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, May Mobility is a leader in autonomous vehicle technology with a mission to transform communities through the development and deployment of safe and accessible autonomous vehicles. Ms. Grooms has been with May Mobility since 2020 and before that served in various management positions with Ford Motor Company, most recently as Chief Product Owner for Ford's Autonomous Vehicle Software Solutions Group. Prior to her service with Ford, from 2012 to 2017, Ms. Grooms held various managerial positions with the General Electric Company, including as Vice-President, Global Customer & Services Marketing, IoT Software at GE Digital. Ms. Grooms holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley and an MBA from Harvard University.

Roderick R. Baty, Alamo Group's Chairman said "We are extremely pleased that Nina has joined Alamo Group's Board. She brings valuable experience gained working in managerial positions for several large, sophisticated industrial companies. Her strong background in product development, IoT and autonomous vehicles is a key strength that will certainly assist Alamo Group in its ongoing development."

About Alamo Group

Alamo Group is a leader in the design, manufacture, distribution and service of high quality equipment for infrastructure maintenance, agriculture and other applications. Our products include truck and tractor mounted mowing and other vegetation maintenance equipment, street sweepers, snow removal equipment, excavators, vacuum trucks, other industrial equipment, agricultural implements, forestry equipment and related after-market parts and services. The Company, founded in 1969, has

approximately 4,100 employees and operates 27 plants in North America, Europe, Australia and Brazil as of September 30, 2021. The corporate offices of Alamo Group Inc. are located in Seguin, Texas.

Forward Looking Statements

This release contains forward-looking statements that are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause the Company's actual results in future periods to differ materially from forecasted results. Among those factors which could cause actual results to differ materially are the following: overall market demand, continuing impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic including ongoing and new supply chain disruptions, negative impacts stemming from changes in executive leadership positions, further reductions in customer demand, sales and profitability declines, operational disruptions, full or partial facility closures, and other similar impacts, competition, weather, seasonality, currency-related issues, and other risk factors listed from time to time in the Company's SEC reports. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update the information contained herein, which speaks only as of this date.

SOURCE Alamo Group Inc.

Related Links

http://alamo-group.com


Leading Omnichannel Marketing Firm Deepens Creative and Digital Services Tweet this

Kristina Tucker, Managing Partner of iFuel Interactive, said, "Our agency could not be more excited to fuse iFuel Interactive's branding and technology expertise with Amsive's impressive portfolio of capabilities. We simply could not have asked for a better fit than Amsive's team of marketing experts and unwavering people-first culture."



Amsive, backed by H.I.G. Capital, has brought together leaders in data intelligence, creative services, and digital marketing through a series of strategic acquisitions, providing a unified service offering to drive customer acquisition and engagement.

"We are thrilled to support this strategic investment", said Ryan Kaplan, Managing Director of H.I.G. Capital, "iFuel extends Amsive's performance-focused services and continues a track record of adding best-of-breed agencies to its data-driven mission."



About iFuel Interactive

iFuel is a leading advertising and development agency that identifies and communicates brand stories  everywhere brands live. As a full-service agency, iFuel offers 360 services from branding, design, and development to eCommerce, media, and experiential marketing. For more information, please visit ifuelinteractive.com.

About Amsive

Amsive is a data-centric, omnichannel marketing services agency that delivers market share growth with innovative customer acquisition and engagement solutions. Amsive operates as a full-service agency that brings marketing to life by shaping strategy, identifying audiences, developing impactful messaging, and executing omnichannel communications while measuring and analyzing results. Amsive's digital group, Amsive Digital, optimizes marketing programs across a full suite of digital solutions, including SEO, digital media, paid and managed social, analytics, creative, influencer marketing, and web design and development services. For more information, please visit amsive.com and amsivedigital.com.

About H.I.G. Capital

H.I.G. is a leading global private equity and alternative assets investment firm with over $45 billion of equity capital under management.* Based in Miami, and with offices in New York, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Atlanta in the U.S., as well as international affiliate offices in London, Hamburg, Madrid, Milan, Paris, Bogota, Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo, H.I.G. specializes in providing both debt and equity capital to small and mid-sized companies, utilizing a flexible and operationally focused/ value-added approach. Since its founding in 1993, H.I.G. has invested in and managed more than 300 companies worldwide. The firm's current portfolio includes more than 100 companies with combined sales in excess of $30 billion. For more information, please refer to the H.I.G. website at higcapital.com.

* Based on total capital commitments managed by H.I.G. Capital and affiliates.

Media Contact:

Joan Patrick

[email protected]

SOURCE Amsive

Related Links

www.amsive.com


Accommodations The newly renovated Gran Melia Iguazu is the only hotel located within Iguazu National Park offering a direct view of the waterfalls. Guests can lounge by the 165-foot infinity pool overlooking the Garganta del Diablo (Devil's Gorge) and enjoy the surrounding lush subtropical rainforest. The hotel also boasts a spa and wellness center complete with hydrotherapy circuit and treatments based on the energetic properties of yerba mate , the locally grown herbal tea.

Argentina's northwest is a land of stunning landscapes and rich indigenous history. Straddling the provinces of Salta and Jujuy lie Salinas Grandes, the great salt plains located at some 11,000 feet above sea level. Pristine Camps is a new luxury tented camp located on the salt flats. Four fully equipped luxury domes with a maximum capacity for ten guests offer unparalleled views of clear night skies and one of the best stargazing experiences in the world. Sustainability is a key focus here and the camp runs on 100% renewable energy. In addition, Pristine Camps works exclusively with local communities and producers to contribute to the local economy and culture. The chef, Mariana Garcia del Rio, curates each menu by interpreting the stories behind the history and culture of the local communities.

Travelers looking to explore the vast expanses of Patagonia with its colorful lakes, rivers, forests, snow-capped Andean peaks and glaciers can also choose from new accommodations options. San Carlos de Bariloche's Hotel Panamericano is undergoing a full renovation (upper floor rooms have already been luxuriously refurbished) as the property recently came under the Marriott portfolio. Most of the hotel's 161 rooms and suites offer expansive views over Lake Nahuel Huapi.

Explora, well-known for their exclusive properties in some of South America's most remote locations as well as their commitment to conservation, have brought their award-winning brand to El Chalten known to be one of the most picturesque towns in Patagonia, famous for its hiking circuits. The 20-room Explora Lodge  El Chalten is built within the Los Huemules Conservation Reserve and provides breathtaking panoramas of the Marconi glacier. There is an exclusive spa on property and the hotel restaurant menu is inspired by the traditions of Argentine Patagonia.

Food and Wine

Mercat Villa Crespo is a new neighborhood market that is a paradise for food lovers. Located in the trendy Buenos Aires neighborhood of Villa Crespo, Mercat Villa Crespo has a wide variety of shops and eateries that offer everything from Argentine regional specialties to Asian and Middle Eastern food, vegan and vegetarian options, fine wines and chocolates, artisanal breads, a Jewish bakery and even plant-based ice cream. The market also organizes workshops and cooking classes and demonstrations.

Buenos Aires' elegant Recoleta neighborhood is also making a culinary comeback with the opening of Bellas Artes Bar. Located next to the Fine Arts Museum (Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes - MNBA), and across the street from the iconic building of the University of Buenos Aires Faculty of Law, Bellas Artes Bar houses three different spaces where patrons can enjoy a great meal, grab a cocktail or take a leisurely coffee break. Guests can also opt to dine in the elegantly appointed outdoor terrace.

Argentine winery Tapiz is now aging some of their Wapisa branded malbecs under water. The wines are produced in Patagonia close to the Atlantic coast. The bottles are then sealed and placed in stainless steel cages and submerged 20 to 50 feet under the cold Atlantic waters, off the coast of the resort town of Las Grutas. Wines aged underwater have proved to be rounder, more elegant, and more fruit forward in taste due to the currents, the pressure, and the light. The micro-organisms at the bottom of the sea also shape creative patterns on the bottles which turns each bottle into a work of art crafted by nature. Diving enthusiasts can explore this underwater cellar and witness this novel way of aging wine.

Outdoor Activities

Raki Parque Aereo is a new nature park for adrenaline lovers and fun for the entire family. Located near the city of Salta, kids and adults alike will enjoy the different levels of zip lining, canopy tours, and rock climbing while appreciating the great variety of flora in this part of northwestern Argentina.

Additional information on Argentina is available at argentina.travel

About INPROTUR:

INPROTUR, Argentina's National Institute for Tourism Promotion, also known as Visit Argentina, is a public-private entity responsible for promoting international travel to Argentina and for positioning Argentina as a global tourism destination. INPROTUR develops and executes promotional action plans in different global markets and conducts research and analysis of travel trends and market behavior in different source markets in order to position Argentina as a desirable destination in those markets.

SOURCE INPROTUR
DUBLIN, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The "ASEAN Automotive Outlook, 2021" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

This study assesses the automotive market in key ASEAN countries, with a focus on Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia. It provides the automotive market snapshot in these 3 ASEAN countries.

Each country snapshot covers the Total Industry Volume (TIV), in the historical period (2016-2020) and the forecast period (2021-2025). This research includes segmentation breakdown in 2020, such as vehicle segment, key Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and market share. In addition, it highlights 5 key trends and overall impact levels that will influence the automotive market in Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia in 2021, respectively.

In 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) automotive market experienced a significant sales decline of 28.5%, from a total sales of 3.5 million units in 2019 to 2.5 million units in 2020. Passenger Vehicles (PVs) constituted 63.9% of the market and Commercial Vehicles (CV) accounted for 36.1%. Of these, Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia contributed a joint market share of 74.9%. Thailand surpassed Indonesia and led the market in 2020.

Especially in 2020, the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic influenced the automotive market's activities due to the implementation of social distancing, reduction of retail operations, and production closures. The impact is expected to be significant in terms of a weaker Gross Domestic Product (GDP), lower utilization of vehicles, and lesser automotive purchase attractiveness in the short term.

An increase in government spending (including fiscal injections, infrastructure development, individual financial aid, and tax exemption) in Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia in 2021 is likely to accelerate the economic activity in these countries. In addition, the progress of vaccination is one of the critical factors that have a significant relationship with GDP recovery and outbreak control. However, political uncertainties, such as the suspension of the Malaysian Parliament and the extension of the state of emergency in Thailand are affecting the country's development.

Japanese automotive brands lead the ASEAN market. Toyota, Honda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, and Isuzu are the key contributors in Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia. In particular, Isuzu D-Max and Toyota Hilux are the key contributors in the Commercial Vehicle (CV) segment in Thailand and Malaysia. In Malaysia, Proton grew significantly in 2020, an increase of 4.4% year-over-year (YoY).

The trend of Low-cost Green Car (LCGC) and Electric Vehicle (EV) development will penetrate further in ASEAN. For example, Thailand aims to become an EV hub by 2025. Thailand's National EV Roadmap targets for xEV production to reach 30% of total production in 2030. Similarly, the Indonesian Government promotes LCGCs and offers income tax incentives (up to 20 years of full corporate tax exemption) that are likely to bring production attractiveness to the automotive market.

Key Topics Covered:

1. Key Findings

Key Findings

Total Industry Volume (TIV) in Key ASEAN Markets

Top Trends for 2021

2. Research Background

Automotive Outlook in ASEAN - Overview

Market Segmentation

3. Strategic Imperatives

Why is it Increasingly Difficult to Grow?

The Strategic Imperative

The Impact of Top 3 Strategic Imperatives on ASEAN's Automotive Market

Growth Opportunities Fuel the Growth Pipeline Engine

4. Global Economic Environment

COVID-19 Impact on World GDP Growth

Global Growth Scenario Analysis - Assumptions

World GDP Growth Under Differing Scenarios

COVID-19 Impact on Key Regions

5. Growth Environment - ASEAN Automotive Market in 2021

ASEAN - An Overview

TIV in Key ASEAN Markets

ASEAN TIV - Market Snapshot

Position of ASEAN Countries on the Growth Potential Curve

Motorization in ASEAN

Emission Regulations in ASEAN

6. Thai Automotive Outlook

Key Growth Metrics

Total Industry Volume by Vehicle Segment

Percent of TIV by Vehicle Segment in 2020

Market Share Analysis

Key Market Trends Anticipated in Thailand in 2021

in 2021 Trend 1 - COVID-19 Pandemic and Lockdown in Certain Areas

Trend 2 - GDP Recovery and Tourism Industry

Trend 3 - National Electric Vehicle Industry Development Roadmap

Trend 4 - Political Uncertainty and State of Emergency Extension

Trend 5 - Increase in Government Spending and Financial Aid

TIV Forecast Scenario Analysis

Key Conclusions

7. Indonesian Automotive Outlook

Key Growth Metrics

Total Industry Volume by Vehicle Segment

Percent of TIV by Vehicle Segment

Market Share Analysis

Key Market Trends Anticipated in Indonesia in 2021

in 2021 Trend 1 - COVID-19 Pandemic and Vaccination Progress

Trend 2 - GDP Recovery

Trend 3 - National Automotive Industry Development Roadmap

Trend 4 - Development and Promotion of Low-cost Green Cars

Trend 5 - Increase in Government Spending and Infrastructure Development

TIV Forecast Scenario Analysis

Key Conclusions

8. Malaysian Automotive Outlook

Key Growth Metrics

Total Industry Volume by Vehicle Segment

Percent of TIV by Vehicle Segment

Market Share Analysis

Key Market Trends Anticipated in Malaysia in 2021

in 2021 Trend 1 - COVID-19 Pandemic and National Lockdown

Trend 2 - GDP Recovery and Vaccination Progress

Trend 3 - Political Uncertainty and Suspended Parliament

Trend 4 - Increase in Government Spending and Tax Exemption

Trend 5 - New Model Launches

TIV Forecast Scenario Analysis

Key Conclusions

9. Growth Opportunity Universe

Growth Opportunity 1: Continued Market Development for Improving Thailand's Automotive Sales, 2020

Growth Opportunity 2: Continued Market Development for Improving Indonesia's Automotive Sales, 2020

Growth Opportunity 3: Continued Market Development for Improving Malaysia's Automotive Sales, 2020

10. Next Steps

Companies Mentioned

Honda

Isuzu

Mitsubishi

Nissan

Proton

Toyota

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/4dfrr0

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]



For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630

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U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907

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SOURCE Research and Markets

Related Links

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LINDON, Utah, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Aspen Laser, LLC , an emerging global leader in the medical device industry with a focus on photomedicine, is pleased to announce that it has been awarded a Schedule 65 II A  Medical Equipment and Supplies contract by the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), the procurement arm of the federal government.

The five-year contract, effective December 15, 2021 through December 14, 2026, allows federal customers to efficiently purchase advanced, state of the art medical and therapeutic light and laser devices from Aspen Laser for pain management, physical therapy, rehabilitation, and regenerative medicine.

"It is a proud moment for our company to be a contributor to the health care programs of our government," stated Charles Vorwaller, CEO of Aspen Laser. "At Aspen Laser, we are committed to improving the lives of our nation's veterans and military personnel. Through the GSA schedule program, we are able to streamline the procurement process and help government agencies concentrate on the immediate need of providing new medical technologies that offer drug-free and surgery-free healthcare treatment options. Each of our products provide unmatched benefits for generating positive clinical outcomes."

The GSA establishes long-term, government-wide contracts with commercial companies. As a pre-approved vendor, Aspen Laser extends numerous benefits, including cost-effectiveness, to various agencies and branches of the federal government, as well as state and local governments through its expanding line of medical products, services, training, and educational programs. In addition, Aspen Laser's status as a small business enables the federal government and prime contractors to meet socioeconomic goals.

Federal, state, and local agencies can obtain information about Aspen Laser's Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) Contract 36F79722D00341 on the GSA Advantage website at: https://www.gsaadvantage.gov/ or by contacting Aspen Laser directly at [email protected].

About Department of Veterans Affairs Federal Supply Schedule:

Under delegated authority by GSA, the VA manages multiple award contracts for medical equipment, supply, pharmaceutical, and service Schedule programs. With over $14 billion in sales, the VA FSS Service supports the healthcare requirements of the VA and other federal government agencies by providing Federal customers with access to over 1 million state-of-the-art commercial products and services.

About Aspen Laser Systems, LLC:

Aspen Laser Systems, LLC is a medical device company and emerging global leader in innovative photomedicine technology, with a focus on photobiomodulation. Representing management with over 30 years of experience, the company provides expertise in design, manufacturing, production, and regulatory compliance. The Company's vision is to redefine pain management and recovery through ongoing research and development that will raise the standards of medical care and improve the quality of life for each individual using its drug-free photobiomodulation products. In 2020, the company earned a ranking on the INC 5000 list for the first time and was the only medical laser company on the list. Learn more: https://www.aspenlaser.com/ .

MEDIA CONTACT :

Aspen Laser Systems, LLC

Alan Richardson

[email protected]

877-782-7736

SOURCE Aspen Laser
BRADENTON, Fla., Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Qure4u, a leader in digital health solutions, is collaborating with AT&T and Samsung to provide remote patient monitoring (RPM) for patients with high blood pressure. As part of this collaboration, Qure4u chose FirstNet, Built with AT&T, to provide reliable and highly secure connectivity to support RPM kits and help expand access to care for vulnerable patients in rural and underserved areas.

Qure4u's RPM solution is part of its MyCarePlan patient engagement and virtual care platform to manage comprehensive health. AT&T Professional Services is handling the set-up, delivery and management of the Qure4u ready-to-use RPM kits. The kits include a Bluetooth-enabled blood pressure cuff and the Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite with mobile device management solution for enhanced security. The tablets transmit vitals from hypertension patients to their healthcare providers using the Qure4u platform, enabling care teams to closely monitor the patients. Hypertension can lead to two of the biggest killers in the U.S.  heart disease and stroke. Qure4u plans to include additional peripherals in the RPM kits as the program quickly grows.

For patients, Qure4u's RPM solution means easy access to improved healthcare with the peace of mind that comes from daily assurances and support. For healthcare providers, the benefits include ready access to patient data and the ability to act on it in near-real time; increased staffing efficiencies; better management of chronic conditions; and reimbursement.

Why is this important? As the healthcare industry works to lower costs and produce better patient outcomes, it's turning to technology and innovation like RPM. Reliable, highly secure connectivity is a must for doctors to access actionable patient health data which may help avoid preventable emergencies and manage chronic illnesses. That's what FirstNet, Built with AT&T, delivers. FirstNet is the only nationwide, high-speed broadband communications platform dedicated to and purpose-built for America's first responders and the extended public safety community. It's Built with AT&T in a public-private partnership with the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority)  an independent agency within the federal government.

Qure4u joins FirstNet as an extended primary user - organizations and agencies that could be called on to help support public safety during emergency response. Extended primary users include healthcare, public works, essential government services, school security, transportation, and utilities. The work they are called on to perform ranges from mitigation, remediation, clean-up, and restoration to the provisioning of other services required during the time of an emergency or its aftermath. Eligibility for extended primary user status is rigorously reviewed before service is approved, to help ensure that FirstNet's unique capabilities remain dedicated to first responders and those who support them.

What are people saying?

"More doctors are embracing remote patient monitoring, because they're realizing the many benefits. For patients, it's about peace of mind and daily assurance and better quality of care. For doctors, it's ease of access to patient data, the ability to act in near real-time, better efficiencies, and reimbursement. And at the core of this vital service is what AT&T is all about: creating reliable and highly secure connectivity. We keep the lines of communication open so healthcare professionals can communicate where and when it matters. We enable healthcare through connectivity."  Joe Drygas, VP of AT&T Healthcare Industry Solutions

"Secure, reliable connectivity is paramount to help ensure at-risk patients receive the high level of care they need. A quarter of the healthcare organizations Qure4u supports today are Federally Qualified Health Centers, community health centers, and critical access hospitals caring for rural patient populations. It's vital that our platform can reach all of those patients, regardless of geographic, socioeconomic, or technological barriers. We can provide ubiquitous healthcare connectivity with FirstNet and AT&T, device partnerships with vendors committed to the field like Samsung, and lifecycle management for everything from kitting to order fulfillment. We are excited to collaborate on this mission to bring greater health equity to rural communities."  Bradley Dick, Chief Information & Security Officer, Qure4u

"Remote patient monitoring has the potential to transform the patient experience, improve health outcomes and save patients and providers money. Together with AT&T and Qure4U, we'll be able to help high-risk patients in underserved, rural communities safely and securely monitor their health, empowering their doctors to make more informed decisions based on patient data."  Dr. Hon Pak, Chief Medical Officer of Samsung Electronics America

About AT&T Communications

We help family, friends and neighbors connect in meaningful ways every day. From the first phone call 140+ years ago to mobile video streaming, we @ATT innovate to improve lives. AT&T Communications is part of AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T). For more information, please visit us at att.com.

About Qure4u

Qure4u's complete digital health platform, with contactless "digital front door" solutions, offers patients and providers a scalable, EHR-embedded ecosystem to support the entire patient journey. Remote check-in, Virtual Waiting Room, Digital Health Key, Qure4u DriveUp, data sharing, telehealth, pre- and post-procedure prep, remote patient monitoring, secure communication, and care plan features close the gap for patients and providers between office visits. By enabling patients with self-service tools to manage their health from anywhere, Qure4u drives practice efficiency and enhances clinical insight. The company's solutions improve patient engagement, outcomes, and satisfaction. Qure4u was recently recognized as one of the MedikaLife Top 50 Most Impactful Tech Innovators for Digital Healthcare in 2021 and won the 2020 athenahealth Client Feedback Award. For more information about Qure4u, visit www.qure4u.com.

About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

Samsung inspires the world and shapes the future with transformative ideas and technologies. The company is redefining the worlds of TVs, smartphones, wearable devices, tablets, digital appliances, network systems, and memory, system LSI, foundry and LED solutions. For the latest news, please visit the Samsung Newsroom at news.samsung.com.

FirstNet and the FirstNet logo are registered trademarks of the First Responder Network Authority. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.

Media Contact

Jess Clifton

FINN Partners

[email protected]

678-360-9043

SOURCE Qure4u
RYE BROOK, N.Y., Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Business Council of Westchester today announced a major new initiative for 2022 to elevate Westchester County's profile as a knowledge center for innovation and economic development.

The BCW's Westchester Innovation Network (WIN): Shaping the County of the Future will focus on convening thought leaders, planning futurists, innovators, government officials and local organizations to strengthen the long-term innovation ecosystem in Westchester County.

"Creating a stronger innovation ecosystem is critical for the future of Westchester County. We are focused on showcasing Westchester County as an attractive location to build, grow, and explore innovation," said BCW President & CEO Dr. Marsha Gordon. "We will also support partnerships between innovative new companies and local businesses to test innovation in real-world settings. Our goals are retaining talented innovators for the long-term and creating more embedded knowledge and expertise here."

The WIN initiative aligns with the BCW's advocacy, including universal access to broadband internet, energy reliability, and the creative overhaul of obsolete land uses.

"The overarching goal for all our initiatives and advocacy is to provide leadership in public policy and create sustainable economic growth," said John Ravitz, the BCW's executive vice president. "The WIN initiative will help our county create a roadmap to new business success and prosperity for all our residents."

As a part of the 2022 initiative, the BCW WIN program will:

Strengthen the Innovator's Ecosystem: The first phase of this initiative includes the pairing of Westchester-based and outside innovators with local organizations to create short-term innovation teams. This partnership allows the innovator to test commercially viable innovations in real-world settings and allows Westchester organizations to see first-hand the types of innovation emerging in their industries. WIN will also work with local schools, colleges, universities, incubators, and accelerators to amplify their work and continue to showcase entrepreneurship as an important path supported by Westchester County.

Practical Innovation: This phase identifies a model municipality and pairs it with a group of innovation experts to outline a 10-part practical innovation implementation plan. The goal is to help the municipality pinpoint day-to-day changes that are needed and provide an easily implemented action plan that will deliver economic activity, cost savings, and improvement to the lives of its residents.

Planning Futurist and Implementation Guide: This phase is focused on developing a plan for what is needed to attract and retain innovators over the next five, 15 and 25 years. This will include practical, hit-the-ground-running actions needed in zoning, financing, planning, and infrastructure.

"We have a highly skilled and educated workforce, a higher than national average household income, and a population of more than one million," said Dr. Heidi Davidson, CEO of Galvanize Worldwide and chairman of the BCW's Board of Directors. "With our proximity to New York City's knowledge centers, Westchester County has the building blocks for establishing a vibrant innovation ecosystem that can seamlessly interconnect with research hubs throughout the metro region. The time to act in Shaping the County of the Future is now, and by creating WIN, the Business Council of Westchester is doing exactly that."

About The Business Council of Westchester

The Business Council of Westchester is the county's only business membership organization focusing on economic development and advocacy. It is the county's largest and most prestigious business membership organization representing more than 1,000 members, including multinational corporations, hospitals, universities, biotech pioneers, not-for-profits, entrepreneurs, and companies of all sizes. As the most influential economic development and advocacy organization in Westchester, The Business Council of Westchester's members enjoy unparalleled access to today's top thought leaders, diverse business development opportunities and lawmakers at all levels of government. The BCW Data Exchange provides the latest demographic research to help guide smart business decisions. The LEAP program, a one-of-a-kind initiative, gives members direct access to lobbying efforts at the county, state and national levels on issues that directly affect their businesses. Build, Connect and Win with The Business Council of Westchester. Visit thebcw.org to connect today.

SOURCE The Business Council of Westchester
DUBLIN, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Biosimilar Monoclonal Antibodies Global Market Report 2021: COVID-19 Growth and Change to 2030" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global biosimilar monoclonal antibodies market is expected to grow from $3.52 billion in 2020 to $4.33 billion in 2021 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 23%. The market is expected to reach $10.92 billion in 2025 at a CAGR of 26%.

Major players in the biosimilar monoclonal antibodies market are Pfizer, Novartis, Allergan, Coherus BioSciences, Biocon, Amgen, Boehringer Ingelheim, Celltrion, BioXpress Therapeutics, and Intas Pharmaceuticals Limited.



The biosimilar monoclonal antibodies market consists of sales of biosimilar monoclonal antibodies and related services by entities (organizations, sole traders and partnerships) that produce biosimilar monoclonal antibodies, which are used to treat patients with chronic diseases such as cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, and autoimmune disease.

Biosimilar monoclonal antibodies are highly similar to actual monoclonal antibodies in terms of pharmaceutical quality, safety, and efficacy, and are used to boost immunity by identifying and neutralizing foreign bodies. The market consists of revenue generated by the biosimilar monoclonal antibodies companies by the sales of these products.



The biosimilar monoclonal antibodies market covered in this report is segmented by type into synthetic chemicals, biopharmaceuticals, others and by application into chronic & autoimmune diseases, oncology, others.



Stringent regulations imposed on approvals of biosimilars is anticipated to hinder the growth of the biosimilar monoclonal antibodies market. The governments of different regions impose different rules regarding the production and use of biosimilars. Further, issues such as patent infringement or agreement issues restrict the manufacturers of biosimilars from commercializing the government-approved biosimilars.

The US Food and Drug Administration requires a double regulatory approval for biosimilars, restricting the use of biosimilars as an interchangeable drug to biologics, whereas, in Europe, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) approves biosimilars as interchangeable products for biologics.

In February 2019, out of the total 17 approved biosimilars, only 7 biosimilars including 4 originating biologics could enter the US commercial market. The strict government policies for approval of these drugs negatively impact manufacturers in the biosimilar monoclonal antibodies market.



In May 2020, AbbVie, a US-based biopharmaceutical company, has acquired Allergan for an amount of $63 million. This transaction expands and diversifies AbbVie's revenue base and supports in maintaining its leadership positions in biosimilar monoclonal antibodies. Allergan is an Ireland-based pharmaceutical company that manufactures, develops, and markets drugs, biosimilars, medical devices, eye care, and others.



The prevalence of chronic diseases is expected to drive the biosimilar monoclonal antibodies market. Biosimilar monoclonal antibodies are used to treat chronic diseases such as cancer, autoimmune disease, and rheumatoid arthritis. In cancer treatment, biosimilars of monoclonal antibodies such as trastuzumab, bevacizumab, and rituximab are used. Moreover, the incidence of cancer is increasing year by year. Therefore, the prevalence of chronic diseases including cancer is expected to drive the biosimilar monoclonal antibodies market.



The focus areas for many companies in the biosimilar monoclonal antibodies market has shifted to mergers and acquisitions to acquire more production capabilities. Large prime manufactures are forming joint ventures or buying small or midsized companies to acquire new capabilities, or to gain access to new markets.



Key Topics Covered:



1. Executive Summary



2. Biosimilar Monoclonal Antibodies Market Characteristics



3. Biosimilar Monoclonal Antibodies Market Trends and Strategies



4. Impact Of COVID-19 On Biosimilar Monoclonal Antibodies



5. Biosimilar Monoclonal Antibodies Market Size and Growth

5.1. Global Biosimilar Monoclonal Antibodies Historic Market, 2015-2020, $ Billion

5.1.1. Drivers Of the Market

5.1.2. Restraints On the Market

5.2. Global Biosimilar Monoclonal Antibodies Forecast Market, 2020-2025F, 2030F, $ Billion

5.2.1. Drivers Of the Market

5.2.2. Restraints On the Market



6. Biosimilar Monoclonal Antibodies Market Segmentation

6.1. Global Biosimilar Monoclonal Antibodies Market, Segmentation by Type, Historic and Forecast, 2015-2020, 2020-2025F, 2030F, $ Billion

Synthetic Chemicals

Biopharmaceuticals

Others

6.2. Global Biosimilar Monoclonal Antibodies Market, Segmentation by Application, Historic and Forecast, 2015-2020, 2020-2025F, 2030F, $ Billion

Chronic & Autoimmune Diseases

Oncology

Others

6.3. Global Biosimilar Monoclonal Antibodies Market, Segmentation by Compound, Historic and Forecast, 2015-2020, 2020-2025F, 2030F, $ Billion

Infliximab

Rituximab

Abciximab

Trastuzumab

Adalimumab

Bevacizumab

7. Biosimilar Monoclonal Antibodies Market Regional and Country Analysis

7.1. Global Biosimilar Monoclonal Antibodies Market, Split by Region, Historic and Forecast, 2015-2020, 2020-2025F, 2030F, $ Billion

7.2. Global Biosimilar Monoclonal Antibodies Market, Split by Country, Historic and Forecast, 2015-2020, 2020-2025F, 2030F, $ Billion



Companies Mentioned

Pfizer

Novartis

Allergan

Coherus BioSciences

Biocon

Amgen

Boehringer Ingelheim

Celltrion

BioXpress Therapeutics

Intas Pharmaceuticals Limited

Genor BioPharma Co. Ltd

BIOCAD

Dr. Reddys Laboratories Ltd

3SBio

Reliance Life Sciences

Hisun Pharma

Celgen Biopharma

Torrent Pharmaceuticals

Cadila Healthcare

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/9z80nq

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]



For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630

For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900



U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907

Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716

SOURCE Research and Markets

Related Links

http://www.researchandmarkets.com


NEW YORK, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- With COVID-19 cases surging and the fear of contracting the next highly transmissible contagion widespread, American workers are placing a renewed emphasis on cleaning, according to a new survey by the Cleaning Coalition of America.

The survey finds that U.S. workers increasingly value enhanced cleaning of the workplace and feel safer seeing professional cleaners onsite  a sentiment shared by both vaccinated and unvaccinated Americans. An overwhelming 93.4 percent of vaccinated respondents and 82.2 percent of unvaccinated respondents cited workplace cleaning protocols as important as employees return to the office, with 77.2 percent of workers wanting the workplace cleaned daily.

"American workers experienced a turbulent year that has forever changed their expectations around workplace safety," said Josh Feinberg, Cleaning Coalition of America President. "As employees return to the workplace, it is more critical than ever that businesses rethink their cleaning best practices and adopt a more holistic view of safety that prioritizes worker well-being. Both current and prospective employees need to know that their employer will not sacrifice worker health for an improved bottom line."

Fielded in late October, the survey examined the perceptions of 1,800 U.S. workers  1099 vaccinated and 501 unvaccinated  to understand expectations surrounding return-to-work as businesses look to reopen in the coming weeks and months.

Almost two years into the pandemic, nearly half of Americans  43%  still have lingering concerns about returning to the workplace. In fact, 38.3% of respondents would consider changing their jobs if the workplace was not cleaned properly. However, a clean workplace is not the only concern, with respondents citing COVID-19 infection rates as a primary impediment to returning to in-person work.

"With employees worried about contracting COVID-19 or other illnesses, businesses are facing an uphill battle in attracting workers back to the workplace and must go the extra mile to build confidence," said Kenneth J. Collins, President of Collins Building Services, Inc. "While many businesses previously put an emphasis on cleaning for appearance, cleaning for health must be the new standard for any shared space."

Survey Findings As businesses reopen, Americans have lingering concerns about the safety of the workplace.  43.0% of respondents believe that returning to the workplace could pose a risk to their health and safety  38.3% of respondents would consider changing their jobs if the workplace was not cleaned frequently Americans are putting increased emphasis on the cleanliness of the workplace, a trend that will likely continue far beyond the pandemic.  89.9% of respondents believe workplace cleaning protocols are very or somewhat important   77.2% of respondents believe the workplace should be cleaned at least once a day With the pandemic increasing worker anxiety, both vaccinated and unvaccinated Americans find comfort in knowing their office is being cleaned regularly.  62.1% of respondents believe that seeing professional cleaners at the workplace would make them feel safer and more protected from contracting COVID-19  47.1% of respondents cite regular disinfecting of shared spaces as the most important step employers can take to make workers feel safe  47.5% of respondents have asked their employer about their company's cleaning protocols Still, cleaning is not the only impediment to returning to the office.  35.2% of respondents say COVID-19 infection rates are the greatest impediment to returning to the office  17.4% of respondents say vaccination rates are the greatest impediment to returning to the office

To download a full version of the survey, click here.

About the Survey

The research findings are based on a survey programmed and fielded by Dynata. Conducted in the U.S. spanning October 26-28, 2021, the survey targeted working professionals over the age of 18. 1,600 respondents  who represent a Census-balanced sample across gender, age, region, race, education, and income  were asked about their return to the office expectations and the role of cleaning in the workplace. 1099 vaccinated and 501 unvaccinated respondents were surveyed  reflecting the CDC reported vaccination rate in U.S adults of 68.7% on October 24, 2021.

About Cleaning Coalition of America

The Cleaning Coalition of America was founded in 2020 by seven of the nation's largest facilities services companies. With more than one million professional cleaners employed and operations in every state, the Coalition advocates on behalf of professional cleaners nationwide to shape and advance crucial policies and measures that promote the safe and responsible return to business and the reopening of our economy. For more information, please visit CleaningCoalition.org.

SOURCE Cleaning Coalition of America
"Bank of America was one of the very first Fortune 500 companies to recognize the tremendous upside potential and the multi-generational impact this type of investment will have on communities of Color," said Paul Campbell, co-founder and managing partner of Brown Venture Group. "Their financial commitment to our inaugural fund puts us significantly closer to our goal of raising $50 million and demonstrates a shared vision to accelerate racial equality by creating an infusion of capital into underserved BIPOC tech startups in Minnesota and across the country."

Brown Venture Group, which was founded in 2018, kicked off its effort to raise $50 million for its inaugural fund in 2020. The details of Bank of America's financial investment will not be made public.

According to Katie Simpson, Bank of America's President, Twin Cities, Brown Venture Group brings important new thinking and solutions to the challenges of pervasive inequality.

"The flow of capital has a significant role to play in advancing racial equality," said Simpson. "By investing in Brown Venture Group, we are helping to scale their investment in more Black, Hispanic-Latino and under-resourced minority businesses and entrepreneurs, collaborating to support the untapped potential among our local entrepreneurs of Color, driving innovation, expanding job growth and creating generational wealth in Minnesota and beyond."

As part of Bank of America's $1.25 billion, five-year commitment to advance racial equality and economic opportunity, the company has committed to invest $350 million across the U.S. to support equity investments in minority and women entrepreneurs, businesses and funds to help supply growth capital and invest in programs that foster future entrepreneurs.

Brown Venture Group will be finalizing investments for nearly a dozen BIPOC-led technology startups by the end of the year. In addition, Brown Venture Group recently formed an ongoing relationship with NASA's Technology Transfer Office to encourage BIPOC entrepreneurs to bring their technologies to market.

"The amount of support and momentum Brown Venture Group has received in the past year alone has been phenomenal," Campbell said. "In addition, our waterways are quickly filling with entrepreneurs who are finally getting the chance to have their ideas heard through a cultural contextual lens."

Peter Frosch, President and CEO of the GREATER MSP which helped facilitate an introduction between Bank of America and Brown Venture Group, supports the latest development in more inclusive economic growth in the Minneapolis-St. Paul region and he invited other Minnesota business leaders and investors to contribute to the movement toward this new narrative.

"GREATER MSP is excited to facilitate introductions among local visionaries who can connect capital to entrepreneurs. Capital is power," Frosch said. "Brown Venture Group's mission is to put power in the hands of Black and Brown entrepreneurs to drive innovation in our economy and wealth creation in BIPOC communities. The significant investments from Bank of America will help advance racial equity by expanding access to venture capital. Venture capital is a system and this is how systemic change begins. Our community is ready for a new path forward that includes all of us working together."

About Brown Venture Group

Launched in 2018, Brown Venture Group, LLC, is a venture capital firm exclusively for Black, Latinx and Indigenous technology startups. Brown Venture Group is writing a new playbook for both those interested in launching a minority-owned technology startup and those interested in investing in new technologies. For more information go to brownventuregroup.com.

About Bank of America

At Bank of America, we're guided by a common purpose to help make financial lives better, through the power of every connection. We're delivering on this through responsible growth with a focus on our environmental, social and governance (ESG) leadership. ESG is embedded across our eight lines of business and reflects how we help fuel the global economy, build trust and credibility, and represent a company that people want to work for, invest in and do business with. It's demonstrated in the inclusive and supportive workplace we create for our employees, the responsible products and services we offer our clients, and the impact we make around the world in helping local economies thrive. An important part of this work is forming strong partnerships with nonprofits and advocacy groups, such as community, consumer and environmental organizations, to bring together our collective networks and expertise to achieve greater impact.

About GREATER MSP

GREATER MSP is the economic development partnership for the 15-county Minneapolis Saint Paul region. Over 300 leading businesses, universities, cities, counties, philanthropies, and others are working together to accelerate the competitiveness of the regional economy and drive inclusive economic growth through job creation, capital investment and the execution of strategic initiatives. For more information go to greatermsp.org .

SOURCE Brown Venture Group
SAN MATEO, Calif., Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- California Casualty recently gave $1,000 to Oregon Nurses Association member, Stephanie L. and Ohio Nurses Association member, Wendy B. through its new Thank You Nurses giveaway, honoring our Healthcare Heroes.

Nurses give of themselves every day and it's wonderful to have that dedication honored by California Casualty Tweet this Oregon Nurses Association Member, Stephanie L. receives their $1,000 from California Casualty AVP and Field Relations Manager, Brian Goodman alongside Myrna Jensen, ONA Communications Specialist Ohio Nurses Association Member, Wendy B. receives her $1,000 from California Casualty Field Marketing Manager, Ashley Sprankle

In 2015, California Casualty originally coined the giveaway as a Nurses Night Out promotion to provide nurses the opportunity to blow off some steam  renting a limousine and hitting the town, hosting a party, or treating their co-workers to a fabulous meal at their favorite restaurant  in relief of the endless hours spent meeting the needs of patients and their families.

The 2020 Nurses Night Out campaign honored these same frontline healthcare professionals as they battled COVID-19  through incredibly long hours, heartbreaking care cases, and increased personal risk. It was then decided to change the tone and the look of the promotion to a message more appropriate for the times.

The new look focuses more on the appreciation California Casualty and communities across the country  and around the world  have for the compassion, dedication and personal sacrifice these Healthcare Heroes exemplify.

Oregon Nurses Association member, Stephanie L. said they (preferred pronoun) learned of the giveaway through the Oregon Nurse News e-newsletter. There was a "Last day to enter the California Casualty $1,000 Prize" announcement.

Stephanie graduated in 2019 at OHSU, where they now work, and will use the $1,000 for their student loans.

When asked why they joined the profession, Stephanie states, "My life partner had a serious health event a number of years ago. They were dying and I was caring for them. The last two years of this period of my life, it was a significant illness, and I was in and out of hospitals what seemed like every day. I was so amazed by the nurses - all of them. The hospital seemed like my second home during this time. The nurses that cared for us inspired me to become a nurse myself."

"Nurses give of themselves every day and it's wonderful to have that dedication honored through California Casualty's $1K Nurse Giveaway. Stephanie is the future of nursing and we know these first years can be the most difficult. We are so grateful to California Casualty and are honored to celebrate our partnership's ten-year anniversary!" said Lynda Pond, RN, ONA President.

Ohio Nurses Association member, Wendy B. was very excited to receive this award, which came at the perfect time, as she plans to use the funds for Christmas.

An interventional radiology nurse at the James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute at The Ohio State University Medical Center, Wendy has been in the healthcare profession for 26 years. She credits her impressive years of service to a life-long dream of becoming a nurse and a passion to help others. As for any advice she has for new, incoming nurses she says, "Stick with it, it can be very difficult and there are a lot of lows, but the rewarding feeling is so worth it!"

She also loves being a member of ONA because she feels that they do so much, and really care for the members.

"California Casualty protects American heroes, and it's gratifying to show the men and women who take care of America how much we appreciate them,'" said California Casualty Sr. Vice President, Mike McCormick.

Founded in 1914 and headquartered in San Mateo, California, with Service Centers in Arizona, Colorado and Kansas, California Casualty provides auto and home insurance to nurses, educators, law enforcement and firefighters. To learn more about California Casualty, or to request an auto insurance quote, please visit www.calcas.com or call 1.800.800.9410.

Contact: Robin Freese 719.532.8440

[email protected]

SOURCE California Casualty
AUSTIN, Texas, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Cart.com , the first end-to-end ecommerce services provider, today announced the official opening of its new global headquarters in Austin, Texas, where the company already employs over 150 people and plans to hire at least 150 more in the next 12 months. The opening comes as Cart.com also announced its selection as Capital Factory's Startup of the Year, capping a year of explosive growth and funding following its launch in November 2020.

From its original base in Houston, Cart.com has revolutionized digital commerce as the world's first Ecommerce-as-a-Service (EcaaS) partner, which brings all the advanced commerce functions needed to grow a business online under a single umbrella. Over the past 12 months, Cart.com has raised $143M in venture funding, acquired 9 major companies, launched 9 new fulfillment centers, and built a thriving team of close to 400 people. The company plans to grow its total headcount to around 1,000 by Q1 2022.

Now, Cart.com is expanding its operations and moving its headquarters to the heart of downtown Austin, next to Capital Factory and a stone's throw from the historic Texas Capitol. With more and more Silicon Valley tech companies relocating to Texas, and Elon Musk moving Tesla's HQ to Austin, the "Silicon Hills" area is increasingly seen as the country's most exciting and fertile space for high-tech innovation. Cart.com has been a key driver of this trend, growing from a landmark Houston success story into a national ecommerce powerhouse rooted firmly in the Lone Star State.

Austin is also home to many of the country's most exciting omnichannel retail and DTC brands, including Whole Foods, YETI, KendraScott, Howler Bros, Titos, Bumble, and Tecovas Boots. By centering its operations in Austin, Cart.com strengthens its ability to both learn from and support the growth of leading brands as it reimagines and radically streamlines the ecommerce space in Texas and beyond.

Cart.com's bet on Austin's future as an industry-defining tech hub and brand incubator comes as the company launches a new partnership with Google Cloud to deepen its focus on machine learning and its investments in robust data science. Cart.com was also honored as Startup of the Year by Capital Factory, the center of gravity for entrepreneurs in Texas and the most active early-stage investor since 2010. Capital Factory recognized Cart.com for its ability to scale rapidly, its determination to reshape the ecommerce industry for a new generation of high-growth brands, and its commitment to data-driven innovation.

"There is nothing that makes me happier than to see an impactful mentor and investor in the Capital Factory community like Omair launch and lead one of our state's fastest-growing startups," said Bryan Chambers, president and co-founder of Capital Factory. "Cart.com embodies all that's best about the Texas tech ecosystem, and is an example of why Texas is the No. 1 state for startups. This award honors Cart.com's tremendous contributions, and its continuing mission to inspire growth and innovation in Texas and beyond."

"We'll forever call Houston our home, but I'm beyond excited to be opening Cart.com's corporate headquarters in Austin  not only the country's top tech town , but also the home to so many of the iconic brands we love," said Omair Tariq, Cart.com CEO. "Today, the world's best and brightest engineers, coders, creatives, and tech leaders are flocking to Texas  and Cart.com is part of the reason why. There's no better place than Austin for a brand-obsessed company like Cart.com to plant its flag as we reimagine ecommerce and drive growth for today's top merchants."

About Cart.com

Cart.com is the first end-to-end ecommerce solutions provider delivering a fully integrated and owned suite of software, expert services, and infrastructure to scale businesses online. Founded in September 2020 by experienced ecommerce experts, Cart.com is on a mission to put brands back in charge of their ecommerce journey and their customer relationships as the premiere eCommerce-as-a-Service (ECaaS) provider in the eCommerce services space. Cart.com offers a wealth of business solutions including online store software; digital marketing, fulfillment, and financial services; customer service capabilities; and unified analytics across all areas of commerce and marketing performance. Cart.com allows brands of any size the opportunity to work with a single partner to attain the same capabilities as some of the world's largest companies. For more info: Cart.com , LinkedIn .

About Capital Factory

Capital Factory is the center of gravity for entrepreneurs in Texas, the number one state for startups in the U.S. Thousands of entrepreneurs, programmers and designers gather day and night, in-person and online for meetups, classes and coworking. With boots on the ground in Austin, Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio, we meet the best entrepreneurs in Texas and introduce them to investors, employees, mentors and customers. According to Pitchbook, Capital Factory has been the most active, early-stage investor in Texas since 2010.

SOURCE Cart.com

Related Links

www.cart.com


FORT COLLINS, Colo., Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- In today's day and age, small businesses know that they need a website and online presence in order to secure new customers. After all, a website is where consumers go to learn more about the business, and decide if that business is the right choice for them. Having a website is a must, but it's just the first step. If that website isn't visible and showing up organically for search terms, no one will find it.

In this case study , Marketing 360 multi-channel marketing strategy helped a local sign company drive and increase high-quality traffic to their website. With the help of their team at Marketing 360, this local Colorado small business saw just how much of an impact a multi-channel marketing strategy could have on growing their business.

In 2021, through content marketing, they've seen hundreds of thousands of impressions, thousands of clicks, and nearly 200 conversions, almost all of which came from organic search. When comparing their organic results to 2020, their content marketing strategy led to a 34% increase in clicks and engagement, a 13% increase in conversions, a 65% increase in overall website visits, and a 49% increase in new website visits.

The strategy? With the help of their Marketing Success Manager and Content Marketing Specialist at Marketing 360, they drove traffic to their website and increased organic rankings by optimizing their website with relevant keywords to their business, created content-rich landing pages, regularly added blogs to their website with helpful information, and leveraged social media to help their blog posts reach even further.

Content marketing is a huge piece of any digital marketing strategy, and the team at Marketing 360 was eager and ready to help this local business see success.

Through many tools and integrated apps, plus the backing of a fully integrated marketing team, the Marketing 360 multi-channel marketing strategy makes it easy for small businesses to manage their business and marketing, all from one place while saving time, money, and tons of manual work. Learn more about Marketing 360 at https://www.marketing360.com/ .

About Marketing 360

Marketing 360 is a technology company that provides business management and marketing software and services for SMBs and franchises. Since 2011, the Marketing 360 multi-channel marketing strategy and platform has given SMBs everything they need to manage and grow their business from a singular platform, including the ability to  build a professional website, accept and manage payments, manage leads and customers, book appointments, monitor reviews, manage social media, syndicate business listings, manage content marketing, run multi-channel digital advertising campaigns, and more. Marketing 360 was founded in 2009 with the mission of enriching communities by helping small businesses grow, and is headquartered in Fort Collins, Colorado, with offices in Austin, Texas. Learn more about Marketing 360 at https://www.marketing360.com/.

Contact:

Farra Lanzer

[email protected]

970-541-3284

SOURCE Marketing 360
LONDON, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION IN OR INTO ANY JURISDICTION WHERE IT IS UNLAWFUL TO DISTRIBUTE THIS ANNOUNCEMENT.

COOPERATIEVE RABOBANK U.A. ANNOUNCES PRICING OF ITS TENDER OFFER IN RELATION TO ITS OUTSTANDING USD 1,500,000,000 3.950 PER CENT. SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE 2022 (ISIN: US21685WDF14) AND USD 1,750,000,000 4.625 PER CENT. SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE 2023 (ISIN: US21684AAA43).

On 2 December 2021, Cooperatieve Rabobank U.A. (formerly known as Cooperatieve Centrale Raiffeisen-Boerenleenbank B.A.) (the "Offeror") launched its invitation to holders of its USD 1,500,000,000 3.950 per cent. Subordinated Notes due 2022 (ISIN: US21685WDF14) and USD 1,750,000,000 4.625 per cent. Subordinated Notes due 2023 (ISIN: US21684AAA43) (collectively, the "Notes") to tender such Notes for purchase by the Offeror for cash (such invitation, the "Offer"). The Offer was made on the terms and subject to the conditions contained in the tender offer memorandum dated 2 December 2021 (the "Tender Offer Memorandum") and is subject to the offer restrictions described in the Tender Offer Memorandum. Capitalised terms used and not otherwise defined in this announcement have the meanings given to them in the Tender Offer Memorandum.

The Offeror today announces that it has priced the Offer.

The Offer will expire today at 5:00 p.m. (New York City) time, unless extended, re-opened, withdrawn or terminated by the Offeror as described in the Tender Offer Memorandum. Holders who validly tender (and do not validly withdraw) their Notes, or who deliver a properly completed and duly executed Notice of Guaranteed Delivery in accordance with the instructions in the Tender Offer Memorandum, will be eligible to receive the Purchase Price described below and in the Tender Offer Memorandum.

Certain information regarding the Notes and the pricing for the Offer is set forth in the table below.

Description of Notes CUSIP/ISIN Aggregate Principal Amount Outstanding U.S. Treasury Reference Security Bloomberg Reference Page

Fixed

Spread

Reference Yield

Purchase

Price USD 1,500,000,000 3.950 per cent. Subordinated Notes due 2022 21685WDF1 / US21685WDF14 USD 1,500,000,000 1.625 per cent. U.S. Treasury Notes due 15 November 2022 FIT3 25 bps 0.334 per cent. USD 1,030.35 per USD 1,000



USD 1,750,000,000 4.625 per cent. Subordinated Notes due 2023

21684AAA4 / US21684AAA43

USD 1,750,000,000

0.500 per cent. U.S. Treasury Notes due 30 November 2023 FIT1

35 bps

0.676 per cent.

USD 1,069.89 per USD 1,000



In addition, Holders whose Notes are validly tendered and delivered and accepted for purchase by the Offeror pursuant to the Offer, will receive accrued and unpaid interest from and including the interest payment date for the relevant Series of Notes immediately preceding the Settlement Date to but excluding the Settlement Date.

The results of the Offer are expected to be announced on 10 December 2021. The Offer remains subject to the conditions and restrictions set out in the Tender Offer Memorandum and the expected Tender Offer Settlement Date is 14 December 2021 for Notes validly tendered and accepted for purchase which are the subject of a Notice of Guaranteed Delivery and 13 December 2021 in respect of any other Notes validly tendered and accepted for purchase.

Full details concerning the Offer are set out in the Tender Offer Memorandum.

DISCLAIMER This announcement must be read in conjunction with the Tender Offer Memorandum. No offer or invitation to acquire or sell any Notes is being made pursuant to this announcement. The Dealer Managers do not take responsibility for the contents of this announcement. The distribution of this announcement and the Tender Offer Memorandum in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law. Persons into whose possession this announcement and/or the Tender Offer Memorandum come into are required by each of the Offeror, the Dealer Managers and the Tender Agent to inform themselves about, and to observe, any such restrictions.

OFFER AND DISTRIBUTION RESTRICTIONS

United Kingdom

The communication of the Tender Offer Memorandum, this announcement and any other documents or materials relating to the Offer is not being made, and such documents and/or materials have not been approved, by an authorised person for the purposes of section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000. Accordingly, such documents and/or materials are not being distributed to, and must not be passed on to, the general public in the United Kingdom. The communication of such documents and/or materials as a financial promotion is only being made to those persons in the United Kingdom falling within the definition of investment professionals (as defined in Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the "Financial Promotion Order")) or persons who are within Article 43(2) of the Financial Promotion Order or any other persons to whom it may otherwise lawfully be made under the Financial Promotion Order (together, "relevant persons"). Any investment or investment activity to which the Tender Offer Memorandum relates is available only to relevant persons and will be engaged in only with relevant persons (and is subject to other restrictions referred to in the Financial Promotion Order).

France

The Tender Offer Memorandum, this announcement and any other document or material relating to the Offer have only been and shall only be distributed in France to qualified investors as defined in Article 2(e) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129. The Tender Offer Memorandum has not been and will not be submitted for clearance to nor approved by the Autorite des Marches Financiers.

Italy

None of the Offer, the Tender Offer Memorandum, this announcement or any other documents or materials relating to the Offer have been or will be submitted to the clearance procedure of the Commissione Nazionale per le Societa e la Borsa ("CONSOB") pursuant to Italian laws and regulations.

The Offer is being carried out in the Republic of Italy as an exempted offer pursuant to article 101-bis, paragraph 3-bis of the Legislative Decree No. 58 of 24 February 1998, as amended (the "Financial Services Act") and article 35-bis, paragraph 4 of CONSOB Regulation No. 11971 of 14 May 1999, as amended.

Holders, or beneficial owners of the Notes that are located in Italy, can tender some or all of their Notes pursuant to the Offer through authorised persons (such as investment firms, banks or financial intermediaries permitted to conduct such activities in Italy in accordance with the Financial Services Act, CONSOB Regulation No. 20307 of 15 February 2018, as amended from time to time, and Legislative Decree No. 385 of September 1, 1993, as amended) and in compliance with applicable laws and regulations or with requirements imposed by CONSOB or any other Italian authority.

Each Intermediary must comply with the applicable laws and regulations concerning information duties vis-a-vis its clients in connection with the Notes or the Offer.

Hong Kong

The contents of the Tender Offer Memorandum or this announcement have not been reviewed by any regulatory authority in Hong Kong. Holders should exercise caution in relation to the Offer. If a Holder is in any doubt about any of the contents of the Tender Offer Memorandum or this announcement, such Holder should obtain independent professional advice.

The Offer has not been made and will not be made in Hong Kong, by means of any document other than: (i) to "professional investors" as defined in the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571) of the laws of Hong Kong (the "SFO") and any rules made under the SFO; or (ii) in other circumstances which do not result in the document being a "prospectus" as defined in the Companies (Winding Up and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance (Cap. 32) of Hong Kong (the "CWUMPO") or which do not constitute an offer to the public within the meaning of the CWUMPO.

Further, no person has issued or had in its possession for the purposes of issue, and will not issue or have in its possession for the purposes of issue, whether in Hong Kong or elsewhere, any advertisement, invitation or document relating to the Offer, which is directed at, or the contents of which are likely to be accessed or read by, the public in Hong Kong (except if permitted to do so under the securities laws of Hong Kong) other than with respect to the Offer which is or is intended to be made only to persons outside Hong Kong or only to "professional investors" as defined in the SFO and any rules made under the SFO. The Tender Offer Memorandum, this announcement and the information contained herein may not be used other than by the person to whom it is addressed and may not be reproduced in any form or transferred to any person in Hong Kong.

The Offer is not intended to be made to the public in Hong Kong and it is not the intention of the Offeror that the Offer be made to the public in Hong Kong.

General

None of the Offeror, the Dealer Managers or the Tender Agent makes any recommendation as to whether or not Holders should participate in the Offer and any Holder who is unsure of what action to take in respect of the Offer should consult their own professional advisers. None of the Dealers Managers or the Tender Agent accepts any responsibility for the contents of this announcement or the Tender Offer Memorandum.

Neither the Tender Offer Memorandum, this announcement nor the electronic transmission thereof constitutes an offer to buy or the solicitation of an offer to sell Notes (and tenders of Notes for purchase pursuant to the Offer will not be accepted from Holders) in any circumstances in which such offer or solicitation is unlawful. In those jurisdictions where the securities, blue sky or other laws require the Offer to be made by a licensed broker or dealer and the Dealer Managers or any of its affiliates is such a licensed broker or dealer in any such jurisdiction, the Offer shall be deemed to be made by the Dealer Managers or such affiliate, as the case may be, on behalf of the Offeror in such jurisdiction.

Each Holder participating in the Offer will be deemed to give certain representations in respect of the jurisdictions referred to above and generally as set out in the section entitled "Procedures for Participating in the Offer" in the Tender Offer Memorandum. Any tender of Notes for purchase pursuant to the Offer from a Holder that is unable to make these representations will not be accepted.

Each of the Offeror, the Dealer Managers and the Tender Agent reserves the right, in its sole and absolute discretion, to investigate, in relation to any tender of Notes for purchase pursuant to the Offer, whether any such representation given by a Holder is correct and, if such investigation is undertaken and as a result the Offeror determines (for any reason) that such representation is not correct, such tender or submission may be rejected.

SOURCE Cooperatieve Rabobank U.A.
SINGAPORE, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Cryptogram, the well-known Asian blockchain public relations company, has announced it has broken down the boundary between the metaverse and reality, by officially upgrading the brand to MetaFocus, an online platform for metaverse content that will lead in the virtual economy and break through the imagination of digital marketing.

The metaverse accelerates development and is home to numerous user communities and community cultures. It has caused reverberations around the world and is currently a white hot trend that is showing no sign of slowing down.

MetaFocus integrates resources in the metaverse industry chain to provide customers with one-stop communication solutions specifically for the metaverse. The new brand advocates encouragement for the indigenous people and participants of metaverse, which will surely bring more "resonance" to metaverse. MetaFocus launches 3D integrated communications to deliver an immersive metaverse experience to users, covering multiple communities.

The MetaFocus team is highly experienced in marketing, and can provide customers with large-screen advertising, activity planning, video production and promotion, and AMAs, to ensure outstanding content from any brand stands out to bring companies more acquisition and imagination experience. This results in deep contact with users of the metaverse, thereby helping companies to generate greater value in this exciting new space.

Large-Screen advertising

MetaFocus owns more than 500 pieces of large advertising screens in the metaverse, and these advertisements can directly and specifically reach domestic and overseas users, fans, developers and artists.

Activity Planning

MetaFocus customizes activities for customers combined with market heats and carries out implementations, eliminating limitations of space, so people can participate in metaverse activities any time and any place, with more than 1000 people participating in activities every time. MetaFocus has successfully organized several metaverse activities, reaching the Top 3 in trending and visits.

Video Production and Promotion

MetaFocus produces videos and uploads them to the MetaFocus platform and other cooperative KOL video accounts for dissemination, and promotes them in around 100 communities. The video viewing volume for each channel can reach 1000-4000+ individual views.

AMA

A new model of AMA live broadcast has started in the metaverse. Meanwhile, synchronizing various implantable displays in multiple areas of the metaverse can help enterprises to profoundly reach users of the metaverse, and to provide institutions with innovative communications solutions. AMA will also launch live broadcasts on various MetaFocus channels including Telegram, YouTube, Bilibili, Twitter Spaces, etc.

The MetaFocus team has noticed changes in the way that metaverse fans participate in online activities, which can also lead to the conversion of brand users to brand fans, thus promoting the full implementation of the metaverse. After completing the brand upgrade, MetaFocus is committed to deploying a new ecosystem of metaverse digital marketing, building a new field for metaverse marketing, and accelerating metaverse development for enterprises and users.

About MetaFocus

MetaFocus is a one-stop metaverse content communication platform. The MetaFocus team has many years of marketing experience, and can provide customers with metaverse event planning, advertising, AMA, etc., to help companies reach metaverse users in depth.

Follow MetaFocus:

Twitterhttps://twitter.com/Meta_Focus

Telegramhttps://t.me/MetaFocus

SOURCE MetaFocus
NEW YORK, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- CB Insights today named Curebase to its third annual Digital Health 150 , which showcases the 150 most promising private digital health companies in the world. This year's Digital Health 150 was unveiled live during CB Insights' annual Future of Health event.

The 2021 Digital Health 150 cohort has raised roughly $14.9B in aggregate funding across 522 deals since 2016, and includes startups at various investment stages of development, from early-stage to well-funded unicorns . Companies this year include startups working on data integration & analytics, hybrid virtual / in-person care, digital therapeutics, clinical intelligence, and more.

"This year's Digital Health 150 is one of our most expansive yet, spotlighting 16 categories including virtual care, clinical trials tech, and workflow automation, as well as adding new categories such as home health tech and computer-aided imaging," said Brian Lee, SVP of CB Insights' Intelligence Unit. "Last year's class has seen more than 20 exits, raised an additional $18.6B in aggregate funding, and announced over 250 partnerships since being recognized, and we're excited to see the future success of this year's winners."

"Being recognized by CB Insights to their Digital Health 150 list is a testament to the impact we are making in clinical trials right now to power studies that reach more patients everywhere, including at home and with their own doctors" - Tom Lemberg, Founder and CEO of Curebase, Forbes 30 Under 30

Through an evidence-based approach, the CB Insights research team selected the Digital Health 150 from a pool of over 11,000 companies, including applicants and nominees. They were chosen based on several factors, including data submitted by the companies, company business models and momentum in the market, and Mosaic scores , CB Insights' proprietary algorithm that measures the overall health and growth potential of private companies.

Curebase is reinventing decentralized clinical trials to help the vast majority of potential patients that currently cannot access clinical research. Curebase's vision is that any patient, no matter where they are located, should be able to participate in clinical trials at home and with their own doctors. This is made possible through a unique suite of tools, including all-in-one eClinical software and virtual research sites, designed to engage patients in clinical trials across all settings, be it at home, at their local clinic, or other places in their community.

2021 Digital Health 150 Investment Highlights:

Unicorns : 17 of the 150 companies (11%) are valued at or above $1B as of their latest funding rounds.

: 17 of the 150 companies (11%) are valued at or above as of their latest funding rounds. Funding trends : In 2021 year-to-date (YTD), these 150 private companies have raised $9.2B in equity funding across 153 deals (as of 11/19/21).

: In 2021 year-to-date (YTD), these 150 private companies have raised in equity funding across 153 deals (as of 11/19/21). Mega-rounds : Since 2020, there have been 39 mega-round ($100M+) equity investments to this year's Digital Health 150, with 31 (79%) of them taking place in 2021 YTD.

: Since 2020, there have been 39 mega-round ($100M+) equity investments to this year's Digital Health 150, with 31 (79%) of them taking place in 2021 YTD. Global representation : 23% of the 2021 Digital Health 150 are based outside the US. After the US, the UK is home to the most Digital Health 150 companies (9), followed by India (4). This year's winners are based in 18 countries, including China , Israel , Nigeria , Germany , Argentina , and New Zealand .

: 23% of the 2021 Digital Health 150 are based outside the US. After the US, the UK is home to the most Digital Health 150 companies (9), followed by (4). This year's winners are based in 18 countries, including , , , , , and . Top VC investor: General Catalyst is the most active investor in this year's Digital Health 150 companies, having invested in 39 deals since 2016.

About CB Insights

CB Insights builds software that enables the world's best companies to discover, understand, and make technology decisions with confidence. By marrying data, expert insights, and work management tools, clients manage their end-to-end technology decision-making process on CB Insights. To learn more, please visit www.cbinsights.com.

CB Insights Press Contact:

[email protected]

About Curebase

"Curebase is reinventing decentralized clinical trials to help the vast majority of potential patients that currently cannot access clinical research. Curebase's vision is that any patient, no matter where they are located, should be able to participate in clinical trials at home and with their own doctors. This is made possible through a unique suite of tools Curebase's has designed to engage patients in clinical trials across all settings, be it at home, at their local clinic, or other places in their community.

This starts with Curebase's leading decentralized clinical trial software platform that is an all-in-one, purpose built eClinical software system, with every tool needed to manage and collect data for decentralized clinical trials. This includes ePRO, eCOA, eConsent, Telemedicine, and much more. Curebase also offers a virtual research site, complete with virtual investigators, research coordinators, mobile nursing, and other healthcare staff that administer care to patients where convenient for them, just like any other research site, but with the ability to stand up anywhere and with greater patient convenience and reach. Notably, Curebase is the pioneer of the "BYOP" or Bring Your Own Physician model, allowing patients to use their own doctors to participate in clinical trials.

We are reinventing a $45B market, enabling drug and device companies to increase the volume, quality, and speed of data collection regardless of patients' physical location. COVID-19 tailwinds have created massive demand for telemedicine and home-based trials, with two new FDA guidance letters and industry-wide adoption of remote research that will only accelerate in the years to come. You can learn more about Curebase and our next stage of growth in Crunchbase , Fierce Biotech , and MedCity News !"

www.curebase.com

CONTACT:

Shawn Malloy

[email protected]

315-882-5310

SOURCE Curebase
PORT CHESTER, N.Y., Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Cynara USA, Inc. prides themselves on being anything and everything artichoke. They are growers, producers, innovators, distributors and have successfully taken artichokes from intimidating to convenient without compromising flavor, quality or food safety. Their latest innovations, Artichoke Chyps and Artichoke Delights, provide a delicious and unexpected way to eat artichokes.

Ready-to-Eat Tray and Artichoke Snack Innovative Artichoke Products

Artichoke Delights are fresh-packed hearts presented in a sustainable and ready-to-eat tray. The packaging is BPA-free, microwavable and shelf-stable. Prepared in various sizes and flavor options, they are ideal for appetizers, salads, side dishes, tapas and are enough for a hearty snack or a light meal. They are naturally gluten free, keto friendly, vegan, non-GMO verified and contain zero trans-fats. Perfect for busy lifestyles as Americans return to school and routine.

First-of-its-kind snacking experience, Artichoke Chyps are the first artichokes in the form of a chip. They are a favorite among shoppers seeking keto-friendly, clean, wholesome snacks and are packed to enjoy in a resealable, recyclable, gusseted bag. "They hit a lot of the important boxes: rich in vitamins, gluten free, non-GMO, all natural, high in fiber and 100% plant based," said Nina Kalandadze, General Manager of Cynara USA, Inc.

Artichokes may be labor-intensive vegetables to grow and eat, but they're one of the most nutrient-dense and diverse vegetables on the planet. "We know artichokes can be intimidating, which is why we created formats outside of the provincial category of canned and jarred artichokes that are premium-quality, simple-to-prepare, tasty, and available at any time of the year," said Kalandadze.

Currently, consumers can find Cynara's versatile products via e-commerce platforms, Thrive Market and Amazon. Cynara will also be launching and displaying their Artichoke Chyps, and Artichoke Delights at Albertsons and Safeway locations across New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Texas and Arizona in mid-December 2021.

To learn more about Cynara USA, Inc., please visit www.cynara.net/en . For recipe inspiration and company news, follow the brand on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter.

Media Contact: Michelle Castillo, 239-451-0536, [email protected]

SOURCE Cynara USA, Inc.
MARINA DEL REY, Calif., Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- LeaseLock , the world's leading insurtech platform for real estate, today announced that Dana Columbo has joined the company as Vice President of Enterprise Sales, Southeast. She will focus on the procurement of large contracts and bolstering the growth of LeaseLock Zero Deposit  the rental housing industry's only true deposit replacement solution on the market.

With more than 15 years of experience in the multifamily industry, Columbo previously served as Vice President of Sales at RentDebt Automated Collections. Columbo oversaw small-to-enterprise-level clients, developing strategic partnerships and improving the agency's offerings.

"Dana's experience in developing strategic partnerships and working with clients matches perfectly with our vision to be a long-term partner for our clients," said Ed Wolff, Chief Revenue Officer at LeaseLock. "We're excited to have Dana on our leadership team and look forward to the contributions she'll make to further our mission of eliminating deposits for good."

As the only AI-powered insurtech platform for rental housing providers, LeaseLock seamlessly integrates with property management systems and back-office workflows, achieving 92% resident adoption rate on average. LeaseLock clients are able to lower bad debt while drastically reducing deposit administration and risk. With its latest product upgrade , LeaseLock provides a streamlined claims experience with more flexible deadlines and expedited processing, delivering claims payouts in as fast as 48 business hours.

"Throughout my career in multifamily, I've gained extensive knowledge in marketing and debt collections," said Columbo. "In the multifamily industry, it's nearly impossible to recover more than 45-50% of bad debt annually. LeaseLock enables communities to proactively address loss at the top of the leasing funnel rather than being reactive at the bottom, trying to recover bad debt through collections."

NMHC Top 50 operator LeaseLock clients include Greystar, Cushman & Wakefield, Avenue5 Residential, Harbor Group Management Co., LMC, and RKW Residential. Top ownership clients include Goldman Sachs, PGIM, ColRich, Strata, GoldCor, Olive Tree, TruAmerica, White Oak, Trinsic, Western Wealth Communities and Goodman Real Estate.

About Leaselock

LeaseLock is the world's leading insurtech platform for real estate.

We provide lease insurance to eliminate security deposits from the rental housing industry  removing complexity for residents and operators while creating superior financial performance for asset owners.

Powered by artificial intelligence, we optimize coverage by property to better protect owners  resulting in industry-leading bad debt reduction. LeaseLock is deployed seamlessly within existing property software to increase lease conversion, drastically reduce deposit administration and regulatory risk, and improve the resident experience.

LeaseLock has insured over $2 billion in leases backed by insurance rated A (Excellent) by A.M. Best. Our global investors include SoftBank Ventures Asia, Wildcat Ventures, Westerly Winds, Vertex Ventures US, Liberty Mutual Strategic Ventures, American Family Ventures, Moderne Ventures, Mucker Capital, and Hivers & Strivers Investment Fund.

SOURCE LeaseLock
They are the first women to hold the top leadership positions at LISC, one of the nation's largest community development organizations.

"Denise and Lisa are proven leaders who reflect the tremendous diversity of talent at LISC," said Robert E. Rubin, LISC chairman. "Together, they will manage the significant expansion LISC has seen in recent years, while continuing to strengthen the organization's capacity to address racial and socio-economic disparities throughout the country."

Scott, who joined LISC in 2001, brings deep experience in the philanthropic, finance and public policy sectors to her new position. She previously served as executive director of LISC New York City, LISC's largest local program, which has invested more than $3 billion in underserved communities since 1980. She currently serves as chair of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

"Denise has broken new ground in community development and at LISC for many years," Rubin noted. "She has led our core work in communities, represented LISC's interest with capital providers and policymakers, and helped develop our national strategies to advance equity and inclusion. She will continue to be a dynamic leader for LISC long into the future."

Before joining LISC, Scott held leadership positions at the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the New York City Mayor's Office of Housing Coordination. She led numerous community-based housing and economic development initiatives, including serving as director of the New York City Department of Housing and Development's Harlem Neighborhood Preservation Program office.

"I'm truly honored to serve as president of LISC and to work closely with Lisa to deepen LISC's impact in urban and rural communities," said Scott. "There is no other community development organization in the country that has LISC's local capacity to break down race and class barriers and create new pathways to opportunity for those who have been excluded from our nation's prosperity. I can't think of a time when this work has been more importantfor families, for communities and for our national economic outlook."

Glover has worked with LISC for the last 15 years as a member of the LISC national board and as chair of the LISC Milwaukee local advisory committee. She spent more than 33 years leading management initiatives at U.S. Bank before coming out of retirement to take on the role of interim CEO. She will continue in that role over the next year and will focus on building LISC's organizational capacity to sustain its significant growth, with a particular eye toward managing operations in a post-pandemic environment.

"We are grateful to Lisa for putting her retirement on hold to help us implement a new senior management structure with both a CEO and a president," Rubin said. "This structure allows us to better direct an increasingly complex organization and efficiently meet the needs of the communities where we work." Glover's permanent successor is expected to be selected by the end of 2022.

Glover said LISC's growth reflects the organization's long history of outreach and impact, including a record $2 billion in community investments during 2020. "We are working with a broader range of funders and investors than at any time in our history, and we are rapidly deploying capital in ways that even a few years ago would have seemed impossible," she explained.

"I am excited that Denise is stepping into this new leadership position," she added. "Together, we will support LISC's remarkable staff as we continue to innovate and grow and at the same time efficiently manage the interconnected aspects of our work."

Ellen Gilligan, a LISC board member and president of the Greater Milwaukee Foundation, said the team of Glover and Scott will support the creativity of LISC's staff and their community partners as well.

"As CEO, Lisa will reinforce LISC's financial and organizational management systems, while continuing to advance core community investment strategies," she explained. "And, as president, Denise will drive the primacy of LISC's local program approach, as well as innovation around urgent issues like affordable housing and wealth and income inequality, for which she has long been a leading national voice.

"At a time when much of the country is navigating a new normal and underserved communities, in particular, are facing significant challenges, this leadership team will be a source of constancy and experience," she said. "It will serve our partners, funders and investors well."

For a joint blog from Lisa Glover and Denise Scott, visit https://www.lisc.org/our-stories/story/look-forward/

For more on LISC's leadership team, visit https://www.lisc.org/about-us/lisc-leadership/

About LISC

LISC is one the country's largest community development organizations, helping forge vibrant, resilient communities across America. We work with residents and partners to close systemic gaps in health, wealth and opportunity and advance racial equity so that people and places can thrive. Since our founding, LISC has invested $24 billion to create more than 436,320 affordable homes and apartments and develop 74.4 million square feet of retail, community and educational space. For more, visit www.lisc.org.

SOURCE Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC)
DETROIT, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the Detroit Regional Convention Facility Authority (DRCFA) and Huntington National Bank are pleased to announce Huntington Place as the new name for Detroit's world-class convention center. As one of the top 20 convention centers in the country, the new name signifies an important community moment in the transformation of Detroit's gathering place for conventions, meetings, and special events.

The merger of Huntington Bancshares Incorporated and TCF Financial Corporation, and their respective bank subsidiaries, created a top 10 regional bank, Huntington National Bank. Huntington is deeply committed to the community and commerce in Detroit and is proud to have the city be the home of the company's commercial bank headquarters, currently under construction at the corner of Woodward and Elizabeth, and less than a mile from Huntington Place.

"We are proud that following the TCF-Huntington merger, the name of our new combined bank now graces the walls of this civic center that means so much to the people of Detroit and all of southeast Michigan. From high school graduations to the North American International Auto Show, from speeches by sitting presidents to the annual NAACP Fight for Freedom Fund Dinner, this venerable facility is part of the fabric of our community and Huntington is fortunate to now be a part of it," said Gary Torgow, Chairman, Huntington Bank.

Detroit's convention center completed its $279 million transformation in 2015 and has hosted some of the most important meetings and conventions in the country, ranking it the 16th largest convention center in the United States. Built by the city of Detroit, it originally opened in 1960 and continues to contribute to the economic development of Detroit by bringing 1.5 million visitors a year from across the globe. Against the backdrop of an international riverfront, Huntington Place projects continued future growth for world-class meetings, conventions, and event business in 2022.

"Our naming rights agreement, which was a priority for the Detroit Regional Convention Facility Authority, began with TCF Bank and continues with Huntington Bank in strengthening the Center's financial future. We are dedicated not only to being a contributor to our region's economic vitality, but also to creating jobs and enhancing the attraction of our destination to visitors," said Lisa Canada, Chair, DRCFA. "Both of our organizations have a deep commitment to the communities we serve."

Earlier this year, Huntington unveiled a $40 billion Strategic Community Plan to improve financial opportunities for the customers, businesses, and communities it serves, with a focus on affordable housing, small business, and increased capital to historically disadvantaged and low-to-moderate income communities.

About Huntington Place

With 723,000 square feet of exhibit space, Huntington Place boasts one of the largest contiguous exhibit floor spaces in North America and has the largest ballroom in Michigan with 40,000 square feet. It has received numerous industry awards for excellence including the 2020 USGBC Leadership Award for Building Performance, making it the only convention center in the history of the award to receive it. Visit online at www.huntingtonplacedetroit.com

About the DRCFA

On September 15, 2009, operational control of Huntington Place transferred to the Detroit Regional Convention Facility Authority, under a collaborative agreement by the Michigan State Legislature, the City of Detroit, and Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties. Each of these entities, as well as an appointee of the Governor of the State of Michigan, has an appointed member on the DRCFA Board. Lisa Canada serves as Chair of the Board. For more information visit: http://www.drcfa.org/.

SOURCE Detroit Regional Convention Facility Authority
WUHAN, China, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Dunxin Financial Holdings Limited ("Dunxin" or the "Company") (NYSE American: DXF), a licensed microfinance lender serving individuals and small and medium enterprises ("SMEs") in Hubei Province, China, today announced that it will hold its annual general meeting ("AGM") of shareholders on Thursday, December 30, 2021 at 9:00 a.m., Beijing time. The meeting will be held at the Company's offices located at 23th Floor, Lianfa International Building, 128 Xudong Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China 430063 and virtually through teleconference.



The board of directors of the Company has fixed the close of business on December 3, 2021 as the record date (the "Record Date") in order to determine the shareholders entitled to receive notice of the AGM or any adjourned or postponed meeting thereof. The purpose of the AGM is for the Company's shareholders to elect and appoint two directors, namely Qi Chen and Weitao Liang.



Holders of record of the Company's ordinary shares at the close of business on the Record Date are entitled to attend, and to vote at, the AGM and any adjournment or postponement thereof in person. Beneficial owners of the Company's American depositary shares ("ADSs") who wish to exercise their voting rights for the underlying shares represented by the ADSs must act through Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, the depositary of the Company's ADS program.



The Notice of AGM and proxy statement for the AGM are available on the Company's website at http://hbctxed.com. Dunxin has filed its annual report on Form 20-F, including its audited financial statements, for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Dunxin's Form 20-F can be accessed on the Company's website at http://hbctxed.com, as well as on the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov.



Safe Harbor Statement

This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or anticipated, including risks outlined in the Company's public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company's annual report on Form 20-F. All information provided in this press release is as of the date hereof. Except as required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date on which the statements are made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.



About Dunxin Financial Holdings Limited



Dunxin Financial Holdings Limited is a licensed microfinance lender serving individuals and SMEs in Hubei Province, China. The Company has been granted a microfinance license by the Financial Affairs Office of the Hubei Provincial People's Government to provide loans to individuals and SMEs. The Company was recognized as the Vice President Unit of China Micro-credit Companies Association under the China Banking Regulatory Commission in January 2017 and was a Member Unit of Hubei Micro-credit Company Association from December 2013 to December 2016. In October 2016, the Company was recognized as a "National Excellent Microfinance Company" by China Micro-credit Companies Association. The Company was named one of the "Top 100 Most Competitive Microfinance Companies in China" by China Microfinance Institution Association in 2014, 2015 and 2017. The Company has professional credit business experience in the microfinance industry in China. For more information, please visit the Company's website at http://en.hbctxed.com/.



SOURCE Dunxin Financial Holding Limited
HUNTINGTON, W.Va., Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Energy Services of America Corporation (the "Company" or "Energy Services") (OTCQB: ESOA), generated revenues of $122.5 million, adjusted EBITDA of $3.8 million, net income available to common shareholders of $8.8 million and fully diluted earnings per share of $0.52 for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2021. The Company had backlog of $72.2 million at September 30, 2021.

Subsequent to the end of the fiscal year, the Company was awarded a $5.8 million verdict in a previously disclosed lawsuit against a former customer. The Company anticipates that a final judgement order will be issued during the first calendar quarter of 2022, which can be appealed up to thirty days after the judgement is entered. To date, the Company has not recognized the award in its financial statements.

Douglas Reynolds, President, commented on the announcement. "I am pleased with the progress we made during fiscal 2021 as we continue to build the foundation for future growth. During the year we expanded our gas and water distribution business geographically via acquisition and moved into both general contracting and solar installation in our core geographic markets. At the same time our balance sheet was strengthened with the forgiveness of the PPP loans, and we were able to simplify our capital structure by converting our preferred stock." Reynolds continued, "Looking ahead we will continue to invest in the business and add talented people and business lines to grow the company and we anticipate that fiscal year 2022 will result in increased growth and profitability."

Below is a comparison of the Company's operating results for fiscal year 2021 compared to fiscal year 2020:





Year Ended

Year Ended



September 30, 2021

September 30, 2020









Revenue

$ 122,465,826

$ 119,194,440









Cost of revenue 109,544,804

105,693,209











Gross profit 12,921,022

13,501,231









Selling and administrative expenses 13,813,644

9,831,578

Income from operations (892,622)

3,669,653









Other income (expense)







Interest income 286,645

53,332

Paycheck Protection Program loan forgiveness 9,839,100

-

Other nonoperating expense (311,830)

(239,862)

Interest expense (534,820)

(486,246)

Gain on sale of equipment 681,653

579,326



9,960,748

(93,450)











Income before income taxes 9,068,126

3,576,203











Income tax (benefit) expense (29,129)

1,143,186











Net income 9,097,255

2,433,017











Dividends on preferred stock 284,238

309,000











Net income available to common shareholders $ 8,813,017

$ 2,124,017





















Weighted average shares outstanding-basic 13,621,406

13,804,835











Weighted average shares-diluted 16,988,424

17,238,168











Earnings per share









available to common shareholders $ 0.647

$ 0.154













Earnings per share-diluted









available to common shareholders $ 0.519

$ 0.123

Please refer to the table below that reconciles adjusted EBITDA with net income available to common shareholders:





Year Ended

Year Ended



September 30, 2021

September 30, 2020



















Net income available to







common shareholders

$ 8,813,017

$ 2,124,017









Add: Income tax (benefit) expense

(29,129)

1,143,186









Add: Dividends on preferred stock

284,238

309,000









Add: Interest expense

534,820

486,246









Less: Non-operating income

(10,495,568)

(392,796)









Add: Depreciation expense

4,661,789

4,395,362









Adjusted EBITDA

$ 3,769,167

$ 8,065,015

Certain statements contained in the release, including without limitation statements including the words "believes," "anticipates," "intends," "expects" or words of similar import, constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"). Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements of the Company expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, general economic and business conditions, changes in business strategy or development plans and other factors referenced in this release. Given these uncertainties, prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The Company disclaims any obligation to update any such factors or to publicly announce the results of any revisions to any of the forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect future events or developments.

SOURCE Energy Services of America
LAKE JACKSON, Texas, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Fairstead, a purpose-driven, vertically integrated real estate company committed to sustainable development and the creation and preservation of high-quality housing, today announced the acquisition of the Gateway at Lake Jackson (Gateway) housing development, comprising of 160 apartments in the Greater Houston metropolitan area. Located at 111 Loganberry Street in Lake Jackson, Gateway consists of 11 apartment buildings as well as one community building set across 14 acres with a full suite of amenities. Fairstead will be partnering with Southeast Texas Housing Finance Corporation, a subdivision of the State of Texas and an instrumentality of local government that is dedicated to promoting affordable housing opportunities for low to moderate-income Texans.

"Cities across the country are facing an affordability crisis and part of the challenge is preserving our existing housing stock and ensuring that these homes remain great places to live," said Noah Hale, Director, Development, at Fairstead. "At Gateway, Fairstead will make significant investments in modernizing its apartments, expanding and enhancing the expansive amenity program, and improving outdoor space. Fairstead will also expand affordability at the complex by converting existing market-rate units into affordable homes, fostering a mixed-income community with a variety of housing options."

Next year, Fairstead expects to begin renovations on the entire complex with the goal of maintaining and increasing long-term affordability, so that Gateway can operate as a true mixed-income community offering a high quality of life to all residents. The renovations will improve and expand upon Gateway's existing amenities and create better connections throughout the complex. Current amenities include a large community building, fitness room, pool, dog park, playground, volleyball court, and storage units.

The 160 apartments are a mix of market-rate units and affordable homes for families earning 60% AMI. Fairstead's long-term plan for the property is to preserve and increase affordability by converting a portion of the market-rate units into affordable housing for families earning 80% AMI.

The news follows Fairstead's planned acquisition of the Aurora Apartments in the Tobin Hill neighborhood of San Antonio, which provides much-needed low-income senior housing. Fairstead plans to rehabilitate the historic 10-story building's 105 units and add a sprinkler system.

In addition, last month, Fairstead acquired the Essex Plaza portfolio in Newark, New Jersey, adding 691 affordable units to its portfolio. Fairstead will invest more than $27 million for sustainable renovations and improvements, as well as on-site support services for seniors. The Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority (ARHA) recently announced that it had selected Fairstead in partnership with Mill Creek Residential and The Communities Group to redevelop the Samuel Madden Homes in Old Town Alexandria, where the company will create a sustainable mixed-use community with affordable, workforce and market-rate housing.

About Fairstead:

Fairstead is a purpose-driven vertically integrated real estate developer specializing in creating sustainable, high-quality housing. Since 2014, Fairstead has acquired or developed more than $4 billion in property. With offices in New York, Maryland, and South Carolina, Fairstead's team manages 90+ communities across the country and runs its comprehensive real estate platform, which includes acquisitions and development, venture capital investments in prop tech, design and construction, energy and sustainability, property management, marketing, and leasing. The firm also administers one of the industry's most proactive community impact programs to provide on-site support services to residents. For more information, visit www.fairstead.com.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Jovana Rizzo

[email protected]

917-836-0618

Claire Holmes

[email protected]

845-282-0774

SOURCE Fairstead
TOURNON-SUR-RHONE, France, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Fareva and ApiJect Systems, Corp. today announced a 10-year licensing agreement to install three Blow-Fill-Seal production lines that when operational will be able to fill-finish more than 500 million doses per year of vaccines and other large molecule injectable drugs using ApiJect's innovative prefilled injector technology. Fareva intends to invest more than 50M (US$ 56.5M) for these three manufacturing lines, with support from the Government of France, through the "France Relance" industry initiative and the Investments for the Future Program (PIA).

The three manufacturing lines and ApiJect's technology utilize the Blow-Fill-Seal (BFS) aseptic packaging process. BFS has demonstrated its ability to package certain vaccines and large molecule formulations, and ApiJect is helping to expand BFS's capabilities to additional drug products, including temperature sensitive pharmaceuticals. When cleared by regulators, ApiJect will provide the necessary needle hub and other attachable components to convert finished BFS single-dose containers from these lines into easy-to-assemble, ready-to-use prefilled injectors.

COVID-19 has demonstrated the strategic importance of regional pharmaceutical manufacturing to ensure strong and reliable medical supply chains. By investing in these three BFS lines and installing ApiJect technology, Fareva is helping to increase Europe's high-speed, high-volume fill and finish capacity by potentially more than 500 million doses per year. And, the compact polyethylene-based supply chain of BFS helps establish and maintain dependable and resilient fill-finish capacity, even in the face of additional COVID-19 pandemic waves and their supply chain repercussions.

ApiJect CEO and Chair Jay Walker commented: "This commitment by Fareva, with the support of the French Government, to expand fill-finish capacity is the right step at the right time. We are proud to partner with Fareva in bringing the next generation of injection technology to global health."

Mr. Walker continued: "Our mission at ApiJect is to support and execute a strategy of expanded distributed fill-finish capacity in the U.S. and regionally around the world. This is desperately needed in the battle against COVID, particularly as we continue to face emerging variants. Distributed fill-finish capacity will also yield huge dividends when future pandemics and other possible bio-emergencies threaten our populations. Fareva, along with its support from the French Government, is showing itself to be a vital leader in confronting and defeating the COVID threat."

The new lines will be situated in Fareva Excelvision, located in Annonay, France, which has more than 50 years of experience manufacturing BFS containers and exporting products around the world. The BFS machines will be purchased from Rommelag in Germany. Clean rooms for these new lines will be operated in a Biosafety Level 2 (BSL2) environment, allowing them to handle most vaccines. The objective is to start the first validation batches in June 2022. In addition, this capacity expands ApiJect licensing of its BFS manufacturing and device technology to the USA and Europe.

Olivier Dussopt. Minister Delegate for Public Accounts said: "I am very happy that Fareva, and their manufacturing site of Annonay in Ardeche, invests in such a development project, concerning 3 production lines for an amount of 50 million euros. The government will support those investments with a program of 36,9 million euros. This is an excellent news for the local territory as it will create 150 jobs and this is also an excellent news for France and Europe that will benefit from this high technology for the manufacturing of pharmaceutical drugs and more precisely of vaccines. "

Agnes Pannier-Runacher, Minister Delegate for the Industry declared: "I welcome the project implemented by Fareva in collaboration with ApiJect, a world premiere that will enable the production up to 500 million of injectable pharmaceutical products from 2022. This ambitious 50 million euros project will strengthen our healthcare industry in France and shows that innovation is not only in the vaccines but also stands in the injection devices. It is also the reason why we have agreed to support it with the France Relance program."

ABOUT APIJECT SYSTEMS, CORP.

ApiJect Systems, Corp. is a public-benefit medical technology company working to bring prefilled, single-dose injections to more people in every market. The ApiJect Platform enables pharmaceutical and biotech companies to design scalable prefilled injectors and efficiently fill-finish them with their injectable drug products. This can be done either on one of their own ApiJect-licensed Blow-Fill-Seal packaging lines or at one of our world-class manufacturing partners.

Learn more at www.apiject.com or contact Steve Hofman at [email protected] .

ABOUT FAREVA

Fareva, a family-owned company, whose strength lies in its financial independence, is one of the world's leading CDMOs in the pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, make-up, and industrial and homecare fields. Fareva operates in 12 countries with 42 factories and employs more than 13 000 employees with annual revenues reaching  1.8 billion in 2020.

For further information, please come and visit us at www.fareva.com .

ABOUT "FRANCE RELANCE"

France Relance is a 100 billion investment plan designed to support economic recovery in France in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The program supports businesses, new production models, transformation of infrastructure, and training investment.

ABOUT INVESTMENTS FOR THE FUTURE PROGRAM (PIA)

The General Secretariat for Investment ensures the consistency and monitoring of the government's investment policy through the implementation of the "Programme d'investissements d'avenir" (Investments for the Future Programme) (PIA). Committed for 10 years, the PIA finances promising and innovative investments across the country, in strategic sectors for France (ecological transition, competitiveness of companies, higher education and research, industrial sovereignty, digital economy, etc.). These investments are based on a demanding doctrine, open selective procedures, and principles of co-financing or returns on investment for the State. The fourth PIA (PIA4) has  20 billion in commitments over the 2021-2025 period, of which  11 billion will help support innovative projects under the  France Relance  plan. The PIA will continue to support innovation in all its forms over the long term, so that our country can strengthen its positions in sectors of the future, in the service of competitiveness, ecological transition, and the independence of our country. economy and our organizations.

For further information, please visit : www.gouvernement.fr/secretariat-general-pour-l-investissement https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=http%3a%2f%2fwww.gouvernement.fr%2fsecretariat-general-pour-l-investissement-sgpi&c=E,1,Q7AJ3U8siUgjWljKaEikiJ2AclxrzMWME9ga2PcGe3wntYo-66IDhC7vzUokLP0-gmJ6fQ7rHcxi2JDWkCCQ1tRbRVXRI4zBLIY1u0C8WmVUhHzoHA,,&typo=1 sgpi @SGPI_avenir

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENT

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included in these materials that address activities, events or developments that ApiJect expects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statement contained in this press release specifically include the expectations of plans, strategies, and objectives of ApiJect. Such statements are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of ApiJect, which may cause actual results to differ materially from those implied or expressed by the forward-looking statements.

SOURCE ApiJect Systems Corp.

Related Links

http://www.fareva.com

https://apiject.com


CARLSBAD, Calif., Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted premarket approval to Thermo Fisher Scientific's Oncomine Dx Target Test as a companion diagnostic (CDx) to help identify non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients whose tumors carry epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) Exon20-insertion mutations for potential treatment with RYBREVANT (amivantamab-vmjw)*, Janssen Biotech, Inc.'s (Janssen's) targeted therapy.

"The FDA's approval of Oncomine Dx Target Test enables clinicians to use FFPE tissue samples to identify patients in the U.S. who may benefit from this important new therapy," said Garret Hampton, president, clinical next-generation sequencing and oncology at Thermo Fisher Scientific. "In situations where conventional testing may miss key mutations that could match patients with targeted therapies, NGS technology is vital to make these connections and advance precision medicine. We look forward to expanding registration of the test as a companion diagnostic for RYBREVANT globally to help improve outcomes for more patients."

This is the second approval for Oncomine Dx Target Test as a CDx for EGFR Exon20 insertion mutant patients and the 12th NSCLC global approval overall. The test is the first and only FDA-approved next-generation sequencing (NGS) CDx on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue for determining RYBREVANT eligibility in patients whose disease has progressed on or after platinum-based chemotherapy.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide.1 EGFR mutations are an important therapeutic target in NSCLC; EGFR Exon20 insertion mutations, specifically, are associated with resistance to immune checkpoint inhibitor therapies and poor patient prognosis.2 Further, EGFR Exon20 insertion mutations are often under-detected by conventional, single-gene testing methods.4,5 This is driving the need for more comprehensive biomarker testing with NGS technology, which simultaneously interrogates multiple biomarkers for early identification and appropriate characterization of cancer patient samples.

Thermo Fisher's Oncomine Dx Target Test simultaneously evaluates 23 genes associated with NSCLC. The FDA first approved the test as a CDx in 2017, and it is now approved in the U.S. for six targeted therapies for NSCLC and one for cholangiocarcinoma. The test has also been approved by Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) as a CDx for five biomarkers  EGFR, ALK, ROS1, BRAF, and RET  associated with 10 targeted therapies for NSCLC. The test is the only globally distributable NGS CDx solution approved and reimbursed by government and commercial insurers in more than 15 countries. This includes the U.S., multiple European nations, Japan, South Korea and the Middle East, covering more than 550 million lives globally.

About Thermo Fisher Scientific

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. is the world leader in serving science, with annual revenue of approximately $40 billion. Our Mission is to enable our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer. Whether our customers are accelerating life sciences research, solving complex analytical challenges, increasing productivity in their laboratories, improving patient health through diagnostics or the development and manufacture of life-changing therapies, we are here to support them. Our global team of more than 100,000 colleagues delivers an unrivaled combination of innovative technologies, purchasing convenience and pharmaceutical services through our industry-leading brands, including Thermo Scientific, Applied Biosystems, Invitrogen, Fisher Scientific, Unity Lab Services, Patheon and PPD. For more information, please visit www.thermofisher.com.

* For full RYBREVANT Prescribing Information, including Important Safety Information, visit www.rybrevant.com.

1 https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/cancer

2 https://www.nature.com/articles/s41392-019-0038-9

4 Riess JW, Gandar DR, Frampton GM, et al. Diverse EGFR Exon 20 insertions and co-occurring molecular alterations identified by comprehensive genomic profiling of NSCLC. J Thorac Oncolo. 2018;13(10):1560-1568. 10.1016/j.jtho.2018.06.019.

5 Bauml JM, Viteri S, Minchom A, et al. Underdiagnosis of EGFR Exon 20 insertion mutation variants: estimates from NGS-based real-world datasets. Oral presentation presented at: International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) 2020 World Conference on Lung Cancer Singapore (WCLC 2020); January 28-31, 2021; Worldwide Virtual Event.

Media Contact Information:

Mauricio Minotta

760-805-5266

Email: [email protected]

Jen Heady Phone:

Phone: 617-275-6547

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Thermo Fisher Scientific

Related Links

http://www.thermofisher.com


NEW YORK, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Final Mile , the pioneer in driving behavior change, integrating Behavioral Science and Human Centered Design to solve critical business and developmental sector challenges, today announced the launch of its South Africa headquarters in Johannesburg. A subsidiary of Fractal, (fractal.ai), Final Mile tackles complex behavioral challenges in public health, financial empowerment, and other issues involving human decisions by creating behavioral science solutions.

With its new office, Final Mile will invest in hiring local leadership & highly qualified talent pool and extend community engagement in the Southern African region to further drive the sustainability and long-term impact of its public health efforts. The company has already delivered great results on significantly important issues in various African nations including understanding HIV prevention in high-risk adolescent girls and young women in South Africa, Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision related research in Zambia, Zimbabwe & Kenya and more.

Led by Dr. Sangiwe Moyo, Final Mile's South Africa HQ will be pivotal in helping the company build upon its current efforts in the fight against HIV, AIDS and COVID-19 in particular. Dr Sangiwe was a Deputy Director at Population Services International (PSI) where he was managing the implementation of STAR (HIV self-testing initiative) to scale up HIV self-testing interventions which are key to addressing the HIV epidemic. He holds a PhD in Public Health and has worked extensively with major funders such as USAID, CDC and Unitaid.

"South Africa is on the frontlines of some of the world's most complex health challenges," said Dr. Moyo. "Through this launch, we look forward to supporting the tremendous on-the-ground efforts being taken to fight the most challenging health threats by further collaborating with providers, patients and support workers with the knowledge and insights they need to better understand some of the underlying issues that are underpinning these public health challenges."

"We have to build teams close to the communities we serve," said Ram Prasad, Co-founder and CEO, Final Mile. "South Africa is the natural choice given the availability of talent and access to several countries in the region. We are excited about building a full-fledged team that can engage with funders, implementers, Governments, and other key stakeholders."

For more information on Final Mile, please visit www.thefinalmile.com .

For more information on Fractal, please visit www.fractal.ai

About Final Mile

Final Mile is one of the first research & design strategy consultancy organization that has developed a cross-disciplinary practice built on precepts of Behavioral Economics, Cognitive Neuroscience and Human-Centered Design. Final Mile addresses behavioral challenges in business and social contexts by systematically understanding the decision process and developing design interventions that influence behavior. It is an integrated research, strategy and design process deployed in order to explain and bridge the gap between Awareness-Action, and Intent-Action and successfully executed projects across Africa, Asia, Europe and North America.

Final Mile's pioneering practice and success has been featured extensively in Indian and International media, in publications like BusinessWeek, Forbes India, Boston Globe, Economist, WSJ Mint, BBC, Times of India among others. In addition, Final Mile's work in public health has been published extensively in leading journals.

Final Mile has offices in Johannesburg, New York, and Mumbai with a diverse set of people from specialties such as Behavioral & Decision Science, Communication & Information Design, Communication strategy, Architecture, Product Design, Interactive design.

About Fractal

Fractal is one of the most prominent players in the Artificial Intelligence space. Fractal's mission is to power every human decision in the enterprise and brings AI, engineering, and design to help the world's most admired Fortune 500 companies.

Fractal's products include Qure.ai to assist radiologists in making better diagnostic decisions, Crux Intelligence to assists CEOs, and senior executives make better tactical and strategic decisions, Theremin.ai to improve investment decisions, and Eugenie.ai to find anomalies in high-velocity data & Samya.ai to drive next generation Enterprise Revenue Growth Management.

Fractal has more than 3,000 employees across 16 global locations, including the United States, UK, Ukraine, India, Singapore, and Australia. Fractal has consistently been rated as India's best companies to work for, by The Great Place to Work Institute, featured as a leader in Customer Analytics Service Providers Wave 2021, Computer Vision Consultancies Wave 2020 & Specialized Insights Service Providers Wave 2020 by Forrester Research, a leader in Analytics & AI Services Specialists Peak Matrix 2021 by Everest Group and recognized as an "Honorable Vendor" in 2021 Magic Quadrant for data & analytics by Gartner. For more information visit fractal.ai.

SOURCE Fractal
VANCOUVER, BC, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Fineqia International Inc. (the "Company" or "Fineqia") (CSE: FNQ) (OTC: FNQQF) (Frankfurt: FNQA) is pleased to announce that the Company has arranged a non-brokered private placement (the "Private Placement") of up to 400,000,000 units of the Company ("Units") to be sold at a price of $0.01 per unit to raise gross proceeds of up to $4,000,000.

Each Unit consists of one common share and one share purchase warrant exercisable for three years at $0.05 per share. The Company may, at its option, accelerate the expiry date, provided that closing price trades at or above $0.15 per share for any 20 consecutive trading day period at any time after four months and one day after the issuance of the warrant. Warrant holders will be notified by the issue of a press release by the Company announcing such acceleration. In such a situation, the expiry date shall be deemed to be the 20th day following the date of issuance of the press release.

The proceeds from the private placement will be used to enhance the Company's working capital as well as pare down debt. Fineqia also announces that, subject to regulatory approval, certain creditors have agreed to accept common shares of the Company for past consulting and other services provided to Fineqia totalling approx. $100,000 by the issuance of common shares at a deemed price of $0.05 per common share to insiders and $0.01 per common share to third parties.

These securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States securities act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 act"). Accordingly, these securities may not be offered or sold in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, a U.S. person or person in the United States (as such terms are defined in regulations under the 1933 act), absent an exemption from the registration requirements of the 1933 act and applicable state laws. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in the United States or in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

About Fineqia International Inc.

Fineqia Investments Ltd is a wholly owned subsidiary of Fineqia International set up to hold the Company's growing portfolio of blockchain, fintech and cryptocurrency technology companies worldwide.

Fineqia International is a listed entity in the Canada (CSE: FNQ), US (OTC: FNQQF) and Europe (Frankfurt: FNQA). Fineqia International outlines the Company's corporate governance, culture, processes and relations by which the Company and its subsidiaries and investments are controlled, directed and governed. Fineqia International oversees and ensures the overall success, planning and growth of the Company and all of its subsidiaries.

For more information, visit www.fineqia.com

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Some statements in this release may contain forward-looking information (as defined under applicable Canadian securities laws) ("forward-looking statements"). All statements, other than of historical fact, that address activities, events or developments that Fineqia (the "Company") believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future (including, without limitation, statements regarding potential acquisitions and financings) are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are generally identifiable by use of the words "may", "will", "should", "continue", "expect", "anticipate", "estimate", "believe", "intend", "plan" or "project" or the negative of these words or other variations on these words or comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company's ability to control or predict, that may cause the actual results of the Company to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations include, among other things, without limitation, the failure to obtain sufficient financing, and other risks disclosed in the Company's public disclosure record on file with the relevant securities regulatory authorities. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made except as may be required by applicable securities laws. The Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement except to the extent required by applicable securities laws.

SOURCE Fineqia International Inc.

Related Links

https://www.fineqia.com


LONDON, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- In an historic first for the aviation industry, a passenger carrying commercial aircraft has flown using 100% drop-in sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in one of its two engines. The BioForming process, invented by Virent, a renewable fuels and chemicals technology company, and being further advanced for commercial deployment with Johnson Matthey, a global leader in sustainable technologies, and others was a key step in enabling the 100% drop-in SAF production.

On 1 December 2021, a United Airlines Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft flew over 100 passengers from Chicago to Washington DC with 500 gallons of 100% drop-in SAF powering the one engine. The same amount of conventional jet fuel was used in the other engine to compare performance and confirm no operational differences with the alternative fuel. SAF in general has a substantially lower carbon intensity than conventional jet fuel while 100% drop-in SAF has the added benefit that it can be used without any modifications to engines, airframes or fuelling infrastructure.

The BioForming technology converts sugar feedstocks into a product known as BioFormate via a catalytic process. BioFormate can then be used to create biofuels, including BioForm synthesised aromatic kerosene (SAK), which can be blended with renewable paraffinic kerosene to produce the 100% drop-in SAF. Johnson Matthey and Virent have partnered since August 2016 to further develop and commercialise the BioForming technology and offer it for licence to third parties.

The event culminated with a reception hosted by United Airlines at Washington D.C.'s Reagan National Airport to mark this milestone event. Representatives from Johnson Matthey and Virent attended to mark the historic occasion.

Jane Toogood, Sector Chief Executive, Johnson Matthey commented: "We'd like to congratulate United Airlines, Virent and the other partners on this pioneering flight. We are delighted to have played such a key role with our partner Virent in this latest step in the decarbonisation journey and it is further evidence that Johnson Matthey's technologies as a whole are accelerating the transition to a net zero world. The BioForming process draws on a reliable and deep feedstock pool that can be sustainably produced. This flight demonstrates that creating 100% drop-in SAF is entirely possible and indicates a clear path for greater adoption of low carbon jet fuels by the airline industry."

Johnson Matthey is a global leader in sustainable technologies that enable a cleaner and healthier world. With over 200 years of sustained commitment to innovation and technological breakthroughs, we improve the performance, function and safety of our customers' products. Our science has a global impact in areas such as low emission transport, pharmaceuticals, chemical processing and making the most efficient use of the planet's natural resources. Today about 15,000 Johnson Matthey professionals collaborate with our network of customers and partners to make a real difference to the world around us. For more information, visit www.matthey.com

Inspiring science, enhancing life

SOURCE Johnson Matthey PLC
WASHINGTON, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- BrainQ today announced that the first patient has been enrolled at MedStar National Rehabilitation Hospital in its pivotal, randomized, double-blind, multicenter trial, EMAGINE (the BQ5 Study). The trial is evaluating its frequency-tuned electromagnetic field treatment in facilitating recovery in individuals with moderately-severe ischemic stroke.

The EMAGINE Stroke Recovery Trial provides a remote and decentralized care model and will enroll 150 randomized subjects 4-10 days following a stroke. The study is designed to allow for participants to receive the BQ therapy beginning during the acute hospitalization, and accompanying them to the inpatient rehab facility, and eventually home. The BQ device is operated remotely with the assistance of a caregiver in conjunction with periodic remote monitoring by a physical or occupational therapist.

The trial includes 45 sessions over a total of 9 weeks, 5 times a week. Each session will last for 60 minutes. The investigational therapy is intended to be used adjunctively with the current standard of care, physical or occupational therapy.

The primary outcome measure for the EMAGINE Trial is the modified Rankin Scale (mRS), the gold standard for measuring global disability post-stroke. The currently-approved interventions for reducing global disability after a stroke, including medical and surgical options, are treatment options only in the first few hours following a stroke and only for about 5% of stroke victims in the US. BrainQ aims to extend this window of opportunity for reducing disability from the acute phase to the sub-acute phase, helping the wider stroke population.

"With one in four adults expected to have a stroke in their lifetime, and few options on the market for reducing disability, this trial has the potential to make a significant impact on the ever-growing population of stroke survivors suffering from long term disability," said Yotam Drechsler, CEO and Co-founder of BrainQ. "Recruiting the first patient is just the first step to unlocking new opportunities for survivors and helping to meet this huge unmet need. We hope to continue strong recruitment for our trial over the next year."

"Over the past two decades we have made major advances in acute stroke treatment. But still 90% of stroke patients experience long term disability. Advances in recovery are the next frontier for the stroke community," said Dr. Jeffrey Saver, Director of the UCLA Comprehensive Stroke and Vascular Neurology Program, and a co-lead Principal Investigator for BrainQ's pivotal trial. "Success of this study would be a game changer for stroke recovery and help pave the way for a new standard of care for stroke."

"For many years, stroke rehabilitation has lacked novel technologies that change the treatment paradigm for patients," added Pamela Duncan PhD, PT, Professor of Neurology at Wake Forest School of Medicine and a co-lead Principal Investigator of BrainQ's pivotal trial. "There is a potential that BrainQ's therapy coupled with exercise training commencing within a few days of stroke and continuing for 9 weeks will optimize recovery and reduce stroke disability.

Up to 19 top academic sites will participate in the study. For more information about the trial and participating sites, please visit clinicaltrials.gov.

About BrainQ

BrainQ is pioneering a novel therapy for reducing disability and enhancing recovery potential for stroke victims at home. BrainQ's team and advisory board include a multidisciplinary group with vast backgrounds in neurology, neuroscience, data science and machine learning.

Worldwide, the BrainQ technology is limited to investigational use only and is not approved or available for sale. BrainQ makes no guarantees regarding clinical trial outcomes or regulatory approval for its technology.

Media contact

Gila Bublick

[email protected]

SOURCE BrainQ
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Duke Energy Florida has selected Alachua and Pinellas counties for inclusion in its 2021 Site Readiness Program to evaluate and prepare industrial site opportunities for economic development investments.

Through the Site Readiness Program, Duke Energy identifies high-potential sites and partners with county officials, local economic development professionals and landowners to develop a strategy for getting sites fully ready to market to industrial prospects.

"Through the challenging economic environment over the last couple of years, Duke Energy Florida has remained committed to the vitality of the communities we serve," said Melissa Seixas, Duke Energy Florida president. "The overarching goal of the Site Readiness Program is to increase the quantity and quality of developable sites within Duke Energy's service territory, in partnership with various government and private sector organizations, thus encouraging new capital investment and creating additional jobs within the state."

Florida has been adding jobs at a remarkable rate in 2021. The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity continues to report added jobs to the state, with Duke Energy playing a supporting role in many of the economic development wins.

Inside each site

Duke Energy works with major site selection firms to evaluate sites, including Site Selection Group in this year's program. Ardurra Group's Ocala and Tampa engineering offices will support the program with buildable area studies and conceptual drawings.

Based on consultant recommendations, Duke Energy will collaborate with county leaders and local economic development professionals to develop a strategy for marketing the sites.

After each site's state of readiness has advanced, Duke Energy's national business recruitment team strategically markets them nationwide to companies looking to expand or relocate their operations.

Alachua County  City of Alachua Industrial Site

The 52-acre site is on U.S. Highway 441, just 4 miles east of Interstate 75. About 20 minutes north of Gainesville and the University of Florida, this site is strategically located in the city of Alachua. The city is home to a robust biotech community including developments such as Progress Park, UF Innovate | Sid Martin Biotech Institute and the Santa Fe College Perry Center for Emerging Technologies. The site has electric, water, wastewater and gas to the southern boundary and the potential to have CSX rail service. The site is suitable for a variety of industrial users with a focused effort to attract businesses in the construction and related services, life sciences and food and agricultural production sectors.

"The Greater Gainesville Chamber is extremely honored to work with the Duke Energy Site Readiness Program because it showcases the partnerships we have in the Greater Gainesville region," said Staci Bertrand, Greater Gainesville Chamber vice president of economic development. "We have real estate assets here that are ready to be utilized for economic development purposes and this program provides value to the property owner and our regional partners."

Pinellas County  SSI: Community

Duke Energy is working with Pinellas County on a focused community revitalization project to identify potential real estate assets favorably positioned for project investment. An extension of Leotta Location and Design's Strategic Sites Inventory (SSI) Program, SSI: Community is a localized property inventory program dedicated to neighborhood revitalization and economic growth.

The program relies on a comprehensive approach of evaluating a wide variety of factors essential to stimulate renewed community investment to strengthen economic vitality. The objective of SSI: Community is to provide decision support for complex community redevelopment strategy planning based on objective, apolitical data analysis and mapping. This project is managed by Leotta Location and Design (LL+D) and is expected to have initial results by the end of December 2021.

"We are excited to partner with Duke Energy and LL+D to help provide us a road map to focus our efforts in redeveloping older industrial sites for highest and best use locations to help us attract jobs and capital investment to benefit the future growth of Pinellas County," shared Dr. Cynthia Johnson, director of Pinellas County Economic Development.

"As a result of the tremendous interest in these sites and the opportunities they present in Duke Energy's Florida footprint, next month the company will continue the expansion of the Site Readiness Program with additional staff and resources who can offer more support to our customers and communities," said Marc Hoenstine, Duke Energy Florida managing director of economic development.

Economic impact

For more than 100 years, Duke Energy has powered Florida and its economy through significant business recruitment and retention programs.

Duke Energy's economic development efforts are perennially recognized by Site Selection magazine in the publication's annual list of "Top Utilities in Economic Development."

Here is a behind-the-scenes look into one of those wins: New steel plant in Florida is built with innovation | Duke Energy | illumination (duke-energy.com).

The company's 2020 economic impact in Florida was extensive, including:

Duke Energy Florida contributed $138 million in property taxes to local governments.

in property taxes to local governments. The company provided more than $4.5 million in charitable grants through community impact initiatives in Florida focused on K-12 education, nature, workforce and economic development.

in charitable grants through community impact initiatives in focused on K-12 education, nature, workforce and economic development. Duke Energy employees and retirees contributed $934,000 to Florida nonprofits through volunteer hours and financial donations.

The Site Readiness Program has resulted in 680 new jobs and $183 million in capital investment in Florida since 2013.

In Florida alone, the Duke Energy Economic Development team has helped attract 306 companies since 2001, drawing more than 46,000 new jobs and nearly $4.5 billion in capital investment to the state.

Duke Energy Florida

Duke Energy Florida, a subsidiary of Duke Energy, owns a diverse generation mix of natural gas, coal and renewables, providing about 10,200 megawatts of owned electric capacity to approximately 1.9 million customers in a 13,000-square-mile service area.

Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of America's largest energy holding companies. Its electric utilities serve 7.9 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, and collectively own 51,000 megawatts of energy capacity. Its natural gas unit serves 1.6 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky. The company employs 27,500 people.

Duke Energy is executing an aggressive clean energy strategy to create a smarter energy future for its customers and communities  with goals of at least a 50% carbon reduction by 2030 and net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. The company is a top U.S. renewable energy provider, on track to own or purchase 16,000 megawatts of renewable energy capacity by 2025. The company also is investing in major electric grid upgrades and expanded battery storage, and exploring zero-emitting power generation technologies such as hydrogen and advanced nuclear.

Duke Energy was named to Fortune's 2021 "World's Most Admired Companies" list and Forbes' "America's Best Employers" list. More information is available at duke-energy.com. The Duke Energy News Center contains news releases, fact sheets, photos and videos. Duke Energy's illumination features stories about people, innovations, community topics and environmental issues. Follow Duke Energy on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.

Media contact: Ana Gibbs

Cell: 813.928.7263

Media line: 800.559.3853

SOURCE Duke Energy
SAN ANTONIO, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Frost & Sullivan recently analyzed the global SD-WAN vendor market, and based on its findings, recognizes Fortinet with the 2021 Global SD-WAN Vendor Product Leadership Award for transforming and securing the WAN. Fortinet's Security-driven Networking approach to SD-WAN enables a wide range of use cases including secure and optimized connections to cloud-based applications. The company's Secure SD-WAN solution integrates SD-WAN capabilities, advanced routing functions, next-generation firewall (NGFW), and zero trust network access (ZTNA) proxy on a single appliance or a single virtual machine (VM) to deliver secure networking capability. The solution can be deployed in a virtual or physical format on-premise or as a VM in the cloud, with a throughput of 20 Gbps, the highest available in the industry.

Fortinet's Secure SD-WAN solution, powered by the industry's first SOC4 SD-WAN ASIC for accelerated performance, features an unrestricted WAN bandwidth consumption model on appliances that is unique in the industry. Cloud adoption continues to grow, but enterprises have generally struggled to implement and maintain a secure, high-performing WAN that allows for efficient access to cloud-based applications across their user base. With the rise in remote working and with distributed users accessing cloud-hosted applications, the enterprise perimeter is no longer limited to users within the company site. Fortinet's solution securely connects users to cloud-based applications delivering consistent policies off- and on-network.

Roopa Honnachari, VP of Research, Network Services & Edge, explained that "Fortinet has been a long-time leader in the network security market, which has enabled them to deliver a solution that tightly knits advanced security features with SD-WAN. Though Fortinet is best known as a security company, they have shown their strength and innovation in networking as one of the top SD-WAN solutions on the market capable of supporting enterprise digital transformation."

To break the perception that it is a security vendor that also does SD-WAN and to eliminate the risk of not appealing to enterprise infrastructure or network decision makers, the company has consciously focused on highlighting its routing and networking capabilities in marketing activities and proofs of concept."

With its focus on SD-WAN with integrated advanced security and ability to deliver multiple functions in a single hardware appliance or VM, Fortinet has experienced significant growth in the last three years. The company sells 100% through channel partners, including large telcos, such as AT&T, Verizon, British Telecom, Masergy, GTT, KDDI, Orange, and Windstream, that are looking to add secure SD-WAN to their portfolios. As a result, Fortinet has nearly doubled its revenue.

Honnachari further noted that "Fortinet has emerged as a formidable competitor in the enterprise secure networking space. While the company has always served as a leading competitor in the network security space, the transformation to adding SD-WAN, NGFW, ZTNA access proxy, and advanced routing capabilities on a single operating system and managed by a single console is highly commendable."

Furthermore, Fortinet has experienced tremendous growth across all regions. With its strong overall performance, Fortinet earns Frost & Sullivan's 2021 Product Leadership Award in the global SD-WAN vendor industry.

Each year, Frost & Sullivan presents this award to the company that has developed a product with innovative features and functionality that is gaining rapid market acceptance. The award recognizes the quality of the solution and the customer value enhancements it enables.

Frost & Sullivan Best Practices Awards recognize companies in various regional and global markets for demonstrating outstanding achievement and superior performance in leadership, technological innovation, customer service, and strategic product development. Industry analysts compare market participants and measure performance through in-depth interviews, analyses, and extensive secondary research to identify best practices in the industry.

About Frost & Sullivan

For six decades, Frost & Sullivan has been world-renowned for its role in helping investors, corporate leaders, and governments navigate economic changes and identify disruptive technologies, Mega Trends, new business models, and companies to action, resulting in a continuous flow of growth opportunities to drive future success. Contact us: Start the discussion. Contact us: Start the discussion.

Contact:

Bianca Torres

P: 1.210.477.8418

E: [email protected]

SOURCE Frost & Sullivan
The ''Golden Bauhinia Satellite No. 5'' and ''Golden Bauhinia Satellite No. 1 (03) are both optical remote sensing satellites, of which, the ''Golden Bauhinia Satellite No. 5'' is equipped with an industrial-grade optical camera and micro-propulsion system for low-cost on-orbit verification, and the high-function density satellite platforms which composed of commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS). It also provides technical exploration and testing for the early phase of the Golden Bauhinia Constellation project.

Hong Kong Aerospace Technology Group Limited (HKATG;1725) plans to explore into optical and synthetic aperture radar remote sensing satellite constellation system, which is formed by an on-orbit satellite cluster, in the hope to build a smart city, monitoring the environment, managing energy and natural resources, and undertake marine and disaster emergency management.

The Group had previously launched ''Golden Bauhinia Satellite No. 1 (01)", ''Golden Bauhinia Satellite No. 1 (02)'' and ''Golden Bauhinia Satellite No. 2"; the launch of the ''Golden Bauhinia Satellite No. 5'' and ''Golden Bauhinia Satellite No. 1 (03)" marks the third successful launch of the "Golden Bauhinia Constellation" in this year, representing a successful conclusion to this year's mission.

2021 is known as the "year of the mega constellation", there are 4 mega communication constellations each consisting of over 4,000 satellites. According to data published in January 2021, there are 3,372 active artificial satellites orbiting the Earth, of which 405 belong to China, came second to the United States. And the total number of active artificial satellites orbiting the Earth soared to 4550 in September 2021.

On December 5, CNN published a headline saying, "China is developing space capabilities at 'twice the rate' of US", as Gen. David Thompson, vice head of space operations for the US Space Force believes that China may overtake the United States in terms of space capabilities by the end of the decade.

As of September 2021, there are a total of 2,788 operating satellites belonging to the U.S and up to 2359 are commercial satellites, of which 1,660 belong to Elon Mask's Starlink. It is no exaggeration to say that commercial aerospace is the biggest driving force for the development of the global aerospace horizon.

While Space X is drawing global attention, China's commercial aerospace market is also booming. China's commercial aerospace industry has developed rapidly driven by several new aerospace companies; their emergence has led to the opening up of China's aerospace ecosystem, and attracting many outstanding international companies, and introducing China's civil aerospace industry into the international market.

Among them, HKATG which Bloomberg has hailed as the "mini Space X" is Hong Kong's first aerospace enterprise with satellite manufacturing, launching, and testing capability, and able to provide application data for the entire process and produce end products to form a one-stop service capability. HKATG is set to fill up the regional gap in the commercial aerospace industry, promote the marketization of aerospace technology, and fulfill the needs of aerospace commercialization and investors of the region.

The Group has successfully launched five satellites in 2021, through the launch of satellites in small batches, HKATG realises the on-orbit verification of miniaturized aerospace systems, laying the foundation for next year's business constellation development. Perhaps most importantly, the Group will push Hong Kong's commercial aerospace development to a new level by redefining Hong Kong's positioning on re-industrialization, and injecting new vitality into mainland China's commercial aerospace development.

SOURCE Hong Kong Aerospace Technology Group
MIAMI, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Gender Equality in Tech (GET) Cities, led by SecondMuse Foundation and Break Through Tech, has launched a third city hub, GET Miami, as part of Pivotal Ventures' $50 million investment into the national initiative. GET Miami will work collaboratively with the region's tech ecosystem to propel more women, trans and nonbinary people, particularly Black, Latino/a, Indigenous, and people of color, into tech education, careers, and leadership.

"We are excited to see GET Cities expand to Miami, a city working to become one of the most diverse and inclusive tech hubs in the United States," said Dr. Renee Wittemyer, Pivotal Ventures Director of Program Strategy and Investment. "It's vital that we work together to ensure women are represented and leading a more vibrant tech industry. Greater representation drives greater innovation and better outcomes. GET Miami offers a strong blueprint to achieving these critical goals."

With many global tech giants, startups and investors having already begun to establish a presence in the South Florida city, and with the widespread embrace of remote work, Miami  an area built on its diversity  is primed for tech expansion. This new attention creates a perfect opportunity to capture the commitment to proactively building one of the most diverse and inclusive tech hubs in the country with existing, local talent, and to pouring energy and resources toward that goal. Over a year and a half into the COVID-19 era, we are seeing with a clearer lens the gross inequities across gender, race, and other underrepresented identities in society. Tech is an industry that has the scale to match the need for accessible economic empowerment that can and should be available to all of us. And GET Cities believes Miami is an ideal city to accelerate the inclusion of women and other marginalized groups in building these new, thriving, sustainable tech economies.

GET Cities Blueprint Addresses The Challenge of Inclusion By Leveraging Three Key Pillars  Academia, Industry, And Entrepreneurship

GET Miami will build on the model presented in its other GET Cities, GET Chicago and GET DC, to create an inclusive tech economy by focusing on three key pillars  academia, industry, and entrepreneurship. Specifically, it aims to:

Build resilient pathways into tech: Break Through Tech will propel women at Florida International University in Miami , FL into tech careers through programs that encourage and incentivize more women to pursue computing degrees. It will support these women along their educational journey by providing real-world experiences and a network of supportive professionals and peers.





will propel women at in , FL into tech careers through programs that encourage and incentivize more women to pursue computing degrees. It will support these women along their educational journey by providing real-world experiences and a network of supportive professionals and peers. Align the local tech and entrepreneurial ecosystems: SecondMuse Foundation, along with one of its implementing partners, SecondMuse , drives the industry and entrepreneurship pillars by convening city-based partners and collaborating on increasing marginalized groups' leadership and representation in all aspects of the tech economy. SecondMuse Foundation pilots and iterates programs and provides grants and fellowships within the tech workforce and across the landscape of organizations funding startups and entrepreneurs, in partnership with those already on the ground in each city. City partners include the aforementioned academic partnership, tech companies, the VC and startup community, civic and nonprofit institutions, and local and national advocacy organizations.

As the city of Miami navigates this exciting renaissance and becomes the up-and-coming place for relocation and sourcing talent, GET Miami is committed to working to accelerate the representation and leadership of women and other marginalized people in tech, with the mission of supporting the growth of an inclusive tech economy.

"GET Cities exists to lift women, trans and nonbinary people  particularly those with other intersecting identities like race, class and ability  into their power. We believe when this happens, the tech industry becomes resilient, doing more good than harm. Miami is the perfect next stop to expand this mission, as a city that leads from its deep diversity of experiences and one that has a quickly expanding tech ecosystem," says Leslie Lynne Smith, National Director of GET Cities.

Break Through Tech, a national initiative that began at Cornell Tech in New York City, will bring together the supply side (academia) and the demand side (industry) to build an ecosystem where more women are graduating with relevant degrees today and finding an inclusive career environment waiting for them for years to come.

Strong, Local, Strategic Partnerships Are What Set GET's Model Apart

Break Through Tech is proud to work with Florida International University in Miami (FIU) to host the next Break Through Tech site. With over 650 students graduating with degrees in computing, and with 75 percent of all women in computing being Black, Latina, or Indigenous, the Knight Foundation School of Computing and Information Sciences is one of the largest growing computing programs in the country with one of the most diverse student populations and provides the opportunity to exponentially grow the number of diverse women in computing.

FIU is well-poised to introduce hundreds of women at FIU and surrounding community colleges to Break Through Tech's Guild Program, expose the local tech employers to hundreds of talented female prospective hires through the Sprinternship Program, as well as innovate on Break Through Tech's model to accelerate the pace of change to recruit and retain more women in computing. Building upon the crucial investment of the Knight Foundation and other efforts, FIU will utilize Break Through Tech's model and join a national network of like-minded universities to provide new opportunities for their students and contribute to a growing body of knowledge about how to drive gender equality in tech at scale. Break Through Tech Miami at FIU is ambitious in their goals of diversifying the tech sector and, in the words of FIU President Mark Rosenberg, is committed to "turning the impossible into the inevitable."

"As we continue to expand our national footprint, we are thrilled to bring Break Through Tech's innovative programming to FIU. Together we will help make real the promise of Miami as one of the nation's most diverse and thriving tech ecosystems. The future of innovation depends on all of us, and our partnership with FIU will help fuel a future in which women are technology creators and not just consumers," says Judith Spitz, Founder and Executive Director at Break Through Tech.

There's A Seat At The Table For Everyone In This Collaborative Approach To Gender Equality In Tech

GET Cities Miami will kick off with a launch event in early 2022, with the purpose of co-designing a local approach in partnership with the community. A key theme of the event will be to highlight opportunities for local students, talent, entrepreneurs and employers as GET Cities launches new initiatives. An example of GET Cities' programming is the #GETChicago Tech Equity Working Group, a consortium of piloted projects across 20 entrepreneur support organizations to increase equity in start-up investment for women and other underrepresented founders. Attendees will also have the opportunity to join the conversation as GET Cities designs its fellowships, micro internships, and grants programs to be tailored to the specific needs of the Miami tech ecosystem over the next few years.

To learn more about GET Miami and GET Cities and to get involved, please visit: https://www.getcities.org/ and https://breakthroughtech.org

About GET Cities

GET Cities is an initiative designed to accelerate the representation and leadership of women in tech through the development of inclusive tech hubs across the United States. Launched in 2020, GET Cities is led by SecondMuse Foundation and Break Through Tech, in partnership with Pivotal Ventures, the investment and incubation company created by Melinda French Gates. Now in Chicago, the DC Metro Area, and Miami, GET Cities will leverage collaboration across its national ecosystem of city hubs to drive positive social and economic change.

About SecondMuse LLC

SecondMuse LLC is an implementing partner of SecondMuse Foundation. SecondMuse LLC is an impact and innovation company that builds resilient economies by supporting entrepreneurs and the ecosystems around them. They do this by designing, developing, and implementing a mix of innovation programming and investing capital. From Singapore to San Francisco, SecondMuse programs define inspiring visions, build lasting businesses, and unite people across the globe. Over the last decade, they've designed and implemented programs on 7 continents with 600+ organizations such as NASA, The World Bank, and Nike. To find out more about how SecondMuse is positively shaping the world, visit: www.secondmuse.com .

About Break Through Tech

Launched at Cornell Tech, with support from Pivotal Ventures, Cognizant Foundation, and Verizon, Break Through Tech provides curriculum innovation, career access, and community building for women in tech. The program originated in 2016 as a program called Women in Technology & Entrepreneurship New York (WiTNY), created at Cornell Tech in partnership with the City University of New York (CUNY) and a broad set of industry partners. Now Break Through Tech is replicating the highly effective ecosystem model originated in New York City to increase women's representation in computing graduates across the United States. To date, the program is in New York City, Chicago, the DC Metro Area, and now Miami.

SOURCE GET Cities
SUNNYVALE, Calif., Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Gener8 LLC ("Gener8"), a portfolio company of Sverica Capital Management LP ("Sverica"), announced today that it has completed its acquisition of the RND Group ("RND"), a leading provider of software development focused on medical device and life science products, based in Indianapolis, Indiana.

With the acquisition of RND, Gener8 is adding full lifecycle software development capabilities, including cloud solutions, verification & validation, quality system compliance, LIS/EHR integration and more. The company has assembled a library of protocols that serve to accelerate the development process by leveraging pre-built core functionality. While Gener8 already provides turnkey instrument and consumable solutions, as well as accompanying firmware, the acquisition of RND enables Gener8 to extend its services off-instrument to the related software.

"RND is a world-class medical software development operation with a blue-chip customer base and a unique set of capabilities," said Jerry Jurkiewicz, Gener8 CEO. "We have already partnered on several programs, and the value proposition of the combination has strongly resonated with customers."

"We are excited to join Jerry and the rest of the Gener8 team. From our early interactions it was clear there would be a great fit between our companies, and even more importantly, that bringing our capabilities together under one roof would be a real winner for customers," added Tim DeFrench, Founder and President of RND.

About Gener8

Gener8, founded in 2002, is a leading provider of turnkey design and manufacturing services specializing in high complexity products, primarily for medical device and diagnostics applications. Gener8 maintains state-of-the-art facilities and a world-class engineering team with more than 40 PhDs spanning a multitude of disciplines, including electrical, mechanical, software, optical and systems engineering. For more information, please visit www.gener8.net.

About Sverica Capital Management

Sverica Capital Management is a leading growth-oriented private equity firm that has raised over $1.1 billion across five funds. The firm acquires, invests in and actively builds companies that are, or could become, leaders in their industries. Since inception, Sverica has followed a "business builder" approach to investing and takes an active supporting role in its portfolio companies. Sverica devotes significant time and internal resources to help its management teams develop and execute growth strategies and proactively looks for levers to pull to accelerate growth by reinvesting back into those companies. Sverica firmly believes in building businesses collaboratively that can endure for the long term by starting with a strong foundation and bringing the right people and playbook to drive reinvestment and ultimately strong returns for our investors. For more information, please visit www.sverica.com.

SOURCE Gener8, LLC
GOTHENBURG, Sweden, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Getinge's subsidiary Atrium Medical Corporation has entered into a settlement agreement with plaintiffs' lead counsel related to the multidistrict litigation (MDL) linked to surgical mesh product liability in the US. An additional provision of SEK 600 M is made to account for the settlement in addition to litigation expenses incurred to date.

"I am pleased that we can put this behind us and fully focus on our core business, and delivering on our strategy", says Mattias Perjos, President & CEO Getinge.

The settlement agreement was today executed to resolve matters pending in the District Court of New Hampshire, US. The settlement is subject to certain contingencies, including participation by a certain high level of plaintiffs in the MDL. There are currently about 3,200 plaintiffs in the MDL and the settlement aims to maximize the participation rate by the vast majority of claims filed up until November 30, 2021. Getinge expects the settlement to become final and payment to be made during the first half of 2022.

The settlement is not an admission of liability or wrongdoing by the company. Getinge will continue to defend against any litigation that the final agreement does not resolve. Costs for such litigations are not expected to be material. The litigation against the insurers will also continue.

The surgical mesh implants were manufactured by Getinge's subsidiary Atrium Medical Corporation, which was acquired by Getinge in 2011. Getinge made a provision of SEK 1.8 Bn in 2018 for expected costs associated with surgical mesh claims, based on information available at the time. The settlement amount will be funded through available funds. The provision will be reported as an item affecting comparability and it will impact the operating result for Q4 2021.

Phone Conference

A conference call will be held on December 8, 2021, at 7:45-8:15 pm CET hosted by Mattias Perjos, President & CEO, and Lars Sandstrom, CFO. Please see dial in details below to join the conference:

SE: + 46 8 505 583 65

UK: + 44 333 300 9271

US: + 1 646 722 4902

During the conference call a presentation will be held. To access the presentation through webcast, please use this link: https://tv.streamfabriken.com/press-conference-december-2021

Alternatively, use the following link to download the presentation:

https://www.getinge.com/int/about-us/investors/reports-presentations/

Recording available for 3 years

A recorded version can be accessed for 3 years via https://tv.streamfabriken.com/press-conference-december-2021

Media contact

Anna Appelqvist, VP Corporate Communications

Phone: +46 734 244 527

Email: [email protected]

This information is information that Getinge AB is obliged to make public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation. The information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact person set out above, at 7.20 pm CET on December 8, 2021.

About Getinge

With a firm belief that every person and community should have access to the best possible care, Getinge provides hospitals and life science institutions with products and solutions aiming to improve clinical results and optimize workflows. The offering includes products and solutions for intensive care, cardiovascular procedures, operating rooms, sterile reprocessing and life science. Getinge employs over 10,000 people worldwide and the products are sold in more than 135 countries.

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/getinge/r/getinge-enters-into-a-settlement-agreement-related-to-the-mdl-mesh-litigation-and-makes-a-concluding,c3468289

The following files are available for download:

https://mb.cision.com/Main/942/3468289/1507371.pdf Getinge enters into a settlement agreement

SOURCE Cision AB

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DUBLIN, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Acute Myeloid Leukemia Therapeutics Market: Global Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity and Forecast 2021-2026" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global acute myeloid leukemia therapeutics market grew at a CAGR of around 7% during 2015-2020. Looking forward, the market is projected to exhibit moderate growth during the next five years.

The increasing prevalence of leukemia across the globe represents one of the key factors driving the growth of the market. Furthermore, the rising geriatric population, which is more susceptible to such disorders, is also driving the market growth. AML is primarily caused by genetic mutations in the body that impacts the levels of blood cell production. In line with this, the widespread adoption of combination and targeted therapies and increasing awareness regarding the available alternatives for cancer treatment are also favoring the market growth.

Additionally, the advent of improved immunotoxins, alkylating agents, monoclonal antibodies and multidrug-resistant modulators is another major growth-inducing factor. These therapeutics offer prolonged results, higher efficacy, early and accurate identification of leukemia cells and reduced chances of cancer relapse. Other factors, including extensive research and development (R&D) activities in the field of oncology, along with significant improvements in the existing healthcare infrastructure, are anticipated to drive the market further.



Market Segmentation

The report provides an analysis of the key trends in each sub-segment of the global acute myeloid leukemia therapeutics market, along with forecasts at the global, regional and country level from 2021-2026. The report has categorized the market based on region, treatment type, drug type and route of administration.



Breakup by Treatment Type

Cytarabine

Anthracycline Drugs

Alkylating Agents

Anti-Metabolites

Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors

Others

Breakup by Drug Type

Small Molecule Drugs

Biopharmaceuticals

Breakup by Route of Administration

Oral

Injectables

Competitive Landscape

The competitive landscape of the industry has also been examined along with the profiles of the key players being:

Abbvie Inc.

Amgen Inc.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company

Celgene

Roche Holding AG

Gilead Sciences Inc.

Novartis AG

Pfizer Inc.

Sanofi SA

Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited

Key Questions Answered in the Report

How has the global acute myeloid leukemia therapeutics market performed so far and how will it perform in the coming years?

What has been the impact of COVID-19 on the global acute myeloid leukemia therapeutics market?

What are the key regional markets?

What is the breakup of the market based on the treatment type?

What is the breakup of the market based on the drug type?

What is the breakup of the market based on the route of administration?

What are the various stages in the value chain of the industry?

What are the key driving factors and challenges in the industry?

What is the structure of the global acute myeloid leukemia therapeutics market and who are the key players?

What is the degree of competition in the industry?

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/k1ayra

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]



For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630

For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900



U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907

Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716

SOURCE Research and Markets

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DUBLIN, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The "COVID-19 Drug Associated APIs Global Market Report 2021: COVID-19 Growth and Change to 2030" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global COVID-19 drug associated apis market is expected to grow from $4.73 billion in 2020 to $5.09 billion in 2021 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.6%. The market is expected to reach $6.66 billion in 2025 at a CAGR of 7%.

Major players in the COVID-19 drug-associated APIs market are Dr. Reddy's Laboratories, Lianyungang Guike Pharmaceutical, Alembic Pharmaceutical, Wockhardt Ltd, Sandoz Srl, Lupin Limited, Aurobindo Pharma Ltd., Shanghai Shyndec Pharmaceutical (Haimen) Co Ltd, and Yatai Pharma.



The COVID-19 drug-associated APIs market consists of sales of active pharmaceutical ingredients used in the manufacturing of COVID-19 drugs. The active pharmaceutical ingredients are chemicals which are responsible for pharmacological activity in the human body and are used as a base in pharmaceutical drug or medicine. The APIs used for the preparation of COVID-19 drugs and include Azithromycin, Fentanyl, Albuterol, Cisatracurium and others.



The disruptions caused by the COVID-19 outbreak in the supply chain of medical products limited the growth of the COVID-19 drug-associated APIs market in the past few months. The source for APIs plays a crucial part in the strategic plan to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. The majority of APIs for generic drug manufacturing across the globe are sourced from India, with nearly 30% generic APIs used in the USA.

The restrictions imposed on the export of pharma products owing to COVID-19 supply chain disruptions restricted the market growth. For instance, India imposed an export ban on 26 pharma products and medical devices in March 2020. The ban was imposed attributing to the supply chain disruptions on API and other bulk drugs due to restrictive measures such as lockdown and closure of factories in many countries across the globe to ensure that the disease spread is contained.

Thus, shortages caused by the disruptions in supply chains and restrictions imposed on the export of pharma products impacted the growth of the COVID-19 drug-associated APIs market over the last few months.



In February 2020, Dr. Reddy Labs announced the acquisition of the branded generics business of Wockhardt for an amount of $242 million (INR 1,850 crore). The acquisition is expected to scale-up the former company's presence in home markets including India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, and the Maldives.

The Wockhardt business consists of a product portfolio of 62 brands and in multiple therapy fields such as dermatology, neurology, respiratory, VMS, pain, gastroenterology, and vaccine. Wockhardt Ltd. was founded in 1999 and is a global biotechnology and pharmaceutical company based in Mumbai, India.



High demand for some antiretrovirals, antimalarials, sedatives, bronchodilators, and other respiratory drugs drives the demand for the active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) used in the production of COVID-19 drugs. Active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) are the biologically active component used in manufacturing pharmaceutical drugs. Remdesivir and Favipiravir are two common antiviral medications used currently for the treatment of COVID-19 patients.

Remdesivir is a medication approved for emergency use in the USA and Japan for the treatment of COVID-19 patients. Remdesivir gained emergency use authorization (EUA) from the FDA on May 1, 2020, based on its preliminary data showing a faster time to recovery in hospitalized patients with several diseases. Favipiravir, which used to treat influenza in Japan, has also shown a positive effect on COVID patients.

As COVID-19 is a respiratory ailment, the demand for bronchodilators spiked significantly. Therefore, the increasing demand for antivirals, antimalarials, and bronchodilators is projected to boost the demand for COVID-19 associated drug APIs market over the forecast period.



Key players operating in the pharmaceutical industry that manufactures COVID-19 drug associated APIs are focusing on strategies such as plant capacity or production capacity expansion to meet the increasing demand due to the rising number of coronavirus cases across the globe.

For instance, in March 2020, Alembic Pharmaceuticals Ltd announced that the company is ramping up the production for the company's production for azithromycin to 20 tons per month. Likewise, In April 2020, FUJIFILM Corporation announced the expansion of its manufacturing capacity and increase in the production of influenza antiviral Avigan Tablet (Favipiravir) by nearly 2.5 times by the end of July. Avigan is currently undergoing clinical trials testing its safety and efficacy for the treatment of COVID-19 patients.



Key Topics Covered:



1. Executive Summary



2. COVID-19 Drug Associated APIs Market Characteristics



3. COVID-19 Drug Associated APIs Market Trends and Strategies



4. Impact Of COVID-19 On COVID-19 Drug Associated APIs



5. COVID-19 Drug Associated APIs Market Size and Growth

5.1. Global COVID-19 Drug Associated APIs Historic Market, 2015-2020, $ Billion

5.1.1. Drivers Of the Market

5.1.2. Restraints On the Market

5.2. Global COVID-19 Drug Associated APIs Forecast Market, 2020-2025F, 2030F, $ Billion

5.2.1. Drivers Of the Market

5.2.2. Restraints On the Market



6. COVID-19 Drug Associated APIs Market Segmentation

6.1. Global COVID-19 Drug Associated APIs Market, Segmentation by Drug Class, Historic and Forecast, 2015-2020, 2020-2025F, 2030F, $ Billion

Antimalarials

Bronchodilators

Antibiotics

Antivirals

Others

7. COVID-19 Drug Associated APIs Market Regional and Country Analysis

7.1. Global COVID-19 Drug Associated APIs Market, Split by Region, Historic and Forecast, 2015-2020, 2020-2025F, 2030F, $ Billion

7.2. Global COVID-19 Drug Associated APIs Market, Split by Country, Historic and Forecast, 2015-2020, 2020-2025F, 2030F, $ Billion



Companies Mentioned

Dr. Reddy's Laboratories

Lianyungang Guike Pharmaceutical

Alembic Pharmaceutical

Wockhardt Ltd

Sandoz Srl

Lupin Limited

Aurobindo Pharma Ltd.

Shanghai Shyndec Pharmaceutical (Haimen) Co Ltd

Yatai Pharma

Zhejiang Guobang Pharmaceutical Co Ltd.

Cipla

Shandong Boyuan Pharmaceutical

Aspiro Pharma

Qilu Antibiotics Pharmaceutical Co Ltd

Shenzhen China Resources Gosun Pharmaceutical Co Ltd.

Zhejiang Cheng Yi Pharmaceutical

Star Lake Bioscience Co Inc.

Hetero Labs

Geno Pharmaceuticals

Mylan Laboratories

IPCA Labs

Zydus Takeda

Mangalam Drugs & Organics

Wallace Pharma

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/f5pak

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]



For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630

For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900



U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907

Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716

SOURCE Research and Markets

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LONDON, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --

Only 9% of organizations globally have achieved digital maturity, as cost cutting, delivery delusions, manual processes and resistance to change hamper back-office modernization

Over half of global public sector survey respondents say pressure to improve spending transparency is growing and 40% admit cost savings will come through cuts to citizen or community services

In the last two years:

Public pressure to improve spending transparency has been experienced by more than half of public sector respondents

has been experienced by more than half of public sector respondents Leadership resistance to change is the biggest challenge for organizations adapting to changes in services

to change is the biggest challenge for organizations adapting to changes in services Cutting citizen or community services are the number one cost saving measure despite increases in public sector budgets worldwide

are the number one cost saving measure despite increases in public sector budgets worldwide Despite best intentions delivery of change will be slow as on average it will take 2.5 years to roll out digital transformation across entire organizations

as on average it will take 2.5 years to roll out digital transformation across entire organizations Only 9% outperforming in terms of implementing back-office digital transformation. The majority are either cautious followers (37%) or enthusiastic evaluators (39%)

Unit4, a leader in enterprise cloud applications for mid-market people-centric organizations, today released findings from a new global study, State of the Digital Nation, which examines digital transformation in the public sector around the world exploring the challenges and successes of back office innovation. Conducted by Vanson Bourne, the study consulted decision makers across a range of public sector bodies in Europe and the United States. The findings confirm organizations face a number of challenges to transformation ranging from resistance to change and delusions among decision makers about progress, but above all it is clear there is a long way to go before digital transformation has been completely achieved.

Digital Transformation Performance

As part of the study, Vanson Bourne evaluated the digital transformation maturity among public sector organizations and only 9% believe they are outperforming in terms of modernizing back-office IT systems to enable greater collaboration and productivity. The vast majority (76%) of respondents said they were either cautious followers or enthusiastic evaluators, suggesting there is a long way to go before digital transformation has reached every corner of the public sector. At the country level, Sweden (40%) is the global leader in terms of transforming back-office systems, followed by Belgium (39%) and the US (31%), while Canada (11%) has the lowest percentage of such digital transformations rolled out. The UK has the highest percentage (56%) of partially rolled out digital transformation for back-office systems.

There are also concerns about how ambitious public sector organizations are in their delivery timetables for transformation. On average, it will take 2.4 years in central govt and 2.7 years in local govt to fully roll-out digital transformation across all areas of organizations, which given how much has already been spent on digital transformation in the last 10 years suggests citizens will have some time to wait for completely updated services.

"The global public sector is coming through one of the toughest challenges it has ever faced, but in some ways it has demonstrated what is possible in terms of digital transformation," said Mark Gibbison, Global Director Public Sector, Unit4. "However, organizations face an even tougher task in the years ahead to maintain essential public services and continue to invest in innovation to deliver significant improvements. It will require a mindset shift to embrace the change needed to modernize public services and a willingness to be more agile, accepting that disruption will ultimately lead to far better value for citizens."

Reality check for digital transformation strategies

The State of the Digital Nation study indicates there are significant hurdles to overcome for digital transformation to be successful, which should serve as a reality check for organizations as they plan their strategies. 41% globally say large improvements are needed in data compatibility in their organizations and 16% say wholesale changes are needed. A further 38% globally say data is manually entered by someone from paper to software systems and 43% say data is manually exported from one system and imported to another. Additionally, the vast majority of respondents (86%) believe their staff don't have the right skills or training for transformation of back-office systems, which will further impede delivery.

There are also concerns that senior management are over-confident in their assessment of the delivery of digital transformation. 47% of top-level management and 44% of high-level management believe transformation will be delivered on time, which compares to only 5% of junior level management who agree with this statement. Similarly, 51% of top-level management and 48% of high-level management believe transformation will be delivered within budget, compared to only 5% of junior level management.

The way forward

The survey indicates where public sector organizations are focusing to improve processes and drive efficiencies in back-office systems. The top three priorities are cloud migration (50%), data management tools (49%) and real-time reporting tools (47%), while artificial intelligence is the lowest priority (36%).

Looking at the maturity of public sector organizations more closely, the study breaks out the indicators of the out-performers and under-performers, who occupy either end of the performance spectrum. Out-performers:

Only take 1.5 years to fully roll-out digital transformation in their organizations

The smallest percentage (25%) looking to achieve cost savings by cutting citizen and community services

Only 18% making mandatory or voluntary redundancies

They can also recruit from a wider geographic area (37%)

Under-performers:

Are most likely to complain about red tape/regulation to justify spending

Will take 2.8 years (compared to 2.4 years on average globally) to fully roll-out digital transformation

39% will achieve cost savings by cutting citizen and community services and implementing mandatory or voluntary redundancies

They have the highest number of recruiters but cannot find the right people, and 30% are hiring staff who do not have the right skills

Additional Resources

A copy of the full report is available to download here.

Survey Methodology

Vanson Bourne surveyed 600 public sector decision makers across Australia, Belgium, Canada, Sweden, the UK and the USA. Respondents were chosen from central government, local government, healthcare, the emergency services and non-departmental public bodies, and from a range of roles including HR decision makers, IT decision makers and finance decision makers.

-ends-

About Unit4

Unit4's next-generation enterprise solutions power many of the world's most people-centric mid-market organizations. Our state-of-the-art cloud platform, ERPx, brings together the capabilities of Financials, Procurement, Project Management, HR and FP&A onto a unified cloud platform that shares real-time information and is designed with a powerful, people-centric approach, so employees can benefit from better insight and become more effective and increasingly engaged. It supports rapid and continuous change while delivering individualized fit for customers at scale, delivering the right tools to unify the processes across their organization, and connect their people. Unit4 serves more than 6,000 customers globally including, Bravida, Havas, Migros Aare, Americares, Save the Children International, Action against Hunger, Metro Vancouver, Forest Research, Southampton City Council, Habitat for Humanity, Selkirk College, FTI Consulting, and Surrey County Council.

For more information please visit https://www.unit4.com/, follow us on Twitter @Unit4global , or visit our LinkedIn page

Media Contact:

Lisa Stassoulli

Global Communications Manager, Unit4

Mobile: +44(0)7870 916827

[email protected]

SOURCE Unit4
TORONTO, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Golden Star Resources Ltd. (NYSE American: GSS) (TSX: GSC) (GSE: GSR) ("Golden Star" or the "Company") has filed audited consolidated financial statements for the six months ended June 30, 2021 (the "Audited H1 2021 Financial Statements") which are required by the Shanghai Stock Exchange in respect of Chifeng Jilong Gold Mining Co., Ltd. (SHSE: 600988) ("Chifeng") seeking to obtain the requisite approvals in connection with the Company's previously announced plan of arrangement under Section 192 of the Canada Business Corporations Act (the "Transaction"), involving the Company, Chifeng and its subsidiary Chijin International (Hong Kong) Limited (the "Purchaser") and/or an assignee of the Purchaser, pursuant to the arrangement agreement dated October 31, 2021 (as amended, the "Arrangement Agreement").

The Company previously filed unaudited interim consolidated financial statements for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021, (the "Unaudited H1 2021 Financial Statements") on July 28, 2021 in accordance with, and as required by, applicable securities laws.

The Audited H1 2021 Financial Statements were prepared in accordance with the full set of International Financial Reporting Standards, as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board ("IFRS") and the interpretations of the International Financial Reporting Interpretations Committee which the Canadian Accounting Standards Board has approved for incorporation into Part 1 of the CPA Canada Handbook  Accounting, whereas, the Unaudited H1 2021 Financial Statements, although also prepared in accordance with IFRS, applied IAS 34 "Interim Financial Reporting" (IAS 34).

The Audited H1 2021 Financial Statements are substantially consistent with the Unaudited H1 2021 Financial Statements and the only significant measurement difference arises from the income tax calculations prepared under IAS 12 "Income Taxes" for the Audited H1 2021 Financial Statements and under IAS 34 for the Unaudited H1 2021 Financial Statements. The effect is an increase in current tax expense of US$2.1 million with a corresponding increase in current income tax liabilities of US$2.1 million and a decrease in deferred tax expense of US$2.1 million with a corresponding decrease in deferred tax liability of US$2.1 million. There is no impact to the consolidated statement of cash flows for the six months ended June 30, 2021.

Readers must not place any reliance on the Audited H1 2021 Financial Statements as they have been prepared specifically for the purpose of the Transaction and not for the purpose of satisfying applicable securities laws requirements. Accordingly, readers must rely solely on the Unaudited H1 2021 Financial Statements which were prepared for the purpose of satisfying the Company's reporting requirements under applicable securities laws.

The Transaction

Pursuant to the Arrangement Agreement, Chifeng, through the Purchaser and/or its assignee, has agreed to acquire all of the issued and outstanding common shares of the Company. Pursuant to and upon completion of the Transaction, shareholders of the Company will receive total consideration, payable in cash, of US$3.91 (equivalent to approximately C$4.85 as of October 31, 2021) per common share of the Company (the "Consideration"), which equates to a total Transaction value of approximately US$470 million on a fully-diluted, in-the-money basis.

Advisors

Golden Star has engaged Canaccord Genuity Corp. as its exclusive financial advisor as well as Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP and Davis Graham & Stubbs LLP as its respective Canadian and United States legal advisors. Canaccord Genuity Corp. provided a fairness opinion to Golden Star's Board of Directors. Chifeng has engaged Stifel Nicolaus Canada Inc. and First Asia Group Ltd. as its financial advisors as well as Goodmans LLP as its legal advisor.

Golden Star Profile

Golden Star is an established gold mining company that owns and operates the Wassa underground mine in the Western Region of Ghana, West Africa. Listed on the NYSE American, the Toronto Stock Exchange and the Ghanaian Stock Exchange, Golden Star is focused on delivering strong margins and free cash flow from the Wassa mine. As the winner of the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada 2018 Environmental and Social Responsibility Award, Golden Star remains committed to leaving a positive and sustainable legacy in its areas of operation.

Chifeng Profile

Chifeng is an international gold mining company listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange with a market capitalization of approximately US$4.3 billion. It operates five mining assets, including the world-class Sepon gold mine in Laos. In 2018, Chifeng acquired Sepon before undertaking significant capital expenditures to redevelop the gold processing facility in order to double its future gold production.

Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Information

Some statements contained in this news release are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and "forward looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities laws (collectively, "forward-looking statements"). Generally, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", "believes" or variations of such words and phrases (including negative or grammatical variations) or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved or the negative connotation thereof. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain and involve risks, assumptions and uncertainties that could cause facts to differ materially. Such statements are based on numerous assumptions regarding present and future business strategies and the environment in which Golden Star will operate in the future.

Forward-looking statements may include but are not limited to, statements related to the Transaction, the anticipated completion of the Transaction, the receipt of all regulatory and court approvals and the approvals including approvals required by the laws of the Peoples Republic of China and the Shanghai Stock Exchange, and the closing of the Transaction including the acquisition of the Golden Star common shares and payment in respect thereof.

In respect of the forward-looking statements and information concerning the anticipated completion of the proposed Transaction and the anticipated timing for completion of the proposed Transaction, Golden Star has provided them in reliance on certain assumptions and believes that they are reasonable at this time, including the assumptions as to the ability of the parties to receive, in a timely manner, the necessary regulatory, shareholder, court, stock exchange and relevant authority approvals; and the ability of the parties to satisfy, in a timely manner, the other conditions to the closing of the Transaction. These dates may change for a number of reasons, including the inability to secure necessary approvals in the time assumed or the need for additional time to satisfy the other conditions to the completion of the Transaction. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release concerning these times.

Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Golden Star to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks, uncertainties and factors include, without limitation: risks associated with the Transaction and acquisitions generally; the Arrangement Agreement may be terminated in certain circumstances; there can be no certainty that all conditions precedent to the Transaction will be satisfied; Golden Star will incur costs even if the Transaction is not completed and may have to pay a termination fee or expense reimbursement if the Arrangement Agreement is terminated in certain circumstances; all necessary approvals may not be obtained; uncertainty regarding the ability to hold the Meeting within the time frame indicated. Additional risks, uncertainties and factors include, without limitation: gold price volatility; discrepancies between actual and estimated production; mineral reserves and resources and metallurgical recoveries; mining operational and development risks; liquidity risks; suppliers suspending or denying delivery of products or services; regulatory restrictions (including environmental regulatory restrictions and liability); actions by governmental authorities; the speculative nature of gold exploration; ore type; the global economic climate; share price volatility; foreign exchange rate fluctuations; risks related to streaming agreements and joint venture operations; the availability of capital on reasonable terms or at all; risks related to international operations, including economic and political instability in foreign jurisdictions in which Golden Star operates; developments in Ghana that may have an adverse impact on Golden Star and/or the Transaction; risks related to current global financial conditions including financial and other risks resulting from the impact of the COVID-19 global pandemic; actual results of current exploration activities; environmental risks; future prices of gold; possible variations in mineral reserves and mineral resources, grade or recovery rates; mine development and operating risks; an inability to obtain power for operations on favorable terms or at all; mining plant or equipment breakdowns or failures; an inability to obtain products or services for operations or mine development from vendors and suppliers on reasonable terms, including pricing, or at all; public health pandemics such as COVID-19, including risks associated with reliance on suppliers, the cost, scheduling and timing of gold shipments, uncertainties relating to its ultimate spread, severity and duration, and related adverse effects on the global economy and financial markets; accidents, labor disputes and other risks of the mining industry; delays in obtaining governmental approvals or financing or in the completion of development or construction activities; litigation risks; the quantum and timing of receipt of the proceeds from the sale by the Company of its interest in Bogoso-Prestea; risks related to indebtedness and the service of such indebtedness; and general business, economic, competitive, political, health and social uncertainties.

Although Golden Star has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that future developments affecting the Company will be those anticipated by management. Please refer to the discussion of these and other factors in Management's Discussion and Analysis of financial condition and results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2020 and in our annual information form for the year ended December 31, 2020 as filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. The forecasts contained in this press release constitute management's current estimates, as of the date of this press release, with respect to the matters covered thereby. We expect that these estimates will change as new information is received. While we may elect to update these estimates at any time, we do not undertake any estimate at any particular time or in response to any particular event, except as may be required by applicable securities laws. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and accordingly investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements due to their inherent uncertainty.

SOURCE Golden Star Resources Ltd.
NEW YORK, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- GoldenTree Loan Management II ("GLM II") and its affiliated investment manager GoldenTree Asset Management (along with other affiliated investment managers "GoldenTree"), announced the closing of a $651 million collateralized loan obligation ("CLO") to be managed by GLM II. With the closing of this CLO, GoldenTree Loan Management US CLO 11 ("GLM US CLO 11"), GoldenTree has issued 17 CLOs totaling over $10 billion under its GLM CLO strategy. Since its inception in January 2017, the GLM strategy was intended to be compliant with applicable Risk Retention regulations. While a US Court of Appeals ruling on February 9, 2018 led to repeal of US risk retention for open market CLOs, GLM CLOs are intended to continue to comply with European Union and United Kingdom Risk Retention regulations.

GLM US CLO 11 will initially be backed by a 94% ramped $609 million portfolio of senior secured loans as of closing and will have a five-year reinvestment period and a two-year non call period. The CLO was arranged by Credit Suisse as sole lead. The arranger globally distributed the investment grade, 'BB+' and 'BB-' rated notes issued by the CLO, while GLM II invested in the CLO's equity as well as 'B-' rated notes.

GLM US CLO 11 issued $403 million of AAA rated senior notes with a coupon of L+1.13%, along with lower rated senior, mezzanine and junior notes, for an overall weighted average coupon of L+1.70%.

Since its inception in 2000, GoldenTree has issued nearly $20 billion of CLOs/CBOs, with over $12.5 billion currently outstanding. GoldenTree's investment team is comprised of over 70 individuals covering over 20 industries and having, on average, 15 years of experience. In addition, GoldenTree has been an active investor in structured credit since 2007 and currently manages approximately $6 billion of structured products investments across the firm.

About GoldenTree

GoldenTree is an employee-owned, global asset management firm that specializes in opportunities across the credit universe in sectors such as high yield bonds, leveraged loans, distressed debt, structured products, emerging markets, private equity and credit-themed equities. GoldenTree was founded in 2000 by Steve Tananbaum and is one of the largest independent asset managers focused on credit. GoldenTree manages over $46 billion for institutional investors, including leading public and corporate pensions, endowments, foundations, insurance companies and sovereign wealth funds. GoldenTree has approximately 250 employees, with offices in New York, London, Singapore, Sydney, Tokyo, Dublin and West Palm Beach. For more information, please visit www.goldentree.com.

For further information contact:

SOURCE GoldenTree Asset Management
MELBOURNE, Fla., Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Green Group announced today its expansion into Florida with the addition of Pearce Power Spraying and Pest Control ("Pearce") to its family of brands. Located in Melbourne, FL, Pearce has been locally owned and operated by David Pearce since 1990. The company which offers lawn care and perimeter pest control to residential and commercial customers is the first Florida location to join the Green Group family. The company will continue to operate under the Pearce name and service Melbourne, Palm Bay, and the surrounding areas.

David Pearce, the founder of Pearce Power Spraying and Pest Control, credits his faith and patience for finding the right opportunity to carry on his hard-earned legacy. "I have built this business from the ground up. Everything has been bootstrapped; I beat the pavement to make this company work and credit much of our success to my employees," said David. "I was considering a sale in 2017, but I couldn't find a buyer with the heart and soul for my team that I was looking for. Green Group is about more than just profits. They are focused on the people. I have faith that my employees are in good hands."

"This is a perfect example of the kind of partnership that we are looking to form," says Keith Freeman, CEO of Green Group. "David and his team have spent more than three decades building this business serving their customers. We see their hard work and are honored to carry on the tradition with them as well as grow even more in the Florida lawn care market."

Green Group will retain all current Pearce employees, who receive a substantial increase in their benefits packages. In addition, the company will expand and hire additional employees in the coming year while continuing to operate locally out of Melbourne.

About Green Group

Green Group is a national lawn care and turf services platform providing recurring lawn care and pest control services to residential and commercial customers. Headquartered in North Carolina, Green Group provides services through a strategic network of local brands, delivering the same top quality service expertise of a local company with the resources of a larger platform to support its employees, customers, and communities. Our family of brands includes some of the most established lawn care brands throughout the country that were built by veteran lawn care professionals and their dedicated teams. We incorporate technology to improve processes, while our main focus is on investing in people. We believe the happiest employees provide the best service and our goal is to offer our teams long-term sustainable career paths doing what they love and serving their communities. We are built to serve and are Helping Happy Grow!

For more information about Green Group, please visit greengroupcompanies.com or follow along on Facebook and LinkedIn.

SOURCE Green Group
AutoFair is the 20th Top 150 Dealership Group the Haig Partners team has represented. Tweet this

"The American Dream is still alive in auto retail. I started my career turning wrenches in a service department and was later fortunate to be able to run dealerships and then become an owner. I am proud of the team members throughout the organization for all they have done to help AutoFair achieve excellence, as well as the many contributions we have been able to make to our local communities," shared Andy Crews, President and CEO. "Deciding to sell was one of the biggest decisions I have had to make. It was crucial to partner with an advisor committed to confidentiality and who has the experience and relationships to ensure the legacy we've built continues. Alan Haig and the team at Haig Partners were the perfect partner for us on this journey."

Alan Haig, President of Haig Partners, commented, "We are grateful for the opportunity to advise an outstanding entrepreneur like Andy Crews and the team at AutoFair on the sale of their group. The buy-sell market has been extraordinarily active thanks to high dealership profits and accelerating consolidation. We are expecting these conditions to continue well into 2022 and possibly beyond."

AutoFair is the 20th Top 150 Dealership Group the Haig Partners team has represented. Haig Partners expects to advise on the sale of 48 dealerships in 2021, the most in its history. Since 2019, Haig Partners has represented owners in the sale of 21 dealerships in New England.

About Haig Partners

Haig Partners LLC is the leading buy-sell advisor to owners of higher value retail dealerships. The team at Haig Partners has represented 20 of the Top 150 dealership groups on the Automotive News Top 150 list, more than any other buy-sell firm in automotive retail. Since 1996, they have advised on over 285 dealership transactions, comprised of more than 545 dealerships totaling $8.2 billion. Haig Partners has unmatched auto retail experience with backgrounds in executive leadership and corporate development roles for AutoNation, Asbury, Bank of America's Dealer Financial Services team and DHG's Dealership Practice. Haig Partners authors the leading industry quarterly report that tracks trends in auto retail and how they impact dealership values, and are co-author of NADA's Guide, "Buying and Selling a Dealership." For more information, visit www.haigpartners.com.

Press Contact:

Aimee Allen

Haig Partners

Director of Marketing and Business Development

e: [email protected]

p: (603) 933-2194

SOURCE Haig Partners LLC
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Category scope

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SOURCE SpendEdge
BROOKLYN, N.Y., Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- HistoWiz, the leading digital histopathology service company, today announced the addition of three key individuals to its leadership team. The appointments are a result of the company's recent $32 million Series A financing to scale its operations and accelerate its growth in the preclinical histopathology market.

Julie Teruya-Feldstein, MD, Chief Pathologist, was the Director of Hematopathology and Immunohistochemistry at MSKCC for over 15 years, and most recently served as Professor of Hematopathology at the Mount Sinai Icahn School of Medicine. She has established protocols for numerous phenotypic biomarkers and interpreted histopathology morphologic studies ranging from murine to in vivo human xenograft and transplantation models, resulting in over 200 peer-reviewed publications. Dr. Feldstein was named to The Pathologist's Power List in 2020 and is a member of USCAP, CAP, ASH and several editorial, grant review, and advisory boards. Dr. Feldstein will manage HistoWiz's telepathology services provided by a growing network of board-certified pathologists. "HistoWiz leads a new wave of digital pathology and I'm excited to take part in this journey to equip researchers with expert-assisted histopathology and diagnosis," said Dr. Julie Feldstein.

Robert Kelley, VP of Sales and Marketing, brings nearly two decades of sales leadership and expertise in medical diagnostics, including surgical oncology/pathology, life sciences and telemedicine. He most recently led the commercialization efforts as VP of Sales and Marketing for 11 years at Caliber ID, which provides cellular imaging solutions for clinical diagnostics and preclinical research. At HistoWiz, Robert will bolster relationships, strategize partnerships, and help launch HistoWiz services and solutions into the preclinical market. "It is a rare opportunity to join an innovative company with incredible potential to scale in a technical market. Being in the field, I can see that the demand is real. I would like to leverage our team and services to establish the HistoWiz brand as the default leader in this field," he said.

Ron Burkey, MS, Senior QA Manager, brings over 20 years of industry experience in research settings having worked at both sponsors and CROs including Battelle, Lonza, and Boehringer Ingelheim. He is an expert in Good Laboratory Practice and has his RQAP-GLP and CQA certificates from SQA and ASQ. Ron has led his teams to pass multiple FDA audits and has reviewed study reports for submission to US and foreign agencies. He will strengthen the Quality Assurance Unit operations at HistoWiz and play a key role in the establishment of a GLP compliant lab in Miami, Florida. "I'm committed to bringing our quality to the next level. This high level of energy, excitement and expertise is an incredible formula," Ron said.

"This next step into the age of digital pathology requires a team of the highest caliber and I am confident that these individuals will bring their domain expertise to better serve our clients," said Dr. Ke Cheng, CEO and Founder of HistoWiz.

About HistoWiz

HistoWiz automates histopathology with rapid turnaround time for researchers in academia, biotech and pharma. The company processes tissue specimens and digitizes the results, hosting client's data on a proprietary platform, PathologyMapTM. This online platform contains the largest collection of preclinical pathology data crowdsourced from the scientific community and the first network of top pathologists for on-demand diagnosis. Through automation and AI, HistoWiz aims to become the global leader in histopathology to accelerate cancer research and drug discovery.

For additional information: [email protected] or 1-833-PATHLAB

SOURCE HistoWiz

Related Links

https://home.histowiz.com/


ROANOKE, Va., Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- A major auction of land on Virginia's Smith Mountain Lake resulted in the sale of all the land for a total of $17,020,500.

The December 2 auction, which consisted of 37 parcels in Franklin County, was conducted by Woltz & Associates, Murray Wise Associates LLC, and Schrader Real Estate and Auction Company. The land included 3.2 miles of lake frontage and 29 waterfronts lots.

"We've been selling property around Smith Mountain Lake for decades, but this was probably the most beautiful ever. We had many gorgeous, wooded lots with hundreds of feet of water frontage. People immediately realized the value and responded in a big way," said Russell Seneff, auctioneer and real estate broker for Woltz.

"We had a crowd of approximately 400, with 143 registered bidders. The 37 tracts had 27 different buyers, including buyers from Florida, New York, Georgia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and all over Virginia," said R.D. Schrader, president of Schrader Real Estate and Auction Company.

Woltz & Associates, based in Roanoke, Virginia, specializes in the sale of timberland, farms ranches, commercial, investment and industrial properties, using both traditional brokered sales and auctions.

Schrader Real Estate and Auction Company, based in Columbia City, Indiana, is a leading auctioneer of agricultural land and equipment throughout the United States. The company is a five-time USA Today/National Auctioneers Association Auction of the Year winner.

Murray Wise Associates, based in Champaign, Illinois, sells farmland by auction and private treaty throughout the United States and provides farm management services.

For more information:

Carl Carter, 205-910-2952

SOURCE Woltz & Associates
NEW YORK, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- IAB Tech Lab, the digital advertising technical standard-setting body, announced the release of OpenRTB 2.6 for public comment for a 60-day period until February 7, 2022. OpenRTB is the communication protocol that enables real-time buying and selling of digital ad inventory.

The flagship feature of OpenRTB 2.6 is that it enables seamless buying of Connected TV (CTV) inventory by introducing structured, dynamic, and hybrid ad pods. Ad pods simultaneously bring structure and flexibility to ad breaks within CTV content, enabling advertisers to place multiple ad requests in one bid request. Structured pods have a fixed number of ads, all with specified lengths, whereas dynamic pods have a fixed duration for the ad break; however, there is flexibility in the number of ad slots and their length. Hybrid pods combine features of both structured and dynamic pods. The addition of ad pods in CTV brings ad buying in line with the way traditional TV advertising is bought and sold, with the added benefit of flexibility enabled by digital real-time ad bidding.

The improved flexibility offered by ad pods allows media companies to better monetize their CTV commercial breaks by providing a more comprehensive range of monetizable CTV inventory to which advertisers are accustomed in traditional TV. This will drive higher fill rates within each pod.

"As more and more CTV is bought and sold programmatically, it is critical that the industry is able to use a standard, yet flexible protocol," said Shailley Singh, Senior Vice President, Product, IAB Tech Lab. "IAB Tech Lab listened to our members and developed OpenRTB 2.6 to meet this industry need."

"This is a huge leap forward in how the industry will monetize CTV ad breaks," said James Wilhite, Director of Product, Publica. "The IAB Tech Lab has partnered with publishers, demand partners, and technology providers to develop a clear solution for podded requests within OpenRTB 2.6."

The additional benefits of OpenRTB 2.6 for programmatic buying are:

The enablement of faster and more frequent changes in lists and enumerations included in OpenRTB through the use of AdCOM. Earlier versions of OpenRTB required a full upgrade of version to facilitate changes, the use of AdCOM means that lists can be updated and implemented independently

Improved support for contextual buying and selling by making it easier to signal the various taxonomies from IAB Tech Lab in the bid request

Introduction of Network and Channel objects to support CTV inventory description

"This is a step forward for the industry," said Singh. "We have seen a number of OpenRTB 3.0/AdCOM features being hacked into older 2.x versions of OpenRTB, which ultimately leads to fragmentation. OpenRTB 2.6 provides intuitive features from 2.x to 3.0 that the industry has identified as very important and enables faster speed to market for urgent industry needs."

To review the proposed standard and provide feedback, please go to: https://iabtechlab.com/standards/openrtb/

About IAB Technology Laboratory

Established in 2014, the IAB Technology Laboratory (Tech Lab) is a non-profit consortium that engages a member community globally to develop foundational technology and standards that enable growth and trust in the digital media ecosystem. Comprised of digital publishers, ad technology firms, agencies, marketers, and other member companies, IAB Tech Lab focuses on solutions for brand safety and ad fraud; identity, data, and consumer privacy; ad experiences and measurement; and programmatic effectiveness. Its work includes the OpenRTB real-time bidding protocol, ads.txt anti-fraud specification, Open Measurement SDK for viewability and verification, VAST video specification, and Project Rearc initiative for privacy-centric addressability. Board members/companies are listed at https://iabtechlab.com/about-the-iab-tech-lab/tech-lab-leadership/. For more information, please visit https://iabtechlab.com.

SOURCE IAB Tech Lab
INLAND EMPIRE, Calif., Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- At today's Board meeting, the Inland Empire Utilities Agency (IEUA/Agency) Board of Directors adopted a drought resolution recognizing the State and regional drought emergencies and activating IEUA's Water Shortage Contingency Plan at Level 2 (Water Shortage Warning). This resolution highlights IEUA's plan to preserve water supplies necessary for the Agency's service area and includes a water shortage warning as well as a water reduction goal for the region.

"This resolution demonstrates the Agency's collaborative efforts working alongside other retail water agencies to prevent the need for emergency measures in the region," stated IEUA Board President Jasmin A. Hall. "This year marks one of the driest years on record and as drought conditions continue to worsen throughout the State, water agencies must push forward to implement the appropriate measures needed to achieve reductions that will extend our local storage supplies."

For the first time, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation declared a shortage on the Colorado River. In April 2021, Governor Newsom issued a state of emergency proclamation for drought conditions throughout most of California and urged a 15 percent voluntary reduction in water use. As of October 19, 2021, the proclamation expanded to a statewide drought emergency across all 58 counties amid record breaking temperatures and low levels of water. The California Department of Water Resources announced on December 1, 2021, an initial zero percent State Water Project (SWP) allocation for 2022, which reflects the severity of the State's drought conditions.

The Board's adoption of this drought resolution calls upon the retail agencies receiving water from the Agency to implement appropriate measures to achieve a 15 percent reduction in demands to extend SWP storage reserves and activates the Agency's Water Shortage Contingency Plan at Level 2, which promotes increased water-use efficiency methods.

"IEUA continues to implement water-saving efforts to secure a reliable water supply," said Hall. "The community has been doing a great job of implementing water-use efficiency measures, however, the drought is severe and we are asking the region to 'Step It Up,' and take water saving actions to a new level. This can be done by taking shorter showers, not watering sidewalks or driveways, running full loads in the dishwasher and clothes washer, and taking advantage of rebates and water-saving programs. Let's all do our part to be a part of the solution."

For more water saving tips, information on the current drought or to access Resolution 2021-12-5, visit www.ieua.org.

The Inland Empire Utilities Agency covers 242-square miles, distributes imported water, provides industrial/municipal wastewater collection and treatment services, and other related utility services to more than 875,000 people through its member agencies which include Chino, Chino Hills, Cucamonga Valley Water District, Fontana, Fontana Water Company, Montclair, Monte Vista Water District, Ontario, and Upland. www.ieua.org

Contact:

Andrea Carruthers

Manager of External Affairs

909.993.1935

[email protected]

SOURCE Inland Empire Utilities Agency
HOUSTON, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Insite360, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Gilbarco Veeder-Root, has signed a new partnership agreement with Eseye, enhancing our customers' ability to connect their sites to Insite360 services. The industry-leading fueling and retail operations software platform from Insite360, combined with Eseye's simple connectivity solutions, enables customers to unlock the power of a connected site wherever the data lives - in the store, on the forecourt, or underground - to drive operational efficiencies and maximize uptime.

Edge360 from Insite360 and Eseye unlocks the data stored inside individual devices at retail fueling sites to drive operational efficiencies and maximize uptime.

Today, valuable customer data is locked inside individual devices at retail fueling sites. Mixed vendor environments, lack of universal connectivity, and brittle networking at these sites further complicates retrieving this data. Insite360 and Eseye enable customers to access and use this data with a single device, the Edge360. This offering combines ease-of-installation with multi-modal communications and redundancy needed in any deployment. With thousands of Edge360s already in market, Insite360 offers a highly robust connectivity option for customers globally.

"We have heard from our customers that their data is locked within the site. Our recently enhanced Edge360 combines Insite360's software logic with Eseye's physical connectivity capabilities to create an all-in-one connectivity solution. Our partnership with Eseye allows us to optimize uptime and avoid unnecessary disruption to customer operations," said Gilles Mepossi Noutcha, Head of Strategic Growth for Insite360.

Commenting on the partnership, Stephen Stewart, SVP Customer Success at Eseye, said, "Insite360 is revolutionizing the site connectivity experience for retailers who expect a reliable and seamless deployment. With our integrated connectivity and IoT applications, Eseye has enabled Insite360 to deliver its next-generation site operation solutions creating a superior customer experience."

Insite360 is offering this connectivity option as of publication.

About Insite360

Insite360 leads the fueling market as the industry's first and most comprehensive cloud platform for on-demand fueling and site management. The Insite360 platform increases sales, reduces operational costs, optimizes equipment performance, enhances customer experience, and delivers sophisticated analytics to drive businesses forward with our specialized solutions.

At the forefront of the industry for over 30 years, Insite360 has automated all aspects of the fuel and site management process from rack to nozzle, improving the customer experience. Insite360 is leading the revolution of retail site operational management.

About Eseye

Eseye empowers businesses to embrace IoT without limits. We help them to visualize the impossible and bring those solutions to life through innovative IoT cellular connectivity solutions that enable our customers to drive up business value, deploy differentiated experiences, and disrupt their markets.

Our pioneering technology allows businesses to overcome the complexity of IoT deployment and develop, deploy, and manage IoT projects without the fear of getting it wrong. We guide them every step of the way. Supported by a powerful partner ecosystem, we seamlessly connect devices across 190 countries, agnostic to over 700 available global networks.

SOURCE Insite360
NEW YORK, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Intain Inc., a leading provider of intelligent blockchain and AI technology for investors and lenders to connect in an efficient, secure and trusted way, announced today that it has appointed Eric Mitzel as Vice President of North America sales and client solutions, in a newly created position. Mitzel joins Intain from Zions Bank, bringing more than 15 years of professional experience within the structured financial services industry.

"Intain has emerged from the pandemic having onboarded $3 billion worth of client agreements to our platform that uses applied blockchain AI to help alleviate some of the complexity and inefficiency that burdens the structured finance industry," said Siddhartha Siddhartha, Founder and CEO of Intain. "With the structured finance industry experience that Eric brings to Intain, our awareness is enhanced, our relatability improves, our scalability increases, and our platform becomes the preeminent use case for blockchain in structured finance."

Mitzel, who will be based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and will report to Intain's New York office, gained exposure to more than a decade of corporate financial transactions, with first hand knowledge of the processes involved in trust administration across various asset classes, ranging from municipal bonds to complex lease securitizations. Mitzel spent many years covering large scale debt issuers at BNY Mellon, where he rose to the position of Vice President. Mitzel joined Zions Bank in 2014 and was charged with opening a regional corporate office, which he established and grew into a highly profitable location with increased sales year on year.

"Participating in an industry that is extremely conservative when applying new securitization technology protocols -- there are still trillions of dollars in securities being administered on spreadsheets in 2021 -- my experience has enabled me to observe where the significant pain points and needless expenses continue to hamper the financial services industry," said Eric Mitzel, Vice President of North America Sales and Client Solutions, Intain. "Intain's application of blockchain in structured finance is second to none, and holds the potential to provide the levels of reliable insight into capital market transactions and improve upon the current technology limitations of the industry."

Intain provides software that affords the levels of efficient, secure and trustworthiness required to manage capital markets and transactions for both traditional and digital securities issuances. Mitzel joins a team with innate ability and heritage in the structured finance space, providing customers with the information rails that are necessary for investors to view the value of underlying assets in real time, directly from the source.

To learn more about Intain, please visit www.intainft.com .

About Intain:

Intain is a research-based technology organization building Intelligent Blockchains by combining Blockchain and AI. Founded by financial services business and technology veterans, we understand the impact - benefits and risk - of technology in financial services. For more information visit www.intainft.com.

SOURCE Intain Inc.,
CHICAGO, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- According to a research report "Integration Platform as a Service Market with COVID-19 Impact Analysis, by Service Type (API Management, B2B Integration, Data Integration), Deployment Model (Public and Private Cloud), Organization Size, Vertical and Region - Global Forecast to 2026", published by MarketsandMarkets, the IPaaS Market size to reach USD 13.9 billion by 2026, at a CAGR of 30.3% between 2021 and 2026. The growing adoption of hybrid and multi-cloud infrastructure, exponentially increasing cloud real-time monitoring services, and need for business agility, faster deployment, and scalability are expected to spur the growth of iPaaS Market.

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The growing adoption of IoT across industries, exponentially increasing data volumes and network traffic and rising demand for low-latency processing and real-time, automated decision-making solutions are a few factors driving the growth of the edge computing.

Adoption of application integration has become critical in order to improve business efficiency, enhance scalability, and reduce IT costs

Application integration is an integration framework that forms middleware, a collection of technologies and services to enable the integration of systems and applications across an enterprise. Small and large organizations implement application integration as it has become a mission-critical priority to connect different applications and support application collaboration across the enterprise to improve the overall business efficiency, enhance scalability, and reduce IT costs. MuleSoft, Oracle, IBM, and Informatica are some of the major players offering application integration services.

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Private cloud deployment enables an enterprise to have more control over their server, infrastructure and systems according to business requirements.

Private cloud is a secure cloud-based environment that offers a high level of security, enabling end users to store and process critical data within the firewall of an enterprise. This deployment model enables an enterprise to have more control over the server, infrastructure, and systems that can be configured as per the business requirements. The private cloud deployment model reduces the risks, security issues, and the regulatory hurdles associated with the cloud. Private cloud is popular among enterprises that want a secure and reliable environment to store mission-critical data. The security concerns associated with storage are addressed through secure access of a Virtual Private Network (VPN) or by providing the physical location within the enterprise firewall system. In industries such as healthcare and pharmaceutical, transfer of data to the cloud would mean violation of norms, and hence, private cloud is preferred. Though private cloud provides highly secured, central storage, and authorized access, it does not deliver short-term economies that the public cloud does.

Large Enterprises are choosing iPaaS due to ease of operations and enhanced scalability

The intensely competitive market scenario has encouraged SMEs to invest in iPaaS solutions to reach their desired target audience. The traction of iPaaS solutions in large enterprises is said to be higher than SMEs. This is due to their ability to adapt as well as leverage the benefits of advanced technologies. The ever-increasing amount of data drives the need to invest in IT infrastructure. The mentioned factors allow enterprises to provide a solution through real-time access of data to the employees. Large enterprises are adopting iPaaS solutions to enhance the operational efficiency of their businesses across regions. They are expected to invest significantly to implement suitable iPaaS service types, which would enable enterprises to save on infrastructure costs, improve business functioning, and sustain in intense competition

The recent advancements in technology are revolutionizing the point of sale and supply for retail and consumer goods industry; thus, creating new opportunities and avenues for revenue and growth.

The retail and consumer goods industry has emerged as one of the most dynamic and fast-paced industries in terms of the adoption of advanced technologies. Thus, iPaaS technology will quickly be adopted during the forecast period as the premier way to integrate software as its benefits to retailers and consumers become more well known. Recent advancements in technology are revolutionizing the points of sale (POS) and supply, creating new opportunities and avenues for revenue and growth.

To achieve agility, retailers evolve their IT systems toward a flexible, event-driven IT infrastructure that allows different applications to share and analyze information in real-time to determine the next best interaction with their customers. Companies such as IBM, MuleSoft, and Scribe Software are the major players in this vertical.

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North America to dominate the iPaaS Market in 2021

North America is one of the most technologically advanced regions in the world. It comprises the US and Canada and accounts for the largest share of the global edge computing market due to the early adoption of the by the US markets. North American enterprises are the early adopters of cutting-edge technologies, such as cloud, AI, ML, and big data analytics. The region has sustainable and well-established economies, which increasingly invest in R&D activities to develop new technologies. Along with large enterprises, the adoption of iPaaS by mid-sized and small enterprises has also contributed to the growth of the market in North America. The presence of most key vendors of iPaaS solutions has contributed to the market growth in the region. Vendors such as Informatica, Boomi, Oracle, MuleSoft, Jitterbit, SnapLogic, IBM, Workato, and Microsoft, along with several startups in the region, offer iPaaS solutions to cater to customers requirements. The high adoption of the mobile workforce and cloud technology is driving the North American market growth. North America is the most mature market in the cloud integration services market as most large enterprises are located in this region. The US contributes the maximum share in the iPaaS Market. There are various factors driving the adoption of iPaaS in this region such as diversification of services being delivered and shift of focus from SaaS to cloud services for infrastructure & platforms. Another factor is the increasing need to integrate data and processes between the public cloud and on-premises applications. The US government developed the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP), which provides a standardized approach to security assessment, authorization, and continuous monitoring for cloud products and services. The market has been steadily showing positive trends in the region as several companies and industries are adopting cloud integration services and solutions at various levels as part of their business strategy to sustain in the market and increase their productivity.

Key Players:

The iPaaS Market is dominated by companies such as Informatica (US), Boomi Inc. (US), SAP SE (Germany), Oracle Corporation (US), MuleSoft LLC (US), Jitterbit Inc. (US), Workato Inc. (US), SnapLogic Inc. (US), Software AG (Germany), IBM Corporation (US), Microsoft Corporation (US), Tibco (US), Celigo (US), and Zapier (US). These vendors have a large customer base and strong geographic footprint along with organized distribution channels, which helps them to increase revenues.

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CHICAGO, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Coughs, sniffles and sneezing are commonplace this time of year, yet these symptoms now put people on alert due to the COVID pandemic. If you are sick and symptomatic, you need answers. Innovative Care has expanded their COVID testing clinics to offer a full range of respiratory health testing and treatment. The clinic that thousands of Chicagoans have come to know and trust for COVID testing , will provide a fast but thorough respiratory health exam during your visit. Medical providers will test for flu, COVID , and even strep throat or mononucleosis (aka "mono") if appropriate.

"Consider Innovative Care a one-stop shop for cold and flu season," said Rahul Khare, CEO and founder of Innovative Care. "We will do more than just test, treat, and vaccinate you for COVID. We will find out if you have an ear infection, strep throat or another common illness, and then treat you for those, so you can get on the mend sooner."

The evaluation, expanded testing, and treatment options will save patients time and avoid the need for multiple clinic visits. Khare says this is the next evolution in COVID care in a pandemic world.

"Healthcare providers must evolve as we approach the two year mark in this pandemic. Patients deserve time-saving, convenient healthcare options. Why would you want to test for only one possible cause of your symptoms? The upcoming winter months will bring a flurry of flu activity and other viruses, too. We will help you get answers so you can get back home to rest."

Patients who are symptomatic and turn to Innovative Care for COVID testing will now benefit from having their ears, nose, throat and lungs checked during the visit. The evaluation will allow providers to determine what testing, in addition to a COVID swab, is necessary. Well patients who simply need a COVID test for work or travel can expect the same speedy testing services they've come to expect from Innovative Care over the past 20 months.

Innovative Care has two dedicated COVID, cold and flu clinics . The Lincoln Park clinic is located at 1111 W. Diversey Parkway and includes a convenient testing drive-thru. The Downers Grove clinic is located at 136 Ogden Avenue near Trader Joe's.

Innovative Express Care , the medical group's urgent care, is also open seven days a week for illnesses, injuries and testing. All locations accept walk-in appointments, or patients can schedule online in advance of their visit.

Contact: Jennifer Monasteri

[email protected]

SOURCE Innovative Express Care
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- K36 Therapeutics, Inc. ("K36"), a privately held biotechnology company developing breakthrough therapies for the unmet medical needs of cancer patients, announced today its $30 million Series A financing co-led by F-Prime Capital and Atlas Venture with Eight Roads Ventures. The funds will be used to advance the company's lead candidate, KTX-1001, through its first clinical proof-of-concept studies. KTX-1001 is a first-in-class, selective inhibitor of the histone methyltransferase (HMT) MMSET, which is overexpressed in up to 20% of multiple myeloma patients due to a t(4;14) translocation. The company plans to submit an IND for KTX-1001 in the first half of 2022.

"We are developing KTX-1001 to provide a targeted therapy that specifically addresses the underlying cause of cancer for these multiple myeloma patients. KTX-1001 will be the first therapeutic agent to enter the clinic that directly targets overexpression of MMSET," said Terry Connolly, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of K36. "I am excited to be leading an experienced team of drug developers and working with our tremendous group of clinical advisors as we advance this program to rapid human POC studies."

K36 also announced that industry veteran, Lori Kunkel, M.D., has joined the company's board of directors, bringing with her more than two decades of experience in oncology and immunology drug development, commercialization and corporate strategy.

"Direct inhibition of MMSET as a potential treatment for high-risk t(4;14)-positive multiple myeloma has been eagerly pursued for many years, and I am delighted to be working with the team who is first to take this precision medicine to the clinic," said K36 board member Lori Kunkel, M.D.

"K36 has the potential to address a significant unmet medical need in multiple myeloma patients who are t(4;14)-positive and beyond," said Chong Xu, Ph.D., F-Prime Capital Partner and K36 board member. "This investment reflects our confidence in the K36 team and their ability to rapidly advance the development of KTX-1001. We are proud to support the company on its mission to develop therapies for cancer patients on a global scale."

"K36 has assembled a world-class team of drug developers and clinical advisors and is now well funded to progress KTX-1001 through the clinic," said Jason Rhodes, Atlas Venture Partner and K36 board member. "We look forward to working with the K36 team as the company progresses into its next stage of growth."

Board of Directors

Chong Xu, Ph.D., Partner, F-Prime Capital

Jason Rhodes, Partner, Atlas Venture

Lori Kunkel, M.D., Independent Director

Terry Connolly, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer, K36 Therapeutics

About K36 Therapeutics ("K36")

K36 Therapeutics was established with the mission to translate epigenetic modulation of oncogenic pathways into first-in-class small molecule therapies. Its vision is to create breakthrough therapies for the unmet medical needs of cancer patients worldwide.

About KTX-1001

KTX-1001 is an orally bioavailable small molecule and a selective inhibitor of MMSET (also known as NSD2 and WHSC1). The worldwide intellectual property rights to KTX-1001 were exclusively licensed by K36 from Novartis Pharmaceuticals.

About F-Prime

F-Prime Capital is a global venture capital firm investing in healthcare and technology. For the past 50 years, our independent venture capital group has had the privilege of backing great entrepreneurs building groundbreaking companies.

With over $2 billion dollars under management and a global portfolio of more than 200 companies, we champion those dedicated to creating positive change in the world. In healthcare, we focus on therapeutics, medtech and health IT & services in a stage-agnostic fashion. Our healthcare fund has created or co-created 23 companies including Denali, Beam, Innovent, Orchard and Sana and has helped build many others including Blueprint Medicines, Iora Health, PatientPing, Devoted and Ultragenyx. F-Prime portfolio companies have seen more than 28 products and drugs approved by regulatory agencies worldwide. Our team of investors, engineers, doctors and scientists is committed to bringing the insight, domain expertise and relationships required to help our companies make a transformational impact.

For more information, please visit www.fprimecapital.com

About Atlas Venture

Atlas Venture is a leading biotech venture capital firm. With the goal of doing well by doing good, we have been building breakthrough biotech startups since 1993. We work side by side with exceptional scientists and entrepreneurs to translate high-impact science into medicines for patients. Our seed-led venture creation strategy rigorously selects and focuses investment on the most compelling opportunities to build scalable businesses and realize value.

For more information, please visit www.atlasventure.com

About Eight Roads

Eight Roads is a global venture capital firm backed by Fidelity, managing over $8bn of assets across offices in China, India, Japan, Europe and the US. The flexible nature of our capital means we can back and build innovative businesses looking to disrupt or lead their chosen markets. With over 50-year history of investing in healthcare and technology, Eight Roads has partnered with more than 300 game-changing and fast-growing companies globally.

Eight Roads has over 25 years of venture capital experience in China and has backed over 130 companies in the country's healthcare and technology sectors such as Alibaba, Adagene, Asia Info, BangEr, Eyebright, FenBeiTong, Innovent, Innovusion, Kyligence, Medbanks, MediTrust, PingPong, Pony.ai, WuXi Apptec, etc.

For more information, please visit www.eightroads.com

For more information visit:

www.k36tx.com

https://www.linkedin.com/company/k36-therapeutics

K36 MEDIA CONTACT:

Michelle Kim | [email protected]

SOURCE K36 Therapeutics, Inc.
"We're excited to bring our dynamic technology to Boston, a city known for its diverse and dynamic business environment and growing life sciences industry. As companies seek to reconfigure their office spaces and access systems to enable the dynamic hybrid workplaces that businesses and workers demand, Kastle is applying our open system architecture to help make it happen. We are integrating data from occupant access activity and building system operations to enable building operators and office administrators to effectively manage the workspace of the future," said Haniel Lynn, Kastle CEO.

Kastle's state-of-the-art technology platform allows businesses and building operators to implement seamless access and video integration with other critical building operations. This includes mobile access credentials that sync with building management systems, elevators and turnstiles, visitor management, tenant experience applications, parking administration, cloud-based video surveillance and more.

"At Kastle, we're thrilled to announce this expansion into Boston as part of our efforts to bring our progressive property technology solutions to workplaces across the country to maximize office utility and meet tenant needs in a rapidly changing work environment." said Ameet Amin, General Manager - Kastle Northeast Region. "For years, Kastle clients nation-wide have eagerly inquired if we could service their properties in Boston and we are excited to now provide them with the advanced technology and unmatched customer service they have come to expect."

With health and safety top of mind for office workers returning to their workplace, Kastle provides customizable technology offerings including vaccination authentication and testing, as well as health screenings for tenants and visitors. These capabilities are integrated directly into Kastle's access platform making them simple for businesses to adopt and administer.

Throughout the pandemic, Kastle has garnered recognition for its Back to Work Barometer, a weekly snapshot of office occupancy rates in 10 major cities across the U.S. As the go-to source for media covering workers commuting to the office and an instructive tool for business leaders setting return to office plans, the Barometer has become an integral data source nationally and for the local markets it highlights.

About Kastle Systems

Kastle Systems has been leading the property technology industry since 1972 with advanced technology solutions and services, protecting commercial real estate, multi-family residential, global enterprises, educational institutions, and critical government facilities. Kastle's state-of-the-art solutions include access control, video surveillance, visitor management and identity management, as well as a suite of mobile security applications, all integrated on an open, standards-based platform and supported by a team of experts 24x7x365. Headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia, Kastle is on Silicon Review's 2021 Five Best Security Companies to Watch list.

For more information about KastleSafeSpaces, KastleAccess or any of the other advanced security innovations from Kastle, contact Jake Heinz, Chief Marketing Officer at [email protected].

SOURCE Kastle Systems

Related Links

http://www.kastle.com


Significant premium of 40% to Great Bear's 20-day VWAP on the TSX-V for Great Bear shareholders

Option to select cash or Kinross common shares as consideration, subject to pro-ration

Opportunity for continued economic participation in the future potential of the Dixie project while gaining exposure to Kinross' diverse portfolio of high-quality operating mines, sector-leading production growth and free cash flow generation in a robust gold price environment

Kinross has the technical, development, operating and financial capabilities to advance Dixie as a top growth priority building on and further enhancing its top tier potential

Unanimously recommended by Great Bear's Board of Directors

Kinross is committed to the highest standards of ESG and will be a responsible steward for all Dixie stakeholders, continuing the long-term partnership with Wabauskang and Lac Seul First Nations

Investor conference call at 5:00 a.m. PST ( 8:00 a.m. EST ) on Thursday, December 9, 2021

TSX-V: GBR

VANCOUVER, BC, Dec. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Great Bear Resources Ltd. (the "Company" or "Great Bear", (TSXV: GBR) (OTCQX: GTBAF) today announced that it has entered into a binding agreement (the "Arrangement Agreement") with Kinross Gold Corporation ("Kinross", TSX: K;NYSE: KGC) under which Kinross has agreed to acquire all of the outstanding common shares of Great Bear (the "Transaction").

Under the terms of the Transaction, Great Bear shareholders will receive upfront consideration of approximately C$1.8 billion, representing C$29.00 per Great Bear common share on a fully diluted basis. Great Bear shareholders will be able to elect to receive the upfront consideration as either (i) C$29.00 in cash or (ii) 3.8564 Kinross shares per Great Bear share, both subject to proration. The upfront consideration will be subject to maximum aggregate cash consideration of approximately C$1.4 billion (representing 75% of the upfront consideration) or maximum aggregate shares issuable of 95.8 million1 (representing 40% of the upfront consideration), depending on the election of Great Bear shareholders. Great Bear shareholders who do not elect cash or Kinross shares will be deemed to have elected to receive cash, subject to pro-ration. The Transaction Price represents a premium of 31% and 40% to the closing price and the volume weighted average price ("VWAP"), respectively, of Great Bear's shares on the TSX-V for the 20 day period ending December 7, 2021.

Great Bear shareholders will also receive contingent consideration in the form of contingent value rights ("CVRs") providing for further potential consideration equal to 0.1330 of a Kinross share per Great Bear common share which represents approximately C$58.2 million in aggregate consideration, or C$1.00 per Great Bear common share, on a partially diluted2 basis (based upon the closing price of a Kinross share on the TSX as at December 7, 2021). The contingent consideration will be payable in connection with Kinross' public announcement of commercial production at the Dixie project, provided that at least 8.5 million gold ounces of measured and indicated mineral resources have been disclosed.

On closing, the Transaction is expected to result in Great Bear shareholders owning approximately 7% of Kinross, on a fully diluted basis, assuming full take-up of the share consideration. Upon satisfaction of the payment conditions under the terms of the CVRs, Great Bear shareholders would own approximately 8% of Kinross, on a fully diluted basis (based upon the number of Kinross shares outstanding following completion of the Transaction).

Chris Taylor, President and CEO of Great Bear said: "The acquisition of Great Bear by Kinross is an outstanding opportunity for our shareholders, partners at Wabauskang and Lac Seul First Nations, and the local communities of Northern Ontario.

"The Transaction delivers a compelling premium for Great Bear's shareholders, reflecting the top tier nature of the Dixie project, while offering beneficial exposure as Kinross shareholders to a high-quality operating portfolio and growing production base. Kinross' Canadian identity and headquarters in Ontario will facilitate close ties between the Company and the Dixie project's local communities, which will help to maximize benefits to the area, including employment and training.

"As a senior gold producer, Kinross has the financial strength, technical expertise, and commitment to the highest ESG practices to advance the Dixie project at the pace and scale that this industry-leading discovery deserves. Dixie will remain a centrepiece project that will receive significant development and exploration focus, which will continue to unlock and maximize the project's value, while mitigating our shareholders' exposure to the risks of a single-asset developer."

J. Paul Rollinson, President and CEO of Kinross Gold said: "The Dixie project represents an exciting opportunity to develop a potentially top tier deposit into a large, long-life mine complex. In addition to the prospect of developing a quality, high-grade open pit mine, we also believe that a significant portion of the asset's value is its longer-term potential, which includes the view of a sizeable underground operation.

"Kinross has the strong technical expertise and experience to successfully advance the project from exploration to development and unlock considerable value for our shareholders. Our extensive due diligence reinforced the scarcity of an asset of this quality and value. The Dixie project has multiple high-potential mineralized zones which remain open along strike and at depth, and we are confident that the asset has strong untapped upside with numerous avenues for growth.

"We are pleased to achieve our goal of adding a high-quality asset in our home jurisdiction that further bolsters our global portfolio and can potentially provide long-term tax benefits. The Dixie project is ideally located in the renowned Red Lake mining district in Northern Ontario near established infrastructure and in a province with a low-carbon energy grid. We look forward to building strong relationships with the Wabauskang and Lac Seul First Nations and will work with them to ensure that the project delivers sustainable benefits to their communities and respects their way of life."

_________ 1 Aggregate maximum total share consideration includes 15.0 million Kinross Options that will be exchanged for 3.9 million Great Bear Options 2 Inclusive of 0.3 million Great Bear Restricted Stock Units and Deferred Share Units

Details of the Transaction

The Transaction, which is not subject to a financing condition, will be implemented by way of a court-approved plan of arrangement under the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) and will require the approval of: (i) 66 2/3% of the votes cast by the holders of Great Bear's common shares; (ii) 66 2/3% of the votes cast by holders of Great Bear common shares, restricted share units, deferred share units and options, voting together as a single class, and; (iii) "minority approval" in accordance with Multilateral Instrument 61-101, at a special meeting of Great Bear security holders to be held to consider the Transaction (the "Special Meeting"). In addition to approval by Great Bear security holders, the Transaction is also subject to the receipt of court approval, regulatory approvals including competition clearances in Canada, and other customary closing conditions for transactions of this nature. The Transaction is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2022.

The Arrangement Agreement provides for customary deal-protection provisions, including a non-solicitation covenant on the part of Great Bear and a right for Kinross to match any Superior Proposal (as defined in the Arrangement Agreement). The Arrangement Agreement includes a termination fee of C$85 million, payable by Great Bear, under certain circumstances (including if the Arrangement Agreement is terminated in connection with Great Bear pursuing a Superior Proposal). The directors and senior officers of Great Bear, in addition to certain securityholders, owning in aggregate approximately 20.04% of Great Bear's voting securities have entered into voting support agreements pursuant to which they have agreed to vote all the securities they own or control in favour of the Transaction.





Great Bear Board of Directors and Special Committee Recommendations

A special committee comprised entirely of independent directors of Great Bear (the "Special Committee") unanimously recommended the Transaction to the board of directors of Great Bear (the "Great Bear Board"). The Great Bear Board has evaluated the Arrangement Agreement with the Company's management and legal and financial advisors and, following the receipt and review of a unanimous recommendation from the Special Committee, the Great Bear Board has unanimously approved the Arrangement and determined that the Arrangement is in the best interest of the Company, and the Great Bear Board has resolved to recommend that the Company's shareholders vote in favour of the Transaction, all subject to the terms and conditions contained in the Arrangement Agreement.

GenCap Mining Advisory Ltd. and CIBC World Markets Inc. have provided opinions to the Great Bear Board and BMO Capital Markets has provided an opinion to the Special Committee and Board, stating that, as of the date of such opinions and based upon and subject to various assumptions, limitations and qualifications therein, the consideration to be received by the Great Bear shareholders pursuant to the Arrangement Agreement is fair, from a financial point of view, to such holders.

Further details regarding the terms of the Transaction are set out in the Arrangement Agreement, which will be publicly filed by Great Bear under its profile at www.sedar.com. Additional information regarding the terms of the Arrangement Agreement, the background to the Transaction, the rationale for the recommendations made by the Special Committee and the Great Bear Board and how Great Bear shareholders can participate in and vote at the Special Meeting to be held to consider the Transaction will be provided in the management information circular for the Special Meeting which will be mailed to shareholders and also filed at www.sedar.com. Shareholders are urged to read these and other relevant materials when they become available.

Advisors and Counsel

CIBC World Markets Inc. and GenCap Mining Advisory Ltd. are acting as co-advisors to Great Bear, and Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP is acting as Great Bear's legal counsel. BMO Capital Markets is acting as financial advisor to the Special Committee. Cormark Securities Inc. provided capital markets advice to Great Bear.

Webcast and Conference Call

Great Bear and Kinross will host an investor conference call and webcast to discuss the Transaction on Thursday, December 9, 2021 at 5:00 a.m. PST (8:00 a.m. EST), followed by a question-and-answer session. To access the call, please dial:

Canada & US toll-free  (833) 968-2237; Passcode: 8144017

Outside of Canada & US  (825) 312-2059; Passcode: 8144017

Replay (available up to 14 days after the call):

Canada & US toll-free  (800) 585-8367; Passcode: 8144017

Outside of Canada & US  (416) 621-4642; Passcode: 8144017

About Great Bear

Great Bear Resources Ltd. is a Vancouver-based gold exploration company focused on advancing its 100% owned Dixie project in Northwestern Ontario, Canada. A significant exploration drill program is currently underway to define the mineralization within a large-scale, high-grade disseminated gold discovery made in 2019, the LP Fault. Additional exploration drilling is also in progress to expand and infill nearby high-grade gold zones, as well as to test new regional targets.

Great Bear is a committed partner to all stakeholders, with a long-term vision of sustainable exploration to advance the Dixie project in a manner that demonstrates good stewardship of land, operational excellence and accountability.

About Kinross

Kinross is a Canadian-based senior gold mining company with mines and projects in the United States, Brazil, Russia, Mauritania, Chile and Ghana. Kinross' focus is on delivering value based on the core principles of operational excellence, balance sheet strength, disciplined growth and responsible mining. Kinross maintains listings on the Toronto Stock Exchange (symbol: K) and the New York Stock Exchange (symbol: KGC).

Cautionary note regarding forward-looking statements

This release contains certain "forward looking statements" and certain "forward-looking information" as defined under applicable Canadian and U.S. securities laws. Forward-looking statements and information can generally be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may", "will", "should", "expect", "intend", "estimate", "anticipate", "believe", "continue", "plans" or similar terminology. The forward-looking information contained herein is provided for the purpose of assisting readers in understanding management's current expectations and plans relating to the future. Readers are cautioned that such information may not be appropriate for other purposes.

Forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect our expectations or beliefs regarding future events and the impacts of the ongoing and evolving COVID-19 pandemic. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to statements with respect to the consummation and timing of the Transaction; approval by Great Bear's shareholders; the satisfaction of the conditions precedent to the Transaction; the strengths, characteristics and potential of the Transaction; growth potential and expectations regarding the ability to advance the project, timing, receipt and anticipated effects of court, regulatory and other consents and approvals; the impact of the Transaction on local stakeholders and other anticipated benefits of the Transaction. By their very nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such factors include, amongst others, risks related to failure to receive approval by Great Bear shareholders, the required court, regulatory and other consents and approvals to effect the Transaction, the potential of a third party making a superior proposal to the Transaction, the possibility that the Arrangement Agreement could be terminated under certain circumstances.

Forward-looking information are based on management of the parties' reasonable assumptions, estimates, expectations, analyses and opinions, which are based on such management's experience and perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, and other factors that management believes are relevant and reasonable in the circumstances, but which may prove to be incorrect. Such factors, among other things, include: impacts arising from the global disruption caused by the Covid-19 coronavirus outbreak, business integration risks; fluctuations in general macroeconomic conditions; fluctuations in securities markets; fluctuations in spot and forward prices of gold or certain other commodities; change in national and local government, legislation, taxation, controls, regulations and political or economic developments; risks and hazards associated with the business of mineral exploration, development and mining (including environmental hazards, industrial accidents, unusual or unexpected formations pressures, cave-ins and flooding); discrepancies between actual and estimated metallurgical recoveries; inability to obtain adequate insurance to cover risks and hazards; the presence of laws and regulations that may impose restrictions on mining; employee relations; relationships with and claims by local communities and indigenous populations; availability of increasing costs associated with mining inputs and labour; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development (including the risks of obtaining necessary licenses, permits and approvals from government authorities); and title to properties.

Great Bear undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information except as required by applicable law. Such forward-looking information represents management's best judgment based on information currently available. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed and actual future results may vary materially. Accordingly, readers are advised not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information.

SOURCE Great Bear Resources Ltd.

Related Links

https://greatbearresources.ca/


At a recent industry conference, Dr. Vance Thompson, a world-renowned ophthalmic surgeon and professor of ophthalmology at the University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine, and member of the Eyesafe Vision Health Advisory Board , confirms there may be health benefits to choosing a TV with OLED technology over a traditional LCD display. With TVs getting bigger and brighter, and people spending more time overall watching TV, our blue light exposure is rising quite fast," said Dr. Thompson, "Many studies suggest blue light exposure in the evening contributes to sleep disturbance. There are many options for customers when purchasing a TV, but OLED is a great choice because it has lower blue light, which may help with sleep, especially if you're one of those people who enjoys watching movies late at night."

One of the benefits of OLED TV is its naturally low blue light emissions compared to traditional LCD TVs on the market.

Click here to download the full white paper.



For more information about the collaboration between LG Display and Eyesafe, please visit eyesafe.com/oled.

About Eyesafe

Eyesafe Inc. is a worldwide supplier of advanced blue light mitigating technology, solutions, and standards. With pioneering products and services, in collaboration with healthcare, Eyesafe is shaping the future of consumer electronics designed for human health. Eyesafe Standards, Eyesafe Technology, and the associated intellectual property portfolio is developed by a world-class team of eye doctors, engineers, and scientists with decades of experience in electronics, display materials, light management, optometry, and ophthalmology. The Eyesafe brand is trusted by consumers and integrated in millions of digital devices from LG Display, Dell, HP, Lenovo, ZAGG and others. Eyesafe was recently ranked #5 in the Computer Hardware category on the Inc. 5000 list of Fastest-Growing Private Companies in America. Learn more at eyesafe.com.



About LG Display

LG Display Co., Ltd. is the world's leading innovator of display technologies, including thin film transistor liquid crystal and OLED displays. The company manufactures display panels in a broad range of sizes and specifications primarily for use in TVs, notebook computers, desktop monitors, and various other applications, including tablets and mobile devices. LG Display currently operates manufacturing facilities in Korea and China, and back-end assembly facilities in Korea, China, and Vietnam. The company has approximately 60,000 employees operating worldwide. For more news and information about LG Display, please visit www.lgdisplay.com.

Contact: Arick Wierson, [email protected]

SOURCE Eyesafe

Related Links

eyesafe.com


LOS ANGELES, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Lincoln Avenue Capital (LAC), a mission-driven affordable housing company, announced the acquisition of a 569-unit affordable housing property in Alexandria, VA with financing from the Amazon Housing Equity Fund and Fannie Mae, provided by Berkadia Commercial Mortgage. The property, Cityside Huntington Metro Apartments, will retain rent restrictions for 99 years.

The Amazon Housing Equity Fund is a more than $2 billion commitment to preserve and create more than 20,000 affordable housing units in Washington state's Puget Sound region; in and around Arlington, Virginia; and Nashville, Tennesseethree hometown communities where the company has a large and growing presence. The Amazon Housing Equity Fund increases housing options for moderate-to-low-income families by providing affordable housing providers with quick access to low-rate loans to create or preserve buildings where affordability would have otherwise been lost to commercial-rate development. The fund also provides cash grants to businesses, nonprofits, and minority-led organizations to help them build a more inclusive solution to the affordable housing crisis, which disproportionately affects communities of color.

The Arlington area has seen recent rapid market growth coming out of the recovery and is poised to continue to grow substantially. Cityside Huntington Metro Apartments currently serves low-income and moderate-income residents, and with the addition of new rent restrictions as part of this acquisition, will continue to provide long-term stability for working families and give them opportunities to affordably live where they work.

"Lincoln Avenue Capital is focused on developing solutions that move forward the affordable housing field," said Jeremy Bronfman, CEO of Lincoln Avenue Capital. "We are proud to partner with the Amazon Housing Equity Fund and Fannie Mae to provide this long-term investment in homes for hardworking families."

"We created the Amazon Housing Equity Fund to help give people more peace of mind about their homes," said Catherine Buell, Director of the Amazon Housing Equity Fund. "Housing insecurity is a reality for so many families, so we are supporting affordable housing developers, nonprofit and for-profit, to be more competitive in creating or preserving homes where affordability would have otherwise been lost. Our partnership with Lincoln Avenue Capital is our latest effort within this work to help build strong communities."

"For decades, Fannie Mae has been committed to leadership within the housing finance industry and to working with partners to create opportunities for the creation and preservation of affordable homes," said Tim Leonhard, Senior Managing Director at Berkadia Commercial Mortgage. "We at Berkadia are equally committed to affordable housing and are very pleased to support this impactful endeavor by providing a highly structured and competitive Fannie Mae loan."

Cityside Huntington Metro Apartments, which Lincoln Avenue Capital acquired through an affiliate entity, features a variety of amenities including an outdoor swimming pool, a courtyard lounge with barbecue grills, a fitness center, a rooftop sundeck and lounge, a playground, and Amazon lockers. The property is also located within walking distance to the Huntington Metro Station, which offers a convenient commute to the broader Northern Virginia and DC areas.

About LAC: Lincoln Avenue Capital is one of the nation's fastest-growing developers, investors, and operators of affordable and workforce housing, providing high-quality, sustainable homes for low- and moderate-income individuals, seniors, and families nationwide. LAC is a mission-driven organization that serves residents across 17 states, with a portfolio of 100 properties comprising 17,000+ units.

SOURCE Lincoln Avenue Capital
"We are extremely grateful to be able to participate in the return of this year's event. We have some exciting new products and partnerships to showcase," said Brandon Bernstein, Director of Partnership Marketing. "We welcome the opportunity to engage with this year's attendees and stand among the businesses that drive the racing industry forward year after year."

The PRI Trade Show has served the motorsports industry as a hotspot for showcasing new trends, ideas and products since the launch in 1988. With over 1,100 companies exhibiting in more than 3,300 booths, Lucas Oil will be sure to stand out by bringing the best of the best when it comes to lubricants and additives.

The Lucas team will be on hand to showcase four newly developed products to the racing product line up, including:

Slick Mist Ceramic Speed Wax - a highly anticipated, professional-grade, paint sealant that serves as a durable protectant made for easy use and lasting results.

- a highly anticipated, professional-grade, paint sealant that serves as a durable protectant made for easy use and lasting results. Synthetic FL-0 Racing Engine Oil - a new exclusive blend that increases efficiency as a premium, low viscosity racing engine oil.

- a new exclusive blend that increases efficiency as a premium, low viscosity racing engine oil. SAE 20 Break-In Engine Oil - an exciting new blend designed to provide a quicker, more efficient piston ring seal and protect engine performance and life expectancy.

- an exciting new blend designed to provide a quicker, more efficient piston ring seal and protect engine performance and life expectancy. Semi-Synthetic Racing Automatic Transmission Fluid Type F - a heavy duty blend with shear thinning resistance and anti-wear inhibitors, designed to hold up under the heat and stress of racing applications.

About Lucas Oil

Founded in 1989 by Forrest and Charlotte Lucas, Lucas Oil Products was created with the simple philosophy of producing the best lubricants and additives available anywhere. Lucas Oil offers the most diversified range of innovative engine oil, gear oil and additive products refined by years of specialized research, development and testing. The company's high performance engine oils and gear oils are widely recognized as best-in-class in the automotive, powersports, marine, industrial, outdoor, and motorsports marketplaces. In total, Lucas Oil boasts more than 300 premium products, representing the largest variety of shelf products of any oil company in the United States with a distribution network across 48 different countries.

Lucas Oil's commitment to motorsports includes long standing support for high profile regional and national racing series, and the distribution of exclusive motorsports content from across the globe via MAVTV, a Lucas Oil owned and operated television network. The company also serves as the exclusive oil and lubricant partner of Monster Jam, The Dallas Cowboys, the Indianapolis Colts and Lucas Oil Stadium. For more information please visit www.LucasOil.com .

Contact: Lucas Oil Corporate Communications

310-374-6177

[email protected]

SOURCE Lucas Oil Products
MANHATTAN BEACH, Calif., Dec. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- A Los Angeles County jury awarded an ex Famous Dave's employee $345,000 in compensatory damages and $100,000 in punitive damages on Tuesday. During a two-week long trial, Ana Villasenor, a former hostess, and her coworkers testified about a work environment rife with abuse. The jury heard that Steven Butler, a manager at Famous Dave's, groped Ms. Villasenor's buttocks in the workplace, whispered crude comments in her ear, and suggested that she could obtain preferential shifts in exchange for sexual favors. When Ms. Villasenor complained to her managers, and even contacted the email address the company directed employees to use for such complaints, the company failed to take any action whatsoever, and the harassment continued.

"We are thrilled with today's verdict and this jury's message that companies must take complaints of sexual harassment seriously. We hope that this verdict will help Ana Villasenor begin the healing process after everything that this company put her through."

The case is Ana Villasenor vs SR Long Beach FD Inc et al, case number is BC658964, in Los Angeles Superior Court.

For further information, please contact Julia Wells ([email protected]).

SOURCE Matern Law Group
Kre8 is one of the most popular artists that Park West represents. His trademark explosions of colors against Surrealist backdrops have won him over 140,000 Instagram followers and legions of collectors around the world.

However, Kre8 did more than just break his record for most sold-out shows. During the online auction weekend, he also broke the record for the highest price ever paid for one of his paintings at auctionhis painting "Rooted in Power" sold for $65,000.

The painting was a work-in-progress by Kre8 and was not originally planned to be offered at the auction, but the artist agreed to make it available early to Park West collectors.

Amazingly, only a few hours later, Kre8 broke his own "highest price ever paid" record again when his diptych painting "Calculated Mayhem" sold for a staggering $95,000.

"Calculated Mayhem" was another late addition to the weekend's auction catalogit came directly from the artist's personal collection. Thanks to Park West's live-streaming platform, Auctioneer Cole Waters was actually able to sell the painting directly off the wall of Kre8's own living room in Miami.

"Kre8 is a true phenomenon," said Albert Scaglione, Founder and CEO of Park West Gallery. "Our collectors have embraced his unique talent with a true passion, and I know he'll continue shattering records as an artist throughout his career."

The live online auction weekend had several rounds of fierce competitive bidding, led by Auctioneers Cole Waters and Morris Shapiro, and over 200 works by Kre8 were sold during the event.

"It's always fantastic when an artist connects with an audience," said Waters. "There was an electricity that ran through the room when we brought Kre8's work up to the auction block last weekend, and we knew it was going to be something special."

Kre8 has become a fixture at Park West's land and sea events over the past years and the companywhich is the world's largest art dealeris looking forward to hosting the acclaimed artist at its in-person and online auctions well into the future.

Park West holds online art auctions every weekend, in addition to its popular auctions on cruise ships and at luxury vacation destinations around the globe. To participate in one of Park West's live-streaming art auction weekends, interested parties just need to fill out their online interest form and a personal concierge will get them scheduled for an upcoming weekend.

About Park West Gallery

Park West Gallery is the world's largest art dealer, bringing the experience of collecting fine art to more than 3 million customers since 1969. Whether it's masterpieces from history's greatest artists or the latest artwork from leading contemporary icons, Park West offers something for everyone through its accessible art exhibitions and auctions all over the world. You can learn more about Park West Gallery and its over 50-year history at http://www.parkwestgallery.com

Park West also hosts live-streaming online art auctions every weekend. To learn more about Park West's online collecting events, visit https://www.parkwestgallery.com/online/

You can learn more about the artist Kre8 here or visit his Instagram page here.

CONTACT: Tom Burns

[email protected]

SOURCE Park West Gallery
VANCOUVER, BC, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Mobilum Technologies Inc. ("Mobilum'' or the "Company'') (CSE: MBLM) (OTC: MBLMF) (FRA: C0B), a technology-driven company making traditional finance accessible through digital payment infrastructure and digital asset management technologies, is pleased to announce a corporate update on strategic initiatives.

Mobilum's interim CEO, Wojciech Kaszycki commented, "I am very pleased with the Company's focus in remaining steadfast on growing out our strategic initiatives, partnerships and product optimization, and pleased to share some of our recent efforts."

US Market Entrance

Mobilum continues to focus its efforts on leveraging its digital payments infrastructure with large partnerships and expects its transaction volume pipeline (TTV) to grow in the upcoming quarter. On December 1, 2021, Mobilum signed an agreement with leading fiat-to-crypto and payment infrastructure company Wyre to help accelerate the Company's US expansion. By integrating Wyre's API, Mobilum will gain access to Wyre's ACH payment rails and will have the ability to process automated clearing house (ACH) transactions for US clients on its on and off-ramping platform. The full integration with Wyre's banking rails is anticipated to be completed in the first quarter of 2022.

Launch of Updated Over the Counter (OTC) Crypto Trading Desk

On October 26, 2021, Mobilum announced the launch of its updated Over-the-Counter (OTC) trading desk website, which has generated approximately C$20 million in total transaction volume to date for the Company.

Mobilum's OTC trading desk is designed exclusively for high net-worth individuals and institutions looking to execute large-volume orders of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies for transactions above $50,000. Mobilum gives customers access to a deep liquidity pool, diverse selection of digital assets, and a highly personalized service that allows customers to trade high volumes with zero slippage and competitive rates.

Customer Onboarding

Mobilum is also pleased to announce that it has onboarded over 70,000 new users since signing a previously announced (October 19, 2021 press release) contract for services rendered for its on-ramp service offering. The Company anticipates onboarding up to 600,000 new users through the contract.

The Company expects to recognize up to an estimated C$1.9 million in revenue after the onboarding process has been completed, in addition to providing these customers value-add services within the Mobilum on and off ramp ecosystem.

Polygon Integration

On October 4, 2021, Mobilum announced an on and off-ramp integration with Polygon, one of the world's largest blockchain protocols and frameworks for building and connecting Ethereum-compatible blockchain networks. The solution is now available at https://polygon.mobilum.com.

Fiat-to-Crypto On-Ramp Service Integrations

The Company has recently seen a doubling of its user-base through executing on commercial contracts and onboarding of new partners & users. On December 6, 2021, the Company announced the successful integration and launch of its fiat-to-crypto on-ramp widget on the BTSE exchange and JoomAce platforms.

Strategic Leadership Changes

On October 1, 2021, Mobilum announced the beta test launch of its proprietary automated high-frequency trading multi-market engine to facilitate smart cryptocurrency trading. At the same time, the Company hired Piotr Majka as its Chief Trading Officer to oversee the engine and trading strategies. Majka is a results-oriented capital markets expert with over 20 years of experience in finance including 15 years as a senior executive for global and local banks. Majka was responsible for projects for the largest Polish mutual and pension funds and US and UK investment banks, including MSCO, ML, GS, CLSA, KBC, UBS. He was also one of the first in the industry to successfully introduce DMA and ALGO trading to institutional clients.

Since Majka joined the team, he has continued to play an instrumental role in building out the Company's algo trading platform including a market-making strategy. The Company is quickly seeing a lot of interest from strategic partners in leveraging this platform for its capabilities.

On December 3, 2021, Mobilum announced that Wojciech Kaszycki would be moving into the role of interim Chief Executive Officer. The Company also announced that Heidi Gutte had been appointed Chief Financial Officer. Ms. Gutte holds the professional designation of chartered professional accountant (CPA, CGA), and is a member of Chartered Professional Accountants of B.C. and Canada. She has had extensive experience as a controller and CFO of numerous publicly traded and private corporations in several industries.

About Mobilum Technologies Inc.

Mobilum Technologies Inc. (CSE:MBLM) (OTC:MBLMF) (FRA:C0B), a technology-driven Payment Service Provider (PSP) with a mission to make traditional finance accessible through digital payment infrastructure and digital asset management technologies. Our goal is to allow consumers around the world to convert fiat-to-crypto and crypto-to-fiat with Mobilum's on-ramp and off-ramp solutions. Mobilum also provides market making services leveraging the Company's proprietary algorithmic trading platform to increase liquidity for exchanges. Mobilum has offices in Canada, Hong Kong, Poland, and Estonia. For further information please visit Mobilum.com.

This news release may contain certain "Forward-Looking Statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities laws. When or if used in this news release, the words "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "target, "plan", "forecast", "may", "schedule" and similar words or expressions identify forward-looking statements or information. Such statements represent the Company's current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social risks, contingencies and uncertainties. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements or information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affecting such statements and information other than as required by applicable laws, rules and regulations.

Related Links

https://mobilum.com

https://polygon.mobilum.com

https://mobilum.com/otc/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-s6S_XKu6Y

SOURCE Mobilum Technologies Inc.
CHICAGO, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Mutare, Inc. (Mutare), a leading innovator of enterprise solutions that reimagine how businesses communicate, today announces a significant evolutionary step that advances the capabilities of their flagship voice network-enhancing solution, Mutare Voice Traffic Filter. Formerly known as the Mutare Voice Spam Filter, this break-through technology creates a barrier at the voice network edge, deflecting and deleting unwanted, nefarious and nuisance traffic (phone calls). By removing dangerous and disruptive calls before they infiltrate the network, organizations experience an immediate and ongoing positive impact, including reduced cybersecurity risk, improved network reliability, and increased workforce productivity. What's more, Customer Service and Support organizations, as well as Contact Centers utilizing the Mutare Voice Traffic Filter report improved customer experience (CX) and elevated overall customer satisfaction (CSAT).

Cybersecurity is broadly recognized as a critical business priority, and organizations in every industry across the globe are now directing significant investment in the people, policies and technology infrastructures charged with protecting and defending against an ever-evolving spectrum of threat vectors. The voice network, however, is widely under-protected. While there are effective cybersecurity applications designed to protect voice infrastructure hardware and software, most organizations have limited means to secure the actual voice traffic that traverses those same networks.

"The business, through the enterprise phone system, is quietly under continual attack," says Chuck French, Chief Growth Officer at Mutare. "Just about every day we talk to business executives, cybersecurity professionals and IT directors who are simply unaware of the problem and impact of unwanted voice traffic. Most cybersecurity measures for the voice channel are directed at technical infrastructure, while the calls going in and out of that infrastructure are almost completely unchecked! It is no surprise that the voice network has now become a favorite avenue for cybercriminal intrusions."

As the first enterprise voice applications developer to launch an enterprise-class solution to remove nefarious and nuisance call from business networks, Mutare continues to maintain a robust product roadmap which includes powerful additions and enhancements added to its Voice Traffic Filter solution. With the latest release (3.3  October 2021) the system integrates five layers of filtering protection, including the application of STIR/SHAKEN data analysis, a massive Proprietary Dynamic Database filter, Spoof Radar spoof storm detection, a fail-safe voice CAPTCHA, and a Custom Rules Engine which now includes the groundbreaking capability of removing unwanted/potentially damaging calls from both inbound and outbound call traffic. In essence, the Mutare Voice Traffic Filter is a 5-Layer Voice Traffic Firewall.

Unwanted voice traffic comes in ever-evolving forms, including robocalls, spoof calls, spam calls, direct nefarious calls, TDoS attacks, vishing, smishing, and social engineering. Mutare is serious about lifting the veil on the negative business impacts that unwanted traffic is inflicting on business operations, data security, and employee safety. To that end, Mutare has directed significant research and development towards a major upgrade to both the free and paid Voice Traffic Assessments. These detailed, custom reports are based on an analysis of the client/company's inbound call records plus, if opting for the paid Proof of Concept trial, on-site application of the full Voice Traffic Filter engine, to reveal how much of their voice traffic is comprised of unwanted calls and how that bad traffic is impacting the organization's cybersecurity risk, network reliability and workforce performance. Mutare has further elevated the value of their assessments by incorporating key indicators from the FAIR Institute's FAIR Model, an enterprise security framework.

"Unwanted voice traffic in the enterprise is a significant and costly problem that is getting worse by the day," says French. "Our clients recognize this potentially devastating threat. Armed with the Mutare Voice Traffic Filter, every organization can protect their business, their data, their people and, in the end, their institutional destiny."

About Mutare

For three decades, Mutare has been empowering organizations to re-imagine a better way to connect. Today, through our transformative digital voice and text messaging solutions, we make communications with colleagues, customers and prospects simple, secure and effective. And that means more time and less stress for your employees, a more positive experience for your customers, and improved bottom line results for your organization. Our forward-looking leadership team is made up of dedicated, focused and experienced people who care about transforming business communications and improving the lives of others. Ultimately, we are dedicated to making a difference for all our stakeholders  team members, customers, partners and communities. We are changemakers.

MEDIA CONTACT

Chuck French

Chief Growth Officer

847.496.9006

[email protected]

www.mutare.com

SOURCE Mutare, Inc.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The White House Historical Association released a new episode of the 1600 Sessions podcast today, "The History and Making of the Official White House Christmas Ornaments" which details the start and evolution of the Association's popular ornament program.

In this episode, Association President Stewart McLaurin speaks with Richard Rosvek, Trustee, Spirit of Liberty Foundation, who first suggested the creation of an ornament program to First Lady Nancy Reagan as a way to help fund restoration and acquisitions for the White House. The episode also features conversation with Dave Marquis and Kim Fyfe, President and Graphics Manager at ChemArt, the U.S. based veteran-founded company that has been the exclusive manufacturer of the Official White House Ornament since 1981.

Watch the full video of this podcast episode here.

Rosvek remembers the day he presented the ornament program to First Lady Nancy Reagan. "I said [to Mrs. Reagan], 'I think that the White House should have a Christmas ornament each year and it should be an official White House ornament.' And I'll never forget she looked at me and said, 'Richard, that's a really nice idea. Why don't you do that?'"

Ornament sales support the mission of the Association to preserve, protect, and provide access to the rich history of the Executive Mansion.

The 1600 Sessions is available on iTunes, Google Play, Spotify, and Stitcher.

The 1600 Sessions

In this podcast series, White House Historical Association President Stewart McLaurin interviews luminaries, historians, and eyewitnesses to history about America's most famous residence and officethe White House.

About The White House Historical Association

First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy envisioned a restored White House that conveyed a sense of history through its decorative and fine arts. In 1961, the White House Historical Association was established to support her vision to preserve and share the Executive Mansion's legacy for generations to come. Supported entirely by private resources, the Association's mission is to assist in the preservation of the state and public rooms, fund acquisitions for the White House permanent collection, and educate the public on the history of the White House. Since its founding, the White House Historical Association has contributed more than $50 million in fulfillment of its mission. To learn more about the White House Historical Association, please visit www.whitehousehistory.org .

SOURCE White House Historical Association
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., Dec. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission (NMPRC) rejected the agreement reached by parties in the merger application involving PNM Resources, Inc. (NYSE: PNM), its wholly-owned subsidiary Public Service Company of New Mexico (PNM) and AVANGRID, Inc.

The NMPRC voted 5-0 to reject the parties' agreements reached in the merger proceedings, following a 4-1 vote to deny a request for oral argument seeking to address concerns expressed by the NMPRC.

"I am disappointed the Commission didn't see the merits of the agreements reached by parties and also rejected our request to hear oral arguments. We put forth an agreement that would strengthen New Mexico's future as we partnered with a global company to meet the challenges of climate change while ensuring affordable and reliable service to PNM customers for years to come," said Pat Vincent-Collawn, PNM Resources' chairman, president and CEO. "We will review and evaluate the order. Meanwhile, we remain focused on managing our business, prioritizing our customers and delivering strong shareholder results."

Five federal agencies and the Public Utilities Commission of Texas had already completed their reviews and approved the proposed merger, leaving the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission as the only remaining approval necessary for the merger. The original application before the NMPRC was filed in November 2020.

Parties that were in support of the amended stipulated agreement included: the Attorney General of the State of New Mexico, Western Resource Advocates, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 611, Dine Citizens Against Ruining Our Environment, Nava Education Project, San Juan Citizens Alliance, To Nizhoni Ani, the Coalition for Clean Affordable Energy, Interwest Energy Alliance, Walmart, Inc., Onward Energy Holdings, LLC, M-S-R Power and Los Alamos County.

Additional materials pertaining to the NMPRC application for the merger are available at https://www.pnmresources.com/investors/rates-and-filings.aspx.

Background:

PNM Resources (NYSE: PNM) is an energy holding company based in Albuquerque, N.M., with 2020 consolidated operating revenues of $1.5 billion. Through its regulated utilities, PNM and TNMP, PNM Resources provides electricity to approximately 800,000 homes and businesses in New Mexico and Texas. PNM serves its customers with a diverse mix of generation and purchased power resources totaling 3.1 gigawatts of capacity, with a goal to achieve 100% emissions-free energy by 2040. For more information, visit the company's website at www.PNMResources.com.

CONTACTS:

Analysts Media

Lisa Goodman Ray Sandoval

(505) 241-2160 (505) 241-2782

Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995

Statements made in this news release for PNM Resources, Inc. ("PNMR"), Public Service Company of New Mexico ("PNM"), or Texas-New Mexico Power Company ("TNMP") (collectively, the "Company") that relate to future events or expectations, projections, estimates, intentions, goals, targets, and strategies are made pursuant to the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Readers are cautioned that all forward-looking statements are based upon current expectations and estimates. PNMR, PNM, and TNMP assume no obligation to update this information. Because actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements, PNMR, PNM, and TNMP caution readers not to place undue reliance on these statements. PNMR's, PNM's, and TNMP's business, financial condition, cash flow, and operating results are influenced by many factors, which are often beyond their control, that can cause actual results to differ from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Additionally, there are risks and uncertainties in connection with the proposed acquisition of us by AVANGRID which may adversely affect our business, future opportunities, employees and common stock, including without limitation, (i) the expected timing and likelihood of completion of the pending Merger, including the timing, receipt and terms and conditions of any required governmental and regulatory approvals of the pending Merger that could reduce anticipated benefits or cause the parties to abandon the transaction, (ii) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the Merger Agreement, (iii) the risk that the parties may not be able to satisfy the conditions to the proposed Merger in a timely manner or at all, and (iv) the risk that the proposed transaction could have an adverse effect on the ability of PNMR to retain and hire key personnel and maintain relationships with its customers and suppliers, and on its operating results and businesses generally. For a discussion of risk factors and other important factors affecting forward-looking statements, please see the Company's Form 10-K, Form 10-Q filings and the information included in the Company's Forms 8-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which factors are specifically incorporated by reference herein.

SOURCE PNM Resources, Inc.
The Thermo Scientific QuEChERS product line provides an easy-to-use, sample preparation workflow, with sample extraction and cleanup kits that allow for comprehensive pesticide residues extraction to produce cleaner extracts for chromatographic analysis. With pre-weighed, high-quality salts and sorbents, specifically designed to eliminate salt clumping during sample preparation, laboratories will achieve reliable and reproducible results, allowing them to meet regulatory food safety requirements. The collection includes 48 new products for Original, Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC) and European methods and are available in convenient pouches or prefilled tubes, giving users a wide range of choice to find the sample preparation solutions to best suit their needs.

"Regulatory requirements for food safety analysis are becoming more and more stringent. The new QuEChERS collection provides a comprehensive sample preparation workflow that give laboratories confidence that their analysis is reliable and repeatable, and will ensure foodstuffs meet the safety regulations," said Ken Meadows, global product manager, sample preparation products, Thermo Fisher Scientific.

The Thermo Scientific QuEChERS line provides a high level of versatility in a cost-effective manner and can be utilized across various applications within the food safety space, including pesticide residues analysis, veterinary drugs analysis and mycotoxins analyses. Effective sample preparation is crucial in producing reliable results from liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis, and the QuEChERS portfolio supports the safeguarding of consumer health from potential contaminants.

To find out more about the QuEChERS portfolio and product line, please visit: www.thermofisher.com/QuEChERS

About Thermo Fisher Scientific

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. is the world leader in serving science, with annual revenue of approximately $40 billion. Our Mission is to enable our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer. Whether our customers are accelerating life sciences research, solving complex analytical challenges, increasing productivity in their laboratories, improving patient health through diagnostics or the development and manufacture of life-changing therapies, we are here to support them. Our global team of more than 100,000 colleagues delivers an unrivaled combination of innovative technologies, purchasing convenience and pharmaceutical services through our industry-leading brands, including Thermo Scientific, Applied Biosystems, Invitrogen, Fisher Scientific, Unity Lab Services, Patheon and PPD. For more information, please visit www.thermofisher.com.

Media Contact Information:

Laura Bright

Thermo Fisher Scientific

+1 562-335-8318

[email protected]



Janice Foley

BioStrata

+1 617-823-5555

[email protected]

SOURCE Thermo Fisher Scientific
With over three-quarters (78%) of global travelers placing high-quality service above all else when booking a hotel, voco hotels announces turn up service to cater to guests needs and expectations.

To understand the new travel normal and reevaluate traveler's desires, IHG Hotels & Resorts' voco hotels conducted a global survey to uncover what consumers returning to travel really want from their hotel experience, which found that nine in 10 respondents rank great service as most important to them when staying at a hotel. The study shows that cleanliness and other basic needs rank highly, but people also care a great deal about how they are approached during their stay and want to ensure they feel comfortable  both physically and in themselves. Travelers are also ready to reconnect post-pandemic, with six out of 10 craving connection, interaction, and/or conversation more during their travels, compared to pre-pandemic.

Now more than ever, personable service is top priority. As the travel landscape evolves, service is key to meet guest expectations. 65% of travelers think hotel staff should act in a friendly manner towards guests and half say they want to be able to talk to staff and vice versa in a friendly, conversational manner, rather than one that's overly formal or personal. Furthermore, nearly half (48%) of travelers agree that a friendly, approachable, and personalized experience is more important than ever following the pandemic. This is why you won't just find front desk staff or sales managers at voco hotels; all staff members are attentive voco hosts dedicated to anticipating guest needs throughout their stay. From offering a local welcome treat upon arrival to curating tailored itineraries based on the guests' interests, this hosted service style brings a truly personalized approach to service and makes each visitor's stay uniquely their own.

Travelers crave unexpected service offerings. While travelers expect their basic hotel needs to be covered, guests also want unexpected offerings that go above and beyond. One in three (33%) wish more hotels offered late night comfort food, 29% wish for enhanced bathroom amenities for more me time, and another 29% would like in-room afternoon tea or happy hour delivered directly to their room. Additionally, roughly a quarter (26%) would enjoy a personalized welcome package or the option to have breakfast in bed. Traveler's desires also vary per location. For instance, late night comfort food topped the list of desired service offerings in the UAE, while travelers in the US wished they could request their favorite cocktail or dessert in advance so hosts can offer it without guests asking.

Informed by the global survey data, voco hotels will roll out turn up service across select markets to offer guests a series of new, localized initiatives and offerings to give travelers more of what they really want from a hotel experience. The new concept is a playful twist on the typical 'turn down' service designed to 'turn up' voco's hosted service style at select hotels around the world. Building upon the brand's philosophy of distinctive, hosted service, the enhanced service offerings will deliver unexpected, bookable offerings to guests, such as turn up service rooms in the United Kingdom, high tea all day in Dubai and brunch after dark soirees in the United States. Guests will be invited to come on in and enjoy unexpected offerings and services to fully experience voco life.

Will Yell, VP Luxury and Upscale Conversion and Affiliate Brands at IHG Hotels & Resorts, said: "Just like travel has changed, consumers expectations have too. With nearly half of travelers stating they want to be valued as an individual, a one-size-fits-all approach to hotel service no longer resonates with travelers. And while service is one of the most important elements that makes voco hotels so unique, we're also known for doing things a little bit differently. So rather than turning down beds, we're turning up our hosted service to enhance our guest's stays and deliver unexpected, localized offerings that meet the needs of today's travelers."

Breaking the mold of traditional hotels, voco combines familiar comforts with unexpected touches to create a stay that is reliable, yet different. The result is an unstuffy, laid-back hotel experience that is full of charm, personality, and individualized spirit. Backed by the power of IHG Hotels & Resorts, voco combines the reassurance and perks of a big hotel brand with the informality and charm of an individual hotel. The brand's international footprint spans Australia, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States and beyond with more than 23 locations open worldwide, and 33 in the pipeline to open in the next few years. Launched in 2018, the brand has become IHG's fastest ever global expansion and is well-loved across the globe.

To learn more about voco hotels, visit https://www.ihg.com/voco/content/us/en/support/hotels#scmisc=nav_hotels_undefined

About OnePoll: OnePoll surveyed 5,000 respondents from 11th to 18th November 2021, composed of 2,000 respondents from the UK and 1,000 respondents each from the US, Australia, and the UAE. The surveys were conducted online using panel members who are credited to participate in surveys. Respondents who have stayed in a hotel within the past 3 years and/or plan to stay in a hotel within the next year were targeted using both personal profile data and screening questions in order to ensure the correct demographic was achieved.

About voco hotels: voco hotels combines the reassurance of a big brand with the informality and charm of an individual hotel, providing guests with a dependably premium experience. The name voco, originating from Latin, means 'to invite' and 'call together,' representing the brand's thoughtful, unstuffy and charming nature. voco's reliably different hotels combine individualized service and high-quality touches, from indulgent amenities to big, comfy beds. Guests will always get a warm welcome during a swift check in, a comfy room perfect for unwinding and relaxing, and vibrant bar and restaurant spaces that provide plenty of opportunity to connect and socialize. For more information and to book, visit www.vocohotels.com, and stay connected with us on Facebook and Instagram.

SOURCE IHG Hotels & Resorts
Now, researchers at Gladstone Institutes have developed a new technology that lets them track thousands of cells at a time and determine the precise moment of death for any cell in the group. The team showed, in a paper published in the journal Nature Communications , that the approach works in rodent and human cells as well as within live zebrafish, and can be used to follow the cells over a period of weeks to months.

"Getting a precise time of death is very important for unraveling cause and effect in neurodegenerative diseases," says Steve Finkbeiner, MD, PhD, director of the Center for Systems and Therapeutics at Gladstone and senior author of both new studies. "It lets us figure out which factors are directly causing cell death, which are incidental, and which might be coping mechanisms that delay death."

In a companion paper published in the journal Science Advances, the researchers combined the cell sensor technology with a machine learning approach, teaching a computer how to distinguish live and dead cells 100 times faster and more accurately than a human.

"It took college students months to analyze these kind of data by hand, and our new system is nearly instantaneousit actually runs faster than we can acquire new images on the microscope," says Jeremy Linsley, PhD, a scientific program leader in Finkbeiner's lab and the first author of both new papers.

Teaching an Old Sensor New Tricks

When cells diewhatever the cause or mechanismthey eventually become fragmented and their membranes degenerate. But this degradation process takes time, making it difficult for scientists to distinguish between cells that have long since stopped functioning, those that are sick and dying, and those that are healthy.

Researchers typically use fluorescent tags or dyes to follow diseased cells with a microscope over time and try to diagnose where they are within this degradation process. Many indicator dyes, stains, and labels have been developed to distinguish the already dead cells from those that are still alive, but they often only work over short periods of time before fading and can also be toxic to the cells when they are applied.

"We really wanted an indicator that lasts for a cell's whole lifetimenot just a few hoursand then gives a clear signal only after the specific moment the cell dies," says Linsley.

Linsley, Finkbeiner, and their colleagues co-opted calcium sensors, originally designed to track levels of calcium inside a cell. As a cell dies and its membranes become leaky, one side effect is that calcium rushes into the cell's watery cytosol, which normally has relatively low levels of calcium.

So, Linsley engineered the calcium sensors to reside in the cytosol, where they would fluoresce only when calcium levels increased to a level that indicates cell death. The new sensors, known as genetically encoded death indicator (GEDI, pronounced like Jedi in Star Wars), could be inserted into any type of cell and signal that the cell is alive or dead over the cell's entire lifetime.

To test the utility of the redesigned sensors, the group placed large groups of neuronseach containing GEDIunder the microscope. After visualizing more than a million cells, in some cases prone to neurodegeneration and in others exposed to toxic compounds, the researchers found that the GEDI sensor was far more accurate than other cell death indicators: there wasn't a single case where the sensor was activated and a cell remained alive. Moreover, in addition to that accuracy, GEDI also seemed to detect cell death at an earlier stage than previous methodsclose to the "point of no return" for cell death.

"This allows you to separate live and dead cells in a way that's never been possible before," says Linsley.

Superhuman Death Detection

Linsley mentioned GEDI to his brotherDrew Linsley, PhD, an assistant professor at Brown University who specializes in applying artificial intelligence to large-scale biological data. His brother suggested that the researchers use the sensor, coupled with a machine learning approach, to teach a computer system to recognize live and dead brain cells based only on the form of the cell.

The team coupled results from the new sensor with standard fluorescence data on the same neurons, and they taught a computer model, called BO-CNN, to recognize the typical fluorescence patterns associated with what dying cells look like. The model, the Linsley brothers showed, was 96 percent accurate and better than what human observers can do, and was more than 100 times faster than previous methods of differentiating live and dead cells.

"For some cell types, it's extremely difficult for a person to pick up on whether a cell is alive or deadbut our computer model, by learning from GEDI, was able to differentiate them based on parts of the images we had not previously known were helpful in distinguishing live and dead cells," says Jeremy Linsley.

Both GEDI and BO-CNN will now allow the researchers to carry out new, high-throughput studies to discover when and where brain cells diea very important endpoint for some of the most important diseases. They can also screen drugs for their ability to delay or avoid cell death in neurodegenerative diseases. Or, in the case of cancer, they can search for drugs that hasten the death of diseased cells.

"These technologies are game changers in our ability to understand where, when, and why death occurs in cells," says Finkbeiner. "For the first time, we can truly harness the speed and scale provided by advances in robot-assisted microscopy to more accurately detect cell death, and do so well in advance of the moment of death. We hope this can lead to more specific therapeutics for many neurodegenerative diseases that have been so far uncurable."

About the Studies

The paper "Genetically encoded cell-death indicators (GEDI) to detect an early irreversible commitment to neurodegeneration" was published by the journal Nature Communications on September 6, 2021. Other authors are Kevan Shah, Nicholas Castello, Michelle Chan, Dominic Haddad, Jay Mancini, Viral Oza, Shijie Wang, and Ashkan Javaherian of Gladstone; and David Kokel of UC San Francisco. The work at Gladstone was supported by the National Institutes of Health (U54 NS191046, R37 NS101996, RF1 AG058476, RF1 AG056151, RF1 AG058447, P01 AG054407, U01 MH115747), the National Library of Medicine (R01 LM013617), the Koret Foundation, the Taube/Koret Center for Neurodegenerative Research, and the National Center for Research Resources (RR18928).

The paper "Superhuman cell death detection with biomarker-optimized neural networks" was published by the journal Science Advances on December 8, 2021. Other authors are Josh Lamstein, Gennadi Ryan, Kevan Shah, Nicholas Castello, Viral Oza, Jaslin Kaira, Shijie Wang, Zachary Tokuno, and Ashkan Javaherian of Gladstone; and Drew Linsley and Thomas Serre of Brown University. The work at Gladstone was supported by the National Institutes of Health (U54 NS191046, R37 NS101996, RF1 AG058476, RF1 AG056151, RF1 AG058447, P01 AG054407, U01 MH115747), the National Library of Medicine (R01 LM013617), the Koret Foundation, the Taube/Koret Center for Neurodegenerative Research, the National Center for Research Resources (RR18928), the Target ALS Foundation, the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Association Neuro Collaborative, Mike Frumkin, and the Department of Defense (W81XWH-13-ALSRP-TIA).

About Gladstone Institutes

To ensure our work does the greatest good, Gladstone Institutes focuses on conditions with profound medical, economic, and social impactunsolved diseases. Gladstone is an independent, nonprofit life science research organization that uses visionary science and technology to overcome disease. It has an academic affiliation with the University of California, San Francisco.

Media Contact:

Julie Langelier

Associate Director

Communications

[email protected]

415.734.5000

SOURCE Gladstone Institutes
- The Two-Part Episode, Showcasing the Best Way to Discover the Last Frontier with NCL, Is Now Streaming On-Demand at www.ncl.com/embark -

Norwegian Cruise Lines new EMBARK episode, Adventure Alaska, invites viewers to discover the best way to experience Alaska as it follows two travelers who journey to the destination for the very first time. The two-part episode highlights the adventures, local people and rich culture guests can expect to experience when cruising Alaska with NCL. The new episode is now available on demand at www.ncl.com/embark Norwegian Cruise Lines new EMBARK episode, Adventure Alaska, invites viewers to discover the best way to experience Alaska as it follows two travelers who journey to the destination for the very first time. The two-part episode highlights the adventures, local people and rich culture guests can expect to experience when cruising Alaska with NCL. The new episode is now available on demand at www.ncl.com/embark Norwegian Cruise Line will offer a selection of five-to-16-day voyages to Alaska during the summer of 2022 across five vessels, including Norwegian Encore, the companys newest and most innovative ship. Norwegian Cruise Line will offer a selection of five-to-16-day voyages to Alaska during the summer of 2022, where guests can take in the mesmerizing views of the Last Frontier. From guaranteed glacier viewings to world-class amenities, travelers can discover the best way to experience Alaska with Norwegian Cruise Line. Adventure travelers can explore Alaska with Norwegian Cruise Lines selection of thrilling glacier tours. In the new two-part EMBARK episode, Adventure Alaska, two Norwegian Cruise Line shoreside team members, adventure to new heights and soar up to Mendenhall Glacier by helicopter for a once-in-a-lifetime trek atop the 13.6 mile-long glacier. The episode provides viewers the chance to discover the best way to experience Alaska with NCL. Norwegian Cruise Line offers guests a wide selection of shore excursions to discover the best way to experience Alaskas wilderness.

MIAMI, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), the innovator in global cruise travel with a 55-year history of breaking boundaries, today released "Adventure Alaska," the next episode of its "EMBARK with NCL" storytelling series designed to highlight the people, places and passion behind the brand. The two-part episode, which invites travelers to discover the best way to experience Alaska with NCL, is now available on-demand at www.ncl.com/embark.

Experience the interactive Multichannel News Release here: https://www.multivu.com/players/English/88322511-norwegian-cruise-line-new-embark-episode-adventure-alaska/

In this episode, viewers follow along two members of NCL's shoreside team, Andrea and Jayne, as they travel to the destination for the very first time to learn first-hand the experiences guests can expect when cruising Alaska with NCL. Their journey takes them from the Inside Passage, where five of the Company's ships will offer a selection of five-to-16-day itineraries during the summer of 2022, to the interior of Alaska to understand NCL's Cruise Tour experience, which combines ocean voyages with shoreside adventures.

"Alaska is a bucket-list destination for so many travelers," said Harry Sommer, president and chief executive officer of Norwegian Cruise Line. "It provides endless opportunities for adventure, wildlife encounters and awe-inspiring moments. While it is important for us to deliver these incredible experiences to our guests, it is also important to support and enrich these communities that rely on our presence each summer for their well-being. It's a partnership that we value tremendously and have demonstrated through sustainable developments and programs across the region."

The episode includes visits to Skagway, Anchorage and Denali, Alaska, as well as the port cities where the brand's parent company, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, Ltd. (NCLH), has made significant investments to the local communities, including Juneau, Icy Strait Point and Ketchikan, Alaska.

As the ladies are guided through downtown Juneau and immersed in the local culture, art and flavors, a team of NCLH executives visit the area to discuss their plans to transform the last waterfront parcel to benefit the local community.

While in Icy Strait Point, Andrea and Jayne, tour the authentic Alaska destination, which boasts 23,040 acres of private beach and temperate rain forest, as well as endless wildlife viewing opportunities. They explore the new Wilderness Landing, which was built in partnership between NCLH and the Huna Totem Corporation, the village corporation owned by approximately 1,400 Alaska Native shareholders with aboriginal ties to Hoonah and the Glacier Bay area. The new guest experience includes a debuting pier and a Transporter Gondola system built to support a vehicle-free zone. While touring the island, they encounter a family of coastal brown bears from the most accessible viewing platform in Southeast Alaska; and no trip to Icy Strait Point would be complete without visiting the mile-long ZipRider, the world's largest zip line.

In Ketchikan, Alaska, they tour the Mill at Ward Cove, a new sustainable development project converting an Environmental Protection Agency designated superfund cleanup site to a sustainable, environmentally friendly and entertaining destination for the community and visitors. The collaborative project between NCLH and the Ward Cove Dock Group, LLC was recently recognized by the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation for its joint sustainability efforts. The new site opens up more areas of exploration for guests, including easier access to the Tongass National Forest, the nation's largest national forest.

No Alaska voyage would be complete without a glacier experience, so Andrea and Jayne adventure to new heights and soar up to Mendenhall Glacier by helicopter for a once-in-a-lifetime trek atop the 13.6-mile-long glacier. From trains to planes, the trip continues with a ride aboard the glass-dome Wilderness Express Railway, offering panoramic views as the ladies journey to Alaska's interior to visit the six million-acre-Denali National Park and Preserve. Rising up to an elevation of 20,310 feet above sea level, Andrea and Jayne fly up to the summit of Mount Denali, the highest mountain peak in North America.

Viewers can follow the complete exploration of the destination and more EMBARK episodes on-demand at www.ncl.com/embark.

Norwegian Cruise Line offers the best way to experience Alaska with a variety of five-to-16-day port-rich itineraries to explore the pristine beauty and wilderness of Alaska. Guests can choose from smaller vessels such as Norwegian Jewel, Sun and the newly reimagined Norwegian Spirit for a more intimate onboard experience, or can embark aboard the brand's newest ships, including Norwegian Encore and Bliss, which were designed to bring the outside in, with expansive observation lounges and outdoor promenades. All itineraries include opportunities to witness the area's impressive glaciers, from Hubbard Glacier to Endicott Arm and Dawes Glacier, or Glacier Bay National Park.

To learn more about the Company's Alaska itineraries and to take advantage of latest offers, visit www.ncl.com.

For more information about the Company's award-winning 17-ship fleet and worldwide itineraries, or to book a cruise, please contact a travel professional, call 888-NCL-CRUISE (625-2784) or visit www.ncl.com.

SOURCE Norwegian Cruise Line
PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- ObservSMART, a patient safety compliance system, announced today that Day Kimball Hospital in Putnam, Connecticut, has begun using its technology to ensure patient safety with validated observation compliance. ObservSMART is an innovative product from InvisAlert Solutions, which develops solutions to improve patient safety and quality of care for high-risk patient populations.

"We have made a commitment to patient safety, and ObservSMART will help our staff to manage patient observations better and ensure that our patients are safe," said Kyle Kramer, Chief Executive Officer, Day Kimball Healthcare. "It also gives us better transparency with their robust reporting and customer success program, helping us drive best practice and evaluate performance, adding another dimension to our ability to care for our patient population."

Designed by and specifically for behavioral health and substance recovery workflows, for patients in need of consistent monitoring, ObservSMART is a proximity-based system that syncs a patented, tamper-resistant wristband with a tablet to validate observations. The staff member needs to be within a certain proximity to the patient in order to complete their patient check. The ObservSMART App also provides real-time staff reminders to check on their patients. Leadership and other supervisors receive alerts for missed observations and additional safety concerns, allowing them to intervene in real-time, mitigating the potential of risk.

"We're looking forward to working in partnership with Day Kimball Hospital to improve patient safety, staff communication, and accountability, providing the highest quality of care to their patients," said Christopher Dunn, Senior Vice President with InvisAlert Solutions. "Our technology will complement the excellent standards of care already in place at Day Kimball Hospital and will help them in their quest to assist those suffering from behavioral health challenges."

For more information about ObservSMART, visit https://www.observsmart.com/.

ObservSmart Deploys Patient Safety Technology at Day Kimball Hospital  Page 2

About InvisAlert Solutions, Inc.

InvisAlert Solutions, Inc. was founded by two women determined to find better ways to improve patient safety. A pioneer in developing healthcare products that enhance patient care and quality, InvisAlert Solutions leverages technology, people, and processes to solve critical problems in high-risk healthcare settings. Its innovative tools are designed to meet the demanding requirements of complex workflows, the essential needs of communication, and safety compliance. For more information about InvisAlert Solutions, visit www.invisalertsolutions.com.

About ObservSMART

ObservSMART is InvisAlert Solutions' patient safety compliance tool that ensures patient safety by validating and documenting patient safety checks. Its proximity-based system ensures that patients are observed at the required interval, meeting the standard of care for behavioral health, substance recovery, and vulnerable patients. ObservSMART patient-check system delivers reliable compliance and reduces risk, errors, and costs related to sentinel and non-sentinel events. For more information, visit http://www.observsmart.com/.

About Day Kimball Healthcare

Day Kimball Healthcare is a nonprofit community healthcare system composed of Day Kimball Hospital, Day Kimball Medical Group, Day Kimball Healthcare at Home, and healthcare centers in Danielson, Dayville, Plainfield, and Putnam. Its service area includes Northeast Connecticut as well as nearby Massachusetts and Rhode Island communities. Day Kimball Healthcare's comprehensive network employs more than 1,000 staff including nearly 300 associated, highly skilled physicians, surgeons and specialists. Its website is daykimball.org.

Contact:

Laura Frnka-Davis, APR

LFD Communications for InvisAlert Solutions Inc.

346-388-3797 office

713-409-1480 cell

[email protected]

SOURCE ObservSMART
SHANGHAI, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- OneConnect Financial Technology Co., Ltd. (NYSE: OCFT) ("OneConnect"), a key driver of fintech strategy for associate Ping An Insurance Group of China ("Ping An"), has helped the group to top the list of the World's Top Ten Fintech Companies in 2021 in Patent Quality, followed by Ant Group and Alibaba.

The list recently announced by 01Caijing Research Institute, one of China's leading research organizations, showcases innovation across the global fintech sector by way of an analysis of the status and the quality of patent applications. 01Caijing also used OneConnect as a case study when compiling the list, in which the research organization conducted an in-depth analysis of OneConnect's achievements in the intellectual property (IP) sector.

The ranking also demonstrates the degree to which Ping An attaches importance to the research and development (R&D) of key technologies and the gathering of independent IP rights while at the same time furthering the implementation of its fintech and financial ecology roadmap by enhancing its technological capabilities through ongoing R&D investment and ensuring the widespread application of its technologies across the financial sector.

OneConnect, a key driver of Ping An's fintech strategy, quickly adopted the group's overall approach to patent acquisition and management by placing a high value on IP applications and protection since day one.

OneConnect's Technology Capability

As of September 30, 2021, OneConnect had filed 5,229 applications worldwide, of which 3,929 had been filed in China and 1,300 filed in other countries and regions, covering a targeted group of high-tech sectors, among them artificial intelligence, blockchain, big data, cloud computing and information security.

The applications focused on three fields: banking technology (35.89%), asset management technology (25.12%) and insurance technology (12.71%), reflecting the firm's ongoing commitment to product upgrades through independent innovation.

Through the application of multiple advanced technologies, including emotion detection and machine reading, OneConnect has built an intelligent calling system that features a rich script library, intelligent response, real voice and flexible configuration by enabling intelligent voice interactions that address business challenges facing banks across diversified calling scenarios.

To date, applications have been developed that address seven in-demand business scenarios, including deposit-based wealth management, loan customer acquisition, credit card marketing, payment by installment plans for credit cardholders, follow-up surveys and payment alerts. With this solution, a joint-stock bank upgraded to a smart solution for handling its credit card customer service, effectively shortening the average call duration of its customer service representatives by way of a semantic recognition application with close to 85 per cent accuracy and the ability to handle more than a half a million calls per month.

A Digital Ecosystem

OneConnect has been committed to building a digital ecosystem comprised of government agencies, regulators and companies in addition to empowering digital transformation for financial institutions. The firm formed strategic partnerships whereby the company assists partners in enhancing their regulatory technology intelligence by providing them with advanced technology solutions. Additionally, with extensive experience in digital transformation, the company has deepened its commitment to financial infrastructure by implementing multiple major projects under the aegis of several regulators and government agencies globally.

OneConnect has been expanding into international markets in a move to increase its visibility globally while focusing on serving Chinese domestic financial institutions. To date, the firm has delivered its "created-in-China" technology solutions to over 100 financial institutions in 20 countries and regions, the majority of which are located in Southeast Asia.

OneConnect plans to continue strengthening technological innovation and IP protection while improving its R&D capabilities in technology, with the aim of providing users with higher quality products and services.

SOURCE OneConnect
ATLANTA, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- OneTrust, the category-defining enterprise platform to operationalize trust, today announced it has been named a leader in The Forrester Wave: Privacy Management Software, Q4 2021. According to the report, "OneTrust sustains its ambition to become the 'home of the privacy tech ecosystem' with a sophisticated vision of becoming the platform of trust and a strong innovation roadmap."

Download the report: The Forrester Wave: Privacy Management Software, Q4 2021

The report is based on a 30-criterion evaluation and analyzed 12 of the most significant vendors in the market and OneTrust scored the highest in the strategy and market presence categories. The report states, "When most vendors refer to the same competitor to describe their position in the market, you know that competitor is shaping that market. In the privacy management software market, that vendor is OneTrust."

The report states, "OneTrust's innovation strategy benefits from an unparalleled network effect. A stream of acquisitions over the past 18 months adds depth to the offering. Reference customers report enjoying the continuous, rich enhancements delivered on a consistent release schedule."

"We believe OneTrust's placement as a leader in this report showcases our investment in building the category-defining enterprise platform of trust," said Kabir Barday, Chief Executive Officer, OneTrust. "We are honored to be named a leader in privacy management software and remain committed to bringing together privacy, data governance, ESG, ethics and compliance, and security into a centralized platform of trust that achieves measurable business outcomes."

In a market that is rapidly growing, OneTrust continues to expand its leading privacy functionalities to unify teams, and transform compliance initiatives, into make trust a competitive advantage.

To learn more, download The Forrester Wave: Privacy Management Software, Q4 2021. For additional information or to request a demo, visit OneTrust.com.

OneTrust is a registered trademarks or trademarks of OneTrust LLC or its subsidiaries in the United States and other jurisdictions.

About OneTrust

OneTrust is the category-defining enterprise platform to operationalize trust. More than 10,000 customers, including half of the Fortune Global 500, use OneTrust to make trust a competitive differentiator, implementing central agile workflows across privacy, security, data governance, GRC, third-party risk, ethics and compliance, and ESG programs.

The OneTrust platform is backed by 150 patents and powered by the OneTrust Athena AI and robotic automation engine, and capabilities include:

OneTrust Privacy - Privacy Management Software

OneTrust DataDiscovery - AI-Powered Discovery and Classification

OneTrust DataGovernance - Data Intelligence Software

OneTrust Vendorpedia - Third-Party Risk Exchange

OneTrust GRC - Integrated Risk Management Software

OneTrust Ethics - Ethics and Compliance Software

OneTrust PreferenceChoice - Consent and Preference Management Software

OneTrust ESG  Environmental, Social & Governance Software

In 2020, OneTrust was named the #1 fastest-growing company in America on the Inc. 500 with a 48,000% three-year growth rate. According to the IDC Worldwide Data Privacy Management Software Market Shares Report, 2020, "OneTrust is leading the market outright and showing no signs of slowing down or stopping."

OneTrust has raised a total of $920 million in funding at a $5.3 billion valuation from Insight Partners, Coatue, TCV, SoftBank Vision Fund 2, and Franklin Templeton. OneTrust's fast-growing team of 2,000 employees is co-headquartered in Atlanta and London with additional offices in Bangalore, Melbourne, Denver, Seattle, San Francisco, New York, Sao Paulo, Munich, Paris, Hong Kong, and Bangkok.

To learn more, visit OneTrust.com or connect on LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.

Media Contact

Kathryn Thompson

770-294-4668

[email protected]

SOURCE OneTrust
NEW YORK, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- OpenWeb, the premium audience relationship platform , today announced an integral partnership with NewsGuard , a service that provides human-curated reliability ratings for more than 7,000 news and information websites.

Building on its partnership announced earlier this year with Global Disinformation Index (GDI), OpenWeb will leverage NewsGuard's expertise and technology to sharpen its ability to enforce journalistic standards across its network of more than 1,000 publishers. This partnership comes on the heels of OpenWeb's successful Series E fundraising round. The company will use this new investment doubled down on its commitment to improve online conversation.

"Through our partnership with NewsGuard we are further committing to improving our ability to identify and combat misinformation in our network and among prospective partners," said Roee Goldberg, COO and Co-Founder of OpenWeb. "NewsGuard's tech and partnerships adds a valuable layer of expertise to the enforcement of our publisher standards, and to our mission to create safer environments for readers online by improving online conversations."

NewsGuard's team of trained journalists use a completely transparent process to rate all of the websites that account for 95% of online engagement with news in the U.S., U.K., France, Germany, and Italy. Each site is rated using nine apolitical criteria of journalistic practice, designed to assess the site's credibility and transparency practices. Based on the nine criteria, sites receive a score zero to 100. Those scoring below 60 get a Red rating  indicating the site is generally unreliable. Those scoring 60 or above get a Green rating  indicating the site is generally reliable. The rating is described in a detailed "Nutrition Label" review, providing transparency to readers and publishers around how each rating was determined. In addition, all sites get ample opportunity to comment on their ratings before they are published.

NewsGuard works with advertisers, agencies, and ad tech companies to help them steer ad dollars away from sites spreading false narratives and instead direct their ads to trustworthy news sites. As NewsGuard has previously reported, major brands regularly and inadvertently place ads on misinformation websites, creating a reputation risk for the brands and a financial boon for the hoax websites. A recent NewsGuard report, published in partnership with Comscore found that advertisers are unintentionally spending $2.6 billion a year on programmatic advertising on misinformation and hoax sites, helping to explain the scale of the "infodemic." For example, more than 4,000 top brands placed ads on sites spreading COVID-19 hoaxes, and more than 1,600 brands advertised on sites that published falsehoods about the 2020 U.S. elections.

"We are glad to welcome OpenWeb as the newest member of NewsGuard's responsible advertiser partner network," said Sarah Brandt, EVP Partnerships at NewsGuard. "While the ad industry has a long way to go to defund the online misinformation ecosystem, we're encouraged to see companies like OpenWeb taking the initiative to stamp out misinformation on their platforms and elevate high quality news publishers."

This is the most recent initiative from OpenWeb, as it ramps up work to ensure it is working with publishers that align with its values. In August, OpenWeb announced it had eliminated 50 total publisher partner domains that did not meet the company's updated publisher and moderation standards through its partnership with GDI , a trusted third-party that aims to disrupt, defund, and down-rank disinformation sites.

To learn more, visit OpenWeb's blog .

About OpenWeb

OpenWeb's mission is to improve online conversation. As a product company, OpenWeb partners with publishers and brands to build strong, direct relationships with their audiences. OpenWeb's technology empowers its partners to build vibrant communities rooted in healthy conversations and robust social experiences. OpenWeb works with more than 1,000 top-tier publishers, hosting more than 100 million active users each month.

Founded in 2012, OpenWeb has over 150 employees in New York City, Tel Aviv, and Kiev and is backed by world-class investors including Insight Venture Partners, Georgian, Entree Capital, AltaIR Capital, New York Times, Samsung Next, Dentsu, Norma Investments, and ScaleUp. To date, the company has raised $223 million in funding and is currently valued at over $1 billion. To learn more about OpenWeb's platform visit OpenWeb.com, or follow @OpenWebHQ on LinkedIn and Twitter.

About NewsGuard

Launched in March 2018 by media entrepreneur and award-winning journalist Steven Brill and former Wall Street Journal publisher Gordon Crovitz, NewsGuard provides credibility ratings and detailed "Nutrition Labels" for thousands of news and information sources. NewsGuard rates all the news and information sources that account for 95% of online engagement across the US, UK, Germany, France, and Italy.

NewsGuard's ratings are conducted by trained journalists using nine apolitical criteria of journalistic practice, including whether a news source repeatedly publishes false content, whether it regularly corrects or clarifies errors, and whether it avoids deceptive headlines. Based on the criteria, each source receives an overall trust rating, a trust score of 0-100, a score on each of the nine criteria, and a detailed "Nutrition Label" explaining the rating and providing examples of the site's editorial practices. Advertisers, advertising agencies and advertising tech companies license NewsGuard's ratings to direct their programmatic advertising toward legitimate journalism and avoid misinformation. For more information, including to download the browser extension and review the ratings process, visit newsguardtech.com.

SOURCE OpenWeb
AUSTIN, Texas, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Oracle Corporation (NYSE: ORCL) today announced fiscal 2022 Q2 results. Total quarterly revenues were up 6% year-over-year to $10.4 billion. Cloud services and license support revenues were up 6% to $7.6 billion. Cloud license and on-premise license revenues were up 13% to $1.2 billion.

Oracle's Q2 GAAP results were adversely impacted by the payment of a judgment related to a ten year old dispute surrounding former CEO Mark Hurd's employment. That payment resulted in a Q2 GAAP operating loss of $824 million and a loss per share of $0.46. Q2 Non-GAAP operating income was up 6% to $4.9 billion and earnings per share was up 14% to $1.21.

Short-term deferred revenues were $7.9 billion. Operating cash flow was $10.3 billion during the trailing twelve months.

"Oracle's Q2 Non-GAAP earnings per share was up 14% to $1.21beating guidance by $0.10," said Oracle CEO, Safra Catz. "Constant currency revenue beat guidance by $200 million. These strong results are being driven by the 22% growth of our infrastructure and applications cloud businesses which are approaching $11 billion in annualized revenue. We now have 8,500 Fusion ERP customers with revenue growing 35%, 28,400 NetSuite ERP customers with revenue growing 29%, and our Gen2 infrastructure businesses are growing even fasterand accelerating."

"Oracle's Autonomous Database and new MySQL Database with HeatWave are the world's two highest-performance databases," said Oracle Chairman and CTO, Larry Ellison. "Because of their extreme high-performance, both products present huge growth opportunities for our cloud infrastructure business. Oracle database on-premise customers are choosing our Autonomous Database as they move to the public cloud and our unique [email protected] service. Amazon Aurora customers are discovering that moving to MySQL with HeatWave can increase their performance by more than ten-timeswith a corresponding reduction in cost. These two databases will sustain Oracle's database market and technology leadership for years to come."

The board of directors increased the authorization for share repurchases by $10 billion. The board of directors also declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.32 per share of outstanding common stock. This dividend will be paid to stockholders of record as of the close of business on January 7, 2022, with a payment date of January 19, 2022.

A sample list of customers which purchased Oracle Cloud services during the quarter will be available at www.oracle.com/customers/earnings/.

A list of recent technical innovations and announcements is available at www.oracle.com/news/.

To learn what industry analysts have been saying about Oracle's products and services see www.oracle.com/corporate/analyst-reports.html.

Earnings Conference Call and Webcast

Oracle will hold a conference call and webcast today to discuss these results at 4:00 p.m. Central. A live and replay webcast will be available on the Oracle Investor Relations website at www.oracle.com/investor/.

About Oracle

Oracle offers integrated suites of applications plus secure, autonomous infrastructure in the Oracle Cloud. For more information about Oracle (NYSE: ORCL), please visit us at www.oracle.com.

Trademarks

Oracle, Java, and MySQL are registered trademarks of Oracle Corporation.

"Safe Harbor" Statement: Statements in this press release relating to Oracle's future plans, expectations, beliefs, intentions and prospects, including statements regarding growth in our infrastructure and applications cloud businesses and our future database market and technology leadership, are "forward-looking statements" and are subject to material risks and uncertainties. Many factors could affect our current expectations and our actual results, and could cause actual results to differ materially. We presently consider the following to be among the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations: (1) The COVID-19 pandemic has affected how we and our customers are operating our respective businesses, and the duration and extent to which this will impact our future results of operations remains uncertain. (2) Our success depends upon our ability to develop new products and services, integrate acquired products and services and enhance our existing products and services. (3) Our cloud strategy, including our Oracle Cloud Software-as-a-Service and Infrastructure-as-a-Service offerings, may adversely affect our revenues and profitability. (4) We might experience significant coding, manufacturing or configuration errors in our cloud, license and hardware offerings. (5) If our security measures for our products and services are compromised and as a result, our data, our customers' data or our IT systems are accessed improperly, made unavailable, or improperly modified, our products and services may be perceived as vulnerable, our brand and reputation could be damaged, the IT services we provide to our customers could be disrupted, and customers may stop using our products and services, any of which could reduce our revenue and earnings, increase our expenses and expose us to legal claims and regulatory actions. (6) Our business practices with respect to data could give rise to operational interruption, liabilities or reputational harm as a result of governmental regulation, legal requirements or industry standards relating to privacy and data protection. (7) Economic, political and market conditions can adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition, including our revenue growth and profitability, which in turn could adversely affect our stock price. (8) If we are unable to compete effectively, the results of operations and prospects for our business could be harmed. (9) Our international sales and operations subject us to additional risks that can adversely affect our operating results. (10) We are susceptible to third-party manufacturing and logistics delays, which could result in the loss of sales and customers. A detailed discussion of these factors and other risks that affect our business is contained in our SEC filings, including our most recent reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q, particularly under the heading "Risk Factors." Copies of these filings are available online from the SEC or by contacting Oracle Corporation's Investor Relations Department at (650) 506-4073 or by clicking on SEC Filings on Oracle's Investor Relations website at www.oracle.com/investor/. All information set forth in this press release is current as of December 9, 2021. Oracle undertakes no duty to update any statement in light of new information or future events.























ORACLE CORPORATION





















Q2 FISCAL 2022 FINANCIAL RESULTS

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS ($ in millions, except per share data)









































Three Months Ended

November 30,

% Increase







% Increase (Decrease)









% of

% of (Decrease) in Constant







2021 Revenues 2020 Revenues in US $ Currency (1)



REVENUES

















Cloud services and license support $ 7,554 73% $ 7,112 72% 6% 6%





Cloud license and on-premise license 1,237 12% 1,092 11% 13% 16%





Hardware 767 7% 844 9% (9%) (8%)





Services 802 8% 752 8% 7% 7%





Total revenues 10,360 100% 9,800 100% 6% 6%



OPERATING EXPENSES

















Cloud services and license support 1,259 12% 1,064 11% 18% 19%





Hardware 229 2% 244 2% (6%) (5%)





Services 671 7% 631 6% 6% 7%





Sales and marketing 1,954 19% 1,836 19% 6% 7%





Research and development 1,754 17% 1,601 16% 10% 9%





General and administrative 319 3% 324 3% (2%) (2%)





Amortization of intangible assets 299 3% 345 4% (13%) (13%)





Acquisition related and other (2) 4,667 45% 76 1% * *





Restructuring 32 0% 96 1% (67%) (67%)





Total operating expenses 11,184 108% 6,217 63% 80% 79%



OPERATING (LOSS) INCOME (824) (8%) 3,583 37% * *





Interest expense (679) (6%) (600) (7%) 13% 13%





Non-operating income (expenses), net 7 0% (11) 0% * *



(LOSS) INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES (1,496) (14%) 2,972 30% * *





Benefit from (provision for) income taxes 249 2% (530) (5%) * *



NET (LOSS) INCOME $ (1,247) (12%) $ 2,442 25% * *























(LOSS) EARNINGS PER SHARE:

















Basic $ (0.46)

$ 0.82











Diluted $ (0.46)

$ 0.80









WEIGHTED AVERAGE COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING:

















Basic 2,694

2,977











Diluted 2,694

3,046













































































































(1) We compare the percent change in the results from one period to another period using constant currency disclosure. We present constant currency information to provide a framework for assessing how our underlying businesses performed excluding the effect of foreign currency rate fluctuations. To present this information, current and comparative prior period results for entities reporting in currencies other than United States dollars are converted into United States dollars at the exchange rates in effect on May 31, 2021, which was the last day of our prior fiscal year, rather than the actual exchange rates in effect during the respective periods. Movements in international currencies relative to the United States dollar during the three months ended November 30, 2021 compared with the corresponding prior year period increased our total operating expenses by 1 percentage point.



(2) Acquisition related and other for the three months ended November 30, 2021 included the impact of litigation related charges totaling $4.7 billion.



* Not meaningful





































































































ORACLE CORPORATION

















































Q2 FISCAL 2022 FINANCIAL RESULTS



RECONCILIATION OF SELECTED GAAP MEASURES TO NON-GAAP MEASURES (1)



($ in millions, except per share data)























































Three Months Ended

November 30,

% Increase (Decrease)

in US $ % Increase (Decrease) in Constant Currency (2)









2021





2021



2020





2020

GAAP Non-GAAP GAAP Non-GAAP











GAAP

Adj.

Non-GAAP



GAAP

Adj.

Non-GAAP





















































TOTAL REVENUES

$ 10,360

$ -

$ 10,360



$ 9,800

$ -

$ 9,800

6% 6% 6% 6%



















































TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSES

$ 11,184

$ (5,679)

$ 5,505



$ 6,217

$ (1,005)

$ 5,212

80% 6% 79% 6%







Stock-based compensation (3)

681

(681)

-



488

(488)

-

39% * 39% *







Amortization of intangible assets (4)

299

(299)

-



345

(345)

-

(13%) * (13%) *







Acquisition related and other

4,667

(4,667)

-



76

(76)

-

* * * *







Restructuring

32

(32)

-



96

(96)

-

(67%) * (67%) *





OPERATING (LOSS) INCOME

$ (824)

$ 5,679

$ 4,855



$ 3,583

$ 1,005

$ 4,588

* 6% * 7%





OPERATING MARGIN %

(8%)





47%



37%





47%

* 5 bp. * 14 bp.





INCOME TAX EFFECTS (5)

$ 249

$ (1,052)

$ (803)



$ (530)

$ (212)

$ (742)

* 8% * 9%





NET (LOSS) INCOME

$ (1,247)

$ 4,627

$ 3,380



$ 2,442

$ 793

$ 3,235

* 4% * 5%





DILUTED (LOSS) EARNINGS PER SHARE (6)

$ (0.46)





$ 1.21



$ 0.80





$ 1.06

* 14% * 15%





DILUTED WEIGHTED AVERAGE COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING (6)

2,694

91

2,785



3,046

-

3,046

(12%) (9%) (12%) (9%)

































































































(1) This presentation includes non-GAAP measures. Our non-GAAP measures are not meant to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for comparable GAAP measures, and should be read only in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP. For a detailed explanation of the adjustments made to comparable GAAP measures, the reasons why management uses these measures, the usefulness of these measures and the material limitations on the usefulness of these measures, please see Appendix A.



















































(2) We compare the percent change in the results from one period to another period using constant currency disclosure. We present constant currency information to provide a framework for assessing how our underlying businesses performed excluding the effect of foreign currency rate fluctuations. To present this information, current and comparative prior period results for entities reporting in currencies other than United States dollars are converted into United States dollars at the exchange rates in effect on May 31, 2021, which was the last day of our prior fiscal year, rather than the actual exchange rates in effect during the respective periods.



















































(3) Stock-based compensation was included in the following GAAP operating expense categories:

































































Three Months Ended



Three Months Ended





















November 30,

2021



November 30,

2020





















GAAP

Adj.

Non-GAAP



GAAP

Adj.

Non-GAAP

















Cloud services and license support

$ 50

$ (50)

$ -



$ 36

$ (36)

$ -

















Hardware

4

(4)

-



3

(3)

-

















Services

18

(18)

-



14

(14)

-

















Sales and marketing

120

(120)

-



80

(80)

-

















Research and development

423

(423)

-



314

(314)

-

















General and administrative

66

(66)

-



41

(41)

-

















Total stock-based compensation

$ 681

$ (681)

$ -



$ 488

$ (488)

$ -





























































(4) Estimated future annual amortization expense related to intangible assets as of November 30, 2021 was as follows:







Remainder of fiscal 2022

$ 534







































Fiscal 2023

716







































Fiscal 2024

473







































Fiscal 2025

124







































Fiscal 2026

24







































Fiscal 2027

6







































Thereafter

4







































Total intangible assets, net

$ 1,881



















































































(5) Income tax effects were calculated reflecting an effective GAAP tax rate of (16.6%) and 17.8% in the second quarter of fiscal 2022 and 2021, respectively, and an effective non-GAAP tax rate of 19.2% and 18.7% in the second quarter of fiscal 2022 and 2021, respectively. The difference in our GAAP and non-GAAP tax rates in the second quarter of fiscal 2022 was primarily due to the net tax effects related to stock-based compensation expense and acquisition related and other items, including the net tax effects for litigation related charges (refer to Appendix A for additional information), and the net tax effects on amortization of intangible assets, partially offset by the net deferred tax effects related to an income tax benefit that was previously recorded due to the partial realignment of our legal entity structure. The difference in our GAAP and non-GAAP tax rates in the second quarter of fiscal 2021 was primarily due to the net tax effects on stock-based compensation expense and acquisition related and other items, including the tax effects on amortization of intangible assets.















(6) In the second quarter of fiscal 2022, GAAP diluted loss per share was calculated excluding the dilutive effects of 91 million shares related to employee stock plans as the effect would be anti-dilutive.















* Not meaningful











































































ORACLE CORPORATION

























Q2 FISCAL 2022 YEAR TO DATE FINANCIAL RESULTS

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

($ in millions, except per share data)















































Six Months Ended

November 30,

% Increase









% Increase (Decrease)











% of

% of (Decrease) in Constant









2021 Revenues 2020 Revenues in US $ Currency(1)





REVENUES



















Cloud services and license support $ 14,925 74% $ 14,059 73% 6% 6%







Cloud license and on-premise license 2,049 10% 1,978 10% 4% 4%







Hardware 1,530 8% 1,658 9% (8%) (8%)







Services 1,583 8% 1,472 8% 8% 7%







Total revenues 20,087 100% 19,167 100% 5% 4%





OPERATING EXPENSES



















Cloud services and license support 2,472 12% 2,075 11% 19% 19%







Hardware 474 2% 490 3% (3%) (3%)







Services 1,315 7% 1,254 7% 5% 4%







Sales and marketing 3,808 19% 3,690 19% 3% 3%







Research and development 3,438 17% 3,190 17% 8% 7%







General and administrative 618 3% 619 3% 0% (1%)







Amortization of intangible assets 603 3% 690 4% (13%) (13%)







Acquisition related and other (2) 4,687 24% 95 0% * *







Restructuring 70 0% 270 1% (74%) (74%)







Total operating expenses 17,485 87% 12,373 65% 41% 40%





OPERATING INCOME 2,602 13% 6,794 35% (62%) (60%)







Interest expense (1,384) (7%) (1,214) (6%) 14% 14%







Non-operating expenses, net (34) 0% (13) 0% 158% 97%





INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES 1,184 6% 5,567 29% (79%) (76%)







Benefit from (provision for) income taxes 25 0% (874) (5%) * *





NET INCOME $ 1,209 6% $ 4,693 24% (74%) (71%)



























EARNINGS PER SHARE:



















Basic $ 0.44

$ 1.56













Diluted $ 0.43

$ 1.53











WEIGHTED AVERAGE COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING:



















Basic 2,731

3,009













Diluted 2,823

3,076

























































































































(1) We compare the percent change in the results from one period to another period using constant currency disclosure. We present constant currency information to provide a framework for assessing how our underlying businesses performed excluding the effect of foreign currency rate fluctuations. To present this information, current and comparative prior period results for entities reporting in currencies other than United States dollars are converted into United States dollars at the exchange rates in effect on May 31, 2021, which was the last day of our prior fiscal year, rather than the actual exchange rates in effect during the respective periods. Movements in international currencies relative to the United States dollar during the six months ended November 30, 2021 compared with the corresponding prior year period increased our total revenues and total operating expenses, each by 1 percentage point, and decreased our operating income by 2 percentage points.





(2) Acquisition related and other for the six months ended November 30, 2021 included the impact of litigation related charges totaling $4.7 billion.





* Not meaningful











































































































ORACLE CORPORATION

















































Q2 FISCAL 2022 YEAR TO DATE FINANCIAL RESULTS



RECONCILIATION OF SELECTED GAAP MEASURES TO NON-GAAP MEASURES (1)



($ in millions, except per share data)























































Six Months Ended

November 30,

% Increase (Decrease)

in US $ % Increase (Decrease) in Constant Currency (2)









2021





2021



2020





2020

GAAP Non-GAAP GAAP Non-GAAP











GAAP

Adj.

Non-GAAP



GAAP

Adj.

Non-GAAP





















































TOTAL REVENUES

$ 20,087

$ -

$ 20,087



$ 19,167

$ 1

$ 19,168

5% 5% 4% 4%







Cloud services and license support

14,925

-

14,925



14,059

1

14,060

6% 6% 6% 6%



















































TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSES

$ 17,485

$ (6,586)

$ 10,899



$ 12,373

$ (1,971)

$ 10,402

41% 5% 40% 4%







Stock-based compensation (3)

1,226

(1,226)

-



916

(916)

-

34% * 34% *







Amortization of intangible assets (4)

603

(603)

-



690

(690)

-

(13%) * (13%) *







Acquisition related and other

4,687

(4,687)

-



95

(95)

-

* * * *







Restructuring

70

(70)

-



270

(270)

-

(74%) * (74%) *





OPERATING INCOME

$ 2,602

$ 6,586

$ 9,188



$ 6,794

$ 1,972

$ 8,766

(62%) 5% (60%) 4%





OPERATING MARGIN %

13%





46%



35%





46%

* 1 bp. * 0 bp.





INCOME TAX EFFECTS (5)

$ 25

$ (1,473)

$ ( 1,448)



$ (874)

$ (548)

$ (1,422)

* 2% * 1%





NET INCOME

$ 1,209

$ 5,113

$ 6,322



$ 4,693

$ 1,424

$ 6,117

(74%) 3% (71%) 3%





DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE

$ 0.43





$ 2.24



$ 1.53





$ 1.99

(72%) 13% (68%) 12%





DILUTED WEIGHTED AVERAGE COMMON

SHARES OUTSTANDING

2,823

-

2,823



3,076

-

3,076

(8%) (8%) (8%) (8%)

































































































(1) This presentation includes non-GAAP measures. Our non-GAAP measures are not meant to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for comparable GAAP measures, and should be read only in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP. For a detailed explanation of the adjustments made to comparable GAAP measures, the reasons why management uses these measures, the usefulness of these measures and the material limitations on the usefulness of these measures, please see Appendix A.



















































(2) We compare the percent change in the results from one period to another period using constant currency disclosure. We present constant currency information to provide a framework for assessing how our underlying businesses performed excluding the effect of foreign currency rate fluctuations. To present this information, current and comparative prior period results for entities reporting in currencies other than United States dollars are converted into United States dollars at the exchange rates in effect on May 31, 2021, which was the last day of our prior fiscal year, rather than the actual exchange rates in effect during the respective periods.



















































(3) Stock-based compensation was included in the following GAAP operating expense categories:

































































Six Months Ended



Six Months Ended





















November 30,

2021



November 30,

2020





















GAAP

Adj.

Non-GAAP



GAAP

Adj.

Non-GAAP

















Cloud services and license support

$ 90

$ (90)

$ -



$ 66

$ (66)

$ -

















Hardware

7

(7)

-



6

(6)

-

















Services

32

(32)

-



26

(26)

-

















Sales and marketing

215

(215)

-



151

(151)

-

















Research and development

767

(767)

-



590

(590)

-

















General and administrative

115

(115)

-



77

(77)

-

















Total stock-based compensation

$ 1,226

$ (1,226)

$ -



$ 916

$ (916)

$ -





























































(4) Estimated future annual amortization expense related to intangible assets as of November 30, 2021 was as follows:







Remainder of fiscal 2022

$ 534







































Fiscal 2023

716







































Fiscal 2024

473







































Fiscal 2025

124







































Fiscal 2026

24







































Fiscal 2027

6







































Thereafter

4







































Total intangible assets, net

$ 1,881



















































































(5) Income tax effects were calculated reflecting an effective GAAP tax rate of (2.1%) and 15.7% in the first half of fiscal 2022 and 2021, respectively, and an effective non-GAAP tax rate of 18.6% and 18.9% in the first half of fiscal 2022 and 2021, respectively. The difference in our GAAP and non-GAAP tax rates in the first half of fiscal 2022 was primarily due to the net tax effects related to stock-based compensation expense and acquisition related and other items, including the net tax effects for litigation related charges (refer to Appendix A for additional information), and the net tax effects on amortization of intangible assets, partially offset by the net deferred tax effects related to an income tax benefit that was previously recorded due to the partial realignment of our legal entity structure. The difference in our GAAP and non-GAAP tax rates in the first half of fiscal 2021 was primarily due to the net tax effects on stock-based compensation expense and acquisition related and other items, including the tax effects on amortization of intangible assets.















* Not meaningful



































































































































































ORACLE CORPORATION





















Q2 FISCAL 2022 FINANCIAL RESULTS



CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS



($ in millions)



























November 30, May 31,









2021 2021



ASSETS











Current Assets:













Cash and cash equivalents $ 17,938

$ 30,098







Marketable securities 4,900

16,456







Trade receivables, net 4,462

5,409







Prepaid expenses and other current assets 3,778

3,604









Total Current Assets 31,078

55,567





Non-Current Assets:













Property, plant and equipment, net 8,029

7,049







Intangible assets, net 1,881

2,430







Goodwill, net 43,842

43,935







Deferred tax assets 13,265

13,636







Other non-current assets 8,802

8,490









Total Non-Current Assets 75,819

75,540





TOTAL ASSETS $ 106,897

$ 131,107





LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' (DEFICIT) EQUITY











Current Liabilities:













Notes payable, current $ 4,998

$ 8,250







Accounts payable 1,034

745







Accrued compensation and related benefits 1,503

2,017







Deferred revenues 7,937

8,775







Other current liabilities 3,409

4,377









Total Current Liabilities 18,881

24,164





Non-Current Liabilities:













Notes payable and other borrowings, non-current 73,433

75,995







Income taxes payable 12,122

12,345







Deferred tax liabilities 6,777

7,864







Other non-current liabilities 5,342

4,787









Total Non-Current Liabilities 97,674

100,991





Stockholders' (Deficit) Equity (9,658)

5,952





TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' (DEFICIT) EQUITY $ 106,897

$ 131,107







































ORACLE CORPORATION















Q2 FISCAL 2022 FINANCIAL RESULTS

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

($ in millions)



















Six Months Ended

November 30,





2021 2020

Cash Flows From Operating Activities:









Net income $ 1,209

$ 4,693



Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:









Depreciation 913

742



Amortization of intangible assets 603

690



Deferred income taxes (820)

(43)



Stock-based compensation 1,226

916



Other, net (176)

184



Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from acquisitions:









Decrease in trade receivables, net 789

1,263



Decrease in prepaid expenses and other assets 263

545



Decrease in accounts payable and other liabilities (918)

(248)



Decrease in income taxes payable (849)

(1,243)



Decrease in deferred revenues (531)

(158)



Net cash provided by operating activities 1,709

7,341



Cash Flows From Investing Activities:









Purchases of marketable securities and other investments (9,631)

(15,578)



Proceeds from sales and maturities of marketable securities and other investments 21,617

10,779



Acquisitions, net of cash acquired (50)

-



Capital expenditures (1,987)

(1,004)



Net cash provided by (used for) investing activities 9,949

(5,803)



Cash Flows From Financing Activities:









Payments for repurchases of common stock (15,001)

(8,962)



Proceeds from issuances of common stock 305

772



Shares repurchased for tax withholdings upon vesting of restricted stock-based awards (890)

(520)



Payments of dividends to stockholders (1,748)

(1,447)



Repayments of borrowings (5,750)

(1,000)



Other, net (437)

110



Net cash used for financing activities (23,521)

(11,047)



Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents (297)

271



Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents (12,160)

(9,238)



Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 30,098

37,239



Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $ 17,938

$ 28,001



































































ORACLE CORPORATION

Q2 FISCAL 2022 FINANCIAL RESULTS

FREE CASH FLOW - TRAILING 4-QUARTERS (1)

($ in millions)





























Fiscal 2021 Fiscal 2022







Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4

























GAAP Operating Cash Flow $ 13,092 $ 13,967 $ 14,659 $ 15,887 $ 15,325 $ 10,255































Capital Expenditures (1,614) (1,833) (1,851) (2,135) (2,761) (3,118)































Free Cash Flow $ 11,478 $ 12,134 $ 12,808 $ 13,752 $ 12,564 $ 7,137































% Growth over prior year (6%) (1%) 3% 19% 9% (41%)























































GAAP Net Income $ 10,249 $ 10,380 $ 12,830 $ 13,746 $ 13,952 $ 10,262































Free Cash Flow as a % of Net Income 112% 117% 100% 100% 90% 70%























































(1) To supplement our statements of cash flows presented on a GAAP basis, we use non-GAAP measures of cash flows on a trailing 4-quarter basis to analyze cash flow generated from operations. We believe free cash flow is also useful as one of the bases for comparing our performance with our competitors. The presentation of non-GAAP free cash flow is not meant to be considered in isolation or as an alternative to net income as an indicator of our performance, or as an alternative to cash flows from operating activities as a measure of liquidity.









































































































ORACLE CORPORATION





Q2 FISCAL 2022 FINANCIAL RESULTS





SUPPLEMENTAL ANALYSIS OF GAAP REVENUES (1)





($ in millions)













































Fiscal 2021









Fiscal 2022









Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 TOTAL

Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 TOTAL







REVENUES BY OFFERINGS





























Cloud services and license support $ 6,947 $ 7,112 $ 7,252 $ 7,389 $ 28,700

$ 7,371 $ 7,554



$ 14,925







Cloud license and on-premise license 886 1,092 1,276 2,144 5,399

813 1,237



2,049







Hardware 814 844 820 882 3,359

763 767



1,530







Services 720 752 737 812 3,021

781 802



1,583









Total revenues $ 9,367 $ 9,800 $ 10,085 $ 11,227 $ 40,479

$ 9,728 $ 10,360



$ 20,087









































AS REPORTED REVENUE GROWTH RATES





























Cloud services and license support 2% 4% 5% 8% 5%

6% 6%



6%







Cloud license and on-premise license 9% (3%) 4% 9% 5%

(8%) 13%



4%







Hardware 0% (3%) (4%) (2%) (2%)

(6%) (9%)



(8%)







Services (8%) (7%) (5%) 11% (3%)

8% 7%



8%









Total revenues 2% 2% 3% 8% 4%

4% 6%



5%









































CONSTANT CURRENCY REVENUE GROWTH RATES (2)





























Cloud services and license support 2% 4% 2% 4% 3%

5% 6%



6%







Cloud license and on-premise license 8% (5%) 0% 5% 2%

(9%) 16%



4%







Hardware 0% (3%) (6%) (6%) (4%)

(7%) (8%)



(8%)







Services (8%) (8%) (8%) 6% (5%)

7% 7%



7%









Total revenues 2% 1% 0% 4% 2%

2% 6%



4%









































CLOUD SERVICES AND LICENSE SUPPORT REVENUES































BY ECOSYSTEM





























Applications cloud services and license support $ 2,816 $ 2,901 $ 2,952 $ 3,043 $ 11,712

$ 3,041 $ 3,149



$ 6,190







Infrastructure cloud services and license support 4,131 4,211 4,300 4,346 16,988

4,330 4,405



8,735









Total cloud services and license support revenues $ 6,947 $ 7,112 $ 7,252 $ 7,389 $ 28,700

$ 7,371 $ 7,554



$ 14,925









































AS REPORTED REVENUE GROWTH RATES





























Applications cloud services and license support 4% 5% 5% 11% 6%

8% 9%



8%







Infrastructure cloud services and license support 1% 4% 4% 6% 4%

5% 5%



5%









Total cloud services and license support revenues 2% 4% 5% 8% 5%

6% 6%



6%









































CONSTANT CURRENCY REVENUE GROWTH RATES (2)





























Applications cloud services and license support 4% 5% 3% 7% 5%

7% 8%



7%







Infrastructure cloud services and license support 1% 3% 2% 2% 2%

3% 5%



4%









Total cloud services and license support revenues 2% 4% 2% 4% 3%

5% 6%



6%









































GEOGRAPHIC REVENUES





























Americas

$ 5,068 $ 5,259 $ 5,424 $ 6,076 $ 21,828

$ 5,321 $ 5,736



$ 11,056







Europe/Middle East/Africa

2,738 2,852 2,981 3,324 11,894

2,784 2,953



5,737







Asia Pacific

1,561 1,689 1,680 1,827 6,757

1,623 1,671



3,294









Total revenues $ 9,367 $ 9,800 $ 10,085 $ 11,227 $ 40,479

$ 9,728 $ 10,360



$ 20,087











































































(1) The sum of the quarterly information presented may vary from the year-to-date information presented due to rounding.











(2) We compare the percent change in the results from one period to another period using constant currency disclosure. We present constant currency information to provide a framework for assessing how our underlying businesses performed excluding the effect of foreign currency rate fluctuations. To present this information, current and comparative prior period results for entities reporting in currencies other than United States dollars are converted into United States dollars at the exchange rates in effect on May 31, 2021 and 2020 for the fiscal 2022 and fiscal 2021 constant currency growth rate calculations presented, respectively, rather than the actual exchange rates in effect during the respective periods.





















































































APPENDIX A

ORACLE CORPORATION Q2 FISCAL 2022 FINANCIAL RESULTS EXPLANATION OF NON-GAAP MEASURES

To supplement our financial results presented on a GAAP basis, we use the non-GAAP measures indicated in the tables, which exclude certain business combination accounting entries and expenses related to acquisitions, as well as other significant expenses including stock-based compensation, that we believe are helpful in understanding our past financial performance and our future results. Our non-GAAP financial measures are not meant to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for comparable GAAP measures and should be read only in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP. Our management regularly uses our supplemental non-GAAP financial measures internally to understand, manage and evaluate our business and make operating decisions. These non-GAAP measures are among the primary factors management uses in planning for and forecasting future periods. Compensation of our executives is based in part on the performance of our business based on these non-GAAP measures. Our non-GAAP financial measures reflect adjustments based on the following items, as well as the related income tax effects:

 Cloud services and license support revenues : Business combination accounting rules as applicable to acquisitions closed prior to fiscal 2022 required us to account for the fair values of cloud services and license support contracts assumed in connection with our acquisitions. The non-GAAP adjustments to our cloud services and license support revenues for certain of the fiscal 2021 periods presented are intended to include, and thus reflect, the full amount of such revenues. We believe the adjustments to these revenues are useful to investors as a measure of the ongoing performance of our business as we generally expect to experience high renewal rates for these contracts at their stated values during the post combination periods.



 Stock-based compensation expenses : We have excluded the effect of stock-based compensation expenses from our non-GAAP operating expenses and net income measures. Although stock-based compensation is a key incentive offered to our employees, and we believe such compensation contributed to the revenues earned during the periods presented and also believe it will contribute to the generation of future period revenues, we continue to evaluate our business performance excluding stock-based compensation expenses. Stock-based compensation expenses will recur in future periods.



 Amortization of intangible assets : We have excluded the effect of amortization of intangible assets from our non-GAAP operating expenses and net income measures. Amortization of intangible assets is inconsistent in amount and frequency and is significantly affected by the timing and size of our acquisitions. Investors should note that the use of intangible assets contributed to our revenues earned during the periods presented and will contribute to our future period revenues as well. Amortization of intangible assets will recur in future periods.



 Acquisition related and other expenses; and restructuring expenses : We have excluded the effect of acquisition related and other expenses and the effect of restructuring expenses from our non-GAAP operating expenses and net income measures. We incurred expenses in connection with our acquisitions and also incurred certain other operating expenses or income, which we generally would not have otherwise incurred in the periods presented as a part of our continuing operations. Acquisition related and other expenses for the three and six months ended November 30, 2021 substantially consisted of litigation related charges totaling $4.7 billion that we generally do not expect to recur, and also consisted of personnel related costs for transitional and certain other employees, certain business combination adjustments including adjustments after the measurement period has ended and certain other operating items, net. We consider the $4.7 billion of litigation related charges to be outside our ordinary course of business based on the following considerations: (i) the unprecedented nature of the litigation related charges including the nature and size of the damages awarded; (ii) the dissimilarity of this litigation and related charges to recurring litigation of which we are a party in our normal business course for which any and all such charges are included in our GAAP operating results and non-GAAP measures; (iii) the complexity of the case; (iv) the counterparty involved; and (v) our expectation that litigation related charges of this nature will not recur in future periods; amongst other factors. Restructuring expenses consist of employee severance and other exit costs. We believe it is useful for investors to understand the effects of these items on our total operating expenses. Although acquisition related and other expenses and restructuring expenses generally diminish over time with respect to past acquisitions and/or strategic initiatives, we generally will incur certain of these expenses in connection with any future acquisitions and/or strategic initiatives.

SOURCE Oracle
LONDON, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Only days into 2021 and it was clear we were in for more of the same with a seemingly ever-present pandemic, forcing us to further adjust our lives. Nevertheless, the world continued to turn. Individuals and organisations continued to flourish.

In the 2021 Q4 edition of Pan Finance Magazine, we celebrate leading examples of best practice across the world of finance. Established to be a true measure of excellence, the awards look beyond the realm of the balance sheet alone, measuring success through innovation, stewardship of the environment and positive impact on society.

Luigi Wewege, Senior Vice President of Caye International Bank and LatAm's Private Banker of the Year told us, "It is a distinct honour for myself and Caye International Bank to receive this recognition within the pages of Pan Finance magazine. For the bank to receive the award from this superb publication is a testament to the dedication and teamwork of Caye staff, board members and their combined tireless efforts to achieving our mission to drive growth."

Marcilio Oliveira, Co-founder and CGO of Sensedia said, "We are honoured to lead the Banking-as-a-Service Provider category with one of our customer's stories. This proves how APIs help businesses thrive and stay ahead of the pack."

Commenting on the award, Enas Asiri, General Manager of Bahrain National Life Assurance said; "We feel honoured to be receiving this award which is indeed an acknowledgement to the hard work and dedication of everyone at bnl and recognises our desire as a company to lead the industry in terms of our product range and dedication to customer service. We will maintain our focus on delivering to our customers, outstanding products and services, enabling people to maintain the desired quality of life, now and in the future."

Pan Finance magazine is delighted to announce the following award winners in the Q4 2021 edition:

Bahrain National Life Assurance (bnl) - Life Insurance Company of the Year - Bahrain 2021 -

Banco Santander - Bank of the Year - Portugal 2021 -

BENEFIT - Best Digital Wallet (BenefitPay) - Bahrain 2021 -

Boursa Kuwait - Sustainable Stock Exchange of the Year - MENA 2021 -

Caye International Bank - Private Bank of the Year - LatAm 2021 -

China Asset Management - Asset Manager of the Year - China 2021 -

CRDB Bank Plc. - Most Customer-centric Bank - Africa 2021-

Fewchore Finance Limited - Most Innovative Financial Services - West Africa 2021 -

Finpartner - Most Innovative Accounting Solutions - Portugal 2021 -

Hector Valdez Albizu - Bank Governor of the Year - LatAm 2021 -

HotForex - Best Multi-Asset Broker - 2021 -

Investors Trust - Investment Platform of the Year - LatAm 2021 -

K&B Family Office - Multi-Family Office of the Year - LatAm 2021 -

KBZ Bank - Best Mobile Wallet App (KBZ PAY) - Myanmar 2021 -

KBZ Bank - Excellence in Financial Inclusion - Myanmar 2021 -

Luigi Wewege - Private Banker of the Year - LatAm 2021 -

Mambu - SaaS Banking Platform of the Year - 2021 -

Mambu - Excellence in Sustainability - 2021 -

Management Financial Group - Non-Bank Financial Institution of the Year - CEE 2021 -

PayRetailers - Best Digital Payment Processing Company - LatAm 2021 -

PayRetailers - Excellence in Financial Inclusion - LatAm 2021 -

QuickFi - Most Innovative Commercial Finance Platform - USA 2021 -

Rokel Commercial Bank (SL) Ltd - Commercial Bank of the Year - Sierra Leone 2021 -

Rokel Commercial Bank (SL) Ltd - Excellence in Financial Inclusion - Sierra Leone 2021 -

Saturna Capital - Investment Management Services of the Year - USA 2021 -

Saturna Capital - Excellence in ESG - USA 2021 -

Sensedia - Banking as a Service Provider of the Year - Brazil 2021 -

Turnkey Trading Partners - Best Global Regulatory & Compliance Firm - 2021 -

UPayments - Best Online Payment Solutions - Kuwait 2021 -

Virtual Pay International Limited - Most Reliable End-to-End Payment Solutions - Kenya 2021 -

XP Asset Management - Asset Management Firm of the Year - Brazil 2021 -

To learn more about our winners, pick up the latest issue of Pan Finance magazine, available now:

www.panfinance.net/pan-finance-magazine

Featuring articles from Lucrezia Reichlin former director of research at the European central bank and professor of Economics at the London Business School; Shang-Jin Wei, former chief economist at the Asian Development Bank and Professor of Finance & Economics at Columbia Business School; and Lilyana Pavlova, Vice President of the European Investment Bank.

About Pan Finance Magazine

Each quarter Pan Finance Magazine delivers key information through time-sensitive financial news covering world markets, industry analysis and c-suite level interviews. Content from renowned academics and leading professionals provides an accessible view of global trends, with a focus on finance, economics, infrastructure, technology and sustainability.

www.panfinance.net

Contact information

Pan Finance Magazine

Olu Emmanuel

Head of Research & Awards

+44 (0) 208 090 0874

[email protected]

SOURCE Pan Finance Magazine
"We are proud to support the mission of Banco de Alimentos and will continue to serve the communities where we live and work," said PenFed's Executive Vice President of Operations Jamie Gayton.

The Mochila Alegre (Happy Backpack) Program through the Food Bank of Puerto Rico provides backpacks filled with nutritious food to children between 3 and 12 years old who depend on the school canteen for their daily meals. This program provides these children with a backpack filled with food for the weekend.

"We are thankful to PedFed Credit Union for their volunteers and their generous donation that will provide 20 children, for the next 52 weeks, with the nourishment they need and allows them to go back to school ready to learn on Mondays," said President of Banco de Alimentos Denise Santos.

PenFed currently serves members in Puerto Rico with financial centers in San Juan, Hatillo, Ponce and on the United States Army Garrison Fort Buchanan. PenFed has had a presence on the island for 15 years. Since the devastation of Hurricane Maria in 2017, PenFed has invested more than $8 million to open new facilities and provide career opportunities in Puerto Rico in support of our promise to help rebuild the local economy.

About PenFed Credit Union

Established in 1935, Pentagon Federal Credit Union (PenFed) is America's second-largest federal credit union, serving 2.5 million members worldwide with $31 billion in assets. PenFed Credit Union offers market-leading certificates, checking, credit cards, personal loans, mortgages, auto loans, student loans, and a wide range of other financial services with members' interests always in mind. PenFed Credit Union is federally insured by the NCUA and is an Equal Housing Lender. To learn more about PenFed Credit Union, visit PenFed.org , like us on Facebook and follow us @PenFed on Twitter . Interested in working for PenFed? Check us out on LinkedIn . We are proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.

SOURCE PenFed Credit Union
PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- PhillyTech, a leader in hiring, talent acquisition, sales and lead generation for software and high-tech companies announced its 4th Annual Community Holiday Party For Charity, Launch 2022, on Thursday, December 16th at 6PM.

Launch 2022 will bring together 100-150 passionate entrepreneurs for networking and discussions in celebration of a successful year to come. PhillyTech Founder-CEO, Michael C. Bertoni will be the Master of Ceremonies and unveiling a PhillyTech brand relaunch. The event will feature eight local business leaders as speakers. The keynote address will be delivered by Wil Reynolds, Founder-Director of Strategy at Seer Interactive. The lineup also includes Brian Glick, Founder-CEO of Chain, Matt Kowalczyk, Founder-CEO of EXIT83 and published author James Strong, Cloud Director at Contino. There will be three comedians to warm up the crowd, great networking opportunities, open bar, and food. All proceeds from the event will go to Covenant House.

Covenant House builds a bridge to hope for young people facing homelessness and survivors of trafficking through unconditional love, absolute respect, and relentless support. They are open 24/7 in 31 cities across six countries and their high-quality programs are designed to empower young people to rise and overcome adversity, today and in the future. Founded in 1999, Covenant House Pennsylvania (CHPA) is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year--ready at a moment's notice to offer safety and wellness to Philadelphia's most vulnerable youth. CHPA's doors are open to all young people who need help, regardless of their race, religion, sexual orientation gender identity or expression.

"It's our vision to help Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) and Hi-Tech companies succeed and Launch in 2022. Most of our clients are in business not just to grow profits, but also to bring products and services that benefit the local community and the world at large. This event allows our network of entrepreneurs and business leaders the opportunity to give back to a great charity Covenant House. All profits go directly to Covenant House." - Michael C. Bertoni, Founder-CEO, PhillyTech

The event also serves as an opportunity for passionate entrepreneurs involved in the tech ecosystem to expand their network and hear from other successful business leaders. Local media outlets are welcome to cover the event to bring awareness to the work Covenant House is doing for the community.

PhillyTech events connect like-minded business owners and tech professionals, creating a catalyst for networking that facilitates strategic partnerships, mentorship, revenue generation and much more. The events are designed to help members of the tech community meet peers in innovation and grow together.

Register for Launch 2022 and Prepare for Liftoff. 

About PhillyTech

PhillyTech's vision is to be the #1 resource to help Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) and Hi-Tech companies succeed. For 24+ years, PhillyTech has helped hire 1000+ professionals in the US, and outside the US, generated 10,000+ leads and $100M+ in revenue for SaaS and Hi-Tech companies. PhillyTech is the only firm in the industry dedicated to helping SaaS and Hi-Tech and offers unique and differentiated HIRE and SELL services for these markets. For more information, visit https://phillytech.co/.

HIRE full-time talent in the US and staff augmentation & project resources in Colombia, SA.

SELL technology solutions, drive growth and generate leads with UPROSPECT.

Photo(s):

https://www.prlog.org/12897061



Press release distributed by PRLog

SOURCE PhillyTech
OKLAHOMA CITY, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- PHX Minerals Inc. (NYSE: PHX) ("PHX" or the "Company") today announced that it has entered into an amendment to its revolving Credit Facility ("Credit Facility") under which the borrowing base of the Credit Facility has been increased from $27.5 million to $32.0 million in connection with its regularly scheduled semi-annual redetermination. Additionally, PHX has entered into purchase and sale agreements to acquire 426 total net royalty acres in Caddo Parish, La., for $5,787,272 in cash from two private sellers, subject to customary closing adjustments (the "Acquisition"). The Acquisition will be funded with a combination of cash on hand and borrowings under the Company's Credit Facility. Pro forma the Acquisition, the Company's total debt drawn on the Credit Facility will be approximately $20.0 million. The Board of Directors of PHX unanimously approved the Acquisition, which is expected to close by Dec. 15, 2021.

Chad Stephens, President and CEO, said, "the Acquisition assets provide almost immediate cash flow from the wells being completed and do a nice job of helping replace the volumes associated with the previously announced divestiture of some of our legacy working interest wellbores. The increase in the borrowing base of our Credit Facility is a reflection of a much stronger PHX with an improving asset base and high-quality prospects."

Acquisitions Highlights

Approximately 426 net royalty acres in Caddo Parish, La. , focused on the Hayneville play;

, focused on the Hayneville play; Assets are operated by Blue Dome and include 4 PDP gross wells, 4 gross wells in progress which are expected to come online in the next 30 days and an estimated 4 gross undrilled locations;

Estimated reserves of 3.8 Bcfe 1 ;

; Current net production 0.15 Mmcfe/d 2 ; and

; and Estimated net production for 2022 totaling between 1,700 to 2,100 Mcfe/d, comprised of 100% natural gas.

__________________________________

1 As of 11/01/2021 2 Mmcfe/d is on a 6:1 basis; estimated November 2021 production

PHX Minerals Inc. (NYSE: PHX) Oklahoma City-based, PHX Minerals Inc. is a natural gas and oil mineral company with a strategy to proactively grow its mineral position in its core areas of focus. PHX owns approximately 251,000 net mineral acres principally located in Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana, North Dakota, and Arkansas. Additional information on the Company can be found at www.phxmin.com.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Words such as "anticipates," "plans," "estimates," "believes," "expects," "intends," "will," "should," "may" and similar expressions may be used to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not statements of historical fact and reflect PHX's current views about future events. Forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, statements relating to: PHX's ability to execute its business strategies; the volatility of realized natural gas and oil prices; the level of production on its properties; estimates of quantities of natural gas, oil and NGL reserves and their values; general economic or industry conditions; legislation or regulatory requirements; conditions of the securities markets; the ability to raise capital; changes in accounting principles, policies or guidelines; financial or political instability; acts of war or terrorism; title defects in the properties in which PHX invests; and other economic, competitive, governmental, regulatory or technical factors affecting our properties, operations or prices. Although the Company believes its expectations reflected in these and other forward-looking statements are reasonable, the Company can give no assurance its expectations will prove to be correct. Such forward-looking statements are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. These forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties that could cause the results to differ materially from those expected by the Company's management. Information concerning these risks and other factors can be found in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Reports on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, available on the Company's website or the SEC's website at www.sec.gov.

Investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and that actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this press release are made as of the date hereof, and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update the forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

SOURCE PHX MINERALS INC.
NEW YORK, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/-- Planet Green Holdings Corp. (the "Company") (NYSE American: PLAG) announced today that on December 9, 2021, the Company has entered into a Share Exchange Agreement with Shandong Yunchu Supply Chain Co., Ltd. ("Target") and each shareholder of the Target (collectively "Sellers"). Pursuant to the Share Exchange Agreement, the Company will acquire 100% of outstanding equity interests of the Target, a company that imports beef products and distributes such products in China.

Pursuant to the Share Exchange Agreement, the company will issue 5,900,000 shares of common stock of the Company to the Sellers in exchange for the transfer of 100% of the equity interest of the Target. The transaction is subject to closing conditions that are customary for transactions of this type.

Forward Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as "anticipate", "believe", "expect", "estimate", "plan", "outlook", and "project" and other similar expressions that indicate future events or trends or are not statements of historical matters. These statements are based on our management's current expectations and beliefs, as well as a number of assumptions concerning future events.

Such forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other important factors, many of which are outside of our control and all of which could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. Accordingly, forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing our views as of any subsequent date, and we do not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date they were made, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in forward-looking statements can be found in our reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which are available, free of charge, on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov .

For more information please contact:

Ms. Lili Hu Chief Financial Officer Phone: 718 799 0380 Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Planet Green Holdings Corp.

Related Links

http://www.planetgreenholdings.com/


PALM BEACH, Fla., Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- FinancialNewsMedia.com News Commentary The demand of lithium is a by-product of the rapid rise of use electric vehicles (EV) and ion batteries in all sorts of consumer and industrial products. Lithium is an integral component of batteries for electric vehicles. As EV purchases have rocketed so has the need for batteries, in turn fueling lithium demand. S&PGlobal said that production of the battery metal is set to almost triple by 2025 to more than 1.5 million metric tons. ReserachAndMarkets says that over the next four years, the increasing consumption of Li-ion batteries by automotive and consumer electronics industries is expected to create a measurable boost in need for lithium mining activities in the near future. The Research report stated some Key Insights regarding Lithium Mining Market, saying that: "Over 15 million MT lithium deposits are globally available in an extractable form; Chile (8.6 MMT), Australia (2.8 MMT), Argentina (1.7 MMT), and China (1MMT) lead in terms of potential/extractable lithium reserves; Australia and China constituted more than 60% of world's lithium production in 2019. In 2019, the production of lithium stood at 77 thousand MT whereas, the demand registered was 57.7 thousand MT. Thus, close to 20 thousand MT of lithium was over-produced and left unsold to be stocked later." Active mining stocks in the markets this week include: First Energy Metals Limited (OTCQB: FEMFF) (CSE: FE), Standard Lithium Ltd. (NYSE: SLI) (TSXV: SLI), Lithium Americas Corp. (NYSE: LAC) (TSX: LAC), American Lithium Corp. (OTCQB: LIACF) (TSX-V:LI), Neo Lithium Corp. (OTCQX: NTTHF) (TSXV: NLC).

ReserachAndMarkets added that: "Li-ion battery prices dropped to 89% between 2010 and 2020, thereby increasing affordability of EVs to general public. The cost of lithium hydroxide is higher than that of lithium carbonate. However, increasing demand for the former in development of highly efficient Li-ion batteries will overtake that of the latter in the next few years. Lithium production has been free from any significant disruptions caused by COVID-19 pandemic. Also, the current high stock levels of lithium would be sufficient to buffer the industry. Lithium producers will benefit from EV sales. The current EV stock is expected to double by 2030 and EVs are anticipated to displace conventional passenger vehicle sales by 10% towards the end 2025."

First Energy Metals Limited (OTCQB: FEMFF) (CSE: FE) BREAKING NEWS: Update - First Energy Metals Ltd. ("First Energy" or the "Company) is pleased to announce results of drill hole LC21-09 at its Augustus Lithium Property in Quebec, Canada. The drill hole intersected a 39 meters spodumene pegmatite in which a 7-meter-wide zone assayed 1.12 percent (%) lithium oxide (Li2O) at 11 metres (m) drilled depth. The Company is also pleased to announce commencement of Phase 2 drill program on December 6 at the Property by Forage Hebert Inc. Drilling of Amos, Quebec. The drilling company completed 5,847.15 Phase 1 drilling on the Property and is again contracted for this work.

Highlights:

u A 39 metres wide spodumene pegmatite intersection (from 7 to 46 m drilled depth) with average 0.17 % lithium (Li) or 0.37% Li2O. There are four higher grade intersections included within this wider pegmatite as listed below.

Seven-meter wide spodumene pegmatite zone with 1.12% Li2O at 11 m drilled depth.

drilled depth. Two-meter wide spodumene pegmatite zone with 0.90% Li2O at 22 m drilled depth.

drilled depth. Two-meter wide spodumene pegmatite zone with 0.74% Li2O at 26 m drilled depth.

drilled depth. Two-meter wide spodumene pegmatite zone with 0.31% Li2O at 44 m drilled depth.

Drill hole LC21-09 was drilled at Canadian Lithium / Beluga Prospect, UTM location: 284822E, 5368321N (NAD 1983 UTM Zone 18N), Azimuth 48.2 degrees, Dip -44.2 degrees with a total drilled depth of 147 m. All intersections reported are based on drilled width and have not been converted to the true width. The drill core was logged and sampled at the core shack using a rock saw. For quality control and quality assurance (QA/QC), field duplicates, standards and blanks were inserted at industry standard intervals. The samples were bagged and tagged using best practices and were delivered to Activation Laboratories ("ACTLABS"), Ancaster, Ontario for sample preparation and analyses using laboratories code Ultratrace 7 and sodium peroxide fusion (Na2O2). ACTLABS is an independent commercial, accredited ISO Certified Laboratory.

For the Phase 2 drill program, a B-20 drill rig has been deployed which has a capacity to drill up to 1,000-meter-deep hole. The core shack built during Phase 1 drilling at the village of St-Dominique du Rosaire located about 50km from the Property will be used for drill core logging, sample preparation and storage.

Afzaal Pirzada, P.Geo., Geological Consultant of the Company, and a "Qualified Person" for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information contained in this news release. CONTINUED. Read this release for the First Energy Metals news at: https://www.financialnewsmedia.com/news-fe/

Other recent mining developments in the markets include:

Lithium Americas Corp. (NYSE: LAC) (TSX: LAC) and Millennial Lithium Corp. recently announced that they have entered into a definitive arrangement agreement dated November 17, 2021 (the "LAC Arrangement Agreement") pursuant to which Lithium Americas has agreed to acquire all of the outstanding shares of Millennial (each, an "ML Share") by way of a plan of arrangement (the "LAC Transaction") for C$4.70 per ML Share, payable in common shares of Lithium Americas (the "LAC Shares") and C$0.001 in cash per ML Share (collectively, the "Purchase Price"), representing total consideration of approximately US$400 million. Based on Lithium Americas' closing price on November 16, 2021, this consideration would result in Millennial Shareholders owning approximately 9.1% of Lithium Americas.

Prior to entering into the LAC Arrangement Agreement, Millennial terminated the arrangement agreement between Millennial and Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Ltd. ("CATL") dated September 28, 2021, as amended and assigned to Canada Brunp Contemporary (Investment) Inc. ("CBC") on October 12, 2021 (the "CATL Arrangement Agreement"), in accordance with its terms.

"This transaction is a rare opportunity to add a complementary lithium brine project and leverage our expertise developing Cauchari-Olaroz as the largest new lithium carbonate operation to come online in over 20 years," said Jonathan Evans, President and CEO of Lithium Americas. "We are confident Pastos Grandes can provide significant value for all shareholders as we execute on our growth strategy in the region over the coming years."

Standard Lithium Ltd. (NYSE: SLI) (TSXV: SLI), an innovative technology and lithium project development company, recently announced that Koch Strategic Platforms ("KSP"), a subsidiary of Koch Investments Group, has completed its US$100 million investment in Standard Lithium through a direct private placement (the "Direct Investment"). The Direct Investment is intended to support the Company's strategic development goals and will be used by the Company to pursue the following objectives:

Continue to rapidly advance the first commercial project proposed for the Lanxess facility; Accelerate and expand the Company's development of the South West Arkansas Lithium Project; Continue to develop and commercialise modern lithium extraction and processing technologies and work collaboratively with Koch Engineered Solutions ("KES") businesses; and, Allow for strategic project expansion.

The Company, along with several Koch Industries subsidiaries, is also exploring opportunities to work collaboratively in several key areas. These potentially include working with KES which provides key process equipment, engineering, procurement, and construction services; as well as Koch Minerals & Trading which is involved in the trading of many of the materials that will be required by the Company in the future, as well as the lithium products it intends to produce.

American Lithium Corp. (OTCQB: LIACF) (TSX-V:LI) recently announced that initial exploration drilling has been launched at TLC North (Big Smoky acquisition land) near Tonopah Nevada. Initial drilling has successfully drilled thick intersections (up to 96.9 m / 318 ft) of lithium-bearing claystone.

A drone magnetic geophysical survey is also being flown across a large portion of the TLC project area to provide detailed geophysical information as the Company finalizes the precise positioning of drill collars for its next phase of development drilling under its Plan of Operations filed in January 2021 and expected to receive final approval in mid-late December 2021.

Neo Lithium Corp. (OTCQX: NTTHF) (TSXV: NLC) recently announced positive results of a National Instrument 43-101 Feasibility Study ("FS") for the production of lithium carbonate from its wholly owned Tres Quebradas lithium brine project ("3Q Project") in Catamarca Province, Argentina.

The Technical Report, which is currently on QP review stage, was prepared by Worley, a leading global provider of professional project and asset services in the energy, chemicals and resources sectors with extensive experience in the design and construction of some of the largest and lowest cost lithium brine processing facilities in Chile and Argentina. The resource and reserve estimate were completed by brine resource and reserve experts Groundwater Insight Inc. ("Groundwater").

DISCLAIMER: FN Media Group LLC (FNM), which owns and operates Financialnewsmedia.com and MarketNewsUpdates.com, is a third party publisher and news dissemination service provider, which disseminates electronic information through multiple online media channels. FNM is NOT affiliated in any manner with any company mentioned herein. FNM and its affiliated companies are a news dissemination solutions provider and are NOT a registered broker/dealer/analyst/adviser, holds no investment licenses and may NOT sell, offer to sell or offer to buy any security. FNM's market updates, news alerts and corporate profiles are NOT a solicitation or recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities. The material in this release is intended to be strictly informational and is NEVER to be construed or interpreted as research material. All readers are strongly urged to perform research and due diligence on their own and consult a licensed financial professional before considering any level of investing in stocks. All material included herein is republished content and details which were previously disseminated by the companies mentioned in this release. FNM is not liable for any investment decisions by its readers or subscribers. Investors are cautioned that they may lose all or a portion of their investment when investing in stocks. For current services performed FNM has been compensated forty nine hundred dollars for news coverage of the current press releases issued by First Energy Metals Ltd. by a non-affiliated third party. FNM HOLDS NO SHARES OF ANY COMPANY NAMED IN THIS RELEASE.



This release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. "Forward-looking statements" describe future expectations, plans, results, or strategies and are generally preceded by words such as "may", "future", "plan" or "planned", "will" or "should", "expected," "anticipates", "draft", "eventually" or "projected". You are cautioned that such statements are subject to a multitude of risks and uncertainties that could cause future circumstances, events, or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, including the risks that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, and other risks identified in a company's annual report on Form 10-K or 10-KSB and other filings made by such company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You should consider these factors in evaluating the forward-looking statements included herein, and not place undue reliance on such statements. The forward-looking statements in this release are made as of the date hereof and FNM undertakes no obligation to update such statements.



Contact Information:

Media Contact email: [email protected]

+1(561)325-8757

SOURCE FinancialNewsMedia.com
ZUG, Switzerland, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Quercis Pharma AG, a private, clinical stage biopharmaceutical company leveraging its novel antithrombotic platform, today announced that it has signed an Agreement with GEM Global Yield LLC SCS ("GEM"), the Luxembourg based private alternative investment group, to provide Quercis with a share subscription facility of up to USD 150 million for a 36-month term following a public listing. The share subscription facility will allow Quercis, subject to terms of the Agreement, to draw down funds by issuing shares of common stock to GEM. Quercis will control the timing and magnitude of such drawdowns and has no minimum drawdown obligation. Concurrent with a public listing of Quercis shares, Quercis will issue warrants to GEM to purchase up to 3% of the common stock of the company. The exercise of these warrants will act as another funding exercise for Quercis.

Management is considering a range of options to take the company public and is being advised on legal matters by Homberger AG, Zurich, and on patent matters by Troutman Pepper LLP in the United States.

Quercis is currently advancing its lead clinical candidate, Isoquercetin, designed to prevent thromboembolic events in metastatic pancreatic cancer patients, under a Special Protocol Agreement with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, announced in May 2021.

"We believe that this agreement with GEM is among the largest single share subscription facilities for a Swiss based biotechnology company and will help secure critical funding as we embark on our strategy to go public, providing assurance of a strong capital position upon listing on a public exchange," stated Dr. Ilias Laeber, Chairman of the Board of Quercis. "We are now well positioned as we enter our next stage of development and look forward to progressing our pipeline programs."

About GEM

Global Emerging Markets ("GEM") is a $3.4 billion, alternative investment group with offices in Paris, New York, and Nassau (Bahamas). GEM manages a diverse set of investment vehicles focused on emerging markets and has completed over 480 transactions in 70 countries. Each investment vehicle has a different degree of operational control, risk-adjusted return, and liquidity profile. The family of funds and investment vehicles provide GEM and its partners with exposure to: Small-Mid Cap Management Buyouts, Private Investments in Public Equities and select venture investments. For more information: http://www.gemny.com



About Quercis

Quercis is a biotech company with its main operations in Switzerland which uses a novel new patented technology with its Isoquercetin based investigational drug with the working name Kinisoquin to prevent thrombus formation by inhibiting protein disulphide isomerase (PDI), a novel antithrombotic therapeutic target in cardiovascular disease. Kinisoquin is based on a highly purified natural product extract. In a phase 2 multi-center clinical trial in late-stage cancer patients conducted in the United States, the oral administration of 1000 mg daily of Kinisoquin significantly reduced coagulation markers including D-Dimer, P-Selectin and Thrombin generation without evidence of increased risk of hemorrhage (Zwicker et al. JCI Insight 2019). Dr. Stefan Wohlfeil, Chief Medical Officer of Quercis said, "We are hopeful that this drug could be the future of thrombosis prevention in high-risk cancer patients as well as patients at high risk of thrombosis in general. This is a huge step forward as the product is orally administered, safe and has reduced bleeding risk. Preventing thrombosis without increasing the risk of bleeding represents the holy-grail of anticoagulants." Studies have been conducted in collaboration with Harvard, University of Reading, Zurich University Hospital, National Institutes of Health (NIH), as well as other universities and hospital systems in the United States and Europe. Quercis owns a significant number of patents and holds licenses from Harvard, other universities, and the Canadian Government to additional patent properties. For more information: http://www.quercis.com



Forward-Looking Statements

This release includes forward-looking statements regarding Quercis (the Company) and its respective businesses. Such statements are based on the current expectations of the management of each entity. The forward-looking events and circumstances discussed in this release, including completion of the public offering, may not occur and could differ materially as a result of known and unknown risk factors and uncertainties affecting the Company, including risks affecting the Company, economic factors, and the equity markets generally. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed. Except as required by applicable securities laws, forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and Quercis undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. This is not an offer or solicitation to buy or sell any securities.



Contact:

Dr. Serena Bologna

Vice President, Operations

Quercis Pharma

[email protected]

SOURCE Quercis Pharma AG
NEW YORK and PARIS, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Rarecells, Inc., an innovative Liquid Biopsy company developing non-invasive tests for early cancer diagnosis, announced today the closing of a $5 Million tranche, bringing its total Series A funding to $13 Million. The funds will support the start of laboratory and clinical operations in the United-States focused on Prostate Cancer and Acute Myeloid Leukemia early detection tests.

Rarecells leverages its proprietary ISET Circulating Tumor Cells (CTC) platform, combined with cutting-edge downstream analyses, to generate a novel and powerful approach to detect evidence of a tumor from a blood sample. By applying advanced AI algorithms to immunomorphological cellular profiles and altered genome-wide DNA characteristics, the company is developing a new class of highly sensitive and specific non-invasive tests intended for widespread adoption. Its pipeline of products includes two mono-cancer tests designed for early detection of Prostate Cancer and Acute Myeloid Leukemia, and an early detection multi-cancer test to identify any of multiple cancers in a subject from a simple blood draw.

"Our team has a groundbreaking approach to early detection of cancer." said Davide Brechot, Deputy CEO, "Liquid biopsy has the potential to revolutionize cancer diagnostics and markedly lower mortality from cancer through early detection. However, this field currently lacks tests with sufficient sensitivity and specificity at the early stages of cancer development. Rarecells' ISET-based early detection tests benefit from the company's long-term commitment to the detection of cancer's weakest signals and are ideally suited for this ambitious goal."

Historically, Circulating Tumor Cells, which are the cancer's biological living unit and express the patient's risk of developing metastases, have been considered too rare to be consistently collected and used as diagnostic and prognostic indicators. Rarecells has solved this problem with its ISET platform capable of isolating CTC without loss while keeping them intact for analyses. Over the past 8 years, ISET has been applied successfully to thousands of patients with different cancers and stages and to healthy control individuals. It has uniquely demonstrated its capacity to detect cancer at the earliest stages of its development.

Rarecells' Founder and President Patrizia Paterlini said: "We are detecting without bias the cancer cells circulating in blood (CTC) which are the hallmark of cancer presence and aggressiveness  i.e. the capacity to invade the blood as well as other organs. Early and highly sensitive detection of CTC is a powerful tool to reveal the development of a tumor in a body ahead of symptoms and clinical signs, providing the possibility to eradicate cancer before it spreads. We believe our non-invasive approach to early cancer detection will introduce a paradigm shift in oncology allowing cancer diagnosis at a time when definitive treatment is possible, leading to a drastic decrease of cancer-related mortality".

About Rarecells, Inc.

Rarecells, Inc. is a healthcare company focused on the development and commercialization of non-invasive Early Cancer Detection tests. These tests are based on the ISET platform technology that is able to extract from blood cancer cells from any type of cancer. Cancer cells extracted by ISET are then diagnostically identified through immune-morpho-molecular analyses combined with image analyses and AI. This approach is believed to be a significant advancement in the highly sensitive non-invasive detection of cancer's signals providing a powerful tool for early cancer detection through the identification of the first circulating cancer cells.

Related links: www.rarecells.com

For more information: [email protected]

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1280816/Rarecells_Diagnostics_Logo.jpg

SOURCE RARECELLS
NEW YORK, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- ReFED and Upcycled Food Association  leading national nonprofits working to reduce food loss and waste across the food system and attract more investment to the space  have launched the first-ever Food Waste Funder Circle. A dedicated network to support private, public, and philanthropic funders who want to use their capital to scale a full range of solutions to food waste, the Food Waste Funder Circle offers a curated platform for education, collaboration, and investment to close the gap in capital needed to reach the national goal to reduce food waste by 50% by the year 2030.

Membership in the Food Waste Funder Circle is free and open to both individual investors and representatives from funder organizations. Current members include Closed Loop Partners, The Kroger Zero Hunger | Zero Waste Foundation, Crown Family Philanthropies, Circulate Capital, Trailhead Capital, Green Circle Capital, and more. Member benefits include:



Market update newsletters

Monthly deal flow reports

Quarterly educational events

Bi-weekly pitch events

Special working groups

"Office hour" sessions with ReFED and/or its program partners

For more information about the Food Waste Funder Circle, visit https://refed.org/engage/food-waste-funder-circle.

About ReFED

ReFED is a national nonprofit working to end food loss and waste across the food system by advancing data-driven solutions to the problem. ReFED leverages data and insights to highlight supply chain inefficiencies and economic opportunities; mobilizes and connects people to take targeted action; and catalyzes capital to spur innovation and scale high-impact initiatives. For more information, visit www.refed.org .

About Upcycled Food Association

Upcycled Food Association (UFA) is a nonprofit working to prevent food waste by accelerating the upcycled economy. UFA is a network of more than 180 businesses from around the world, collaborating to empower consumers to prevent food waste with the products they buy. UFA recently launched the Upcycled Certified program, the world's first product certification for upcycled products and ingredients. For more information, visit www.upcycledfood.org.

Media Contacts:

Melody Serafino

ReFED/The Number 29

[email protected]

Turner Wyatt

Upcycled Food Association

[email protected]

SOURCE Upcycled Food Association
ARLINGTON, Va., Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Representative Jackie Walorski (R-Indiana), has been selected as an inaugural recipient of the Congressional Bone Health Champion award by the Bone Health and Osteoporosis Foundation. The award, which was presented today at the U.S. Capitol, recognizes Members of Congress who have demonstrated outstanding leadership, advocacy, and commitment to protect and improve the bone health of Americans.

Rep. Walorski is the lead co-sponsor of bipartisan legislation, the Increasing Access to Osteoporosis Testing for Medicare Beneficiaries Act of 2021. This bill aims to make sure more Medicare beneficiaries get screened for osteoporosis and thereby reduce the number who suffer fractures and second fractures. A 2021 report by the independent actuarial firm Milliman report found that only 9% of women who suffer a fracture are screened for osteoporosis within six months of a new fracture. Other analyses have shown that Medicare payment rates have been cut by 70% and, in the last 5 years, the osteoporosis diagnosis of older women has declined by 18%.

"Americans should be thankful for the leadership Rep. Walorski is playing to improve their bone health," said Claire Gill, CEO of the Bone Health and Osteoporosis Foundation. "Bone health is crucial to your overall health. Congress needs to prioritize bone health on our nation's healthcare agenda, and pass legislation to improve bone health screening. We know it will have a dramatic impact on improving quality of life and reducing costly osteoporotic fractures," concluded Gill.

Bone health and osteoporosis have an enormous impact on Americans. An estimated 54 million Americans have osteoporosis or low bone mass, and studies suggest that approximately 1 in 2 women and up to 1 in 4 men age 50 and older will break a bone due to osteoporosis in their lifetime.

Approximately 1.8 million Medicare beneficiaries suffered 2.1 million osteoporotic fractures in 2016 and osteoporosis-related bone fractures are responsible for more hospitalizations than heart attacks, strokes, or breast cancer. In Rep. Walorski's state of Indiana, some 37,000 Medicare beneficiaries suffered over 43,400 osteoporotic fractures in 2016. The total annual cost for osteoporotic fractures among Medicare beneficiaries was $57 billion in 2018 and is expected to grow to over $95 billion in 2040 without reforms as the population ages.

About the Bone Health and Osteoporosis Foundation

The Bone Health & Osteoporosis Foundation, formerly the National Osteoporosis Foundation, is the leading health organization dedicated to preventing osteoporosis and broken bones, promoting strong bones for life and reducing human suffering through programs of public and clinician awareness, education, advocacy and research. Established in 1984, BHOF is the nation's largest health organization dedicated to osteoporosis and bone health.

Contact: Carina May

[email protected]

Phone: 202-352-8723

SOURCE Bone Health and Osteoporosis Foundation
Continued Growth in Ontario to Better Serve Our Customers

ST. CATHARINES, ON, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Right Time Group of Companies ("Right Time" or the "Company") announced the acquisition of Climate Air Heating & Air Conditioning. Founded in 2002, Climate Air provides residential heating, cooling, air quality, and hot water services to homeowners in the City of Barrie, Ontario, and surrounding areas. Management and employees of Climate Air will join the Right Time team and will benefit from Right Time's management and training capabilities. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Right Time is continuously looking to add new residential HVAC and home services locations to its existing network in Canada. Interested owners are asked to contact Curtis Budgell at the coordinates below for more information.

Climate Air is the eleventh acquisition completed by Right Time. Craig Goettler, the Company's CEO, said, "Right Time immediately took notice of the long-standing business Dennis Kavaratzis built from the ground up at Climate Air. It is in that spirit that Climate Air will remain a local company, committed to serving the community and people of Barrie. New and existing customers will continue to receive the high level of customer satisfaction for which the Climate Air brand is known."

"For twenty years, Climate Air has been a successful family business in Simcoe County, devoted to serving our community and offering customer service excellence," said Climate Air owner Dennis Kavaratzis. "We are very excited to join The Right Time Group. Our mission has always been to provide the best home comfort experience for sales, installations, service, and customer service. With the support of The Right Time Group, we will reach our goals and continue to deliver optimum service."

About Right Time

Right Time is the leading Canadian independent heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning ("HVAC") contractor focused on the residential market. Right Time now operates out of 17 locations in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia with over 700 employees, and provides preventative maintenance programs, repairs, and replacements of household HVAC units. For more information, please visit www.right-time.ca. Right Time is majority-owned by Gryphon Investors, a leading middle-market private equity firm.

About Gryphon Investors

Based in San Francisco, Gryphon Investors (www.gryphoninvestors.com) is a leading private equity firm focused on profitably growing and competitively enhancing middle-market companies in partnership with experienced management. The firm has managed over $7.50 billion of equity investments and capital since 1997. Gryphon targets making equity investments of $50 million to $300 million in portfolio companies with enterprise values ranging from approximately $100 million to $600 million. Gryphon prioritizes investment opportunities where it can form strong partnerships with owners and executives to build leading companies, utilizing Gryphon's capital, specialized professional resources, and operational expertise.

Contact:

Curtis Budgell, Vice President, Corporate Development

Right Time Group of Companies

[email protected]

204-296-8420

SOURCE Right Time Group of Companies
LOS ANGELES, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Probate litigation law firm RMO LLP announced today that attorney David Greco has been elected to serve as the Chair of the San Diego County Bar Association's Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law Section in 2022.

"We are proud of the leadership David demonstrates not only within our practice area but throughout the legal community," said firm Founding Partner Scott Rahn.

Greco helped launch RMO's San Diego office in 2018. He represents beneficiaries, as well as professional and corporate fiduciaries in contested trust, estate, and probate litigation matters, as well as related estate administration issues from the trial level through appeal, including handling matters before the California Supreme Court.

"I am thrilled to serve the San Diego community as chair of the SDCBA Estate Planning Section in 2022," said Greco. "In particular, I look forward to planning programs covering contemporary legal issues in estate planning and litigation, throwing a social event, and working with Kimberley Deede and Rebecca Van Loon, both of whom I know well. I am also excited to include our distinguished San Diego probate bench in these programs and to further connect the judiciary to the field of talented trust and estate lawyers in the county."

The San Diego County Bar Association, founded in 1899, serves as the center of San Diego's legal community. With more than 50 unique Sections, Committees and divisions, and various community service projects, the San Diego County Bar Association is where San Diego's legal professionals connect and convene for the betterment of their individual practices and the profession.

Prior to joining RMO, Greco worked for the California Court of Appeal, the California Attorney General's Office, and the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California. He graduated magna cum laude from the University of San Diego School of Law, where he was a member of the San Diego Law Review.

RMO LLP provides personal, cost-effective litigation services to individual and institutional clients. The firm's attorneys focus on litigation of contested trust, estate, probate, and conservatorship matters, and related appeals. RMO has offices in Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego, Ventura, Miami and Kansas City. For more information, please visit https://rmolawyers.com/.

SOURCE RMO LLP
Agriculture has evolved over the years to drive efficiency, yield and profits, and the rise of digital agriculture has the potential to be the most transformative and disruptive evolution of all. Experts at EY say investors are pouring billions of dollars into agriculture technology like software because the agriculture industry has begun harnessing the power of data and analytics. The introduction of precision farming  an approach that uses data sensors, connected devices, remote-control tools and other technologies  has enabled farmers to accurately measure, map and manage variations in their fields to increase yields and lower production costs.

"SAS is so precise it can tease a gnat off a dragon's rump," said David Blakemore, CEO of Blakemore Cotton & Grain.

Explore more about how analytics helps create higher yields and better uptime in this webinar, Optimizing Manufacturing Quality and Yield With SAS Analytics.

Why big data matters to the cotton industry

A cotton gin separates cotton seeds from cotton fiber. It takes about 90 seconds for a 480-pound cotton bale to go through that process. The faster the gins run, the better. By analyzing the data flowing off multiple gins over several years, SAS identified key factors that affect the rate of processing  gin function, cotton condition and variety, fiber strength  to determine ideal gin speeds that improve machine uptime to get cotton products to market more quickly. SAS and Cotton Incorporated used this project as a method to demonstrate the value of such analytics to industry leaders.

"When Cotton Incorporated talks, the industry listens," said David Blakemore, CEO of Blakemore Cotton & Grain, a Missouri company that has used SAS predictive analytics to improve the uptime on its cotton gins. "SAS is so precise it can tease a gnat off a dragon's rump. When you combine that kind of influence and power, you've got a winner."

SAS began in 1976 as a company that analyzed agricultural data. SAS established an AgTech business unit in 2019 that forms partnerships with emerging companies. "SAS' roots are in agriculture, and we're eager to make a difference in the cotton industry with support from Cotton Incorporated," said Paula Henderson, SAS Executive Vice President and Chief Sales Officer for the Americas. "Together we'll use the latest analytics and artificial intelligence technologies  like computer vision and streaming analytics  to help companies supply food and fiber to the world."

"SAS, our North Carolina neighbor, will help the cotton industry further modernize," said J. Berrye Worsham, President and CEO of Cotton Incorporated. "I have no doubt our work in ginning, textiles and retail will make a meaningful difference in the ways our industry grows in more fruitful and sustainable ways."

About Cotton Incorporated

Cotton Incorporated, funded by U.S. growers of upland cotton and importers of cotton and cotton textile products, is the research and marketing company representing upland cotton. The program is designed and operated to improve the demand for and profitability of cotton.

About SAS

SAS is the leader in analytics. Through innovative software and services, SAS empowers and inspires customers around the world to transform data into intelligence. SAS gives you THE POWER TO KNOW.

SAS and all other SAS Institute Inc. product or service names are registered trademarks or trademarks of SAS Institute Inc. in the USA and other countries.  indicates USA registration. Other brand and product names are trademarks of their respective companies. Copyright  2021 SAS Institute Inc. All rights reserved.

Editorial Contact:

Laura Fleek Brumley

[email protected]

214-803-6692

sas.com/news

SOURCE SAS
The recipients of SearchStax's 2021 Partner Excellence Award cover three geographic areas:

The Americas: Altudo for creating a seamless user experience at Gonzaga University using Sitecore and Managed Solr

APAC: Espire for using SearchStudio to transform site search into a user-focused digital experience on Sitecore at Australian Catholic University (ACU)

EMEA: UNRVLD for rebuilding and re-architecting a Sitecore implementation with Managed Solr at the London Metal Exchange (LME)

"We are delighted to announce the winners of the inaugural 2021 Partner Excellence Award," said Mamie Cruse, Head of Global Partnerships at SearchStax. "This award is an opportunity to highlight the exceptional work and value that our Alliance members bring to their clients. We received numerous nominations that showcased the complex problems our partners innovatively solve for their clients. SearchStax would like to congratulate each winner for their dedication to providing cutting-edge technologies for a best-in-class experience."

The Partner Excellence Award will be an annual award open to all members of the SearchStax Alliance Program.

About SearchStax:

SearchStax is the easiest and fastest way for marketers and developers to deliver the most powerful, relevant and robust search experiences. SearchStax offers end-to-end search solutions for better search - with Managed Solr infrastructure on the backend and SearchStudio powering site search on the front end. With tight integrations into the Sitecore, Drupal and Adobe ecosystems, and over 300 customers, companies around the globe trust SearchStax to make powerful search easier. More information can be found at www.searchstax.com .

About SearchStax Partner Alliance:

SOURCE SearchStax
ROCKAWAY, N.J., Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- This Diwali season, 315 Dharmic-American organizations and communities came together to collect over 590,000 pounds of food, donating to about 240 food distribution centers across the country. Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh USA (HSS) coordinated this initiative nationwide. The effort extended across 31 states and involved over 200 townships. Through Sewa Diwali, communities throughout America which align themselves with the Dharmic values originating in the Indian subcontinent - Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, and Jains - channeled their continued dedication to selfless service and shared celebration into a collective, far-reaching initiative involving volunteers across all age groups and serving a wide American demographic.

Sewa Diwali initiative at Winston-Salem NC Sewa Diwali 2021 - At a glance

Mayor John B. Muns of Plano, Texas, while thanking local volunteers, noted, "Your generosity gives hope to folks who have food insecurity. There's a lot of hard work that goes into giving back to a community."

Diwali, a festival celebrated by nearly all cultures and traditions that originated in present-day India commemorates triumphant virtue and knowledge. It is commonly celebrated as a festival of lights with community gatherings and feasts. "This festival presents us with an important opportunity to put one of our core Dharmic values into practice: the entire world is a family," says Krishnamurthy Woonnimani, National Coordinator for Sewa Diwali. "We want to extend our celebration and warmth beyond just our families and friends."

The distribution centers which received food through Sewa Diwali included food pantries, schools, colleges, and houses of worship. Mark McCormick, President of Middlesex College in Edison, NJ explained, "We have over 10,000 students and many of them experience food insecurity. The food donated today will go a long way toward alleviating that food insecurity and helping them focus on their studies. We're very grateful."

Aparna Jujjavarapu, the North America Executive Secretary at Chinmaya Mission added, "We are very glad to be a part of Sewa Diwali and hope to continue to live up to our pledge of producing more than what we consume and giving more than what we take. May we all continue to stand as one family with love and respect."

Sewa Diwali also received recognition from several government officials across the United States. "Your partnership with Sewa Diwali to supply the town of Harrisburg's Community Food Pantry is of great merit," said State Senator Paul Newton of North Carolina, "and I believe your service to those in need will have a significant impact."

"We were very happy to see so many children practice and experience something so essential to our culture and to humanity - that is, selfless service, or sewa - on this auspicious occasion," added Chand Mehta, President of the Rajasthan Association of North America.

About Sewa Diwali

Sewa Diwali strives to make a difference in the lives of those experiencing food insecurity. Driven by the values of Dharma and selfless service, this noble act of giving back is a collective initiative of Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh, and Jain communities. This initiative is coordinated nationally by Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh USA, a non-profit, voluntary service organization.

HSS Media Contact

Vikas Deshpande

973-500-8477

[email protected]

SOURCE Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh USA
MILWAUKEE, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Ademi LLP is investigating MPB (OTCPink: MPHX), for possible breaches of fiduciary duty and other violations of law in its transaction with Alerus.

Click here to learn how to join the action: https://www.ademilaw.com/case/mpb-bhc-inc or call Guri Ademi toll-free at 866-264-3995. There is no cost or obligation to you.

Ademi LLP alleges MPB's financial outlook and prospects are excellent and yet MPB shareholders will receive only 0.74 Alerus common shares for each outstanding MPHX share, or approximately 2.58 million Alerus shares in the aggregate. Using a price per share of Alerus common stock of $31.43 as of December 7, 2021, the transaction has an implied purchase price of $23.26 per share, which equates to an aggregate value of $85.3 million, including $4.3 million in consideration for option holders. The merger agreement unreasonably limits competing bids for MPB by prohibiting solicitation of further bids, and imposing a significant penalty if MPB accepts a superior bid. MPB insiders will receive substantial benefits as part of change of control arrangements.

We are investigating the conduct of MPB's board of directors, and whether they are (i) fulfilling their fiduciary duties to all shareholders, and (ii) obtaining a fair and reasonable price for MPB.

If you own MPB common stock and wish to obtain additional information, please contact Guri Ademi either at [email protected] or toll-free: 866-264-3995, or https://www.ademilaw.com/case/mpb-bhc-inc.

We specialize in shareholder litigation involving buyouts, mergers, and individual shareholder rights throughout the country. For more information, please feel free to call us. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

Contacts



Ademi LLP

Guri Ademi

Toll Free: (866) 264-3995

Fax: (414) 482-8001

SOURCE Ademi LLP
LOS ANGELES, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Staley Point Capital ("Staley Point"), a value-add investor focused on industrial properties in Southern California, today announced the acquisition of 12450 Foothill Blvd., a 103,000 square-foot industrial property in the Northern Los Angeles market, for $24 million ($234 per square foot). This transaction marks Staley Point's third investment in the North Los Angeles market since September 2020.

The institutional-quality, 24-foot clear height building is fully leased to Vision Scenery Corporation, one of the largest set design shops in Los Angeles. The property is in a prime location at the intersection of I-210 (towards San Gabriel Valley and the Inland Empire) and Highway 118 (through Los Angeles County into Ventura County). The asset's proximity to the I-5 provides added connectivity to Central LA and Orange County.

"The San Fernando Valley is one of the most supply constrained submarkets in the Los Angeles Basin," said Eric Staley, Managing Director of Staley Point. "With no supply and strong tenant demand, including from the studio and content creation sectors, we are enthusiastic about closing the Foothill acquisition and expect to invest further in the region in 2022."

In line with the current tenant's business model, 12450 Foothill Blvd. is currently ideally configured for design and set construction for TV commercials, trade show booths, movies, and print work. Its attractive location within "The Studio Zone"  a 30-mile (48km) radius in which production studios can operate at lower labor costs  ensures long-term, robust demand from the studio and content creation sectors. The property also benefits from the San Fernando Valley's high population density: at 1.75 million people, SFV is the fifth most populous region in the United States.

The acquisition was completed via a joint venture between Staley Point Capital and Bain Capital Real Estate. The vehicle has been an active acquiror of infill industrial properties on the West Coast since launching in September 2020. Most recently, Staley Point closed on the purchase of a 90,000 square-foot warehouse in Seattle's South of Downtown ("SODO") neighborhood for $31.6 million, as well as 2187 Garfield Avenue, a 132,000 square-foot warehouse in Commerce, CA, for $38.5 million.

Winston & Strawn, LLP served as legal counsel to Staley Point Capital for the transaction. Delphi Business Properties represented both the buyer and seller and JLL Capital Markets will arrange the loan financing.

About Staley Point Capital

Staley Point Capital is a Los Angeles-based real estate investment firm. The firm was founded in 2019 by Kevin Staley and focuses on the acquisition of value-add and opportunistic real estate investments primarily in the industrial sector. Notable Southern California investments have included The Citadel in the City of Commerce, Magellan Gateway in El Monte and a self-storage portfolio, Magellan Storage. To find out more, visit www.staleypoint.com.

Contacts

Mickey Mandelbaum, Prosek Partners

(310) 709-8900

[email protected]

Aidan O'Connor, Prosek Partners

(646) 818-9283

[email protected]

SOURCE Staley Point Capital
NEW YORK, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- TANK Worldwide, a global healthcare communications and creative agency with offices in Montreal, Toronto, New York and London, today announced a progressive new leadership team to take the WPP-owned company into the future as it celebrates its 15th anniversary.

TANK WW has grown to a staff of 350 people and services some of the largest healthcare brands in the world including Pfizer, Abbott, GSK, Eli Lilly and Johnson & Johnson. In the last year alone, the agency has won accounts including Moderna's COVID Vaccine and Danaher's Cepheid PCR testing platform. Having experienced double-digit revenue increases for five straight years, TANK's work can now be seen in over 50 markets around the world. Its award-winning creative product includes campaigns for some of the leading healthcare companies, including GSK, Pfizer and BMS.

As TANK marks the 5th anniversary of its acquisition by WPP's Grey Group, it is announcing five executive promotions and one external hire that will form the new executive leadership team effective immediately.

COO: Mylene Savoie has been named Chief Operating Officer from SVP, Managing Director, Borderless

has been named from SVP, Managing Director, Borderless CCO: Thomas Lecordier has been named Chief Commercial Officer from SVP, Managing Director, Health

has been named from SVP, Managing Director, Health CSO: Florian Schedler has been named Chief Strategy Officer from SVP, Managing Director, Planning

has been named from SVP, Managing Director, Planning CMO: Jill Mastroianni has been named Chief Marketing Officer from SVP Group Account Director

has been named from SVP Group Account Director CTO: Annick Desy has been named acting Chief Talent Officer from Strategic Advisor, Talent and Org Development

has been named acting from Strategic Advisor, Talent and Org Development GM: Nicole Lupke has been named General Manager TANK/Grey Toronto from SVP, Managing Director at Grey

Chief Executive Officer Marc Lanouette, Chief Financial Officer Patrice Landry and Chief Creative Officer Marty Martinez will retain their current roles.

"Each member of the new executive team has pushed the boundaries of health and wellness advertising, innovated ways of working, built strong relationships with our employees, WPP colleagues and clients and are passionate and accomplished advocates for diversity, equity and inclusion." commented CEO Marc Lanouette during an all-staff town hall, as he also thanked employees for their accomplishments and ingenuity throughout the pandemic.

About TANK Worldwide

TANK Worldwide, a member of the WPP network (NYSE: WPP) and part of the Grey Group, is a marketing communications agency with offices in Montreal, Toronto, New York, and London. The agency serves several major national and international brands, including Volvo Canada, Pfizer, Abbott, GSK, Eli Lilly, and Johnson & Johnson. TANK Worldwide's unique strategic planning and creative process, ThinkTANK, is distinguished by the creative intelligence of the agency and the client in collaborative work sessions. To learn more, visit http://www.tankww.com.

About Grey

Grey, the global communications network, is part of AKQA Group. Its parent company is WPP (NYSE: WPP). Under the banner of "Grey Famously Effective Since 1917" the agency serves a blue-chip roster of many of the world's best-known companies: Procter & Gamble, GlaxoSmithKline, Kellogg's, Pfizer, Canon, MassMutual, Nestle, Google, Volvo, and Applebee's. In recent years, Grey has been named ADWEEK'S "Global Agency of the Year" twice; ADVERTISING AGE's "Agency of the Year" and CAMPAIGN magazine's "Global Network of the Year" in recognition of its creative and business performance (www.grey.com).

Contact: Owen J. Dougherty

[email protected]

212.535.2063

SOURCE Grey
CHICAGO, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. (NYSE: TDS) today announced a series of planned finance leadership transitions expected to take place through May 2022. Peter L. Sereda, currently Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of TDS plans to retire in May 2022 and will be replaced by Vicki L. Villacrez, currently Senior Vice President  Finance and Chief Financial Officer of TDS Telecom, a wholly-owned subsidiary of TDS. Replacing Ms. Villacrez as Chief Financial Officer of TDS Telecom will be Michelle M. Brukwicki, currently Vice President  Financial Analysis and Strategic Planning at TDS.

"TDS has an effective succession planning process, and this orderly transition at these important leadership positions is evidence of this long-term effort," said LeRoy T. Carlson, Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer of TDS. "Vicki Villacrez has been instrumental in driving the successful transformation at TDS Telecom, as it has executed on its broadband strategy and significantly expanded the fiber deployment program. We look forward to her contributions leading the finance teams across the TDS Enterprise. Michelle Brukwicki brings an exceptional background in strategic planning, analysis, and accounting to her new role leading the finance organization at TDS Telecom, and I am confident she will excel in her new position."

"I sincerely thank Peter Sereda for his most meaningful contributions to the TDS Enterprise for the last 23 years, as Treasurer and then Chief Financial Officer. His steady leadership over TDS' capital structure, finance, and accounting has positioned the company to soundly finance our business and our growth projects for years to come."

Villacrez was named Vice President  Finance and CFO at TDS Telecom in May of 2012 and was promoted to Senior Vice President in 2017. She has been with the company for three decades, having first joined parent company TDS, Inc. in 1989, serving as an internal auditor. Before moving into her current role, she held multiple leadership positions with growing responsibility across finance.

Villacrez works with numerous stakeholders, including the TDS Board of Directors, Audit Committee, investors, buy and sell analysts, news/industry reporters, and rating agencies.

Villacrez earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Upper Iowa University and a Master of Business Administration from Edgewood College in Madison, Wisconsin. She is also a certified public accountant.

Michelle Brukwicki became Vice President  Financial Analysis and Strategic Planning at TDS in 2017. She leads the enterprise-wide strategic planning, budgeting, and forecasting process for TDS and its business units.

Brukwicki joined TDS in 2007. Prior to her current position, she most recently served as Director of Accounting for TDS Telecom. She previously held increasingly responsible management roles within the organization in accounting and financial reporting, cash accounting, and accounting policy.

A CPA, Brukwicki received a Bachelor of Business Administration and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Wisconsin  Madison.



About TDS

Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. (TDS), a Fortune 1000 company, provides wireless; broadband, video and voice; and hosted and managed services to approximately 6 million connections nationwide through its businesses, UScellular, TDS Telecom, and OneNeck IT Solutions. Founded in 1969 and headquartered in Chicago, TDS employed approximately 8,900 associates as of September 30, 2021.

For more information about TDS and its subsidiaries, visit:

TDS: www.tdsinc.com

UScellular: www.uscellular.com

TDS Telecom: www.tdstelecom.com

OneNeck IT Solutions: www.oneneck.com

SOURCE Telephone and Data Systems
TYSONS CORNER, Va., Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Cyber Guild, the only Virginia cybersecurity trade association, honored eight Capital Region cybersecurity leaders at this year's third annual Cybersecurity Awards ceremony held on December 8 at Refraction.

"The Cyber Guild is helping to advance the criticality of cybersecurity and workforce diversity among cybersecurity professionals," said Debbie Sallis, Executive Director for The Cyber Guild. "We know that it takes a village to make cybersecurity a priority and with help from this year's awardees, we are well on our way to achieving our mission."

This year's honorees were selected from nominations across six different award categories and represent the best of the cybersecurity industry in the nation's capital region, including innovative supply chain practices in security, intelligence community veterans, community and alliance experts, and security technical leaders that have been impactful on the cyber community.

Cybersecurity is the largest growing threat to national security and commerce in our country.

The 2021 Cyber Guild award winners are:

Emerging leader - Individual

Alison King, Legislative Affairs Advisor, CISA

An individual with an entrepreneurial mindset who through their leadership and advocacy is rapidly becoming an influencer within the Cyber community.

Emerging leader Company

David Maskeroni, CEO and Co-founder, Aquia Inc

An organization role modeling the advancement of cybersecurity, and diversity, in the broadest sense; investing and delivering new technologies, ways of working and dynamic partnership to help safeguard organizations impacted by cyberattacks and to grow a sustainable cyber workforce.

Changemaker

Brian McMahon, CEO, Bandura Cyber

A leader who is advancing the cybersecurity ecosystem by setting new standards, implementing new technologies and/ or educating organizations and the greater community about the importance of cyber.

Warrior

Jennifer Bisceglie, CEO, Interos

An energetic personality who creates trusted relationships to get ahead of adversaries and who solves current and emerging threats by applying innovative technology and sustaining robust networks.

Ambassador

Bryan Ware, CEO, Next5

A respected advocate and powerful connector in the sector, who activates leaders and decision makers to enable positive change across the private and public sectors.

Luminaires

Teresa Shea, Vice President, Cyber Offense and Defense Experts, Raytheon Intelligence and Space

Honorable Ellen Lord, former Undersecretary Acquisition and Sustainment at the U.S. Department of Defense

Trailblazers who emulate the importance of cyber as "part of the fabric of everyday living" in their leadership of their organization/sector/community and a role model in advancing "opportunities to be as universal as talent".

Alliance leader

Esther Lee, CEO Refraction

An individual disrupting business as usual, educating organizations and the greater community about the importance of cyber hygiene, implementing security standards and advocating for engagement.

"I am humbled to be recognized by the Cyber Guild whose work to convene and communicate national security issues related to cybersecurity is truly making a meaningful impact to our nation," said Ellen Lord, Cyber Guild honoree and former Undersecretary Acquisition and Sustainment at the U.S. Department of Defense.

The mission of the Cyber Guild is to continually advance cybersecurity by attracting diversity to all levels of the industry, unifying allies across the private and public sector, and ensuring opportunities are as universal as talent. Now more than ever, the Cyber Guild is working to build awareness to fill the skills and talent shortage with partners and collaboration in a focused trade association.

"I am honored by the recognition and happy to play a small part in the Cyber Guild's work to promote cybersecurity and workforce diversity," said Bryan Ware, Cyber Guild honoree and CEO of Next5."

This year's awards were sponsored by the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority Leidos, NeoSystems, and Verisign.

Contact

Debbie Sallis

Executive Director

[email protected]

About The Cyber Guild

The Cyber Guild is the trade association representing the national capital region's cyber security sector. Founded in 2019 as a 501 c6 and c3, with deep roots in promoting cyber security sector diversity and inclusion with Uniting Women in Cyber, www.unitingwomenincyber.com. The Cyber Guild serves companies from all sectors of the industry, from small businesses and startups to Fortune 100 companies, as well as service providers, academic institutions, and nonprofit organizations by advancing cybersecurity as part of the "fabric of everyday living", within their communities, network and or organization (private, public, not for profit, federal).

SOURCE The Cyber Guild, Inc.
TORONTO, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - The Green Organic Dutchman Holdings Ltd. (the "Company") (CSE: TGOD) (US-OTC: TGODF), a sustainable global cannabis company is pleased to announce changes to its senior sales team to drive forward leading sales strategies and accelerate the launch of the Company's innovative products throughout Canada following the Galaxie Brands Corporation ("Galaxie") acquisition.

Rachel D'Silva is joining the TGOD management team as VP Sales  Galaxie, and will be managing Key accounts for TGOD in addition to managing the Cruuzy sales growth. Rachel has been Vice President Sales at recently acquired Galaxie Brands Corporation since March 2021. Ms. D'Silva has extensive experience in the cannabis and alcohol industries. She previously was Chief Sales Officer at Fluent Beverages, a cannabis beverage JV between Labatt Breweries and Tilray and held senior marketing roles at Aphria, Diageo and InBev.

Robert Gora, Vice President Sales-TGOD, will continue to lead the independent retail and medical channels, as well as the dedicated sales force represented through Acosta across the country. Prior to joining TGOD in 2019, Mr. Gora was General Manager, Medical for MedReleaf and has more than fifteen years experience in the pharma industry, having worked for Innomar Strategies and Brystol-Myers Squibb.

"As we continue to develop strategies to support and increase sales, address commercial gaps and respond to rapidly changing market conditions, we will leverage Robert's and Rachel's experience in the cannabis industry to execute sales strategies that drive sell-through," said Sean Bovingdon, TGOD's CEO and Interim CFO.

The Company further announces the departure of Gayle Duncan, CGO effective December 15th, 2021. The Company appreciates Gayle's contribution in establishing The Green Organic Dutchman as an emerging leader in quality and sustainable cannabis.

About The Green Organic Dutchman Holdings Ltd.

The Green Organic Dutchman Holdings Ltd. (CSE: TGOD) (USOTC: TGODF) is a sustainable cannabis company with a focus on innovation, quality, consistency, integrity and transparency. The Company is committed to cultivating a better tomorrow by producing its products responsibly, with less waste and impact on the environment. In Canada, the company serves the recreational market with a brand portfolio including The Green Organic Dutchman, Highly Dutch Organics, Ripple by TGOD and Cruuzy brands, and the medical markets in Canada, South Africa, Australia, and Germany. All cannabis utilized in products for The Green Organic Dutchman and Highly Dutch Organics brands is grown through a certified organic process, which includes living soil, filtered rainwater, sunlight, and natural inputs.

The companies Common Shares and Warrants issued under the indentures dated December 19, 2019, June 12, 2020, October 23, 2020, and December 10, 2020, trade on the CSE under the symbol "TGOD", "TGOD.WS", "TGOD.WR", "TGOD.WA", and "TGOD.WB" respectively. The companies Common Shares trade in the U.S. on the OTCQX under the symbol "TGODF". For more information on The Green Organic Dutchman Holdings Ltd., please visit www.tgod.ca.

Cautionary Statements

This news release includes statements containing certain "forwardlooking information" within the meaning of applicable securities law ("forwardlooking statements"). Forward looking statements in this release include, but are not limited to, statements about future revenue, statements about potential sales, statements about the offering of any particular products by the Company in any jurisdiction and statements regarding the future performance of the Company, statements about future development and delivery of products, and statements about the level of demand for TGOD's and Galaxie's products. Forwardlooking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "continue", "expect", "project", "intend", "should", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "may", "will", "potential", "proposed" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. These statements are only predictions. Various assumptions were used in drawing the conclusions or making the projections contained in the forwardlooking statements throughout this news release. Forwardlooking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties (including market conditions) and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forwardlooking statements, including those risk factors described in the Company's most recent Annual Information Form filed with Canadian securities regulators and available on the Company's issuer profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information or forward-looking statements in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. The forward-looking information and forward-looking statements included in this news release are made as of the date of this news release. The Company is under no obligation, and expressly disclaims any intention or obligation, to update or revise any forwardlooking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable law.

Neither the CSE nor the CSE's Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of CSE) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE The Green Organic Dutchman Holdings Ltd.

Related Links

https://www.tgod.ca/


"We are proud to deliver Chatham Lofts, the first of many projects proving our commitment to help build a strong, thriving neighborhood in downtown Worcester," said Mark Rengel, Vice President of Development at The Menkiti Group. "It's an honor to infuse development into under-utilized architectural gems like 6 Chatham Street to help them reach their full potential. We believe in the future of downtown Worcester and Chatham Lofts signifies an important step in the advancement of our commitment to bring investment and commercial and residential density back to the historic and vibrant Theatre District."

Chatham Lofts is a new market-rate apartment community featuring 24 luxury apartments comprised of studios, and one-to-two-bedroom units housed in a six-story historic building. Each unit is uniquely designed to highlight the existing architecture in order to deliver a distinctive residential living experience.

Project design team members include local General Contractor, R.P. Masiello, Elton + Hampton Architects, Petersen Engineering (MEP/FP), John J. Murphy, Jr. Electrical Construction & Engineering, Northeastern Engineering (Structural), Graves Engineering (Civil) and MacRostie Historic Advisors who served as the Historic Consultant. Chatham Lofts received approval for listing on the National Register of Historic Places from the National Park Service and qualified for both federal and state historic tax credits.

The project also received state and local support through a Housing Development Tax Increment Exemption (TIE) Agreement with the City of Worcester and Housing Development (HD) Investment Tax Credits through the Massachusetts Housing Development Incentive Program (HDIP) administered by the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Urban Development (DHCD). Chatham Lofts was financed through an equity investment by the MG Capital's eMpower Worcester Opportunity Zone Fund and debt provided by Webster Five and the PCI Fund.

"Webster Five is proud to have been part of bringing this new downtown project to fruition," said Webster Five Vice President & Business Lending Officer Monica Thomas-Bonnick. "Chatham Lofts adds to the vitality of downtown Worcester while honoring and preserving an iconic, historic building. That kind of thoughtful development is a win for the city."

The grand opening of Chatham Lofts marks the completed rehabilitation and historic restoration of three adjacent structures built in 1892, 1915, and 1926. From the time of their original construction, the buildings served for many decades as the headquarters of the Worcester Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA). Over the years the building was home to other prominent local organizations including the Worcester Foothills Theatre, WICN Public Radio, and the Performing Arts School of Worcester.

"With the opening of Chatham Lofts the city is excited to see this historic building in downtown comeback to life," said City Manager Edward M. Augustus Jr. "By adding 24 new units of housing in the Theatre district, Chatham Lofts adds density and foot traffic that will benefit the many retail and cultural sites in addition to providing beautiful homes for people. This project is one more example of the revitalization of downtown Worcester."

6 Chatham Street was originally purchased in 2015 by the late Ifeanyi A. Menkiti, a former poet and philosophy professor at Wellesley College who had a distinct vision for downtown Worcester. His legacy lives on with The Menkiti Group and the enterprise is committed to building upon Worcester's storied history to create a new thriving downtown which further helps realize their mission of transforming lives, careers, and communities through real estate. With this project, The Menkiti Group successfully developed high quality housing and infused sophistication into the downtown Worcester housing market by bringing back to life a significant cultural and historic asset in the city.

Chatham Lofts signifies an important milestone in The Menkiti Group's overarching goal to bring new life and vibrancy to the Theatre District in support of the City's Downtown Urban Revitalization Plan. In addition to Chatham Lofts, The Menkiti Group's strategically positioned and growing portfolio of properties in Worcester include 401-405 Main Street (formerly Shacks Clothing), 554 Main Street, and 204 Main Street. Earlier this year, Chatham Lofts, and 401-405 Main Street were both awarded the Silver Hammer Award, an annual award given by the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce to acknowledge construction or rehabilitation projects that provide an extraordinary impact on the physical landscape and assist in revitalizing the community.

"We are very excited to see progress on redevelopment in the Theatre District led by The Menkiti Group with projects like Chatham Lofts," said Bill Aldrich, Founder and Co-Owner/ Chef of Theatre Cafe and Center Stage Bistro. "We look forward to our Center Stage Bistro opening in their flagship property at 554 Main Street this upcoming spring."

Bo Menkiti, Mark Rengel, and members of The Menkiti Group team were joined at Thursday's ceremony by City Manager Edward M. Augustus, Jr., Mayor Joseph Petty, District 2 Councilor Candy F. Mero-Carlson, and community members as well as representatives and partners of the project.

"At The Menkiti Group we have remained diligent over the last 17 years in pursuing our mission of transforming lives, careers, and communities through real estate, and we are proud to be delivering this unique residential project that continues the momentum of economic development in the City of Worcester," said Menkiti. "When I first visited Worcester with my father, it was amazing to see the grit, determination, energy, and potential represented in the restaurants, small businesses, and creative community that chose to establish a home downtown. Witnessing first-hand the commitment of the city's residents and small businesses and the exceptionally strong municipal leadership, it was clear that everyone is committed to the potential that is in Worcester and it is exciting to be part helping to realize the community's vision for downtown by delivering an impactful project like Chatham Lofts."

ABOUT THE MENKITI GROUP

Founded in 2004, The Menkiti Group is a 100% minority-owned Certified Business Enterprise headquartered in Washington, DC, with additional offices in Worcester, Massachusetts. The organization was founded with the mission to transform lives, careers, and communities through real estate. The Menkiti Group is a double bottom line company, measuring success in terms of financial and positive social impact. The company's approach to urban neighborhood transformation and investment is centered upon residential and commercial development, residential sales, and commercial brokerage.

The Menkiti Group invests in abandoned and underutilized properties and transforms them into exciting and affordable homes and workspaces. Projects range from single-family residential renovations and the development and tenanting of main street commercial properties to large-scale, mixed-use, transit-oriented development projects. Over the past 17 years, The Menkiti Group has invested over $250MM in DC's emerging neighborhoods, worked on the development of over 2.1MM SF of real estate, and has assisted over 2,000 families in purchasing their first homes. For more information, please visit MenkitiGroup.com or call (202) 733-5455.

SOURCE The Menkiti Group
Thomson Reuters Spanish legal business intended to be sold in conjunction with Wolters Kluwer's legal research solutions in Spain and France

TORONTO, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Thomson Reuters announced today that it has received a binding offer from Karnov Group ("Karnov") to purchase Editorial Aranzadi SAU ("Thomson Reuters Legal Business Spain"). As part of the offer, Thomson Reuters Legal Business Spain is intended to be combined with and sold in conjunction with Wolters Kluwer France S.A.S ("Wolters Kluwer France") and Wolters Kluwer Espana, S.A. ("Wolters Kluwer Spain").

While the proposed sale includes Thomson Reuters' legal products and solutions specific to Spain, Thomson Reuters will continue to serve the Spanish market through its global content-driven technology solutions, including Westlaw International, Practical Law, Contract Express, ONESOURCE, Confirmation and HighQ, among others.

"As a key player in content-driven technology, this transaction will allow us to focus on serving the Spanish market through our first-class global product suite. It will also enable us to further invest in key areas where we can deliver the most impact for our customers," said Steve Hasker, president and CEO of Thomson Reuters. "We believe this business will see continued success and growth under its new ownership."

"With shared history and values, we see the proposed transaction with Thomson Reuters as an attractive opportunity to further grow a strong and respected business," said Pontus Bodelsson, CEO of Karnov Group. "As the digital transformation progresses, we're especially eager to serve customers in this market with the high-quality products and services required to most effectively do their jobs."

Upon receipt of the offer, Wolters Kluwer and Thomson Reuters have granted Karnov an exclusive period of discussions. A transaction would be conditional upon antitrust approval in Spain.

Thomson Reuters

Thomson Reuters is a leading provider of business information services. Our products include highly specialized information-enabled software and tools for legal, tax, accounting and compliance professionals combined with the world's most global news service  Reuters. For more information on Thomson Reuters, visit tr.com and for the latest world news, reuters.com.

CONTACTS

MEDIA Melissa Cassar Head of Commercial Communications & Corporate Affairs +1 437 388 3619 [email protected] INVESTORS Frank J. Golden Head of Investor Relations +1 332 219 1111 [email protected]

SOURCE Thomson Reuters

Related Links

thomsonreuters.com


HOUSTON, Dec. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Board of Judges of the Civil Trial Division of the Harris County District Courts met and determined to consolidate all the past filed and any future filed Astroworld lawsuits to one Judge for further handling.

The order was signed late Tuesday, Dec. 07, in response to a motion to consolidate that had been filed by well-known plaintiff lawyer Brent Coon and his firm, which has already filed more than 1,500 claims by concertgoers at the event. The much-anticipated ruling comes ahead of a motion initiated by Defendant Live Nation that requested the Texas Supreme Court in Austin to stay all Astroworld cases for the time being and transfer consolidation of the cases at a later date through the State Judicial Panel on Multi-District Litigation.

Brent Coon filed the motion to consolidate in Houston before the Harris County Board of Judges and refused to join the Live Nation efforts to engage the Texas Supreme Court, saying that such intervention by the Supreme Court in Austin was not necessary in this case and that now Live Nation and other proponents should withdraw their request if in fact they were only concerned about uniformity of proceedings.

In a statement, Coon explained:

"Our firm has handled many other 'mass torts' around the country, and sometimes a request to a state or federal Multi-District Litigation Panel is necessary to get all the cases into one court for uniformity of rulings and elimination of the redundancy that would occur otherwise. That said, Harris County has its own sophisticated protocol for handling these issues without outside intervention. The only explanation for Live Nation's action is to delay these proceedings and deny the plaintiffs swift discovery, trial, and  ultimately  justice.

We filed a request for the Board of Judges in Harris County weeks ago to consolidate these on their own Order, which would eliminate the necessity of all of the two dozen civil judges in Harris County to each have to deal with the same docket and discovery issues with the cases filed in their own courtrooms. But in light of Live Nation's action, we filed a supplemental motion earlier this week to expedite consideration. Thankfully, the Board quickly and without a hearing, ordered all the cases to be consolidated and assigned the docket of Judge Kristen Hawkins, who presides over the 11th District Court of Harris County in Houston.

Now that Judge Hawkins has the oversight of all of the cases, we have asked her to hold Dec. 13 for a status conference on the entire docket with all lawyers, which will give us an opportunity to start organizing the case between all the litigants and their counsel and start working on the extensive amount of discovery that a case of this magnitude will entail. There are many good lawyers on both sides of this case, and we look forward to working with all of them to get to the bottom of what happened and why it happened, and not only achieve some form of recourse for our clients, but to provide some additional assurances that this will not ever happen again."

About Brent Coon & Associates

Founded in 2001 by Brent Coon, Coon & Associates specializes in complex, multi-party trial law. With offices and legal associations throughout Texas and the nation, Brent Coon & Associates has won hundreds of major jury awards and settlements against industry leaders in the petrochemical, transportation, pharmaceutical and manufacturing industries. As a triple board-certified trial specialist, Coon is also designated counsel to numerous unions, including the United Steel Workers, BMWED, TMPA and others, and has received almost every accolade for demonstrating superior legal and technical skills in the judicial arena.

SOURCE Brent Coon & Associates
COLUMBUS, Ohio, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- For the third consecutive year, Treplus Communities has been selected to receive Silver Award Honors as a finalist in The Best of 55+ Housing Awards presented by the National Association of Homebuilders (NAHB). This year, Treplus Communities was chosen to receive the award for development of Burr Oak Commons, a 92-unit active adult community in Delaware, Ohio.

Many quality entries were received and finalists were selected based on showing innovation and standing out above the competition amidst a brisk housing climate. Silver Award winners are the top vote recipients in each category and move on as finalists at The Nationals, a black tie event slated for Tuesday, February 8, 2022 at the Hyatt Regency Orlando. This event honors the best in 55+ housing awards, global innovation awards, and NAHB honors. The Nationals salutes and honors the best in the building industry for their determination, integrity, creativity, and endurance.

"This is truly an honor to be recognized for our dedication to innovation in active adult living and the building industry as a whole" says Jane Arthur Roslovic, CEO and Co-Founder of Treplus Communities.

The 55+ Housing Industry Council serves builders and industry professionals who work in the high growth segment of today's housing market, meeting the needs of aging, but vibrant baby boomers.

Treplus Communities is an industry champion and thought leader that is redefining 55+ living for active adults in a setting that is uniquely designed to offer beautiful, single-story, condo-quality apartment homes with attached garages and designer finishes. Universal Design elements are integrated in the maintenance-free apartments and provide a lifestyle solution in select Ohio cities. Each neighborhood is complemented by The Commons, a beautiful community center that is the heart of the community offering a spacious venue for entertaining, fitness, group events, business meetings, and resident activities. Treplus Communities provides the space and structure for a rich, socially-engaging resident experience along with a luxury real estate product.

For more information on the NAHB, please visit www.nahb.org. For more information about Treplus Communities or to schedule a tour, visit TreplusCommunities.com or call 1-833-Live 55+ (548-3550).

About Treplus Communities

Treplus Communities is a premier, multi-family development company based in Columbus, Ohio focused on meeting the needs of active adults age 55+. Our beautiful communities offer single-story, condo-quality luxury apartments with attached garages and private entrances that incorporate Universal Design principles and feature designer finishes. We offer amenity-rich, maintenance-free communities that allow residents to enjoy a carefree lifestyle with great opportunities for social engagement.

SOURCE Treplus Communities
ORLANDO, Fla., Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Tupperware Brands Corporation (NYSE: TUP), a leading global consumer products company, announces today of its plans to open a strategic global sourcing center to support the company's strategy to expand into new categories and new channels to meet today's consumer demand.

Supported by the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), Tupperware plans to open the global sourcing office this month that will house a number of functions including sourcing, category management, quality, product development engineering, data entry, product and regulatory standards, purchasing, research and design, and sustainability roles.

The Singapore sourcing office will play an important role in helping to optimize the company's supply chain organization that is key to achieving Tupperware's growth objectives. The center of excellence will support the expansion into new product lines and the development of the company's emerging brands to cater to a wider set of consumer needs. As the business continues to grow, Tupperware is looking to diversify its supplier base to further our reach and access to sustainable materials for continuous improvement and brand-focused products. Tupperware currently operates 11 manufacturing facilities around the world where it plans to continue producing injection molded resin-based products in its company-owned facilities.

"We have plans to expand beyond the kitchen and take Tupperware into more categories and channels than ever before to meet today's growing consumer demand," said Sandra Harris, Chief Operations Officer and Chief Financial Officer at Tupperware Brands. "Singapore will play a critical role in the strategic growth of our iconic brand and emerging sub brands. We have had a corporate presence in Singapore for many years and we look forward to growing our presence in what many see as a global center for business, innovation and talent."

Jakob Rojens will serve as Managing Director for Tupperware's Singapore Sourcing and Supply Chain Centre. Mr. Rojens joined Tupperware after nearly 30 years of experience working across major sourcing markets around the globe to develop world-class sourcing organizations to ensure growth and business success. He will lead the company's new global sourcing efforts and will oversee the regulatory, quality and safety teams for Tupperware's sourced products in these new categories.

"Tupperware's decision to base its global sourcing hub in Singapore reaffirms our position as a critical node in global supply chains, and a hub for businesses to innovate for a portfolio of brands. Tupperware will be able to tap on the strong supply chain, research and creative talent base in Singapore to expand its footprint in Asia and globally. The sourcing team will also play a vital role in facilitating Tupperware's move to adopting sustainable materials, which is aligned with consumers' evolving preferences and Singapore's sustainability goals," said Pin Fen Fong, Vice President and Head, Consumer, EDB.

Tupperware is currently looking for permanent office space in Singapore and expects to begin hiring immediately. Follow Tupperware Brands on LinkedIn for more information on job postings and open roles as they become available.

About Tupperware Brands Corporation

Tupperware Brands Corporation (NYSE: TUP) is a leading global consumer products company that designs innovative, functional and environmentally responsible products that people love and trust. Founded in 1946, Tupperware's signature container created the modern food storage category that revolutionized the way the world stores, serves and prepares food. Today, this iconic brand has more than 8,500 functional design and utility patents for solution-oriented kitchen and home products. With a purpose to nurture a better future, Tupperware products are an alternative to single-use items. The Company distributes its products into nearly 70 countries primarily through independent representatives around the world. For more information, visit Tupperwarebrands.com or follow Tupperware on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn and Twitter .

Investors: Alexis Callahan, [email protected], 321.588.5129

Media: Cameron Klaus, [email protected], 407.371.9784

SOURCE Tupperware Brands Corporation
CHARLESTON, W.Va., Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The U-Haul of N. Charleston facility at 1902 7th Ave. permanently closed its doors on Tuesday after 42 years of serving the local community.

The facility had been open to do-it-yourself moving customers since 1979. Current plans call for U-Haul to maintain ownership of the 1,900-square-foot building.

As a result of the Dec. 7 closing, two Team Members were let go.

Local U-Haul Companies are always exploring opportunities for growth as they pursue means to better serve the needs of customers, but sometimes find it necessary to close or relocate stores. Reasons for closures can include: long-term strategic plans; physical plant limitations, including insufficient square footage; shifts in demographics; trends in migration; expansion of the U-Haul neighborhood dealer network; and proximity to other new or existing U-Haul stores.

U-Haul continues to operate at 10 other Company stores in West Virginia, and one in Charleston.

As an essential service provider, U-Haul continues to serve communities during the COVID-19 recovery while offering contactless business programs and enhanced cleaning protocols, including added steps for sanitizing equipment between customer transactions. U-Haul products are used daily by First Responders; delivery companies bringing needed supplies to people's homes; small businesses trying to remain afloat; college students; and many other dependent groups, in addition to the do-it-yourself household mover.

About U-HAUL

Since 1945, U-Haul has been the No. 1 choice of do-it-yourself movers, with a network of more than 23,000 locations across all 50 states and 10 Canadian provinces. U-Haul Truck Share 24/7 offers secure access to U-Haul trucks every hour of every day through the customer dispatch option on their smartphones and our proprietary Live Verify technology. Our customers' patronage has enabled the U-Haul fleet to grow to approximately 176,000 trucks, 126,000 trailers and 46,000 towing devices. U-Haul offers nearly 825,000 rentable storage units and 71.6 million square feet of self-storage space at owned and managed facilities throughout North America. U-Haul is the largest retailer of propane in the U.S., and continues to be the largest installer of permanent trailer hitches in the automotive aftermarket industry. U-Haul has been recognized repeatedly as a leading "Best for Vets" employer and was recently named one of the 15 Healthiest Workplaces in America.

Contact:

Andrea Batchelor

Jeff Lockridge

E-mail: [email protected]

Phone: 602-263-6981

Website: uhaul.com

SOURCE U-Haul
CHICAGO, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Ubiety Technologies Inc., the creator of HomeAware, the first digital presence monitoring solution, announced it entered a long-term partnership with Rapid Response Monitoring, the leading provider of professional alarm monitoring services, to solve the 98% false alarm rate that challenges today's security monitoring industry.

The partnership will integrate Ubiety's Presence Detection capabilities with Rapid Response's alarm monitoring platform and procedure workflows. Ubiety's presence data delivers situational awareness about people's presence, especially during security alarms. This unique data will significantly reduce false alarm rates by providing the context necessary to augment alarm monitoring providers' confirmation, verification, and notification procedures.

The partnership also presents Rapid Response's national dealer network and its customers with Ubiety's new technology and product offering, HomeAware  the first digital presence monitoring solution for residential awareness and security. HomeAware answers the question "who's in your home?" by enabling homeowners to monitor for the presence of people quickly and reliably via their wireless devices. It provides better situational awareness than traditional security solutions without sacrificing privacy, giving homeowners the information they need to assess and act to resolve false alarms effortlessly.

"Ubiety's product and technology is key to reducing the $1.8 billion a year in costs associated with residential false alarms," said Keith Puckett, CEO and Founder of Ubiety Technologies. "We deliver the critical contextual data needed to augment and support industry standards being established by The Monitoring Association, including CS-V-01. As an industry leader and best in class technology pioneer, Rapid Response is the key partner to help us solve this industry-wide challenge."

Russell MacDonnell, Chairman/CEO at Rapid Response Monitoring stated, "Understanding who is or isn't present in a home when a Burglary alarm is triggered is a game-changer not just for monitoring centers, but for the Security Industry as a whole. It allows us to alter legacy workflow with real-time information providing a real reduction in false alarms and a customer journey never seen before in the alarm industry. We're eager to leverage this technology partnership to bring an entirely new experience to monitoring customers."

About Rapid Response Monitoring

Rapid Response is a premier provider of professional monitoring services. Their fully redundant dual UL, FM, and FDNY-certified monitoring centers are located in Syracuse, NY and Corona, CA and house rigorously trained and certified specialists providing those they protect with unmatched service. Rapid Response has a track record of combining its 30 years of experience with the technologies of tomorrow to develop customized interfaces, applications, and workflows that propel the industry forward. As stewards of the industry, Rapid Response is committed to cultivating the future of professional monitoring through collaboration with partners, constant innovation, and their dedication to the protection of life and property. www.rrms.com

About Ubiety Technologies, Inc.

Ubiety Technologies Inc. is a sensor array and data analytics company crafting state-of-the-art hardware and software solutions that enable an elevated and intuitive understanding of people's physical presence via wireless devices. Its patented hardware, presence detection engine, and software applications deliver a digital view of presence that solves detection and identification business challenges across industries. www.ubiety.io

To learn more about Ubiety's home security solution, visit www.homeaware.com

SOURCE Ubiety Technologies Inc.
AURORA, Colo., Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Colorado's UCHealth has implemented a pair of innovative technological solutions to make the inbound telephone experience more comfortable for limited-English callers, the healthcare system announced today. The effort was made in partnership with LanguageLine Solutions, UCHealth's longtime language-access provider. LanguageLine offers professional, on-demand interpretation in more than 240 languages.

In partnership with LanguageLine Solutions, Colorado's UCHealth has made it easier for limited-English speakers to contact their caregivers.

UCHealth is a not-for-profit health system headquartered in Aurora, Colorado. The system includes hospitals and facilities throughout Colorado, along with affiliated hospitals in Wyoming and Nebraska. UCHealth estimates that nearly nine percent of the population it serves is limited-English proficient (LEP), meaning those individuals are significantly challenged by the English language and are legally entitled to the assistance of an interpreter. Approximately two-thirds of UCHealth's LEP audience is Spanish-speaking.

"Patients have more choices today than ever before," LanguageLine President and CEO Scott W. Klein said. "Hospitals and health systems can realize tremendous growth by eliminating language barriers. UCHealth has set a tremendous example by optimizing and streamlining the way a patient can be supported in their preferred language."

The newly implemented technologies bring an interpreter onto a call much more quickly and easily, providing better telephone access to limited-English patients on a large scale. Both solutions provide a more welcoming inbound-call experience for limited-English callers and discourage them from hanging up.

"Studies say that the Hispanic population  and non-English speakers generally  use health care about one-third less than English speakers on a per-capita basis," UCHealth Director of Language Services Scott Suckow said. "Mostly that's due to language and cultural barriers, and those people simply not feeling comfortable.

"If we can create an environment in which everything is in their native language, they'll be more comfortable and use our facility as a home base."

The first of the new technologies is DirectResponse, a multilingual phone tree that greets limited-English callers in their language of choice when calling UCHealth. The phone tree offers multiple language options. Upon selecting a language, the inbound caller is directed to an appropriate LanguageLine interpreter. Both are then connected to a UCHealth agent. The LanguageLine interpreter stays on the line for the duration of the call.

The second technology is called Skip the IVR (Interactive Voice Response), an elegant "skip the line" capability that offers contact centers the ability to streamline interpreter access by maximizing the power of their customer relationship management (CRM) systems.

Most traditional models begin with the agent putting the limited-English inbound caller on hold and then connecting with a language-access provider via a toll-free number. The agent may hear "Press 1 for Spanish or 2 for all other languages." Even more time-consuming, they may have to speak with an operator who prompts the agent for language and account information before searching for the interpreter. This process can take up to 30 seconds.

The "skip the line" capability dramatically quickens access to language support, potentially eliminating this 30-second delay altogether. This significantly improves the patient experience.

Once a call is received, the UCHealth call-center agent simply clicks a button in their CRM indicating the language needed. The call bypasses any IVR or data collection steps and is routed directly into the appropriate interpreter queue for the target language. It's like an "Easy Button" for language access.

Prior to the implementation of these technologies, Suckow says UCHealth rarely handled calls from limited-English patients.

"What that tells you is people do whatever they can to avoid having to speak a non-English language, be that having a family member call, or other backdoor ways  or simply not calling at all," Suckow said. "They're avoiding using the telephone, which is a front door for any health system, including ours."

Suckow says the implementation of the new technologies has dramatically increased the number of calls from limited-English patients, with call volume growing up to 40 percent month over month. The technologies have spread from basic appointment functions, to procedure scheduling, to other uses, including UCHealth's pharmacy.

"The numbers indicate that this technology is succeeding at its purpose, which is to make us a more inclusive organization," Suckow said. "We have typically done a great job assisting limited-English patients once they were inside our door. But if the front end on the way to that door is bumpy and rough, they're more likely going to a local safety-net hospital or a clinic that's tailored to their cultural background. We can change that by making the front door easier to get in."

Media Contact:

Scott Brown

831-224-3187

[email protected]

SOURCE LanguageLine Solutions
NEW YORK, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the new market research report "Ventilator Market Forecast to 2027 - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis by Mobility (Intensive Care Ventilators, Portable/Transportable Ventilators); Type (Adult/Pediatric Ventilators, Neonatal/Infant); Interface (Invasive, Non-Invasive); Mode (Combined Mode Ventilation, Volume Mode, Ventilation, Pressure Mode Ventilation, Neurally Adjusted Ventilatory Assist (NAVA), Inverse Ratio Ventilation (IRV), Prone Ventilation, High-Frequency Oscillatory Ventilation (HFOV), High-Frequency Percussive Ventilation (HFPV), Others); End User (Hospitals and Clinics, Home Care, Ambulatory Care Centers, Emergency Medical Services (EMS)) and Geography", published by The Insight Partners, the global ventilator market size is projected to reach US$ 8,239.18 million by 2027 from US$ 2,620.45 million in 2019 to grow at a CAGR of 12.9% from 2020 to 2027.

Get Exclusive Sample Pages of Ventilator Market Size - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis with Strategic Insights at https://www.theinsightpartners.com/sample/TIPRE00008508/

Ventilator Market: Competition Landscape and Key Developments

Getinge AB, Dragerwerk AG & Co. KGaA, Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Limited, General Electric Company, Hamilton Medical, Koninklijke Philips N.V., Medtronic, ResMed, Smiths Group plc and VYAIRE MEDICAL, INCare among the key companies operating in the ventilator market. These players are focusing on the expansion and diversification of their market presence and the acquisition of a new customer base, thereby tapping prevailing business opportunities.

In August 2020, Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Corporation Limited announced at the company's annual shareholders' meeting that it has initiated planning for the establishment of its third manufacturing facility in Mexico. The development is expected to be commissioned by the next couple of years. This development will help the company improve its manufacturing capacity to ensure an additional increase in respiratory products.

In July 2020, Getinge AB received 510(k) clearance from the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) for its Servo-air mechanical ventilator. It is a part of the Servo subdivision that helps complete care in ventilation. Servo-air is among the critical care ventilator products. The product features and applications such as it can be used for pediatric and adult patients' groups. It can be used in invasive and non-invasive ventilation modes and other features.

In May 2020, ResMed launched its remote ventilator monitoring in Europe. It is cloud-based remote monitoring software that can be used for ventilators and Lumis bilevel devices in the European region. This will help the healthcare professional to easily monitor patients remotely. It will be very much useful in the ongoing COVID19 pandemic.

The North America Ventilator market is segmented into the US, Canada, and Mexico. The US held the largest share of the North American Ventilator market in 2019. High prevalence of respiratory diseases, increasing geriatric population, high prevalence of smoking, highly developed healthcare system, growing healthcare expenditure, and the presence of major market players are some of the prominent factors propelling the market growth.

According to the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey: 2017, there were 923,000, number of emergency department visits with emphysema and other chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Additionally, as per the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey: 2016, there were 5.7 million number of physician office visits with emphysema and other chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Also increasing prevalence of COVID 19 cases in the US is likely to grow the demand for ventilators during the forecast period. As per the worldometer, there were 6,000,365 corona virus cases and 183,653 COVID19 deaths as of 27th August 2020.

Download Sample PDF Brochure of Ventilator Market Size and Growth Research Report at https://www.theinsightpartners.com/sample/TIPRE00008508/

Due to corona virus pandemic, respiratory devices company under the Advanced Medical Technology Association (AdvaMed), an American medical device trade association in the US have boosted their ventilator production from 700 ventilators per week to 2000 - 3000 ventilators per week and is expected to reach 5000-7000 per week.

Furthermore, immediate product approvals during this pandemic is also likely to favor the growth of the market. For instance, in April 2020, Medtronic received U.S. Food and Drug Administration's approval to immediately launch and market its PB560 ventilator. These factors are likely to enhance the market growth in the US during the forecast period.

The ventilator market in Asia Pacific is anticipated to grow at the fastest rate in the coming years due to The market growth in this region is attributed to several growth opportunities that are served by increasing government initiatives and rising manufacturing of ventilators by key players to prevent lung cancer and respiratory disease.

Based on mobility, the ventilator market is segmented into intensive care ventilators and portable/transportable ventilators. The intensive care ventilators segment accounted for more than 65.29% of the market share in 2019. In terms of type, the ventilator market is segmented into adult/pediatric ventilators and neonatal/infant. The adult/pediatric ventilators segment held the largest share of the market in 2019. In terms of interface, the ventilator market is segmented into invasive and non-invasive segments. The invasive segment held the largest share of the market in 2019. In terms of mode, the ventilator market is segmented into Combined mode ventilation, Volume mode ventilation, Pressure mode ventilation, Neurally adjusted ventilatory assist (NAVA), Inverse Ratio Ventilation (IRV), Prone Ventilation, High-Frequency Oscillatory Ventilation (HFOV), High-Frequency Percussive Ventilation (HFPV), Others segments.. The combined mode ventilation segment held the largest share of the market in 2019. In terms of end users, the ventilator market is segmented into , hospitals and clinics, home care, ambulatory care centers and emergency medical services (EMS). The hospitals and clinics segment held the largest share of the market in 2019

Growing Prevalence of Respiratory Diseases in Ventilator Market:

Respiratory diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, acute lower respiratory tract infections, tuberculosis, and lung cancer are among the most common causes of severe illness and death globally. Urbanization, growing pollution, unhealthy lifestyle habits, and high tobacco smoking prevalence are among the factors leading to the surge in the number of respiratory and cardiovascular disease cases. These diseases can cause acute respiratory failure, treatment of which requires mechanical ventilation.

The Global Burden of Disease Study reported the global prevalence of 251 million COPD cases in 2016. More than 90% of COPD deaths occur in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). Further, COPD is expected to become the leading cause of death worldwide in the next 15 years. According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, It is a disease spectrum that includes bronchitis and emphysema. It is becoming a significant health and economic problem worldwide; in 1990, the disease was the sixth-most common cause of death, and it is expected to be the third-most common mortality cause by 2020. According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, 2018, the economic impact of COPD in LMICs is expected to increase to  1.7 trillion by 2030.

A ventilator assists the patient with respiratory diseases or other such conditions in breathing as these disorders make breathing difficult or impossible. Thus, the growing prevalence of respiratory diseases increasing demand for ventilators fuelling the market growth.

Ventilator Market: Segmental Overview

Based on mobility, the ventilator market is segmented into intensive care ventilators and portable/transportable ventilators. The intensive care ventilators segment accounted for more than 65.29% of the market share in 2019. In terms of type, the ventilator market is segmented into adult/pediatric ventilators and neonatal/infant. The adult/pediatric ventilators segment held the largest share of the market in 2019. In terms of interface, the ventilator market is segmented into invasive and non-invasive segments. The invasive segment held the largest share of the market in 2019. In terms of mode, the ventilator market is segmented into Combined mode ventilation, Volume mode ventilation, Pressure mode ventilation, Neurally adjusted ventilatory assist (NAVA), Inverse Ratio Ventilation (IRV), Prone Ventilation, High-Frequency Oscillatory Ventilation (HFOV), High-Frequency Percussive Ventilation (HFPV), Others segments.. The combined mode ventilation segment held the largest share of the market in 2019. In terms of end users, the ventilator market is segmented into , hospitals and clinics, home care, ambulatory care centers and emergency medical services (EMS). The hospitals and clinics segment held the largest share of the market in 2019.

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Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Ventilator Market:

The COVID-19 outbreak has disturbed various trades and businesses across the world. Due to an increasing number of infected patients, healthcare professionals and leading organizations are distracting the flow of healthcare resources from research & development to primary care, which is slowing down the process of innovation. Ventilators are critical care medical devices. It is used in the cases of patients with difficulty in breathing or gas exchange in the patients. COVID-19 is a respiratory system infection that rapidly may cause pneumonia-like symptoms, chest infection. This may result in lowering the health conditions of the patient. The ventilators help in managing the gas exchange of the patients.

As an impact of rising cases of COVID19, there is a very high demand for ventilators. As the rise of the pandemic crisis was uncertain, there is a very much shortage of supply of ventilators. It has been difficult for the hospital to manage the ventilators used for inhouse patients and COVID19 patients. To deal with the situation, the market players focus their business operations towards increasing the production capacities of ventilators. Moreover, various other technology giants are collaborating with the government agencies ramping up its ventilator production. For instance, Koninklijke Philips N.V. (Philips) and the US government teamed to ramp-up ventilator production to battle the COVID-19 pandemic. The one of the major reason for rise in demand for the ventilators is the panic buys situations by the governments of the region. However, the ventilators' demand may reduce due to vaccine development and reduction in the death rates. Thus, demand for ventilators is expected to impact the lowering/stabilization of the COVID19 pandemic curve and, eventually, reduce the need for ventilators.

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SOURCE The Insight Partners
MINNEAPOLIS, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Wealth Enhancement Group, an independent wealth management firm, today announced that it will join forces with Vivid Financial Management, a hybrid RIA with three locations on California's Central Coast. Vivid Financial Management's six advisors collectively oversee $674 million in client assets. The transaction will be Wealth Enhancement Group's 16th of 2021 and raises its total client assets to $55.02 billion.

Vivid Financial was founded in 2015, by Julie Darrah, Brad Boulton, Todd Woodland and Tim Miller, who worked together at its predecessor firm. The firm's clients include executives, entrepreneurs, multigenerational families and clients in specific industries, including physicians, dentists, educators, engineers and farmers. It offers financial planning services, asset management, tax services, estate planning and insurance planning, as well as qualified retirement plan support for small business owners. With the addition of Vivid Financial's three locations  in Orcutt, Lompoc and Arroyo Grande  Wealth Enhancement Group will have seven total offices in California.

Jeff Dekko, Chief Executive Officer of Wealth Enhancement Group, said, "Vivid Financial's outstanding professionals have built a stellar track record of financial-planning-centered client service that has established their bona fides as a high-quality advisory practice. The opportunities to grow and provide outstanding advice to clients is unlimited for them as they leverage Wealth Enhancement Group's technology, experience and resources to hone their capabilities and grow their business. Looking forward, we are excited to work with them, shoulder-to-shoulder, for years to come."

Jim Cahn, Wealth Enhancement Group's Chief Investments & Business Development Officer, said, "At Wealth Enhancement Group, it's our mission to continually develop a sophisticated, comprehensive platform that will empower growth-driven financial advisors to take their client service capabilities to the next level. We offer all the professionals at Vivid Financial the warmest welcome to our team."

The transaction will close on Dec. 31. Ms. Darrah, Mr. Boulton and Mr. Miller will serve as Senior Vice Presidents, Financial Advisors at Wealth Enhancement Group.

Ms. Darrah said, "Through the years, our practice has always been guided by our client centric values  our mission is to provide our clients with clarity in their financial plans and confidence to navigate the changes that life will bring in the future. That core purpose will only be enhanced as we enter the next phase of our business development, as part of the exceptional team that Jeff and Jim have built at Wealth Enhancement Group. We thank our clients for their continued partnership with us, and we look forward to growing and expanding the service we offer them as we plug into Wealth Enhancement Group's platform. The future is bright, and we will expect to position our clients for even greater success in the future."

Financial terms were not disclosed.

About Wealth Enhancement Group

Wealth Enhancement Group is a Greater Minneapolis-based independent wealth management firm offering comprehensive and customized financial planning and investment management services. Founded in 1997, Wealth Enhancement Group serves clients nationwide. Wealth Enhancement Group specializes in providing retail clients with the team-based knowledge and resources they need to simplify their financial life. For more information, please visit www.wealthenhancement.com.

Advisory services offered through Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC (WEAS), a registered investment advisor. Certain, but not all, investment advisor representatives (IARs) of WEAS are also registered representatives of and offer securities through LPL Financial, Member FINRA/SIPC. Wealth Enhancement Group and Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services are separate entities from LPL Financial. Wealth Enhancement Group is a registered trademark of Wealth Enhancement Group, LLC.

*Wealth Enhancement Group and its Registered Investment Advisor, Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, had $43 billion in client brokerage and advisory assets as of 10/31/2021. Vivid Financial Management had $675 million in client brokerage and advisory assets as of 10/13/2021. With the addition of previously announced transactions and Vivid Financial Management, Wealth Enhancement Group will have $55.02 billion in client brokerage, advisory and trust assets as of December 31, 2021.

Media Contacts

Joseph Kuo / Chris Clemens

Haven Tower Group

424 317 4851 or 424 317 4854

[email protected] or [email protected]

SOURCE Wealth Enhancement Group
RICHMOND, Va., Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- While the world is watching how the new Omicron variant will affect travel, Allianz Partners shares the results of the first edition of the International Vacation Confidence Index. Carried out by OpinionWay, the recent survey finds that a majority of European and American holidaymakers intend to travel this winter, with over half of all respondents in the 9 countries surveyed planning to travel.

While there is a clear intention to travel this winter, it is predominantly driven by strong domestic demand, with Italians (65%), Spaniards (63%), French (42%) and Americans (57%) intending to forgo international travel in favor of holidaying in their own country of residence. The cross-country trend suggests that the return to international travel this winter will be met with caution by many prospective holidaymakers.

A few of the top survey trends:

Spaniards (78%), Italians (77%) and Americans (68%) have the highest travel intentions and place the most importance on winter travel

travel intentions and place the most importance on winter travel The French (51%) are the least likely to have winter vacation plans this year, followed by the Germans (57%) and the Dutch (59%)

to have winter vacation plans this year, followed by the Germans (57%) and the Dutch (59%) The Brits place somewhere in the middle in terms of domestic winter travel plans (44%) with a higher preference for planning foreign travel (25%) than the French (15%) and the Americans (18%)

The Swiss and the Dutch have the highest rate of foreign travel plans: 38% and 31% respectively

Importance of winter vacation varies per country

While most respondents plan to travel this winter, the OpinionWay survey reveals that a winter getaway is most important for Spaniards (73%), Italians (64%) and Americans (69%). The UK is the only other country in which a majority of the population says winter vacation is important (58%). In comparison, for the French (42%), Dutch (45%), Austrians (46%), Germans (48%) and Swiss (49%), winter vacation is less important. Winter vacation appears to be least important to the Dutch, with 27% finding it 'not at all important'.

In Austria, which is currently under lockdown restrictions, 61% intend to travel this winter, with one in four planning to make a trip abroad. In addition, 25% cited concerns around the ongoing pandemic as a reason for not making travel plans.

The outlook for foreign travel is most positive in Switzerland and the Netherlands

The outlook for foreign travel is most positive in the smallest countries of the group: Switzerland is at the top of the list with 38% of respondents intending to travel abroad over the winter months. While the Dutch may not see winter travel as their top priority, they have the second highest rates of foreign travel plans, with 31% of respondents planning to go abroad. The countries with the lowest rates of foreign travel plans are France (15%) and the US (18%).

Winter holiday budgets vary greatly: American holidaymakers plan to spend 3 times more than Italians

Americans intend to spend the most on winter vacation this year with an average budget of $3,382. This could be attributed to the cost of transportation where travel often requires flying. The British have the second highest budget at $2,126, with a relatively high percentage of Britons intending to travel abroad. On the opposite end of the spectrum, the lowest budget for winter travel is in Italy ($864) and Spain ($1,053) where costs are lower and travel is feasible by train or by car.

The health crisis continues to worry travelers

In all countries surveyed, respondents identified three major reasons not to travel: winter vacation not being important, wanting to save money, and worry over the pandemic.

In Germany, concern about the ongoing health crisis is the main reason for not planning a holiday this winter (30%) compared with just 13% of French respondents. The health crisis is also a key consideration for Britons, with 27% citing it as a travel deterrent.

Meanwhile, saving money is the top reason not to travel for Italians (29%), and Americans (23%), while 26% of Spaniards will forgo a holiday for saving purposes with an equal amount claiming that winter holidays are not important.

For a majority of respondents, the combination of vaccination and flexible travel arrangements offer sufficient mitigation against this period of uncertainty and risk. Vaccination is the top precaution undertaken by all, most notably Austrians (64%), Spaniards (63%), Italians (60%) and Britons (55%).

Britons are also most likely to purchase an insurance policy (39%) followed by the Dutch (30%) and Spaniards (25%).

Commenting on the survey, Joe Mason, Chief Marketing Officer - Travel, at Allianz Partners said: "After the success of our Vacation Confidence Index in the USA over many years looking at summer holiday travel, we are thrilled to expand our reach and look at winter travel trends globally. This comprehensive study provides a multi-market analysis of reported changes to travel demand and behavioral intentions around traveling in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Understanding what factors influence individual travel decisions is vital for tourism planning in these uncertain times and enables Allianz Partners to respond to changing consumer needs and preferences with travel protection solutions aimed at boosting traveler confidence into the future."





To see the infographic, click here.





Study Methodology

The study was carried out on a sample of 9,005 people, in France (1,000), in Germany (1,001), in the United-Kingdom (1,000), in Italy (1,000), in Spain (1,002), in the Netherlands (1,001), in Austria (1,001), in Switzerland (1,000) and in the United States (1,000). The samples were drawn up according to the quota method, with regard to the criteria of sex, age, socio-professional category, region of residence and size of agglomeration in France; sex, age, region and income in other countries. The interviews were performed using a self-administered online questionnaire via the CAWI (Computer Assisted Web Interview) system. The interviews were done from November 2 to November 9, 2021.

About Allianz Partners

Allianz Partners is a leading consumer specialty insurance and assistance company with operation centers in 35 countries. In the United States, Allianz Partners USA (AGA Service Company) offers Allianz Travel-branded travel protection plans and serves millions of customers each year. In addition to travel protection, the company offers event ticket protection, registration protection for endurance events and unique travel assistance services such as international medical assistance and concierge services. The company also serves as an outsource provider for in-bound call center services and claims administration for property and casualty insurers and credit card companies. AGA Service Company is doing business as Allianz Global Assistance Insurance Agency in California (License # 0B01400) and Massachusetts.



For Allianz Partners USA products offered and sold in the US: Terms, conditions, and exclusions apply to all plans. Plans are available only to U.S. residents. Not all plans are available in all jurisdictions. Availability of Epidemic Coverage Endorsement, including specific benefits and covered reasons described here, varies by product and by state. Products may not include all benefits or covered reasons described here. All benefits are subject to maximum limits of liability, which may in some cases be subject to sublimits and daily maximums. Benefits and limits vary by plan. For a complete description of the coverage and benefit limits offered under your specific plan, carefully review your plan's Letter of Confirmation/Declarations and Certificate of Insurance/Policy. Insurance coverage is underwritten by BCS Insurance Company (OH, Administrative Office: Oakbrook Terrace, IL), rated "A" (Excellent) by A.M. Best Co., under BCS Form No. 52.201 series or 52.401 series, or Jefferson Insurance Company (NY, Administrative Office: Richmond, VA), rated "A+" (Superior) by A.M. Best Co., under Jefferson Form No. 101C series or 101P series, depending on state of residence. Except as otherwise specified, AGA Service Company d/b/a Allianz Global Assistance is the licensed producer and administrator of Allianz Travel-branded travel protection plans in the U.S. and an affiliate of Jefferson Insurance Company. Allianz Global Assistance, TravelSmart, and AgentSmart are marks of AGA Service Company or its affiliates. The insured shall not receive any special benefit or advantage due to the affiliation between Allianz Global Assistance and Jefferson Insurance Company. Plans include insurance and assistance services. Noninsurance benefits/products are provided and serviced by Allianz Global Assistance. SmartBenefits proactive payments and "no receipts" payments available only on certain plans. For plans that include proactive payments: when you opt in and provide flight information, Allianz Global Assistance will monitor flights and send flight status and benefit alerts, including alerts about flight delays that qualify for automated travel delay payments. Standard message/data rates apply to SMS alerts. Automated claims and payment system availability is not guaranteed and is subject to our sole discretion. All claims subject to policy terms, conditions, and exclusions.

SOURCE Allianz Partners
NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J., Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) (the Company) today announced the interim recommendation by the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE) for the World Health Organization (WHO) supporting the use of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine as a booster shot in persons aged 18 years and above. The WHO recommend the booster shot should be administered two to six months after the primary vaccination. SAGE advises WHO on global vaccine and immunization policies, and its recommendations provide guidance on the use of vaccines supplied through the COVAX Facility, a global risk-sharing mechanism for pooled procurement and equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines to all participating countries.

SAGE recommended that the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine can be used for homologous (same vaccine) boosting, using the Company's vaccine for both primary vaccination and the booster shot. The WHO supports a flexible approach to heterologous (mix-and-match) boosting, using the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine as a booster for eligible individuals aged 18 years and older who received an authorized COVID-19 vaccine primary regimen.

"Today's recommendation from the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization for the World Health Organization is further affirmation that the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine can help reduce the burden of the pandemic," said Mathai Mammen, M.D., Ph.D., Global Head, Janssen Research & Development, Johnson & Johnson. "Our COVID-19 vaccine continues to play a critical role in the world's fight to end this pandemic, and we welcome this recommendation as we work with the global community to protect as many people as possible from COVID-19."

The interim SAGE recommendation was based on efficacy, safety and immunogenicity data from the Company's clinical trials and the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority-sponsored Sisonke Phase 3b study in South Africa. When administered as a booster dose, following primary vaccination with the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, it provided increased protection against symptomatic infection and severe disease, and was generally well-tolerated.

Earlier this year SAGE recommended the use of the single-shot Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine based on evidence from the Company's Phase 3 ENSEMBLE study, which demonstrated efficacy against severe disease, and showed strong protection against COVID-19 related hospitalization and death, beginning 28 days after vaccination. These data were consistent with a large real-world evidence study conducted in the U.S., which showed stable vaccine effectiveness against COVID-19-related infections and hospitalizations, with no evidence of reduced effectiveness over the study duration of six months  including when the Delta variant became dominant in the U.S. (sequencing data were not available for analysis).

Johnson & Johnson is delivering on its commitment to make available up to 900 million doses of its COVID-19 vaccine to the African Union (via the African Vaccine Acquisition Trust) and COVAX, combined, through 2022.

The Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine is compatible with standard vaccine storage and distribution channels with ease of delivery to remote areas. The vaccine is estimated to remain stable for two years at -4F (-20C), and a maximum of six months at routine refrigeration temperatures of 36 to 46F (2 to 8C). The COVID-19 vaccine should not be re-frozen if distributed at temperatures of 36F to 46F (2-8C).

The Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, also referred to as the Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine, received initial Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) in the United States on February 27, 2021, and an EUA as a booster shot on October 20. It also received Conditional Marketing Authorisation by the European Commission on March 11. The WHO issued Emergency Use Listing on March 12, and the Company received an interim recommendation on primary vaccination by SAGE on March 17. On November 24, Health Canada approved the Company's single-shot COVID-19 vaccine. Many more authorizations and approvals have been granted in countries worldwide, including 50 countries in Africa, with further regulatory submissions ongoing.

Johnson & Johnson continues to submit relevant data to other regulators, the WHO and National Immunization Technical Advisory Groups (NITAGs) worldwide to inform decision-making on local vaccine administration strategies, as needed.

In collaboration with academic groups in South Africa and around the world, the Company is also evaluating the effectiveness of its COVID-19 vaccine across variants, now including the new and rapidly spreading Omicron variant. In addition, the Company is pursuing an Omicron-specific variant vaccine and will progress it as needed.

For more information on the Company's multi-pronged approach to helping combat the pandemic, visit: www.jnj.com/covid-19.

Authorized Use

The Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine is authorized for use under an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for active immunization to prevent Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).

Primary vaccination regimen for the Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine is a single-dose (0.5 mL) administered to individuals 18 years of age and older.

A single Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine booster dose (0.5 mL) may be administered at least 2 months after the primary vaccination to individuals 18 years of age and older.

A single booster dose of the Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine (0.5 mL) may be administered to individuals 18 years of age and older as a heterologous booster dose following completion of primary vaccination with another authorized or approved COVID-19 vaccine. The dosing interval for the heterologous booster dose is the same as that authorized for a booster dose of the vaccine used for primary vaccination.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

WHAT SHOULD YOU MENTION TO YOUR VACCINATION PROVIDER BEFORE YOU GET THE JANSSEN COVID-19 VACCINE?

Tell the vaccination provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:

have any allergies

have a fever

have a bleeding disorder or are on a blood thinner

are immunocompromised or are on a medicine that affects your immune system

are pregnant or plan to become pregnant

are breastfeeding

have received another COVID-19 vaccine

have ever fainted in association with an injection

WHO SHOULD NOT GET THE JANSSEN COVID-19 VACCINE?

You should not get the Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine if you:

had a severe allergic reaction after a previous dose of this vaccine

had a severe allergic reaction to any ingredient of this vaccine.

HOW IS THE JANSSEN COVID-19 VACCINE GIVEN?

The Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine will be given to you as an injection into the muscle.

Primary Vaccination: The Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine is administered as a single dose.

Booster Dose:

A single booster dose of the Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine may be administered at least two months after primary vaccination with the Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine.

A single booster dose of the Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine may be administered to individuals 18 years of age and older who have completed primary vaccination with a different authorized or approved COVID-19 vaccine. Please check with your health care provider regarding and timing of the booster dose.

WHAT ARE THE RISKS OF THE JANSSEN COVID-19 VACCINE?

Side effects that have been reported with the Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine include:

Injection site reactions: pain, redness of the skin, and swelling.

General side effects: headache, feeling very tired, muscle aches, nausea, fever.

Swollen lymph nodes.

Blood clots.

Unusual feeling in the skin (such as tingling or a crawling feeling) (paresthesia), decreased feeling or sensitivity, especially in the skin (hypoesthesia).

Persistent ringing in the ears (tinnitus).

Diarrhea, vomiting.

Severe Allergic Reactions

There is a remote chance that the Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine could cause a severe allergic reaction. A severe allergic reaction would usually occur within a few minutes to one hour after getting a dose of the Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine. For this reason, your vaccination provider may ask you to stay at the place where you received your vaccine for monitoring after vaccination. Signs of a severe allergic reaction can include:

Difficulty breathing

Swelling of your face and throat

A fast heartbeat

A bad rash all over your body

Dizziness and weakness

Blood Clots with Low Levels of Platelets

Blood clots involving blood vessels in the brain, lungs, abdomen, and legs along with low levels of platelets (blood cells that help your body stop bleeding), have occurred in some people who have received the Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine. In people who developed these blood clots and low levels of platelets, symptoms began approximately one to two-weeks after vaccination. Reporting of these blood clots and low levels of platelets has been highest in females ages 18 through 49 years. The chance of having this occur is remote. You should seek medical attention right away if you have any of the following symptoms after receiving Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine:

Shortness of breath,

Chest pain,

Leg swelling,

Persistent abdominal pain,

Severe or persistent headaches or blurred vision,

Easy bruising or tiny blood spots under the skin beyond the site of the injection.

These may not be all the possible side effects of the Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine. Serious and unexpected effects may occur. The Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine is still being studied in clinical trials.

Guillain Barre Syndrome

Guillain Barre syndrome (a neurological disorder in which the body's immune system damages nerve cells, causing muscle weakness and sometimes paralysis) has occurred in some people who have received the Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine. In most of these people, symptoms began within 42 days following receipt of the Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine. The chance of having this occur is very low. You should seek medical attention right away if you develop any of the following symptoms after receiving the Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine:

Weakness or tingling sensations, especially in the legs or arms, that's worsening and spreading to other parts of the body.

Difficulty walking.

Difficulty with facial movements, including speaking, chewing, or swallowing.

Double vision or inability to move eyes.

Difficulty with bladder control or bowel function.

WHAT SHOULD I DO ABOUT SIDE EFFECTS?

If you experience a severe allergic reaction, call 9-1-1, or go to the nearest hospital.

Call the vaccination provider or your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that bother you or do not go away.

Report vaccine side effects to FDA/CDC Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). The VAERS toll-free number is 1-800-822-7967 or report online to https://vaers.hhs.gov/reportevent.html. Please include "Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine EUA" in the first line of box #18 of the report form. In addition, you can report side effects to Janssen Biotech Inc. at 1-800-565-4008.

CAN I RECEIVE THE JANSSEN COVID-19 VACCINE AT THE SAME TIME AS OTHER VACCINES?

Data have not yet been submitted to FDA on administration of the Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine at the same time as other vaccines. If you are considering receiving the Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine with other vaccines, discuss your options with your healthcare provider.

Please read Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) Fact Sheet for Healthcare Providers Administering Vaccine (Vaccination Providers) including full EUA Prescribing Information available at: www.JanssenCOVID19Vaccine.com/EUA-factsheet.

About Johnson & Johnson

At Johnson & Johnson, we believe good health is the foundation of vibrant lives, thriving communities and forward progress. That's why for more than 130 years, we have aimed to keep people well at every age and every stage of life. Today, as the world's largest and most broadly-based healthcare company, we are committed to using our reach and size for good. We strive to improve access and affordability, create healthier communities, and put a healthy mind, body and environment within reach of everyone, everywhere. We are blending our heart, science and ingenuity to profoundly change the trajectory of health for humanity. Learn more at www.jnj.com. Follow us at @JNJNews.

About the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson

At Janssen, we're creating a future where disease is a thing of the past. We're the Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson, working tirelessly to make that future a reality for patients everywhere by fighting sickness with science, improving access with ingenuity, and healing hopelessness with heart. We focus on areas of medicine where we can make the biggest difference: Cardiovascular & Metabolism, Immunology, Infectious Diseases & Vaccines, Neuroscience, Oncology, and Pulmonary Hypertension. Learn more at www.janssen.com. Follow us at @JanssenGlobal.

Cautions Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 regarding development, manufacture and distribution of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine. The reader is cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations of future events. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or known or unknown risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results could vary materially from the expectations and projections of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies, and/or Johnson & Johnson. Risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: challenges and uncertainties inherent in product research and development, including the uncertainty of clinical success and of obtaining regulatory approvals; uncertainty of commercial success; manufacturing difficulties and delays; competition, including technological advances, new products and patents attained by competitors; challenges to patents; product efficacy or safety concerns resulting in product recalls or regulatory action; changes in behavior and spending patterns of purchasers of health care products and services; changes to applicable laws and regulations, including global health care reforms; and trends toward health care cost containment. A further list and descriptions of these risks, uncertainties and other factors can be found in Johnson & Johnson's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 3, 2021, including in the sections captioned "Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" and "Item 1A. Risk Factors," and in the company's most recently filed Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and the company's subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Copies of these filings are available online at www.sec.gov, www.jnj.com or on request from Johnson & Johnson. None of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies nor Johnson & Johnson undertakes to update any forward-looking statement as a result of new information or future events or developments.

SOURCE Johnson & Johnson
GUANGZHOU, China, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- A new round of scientific and technological revolutions are taking place worldwide, and the vehicle industry is undergoing major changes unseen in a century. With the combination of automobiles with information and communication, AI, Internet, new energy and other industries, the new energy and intelligent vehicle industry reaches a new stage of rapid development, becoming the center of manufacturing transformation and upgrading and the focus of technological innovation worldwide. In order to promote the reform of China's vehicle industry and create a sound industry culture, the World Intelligent Vehicle Conference 2021 will kick off in Nansha, Guangzhou on December 16-17.

This conference is organized by the International Cooperation Center of the National Development and Reform Commission, The People's Government of Guangzhou Municipality, and Asia Digital Group, and undertaken by Guangzhou Municipal Development and Reform Commission, Nansha District People's Government of Guangzhou Municipality, and ADG Expo Co., Ltd. The conference will bring together domestic and foreign government representatives, experts and scholars, business representatives, representative investors, etc. In line with the "14th Five-Year" plan, it will serve as a platform for technical exchanges and project matchmaking in the field of intelligent vehicles, with a focus on enabling an industry of autonomous, connected, electric and shared (ACES) vehicles. Participants will conduct research and discussion to promote innovation cooperation.

Focus on new hot areas and seek opportunities

The global vehicle industry reaches a new stage of development. In the era featuring NEVs, China's vehicle industry is at the forefront in the world, becoming a pioneer and an advocate of ACES vehicles in the global automobile industry.

With the theme of "A New Chapter of ICV", this conference ushers in a new era for intelligent vehicles. The invited scholars will give the incisive insights into the intelligent vehicle industry, which is in line with the technological development of ICVs, showing the latest industrial developments for the world.

In the new era of intelligent vehicles, how can auto companies quickly embrace intelligent vehicles? What is the development direction for the core technology of NEVs? Under the strategy of dual-carbon goals, how do companies strike a balance between corporate development and product structure? How to achieve crossover integration in the context of ACES vehicles? These are the problems faced by auto companies, and problems that must be solved for the transformation and upgrading of the auto industry.

Centering on the aforementioned hot topics, this conference includes the opening ceremony and the main conference, 10 parallel forums, and multiple outfield activities. It aims to promote the deep integration and innovation of industry, technology, and economy, and empower intelligent vehicles in terms of cooperation in the intelligent vehicle industry, cooperation in the GBA, carbon neutrality and peak carbon dioxide emissions, new energy, key technologies, automotive software, data security, self-owned brands, commercial applications, intelligent transportation, etc.

In addition to many professional brainstorming sessions, wonderful outfield activities will also be held. Outfield activities of this conference include project matchmaking business meeting, industrial development closed-door meeting, research report of intelligent vehicle industry 2021, intelligent vehicle display and technical products release, intelligent travel experience and exploration week, matchmaking of intelligent vehicle talents, intelligent vehicle industry awards ceremony 2021, etc. Integrating meetings, exhibition, experience, and interaction, this conference will promote the cooperation between governments, enterprises, and talents, and exploit opportunities for cooperation.

Share Guangzhou's wisdom and showcase the advantages of Nansha

Guangzhou serves as the permanent venue of the World Intelligent Vehicle Conference thanks to the strength of Guangzhou's vehicle industry. After more than 20 years of development, Guangzhou has a whole industry chain for complete vehicles, auto parts and supporting facilities, underpinned by automotive electronics, MCU, VCU and BMS of NEVs, autonomous driving solutions, etc. Guangzhou ranks No. 1 in China in terms of automobile output for two consecutive years, bringing glory to the city image of "Guangzhou vehicle " and contributing to the ICV and NEV industry ecosystem. Guangzhou therefore becomes a highly competitive gathering place for the ICV and NEV industrial chain covering "complete vehicle + auto parts + intelligent connected technology".

Guangzhou is one of the pilot cities for the coordinated development of smart urban infrastructure and intelligent connected vehicles, and has set many records of firsts in China. Efforts are being made in Guangzhou to promote the research on technologies such as Automated Valet Parking (AVP), facilitate the construction of smart parking lots and Huangpu Baidu vehicle infrastructure cooperative project, build demonstration application scenarios such as Guangzhou International Bio Island, and promote the integration of vehicle, infrastructure, network and cloud comprehensively. At the same time, Guangzhou is the first city in China to promulgate the General Technical Specifications for the Construction of Pilot Areas for Internet of Vehicles and Technical Specifications for V2X Cloud-controlled Basic Platforms to provide standards for the citywide IoV.

Three automobile industry clusters have been established in eastern, southern and northern Guangzhou. Nansha Automobile Cluster, which is located in the geometric center of the Greater Bay Area, stands out. Nansha now has a spatial pattern with "GAC Toyota in northern Nansha, Pony.ai and HYCAN in central Nansha, Intelligent Connected Vehicle Industrial Park in southern Nansha," in which GAC Toyota's complete vehicle project plays a leading role, NEV project is the support, and intelligent vehicle is the direction of development. It has Shazai Island Automobile Terminal, the largest professional ro-ro automobile terminal in South China. As the only national-level new zone in Guangdong Province, the largest area in Guangdong Pilot Free Trade Zone, the Demonstration Zone of all-round Cooperation among Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao for Comprehensive Cooperation, and the only sub-center in Guangzhou, Nansha will provide an enabling business environment and development space for high-quality intelligent vehicle projects.

World Intelligent Vehicle Conference is oriented to the world and the future. Bringing together the cutting-edge achievements of intelligent vehicle technology and rich application scenarios of intelligent vehicles, it aims to form an ecosystem for the healthy development of the intelligent vehicle industry. The World Intelligent Vehicle Conference 2021 will share wisdom with the global intelligent vehicle industry!

SOURCE Asia Digital Group

Related Links

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The humanitarian operation, the largest privately funded humanitarian evacuation mission undertaken since the American led withdrawal at the end of August was conducted by an experienced extraction team in an increasingly hostile environment, with a rapidly closing window, amidst eye-witness reports of raids of properties and neighbourhoods in the immediate vicinity to these individuals.

Following the fall of Kabul to the Taliban, on 15th August, the entire world watched as the frenzied non-combatant evacuation operation ensued from Hamid Karzai International Airport. It was clear that despite the heroic efforts of Allied forces resulting in nearly 120,000 people being evacuated within this timescale, many vulnerable individuals were left behind at risk of acts of retribution by uncontrolled terror groups.

British based animal welfare campaigner Dominic Dyer, internationally recognised for his work in evacuating Pen Farthing and his Nowzad employees and animals from Kabul in August played a leading role in the rescue operation working alongside a British vet and a Jerusalem based translator.

Businessman and owner of World Trade Center Gibraltar, Gregory Butcher, also generously helped finance part of the operation along with several individuals from Britain and the United States.

The complex and dangerous evacuation took over 2 months to complete, during a period which has seen Afghanistan spiral into escalating violence and economic collapse. The growing threat of widespread famine, made all the more desperate by the approach of winter, puts the survival of millions of Afghan citizens at risk according to UN reports.

As of 8th December, all 92 evacuees have safely arrived in accommodation in Islamabad, Pakistan. The sense of relief, sadness and uncertainty will no doubt be overwhelming for this group, as they now embark on a new life outside of their home country, having left everything but a few belongings behind.

Speaking about the successful completion of Operation Magic Carpet, Dominic Dyer said:

"It has been immensely tough for all concerned, but these are the lucky ones, people for whom there is, at least, the chance of a better future. The rout of US, UK, and other forces from Kabul, leaving almost the entire country in the hands of the Taliban, means the prospect for millions is bleak indeed. Operation Magic Carpet could not help everyone, but this extraordinary band of committed individuals have done what they can for the Kabul 92. Every life is precious, and I will now be asking Britain and other nations to open their doors to these talented individuals who are looking for a safe place to call home."

Whilst the initial phase is complete, the time to redouble efforts begins now, and a public fundraising campaign will soon be established to help to provide food and accommodation to the 92 adults and children in Pakistan for the necessary timeframe in which onward travel documentation to third countries, such as the UK, USA and other European destinations and also their respective accommodation in those countries, is secured.

Gregory Butcher, owner of the World Trade Center Gibraltar and part-funder of the rescue said:

"Operation Magic Carpet is a miraculous coming together of volunteers in a time of need. Almost everyone will have seen the harrowing photos of the humanitarian disaster that is increasing in its intensity, with uncontrolled terror groups conducting retribution killings more frequently by the day.

I learnt of an Afghan Colonel who had worked with Coalition Forces, including Canadian, British and US representatives, having attended a NATO conference in Brussels and an Afghan team leader of a major British sub-contractor security firm, based in Kabul. They were all at risk of retribution at the hands of the Taliban and needed to be rescued as well.

At World Trade Center Gibraltar, we believe that large corporations have a specific role to play in society, one of humanitarian action, sustainable development, and corporate social responsibility. These principles and values guide us in our daily lives and throughout all our business endeavours. We are partners and friends and seek to support marginalized communities, non-profits and charitable groups that align with our mission.

When we learned of the developing crisis in Afghanistan and heard that others were trying to find a way to get those individuals out, some of whom were female and therefore at considerable risk in Kabul, we could not turn away the chance of helping. They and their children were desperate to leave and were without any hope of doing so, so we teamed up with those other kind people to try and get a total of 92 people out of Afghanistan.

I am so glad we worked tirelessly to achieve this. It really is a life and death situation, with the international community now calling on the Taliban to enforce an amnesty for former Afghan security personnel. We have just read that human rights groups cite scores of ex-soldiers have been rounded up and then executed since mid-August. The retribution has started, and we owe it to those who supported the Coalition to save them.

On the arrival of the 92 in Pakistan, it's been hard thinking what might have happened to them had we all not intervened. Their new lives and future are filled with uncertainty, and now we need to urgently get these brave now-stateless English-speaking people into a refugee resettlement program. Can you help us?"

World Trade Center Gibraltar is working to raise funds and offer vital help to those whose lives have been shattered by conflict and disaster, as they commence a new chapter in their lives, please contact us for more information at [email protected]

Ed Allison-Wright

[email protected]

+350 200 400 48

SOURCE World Trade Center Gibraltar
The five-step tasting experience of TingHua baijiu adds two additional steps of listening and burning to the regular three-step experience containing observing, smelling and tasting. Specially-designed wine sets were also introduced to guide the consumers into the multi-sensory experience.

"You can tell if the baijiu is good by listening to it," said Zhang, explaining that in ancient China, people who make baijiu would listen to the sound of the bubbles bursting in order to judge if the liquor is nicely brewed.

The reason why TingHua includes the burning technique to its tasting experience is because baijiu of different qualities can appear different, smell different, and have different temperatures after being burned, in which case the TingHua baijiu remains a pleasant fruity smell.

The five-step tasting experience is suitable for TingHua baijiu because more flavours were added to the liquor compared with most types of traditional baijiu, allowing the consumers to feel its aroma, according to Liu Lingxiao, co-developer of TingHua baijiu and deputy general manager of Qinghai Spring.

"The application of new brewing techniques also allows the TingHua baijiu to have a soothing and refreshing taste that brings a comfortable feel," Liu added.

See the original link: https://en.imsilkroad.com/p/325239.html

SOURCE Xinhua Silk Road
Washington, Dec 9 : US President Joe Biden has signed an executive order that requires the federal government to achieve a goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

"As the single largest land owner, energy consumer, and employer in the Nation, the Federal Government can catalyze private sector investment and expand the economy and American industry by transforming how we build, buy, and manage electricity, vehicles, buildings, and other operations to be clean and sustainable," the executive order said.

The order directs the federal government to use its scale and procurement power to achieve 100 per cent carbon pollution-free electricity by 2030, 100 per cent zero-emission vehicle acquisitions by 2035, and net-zero emissions from overall federal operations by 2050, including a 65 percent emissions reduction by 2030, Xinhua news agency reported.

"The executive order will reduce emissions across federal operations, invest in American clean energy industries and manufacturing, and create clean, healthy, and resilient communities," the White House said in a fact sheet.

"Together, the President's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Budget for Fiscal Year 2022, and Build Back Better Act will provide agencies with the funding necessary to achieve the goals of the executive order," the White House said.

While Biden's order could help eliminate a sizable chunk of greenhouse gas emissions from federal government operations, Republicans could block spending and mandates to achieve those goals if they regain control of either the House of Representatives or the Senate in the 2022 midterm elections, according to Politico.

John Barrasso, the Republican senator from the state of Wyoming and ranking member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, on Wednesday blamed Biden's order as the "latest attack on American energy workers".

"With this action, he's telling millions of Americans who provide most of the energy we use every day that he thinks they should be thrown out of work. What's worse, he wants to use the power of the federal government to do it," Barrasso said in a statement.

"This is not build back better - it's another backbreaking move to build bigger bureaucracy. America needs an all of the above energy strategy. President Biden's strategy is to destroy the economies of Wyoming, West Virginia and other energy producing states," he said.
Jerusalem, Dec 9 : Israel's Health Ministry has announced the extension of the quarantine period for those who tested positive for the Omicron Covid-19 variant.

The quarantine period for Omicron patients has been extended to 14 days, compared with 10 days for people tested positive for other coronavirus variants, Xinhua news agency quoted the ministry as saying.

The measure was applied due to the concern that people tested positive for Omicron may be infected for a longer period than those infected with other variants.

Omicron patients will be given a recovery certificate if no sickness symptoms have appeared in the last three days of quarantine.

A person with a high suspicion of being infected with Omicron could be considered "recovered" after 10 days with the agreement of a district head physician, if genomic sequencing results had not been obtained by then.

To date, the ministry has reported 21 Omicron cases in Israel, along with 21 more cases with high suspicion for the variant.
Chennai, Dec 9 : The data recorder of the ill-fated M 17 helicopter of the Indian Air Force that crashed near Coonoor in Ooty leading to the loss of lives of Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, his wife Madhulika, and 11 other armed personnel, was recovered on Thursday morning.

A 25 special team of the Air force officers led by Wing Commander R. Bhardwaj has recovered the black box and more details are awaited. The team has been conducting search operations since morning as the priority on Wednesday was to recover the bodies safely to Wellington Army hospital.

Meanwhile, a six-member special medical team from Coimbatore is attending the treatment of the lone survivor in the Coonoor helicopter crash, Group captain Varun Singh who is struggling for his life at the Wellington Army hospital.

The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, M.K. Stalin, who is at Nilgiris, has already communicated to the Army team that the Tamil Nadu government would support the medical treatment of Group captain Varun Singh.

Sources at Wellington said that Group captain Varun Singh, who is a Shaurya Chakra awardee, suffered 60 per cent burns during the copter crash.

Ravikumar, who was the first person to reach the accident spot, had told IANS that except for two people the bodies of all the other soldiers were burnt.

The black box can reveal the data about the helicopter's final flight situation and other aspects.

Though called black box, the flight data recorder is painted in a bright orange colour and it records the flight data and cockpit conversations.

Further forensic examination of the remains of the chopper can also reveal if there were external causes for the accident.

In addition, Group Captain Varun Singh, the Directing Staff at the Defence Services Staff College in Wellington, Tamil Nadu, and the lone survivor of the ill-fated chopper, can also provide first hand information on the flight.

On Wednesday, the IAF helicopter with 14 persons on board, including General Rawat and his wife, took off from Sulur air base and crashed minutes before it was supposed to land at Coonoor.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
San Francisco, Dec 9 : San Francisco Mayor London Breed has released the US city's highly anticipated 2021 Climate Action Plan to achieve net-zero emissions by 2040.

"With global climate change rapidly accelerating and affecting us now, we must address this urgent challenge and work together to create a future where we can all thrive," Xinhua news agency quoted the Mayor as saying on Wednesday.

"San Francisco's Climate Action Plan takes our ambitious goals and lays out the strategies and actions we need to take to turn those goals into reality," she added.

San Francisco's plan takes a comprehensive approach to eliminating greenhouse gas emissions in the city by identifying strategies and actions in six key areas: energy supply; building operations; transportation and land use; housing; responsible production and consumption; and healthy ecosystems, the announcement said.

In total, the plan identifies 31 strategies and 159 supporting actions to help achieve the new environmental commitments: reducing emissions 61 per cent below 1990 levels by 2030 and reaching net-zero emissions by 2040.

In San Francisco, net-zero emissions is defined as reducing emissions 90 percent below 1990 levels and sequestering the rest in natural solutions like trees and green spaces.
United Nations, Dec 9 : UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres looks forward to Germany's continued positive role in the world body as a fresh government was formed under new Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

"First of all, we want to congratulate the new Chancellor on taking up his post and leading the German government," Xinhua news agency quoted Stephane Dujarric, Guterres' chief spokesman, as saying at a briefing when asked for the Secretary-General's reaction on the "changing of the guard" in Berlin.

"As you know, Germany is a critical and pivotal partner of the UN in peace and security, in development, in climate. And we really look forward to continuing to engage with Germany on all those files, and we look forward to Germany's leadership on those files, as well," he said.

On the departure of veteran German leader Angela Merkel as Chancellor after 16 years in power, Dujarric said Guterres had "a very close and warm relationship" with her.

"I think she exemplified Germany's leadership on the issues that I've just listed, notably on climate. And I think the empathy and the leadership she showed during a number of refugee and migrant crises in Europe is something that Antonio Guterres personally admired," said the spokesman.

Scholz from the Social Democratic Party was sworn in as the new German Chancellor on Wednesday after his party won the federal elections in September.
Visitors view a work by Rembrandt at a preview of the exhibition "Young Rembrandt - Rising Star" in Leiden, the Netherlands, Oct. 31, 2019. (Xinhua/Sylvia Lederer/IANS) Image Source: IANS News

Rembrandt's masterpiece "The Night Watch" is displayed during the media preview of the exhibition "All the Rembrandts" at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, Feb. 13, 2019. (Xinhua/Sylvia Lederer/IANS) Image Source: IANS News

Amsterdam, Dec 9 : A previously hidden sketch has been discovered beneath the paint of Dutch Golden Age painter Rembrandt's "The Night Watch", offering a glimpse into the genesis of the masterpiece created in 1642.

After two-and-a-half years of meticulous mapping of the famous painting using the most advanced imaging techniques and computer technology, the researchers have finally presented their findings, Xinhua news agency reported.

The most significant of these was a sketch beneath the paint, one of the first steps in the making of the masterpiece.

"The discovery of the sketch represents a breakthrough," Taco Dibbits, director of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, told a press conference on Wednesday.

"We always suspected Rembrandt must have made a sketch on the canvas before embarking on this incredible complex composition, but we didn't have the evidence," Dibbits said.

The sketch confirmed the understanding of experts that Dutch master Rembrandt started composing his paintings spontaneously directly on the canvas.

"We are currently able to look beneath the surface of the paint better than ever before and now we have the proof," Dibbits explained.

"It gives us a real understanding for the first time of how the painting was made. It is fascinating to see Rembrandt searching for the right composition. We have discovered the genesis of 'The Night Watch'," the director said.

"The Night Watch" belongs to the city of Amsterdam and has been part of the Rijksmuseum's collection since 1808. It was Rembrandt's first and only painting of a militia group.

Commissioned in 1642 by the Mayor and leader of the Civic Guard of Amsterdam, Frans Banninck Cocq, it is a group portrait of his shooting company.

Renovation started in 2019, the year that marked the 350th anniversary of the artist's death.

According to the researchers, Rembrandt must have spent considerable time searching for the ideal composition for this large painting.

Rembrandt seemed quite confident about his composition, as he only made some small changes. However, previous studies of "The Night Watch" had already revealed dozens of modifications made by the artist himself.

Now, researchers have discovered even more changes.

One example is that Rembrandt originally painted feathers for the helmet of militiaman Claes van Cruijsbergen, but later he painted them over.

Scans revealed that the artist also adjusted the leg position of another person, Rombout Kemp.

In addition, there are indications of the presence of an additional sword, and it has become clear that Rembrandt originally painted a larger number of spears.

"Each new detail gives us another insight into Rembrandt's creative process, his original idea, his thought processes and his material and artistic choices," said Petria Noble, the Rijksmuseum's head of paintings conservation.

Besides revealing Rembrandt's working methods, this detailed examination of "The Night Watch" has shed a great deal of light on the condition of the painting.

In many areas, the paint is still in an excellent state. Other areas, however, are in poor condition, according to the researchers.

One of the areas showing signs of deterioration is around the dog in the painting. The researchers had thought that the discoloration of the dog was the result of a degradation of the paint. They have now revealed that attrition in this part of the painting has led to more exposure of the newly discovered light-coloured sketch.

"All these discoveries now prompt us to look at Rembrandt's other paintings with different eyes... We now know what we should be looking for," Noble added.
December 09 : Saif Ali Khans elder son Ibrahim Ali Khan paid a visit to Pataudi Palace to wish his parental grandmother Sharmila Tagore on her birthday. The veteran actor turned 77 on Wednesday. Soha Ali Khan was also at the Pataudi Palace with her daughter Inaaya to celebrate the occasion.

Soha Ali Khan shared a picture on her Instagram stories, wherein Ibrahim can be seen holding little sister Inaaya in his arms. Ibrahim was stationed in Delhi, as he was assisting filmmaker Karan Johar in his forthcoming film Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani starring Alia Bhatt and Ranveer Singh. In the picture shared by Soha, the Pataudi Palace can be seen in the background. The picture was originally shared by Ibrahim on his private Instagram account.

While Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani was being shot in the capital, Ibrahim was spotted a few times in the pictures shared from the sets. While Karan, Alia and Ranveer returned to Mumbai after wrapping 60 days of filming, Ibrahim seemed to have stayed back to visit Sharmila Tagore on her birthday.

After Soha and Inaaya landed in Pataudi Palace on Monday, she has been sharing glimpses of the grandmother-granddaughter duo engrossed in several activities. In one picture, the veteran actor and Inaaya were seen petting a few dogs while soaking in the winter sun. In another picture, the duo was seen drawing and colouring together.

Meanwhile, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Soha Ali Khan and Sara Ali Khan also sent birthday wishes to the veteran actor on social media. Sharing a beautiful picture of Sharmila Tagore on her Instagram stories, Kareena wrote, Happy Birthday to my beautiful mother-in-law ICONIC, followed by red heart emojis and red balloons.

Image Source: Instagram/kareenakapoorkhan Kareena shared a beautiful picture of Sharmila Tagore on her Instagram stories

Sara also wished grandmother with an adorable picture with her. Happiest Birthday Badi Amma. I love you so much. Thank you for always being here for us and being a constant pillar of support. Inshallah I hope that I can always make you proud. #grandmother #inspiration #graceful #beautiful #iconic, Sara wrote.

Soha also shared a picture with the still vibrant Sharmila Tagore and wrote on her Instagram page, Happy birthday from the apple to the tree #happybirthday. The picture has been clicked during her current visit to the Pataudi Palace.

Saba Ali Khan, who was not present with mom Sharmila Tagore on her birthday, took a trip down memory lane and shared a throwback picture with her. Happy Birthday Ma! I may not be there today.. but I'm there in spirit... Missing you! Lots of love #sharmilatagore #Amma #decemberbirthday, Saba captioned the post.
Tripoli, Dec 9 : The High Council of State in Libya has announced an initiative to postpone the scheduled December 24 presidential and parliamentary elections to February 2022.

The initiative proposes to hold the presidential election simultaneously with the parliamentary election in February 2022, to form a system of a president, two deputies and a prime minister, reports Xinhua news agency.

The upcoming parliament's main task is to prepare a constitution for the country, the Council said.

The Council also proposed to limit the term of the upcoming president and parliament to four non-renewable years.

For the initiative to succeed, a national reconciliation must be launched, measures for building confidence between the parties be adopted, and the Government provide the proper atmosphere for the elections, it noted.

In November, Khaled al-Meshri, chairman of the Council, urged voters not to participate in the upcoming elections, describing as "shameful" the election laws issued by the House of Representatives, the current parliament.

More than 2.8 million Libyan voters are expected to cast their votes to choose a president in the December 24 election, as part of a roadmap adopted by the UN-sponsored Libyan Political Dialogue Forum.

The Libyan parliamentary election, originally scheduled for the same day as the presidential poll, has been postponed to January 2022.
Patna, Dec 9 : A local court has issued a non-bailable warrant against Bhojpuri super star Khesari Lal Yadav in a case of cheque bounce.

Yadav had purchased a piece of land from Mritunjay Nath Pandey, a resident of Asahani village under Rashulpur police station in the district in June 2019 and it's registry was done on June 4, 2019.

"The land was sold at a cost of Rs 22.07 lakh to Khesari Lal Yadav. He had given me a cheque for Rs 18 lakh which I deposited in my bank account on June 20, 2019. That cheque was returned from bank on June 24, 2019. I deposited the same again on June 27, 2019 and it bounced again," Pandey said.

"When my repeated attempts to sort things out with Yadav failed, I had no option but to file a complain of forgery against him in Rashulpur police station. The hearing of the case started in district court Chapra in Saran district," Pandey said.

The district court summoned him on January 22, 2021 but he failed to respond. The court then issued a warrant under bailable sections on February 25, 2021 which was not responded to.

As Yadav failed appear before the court several times, the court of Justice Sanjay Kumar Saroj (First Class) issued a non bailable warrant against him.
New Delhi, Dec 9 : In his statement to Parliament, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday said that the Indian Air Force (IAF) has ordered an inquiry into the chopper crash in Tamil Nadu that killed Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat and 12 others.

The Defence Minister said that the probe will be headed by Air Marshal Manavendra Singh.

He added that the IAF inquiry team had reached Wellington on Wednesday and already started investigations.

General Rawat's last rites will be performed with full military honours, Rajnath told Parliament, adding that the last rites of other military personnel will be performed with appropriate honour.

The Lok Sabha also observed a two-minute silence on the demise of the 13 people in Wednesday's crash of the M 17 helicopter.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Chennai, Dec 9 : The Madras High Court has summoned Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary V. Irai Anbu to explain as to why the water bodies in the state were not protected and encroachments removed.

A first bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Munishwar Nath Bhandari and Justice P.D. Adikesavalu on Wednesday flayed the government over its failure to protect water bodies and remove encroachments saying that the status report it provided lacked required information.

Irai Anbu had submitted a report in the court that he had given instructions to the Inspector General of Registration not to allow registration of land located on water bodies. This, the court stated was not adequate.

Inaction of officers concerned may result in an order leading to 'disciplinary inquiry' against all defaulting officers, observed the bench and directed Advocate General R Shanmugasundharam not to take the matters lightly.

The Acting Chief Justice said that failure of the government officials to protect water bodies has led to floods as well as water scarcity and these are draining the government coffers and creating misery for people of the state.

Justice Bhandari, while issuing orders summoning the Chief Secretary said: Take this very seriously and we have one intention and that is the state of Tamil Nadu must not suffer next year like the situation that we have this year." According to the submission given by the state government, of the 57,688 encroachments on water bodies, only 8,797 were removed,he added.
Bamako, Dec 9 : Seven UN peacekeepers were killed and three were seriously injured following an explosion in Mali, it was revealed.

In a statement on Wednesday, the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) said that logistic convoy from Douentza to Sevare struck an improvised explosive device in the Bandiagara region earlier in the day, reports Xinhua news agency.

In recent days, four MINUSMA camps in northern Mali have been the target of attacks, according to the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General and Head of MINUSMA El-Ghassim Wane.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has strongly condemned Wednesday's incident and extended his deepest condolences to the bereaved families of the victims who were from Togo and He wished a speedy recovery to the injured.

The secretary-general said that attacks targeting UN peacekeepers may constitute war crimes under international law.

He called on the Malian authorities to spare no effort in identifying the perpetrators of these attacks so that they can be swiftly brought to justice.

Guterres reiterated the continued support of the UN for, and solidarity with, the people and government of Mali, including through enhancing the capacity of the peacekeeping mission to protect civilians in central Mali and supporting a government-led strategy to stabilise the region.

Since 2012, Mali has been facing deep and multifaceted security, political and economic crises.

The independence insurrections, the jihadi incursions and the inter-communal violence have caused thousands of deaths and hundreds of thousands of displaced, despite the presence of UN forces (MINUSMA) as well as French (Barkhane) and European (Takuba) forces.
New Delhi, Dec 9 : To establish an improved communication network and better coordination among the workers and state unit functionaries, the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) has directed all its in-charges to visit their respective states at least once a month.

Earlier this week, BJP national general secretary Tarun Chugh and BJYM national president Tejasvi Surya held a meeting with the newly appointed state in-charges and co-in-charges of Yuva Morcha.

It is learnt that the orientation was held to discuss the expansion work of the organisation and the enhancement of its functioning.

The senior leaders directed the in-charges to visit their respective states at least once a month to establish an improved communication network and better coordination among the workers and functionaries of the state.

The state in-charges were further advised that the policies, strategies and party programmes should be effectively communicated and further carried out by all the karyakartas (workers) till the booth level.

While interacting with the BJYM state in-charges, Chugh said that the youth power is the strongest force of a nation, holding the power to bear desired results in every situation.

"It is the responsibility of the state in-charges to disseminate necessary information and instructions conveyed by the national president to the grassroots. Being the world's largest political party, BJP has a structured and disciplined team from national to state to districts to mandals to booths. The goal is to establish strong teams at the booth level and appoint a 'Panna Pramukh' which in turn shall establish structured coordination," Chugh said.

Lok Sabha member Surya asked the in-charges to explore their potential understanding of their roles and responsibilities. "This shall lead to the enhancement of leadership qualities of the individuals also and help them develop their personality holistically," Surya said.
New Delhi, Dec 9 : At least one person was injured in a blast that was reported at the Rohini Court in Delhi on Thursday, a fire department official said.

According to the official, a call was received at 10.40 a.m. regarding the mysterious explosion inside Chamber no 102 after which the Fire Department rushed at least 7 fire tenders to the spot.

"The blast was of low intensity and the injured person was rushed to a nearby hospital even before the fire tenders reached the spot," the official said, adding there were no casualties in the incident.

Meanwhile, a lawyer told IANS that all proceedings have been stopped at the court following the incident.

Sources said that the blast was possibly in a laptop, however, officials are yet to confirm about its nature.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Rohini) Pranav Tayal could also be seen at the spot assessing the situation.

There was fear and panic among the people, however, sources said the situation is now under control.

The incident has refreshed memories of the dramatic Rohini Courtroom firing incident in which a top Delhi gangster, Jitender Singh Mann, alias Gogi, was shot dead in a courtroom on September 24 by two assailants dressed in lawyers' garb.
Chennai, Dec 9 : Paying rich tributes to Chief of Defence Staff, General Bipin Rawat who died in a chopper crash in Coonoor on Wednesday, Malayalam star Mohanlal said that India had lost "one its most extraordinarily brilliant Army officers." Taking to social media, the actor, in a heartfelt note, said, "India loses one of the most extraordinarily brilliant Army officers it has ever witnessed. Deeply saddened by the irreplaceable loss of CDS General Bipin Rawat and his family along with other officials of the Armed Forces." "His valuable contributions and acts of utmost prudence have always been assets to the nation. It's with inexplicable despair that I along with my family join the country to mourn the loss of this great Armyman, his wife and other soldiers. Heartfelt condolences to all their dear and near ones." Tamil icon Kamal Haasan too expressed shock and grief at the incident. Writing in Tamil, Kamal Haasan said, "I am shocked to learn of the accident suffered by the chopper carrying Army generals, including the Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Bipin Rawat, at Coonoor. My deepest sympathies and condolences to the families and friends of all those who lost their lives."
A report by the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) identifies Pakistan as the highest among the worlds worst violators of religious freedom. Adding to the account is the recent lynching and burning of a Sri Lankan factory manager in Sialkot city.

The brutal act was immediately condemned by Prime Minister Imran Khan, who said in a tweet: "The horrific vigilante attack on factory in Sialkot & the burning alive of Sri Lankan manager is a day of shame for Pakistan. I am overseeing the investigations & let there be no mistake all those responsible will be punished with full severity of the law. Arrests are in progress." According to a reputed media outlet, the incident was connected to the "hardline Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP)" where the victim "allegedly tore a poster of the hardline group in which Quranic verses were inscribed and threw it in the dustbin. The poster of the Islamist party was pasted on the wall adjoining the office of Kumara. A couple of factory workers saw him removing the poster and spread the word in the factory".

Prime Minister Khan made a U-turn in his policy decision on the TLP. In April, the Pakistani government moved to ban the TLP under anti-terrorism legislation, taking its leader Saad Rizvi into custody. In November, the same cabinet revoked the declaration of the TLP as a banned group, and a provincial government moved to remove Rizvi's name from an anti-terrorism watchlist.

While the entire government is not in favour of this decision, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry cautioned "neither the Pakistani government nor the state is completely ready to fight extremism... The way the state had to back off in the TLP's case, symbolises that the bomb (of extremism) is ticking".

While TLP denies its role in spreading extremism and Pakistan authorities debate over the subject, the recent lynching of the Sri Lankan man adds clear concerns on uncontrolled and rising extremism, which could move beyond its borders to the region. The ban on TLP was foreseen as an unfruitful exercise by Pakistan scholar Hussain Haqqani saying: "It is unlikely that banning one group(TLP) will diminish Pakistan's religious extremism problem." The problem is "while Pakistan's establishment has alternated between various Islamist factions, mainstreaming one while suppressing another, it has never thought about mainstreaming secularists who have been dubbed as traitors or unfaithful to the ideology of Pakistan". The assassination of Salman Taseer, the former governor of Punjab province who was murdered by his bodyguard for speaking against the blasphemy law where the killer was garlanded by lawyers, depicts the clear perception of Pakistan on blasphemy.

TLP has influenced Pakistan foreign policy in the present conducive environment created by the Khan-led administration. French President Macron was a clear target accused by the TLP and Khan for spreading Islamophobia. The recent summoning of the French Ambassador is an incident of deep polarisation of policymakers on extremism.

President Macron explains: "The problem is an ideology which claims its own laws should be superior to those of the Republic," and continues to defend the laws of freedom of expression.

At the same time, Khan says Macron "has chosen to encourage Islamophobia by attacking Islam rather than the terrorists who carry out violence". Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who joins Khan in criticising Macron, clearly shows division.

The issue of blasphemy and rising extremism has gone beyond borders. In September, a Pakistani man was taken into custody by French police for allegedly attacking and seriously wounding two people with a meat cleaver in Paris over the issue of blasphemy.

While individual cases such as in Paris or the Sri Lankan murder are just one side of the story, the Pakistan government and their military handlers accepting the TLP'd ludicrous demands and ability to dictate terms to a government on its foreign policy and policy prescription are clear signs of concerns on regional security of South Asia. What is required is that both France and Pakistan should work on reforming their laws to adopt a progressive society, France to respect its heterogeneous society and religious respect and tolerance and Pakistan to reform its laws to accommodate religious harmony and curb extremist thinking with a consistent policy.

Priyantha Kumara, who was in his 40s, working as the general manager of the garment factory in Sialkot, became the first Sri Lankan victim of blasphemy in Pakistan, and it's a clear signal to the Pakistan government to manage its internal volatile security situation. The TLP will influence the rise of far-right political parties that could further push the country towards extremism. India and South Asian security are directly vulnerable to the rise of extremist forces.

Seeing the early signs of rising extremism in its periphery, India strongly condemned the terrorist strike in Afghanistan's capital Kabul. India told the UN Security Council that these attacks reinforce the need for the world to stand united against terrorism and those who provide sanctuaries to terrorists. Minister for External Affairs S. Jaishankar called for adopting the Convention on Terrorism, an important step to minimise the security threat. With significant financial assistance being stopped, poverty is on the rise, with many people suffering in the current environment in Afghanistan. This is the exact landscape where terrorism and extremism thrive. This will further propel the right-wing extremist factions in Pakistan.

The South Asian nations are vulnerable in this unfolding security environment, where Sri Lanka was an apparent victim in the 2019 Easter Sunday terror attacks. The regimes in power should not propagate and support extremist fractions for political gain. Political and military actors orchestrate the Islamization and extremism campaigns for their political legitimisation in the region. A policy prescription for moderate and religious harmony is a top priority for the region, where intertwined political supported extremist structures must be dismantled to promote regional peace.

The dual policy prescription to condemn extremism and promote extremism needs to end. Unfortunately, the political narrative to propagate right-wing ultra-nationalist extremism is visible even in Sri Lanka. Sri Lankan Minister Namal Rajapaksa tweeted acknowledging the gravity of the situation, saying: "We should be mindful that this could happen to anyone if extremist forces are allowed to act freely", forgetting the same Rajapaksa regime has elevated the extremist Buddhist force BBS to draft legal recommendations 'one country one law' for the nation which is a concern for the government's own minority community.
Addis Ababa, Dec 9 : Small-scale theft of food stocks has escalated into mass looting of warehouses across Kombolcha town in the Amhara region of northern Ethiopia over recent days, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said.

The theft included essential therapeutic nutrition items for malnourished children, Xinhua news agency quoted the OCHA as saying.

The exact amount of food lost is still being determined. But those incidents will further exacerbate the high levels of malnutrition and prolonged food insecurity in northern Ethiopia, where an estimated 9.4 million people across the conflict-hit Tigray, Amhara and Afar regions are now in critical need of food assistance, it said.

The raids in recent days reportedly were carried out by elements of the Tigrayan forces and some members of the local population, it said.

World Food Programme (WFP) teams on the ground were not able to prevent the looting in the face of extreme intimidation, including staff being held at gunpoint, said OCHA.

"Such harassment against humanitarian staff by armed forces is unacceptable and undermines the ability of the UN and our partners to deliver humanitarian assistance when it is most needed, particularly as aid workers face growing access challenges across several areas in Ethiopia." As a result, the WFP has suspended its food distribution operations and food distribution in Dessie and Kombolcha towns.

In addition, three WFP fleet trucks used for humanitarian operations in Amhara were commandeered on Tuesday and Wednesday by military personnel and used for their own purposes, said OCHA.

"We strongly condemn these incidents and reiterate our calls to all parties to the conflict to respect and protect humanitarian relief personnel and objects, in line with their obligations under international humanitarian law.

"It is prohibited to attack, destroy, misappropriate or loot relief supplies, installations, material, units or vehicles," it said.
Chennai, Dec 9 : The bodies of 13 people including CDS General Bipin Rawat, his wife, and 11 armed personnel who were killed in a helicopter crash at Kateri park near Coonoor on Wednesday, have been shifted from Madras Regimental Centre (MRC) in Wellington to Sulur Airforce station.

The distance from MRC Wellington to Sulur air force station is 87 km and the road traffic was diverted to prevent any disruptions during the transportation.

The bodies will be flown from Sulur airforce station to the respective native places of the crash victims. The bodies of General Bipin Rawat and his wife Madhulika Rawat will be flown to New Delhi and will be kept at their official residence at Kamaraj Marg.

Prime Minister Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah, other political leaders, and Armed forces personnel are expected to pay their last respects to General Rawat in Delhi.

The Defence Minister has already announced in Parliament that the bodies of all those dead in the air crash would be given full state honours.
Seoul, Dec 9 : The numbers of suicides and traffic and crime-related deaths in South Korea fell in 2020 largely due to the various social distancing schemes imposed over concerns of the Covid-19 pandemic, the government said on Thursday.

According to the Interior Ministry, the combined number of deaths connected to traffic accidents, crimes and suicides stood at 16,439 in 2020, down from 17,350 a year earlier, reports Yonhap News Agency.

In terms of types, traffic deaths fell 15.9 percent to 2,858, and those connected to five major crimes, such as murder and robbery, dropped 5.4 per cent to 386.

Suicide cases also fell from 13,779 to 13,195, down 4.4 per cent on-year, according to the Ministry.

Officials attributed the decreases in traffic and crime deaths to the nationwide social distancing restrictions and business hour curfews that were imposed on bars and restaurants throughout the country during the pandemic.

They also credited the drop in suicides to the government's Covid-19 related suicide prevention program.

Disease-related deaths, however, jumped 31.5 per cent due to an increase in cases connected to Covid, while fatalities due to fire accidents climbed 26.3 per cent due to a notable increase in large warehouse fire accidents.
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches with NASAs Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) spacecraft onboard from Launch Complex 39A, Thursday, Dec. 9, 2021, at NASAs Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The IXPE spacecraft is the first satellite dedi Image Source: IANS News

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches with NASAs Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) spacecraft onboard from Launch Complex 39A, Thursday, Dec. 9, 2021, at NASAs Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The IXPE spacecraft is the first satellite dedi Image Source: IANS News

Washington, Dec 9 : US space agency NASA on Thursday launched its new X-ray Mission to unlock the secrets of extreme cosmic objects.

The first space observatory of its kind, the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer, or IXPE, is built to study some of the most energetic objects in the universe -- the remnants of exploded stars, powerful particle jets spewing from feeding black holes, and much more.

The mission lifted off at 1:00 a.m. EST (11.30 am IST) aboard SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket from historic Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The project is a collaboration between NASA and the Italian Space Agency.

"Go #IXPE! Our newest X-ray observatory blasted off at 1:00am EST," NASA shared in a tweet.

"This begins a new quest to unlock the secrets of some of the most energetic objects in our universe, from black holes to neutron stars," it added.

IXPE is not as big and strong as the Chandra X-ray Observatory -- NASA's flagship X-ray telescope. While IXPE lacks in imaging power, it makes up by seeing an aspect of cosmic X-ray sources that has gone largely unexplored until now -- polarisation.

"The launch of IXPE marks a bold and unique step forward for X-ray astronomy," said Dr. Martin Weisskopf, IXPE's principal investigator, in a statement.

"IXPE will tell us more about the precise nature of cosmic X-ray sources than we can learn by studying their brightness and colour spectrum alone," he added.

IXPE is NASA's first mission to explore the polarisation signatures of a variety of X-ray sources.

The spacecraft includes three identical space telescopes with sensitive detectors capable of measuring the polarisation of cosmic X-rays, Each has a set of nested, cylinder-shaped mirrors that collect X-rays and feed them to a detector, which takes a picture of incoming X-rays and measures both the amount and direction of polarisation.

By analysing polarised X-rays with IXPE, scientists can learn more about the structure and behaviour of celestial objects, their surrounding environments, and the physics of how X-rays come to be. It will also allow scientists to answer fundamental questions about extremely complex environments in space where gravitational, electric, and magnetic fields are at their limits.

"IXPE will help us test and refine our theories of how the universe works," Weisskopf said. "There may be even more exciting answers ahead than the ones we've hypothesised. Better yet, we may find whole lists of new questions to ask!" For Weisskopf, who is also the project scientist for Chandra, adding polarisation to the X-ray mix has long been a goal. Making such measurements is difficult. It requires sensitive instruments, a rocket ride into space, and long observing times.

"This is going to be groundbreaking in terms of X-ray data acquisition," Weisskopf said. "We'll be analysing the results for decades to come."
New Delhi, Dec 9 : Pakistan has not offered any military bases to China in Gwadar, Balochistan, Geo News quoted National Security Adviser (NSA) Moeed Yusuf as saying an interview.

However, Yusuf said there are economic bases of China in Pakistan, where any country in the world can invest, adding that "the same were also offered to the US, Russia and the Middle East".

"We are open to all countries," he added.

Yusuf delved into Pakistan's ties with China, saying that Beijing is a close friend of Islamabad.

He once again reiterated that any country in the world can invest in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project since "we are not closed to anybody".

Yusuf was asked whether Pakistan had developed close ties with China at the cost of raising its voice for Muslims around the world, particularly those in Xinjiang.

The NSA responded by telling the interviewer that Pakistan does not agree with the Western version about the alleged atrocities being committed against Muslims in Xinjiang, the report said.

"We have relations of trust with China and our ambassador and other delegations from here also visited the Xinjiang province," he observed, adding that if Western countries have a problem with China, they should talk to Beijing about it.
Chennai, Dec 9 : Group Captain Varun Singh, the lone survivor of the chopper crash is expected to be shifted to Bengaluru for further treatment, sources said. His condition is said to be stable.

It is learnt, the facilities in the Bengaluru hospital are much better for the kind of treatment that is needed to be provided to Singh.

Shaurya Chakra awardee Singh survived the Wednesday night and prayers are being held for his recovery at the Defence Services Staff College (DSSC) in Wellington.

Singh is on a ventilator at the Military Hospital in Wellington and his condition is said to be stable but critical.

Earlier, the team of doctors treating Singh did not say anything other than that the next 48 hours will be critical.

It has been learnt that the medical team is discussing the mode of shifting Singh to Bengaluru -- by road or by air ambulance.

Singh, who has a wife and two children, was recently promoted from the rank of Wing Commander to Group Captain and was a recent joinee at the DSSC.

All the other 13 persons, including the Chief of Defence Staff Bipin Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat and other officials on the ill-fated chopper died in the accident on Wednesday.

The post-mortem was performed by the doctors at the Military Hospital in Coonoor in the presence of a state government doctor and police officials as per the procedure.
Kathmandu, Dec 9 : The Nepal Army on Thursday expressed grief over the demise of Indian Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, who was killed a day earlier in a chopper crash along with 12 others in the state of Tamil Nadu.

In a statement, the Nepal Army expressed its condolences over the death of Rawat, who was also also Nepal's Honorary Chief of the Army Staff, his wife Madulika and the 11 other military personnel.

General Prabhu Ram Sharma, Chief of Army Staff in the Nepal Army, offered his condolences to the Indian Army and General Rawat's family by phone and a letter on Wednesday evening, said the statement.

General Sharma said was shocked by the tragic incident and the irreparable loss to the Indian Army as well as the loss of a true friend to the Nepal Army.

General Rawat was conferred with the honorary title of Nepal Army by President Bidhya Devi Bhandari on March 29, 2017.

In 2018, he visited Kathmandu as the Chief Guest for Nepal Army Day.

Senior Nepal Army General Bal Krishna Karki is slated to attend Rawat's last rites in New Delhi.

Hailing from Uttarakhand, General Rawat used to speak the Nepali language very fluently.
Chennai, Dec 9 : The sequel to the superhit Tamil film 'Sathuranga Vettai' is to finally hit screens next month.

Director Nirmal Kumar's 'Sathuranka Vettai 2', which features actors Arvind Swami and Trisha in the lead, is to release in January next year, its new producer revealed.

Apart from Arvind Swami and Trisha, 'Sathuranga Vettai 2' will also feature Prakash Raj, Radha Ravi, Nassar, Chandini, Sreeman, Manobala, Kumaravel and E. Ramadoss among others.

Written by H. Vinoth, who is presently directing Ajith Kumar's upcoming film, 'Valimai', and who is also the writer of the first part of 'Sathuranka Vettai', the film has been directed by N.V. Nirmal Kumar, known for having directed the superhit 'Salim', starring Vijay Antony.

The film was originally produced by Manobala Picture House and Cinema City. However, due to financial issues, its release was getting delayed.

Now, its rights have been acquired by producer Mouttou Sambandam of Onsky Technology Pvt Ltd. Sambandam, who only recently turned a producer in the Tamil film industry by choosing to produce '2030', a first-of-its-kind flash forward genre film. Sambandam has announced that the film will hit screens in January next year.

Says Sambandam, "Basically, I am a die-hard film buff. I watch almost all movies. 'Sathuranka Vettai' is one of the best films in the Indian panorama segment. When I heard of a new movie coming from this franchise of 'Sathuranka Vettai', I was so excited. However, I was suddenly let down to see the movie getting stranded at various stages due to unforeseen circumstances.

"When I ventured into the film production, I wanted to not only produce content-driven movies, but also pick good projects that have the potential to steal the limelight. What caught my attention consistently was this movie - 'Sathuranka Vettai 2'. And now, I am glad that I have been able to get my vision materialised by choosing this project.

"I earnestly thank Manobala sir, Cinema City Gangadharan and many others for having given me an opportunity to explore my potential. Special thanks to Aravind Swami sir for his cooperation in securing the release of this film. Now, work on completing the pending portions have resumed and we are eyeing a worldwide theatrical release in January 2022."

-- Syndicated from IANS
Chennai, Dec 9 : Actor Rahman, who has delivered several hits in Tamil including the K.Balachandar-directed classic 'Pudhu Pudhu Arthangal', is all set to make his Bollywood debut in director Vikas Bahl's 'Ganpath' that features Tiger Shroff and Kirti Sanon.

The actor, who has been shooting for the film in London, disclosed this while on a trip to Chennai in connection with his daughter's wedding.

Rahman said, "I went to London after doing a lot of homework for the role. I attended Hindi tuition for a period of three months, then did script reading and a make up test before heading to London for the film's shoot." The actor was all praise for the unit of the film, which he said was highly punctual. Informing that their planning was excellent, the actor said that he was overwhelmed by the warmth and the love shown by the unit in London.

Giving out details of working with Tiger Shroff, Rahman said the actor was courteous and kind to everyone. 'Despite being a big hero, he is very humble. He is dedicated to his work," the actor said and added that it was very pleasant to work with director Vikas Bahl and Kirti Sanon as well.

However, the actor declined to disclose details of his role in the film, which he said he would reveal later.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
New Delhi, Dec 9 : The Supreme Court has rejected the plea of diplomatic immunity raised by Aircel founder C. Sivasankaran to resist the prosecution in money laundering cases in India, LiveLaw reported.

A bench comprising Justices A.M. Khanwilkar, Dinesh Maheshwari and C.T. Ravikumar dismissed the writ petition filed in 2019 by Sivasankaran, who claimed that he was an Ambassador of the Republic of Seychelles.

The bench noted that the Madras High Court had rejected Sivasankaran's plea for diplomatic immunity in 2019 and that he had filed the writ petition in the Supreme Court without challenging the High Court judgment, the report said.

Further, the bench also took note of a communication from the Seychelles Government to the Ministry of External Affairs in which it was stated that while Sivasankaran was the ambassador-at-large of Seychelles and had a diplomatic passport, his presence in India had no diplomatic purpose.

Senior Advocate Maninder Singh, who appeared for Sivasankaran, submitted that the petitioner was a serving Ambassador of the Republic of Seychelles and he has immunity under the Vienna Convention from criminal proceedings in India.

Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Union Government, relied on the Seychelles Government's communication to submit that Sivasankaran's presence in India was not on official duty.

Taking note of these factors, the bench held that Sivasankaran's claims for diplomatic immunity cannot be accepted. Further, the bench observed that the Madras High Court's judgment "stares at the petitioner". It also expressed its agreement with the views of the Madras High Court, the report said.
Brisbane, Dec 9 : Australia opener David Warner applauded team-mate Travis Heads counter-attacking century, saying that it was an entertaining knock. Heads unbeaten 112 meant that Australia lead by 196 runs after finishing Day Two of the first Ashes Test at The Gabba on 343/7 in 84 overs.

"They did bowl well didn't they? They hit the target on a short of a length. We've got smiles on our faces. What an entertaining innings from Travis Head. It has to be up there for him personally. It was a tight battle with him and Uzzie but to come out the way he did that's the Travis Head we know. He backed himself and backed his areas and walks off with 112 to his name," said Warner in a chat with broadcasters after the day's play.

Warner, who himself contributed to Australia's score of 343/7 with 94, felt that there was some luck involved in his knock. Warner had luck on his side when Ben Stokes clean bowled him with an inswinger on 17 but replays showed the bowler overstepped.

After lunch, Warner was dropped by Rory Burns at second slip on 48. Five overs later, Warner survived again on 60 as he slipped after trying to flick and Haseeb Hameed, at short leg, missed the run-out chance from a close distance.

"At the end of the day you think this could be your last game and you try to give it everything. Keep it simple and give it everything. Obviously getting bowled off a no-ball... you've got to try and keep your feet behind the line as a bowler. I thought I left very well today, I have worked on that especially at the Gabba. Everyone was talking about my form in the T20 stuff but when you're out of runs you deserve some luck and I got it." Though Warner fell short of his 25th Test century by six runs, his good fortun' and Head's onslaught meant that Australia are in a position of ascendancy with three days still left in the match.
New Delhi, Dec 9 : The Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Bill, 2020, will regulate the in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) practice in India and prevent mushrooming of unauthorised IVF clinics in the country, experts said here.

The Bill passed in Lok Sabha last week, was also approved in Rajya Sabha on Wednesday. It seeks to regulate fertility clinics, ART banks, prevent misuse, adopt safe and ethical practises. It also proposes the establishment of a national registry and registration authority for all clinics and medical professionals serving in the field.

"The field of Assisted Reproductive Technology has been unregulated for a long time, and has seen a proliferation of ART clinics and banks that have been running unchecked. This has led to unethical practises and commercial exploitation at the cost of women's reproductive health. Regularisation of this space through mandatory registration and standard operating procedures for private clinics is a welcome step," Poonam Muttreja, Executive Director Population Foundation of India, told IANS.

"The Bill will regulate IVF practice in India and prevent mushrooming of unauthorised IVF Clinics. The bill will ensure that clinics have the basic requirements of embryologist and clinician which will be full time and also the laboratory infrastructure machinery and properly conducted consulting and counselling. It will make sure that patients are offered the best treatment and not treated by people who are untrained in this field," added Dr Kaberi Banerjee, Medical Director of Advance Fertility & Gynecological Centre, New Delhi.

According to the Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, every woman above 21 years of age can now become a mother with the new Bill. Even divorcees and widows can use the ART Bill.

"The Bill will work towards empowering couples by making better and more information available to them about treatment options which will help improve awareness; improving patient safety and improve awareness about patient rights," Dr. Prof. (Col.) Pankaj Talwar, VSM, Head, Medical Services Birla Fertility and IVF, told IANS.

However, experts noted that implications of the bill for categories of individuals other than married couples needs further clarity.

"The government should ensure that single parents and the LGBTQIA+ communities must not be excluded. We call upon our elected representatives to be more compassionate to all aspiring parents regardless of their marital status and identities," Muttreja said.

The Bill also addressed the issues of reproductive health where ART is required for becoming a parent or for freezing gametes, embryos, embryonic tissues for further use due to infertility, disease or social or medical concerns and for regulation and supervision of research and development.

It has also fixed the number of attempts an egg donor can give her eggs and put a stop on commercial egg donation. However, the facility may not be available in smaller cities, the experts noted "We welcome the ART Bill to protect the interests of all parties but there are several provisions that are troubling. Due to severe increase in paperwork and administration work the cost of treatment will go up and will affect the poorer section of society more who will then have no option. Those couples who need donor egg or donor gamete will have reduced pregnancy rates due to lesser number of eggs collected from the donor," Dr Shivani Sachdev Gour, Director of SCI Healthcare, IVF expert and Gynecologist, told IANS.

"Though, the Bill aims to ensure proper treatment is provided to the public in general but how these will be implemented will be a challenge for the government and stakeholders." Banerjee said.
New Delhi, Dec 9 : Pakistan has decided to skip the summit on democracy to be convened by US President Joe Biden on Thursday and Friday, The Express Tribune reported.

The Biden administration has invited leaders from over 100 countries and Pakistan was among the four South Asian nations besides India, Maldives and Nepal to receive an invite.

China and Russia were excluded, while Taiwan was extended an invitation, drawing a strong reaction from Beijing.

Islamabad's move is seen as a clear snub to the White House that could entail serious implications for the already strained relations between the two countries, The Express Tribune report said.

It is understood that multiple factors have played their part as is obvious from the fact that it took Pakistan days of consultations before finally deciding not to attend the summit.

Initially, Pakistan was thought to be part of Biden's initiative at the ministerial level but it decided to skip the summit altogether because of a variety of reasons.

One of the reasons includes the exclusion of China from the summit. The overall state of relations between the two countries is another major factor, compelling Islamabad to stay away from the summit, the report said.

It is believed that President Biden's move to continue to ignore Prime Minister Imran Khan also made it difficult for Islamabad to attend the summit on democracy.

President Biden is yet to speak to the Prime Minister directly since taking over the White House earlier this year. But his invitation to Pakistan was seen as ice breaker.

It was not clear if China had anything to do with Pakistan's decision, but official sources confirmed that Islamabad did consult Beijing on the issue, the report said.

The move by Pakistan to stay away from the summit indicates the nature of current relations between Islamabad and Washington.

During last month's briefing to the lawmakers on Afghanistan, it was informed that the ties between Pakistan and the US were at the lowest ebb.

Pakistan also fears that the US may resort to some punitive action as the Treasury Department announced ahead of the summit that Washington would impose sanctions on people undermining democracy and also penalise countries having poor human rights record.
New Delhi, Dec 9 : Markets across NCT of New Delhi were raided by Samsung in furtherance to court orders, which unearthed a shockingly large racket of the sale of fake, counterfeit and unauthorized 'SAMSUNG LED TVs in the markets of the national capital.

Infringing and counterfeit products estimated to be worth over Rs. 1.5 crore, fraudulently sold under the trademark 'SAMSUNG' were recovered.

Samsung, represented by their team of lawyers, ORTIS Law Offices based out of New Delhi and Ahmedabad, had filed multiple civil suits before various Courts in New Delhi, and highlighted the prevailing black marketing of fake LED TVs being sold across many markets in New Delhi. It was contended that these counterfeiters dupe and mislead customers by selling fake LED TVs illegally using the Samsung's trademark, by affixing stickers on low quality imported or locally manufactured cheap LED panels, essentially claiming such LEDs to be originals.

Samsung, through their team of advocates, had successfully obtained interim orders against these infringers and conducted surprise raids in the markets of Nehru Place, Gaffar, Lajpat and Krishna Nagar, with court appointed Commissioners. The raids covered various godowns, manufacturing units, and other premises of the counterfeiters, each of which contained hundreds of unbranded, cheap, and low-quality LED TVs, and stickers bearing the trademark 'SAMSUNG', ready to be affixed on the fake TVs and their packaging.

The counterfeiters were caught red-handed and it was revealed that some of these fake TVs were being imported, while others were locally manufactured, with fake brand stickers affixed later.

This massive recovery of over 600 fake LED TVs by Samsung has once again brought to light the issue plaguing the Indian markets, resulting in duping innocent consumers of their money.
Suva, Dec 9 : Fiji is facing an epidemic of violence against women and girls in both public and private spaces, Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation Rosy Akbar said on Thursday.

While speaking at a high-level media briefing and launching a National Action Plan to prevent violence against women and girls, Akbar said almost one in three girls is physically or sexually abused after the age of 15 in the South Pacific island country, reports Xinhua news agency.

She noted that two out of three women in Fiji have experienced domestic violence by their intimate partners.

One out of five women suffers sexual harassment in their workplace.

The Minister also said, citing a research by Fiji Women's Crisis Centre, that almost two in 10 girls experience sexual abuse in the island nation before they are 15 years old.

The National Action Plan will be a roadmap for Fiji to meaningfully stop violence against all women and girls, said Akbar.

She added that even she was a victim of domestic violence when growing up and urged Fijians to speak openly on the issue in order to help in reducing the violence against women and children.

Akbar stressed that worldwide evidence demonstrates that the violence against women and girls is preventable if an evidence-based, whole population approach is adopted.
New Delhi, Dec 9 : The Haiderpur Wetland abutting the Madhya Ganga barrage, about 10 km from Bijnor in western Uttar Pradesh, has been recognised under the 1971 Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, bringing the total number of such designated areas in the country to 47, Ministry of Environment and Forests posted on Twitter on Thursday.

The Ramsar Site status was notified late on Wednesday night (Indian Standard Time).

The aim of the Ramsar list is "to develop and maintain an international network of wetlands which are important for the conservation of global biological diversity and for sustaining human life through the maintenance of their ecosystem components, processes and benefits." Located within the boundaries of Hastinapur Wildlife Sanctuary, this Wetland of International Importance (no. 2463 on the 'Ramsar List') is human-made wetland covering an area of 6,908 hectares and was formed in 1984 after the construction of the Madhya Ganga Barrage on the floodplains of Ganga.

Wetlands provide a wide range of important resources and ecosystem services such as food, water, fibre, groundwater recharge, water purification, flood moderation, erosion control and climate regulation. They are, in fact, are a major source of water and our main supply of freshwater comes from an array of wetlands which help soak rainfall and recharge groundwater.

Haiderpur Wetland provides habitat for numerous animal and plant species, including more than 30 species of plants, over 300 species of birds, including 102 waterbirds, more than 40 fish and more than 10 mammal species.

This diverse habitat supports more than 15 globally threatened species, such as the critically endangered gharial (Gavialis gangeticus) and the endangered hog deer (Axis porcinus), black-bellied tern (Sterna acuticauda), steppe eagle (Aquila nipalensis), Indian skimmer (Rynchops albicollis) and gold mahseer (Tor putitora).

The Site supports more than 25,000 waterbirds, serves as a breeding site for the near-threatened Indian grassbird (Graminicola bengalensis) and provides refuge to the northern subspecies population of the vulnerable swamp deer (Rucervus duvaucelii) during its seasonal flood-driven migration. The site also regularly supports more than one per cent of the population of greylag goose (Anser anser) and bar-headed goose (Anser indicus).

"Haiderpur Wetland also helps to support the livelihoods of the local communities and contributes to the maintenance of hydrological regimes and to hazard reduction. It is used for recreation and tourism, and scientific and educational activities are also associated with the Site," the authorities noted on the Ramsar website after designating Haiderpur as Ramsar Site.

Birder and environmental activist Ashish Loya, who has been working for improving the conditions around the wetland along with the Uttar Pradesh Forest Department, said, "Now the actual work of conserving and wise management of the wetland will begin. The tag will help get proper resources, focus and attention in order to make wise use of the wetland, and for the conservation and preservation of biodiversity here and for creating eco-tourism facilities. This is a commitment India is making by declaring it as Ramsar Site. Hopefully we will all live up to our promise."
Hyderabad, Dec 9 : Telangana reached another milestone in its fight against Covid-19 as the state crossed four crore doses-mark on Thursday.

Health Minister Harish Rao Thanneeru expressed happiness over the state achieving the key milestone.

According to the health department officials, the latest set of one crore doses were administered in 48 days. The state had reached three crore-mark on October 23.

They said 94 per cent of the 2.77 crore population was administered the first dose while 50 per cent have received the second dose.

The number of eligible beneficiaries who received the first dose stood at 3,99,21,813 crore on Wednesday. By Thursday afternoon, the state crossed the four-crore mark.

As on Wednesday, 2,60,47,829 had received their first jab while 1,38,73,984 received their second.

The state had administered the first one crore doses within 165 days after the vaccination drive rolled out on January 16.

It took 79 days to administer the second set of one crore doses as the state saw an increase in vaccine stock availability and authorities also ramped up the efforts to administer doses.

The next one crore doses were administered in just 27 days. However, the pace of vaccination slowed down with the end of the second wave of the pandemic and the drop in the number of daily cases.

After the emergence of the Omicron variant of Covid-19 in some countries and the rising global concern over a possible third wave, health authorities stepped up the vaccination efforts.

A cabinet sub-committee headed by the health minister was constituted to intensify the inoculation drive to achieve the goal of 100 per cent vaccination by the end of December. Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar also visited a few districts where vaccination coverage is low.

For the last few days, health workers have been going door to door to administer the doses. The department is specially focusing on those who have not taken the second dose despite completing the gap between the two doses.
Canberra, Dec 9 : More than 70 per cent of Australians say they want a coronavirus booster vaccine, a new survey published on Thursday revealed Researchers from Australian National University (ANU) published the latest findings from their ongoing survey of more than 3,400 people during the pandemic, reports Xinhua news agency.

It found that 71.9 per cent of the respondents said they will get a booster vaccine when available.

However, it did reveal portions of the population that are hesitant about boosters.

"In our analysis we found males, younger Australians, those who live outside of advantaged areas, those who have not completed Year 12, those who speak a language other than English, and those who have had their first dose vaccination relatively recently are all less willing to receive their 'third dose' of the Covid-19 vaccine," study co-author Nicholas Biddle said in a statement.

Booster vaccines are currently available to Australians aged 18 and over six months after their second shot.

Till date, 93.1 per cent of Australians aged 16 and over had received one vaccine dose and 88.7 per cent were fully inoculated, according to the Department of Health.

The most common reason for booster hesitancy given by respondents to the survey was thinking other people would need Covid-19 vaccines before them.

"This reinforces the need to boost supply of Covid-19 vaccines to the region, not only because many countries in the Asia Pacific have very low vaccination rates, but also because it will reassure Australians that they can get a booster without putting others at risk," Biddle said.

Australia on Thursday reported more than 1,600 new locally-acquired coronavirus cases and 10 deaths as the country continues to battle the third wave of the pandemic.

Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce, who is fully vaccinated, has confirmed he has tested positive for Covid-19 after arriving in the US for work on the government's social media regulation laws.

He told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) that he decided to get tested after developing mild symptoms.

"Obviously I am very frustrated. I'm going to be locked up in a room by myself for 10 days, but that's part of the process," Joyce said.

"It's probably developing, I'm probably very much in the early stages - but I'm more worried about being in a room by myself to be honest."

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Mumbai, Dec 9 : Hours after he was booked, former minister and Bharatiya Janata Party leader Ashish Shelar appeared before the Marine Drive Police Station to answer charges of 'objectionable comments' against Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar, here on Thursday.

Shelar, while referring to the recent gas cylinder blast in the BDD Chawls, Worli, on November 30 had made the remarks. In the blast a young man, his wife and their infant daughter were killed, while their 5-year-son was injured and survived the blast.

Slamming the Mayor a couple of days ago for her alleged delayed response to the tragedy, Shelar had said at a media conference (in Marathi) whether she was 'sleeping' for 72 hours.

Finding the expressions offensive, Pednekar wrote to Home Minister Dilip Walse-Patil and lodged a complaint late on Wednesday against Shelar, and along with several women municipal corporators, met Police Commissioner Hemant Nagrale, while the Maharashtra State Women's Commission Chairperson Rupali Chakankar took note and sought a reply from the Mumbai Police.

Claiming he had done nothing wrong and he was being framed in false charges, Shelar went to the Marine Drive Police Station to file his statement amid a huge show of strength and accompanied by several seniors like Leader of Opposition (Council) Pravin Darekar, Mumbai BJP Chief M.P. Lodha and city MLA Atul Bhatkalkar.

Darekar, Lodha and Bhatkalkar also attacked the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi government and accused it of 'misusing power' to book Shelar, but said they would not be cowed down by such tactics and fight it out.

Shelar has been booked under Indian Penal Code Section 354 (outraging modesty of woman) and 509 (word, gesture or act insulting a woman's modesty), but termed the action against him as "politically motivated" and vindictive.

Shelar had targeted the Mayor saying if patients are deprived of timely treatment they feel unsafe at municipal hospitals.
Chennai, Dec 9 : People in large numbers were heard chanting 'Vande Mataram', 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' and 'Jai Hind' when the bodies of the 13 copter crash victims including that of General Bipin Rawat, India's first chief of defence staff, his wife, and other armed force personnel reached Sulur air force station on Thursday.

Women from nearby villages who reached the Sulur Air Force station premises to pay their last respects to the departed soldiers, cried and then raised 'Jai Hind' and 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' slogans. Some of the men present were also raised slogans of 'Vande Mataram' when the bodies reached Sulur Air Force station.

Purushothaman Pillai, a Keralite living in Sulur and working in a private firm said, "It was a really tragic moment. General Bipin Rawat was an officer who was the face of the Indian Army and had strong opinion against our enemy nations. You can see people in large numbers paying their last respects to the departed soldiers".

Armed forces personnel also paid tributes to the departed souls at the Sulur air station. Nine bodies, according to armed forces, are beyond recognition and DNA tests would be conducted at New Delhi before the bodies will be handed over to their relatives.

All the dead bodies will be brought to New Delhi and after DNA tests and identification, they will be handed over to their kin.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah, and other ministers, bureaucrats, and armed forces personnel will receive the bodies at the technical area of Palam air station in New Delhi on Thursday evening.

The bodies of General Bipin Rawat and his wife Madhulika Rawat will be kept at their official residence at Kamaraj Marg, New Delhi from 12 noon to 2 p.m. on Friday for the general public to pay their last respects. The funeral will be held at the Lodhi crematorium on Friday evening.
Hong Kong, Dec 9 : Hong Kong media mogul Jimmy Lai and two others were on Thursday convicted for their involvement in an illegal assembly in Victoria Park last year.

According to a BBC report, Lai, Gwyneth Ho and Chow Hang Tung were convicted for "inciting and taking part" in the unlawful assembly despite a ban last June to commemorate the 1989 crackdown at Beijing's Tiananmen Square.

The 73-year-old Lai and Ho, a former journalist turned opposition politician, are already in jail. Chow is a former lawyer and the vice chairwoman of the now-defunct Hong Kong Alliance -- the group that organised the vigil every year.

Lai and Chow were charged with unlawful incitement of others to participate in an unauthorized assembly without lawful authority or reasonable excuse.

Chow and Ho were charged with knowingly participating in the banned assembly at that time, along with other unidentified persons.

They will be sentenced on December 13, and face a maximum of five years in prison.

The unauthorized assembly case involves a total of 26 defendants, including Lai, Lee Cheuk-yan, Albert Ho Chun-yan and Joshua Wong.

So far 21 people have pleaded guilty or been sentenced.

Nathan Law and Sunny Cheung, who have absconded from Hong Kong, were also involved in the case.

The court has issued arrest warrants for them.
Mumbai, Dec 9 : The fort-turned-hotel Six Senses Fort Barwara has been converted into a fortress once again for Vicky Kaushal and Katrina Kaif's wedding ceremony as the curtains have been raised on its grand arches to avoid prying cameras.

The 'pheras' will happen anytime soon and the organisers are leaving no stone unturned to keep the security intact with watertight monitoring of what's happening inside the venue.

Earlier, leaked photos of the guests in the hotel's corridors made their way to the Internet after the 'Haldi' ceremony of the high profile wedding. Taking cognisance of the situation, the wedding planners in tandem with the hotel management have covered the key outlets of the heritage property.

As per the sources, Vicky's 'Sehra' ceremony is also underway, post which the 'Baaraat' will make its way to the wedding 'mandap'. Keeping up with the floral theme, the venue will be decorated with rustic floral elements as the actors are said to be having a royal wedding.
New Delhi, Dec 9 : The Federation of Resident Doctors Association(FORDA) on Thursday decided to suspend their agitation for a week after Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya assured them of an early hearing of NEET-PG matter in the Supreme Court.

The RDAs across the nation have been protesting since November 27 against the multiple postponement of the NEET-PG Counseling 2021 and the subsequent admission of the fresh batch of resident doctors in medical colleges. The RDAs had boycotted the emergency and the routine services in hospitals from December 6.

However, the FORDA said in a statement, "A plea has been issued by the health ministry for fast track hearing and we were assured by the health minister that PMO is also looking for the matter and the process will be completed within a week".

"Considering the above and looking at the security situation of the nation owing to untimely demise of Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat and other senior officials, the FORDA has decided to hold the agitation for one week", it said further.

However, the federation of resident doctors association has also warned that if the issue is not addressed by December 16, they will call for complete shutdown of all health services except the Covid care facilities in the hospitals.

The admissions for NEET PG have been delayedA due to the dispute over revising the income criteria for the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) quota from the current upper limit of Rs. 8 lakh a year.
Hyderabad, Dec 9 : Telugu star Ram Charan had to skip the 'RRR' trailer launch in Mumbai on Thursday as he had to attend a family wedding.

S.S. Rajamouli's 'RRR' has got a thumping response for the theatrical trailer which was released earlier on Thursday. The makers had arranged for a screening of the trailer in the Telugu states.

Also, the movie's cast and crew, who flew to Mumbai, had interactive sessions with the Bollywood media. 'RRR' hero Jr NTR was also present at the event, while Ram Charan had to skip the media interaction as he was attending a family wedding.

Ram Charan and Upasana had to be at Upasana's sister Anushapala Kamineni's wedding. So Ram Charan had to call off the schedule where he was supposed to interact with the media.

Well, Ram Charan, who missed the show, will be soon kickstarting the promotional activities, as the 'RRR' team will travel to important cities, promoting the epic film.

Starring Alia Bhatt, Ajay Devgn, Shriya Saran, and others in important roles, 'RRR' is a pan-India movie which is releasing in multiple languages across the country on January 7.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Panaji, Dec 9 : The Congress in Goa sought to reach out to disillusioned RSS and BJP workers to join the Opposition to take on the Bharatiya Janata Party-led coalition government in the coastal state ahead of the 2022 state Assembly polls.

The Congress on Thursday inducted two active Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh volunteers -- Mahesh Mahambrey and Hrudaynath Shirodkar -- both of whom have been tasked to reach out to RSS and BJP, who are unhappy with the incumbent BJP-led coalition regime, to join the Congress.

"We will definitely appeal. That is our role. When we come from that family, it is our duty to reach out to them and convince them. There is a national issue now. But we need to protect Goa and will take all the tough steps to safeguard its interests," Shirodkar told reporters after his formal induction into the Congress party.

Shirodkar also said that if the RSS can openly align with the Congress in Kerala, the Sangh could also ally with the Congress in Goa.

"The Sangh does not instruct its members to join a particular party. But if you go to Kerala, the Sangh is aligned with the Congress, they are not with the Left, because the ideology is completely different," Shirodkar told reporters, after formally joining the Congress.

"When the Sangh can align with Congress in Kerala, it can also align with the Congress in Goa," he also said.

The duo joined the Congress in the presence of state president Girish Chodankar at the party's state headquarters.
New Delhi, Dec 9 : Moscow has been recognized as the first European city in the ranking of innovations that are used for the formation of resilience to the coronavirus. It is ahead of London and Barcelona.

The Russian capital ranks third among the world's megacities, behind San Francisco and New York. Boston and London round out the top five. The rating was compiled by the international research agency StartupBlink. The ranking is not a reflection of the success of public policy in terms of mitigating and dealing with Covid-19 but is focusing on measuring the output of innovation created mostly by start-up companies and corporates.

Almost 160 innovative products and services helped Moscow achieve a high rate. Solutions for the analysis and processing of medical images, which helped radiologists to analyse more than three million researches, a video analytics service for monitoring the level of occupancy in public spaces and the transport system, and a map of the spread of coronavirus in Russia and in the world are among them.

Computer vision algorithms based on artificial intelligence (AI) have become an important help in doctors' work. As a result, experts managed to save precious time during a pandemic. The images of the CT are immediately sent for processing by the AI. It records the presence of pneumonia or other pulmonary pathologies in patients with suspected or confirmed coronavirus. The doctor receives the results of the study in 10 minutes. AI has become a common part of the work of Moscow hospitals and health centers. Its systems analyse the patient's complaints, the results of examinations and tests, and then offer the doctor several preliminary options for the diagnosis.

Also, a CT calculator was introduced to help doctors in Moscow. It allows to predict the probability of a mild (CT 0-1), moderate (CT 2), or severe (CT 3-4) pneumonia and decide on further tactics of patient treatment. If the system predicts a mild form of pneumonia, the patient will be offered to refuse computed tomography. In other cases, a CT scan or X-ray is performed immediately, and intensive treatment begins. This does not replace the doctors' work, but it greatly simplifies their life and saves time.

A cloud platform is another innovative solution. It connects patients, doctors, healthcare organisations, insurance companies, pharmaceutical productions, and websites.

Technologies that help citizens adapt during a pandemic also contributed to high results. These are projects in the field of smart tourism, e-commerce, and logistics, as well as telecommuting and online education.

Moscow's experience Moscow has abandoned extremes in the fight against coronavirus. The focus was on prevention: the number of free express testing and vaccination posts was increased, online programs and platforms for education were patented, and telemedicine capabilities were developed.

From the outset of the pandemic, Moscow has been able to find an ideal balance between the introduction of restrictions and the state of the economy. The city is successfully controlling the incidence of coronavirus. This is also possible thanks to round-the-clock monitoring of the epidemiological situation in the city.

Monitoring and analysis of the situation allowed the Moscow authorities to prepare for the October coronavirus outbreak long in advance. Thanks to this, now the citizens can live an ordinary life.

As the result of the city authority's mindfulness, Moscow implements flexible measures in the fight against coronavirus. When the number of cases decreases, the restrictions in the city are lifted, and when it increases, on the contrary, they are introduced. This is done to prevent the explosive growth of the spread of the infection and preserve the health of Muscovites.

During the pandemic, the Moscow healthcare system has accumulated a sufficiently large margin of safety, which makes it possible to continue the routine and emergency care even at times of peak incidence of Covid-19.

Moscow supports businesses by providing subsidies and incentives. This year, about 25,000 small and medium-sized businesses took advantage of support measures.

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New Delhi, Dec 9 : Union Minister Sanjeev Balyan on Thursday expressed happiness over the withdrawal of farmers' stir, saying that he is elated that they are returning home "satisfied".

"It is not only matter of happiness for me but for everyone. The farmers who have been protesting for over an year at Delhi borders are returning home satisfied," he said.

Talking to IANS, Balyan said the farmers had issues in the past and in future also, they will have issues, but all these will be resolved by dialogue between farmers' leaders and the government.

Problems can be resolved even without an agitation, he said.

Asked what impact it will have on west Uttar Pradesh, he said: "Our situation was good. And now it will improve further as earlier everyone used to talk about getting this protest called off." He said: "We will reach out to people and tell them about development work carried out by our government.

On Opposition's charges that the Union government repealed the farm laws fearing defeat in polls, Balyan said: "Every political party is bothered about polls. But as far as withdrawal of farm laws is concerned, it was bound to happen as farmers were away from their home for over an year."
Chennai, Dec 9 : Lone survivor in the Wednesday helicopter crash, Varun Singh was on Thursday brought to Sulur Air Force station, en route to Air Force Command Hospital in Bengaluru. Doctors are tight-lipped on the physical condition of Varun Singh as he has suffered 80 per cent burns.

A special aircraft is arranged at Sulur Air Force station to shift group captain Varun Singh to Bengaluru air command hospital. Authorities at the Bengaluru hospital told IANS that the injured officer is expected to reach the hospital by 5.30 p.m.

The Air Force command hospital at Bengaluru has high-end facilities and has expert doctors to treat critical patients.

Meanwhile, a large crowd gathered at Sulur Air Force station as the mortal remains of General Bipin Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat and 11 other officers will be taken to New Delhi. Several women broke down and many were seen chanting 'Vande Mataram', 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' and Jai Hind.

Surululinathan, a retired Air Force personnel from Ooty who has reached the Sulur Air Force station to pay his last respects to the CDS and other personnel, told IANS, "This can be considered as a black day in the annals of the Indian armed forces. As a retired Air Force personnel, I know that the Air Force pilot who had commanded the helicopter was a very experienced pilot and the investigation must cover all angles including external attack theory that has cropped up from several places. We need not rule out anything as this should not be taken lightly."
Panaji, Dec 9 : Goa Congress president Girish Chodankar has been slapped with a legal notice allegedly by the victim of a sexual exploitation case, days after he claimed that a power cabinet minister had been involved in sexually exploiting a woman.

Chodankar said that the notice was a proof that the victim was being harassed by the Minister into issuing the notice, which has asked the state Congress president to desist from revealing any material linked to the sexual exploitation case in the public domain.

"The Minister is behind this (legal notice) with the CM's blessings. The victim, who I do not know, has said that she is poor (in the notice). The notice calls her Mrs. X. If the victim is poor, then how is she able to hire a Mumbai-based law firm," Chodankar told a press conference in Panaji. The notice has claimed that the victim hails from Bihar.

"This is a clear case wherein the Minister is using intimidation tactics. He is trying to pressurise me to not release the evidence. We are not scared of such threats," Chodankar also said.

On November 30, Chodankar in a press conference had alleged that a cabinet minister (without naming) in the BJP-led coalition government had sexually exploited a woman and further alleged that Chief Minister Pramod Sawant was using the Goa Police to destroy evidence connected to the case.

Chodankar had claimed that the video, audio and Whatsapp messages suggested sexual exploitation of a woman by the Minister.

He had also said that if the BJP-led coalition government did not take action against the Minister, the party would release the evidence in the public domain ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's scheduled visit to Goa on December 19.

In response to Chodankar's deadline, Sawant has said that he would sack any minister in his cabinet who is accused of sexual exploitation, but also said that he would initiate a probe only if the woman files a formal complaint.

Chodankar claims that it is unfair of the Chief Minister to expect a victim to file a police complaint against a powerful minister and demanded that the yet unnamed minister be sacked from the cabinet.

"CM made a statement yesterday that he will investigate after the victim files a complaint. What kind of a Home Minister is this? He has seen the evidence, he knows who the Minister is. He is asking the victim to complain against a powerful Minister. Which means, is the CM asking the victim lady to establish the crime?" Chodankar said.
Panaji, Dec 9 : Goa has better education infrastructure than Delhi and West Bengal, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said on Thursday, while warning Goans of lies peddled by political parties from the two states (AAP and TMC), related to observance of good governance practices by their respective administrations.

"I can say with pride that Goa has the best infrastructure for government colleges. This is my challenge. Anyone can prove this. Goa has the best infrastructure for the education sector. Goa has a unique aided education system, which is not there in any state. Other states have a private education system," Sawant said at a function organised to mark the laying of the foundation stone for the Shri Gopal Gaonkar Memorial Goa Multi Faculty College in Dharbandora sub district in South Goa.

"You go to Maharashtra, Karnataka, Delhi or Kolkata. I am saying this because a lot of people lie. They have a habit of telling lies. Goans are innocent. They do not verify. They listen to what people say and keep quiet. They say who will go to Delhi. There is so much pollution there already," Sawant also said.

Sawant has been at loggerheads with leaders of the Aam Aadmi Party, who have made the Delhi government's achievements in the education sector as one of the key planks for the upcoming Goa polls. The Trinamool Congress, which is looking to make a splash in the state in the elections has also slammed Sawant for poor governance and shoddy performance of the education sector, which is regulated by the Education Ministry, headed by the Chief Minister.

The Chief Minister also said that the BJP government had upgraded 95 per cent of the primary school infrastructure in the state, which he had said had been ignored for decades.
New Delhi, Dec 9 : Almost 15 months after the agitation began, triggered by the now-repealed three farm laws, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha on Thursday said they have suspended their protests after positive assurances from the government on their demands, but said a review would be taken on January 15.

"We are happy with the letter from the government. We plan to celebrate our win and return from the campsites at Delhi borders and other locations on December 11," one of the leaders of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), Yudhvir Singh said.

He, however, said, there would be a review meeting of the SKM leaders at Singhu Border again on January 15 to assess if the government has lived up to its words.

"Our current agitation stands suspended. Battle has been won and the war to ensure farmers' rights, especially to secure MSP as a legal entitlement for all farmers, will continue," the SKM statement on the 378th day of the agitation in Delhi said.

The farmers wanted to celebrate on Friday itself, however, in view of the solemn occasion of the funeral of Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat, who perished in a helicopter crash with 12 others on Wednesday, the celebrations will take place on Saturday, when the farmers return to their homes. The SKM leaders' meeting started with a two-minute silence to the deceased in the crash.

The letter from the government had been in the making for two days as the farmers demanded additional assurances not mentioned in the earlier two drafts. The current one promises formation of a Committee that will include farmers' representatives to discuss how to arrive at the minimum support price (MSP) among other demands.

The SKM said, "We dedicate the fabulous and historic victory of the struggle to around 715 martyrs of the movement, including those in Lakhimpur Kheri," and added, "Farmers' unity, peace and patience has been the key to the victory, and this will not be allowed to erode in any circumstance. We shall collectively stay alert and ensure that promises are kept." Meanwhile, the mood at the Singhu Border camp site on Delhi outskirts was jubilant since morning. On the one hand, hectic activity was going on for winding up the camp site, home to scores of farmers for the last 15 months. And on the other, SKM meeting was going on with eager media persons mingling with the overjoyed farmers.

The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), a consortium of 40-odd farmers' organisations from across India, had spearheaded the agitation from day one. The countdown for ending the agitation had begun on November 19, when the Prime Minister announced to repeal the law, but confusion continued even after Parliament repealed the contentious three laws on November 29 about the exact fate of the agitation.

The President had given his assent to the three Farm Bills on September 27, 2020. The three Bills were Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020, Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020 and Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill 2020.

The farmers had maintained that repeal of the farm laws was just the primary demand, but there were other demands too and the agitation would not end till those were met. One of the main demands among those unmet then was legal backing for minimum support price, for which the Prime Minister had announced formation of a committee with representatives from the Centre, states, agriculture bodies, farmers, and academicians.

Ahead of these becoming laws and soon after that farmers across the platforms had embarked on agitation, some of them peaceful, some resulting in damage to government property, including the riotous agitation at the Red Fort on January 26 earlier this year. The SKM has claimed loss of lives of more than 600 farmers at various places during the agitation. Hundreds of these farmers -- most of them from western Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and Haryana under the banner of Samyukt Kisan Morcha -- had been camping at various entry points to Delhi.

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
Mumbai, Dec 9 : After spending over three years in jail, lawyer-activist Sudha Bharadwaj finally walked out of the Byculla Women's Prison on Thursday, 9 days after she was granted a default bail by the Bombay High Cour.

Stepping out of the prison gates in the afternoon, a frail but relaxed Bharadwaj waves out to the waiting media persons, before she was driven to her local residence.

The development came after the Supreme Court rejected the National Investigation Agency's plea against the Bombay High Court's December 1 verdict granting default bail to Bharadwaj and the route was cleared for her release from the jail on Wednesday with completion of the bail formalities.

On Wednesday, Special NIA Court Special Judge D.E. Kothalikar allowed Bharadwaj - an accused in the Koregaon Bhima-Elgaar Parishad cases and allegedly having links with Maoist groups - to be released on a cash bail of Rs 50,000.

As per the high court directions, he also set out the terms and conditions for Bharadwaj's bail including that she must reside in Mumbai, not to leave the city without the court's permission, and deposit her passport with the NIA.

However, the Special Court rejected her plea to travel to Chhattisgarh, or Delhi for her legal practice and also barred her from talking to the media about the case. She has been asked to attend proceedings of the trial in the court and ensure it is not delayed due to her absence.

Bharadwaj becomes the first of the 16 accused in the case to be enlarged on a default bail, though another accused P. Varavara Rao has secured bail on medical grounds, and one accused, Fr. Stan Lourduswamy died in custody while waiting for bail last July.

Hailing from Chhattisgarh, Bharadwaj was arrested by Pune Police on August 28, 2018 in connection with the Koregaon Bhima-Elgaar Parishad cases and slapped with charges under the stringent UAPA. Later, the NIA took over the case probe in January 2020.

The investigators claimed in the charge sheet that documents found from some of the co-accused and other evidence established her links with Maoist activities and the banned CPI-Maoist.
San Francisco/New Delhi, Dec 9 : As then US President Donald Trump tightened the rules around H1-B visa and asked global firms to invest more and hire Americans in the country, IT software major Infosys also ramped up its hiring of American workers, but many of those young workers found themselves getting paid handsomely and do nothing, The Verge has reported.

Infosys, a global leader in consulting, technology and next-generation services, in September 2020 announced that it plans to hire 12,000 American workers over the next two years, bringing its hiring commitment in the country to 25,000 over five years.

In 2017, Infosys had committed to hiring 10,000 American workers over two years and exceeded that goal by creating 13,000 jobs in the US.

According to The Verge report, when Infosys has more employees than it needs for its clients, those spare employees end up on the "Bench", where they are, in effect, paid to do nothing.

At first, being on the "Bench" had its perks, particularly for Josh, who worked remotely due to the pandemic.

"I ended up playing a lot of video games," he said.

But his time on the "Bench" began to wear on him for reasons he found difficult to describe to his family and friends," the report quoted Josh as saying.

"It was really hard to explain to them why I felt like it was a bad thing,a Josh added. "They were just likea 'Well, you're getting paid to do nothing, how could that be bad? That sounds like a dream job.'" Infosys' three-decade reliance on the H-1B visas came under siege during the Trump administration, which instituted new rules in 2020 targeting the visa programme.

According to Infosys, the Trump era visa restrictions were tangential to the company's expansion in the US.

"We are continuing to do what we are doing in spite of the fact that there is a new administration in the US," Infosys' President Ravi Kumar told The Verge. Instead, Kumar added, the change was driven by Infosys' clients, who wanted their contractors to be closer to home.

As Infosys expanded across the US, politicians also showered the company with tax breaks.

"In Indiana, Infosys' planned headquarters granted it $101.8 million in subsidies, one of the largest incentive packages in the state's history. And in Connecticut, a proposed smaller 1,000-person headquarters gained the company up to $14 million in subsidies, with the final amount conditional on hiring all 1,000 workers," the report mentioned.

Other Indian companies also took cognizance of the situation.

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) had announced that it would hire 10,000 workers by 2022, having previously hired 21,500 workers between 2015 and 2020.

Stuart, another Infosys employee in the US, was hired to be a business analyst, and Infosys "paid him to attend a short-term training programme to learn how to be one".

But that enthusiasm faded when Stuart reportedly finished his training and was promptly put on the "Bench".

"Eventually, you see people bringing in a deck of cards to work. There's no supervision; there's nothing to do; there's no projects to get on, but we're required to be there," he was quoted as saying.

So when a position opened up, Stuart took it. It was an IT support desk project, a position he described as "being a call centre employee".

"I now have nominally two years of experience in IT, but I definitely don't have two years of business analyst experience. People don't view me as having enough experience," Stuart added.

In September 2020, Kumar had said: "While we continue to leverage our established university partnerships to strengthen our talent pool, our recently launched aReskill and Restart' platform will play a crucial role in our growth as we meet this commitment (in the US)." "We will bring a specific focus on building pathways for those who have been impacted by the economic downturn and look forward to bringing on board individuals without traditional four-year degrees. Workers who have been left out of the digital economy will now have the opportunity to gain the skills needed for 21st-century careers," he had said.

In the past couple of years, Infosys launched six technology and innovation centres in the US across Indiana, North Carolina, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Texas, and Arizona.
New Delhi, Dec 9 : The BJP on Thursday welcomed Samyukt Kisan Morcha's (SKM) decision to end the 15-month agitation against the now scrapped farm laws at the Delhi borders saying instead of benefitting the farmers, the protest has harmed their interests.

BJP Rajya Sabha member from Uttar Pradesh and former president of BJP Kisan Morcha Vijaypal Singh Tomar told IANS that the repeal of three farm laws has slowed down the process of doubling farmer's income. "The laws were brought in to increase the farmers income on the line of Modi government's commitment to double their income. Now with the repeal of three farm laws the process has been slowed. The Modi government will now find other ways to help them," he said.

He claimed the majority of farmers had neither participated nor were in favour of the protest. "Majority of farmers know the benefit of three farm laws and they did not support the protest. They continued to work at theirs farm which resulted in record produce of Rabi and Kharif crops, highest in the last 10 years. If farmers are protesting for over a year, then how did the country report record produce," Tomar asked.

Almost after 15 months of their agitation on three farm laws which were now repealed by Parliament, the SKM announced that they are suspending their protests after positive assurances from the government on their demands but said a review would be taken on January 15.

"We are happy with the letter from the government. We plan to celebrate our win and return from the camp sites at Delhi borders and other locations on December 11, one of the SKM leaders Yudhvir Singh said.
Bhopal, Dec 9 : Tense moments prevailed in Madhya Pradesh's Dhamanda village of Sehore district as soon as the news of IAF's MI17 chopper crash broke out on Wednesday noon. The crash, which tragically claimed 13 lives including India's first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Gen Bipin Rawat, took place near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu's Nilgiris district.

Naik Jitendra Kumar, a resident of Dhamanda village -- around 60 km from state capital Bhopal, was among the 14 on board the ill-fated helicopter. Gen Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat, Jitendra Kumar and 10 others died in the crash.

The CDS was on a visit to the Defence Services Staff College at Wellington in Nilgiri Hills to address the faculty and student officers of the staff course.

The anxiety-struck villagers on Wednesday were constantly switching news channels to get updates on Kumar. The family members and neighbours who gathered at his home were praying for his "safety and recovery" till the IAF announced the names of the deceased.

As soon as the news of Jitendra Kumar's death broke out, a pall of gloom descended on the family members and the entire village. All their hopes were shattered and everyone began mourning the demise of the brave son.

A police team later arrived at Kumar's home to step up security in the area, anticipating that a large number of people could pour in to pay tributes to the soldier.

With tears in eyes, family members and villagers are preparing for a painful moment -- receiving the mortal remains of the 31-year-old braveheart - 3 Para (SF).

Nitin Singh, a resident of Dhamanda village, told IANS: "Kumar's father Shivnarayan Verma was proud of him not only because his son was serving the country, more so because his son was the Personal Security Officer of Gen Rawat." Kumar, who has two children - a four-year-old daughter and two-year-old son, had last visited his home in November.

Gen Rawat's wife Madhulika Rawat was also from Madhya Pradesh's Shahdol district. She was the daughter of two time MLA Mrigendra Singh from Sohagpur assembly constituency in Shahdol.

Madhulika Rawat, Brigadier L.S. Lidder, Lieutenant Colonel Harjinder Singh, Naik Gursewak Singh, Naik Jitender Kumar, Naik Vivek Kumar, Naik B. Sai Teja and Havaldar Satpal were travelling along with General Rawat when the chopper crashed.

Apart from them, two pilots, a Group Captain and a gunner were on board the ill-fated chopper.
Mumbai, Dec 9 : Sushmita Sen found the perfect way to channelise her inner strength through her work in the Ram Madhvani directorial 'Aarya'.

The title character of 'Aarya', much like Sushmita, is a woman of substance. She calls the shots, is highly adaptive, plays to her strengths and is protective about her world.

As the second season of the crime thriller approaches its release, Sushmita spoke with IANS about her experience of working in Ram Madhvani's 360 degree set up, constructing Aarya's character and her subsequent dissociation from the character for the downtime.

For her, working in a novel 360 degree system of Ram Madhvani where filming happens in real time, is "the most enriching system" and "the one that spoils an actor". She says, "There's no way you can go back to the discontinued way of emotions with multiple takes of close up, over the shoulder, jimmy jib. The camera is a fly on the wall, you don't feel the camera, it doesn't interfere with the actors in real time." Explaining a normal shoot day on 'Aarya' sets, she adds, "Even if you drop a glass and it breaks during the take, you continue with the scene and find a way around to take the broken glass off the frame. So, you adapt. His school says, 'please make mistakes, let real life happen while filming'. It's like theatre. All the actors are aware. This is a system of awareness. He (Ram) has done an outstanding job with this system." Shooting in such an immersive atmosphere, where multiple stimuli are at work both on the surface and at the subconscious level, the gravity of the emotions can drag an actor into depths. Laying down the framework of the character construction, the actress says, "We shoot 'Aarya' in a way where depending on the workshop, we get into a zone. We are not called by our real names but by the names of the characters that we are playing, during the schedule." She continues, "We don't keep big breaks between schedules, we do it from start to finish in order to maintain that psychology of characters and the universe." Alternatively, the deconstruction too was simple and effective, "After filming, we had three full nights of partying. This is where we switch from Aarya to Sushmita and Tej to Chandrachur Singh and it is done in the most organic way", she says as her tone of voice eases explaining the process.

Theatre is considered to be an actor's medium, films and shows are directors' medium, ask her from whose point of view the story is being told when one marries theatre and films in a 360 degree approach, and she quips, "Real life cannot happen under a controlled atmosphere, we are allowed to make mistakes. The set is not just a set anymore, it's an actual house with functional appliances and accessories." "All departments work in perfect sync sharing the same energy. So, for this medium, you can no longer say that a medium belongs to an actor, director or one technician, this actually belongs to all departments and the story takes the control of the wheel," she signs off.

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
New York, Dec 9 : The highly mutated Omicron variant of Covid-19 may not completely escape vaccine-induced antibodies, according to a new study by US researchers using Artificial Intelligence tools developed by Google's DeepMind.

The genome of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant (B.1.1.529) was released on November 22, and has since caused a flurry of attention due to the large number of mutations in the spike protein and elsewhere on the virus.

The mutations raise concerns that this variant will have considerable escape from vaccine elicited immunity.

To explore this, a research team from University of North Carolina at Charlotte, turned to predictive computational methods to model the mutated structure of the spike protein's receptor binding domain and posit potential changes to vaccine efficacy.

The study, posted on pre-print server and not yet peer-reviewed, showed "some structural changes in the receptor-binding domain that may reduce antibody interaction, but no drastic changes that would completely evade existing neutralising antibodies (and therefore current vaccines)", as per Colby T. Ford, from the Department of Bioinformatics and Genomics at the varsity.

The study was conducted using AlphaFold2 - a neural network-based deep learning model created by Google DeepMind - which can predict protein structure based on the genetic code.

Researchers found that existing neutralising antibodies will still bind to the mutated spike protein of the Omicron variant. The mutations "do not appear to be causing any large conformational change that would totally evade antibody interaction," Ford said.

The antibodies elicited from vaccines or a previous infection will provide some protection against Omicron, he noted.

Determining the actual structure of a protein is a time-consuming process, and quantifying protein-protein interactions (like spike-to-antibody interactions) are also experimentally difficult to perform in vitro. Thus the study results will need to be confirmed in laboratory experiments, the team said.

"Given the public health urgency in understanding the impacts of new SARS-CoV-2 variants quickly requires that we act quicker than is possible in a lab," Ford said.

Meanwhile, US drug maker Pfizer on Wednesday announced that a third dose of its mRNA vaccine can protect against the Omicron variant of Covid-19.

Results from an initial laboratory study demonstrated that serum antibodies induced by the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine (BNT162b2) neutralises the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant after three doses, the company said in a statement.

A third dose also strongly increases CD8+ T cell levels against multiple spike proteins which are considered to correlate with the protection against severe disease. Compared to the wild-type virus, the vast majority of these remain unchanged in the Omicron spike variant, the company said.

The findings were also supported by a small study led by South African researchers that showed that only two doses of Pfizer's Covid vaccine may be up to 40 times less effective against the new super mutant Omicron variant compared with the original virus.

According to Prof Alex Sigal, a virologist at the Africa Health Research Institute, who led the research, Omicron's ability to escape vaccine antibodies is "incomplete". He added that "previous infection, followed by vaccination or booster is likely to increase the neutralisation level and likely confer protection from severe disease in Omicron infection".

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Chennai, Dec 9 : Police have booked a 24-year-old youth for marrying a 13-year-old girl in Tamil Nadu under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act 2006.

Accused Arun and his mother Pandiyammal, hailing from Koolandipatti in Mangulam area, and the parents of the girl, have also been booked.

According to Tamil Nadu Child Welfare Commission, the marriage took place on Monday at Perumal temple in Therkundrampatti, after which the girl went to school with the 'Mangalasutra'.

Police, Child Welfare Committee (CWC) officials, and officers of Social Welfare Department reached the school on a tip-off and spoke to the girl who informed the authorities that the marriage was solemnised with her "consent".

CWC members M.R. Shanthi and L. Shanmugham said: "When we spoke to the girl, she said that she was in love with Arun and wanted to marry him. He was going abroad and the girl wanted to marry him before he leaves for abroad. She had told him that she would live with her parents and attend school." The CWC also got a declaration from the girl and her parents that she would continue her studies by staying at her parent's residence and all of them would appear before the CWC every month.

The CWC members said that the minor has to be handed over to her mother under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act.
Rome, Dec 9 : The Italian Competition Authority on Thursday fined e-commerce giant Amazon $1.3 billion (1.1 billion euros) for using its dominance in the online shopping world and harming competing operators in the logistics space via its 'Fulfilment by Amazon' (FBA) service.

The antitrust watchdog called AGCM was particularly concerned with the benefits Amazon gives to sellers on its platform that also pay to use its FBA logistics service.

"The investigation found that these are functions of the Amazon.it platform that are crucial for the success of sellers and for increasing their sales. Finally, the stringent performance measurement system to which Amazon subjects non-FBA sellers is not applied to third-party sellers who use FBA, and failure to pass this can also lead to the suspension of the seller's account," the AGCM said in a statement.

In doing so, said the authority, Amazon has harmed competing e-commerce logistics operators by preventing them from proposing themselves to online sellers as providers of services of a quality comparable to that of Amazon's fulfillment.

"These conducts have, thus, increased the gap between the power of Amazon and that of the competition in the e-commerce order delivery business," the statement read.

In a statement to Engadget, Amazon said: "We strongly disagree with the decision of the Italian Competition Authority (ICA) and we will appeal. The proposed fine and remedies are unjustified and disproportionate." The Italian watchdog said that Amazon must grant sales and visibility privileges on its platform to all the third-party sellers. The ACGM has given Amazon a year to comply with its rulings.

The fine is one of the largest levied by a EU country over online anti-trust issues.

Last month, the AGCM fined tech giants Apple and Google around $11.3 million each over violations of the Consumer Code - one for lack of information and another for aggressive practices regarding the acquisition and use of consumer data for commercial purposes.

This was the second time Apple was fined by the Italian regulator last month, after it and Amazon were hit with fines totalling over around $225 million for restricting who's allowed to sell Apple and Beats products on Amazon's Italian store.

Earlier this month, a significant report from a US-based nonprofit organisation claimed that Amazon is exploiting its position as a gatekeeper to impose steep and growing fees on third-party sellers, raking in big moolah.

In 2019, Amazon pocketed $60 billion in seller fees and this year, its take will soar to $121 billion, according to the report titled 'Amazon's Toll Road' by the Institute for Local Self-Reliance.
Patna, Dec 9 : Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) president Chirag Paswan on Thursday slammed Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for not visiting the victims who lost their eyesight due to wrong operations in Muzaffarpur.

The operations of cataract were carried out between November 22 and November 27 at an eye hospital located at Juran Chapra road in Muzaffarpur. At least 65 persons underwent operations of cataract, following which due to severe infections, the doctors removed the operated eyes of more than 25 patients. The remaining patients have also lost their eyesight.

"Such a disaster happened in the state and the Chief Minister did not go there to meet the victims. How could he reach to the bottom of the problem if he does not go out of his AC room. If you don't meet the victims, you can't know what would be the actual reasons of such a massive tragedy," Paswan said after meeting with victims in Muzaffarpur.

"I suggested him at the time when he imposed liquor ban in Bihar but he did not take feedback of common man before implementing the same. Now, its consequences are before us," Chirag Paswan added.

Following the incident, the Human Rights Commission has sought action taken report from the Chief Secretary of Bihar.

The hospital has blamed eye specialist Dr N.D. Sahu for the wrong operations. The civil surgeon of Muzaffarpur also admits that the hospital had compromised on the hygiene of operation theatre.
Lima, Dec 9 : As many as five Peruvian Air Force helicopter crew members who had been missing since Tuesday were found dead in Lima region, the Peruvian Air Force said.

Armed forces patrols were on Wednesday able to locate the aircraft, which had taken off at noon on Tuesday from the Jorge Chavez International Airport in Lima before losing contact, the air force said in a statement, Xinhua news agency reported.

President Pedro Castillo expressed his condolences for the death of the troops via Twitter, stating that "they gave their lives in the line of duty." The MI-171SH helicopter lost contact near the municipality of San Mateo, about 70 km east of Lima, after which authorities began an air and ground search that was suspended due to bad weather conditions.

After resuming the search and finding the bodies, the air force ordered an immediate investigation to determine the cause of the accident.
Agartala, Dec 9 : Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday said the northeastern region of India can emerge as a hub for natural rubber production, adding the Central government has plans for rubber plantations on two lakh hectares of land in the region in the next five years.

Addressing the investment summit here, Goyal, speaking virtually from Delhi, termed the bamboo as "green gold of forest" said the bamboo cultivation is another major resource in the northeastern region.

He said that four major tyre companies represented by Automotive Tyre Manufacturers Association (ATMA) have together keen to invest Rs 1,000 crore for rubber plantation in 200,000 hectare land in the seven states of the region over a period of five years.

The Rubber Board and the ATMA have signed a Memorandum of Understanding in March this year and the participating tyre companies together have already transferred Rs 12 crore to the Rubber Board for procuring planting materials for commencing plantation, the Union Minister said.

Tripura is the second largest producer of natural rubber in the country while new plantation of rubber has been undertaken in 30,000 hectares of land, he said.

The state currently cultivates natural rubber in 87,500 hectares of land and producing 90,000 tonnes of rubber annually.

Goyal said Tripura is home to the largest bamboo flooring unit and the state has the potential to emerge as the country's hub of Agarbatti industry by supplying bamboo sticks and make India 'Aatmanirbhar' on Bamboo.

Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's dream to transform northeast region into "Ashth Lakshmi" of India by the all round development of the eight states, the Union Minister said that the Prime Minister has accorded priority to the 'Focus North-East' programme and the 'Make in India' programme has been implemented here as the 'Make in North-East' programme.

"A dedicated Northeast Desk has been set up in the central government to improve infrastructure and promote industry." Goyal, appreciating the performance and development of Tripura under the leadership of Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb, said that the state government has been working tirelessly and giving priority to 3 Ns in administration -- Niyat, Niti and Niyam.

Noting that Tripura is the 4th literate state in northeast region, he said that the state has a thriving handlooms industry with 1.36 lakh weavers.

The Minister said that jackfruit from Tripura has been exported to London.

Goyal said that the Centre is encouraging usage of Agro-textiles and Geo-technical textiles in the northeast region through its dedicated schemes.

"With improved connectivity through air, rail, road and waterways, the so called geographical isolation of the state is a thing of the past. The state is an integral part of multimodal connectivity now," he said.

Goyal said the (under construction) cross-border Agartala-Akhaura (Bangladesh) rail project with an investment of Rs 972 crore would promote exports.

He said: "With Agartala airport emerging as the 2nd busiest airport in the northeast region, Tripura would act as a Gateway to the North East." Addressing in the opening session of the two-day summit, Tripura Chief Minister said that the state has already ahead in many sectors in the northeastern region and no one would block its progress as the Centre has come forward with all out support. He said that the state government's ease of doing business policies facilitate to enthuse to explore the business opportunities of Tripura.

"Earlier the northeast region had always been neglected by the central government's developmental policies, but since Narendra Modi has become Prime Minister, his total focus is on in the holistic development of the region," Deb added.

Over a hundred industrialists and representatives of many leading companies and industry bodies from across the country took part in the investment summit called - Destination Tripura -- Investment Summit - 2021.
New Delhi, Dec 9 : The Supreme Court on Thursday reserved its verdict on the plea of Zakia Jafri, wife of Congress leader Ehsan Jafri who was killed during the violence at Gulberg Society in Ahmedabad in 2002, challenging SIT's clean chit to then Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and others during the riots in the state.

Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for the SIT, told the bench headed by Justice A.M. Khanwilkar that the top court should endorse the decision taken by the Gujarat High Court on Jafri's plea. He added that it will become an endless exercise, being pushed by some motives of social activist Teesta Setalvad -- the second petitioner in the petition.

Concluding the arguments, Rohatgi submitted before the bench, also comprising Justices Dinesh Maheshwari and CT Ravikumar that nobody had "raised a finger" against it on the probe in the 2002 Gujarat riots.

After hearing detailed arguments in the matter, the bench reserved its verdict on Jafri's petition challenging the 2017 Gujarat High Court order rejecting her plea against the SIT decision.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing the petitioners, cited work done by Setalvad's organisations and added that to paint somebody "anti-Gujarat" is unfair. He said this is yet another occasion when the majesty of the law is being tested and he is not keen on targeting anybody and emphasized that it was SIT's task to find out who the offenders are, if any offence has been committed.

He said the matter can be closed, if nobody did it and all this happened without anybody doing it, against the backdrop of the material before the court. "But if you feel that offences have been committed then who is responsible is a matter of investigation," Sibal said.

The SIT gave a clean chit to Modi and in 2017, the Gujarat High Court, upheld the clean chit. Zakia Jafri moved the top court challenging the Gujarat High Court order.

During the hearing in the matter, Rohatgi had contended that allegations have become wilder over the years, and emphasised that SIT diligently investigated each and every allegation, and made recommendations for prosecution of many who had earlier been left out. He had submitted that allegations about a larger conspiracy, were found to be based on the statements of three "tainted" police officers -- R.B. Sreekumar, Rahul Sharma, and Sanjiv Bhatt.
Mumbai, Dec 9 : The unit of 'Khuda Haafiz Chapter II - Agni Pariksha', which stars Vidyut Jammwal and Shivaleeka Oberoi, will be in Egypt for the final leg of the film's shooting schedule.

With 90 per cent of the film being already shot, Egypt will see the film wrap up the remaining 10 per cent production. The film, which is a sequel to the 2020 action thriller, 'Khuda Haafiz', outlines the love story between its lead characters set against the backdrop of intense action.

Talking about the film's final schedule, Vidyut Jammwal said, "Egypt is going to be an exciting adventure for the entire team. We're all relentless in our concerted effort to deliver a movie that's worth your time." The film's writer and director, Faruk Kabir, did not furnish details about the Egypt schedule but he revealed that the schedule will capture the essence of a fight against the odds, he said, "I can't reveal what Egypt holds for the storyline of 'Khuda Haafiz Chapter II Agni Pariksha', but I'll have you know that it will be worth watching. We'll fight against time, odds and weather to bring you an extraordinary experience to a theatre near you." Producer Kumar Mangat Pathak, founder and Managing Director, Panorama Studios said, "We want to convey that we're about to wrap up a cinematic experience in the form of an intense love story. We will now shoot portions crucial to the film in Egypt. We are very excited and looking forward to the upcoming schedule."
Mumbai, Dec 9 : 'Mismatched' actor Rohit Saraf turned 25 on Wednesday and he got a chance to celebrate his birthday with his family after eight years.

Known for appearing in films like 'Dear Zindagi', 'What Will People Say', 'The Sky Is Pink', 'Ludo' and Netflix original show 'Mismatched', he shares how this birthday is so special for him.

Rohit said, "After a year, I have finally found the time to visit my family in Delhi. It has been a packed schedule for me with back-to-back shooting slates. I'm so glad to have a chance to celebrate my birthday with my parents and my entire family after 8 years, and that too for my 25th." Recently, the actor finished shooting the second season of 'Mismatched'.
Hyderabad, Dec 9 : Afghanistan's Abdul Azim Badakhshi and Brazil's Marcelo came face-to-face ahead of their Matrix Fight Night 7 bout at the Taj Falaknuma Palace here on Thursday.

After holding three editions of India's biggest MMA competition in the UAE, MFN returns to India and will be hosting its 7th edition on Friday. The event is sanctioned by the All India Mixed Martial Arts Association (AIMMAA).

Speaking on his Featherweight main event fight against Marcelo at the press conference, Abdul, who proudly waved his Afghanistan flag, said that he wants to win to give a reason to cheer to people back home.

"I have trained really hard for this fight. I want to win. People back in Afghanistan have faced hardships in recent times. I have focused all of those emotions on winning this fight. If I could spread happiness in Afghanistan with a win here, I will feel proud," he told reporters here.

Marcelo, too, admitted that he has a big responsibility on his shoulders to win the bout on Friday for his nation.

"I have a big responsibility. This is why I am training every day. I am never afraid. I was born to do this. MMA is in my blood and I am always ready to fight," Marcelo said, as he proudly waved the Brazil flag.

Alan Fenandes, Director Operations, went on to describe the main event between Abdul and Marcelo as a "cracker of a contest". "We needed to infuse some international talents in MFN. It's good to have all the fighters on the heels that there is a better level of talents coming to you. With these two guys fighting on the card, these guys need to understand that they have a lot of catching up to do. The sky is the limit now," he said.

Meanwhile, AIMMA commissioner Daniel Isaac spoke on his responsibility of keeping the fighters safe and explained the process that goes with the same, including strict implementation of weight limit guidelines.

"This is the most important job we have as officials. We cannot allow a single lapse. A simple lapse will affect all of our safety and health norms of our athletes. MMA fighters risk their lives every time they enter the cage. We have a responsibility to keep them safe. There is no bigger job for us than this. We take all the procedures to ensure that, and sometimes the fighters do not like our interferences. But we, as parents, have to look out for them," he said.
New Delhi, Dec 9 : A petition challenging the appointment order of Delhi Chief Secretary Vijay Kumar Dev as Election Commissioner of Delhi from April 21, 2022, has been listed to hear in the High Court on December 15.

The bench presided over by Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice Jyoti Singh adjourned the petition filed by former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Dr. Nand Kishore Garg for next Wednesday.

The plea filed through Adv. Shashank Deo Sudhi sought directions from the Delhi government to withdraw the appointment order of Dev as election commissioner, stating it is in violation of the rule, and "will motivate vested interest" to affect the forthcoming scheduled election of the municipal corporation of Delhi.

It highlighted that the order is also in violation of Article 243K of the Constitution which enshrined the appointment of independent election commissioner as interpreted and laid down by the Supreme Court.

The plea further alleged that the appointment is politically motivated as the chief secretary has been privy to all administrative and policy decisions of the government of Delhi, and holding a position like election commissioner at the Municipal Corporation of Delhi may be exposed to the possibility of manipulation of the outcome of the election process.

The plea also ruled out a possibility of manipulation of the outcome of the election process.

Terming the order as premature, the petitioner sought a broad guideline for the appointment of the election commissioner for ensuring the impartiality and neutrality of the candidate who would be an independent person of high integrity.

Vijay Kr. Dev, a 1987 batch IAS officer is from the AGMUT (Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Mizoram, and Union Territories) cadre assumed charge as chief secretary in the national capital in 2018, replacing Anshu Prakash.

The last municipal elections were held in Delhi in April 2017. The five-year term of the elected government in the three corporations -- East, North, and South Delhi Municipal Corporations -- is set to come to an end in April 2022 and polls will be held to elect 272 municipal councillors.
Udupi : , Dec 9 (IANS) Lieutenant Colonel Harjinder Singh who died in the tragic helicopter crash along with the Chief of Defence Staff, General Bipin Rawat and others, had been married to Prafulla from Karnataka.

Prafulla is the native of Salmaru village near Karkala town in Udupi district. A pall of gloom descended on the family after the news of the tragedy broke out. The entire Udupi district and the state is now mourning the death of its brave son-in-law.

Harjinder Singh and Prafulla liked each other and got married 15 years ago. The couple has a daughter. Harjinder Singh worked as the secretary to CDS Bipin Rawat.

The family members of Prafulla remember Harjinder Singh visiting the house four years ago. Puspa, Prafulla's elder sister recalled how Harjinder smilingly spoke to all in the family and remained humble. "He was a friendly and affectionate person. He behaved well with everyone. He also took care of his colleagues with empathy. Prafulla's brother has gone to New Delhi to attend the funeral," she said.

Family members explained that, though they are in a state of shock, Prafulla, the wife of Late Harjiinder Singh, is calling the family members to remain calm and courageous at this hour of crisis. Prafulla's sister's husband Valerian stated that she is displaying exemplary courage and pacifying family members when the tragedy has struck her.

"Harjinder Singh was a friendly type of person. He was as cool as a kid," he remembered.
Chennai, Dec 9 : Tamil Nadu police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) in the MI17 helicopter crash that resulted in the death of 13 armed forces personnel, including Chief Of Defence Staff, General Bipin Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat, and 11 others.

The Nilgiris district police registered a case under Section 174 of the CrPc (Criminal Procedure Code). Sources in the Nilgiris district police said that DSP Muthumanickam was appointed as the investigating officer.

Police, according to the sources, have commenced investigation and is deploying drone over the accident site near Kateri park area where the chopper crashed on December 8 killing country's first CDS, General Bipin Rawat, and others.

Shops, hotels, and business establishments will remain shut on Friday in Ooty, the tourist destination of Tamil Nadu as a mark of respect to the departed soldiers and wife of General Rawat, Madhulika Rawat.

Meanwhile, the mortal remains of the departed soldiers were flown to New Delhi in an Air Force special craft AN 32. President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, and armed forces personnel will pay their last respects at the Air Force airport at Palam. The mortal remains are expected to reach New Delhi by 7.50 p.m.

The remains of only four people have been identified so far which include General Bipin Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat, Brigadier S.S. Lidder and Lance Naik Vivek Kumar.
Jerusalem, Dec 9 : Israel's Foreign Minister Yair Lapid on Thursday made an official visit to Cairo to meet Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi in a bid to strengthen bilateral ties.

"Strengthening Israel-Egypt relations is a very important interest of Israel," Lapid said in a statement issued by the Israeli Foreign Ministry.

Further, according to the statement, Lapid's one-day visit also includes a meeting with his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry, Xinhua news agency reported.

As "a gesture to strengthen ties", Lapid will return to Egypt archeological artifacts that have been illegally smuggled from Egypt and seized by the Israeli authorities, it said.

The Israeli ministry said that the visit is part of the "Israeli government's foreign policy to leverage the common interests of regional stability." The trip comes after Lapid and Shoukry talked over the phone in September, and agreed to strengthen bilateral ties.

In September, Sisi hosted Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh. The meeting marked the first official visit to Egypt by an Israeli leader for a decade.

Before returning home, Bennett said the meeting was "important and very good" and laid foundations for "strong ties" between the two countries.

Egypt was the first Arab country to sign peace accords with Israel in 1979, following decades of enmity.
Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 9 : Kerala Health Minister Veena George on Thursday warned the protesting post-graduate medical students to call of their protest, otherwise, they will have to face tough action.

However, the protesters said they will boycott emergency services from Friday.

George said a protest at the time when the Covid pandemic is continuing to cause havoc, will throw the health system out of order.

"We have held two rounds of talks with the PG medical students. One of their demands is that the admissions to the first year PG courses should be completed early. In this issue the state government is helpless as it is before the apex court. Another issue they raised was recruitment of non-academic junior residents, to which we have assured that it will be taken up. We have done all this, but still a section is not cooperating," she said.

But the protesting doctors spoke equally tough and said they have been airing their grievances for a long time but things have not moved as the government is doing nothing.

"We have been working nonstop in the past 18 months... at the moment there is a shortage of around 700 doctors and despite assurances, no appointments are being made. Moreover, we have been demanding a pay hike for long and nothing has happened on that front too, and hence we have no other option but to step up our protests," said a protesting doctor.

This development comes at a time when the doctors attached to the Kerala Government Medical Officers Association have launched an indefinite 'standing' strike in front of the State Secretariat since Wednesday to demand pay revision.
New Delhi, Dec 9 : A Delhi court on Thursday granted bail to JNU scholar and activist Sharjeel Imam in a 2019 violence case registered at Jamia Nagar Police Station.

Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Dinesh Kumar of Saket court, in the order, said that "considering the nature of offence, and the fact that he was not arrested during the investigation, the application is allowed." He was granted bail subject to him furnishing a bail bond in the sum of Rs 25,000 with one surety of like amount.

The FIR was registered at Jamia Nagar Police Station related to the violence in Jamia on December 13-14, 2019.

Imam is still in judicial custody in connection with other cases. His counsel Mustafa represented him during the course of the hearing.

According to the FIR, Imam was charged under various IPC sections for offences of rioting and unlawful assembly.

Also, noting the absence of the Investigating Officer (IO) during the hearing, the court fined the IO Rs 2,000 and asked him to supply the copy of the main charge sheet by the next hearing to the accused who have not receive it so far.

On December 1, the High Court had issued notice to the prosecution on the bail application filed by him in another case.In the HC, Sharjeel had claimed that he was not one of the accused initially named in the FIR, but the police made him a party on the basis of a disclosure statement given by co-accused Md Furkan, who was allegedly instigated by his speeches.

He also claimed that he was targeted by the prosecution and was a victim of targeted persecution.

Various FIRs have been registered against Imam, including alleged inflammatory speeches at Jamia Millia Islamia on December 13, 2019, and at Aligarh Muslim University on December 16, 2019. He has been in judicial custody since January 2020.

Now three more cases are pending against him in the national capital.
Amaravati, Dec 9 : The Andhra Pradesh government on Thursday conveyed to High Court that it was withdrawing an order designating Grama Mahila Samrakshana Karyadarsis or women protection secretaries as 'Mahila Police'.

During the hearing of a petition challenging the order, the government informed the court it is taking back the same.

The bench comprising Chief Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra and Justice A.V. Sesha Sai was informed that the government is working details as to how to use the services of the women. The court was told that an affidavit would be filed in this regard.

Following this, the court adjourned the hearing to the next week.

In October, the court had directed the government to file a counter, explaining that on what grounds it proposed to designate ward and village women protection secretaries as mahila police and entrust them certain responsibilities supposed to be discharged by the Police Department.

The court had issued notices to the Chief Secretary, Principal Secretary, Home, and Chairpersons of the Andhra Pradesh Police Service Commission (APPSC).

A. Umamaheswara Rao of Visakhapatnam had filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) challenging the order on the ground that it violates police recruitment board rules.

In June, the state government elevated the women protection secretaries to Mahila police constables.

Close to 15,000 women were appointed by the District Collectors in the village and ward secretariats that were created by the Jagan Mohan Reddy government in July 2019.

Under the plan, the grama mahila samrakshana karyadarsis/ward mahila samrakshana karyadarsi were given 15 responsibilities such as reporting crime and law and order issues to local police SHO, sensitising women on crimes, domestic violence, cybercrime, stress management, gender-based violence, safeguarding public properties and others.

So far, the GMSK/WMSKs used to work assisting the police in solving women-related problems in both urban areas and villages.

The redesignation exercise had placed the women protection secretaries on par with the women constables of the state police force.

The order had stated that the mahila police constables will be the representatives of the nearest police station and be given the same uniform as woman constables. They will enjoy the same powers and responsibilities as constables. As per the order, additional head constable posts will also be created for the mahila police.
Bengaluru, Dec 9 : The government of Finland has expressed interest to collaborate with Karnataka in the areas of Artificial Intelligence (AI), energy, career placement among others, an official said on Thursday.

In the Finland-Karnataka innovation corridor, an MoU steering committee meeting held between the delegation of Finland headed by Ritva Koukku-Ronde, Ambassador of Finland and C.N. Ashwath Narayan, Minister for Higher Education and IT/BT, these matters were discussed.

During the meeting, Ritva Ronde told that the Embassy values the collaborative scheme highly and wants to maintain close relationships with the Karnataka government, its business sector and academia.

"The delegation also expressed its keenness about the start-up ecosystem of the state. Further, we (the government of Karnataka) have an open mind with regard to allowing the opening of pre-schools in the state by entities of Finland," Narayan said.

In addition to this, we look forward to collaborating with Finland for 'training the teachers' programme under which Finland will help us to train the faculty of the state, Narayan said.

Jukka Holappa, Country Director - Business Finland, Jukka Ilomaki, Counsellor, Embassy of Finland, Mika Tirronen, Counsellor, Embassy of Finland, Suresh Kumar of FINCHAM (Finland Chamber of commerce in India) were also present at the meeting.
San Francisco, Dec 9 : Tech giant Microsoft is reportedly offering a up to 50 per cent discount on its Office suite to some people who are using pirated versions.

"A new message in the Office ribbon bar is appearing on pirated Office apps, tempting people with a 50 per cent discount on a genuine Microsoft 365 subscription," citing Ghacks, The Verge reported on Thursday.

The message links to an official Microsoft website that claims "pirated software exposes your PC to security threats".

Microsoft warns Office pirates that they run the risk of running into viruses, malware, data loss, identify theft, and the inability to receive critical updates, the report said.

As per the tech website, the discount brings the price of a Microsoft 365 Family subscription down to $49.99 for the first year, or $34.99 for a year of Microsoft 365 Personal.

Ghacks notes users will need to sign in to their Microsoft account to see if they are eligible for the discount. Once a user verify the difference in the price, they may proceed to checkout to complete their purchase.
New Delhi, Dec 9 : The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday said it has conducted searches at multiple locations in Punjab in connection with a case of smuggling of narcotic substances, and arm and ammunition from Pakistan.

An NIA official said that the searches were conducted at four places.

"We raided four locations related to the accused persons and suspects in Ferozpur district, Punjab. This case was lodged in August 2021," said the official.

The case pertains to smuggling of Narcotic Substances and Arms and Ammunition from across the border.

Initially, the case was being looked after by Punjab police. Later, the probe was handed over to the NIA.

During the searches conducted on Thursday, incriminating documents and digital devices were seized by the NIA officials.

Saying that the seized articles will play a crucial role, the NIA added that the incriminating documents recovered in the case will help in submitting a foolproof chargesheet.

Further investigation into the case is underway.
Hyderabad, Dec 9 : The Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) has directed all its officers and employees working in administrative offices to travel by its buses every Thursday.

All the officers and employees will travel only by TSRTC buses to their place of work and back, announced the state-owned transport body. The new initiative 'Bus Day' is aimed at enhancing the quality of the services by taking feedback from the passengers.

TSRTC vice-chairman and managing director V.C. Sajjanar on Thursday travelled by TSRTC bus in Hyderabad from Telephone Bhavan bus stop to his office. He interacted with the passengers and took feedback and suggestions from them.

Sajjanar, a Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, also enquired about the availability of buses, punctuality, and behaviour of the crew.

He boarded an ordinary service bus of Mehdipatnam depot and alighted at Bus Bhavan, RTC Crossroads.

During his journey, he interacted with the passengers aboard and took feedback about cleanliness, upkeep, and also cargo services.

He requested all the general public to travel in TSRTC buses for a safe and hassle-free journey, and also as it is a cheaper mode of transport. Travelling in TSRTC buses is good for the environment as there will be less pollution. After alighting, he thanked the TSRTC bus crew for their good driving habits and courteous behaviour towards the commuters.

Ever since taking over as TSRTC MD three months ago, Sajjanar has been making efforts to improve services and encourage people to travel by TSRTC buses.

He travelled by city buses on a few occasions, interacted with passengers and also made surprise visits to shops at bus stations following public complaints about the shops selling the eatables and other items at exorbitant prices.
New Delhi, Dec 9 : The Enforcement Directorate has arrested a woman, who is allegedly an aide of multimillionaire conman Sukesh Chandrasekhar, in connection with ongoing prevention of money laundering case against him, taking the number of those held so far to nine.

A highly-placed source said that the woman was identified as Pinki Irani, a resident of Mumbai.

"She was the one who introduced Bollywood actress Jacqueline Fernandez to Sukesh Chandrasekhar. She was also summoned by the ED. After her questioning, she was arrested. She is an aide of Sukesh Chandrasekhar," said an official.

Now the ED will confront her with Jacqueline. Irani's statement will be recorded and will be examined with Jacqueline's statement. The actor will be shown her statement to further record her statement.

The ED will question Irani regarding the case and hawala transactions.

Irani is the ninth person held in the case. Those who were earlier arrested are Pradeep Ramdanee, B Mohan Raj, Deepak Ramnani, Arun Muthu, Kamlesh Kothari, Avatar Singh Kochhar, Sukesh Chandrashekhar, and his wife Leena Maria Paul.

All eight persons have been charge sheeted. The ED will now file a supplementary charge sheet mentioning Irani as an accused. This supplementary charge sheet could be based on documentary evidences.

A few more persons are also under the scanner of the ED.
Bengaluru, Dec 9 : The Karnataka government, taking no chance with the threat of Omicron variant's spread in the state, has asked three contacts of a 46-year-old doctor - who was among the first to test positive for the new strain - to return to the designated hospital until their genomic sequencing results arrive, sources said.

The three contacts - all doctors - went home after testing negative in RT-PCR tests twice.

Comprising an anaesthetist, a cardiothoracic surgeon and a vascular surgeon, they were discharged on Tuesday following a negative report in RT-PCR tests but called back. After coming back to the hospital, they left for their homes the next day stating that they can't stay in the Covid ward after testing negative twice. They also maintained that their family members have tested positive and they need to take care of them, sources said.

However, the three were called back and kept in a different ward of the hospital. The hospital authorities maintained that the contacts of the Omicron patient were discharged but have not yet left the hospital.

Clear guidelines in connection with discharging of Omicron patients and their contacts, are yet to come and there is confusion, say hospital authorities.

There is a difference of opinion among experts and health authorities over discharge protocols for Omicron suspects. Some experts say if a patient is symptom free, has completed a quarantine period of 14 days, and tested negative two times in RT-PCR tests, they should be discharged.

However, authorities maintain that the patients can't be sent until their genomic sequencing results are known.

The genomic sequencing reports were supposed to come on Wednesday, but were delayed as they had to re-sequenced.

A call will be taken soon on the three's discharge, sources said.
Mumbai, Dec 9 : Katrina Kaif and Vicky Kaushal have been pronounced man and wife after one of the most celebrated marriage ceremonies of the year.

The celebrity couple tied the knot at a private ceremony in the Six Senses Fort Barwara Hotel, Sawai Madhopur, Rajasthan, with friends and family in attendance. The initial photographs show Vicky following Katrina and then the two waving at the paparazzi gathered at a distance from the venue.

Katrina wore a bridal lehenga crafted by ace designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee for her special day, Vicky is said to have worn a beige sherwani after his 'sehrabandi'.

Image Source: IANS News

The couple also made it official that they would soon host a reception in Mumbai for those who were not invited to the very private marriage ceremony at Sawai Madhopur.

Vicky headed to the mandap in a vintage car with his baraatis, including brother Sunny Kaushal, good friend Angad Bedi and members of his family. The couple took the pheras in the traditional way, thus bringing to an end the celebrations that took off on December 7.

The pre-wedding festivities started officially on December 7 when Bollywood celebrities and close friends of the couple, such as Kabir Khan, his wife Mini Mathur and their daughter Sairah left Mumbai for Jaipur. Angad Bedi, Neha Dhupia, Sharvari Wagh, Radhika Madan and Malavika Mohanan followed suit and pumped up the tempo of the celebrations.

The guests were extended a grand welcome, served Rajasthani and Punjabi delicacies, even as the venue lit up the Sawai Madhopur skyline and fireworks added to the dreama.

The 'mehendi' celebrations saw 20 kilos of GI-tagged henna sourced from Sojat by the river Sukri in Rajasthan.

The 'haldi' ceremony followed, with the guests faithfully following the yellow dress code. This was when the media first got a glimpse of the guests in the corridors of the luxury hotel. After the pictures surfaced on the Internet, the organisers put up curtains on the arches of the fort-hotel to protect the privacy of the guests from prying cameras.

The 'sangeet' night was held on December 8 with Gurdas Maan, Hardy Sandhu, Shankar Mahadevan, Ehsaan Noorani and Manj Musik belting out their music to entertain the select company.

-- Syndicated from IANS
New Delhi, Dec 9 : The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday said it has registered three separate cases in compliance of the orders of the Calcutta High Court related to violence and other offences in West Bengal after the Assembly elections earlier this year.

According to the information, the CBI has registered 48 cases so far in this connection.

Two of these cases were earlier registered at different police stations in West Bengal on various allegations while one case has been registered afresh.

Out of the above, the first case was earlier registered at Barasat Police Station, District North 24 Parganas on the allegations that the accused broke into a house and severely beaten a man.

The victim was admitted to the Barasat Hospital and later shifted to another hospital. Later, he died during the course of treatment.

The second case was earlier registered at Jhargram police station. In the case, it was alleged by the victim that her maternal house was attacked and vandalised by the accused. The victim had also alleged that the miscreants also outraged the modesty of her grandmother.

The third case -- registered afresh -- was submitted in Purba Bardhaman district.

It was alleged that the unknown accused attacked the house of victim several times during and threatened his family members besides vandalising it. It was further alleged that the victim later went missing.

The local residents found his body hanging from a tree. However, the case was not lodged in this regard.

The CBI has registered 48 cases in the matter so far. Investigation is underway in all the cases.
New Delhi, Dec 9 : The mortal remains of Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat and 11 other armed forces personnel, who lost their lives in the tragic chopper crash near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu on Wednesday, were brought to the Palam airport here at 7:46 pm on Thursday.

"The Indian Airforce aircraft from Sulur arrived at Palam airbase," a senior Indian Army officer said.

Indian Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal V.R. Chaudhari brought the mortal remains of all the deceased.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and senior dignitaries are expected to pay homage to the country's first Chief of Defence Staff, and the other deceased persons.

The force said that positive identification of only three mortal remains -- Gen Rawat, Madhulika Rawat and Brig L.S. Lidder -- has been possible as of now, and their mortal remains will be released to the next of kin for final rites as desired by the respective families.

All possible measures are being taken for positive identification of the mortal remains. The remaining mortal remains will be kept at the mortuary of Army Base Hospital till completion of positive identification formalities, the force said.

Close family members of all the deceased personnel have arrived at Delhi. All necessary assistance and support are being provided by Indian Army.

Appropriate military funerals of all the deceased are being planned and coordinated in close consultation with the close family members.

Earlier in the day, all the mortal remains were moved in a convoy from Wellington to Sulur at around 12 noon. From Sulur, the mortal remains were flown to Delhi in an Indian Air Force aircraft.

The condition of Group Captain Varun Singh, who survived the crash, is still critical. He has been moved to to the Command Hospital in Bengaluru for further treatment.
New Delhi, Dec 9 : The Lok Sabha on Thursday passed, by voice vote, the Bills extending the service tenure of Directors of the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Enforcement Directorate.

The Central Vigilance Commission (Amendment) Act, 2021 and the Delhi Special Police Establishment (Amendment) Bill, 2021, seek to amend the present laws to give one year extension of the heads of both agencies, up to five years.

Responding to the long debate, Minister for Personnel and Training, Jitendra Singh said that there was a detailed discussion on these Bills.

Citing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's high esteem for the CBI and the ED, he said that these should work independently and in tandem.

Explaining the process of giving extension of one year each to the CBI Director, the Minister said that the same constitutional body consisting of the Prime Minister, Leader of Opposition/largest party in the Lok Sabha, and the Chief Justice of India will take a decision on this.

"We have fixed the tenure of these posts as it was not prescribed in the past. Even during the previous governments, extensions were given for many times. Through this Bill, we have put a cap of five years," he added.

Responding to questions why the Ordinances were promulgated just two weeks ahead of the Winter Session, he said that with the experience of the last session in which was washed out because of Opposition's protests, the government was not sure whether the session would be working or not.

Earlier, initiating the discussion on the Bills, RSP member N.K. Premchandran said the Supreme Court has reiterated time and again that the government should avoid giving extension to the officials. The apex court also has made it clear the law making power lies with the Parliament, not with the President or Governor, he added.

Congress member Manish Tewari appealed to the government to approach the SC and ensure that the legality of the CBI is adjudicated.

BJP's Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore said that the long-term effects of the Bills are good, and urged the Opposition to support them.

Opposing the Bill, NCP's Supriya Sule said: "All your (BJP's) allies have cases against them. When they were your allies, there were no cases against them but the minute they left you, all the cases started. They have had raids, their colleagues have raids. Please stop this vindictive business." She also said that the Enforcement Directorate raided the residence of former Maharashtra minister Anil Deshmukh seven times and asked what was missed in the first six times. She also alleged that the agencies were questioning the family members of those involved in the case and questioned the reason behind it.

BJD's Bhartruhari Mahtab questioned the move to bring an amendment bill regarding the tenures of the CBI and ED Directors, while Trinamool Congress' Sougata Ray said that the present ED Director was to retire on November 17 and just three days before his retirement, the government brought the ordinance.

"The ED and CBI have been accused of catering to the political masters," he said.

AIMIM's Asaduddin Owaisi, while opposing the bill, said that fixed tenure cannot be on the whims and desires of the government and if the extension is given on good behaviour, it creates an inbuilt mechanism of control. Both the directors (CBI and ED) must be subordinate to the present government, he said.

CPI-M's A. Arif, BSP's Ritesh Pandey, Trinamool's Kalyan Banerjee and Shiv Sena's Vinayak Raut also spoke against the bills.
Mumbai, Dec 9 : Equity-linked mutual fund schemes saw net inflows of over Rs 11,614.73 crore in November, as per the data furnished by the Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI) on Thursday.

In October, the net inflows had stood over Rs 5,214 crore. In September, the inflow was over Rs 8,600 crore and in August, it stood at Rs 8,056.80 crore.

Besides, the contributions through systematic investment rose to Rs 11,004.94 crore, the highest monthly SIP contribution.

In October, the SIP contributions stood at Rs 10,518.53 crore.

According to the data, the net AUMs for India's MF industry stood at over Rs 37.33 lakh crore for November 2021.
New Delhi, Dec 9 : Almost 15 months after the farmers' agitation began against the (now scrapped) farm laws and other issues, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella body of farmer unions that led the protest, said on Thursday that it has suspended the agaitation after receiving positive assurances from the government on their demands, adding that the borders of Delhi will be cleared by Saturday. The SKM also said that it would hold a review meeting on January 15.

The agitation continued even after the three farm laws -- Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020; Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020; and Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill 2020 -- were repealed by the Parliament, as the farmers' stuck to their demands with legal backing for minimum support price (MSP) for all farmers being the prime demand.

Following is a timeline since these were introduced as Ordinances, led to the farmers' agitation till Thursday's announcement by SKM to suspend the agitation: June 5, 2020: Centre brings in three Ordinances claiming these will bring in reforms that are long pending; farmers will be able to sell their produce at better prices.

July-August, 2020: Protests erupt in parts of Punjab against the three farm Bills September 14, 2020: Government introduces the three Bills in Lok Sabha

September 17, 2020: Lok Sabha passes all three farm Bills without debate

September 20, 2020: Rajya Sabha passes the Bills by voice vote

September 24, 2020: Punjab farmers declare rail-roko agitation

September 27, 2020: President gives assent to the three farm laws

November 2020: Samyukta Kisan Morcha formed as a consortium of more than two dozen farmers' organisations, mostly from Punjab, but others join in too

November 26, 2020: Farmers' march towards Delhi begins, police put hurdles in many ways, including by digging up highways and spreading nails on roads

November 27, 2020: Farmers in large numbers reach Singhu border, Tikri border, Ghazipur border, bring in tractors and trolleys, set pandals, langars etc.

November 28, 2020: Government offers to talk with a condition that farmers shift to Burari; farmers demand Ram Lila Maidan as protest venue.

December 3-9, 2020: Government starts talks with farmers, farmers' leaders reject government's proposal of amendment to the three laws December 11, 2020: Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) approaches Supreme Court against the three farm laws

January 7-12, 2021: Supreme Court accepts to hear the case; stays implementation of the three laws and appoints a committee to make recommendations

January 20-25, 2021: Farmers reject government's offers to stay the farm laws for 18 months and insist on repeal

January 26, 2021: Farmers' tractor rally on Republic Day; major clash with police; a set of protesters damage Red Fort, hoist Khalsa flag along with the tricolour

January 27, 2021: A day after Red Fort drama, Delhi Police forcibly put up barricades at all the borders where farmers' groups are protesting

February 14, 2021: Bengaluru-based young activist Disha Ravi arrested for editing and spreading 'toolkit' in support of farmers' agitation

March 5, 2021: Resolution passed by Punjab Vidhan Sabha demanding withdrawal of the three laws

March 19, 2021: Supreme Court appointed committee submits its report

May 27, 2021: Farmers observe 'black day' to mark six months of agitation

June 5, 2021: 'Sampoorn Krantikari Diwas' (Total Revolution Day) by farmers mark one year of Ordinances that paved the way for three farm laws

July 22, 2021: 'Kisan Sansad' starts at Jantar Mantar parallelly with the Monsoon Session of Parliament

August 7, 2021: 14 opposition parties' leaders decide to visit 'Kisan Sansad'

September 5, 2021: 'Kisan Mahapanchayat' held at Muzaffarnagar; farmers declare to oust UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Prime Minister Narendra Modi

September 27, 2021: 'Bharat Bandh' call by farmers' consortium gets mixed response; farmers do not enter Delhi, most action in north-west Indian states

September 7, 2021: 'Kisan Mahapanchayat' held at Karnal, action shifts to Haryana

October 4, 2021: Four farmers among those killed when a car runs over protesting farmers at Lakhimpur Kheri in UP

November 17, 2021: Supreme Court appoints retired high court judge to probe Lakhimpur Kheri case

November 19, 2021: Prime Minister Narendra Modi announces that three farm laws would be repealed

November 21, 2021: Samyukt Kisan Morcha writes to Prime Minister; puts forth six demands, including legal backing for MSP

November 22, 2021: Family members of martyrs of Lakhimpur Kheri massacre felicitated by SKM at the Lucknow Kisan Mahapanchayat

November 23, 2021: Anil Ghanwat, member, Supreme Court appointed committee on farm laws, writes to apex court to release committee's report

November 24, 2021: Union Cabinet clears 'The Farm Laws Repeal Bill, 2021'

November 26, 2021: Farmers' gatherings across India marks Samyukt Kisan Morcha's one year of agitation

November 28, 2021: SKM suspends planned 'Tractor March to Sansad'; thousands of farmers participate in Shetkari Kamgar Mahapanchayat in Mumbai's Azad Maidan

November 29, 2021: First the Lok Sabha, then the Rajya Sabha pass the 'Farm Laws Repeal Bill 2021' by voice vote, SKM issues cautious reaction

November 29, 2021: Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar hails Prime Minister, saying, "No difference between what he says and does"

November 30, 2021: Government seeks five names from agitating farmers for inclusion in the proposed committee on MSP

November 30, 2021: Government tells Lok Sabha, no data pertaining to either cases against or the number of farmers who died during the agitation and hence no question of providing financial assistance to anyone

December 1, 2021: 'Farm Laws Repeal Act 2021' gets Presidential assent

December 4, 2021: With no concrete promise from the government, SKM declares to continue agitation; declares names of five members to negotiate with government

December 7, 2021: Government sends out first draft of its letter to SKM, the latter seeks further clarification

December 9, 2021: SKM declares to suspend agitation after receiving positive assurances from the government on their demands; to review situation on January 15, 2022
New Delhi, Dec 9 : The Supreme Court, hearing a matrimonial dispute, observed that a daughter must also appreciate that if she is expecting the father to support her education, then she will also have to play a role as a daughter.

A bench of Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and M.M. Sundresh was hearing an appeal filed by the man challenging the Punjab and Haryana High Court order, which set aside the decree passed by the matrimonial court allowing a petition filed under Section 13 of the Hindu Marriage Act for dissolution of marriage by a decree of divorce.

Noting that mediation between the couple was not successful, it said: "Learned counsel for the parties submit that another effort may be made to mediate with the physical presence of the parties." Senior advocate Nidhesh Gupta, representing the husband, submitted before the bench that the daughter had declined to meet his client. He added that if the daughter expects her father to take care of her education and marriage expenses, then it cannot be a one-way street.

At this, the top court said: "The daughter must also appreciate that if she is expecting the father/appellant to support her education, she will also have to play a role as a daughter. The matter be again placed before the Supreme Court mediation Centre." The top court had earlier directed the father to pay the education expenses of the 20-year-old daughter.

It has listed the matter for further directions on February 22.

"The mediator will make arrangements for exclusive interaction between the father and the daughter," said the bench in its order.
Jammu, Dec 9 : A total of 1,000 Atal Tinkering Labs (ATL) will come up in Jammu and Kashmir to function as innovation hubs to develop scientific temper in students, an official said on Thursday.

J&K Chief Secretary Arun Kumar Mehta chaired a meeting on Thursday to take stock of arrangements for opening ATL in various educational institutions of the Union Territory.

It was informed that NITI Aayog will be establishing 1,000 ATL in Jammu and Kashmir of which 187 will be established by the end of this financial year.

ATL is an initiative to boost cognitive development in children where they are given avenues to experiment and widen their understanding of phenomena on scientific ideas.

It was further informed that from 187 of this year's target, 31 are being established across government schools of the Union territory, whereas 50 will come up in various educational institutions including KVs, JNVs, and private schools. The process for establishing the remaining 106 labs will also be initiated shortly.

The Chief Secretary directed the School Education Department to fix timelines for establishing these laboratories in various districts of the UT and also emphasize on the nomination of trainers/champions against suitable incentives.

Dr. Mehta impressed upon the Department to promote scientific temper among the students in areas such as machine learning and artificial intelligence by pro-actively engaging them in various experiments and scientific activities.

"These centres should be viewed as innovation hubs to expose the children to scientific experiments, stir innovation in the young minds and encourage them to contribute to the scientific advancement of the nation," he said.
Hyderabad, Dec 9 : Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Thursday inspected the construction work of the new state Secretariat and directed the officials concerned to speed up the works and make the new complex available to people at the earliest.

He expressed satisfaction over the speedy progress of works and congratulated Roads and Buildings Minister Vemula Prashanth Reddy and other officials for their efforts.

KCR, as the CM is popularly known, minutely examined the work, which has reached the final stage after the completion of the concrete works. He discussed various aspects with the minister, R&B officials and representatives of the work agencies.

He went around ministers' chambers, parking areas, secretaries and VIPs chambers and gave a few suggestions to the officials. He also went around different floors and corridors.

The CM also gave suggestions with regard to the elevation and other final works. The officials kept as exhibits, gliding lights, granite and other models, which will be used for the decoration of the exteriors. KCR examined their quality and the colour designs. He suggested that the elevation should be bright and beautiful.

The officials also showed to the CM wall gliding lights, UPPVC windows, aluminium fabrications, fluoride marbles, and various types of granite. The CM sought advice from Minister Sabita Indra Reddy and others and finalised some models. The CM also examined model water fountain, landscapes, rest rooms, and meeting halls. The officials explained to the CM about the sky lounge.

KCR expressed happiness over the way the construction is taking place as he had planned. He congratulated Minister Prashanth Reddy and Engineer-in-Chief Ganapathi Reddy.

The CM said the new secretariat should be one of the beautiful ones in the country. He also instructed the officials to maintain the quality. He also wanted them to study the constructions of other Secretariats in the states and take some good and useful tips from them.
Bengaluru, Dec 9 : Group Captain Varun Singh, the lone survivor in the IAF chopper crash which resulted in the death of the Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat and 13 others, was airlifted to the Indian Air Force's Command Hospital in Bengaluru on Thursday evening for further treatment.

Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, along with Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot, paid a visit to the hospital to check on him.

Hospital sources said that the IAF officer is on life support.

Flown from the Wellington Military Hospital in Tamil Nadu's Nilgiris district, Varun Singh has suffered severe burn injuries and his condition is said to be critical.

The doctors, however, say that he is responding well to the treatment.

Varun Singh was awarded the Shurya Chakra on Independence Day this year for saving his Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) during a challenging emergency situation.
New Delhi, Dec 9 : The Uyghur Tribunal said on Wednesday that China by the imposition of measures to prevent births intended to destroy a significant part of the Uyghurs in Xinjiang as such, has committed genocide.

The UK-based independent Tribunal said that torture of Uyghurs attributable to China is established beyond reasonable doubt. Crimes against humanity attributable to the People's Republic of China (PRC) is established beyond reasonable doubt by acts of: Deportation or forcible transfer; imprisonment or other severe deprivation of physical liberty; torture; rape and other sexual violence; enforced sterilisation; persecution; enforced disappearance; and other inhumane acts.

The Tribunal is satisfied beyond all reasonable doubt that the crime against humanity of other inhumane acts is proved.

Satellite imagery identified the destruction of, or damage to, approximately 16,000 mosques or 65 per cent of the previous total in the region, evidence matched by direct observations of witnesses.

In addition, cemeteries and other sites of religious significance have been destroyed. Uyghurs are punished by imprisonment and torture for displays of religious adherence, including attending mosques, praying, wearing of headscarves and beards and not drinking alcohol or not eating pork.

The Tribunal is satisfied that the PRC has implemented a comprehensive policy of destruction of physical religious sites, and conducted a systematic attack on Uyghur religiosity for the stated purpose of eradicating religious 'extremism'.

The Tribunal received evidence which it could include within this category including the forcible imposition of Han people into Uyghur family homes, the pervasive surveillance systems installed throughout the region, rendering it an open-air prison, destruction of mosques and cemeteries, repression of religious and cultural expression and forced or coerced marriages.

The number of Uyghurs detained, the number of mosques and graveyards destroyed or rendered unfit for purpose, the sterilisations and abortions, the repression of use of language and practice of religion, the separation of Uyghur children from their parents all show that there was, indeed, an attack on the Uyghurs wholly without justification, even if some of them had sought separation from China and even if some Uyghurs had perpetrated acts of violence, as happened by way of example as in the years 1997 to 2000 and later Urumchi in 2000 and in the Kunming train attack of 2014.

Between 2017 and 2019, Chinese government figures record a 43.5 per cent increase to 880,400 primary and middle Uyghur school children being placed in Han-run and Han-staffed boarding schools. This policy was, according to the Xinjiang Education Department, deliberately designed to isolate children from the influences of their families.

Parents have been unable to resist the policy and involuntary separation has been widespread, in part because some families have suffered the internment of one or both parents.

The Tribunal is satisfied that China embarked on a deliberate policy of separating children from their families into state care for the purpose of eradicating their Uyghur cultural identity and connections.

The Tribunal is satisfied that the PRC has affected a deliberate, systematic and concerted policy with the objective of 'optimising' the population in Xinjiang by means of a long-term reduction of the Uyghur and other ethnic minority populations to be achieved through limiting and reducing Uyghur births.

The tribunal has received evidence, including by means of satellite imagery of the construction or conversion of hundreds of very large factories, in some cases co-located with internment camps. According to state media, hundreds of thousands of Uyghurs have been inducted into labour programmes, including 611,500 in Hotan alone in 2018. The transfers have been within the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (XUAR) and also into 'mainland' China.

The Tribunal is satisfied that China has built a very extensive network of detention and penal institutions, that it has imprisoned hundreds of thousands and maybe a million and more of Uyghurs without substantive cause and without any recognisable or legitimate legal process.

(Sanjeev Sharma can be reached at Sanjeev.s@ians.in)
New Delhi, Dec 9 : India's civil aviation regulator, the DGCA, on Thursday extended the ban on scheduled international commercial flights till January 31.

Earlier, India had announced plans to allow resumption of scheduled commercial international passenger services from December 15 with certain conditions.

However, on December 1, the Directorate General of Central Aviation (DGCA) said it is "closely monitoring" the situation emerging out of the Covid-19's Omicron variant and the final decision on the resumption of near normal international flight operations will be taken after consultation with stakeholders.

In the notification on Thursday, the DGCA extended the ban on scheduled international commercial flights till January 31, 2022.

"This restriction shall not apply to international all-cargo operations and flights specifically approved by the DGCA." It also said that scheduled international flights might be allowed on selected routes on a case to case basis.

India had banned the operation of international flights on March 23 last year to contain and control the spread of Covid-19. Flight restrictions, however, were later eased under air bubble arrangement with certain countries.

At present, India has formed air bubble pacts with over 30 countries.

The country had been operating Vande Bharat flights to many countries over the last one year to evacuate stranded Indians abroad.

Currently, several nations have either closed their air spaces or placed strict restrictions on incoming passengers.

On Tuesday, the Centre mandated a contactless self-declaration by international air travellers arriving in India on the 'Air Suvidha' portal.

As per a Ministry of Civil Aviation statement, all international passengers arriving in India are mandated to declare their current health status prior to boarding on the Air Suvidha portal along with the required documents.

"For immigration, the copy received in e-mail is essential on arrival in India and has to be verified at the 'APHO' counter," the statement said.

According to the ministry, all applications from 'at risk' countries are marked with 'H' and 'red band', while others are marked 'green'.

"This helps in smooth on-arrival segregation and processing. The application also takes into account countries visited in the last 14 days to highlight 'at risk' applications. This field has also been made into multi-select drop-down option for standardisation." There are more than 10 countries in the "at risk" list, including countries in Europe, South Africa, Brazil, Bangladesh, Botswana and China, among others.
New Delhi, Dec 9 : After receiving a letter from the government promising to meet the farmers' demands, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) on Thursday declared to return home after suspending its agitation on Saturday, albeit with a rider that a review meeting would be convened on January 15.

The government's letter, signed by Sanjay Agrawal, Secretary, Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, was finalised after the farmers suggested additions/deletions over two drafts. However, there are certain gaps between the demands raised by the farmers after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced to repeal the three contentious farm laws and those promised by the government.

Although it gives the impression that both parties have climbed down on certain issues, experts said the main issue of farm laws repeal has historic ramification and that when issues such as MSP will take time to evolve and resolve, the content of the letter should not be held against the farmers.

To start with, Modi had on November 19 promised to form a committee to discuss all farm-related issues, including the Minimum Support Price (MSP). The farmers had then declined to accept it and declared that their agitation would continue till the time a law ensures MSP for all farmers and for all produce.

The letter on Thursday promised to form a committee, which will include farmers' representatives, and one of the mandates would be to derive how to ensure that farmers get MSP, and the status quo will continue for MSP procurement as of now.

The second demand was withdrawal of cases against the farmers booked during the nearly 15-month-long agitation.

Agrawal claimed that the governments of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Haryana -- all BJP ruled states incidentally -- have agreed to withdraw all such cases with immediate effect.

He also promised that cases lodged by the Centre's related departments and agencies and by the administrations of Delhi and all the Union Territories would be withdrawn with immediate effect too.

"The government of India will appeal to the other states to withdraw similar cases too," the Secretary assured.

The letter mentioned that Uttar Pradesh and Haryana governments have given in principle agreement to pay compensation to the farmers (assumed to be the same as mentioned by the SKM in its letters -- for those who lost their lives during the more than a year of agitation) and that the government of Punjab has already made a public announcement regarding the same.

Incidentally, earlier last week, the government had told the Lok Sabha that it does not have any data related to farmers' deaths and hence there was no question of paying compensation to anyone.

Agrawal also promised to hold a meeting of all the stakeholders on the issue of power bills impacting the farmers, only after which the Electricity Bill would be introduced.

On the issue of decriminalising stubble burning, the letter said that the provisions are already in place in the law already passed (Commission for Air Quality Management law).

Stating that the above five assurances are enough to meet the long-pending demands of the farmers, the letter said, "There seems to be no reason to continue the agitation. Hence the farmers are requested to end it." The letter, however, did not find any mention of the issue of removal of Union Minister of State for Home, Ajay Mishra Teni, whose son was allegedly involved in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence of October 3.

Agriculture expert Devinder Sharma said, "One cannot disregard the fact that the farmers' agitation has ensured repeal of the three farm laws. It is akin to the pulling down of the Berlin Wall. Had that not happened, the farmers would have been at the mercy of the corporates. The farmers have pulled down the market edifice." Citing examples from the US and Canada where prices of wheat have come down seven times and six times compared to those in 1860s, respectively, he said, "Only 1.5 per cent people are farmers in the US and even those are saddled with bankruptcy to the tune of $425 billion. What our farmers have achieved will have global ramifications. The message is loud and clear that only guaranteed MSP can make it viable." To a question whether the committee proposed by the government on MSP and other issues will bring about an acceptable solution given the track record of the government, Sharma said, "We all are keeping our fingers crossed."
New Delhi, Dec 9 : Automaker MG Motor India said that it will "drive" an electric vehicle priced between Rs 10-15 lakh by the end of the next fiscal.

At present, the company sells electric SUV 'ZS EV' which is available in two variants, priced at Rs 21 lakh and Rs 24.68 lakh (ex-showroom). It plans to launch an electric crossover vehicle based on a global platform but customised for the Indian market as its next new product.

"Our next product after SUV Astor, we have been thinking about an EV and now we have been very encouraged with the absolute clarity from the government side that the EV is the way to go," MG Motor India President and Managing Director Rajeev Chaba said.

"We have taken the decision that we are going to introduce an EV by the end of next financial year." On the expected price, he said it will range from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 15 lakh and will target the mass segment of personal electric mobility.

"It is actually a kind of a crossover and this is going to be based on a global platform, which we are going to develop and this will be an EV for mass market for all the emerging markets including India.

"We will customise this car for the range and the Indian regulations and customer taste. It will be specially tailored for India. We will start working on it right now." Besides, he said in order to meet the government's guidelines for the production linked (PLI) scheme for the auto sector, MG Motor India will localise a lot of parts for its next EV.

These would include battery assembly, motors, and other parts.

Currently, the company offers Hector, ZS EV, and Gloster.
Patna, Dec 9 : Sending out wedding greetings to RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, who married his long-time friend Rachel Godinho in Delhi on Thursday, the party's state president Jagadanand Singh said the former Bihar deputy chief minister has set an example by marrying a woman belonging to a different community.

Tejashwi got married to Rachel at a simple ceremony at the Sainik Farms in Delhi. His sister Rohini Acharya took to Twitter to share the news of her brother's wedding.

"Lots of love, blessings and happiness for my newly married couple," she tweeted along with pictures of the marriage.

"Tejashwi Yadav has set an example of social transformation in the society. He has laid a new path for the youth of Bihar. He has not exhibited the power of money during marriage. He just did a simple marriage with the blessings of his parents and relatives. The RJD family is wishing groom and bride, a great married life ahead," Singh said.

Asked if he was aware of the marriage, Singh said that he was but did not disclose it.

The RJD supporters assembled in the party head office in Veer Chand Patel Path in Patna on Thursday and celebrated their leader's marriage.

Chirag Paswan, the president of Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) also wished the groom and bride "a great married life", saying: "Tejashwi is my younger brother." "Tejashwi does not believe in caste and community. Such a decision is an extremely private one and it will set an example in society," Paswan said.

Tejashwi and Rachel know each other for some time now. After her marriage with the RJD leader, she will be known as 'Rajeshwari Yadav'.

The wedding was held at the farmhouse of Tejashwi's sister, Misa Bharti.

The Yadavs had kept the marriage in their family a closely-guarded affair. According to sources, Tejashwi's father Lalu Prasad was apparently not happy with the marital alliance of Tejashwi and Rachel. However, he eventually agreed to their wedding after "long conversations and discussions" with the family members.
London, Dec 9 : Jockey Robbie Dunne has been banned for 18 months, with three months suspended, after he was found guilty of 'bullying and harassing' fellow jockey Bryony Frost, the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) said on Thursday.

An independent disciplinary panel heard evidence about horse racing's 'weighing-room culture', which its chair, Brian Barker QC, described as coercive.

The 36-year old Dunne was found in breach of four counts of conduct prejudicial to the integrity and reputation of horse racing between February 13, 2020 and September 3, 2020. The three-person panel found Dunne guilty of distasteful targeting and deliberate harassment on and off the course, and ruled that there had been "occasional cases of dangerous bullying".

The BHA said it "welcomes" the panel's decision and that Dunne's ban reflects "the seriousness of the accusations".

"It sends a clear message that conduct of this nature cannot be tolerated in any working environment within our sport," the BHA said in a statement.

"By stepping forward to report the behaviour of which she was on the receiving end, Bryony Frost took a courageous step. We hope that others who may be in similar positions will feel comfortable doing the same.

"We must take positive steps across the sport to ensure that British racing is a welcoming place to work for everyone. We will issue more detail as to our next steps on this front in the near future," it added.

The BHA also asked that the "privacy and wellbeing" of both Dunne and Frost is 'respected'.

Notably, Frost became the first woman to win the King George VI Chase in December last year and the first woman to ride a top-level Grade One Cheltenham Festival winner in March 2019.
Chennai, Dec 10 : The Forest Department of Tamil Nadu on Thursday seized 750 kg processed and semi-processed sea cucumbers worth Rs 50 lakh in the international market from a seafood-making unit near Tuticorin and arrested three persons in connection with the case.

The arrested persons have been identified as K. Senthil Kumar (48), A. Sathikbatcha (35), and Nanthakumar (21). The trio was planning to take the sea cucumbers to Vedalai in Ramanathapuram district and smuggle them to Sri Lanka by boat from there.

A special squad was on night patrol when a pungent smell drew their attention at around 1.30 am, a senior official told mediapersons.

The team then raided VFS enterprises, which deals with seafood, and found sea cucumbers being boiled in large vessels. The police said that Senthil Kumar is a second-time offender who was earlier detained for trying to smuggle sea cucumbers.

They were engaged by habitual offenders, Meera Shah and Mansoor Ali, who have five-six cases registered against them for sea cucumber smuggling, and the owner of the food processing company, Vijayakumar.

All of them have been booked under relevant sections of Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. Search is on to nab Mansoor Ali, Vijayakumar and Meera Shah, who are on the run.

Sea cucumbers are marine animals with a leathery skin and an elongated body containing a single, branched gonad. They are listed under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, giving them the same level of protection as tigers and making poaching them illegal.
Patna, Dec 10 : BJP's Bihar unit on Thursday issued show cause notice to MLA Gyanendra Singh Gyanu for "anti-party activities".

Gyanu, on last week, challenged the party's state President Sanjay Jaiswal and Deputy Chief Minister Tar Kishore Prasad who is also a leader of BJP Legislature Party, saying that the BJP has turned into a "leadership-less party" in Bihar.

Following his statement, party Disciplinary Committee President Vinay Singh issued show cause notice to Gyanu, the MLA of Barh constituency in Patna district.

Vinay Singh, in a written statement, said that Gyanu has given 14 days time to reply to the notice.

BJP sources say that Gyanu was wanting a berth in the Nitish Kumar government but the party state leadership did not recommended his name during its second expansion.
Gandhinagar, Dec 10 : The Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit (VGGS) 2022 will organise a daylong pre-summit event for startups called the 'The Bowling Alley' in partnership with Startup India, DPIIT, iHub, iCreate, GUSEC, and GVFL, on the campus of iCreate in Ahmedabad on January 9.

Organised by the Gujarat government, the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and will be held from January 10-12 at Gandhinagar.

The Bowling Alley is a day-long pitching event for startups interested in showcasing their business plans and business models to the investor community. GVFL has invited major investors from across the country to attend the event physically as well as virtually.

Some of the major investors who have already confirmed participation include Bessemer Venture Partners, Trifecta Capital, Unicorn India Ventures, Equanimity Investments, GVFL Ltd, Venture Catalyst, 9 Unicorns, 100X VC and Sixth Sense Ventures, among others.

GVFL is inviting the participation of all startup entrepreneurs from Gujarat to pitch their business plans to the investors. Startups with unique and scalable business models, and technology as a differentiator, can apply for this event. The sessions will have sub-categories including bio-technology, agri-technology, education technology, Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and defence technology, among others.

The central theme of VGGS is to epitomise the commitments from 'Aatmanirbhar Gujarat to Aatmanirbhar Bharat'.

It is the Prime Minister's vision that India should have 75 unicorn startups to mark the 75th year of the country's Independence in 2022. Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal has set up the National Startup Advisory Council (NSAC) to facilitate this vision.
Chennai, Dec 10 : A YouTuber named Maridhas has been arrested by the Tamil Nadu police from his residence in Madurai for his controversial tweet on the IAF chopper crash near Coonoor on Wednesday, in which India's first Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, his wife and 11 other armed forces personnel were killed.

In the tweet, which he later deleted, Maridhas asked whether Tamil Nadu was turning into Kashmir under DMK rule. He also said in a separate tweet that cadres and sympathisers of DMK made fun of the passing away of General Rawat, adding that DMK was the first choice for separatist forces.

BJP cadres had blocked the entry of police to his residence at Surya Nagar in Maduria and the police had to use force to take him into custody.

Maridhas has been charged under the relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code by the Cyber Police .
New Delhi, Dec 10 : A low-intensity blast took place on Thursday in the room of a court in the national capital while a hearing was underway, injuring one person, officials said.

No death, however, was reported. This is the second major incident at Rohini court complex in the past three months.

Earlier on September 24, in an incident that seemed ripped from a Bollywood potboiler, top Delhi gangster Jitender Singh Mann, alias Gogi, was shot dead in a courtroom by two assailants dressed in lawyers' garb.

A senior Delhi Police officer said the source of explosion was traced to a laptop bag kept in courtroom number 102 of Rohini court complex. The blast happened at around 10.30 a.m. on Thursday morning.

"The spot was completely cordoned off then and the litigants were asked to vacate the premises," he said adding that the explosion occurred when a hearing was underway.

According to a Delhi Fire Services Department official, a call was received at 10.40 a.m. regarding a 'mysterious' explosion at the Rohini Court after which the Fire Department rushed at least 7 fire tenders to the spot.

"The blast was of low intensity and the injured person was rushed to a nearby hospital even before the fire tenders reached the spot," the official said.

The injured has been identified as Head Constable Rajeev, Naib Court.

Lawyers present at the spot told IANS that Rajeev was seated on a chair at the time of the incident and the bag, which exploded, was right under his chair.

"He sustained minor injuries and is receiving treatment at a hospital. His condition is stable," an official said.

Another lawyer told IANS that all proceedings were stopped after the blast.

Amid chaotic scenes, the Delhi Police personnel secured the area. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Rohini) Pranav Tayal also reached the spot to assess the situation.

Apart from the heavy police presence inside the Court premises, the National Security Guard personnel were also deployed to examine and inspect the area.

"The investigation is still going on and the forensic teams have collected the debris from the spot and taken them for examination," a police officer said.

He further informed that the anti-terror unit of Delhi Police -- Special Cell -- will now investigate Thursday's incident.
VoLo Earth Ventures Impact Fund I has surpassed its original $50M target in commitments, which now include an investment from the Zurich-based Credit Suisse Climate Innovation Fund

VoLo Earth Ventures, based in Snowmass Village, CO, is an early-stage climate tech venture capital firm that launched in 2020 in partnership with RMI and the National Renewable Energy Lab. The firm has been actively deploying anchor capital for the past year, during its fundraising period, and has already established positions in innovative companies such as Ion Storage Systems, Banyan Infrastructure, and Blue Frontier. VoLo Earth Ventures Impact Fund I has surpassed its original $50M target in commitments, which now include an investment from the Zurich-based Credit Suisse Climate Innovation Fund, but remains open to new investors at this time. The fund will be capped at $100M and could close early in the new year.

VoLo Earths Fund I includes commitments from multiple asset management veterans including an anchor investment from David Vogel, co-founder of Voloridge Investment Management, in addition to investments from more than 15 private and public equity portfolio managers. Voloridge Investment Management also provided initial seed capital to the firm. The level of interest from profit-seeking capital looking to gain exposure into the early-stage climate tech universe this past year has been encouraging for both our fund and our planet. Feedback from our investors indicates the breadth and depth of our team is highly differentiated in the space, based on our five partner model with expertise in energy markets, technology, product, legal, finance, and equities. Return seeking capital will be a critical catalyst in seeing the world meet its decarbonization goals says Chris Tullar, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at VoLo Earth.

VoLo Earth invests in pre-seed, seed, and Series A rounds, prioritizing lead and co-lead positions due to the teams deep backgrounds in climate tech. It will primarily back North American-based companies with the ability to place strategic investments outside of North America as well. The firm employs quantitative methodologies in its analysis of investment opportunities and portfolio construction, and it focuses on four key verticals across the clean energy system: Electricity, Buildings, Mobility and Embodied Carbon (Industry).

To date, the firm counts eighteen companies in its portfolio with solutions ranging from fintech to deep tech. We focus on building relationships with incredible founders that have unwavering focus and vision. Day to day our goal is to introduce collaborative and strategic value in early-stage companies. We look for products and technologies that can decarbonize profitably, with economic merit in the marketplace. We invest in solutions that can iterate rapidly, can achieve mass adoption, and that have the ability to scale this decade says Kareem Dabbagh, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at VoLo Earth.

VoLo Earth has developed a rigorous carbon accounting approach in measuring, forecasting, and reporting carbon impact to their investor base. They are currently forecasting a potential carbon offset of over 1 tonne of carbon mitigated for every dollar invested into Fund 1. We believe climate tech investing will bend the curve for people and the planet. If we want to realize impact, rather than rely on luck, rigorous carbon impact accounting will be our compass says Joseph Goodman, PhD, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at VoLo Earth.

Any inquiries may be directed to: christullar@voloearth.com
Handy launches on Amazon to give people a more convenient way to bring pleasure into the bedroom.

Handy, an interactive stroker with video and VR capabilities, has launched on Amazon to give people a more convenient way to bring pleasure into the bedroom. Designed by engineers in Norway, it took two years to develop Handy and its a true reflection of the Scandinavian design principles with its revolutionary, high-tech features.

To address the growing sex tech trend, Handy was built with tech-savvy users in mind. Equipped with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, it can be controlled remotely by a smartphone or computer. So whether an individual wants to manage their own Handy or a persons partner wants to be in charge of the device, the remote control feature allows Handy to be controlled from anywhere in the world. Additionally, for someone who enjoys watching videos as part of their sexual experience, Handy can be synced to mimic the motion thats happening on screen. So as virtual reality (VR) becomes more mainstream, Handy adds an extra dimension of pleasure for viewers. But, whichever way people choose to enjoy their device online, Handy also has a state of the art encryption which allows for safe and anonymous use.

Were excited to launch Handy on Amazon because it helps to make the device more accessible and mainstream as we try to normalize how people use devices, like strokers, in their everyday life. Our tool was created to help encourage sexual play and exploration among individuals and couples, and we use the power of technology to create a new age sex toy. Plus, with the one-size-fits-all TrueGrip sleeve system, Handy fits all shapes and sizes for a more personalized sensation experience, said Jens Petter Wilhelmsen, CEO of Sweet Tech, the company behind the Handy.

With Handys TrueGrip system, people can use a sleeve of their choice or adjust Handys Original TrueGrip Sleeve, or their Open-ended Sleeves Collection, which provides three different levels of stretchiness and sensations. Along with ten built-in sensors and a quiet motor, Handy has flexible stroke lengths up to 4.3 inches and speeds up to 10 strokes a second. The combination of advanced technology and features, makes it one of the most adaptable, pleasurable and powerful strokers available.

Handy retails for $178 on Amazon. To learn more about Handy and to sign up for their newsletter, visit https://www.thehandy.com, follow on Instagram (@thehandy_official) or join Handys Discord community (here).
Alex Hernandez Throughout his career, Hernandez has championed new education models that expand access and lead to better outcomes for students.

The Champlain College Board of Trustees announced today that Alejandro (Alex) Hernandez will become the tenth President of Champlain College. Hernandez currently serves as the Dean of the School of Continuing and Professional Studies (SCPS) and Vice Provost of Online Learning at the University of Virginia. He will begin his new role on June 6, 2022 and relocate to Burlington this summer.

We are excited to welcome Alex Hernandez to Champlain as our next President. Alex brings to Champlain a strong track record of education innovation and a passion for changing lives through career-focused education, strengths that will help Champlain successfully navigate todays higher education landscape, said Champlain College Board of Trustees Chair Judy OConnell. This fall, the Board approved the Re-Evolutionary Champlain 2030 strategic plan, which was created by the Champlain community as a roadmap for the College in the years ahead. We believe Alex is the right leader to bring to life the goals set forth in the plan, which include launching new innovative, career-focused programs, reaching diverse student populations, and building partnerships that help Vermont thrive.

Throughout his career, Hernandez has championed new education models that expand access and lead to better outcomes for students. In his current role at UVA, he has grown programs that combine in-demand digital skills with the deeper human skills needed for long-term career success and formed partnerships that allow more students to pursue a college education.

Before joining UVA, Hernandez worked for the Charter School Growth Fund, a national education foundation, where he built the nonprofits Innovative Schools practice, one of the largest efforts in the country focused on personalized learning and career readiness. Hernandez began his career in education teaching high school mathematics in South Los Angeles. He later became an administrator for Portland Public Schools in Oregon and then an area superintendent for Aspire Public Schools in California. Prior to entering the field of education, he worked at Steamboat Ventures, Disneys venture capital arm, and at J.P. Morgan. Hernandez has an MBA and MA in Education from Stanford University and a BA from Claremont McKenna College.

Hernandez said, It is a tremendous honor to lead Champlain College. This is a time when higher education is being challenged on all sides, yet we know education is the most powerful way for students to launch successful careers and lead meaning-filled lives. Champlain College has a rock solid core, a long and revered history of career-forward education, and an inspiring vision for the future guided by the Champlain 2030 strategic plan. Champlains mission resonates strongly with me both personally and professionally, and Im excited to work with the community to build on its success and momentum.

The Board of Trustees and Champlain community are deeply grateful to David Finney, Champlain College President Emeritus, for his service as Interim President since June 1, 2021. Finney also served as the Colleges seventh President of Champlain College between 2005 and 2014. Finney shared, Im thrilled that Alex Hernandez will be Champlains next President. Champlain has an important role in helping Burlington and Vermont thrive, and I am excited about Alexs track record of creating partnerships that drive economic opportunity.

Hernandezs family journeyed from Mexico and the Philippines, and, at each step of the way, education brought opportunitythrough skilled trades, nursing certificates, public education credentials, and degrees. Seeking a meaningful yet less traditional path, Hernandez left a career in finance to become a high school math teacher in south Los Angeles and has worked in education ever since. His professional success is driven by his belief in the possibilities education can provide for students of all ages and walks of life. Alex will be joined in Vermont by his wife Michelle.

For more information about Alex Hernandez, please visit champlain.edu/president.

About Champlain College: Founded in 1878, Champlain College is a small, not-for-profit, private college in Burlington, Vermont, with additional campuses in Montreal, Canada, and Dublin, Ireland. Champlain offers a traditional undergraduate experience from its beautiful campus overlooking Lake Champlain and more than 90 residential undergraduate and online undergraduate and graduate degree programs and certificates. Champlains distinctive career-driven approach to higher education embodies the notion that true learning occurs when information and experience come together to create knowledge. For the seventh year in a row, Champlain was named a Most Innovative School in the North by U.S. News & World Reports America's Best Colleges rankings, and was listed among The Princeton Reviews The Best 387 Colleges in 2022. Champlain is also featured in the 2021 Fiske Guide to Colleges as one of the best and most interesting schools in the United States, Canada, and Great Britain and was recognized as a 2020 College of Distinction for its Engagement, Teaching, Community, and Outcomes. For more information, visit http://www.champlain.edu.

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Through our partnership with IPMA, we produce this industry-leading report that enables law firms and legal departments to benchmark their compensation packages. It helps ensure they are attracting & retaining the best support staff possible." Said Michelle Matroni, Sr. Research Manager, ALM.

In collaboration with The International Practice Management Association (IPMA), ALM Intelligence is pleased to announce the release of the results of its annual Compensation Survey for Paralegals, Practice Support Professionals, and Managers. The report, which contains detailed salary and benefits data arranged in an easy-to-understand format, is a valuable tool for law firms and legal departments looking to attract, motivate and retain top talent.

Highlights from this years report include:



Paralegal Managers earned an average annual bonus of $16,872, while Paralegal Directors earned an average annual bonus of $33,655.

Paralegals billed 1,370 hours on average at an average rate of $300 per hour.

The average billing rate for Paralegals is highest in the Pacific region at $347 per hour and lowest in the East South Central region at $188 per hour.

The average base compensation for Litigation Support/Technology/eDiscovery Directors and Managers is $98 per hour.

Through our partnership with IPMA, we produce this industry-leading report that enables law firms and legal departments to benchmark their compensation packages, said Michelle Matroni, Sr. Research Manager and Legal Rankings Lead, ALM Intelligence. It helps ensure they are attracting & retaining the best support staff possible.

The data in this report is from a survey conducted from mid-June to late September 2021. A total of 71 organizations responded, encompassing a total of 5,101 positions. The report is the essential guide to compensation for paralegals and other practice support professionals.

To purchase the report, visit: ALM/IPMA Annual Compensation Survey for Paralegals, Practice Support Professionals, and Managers.

About ALM Intelligence

ALM Intelligence provides proprietary data, analysis, tools, and knowledge that empower our clients to succeed. The product suite and vast data repository arm professionals with the critical business information required to make the most impactful and informed decisions possible. The exhaustive data repository and product functionality enable professionals to combat competitive challenges head-on with the confidence to remain ahead of the field. The depth of ALM Intelligences expertise across the benefits, insurance, consulting, and legal industries provide a broad spectrum of actionable intelligence to facilitate and execute strategy. Visit https://www.alm.com/intelligence for more information.

About ALM

ALM, an information and intelligence company, provides customers with critical news, data, analysis, marketing solutions, and events to successfully manage the business of law. ALM serves a community of over 6 million business professionals seeking to discover, connect, and compete in highly complex industries. Please visit http://www.alm.com for more information, and visit http://www.alm.com/events/ to learn about our upcoming events. Please follow us on Twitter at @ALMMedia.
The Detroit Free Press - Top Work Place Award Weve been recognized by the State of Michigan as a Best Workplace for Healthcare, but coming from our team is truly the highest compliment. I am very lucky to have a friendly, knowledgeable, and positive team that cares for our clients and each other. states, AmeriCare CEO, Greg Jamian.

Every year, the Detroit Free Press recognizes top businesses, not only in the Metro Detroit, but the entire state of Michigan. It is a great resource for anyone who is looking for a new job or different career. It is also a helpful for a person or organization who is looking for a particular service from a reputable company with great staff and working conditions.

AmeriCare Medical was scored high by the Detroit Free Press when measured on the following employee-centered attributes said President-and CEO, Greg Jamian. These qualities include: exceptional compensation and benefit programs, a commitment toward employee job growth and engagement, the rewarding of performance on a routine basis, evidence of fostering a diverse and flexible workforce, and the relevance of core mission, vision, and values of the company.

Human Resources Director, Nancy Cook stated, this award is definitely an honor as so often we hear from our clients about how much they love our staff. Knowing our team enjoys working for AmeriCare Medical, confirms that we are a special place to be employed. The competition, which relied on a scientific survey, saw only 175 companies make the list out of a total of 3,331 companies that were nominated and surveyed.

Greg Jamian, also noted, Weve been recognized by the State of Michigan as a Best Workplace for Healthcare, but coming from our team is truly the highest compliment. I am very lucky to have a friendly, knowledgeable, and positive team that cares for our clients and each other. 2021 has been a very productive year for AmeriCare Medical, they have opened a new Sun Medical Equipment and Supplies store in Birmingham and have created a concierge home nursing company called Private Reserve Homecare.

For over four decades, AmeriCare Medical, Inc., a locally owned and operated Michigan company, has provided integrated health care solutions to hospitals, assisted care facilities and private homes throughout the State. AmeriCare Medical is the parent company of AmeriStaff Nursing Services, Sun Medical Equipment, Rx iV Infusion Pharmacy and Beaumont affiliate - OakMed, LLC. The family of companies, offers a dignified approach to home healthcare and medical staffing. By providing the best care in the industry, AmeriCare Medical has become the most trusted homecare company in Southeast Michigan

For more information visit: http://www.americaremedical.com
Wood buildings lock away carbon, turning our buildings and cities from emission sources into emissions vaults.

The American Wood Council, National Alliance of Forest Owners and Southeastern Lumber Manufacturers Association issued a joint statement on President Bidens Executive Order, Catalyzing Americas Clean Energy Economy Through Federal Sustainability.

We applaud the President for harnessing the federal government to lead the way in transforming the built environment to net-zero. The materials used to construct buildings account for 27 percent of total building emissions, according to the United Nations, and lowering the carbon footprint in buildings, construction, and renovations is critical to meeting climate goals. We can significantly cut the carbon footprint of the traditional built environment by expanding wood use and substituting traditional building materials with wood products, including mass timber  leveraging the carbon benefits of our nations forests into our buildings, communities, and cities.

Climate change presents a direct threat to infrastructure, supply chains, financial investments, and the U.S. economy. Governmental procurement practices can mitigate those risks by creating climate-resilient infrastructure, bolstering domestic supply chains, and expanding carbon sequestration in both the built environment and in Americas working forests. Increasing procurement of wood products addresses each of these challenges.

Wood buildings lock away carbon, turning our buildings and cities from emission sources into emissions vaults. Mass timber in particular is an affordable, scalable, and realistic option for achieving our shared climate goals. The Federal Sustainability Plan appropriately recognizes the role of life cycle analysis (LCA) in making choices that can reduce emissions. As more and better data is developed, LCA processes will become even more robust and enable more thoughtful, climate-smart decision making in governmental procurement.

Wood is the only carbon-storing, renewable, resilient and sustainable building material that can be grown and re-grown, and our sustainably managed forests can meet increased demand: Since 1958, U.S. forest cover has been stable and forest volume has increased by 60 percent. Modern forest management in the United States ensures some of the highest sustainability standards in the world. Private working forests support 2.5 million American jobs and U.S. wood product manufacturers directly support over 450,000 family-wage jobs, both primarily in rural communities.

The forestry and wood products sector looks forward to working with the federal government to achieving a net-zero emissions building portfolio with American-grown and manufactured wood products.

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The American Wood Council (AWC) is the voice of North American wood products manufacturing, an industry that provides over 450,000 men and women in the United States with family-wage jobs. AWC represents 86 percent of the structural wood products industry, and members make products that are essential to everyday life from a renewable resource that absorbs and sequesters carbon. Staff experts develop state-of-the-art engineering data, technology, and standards for wood products to assure their safe and efficient design, as well as provide information on wood design, green building, and environmental regulations. AWC also advocates for balanced government policies that affect wood products. http://www.awc.org | @woodcouncil

The National Alliance of Forest Owners (NAFO) is a national advocacy organization committed to advancing federal policies that ensure our working forests provide clean air, clean water, wildlife habitat and jobs through sustainable practices and strong markets. NAFO member companies own and sustainably manage more than 46 million acres of private working forests  forests that are managed to provide a steady supply of timber. NAFOs membership also includes state and national associations representing tens of millions of additional acres. Private working forests in the U.S. support 2.5 million jobs. Private working forests  which provide 90% of our timber harvest for wood and fiber  also account for nearly three-quarters of our total gross forest carbon sequestration. Learn more at nafoalliance.org.

The Southeastern Lumber Manufacturers Association membership footprint spans from Texas to Maryland and includes sawmills, lumber treaters and lumber remanufacturers. In total, there are 81 member companies operating roughly 130 locations. The mills directly employ nearly 10,000 people, in addition to the countless secondary jobs that are supported in the rural economies across the Southeast. Our members also manage over 2 million acres of timberland.
BalanceBelt The BalanceBelt's registration as a Class 1 Medical Device is an important step toward helping as many BVH/BVL patients as possible benefit from this unique treatment.

The BalanceBelt is meant for people suffering from Bilateral Vestibular Hypofunction or Loss (BVH/BVL). These disorders, in which the balance organs in both ears are either impaired or completely non-functional, did not have any sustainable or non-invasive treatment options previously.

Facilitating international distribution

Explaining the decision, Erland Fuglsbjerg, Managing Director of Elitac BalanceBelt B.V. said, Since we launched the BalanceBelt, we have had growing international interest from patients, physicians and distributors. However, in regions that accept the CE mark, the Class 1 Medical Device classification is required for physicians to prescribe the solution to patients. This registration allows us to enter all the markets that accept Class 1 Medical Devices with a CE mark and reduces many of the costs associated with importing a medical device. This way, we can make the belt available to many more people suffering from BVH/BVL.

Increased focus on developing medical wearables

The BalanceBelt was developed by Elitac Wearables in collaboration with renowned vestibular expert Prof. Dr Kingma and the Maastricht UMC+ (NL). It is one of several medical wearables developed by the Netherlands-based wearables development company. The company specialises in integrating textiles and electronics, with a particular focus on haptic feedback and sensors.

The BalanceBelts MDR registration illustrates Elitac Wearables increased focus on developing more wearable medical devices in the future. Co-founder and CEO Merijn Klarenbeek explained, We see unparalleled potential for wearable technology to improve the lives of people suffering from medical conditions and the standard of medical care."

Thats why we are taking steps to achieve ISO 13485 certification for our company. Developing wearables in adherence to this international standard will help ensure that we consistently keep designing, developing and producing medical wearables that are safe to use. We are currently reviewing all our processes and expect to achieve the ISO 13485 certification for our company during the course of 2022.

As for the BalanceBelt, its registration as a Class 1 Medical Device is an important step toward helping as many BVH/BVL patients as possible benefit from this unique treatment.

NOTES TO THE EDITOR

Contact information

Elitac Wearables

Merijn Klarenbeek

Phone: +31 (0)30 20 72 323

Email: press@elitacwearables.com

About Elitac BalanceBelt BV

Elitac BalanceBelt BV is the worldwide distributor of the BalanceBelt, a revolutionary treatment option for patients suffering from severe balance disorders. The slim, lightweight belt with integrated accelerometer and advanced software algorithms uses haptic feedback (vibrations) to help patients find their balance and regain their independence. Clinical trials have shown a significant improvement in the quality of life for people suffering from Bilateral Vestibular Hypofunction and Loss (BVH/BVL).

About Elitac Wearables BV

Elitac Wearables develops wearables from idea to commercially viable product  and any stage in-between  for the medical and safety domains. We specialise in integrating electronics and textiles, with a particular focus on haptic feedback technology and sensors.

Development projects include: BalanceBelt: Giving balance disorder patients back their freedom; NeuroShirt: Allowing surgeons to stay focused and operate more safely; SmartShoulder: Keeping service engineers safe, even in remote areas; Mission Navigation Belt: Helping soldiers stay safer by letting them concentrate fully on their surroundings while navigating.

Research projects include: WEAFING: Developing an electro-active textile that will revolutionise wearables design; GaitKeeper: Making it easier, faster, and safer for above knee amputees to learn how to walk with a prosthesis; 3DNav: Helping visually impaired people move around more safely.

Website / LinkedIn / Twitter / Instagram
Crimson Cup Coffee Shop West Chester We are excited to bring our award-winning coffee and focus on good to the Cincinnati metro area. Our partnership with Telhio will enhance the commitment we both share of serving the best to both our consumers and community. - Greg Ubert, Founder and President, Crimson Cup Coffee & Tea

Butler county residents now can enjoy award-winning coffee drinks, innovative banking services and space to meet with friends and colleagues  all inside the new Crimson Cup Coffee Shop West Chester and Beckett Ridge Branch of Telhio Credit Union.

On November 29, Crimson Cup and Telhio held a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate their partnership in this unique facility, located inside Hutzelman Square, 8249 Market Place Drive in West Chester, Ohio.

We are excited to bring our award-winning coffee and focus on good to the Cincinnati metro area, said Greg Ubert, Founder and President of Crimson Cup Coffee & Tea. Our partnership with Telhio will enhance the commitment we both share of serving the best to both our consumers and community.

The 6,281-square-foot banking center offers the highest level of innovative banking services, award-winning coffee and community meeting space.

Crimson Cup Coffee Shop West Chester features an indoor counter and seating, outdoor patio, and drive-thru service for coffee lovers on the go.

Telhio will offer its full-service banking products and services, including checking and savings, mortgages, commercial banking and lending, wealth management, etc. With accessibility and convenience at top of mind, Telhio also will provide interactive teller machines, a self-service coin machine, tandem drive-thru windows and a drive-up ATM.

Were excited to serve the residents of West Chester and offer not only our banking services but also a destination that fosters community, said Karen Daniels, Chief Retail Officer.

The exciting partnership with Crimson Cup Coffee & Tea and our community rooms makes Telhio Credit Union not just a place to conduct banking, but also the perfect place to meet and work over a cup of coffee. We are looking forward to the opportunity to spend more time with our current members and welcome new ones.

Crimson Cup West Chester is open 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. Mobile orders can be placed through the Crimson Cup Coffee & Tea app, available for Apple and Android devices.

The new shop serves Crimson Cups full menu of award-winning hot, iced and frozen espresso drinks, including mochas, lattes and cappuccinos. Customers also can choose hot and iced tea, cold-brewed coffee, hot chocolate, fruit smoothies and other custom drinks.

A brew bar with a Modbar pour over module speeds preparation of hand-brewed craft coffees. The bar also has a tap for dispensing Crimson Cup Nitro, a frothy cold-brewed coffee infused with nitrogen bubbles. Sweet treats, light snacks and lunch options round out the menu.

The West Chester location joins four other company-owned Crimson Cup Coffee Shops in Columbus and Tallmadge, Ohio. In 2020, the company also opened a flagship store, Crimson, in Easton Town Center, Columbus.

About Crimson Cup Coffee & Tea

Columbus, Ohio, coffee roaster Crimson Cup Coffee & Tea is a 2020 Good Food Award winner, 2019 Golden Bean Champion for Small Franchise/Chain Roaster and Roast magazines 2016 Macro Roaster of the Year. Since 1991, Crimson Cup has roasted sustainably sourced craft coffee for consumers and wholesale coffee customers.

Through its 7 Steps to Success coffee shop startup program, the company teaches entrepreneurs to run independent coffeehouses in their local communities. By developing a coffee shop business plan, entrepreneurs gain insight into how much it costs to open a coffee shop.

Crimson Cup also supports life-enriching projects through its Friend2Farmer initiatives, which promote the education, health, sustainability and economic growth of small-plot coffee farmers and their communities.

Crimson Cup coffee is available through over 350 independent coffeehouses, grocers, college and universities, restaurants and food service operations across 30 states, Guam and Bangladesh. The company also operates several Crimson Cup Coffee Shops and a new Crimson retail flagship store. To learn more, visit crimsoncup.com, or follow the company on Facebook and Instagram.

About Telhio Credit Union

Telhio Credit Union is open to anyone who lives, works, worships or goes to school in Franklin, Fairfield, Delaware, Licking, Madison, Pickaway, Union, Hamilton, Warren, Butler and Preble counties. Founded in 1934, originally as the credit union for the Columbus Telephone Co., Telhio is a not-for-profit financial cooperative where its 75,000 members are also its owners. Driven by its philosophy that members come first, Telhio is committed to the highest standards of responsibility and conduct. Telhio offers a variety of innovative programs, services and products to support its members' financial needs. Telhio offers 12 branching offices throughout central and southwestern Ohio and nearly 4,000 shared branching locations nationwide. Federally insured by NCUA.


Condensed Gospels Bible: a potent resource for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of Scripture. Condensed Gospels Bible is the creation of published author Bill Brower.

Brower shares, The title Condensed Gospels Bible is about Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Upon reading the scriptures, I would go from one book to the other to read the entire message that the book was reaching, inspired by the Holy Spirit and condensed the book. Now, upon reading the Scripture from the Condensed Gospels Bible, you read the full teaching, so you can understand its teaching.

Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Bill Browers new book provides readers with a helpful tool to aid in Bible study.

Brower shares in hopes of leading others to Gods truths as found and explained within the Bible.

Consumers can purchase Condensed Gospels Bible at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble.

For additional information or inquiries about Condensed Gospels Bible, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919.


Carole Charnow Named Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce Pinnacle Awards Recipient We are delighted and honored that our colleague, Carole Charnow, has been named a Pinnacle Awards recipient for her leadership in Arts & Education.

Boston Childrens Museum is pleased to announce that Carole Charnow, President & CEO, has been named a Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce 2022 Pinnacle Awards honoree for outstanding achievement in Arts & Education. The Pinnacle Awards were formed 28 years ago by the Chambers Womens Network to honor leading women for outstanding achievement in the workplace, demonstrated leadership that has made a difference, and a commitment to enhancing the quality of life in the region. The award is the most prestigious honor for female professionals in the region.

Honoree Information

The Chamber honors ten women annually for outstanding achievement in business and management. The 2022 Pinnacle Award honorees include:



Achievement in Entrepreneurship

Irene Li, President

Mei Mei Restaurant Group

Achievement in Management - Private

Roxann Cooke, Consumer Bank Regional Director and Managing Director, New England & Philadelphia

JPMorgan Chase & Co

Achievement in Management - Government

Secretary Rosalin Acosta, Secretary of Labor & Workforce Development, Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Achievement in the Advancement of Women Professionals

Lisa Hughes, Anchor & Reporter

WBZ-TV/CBS Boston

Achievement in the Professions

Cheri Ruane, FASLA, Vice President | Landscape Architecture

Weston & Sampson Design Studio

Achievement in Management - Nonprofit

Vikki N. Spruill, President & CEO

New England Aquarium

Achievement in Health Care & Life Sciences

Marcela del Carmen, MD, MPH, President, Massachusetts General Physicians Organization & Executive Vice President Mass General Brigham

Achievement in Arts & Education

Carole Charnow, President & CEO

Boston Childrens Museum

Emerging Executive

Falguni Desai, NA Brand VP Grooming, Procter & Gamble

and CEO & Managing Director, The Art of Shaving

Lifetime Achievement

Judy Habib, Founder & CEO

KHJ Brand Activation

We are delighted and honored that our colleague, Carole Charnow, has been named a Pinnacle Awards recipient for her leadership in Arts & Education, said David Healy, Board Chair. We are so proud of Carole for her significant achievements especially during this past year and proud that her dedication to kids and families in Greater Boston and beyond has been recognized.

About the 2022 Event

This years honorees will be recognized on Friday, January 28, 2022, 12:00pm  1:30pm, at the annual Pinnacle Awards held at the Omni Boston Hotel at the Seaport. Past honorees include Attorney General Maura Healey, Anita F. Hill, Sandi L. Fenwick, Vicary Graham, Chief Justice Margaret Marshall, Diane Hessan, Liz Cheng, Courtney Scrubbs, and Charlayne Murrell-Smith. View all past honorees by achievement here.

About the Womens Network & Pinnacle Awards

The Greater Boston Chambers Womens Network was founded in 1994 to promote and expand economic opportunities throughout the Greater Boston region for all women in business through shared leadership and expertise. The Womens Network offers programs that provide career enrichment and development opportunities for women at all professional levels, spotlight the accomplishments of women, and promote the positive influence that women have upon the Greater Boston region.

About Boston Children's Museum

Boston Childrens Museum engages children and families in joyful discovery experiences that instill an appreciation of our world, develop foundational skills, and spark a lifelong love of learning. More information about Boston Childrens Museum can be found at http://www.BostonChildrensMuseum.org. Become a fan of the Museum on Facebook and follow us on Twitter

Hours and Admission

The Museum will be open Wednesday-Sunday with two set daily time slots, 9:00am - 12:00pm, and 1:30pm - 4:30pm. To reduce touchpoints and enable timed visits, all ticketing will be done online. Members must also make reservations online. There is a limited number of visits reservations available for each time slot. Adults, $18, children (1-15) and senior citizens, $18; children under 12 months and Museum members are always free.

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This development for the future of Caymas Boats is dedicated to our loyal long-time client base, as well as the influx of new customers, who continue to choose us with their boating needs. -Earl Bentz, CEO

Caymas Boats is excited to announce the completion of the expansion of its manufacturing facility in Ashland City, Tennessee. The company invested more than $15M on the project, creating more than 100 new manufacturing job openings. The state-of-the-art 100K square foot addition will assist Caymas in keeping up with current and projected demand in both the Freshwater and Saltwater markets. The decision was made approximately 18 months ago to keep up with the skyrocketing demand for Caymas Boats, and to provide ample space to introduce new models for both markets in the coming years.

This development for the future of Caymas Boats is dedicated to our loyal long-time client base, as well as the influx of new customers, who continue to choose us with their boating needs, said Earl Bentz, CEO of Caymas Boats. This expansion will give us a bigger, more productive space for our fiberglass manufacturing for both Freshwater and Saltwater boats, allowing us to increase the efficiency and production from our facility. This paves the way for new talented boat builders to join our team of the most experienced craftsmen in the industry.

The new factory is already online with our Freshwater models, and has increased our weekly production by 20%. The expanded Saltwater production will be operational by the end of the year, explains Adam Adkisson, President of Caymas Boats.

Founded and based in Ashland City, Tennessee, Caymas Boats is dedicated to the distinguished design of custom fiberglass fishing boats that are of the worlds highest quality, and tailors to the needs of todays fisherman. Since 2018, Caymas Boats has been building fiberglass outboard fishing boats for the Freshwater and Saltwater markets. For employment opportunities please visit the careers section of our website for more information.
CGTN America releases Left Out: The Race Gap in the United States

Left Out: The Race Gap in the United States draws attention to the deep social inequities dividing American society. The four stories in this series are all told by U.S. citizens. Each feels left out  denied the opportunities widely associated with American abundance.

Some say they lack access to a top-quality education, others, to equal protection under the law. One feels unsafe when walking American streets. One was indeed unsafe and unarmed  killed by U.S. law enforcement. What ties their experiences together is racism  a centuries-old fault line in the worlds oldest democracy.

When Americas 18th-century colonial leaders chose independence from British imperial rule, they declared All men are created equal. For the next 245 years that hallowed ideal has been a benchmark by which Americans measure the quality of their governments. How effective is any U.S. administration at securing the fruits of liberty for all its citizens?

In episode one, The Classroom, two African American teenage girls, Maimouna and Roxanne, dream of going to medical school. Will their race also be their fate? U.S. statistics suggest that it might be. In the first quarter of 2020, U.S. Federal Reserve data showed White households owned 84 percent of American wealth, Black households held 4 percent, Hispanics 2.5 percent. As Fed research shows: The relationship between education and income is strong. Race affects income. Income affects education. Education affects income. It is a vicious circle.

The next two episodes The Reservation and The Story of Brandon Lopez  show race can lower life expectancy for Americans of color. At the Rapid City Indian School in South Dakota, a non-profit group has helped discover the remains of 215 bodies in an unmarked grave. How did these children die? Could be diseases, we dont know, says former student Roberta Ecoffey. Were these crimes? Could have just been outright murder, she tells CGTN America.

In episode three, Brandon Lopez, a Hispanic man in his early 30s, sat in what police suspected was a stolen car. After a high-speed pursuit, the car got stuck on streetcar tracks in Santa Ana, California. Police fired tear gas into the vehicle. When Lopez got out, they gunned him down. The officers thought he had a gun. It was a water bottle. This outcome might have been predicted. A Washington Post database shows that Latinos and Blacks are killed by police at much higher rates than Whites.

The final episode, The Attack, Chinese American, Valerie Soe, says she was standing in front of a grocery store when a stranger started shouting obscenities at her. You f*cking Asians. This is why we have to stand in line, Soe recalls her screaming. And shes just ranting, ranting, ranting. According to FBI statistics, hate crimes against Asians soared 73 percent in 2020.

As the United States convenes what it calls The Summit for Democracy, the Americans in this series might ask: Democracy for whom, and for how many?

After the Battle of Gettysburg, then President Abraham Lincoln called American democracy an unfinished work. It was still an aspiration in July 1863. Nearly 160 years later, many say democracy is still unfinished and imperiled. As these four stories show, for many Americans of color, the Race Gap remains a chasm.

Click on the series title to read more about Left Out: The Race Gap in the United States.

This material is distributed by MediaLinks TV, LLC on behalf of CCTV. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, D.C.
With this expansion, we will further expand our compassionate and professional services to claimants seeking disability benefits in Charlotte.

The Charlotte disability lawyers at Collins Price, PLLC announced today the opening of their first Charlotte, NC Social Security Disability law office.

Attorneys Brad Collins and Andrew Price began practicing Social Security Disability Law nearly two decades ago after first meeting as law students at Wake Forest Universitys School of Law. Their Social Security Disability law firm, Collins Price, PLLC, has additional North Carolina locations serving the Piedmont region of North Carolina.

Our firm serves disability claimants throughout North Carolina with offices conveniently located near the greater Charlotte, Winston-Salem, Greensboro, High Point, Lexington and Mount Airy metros, said Attorney Collins.

According to Attorney Price, the prolonged closing of local Social Security field offices during Covid-19 exacerbated the need for in-person appointments with Charlotte Disability Lawyers. The SSA reports in fiscal year (FY) 2021, SSAs awards of SSDI benefits to disabled persons and their family members were down 25 percent relative to FY 2019. SSI disability awards, granted to people without much work history, were down even more, with a 30 percent decline.

Social Securitys local field offices closed more than 20 months ago, making the Social Security Administration (SSA) one of the last remaining government agencies still closed for in-person services, Attorney Price said. Our Charlotte Social Security Disability Attorneys meet with claimants remotely or in person to provide the support they need to apply for, or appeal denied disability benefits.

Collins Price, PLLCs Charlotte office is located at: 6425 Bannington Rd., Unit 8a, Charlotte, NC 28226. The Charlotte disability law office is located inside the Bannington Office Park in South Charlotte near Carmel Road and near the Atrium Health South Charlotte Primary Care Office. There is plenty of free, accessible parking in front of the building for clients.

With this expansion, we will further expand our compassionate and professional services to claimants seeking disability benefits in Charlotte, said Collins. This new office location underscores our commitment to being present and available to our clients while helping them navigate the complex Social Security Disability process.

About Collins Price, PLLC

Collins Price, PLLC is a Social Security Disability law firm founded by Attorneys Brad Collins and Andrew Price in 2012. Both partners met at Wake Forest University where they attended law school. Collins Price, PLLC focuses on the practice of Social Security Disability Law, serving clients seeking or appealing denied benefits for the federal Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) programs. Collins Price, PLLC serves claimants throughout North Carolina and specifically serves Charlotte, Winston-Salem, Greensboro, Lexington, High Point, Mount Airy and the greater North Carolina Piedmont area.
Cloudbakers Qwinix, a Google Cloud Premier Partner, announces the appointment of Matt Kestian to CEO. An experienced leader in the high-tech industry, Kestian will assume his new responsibilities on January 1, 2022.

Kestian most recently served as Managing Director of North American Customer Engineering at Google Cloud and led a team of over 1,500 cloud architects, engineers and specialists in the cloud industry. Prior to joining Google Cloud, Kestian served in a variety of engineering and executive roles at EY, Microsoft and BlueMetal.

Matt has the right balance of leadership skills, customer empathy and engineering DNA to lead our company, said Jeff Rich, Cloudbakers Qwinix Chairman. He also has the experience necessary to build our global workforce and manage a high-growth environment.

While at Google Cloud, Kestian scaled the North American Customer Engineering organization from 600 to over 1,500 people while driving innovation on Google Cloud. I am very excited to be joining the Cloudbakers Qwinix team, said Kestian. Cloudbakers Qwinix is a strong, highly capable global cloud integrator that is exclusively focused on Google Cloud. Our strategy for growth is focused on providing full lifecycle capabilities to help our clients digital transformation by providing the services and tools necessary to modernize and manage their infrastructure, applications, data and collaboration platforms.

The addition of Matt to our leadership team demonstrates our commitment to building a customer-first, engineering-led, Google-focused company, said Mike Biggee, Sunstone Partner and a Cloudbakers Qwinix Board Member. Matt will lead us as we guide our customers in their digital transformation journey to modernize systems and work habits.

About Cloudbakers Qwinix

Cloudbakers Qwinix is a leading Google Cloud Premier Partner that helps companies adopt and innovate on Google Cloud. The company brings leading infrastructure engineering, data and analytics, cloud native development, security and collaboration practices to help companies modernize their applications and work practices.


This latest award will increase the financing flexibility our borrowers have to develop high-quality yet truly affordable multifamily housing.

On December 8, 2021, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund awarded Community Housing Capital (CHC) a $590,000 Financial Assistance (FA) grant. As a national financial intermediary and direct lender to the NeighborWorks Network, CHC provides interim real estate development and permanent multifamily loans to support affordable housing development. CHC will use the FA award to create a new affordable long-term debt product with a mix of construction and permanent financing. The new loan product will take advantage of the low-cost capital CHC can access from the Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) and other sources. It will complement and leverage Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) equity, enabling affordable multifamily projects to go forward at a lower execution cost.

"At CHC, we have seen our borrowers struggle to access capital affordably due to both the size and expense constraints of accessing capital market programs. The capital markets offer the best way to attract long-term fixed-rate and low-cost capital. However, transactions with a principal balance of $3 million or less are not attractive due to the expense of underwriting and producing a public offering statement and/or the transaction costs are high," said Cindy Holler, President, and CEO of Community Housing Capital.

CHC believes that the FHLB products, and its Community Investment Program (CIP) in particular, offers the best alternative to efficiently give its borrowers smaller, well-priced, long-term permanent loans to pair with their LIHTC projects. As a member of the FHLB Atlanta, CHC can borrow from FHLB and pass on the savings to its borrowers, savings that can be essential for projects with 100-units or less. On a portfolio basis, FHLB products create better leverage on housing subsidies, resulting in more projects and more units produced.

"Because we do early lending with our borrowers, we can offer this permanent loan product with a construction loan. This eliminates the need for the borrower to go to another lender, avoiding the expense of several underwrites and up to three closings," said Holler. "We've had a long, successful history competing for and deploying CDFI award-funded capital. This latest award will increase the financing flexibility our borrowers have to develop high-quality yet truly affordable multifamily housing."

About Community Housing Capital

Community Housing Capital has, through its lending activity, created or preserved over 20,400 units of affordable housing and facilitated $2.7 billion in total development during its 21-year history. Community Housing Capital is headquartered in Decatur, Georgia. View Community Housing Capitals 20-Year Anniversary Report and for more information, visit https://www.communityhousingcapital.org.
GCA-7000 Comtrend G.hn Wave 2 Ethernet-Over-Coax Adapter for Service Providers Comtrends new G.hn Wave 2 Ethernet over Coax Adapter offers all of the benefits of standard coax technology, while also providing the superior features of G.hn Wave 2 such as improved 2Gbps speeds and low latency.

Comtrend, a leader in advanced networking solutions, introduces its next-generation G.hn Wave 2 Ethernet over Coax Adapter, the GCA-7000. The GCA-7000 utilizes the latest standard in Coax, G.hn, to deliver high performance Internet throughout a home and in remote areas, via the existing coaxial (cable) lines.

Coaxial lines are now more available than ever and can deliver highly reliable and fast Internet, making it an excellent option for Service Providers. As most homes are already wired with coaxial lines, it eliminates the need for costly rewiring and unnecessary truck rolls. Whether you need a better alternative for your current coax networking solution, are looking for an improvement to WiFi or Powerline performance, or simply do not want to incur the cost of pulling Ethernet cable, the new GCA-7000 brings Internet connectivity as close as any coax outlet.

Comtrends new G.hn Wave 2 Ethernet over Coax Adapter offers all of the benefits of standard coax technology, while also providing the superior features of G.hn Wave 2 such as improved 2Gbps speeds and low latency. This is achieved through G.hn technology such as advanced LDPC Forward Error Correction, automatic detection and retransmission of packets with CRC errors, and remote spectrum management.

Comtrend North Americas Product Manager, Richard Castreje, explains further, Service Providers expect the highest reliability when it comes to networking and G.hn delivers. G.hn Wave 2 includes features that are essential for error-free video delivery and low latency. The end result being customers will experience a marked uptick in their connectivity experience. The GCA-7000 is ideal for connecting high-bandwidth applications such as working from home, streaming 4K/8K videos, enjoying online gaming, or video conferencing that have been critical in todays day-to-day.

The GCA-7000 combines powerful G.hn Wave 2 technology with the ease of coax, thus delivering a superior solution. With its plug-and-play setup, creating a fast Ethernet network with next-generation speeds through coaxial lines can be achieved in minutes.

Comtrend continues its commitment to G.hn with the release of their G.hn Wave 2 Powerline adapters. The GCA-7000 is HomeGrid Forum certified.

Please note, the GCA-7000 will coexist with most services such as Broadband and FTTx, however, it is not recommended in environments where Cable or Satellite services are being actively used (Internet/TV).

Availability

The GCA-7000 is currently available to sample. Please speak to your sales representative or email NA.Sales@Comtrend.com to acquire samples today.

About Comtrend

We know Service Providers. Comtrend has been in the business of supporting Communication Service Providers for over 30 years, and we are proud of our history and the partnerships that we have grown. Our mission is to design and manufacture purpose-built solutions for Service Providers, allowing them to easily provide reliable, best-in-class home connectivity to their subscribers. Comtrend remains committed to offering the latest industry technologies, including Fiber and DSL broadband gateways, wireless and Powerline home networking, and leading-edge Service Provider ACS analytics, management, and CAF Reporting Solutions.
Finn Flare Launches Centric PLM with Astonishing Go-live Results Centric PLM will help us develop assortments for new sales channels more easily to improve overall performance.

Popular Russian clothing company Finn Flare recently went live with Centric PLM and have enjoyed significant gains in both time savings during product development, and reduced sourcing costs. Centric Software provides the most innovative enterprise solutions to plan, design, develop, source and sell products such as apparel, footwear, sporting goods, furniture, home decor, cosmetics, food & beverage and luxury to achieve strategic and operational digital transformation goals.

Finn Flare was started in 1960 in the small Finnish town of Salo, and over the next 10 years exported clothing to Scandinavia, Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland and the USA. After entering the Russian market, the company opened concept stores specially adapted to the tastes and preferences of Russian buyers. Finn Flare specializes in middlewear, outerwear, casual and accessories collections, and today operates more than 110 stores in Russia, Kazakhstan, and Belarus, as well as appearing in popular European stores like Zalando, and selling direct to consumers via their online store.

Before undertaking their transformative digital journey with Centric PLM, the company recognized a need to shorten the development and production time of their collections. This meant finding effective production areas in different countries, as well as system-wide management of costing issues based on a comprehensive analysis of materials, work and delivery costs. When Covid-19 hit, they also faced business restrictions and logistics problems in different countries, especially an increase in delivery time of goods due to the pandemic.

Due to different processes and the specific work of our brand, data from different departments are often isolated, not presented completely or rendered stagnant, which can hinder the efficient management of the product lifecycle, says Valentina Khilmanovich, Head of Design and Development at Finn Flare. Centric PLM can easily integrate data from the entire lifetime of a product seamlessly. We can also conduct a comprehensive analysis of the product at all stages of the lifecycle, from the beginning of production to sales and financial results of the collection.

Centric PLM stood out against other PLM solutions during Finn Flares selection process thanks to added value for productivity, cost management, accelerated time to market, data sharing with ERP systems and product development. The ability to set and control key dates and milestones for production schedules was essential, as well as management and analysis of consumption of materials, prices, orders, sales and margins from each style, collection, and overall season.

Khilmanovich continues, Our main strategy was to shorten the production cycle as much as possible. Weve already seen a 25% reduction in development time for each collection and we were able to achieve a 10% reduction in production costs thanks to updating the costing process with suppliers, which provided new sourcing possibilities. Now were working on the timing of production cutbacks.

In terms of a business strategy, Centric PLM lets us enter updates, develop, support and retire products throughout their lifecycles, depending on decisions we make along the way. Centric is highly flexible for meeting the needs of our clients.

We started to develop our e-commerce strategy many years ago, explains Khilmanovich, building our own online store and cooperating with companies in Russian and European markets such as Wildberries, Otto and Zalando. Now, with more consumers shopping from home, our goal is to improve the connection between their interests and our brand loyalty. Centric PLM will help us develop assortments for these new sales channels more easily to improve overall performance.

Chris Groves, President and CEO of Centric Software, commented, As we expand into the Russian market, its deeply satisfying to see a company like Finn Flare achieving their growth strategy goals and accelerating by streamlining their supply chain using Centric PLM. We are delighted to be a part of the companys ongoing digital evolution and to be a part of all their future success.

Request a Demo

FiNN Flare (http://www.finn-flare.ru)

FiNN FLARE is a company with a long and successful history of formation. For more than 50 years, the brand has been pleasing its customers with consistently high-quality and practical clothing.

Like any successful company, FiNN FLARE has several qualities that help a brand to be recognized:



Modern style

European design

High quality

Comfortable fit

Wide range of natural fabrics

The company's designers always offer interesting style solutions, combining completely different directions. In line with current fashion trends, collections are created taking into account the brand's philosophy. FiNN FLARE clothing is functional, yet fashionable, stylish and elegant, suitable for any occasion: going out, meeting with friends or a strict office dress code.
Festival of Trees will return in 2022--November 19 - December 2, 2022. Hosted at the Franklin County 11/30 Visitors Center in downtown Chambersburg, Festival of Trees raised $2700 for the Cumberland Valley Breast Care Alliance.

Franklin County Visitors Bureau thanks supporters for making the 3rd Annual Festival of Trees a success. Hosted at the Franklin County 11/30 Visitors Center in downtown Chambersburg. Festival of Trees raised $2700 for the Cumberland Valley Breast Care Alliance. It attracted more than 2500 visitors during the two-week period. Visitors from Michigan, New York, Florida, DC, and the tri-state area of Maryland, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania enjoyed 33 beautifully decorated trees and wreaths.

The beauty and success of Festival of Trees would not be possible without the decorators of the 2021 event. FCVB extends special appreciation to these decorators: the shop, Cumberland Valley School of Music, Mr. Phab Photos, Renfrew Museum & Park, Yoga with Melissa, Martins Potato Rolls, Conococheague Institute, Chambersburg Frontier Girls #576, Penn State Mont Alto Student Government Association, Coyle Free Library, Council for the Arts, Rotary Club of Chambersburg, OSI, Totem Pole Playhouse, Middletown Valley Bank, Carly Patla  Iron Valley Real Estate, ReMax Prestige Shippensburg and Carlisle, Franklin County Certified Tourism Ambassadors, Chambersburg Hearing, Shafer Equipment Co., Chambersburg Quilt Guild, Greater Waynesboro Chamber of Commerce, Boys and Girls Club of Chambersburg and Shippensburg, Cumberland Valley Breast Care Alliance, Greencastle-Antrim Chamber of Commerce, Willian F. Sellers Funeral Home, The Pet Store, YMCA of Chambersburg, Conococheague Audubon, F&M Trust, Dile Family, Marco, and Twin Bridge Campground.

The 4th Annual Festival of Trees is set to open on Saturday, November 19, 2022, and run through the First Friday of DecemberDecember 2, 2022. The event will be hosted in the lobby and Great Room of the 11/30 Visitors Center, formerly a bank from 1865 to 2015. FCVB hopes to increase the display to 50 trees and wreaths and again raise funds to support the Cumberland Valley Breast Care Alliance.

The Franklin County Visitors Bureau invites all to explore history, arts and architecture, recreation, natural beauty, fresh foods, and the warm hospitality of communities like Chambersburg, Greencastle, Mercersburg, Shippensburg, and Waynesboro. Franklin County PA is located just north of the Mason Dixon Line and is an easy drive from Washington DC, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh. For more information, visit ExploreFranklinCountyPA.com regularly or contact the Franklin County Visitors Bureau at 866.646.8060 for information on 11/30 Visitors Center activities.
Gallaudet University

Gallaudet University and Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind (AIDB) announced today that Candi Harbison has been named Director of the Gallaudet University Regional Center (GURC) South at AIDB North Campus in Decatur, Alabama. In this newly created position, Harbison is responsible for supporting the recent formation of a partnership between GURC South and AIDB to increase language access and support services to deaf children, their families, and the professionals who serve them throughout the southeastern United States.

GURC South provides K-12 support programs, critical services, training, and outreach throughout the Southern region of the U.S., including Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

We are very pleased to welcome Candi as our new director, said John Mascia, AIDB President. AIDB North Campus is becoming a center of growth as AIDB expands the number of programs on the campus that will serve the people of North Alabama and beyond. The addition of Ms. Harbison to the Gallaudet University Regional Center South will begin a new era of education and rehabilitation services.

Previously, Harbison served as educational supervisor at St. Josephs School for the Deaf in New York City. She earned a B.A. in elementary education from Gallaudet University and an M.A. in educational leadership from the American College of Education. Originally from Jacksonville, Illinois, Candi started her new position on November 16, 2021, and will be based at GURC South in Decatur.

It is an honor to be joining GURC South and the AIDB team, said Harbison. My broad range of experiences in the deaf education field, both as a teacher and administrator, have given me an understanding of the varied needs of schools and support structures that support the development and education of deaf children. I look forward to the work advancing the mission and goals that AIDB and GURC South have for the region.

Gallaudet University and AIDB recently announced an expansion of services for deaf and hard of hearing children from birth through high school, their families, and professionals that serve them. Services offered include early intervention support, early language acquisition, professional development, high school to post-secondary transition, and career readiness. This array of services also includes the Regional Early Acquisition of Language (REAL) project, a partnership begun in 2019 between the Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center at Gallaudet University (Clerc Center) and AIDB, which has worked to provide support to deaf children in the Southeastern U.S. through the age of three. Harbisons leadership at GURC South will allow the continuation and expansion of services and training to professionals and families in the region for students aged 4 through high school, supporting Clerc Centers national mission to serve as a one-stop resource hub for deaf education.

Through REAL and early intervention supports at GURC South, we want to ensure full access to languages for deaf and hard of hearing infants and toddlers, including American Sign Language (ASL) and English, so that by the time they reach school age they will already have had a strong language foundation as they begin receiving a formal education, said Nicole Sutliffe, Chief Administrative Officer at the Clerc Center. Candis work at GURC South will increase the reach and impact of our services at the K-12 level throughout the region, and at the national level in coordination with our other GURC Directors.

About the Gallaudet University Regional Centers

The Gallaudet University Regional Centers were established in 1977. Through partnerships with host institutions, the Gallaudet University Regional Centers share Gallaudet's undergraduate and graduate programs and the Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center's resources and expertise through training programs, workshops and conferences, youth programs, technical assistance, and consultation. For more information, please visit GURC.

About Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind

Founded in 1858, Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind is Americas most comprehensive education, rehabilitation and service program serving individuals of all ages who are blind, deaf, deafblind or multidisabled. Through five campuses in Talladega and a statewide network of Regional Centers, AIDB provides services to over 30,000 people per year. For more information please visit the Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind.

About the Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center at Gallaudet University

The Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center at Gallaudet University (Clerc Center) is a federally-funded center with exemplary elementary and secondary education programs for deaf and hard of hearing students. The Clerc Center is tasked with developing and disseminating innovative curricula, instructional techniques, and products nationwide while providing information, training, and technical assistance for parents and professionals to meet the needs of deaf and hard of hearing students from birth to age 21. For more information, please visit the Clerc Center.

About Gallaudet University

Gallaudet University, federally chartered in 1864, is a bilingual, diverse, multicultural institution of higher education that ensures the intellectual and professional advancement of deaf, hard of hearing and deafblind individuals through American Sign Language and English. The university enrolls over 1,300 students in more than 30 undergraduate majors, as well as many graduate programs at the masters and doctoral level.

Media Contacts:

Tyrone Giordano, Director of Communications, Clerc Center

tyrone.giordano@gallaudet.edu / (202) 572-9213

Jacque Cordle, Advancement Officer, Marketing and Community Relations, AIDB

cordle.jacque@aidb.org / (256) 589-8024
Gilbane Building Company received the 2021 Providence Business News (PBN) Diversity & Inclusion Award in the category of Architecture/Construction/Design at PBNs annual award ceremony in Providence, Rhode Island.

Recognized for an internal commitment to advancing diversity and fostering a culture of inclusion, Gilbane was also commended for its dedication to cultivating a diverse workforce and providing opportunity for minority and women-owned subcontractors within the construction industry.

Earning this award is another step in the right direction, said Kavon McAdams, program inclusion manager for Gilbane Building Company. With awareness comes change, and this award further solidifies our vested interest in promoting inclusion to support the well-being of those in our industry and the communities in which we live and build. At Gilbane, we firmly believe that diversity, equity and inclusion is more than checking a box; it is about creating a space where everyone can feel like they belong

Gilbane is committed to furthering inclusion and diversity industrywide. This year, Gilbane joined with five other construction management firms to launch the inaugural Construction Inclusion Week, in October. With the theme of Building the Foundation for Inclusion, Construction Inclusion Week invites every member of the construction industry to unite to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion. By working together, learning from one another, and being consistent in commitments and actions towards maintaining a safe and inclusive work environment  free of harassment, hate, or bigotry of any kind  Construction Inclusion Week aims to create positive change in the industry for generations of workers to come.

Internally, Gilbanes employee resource groups (ERGs) for women, veterans, young professionals, LGBTQIA employees, Black/African American employees, Asian, Asian American, Pacific Islander employees, and Hispanic employees provide the platform to bring different voices to the table. The ERGs host and sponsor various events and areas for professional development throughout the year, creating a sense of belonging among employees and allowing everyone to bring their authentic selves to work each day.

Gilbane also focuses on programs and outreach to enhance opportunity for participation from diverse businesses on its projects, including its Gilbane Rising Contractor program which is designed to help grow certified trade contractors. The company has created dedicated roles focused on both economic and internal inclusion and diversity. To help drive economic inclusion, Gilbane develops procurement strategies designed to maximize participation, engages diverse subcontractor participation through outreach, encourages meaningful contracting opportunities, initiates mentor protege relationships, creates strategies to help firms build capacity, and examines ways to reduce barriers to success.

To read more about the PBN Diversity and Inclusion Awards program, click here.

About Gilbane Building Company

Gilbane provides a full slate of construction and facilities-related services  from pre-construction planning and integrated consulting capabilities to comprehensive construction management, general contracting, design-build, and facility management services  for clients across various markets. Founded in 1870 and still a privately held, family-owned company, Gilbane has more than 45 office locations worldwide. For more information, visit http://www.gilbaneco.com.
Seven Global Shapers' team leaders collaborate to study critical U.S. issues emanating from COVID-19. Global Shapers is an initiative of the World Economic Forum. Global Shapers are dedicated to catalyzing action through 448 Global Shaper Hubs, collaborating locally, regionally and nationally.

The Global Shapers Community, a Davos Lab initiative formed in conjunction with the World Economic Forum, today publicly released a series of nine key recommendations that impact the future in these key areas: conscious consumerism, digital access, digital literacy, politics, mental health, net-zero carbon emissions, next-generation ESG, public health, and public safety. The United States Global Shapers COVID-19 Report, first shared with the World Economic Forum in late September, is now available to the general public.

Comprising more than 13,000 members under the age of 34 across 448 cities in 150 countries, Global Shapers have been tasked with driving dialogue, action and change with regard to the local, regional and global challenges of todays world.

As responsible young leaders for Americas future the [Global Shapers] are dedicated to catalyzing action through 448 Global Shaper Hubs, collaborating locally, regionally and nationally, said David Capelli, Palo Alto Global Shaper Hub Leader. The five guiding values for composing the report included responsiveness, orientation towards action, inclusion, ethical action, and governance, with an emphasis on the core pillars the Davos Dialogue addressed.

In spring 2021, young leaders from the communitys US-based hubs began connecting digitally to organize this years series of Davos Lab Dialogue discussions, bringing together community partners, local and national leaders, and other key stakeholders. The goal: to outline a new vision for youth participation and collective action for the current decade and beyond.

US Global Shapers contributing to this report include Ekin Su Akdemir, Dr. Raghu Appasani, Julie Cannon, David Capelli, Sangeeta Gadepalli, Bailey Herbstreit, Osay Imarhiagbe, Batul Joffrey, Daniel Kang, Aadithya Prakash, Ashleyn Przedwiecki, Pascal Rathle, Chirag Sagar, Lin Shi, Alexis Taylor, and Ryan D Taylor. Together, the group shared key findings from a six-month long conversation series, which they shared with the World Economic Forum in late September.

The teams official recommendations in each of the nine topic areas include:

Conscious Consumerism Recommendations (spearheaded by Minneapolis & Los Angeles Hubs):



Utilize taxation and fiscal policy to encourage sustainable practices within companies.

Require brands to take responsibility for products end of life.

Invest in better high-quality design, starting at the production level. Shift efforts to more sustainable practices to avoid overproduction.

Make sustainable, ethically-made products more accessible to consumers (including rural areas).

Petition state and local governments to act now on the growing problem of waste.

Digital Access Recommendations (spearheaded by Atlanta Hub)

Encourage local and state governments to pass legislation to expand broadband access.

Challenge telecom service providers to expand broadband access to underserved regions.

Include members of communities affected by limited digital access on advisory committees.

Expand outreach efforts to non-profits working with individuals with limited internet connectivity to investigate specific community needs.

Partner with youth engagement programs to provide connectivity assistance and access to digital tools and hardware.

Digital Literacy Recommendations (spearheaded by Houston Hub)

Increase programs that bolster connectivity in school to make sure students have access to Wi-Fi and resources.

Rethink how we educate students. A very rigid structure does not fit this century.

Target parents digital literacy skills. Local officials could partner with influencers to increase access to digital literacy.

Better press coverage is needed to share these resources, such as digital resources provided via libraries.

Future of Politics Recommendations (spearheaded by Palo Alto Hub)

Appoint a Presidential Advisor on Youth and Millennial Affairs.

Create a more robust pipeline program with the Department of State.

Increase Fulbright funding.

Grow and expand the number of public administration programs.

Congress to increase the number of paid international relations policy fellowships on Capitol Hill.

Mental Health Recommendations (spearheaded by Los Angeles Hub)

Acknowledge and invest in workplace mental health & well-being initiatives.

Train peer champions and corporate executives in mental health 101.

Create a global mental health rating scale to grade corporations on their investment in employees mental health.

Integrate mental health education into our public school systems, supported by the government.

Develop community spaces for gatherings to facilitate mental health discussions.

Net Zero Recommendations (spearheaded by Boston Hub)

Develop coordinated efforts to legislate climate change policy aligned with science-based targets.

Define clear pathways for the integration of climate justice, energy justice and environmental justice into policy and business.

Deploy capital rapidly across all asset classes to drive the development of cutting edge solutions and to scale existing solutions.

Drive creation and adoption of practices aligned with the core principles of the circular economy.

Next Generation ESG Recommendations (spearheaded by Jacksonville Hub)

Design capacity-building policies where multigenerational conversations impact organizations long-term decision-making.

Encourage youth to run for office and make a sustainable impact.

Open private/independent sector facilities to the public for community conversations.

Enterprises should be involved in community affairs where their HQs and offices are.

Enable the next generation to take risks on their current ethical practices.

Governments should limit one-size-fits-all policies.

Public Health Recommendations (spearheaded by Palo Alto and Austin Hubs)

Provide incentives to influence behavior and lifestyle choices.

Ensure the public has access to healthcare, education, food, and housing at all times.

Frontline workers need better training to adapt to rapidly changing care delivery models, covering all levels of clinical care. -- Provide access to mental health services to frontline workers to support them through these challenging times.

Encourage organizations to create emergency or pandemic preparedness plans.

Public Safety Recommendations (spearheaded by Chicago Hubs)

Officers should receive training on how to interact with individuals experiencing mental health crises.

Establish programs to assist officers who have responded to high-stress calls.

Recruit talented personnel who reflect the communitys diversity.

Engage in a community-driven, collaborative process to formulate a new vision for public safety, emphasizing the primacy of community participation.

Encourage and incentivize higher education for law enforcement officers.

Our next actions are to develop more opportunities for collaboration based on discussions today, the US Global Shapers Community said in a collective statement. We are focused on sharing our vision and mission to address these pressing issues with local and regional leaders, as well as with the Biden Administration on a national level.

ABOUT THE GLOBAL SHAPERS COMMUNITY

Born out of the World Economic Forum, the Global Shapers Community is a network of inspiring young people under the age of 30 working together to address local, regional, and global challenges. With more than 13,000 members, the Global Shapers Community spans 448 city-based hubs in 150 countries.

In each city, teams of Shapers self-organize to create projects that address the needs of their community. Projects are wide-ranging  from responding to disasters and combating poverty, to fighting climate change and building inclusive communities. Shapers are diverse in expertise, education, income and race, but are united by their desire to bring about change.

To learn more, visit the Global Shapers website.
Information Technology World Awards by GLOBEE The IT World Awards are open to all Information Technology and Cyber Security organizations from all over the world and their end-users of products and services.

The Globee Awards organizer of the worlds premier business awards programs and business ranking lists is now accepting nominations and entries for the 2022 IT World Awards honoring achievements and recognitions in the information technology and cyber security industries worldwide.

IT industrys premier excellence awards program, IT World Awards honors achievements in every facet of the information technology and cyber security industries. This annual industry and peers program now has several major sections making this one of the most and only complete IT recognitions and achievements award programs in the world. There are many categories for which your organization and the people behind its success can be nominated. Categories are classified under the following groups:



Company-Organization Awards categories

Corporate Communications and Public Relations Awards categories

Creative, Social and Traditional Media Awards categories

Customer Service & Support Awards categories

Best Deployments and Customer Success of the Year Awards categories

Executive & Professional Awards categories

Chief Technology Officers Awards categories

Human Resources Awards categories

Information Technology Users Awards categories

Marketing Information Technology Awards categories

New Product & Service Awards categories

Product Development and Engineering Awards categories

Sales and Business Development Awards categories

COVID-19 Business Response Awards categories

Learn more about the 2022 IT World Awards and how to nominate here: https://globeeawards.com/it-world-awards/

A worldwide judging panel of executives and professionals representing a wide spectrum of industries will determine the winners. Winners will be presented and honored in a virtual ceremony attended by the finalists, winners, judges, and industry peers from all over the world. Industry experts and end-users of information technology products and services can participate in the judging process.

Apply here to participate as a judge and an industry expert to help decide the winners: https://globeeawards.com/it-world-awards/judges/

Winners of previous years are listed here: https://globeeawards.com/it-world-awards/winners/

Stay posted and read success stories of organizations by subscribing to the Globee Newsletter: https://globeeawards.com/subscribe/

IT World Awards will also recognize Chief Technology Officers from all over the world for their achievements in the areas of Artificial Intelligence, IT Cloud/SaaS, IT Hardware, IT Hybrid, IT Services, IT Software, Security Cloud/SaaS, Security Hardware, Security Hybrid, Security Services, Security Software, and Telecommunications.

A special category group for startups of the year will include the achievements of new startups formed since 2018 in the areas of Artificial Intelligence, IT Cloud/SaaS, IT Hardware, IT Hybrid, IT Services, IT Software, Security Cloud/SaaS, Security Hardware, Security Hybrid, Security Services, Security Software, and Telecommunications.

About the Globee Awards

Globee Awards are conferred in eleven programs and competition: the American Best in Business Awards, Business Excellence Awards (Best Employers), CEO World Awards, Communications Excellence Awards, Customer Sales & Service World Awards, Cyber Security Global Excellence Awards, Disruptor Company Awards, Golden Bridge Awards, International Best in Business Awards, IT World Awards, and Women World Awards. Learn more about the Globee Awards at https://globeeawards.com

Follow Globee Awards on twitter https://twitter.com/globeeawards

All trademarks belong to their respective owners.
Greenberg Traurig Attorneys Advise Greyline Partners in Sale Agreement to IQ-EQ

Global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP attorneys represented Greyline Partners, LLC (Greyline), an industry-leading U.S. provider of governance and regulatory compliance solutions for private equity, venture capital, hedge funds, and investors, in its sale to IQ-EQ, an Astorg portfolio company. The sale closed Nov. 30, 2021.

The sale was led by Corporate Shareholder Steven E. Bartz, who is based in Greenberg Traurigs Dallas office.

We are pleased to have represented Greyline in such an instrumental sale. It has truly been an honor to support their team and be part of achieving their goals, Bartz said. We look forward to future opportunities to work with the IQ-EQ team.

Greylines mission is to create a full-service consultancy that solves financial services firms global regulatory, operational and governance needs through dynamic, high-quality consulting and innovative technology, according to its website. With the sale, IQ-EQs position as a leading provider of outsourced business services to the alternative asset industry is further enhanced.

The Greenberg Traurig deal-team also included Corporate Shareholder Thedoor Melchers and Associates Margaret Kim Heitjan and Chazz Sutherland; Tax Shareholder Labry Welty and Associates Blake Martin and Josh Prywes; Antitrust Litigation & Competition Regulation Shareholder Gregory J. Casas; Finance Shareholder Lou Ann Brunenn and Associate Ruth Guo; Intellectual Property & Technology Shareholder Jerry Fellows; Labor & Employment Of Counsel Alicia Sienne Voltmer; Data, Privacy & Cybersecurity Shareholder Jena M. Valdetero and Associate Philip E. Bryans; Export Controls & Economic Sanctions Shareholders Kara M. Bombach and Donald S. Stein, and Of Counsel Sonali Dohale; Investment Management Of Counsel Tanya L. Boyle; and others.

About Greenberg Traurigs Corporate Practice: Greenberg Traurigs Corporate Practice comprises more than 500 lawyers in the United States, Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Latin America who regularly advise public and privately held companies, entrepreneurs and investment funds on global mergers and acquisitions, corporate restructurings, private equity and venture capital, underwritten and syndicated offerings, commercial finance and syndicated lending, cross-border transactions, and general corporate matters. The groups industry experience includes transactions in a wide range of fields, from the pharmaceutical, medical devices, and life sciences fields, to representations involving clients in the aviation, banking, consumer products, energy, food and beverage, health care, manufacturing, media, technology, and telecommunications sectors.

About Greenberg Traurig, LLP  Texas: Texas is important to Greenberg Traurig, LLP and part of its history. With approximately 130 Texas lawyers in Austin, Dallas, and Houston, Greenberg Traurig has deep roots in the Texas business, legal, and governmental communities. Greenberg Traurig Texas works with clients to address their interdisciplinary legal needs across the state utilizing the firms global platform. The Texas attorneys are experienced in industries key to the states future, including: aviation, chemicals, construction, education, energy and natural resources, financial institutions, health care, hedge funds, hospitality, infrastructure, insurance, media, medical devices, pharmaceutical and biotechnology, real estate, retail, sports, technology and software, telecommunications, transportation, and video games and esports.

About Greenberg Traurig: Greenberg Traurig, LLP (GT) has approximately 2300 attorneys in 40 locations in the United States, Latin America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. GT has been recognized for its philanthropic giving, diversity, and innovation, and is consistently among the largest firms in the U.S. on the Law360 400 and among the Top 25 on the Am Law Global 100. The firm is net carbon neutral with respect to its office energy usage and Mansfield Rule 4.0 Certified Plus. Web: http://www.gtlaw.com
366 Prayers for All Seasons: an engaging collection of prayers for everyday encouragement. 366 Prayers for All Seasons is the creation of published author Herbert Crawford, a loving husband, father, and grandfather who retired after serving forty years with the Cayman Islands government education system.

Crawford shares, The world in which we are living now is certainly different from the world of say forty years ago. Life has become so busy for all of us, and as a result, the things we once held dear such as the family, sharing, and caring have become things of the past.

Families the world over are going through difficult and challenging times. The divorce rate has never been so high, and many children suffer as a result of broken families and relationships.

The pressures of life force many to commit crimes and become involved with the use and misuse of drugs and alcohol and as a result many people find themselves in prisons. Technology has taken over from face-to-face communication and many find it difficult to cope without it.

Diseases and other chronic illnesses have been attacking millions of people and many are dying because there is no cure for some. Unfortunately, the world has been experiencing one of if not the worst pandemic ever, and thousands of lives have been snatched away and millions infected, leaving many families in a state of shock and depression.

These prayers were written to bring some comfort and assurance to those who are going through the various seasons in their lives and to declare that no matter what the issues are, God is in control of everything.

If you are experiencing sickness, separation, being incarcerated, loss of jobs, loss of property, family issues, concerns for children and young people, seeking a companion or for just giving thanks to God for prosperity, this book of prayers is the ideal book for you.

I trust that as you read this book of prayers, you will find it a blessing to you and your families and trust that you will pass from simply reading these prayers to praying. It is my hope that through these prayers, you will be led to make prayer a daily part of your lives and that the Lord will receive all the praise and glory.

Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Herbert Crawfords new book will encourage readers in their faith.

With inspiring prayers and comforting scripture, Crawford hopes to help bring readers a sense of peace.

Consumers can purchase 366 Prayers for All Seasons at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble.

For additional information or inquiries about 366 Prayers for All Seasons, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919.
This past summer, Microsoft announced new voice commands that take email dictation in Outlook to the next level.

Messaging Architects, an eMazzanti Technologies Company and Microsoft expert, explains the updated voice dictation capabilities of Outlook in a new article. The informative article first explains how to access basic voice dictation features.

The author then discusses several voice commands used to easily add recipients, tag contacts, and send an email hands-free. He then explains two options for adding punctuation. He concludes by reviewing new dictation capabilities for Outlook Mobile, including AI to determine the context of voice commands.

This past summer, Microsoft announced new voice commands that take email dictation in Outlook to the next level, stated Greg Smith, Vice President of Services Delivery at Messaging Architects.

Below are a few excerpts from the article, Work Faster with Email Dictation in Outlook.

Accessing Dictation Features

First, a quick review of the basics. To access the dictation features, create a new email or reply to an existing email. Then click the Dictate button (with the microphone icon) on the Message tab. Start talking. Speak clearly and conversationally. You can pause when you need to. And if you pause longer than 20 seconds, Outlook will pause the dictation feature automatically.

Use @mention to Tag a Contact

In a similar fashion, users can highlight a contact using the voice command at mention [name]. This prompts several actions. First, Outlook adds the mentioned contact to the To: line of the email if they were not included previously.

Effortless Punctuation

Users have two options for adding punctuation. Many users have grown accustomed to saying the name of the punctuation mark as part of the dictated sentence. For instance, Remember to order plates comma cups and napkins period results in, Remember to order plates, cups and napkins.

Enhanced Email Dictation in Outlook Mobile

In June, Microsoft announced new capabilities for Outlook mobile. Currently available for IOS, these features will soon come to Android devices, as well. In addition to email dictation, the new capabilities use AI to determine the context of your voice commands and respond appropriately.

Get the Most Out of Your Outlook Experience

Microsoft continues to make enhancements to its Microsoft 365 applications to drive productivity and strengthen security. The Outlook experts at Messaging Architects can help your organization take full advantage of the features available.

Have you read?

Microsoft Mesh for Teams Delivers Metaverse Meeting Experience

Microsoft Loop Smooths Collaboration in the Hybrid Workplace

About Messaging Architects

Messaging Architects specializes in effectively managing and securing an organizations most precious asset, its information. With over 20 years of information management and technology consulting experience, the Messaging Architects team has provided corporations, educational intuitions, health care facilities and nonprofits with methodologies, procedures, and technology to keep their data organized, compliant and secure.

About eMazzanti Technologies

eMazzantis team of trained, certified IT experts rapidly deliver increased revenue growth, data security and productivity for clients ranging from law firms to high-end global retailers, expertly providing advanced retail and payment technology, digital marketing services, cloud and mobile solutions, multi-site implementations, 247 outsourced network management, remote monitoring, and support.

eMazzanti has made the Inc. 5000 list 9X, is a 4X Microsoft Partner of the Year, the #1 ranked NYC area MSP, NJ Business of the Year and 5X WatchGuard Partner of the Year! Contact: 1-866-362-9926, info@emazzanti.net or http://www.emazzanti.net Twitter: @emazzanti Facebook: Facebook.com/emazzantitechnologies.


...we know Kristy is going to take our company to the next level.

Intermx, a leading location data and platform provider, announced today that Kristy Vivian will join its team as Business Development Director.

Intermx is a dominant provider of location and human mobility intelligence solutions for the out-of-home advertising industry (OOH) in the United States. Their client profiles also include travel and tourism, retail, real estate, city planning, and agency solutions. As Business Development Director, Vivian, a veteran out-of-home media expert, will launch Intermxs formal business development strategies as the company expands their product footprint in OOH and beyond.

Ive spent three decades in the out-of-home industry. My experience across agencies and operators gives me a unique perspective on how Intermxs End-to-End OOH Data and Platform Solutions will enable the entire industry to maximize its growth potential, said Vivian. I am excited to hit the ground running with this incredible team and suite of products.

"We are thrilled to have Kristy Vivian join our growing team," said Ryan Kinskey, Cofounder of Intermx. "She has a wealth of industry knowledge that spans data and insights solutions, SaaS platforms, storytelling, business development, and an understanding of all the impactful formats that the OOH industry has to offer, from transit to roadside and place-based. With her expertise and robust relationships in the channel, we know Kristy is going to take our company to the next level.

A resident of Dallas, Vivian started her career with Eller Media Company, now Clear Channel Outdoor. Throughout her 30-year career, she had leading business development positions at Global Outdoor Services, Womens Marketing, and Billups. Most recently, Vivian represented Intersection in Dallas, an OOH operator that specializes in bringing digital technology to the physical world. She loves dogs, musical theater, and a good whiskey by a roaring fire surrounded by family and friends.

About Intermx

Founded in 2017, Intermx provides everywhere intelligence to partners in advertising, government, tourism, transportation engineering, and retail. Powered by geospatial technology authorities, data scientists, engineers, and experts in UX, Intermx delivers human mobility insights via its data enablement platform. Their proprietary solutions provide historical, real-time, normative, and predictive information about population movement while preserving consumer privacy. For more information, visit http://www.intermx.com
Inventory Intelligence is fast-emerging as a necessity capability in the grocery world.

With Inventory Intelligence emerging as a must-have capability for omnichannel food retailers, Itasca Retail, once again, has taken top honors on the RIS Leaderboard 2022, with recognition in numerous categories.

The supermarket-centric software solution provider landed seven number-one rankings in this years study, including three of the most coveted overall rankings: Return on Investment, Total Cost of Operation, and Software Reliability.

Where responses were from Tier One & Mid-Size Retailers, Itasca was ranked first or second in the following categories:



Return on Investment (1)

Total Cost of Operations (1)

Software Reliability (1)

Overall Performance (2)

Quality of Service (2)

Recommendation (2)

Itasca follows-up its unprecedented entry on our list with another outstanding performance! said Tim Denman, RIS News Editor-in-Chief. It's a testament to the functionality and support they provide their customers to be thought of this highly. In this time of change, Itasca makes it possible to react quickly and appropriately.

The customer recognition is a signal, he added, that, Inventory Intelligence is fast-emerging as a necessity capability in the grocery world.

Itasca Inventory Intelligence enables retailers to automate historically manual processes around ordering, inventory forecasting and DSD receiving, with increased speed and accuracy, to ensure they continue to provide exceptional shopping experiences and significantly reduce waste and labor. The system combines sophisticated algorithms and machine learning along with deep understanding of the North American grocery replenishment process to generate impressive gains in sales and productivity, while concurrently reducing inventory, shrink, product-handling and vendor credits.

Overall, Itasca earned recognition (top 7 or better) in several categories again in this years report. Those areas included Customer Satisfaction for Mid-Size Vendors; Targeted Solution Vendor Leaders; Customer Satisfaction for Targeted Solution Vendors; Grocery Vendor Leaders; Top Vendors In Customer Satisfaction; Leaders in Ease of Installation & Integration; Leaders in Ease of Administration; Leaders in Quality of Support; Leaders in Technology Innovation by Tier One & Mid-Size Retailers; Leaders in Ease of Installation and Integration by Tier One & Mid-Size Retailers; Leaders in Ease of Administration & Maintenance by Tier One & Mid-Size Retailers; Leaders in Quality of Support by Tier One & Mid-Size Retailers.

Get a copy of the report here: https://www.itasca-retail.com/2021/11/retailers-endorse-inventory-intelligence

Itasca's Profile Keeps Rising

Itascas visibility has been growing significantly over the past 24 months, with a rapid expansion of its client base and its recognition in this years Inc. 5000. Magic, its solution for Computer Generated Ordering, Store-Level Perpetual Inventory and Total DSD Management, is yielding results for retailers whose total store count adds up to over 3,000 stores in chain supermarkets across North America, with more on the way.

This level of recognition by our valued customers on the RIS Leaderboard is an amazing confirmation of what we strive for every day at Itasca Retail, said Jeffrey Kennedy, Itasca President. We are committed to delivering unmatched value for our retailers by providing the worlds first Inventory Intelligence solution on the market.

He added, I am once again proud of our teams commitment to quality and service and gratified by how our customers continue to collaborate to drive success, fine-tune our solutions and add innovative features.

About Itasca Retail:

Itasca Retail is a leading provider of inventory intelligence technology that enables grocers to better compete in the modern retail economy. More than 85,000 workers, at more than 3,000 stores, use the the worlds first open inventory intelligence platform to manage great industry and economic changes including consumer shopping habits, labor shortages, and shifting supply-chain trends. Once the domain of industry giants, openly available inventory intelligence levels the playing field for grocers of all sizes. Itascas customers include Wegmans, PriceChopper/Market32, Tops Markets, The Fresh Market, Raleys, Weis Markets, Lunds & Byerlys, Cardenas Markets, and Brookshire Brothers. For more information, visit us at https://www.itasca-retail.com

About the RIS LeaderBoard:

A widely anticipated annual feature in RIS News, The 22nd Annual RIS Software LeaderBoard is one of the most powerful and distinctive studies in retail technology. What makes the LeaderBoard unique is its consistent methodology, allowing for meaningful year-over-year, apples-to-apples comparisons. Retailers can count on the LeaderBoard to track vendor success across numerous critical categories based on feedback from their peers in the field. By relying on an iron-clad methodology and an objective third-party research partner, RIS News has been able to track retailer satisfaction with the top vendors in the industry for two decades. It continues to be a pivotal source that retailers can rely on to help guide important software decisions. RIS News is a publication of EnsembleIQ: https://risnews.com/
The Truth Shall Make You Free: a potent argument for the importance of learning and following the Bible. The Truth Shall Make You Free is the creation of published author Jorge Mendez.

Mendez shares, Contents in this books and style of writing will absolutely burn and offend countless. So be it.

Therefore, whoever this book offends, he or she has a dilemma. Control and wisdom with prayer, the Lord will graciously give you if asked. And with prayer, trust in him, and Christ will help them who ask immensely. Verify all things, that is my advice to everyone. Study and read the holy Bible. All information read will be beneficial to anyone who opens the word of life. What knowledge the author is setting down concerning all written biblical prophecy mostly is history now. However, all lies, false doctrines, anything that has not come to pass will be exposed to all that seek truth, not to issue fear but so that you may know what many forget that is due to come.

How does that old saying go? The truth hurts. Im sure Christians will understand. The brave Christian publisher will be blessed for spreading truth. This manuscript is extremely necessary because, ladies and gentlemen, you and I are in the last days.

Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Jorge Mendezs new book is a thought-provoking discourse on principles found within the Bible.

Mendez presents a challenge to Christians everywhere in hopes of helping them find redemption and salvation before it is too late.

Consumers can purchase The Truth Shall Make You Free at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble.

For additional information or inquiries about The Truth Shall Make You Free, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919.
Elevate K-12, the Chicago-based instruction-technology company that brings high-quality live streaming instruction into K-12 classrooms, has announced new partnerships with KIPP Memphis and multiple national charter schools in order to solve the teacher shortage crisis and provide quality education to students.

Some of the charter schools that Elevate K-12 has partnered with are KIPP Memphis, Milwaukee Excellence Charter School, Uplift Education, Strive Prep, Leona Group, Democracy Prep and many more. The charter schools are using Elevate K-12 for filling vacancies in classes like Algebra, Geometry, Spanish, Science and many more.

Shaily Baranwal, Elevate K-12s Founder and CEO said, We started seeing several charter school networks facing the same issues that public schools experience including challenges in staffing classes with teachers. We launched a specific growth strategy to assist the charter school networks and we are seeing rapid adoption of our live streaming services across national charter schools.

Elevate K-12 brings passionate, engaging live teachers to stream into classrooms that need them most. Elevate K-12s tech-enabled services include its proprietary live instructional management technology, Elevate Live, a live instruction service, curriculum and classroom management platform that provides the necessary tools for collaborative teaching and learning to emulate the experience of a real, physical classroom.

The biggest reason for starting the company was to make sure that no child has to sit in front of a computer and self-teach themselves, said Baranwal. These kids were sitting in classrooms without a teacher, teaching themselves, and we said, hey, let's change the way classrooms and schools work so that we can stream these teachers straight into the classroom. Right now, 100% of the students we serve are low-income. So if it's a charter school, the chances of those kids being low-income are high. So the partnership with KIPP, Uplift and other charters is a great fit.

Elevate K-12 has plans to expand to all national charter school networks in the course of this and next school year to assist in solving their teacher shortages to bring high quality live teaching into their classrooms

About Elevate K-12

Elevate K-12 is a Chicago-based instructional services company that brings high-quality live streamed instruction into K-12 classrooms. Schools and districts partner with Elevate K-12s unique instructional solution to solve their teacher shortage challenges and overuse of long-term substitutes or low-quality teachers. Its tech-enabled service comprises Proprietary Live Instructional Management Technology, Live Instruction Service, Curriculum and Classroom Management to provide the necessary tools for collaborative teaching and learning that emulates the experience of a real, physical classroom. Elevate K-12 currently operates in 27 states and is rapidly expanding to new states across the U.S. in K-12 schools. For more information, visit http://www.elevatek12.com and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
This years Forum is specifically tailored to help contextualize the challenges of risk management in in the current environment and to equip attendees with strategies they can take back to their community banks.

The Maryland Bankers Association (MBA) is proud to announce the commencement of its annual CFO & Financial Management Forum. Organized with the support of the Delaware Bankers Association and West Virginia Bankers Association, the two-day event is an opportunity for CFOs in the banking community to meet and discuss regulatory, legislative, and COVID-19 changes impacting the banking industry.

In addition, this years CFO Forum will focus on Fintechs disruptive effect on the IT of banking and how CFOs should plan for this shift, remote commerce strategies banks need to employ, and strategic plans, capital plans & risk appetites. Speakers include notable partners, presidents, and VPs of companies making waves in the financial services sector.

Ramon Looby, President and CEO of the MBA remarked: Partnering with other banking associations helps us add even more value to our combined memberships. This years Forum is specifically tailored to help contextualize the challenges of risk management in in the current environment and to equip attendees with strategies they can take back to their community banks. We look forward to a successful and collegial Forum today and tomorrow.

About the Maryland Bankers Association

Founded in 1896, the Maryland Bankers Association (MBA) is the only Maryland-based trade group representing banks in the state. MBA's member banks employ about 28,266 banking professionals in nearly 1,490 branch offices across the state.
Mercy Medical Center, Baltimore, MD "The RN-BSN Bridge program is further evidence of Mercys commitment to nurses and the patients that they serve, said Susan Finlayson, Senior Vice President of Operations at Mercy.

Mercy Medical Center is now offering eligible graduates from an Associates Degree Nursing Program the opportunity to financially attain a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree through the hospitals new RN-BSN Bridge Program.

The program provides nurses interested in attaining a BSN degree with tuition assistance of up to $12,000 and a monthly stipend.

Mercy has thrice achieved the coveted Magnet recognition from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) for nursing excellence. In this vein, Mercy has been a leader in providing opportunities to highly skilled nursing professionals who provide top-quality healthcare. The RN-BSN Bridge program is further evidence of Mercys commitment to nurses and the patients that they serve, said Susan Finlayson, Senior Vice President of Operations at Mercy.

According to Finlayson, the RN-BSN Bridge program is part of Mercys ongoing efforts to invest in Mercy nurses professional development by creating innovative advancement pathways geared toward recognizing each nurse for their contributions to Mercy and to the nursing profession.

Finlayson added that Mercy will host a free Winter Skills Fest Jan. 3-7th and Jan. 10-14th, 2022, for nursing students who want to improve their nursing skills and gain exposure to clinical healthcare specialties (those interested can apply at https://rebrand.ly/MHS-4112).

Finding ways to help Mercy nurses grow professionally and enhance their skills in rendering quality care for patients is at the heart of everything we do here. Initiatives like the RN-BSN Bridge program, the clinical immersion skills training in January, and now, even the use of gaming and virtual reality to educate our staff, are all evidence of Mercy nursing excellence, she said.

In addition to Magnet status, Mercy Medical Center has earned a 5-Star Quality Rating from Medicare; earned an A rating for hospital safety from The Leapfrog Group; and Mercys Intensive Care Unit (ICU) has received The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN)s gold-level Beacon Award for Excellence.

For more information about the RN-BSN Bridge Program, the Student Nurse Winter Skills Fest 2022, and opportunities for nurse professionals at Mercy, please call or email Mercy Nurse Manager Nycki Bezold at 410-332-9044 or nbezold@mdmercy.com. To learn more, visit https://careers.mdmercy.com.

Founded in 1874 in Downtown Baltimore by the Sisters of Mercy, Mercy Medical Center is a 183-licensed bed, acute care, university-affiliated teaching hospital. Mercy has been recognized as a high-performing Maryland hospital (U.S. News & World Report); has achieved an overall 5-Star quality, safety, and patient experience rating (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services); is A-rated for Hospital Safety (Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade); and is certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center as a Magnet hospital. Mercy Health Services is a not-for-profit health system and the parent company of Mercy Medical Center and Mercy Personal Physicians.

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An Army Firefighter in Vietnam 1970-1971: a potent retelling of life in the Vietnam War era. An Army Firefighter in Vietnam 1970-1971 is the creation of published author Michael Louis Kuk, retired fire chief for the Joint Readiness Training Center and US Army Garrison at Fort Polk, Louisiana. Kuk has over fifty-five years of fire service experience, with fifty-plus years of chief officer tenure. In 1965, he became a Fire Explorer Scout and began a journey in the fire service. A United States Army Vietnam veteran, his professional service began at Fort Polk in 1969, going on to serve as the station chief for the US Army Firefighters USARV Detachment at Long Binh, Vietnam, during 1970 and 1971.

Kuk shares, Military history continues to evolve and grow. Every conflict that had American troops on the ground is full of historical notice and activity, and the Vietnam War is no exception.

Chief Michael L. Kuks writing tells of the time that he spent in Vietnam with the US army as a combat firefighter. This work encompasses what a very small detail of soldier-firefighters did while they were stationed there in support of the overall war effort.

It wasnt a glamourous war-hero position. But it required bravery and courage to face and overcome other hazards the war could present. A misstep would result in serious injury and/or death if these soldier-firefighters did not perform to the highest standard so required.

The events of this book tell his story in a matter-of-fact manner. No Hollywood limelight, just a hard, factual retrospect of young American soldiers doing the right thing at the right time, to save and protect the US militarys assets and personnel in a remote part of the world.

The photographs alone tell a more detailed story, as documentation of fire apparatus and their response personnel are rarely captured on film in any theater of war, much less noted at all.

The return of a welcome home for many Vietnam veterans was disgraceful. Finally, America is thankful for their service and sacrifices. Fortunately, many are now sharing their stories about their contribution. This book will tell a new chapter about the Vietnam War and its soldiers.

One has to feel proud that these Vietnam War veterans never forgot their patriotism.

Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Michael Louis Kuks new book offers readers an engaging new voice from a tumultuous era.

Kuk provides a no-nonsense approach to this historical account of life in and after Vietnam.

Consumers can purchase An Army Firefighter in Vietnam 1970-1971 at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble.

For additional information or inquiries about An Army Firefighter in Vietnam 1970-1971, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919.


A life insurance policy can be one of the most valuable assets people own and most are unaware that the policy can be sold for a one-time cash payout.

MRE Finance LLC specializes in helping seniors and those critically ill seeking to sell their life insurance policy. The transaction, also known as a life settlement, is a decision that can provide financial freedom for many seniors.

A life insurance policy can be one of the most valuable assets people own and most are unaware that the policy can be sold for a one-time cash payout. There are many reasons why seniors consider selling their policy. Some wish to supplement their retirement, pay medical bills, eliminate debt, pay for memory care, help their children or the insurance is no longer needed. Whatever the reason, once the policy is sold, you can use the money for whatever you choose.

Its relatively simple to sell your policy. Transfer the ownership of the policy to a buyer, known as a life settlement provider, and youll receive a cash payment with no more expenses related to the policy. Overall, the process takes approximately 6-8 weeks for the settlement to be finalized with an experienced provider, but timelines can vary based on who your insurance company is and how quickly they provide the needed documents.

When considering to sell a life insurance policy there is some basic information you will need to get started; type of policy (Whole, Universal, Term), amount of coverage, the age and health of the policyholder and the state you live in. The payout from a life settlement is typically higher than the surrender value, but lower than the death benefit. MRE Finance will review your life insurance policy and if qualified, provide you with a free estimate.

The free life settlement calculator on the MRE Finance website provides an easy way for consumers to find out the potential value of their policy in minutes. The website also provides educational and informational content with over 100 blogs to help seniors and those critically ill understand the benefits, the process, and regulations as well as health, lifestyle, insurance and financial planning.

Begin your journey to financial freedom by learning more with MRE Finance.

Website: https://mrefinance.com/

Ph. 1-800-521-0770

About MRE Finance LLC

MRE Finance brings over 25 years of experience in the life and viatical settlement industry. Our mission is to educate and provide information to help seniors and those chronically ill to live life with dignity and greater financial stability by assisting them to sell their life insurance policy with ease. MRE Finance believes in being transparent with its clients and, above all respecting their privacy.

Press Release By South Florida Media
The report offers findings on multicultural family caregivers that may provide insights into ongoing national debates on health equity.

A new national report from the National Alliance for Caregiving (NAC), created in partnership with the Diverse Elders Coalition and the National Minority Quality Forum, offers findings on multicultural family caregivers that may provide insights into ongoing national debates on health equity. Of the estimated 53 million caregivers in the United States, 17 percent are Hispanic, 14 percent are African American, and 5 percent are Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPI). Together, non-White populations represent nearly 40% of Americas family caregivers.

America is a richly diverse nation and family caregivers reflect that diversity, said Michael R. Wittke, Vice President for Research and Advocacy at the National Alliance for Caregiving. We feel its important to share these new insights on family caregivers from diverse populations, highlighting systemic inequities and recognizing that our research and data sets need more granularity to capture the broad range of experiences that reflect the experiences of caregivers from underrepresented communities.

Caregiving in a Diverse America: Beginning to Understand the Systemic Challenges Facing Family Caregivers includes a multivariate analysis of the AARP/NAC Caregiving in the U.S. 2020 data set, one of few statistically representative data sets of family caregivers available nationally. The report analyzes more than 800 caregiver respondents, capturing perspectives from African American, Hispanic, and AAPI individuals. Analysis of the caregiving experience by socioeconomic background, sexual orientation, and gender is also included in the study.

The report was produced via a partnership between the National Alliance for Caregiving with the Diverse Elders Coalition and the National Minority Quality Forum and made possible through support from Amgen. The multivariate analysis was conducted by researchers at Dartmouth College. The report also includes additional literature on diverse caregiving and research recommendations, and was reviewed by an Advisory Committee which included subject-matter experts and people with lived experience.

This report marks an important first step in better understanding the unique challenges of caregivers, said Judy Brown, senior vice president of Corporate Affairs at Amgen. The findings make it clear that addressing the needs of caregivers is a critical part of achieving a future in which all Americans are able to receive equitable healthcare regardless of race, ethnicity or socioeconomic status.

In this report, we see that diverse family caregivers report strengths and protective factors, like feeling fulfillment and meaning through caregiving. But we also see that decline in self-reported health, and barriers to accessing resources and services. said Lauren Pongan, National Director of the Diverse Elders Coalition. We need more research to learn about the experiences of American Indian/Alaska Native, AAPI, and LGBTQ+ caregivers, and to learn how we can better support all family caregivers in their roles and as individuals.

"The National Minority Quality Forum is pleased to partner with the Diverse Elders Coalition and the National Alliance for Caregiving in addressing the caregiving needs of the American general population as it blossoms through the concurrency of maturation and cultural diversification. This report is an important step in our shared journey toward that future," stated Gretchen C. Wartman, the NMQF Vice President for Policy and Program and Director of their Institute for Equity in Health Policy and Practice.

Highlights: African American Caregivers

The 2020 data revealed that many African American families felt more engaged in shared-decision making with the people they were caring for:



Six out of 10 reported advocating for the person in their care (62% up from 47%)

Most helped to monitor the condition of the person who needed care (74% up from 62%)

More than half reported advocating for the person in their care (62% up from 47%).

Yet despite this higher engagement, African American caregivers in 2020 were more likely to rate their health as fair/poor compared to five years ago. Many African American families were more likely to report negative financial impacts due to care, such as leaving bills unpaid or putting a halt to their saving. While nearly 60% reported that being a caregiver gave them a sense of meaning in their life  higher than caregivers from other backgrounds  many families were less likely to get help they needed. African American caregivers were less likely to receive respite, a critical need especially for families who live in the same household as the person who needs care.

Highlights: Hispanic Caregivers

Hispanic caregivers tended to have less access to help  either paid or unpaid  and were more likely to experience high care intensity levels when compared to Non-Hispanic White caregivers. Like African American families, Hispanic caregivers reported a decline in their self-reported health, with only 35% reporting excellent/very good health compared to 51% in 2015. While more than half of Hispanic caregivers reported that being a caregiver gives them meaning or purpose, many also reported that they were less likely to be able to pay bills, save, or afford basic expenses like food. One out of ten reported that they had to move to a less expensive home, apartment, or other living arrangement because of the costs of care. And just over 20% of Hispanic caregivers reported that they had no access to health insurance for themselves.

Additional Populations Covered

The report also includes information about Asian American and Pacific Islanders, one of the fastest growing ethnic groups in the United States. Like other non-white caregivers, AAPI caregivers self-reported worse health than when last surveyed five years ago. Many AAPI caregivers encountered barriers in care delivery as well. While these families were less likely to receive information from medical care providers, they were more likely to want help from medical providers on supporting the person who needs care.

While the data is not as expansive, the report also includes findings about the LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning) caregiving community. LGBTQ+ caregivers were more likely to report that they were the primary caregiver and that they had difficulty managing care coordination across multiple care providers.

Recommendations

The data analysis highlights some general themes that can meaningfully improve the caregiver experience for diverse populations:



Acknowledging, incorporating, and continually improving cultural literacy into the development of programs, resources, and services designed for caregivers of diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds.

Ensuring that the eligibility criteria for programs and services designed for caregivers offer an inclusive definition of familyto include siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, grandparents, grandchildren, and domestic partners.

Recognizing and increasing access to caregiver programs, resources, services, and support networks that are designed to go beyond traditional notions of the family structure and are inclusive of the LGBTQ+ community.

Facilitating better access to programs, services, and resources to caregivers in rural areas and where access to technology is less readily available or counter-productive to the needs of the caregiver or person receiving care.

Recommendations for academic and research institutions likewise identify how researchers could address issues related to inequity:



Invest in caregiver research and data collection.

Address the lack of American Indian/Alaska Native representation in research.

Address the lack of intersectionality and segmentation in research.

Get the Report

To read our report and findings on diverse family caregivers in the United States, visit https://www.caregiving.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/NAC_AmgenDiverseCaregiversReport_FinalDigital-111821.pdf.

About This Report

In the analysis and development of this research report, the National Alliance for Caregiving enlisted the expertise of an advisory committee and expert reviewers in the caregiving space, including advocates, researchers and those committed to equity in the health care system, including: Alyssa Smolen, BS; Lisa Weber-Riley, MA; Feylyn Lewis, PhD; Gabriela Prudencio, MBA; Karen L. Marshall, JD; Charlotte Davidson; Rita B. Choula, MA; Yanira Cruz, MPH, DrPH; J. Nicholas Dionne-Odom, PhD, RN, ACHPN, FPCN; Eboni Green, PhD, RN; Tamryn F. Gray, PhD, RN, MPH; Tim R. Johnston, PhD; Ocean Le, BSBA, MS; Sandy Magana, PhD, MSW; Jared Make; Lauren Pongan, MA; Regina, A. Shih, PhD; Jahdziah O. St. Julien; and Gretchen C. Wartman. This report was written by: Mousumi Bose, PhD; Lauren Tokarewich, MLIS: Reed W.R. Bratches, MPH, PhD Candidate: and Paul J. Barr, PhD MSc. The report was made possible through grant funding from Amgen, Inc., and the Diverse Elders Coalition.

About the National Alliance for Caregiving

NACs mission is to build partnerships in research, advocacy, and innovation to make life better for family caregivers. Our work aims to support a society which values, supports, and empowers family caregivers to thrive at home, work, and life. As a 501(c)(3) charitable non-profit organization based in Washington, D.C., we represent a coalition of more than 60 non-profit, corporate, and academic organizations; nearly 40 family support researchers with expertise in pediatric to adult care to geriatric care; and more than 50 advocates who work on national, state, and local platforms to support caregivers across the United States. In addition to our national work, NAC leads and participates in several global meetings on caregiving and long-term care, working closely with peer organizations in countries such as Australia, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Hong Kong, India and Nepal, Ireland, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, Sweden, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom.

About the Diverse Elders Coalition

The Diverse Elders Coalition (DEC) advocates for policies and programs that improve aging in our communities as racially and ethnically diverse people; American Indians and Alaska Natives; and lesbian, gay, bisexual and/or transgender people. We envision a world where all older adults can live full and active lives as they age.

Together, we are made up of six national organizations representing a growing majority of millions of older people throughout the country:



National Asian Pacific Center on Aging

National Caucus and Center on Black Aging

National Hispanic Council on Aging

National Indian Council on Aging

SAGE

Southeast Asia Resource Action Center

About the National Minority Quality Forum

The National Minority Quality Forum (NMQF) is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit research and advocacy organization based in Washington, DC. The mission of NMQF is to reduce patient risk by assuring optimal care for all. NMQFs vision is an American health services research, delivery and financing system whose operating principle is to reduce patient risk for amenable morbidity and mortality while improving quality of life.
Getting a second opinion on an important decision like this is just common sense, and our 'second check' system provides that opportunity, said Jason Campbell, an attorney at NC Eminent Domain Law Firm and a former Special Deputy Attorney General who represented the NCDOT.

A massive road widening tying into the continued creation of the Fayetteville Outer Loop (I-295) will soon result in land being taken by the NCDOT from more than 200 property owners in Cumberland County.

A free virtual seminar on December 9, 7-9 pm (more here), is designed to advise property owners of their rights and help them understand the process of eminent domain takings. The attorneys who will lead the seminar are available to speak in advance with reporters.

The NCDOT will be widening a 3.3-mile stretch of Camden Road between Hope Mills Road (NC Hwy 59) and I-295. The current two-lane road will become a four-lane road with a raised median.

While this project aims to reduce the heavy traffic in the growing Fayetteville region, it will also have a massive impact on local businesses and property owners. With the start of construction, more than 200 homes and businesses are expected to be heavily impacted. For homeowners, this could bring traffic closer to their doors and drastically reduce the value of their properties. For business and commercial property owners, it could mean losing parking, signage, and even access as traffic flow is altered. These factors combined could greatly reduce their ability to do business.

The NCDOT has set aside more than $7.2 million to compensate owners affected by the project, but the offers some property owners receive from state officials may amount to far less than what their property is worth.

Home and property owners affected by the project are invited to attend a seminar at no obligation whatsoever to learn more about their rights:



Seminar Details: Virtual Seminar hosted by Jason Campbell, a former attorney for the NCDOT

Virtual Seminar Registration

December 9, 2021  7-9 PM

Second Check

Under North Carolina law, property owners whose land or businesses are targeted for acquisition receive an offer from the state. If the owner chooses not to accept the offer and takes no further steps, the state will still acquire the land and deposit the amount of the original offer with the County Clerk for the owner.

This is where the NC Eminent Domain Law Firms second check approach comes in. In most cases, the property owner is then free to pursue a potentially better, fairer arrangement  without losing the first offer.

If continued negotiations do not change the offer, the owner still has the first offer. But if continued negotiations are successful, the property owner will receive a second check in addition to the first offer.

Knowing what is legally compensable, and having read hundreds of appraisals, there are certain things that quickly jump off the page to an experienced reader, said Jason Campbell, an attorney at NC Eminent Domain Law Firm and a former Special Deputy Attorney General who represented the NCDOT. Getting a second opinion on an important decision like this is just common sense, and our 'second check' system provides that opportunity.

Our attorneys are available to talk with property and business owners, and to try to answer questions about the unique circumstances regarding their individual properties. Those questions typically include:

Property owners who have questions about this project and how it will affect them are encouraged to:

Call the NC Eminent Domain Law Firm at 1-877-393-4990.

Attend the free, no obligation seminar.

About the NC Eminent Domain Law Firm

The NC Eminent Domain Law Firm is dedicated solely to representing property owners impacted by eminent domain law. It is led by three former Attorneys General who worked for the NC Department of Transportation handling some of their largest and most important cases. The firms attorneys have over 80 years of combined experience working exclusively in land condemnation. The NC Eminent Domain Law Firm is a division of the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin, which has more than 50 attorneys, based in Durham, North Carolina, with 15 additional offices statewide: Asheville, Charlotte, Fayetteville, Greensboro, Greenville, Goldsboro, Henderson, Morganton, New Bern, Raleigh, Roanoke Rapids, Rocky Mount, Sanford, Wilson, and Winston-Salem.

Contact Information:

Jason Campbell

1-877-393-4990

NC Eminent Domain Law Firm

2915 Raeford Rd.,

Suite 204

Fayetteville, NC 28303
Bestselling author Rob A Gentile from Charlotte, NC. receives top reviews for his touching and powerful true story. Fans are invited to sign up on his website to win a free autographed copy. George Noory of Coast to Coast AM interviews Rob: (Quarks of Light) should be a movie

Making medical history with his NuPulseCV iVAS heart pump, having survived a heart attack and eventually a heart transplant, Rob discovers a deeper understanding of the interrelationship between himself and his special needs daughter, his heart donor who succumbed to suicide, and the interconnectivity of the physical and spiritual. Listen to Rob speak candidly about his fears, doubts, suffering, and shortcomings while embracing love and gratitude for others and life in this unbelievable yet inspirational account.

What to know about Rob and his near-death experience book Quarks of Light:



Biography

Rob A. Gentile was born one of four boys outside of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to Italian immigrants. His grandfather and father worked at a steel company where Rob also began his career right out of high school.

When the steel company that Rob had been working for went out of business, he found himself pursuing many of his talents, including his passion for photography. Rob drove to Guatemala to learn Spanish and became a freelance stringer covering the Contra war in Nicaragua for the New York Times and the Chicago Tribune in the late 1980s. Rob spent time in combat situations. Often, young soldiers would dive on top of Rob to protect him while they were under fire. They told him they did that so he could help show the world the truth. Rob says that living through war was like training for the challenges that were looming in his life in the not-too-distant future.

Married to his wife, Melanie, for over 30 years, they have devoted themselves to their special needs daughter, Maria, who suffers from Rett Syndrome. Maria is in her twenties, and Rob refers to her as pure spirit. Throughout her childhood, he grappled with tough questions about prayer and why children must suffer.

For the past 25 years, he has worked as a sales engineer living in Texas, California, Tennessee and now resides in Charlotte, North Carolina. Rob has won several awards for his sales efforts including diversity supplier award for the Minority Business Development Council.

At age 56 he had a massive heart attack, then flatlined, and had a near-death experience (NDE). Self-discovery and spiritual awakening continued while waiting to receive a donor heart. His first book, Quarks of Light became a best-seller.

If you are interested in scheduling Rob for speaking engagements, podcasts, print, radio, or television programs, please send us a message from Robs website, reach out to us on social media, or email info@robagentile.com.

WEBSITE: https://robagentile.com

FOLLOW ROB:

Instagram  https://www.instagram.com/robagentile/

Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/rob.gentile.5832

LinkedIn  https://www.linkedin.com/company/68771150/

Twitter  https://twitter.com/RobAGentile1
Octopai, the leader in automated data lineage, data catalog and data discovery, announced today the appointment of Yael Ben Arie as Chief Executive Officer. Ben Arie has served in leadership positions at some of the largest companies in Israel and brings diverse expertise to Octopai.

As Chief Executive Officer, Ben Arie will lead the companys next round of funding, oversee all aspects of the company, expand Octopais product offering, facilitate partnerships, and head growth and innovation.

Ben Arie is an experienced executive that previously served as General Manager and Vice President of Research & Development at SafeBreach, where she helped develop an entirely new market category in the cybersecurity industry for Fortune 500 companies, which is now referred to as Breach & Attack Simulation. She also held various positions at IBM Security including Trusteer; Head of Cyber Security, Data, and Machine Learning; and Cyber Security Group Manager. Ben Arie spent five years at Ginger Software working both as a Product Manager and Software Developer.

I am pleased to join a team of such talented and ambitious individuals and look forward to taking the company to the next level of growth, says Ben Arie. At a time where data plays such an important role in every company in the world, I am honored to lead Octopai, a company that enables enterprises to leverage their data effectively so that critical business decisions can be made accurately.

We are excited for Yael Ben Arie to join the company as Chief Executive Officer. She brings deep experience working in both business and technology and has a proven track record of executing corporate business strategy and creating and launching innovative products, says Gal Ziton, VP Product and Co-Founder. She has a unique ability to build and develop companies, driving them to the next phase of success.

Helpful Links

Blog: Blog - Octopai

Twitter: OCTOPAI (@OctopaiBI) / Twitter

LinkedIn: OCTOPAI: Overview | LinkedIn

Facebook: OCTOPAI | Facebook

Careers: Careers Archive - Octopai

About Octopai:

Octopai was founded by BI professionals who realized the need for advanced and technology-based solutions in a growing market. Octopais SaaS platform provides organizations the intelligence they need about their entire BI & Analytics environment and equips them with the best automated Data Lineage, Data Discovery, and Catalog solutions that are needed, so business users can get access to data and ensure that data is trusted.

With Octopai, data teams can quickly, easily, and accurately find and understand their data for improved operations, data quality, and data governance. The company was recognized as a Gartner Cool Vendor for Data Science and Machine Learning in 2018 and has been recognized in 2019 and 2020 as one of the top companies to watch, providing innovation to the Data and Analytics domain.
New Opto 22 large-scale power monitoring and signal integration I/O modules for groov EPIC

Today, industrial automation and IIoT manufacturer Opto 22 announced two new I/O modules for its groov EPIC edge programmable industrial controller: GRV-IVAPM-3 for Category III three-phase AC power monitoring up to 600 VAC and GRV-MM1001-10 for universal I/O sensing and control.

Cost-effective power monitoring and I/O signal integration are fundamental requirements for large-scale digital transformation. Opto 22s new module options allow engineers, developers, and digital transformation leads to collect power and energy data, machine performance, and asset status directly from field devices and equipment and transport it securely into backend systems.

GRV-IVAPM-3

With simple web-based configuration, the GRV-IVAPM-3 module captures Category III AC voltage, current, energy, and power measurements, facilitating preventative and predictive maintenance and energy optimization cost-saving initiatives.

The module can separately measure up to 3 different single-phase (two-wire with neutral) branch circuits from the same service or a single 3-phase wye (up to 400 VAC) or delta (up to 600 VAC) circuit. Engineers can use either 0.333 VAC, 1 VAC, or 5 A Category III current transformers (CTs) for current measurement and, if necessary, can use a different CT type on each circuit.

GRV-IVAPM-3 provides 18 real-time data points per phaseincluding voltage, current, true and reactive power, power factor, and frequencyand 10 additional data points providing totals across all three phases. Accumulated values are preserved in non-volatile memory every 30 seconds to survive power interruption, and signal accuracy can be tuned for each phase using the minimum voltage threshold ratio, minimum current threshold ratio, and power creep adjustment properties.

GRV-MM1001-10

Based on Opto 22s successful groov RIO edge I/O module, the new GRV-MM1001-10 module for groov EPIC gives engineers the flexibility to quickly connect almost any traditional I/O signal or circuit they find in the field without specifying precise sensing requirements in advance.

This software-configurable universal I/O module accepts over a dozen signal typesanalog and discrete, inputs and outputs. It supports over 200,000 unique I/O configurations via eight multifunction, multi-signal I/O channels, including thermocouples (TCs), integrated circuit temperature devices (ICTDs), thermistors/resistors, voltage inputs/outputs, current inputs/outputs, millivolt inputs, discrete DC inputs, self-wetting discrete inputs, and discrete DC sinking outputs. It also includes two form C mechanical relays.

groov RIO modules can be used in combination with GRV-MM1001-10 modules on groov EPIC to provide both universal remote and local I/O capabilities, accelerating signal integration for large facilities and remote sites.

Both of Opto 22s new modules provide signal quality indicators and intelligent functions like scaling, averaging, and totalizing. Once acquired, data from both GRV-IVAPM-3 and GRV-MM1001-10 is immediately available for distribution to backend applications through the groov EPIC processors embedded MQTT clients, Ignition Edge from Inductive Automation, REST API, and traditional industrial communication protocols.

Availability

GRV-IVAPM-3 ($895) and GRV-MM1001-10 ($895) modules are available through Opto 22s global network of distributors and system integrators, and directly via +1-800-321-OPTO and http://www.opto22.com.

groov EPIC firmware 3.3.0 and PAC Project 10.4 or a groov EPIC SSH license are required for full support, with CODESYS support coming soon. Free technical support is provided for all Opto 22 products from pre-sales through the life of the system.

About groov EPIC

groov EPIC is an edge programmable industrial controller (EPIC). More than a PLC, PAC, or PC, it is a Linux-based processor in a compact industrial enclosure, with local and remote I/O and wide-ranging programming and communications options. In addition to real-time control, groov EPIC provides the connectivity many of todays projects require: it connects to field sensors and devices, legacy PLC systems, software applications, remote equipment, and cloud services for anything from weather conditions to big data analytics and predictive maintenance.

About Opto 22

Opto 22 designs and manufactures industrial control products and internet of things (IoT) platforms that bridge the gap between information technology (IT) and operations technology (OT). Based on a core design philosophy of leveraging open, standards-based technology, Opto 22 products are deployed worldwide in industrial automation, process control, building automation, industrial refrigeration, remote monitoring, and data acquisition applications. Designed and manufactured in the U.S.A., Opto 22 products have a worldwide reputation for ease-of-use, innovation, quality, and reliability. For over 40 years OEMs, machine builders, automation end-users, and information technology and operations personnel have and continue to trust Opto 22 to deliver high-quality products with superior reliability. The company was founded in 1974 and is privately held in Temecula, California, U.S.A. Opto 22 products are available through a global network of distributors and system integrators. For more information, contact Opto 22 headquarters at +1-951-695-3000 or visit http://www.opto22.com. Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube.
We are offering a generously discounted rate on carpet tiles and vinyl plank to hoteliers looking to renovate their flooring on 20 guest rooms or less if they purchase by December 17, 2021. Our crew can be in and out quickly and minimize any disruptions.

The Flooring Resource announces their newest flooring special for hotels looking to renovate 20 rooms or less before the holiday rush. Richard Etscorn, owner of The Flooring Resource, stated We have had conversations with many hotel general managers that have rooms that desperately need an upgrade but not necessarily an entire renovation. They may have 3, 4 or 5 rooms that need attention and with the busy holiday season upon us they may not have time to do the necessary flooring upgrades needed. We are offering a generously discounted rate on carpet tiles and vinyl plank to hoteliers looking to renovate their flooring on 20 guest rooms or less if they purchase by December 17, 2021. Our crew can be in and out quickly and minimize any disruptions to current guests and be finished on the job in time for the holiday rush of visitors. Our prices are very competitive, and we have plenty of inventory, something the big box stores do not have.

Right now, The Flooring Resource is offering hotels its vinyl plank flooring as low as $1.99 per square foot for their American Collection 20 Mil wear layer as well as carpet squares for just $1.00 per square foot. Etscorn stated Its a heck of a deal for flooring. We are happy to have partnered with so many American made companies that we are not suffering from the inventory problem like most.

The Flooring Resource in Orlando is the premiere flooring store in Central Florida. They carry flooring for both the hospitality industry and residential. They offer waterproof vinyl, carpeting, carpet tiles, porcelain tiles, laminate flooring, carpet underlayment and hardwood flooring. Consumers are invited to visit The Flooring Resources showroom located at 2480 Silver Star Road in Orlando, Florida 32804. Their show room is open Monday through Friday from 9am  5pm. Etscorn added We invite people to tour our showroom. We have plenty of colors to choose from and we have plenty of inventory in stock. Our preference towards carrying American made products is what makes us unique. We always have inventory thanks to buying American made. We have had many tell us we are the only store in town that has the variety of inventory actually in stock.

For those looking to learn more about flooring before making their selections are encouraged to check out the blog on The Flooring Resources website located at: https://www.theflooringresource.com/blog. Topics discussed include Considerations when Selecting New Flooring, Flooring Sanitation and Tourism, Water-Proof Flooring vs. Water Resistant Flooring these are a small sample of the online blogs featured on The Flooring Resources website. When visiting The Flooring Resources website, visitors will find a whole host of color samples available.

The Flooring Resource carries products from the following manufacturers, Rokplank Stone Composite Floors, Tru-Stone Premium European SPC Floors, Shaw Floors and Parkay Floors. All of these brands manufacture their flooring in the United States. Etscorn explained American made flooring is the way to go right now especially because of the global shipping problems. When clients choose us, there are typically no delays due to material shortages. The job scheduling is very efficient and our installers move right along to avoid delays.

This special pricing for hotel carpet tiles and vinyl plank is for a limited time only. To cash in on this offer hotels should call The Flooring Resource at 321-245-7780. Hoteliers are encouraged to act quickly so the installation can be completed prior to the bulk of their guests arriving for the Christmas and New Years holiday. Hotels interested in learning more are encouraged to visit The Flooring Resource online at: https://www.theflooringresource.com/.


We turned to Rimidi to support our remote monitoring capabilities, and in doing so, have been able to more easily monitor and care for our patients, which has in turn even led to improved behaviors and outcomes.

Rimidi, a leading clinical management platform designed to optimize clinical workflows, today announced expanded partnerships with multiple Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) nationwide, including Green River Medical Center and Northeast Valley Health Corporation (NEVHC), among others. The centers will leverage Rimidis FHIR-enabled Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) platform to better serve patients with chronic conditions, all while working within the existing clinical workflow.

The COVID-19 pandemic has shone a light on inequities within healthcare, hitting underserved communities the hardest. However, advancements in digital health technologies -- such as RPM and telehealth -- have proven to play an important role in addressing health disparities and improving access to care. As a result, several government agencies, including the FCC and HRSA, have provided grant funding to support the implementation of digital health tools and remote monitoring programs in community health clinics.

Located in Green River, UT, Green River Medical Center provides a full range of primary and preventive health care, dental and oral health programs, behavioral health, chronic care management, pharmacy services, and urgent care interventions. The FQHC recently implemented Rimidis RPM platform as a result of funding received from the HRSA Hypertension Awards. Based on the success of the program thus far, the center plans to soon expand their RPM program to add diabetes and heart failure monitoring, also working to further integrate RPM into their daily workflow to drive patient-specific clinical insights and actions.

Green River serves a primarily elderly population in a very rural part of Utah, with the closest city and hospital about an hour away. As such, it is essential to ensure our patients are getting the care they need, even when it may be more difficult to visit their clinician in person, said Tyler Rundell, PA-C Physicians Assistant, Associate Medical Director, Green River Medical Center. We turned to Rimidi to support our remote monitoring capabilities, and in doing so, have been able to more easily monitor and care for our patients, which has in turn even led to improved behaviors and outcomes.

Additionally, NEVHC, an FQHC caring for medically underserved residents of Los Angeles County, implemented RPM to ensure patients were completing routine and essential clinical procedures such as blood pressure checks, while maintaining social distancing as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Our mission at NEVHC is to provide quality, safe and comprehensive healthcare to the medically underserved residents of our community. Leveraging our grant money by implementing Rimidi has enabled us to continue caring for our patients from the comfort and safety of their homes, Alejandra Mata, MPH, CHES, Program Manager, Chronic Disease, NEVHC. Looking ahead, we know that virtual methods of care, such as telemedicine and RPM, are here to stay and are effective when delivered appropriately. My hope is that Medicaid and other county health programs make telehealth reimbursement permanent, and have RPM devices covered by all insurances.

When choosing which RPM technology to implement, healthcare providers should consider seeking solutions that support multiple disease states and use-cases, embed actionable insights and clinical decision support, and integrate with the practices established EMR to ensure a holistic, interoperable solution.

At Rimidi, were proud to partner with FQHCs nationwide to ensure that medically underserved patient populations are benefiting from digital health and care delivery innovations that improve access to care, quality of care and ultimately clinical outcomes, said Lucienne Ide, MD, PhD, founder of Rimidi. We will continue to work alongside these centers as they seek to further improve care and clinical workflows via innovative technologies, while also advocating for reimbursement of FQHCs and rural health clinics for RPM activities from both Medicare and Medicaid, a major hindrance to scalability and sustainability of current programs.

For new information regarding grant opportunities from The Health Resources and Service Administration, or to learn more about Rimidis RPM platform, visit rimidi.com.

About Rimidi

Rimidi is a cloud-based software platform that enables personalized management of health conditions across populations. Created by doctors, Rimidi avoids the disconnect in connected care by combining patient-generated health data with clinical data from the EHR to drive patient-specific clinical insights and actions. The net effect is a better health system with optimized clinical workflows that enable better decisions, better relationships, better outcomes and ultimately a better healthcare system. For more information, visit rimidi.com and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.
"It has been a pleasure to work regularly with the Sinopec organization, a rapport that will continue throughout the lives of these seven units, said Kevin Bockwinkel, global business manager, STRATCO Alkylation Technology

DuPont Clean Technologies (DuPont) is pleased to announce that the STRATCO alkylation unit at the Fujian Refining and Petrochemical Co., Ltd (FREP) refinery in Quanzhou, Fujian Province, China, has successfully started up and completed the performance test, certifying that the unit is meeting performance guarantees. The STRATCO alkylation unit at FREP is designed to produce 7,700 bpsd (300 kmta) of alkylate from a mixed butylene FCC feedstock.

This startup is the seventh successful STRATCO alkylation technology startup within Sinopec and allows compliance with the China VI standard which limits sulfur content in gasoline to a maximum of 10 ppm by generating low-sulfur, high-octane, low-Rvp alkylate. As the worlds largest vehicle market in the world, China is committed to improving air quality in the country by introducing legislation, such as the China VI fuel standards, to reduce automobile-generated pollution. Alkylate produced by Sinopec will meet both the current China VIA fuel standard and the VIB standard expected to come into force in 2023 which further reduce the levels of benzene, aromatics and olefins in the gasoline pool. As a paraffinic hydrocarbon, alkylate plays a key role in improving air quality and public health.

Over the last several years, we have been able to work with multiple Sinopec refineries, building an energetic relationship and providing a reliable technology solution at each site. The consistency of our technology provides Sinopec the ability to deliver high quality alkylate to the gasoline pool, decreasing the environmental impact of its fuels. It has been a pleasure to work regularly with the Sinopec organization, a rapport that will continue throughout the lives of these seven units, said Kevin Bockwinkel, global business manager, STRATCO Alkylation Technology.

With this startup at the FREP refinery, the total capacity of alkylate produced by STRATCO alkylation units in the Sinopec refinery network is 60,380 bpsd (2,360 kmta).

The STRATCO alkylation technology is a sulfuric acid-catalyzed process that converts low-value, light olefins (propylene, butylene and amylene) into high-value, branched components called alkylate. Alkylate is known for its superior blending properties and is a key component for clean gasoline. The STRATCO alkylation technology helps refiners safely produce cleaner-burning gasoline with high octane, low Reid vapor pressure, low sulfur, zero aromatics and zero olefins. Licensed and marketed by DuPont as part of its Clean Technologies portfolio, the STRATCO alkylation technology is the world-leading alkylation technology with more than 100 licensed units worldwide and more than 915,000 bpsd (35,800 kmta) of installed capacity. DuPont is committed to alkylation research and has extensive experience in assisting refiners with alkylation research, design, start-ups, test runs, troubleshooting, optimization, revamps, expansions, analytical testing, operator training, turnarounds and HAZOP studies.

About DuPont Clean Technologies

The Clean Technologies division of DuPont is a global leader in process technology licensing & engineering, with an unwavering commitment to customer support. We provide extensive global expertise across our portfolio of offerings in key applications - MECS sulfuric acid production, STRATCO alkylation, BELCO wet scrubbing and IsoTherming hydroprocessing. Offering critical process equipment, products, technology and services, we enable an array of industrial markets, including phosphate fertilizer, non-ferrous metals, oil refining, petrochemicals and chemicals, to minimize their environmental impact and optimize productivity. We are dedicated to helping our customers produce high-quality products used in everyday life in the safest, most environmentally-sound way possible, with a vision to make the world a better place by creating clean alternatives to traditional industrial processes. We make everyday life better, safer, cleaner. http://www.cleantechnologies.dupont.com

About DuPont

DuPont (NYSE: DD) is a global innovation leader with technology-based materials and solutions that help transform industries and everyday life. Our employees apply diverse science and expertise to help customers advance their best ideas and deliver essential innovations in key markets including electronics, transportation, construction, water, healthcare and worker safety. More information about the company, its businesses and solutions can be found at http://www.dupont.com. Investors can access information included on the Investor Relations section of the website at investors.dupont.com.

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DuPont, the DuPont Oval Logo, and all trademarks and service marks denoted with , SM or  are owned by affiliates of DuPont de Nemours, Inc. unless otherwise noted.

12/9/21
Skyllful, a leading provider of a mobile digital adoption platform that helps workers on the front lines use mobile apps and devices more efficiently and effectively, today celebrates the 30th episode of its business podcast, Frontline Innovators. In its first four months of production, Frontline Innovators has hosted numerous industry conversations that have revealed a wide range of valuable insights about the key issues that impact technology adoption by frontline workers. The podcast was launched in June 2021 to uncover the best ways employers can help essential workers do their jobs more efficiently and effectively with technology.

When we launched Frontline Innovators, we were hoping to gain expert perspectives from employers and managers on the unique challenges their workforces face day in and day out, said Justin Lake, CEO of Skyllful, and co-host of the podcast. Throughout our 30 episodes, weve heard from industry leaders and innovators who have shared valuable insights from their own personal experiences.

The in-depth conversations on Frontline Innovators have led to the most recent series focused on change management. In addition to revealing many unique challenges the frontline workforce faces within various aspects of their jobs, conversations around change management have led to actionable insights such as:



Focusing on communication, which is one of the biggest challenges frontline workforces face when it comes to change management is communication

Using technology to encourage change, where technology isnt necessarily always the solution; however, it can be the impetus to change

Relating to the end-users and having empathy for those working on the frontlines.

My conversation with Justin Lake on Frontline Innovators allowed me to relay the message of the unique challenges frontline workers face every day, said Andrea Johnson, senior manager, change management at Sprouts Farmers Market. Being able to bring these issues to the forefront is a key step in giving these workers a voice.

In addition to gaining valuable insights to help influence future innovations at Skyllful, guests on the podcast have expressed the benefits they have gained through the discussions on the show and with other prior guests through an exclusive community, called Frontline Innovators Council. The group is an open forum consisting of past podcasts guests that give members an outlet to discuss challenges, brainstorm ideas and gain outside perspectives on upcoming initiatives.

From creating successful teams to communication between management and those on the frontline, to the people side of change management, our Frontline Innovators podcast has shed new light on how to overcome challenges and achieve success by empowering our essential workers, said Eugene Signorini, Skyllfuls VP of Product Strategy and Marketing and podcast co-host. Through the podcast we realized there was a community of individuals passionate about these topics, and the Frontline Innovators Council provides a forum to engage with and learn from other peers tackling similar challenges.

I am very excited to be a part of a community like the Frontline Innovators Council, said Shari Christofferson, President of Mobile Systems Intelligence by Connect Inc. I look forward to continuing sharing ideas with like-minded professionals and applying what Ive learned within my own organization.

About Skyllful

Skyllful is a leading provider of a mobile digital adoption platform that helps workers on the front lines use enterprise mobile apps more efficiently and effectively in their delivery of essential products and services. With deep expertise in leading mobile technology and best practice field deployments as well as a leadership team with decades of experience working with large mobile workforces and applications, Skyllful provides on-device, on-demand training through scenario-based simulations. Whether a company is deploying a new mission-critical workforce app or seeking to improve its workforce engagement with existing apps, the Skyllful platform is easy to use, intuitively designed and proven to increase productivity and deliver greater returns on investment in technology. Skyllful is based in the greater Dallas/Ft. Worth area of Texas. For more information, visit https://www.skyllful.com and follow on Twitter @Skyllfulco.
Our team is committed to developing leading strategies for digital transformation and process automation. Our singular focus has been to simplify the transition to a paperless world for our customers as they streamline their business processes.

Square 9 Softworks has been recognized by Keypoint Intelligence with a Buyers Lab (BLI) 2022 Pick Award for Outstanding Business Process Management Solution for GlobalSearch Cloud. For 60 years, Keypoint Intelligence has been a leading, independent test laboratory in the document imaging industry, evaluating information, tools, and services that impact how people work. Square 9 has been awarded BLIs coveted 5-Star or Platinum rating continuously since 2009 for their suite of digital transformation tools.

Square 9 has done a lot to accelerate setup and deployment, allowing businesses to be up and running in a matter of hours, rather than weeks or even months as with some solutions, said Lee Davis, Associate Director of Software/Scanners at Keypoint Intelligence. With the GlobalSearch Business Essentials Package, companies can use canned workflows to quickly automate AP/AR, contract management, and HR management processes.

Keypoint Intelligence recognizes Square 9s GlobalSearch for how easy it is to digitize and automate business processes. Square 9s cloud driven workflow designer simplifies the creation of process flows, while the RapidAdapt Forms learning technology drives the automation of document classification, indexing, and routing.

We are grateful that Keypoint Intelligence has chosen to recognize GlobalSearch Cloud as their Outstanding Business Process Management Solution for 2022, said Stephen Young, CEO of Square 9 Softworks. Our team is committed to developing leading strategies for digital transformation and process automation. Our singular focus has been to simplify the transition to a paperless world for our customers as they streamline their business processes, said Young.

About Keypoint Intelligence:

For 60 years, clients in the digital imaging industry have relied on Keypoint Intelligence for independent hands-on testing, lab data, and extensive market research to drive their product and sales success. Keypoint Intelligence has been recognized as the industrys most trusted resource for unbiased information, analysis, and awards due to decades of analyst experience. Customers have harnessed this mission-critical knowledge for strategic decision-making, daily sales enablement, and operational excellence to improve business goals and increase bottom lines. With a central focus on clients, Keypoint Intelligence continues to evolve as the industry changes by expanding offerings and updating methods, while intimately understanding and serving manufacturers, channels, and their customers transformation in the digital printing and imaging sector.

About Square 9 Softworks

As a trendsetting software development firm, Square 9 is a creative force in the next generation of both on-premise and cloud-enabled digital transformation solutions. Intensely customer-focused and highly responsive, Square 9 delivers effective, value-driven solutions and has achieved a reputation for excellence in meeting its customers rapidly evolving needs. In addition to GlobalSearch Cloud, the award-winning Content Management solution platform, Square 9 has been widely recognized for its diverse portfolio of products, including solutions for Document Capture Automation, Business Process Automation, and Web Forms Management. Square 9 Softworks distributes its solutions internationally through a network of highly skilled Channel Resellers from its corporate office in New Haven, Connecticut. http://www.square-9.com.
We jumped on the opportunity to extend our DtC capabilities with influencers and celebrities who are both passionate about wine building their own brands.

As consumers flock to shop online at a faster rate than ever before, Summerland Wine Brands (http://www.summerlandwinebrands.com), award-winning winemakers in Californias Central Coast, announced today the immense success of its first direct-to-consumer wine brand, Messy Mawma Wine by Nicole Snooki Polizzi (http://www.messymawma.com). The brand launched in early November and sold out the first bottling within the first two weeks of availability. Messy Mawma is back in stock and is shipping to most states in the US.

Summerlands new direct-to-consumer program was launched with the goal of partnering with established brands to develop personalized wines and a turnkey eCommerce offering tailored to the brands customers, followers, and fan base.

Ive wanted a wine brand of my own for as long as I can remember, so between the credibility and capabilities of Summerland  being able to support and sustain a business I plan to have and grow for years and years to come  they truly are the perfect partner to give my Mawmas the wine they deserve, to enjoy all of lifes messy moments, said Polizzi. Everything throughout this process has been nothing but fun and enjoyable, with Summerlands team handling all the back-end wine production and fulfillment, as well as the building of the online store, allowing me to focus my energy on marketing, sharing and drinking it with my friends and fans, which I believe is why this initial launch was such an incredible success; I cant wait for whats to come.

To develop her line of personalized wines, Tantrum Chardonnay and Chaos Cabernet Sauvignon, Nicole worked closely with Summerlands Chief Wine Officer Ron Hill, who has over 20 years of winemaking experience. The two wines retail for $19.95 and are now available for shipping to most states across the US. Additional varietals are planned for release in the near future.

The combination of advanced mobile tech and user-friendly delivery apps combined with a growing habit for using the internet to buy everything from clothes to food, had already cemented e-commerce as the growth engine for the wine industry. Moreover, the past year-and-a-half of pandemic living has only accelerated that growth, said Ryan Nathan, CEO of Summerland. We jumped on the opportunity to extend our DtC capabilities with influencers and celebrities who are both passionate about wine building their own brands. And we couldnt have picked a better partner to launch with than Nicole, whose incredibly-loyal fan base, existing business ventures and ongoing media activities offer the perfect platform for sharing Messy Mawma with the world.

Nicoles existing business and media ventures include her online and brick-and-mortar retail stores The Snooki Shop, co-hosting her podcast Its Happening with Snooki and Joey (AudioBoom), hosting the comedy clip show Messyness for MTV as well as starring in MTVs hit reality show Jersey Shore: Family Vacation.

About Summerland Wine Brands

Recently celebrating its 14-year anniversary, Summerland is the regions largest winery and state-of-the-art winemaking and bottling facility, located in Californias thriving Central Coast. Voted Best Winery in Santa Barbara County, Summerland is highly nimble and exceptionally innovative. Summerland launched its direct-to-consumer program in 2021 and has plans to release several new partner brands in 2022.

Learn more at http://www.summerlandwinebrands.com
Sungyoung Kim, associate professor in RIT's College of Engineering Technology, adjusts the room sensor to assess tones within the Rochester Savings Bank.

The researchers excited the room.

The room was the ornate, vaulted lobby of Rochester Savings Bank, one of the citys most historic buildings. Exciting the room was an engineering process to capture unique sound characteristics of rooms and buildings.

The researchers are Sungyoung Kim, project leader and associate professor of electrical and computer engineering technology at Rochester Institute of Technology; Doyuen Ko, associate professor of audio engineering at Belmont University in Nashville; and Miriam Kolar, the Five College Mellon Postdoctoral Fellow in Digital Humanities at Amherst College.

Through the project, the three developed a set of tools using advanced augmented and virtual reality technology to preserve and replicate acoustics of historical venues. Their work was part of an international project bringing attention to the overlooked work in preserving aural heritage.

Working in this area since 2020, the three faculty-researchers had received a three-year grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities to focus on spaces considered culturally, architecturally, and temporally distinct examples of rare aural heritage:



American recording studios in Nashvilles Historic Music Row, designated in 2015 by the National Trust for Historic Preservationan example of a small room venue;

The former Rochester Savings Bank located in Rochester, N.Y., and listed on the National Register of Historic Places with historical significance for art, architecture, and commercean example of large and public space acoustics; and

The 3,000-year-old UNESCO World Heritage Site at Chavin de Huantar, Peru, one of the best-preserved examples of pre-Columbian architecture in the Americasan intersection of archaeology, ancient American prehistory, and interior architecture

While several aspects of the project were postponed during the pandemic, the team had worked in Rochester before international travel was curtailed. Once they resumed work, they compiled results that include technology methods to capture sound and to assess how sound impacts human experiences. Their protocols for the aural preservation can be a model for future aural heritage data collection and preservation.

Concert halls and auditoriums need this technology to provide performers with various acoustic settings for specific purposes, said Kim. The technology can transform an auditorium into a preserved church or concert hall venue virtually and instantly. Since, it can be applied for existing spaces, many choose to renovate their acoustics using this technology so that those spaces can be multi-purpose and multi-functional.

Ko agreed. We wanted to excite a room as much as possible and the room would give us back the information it has. We want to capture those characteristics. We have sophisticated ways to mimic the process with the signals Sungyoung was explaining. We have those kinds of tones we broadcast all over the place and then capture the response of the tones coming back from the walls and ornaments and balconies.

The project focused on auralization rather than visualization of soundscapes so that people can experience the target space even if that space is one day damaged or decommissioned.

Auralization is a process to simulate a unique acoustical environment, or a sound field, in a virtual or physical space. Currently, preservation of images and visual information is a research trend, yet without appropriate auditory information, visual representation of cultural heritage in any format could mislead users. Auralization is equally important to visualization for the seamless re-creation of environments, Kim explained.

Different sound impressions can be heard  but acoustics also shape behavior in a setting, and we have been looking at some of the reasons why structures are built in certain ways, he said. Acoustical information shapes experiences. And part of our work is to enhance those experiences and to be able to replicate them should there be a loss.

More results of the preservation work can be found in a recent paper by the researchers.


People of Charlotte, meet your new favorite small business owners: The husband-and-wife, superstar, ultra-cool, wow-theyre-so-dreamy team of Marlin and Brandi McClure have signed on with Teriyaki Madness, the Seattle-style teriyaki shop, to open three locations in the North Carolina market. The McClures have big plans to introduce the brands menu of high-quality, craveable teriyaki bowls to The Queen City with fresh ingredients, a healthy approach to quick-serve and an energetic shop atmosphere created by its fun-loving team behind the counter.

And the McClures certainly arent newbies when it comes to restaurant franchises and business ownership. Marlin brings 25 years of experience in the restaurant segment, where he managed several Buffalo Wild Wings locations in the southeast, and his wife Brandi has experience running a successful retail business of her own.

We were at a point in life where we just wanted to do our own thing while also sticking to what we know, said Marlin. Since I have been in the restaurant industry forever and my wife had experience running her own business, we knew we wanted to open a new and exciting restaurant in the Charlotte area. When we were doing our research, we were immediately drawn to Teriyaki Madness and fell in love with the brand and the food.

As two savvy entrepreneurs, the McClures say they could also tell right away the Teriyaki Madness franchise opportunity was a winner.

They focus on things that sell really well and that guests really love, and the limited menu isnt cluttered, said Marlin. The quality of the food itself was also a big factor  it is a fresh product. We could also tell we would have a lot of support from talking to franchisees and doing research  the support of the home office is top-notch. It is a small company, but it doesnt run like a small company.

Additionally, Marlin says he knew the Charlotte community and Teriyaki Madness were a match made in teriyaki bowl heaven. Charlotte is a big, growing area, and there are a lot of people moving here from the Northeast and Northwest, he said. Also, when you look at some of the Asian style brands or food concepts, there really isnt anything that is structured and organized in the way that Teriyaki Madness is, which is why we think we will do extremely well. We know restaurants can do it better, and we are excited to bring in that expertise and process that comes with the Teriyaki Madness franchise.

Looking ahead, the McClures hope to open all three of their locations by 2025. When it comes to our overall goal for business ownership, it is all about working for ourselves and creating a legacy for our kids, said Marlin.

By the end of 2021, Teriyaki Madness will have added 30 open shops throughout North America and another 40 new franchisees to its system. In Q3 alone, the brand signed a whopping 18 new locations between eight new franchisees as it continues providing its signature mouth-watering teriyaki bowls to a loyal and growing fanbase.

We couldnt be more excited to welcome Marlin and Brandi to the Teriyaki Madness family, said Michael Haith, CEO of Teriyaki Madness. With their combined restaurant and business ownership experience, we are confident they will be great partners as we continue to expand our footprint and deliver something different to the customers of Charlotte.

ABOUT TERIYAKI MADNESS

Fast-casual teriyaki shop franchise Teriyaki Madness is committed to unconditionally satisfying guests by offering delicious, made-to-order, healthy (or not) bowls, apps and sides, prepared with fresh, all-natural ingredients served quickly and at a reasonable price. Guests can enjoy their bowls in the shop, or order through the mobile app for delivery or curbside pickup. Teriyaki Madness has been ranked on Entrepreneurs Top Food Franchises, FastCasuals Movers and Shakers in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, the Inc. 5000 list for three straight years, and was named the fastest-growing restaurant chain in the United States by Restaurant Business in 2021. Founded in 2003, the brand currently has more than 100 shops open, with franchising opportunities nationwide for qualified single and multi-unit candidates. For more information, visit http://www.franchise.teriyakimadness.com.


The Identification Systems Group (ISG), the nationwide network of local identification system integrators, is pleased to announce that David Lee has accepted a position with the ISG as its Executive Director. He will manage all of the ISGs day-to-day operations.

Lee brings 16 years of experience with him in sales, service management and operations. His career included successful roles for over 16 years in operations, sales and management at Bridgeway Solutions in North Carolina, an ISG Member dealer, including serving as their Vice President and General Manager. He started his career with Bridgeway as a field sales representative and later served as Service Manager and Director of Operations for 7 years before being named Vice President and General Manager in 2015.

David Lee will be replacing Tom Stiles, who after 8 years of successfully leading the ISG has decided to retire. Tom was a tremendous asset to the ISG and served us well in his leadership role. We wish him a long and happy retirement spent with his family, said Josh Dunbar, President of the ISG Board of Directors. ISG staff reports to the Board of Directors which is made up of five Member shareholders. We are pleased to welcome David Lee to the ISG as our new Executive Director, said Dunbar. We selected David for his industry experience and longstanding knowledge of the ISG, its solutions, members and partners, and are confident that he will guide the ISG toward continued success.

About the ISG

The Identification Systems Group (ISG) is a nationwide network of local identification card system integrators, providing high quality, cost-effective solutions backed by the local support and strength of its Professional Services Certification program. Each company works together to provide seamless nationwide support in the USA and Canada.
Smith & Associates Real Estate Foundation has made a long-term commitment to the arts community in Tampa through a three-year commitment to fund the Tampa Arts Alliance. The Foundations funding is for operating expenses and salary of the executive director over the three-year period.

The Tampa Arts Alliance was formed in June 2021. Initial funding was provided by The Gobioff Foundation and Tucker/Hall. Board Members and arts advocates have also made significant contributions that helped establish the organization.

During its first five months, leadership focused on building organizational infrastructure while connecting with all levels of Tampas art community. This included five town hall meetings around the city to listen to and meet with artists, arts leaders and arts enthusiasts. The meetings resulted in a range of community recommendations for how the Alliance can add value to Tampas arts scene. These ideas are now being written into a strategic plan.

We shouldnt be surprised that, even during a pandemic, there is tremendous enthusiasm in the community for helping grow the arts in Tampa. Every contribution of time, expertise and money has reaffirmed our mission to support the arts. Having long-term financial support from successful organizations like Smith & Associates shows that community confidence in our new Alliance is growing rapidly, said Alliance Chair Neil Gobioff.

In addition to donations received, the Alliance has inherited an endowment that is managed by the Community Foundation Tampa Bay. The incredible support we have seen from the community will help us engage the arts community sooner than we expected, said Alliance Executive Director Michele Smith. The community wants us to move quickly to organize and mobilize the incredible arts assets of our city.

"We are pleased to work closely with the Tampa Arts Alliance. As a long-time supporter of the arts, we know that a community thrives when it blends the best of its artistic talents with all the other attributes that the city embodies. Creative diversity and opportunities bring value to our neighborhoods and enhance the quality of life for our residents," says Bob Glaser, President and CEO, Smith & Associates Real Estate. The Smith & Associates Real Estate Foundation was established in March 2021 to act as a philanthropic arm of the company and its employees already engaged throughout the Bay Area.

The arts provide a cultural texture and context to our community, but they are also an important industry and economic engine that will help define the future of our economy, said Board Member Bill Carlson. As AI continues to automate white collar jobs, we will rely more and more on creativity and innovation to guide our businesses into the future. Its our responsibility to prepare our children and grandchildren for that future.

The Tampa Arts Alliance is a collaborative nonprofit 501c3 established in 2021 as a catalyst and convenor of arts advocates dedicated to making Tampa a city known for excellence in the arts. For more information, please follow us on Facebook at @TampaArtsAlliance and sign up for our emails at http://www.TampaArtsAlliance.org.

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The World's Leading Book Publicity Company - Smith Publicity, Inc. Cherry Hill, NJ Were thrilled to be presenting this webinar series to share our expertise, and have other top professionals from the industry weigh in on the book marketing topics were most frequently asked about, theres never been a more exciting time to be an author, and we anticipate this.

Smith Publicity, leading book publicity company in the publishing industry, announces a new webinar series set to launch early next year. The series of six webinars over the course of 2022 will explore a selection of topics related to book promotion and publicity.

Beginning in January 2022, the first webinar will focus on the important topic of Author Branding. Marissa Eigenbrood, Senior Vice President of Smith Publicity, will be leading the webinar, joined by renowned industry partner and personal branding expert Kait LeDonne from Brandwise Media. They will explain why strong branding is so crucial, the components that make up a recognizable and effective brand, as well as tips for authors on building and implementing their unique author brand for maximum impact.

Other author webinar topics throughout the year will cover everything from the crucial foundational aspects of book marketing campaigns to the latest industry trends and strategies for success in an ever-changing landscape. Alongside a Smith Publicity executive, each webinar will feature a special guest who is a highly respected and accomplished professional in their field, making for a truly robust discussion. Participants will be able to send their questions in beforeand also duringthe webinar, and they will be addressed during an informative Q&A period at the end of the session.

Were thrilled to be presenting this webinar series to share our expertise, and have other top professionals from the industry weigh in on the book marketing topics were most frequently asked about, Eigenbrood says. Theres never been a more exciting time to be an author, and we anticipate this informative series will help us achieve what has always been our main objective  to make good things happen for authors.

Smith Publicity has long been regarded as leading experts when it comes to all things literary marketing. By combining their knowledge with that of the industrys top minds spanning a variety of specific topics, they aim to provide actionable takeaways for webinar participants. While every webinar promises to be engaging and conversational in nature, each session will offer fresh information and unique value.

Details on how to participate will be available shortly. Those subscribed to the Smith Publicity Power Book Publicity newsletter and following along on the companys social media channels will be the first to learn when registration opens.

Smith Publicity will celebrate their 25th year in business in 2022.

Smith Publicity is the most prolific book marketing firm in the publishing industry today, having worked with and promoted more than 4,000 authors and books since 1997. The Smith team creates campaigns for authors from first-time self-published authors to New York Times bestsellers. Its continuing success in a wide range of genres is a tribute to the firms uniqueness and ability to boldly and ingeniously innovate. http://www.SmithPublicity.com  info@smithpublicity.com
It is a real pleasure to welcome Shanon and the DiSorbo Consulting team into the Trinity family. With a shared culture of client responsiveness and regulatory knowledge, we are committed to meeting our clients EHS challenges and creating new opportunities for our employees.

Trinity Consultants, Inc. (Trinity), an international EHS, engineering, and science consulting firm, announces the acquisition of DiSorbo Consulting, LLC (DiSorbo), an environmental consultancy located in Houston and Austin, Texas. Founded in 2013, DiSorbo provides multi-media environmental support to facilities in the chemical, refining, and terminals sectors.

Led by Founder Shanon DiSorbo and leadership team Neal Nygaard, Randy Parmley, Joe Kupper, and Valerie DiSorbo, the DiSorbo staff of over 30 consultants is largely focused on providing air quality support to complex industrial facilities throughout the Texas Gulf region. Built on a foundation of deep technical expertise with a client-first focus, the addition of DiSorbo strengthens Trinitys market leading position in air quality consulting.

Shishir Mohan, Trinitys Managing Director for the Gulf Coast, will oversee the combined organization. Commenting on the acquisition, he said, It is a real pleasure to welcome Shanon and the DiSorbo Consulting team into the Trinity family. With a shared culture of client responsiveness and regulatory knowledge, we are committed to meeting our clients EHS challenges and creating new opportunities for our employees.

Shanon DiSorbo remarked, Its an honor and privilege for DiSorbo to join Trinity. Together, we will serve our clients even better for years to come. I look forward to getting to know our new colleagues and working together. The DiSorbo leadership team will remain in place, and the teams will merge offices both in Houston and Austin.

AEC Advisors advised DiSorbo Consulting on its sale to Trinity Consultants.

Background on Trinity Consultants

Founded in 1974, Trinity Consultants helps organizations overcome complex, mission-critical challenges in EHS, engineering, and science through expertise in consulting, technology, training, and staffing. With offices across the U.S. and in Canada, the U.K., Ireland, China, and Australia, Trinity supports clients across a broad range of sectors including industrial, energy, manufacturing, mining, life sciences, and commercial/institutional. Trinity clients achieve compliance with applicable regulations, international standards, and company specifications, enabling them to avoid business disruption, speed products to market, address stakeholder concerns, and achieve business objectives.
Having worked with Ms. Anthony for a number of years, Im confident she will make an excellent addition to our Executive Leadership Team, said Jonathan R. Eckman, director of the VA Maryland Health Care System.

The VA Maryland Health Care System, which includes the Baltimore, Loch Raven and Perry Point VA Medical Centers and five VA outpatient clinics located throughout the state, has announced that Kelley W. Anthony, LCSW-C, has been appointed as the assistant director effective December 5, 2021. She previously served as the Executive Assistant to the Associate Director for Finance at the VA Maryland Health Care System since July 2019.

As the assistant director, Anthony leads the day-to-day operations of Consumer Relations, Police, and Supply Chain Management Services, as well as the Emergency Management and Safety & Occupational Health Offices for the health care system. Her primary areas of responsibility include planning, coordinating and evaluating the operations of these services.

Having worked with Ms. Anthony for a number of years, Im confident she will make an excellent addition to our Executive Leadership Team, said Jonathan R. Eckman, director of the VA Maryland Health Care System. Her outstanding leadership skills, combined with her incredible commitment to serving the needs of veterans, make her a valuable asset to our organization.

Anthony joined the VA Maryland Health Care System in December 2007 as a Residential & Domiciliary Care social worker at the Perry Point VA Medical Center. In October 2012, she was promoted to the role of Housing and Urban Development-VA Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) coordinator for the VA Maryland Health Care System and assisted in leading a program that was responsible for housing more than 1,100 formerly homeless veterans throughout the state.

Prior to her career with the VA Maryland Health Care System, Anthony served in the United States Army from July 1997 to July 2001 in the 3rd Armored Calvary Unit in Fort Carson, Colorado.

Im excited for this opportunity to lead our employees, Anthony said. The mission mindset is simple: Becoming the provider of choice for our nations veterans by building trust, fostering collaborative care environments and delivering premier reliable health care.

Anthony received a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work from the University of Maryland Baltimore County, and Master of Social Work from the University of Maryland School of Social Work. She graduated from VAs Leadership Development Institute in 2009 and received her Green Belt and Yellow Belt Certifications in 2012. She is also a member of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW).

Anthony lives with her family in Forest Hill, Maryland.

The VA Maryland Health Care System (VAMHCS) provides a broad spectrum of medical, surgical, rehabilitative, mental health and outpatient care to veterans at three medical centers and five outpatient clinics located throughout the state. More than 52,000 veterans from various generations receive care from VAMHCS annually. Nationally recognized for its state-of-the-art technology and quality patient care, VAMHCS is proud of its reputation as a leader in veterans health care, research and education. It costs nothing for veterans to enroll for health care with the VA Maryland Health Care System and it could be one of the more important things a veteran can do. To enroll for VA health care, interested veterans can call 877-222-8387 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., or they can visit http://www.va.gov and clinic on Apply now for VA health care.
As of December 2021, a record 82.4 million people have been forced to flee their homes to escape war, violence, or persecution (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, 2021). Increasing numbers of such refugees pose challenges that psychological science can help to answer, including those related to the morality of war. But one of the most immediate challenges is how to adequately support refugees as they enter a new country, such as through integration, support for trauma recovery, or other interventions. Heres a look at some recent research (20172021) on refugee integration and well-being from Psychological Science, Clinical Psychological Science, and Perspectives on Psychological Science.

Resourceful Actors, Not Weak Victims: Reframing Refugees Stigmatized Identity Enhances Long-Term Academic Engagement

Christina A. Bauer, Raphael Boemelburg, and Gregory M. Walton (2021)

How refugees see themselves might play a role in how well they integrate in receiving countries and how well they succeed in academia. Narratives that emphasize refugees strength, resourcefulness, and ability to thrive might counteract stigmatizing narratives that associate refugees identities with victimization and weakness and could serve as efficient interventions to boost their academic achievements.

Bauer and colleagues developed a brief (approximately 10-minute) intervention aimed at reframing refugees identities. Middle Eastern refugees living in Europe read and reflected on quotes that characterized refugees as strong and resourceful, countering default stigmatizing representations. When participants were asked to imagine attending a university, those who completed the intervention, compared with a control activity, reported more confidence in their ability to succeed and more willingness to take on difficult academic exercises. The intervention also boosted both Middle Eastern and African refugees engagement in real online university courses. Thus, highlighting how refugees identities constitute a source of strength and resilience can empower them to pursue existing opportunities and make progress in their lives.

Mindfulness-Based Trauma Recovery for Refugees (MBTR-R): Randomized Waitlist-Control Evidence of Efficacy and Safety

Anna Aizik-Reebs, Kim Yuval, Yuval Hadash, Solomon Gebreyohans Gebremariam, and Amit Bernstein (2021)

Following traumatic events and chronic stressors, refugees and asylum seekers often suffer from trauma- and stress-related mental health problems. Aizik-Reebs and colleagues developed a mindfulness-based group intervention for refugees and asylum seekers that appears to improve trauma recovery and mental health.

The researchers tested a sample of 158 Eritrean asylum seekers who had experienced severe trauma and chronic postmigration stress. One group of participants went through 9 weeks of mindfulness-based trauma recovery for refugees (MBTR-R); another group was put on a waiting list for the intervention. The group that completed the intervention showed reduced rates and less severe symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety immediately afterward and at a 5-week follow-up.

Ideological Extremism Among Syrian Refugees Is Negatively Related to Intentions to Migrate to the West

Katarzyna Jasko, David Webber, Erica Molinario, Arie W. Kruglanski, and Katherine Touchton-Leonard (2021)

Westerners often fear that refugee immigrants might endorse ideologically extreme views or harbor negative sentiment toward the West. However, these fears appear to be unfounded.

Jasko and colleagues surveyed 1,000 Syrian refugees residing in Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, and Iraq. Contrary to stereotypes held by some Westerners, most refugees did not intend to emigrate to Western countries, and those most interested in doing so were the least likely to endorse Islamist extremism or to have negative sentiments toward the West. The more ideologically extreme refugees said they would rather move back to their home country than move to the West.

Psychological Antecedents of Refugee Integration (PARI)

Gerald Echterhoff, Jens H. Hellmann, Mitja D. Back, Joscha Kartner, Nexhmedin Morina, and Guido Hertel (2020)



How can refugees be successfully integrated in receiving countries? One first step to answering this challenge is understanding psychosocial barriers to integration among refugees and residents in receiving countries, as well the needs and concerns of both groups. Echterhoff and colleagues developed a model of the psychological factors that are critical for successful integration of refugeesPsychological Antecedents of Refugee Integration, or PARI for short.

The researchers propose that perceptions of forcedness (i.e., coercion and loss of control) and potential suffering during migration activate processes relevant to refugee integration among refugees and residents alike. For example, refugees memories of forcedness can interfere with integration-related activities, and residents perceptions of forcedness may enhance empathy with refugees but also magnify feelings of threat.

Support for Resettling Refugees: The Role of Fixed Versus Growth Mind-Sets

Shilpa Madan, Shankha Basu, Aneeta Rattan, and Krishna Savani (2019)

What distinguishes individuals who support resettling refugees in their own countries from those who oppose it? It appears to depend in part on their beliefs in individual characteristics as either malleable (i.e., a growth mind-set) or fixed (i.e., a fixed mind-set).

Across six experiments, Madan and colleagues showed that individuals with a growth mind-set were more likely than individuals with a fixed mind-set to support their countrys acceptance of refugees. This was true for individuals from the United States and from the United Kingdom. All participants read a text that supported either a growth or a fixed mind-set, and their attitudes toward refugee resettlement depended on which text they read. This indicates that mind-set can be manipulated and may influence support for policies regarding refugees resettlement, which could affect the lives of people who seek asylum.

After Aylan Kurdi: How Tweeting About Death, Threat, and Harm Predict Increased Expressions of Solidarity With Refugees Over Time

Laura G. E. Smith, Craig McGarty, and Emma F. Thomas (2018)

In 2015, 3-year-old Alan Kurdi drowned in the Mediterranean Sea while trying to escape from Syria to the European Union. A photo of the dead boy made global headlines and was shared on social media platforms, allowing researchers to study how engagement with this type of imagery could influence solidarity with refugees.

Smith and colleagues analyzed a total of 41,253 tweets posted either 1 week before the images emerged, the week they emerged, or 10 weeks afterward. Tweeting about Kurdi was associated with prorefugee sentiment 10 weeks later, a link that was mediated by discussions of threat to refugees (as opposed to threat posed by refugees). These results highlight how communication on social media can promote support for social change and solidarity with refugees over time.

Replicability and Generalizability of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Networks: A Cross-Cultural Multisite Study of PTSD Symptoms in Four Trauma Patient Samples

Eiko I. Fried, Marloes B. Eidhof, Sabina Palic, Giulio Costantini, Hilde M. Huisman-van Dijk, Claudi L. H. Bockting, Iris Engelhard, Cherie Armour, Anni B. S. Nielsen, and Karen-Inge Karstoft (2018)

What can network-model studies of clinical disorders tell us about posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in refugees who have experienced trauma? Fried and colleagues examined four large samples of patients who had experienced trauma. These Dutch and Danish samples included victims of war and other violence, soldiers, police officers, and refugees from Central Asia and the Middle East, Southeast and Eastern Europe, and East Africa.

Network models revealed some consistent connections across the samples, such as a strong connection between nightmares and sleep problems and a moderate connection between detachment and emotional numbing. However, refugees had the most severe symptomatology. Fried and colleagues acknowledge the need for further research addressing how aspects of patients home cultures might impact the expression of PTSD.

Exploring the Potential Distinction Between Continuous Traumatic Stress and Posttraumatic Stress in an East African Refugee Sample

Tobias Hecker, Herbert E. Ainamani, Katharin Hermenau, Eva Haefele, and Thomas Elbert (2017)

The term continuous traumatic stress was coined to describe exposure to life threats with no foreseeable end experienced by people living in unsafe conditions. When removed from such conditions, sufferers can experience a decrease in posttraumatic stressor, on the contrary, they may experience continued symptoms.

Hecker and colleagues tested refugees from the Democratic Republic of the Congo who were living in a refugee camp in Uganda. The researchers conducted semistructured interviews assessing lifetime exposure to potentially traumatizing events, current exposure to family and community violence, concerns about the recurrence of these events, and posttraumatic stress symptoms. Results indicated a link between current exposure to violence and concerns about recurring violence among refugees who had experienced a decrease in symptoms but not for those who experienced continued symptoms.

Remembering and Responding to Distressing Autobiographical Memories: Exploring Risk and Intervention Targets for Posttraumatic Stress in Traumatized Refugees

Anna Reebs, Kim Yuval, and Amit Bernstein (2017)

The severity of refugees posttraumatic stress (PTS) can influence how they respond to the recollection of traumatic experiences, but the perspective they adopt during such recollections might also affect how they cope with those memories.

Reebs and colleagues examined distress and avoidance in response to emotional memories in traumatized Sudanese refugees and asylum seekers living in Israel. The researchers assessed PTS severity before participants were asked to adopt a self-immersed perspective or a self-distanced perspective while recalling a time during which they had experienced profound sadness or fear. After the memory task, participants reported their current level of emotional distress and avoidance in response to the memory.

PTS severity predicted emotional reactivity but not avoidance in response to remembering the distressing autobiographical memory. Additionally, those who took a self-immersed perspective experienced less avoidance but not less emotional reactivity in response to the distressing memory than those who took a self-distanced perspective. These findings suggest considering the impact of remembering styles when evaluating treatment for psychopathology in refugees.

Impact of Cognitive Reappraisal on Negative Affect, Heart Rate, and Intrusive Memories in Traumatized Refugees

Angela Nickerson, Benjamin Garber, Belinda J. Liddell, Brett T. Litz, Stefan G. Hofmann, Anu Asnaani, Ola Ahmed, Jessica Cheung, Ly Huynh, Rosanna Pajak, and Richard A. Bryant (2017)

Cognitive reappraisalchanging how one thinks about a situation to alter its emotional impactis a promising strategy for managing emotional responses to traumatic events. Nickerson and colleagues explored the use of cognitive reappraisal by refugee populations.

The researchers assessed 80 refugees and asylum seekers living in Australia who had come from countries including Iran, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Iraq, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. They measured refugees trauma exposure, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, trait (i.e., stable or characteristic) suppression of internal experiences, and trait reappraisal. The participants then had their heart rates monitored while they completed a task in which they used either reappraisal or suppression to manage the emotions elicited by trauma-related images.

The refugees completed measures of negative affect before, immediately after, and 2 days after viewing the images. Participants with high levels of PTSD symptoms who used reappraisal in the task reported fewer memory-related intrusions 2 days later and less negative affect than those who used suppression. However, participants with lower trait suppression benefited the most from using reappraisal. These results suggest that cognitive reappraisal may help to reduce intrusive memories in refugees with PTSD, but such training may have to be adapted for those with a preexisting tendency toward suppression.
After a six-month national search, the Loft literary center in Minneapolis has found its next executive director in its own neighborhood. Arleta Little has been named executive director of the 47-year-old literary organization, which is housed in the Open Book building complex dedicated to the literary arts on the edge of downtown Minneapolis. Little, who was described in a release as a local and national champion for increasing equity and justice in philanthropy, arts previously served at the McKnight Foundation  whose offices are located a few blocks away from Open Book -- as an arts & culture program officer and director of artist fellowships.

The Loft is committed to doing the deep work of becoming an antiracist organization and leader in Minnesota and the country, noted Loft board chair Mike Meyer, Arleta is the strong and compassionate leader to get us there. Her strategic vision, which includes strengthening our programming and connecting with new communities, is crucial to acting on that promise.

Im very much a collaborative leader, Little told PW.I intend to get into the community and have conversations there about what the next chapter for the Loft will look like. Getting out of the building, centering the community will be a big priority.

Little replaces Britt Udesen, who left the Loft in May after six years to move back to Idaho and serve as the first executive director of City of Good, a nonprofit founded in 2020 to address food insecurity in Boise. Little will assume her responsibilities full-time in March 2022; in the meantime, managing director Beth Schoeppler will continue to serve as interim director on a part-time basis and Little will work on specific strategic projects with the 14 Loft staff members. Her last day at McKnight is this Friday.

For the past eight years, according to the release, Little has directed the McKnight Artist Fellowships, a $3 million program providing support for Minnesota artists and culture bearers across 15 creative disciplines. During her tenure there, she grew and diversified McKnights fellowships program; built a strong community with McKnights fellowships program partners, including the Loft; advanced racial equity within McKnights arts team and organization-wide as well as in coalition with philanthropic and arts partners; and managed relationships and made funding recommendations each year for $9 million in grants to nearly 200 organizations.

Previously, Little served as the executive director of the Givens Foundation for African American Literature in Minneapolis and also worked for more than 15 years as an organizational development consultant providing strategic planning, program evaluation and grant writing services to Minnesota organizations.

A poet and a writer, Little's essay, "Life and Death in the North Star State," recently was published in Water-Stone Review and nominated for a 2022 Pushcart Prize. Her work is included in several recent compilations: We Are Meant to Rise: Voices for Justice from Minneapolis to the World; This Was 2020: Minnesotans Write About Pandemics and Social Justice in a Historic Year; and Blues Vision: African American Writing From Minnesota.

Artists are my tribe, Little noted while explaining to PW why she applied for the Loft position, I am a practicing artist and a writer of color; what this opportunity at the Loft does is allow me to bring my service skills and my life skills and merge them with my passion for the arts.
By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 12/09/2021



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Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade.

star Tarik Myers has denied his estranged wife Hazel Cagalitan 's claims that he abused her mentally and emotionally.Shortly after Tarik, 46, revealed Tuesday on Instagram Stories that Hazel, 28, no longer lives with him and she's allegedly going back to the Philippines, Hazel changed her Instagram bio into a strongly-worded message."A real man won't abuse his women mentally & emotionally. [A] real man won't run his mouth [on] social media," Hazel wrote at the top of her profile on Wednesday.Hazel added the truth will "prevail" and she's telling the "facts."Tarik posted a screenshot of Hazel's Instagram profile on Wednesday and argued in a since-deleted post, "Not true and you know it. I still will not bash you or air out your personal life," according to Us Weekly.Hazel also shared inspirational and spiritual posts from other Instagram pages on her Instagram Stories."Wrap yourself with positivity even in the darkest situation," read one quote Hazel re-posted from @emotionally.perfect.Another post borrowed from @positivewomen0 read, "Never feel guilty for doing what's best for you," before suggesting a person should leave a relationship if it does not provide a major source of happiness.Citing @thegoodquote, Hazel revealed, "You can be a kind person with a good heart and still tell people to f-ck off when needed."And Hazel also posted three advice quotes provided by @wokespiritual."Work at being calm about everything. It will allow your mind to find solutions. Calmness is also a state of trust. Instead of overthinking and overreacting, you just surrender for that moment and allow yourself to receive guidance for what doesn't make sense," read one of the posts."You can't always be nice. That's how people take advantage of you. Sometimes you have to set boundaries," Hazel re-posted.Hazel also shared, "A wise woman once said, 'Bees don't waste their time explaining to flies that honey is better than sh-t.' Read that again."And on Thursday, Hazel uploaded the following quote from @quotes_1820, "I'm like the moon, alone. Full of imperfection but still trying to shine with a smile."Tarik -- who asked Hazel to "use [her] head" in his Tuesday split announcement and requested fans don't "attack her or harass her" online -- initially starred on Season 2 of : Before the 90 Days with Hazel, who is from the Philippines.The series showed Tarik attempting to court a seemingly shy and reserved woman with a young son, Harrey, as well as win over her family's approval.At the time 's eighth season filmed in 2020, Tarik and Hazel had been together for two years and Hazel finally got approved for a K-1 visa.Once Hazel moved to America to be with her man, she and Tarik experienced their fair share of ups and downs.Hazel, who admittedly wanted a girlfriend on the side of her relationship with Tarik, got very jealous of a woman named Minty from Thailand once the couple invited her into their bed.Hazel called off the love triangle and asked Tarik never to communicate with Minty again, but Tarik apparently slipped up on more than one occasion and so Hazel lost trust in him.However, Tarik and Hazel had love at the core of their relationship and so they decided to get married amid the coronavirus pandemic in June 2020.Tarik and Hazel's small wedding ceremony aired the following year on 's eighth season in March 2021.Hazel and Tarik continued to post sweet Instagram messages and photos of each other for months after tying the knot, and so it appears the pair split some time after September 2021.On September 6, for instance, Tarik had posted about "Tarzel" and written, "Your haters are really your friends." Based on some of the post's comments, Tarik had led his followers to believe he and Hazel were still together at the time.And back in late July, Tarik had posted a video of Hazel and himself dancing and having fun at a concert.Tarik had also gushed about Hazel on June 6, which marked the couple's one-year wedding anniversary."[Four] years ago, I did the unthinkable. A year ago today, I made the best decision of my life. It seems like yesterday. Hazel arrived 2 weeks before the governor shut Virginia down bc of Covid. She has rolled with every punch the pandemic has thrown us," Tarik wrote at the time.Tarik had called Hazel "an incredible, thoughtful, real, beautiful soul," and continued, "Hazel has never clambered for TV cameras or the spotlight. Stays out of the '90' social media sewer blogs no matter how much a response is warranted."Tarik also noted how Hazel had made his nine-year-old daughter's life "exponentially" better."No one has to know why we chose each other but us," Tarik had shared. "Happy 1st Anniversary Mrs. Myers. #Tarzel."Meanwhile, Hazel's last post with Tarik dates back to June 25, when the pair had posed for a photo with a friend and flashed peace signs at the camera.Want more spoilers or couples updates? Click here to visit our homepage!
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Italian Filmmaker Lina Wertmuller, who was the first woman to be nominated for Best Director at the Oscars, died Thursday at the age of 93.

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The Italian Film Archive confirmed Wertmuller's death to The Hollywood Reporter. A cause of death was not disclosed.

Deadline also confirmed her death, citing Italian publication La Republica. Wertmuller died in her home in Rome.

The director was best known for her films Seven Beauties, Swept Away, The Seduction of Mimi and more. Actor Giancarlo Giannini starred in all three films and frequently worked with Wertmuller.

Seven Beauties, from 1975, was nominated for four Oscars including Best Director, Best Foreign Language Film, Best Actor for Giannini and Best Original Screenplay, also for Wertmuller.

Wertmuller wrote and made her directorial debut with 1963's The Lizards. Other films she made include Let's Talk About Men, Love and Anarchy, All Screwed Up, her English-language debut A Night Full of Rain, Blood Feud, A Joke of Destiny, Crystal or Ash, Fire or Wind, as long as It's Love, Ciao Professore! and many more.

Wertmuller received an honorary Oscar in 2019 and was honored with the 2,679th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Rob McElhenney discussed his injured his foot and how he started his comedy series It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia while appearing on Jimmy Kimmel Live.

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McElhenney walked onto Kimmel's set on Wednesday wearing a cast and using a cane. The actor suffered tissue damage and a few torn ligaments on his right foot over Thanksgiving weekend after he fell down a step.

"I felt pain like I had never felt before and I collapsed onto the ground. I was dry heaving because I was like almost about ready to throw up but, I was also laughing because it was really funny," McElhenney said.

McElhenney decided to try and shake off any pain he felt and didn't go the hospital right away despite pleas from his wife and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia co-star Kaitlin Olson. McElhenney then went to the hospital the next morning and was shocked to see the ER was empty.

The 44-year-old said the nurse told him it would soon crowd up, as people wait until Sunday afternoons to visit the hospital as they attempt to shake off the pain like he did.

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia has started Season 15 on FXX, making it the longest running, live-action sitcom of all time.

McElhenney described how he initially intend for Danny DeVito to join the cast but that a network executive demanded he add a cast member with some star power. DeVito, after joining, was then a little wary of the series.

"He had built into his contract that he would only work for 10 days out of the entire season and we were like, 'Okay I guess we can figure this out.' And he only did that to protect himself against us being clowns," McElhenney said.

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"I think by like the fourth day he was like well, these guys are clowns, but like the good kind of clowns," he continued.
Bloom Farms says it should be third cannabis dispensary
Editors Note The Red & Black has published two versions of this article, one in English and one in Spanish. The Red & Black ha publicado dos versiones de este articulo, un en ingles y un en espanol.

As part of The Red & Blacks health news coverage, we are publishing weekly reports on news relating to COVID-19 and its recent statistics.

Major updates

The first case of the omicron variant was detected in Georgia on Sunday. More cases are predicted to arise. Research is currently being conducted to find out the approximate vaccine efficacy against this new variant. This variant may be more transmissible and has more spike mutations than the delta variant. Until more research is completed, it is advised that individuals avoid crowded areas, wear their masks, wash their hands and get vaccinated. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has highly recommended that everyone eligible to get a booster shot, do so.

According to The New York Times, Pfizer reported that a booster dose of its coronavirus vaccine provides considerable protection against the virus's fast-spreading omicron variant.

According to USA Today, the number of new cases in the United States has risen from about 95,000 per day on Nov. 22 to almost 119,000 per day this week, with hospitalizations up 25% from a month earlier. The delta variant is responsible for the majority of all the increases, however, omicron has been verified in at least 19 states and is expected to spread much more.

COVID-19 cases increased at the University of Georgia compared to last week, according to the universitys reporting system. UGA reported 29 new cases over the week of Nov. 25-Dec. 5, compared to the 19 last week. The surveillance testing positivity rate decreased this week to 0.5%.

Due to fewer people wearing masks, respiratory illnesses such as influenza and respiratory syncytial virus have been spreading across the nation.

The deadline for University of Georgia employees covered by the federal Executive Order 14042 to be vaccinated is Jan. 4, 2022. This extension will give UGA's covered contractor employees additional time to get vaccinated. Some covered contractor employees have been alerted, according to the ArchNews email, while others are still being identified and notified.

Vaccination appointments can be scheduled here. Due to vaccination status being verified on-site, individuals should bring their original vaccine card to the appointment.

Employees covered by this policy include those who work on or in connection with a federal contract, or who work in a covered contractor workplace.

Georgias hospitals have about 17% of their intensive care unit beds left for sick patients. From Nov. 28-Dec. 4, nearly all of COVID-19 cases in the southeastern U.S. were delta variant cases, according to the CDC.

The majority of people hospitalized with COVID-19 are unvaccinated.

Data breakdown: University of Georgia

The university conducted 373 surveillance tests during the week of Nov. 29 compared to the 282 tests last week.

Of the total positive cases this week, eight of them belonged to employees and 21 belonged to students.

There were three positive tests at the University Health Center. There were two positive tests through UGA surveillance testing, two positive tests from UGA community members reporting from testing sites in Athens, and 22 positive tests from UGA community members reporting from other testing sites.

Students that test positive for COVID-19 off-campus are required to report it through DawgCheck, UGAs monitoring tool. Because students may have tested positive off-campus and not reported it, the actual number of COVID-19 cases in the UGA community may be higher.

For the week of Nov. 29-Dec. 5, the UHC administered 353 vaccines, a significant increase from the 164 administered last week. Cumulatively, the UHC has administered 31,195 vaccines.

Students and faculty may book a vaccine appointment through the UHC Vaccine Portal or get vaccinated at any University System of Georgia school. Students may also get tested for COVID-19 at the UHC with walk-in appointments.

Data breakdown: Athens-Clarke County

From Dec. 3-8, the county reported 78 new confirmed cases, compared to 52 cases from Nov. 27-Dec. 2, according to the Georgia Department of Public Health. The countys seven-day average positivity rate was 4.8%. The World Health Organization recommends communities maintain a positivity rate below 5%.

This week, ACC reported one confirmed COVID-19 death.

According to the Georgia Geospatial Information Office, the number of current hospitalizations in Region E  which includes ACC and several surrounding counties  increased last week. On Dec. 8 there were 43 hospitalized COVID-19 patients, compared to 34 on Dec. 3.

According to the Georgia DPH, about 47% of the county is fully vaccinated.

Data breakdown: Georgia

Statewide, the weekly rate of new confirmed COVID-19 cases has increased.

According to the DPH, Georgia reported 8,186 confirmed COVID-19 cases between Dec. 3-8. This is an increase of about 1,500 from the 6,717 cases between Nov. 27-Dec. 2. The states seven-day average positivity rate on Dec. 8 was 4.5%.

The number of confirmed deaths in the state stayed similar. Georgia recorded 116 confirmed COVID-19 deaths between Dec. 3-8, compared to the 115 between Nov. 27-Dec. 2.

According to the DPH, approximately 5.4 million Georgians have been fully vaccinated, or about 52% of the state. In comparison, the U.S. has a current full vaccination rate of 60%. Approximately 6.1 million Georgians, or 59% of the state, have received at least one dose of the vaccine.

The CDC has also released guidelines advising vaccinated individuals to still wear masks when in public, indoor settings.
Brattleboro, VT (05301)

Today

A few snow showers scattered about the area this morning, otherwise a good deal of clouds. Some sleet or freezing rain possible. High 41F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow 30%..

Tonight

Mostly cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. Low 29F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph.
DANBURY  Nuvance Health plans to prioritize improving patient access and various services, including digital health and primary and outpatient care, over the next year.

Officials with the health system, which includes Danbury, New Milford and Sharon hospitals, as well as five others in Connecticut and New York, presented Nuvances strategic plan on Tuesday evening during an annual community forum.

We are very much about access, said Jean Ahn, chief strategy officer at Nuvance. How do we provide access to our patients and our communities for the care they need?

The health system has made significant investments to do so, she said.

This includes expanding roles for two health care professionals who run the cancer institute and hiring new employees, including special care physicians, a chief physician executive and a chief of cardiac surgery, said Sharon Adams, president of Danbury and New Milford hospitals.

Danbury Hospital is planning a reimagined cardiac catheterization lab, while a new cardiac rehabilitation center is in the works for New Milford Hospital, she said.

Nuvance began offering a clinical trial for patients with early Parkinsons disease and offers a program for COVID-19 patients who have lingering symptoms long after testing positive, Adams said. Through the COVID program, patients speak virtually with a physician, who identifies risk factors and evaluates their symptoms and medical history.

That will all be reviewed and then have some recommendations for symptom management or provide some referrals you may need for additional diagnostic testing and specialty care, Adams said.

Key goals

Digital health, which became more critical during the coronavirus pandemic, is an exciting development, Ahn said. Nuvance wants to make to improve those capabilities and enhance care outside of traditional settings, she said.

We recognize care is moving more and more outside of the walls of the hospital into outpatient and ambulatory environments, she said.

The health system said its focused on bettering primary care, too. This includes maintain continuity of care for patients.

We want to make sure that we have access in terms of being able to see new patients, as well as strengthening our primary care physician base, Ahn said. That involves making sure we are working toward physician wellness and reduction of burnout, as well as optimization of that infrastructure.

These goals comes about 21/2 years after the Western Connecticut Health Network merged with three hospitals in New York to form Nuvance Health. Due the merger, an independent monitor conducts a semi-annual review for the Connecticut Office of Health Strategy to ensure Nuvance abides by terms of the agreement.

The health system met all conditions of the agreement in the fifth review, according to the independent monitor. This includes offering culturally and linguistically appropriate services, providing cost-savings reports, keeping charity care and indigent care policies, and maintaining sufficient obstetrics and gynecology physician staffing.

Nuvance updated to a systemwide charity and indigent care policy, but informed the state and independent monitor as required. The monitors said they would watch to ensure OB/GYN staffing was sufficient after Nuvance announced plans in September to close its labor and delivery unit in Sharon over the next several months.

With New Milford Hospital celebrating its 100th anniversary and Danbury Hospital marking more than 130 years, Ahn said the strategic plan is meant to help the health system to be around for the next 100 years in a very sustainable way, such that we can take care of our patients and our communities for all the services they may need within the walls of our Nuvance Health health system
A Bridgeport federal judge sentenced a Bloomfield man to more than seven years in prison Wednesday for trafficking heroin, according federal prosecutors.

The sentence comes from 63-year-old Danny Rhodes involvement in a Hartford area narcotics trafficking operation. The operation used U.S. mail to ship packages full of drugs and profits, according to Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut Leonard Boyle.

Rhodes, as well as Neliobet DeJesus, distributed the narcotics in the area, Boyles office said.

From late 2018 to early 2019, investigators made controlled purchases of nearly 1.7 kilograms of heroin from Rhodes, who is also known as Big D.

Boyles office said Rhodes allegedly worked with Israel Mendoza, who is also known as D-Nice. Mendoza allegedly supplied Michael Copeland, of Bloomfield, with large quantities of cocaine. Copeland then mailed packages containing cash to people in California.

In September and October 2018, U.S. Postal Inspectors in California seized two packages that each contained $13,000 in cash. Investigators later identified dozens of additional packages connected to the operation that are suspected to have contained narcotics and drug proceeds, Boyles office said.

Rhodes has been convicted of numerous felonies, including a federal firearm conviction that resulted in a 10-year prison sentence, Boyles office said.

Rhodes was arrested Nov. 13, 2019, and has been in custody since. On May 21 he pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute and distribution of heroin.

A federal judge in Bridgeport sentenced Rhodes to 87 months in prison, or more than seven years, that will be followed by three years of supervised release.

Copeland and DeJesus have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing. Law enforcement is still looking for Mendoza, who last lived in Reading, Pa.

liz.hardaway@hearst.com
COCONUT ISLAND, Hawaii (AP)  On a moonless summer night in Hawaii, krill, fish and crabs swirl through a beam of light as two researchers peer into the water above a vibrant reef.

Minutes later, like clockwork, they see eggs and sperm from spawning coral drifting past their boat. They scoop up the fishy-smelling blobs and put them in test tubes.

In this Darwinian experiment, the scientists are trying to speed up corals evolutionary clock to breed super corals that can better withstand the impacts of global warming.

For the past five years, the researchers have been conducting experiments to prove their theories would work. Now, they're getting ready to plant laboratory-raised corals in the ocean to see how they survive in nature.

Assisted evolution started out as this kind of crazy idea that you could actually help something change and allow that to survive better because it is changing, said Kira Hughes, a University of Hawaii researcher and the project's manager.

SPEEDING UP NATURE

Researchers tested three methods of making corals more resilient:

 Selective breeding that carries on desirable traits from parents.

 Acclimation that conditions corals to tolerate heat by exposing them to increasing temperatures.

 And modifying the algae that give corals essential nutrients.

Hughes said the methods all have proven successful in the lab.

And while some other scientists worried this is meddling with nature, Hughes said the rapidly warming planet leaves no other options. We have to intervene in order to make a change for coral reefs to survive into the future, she said.

When ocean temperatures rise, coral releases its symbiotic algae that supply nutrients and impart its vibrant colors. The coral turns white  a process called bleaching  and can quickly become sick and die.

For more than a decade, scientists have been observing corals that have survived bleaching, even when others have died on the same reef.

So, researchers are focusing on those hardy survivors, hoping to enhance their heat tolerance. And they found selective breeding held the most promise for Hawaii's reefs.

Corals are threatened worldwide by a lot of stressors, but increasing temperatures are probably the most severe, said Crawford Drury, chief scientist at Hawaiis Coral Resilience Lab. And so thats what our focus is on, working with parents that are really thermally tolerant.

A NOVEL IDEA

In 2015, Ruth Gates, who launched the resilience lab, and Madeleine van Oppen of the Australian Institute of Marine Science published a paper on assisted evolution during one of the world's worst bleaching events.

The scientists proposed bringing corals into a lab to help them evolve into more heat-tolerant animals. And the idea attracted Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, who funded the first phase of research and whose foundation still supports the program.

Weve given (coral) experiences that we think are going to raise their ability to survive, Gates told The Associated Press in a 2015 interview.

Gates, who died of brain cancer in 2018, also said she wanted people to know how intimately reef health is intertwined with human health.

Coral reefs, often called the rainforests of the sea, provide food for humans and marine animals, shoreline protection for coastal communities, jobs for tourist economies and even medicine to treat illnesses such as cancer, arthritis and Alzheimers disease.

A recent report from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and other research organizations concluded bleaching events are the biggest threat to the world's coral reefs. Scientists found that between 2009 and 2018, the world lost about 14% of its coral.

Assisted evolution was not widely accepted when first proposed.

Van Oppen said there were concerns about losing genetic diversity and critics who said the scientists were playing gods by tampering with the reef.

Well, you know, (humans) have already intervened with the reef for very long periods of time, van Oppen said. All were trying to do is to repair the damage.

Rather than editing genes or creating anything unnatural, researchers are just nudging what could already happen in the ocean, she said. We are really focusing first on as local a scale as possible to try and maintain and enhance what is already there."

MILLIONS OF YEARS IN THE MAKING

Still, there are lingering questions.

We have discovered lots of reasons why corals dont bleach," said Steve Palumbi, a marine biologist and professor at Stanford University. Just because you find a coral that isnt bleaching in the field or in the lab doesnt mean its permanently heat tolerant.

Corals have been on Earth for about 250 million years and their genetic code is not fully understood.

This is not the first time any coral on the entire planet has ever been exposed to heat, Palumbi said. So the fact that all corals are not heat resistant tells you ... that theres some disadvantage to it. And if there werent a disadvantage, theyd all be heat resistant.

But Palumbi thinks the assisted evolution work has a valuable place in coral management plans because reefs all over the world are in desperate, desperate, desperate trouble.

The project has gained broad support and spurred research around the world. Scientists in the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, Germany and elsewhere are doing their own coral resilience work. The U.S. government also backs the effort.

Assisted evolution "is really impressive and very consistent with a study that we conducted with the National Academies of Sciences, said Jennifer Koss, the director of NOAA's Coral Reef Conservation Program.

We asked them to gather all the most recent cutting-edge science that was really centered on innovative interventions in coral reef management, Koss said. And certainly, this assisted gene flow fits right in.

MAJOR HURDLES

There are still serious challenges.

Scalability is one. Getting lab-bred corals out into the ocean and having them survive will be hard, especially since reintroduction has to happen on a local level to avoid bringing detrimental biological material from one region to another.

James Guest, a coral ecologist in the United Kingdom, leads a project to show selectively bred corals not only survive longer in warmer water, but can also be successfully reintroduced on a large scale.

Its great if we can do all this stuff in the lab, but we have to show that we can get very large numbers of them out onto the reef in a cost-effective way, Guest said.

Scientists are testing delivery methods, such as using ships to pump young corals into the ocean and deploying small underwater robots to plant coral.

No one is proposing assisted evolution alone will save the worlds reefs. The idea is part of a suite of measures  with proposals ranging from creating shades for coral to pumping cooler deep-ocean water onto reefs that get too warm.

The advantage of planting stronger corals is that after a generation or two, they should spread their traits naturally, without much human intervention.

Over the next several years, the Hawaii scientists will place selectively bred coral back into Kaneohe Bay and observe their behavior. Van Oppen and her colleagues have already put some selectively bred hybrid corals  where the eggs of one species are fertilized by the sperm of another  back on the Great Barrier Reef.

With the world's oceans continuing to warm, scientists say they are up against the clock to save reefs.

All the work we are going to do here, said Hawaii's Drury, is not going to make a difference if we dont wind up addressing climate change on a global, systematic scale.

So really, what were trying to do is buy time.

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This story has been corrected to show that van Oppen's team has planted hybrid corals  not corals with modified symbiotic algae  on the Great Barrier Reef.

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Follow Caleb Jones on Twitter: @CalebAP
Ava Windt leapt into Nicole Segalinis arms when she saw the EMT recently for the first time in over a year. Their relationship goes back to the beginning, literally.

Segalini delivered Ava on a cold March night nearly five years ago. The volunteer first responder  a high school senior at the time  was just months removed from learning how to deliver babies when she got to try the real thing.

That emergency launched a friendship between total strangers that has lasted through Segalinis four years away at college, a major surgery and the pandemic.

Segalini and the Windt family  Ava, big sister Alexa and parents Angela and Paul  reunited recently for dinner so Ava could see the person she knows as the first one to hold me.

It was awesome because thats someone who needs to be in her life forever, Angela Windt said.

Windt didnt know any of this would transpire when she was lying on the wooden bedroom floor of her suburban New Jersey home the night of March 10, 2017.

She just knew her second child was coming, and they wouldnt make it to the hospital.

Segalini and two other emergency medical technicians from the Berkeley Heights Volunteer Rescue Squad arrived and hurried into the room after a police officer outside told them that Windts water had broken.

Segalini began taking Windts vital signs when she glanced down and her eyes grew wide. She saw the babys head.

A mix of nerves and calmness settled in as the teen went to work, with the two EMTs who helped train her watching. First, she reassured the Windts.

I was like, Dont worry, Ive done this before, she said. I just didnt clarify that I had done it with a plastic baby.

Minutes later, Ava was born. Segalini guided her out, clamped the umbilical cord and wrapped her in a blanket. The baby cried immediately.

On the way to the hospital, Windt learned that a teenager had delivered her daughter.

There was not an ounce of fear in her, Windt said.

The family visited the EMTs a week later to drop off cupcakes and say thanks, and their relationship began to grow.

Segalini and her family attended Avas baptism. The three EMTs brought a Build-A-Bear with Ava's name on it to her first birthday.

Segalini started babysitting for the Windts when she came home on break from Lafayette College, and Angela brought her daughters to visit her at school.

In early 2019, after a surgeon removed a benign, softball-size tumor from Segalinis pancreas  something she found doing her own abdominal exam  Angela came over to visit.

Once the pandemic hit, the families stopped getting together in person but traded texts. Windt sent Segalini pictures of the girls. Ava wished her a happy birthday by video.

Then in late October, Segalini stopped by the Windts home for a dinner of cilantro chicken and rice, coincidentally on National First Responders Day.

Segalini graduated from Lafayette in May with a neuroscience degree, and the 23-year-olds life is currently at a post-college crossroad. Shes working for a drug company while she waits to learn whether she got into medical school.

She says she wants to become a complex surgical oncologist after she was allowed to shadow the surgeon who treated her.

Segalini figures she has wanted to be a doctor of some sort since she was around Avas age. While she waits for her future to sort out, Segalini hopes to see the Windts some more.

She thinks the families have clicked in part due to a common interest in medicine. Paul and Angela are both pharmacists working in drug development. Segalinis mom and Angela Windt also have become friends, and Nicole has a big fan in Alexa, 10, who wants to be an EMT.

Alexa was asleep during the first and only baby delivery that Segalini has performed so far, and Ava is too young to fully understand their connection. But she knows enough, her mom says.

We tell Ava that shes a very special person for (her), Windt said. She understands that.

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One Good Thing is a series that highlights individuals whose actions provide glimmers of joy in hard times  stories of people who find a way to make a difference, no matter how small. Read the collection of stories at https://apnews.com/hub/one-good-thing

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Associated Press religion coverage receives support from the Lilly Endowment through The Conversation U.S. The AP is solely responsible for this content.
LONDON (AP)  Tech tools like digital contact tracing apps and artificial intelligence that European governments rolled out to combat COVID-19 failed to play a key role in solving the pandemic and now threaten to make such monitoring widely accepted, a new report shows.

The health surveillance technologies that many European countries deployed after the coronavirus pandemic erupted last year were often adopted without enough transparency, safeguards or democratic debate, according to a report released Thursday by AlgorithmWatch, a nonprofit research group that tracks the impact of AI systems.

Authorities scrambled to develop new technologies or use existing ones to combat the virus's spread. They built digital contact tracing apps to track who infected people had been around and later developed vaccine passports to verify people had received COVID-19 shots in order to travel or get into concerts, restaurants and other businesses. Some used drones and devices to enforce social distancing rules.

Many of these systems used automated decision-making technology, which reduced the complex social challenges posed by COVID-19 to a set of technology issues in need of tech solutions, the Berlin-based nonprofit said.

AlgorithmWatch acknowledged that technology played a role in helping save some lives during the pandemic, such as through the use of artificial intelligence to efficiently distribute vaccines.

But the report's authors said the most worrying trend was how the pandemic was used to further entrench and normalize the surveillance, monitoring, measuring and prediction of an increasing number of daily activities  now essentially including public and personal health purposes."

That's an even larger problem considering the bugs, fakery, data leaks" the group says are present in such tools, and the growing number of uses for information from COVID-fighting tech around the world.

Among the group's recommendations: use an evidence based" approach when rolling out automated decision-making technology and clearly limit its use to avoid mass opaque deployments" that are bad for democracy.

The report documented the false starts and pitfalls that came with rushing out new and untested technology, focusing mainly on European countries.

In the early days of an initial 2020 lockdown, Belgian police planned to use drones to monitor social distancing but dropped the idea after a backlash. There was also a move to use security cameras originally installed to fight serious crime and terrorism in an example of function creep"  where technology is used for a different purpose than originally intended. That brought an expanded risk of a surveillance society," the report said.

Contact tracing apps flourished. Most are based on technology jointly developed by Apple and Google and use Bluetooth signals to anonymously log any smartphones that have been in close, extended contact with a phone belonging to someone who has tested positive.

But uptake was spotty. For example, there's evidence the Cyprus government's tracing app was not widely adopted," the report said.

The Dutch government's CoronaCheck vaccination status app was plagued with glitches. Because of the decentralized and privacy sensitive design, its QR code couldn't be revoked if a user tested positive, allowing continued access to places that required proof of vaccination or a negative test result. It was also possible to manipulate the app to get a fake test result, the report said.

The Dutch health ministry did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.

An Estonian chatbot used on a number of public websites gave incorrect information about COVID-19. In one instance in October, it reported there was no vaccination available against the virus.

Poland's government developed an algorithm to verify the tax residence of entrepreneurs so they could qualify for pandemic financial assistance, but it came under fire for not disclosing details about the algorithm that could be used to assess its effectiveness.
VANCOUVER, Wash. (AP)  A man has been sentenced to the mandatory term of life in prison without the possibility of parole after a judge found his recent attempted murder and arson convictions counted toward a third-strike offense.

The Clark County Superior Court jury returned the guilty verdicts in November against 44-year-old Rick Stone, The Columbian reported. Previously Stone was convicted of arson and kidnapping.

Defense attorney Michele Michalek argued that because the line on the plea form for the kidnapping conviction stating it was a strike offense was crossed out, it shouldnt be considered a strike.

Judge David Gregerson said regardless, kidnapping is a strike offense in Washington.

On July 2, 2020, Vancouver police and firefighters responded to a vehicle fire at St. Johns Mini Mart and found Mitchel Kedalo, 63, suffering from burns, according to an affidavit of probable cause.

Mini-mart surveillance footage showed a man pouring suspected gasoline on Kedalo, who was seated in his car, and then igniting it. Engulfed in flames, Kedalo ran inside where customers helped extinguish him, the affidavit says. He was taken to an Oregon hospital for treatment.

Officers found a discarded jacket that smelled like gasoline in the area. DNA analysis on the jacket came back as one of Stones apparent aliases, court records said.

Investigators learned that Kedalo had gotten into a fight with a man and two women before the fire after Kedalo asked for a cigarette. During Thursdays hearing, Kedalo called the crime a total misunderstanding.

Stone in court said, Lets get this over with. Ive got more important things to do.
NORWALK  Norwalk High School was sent into another lockdown Wednesday after a third threat in eight days was directed at the school, officials said.

Brenda Wilcox Williams, chief of staff and communications for Norwalk Public Schools, said Norwalk High and P-TECH students and staff were directed to remain in their classrooms after being notified of a potential threat involving a gun.

After the lockdown, students were dismissed and all buses had cleared by 2:40 p.m. All after-school activities and programs were canceled. Norwalk police said in a statement Wednesday evening they have enlisted the help of the Federal Bureau of Investigations to determine the source of that days threat, and believe it was related to last weeks similar incident.

Norwalk Mayor Harry Rilling thanked police for responding to and investigating each threat.

Please know we are going to utilize all available resources, including state and federal law enforcement agencies, to determine the origins of these threats. This behavior is dangerous and it will not be tolerated, Rilling said in the statement released by Norwalk police. I am thankful these incidents have been hoaxes, but I understand the stress, anxiety, and potential trauma this is causing our students, staff, families, and community.

Our Community Services Department is working closely with the Norwalk Public Schools to ensure appropriate support systems are in place, Rilling added.

Norwalk police said they were made aware of the threat around 1:35 p.m. and responded to the school, placing the facility on lockdown. Officers searched and cleared the building, after which students were dismissed. Naramake Elementary School and Nathan Hale Middle School, both nearby, were placed in lockout.

Police Chief Thomas Kulhawik said the incident was handled calmly and efficiently through cooperation with staff and students at the school. He said an increased police presence will continue.

Schools Superintendent Alexandra Estrella said the district technology team is working with city police and the FBI to aide in the investigation.

We hope this work leads to identifying the individual responsible for this chain of events, Estrella said in a statement.

The incident marks the latest of several threats at the school that have led to lockdowns amid a wave of similar incidents statewide. The incident on Wednesday marked the third lockdown in a week for Norwalk High.

The two prior incidents occurred on Dec. 1 and Dec. 3, and police deemed them to be hoaxes.

Police released a statement Wednesday evening saying they believe Wednesdays threat is related to last weeks incident.

The district crisis team, including counselors, psychologists and social workers, will continue be available to support students and staff, the superintendent said.

On Wednesday afternoon, police had closed off one lane of travel on County Road, with at least four police cruisers stationed near the school. The road was reopened by around 2:45 p.m.

Despite school officials asking parents to stay away from the area, multiple parents arrived at the school with cars flooding surrounding streets. Students walking home appeared to be carrying their bags and other belongings, in contrast to Friday when they were told to leave their bags behind as police investigated a threat.

The district posted updates about the incident on the public schools Facebook page, including one post that drew dozens of comments from concerned parents and other members of the community. Several suggested students should return to virtual learning as a result of the threats, while others questioned why federal law enforcement had not traced the threats.

One high school senior said she was in class when they heard multiple cop cars and sirens near the school, before they went on lockdown, and her class was directed to get in a corner of the room. The student, who did not want to be identified, said the incident was similar to a lockdown last Friday, but dismissal went a lot faster this time.

Students at nearby Naramake Elementary School and Nathan Hale Middle School were told to remain in their classrooms until dismissal. School officials said all students and staff at those schools were also safe and would dismiss at their regular times.

Police are asking anyone with information about Wednesdays incident to speak with investigators or submit tips anonymously.

Anyone with information should call Norwalk police at 203-854-3000; or submit an anonymous tip online at www.norwalkpd.com or by texting NORWALKPD followed by the relevant tip to TIP411 (847411).
Among the armed personnel who lost their lives in the Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopter crash near the Upper Coonoor region in Tamil Nadu, was Brigadier Lakhwinder Singh Lidder. He was a decorated soldier who worked extensively on tri-services reforms as the defence assistant to India's first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat.

Brig Lidder, a second-generation Army officer was set to be promoted as Major General soon. After serving as a key member in General Rawat's team for more than a year, he was preparing for his next posting.

He is survived by his wife Geetika, who is a school teacher, and a 16-year old daughter.

All about Brigadier LS Lidder

Brigadier Lidders father, Col Mehnga Singh, hailed from Punjab, had moved to Panchkula in 1989 and built a house in Sector 12 while he was still in service. Brigadier Lidder had joined the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla even before the family moved to Panchkula. During his military service, he pursued his education in various schools across the country.

Decorated with the Sena Medal and the Vishisht Seva Medal, Brigadier Lidder in December 1990 after passing out from the Indian Military Academy, was commissioned into the Second Battalion of the Jammu and Kashmir Rifles. Later, he commanded the same battalion.

Brigadier Lidder had also served along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the North-East and in a counter-terrorist environment in Jammu and Kashmir. He also commanded a brigade in the northern sector borders.

Brig LS Lidder was posted as the Defence Attache in the Indian Embassy in Kazakhstan, apart from serving as the Adjutant of the Indian Military Academy and Director in the Military Operations Directorate.

PM Modi pays tribute to General Bipin Rawat

The IAF aircraft with the mortal remains of CDS General Bipin Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat and 11 other army personnel who died in a chopper crash near Tamil Nadu's Coonoor, reached the Palam airbase in Delhi on the evening of December 9. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh reached the Palam airbase and paid tribute to the departed.

CDS Bipin Rawat dies in IAF chopper crash

In a tragic event, a Mi5V17 chopper carrying General Bipin Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat and 12 more flying from the Sulur Air Force Base to Wellington crashed. While 11 were declared dead at the site of the crash, three including General Bipin Rawat were rushed to the hospital, where he and another person succumbed to the injuries. Group Captain Varun Singh, the only survivor, is being treated for severe burns and has been shifted to Command Hospital in Bengaluru for treatment.

The others killed in the crash were General Rawat's wife Madhulika Rawat, his Defence Adviser Brig Lakhbinder Singh Lidder, Staff Officer Lt Colonel Harjinder Singh, Wing Commander PS Chauhan, Squadron Leader K Singh, JWO Das, Junior Warrant Officer Pradeep A, Havildar Satpal, Naik Gursewak Singh, Naik Jitender Kumar, Lance Naik Vivek Kumar and Lance Naik Sai Teja.

Image: Twitter/@ANI
An Indian Air Force chopper carrying Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat crashed near Coonoor, Tamil Nadu, on Wednesday, December 8. The Mi-17 V5 helicopter was carrying 14 people, 13 of whom have died, including CDS Bipin Rawat and his wife Madhulika. The only survivor of the accident, according to the IAF, is Group Captain Varun Singh. He is on life support at Wellington's Military Hospital.

However, it is not the first time a military aircraft has gone down. There have been numerous instances in the past where military aircraft have crashed due to an ageing fleet or technical issues. The dreadful event that occurred on Wednesday serves as a dismal reminder of previous military aviation mishaps. It also highlights India's major problem with military aviation disasters, which have resulted in multiple deaths involving top military personnel.

Bhutan air crash bears striking similarities to Coonoor's

Coonoor's terrible episode bears striking similarities to an incident that occurred more than three decades ago. In 1993, a senior Indian Army officer was killed in a helicopter crash that also involved a Mi-17 helicopter, adverse weather, and the officer's wife. Eastern Command chief Lt. Gen. Jameel Mahmood, his wife, Military Assistant Col M.N. Ahmed, Lt Lakshman Tyagi, orderly Naik G. Thyagarajan, his personal bodyguard Havildar S. Vasudevan, and the IAF crew died in a helicopter crash in Sikkim in May 1993.

58 years ago, 6 military leaders killed in Alouette chopper crash

Almost 58 years ago, in a similar high-profile case, on November 22, 1963, six prominent military leaders were killed in an Indian Air Force Alouette chopper crash near Poonch. Lieutenant General Daulat Singh, Lieutenant General Bikram Singh, Air Vice Marshal EW Pinto, Major General KND Nanavati, Brigadier SR Oberoi, and Flight Lieutenant SS Sodhi were among the officers who were killed in the air crash.

The Devon Disaster

The crash of the CDS chopper also serves as a reminder of the February 1952 Devon disaster, which nearly killed the entire Indian Army's high command, including two future chiefs. Lieutenant General SM Shrinagesh and Major General KS Thimayya survived the crash and later went on to become army chiefs. Miraculously, no one died in the crash. The pilot, Lieutenant Suhas Biswas, was granted the country's highest peacetime gallantry award, the Ashoka Chakra, for his heroics and exceptional presence of mind, which saved the lives of everyone on board. It was the first Ashoka Chakra awarded by the Indian Air Force. Biswas died a few years later in a Dakota crash in the Nilgiri hills.

Lieutenant General Ranbir Singh, the former Northern Army commander, and eight others were injured in a Dhruv advanced light helicopter crash in the Poonch area in October 2019. Shripad Naik, the then-Minister of State for Defence, had previously stated in July 2019 that there had been more than 10 accidents every alternate year in the five years from 2014-15 and 2018-19, with a total of 46 soldiers who died in defence air crashes between 2014-15 and July 2019.

Here is a list of India's deadly military aviation crashes from 2015 to 2021:

 December 2015 - A paramilitary jet carrying 10 Border Security Force (BSF) members crashed near the Delhi airport, killing all 10.

 October 2017 - An Indian Air Force chopper crashed during a training sortie near Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh, killing at least seven persons.

 February 2019 - During a rehearsal for the Aero India performance, two aircraft of the Indian Air Force's aerobatic team Surya Kiran collided in mid-air, killing one pilot and injuring two others who evacuated to safety.

 January 5, 2021 - MiG 21 Bison plane crashed during landing in Suratgarh, Rajasthan.

 March 17, 2021 - IAF group captain was killed in a mishap involving a MiG-21 Bison aircraft in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh.

 May 20, 2021 - IAF pilot was killed in a MiG-21 plane crash in Punjab's Moga district.

 August 25, 2021 - Indian Air Force MiG-21 fighter plane crashed during a training operation in Rajasthan's Barmer.

 October 21, 2021 - Indian Air Force Mirage 2000 aircraft on a training mission crashed in Madhya Pradesh's Bhind district.

Image: PTI
England and Ben Stokes both seem to be running out of luck in Australia vs England 1st Ashes Test with David Warner facing a narrow escape with Ben Stokes' no-ball. After a poor batting effort on Day 1 of the 1st Ashes Test, England knew that taking wickets was their only option and anything less than that will make it difficult for them to keep the Test match alive. Ben Stokes almost had given the second breakthrough with the wicket of David Warner only to be ruled out as a no-ball.

Australia vs England 1st Ashes Test: Ben Stokes no ball to dismiss David Warner

Ollie Robinson did provide the spark in the morning by removing Marcus Harris. Meanwhile, Joe Root decided to bring in Ben Stokes in the 13th over and almost had the breakthrough they were looking for. Ben Stokes produced a jaffa of a delivery to dismiss David Warner. The Australian was, however, given out but the decision was overturned by a replay that showed Stokes overstepped the line

A video on Channel 7 Twitter handle shows their expert Trent Copeland pointing out about Ben Stokes overstepping the first three deliveries of the over before the fourth delivery that hit Warners stumps. While speaking on the show he said, If you dont know this is happening (as a bowler) and the review only happens when a wicket falls, I feel like were being failed by technology that could be used".

Each of Ben Stokes' first four deliveries to David Warner was a no-ball @copes9 | #Ashes pic.twitter.com/kcyNrYHSYr  7Cricket (@7Cricket) December 9, 2021

Ashes: Australia in command at the start of Day 2

After bowling out England for 147 runs, Australia did not have a great start to their innings with Marcus Harris dismissed early by Ollie Robinson with just 10 runs on board. However, with David Warner getting a reprieve from Ben Stokes thanks to a no-ball Australia at the time of writing were placed at 84/1.
The James Webb Space Telescope is nearing its launch, which is scheduled for December 22, and NASA is revealing the operations it will conduct once deployed into orbit. In a recent report by the agency, it shared another task of the Webb telescope which is to detail the three most distant supermassive black holes, called quasars, and the galaxies around them. With its extreme sensitivity to infrared light, Webb will look to find answers about how the quasars, each of which are over 13 billion light-years from Earth, became so gigantic along with the state of their accompanying galaxies and the "neighbourhoods" around them.

You wont want to miss how #NASAWebb will detail three extremely distant active supermassive black holesaka quasars. Its images and spectra will help refine the masses of these black holes, show us the stars in their host galaxies, and much more: https://t.co/YgDhmRRaAI pic.twitter.com/CkzxmOx4Ij  NASA Webb Telescope (@NASAWebb) December 8, 2021

Webb telescope set to capture light that travelled for billions of years

In order to learn about the black holes and galaxies of the early universe, Webb will collect the light that has travelled for billions of years. As for the discovery of the three supermassive black holes or quasars, the telescope will observe these objects with its unmatched sensitivity and spatial resolution and reveal their complex structures. Interestingly, the light that first emerged from these objects has its wavelengths stretched from ultraviolet and visible light into infrared light as has travelled for over 13 billion years.

According to NASA, the observation and the analysis of the data will be done on three scales where the scientists will first examine the quasars closely, then remove the light from quasars to study the stars in the surrounding host galaxies and finally classify the galaxies nearby the objects. In order to do this, every instrument of the telescope will be brought into use as the scientists plan to refine the measurements of the mass and chemical composition of each supermassive black hole. Jinyi Yang, an astronomer from the University of Arizona said as per NASA-

The existence of these black holes challenges theoretical models. We want to obtain more accurate measurements of their masses to improve our understanding of how they formed and grew so quickly.

In addition to this, NASA also aims to obtain the first images of the stars in the galaxies next to the quasars using Webbs Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam), which they will do by eliminating the light emerging from the black holes using computer models. And as mentioned above, the scientists will try to determine the condition of "neighbourhoods" of these black holes. This will be done by sampling the environments around the quasars meaning the characterisation of the gas and dust, which according to the agency will reveal what was the universe like 700 or 800 million years after the big bang.

Image: Twitter/@NASA_Webb
Seven UN peacekeepers were killed and three sustained critical injuries after their vehicle was blasted by an improvised explosive device (IED) in central Mali on Wednesday. With this, the death toll of UN soldiers killed this year in the West African country rises to 19, as per the Associated Press. UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric stated that all of the peacekeepers killed and injured in the incident were from Togo. Since 2012, Mali has been battling an Islamic terrorist insurgency and attacks on civilians and UN forces have exacerbated the situation.

Stephane Dujarri also stated that the IED exploded in the Bandiagara district, striking a vehicle carrying Togolese peacekeepers as part of a United Nations logistical convoy moving from Douentza to Sevare. The United Nations peacekeeping department announced that the soldiers were riding in an armoured personnel carrier.

Antonio Guterres urged Malian authorities to not spare the perpetrators

According to the United Nations, the 19 troops killed in Mali this year include eight from Togo, three from Egypt, one of whom died on Monday from injuries sustained in an attack in northern Mali last month, four from Ivory Coast, and four from Chad. Dujarric announced that the United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, urged Malian authorities to spare no effort in identifying the perpetrators of this act so that they can be brought to justice as soon as possible. He stated that the UN Secretary-General expresses his sympathies to the families, government, and people of Togo, and wishes the injured a swift recovery.

Over 87,000 peacekeepers from over 120 nations are presently serving in 12 missions throughout the world, with around 16,600 serving in Mali. The United Nations peacekeeping commander, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, stated that the organisation has made significant progress in strengthening the safety and security of individuals serving in peacekeeping deployments during the last four years. However, he stressed that more needs to be done, including ensuring that missions have the necessary skills.

El-Ghassim Wane denounced the attack

El-Ghassim Wane, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Mali, denounced the attack and warned that it could constitute a war crime under international law, according to UN. He further stated that these deaths add to the gruesome total of attacks on peacekeepers in Mali. He also said that this is the peace operation where peacekeepers have paid the highest price.

(Inputs from AP News)

(Image: AP)
Nigerian Ambassador to Moscow Abdullahi Shehu announced that Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari wants to have a personal conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin during the 2022 Russia-Africa Summit. As per the reports of Sputnik, the ambassador stated that President Buhari looks forward to talking to Vladimir Putin in the near future by 2022 when the second summit is convened.

The Ambassador reiterated Nigeria's full support for Moscow's initiative to organise the second Russia-Africa summit in Africa. He stated that Nigeria has not been offered to host the next Russia-Africa summit, slated for the fall of 2022, but would welcome the decision to do so. He also said that Nigeria has not proposed, nor have even requested to host the second summit and he believes that there is a widespread expectation. Discussions over the host country are still ongoing at the highest political level, according to Sputnik.

First Russia-Africa Summit happened in October 2019

In October 2019, the first Russia-Africa Summit and Economic Forum took place in the Russian city of Sochi. The leaders of 54 African countries were invited to the occasion. Russia and Egypt shared the presidency of the summit. Talking about coal and oil, Abdullahi Shehu stated that developed countries should assist developing countries, particularly those in Africa, in reducing their usage of coal and oil to address climate change.

He stated that they are not at the same level of development as other countries, so when they are told to stop using coal, oil, and other things they expect that the more advanced countries would support the less developed countries to get to their own level of development so that they can move almost at the same mutual speed, according to Sputnik. The envoy also emphasised that African countries share a unified perspective on addressing climate change.

Nigerian Ambassador writes letter of credence to Russian President Putin

Last week, Abdullahi Shehu wrote a letter of credence to Russian President Putin, who, according to Shehu, promised a meaningful debate on topical topics relating to maintaining global hydrocarbon market stability, combating terrorism, and countering religious extremism at the next Russia-Africa summit, according to the Nigerian media, Pulse. Shehu expressed his satisfaction with the strengthening of friendly relations between the two countries. On the other hand, as the new variant of COVID-19, Omicron, which was first detected in Southern Africa continues to grow, Ambassador Shehu stated that Nigeria is looking to purchase Russia's coronavirus vaccine Sputnik V.

Image: AP
EU External Action Service lead spokesman Peter Stano asserted that the union is reviewing Belarus's retaliatory penalties and believes they are opaque, with an incomprehensible challenge procedure. As per the reports by Sputnik, Stano stated that the Belarusian Foreign Ministry has announced retaliatory steps in reaction to the most recent EU sanctions package. The passing of a resolution on trade restrictions established a highly convoluted and opaque trade restriction framework and they are looking into its substance while keeping in mind that some trade obstacles have yet to be identified.

The spokesman claims that the EU's restrictive measures to Minsk are clear and transparent, implemented by consensus by the EU Member States, and based on clear evidence of wrongdoing, such as human rights abuses and migrant instrumentalization. He further stated that they observe the opacity of these retaliatory measures by Belarus on EU. He also said that there is no information about the implementation or legal challenges of the sanction.

Belarus declared retaliatory sanctions on Monday

Belarus declared retaliatory sanctions on European Union and United Kingdom airlines, as well as a ban on imports of Western goods from nations that have imposed sanctions on Belarus, on Monday. The list of restricted Western items has yet to be issued by the Belarus government.

The retaliatory sanction comes as last week, the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, and Canada imposed sanctions on dozens of Belarussian officials, organisations, and businesses, with the EU targeting those accused of participating in an attack on the bloc using migrants on the borders of Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia, according to AP News.

They want to provoke a new wave of anti-government demonstrations

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Pankin, on the other hand, stated that they placed sanctions on Minsk in order to provoke a new wave of anti-government demonstrations in Belarus. According to Sputnik, he went on to explain that they are fully aware that the intention of the sanctions against Minsk is to purposefully decrease the standard of living for regular citizens and spark a fresh wave of anti-government rallies. Alexander Pankin went on to say that the West's multiple sanctions against Belarus are meant to punish Minsk for its ties to Moscow.

(Inputs from ANI/ AP News)

Image: AP/ Unsplash
On Saturday evening, Finland's Prime Minister Sanna Marin stoked controversy after she went on to party until the early hours of the morning in a Helsinki nightclub, despite warnings that she needed to go into isolation as she met with Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto, who recently tested positive for COVID-19. She later apologised for what she called an indiscretion, but her action elicited outrage. Critics called it irresponsible behaviour from the PM's side.

In a Facebook post on Monday, Sanna Marin apologised saying that she should have double-checked the guidelines. In a long post, she stated that she is deeply sorry for not realising that she needed to check the guidelines and use better judgements. The 36-year-old Prime Minister technically did not break Finland's public health rules because vaccinated people are not required to quarantine. However, while in contact with someone who tested positive, the guideline advises actively avoiding interaction with people outside the family.

Marin claims she didn't get the message until Sunday morning

Sanna Marin claimed that she was initially informed by a staff member that there was no need for quarantine because everyone in the party was vaccinated. However, a message to Marin's official phone warned everyone who came into contact with the positive case, Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto, to avoid contact with others, according to BBC. She claims that she didn't get the message until Sunday morning because she had left her work phone at home during her night out.

Marin told reporters in parliament on Wednesday that she had not received this instruction until Sunday and she accept personal responsibility for the lack of information and apologised for her conduct once more, according to BBC. Opposition MPs stated that Marin could have set a positive example by voluntarily isolating herself rather than going clubbing. Mia Laiho, a National Coalition Party MP, called Marin's actions irresponsible. Marin became the youngest PM when she was chosen to lead a coalition with four other parties in 2019.

COVID tally in Finland

As of now, Finland has seen 197,476 COVID cases and 1,395 deaths since the beginning of the pandemic In addition, the country has reported eight cases of the novel Omicron variant, which specialists believe may be a more transmissible variant of the COVID-19. Around 71% of the Finnish population are fully vaccinated while 76% has received one dose, according to Statista.

Image: AP
In Israel, people infected with the Omicron variant of the COVID-19 will now be quarantined for a longer period of time than those infected with other variants, according to a statement released by Health Ministry on 8 December. A person infected with the Omicron variant will be required to undergo a 14-day quarantine period, as compared to 10 days for individuals carrying other variants. The modification was made due to concerns that Omicron cases may remain contagious for a longer duration of time than other cases, according to the Health Ministry.

Patients infected with the new variant will be given a certificate of recovery only if they have not displayed any symptoms in the last three days. The Health Ministry provided the most recent information on Omicron on Monday, stating that 21 cases had been diagnosed and more were suspected. According to data issued by the Health Ministry on Wednesday, COVID-19 infections surged in the week following Hanukkah celebrations.

The COVID-19 infection rate, also known as the R number (the average number of persons infected by each COVID-19 carrier) has increased, with each carrier infecting an average of 1.07 people. Moreover, BioNTech and Pfizer said on Wednesday that a three-shot course of their COVID-19 vaccine was able to neutralise the novel omicron variant in a laboratory test and that if necessary, an omicron-based vaccine may be delivered in March 2022.

India removes Singapore from the list of 'at-risk' countries

In the meantime, on 9 December, the Indian government revised its list of "at-risk" countries, removing Singapore from the list. According to the most recent update, international passengers arriving in India would no longer be subjected to further COVID-19 testing and quarantine procedures. However, there are 12 countries that remain on the list. The list includes European nations, the United Kingdom, South Africa, Brazil, Botswana, China, Ghana, Mauritius, New Zealand, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Hong Kong, and Israel. Passengers arriving in India from these specific countries are obliged to perform an RT-PCR test and are not allowed to leave the airport or board a connecting flight unless the test results are negative.

(With inputs from agencies)

Image: AP/Shutterstock
Valery Gerasimov, Russia's Chief of General Staff, has refuted rumours that Russia is preparing to invade Ukraine, calling them "fake." Weeks before Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Joe Biden held a video chat on December 7 to discuss critical bilateral and international issues, western media speculated that Russia was preparing to "invade" Ukraine.

Russia, according to Ukraine, has dispatched tanks, artillery, and snipers to the front lines in rebel-held territory. A reported 90,000-plus Russian military within striking distance of the Ukrainian border, though, is causing the most alarm. Meanwhile, the Kremlin's spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, said that everyone should retain a "cool head." However, both Western and Ukrainian intelligence services believe an attack might happen in early 2022.

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba declared on Wednesday that any Russian invasion will be faced with force. Russian has positioned 70,000 troops near the Ukraine border and is preparing for an attack early next year, according to US intelligence officials, AP reported.

"The supply of helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles and aircraft to Ukraine is pushing the Ukrainian authorities to take drastic and dangerous steps. Kiev does not fulfil the Minsk agreements," Gerasimov said at a briefing attended by foreign military attaches, Sputnik reported. "The Ukrainian armed forces have announced the beginning of the use of Javelin anti-tank missile systems, which were supplied by the United States, and also the use of Turkish-made reconnaissance and strike unmanned aerial vehicles in Donbas. As a result, the already-tense situation in the east of this country is aggravating," he added.

NATO's military activity expanded dramatically in recent years: Valery Gerasimov

The Russian Chief of General Staff underlined that NATO's military activity has expanded dramatically in recent years, with approximately 40 massive drills staged near Russia's borders each year. He added that US strategic aviation frequently appears near Russian airspace and conducts exercises with cruise missiles against targets within Russia.

Commenting on the construction of the trilateral AUKUS bloc between Australia, the United States, and the United Kingdom, Gerasimov called it a destabilising element since it sets preconditions for the spread of nuclear technology by establishing a nuclear submarine fleet in Australia.

The Russian Ministry of Defense is actively communicating with partners in the Asia-Pacific area, Gerasimov informed and said that he supports multilateral methods for ensuring security in the region, taking into account the interests of all states.

Notably, in 2012, Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula and reportedly funded an insurgency in eastern Ukraine that has claimed the lives of over 14,000 people and is ongoing.

(With inputs from agencies, Image: AP)
Raksha Mantri's Parliament Statement On CDS Gen Rawat's Demise At 11 AM In Lok Sabha

Following the tragic demise of Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will brief both houses of the Parliament on the chopper crash today, December 9. The Defence Minister will address the two houses and provide a statement on the chopper crash that took place in Tamil Nadu's Nilgiris district and claimed the lives of Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, his wife Dr Madhulika Rawat, and 11 members of his staff.

Read more here

CDS Bipin Rawat No More: UN Secy-General Guterres Mourns Death Of Top Indian Army Officer

In the aftermath of the tragic helicopter crash in the Coonoor district of Tamil Nadu, United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres mourned the demise of India's first Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat on Wednesday. Antonio Guterres' spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told reporters in New York that Guterres expresses his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families of the deceased, to the people and the Government of India.

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COVID-19: Maharashtra's 1st Omicron Patient Tests Negative, 'perfectly Fit' Says Official

In a slight relief to the ongoing concerns regarding the COVID-19 new variant, Maharashtra's Omicron patient has been discharged from the hospital after testing negative on Wednesday. The patient, a 33-year-old marine engineer who hails from Kalyan Dombivli municipal area, had arrived at the Delhi airport from South Africa via Dubai in the last week of November. The officials also informed that the man was not vaccinated against COVID-19.

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Canada Announces Diplomatic Boycott Of 2022 Beijing Olympics After US, Australia & UK

Becoming the latest in Beijings 2020 Olympic Games diplomatic boycott, Canada on Wednesday made an official announcement that no ministers from the country will attend in defiance to Chinas alleged human rights abuses in Xinjiang province against the minority Uyghur community. The ally of the US followed in the footsteps of the US, Australia and the UK after each announced a similar decision to boycott China.

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IAF Finds Black Box Of Mi-17V5 Helicopter That Crashed Killing Gen Bipin Rawat & 12 Others

In a major development, the black box of the Indian Air Force helicopter that crashed killing Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, his wife Dr Madhulika Rawat, and eleven members of his staff, has now been found. The security officials had earlier ramped up the search for the black box or the flight data recorder of the ill-fated Mi-17V5 helicopter. The helicopter had crashed near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu on Wednesday taking the lives of 13 persons present in it and leaving one other critically injured.

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From UN To North-East & Surgical Strike To CDS, Gen Rawat's Career Transcended Boundaries

Indias first-ever Chief Defense of Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat passed away on Wednesday after a helicopter carrying him, his wife Madhulika, his top-most military advisor and 10 others crashed in a heavily forested area in western Tamil Nadu. A four-star military general, he took the CDS office on December 31, 2019, after serving his three-year term as the Army Chief. A decorated and brave officer, he had played a pivotal role in many important missions of the Indian Armed Forces.

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IAF Helicopter Crash: Agra Mourns Two-fold Tragedy After Wing Cdr Prithvi Singh's Demise

The incident of the IAF Mi-17V5 helicopter crash has shaken the entire country as the nation lost its first Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat, his wife and other brave officials. Meanwhile, Agra is mourning a two-fold tragedy as Wing Commander Prithvi Singh Chauhan who was flying the chopper also lost his life. The Wing Commander, 42, was posted at the Indian Air Force Station in Coimbatore but he was born and raised in Agra. His parents still reside in the Saran Nagar area of Agra.

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CDS Gen Rawat's Demise: Army Staff's Vice Chief Shortens Qatar Visit To Rush Back To Delhi

In the aftermath of the tragic demise of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat on Wednesday, Vice Chief of Army Staff (VCOAS) Lieutenant General Chandi Prasad Mohanty cut short his visit to Qatar to head back to Delhi. The Ministry of Defence informed that the Army Vice Chief had proceeded on his two-day visit to the GCC nation on December 8.

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Emmanuel Macron Berates EU's New Language Rules; Claims It Doesn't Defend Europe's Culture

French President Emmanuel Macron has criticised the European Commission for language rules which includes telling people as to what words they can use and what they cannot. He called on the EU to work on recovery and power and further added that he is not willing to follow the 'people can and can't use' rule implemented by European Commission, reported The Daily Mail. The statement of Macron came a week after the EU withdrew its guidelines for inclusive communication.

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New COVID-19 Strain Omicron Responsible For Less Than 1% Infections In US, Says CDC Chief

The chief of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stated on Wednesday that even though more than 40 persons in the United States have been diagnosed with the novel COVID-19 omicron strain, yet, all of them were only mildly ill. Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the head of CDC told The Associated Press during an interview that the information is limited and the agency is currently focusing on a more extensive investigation to know more about the new mutant version and what it may mean for the United States.

Read more here
The Peruvian Air Force in a key development stated that a search and rescue squad has located a national military helicopter that went missing on Tuesday in which all five onboard crew members died in the tragic crash. As per Xinhua, the five deceased Peruvian Air Force helicopter members were found in the Lima area on Wednesday. The Peruvian Defense Ministry announced on December 7, Tuesday that the Mi-171Sh helicopter had failed to reach its destination and that connections, as well as communication with the chopper, were eventually lost.

Following the information, a search and rescue mission was initiated, but soon it was halted due to severe weather conditions. As per a statement from the Air Force on Wednesday, "On early December 8, a special unit of the air force, which was engaged in the search operation, found the aircraft that had been missing since yesterday ... in the Lima region. Unfortunately, five crew members have died," ANI reported.

According to the air force, the helicopter was taken off at noon on Tuesday from the Jorge Chavez International Airport in Lima before losing touch and was further located by armed forces patrols. As per Xinhua, the MI-171SH chopper lost touch at San Mateo, some 70 kilometres east of Lima, prompting officials to launch an air and ground investigation later finding the crashed military helicopter by Peruvian rescuers.

'They gave their lives, fulfilling their duty': President of Peru on military helicopter crash

Further, President of Peru, Pedro Castillo offered his condolences for the soldiers' deaths on Twitter, saying that "I deeply regret the death of the 5 crew members of the @fapperu helicopter in Huarochiri. They gave their lives, fulfilling their duty, in favour of those most in need. My condolences to his relatives and colleagues in our heroic Peruvian Air Force."

At the time of the crash, the troops were on an assignment for the Ministry of Development and Social Inclusion, as per the ANews website. The air force authorised an emergency inquiry to identify the cause of the military helicopter crash after continuing the search and discovering the remains.

(Image: AP)
As the migrant crisis along southwestern Arizona continues to escalate, the Republican governor of the state, Doug Ducey, urged US President Joe Biden to "do something" about it. Speaking at a presser during his visit to Yuma on Tuesday, Ducey underlined that as per official data there were an estimated 5,000 attempted crossings through the area on Sunday. Accusing the Biden administration of the influx in asylum seekers along the border, he called out the President and asked him to address the border issue, which the former labelled a "Federal issue."

Governor Ducey's assertions came after a controversial Trump-era immigration policy was reinstated on Monday, which upheld that asylum seekers have to wait for their court hearing by staying outside US borders. Underscoring that while the Migrant Protection Program (MPP), informally called "Stay in Mexico", helps control migrant influx along Texas border, Ducey said it is pushing them toward Arizona, 12 News reported. During the said Yuma visit, Ducey met with the Arizona National Guard, Department of Public Safety and local law enforcement as he toured the area.

Meanwhile, the rest of us will continue to take action, repositioning public safety assets where possible to keep Arizonans safe.https://t.co/aava3pshAQ  Doug Ducey (@dougducey) December 9, 2021

12 News reported, citing officials, that more than 1.7 million migrants were stopped at the southern border last fiscal year. The count has surpassed two years total last October when there were more than 1,64,000 thwarted crossings. The number is said to be a "128% increase" from October 2020.

It is pertinent to mention that migrants massed at the Arizona border were from a host of southern American, Asian and Middle Eastern countries, including Argentina, Brazil, Cuba, Haiti, Guatemala, Lebanon, Mexico, Nepal, Tajikistan, Russia, India and more, US Border Patrol said in a Facebook post on November 29.

My team has repeatedly called for a meeting with the Biden administration. Finally Mayorkas appears - no call by the way - but in Phoenix, avoiding the crisis in Yuma.https://t.co/9QWDkZeJfG  Doug Ducey (@dougducey) December 9, 2021

Biden administration reinstates Trump-era immigration policy

The Biden administration reinstated the contentious "Remain in Mexico" policy, mandating all asylum awaiting court verdict to return back to Mexico until their applications are processed. The policy, which was initiated by Donald Trump was earlier suspended by the Biden administration.

Republican Governors of Missouri and Texas had sued the Biden administration in federal court to prevent the return to Mexico policy from being scrapped, alleging that it would put an excessive burden on them from new immigrants. Following this, in August, the Supreme Court agreed with the states and issued an order forcing the federal government to continue the policy. Now, the policy will be implemented in borders along with San Diego, Texas town of Laredo, Brownsville and El Paso.

(Image: AP)
As the President Joe Biden-led United States administration looks to host their first Summit for Democracy this week, the US has said that India is an indispensable partner for democratic cooperation. The comment from a top state official comes ahead of Indias appearance in the virtual gathering of more than one hundred countries. During the event, the countries will discuss the challenges faced by democracy and ways to boost the ideals of democracy around the world.

The Summit for Democracy scheduled for December 9 and 10, will see the various stakeholders of democracies come together to discuss the many topics relating to democracy. State leaders, civil society and private sector representatives will take part in the forum, which the US sees as a galvanizing moment for the worlds democracies to come together. Ahead of this, the US officials have now termed India as a major unavoidable player in the same.

To work together to defend against authoritarianism, to elevate the fight against corruption, and to advance human rights both at home and abroad, we see India indispensable in this effort, Under-Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights Uzra Zeya told ANI. We are determined and we are optimistic that working with Democratic partners like India and partners from all over the world, we can turn the tide on these issues and truly show that democracy can adapt and can rise to 21st-century challenges and ultimately prevail, Zeya added.

China, Russia unhappy being excluded from the summit

Beijing and Moscow, had earlier denounced the summit as an exercise in hypocrisy to promote US hegemony after both China and Russia were excluded from the gathering. The virtual gathering also garnered criticism from China for being a strategy to divide Asia after Indias closest democratic neighbours like Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Bhutan were excluded too. Responding to the allegations over the summit being a problematic move by the US, the Under-Secretary said that the summit was being held to achieve a broad, global geographic representation and assess and include governments and not cause division.

This summit is not about divisions or blocks, and in fact, our approach in participation was to try to achieve a broad, global geographic representation and assess and include governments that we see as ready to work with us on the three pillars of countering authoritarianism, fighting corruption, and advancing human rights, the American diplomat said.

China mocks US democracy

Earlier, while addressing reporters in Beijing, the vice-minister said that the US had dropped China "intentionally" as the Communist government leads the country to become a superpower. According to him, the US is "frustrated" to witness China "transforming into a superpower country". Mocking US' democratic system, Lin said that political disputes and a divided government led to the high death toll during the COVID-19 pandemic. "Such democracy brings not happiness but disaster to voters," AP quoted Lin as saying.

It should be mentioned here that US President Biden and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping had held a virtual summit last month. Despite the meeting, the difference between the two countries appears to be widening. The invitation of Taiwan- a self-governing democracy that China claims as its own - to the Summit has further deteriorated relations between Washington and Beijing.

(With agency inputs)

Image: AP/ ANI
Amid ongoing tensions at the Ukraine-Russia border, Tulsi Gabbard, the former Democratic presidential candidate warned that mainstream media, military-industrial complex and the self-serving politicians could lead the US into the apocalypse of World War 3. In a message shared on Twitter on Wednesday, the former US Congress representative from Hawaii said that the death and suffering in another world war would be infinitely greater than that witnessed in World War II.

US Senator Gabbard posted the message on social media while remembering the attack by the Imperial Japanese Forces on the United States base Pearl Harbour in Hawaii on 7 December 1941 that marked Americas entry into the second world war. It is worth mentioning that Gabbard holds the distinction of being the first Indian member of the US Congress. However, her warnings of World War 3 came amid heightened tensions between the US and Russia over Ukraine joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO).

Ive been on Reserve duty at Ft Bragg, NC, thinking about Japans attack on Pearl Harbor, my brothers and sisters in arms who perished, and how that day of infamy catapulted us into a world war which (1/3) pic.twitter.com/C17j1VB2rL  Tulsi Gabbard  (@TulsiGabbard) December 8, 2021

As per Sputnik, Russian President Vladimir Putin has already stated that the idea of Ukraine joining NATO represents a red line for Moscow. Putin also warned that US-military led alliance would deploy missiles that would have the ability to reach Moscow within a matter of five minutes. In response, US President Joe Biden reportedly quipped that he does not accept anyones red lines.

Biden was 'straightforward' with Putin

Meanwhile, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said on Tuesday that Biden was direct and straightforward with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin during the two-hour video conference on 7 December. In a press briefing, Psaki informed that Biden directly told Putin that if Moscow further invades Ukraine, the US along with European allies would respond with strong economic measures. The White House press secretary also noted that there was a lot of give-and-take in the conversation but US President was crystal clear about Washingtons stance on all the issues.

White House Press Secretary said, As I said before, the discussion between President Biden and President Putin was direct and straightforward. There was a lot of give-and-take. There was no finger-wagging.

(IMAGE: AP)
Activist Chow Hang-tung and journalist Gwyneth Ho are also convicted of the same charge.

A Hong Kong court on Thursday found pro-democracy media magnate Jimmy Lai and barrister Chow Hang-tung guilty of "inciting others" to join a banned candlelight vigil marking the June 4, 1989 Tiananmen massacre.

Chow, who headed the now-disbanded vigil organizing group, the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, was also convicted of "participating in an illegal assembly" by attending the event, along with fellow activist and former journalist Gwyneth Ho.

Judge Amanda Woodcock cited Lai's attendance at a news conference outside Victoria Park alongside members of the Alliance, and a post Chow made to her Facebook page in evidence.

Sentencing is expected on Monday.

"I am sure the prosecution has proved beyond reasonable doubt from the evidence admitted that what was said and done as a group gathered at the Water Fountain Plaza was an intention by [Lai and Chow] and others to unlawfully incite others to knowingly take part in an unauthorized assembly in Victoria Park that evening," Woodcock wrote in her judgment, which came after 21 other defendants in the case pleaded guilty.

Lai, Chow and Ho had pleaded not guilty, with Lai arguing that he had merely told the news conference that he would be going to the vigil, not encouraged others to do the same, and Chow arguing that she had merely written "see you tonight" on Facebook.

Ho had uploaded photos of white mourning flowers and candles, which were used to prosecute her for attending the vigil.

The verdict came as a Paris-based press freedom group cited the raid on Lai's now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper as evidence of rapidly deteriorating press freedom since the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) imposed a draconian national security law on the city from July 1, 2020, ushering in an ever-widening crackdown on public dissent and political opposition.

"A quarter of a century after Hong Kong's handover to the People's Republic of China, the principle of press freedom, although guaranteed until 2047 in the Basic Law that commands the territory, is more threatened than ever," Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said in a report titled "The Great Leap Backwards of Journalism in China."

In said Hong Kong had slipped down the ranks in the RSF World Press Freedom Index from 18th place when the index was created in 2002, to 80th place in 2020.

"During this period, Beijing progressively took control of parts of Hong Kongs Chinese-language media and established an indirect system of putting pressure on other media through their advertisers," the report said, adding that the situation had worsened with the imposition of the national security law.

"The deliberately vague text ... opens the door to arbitrary arrests and sentencing under the appearance of legality," RSF said, citing University of Hong Kong journalism professor Keith Richburg as saying that the law condemns press freedom in Hong Kong to "death by a thousand cuts."

Journalists are the "new black sheep" in Hong Kong, the report said, citing Lai and Ho's arrests, the closure of Lai's Next Digital media empire under investigation by the national security police and the tightening of political control over the editorial output of Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK), among many other examples.

Hong Kong officials hit back

Hong Kong officials meanwhile hit back against criticism of the city's forthcoming elections, in which all candidates have been pre-approved as "patriots" by a Beijing-backed committee.

The CCP's foreign ministry commissioner in Hong Kong, Liu Guangyuan, said Beijing wouldn't allow other countries to meddle in the Legislative Council (LegCo) elections on Dec. 19.

"Whatever electoral system that Hong Kong is using, it is Chinas internal affair. Whatever form or disguise you are using to interfere with the LegCo election, you will be strongly countered by the Chinese government," Liu told a seminar on "democracy" on Thursday.

In an apparent reference to the 2019 protest movement and former pro-democracy lawmakers, Liu said some in Hong Kong had been "confused," and "blindly worshipped Western-style democracy."

"They mistakenly believe that problems can be solved as long as American-style democracy can be implemented in Hong Kong, he said.

Chief executive Carrie Lam called on the city's nearly five million voters to cast their "sacred votes" on Sunday.

"There is no one size fits all in democracy," Lam told journalists on Tuesday. "One has to remember the ultimate aim and purpose of a democratic system is to improve the livelihood of the people. What's the point of having the so-called democracy if people are suffering, as you can see in some Western democracies in the course of fighting COVID-19?"

She said she expects a "more rational" LegCo to result from the new election process, prior to which dozens of former opposition lawmakers and activists were arrested and await trial for "subversion" after organizing a democratic primary.



Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
Hackers also target countries related to projects and those strategically important to the Belt and Road Initiative

Computer code is seen on a screen above a Chinese flag in a July 12, 2017 illustration photo.

Throughout 2021 Chinese hackers with suspected links to the state have targeted government and private sector organizations across Southeast Asia, especially South China Sea claimants, a U.S. cybersecurity company says in a new report.

In the report released Wednesday, Insikt Group  a team of threat researchers from the cybersecurity firm Recorded Future  said that the South China Sea territorial disputes very likely constitute another driver of Chinas cyber espionage activity.

Insikt said the hackers also target countries related to projects and countries strategically important to the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Chinas global infrastructure masterplan.

The researchers identified over 400 victim servers located in Southeast Asia that had communicated with malware families with likely links to Chinese state-sponsored actors. A malware family refers to types of malware that have a common base code.

One threat activity group tracked by Insikt, TAG-16, is believed to be tasked with gathering intelligence on South China Sea-related issues.

Compromised organizations included navies, prime ministers offices, ministries of defense, and ministries of foreign affairs in several countries with a presence in the South China Sea. The top three targeted countries were Malaysia, Indonesia, and Vietnam, the report said.

It predicted that future activity targeting rival South China Sea claimants is likely to increase in line with tensions in the area.

The report also highlighted two separate suspected Chinese state-sponsored intrusion campaigns targeting entities in Laos and Cambodia. Both campaigns were likely intended to support BRI objectives, it said.

Victims in these campaigns include the National Committee for Special Economic Zones and National Enterprise Database in Laos and Cambodias Sihanoukville Autonomous Port.

All affected countries have been notified about the findings of the report, Insikt told The Associated Press news agency, but those governments have yet to react publicly to the information.

A report published Dec. 8, 2021, by U.S. cybersecurity firm Recorded Future on alleged Chinese hacking in Southeast Asia. Unrivaled scale and scope

Insikt researchers said Chinese state-sponsored groups have traditionally been highly active in targeting Chinas rival claimants in the South China Sea, with the operational tempo often mirroring increased geopolitical tensions.

Last April, Vietnams National Cybersecurity Control Center said a number of government ministries and organizations had been targeted by a Chinese advanced persistent threat (APT), or state-sponsored group, called Goblin Panda (Cycldek).

Beside Cycldek, there are multiple APTs also conducting cyber espionage activity with reconnaissance and phishing campaigns targeting rival claimants. Insikts report said in recent years, a group called APT40 and linked to the Chinese Ministry of State Securitys Hainan State Security Department has typically targeted maritime and engineering entities, as well as organizations with operations in Southeast Asia or involved in South China Sea disputes.

The scale and scope of Chinas cyber espionage program remain unrivalled, exemplified by the large number of distinct actors with operational taskings within specific geographic regions, the report concluded.

This week, Microsoft said in a blog that a U.S. federal court granted its request from its Digital Crimes Unit to seize 42 websites that the China-based hacking group Nickel used to attack organizations in the U.S., as well as around the world.

Nickel, also known under other names such as APT15, Mirage, Vixen Panda, and Ke3Chang, has been active since 2012, carrying out operations to gather intelligence from government agencies, think tanks, and human rights groups.

Nation-state attacks continue to proliferate in number and sophistication, Microsoft said.

China has yet to respond to Microsofts statement, or to Insikt Groups report but in the past Beijing has repeatedly denied any involvement, saying hacking attacks are an international issue and China itself is a victim.

China has also accused critics of having ulterior motives and ill intentions.

Chinese security company ThreatBook on Wednesday released its own report accusing a Taiwan-based organization, GreenSpot, of launching cyberattacks on the Chinese mainland, mainly Beijing and Fujian, said Chinas Global Times.

It said that since 2007 GreenSpot has launched large-scale targeted phishing attacks on government agencies, and aerospace and military-related scientific research institutes to steal high-value data and classified information.
Detained feminist journalist Sophia Huang first made headlines in 2018 when she carried out a survey of sexual harassment among female colleagues in Chinese media organizations, making her a founding participant in China's #MeToo movement. She was detained on Sept. 19, 2021 in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou alongside her friend Wang Jianbing, as she was about to travel to the United Kingdom to start a master's degree, and charged with "incitement to subvert state power."

Now 33, Huang began working in the media in 2010, with experience spanning the China News Service, the New Express and the Southern Metropolis Weekly. She decided in 2015 to become an independent investigative journalist, despite the fact that many were already finding alternatives to that profession. Huang paid no heed to the warning signs, and kept on churning out one heavyweight piece after another. She was the first to report on the sexual assault of female students at Beihang University by professor Chen Xiaowu.

In June 2019, Huang published an article on the website Matters about her experience of taking part in the Hong Kong protest movement, which began in opposition to plans to allow the extradition of alleged criminal suspects to face trial in mainland China. She was later detained by the Guangzhou police on suspicion of "picking quarrels and stirring up trouble," a charge frequently used to target peaceful critics of the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP), and placed under residential surveillance for three months.

By the time we caught up with Huang in Febuary 2021, she had been out on bail for more than a year. She was still being followed everywhere by the Guangzhou municipal state security police, even though she was visiting friends elsewhere in China at the time. Forced to keep her writings off the mainland Chinese internet, Huang wrote anonymously and published them overseas instead to evade government censorship. However, she still kept a diary detailing her surveillance by the state security police, who had prevented her from working, and shared it with a small number of close friends.

Huang was no stranger to The Reporter, having visited the magazine's offices in 2019, during a trip to democratic Taiwan. When she spoke to us by video call in July 2021, Huang said she had won a scholarship to study at the University of Sussex in the U.K., starting on Sept. 20, 2021, but that she was still being called in from time to time to "drink tea" [answer questions] with the state security police. She seemed worried at the time, telling us: "I'm not sure if I'm going to be allowed to leave or not."

On Sept. 19, the eve of her departure, Guangzhou police arrested Huang and Wang Jianbing, an independent charity worker for the rights of workers with occupational health problems. The police fabricated a statement claiming Huang and Wang had organized a "political gathering" and forced their friends to sign it. They are now being held on suspicion of "incitement to subvert state power."

Their lawyers have repeatedly been denied permission to meet with their clients, and nobody knows exactly where they are being held, nor anything about their current state of mental and physical health. The Guangzhou police department has issued a notice of arrest to family members, but Huang and Wang's loved ones have been unable to deposit money for their use in detention, despite making several attempts, at the location listed in the notice. The Chinese government has yet to respond publicly to expressions of concerns from inside or outside China.

What follows are edited highlights of our team's four-hour interview with Sophia Huang in 2021.



RFA/The Reporter: It has been quite a journey from that #MeToo expose to your article on the 2019 Hong Kong protests. Do you have any regrets about any of your writing, particularly on Hong Kong?

Sophia Huang: None at all. I wouldn't have wanted to respond inadequately, to be found wanting. I think that when it comes to putting up resistance, we need to start with the smaller things. Resistance isn't a huge big deal. I was just doing my job as a journalist, serving my conscience, and telling the truth. Doctors speak out about a contagious virus, then they treat it.

Why do so many people fail to act on their conscience? I think that's a huge collective failure on all of our parts, to fail to stand up for ourselves.I have no idea how things will turn out; they could get way worse for me. But at least I'll be able to say that I stood up for myself at the time.

RFA/The Reporter: Did you expect to start China's #MeToo movement?

Sophia Huang: No, I never expected that. At that time, I was participating in a scholarship project for Asian journalists in Singapore, and the person in charge of the project told me about #MeToo. So I went and read about it, and started to think about possibly doing something myself, to get people to speak out.

I asked women journalists I knew had suffered sexual assault if they would hold up slogans in protest, but they thought that was too humiliating. However, they were willing to share their stories anonymously. So I thought if I'm going to doing it like that, I could make it a national questionnaire, and get even more people to contribute.

Back then I did wonder how many people would pay attention, but my main focus was to get the industry to take a look at itself, and I thought it would just be a few journalists who spoke out about the industry. I never thought the whole thing would spread to universities as well.

RFA/The Reporter: Can you tell us a bit about how you pick which stories to work on?

I pick investigations that are representative and typical [of large groups of people or social phenomena], and ones in which I can actually help people. I need to get the facts of the story straight, so I could spend a week talking to someone, then checking and verifying her story, including her identity and professional background. I also need to figure out how best to publicize it. Some people want a sense of moral justice, or a report in the media, and others are looking for judicial redress or financial compensation. I respect their wishes. Some cases go straight to judicial processes with no media reporting. Some cases require me to find a lawyer for them, or a gender-conscious psychological counselor, and so on.

RFA/The Reporter: One of the main demands at the start of the movement was for universities to set up a mechanism to handles sexual harassment complaints. Has there been any progress there?

Sophia Huang: Some colleges and universities are doing it. Professors from Beihang University, Peking University, Beijing Normal University, Nanjing University, and Tsinghua University have all contacted me to say they have set up anti-sexual harassment processes and asking me for information about how to do that. I sent out material I had gathered from about 30 different countries. But when I contacted them for an update a couple of months later, it hadn't worked out.

For example, the Peking University group made a plan, but the college principal wasn't happy and thought it was too feminist, and too biased towards students, so he disbanded the group. They set up their own research group, mainly composed of university management, with no student participation, and no academic staff with gender or media expertise. They came up with a greatly watered down version of the plan, but never announced it, fearing it would focus too much attention on the college, and other universities would follow suit, then they would be criticized by the ministry of education. They still haven't had a clear answer from the ministry, so they haven't dared to publish the plan.

RFA/The Reporter: Has anything improved?

Sophia Huang: I think the environment has improved a bit, and we are seeing more awareness and willingness to report now. When we started out, not everyone even knew what sexual harassment was, but at least they are all aware of it now. They are less likely to feel shame, or feel that it's their fault. This is a pretty big change. There have been some pretty big cases, which, while they haven't achieved legal justice, have at least achieved a kind of moral justice, because many people are very sympathetic to them. I think if you tell the truth, you will be heard.

RFA/The Reporter: We actually saw street protests in support of former CCTV intern Zhou Xiaoxuan (Xianzi) in her sexual harassment lawsuit against former TV host Zhu Jun, which was eventually unsuccessful. How did you feel about that?

Sophia Huang: Actually, I found that very moving. On that same day in Hong Kong, Joshua Wong and Agnes Chow were sentenced, and there were a lot of "car chasers," groups of their supporters running alongside the prison vans by the court gates, and yelling encouragement to them. Hundreds of people showed up. That happened on the same day as the Xianzi case, and it was as if they were meeting across time and space.

A lot of people are saying that civil society is dead in China now, and that there is nothing left to hope for. But when I saw those ... feminists turning out in Beijing for a sexual assault case, I felt that there wasn't such a huge gap between Hongkongers and mainland Chinese people. I saw groups of young people in both places turning out in the cold weather, facing up to verbal harassment from the police, waiting for a case outcome, and supporting justice. It was really very touching.

So don't be afraid if you think you're the only one; maybe there are others scattered around who are still willing to stand together. Moments like that are beautiful, and they inspire people.

I don't like to talk about overthrowing anything or anyone. I think about these moments of beauty, of how to build something, how to pursue something. It's not hate; it's like falling in love with something different; a sense that a person needs my help and the sense of satisfaction, value, and fulfillment I get from helping them.

If you stare into the abyss, you will become the abyss.



Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
The victims included at least four youths and were all related to one another, sources said.

The remains of nearly a dozen victims  including four youths  who were burned alive by junta troops during an attack on a village in Sagaing region were buried Wednesday, according to residents, as a U.N. spokesman condemned the grisly deaths.

On Tuesday, 11 people were killed in what residents of Salingyi townships Don Taw village are calling a massacre by the military in retaliation for an attack on one of its convoys earlier that day by a local branch of the anti-junta Peoples Defense Forces (PDF) militia.

The office of the spokesperson for U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said it was "deeply concerned by the reports of the horrific killing of 11 people" and called for an international response.

"We strongly condemn such violence and remind Myanmars military authorities of their obligations under international law to ensure the safety and protection of civilians. Those individuals responsible for this heinous act must be held to account," it said in a statement Wednesday.

Ten of the victims have been identified by shadow National Unity Government (NUG) media outlet Public Voice TV as Arkar Soe (14), San Min Oo (17), Than Myint Aung (17), Kyaw Thet (17), Chit Nan Oo (19), San Ko (20), Win Kaw (20), Htet Ko (22), Zin Min Tun (22) and Tint Naing (30). Residents of the roughly 300-home village said the victims were all cousins or close relatives.

Villagers told RFAs Myanmar Service that the victims were farm workers although at least one news report that named the slain men said most were members of the PDF.

A resident of Don Taw said Wednesday that preparations were underway to bury the victims but expressed concern for the safety of the village as fighting continued in the vicinity.

We have to bury them amid this turmoil, but we dont want to leave them behind and so we will just bury them on this very spot. We dont have any transportation here, he said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

We still can hear some shooting and firing of heavy weapons. We will build a common pyre and burn the bodies. Their ashes will be collected, and we will set up a little memorial for them.

Zin Min Tuns wife, who declined to be named, told RFA that she and her husband were separated as troops fired artillery into the village, causing a panic. She said she has remained in hiding since her husband was killed on Tuesday.

I didnt know anything about what had happened  His phone was off, she said.

Some people who were hiding nearby later told me he was shot and set on fire while still alive. I still havent seen his body yet. We are far outside the village and still cannot return there yet.

The widow told RFA that she had been married to Zin Min Tun  a betel nut plantation worker  for seven years and said the two have a 4-year-old son.

This is the third time we have been attacked, but [our village has] never started anything [with the military]. He was murdered for nothing, and I will never forget this, she said.

I pray that they suffer the same fate as us. My young son doesnt have a father anymore. I hope their sons and daughters and parents will suffer like us too. I pray that the current dictatorship will end as soon as possible.

Military atrocities

Since orchestrating a coup on Feb. 1, security forces in Myanmar have killed nearly 1,320 civilians and arrested 7,860 more, mostly in crackdowns on nonviolent anti-junta protests. The military has launched a series of offensives throughout the countrys remote border regions where reports regularly emerge of the looting and burning of homes and civilian deaths.

A Don Taw villager told RFA that he had heard of the militarys atrocities before but said burning people alive is on a new level of brutality.

We are suffering all over the country. I know these people are cruel, but I have never thought they would be so cruel as to burn unarmed minors, the villager said.

I think they did it to scare us, but it didnt, and we will fight them to the end.

Attempts by RFA to contact Deputy Military Information Minister Zaw Min Tun for comment went unanswered on Wednesday. However, the military information team had earlier told reporters that there was no such incident in which 11 villagers had been set on fire, calling the news false.

National Unity Government Human Rights Minister Aung Myo Min said the militarys actions in Don Taw village constitute a serious human rights violation that should be prosecuted under international law.

We need international pressure and legal action against them immediately to end the suffering of the people, he said. Otherwise, justice will not be served to the victims of this violence currently seen all across the country.

Clashes ongoing

A member of the PDF from nearby Yinmabin township told RFA that fighting broke out again between the army and area militias last night following the burning of the Don Taw villagers.

We suffered no casualties, and nobody was arrested, he said.

They first opened fire with heavy weapons from Shwe Taung Oo Hill. We used guerrilla warfare to fight them. We didnt fight for a long period. They have better weaponry and so wed just ambush them and run.

Kani, Salingyi, Pale and Yinmabin were the first townships in Sagaing region to fight back against the military because residents were unwilling to accept the military coup. Inhabitants of the area have reported that the junta regularly deploys military planes and helicopter gunships to the sites of clashes as the resistance grows stronger.

RFAs own reporting has found that more than 400 civilians have been killed in Sagaing region in the 10 months since the coup.

Reported by RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Khin Maung Nyane. Written in English by Joshua Lipes.
A watchtower overlooks a high-security facility on the outskirts of Hotan, in northwestern China's Xinjiang region, in a file photo.

The U.S. Congress on Wednesday passed legislation banning the entry into the United States of goods produced by forced labor in northwestern Chinas Xinjiang region, underscoring U.S. opposition to Chinese policies targeting ethnic Uyghurs.

The Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act when signed into law will block the importing of goods produced by forced labor in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR).

The measure will also authorize sanctions on foreign individuals and entities found responsible for serious human rights abuses in connection with forced labor in Xinjiang.

Passed in the House of Representatives by a majority of 428 to 1 in a bipartisan vote, the legislation had earlier cleared the Senate unanimously on July 15, and the House bill will need to be reconciled with the Senate bill before being sent to President Biden for signing into law.

International rights groups quickly welcomed passage of the Act, with Dolkun Isa  president of the Germany-based World Uyghur Congress  calling for prompt action to sign the legislation into law.

We hope President Biden signs the UFLPA into law in the shortest possible time, because this piece of legislation is of historic importance to stop Chinas genocide against the Uyghurs, Isa said.

This is a historic day for the Uyghur people, Isa added.

Congress on Wednesday also passed a resolution officially recognizing Chinas treatment of the Uyghurs as genocide, a position taken this year by the U.S. State Department and the legislatures of several European countries.

Also passed was a resolution condemning the International Olympic Committee for endorsing the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.

The U.S., the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Lithuania have all announced diplomatic boycotts of the 2022 Games in Beijing, saying that while these countries athletes will be allowed to compete, no government ministers or other official representatives will be sent to attend.

'Modern day slavery'

U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedoms vice chair Nury Turkel expressed his appreciation for the Congresss bicameral and bipartisan support for the efforts to end the enslavement of Uyghurs and others in China.

In a liberal international order, there can be no room for forced labor that amounts to modern day slavery which should shock the conscience of consumers, policy makers and business leaders.

We shouldnt sacrifice Uyghurs lives for business interests or our addiction to cheap consumer goods, Turkel said, noting that more work now needs to be done to finalize details of the forced labor bill before it goes to the president for signing.

U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in a statement ahead of Wednesdays vote said the legislation being considered on the floor sends a clear and direct message to Beijing.

The United States Congress, on a bipartisan and bicameral basis, stands united in demanding that the Peoples Republic of China be held accountable and immediately cease its human rights abuses: from its genocide against the Uyghurs, to its long campaign of repression against the Tibetan people and to its assault on basic freedoms in Hong Kong and on the mainland.

As House Speaker, I applaud the Presidents leadership with the White House announcement that there will be no official U.S. diplomatic presence at the 2022 Winter Olympics, Pelosi said.

Since 2017, China has held as many as 1.8 million Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities in a network of detention camps that Beijing claims are vocational training centers.

The camps are the center of a campaign of repression that also includes enforced birth control and forced labor and has drawn charges of genocide and crimes against humanity in the West. China rejects the accusations.

Earlier this year, Washington, citing concerns about forced labor, tightened scrutiny and import controls on Chinese firms that manufacture solar-panel material, wigs, electronics, tomatoes, and cotton with suspected forced Uyghur labor.

Reported and translated by RFA's Uyghur Service. Written in English by Richard Finney.
London ruling follows Western nations' diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Olympics, and U.S. forced labor censure.

Uyghur Tribunal tribunal chair Geoffrey Nice, center, delivers the verdict of the independent tribunal assessing evidence on Chinas alleged rights abuses against the Uyghur people, in London, Dec. 9, 2021.

UPDATED at 6:50 P.M. EST on 2021-12-09

An independent tribunal in London said Thursday that China committed genocide against Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities in its western Xinjiang region and that President Xi Jinping shared primary responsibility for the atrocities.

The Uyghur Tribunal based its findings on testimony from dozens of witnesses, including formerly jailed Uyghurs and other locals, as well as legal and academic experts on Chinas actions in its far-western Xinjiang region.

"The tribunal is satisfied that the PRC [People's Republic of China] has affected a deliberate, systematic and concerted policy with the object of so-called 'optimizing' the population in Xinjiang by the means of a long-term reduction of Uyghur and other ethnic minority populations to be achieved through limiting and reducing Uyghur births," tribunal chair Geoffrey Nice quoted the verdict as saying on Thursday.

Nice, a prominent British attorney, said the panel was "satisfied that President Xi Jinping, Chen Quanguo, and other very senior officials in the PRC and CCP [Chinese Communist Party] bear primary responsibility for acts in Xinjiang."

The tribunals report is not binding, as the panel has no state backing or power to sanction China. But its conclusion adds to the growing body of evidence that Chinas persecution of Uyghurs constitutes a crime against humanity that merits an international response.

The ruling of genocide is based on testimony and evidence China is working to erase Uyghur culture and assimilate and reduce the population through forced relocation and birth control campaigns.

Chinese authorities committed torture and sexual violencealtogether seven out of 11 crimes against humanity recognized by the International Criminal Court (ICC)the tribunal found.

"But there is no evidence of organized mass killings," the verdict reads.

"Indeed, it is clear that detainees are allowed back into society, sometimes after as short a period of detention as 3-6 months--often to be detained again--sometimes after long periods in detention and sometimes after sustained torture," it said.

The Germany-based World Uyghur Congress (WUC) called the ruling great encouragement for Uyghurs, Kazakhs and other Turkic people in the region.

This is a historic day for the Uyghur people, said WUC President Dolkun Isa in a statement.

The verdict recognizing the Uyghur genocide by an independent body, which also provided the only venue for Uyghur and other survivors to speak and provide firsthand evidence to a quasi-judicial body, is a crucial step towards wider recognition by the international community, he said.

"This is another urgent reminder for the U.N. and all state parties to the 1948 Genocide Convention to fulfill their legal and moral obligation under international law to stop this ongoing genocide as well as hold accountable those who are responsible for these crimes," added Isa.

Geoffrey Nice delivers the verdict of the independent tribunal assessing evidence on Chinas alleged rights abuses against the Uyghur people, Dec. 9, 2021. Credit: AP 'Vicious rumors'

The verdict was made possible by the combined efforts of hundreds of individuals, especially those brave enough to testify before the tribunal in the face of intimidation by the Chinese Communist Party, the Campaign for Uyghurs (CFU) said.

The international community now has at its disposal an independent, unbiased, and holistic determination that the crimes being conducted against the Uyghurs do in fact constitute the highest crime humanity has defined: Genocide, the Washington, D.C.-based advocacy group said in a statement.

The tribunal is a political tool used by a few anti-China and separatist elements to deceive and mislead the public," the Chinese Embassy in London said after the ruling.

The Tribunal and its so-called conclusions are mere clumsy shows staged by anti-China elements for their self-entertainment. Anyone with conscience and reason will not be deceived or fooled, the embassy said in a statement that described China's policies as aimed at counter terrorism.

The Uyghur tribunal was launched by Isa as a way to investigate atrocities and possible genocide against the Uyghurs and other Turkic peoples, because the two international courts that are able to make formal rulings on Chinas policies have no plans to take up the case.

China is not a party to the ICC, and therefore is not bound to submit to a trial, while the International Court of Justice can only take up a case that has been approved by the United Nations Security Council, and Chinas permanent membership in the Council gives it veto power over any such decision.

The tribunal included nine members and was led by Nice, who led the prosecution at The Hague of Serbian leader Slobodan Milosevic, who was accused of atrocities in the former Yugoslavia. It conducted two multiple-day hearings in London in June and September, during which the panelists heard accounts from internment camp survivors describing sexual assaults, torture, forced sterilizations, coerced labor and killings.

The tribunal also held a virtual hearing in November during which expert witnesses, including German anthropologist Adrian Zenz, introduced further evidence of involvement in the internment program of top officials, including President Xi Jinping.

I can understand and even respect without any trouble their ambition to be a successful leading country and their desire to be influential around the world, Nice told RFA's Uyghur Service in an interview after the ruling.

But theyre not going to achieve that ambition by disgracing themselves in the eyes of the public. And therefore, was it really necessary for them to do these things?

Olympics diplomatic boycott

Thursday's ruling in London was announced the day after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said his government would join a diplomatic boycott of 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics along with the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and Lithuania.

It also followed on the heels of a 428 to 1 vote by the U.S. House of Representatives to pass the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, which would prohibit imports from Xinjiang. The Senate had already unanimously passed the bill in July.

The Congress has also passed a resolution officially recognizing the Uyghur genocide  joining parliaments in Canada, The Netherlands, the U.K., and Lithuania  and condemning the International Olympics Committees endorsement of the Beijing Games in the wake of revelations about Xinjiang.

About 1.8 million Uyghurs and other Turkic peoples are believed to have been detained in a vast network of internment camps in Xinjiang. China has angrily rejected criticism of its practices in the region that the U.S. and a handful of European countries have labelled a genocide.

Chinese authorities contend the camps are vocational training centers designed to combat religious extremism and terrorism.

At the virtual hearing last month, Zenz, researcher with the Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation, authenticated a package of Chinese government documents that were believed to have been leaked to the tribunal.

The documents, some of which were marked top secret, included speeches by Chinese president Xi Jinping in 2014 calling for Uyghur re-education and population control in Xinjiang. Zenz said the documents were part of the Xinjiang Papers that were originally leaked to The New York Times in 2019 but have not been released publicly.

The documents are significant because they show that the systematic attacks on the Uyghurs were part of a long-term strategy by the central government, said Zenz, who has written extensively on Chinas network of internment camps and the alleged abuses that the Uyghurs have suffered.

This is a moment in which every Uyghur person can feel a deep sense of validation and support," said Rishat Abbas, a senior advisor to the CFU and the WUC.

The world can see for itself in the words of these witnesses, and in the thousands of pages of evidence collected by the tribunal, that this is an atrocity of historic proportions."
Azerbaijan and Armenia have accused each other of violating a cease-fire along their shared border as lingering tensions following their war last year over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh appeared to boil over.



The Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said in a statement on December 9 that Armenian military units fired on the positions of the Azerbaijani Army in the Kalbacar district.



The accusation came hours after the ministry said separately that one of its soldiers "was killed overnight as a result of a provocation by Armenia's armed forces" near the countries' shared border.



The Armenian Defense Ministry, meanwhile, said in a statement on December 9 that two of its soldiers were wounded after Azerbaijani armed forces "opened intensive fire from firearms of different calibers" at Armenian military positions in the Gegharkunik region.



The shooting stopped as of 6 p.m. local time, the ministry said.



A day earlier, it said Azerbaijani forces had opened fire on its positions in an eastern region of their shared border.



The reports of shelling could not be independently verified.

Tensions have simmered for years over Nagorno-Karabakh, an ethnic Armenian region internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan that broke away from Baku's control in the early 1990s.

A six-week war erupted in autumn last year, claiming more than 6,500 lives.

The fighting ended with a Russian-brokered cease-fire under which Armenians ceded territories they had controlled for decades to Azerbaijan. Border tensions have since remained high with the worst renewed deadly fighting taking place last month.

Moscow will host an inaugural meeting of a six-way South Caucasus peace platform on December 10, an idea proposed by Turkey and Azerbaijan following last year's Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said on December 9.

The peace platform -- including Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Russia, Iran, and Turkey -- was proposed by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan after the cease-fire.

Ankara, which has no diplomatic ties with Armenia, has said the platform may help normalize ties with Yerevan.

"The first meeting of the regional cooperation platform in the 3+3 format proposed...for the establishment of lasting peace and stability in the South Caucasus will be held in Moscow on December 10," the Turkish Foreign Ministry said.

It said Azerbaijan, Armenia, Russia, Iran, and Turkey will be represented at the level of deputy foreign ministers, but did not elaborate on Georgia's participation.

Armenia and Turkey signed a landmark peace accord in 2009 to restore ties and open their shared border after decades, but the deal was never ratified and ties have remained tense.

With reporting by Reuters and AFP
A Polish investigation has established that there was no bomb threat on a Ryanair plane that made an emergency landing in Minsk earlier this year, allowing Belarusian authorities to arrest opposition blogger Raman Pratasevich and his girlfriend.



The National Public Prosecutor's Office, which oversaw the probe, said in a statement on December 9 that the whole situation was only an excuse to force the pilot to land in the Belarusian capital.



Pratasevich and Russian citizen Sofia Sapega were arrested on May 23 when authoritarian Belarusian ruler Alyaksandr Lukashenka scrambled a military jet to escort the Ryanair passenger flight over its airspace to land in Minsk.



Many countries regarded the act as a "state hijacking" while the plane was flying from Athens to the Lithuanian capital, Vilnius.



No bomb was found onboard, despite Belarusian claims that they had received an e-mail warning them about the existence of explosives on the flight.



The move sparked international outrage and demands for the release of Pratasevich and Sapega.

Lukashenka's regime was already internationally isolated over its brutal crackdown the country's pro-democracy movement following last years disputed presidential election.



Polish prosecutors said passengers and airline representatives were questioned as witnesses in the course of the investigation conducted by the countrys domestic counterintelligence agency. The plane was also inspected, and pilot recordings analyzed.



The findings of the investigation so far show that on May 23, 2021, an officer of the Belarusian KGB was in the air traffic control tower in Minsk, [and] instructed the air traffic controller who had contact with the pilot of the plane, according to the statement.



The KGB officer was in constant contact by telephone with a person to whom he was reporting on the situation, it said.



The UNs civil aviation agency, the International Civil Aviation Organization, said last month that results of a fact-finding mission into the incident will not be released until its next session in January next year.



Pratasevich faces charges of playing a role in civil disturbances that followed a disputed presidential election in August 2020. If convicted, he faces up to 15 years in prison.



Sapega could face up to six years in prison.



Pratasevich was a key administrator of the Telegram channel Nexta-Live, which has been covering mass protests against the official results of the election that handed Lukashenka a sixth presidential term despite widespread criticism that the vote was rigged.



The European Union, United States, and other countries have slapped several rounds of coordinated sanctions on Belarus.
The editor of a Belarusian media outlet that has covered protests against the Belarusian regime and reported on journalists who have been labeled extremist was arrested on December 8 after a search of his apartment.



Syarhey Satsuk, the chief editor of the Ej.by online news outlet, was detained and will be sent to a pretrial detention center, the Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ) said. The ej.by website also was blocked.



Satsuk was detained after the search during which his phones and laptop computers were confiscated and after interrogation by the Investigative Committee in an old case related to an alleged bribe.



Satsuk was briefly detained in March 2020 on the bribery charge, which is linked to an annual rating of businesses published by his outlet. The editorial office of the online publication was searched following Satsuk's detention, the BAJ said at the time, adding that documents were seized during the operation.



Satsuk was later released and the criminal investigation against him was closed.

At the time, Satsuk's brother, Alyaksandr, called the accusations lies and nonsense. He told RFE/RL then that he did not rule out that the detention may have been connected with investigative reporting his brother had done into alleged corruption at the Ministry of Health Protection related to the import of medical drugs.



Earlier this month, Satsuk's media outlet launched a new project about independent journalists and activists who were branded extremists and terrorists by Belarusian authorities.



Satsuk's arrest could be linked to that, or it could be that it's simply his turn," Alyaksandr Satsuk told the AP.



Satsuk is the latest target in a sweeping crackdown on independent media by the Belarusian authorities that followed the presidential election in August 2020 that the opposition and Western countries rejected as rigged.



Andrei Bastunets, the head of the BAJ, told the AP that journalism has become one of the most dangerous professions in Belarus.



The situation with freedom of speech in Belarus is the worst in Europe. The authorities are depriving citizens of any alternative information, Bastunets said.

With reporting by AP
MINSK -- Another activist in Belarus has been handed a lengthy prison sentence amid an ongoing crackdown on those who have challenged the official results of last year's presidential election that handed victory to strongman Alyaksandr Lukashenka despite opposition claims the balloting was rigged.



The Minsk City Court on December 9 found 20-year-old Artsyom Bayarski, an award-winning university student, guilty of creating an extremist entity and of organizing activities that violated social order. After pronouncing the verdict, Judge Alena Shylko sentenced the former chemistry student to five years in prison.



Bayarski was violently arrested by security forces eight months ago. Since then, he has only been allowed to see his parents twice.



Bayarski, who was award a presidential scholarship at Belarus State University for his academic achievements, demonstrated along with hundreds of other students against the August 2020 election results, which opposition politicians and many others say was rigged to hand Lukashenka his sixth consecutive term in office.



Thousands have been detained during the countrywide protests and there have been credible reports of torture and ill-treatment by security forces. Several people have died during the crackdown. Many of Belarus's opposition leaders have been arrested or forced to leave the country.



The United States, the European Union, and several other countries have refused to acknowledge Lukashenka as the winner of the vote and imposed several rounds of sanctions on him and his regime, citing election fraud and the police crackdown.



He rejects the allegations of electoral fraud and refuses to negotiate with the opposition.
SIMFEROPOL, Ukraine -- A Crimean Tatar rights activist being held in prison in Ukraines Russia-annexed Crimea had his detention extended on the day he should have been released.



The Crimean Solidarity human rights group said that on December 7 its coordinator, Mustafa Seidaliyev, was found guilty of uploading to the Internet allegedly extremist material and was ordered to remain in detention a further 10 days. That action came the same day Seidaliyev was ending a 14-day jail term.



His lawyers rejected the charges, saying the video was uploaded back in 2012 and contained nothing that was extremist.



Seidaliyev was arrested on November 23 along with 30 other Crimean Tatar activists when they came to a detention center in Crimea's capital, Simferopol, to greet Crimean Tatar lawyer Edem Semedlyayev, who was being released from custody after serving 12 days in jail for refusal to cooperate with Russia-imposed security officials.

Seidaliyev and the other arrested Crimean Tatars were found guilty of violating a Russian law on mass gatherings. Some of them were handed sentences of up to two weeks in jail, while some were ordered to pay fines. Seidaliyev was sentenced to 14 days in jail.



Since Russia occupied Crimea in 2014, the authorities have prosecuted dozens of Crimean Tatars amid what rights groups and Western governments have described as a campaign of repression against members of the Turkic-speaking Crimean Tatar community and others who have spoken out against Moscow's takeover of the peninsula.



Russia has also backed separatists in a war against Ukrainian government forces that has killed more than 13,200 people in eastern Ukraine since April 2014.
As Tehran and world powers seeking to revive the moribund 2015 nuclear deal resumed talks in Vienna, the United States warned that it would take "additional measures" to block Iran's ability to earn revenue if diplomacy over the country's nuclear program fails.



"Given the ongoing advances in Iran's nuclear program, [President Joe Biden] has asked his team to be prepared in the event that diplomacy fails and we must turn to other options," White House spokesperson Jen Psaki said on December 9.



"If diplomacy cannot get on track soon and if Iran's nuclear program continues to accelerate, then we will have no choice but to take additional measures to further restrict Iran's revenue-producing sectors."



A seventh round of talks began last week between the remaining signatories  Iran, Britain, France, Germany, Russia, and China -- after a five-month break caused by a new hard-line government assuming power in Tehran.



The United States is participating indirectly because it withdrew from the accord in 2018 under then-President Donald Trump. President Joe Biden has signaled that he wants to rejoin the deal.



European diplomats urged Tehran to come back with realistic proposals after the Iranian delegation made numerous new demands last week that U.S. and European negotiators rejected.



EU diplomat Enrique Mora, who is chairing the Vienna talks, said he had observed a renewed sense of purpose by the parties to bring the accord back to life.



Whether that will be confirmed and endorsed by negotiations on the details, we will see in the coming days, Mora told reporters.



According to U.S. State Department spokesman Ned Price, it will take a few days to judge whether Iran is showing flexibility in the talks.



Asked if Iran might be playing for time in the talks and seeking to exploit U.S. weakness, he told reporters: "I can assure you that, if the Iranian regime suspects the United States of weakness, they will be sorely surprised."

Ali Bagheri Kani, Iran's top negotiator, said Tehran was serious about reaching an agreement if the ground is paved.



The fact that all sides want the talks to continue shows that all parties want to narrow the gaps," he told reporters.



The United States has repeatedly cautioned Iran against drawing out negotiations while continuing to advance its nuclear program, warning that Washington will pursue other options if diplomacy fails.



The accord sealed in Vienna in 2015, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, was meant to curb Iran's nuclear program in return for loosened economic sanctions.



Following the U.S. decision to withdraw from the JCPOA, Tehran gradually ramped up its nuclear program in response to the reimposition of sanctions and suspected Israeli attacks on its nuclear facilities and scientists. Iran has also restricted monitors from the UN nuclear watchdog from accessing its nuclear installations.



The main hurdles in negotiations center on the technical aspects of bringing Iran back into compliance with its nuclear commitments and the timing and extent of sanctions relief. Iran is demanding that all U.S. sanctions be lifted and wants guarantees that a future U.S. administration wont trash the deal.



Washington plans to send a delegation led by Robert Malley, the special U.S. envoy for Iran, to Vienna over the weekend.

With reporting by Reuters
The number of jailed journalists worldwide set another record in 2021, which was an especially bleak year for defenders of press freedom, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said in a report issued on December 9.



CPJs 2021 prison census found that the number of reporters jailed for their work hit a new global record of 293, up from a revised total of 280 in 2020. It was the sixth consecutive year that the CPJs census recorded at least 250 incarcerated journalists.



In addition, 19 journalists were murdered in retaliation for their work as of December 1, 2021, compared with 22 in all of 2020. Eighteen others died in circumstances too murky to determine whether they were targeted, the report said.



Three others were killed this year while reporting from conflict zones, and two others were killed covering protests or street clashes that turned deadly.



China remains the worlds worst jailer of journalists for the third year in a row, with 50 behind bars. Myanmar climbed to second-worst after a crackdown on the news media that followed a military coup in February. Egypt, Vietnam, and Belarus rounded out the top five.



Belarus now has 19 journalists behind bars, up from 10 last year and the highest since the CPJ started keeping data on imprisoned journalists in 1992.



It is an example of how emboldened autocrats are increasingly ignoring due process and flouting international norms to keep themselves in power, the CPJ said.



The report cites the high-profile case of opposition blogger Raman Pratasevich, who was on a commercial flight that was forced to land in Minsk in May. Authoritarian ruler Alyaksandr Lukashenka ordered the diversion as the Ryanair jet flew over the country's airspace in order to arrest Pratasevich and his girlfriend, Sofia Sapega.



Pratasevich faces charges of playing a role in civil disturbances that followed a disputed presidential election in August 2020. He faces up to 15 years in prison. He and Sapega have been living under house arrest since the incident.

Crisis In Belarus Read our ongoing coverage as Belarusian strongman Alyaksandr Lukashenka ramps up pressure on NGOs and independent media as part of a brutal crackdown against protesters and the opposition following an August 2020 election widely considered fraudulent.

Among the countries improving their ranking was Turkey, once the worlds worst jailer of journalists. It is ranked sixth in the CPJ census after releasing 20 prisoners in the last year. Eighteen remain in jail.



But the CPJ noted that Turkeys crackdown after a failed coup in 2016 effectively eradicated the countrys mainstream media and prompted many journalists to leave the profession. The countrys prison count is also declining as the government allows more journalists out on parole to await trial.



Saudi Arabias release of 10 prisoners moved it out of the top five to eighth. However, the effect of the murder in 2018 of Jamal Khashoggi, a prominent critic of the government in Riyadh who wrote for The Washington Post, along with several new detentions in 2019, is likely to have silenced many journalists. Fourteen journalists remain in prison there.



The report also said that as the world dealt with problems such as the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change in 2021, repressive governments were aware that public outrage over human rights abuses was blunted, the report said.



The data reflects a general trend toward a growing intolerance of independent reporting.



In this grim year for free expression, that kind of intolerance leaves little room for optimism that the number of jailed journalists will stop setting records anytime soon, CPJ said.
Amnesty International says four Kazakh activists have had their mobile devices infected with Pegasus spyware in what it said further shows that the malicious software is being used by governments to try to "silence social movements and crush dissent."



Israels NSO Group became the center of controversy after an international media consortium in July reported that its Pegasus spyware was used in attempts to hack smartphones belonging to more than a dozen current or former world leaders, journalists, human rights activists, business, and executives, in some 50 countries.



Amnesty Internationals Security Lab conducted forensic analysis on the phones of nine Kazakh human rights activists, and confirmed that four of them had their devices infected with Pegasus in early June, the London-based human rights watchdog said in a statement on December 9.

All of the victims belong to the civic youth movement Oyan, Qazaqstan (Wake Up, Kazakhstan).



Three of them -- Tamina Ospanova, Dimash Alzhanov, and Aizat Abilseit -- received a state-sponsored attacker warning from Apple in late November, meaning the U.S. tech company believed they may have been targeted by the NSO Groups spyware, Amnesty International said.



The fourth victim, Darkhan Sharipov, did not receive this notification, which the watchdog said suggests that the notified individuals represent only a fraction of the human rights activists targeted with the Pegasus spyware in Kazakhstan.



Marie Struthers, Amnesty Internationals Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, urged the Kazakh authorities to immediately conduct a thorough and transparent investigation into this intrusion and bring those responsible for unlawful surveillance of activists to account.



Meanwhile, Struthers said, states across the world must immediately implement a moratorium on the export, sale, and use of surveillance equipment until a human rights-compliant regulatory framework is in place.



Last month, U.S. authorities put the NSO Group on a trade blacklist, saying its software was behind the transnational repression carried out by some foreign governments.



NSO has said its Pegasus software is intended for use against criminals and terrorists and is made available only to military, law enforcement, and intelligence agencies.
Latvia's parliament has voted to allow a probe against Janis Adamsons, a former interior minister and a lawmaker from the opposition Social Democratic Saskana (Harmony) party, who is accused of spying for Russia.



A total of 60 lawmakers on December 9 supported the move by the Prosecutor-General's Office to launch an investigation against Adamsons, while 18 voted against it.



Earlier in June, parliament voted to strip Adamsons of his parliamentary immunity to allow for his arrest and a search of his home.



Media reports say that Adamsons is suspected of passing information related to Latvian laws, military finances, the situation along Latvia's eastern borders, and the Baltic state's attitude to the Russian Nord Stream 2 natural-gas pipeline in Europe to Russian agents over the last four years.



Adamsons has denied any wrongdoing.



Adamsons graduated from the High Naval Political College in Kyiv in the 1970s, when Latvia was a Soviet republic.



From 1979 until the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, he served in the Soviet Border Guard forces in Russia's Far East.

After Latvia regained independence in 1991, Adamsons served as the commander of Latvia's Border Guard service and as interior minister.



Adamsons is a member of the parliamentary commission for defense, interior affairs, and the prevention of corruption.



Adamsons eligibility to be a lawmaker has been questioned in the past by politicians who accused him of serving in the ranks of the KGB, since the Border Guard troops during the Soviet era were under KGB command.



Latvia declared independence from the Soviet Union in 1991 and is now a member of the European Union and NATO.

With reporting by Delfi and tvnet.lv
SKOPJE -- North Macedonia has declared a Russian diplomat persona non grata and communicated the decision to Moscow earlier this week.



"[North Macedonia's] Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in accordance with Article 9 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, decided to declare a diplomat at the Embassy of the Russian Federation an undesirable person in the Republic of North Macedonia," the ministry said in a statement on May 18.

"The Ambassador of the Russian Federation [to Macedonia Sergei Bazdnikin] was summoned to the premises of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on May 14, whereupon a note was handed instructing the diplomat to leave the territory of Northern Macedonia within seven days."

The statement gave no further details about the case.

Based on Article 9 of the Vienna Convention, the host nation at any time and for any reason can declare a particular member of the diplomatic staff persona non grata.

The Russian Embassy in Skopje said Moscow was considering "reciprocal measures."

Several other former Soviet bloc countries in Central and Eastern Europe, all of them members of the European Union and NATO, have expelled Russian diplomats last month, triggering reciprocal measures by Moscow.

The series of expulsions began last month when the Czech Republic expelled scores of Russian diplomats over the accusations that Russian spies were involved in a deadly ammunition depot explosion in 2014, prompting a tit-for-tat response from Moscow.

North Macedonia officially became a NATO member in March 2020.

The Balkan country previously expelled Russian diplomats in 2018 in solidarity with Britain, following a nerve-agent poisoning in England that targeted former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal.

With reporting by TASS
Some call it the "nuclear option." It doesn't involve weapons though.

As U.S. President Joe Biden's administration considers economic threats to thwart what it fears is a new Kremlin plan to invade Ukraine, there is one option that is reportedly on the short list: cutting Russia off from the global electronic-payment-messaging system known as SWIFT.

It would be an unprecedented move against one of the world's major economies.

The White House has not confirmed it is threatening to disconnect Russian banks from SWIFT, which stands for Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication.

However, Biden himself added grist to the rumor mill on December 8 by warning that should Russian President Vladimir Putin decide to attack Ukraine, the United States and allies would slap his country with sanctions "like none he'd ever seen."

While analysts agree such a move would cause economic pain for Russia, some say the impact of cutting the country off from SWIFT is overhyped, for various reasons.

What Is SWIFT And Why Is It Important?

SWIFT is a secure communications platform used by banks, brokerages, and other financial institutions to send and receive information, such as instructions for transferring money overseas or settling securities trades.

However, it does not actually move or hold money and securities.

Say a German company is buying Russian natural gas, so it needs to pay for it. It can transfer money from its German bank account to the Russian firm's Russian bank by entering the recipient's account number and the SWIFT code.

The German firm then sends a message from its German account, via SWIFT, to the Russian bank saying a money transfer is incoming. Then, when the funds electronically arrive, they will be available for the Russian company to withdraw.

SWIFT's use of standardized codes for instructions enables banks to process payments quickly.

Some 11,000 financial institutions located in more than 200 countries and territories use SWIFT. The platform is on pace to process more than 10 billion messages this year, facilitating trillions of dollars in cross-border payments.

Before SWIFT, when banks wanted to communicate financial information from one place to another, they used a "telex" system, based on old telegraph circuits. But that was slow and cumbersome, and not secure.

So SWIFT was set up in 1973.

Today, SWIFT is a behemoth in the financial-communications industry thanks to its ease of use, speed, and security. It can help banks complete cross-border payments in under five minutes and offers end-to-end tracking.

"It is the most trusted kind of cross-border payment-messaging system out there and so its hugely important," said Brian O'Toole, a former senior adviser at the U.S. Treasury Department.

Who Owns SWIFT?

Based in Belgium, the cooperative is owned by member banks and governed by a 25-member board of directors that currently includes one Russian national. The organization is overseen by the G10 central banks -- Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Great Britain, the United States, Switzerland, and Sweden -- as well as the European Central Bank.

Has SWIFT Ever Cut Off A Country From Its Platform?

In 2012 SWIFT disconnected Iranian banks after they were blacklisted by the European Union and amid pressure from the United States.

However, Iran was largely isolated from the global financial network, so the overall impact was muted, says O'Toole, now an associate with the Atlantic Council, a Washington, D.C., think tank. "It certainly made life a heck of a lot harder for the Iranian banks that were still connected to the international financial system but [the cut-off] was essentially just plugging the leaks," he told RFE/RL.

Can The United States Force SWIFT To Disconnect Russia?

SWIFT adheres to Belgian and European law, not U.S. law, so it "doesn't actually have to listen to the United States," O'Toole said.

However, the United States has the power to twist SWIFT's arm by threatening sanctions against the platform itself as it had done when it was seeking to disconnect Iran, O'Toole said.

What Would Happen If Russia Were Cut Off From SWIFT?

Russia is a much larger economy than Iran and deeply integrated into the global financial community, so the impact of a SWIFT cutoff would be much greater than in the case with Iran.

Russia would face significant economic disruption for a period of time, especially with respect to cross-border payments, as it adjusts to new platforms, says Elina Ribakova, an economist at the Washington-based Institute for International Finance.

The disruption could cause the Russian economy to contract and send the ruble tumbling in the short term, she says. However, since Russia's leading exports -- oil and natural gas -- are critical to Europe's livelihood, both sides would seek to find a quick solution, Ribakova told RFE/RL.

The impact would also be muted because Russia has been building its own financial-messaging system, she adds.

Back in 2014, after Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimea Peninsula, there were calls to cut Russia off from SWIFT. So the Kremlin backed development of a domestic financial-communications platform to protect itself.

Known as the System for Transfer of Financial Messages (SPFS), the Russian platform had more than 400 member banks -- including two dozen from former Soviet states -- and handled one-fifth of all domestic financial communications, as of the end of 2020.

So Russia Is Protected Then?

Not entirely: the Russian system has its drawbacks.

Whereas SWIFT operates 24 hours a day, SPFS can send payment messages only during weekday working hours, Maria Shagina, a fellow at the Center for Eastern European Studies at the University of Zurich, wrote earlier this year. SPFS also has shorter limits on the size of messages, she said.

Russia "technically" can make the transition should it get cut off from SWIFT, "which was not the case in 2014," Ribakova said. Nonetheless, "it will still be a massive shock to the system" for a period of time, she said.

Russia could try to expand SPFS internationally as a possible solution for cross-border transactions, O'Toole says.

China, whose economy is far larger than Russia's, is also developing an alternative to SWIFT. In 2015, Beijing launched the Cross-Border Interbank Payment System (CIPS) to help internationalize use of the Chinese currency, the yuan.

Some Chinese officials have called for using CIPS instead of SWIFT to protect the country's banks from threats of a cutoff.

Bank Sanctions: More Devastating?

While some officials and analysts have called SWIFT the "nuclear" option, O'Toole says that was an exaggeration. Russia would still be allowed to conduct international transactions through other communications platforms, albeit less effective ones.

"If you cut SWIFT off from the Russian banking system without doing anything else, all you're doing essentially is forcing it to use [SWIFT competitors]," he said. "You're not prohibiting transactions. You're just making it more annoying to transact and more difficult for people to get those transactions."

He says the White House should focus on placing sanctions on Russian banks. "What financial institutions will the administration go after if Russia crosses the border? I think that's the relevant policy question," he said.

The United States could target state-owned financial institutions tied to Russia's elite, like VEB and Russian Direct Investment Fund. Sanctioning those two banks could be "more impactful" than cutting Russia's entire banking system off from SWIFT, he said.

VEB acts as a development bank and payment agent for the Russian government. The Russian Direct Investment Fund, meanwhile, is the country's sovereign-wealth fund, and has been closely involved in Kremlin foreign prestige projects: such as promoting the Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine.

Targeting leading retail banks Sberbank and VTB would be trickier, he said. While placing sanctions on them would result in "major economic dislocation" because of the massive market share they hold, ordinary Russian citizens would be caught in the crosshairs.

Can Russia's Economy Withstand The Turmoil?

Since 2014, Russia has been building up its defenses against the threat of greater U.S. sanctions. Aside from developing a SWIFT alternative as well as a payment-processing alternative to Visa and Mastercard, the Russian government has kept a tight lid on spending, even posting budget surpluses, a rarity in Western democracies.

The government has also built up its foreign-currency and gold reserves, which exceed $620 billion, putting it neck-and-neck with India for fourth-highest in the world.

That amount includes the roughly $200 billion in the "rainy day" National Wealth Fund.

Barring any sanctions, Russia's reserves could grow another $20 billion next year, Ribakova says. The Russian government "always has this sort of Sword of Damocles hanging over them of more sanctions. And I think that sort of permeates all aspects of their macroeconomic policy," she said.

"It's part of this 'Fortress Russia' strategy, and they're sticking to it because it has worked well for them," she said.
U.S. President Joe Biden says he hopes to announce a meeting soon between the United States, its major allies in Europe, and Russia for talks on Moscow's concerns about NATO expansion.



Biden said he hoped to announce the meeting by December 10 and said it would involve envoys from at least four major NATO allies and Russia.



The envoys would discuss the future of Russias concern relative to NATO writ large and whether or not we could work out any accommodations as it relates to bringing down the temperature along the eastern front [in Ukraine]," Biden told reporters at the White House.



Russian President Vladimir Putin promised that Moscow would submit its proposals for a security dialogue with the United States in a few days.



Putin also again denied that Russia is planning to attack Ukraine but said that Moscow cant remain indifferent to NATOs possible expansion to include its neighbor.



The two leaders spoke one day after they met for a two-hour videoconference amid fears of a new Russian invasion of Ukraine.



The White House said Biden will hold a call with the leaders of the Bucharest Nine (B9) to brief them on his call with Putin and hear their perspectives on the current security situation and underscore the United States' commitment to transatlantic security."



The B9 -- Romania, Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania -- are countries on the eastern edge of NATO.



The White House also reconfirmed that Biden will speak on December 9 with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. The call with Zelenskiy will take place before the call with the B9.



Biden said he told Putin that Moscow will face "severe economic sanctions" should Russian troops massed on the Ukrainian border launch an attack.



"I made it very clear if in fact he invades Ukraine there will be severe consequences, severe consequences -- economic consequences like none he's ever seen or ever have been seen," Biden said.



But Biden also said no U.S. troops would be sent to Ukraine to help defend against a Russian invasion.



"We have a moral obligation and a legal obligation to our NATO allies under Article 5. It's a sacred obligation, Biden said. That obligation does not extend to...Ukraine.



In addition, he said he made it clear that the United States would provide defensive capabilities to Ukraine. He did not specify what that means, but the United States has provided more than $250 billion in arms, weapons, and other military equipment since 2014.



In Moscow, Putin characterized the talks as very open, substantive, and constructive.



We have an opportunity to continue the dialogue. This is most important, the Russian president said.



The talks -- their third direct meeting since Biden took office in January -- came amid a buildup of Russian troops near the Ukraine border. Ukrainian officials put the number at just below 100,000, while U.S. intelligence has warned the figure could reach 150,000 in the near future.



Its one of the largest movements of Russian forces toward Ukraine in years outside of regularly scheduled training exercises.



That, plus the absence of more routine notification procedures shared even between adversaries, has set off alarm bells not only in Ukraine but in many NATO countries, particularly those in Eastern Europe.



Zelenskiy called the Putin-Biden talks positive, saying that the United States has always supported Ukraine, our sovereignty and independence."



"But the most important thing is that now we see a real and personal reaction from President Biden and his personal role in resolving the conflict," Zelenskiy said.
Russia continued to ramp up rhetoric against Kyiv as U.S. President Joe Biden held talks with Ukraine's leader and was to offer security reassurances to nine Eastern European NATO allies amid a Russian military buildup near the Ukrainian border.

Biden held a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on December 9, and then spoke with the leaders of NATO members Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia.



The diplomacy comes two days after Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a video call amid Western concerns about the presence of tens of thousands of Russian troops near Ukraines border that has triggered fears of an invasion.



Russia denies it is planning to attack, claiming instead that Ukraine and NATO are provoking tensions. Moscow is demanding security guarantees against NATOs expansion to Ukraine, which is not a member of the alliance.



During the call, Biden told Putin that Moscow will face "severe economic sanctions" should Russian troops launch an attack against Ukraine.



Zelenskiy and Biden discussed the talks with Putin, as well as ways to kick-start stalled peace negotiations over eastern Ukraine, the Ukrainian president's office said.



Fighting between Ukrainian government forces and the separatists in eastern Ukraine has killed more than 13,200 people since April 2014. Russia asserts Kyiv is failing to meet its commitments under the 2014 and 2015 Minsk agreements aimed at putting an end to the conflict in eastern Ukraine.



"The key issue of the talks was the security situation around Ukraine and the prospects for intensifying a peace settlement," Zelenskiy's office said.



"The heads of state also discussed ways to provide security, financial, and political support to Ukraine in combating the ongoing hybrid aggression," it added.

Earlier, General Valery Gerasimov, chief of the Russian military's General Staff, warned Ukraine on December 9 against trying to launch an offensive against Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine, saying any such action will be suppressed.



Meanwhile, the Russian Foreign Ministry accused Ukraine of moving heavy weaponry near the front line in eastern Ukraine with the support of NATO members.

Speaking to foreign military attaches, Gerasimov complained about what he called NATO's growing presence near Russian borders and the increasing number of drills by alliance troops.



He also dismissed Western concerns about the Russian military buildup, arguing that Moscow is free to deploy its troops wherever it likes on its territory and calling the claim of a possible Russian invasion a lie.



U.S. intelligence assesses that Russia has around 70,000 troops near Ukraine and could be planning a multifront offensive as early as next year, involving up to 175,000 troops.

Biden is closely coordinating Ukraine policy with major European powers, while also planning follow-up talks between the United States, NATO, and Russia.



In London, Britain's Defense Secretary Ben Wallace reiterated that Russia would face severe consequences if it launched an attack on Ukraine.



Wallace said that Russian concerns about NATO encirclement made little sense.



"Only 6 percent of the Russian land border is bordered by NATO countries -- that's hardly being surrounded by NATO," Wallace said.



In Paris on her first trip as Germany's foreign minister, Annalena Baerbock said the European Union needed a common position when dealing with Russia.



Russia would pay a high political and economic price for a renewed breach of Ukraines statehood, Baerbock told reporters. We can only find solutions down the diplomatic route, and we are both ready to become personally deeply engaged.

French President Emmanuel Macron said on December 9 that he plans to hold a virtual meeting with Putin next week to try to de-escalate tensions around Ukraine. Macron also said he would be meeting with Zelenskiy next week.



Retired Czech General Petr Pavel, the former chairman of the NATO Military Committee, told RFE/RL that the Ukrainian Army is much better equipped and trained that it was in 2014, when Russia annexed Ukraine and backed separatist forces.



It would be wrong to underestimate Russia, which has repeatedly shown that it is ready to use all instruments, including the military, to achieve its political goals and is not ashamed to break the agreements it has agreed upon, he said.



But the Ukrainian Army is much stronger today, so an attack on Ukraine would be a very risky step for Russia, he added.

With reporting by AP, Reuters, and RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service
Human Rights Watch has called on Uzbek authorities to immediately release from custody Muslim blogger Fozilxoja Orifxojaev, who has been "in arbitrary detention for five months," facing charges of threatening public security over a social-media post. He faces a potential eight-year prison sentence.



Orifxojaev, a 41-year-old Tashkent-based blogger known for his criticism of the Uzbek authorities' restrictive religious policies, was arrested in June on petty hooliganism charges over a heated confrontation in public with a pro-government blogger and cleric.



Orifxojaev was sentenced to 15 days in jail for that. He was not released from custody after his jail term was over and instead was charged with distributing or displaying materials containing a threat to public security and public order using mass media or telecommunication, or the Internet.



The charge stemmed from a Facebook post in early March in which Orifxojaev discussed if it was appropriate for Muslims to congratulate non-Muslims on their religious holidays.



"It is not difficult to see that the case against Orifxojaev has zero to do with a genuine threat to public order and everything to do with the Uzbek authorities' desire to silence a government critic, who also happens to be Muslim," senior Central Asia researcher at Human Rights Watch, Mihra Rittmann said. "Uzbek authorities should drop this bogus case and release Orifxojaev from pretrial detention immediately.



"Expressing in a Facebook post a religious view about whether Muslims can or should congratulate people of other faiths on their religious holidays may be contentious to some, but it is certainly not a crime, and moreover, is speech protected by international human rights norms," Human Rights Watch said.
The Russian Federation Ministry of Finance expects to increase the export of jewelry in this way

(vedomosti.ru)  Russias Ministry of Finance wants to launch an online jewelry trading marketplace aimed at foreign buyers. Such an initiative is contained in a letter from Deputy Finance Minister Alexey Moiseev to Tigran Sargsyan, Deputy Chairman of the Board of the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) (Vedomosti has the document, and its authenticity was confirmed by a representative of the ministry).

The Russian Ministry of Finance agreed with the Ministry of Finance of Belarus to launch a pilot project aimed at developing online jewelry trading to increase the export of jewelry goods from the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) to the world market, Moiseev said in his address. The deputy minister invites Sargsyan to take part in the creation of an IT infrastructure necessary for this purpose, using among other things the resources of the Digital Initiatives Fund of the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB).

Sargsyan confirmed the receipt of this letter through a representative. According to him, the EDB, together with the Russian and Belarusian Ministries of Finance, is indeed working on the project titled Digital Trade. Jewelry, the purpose of which is to form a new trading platform for organizing exports to third countries.

To create it, according to Sargsyan, it is necessary to go through two stages. The first is to digitize the internal processes of the industry in the participating countries. The second is to design directly a new infrastructure and create a logistics system, says Sargsyan. In Russia and Belarus, jewelry hallmarking has already been launched - this is a good basis for further paperless interaction with regulatory authorities, as well as an opportunity for export registration in one click, he explains. According to Sargsyan, the result of the joint work will be a new online trading space for the jewelry industry of the EAEU countries.

Why do the authorities need a marketplace?

The marketplace is aimed at the b2c segment, and this platform will be selling finished goods, as Vedomosti was told by a representative of the EDB Digital Initiatives Fund. This will reduce costs for businesses by eliminating intermediaries and creating a completely new e-commerce ecosystem in the market, the source said. According to the source, the platform will be developed in such a way that deliveries will be carried out to the buyer's door.

The volume of the Russian jewelry market is about 70 million gold pieces per year, Moiseev said through a representative. According to the Association of Internet Trading Companies (AITC), sales of this category in 2020 amounted to 222 billion rubles, of which 30 billion rubles are accounted for by online trading. Russias Guild of Jewelers estimates the share of online sales in the segment at 10%. Online sale of jewelry in Russia has been legalized since the end of 2019, subject to mandatory certification of precious stones and the presence of an assay mark.

The potential of this market allows selling goods not only domestically, but also abroad, the Deputy Minister of Finance added. According to Moiseev, now participation in international exhibitions is limited due to the pandemic, which narrows the export potential of the industry. He clarified that the request for new opportunities for entering foreign markets comes from manufacturers. In addition to directly increasing exports, the marketplace will help open new names of jewelers from Russia and the EAEU and will also contribute to the development of the industry, Moiseev summed up.

On January 1, 2021, Russia launched the State Integrated Information System to control the turnover of precious metals and precious stones. Currently, registration in this system is voluntary, but from March 1, 2022, all operations with jewelry products must be transferred to the system. From March 1, 2023, it will be imperative to apply a special barcode  nanomark - to jewelry goods. According to Moiseev, the digital platform will become one of the options for implementing this traceability system, which will collect information about all products manufactured in Russia, and then in Belarus.

The share of jewelery from the EAEU in the global market is less than 1%, while for the Union countries it is export that is a key factor in the development of the industry, said a representative of the EDB Digital Initiatives Fund. The launch of the marketplace will at least allow industry stakeholders to optimize the work with documents required for international trade, the source said.

Does business need a state marketplace?

Vedomosti sent inquiries to the largest jewelry retailers and manufacturers. Online jewelry sales have been growing steadily over the past few years, including due to the pandemic and restrictions on the operation of offline stores, agreed the CEO of the Alrosa jewelry group, Irina Morozovskaya. According to her, the initiative of the Ministry of Finance can only be welcomed. Online jewelry retail in Russia is growing mainly due to large federal players who invest in their own e-commerce, said Artem Sokolov, managing partner of Sokolov. The structure of demand in the virtual segment is mostly focused on the mass market - a category of low and medium price range, he said. Premium jewelry pieces worth more than 400,000 rubles are still more often sold in brick-and-mortar stores, he points out. The success of the state marketplace will largely depend on the volume of investments in promoting the new plarform in competitive international markets, Sokolov believes.

Jewelry production in Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Armenia is not so large, so the project is more likely aimed mainly at Russian companies, says Eduard Utkin, General Director of the Jewellers Guild of Russia. According to him, currently, bureaucratic procedures hinder the sale of jewelry for export. Difficulties arise not so much with the search for buyers abroad, as with the shipment of products to them from Russia, Utkin continued. A lot of documents are required, it is impossible to do without the services of a customs broker, which are quite expensive, the expert explained. Thus, foreign trade is available only to large companies that are willing to incur additional costs, while these channels are not available for small ones. If the marketplace takes over the functions of customs clearance, it will be a breakthrough step in the development of jewelry exports, Utkin assured.

The platform should be rather a service model on which commercial marketplaces and online stores will be able to receive certain services, says AITC President Artem Sokolov. In fact, a full-fledged online jewelry trade in Russia began at the end of 2019. Since then, the local market has seen a stable growth of online sales on average from 5% to 40% per month, depending on the region. According to AITC, the volume of orders in January - March 2021 increased 3 times as much compared to the same period in 2020.

However, according to Utkin, foreigners do not yet have much interest in Russian jewelry, but there is a huge Russian-speaking diaspora abroad that may be interested in buying domestic goods.
Poles along East Rd. in Milton head towards Duffy Rd. Town Manager Don Turner said this area in Milton is one of the most affected by poor broadband access. Turner said this area would require Comcast go over or under the railroad "which is almost impossible."
The memorial to the nonprofit leader who devoted his life to ending homelessness is planned for early 2022
Back in 1850, Oliviero Colmignolis great-great-grandfather started making dry sausages at his home in Italys Umbria province. In those days, salami-making consisted of hand-stuffing some salted pork into a casing, hanging it from the rafters with a piece of string, then opening a window and hoping for the best.

Four generations later, Colmignoli  whose nickname is Olli  is still following the familys Old World tradition of salami-making, but now the Encinitas resident is using the latest technology at a huge processing plant in Oceanside. Every week, Olli Salumeria turns out 30,000 pounds of high-end artisan salami in a factory that uses robots to move, weigh and measure the moisture in each of the slowly curing links, which hang by the tens of thousands from steel racks in 21-foot-tall, climate-controlled rooms.

Oliviero Colmignoli watches a robotic wheeled cart weigh and calculate the moisture content of a rack of curing salami at his Olli Salumeria factory in Oceanside. (Charlie Neuman / San Diego Union-Tribune/Zuma Press )

Colmignoli, 38, can use his cellphone to track of the progress of every single salami in the 80,000-square-foot factory, but he insists that while the process has changed, some things never do. All the fresh spices are still hand-measured and each string of sausages is hand-tested for the perfect firmness, a quality unique to Olli sausage that he said cant be done by machine.

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The family has always pursued technology, which allows us to deliver quality at a price thats accessible, but the salami-making process has never changed from its traditional roots, he said.

The Oceanside Olli factory opened last year and employs 50 workers, who turn out some 7,000 cases of meat products each week for customers that include Costco, Whole Foods, Gelsons, Bristol Farms, Jimbos and Frazier Farms. The companys specialty is high-end, artisan salami thats made with all-natural, antibiotic-free pork from small farms in Iowa and Canada thats processed without nitrates. The five-inch salamis, which come in nine varieties, retail for $11 to $12.

Oliviero Colmignoli hand-tests the firmness of a stack of salami being prepared for packaging at his Olli Salumeria factory in Oceanside. (Charlie Neuman / San Diego Union-Tribune/Zuma Press )

So how did an Italian sausage-maker end up in Oceanside? Thats a story that began 166 years ago with Innocenzo Fiorucci, the familys meat-processing pioneer. Colmignoli said his great-great-grandfather paid the bills by selling salted meats in the winters and cobbling shoes each summer. Over the next 90 years, the Fiorucci family became well-known for their Norcia-style sausages (Norcia is a town in Umbria), which Innocenzos son, Cesare, started producing and selling in Rome after World War II.

Cesares son, Ferruccio, didnt have any sons of his own, so the familys salami tradition was passed on to his son-in-law, Claudio Colmignoli, who moved to Virginia in 1986 with his wife and 9-year-old son Olli. They opened a U.S. manufacturing plant for Fiorucci Foods in Richmond, but four years later, Ollis parents divorced and he and his mother moved back to Rome. After high school, he moved to London to study photography, but after a few years working in that field, the salami siren song called him back into the family fold.

In 2004, Olli Colmignoli moved his family to Virginia to work in the Fioriucci Foods plant in Richmond. A few years later  after his family sold their assets to a private equity firm  Olli Salumeria was born. Colmignoli said he and an investor friend were discussing American versus Italian prosciutto (dry-cured ham). He felt that Italian prosciutto was superior because the pigs in Italy are naturally raised on small family farms. Together, Colmignoli and his now-former partner decided to reproduce the conditions in Italy to create an higher-end American product.

Raw ground pork, mixed with seasonings, is fed into an Italian-made sausage-stuffing machine at the Olli Salumeria factory in Oceanside. (Charlie Neuman / San Diego Union-Tribune/Zuma Press )

Working from a small plant in Virginia, Ollis first prosciutto was unveiled in 2010 and its salami debuted in 2011. The fledgling company was boosted by great press in newspapers like the New York Times and Wall Street Journal, whose reporters were charmed by its Old World aspirations. Oprah Winfrey recommended Olli products in a Christmas best list and then Whole Foods came calling. The high-end supermarket chain was looking for U.S. companies to produce private-label charcuterie items under its Gusto brand, and the chain helped connect Colmignoli with humane pork suppliers in Canada and Iowa to ensure a consistent supply.

Eventually, Olli Salumeria focused all its energies on salami and its Virginia plant maxed out. When he decided to build a much larger plant in 2014, he looked to the West Coast for expansion. California shoppers are willing to pay for more quality foods, and Californias Mediterranean climate appealed to the Rome-bred Colmignoli, his South African wife, Leanna, and their two daughters, now 11 and 16. He picked San Diego because his sister, Giulia, and her husband, Christopher Antinucci, had already settled here to open their fast-growing Rome-style pizza chain, Napizza.

The enormous Oceanside factory was built for growth, with enough room to process 400,000 pounds of meat each week, nearly seven times its current production. He believes that will take about 10 years to reach. Olli salami is manufactured to American tastes. Its smokier, less sweet and much harder than Italian salami. That hardness is achieved through drying, which can take five weeks to five months, depending on the variety. During the drying process, the salami loses 50 percent of its weight, so it takes 60,000 pounds of pork to make 30,000 pounds of salami.

A machine lifts freshly-stuffed raw salami into racks that will be sprayed with a fermenting mold and chilled for a week before they move to curing rooms to dry at Olli Salumeria in Oceanside. (Charlie Neuman / San Diego Union-Tribune/Zuma Press )

The pre-cut raw pork arrives daily and is poured into a truck-sized grinder in a chilled room. Employees mix the ground pork with fresh spices (oregano, cumin, smoked paprika, anise, fennel seed pollen, mace and fresh garlic cloves), feed it by machine into mesh casings and then spray it with a penicillin-like mold that starts the fermenting process. After a week in cold storage, the sausages are moved by robotic carts into slightly warmer drying rooms, where streams of moisture-free forced air cycle up and down through the racks.

Once the sausages reach the perfect weight and level of dehydration, theyre washed, dried and packaged. Among the varieties Olli produces under its own label and the Gusto and Murrays private labels are Toscana, made with Italian fennel pollen; spicy Calabrese, with cayenne pepper and paprika; Chorizo, made with pimenton de la vera (Spanish smoked paprika); and Napoli, which is smoked over apple wood. There are varieties made with Italian summer black truffles and boars meat, a new pepperoni line, and a new test batch now in the curing stages made with barley and smoked porter beer from Carlsbads Guadalupe Brewery.

When asked how his great-grandfather Cesare  who built the familys first major salami factory outside Rome in the 1960s  would feel about the modernized Olli factory, Colmignoli smiles with pride.

He was the first to use technology, and I think hed love it, he said. The technology has definitely come forward, but without changing the process.

1 / 11 At the Olli Salumeria salami sausage processing plant in Oceanside a large quantity of pork, above right, works its way into a machine staffed Elias Olivas, left, and Carlos Ferre. (Charlie Neuman / San Diego Union-Tribune/Zuma Pre) 2 / 11 A large steel container of raw pork mixed with spices and other ingredients is ready to be poured into a salami making machine at Olli Salumeria. (Charlie Neuman / San Diego Union-Tribune/Zuma Pre) 3 / 11 A machine lifts a large rack of just made salamis at Olli Salumeria. (Charlie Neuman / San Diego Union-Tribune/Zuma Pre) 4 / 11 Olli Salumeria company president Oliviero Colmignoli holds some salamis ready for packaging and shipment. (Charlie Neuman / San Diego Union-Tribune/Zuma Pre) 5 / 11 Olli Salumeria company president Oliviero Colimignoli looks at one of the many computer screens that monitor the prooduction of their salami. (Charlie Neuman / San Diego Union-Tribune/Zuma Pre) 6 / 11 Racks of salamis cure are cured in the drying room. (Charlie Neuman / San Diego Union-Tribune/Zuma Pre) 7 / 11 Oliviero Colmignoli, president of Olli Salumeria, smells Italian fennel, one of the many spices used in the production of his high-end salamis. (Charlie Neuman / San Diego Union-Tribune/Zuma Pre) 8 / 11 Labels on a flow wrapping machine at Olli Salumeria for one of the many brands of salami produced by the company. (Charlie Neuman / San Diego Union-Tribune/Zuma Pre) 9 / 11 Oliviero Colmignoli inspects curing salamis in one of the many drying rooms at his companys large Oceanside facility. (Charlie Neuman / San Diego Union-Tribune/Zuma Pre) 10 / 11 Oliviero Colmignoli inspects curing salamis in one of the many drying rooms at his companys large Oceanside facility. (Charlie Neuman / San Diego Union-Tribune/Zuma Pre) 11 / 11 Packages of salami are ready to ship salami at the Olli Salumeria factory in Oceanside. (Charlie Neuman / San Diego Union-Tribune/Zuma Pre)

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pam.kragen@sduniontribune.com


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Theres no better argument for the value of historic preservation than this: It keeps revealing fresh ways that buildings of merit can be reborn.

A San Francisco music club inhabits an ex-mortuary on Valencia Street. Five blocks to the north theres a private school in a former Levis factory. On the Embarcadero, the Exploratorium moved its interactive science museum into a shed-like pier where steamships once docked.

The latest Bay Area example may be the strangest of all: the transformation of UC-Berkeleys former art museum, the seismically vulnerable Berkeley Art Museum, a gravity-defying blast of concrete bravado from 1970, into a business incubator for biotech startups.

The juxtaposition is flat-out bizarre, with glassed-in research labs filling massive concrete shells that once held gallery space. The cantilevered circulation ramps fan out with heavy force above prim cubicles of blue and white. A multi-tier skylight that M.C. Escher would love is now accented with streaked LED lighting.

The trade-off comes with a downside  one of the most exuberant public structures in the region will now be off limits to nearly everyone. But the fact that it survives, with structural upgrades that give it new life, is a triumph.

I still cant believe that I was able to work on the building, be part of the legacy, said Kevin Koblik, project manager for MBH Architects, the firm that headed the conversion effort. It was a challenge start to finish, but in all the right ways.

The two-level structure across from the campus on Bancroft Way remains the same on the outside, a windowless bunker of concrete forms extending through the block to Durant Street. It burrows into the site as if pulling in on itself.

Then you step inside, and things open up. Architect Mario Ciampi, who was awarded the project after winning a 1965 design competition that drew 366 entries, conceived a total sensory immersion  you entered on a landing and then plunged down a steep ramp into a space seemingly carved from concrete, encircled by walkways and overlapping galleries beneath a broad jagged skylight.

Imagine standing below card-like concrete blocks that had been shuffled and then pulled out in varied ways.

Jessica Christian/The Chronicle

Ciampi, who died in 2006, had a career that included such expressive works as the soaring Interstate 280 overpasses in San Mateo County. He also spent several years working, with San Franciscos blessing, to create a park at the foot of Market Street that would try to bring people to the water by, wait for it, lopping the wings off the Ferry Building and leaving only the tower intact.

Hey, it was the 60s.

As for the home of UC-Berkeleys art museum and Pacific Film Archive, he once likened the design to a physical manifestation of the zodiac. More to the point, it was the regions most adventurous example of brutalism, a mid-century reaction against the monotonous modernism that was then being imposed on cities around the world.

But Ciampi also pushed the limits of structural engineering  and after the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake prompted a seismic survey of all campus buildings, the museum was found to be very deficient. Exterior bracing was added to make the structure less vulnerable to temblors, but its days as a museum were numbered, and it closed in 2014.

The rebranded BAMPFA debuted two years later at Center and Oxford streets, on the edge of downtown Berkeley. That left the original structure, which the university had agreed to save. The problem was to find a new use that could handle the costs of rejuvenating a problematic icon.

The solution says a lot about how higher education has changed since 1970.

The new occupant is the Bakar BioEnginuity Hub, a university-sponsored incubator for life science startups. There is fully equipped lab space, along with open office benches and cubicles and conference rooms for as many as 80 startups  rent a bench, gain access to deep freezers and tissue culture rooms.

And how does this mesh with Ciampis sculpted vision? Better than you might expect.

Greg Peterson/The Chronicle

MBH and the rest of the design team found inventive ways to bring the old museum up to code while meeting lab research expectations and honoring the architecture. Thats no small feat  the main ramp leading down from the entrance into the central space had to be extended, since the original version flunked current accessibility standards. Several steel braces that were added for seismic support had to cross through thick concrete walls.

Surgical intervention was required more than once, said Allen Nudel of Forell/Elsesser, the structural engineering firm on the project. The design team also included Page & Turnbull, which worked with MBH on preservation details, and Plant Construction.

We were all rowing in the same direction, Koblik said.

No surprise, the addition of black steel columns and beams into a space defined by concrete flash changes the ambiance. So do the off-white ceiling ducts that float above many of the spaces. They add conventionality to a structure that defied convention.

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But buildings arent artifacts. They must serve different eras if they are to survive.

On the whole, the balancing act works. By placing the controlled lab spaces within the original galleries, behind clear glass walls, the cantilevered trail of ramps and landings remains open. Noise is softened by sound-absorbing panels that add a mid-century vibe, such as the orbs hovering above the entry level.

The new ceiling-level LEDs draw attention to the crazed central skylight.

When I asked one staffer about the chore of fitting the precise demands of biomedical research into such an idiosyncratic icon, he gave a surprising answer.

Every time you turn a corner, youre confronted with a new aspect of the space, said Gino Segre, managing director of Bakar Labs. Theres a metaphorical aspect to that. Breakthroughs come from new perspectives.

The shame is that a curious passerby cant get any further inside the building than that initial space, which floats above the show (Ciampi had a flair for choreography) but has high glass railings that keep you separated from the scene.

Make no mistake: This is a donor-driven project, to use the words of a recent UC press release extolling the near-completion of a central hub for Berkeleys entrepreneurship ecosystem. Construction costs have not been released, but they likely exceed $100 million. Another mark of changing times and priorities is the addition of a small glass office annex along Bancroft Way, beneath the upper galleries.

The university is to be commended for bringing Ciampis landmark back to life. So is QB3, the UC-sponsored institute that oversees Bakar Labs and aims to pair entrepreneurship with life sciences.

But theres another step they can take.

Once the structure formally opens next February, monthly tours to the general public would be a great addition to Bakar BioEngenuity Hubs schedule. Those of you who arent professional critics deserve a chance to see what a great job theyve done.

John King is The San Francisco Chronicles urban design critic. Email: jking@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @johnkingsfchron
Family members, friends, colleagues and constituents of the late Wilma Chan gathered in Oakland Wednesday afternoon to celebrate the life and legacy of the pioneering Alameda County supervisor, who was remembered as a stalwart advocate for civil rights, health care and education following her death last month.

Under misty rain in the Oakland Museum of Californias terraced garden, hundreds were united in their appreciation for Chans commitment to her community, especially, speakers and attendees said, her unwavering dedication to those in need and her reputation as a bold and effective policymaker.

Wilma was a joy to watch. She carried a rhythm that stirred ordinary people to action, said Alameda County Supervisor Richard Valle. Her core spirit always took aim at the stars and inspired people to her calling.

Chan died on Nov. 3 after she was struck by a motorist as she was walking her dog along the Alameda waterfront. She was 72 years old, and is survived by two children and two grandchildren.

Photos by Santiago Mejia / The Chronicle

Our mom once said her legacy was to make life a little better for people less fortunate, said Chans son, Daren Chan. Thats what a meaningful life is. One lives not just for oneself, but for ones community. It is clear more than ever that she certainly fulfilled her legacy.

Speakers at the memorial remembered Chan as a relentless, attentive and irreplaceable community advocate, but also for her love of the little things in life: long naps, singing, New York Times crossword puzzles and Godiva chocolate. She was serenaded on Wednesday by one of her favorite musical groups, the Oakland Youth Chorus.

Originally from Boston, Chan earned a masters degree in administration and policy analysis at Stanford University  a springboard for what would become an accomplished career in public office. She was the first Asian American elected to several seats that she won, including her position on the Alameda County Board of Supervisors, which she joined for the first time in 1994.

Chan went on to serve in the state Assembly from 2000 to 2006 and became its first Asian American majority leader. She was once again elected to her seat on the Alameda County Board of Supervisors in 2010, and served in that role until her death, representing the communities of Alameda, San Leandro, San Lorenzo, Hayward Acres and parts of Ashland and Oakland. She was the only woman and the only Asian American on the board.

Jeanette Dong, one of Chans closest friends, a former chief of staff for Chan and a spokesperson for her family, said Chan was most interested in accomplishing real things for real people and developing a safety net for community members whose needs were underrepresented.

Its an absolute shock that such a vibrant, committed person could be taken from us so early, Dong said. She had so much more to give.

Santiago Mejia / The Chronicle

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The Board of Supervisors appointed Dave Brown, Chans chief of staff, to fill her seat, as requested by Chans family. He has said he will serve the remaining 14 months of Chans term and will not run for the seat next year, telling The Chronicle that he will be supporting an Asian American/Pacific Island woman in that election. Chan had been an advocate for the East Bay Asian American community.

In a printed newsletter distributed at Wednesdays memorial, the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance said Chans leadership and her efforts to uplift immigrants, children, women and low-wage workers will not be forgotten by those she impacted with her perseverance to address societys structural racism and fight for equity and social justice.

Those wanting to share tributes, photo or stories of their memories with or of Chan were encouraged to do so in a digital legacy book available online. The Board of Supervisors and the non-profit Vision Alameda County established a Supervisor Wilma Chan Legacy Fund, and Chans family has said that donations will go toward grants for local nonprofits and programs dedicated to supporting causes that Chan championed.

San Francisco Chronicle staff writer Rachel Swan contributed to this report.

Andres Picon is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: andy.picon@hearst.com Twitter: @andpicon
All AC Transit employees will be required to be vaccinated by a still to-be-determined deadline under a proposal approved by the agencys board of directors Wednesday night.

The mandate, which will not include a testing option for its 2,150 employees, comes after months of efforts by AC Transit officials to encourage its workforce to get inoculated. The East Bay transit agency joins the regions two largest transit operators, Muni and BART, in requiring its workers to get vaccinated or risk being fired.

The agencys management and its three employee labor unions will hash out details over when the mandates deadline will take effect as well as the scope of medical and religious exemptions that will be permitted, AC Transit spokesperson Robert Lyles said.

The transit agencys board tried to approve a mandate in mid-October but deadlocked on a 3-3 vote. Several board members who supported the mandate, which passed Wednesday on a 5-2 vote, described it as the best way to keep employees safe as it has struggled to convince its frontline workers to get vaccinated.

If we had the power to do it, I would also insist that all our riders be vaccinated, but thats just a practical impossibility, board director H.E. Christian Peeples said.

About 52% of AC Transits employees have been vaccinated, according to voluntary disclosure data included in an agency report that also acknowledged that those rates may not be capturing all vaccinated employees.

About 41% of AC Transit operators were vaccinated in mid-October when the agencys board first considered implementing a mandate, and the lack of movement since then encouraged some members to support a requirement.

I dont like the idea of mandates, but unfortunately we havent been able to get enough people (vaccinated) where I would feel comfortable that we stay where we are, board director Diane Shaw said Wednesday night.

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Employee vaccination rates have remained stagnant at AC Transit despite multiple efforts to encourage workers. The agency had offered employees $100 to get vaccinated, set up several vaccine clinics and has mounted a myth busting campaign to educate employees and encourage vaccinations.

The agency pointed to San Francisco as an example of the effectiveness of employee vaccine requirements.

All employees at the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, which runs Muni, had to submit proof of vaccination by Nov. 1 under a citywide order for public workers. About 640 SFMTA employees, mostly comprised of transit operators and other frontline employees, were unvaccinated a month before the deadline. As of this week, almost all of SFMTAs workforce have complied with the mandate while 41 operators remain unvaccinated.

San Franciscos vaccine mandate has also indirectly exacerbated a shortage of transit workers that has delayed plans to restore Muni service next year while it works to hire more operators to make up for its lost workforce.

Ricardo Cano is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: ricardo.cano@sfchronicle.com
A father and son have been arrested in connection with starting the Caldor Fire, which incinerated most of the El Dorado County community of Grizzly Flats, threatened South Lake Tahoe, destroyed more than 1,000 structures and caused several injuries, according to the El Dorado District Attorneys Office.

David Smith, 66, of Somerset and Travis Smith, 32, of Folsom were arrested Wednesday on suspicion of reckless arson, the office said. Their attorney told the Sacramento Bee that the pair was innocent and had only called 911 to report the start of the fire.

District attorneys officials said in a statement Wednesday that the reckless arson caused inhabited properties to burn and resulted in great bodily injury to multiple victims.

The men were arrested through Ramey warrants, which are warrants issued before criminal charges are filed against suspects, district attorneys officials said.

The Caldor Fire, which started in August, scorched 221,835 acres and destroyed nearly two-thirds of Grizzly Flats in El Dorado County. It also prompted the evacuation of South Lake Tahoe. The blaze is the 16th most destructive fire in California history and was among the most intense wildland blazes to burn in drought-parched California this year.

For Tobe Magidson, whose 14-acre property and two-story home in the ranch area of Grizzly Flats was leveled in the blaze, the arrests are a welcome development, but he told The Chronicle that in the grand schemes of things, its not going to bring back this community.

Magidson said his family has had a ranch in the area for 40 years, and he and his 14- and 15-year-old children have been living in a mobile trailer parked in an open field on his property since leaving a campground at Lake Camanche directly after the fire broke out. The ranchs gardens of tomatoes, peppers, corn and potatoes, which were used as food for his familys home, were destroyed in the blaze, he said. His aunts neighboring 26-acre ranch lost two homes.

I dont like to condemn people. I dont know the exact full facts  Im sure it will come out throughout their trial, and I think they should face a trial  but unless they have millions of dollars, its really not gonna help this community, Magidson said, referring to the two suspects. Its not going to bring peoples homes back, thats for sure. Its not going to bring our animal life back. Our trees that are  theyre cutting every tree down  I mean, were losing everything. Its just going to be a wasteland of hills that are not going to stay in place because of the erosion and the mudslides. Its going to be rough.

Magidson, 45, said he is grateful that the fire was investigated and that hes hopeful there is accountability for those responsible for the fire. He said he believes the arrests will bring closure for many residents. But, he added, homeowners in the Grizzly Flats area are mostly focused on how repopulation efforts will look in the spring time, and rebuilding what once was, and still is, a very special community.

Jennifer McKim-Hibbard, 41, told The Chronicle that the Caldor Fire destroyed her familys dream two-story, four-bedroom country home. McKim-Hibbard, her husband Michael, their sons, and the familys Chihuahua, Bruno, and Dilute Tabby, Princess Persia, have been living in their RV since late August.

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They dont understand that this horrific devastating fire wiped out our entire community, McKim-Hibbard said, referring to her young children. Unfortunately, this isnt like television or their cartoons where the little characters all come together and rebuild a house in a day.

McKim-Hibbard said the couple plans to rebuild their home.

It was her oldests sons birthday on Monday. McKim-Hibbard said she and her husband asked him, What do you want for your birthday, baby? He responded, I want a home. I want to go home.

Chronicle staff writer J.D. Morris contributed to this report.

Lauren Hernandez is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: lauren.hernandez@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ByLHernandez
Cases of the highly contagious omicron variant of the coronavirus have risen to 13 in California more than a week after it was first discovered in San Francisco.

But health officials immediate concern remains a winter COVID-19 surge as cases rise across the state and Bay Area because of the delta variant.

Over the past week, coronavirus cases have risen 37% in the Bay Area and 29% statewide, according to data analysis by The Chronicle, though they are still less than one-third of their levels one year ago.

Hospitalizations for COVID are rising less steeply  up about 9% in the Bay Area since Thanksgiving, while statewide hospitalizations are up about 11%.

Public health officials urged people to follow the familiar protocols as the end-of-year holidays approach: getting vaccinated, boosted, wearing masks in indoor public spaces, avoiding large crowds, staying home when sick and testing frequently.

As we expected, the city  just as the state and the nation  is seeing an uptick in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations as we gather more during the busy holiday season, and we are closely monitoring the data to watch for any significant changes, San Franciscos Department of Public Health said in a statement.

Anticipating more widespread omicron infections, U.S. health authorities on Thursday expanded eligibility to 16- and 17-year-olds to get a third dose of the vaccine made by Pfizer.

The delta surge has swamped many U.S. hospitals, with Maine and New Hampshire activating National Guard troops to aid exhausted and overwhelmed health care workers.

The omicron variant, so far, has not become a big factor in California, but officials say that could change as they scramble to learn more about it.

San Francisco detected the nations first case of the new variant on Dec. 1. Close contacts of that person have tested negative, the citys health department said Thursday.

But more cases are expected across the population.

Based on evidence of community spread across the nation and recent reports of cases in other Bay Area counties, we know that omicron is here, and many more cases will continue to be detected, the department said.

A cluster of omicron cases has surfaced at a Kaiser Permanente hospital in Oakland linked to an out-of-town wedding. Kaiser Permanente said 11 of its employees at Oakland Medical Center were infected. All were fully vaccinated and had received boosters. The staffers potentially exposed eight patients plus eight additional employees, Kaiser said.

At least one of the infected people also worked at Highland Hospital. Victoria Balladares, director of communications for Highlands parent organization, the Alameda Health System, said that 11 other staff and 11 patients were potentially exposed. None have so far tested positive.

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Yolo County announced its first case of the variant on Thursday, in a fully vaccinated West Sacramento resident who recently traveled in the U.S.

The detection of the potentially highly transmissible omicron variant is concerning, especially with more people traveling and visiting with friends and family for the holidays, said Dr. Aimee Sisson, Yolo County Public Health Officer.

At least five omicron cases have been detected in Los Angeles County, including in one person with no travel history. Low concentrations of the omicron variant were also discovered in wastewater samples taken in Sacramento and Merced counties last week.

Early data suggests that omicron is more transmissible but may cause milder disease than its predecessors, though it is also encountering a population that may have more immunity because of vaccines or previous exposure to the coronavirus.

San Francisco Chronicle staff writer Julie Johnson contributed to this report.

Kate Galbraith and Aidin Vaziri are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: kgalbraith@sfchronicle.com, avaziri@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @kategalbraith, @musicsf
California abortion rights leaders outlined Wednesday what steps the state should take to prepare for the potential fall of Roe vs. Wade, and the ensuing public health crisis expected to send tens of thousands of women to California from the 26 states where the procedure likely would become illegal.

The newly created California Future of Abortion Council  a group of 40 organizations including Planned Parenthood, Black Women for Wellness Action Project and the ACLU  released a list of 45 recommendations to prepare for a seismic shift in abortion access, from a package of potential new legislation to funding for out-of-state people traveling west for help to a call to train more health providers to perform the procedure.

California is the first state to create such a road map, a sign that the nations most populous state is poised to become a major player in the national abortion fight. It aims to leverage its position as the home to some of the nations strongest abortion rights protections  as well as a supportive Democratic governor and supermajority in the Legislature willing to create even stronger laws.

The road map is also another confirmation that California Democrats plan to make abortion rights a major issue in the midterm elections next year in House battleground races.

(Abortion) is a right that people have had for close to 50 years, and the Supreme Court is primed to take it away, said Jodi Hicks, CEO and president of Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California. The threat is at everyones doorsteps. It is definitely motivating people to take action.

That action will kick off next month, when the Legislature will consider a set of still-being-crafted laws aimed at helping more California women get access to abortion as well as accommodating an expected influx of new patients. While California has some of the strongest access to abortion services in the country, 40% of the counties in the state do not have a clinic where the procedure is performed.

State Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins, D-San Diego, a former director of clinical services at a womens health clinic who sat in on some of the councils meetings, told The Chronicle on Wednesday that she was optimistic the Legislature would be supportive of new measures. Gov. Gavin Newsom said Wednesday that we take seriously the recommendations made in this report.

I think theres going to be a renewed call to action for the fact that this right, that we take very seriously in California, is under assault and attack, Atkins said.

Atkins said she would hesitate to put a number on how much new legislation would cost the state, which is expected to have a $51 billion budget surplus next year. Funding for the proposals in the report is expected to come from private, public and philanthropic sources.

Funding is just one of the unknowns that California abortion rights activists are trying to predict. That list starts with how the Supreme Court, with its conservative 6-3 majority, might move to limit abortion rights when it decides a Mississippi case it heard this month that proposes to ban abortions after 15 weeks. The 1973 Roe decision allows a woman to terminate a pregnancy before 24 weeks, after which a fetus could survive outside the womb.

If the court, as widely predicted, would move to strike down or limit Roe, advocates say that could prompt more than two dozen states to ban abortion, triggering an exodus of people seeking the procedure in other states.

But it is unknown how many women would be traveling to California. The number of out-of-state women of childbearing age who would find their nearest clinic in California would increase from 46,000 now to 1.4 million, many of them from Arizona, according to a report from the Guttmacher Institute.

The reports suggestions for how to address the potential changes include:

 More funding for patients to cover the cost of gas, lodging, transportation, child care, doula support, food, lost wages. It also calls for improved transportation to services for Medi-Cal beneficiaries and more funding for those whose insurance doesnt fully cover the cost of an abortion.

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 Creating a centralized online site that provides information for those seeking abortion care in California. It would include data on potential providers, insurance, language help, the types of abortions available and more.

 Creating what the report called the California Reproductive Scholarship Corps to help train more providers. It would be open to those training as physicians, nurse practitioners, certified nurse-midwives, physician assistants, and in other health care professions with diverse and/or rural backgrounds. The report also proposes funding to cover the cost of professional liability insurance premiums for providers.

The report shows that even in a state like California that has been on the forefront of protecting abortion, there is a way to go before care is universally accessible, available and affordable, Elizabeth Nash, state policy analyst at the Guttmacher Institute, said Wednesday. Implementing all 45 policy recommendations would have a real and positive effect on accessing abortion care across the state.

Politically, Democrats hope the threat that abortion rights could disappear in half the country could woo suburban Republican female voters in swing House districts in Orange County, where two anti-abortion rights, first-term Republicans  Reps. Michelle Steel, R-Seal Beach, and Young Kim, R-Fullerton  are facing what are expected to be tight re-election battles. Same goes for Rep. Mike Garcia, R-Santa Clarita, who is facing re-election in a swing Los Angeles County district.

But even though 77% of Californians  including 59% of Republicans  support Roe, it is unknown how many GOP voters will cross party lines over the issue, as surveys have found that abortion is rarely the top issue for many swing voters.

Hicks said she believes voters will be moved.

The threat, Hicks said, is not theoretical.

Joe Garofoli is The San Francisco Chronicles senior political writer. Email: jgarofoli@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @joegarofoli
Corey Baker, a gay man in Columbus, Ohio, has seen many dating app profiles that include phrases like Blacks  dont apply. Sometimes when he declines invitations, he said, men lash out with insults like youre an ugly Black person anyway. And some of his friends have been slammed with a racial epithet in similar situations.

Many of these events occurred when I didnt think I was attractive or deserving of love, he said. And they took an emotional toll. If youre experiencing a wall of people saying theyre not attracted to you, I think that does impact your mental health, said Baker, 35, a school librarian.

The notion of kinder, gentler rejections on hookup sites might seem like an oxymoron. Yet experts in sexual health  as well as users of gay meeting apps, like Baker  say the harshness of much online behavior can exacerbate low self-esteem and feelings of depression or anxiety. That toxic combination can also lead to impulsive and potentially unsafe sexual choices.

In response, Building Healthy Online Communities, an organization in the Bay Area focused on HIV and STD prevention, has begun an effort to boost niceness on apps designed for men who have sex with men. People in the LGBTQ community face discrimination externally, but we also have to acknowledge that there is discrimination within the community, said director Jen Hecht.

Through surveys and focus groups, the group asked more than 5,000 users of nine gay apps how the sites could support better online behavior related to race, appearance, HIV status, age, disability, gender identity and other factors. It also sought advice on technical improvements the apps could make, such as offering users greater flexibility in conducting searches for contacts.

If I can filter out people who wrote no fats, no fems, no black people, I dont even have to deal with seeing it, wrote one respondent quoted in the groups report on the data gathered from app users. Representatives for some of the participating apps said they welcomed the collaboration. Weve had a non-bullying policy since day one, said David Lesage, marketing and social media director for Adam4Adam.

Mean online behavior is, of course, not limited to apps for men. When asked last month by email whether meeting sites that cater to the general population should also be trying to address the issue, Evan Bonnstetter, Tinders director of product policy, responded that the company was unable to participate in this opportunity. (Bonnstetter has since left Tinder.) Bumble, another site popular with heterosexuals, did not respond to a request for comment.

Gay and bisexual men, like other groups that face discrimination, have higher rates of depression, substance misuse and related mental health concerns. But John Pachankis, an associate professor at the Yale School of Public Health who studies gay mens health, said his research has identified aggressiveness within the gay community as a major problem.

I was initially quite surprised that gay men were consistently noting their treatment at the hands of other gay men as being a predominant stressor, Pachankis said. Apps, he added, are a site of a lot of potential rejection in a short amount of time in a way that is particularly anonymous and efficient and can be really detrimental.

In one study, Pachankis and his colleagues simulated a gay app environment in which some research participants were exposed to dismissive comments and others to approving comments. (The comments were all computer-generated.)

In subsequent responses on questionnaires, the men exposed to the dismissive comments reported greater emotional distress and expressed more skepticism about the benefits of condoms. They were also more likely to choose riskier options in a card-playing game.

Given that the app environment is the source of stress, Pachankis said, it makes sense for Building Healthy Online Communities and other public health organizations to try to influence it

Some respondents quoted in the report dismissed the initiative as silly or unwarranted. If someone does not meet the preferences specified by the user for being fat, too old, or not the right race, then too bad, wrote one. I find this overreach in striving to be PC as offensive and ridiculous.

But most respondents recognized that apps could support better online behavior and reduce unnecessary pain, Hecht said.

Its a society-wide problem, and I do agree that gay mens dating apps are not going to single-handedly address it, but that doesnt mean they cant play a role, she said. To the extent that the users get to control and customize, that will increase their positive experiences on the apps and decrease the likelihood that theyll have these negative experiences.

One popular recommendation from respondents was to allow all users, and not just paying customers, to block anyone they feel is being abusive. Another was to allow users to restrict who can see profile fields with potentially sensitive information, such as HIV status or gender identity. Respondents also believed apps could help diminish the pain of rejection by providing neutral, prewritten messages for users to send, such as sorry, its not a match.

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Grindr, one of the participating apps, does not include standard rejection statements but is exploring this option to help users on both sides of what is inevitably a high-intensity moment, said Jack Harrison-Quintana, the companys director of equality.

Its very easy to feel very rejected because you are getting rejected, Harrison-Quintana said. People experience a lot of hurt from things that are said to them online, and that is what we are trying to address.

Jehangeer Ali Syed, an international development consultant in Washington, D.C., said he has been disturbed by being treated as an exotic element in online exchanges. Although he is not from the Middle East, some men sexually objectify me as an Arab stallion, said the 36-year-old Pakistani. I have been called a sand-n, he added.

This sort of encounter, he said, makes you doubt yourself, makes you feel insecure and makes you question if Im doing anything wrong.

The group noted in its report that many respondents were unaware of existing app features that could help them customize and control their experiences. The report called for apps to expand their educational efforts about these possibilities.

That suggestion resonated with Grindrs Harrison-Quintana. Grindr already includes some of the options recommended in the report, he said, but it could do a better job of communicating with customers. Its not just about implementing features, its also about maybe letting users know those features are available to them, he said.

David Tuller writes for KHN (Kaiser Health News), a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues.
Wells Fargo is donating $14.5 million to groups that help local low-income communities and minority-owned businesses in an effort to bolster the regions economic recovery during the pandemic.

The funds come from fees that the bank generated from processing Paycheck Protection Program loans, the federal program that helped businesses sustain their payrolls during the pandemic. The San Francisco bank previously committed around $420 million nationally to aid COVID recovery, including $13 million to six Bay Area nonprofits.

The Bay Areas small business sector lags behind the national economy, with overall business recovery not expected for four to five months, according to a San Francisco controllers office report. New small business formation is also flat.

We are starting to see signs of recovery, said Christina Pels-Martinez, a Wells Fargo region bank president. A lot of our businesses in San Francisco have been impacted by the fact that many of the offices remain empty.

More for you Wells Fargo donates $13 million to six Bay Area nonprofits helping small businesses survive the pandemic

Wells Fargo itself, one of the citys largest employers, plans to mandate a return to office in January.

The groups include Community Development Financial Institutions, which work with minority-owned and woman-owned companies in low-income neighborhoods, and organizations that provide technical assistance.

The San Francisco bank is also helping fund holiday streetlights and decorations in the Bayview with a $75,000 donation, including a 20-foot Christmas tree that will be lit in a ceremony on Thursday with Mayor London Breed. Its the biggest-ever holiday celebration in the neighborhood, said Katy Fitzsimmons, a Wells Fargo community relations senior consultant.

Wells Fargos long had a focus on Bayview. Its a historically under-invested community. Its a historically Black community, Fitzsimmons said.

Hopefully this will become a new model for other groups to provide philanthropy, she said.

Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center, which has offices throughout the Bay Area, is receiving more than $500,000 from Wells Fargo, which will help it add three more people to its staff of 30, said CEO Sharon Miller.

It will help us tremendously, Miller said.

Renaissance has helped small business owners like Olton Rensch, owner of Tallios Coffee & Tea in the Bayview, which lost over 85% of sales during the pandemic. Rensch had to use his own savings to help pay his five employees and two contractors, but wanted to keep the business going after personally investing in it.

He received training and mentoring from Renaissance in areas like marketing and online sales. He also received around $20,000 in grants through Renaissance and other sources, which helped him pay rent. Business has improved thanks in part to e-commerce, and sales are now above 50% of pre-pandemic levels, he said.

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Numerous small businesses have needed help in expanding their digital sales, especially with some being shut down by health orders, and using tech like Zoom and email, Miller said.

Online sales are really important, and also continuing to reach out to their customers, Miller said.

Rensch has been able to sell nationally thanks to e-commerce training and recently shipped Tallios ginger beverage to Chicago and 5,000 of its 12-ounce coffee bags to a company in Indiana.

My mission is to put upscale coffee shops in historically diverse ethnic communities, where these big guys dont want to go, said Rensch, an immigrant from Suriname, who hopes to benefit both local residents and bring in new visitors.

If people visit San Francisco, we want them to visit the Bayview, he said.

Roland Li is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: roland.li@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @rolandlisf
A 25-year-old slaying of a server at a restaurant in Crockett was solved after law enforcement officials matched DNA found at the crime scene to that of a man already serving a lengthy prison sentence for sexual assault.

The Contra Costa County Sheriffs Office announced Thursday that Danny Lamont Hamilton was linked by DNA to the death of Priscilla Lewis, a 21-year-old Vallejo resident found dead in the basement bathroom of the Four Corners restaurant, where she worked, in September 1996. The cause of death was found to be asphyxia due to drowning.
Despite assurances from Mayor London Breed that restaurants would not face immediate fines for parklets now considered out of code, city inspectors Wednesday hit a block of North Beach with more violation notices  messages that threatened fines of up to $500 daily if their parklets are not in compliance within two weeks.

Breed published a statement online Tuesday recommitting to the citys Shared Spaces program in the wake of a Chronicle story about restaurant owners struggling to comply with new city rules under deadlines theyd received. But the Wednesday morning notices incited fear in owners who thought they had more time.

The contrast illustrates the confusion over the state of Shared Spaces, as the program transitions from a temporary emergency effort to a permanent fixture: As city officials try to make the parklets meet safety and accessibility guidelines, communication over regulations and enforcement hasnt been consistent or clear to small business owners.

Shared Spaces manager Robin Abad-Ocubillo said these notices are among the final batch based on inspections from weeks ago, part of an effort to change parklets with extreme safety or accessibility issues.

The mayors article was very clear that we are still working with these extreme outlier cases to bring them into safer conditions, he said by text message.

These North Beach businesses will not be fined if they are responsive and communicative with city departments, he said, noting that some departments are required to put fines in writing even if they dont plan to collect it. Our approach is to educate and collaborate, not to punish.

Yet the messaging on the notices for restaurateurs did not mention that pause on fines and enforcement. Kamal Kandel, owner of Yarsa Nepalese Cuisine, received a notice Wednesday stating he has 14 days to remove the roof from his restaurants parklet and provide a 3-foot emergency access gap within the parklet, among other changes. While he also received the 60-page packet of guidelines with more explanations, the notice itself didnt say why the specific changes were necessary. He has until next summer to make other adjustments, including reducing the structure by 3 feet on each side.

Its very upsetting news. Were in a bad time right now, and outdoor seating helps a lot, he said, adding that he borrowed money from staff to build the parklet and never received any loans during the pandemic. Because the changes are so significant, he said he believes he must tear the parklet down and start over, which he doesnt have the funds to do right now.

Janelle Bitker / The Chronicle

Next door, Portofino got a similar notice. Co-owner Evelyn Balistreri said she cant find a contractor to change her parklet within two weeks and doesnt understand the reasoning behind the requests. Her notice also did not explain the safety considerations, such as how the roof on her parklet would prevent a firefighter from leaning a ladder against the building.

Why do we have to remove it? Why? I dont get it, she said. Its very confusing.

San Francisco business owners received updated guidelines for their parklets this fall, with many new requirements geared toward access for people with disabilities or emergency responders, as well as improving visibility. They have until next summer to bring their parklets up to code, but the 14-day warning notices for extreme cases have been puzzling and frightening for owners.

While the mayors office told The Chronicle earlier this week that it would not actually assess any fines, that message hasnt gotten through to all of the people who are receiving the violation notices. And the fact that some businesses have gotten new threats of fines has made others in the neighborhood worried that theyll receive something similar soon.

If we have until (next summer), why are people getting notices that theyll get fined in two weeks? said Teague Kearnan, owner of Tupelo in North Beach. He expected to get a notice on Wednesday like others on his block, but did not. Nobody knows who to listen to, and its really frustrating for small business owners.

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More than 1,000 businesses have Shared Spaces permits in San Francisco, and many restaurants credit their new parklets for saving their businesses during the pandemic.

The structures, though, arent universally popular. Some residents told The Chronicle that the noise created by outdoor diners and music impacts apartments above restaurants, while others complained about the lack of parking hurting neighboring businesses without parklets. Some also told The Chronicle they felt some parklets were poorly built and look like eyesores in certain neighborhoods.

Meanwhile, policy think tank SPUR argued in a recent report for even more parklets, but truly public ones that could contain play areas for kids or benches that people could sit on without buying something from a restaurant.

Ida Zoubi, owner of Caffe Trieste in North Beach, said she agrees that parklets need to be safe and brought up to code. But she argued that restaurants should get more time, ideally until March 2023, which is when the permit fee waiver is set to expire.

The citys restaurant trade group, the Golden Gate Restaurant Association, also is advocating for an extension to March 2023 to allow business owners to get through the busy holiday season and secure funds for rebuilding.

This pressure  14 days for certain violations  thats really scary, Zoubi said. The city says they want to help? More time would help.

Janelle Bitker is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: janelle.bitker@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @janellebitker
Early findings have suggested that the new omicron variant may cause milder disease than other coronavirus strains  potentially encouraging news that experts in the Bay Area are still greeting with caution.

Even if omicron causes less severe infection, the highly mutated strain is already showing signs of even greater transmissibility than the current dominant delta variant. Experts say that could mean trouble, especially for higher-risk people and unvaccinated young children, in addition to a cascade of disruptions for communities, schools and businesses  adding more urgency to the drive for COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters.

As UCSF infectious disease expert Peter Chin-Hong explained, its "not necessarily a bad thing if people contract mild infection from omicron and dont end up in the hospital. However, the more virus that circulates in the community, the higher chance that someone is not going to do that well, especially immunocompromised people and children under 5, who are not vaccine eligible.

The ripple effect of mild but widespread infections would also be felt more broadly, Chin-Hong said. Right now, having any COVID infection sets off a chain reaction of missed school/work, school and work disruptions, contact tracing and general mayhem and community and stock market anxiety, he said. That cannot be underestimated.

Early findings on severity

Scientists are racing to determine just how quickly omicron spreads, but U.S. infectious disease adviser Dr. Anthony Fauci said at a White House news briefing Tuesday that so far we are not seeing a very severe profile of disease from the variant, based on the number of hospitalizations per new cases in South Africa, where the variant was first detected.

Monica Gandhi, an infectious disease expert at UCSF, offered two possible reasons why disease from omicron might pack less of a punch.

First, The virus may have evolved with multiple mutations to be less virulent, she explained in an email. And second, There is more immunity now in the population in late fall of 2021 so that underlying immunity modulates the severity of disease. 

Though that appears to be encouraging news, Gandhi and other experts have stressed that it is too soon to make definitive statements about omicron.

Susan Merrell/Susan Merrell

It is much too early to know if omicron causes less serious disease, wrote UC Berkeley infectious disease expert John Swartzberg in an email. There are some hints that it might, but only hints. For now, no one should relax their precautions against getting infected with omicron or delta or any variant of SARS CoV2.

Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo, vice dean for population health and health equity at UCSF, said a number of factors complicate these early findings, including that the observations are coming from South Africa, which has a relatively younger population.

Young people tend to have mild cases with delta, and the same is true with every other variant weve had, she said. Is omicron really capable of only causing mild disease, or is it that the known omicron cases usually had mild disease? We dont have enough to sort that through.

She added that cases precede hospitalizations and deaths, and we wont know if omicron increases severity without more time to observe populations where it is spreading.

Transmissibility and vaccines

Big variations in rates of vaccination and previous infection further complicate the picture: Different countries have very different experiences of who is vaccinated and who has had prior COVID, Bibbins-Domingo said.

Bob Wachter, chair of the department of medicine at UCSF, tweeted on Tuesday that while he hopes omicron is milder, if its far more transmissible, that'll still be nasty.

CEO Albert Bourla of Pfizer, one of the major COVID-19 vaccine makers, echoed those concerns.

I dont think its good news to have something that spreads fast, Bourla said during an appearance Tuesday at The Wall Street Journals CEO Council Summit. Spreads fast means it will be in billions of people and another mutation may come. You dont want that.

Gandhi said rapid spread would likely be a problem primarily in areas of low immunity.

Deaths with the delta variant in the U.S. are correlated with low vaccination rates, so the same would occur with omicron, she said.

On Wednesday, Pfizer and its partner BioNTech said three doses of their vaccine offer significant protection against the omicron variant. Additionally, they said, Vaccinated individuals may still be protected against severe forms of the disease after two doses.

But early evidence shows natural immunity may not be as protective against omicron. On Wednesday, World Health Organization director Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a briefing that data from South Africa shows an increased risk of COVID-19 reinfection with omicron.

Swartzberg, who prefers the term infection-induced immunity, said the Bay Area should continue to be better than much of the rest of the U.S. against omicron due to its overall high compliance with COVID measures such as mask-wearing, and higher vaccination rates.

Jessica Christian/The Chronicle

My guess ... is that those who are fully vaccinated and boosted will receive considerable protection, particularly against hospitalization and death, he said.

Bibbins-Domingo said the Bay Area has been in a steady state against delta with higher rates of vaccinations, masking and testing, but our vaccination rates are not enough. She said a large portion of the population is relying just on vaccines for immunity, rather than hybrid immunity that includes prior infection, which has been reported to be more robust than vaccine immunity alone.

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We have to pay close attention to how well vaccine-induced immunity holds up to this new variant, she said. For the Bay Area, this may underscore the need to get a booster.

Chin-Hong echoed the importance of boosters. Even if omicron escapes antibody recognition induced by vaccines, he said, virus-fighting T cells remain robustly preserved. As a result, if more people get boosters, we may even be able to blunt an Omicron infection surge."

Long COVID and other risks

Beyond the immediate risk of infection, studies have yet to determine the risk of long COVID with omicron. But Chin-Hong said there might be cause for optimism if the variant proves to cause mainly mild or asymptomatic infections.

"In general, we know that breakthrough infection in vaccinated individuals likely leads to a lower chance of developing long COVID, he explained. Long COVID may be a function of an untamed immune response, so if symptoms are mild or there are no symptoms with Omicron, I would expect a lower chance of long COVID, perhaps even in the unvaccinated."

Santiago Mejia / The Chronicle

Another question yet to be answered is omicrons risk for children under 5 years old who are not yet eligible for the COVID vaccine.

Gandhi said young children are already at low risk for severe COVID-19, and if omicron does cause more mild disease, this will drive down their risk even further. She said there are more pediatric COVID cases in the U.S. in areas with higher rates of unvaccinated people, so we should be working as hard as we can on older individuals getting vaccinated while we await the vaccine for younger children.

Chin-Hong also noted that if omicron produces mild breakthrough infections in vaccinated people, the resulting hybrid immunity will be even stronger in protecting us from future variants.

And while theres no guarantee, Swartzberg said that the possible emergence of milder variants raises a distinct possibility that SARS CoV2 will evolve to cause a cold-syndrome, like the other cold-causing coronaviruses.

Bibbins-Domingo said that the threat of mutations has always been there throughout the pandemic with the virus continuing to circulate. Knowing what to do to lower your risk, including getting a booster shot and wearing good masks, and understanding the most vulnerable people in your life will help.

It seems scary, but its scary at a time we really have the tools to help against delta and to help against omicron, she said. Everyone needs to have a little added layer of caution right now until we learn more about omicron.

Kellie Hwang is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: kellie.hwang@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @KellieHwang
WASHINGTON (AP)  President Joe Biden expressed alarm at a backward slide of democracy around the globe on Thursday, calling on fellow world leaders to work with him to bolster democratic institutions as his administration grows increasingly concerned about China's and Russia's push for global influence.

Biden's comments to more than 100 leaders at the White House's first virtual Summit for Democracy came as they pointed to a host of challenges confronting democracies, including corruption, inequality, and limitations on press freedom. The leaders also expressed increasing worry about the perils of disinformation and strengthening autocracies.

Will we allow the backward slide of rights and democracy to continue unchecked? Biden asked. Or will we together -- together -- have a vision ... and courage to once more lead the march of human progress and human freedom forward?

He didnt mention either China or Russia by name. But he has repeatedly made a case that the U.S. and like-minded allies need to show the world that democracies are a far better vehicle for societies than autocracies. It is a central tenet of Bidens foreign policy outlook  one that he vowed would be more outward looking than his predecessor Trumps America First approach.

Biden underscored that even long-established democracies, like the United States, haven't been immune to the strains, and he called the moment an inflection point in history.

Local elected officials are resigning at an alarming rate amid confrontations with angry voices at school board meetings, elections offices and town halls. States are passing laws to limit access to the ballot, making it more difficult for Americans to vote. And the Jan. 6 attack at the Capitol has left many in Donald Trumps Republican Party clinging to his false claims of a stolen election, eroding trust in the accuracy of the vote.

Here in the United States we know as well as anyone that renewing our democracy and strengthening our democratic institutions requires constant effort, Biden said..

Beyond rhetoric, the president announced he was launching an initiative to spend up to $424 million for programming around the world that supports independent media, anti-corruption work and more.

Thursday's video gathering drew backlash from the United States chief adversaries and other nations that were not invited.

The ambassadors to the U.S. from China and Russia wrote a joint essay describing the Biden administration as exhibiting a Cold-War mentality that will stoke up ideological confrontation and a rift in the world. The administration also faced scrutiny over how it went about deciding which countries to invite. China and Russia were among those that did not receive invitations.

Other leaders at the summit delivered their own remarks on the state of democracy  many prerecorded  often reflecting on the stress that rapidly evolving technology is having on their nations. They also bemoaned the increase of disinformation campaigns aimed at undermining institutions and elections.

The democratic conversation is changing, said Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen. New technologies and large tech companies are increasingly setting the stage for the democratic dialogue, sometimes with more emphasis on reach than on freedom of speech.

The summit comes as Biden is pressing Russia's Vladimir Putin to step back after a massive buildup of troops on the Ukraine border that has created growing concern in Washington and European capitals as well as Ukraine itself. Biden on Wednesday said that he warned Putin of severe consequences if Russia invaded.

Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who took part in Thursdays summit and later spoke by phone with Biden, said on Twitter, Democracy is not a given, it must be fought for."

Poland's Andrzej Duda spoke out against Russia in his address, decrying Moscow and its support of Belarus.

Poland and Western allies have accused Russian ally Belarus of using migrants as pawns to destabilize the European Union in retaliation for its sanctions on his authoritarian regime. Hundreds of migrants, mostly from the Middle East, have flocked to the Belarus-Poland border.

Poland took on a commitment to be a support for democracy in Eastern Europe, Duda said. It is a beautiful task, but it has its consequences. It has made us the target of the Kremlin propaganda.

Putin made no public comment on the summit Thursday as he took part in his own video call with members of the Kremlin council for human rights.

Biden has said passage of his ambitious domestic agenda at home  the $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill he signed into law, as well as the roughly $2 trillion Build Back Better Act of social and climate change initiatives moving through the Senate  will demonstrate how democracy can improve peoples lives.

Some advocates also want Biden to focus more on shoring up democracy at home. One early test came Thursday as the House approved the Protecting Our Democracy Act, the third in a trio of bills  alongside the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act  largely backed by Democrats. All three are expected to be stalled by Republicans in the Senate.

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Here in the United States, we know that our democracy is not immune from threats," Vice President Kamala Harris said in remarks to close out the first day of the summit. Jan. 6 looms large in our collective conscience, and the anti-voter laws that many states have passed are part of an intentional effort to exclude Americans from participating in our democracy.

The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, said in its annual report that the number of countries experiencing democratic backsliding has never been as high as the past decade, with the U.S. added to the list along with India and Brazil.

Chinese officials have offered a stream of public criticism about the summit. They have also expressed outrage over the administration inviting Taiwan to take part. China claims the self-governing island as part of its territory and objects to it having contacts on its own with foreign governments.

Pakistans Prime Minister Imran Khan declined to attend the conference. In a statement issued ahead of the meeting, the foreign ministry said, "We value our partnership with the U.S., which we wish to expand both bilaterally as well as in terms of regional and international cooperation.

Yet Pakistans relationship with the U.S. has been fraught with suspicion on both sides. Islamabad has balked at Washingtons often-stated criticism that Pakistan has not been a reliable partner in the war on terror, accusing it of harboring the Taliban even as that group fought a U.S.-led coalition. Pakistan says it has lost 70,000 people to the war on terror since 2001 and is ready to be a partner in peace but not in war.

Other uninvited countries have shown their displeasure. Hungary, the only European Union member not invited, tried unsuccessfully to block the EU Commission's president from speaking on behalf of the bloc at the summit. Last year, Biden referred to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban as a thug.

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto dismissed the summit as a domestic political-type of event where countries whose leaders had a good relationship with Trump were not invited.

___

Associated Press writers Lisa Mascaro in Washington, Justin Spike in Budapest, Munir Ahmed in Islamabad, Vladimir Isachenkov in Moscow and video producer Liu Zheng in Beijing contributed to this report.
Regarding All the outrage over a S.F. restaurant not serving armed police officers is absurd (sfchronicle.com, Dec.7): I am outraged at the treatment of the San Francisco police officers, my reaction is not manufactured and I am offended that Soleil Ho would describe the encounter as a nonissue.

Im a rational, liberal and progressive Democrat who believes there is systemic racism and corruption within law enforcement. However, the changes that must be made should be moved forward at the ballot box, in City Hall and at public forums and demonstrations by the people, and from elected officials. They should not be made by the staff of a small business at the expense of three city employees who are doing their jobs that we the people have demanded they do and in the manner in which we have dictated.

Ho writes that we are being asked to bow down to the gun. Ignoring her brand of manufactured outrage, I would argue that we are being asked to bow down to intolerant misanthropes.

Scott McKinzie, Tucson

Cops just want a break

Regarding All the outrage over a S.F. restaurant not serving armed police officers is absurd (sfchronicle.com, Dec.7): Soleil Ho is off base 100%. The men and woman of the San Francisco Police Department are authorized to carry a weapon at all times when working. Officers for decades have frequented restaurants on their beat. Have a bite, and if something happens, leave and handle a crime in progress and return.

These highly trained men and woman spend their 10-hour shifts serving the public. There is no doubt if and when a call comes in for assistance at Hilda and Jessie restaurant they will still respond and assist.

Ho misses the point about what these officers want. A simple half-hour break to get a bite to eat, nothing more, nothing less

The restaurant apologized, its over and will soon be forgotten about.

Thomas Del Torre, Lincoln, Placer County

Appoint school boards

Regarding Its time to get rid of school boards (Insight, Dec. 5): While I agree with many of Joe Matthews points regarding the dysfunction of California, specifically San Francisco, school boards, I do not agree with his conclusions.

School boards have always been an integral part of the U.S. educational system. They most easily represent smaller, homogeneous communities. What Matthews is suggesting is a statewide system. Hawaii has one school district and one board for the whole state. It doesnt work very well.

The problems with our elected school boards are multiple. They include being low on the election list. (Nobody really knows who the candidates are.) Also, they serve as a political stepping-stone.

I suggest going back to appointed members with a carefully thought out process for selection.

Louise Feldman, San Francisco

State law protects us

Regarding Laws that dont mix  California needs its environmental act to blend with housing rules (Insight, Dec. 5): The op-ed claims that CEQA is impeding housing development in San Francisco. Not true.

A recent report by the Housing Workshop demonstrates that new laws have streamlined the CEQA process for housing projects and that local agencies have increasingly relied on these laws to expedite multifamily housing. Thus, out of the 120 multifamily housing projects that San Francisco reviewed between 2018-2020, only seven required an environmental impact report.

The authors call for CEQA reform is uninformed by pertinent data. Rather than scapegoat CEQA, our elected leaders should focus on the actual impediments to housing construction, principally, the lack of funding for affordable housing.

We all should support affordable housing, but there is no need to undermine Californias flagship environmental law in the process.
A seven-story affordable housing complex in San Franciscos Sunset District will be allowed to go forward despite a neighborhood associations lawsuit seeking a temporary restraining order that would have suspended pre-development work on the project.

On Wednesday San Francisco Superior Court Judge Charles Haines denied a request for injunctive relief that was filed by attorneys for the Mid-Sunset Neighborhood Association, according to court records.

The west side neighborhood group had filed a lawsuit on Tuesday alleging that the Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corp.s project at 2550 Irving St. represented a breach of contract, negligence and breach of implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing.

Mid-Sunset Neighborhood Association President Flo Kimmerling said the lawsuit was necessary because the developer and the Mayors Office of Housing and Community Development  which is in contract to buy the site for $9 million  refused to consider a scaled-back, neighborhood-supported alternative that would be five-and-half floors instead of seven and 80 units instead of 91.

We had two choices: lay down and die or go to court, said Kimmerling. We picked the latter.

The lawsuit comes after a yearlong battle over the project, which is part of the citys ongoing effort to build low-income housing on the citys west side. The fight has highlighted the discrepancy between the citys east side, where thousands of subsidized units have been built over the past decade, and west side districts like the Sunset and Richmond, erstwhile working-class neighborhoods that have seen no affordable housing, despite skyrocketing rents and housing prices that top $1.7 million.

Jeff Cretan, spokesman for Mayor London Breed, welcomed the judges decision to allow the city to continue to process the application.

This project needs to continue to go forward, he said. Delaying housing through appeals or lawsuits means denying people homes. Our housing shortage requires all cities, including San Francisco, to push harder to build more, including in areas that havent seen as much housing built.

While early on one some neighbors expressed strong opposition to any affordable housing being built on site  No Slum In The Sunset flyers were posted around 26th Avenue and Judah  Kimmerling said that her organization supports a somewhat smaller alternative. Already the project is being reduced from 98 to 91 units because of a PG&E easement that the developer didnt know about until recently.

We want the affordable housing. We want to welcome new neighbors, but the building proposed is too big, Kimmerling said.

Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts.

In the lawsuit the neighborhood association alleged that the Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corp. violated the citys affordable housing funding process which requires a community engagement plan that demonstrated the capacity to generate necessary neighborhood support for the proposed development. The lawsuit claims that neighbors have been excluded from much of the process and the developer has refused to discuss any compromise on height or bulk or parking.

Supervisor Gordon Mar, who represents the Sunset, has endorsed the downsized neighborhood alternative. He declined to comment on the lawsuit.

The lawsuit may be the neighborhoods last chance to block the project. The development is taking advantage of SB35, which streamlines affordable housing in the state. Under SB35 the project does not need Planning Commission approval.

J.K. Dineen is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jdineen@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @sfjkdineen
Sonoma County Sheriff's Office

A man found dead in Sonoma County, the only clues his hand-written journals, has finally been identified.

The man was discovered deceased on Jan. 2, 2015 on an access road between a Motel 6 and the Rohnert Park Expressway Self Storage on Commerce Blvd. in Rohnert Park. He had in his possession journals about math, physics and science, and some members of the Rohnert Park library did believe they recognized him but did not know his name.
Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

A father and son are under arrest on suspicion of starting the Caldor Fire, which decimated over 220,000 acres of land in Northern California and burned for over two months. The fire caused widespread evacuations, which included the city of South Lake Tahoe, and destroyed 1,003 structures.

According to a statement from the El Dorado County District Attorneys Office posted on Facebook on Wednesday afternoon, David Scott Smith, 66, and Travis Shane Smith, 32, were arrested Wednesday for their alleged connection to the fire.
LONDON (AP)  A new European Union plan to improve conditions for the growing number of gig economy workers could mean millions more of them are classified as employees entitled to benefits, the latest setback for digital platforms that rely on independent contractors to deliver food and offer rides.

The draft rules outlined Thursday aim to clarify the labor status of people employed by app-based companies like ride-hailing service Uber and food delivery business Deliveroo and would add oversight for the algorithms they use to manage workers.

Gig economy workers and platforms have fallen between the cracks of existing employment legislation, and the measures being considered by the 27-nation bloc, which would take years to come into force, are aimed at clearing up those gray areas.

App-based gig work platforms have boomed in the digital economy, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic when demand for food delivery services mushroomed. While the apps provide short-term work for millions of people, their rampant growth has upended traditional labor and business models, resulting in showdowns between companies and regulators worldwide. Gig work's flexibility is a selling point for many, but workers also complain that they end up making less than minimum wage after expenses or waiting time are accounted for.

Under the EU rules, which still need approval by the European Parliament, a platform that meets at least two criteria will be deemed an employer" and people working for that company will be reclassified as workers" with the right to a minimum wage, paid vacation, pensions and unemployment and sickness benefits.

The criteria include whether an app decides pay levels; electronically supervises work performance; restricts a worker's freedom to choose work hours, accept jobs or use subcontractors; dictates a worker's appearance and conduct with customers; or limits the possibility for workers to build their own client bases or work for anyone else.

Uber says it's committed to improving work conditions but worries about the EU proposal putting thousands of jobs at risk, crippling small businesses in the wake of the pandemic and damaging vital services that consumers across Europe rely on."

Any EU-wide rules should allow drivers and couriers to retain the flexibility we know they value most, while allowing platforms to introduce more protections and benefits, a statement from the ride-hailing service said.

Amsterdam-based Just Eat Takeaway, which operates in 25 countries and owns brands including GrubHub, said it welcomes and fully supports the proposals and hopes they will provide companies across Europe with clarity and a level playing field. Unlike other food delivery platforms, the company's riders are employed as staff, which it says proves that providing flexibility doesnt have to come at the expense of workers rights.

The European Commission, the EU's executive branch, estimates some 28 million people on the continent are self-employed on digital platforms, rising to 43 million by 2025, but predicts as many as 4.1 million could be reclassified as employees under the rules. The EU has taken a leading global role in cracking down on tech companies to ensure everything from workers' rights to online safety.

Platforms can challenge the classification, but the burden will be on them to prove they are not employers, the commission said.

No one is trying to kill, to stop or to hamper this growth of the platform economy, EU Jobs and Social Rights Commissioner Nicolas Schmit said at a press briefing in Brussels. But it comes down to ensuring that these jobs are quality jobs. ... We don't want this new economy just giving low quality or precarious jobs.

The proposed EU rules are another blow for gig economy companies in Europe. New laws or recent court rulings in Spain, the Netherlands and Britain require food delivery riders and ride-service drivers to be given employee status rather than classified as self-employed freelancers.

There have been more than 100 court decisions across Europe on the issue, with most judges ruling that independent contractors are employees  something the commission took into account as it drafted its directive.

In contrast, Uber and other app-based services avoided an attempt in California to classify workers as employees, though the battle continues in the courts.

The European Commission also wants to force gig work platforms to be more transparent about the algorithms used to manage workers so they can better understand how jobs are assigned and pay is set. People should oversee the algorithms and workers should be able to appeal any automated decisions, it said.

In Spain, gig worker Sebastian Honorato, who makes deliveries by motorbike, said a new national law introduced this year hasn't resulted in the benefits the government promised. He said it's unfair because it only regulates food delivery riders, while others like Amazon package delivery drivers aren't covered.

And instead of hiring gig workers directly, foreign tech platforms in Spain resorted to temporary staffing agencies. Honorata, a spokesman for the Association of Freelance Riders, said he used to bring in over 1,600 euros ($1,800) a month after paying his social security costs but now makes 900 euros in a good month.

Honorata, who lives in the southern Spanish city of Granada, said delivery workers should be regulated the same way across Europe but worried Brussels' approach could produce results similar to Spain's model.

What we wanted was not to be an employee, nor completely freelancers. We wanted an intermediate model, like they have in California," Honorata said. Before the Spanish law, gig work was an economically viable model, even if it it had a murky legal status. We wanted to give it a legal framework, but not lose any of its viability. Now, it is a disaster.

___

Associated Press writer Joseph Wilson in Barcelona contributed to this report. Follow Kelvin Chan on Twitter.

___

See all of APs tech coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/technology.
MILAN (AP)  Italian bank UniCredit announced a three-year business plan Thursday that includes distributing some 16 billion euros ($18 billion) to shareholders from 2022 to 2024.

The plan under CEO Andrea Orcel, who took over in April, also calls for raising net profit to 4.5 billion euros by 2024, from a targeted 3.3 billion this year.

With this strategy we will deliver materially increased and growing shareholder returns while growing our business and maintaining capital strength, Orcel said in a statement.

The bank's shares grew by 9.5%, to 12.65 euros, after the plan was announced.

It includes half a million euros in cost-cutting as the bank boosts revenue by 1.1 billion euros, to more than 17 billion euros, through fees and recovering market share.

The bank also plans to invest nearly 3 billion euros in a digital strategy, including a new platform, more digital services and real-time payments along with strengthening cybersecurity.

UniCredit has over 14 million private clients and 1 million corporate clients in Italy, Germany, eastern Europe and central Europe. It is the second-largest bank by assets in Italy and the third-largest in Germany.
Melina Mara/The Washington Post via Getty Images

An outbreak of COVID-19 believed to be among the first confirmed cases of the omicron variant in the East Bay was tied to a wedding in Wisconsin, officials say.

Of the 12 confirmed cases reported by Alameda County, 11 were staff members at Kaiser Permanente's Oakland Medical Center, all of whom were in attendance at the wedding. The news was first reported by the San Francisco Chronicle. (SFGATE and the Chronicle are both owned by Hearst but operate independently of one another.)
The quiz show Jeopardy! announced Wednesday that Ken Jennings and Mayim Bialik would continue to share hosting duties into 2022, putting an end, at least for now, to months of speculation and drama around who would permanently succeed Alex Trebek, the host of more than 36 years.

For months after Trebeks death last year, producers of the game show struggled to decide who would replace him. For weeks, they cycled through a series of guest hosts, including Jennings, a former champion of the show who won a record 74 consecutive games, and Bialik, an actor known for her roles in the sitcoms The Big Bang Theory and Blossom.

Other guest hosts included well-known television personalities such as Anderson Cooper, Katie Couric and LeVar Burton.

On Aug. 11, Sony announced that it had named Mike Richards, an executive producer on the show, as the permanent host of Jeopardy! At the time, Bialik was also named as the host of prime-time specials and spinoff series.

But on Aug. 20, Richards abruptly quit the hosting job, after a report by The Ringer revealed offensive and sexist comments he had made on a podcast several years ago, the latest in a series of scandals that affected his brief tenure.

In his place, Bialik and then Jennings became guest hosts of the regular program, splitting duties through the end of 2021.

Both Jennings and Bialik have faced criticism for past remarks. Jennings apologized last year over insensitive tweets he made, including about people who use wheelchairs. Bialik has drawn controversy over several issues, including a brain health supplement she endorsed for a company that faced a lawsuit accusing it of false advertising, and for writing in a 2012 book about making an informed decision not to vaccinate our children.

She clarified last year that her children would be vaccinated against the coronavirus.

In its announcement Wednesday, Jeopardy! said executive producer Michael Davies would remain in that role. Davies, a veteran game-show producer who developed the original American version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, had replaced Richards as an executive producer at Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune.

Despite the controversies around who would host the show, Jeopardy!  which first aired in 1964  has continued to be a favorite TV institution, drawing a weekly audience of more than 20 million.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP)  Two men have been indicted for murder in connection with a fatal beating on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation in western North Dakota.

An FBI affidavit alleges Edward Finley and Kenneth Grady, both 30, caused the death of 38-year-old Valentino White Jr. by punching and kicking him in an October attack at a New Town mobile home. The affidavit says Finley and Grady are members of the Three Affiliated Tribes, which is located on the reservation.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP)  Two teenagers have been arrested in a drive-by shooting at a school bus stop in Kentucky that left a 16-year-old student dead earlier this year.

The suspects were charged with complicity to murder, complicity to first-degree assault and complicity to second-degree assault, Louisville Metro Police Lt. Donny Burbrink said Thursday during a news conference announcing the arrests.

Police released little information due to the age of the suspects, but said both are 16 and attend Jefferson County Public Schools, news outlets reported.

The shooting happened in September when a vehicle drove by the bus stop just west of downtown Louisville and someone fired upon the waiting students. Tyree Smith died and two others were injured. Police said the investigation continues and more arrests are possible.

Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer said authorities continue to fight gun violence in the city.

Public safety is my No. 1 priority, and every department in Metro government is focused on the challenge of gun violence, getting guns off the streets and holding people accountable for these acts of violence, Fischer said.

Police Chief Erika Shields told Tyrees family she hopes the arrests give them a morsel of relief.

Tyree was an all-star student, and he was doing everything we ask of kids. And he was murdered standing and waiting on his school bus. We should not be standing here today, and we simply must do better as a community, she said.
BRIDGE CITY, La. (AP)  Three juveniles have been apprehended after escaping from a Louisiana youth facility last month, authorities said.

The three had escaped from the Bridge City Center for Youth on Nov. 21, according to the Louisiana Office of Juvenile Justice.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP)  Another Republican has joined a crowded field of GOP candidates looking to oust Democratic Attorney General Keith Ellison next year.

Business attorney Jim Schultz announced his candidacy with a video message Thursday blaming Ellison for property damager during protests over George Floyd's death in 2020, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported. Schultz hails from Minnetonka and holds a law degree from Harvard. He serves on the board of the Front Line Foundation, a nonprofit organization that supports police and other first responders.
NEW ORLEANS (AP)  A prominent Louisiana civil rights lawyer has been suspended from practicing law in the state for six months.

State Supreme Court records show the suspension was ordered Tuesday for Ronald Haley of Baton Rouge.

Haleys high-profile clients include the family of Ronald Greene, a Black motorist who died in the custody of Louisiana State Police in north Louisiana. Video of Greene being beaten and dragged prompted a lawsuit and a federal investigation.

The ruling said Haley admitted to violations of professional conduct rules. Among the allegations investigated were complaints that Haley failed to communicate with a client, inappropriately attempted to settle a malpractice claim with a client, and failed to return a clients file upon request.

Haleys office didnt immediately respond to a phone message requesting comment. An attorney for Haley told The Advocate newspaper that Haley was young and inexperienced when he made the mistakes.

He has developed into an excellent lawyer and I have every reason to believe when he comes back hell be a credit to the profession and do a great job for his clients, Lewis Unglesby said.

Tuesday's ruling ordered Haley suspended for one year and one day, but deferred all but six months of the suspension, with a requirement that Haley attend the Louisiana State Bar Association's Ethics School. One justice, Scott Crichton, dissented, writing that the court was being unduly lenient in deferring much of the suspension.
ST. CHARLES, Ill. (AP)  Authorities rescued a 62-year-old woman from the Fox River in suburban Chicago on Wednesday after her car left a roadway and landed in the water.

First responders found a four-door sedan partially submerged in the river approximately 25 feet from the river wall around 12:30 p.m., authorities said.
Mary Altaffer/AP

NEW YORK (AP)  Mayor-elect Eric Adams announced Thursday that David Banks, the founder of a network of all-boys public schools, will lead New York City's million-pupil public school system when Adams assumes office next month.

Appearing with Banks at the Brooklyn elementary school that the 59-year-old Banks attended, Adams lauded his chosen schools chancellor as a visionary, leader, innovator, who has spent his career fighting on behalf of students.
NAIROBI, Kenya (AP)  African governments might have to resort to COVID-19 vaccine mandates if their citizens dont hurry to get the increasingly available doses, the director of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Thursday.

The warning by John Nkengasong to reporters that governments will not have a choice came as the flow of doses to Africas 54 countries grows but vaccine hesitancy  and the short shelf life of some donations  create new pressures to get them into the arms of the continents 1.3 billion people.

We dont need to get there if we just do the right thing, Nkengasong said of vaccine mandates. He called any lack of interest in vaccine uptake extremely unfortunate after African officials have fought for months against dramatic vaccine inequality between their nations and richer ones around the world.

Africa remains the worlds least vaccinated continent against COVID-19, with less than 8% of the continents population fully jabbed.

Now the rapidly spreading omicron variant, first identified in southern Africa and now reported in 11 African countries, is driving a sharp increase in COVID-19 cases on the continent. New cases in the past week surged by 93%, the World Health Organization said, though there are signs of hope as preliminary data indicates that hospitalizations across South Africa remain low" and the new variant might cause less severe illness.

Only six African countries have met the global target of vaccinating 40% of their populations against COVID-19 by the end of this year, and this is simply dangerous and untenable, a WHO immunization official, Richard Mihigo, told reporters on Thursday.

Some countries including Zimbabwe and Ghana have turned to vaccine mandates for public employees and others, not without objections. Kenyas plan to require COVID-19 vaccinations for access to government services starting later this month has brought criticism.

African nations have procured 431 million vaccine doses so far and administered 245 million, the Africa CDCs Nkengasong said, adding that you cant even talk of a booster when you have people who havent received their first dose.

The African continent is now receiving around 20 million vaccine doses a week, an encouraging trend, the WHOs Mihigo said, but it is very important that these donations come with shelf life instead of a rapidly looming expiration date. Some countries, unable to distribute them in time, have handed back doses or destroyed them.

Mihigo also warned of potential diversion of vaccines by richer countries seeking to administer additional, booster doses to their own citizens, including children.
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Alert: Jury deliberating in trial of Jussie Smollett on charges he staged racist, homophobic attack in Chicago, lied to police
NEW YORK (AP)  New York City lawmakers vote to grant noncitizens the right to cast ballots in municipal elections.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP)  After years of looking abroad for answers, countries in the Middle East now appear to instead be talking to each other to find solutions following two decades defined by war and political upheaval.

The American withdrawals from Afghanistan and Iraq have played a part in that change. Once ostracized autocracies such as President Bashar Assad in Syria, and shunned former top figures such as Moammar Gadhafis son in Libya, are back in the political arena amid the still smoldering ruins of the 2011 Arab Spring uprisings.

Much remains unsettled and this inward search may not provide the answers most want. There are no quick fixes to Lebanon's unprecedented economic free-fall, the plight of Afghans desperate to flee the country's new Taliban rulers and Iran's increasingly hard-line stance over its nuclear program.

But the diplomatic maneuvering signals a growing realization across the region that Americas interest is moving elsewhere and that now is the time for negotiations that were unthinkable just a year ago.

The United States still maintains a strong military presence, including bases across the wider Mideast. Tens of thousands of American troops operate tanks in Kuwait, sail through the Strait of Hormuz and fly missions across the Arabian Peninsula.

But its Arab allies also watched in stunned horror as desperate people clung to the sides of departing U.S. military cargo jets during America's chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan after 20 years of war and the Taliban takeover of the country. Decisions by both the Trump and Biden administrations led to that moment  and upended strategic thinking calcified by the Cold War and the conflicts that followed the Sept. 11 attacks.

American analysts now talk about the great powers competition and point at Russia's buildup of forces on Ukraine's borders and China's posture toward Taiwan. Those flashpoints, they say, need some of the personnel and equipment long stationed in the Mideast.

Meanwhile, talks in Vienna aimed at restoring Iran's nuclear deal with world powers appear to be floundering. With Iran's uranium enrichment at levels never seen before, threats of military action by Israel have rekindled tensions and fears that an ongoing shadow war in could escalate into open conflict.

And with the border-locking chaos of the coronavirus pandemic largely behind them, Mideast leaders are now shuffling, talking face-to-face amid a flurry of diplomatic meetings, seemingly eager to hedge their bets.

The United Arab Emirates sent its national security adviser on a rare trip to speak to Iran's hard-line president, likely hoping to head off any other maritime attacks off its coast. Saudi Arabia, which cut off ties to Iran in 2016 following attacks on their diplomatic posts sparked by the kingdom's execution of a prominent Shiite cleric, also has held talks with Tehran, hosted in Baghdad.

It's not just about Iran, however. An intra-Gulf feud that saw Qatar boycotted for years by four Arab countries ended in January. Years of recriminations gave way to an image of Qatar's ruling emir, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and the Emirati national security adviser, photographed smiling and relaxed, standing next to each other in board shorts.

Later in December, the Gulf Cooperation Council, which also includes Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman, is to hold its first non-fractious meeting since the boycott. Prince Mohammed has embarked on a tour of the GCC states ahead of that summit, hoping to reassert his own influence after U.S. intelligence agencies said he likely approved the killing and dismemberment of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018.

While each of the Gulf Arab states conducts its own diplomacy, a unified GCC front could prove valuable if tensions rise further with Iran. There are also considerations farther afield. Turkey, long viewed with suspicion by the Emirates and Egypt over offering a haven to Islamists, has sought warmer ties as it tries to halt the collapse of its currency, the lira.

The closing of ranks also brought a return of realpolitik to the region, a decade after the Arab Spring movements that aimed to topple the region's autocrats.

Syrias Assad has clawed his way back from the precipice. Though the northwestern Syrian province of Idlib remains under the control of opposition forces, Assad controls the rest of the country. Now, he is slowly being brought back into the fold of the same Arab countries that once called for his ouster  even if America maintains both its opposition to his rule and a small troop presence in the country's east, near the border with Iraq.

Another figure back on the scene is Seif al-Islam Gadhafi, the son of Libya's slain dictator. Though still wanted by the International Criminal Court over the killing of Arab Spring protesters, Seif al-Islam has reemerged as a candidate in the country's upcoming presidential election.

In Tunisia, which saw the first of the Arab Spring's protests, President Kais Saied froze the countrys parliament and seized executive powers in July. That sidelined the country's Islamists in a move criticized by opponents as a coup.

And in Sudan, where a popular uprising and coup toppled longtime autocrat Omar al-Bashir in 2019, another recent coup disrupted fragile plans for a transition to democracy.

This new Mideast reassessment however, appears to have limits on what it can resolve.

The Mideast hasn't rushed to embrace Taliban rule in Afghanistan and international recognition is still far off. The grinding civil war rages on in Yemen, where a Saudi-led coalition battles Iranian-backed rebels. In Lebanon, the Iran-Saudi rivalry threatens to tear the country apart even more as it faces what the World Bank described as the world's worst financial crisis in 150 years.

But the talking, for now, continues. And absent a major crisis that could draw America in again, those conversations likely will be where the deals get done.

___

EDITORS NOTE  Jon Gambrell, the news director for the Gulf and Iran for The Associated Press, has reported from each of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, Iran and other locations across the world since joining the AP in 2006. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/jongambrellAP.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP)  Arkansas lawmakers on Thursday approved the largest tax cut in state history, adjourning a special session without taking up an abortion ban modeled after Texas' or other measures some Republican lawmakers hoped to add to the agenda.

The House and Senate approved legislation that would cut taxes by nearly $500 million once fully implemented in 2026. The proposal calls for gradually cutting the top individual income tax rate from 5.9% to 4.9% in 2025. It also includes corporate income tax cuts and a low-income tax credit.

Democrats and advocacy groups warned that the cuts could strain resources in the state and that the state should instead focus on increasing funding for needs such as services for the developmentally disabled. Critics have also said the tax cuts are skewed more toward the states higher earners.

Hours after the adjournment, Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson signed the legislation into law and noted the impact on low-income residents.

There's 100,000 Arkansans that were paying taxes that will have their taxes eliminated because of this reform effort, Hutchinson said. "I think it's poor form for someone to diminish a tax cut even though it's small. For an individual who happens to be paying a small portion of taxes, percentage-wise they're getting a larger cut in their taxes.

Hutchinson called the session once legislative leaders said there were more than enough votes to pass the tax cut package. The cuts come after the state reported a nearly $1 billion surplus in July and as revenue this year has come in above the state's expectations.

Hutchinson, who is barred by term limits from seeking reelection next year, has successfully pushed for a series of income tax cuts since taking office in 2015. Former White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders, the only Republican running to succeed him after others dropped out, has vowed to push for eliminating the individual income tax altogether if elected.

The majority-Republican Legislature adjourned despite efforts by some GOP lawmakers to include other items, including an abortion ban like the Texas one thats being argued before the Supreme Court. It would have taken a two-thirds vote of both chambers to extend the session up to 15 days for bills that werent on the initial agenda, including the abortion ban.

They had a focus on tax cuts and the agenda that was called and they did their business. I am grateful that did not have an extended session, said Hutchinson, who has noted that a challenge to Texas' ban is pending before the U.S. Supreme Court.

The Legislature approved several other items Hutchinson placed on the session's agenda, including incentives to help lure a steel mill expansion to east Arkansas.

The Legislature isn't set to meet again until February, for a session focused primarily on the state budget.
YEREVAN, Armenia (AP)  Armenia and Azerbaijan on Thursday traded blame for border clashes in which officials say at least one soldier was killed and two others were wounded amid simmering tensions between the ex-Soviet neighbors.

Armenias military said that two of its troops were wounded after Azerbaijani forces opened fire on Armenian positions, while Azerbaijan said Armenian forces killed one of its soldiers in what it called a provocation.
DAMASCUS, Syria (AP)  Syria will host an Arab energy conference in 2024, the country's energy ministry said Thursday, the latest sign that Arab countries are moving to re-engage with the government of Syria's embattled President Bashar Assad.

The announcement followed a unanimous vote from members of the Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries during a virtual meeting Thursday, the ministry said. The conference will be held in Damascus, according to a ministry statement on Facebook and the official state news agency SANA. Qatar is hosting the 2023 conference.

Arab countries have in recent months been making limited moves to improve relations with Syria, a decade after it was shunned and kicked out of the Arab League at the onset of the countrys civil war in 2011.

The rapprochement has included the reopening of several embassies, visits by Arab officials to Damascus and restoring some commercial ties with the war-torn country. The moves are a recognition of the facts on the ground  after years of war and despite the initial support by some Arab countries to his opposition, Assad's government has survived and his forces have regained control of much of the country.

Syrias civil war has displaced half of its population, killed hundreds of thousands and driven the countrys economy into the ground.

Before the war, Syria produced 350,000 barrels of oil a day, exporting more than half of it. It now averages around 24,000 barrels a day, covering only a fraction of domestic needs. Most of its oil fields are in the hands of Kurdish-led forces, who administer an autonomous region in the country's northeast. Assads government has relied on a top ally, Iran, for oil supplies.

In recent weeks, a deal was signed with Egypt to extend natural gas through Syria to Lebanon using an Arab oil pipeline that has been out of service for a decade.

OAPEC was founded in Beirut in 1968 with Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Libya as its first members. Its headquarters are in Kuwait. Algeria, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain joined three years later. The organizations charter was later changed to allow members where petroleum is an essential source of income, though not the main one. Syria and Egypt also subsequently joined the group.

The organizations website says the total reserves of the member states are estimated at 704 billion barrels a year.
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP)  Oregons largest city was at the center of the movement to defund the police amid outrage that swept the nation after the murder of George Floyd, but more than a year later the sustained protests in Portland have largely faded away.

Now, the city is seeking a difficult path forward amid rising homicide rates and homelessness that's sparked a backlash in some circles against the anti-police activism that has defined Portlands political landscape for the past two years.

Against this backdrop, a Black city councilman elected in the throes of the Black Lives Matter movement has emerged as a key voice nudging Portland to a more centrist  and controversial  position on police funding.

Mingus Mapps, a former political science professor and single dad who defeated a progressive diehard for his council seat, recently voted with the City Council to pump more than $5 million back into the Police Bureau to bolster recruitment of officers, purchase body cameras and rehire recent retirees.

Before he took office, Mapps compared protesters to a "white mob" for vandalizing the home of a fellow councilman who voted against $18 million in police cuts. More recently, he called those who took part in a violent demonstration after the acquittal of Kyle Rittenhouse villains in the story of Portland's recovery.

"If youre breaking windows downtown in order to somehow improve the lives of Black people, I can tell you as a Black person that doesnt improve my life one bit, Mapps said in a recent interview with The Associated Press.

You know, right now, my 12-year-old does not like to go downtown because he perceives it as unsafe," he said. "As a parent and a political leader, as long as our kids feel unsafe, my work is undone.

Mapps' rise from obscurity to a well-known player in one of the whitest major American cities fits into a centrist shift taking place in other liberal metropolises that saw movements to defund police in a surge of activism 18 months ago.

In New York City and Seattle, those more moderate voices are also Black men  Eric Adams and Bruce Harrell  who won mayoral races appealing to voters by talking about reforming the police rather than abolishing them altogether, said Mark Alan Smith, a political science professor at the University of Washington.

Moderate Black politicians like Adams, Harrell and Mapps are finding success in liberal enclaves now because they are not saying a lot of the things that white progressives do that alienate the rest of the country, Smith said, adding that when they advocate for more centrist policies that message coming from people of color is more likely to be accepted."

Shortly after his election, Mapps voted against expanding a pilot program called Portland Street Response that dispatches unarmed mental health specialists, community health workers and paramedics to non-violent calls related to drug use and mental illness.

Recently, however, he voted to use some of the city's $62 million in unanticipated tax revenue for that program while stepping up police recruitment. He has aligned himself with Mayor Ted Wheeler, who wants to hire 300 new officers over three years.

That approach, Mapps said, reflects his commitment to both building the police department and reforming the police department.

The city urgently needs to boost the ranks of its officers amid record homicides and to fix a dysfunctional 911 system that has one of the worst response rates in the country, Mapps said, while at the same time investing in public safety alternatives like Portland Street Response.

He notes that the citys explosion in gun violence has claimed the lives of Black males in overwhelmingly disproportionate numbers.

Mapps critics fault him for a narrative they say excuses law enforcement in a city with a long history of police misconduct. They also slammed him for accepting $15,000 in campaign contributions from the police union during his campaign  a decision he has defended.

Portland saw more than 100 days of continuous protest in the summer and fall of 2020 and thousands of residents marched nightly during two particularly intense weeks as they faced off against federal agents sent by President Donald Trump to quell unrest. A two-block area of downtown felt like a war zone after dark, with the agents in full body armor firing tear gas, flash-bang grenades and pepper spray into crowds that responded with fireworks and rocks.

During the protest peak, Portland police reported more than 6,000 uses of force and subsequently fell out of compliance with a 2014 settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice for excessive use of force. Federal regulators rebuked the bureau for its abnormally high reliance on violent tactics.

Councilwoman Jo Ann Hardesty, the first Black woman elected to the City Council and a champion of Portland Street Response, said the police budget is bloated and the city is far from resolving its Justice Department oversight.

I am a believer in holding ineffective and harmful practices accountable," she said before the recent fall budget vote. Attempting to mitigate crime through adding police is among the most expensive, least effective, and least urgent responses we can have as a Council.

Bobbin Singh, founder and executive director of the Oregon Justice Resource Center, said attempting to find a middle ground on policing as Mapps is doing ignores the racism thats baked into the justice system and the Police Bureau.

The question before us is not that complex. Its binary. Either you support racial justice or you dont, Singh said. You dont find compromise with those structures; you dismantle those structures.

Mapps, however, said reducing the debate to either being pro-police or pro-defunding is a set of false choices."

I know that the people of color that I talked to ... want the same thing their white neighbors want, which is just a public safety system that works and respects them and treats them fairly, regardless of the color of their skin, Mapps said.

"That is the hope and expectation that I havent given up on, and if theres any town in America that can get this right, I think we can.

____

Follow Gillian Flaccus on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/gflaccus
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas has changed a policy that denied sex reassignment surgery to people who did not legally change their names, the company confirmed Thursday.

The change came after the American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas and the Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund raised the issue on behalf of Charley Osman, a transgender man, who was rejected after he sought pre-authorization in June for two surgeries.

Im pretty sure Im not the first person to go through this, but I want to be sure Im the last, Osman said in a news release issued by ACLU Kansas. This is an incredibly expensive surgery, and for a long time I was afraid I wouldnt be able to have it. Im very glad Blue Cross Blue Shield changed their policies so that no one else has to go through what I did.

Several medical providers agreed Osmans surgery was medically necessary, ACLU of Kansas said. The organizations sent a letter to Blue Cross Blue Shield on Osmans behalf in August saying the name change requirement was outdated, inconsistent with medical standards, discriminatory and illegal.

With the policy change, Osman will undergo the surgeries by the end of the year, according to the statement.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas said it makes decisions based on feedback and insights from its members.

Policies are important to ensure we keep costs down and insurance affordable," the company said in a statement. "However, we are constantly reviewing and updating these policies to meet the evolving needs of our members, and this is a good example of that process working.

Ezra Cukor, senior staff attorney with the Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund, said many transgender people may not want to change their names. Legal name changes can also be expensive and time consuming and have no relation to medical necessity, he said.

Were glad that BCBS of Kansas stepped up to change this antiquated policy requirement," said Sharon Brett, legal director for the ACLU of Kansas. "This is an important first step toward ensuring that Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Kansas provides care that is inclusive, non-discriminatory, and rooted in clinical standards.

Thomas Witt, executive director for Equality Kansas, the state's leading LGBTQ advocacy group, praised the change.

Transgender Kansans have struggled for years overcoming disparities in access to health care and insurance, Witt said in a statement. "Todays news signals another step forward for LGBTQ Kansans on our long road to full equality.

The insurance company's new policy lists 18 procedures often associated with gender reassignment that it said are considered cosmetic and will not be covered. Those include such things as breast or calf implants, hair removal, voice modification or chin reshaping.

Brett said the two advocacy groups will continue to work with Blue Cross and Blue Shield Kansas for policy changes to ensure other subscribers are not denied "medically necessary care.

___

This story has been corrected to show Ezra Cukor used the he pronoun.
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP)  Gov. Doug Burgum is set to travel to the southern border to visit North Dakota National Guard troops.

The Bismarck Tribune reported Wednesday that Burgum will travel to Texas next week to visit with soldiers from the Bismarck-based 957th Engineer Company. The troops are supporting U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents. The unit deployed in early October and will serve at the border for a year.
DAYTON, Nev. (AP)  A 64-year-old California man who admitted setting the fire that destroyed a historic train depot in rural Lyon County last year has been sentenced to up to nearly seven years in prison.

Kurt Robert Selzer of Oak View pleaded guilty to first-degree arson in September in connection with the fire in June 2020 at the Dayton Railroad Depot building about 40 miles (64 kilometers) southeast of Reno, the Nevada Appeal reported.
NEW YORK (AP)  A former boyfriend of a woman who says she was paid to give sexual favors to Jeffrey Epstein, starting at age 14, corroborated parts of her account Wednesday at the sex trafficking trial of the millionaire's longtime companion, Ghislaine Maxwell.

The man, identified only as Shawn to protect the identity of his ex-girlfriend, said on multiple occasions in the early 2000s he drove three girls he knew to Epsteins estate in Palm Beach, Florida.

He would wait in the car for an hour until the teenagers would emerge with $100 bills.

The girls included a woman who testified on Tuesday only as Carolyn to protect her privacy. She had told the jury she made hundreds of dollars giving sexualized massages to Epstein, and that Maxwell had fondled her and told her she had a great body."

Shawn said he and Carolyn used some of the cash to support their drug habit.

The testimony came as the government neared the end of its case against Maxwell, who has denied charges she instructed teenagers to give Epstein sexual messages at the millionaires residences in Florida, New York and elsewhere.

Maxwell's lawyers have said she's being made a scapegoat for sex crimes committed by Epstein, who briefly went to jail in a child prostitution case in 2008, and then killed himself after he was hit with new charged in 2019.

The last of four key accusers was expected to testify Thursday, before the government rests its case. The defense is set to start its case next week.

In his testimony Wednesday, Shawn said he drove the girls to Epstein's posh property from the much less affluent neighborhoods of West Palm Beach, where the teenagers lived, whenever he received a call from one of three women who worked for Epstein.

One of them, he said, had a proper English" accent. Maxwell was raised in England.

Shawn testified that he never met Maxwell but he once met Epstein in his driveway when Epstein arrived late for a massage. He said Epstein introduced himself and showed off his car.

He said the teenagers would exchange their $100 bills at a Palm Beach gas station for smaller bills because no businesses in West Palm Beach would accept the large bills.
SEATTLE (AP)  A Seattle police officer who rolled his bicycle over a protesters head has been ordered to serve a seven-day suspension without pay.

The suspension came after the citys police watchdog group found he used prohibited force and broke department rules for reasonable discretion and professionalism, The Seattle Times reported.

The officer, whose name has not been released by the Seattle Police Department, is appealing the findings by the citys Office of Police Accountability.

A department spokesman didn't know Wednesday whether the officer had served the suspension, but said hes been assigned back in patrol.

Office of Police Accountability Director Andrew Myerberg said Wednesday the officers recommended suspension was on the higher end of discipline compared to similar cases.

The September 2020 incident was captured on video and drew national attention in posts of protests in Seattle and cities nationwide after a grand jurys decision to not indict police officers in Louisville, Kentucky, for the killing of Breonna Taylor.

Videos from the Seattle protest showed a protester, later identified as Camillo Massagli, lying on the ground, and the officer walking his bike over his head before a line of officers pushed back demonstrators.

A King County sheriffs detective who investigated the officer for assault did not find probable cause, reasoning that he and other officers had a right to remove protesters from the street that night.

The Seattle City Attorneys office reviewed the case and declined to file charges before OPA launched its investigation.

The officer told OPA investigators that at the time a captain ordered officers to disperse an unruly crowd, both tires on the bicycle were flat, so he was wheeling it when the protester laid down in the street in front of him, the summary of the investigation, released this week, says.

The officer said he needed to stay on his line and could not move as it might confuse the officers following behind him, and contended that he lifted his bicycle over the protester, denying that he intentionally rolled it over Massagli.

But OPAs review of videos found no indication that he ever lifted the bicycle while walking over the protester. The videos also showed there was plenty of room to simply go around the protester, the summary states.

Moreover, OPA does not see any credible assertion that rolling over a prone person lying on the ground with the wheels of a bicycle  flat or not  is appropriate force under SPD policy, the investigation summary says.

A disciplinary committee recommended the seven-day suspension and Interim Police Chief Adrian Diaz agreed, formally notifying the officer of the suspension on Nov. 5.

Mike Solan, president of the Seattle Police Officers Guild, said in an email Wednesday the police union had no comment at this time.
MEXICO CITY (AP)  Allegations from the United States government that President Nayib Bukeles administration negotiated with El Salvador's powerful street gangs touched a sensitive topic. Previous administrations in El Salvador both from the left and right have done so and paid a political price. Prosecutions of some former officials are ongoing for past pacts. The U.S. Treasury said an investigation had revealed that officials with Bukele's government offered financial benefits to the gangs, as well as perks to their imprisoned leaders like prostitutes and cellphones, in exchange for lowering the homicide rate and political support in this years legislative elections. The U.S. government did not present evidence and Bukele has vehemently denied any deal with the gangs.

WHY ARE GANGS A SENSITIVE TOPIC IN EL SALVADOR?

The street gangs, which originated in the United States and took root in El Salvador when gang members were deported, are a force in Salvadoran society. They control neighborhoods and swaths of territory. There is no reliable figure on how many member the gangs have, but estimates are in the tens of thousands. They extort businesses, move drugs, murder, recruit children and restrict the free movement of people. Much of their leadership is imprisoned, but continues to run the criminal enterprises.

The problem of the gangs is like a cancer, said Carlos Carcach, the research coordinator at the Higher School of Economics and Business in San Salvador. It is something so present in everything that occurs in the country that it is difficult, if not impossible, to eradicate it.

IS NEGOTIATING DEALS WITH GANGS NEW IN EL SALVADOR?

No. Past governments have been accused of doing it for short-term political gain.

In 2012, officials with the government of then President Mauricio Funes negotiated the truce with the country's gangs that lowered the homicide rate, but has been blamed for allowing the gangs to strengthen and expand their territory. There were a variety of carrots offered to the gangs, including payments to members, but the most significant was moving imprisoned gang leaders from maximum security facilities to less secure prisons where they could continue running their criminal activities.

A number of former officials are being prosecuted for crimes related to that pact. Funes fled to Nicaragua where he received asylum. Bukele has been extremely critical of previous governments for making deals with the gangs.

The U.S. governments allegations are not the first against Bukeles government. Local news outlet El Faro reported last year that officials were secretly meeting with gang leaders to make a deal, which the president also denied at the time.

IF IT RESULTS IN FEWER MURDERS, WHY SHOULDN'T THE GOVERNMENT NEGOTIATE A TRUCE?

On the surface, the idea of the government making a deal with organized crime is distasteful. The government is responsible for citizens safety. At a deeper level, its an illustration of who really has power.

A drop in homicides is great, but must be accomplished with good public policies, security and effective investigations and prosecutions, said Leonor Arteaga, program director at the Due Process of Law Foundation, a regional rule of law organization based in Washington.

What has happened is that the gangs are the ones imposing the conditions and the government the one that has accepted them, she said. Given that this reduction is in reality a pact, a negotiation, its the gangs who have control and who just as theyve now reduced homicides, they could raise them again tomorrow.

A problem is motivation, Arteaga said. The governments objective in entering these negotiations is not to obtain a benefit for the people ... but rather to obtain a political benefit, she said.

WILL THIS HURT BUKELE'S POPULARITY?

Bukele is extremely popular. He rolled to victory over the traditional parties from the right and left in 2019 after corruption scandals largely discredited them. His New Ideas party romped to victory earlier this year in legislative elections that gave them control of the congress.

Bukele supporters laud him for the drop in murders, early acquisition of COVID-19 vaccines and government handouts of food and laptops for school children.

I dont see his popularity levels reducing dramatically, Arteaga said. The people are more interested in having some way to survive and get along to a certain point with the gangs.
Republicans in the fast-growing suburbs north of Dallas had a scare last year.

Democrat Joe Biden came within a single percentage point of then-President Donald Trump in the congressional district represented by Republican Van Taylor. Though Taylor easily won reelection to the U.S. House, Trumps narrow margin was a warning sign that a typically easy win might not be so easy anymore.

So when Republicans, who control the Texas Legislature, redrew the state's congressional maps this fall, they protected Taylor. They scattered his constituents into multiple districts, consolidating GOP voters to make safe districts. One is a bizarrely shaped tripod: a narrow leg jabs into a suburb to grab Republican-leaning voters, while the other two legs reach into rural areas all the way to the Oklahoma border.

Taylors new district isnt competitive anymore. It voted for Trump by 15 percentage points. The Justice Department this week sued Texas, saying the state's new district lines discriminate against minority voters.

As the country approaches the halfway mark in its once-a-decade redrawing of political maps, competitive congressional districts are becoming rarer and rarer. Lawmakers in both parties, but especially Republicans, are creating districts that shore up their vulnerable members and trying to ensure easy reelections.

The new maps are likely to accelerate the demise of competitive elections, a warning sign for the health of democracy, experts say. Increasingly, party primaries are the contests most likely to unseat an incumbent. That leaves representatives catering to their party's base, with little incentive to appeal to middle-of-the-road voters. Ultimately, it feeds the heightened partisan polarization that has poisoned Washington.

It's definitely a problem and you see it to some degree every cycle, said Joe Kabourek of RepresentUS, an advocate for overhauling redistricting. What the lack of competitive seats means is elections are basically over before they begin.

In the last presidential election, only 13 of 435 House seats switched between the two parties. It's evidence of a decline in competitiveness that dates from the middle of the 20th century and has accelerated as the two main political parties have become more ideological. In the 1950s, political handicappers ranked about 130 of the seats in the House as competitive, but now only categorize about 48 like that, said Josh Huder, a senior fellow at Georgetown Universitys Governmental Affairs Institute.

Huder notes redistricting isn't the only cause. An even bigger factor is that voters are choosing to live in places where they are surrounded by like-minded neighbors  Democrats clustering in cities, Republicans in rural areas, for example. That makes it more likely that districts will be dominated by voters of just one party.

The decline of competition has helped lead to growing partisanship. Just 19 of 213 House Republicans recently voted for the new infrastructure bill, a measure with broad bipartisan support in polls and in the Senate.

It shifts the dynamics and incentives of members of Congress pretty dramatically when you have safe seats, Huder said. He noted that most representatives only need to win over partisans who are typically much more extreme to stay in power.

This redistricting cycle is poised to make it worse.

Its almost inevitable that were going to see polarization in these really safe districts, said Adam Podowitz-Thomas of the Princeton Gerrymandering Project, which monitors redistricting. Its going to be harder for moderates or people who work with the other side to get elected in these districts.

Both parties agree that the number of potential swing districts is dwindling.

The main Republican redistricting organization, the National Republican Redistricting Trust, found that, in the states that have drawn new maps, there are now 15 fewer seats where the margin of victory was 10 percentage points or less in 2020. Its Democratic counterpart, the National Democratic Redistricting Committee, tracks competitiveness slightly differently but finds 16 fewer seats.

The examples are widespread in the 21 states that have finished redistricting. In Illinois, one of the last remaining moderate Republicans, Rep. Adam Kinzinger, announced he would not run for reelection after Democrats dismantled his district west of Chicago district.

In this day, to prevail, you must belong to a tribe, Kinzinger said in a video announcing his retirement. Our political parties only survive by appealing to the most motivated and extreme elements within it.

In Georgia, the Republican-controlled legislature eliminated two competitive suburban Atlanta congressional districts represented by Democrats, turning Rep. Lucy McBath's swing district into a heavily Republican one and Rep. Carolyn Bourdeaux's district into a safe Democratic seat. In Utah, Republicans transformed a Salt Lake City-based swing seat into one Trump won by 16 percentage points.

Colorado firebrand Republican Lauren Boebert, who won her 2020 race by 6 percentage points, now has a easier path to reelection. But the independent commission that drew Colorado's lines created a swing seat north of Denver.

More swing districts may be on the chopping block:

In Florida, Republicans are mulling turning Democratic Rep. Stephanie Murphy's seat into safe GOP district.

Democrats worry that Kansas Republicans could target Rep. Sharice Davids, who ousted a Republican in 2018 in Kansas City's western suburbs.

In New York, multiple moderate Republicans, including John Katko upstate and Nicole Malliotakis on Staten Island, could see their swing seats changed

In Virginia, newly proposed maps eliminate the district of a prominent Democratic moderate, Rep. Abigail Spanberger, although overall they maintain the same number of competitive districts in the state.

But no state is likely to outdo Texas, which transformed as many as nine competitive into safe seats. That was part of an explicit strategy from Republicans who watched anxiously as their state became a congressional battleground.

Democrats picked up two House seats in the 2018 election and then fought the GOP to a standstill last year. With the state's growth powered by voters of color who lean Democratic, Republicans drew a map that would lock in their gains and avoid having to worry about the Texas seats. The map spurred the legal challenge from the Biden administration, alleging the restricting plan dilutes Latinos' votes, particularly in the Dallas area.

Dallas' northern suburbs are a case study in killing competition. The Democratic voters in the southern end of Taylor's district were moved to create a newly safe Democratic district. In exchange, Taylor's district expanded into conservative rural areas east of the suburbs.

For Republicans the moves save incumbents  and money. Republicans and their allies spent $20 million defending Texas' vulnerable, GOP-held congressional seats last year, said Adam Kincaid, executive director of the National Republican Redistricting Trust.

Now they can go spend that money on places where they can go on offense, Kincaid said. You'd always rather be on offense than defense.
MANILA, Philippines (AP)  A gunman shot and killed a journalist who was watching TV at a store in a central Philippine city, in a brazen attack in what has long been regarded as one of the worlds most dangerous countries for journalists.

Jesus Malabanan, a 58-year-old provincial correspondent for the Manila Standard newspaper, died while being transported to a hospital after being shot once in the head by one of two motorcycle-riding men Wednesday night at a family store he was tending in Calbayog city in Samar province, police and officials said Thursday.

The suspects escaped and a police investigation is underway to identify them and a motive for the attack.

Media watchdog groups condemned the killing, including Malabanans colleagues in Pampanga, a province north of Manila where he was based and worked for years as a news correspondent and as a stringer for Reuters.

A media protection body created by President Rodrigo Duterte strongly condemned the killing and vowed to arrest the killers. But Duterte himself has long been in the crosshairs of media watchdogs and human rights groups, which have repeatedly condemned him for fostering impunity among the police forces that have enforced his crackdown against illegal drugs and left thousands of mostly petty suspects dead.

Dozens of journalists have been killed or come under attack under Duterte and his predecessors. In 2009, members of a powerful political clan and their associates gunned down 58 people, including 32 media workers, in a brazen execution-style attack in southern Maguindanao province that horrified the world.

While the mass killing was later linked to a violent electoral rivalry common in many rural areas, it also showcased the threats faced by journalists in the Philippines. A surfeit of unlicensed guns and private armies controlled by powerful clans and weak law enforcement in rural regions are among the security concerns journalists face in the poverty-stricken Southeast Asian country.

Thirty-two of those gunned down in Maguindanaos Ampatuan town were local reporters and media workers. It was the deadliest single attack on journalists in recent history, media watchdogs say.

A Philippine court found key members of the Ampatuan family guilty of the mass killings in 2019 but many more suspects remain at large.
JACKSON, Miss. (AP)  Authorities are investigating after a large fire broke out at an adult daycare facility in Jackson.

Firefighters were battling the blaze at the ANCOR Adult Daycare late into the night Wednesday, media outlets reported. Flames had engulfed the building.
MEXICO CITY (AP)  U.S. authorities sent the first two migrants back to Mexico on Wednesday under the reinstated Remain in Mexico policy.

The Trump-era policy makes asylum-seekers wait in Mexico for hearings in U.S. immigration court.

The U.N. International Organization for Migration said the two migrants were sent to Mexico over a bridge in Ciudad Juarez, across the border from El Paso, Texas. The U.N. agency did not provide the nationalities of the two.

The two were greeted by Mexican officials who provided them with documents, and U.N. officials gave them coronavirus tests and took them to a shelter. Mexico says the U.S. government has agreed to vaccinate all migrants returned under the program.

The administration of U.S. President Joe Biden reinstated the policy Monday to comply with a court order and agreed to changes and additions demanded by Mexico.

The returns were scheduled to begin in El Paso with up to 50 migrants to be returned daily to Ciudad Juarez, said a U.S. official who spoke on condition of anonymity because details were not made public.

The Homeland Security Department confirmed that returns began at one location and will be expanded to six others. It declined to identify the launch city or how many migrants will be processed, citing operational security reasons.

Revival of the Remain in Mexico policy comes even as the Biden administration maneuvers to end it in a way that survives legal scrutiny. Biden scrapped the policy, but a lawsuit by Texas and Missouri forced him to put it back into effect, subject to Mexicos acceptance.

The U.S. has pledged to try to complete cases within 180 days, a response to Mexicos concerns that applicants will languish in a court system that is backlogged with 1.5 million cases.

About 70,000 asylum-seekers were forced to wait in Mexico, often for months, under the policy that President Donald Trump introduced in January 2019 and which Biden suspended on his first day in office.

Bidens version expands the policy to migrants from Western Hemisphere countries, while Trump largely limited it to the hemispheres Spanish-speaking countries. Mexicans continue to be exempt.

The expansion is especially significant for Haitians, who formed a huge camp in the Texas border town of Del Rio in September. Brazilians, who were largely spared under Trump, may also be heavily affected.

U.S. authorities will ask migrants if they fear being returned to Mexico instead of relying on them to raise concerns unprompted. If migrants express fear, they will be screened and have 24 hours to find an attorney or representative.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP)  A student at an aeronautical university in Florida was arrested Thursday after authorities received tips from other students that he was planning to shoot people on campus on the last day before winter break, police said.

When officers arrested John Hagins, 19, at his apartment in Daytona Beach, Florida, they found a folding gun and hundreds of rounds of ammunition in his backpack, according to a news release from the Daytona Beach Police Department.

We could have had a tragedy unfold today," said Daytona Beach Police Department Chief Jakari Young. Instead, these students reported it to the school and that allowed us to get to work right away and bring Hagins into custody before he could carry out his plans."

The police department was first contacted by campus security at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University overnight Thursday after students had gone to them with their concerns about Hagins. Investigators saw social media posts by Hagins in which he outlined his plans to bring the folding gun to campus. He apparently had sold his vehicle to buy the gun and ammunition, the police news release said.

Hagins confessed to making the threats, Young said, but told investigators it was all a joke, according to the Daytona Beach News-Journal.

He may want to claim that it was all a joke and he wasnt serious about it but we dont find anything funny about discussing a mass shooting on a campus, Young said. If he was looking for attention, hes got it. I dont think he wanted the kind of attention that he has but hes got it.

Detectives were still determining a motive but learned Hagins was in jeopardy of failing classes at the school and had been cited for a traffic infraction the previous day, the news release said.

Hagins was facing charges of written threats to injure or kill, terrorism and attempted first degree homicide, according to the police department. He was being held Thursday evening on no bond.

There was no online court docket for Hagins, as of Thursday evening, so it was unknown if he had an attorney.
NEW YORK (AP)  A surprise year-end decree by New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio ordering virtually all businesses in his city to get workers vaccinated has sowed confusion and frustration  and could set off a mad holiday dash to force vaccine holdouts to choose between jabs or jobs.

Tens of thousands of unvaccinated New Yorkers and their employers are now thrust into an unwelcome reckoning over the mandate, set to go into effect two days after Christmas.

Francisco Marte, who employs 16 people at three bodegas across the Bronx, is in a precarious position: Force the shots on his few unvaccinated workers, or fire them.

Its going to be hard to force them to do it, said Marte, who voiced defiance should the city follow through with the edict. Im not going to lose a good employee because of de Blasios orders.

Like many business owners, he was taken by surprise by the mayors announcement Monday that the city would require an additional 184,000 businesses, from nail salons to big Wall Street firms, to join restaurants, bars, theaters and other public establishments in requiring vaccines for workers as a condition of employment.

With just weeks left in office, de Blasio said the mandate will take effect Dec. 27. In-person workers need to provide proof they have received at least one dose of the vaccine. Workers would not be able to opt out with COVID-19 testing, although waivers would be considered for religious or medical reasons.

The mayor said details about how businesses will report workers' vaccination status would be forthcoming next Wednesday, leaving companies just a few business days to figure out implementation.

Among other things, companies have to invent a process for asking employees about their vaccination status, documenting proof of vaccination and handling any requests for an exemption. They also have to figure out what to do if employees refuse, and how to protect themselves from potentially costly worker lawsuits.

Marte said the turnaround time is unrealistic, and he wonders how the mandate will be enforced.

Since the COVID-19 outbreak, New York City  an early epicenter of the pandemic  has launched some of the most aggressive measures to combat the spread of the coronavirus.

About 5.9 million adults in New York City have gotten at least a first dose, out of 7 million people age 18 and up. That translates to 84%. About 5.8 million New Yorkers of all ages are fully vaccinated.

De Blasio said his city is now dealing with a "triple threat"  the new omicron variant, the colder winter months and a time when people are gathering for the holidays.

I believe in individual rights and liberties, I really do. But I think there is a need  a community need  that is so much greater than any one of us at this point. Thats what Im acting on, he said during an interview Thursday on radio station Hot 97.

Were not going to do business as usual, the mayor said. If we do business as usual, we are going to sorely regret it."

Many companies with more than 100 employees were already preparing for the federal vaccination mandate until courts intervened and temporarily blocked it before a Jan. 4 deadline, but smaller firms were caught off guard by the mayors announcement this week.

The federal mandate would have allowed workers to opt out of the vaccination mandate by submitting to weekly testing.

The Dec. 27 deadline doesnt give companies much time, said Daniel Kadish, an attorney who has been advising businesses about COVID-19 requirements.

That creates a very short time period, which of course includes multiple holiday periods between the 15th and the 27th, he said. And its not clear right now exactly what will be required for compliance.

Danny Kilbert, owner of the Compleat Strategist, a board game and puzzle store in Midtown, said he will comply with the mandate when its official, but wonders if it will stick.

Its not good for any business in New York anymore. This is the hardest its ever been, he said.

Legal challenges were being readied soon after the mayor announced the new measures.

Louis Gelormino, a Staten Island attorney who is helping hundreds of public school teachers fight a similar mandate on schools, said any private sector worker in the city is a potential plaintiff.

Certainly, COVID is a problem. Nobodys denying that, said Gelormino, who said hes fully vaccinated. Most people are not against vaccinations. Theyre against mandates. What the mayor is saying right now is if you dont have a vaccine by December 27th, you cant work in New York City.

Eateries with indoor dining, as well as bars, gyms and performance spaces, have had to comply with similar measures that went into effect in September, requiring workers and patrons alike to prove they've had at least one shot of a vaccine.

The mayor's announcement earlier this week also toughened the requirements for patrons by ordering that anyone 12 or older who wants to dine indoors at a restaurant, go to a gym or see a show will have to produce proof of having received two shots of the vaccine. In addition, children 5 to 11 will have to show proof of at least one shot.

Domenico Sacramone, who owns Sacs Place, said the new rules would add to the burdens of operating his restaurant in Queens.

Well wait and see, but it has already affected my business. I dont know how necessary it was, considering they already told us we have to lower the curve, and theres no curve really and hospitalizations are low. Restaurants have constantly been the scapegoat.

He blamed the ambiguity around the new rules for the cancellation of a party of 100 his restaurant was set to cater off-site.

They dont want to bother with it and canceled, he said.
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP)  A former north Alabama school superintendent charged in a scheme to skim education funds told a court he wants to plead guilty to a single federal charge, court documents show.

Former Athens school superintendent Trey Holladay, charged with multiple counts of fraud and identity theft, plans to plead guilty to conspiracy, according to a notice filed in federal court on Tuesday. A judge hasn't yet scheduled a hearing to accept a plea, court documents showed Thursday.
LEWISTON, Idaho (AP)  An Idaho man facing two murder charges waived his right to a preliminary hearing on Wednesday, which means the case will automatically move forward in court.

Prosecutors have accused Richard Ross, 56, of killing 76-year-old Edwina Eddy Devin at her Grangeville home on Sept. 30 and then killing her 57-year-old son, Michael Devin, early the next morning in Lewiston.

Ross has not yet entered a plea, but is scheduled to be arraigned on the felony charges next week.

At this point he is going to let the process work itself out, Ross' defense attorney, Gregory Rauch, said Thursday.

As Wednesday's preliminary hearing was set to begin, Nez Perce County Prosecutor Justin Coleman said he planned to call up to nine witnesses to the stand in an attempt to show the judge the case should move forward in court, The Lewiston Tribune reported. But the hearing was delayed while Ross met with his attorney for about 20 minutes. Then the pair told the court Ross wished to waive the hearing.

Ross had earlier been scheduled to undergo an evaluation at the request of his attorneys to determine if he is competent enough to assist in his own defense. However, Ross declined to take part in the evaluation.

Chief Deputy Criminal Prosecutor April Smith told the court last month that Ross is also the lead suspect in a cold case that happened roughly 27 years ago. Bruce and Lynn Peeples were strangled to death at their Grangeville home in 1994. Ross has not been charged in that case, but the investigation into the deaths has been reopened.
NEW DELHI (AP)  Thousands of Indian farmers suspended a year-long protest on Thursday after the government withdrew contentious farm laws and set up a committee to consider their other demands, including guaranteed prices for key crops and the withdrawal of criminal cases against the protesters.

Its a big victory for farmers. We have forced the government to bow to our demands, said Balbir Singh Rajewal, a farmer leader. He said they will review on Jan. 15 the steps taken by the government and decide their future course of action.

We have suspended our protest, not ended it, said Gurnam Singh Chandoni, another leader.

Farmers started removing their tents and prepared to vacate highways ringing New Delhi where they have camped since November last year. Leaders said they will leave after celebrating their victory on Saturday.

Most are from the neighboring states of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.

A breakthrough came this week when the farmers' leaders received letters from the government listing steps it would take to meet their demands. In an about-turn last month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the withdrawal of the farm laws passed by Parliament in September last year.

The government had insisted that the laws, which would lead to a deregulated market with more private-sector control of agriculture, were urgently needed to modernize Indian farming.

The protesters said the laws would drastically reduce their incomes and leave them at the mercy of big corporations. They demanded that the government guarantee prices for certain essential crops such as wheat and rice, a system introduced in the 1960s to help India shore up its food reserves and prevent shortages.

Currently, an overwhelming majority of farmers sell only to government-sanctioned marketplaces at fixed prices.

Farmers form one of Indias most influential voting blocs. Modis decision to scrap the laws came ahead of elections early next year in key states Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Punjab, where his Bharatiya Janata Party is eager to increase its power.

The protest, which drew international support, has been largely peaceful. However, violence erupted on Jan. 26 when thousands of farmers briefly took over New Delhis historic Red Fort and hoisted a Sikh religious flag. Most are members of the Sikh minority. At least one farmer died and a number of protesters and police were injured.

Farmers leaders say more than 500 protesters have died due to suicide, bitter cold weather and COVID-19 since November last year and the government should pay 500,000 rupees ($6,750) in compensation per family. But the government says it has no figures on the number of deaths during the movement.
JACKSON, Miss. (AP)  A federal judge has approved funding for an independent monitor to collect and analyze data on how Mississippi's mental health system is working to prevent unnecessary hospitalizations.

U.S. District Judge Carlton Reeves ordered on Dec. 3 that the state make an initial payment of $25,000 to Michael Hogan, a mental health care veteran with 40 years experience. He previously served as special master amid the ongoing litigation between the Mississippi Department of Health and the federal government.

The order comes as the state is appealing a September ruling from Reeves that requires it to design a plan for the future of the states mental health care system.

Hogan submitted a proposed budget on Oct. 18 totaling $317,330 in estimated costs for the year to fulfill his role as a monitor. That includes fees for Hogan's duties and for experts that may need to be required to assist with data analysis and validation.

Under Reeves order, the state is responsible for tracking a wide array of data, including state hospital admissions and the number of patients who remain in state hospitals more than 180 days; calls to mobile crisis teams, and the number of people being placed in jail while waiting for a state hospital bed.

While acting as monitor, Hogan will be required to provide reports every six months on the states compliance with Reeves order. Reeves will hold a status conference with the state, the federal government and Hogan after each report is submitted. Hogan will be appointed for three years and could be reappointed.

Reeves also ruled in September that the state must start a clinical review process. The state must sample 100 to 200 patients a year to assure that services are working as intended to address the needs of people with serious mental illness.

However, the state requested that the implementation of the review process be delayed while its appeal is underway.

The requirements are the result of a yearslong legal battle over how Mississippi cares for people with mental illness.

The federal government issued a letter in 2011 saying the state had done too little to provide mental health services outside mental hospitals. The Justice Department sued Mississippi in 2016, and Reeves ruled the state was in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

State attorneys contend Mississippi has enacted programs that enable people to obtain treatment in their communities and avoid hospitalizations, such as mobile crisis teams, supportive housing and peer support services. Justice Department attorneys said during a hearing last summer that those services need to be expanded and that there need to be metrics to ensure they are working.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP)  A man man convicted of killing a northeast Iowa police officer nearly 65 years ago who later saw his death sentenced commuted to life in prison has died at the state penitentiary in Fort Madison, Iowa corrections officials said Thursday.

Warren John Nutter, 84, was the state's longest serving inmate, Iowa Department of Corrections spokesman Nick Crawford said. He died Wednesday morning in a hospice room of the Iowa State Penitentiary, where he had been housed due to chronic illness.
TEL AVIV, Israel (AP)  Israels Justice Ministry said Thursday it was closing an investigation into two police officers who shot dead a Palestinian assailant as he lay on the ground, accepting the officers assertion that they acted in self-defense.

A Palestinian attacker on Saturday stabbed and wounded an ultra-Orthodox Jew outside Jerusalem's Old City. He then tried to stab the officers before being shot and falling to the ground. Video footage showed a paramilitary Border Police officer shooting the attacker when he was already lying on the ground.

The shooting prompted calls for an investigation and drew comparisons to a 2016 incident in which an Israeli soldier was caught on camera shooting a wounded Palestinian attacker who was lying on the ground.

The Justice Ministry said it made its decision to close the case following the questioning of the two officers, who said they acted in self-defense.

It was an incident that took place over mere seconds, in circumstances in which there was a real and concrete threat to the lives of the fighters and the civilians in the area, it said in a statement. It was found to be legally justified to use a weapon.

The incident came amid an uptick in Israeli-Palestinian violence in Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank. On Wednesday, an Israeli woman was stabbed and lightly wounded in a tense neighborhood in east Jerusalem. The suspect, a Palestinian female minor, fled the scene and was later arrested inside a nearby school, police said.

Last month, a Hamas militant opened fire in Jerusalems Old City, killing one Israeli and wounding four others before being fatally shot by police.

Israel captured east Jerusalem in the 1967 war along with the West Bank and Gaza. Israel annexed east Jerusalem in a move not recognized internationally and considers the entire city its capital. The Palestinians want east Jerusalem to be the capital of their future state, to include the West Bank and Gaza.

Palestinians and Israeli rights groups say Israeli security forces sometimes use excessive force in response to attacks, killing suspected assailants who could have been arrested or who posed no immediate threat to security forces.

Rights groups also say Israel rarely holds members of its security forces accountable for the deadly shootings of Palestinians. Investigations often end with no charges or lenient sentences, and in many cases witnesses are not summoned for questioning.

Israel says its security forces make every effort to avoid harming civilians and that it investigates alleged abuses.

In the widely publicized 2016 case, Israeli soldier Elor Azaria was caught on camera shooting a wounded Palestinian attacker who was lying on the ground. Azaria later served two-thirds of a 14-month sentence after being convicted of reckless manslaughter.

His case sharply divided Israelis. The military pushed for his prosecution, saying he violated its code of ethics, while many Israelis, particularly on the nationalist right, defended his actions.
CAIRO (AP)  Israel's foreign minister arrived in Cairo on Thursday on a diplomatic visit aimed at strengthening ties and shoring up a tenuous cease-fire between Israel and Gaza's militant Hamas rulers.

Foreign Minister Yair Lapid met with Egypt's president, Abdel Fattah el-Sissi, and the country's foreign minister, Sameh Shokry, for talks that reflected budding ties between Egypt and Israel's new government. Egypt's intelligence chief also participated in the meetings.

Egypt, the first Arab country to reach a peace agreement with Israel, has served as a key mediator between Israel and Hamas. The bitter enemies have fought four wars since Hamas seized control of the Gaza Strip in 2007, most an recently an 11-day conflict in May, and Egypt has been working quietly to arrange a long-term truce.

Hamas is demanding that a crippling Israeli-Egyptian blockade be eased, while Israel is seeking the release of two Israeli captives and the remains of two dead soldiers held by Hamas.

Israel's foreign ministry said Lapid presented a plan to develop Gaza's economy in return for assurances of quiet, and eventually disarmament, by Hamas. It said the plan must address the issue of captives and missing persons.

Lapid also discussed Israeli efforts to strengthen the rival Palestinian Authority, whose forces were toppled by Hamas in 2007. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas governs only limited autonomous areas in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

Lapid raised Israel's concerns about Iran's nuclear program and expressed his countrys desire to ramp up cooperation with Israel in the civilian fields of economics, energy, agriculture, and trade, according to the Israeli Foreign Ministry.

Egypt is an especially important strategic partner for Israel, Lapid said. My goal is to strengthen our security, diplomatic, and economic relations with Egypt. Its important to continue to work on the peace between our two nations.

Upon his arrival, Lapid was welcomed by el-Sissi, who stressed his countrys commitment to a two-state solution and to achieving a comprehensive and just peace in the Middle East, according to statement released by el-Sissis office.

The Palestinians seek an independent state in the West Bank, east Jerusalem and Gaza  areas captured by Israel in the 1967 Mideast war. Egypt, like most of the international community, has been consistently supportive of the Palestinian right to an independent state. Israel's new prime minister, Naftali Bennett, opposes Palestinian independence and has ruled out peace talks, though he favors steps at reducing tensions and boosting the Palestinian economy.

During separate talks with his Egyptian counterpart, Lapid handed over 95 stolen Egyptian archeological items that were seized in Israel.

Israel's Foreign Ministry said a smuggler was caught with the some of the items in 2013 at the airport when arriving from a flight from Egypt. More than 90 others were found at a Jerusalem antiques store the same year.

It said the items included hieroglyphic inscriptions on stone, a fragment of a wooden sarcophagus, inscriptions on papyrus, figurines of Egyptian goddesses and other figures placed inside tombs as burial offerings. Israel released a photo of Lapid and Shokry in front of a table filled with the artifacts.

Egypt and Israel reached a historic peace accord in 1979. Relations have generally been cool between the countries, though behind-the-scenes security cooperation remains strong. There have been growing signs of overall cooperation in recent months.

Lapid's visit came three months after Bennett held talks with el-Sissi in the Red Sea resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh. It was the first official trip to Egypt by an Israeli premier in over a decade. At the time, the visit signaled a warming in a relationship that had been security-focused but somewhat cool under Bennetts predecessor, Israeli hard-liner Benjamin Netanyahu.

Also in May, Israel's then foreign minister, Gabi Ashkenazi, met his Egyptian counterpart in Cairo. It was the first by Israels top diplomat to Egypt in 13 years.

___

Associated Press writer Josef Federman in Jerusalem contributed to this report.
MADISON, Wis. (AP)  A federal judge on Thursday upheld voter ID requirements for Wisconsin college students, disposing of a lawsuit that has been lingering for more than two years.

Government watchdog group Common Cause in Wisconsin filed the lawsuit in Madison in April 2019 arguing that parts of the state's voter ID that mandate college identification include certain features to qualify as proof of identity for voting are unconstitutional because they're irrational and unjustified. The group cited requirements that college IDs include an issuance date, an expiration date not more than two years after the issuance date and a signature.
SAN DIEGO (AP)  A man armed with a knife who was shot and killed at the entrance to the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego last month was a Boston resident who worked at the base, authorities said Wednesday.

A guard shot and killed Travers Spargo King, 36, on Nov. 26.

At the time, authorities said the man drove up to an entrance, ignored several orders to stop, then finally got out of an SUV and approached a checkpoint kiosk with a knife and hostile intent."

He ignored several warnings from security before being shot and died at the scene, authorities said.

King was a civilian who worked as an air conditioner technician at the depot from March to November and he previously served in the U.S. Coast Guard, according to a statement from the base.

However, authorities didn't say whether he was still employed at the depot at the time of his death.

Authorities haven't provided other details of the confrontation. The shooting remains under investigation by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service.

The Marine Recruit Depot, which trains recruits mainly from west of the Mississippi River, handles tens of thousands of recruits each year.
JACKSON, Miss. (AP)  A Mississippi man has been charged with capital murder and arson after three dead men were found inside a house that burned.

Jackson police told news outlets Thursday that Charles Robinson III is accused of intentionally setting the fire Wednesday night. It was not immediately clear whether Robinson is represented by an attorney.
TOLEDO, Ohio (AP)  A man accused of running unlicensed funeral operations in four counties across Ohio has been indicted on seven new charges including abuse of a corpse.

The charges against Shawnte Hardin are on top of 37 counts, mostly felonies, that he already faces.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP)  Police in Kansas City are searching for clues in the shooting death of a man on the east side of the city.

The shooting happened around 7:15 p.m. Wednesday in an alley, according to a police news release. Officers who responded to the shooting found a man  later identified as 54-year-old Edmon Alexander  on the ground near the alleyway with gunshot wounds. Police say medics declared Alexander dead at the scene.
BOSTON (AP)  A now defunct e-cigarette retailer and its two owners have agreed to pay nearly $51 million to settle allegations that they illegally marketed products to minors in Massachusetts, the state attorney general's office said Thursday.

The settlement filed in Suffolk Superior Court against Eonsmoke LLC, Gregory Grishayev and Michael Tolmach resolves allegations that the defendants directly targeted young people for sales of its vaping products through marketing and advertising intended to appeal to youth," the attorney general's office said.

The company  based in New Jersey and dissolved last year  failed to verify the age of online purchasers of electronic nicotine devices, e-liquids, and nicotine pods, and failed to ensure that shipments of their products were received by a person legally allowed to do so, the office alleged.

The states minimum legal age to buy smoking products is 21.

The company stopped selling its products to online customers in Massachusetts after the attorney generals office sent a cease-and-desist letter in September 2019.

A message was left with an attorney listed in online court records as representing Eonsmoke and the two men.

Under terms of the settlement, the company will pay $50 million while Grishayev and Tolmach will pay a total of $750,000.

Also, if Grishayev and Tolmach in the future want to resume selling tobacco products in Massachusetts, they are required to get authorization from the federal Food and Drug Administration and give notice to the state.

The settlement requires a judge's approval.

Eonsmoke coordinated a campaign that intentionally targeted young people and sold dangerous and addictive vaping products directly to minors through their website, Attorney General Maura Healey said in a statement. We were the first to take action against this company and its owners, and today we are holding them accountable and permanently stopping them from conducting these illegal practices in our state.

In the original lawsuit filed in May 2019, the state alleged Eonsmoke targeted teens by selling products with high nicotine concentrations in dessert flavors" such as sour gummy, donut cream, and pink lemonade.

The company also referenced youth popular culture in its advertising and advertised on social media platforms commonly used by youth, the attorney general alleged.

The lawsuit against Eonsmoke was the first of eight filed by the attorney general against online e-cigarette retailers since Healey opened an investigation into the industry in 2018.

Cease-and-desist letters have also been sent to a number of other e-cigarette companies to stop them from selling their products to Massachusetts residents.

A first-in-the nation Massachusetts law that banned the sale of flavored tobacco products, including e-cigarettes and e-liquids, went into effect on June 1, 2020.
The Los Angeles Board of Education has chosen the longtime superintendent of Miami-Dade County Public Schools to be the next superintendent of Los Angeles Unified School District, the second largest in the nation, officials said Thursday.

The board announced the appointment of Alberto Carvalho after a unanimous vote Thursday, as Carvalho held a live news conference in Florida, describing his career path as a story that could only be told in America.

An admired and experienced educator, Carvalho, 57, is credited with improving graduation rates and academic performance at Miami-Dade, the countrys fourth-largest K-12 public school district, during a long, stable tenure that started in 2008. Like many students in Los Angeles and Miami-Dade, both large, urban districts, Carvalho grew up in poverty. He came to the United States as an undocumented immigrant, he said. He moved first to New York City and then to Miami.

I am the poor kid from Portugal whose first job in this country was as a dishwasher, second job was as a day laborer, Carvalho said. On his way to Thursdays news conference, Carvalho said he drove through a Miami neighborhood where he had been homeless 30 years ago.

My world changed when I became a teacher, Carvalho said. I still feel this journey is a fairytale."

Carvalho attended Broward Community College and graduated in 1990 from Barry University, a small Catholic school near Miami, with a biology degree. He became a high school science and math teacher before quickly moving up the administrative ranks, becoming a principal before moving to the district office where he was the districts spokesman and an assistant superintendent before becoming superintendent.

His 2008 hiring in Miami revealed that Carvalho had been exchanging explicit emails with a former Miami Herald reporter. He denied an affair, but conceded that the exchanges were inappropriate.

He earned numerous accolades during his tenure, including being named Superintendent of the Year in 2014 by the national superintendents association. In 2018, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio named him as education chancellor of the nation's largest school district, but Carvalho backed out of the deal the next day. He said Thursday that New Yorks lure was that it was where he arrived in the United States, but it became apparent quickly that it did not have all the elements necessary for him to succeed. He did not elaborate.

Carvalho said Thursday he is proud of his time in Miami. He said when he took over as superintendent, the graduation rate was 58% and dozens of schools received D and F grades from the state. Nine inner-city schools were threatened by the state with closure. The district says its current graduation rate is 93% and has no D or F schools.

Alberto Carvalho brings the deep experience we need as an educator and leader of a large urban district to manage L.A. Unifieds ongoing response to and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, Board President Kelly Gonez said in a statement. As the longtime Miami-Dade Superintendent, he established a clear record of positive student outcomes and has relentlessly worked towards greater equity for historically underserved communities. I know he will continue that focus in Los Angeles, and he is ready for the challenges and opportunities ahead of us.

The school board said it had unanimously voted to select Carvalho as the next superintendent but still needed to finalize his contract, which would be voted on Dec. 14.

In Los Angeles, Carvalho succeeds Austin Beutner, who stepped down as superintendent in June at the end of his three-year contract, after steering the school system through the early stages of the pandemic and a full year of distance learning, while all schools were closed to in-person classes.

Since Beutners departure the district has been managed by Interim Superintendent Megan Reilly.

Carvalho arrives in Los Angeles at a critical moment, as the district that serves about 600,000 students finds itself flush with funding from state and federal COVID-19 relief money but still struggling with the impacts of the pandemic, including learning losses and declining enrollment.

Carvalho and several other Florida superintendents sparred this year with Gov. Ron DeSantis over their imposition of mask mandates to combat the states then-rapid spread of COVID-19. DeSantis, through his education commissioner, banned mandates, saying that should be left to parents. He cut funding to some districts that defied him.

But Carvalho and others refused to yield, saying masks protected students, teachers and staff. Carvalho dropped Miami-Dades mandate last month as the states infection rate dropped and a judge upheld DeSantis power to allow parents to decide for their students.

Mask mandates remain in effect in all California public schools, and Carvalho will be arriving in Los Angeles as the school district becomes one of the first in California to put a student vaccine mandate into effect in mid-January for all children 12 and older.

Carvalho said that when he arrives in Los Angeles, he plans to spend some time learning the district and its culture.

Certainly, I will bring my personal philosophy but at the same time I will listen carefully to the culture, to the tradition, to the practices of Los Angeles," he said.

___

Gecker reported from San Francisco and Spencer contributed from Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
KISSIMMEE, Fla. (AP)  A 1-month-old boy who was riding on his mother's lap died Thursday when their car crashed on Florida's Turnpike near Orlando and he was ejected, law enforcement officials said.

The Florida Highway Patrol the baby was riding on the lap of his 41-year-old mother at 6:35 a.m. when his 38-year-old father did not stop and their car slammed into the back of a tractor-trailer in Osceola County, south of Orlando. The boy was thrown from the car and pronounced dead at the scene.
WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. (AP)  The Navajo Nation on Wednesday reported 70 more COVID-19 cases and one additional death.

The latest numbers pushed the tribes total cases since the pandemic began to 40,254 and the known death toll to 1,557 including five delayed reported fatalities.

The Arizona Department of Health Services announced Wednesday that the states first known confirmed case of the Omicron variant was found in Yavapai County.

Now that the Omicron variant has been found in Arizona, the most proactive step we can take is to get fully vaccinated for COVID-19 and get a booster shot, Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez said in a statement. All of these measures will help to lower the number of infections, hospitalizations and the strain that is currently on our health care system. Our frontline warriors need our help to lower the number of new cases.

Nez has again called for everyone on the vast reservation to get a booster shot and wear masks.

The reservation covers 27,000 square miles (70,000 square kilometers) and extends into parts of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah.
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP)  Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper vetoed Republican legislation Thursday that would bar North Carolina election boards and officials in counties from accepting private money to run elections.

The bill, one of several election-related measures pushed by GOP legislators this year, responded to the funds distributed nationwide  including millions of dollars to North Carolina  by outside groups to administer the 2020 elections, particularly to address COVID-19-related challenges.

GOP bill sponsors said outside donations to government agencies create the impression of undue influence in elections. They point out that some nationwide grant distributors received large donations from Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of the company formerly known as Facebook, and his wife.

But Cooper said in a statement that nonprofit and nonpartisan grants provided masks, pens and other protective equipment so voters stayed safe during the pandemic.

"The legislature should start properly funding elections boards to ensure accessible, safe, and secure elections every time, which would end the need for grants, he added.

North Carolina received at least $4.7 million from the Center for Tech & Civic Life and the Center for Election Innovation & Research. It was used to purchase pens for voters at the polls, provide bonuses to workers at early voting sites and send mailers about voting procedures, according to the State Board of Elections. Another 10 counties also got monetary help from the USC Schwarzenegger Institute to run polling sites, the state board said.

The bill now returns to the General Assembly, which after Friday won't reconvene to Raleigh until Dec. 30, when veto override attempts are possible. But it's unlikely GOP bill authors would be successful. The bill was approved along party lines, and Republican majorities are not veto proof.

None of Cooper's vetoes this year have been overturned. He vetoed another election bill last week that would prohibit the counting of mail-in absentee ballots received after Election Day, even if their envelopes were postmarked on or before that date. Current law provides a three-day grace period after Election Day for envelopes to arrive by mail.

Republicans contend the election bills would improve voter confidence in elections, but Democrats counter that they are designed to reinforce an unfounded narrative from national Republicans and former President Donald Trump that voter fraud was present last year.

Also Thursday, Cooper signed a measure portrayed as an anti-corruption law within local governments.

The bill in part creates a new felony when a local elected official asks for or receives financial benefits from the public body the person represents. Some legislators criticized the bill, accusing the authors of unfairly targeting a Rocky Mount council member who was subject of a stinging audit and his utility bill. Another bill Cooper signed Thursday would direct the state program providing rent and utility assistance to low-income renters struggling due to COVID-19 to accept grant applications from landlords.

The governor also vetoed a bill that would keep local governments from barring a type of energy service based on the fuel type  such as natural gas, for example. And he vetoed a bill that would give car dealers more leeway to sell salvaged vehicles without an inspection under certain conditions. Cooper said the bill would have removed a layer of protection for consumers.
LAS VEGAS (AP)  A disturbance involving more than 20 inmates resulted in fires and minor injuries Wednesday at a medium-security prison in southern Nevada, but no one was hospitalized and no significant damage resulted, a state corrections official said.

Police and firefighters were summoned about 1 p.m. from Las Vegas to Southern Desert Correctional Center near Indian Springs, but calls were canceled before responders completed the 20-minute drive, police and Clark County spokesmen said.
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP)  A North Carolina woman has been sentenced to more than two years in prison for impersonating two people by illegally accessing a state agency's computers, according to a federal prosecutor's office.

In August, Melanie Alecia Ruona, 34, of Winston-Salem pleaded guilty to two counts of a six-count indictment charging her with aggravated identity theft and mail fraud, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP)  Ohio's capital city has agreed to pay $5.75 million to people injured during last year's racial injustice and police brutality protests, plaintiffs' lawyers and city officials said Thursday.

The payouts will vary based on the extent of protesters' individual injuries, and will be determined during a series of private meetings with a special master hired to review each case, said John Marshall, the lead attorney in the federal lawsuit brought by 32 injured protesters against Columbus. At least three plaintiffs said they suffered broken bones.

The settlement also finalizes details of a federal judge's ruling earlier this year that ordered Columbus police to stop using nonlethal force such as tear gas, pepper spray, and rubber bullets on nonviolent protesters who aren't harming people or destroying property.

The settlement announced Thursday mandates that peaceful protestors on city streets and sidewalks cannot be subjected to uses of force, arrests, or dispersal orders except in extraordinary circumstances, Marshall said. It also provides protections for street medics, journalists, and legal observers, he said.

Columbus City Council is expected to approve the financial settlement next week.

At issue in the federal lawsuit was the citys response to protests that began in late May after the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, who earlier this year was convicted of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.

Lead plaintiff Tammy Fournier Alsaada, a community activist, was pepper-sprayed without provocation after receiving permission to walk through a line of police to discuss the arrests of some protesters, according to the July 2020 lawsuit filed by the injured protesters.

Another plaintiff, Terry Hubby Jr., testified that he joined a May 29 protest and was struck by a nonlethal police projectile that shattered his knee, requiring surgery and the insertion of 20 pins and a plate. Video of the incident revealed that officers fired the projectiles while a police loud system issued an order to disperse.

Police also testified about facing chaotic and threatening situations.

People were walking up to us with bottles and opening them and throwing, like, unknown liquids on us, yelling in our face, Officer Anthony Johnson said, according to court documents.

Gino Brogdon Sr., a retired Georgia judge, will serve as special master determining the individual payouts. Brogdon also negotiated the historic $10 million settlement the city is providing the family of Andre Hill, a Black man shot a year ago by a Columbus police officer as Hill walked out of a garage holding a cell phone. Adam Coy, the since-fired officer, who is white, has pleaded not guilty to murder and is scheduled for trial next year.

Columbus protests lasted multiple days downtown, near Ohio State University, and across other parts of the city. The first night, protesters smashed windows at the Ohio Statehouse and businesses throughout downtown.

In a separate episode, U.S. Rep. Joyce Beatty was hit by pepper spray as scuffles broke out near the end of a May demonstration.

A report released last spring that Columbus was unprepared for the size and energy of the protests and that most police officers felt abandoned by city leadership during that time. The report, commissioned by the city council, also found the city had no advance plan for handling such protests, and suffered from a lack of coordination and even regular communication among city leaders once the protests began.
VICKSBURG, Miss. (AP)  A local official says a security guard died after a shooting was reported Thursday at a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers facility in Mississippi.

Warren County deputy coroner Kelda Bailess said it appeared the guard shot himself, but that remained under investigation by police. The facility had been locked down for about two hours after the shooting.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP)  George Bochetto, a prominent Philadelphia lawyer and Republican whose cases have often landed in the public spotlight, said Thursday that he is seriously considering running for Pennsylvania's open U.S. Senate seat.

In a brief interview, Bochetto, 69, said he is looking at it very, very seriously and its very likely that he will decide to run. Bochetto has considered running for mayor many times in the heavily Democratic city of Philadelphia, and ran briefly in 1999 before ending his candidacy.
PHOENIX (AP)  A Phoenix police officer has resigned after being indicted on charges accusing her and a co-defendant of defrauding the federal government of over $1.2 million of pandemic relief money.

Toni Richardson was arrested Dec. 1 on a Nov. 23 indictment charging her with conspiracy, bank fraud and money laundering, federal court records state.

Richardson resigned after the Police Department learned of the allegations and began the process of terminating her, said Sgt. Andy Williams, a department spokesman.

The alleged actions of this employee go against the core values of the city and everything we stand for as public servants," Williams said in a statement.

Richardson has pleaded not guilty.

Lloyd Tate, a lawyer listed in court records as representing Richardson, did not not immediately respond to a request for comment on the allegations.

The indictment alleged that Richardson and co-defendant Willie Mitchell sought and obtained pandemic relief funding for a social club by falsely claiming it had numerous employees whose jobs the funding would protect.

Instead, the money was spent on personal expenses and transferred into personal accounts, the indictment said.

Court records indicated Mitchell was arrested last week in Texas. It wasn't clear whether he has an attorney who could comment on his behalf.
MIAMI (AP)  The 32-year-old boyfriend of a pregnant South Florida woman confessed to abducting and killing the mother of two after a surveillance camera recorded him dragging her away, police said Thursday.

Xavier Johnson is accused of first-degree murder, kidnapping, aggravated battery and burglary, Miami-Dade police said in an arrest report.
BEAVER DAM, Ky. (AP)  A Kentucky man who police say sold his juvenile daughter to another man has been arrested and charged with human trafficking.

State troopers and social services launched an investigation in November after investigators learned that the girl had given birth in March, the Kentucky State Police said Wednesday in a news release.

Authorities said the 34-year-old father sold his daughter to a 20-year-old man in August 2020 and the girl had been living with him since then. The younger man was charged with third-degree rape. Police did not release the girl's age.

The two Beaver Dam men were booked into the Ohio County Detention Center. Theyre both being held on $50,000 bonds, jail records show. It wasnt immediately clear if either had an attorney who could comment. The Associated Press is not publishing the names of the suspects in order to protect the identify of the alleged victim.

Troopers say the girl and her baby are now in foster care, WFIE-TV reported. Authorities believe the 20-year-old man is the father of the child.

The investigation is ongoing. Troopers say there could be more charges and arrests.

Corey King from the Kentucky State Police told the station that this case is unlike any hes seen before.

Its really disheartening, because we have for many years put the monsters face on technology, King said. Technology seems to be where all of these people tend to find our children, but in this situation, this was parents.
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP)  Portland police released the name of the person suspected of taking cars at gunpoint before police fatally shot him on Interstate 5 and also said Wednesday he did not shoot a woman as previously reported.

The Portland Police Bureau said Wednesday that police shot and killed 30-year-old Brandon Keck on Monday. Police previously said officer John Hughes of the Portland Police Bureau shot Keck and is on administrative leave while an investigation into the incident is conducted.
FESTUS, Mo. (AP)  An eastern Missouri man has been charged after he allegedly threatened on social media to shoot high school students in the name of Kyle Rittenhouse.

Mitchell Lovelace, 27, of Festus, was charged with making a terrorist threat after police were notified Saturday about the posting on social media. He was being held without bond in the Jefferson County jail.
SEATTLE (AP)  The vote in a recall effort against a socialist Seattle City Councilmember tightened considerably on Wednesday as more mail ballots were counted, meaning it will take at least another day to determine whether the controversial lawmaker will be ousted or keep her post.

Kshama Sawant Sawant, 48, an economics professor, is the longest-tenured council member. The latest results showed just over 50% of voters favoring Sawant's recall  closer than the 53% figure released in an initial vote tally Tuesday night.

Another ballot count will be made public on Thursday. It's not uncommon for Seattle races to swing wildly and in recent elections more liberal city candidates have tended to make up ground when later-arriving ballots are counted.

"Win or lose, we should not forget the ruling class keeps going after us because we have shown how to win for the working class, Sawant said Tuesday night after the initial results were posted. Not once, not twice, but repeatedly with unprecedented victories.

If Sawant survives the recall, it would be a boost to Seattle's far left  which experienced setbacks in last months general election when business-friendly candidates won the mayors office and a council seat.

If Sawant is recalled, the other eight city council mebers would appoint a replacement until a special election is held next November.

Sawant was elected to the City Council in 2013, and her threat to run a voter initiative drive for an immediate $15 minimum wage has been credited with pressuring business leaders and then-Mayor Ed Murray to reach a deal raising the wage to $15 over a few years.

She has pushed for cutting police funding and expanding taxes on high earners such as Amazon to pay for affordable housing, schools and community services.

But critics have said she offers more rhetoric than substance and that her brash antics are incompatible with good governance. A federal appeals court recently ruled that two Seattle police officers could sue Sawant for defamation after she said a fatal shooting they were involved in was a blatant murder.

The recall question on the ballot cited a minor campaign finance violation that Sawant acknowledged and for which she paid a fine. It also noted her alleged leadership of a protest march to the home of Mayor Jenny Durkan, even though Durkans address was protected by a state confidentiality law due to her prior work as a federal prosecutor. The recall question also cites her decision to let a crowd of protesters into City Hall while it was closed due to the pandemic.

Sawant denies having led the march to Durkans house, though she did participate in it. She has defended her decision to let Black Lives Matter demonstrators go inside City Hall following George Floyds murder by Minneapolis police.

To Sawants supporters, the charges were a pretext for an effort by big business, developers and commercial real-estate interests to try to oust a legislator who had opposed them.
RICHMOND, Va. (AP)  Loujain al-Hathloul, a prominent Saudi political activist who pushed to end a ban on women driving in her country, is suing three former U.S. intelligence and military officials she says helped hack her cellphone so a foreign government could spy on her before she was imprisoned and tortured.

The nonprofit Electronic Frontier Foundation announced Thursday that it had filed a lawsuit in U.S. federal court on al-Hathloul's behalf against former U.S. officials Marc Baier, Ryan Adams and Daniel Gericke, as well as a cybersecurity company called DarkMatter that has contracted with the United Arab Emirates.

In the lawsuit, al-Hathloul alleges that the trio oversaw a project for DarkMatter that hacked into her iPhone to track her location and steal information as part of broader surveillance efforts targeted at dissidents within the UAE and its close ally Saudi Arabia. She said the hacking of her phone led to her arbitrary arrest by the UAEs security services and rendition to Saudi Arabia, where she was detained, imprisoned, and tortured.

Companies that peddle their surveillance software and services to oppressive governments must be held accountable for the resulting human rights abuses, said EFF Civil Liberties Director David Greene.

DarkMatter assigned her the codename of Purple Sword," the lawsuit says, citing a 2019 investigation by Reuters that first detailed the hacking of al-Hathloul.

The lawsuit is the latest legal challenge to the secretive private cyber-surveillance industry, which often sells pricey hacking services to authoritarian governments that are used to secretly break into phones and other devices of activists, journalists, political opponents and others. Tech giant Apple filed a lawsuit last month against Israels NSO Group seeking to block the worlds most infamous hacker-for-hire company from breaking into Apples products, like the iPhone.

Baier, Adams and Gericke admitted in September to providing sophisticated computer hacking technology to the UAE and agreed to pay nearly $1.7 million to resolve criminal charges in a deferred prosecution agreement the Justice Department described as the first of its kind. The Justice Department described each of them as former U.S. intelligence or military personnel. Baier previously worked at the National Security Agency, the AP previously reported.

The trio are part of a trend of U.S. officials with backgrounds in spying and hacking going to work for foreign governments with questionable human rights records, which has led to calls in Congress for greater oversight.

Attorneys for Baier, Adams and Gericke did not immediately return requests for comment. Questions sent by email to officials at Abu Dhabi-based DarkMatter could not be delivered.

Arrested in 2018, al-Hathloul was sentenced to almost six years in prison last year under a broad counterterrorism law. Held for 1001 days, with time in pre-trial detention and solitary confinement, she was accused of crimes such as agitating for change, using the internet to cause disorder and pursuing a foreign agenda.

From behind bars, al-Hathloul went on hunger strikes to protest her prison conditions and joined other female activists in testifying to judges that she was tortured and sexually assaulted by masked men during interrogations. The women reported that they were caned, electrocuted and waterboarded. Some said they were groped and threatened with rape. Saudi Arabia denies that any were mistreated.

Her case sparked an an international uproar over the Saudi kingdoms human rights record and President Joe Biden called her a powerful activist for womens rights when she was released in February.

Since details of DarkMatters hacking campaign have become public, the companys profile has dropped over the last few years, with some staff moving on to a new Abu Dhabi-based firm called G42. That firm has been linked to a mobile app suspected of being a spying tool as well as to Chinese coronavirus tests that American officials warned against using over concerns about patient privacy, test accuracy and Chinese government involvement.
MADISON, Wis. (AP)  Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Mandela Barnes on Thursday proposed expanding voter rights, eliminating partisan gerrymandering, making Election Day a national holiday and ending the filibuster.

Barnes, who currently serves as Wisconsin's lieutenant governor, is one of several Democrats running for the seat currently held by Republican Sen. Ron Johnson. Barnes takes a swipe at Johnson in his announcement, noting his recent support for the GOP-controlled state Legislature to take over control of federal elections in Wisconsin.

Johnson has not yet said whether he will seek a third term in the Senate next year. Johnson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Make no mistake, our democracy is on the ballot in 2022, and we need a United States Senator who has a plan to make elected officials accountable to the voters, to stand up to the corrupting influence of dark money, and to ensure the rights of voters are protected across this country, Barnes said in a statement.

Barnes said he would support eliminating the filibuster rule in the Senate, which has led to the proposed John Lewis Voting Rights Act being stalled. Barnes supports the measure, which would restore parts of the 1965 Voting Rights Act.

He also called for more disclosure of political spending, establishing online, same-day and automatic voter registration and amending the U.S. Constitution to reverse the U.S. Supreme Court's Citizens United ruling that allows corporations and unions to spend as much as they want on political races.

Other Democrats running for Senate include state Treasurer Sarah Godlewski; Milwaukee Bucks executive Alex Lasry; Outagamie County Executive Tom Nelson; Millennial Action Project founder Steven Olikara; and Wausau physician Gillian Battino.

The winner of the Aug. 9 primary will advance to the general election.
Michael Flippo / TNS

ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. (AP)  A North Carolina high school student has been taken into custody after he was found to be carrying a rifle with a loaded magazine on a school bus, a sheriff's office said.

Pasquotank County Sheriff Tommy Wooten told a news conference on Wednesday that the student was carrying a pistol-grip AK-47 with a loaded 30-round magazine, The Daily Advance of Elizabeth City reported. Wooten would only identify the student as under the age of 18.
MESQUITE, Texas (AP)  A suburban Dallas police officer who was fatally shot while responding to a domestic dispute in a supermarket parking lot was remembered Thursday for his devotion to his family, faith and job.

Mesquite police Officer Richard Houston, 46, was fatally shot on Dec. 3. Hundreds of mourners attended the funeral for the married father of three children Thursday at Lake Pointe Church in nearby Rockwall.
OMAHA, Neb. (AP)  A snow storm is expected sweep parts of northern Nebraska and Iowa and could drop more than half-a-foot of snow in some places heading into the weekend.

The National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning for Friday into early Saturday for much of northern Nebraska and northern parts of Iowa. The warning area includes the cities of Valentine, Ainsworth and ONeill in Nebraska and the cities of Storm Lake, Mason City and Estherville in Iowa.
CLAYTON, Mo. (AP)  Weeks after a Missouri judge barred public mask mandates issued by local health departments, the state's largest county, St. Louis County, rescinded its.

The county's decision was announced Thursday during a court hearing in a lawsuit filed by Republican Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt. The lawsuit filed in July was in response to a previous mask mandate aimed at slowing the spread of COVID-19.

We expect more local public health authorities and school districts to follow suit in the coming days and weeks, Schmitt said in a news release.

Also Thursday, the health department in southern Missouri's Laclede County said it would stop all COVID-19-related work in response to a letter Schmitt sent threatening legal action against health departments and school districts that didn't stop enforcing all COVID-19 health orders.

The St. Louis County mandate required face coverings in indoor public settings and on public transit, even for people who have been vaccinated.

Schmitt, a Republican running for Senate next year, has questioned the effectiveness of masks, even though a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study showed there is strong evidence that mask mandates do slow the virus' spread. He filed suit claiming that local health departments lacked authority under state law to require them. In November, Cole County Circuit Judge Daniel Green declared that health orders issued by local authorities under state health regulations were null and void.

A statement Thursday from the city of St. Louis said its mask mandate will remain in effect, noting that aldermen have renewed the requirement every 30 days as required by state law. The statement cited the state's own data showing areas with mask mandates having lower rates of infection.

Laclede County health officials said in a Facebook post that the department will no longer investigate COVID-19 cases, do contact tracing, issue directives for exposed residents to quarantine or make public announcements of case numbers and deaths, The Kansas City Star reported.

The department, which serves a county with about 35,000 residents, said people who are diagnosed with COVID-19 should consult the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and their personal doctors for directions on what to do.

Schmitt's letter sent to health departments and school districts across the state on Tuesday cited Green's ruling.

While this is a huge concern for our agency, we have no other options but to follow the orders of the Missouri Attorney General at this time, the department said.

State health data shows 35% of the county's population is vaccinated and the county has the sixth-highest COVID death rate in the state.
FORT WORTH, Texas (AP)  A North Texas man has been arrested after federal authorities accused him of participating in the Jan. 6 assault on the U.S. Capitol while holding a beer.

A criminal complaint unsealed Wednesday in Washington, D.C., accuses Thomas Paul Conover of unlawfully entering and demonstrating inside the Capitol and disorderly conduct.
EL CAJON, Calif. (AP)  A transgender woman has won a settlement in a civil rights lawsuit filed against a Southern California gym that denied her access to the womens locker room, the American Civil Liberties Union announced.

California's Department of Fair Employment and Housing sued the Crunch Fitness in El Cajon, alleging Christynne Wood was discriminated against on the basis of her gender identity.

The ACLU and others later joined the suit, filed in San Diego Superior Court. The financial amount Wood will receive was not disclosed, but the agreement also includes anti-discrimination training for employees at the gym, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported Wednesday.

Wood, who remains a gym member, said she felt validated by the settlement.

Whether you are uncomfortable or not is irrelevant, she told the Union-Tribune. People were uncomfortable with integration back in the 50s and 60s.

Attorney Tami Vail, who represented the gym's former owner, declined comment on behalf of her client.

Wood said the gym management declined her requests to use the womens locker room for nearly a year beginning in September 2016. The refusal continued after she legally changed her name and gender.

Michael Israel, the attorney for the limited liability company that owns the gym said Crunch Fitness is glad to have resolved the matter with Ms. Wood and the related claims.
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (AP)  A commercial fisherman in Virginia was sentenced to prison for evading income tax payments for nearly a decade, authorities said.

Alfredo Loya Jr., 50, of Newport News, worked as an independent contractor for a number of fishing companies in the Hampton Roads region and elsewhere, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office for Eastern Virginia. Court documents show that from 2006 to 2016, Loya failed to file tax returns from 2006 to 2008 and 2014 to 2016. He filed returns from 2011 to 2013 but did not pay the tax owed, the news release said.
MIDLAND, Texas (AP)  A West Texas man was acquitted of murder Wednesday in the 2019 fatal shooting of a police officer who was shot while checking a security alarm at the mans home.

A Midland County jury deliberated for about 90 minutes before finding David Wilson not guilty of murder in the death of Midland police Officer Nathan Heidelberg.
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP)  A woman is suing the city of Portland, alleging that tear gas deployed by police during summer 2020 demonstrations caused lasting damage to her menstrual health.

Lanora Vasquez's lawyer, Michael Fuller, filed the civil rights complaint this week in Multnomah County Circuit Court, The Oregonian/OregonLive reported. The lawsuit requests a jury trial, up to $10,000 and a judgement that the city was negligent in its use of tear gas.

Deploying tear gas is by its very nature a very dangerous activity, Fuller said.

The city attorneys office declined to comment on the pending litigation.

Vasquez moved out of her home in Southeast Portland in August 2020 after experiencing months of cramping and irregularities to her menstrual cycle that she said were brought on by tear gas.

Vasquez said about two weeks after Portland police began using tear gas to disperse protesters downtown, going outside caused Vasquez debilitating pain, she said.

Vasquez said she is still experiencing problems with her menstrual cycles.

Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler barred the Portland Police Bureau from using CS gas, one kind of the toxic gas, in September 2020 after being criticized by residents about tear gas seeping into their homes.

Researchers continue to study the effect of tear gas.

Vasquez said she hopes her lawsuit will help those who are experiencing a similar health puzzle find the cause of their symptoms and get treatment.
ASOTIN, Wash. (AP)  Work has been halted at a residential construction site near the Asotin County Fairgrounds in eastern Washington where ancestral human remains were discovered.

Kayeloni Scott, spokeswoman for the Nez Perce Tribe, said the tribe was notified last week when crews inadvertently found a Native American gravesite on a hillside overlooking the city.

We are grateful for the individuals who ceased work immediately and contacted us, Scott told the Lewiston Morning Tribune. We also appreciate the property owners for doing the right thing by working with us so we can properly handle our ancestors remains to ensure there is no further disturbance.

Asotin Police Chief Monte Renzelman said bones were discovered during installation of sewer lines for a new house. The property is owned by Chris Segroves, who purchased it from the city of Asotin several years ago.

Roto-Rooter, the company doing the excavation work, notified authorities about the human remains and stopped all digging. The Asotin police chief, Asotin County sheriff and a detective visited the site, along with Nez Perce Tribal officials, who have remained at the scene since the discovery.

Earlier this week, a Washington state archaeologist also was in Asotin to view what has been found.

Due to the age of the bones, as well as some of the artifacts found with them, it was determined it was most likely a Native American burial site, Renzelman said.

Segroves, who purchased 1.28 acres for $30,000 from the city almost four years ago, had hoped to build a home.

I honestly have no idea whats going to happen now, Segroves said. I think its wrong to desecrate that property further, knowing theres an Indian burial site under there.

The 1990 Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act says descendants of those interred must be consulted and have a say in exactly how the graves are handled. Native American cultural items, such as human remains, funerary objects, and sacred objects, are supposed to be returned to the descendants.
SAN RAMON (BCN)

Two men have been arrested for allegedly stealing more than $3,000 in tools from the Home Depot in San Ramon, according to a statement released by the San Ramon Police Department on Twitter.

Police reported that the two men are suspected of stealing more than $15,000 worth of tools from Home Depot stores throughout the Bay Area. Both are on supervised release for previous theft-related convictions.

According to police, one suspect, age 29, is on parole for weapons and stolen property-related charges and is wearing an ankle monitor. The second suspect, age 30, is on felony probation for possession of stolen property.

A search of the suspects and their property revealed narcotics, USPS mailbox keys, stolen mail, stolen credit cards and more tools police believe were also stolen, according to the official statement.

Copyright  2021 Bay City News, Inc. All rights reserved. Republication, rebroadcast or redistribution without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. Bay City News is a 24/7 news service covering the greater Bay Area.

Copyright  2021 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.
There are a lot of traditions around the holiday season. For travel editor Freda Moon, Thanksgiving was a little different this year.

She writes, Mid-bite and hunched over a bowl of leftover bread dumplings, my mom announces, Im going to the other room to protect my grandson. From the humper? I ask. From the humper, she says, exasperated. Its Thanksgiving weekend in Southern Oregon, and were in a strangers home, a 1970s-era tract house on a cul-de-sac in the suburban highlands of Medford, just off of Interstate 5.

Weve been here for four days and the problematic humping has only intensified through our stay. Its now indiscriminate; no member of our family is safe. Mickey, who is both our host and our charge, has warmed to us. And its a problem  a hilarious, hilarious problem.

The catch: Freda and her family were staying in a well-equipped single family home, the kind that would have cost $200-plus per night to rent on AirBnB, and they were there for free.

Why I traveled from the Bay Area to Oregon to spend a holiday housesitting a stranger's home  and you should too

Most visitors to Hawaii have expectations of how their vacation will go  and most of those expectations do not include much thought about their impact on the land or the people that live there. Well, thats about to change, according to Hawaii editor Christine Hitt. The visitor experience is changing in Hawaii. No longer will you be able to drive up to popular tourist sites on a whim to visit, writes Hitt. Instead, it will be necessary to check whether the hike or beach you really want to visit needs a reservation first, and that may mean waking up early weeks or a month or more in advance to try to secure it. Does your favorite spot now require a reservation?

More Hawaii tourist hotspots will soon require reservations

On a recent day trip to Fremont, Susy Guerrero visited the historic Niles district, which has a movie history that might surprise you. She writes, Gilbert M. Broncho Billy Anderson, an actor and film director who helped run the Essanay Film Manufacturing Company based in Chicago, opened the California branch in Niles in about 1912, and more than 350 silent films were shot over the years in the area, including The Tramp, which stars Chaplin himself.

This historic neighborhood in Fremont could have been Hollywood. Now it's a retreat from Bay Area life.

In the latest round-up, Jim Glab explores the omicron variants impact on travel and takes a look at another start-up airline coming to California.

Routes: omicron variant could hurt air travel

Disneyland is a hotspot for Christmas travel. I mean, who doesnt want to take their kids to the most magical place on Earth? (I dont). But that is neither here nor there. It is still a world-famous travel destination for the holidays that some reports have said is already booked for the entire month of December. Julie Tremaine is here to help save your year and your children from crying. She writes about how you can still snag tickets for the holiday season.

Getting Disneyland tickets for the December holiday season is almost impossible. Heres how to do it.

Travelskills is curated by Nico Madrigal-Yankowski. You can contact him at Nico.Madrigal-Yankowski@sfgate.com.
Just two years after purchasing a 1.5-acre lot of land to build a sprawling 9,592-square-foot home, former Boston Celtics point guard Kemba Walker has sold his mansion in Brookline, MA.

The three-time NBA All-Star closed on the property at 37 Sears Road on Oct. 26 for an undisclosed amount, according to a filing with the Norfolk County Registry District of the Land Court. The sale price is reportedly more than the $11.25 million Walker paid for the property back in 2019.

Samantha Stumpo, the founder of Newbrook Realty Group, was the listing broker for the off-market sale of the luxury six-bedroom, eight-bathroom home, which was built by C. Stumpo Development. It was the second time she has sold the property.

Exterior rendering of home in Brookline, MA, Realtor.com

According to the listing details, luxury appointments of the stately home included columns and casings carved of limestone, along with a porte-cochere with 10-foot high custom iron doorways. The home sits on a secluded lot with the potential for estate expansion for the new owner.

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Watch: Sixers Star Ben Simmons Is Selling His New Jersey Mansion

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Inside, the open foyer welcomes guests with an eye-popping double bridal staircase leading to the second floor. A grand kitchen features high-end appliances and cabinetry, along with a separate prep kitchen.

There's also an au pair suite, a paneled library with 11-foot ceilings, and oversized windows throughout. The master suite on the second floor is described as palatial, and there are four en suite bedrooms on this upper flooreach with 14-foot tray ceilings.

Walker purchased the home after signing a four-year, $141 million contract with the Boston Celtics in 2019. He was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder in June, but wound up with the New York Knicks, after the Thunder bought out his contract. The four-time All-Star has struggled with the Knicks, which recently reduced his role.

Walkers home is located in the same neighborhood as a number of other notable athletes'. One of the largest sales in the area was Tom Brady and Gisele Bundchens 12,112-square-foot megamansion located at 112 Woodland Road, which sold for an undisclosed amount at the tail end of 2020.

The post Knicks' Kemba Walker Sells Massachusetts Mansion 2 Years After Buying It appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com.
To say that Hoyul Steven Choi is a brunch fanatic would be a major understatement for the restaurateur who owns popular brunch destinations Sweet Maple and Kitchen Story. As he looks ahead to 2022, the prolific brunch restaurateur has big plans to open five new restaurant locations around the Bay Area.

We were thinking of expanding before, but it was solidified during the pandemic, Choi told SFGATE. "Expansion was always on the back of our minds, but there are a couple of things. My team was confident of our brand power, but I was being cautious. Throughout the pandemic we became very busy with takeout and delivery."

So much so that Choi decided the moment was ripe to open Sweet Maple storefronts in Cupertino and Walnut Creek with a targeted opening date of February 2022. A Sweet Maple location that has been in the works in Palo Alto is expected to open on Jan. 5, 2022. Choi has also secured locations for a combined Kitchen Story and U: Dessert Story outpost in Mountain View, as well as a non-brunch focused restaurant, Noodle Story, in San Francisco that are both slated to open next fall. Noodle Story will serve a mix of Korean, Chinese, Japanese, and Thai-style noodles.

Adding to his brunch empire, Choi expects to debut a Southern California Sweet Maple and U :Dessert Story within one space in Santa Monica. The restaurateur added that he has his eyes set on Texas, Washington, and Arizona as states where he might open more Sweet Maple restaurants in the future.

Courtesy of Sweet Maple

National brands are very nice, but they tend to follow the same type of everything, Choi said. I think we can bring something new to other states. Opening a restaurant in any other state outside of California is much easier, he adds with a laugh.

Perhaps the biggest claim to fame that Sweet Maple has is the restaurants trademarked dish, millionaires bacon, which sells for $11 a plate or $22 for the millionaires bacon sampler platter. In 2017, Choi told SFGATE that millionaires bacon put Sweet Maple on the map. A year earlier, he trademarked the name which remains active, according to the United States Patent and Trademark Office database.

Opening six new storefronts within the next year is a huge undertaking, but Choi is up for the challenge. Choi, who said he has no investors or franchisers, is confident that his 19 years in the restaurant industry has given him enough experience to make this happen. He added that business partners will help him run the new storefronts and help oversee hiring general managers and staff. Choi said that his businesses will remain company-owned, even with the possibility of opening restaurants outside the state.

Choi got his start in the restaurant business in San Franciscos Taylor Street Coffee Shop, which was previously under different ownership until he took over in 2002. A few years later, he became owner of Fred's Coffee Shop in Sausalito. In addition to Sweet Maple, Choi also owns Blackwood, A Kitchen Story, U: Dessert Story, Berkeley Social Club, Kitchen Sunnyside, and Surisan.
Mrs. Doubtfire, the film starring Robin Williams that stole many of our hearts in the 1990s, will never have a sequel, according to Chris Columbus, the films director.

The esteemed director made a brief appearance in San Francisco on Monday night on the very tiny red carpet at the SF Film Awards, which honored a slew of filmmakers and actors, including director Jane Campion, director and actor Maggie Gyllenhaal and actor Oscar Isaac. The evening raised funds to support SF Film, a local organization that hosts an annual, highly regarded film festival each year and also provides support to local filmmakers and creators.

Set in San Francisco, Mrs. Doubtfire follows an estranged father (Williams) who dresses up as a female nanny to spend time with his children. The film premiered in 1993 and has since become a classic San Francisco movie.

In a brief interview with SFGATE, Columbus  who lives part-time in San Francisco  shared a few juicy details of the films production and its once proposed sequel.

Columbus was strict on one point: There will never be a Mrs. Doubtfire 2. The reason is simple: No one could possibly fill Williams shoes.

It's impossible. It's just impossible, he said. I just was reading a lot of reviews, ironically, today and about the Broadway show (which opened in New York this week). And this guy who's playing him is supposedly very energetic and phenomenal. But hes no Robin. Robin was one-of-a-kind.

The Mrs. Doubtfire sequel has become the stuff of lore. A script was started in the early 2000s and scrapped. But by the mid-2000s, things were changing.

The last time I met with Robin before he passed away was about the Mrs. Doubtfire sequel, Columbus said. We had a script, and it was a great script. Robin was prepared to do it. And then, unfortunately, he passed away.

Williams died by suicide in 2014.

Columbus said he and Williams became very close after the film, and theyd often get together on the weekends.

We became very good friends, Columbus said. ...We spent every weekend together, going to comic book stores and hanging out.

Why was Mrs. Doubtfire filmed in San Francisco to begin with? We have Williams and producer Marsha Garces Williams (who was married to Robin Williams from 1989 to 2010) to thank for that.

"Robin and Marsha said, 'What do you think about shooting in San Francisco?'" Columbus recalled. "I had only been to San Francisco for two days in my life up until that point, and I said, 'Well, let me take a look around the city and get a visual idea of whether or not it works for the movie."

It did. Columbus said he "got inspired by so many great locations within a week and said, 'Yeah, let's shoot this in San Francisco and make it a partial love letter to the city as well."
Olivia Romo is a romance novelist struggling to get her book about vampires published. Luke, the real bloodsucker shes hiding in the garage of her South Lake Tahoe cabin over the holidays, has a problem with her manuscript.

The book takes place in Romania, which in Olivias opinion lends it a Bram Stoker feel, but Luke disagrees. You need to change it, he insists. Vamps arent moping around dusty old castles in eastern Europe, okay? They go to cool places. [Like] Tahoe.

Red Snow, a new holiday horror comedy from up-and-coming director Sean Nichols Lynch, deftly balances the twisted, campy humor of Joe Dantes Gremlins with the psychological tension and isolation of Stephen Kings Misery. It offers plenty of playful digs at a die-hard vampire fandom, with references ranging from Nosferatu to The Lost Boys and Twilight. The film recently won Best Feature at the Sacramento Horror Film Festival, and although not yet on major streaming services, is available to watch this weekend through San Franciscos Another Hole in the Head Film Festival.

Alone at her late mothers cabin in the woods, Olivia (Dennice Cisneros) spends her days writing and checking her mailbox, which is mostly filled with rejection letters from publishers. When a bat crashes into her living room window one evening, she nurses it back to health and leaves it inside a shoebox in her garage. The next morning, the animal transforms into an attractive (and naked) vampire named Luke (Nico Bellamy).

Could this chance encounter provide the material she needs to finish her book? Maybe  if a vigilante cryptid hunter (Vernon Wells) or Lukes fellow vampire cohort (Laura Kennon, Alan Silva) dont find him first.

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Premiering in San Francisco at New People Cinema on Thursday, Red Snow has clear ties to Lake Tahoe, where Lynch spent many holidays at his familys cabin throughout his childhood, and even filmed his first movie there at the age of six.

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My cousins and I put on paper bag alien masks and ran around with a camera, so it was a natural extension of that, he tells me over the phone from his home in San Leandro, laughing.

So his family wasnt exactly surprised when he asked to shoot his next project at the cabin over the span of a month in early 2020  just before the pandemic hit.

We realized that we really dodged a bullet, timing-wise, said Lynch. It was all centered around the snowfall in Tahoe, and when we got there, we were worried we wouldnt have enough. Some days it would be in the 50s and sunny. It was impossible to predict.

But the Miracle March weather pattern came through, and the area was pummeled with snow  close to 10 feet in some parts of Tahoe.

Luckily, it dumped on us right when we needed it, said Lynch.

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Elsewhere in Tahoe, a butcher shop scene was filmed at Overland Meat & Seafood Company, and Lynch said an employee there was kind enough to put on a Santa hat and portray the cashier. The film was so low-budget that it didnt qualify for any tax breaks, but since most of it was shot on private property, obtaining permits wasnt a problem. And a DIY approach to special effects led to some unexpected complications, like opaque vampire contact lenses that made it impossible for the actors to actually see.

However, the real challenge came at night, when theyd film for hours in the freezing cold, with temperatures in the low 30s. There were a few bear sightings by the crew, but luckily never on set, said Lynch.

We got pretty lucky with that, he continued. You would think all of the fake blood on the ground would attract them, but it did not.

Red Snow also boasts a few connections to the Bay Area. Lynch met stars Cisneros and Bellamy while attending film school at San Francisco State University, as well as most of his collaborators, including cinematographer Gavin V. Murray. A bookshop scene later in the film was shot at Sleepy Cat Books on Telegraph Avenue in Berkeley.

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As far as vampire movies go, Lynch said The Lost Boys and the 1985 classic Fright Night provided the most inspiration for Red Snow.

They do such a great job at including the appeal and pitfalls of being a vampire, especially in The Lost Boys, because it includes a young gang of marauding vampires and deals with how they interact with one another as a family, said Lynch.

Also a fan of Christmas-centered horror movies like the 1970s slasher Black Christmas and the more recent Krampus, Lynch wanted to combine the subgenres to create a new kind of horror film he hadnt seen before.

It sounds like such a hacky thing to say, but I thought of the title before anything else, said Lynch. Red Snow offers such a clear image. Blood in the snow. Vampires in the snow! It built out from there. Something about seeing vampires in a different kind of context was so fascinating to me.

Red Snow is set to premiere in the Bay Area at San Franciscos Another Hole in the Head Film Festival on Thursday, Dec. 9, at 6:30 p.m. at New People Cinema, with stars Dennice Cisneros and Laura Kennon in attendance. Tickets available from Another Hole in the Head's website. The film will also be available to stream through the festival from Dec. 10 through 12 at their website.
Accordingly, GDP is expected to grow at 6.6 per cent in Q3, 6 per cent in Q4, 17.2 per cent in Q1FY23 and at 7.8 per cent for Q2FY23.

Mumbai: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Wednesday maintained India's GDP growth projection for the current financial year to 9.5 per cent on accelerated economic recovery along with pent-up demand.

In a virtual address after the MPC's bi-monthly meet, RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das said: "Incoming information indicates that consumption demand has been improving, with pent-up demand getting reinforced by the festive season. Rural demand is exhibiting resilience and farm employment is picking up with the robust performance of agriculture and allied activities, supported by a strong start to rabi sowing."

"Other indicators like railway freight traffic, port cargo, GST receipts, toll collections, petroleum consumption and air passenger traffic have also picked up in October or November."

Besides, he said that recent reductions in excise duty and state VAT on petrol and diesel should support consumption demand by increasing purchasing power.

Das cited that the government consumption has been picking up from August, providing support to aggregate demand.

Furthermore, he said the Centre's relaxation of additional market borrowings by states equivalent to 0.5 per cent of gross state domestic product (GSDP) subject to certain capex related milestones and the decision to front-load tax devolution are likely to bolster capital outlays of the states.

He pointed out that the Centre's focus on 'capex' should crowd in private investment, which has remained in a prolonged state of muted activity.

"Overall, the recovery that had been interrupted by the second wave of the pandemic is regaining traction, but it is not yet strong enough to be self-sustaining and durable. This underscores the vital importance of continued policy support."

"Downside risks to the outlook have risen with the emergence of Omicron and renewed surges of Covid-19 infections in a number of countries."
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When Lithuania allowed Taiwan to open a representative office in Vilnius last month, using its own name instead of Taipei, you wouldnt have to be Australian to foresee how China would respond.

Lithuania has claimed that China removed it from the list of countries in its customs portal, denying Lithuanian exporters a customs clearance because they are unable to select Lithuania as the products country of origin. Products from technology, to beer, food and timber are said to have been impacted.

The US has accused China of bullying Lithuania and Taiwan. Credit:AP

China also recalled its ambassador, demanded Lithuania withdraw its envoy and downgraded diplomatic relations. Lithuania has also claimed Beijing has pressured third countries, urging them not to trade with the Baltic state.

Last week, after high-level talks between the US and European Union centred on developing a shared approach to China, the US deputy secretary of state, Wendy Sherman, accused China of bullying Lithuania and Taiwan and said the US was very worried about the measures China had taken against Lithuania.
Sydney Theatre Company has received another $2.7 million from the federal governments $50 million Arts Sustainability Fund, which was established to prop up arts companies at risk of going broke due to the pandemic.

This adds to the $2 million cheque the company received from the federal government in May.

The funds are part of the latest round of bailouts that has seen more than $6.2 million go to arts companies in NSW and Victoria. The government has now allocated more than $43 million of the funds money, which theoretically remains open to applications until the end of May.

Sydney Theatre Companys artistic director Kip Williams. Credit:Louie Douvis

In 2021 STC cancelled 335 performances nationally across nine productions due to the pandemic.
Millions of bogong moths migrate thousands of kilometres to Australias alpine region each year to coat the walls of caves, just as marsupials emerge from their winter slumber and prepare to feast.

But worsening drought conditions over the past four years have drastically reduced the number of moths and landed the insect alongside some of the worlds most threatened species, as scientists warn its decline is the proverbial canary in the coal mine.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature has included the endangered bogong moth on its Red List for the first time. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

The International Union for Conservation of Nature released its Red List, the most comprehensive global inventory of biodiversity, on Friday, logging 40,084 species at risk of extinction. In Australia, 1830 animals are ranked as either critically endangered, endangered or vulnerable.

Among this years results, the bogong moth made its first appearance, receiving an endangered status. Other Australian animals also at risk of extinction are the vulnerable grey-headed flying fox and the critically endangered Arcadia velvet gecko.
And death seemed to be a regular part of their job as they moved across the seas intercepting SIEVs (Suspected Irregular Entry Vessels). The sailor, known as BR2 to the royal commission, helped his crew try to save several people across his deployment, including a group of people on a boat from Somalia. Australian navy personnel rescue asylum-seekers from a sinking boat off Christmas Island in October 2001. Witness BR2 was not part of this crew. Credit:Reuters I remember taking a little boy off the ship who didnt have anyone with him, which was sort of odd, and I asked him where mum and dad were, he said. He said, theyre dead.

I said, OK, have you got any brother or sisters? and he said, I have three brothers and two sisters, who were killed as well. Without using expletives, you know, who else deserves to be here? This kid  definitely, coming from where he came from. He said he and his crew felt guilty because they cared about the people they were trying to save. It was tough for us to know these people were going to refugee camps as a political power move was a bit of a kick in the guts for us because these people were so genuine and we just wanted to help them and we thought they were going to Australia, he said. Ive seen a lot of people struggling, some people who arent with us now...what was the point of all it? We saved these people just to put them basically in prisons.

After the incident where the baby was found in the water, the captain offered the crew a swimming exercise off the ship in a bid to boost morale, while telling the sailors they had done everything they could. The sailor said they saw images were leaked to the press of the crew swimming, along with reports they were scrutinised for not helping the asylum seekers enough. BR2 described how the crew suffered after the continual incidents at sea and drank at port to cope with the trauma. When asked whether he thought the drinking problem in his unit was really that bad, BR2 answered: Yes, 100 per cent. I think, sort of, the time to sober up is when youre at work, he said.

I realised how bad it was on Anzac Day when I went back to my mates place after we had finished all the formalities and have drinks and stuff like that, and there were actually two people out the back smoking meth in uniform and I felt disgusted. After what BR2 described as a breakdown, he was medically downgraded for 12 months, and had several restrictions applied to him, including not being allowed to drive defence vehicles or handle a weapon. The sailor said when speaking with ADF psychologists, he was told that if he wanted to continue his career, which BR2 had said he did, then he would need to tell the psychologist words to the effect that the problems he had raised did not affect him. He said there was a rank issue when visiting psychologists as they were dressed in uniform, which made him feel unequal, while the office was often in front of the canteen where sailors could be seen entering, breeding stigma about mental health. I think people need something that people can relate to...there needs to be someone who can relate to these guys and be on the same level as them to actually engage them, he said.
Queensland has hit the crucial 80 per cent fully vaccinated mark, as the state stands firm on its previously announced date for the borders to reopen next week.

The news was confirmed early on Thursday morning on social media by Prime Minister Scott Morrison, and acknowledged by Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk about an hour later.

Deputy Premier Steven Miles praised the efforts of Queenslanders as a media conference, saying it was an historic day.

It is 680 days since COVID first arrived here in Queensland, since we first declared a public health emergency, Mr Miles said.
Former magistrate Rodney Higgins and the mother of his deceased fiancee have reached a settlement over Ashleigh Petries superannuation and life insurance benefits following her death in 2019.

A Current Affair reported on Thursday night that a confidential settlement had been reached between the parties, two years after Ms Petries death.

Ashleigh Petrie with Rodney Higgins. Credit:Instagram

The settlement is believed to be around half of the death benefits, ACA reported.

Mr Higgins told ACA in August he deserved 100 per cent of the benefits, reportedly worth about $180,000, but also agreed it should be shared.
A teacher has been fired from Mount Scopus Memorial College after former students made complaints about inappropriate conduct.

Principal Rabbi James Kennard wrote to inform the schools community on Thursday.

In recent weeks, complaints have been made by a number of former students that a member of staff had previously engaged in inappropriate conduct with secondary students, in breach of college protocols and policies dealing with staff and student interactions, he said.

The college takes these complaints very seriously. We are taking any and all steps needed to understand the extent, and impact, of any such conduct on any current and former students.

This type of conduct is wholly unacceptable and has no place in any school setting.
The warning signs of creeping disengagement among students had become obvious by term three this year as Melbournes sixth lockdown stretched into its second month.

Students would log on for class as usual, but some were no longer switching on their cameras and microphones, limiting their engagement to the chat function.

More than 80 per cent of Victorian secondary schools were concerned about student mental health and wellbeing in term three. Credit:Joe Armao

Teachers, also fatigued by months of swinging in and out of remote learning, felt like radio announcers broadcasting into the void, and had to find new ways to invigorate their lessons and try to draw students back in.

It was definitely tough, and maintaining connection online was very difficult, Bundoora Secondary College principal Anesti Anestis said.
Friends of Ms Haidari told Shepparton Magistrates Court on Thursday about the anxiety the 21-year-old felt about the engagement and of several instances where attempts to stop the wedding were ignored. They said Ms Haidari, a social and bubbly young woman, wanted to be free and felt her future was being taken away by her family. Court sketch of Mohammad Ali Halimi. The court also heard Ms Haidari was engaged to another man for about two years before her wedding in 2019, but the engagement was broken off over a feud between the families. Ms Khan told the court the student was deeply unhappy about marrying Halimi but feared her mother would get upset if she shared her feelings.

Loading She described an instance on Ms Haidaris henna night  an Afghan ceremony the day before the wedding in which a brides hands and feet are decorated where Ms Jan threatened to hit her daughter if she didnt smile. Her mum asked me to go tell Ruqia to smile or otherwise I am going to go on stage and hit you because people werent happy she was not smiling, she said. She [Ms Haidari] didnt say anything. She just put on a fake smile, and she had tears in her eyes. Ms Khan said Halimi had been rejected as a potential suitor for being too old by another family in Shepparton, but because of Ms Haidaris previous engagement she couldnt really get a good boy to marry, so she was quite limited in her choices.

In her testimony, she also claimed Halimi had made unwanted sexual advances on Ms Haidari on at least two occasions, including on their wedding night. The court heard several people within Sheppartons Afghan community approached Ms Jan to raise their concerns about the wedding, but their advice fell on deaf ears. Mohammad Ali Halimi, middle, and Ruqia Haidari, right, on their wedding day. Witnesses told the court it was frowned upon for outsiders to interfere in family affairs, such as weddings, in Afghan culture, and explained Ms Haidari was reluctant to ask for help for that reason. Afghan community leader Zahra Haydar-Big recalled approaching Ms Jan at a local mosque to plead with her to let her daughter graduate from university before marrying. However, according to her, the mother said Halimi was pressuring the family to celebrate the wedding sooner.

When Ms Haydar-Big questioned whether the family knew Halimi well enough to trust him, Ms Jan allegedly told her whatever happens we are going to blame Shukria [Muqadas], the matchmaker. Ms Haydar-Big said Ms Haidari was told she would be able to follow her dreams and study at university after the wedding, but those plans never eventuated. She told the police Ms Haidari told her she did not want to marry someone she didnt love and wished to wait until she was 27 to be engaged. But in Afghan culture, it was a great source of pride for families to marry girls young, Ms Khan said. Jennie Patterson, a co-ordinator at the local English language centre, said Ms Haidari would often talk about feeling unhappy and helpless during their two-hour driving classes. She felt she was having her choices and her future taken away, Ms Patterson told the court.

As the wedding approached I noticed that Ruqia was becoming more and more upset and anxious. She told me she had tried everything to convince her mother ... but nothing was working. Ms Patterson said Ms Haidari worried her family would be shamed into leaving Shepparton if she didnt get married to Halimi. Police photograph showing the knife used by Mohammad Ali Halimi. On Wednesday, the court heard Ms Haidari had only spent half an hour alone with Halimi before her family was asked to decide about the engagement. The next time the pair saw each other in person was at their nikah, an Islamic religious ceremony to confirm their marriage. During a four-hour cross-examination by defence lawyer Shaun Ginsbourg, family friend Shukria Muqadas said she arranged the engagement at the request of Halimis sister, who lived in Pakistan and was a close friend of hers before she migrated to Australia.

Ms Muqadas said Ms Haidari initially told her Halimi seemed a good man, but ahead of their planned third meeting stopped responding to his calls and text messages. It is alleged Ms Haidari contacted the Australian Federal Polices human trafficking team in August 2019 and told officers she was being threatened and coerced into the union. Ruqia Haidari was murdered in her Balcatta home by her husband Mohamed Ali Halimi two months into their arranged marriage. Credit: During Halimis sentencing in WAs Supreme Court in August, the court heard the pair settled in Halimis home in the northern Perth suburb of Balcatta, but their relationship quickly became strained after Ms Haidari repeatedly rebuffed Halimis attempts at intimacy. On the morning of January 18, 2020, the pair were arguing about their relationship when Halimi grabbed a stainless-steel kitchen knife and slit Ms Haidaris throat twice before handing himself over to police.
One-third of West Australian public servants not vaccinated for COVID-19 work at the departments of Communities or Justice, which have two of the worst take-up rates for government entities in the state.

Premier Mark McGowan lauded the overall department vaccination rate of 97.5 per cent for a December 1 jab deadline, for selected professions, across the government, but it has been revealed Communities and Justice had a take-up rate below 90 per cent as of the cut-off date.

WA Premier Mark McGowan has mandated vaccination for a big proportion of the workforce. Credit:WAtoday

About 2900 government workers in roles which were a high risk for COVID-19 transmission had not received their first jab as mandated by last Wednesday, at which point about 490 Communities and 544 Justice staff had not complied or received an exemption.

Communities has improved its vaccine take-up in the past week from 88.8 per cent of its workforce to 91.5 per cent, although 360 staff have either indicated they do not want a jab or are on long service leave.
I was taken into the isolation ward. I had my hand stitched, lots of X-rays and tests done. I stayed there overnight and all day Sunday having lots of painkillers. Kathy was then discharged, but still had four hours left of her 14 days of self-quarantine. She was directed to go home and isolate for those hours alone, despite having tested negative. There will be people that have grievances. I do not accept that we have done this in a way that lacks compassion. Police Commissioner Chris Dawson I wasnt allowed have a family member stay with me, so I had to come into the house on my own and just stay, Kathy said. My biggest thing is that you can go to a public carpark, walk all the way through public footpath and everything like that when youre meant to be in isolation, its OK to do that, but I cant have a family member come and stay with me for four hours.

Its not good enough. Youre doing what youre supposed to do, you do the right thing and... then you get no support afterwards. Dr Collignon said the majority of people with COVID-19 tested positive before day seven. In these kinds of circumstances there should have been an exemption, he said. Measures could have been put into place to further minimise the risk. For example, allowing one or two family members who are fully vaccinated, wearing a face shield and mask to visit. There needs to be more compassion for people in these situations.

Dr Collignon said this lack of compassion was also an issue in the case of rising rugby star Jordan Grace, with his parents desperate to come to WA from Victoria after their son took his own life. His mother, Katie Grace, and her husband were granted G2G passes but were told they would have to complete 14 days in hotel quarantine. Even though I said quite clearly, we only want to go to two places: to the morgue, to identify our boy and then to his home to pack up his things, and we would leave straight away, Ms Grace said. Katie and Steve Grace were not allowed to go to the mortuary to identify their son until theyd served two weeks in quarantine. Credit:Nine News But they said no, you have to hotel quarantine and obviously, that was unrealistic.

Dr Collignon said there were plenty of ways to minimise the number of people the parents came into contact with in Perth. Zero COVID is not a sustainable model. We are in a different situation than we were a year ago, with high vaccination rates, and the rules need to adapt to fit the current situation, he said. WA Premier Mark McGowan said police had contacted Ms Grace and her husband within 20 minutes of them submitting a G2G pass, to work through any issues. The issues couldnt be worked through. Theres been effort to try and sort out the situation but the issues that were there, which I dont know, were obviously insurmountable, he said. I am sympathetic to all these cases, sympathetic to everyone and every single case, theyre all very difficult and the police manage this according to pretty strict protocols.

Mr McGowan also said he sympathised with Kathy, but decisions have to be made to keep the public and the state safe. Weve gotten through the last two years by doing difficult things in difficult circumstances, he said. You all know because theres been numerous examples but the same time we havent had the virus come into Western Australia. We havent had the mass lockdowns. We havent had the hundreds if not thousands of people die because weve been prepared to do difficult things. Its very sad in this case, but the police have to make a decision. While he said he was not an expert in law, Dr Collignon was also concerned about the amount of time those breaching quarantine and border restrictions were spending in custody and said a fine might be more appropriate.

Kathy was pulled from her car and beaten while going for a COVID test at Royal Perth Hospital. Credit:Marta Pascual Juanola This week, an 18-year-old was remanded in custody until January 27 for allegedly providing a false G2G pass after flying in from Queensland along with other charges. Asked about exemptions for compassionate reasons, Police Commissioner Chris Dawson said anyone who had to complete the 14 days of quarantine had access to doctors and counsellors. It is pretty awful that she (Kathy) got injured and got her car stolen ... but everyone has to complete their quarantine, he said. I am quite certain that the health department has provided as much support as possible. There will be people that have grievances. I do not accept that we have done this in a way that lacks compassion.
A two-year-old boy died and his infant brother required emergency surgery in Perth Childrens Hospital following circumcisions at a suburban medical centre.

St John Ambulance was called to the boys Seville Grove home at 6.30pm on Tuesday and rushed the two children to the nearby hospital in Armadale.

The brothers were rushed to Armadale Hospital after complications from circumcisions. Credit:

The toddler was pronounced dead upon arrival while the baby was transferred to PCH where he remains in a stable condition.

WA Police Commissioner Chris Dawson said detectives were working with the family to complete a report for the coroner.
Almost a third of young Gen Z Australians own cryptocurrency. One in five coffees in Starbucks in the United States is bought without cash or even a card transaction. Facebook is moving closer to releasing its private digital currency DIEM. Tesla is talking about selling cars for bitcoin.

What we currently call money will soon be augmented by new digital currencies that will change our lives in ways we are only starting to grapple with. That is why the government this week rushed to introduce a raft of new proposals to regulate digital money.

So what is digital money? How will it change our lives? And why are governments so scared of it?

Ever-increasing numbers of people are turning to their mobile phones to make retail purchases. Credit:Simon Bosch

When most people think of digital money, they think of bitcoin. But digital money is actually much broader than cryptocurrencies. While crypto is reaching cult status among a certain demographic of young people, and gets a huge amount of media attention, it wont be the main game in digital money. Thats because crypto is not very useful in transactions.
Australia has long been recognised as a world leader in tobacco control. Our success can be attributed to the implementation of a suite of tobacco control measures such as ongoing increases in tobacco excise, anti-smoking media campaigns, and the introduction of smoke-free laws.

Unfortunately, our position on the leaderboard looks set to tumble. The range of strict tobacco control measures announced by New Zealand under their Smokefree Aotearoa 2025 Action Plan will almost certainly knock us off our pedestal.

New Zealand is set to introduce some of the toughest anti-smoking measures in the world. Credit:Quentin Jones

The New Zealand government announced on Thursday new legislation under which anyone born after 2008 will never be legally able to purchase tobacco. The country aims to reduce its national smoking rate to 5 per cent by 2025.

I can hear you thinking Who cares? Nobody smokes these days anyway. Well, 2.9 million Australians beg to differ. Thats the number of people aged 14 years and over who reported being current smokers in 2019.
Bangkok: France has restored a degree of trust with the United States after Canberra cancelled a multibillion-dollar submarine deal, but the same cannot be said for Australia, a French regional envoy said on Thursday.

Christophe Penot, Frances ambassador for the Indo-Pacific, said the rift with Canberra is ongoing because the Australian government is still in denial about communication of the decision.

No trust: Prime Minister Scott Morrison and French President Emmanuel Macron. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

France and Australia have been at loggerheads since Canberra opted for nuclear-powered submarines to be built with US and British technology rather than continue with a French submarine contract.

The French ambassador to Australia, Jean-Pierre Thebault, accused the Morrison government of stabbing France in the back.
Five- to 11-year-olds can be vaccinated against COVID-19 from early January after Pfizers product received final approval, paving the way for the rollout to this age group to be well under way before school returns next year.

The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation has recommended five- to 11-year-olds receive two doses of the Pfizer vaccine eight weeks apart to protect them against the coronavirus, and the federal government says bookings will be available within weeks.

Australias vaccine experts have given Pfizer the final tick of approval for five- to 11-year-olds. Credit:AP

This will bring great relief to so many mums and dads, who now have a choice on whats best for their kids. They can have peace of mind knowing this has the tick from the best medical regulators in the world, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said.

National cabinet is meeting on Friday for an update on the Omicron strain and the plan for international borders, with restrictions currently due to lift for overseas students, skilled migrants and other select visa holders next Wednesday.
The father of Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyces partner has joined forces with Clive Palmers United Australia Party to challenge Bob Katter at next years federal election.

Peter Campion, a retired firefighter from Tolga, in Queenslands Tablelands region, will run for the federal seat of Kennedy.

The father of Barnaby Joyces partner Vikki Campion, Peter Campion, has announced he will run for the seat of Kennedy in next years federal election. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

His daughter is political staffer Vikki Campion, who is the mother of two children with Mr Joyce.

After the news of their relationship broke in early 2018, Mr Campion told the Cairns Post Mr Joyce must put the coal back into Coalition and should give himself an uppercut for failing to stop then-prime minister Malcolm Turnbulls emissions reduction policies.
Parramatta are set to sign Josh Hodgson on a two-year deal to replace Reed Mahoney, while fellow Raider Bailey Simonsson will join the Eels immediately.

Simonsson has accepted a three-year deal to return to Sydney, which looks set to pave the way for Nick Cotric to return home to the nations capital.

The Eels have lost several of their stars to big-money offers elsewhere, including Mahoney to the Bulldogs, Isaiah Papalii to the Wests Tigers and Marata Niukore returning to the New Zealand Warriors.

But after locking down skipper Clint Gutherson, Parramatta have now wasted no time securing the Raiders duo.
The 150-page charter is the outcome of more than six years of negotiations between white and black leaders on the shape and ideology of post-apartheid South Africa.

Then he hoisted it over his head, to the cheers of thousands in a ramshackle soccer stadium.

By our presence here today, we solemnly honour the pledge we made to ourselves and to the world that South Africa shall redeem herself and thereby widen the frontiers of human freedom, Mr Mandela said.

As we close a chapter of exclusion and a chapter of heroic struggle, we reaffirm our determination to build a society of which each of us can be proud - as South Africans, as Africans and as citizens of the world.

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The signing date and the place were well-chosen - it was International Human Rights Day, and the venue was Sharpeville, the black township south of Johannesburg where police gunned down scores of unarmed black protesters in a 1960 massacre which galvanised the anti-apartheid movement.

Under the charter, South Africans now have the right to adequate housing, food, water, education and health care - all of which were denied the black majority under apartheid.
Bangkok: The US has ordered an arms embargo on Cambodia, citing deepening Chinese military influence, and corruption and human rights abuses by the government and armed forces.

The added restrictions on defence-related goods and services, issued by the US State and Commerce departments, are due to be published and take effect on Thursday, US time.

A notice in the US Federal Register said developments in Cambodia were contrary to US national security and foreign policy interests.

Vessels are moored at the Ream Naval Base near Sihanoukville, Cambodia. A Chinese company was granted a 99-year lease in 2018 for 33 square kilometres of the coastline that falls within Ream National Park to develop a resort. Credit:Bloomberg

The aim of the embargo is to ensure that defence-related items are not available to Cambodian military and military intelligence services without advance review by the US government, it said.
New York: From the start of the pandemic, the coronavirus seemed to target people carrying extra kilos. Patients who were overweight or obese were more likely to develop severe COVID-19 and more likely to die.

Although these patients often have health conditions such as diabetes that compound their risk, scientists have become increasingly convinced that their vulnerability has something to do with obesity itself.

Now researchers have found that the coronavirus infects both fat cells and certain immune cells within body fat, prompting a damaging defensive response in the body.

This undated electron microscope image made available by the US National Institutes of Health in February 2020 shows the Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, yellow, emerging from the surface of cells, pink, cultured in the lab. Credit:AP

The bottom line is, Oh, my God, indeed, the virus can infect fat cells directly, said Philipp Scherer, a scientist who studies fat cells at UT Southwestern Medical Centre in Dallas, who was not involved in the research.
Christchurch: The New Zealand government will ban young people from ever being able to purchase tobacco in their lifetime under world-leading plans to make the country smoke-free.

Older generations will only be able to buy tobacco products with very low levels of nicotine, and fewer shops will be able to sell tobacco products, Associate Health Minister Dr Ayesha Verrall announced in Parliament on Thursday. The measures are part of the governments new Smokefree 2025 action plan.

The plan: Banned from smoking as soon as they turn 14, New Zealanders will then not be able to buy or smoke cigarettes during their lifetime. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer

We want to make sure young people never start smoking, so we will make it an offence to sell or supply smoke tobacco products to new cohorts of young people, she said. People aged 14 when the law comes into effect will never be able to legally purchase tobacco.

She said more needed to be done to stop young people from taking up smoking in the first place and to make it less addictive and appealing.
PHILIPSBURG:--- A delegation of the Parliament of Sint Maarten is currently in The Netherlands participating in the 31st Congress and Trade Mission regarding  Ten Years after the dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles. The delegation comprises the President of Parliament, Mrs. Grisha S. Heyliger-Marten, Members of Parliament Mr. Rolando Brison, Mr. Claudius A. Buncamper, and the Secretary-General of Parliament Mr. G.J. Richardson. The Congress began with an introduction by a Member of the First Chamber of the Netherlands and Chair of the Kingdom Relations Committee of the First Chamber Mr. Paul Rosenmoller. Mr. Rossenmoller reflected on the creation of 10-10-10 and indicated how he thinks we should look at the future. Mr. Rosenmoller was followed by a speaker who discussed the necessity to have a clear structure within the Kingdom and elaborated on his article: To a mature Kingdom (Naar een Volwassen Koninkrijk).



Ms. Bianca Maasdamme of ProgresCaribbean gave a presentation on the Circulair Kingdom touching on sustainable collaboration and change within the Kingdom which can be to the benefit of all partners within the Kingdom. She mentioned that the focus should be on the potentials, to exchange, strengthen and enrich. She also indicated that we are connected, yet still dependent on each other. Prof. Mr. Gerhard Hoogers was the following speaker and he discussed a post-statutory Kingdom and questioned if the Constitution of The Netherlands could support the Kingdom (again)? He mentioned that we have a Kingdom construct that raises a lot of questions and that the Constitution of The Netherlands could be a possible solution for the constitutional construction.



Prof Mr. Herman Broring discussed Dutch administrative law within the Kingdom of The Netherlands and the need for the updating of old legislation which if not done, creates the situation of execution based on policies which means the erosion of the legality principle which in turn means the weakening of the role of the Parliaments. Ms. Gohar Karapetian then presented the French perspective on 10-10-10 in which she looked at the French Republic with its overseas territories and compared it to the Dutch Caribbean and the Dutch Kingdom and questioned if such a system would work for the Dutch Kingdom also looking at the representation that the overseas territories and their people have within the French National Assembly and the French Senate.



The last speaker on todays program was Mr. Aart Broek who presented a thought-provoking column titled: Bold Reckoning with Colonial Past (Stoutmoedige Afrekening met Koloniaal Verleden).

The first day ended with a panel discussion on the topic of Nationality and Citizenship in the Kingdom of The Netherlands. MP Rolando Brison, along with Members of Parliament of Aruba, Curacao, and The Netherlands, and professors and immigration lawyers participated in this panel discussion looking at what it means to be Dutch, our differences as people, and the Dutch passport.



The Congress is taking place at Nieuwspoort in The Hague and will continue tomorrow Thursday, December 9, 2021.
Carlos Andrade and Larissa Arias had to change their lifestyle when facing serious health problems. He survived cancer and she overcame serious effects of being overweight. Far from letting these experiences defeat them, the two Peruvian entrepreneurs launched an app to help improve other people's health.

Manzana Verde seeks to facilitate the process of improving their quality of life for people who do not have the time to do it themselves. This startup joined the boom in food delivery services such as Rappi and UberEats , adding a new value to these services because in addition to bringing food to your home, it helps you eat healthy. For many people it is difficult to find the time to take care of themselves when they have to work long hours a day. Green Apple allows you to continue with your responsibilities without having to put your health aside.

The application can be downloaded for free from Apple and Android . Once you enter, it asks you for certain data such as your weight, if you exercise and what your goal is to eat healthy, these reveal around how many calories you should consume per day, which are divided into five meals. Depending on when it is more difficult for you, they can send you breakfast, lunch, dinner or lunches.

The entrepreneurs set up a small kitchen in Larissa's house and as such, Manzana Verde started in Piura, a city in Peru.

Image: Courtesy Green Apple

We come from a city of less than 500 thousand inhabitants in Peru and we saw that there was a need and we set up the whole process that all our restaurants, our inns, our kitchens now follow. If in our small city there was an interesting market, in capitals where the problem is much greater because there is less time, people tend to be more sedentary, they tend to work more hours per day, the problem was much greater , Carlos commented in an interview with Entrepreneur in Spanish .

Then they started sales in Lima, which is a much larger city. Seeing the success he was having, they began to wonder what the next step was. According to Carlos and Larissa, they themselves questioned whether they should continue to open in small cities and wait until they were ready to move to places with more people.

Help Mexicans with a green apple

Mexico is the first in the world in obesity according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and in 2019 the country ranked sixth in the world in diabetes. For the co-founders, the fact that there were more problems just meant that there were more people to help, so they decided to come straight to Mexico.

"The answer we always came to was that if we are solving a problem that many people have, it is better to go first to the largest city and all the challenges that arise, learn to solve them there and be able to help many more people", explains Larissa .

They put their project in an accelerator and with the money from that first investment they were able to bring their project to Mexico. The business model they work with has a great advantage, as it is flexible and scalable. Carlos and Larissa look for diners across the city where they are going to start sales. These must have the ability to generate the green apple saucers. The model favors both because Manzana Verde can meet higher demand as it grows and the inns can generate income during the pandemic.

To get the restaurants, they launch a call through social networks so that interested restaurants can fill them out. There are some minimum requirements such as the size of the place and having the necessary machinery to make the Manzana Verde dishes, once they see that they comply with these, the Manzana Verde team physically visits the place. They have a special team of people who review the quality and decide if the place is suitable to meet the needs of the project.

We generate impact on users, but we also generate impact on local economies by helping the owners of these restaurants. Because keep in mind that we do not work with restaurant chains or large corporations, we work with inns. They are small businesses that even many of them are super grateful to us because during the pandemic they no longer sold anything for the rest of the day, so Manzana Verde practically supported them during the strongest peak of the pandemic , Carlos mentions

They also offer consultation with nutritionists through video calls. This is for people who want to take their health care to a level beyond eating a certain number of calories. It is also important to note that they have a group of nutritionists within Green Apple who are the ones who create the recipes. This gives a degree of professionalism to the application and assures users that they are not putting their health at risk.

Image: Courtesy Green Apple

Since they opened in Mexico, they have had a sustained growth of 20% every month. The country currently accounts for 30% of all its sales and Manzana Verde's goal is for Mexico to become its main market. Its vision is to become the most guaranteed e-commerce of wellnes in Latin America in five years.

The seed round of 1.5 million pesos that they have just obtained will help them meet this goal. The next step is to position itself on a larger scale in the cities where they are already located, which are Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey. Similarly, in the next two months they will begin operations in Puebla and Queretaro.

Through social networks they have a lot of contact with users. They are the ones who ask them to take the project to their cities because it attracts their attention. They also have a section where they share the testimonials of people who used the app. Larissa tells one of the testimonies that resonated with the most:

One that comes to mind is a guy who works in financial auditing, which is usually a very complicated job in terms of hours. And he had been trying different methods to lose weight and with Green Apple he lost 21 kilos, but it was a process of 5 months. He was super grateful because thanks to Green Apple he had been able to internalize that eating healthy is not eating ugly and that a result is achieved with small actions that you change in your day to day. "

Both emphasize that they seek to offer a healthy lifestyle. Green Apple is not going to put you on restrictive diets and difficult to follow and they do not promise you magical results in a week. What they are looking for is that their users can gradually acquire healthy habits through their application.

That is what moved us from the beginning, to be able to generate that impact on people who have the same problems as us. As I told you, we are the target of Manzana Verde. With the pace of life we lead, it would be very complex to take care of ourselves. It is most gratifying to be building a solution that impacts people's quality of life. , Says Carlos

Copyright 2021 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved
Christian Abraham / Hearst Connecticut Media

STAMFORD  The Board of Representatives is seeking volunteers to sit on a commission that will recommend potential changes to Stamfords charter.

The charter requires a review of its own provisions every 10 years. The Board of Representatives will vote on any proposed changes and then city residents will vote on the result.
NEW HAVEN  The process of making a threat of violence online can seem divorced from reality for young people, but carries real-world ramifications that should be made clear, according to experts.

A wave of threats on social media affected classes for thousands of students in Greater New Haven and beyond since last Friday, including in Hamden, New Haven, Danbury, Norwalk, North Haven and West Haven, where Carrigan Intermediate School was locked down Wednesday.

In Norwalk, police said a juvenile suspect arrested for allegedly making multiple false threats to Norwalk High School over the last week conspired with a foreign actor.

Erik Trautmann / Hearst Connecticut Media

Teenagers have been arrested in connection with several of the recent incidents; none of the threats has been found to have been credible, authorities said. But as officials work to keep kids safe and end the spate of threats, they also must grapple with the reality that social media instantly spreads messages allegedly being sent by youths who do not fully understand the consequences of their actions.

Kendall Coker, associate professor of psychology at the University of New Haven and a clinical psychologist, said school threats such as those occurring now in Connecticut have been happening across the country.

Coker said that prior to the school threats there were threats of gun violence on social media. The medium allows young people to make their distress visible, and the threats can be against many people because they are representative of the people by whom the young person feels wronged, he said.

Weve seen that kind of connection before (for young people), Coker said. Its become their space where they can communicate with one another even when they are not in close proximity to one another.

But he said social media also serves as a venue, this free flow of information, to see people reinforcing what the user is doing, or watching what other people are doing.

Its available out there in the world for other people to see what everyone is doing, he said.

Every threat must be taken seriously, and with social media it can be difficult to distinguish the real ones from hoaxes, Coker said.

Social media has just become a medium through which we can make threats public. To make grievances public. However, we can also not ignore that fact of the availability of guns ... we cant ignore the bigger issue of access to guns.

Erik Trautmann / Hearst Connecticut Media

Social media becomes the medium through which the access to guns makes that threat potentially real, Coker said.

Further, Mike Lawlor, associate professor of criminal justice at the University of New Haven and former undersecretary for criminal justice policy and planning in the administration of then-Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, said Thursday that school shootings are in the zeitgeist, making it more likely that students would emulate the threat of such.

The copycat phenomenon is very real, said Lawlor. (School shootings and the response to them is) the type of thing thats in the consciousness.

Lawlor also said each such message has to be investigated seriously, given the potential gravity of the situation.

Lawlor and Hilary Fussell Sisco, professor of strategic communication at Quinnipiac University, both said the reality of such situations needed to be impressed upon young people.

Sisco said social media can seem separated from real life  some adopt online personas; there are influencers sharing a tailored version of their lives; people act differently than they often would in real life.

But social media builds a bridge to reality, she said.

(Threats) dont just exist in the social bubble, said Sisco. They can actually cause harm.

Lawlor said instant access to information about threats of violence also can make it seem like the risk you face is higher than it actually is.

He likened it to concern about violent crime; such incidents peaked in the early 1990s, but many think that crime has increased significantly.

Without modern technology and media practices, Lawlor said, people would read about threats of violence after the fact, with some level of emotional removal.

But people, particularly parents, can personalize the commonality of such incidents across the country, heightening their concern, he said.

Finding the perpetrator

Norwalk Deputy Chief James Walsh said Thursday that the department used digital forensics and were able to identify (virtual private networks) used internationally which initially slowed us down in our investigation in finding the suspect there.

Arnold Gold / Hearst Connecticut Media

Lawlor said the process of getting information regarding a social media account that has issued a threat is fairly straightforward  most platforms have an established process for sharing information about accounts once a search warrant is obtained.

Police generally then can determine whether a young person has access to firearms, he said, and consider other associated red flags, such as potential struggles with mental health.

It never ceases to amaze me how few people realize the electronic breadcrumbs they leave behind when theyre on the internet are easy to follow, said Lawlor, noting that cellphones can also be tracked through GPS.

In West Haven Thursday, a social media post circulating the internet intimating a threat to schools was misinterpreted by multiple students at Carrigan Intermediate School, prompting a lockdown, police said. But officers searched the building and found the threat to be false, police said.

Katie R. Place, an associate professor in the School of Communications at Quinnipiac University, said using social media as a platform is part of what helps these negative or threatening messages spread so fast and so far.

I think social media just gives the platform for this messaging  for any type of content  to spread like wildfire, Place said. It can spread around the world in a second.

But with media  including social media  young people also are modeling what they see, and therefore comes the copycat effect, she said. There is that sense that I can copycat or model.

It speaks to the power of media  any form of media, Place said. ... These young impressionable individuals see this as something I could do, too.

But Place said young people also are not necessarily thinking about the greater impact of their actions and not looking at the bigger picture.

We have to realize that these teenagers are not adults and are not fully developed in terms of their decision making, Place said. It is not until much later that you think of the consequences of your actions in ... society.

Erik Trautmann / Hearst Connecticut Media

Seeking change

Place said it is important for young people to see adults modeling healthy behaviors, to talk to them about it, have that dialogue often and early about looking at social media with a critical eye, being careful about what you are doing and being respectful. It is learning: You cant do that; its not right.

It takes a long time for children in terms of moral development or just development to learn this, she said. Parents and educators  those are so influential  any type of mentor having those types of conversations is going to make an impact.

Place said it can be valuable for schools to have a social media policy and a statement of values, as those are good things you can always point to.

Safety has to be first and foremost it is nice to know these threats are being taken so seriously, Place said.

Sisco also called for adults and officials to talk with young people about the full scope of outcomes that come with using social media platforms, noting that Instagram had led to body image issues for many young people, as discussed in internal documents shared by former Facebook employee Frances Haugen.

H John Voorhees III / Hearst Connecticut Media file photo

Coker said social media also could be a mechanism for trying to intervene and to counteract potential threats, with planning  to respond to what happens and possibly preemptively, with collaborative work between parents, law enforcement, other students, mental health experts and others.

Instead of modeling of negative behavior, he said.

Sisco called for officials to share the resolution of such incidents with the community, thus averting potential confusion, and to encourage young people to communicate openly and transparently about potential threats.

william.lambert@hearstmediact.com
NORWALK  An interest-free small business loan program, funded with American Rescue Plan Act money, is set to begin in Norwalk this spring.

The program, in partnership with crowdfunding platform Kiva and the National League of Cities, will offer loans ranging from $1,000 to $15,000 to small local businesses.

The Common Councils Planning Committee last week approved a three-year partnership with the loan provider. The project will move to the Common Council for approval before implementation can begin.

Kiva operates similar to GoFundMe in terms of crowdsourcing funds, but Kiva is a loan provider rather than a grant or donation system, Business Development and Tourism Director Sabrina Church said.

Small businesses upload their loan request with a description of the company and their need to a database, and lenders from across the globe can provide funds starting at $25, Church said. Once the business owner pays off the loan, the lenders may put the funds toward another effort or withdraw their money.

Instead of you donating money to a friend, theres somebody in Australia that can donate the money specifically for your loan, Church said. Kiva would then provide to that business owner for zero percent interest.

The loans are geared toward small, local business of the type not typically picked up by banks for larger loans.

That is something thats a very small amount a bank is not going to traditionally lend out for because its not really worth their money or time. Theyre looking for those heavy hitters that need $50,000 or more, Church said. Those are your landscapers, your caterers, your limo drivers, your person making soap in their basement. Those types of things instead of these larger conglomerates.

With much of the background work completed as part of researching the program, Church said she anticipates having the program up and running around February, pending approval.

To fund the program, Church suggested using some of the more than $39 million the city will receive split over 2021-22 in ARPA funding. As the program helps support the citys economy and local businesses, Church said the loan program falls under ARPAs intended uses.

At this point in time where a lot of folks are on unemployment or are unemployed and trying to start new endeavors they maybe have not thought about before, previous to COVID, Church said. I think thats why this program is exploding as fast as it is. We are in this time where unemployment is a little bit higher and having more creative thought about what people want to do.

As the program works with small businesses, which are conventionally operated by minorities and women, 81 percent of all Kiva loaners are women-owned businesses and 65 percent are minority-owned, Church said.

Kiva began in 2016 and now has 45 hubs in the United States. Before Middletown began a partnership with Kiva this year, Rochester, N.Y., was the nearest Kiva hub, Church said.

In signing with Kiva, Norwalk becomes a hub for Kiva, providing access to the loan database for residents and businesses in the city. To become a hub, the city will pay a $65,000 fee for the three-year agreement.

As part of the agreement, the city will provide a staff member to act as a capital access manager to help Norwalkers establish their loan profile on the Kiva database and connect small businesses with other financial resources and aid in the area.

Once the staff member is trained, the hub can officially open and local businesses can begin requesting funds.

A new staff member will not be added to the citys operating budget for the loan program, Economic and Community Development Chief Jess Vonashek said.

This is not someone were looking to add to the team full-time, Vonashek said. Its someone we are looking to contract with over the three-year period of the Kiva hub contract.

For the capital access manager, the city will pay an additional $245,000 over the three-year period, for an annual salary of about $60,000, Church said.

The capital asset manager would likely start part-time and build up to a 40-hour work week once the program picks up, Vonashek said.

We are talking about this small business tool kit, Vonashek said. This is a huge opportunity for Norwalk that may even be enough money to pay deposits to open a storefront which is something we are eager to get small businesses open in the urban core.

abigail.brone@hearstmediact.com
STAMFORD  Mayor Caroline Simmons has appointed Doug Dalena, deputy general counsel in Gov. Ned Lamonts office, as the citys new director of legal affairs.

Simmons appointment of Dalena, who was previously deputy general counsel and general counsel in then-Gov. Dannel P. Malloys office, requires sign-off from the Board of Representatives. Kathryn Emmett, appointed by former Mayor David Martin, was Stamfords director of legal affairs for the past eight years.

Dougs legal expertise and understanding of local and state government will be invaluable to my administration as we look to shape Stamfords future, making it a prosperous and inclusive city for all our residents, Simmons said in a statement Thursday.

Among Dalenas accomplishments as deputy general counsel has been helping create and coordinate the legal framework for the states response to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a release from Simmons office. A graduate of the University of Connecticut School of Law who also has service as a commander in the U.S. Navy Reserve on his resume, Dalena was once a journalist and worked for The Stamford Advocate for several years.

Lamont described Dalena as a trusted advisor in a statement, adding that Simmons is gaining an incredibly dedicated person whose commitment to public service is like no other.

Dalena particularly has impressed me throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, providing me with trusted information regarding our ability to protect the safety of the public, and helped guide our office on the enactment of those much-needed policies, Lamont said. I am saddened that someone with so much commitment and enthusiasm is leaving our office, but I am happy for him on this opportunity (to) serve the residents of Stamford and the new mayoral administration.

Dalena is the fourth person Simmons has named to her cabinet. She has selected Matt Quinones, a former president of the Board of Representatives, to be director of operations. She has also reappointed Ted Jankowski as director of public safety, health and welfare and Sandy Dennies as director of administration. All must go through the Board of Representatives.

Early in my career I had the privilege of covering Stamfords city government as a reporter for The Stamford Advocate, and so I understand the power and impact that local government can have on the residents it serves, Dalena said in a statement. My service in the legal office for Connecticuts last two governors, particularly these last two years during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, have further shown me the capacity of our state and local government to help our residents and strengthen our communities.

brianna.gurciullo@hearstmediact.com
LONDON (AP)  British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his wife Carrie have announced the birth of a baby girl.

The couple said a healthy baby, the couples second child together, was born in a London hospital early Thursday.

Both mother and daughter are doing very well," the couple's office said in a statement. "The couple would like to thank the brilliant NHS maternity team for all their care and support.

The baby is a sister for Wilfred, who was born in April 2020, weeks after the prime minister was treated in intensive care for the coronavirus.

The couple moved into 10 Downing St. together when Boris Johnson became prime minister in 2019, becoming the first unmarried couple to openly live together at the British prime ministers official London residence.

Boris Johnson, now 57, and Carrie, who is 33, married in May 2021 at London's Roman Catholic Westminster Cathedral, in what is her first marriage and his third.

Johnson has at least five other children from previous relationships, including four with his second wife Marina Wheeler, from whom he is divorced. During a court hearing in 2013 it was disclosed that he had fathered a daughter during an affair when he was London mayor in 2009.

The new baby is the fourth born to a sitting British prime minister this century. The wives of leaders Tony Blair and David Cameron also had babies while their husbands were in office.

The baby arrived the day after the prime minister held a news conference to announce he was imposing restrictions including work-from-home advice and vaccine passes for crowded venues to try to slow the spread of the new omicron variant of the coronavirus.

He is also under pressure over alleged breaches of lockdown rules by government officials, including a Christmas party held in Downing Street in December 2020.
The passage of President Bidens $1 trillion infrastructure bill represents a historic effort to narrow the digital divide, with billions invested into expanding broadband access.

This funding comes at a pivotal moment as the COVID-19 pandemic has shown just how important reliable and fast Internet is to keep up in todays economy.

But just having the money is not enough. As a member of the Communications Workers of America and President of CWA Local 1298, I have seen how past federal funding for broadband access has been wasted by Internet Service Providers, who often use this money with little oversight and fail to direct it towards the communities who need it most.

This time, we need to make every dollar count. While the National Telecommunications and Information Administration and Commerce Department will have some oversight over how states spend their money, more needs to be done. That is why I am calling on Connecticut to increase regulation of how this money is distributed once it starts flowing to states.

The impacts of the digital divide have become even more pronounced during the pandemic. Many students who have switched to remote learning have fallen behind their classmates because they could not connect online. Small businesses have had difficulty serving their customers after their operations shifted to their homes which could not support the needed bandwidth. Elderly community members who may not have wanted to visit a hospital due to the threat of the pandemic could not log in for their telehealth appointments.

While these new investments from Washington will help address these issues, it needs to be spent the right way. Oftentimes, ISPs who receive this money contract with third party service providers that do not have the technical expertise to build out high-speed broadband systems. It has been reported that these contractors, who often use non-unionized workers who receive poor pay and benefits, have installed equipment that has malfunctioned and become completely unusable. Our investments in infrastructure will only be worthwhile and high-quality if skilled workers are able to complete these projects.

We have also given the private sector far too much latitude to determine the future of broadband connectivity. While healthy competition and robust options are essential, there needs to be appropriate legislative oversight to ensure that we are building out our network to the places that actually need it. ISPs often avoid investment in harder to reach areas because it can be logistically challenging and expensive. We need the state to play a bigger role in directing ISPs to reach those who currently lack connection.

Federal funding for broadband is a step in the right direction, but Connecticut needs to step and ensure the money is worthwhile. Getting this right is essential for economic growth and equality in our state, and we cannot pass up this rare opportunity to invest in this critical 21st century infrastructure.

Dave Weidlich is president of CWA Local 1298, representing more than 2,000 members bargain contracts with Frontier Communications, AT&T, and AT&T Mobility Connecticut.
3 1 of 3 Contributed Photo / Stamford Police Department Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Contributed Photo / Stamford Police Department Show More Show Less 3 of 3





STAMFORD  Police are asking for the publics help in identifying two people of interest in a series of ongoing thefts of catalytic converters on the citys East Side.

Sgt. Sean Scanlan said police spotted the two individuals pictured in the surveillance photos at about 1:15 a.m. Wednesday in the area of Cove Road.
STAMFORD  A 25-year-old Stamford man was charged with manslaughter, less than a month after a 71-year-old man died from injuries he allegedly suffered in a road rage encounter with him.

Emmanuel Matias, 25, was served with an arrest warrant on a first-degree manslaughter charge during an appearance at Stamford Superior Court Wednesday afternoon for a lesser charge.

Assistant States Attorney Michael Nemec said the new charge stems from a particularly savage incident on Nov. 17 when Matias allegedly attacked 71-year-old Michael Frank Gentile following a motor vehicle accident in the area of Cold Spring Road.

Officer Leslie Lugo wrote in the warrant that Matias told police he punched Gentile in the face after the 71-year-old tried to run them off the road. Police noted that Matias vehicle was damaged when they arrived on the scene.

Gentile died two days later, from what the medical examiner determined was blunt force trauma to the head, Nemec said during Wednesdays hearing.

Matias claims he acted in self-defense because Gentile was allegedly reaching for something in his car, the warrant said.

But a person who witnessed the fatal encounter told police that Gentile was calmly interacting with Matias and his two siblings, Alejandro and Samantha Ovalles, who were in the car with him, when Matias struck him, Lugo wrote.

Witnesses from the scene also reported Matias and his siblings were agitated and yelling at Gentile prior to the attack, according to the warrant.

Video footage obtained by police also shows Matias punching and pulling at Gentiles car door prior to the fatal attack, according to the warrant.

You crash someone, you get knocked out, Alejandro Ovalles yelled at a witness as police canvassed the scene, Lugo wrote in the warrant.

Alejandro and Samantha Ovalles were both arrested Wednesday morning as they arrived at Stamford Superior Court for their brothers court appearance. Both were charged with breach of peace, and Alejandro Ovalles faced an additional charge of attempt to commit criminal mischief.

Matias has been in custody since his arrest on Nov. 17. He was originally charged with second-degree assault of an elderly person.

Despite the new, more serious charge, Judge John Blawie upheld the original bond of $250,000 on Matias, which he had not been able to post as of Wednesday.

Attorney Howard Ehring, who was appointed as Matias lawyer during Wednesdays arraignment, said he is planning on reviewing the discovery in the case, which includes possible video footage of the incident, with his client in the coming weeks.

The case was transferred to the Part A docket, where the districts most serious cases are heard.

Matias is next scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 19.
Published: 9 December 2021

Entrepreneurial income from agriculture falling sharply in 2021

When output decreases and production costs increase, the share left for the entrepreneur decreases. This threat scenario seems to be realised for agriculture in 2021. The main reasons for the reduced output are the poor yield of cereals and the lower volume of milk production. As for production costs, higher prices of energy and fertilisers in particular increase production costs. According to the current forecast, entrepreneurial income from agriculture is expected to remain at only 63 per cent compared with last year's figure. The data derive from the Economic Accounts for Agriculture that are now published.

The share of agricultural product items in total output %, and the share of certain production inputs in intermediate consumption, % In addition, change in the current value of the above-mentioned items (2020=100) in 2021

The value of output and costs is usually calculated on the volume times price principle. In the national accounts, quantitative and qualitative changes are called volume changes. When comparing the development in the volume of individual agricultural products after 2020, the fall in the volume of cereal crops is as much as 24 per cent. However, the price of cereals rose slightly, so the current price value of cereal output only decreased by some 13 per cent. The volume of forage plant production also fell by around 17 per cent.

The combined volume of the entire crop production sector fell by around 10 per cent but because the price change was slightly positive, the value of output fell by only seven per cent. Data on horticulture for the current year are still fairly limited. The output volumes and prices are expected to remain close to the level of 2020.

The volumes of livestock production also went down in nearly all production lines. The weight of dairy production is high because it accounts for nearly one quarter of total agricultural output. The volume of milk production contracted by around 12 per cent, so it is strongly reflected in the development of the volume of the whole industry. The price of milk rose slightly, so the current price value of milk decreased only by around six per cent. Production volumes for poultry and pork have remained almost unchanged, while production volumes for beef have fallen by around three per cent.

A comprehensive picture of the changes in the volume of production inputs is not yet available. In turn, there are reliable data on price development. Prices of energy products have risen by nearly 20 per cent from last year. Together with the rise in the world market prices of fertiliser raw materials, this has led to an over 20 per cent increase in fertiliser prices. The poor fodder harvest together with the increase in other production costs has also put upward pressure on fodder prices.

Total output of agriculture at current prices is estimated to fall by good EUR 100 million from the previous year. In turn, the value of intermediate consumption is estimated to rise by over EUR 200 million. When intermediate consumption is subtracted from output, the result is gross value added. Gross value added at current prices is thus estimated to fall by over EUR 300 million from 2020. The change in the volume of gross value added at basic prices is estimated to decrease by about 18 per cent and when the price impact is also around 10 per cent negative, at current prices gross value added is estimated to fall by approximately 26 per cent.

Entrepreneurial income is calculated by subtracting consumption of fixed capital, wages and salaries paid, rents of land and interest paid from gross value added, and by adding subsidies on production to it. Entrepreneurial income thus appears to collapse from the previous year's EUR 950 million to around EUR 600 million.

The data for the Economic Accounts for Agriculture are produced at Statistics Finland as part of the production process of the national accounts. The compilation of the accounts is based on accounts harmonised and regulated by the EU. The accounts are compiled with uniform methods in all EU Member States. Data on all Member States can be found in Eurostat's database.

Source: Economic Accounts for Agriculture (EAA), Statistics Finland

Inquiries: Hannu Maliniemi 029 551 2796, maataloustilastot@stat.fi

Head of Department in charge: Katri Kaaja

Publication in pdf-format (225.2 kB)

Updated 9.12.2021

Referencing instructions: Official Statistics of Finland (OSF): Economic Accounts for Agriculture (EAA) [e-publication].

ISSN=2670-1006. 2021. Helsinki: Statistics Finland [referred: 5.1.2022].

Access method: http://www.stat.fi/til/eaa/2021/eaa_2021_2021-12-09_tie_001_en.html
Minister of Health Alexandru Rafila stated on Thursday evening, at the opening Gala of the 21st edition of the Christmas Tree Festival, that the organizer of the event, Save the Children Romania, "develops models of good practice and succeeds in bringing health to children".

"I believe that Save the Children is one of the organizations, if not the organization that demonstrates the most responsibility, professionalism and does something unusual in other countries, takes over the responsibilities of public institutions in Romania, develops models of good practice and succeeds in bringing health to children. We believe that today's event can fully contribute to the achievement of this goal for many of the children in Romania that the Save the Children organization has managed to look after for many years, and has succeeded in educating," said Rafila.

Alexandru Rafila expressed his hope that these models of good practice developed by non-governmental organizations will be "taken over, developed and assumed by the authorities".

The executive president of Save the Children Romania, Gabriela Alexandrescu, stated that, thanks to the online edition of last year's gala, almost 30,000 children were supported in the education process.

"We worked with very tormented, very troubled children, with a very difficult childhood. (...) The year 2021 meant education for almost 30,000 children, with the money we raised last year, 470,000 euros. We helped children through summer kindergartens, through programmes such as 'School After School', 'Second Chance', we have invested in teachers to better educate children and to communicate better with children online, we have invested in schools so that they would have the necessary equipment for online teaching. From the money spent, 462,000 euros were used exclusively for children and 7,882 for the administrative part," said Gabriela Alexandrescu.

Welcome messages were addressed to the participants in the Gala by Dr. Mihai Craiu and the director of MNAR, Calin Stegerean, who announced that the museum's partnership with Save the Children will offer, next year, the possibility for some of the children helped by the organization to come to visit MNAR monthly and participate in workshops organized by the museum institution.

The Gala Evening of the 21st edition of the Christmas Tree Festival, organized by Save the Children Romania, in order to bid for the most beautiful exhibits and to raise funds for the restoration of non-discriminatory access to education, takes place on Thursday evening, at the National Museum of Art of Romania (MNAR).

For this edition of the festival, organized in partnership with MNAR, 26 artists and designers created in their workshops unique fir trees, which tell the story of the good that spreads from one to another, through empathy and solidarity.

Among them are: Doina Levintza, Smaranda Almasan, Ana Banica, Adina Buzatu & Maestro Gheorghe Zamfir, Gheorghe Fikl, Nicu Bocancea & Iris Florist, Daniel Codrescu & Mosaic Workshop, Irina Dragomir, Anca Fetcu Lupu & Beelive Design, Omid G Inside Academy, Simona & Gabriel Gherasim - Gallantique Boutique, Teodor Graur, Laura Hincu, Hamid Nicola Katrib, Carmen Marin, Ana Mohonea & Maria Mohonea - Architectural Christmas, Dhaniel Nora, with the support of Sephora, Adela Parvu, with the support of PPG Romania, Obie Platon , Felicia Simion, with the support of Mara Mura, Smiley & HaHaHa Production, Ada Tache & Karim Rashid, with the support of DENT ESTET, Iulia Totoianu, with the support of Libris.ro, students of Step by Step Gymnasium School & Dhaniel Nora, UNTOLD. They are joined by Save the Children, with the support of Stefania Mircea.

During the event, the trees will be put up for auction, and the money raised will be invested in programmes run by the non-governmental organization, such as "School after School", "Second Chance", summer kindergartens, teacher training, equipping and renovating schools.

This year, the Gala is presented by Andreea Raicu and Mihai Morar.

Through the 20 editions so far, the Christmas Tree Festival has become the center of solidarity of the year: thus total funds of 6,517,800 euros were collected, and 112,285 children from precarious social backgrounds were reintegrated from a social and educational perspective, thereby correcting the social disparities that would have condemned them not to be able to break the vicious circle of poverty.

More than 2,570,000 children have been involved in Save the Children programmes and campaigns.
Ambassador of Japan to Romania Hiroshi Ueda will participate on Friday, December 10, in Oradea, in a cultural and economic event dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, the president of the "Euro Foto Art" Association, Stefan Toth announced on Thursday evening.

According to him, the anniversary program takes place under the patronage of the Embassy of Japan in Romania and under the auspices of the International Federation of Photographic Art (FIAP) and will include an exhibition of photographers from Romania and Japan, the opening of the ikebana exhibition "Heaven, Man and the Earth" and a meeting for the development of economic and cultural relations between the two countries.

"The event is a unique opportunity to promote the city of Oradea and the Bihor region from an economic, cultural and touristic standpoint, in front of His Excellency Hiroshi Ueda, the Japanese Ambassador to Romania, who will participate on this occasion in an official visit to Bihor County," said Stefan Toth.

The approximately 120 guests are political and cultural figures of the city, representatives of Japanese companies in Romania, business partners, successful users of Japanese technology, from the country and abroad, the local and national press.

The anniversary program will begin in Oradea Fortress, with the opening of the ikebana exhibition "Heaven, Man and Earth", followed by the anniversary moment and the award of the Centenary special prizes, as well as the award of the photo artists' special prizes and the launch of a jubilee album in the Fortress Gallery.

The opening of the exhibition of photographers from Romania and Japan is scheduled in the Exhibition Center of International Federation of Photographic Art Oradea - Romania, within the section of the Oradea City Museum, located in the Foryress. It is organized under the patronage of the Japanese Embassy in Romania, by the "Euro Foto Art" International Association from Oradea in partnership with "Japan Danube Photoclub" in Yokohama.

The images were taken by photographers from several photo clubs in the two countries. An international jury has accepted 100 photographs for the International Salon and will reward the most valuable works with medals and plaques "Carol Pop of Szathmari - Szathmari Pap Karoly".

The gold medal went to Japanese photo artist Kazuaki Kamikura for his work entitled "Morning on the Lake", and the silver medal went to Romanian photo artist Ionel Onofras for the image titled "Solitary". The bronze medal was awarded to Japanese photographer Tetsuo Sugimoto for the photograph "Street show". Three "Carol Pop de Szathmari - Szathmari Pap Karoly" plaques were awarded to photographers Nagy Lajos, Ovi D. Pop and Ioan Ciobotaru from Romania, respectively Masami Kato, Shouji Tada and Kisera Hayase from Japan.

On this occasion, the launch of the photo art album "People and landscapes from Romania and Japan" will take place.

The 100 images accepted at the international show can be admired at https://www.eurofotoart.com/efa-exbhibitions-halls/fiap-exhibition-center-oradea/.

The Romanian-Japanese exhibition, which will be opened in 2022 in Japan as well, will remain in the city of Oradea at the disposal of the visiting public until January 7, 2022.

On Friday, the Japanese guests will also take part in a guided tour of the Fortress and the City Museum, where, in partnership with the Bihor County Culture Center, they will admire a collection of authentic Bihor folk costumes and a small traditional sheepskin coat manufacturing shop from Beius region.
Five Afghan citizens, asylum seekers in Romania, have been caught trying to leave the country hidden in a cargo truck heading to Italy, at the Nadlac II Border Crossing Point, agerpres reports.

The truck was driven by a Romanian citizen and was transporting, according to the documents accompanying the goods, sanitary products on the Romania-Italy route."Following the thorough control of the means of transport, the border guards discovered, hidden in the cargo compartment of the semi-trailer, five foreign nationals. The persons were taken and transported to the border police headquarters for investigations. There they were found to be citizens of Afghanistan, asylum seekers in our country," reads a press release of the Arad Border Police, on Thursday.Migrants risk being prosecuted for attempting to cross the state border illegally, and the investigation will also determine whether the driver was involved.
His Grace Assistant Bishop Damaschin of Dorna became the first Orthodox hierarch to serve in the chapel inside the Cacica Salt Mine, sculpted by Polish miners 29 meters underground.

The hierarch celebrated the Divine Liturgy together with an assembly of clerics, including Father Razvan Cimpulungeanu, missionary priest of Suceava II Deanery, and Archdeacon Bogdan-Mihai Hrisca, director of the Orthodox Theological Seminary Metropolitan Dositheus in Suceava.

In his sermon on December 4, Bishop Damaschin spoke about the fruits of faith and the spiritual benefit of fasting. He urged believers to be more concerned with the soul.

May the Lord rejoice in us when we meet Him and see that we are not people who are just making empty gestures, but we are people who are filling these gestures, these works of our faith, humility, knowledge of God, our censing, our chanting, our prayers, the assistant bishop said.

May our bloodless sacrifice be well received before the Lord, and for this may we ask more deeply for the help of those who have not lived only for the things on the outside, but have cared for the things on the inside, for those who have worked their hearts, because the heart seeks the Lord.

That is why we ask for the help of the saints, that they may intercede for us and teach us how not to be human only for the outside, but to be humans who work our hearts and give their heart to God today. All the more so for the intercessions of the Holy Great Martyr Barbara and of Saint John of Damascus, whose prayers may the Lord receive before His most high altar, the hierarch concluded.

The liturgical answers were given by the Byzantion Academic Choir members from Iasi.

His Grace received an icon depicting the Holy Great Martyr Barbara as a token of gratitude.

A memorial service followed for the founders of the Orthodox chapel, located 35 meters below the ground in the salt mine, and for the miners who reposed in the Lord.

Participants included PM Ghervazen Longher, president of the Union of Poles in Romania, Petru Todosi, the mayor of Cacica commune, and Radu Dirtu, the director of Cacica Salt Mine.

The chapel of Saint Barbara, the first operating room in the salt mine, has been arranged since 1803. The pulpit, the altar and the cross are hand-carved in salt.

Every year, on December 4, the priests of the three local denominations offer prayers to Saint Barbara, the protectress of miners, inside the chapel.
National Anti-corruption Directorate (DNA) Chief Prosecutor Crin Bologa said on Thursday, in respect to pandemic acquisitions, that corruption thrives in times of crisis, adding that more than 160 cases had been registered in 2020 and 2021 related to the epidemiological situation, agerpres reports.

Asked on Radio Romania News about the pandemic files and the acquisitions from this period, Crin Bologa answered: "As we know, in times of crisis, corruption thrives and this pandemic situation is a crisis situation not only for Romania, but for all the states of the world. Under these circumstances, of course, we have a lot of cases or a relatively large number of cases pending in terms of pandemic procurement, pandemic corruption, and we have had over 160 cases related to the situation in 2020 and 2021. We are currently working on 88 cases and 60 people are being prosecuted as suspects and defendants, and eight cases have been prosecuted, including 21 in connection with the pandemic situation."Crin Bologa said staff shortages are "a big problem" in DNA."We have a big problem here. For example, in September, the staff of prosecutors was 69%. We managed to bring in 17 more prosecutors. We currently have a 77% complete prosecutor staff, compared, for example, with the period until 2017-2018, when there were over 90%," explained the chief prosecutor of DNA.Regarding the notifications coming from the intelligence services, Bologa states that they are still there, but in a smaller number."There are notifications from the intelligence services, but in a smaller number, because, also as a result of a decision of the Constitutional Court, corruption was no longer considered as an element of national security and then it is not part of the object of activity of the intelligence services, but we are informed if they find corruption in their work or have information about the possibility of such acts. So we receive intelligence," Bologa said.
Bucharest's 14-day COVID-19 rate is 1.17 cases per thousand population on Thursday, in a steady decline from the 16.54 peak recorded on October 22, the Public Health Directorate announced.

A day ago, the capital city's Covid incidence rate was 1.21.
The memory of Elder Cleopas (Ilie), one of the greatest elders of the 20th century, who has been proposed for canonization by the Romanian Orthodox Church in 2025, was honoured in the Archdiocese of Suceava and Radauti on December 2 with the consecration of his mountain cell and a holy spring.

December 2 marked the 23rd anniversary of his repose in the Lord.

The cell in the Stanisoara Mountains, restored in 2015 at the initiative of the local faithful, is located at the spot where Elder Cleopas was forced to hide from the persecuting Communist regime.

As one of the most beloved spiritual fathers in Romania, Elder Cleopas was also one of the states main targets. He spent many years living in almost total seclusion, praying for the suffering Romanian people and for the whole world. He retreated to the Stanisoara Mountains in the 1950s.

The consecration service was officiated by His Grace Bishop Damaschin, Vicar of the Archdiocese of Suceava and Radauti, together with a number of priests and deacons. The day began with the celebration of the Divine Liturgy in the Church of the Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel in Vadu Negrilesei.

When the cell was restored in 2015, local priest Fr. Marius Drelciuc also helped beautify the space around the cell, adding crosses and signs pointing the way.
The Minister of National Defence, Vasile Dincu, said on Thursday that Russia has a "comprehensive plan" to strengthen its military presence in the region, with significant potential for aggression against Ukraine, agerpres reports.

The clarifications were made at the beginning of the anniversary edition of the Bucharest Forum 2021, an event organized by the Aspen Romania Institute together with the Bucharest office of the German Marshall Fund of the US."The current security situation on NATO's eastern flank is worrying, volatile and poses a number of significant risks. Russia has a comprehensive plan to strengthen its military stance and assertive behaviour in the region, with a significant possibility of aggression against one of our neighbouring states, a states in our proximity, Ukraine. We are facing hybrid threats, such as the influx of migrants from Belarus, and we must also respond to threats from potential global adversaries, such as China. Let's not forget the impact brought by the climate change on society, which has become a rather important threat," Dincu said.According to him, Romania wants NATO's new strategic concept to strengthen the alliance's role as an "essential" organization in managing the specific challenges of an "international context marked by competition" between the great powers."We will propose to advance a realistic description of the security environment. Russia should be reflected as a potential serious threat to NATO from a military perspective. The old concept of dialogue and deterrence is not losing its relevance at the moment. Obviously, dialogue must remain the main form and it must be strengthened, but we have seen that, although NATO has been working on this concept for a decade, it has not yielded - at this point, as we can all see - the expected results, at least not in the medium term; maybe only at the beginning," the Minister of Defence also said.Dincu added that our country also wants the new strategic concept to emphasize the "essential role" of collective defence."It should be focused on the transatlantic relationship and the allies' commitment to NATO. The NATO Secretary General also said this: I believe that this Europe-US axis is very important at the moment. We would like to project stability through the capabilities consolidation mechanism, especially in the vulnerable regions of the alliance, namely: Eastern Europe, the Western Balkans and the southern area," he said.In his view, the new strategic concept must focus on the NATO-EU relationship, adding that "complementarity, not competition, no segmentation" of the two's efforts is needed.Vasile Dincu has noticed in the last decade a phenomenon of "acceleration of history," because in this interval there have been changes "which, perhaps, used to happen in 30 or 50 years."He underscored that NATO is "a strong alliance", "the most successful political and military alliance in the world," which proved its ability to "adapt quickly to all kinds of threats and provide real security."
Revenues of Romania's four local food hubs registered an increase of 150 percent over April - August 2020, ie during the peak months of the pandemic, reveals the report "Food Hub: an alternative model for the development of Romanian small and medium-sized farms" by the Romanian Center for European Policies (CRPE) and released on Thursday in an online debate.

The number of individual food hub customers has tripled in three years from 5,992 in 2018 to 17,720 in 2020. Also, the number of food hub producer members advanced 60 percent from 213 in 2018 to 342 in July 2021, in the context where the producers of this type of association do not compete with each other.

According to the report, after four years of operation, the four existing food hubs are currently delivering 4,000 different products and have seen an increase in turnover of up to 650,000 US dollars, reads a CRPE statement.

The Food Hub pilot program was launched in 2017 by the Romanian-American Foundation (RAF), with the aim of stimulating and supporting the competitiveness and development prospects of small and medium-sized farmers through a complementary approach to association through agricultural cooperatives.

The program included two rounds of financing (2017 - 2019 and 2020 - 2022), which have so far totaled more than 1.6 million dollars and four foundations that received support to set up and operate five food hubs in five areas of the country: Nod Verde - supported by the Civitas Foundation, in Cluj-Napoca; Cumsecade/Helyenvalo - supported by the Civitas Foundation, in Odorheiu Secuiesc; Nord Natural - supported by the Open Fields Foundation, in Campulung Moldovenesc; Roade si Merinde (Produce and Foodstuff) - supported by the Mediation and Community Security Center in Iasi; Merindar (Food Pantry) - supported by World Vision Romania in Crit (this project only promotes and markets honey and was part of the program until 2020).

The food hubs sell both fresh and processed products: fruits and vegetables, dairy, honey, meat and charcuterie products, bakery, herbs, oils, wine.

CRPE executive director Alexandra Popa's recommendation is for the future National Strategic Plan to include mechanisms to support the establishment of another 15 food hub centers.

Attending the online event, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Adrian Chesnoiu pointed out that local products do not reach the local consumer because the commercial networks hold over 80 percent of the food market.

The Romanian Center for European Policies was established in 2009 by a group of experts, with the aim of supporting Romania's role in Europe by providing public policy expertise. CRPE's mission is to promote Romania as a coherent and influential actor in setting the public agenda and in formulating policies as part of the EU, and continue Romania's Europeanization process through good governance, expertise and informed public debates.

The Romanian-American Foundation's mission is to promote and consolidate the conditions required by a sustainable market economy and a democratic society, which will ensure access to opportunities for all segments of Romania's population.
A new case of infection with the Omicron strain of the SARS-CoV-2 virus has been confirmed in Romania. The person in question is a 56-year-old man from Brasov, the Ministry of Health informs on Thursday,

According to the same source, the man is a member of the family of the passenger of the flight from South Africa that landed in Bucharest on November 30, confirmed with the Omicron strain on December 4.The man is isolated at home and his health is good. He is vaccinated with the complete vaccination scheme, says the Ministry of Health.So far, three cases of infection with the Omicron variant of the SARS-Cov-2 virus have been confirmed in Romania.
Police officers from the Weapons, Explosives and Dangerous Substances Directorate, under the supervision of the prosecutor from the Prosecutor's Office attached to the Bucharest District 2 Court, are conducting 103 house searches in Bucharest and in 36 counties on Thursday for non-compliance with the arms and ammunition regime and aggravated smuggling.

"The action aims to increase the degree of security and to remove from the illegal circuit some firearms, short and long, which would have been introduced on the Romanian territory through express courier companies," informs a General Inspectorate of the Romanian Police (IGPR) release sent to AGERPRES on Thursday.Between July and November 2021, police officers with the Directorate of Weapons, Explosives and Dangerous Substances documented the criminal activity of a legal person, based in Hungary, who, through a website, allegedly traded, on Romanian territory, to individuals, weapons from the category of those subject to authorization and the different types of ammunition related to them, without complying with the conditions of the law on the regime of weapons and ammunition.The activity was carried out by placing orders to the online store, and from the warehouse located on the territory of Hungary, the weapons and ammunition were delivered to the Romanian buyers, through courier companies that introduce the goods in the country, without declaring this fact to the customs authorities and without fulfilling the conditions required by the national legislation in this field.After the introduction of weapons and ammunition on the Romanian territory, the delivery to the final buyer would have been made through other express courier companies."Conducting the operations are more than 300 police officers specialising in investigations in weapons and ammunition offenses in the structures of weapons, explosives and dangerous substances, as well as forensic specialists and intervention and special action fighters," he said.The activities are taking place in the counties of Alba, Arad, Arges, Bacau, Bihor, Bistrita-Nasaud, Botosani, Brasov, Braila, Buzau, Caras-Severin, Calarasi, Cluj, Constanta, Covasna, Dambovita, Dolj, Iasi, Ilfov, Maramures, Mehedinti, Mures, Olt, Prahova, Satu Mare, Sibiu, Suceava, Teleorman, Timis, Tulcea, Valcea and Vrancea.
President Klaus Iohannis, on the occasion of the International Anti-Corruption Day, on Thursday, sent a message highlighting that Romania needs clear, predictable, just laws, for functional institutions, to be able to work at full capacity to sanction law breaches, agerpres reports.

"Strengthening the capacity of states to fight against corruption represents one of the defining challenges for current democracies. This phenomenon, which has crossed history and brought incalculable damage to the development of communities, has, in modernity, increasingly stronger effects. Corruption erodes societies and confidence in institutions, feeds poverty and inequalities, making public or private systems dysfunctional, it weakens state mechanisms and capacity to enforce laws and it distorts competition, directly affecting market economy. Fighting against this phenomenon is not only related to good governance, but is also directly linked with the future of our society, being, at the same time, a security risk," the head of state says in the message.He shows that most often corruption acts through diversion of public power and its employment in own or group benefit, pointing out that the sectors with significant financial stakes - public acquisitions, healthcare, education, justice - must, on a priority basis, be the ones where integrity is fully assumed in the organisational culture."Being aware and interiorising some values such as equity, justice, impartiality, honour, truth, professionalism, respect for rules are landmarks that must be transmitted inside families and in schools. They lay the foundation of some upright behaviours of citizens," the head of state also says.President Iohannis points out that the values that ground the draw-up of an anti-corruption normative framework are as topical and make up the moral plan guiding the development of Romania."The society's condemnation, the lack of confidence granting and the lack of vote granting to some corrupt politicians, the civic attitude in front of any deviation from the standards of European integrity are as important aspects. Romania needs clear, predictable, just laws, for functional institutions, to be able to work at full capacity to sanction law breaches, and, most of all, a joint effort," Iohannis stresses.In spite of the health, economic or political challenges, he adds, Romania has remained a reference point in Eastern Europe due to the progress made in the rule of law area, and this must continue."I remain firmly committed in the development effort of the democratic path of our country, and I am deeply convinced that we can build a better future, as long as we seek support in the solid foundation of European values, integrity, justice and zero tolerance for corruption," Iohannis concludes.
Authoritarian powers openly undermine global rules to increase power and influence, North Atlantic Alliance Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Thursday at the start of the anniversary edition of the Bucharest Forum 2021, event organised by the Aspen Institute Romania together with the Bucharest office of the German Marshall Fund of the US, agerpres reports.

Today, authoritarian powers are openly undermining global rules in order to increase their power and influence. They are trying to provoke our democracies in many areas: economic, technological, political and military. Russia is increasingly aggressive. It interferes in the affairs of other states. Russia is continuing its military consolidation, as we now see near the borders of Ukraine, as well as assertive behavior in the strategically important Black Sea region, said Jens Stoltenberg.According to him, on the other hand, China is investing heavily in new technologies and expanding its global economic and military footprint, including in cyberspace.He also drew attention on other global threats, such as increasingly frequent and sophisticated cyber attacks, the persistent terrorist threat, the proliferation of nuclear weapons and the impact of climate change.We have to deal with this new reality. And the best way is to do it together: Europe and North America, together, in NATO. That's why NATO leaders took decisions at the June summit in Brussels. intended to strengthen transatlantic unity, he said.Stoltenberg noted that the NATO 2030 agenda aims to ensure security in a more unpredictable world and to invest in the latest technologies, from artificial intelligence to biotechnology and quantum computers.According to him, another decision taken at the Brussels summit was to ensure a more secure infrastructure and supply chains.As for NATO's new strategic concept, Jens Stoltenberg said it would allow for a reflection on how the world has changed in the last decade, but also a reaffirmation of the importance of transatlantic security and defense relations.At the Madrid Summit in 2022, allied leaders will support this new concept. (...) I rely on Romania, as a determined and committed ally, to continue to contribute to this process. Your voice matters. In preparing the Madrid Summit, we will continue to work together to keep NATO strong, Stoltenberg said.
The Ministry of Education informs that 76 cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection were reported on Thursday, by 19:00, following the administration of rapid non-invasive, saliva-based tests.

Of these, four have already been confirmed by PCR tests, three have been invalidated, and 69 have not yet been confirmed/ invalidated, the Ministry of Education states in a statement sent to AGERPRES.

In other news, the Ministry of Education has announced that it will seek further clarification on the delivery of 7 million saliva tests.

"Regarding the request addressed to DSU/IGSU by the Ministry of Education regarding the test supply schedule, through the answer communicated this evening we were informed that 'the quantity of 8,000,000 pieces was received, only 7,000,000 pieces remaining to be delivered, because the suppliers of DDS Diagnostic SRL and ISSOSOCIAL MEDIA SRL have not fulfilled their contractual obligations'. In the answer received, we were not informed of the datewhen the 7,000,000 tests will be delivered. As such, the Ministry of Education will request further clarifications on this issue," the cited reads reads.

The Ministry of Education reiterates that "it has no competences/responsibilities in deciding on data evaluated and established by the authority in charge of carrying out the public procurement procedure, respectively contracting and managing the related budget, not being able to decide in any way on issues that regard the supplier companies, the purchase prices or other details related to the organization of the tender, nor on some issues related to the conclusion/execution of some contracts in which the Ministry of Education has no quality".
Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova Natalia Gavrilita on Thursday stated, after the meeting with her Romanian counterpart, Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca, that Romania stood by the side of Moldova in the most difficult moments in the last couple of years - during the COVID-19 pandemic and the energy crisis, agerpres reports.

"It is a great honour for me to be the first Prime Minister you welcome at the Victoria Palace for an official visit. I believe that this fact reflects the special privileged relationship existing between the Republic of Moldova and Romania, a relationship based on language, culture and community. I am also pleased to have the opportunity to visit Bucharest just two weeks after President Maia Sandu was here, when the new Roadmap on Priority Areas was signed. We have a historic chance to transform the language community into a community of great projects to the benefit of the people on both banks of the Prut River, by building new bridges, both symbolical and concrete ones, whether we are talking about the interconnection in the energy field, about connecting the transport infrastructure in the Republic of Moldova to European networks, or facilitating telecommunications between the two shores," Natalia Gavrilita told a joint press statement with Romanian PM Nicolae Ciuca.She appreciated that a better economic and commercial integration, and in the field of infrastructure, of Romania and the Republic of Moldova, would be a guarantee of an accelerated integration of her country in the European Union."Romania has stood by the side of Moldova during the most difficult times of recent years: during the COVID-19 pandemic and the energy crisis, that is. I would like to take this opportunity to voice our sincere thanks for Romania's generous solidarity with our citizens, who received hundreds of thousands of doses of COVID vaccines, or doctors in the Republic of Moldova, who received protective equipment and other materials when they could hardly be found on international markets. So it was the normal thing to do for us to show solidarity when we had that opportunity as well," said Gavrilita.She also mentioned that, in the context of the energy crisis, "Romania has once again jumped to the aid of the Republic of Moldova" through the gas delivered in October."Also, thanks to the supply of the natural gas transmission pipeline Iasi - Ungheni - Chisinau, the Republic of Moldova will be able to take important steps in ensuring independence and energy security," added Natalia Gavrilita.The Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova said that her country counts on Romania's help and on fulfilling the Government's agenda to transform Moldova into a modern European state, "in which the law and the rule of law should be at the forefront and work to the best interest of the citizens and not for the sake of particular and obscure interests."She also mentioned that the Republic of Moldova wants more investors from Romania, stating that an absolute priority is to achieve by 2024 the interconnection of energy systems between the two countries, the construction of roads linking the regions on both banks of the Prut, the improvement railway connections between Bucharest and Chisinau.She also said that, as the pandemic situation allows, she wants as many flights as possible to land in Chisinau from Romania.Prime Minister Gavrilita also referred to the topic related to mobile phone tariffs.Gavrilita proposed Prime Minister Ciuca the organization of a joint meeting of the governments of the Republic of Moldova and Romania at the beginning of next year.
The Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova, Natalia Gavrilita, will pay an official visit to Bucharest on Thursday, agerpres reports.

The Moldovan official will be welcomed with military honours, at the Victoria Palace, by his counterpart, Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca.At the end of the official meeting, the two prime ministers will make joint press statements.Natalia Gavrilita will later have a meeting with the President of the Chamber of Deputies, Marcel Ciolacu, at the Parliament House.During the afternoon, the head of the Government of Chisinau will be welcomed by President Klaus Iohannis at the Cotroceni Presidential Palace.
Most new cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection compared to the last report were registered in Bucharest - 116 and in the counties of Brasov - 68, Cluj - 64 and Arad - 51, Strategic Communication Group (GCS) informed on Thursday.

The fewest new cases of COVID-19 were in the counties of Giurgiu - 4, Ialomita and Mehedinti - 5, Bistrita-Nasaud and Gorj - 6.The municipality of Bucharest has an incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infections of 1.17 cases per thousand inhabitants, decreasing compared to the previous days.Arad County ranks first in terms of the incidence of infections cumulated at 14 days, with 2.38 cases per thousand inhabitants, this being the only one that is still in the yellow zone.
The anticorruption fight should be a collective answer, seeing the participation of the entire society, said Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca, on Thursday, in a message addressed on the occasion of the International Anti-Corruption Day, agerpres reports.

"December 9 is the International Anti-corruption Day. This day reminds us of the fact that Romania has an international obligation, assumed as a democratic state, to submit all efforts to limit the phenomenon of corruption at the level of society. At the same time, however, this day represents much more for Romania as a rightful member of the European Union and NATO. We are a country that had the chance 30 years ago to leave behind a criminal communist regime and to commit to the irreversible road of Western democracy. For this reason, the anticorruption fight in Romania is not only an obligation to fulfill, resulting from European commitments. The anticorruption fight is not only an element of the rule of law, without which the latter couldn't exist. The anticorruption fight is not only a collection of laws and local, national, regional and international institutions. The anticorruption fight is all this and something more: a belief shared at the level of the entire society that Romania's path cannot exist outside Western democracies and the European and transatlantic democratic values," said Nicolae Ciuca.Corruption is a complex phenomenon, which affects the destiny and welfare of citizens, the activity of companies, institutions and even states, the Prime Minister added."That's why, the anticorruption fight should be a collective answer, seeing the participation of the entire society, the business milieu, non-governmental organizations, as well as all state institutions, in partnership with the regional and international organizations," Ciuca emphasized.Furthermore, Ciuca pointed out that the Government of Romania has the role of managing efficiently the Executive response mechanisms to the phenomenon of corruption, in full accordance with the pro-European and transatlantic value of a constitutional democracy based on the rule of law.
Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca received on Thursday at the Victoria Governmental Palace, Natalia Gavrilita, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova, on an official visit to Bucharest, within a ceremony with the guard of honor and the performance of national anthems of the two states, agerpres reports.

The two prime ministers will hold an official meeting, at the end of which they will make joint press statements.The Chief Executive of Chisinau will later have a meeting with the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Marcel Ciolacu, at Parliament.During the afternoon, Natalia Gavrilita will be welcomed by President Klaus Iohannis at the Cotroceni Presidential Palace.
President Klaus Iohannis reconfirmed Romania's commitment to support the Republic of Moldova in the processes of transformation, modernization and implementation of reforms, on the occasion of the reception on Thursday, at Cotroceni Presidential Palace, of Moldovan Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilita, on an official visit to our country.

"The Romanian President recalled the recent discussions with the President of the Republic of Moldova, Maia Sandu, and reaffirmed our country's commitment to give full support to the processes of transformation, modernization and implementation of reforms in areas such as energy, transport, information society, green transition, justice, education, in the spirit of the Strategic Partnership for European integration," shows the Presidential Administration.

According to the cited source, the head of state noted the decisions made by the new Government in Chisinau, which send encouraging signals and indicate the will to advance some reforms meant to bring real benefits to the whole society.

"Romania's President emphasized, among other things, the need to create the necessary conditions for attracting investments, including Romanian ones, and to improve the business environment," the Presidential Administration added.

During talks, it was mentioned the next joint Government meeting which will have to focus, with decisions and concrete solutions for cooperation, on the common priority areas and projects.

President Klaus Iohannis also welcomed Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilita's visit to Bucharest in "the context of the recent sustained and meaningful bilateral political dialogue, which provides an opportunity for an applied and comprehensive approach to the sectoral agenda, as well as the establishment of solid benchmarks for advancing common priority projects."
President Klaus Iohannis participates on Thursday in the Summit for Democracy, organized by the President of the United States of America, Joseph R. Biden, in videoconference format, according to the Presidential Administration, agerpres reports.

Also, the head of state will have, on Thursday evening, a telephone conversation with the President of the USA, in Bucharest 9 (B9) format.On Wednesday, the White House announced that US President Joe Biden would hold consultations on Thursday with nine Eastern European NATO members, including Romania, regarding with summit with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin and fears of an invasion of Ukraine.Joe Biden will have a telephone conversation with the leaders of the Bucharest Nine Group, made up of NATO allies on the eastern flank, to summarize the meeting with President Putin, to listen to their views on the current security situation and to stress the United States' commitment to transatlantic security, a release informs.The Bucharest Nine (B9) Group includes Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Hungary.This call will come after a scheduled telephone conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who is seeking help from the United States to avoid what he sees as threats of Russian invasion. Diplomatic tensions and pressures are mounting as Washington and its allies accuse Moscow of deploying tens of thousands of troops to the Ukrainian border to attack the country. Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin discussed the burning issue in their two-hour virtual summit on Tuesday, according to AFP.Excluding for now any military intervention in the event of an invasion of Ukraine, Joe Biden warned on Wednesday that a Russian attack in Ukraine would lead to a strengthening of the US military presence in the territories of the members of the North Atlantic Alliance in Eastern Europe.For his part, the Kremlin leader defended Russia's right to "protect its security," believing that letting NATO approach its borders without reacting would be "criminal."During the summit with the Washington administration leader, Vladimir Putin, demanded especially "certain legal guarantees" to prevent Ukraine from joining NATO.
Romania needs solidarity today to help low-income Romanians get over the rise in prices, Finance Minister Adrian Caciu wrote on Facebook on Thursday.

"I sincerely believe that Romania needs solidarity today to help low-income Romanians get over the rise in prices, especially those in energy. That is why my colleagues in PSD [the Social Democratic Party] and I cared so much for that social package applicable as of January 1, which provides for the increase of the minimum pension by 200 lei, the pension point by 10 percent and the minimum wage to 2,550 lei. We want to continue to take measures capable of protecting the Romanians who have the highest need, but we will do this in parallel with stimulating the economy," Caciu underlined.

"I met with business representatives today to make it clear that, as we promised, we will build the 2022 budget without introducing new taxes. I know that the key rules in relation to the economy are fiscal-budgetary predictability and dialogue with the socioeconomic environment. Consequently, any analysis and modification of the fiscal regime will be made in a predictable way, only following a dialogue with the private environment," mentioned the relevant minister.

Last but not least, the head of Finance said that the 2022 budget will financially support all Romanian producers, because, says Caciu, "I believe this is the right way to restore Romanians' confidence in the economy and in the future!".
Romania supports the European path of the Republic of Moldova and all those projects that will ensure a better collaboration between the two states, in the spirit of European values, Senate President Florin Citu said on Thursday at the meeting with the Prime Minister of the Government of the Republic of Moldova Natalia Gavrilita, on an official visit to Bucharest.

According to a Senate press release sent to AGERPRES, the talks focused on continuing the sustained and meaningful political dialogue of late as well as on current issues of bilateral cooperation, for an applied and comprehensive approach to the sectoral agenda and on establishing solid benchmarks for advancing common priority projects.

Florin Citu expressed the Senate's full support in the processes of transformation, modernization and implementation of reforms in the Republic of Moldova, expressing his readiness to convey Romania's experience and legislative expertise, especially in terms of justice reform, fight against corruption, supporting the business environment.

According to the cited source, Florin Citu praised the determination and solid political will of the Republic of Moldova for the rapid implementation of the reforms on the European agenda, necessary for the well-being of citizens, for the modernization and consolidation of the country's stability and (...) thanked for effective cooperation between the two states in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

On behalf of the Senate, the meeting of Florin Citu - Natalia Gavrilita was also attended by Vice President Robert Cazanciuc (PSD), Senators Anca Dragu (USR), Catalin-Daniel Fenechiu (PNL), Quaestor Eugen Tapu Nazare (PNL) and Secretary General Ciprian Bucur.

The delegation of the Republic of Moldova included Sergiu Litvinenco, Minister of Justice, and Veaceslav Dobinda, Secretary of State with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration.
The Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Marcel Ciolacu, said on Thursday, after a meeting with the Prime Minister of the Government of the Republic of Moldova, Natalia Gavrilita, that he had seen much determination at the Moldovan official regarding the implementation of the reform programme in this country, agerpres reports.

"Today I had a very pleasant meeting with the Prime Minister of the Government of the Republic of Moldova, Mrs. Natalia Gavrilita. I saw a lot of determination from the Prime Minister for the implementation of the reformist programme promoted by President Maia Sandu. This gives us hope that the Republic of Moldova will progress consistently in terms of supporting the European agenda!" Marcel Ciolacu wrote on Facebook.The Prime Minister of the Government of the Republic of Moldova, Natalia Gavrilita, makes an official visit to Bucharest on Thursday.
Boebert was cavalier when asked about the Democrats' press conference.

I am aware that on Wednesday at 2pm in studio A, some people did something, she said in a one-sentence statement, which referenced the time and location of the press conference calling for her punishment.

While Pelosi has been mum about whether she will punish Boebert, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, the No. 5 Democrat, predicted Wednesday that at some point, the House as a whole is going to have to act.

It would be a constructive thing if my friends on the other side of the aisle would handle their own business in terms of the out-of-control members," said Jeffries of New York, who is the Democratic caucus chairman. But we havent seen that level of accountability so far."

The uproar over Boebert's remarks erupted late last month, when the first of two videos surfaced in which she compares Omar to a terrorist. Boebert has also repeatedly referred to Omar as belonging to a jihad squad, as well as black-hearted and evil.

In one of the videos, Boebert claimed that a Capitol Police officer approached her with fret on his face shortly before she stepped aboard a House elevator and the doors closed.
Military officials say they used DNA and anthropological tests, as well as reviewed circumstantial evidence, to identify Bazzell and 76 other missing service members whose remains were in the boxes.

More than 7,500 Americans remain unaccounted for from the Korean War. The military has identified the remains of more than 600 Americans who went missing during the war and returned their bodies to their families since 1982, officials say.

Bazzell was among more than 1,000 U.S. soldiers and Marines killed in the fighting near the Chosin Reservoir from the end of November to mid-December in 1950, according to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency. They were among a United Nations force of about 30,000 soldiers and Marines that was overwhelmed by an estimated 120,000 Chinese soldiers who flooded into North Korea during the war, the agency says.

Guliuzza has warm memories of her brother, who was nicknamed Benny. She said he was just a sweet, sweet boy" who would wake her up late at night when he got home from his bowling alley job to tell her he had candy.

She said he voluntarily enlisted in the Army to the dismay of their mother, Helen Bazzell, who was never the same after he went missing.
Any given website, Chhabra said, might use several dozen of those individual services, each of which must work for the site to function. It is difficult to make a backup on another cloud provider because some services are proprietary to AWS and some work very differently at another provider.

Its like saying, Can I put an SUV body on a sedan chassis? Maybe, if everything is all the same and lines up. But there is no guarantee, Chhabra said.

Another issue that makes it hard for businesses to diversify is that AWS makes it relatively cheap to send data into its cloud, but then charges higher prices for egress fees to get data out of its cloud to take to a rival.

That amplifies issues like this (outage) when they happen, said Matthew Prince, chief executive of internet security firm Cloudflare Inc. A more resilient cloud is one where egress fees are eliminated and customers can be multi-cloud. I think that would actually increase the faith customers have in the cloud.

Dependencies in one region
Carvalho attended Broward Community College and graduated in 1990 from Barry University, a small Catholic school near Miami, with a biology degree. He became a high school science and math teacher before quickly moving up the administrative ranks, becoming a principal before moving to the district office where he was the districts spokesman and an assistant superintendent before becoming superintendent.

His 2008 hiring in Miami revealed that Carvalho had been exchanging explicit emails with a former Miami Herald reporter. He denied an affair, but conceded that the exchanges were inappropriate.

He earned numerous accolades during his tenure, including being named Superintendent of the Year in 2014 by the national superintendents association. In 2018, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio named him as education chancellor of the nation's largest school district, but Carvalho backed out of the deal the next day. He said Thursday that New Yorks lure was that it was where he arrived in the United States, but it became apparent quickly that it did not have all the elements necessary for him to succeed. He did not elaborate.
ST. LOUIS  Hissing and huffing, the little locomotive brashly named Pacific eased its way from the cheering crowd.

Big shots on board waved heartily from two passenger cars. The train clacked gingerly along new rails, heading west toward the unspoiled valley of the River Des Peres.

It reached track's end at Cheltenham, a village at today's Hampton and Manchester avenues. Everyone got off and enjoyed a country dinner and boastful toasts. "A new epoch in the history of our state," crowed The Republican, a major city newspaper.

It was big talk for a five-mile ride.

The first passenger train west of the Mississippi River began its portentous jaunt at 1 p.m. on Dec. 9, 1852, from a station near 14th Street and Chouteau Avenue. The Pacific Railroad Co., St. Louis' bid to reach the Pacific Ocean by rail, was building its way westward with dreams bigger than progress.

Workers had finished the track to Cheltenham only days before the first ride. The following May, their tracks reached Kirkwood, named for chief construction engineer James Kirkwood. Cost overruns, a national financial panic and the Civil War would delay completion to Kansas City until September 1865.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP)  George Bochetto, a prominent Philadelphia lawyer and Republican whose cases have often landed in the public spotlight, said Thursday that he is seriously considering running for Pennsylvania's open U.S. Senate seat.

In a brief interview, Bochetto, 69, said he is looking at it very, very seriously and its very likely that he will decide to run. Bochetto has considered running for mayor many times in the heavily Democratic city of Philadelphia, and ran briefly in 1999 before ending his candidacy.

In August, Bochetto won a judge's ruling preventing the city of Philadelphia from removing a 144-year-old statue of Christopher Columbus in a dispute that highlighted tensions over views of exploration, Italian American history and colonialism that changed the lives and cultures of native people.

Bochetto also helped write the defense brief in former President Donald Trump's second impeachment trial earlier this year, he said.
ST. LOUIS  Federal prosecutors on Thursday added charges against a St. Louis man accused of a fatal carjacking that killed a 72-year-old man in September.

Carmain Milton, 48, was indicted in U.S. District Court in St. Louis Wednesday on two counts of carjacking and one count of carjacking resulting in death.

Prosecutors say that on Sept. 21, Milton stole a 1998 Toyota Camry. On Sept. 28, he took a 2016 Audi A6 and a 2004 Honda Element. During the Honda carjacking, Chen-Hsyong Yang, 72, of Brentwood, died.

Milton was already facing robbery and homicide charges in St. Louis Circuit Court related to the Sept. 28 carjackings.

Charging documents say he robbed two women at gunpoint just before 1:30 a.m. in the 900 block of South Sarah Street near the Grove and took their belongings and the Audi.

Just before noon, Milton stole Yang's Honda in the 300 block of Boyle Avenue and then hit Yang with the vehicle as he was leaving, the charges say.
She said the parents planned to walk their children to their classrooms but were met at the front door by an administrator and were turned away.

I feel like we have taken enough precautions within our household, within our neighborhood, within our city and with the county, she said. Were not asking for them to completely demolish masks and the mandate; were just simply asking that we as parents have that option for our children.

There are some students who dont feel comfortable wearing them, Hellwig said. There are some who just dont like it.

Hellwig said she spoke to the principal at Geggie on Thursday afternoon and was told that her children were allowed to stay in class that day without masks, but that they would have to go to the library for most of the school day Friday if they were to continue attending school without a mask.

She said her children would decide whether to wear a mask moving forward.
What they so hastily and stealthily did in Belavezha was like a plot to kill an injured but still living person by dismembering it, wrote Gorbachev, now 90. The striving for power and personal interests prevailed over any legal arguments or doubts.

For Shushkevich, however, "It wasn't a tragedy at all!

We decided to shut the prison of nations," he added. "There was nothing to feel contrition for.

Shushkevich argued that he and the other leaders saw no point in Gorbachev's efforts to keep the remaining 12 Soviet republics together. The Baltic republics of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia already had seceded and the failed August coup against Gorbachev by hard-line members of the Communist Party had eroded his authority and encouraged other republics to seek independence.

All versions of the union treaty boiled down to the restoration of the old ways or to Gorbachev's proposal of a new structure where he still would be the boss, Shushkevich said.
In the sixth county, Spalding, the parties still choose two members each, but the fifth member is now chosen by local judges. (It used to be decided by a coin flip.) Those judges tend to be politically conservative; they appointed a white Republican to replace a Black Democrat on the election board, giving Republicans a 3-2 majority.

In Morgan County, the majority-Republican county commission reconstituted its election board, ousting two outspoken Black Democrats. In Troup County, a Black Democratic member claims the board shake-up was aimed at ousting her after she fought to increase voting access.

Reuters could not determine the exact split of Democrats and Republicans in the five counties that handed control to county commissions before and after their restructurings. Thats because board members party affiliation is not public information in Georgia, and board representatives declined to identify their allegiances.

Restricting access

The county election boards have broad authority over voter access, such as polling locations and early-voting procedures. They also have considerable sway over post-election provisional-ballot tallies, audits and recounts.
WASHINGTON (AP)  The head of Instagram on Wednesday met with deep skepticism on Capitol Hill over new measures the social media platform is adopting to protect young users.

Adam Mosseri appeared before a Senate panel and faced off with lawmakers angry over revelations of how the photo-sharing platform can harm some young users. Senators are also demanding the company commit to making changes and increase its transparancy.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., who heads the Senate Commerce subcommittee on consumer protection, dismissed as a public relations tactic some safety measures announced by the popular photo-sharing platform.

I believe that the time for self-policing and self-regulation is over, Blumenthal said. Self-policing depends on trust. Trust is over.

Under sharp questioning by senators of both parties, Mosseri defended the companys conduct and the efficacy of its new safety measures. He challenged the assertion that Instagram has been shown by research to be addictive for young people. Instagram, which along with Facebook is part of Meta Platforms Inc., has an estimated 1 billion users of all ages.
The French leader's news conference about the EU presidency was only the time Macron appeared before reporters at the Elysee presidential palace to answer a broad range of questions. His general news conference took place in April 2019 following the antigovernment yellow vest protests against social and economic injustice.

Macron, who was elected in 2017, has yet to formally declare whether he will seek a second term. Earlier this week, on a visit to central France, the 43-year-old centrist president declined to present himself as a candidate.

Good try, he told reporters when asked about recent election polls. Im first going to try to do the task which I have been given, and we still have a lot of work to do to fight the epidemic.

Frances presidency of the EU could provide a platform for Macron's campaign but also complicate it if the race is focused primarily on domestic issues such as the French economy, security and immigration.

Macron leader would be able to use the presidency to influence the EU-wide decisions, yet the bloc's complex and consensual decision-making process might play against him and produce few concrete actions before Aprils election.
Russia recently revealed that the experience of Russian pilots and ground forces officers had proved to be invaluable in giving 90 percent of Russian military pilots combat experience in Syria. Since 2015 many pilots have flown over a hundred combat sorties in Syria and a few over 400. This would account for so many Russian aircraft types showing up in Syria, sometimes in small numbers for short periods. Russia had earlier revealed that they combat tested a lot of new equipment and weapons in Syria, enabling the new gear to use a sales inducement of combat tested.

Russian aircraft flew over 40,000 sorties in Syria so far, so there was plenty of work for Russian pilots to get some combat experience. This was even though most of the sorties did not involve engaging the enemy. In Syria that meant lots of reconnaissance sorties and combat sorties where there was no combat, as in nothing to bomb or weather that prevented such attacks. The combat experience of the pilots wasnt all that dangerous because there were no enemy aircraft and the Islamic terrorists and irregulars below only had short range anti-aircraft weapons like heavy machine-guns and some portable heat-seeking surface to air missiles. Most of the combat experience came in the form of finding designated targets and bombing them, often with unguided bombs that had to be dropped from low altitudes.

Both pilots and ground troops served in Syria more than once, usually short periods, like three to six months at a time. Since Russia has been in Syria for six years, a growing number of Russian pilots and ground forces officers have served more than one tour.

Russia also confirmed that promising ground forces officers were also sent to Syria for some combat experience and currently most of the commanders and chiefs of staff of units from battalion size up to the divisions, armies and military districts have had some experience in Syria. So far nearly 70,000 Russian troops have served in Syria, many more than once. For the ground force officers the experience often meant going into action as advisors to Syrian officers. This was often in the form of Russian officers leading by example because most Syrian officers had become reluctant to lead their troops into combat due to heavy casualties the Syrian army has suffered since 2011. Russia special operations officers got the most combat experience because they led Russia spetsnaz commandos on combat missions and took a few casualties.
Retired Lt. Gen. Harry Wyatt III presents Lt. Col. Michael Coloney with the Distinguished Flying Cross at the Tulsa Air National Guard Base in Oklahoma on Dec. 5, 2021. Coloney received the medal for his heroism during a mission in Afghanistan in 2018. (Rebecca Imwalle/Oklahoma Air National Guard)

New details of a harrowing 12-hour battle in Afghanistan emerged this week as an F-16 pilot was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for helping to repel an elite Taliban unit during the deadly firefight.

Dozens gathered Sunday in the main hangar of the Oklahoma Air National Guards 138th Fighter Wing to honor Lt. Col. Michael Fist Coloney, more than three years after the actions that earned him the nations fourth-highest medal given for valor.

In an awards ceremony speech, Coloney called April 30, 2018, a very stressful day.

I could have used some Gold Bond powder, he added.

Lt. Col. Michael Coloney speaks at a ceremony at the Tulsa Air National Guard Base, Okla., on Dec. 5, 2021. The actions Coloney took on April 30, 2018, in Afghanistan earned him the Distinguished Flying Cross. (Rebecca Imwalle/Oklahoma Air National Guard)

On that day, Coloney provided five hours of dynamic and concentrated-danger close attacks to support embattled special operations troops fighting alongside Afghan counterparts, Col. Ryan Coma Jones said.

Commanders on the ground later attested that Coloneys actions that day saved American lives.

But there was no ignoring the fact that the awards ceremony came just three months after the U.S. withdrew from Afghanistan as it fell back into Taliban hands.

It certainly wasnt the outcome that any of us had hoped for, that we worked for all those years, Brig. Gen. Derek OMalley said in recorded remarks played at the ceremony. But honoring Fist today, its good for us. It reminds us that what we did there mattered.

At Joness urging, the general had helped push through Coloneys award package, which had fallen through the cracks when unit commanders swapped out sometime earlier.

It was one of many awards packages OMalley saw in the final days of the airwing, but Jones knew that this wasnt a typical combat sortie, the general said. Both he and Jones are fighter pilots themselves.

Coloney was serving with the 125th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron on its 12th F-16 combat deployment to Bagram in the spring of 2018, a time of fierce fighting.

But when Coloney awoke before dawn on that April day, he was merely expecting to take his wingman on an orientation flight, Coloney said in his speech. It was the wingmans first combat mission.

Within 30 minutes, theyd be called to support ground troops in a firefight, and within two hours his wingman would drop ordnance in combat for the first time, a 560-pound GBU-38 guided munition.

The coalition forces on the ground had cleared the Pashakari village in Kapisa province the day before and set up in three compounds, Jones said.

But then some 80 members of the Talibans elite Red Unit and Haqqani network surrounded them in a retaliatory attack, first with fire from heavy machine guns, AK-47s, snipers and rockets.

A second wave maneuvered to within 3 feet of the main compound and began throwing grenades over the walls.

A senior airman attached to the Special Forces team called for lethal air support, Jones said. Coloney and his wingman were the closest to the fight.

But because the F-16 pilots hadnt previously been tasked with supporting them or received mission materials, they first had to get situational awareness, and quickly.

Complicating that were ineffective communications streams to the ground forces, Jones said, so Coloney made several low passes to break up the Taliban attack and get a better idea of friendly positions.

Coloney then made a high-angle strafing run, giving him time to dial in on the Taliban positions, two of which he and his wingman then destroyed with bombs.

Members of the 138th Fighter Wing attend a Distinguished Flying Cross ceremony at the Tulsa Air National Guard Base in Oklahoma on Dec. 5, 2021. The medal was awarded to Lt. Col. Michael Coloney. (Rebecca Imwalle/Oklahoma Air National Guard)

The strikes gave coalition forces the chance to regroup. Meanwhile, a new onslaught of enemy fire was preventing medical evacuation helicopters from retrieving at least eight wounded troops.

Coloney set up for more strafing runs and coordinated with attack helicopters to provide cover for the pinned-down friendly forces.

Justin Prack, the combat controller, who is now a staff sergeant, then told the pilot theyd lose radio contact when some of the troops moved through 100 meters of enemy fields of fire to consolidate their positions.

Prack designated anybody moving toward them as hostile and gave Coloney clearance to engage them so long as he did so outside danger-close range for his weapons.

For the next two hours, Coloney worked with the reconnaissance aircraft to identify enemy positions and repeatedly strafe within the populated village.

During the firefight, Army Spc. Gabriel D. Conde of Colorado was killed and one other American soldier was wounded.

But Coloneys overwatch and coordination when they all moved into one compound prevented more casualties and allowed for resupply and evacuation, giving them a pathway home that distressing day, Jones said.

Several Afghans were also killed or injured, officials with the U.S.-led NATO coalition said in the days after the battle, though military officials declined to provide details about the operation at that time.

A father of two, Coloney enlisted in the Oklahoma Air National Guard in 2005 and was commissioned the following year.

Hes clocked over 2,200 hours in the F-16 and is a third-generation fighter pilot. His grandfather flew P-51 Mustangs over Europe during World War II.

Coloney thanked his father, who was in the audience at the awards ceremony, for instilling in him the fighter pilot ethos. The elder Coloney flew F-4s out of Hahn Air Base in Germany and F-5s as an aggressor pilot out of RAF Alconbury in England.

He also thanked Prack, the combat controller, noting that they knew each other only by callsigns the first time they met.

While Prack was dodging bullets and grenades, Coloney was over a mile high above him, he said, but we had instant and absolute trust in each other.

Unlike most friendships, we didnt have the time to get to know each other, he said. At the time, we only cared about making a bad situation better.
Five service members won the XVIII Airborne Corps Dragons Lair, Episode 6 on Monday, Dec. 6, 2021. These troops created three innovations chosen by a panel of technology experts from the civilian industry and Defense Department. The winners were: Air Force 1st Lt. Justin OBrien, Army 2nd Lt. Christian Lance Relleve, Sgt. 1st Class Keenan Millay, Staff Sgt. Carter Casey, and Spc. Johnathan King. Dragons Lair was developed to encourage creative thinking across the ranks that could benefit the military. (Marygian Barnes/U.S. Army)

An Air Force lieutenants cooling apparatus for body armor, an armored vehicle safety system built by three enlisted soldiers, and an algorithm to predict a buildings internal layout from an Army lieutenant captured a Fort Bragg innovation panels attention this week.

The trio of concepts pitched by service members tied Monday for top honors at the 18th Airborne Corps sixth iteration of its Dragons Lair innovation competition at the North Carolina Army post. The winners were announced Wednesday by Corps officials, who for the first time opened the competition to troops across all the militarys services.

At least five of the seven concepts pitched Monday were highly rated by the panel of military officials and civilians from the technology industry, said Army Col. Joe Buccino, the 18th Airborne Corps spokesman who produces Dragons Lair. He said the program proves that service members often have the best ideas for helping the military advance.

This episode saw a wide diversity of innovations  from augmented reality to machine learning to welding of equipment already available in inventory, Buccino said. This was the first time weve had three winning innovations. This was also the first time we had a truly joint Dragons Lair: We had innovations from the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Army Reserve.

The winners received an Army Meritorious Service Medal, a four-day pass, and admittance to an Army school of their choice. Most importantly, the winners said their innovations will be moved toward further evaluation and, perhaps, implementation across the military.

Cooling body armor

Air Force 1st Lt. Justin OBrien calls his invention AccliMate Armor Cooling and he said the apparatus could help solve an age-old problem for the military  heat injuries as troops spend hours in high temperatures often wearing full body armor.

OBrien said he initially came up with the concept before he commissioned as a security forces officer while serving as an enlisted Osprey aerial gunner in some locations where temperatures can get very high.

During long missions wearing body armor, OBrien said he would often wonder whether there was a way to move cool water from the CamelBak water bladder strapped to the back of his body armor into the inside of his vest.

When I deployed Id often fill my CamelBak with frozen water bottles and as they would melt Id drink it, he said. On the outside of that ballistic plate its not doing anything to cool me down, but if I can route some of that water inside, maybe it could cool me while it melts, I thought.

That eventually led him to build his prototype.

The apparatus weighs just 15 ounces, OBrien said. It connects a service members water bladder to a cooling pad on the inside of the vests back using tubes and a battery-powered motor that pressurizes and moves the water from the bladder into the pad and back again, cooling the inside of the vest, he explained.

OBrien said research has showed the apparatus can cool the inside temperature of a ballistic vest about 30 degrees with ice inside the water bladder. It can run for up to 14 hours.

He said he hopes his winning prototype can be perfected and mass produced to help the Defense Department solve the heat injury issue that it has cost more than $1 billion since 2008.

It started off as just kind of an experiment, and now I just kind of hope they can take this and run with it and help solve this problem, OBrien said.

M88 gunner safety restraint

When Army Sgt. 1st Class Keenan Millay arrived to his new unit at Fort Knox, Ky., about a year ago, he noticed one of his platoons vehicles had no safety restraint for a soldier in its gunner hatch.

The noncommissioned officer knew from experience that it was a potentially deadly oversight, and he set out with two other members of his platoon to develop a safety restraint for the M88A1 armored recovery vehicles gunner. While Millay was serving in the Fort Benning, Ga.-based 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, a lieutenant in his company was killed when his armored vehicle, a Stryker, rolled over during training. The officer was not wearing a restraint system while in the gunners hatch, Millay said.

Thats something Ill never, ever forget in my life, he said. So after that happened it became personal to me that vehicles in my platoon were going to have this system, and if I have gunners in vehicles theyre going to be using it. Its just got to happen.

Millay worked with Staff Sgt. Carter Casey and Spc. Jonathan King  fellow vehicle maintenance members of his platoon in the 19th Engineer Battalion at Fort Knox  to develop the seatbelt-like restraint system, which he said ensures a gunners safety in the event of a rollover or wreck while not restricting their abilities to fire mounted weapons from the vehicle.

In order to add the restraint system to the M88A1, the soldiers had to find a way to mount the vehicles .50 cal. machine gun more than 14 inches farther from the gunner hatch, Millay said. They built a metal extension, which allows the gunner to use the weapon while wearing their safety harness, he said.

Millay said he hoped the Army would implement the system into all of its M88A1s and any other vehicles that lack a gunner restraint system.

Winning this competition  thats awesome, and we appreciate all the recognition, he said. The most important thing to us is, you know, installing the systems in the other M88s across the Army and preventing further casualties.

Building an algorithm

Army 2nd Lt. Christian Lance Relleve, an Army reservist who is an architect in civilian life, built an algorithm that uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to predict the inside floor plans of a building based on its outside architecture.

Relleve, a signals officers, said while studying geospatial intelligence in college that he learned of the challenges military commanders had planning urban operations because of the difficulty navigating unknown urban terrain. His program combines his background in architecture with his interest in geospatial intelligence, he said.

I wanted to develop a formula or a guide for staff planners or commanders to gain confidence in conducting urban missions, Relleve said. They can use this tool to rehearse and plan prior to a mission.

The ability to rehearse an operation knowing what the inside of the building is most likely to look like could be time- and life-saving for service members, he said. It could also help planners cut down on collateral damage or limit civilian casualties, the lieutenant added.

The program uses known data about buildings, like external materials, shape, architecture style and location among others to determine the most likely internal floor plans, according to Relleves pitch. The algorithm takes into consideration engineering, architectural theory and geospatial intelligence, he said.

Relleve said it could also prove useful to other organizations, such as the FBI and CIA. He told the contest panel that he could develop the product for the military within about one year.

The lieutenant said he did not expect to win Dragons Lair, especially considering the other ideas pitched Monday. He primarily just wanted the opportunity to share his idea with military decision-makers.

It was hard to find the right resource to share this idea with [the Defense Department], Relleve said. Im glad Dragons Lair was there to give this opportunity to pitch this.
Buy Photo The Irbil International Airport in the capital of Iraqs Kurdistan region is pictured here on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2020, hours after an Iranian missile attack. (Chad Garland/Stars and Stripes)

WASHINGTON (Tribune News Service)  The Army more than doubled the number of Purple Heart medals awarded to soldiers wounded at their base in Iraq in a retaliatory Iranian missile attack Jan. 8, 2020, officials announced Wednesday.

The Army notified 39 soldiers Wednesday that they will receive the medals that acknowledge their wounds and grant them eligibility for a variety of entitlements.

Former President Donald Trump had minimized the traumatic brain injuries the soldiers suffered, and the Pentagon downplayed the extent of their injuries for weeks as the U.S.-Iranian conflict threatened to escalate.

The attack and its aftermath had largely receded from public view until last month. USA TODAY first reported that a U.S. commander at Al Asad at the time of the attack had been pushing for his soldiers to receive Purple Heart medals but had been instructed by his superiors not to inquire about the issue or re-submit paperwork.

Army Col. Paul Fix, of the Minnesota National Guard, in an Oct. 6, 2021, memo to Army officials, noted that 69 of his soldiers had been diagnosed with traumatic brain injury from the attack. Officials medically evacuated 25 soldiers, 41 required more than a week of rest and four returned to duty.

Fix informed the Army the attack was severe and that his soldiers had been left with inadequate protection.

"On January 8, 2020, Iran conducted the largest theater ballistic missile attack ever perpetrated against U.S. forces," Fix wrote.

Iran launched the attack in retaliation for the Jan. 2, 2020, U.S. drone strike near Baghdad's airport that killed Gen. Qasem Soleimani, leader of the Quds Force, part of the country's hard-line paramilitary Revolutionary Guard Corps. His killing was defensive, according to U.S. officials who said Soleimani had been planning attacks on American diplomats and troops.

The fog surrounding the Jan. 8, 2020, attack on Al Asad thickened fast. U.S. military officials announced within hours that no casualties had been suffered after theater ballistic missiles slammed into the base. But it soon became clear that there was extensive damage to buildings and equipment, and that dozens of troops there had suffered concussions from the massive explosions.

It took the Pentagon more than a month to acknowledge that more than 100 troops had suffered traumatic brain injuries, and that several of them had to be medically evacuated.

Trump, in a news conference, minimized the troops' wounds.

"I don't consider them very serious injuries, relative to other injuries that I've seen," Trump said after the attack. "No, I do not consider that to be bad injuries."

A soldier at the base, who continues to suffer symptoms of traumatic brain injury nearly two years after the attack, told USA TODAY that it was miraculous that no troops were killed.

On the same date, the Revolutionary Guard mistakenly shot down a Ukrainian civilian airliner in Tehran, killing 176 people. Iranian troops fired a surface-to-air missile at the plane, believing it was a U.S. warplane responding to their attack on Al Asad. Among the dead were 63 Canadian citizens.

With Wednesday's announcement, 69 soldiers have received Purple Heart medals. More may be coming.

"They continue to review an additional 11 nominations, which will be decided on the individual merits," Lt. Col. Gabe Ramirez, an Army spokesman, said Wednesday.

Purple Heart medals entitle recipients to priority health retirement from the Veterans Affairs Department, preferences in hiring for federal jobs and eligibility for burial at Arlington National Cemetery.

Dwight Mears, an author, West Point graduate and former history professor at the military academy who researches military medals, said high-level political interference in lower-level medals like the Purple Heart is unusual. Former President Trump shattered that norm.

Trump interceded on behalf of troops accused of war crimes: in the case of retired Maj. Mathew Golsteyn, a Special Forces soldier, Trump pardoned for alleged murder in Afghanistan.

"If military leaders learned anything from some of these examples, it was likely to avoid contradicting the White House in public or otherwise," Mears said.

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Army fuel specialists direct traffic while refueling diesel vehicles during an exercise in Hohenfels, Germany, in 2014. Authorities in Romania are investigating the theft of $2 million worth of fuel from the U.S. Armys main military hub in that country. (Henry Chan/U.S. Army)

Authorities are investigating the theft of $2 million worth of fuel from the U.S. Armys main military hub in Romania, where local law enforcement officials say diesel was siphoned off over a four-year span.

We are in full support and in full cooperation with our Romanian partners and officials during this investigation, and we appreciate their efforts, said Maj. Vonnie Wright, a spokesman for the 21st Theater Sustainment Command.

Wright declined to go into details about the case, citing the ongoing probe.

Earlier this week, the Romanian newspaper Adevarul reported that seven suspects are under investigation in connection with allegations of stealing diesel that fueled power generators at Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base. The theft happened between 2017 and 2021.

U.S. soldiers set up a generator and Satellite Transportable Terminal at Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base in Romania in 2017. U.S. military officials began investigating the theft of $2 million worth of diesel from the base after generators fueled by contractors showed suspiciously low fuel levels. (William B. King/U.S. Army)

Citing law enforcement sources, Adevarul said the suspects were local workers employed at the base by a company responsible for managing the generators.

However, the suspects supplied less than the Army contract called for, and over time U.S. military officials began to grow suspicious because of low fuel levels, the newspaper reported.

An investigation was launched in April, and over time Romanian authorities uncovered the scheme, according to the report, which did not say whether the suspects have been charged.

The base, referred to by troops at MK, serves as the U.S. militarys main hub in Romania. An array of rotational forces move in and out from there for various training exercises.

The U.S. has invested millions of dollars there in recent years to support a larger U.S. and NATO presence in a country seen as increasingly strategic given its position on the Black Sea.
Buy Photo Ken Inouye, son of the late Hawaiian Sen. Daniel Inouye, passes the long glass to a sailor during the commissioning of the USS Daniel Inouye at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, Dec. 8, 2021. The pass is part of a tradition to signify the start of the first watch. (Wyatt Olson/Stars and Stripes)

JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii  Hawaii native Daniel Inouye was many things before he died in 2012: child of Japanese immigrants, wounded warrior, recipient of the Medal of Honor, U.S. senator for a half century.

On Wednesday, he became the namesake of the newest guided-missile destroyer to be commissioned into the U.S. Navy during a ceremony at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii.

Arleigh Burke-class destroyers are the backbone of the United States Navy's surface fleet and critical to the future Navy, Adm. Samuel Paparo, commander of U.S. Pacific Command, said during a pier-side ceremony attended by hundreds.

And I am here to certify that this ship and its crew are ready for its mission: highly capable, multimission, conducting a variety of operations from peacetime presence and crisis management to sea control and power projection, all in support of the United States military strategy.

Buy Photo An audience of hundreds gather on a pier at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, for the commissioning of the guided-missile destroyer USS Daniel Inouye, Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2021. (Wyatt Olson/Stars and Stripes) Buy Photo Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro speaks at the commissioning of the guided-missile destroyer USS Daniel Inouye at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2021. (Wyatt Olson/Stars and Stripes) Buy Photo Crew members of the USS Daniel Inouye watch as the guided-missile destroyer is commissioned at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2021. (Wyatt Olson/Stars and Stripes)

Inouye, who served in the Senate from 1963 until his death in 2012, has had a fair number of things named after him in the state  the international airport in Honolulu, a major highway and lighthouse on the big island of Hawaii, several buildings and also a container ship and F-22 Raptor at the joint base airfield.

But naming this battleship after Inouye is kind of an unlikely thing to happen, if you really think about it, Ken Inouye, the late senators son, said during the ceremony.

Daniel Inouyes grandfather and then-infant father arrived in Hawaii in 1897 to work in the sugarcane fields to pay off a huge family debt in their ancestral hometown in Japan.

The pair were not allowed to become naturalized citizens because of anti-immigration laws, Inouye said. After the Japanese surprise attack in 1941, Daniel Inouye and other Japanese-Americans were not allowed to enlist in the armed services because they were classified as 4-C, enemy aliens.

But after President Roosevelt's major decision to allow Japanese-Americans to volunteer, he and thousands of others volunteered for that service and to go into harm's way because they believed in America when America did not believe in them, Inouye said.

Let's think about this for a while: A guy who was considered 4-C is having a ship named after him, he said.

Parts of the ships interior are museum-like with displays of placards, photos, mementos and awards. Behind glass in the ships mess is Inouyes Purple Heart.

In April 1945, while he served with the 442nd Infantry Regiment Combat Team in Italy, Inouyes right arm was shattered during an enemy assault. He refused evacuation and continued to lead his platoon until the regiments position was secured. His badly wounded arm was amputated.

Later in life, he was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions that day. The medal and citation are in the destroyers wardroom.

The ships sponsor was Inouyes wife, Irene Hirano Inouye, who died in 2020. In 2019, she broke a bottle of champagne on the bow in a christening ceremony that bestowed the name on the ship at Bath Iron Works in Maine, where it was built.

The destroyer is just over 500 feet long and carries the official designation of DDG-118. It is equipped with the Aegis air and missile defense system and a radar capable of lightning-fast detection of ballistic missile threats.

The USS Daniel Inouye is the 69th Arleigh Burke-class destroyer commissioned to the Navy. It is now the eighth guided-missile destroyer to be homeported at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.

During the ceremony, the late senators granddaughter Maggie Inouye yelled out the time-honored first order: Man our ship and bring her to life.

With that, the crew of roughly 300 sailors who had been standing in rows behind the audience began running up the ships two gangplanks and took their places along the destroyers rails.

Below on the pier, Cmdr. DonAnn Gilmore, the destroyers commander, addressed the audience.

Ladies and gentlemen, I wish I could look each and every one of you in the eye when I say this: I have to look no further than the rails of the ship behind me to renew my faith in humanity and to maintain my confidence in our country's future and the lethality and capabilities of our Navy. Gilmore said.

Behind those impeccable white uniforms are well trained, resilient, driven and capable warriors ready to execute our nation's taskings.
The USS Arleigh Burke transits the Bosporus near Istanbul, Turkey, Nov. 25, 2021. One week after delivering its 33rd destroyer to the U.S. Navy, Ingalls Shipbuilding announced the start of fabrication on another. (Yoruk Isik/Twitter)

PASCAGOULA, Miss. (Tribune News Service)  One week after delivering its 33rd destroyer to the U.S. Navy, Ingalls Shipbuilding announced the start of fabrication on another.

The Pascagoula shipyard announced this week fabrication had begun on the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer George M. Neal (DDG 131), just days after Ingalls had signed the paperwork transferring custody of the Frank E. Petersen Jr. (DDG 121) to the Navy.

Start of fabrication is our first opportunity to formally celebrate and reflect on our contributions as shipbuilders, said Ingalls president Kari Wilkinson. We are very proud of what we do here for the country and endeavor to do our part in building and activating what will be the newest Flight III destroyer.

DDG 131 is named in honor of Navy Aviation Machinists Mate, Petty Officer 3rd Class George M. Neal, who was awarded the Navy Cross for his heroic actions while attempting to rescue a fellow service member during the Korean War.

Neal volunteered to fly in a helicopter deep into North Korean mountains to attempt the rescue of U.S. Marine Capt. James Wilkins, who was trapped by North Korean forces after his Corsair had crashed after taking anti-aircraft fire. During the rescue attempt, under heavy enemy fire, Neals helicopter was disabled and crashed.

Neal assisted both his pilot, Lt. John Koelsch, and Wilkins in evading enemy forces for nine days before being captured and held as a prisoner of war. Neal was eventually released and returned to the U.S. with more than 320 fellow POWs in 1952.

Neal died in 2016 and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

Ingalls has delivered 33 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers to the Navy. In addition to George M. Neal, other destroyers currently under construction include Lenah Sutcliffe Higbee (DDG 123), Jack H. Lucas (DDG 125), Ted Stevens (DDG 128) and Jeremiah Denton (DDG 129).

In addition, the fiscal 2022 National Defense Authorization Act agreed upon by leaders of the House and Senate Armed Services Committees includes nearly $1.7 billion for another Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, as well as $100 million for support for amphibious assault ship LHA-9, to be built at Ingalls. The additional $100 million would bring the total value of the contracts for LHA-9 to $557 million.

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The USS Iwo Jima amphibious assault ship will leave Naval Station Mayport on Friday to report to its new homeport in Norfolk, Va. (Dan Scanlan, Florida Times-Union/TNS)

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (Tribune News Service)  The "Magnificent 7" leaves its homeport of the past seven years Friday morning, trading Naval Station Mayport for a new berth in Norfolk, Va.

The USS Iwo Jima, an amphibious assault ship that earned its nickname due to its hull designation LHD-7, departs after completing three deployments, the most recent ending in an October homecoming.

"On behalf of Iwo Jima's crew, I would like to personally thank Naval Station Mayport and the Jacksonville community for the support they have provided the ship and her crew," Capt. J.A. Krier said. "Though we have enjoyed our time at Naval Station Mayport, the crew is excited for the transition to Norfolk and is ready to make a positive impact on the community here."

The Iwo Jima is one of eight Wasp-class ships built to handle a U.S. Marine Corps Expeditionary Unit with landing craft, helicopters and AV-8B Harrier II attack aircraft. The 41,150-ton vessel's design is similar to an aircraft carrier.

The move has been expected for nearly a year as part of a buildup of destroyers at Mayport that also included the reassignment of the amphibious transport dock ship USS New York to Norfolk.

The dock landing ship USS Fort McHenry also was retired this year as the station's other amphibious vessel.

In return, the Navy said Mayport will be gaining five ships by the end of next year, The Florida Times-Union previously reported.

The balance is projected to have "a negligible economic impact on either community," the Naval Surface Force Atlantic said.

The USS Iwo Jima arrives Oct. 11 at Naval Station Mayport after a seven-month deployment to the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet areas of operations. (Anderson W. Branch/U.S. Navy)

A brief history of the Iwo Jima

Commissioned in mid-2001 in Pensacola, the Iwo Jima's initial homeport was Naval Station Norfolk until moving in August 2014 to Mayport. The second ship to bear the namesake, the 831-foot-long Iwo Jima honors the World War II battle on the Pacific island of the same name that claimed the lives of over 7,000 Americans and almost 21,000 Japanese in 1945.

The ship's first deployment was in 2015, part of a three-ship/2,300-sailor amphibious ready group sent to the Middle East as a major crisis erupted in Yemen. That is when the U.S.-backed government was overthrown by Houthi rebels, threatening the U.S. embassy.

The deployment saw the Iwo Jima participating in training exercises and strategic trips through the Strait of Bab-el-Mandeb between the Arabian Peninsula and Africa.

In mid-2019, 11 sailors suffered minor injuries after the USS Iwo Jima reported a fire in a cargo hold. The blaze was extinguished by its crew, sailors from USS The Sullivans as well as the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department.

The Iwo Jima just returned in October as the flagship of a seven-month deployment to the U.S. 5th and U.S. 6th Fleet areas of operation. It also supported the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Preparing for the redeployment to its original homeport so soon after that earned the commander's praise, Krier saying that to do both "takes a tremendous amount of work and preparation from the crew and the families."

dscanlan@jacksonville.com

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The Food and Drug Administrations decision came the day after new data from the companies suggested that boosters may play a critical role in helping to control the omicron variant by raising virus-fighting antibodies to block the pathogen, which echoed a finding by leading scientists in South Africa released earlier this week. (Master Sgt. Matt Hecht/Air National Guard)

Federal regulators Thursday authorized booster shots of Pfizer-BioNTechs coronavirus vaccine for 16- and 17-year-olds, a step that officials said would bolster protection against delta, the variant behind surging infections in parts of the United States, and could help tame the emerging omicron version.

The Food and Drug Administrations decision came the day after new data from the companies suggested that boosters may play a critical role in helping to control the omicron variant by raising virus-fighting antibodies to block the pathogen, which echoed a finding by leading scientists in South Africa released earlier this week.

The FDAs authorization is expected to be reviewed and endorsed by Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as soon as Thursday. The shots would be available immediately.

The authorization means 16- and 17-year-olds who received the initial two-shot series of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine will be able to get a booster of the same vaccine six months after the second dose. All adults 18 and over have been eligible for boosters for several weeks.

The Pfizer-BioNTech covid-19 vaccine has been available to individuals 16 years of age and older for nearly a year, and its benefits have been shown to clearly outweigh potential risks, Peter Marks, the FDAs top vaccine regulator, said in a statement. With data showing that vaccine effectiveness is waning for adults and teenagers, a booster will help provide continued protection against covid-19, he added.

The FDA said its authorization was based on data it had previously analyzed in examining extra doses for adults 18 and older. The agency also said it had concluded that the benefits of a booster outweigh the risks of rare cardiac side effects, including the swelling of heart muscle, in 16- and 17-year-olds. That condition, called myocarditis, has been linked to the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines, occurring in male adolescents and young men.

The Pfizer-BioNTech booster is the only extra dose available for 16- and 17-year-olds. The Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are not authorized for anyone under 18.

The expanded age for Pfizer-BioNTech boosters is sure to raise questions among parents and doctors about whether - and when - children younger than 16 will need boosters. Scientists inside and outside of the government said more information is needed before a decision is made about boosters for younger children. Some experts believe those children eventually will need boosters, but perhaps can wait more than six months after their second shot.

They probably will need boosts, said one federal official who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the issue. The question is: Will they need boosts at six months or could they last longer?

Pfizer and its partner, BioNTech, have not asked the FDA for the go-ahead for boosters for younger children, according to Kit Longley, a Pfizer spokesman. We will continue to monitor data from our ongoing clinical trial in addition to real world evidence to assess a potential need, Longley said.

Octavio Ramilo, chief of infectious diseases at Nationwide Childrens Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, praised the authorization for 16- and 17-year-olds. These are the kids who go out, they have very active social lives, Ramilo said. So its very important that we protect them and the community.

Kenneth Alexander, chief of infectious diseases at Nemours Childrens Hospital in Orlando, agreed, saying the emergence of variants, including delta and omicron, underscored the importance of broadening access to boosters.

A vaccine is to your immune system like an FBI most-wanted poster in the post office, Alexander said. If I show it once, you remember the persons face. Twice, you really remember. And three times, you can pick that person out of the crowd.

Not everyone agrees young people need boosters. Paul Offit, director of the Vaccine Education Center at the Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia, said on a media call Wednesday that he didnt see a compelling reason to administer a booster to healthy young people. The two-dose regimen adequately protects those individuals from serious illness, he said.

Young people generally have stronger immune systems than older people. If they get sick with covid, they are less likely to become seriously ill.

The Pfizer-BioNTech two-shot vaccine was approved in August for anyone 16 and older. It was authorized in October on an emergency basis for children between 5 and 15.

Pfizer is testing the vaccine in children under 5, with data expected late this year or early next year. The vaccine could be available to the youngest children in the first part of 2022, company officials have said.

Not all parents are clamoring for vaccines and boosters for their teenagers and younger children, however. A Kaiser Family Foundation survey released Thursday found that demand for vaccines, after a strong start, has slowed for the 12- to 17-year-old group. About half of parents said their teens had received at least one dose as of November, essentially unchanged from two months earlier, the survey showed.

Parents of children 5 to 11 years old, who became eligible for vaccinations more recently, were even less enthusiastic. Sixteen percent said their younger children have received at least one vaccine dose and another 13% said they plan to get them vaccinated right away, the survey showed. Three in 10 parents of teens and younger children said they will definitely not get their child vaccinated, according to the survey, which was conducted before news of the omicron variant emerged.

But interest in boosters for all age groups may rise if the early data holds up that shows boosters are a way to shield people from omicron-induced infections and serious illness. Some leading experts, such as Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, are increasingly referring to the mRNA vaccines - the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna shots - as three-dose regimens.

The booster shot could be the answer to the challenge that were facing with the omicron, Fauci said Wednesday at a Washington Post Live event. But he noted that the data was preliminary.

Albert Bourla, chairman and chief executive of Pfizer, called the FDA action a critical milestone in helping stem the spread of covid and the omicron variant.

Pfizer and BioNTech in October said a later-stage trial showed a booster dose given to individuals 16 and older demonstrated it was more than 95% effective when compared with those who did not receive a booster.
A gun crew tests ammunition on the Jefferson Proving Ground in March 1943. A woman blows the whistle as a firing signal while a group of reporters watch. (The Indianapolis Star/TNS)

(Tribune News Service)  It was the only time Carl Busch, now 85, had ever seen his father cry.

He was 4 years old in early December 1940, living on a 120-acre farm in Jefferson County, Ind. His family got a knock on the door. They had 30 days to uproot their lives and clear the property.

The federal government dropped the same bombshell on 500 other families in southeastern Indiana that week, who suddenly found themselves war refugees.

Their homes, schools, churches and cemeteries across 55,000 acres in Jefferson, Jennings and Ripley counties would soon be bought by the government and turned into an Army weapons testing ground, the War Department told a meeting of local, state and federal leaders at the Jefferson County courthouse the evening of Dec. 5, 1940.

Busch's father expected to live out his days on the farm, which had been in the family since at least Busch's great grandfather's time. During the Great Depression, Busch's family lost $10,000 in a bank failure, or about $200,000 in today's dollars. And then the knock on the door came.

"It just broke him," said Busch, who now lives in Greensburg. His father died in 1950 at 64 years old.

From left, in 1941: The railroad switch yard at Jefferson Proving Ground; Lt. Col. DeRosey C. Cabell, in charge of construction; a trailer camp where proving ground employees live; a car stops for inspection at the proving ground gate. (The Indianapolis Star/TNS)

Newspapers reported the formal announcement Dec. 10. A year and a day later, the United States officially entered World War II.

"With the swiftness of modern blitz warfare," wrote The Indianapolis Star on Dec. 14, 1940, "families whose lives have been spent in this rolling Indiana country must pack up and move."

Morose shock swept communities. The government would pay for their property and relocation expenses, but it would not buy farmers' crops or a businessman's stock.

It was expected the entire area would be swept clean within 45 days, The Indianapolis News reported on Dec. 10. This would become known as Jefferson Proving Ground  "the great proving ground of the Midwest," the Star wrote days earlier.

At the time, there was just one other, in Aberdeen, Md., which still operates today. More would be built throughout World War II.

Engineers had been designing such grounds for two decades, but its location was not decided until a month before the announcement, The Indianapolis Star reported in February 1941. A War Department representative told the newspaper the location was selected because of its proximity to ammunition manufacturers in Indiana, Ohio, Illinois and Missouri.

A crew loads a bomber plane with parachute flares to test them on the Jefferson Proving Ground in March 1943. (The Indianapolis Star/TNS)

The removal of longtime residents went mostly according to the government's schedule  at the end of January, The Indianapolis Star reported the last of the acreage would be under contract within 10 days. Some families held out longer, like Busch's, who stayed until March waiting for the auction to wrap up on the farmland they wanted to purchase in Decatur County.

But the payments weren't so timely. Checks were not promised for another month after the residents' removal. Many farmers had to borrow money to be able to move elsewhere, forced to pay interest and use their contracts with the government as collateral. Meanwhile, owing to sudden demand, land prices in surrounding counties had skyrocketed.

The Jefferson land acquisition left other complications in its wake.

Bodies buried in cemeteries had to be moved. Tenured teachers who lost their jobs on the proving ground area lost their tenure. The grab wiped out three quarters of Monroe Township, Jefferson County, leaving just 58 families on an eastern tip of township and 15 families on a west side. The tiny township still exists.

All the while, the office of the inspector general was investigating the acquisitions on suspicion that the real estate and title companies brokering the deals were collecting excessive commissions.

By winter's end, the War Department came to a compromise with the brokers over the commission rates. Ammunition testing began as early as May 1941, and the proving ground officially opened for public viewing in November. The construction project employed about 3,000 people.

At least one historical landmark was saved, but not without effort. The congregation of Liberty Christian Church in Jefferson County, a house of worship since colonial times, paid $2,000 to relocate their building from just inside the proving ground area to a new location 100 yards north.

The first gun fired at Jefferson Proving Ground was this 71-mm field gun. It fired 21 shots on May 12, 1941, using gun powder from a plant in Charlestown, Indiana. (The Indianapolis Star/TNS)

This money came from what the War Department had paid for the church's building and four acres. The government initially resisted the congregation's idea to relocate, out of impatience to get construction started. It took a resolution from the Indiana General Assembly, in March 1941, to change their minds.

If undertaken today, the laboratory for testing the quality of every type of weapon U.S. troops used in warfare  namely, cannons and bombs  would have cost about $282 million to construct. It would go on to test artillery for American warfare for another 50 years.

"All day long the big guns roar, reverberating for miles," The Indianapolis News described the Jefferson Proving Ground in 1943. "Aerial bombs shake the countryside, rattling windows for many miles from the military reservation. ... Unless the ammunition meets specifications, it does not go overseas."

In later years, as bigger war operations demanded more of the Jefferson Proving Ground, this wasn't always the case. Sometimes ammunition would get loaded onto ships to head to Vietnam before workers in Indiana, like data cruncher Mike Moore, got to test the batch; once they did, faulty ammunition aboard the ship was dumped into the ocean.

Moore still lives in the house his family bought in Madison while he worked at the proving ground from 1974 to 1994. When they'd be shooting artillery, the windows in the town would rattle  so much so that locals called Madison "Boomtown."

"People just got used to it," Moore said. "And after we stopped shooting, they forgot."

Jefferson Proving Ground remained an Army testing base until 1995. Soon after, a large portion of the land was leased to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to become Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge. The site is still owned by the U.S. Army, who has conducted studies monitoring radiation levels and soil and water quality in the hopes of decontaminating the area of depleted uranium, according to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Memory of what happened has largely faded in the broader community, Moore said, except for a dwindling population whose families were uprooted.

A group called the Jefferson Proving Ground Heritage Partnership, dedicated to preserving the oral histories of these families, used to meet monthly, but many members have died. In 2010, they published many of these accounts into a book, "Reminiscences & Reflections: An oral history of dramatic contrast between Hoosiers and the War Department in southern Indiana."

They'd organize reunions of the farming families. Busch's parents never went, but Busch went in later years. "Old Settlers' Reunions," he said they called it.

The last one he remembers was organized for the 75th anniversary. They reminisced about the good times in their old communities. If they had any bitterness, it was long gone, he said.

"It was a very patriotic thing," he said.

"You got to understand, it was a different time," Moore said. "Most of them felt like it was their patriotic duty to leave."

But that didn't make it any less painful. In the late 1990s, with permission from the government, Busch toured the grounds for the first time to see if he could spot any remnants of his family's homestead, despite how young he was when they left. He recognized a weathered stone and concrete water trough, and found one of his father's old tobacco cans.

"I was very young, but it was a very traumatic time," he said. "Those things stick in your memory."

kdwyer@indystar.com

2021 www.indystar.com.

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The Battle of the Bulge Memorial in Bastogne, Belgium, tells the story on its inner panels of the 76,890 Americans killed, wounded and missing at the battle that began in 1944. (iStock)

Nuts Weekend is a blanket term for the commemorations, reenactments and activities held annually to mark the anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge in Bastogne, Belgium, and its surrounding communities. In light of the surge in COVID-19 case numbers and the rise of the Omicron variant, traveling to attend the events that were on the agenda from Dec. 10-12 is bound to be getting a rethink, particularly among would-be participants residing outside Belgium. While missing out on those few activities that werent ultimately canceled will come as a blow for first-time visitors and die-hard pilgrims alike, the military history of the Ardennes region can be experienced throughout the year. Here are just a few of the places that make the area a source of boundless discovery for all those fascinated by U.S. military history.

Bastogne War Museum: A stop at this museum lies at the heart of itineraries exploring history of World War II in the Ardennes. The permanent exhibition tells the story of the Battle of the Bulge through the eyes of those who experienced it, using everyday objects, scenography and multi-media installations. Temporary exhibitions, which come about largely as the result of partnerships, loans and donations, explore the more obscure facets of the battles and the personal stories of those who fought or lived through the times as civilians. The museum is open year round, with the exception of an annual winter closing. This period falls between Jan. 10 and Feb. 24 in 2022. Online: bastognewarmuseum.be

Battle of the Bulge Memorial: What used to be known as the Mardasson Memorial is the Belgian peoples tribute to the American soldiers who died during the Battle of the Bulge. A soaring structure designed in the shape of a five-pointed star, the ten carved panels ringing the inside of the memorial tell the story of the battle in which 76,890 Americans were killed or wounded, or were marked missing. In December of 2020, the imposing structure was renamed in connection with its inclusion as the 31st federal monument of the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC). Online: tinyurl.com/2p9yy2r5

Bastogne Barracks: Formally known as the Royal Belgium Military Museum and Interpretation Centre of the Second World War, this space is always a hub of Nuts Weekend activities. Built in 1936, the barracks were used as a training center for the Hitler Youth and later on as the American headquarters for General Anthony McAuliffe as he commanded the 101st Airborne. Its Vehicle Restoration Center has given countless old armored vehicles new leases on life. The space, which offers free admission, is open weekends only in January and February and Wednesdays through Sundays for the remainder of the year. Online: tinyurl.com/2p97zmuf

Bois Jacques: This forest in the village of Foy bears the scars of its occupation by the American 101st Airborne Division during the frigid winter of 1944, with the outlines of the fox holes dug by the men of the Easy Company clearly visible. The site, a popular place of pilgrimage, is crossed by several trails and freely accessible. In 2022, the area is set to receive a 3D application designed to plunge the viewer into the heart of the fighting that of that terrible winter. The educational dimension of the commentary will be provided by YouTuber Benjamin Brillaud of Notabene, who is known for his storytelling skills. Online: tinyurl.com/k8s8y4j7

Ardennes American Cemetery: The final resting place for 5,162 Americans is laid out in the form of a Greek cross. The memorial itself consists of a stone structure with a massive American eagle on its facade. Inside is a chapel, three large wall maps and marble panels depicting combat and supply activities. Along the outside of the memorial, the names of 463 of the missing are inscribed on granite slabs. This cemetery is unique among all ABMC cemeteries for having served as the central identification point for the entire European Theater of Operations from the last days of the war until 1960. Online: abmc.gov/Ardennes

The December 44 Historical Museum- Le Gleize: This museums location in a village in the northern Ardennes is significant for the fact it was here that the advance of the spearhead of the German offensive led by the notorious Kampfgruppe Peiper was halted. The museum, created by two passionate historians back in 1989, safeguards the memory of those who perished in the efforts to defeat Hitlers regime and sensitizes new generations to the causes and consequences of war. The museums collection of over 5000 authentic objects, arranged both chronologically and thematically, continues to grow. Equipment, uniforms and authentic vehicles, including a King Tiger tank that fought in the Battle of the Bulge, make up the museums permanent display. Online: december44.com

Schumans Eck National Liberation Memorial and Memorial Trail: Just north of the town of Nothum in Luxembourg is found a monument commemorating one of the bloodiest WWII battles fought in the country. On Dec. 30, 1944, the 26th American Infantry Division reached the Schumann Crossing, where they encountered stubborn resistance from the 9th German Volksgrenadierdivision entrenched in the woods. For two weeks, the front refused to budge, resulting in huge losses on both sides. The trail passes by the trenches from which they fought. Online: tinyurl.com/2p8pwje7

Remembering WWII from Germany

Those based in Germany wishing to immerse themselves in military history this weekend while remaining in country might wish to visit the temporary exhibition titled Our Common Heritage. This outdoor display of large panels set up in the form of albums offers the testimonies of citizens and soldiers from five distinct time periods: pre-WWI, WWI, the Interbellum, WWII, and post-WWII and the beginnings of European unification. The panels, which until recently stood on display next to the Battle of the Bulge Memorial, can be seen at the Schlossplatz in Saarbrucken, Germany through Jan. 31, 2022. For more on the exhibition, as well as a resource on major historical sites from both world wars in Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg and France, see landofmemory.eu/en.
A sampling of this years 200 participants who learned to be Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus at the Charles W. Howard Santa Claus School in Midland, Mich., in October. (Nic Antaya/For The Washington Post)

Back in 1931, millions of Americans were introduced to the modern image of Santa Claus through Coca-Cola ads featuring a bearded, rosy-cheeked fellow clad in a red suit with white trim. Santa Clauses soon began popping up across the land, often at department stores to draw parents and children and promote sales. Random employees were frequently thrown into service.

By 1937, a Rochester, N.Y., department store Santa and full-time dairy farmer named Charles W. Howard had surveyed the Christmas landscape and decided someone needed to improve the Santa stock. Thus began another seasonal tradition: an annual school where aspirants could learn the fine art of personifying Christmas. Average Santas lacked quality costumes, had no training on interacting with squirmy or fearful children, and didn't know about such topics as the proper care of reindeer (kids often ask about Rudolph).

Howard, who spent 18 years as the world's most visible Santa on the climactic float of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, taught such things. He turned his school over to a colleague from central Michigan before his death in 1966 - which is how it came to be that the 84th annual session of the Charles W. Howard Santa Claus School kicked off over three days in October in Midland, Mich., about 125 miles northwest of Detroit.

"We're here to build the Santa spirit in your hearts," promised Tom Valent, the cleanshaven and relatively trim 71-year-old school director who has been appearing as Santa locally for 47 years. He was talking to the 200 Santas and Mrs. Clauses from across the nation in a community center auditorium that (coincidentally, Valent insists) boasts bright green seats and ruby red carpeting.

Tom Valent, dean of the Santa Claus School. Were here to build the Santa spirit in your hearts, he tells the 200 Santas and Mrs. Clauses in the class. (Nic Antaya/For The Washington Post)

Valent and his wife, Holly - yes, Holly - took over the school from its second operator in 1987. "It's always worked, and I have all the confidence in the world that it's gonna keep working," he said. "I'm not going to tell you I'm the greatest Santa. I'm not. I just love being Santa."

Tom Valent took over the school from its second operator in 1987. Its always worked, and I have all the confidence in the world that its gonna keep working, he says. Im not going to tell you Im the greatest Santa. Im not. I just love being Santa. (Nic Antaya/For The Washington Post)

To folks not in the Santa biz, the "craft" itself would seem simple: Don ye now the Santa apparel (plus a fat suit if necessary) and barrel into a room with a sack of toys over your shoulder or sit on a throne bellowing "ho, ho, ho" and asking kids if they've been good all year. Yet the attendees - who paid $500 in tuition per person - soak up a litany of fun facts about the St. Nicholas legend as well as pro tips on marketing, physical conditioning, costuming and tactics for answering tricky questions hurled at them by inquisitive youngsters and troublemaking adults.

The key is answering inquiries with plausible fibs that don't ruin the Santa myth. "I'm a professional liar," Michael Beurer, who was set to appear as Santa in the Dec. 4 Christmas parade in Pontiac, Mich., said with a chuckle. "Sometimes a kid will test me by asking if I know his address to deliver his gifts, and what I do is I start rattling off coordinates - 25 degrees north, 44 degrees west, whatever - and they say, 'No, I live at this address,' and I say, 'But I'm giving you the coordinates from the air.' "

The sheer breadth of the curriculum, taught by volunteer staff including the Valents, is impressive. (Tuition, Tom Valent says, pays for facilities, catering and transportation for field trips throughout the weekend.) A voice teacher explained how to retain a properly husky voice with cayenne-spiked hot tea as the peak season progresses. A pair of nurses stopped by to talk about staying healthy with exercise ("What do you call a Santa that doesn't move? Santa Pause!") and nutrition. A marketing guru seemed to draw the most interest with a suggestion that Santas persuade stores to set up thrones for photo opportunities in the parking lot since pandemic-cautious families don't pile into malls like they used to.

There's no such concern, obviously, with virtual Santa visits, which are now so popular that speakers mentioned websites like Hire Santa, Santa's Club, JingleRing and Talk to Santa. Beurer, who co-presented a session on that business model, said he did 350 home visits via Zoom last year. Often, he chats with the parents beforehand to learn details about the children, then can wow them in ways he couldn't at a public appearance.

"In one case, the big sister was starting not to believe in Santa," Beurer said, "so the parents gave me information on her and I said, 'Olivia, how did you like the cosmetic stuff I brought you last year for Christmas?' And she looked so surprised, like, Wait a minute, this guy might be the real thing."

Most Santas and Mrs. Clauses say they aren't in it for the money, but a few school attendees are smitten not only by the holiday spirit but also by rumors - unconfirmed - that some classmates bank six-figure sums each season. Michael Godfrey of Pahoa, Hawaii, at 38 the youngest participant, said his mother often told him that he looks like Santa (he's stocky but neither silver-haired nor particularly full-bearded) and that he should give it a try. "I've done all sorts of things: computer engineering, delivery driver, taxi driver, always low jobs that just never really went anywhere," Godfrey told me. "There's a lot of potential in being a professional Santa. A starting Santa can make $25 to $75 an hour depending on where they work." (Valent says he doesn't know anyone getting rich off being Santa.)

As with any meetup of like-minded hobbyists, the camaraderie is as important as what's on the official agenda. Local Santas can often be unfriendly to one another, said Robert Auer of Pelham, Ala., "because you're taking their business away or they're taking business away from you." At Santa school in Midland, everybody - teachers and students alike - seemed willing to share tips. "I'm telling you," he said, "there wasn't a bad Santa in the bunch."

Auer admitted he was nervous about chatting up fellow Santa students, many of whom attend the program every year and knew one another. Then Holly Valent, resplendent in a red crushed velvet gown trimmed with cottony white cuffs and a matching shawl, strode onstage as Mrs. Claus and asked to be serenaded. Some 200 people stood obediently and erupted in unison into a rendition of "Jingle Bells" so gleeful and on-key that it seemed like a recording. But, no, as with most of the chest-length beards and bellies like bowlfuls of jelly, it was real. "I looked around this room and I didn't see anybody not singing," Auer said. "And it was really pure joy." In other words, the true spirit of Christmas.
U.S. soldiers and Marines move through a Hawaiian jungle on Nov. 30, 2021, during a training meant to test short-notice deployment capabilities in the Indo-Pacific region. (Rachel Christensen/U.S. Army)

The U.S. Armys top civilian leader at recent forums said the service has been reevaluating its role in the Indo-Pacific region as challenges continue to arise from China.

The Army is in the midst of the most comprehensive effort to modernize itself in 40 years, Secretary of the Army Christine Wormuth told the Center for Strategic and International Studies on Dec. 1. Most of those efforts focus on operational challenges in the Indo-Pacific region, she said.

The Indo-Pacifics vast maritime stretch puts the Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force in dominant roles, leaving the Army an underestimated force in the region, according to a 2017 U.S. Army War College report.

Wormuth described the Army as a linchpin service that would establish bases, handle logistics, oversee command and control operations and bring significant combat capability to the region.

Speaking Saturday at the Reagan National Defense Forum in Simi Valley, Calif., Wormuth focused heavily on the ongoing expansion and modernization of Chinas armed forces.

Department of Defense officials have repeatedly described Beijing as Washingtons major pacing challenge.

Wormuth said China has approximately 2 million uniformed personnel, including about 975,000 on active duty in its army. That far outweighs the United States 1.3 million uniformed personnel at its 485,000 active-duty soldiers.

Tensions between the U.S. and China have continued to intensify in the Indo-Pacific, largely over the South China Sea and Taiwan.

China claims nearly the entirety of the South China Sea  a critical waterway for the global economy  and frequently criticizes the U.S. militarys presence there. Beijing also considers the island of Taiwan, a functional democracy, as a breakaway province that must be reunified with the mainland.

"China's focus on modernizing its military capabilities will strengthen its ability to coerce Taiwan and rival claimants in territorial disputes, project power globally and counter interventions along Chinas periphery, Wormuth told CSIS.

She said integrated deterrence  joint efforts between U.S. military services to project power  is key to avoiding conflict in the region. That deterrence must include newer domains such as outer space or cyberspace military capabilities, she said.

During Saturdays security conference, Marine Corps Commandant Gen. David Berger said hes observed an erosion of both competition and a sense of urgency in tackling the challenge posed by China.

At this point, I think we may need to consider things that seem extreme, he said. If were not going to do that now, were going to continue in a sense  not even sleepwalking  but just walking toward disaster.

If deterrence fails and conflict ensues, Wormuth said, the Army would serve a variety of roles during a joint operation with the other service branches.

No one service can meet the challenge alone, she said, which is why we are focused on learning, experimenting and operating in the region as part of the joint force.
Buy Photo Students connect with friends outside Humphreys High School at Camp Humphreys, South Korea, Aug. 26, 2019. (Stars and Stripes)

CAMP HUMPHREYS, South Korea  A threatening social media post prompted a military police presence this week at the high school on the largest U.S. military base overseas.

A concerning message circulating among students was relayed by a parent to Humphreys High School faculty on Wednesday morning, principal Erin Grazak said in a letter to families.

School officials notified military police, who searched backpacks as students arrived at the high school Wednesday.

The command assessed there is no immediate risk associated with this incident, Eighth Army spokesman Neil Penttila said in a statement provided to Stars and Stripes on Thursday.

Investigators have identified multiple persons of interest and are actively investigating, the garrison said in a Facebook message Thursday evening.

Grazak, in her letter to parents, said threats of any nature, even if deemed not credible, are taken very seriously.

We understand our parents entrust us with the safety of their children every day, and this is a responsibility we do not take lightly, she wrote.

Miranda Ferguson, spokeswoman for the Department of Defense Education Activity  Pacific, declined to provide details about the social media post, citing the ongoing nature of the investigation. The school is working with military and law enforcement officials in their investigation, she said in an email Thursday to Stars and Stripes.

No other schools on U.S. military bases in South Korea were placed on alert or had a military police presence, Ferguson said.

Classes were not canceled, and military police remained at the high school Thursday. No classes are scheduled Friday due to a training day, according to Ferguson and the school calendar.

Roughly 28,500 U.S. troops are stationed in South Korea, the majority of them at Humphreys. Over 32,000 people, including service member families, contractors and Korean employees, access the base each day.
After months of struggling to pay down its massive debts, China Evergrande Group has defaulted, a ratings agency said Thursday.

Fitch Ratings said in a statement that it had placed the embattled home builder and two of its subsidiaries, Hengda Real Estate Group and Tianji Holding, into restricted default. The designation means it has missed a debt payment but hasnt entered into bankruptcy or other process that would suspend operations.

The default was largely expected by analysts and investors, probably blunting its effect on global markets. The major U.S. stock indexes, all coming off a three-day rally, were down slightly in afternoon trading Thursday.

Investors arent reacting much because this has been baked in for a long time, said Nick Lardy, senior fellow with the Peterson Institute for International Economics. Its a slow-motion car-crash, and I think well see more coming because they have a lot of debt thats due over the next year.

Another Chinese developer, Kaisa Group Holdings, also was given a restricted default rating Thursday. It failed to repay senior notes totaling roughly $400 million that were due Tuesday, Fitch said in a statement. Its shares were suspended from the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on Wednesday, according to Reuters.

Evergrande, founded in 1996, rode its way to the top of Chinas housing boom while building up a mountain of debt. Its founder, Xu Jiayin, briefly became Chinas wealthiest business executive in 2017, and Evergrande the worlds most valuable real estate company in 2018. As of June 30, he and his wife, Ding Yumei, together owned 77% of the shares, according to a September investor note from the ratings agency Moodys.

Fitch says its one of Chinas three largest developers by contracted sales. The company says it has more than 200,000 employees and supports about 3.8 million jobs. Its assets are worth approximately 2.3 trillion yuan, according to the Associated Press, or $360.6 billion.

But in recent months, the company has been staggering under the weight of $300 billion in liabilities. In September, Moodys predicted Evergrande would be unable to generate enough cash flow to meet its debt and operating needs over the next 12 months. On Friday, Evergrande said that it had received a demand to make good on a $260 million obligation but that it couldnt guarantee it would be able to keep up with its debts.

Fitch said Thursday that Evergrande provided no indication of how it will settle the debts or whether it intends to do so at all. It also said the company did not respond to its request for confirmation of payment after the 30-day grace period on the coupon payments lapsed Dec. 6.

We are therefore assuming they were not paid, Fitch said.

The Chinese developers precarious finances had raised alarms about a worst-case scenario, one in which its collapse could snowball across the global financial sector as Lehman Brothers did in 2008. Those fears have been tempered, partly because of Beijings signals that it will prevent wider fallout.

Lardy, the Peterson Institute senior fellow, said he sees little commonality between Evergrandes problems and the mortgage crisis that hit the United States more than a decade ago. Chinas lenders are financially responsible for whether home loans are repaid, making it harder for them to spread risk across the financial system as was the case before the 2007-2008 crisis in the United States.

The bigger risk for China is that people will lose confidence in the housing market if paid-for houses arent delivered.

Evergrande has fueled much of its expansion by preselling apartments, leaving it with hundreds of thousands of unfinished projects that it will need to complete or offload. The company has been scrambling to sell those assets to free up cash.

The government is very concerned about whether the millions of people who have bought houses from Evergrande will get their houses, Lardy said. If that doesnt happen, confidence in the property sector will erode.

Fortunately, he says, China has more than 90,000 property developers, so even a large default is likely to be viewed as little more than a drop in the bucket. And even a worst-case scenario in China is unlikely to rattle global markets the way the Lehman collapse did. I think this is primarily a risk to China, Lardy said.

Chinas central bank has rushed to assure the public that it can contain any broader damage to the nations economy. On Thursday, Chinese central banker Yi Gang said Evergrandes problems are not expected to cause lasting harm, according to a transcript referenced by the Associated Press.

The short-term risk of individual real estate companies will not affect the normal financing function of the medium- and long-term market, Yi said, according to the AP.

Scott Kennedy, an expert on Chinese economics with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, says Evergrande is effectively being drawn down through a government-managed process.

The Chinese government is aiming for [Evergrande] to basically die a gradual death that is managed in a way that doesnt have a huge impact on the rest of the Chinese economy and for us, as well, Kennedy said.

Its possible that some core of the company will remain once its least profitable elements are sold off, Kennedy said, but I dont think theres any option that keeps the company in the recognizable form that we see now.

Evergrande currently trades over the counter at about 23 cents per share. The stock price is down 85% in the past six months.
Buy Photo South Korean soldiers stand guard at the Korean Demilitarized Zones Joint Security Area in May 2017. (Aaron Kidd/Stars and Stripes)

Thirty-five Republican lawmakers said they are gravely concerned with the ongoing discussion to formally declare an end to the Korean War and urged the White House to reject pursuing a declaration with North Korea.

The House members said in a letter addressed to White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan on Tuesday there is no historical precedent that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un would abide by a peace agreement, as indicated by his continued illegal activity to skirt sanctions on its nuclear weapons program and egregious human rights abuses.

Declaring an end to hostilities should come at the culmination of comprehensive and long-term talks with North Korea after eliminating its nuclear arsenal and demonstrating verifiable improvements on its human rights record, the letter said. It should not be offered as an attempt to initiate talks with an uncertain endgame and strategy.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in in recent months has prioritized the issue before his term ends next year. His administration, which argues that a formal declaration may normalize relations with the North, has met with U.S. diplomats on numerous occasions to discuss the proposal.

Lawmakers who signed the letter include Reps. Young Kim and Michelle Steel of California, two of the first three Korean American women elected to Congress; Rep. Michael Waltz of Florida, a former Green Beret; and Rep. Peter Meijer of Michigan, a former Army intelligence specialist.

The lawmakers echoed the concerns of some international policy experts, who caution that such a declaration could bolster calls for the withdrawal of the roughly 28,500 U.S. troops stationed in South Korea. Pyongyang continues to demand the full withdrawal of the U.S. military from the Korean Peninsula and criticizes the joint military exercises conducted by the two allies.

Opening the door for considering for the removal of U.S. troops from the Korean peninsula before the North has fully denuclearized would have disastrous consequences for U.S. national security, erode our combined deterrence, and jeopardize the lives of tens of millions of Americans, Koreans, and Japanese, the Republicans wrote in their letter.

The lawmakers said they acknowledged and supported the measured approach the White House demonstrated thus far but urged it to consult with the South Korean government on the clear dangers and risks of the proposal.

Congress appears to be divided on the issue by political party. In a separate letter addressed to President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken last month, nearly two dozen Democratic House lawmakers called on the White House to declare a final end to the Korean War.

While North Koreas nuclear weapons continue to pose a threat to peace and security around the world, a forever state of war does not resolve this issue, nor does it serve the national interest of the United States and our allies, 23 Democrats wrote in their letter.

The details of a possible declaration have yet to be publicly revealed; however, Ministry of Unification chief Lee In-young said in November that negotiations with the U.S. are coming to a finish to some degree.

The 1950-53 Korean War ended in an armistice rather than a peace treaty. The agreement was intended to bring about a final peaceful settlement," according to the original document.
A tour group visits the U.S. Navy's Red Hill underground fuel storage facility in Hawaii, Jan. 24, 2017. (Laurie Dexter/U.S. Navy)

FORT SHAFTER, Hawaii  The U.S. Navy secretary has ordered a halt to operations at the Red Hill underground storage facility but ignored emergency instructions from Hawaii to empty the 150 million gallons of fuel held there.

The Navy is investigating the source of petroleum contamination in the water supply for hundreds of families living on or near Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, many of whom are temporarily displaced as a result. Preliminary tests traced the contamination to Red Hill well, one of three sources for the Navys water system.

Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro on Tuesday directed the service to pause all operations at the storage facility. His order does not mention the state Health Departments emergency order on Monday but includes most of the same criteria, except for the state demand to empty 20 fuel tanks.

The Department of the Navy will take every action to identify and remedy this incident, according to Del Toros memo, which the Navy made public on Wednesday.

Hawaiis order would essentially require the Navy to abandon the underground tanks.

Hawaiis wellbeing and the safety of our residents, including military families, must come first, Hawaii Gov. David Ige said in a news release Tuesday. We cannot have national security without ensuring public health and safety.

The Navy on Nov. 27 suspended transfer of fuel from the underground tanks after residents of military housing began complaining of foul-smelling water and an oily sheen. Navy testing last week confirmed that water samples contained petroleum and traced the source to the Red Hill well.

Del Toros memo directed Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Gilday to:

 Cease all operations at the Red Hill underground fuel storage tanks until the investigation into the cause of the incident is complete.

 Continue to isolate the Red Hill and Halawa wells, which are part of the Navy water system, until the distribution main and all affected homes and buildings have been flushed and can be supplied uncontaminated tap water.

 Evaluate acquiring a drinking-water treatment system or systems for the Red Hill well to ensure that water conforms to standards of the Safe Drinking Water Act.

 Consult with an independent third party to assess the system integrity at the Red Hill fuel facility within 30 calendar days. The consultant would develop a work plan and schedule to conduct necessary repairs and make necessary changes in operations to address any deficiencies identified in the assessment.

 Approve a final work plan following the consultants assessment and expeditiously perform work and make necessary changes in operations.

We are aiming for a new normal: One where this never happens again, Del Toro said in a news release Wednesday. The Department is determined and committed to making the necessary changes. We can and will take care of our people, while also preserving and protecting our national security interests in the Pacific and at home.

Wyatt Olson
White House press secretary Jen Psaki holds a briefing at the White House in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, March 9, 2021. Psaki said Thursday, Dec. 9, 2021, that the Biden adminstration is preparing to sanction Iran if nuclear talks are not successful. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca Press/TNS) (Yuri Gripas)

WASHINGTON  The U.S. is preparing a fresh round of sanctions against Iran if it doesnt soon engage in negotiations to limit its nuclear program, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said, citing Tehrans ongoing advancements.

We believe a diplomatic resolution offers the best path to avoiding a nuclear crisis, she said at a briefing for reporters on Thursday. But she said President Joe Biden has asked his team to be prepared in the event diplomacy fails.

If talks in Vienna to revive a 2015 agreement to curb Irans program fail, we will have no choice but to take additional measures to restrict Irans revenue, she said.

We have kept all the sanctions that we inherited in place, and weve consistently enforced sanctions, all while also presenting the clear path of their removal, Psaki said. If diplomacy cannot get on track soon, and if Irans nuclear program continues to accelerate, then we will have no choice but to take additional measures to further restrict Irans revenue-producing sectors.

A senior U.S. official said Saturday that Iran hasnt shown seriousness in the Vienna talks, in what was then the most pessimistic American assessment of the negotiations to date. In the seventh round of talks, Iran walked back many offers it had made in previous sessions and demanded sanctions relief beyond the terms of the original 2015 accord, the official told reporters.

Irans government said in a Dec. 5 statement that world powers cant expect it to stop expanding its nuclear work until an agreement is reached with Tehran on how U.S. sanctions will be lifted.

Former President Donald Trump abandoned the deal in 2018; Biden seeks to rejoin it. But the U.S. is now preparing for a scenario where restoring the accord wont be possible.

Based on the outcome of the last round of talks and the ongoing advancements in Irans nuclear facilities, we are laying the groundwork for another path entirely, Psaki said.

A group of officials from the State and Treasury Departments will meet with government and private-sector officials in the United Arab Emirates next week to discuss our understanding of the companies and financial institutions that facilitate non-compliant Iranian commerce that runs through or touches the UAE, she said.

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Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, center, chairs a weekly cabinet meeting, at the prime ministers office in Jerusalem, Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021. Bennett on Sunday urged world powers to take a hard line against Iran in negotiations to curb the countrys nuclear program, as his top defense and intelligence officials headed to Washington amid the flailing talks. (Gil Cohen-Magen/AP)

TEL AVIV - A growing cadre of former Israeli security officials are publicly faulting their government for opposing the nuclear deal negotiated in 2015 between Iran and world powers, and warning that economic sanctions on Iran are not deterring it from developing a bomb.

While Israel had applauded President Donald Trumps withdrawal from the accord in 2018, these former officials have concluded that his maximum pressure policy built primarily on sanctions has failed to prevent Iran from dangerously advancing its nuclear program.

With negotiations over reviving the nuclear treaty now struggling in Vienna, Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has been echoing the ominous rhetoric of his predecessor, Benjamin Netanyahu, and accusing Iran of using nuclear blackmail as a bargaining tactic by escalating its uranium enrichment.

But former Israel security officials are increasingly critical of the role Netanyahu played in opposing the original agreement and urging Trump to abandon it. These officials say the accord was imperfect but that the alternative has been worse.

This approach enabled Iran to accumulate a lot more material, work on advanced centrifuges, and maybe other things that we dont know about, all which brought Iran closer than ever before to acquiring a nuclear bomb, said Yoel Guzansky, former head of the Iran desk at Israels National Security Council and a senior fellow at the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS). The nuclear deal was flawed, but at least it put a lid on Irans advancement, which we dont have now.

The former officials say the pact had subjected Iran to restrictions and to international inspections that held in check crucial elements of the nuclear program, while enhanced sanctions have achieved far less.

Today, its clear that maximum pressure did not yield its political objectives, said Raz Zimmt, a former military adviser on Iran. He said the policy may actually have accelerated Iranian nuclear progress and that Iran now has the capability of producing enough fissile material for a nuclear bomb on four weeks notice.

It doesnt matter how much pressure you put on them, the Iranians see their nuclear program as an insurance for the regime, said Zimmt, who is now at the INSS, affiliated with Tel Aviv University.

When Trump pulled out of the pact, much of the Israeli public cheered. Netanyahu took credit for making it happen, and Bennett hailed it as a great day for the free world. Many Israelis agreed with their government that it was up to Israel to pursue an Iran policy of zero engagement, maximum economic pressure and clandestine sabotage attacks.

After 2018, Israel increasingly publicized its shadow efforts to hamper Irans nuclear progress. In the summer of 2020, a series of mysterious explosions took place at or near sensitive Iranian nuclear facilities. In November of last year, the countrys top nuclear scientist, Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, was ambushed and killed in an assassination near Tehran widely attributed to Israel.

But the escalation of alleged sabotage attacks has coincided with unprecedented Iranian production of highly enriched uranium. Earlier this year, Iran reached 60% uranium enrichment, approaching the 90% purity level needed for a nuclear weapon, the International Atomic Energy Agency said in August.

Maj. Gen. Amos Yadlin, the former head of Israeli military intelligence, said on Channel 12 last week that the issue of material is maybe already behind us. Israel needs to focus on the weaponization phase, referring to techniques for delivering and triggering a bomb.

Danny Citrinowicz, the former head of the Iran branch of Israels military intelligence unit, said the attacks on targets in Iran had played into the hands of that countrys hard-liners, who sought to accelerate the nuclear program.

History has proven that the attacks were maybe a kind of tactical miracle, like James Bond movies, but they were strategic failures, said Citrinowicz, now a senior research fellow at the Institute for Policy and Strategy in Herzliya. Even if they delayed the nuclear program for one week or one month, then what?

He said that Western isolation from Iran also contributed to the electoral downfall of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, considered a pragmatist, and the victory of ultraconservative Ebrahim Raisi, a disciple of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini who has long argued that Israel is a cancerous tumor that should be annihilated, and that the West cannot be trusted.

Israeli officials have been increasingly speaking about launching a military strike against Iran, with or without U.S. cooperation, in case negotiations fail. Most Jewish Israelis still see Iran as an existential threat and support Israeli military action - even without American consent - rather than diplomacy to resolve the crisis, according to a November poll by the Israel Democracy Institute.

Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz told Foreign Policy magazine in September that he would accept the current U.S. approach of putting the Iran nuclear program back in a box, but he added that Israel was urging the Biden administration to put military options on the table.

The Israeli military on Nov. 4 received a $1.5 billion budget allocation for a potential strike on Iran to pay for aircraft, intelligence-gathering drones and armaments, and officials in the Israel Defense Forces assert that military action has always been on the table. We, as the IDF and Israel, are prepared to defend ourselves, by ourselves, said a senior military official, speaking on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter.

But former Israeli prime minister Ehud Barak wrote on the Israeli news site Ynet that Israel can learn from experience that Iran has the ability to advance its nuclear program, even under sanctions, and that publicly breaking with the United States on Iran policy - as Netanyahu did with the Obama administration - serves no national security purpose.

This new reality requires a sober assessment of the situation, decisions and actions and not hollow public threats - which may impress some Israeli citizens, but not the Iranians nor their negotiating partners, he said.
Brig. Gen. Richard Bell, deputy commander of Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve, visits U.S. service members stationed at Al Asad Air Base in western Iraq on July 24, 2021. Bell met with soldiers and airmen in various critical positions across the base who are supporting the mission to advise, equip and assist the Iraqi Security Forces in the fight against the Islamic State. (Sgt. 1st Class Christie Smith/U.S. Army National Guard photo)

WASHINGTON  About 2,500 U.S. troops will remain in Iraq despite Thursdays formal end of the U.S. combat mission there, chief Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said.

The U.S. and Iraq on Thursday announced the combat missions end following the final meeting of its military-technical coalition, which was tasked with discussing and implementing an agreement in July by both nations to transition the U.S. militarys role in Iraq.

The agreement reached by President Joe Biden and Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi included that the U.S. would remove all its troops with a combat role from Iraq by the years end. At the time, there were about 2,500 troops in Iraq targeting the Islamic State terrorist group.

Kirby on Thursday said the number of U.S. troops in Iraq wont change, but it could in the future.

Remember, this is a change in mission, right? Not necessarily a change in physical posture, he said. It's not like today they snap the chalk line and all of a sudden there's a massive change in the daily operations of our men and women over there.

Rather, the troops are shifting their mission to an advisory role supporting Iraqi Security Forces fighting ISIS.

The U.S. had already begun transitioning toward training Iraqi forces when the July agreement was made, so the change is not expected to have a major impact, defense officials have said.

There won't be a dramatic shift from yesterday to tomorrow, based on how we've already been working ourselves into this new mission, Kirby said. What we hope the Iraqi people see is the continued competence and confidence of their security forces in the field fighting against ISIS.

Still, Kirby said the Thursday announcement of the combat missions formal end was not mere symbolism.

It's an affirmation of what we've agreed to do and what we have accomplished, he said. What was spoken to today was the end result of a long period of consultations and transition already underway in keeping with our commitments to the Iraqi government.

Though the U.S.-Iraq coalition have completed its talks, Iraqi national security adviser Qassim al-Araji in a tweet Thursday wrote the relationship of the two nations will continue in the field of training, advice and empowerment.

The end of combat operations in Iraq comes about three months after the U.S. ended its 20 years of combat in Afghanistan on Aug. 30. However, unlike the Iraq end-of-operations, no U.S. troops remained in Afghanistan to support the government, which is now run by the Taliban.

Caitlin Doornbos Caitlin Doornbos covers the Pentagon for Stars and Stripes after covering the Navys 7th Fleet as Stripes Indo-Pacific correspondent at Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan. Previously, she worked as a crime reporter in Lawrence, Kan., and Orlando, Fla., where she was part of the Orlando Sentinel team that placed as finalist for the 2017 Pulitzer Prize for breaking news. Caitlin has a Bachelor of Science in journalism from the University of Kansas and masters degree in defense and strategic studies from the University of Texas at El Paso.
Brig. Gen. Richard Bell, deputy commander of Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve, visits U.S. service members stationed at Al Asad Air Base in western Iraq on July 24, 2021. Chief Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2021, that the U.S. is expected to carry out its commitment to end its combat mission in Iraq by the end of the year. (Christie Smith/U.S. Army National Guard)

WASHINGTON  The U.S. is expected to carry out its commitment to end its combat mission in Iraq by the end of the year, chief Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said Wednesday.

President Joe Biden in July pledged to remove all U.S. troops with a combat role from Iraq by 2022 as part of an agreement with Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi. At the time, there were about 2,500 troops in Iraq targeting Islamic State fighters.

The United States will uphold our commitments, including that there will be no U.S. forces with a combat role by the end of the year, Kirby told reporters Wednesday at the Pentagon.

As part of the agreement, Biden said he would keep some troops in the country to operate in an advisory role.

U.S. forces will remain in Iraq of course at the invitation of the government of Iraq in an advising, assisting, enabling and an intelligence-sharing role to support the Iraqi Security Forces in their fight against ISIS, Kirby said.

He did not say how many troops are now serving combat roles in Iraq. However, the U.S. has already begun shifting toward training Iraqi forces, so the change is not expected to have a major impact, defense officials have said.

The U.S. and Iraq on Thursday will conduct a meeting of its military-technical committees, which were established to discuss and implement the decisions made in the July agreement.

The two nations will issue a joint statement at the end of the meeting, Kirby said, without detailing what it would include.

The end of combat operations in Iraq comes about three months after the U.S. ended its 20 years of combat in Afghanistan on Aug. 30. However, unlike the Iraq end-of-operations, no U.S. troops remained in Afghanistan to support the government, which is now run by the Taliban.
A U.S. soldier in Texas has been sentenced to more than 14 years in prison for purchasing and possessing child pornography.

Army investigators found the illicit material in the cellphone of Hae Yeong Song, a private first class stationed at Joint Base San AntonioFort Sam Houston, Texas, court documents and a government officials said.

This case involved the sexual abuse of children as young as three years old, said U.S. Attorney Ashley C. Hoff, in a Justice Department statement Wednesday.

Agents from the FBI and the United States Army Criminal Investigation Division found more than a dozen videos and images of child pornography, prosecutors said.

Investigators found text messages between Song, 29, and an unknown person known as Mr.Hushh18 as they negotiated a price for the videos in January 2018. The messages took place via the Telegram app and were translated from Korean after Song surrendered his phone to military investigators, court documents said.

U.S. District Judge David A. Ezra found Song guilty of receipt of child pornography and of possession of child pornography last July. Besides the 170-month prison sentence, the judge ordered Song to pay $22,500 in restitution.

Those who traffic in obscene material continue the abuse of that child that was captured when the file was created, said Christopher Combs, a special agent with the FBI, in Wednesdays statement.
In this image provided by The White House, President Joe Biden speaks as he meets virtually via a secure video conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin from the Situation Room at the White House in Washington, Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2021. (Adam Schultz)

WASHINGTON - President Joe Biden on Wednesday ruled out putting U.S. combat troops in Ukraine for now, a day after he warned Russian President Vladimir Putin in a video call that Russia would face severe economic sanctions if he mounts an invasion.

That is not on the table, Biden said when asked if he was considering, as some lawmakers have suggested, stationing U.S. troops in or around Ukraine to protect against a potential Russian move.

Bidens comments to reporters as he left the White House for an event in Kansas City, Mo., marked his clearest articulation of what the United States is and is not willing to do to curb Russian aggression in the region.

The White House has long rejected the notion of putting U.S. combat troops at risk in an area that Russia considers part of its sphere of influence - and Biden, having endured a rocky exit from Afghanistan, is not eager to jump into another complex military conflict. But his emphatic restatement of his position at this crisis point was notable.

Instead, the president reiterated his broad commitment to punishing Russia should Putin choose to move ahead with an invasion of its western neighbor. I made very clear if in fact he invades Ukraine, there will be severe consequences, severe consequences, economic consequences like ones hes never seen, Biden said. His immediate response was he understood that.

Biden also said an invasion would lead to an increased U.S. presence in the NATO countries in the region and suggested his calculus could change if one of them were attacked by Russia. From Estonia to Turkey, a line of NATO countries lies just to the west of Russia and Ukraine.

Biden is scheduled to speak with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday, the White House said. After that call, Biden will speak to the leaders of nine eastern European countries that are NATO members.

We have a moral obligation and a legal obligation to our NATO allies to respond if they are attacked, Biden said, referring to Article Five of the alliances treaty, which states that an attack on one member is viewed as an attack on all.

That obligation does not extend to . . . Ukraine, Biden said pointedly. The idea that the United States is going to unilaterally use force to confront Russia invading Ukraine is not in the cards right now.

During a two-hour video call between Biden and Putin on Tuesday, the Russian president made clear that he wants assurances from the United States that Ukraine will not join NATO - an unlikely near-term outcome regardless, despite Ukraines eagerness. He also complained that the U.S.-led military alliance is encroaching on Russias borders and conducting threatening activities on Ukrainian territory.

Biden said last week that he would reject any demands by Putin on a prospective Ukraine membership in NATO. I dont accept anybodys red lines, he said.

The current crisis has its origins in 2014, when Russia invaded and annexed the Ukrainian region of Crimea, a move condemned by the United States and its allies as brazenly illegal. Since then, Russian-backed fighters have battled Ukrainian forces in eastern Ukraine.

Bidens comments came as Russia has positioned additional troops on the Ukrainian border. According to U.S. officials and an intelligence document obtained by The Washington Post and U.S. officials, U.S. intelligence thinks Russia may be planning a multi-front offensive into Ukraine involving as many as 175,000 troops as early as next year.

Still, Russia experts say it can be hard to fathom Putins motives, and the show of force could be aimed at gaining diplomatic leverage more than an actual invasion.

Karine Jean-Pierre, the deputy White House press secretary, said that although the United States is not planning unilateral military force to confront Russia, all options remain open.

Thats not our focus - our current focus, Jean-Pierre said. But we are preparing for all contingencies, as we have been doing for weeks now, including preparing specific robust responses to Russian escalation should they be required.

The United States has placed troops in Ukraine for training, so the discussion has revolved around the question of combat troops.

Overall, Biden characterized his video call with Putin as very straightforward and said he did not mince words.
The Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery in Killeen, Texas, as seen here in 2019, is one of four veterans cemeteries run by the state. Officials began discussions in October of adding new cemeteries to the system, which has sparked a debate on the best way to fund the growth. (Texas General Land Office)

Texas officials are looking to expand the states veteran cemetery system to meet its large veteran population, but some officials questioned whether doing so will come at the expense of services for living veterans.

The issue prompted the first public meeting of the Texas State Veterans Cemeteries Committee in more than 15 years and has led to the resignation of the cemetery programs top official, the reassignment of a state agencys chief investment officer, and triggered numerous letters between state officials about comments that described the cemeteries as money-losing programs.

Its an emotional, complicated issue that state officials will need to spend some time on, said state Sen. Charles Perry, a Lubbock-based Republican, who would like to see one of the next veterans cemeteries built in his city.

The Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery in Killeen, Texas, as seen here in 2019, is one of four veterans cemeteries run by the state. Texas buries about 2,000 people each year in the cemeteries and is discussing whether to add new locations to meet population growth. (Texas General Land Office)

Overall, the population in Texas grew by nearly 4 million people during the last decade. About 1.5 million veterans live in the state  a number that has held steady as younger veterans make Texas their home. The post 9/11 veteran population in the state has grown by more than 118,000 in 10 years, while the number of World War II and Korean War veterans declined by about 140,000.

Officials participating in the meeting agreed the state could benefit from increased veterans cemetery space, but they have to decide how to manage the growth.

Building two new cemeteries, one in Lubbock and another possibly in the town of Tyler, was the plan under discussion at the recent meeting of the cemeteries committee. Lubbock, which is in the northernmost portion of the state  known as the Texas Panhandle  lacks a nearby option to offer veterans. Tyler, which is in the eastern region of the state, has seen its veteran population grow in recent the years.

We've got to prepare and look ahead 20 years, and make sure there's capacity to meet those needs, Perry said. We just need to have an honest conversation about [whether] that is a state responsibility or is that a continuation of robbing Peter to pay Paul out of veteran programs that exists today? Or do we have enough [burial space]?

The Department of Veterans Affairs runs 155 national cemeteries across the country, according to the department. States can set up their own cemeteries based on federal guidelines as a way to augment the system, and can apply for funding from the Veterans Cemetery Grant Program.

George P. Bush, commissioner of the Texas General Land Office, left, and retired Air Force Mater Sgt. Eric Brown, former deputy director of Texas State Veterans Cemeteries, attend the burial of an unaccompanied veteran in 2019 at the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery in Killeen, Texas. (Texas General Land Office)

There are 119 state, territorial and tribal veterans cemeteries that have received those VA grants in the past 40 years, according to the VA.

In locations where 80,000 or more veterans are without reasonable access to a national cemetery or VA grant-funded cemetery, the VAs National Cemetery Administration will establish a new national cemetery. Reasonable access is defined as living within 75 miles of an already established cemetery, either federal or state.

As of this month, the VA calculated nearly 94% of veterans living in the U.S. have reasonable access to a burial option. The strategic goal of the administration is to offer reasonable access to 95% of veterans.

The Texas legislature first authorized state-run cemeteries for veterans in 2001, allocating $7 million yearly from the Veterans Land Board for up to seven cemeteries. Since then, four have opened. There are also five federal cemeteries in the state, one of which is only open for cremated remains. A sixth federal cemetery is closed.

During the Oct. 29 meeting of the cemeteries committee, Rusty Martin, the chief investment officer for the General Land Office, said the four existing cemeteries each cost about $2.2 million annually to operate. Even with outside funding that comes primarily from VA grants and reimbursements, each one loses about $1.34 million per year.

If all things remain the same, he expects the program to reach the $7 million threshold for state funds by 2028. Additional money for the cemeteries would have to come from other veterans programs such as nursing homes and a home-loan program, both of which generate their own funds, he said.

Im a money guy. Im not comfortable putting any kind of money into money-losing programs, Martin said during the meeting. It doesnt make sense to me. But there are political considerations here and other considerations.

Retired Air Force Master Sgt. Eric Brown, then the deputy director of Texas State Veterans Cemeteries, said the comments were a public expression of the disrespect hes seen toward cemeteries within the Veterans Land Board since he became the top official in 2013. The comments led him to resign from the position, effective Nov. 30.

[The cemeteries] should be there first to honor our veterans and say thank you, Brown said. Thats the way I perceive it. I wish the agency would perceive it that way.

Martins comments also prompted some state lawmakers to write letters of concern to George P. Bush, the chairman of the Veterans Land Board and commissioner of its higher agency, the General Land Office.

These disrespectful remarks have resulted in a severe loss of confidence among many Texas veterans in the [General Land Offices] future management of the Texas State Veterans Cemeteries, wrote state Sen. Kelly Hancock, a Republican from North Richland Hills and chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs and Border Security Committee.

Bush responded with a letter to Hancock that Martin was relieved of duties related to the Veterans Land Board, but he remains on staff with the General Land Office.

As a former naval intelligence officer who deployed to Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom, I firmly believe that his remarks were disrespectful and insulting to anyone who has put on the uniform to serve our great nation, Bush wrote.

The General Land Office declined requests for interviews.

State Sen. Juan Chuy Hinojosa, a Democrat from Corpus Christi, wrote a letter to Bush that called for Hancocks committee and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick to study funding of the cemeteries and consider moving the program to a different state agency, the Texas Veterans Commission.

Outside of state funding and VA grant money, state-run cemeteries also get federal reimbursement for burials, which rose in October from $807 to $828 per burial. The reimbursement doesnt fully cover the $3,400 each burial costs the state, Martin said during the October meeting.

The VA does not reimburse for spouse burials and Texas does not charge for them. Some states, such as California, do charge for them.

Californias legislature also allocates money each year, most recently about $1.68 million, for its three state-run cemeteries, one of which is a small cemetery that serves a veterans nursing home. The state also accepts contributions from private donors and local communities that support the cemeteries, said Michael Magee, assistant deputy secretary of the Veterans Services Division at the California Department of Veterans Affairs. The plan in California is to provide the cemeteries as a benefit to veterans and their families, he said.

Its a great place for veterans to gather to commemorate Memorial Day, to celebrate Veterans Day, and to honor the people who are no longer with them, Magee said. The state of California has contributed and supported the funds that weve needed to keep it operational, in part for those reasons.

Texas and California have similar veteran populations, 1.5 million and 1.8 million, respectively, according to officials from each state. Texas, however, buries about 2,000 people a year at its state cemeteries whereas California does slightly more than 1,000.

Perry, the Texas senator who is advocating to have a new cemetery in Lubbock, said his district is now served by a state cemetery in Abilene, which has plenty of room to grow. But many Lubbock-area veterans dont like idea of their loved ones having to travel more than 320 miles round trip to their gravesite.

He said he also understands the need for fiscal responsibility when it comes to other veterans programs, and he is working with the VA to determine whether the city can qualify for federal designation, particularly because it could draw in veterans living in eastern New Mexico, southern Colorado and western Oklahoma.

I can understand the veterans appeal for it, but I'll be truthful, I've got just as many veterans that would say, Well, you know, we're about living, Perry said. Is it more important for me to be living on these things than it is to be worried about my final resting place?
This is one of the dogs in training in its kennel at the K9s for Warriors campus in Nocatee, Fla., in 2020. (Bob Self, Florida Times-Union/TNS)

(Tribune News Service) A federal bill that finally makes service dogs an accepted part of U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs-approved therapy for military veterans with post-traumatic stress is now law.

Signed by President Joe Biden, the bill implements a new policy on service dog therapy for veterans, exactly what Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.-based K9s for Warriors has been pushing for in recent years to help them better manage their lives despite PTSD and other post-combat traumas.

K9s for Warriors CEO Rory Diamond began working on it five years ago with local congressmen, finding facts to back up the need that saw it finally passed. Now the VA must open a service dog referral program to veterans with PTSD to help organizations like K9s for Warriors.

"It doesn't have any money attached to it, so it won't answer our financial problems, but it makes it possible to do a pilot project on working together," Diamond said. "It will look more like an organization like K9s for Warriors working with the VA and finding a way to use current VA resources to get more dogs in the hands of more warriors. It's still in the formation stage of working with them as to how they will help organizations like us."

The National Center for PTSD reports that soldiers who have been on missions that exposed them to "horrible and life-threatening experiences" can lead to PTSD. It says that 11 to 20 of every 100 veterans who fought in Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom have PTSD in a given year.

About 12 out of every 100 Gulf War and Desert Storm veterans have PTSD in a given year. And about 30 out of every 100 Vietnam War veterans have had it in their lifetime, according to a late 1980s National Vietnam Veterans Readjustment Study.

The nonprofit K9s for Warriors matches veterans with dogs that can help mitigate their symptoms as well as restore their confidence and independence. It has trained about 700 Warrior/K9 teams after rescuing about 1,300 dogs, many from high-kill rescue shelters.

K9s for Warriors service dog Kup gets a rub from Marine veteran Chris Langston after a 2019 ceremony of a new home. (Will Dickey, Florida Times-Union/TNS)

Resilient efforts make it happen

Diamond said he began working on the first draft of the Puppies Assisting Wounded Servicemembers for Veterans Therapy Act  called PAWS  with then-Rep. Ron DeSantis, but it stalled in Congress. A second version presented the next year made it further, then Diamond said he worked with Rep. John Rutherford on a third version. The fourth attempt, sponsored by Rep. Steve Stivers, "was the one that worked," Diamond said. It was signed by the president on Aug. 25.

The PAWS bill specifically requires the VA to implement a five-year pilot program to "provide canine training to eligible veterans diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder" as part of a total health program. The bill mandates that the pilot program be carried out by not fewer than five VA medical centers in geographically diverse areas.

Eligible veterans are those enrolled in the VA health care system who have been recommended for participation by a mental health care provider or clinical team, the bill says. Then the VA must work with accredited non-government groups like K9s for Warriors that provide canine training.

"Veterans who participate in the program are authorized to adopt the dog they assisted in training if their health provider determines it is in the best interest of the veteran," the bill's summary states. "The VA must establish processes to document and track the progress of participating veterans with respect to health benefits and improvements."

The sad part is that many people probably thought the VA already helped a disabled military veteran get paired with a service dog. But the federal agency never has, until now, Diamond said.

"The VA has fought doing that year after year. In fact, they won't even acknowledge that a service dog will help a veteran with post-traumatic stress," he said. "So K9 for Warriors partnered with Perdue University and came up with a stack of peer-reviewed, published and prestigious journals (to) show that the dogs work, that they dramatically change the lives of warriors and took that to the VA."

A study by researchers Marguerite O'Haire and Kerri Rodriguez shows that psychiatric service dogs are a complementary treatment for military veterans with PTSD.

"The addition of trained service dogs to usual care may confer clinically meaningful improvements in PTSD symptomology for military members and veterans with PTSD, though does not appear to be associated with a loss of diagnosis," its conclusion states.

K9s for Warriors CEO Rory Diamond unveils the nonprofit's new logo during its 10-year anniversary event. (K9s for Warriors/TNS)

Only the beginning

The Congressional Budget Office expects the federal pilot program will cost the VA $30 million over its five-year period. The program's national success will be monitored by the U.S. Government Accountability Office and Congress.

Diamond said the pilot program is a "strong first step" toward the VA recognizing that service dogs can help a veteran. He hopes that it becomes permanent and plans to work on a further PAWS act that has funding.

"We will keep pushing and keep kicking that door open wider and wider until the VA becomes a full partner in this," Diamond said. "Until then, organizations like ours will be privately funded and we will simply not be able to serve the number of veterans we need to."

K9s for Warriors had been mainly helping veterans of more recent military operations in the Middle East, Iraq and Afghanistan. But when studies showed that suicide disproportionately affects older veterans who previously had not been eligible for K9s for Warriors' services, the 10-year-old organization began working to provide canine companions to Vietnam War veterans.

dscanlan@jacksonville.com

2021 www.jacksonville.com.

Visit jacksonville.com.

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Daniel Hutchinson

From The Hutch

Christmas presents can be placed into three main categories  heartfelt, practical and minimal.

Heartfelt gifts are obviously the most time consuming, requiring hours of browsing and a good knowledge of the recipients personal belongings.

At the other end of the scale is the minimal gift, which starts at the Nothing At All category, stepping up to a scratchie stuffed in a Christmas card and culminating in the what do you want for Christmas? question.

Finally, there is the practical category  things that you would have to buy anyway but you call them presents.

Parents are notorious for this, and Im no exception. Every year, gifts would include body soaps, socks and t-shirts, beach towels and sunblock, alongside more thoughtful items, like cash.

This year, it looks like the commissioners at Tauranga City Council are going down this route as well. We are getting a new civic precinct in the CBD. Under the tree is a museum, library, hotel, performing arts and conference centre and a civic whare, whatever that is.

Some assembly is required and we will have to pay for this gift ourselves, which takes some of the gloss off it. Hopefully its not like the parking building that we got a couple of years ago, which turned out to be faulty and then couldnt be returned.

Best CBD ideas

It doesnt get any more heartfelt than a new heart for the CBD, so I got thinking about what would be the ultimate downtown area.

Its not actually the first time Ive received a CBD for Christmas. The first one was just a plastic mat with streets and key buildings like fire, police and ambulance stations.

The idea was to just hoon around the two dimensional diarama with your favourite Matchbox car without any regard for the emergency services.

I was easily amused as a child, so it stands to reason that is still the case. Surely, all I really need is a road to drive around on.

Driving them crazy

It seems that good transport is probably number one on the list of things that people in cities want.

Jakarta, the capital city of Indonesia, consistently makes the list of worst cities to live in because its residents spend an average of 400 hours a year sitting in traffic.

Sao Paulo in Brazil  home to 12 million people  has the same problem. Its so bad that wealthy people opt to take a helicopter instead. The city has more helicopters per capita than anywhere else in the world. In the end they built an elevated, four-lane highway right through the lively heart of the city and named it after a giant earthworm.

Even Boston, which is home to some pretty gorgeous suburbs, is a massive pain in the proverbial to get around. Its first streets roughly followed cattle paths and have since become a bit of a maze.

Cities need people

Good roads arent everything though. For example, Myanmar built a brand new city to be its capital. Naypyidaw has modern and massive infrastructure, including 20-lane highways.

The problem is, it was built in the middle of nowhere so people havent exactly been flocking there. At rush hour, government workers have all 20 lanes to themselves pretty much. This city is six times the size of New York, but has a population of fewer than one million.

Too much debauchery

Cities that are hailed as progressive, modern and cool dont get bogged down in traffic issues.

Take Amsterdam, which has always been a bit ahead of its time but the big hand is coming around again when it comes to prostitution.

It is legal in the big Dutch city, but only indoors  no street soliciting. This has resulted in the sort of window dressing that wouldnt get past most town centre committees. The mayor is concerned that the raunchy window displays are attracting gawpers.

She is proposing to close the brothel windows of the red light district and, instead, set them up in an erotic centre.

Taurangas proposed new civic centre doesnt have anything like that in it, but it does include a museum, which is pretty exciting. It does help to know where you have been, to figure out where to go next, otherwise well end up like the dinosaurs.

People gawping at empty windows is a good way to go extinct.

daniel@thesun.co.nz
New Zealands Facebook users can now sign up to be notified of opportunities nearby to give blood and plasma.

Facebook has launched a Blood Donations feature in partnership with New Zealand Blood Service.

It comes as NZBS is appealing to New Zealanders to save a life this summer and not wait to book an appointment to donate.

As the sun heats up across the country over the coming months, NZBS will face one of its most challenging periods:

-While the country relaxes, NZBS still needs to collect more than 4000 blood and plasma donations every week to meet this demand.

-More than 7600 Kiwis will need lifesaving blood or plasma over summer. That includes 585 Kiwis in the week leading up to Christmas alone.

-Every day this summer, an estimated 16 Kiwis will have an accident that requires a blood or plasma transfusion.

With only four per cent of the eligible population in New Zealand currently donating, it is hoped that Facebook's Blood Donations feature will help make blood donation more visible and accessible to Facebooks community of nearly three million New Zealanders.

Available from today, Facebook users in New Zealand aged between 18 and 65 can sign up to receive notifications about opportunities to donate blood at local donation centres, and even link directly to the appointment website to schedule a donation.

Every 18 minutes in New Zealand someone will experience an unseen emergency and need lifesaving blood and plasma, says Asuka Burge, National Marketing and Communications Manager at NZBS.

Thats about 30,000 Kiwis every year whose lives are saved and improved by blood and plasma donors.

To ensure we are able to continue to meet demand, every week we have more than 4000 appointments to fill, and there are more than 300 places to donate blood throughout the year. W

We know one barrier to donation is often knowing where and how to donate, so we are calling on all eligible Kiwis, no matter where in New Zealand theyre enjoying their summer holiday break, to sign up to the Facebook Blood Donations feature to receive updates about giving blood and notifications about opportunities to donate near you.

Encourage your Facebook friends and family to do the same, and help us save lives together.

Since the launch of the Blood Donations feature in 2017, more than 100 million Facebook users have signed up globally to receive notifications from nearby blood donation centers about opportunities to donate, increasing blood donations around the world and helping maintain blood supplies during Covid-19.

We are proud to support NZ Bloods vital work in helping encourage Kiwis to give blood, especially at a time when its donation targets continue to grow and it needs more donors than ever before to ensure it can continue to meet demand, says Nick McDonnell, Head of Public Policy for Meta New Zealand and Pacific Islands.

Our Blood Donations feature allows Facebook users to register to receive notifications about donating, and blood donor centres to raise awareness about blood needs among people nearby.

During the Covid-19 crisis, weve seen many Kiwis come together on Facebook to help each other, for example by offering support to others in Facebook Groups.

This product launching today is another way New Zealanders can come together and use our services to learn about how and where they can donate blood.
Katikati based Project Parore is now able to put people, as well as ideas, to work for the benefit of its ecological restoration projects in the catchments of the Northern Tauranga Harbour.

The project will receive $5 million of funding over five years.

This includes a recent $1,748,000 grant from the Ministry for the Environments Jobs for Nature fund, which together with funds from other providers means Project Parore can now employ four fulltime staff.

We will employ a project manager, a team leader and two restoration crew members. Until now we have relied solely on wonderful teams of volunteers and landowners to do much of our work, says Lawrie Donald of Project Parore.

Financial support has also come from Bay of Plenty Regional Council, BayTrust, TECT, Western Bay of Plenty District Council, Katikati Taiao and the Department of Conservation.

We are extremely grateful for the funding we have received, which makes it possible to implement our environmental programmes, says Lawrie, who has been instrumental in preparing the organisations successful funding applications.

Project Parores mission stretches across eight adjoining catchments: Aongatete, Waitekohe, Te Mania, Te Rereatukahia, Uretara, Tahawai, Tuapiro and Waiau, all of which flow from the Kaimai range into the northern tidal zone of the Tauranga Harbour.

David Peters, the newly elected chair of Project Parores governance board, says because of health and safety requirements, the work of community volunteers is often restricted to planting trees.

We are incredibly grateful to our volunteers and landowners and absolutely want them to remain involved.

Once we employ staff trained to operate powered equipment and use chemicals, working five days a week on all terrain, we can more quickly make a difference at scale and help our vision come to life.

That vision includes not only enhancing water quality and biodiversity but also creating wildlife corridors from the hills to the harbour by controlling pests, protecting native vegetation and carrying out restoration of coastal areas.

Entomologist Peter Maddison, patron and scientific advisor to Project Parore, says work to stop soil and nutrients from entering waterways in the first place, swales to slow down water movements and the planting of a succession of plants to stop sediment getting into the harbour is vital work.

We will be growing native plants especially for these restoration projects at our nursery. We will not compete with commercial nurseries but grow the more unusual, endangered and hard to propagate species.

One of the first projects the new staff will be involved in is pest and weed control and the formation of walking tracks in the Waitekohekohe Reserve (previously Lund Road Reserve) which is a mix of native bush and pine forest located between Lund Road and Thompsons Track and includes the Waitekohe Stream.

Lawrie says the team will also be available to assist landowners to carry out restoration projects on private land.

Peter says another pleasing development is working closely with local hapu.

We want to meld their goals and ideas with ours so together we can bring the native fish parore back to the Tauranga Harbour by improving land management practices and protecting waterways from further degradation.

Improving the quality of water entering the harbour, ultimately leading to the restoration of the parores habitat will be one measure of the projects eventual success.
Associate Health Minister Ayesha Verrall is announcing the government's Smokefree 2025 Action Plan after public consultation this year.

The government has been considering proposals to meet the government's goal of making New Zealand smokefree by 2025.

Verrall launched Auahi Kore Aotearoa Mahere Rautaki 2025, the Smokefree 2025 Action Plan at an event in Parliament this morning.

Smoking is still the leading cause of preventable death in New Zealand and causes one in four cancers. Smoking related harm is particularly prevalent in our Maori, Pacific and low income communities.

"While smoking rates are heading in the right direction, we need to do more, faster to reach our goal. If nothing changes, it would be decades till Maori smoking rates fall below five per cent, and this Government is not prepared to leave people behind.

"Weve already seen the full impact of excise tax increases. The Government recognises that going further will not help people quit, it will only further punish smokers who are struggling to kick the habit. That's why, our plan, released today contains new measures to help us get to our goal.

We want to make sure young people never start smoking so we will make it an offence to sell or supply smoked tobacco products to new cohorts of youth. People aged 14 when the law comes into effect will never be able to legally purchase tobacco.

We are also reducing the appeal, addictiveness and availability of smoked tobacco products. New laws will mean only smoked tobacco products containing very low-levels of nicotine can be sold, with a significant reduction in the number of shops who can sell them.

The changes will not come into effect immediately, giving retailers time to transition to a new business model.

Alongside policies in the action plan that will become law, practical support measures for smokers are also being prioritised.

Preventing people from starting to smoke and helping those who smoke to quit means we are covering both ends of the spectrum.

We know its really tough to break the habit and some people who smoke will understandably need lots of support leading up to these changes taking effect.

Budget 2021 provided $36 million for health promotion programmes, scaling up stop smoking services and for Pacific health providers so they can tailor support for Pacific communities.

Smokefree taskforce

We are establishing a Maori Advisory Taskforce to bring robust decision-making and leadership to the action plan, with a focus on achieving better outcomes for Maori.

The chair is Dame Tariana Turia DNZM. The other members are former Te Tai Tokerau MP, Hone Harawira; Research Evaluation Consultancy Director, Nan Wehipeihana; Executive Director of Arai Te Uru Whare Hauora, Donna Matahaere-Atariki MNZM; and Hapai Te Hauora Chief Executive Officer, Selah Hart. Each member is a leader in advancing health for Maori and offers a unique blend of expertise including knowledge of tobacco control and the public health sector.

Through evaluation, monitoring and reporting, the taskforce will ensure the Ministry of Health, Government and the tobacco control sector remain accountable to the actions in the plan.

I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the hard mahi of smokefree champions past and present which has helped us get to where we are now. I would also like to thank New Zealanders who have helped shape the plan by telling us what matters most to them.

A Pacific Advisory Group is also being established in the new year.
UPDATE: A family member has advised SunLive that a missing woman in Te Puke has been found.

Louise Cole was reported missing by police yesterday with concerns she was not familiar with the Te Puke area.

Her daughter has now informed SunLive that she has been found.

She extends her thanks to the amazing community for the help in locating her.

YESTERDAY: Police are appealing for sightings of a missing woman in Te Puke today.

Louise was last seen at Carter House in Te Puke today at around 12:40pm.

She is believed to be wearing green, patterned pants, a grey cardigan and jandals.

Louise is not familiar with the Te Puke area, says a police spokesperson.

Anyone who may have seen Louise is urged to contact 111 or 105, quoting file number P048894002
Three cases of the Omicron variant confirmed in Andalucia, and another four suspected The regions Ministry of Health said that all the infected people are self-isolating, have mild symptoms and that none have needed hospital admission for the moment

The Junta de Andalucia has confirmed the first three cases of the Omicron coronavirus variant in the region this Thursday, 9 December, as well as the existence of four other suspected cases that have yet to be positively identified.

Of the three confirmed cases of Omicron, two are located in Cadiz province and another in Almeria and all patients appear to have 'mild symptoms' are 'in self- isolation' and none of them has required hospital admission.

This has been disclosed by the regions Minister of Health, Jesus Aguirre, who said of the confirmed cases, two are people who made flights to South Africa and the third was infected by community transmission. In the latter case, the infection was picked in another region although the affected person travelled to Andalucia during the long bridge holiday.

Aguirre went on to assure that although the strain seems to have a greater transmission rate, it also has less "virulence."

The four suspected cases are being analysed in laboratories at the San Cecilio Hospital in Granada and the Virgen del Rocio Hospital in Seville, whose professionals Aguirre thanked for the daily work they do for the "sequencing" of new strains.
Watch as 80 firefighters battle through the night to control the Gualchos forest fire All the 50 evacuated residents have been allowed back to their homes after Infoca declared the blaze controlled this Thursday morning

Firefighters were hampered by the gusting wind in Gualchos. / PLAN INFOCA

More than 80 firefighters from the Junta de Andalucias specialist Infoca forest fire brigade worked though the night to tackle the blaze in the town of Gualchos in Granada province.

The ground crews were hampered by the strong winds in the area, with gusts of up to 65 kilometres per hour, which prevented air support taking off.

The fire was declared stabilised at around 5.30am this Thursday morning (8 December) and controlled at 10.30am, according to Infoca on its social media accounts.

The Juntas delegate in Granada, Pablo Garcia, deactivated Level 1 of Infocas Emergency Plan for Forest Fires that was put in place on Wednesday afternoon after the blaze was reported by around 20 callers to the 112 emergency number. Level 1 is activated when there is a risk to people and property.

The emergency services evacuated some fifty residents in the upper area of the town on Wednesday, as a precautionary measure, and all have now been allowed back to their homes.

Motril firefighters, Guardia Civil, Local and National Police officers and Civil Protection volunteers also joined the Infoca specialists to manage the incident.

#IFGualchos, activo con nivel 1.

Actualizacion de medios: 8 grupos de #BomberosForestales, 1 #BRICA, 1 director de COP, 1 tecnico de supervision, 1 #TOP analista, 3 #TOP, 3 #AAMM, 7 autobombas y la Unidad Medica de Incendios Forestales.



Batefuegos y motosierras contra. pic.twitter.com/Wj6MLXa1tk INFOCA (@Plan_INFOCA) December 8, 2021

#IFGualchos, activo, nivel 1.

Actualizacion de medios: 1 #Brica, 8 grupos de #BomberosForestales, 2 #TOP, 1 director de COP, 2 agentes de medio ambiente y 7 vehiculos autobomba.

Rachas de viento de 65 km/h



pic.twitter.com/GuDbAW0IIC INFOCA (@Plan_INFOCA) December 8, 2021
Handmade turron made in Malaga (and where to buy it) Alongside the more classic flavours, in recent years original creations have started to appear, many of which are made with local products

Turron, along with mantecados, polvorones and roscos de vino are synonymous with Christmas in Spain, much like mince pies and Christmas pudding is in the UK. Along the Costa del Sol and inland in Malaga province there are some go-to places where locals flock to buy the festive treats.

Although the origin of this confectionery tradition can be traced back to the east of Spain, there are currently several establishments in Malaga that make these typical Christmas delicacies using traditional methods. Alongside the more classic flavours of Jijona, Alicante, chocolate or egg yolk, in recent years original creations have started to spring up, many of which are made using local products from avocado to almonds and Malaga sweet wine to mango. Here are some of the options for buying turron made in Malaga.

Daver, Ronda

Daver has been dazzling the people of Ronda and visitors to the town with tempting sweets since 1942. It has a wide range of turron, from the classic to the more innovative creations, but always handmade. The conventional bars include chocolate with almonds, hazelnuts or cream, but there is also a long and delicious list: praline with salted peanuts, truffle, chocolate with orange, praline with macadamia nuts, marzipan with cream and nuts, praline with almonds and praline with pistachios. There is also a lactose-free option, dried fruit, and a sugar-free option. Customers can choose between the conventional flavours or even selection boxes containing an assortment. Daver has a physical shop on the corner of Carrera Vicente Espinel (better known as Calle La Bola), as well as a website.

Turron in Pasteleria Ramos in La Caleta de Velez / sur

Pasteleria Ramos, La Caleta de Velez

Pasteleria Ramos cake shop has become especially well known in the last decade for its original turron creations. Among its flavours there is tarta de Algarrobo, Malaga wine and sultanas, lime and avocado, Zumbral sweet wine and jasmine, pistachio and raspberry, salted caramel and pine nuts and mango. Pasteleria Ramos has also been making classic turrones for many years and their repertoire also includes the traditional pan de Cadiz, fruit, Jijona, almonds, cream and walnuts and chocolate with nuts. As well as being able to buy them directly from the shop on the main road in La Caleta de Velez, they can also be ordered online.

Mira, Malaga

The name Mira in Malaga is associated not only with handmade ice cream, but also with the its turron. The family has been producing its popular delicacies since 1890, when Severino Mira arrived from Jijona. Among the flavours that can be bought (by weight) are Jijona, Alicante, toasted egg yolk, guirlache, fruit, coconut and pan de Cadiz, among others. They are all handmade using natural ingredients. Establishments include Dimas Mira e Hijos in Calle Larios and Calle Cister in the city centre, Fernando Mira in Calle Compas de la Victoria, Calle Marques de Valdecanas and Calle Andres Perez.

Almensur uses Malaga almonds in its classic bars / sur

Almensur, Cartama

Almensurs turron is made with Malaga almonds and the company offers the classic flavours of Jijona, Alicante and chocolate. Although they are not made in the province, the main raw material, almonds, is from Malaga. The turron is available in various establishments in the province as well as the companys own shop in Estacion de Cartama. The shop also sells Christmas products from other Malaga-based companies.
Manuel Gutierrez de la Concha, first Marquis del Duero, died in the battle of Monte Muru on 27 June, 1874. This event was captured by painter Joaquin Agrassot in his painting The Death of the Marquis del Duero, completed in 1884. Now, a municipal building in San Pedro Alcantara displays an interpretation of this piece of the town's history by graffiti artist Guillermo Paz, also known as Nesui.

San Pedro's head of the Culture, Jose Antonio Moreno, said that the aim of the mural is to become an icon of the town centre and to serve as a tourist attraction, as well as remembering the founder of the once agricultural settlement.

San Pedro cannot be understood without its origin linked to the land and its cultivation, to the sugar cane harvests and the sugar mills. The marquis, mainly a soldier and a politician, organised the agriculture of the area.

In 1857, he began purchasing plots of land between the meadows of the Guadaiza, Guadalmansa and Guadalmina rivers, which he then set aside for sugar plantations.

San Pedro was then built around these plantations, with homes for the labourers and foremen, a company warehouse, buildings to process the sugar canes and a church. Then the colony was blessed with the name San Pedro Alcantara, in honour of the marquis' only daughter, Pedra de Alcantara.

The town left its mark on 19th-century urban planning, with an urban grid that followed a clear hierarchy. When the marquis planned the town centre, he built a house for the administrator on the north side of the church square as well as a home for himself and his family: the Villa de San Luis. Now it serves as the district town hall.

In 1861, there were over 500 settlers living in Calle Lagasca, Pizarro and Duero. Multiple families all lived in simple, gable-roof houses. After the marquis' death and despite his debts, the settlement continued to flourish and by 1900 San Pedro had 2,000 inhabitants.

The Marquis del Duero was also interested in training his workers and the innovative development of the land. He kept a close eye on what other countries were doing and made his colony one of the best in Spain, both in its size and in innovations, which in turn helped transform the traditional Andalusian agriculture.

In order to achieve this, the marquis searched for specialised farmers, attracting workers from Valencia and Alicante and from the sugar cane growing areas of Granada and Almeria.

He also brought steam engines such as the locomotive and the threshing machine and created the Agricultural Training School or the Model Farm in order to produce specialists and foremen to promote development.
University of Malaga student receives scholarship from Soroptimist International The young architect, Elena Enciso Martinez, has been awarded a scholarship of 5,000 euros for a project that focuses on the temporary emergency accommodation offered to migrants

Elena Enciso Martinez, a young architect and student of the doctoral programme, City, Territory and Sustainable Planning, at the University of Malaga has been awarded a scholarship of 5,000 euros for her present academic year.

Elena's research project focuses on the temporary emergency accommodation offered in Spain to the continual flow of migrants arriving by sea. Elenas social vision of architecture was proposed by the Mijas based womens association, Soroptimist International Costa del Sol, and was selected by the scholarship committee of the European Federation of Soroptimist International.

The scholarship programme is held annually and SI Costa de Sol and has been supporting the students at the University of Malaga for several years.

In 2016, Laura Dominguez Garcia became the first Spanish student to receive the Soroptimist scholarship, and today she is the president of the Costa del Sol branch.

During the ceremony, the scholarship fund allocated almost 100,000 euros to 27 women for the 2021-2022 academic year. Soroptimist International Costa del Sol, which recently celebrated its 15th anniversary, has now launched the selection process for next year, the deadline of which, is 15 December. www.costadelsol.soroptimist.es

Soroptimist International, founded in Oakland, California in 1921, is an international NGO with a network of around 72,000 members in more than 120 countries around the world. The organisation strives to provide opportunities and transform the lives of women and girls.
Bars and restaurants on the warpath after smoking ban on terraces is mooted in Spain The Ministry of Health is also considering the prohibition of smoking in private cars, the generic packaging of cigarette brands and raising taxes on tobacco to try and cut down consumption

Again they are picking on the sector. And it is unworkable declared Jose Luis Yzuel, president of the Hospitality Industry of Spain, after waking to the news that the national Ministry of Health is preparing an ambitious new anti-smoking law that considers, among other measures, increasing the number smoke-free spaces, and banning smoking on the terraces of bars and restaurants.

It is sad. They create an issue with our customers when right now there is no problem," says Yzuel, who explains that when someone lights a cigarette on a terrace and another customer complains, one of the two "changes place and there is no problem."

The Aragon businessman believes that it makes no sense to ban smoking on the terraces, and wonders, "if a person is not going to be able to smoke on a terrace, if he sits on a bench half a metre away, is he going to be able to? It's stupid".

Yzuel, who chairs the organisation that represents the bars, cafes, restaurants and clubs of Spain, believes that there will be businesses in the hospitality sector who will voluntarily join anti-smoking campaigns and not allow customers to smoke on their terraces, but that is something very different to banning it in a generalised way. He complains of the pressure of the anti-smoking movements and of scientific groups such as the Spanish Society of Pneumology, but insists that smoking outdoors does not bother anyone.

It is an approach of total hypocrisy and cynicism, said Yzuel, On the one hand, the State collects hundreds of millions of euros in taxes from tobacco and instead of raising awareness and respecting the freedom of businesses, it bans it.

Smoking in the car

The measure to prohibit smoking on the terraces is part of the battery of initiatives proposed by Spains Ministry of Health and which also suggest the prohibition of smoking in private cars, the generic packaging of tobacco brands, equalising the restrictions to e-cigarettes and raising taxes on tobacco.

They are included in draft of the 'Comprehensive Plan for the Prevention and Control of Smoking 2021-2025', a 119-page document that seeks to achieve "a generation free of tobacco" hand in hand with the standards set by the European Union and the World Health Organization. The intention is that "before the year 2023" the number of smoke-free spaces is increased.

More strictly regulated

The General Directorate of Public Health also wants the "advertising, promotion and sponsorship of tobacco-related products" to be more strictly regulated, as well as their sale and consumption, either "with or without nicotine. It also wants to stop covert advertising and promotions on social media networks and platforms.

According to last year's European Health Survey, 16.4 per cent of women and 23.3 per cent of men smoke daily in Spain.
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Illinois Representative Jonathan Carroll has introduced new legislation that will compel those who choose to not be vaccinated against COVID-19 to pay 100% of their bills should they land in the hospital because of COVID.

Rep. Carroll believes that people who choose to remain unvaccinated against COVID should be held responsible for their decisions.

As of press time, 60.1% of the population of the United States is fully vaccinated against COVID-19. 71.2% of the U.S. population received at least the first dose of the COVID vaccine.

COVID-19 Legislation Introduced by Rep. Carroll

Those who choose to remain unvaccinated against COVID-19 should pay 100% of their hospital bills should they end up with COVID, according to a new legislation introduced by Illinois Representative Jonathan Carroll.

The new legislation introduced by Rep. Carroll could be viewed here.

According to a report by Ars Technica, the legislation "would amend the state's insurance code so that accident and health insurance policies in 2023 would no longer cover COVID-19 hospital bills for people who choose to remain unvaccinated."

The lawmaker clarified that this would not apply to those who have medical conditions that prevent them from getting vaccinated against COVID.

"I think it's time that we say, 'You choose not to get vaccinated, then you're also going to assume the risk that if you do catch COVID and you get sick, the responsibility is on you,'" Rep. Carroll said to the Chicago Sun-Times, per the Ars Technica report.

Rep. Carroll likewise also referred to the nationwide data that shows that the majority of those who are in the hospital due to COVID-19 are unvaccinated individuals. Per the Ars Technica report, around 600,000 people are hospitalized because of COVID every day.

Related Article: COVID-19 Study: Unvaccinated People are Twice as Likely to Get Infected Again

The Cost of the Unvaccinated on the U.S.

The Ars Technica report points out that hospital care for those with COVID-19 has been costing the United States billions of dollars.

The report specifically cites an analysis done by the Peterson Center on Healthcare and Kaiser Family Foundation. The analysis shows that "preventable COVID-19 hospitalizations among unvaccinated adults cost over $5 billion just between June and August of 2021."

The report adds that the average cost of a hospital stay due to COVID amounts to around $20,000.

U.S. COVID Vaccination in Numbers

According to the COVID data tracker of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a total of 199.7 million people in the United States have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as of press time. That accounts for 60.1% of the population.

Nearly 236.4 million people have received at least their first dose of a COVID vaccine. This figure accounts for 71.2% of the U.S. population.

47.9 million people have received their COVID-19 booster shots. That is 24% of the fully vaccinated population of the country.

Read Also: COVID-19: Unvaccinated Vs. Vaccinated; New X-Ray Images Reveal Alarming Lung Differences in Oxygen Inhalation

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Written by Isabella James

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
(Photo : Photo by Feline Lim/Getty Images)

Apple is currently facing some issues when it comes to iPhone 13 production. Experts said that this was the first time the company decided to halt manufacturing its popular smartphone model.

On Sept. 25, Tim Cook, the Chief Executive Officer of Apple, said that the company could face massive supply constraints. He added that some pandemic-related manufacturing issues could affect the manufacturer, especially in Southeast Asia.

"We're doing everything we can do to get more (chips) and also everything we can do operationally to make sure we're moving just as fast as possible," said Apple's CEO via Reuters' report.

Apple's iPhone 13 Production Decrease

Cook claimed that Apple would be projecting a very solid year-over-year growth demand. However, the billionaire added that they also believe there could be a shortage of demand.

Also Read: Tim Cook's Secret Agreement With China Costs $275 Billion! 2016 Deal Allegedly Influences Chinese Officials

Now, it seems like Tim's predictions are now coming true. According to GSM Arena's latest report, China's ongoing power restriction and supply chain limitations affect its iPhone 13 production.

Because of this, the company's initial goal, which is 95 million iPhone 13 units before 2021 ends, has been changed. Right now, the giant tech manufacturer is only expecting around 83 to 85 million smartphones this December.

On the other hand, some insiders said that the last months of the year are usually when the giant gadget creator's employees go into overtime since they expect global demand to increase during the holiday shopping season.

However, it seems like what's happening is the other way around since workers are getting time off instead. You can visit this link to see more details.

What is Apple's Action Plan?

iMore reported that Apple's plan against its production decrease is quite simple. The giant iPhone maker plans to have a major production boost for its iPhone 13 this coming 2022.

Once that happened, the company said that it might deliver around 300 million units across the globe. This means that Apple would have a 30% increase in shipments in the first half of 2022.

In other news, 1 billion iPhone users are at risk of new end-to-end encryption flaws. On the other hand, Apple decided to take legal action against Russia due to App Store alternative payments issue.

For more news updates about Apple and other related topics, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes.

Related Article: Apple AAPL Shares Rise by 3.5% to New All-Time High of $173 | 32% Growth Over 2021

This article is owned by TechTimes

Written by: Griffin Davis

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
(Photo : Photo credit should read SILAS STEIN/DPA/AFP via Getty Images) TOPSHOT - Fleecy clouds are seen in the sky as an airplane prepares to land at the airport in Frankfurt am Main, western Germany, on November 5, 2018. (Photo by Silas Stein / dpa / AFP) / Germany OUT (Photo : Photo by Daniel Berehulak/Getty Images) An aircraft flies through London skies leaving a vapour trail on February 2, 2007 in London, England. When burning its fuel, planes release exhaust fumes which contain, among others, water vapour and impurities. When these gases come into contact with the cold air, the significant temperature difference causes the water on the impurities to condense and turn to ice. Aircraft exhaust fumes have been attributed to climate change.

The new hydrogen-powered airplane concept called FlyZero could soon be a reality. ATI (Aerospace Technology Institute) said that this new zero-emission vehicle could start operating as early as 2023.

"Up to 279 passengers could fly between London and San Francisco, USA direct or Auckland, New Zealand with just one stop with the same speed and comfort as today's aircraft," said ATI via its official press release.

As of the moment, companies that are further advancing in zero-emission technology are mostly EV makers or traditional carmakers transitioning to electric vehicle production.

Recently, TechTimes reported that Tesla Model 3 is now being customized as police patrol cars. Meanwhile, Toyota's North Calirina EV battery factory, which costs $1.29 billion, would soon be constructed.

New Hydrogen-Powered Aircraft Could Arrive

According to IFL Science's latest report, the new FlyZero aircraft would take advantage of the liquid hydrogen fuel. As of the moment, this fuel is still being studied for airplane and land-based vehicle use.

Also Read: E-Scooter Company, Voro Motors, Opens New Showroom, Service Center And Warehouse At Industry City

Compared to the regular kerosene fuel used by most airplanes today, this energy source doesn't emit C02. On the other hand, it could also allow the aircraft to achieve its potential range since it only weighs around one-third of the regular aviation kerosene fuel.

Once it is actually used, flights would soon have lesser stop-overs since they no longer need to refuel regularly. ATI said that FlyZero would not be limited to regional or short-haul flights.

The U.K. agency claimed that it could be offered zero-emission global flights, which can definitely reduce carbon emissions generated by regular airplanes.

FlyZero's Other Details

Aside from the use of hydrogen fuel, the new FlyZero aircraft would also have small tanks, which would be located at the front.

These components would allow the new airplane to have better balance. On the other hand, the small tanks in the front would store the hydrogen fuel, which is quite different from the conventional models.

The new structure would eliminate the need for extra aerodynamic design. The Aerospace Technology Institute says that the new zero-emission aircraft would help the government to further reduce the rising carbon emissions in the United Kingdom.

For more news updates about zero-emission airplanes and other eco-friendly vehicles, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes.

Related Article: Ford F-150 Lighting EV Reservation Reaches 200,000! Expert Claim This Massive Backlog Could be an Issue

This article is owned by TechTimes

Written by: Griffin Davis

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
(Photo : Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) Tesla cars are displayed at a showroom in the Meatpacking district in Manhattan on June 6, 2018 in New York City. Tesla stock had its best day since November 2015 on Wednesday rising more than 9.5 percent after the company revealed it is nearing its Model 3 weekly production rate. Also, in a vote shareholders backed Elon Musk as chairman and CEO. (Photo : by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) MIAMI, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 21: People look at a Tesla Model Y electric vehicle on a showroom floor at the Miami Design District on October 21, 2021 in Miami, Florida. Tesla reported $1.6 billion in profits for the months of July, August, and September, a record for them.



Tesla Model 3, Model Y leaked in its testing program in Europe, flaunting tons of new features and improvements to look forward to, including a new battery and infotainment system.

Tesla Model 3 New Model Year Upgrades

As per the report by Electrek, the EV giant of its founder and CEO, Elon Musk, touts itself to be unlike any traditional automaker out there.

In fact, Tesla has consistently claimed that it is not like any car brand when it comes to new model year cars.

The EV maker further asserts that it does not wait for the new model year to introduce significant additions to its vehicles.

That said, Tesla said that stuff in the upgrade and improvements as long as the car is ready to go into production without saving it for the upcoming year.

However, Electrek noted in the same report that despite such claims, the Musk-led EV maker still showcases significant changes and additions to its vehicles as they introduce the new model year.

For instance, the Model 3 for the model year 2021 boasted significant changes to the said EV.

Tesla Model 3, Model Y Leak

This time around, it seems that Tesla is also following the same route for both the Model 3 and Model Y.

It comes after the submission of Tesla to the authorities of Europe leaked, exposing the upcoming upgrade and improvements that its two EVs are sporting.

To be precise, the document from the test program submission leaked online in the European Tesla forum.

Read Also: Tesla Releases the Findings of its Test Program for Model 3 Made as Police Patrol Car in the UK

Tesla Model 3, Model Y Upgrades

There are tons of slight changes for the EVs in the said documents, but some actually stand out and are more significant than others.

One of which is the new battery upgrade for the two vehicles. The leak further states that the EV SUVs are getting a "new low voltage (15.5V) li-ion battery."

The low voltage battery is not entirely new for the EV giant as both its Model S sedan and the Model X SUV have previously featured it.

However, the lower-end vehicle lineup of the automaker, such as the Model 3 and the Model Y, has yet to get the said version of the battery.

On top of that, the leak also mentioned that the EV maker is adding a "new infotainment computer" for both vehicles.

That said, it is interesting to note that the Model Y Performance in China is already slated to boast a new AMD Ryzen chip to ditch the previous Intel chipset.

Although the revelation of the leaked document about the infotainment changes in both EVs is still vague, both are likely following the route of the Chinese version, Electrek further speculated in the same report.

Related Article: Tesla to Cancel US Orders as an Ultimatum to Buyers Delaying Deliveries: Other Details of the New Policy Change

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 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
(Photo : Pawel Czerwinski from Unsplash ) NASA is set to launch its X-ray observing mission this week thanks to its collaboration with the Italian Space Agency.

NASA is set to launch its X-ray observing mission this week thanks to its collaboration with the Italian Space Agency. Apart from that, SpaceX will spearhead the launch of this telescope observatory through its Falcon 9 rocket.

The said Imaging X-ray Polarimetry will be a breakthrough step for the field of X-ray astronomy, according to Dr. Martin Weisskopf, the principal investigator of IXPE.

The astronomers will use this to probe important information about the mysterious black holes in the universe.

NASA X-Ray Observing Mission

According to Weisskopf via News.com.au, the "groundbreaking" satellite mission is expected to launch this week. The expert said that the IXPE will provide more details about the cosmic X-ray sources. With that, the team could focus on investigating the color spectrum and brightness of these objects.

Through the x-ray observatory, the process called polarization will take place on these cosmic sources.

As part of NASA's ongoing space research, the astronomers would make use of Italy-made sensitive polarization detectors which would be incorporated in the telescopes.

The functions of these observing tools are to calculate the polarization and to snap minute images from the subjects. The interesting part of this research is how polarized lights help researchers to investigate the depths of the galaxy.

While regular light waves demonstrate multi-directional vibrations, the polarized light on the other hand only does it in a single direction.

Per Weisskopf, the team will continuously look forward to future tests of the software. In the future, scientists could use it to carry out necessary operations just in case synchronization loss happens during the encounters.

For decades to come, NASA will extend the X-ray data acquisition using the observatory. Again, Weisskopf commented that IXPE will be useful in testing their proposed theories about the universe. In addition, this would also give them "answers" to the new questions that would appear along the way.

Related Article: NASA Introduces Next-Generation Asteroid Impact Monitoring System To Assess The Impact Risk Of Asteroids To Earth

IXPE to Provide Better Black Hole Detection

In the same report by the news outlet, the IXPE will serve as a detector for black holes and even neutron stars. In relation to this, Dr. Brad Tucker from ANU has managed to discover over 35 black hole collisions in the universe. They added up to the current number of discoveries which now sit at a total number of 90 collisions.

In particular, the x-ray telescopes are somehow game-changing for the scientists, since Tucker said that these have assisted the astronomers who could not see these phenomena in the past.

With that, he said that more Australian scientists have been improving in detecting potential black holes in open space. Near the Earth, the closest black holes are located 89 million light-years away.

Most likely, there's a chance that they could become a supermassive black hole in the future.

If you're wondering if a black hole destroyer exists, it's possible thanks to the virtual simulation of the scientists. Last month, Tech Times reported that astronomers simulated how black holes devoured stars. Later, it was found out that some of them survived the massive onslaught.

How to Watch Live Launch of IXPE

The upgraded space observatory will be scheduled to launch on Wednesday, 10 PM PT or Thursday, 1 PM ET from the Kennedy Space Center, according to CNET. The SpaceX booster will provide IXPE a nice lift to space.

For the live broadcast, you can check NASA TV to view the initial coverage which will last for 90 minutes before the actual release.

Read Also: World's First 'Warp Bubble' Discovered by Serendipity? DARPA Researchers Find it in Strange Encounter





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(Photo : Photo by KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP via Getty Images) This photograph taken on October 28, 2021 shows the META logo on a laptop screen in Moscow as Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg announced the parent company's name is being changed to "Meta" to represent a future beyond just its troubled social network. - The new handle comes as the social media giant tries to fend off one its worst crises yet and pivot to its ambitions for the "metaverse" virtual reality version of the internet that the tech giant sees as the future.



Meta's new anti-fake news AI could reduce harmful content. Facebook, Instagram, and other social media platforms are suffering from rampant fake content.

Most of the posts containing misinformation are linked to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and other sensitive topics. To lessen the harmful content, which could negatively influence many consumers across the globe, Meta decided to develop the new artificial intelligence called Few-Shot Learner.

"Harmful content continues to evolve rapidly - whether fueled by current events or by people looking for new ways to evade our systems - and it's crucial for AI systems to evolve alongside it," said Meta via its official blog post.

Meta's New Anti-Fake News AI

According to Neowin's latest report, Meta's FSL is already used in various social media platforms, especially Facebook. This innovation is part of the company's effort against misinformation.

Also Read: Google, Facebook Facing Legal Action From Newspaper Companies Over Alleged Ad Revenue Monopoly

Mark Zuckerberg's tech firm claimed that the new artificial intelligence could adapt to new threats while relying on fewer labeled content.

Meta added that the new Few-Shot Learner function would improve the company's upcoming artificial intelligence systems.

If this is true, FSL would serve as the backbone of new features specifically developed and launched to tackle different violations in Facebook and other online platforms.

Efficiency of Meta's FSL

The new Few-Shot Learner artificial intelligence supports around 100 languages. It could easily learn from different kinds of data.

These features allow FSL to identify fake news on a wider scale, unlike other AI-powered capabilities, which are limited to certain languages.

You can view this link to see more details.

In other news, Meta's new mental health research is expected to be accessible to all medical scientists. On the other hand, some Facebook ads allegedly promote anti-vaccine content.

For more news updates about Meta and its upcoming innovations, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes.

Related Article: Facebook 101: Recover Your Hacked Account With These Easy Steps

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(Photo : Photo by KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP via Getty Images) WhatsApp messenger logo is pictured on a phone screen in Moscow on August 26, 2021. - Russia has fined Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp for failing to store the data of Russian users on local servers, the country's internet watchdog said on August 26, as authorities clamp down on foreign internet companies.

Thanks to the application's partnership with Novi, WhatsApp's new crypto payment pilot has been launched.

"Starting today, a limited number of people in the US will be able to send and receive money using Novi on @WhatsApp, making sending money to family and friends as easy as sending a message," said Stephane Kasriel, the CEO of Novi Meta.

Kasriel added that they discovered that consumers usually use WhatsApp to send money to their loved ones.

Since we introduced the Novi pilot just six weeks ago, weve been able to test and learn which features and functionality are most important to people, and focus our efforts on making those even better.  Stephane Kasriel (@skasriel) December 8, 2021

He added that Novi Meta's new innovation could help this messaging platform do these financial transactions safer and more efficiently.

WhatsApp's New Crypto Payment Pilot

According to The Verge's latest report, the new crypto payment pilot feature has rolled out to the WhatsApp consumers in the United States.

Also Read: Instagram Chronological Feed to Come Back Despite Adam Mosseri Initially Disputing This Setup

This new in-app function would send and receive money using their cryptocurrencies. Thanks to the new partnership of WhatsApp and Novi Meta, users can now enjoy their digital coins even more.

On the other hand, Novi Meta's official website also explained that the new blockchain feature works just like other features when sending an attachment through your WhatsApp chatbox.

As of the moment, the advanced Novi pilot is already available in Guatemala and the U.S. However, users located in Guatemala can't use this feature through their WhatsApp accounts. This is why Americans are the first lucky ones to have the safe crypto payment pilot of Novi on their WhatsApp chatboxes.

Is the New WhatsApp Crypto Feature Safe?

For those who are having a second thought using the new WhatsApp crypto payment pilot feature, Novi Meta said that this new function has 24/7 account monitoring and built-in controls.

You can take advantage of these security capabilities to detect and flag suspicious transactions. The company also said that they would provide a full refund if the transaction was unauthorized.

If you want to know more details, you can view this link.

In other news, the popular Instagram Chronological Feed came back. On the other, Apple App Store prices have increased in Turkey.

For more news updates about WhatsApp and its upcoming crypto-linked features, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes.

Related Article: Meta's New Anti-Fake News AI to Fight Misinformation More Efficiently! Expect Less Harmful Content

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(Photo : Unsplash/Frederik Lipfert) 5G Network

The United Kingdom is set to phase both 2G and 3G mobile services by 2033, according to the U.K. government.

The five major mobile-network operators, EE, Vodafone, Virgin Media, Three, and O2, agreed with the timeline.

U.K. to Phase Out 2G and 3G

In July, E.E. revealed its plans to discontinue 3G by 2023 and 2G in 2033. Other major companies have already started phasing out the devices that support the two services, according to 9to5Mac.

Nadine Dorries, U.K.'s Culture Secretary, said that the move would help the United Kingdom make a smoother transition to faster service networks such as 4G and 5G.

Dorries said that 5G technology is already revolutionizing the lives of the citizens and the businesses in the country, and it connects people across the United Kingdom with faster mobile data. It also helps make companies to become more productive.

Also Read: Is Your Phone 5G Ready? Here's How to Know

The government also promised to boost the funding of this project in order to help the future of the country's mobile networks.

This can also help end the country's over-reliance on small suppliers, and it can make it easier for new companies to enter the market.

Dorries added that the government would shell out 50 million or $66 million for the project to put the U.K. at the forefront of mobile connectivity and make sure that the telecoms network in the country is safe and secure.

Consumer's Protection

Matthew Howett, the founder of Assembly Research, told BBC News that the change would probably come sooner than the set deadline of 2033.

The deadline will affect all types of older devices, including smartphones that only support 3G connectivity. It would also be crucial for the U.K. government to act on behalf of consumers who may not adjust to the change immediately.

Howett said an important consumer protection dimension in this upcoming change. Some people will rely on 2G and 3G-enabled devices to make calls, and they will need to switch to newer models to continue the service.

Involving the companies' stakeholders that will make the change is important to avoid any disruption.

5G Coverage in the U.K.

In July, Amazon warned its users that some of its older Kindle models would soon be unable to connect to the internet.

The e-commerce giant told its consumers in the United States that beginning 2021, some older Kindle e-readers will not be able to connect to the internet using 2G or 3G networks.

Meanwhile, the 5G connectivity is being expanded across the United Kingdom. E.E. announced that its customers would be able to get 5G anywhere in the U.K. by 2028.

The rollout of the 5G network began earlier this year, starting in England. According to Computer Weekly, median download speeds are on an upward trajectory as network operators deploy the connection across the U.K..

The arrival of 5G in the United Kingdom has brought faster speeds to all consumers--it saw a rapid rise in moves by the government and operators to drive improvements in network coverage and performance.

The push for 5G continues despite being met with criticism last year. In 2020, people in the U.K. burned down 5G stations as they believed it caused the coronavirus.

In the same year, 5G conspiracy theorists burned down 80 mobile towers in the U.K.

Related Article: 5G Vodafone Report Says It Will Bring in Billions to UK Manufacturing Sector

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Written by Sophie Webster

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The Abraham Accords: The New Peace in the Middle East with Sarah Walsh, Director, Southern CT, AIPAC

It has been over one year since the announcement of the Abraham Accords agreement between Israel and the United Arab Emirates. Subsequently, Israel reached agreements with three additional Arab statesBahrain, Sudan, and Morocco.

The Abraham Accords have resulted in historic diplomatic achievements, people-to-people engagement, and bilateral cooperation including significant commercial agreements. The impact of the Abraham Accordsmade possible by a strong U.S.-Israel partnershipdemonstrates that engaging with Israel creates opportunities for peace, prosperity and progress.

Join us to learn more about the Abraham Accords and the path forward for peace in the Middle East. Registration required to 203-542-7165 or alice.schoen@templesholom.com.
The East Baton Rouge Metro Council has approved a new $6 million annual contract for an Oklahoma-based private company to run the jail medical program.

The vote Wednesday was a long time coming, according to local activists who spent years demanding better health care for inmates at East Baton Rouge Parish Prison, where the death rate remains well above the national average for pretrial detention facilities. The vast majority of inmates there are awaiting trial, not yet convicted of a crime.

According to the new contract, Oklahoma-based Turn Key Health Clinics will replace the embattled current provider, CorrectHealth.

Officials hope new firm can provide better jail medical care, keep Baton Rouge inmates alive After years of public outcry about the death rate inside the Baton Rouge jail, city-parish officials have recommended a new private company to

After the vote, Mayor Pro-Tem LaMont Cole commended his colleagues.

"I want to thank the council members for being patient while we had these tough conversations, and being open to hearing the cries and concerns of the community," he said.

Rev. Alexis Anderson with the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison Reform Coalition also thanked the council, especially Council Member Chauna Banks, who took an active role in pursuing the new contract. The jail is located within her district.

The council offered unanimous approval after almost no discussion during its meeting Wednesday.

Latest inmate death at Baton Rouge jail comes as officials weigh new health care contract News that an inmate of the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison died last weekend came at a pivotal time for the private company in charge of prison

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Baton Rouge officials solicited proposals for a new contract last year, acknowledging the inmate death rate and other serious concerns about the quality of care under CorrectHealth. But the pandemic delayed the process.

Georgia-based CorrectHealth also submitted a bid. Officials said the Turn Key proposal was superior: It includes four additional mental health workers, better pay and benefits for employees, a team of floater nurses to minimize vacancies and the use of monitors aimed at minimizing suicides, among other changes. Five other companies also submitted proposals, records show.

Turn Key Health holds contracts with correctional facilities in several states, including Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri and Texas in addition to Oklahoma.

The company was founded in 2009 by two Oklahoma attorneys: Jesse White and state Rep. Jon Echols, the current company president. A Republican from Oklahoma City, Echols was elected to the state House of Representatives almost a decade ago.

Turn Key brings its own baggage, including a $12.5 million settlement against Garfield County, Oklahoma, in 2019 because a man died behind bars after spending over 55 hours strapped into a restraint chair.

Turn Key was providing medical care in that jail, and the lawsuit alleged both corrections officials and medical staff failed to intervene. Turn Key officials have said the company paid a minuscule part of the overall settlement amount.

The new East Baton Rouge contract lasts four years, with the option to extend twice, for two years each.

+3 Testing only inmates with symptoms skews Baton Rouge jail's COVID data, Metro Council says Despite massive increases in the availability of COVID-19 tests and federal dollars to pay for them, testing protocols inside the Baton Rouge 
A Baton Rouge charter school that focuses on children with dyslexia won $250,000 after being named one of five finalists for a national award for bringing students back to class quickly during the pandemic.

Louisiana Key Academy is now up for a grand prize of $1 million as part of the STOP award, short for "Sustainable Transformational Outstanding Permissionless Education."

This is a reflection of the teams incredible effort, LKA Principal Heather Bourgeois said.

Louisiana Key Academy, or LKA, opened in 2013 and now serves more than 400 children in grades one to eight. It was founded by Dr. Laura Cassidy, who still chairs the schools board.

Cassidy  whos married to U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-Baton Rouge  said she was unsatisfied with available education options in the capital region after her youngest daughter was diagnosed with dyslexia.

Bourgeois said any money won from the national award will help LKA as it strives to open as many as seven schools across Louisiana.

Earlier this year, the St. Tammany Parish school district disqualified LKAs application to start a charter school there after deeming its application incomplete. LKA has appealed to the state and expects a decision by Jan. 18.

She said the plan was not initially to create a network.

We had hoped that people would see the model and the need and find a way to replicate it, but thats not happening, Bourgeois said.

LKA is competing against schools in Florida, Missouri, New York and Texas for the grand prize. Bourgeois said LKA is sending a delegation to New York City to attend the Forbes 30 Under 30 event Tuesday.

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Fifteen more schools were named semifinalists last month and have earned $100,000 apiece. One of those semifinalists was Living School, a charter in New Orleans.

The STOP award grew out of a partnership between the pro-choice Washington, D.C.-based Center for Education Reform and Forbes. Janine Yass, a founder of a charter school in Philadelphia, has committed $3.5 million to finance the award.

Like schools throughout the country, Louisiana Key Academy closed its doors in spring 2020 when the pandemic first swept across the U.S., switching to remote instruction.

The school, however, returned to full in-person instruction in early July, starting its school year a month early, ahead of even other Louisiana schools that opted for in-person instruction at the start of the 2021-22 school year. Many schools at the time were still operating remotely or via hybrid learning.

+8 COVID in Louisiana schools: As students return to campuses, infection rates are worse than ever Like many other educators, Kelli Joseph thought the worst was over. Yet, the superintendent in rural St. Helena Parish is once again starting 

What set LKA apart is the school formed a partnership with Our Lady of the Lake Childrens Health and Pennington Biomedical Research Center to test out best practices for keeping staff and students safe from COVID-19.

These practices included a program where all students and faculty took saliva tests twice a week to minimize the spread of COVID-19. Such testing in schools was a rarity at the time, but has grown more common. LKA is now participating in a federally funded weekly COVID testing program in effect at hundreds of schools across Louisiana.

The organizers of the STOP award commended LKA for moving expeditiously and before anyone else in the state to deliver in-person instruction.

Bourgeois said the school is already benefiting from seeking the award. She said she took part in a four-week accelerator program to help support her school and the other 19 semifinalists.

We go to meet each other and really learn what people are doing out there and learn how to take our ideas to that next level, she explained.
Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry, incensed by an LSU professors tweet calling his assistant a flunky, demanded this week that the universitys president do something to punish the professor.

Bob Mann, a tenured mass communications professor at LSU and a prolific Twitter user, authored the offending tweet. It read: Louisiana AG Jeff Landry sending some flunkie to the LSU Faculty Senate meeting today to read a letter attacking covid vaccines is quite the move from a guy who considers himself pro-life.

Mann sent his missive during a meeting Tuesday where he and other faculty members were pushing for a stricter vaccine policy at the school. Landry has been a leading opponent of COVID vaccines in Louisiana; he brought an anti-vaccine activist to a legislative hearing this week.

The term flunky refers to someone who performs menial or miscellaneous duties, according to Merriam-Webster.

The remark set off Landry, a conservative Republican thought to be a candidate for governor in 2023. The attorney general took to Twitter himself Wednesday to lash out against Mann, saying his disparaging remarks about this LSU alumna cannot be without consequence. Landry, the chief legal officer for the state, said he had spoken with LSU President William Tate and expressed (his) disdain and expectation for accountability.

This type of disrespect and dishonesty has no place in our society -- especially at our flagship university by a professor, he tweeted. I hope LSU takes appropriate action soon.

Yesterday, Manship Chair Robert Mann attacked a professional and accomplished woman, an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Louisiana, calling her a "flunkie."  AG Jeff Landry (@AGJeffLandry) December 8, 2021

It would be an extraordinary move for LSU to punish a tenured professor for such commentary about a public official. Two academic free-speech groups voiced their support for Mann and pointed out public university professors have protections for such speech.

Tate said in a statement Thursday afternoon, "As president of LSU, I am deeply committed to First Amendment rights. LSU is committed to free and open scholarship and the freedom to debate ideas and principles without interference.

Katie Schwartzman, director of the First Amendment clinic at Tulane Law School, said theres no question that Manns speech is protected by the U.S. Constitution, and that LSU punishing him for the tweets would violate the First Amendment.

The law is clear that he has a right to state his personal opinion without fear of being fired or otherwise punished by the government, Schwartzman said. Its just deeply troubling for one of the most powerful law enforcement officers in the state of Louisiana to call for discipline against a citizen for exercising his right to free speech.

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Landrys office also didnt respond to messages seeking comment over the flap. The Landry assistant whom Mann called a flunky, Lauryn Sudduth, likewise didnt return a call seeking comment.

Landry made his complaint official in a letter dated Thursday, reiterating his problem with Mann.

Mann, an outspoken liberal, dismissed the possibility of being fired for the tweet as silly. And he noted that he himself was a flunky for two decades, having worked for former U.S. Sens. Russell Long and John Breaux and former Gov. Kathleen Blanco, all Democrats.

But he worried that Landrys efforts, especially as a potential future governor, could have a chilling effect on other faculty. He also said the AGs tweet was ironic, given Landrys past pronouncements in favor of free speech and against cancel culture.

Good for @WSJ who will not bend to the cancel culture. In the end I believe those who stand for truth will be vindicated and praised. Note to Readers: These pages wont wilt under cancel-culture pressure. https://t.co/dHeHm2I3MO  Jeff Landry (@JeffLandry) July 26, 2020

This is a guy whos clearly running for governor. When he calls the president of the university, hes talking to someone he understands could be governor in two years, Mann said. It has the potential for a much more chilling effect on faculty beyond me.

The university president reports to LSUs Board of Supervisors, which is appointed by the governor.

Seriously, I've not had a better bookselling day since the first week after the book came out in late July. Thanks, @AGJeffLandry! https://t.co/3necuf69MN  Robert Mann (@RTMannJr) December 9, 2021

Mann had a field day on Twitter after Landrys tweets, which drew hundreds of comments, many of them ridiculing the attorney general. He thanked Landry for helping him sell copies of his latest book  saying he had had his best day of sales in weeks  and criticized LSU for not speaking out in favor of free speech on campus.

As Mann noted, Landrys effort to get Mann punished cut against the AGs past pronouncements about free speech. Last year, after meeting at the White House about social media platforms, Landry tweeted: We have the right to free speech and expression by all individuals, no matter the viewpoint!
Murphy Naquin, 94 on right, and Irvin Naquin, 87, standing behind former U.S. Sen. Bob Dole in 2019. The two brothers fought in World War II and in Korea respectively. Dole regularly greeted veterans like the Naquins when they came to the nation's capital on an "honor flight" meant to celebrate their service to the country.
Bertie Carvel keeps apologising for not having very good answers to my questions. Im sorry, Im not very well prepared, he says. To be honest, part of me wakes up at this moment in my life [aged 44] going, Ah, drama, whats the f---ing point? But then you go, Actually, its what I love to do and love to watch, and so do other people. And so you carry on.

Put his discombobulation down to the aftermath of lockdown, or perhaps to a sore head  the Doctor Foster star spent the night before we meet at the after-party for Joel Coens austerely magnificent Macbeth, which closed the London Film Festival (and premieres on Apple TV+ on January 14) and in which Carvels strikingly thoughtful Banquo appears alongside Denzel Washington and Frances McDormands murderously self-destructive King and Queen.

In fact, for someone implying a mini career crisis, Carvel seems admirably busy. It was recently announced he will play Tony Blair in the fifth season of The Crown, out November next year. He already had a cameo as Robin Day in the second series of the popular Netflix show; now, returning as a major player fills him with the sort of excitement and fear an incoming prime minister must feel the morning after an election victory, he says. Before then, however, hes on small screens as PD James eponymous, inscrutable detective in a new series, Dalgliesh.

For Bertie Carvel, the role of the taciturn detective Adam Dalgliesh is a chance to show another side to his craft. Credit:Christopher Barr/Acorn TV

The show kicks off with a two-part story (an adaptation of James Shroud for a Nightingale) about a possible serial killer on the loose in a teaching school for nurses in the 1970s. Its perfect autumn viewing, steeped in furtive shadows and long, lonely shots of Dalgliesh walking in the rain. For Carvel  who made his name playing larger-than-life characters  the part of the taciturn detective is a chance to show another side to his craft.
End of an era stuff in Premier Dan Andrews media team, with office fixture Bob Neilson leaving at Christmas time. The deputy director of the media unit has been at Andrews side for pretty much his entire premiership, starting just months after Andrews first 2014 victory, as senior media adviser for public transport and major projects. As acting media director Neilson endured 120/120 of those daily pressers, so perhaps the pandemic did for him.

Neilsons departure comes one year after veteran Andrews staffer and Labor staple adviser Sabina Husic returned last December to run the team, and caps off a long period of transition in the Premiers inner circle. It has undergone a near wholesale overhaul since the state election in 2018.

There have been lots of changes in Premier Daniel Andrews media team. Credit:Justin McManus

Andrews lost his veteran media boss and trusted sounding board Adam Sims to super giant IFM Investors in mid-2020. Well-regarded senior media adviser Georgia Brumby  daughter of former Victorian premier John Brumby  left Andrews HQ in mid-2019 for, you guessed it, Industry Super. New starters include veteran Seven state political editor Brendan Donohoe who joined in mid-2020.

And taking over from nice-guy Neilson for the election year will be Hayley Bester, who heads up comms for Minister for Transport Infrastructure Jacinta Allan.
Prime Ministers Address.

The Prime Minister said that the opening of the service to Singapore marked the Commonwealths entry into the sphere of international aviation. The Commonwealth was early to realise the benefits aviation could bring to ameliorate the lot of residents in the outback parts, and was probably the first of the Dominions of the British Empire to institute regular air services. Since 1921, when the first of such services was inaugurated under Government supervision, the system of internal air services had been gradually extended and improved till now the activities were to be extended overseas. It was appropriate, too, that this service should be commenced at the Australian end, for it was the Australians, Sir Ross Smith and Sir Keith Smith, who pioneered the air route. Gradually but surely the Empire had been building a system of international airways which was intended eventually to link together all the scattered parts of the British Commonwealth of Nations. The eastern route towards Australia was the first to receive attention, but attention was also given to the route through Africa, which for the last eighteen months had linked South Africa with the mother country. Active attention was being given by the United Kingdom and Canadian authorities to the possibility of opening the Atlantic with an air service, which would then bring Canada into the growing chain of Empire communications.

Mr. Lyons said that these improvements in communication tended always to promote social and commercial relations, and all looked forward to the new service assisting materially in the trade and commerce of Australia. The service would be of particular assistance for communication between Australia and the East, to which direction they looked for greater trade in exportable products. The Duke of Gloucester was following closely the example of his elder brother, the Prince of Wales, and had honored Australian commercial aviation services by making several flights. Perhaps they might dare to hope that the next time a member of the Royal family visited Australia he would be brought by the Empire air service which was being inaugurated that day.

Work of Organisation.

The Minister of Defence said it was appropriate that Australias first venture into the sphere of international aviation should link this land to the United Kingdom, and should traverse a route that was associated with the names of many famous aviators, both Australian and British. The route had been flown not only by those attempting adventurous record-breaking flights, but of latter years by tourists using the plane simply as a pleasant and convenient method of reaching their destination and seeing under comfortable conditions many interesting parts of the globe not easily reached by other means of transport. A great deal of organisation had been necessary before a regular air transport service could be brought into being, and the preparatory work had to be done by officers of the Defence and Postal departments working in close collaboration. Though the system was by no means complete, there were some 5277 miles of internal service involved in the immediate collection and distribution of overseas mails, apart entirely from purely local services. On certain days no fewer than five planes would need to be in the air at the same moment carrying these mails. Much remained to be attempted both in the extension of the system and in improvements to facilities on the routes. Then they could bring about the speeding up of the time of transit over the Australian section as far as Singapore. With possible acceleration on the British section between Singapore and the United Kingdom, it should be possible eventually to secure a seven or eight day service between the United Kingdom and Australian capitals.
The residents of Sydneys inner west have sent a strong indication to the state government they want their amalgamated council split back into three municipalities, following a clear majority yes vote to demerge.

As well as electing their new representatives, Inner West Council residents were polled at Saturdays ballot on whether they wanted to revert to the former Marrickville, Ashfield and Leichhardt councils, with more than 61 per cent of the votes so far counted calling for de-amalgamation.

Marrickville filmmaker Mandy King and Fabio Cavadini (pictured with their neighbours dog, Ella) are voting for Inner West Council to demerge into its previous three councils. Credit:Janie Barrett

Marrickville filmmaker Mandy King was one of those to vote for the resumption of her old municipality, saying she had noticed a decline in the quality of services and community consultation regarding projects and the built environment following the 2016 merger.

I think its important that local people have the best representation they can and thats where I think a smaller local council makes the difference; there we have better avenues for issues to be addressed, Ms King said.
Gladys Berejiklian has ended a week of speculation about her future by confirming she will not run for the federal seat of Warringah or any other seat for that matter.

The former NSW premier called into Sydney talkback station 2GB on Friday morning and said she would pursue a career in the private sector. Im going in a different direction, she said.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison tried to recruit Gladys Berejiklian to run for the federal seat of Warringah. Credit:Nick Moir

She said she was grateful to Prime Minister Scott Morrison and so many other colleagues who encouraged her to enter federal politics, and that she considered the idea for a very short period of time.

It wasnt something that I intended to do but out of respect for those people that Ive got respect for I gave it some thought, she said.
Helsinki: Finlands Prime Minister Sanna Marin has apologised to the public after a photo surfaced of her in a nightclub after her foreign minister tested positive for COVID-19.

I did wrong. I should have considered the situation more carefully, Marin said in a television interview by public broadcaster Yle on Wednesday night (Thursday AEDT).

I should have used better judgment on Saturday night, she said. Im really sorry that I didnt understand how to do this.

Marin said she decided not to cut her night out short after being told she had been exposed to the coronavirus the day before, she wrote on Facebook on Monday after a Finnish gossip magazine published a video of her in Butchers nightclub. Witnesses told the magazine, Seiska, that she was dancing until 4am.
Experiencing Camille O'Sullivan in concert is like hearing an approaching marching band: Her renditions of songs by the likes of Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, and David Bowie start out soft, but with a drive that makes you lean forward in anticipation until, eventually, you are enveloped in the warm embrace of sound. That makes her the ideal artist to welcome audiences to the new Irish Arts Center on 11th Avenue, which is making its maiden voyage with her show, Where Are We Now? I sense good things ahead.

The new building is truly lovely: spacious and bright, with an inviting downstairs bar cafe that anticipates a time when the theater will once again be a place to gather with friends old and new to discuss what you've just seen (or are about to see) over refreshments. It's hard to remember this used to be the site of a tire dealership.

With a grid that extends over a raked audience, the theater is a major step up from the IAC's old space, which always felt a bit cave-like. It holds the promise of technically innovative theater on the frontier of the burgeoning Hell's Kitchen theater district. O'Sullivan and her collaborators (production designer Mac Smith and lighting designer Manuel Da Silva) have taken advantage of the new digs from the get-go with a surreal installation of table lamps suspended in midair, as if brought there by a flash tornado. Then O'Sullivan appears to remind us that we're not in Kansas anymore.

Camille O'Sullivan appears onstage at the new Irish Arts Center.

( Nir Arieli)

Sneaking onto the stage with cat-like tread, she opens the show with a goosebump-inducing version of Arcade Fire's "Wake Up." She further lures us down the rabbit hole with her simple yet assertive lyrical interpretation of Nick Cave's "Into My Arms," featuring a ghostly guitar interlude (beautifully performed by Steve Fraser) that will momentarily transport you to an arena rock show. The third number in O'Sullivan's set is her rowdy rendition Dylan's "Don't Think Twice." Seemingly arranged for a New Orleans street band, it remains my very favorite version of the song. Singing and dancing through the whole five-minute anthem, O'Sullivan admits as she catches her breath, "That's the most exercise I've gotten in two years."

Social distancing has clearly been difficult for a performer as magnetic as O'Sullivan, who claims to be shy but never misses an opportunity to personally connect with the audience. Her version of Leiber and Stoller's "Is That All There Is?" feels like a late-night confession over a kitchen table between best friends. Rather that emphasizing the song's inherent ennui, O'Sullivan conveys the joy of survival in a way that will have many in the audience thinking, "Is that all there is to a pandemic?"

O'Sullivan's rendition of the Tiger Lillies' "Crack of Doom," complete with animal masks and a didgeridoo, is totally unhinged  although, is there any other way to perform that number? She lets us catch our breath on quieter numbers like "Look Mummy, No Hands" and (for Sondheim) "Send in the Clowns," but a simmer of intensity pervades every moment so that we know it won't be long before the band is at full blast again.

Feargal Murray, Paul Byrne, Camille O'Sullivan, Jessica Lurie, Omar Kabir, and Steve Fraser perform Where Are We Now? at Irish Arts Center.

( Nir Arieli)

Five excellent musicians support O'Sullivan in an evening that bridges the divide between cabaret and symphony: Heroic brass player Omar Kabir expertly handles some of the more exotic instruments, while Jessica Lurie plays all manner of woodwinds. The aforementioned Fraser gives us chills with his guitar riffs. Paul Byrne sneaks up on us with his stealthy drumming. You can tell a song is about to take off when he locks eyes with Feargal Murray, a concert pianist with the beating heart of a percussionist.

A spaghetti tangle of microphone cable develops at O'Sullivan's feet as the evening progresses, evidence of her restless spirit. But how can one resist the urge to dance during her rollicking performance of the Pogues' "Thousands Are Sailing?" This tsunami of Irish American nostalgia is enhanced by Lisa Renkel and Brian Pacelli's emotional projection design, which tells the story of the Irish in New York right up to the present.

Armed with a raspy whisper that can suddenly develop into a roar, O'Sullivan is like the miracle child resulting from a County Cork tryst between Janis Joplin and Edith Piaf. If you're lucky, she'll leave you with a Christmas song that is sure to delight any Irish New Yorker (even those who are just Irish at heart). What an amazing Christmas gift that this is taking place in a beautiful new theater in Hell's Kitchen, home to so many Irish American dreams over the last century.
Mitsubishi Motors: 40 Years In The U.S. 28 Years On The Auto Channel







SEE MORE: 29 Years Of Mitsubishi News and New Car Reviews On The Auto Channel

FRANKLIN, Tenn. December 8, 2021; Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) celebrates its 40th anniversary in the United States. From operations initially based in Fountain Valley, Calif.; then in Cypress, Calif., for more than 30 years; and now based in Franklin, Tenn.; MMNA marks today as a day to look back on a unique history, and a day to look forward to many more years in the U.S. For its 40th anniversary year, the company has planned special Anniversary Editions of its top-selling Outlander which will combine special features and badging, and offer a special value.

As the company looks forward to the next 40 years in the U.S. and beyond, momentum is already building behind MMNA, with its brand-new North American headquarters opening, an all-new or significantly refreshed lineup of vehicles for the 2022 model year highlighted by the 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander, a robust and growing dealer partner network and record-breaking sales success.

Over 40 years, Mitsubishi Motors has grown from a startup import brand to become a household name. We have delivered some of the U.S. auto industrys most iconic models, weve used music as the through-line for memorable advertising, weve reinvented the way families interact with their vehicles, weve grown into a proud and successful, challenger automotive brand loved by many, said Yoichi Yokozawa, Mitsubishi Motors North America President and CEO. In the next 40 years, we will continue to challenge, we will continue to innovate, we will continue to deliver on the expectations of our extremely loyal owner and enthusiast community, and we will surprise and excite a new generation of Mitsubishi Motors customers.

Mitsubishi Motors had actually been selling vehicles in the U.S. prior to 1981, but not under its own company name. Because of a partnership with Chrysler Corporation, the companys cars had been sold with Dodge branding on them. But in 1981, the company created a formal presence for itself, as Mitsubishi Motor Sales of America, headquartered in Fountain Valley, Calif., and with vehicles sold through an initial dealer network of 70 facilities across the country.

In 1986, the company moved its headquarters to an all-new green-field location in the then farming community of Cypress, Calif. The multi-acre site housed all sales, marketing, planning and logistic operations; as well as design; research and development; parts operations and regional operations.

The next major move for MMNA was part of a brand-wide reinvention, and saw the company relocate from Cypress, Calif. to Franklin, Tenn., just outside of Nashville, in mid-2019. In April 2020, its new-from-the-ground-up, state-of-the-art North American headquarters opened, and in spite of the pandemic, Mitsubishi hired more than 150 new team members. Throughout the pandemic, MMNA has supported its new hometown through employee volunteering and corporate social responsibility, Small Batch  Big Impact programs. MMNA expects to invite its new community and employee family to formally cut the ribbon on the new building in early 2022. By the time of the move, the company had sold nearly 5.5 million vehicles in the U.S., through its nearly 330 dealer partners around the country.

The newest Mitsubishi Motors dealership to open in the 40th anniversary year will be Cool Springs Mitsubishi, located just two miles from the companys U.S. headquarters office. Designed to the MMNAs newest Visual Identity (VI) program, which delivers a modern, clean and inviting sales facility, Cool Springs Mitsubishi is one of more than 20 dealerships that have opened or re-opened under the program since its inception. It is also the 42nd new dealership to open since MMNA made the move to Tennessee. The new headquarters, new, energetic employee team and new dealership are proof-positive of MMNAs commitment to its new hometown.

Outside of Tennessee, MMNAs momentum can be felt in its all-new or significantly revised lineup of vehicles, namely, its all-new flagship, the 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander  the most connected and best-equipped vehicle Mitsubishi has ever sold in the U.S.

A gamechanger for the brand, the 2022 Outlander launched on the worlds largest e-commerce platform  Amazon  in Feb. 2021, and since then, has earned awards and smashed sales records for its nameplate and for MMNA dealer partners. Reflecting the quality, dependability and reliability the brand has built its reputation on over the last 40 years, the Outlander was recently tested and proven in the 2021 Rebelle Rally.

The 2022 Eclipse Cross also saw a complete re-design, and new styling and standard safety and connectivity features were added across the lineup for 2021 and 2022, demonstrating further investment in the U.S. market. In the second-half of 2022, MMNA will launch the plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) model of the all-new Outlander, bringing together the companys expertise in electrification and rally-derived, all-wheel control technologies.

From its inception to todays MMNA, the company has always held close one ideal: to design, engineer and market vehicles that offer outstanding value, class-above safety, leading-edge design and deliver pride of ownership. The past 40 years have seen vast changes in consumer preferences and tastes, and have seen MMNA rise and fall, and rise again. The company is poised for another 40 years of turning heads and driving excitement with a passionate employee and dealer partner team, committed CSR programs that give back to the community and award-winning vehicles that exceed customers expectations.

Weve driven ambition for 40 years in the United States, added Yokozawa. We cant wait to see what the next 40 will bring.

About Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. Through a network of approximately 330 dealer partners across the United States, Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc., (MMNA) is responsible for the sales, marketing and customer service of Mitsubishi Motors vehicles in the U.S. MMNA was the top-ranked Japanese brand in the J.D. Power 2021 Initial Quality study, ranking third overall and tied with Lexus. In its Environmental Targets 2030, MMNA's parent company Mitsubishi Motors Corporation has set a goal of a 40 percent reduction in the CO2 emissions of its new cars by 2030 through leveraging EVs  with PHEVs as the centerpiece  to help create a sustainable society.

With headquarters in Franklin, Tennessee, and corporate operations in California, Georgia, Michigan, New Jersey, Texas, Florida and Virginia, MMNA directly and indirectly employs more than 8,000 people across the United States.
A police vehicle is on the scene as trucks make their way to the Ambassador Bridge border crossing in Windsor, Ont., on Oct.4, 2021. (The Canadian Press/Rob Gurdebeke)

$12 Million in Cocaine Seized by Brantford Police

A truck loaded with more than 100 kilograms of cocaine worth an estimated $12 million has been seized by police in Brantford, Ont..

The Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) intercepted a tractor-trailer belonging to a company based in Milton, Ont., on Dec. 4, as it was reentering Canada from the United States through the Ambassador Bridge in Windsor, Ont., according to a news release issued Dec. 9.

A search of the trailer yielded a seizure of approximately 112 kilograms of cocaine, having a street value of approximately $12 million, the statement from Brantford police said.

BPS Drug Project leads to seizure of 112 kg of Cocaine worth approx. $12,000,000.00. With the assistance from the Canada Border Services Agency and funding by the Ont. Govt  Criminal Intelligence Service Ontario, two man from Brampton are facing charges. https://t.co/Xz2ALuPKwR pic.twitter.com/BbF8xZFwar  Brantford Police (@BrantfordPolice) December 9, 2021

The seizure was a result of a drug investigation led by the Brantford Police Service in early 2021, which was funded by the Ontario government and received assistance from the CBSA and Criminal Intelligence Service Ontario.

As a result of the investigation, the Brantford Police Service said it identified a group of local individuals believed to be involved in trafficking and distributing cocaine throughout the City of Brantford and neighbouring regions.

Two Brampton men, Jugrajpreet Singh and Amrinder Singh, both 22 years old, have been charged with possession for the purpose to traffic and importation of cocaine under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.
2022 Ballot Initiative Allows Laguna Beach Residents to Vote on Developments

LAGUNA BEACH, Calif.In an attempt to preserve the local environment, a grassroots political action committee created an initiative measure that would require voter approval for large-scale developments.

The Dont mess with Laguna attitude is a pretty common theme amongst a lot of people here, David Raber, principal officer for Laguna Residents First (LRF), told The Epoch Times.

Raber, who authored the organizations ballot initiative, the Beautiful Laguna Overlay Zoning District, said it allows the city council to hear the voice of local property owners and acts as better protection for the value of their property.

We took a look at the things that have allowed time to be kind to Laguna Beach, and a lot of those are in the current zoning ordinances, he said. But they have come under pressure with the developments and general trends of Southern California to increase density.

Laguna Beach, Calif., on Nov. 18, 2020. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

Applying to all properties located within areas of 750 feet of State Route 133 (Laguna Canyon Road) or State Route 1 (Pacific Coast Highway), the Beautiful Laguna Overlay Zoning District measure applies to any project that triggers any of the following conditions:

Combines two or more lots exceeding 7,500 square feet of lot area or 6,000 square feet in downtown lots

Exceeds 22,000 square feet of floor space

Exceeds the existing 36-foot permitted height limit

Increases traffic by at least 200 additional daily trips

Exacerbates parking

Produces a cumulative effect with other properties, causing more than 800 average daily trips, or construction of more than 88,000 square feet of gross floor area.

Development projects exempt from the initiative include single-family residences, projects of nine or fewer units, and affordable to low-income households. Other exemptions apply to existing properties damaged by natural disasters impacting the original size, placement, and density.

It also excludes public or private K12 schools, hospitals, or houses of worship.

We think it will help achieve the balance between the residents, Raber said. Theres so much commercial property in Laguna Beach, and were hoping that it continues to be used and reused effectively as the years go on, rather than tear things down and have to build some big hotel that is out of place.

Michael Ray, principal officer of Laguna Forward, a political action committee, said that after commissioning a poll asking residents if they support the initiative, 70 percent voted against it.

When you explain the consequences about how it strangles businesses, they said no, Ray told The Epoch Times. They rely on the city council to make those decisions.

Laguna Beach City Councilman Peter Blake also opposes the initiative.

Blake, who took office in 2018, said the initiative blocks all new businesses and developments from moving the community forward.

The residents of this community are smart enough not to vote for this, Blake told The Epoch Times. Thats why its taking [LRF] so long to get the signatures.

In October, 24 Laguna Beach residents sent a letter to Mayor Bob Whalen addressing concerns over the ballot proposal.

While LRF claims the initiative encourages innovation in the parameters of preserving Lagunas look and feel, the 24 opposing representatives believe adding a lengthy and expensive step in the permitting process could discourage investment and innovation for property owners and investors.

These right-sized improvements wont occur with the Proposals broad-brush additional red tape applied to all commercial neighborhoods and many residential developments, the residents wrote in the letter.

The red tape the letter refers to imposes added fees to the approval process.

Laguna Beach City Hall area in Laguna Beach, Calif., on Oct. 15, 2020. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

One of the residents, Joe Hanauer, a principal at Combined Investments, published an opinion piece for the Laguna Beach Independent along with the letter to the citys mayor attached. He wrote that if a small retail store attempts to open within 750 square feet of Pacific Coast Highway or Laguna Canyon Road and increases traffic with 200 (or more) daily trips, the development is subject to a public vote.

The vote and process could cost more than $100,000 in fees and promotions alone with no approval guarantee, he said.

No investor will devote time or money to undertake risks associated with a public ballot. Yet the aging condition of our business neighborhoods would continue to deteriorate, and the innovation and creativity that formed todays Laguna will disappear. Investment will be stifled, the letter reads.

Despite the concerns, the residents agree with other components of the ballot measure, such as the 36-foot height limit or prohibiting monolithic, large-scale developments that would diminish the citys charm.

If anything, the naysayers welcome creating a counter initiative without impacting beneficial developments as an alternative to the LRF proposal.

We all want the same thing, Blake said.

According to Raber, the initiative requires 1,700 signatures, and LRF needs maybe a few hundred signatures left by the end of the year.

The provisions for the ballot have been definitely thought through and vetted  and we are still satisfied that the balance of protection versus opportunity has been achieved, he said. We definitely encourage people to vote for it.

Thousands of Southern California Edison customers went without power twice in one weekend in Laguna Beach, Calif., on Oct. 23, 2021. (Brandon Drey/The Epoch Times)

Carolyn Burris, a former third-generation Laguna Beach resident, and granddaughter of the original owner and builder of the Coast Inn, a hotel built in 1927, supports the initiative.

She said preserving the historic nature of the citys architecture needs more attention, and she disapproves of the citys current trajectory with new developments.

The leadership needs to embrace the residents, Burris told The Epoch Times. And if the initiative will help give us a voice, then maybe we have a fighting chance.

Beth Leeds, 80, a long-time resident, said the city needs to talk about the initiative, citing the increase in traffic imposed by current construction and new developments, which permeates parking problems into the residential neighborhoods off the main drag.

Towns get ruined for profit to developers, Leeds told The Epoch Times. This puts everything out in the open, and people will make up their own minds.
A Dozen Major US Cities Hit All-Time Murder Records With 3 Weeks Remaining in 2021

At least 12 major U.S. cities have set annual murder records in 2021 even as there are still several weeks remaining in the year, data shows.

Philadelphia, one of the largest cities in the United States, saw 525 murders in 2021, according to police data. Thats higher than the previously set record of 500 murders in 1990.

With a population of nearly 1.579 million, the data suggests Philadelphias homicide rate is about 33 murders per 100,000 peopleor more than four times higher than the U.S. homicide rate of 7.8 per 100,000 people in 2020.

Its terrible to every morning get up and have to go look at the numbers and then look at the news and see the stories. Its just crazy. Its just crazy and this needs to stop, Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney, a Democrat, said earlier this month, according to reports.

Other large cities that broke their previous homicide records in 2021 include Portland, Oregon; Austin, Texas; St. Paul, Minnesota; Indianapolis, Indiana; Louisville, Kentucky; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Columbus, Ohio; Tuscon, Arizona; and Rochester, New York, according to an analysis of public news reports.

Indianapolis recorded at least 246 murders in 2021, Rochester has recorded at least 71 murders, Columbus has recorded at least 179, Baton Rouge recorded 137, Portland saw 79, Albuquerque has experienced 97, Tucson has 81, Louisville saw 175, St. Paul recorded 35, and Toledo saw 62 murdersall records.

Portland police officers walk past a fire started by a Molotov cocktail that a rioter hurled at them, in Portland, Ore., on Sept. 23, 2020. (Nathan Howard/Getty Images)

Notably, Portland, Rochester, Lousiville, and St. Paul experienced numerous days of protests and riots starting in May of 2020 after the officer-involved death of George Floyd, which sparked nationwide unrest.

Protesters and rioters took to the streets in St. Paullocated near Minneapolisfollowing Floyds death at the hands of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin. Meanwhile, weeks of riots and protests erupted in Louisville following the death of Breonna Taylor, and in Portland, left-wing agitators partook in riots and protests for more than 100 consecutive days last year.

In Rochester, riots broke out following the officer-involved death of Daniel Prude, a black man who was later confirmed to be under the influence of the dissociative hallucinogenic drug PCP and was reportedly partially naked and smashing storefronts during cold and snowy weather on March 30, 2020.

The community has to get fed up, Capt. Frank Umbrino, of the Rochester Police Department, said during a recent news conference last month. Were extremely frustrated. It has to stop. I mean, its worse than a war zone around here lately.

As it has in the past, Chicago currently leads the United States with more than 730 homicides by the end of November, according to Chicago Police Department data, coming as at least nine murders were reported during an outburst of shootings across the Windy City over the past weekend. The most deadly year on record was in 1974 when Chicago experienced 974 homicides.

Nationally, homicides rose by about 30 percent in 2020 compared to the prior year, according to FBI data released several months ago. That was the largest one-year spike since the FBI started keeping records.

Some criminologists have blamed the spike in murder rates on lax bail laws, political and racial conflicts following the George Floyd riots and protests, large numbers of officers retiring or quitting, and pandemic-related panic.
John Zingsheim of Hartford, Wis., with his children Courtney and Mitchell, who are now 21 and 19. Zingsheim is on a ventilator at Aurora Medical Center Summit while his family seeks a court order to allow treatment with the drug ivermectin. (Courtesy Zingsheim Family)

Wisconsin Patients Life Hangs in the Balance While Court Mulls Ivermectin for Nearly 2 Months

When John Zingsheim walked into the Aurora Medical Center in his hometown of Hartford, Wisconsin, he had no way of knowing his soon-to-be-diagnosed COVID-19 case would thrust his family into the headlines and leave his life hanging in the balance while attorneys argued over ivermectin, the treatment he requested before being placed on a ventilator.

Nearly two months after being intubated, Zingsheim, 60, is hanging onstill waiting for a resolution to allow his doctor to administer treatments of ivermectin, an FDA-approved medication often used to treat parasitic infections, which more recently has been hailed in some quarters as an effective treatment for COVID-19. The two-month legal battle has left Zingsheims two children exasperated while their father fights for his life.

At this point, I would say were most likely on Gods time, as opposed to anyone elses, Karen Mueller, chief counsel at the Amos Center for Justice and Liberty, who represents Zingsheim, told The Epoch Times. Its just a miracle.

Mueller thought she had a solution in mid-October, when Waukesha County Circuit Court Judge Lloyd V. Carter issued an order to show cause that would have allowed Zingsheim to receive the ivermectin treatments prescribed by his personal physician. On the motion of Aurora Medical Center, a three-judge panel of the Wisconsin Court of Appeals for District 2 agreed to take the case. Then, without being asked to do so, the appeals court stayed Carters order. The legal term for such a move is sua sponte, meaning of ones own accord. The appeals judges were Mark Gundrum, Lisa Neubauer, and Paul Reilly.

They stayed the circuit courts order, which is why John Zingsheim never got the ivermectin, said Mueller, who is representing Zingsheim pro-bono. They didnt just take it [the case], they stopped him from getting help. Thats when I decided to do the bypass to the Supreme Court. They refused to even overturn the stay of the appellate court. Again John was denied the ivermectin.

Now, what we are looking at is back at the appellate court and we are in briefing right now. Expedited, but expedited is still too slow when youre dealing with someones life.

Wisconsin Supreme Court Refused to Intervene

The Wisconsin Supreme Court, on a 43 vote on Oct. 25, refused to allow the case to bypass the Court of Appeals, a decision that drew a sharp dissent from Justice Rebecca Bradley.

Wisconsin judges are rarely asked to make life-or-death decisions. This case presents one of those rare circumstances, Bradley wrote in a dissent joined by Chief Justice Annette Ziegler and Justice Patience Roggensack.

The circuit court made a decision on the side of life. The appellate courts chose the irrevocable and irreversible alternative. But nothing in the law compelled it.

Judicial decisions have consequences, Bradley wrote. While every judicial decision must be well-grounded in the law, in this case, nothing in the law supports the court of appeals decision nor compels this courts inaction. The likely consequence of those unreasoned decisions is irrevocable, irreversible, and grave harm inflicted on Mr. Zingsheim.

On a 43 vote on Oct. 25, the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled that John Zingsheims case couldnt bypass the Wisconsin Court of Appeals. (Joseph Hanneman/The Epoch Times)

Ivermectin was approved for human use in 1987 and prescribed more than 4 billion times since to treat such ailments as river blindness, a parasitic infection common in the tropics. Two scientists who discovered the drug were awarded the 2015 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.

While its on the World Health Organizations list of essential medicines for several illnesses, the WHO recommends it only be used to treat COVID-19 within the scope of a clinical trial. However, cross-label use of ivermectin to treat other illnesses is legal. Refusal-to-treat cases involving ivermectin and COVID-19 are on the rise. Some patients have recovered after receiving court-ordered ivermectin treatments.

According to a database of 48 peer-reviewed studies on the effectiveness of ivermectin for the treatment of COVID-19, patients who were administered the drug for early treatment were 70 percent more likely to have their condition improve.

Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) called the loss of freedom during the pandemic a travesty.

When did hospital patients lose all rights? Johnson told The Epoch Times. I continue to pray for John Zingsheim and his family. Americans shouldnt be dying in hospital beds unable to get access to treatment that could potentially save their lives. We should listen with an open mind to doctors who have had the courage and compassion to actually treat COVID-19 patients.

Familys Second Recent Tragedy

Zingsheims initial lawsuit was filed almost a year to the day after the funeral of his wife, Stephanne Zingsheim. Her death, at the age of 56, came after a long battle with cancer. The strain of that tragedy for John and Stephannes two children, Courtney and Mitchell, is now compounded as their fathers life hangs in the balance, according to Allen Gahl, Zingsheims nephew and health care power of attorney.

Some of the strain was lessened when Zingsheim chose Gahl to be his medical advocate just a few days after being hospitalized in mid-September.

It seemed natural. There was a trust there, Gahl told The Epoch Times. He actually was able to make his own decisions for a few weeks there, so I just helped a lot.

Gahl drew some conclusions fairly quickly after being given power of attorney. His uncle had been moved from Hartford to Auroras facility in Summit, about 30 miles west of Milwaukee. One conclusion was that two of the medications prescribed by the hospitalremdesivir and baricitinibwere too dangerous. The remdesivir was stopped after two days. Gahl said he didnt realize his uncle was on the baricitinib for about two weeks, but then he asked that it also be stopped.

Gahl consulted various experts, including those at the Frontline COVID-19 Critical Care (FLCCC) Alliance, a group of doctors who develop what they describe as effective treatment protocols to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 and to improve the outcomes for patients ill with the disease. Suggested treatment protocols from the FLCCC Alliance were provided to Aurora hospital doctors, Gahl said.

At least they knew then, but they werent willing to do a lot of it, said Gahl, who lives near the Twin Cities of Minnesota. What they were willing to do, it would be in very low dosage. I will say they did some of what we asked for, but it was so low dosage it would be, Im not even talking about a half, its a fifth, a 10th, a 20th of what theyre looking for for a patient whos so severe. That was very frustrating.

In court filings, Aurora lawyers said the hospitals doctors felt ivermectin falls below the hospitals standard of care, and argued that a circuit court doesnt have the authority to compel a hospital to provide what it considers substandard. Katie McDonough, director of public affairs for Advocate Aurora Health, told The Epoch Times that Aurora stands by the decisions of its doctors.

Our hearts go out to this patient and their family during this difficult time, McDonough wrote in a statement. As always, the health and safety of our patients is our top priority. In keeping with evidence-based prescribing practices and guidance from the FDA and CDC, we do not support or recommend the administration of ivermectin for treatment of COVID-19. We stand with our care team in recommending other proven courses of treatment which have worked safely and effectively for thousands of patients, and are awaiting a decision from the Court of Appeals on the case.

Mueller said Aurora presented evidence in court that mocked ivermectin as horse paste, noting its veterinary use to control parasites in animals.

I said, first of all, your honor, it is not our job to prove that it is safe, its their job to prove that its unsafe, and they cant point to even one death that ivermectin has caused, because its got a 40-year history of being a safe drug for other purposes. It is an anti-parasitic, but more recently, theyve found its also a very strong antiviral and anti-inflammatory, and it works right on the lungs that have been ravaged by the COVID pneumonia.

In 2018, then-Gov. Scott Walker signed legislation that established the right to try for terminally ill patients in Wisconsin who want access to experimental drugs that havent gained final approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The law didnt address a situation such as Zingsheims, which involves an approved drug already in use by many doctors as a cross-label treatment. A spokesman for state Rep. Timothy Ramthun, a Republican, said a bill will be introduced to update the right-to-try statute. Ramthun is seeking state Senate co-sponsors for the bill.

Pressing Need for Legal Help

Mueller said Zingsheims case isnt unique, as she fields regular calls from around Wisconsin and the nation.

I got another call from a gal in Indiana today, Mueller said. Same story. Theyre not finding anybody to help them. Theyre finding no legal help, and theyre calling me.

Mueller said its a challenge to find a doctor willing to prescribe ivermectin, because they fear reprisals from state licensing authorities.

Youre not going to find one that will act, no, Mueller said. Youre not going to find one. Youre not going to find a pharmacy to dispense ivermectin in Wisconsin. The whole thing is frightening.

The Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Serviceswhich licenses physicians and pharmacistsdidnt respond to a request for comment.

Sen. Johnson agreed that medical professionals have been threatened across the country.

Unfortunately, many physicians have had their jobs and medical licenses threatened for using off-label prescribing rights to treat COVID-19, he said. Hospitals and pharmacies have restricted access to certain treatments. I wrote a letter to Dr. [Francis] Collins [National Institutes of Health director] in January of 2021 on the urgency of Americans having access to early outpatient treatment options for COVID-19. He has not given the information requested. Dr. [Anthony] Fauci, Dr. Collins, and our federal health agencies have ignored and sabotaged early treatments for COVID-19. These actions have and will continue to cost lives.

Gahl said its nothing short of a miracle that his uncle is still holding his own after fighting the effects of COVID-19 for nearly three months.

We had to find a doctor to prescribe ivermectinthat was hard enough, he said. We had to find a pharmacy nearby that would fill the prescription. Thats not easy. Probably the hardest one was to find a doctor who would actually go into the hospital and administer this drug to him because the hospital would not do it themselves.

One of the toughest parts of the experience, Gahl said, was having an agreement worked out in the circuit court and seeing that taken away by the appellate court.

I thought we were right there. We were ready to have a settlement, Gahl said. The doctor was going to get in the car and go. Then boom, the appellate court does what they did.
File photo: A woman is silhouetted behind the Aboriginal flag in Sydney, Australia on May 26, 2006. (Ian Waldie/Getty Images)

Aboriginal Barrister Appointed to Deliver Report on Treaty to Australias Northern Territory

The Northern Territory (NT) government on Wednesday appointed Australias most senior Indigenous barrister Tony McAvoy SC (Senior Counsel) to the role of Acting Treaty Commissioner.

McAvoys posting comes after the territorys first treaty commissioner, Prof. Mick Dodson, resigned from the position in June.

As treaty commissioner, McAvoy will facilitate consultation with Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory regarding a Treaty, develop a framework for negotiations, and make recommendations to the NT chief minister.

NT Minister for Treaty and Local Decision Making Selena Uibo welcomed McAvoys appointment.

He has extensive experience working here in the Territory which has involved engaging with key Aboriginal organisations to ensure better outcomes for Aboriginal Territorians, she said.

Central Land Council Chief Executive Officer Lesley Turner also welcomed the appointment and noted McAvoys work with the Royal Commission into Youth Detention in the NT.

He understands the need for a fundamentally different approach to child protection as it relates to our children, who are still being imprisoned at record rates, Turner said.

A lifetime of working in the legal and government sectors as a Wirdi man have prepared him for settling the unfinished business between our peoples and the NT Government.

The appointment was made based on an expression of interest process, along with a selection panel made up of representatives from the NT government and the four Northern, Central, Tiwi, and Anindilyakwa Aboriginal land councils.

McAvoy will have six months to present his report to the NT Government in March next year.

The NT government said in a release that McAvoy was a widely respected barrister with strong ties in the territory. He was Co-Senior Counsel Assisting the Royal Commission into the Protection and Detention of Children in the Northern Territory, and advisor to the Paul Ramsay Foundation, which partnered with community-led organisations and government on the NT Aboriginal Justice Agreement.

McAvoy has worked with key Aboriginal organisations such as the Northern Australia Aboriginal Justice Agency and Northern Land Council, as well as provided legal and strategic advice on Treaty matters to the Victorian Treaty Advancement Commissioner and the Queensland Treaty Working Group.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken (L) speaks during a meeting with Nigerian Foreign Minister Geoffrey Onyeama (R) at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja, Nigeria, on Nov. 18, 2021 (Andrew Harnik / POOL /AFP via Getty Images)

As Nigeria Violence Cascades, Rights Advocates Petition Biden

A group of human rights watchdogs has petitioned President Joe Biden to reinstate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern regarding severe violations of human rights within its borders.

Although the State Department assigned that designation to Nigeria a year ago, it was rescinded shortly before Secretary of State Antony Blinkens visit there on Nov. 18.

The Family Research Council and 11 other nonprofits have implored the White House to reverse itself, in view of a worsening situation for Christians as well as vulnerable Muslims in Africas most populous country.

We urgently request that the Biden administration redesignate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) on religious freedom, according to the letter sent to the White House on Dec. 7.

For years, the Nigerian government has done virtually nothing to stop this violence, the letter says. In order for Nigeria to have been removed from the key list of Countries of Particular Concern, it ought to have demonstrated substantial progress in protecting religious communities from attacks and affirming the right of all people to practice their faith freely.

This did not happen, and the removal of Nigerias CPC designation is unjustified and sends the wrong message to governments around the world who engage in or tolerate egregious violations of religious freedom.

Since 2009, Nigeria has been fighting two kinds of violence that have taken more than 60,000 lives, according to the International Committee on Nigeria.

The ISIS terrorist group is linked to the insurgency known as the Islamic State of West Africa and its predecessor group, Boko Haram, in the northeast region of the nation. At the same time, radicalized bandit gangs operating in the north-central and northwestern regions of Nigeria and the region known as the Middle Belt have killed thousands of unarmed Christian farmers. Over the past two years, the bandit gangs have become the more deadly threat.

On Dec. 6, a large gang in the northern state of Sokoto firebombed a busload of civilians, killing 29 people, including many women and children, all of them Muslims. Bandit gangs reportedly have attacked and annexed 380 villages in the Middle Belt in recent years, the great majority of them occupied by Christian indigenous people who were displaced.

The criminal gangs, which began forming in 2012 in the state of Zamfara, have swelled in size and threat in recent years so that as many as 10,000 armed gang members are terrorizing the civilian population, says historian Murtala Ahmed Rufai, a gang expert at Usman Danfodio University in Sokoto.

The Islamic insurgency and the anti-Christian bandits have a common objective, which is the removal of Christian settlements from the country, according to war correspondent Lara Logan, who broadcast a Fox Nation documentary on Nigerian terrorism on Sept. 27.

How can it be, less than a year after that significant designation, that Nigerias CPC designation has been dropped without a public explanation? the letter reads.

The ongoing violence, killing, and displacement against Christians and others have only increased. In fact, during 2021, massacres happen almost nightly, while by day, young boys are killed in the fields. Pregnant women are brutally dismembered, their babies mutilated before their eyes. And now, an entire church congregation has been abducted and held captive.

The letter to Biden says that removing the CPC designation from Nigeria appeases terrorism.

We implore you to immediately redesignate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern. Failing to do so rewards the Nigerian government for tolerating and engaging in egregious, systematic, and ongoing religious freedom violations and sends a message to extremists that their actions will go unpunished, the letter states.

Baroness Cox, founder of the UK-based Humanitarian Aid and Relief Fund and one of 30 signers of the letter, told The Epoch Times: It is deeply concerning that the United States has removed Nigeria from the list of Countries of Particular Concern, and this needs to be addressed. The murders and rapes are still going on, and we need to act to protect the Nigerian people from this violence.

During his stop in Abuja, Blinken announced a $2 billion aid package to assist Nigeria over the next three years and spent 45 minutes talking to a small group of representatives of civil society.

That small group engagement included hearing from Rev. Joseph Hayab, a spokesman for the Christian community in Kaduna state. However, Blinken didnt mention human rights as a concern during his stop except when directly asked about it in an interview with Channels TV; the topic discussed was police brutality in Lagos, and not the rampant killings of Christian Nigerians, which some have called a Christian genocide.
AstraZenecas COVID-19 Prevention Drug Granted Emergency Authorization for Immune Compromised

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an emergency use authorization on Dec. 8 for an AstraZeneca COVID-19 antibody drug designed to help prevent infection in people with compromised immune systems.

The drug, Evusheld, is a combination of two long-acting synthetic antibodies: tixagevimab and cilgavimab, which are derived from B-cells donated by patients who have recovered from the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Its the first antibody therapy authorized in the United States for preventative COVID-19 treatment.

Both of the antibodies work by mimicking the immune systems ability to fight the virus. Theyre specifically designed to act against the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2, blocking the viruss attachment and entry into human cells.

Evusheld, formerly known as AZD7442, is only authorized for use in individuals who arent currently infected with COVID-19 and who havent been recently exposed to an individual infected with the virus.

Packaging and vials for AstraZenecas Evusheld antibody COVID-19 medication. (AstraZeneca via AP)

Based on the FDAs review of the totality of the scientific evidence available, the agency has determined that it is reasonable to believe that Evusheld may be effective for use as pre-exposure prevention in certain adults and pediatric individuals, the agency said in a statement.

It has been authorized for use specifically in adults and adolescents aged 12 and older who weigh 40 kilograms (about 88 pounds) or more with moderately to severely compromised immune systems, either due to a medical condition or immunosuppressive medications. Such medical conditions and treatments include blood cancer patients, organ transplant recipients, those with advanced or untreated HIV infection, and people taking immunosuppressive drugs for conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, among others.

The treatment can also be administered to individuals for whom COVID-19 vaccinations arent recommended, such as those who have a history of severe adverse reactions to COVID-19 vaccines, according to the FDA.

Evusheld will be given as two intramuscular injections, one immediately after the other. The treatment may provide up to six months of pre-exposure prevention, the FDA stated.

Preliminary data from trials show a reduction of 77 percent at primary analysis and of 83 percent at median six-month analysis in the risk of developing symptomatic COVID-19, compared to those who took a placebo.

While trials are still continuing, those who have received the shot generally have tolerated it well. However, side effects include hypersensitivity reactions, bleeding at the injection site, headache, fatigue, and cough. While infrequent, serious cardiac adverse events, such as heart failure were noted, officials said such reactions occurred in individuals who had a history of or had a risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

Both the FDA and AstraZeneca stated that the new drug is only for use in those individuals who are immunocompromised or for whom COVID-19 vaccination isnt recommended. They stated that the injection drug isnt a substitute for vaccination for individuals for whom the COVID-19 vaccines are recommended.

The FDA stated that it has determined that the known and potential benefits of Evusheld, when used consistent with the terms and conditions of the authorization, outweigh the known and potential risks of the product, noting that there are currently no such adequate, approved, and available alternatives on the market.

In a statement, AstraZeneca said the first doses of the drug are expected to become available very soon. However, the company didnt provide a specific date.

The BritishSwedish pharmaceutical and biotechnology company noted that roughly 2 percent of the global population is considered to be at increased risk of an inadequate response to the current COVID-19 vaccines that are available, while around 7 million people in the United States are immunocompromised and may benefit from the treatment.

We are proud to play a leading role in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic and, with Evusheld, we now have the first antibody therapy authorized in the U.S. to prevent COVID-19 symptoms before virus exposure, while also providing long-lasting protection with a single dose, said Mene Pangalos, executive vice president of AstraZenecas BioPharmaceuticals R&D.

Effectiveness Against Omicron

Pangalos said the pharmaceuticals company is still looking into if and how the new treatment may help fight against the new Omicron variant of COVID-19.

Evusheld neutralizes all previous SARs-CoV-2 variants to date, and we are working quickly to establish its efficacy against the new Omicron variant, he said. We thank our clinical trial participants, the investigators, scientists, and government agencies, and our colleagues at AstraZeneca who have all contributed to the development of Evusheld.

AstraZeneca has agreed to supply 700,000 doses of Evusheld to the United States.
b Centauri and its giant planet b Centauri b, taken by the SPHERE instrument on ESO's Very Large Telescope and using a coronagraph. It blocked the immensely bright light from the massive star system (top left) and allowed astronomers to detect the faint planet (arrow). (ESO/Janson et al)

Astronomers Discover Massive Planet 10 Times Bigger Than Jupiter

A group of astronomers has discovered one of the biggest planets ever found orbiting a massive and extremely hot two-star system, despite previously believing that such an environment was too inhospitable for a planet to form in.

The planet was discovered by Markus Janson, a professor of astronomy at Stockholm University, and colleagues, according to research published Wednesday in the science journal Nature.

Janson and his colleagues found the planet using the very sophisticated Spectro-Polarimetric High-contrast Exoplanet REsearch instrument (SPHERE) on the European Southern Observatorys Very Large Telescope in Chile.

Named b Centauri (AB)b or b Centauri b, the planet is an alien world experiencing conditions completely different from what we face here on Earth and in our Solar System, astronomers said in a news release.

It is 10 times more massive than Jupiter, making it one of the most massive planets ever found. Moreover, it revolves around the binary star at a staggering 100 times greater distance than Jupiter does from the Sun, one of the widest orbits discovered yet, astronomers explained. This large distance from the central pair of stars could be key to the planets survival.

Janson said the discovery of the planet around the two-star system completely changes what astronomers previously believed about massive stars hosting planets, and shows that they can, in fact, form in such severe star systems.

The two-star system, also named b Centauri, is 15 million years old and has at least six times the mass of the Sun, making it by far the biggest stellar system around which astronomers have found a planet. Owing to its incredibly high temperatures, the star system, which sits 325 light-years away in the Centaurus constellation, emits large amounts of UV and X-ray radiation.

Prior to its discovery, scientists had been unable to detect any such object around a star more than three times as massive as the Sun.

Furthermore, the large mass and heat emitted by the star system strongly impact the surrounding gas, which should technically make it difficult for planets to form.

B-type stars are generally considered as quite destructive and dangerous environments, so it was believed that it should be exceedingly difficult to form large planets around them, Janson said.

We have always had a very solar system-centric view of what planetary systems are supposed to look like, MPIA scientist and co-author Matthias Samland said. Over the last 10 years, the discovery of many planetary systems in surprising and novel configurations has made us widen our historically narrow view. This discovery adds another exciting chapter to this story, this time for massive stars.

The instrument used to discover the planet, the SPHERE, was constructed and built by a consortium of several astronomical institutions, and astronomers have so far used it to capture several planets orbiting stars other than the Sun before.

Using the instrument, they were able to take the first image of a growing infant planet and a potentially moon-forming disk.

It will be an intriguing task to try to figure out how it might have formed, which is a mystery at the moment, Janson added of the newly-discovered planet.
Australian Opposition Leader Bill Shorten holds a photograph of then-Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop with Chinese businessman Huang Xiangmo at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, on June 14, 2017. (AAP Image/Lukas Coch)

ATO Wins High Court Case Against Alleged CCP Influencer Huang Xiangmo

Australias High Court reinstated a worldwide freezing order on Chinese billionaire political donor Huang Xiangmo over his $140 million tax bill, which has been pursued by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO).

Huang Xiangmo is a controversial figure in Australia after news that Australia revoked his permanent residence visa in 2019 caused widespread media coverage. Among the highlights were allegations by the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) that he was an agent of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and working on interference operations in Australian politics.

The Australian Federal Court issued a freeze order on Huangs assets in Australia and overseas in 2019 at the request of the ATO. However, after Huang appealed the overseas asset freeze, the Federal Court withdrew that part of the order because the ATO was unlikely to enforce it in mainland China and Hong Kong, where the property developer had substantial assets.

The High Court overturned the decision on Dec. 8, arguing that the global assets freezing order are not bound by the precondition of whether it can be enforced.

The power  is broad and flexible, the High Court said in a judgment summary.

It is the courts authority to make orders against a person who is subject to the courts jurisdiction that is relevant to the power to make a freezing order, rather than the location of the persons assets.

As the former chairman of the Australian Council for the Promotion of Peaceful Reunification of China, a United Front organization of Beijing, Huang was heavily involved in Australian politics.

His association with New South Wales (NSW) Labor led to former Labor senator Sam Dastyaris disgraced downfall in 2017 and the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) investigation in 2019.

Australian Labor Party Sen. Sam Dastyari makes a public apology in Sydney on Sept. 6, 2016, after details emerged about his links to the Chinese regime. (William West/AFP/Getty Images)

During the public hearing inquiry into illegal political donations, witnesses testified that Huang took an Aldi supermarket shopping bag containing AU $100,000 to the NSW Labor Headquarters office. Huang denied the allegations but refused to attend the ICAC hearing.

Huang left Australia for China on Dec. 4, 2018, amid a tax audit.

In 2019, his permanent residency in Australia was cancelled due to personal character issues, making him unable to return to Australia.

The ATO said Huang earned $172 million in undeclared income in 2013, 2014, and 2015 financial years, of which about AU$100 million came from property transactions in Guangdong in 2014, when he was a resident subject to tax from the ATO.

The ATO is seeking AU$81.2 million in tax from Huang, as well as $59.3 million in interest and penalties. Huang did not challenge the freeze on his Australian assets, but they were not enough to cover his arrears.

Huang is living in Hong Kong, where the CCP recently vetted and approved him to become a member of the Chinese regime controversial Hong Kongs election committee in September which is argued to be the strongest indication yet of his unwavering commitment to the Chinese regime.
A burnt out truck sits in the Chinatown district of Honiara on the Solomon Islands on Nov. 26, 2021. (Charley Piringi/AFP via Getty Images)

Australia, NZ Intervention Prolonging Rule of Unpopular, Pro-Beijing Solomons Leader: Pacific Expert

Australia and New Zealand should adopt a hands-off approach to the Solomon Islands and leave embattled Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare to deal with Beijing-linked bribery allegations and deep dissatisfaction with his rule, according to a South Pacific expert.

Cleo Paskal, an associate fellow of the Asia-Pacific Programme at Chatham House, said last Novembers intervention from a coalition of Australian, New Zealand, Fijian, and Papua New Guinean forces to the Solomons provided breathing space to the pro-Beijing leader, who she said, was being pushed to stand down.

Sogavare was losing his grip on power. His MPs were defecting, the police had gone to him to defuse the (protest) situation and recommended that he should consider stepping asidenot due to threats from the demonstratorsbut just because he is incredibly unpopular across the country, she told The Epoch Times.

The announcement that Australia was sending troops saved him. He could then turn to MPs that were looking at defecting and say, Look, both China and Australia back me. So, are you really going to go up against me? she added.

Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare (R) and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang inspect honour guards during a welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Oct. 9, 2019. (Wang Zhao/AFP via Getty Images)

Sogavare earlier this week survived a no-confidence motion against him with a resounding 32 to 15 vote in his favour.

The vote came after Australia, New Zealand (NZ), Papua New Guinean, and Fijian forces entered the country to assist with maintaining law and order after riots last month saw the Chinatown district razed and left three people deadthe exact cause of death is still unknown.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison of Australia has maintained that the intervention of police and military was designed to restore stability to the island, and not a move to influence the democratic process.

Its not for us to be interfering in how they resolve those issues. We are just simply there as a good family member to try and provide a stable and safe environment for the issues that are there in the Solomon Islands to be peacefully worked through, Morrison told reporters on Nov. 28.

Sogavare had activated the Bilateral Security Agreement 2017, which allows the government to call on Australian authorities to provide support to the Solomon Islands police force.

The protests were a flashpoint for several issues surrounding Sogavares governance including dissatisfaction with his handling of service delivery, corruption, and his links to Beijing.

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) looms large over Sogavares tenure as prime minister, according to Paskal.

Taiwan used to give Constituency Development Funds, which are chunks of money to every MP in the Parliamentthere are 50 MPsand it was always controversial, she said.

But now what happened was the current pro-Beijing prime minister, gave chunks of money out of a CCP bank account, only to the 39 members of parliament who supported him, she added. So, its very, very overt.

An anti-government message adorns a burnt-out building in Honiara, Solomon Islands, on Nov. 27, 2021. (Charley Piringi/AFP via Getty Images)

Government documents in August revealed that each of the preferred MPs offices received $200,000 from the fund to supposedly support constituencies [sic] COVID-19 economic recovery efforts.

Opposition leader Matthew Wale said the funds supposed development motive was a mockery of the people of this country.

The funds are purely political, used by the prime minister to maintain his office. And the fact that the funds are paid by a foreign power is an egregious breach of Solomon Islands sovereignty, he said in Parliament.

Paskal also said Chinese companies were seeing preferential treatment for development approvals, as well as issues of violence and harassment of locals.

In fact, all three warfares are in play in the Solomonspsychological warfare, media warfare, and lawfare, she said.

The three warfares doctrine, which was formalised in 2003 by the Chinese leadership, underpins Beijings strategy for challenging Western powers.

In short, they consist of psychological warfare aimed at demoralising an adversary; media warfare to shape and win the hearts of the public, and legal warfare to manipulate legal systems in favour of the Chinese regime.

If an election is rigged in favour of a China-friendly candidate, then your recourse is the media and the judiciaryand those are two lawfare components, Paskal said, noting there was a serious lack of proper media coverage and scrutiny of the Pacific nation.

If the three warfares are in play, then it becomes a lot easier to de-democratise a democracy.

Opposition leader Wale, in his address to Parliament during the no-confidence motion, accused the prime minister of state capturethe practice of introducing systemic corruption into a political system until it can no longer function for the public good.

Papua New Guinea police arrive at the airport in Honiara, Solomon Islands, on Nov. 27, 2021. (Gary Ramage via AP)

The South Pacific has in recent years become a hotbed of geopolitical competition between democratic allies and Beijing, with both sides pushing for influence in the region.

For example, in late October, the Australian government and major telecommunications firm, Telstra, pulled the trigger on an AU$2.1 billion (US$1.6 billion) acquisition of South Pacific mobile business Digicel, which is the main carrier for Papua New Guinea, Nauru, Samoa, Vanuatu, Tonga, and Fiji.

While in July, newly elected Samoan Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa vowed to tear up a $100 million Belt and Road Initiative project to build a port near the nations capital.

Meanwhile, in 2019, Kiribati and Solomon Islands switched formal diplomatic ties from Taiwan to Beijing.

Daniel Suidani, premier of Malaitathe Solomons most populous regionstaunchly refused to follow his federal counterparts lead, instead, continued maintaining deep ties with Taiwanese leaders.

Paskal says, beyond enjoying patronage from Taiwan, Suidani himself was a man of deep faith and his opposition to the CCP runs much deeper.

He and his government dont want to work with the CCP because the regime is aggressively atheist, and they actively persecute people of faith.
Australia to Reopen International Borders to Students, Skilled Migrants on Dec. 15: Trade Minister

Australia will reopen its borders to international students and skilled migrants on Dec. 15 after putting the plans on hold for two weeks due to the emergence of the Omicron variant of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus.

The government had originally planned to open the international borders to this cohort on Dec. 1 but paused those plans while authorities analysed Omicron.

Obviously, National Cabinet will meet on Friday, but everything were seeing from this new variant points to the fact that we should be able to progress on the 15th, Trade and Tourism Minister Dan Tehan told Sky News Australia.

Which is wonderful news for Australias tourism industry, wonderful news for universities, wonderful news for all those businesses looking for that workforce thats really going to help springboard us out of the pandemic.

Tehan told an aviation conference on Dec. 8 that Chinese tourismAustralias largest market before the pandemicwas unlikely to revive for some time, while travellers from other countries would make up the shortfall.

My hope is Europe, North America, and the Pacific will follow Japan and South Korea and if we can continue to open up safely, theres no reason why we shouldnt be able to bring those countries on board sooner rather than later, he said, The Australian reported.

Tehan praised Queensland for reopening its borders on Dec. 17, and for South Australias decision to keep its border open despite the emergence of Omicron. He also expressed hope that West Australia will open its border soon, despite the states premier saying they would remain shut until 90 percent of the population is vaccinated.

Minister for Trade Dan Tehan speaks to the media during a press conference in Sydney, Australia on May 21, 2021. (AAP Image/Joel Carrett)

If we can get Australia whole again it will help boost further international tourism coming back to this country, he said. One of the things that is little known is that international tourists dont come to visit one state. They want to travel to at least two, three or four states.

The minister also announced that the Australian Tourism Exchange (ATE) will be held from 15 to 18 May next year in Sydney. Its expected to attract around 1,700 delegates and contribute millions to the local economy.

ATE, Australias largest trade event, is an annual business-to-business tourism travel trade event delivered by Tourism Australia. It provides tourism operators around the country a chance to meet and do business with travel wholesalers and agents from around Australia and the world.

Tehan said that as Australia continues its recovery from COVID-19, and demand for tourism picks up, ATE will be the ideal opportunity for business.

As we stick to the National Plan, Australians can be confident about the future as our recovery from COVID continues strongly into 2022. It is going to be a year of great opportunity for Australians, especially our tourism operators, he said in a statement.

The long-term benefits from ATE are substantial. The relationships and future business it establishes can help grow Australias inbound tourism industry, which was worth $45 billion annually pre COVID-19, and will create jobs across the country.
A "Store closed" sign is seen on the window of a business in the CBD of Brisbane, Australia, Jan. 11, 2021. (AAP Image/Albert Perez)

Australian State Expects New COVID-19 Wave After Borders Reopen Next Week

Health Minister Yvette DAth has said the Queensland government will issue guidelines to help businesses cope with a new wave of COVID-19 cases once the Australian state reopens its domestic borders for fully vaccinated travellers.

Queenslands border will reopen from next Monday, 13 December, so families and loved ones can re-unite, DAth said in a statement on Thursday.

While this will mean a rise in COVID-19 cases, Queenslands high vaccination rate means we are well prepared.

DAth said the government will provide guidelines for business and industry in the coming days, including on how to manage close contacts in the workplace, and remaining open amid outbreaks.

This comes as the state reached its 80 percent COVID-19 vaccination target less than one week ahead of schedule as it reports that the inoculation rollout is costing around $24 million (US$17 million) per month.

This is a great day for Queensland, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said in a statement on Thursday.

Very few places in the world have got to this level of protection before a COVID wave arrives. The credit for this belongs to each and every Queenslander.

Palaszczuk wants the rollout to continue until over 90 percent and beyond of Queenslanders are vaccinated.

Meanwhile, ahead of the border reopening, the states peak body for the business sector said it was keen to see more details from the government, including on how economic trade might be impacted by future outbreaks.

Chamber of Commerce and Industry Queensland (CCIQ) has for months been calling for details on three essential issues to be made available before new vaccine in the workplace rules come into force for some businesses from Friday to allow them to plan their long-term recovery from COVID, Amanda Rohan, general manager of policy and advocacy for the CCIQ, told The Epoch Times.

Rohan also wants information on the governments next vaccine milestone, and when it might be so that businesses can prepare.

She said CCIQ welcomed the governments new health direction about public health and social measures linked to vaccination status announced this week, saying it was something the peak body had been advocating for since the new rules were announced a month ago.
Australia's Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce during Question Time in the House of Representatives at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, on June 23, 2021. (Sam Mooy/Getty Images)

Australias Deputy PM Barnaby Joyce Contracts COVID-19

The Deputy Prime Minister of Australia Barnaby Joyce has contracted COVID-19 while on a 10 day working trip to the United Kingdom (UK) and the United States (U.S.).

Joyce, who tested positive for the novel coronavirus after arriving in the U.S, was in the middle of talks to focus on levelling up Australia infrastructure ties with the UK and U.S. and on the Morrison governments plan to tackle social media bullying.

Speaking on Sky News on Thursday Joyce said he thinks he caught the virus in the UK after he tested negative twice to the virus while in London, but believes he is still at the start of his illness, given his symptoms are relatively mild.

I think its just starting, Joyce said. I dont feel that badthats the crazy thing.

You really have to quiz yourself as to whether you need to be tested at all because it does not scream at you, he said.

Joyce has been fully vaccinated with COVID-19 jabs.

However, the deputy prime minister was prosaic about contracting the CCP virus saying it was just life and he would not have even thought he was really ill.

He also stood firm on his belief that the world needs to move onto living with the coronavirus.

 We just cant shut the whole place down. The world is got to move on, he said.  It is just not economically possible for any nation to go into a permanent shut down. If you want to pay for your social security, pay for your health and schools then the economy has got to be making money and it cant make any money if everybodys at home.

In particular Joyce would like to see Australia move to a system where people were able to treat COVID-19 infections like the flu and no longer use isolation as a method of control.

Meanwhile, Joyce is now in isolation in the United States for the next ten days and will miss his arranged meeting with U.S. officials, including discussion around the implementation of better controls around social media giants like Facebook.

Currently, the Australian government is looking to implement better controls around how social media platforms manage content on their sites. In particular, Joyce singled out trying to establish some caveats around online bullying and intimidation from anonymous sources.

We want to make sure we have better controls around on what facebook and other online platforms are putting on in your child bedroom, Joyce said.
Austria to Impose $4,000 Quarterly Fine on Those Flouting Vaccine Mandate

Austrias health minister on Thursday released the details of a government-imposed COVID-19 vaccine mandate that will take into effect early next year.

The new measure will require all persons, starting on Feb. 1, who have a place of residence in Austria and are aged 14 and over to get the shot or face heavy quarterly fines.

Austrian authorities announced last month that it would implement a general mandate for the shot early next year, becoming the first European country to do so.

So-called vaccination deadlines take place every quarter, Austrias Health Minister Wolfgang Mueckstein explained in a statement, adding that for citizens who do not meet this deadline, a procedure will be initiated.

[The] procedure amounts to up to 3,600 [$4,071]taking into account the income and financial circumstances, Mueckstein said. Unvaccinated people are reminded every quarter to be vaccinated until the next vaccination deadline or to register a reason for an exception.

The income and other financial obligations of Austrians will be taken into account in calculating fines. Alternatively, officials can opt to impose a fine of up to 600 euros (about $680) in shortened proceedings.

People excluded from the measure include pregnant women, children under age 14, and Austrians who cannot get the shot for health reasons.

Authorities will write to unvaccinated people every three months, reminding them to get their shots or get a doctor to certify their right to an exemption before the next cutoff date. If they continue not to comply, fines can be imposed every three months. Proceedings will be dropped if people produce proof of vaccination in the meantime.

About 68 percent of the Central European nations population is vaccinated against the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, which causes the disease COVID-19, according to government data.

A large percentage of the public in the Central European nation is skeptical about COVID-19 vaccines. Austria has one of the lowest vaccination rates in Western Europe.

Demonstrators hold flags and placards as they march to protest against COVID-19 restrictions and the mandatory vaccination in Vienna, Austria, on Dec. 4, 2021. (Lisi Niesner/Reuters)

The announcement from Austria that it would introduce a general vaccine mandate came on Nov. 19at the same time the government decided to lock down the country to counter an increase in CCP virus cases. That lockdown is due to end on Dec. 12, though restrictions will remain for people who decided not to get the shot.

I say very clearly that we dont want to punish the people who arent vaccinated, said Karoline Edtstadler, the Cabinet minister responsible for constitutional issues, in reference to government-imposed fines and additional restrictions on those unvaccinated.

We want to bring them along, we want to convince them of this vaccination and we want them to show solidarity with everyone so that we can regain our freedom, she added.

Last week, more than 40,000 people marched through Vienna, the countrys capital, to protest against the lockdown and the countrys plan to make COVID-19 vaccinations compulsory.

Austria has a population of about 8.9 million people. Health officials have reported more than 1.2 million cases and nearly 13,000 CCP virus-linked deaths since the pandemic began nearly two years ago.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

From NTD News
Guangzhou and Hong Kong simultaneously launched a campaign to support Cantonese language on August 1, 2010. Hong Kong participants march to the government headquarters to protest the Chinese Communist regime's brutal interference in cultural freedom. (Pan Zaishu/The Epoch Times)

Beijings Language Policy Eradicates Unique Culture in Hong Kong

News Analysis

Beijings latest national Mandarin language policy targets Hong Kong and Macao as indicated in a recently published article by the regimes State Council. Subsequently, at least one radio station canceled its Cantonese programs. Public opinion raises concern over cultural extinction.

Cantonese is a popular dialect in southern China, even an official language in Hong Kong; but Beijings recent policy demands Mandarin education and testing to ensure fluency by 85 percent of the population by 2025.

According to an Opinion published by the State Council on strengthening language and writing in the new era issued on Nov. 30, Putonghua (Mandarin Chinese) should dominate in ethnic and rural areas by 2035. In particular, it should be widely spoken and recognized in Hong Kong and Macao, which would also receive substantial support and collaboration in the effort to promote the policy.

Activists are concerned that the policy is meant to eradicate the unique identity and culture in Hong Kong.

Eradicate the Identity of Young Hongkongers

On June 2, at a press conference held by the regimes Ministry of Education, Hong Kong was urged to adopt Putonghua in the assessment, and legally recognize simplified Chinese.

The ethnic Mongol activist Temtsiltu Shobtsood told the Chinese edition of The Epoch Times, that the language policy is designed to cut off the Hong Kong peoples cultural roots.

Following the barbarous suppression of Hong Kong people, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) aims to further suppress the use of Cantonese, which he said, will eliminate the self identity and unique Hong Kong culture from the young Hongkongers.

He said, Simplified Chinese is a castration of Chinese culture. Chinese culture has lost its richness.

Shobtsood, chairman of Inner Mongolian Peoples Party, lives in exile in Germany.

The Charm of Hong Kong

Lu Qiao, a well-known Cantonese program commentator, said that Hong Kong culture has had its popularity in the Cantonese speaking provinces in China. Beijing is aware of the impact of Hong Kongers protests over the breaking of One Country, Two Systems in the past two years on the mainland Cantonese population.

She told the Chinese edition of The Epoch Times, Many mainland Cantonese consider Hong Kong to be the capital, a friend from the mainland told me in person. He said that they are fascinated by the Cantonese songs and movies and the charm of Hong Kong culture.

She pointed out that the CCP actually created the conflict between mainland Cantonese speakers and the Cantonese speaking Hongkongers.

Beijing introduced the Individual Visit Scheme in 2003, after which mainland Chinese flooded into Hong Kong. Conflict arose when mainlanders purchased large quantities of infant formula, medicines, and so on from the stores, and even occupied medical resources in Hong Kong.

She believes that the CCP aims to change Hong Kong completely because diversity is a threat to the regime. The change will have to start with language.

She said, Embedded in the Cantonese of Hong Kong culture is more than traditional Chinese culture. There are Western values, which the CCP cant tolerate.

People pack the check-in area for their flight to Britain at Hong Kongs International Airport on July 18, 2021. (Bertha Wang/AFP via Getty Images)

She emphasized that a new anti-communist force is forming outside Hong Kong. She said, Many Hong Kong commentators, the Cantonese speaking commentators, have moved overseas and are forming a strong bond in the UK, Taiwan, Australia, Canada, and the United States. Together, they are firm supporters of Hongkongers in their fight against the CCP.

Lu Qiao immigrated to Canada from Hong Kong.

Protecting Dialects Is a Civilized Act

Tsoi Wing Mui, a veteran journalist in Hong Kong, expressed her concern to the Chinese edition of The Epoch Times.

She said, When you eliminate a spoken language, you eliminate a culture.

Last year, out of fear of culture assimilation, thousands of Mongolians protested against Beijings plans to replace the Mongolian language with Putonghua in some school subjects.

Tsoi said, The Mongolians showed their anger because they wanted to protect their own cultural heritage.

She expressed disbelief that the regime has made all school children speak Mandarin Chinese only: its uncivilized when the kids cant speak the dialects of their parents.

Save a Corner of Sky for Cantonese: Radio Host

After Beijing issued its policy, a Cantonese radio program hosts online video went viral. (See video)

The program host, Yan Bing, pleaded in the video: Honestly, Im sad,  Anyway, I really cant accept it. We are in southeast Guangxi, a Cantonese dialect dominated area. Is it really that difficult to leave a corner of sky for Cantonese? No matter what, I support Cantonese!

Her Cantonese speaking program is the only one and the last one in Yulin City, Guangxi.

Local news also reported the radio hosts online plea and the pending closure of the program. The report indicated that there are 20 million Cantonese speakers in Guangxi, South China. But the local Cantonese speaking program has been struggling with the promotion of Putonghua in education and businesses. The only Cantonese radio program in Yulin is to be closed on Jan. 1, 2022.

The report mentioned that the suppression of Cantonese is hitting society as a whole. It said, People aged 45 and older will talk to you in local dialects; the younger generations, especially school children, the majority of them can only speak Putonghua.

The Epoch Times was unable to reach Yan Bing for comment.

Suppression of Cantonese Radio Programs

Chen Yongmiao, specializing in constitutionalism, believes that the Partys total control of propaganda is whats key in the shutting down of Cantonese radio programs.

He told the Chinese edition of The Epoch Times, The Party owns all propaganda agencies. It does not allow non-governmental entities to run radio stations; the promotion of Putonghua will result in the Cantonese programs being kicked out.

He said, The government owns the school, the radio station, the TV,  The Party controls whats available, now Mandarin Chinese gets its living space.

Guo Jianhe, a Guangzhou resident, told The Epoch Times that its okay to promote Mandarin in the nation, just like learning English to facilitate communication in the world. But, local dialects cant be banned. Likewise, if people disagree with the promotion of Mandarin, they should be allowed to voice their opinions.

He said, Keeping a culture relies on ourselves. Our children will learn everything. When the school does not teach it, well learn from each other.

A Cultural Eradication Movement

In 2010, a large protest broke out in reaction to the regimes initiative to clamp down on the Cantonese language. More than 10,000 local residents of Guangzhou gathered to oppose cultural totalitarianism on July 25, followed by Hong Kongs rally to support Guangzhou residents in August.

In 2020, protest also erupted in Inner Mongolia against the Partys cultural erosion. It took place when Beijing required classes in primary and secondary schools to be taught in Mandarin, and to eventually phase out Mongolian as the language of instruction.

According to Shobtsood, the regime suppressed the protest in 2020, and more than 5,000 ethnic Mongols were arrested; many participants were dismissed from their jobs or had their wages suspended.

Mongolians protest against Chinas plan to introduce Mandarin-only classes at schools in the Chinese province of Inner Mongolia, at Sukhbaatar Square in Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia on Sept. 15, 2020. (Byambasuren Byamba-Ochir/AFP via Getty Images)

He said, Ever since the Party took power, eradication of Chinese culture and languages has been its plan in service of its dictatorship. Its intention is to turn China into a pond of dead water.

Starting with the school children, its the Partys plan to eradicate the culture, Shobtsood said.

Hong Kong Education Bureau Blind to Conflict

In response to The Epoch Times request for comment on the regimes language policy, the Education Bureau in Hong Kong (EDB) said that enhancing Putonghua communication conforms to HK policy in language education, the so-called biliterate and trilingual, including communication skills in Putonghua.

The EDB adopted the biliterate and trilingual policy when the Hong Kong handover took place in 1997. Its a language policy aimed at developing citizens to be biliterate in both written Chinese and English as well as trilingual in Cantonese, Putonghua, and spoken English.

Regarding the promotion of Putonghua, EDB plans to encourage diversified Putonghua speaking activities in schools, academia, institutions and organizations, as well as exchanges of programs and plans with mainland China, stated the EDB.

EDB said, There is no conflict between learning Mandarin Chinese and inheriting Cantonese culture.
A 3D printed Zoom logo is placed on the keyboard in this illustration taken April 12, 2020. (Dado Ruvic/Illustration/Reuters)

Better.com CEO Apologizes for Firing 900 Workers Over Zoom Call Weeks Before Christmas

The CEO of Better.com has said he is deeply sorry for firing 900 of his employees just weeks before Christmas via a Zoom call that quickly went viral online.

In a letter to his employees, Vishal Garg, the executive of the online mortgage lender, said he failed to show the appropriate amount of respect and appreciation for the individuals who were affected and for their contributions to Better.

I own the decision to do the layoffs, but in communicating it I blundered the execution. In doing so, I embarrassed you, he wrote in the letter that was published on Better.coms website (pdf).

The CEO came under fire last week when he laid off roughly 9 percent of his companys employees via a Zoom call, citing market efficiency, performance, and productivity as the reason behind the firings.

He began the call by telling his employees that he does not have great news for them, adding that the last time he was forced to make a similar announcement, he had been reduced to tears.

If youre on this call, you are part of the unlucky group that is being laid off, Garg said at the time. Your employment here is terminated effective immediately.

The phone call was heavily criticized, particularly given its close proximity to the Christmas holidays, but Garg faced further backlash when he took to the networking site Blind to respond to comments about the call, Fortune reported last week.

Posting under the username uneducated, Garg reportedly accused hundreds of employees of stealing from the customers by being unproductive.

You guys know that at least 250 of the people terminated were working an average of 2 hours a day while clocking in 8 hours+ a day in the payroll system? he wrote. They were stealing from you and stealing from our customers who pay the bills that pay our bills. Get educated.

Fortune said Garg later confirmed in an interview that he was the user behind the account and stood by his comments.

In his letter to employees, Garg, who founded the company in 2015, said he realized that the way in which he communicated the layoffs made a difficult situation worse.

I am deeply sorry and am committed to learning from this situation and doing more to be the leader that you expect me to be, he wrote before praising employees for their dedication, focus, and expertise.

I couldnt be more grateful for all you are accomplishing for the customers we serve, he wrote.

The company announcement regarding mass layoffs came just days after TechCrunch reported that Better.com had received a $750 million cash infusion from its backers SoftBank and Aurora Acquisition earlier than expected after they decided to amend the terms of their initial financing agreement.

Better.com announced in May that it was going public via a merger with Aurora Acquisition, and the company, which is headquartered in Manhattans World Trade Center, is currently valued at around $7.7 billion.
President Joe Biden is seen at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Dec. 9, 2021. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Bidens COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate for Healthcare Workers Faces Opposition From Over 150 Republicans

The COVID-19 vaccine mandate for healthcare workers promulgated by President Joe Bidens administration is being opposed by over 150 Republicans in Congress, who say the administration hasnt taken into account the mandates potential effect on already short-staffed hospitals.

We are concerned that if the Biden administration moves forward with their vaccine mandate for medical personnel, the resulting staff shortages could actually cost lives instead of saving them, Rep. Jeff Duncan (R-S.C.) said in a statement.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) last month announced every facility that receives federal funding must force workers to get a vaccine or terminate them.

The mandate was recently blocked nationwide, for now, by two federal courts. CMS last week suspended enforcement of it, though officials say theyre confident theyll ultimately prevail in the cases.

While CMS remains confident in its authority to protect the health and safety of patients in facilities certified by the Medicare and Medicaid programs, it has suspended activities related to the implementation and enforcement of this rule pending future developments in the litigation, officials said.

Rep. Jeff Duncan (R-S.C.) speaks to reporters in Washington in a file photograph. (Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

In preparation for the mandate possibly ending up back in force, Duncan recently introduced a resolution under the Congressional Review that would overturn the mandate if approved by Congress.

Now that the CMS regulation was received by the Senate and House clerks, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) can bring it up as a privileged resolution. That would automatically lead to a vote in the lower chamber.

McCarthy was not one of the co-sponsors listed and his office did not respond to a request for comment.

A spokeswoman for Duncan declined to comment when asked whether McCarthy has committed to bringing the resolution up for a vote. She told The Epoch Times that no Democrats have indicated support for it thus far. Democrats control both chambers of Congress.

Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kansas), who helped introduce the resolution, called the mandate a slap in the face to the hard-working men and women who never took a day off in the frontline fight of the COVID-19 battle.

Marshall, a doctor, said he supports the vaccine but believes it should be a personal choice to take it.

With this [resolution], Rep. Duncan and I are continuing to do everything in our power to fight for those who ran to the sound of the battlefor these are the true heroes of the pandemic and deserve our best fight and utmost respect,
Blanket Travel Restrictions in UK Doing Huge Damage to Aviation Industry: IATA

The director general of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) blamed the UK government for implementing excessive and non-scientific travel restrictions immediately upon hearing the news of the Omicron variant.

We are going to have more of them [variants]. We cant keep shutting down aviation and shutting down economies when, in reality, its not providing any measures to restrict the transmission of the virus and, more importantly, its doing huge damage to the industry, said Willie Walsh at a media briefing on Wednesday.

The UK government reinstated the red list and restricted flights from southern African countries from where the variant was first reported. Concurrently, many countries around the world, including the European Union, restricted air travel.

It was the UK governments swift and harsh overnight response that initiated the comment from Walsh, who claimed that there was no evidence that proved travel restrictions actually work. Based on all of the data available in the UK, these measures are excessive. Id like to think they will be reviewed and removed as quickly as possible.

Walsh said that the airline industry was made a scapegoat by governments around the world in order to impede peoples freedom of travel. Its clear to us the travel industry and airlines in particular are being used as the poster child to transmit fear, to transmit the messages that governments want to force people to continue to restrict their movements.

Walsh presented the chart by IATA that showed that despite global travel restrictions moving from total closure in the early-2020s to easing towards regional restrictions and mandatory quarantines, there was no apparent connection to new variants popping up now and then.

He added that when the UK started travel restrictions in May last year, there were 54,000 recorded infections of COVID-19, but now its more than 10 million.

The impact of travel restrictions on cases is unclear. I would go further, and say that there is no correlation between the introduction of these restrictions and the effect that its having on the transmission of the virus.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has also pushed for lesser travel restrictions. The organization claimed that blanket travel restrictions can disincentivize countries to report and share epidemiological and sequencing data, South Africa was praised by WHO for the prompt reporting as well as taking necessary actions to identify and sequence the Omicron variant.

Moreover, Walsh said that authorities should look into the pricing of COVID-19 testing companies.

I hope governments and competition regulators step in and stop consumers being ripped off, Walsh said. I do think we need to understand how that has happened and where all the money (has) gone.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) was looking into testing companies providing below-par services to customers following complaints earlier this year. The companies have made more than $660 million since non-essential travel resumed in May.
Border Patrol Pursuit Ends in Crash That Leaves 13 Injured

SAN DIEGOA driver is in custody Dec. 8 after 12 passengers in a pickup truck being pursued by Border Patrol agents were injured in a mass casualty incident on Interstate 8 in East County, San Deigo, authorities said.

At 6:12 p.m. Tuesday, Border Patrol agents attempted to pull over a black Chevrolet Silverado on Interstate-8 when the driver sped away toward the Buckman Springs Road exit, then swerved back onto the freeway where the truck overturned in the dirt median, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) reported.

All occupants, except the driver, were unrestrained and were ejected from the Chevrolet, CHP Officer Travis Garrow said in a news release.

The truck contained 13 occupants; 12 in the bed and the driver, according to the CHP.

Cal Fire took one victim to a hospital by helicopter, while the other 12 were transported via ambulance. Authorities reported three serious injuries, while 10 were walking wounded, according to online logs.

Gerrelaine Alcordo, the Border Patrol spokesperson in San Diego, called it a failure-to-yield incident, adding that the agencys Office of Professional Responsibility responded to the scene as well as the CHP.

Cal Fire categorized the accident as a mass casualty event, requiring one medical helicopter, four ambulances, and five fire engines, the Union-Tribune reported.

The driver of the pickup truck was in Border Patrol custody.
California Leaders Plan to Make State Abortion Sanctuary if Roe v. Wade Overturned

Top officials in California are backing a plan to make the state a safe haven for women seeking abortions if the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.

Planned Parenthood and some 40 other groups released dozens of recommendations for policymakers to consider adopting, including increasing funding for pro-abortion organizations, which help women getting the procedure with gas money, child care, and other potential obstacles; repaying loans for healthcare workers who provide abortion; and opening up virtual counseling for women in other states who want to take abortion pills.

California Sen. Toni Atkins, the state Senates president pro tempore, penned a letter in support of the recommendations, and Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat who started the coalition, said some of the recommendations will be included in his budget proposal in January 2022.

Well be a sanctuary, Newsom said in an interview, adding hes aware patients will likely travel to California from other states to seek abortions.

We are looking at ways to support that inevitability and looking at ways to expand our protections, he added.

The Supreme Court on Dec. 1 heard arguments from Mississippi officials in a case that directly challenges Roe v. Wade, the 1973 ruling that said access to abortion was a constitutional right.

The ruling and its companion, Planned Parenthood v. Casey, have no basis in the Constitution, Mississippi Solicitor General Scott Stewart told the court.

If the court strikes down the earlier rulings, each state would be free to restrict or expand access to abortion.

Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves is seen at the Governors Mansion in Jackson, Miss., on June 30, 2020. (Rogelio V. Solis-Pool/Getty Images)

Twenty-six states are likely or certain to ban abortion, according to the pro-abortion Guttmacher Institute. Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves, a Republican, said this week that his state would enforce a 15-week abortion ban if the Supreme Court rules in its favor.

If you believe as I believe very strongly that that innocent, unborn child in the mothers womb is in fact a child, the most important word when we talk about unborn children is not unborn, but its children, Reeves said on CNN, adding, Ill do everything I can to protect the lives of those children.

California is already one of the most pro-abortion states; about 15 in 100 abortions done in the United States in 2017 were completed in the state. California pays for abortions for many low-income residents through the states Medicaid program. And California is one of six states that require private insurance companies to cover abortions, although many patients still end up paying deductibles and co-payments.

The pro-abortion groups are asking lawmakers in the state to reimburse abortion providers for services to those who cant afford to payincluding those who travel to California from other states whose income is low enough that they would qualify for state-funded abortions under Medicaid if they lived there.

Planned Parenthood, which accounts for about half of Californias abortion clinics, said it served 7,000 people from other states last year.

Pro-life groups panned the recommendations, describing them as radical.

The pro-abortion coalition wants to coopt all Californians into furthering its radical abortion infrastructure, including funding abortion for uninsured women, state funding for abortion training, and invasive interrogation into the sexual activity of minors as young as 10 years old, Mary Riley, Life Legal Defense Foundations vice president and founder, told The Epoch Times in an email.

The group is urging legislators to reject any legislation that includes recommendations from Planned Parenthood and its allies.

Matthew Vadum, Jack Phillips, and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
Conservative member of Parliament Michael Cooper rises during question period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on March 12, 2021. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press)

Canadian Government Agencies and Corporations Should Not be Complicit in CCPs Claim Over Taiwan: Tory MP

Canadian institutions and corporations must not be complicit in the Chinese Communist Partys (CCP) effort to delegitimize and oppress Taiwan, Conservative MP Michael Cooper says.

Members of the Taiwanese community in Canada have recently made complaints to Cooper that they were forced to indicate Taiwan, Province of China when specifying their nationality in applications to the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and the Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP).

The label is in line with Beijings One China policy, whichunlike the version adopted by Canada and other Western democraciesindicates that Taiwan is part of the communist-controlled territory of mainland China, despite the regime never having ruled the self-governing island.

It would be nice if it was simply a matter of being misinformed about Canadas One China policy, in which case the response would be to correct the mislabelling of Taiwan, Cooper said. But with regards to an institution like the CIHR that has been aware of this problem for the last several years, the only reasonable explanation is that they are influenced by the Chinese communist regime and Chinese communist interference.

On Nov. 18, Cooper sent a letter to CIHR president Michael Strong asking him to address the complaint made by a Taiwanese scholar about the agencys mislabelling of Taiwan.

Canadas One China policy has never accepted Beijings contention that Taiwan is part of the Peoples Republic of China [PRC], Cooper told The Epoch Times, adding that the 1970 Joint Communique that sets out Canadas One China policy indicates that it merely takes note of Beijings claim over Taiwan, which is substantially different than endorsing Beijings contention.

This is a completely unacceptable situation. And it is not a new situation. Basically, the CIHR is fully aware of the problem, he said.

Canadian institutions must not be complicit in the Chinese Communist regimes campaign of aggression and their systematic effort to delegitimize sovereign and democratic Taiwan.

The @CIHR_IRSC must correct its mislabeling of #Taiwan pic.twitter.com/W2P9jPOUVH  Michael Cooper, MP (@Cooper4SAE) November 18, 2021

According to Cooper, this issue has been brought to the CIHRs attention many times by other members of Parliament, including Liberal MP Judy Sgro and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in CanadaTaiwans de facto embassy.

In an email statement to The Epoch Times, the CIHR said it is aware of the concern regarding the classification of Taiwan in the Canadian Common CV (CCV)the platform researchers use to enter their CV data when they apply for a grant.

Currently, CIHRs systems, such as the CCV, adhere to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) country list, which is recognized by the Government of Canada through Canadas national accreditation body, the Standards Council of Canada, CIHR spokesperson David Coulombe said.

We will continue discussions on this matter with Global Affairs Canada and other federal stakeholders to ensure consistency both with foreign policy and with government-wide data standards.

Cooper said he cant speculate why the CIHR insisted on following the ISO country code, when several Canadian universities and government agencies, like the Social Science and Humanities Research Council, have corrected this mislabelling.

In failing to address this and in continuing to mislabel Taiwan, the CIHR, wittingly or unwittingly, is complicit in the Chinese communist regimes efforts to delegitimize Taiwan, he said.

Cooper said he has yet to hear back from the CIHR since sending the letter to Strong, but he will continue to press the CIHR for a response and raise the issue publicly, including reintroducing to the House of Commons a private members bill that aims to provide a framework to strengthen Canada-Taiwan relations.

He said he is drafting an update to Bill C-315, which he tabled in the last parliamentary session, to include a provision that would ban Canadian government departments or institutions from formally or informally recognizing the Chinese communist regimes claims of sovereignty over Taiwan.

Taiwan is Free and Sovereign

A Taiwanese candidate of CELPIPan English language assessment test administered by Paragon Testing Enterprisescomplained about being forced to indicate his nationality as from the PRC.

On Dec. 3, the Conservative MP wrote a letter to Michael Holaday, vice president of Paragon Testing Enterprise, urging him to update the organizations system to allow Taiwanese candidates to properly indicate their country of origin as Taiwan.

Canada cannot fully support #Taiwan on the world stage until we recognize it at home. Its time for Canadian institutions & corporations to stop calling Taiwan a province of China. pic.twitter.com/zkzTKlcoHu  Michael Cooper, MP (@Cooper4SAE) December 3, 2021

This is problematic, Cooper wrote. Taiwan is objectively not part of the Peoples Republic of China. Taiwan is free and sovereign with a distinct and substantial territory, a distinct and substantial population, and a democratic government that exercises control over Taiwanese territory.

Whatever their motivation is, what they need to do is properly label Taiwan as Taiwan and bring themselves into compliance with Canadian foreign policy and Canadas One China policy, which are clearly violated, he said.

Cooper also made clear that in his criticism of the Chinese communist regime, he is not targeting the Chinese people.

I do believe it is important to make that distinction as I always have, he said. I have always been specific in regards to the Chinese communist regime, not the Chinese people.
A Long March 7Y4 rocket carrying the Tianzhou 3 cargo ship launches from the Wenchang Space Launch Centre in China's southern Hainan province, on a mission to deliver supplies to China's Tiangong space station on Sept. 20, 2021. (STR/AFP via Getty Images)

CCP Extending 3 Warfares Strategy Into Space: Expert

"From the perspective of the PRC, were at war," space analyst says

A Chinese robot trundles about in the dust. It collects rock samples, measures chemical compounds, and observes craters never before seen by humankind. Its beyond the reach of U.S. sensors. Its beyond the rule of international laws and norms. Its on a mission.

Its on the dark side of the moon.

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has been operating Yutu-2 on the far side of Luna since 2019. Ostensibly part of the CCPs lunar exploration program, rovers such as Yutu-2 are preparing the way for the construction of a new robotic research base on the moon. That base, in turn, will prepare the way for a crewed moon landing and a new lunar base managed jointly by China and Russia.

The exploration phase of this process, of which Yutu-2 is a part, is planned to extend through 2025 with six more missions conducted by China and Russia. Following that, construction on the base is expected to last until at least 2035, with full operational capacity being achieved by 2036.

The ambition piques the interest of scientists, ever hungry for new knowledge about Earths only moon. The secrecy shrouding the project, however, unnerves strategists who dont see this little rover as merely one small step for mankind, but as one giant leap for Chinese military capabilities.

Indeed, some experts believe that Yutu-2s lunar rock collection isnt only a continuation of SinoU.S. competition, but might actually provide the keys to victory in a future war.

Space Is a Warfighting Domain

Michael Listner is an attorney of a very peculiar sort. He specializes in space policy and has, for some years, led the publication of The Precis, a legal newsletter that examines the basis of space law and its ramifications for international policy in every field from business to national security.

He says the CCP is extending its Three Warfares strategy into space. This vast new frontier will be central to the regimes campaigns of media aggrandizement, the subject of psychological warfare, and, vitally, the centerpiece of new legal battles that will reshape the international order as China seeks to claim the United States global hegemon status for its own.

The strategy, he said, is designed to undermine and perhaps defeat the enemy without firing a shot.

Space is a warfighting domain, Listner said. Its going to be part of the struggle and its going to be part of a future conflict.

They are fighting on all these fronts right now, Listner added of the CCPs three warfares strategy in space. In fact, I really look at it as preparing the battlefield.

That effort to shape the battlefield, central to any military, is particularly meaningful to Chinese military strategists who, since at least the fifth century B.C., have studied the writings of the eminent philosopher of war Sun Tzu, who argued that preparing the battlefield was the means of mastering the enemy.

As such, its feared that the Chinese regime will effectively ensure that should conflict break out, it has the strategic advantage by preparing a favorable legal landscape, positioning assets in orbit, and building alliances in its space operations.

The reason for the continuation of this effort on the moon is simple enough: America cant work without space.

The American dependence and reliance on space is almost absolute, said Paul Crespo, president of the Center for American Defense Studies.

From communications to banking to air and ground travel and GPS, our economy, society, and military cannot survive without U.S. space dominance.

Crespo, a Marine veteran who served in the Defense Intelligence Agency, has spent years examining the CCPs malign influence abroad and its efforts to degrade and undermine its adversaries through dual-use technologies and legal warfare.

Both Crespo and Listner fear that the moon will be Chinas next nine-dash line, and that it will be used to bend the rule of law to the CCPs advantage, just as it has in the South China Sea.

The Chinese regime claims about 85 percent of the disputed South China Sea demarcated by its nine-dash line, a claim that was rejected by a 2016 international tribunal. Several other countries also lay claim to parts of the waterway.

Despite the ruling, Beijing has built military outposts on artificial islands and reefs in the region, and deployed coast guard ships and Chinese fishing boats to intimidate foreign vessels, block access to waterways, and seize shoals and reefs.

Experts fear the CCP will use its moon and space infrastructure to similarly box out competition and control the happenings of the region, in violation of international laws and norms.

The CCP has proven it has no respect for international law or norms, and is willing to bully, threaten, coerce and push its way into any place it deems vital to its strategic goals, Crespo said. Thats crystal clear with its illegal expansion into, and claims on, most of the South China Sea.

This certainly will be even more true for China in space where the norms are far less established and codified.

The United States response to CCP space adventurism has been mixed.

During the administration of President Donald Trump, the nation took a hardline stance and sought to outrace the CCP to the moon. Indeed, the Artemis Accords were initially designed to guide those nations that were to partake in the Artemis Program, a U.S.-led effort to establish a base on the moon.

Trumps Space Policy Directive-1, likewise, sought to lead an innovative and sustainable program of exploration with commercial and international partners to enable human expansion across the solar system and to bring back to Earth new knowledge and opportunities.

To accommodate these ambitions, NASA attempted to step up its original goal of establishing a moon presence from 2028 to 2024. That date was quickly pushed back to 2025, however. Since then, NASA has changed course again, and slated 2025 as the earliest date for a U.S. flight around the moon, but which wont land on the moon.

Usurping the Advantage

The moon race has the potential to revolutionize international relations more than any other facet of SinoAmerican competition. When it comes to dictating what the law is beyond the earths atmosphere, Crespo and Listner believe that who gets there first wins.

Its all really about great power competition, Listner said.

The general consensus about great power competition is whos going to eventually make the rules in an international arena. In other words, whos going to have the most influence in shaping whats legal and what the worldview looks like in the next few decades.

Listner described the struggle between the United States and China for influence in shaping the world and its norms as one of competing visions, in which two radically different ways of understanding and operating in the world are being pitted against one another.

That struggle, he said, is playing out in space.

Right now, there are two competing visions, Listner said. One is the Artemis Accords, which the Trump administration started.

The Russian Federation and the Peoples Republic of China countered with their own competing vision, called the International Lunar Research station.

The Artemis Accords, Listner said, are a framework for international cooperation regarding the exploration and use of Luna, Mars, and other astronomical objects. The effort is based largely on the U.N. Outer Space Treaty of 1967, and seeks to affirm peaceful cooperation, promote interoperability, and register objects in space with uniform standards.

The Outer Space Treaty currently has 111 signatories, including China and Russia. The Artemis Accords, first signed in 2020, has 14 signatories; China and Russia didnt sign, viewing the effort as a commercial agreement needlessly favorable to the United States.

The International Lunar Research Station, on the other hand, is the CCP and Russias effort to wrest international space leadership away from the United States NASA, and champion a new, Eurasian order.

Indeed, little Yutu-2 is just the first of seven exploratory missions planned by China and Russia, which will prepare the way for the construction of the base. That matters when the future of space dominance is on the line.

Its about the competing view of what the rule of law is going to be and whos going to make the rules on the lunar surface and in exploiting space, Listner said.

Whoever gets there first and starts building will be the one who makes the rules.

To that end, Crespo warned that the CCP is attempting to reforge space in its own image, undercutting the United States ability to sustain itself not only as a world superpower, but possibly as a civilization.

Neutralizing our space dominance will severely hamper our ability to win any major conflict, and ultimately even our ability to maintain a stable, modern, functioning society, he said.

If the Chinese move beyond simply neutralizing our dominance and gain clear space dominance themselves, that will become almost a fait accompli in terms of America losing its ability to remain a world power, and even simply an independent sovereign nation.

Listner said that its gray-zone conflict at its finest, and that the United States and China are engaged in war by any other name.

From the perspective of the PRC, were at war, Listner said, referring to the Peoples Republic of China.

The Lunar Threat

That gray-zone conflict, in which nations engage in hostilities stopping somewhere short of opening fire, is in full swing in outer space.

Any manned Chinese and/or Russian base on the moon would provide them a significant strategic advantage militarily, legally, and economically, Crespo said.

In early December, Gen. David Thompson, the U.S. Space Forces first vice chief of space operations, said that the CCP is launching attacks on U.S. space infrastructure every single day. These reversible attacks, in which U.S. satellite architecture or cyber systems are compromised temporarily, are largely understood to be a testing of the waters.

That is, preparation for a real war.

Thompson said in separate remarks that the Chinese regime is developing space capabilities at double the rate of the United States. Moreover, its growing array of platforms designed for space warfare is growing.

[The Chinese] have robots in space that conduct attacks, Thompson said. They can conduct jamming attacks and laser dazzling attacks. They have a full suite of cyber capabilities.

If we dont start accelerating our development and delivery capabilities, they will exceed us. And 2030 is not an unreasonable estimate, he said.

Such advancements point to weaknesses in existing laws such as the Outer Space Treaty, which many people erroneously believe bans the development of space weapons.

Conventional weapons in space arent banned by the Outer Space Treaty, as can be seen by the Russian Federations ASAT [Anti-satellite weapon] demonstration a few weeks ago, Listner said. However, nuclear weapons in certain circumstances are prohibited by the Outer Space Treaty.

Listners remarks refer to the recent demonstration by Russia of an ASAT missile that it used to explode a satellite in orbit. Critics accused Russia of putting the lives of astronauts at risk, as the thousands of pieces of debris could destroy space vehicles. The event was similar to an incident carried out by China in 2007.

Indeed, the CCP is rapidly expanding its military capabilities as part of an all-out push to usurp military and commercial dominance from the United States. That effort is designed to provide the CCP with an overwhelming new blitzkrieg of military technologies worthy of science fiction.

The effort includes the development of hypersonic weapons, electromagnetic pulse devices, new naval vessels capable of launching rockets into space, and a nuclear reactor to power space travel, reportedly 100 times more powerful than those planned by the United States.

In all, the CCP plans to launch 10,000 satellites by 2030 in its efforts to topple U.S. space dominance.

There are several ways in which the CCP could use the moon, or space assets more generally, to exploit weaknesses in its adversaries or further its weaponization efforts. Increased presence would allow China greater communication and control of its space assets, most notably satellite architecture, which is key to U.S. and allied GPS systems that the military depends upon. Experts have long argued that a preemptive strike on U.S. GPS systems would be Chinas first move in a war, including one over Taiwan.

Other potentialities are more hypothetical, such as the long-theorized use of a kinetic bombardment system that could leverage Earths gravitational pull against it. Such a system could effectively turn objects as simple as tungsten rods into weapons of mass destruction due to the velocity with which they would hit the earth.

This would effectively allow a satellite- or moon-based system to throw heavy objects at the Earth with the destructive power of a meteor, a feat for which the proposed weapon has long been termed Rods from God.

Though costlier than other systems, the idea for such a system has existed since the Cold War, and the Pentagon reportedly considered developing it in 2006 before pursuing hypersonic glide vehicle research instead.

Listner said the CCPs continued conquest of space was partially owed to the failure of U.S. and allied leaders to recognize fundamental differences in Western and Eurasian ways of conceptualizing the world and politics.

Fundamentally, we have to understand that the PRC and the Russian Federation do not think like the U.S. and Western nations, Listner said.

His comments reflected a growing consensus, recognized by new U.S. congressional reports, that the CCP is advancing a global campaign to champion Marxism as an alternative to American capitalism, and to supplant the United States as a global hegemon.

To this end, the international community may like to play at lawmaking, such as is the case with the Artemis Accords, but the CCP has demonstrated a repeated unwillingness to adhere to such norms.

NGOs, peace groups, and disarmament groups believe the PRC and the Russians think like us when they dont, Listner said. Its called mirror thinking, and its a very, very dangerous trap to play into.

A Base for Whom?

Perhaps nowhere is this trap more apparent than in the CCPs so-called dual-use policy.

The CCP publicly denies that its space systems and projects, including its moon plans and satellite, are used for military purposes. For instance, it characterized its grabber satellite as a means of cleaning space junk, and its hypersonic missile test as a reusable spacecraft.

Critics of the CCP point out that the ambiguity about whether such technology is ultimately civilian or military in nature is a feature of dual use.

Dual use is the practical realization of the CCPs policy of civil-military fusion, aimed at erasing all barriers between private and public life to ensure that all civilian technologies also advance Chinese military dominance.

The rockets used to launch Yutu-2 to Luna are one such example. The same type of rocket was used to launch the CCPs new hypersonic weapons system, which U.S. leaders fear is a nuclear first-strike weapon.

CCP leaders said that the test was for the benefit of its space program.

Virtually everything that enables a country to launch objects into space is indistinguishable from intercontinental ballistic missiles or hypersonic weapons, Crespo said. For China, that distinction is fairly moot.

Crespo said that that ambiguity is part of the program, designed to obscure whether the military or civilian function of any project was intended to be dominant.

Such ambiguity makes a difference on the moon, where all Chinese taikonauts are in the employ of the Chinese military.

Any moon base serves scientific purposes while also clearly providing China a strategic lunar presence that will need to be defended, and can be used for surveillance, reconnaissance or military attacks of all types against satellites and other space assets, Crespo said. No lunar base will be purely civilian to the CCP.

A World to Gain

Space has been described by researcher Paul Szymanski as the most obscure battlefield. Its obscurity doesnt, however, diminish its centrality to the future of nations. To the contrary, the economic, military, and political ramifications of space, and of the control of Luna, in particular, are nigh impossible to overstate.

Space is Americas greatest asset and its greatest vulnerability, Crespo said. The Chinese and Russians see it as our Achilles heel.

To that end, one may consider the strategic value of space as the foremost point of CCP ambitions. It is the gateway through which one growing power might leapfrog a global hegemon to dictate the future of earthly affairs.

Indeed, it isnt an overstatement to say that the moon is to the CCP what the Alps were to Hannibal. Should it be taken, the rest may fall like dominoes.

The stakes are that high, Crespo said. Whoever controls space may control the world.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky during a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee hearing in Washington on May 19, 2021. (Greg Nash-Pool/Getty Images)

CDC Director: Most US Omicron Infections Are Mild

Most people infected with the Omicron coronavirus variant in the United States have experienced mild symptoms, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Rochelle Walensky said on Dec 9.

The disease is mild, Walensky told The Associated Press, noting that symptoms include cough, congestion, and fatigue.

No Omicron-related deaths have been reported in the United States or around the world to date. One person in the United States has been hospitalized so far.

The Delta variant still accounts for most cases in the United States, officials say.

About 40 cases have been reported in the United States after it was first named by the World Health Organization (WHO) in late November. Most of the U.S. cases have been young adults, and about a third had recently traveled internationally, the CDC told AP.

What we generally know is the more mutations a variant has, the higher level you need your immunity to be.  We want to make sure we bolster everybodys immunity. And thats really what motivated the decision to expand our guidance, Walensky said.

More than three-quarters of those patients had been vaccinated, and a third had boosters, Walensky said. Boosters take about two weeks to reach full effect, and some of the patients had received their most recent shot within that period, CDC officials said.

Some Omicron cases can become increasingly severe as days and weeks pass, she said, adding that the data is an early, first glimpse of U.S. Omicron infections. The earliest onset of symptoms of any of the first 40 or so cases was Nov. 15, according to the CDC.

According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, 337 Omicron cases have been confirmed in the European Union, and about 1,458 cases have been reported worldwide as of Dec. 8.

The Omicron variant was first identified in South Africa in November and has since been reported in 57 countries, according to the WHO.

Despite Omicrons apparent mild nature, the United States, European Union, and other countries imposed fresh travel restrictions after the strain was named, while some heads of state said that new lockdown measures would be needed.

For example, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced so-called plan B measures for England over the Omicron variant. That includes new work-from-home measures, the extension of a mask mandate, COVID-19 vaccine passports being required for certain businesses, and more regulations.

Walenskys comments to AP, meanwhile, come as Richard Friedland, CEO of Netcare, a South African health care system, said most COVID-19 Omicron patients in Gauteng are mild and dont need oxygen, noting that this is a change from previous outbreaks.

While we fully recognize that it is still early days, if this trend continues, it would appear that with a few exceptions of those requiring tertiary care, the fourth wave can be adequately treated at a primary care level, Friedland said, according to broadcaster News24.

South African officials are seeing breakthrough infections of people who have been vaccinated, but the infections were seeing are very mild to moderate, he previously told Bloomberg News. So for health care workers who have had boosters, its mostly mild. I think this whole thing has been so poorly communicated and so much panic generated.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is seen in Washington in a file photograph. (Greg Nash/Pool/Getty Images)

CDC Recommends All 16- and 17-year-olds Get COVID-19 Booster Shots

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Thursday recommended every 16- and 17-year-old in the United States get a COVID-19 booster shot, provided their last vaccination was done at least six months ago.

Although we dont have all the answers on the Omicron variant, initial data suggests that COVID-19 boosters help broaden and strengthen the protection against Omicron and other variants. We know that COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective, and I strongly encourage adolescents ages 16 and 17 to get their booster if they are at least 6 months post their initial Pfizer vaccination series, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the agencys director, said in a statement.

Omicron is a variant of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, which causes COVID-19. Emerging data indicates it causes less severe disease than other variants, but that it evades protection from both vaccination and prior infection better than earlier strains.

The CDCs recommendation is for Pfizer and BioNTechs COVID-19 jab. No other vaccines are available for people under 18 in the United States.

It came just hours after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized a Pfizer booster for 16- and 17-year-olds.

Both agencies made their decisions without consulting their advisory committees.

The clearance was immediately questioned by some experts, including Dr. Paul Offit, a professor of pediatrics at Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia who sits on the FDAs Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee.

There has to be clear evidence of a benefit for this booster dose in children before we launch a major campaign to boost that group. Because right now all the evidence is that two doses protects them against serious illness, Offit told The Epoch Times.

The FDA has not released the data supporting its decision and has not responded to a request for comment for the data.

The FDA will be publicly posting documents regarding the agencys decision on its website following authorization, the agency said in a press release.

Most concerning for many doctors is that 16- and 17-year-olds are at elevated risk of heart inflammation after getting Pfizers shot. The age group is also at low risk of contracting serious cases of COVID-19, even without getting a vaccine.

One U.S. study showed heart inflammation incidence was around one in 5,000 for the age group, while an Israeli study pointed to one in 7,500.

Heart inflammation also happens to some people who contract COVID-19.

Approximately 15.5 million Americans between 12 and 18 have been fully vaccinated, or gotten a two-dose regimen of Pfizers shot, as of Dec. 9, according to federal data.
A screen displays trading information for Didi Global on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City, on Dec. 3, 2021. The ride-hailing giant is delisting from NYSE as it faces mounting pressure from Chinese regulators over data security concerns. (Brendan McDermid/Reuters)

China Makes Basic Business Data National Security Risks

News Analysis

The worlds understanding of China increasingly resembles the old Soviet Union joke: the authorities pretend they are paying wages, workers pretend they are working. China blocking basic business data threatens to shut them off from the world even more.

For years, as China printed unreliable economic data, changed it whimsically, or censored it altogether, investors were content to carry on pretending in the unrequited hopes of economic payoff. The new data security law, however, has changed everything.

Despite its deserved reputation as strict police chief, Chinese regulators more often resemble the bumbling Keystone Cops. Founded in 2012, ride-hailing app Didi did not receive its first business license until 2017 when it was already doing billions in revenue annually, and processing hundreds and thousands of rides daily.

For years, Chinese regulators took a similarly lax approach to all the data being hoovered up by tech firms, like Didi, about consumers and businesses. As long as Beijing could watch anything people did, little concern was given to what else happened with the data. Now that is changing.

In an environment where quality information is at a premium, firms treated their proprietary data as a valuable resource with many entering the data brokering business to sell directly, expand into related businesses, or by creating economic indicators for investors. With no legal framework for data management and minimal regulatory guidance, the Chinese data market was the Wild West.

For years, investors have relied on non-traditional economic measures to better understand China. Similar to Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and his famed index of freight traffic, bank loans, and electricity consumption, investors have constructed shadow measures that better replicate real activity. From online searches that attempt to better capture the labor market or night time light emissions that better capture real activity, investors have been turning to non-traditional data to better understand China.

Due to a variety of data leaks that have caused great embarrassment to the Chinese Communist Party, Beijing passed a data security law on Sept. 1 that intends to address a variety of ongoing problems. While similar laws have passed in jurisdictions like the European Union with its General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the primary motivation for China is different. In Europe the driving motivation centers around consumer privacy and protection that seeks to make information open and available. In China, the driving motivation is national security concerns seeking to protect data from people and specifically foreigners.

A Chinese policeman blocks photos being taken outside Zhongnanhai, which serves as the central headquarters for the Chinese Communist Party, in Beijing, on April 11, 2012. (Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty Images)

With Beijings expansive definition of what data constitutes national security, data flows from China to foreign-owned enterprises have ground to a halt. This is not merely data most people would think of as national security risks, but a wide variety of data that business utilizes. Large amounts of underlying economic data has not been updated in more than a year and many cases even longer. Commercial shipping data has been blocked from being used by foreigners. Other Chinese firms are reporting they are being told to not sell data or information to foreigners. Beijing is even forcing Didi to relist in Hong Kong ostensibly on the fear that it may share data with U.S. regulators endangering national security.

This shift in policy comes as Beijing has taken an even harder authoritarian line in the run up to Chairman Xi Jinpings presumed re-election in 2022. Never known for its open information environment, Beijing has taken an increasingly restrictive approach to any form of information access.

A recent report noted that China has imprisoned more journalists than any other country with citizens being imprisoned for using a VPN or making jokes on WeChat. This restriction on information is now spreading well beyond political or national security restrictions extending to basic information that businesses need to understand markets. The importance of the Chinese economy means that it is now having global spillovers.

There is little directly that investors or countries can do to influence the information environment inside China. However, there are things that can be done to pressure China on its use of information.

Lost through many years of Chinese of information restrictions is the lack of reciprocal treatment. Chinese firms want the openness of liberal democratic states both for business purposes and for economic or information warfare purposes. Whether it is social media platforms or basic access to economic data, democratic states must push back against the information shut down in China.

The United States and other countries need to restrict channels through which China gathers information on open democratic states. From limiting journalist visas to blocking information flows to Chinese companies, Washington must push for reciprocity in general information flows.

As the old Soviet Union joke went, after sentencing a prisoner to 10 years for telling a political joke, the judge laughing told another judge, I just heard the funniest joke, but I cant tell you or I had to give you 10 years. If only this wasnt the current approach by Beijing to data.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Media mogul Jimmy Lai, founder of Apple Daily, leaves the Court of Final Appeal by prison van in Hong Kong, China on Feb. 9, 2021. (Tyrone Siu/File Photo via Reuters)

China the World Leader in Jailing Journalists for a Third Consecutive Year: Report

The communist regime in China, for the third year in a row, topped a global ranking of countries that imprison journalists, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).

At least 50 media workers are known to be jailed in China as of Dec. 1, the New York-based advocacy group said in its annual report released on Dec. 9. Last year, the number was 48

Imprisoning journalists for reporting the news is the hallmark of an authoritarian regime, Joel Simon, executive director of the group, said in a statement.

CPJ mentioned the list didnt include non-reporters who had tenuous associations with the media, such as the 11 Chinese residents jailed after supplying materials to the Chinese-language Epoch Times.

The 11, most of them in their 20s, were indicted in April for sending photos and information about the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic to the publication. Those photos revealed what was happening in Beijing during its initial lockdown, but challenged the narrative pushed by the communist regime.

Last July, the 11 were arrested for picking quarrels and stirring up trouble, a charge the regime often uses to target dissidents, according to their lawyer. But as they stood trial in October, the group faced a charge relating to their faithFalun Gonga spiritual practice that has been severely persecuted by the regime for more than two decades.

The CPJ noted on Thursday that their detention is an ominous indicator of Chinas efforts to stifle media discourse.

Police attempt to stop journalists from recording footage outside the Shanghai Pudong New District Peoples Court, where citizen journalist Zhang Zhan was sentenced, in Shanghai, on Dec. 28, 2020. (Leo Ramirez/AFP via Getty Images)

While the regimes relentless incarceration of journalists is not new, this is the first time CPJ has included in its list journalists being held in Hong Kong. Researchers attributed the result to the Beijing-imposed national security law in June 2020, which punishes anything the communist regime deems as subversion, secession, terrorism, or colluding with foreign forces.

The highest-profile target is media tycoon Jimmy Lai. The founder of the now-closed pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily is currently serving jail time for taking part in pro-democracy protests in 2019. On Dec. 9, Lai was also convicted for participating in a 2020 vigil commemorating the 1989 Tiananmen massacre. He faces a maximum of five years in prison for this office. The media mogul also faces separate charges under the national security law.

The CPJ noted that the number of jailed journalists around the world hit a new high, with 293 in prison in 2021, up from 280 the year before.

This is the sixth year in a row that CPJ has documented record numbers of journalists imprisoned around the world, Simon said in the statement. The number reflects two inextricable challengesgovernments are determined to control and manage information, and they are increasingly brazen in their efforts to do so.

Burma (also known as Myanmar) came in behind the Chinese regime, with 26 reporters jailed, then Egypt, with 25 in custody.

The association documented The Epoch Timess journalist in Nigeria, Luka Binniyat, who was arrested in November for reporting on the persecution of Christians in the country.

As of Dec. 1, the group counted 24 journalists killed worldwide this year for their work.

Mexico remained the Western hemispheres deadliest country for journalists, with three murdered for their reporting and the motives for six other killings under investigation, said the CPJ.
An Island that lies inside Taiwan's territory is seen with the Chinese city of Xiamen in the background on Feb. 04, 2021 off the coast of Lieyu, an outlying island of Kinmen that is the closest point between Taiwan and China. An Rong Xu/Getty Images)

Chinas New Radio Psychological Warfare Against Taiwan Attempting to Manipulate Election: Experts

The Chinese communist regimes recent radio show has been broadcasting in Taiwan. Its soft propaganda is causing concerns with experts over infiltration of and influencing of the Taiwan election next year.

The Chinese state-run Central Radio and Television Station launched The Voice of the Taiwan Strait in March, under the slogan A Family Across the Taiwan Strait.

According to the Chinese regime, the channel broadcasts to Kinmen and Matsu in Taiwan. However, the Chinese language Epoch Times reporters have found that it also covers Taipei, Taichung, Kaohsiung, and Hualien in Taiwan, and the signal is quite clear.

Taiwans legislator Lin Chuyin held a press conference in early December and pointed out that Voice of Taiwan Strait uses three AM channels and two FM channels to broadcast in Taiwan. Taiwans National Communications Commission data shows the broadcasting range of these 5 channels covers the entire territory of Taiwan, even outlying islands, and the source of its signal is not in Taiwan.

Lin said at the press conference that the channel first attracted Taiwanese audiences through soft program such as tourism and lifestyle, as well as the new dream chasing stories of Taiwanese youth in China. It then invited Taiwanese pro-China scholars to participate in the opening of a political theory program, criticizing Taiwans current affairs and propagating the Chinese regimes Taiwan policy, to influence audiences.

A frequent listener of the channel pointed out that the Voice of Taiwan Strait program often invites Taiwanese to share their good life in China. Much of what they say is inconsistent with the facts. The program is broadcast in Mandarin for 20 hours a day, with a strong sense of the Chinese regimes united front policy.

Information strategy scholar He Chenghui told the Chinese language Epoch Times that the CCPs penetration of Taiwan aims to achieve a state of entering the island, entering the household, and entering the heart. Therefore, it launched a psychological warfare against Taiwan through various means. Their budget is unlimited. Broadcasting is the most typical psychological warfare technique in human history. They [the CCP] invest a lot of resources in the development of radio propaganda.

Taiwan will have multiple elections. He Chen said that the situation of affecting Taiwans elections through Chinas radio broadcasting will definitely happen.

Wu Chien-chung, Associate Professor at Taipei University of Marine Technology explained to the Chinese language Epoch Times the methods of the CCPs psychological warfare broadcast on radio. First, through popular language, information sharing is turned into action. For example, setting up programs about the environment and food to shorten the distance with the Taiwanese audience; secondly, further attacking the ruling partys inability by focusing on the negative problems. Then, synchronously using the internet to support and maintain a state of mobilization anytime, anywhere. This, and working together with the cyber army to launch a larger offensive that can eventually create social opposition, and even reverse many peoples views on political issues, and dilute the anti-Communist spirit of the Taiwanese.

Akio Yaita, director of the Taipei branch of Japans Sankei Shimbun, revealed on Facebook that many underground radio stations in central and southern Taiwan have been bought by the Chinese communist regime in an attempt to influence the ruling party and the four referendums. These radio stations will not directly praise the CCP, but will criticize Taiwans ruling party to divide Taiwanese society.

Zhang Yuanzhang contributed to the report.
City of Hope Acquires Cancer Treatment Centers of America

DUARTE, Calif.City of Hope cancer hospital in Duarte announced Dec. 8 it has reached a deal to acquire Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA), a nationwide network of oncology hospitals and outpatient care centers.

Under the $390 million deal, City of Hope and CTCA combined will employ roughly 11,000 people. The transaction is expected to close in early 2022.

This is a defining moment in the fight against cancer and a powerful opportunity to reach more cancer patients with the leading treatments, care and advanced research they critically need, Robert Stone, president and CEO of City of Hope, said in a statement.

Through this acquisition, City of Hope plans to convert CTCA into a nonprofit organization.

Building on more than three decades of unparalleled patient experience and quality care, were excited to become part of City of Hope, Pat Basu, president and CEO of CTCA, said in a statement. He will remain CEO of CTCA and report to Stone.
YG (L) and Slim 400 at night two of the STAPLES Center Concert, presented by Coca-Cola, during the 2017 BET Experience at LA Live in Los Angeles, Calif., on June 23, 2017, (Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for BET)

Compton Rapper Reportedly Shot to Death in Inglewood

INGLEWOOD, Calif.A man identified in media reports as Compton rapper Slim 400 was fatally shot in Inglewood, and a police investigation was underway Dec. 9.

The shooting was reported about 8 p.m. Wednesday at Manchester Boulevard and Seventh Avenue, according to reports from the scene.

Officers on patrol heard the gunshots and responded to find a man on the ground with gunshot wounds, according to CBS2. Police did not release details of their investigation.

Paramedics sent to the location at the request of Inglewood police took a person to a hospital, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

The person was pronounced dead at the hospital, according to media reports.

TMZ.com reported that the fatally wounded man was the 33-year-old Compton rapper, known as Slim 400. The mans name has not been released by authorities.

According to TMZ, Slim was born to military parents in Germany, moved to Los Angeles as a young child, and was raised in Compton. The rapper was later discovered and signed by the now nonexistent Pu$haz Ink music labelthe same one made popular by YG and DJ Mustard.

Slim narrowly escaped death back in the summer of 2019 when he was shot nine times in L.A., TMZ reported. Slim claimed he was ambushed in the attack while visiting family in Compton.
Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.) questions Matt Albence, who was then-acting director of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement, during a hearing in the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill on July 25, 2019. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Congressman Wants to End Chinas Buying Spree of US Farmland

China has been buying up agricultural land in the United States for years, a trend that a U.S. lawmaker said must end in order to safeguard the U.S. food supply chain.

For this reason, Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.) introduced an amendment to the Houses fiscal year 2022 agriculture appropriations legislation (H.R.4356) in June. In a recent interview with NTD, the lawmaker explained what his amendment would do.

China, frankly, is an adversary. We want to make sure that we control our food supply. I think its a natural, important, national security issue, Newhouse said.

The amendment was adopted unanimously by the House Appropriations Committee on June 30. On July 29, the House approved the agriculture appropriations legislation as part of a package of seven 2022 spending measures (H.R.4502).

If enacted, the amendment would empower the secretary of agriculture to prohibit the purchase of agricultural land in the United States by companies owned by China, Iran, North Korea, and Russia, according to the language of the legislation. In China, theres no distinction between private businesses and state-owned companies, since the Chinese Communist Party can exercise control over private firms through Chinese law or through embedded Party cells.

The measure also would prohibit the four countries from taking part in programs administered by the secretary of agriculture.

Newhouse said the current language of his amendment has been changed. He had initially named only China (pdf), but not the three other nations.

During the rules process, it was changed somewhat by the Democrats to include several other countries, he said. But the fact remains that communist China is the threat. Theyre the ones that are buying up most of the assets of that list of nefarious countries that are not our friends. And thats where the focus should be.

Chinese firms have been buying U.S. agricultural land for the past decade. According to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Chinese investors controlled 191,652 acres in the United States worth about $1.86 million before the start of 2020, compared to 13,720 acres, worth $81,425, as of the end of 2010.

Workers inside Smithfield Foods Sioux Falls, S.D., pork processing plant wear protective gear and are separated by plastic partitions as they carve up meat on May 20, 2020. (Courtesy Smithfield Foods via AP)

Buying Companies

One of the deals involved Chinas meat processor WH Group, which purchased Virginia-based Smithfield Foods for $4.7 billion in 2013. With the purchase, the Chinese company now owns the largest pork producer in the United States, as well as 146,000 acres of prime farmland.

Another deal involved two Chinese entrepreneurs who bought a 22,000-acre ranch in Utah in 2011 to grow alfalfa and export it to China.

Chinas agricultural investments havent been limited to the United States. According to a 2018 USDA report (pdf), Chinas direct overseas investments in agriculture, forestry, and fishing jumped to $3.3 billion in 2016 from $300 million in 2009. The report found that these overseas investments were closely aligned with the communist regimes policies, including the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

Chinese officials have ambitious strategic plans for agricultural investments to reshape patterns of agricultural trade and increase Chinas influence in global markets, the report reads.

Beijing launched the BRI in 2013 to develop Beijing-centered land and maritime trade routes in an effort to boost the countrys geopolitical influence.

Chinese overseas investments also include buying and investing in foreign agribusinesses. According to the report, WH Group acquired California-based pork processor Clougherty Packing and a meat and poultry processing company in Poland in 2017.

Another Chinese firm, Brights Food, invested in seven foreign companies between 2010 and 2016, according to the report. These companies included a dairy firm in New Zealand, a yogurt company in Australia, a wine business in France, a cereal company in the UK, and an olive oil company in Italy.

Newhouse said he took proactive action with his amendment to address the challenge posed by Chinese investments before the problem gets so big that we cant correct it.

We see the trend, he said. We see the number of acres and companies that have been purchased by the communist government of China. And we should stop it now.
Prayer vigil at Foley Square in front of the Thurgood Marshall courthouse, Manhattan, N.Y., on Nov. 11, 2021. (Enrico Trigoso/The Epoch Times)

Court Rules 15 NYC Teachers Can Reapply for Vaccine Religious Exemption

Fifteen New York City educators are celebrating a rare victorya preliminary relief granted by the 2nd Circuit that will allow their reapplication for a religious exemption from Mayor Bill de Blasios vaccine mandate.

They first asked the district court for emergency relief on Oct. 4, the day the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus vaccination mandate took effect.

The relief was denied by the Southern District Federal Court. They then appealed the denial and made an emergency application for an injunction pending their appeal.

A motions panel at the 2nd Circuit heard the appeal and gave them the interim relief, which keeps the parties in a position sufficient to finish the entire case.

In the religious exemption interviews, the NYC DOE [Department of Education] frequently argued that teachers should be denied accommodation because their beliefs conflict with Pope Francis. They even said this to one of my clients who is a Buddhist and another who is a nondenominational Christian, lead attorney Sujata Gibson told The Epoch Times.

The lawsuit, Kane vs. De Blasio, was filed by attorney Sujata Gibson.

The lead plaintiff, Michael Kane, is a DOE teacher and founder of Teachers For Choice. He has been preparing for the case since mandatory COVID testing was to take effect in August 2020.

Kane told The Epoch Times that he was raised in a Christian household and also has Buddhist beliefs.

Thats what my religious exemption was based upon. And thats why they said: Well, the pope says you should get it and the Dalai Lama is vaccinated. Therefore, Mr. Kane should be vaccinated. Thats what they said. The citys attorney said to my face. I laughed when he said it, actually, Kane said.

This is the arrogance of New York City that they think: Were in New York City. We do what we want. You dont like it, sue us.'

Kane and the other 14 teachers arent working at the school yet and will reapply for their religious exemption.

Gibson and her team filed for class action in order to have more teachers have the ability to reapply for a religious exemption, but the District Court has blocked it.

Kane and Gibson are going to appeal the block since it involves many other teachers who want to avoid the vaccination.

Thats given in the Constitution, Kane said, referring to the District Courts blocking the class action suit. We have the right to amend our complaint to be a class action. But the courts are playing games, and theyre stopping us from doing it. Theres only so long they can do that. But this is what gets so frustratingto watch the courts be more about gamesmanship than to be about whats right whats just and defending the Constitution. Thats very disheartening for me as an American and as an educator.

The educators and their attorneys are committed to helping other people reapply for religious exemption.
Critical Race Theory Brought Up as Supreme Court Justices Weigh Religious School Aid Case

The issue of critical race theory was raised during a Supreme Court oral argument on Dec. 8, when Justice Samuel Alito asked the lawyer defending the state of Maine if the states tuition assistance program, which excludes Christian high schools, can also deny participation of schools promulgating beliefs that are clearly against the purpose of public education.

The argument being heard by the high court centers around a system that Maine uses to ensure that all children in the state have free access to K12 education. Under the system, a public school district that doesnt have its own secondary school may either contract with a private secondary school or pay the tuition of the private school of a students choice. In either case, the participating private school must be nonsectarian, meaning that it cant provide religious instruction.

The Carsons and Nelsons live in districts that dont operate a public secondary school of their own. The families tried to utilize the tuition assistance program to send their children to Christian schools that align with their sincerely held religious beliefs, but were denied because of the nonsectarian requirement.

In another school aid case, Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue, the Supreme Court ruled in a 54 decision that states arent obliged to subsidize private education but if they do, they must not exclude a school from participating just because of its religious status. Christopher Taub, the lawyer defending Maines exclusion of sectarian schools, however, argued that the state doesnt exclude schools based on mere religious affiliation, but based on whether they are instilling religious beliefs in children.

When asked by Alito whether its OK for a school that inculcates a purely materialistic view of life to participate in Maines tuition assistance program, Taub admitted that there are other aspects of what a school could do that would be inconsistent with a public education.

Now, its possible that, down the road, some school might pop up that is teaching something else, not religion but something else, say, Marxism or Leninism or white supremacy, Taub said. Clearly, those kinds of schools would be doing something completely inconsistent with a public education.

When Alito asked whether the current system prohibits a parent from getting funding to send a child to one of those schools, Taub replied that it would be a matter for Maines Legislature to address.

Taub then was questioned by Justice Elena Kagan, who asked him if he was confident that a nonreligious school would also be denied participation because of teaching white supremacy. The lawyer argued it is unfair to expect the lawmakers to consider every hypothetical outlandish situation, but said there would be a way to ensure that such a school is excluded from the program.

Would you say the same thing about a school that teaches critical race theory? Alito asked.

I dont really know exactly what it means to teach critical race theory, Taub said. So I think the Maine Legislature would have to look at what that actually means.

But I will say this, that if teaching critical race theory is antithetical to a public education, then the Legislature would likely address that.

An outgrowth of Marxism, critical race theory (CRT) interprets society through a Marxist dichotomy between oppressor and oppressed, but replaces the class categories with racial groups. Proponents of CRT see deeply embedded racism in all aspects of U.S. society, including in neutral systems such as constitutional law and standardized tests, and deem it to be the root cause of racial inequity, or different outcomes for different races.

In Maine, the Republican minority of the Legislature has been trying to prohibit the incorporation of CRT in public schools. A bill introduced in 2019 would ban public school teachers from engaging in political, religious, or ideological advocacy in the classroom, segregating students according to race, or singling out one racial group of students as responsible for the suffering or inequities experienced by another racial group of students, with penalties for violations up to and including termination of the teacher.

The same bill was reintroduced in February.
Ghislaine Maxwell listens as witness "Kate" is questioned by prosecutor Lara Pomerantz in a courtroom sketch in New York City on Dec. 6, 2021. (Jane Rosenberg/Reuters)

Day 9 of Ghislaine Maxwell Trial Cut Short Due to Attorneys Illness

NEW YORKThe prosecution in the sex trafficking trial of Ghislaine Maxwell was only able to call one witness Dec. 9, before the day ended abruptly around 10:30 am.

The witness was Tracy Chapell, a Federal Express employee who handled subpoenas.

Attorney Andrew Rohrbach presented her with three invoices, which tracked delivery information.

They were from Jeffrey Epsteins account, with his Madison Avenue office address on them.

Chapell confirmed that the packages were delivered to Carolyn, whos an alleged victim of Epstein and who recently testified to one of the packages containing lingerie.

However, while they were sent to her West Palm Beach address, which was redacted for public view, her name was misspelled. Her last name was also redacted. Carolyn was identified only by her first name in court.

The dates of the deliveries were in the last months of 2002.

On cross-examination, defense attorney Christian Everdell had Chapell review the three invoices, as well as a few others.

In the first three, Chapell confirmed Maxwells name was not listed under sender.

He also had her confirm there were other packages mailedeither on the same day as the first three, or during the same time periodthat listed Maxwell as the sender, but with other recipients.

The invoice for another package mailed to Carolyn listed S. Kallen as the sender. Another had Cecilia Steen and Jeffrey E. Epstein as the senders.

It goes without saying, Cecilia Steen is not Ghislaine Maxwell, correct? asked Everdell.

Correct, replied Chapell.

In an invoice for a package sent to Jane, one of the other alleged victims who testified, the sender is listed as J. Epstein.

A sidebar was requested and since it appeared it was going to be lengthy, Judge Alison Nathan had the jury leave the courtroom for a break.

Upon their return, she notified them that an attorney in the trial was ill, although not related to the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, and was needed for the next witness.

She did not state who the attorney was, but used the masculine pronoun. It was unknown if he was on the prosecution or defense.

Nathan stated that the trial would resume Dec. 10.
A resident moves a boat away from a fallen three-story apartment building after it collapsed in a suspected gas explosion on southern France's Mediterranean coast in Sanary-sur-Mer, on Dec. 7, 2021. (Daniel Cole/AP Photo)

Death Toll in French Apartment Blast Reaches 3; Search Over

PARISFrench rescuers retrieved two more bodies Wednesday from the rubble of an apartment building in southern France that collapsed in a suspected gas explosion, bringing the overall death toll to three.

The local fire department said it called off the search since no one else was reported missing from Tuesdays blast in the coastal town of Sanary-sur-Mer on Frances Mediterranean coast.

Construction teams started tearing down an adjacent building Wednesday, fearing that it too could collapse, according to fire department.

Rescue workers search the rubbles at a three-story apartment building after it collapsed in a suspected gas explosion on southern Frances Mediterranean coast in Sanary-sur-Mer, on Dec. 7, 2021. (Daniel Cole/AP Photo)

In the aftermath of Tuesdays blast, emergency workers heard a babys cries from beneath the rubble and dug out a child of around 10 months old and its mother. Both were hospitalized. The father was found dead by the babys side, authorities said.

Rescue efforts continued through the night, and two other bodies were found.

The cause of the explosion wasnt immediately clear, but regional authorities said first responders noticed a strong smell of gas on arrival at the scene.
Conservative MP Garnett Genuis rises during Question Period in the House of Commons in Ottawa on June 1, 2021. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press)

Defend Canadas Freedom of Speech, Association, and Religion: Conservative MP

Conservative MP Garnett Genuis says Canada is under attack by populists bent on silencing views contrary to theirs, and calls on Parliament to resist the pressure and defend the countrys freedom of speech, association, and religion protected in the Charter before its too late.

I have worked extensively on international human rights issues, but nowadays, I see many stories from Canada suggesting that we are a country in need of intervention, Genuis said in the House of Commons Tuesday.

He cited a recent case of 16-year-old student Timothy Que at Eric Hamber Secondary School in Vancouver, who was barred from forming a club that seeks to share the teachings of the Catholic Church.

Timothy tried to start a Catholic club, a voluntary association of students who get together to discuss Catholic ideas, he said. But administrators forbade him from sharing Catholic teaching at the club, even with students who chose to attend the meetings.

This is a shameful violation of freedom of association, but it is one small drop in a growing sea, he added.

The restrictions imposed by the school in December came shortly after B.C. Catholic, an online publication, reported on Ques initiative on Nov. 15.

Que said he learned that members of the public had contacted the Vancouver School Board (VSB) to complain about the club.

People were really mad, said Que in an interview, reported B.C. Catholic on Dec. 2. Someone on Twitter posted about itnegative stuff.

On Nov. 17, former VSB chair Patti Bacchus posted a tweet in response to the Nov. 15 article, commenting, Im pretty sure this does not comply with the B.C. School Act or district policy.

Section 76 of the B.C. School Act states that schools must be conducted on strictly secular and non-sectarian principles, and that no religious dogma or creed is to be taught in a school.

During his speech in Parliament Tuesday, Genuis stressed how COVID-19 restrictions are applied differently between religious services and other organizations.

Religious services have faced pandemic-related restrictions that have not been applied to casinos, he said.

One example is in the Toronto reopening guide, which states that there are no capacity restrictions for casinos, though patrons are required to show their proof of vaccination.

Religious services, on the other hand, where there are social gatherings, are limited to 25 or fewer people indoors or 100 or fewer people outdoors subject to some exceptions (e.g. meeting/event spaces).

Genuis added that the federal government also promised another ideological values test imposed on charities.

During the election campaign, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau ran on a platform pledge to deny charitable status to anti-abortion organizations such as Crisis Pregnancy Centres that provide dishonest counselling to women about their rights and about the options available to them at all stages of the pregnancy.

Genuis says any charity that does not support abortion may be at risk of losing its charitable status with the proposed policy.

Many good organizations and charities would not be able to survive without this status, and this could mean that your local homeless shelter, church, or health centre would face serious financial hardship, he wrote in a petition posted on his website.

The Conservative MP also brought up the issue of churches being vandalized or burned down in Canada during the summer.

Dozens of churches were destroyed or vandalized this summer with virtually no comment from political leaders. If these events were happening in another country, I know that Canada would not be silent, he said.

I hope more members of Parliament resist the populist pressure to clamp down on minority opinions and instead defend freedom of speech, association, and religion as they are protected in our charter.
The U.S. Defence Advanced Research Projects Agencys Falcon Hypersonic Test Vehicle emerges from its rocket nose cone and prepares to re-enter the Earths atmosphere, in this illustration. (Courtesy of DARPA)

Defending Taiwan: Think Globally and Look Up

Commentary

U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said recently that Chinese air force movements toward Taiwan look like rehearsals for an invasion. Its good that U.S. military leadership is finally realizing that Xi Jinping is serious when he says hell use force, if necessary, to seize Taiwan.

Yet, in recent years, whenever the U.S. military has war-gamed a fight with China over Taiwan, the United States has reportedly failed miserably.

But there are war games and there are war games. Depending on how you construct the scenario, things might turn out better for the United States.

You see, if the fight is confined to Taiwan and the surrounding area, the Chinese would have a significant advantage. They could deploy far more ships than the U.S. Navy and the same goes for aircraft. Chinese land-based missile and anti-aircraft batteries would further make things difficult for U.S. forces trying to get in close to help Taiwan. One wouldnt envy a U.S. destroyer skipper who has two-dozen supersonic anti-ship missiles heading his or her way and arriving in 90 seconds.

Meanwhile, the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) Rocket Forces ballistic missiles, which are able to hit moving targets at sea, would give U.S. aircraft carriers much to worry about. The missiles are nicknamed carrier killers for a reason. U.S. bases in Japan and Guam, from where U.S. forces would be deployed to aid Taiwan, also would be receiving attention from Chinese missiles.

This just covers a few of the problems facing U.S. forces. Of course, the United States could strike some blows of its own. But if its just a fight between the Americans and the Chinese, and it takes place right around Taiwan, the United States would have a hard time.

However, expanding the battlefield to include, say, the entire globe would improve U.S. prospects considerably.

Heres why:

China doesnt produce enough food to feed itself, nor does it have enough energy or natural resources to power its economy. Thats why the Chinese are buying up Brazilian and Ukrainian farmland, Australian milk companies, and U.S. pork producers. The same goes for Chinese oil concessions in Iran, Iraq, and Venezuela, as well as mines in Africa and South America.

Food trucks wait to enter China near Muse, Burma (Myanmar), close to the Chinese border with Burmas Shan state on April 20, 2020. (Phyo Maung Maung/AFP via Getty Images)

China not only depends on seamless (and long) supply lines to import commodities and raw materials, but it also depends on the same supply lines to export manufactured products that earn the country vital foreign exchangeand keep people employed and the economy humming.

If the United States (and its allies and partners) expand the battlefield and cut off China from its overseas assets, as one Western expert put it: Without these commodities arriving in China from around the world, the China we know and the Chinese know will not exist.  It will be 1.4 billion persons desperate for food, energy, commodities, natural resources.

So if the United States were to muster the fortitude needed to impound or sink Chinese shipping and clamp down on air transport in and out of China, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) would be in dire straits.

The PLA, despite carrying out the largest and fastest defense buildup in recorded historyincluding progress toward a blue-water global navyover the past 20 years, still cant defend Chinas overseas assets. And it will probably be another decade before PLA global power projection capabilities can do so.

Compounding Beijings problems, China also is vulnerable to U.S. financial sanctions that exclude China from the U.S. dollar network; Washington also could prohibit U.S. corporate business dealings with China.

So while the regime in Beijing might like its prospects in a straight-up (and confined) fight to seize Taiwan, its extremely vulnerable if the United States and other free nations decouple China from its overseas assetsand the convertible currency and inward foreign investment and trade that powers the Chinese economy.

But the United States shouldnt breathe easy.

A Long March-2F carrier rocket, carrying the Shenzhou-13 spacecraft with the second crew of three astronauts to Chinas new space station, lifts off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the Gobi desert in northwest China early on Oct. 16, 2021. (STR/AFP via Getty Images)

If China can seize the high ground in outer space and the upper atmosphereand threaten the United States with a surprise (and undefendable) nuclear attack, as well as blinding U.S. forces by taking out their satellitesit might be able to checkmate the United States. At that point, Americas existing conventional advantages, both kinetic and non-kinetic, wouldnt matter much.

Chinas recent tests of hypersonic delivery vehicles and the so-called Fractional Orbital Bombardment System (FOBS) give the United States plenty to worry about in this regard. These are hard to track and hard to defend againstespecially since they allow nuclear warheads to be launched from directions where U.S. anti-missile systems arent looking.

And, in another move to dominate the high ground, the Chinese (and the Russians) are aiming for offensive operations against U.S. satellites on which Americas defense depends. They have, in fact, already started interfering with U.S. space assets.

Earlier in 2021, Gen. James Dickinson, commander of the U.S. Space Command, spoke about the space threat to the United States posed by China and Russia in a congressional hearing.

China is building military space capabilities rapidly, including sensing and communication systems and numerous anti-satellite weapons.  Similarly concerning, Russias published military doctrine calls for the employment of weapons to hold us and allied space assets at risk.

Dickinson also submitted written testimony at the hearing.

One notable object is the Shijian-17, a Chinese satellite with a robotic arm, he wrote. Space-based robotic arm technology could be used in a future system for grappling other satellites. China also has multiple ground-based laser systems of varying power levels that could blind or damage satellite systems. China will attempt to hold U.S. space assets at risk while using its own space capabilities to support its military objectives and overall national security goals.

So far, the United States is apparently just playing defense in space, rather than building up the offensive capability to do to the Chinese (and the Russians) what theyre planning to do to them. According to one observer, the Biden administrations response thus far has been finger-wagging and scolding.

Not exactly a winning approach.

One imagines a scenario in which Beijing makes its move on Taiwan and tells Washington to stand backand that includes sanctions and attacks on Chinas supply linesor it will face satellite blinding and a nuclear attack from above.

This is, of course, something of a poker game if things reach this point. The Chinese might be bluffing or they might not. And it will take a certain type of U.S. president to call their bluff. But whoever it is, if the Chinese get the high ground, there will be a number of people telling the president that Taiwan isnt worth it and to let it go.

So while the current focus is on Taiwan and the conventional hardware and capabilities needed to deter a Chinese assault, the United States would do well to prepare to expand the battlefield and hit China where its most vulnerable.

But the United States also needs to look up and do whats necessary to dominate space and counter Chinas hypersonic and FOBS capabilities that could potentially checkmate earthbound U.S. advantages.

Not surprisingly, U.S. military leadership knew of Chinas developing hypersonic capabilities some years back and, by and large, ignored it.

One hopes theyll do better this time.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Benoit Coeure, board member of the European Central Bank (ECB) during an interview at the ECB headquarters in Frankfurt, on May 17, 2017. (Kai Pfaffenbach/Reuters)

Digital Euro, Swiss Franc Trials Were Successful, C.banks Say

ZURICHEuropes first cross-border trial of central bank digital currency payments has been described as a success by the central banks of Switzerland and France, though they said it would not immediately lead to the issuance of CBDCs.

Project Jura, named after the mountains between the two countries, is the latest in a series of CBDC trials conducted by central banks keen to rebut the threat from crypto assets.

Project Jura confirms that a well-designed wholesale CBDC can play a critical role as a safe and neutral settlement asset for international financial transactions, said Benoit Coeure, head of the Innovation Hub at the Bank for International Settlements.

The trial, the first time a digital euro and Swiss franc were fully tested, showed it was possible to settle foreign exchange transactions in euro and Swiss franc wholesale CBDCs, as well as issuing, redeeming, and transferring tokenized euro-denominated French commercial paper between financial institutions.

By John Revill
NIH Director Dr. Francis Collins holds up a model of the coronavirus as he testifies before a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee looking into the budget estimates for National Institute of Health (NIH) and the state of medical research, on Capitol Hill in Washington on May 26, 2021. (Sarah Silbiger/Pool via AP)

Dr. Francis Collins Leaving NIH Before Christmas; Biden Administration Names Replacement

The head of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) will serve his last day on Dec. 19, the Biden administration announced Thursday.

Dr. Francis Collins, the NIH commissioner, previously announced he was stepping down but the exact date he would resign was unclear.

The Department of Health and Human Services, which includes the NIH, said Dr. Lawrence Tabak will replace Collins.

Health Secretary Xavier Becerra tapped Tabak to serve as acting director of the agency until further notice.

The NIH commissioner is a Senate-confirmed post. President Joe Biden will need to choose a permanent successor to Collins down the road.

Tabak, who has a dental degree and a Ph.D., has a deep grasp of the most pressing scientific issues confronting our nation, he has earned respect across NIH as a thoughtful and strategic manager and is committed to building a healthier and more equitable America, Becerra said in a statement.

Tabak has served as the principal deputy director for the NIH since 2010. He directed the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research for 10 years before that.

Collins described Tabak as a colleague and friend.

Im absolutely confident the agency will be in good hands during this time of transition, he said in a statement.
Drones Are Winning the War in Ethiopia

Commentary

The war in Ethiopia between the left wing Tigray Peoples Liberation Front army (TPLF) and the world-recognized democratic government of Ethiopia has entered a new, largely unexpected phase thanks to drones.

Prior to the extensive use of drones, the TPLF (which now wants to be known as the Tigray Defense Force) had advanced far into the most sensitive Ethiopian territory, within around 130 miles from Ethiopias capital, Addis Ababa, triggering a state of emergency.

Then something profound happened: the Ethiopian Air Force began using drones to attack the TPLFs armored personnel carriers, artillery emplacements, and troop transports. At the same time, Ethiopia massively mobilized, calling in militias from around the country to fight the TPLF.

Now the TPLF is in a major withdrawal, as it faced huge casualties and the chance its army could be cut in half by advancing Ethiopian troops. So far at least, the withdrawal has been relatively peaceful (only one known drone strike was carried out, perhaps to hurry along the TPLF pullback). But as the TPLF convoys must operate on roadways and are exposed, one cannot rule out further strikes by the Ethiopian Air Force that could now cause great damage.

The drones are coming from China, Iran and Turkey. At least one top analyst in Pakistan, Sajid Nadeem suspects the Turkish drones, TB-2 type, the same that were used very effectively in the Nagorno-Karabakh war, are operated by Turkish experts flown into Ethiopia.

Today there is a competition among potential suppliers of drones and other military hardware. Initially the UAE provided significant support to Ethiopia, fearing that it would become a base for hostile forces. The UAE bought and sent to Ethiopia Chinese Wing Loong drones. Based on the U.S. Predator and Reaper, and using the same Austrian-built Rotax engine (which Austria says is not export controlled), the Wing Loong is both a surveillance and attack drone, carrying both rockets and bombs.

Iran has supplied its own drone, the Quds Mohajer-6. This drone also carries guided rockets and uses a TV and Infrared camera to pick out targets. (The same drone is now being co-produced in Venezuela under license from Iran.)

Turkey is supplying the Bayraktar TB-2. That system, which is also now co-produced in Ukraine, carries two types of guided rockets made in Turkey. The TB-2 has a sophisticated electro-optical target tracking and laser system making it perhaps the most accurate of the drones operating in Ethiopia.

The TPLF is almost powerless against drone strikes as it does not have any counter-drone capabilities.

The biggest change of all is China is now selling drones directly to Ethiopia and could well be financing purchases from other countries, Iran and perhaps Turkey (although that is not proven). Even more significantly, Chinas Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited Addis Ababa in early December and made clear China is giving Ethiopia its full support.

China is a major investor in Ethiopia and has much to gain from supporting the Addis government, especially by replacing the United States, which is not supporting Ethiopia (in fact, the Biden administration has secretly been boosting the TPLF, a foolish and completely counterproductive policy).

The war is not over yet, but the TPLF is in a corner. The TPLF says that it is carrying out a tactical withdrawal and will fight on our convenient ground, suggesting a protracted conflict with guerilla tactics. That certainly can lead to a bloody and long term problem for Ethiopia, but over time Ethiopian forces can, if they want to, push the TPLF back toward its capital Mekelle. Whether TPLF can hold onto public support, given its heavy casualties and its retreat, remains to be seen.

Today the Tigray area, in the north of Ethiopia, is surrounded by hostile forces and cant pursue its leftist, Leninist-style fight without outside support. Perhaps the United States was thinking about military support to Tigray and certainly it was trying to get relief supplies into the area, although blocked by the fighting.

There is a near famine caused mainly by the war, but there also have been many atrocities, especially those perpetrated by Tigray forces in many of the towns and villages they temporarily dominated.

It is indeed too bad the United States wound up on the wrong side in the Ethiopian war and let China move in and replace U.S. influence. That pattern can now be expected to be perpetuated in all of Africa. But as for Ethiopia, which is the biggest power in the Horn of Africa, it means more trouble keeping the Straits of Hormuz open in the Red Sea, a vital corridor. The United States does have a base in Djibouti, but so do the Chinese, rather neutralizing the U.S. presence.

Overall the Biden administration has pursued a counterproductive and furtive policy in the Persian Gulf and on the African continent, supporting Iran at the expense of our long-time allies Saudi Arabia and the UAE, embracing the Houthis in Yemen (across the way from Eritrea and Ethiopia), and now blundering in Ethiopia.

The arrival of armed drones has turned the tide of the war; but the political tide for the United States ran out even before that because the United States was supporting the wrong side.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
EU Introduces New Anti-Coercion Instrument Amid China-Lithuania Dispute

As Vilnius pursues closer ties to Taipei, the E.U. proposes a new trade weapon against Beijing's economic coercion

On Wednesday, the European Commission considers a new strategy to assert its interests amid increasingly politicized trade disputes with China and the United States, as it prepares to face off against China over a diplomatic dispute arising with the Republic of Lithuania.

In recent years, the EU has been vulnerable to economic coercion from larger powers due to its multipolar design and the difficulty of establishing consensus among all member states. Previously, it has been difficult for EU policymakers to acquire the unanimous approval needed to retaliate against economic blackmail. Even when EU member states are in consensus about a given issue, a collective action problem emerges in which member states tie their approval of given measures to unrelated national objectives, such as last year when Cyprus attempted to tie its approval of EU sanctions on Belarus to actions against Turkey.

The new proposal will lower the bar to allow the European Commission to impose sanctions on non-member states, allowing the community of nations to act decisively in the face of economic aggression by non-members.

When a non-EU state puts pressure on an EU company in order to influence EU Policy, [t]his instrument helps to deter that coercion, the European Commission posted to Twitter on Wednesday. The goal is to counter and repel such foreign pressure, to further business and trade, and to secure jobs all over the EU.

The anti-coercion instrument is likely to see its first test this week, as the Chinese government blocks trade to Lithuania for the Eastern European countrys diplomatic gestures toward Taiwan, also called the Republic of China. Beijing views Taiwan as a breakaway province, and Taiwan says it is an defacto independent and self-ruled island in its own right.

Like many of the disputes involving Taiwan, this one began with a matter of semantics: Lithuania angered the Peoples Republic of China by opening a new diplomatic office of the Republic of China, similar to other such de facto embassies throughout Europe but for one detail: This new diplomatic office will use the name Taiwan, unlike other ROC diplomatic offices in Europe which refer to the polity by the CCP-approved term Taipei.

China responded to the announcement of this new development by withdrawing its ambassador from Vilnius and imposing severe sanctions on the Baltic state, suspending freight trains to Vilnius and halting the approval of export permits for Lithuanian producers.

While China is the obvious target of the new trade weapon, some EU policymakers are enthusiastic to use it to assert European interests against the United States. During the American negotiations with Iran to restore the terms of the Iran nuclear deal, many European policymakers were frustrated by their perceived omission from the process. Some advocate for using this diplomatic tool to retaliate against American tactics in diplomacy and trade. However, this approach is controversial, with Atlanticists in the EU seeking closer ties with the United States and the United Kingdom.

This new tool has been criticized by some Europeans because the proposal significantly lowers the bar to allow EU negotiators to act unilaterally without explicit consent of all member nations, so it is likely to upset leaders in those nations seeking closer ties to the Chinese Communist Party. If tensions escalate to a full-scale trade war, the new tool is likely to face opposition from Europeans unenthusiastic about being dragged into an economic battle with a world power on behalf of a small Baltic nation with fewer than three million people. Additionally, Japan has warned the EU to reconsider the measure, likely on account of the fragility of its own efforts to thwart Chinese regional hegemony.

Despite these controversies, the new proposal has immense potential to reshape the EUs multilateral negotiations with its economic rivals. As Brussels prepares to face off with Beijing over the conflict with Lithuania, the new diplomatic weapon may not have long to wait before it is used.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen delivers a State of the Union Address at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, on Sept. 15, 2021. (Yves Herman/Pool via AP)

EU Renews Sanctions Against Human Rights Abusers, Including 4 Chinese Officials

The council of the European Union has declared it will extend its global sanctions against officials and entities responsible for serious human rights abuses by one year, while emphasizing the importance of supporting human rights.

On Dec. 6, four days ahead of Human Rights Day, the council announced it would continue to penalize violators of human rights in various countries on its sanction list for another year until Dec. 8, 2022.

The list includes are four Chinese Community Party (CCP) officials and one entity, all involving the western Chinese region of Xinjiang, where large populations of Uyghurs reside.

Todays decision confirms the EUs commitment to denounce human rights violations and abuses wherever they occur, making use of all instruments, while reasserting that human rights are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated, the council emphasized in a statement.

Just a few days ago, the Chinese leadership was under the illusion that the EU would allow the sanctions imposed in March 2021 to expire, thereby kowtowing to Beijing, said Reinhard Butikofer, chair of the European Parliaments China Delegation and foreign policy coordinator of the Greens/EFA group. Brussels has proven dictator Xi Jinpings team wrong.

He warned Beijing must adjust to this reality because the EU would draw clear lines where necessary.

Workers walk by the perimeter fence of what is officially known as a vocational skills education centre in Dabancheng in Xinjiang region, China, on Sept. 4, 2018. (Thomas Peter/Reuters)

The EU list renewed sanctions against Chen Mingguo, head of the local public security department; Zhu Hailun, former Party chief of the Xinjiang Gestapo-like agency Political and Legal Affairs Committee (PLAC); Wang Mingshan, current Party chief of the PLAC; Wang Junzheng, Party chief of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (XPCC); and the Public Security Bureau of the XPCC.

In December 2020, the EU established the Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime, which allows the EU to target individuals or bodies responsible for, involved in, or associated with serious human rights violations worldwide. Punishments include travel bans for individuals and the freezing of funds applying to both individuals and entities.

Although China has repeatedly denied all allegations, there are signs that its human rights continue to worsen, including in Xinjiang.

The latest video evidence appeared online in October, recorded by a young mainland Chinese Youtuber calling himself Guanguan. He alone made an on-the-scene investigation by driving his vehicle near buildings in Xinjiang that were heavily guarded with barbed wire and suspected to be concentration camps, some of which were blanked out in Chinas maps available, according to him.

He also noted he had got clues from BuzzFeed News, which held that the locations of Xinjiang indoctrination camps could be determined by comparing satellite imagery.
EU Unveils Trade Sanction Plan to Counter Foreign Coercion

BRUSSELSThe European Union moved Wednesday to set up a system of quick-fire trade sanctions that it could impose on any foreign power, like China, that it accuses of trying to coerce the 27-country bloc for economic or political gain.

The EUs executive branch, the European Commission, manages trade with the outside world on behalf of member nations. Its seeking their permission to react without needing the endorsement of all 27 when any person, company, or country tries to strong-arm the bloc. It could face pushback from some EU countries against giving the commission too much power.

The commission says it might be possible to use such a system in Chinas spat with Lithuania, whose ties with Taiwan have prompted Beijing to downgrade diplomatic relations with the EU member. Lithuania says its trade shipments are no longer being cleared through Chinese customs.

China and Taiwan split during a civil war in 1949, and Beijing threatens to use force to bring the island under its control.

China is restricting trade with Lithuania, Executive Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis said as he unveiled the plan. Clearly, there could be a reason to do the assessment whether this constitutes economic coercion and correspondingly, whether this instrument would be applicable.

Unity and solidarity within the EU remain key to upholding our interests and our values, Dombrovskis told reporters. The EU is ready to stand up against all types of political pressure and coercive measures applied against any member state.

The new system would give the commission the power to impose punitive tariffs, quotas or even limit access to EU markets to deter countries from trying to restrict trade or investment to force a change of EU policy.

The commission said it needs extra powers to protect EU interests because recent rising geopolitical tensions, weakened international cooperation and increasingly weaponized trade and investment have triggered greater recourse to economic coercion.

It argues that without such a capacity, the EU will fall back on its standard use of diplomatic pressure, which is far slower and requires all 27 member countries to agree.

Under the plan, Brussels would investigate whether a trade or economic act constitutes coercion, contact the coercing country to try to resolve the issue, then take countermeasures if no solution is found. Such action would probably still take months, rather than weeks.

Commission officials are wary of saying what exactly might trigger the anti-coercion instrument, but they say it would not be used for something like the Trump administrations 2018 decision to slap steel and aluminum tariffs on the EU because its products were seen as a threat to U.S. national security.

The commission believes it had sufficient redress through the World Trade Organization and was able to impose counter-duties on U.S.-made motorcycles, bourbon, peanut butter, and jeans, among other items.

The system is likely to take months to be approved, if it does at all. EU member countries, some of whomlike Hungary and Polandhave complained about the commission getting too much power, and the European Parliament must now formulate their positions and negotiate with the commission.

The chairman of the EU assemblys trade committee, Bernd Lange, welcomed the plan.

The EU is facing geopolitical realities: the recent months and years have illustrated how trade policy is increasingly used as a political weapon. There is a gap in our toolbox that others can exploit, he warned.

By Lorne Cook
Xu Jiayin, Standing Committee Member of the 12th CPPCC National Committee and Chairman of the Board of Evergrande Group speaks during a news conference on the sidelines of the fourth session of the 12th National People's Congress, on March 6, 2016 in Beijing, China. (Etienne Oliveau/Getty Images)

Evergrande Chairman Sold a Family Home In Hollywood at a $5 Million Loss

China Evergrande Groups inability to pay off millions in debts has resulted in the introduction of a risk resolution working group with the Chinese regimes intervention. Xu Jiayin, the founder and chairman, has been pushed to sell his familys assets, including a mansion in the Hollywood Hills sold at a loss of $5 million.

A luxury home in Los Angeles owned by Xus son was recently sold for $12.5 million to a local couple, at $5 million lower than the asking price, excluding real estate agent fees, taxes, maintenance fees, and other closing costs said Dirt, a U.S.-based media outlet focus on high-end real estate on Nov. 29.

Located on three floors on Sierra Alta Way near the famous Sunset Strip, in Los Angeles, the luxury home has five bedrooms and ten bathrooms, as well as a theater, gym, sauna, bar, gallery, and underground parking with seven spaces.

The real estate media disclosed that the mansion was valued at $22.9 million when it was built in 2015 and was first sold to Xu Jiayins family for $17.5 million in 2018.

Xu, who urgently needed to sell his house for cash, quoted an initial listing price of $18.5 million, then reduced it to $17 million, but there were no takers.

On Nov. 17, Xu sold the house for $12.5 million, a loss of $5 million.

Sina, a Chinese portal site, reported the same day that Xu had sold 7 billion yuan (about $1.12 billion) of his familys assets to maintain the life of Evergrande. The assets sold included three villas in Hong Kong and a private jet. The properties in two southern cities of Shenzhen and Guangzhou are being put up for sale.

Chinese authorities had urged Xu to pay Evergrandes debts out of his own pocket, which exceeded $300 billion as of June 2021. Xu cannot plug the debt hole even if he empties his own assets Bloomberg said on Oct. 26.

The Hurun China Rich List showed on Oct. 27, Xu ranked as 70th with a net wealth of $11.3 billion, a swift drop from his standing of fifth in 2020 and shrinking of assets by $23.3 billion.

According to Sina, Evergrande issued an announcement on Dec. 3 about the risk of default, saying that it might be unable to fulfill the guaranteed obligation of $260 million debt. Later that day, the Guangdong provincial office said on its official site that it reached a consensus with Xu for establishing a working group to resolve the debts.

On Dec. 6, Evergrande declared a risk resolution committee, not subordinate to the Board, had been set up in the company to meet operational and financial challenges. According to the declaration, the committees chairman is Xu, its members comprise corporate executives or professionals from Guangdong Holdings, a state-owned company in Guangdong Province; Yuexiu Group, an enterprise controlled by the Guangzhou Municipal authority; China Cinda, the first financial asset management company approved by Chinas State Council, and Guosen Securities, a state-owned financial company in Shenzhen; and Zhong Lun Law Firm, a Beijing based multinational law firm.
The RCMP logo is seen outside Royal Canadian Mounted Police "E" Division Headquarters in Surrey, B.C., on April 13, 2018. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press)

Former Canadian Space Agency Engineer Charged With Breach of Trust for Allegedly Working With Chinese Firm: RCMP

A former Canadian Space Agency (CSA) engineer has been charged with breach of trust for allegedly working on behalf of a Chinese aerospace company, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) says.

Wanping Zheng, 61, was charged by a public officer on Dec. 7, after an investigation by the RCMP pointed to illegal activities carried out alongside his duties at the CSA.

According to the facts, Mr. Zheng allegedly used his status as a CSA engineer to negotiate agreements for the installation of satellite station facilities in Iceland, the RCMP said in a statement on Dec. 8.

He allegedly acted on behalf of a Chinese aerospace company.

According to the charge sheet filed at the courthouse, the alleged crime took place between July 1, 2018, and May 30, 2019, at the CSA headquarters in Brossard and St-Hubert, as well as in Toronto, Ottawa, and elsewhere in Ontario and Quebec.

The RCMP said Zheng, who is a resident of the Montreal suburb of Brossard, was arrested on Dec. 7 and released on a promise to appear in court in Longueuil, Que., on Dec. 15.

In a statement on Dec. 7, the CSA said Zhengs employment was ceased in 2019 after concerns about his private activities outside his employment came to light.

The CSA takes the security of information and people very seriously, the space agency said. The CSA took actions, including an internal inquiry and restricting access to information. As measures increased, the employment ceased, in 2019.

The RCMP said after being alerted by CSAs internal security team, their Integrated National Security Enforcement Team (INSET) began an investigation in October 2019. The INSET probes activities carried out by or on behalf of foreign actors that put Canadas economy and institutions at risk.

The allegations against Zheng have not been tested in court. The CSA said they cannot comment further on a matter before the court.

The intelligence community has repeatedly warned about the increasing threats posed by foreign state actorsparticularly China and Russiaagainst Canadas national security.

In the Canadian Security Intelligence Services (CSIS) annual report published in April, director David Vigneault said that in 2020, CSIS observed espionage and foreign interference activity at levels not seen since the Cold War.

In 2020, the Peoples Republic of China, Russia, and other foreign states continued to covertly gather political, economic, and military information in Canada through targeted threat activities in support of their own state development goals, the report states.

In September 2019, Cameron Jay Ortis, former director general of the RCMPs National Intelligence Co-ordination Centre (NICC), was taken into custody for allegedly leaking secrets to an unnamed recipient and planning to give additional information to an unspecified foreign entity.

As director general of NICC at the time, Ortis had access to some of the most classified information in Canada. He is facing ten counts of offences under the Criminal Code and the Security of Information Act, and is being held in an Ottawa jail as his complex case proceeds.

The United States faces similar threats as evidenced in the recent case of Xu Yanjun, a Chinese intelligence agent convicted over his role in a scheme to recruit spies and steal sensitive U.S. aviation technology for Beijing.

Xu, a deputy division director at a provincial branch of Beijings top intelligence agency, the Chinese Ministry of State Security, was found guilty on all counts, including conspiracy to commit economic espionage and to steal trade secrets, according to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ).

The federal prosecutors said Xu had been recruiting employees from leading U.S. and foreign aviation companies since 2013, and would pay the recruits to travel to China, often under the guise of exchanging ideas or giving a presentation at a university.

In 2017, Xu solicited a GE Aviation engineer in an attempt to steal the companys exclusive composite aircraft engine fan design for the benefit of the Chinese regime.

Xu was arrested in April 2018 after the engineer worked with the FBI in devising a plan that lured him to Belgium with the promise of receiving sensitive information related to the engine fan. Xu was later extradited to the United States. He faces up to 60 years in prison along with more than $5 million in fines. No sentencing date has been set.

The DOJs effort in combating espionage from China includes convicting electrical engineer Yi-Chi Shih for conspiring to illegally export to China semiconductor chips with missile guidance applications.

Shih, 66, of Hollywood Hills, was sentenced to 63 months in prison by U.S. District Judge John A. Kronstadt in July.

He and California resident Kiet Anh Mai, a former employee of a U.S. defence contractor, were arrested in 2018 for allegedly buying microchips that can be used for military applications from a U.S. company under the pretence that they were for domestic use, while scheming to send the technology to China.

According to the DOJ in July 2019, Mai pleaded guilty for his role in the scheme and was scheduled for sentencing in September that year.

Shihs brother, Ishiang Shih, who until 2018 was associate professor in the faculty of engineering at McGill University, is also suspected of helping in the scheme.

The United States has been asking for Ishiang Shihs extradition since October 2018, but the Canadian justice system has not yet ruled on his fate, reported LaPresse in March.

With files from The Canadian Press and reporting by Eva Fu, J.M. Phelps, Isabel van Brugen, and Omid Ghoreishi
In Los Angeles, two parents are accusing a local school of giving their children the vaccine without parental consent, and bribing the children with food and pizza in order to keep them from talking about it.

Meanwhile, the Federal Elections Commission just voted on a new rule that will allow foreign nationals (citizens of other countries) to potentially finance American ballot initiatives, referendums, as well as recalls.

Lastly, a few weeks ago, the FDA asked a federal judge for permission to take 55 years to fully release all of the documents in their possession that pertain to the approval of the Pfizer vaccine.

Well, the FDA just went back to that judge, and its now saying that 55 years is too shortand that they will actually need 75 years to fully release all of the documents.

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Fair Play for the Majority

Commentary

Over the past 50 years, we have reorganized American and Canadian societies to favor and benefit less successful racial and ethnic minorities, particularly African Americans and Canadians, Hispanics, and American Indians in the United States and First Nations in Canada. Females are included, not because theyre underperforming, but because of past constraints. This is called social justice. Its implemented through the social justice trinity of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Selected minorities, particularly certain people of color and LGBTQ+, are diverse, while others and the majority of the population are not deemed diverse. Equity means equal outcomes for all categories, so standards have been lowered, and tests of performance cancelled, in order to ensure the equal representation of underperforming populations. Inclusion is for the diverse, while those of non-preferred minorities, such as Asian and Jews, and members of the majority are excluded.

At the ideological level, whites are cast as privileged oppressors and exploiters, while people of color, females, and Indigenous Natives are cast as innocent victims unable to control their own lives. At the practical level, admission to educational institutions, funding, jobs, promotions, and awards are limited to diverse people of color and females, while whites and males are personae non gratae and excluded as much as possible.

The alleged justification for this double standard favoring minorities and the female half of the population, and disfavoring and excluding members of the privileged majority, is the claimed marginalization and oppression of members of these categories. The alleged proof of these claims are statistical disparities in academic performance and employment, and in economic and professional achievement among the categories, especially those in which people of color and females are underrepresented in relation to their percentage of the population.

The sole explanation allowed for explaining these disparities is racial, ethnic, and gender discrimination. No evidence is adduced to demonstrate that discrimination is the operative cause of statistical disparities. No consideration is given to alternative explanations, such as differences among the categories in personal preferences, family structure, and/or community culture. The official narrative is that disparities exist because minorities and females are victims of oppression.

Overrepresented successful minorities, such as Asian Americans and Jews, in spite of suffering centuries of prejudice and discrimination, not to mention attempted genocide, are today disfavored as, respectively, white adjacent and hyper-white. Others, such as successful Nigerians and Caribbean blacks, are not mentioned because they contradict the narrative.

There are three serious objections to the social justice narrative, as these policies are labelled by their advocates:

First, reifying census categories while ignoring the diversity within them is simplistic. The poorest and most marginalized whites are allegedly privileged oppressors, while successful blacks and Hispanics nonetheless helpless victims. Worse, reducing people to category membership is applying a collective principle in place of treating individuals in their own terms, which is deeply illiberal. People should be treated as individuals, not as members of census categories.

Second, treating people according to their race or sex (or sexuality, ethnicity, or ability/disability) is the very definition of racist, sexist, and bigoted. How exactly is reverse discrimination any fairer than the original discrimination? And what kind of justice is social justice when it ignores what individuals have earned and deserve, and treats people according to census category membership?

Third, its a violation of majority rule. In a democratic society, the will of the majority must be respected, even while the rights of minorities are guaranteed. Favoring minorities over the majority is a violation of equality before the law, enshrined in both the U.S. Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

In the United States in 2020, non-Hispanic whites made up a supermajority of 60 percent of the population, even leaving aside the additional 10 percent of the population who were white Hispanics. African Americans were a 13 percent minority; all Hispanics were 18 percent of the population; Asians 6 percent, and American Indians 1 percent of the population.

In Canada, as of 2016, a 73 percent supermajority of Canadians were white, 5 percent Indigenous Natives, 6 percent South Asian Canadians, 5 percent Chinese, and 4 percent black. But today all non-Indigenous Natives are condemned at colonial settler oppressors who have no right to be there and must turn everything over to the Indigenous population.

The supermajorities in both the United States and Canada are white. So social justice policies, such as diversity, equity, and inclusion, that vilify whites as privileged oppressors or colonial settlers and certain minorities as marginalized victims, and establish preferences for those minorities while sidelining and excluding whites, is putting the few above the many. Just as equity means inequality, and inclusion means exclusion, so social justice means injustice for members of the majority.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
R | 1h 54min | Drama, Crime, Thriller | 10 December 2021 (USA)Although she made her big screen debut in 1987, Sandra Bullock didnt appear on anyones radar until playing the co-lead in Speed from 1994. Almost instantly she became the new industry It girl and began getting offers that at the time were going to the likes of Meg Ryan and Julia Roberts.

As with all younger female performers throughout the years, Bullocks stay at the top of the heap came with a shelf life which pretty much expired in 2009 with The Blind Side, despite winning her only Oscar for the performance. Although still bankable (Gravity from 2013 remains the highest grossing of her career), the parts grew less glamorous and more matronly.

Bullocks Rom-Com fan Base Might Not Be Pleased

The Unforgivable, the 12th film Bullock has starred in and produced, is not a movie the majority of her long-established fan base will likely appreciate or wish to see, although it is arguably her best performance in the best movie of her career. Appearing without make-up and smiling just once, Bullock plays Ruth, a convict attempting to rebuild her life after spending 20 years in jail for committing murder.

Ruth Slater (Sandra Bullock) and Vincent Cross (Rob Morgan), in The Unforgivable. (Netflix)

Based on the 2009 British TV mini-series Unforgiven written by Sally Wainwright, the movie faces the almost insurmountable task of getting the audience to root for a convicted killer who shows no signs of remorse and seems intent on violating multiple terms of her parole.

Had The Unforgivable been told in the chronological order of events, it would have been a far different and almost certainly less effective and engrossing movie. Well over half of it is presented in flashback. Its framing device far too many filmmakers use to patch up sub-par screenplays, but that is not the case here.

Co-writers Peter Craig (the upcoming The Batman), Hillary Seitz, and Courtenay Miles often repeat specific scenes with details added or removed, not for the purpose of confusing or disorienting the viewer, but rather to provide differing perspectives of events. Perception is everything here and if you blink at the wrong time youll be lost. The film rewards attentive viewers but isnt as kind to casual audience members.

Juggling all of this with the assured hand of an old pro is the German-born director Nora Fingscheidt. The Unforgivable is her sophomore feature effort as well as her English language debut. Fingscheidt either speaks fluent English or has a very talented interpreter because there is an above average amount of dialogue in the screenplay with lots of attention spent on tone and inflection.

The problem with reviewing a movie like this is going into details of the plot mostly because the twists and turns begin right out of the gate. What might better serve you, the reader, is to describe some of the characters instead.

A Dream-Team Supporting Cast

Rob Morgan (Marvel character Turk Barrett) appears as Cross, Ruths unwavering parole officer who, for understandable reasons, seems to want her to slip up and get sent back to the slammer. Bearing a close resemblance in look and style to Don Cheadle, Morgans Cross is the most conflicted character in the film, as he eventually realizes the truth about Ruth.

Vincent Cross (Rob Morgan) is Ruth Slaters (Sandra Bullock) parole office, in The Unforgivable. (Kimberly French/Netflix)

Able to read a phone book and make it sound interesting, Vincent DOnofrio plays Ruths reluctant attorney John and takes the gig more out of morbid curiosity than concern. This doesnt sit well with Johns wife Liz (Viola Davis) whose initial empathy regarding Ruth slips into misplaced acrimony.

Showing up as Ruths co-worker and possible love interest is John Bernthal (The Many Saints of Newark) as Blake, a guy who talks too much and is too judgmental for his own good. A pair of brothers (Tom Guiry and Andrew Francis) has a connection to Ruth via the crime she was convicted for but switches attitudes on how to deal with her after an instance of betrayal involving one of their wives.

Ruth Slater (Sandra Bullock) sits in a diner with Blake (Jon Bernthal), in The Unforgivable. (Kimberley French/Netflix)

The big wild card in the mix is Katie (Aisling Franciosi), a budding concert pianist who was adopted by Michael (Richard Thomas) and Rachel (Linda Emond) shortly after the younger Ruth was arrested.

Everything contained in the first 110 minutes of The Unforgivable is methodical and measured. It is to the filmmakers and Bullocks credit as both the producer and the lead to keep everything as mysterious as possible until the cathartic final scene.

Bullocks Wise Choice

Starring in and producing this movie was a masterstroke on Bullocks part. It shows she understands shes no longer just another past version of the Americas Sweetheart archetype and is looking to enter this phase of her career age appropriate and artistically relevant. In Ruth, Bullock navigates the fine line of a woman haunted by her past but absolutely assured in her choices of how to achieve closure in the present.

Few, if any of us, would care to make a similar journey as Ruth and that is perhaps the best reason to experience The Unforgivable. She displays honor, dedication, and a commitment to family which is beyond impressive while the movie makes us wait until the last possible moment in order to cleanse her and, by association as witnesses, us.

The movie begins airing on Dec. 10 on Netflix.

The Unforgivable

Director: Nora Fingscheidt

Stars: Sandra Bullock, Vincent DOnofrio, Viola Davis, Jon Bernthal, Rob Morgan

Running Time: 1 hour, 54 minutes

MPAA Rating: R

Release Date: Dec. 10, 2021

Rating: 5 out of 5
Youre undoubtedly familiar with marshmallowsthe puffy, sweet confections that you might toast over a campfire in the summertime or drop into a mug of hot chocolate in winter.

Theyre sweet, above all else, with little nutritional value save for a few grams of protein that come from gelatin and egg white. Its these two components that act as a carrier for the confections sugar, and that give the treat its characteristic bouncy texture.

But long before marshmallows arrived in candy stores and baking aisles, apothecaries stocked themin the same way as your local drugstore might stock cold and flu pills or cough medicine. Mothers bought them for children to help soothe sore throats or an irritated stomach.

They were sweet, to be sure, but first and foremost, they were medicine.

Ancient Roots

Marshmallows take their name from the herb marshmallow (Althaea officinalis), which is native to North Africa, Southern Europe, and Western Asia. A member of the Malvaceae, or mallow, family, marshmallow is related to other culinary delights such as okra, hibiscus, and even cacao. The plant grows up to seven feet high and blooms with pretty five-petaled flowers that range in color from soft pink to pale purple. While the entire plant is edible, the root holds medicinal value and has been used as a folk remedy for thousands of years.

In the fall, growers harvest the plant, gathering the roots and allowing them to dry. The plants root is rich in mucilaginous starches, such as pectin, which have a soothing quality to them. These starches also turn sticky and gelatinous when combined with water and cooked.

Ancient Greek texts describe using the plant to calm inflammation, heal wounds, and soothe digestive woes, sometimes combining the sap from the boiled root with wine and honey. Similarly, Ancient Egyptians extracted the gooey sap from the plants root and combined it with honey, nuts, seeds, and sometimes grain to form a sort of sticky confection.

But while the modern marshmallow may have roots in Ancient Mediterranean civilizations and continued to be used medicinally throughout the Middle Ages, it wasnt until the plant met 18th-century French confectioners that the treat began to resemble what we know today.

Enter the French

French confectioners working at apothecaries developed recipes for pate de guimauve, or marshmallow paste, that was recommended for sore throats and upset stomachs. Some 19th-century apothecaries recommended that the pate be taken as a pectoral, or a medicine that was good for the lungs and chest.

Unlike modern marshmallows, which have a definitive shape, pate de guimauve is looser and gummier. The recipes were complicated and often took several days to make. Confectioners began by soaking marshmallow root before boiling it, a process that took approximately half a day. After that, theyd combine the starch from the root with gum arabic and a meringue made of whipped egg whites and sugar to form the pate. Rosewater or orange flower water gave the confection its flavor, and then theyd leave the pate to dry for several days before cutting it into gooey lozenges.

American Ingenuity

The biggest shift for marshmallows came at the end of the 19th century with the invention of flavorless, refined gelatin sheets by Charles Knox (of Knox Gelatin). Prior to this invention, extracting gelatin, which comes from boiling the bones and connective tissue of animals, was a long and exhaustive process. Earlier versions of packaged gelatin had been around since the mid-19th century, but it was Knoxs version that really caught on. It was simple and easy to use.

Gelatins neutral flavor meant that it could be used equally in sweet or savory foods, and its bouncy structure made it a natural fit for sweets. Quickly, gelatin began replacing the gum arabic and marshmallow root in marshmallows, leaving only a sugar-sweetened meringue as the last remnant of the original confection. Abandoning the labor-intensive, multi-day process of making pate de guimauve in favor of something much quicker made sense. By the late 19th and early 20th centuries, people had abandoned marshmallows as a folk remedy and embraced them wholly as a sweet.

The early 1900s saw the mass production of marshmallows, largely led by the Rochester Marshmallow Company. Soon, they were accessible to nearly everyone and sold not as a medicine, but as a candy. Through the 1920s, America was nearly obsessed with marshmallowsadding them to sweet and savory dishes alike. As the processed food industry in America grew, high fructose corn syrup replaced the sugar in marshmallows, and artificial flavors replaced natural flavors.

With the recent natural and artisanal food movement, theres been a bit of a resurgence of interest in the marshmallow. Various companies are rethinking the sweet treat with vegan marshmallows and marshmallows made without high-fructose corn syrupbut theyre also easy to make at home.

Try this recipe for homemade honey vanilla marshmallows, which ditches the corn syrup in favor of a combination of honey and sugara better-for-you swap, even if they still may not have the medicinal qualities of their early ancestors. Enjoy them with a mug of hot chocolate and a blanket, or give them away as impressive and delightful gifts.

RECIPE: Honey Vanilla Marshmallows

RECIPE: Peppermint Hot Chocolate
Some say future wars will be defined by artificial intelligence.

Whichever nation harnesses AI first will have a decisive advantage on the battlefield for many, many years, former Secretary of Defense Mark Esper told an audience at the 2019 AI World Conference. He added that againwere in a race, we have to get to the end state quicker than the Chinese can, than the Russians can.

But China may be getting closer to getting that upper hand.

Former chief software officer for the U.S. Air Force Nicolas Chaillan said, If we dont take a stand now and take action, we have no fighting chance in succeeding 10 to 15 years from now.

So how far has Chinas AI development really reached? Why is it advancing so quickly? What would losing the AI race to China mean for the United States and the rest of the free world? And what is the Chinese Communist Partys ultimate goal? We explore these questions and more in our latest special report.

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What George Washingtons inaugural journey can teach us about impossible expectations placed on presidents and other leaders of today

My movements to the chair of Government will be accompanied with feelings not unlike those of a culprit who is going to the place of his execution. These were the unenthusiastic words of George Washington, written to fellow Revolutionary War veteran Henry Knox on April 1, 1789, not long before his nearly inevitable election as president.

For eight years (between 1775 and 1783) and without pay, Washington had led the Continental Army against the British. The aristocratic Virginian might have gone on to leverage his impressive victory to become a conquering general and establish a personal dictatorshipan end conceivably within his grasp and even suggested by some in his circle.

Instead, George Washington very emphatically retired. Lest anyone should miss the point, Washington even delivered a public resignation address. His days of service were over, and beloved Mount Vernon was calling.

But now, he was being summoned into service once more. Two weeks after Washington had compared his feelings to those of a culprit on his way to execution, a dispatch arrived at Mount Vernon notifying the retired general of his presidential election. Two days after that, 57-year-old George Washington left Mount Vernon, penning the following in his diary:

About ten oclock I bade adieu to Mount Vernon, to private life, and to domestic felicity; and with a mind oppressed with more anxious and painful sensations than I have words to express, set out for New York  with the best dispositions to render service to my country in obedience to its call, but with less hope of answering its expectations.

Perhaps no one in America was more familiar with the challenges of directing the new union than George Washington, who had played such a central role in its inception and evolution. As such, he was clearly under no illusion as to the challenges that awaited him. His acquiescence (for so it was) to the presidency was informed less by political ambition and more by solemn duty. There was no relishing of the prospect, no celebration on his part, no reveling in his political achievement. Being the sort of president people wantedby unanimous vote of the Electoral College, no less!seemed at the very least a daunting task, and probably an impossible one. He seems to have known this.

Bad Roads and White Robes

New York was to serve as the first temporary capital of the new United States of America, but great distance and bad roads meant that it was quite a journey to get there from Virginia. And if Washington was really weighed down by expectations at the moment of his departure, he was certainly more so as the journey progressed. Everywhere he went, crowds cheered his arrival, casting roses and wreaths along his path, or erecting triumphal arches for him to pass through. At Trenton, 13 girlsrepresenting the 13 statesin white robes hailed him as mighty Chief in song, while Washington was made to ride beneath a 13-columned arch.

Finally reaching Elizabethtown, New Jersey, across the Hudson from New York City itself, Washington was greeted by an ostentatious barge manned by 13 white-uniformed captains. Upon this gaudy vessel, the president-elect was ferried across the river to where Wall Street met the water. New York Governor George Clinton awaited him thereatop a set of specially prepared steps with their sides draped in lavish cloth.

George Washington was sworn in on April 30, his oath of office administered on the balcony of Federal Hall, in front of a massive crowd gathered along Broad and Wall Streets and on balconies and housetops in every direction. All was hushed during the swearing in, after which the officiator exclaimed, Long live George Washington, President of the United States!

Thunderous applause echoed throughout the city as a 13-gun salute rang out from the harbor. As the ovation continued, an American flag was hoisted above George Washington himself.

Expectations, indeed.

Once-Invulnerable Image Tarnished

Of course, the hoped-for utopia to be ushered in by Americas greatest Founding Father never materialized. Even Washington himself had hoped that the new federation would, at the very least, avoid political factions. Instead, the real world offered its usual share of complication and contentionincluding a highly combative two-party system. By the time Washington left office, his once-invulnerable image had been greatly tarnished. American newspapers attacked his perceived disloyalty to republicanism and his personal integrity. They attacked the lavish receptions (or levees) he hosted with his wife, his aristocratic airs, his alleged monarchical pretensions, his cold and aloof manner. Critics accused him of being unintelligent and susceptible to bad advice from his cabinet (or wicked counsellors), of treacherously betraying France by proclaiming neutralityand of betraying the American Revolution by not eagerly supporting the French one.

Even some of Washingtons friends abandoned him; Thomas Paine wrote disparagingly to his old friend:

Monopolies of every kind marked your administration almost in the moment of its commencement. The lands obtained by the revolution were lavished upon partisans; the interest of the disbanded soldier was sold to the speculator; injustice was acted under the pretence of faith; and the chief of the army became the patron of the fraud.

A whole series of letters (called the Belisarius letters, after their authors pen name), addressed personally to Washington and published in opposition newspapers, lambasted the president on a wide range of counts: for cultivating a distinction between the people and their Executive servants; failing to stand up to (post-war) Britain; overseeing a costly (and, at times, bumbling) war with the American Indians; maintaining a standing army in peacetime; and supporting internal taxation (then denouncing the people most affected by it), among other allegations.

Do Political Saviors Exist?

Even Washingtons patriotism during his Revolutionary War generalship, not to mention his competence as a general, was publicly called into question.

Benjamin Franklins grandson, Benjamin Franklin Bache, wrote that Washington was a Virginia planter, by no means the most eminent, a militia-officer ignorant of war both in theory and useful practice, and a politician certainly not of the first magnitude.  He is but a man, and certainly not a great man.

It may be that the seemingly constant aspersions cast in his direction were a primary reason George Washington decided to retire after just two terms. Indeed, an earlier draft of his Farewell Address actually included these words:

As some of the Gazettes of the United States have teemed with all the Invective that disappointment, ignorance of facts, and malicious falsehoods could invent, to misrepresent my politics and affections; to wound my reputation and feelings; and to weaken, if not entirely destroy the confidence you had been pleased to repose in me; it might be expected at the parting scene of my public life that I should take some notice of such virulent abuse. But, as heretofore, I shall pass them over in utter silence.

The impossible expectations placed upon the first president demonstrate, perhaps, the futility of investing in one individual the utopian hopes and dreams of an entire people. One of the original American lessons, at least as they pertain to the state, is that political saviors dont exist; not even the vaunted George Washington could be one! Hed felt the weight of such expectations right from the beginning. That weight probably helped drive him out of the spotlight in the end.

When election cycles come around, perhaps our expectations should be tempered by Washingtons experience.

And when politicians talk like saviors, remember George Washington, too.

Dr. W. Kesler Jackson is a university professor of history. Known on YouTube as The Nomadic Professor, he offers online history courses featuring his signature on-location videos, filmed the world over, at NomadicProfessor.com

This article was originally published in American Essence magazine.
An armed standoff between a 21-year-old man and Haralson County Sheriffs Department officers ended peacefully after Sheriff Stacy Williams was able to de-escalate a delicate situation.

Responding to a call of a domestic dispute between a father and son, Sheriff Williams on Nov. 10 arrived at a property in Buchanan, Georgia, where he was presented with a tense situationa standoff between his deputies and a young man waving a gun, pacing in front of a mobile home.

Clearly distraught, the man wanted to commit suicide-by-cop; he wanted the officers to shoot him.

They tried to talk to him, and he just wasnt communicating with them, Sheriff Williams, 54, told The Epoch Times. He just kept saying that he wanted them to kill him, and he wanted to die.

Had the young man pointed his gun at the officers, it could have ended much worse, he added.

Trained in crisis intervention, Williams used positive words and constant reassurance to let him know they werent there to hurt him.

Son, were not here to hurt you, we want to help you, Sheriff Williams recalled himself saying. Whatever happened, this is not a reason for doing what youre doing. Were here to help you.

I said, Just please put the gun down, Williams added, and walk away ten or fifteen foot, just Ill come up and talk to you. I just kept pressing that.

After a few minutes, the man looked up at him before putting his gun down and falling to his knees.

Not knowing if he had another gun, Sheriff Williams walked over, knelt beside the young man, and consoled him.

He just started crying real bad, I reached out and grabbed him, hugged him, rubbed his head, William said. You got to show compassion, you got to show that you care.

Thats what you do with everything, thats what we do.

He added, We dont go to work saying, Yeah, Im going to kill someone today, no. It dont work like that.

Ninety-nine-point-nine percent of all police are good, its always that one tenth of one percent thats bad. Were not part of that.

Sheriff Williams told the newspaper that young man has received the help he needs, is back at home, and is doing better.

Share your stories with us at emg.inspired@epochtimes.com, and continue to get your daily dose of inspiration by signing up for the Epoch Inspired newsletter at TheEpochTimes.com/newsletter
In this file photo, a sign is seen near Sonora Elementary School, in Costa Mesa, Calif., on Dec. 1, 2020. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

Group Donates 7,000 LGBTQ Books to LA County Elementary Schools

LOS ANGELESElementary school children in Los Angeles County will soon have access to books containing LGBTQ content in their public-school libraries, due to a donation from the nonprofit group Gender Nation.

The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) held a press conference Dec. 8 to celebrate the donation of 7,000 LGBTQ books donated to elementary school libraries from Gender Nation.

We believe that making story books available to children in our school libraries will help minimize bullying and foster a better learning environment, Gender Nations website states.

Gender Nation is a nonprofit group that aims at providing access to stories that represent people all across the sexuality and gender spectrum.

The group raised $85,000 to buy the books and donate them free of cost to the 440 elementary schools in the LAUSD. Back in May, the nonprofit group donated 16 LGBTQ books to each of the 28 schools in the Palm Springs Unified School District.

Students and parents arrive masked for the first day of the school year at Grant Elementary School in Los Angeles on Aug. 16, 2021. (Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images)

Each school will receive 16 LGBTQ books listed on Gender Nations website, LAUSD Human Relations Director Judy Chiasson told The Epoch Times.

The list includes a book called I Am Jazz, a semi-autobiographical story by Jazz Jennings, who began a public transition from male to female at the age of six. The book is aimed at children ages 48, according to Gender Nations website.

The group also provides teachers with lesson plans for each book. In the lesson plan for I Am Jazz teachers are encouraged to help students understand that gender is a spectrum, not a binary, and to ask children to describe what transgender means.

Another book on the list, called And Tango Makes Three, is aimed at children ages 25 tells the story of two male penguins who pair together and create a family by adopting a penguin egg and raising the hatchling.

The suggested lesson plan for that book directs teachers of older elementary students to read the students an article in the Telegraph in which parents criticize the book. According to the lesson plan, teachers are to ask students why they think the book has been banned, and then ask students to write a response to the prompt, why do you think this book should be used in schools?

The placement of LGBTQ books in schools has been met with backlash from some parents and educators that say students should learn about these topics at home, not in school.

Parents advocacy group Interfaith Statewide Coalition made a video opposing gender and sexuality topics being taught in schools.

A child wears a face mask as they attend an online class at a learning hub inside the Crenshaw Family YMCA during the Covid-19 pandemic in Los Angeles, California, on Feb. 17, 2021. (Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images)

One of those parents in the video, Vera Perry, said she opposed teaching children to doubt their biological gender because they dont fit gender stereotypes.

Girls who prefer playing trucks over Barbies are still girls, and boys who prefer playing house over cops and robbers are still boys, Perry said. These teachings that confuse kids about their gender based on what they like or dont like, or how they feel, will destroy young lives.

Interfaith Coordinator Brenda Lebsack, who is also a teacher and former school board member in Orange County, told The Epoch Times that when she was a child, she was a tomboy and often wished she was a boy.

I was a kid that preferred playing with boys. I wanted to be a boy, to be honest, to the point to where I looked and acted so much like a boy got kicked out the girls bathroom, Lebsack said. If Id been raised in society like it is today, I would have thought, oh, just take a pill and change become a boy. And it would have devastated my life.

Lebsack said that she believes gender teachings belong in the home in order to respect the values and culture of [individual families]. Schools should not overstep their boundaries.

A spokesperson for Gender Nation did not respond to a request for comment by press deadline.
Rachael Rollins, President Joe Biden's nominee to serve as the U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts, is seen in an undated photo from the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office as the U.S. Senate voted to confirm her nomination in Washington, on Dec. 8, 2021. (Office of Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins/Handout via Reuters)

Harris Breaks Tie to Confirm Left-Wing Prosecutor as US Attorney

Vice President Kamala Harris cast a tie-breaking vote on Wednesday to confirm Bidens nominee Rachael Rollins as U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts over the objection of all 50 Senate Republicans.

Rollins was previously the District Attorney (DA) for Suffolk County, and in that role Rollins was exceedingly lenient, refusing to prosecute those charged with several violent crimes.

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) objected to the nomination on the Senate floor, calling Rollins a left-wing prosecutor.

Many Americans have probably never heard of Rachael Rollins, Cruz began. But they are becoming very familiar with the kind of lawlessness and dangerous crime that radical left-wing district attorneys like [Rollins] have generated.

Cruz continued, Under their watch, weve seen looting, and larceny, and violent crime rates rise in cities all over the country the past couple of years.

DAs like Rollins, Cruz said, see it as their job not to prosecute crime, [but] to protect criminals.

In fact, cities across the country have seen a rise in crime and a drop in enforcement of the law since the summer of 2020.

After the death of George Floyd and the protests and riots that followed, many prosecutors and DAs followed the anti-police rhetoric of left-wing activists and began to refuse to enforce the law.

In San Francisco, this rhetoric was brought to an entirely new level after the city effectively decriminalized shoplifting if the items stolen cost less than $950, leading to a string of daylight robberies with shoplifters touting their faces in plain sight.

More recently, left-wing Milwaukee DA John Chisholm was blasted for releasing repeat violent offender Darrell Brooks on a $1,000 bail. Just days later Brooks drove an SUV into a crowd attending a Christmas parade near an affluent suburb, killing six people and wounding almost 60 more.

Rollins Refused to Prosecute Several Crimes as DA

And according to information obtained by Cruz, Rollins is another anti-law enforcement, anti-prosecution DA that sees it as [her] job to protect criminals.

In a 2019 memo from Rollins time as DA, she gave her staff a list of 15 common offenses which she said should be declined or dismissed pre-arraignment without conditions. The presumption is that charges that fall into this category should always be declined.

In other words, Rollins used her position of power to refuse to enforce the law for a laundry list of crimes, including, among others, trespassing, shoplifting, larceny, disorderly conduct, receiving stolen property.

But several offenses on the list were significantly more serious: Rollins also refused to prosecute violent offenses like breaking and entering with property damage, threats, resisting arrest, and wanton or malicious destruction of property.

Rollins was equally against enforcing laws against driving with a suspended license, regardless of the reasons for the suspension: These could be as benign as one too many speeding tickets or failing to renew ones license but, as Cruz noted on the Senate floor, these licenses also could have been suspended for driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Rollins was also unwilling to prosecute almost any drug- or alcohol-related charges: charges for minor in possession of alcohol, possession of marijuana, possession of an illegal substance other than marijuana, and all possession with intent to distribute charge.

In short, Rollins gave drug dealers and drug and alcohol abusers a free rein during her tenure as DA.

Horrified by this track record, every single Senate Republican joined Cruz in trying to shoot down the nomination.

But Democrats were apparently satisfied that Rollins could fulfill the duties required of a United States Attorney, and voted unanimously for her confirmation.

Even erstwhile moderates like Sens. Joe Manchin (D-W. Va.), Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), and others who have in the past broken with their party voted for the anti-law enforcement DA.

With Democrats all on board with Bidens pick, they met the 50-vote threshold to activate Harris tie-breaking vote, allowing Rollins to be confirmed.

Rollins to Work Under Bidens Department of Justice

As U.S. Attorney, Rollins will be in charge of bringing prosecution against those charged with violating federal law, prosecute or defend cases in her district which involve the United States government as a party, and, on occasion, to collect debts that are owed to the federal government when normal administrative agencies are unable to do so.

Rollins will operate under the purview of Attorney General Merrick Garlands Department of Justice.

Garland, a failed Supreme Court nominee who was marketed by President Barack Obama as a moderate, has already taken advantage of the U.S. Attorneys under his command.

After the nations school boards saw a trend of concerned parents speaking out against critical race theory and other left-wing causes being taught to their children, Garland promised the National School Boards Association that he would use federal resources to target these aggrieved parents.

On Oct. 20, Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Montana Leif Johnson, under orders from Garland, sent a letter to county attorneys offices across the state offering advice and federal aid to prosecutors seeking convictions against parents who had spoken out against the curriculum being taught to their children.

In the letter, Johnson suggested pages worth of potential charges that could be levied against these parents, ranging from conspiracy to civil rights violations.

In her role as U.S. Attorney, Rollins will be similarly empowered: As the main legal authority within her district, it will be within Rollins power to bring charges or decline to bring charges against those who violate federal law.

If Garland continues his campaign against aggrieved parents, Rollins will be a front-line figure in choosing whether or not to bring aggrieved parents to federal court.
A Royal Canadian Air Force helicopter surveys the Fraser Valley after rainstorms lashed British Columbia, triggering landslides and floods and shutting highways, near Abbottsford, B.C., on Nov. 21, 2021. (The Canadian Press/Jennifer Gauthier, POOL)

Heavy Rain and Strong Winds to Hit British Columbia Again, Environment Canada Warns

British Columbians in the provinces southern coast should brace themselves for heavy rain and strong winds in the coming days, Environment Canada warns.

The agency issued weather alerts on Dec. 9 for Metro Vancouver, the Fraser Valley, Howe Sound, Whistler, Greater Victoria, and the Southern Gulf Islands, warning of storms that will hit on Dec. 10 and Dec. 11.

Heavy rainfall of between 40 and 60 millimetres is expected in Metro Vancouver, Fraser Valley, Howe Sound, and Whistler, accompanied by snowfall of 15 to 25 centimetres, including in surrounding highway routes.

A moist Pacific frontal system will arrive over the BC south coast Friday morning, Environment Canada said in its special weather statement.

Freezing levels will range between 500 and 1000 metres with this system. Whistler and the high elevation mountain passes, particularly Highways 3, 5, and the Sea to Sky, can expect heavy snow.

The national weather agency said the heavy precipitation and strong winds will start to ease the morning of Dec. 11; however, periods of heavy snow will persist over Coquihalla Summit and Allison Pass throughout the day.

Snowfall of between 10 to 20 cm is also expected in the North Coast regions of Terrace, Kitimat, and Bella Coola, and up to 30 cm near Stewart.

Environment Canada also forecasts strong winds of up to 60 km/h, gusting to 80 for these regions. The wind speed could reach 70 km/h, gusting to 90 in Greater Victoria and the southern Gulf Islands, including areas near the Strait of Georgia and Haro Strait.

Strong southeast winds will accompany the front. The strongest winds are expected for areas along the Strait of Georgia overnight Friday into early Saturday morning.

The B.C. government declared a state of emergency on Nov. 17 due to severe weather, which has been extended to Dec. 14, as the province struggles to deliver response and recovery efforts following a series of flooding and landslides.
House Aide Arrested for Allegedly Carrying Gun Inside Congress: Capitol Police

An aide in the House of Representatives was arrested Thursday for allegedly attempting to carry a gun inside Congress.

The individual, identified as Jeffrey Allsbrooks, was detained, said the Capitol Police in a statement on Thursday morning.

This morning at approximately 7:40 a.m., our officers in the Longworth Building spotted the image of a handgun in a bag on the x-ray screen, the Capitol Police wrote in its statement. The man was tracked down four minutes later and arrested.

Allsbrooks, 57, is a staffer with the House Chief Administrative Office, the Capitol Police said. According to a LinkedIn page, Allsbrooks describes himself as a logistics manager in the House.

The House Chief Administrative Office is tasked with carrying out administrative functions for the House, including human resources, information resources, payroll, finance, procurement, and other services. The current chief officer is Catherine Szpindor, who took office on Jan. 3, 2021.

According to the statement, he told Capitol Police officers that he forgot the gun was in the bag. The agency said he was charged with carrying a pistol without a license.

This case remains under investigation and the Department is looking into what happened before, during, and after those four minutes, the statement continued.

Earlier in the day, the U.S. Capitol Police sent out an email Thursday that there was a so-called security threat inside the Longworth building and asked staff to take necessary precautions.

That email asked staff and members of Congress to move inside your office or the nearest office, take emergency equipment and visitors, close and stay away from doors and windows, stay quiet and silence electronic devices, and it added that no one can enter the Capitol building until the Capitol Police says so.

Some reporters who were inside the Longworth building said they could hear intercoms signaling a security threat on Thursday morning.

Earlier security guards seemed to be looking for a suspicious person. They asked one of the ABC staff members who was with me if she had just entered the building or not, said one ABC reporter.

Allsbrookss arrest came as President Joe Biden was scheduled to pay tribute to former Republican senator and presidential candidate Bob Dole, who is currently lying in state inside the Capitol building. Doles family confirmed his death over the past weekend.

The Capitol Police has been on alert since the Jan. 6 breach, as well as an incident in April where a manlater identified as an individual who had proclaimed allegiance to the Nation of Islamrammed his car into a barricade outside the Capitol, killing a Capitol Police officer and injuring another.
People light candles to pay their tribute to India's defense chief General Bipin Rawat, who was killed with others a day earlier in a helicopter crash, at a market area in Siliguri on Dec. 9, 2021. (Diptendu Dutta/AFP via Getty Images)

Indias Commander of Defense Staff Dies in Chopper Crash

Country Needs Urgent Successor to Prevent Strategic Gains by China: Experts

NEW DELHICondolences poured in from around the world after Indias first Commander of Defense Staff (CDS), Gen. Bipin Rawat, died along with his wife and 11 others in a helicopter crash on Dec. 8 in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu.

Rawat was a four-star general who assumed office on Jan. 1, 2020.

While Indias Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, and other civil and defense leaders paid homage and released condolence statements, experts noted an eerie similarity between the incident and a helicopter crash that killed Taiwanese CDS, Gen. Shen Yi-ming in early 2020.

Brahma Chellaney, an author and leading strategic analyst based in New Delhi, pointed out the eerie parallel between Rawat and Shens deaths.

Each helicopter crash eliminated a key figure in the defense against PRC aggression, Chellaney noted on Twitter, referring to the Chinese regime, adding that the strange parallel doesnt necessarily mean there is any connection between the two incidents or an outside hand.

Chinese state media Global Times didnt take kindly to Chellaneys tweet and used it to make accusations of its own.

This view is like suspecting the U.S. played a role in the crash because India and Russia are moving forward with the delivery of a Russian S-400 missile defense system, which the U.S. strongly opposed, the Global Times wrote.

The Indian strategic analyst said it was misusing his tweet to accuse the U.S. of being behind the helicopter crash, adding that it sadly points to the depraved mindset of the CCP folks.

Frank Lehberger, a sinologist and a senior fellow with the India-based think tank Usanas Foundation, said that while its too early to say anything about the crash that killed Rawat, theres certainly some similarity with the crash that killed Shen in Taiwan, a place he said is full of Chinese spies.

That happened on Jan. 2, 2020, just a few days before the Taiwan election, said Lehberger. Like the late Gen. Rawat, Gen. Shen Yiming was the most capable and highest military member trusted by the president of Taiwan. Shen was also a vice-ministerial rank in the Defense ministry. In the crash of 2020, eight military leaders of the Taiwan Armed Forces died and five people were severely injured.

The helicopter involved in the crash that killed Shen was a relatively new American type UH-60M Blackhawk, Lehberger noted.

Army officers carry the coffins containing the mortal remains of Indias defense chief General Bipin Rawat and other 12 victims who lost their lives in a helicopter crash a day earlier, during a tribute ceremony at Palam Air Force station in New Delhi on December 9, 2021. (Prakash Singh/AFP via Getty Images)

Rawat was Reforming Indian Defense

Rawat, as the first CDS of India, was responsible for reorganizing the armed forces of India, Satoru Nagao, a fellow at the Washington-based Hudson Institute, told The Epoch Times.

Traditionally there are the Army, Navy, and Air defense but when a war happens they coordinate for joint operations and need a common command.

Thus, the U.S. set up a joint force such as the Indo-Pacific command, said Nagao. India also started the reorganization process. This reform is very important.

He gave the example of the Balakot airstrike, during which India bombed terrorist camps 50 miles inside Pakistan.

Such an operation demands effective coordination of politics, the three forces, and other related governmental organizations. India did this in 2019, said Nagao adding that as Indias first CDS, Rawat was spearheading it and his death is a big loss for Indias defense forces.

With coordination among its three armed forces and overall defense resources, Nagao said, India becomes capable of not only defensive-defense but offensive-defense.

Under the reform, India is setting up new commands such as Maritime Theater Command, Air Defense Command, (maybe Space Command) and another one or two commands against China and one or two commands against Pakistan, said Nagao.

Rawat was leading this reform and managing the direction of the army, navy, and air force.

The army has a chief, the navy has a chief and the air force has a chief. The army has its opinion. The navy has its opinion. The air force has its opinion. Thus as Chief of Defense Staff, Gen. Rawat plan, coordinate these three, said Nagao adding that with new and latest defense technology acquisition such a coordinated effort becomes indispensable for defense and the sovereignty of a nation.

Nagao said only time will tell if its an accident or assassination, but it surely is a big loss for Indias efforts for strengthening its defense and it is yet to be seen how the country will propel itself toward the defense reforms that it needs to position itself in the evolving global order.

The key is enhancing coordination to make India far stronger, and if India gets offensive defense capability, it will affect the military balance between China and [the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue]. Gen. Rawat has contributed a lot in this case. That is the reason India needs a successor, he said.

If India cant swiftly find suitable successors to Rawat and his advisers, the Chinese regime will take advantage of the time to expand its influence, said Nagao.
A rescue worked jumps across the lava flow path at an area affected by the eruption of Mount Semeru volcano, in Curah Kobokan, Pronojiwo district, Lumajang, East Java province, Indonesia, on Dec. 8, 2021. (Willy Kurniawan/Reuters)

Indonesia Considers Relocations After Deadly Volcanic Eruption

JAKARTAIndonesias volcanology agency is sending a team of researchers to the Mount Semeru volcano to identify areas too dangerous for villagers to stay after it erupted on Saturday, killing dozens of people on the slopes of Java islands highest mountain.

In the days since the disaster, questions have been raised about the effectiveness of the disaster warning system and whether some villages should be moved.

Ediar Usman, an official from the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG), told a media briefing that some areas were potentially no longer safe to inhabit.

Its not impossible that a similar disaster could happen in the future, he said.

Eko Budi Lelono, who heads the geological survey center, told Reuters the team would be sent this week and included experts from Yogyakarta who had studied the Merapi volcano near that city.

An estimated 8.6 million people in Indonesia live within 10 km of an active volcano, well within the range of deadly pyroclastic flows.

An aerial view of damaged houses at an area affected by the eruption of Mount Semeru volcano in Curah Kobokan, Pronojiwo district, Lumajang, Indonesia, on Dec. 8, 2021. (Willy Kurniawan/Reuters)

The magnitude of Saturdays eruption caught many villagers off guard, with dozens unable to escape as the volcano projected an ash cloud kilometers into the sky, and sent dangerous pyroclastic flows into villages on the fertile slopes below.

At least 34 people were killed, with another 22 still missing, while thousands have been displaced, according to the disaster mitigation agency.

The eruption almost entirely buried some villages under meters of molten ash, with more than 100,000 homes partially damaged or destroyed.

Surveying the worst affected areas by helicopter on Tuesday, President Joko Widodo said that at least 2,000 homes would have to be rebuilt in different areas.

Semeru is one of more than 100 active volcanoes in Indonesia, which straddles the Pacific Ring of Fire, an area of high seismic activity that rests atop multiple tectonic plates.

By Stanley Widianto
Police officers escort suspected Islamic terrorist Upik Lawanga (C) upon arrival following his arrest, at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang, Indonesia, on Dec. 16, 2020. (Achmad Ibrahim/AP Photo)

Indonesian Terrorist Given Life Sentence in 2005 Attack

JAKARTA, INDONESIAAn Indonesian court sentenced an Islamic terrorist who eluded capture for 16 years to life in prison on Wednesday after finding him guilty of making bombs used in a 2005 market attack that killed 22 people.

Upik Lawanga, known as professor, is a key member of the Jemaah Islamiyah network, which the United States has designated a terrorist group. It is widely blamed for attacks including the 2002 bombings on the Indonesian resort island of Bali that killed 202 people, mostly foreign tourists, as well as attacks in the Philippines.

The East Jakarta District Court found Lawanga, 43, guilty of involvement in the May 28, 2005, attack at Tentena market in Poso district which killed 22 people and injured 91 others, mostly Christians. Muslim-Christian conflicts in Poso in Central Sulawesi province killed at least 1,000 people from 1998 to 2002.

Lawanga was also accused of building bombs used in a 2004 passenger minibus attack that killed six people and a 2006 attack using a flashlight bomb that killed a Christian woman.

What the defendant has done was a crime against humanity that left deep wounds, trauma and sorrow for the families of the victims, said Presiding Judge Sutikna, who goes by a single name.

Lawanga said he would appeal the decision. He argued in court that he helped make the bombs but did not carry out the attacks, saying he did not know how they would be used. He said he was only obeying orders from other senior members of the group to assemble bombs to avenge Christians for the massacre of Muslims at an Islamic boarding school during sectarian conflict in May 2000.

He said his motive was the deaths of relatives and friends in the Muslim-Christian conflict and the burning of mosques and his brothers house.

Other militants testified that Lawanga was nicknamed the professor because of his ability to build bombs and firearms. They described him as an important figure because of his expertise.

Lawanga said he joined Jemaah Islamiyah in Poso in 2002 and learned how to assemble bombs from Azahari bin Husin, a Malaysian bomb-making mastermind who was killed in a police raid in Indonesia in 2005.

Lawanga left Poso after the 2005 attacks and lived with his wife and children in Lampung as a duck farmer.

The trial began early September and was held remotely due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Lawanga, whose real name is Taufiq Bulaga, became one of the countrys most wanted terrorists after being named as a suspect in the Tentena market attack. He was arrested last year in the same southern town on Sumatra island where Zulkarnaen, believed to be the military leader of the Jemaah Islamiyah network, was arrested by counterterrorism police a week later. Zulkarnaen had been on the police wanted list for 18 years.

Police, who learned of their hideout after interrogating several militants arrested earlier, found a bunker at Lawangas house with handmade guns and explosive materials.

The two were tried separately at the same court.

An Indonesian court banned Jemaah Islamiyah in 2008, and a sustained crackdown by security forces with support from the United States and Australia helped weaken the terrorist network.

Militant attacks on foreigners in Indonesia have largely been replaced in recent years by smaller, less deadly strikes targeting the government, mainly police and security forces, inspired by ISIS terrorist group tactics abroad.

Indonesias police counterterrorism unit, known as Densus 88, has arrested more than 500 suspected Jemaah Islamiyah members in the past two years, including a member of the Indonesia Ulema Council, the countrys highest Islamic body, who was arrested last month.

Authorities estimate the group has more than 6,000 members.

By Niniek Karmini
Woman Dies After Being Injected With Unknown Drugs While Detained in China Over Her Faith

A labor camp in China injected a 63-year-old Chinese woman with unknown medication for seven days. The woman, detained for her spiritual beliefs, suffered for four-and-a-half months before passing away on Nov. 18.

Kang Aifen had been suffering with hypertension long before police from the Qianjin police bureau in Jiamusi city, Heilongjiang Province, suddenly broke into her home on June 17. The police kidnapped Kang and raided the apartment without presenting any search or arrest warrants, according to Minghui.org, a U.S.-based website dedicated to recording the persecution of Falun Gong, in China.

Police sent Kang to the Qianjin Labor Camp later that evening, but the camp refused to accept her because her blood pressure had spiked to a near stroke level making it difficult for her to walk. The center feared that Kang would die soon, and it would be difficult to explain to her family.

Eventually, the center did detain Kang due to its responsibility under the Chinese regimes order to persecute people who practice Falun Gong, a spiritual belief outlawed in China.

Falun Gong practitioners take part in a candlelight vigil remembering victims of the 22-year-long persecution in China at the Washington Monument, on July 16, 2021. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times).

Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is an ancient Chinese spiritual practice consisting of five exercises and moral teachings that incorporate the principles of truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance in everyday life. It grew in popularity during the 1990s, with 70 million to 100 million adherents in China by the end of the decade, according to official estimates at the time.

Feeling threatened by its popularity, the Chinese regime changed its supportive attitude and launched a systematic elimination campaign in July 1999. Since then, millions have been detained inside prisons, labor camps, and other facilities, with hundreds of thousands tortured while incarcerated, according to the Falun Dafa Information Center.

Months of Suffering

Kang lost consciousness that evening of her arrival to the Qianjin camp.

Doctors at the camp said Kang was hungry and fed her unknown food through a nasal tube. After the feeding, Kang lost her eyesight and experienced discomfort in her heart. When she had regained consciousness, she urged doctors to stop the nasal feeding, but they ignored Kangs requests and continued feeding her for six more days.

The doctors then realized that Kangs condition was worsening, so they started intravenous therapy. Kang asked what the medicines were, but the doctors refused to answer. She also asked them to stop the therapy, but was denied.

During the treatment, Kangs health slowly deteriorated. On the seventh day of the therapy, Kangs arms were too swollen to receive the injection. Her whole body had become swollen, her eyesight didnt come back, and her blood pressure remained high. Subsequently, she had difficulty breathing and couldnt lie downhaving to sleep while sitting up.

Kang asked the doctors to stop all treatment on her, because she believed the medicines were poison and that they were trying to kill her. Again, the doctors didnt listen and began forcing her to take pills. Kang hid the pills under her tongue and threw them out when the doctors werent looking.

The swollen legs of Kang Aifen, during her latest incarceration. (File photo/Minghui.org)

On Aug. 17, the doctors, believing Kang might die at any time, asked her family to pick her up. The police then put Kang under house surveillance and arranged for as many as 10 policemen to check her status every week. The pressure of the surveillance kept Kang from relaxing, even at home.

However, Kangs family took good care of her and her eyesight came back, but her overall health didnt improve. Kang worried that the intravenous therapy destroyed her immune system and damaged her organs. Her body stayed uncomfortably swollen, she couldnt eat, and she frequently threw up.

On Oct. 28, three policemen went to Kangs home and took her to the Xiangyang District Court without giving her a reason. Kang couldnt walk. Two of the policemen held her arms and pulled her all into the court.

As Kang expected, once inside the court the policemen and staff quarreled with each other. Then the policemen pulled Kang back to the car and took her home.

On Nov. 15, two staff members from the Xiangyang District Procuratorate went to Kangs home together with a policeman. They tried to coerce Kang into signing a document that would denounce her belief. They threatened to send her back to prison if she didnt sign. Kang refused.

On Nov. 17, Kang lost her eyesight again and passed away in the early morning of Nov. 18.

Kang Aifen, a Falun Gong practitioner in Jiamusi city in northeastern Chinas Heilongjiang Province. (File photo/Minghui.org)

A Dramatic Life

Kang was diagnosed with severe poliomyelitis when she was a child. When she grew up, she contracted more diseases, such as uremia and tuberculosis.

[Kang suffered] urinary incontinence  [when she was young]. She had visited different doctors and tried different medicines for years, none of which worked, a Minghui reporter in Jiamusi wrote on Dec. 5.

Kang had a bad temper because of the illnesses she suffered.

In April 1996, Kang was introduced to Falun Gong. She started to treat people with kindness by following the compassion principle and got rid of her bad temper. Soon after she gained a healthy body because of the daily exercises associated with the practice. Witnessing her improvements, Kangs parents and sisters started to practice Falun Gong together with her.

In July 1999, Kang was shocked to hear about the Chinese regimes elimination campaign against Falun Gong. She thought the regime must have misunderstood Falun Gong and that she should tell the leaders her experience. However, Kang was detained before she had the chance to talk to any Chinese leader.

I [Kang] had been detained in Jiamusi City Detention Center for over 50 days [in early 2020], where the living condition was harsh, Minghui.org recorded Kangs words on Jan 7, 2002. I heard the sounds of the guard beating my fellow practitioners continually. The cell is small but holds over 30 people. We had no space to lie down.  The only food was the steamed millers bran which is a type of pig feed.

Kangs husband worried about her and paid the policemen over $1,100 to release her.

Soon after her release, Kang was detained again, and her husband paid $473 for her freedom. Unfortunately, the police took advantage of her husbands devotion and frequently harassed Kangs family, asking for money. They would threaten to detain Kang if the family didnt pay the amount they asked for.

Afraid of being detained, unwilling to denounce her belief, and wanting to protect her family from being harassed, Kang decided to live in a rented apartment and moved frequently. However, the police were able to track her husband, and detained her again and again in April and October, 2002, late 2012, and December 2014.
Inquiry Urged After Uyghur Exploitation Tied to Western Australias Billion Dollar Railcar Contract

Demand is growing for an immediate investigation into Western Australias (WA) $1.3 billion railcar contract, which was awarded to a firm sourcing parts from a Chinese company that has linkages to Uyghur slave labour.

The contract to build 246 rail cars between the Australian government and Alstoma French rail transport companywas signed in 2019, with all 246 rail cars to be built in the state and was the largest contract awarded in Perth.

However, half of the components for the rail cars will be supplied by the KTK Group, a Chinese firm which the U.S. government has named as one of eleven companies allegedly involved in human rights violations in Chinas campaign of repression, mass arbitrary detention, forced labour and high-technology surveillance against Uyghurs, Kazakhs, and other members of Muslim minority groups.

Additionally, a report by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) think tank last year, titled Uyghurs for Sale, found the contractor, Alstom, to be one of 82 companies potentially directly or indirectly benefiting from the use of Uyghur slave workers in Xinjiang.

The report found that Uyghurs, who were forced to work in Xinjiang, had also been transported to work in Chinese factories in other parts of China under a revived, exploitative government-led labour transfer scheme.

The WA government did not respond to a question asking whether it supported an independent investigation into the source of the railcar components, stating instead that it would rely upon Alstom assurances that no slave labour and exploitation was involved in their supply chain.

Western Australia Premier Mark McGowan speaks at a press conference with Transport Minister Rita Saffioti on Apr. 30, 2020 in Perth, Australia. (AAP Image/Richard Wainwright)

In November 2020, Alstom Global had a third-party human rights audit conducted of their supply chain by an external world-leading audit company, WA Transport Minister Rita Saffioti told The Epoch Times in an email.

This independent audit did not identify any forced labour issue that necessitates a change in supplier, she said.

I have asked the Public Transport Authority to closely monitor the situation and continue to work with Alstom to ensure all suppliers uphold the high standards expected by the WA community.

However, WA Shadow Minister for Planning Neil Thomson, who had formally called on the Labor government to support the bi-partisan investigation, said a freedom of information request revealed the state had declined an offer to source the components from Australia.

Western Australia Shadow Minister for Planning, Lands, and Heritage Neil Thomson. (Parliament of Western Australia)

In December 2020, Minister for Transport Rita Saffioti was alerted to this problem and was given the option, if directed, to source the supplies here in Australia. But she chose not to, Thomson told Sky News.

He also expressed deep concern about the WA state governments eagerness in doing business with China.

This whole contract could have been delivered here by Australian suppliers, and we chose not to, and you have to ask, why?'

This is the same government, the Western Australian government, that apologised to the Peoples Republic of China for having a Taiwanese dance troupe at one of our theatres. You really do ask the question as to how far this Western Australian government will go in order to appease our major trading partner.

Freedom of information documents seen by The Epoch Times uncovered that in 2020, a director at the Perth Theatre Trust responsible for the state-owned venues had apologised to Chinese Communist Party (CCP) officials at the Chinese consulate in Perth after they requested a meeting about the Taiwanese performance.

The details of the apology had been released to Shen Yun, a New York-based classical Chinese performance company that is dedicated to keeping the traditional Chinese art and history before communism alive.

A local presenter for Shen Yun told The Epoch Times they had been refused access to participate in any of the state theatres after applying every year over the last decade and that the Perth Theatre Trust had made it clear we were not welcome.

The WA government has previously been criticised for its support of the Chinese government, including outcries from human rights groups after WA Premier Mark McGowan met with CCP officials to celebrate the anniversary of the communist regimes establishment.

West Australian Premier Mark McGowan addresses the media at a press conference at Dumas House in Perth, Australia, on Apr. 27, 2021. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

McGowan has also personally met with or delivered speeches to CCP officials on at least 34 occasions since the start of 2016with at least four visits to China between 2017 and 2019and has staunchly defended Beijing from criticism by the federal government on numerous occasions, expressing a willingness to return once borders reopened.

The WA government has justified maintaining close relations with Beijing, with the state recording a record $5.6 billion budget surplus fueled by iron ore exports to China.

The relationship with China is very important, we spent 50 years building a strong relationship with China and obviously, the last three years or so have been much more difficult, McGowan previously said.

Western Australia continues to be a reliable, very strong trading partner and a state that wants to continue to have a good relationship  When I get the opportunity to travel [to China] and make sure we re-engage, I will do that, he said.
Media mogul Jimmy Lai Chee-ying arrives at West Kowloon Courts to face charges related to an illegal vigil assembly commemorating the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre in Hong Kong, China, on Oct. 15, 2020. (Tyrone Siu/ Reuters)

Jimmy Lai, 2 Other Hong Kong Activists Convicted Over Tiananmen Square Massacre Vigil

Hong Kong pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai and two other prominent pro-democracy activists were convicted on Dec 9 for their participation in a Tiananmen vigil in June 2020.

Lai, as well as human rights attorney Chow Hang-tung and former opposition politician and former journalist Gwyneth Ho, were found guilty of unauthorized assembly charges over the vigil.

Hong Kong normally holds the worlds largest annual vigil on June 4 to commemorate the hundreds or potentially thousands of innocent lives lost on June 3 and 4, 1989, after the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) ordered its troops to open fire on pro-democracy activists at and around Tiananmen Square in Beijing.

The three had pleaded not guilty to having incited others to participate in the event. Thousands of locals had defied the ban and gathered for the June 4, 2020, vigil.

The event was banned in 2020 and 2021 by Hong Kong police, citing restrictions related to the CCP virus, which causes the disease COVID-19. In 2021, the CCP imposed a ban on all Tiananmen Square massacre commemorations in Hong Kong or Macau.

Lai, Chow, and Ho are already behind bars, alongside dozens of other activists, facing separate charges under Hong Kongs national security law, which was imposed by Beijing in mid-2020 following large-scale democracy protests in the Chinese-ruled territory.

Dozens of activists have been arrested and jailed or have fled Hong Kong since then.

Chow Hang Tung, vice chairwoman of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of the Democratic Patriotic Movements of China poses after an interview in Hong Kong on May 24, 2021. (Vincent Yu/AP Photo)

Chow was arrested in June and charged with subversion, a crime under the national security law, for her involvement in organizing the Tiananmen vigil.

Ho was arrested in January alongside 52 other pro-democracy activists and charged with subversion under Article 22 of the national security law for participating in the 2020 Hong Kong pro-democracy primaries in July 2020.

Lai, who was arrested in August 2020 on allegations of having violated the national security law, owned Apple Daily, a widely-read pro-democracy tabloid newspaper that was critical of the CCP.

A man gestures as he brings copies of the final edition of Apple Daily, published by Next Digital, to a newsstand in Hong Kong on June 24, 2021. (Lam Yik/Reuters)

The paper closed in June after Hong Kong police raided its properties. Next Digital, the papers parent company, announced in September that it was going into liquidation. The companys assets had been frozen as part of a national security investigation.

Later in September, Lai was awarded the 33rd annual Liberty Medal by the National Constitution Center for his courage and conviction in exercising freedom of speech, nonviolent resistance, and peaceful dissent. He was previously awarded the Freedom of Press Award by Reporters Without Borders in December 2020.

Lily Sun contributed to this report.
Josh Duggar Found Guilty in Child Pornography Trial, Could Face Decades in Prison

Former reality TV star Josh Duggar was found guilty Thursday on charges of receipt of child pornography and possession of child pornography.

Duggar, who appeared on 19 Kids and Counting, could face 20 years in prison and fines of up to $250,000, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorneys Office in the Western District of Arkansas in April.

Judge Timothy Brooks announced that Duggars sentencing will happen at a later date, according to courtroom reporters. Its not clear when.

During the trial, which started on Nov. 30 in Fayetteville, Arkansas, prosecutors accused Duggar of being in possession of more than 200 child pornography images. Duggar pleaded not guilty.

His attorney had argued that someone else, not Duggar, downloaded or uploaded the illegal pictures onto Duggars computer.

But prosecutors argued that only Duggar could have committed the crimes. Jury deliberations started Wednesday following closing arguments.

Prosecutors called ten witnesses, including Jim and Bobye Holt, who claimed they were friends with Duggar and his large family. Bobye Holt told the jury that Duggar previously admitted to her that he abused children as a teenager.

Duggar, the eldest of reality stars Jim Bob and Michelle Duggars 19 children, was arrested on April 29 and was later released from police custody on May 5 of this year.

Television network TLC pulled 19 Kids and Counting in 2015 following allegations that Duggar had abused several of his sisters and a babysitter.

Duggars trial lasted six days and saw two witnesses called for the defense. Five witnesses took the stand for the prosecution.

Jim Bob Duggar, meanwhile, is running in a special election for a vacant state Senate seat in northwestern Arkansas, previously serving in the Arkansas state House.

Ahead of the verdict, Derek Dillard, the 32-year-old husband of Josh Duggars sister, Jill, wrote that he was praying for justice this morning on Twitter.

Praying as well. Lord may justice be served ice cold, wrote Jill and Josh Duggars cousin, Amy Duggar King. King also wrote: JUSTICE FOR THE CHILDREN.
Number-plate recognition cameras at an entrance to the Congestion Charge zone in London on March 16, 2009. (Oli Scarff/Getty Images)

LA Neighborhood Buys License Plate Readers to Fight Rising Crime

A neighborhood anti-crime group in the Melrose Avenue area of Los Angeles will install license plate readers to combat a rising crime wave.

The organization, which is called Melrose Action, had raised about $30,000 by Dec. 8 through donations to purchase up to 15 readers that will capture license plates on vehicles traveling in the Melrose Avenue area.

Its really out there to protect the people who are coming here to enjoy a meal, or shop or hang out, and feel safe and not be assaulted by people with guns, Peter Nichols, the groups co-founder, told CBC7 News.

In the past two years, the trendy shopping area has seen an uptick of violent crimes, including homicides, violent armed robberies, aggravated assaults, high-dollar jewelry street robberies, follow-home robberies, and smash-and-grab retail thefts.

As residents and merchants of the Melrose area of Los Angeles, we are very alarmed by the recent surge in violent crime in our neighborhood, the group wrote in a letter to residents and business owners.

In the Hollywood area, where Melrose Avenue is located, the community has seen nine homicides this year, which is a 50 percent increase compared to 2020 and a 125 percent increase from 2019, when four people were killed. Robberies have jumped 40 percent since last year, according to the latest Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) crime statistics.

The same district has a 27 percent jump in violent crimes this year compared to 2020. Property crimes have increased 20 percent, and 34 people were shot, a 6 percent increase from last year.

In November, seven people in the Hollywood area were victims of shootings, compared to three in October, according to the LAPD.

LAPD police officers at the scene of a fatal shooting involving police on the corner of Fairfax Avenue and Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, on April 24, 2021. (Valerie Macon/AFP via Getty Images)

Melrose Action members met with city officials and law enforcement to discuss the crime problem, voice their anger, and try to find a solution, according to the group.

These devices are expensive, and while we all wish the city of Los Angeles would pay for them, we know that isnt going to happen anytime soon. So it is up to us, both residents and business owners, to come together and take back our streets, the group said.

Information from the readers will be accessible to the LAPD, where it can be accessed instantly and then deleted after 30 days.

The group wont have access to the data, according to Melrose Action.

Each solar-powered camera costs about $2,800 per year to install, maintain, and store the information collected, Melrose Action reported.

The initiative was launched in August. LA City Councilman Paul Koretz, who represents the community, and business owner Moti Gamburd of Rayas Residential Care Communities each donated $10,000 for the cameras. Other donations were made to the group via Go Fund Me.

The readers are expected to be installed starting Dec. 12.

The cameras are becoming increasingly popular with homeowners associations across the country to reduce crime.

One neighborhood installed similar cameras last year and its police department reported a drastic increase in the recovery of stolen vehicles.

Before we started using the technology, our organization would recover one to three stolen vehicles a year, Police Chief Ray Schultz told a local news station in November. I am already at 62 for this year, and I still have six weeks left.

The images are stored in a database that law enforcement can access to check for matches on local and federal lists for such things as stolen cars, unpaid parking tickets, and missing children, according to a 2020 report issued by the Brennan Center for Justice, a nonpartisan law and policy organization based in Washington, D.C., and New York.

The U.S. Department of Justice reported that 93 percent of police departments in cities with populations of 1 million or moreincluding Los Angelesuse the technology, according to the justice centers report.

The LAPD had collected 320 million license plate scans by 2020. According to a 2019 state audit, 13,000 LAPD employees had access to the database and were able to search images that were up to six months old.
Literary Scholars Who Object to Literature Being True to Life

Commentary

Short of totalitarian censors, literature has few enemies as redoubtable as modern literary scholarshipmany of whom probably aspire to be totalitarian censors.

A young American academic studying in England has recently suggested that scenes of the seduction of women in Shakespeare could be triggering because the moment at which the women actually consent to sexual intercourse is never shown, and therefore we cannot be sure that their subsequent sexual relations with their seducers are consensual. Such scenes might be triggering to sensitive or traumatized audiences, actors or actresses in the way that peanuts are triggering to the allergic.

The academic in question is in receipt of a scholarship from the British charity, the Leverhulme Trust, which disburses about $130 million a year to fund scholars. I am rather surprised that anyone consents to receive money from it, for the fortune upon which it was founded was itself founded on the manufacture of soap from palm oil imported from the Congo in bad King Leopold IIs day, King Leopold II having been by far the most rapacious of the European colonizers of Africa.

But I suppose that scholars, even the wokest among them, must get their money from somewhere and least will be able to console themselves that they are using the Leverhulmes tainted money to undermine western civilization.

One of Shakespeares plays that could provoke a catastrophic psychological reaction (according to the academic, who has started something called the Shakespeare and Consent Project) is none other than Richard III, the villainous king whom everyone loves to hate.

According to the academic, who is still young and whose future blushes I save by not mentioning her name, Anne never consents in so many words to sex with Richard, let alone provides documentary evidence of such consent, such as a form signed in triplicate. Therefore, we cannot be sure that Richard does not rape her, a thought that might set off a kind of chain reaction in the minds of the vulnerable.

This is so extraordinary and obviously contorted a reading of the play, and so deeply condescending an attitude towards potential audiences and casts, that I am astonished that it should have been aired in all earnestness (seriousness is another matter entirely).

Let us just recall a few salient points about the play, in which Richard not only seduces Anne, wife of Prince Edward, whom Richard has killed, and daughter-in-law of Henry VI whom he has also killed, but persuades Queen Elizabeth, mother of the princes in the Tower whom Richard has just had murdered, to act as go-between with her daughter so that Richard may marry her.

Now it is obvious that Richard III (in the play, not necessarily in history) is in all respects, including his approach to women, a psychopath, though an intelligent one who, as psychopaths often can, turns on the charm whenever he needs or wants to. He understands human psychology to the extent of taking advantage of its weaknesses, doing so without the slightest conscience.

No one could possibly imagine that Shakespeare intends us to like him, much less behave in like fashion. On the contrary, Shakespeare holds Richard up to execration.

Again, it is perfectly obvious that, in the play, Richard really does seduce Anne, fair and square, so to speak, although we, the audience, are appalled by this. Indeed, later in the play, Anne comes as near to admitting consent as is possible in any play: my womans heart/ Grossly grew captive to his honey words/ And proved the subject of mine own souls curse.

She is not complaining of lack of consent, therefore, much less of rape: she is blaming herself for her own weakness in being seduced by Richard.

It is surely here that the real objection of the academic lies: that Shakespeare is depicting feminine weakness (without in any way endorsing masculine ruthlessness).

In the totalitarian world of crude, feminist literary criticism, women should not be depicted as weak, because this reinforces unwanted stereotypeseven if the depiction of weak women is true to life, that is to say to some life and to some women.

In the name of ideology, this truth to life must be suppressed because is casts doubt upon the ideology and is disturbing to the ideologists equilibrium. What are wanted by these feminist critics are positive heroes (we must not use the word heroines), just as they were wanted in the Soviet Union in the time of Zhdanov.

In my clinical life, I saw many an Anne whose womans heart had grown grossly captive to the honey words of a Richard. I would be consulted by women who had been horribly abused by a man (more often a temporary lover than a husband, often having had previous abusive lovers), and I would ask them how long it would take me to realize, if the abusing man came through the door, that he was no good.

You would realize it immediately was usuallynot always, nothing in human affairs is absolutely universalthe reply.

Then, I said, if you know that I would know that he was no good, you know what it is that I would know, and therefore you must have been complicit in your situation, for you ignored what you knew and consulted only your feelings of the momentadding, of course, that this in no way, not even partially, exonerated the abusing man.

In other words, Richard III points to an intractable human reality that is discomfiting; but it is not the function of literature to act as a tranquillizer for the ideologically self-inflamed.

I have no real objection, though, to the placement of a notice at the entrance to all theatres and cinemas as follows: Any spoilt, self-pitying, middle-class hysteric who has an attack of the ideological vapors during a performance in this theatre/cinema will be removed forcibly and not allowed to return.

The same, of course, would go for the students of any university who claimed that they would be damaged by hearing something in the lecture hall that they might disagree with or that could possibly make them think.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) officers wear facial covering while monitoring an "Open California" rally in downtown Los Angeles, on April 22, 2020. (FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images)

Los Angeles Police Still Making the Arrests, but Nobody Is Staying in Jail

Lawmakers called on to rethink zero cash bail policy following string of "smash-and-grab" robberies

LOS ANGELESFor Tonna, the manager of a shop in the Beverly Grove neighborhood of Los Angeles, her experience in recent days is like many other small-business owners who have been victimized amid a trend of organized retail crime across the city. She declined to give her last name.

Recently, its become normal, she told The Epoch Times, her voice shaking. They grab stuff and they leave.

Her vape shop had been robbed an hour earlier.

Weary from so many thefts at her business, Tonna didnt even bother calling the police. One of her customers did, but it was already too late. The suspect had fled.

Tonna is one of dozens of shop owners in the city who say theyve had enough. Changing political tides and social justice reforms, many say, have changed everything.

They just grab whatever they want, and you call the police and nothing happens, she said.

Some say it began with the passage by California voters of Proposition 47, which reclassified certain felony crimes as misdemeanors. One of the effects of the measure, passed in 2014, also significantly reduced the penalty for robberies.

Now suspects can steal property valued under $950 and its only classified as a misdemeanor.

The goal of the measure was to reduce overcrowding in prisons and prioritize jail space for higher criminal offenses. However, victims of robberies and those opposing the proposition say its only increased crime and boosted the confidence of criminals.

The Public Policy Institute of California reported a correlation between Prop. 47 and a rise in larceny (or personal property) thefts, especially thefts from motor vehicles in 2018.

At the time of the study, however, researchers didnt find a link between violent crimes and the ballot measure. But following nearly a dozen large-scale incidents of so-called smash-and-grab robberies last monthwith more occurring every daycritics continue to call on lawmakers to reexamine the policy.

Thus far, officials have announced 14 arrests after a string of robberies across major Los Angeles shopping centers, resulting in nearly $340,000 worth of merchandise stolen.

All suspects arrested were released from police custody within a week, with some let go in hours, while others were bailed out due to Californias zero cash bail policyanother 2020 controversial policy.

The California Supreme Court this year did away with cash bail for defendants who cant afford it, arguing that conditioning freedom solely on whether an arrestee can afford bail is unconstitutional.

The zero cash bail policy applies to most misdemeanors and lower-level felonies, meaning that when suspects are arrested for theft, theyre released back onto the streets hours later. The policy took effect during the COVID-19 pandemic to mitigate the spread of the virus in jails. It hasnt been rolled back.

Los Angeles Councilman Joe Busciano announced on Dec. 8 a resolution to support the reinstitution of cash bail in the county. He said the suspension of cash bail created a free-for-all environment where criminals are charged one day and released the next.

His resolution states there has been a substantial increase in violent crime and robberies. Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascon said earlier this year that the cash bail system allows wealthy people who are dangerous to purchase their freedom, while those without means who pose no risk to public safety languish in jail awaiting trial.

At the state level, some lawmakers are trying to repeal Prop. 47 and rescind other soft on crime policies in light of recent incidents.

Youve had lawmakers on both sides who have previously raised concerns about whats happened in the wake of Prop. 47, so I think that absolutely, there should be bipartisan support, because public safety is not a partisan issue, California Assemblyman Kevin Kiley (R-Rocklin) told The Epoch Times.

Kiley said a new breed of district attorneys who are not putting public safety first is also to blame. They are putting ideology first.

Hes currently drafting a constitutional amendment to combat the proposition.

Kiley said Gascon and San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin decline to prosecute people even when the laws do allow for it.

Some statutes in the books may help prosecutors combat the crime surge. If a shoplifter has prior convictionsincluding murder, vehicular manslaughter while under the influence, assault leading to a sexual offender status, assault against law enforcement, or possession of a weapon of mass destructionthey can be charged with felony shoplifting and fined up to $10,000.

Still, it may not be enough.

We have taken away the tools that law enforcement officers need to keep our communities safe, Kiley said.

In the wake of statewide thefts during the holiday season and intense media coverage, Boudin and San Francisco prosecutors recently announced felony charges against nine suspects in an effort to crack down on serial offenders.

The issue crosses party lines, but matters of public safety have become political in California.

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and Police Chief Michel Moore this month urged state leaders to suspend the zero bail policy. According to Moore, last weeks series of robberies were the highest number the city has seen for the entire year, with a total of 200 reported.

There are people who need to be behind bars, Garcetti said during a Dec. 2 press conference. How many times does the same person have to steal a car? Three? Four or five times?

Garcetti said that perhaps now is the time to get back to business as usual, after the cityearly in the pandemicreleased inmates to prevent the spread of the virus.

Were in a better place with COVID, he said. We should be able to also open up our jails. And we should be able to have judges that put people behind those bars as well.

Moore cited an increase in vehicle thefts citywide for the first time in a decade and said the suspects stealing them are the chronic offenders.

Meanwhile, halfway across the country, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot has blamed retailers for not doing enough to deter shoplifters.

We still have retailers that wont institute plans like having security officers in their stores, making sure that theyve got cameras that are actually operational, locking up their merchandise at night, chaining high-end bags. These purses can be something that is attracting a lot of organized retail theft units, Lightfoot said Dec. 6.

For the mom-and-pop retail owners in Los Angeles who cant afford to hire a security guard or implement the safety measures that larger retail chains can afford, some businesses continue to suffer.

According to Tonna, the new crime wave has given pause to some workers, citing safety concerns.

It is scary, because a lot of people dont want to work, Tonna said. They dont want to be here.

According to authorities, suspects often work in groups, wear ski masks, and wield firearms. Shop owners and customers alike have been threatened across California, with San Francisco and Los Angeles being the primary hot spots.

Residents have also been the victims of a spate of home robberies, with security footage of violent assaults spreading across social media.

Law Enforcement Morale Low, LAPD Detective Says

Its all just another issue for businesses to deal with after a tough year and a half in lockdown. And some LAPD officers fear they cant protect stores anymore because of current laws, coupled with department units being downsized.

After an initial heavy-handed budget cut to the LAPD after protests following the death of George Floyd, the LA police commission recently voted to approve a $213 million budget increase for the department next year. The funds will increase police staffing.

Detective Jamie McBride, a director of the Los Angeles Police Protective Leaguea 99-year-old police uniontold The Epoch Times that law enforcement communities across California are frustrated because theyre still making the arrests, but nobody is staying in jail.

Its literally a revolving door. We feel like were letting the citizens down, he said. The small businesses that survived COVIDyou open up and now theyre just like literally ripping everything away from these people.

McBride, whos been part of the LAPD for more than 30 years, blamed the states progressive policies and District Attorney Gascon for reversing tough on crime prosecutions. He said people are being robbed in broad daylight, while walking out of coffee shops on Melrose Avenue, in food courts, and on private property.

Prior to the passage of Prop. 47, shoplifters would be subject to prosecution under the states burglary laws, which contained felony penalties of up to six years in prison.

But Gov. Gavin Newsom recently defended Prop. 47, and said some local officials choose not to prosecute criminals under other existing state laws, although he didnt specify which ones. He also said any thefts under the $950 limit should be charged as misdemeanors or loaded into felony complaints if they are repeated offenses.

If people are breaking in, people stealing your property, they need to be arrested, Newsom said during a press conference on Dec. 2. Police need to arrest them. Prosecutors need to prosecute them. Judges need to hold people accountable for breaking the law.

These are not victimless crimes, and I have no empathy for these criminal elements.

McBride said if he could talk to every police chief in California, he would tell them they need to protect their citizens, and they need to grant concealed weapons permits to every law-abiding citizen because we in law enforcement in California cannot keep them safe.

McBride added that Newsom is out of touch with reality for not attributing the recent crime wave to the effects of Prop. 47.

According to 2020 California statistics, some crime has decreased since Prop. 47 took effect, including property crimes, down nearly 8 percent; larceny, down 15 percent, and a 4 percent drop in burglaries.

But these numbers dont factor in the incidents like the ones that Tonna has experienced, because some businesses have simply stopped reporting the crimes because of a lack of consequences.

It shouldnt matter if youre a Republican or Democrat, McBride said. We all want to feel safe in our home, when we go to the store, and everything else. And in order to do that, we need to bring back tougher laws and keep people in jail.

Small Businesses Director: Rectify This Terrible Problem

Retail crimes arent rising just in the Golden State. According to a 2021 survey by a national retail trade association, organized retail crime became more prevalent nationwide during the pandemic.

Yet despite the growing dangers from organized retail crime, no federal law prevents this type of activity. That leaves prosecutionsif they do occurin a patchwork of local jurisdictions, even though the crimes are typically multi-jurisdictional and multi-state, the study notes.

John Kabateck, executive director of the National Federation of Independent Business, told The Epoch Times that state leaders need to shine a light on these crimes and give the small-business community in California a voice.

One of the things that I think everybody is wondering is: Whos fighting for the small-business owner, and whos working to defend the small-business owner in these times? Kabateck said.

Its really frustrating to see this spate of crimes emerge at such a fast pace and volume and with very little attention from our policymakers about what theyre doing to help the entrepreneurs struggling, the small mom-and-pop business owners, and those who dont have the luxury of the multitude of resources that most big box stores are fortunate to have and enjoy.

He said its tragic for the employers who cant replace stolen inventory, especially during the current supply chain disruption.
A logo of Macau's Suncity Group is seen at a gaming fair in Macau, China, on Nov. 18, 2015. (Bobby Yip/Reuters)

Macaus Suncity Shares Halted, Pending Statement on Possible Loan Default

HONG KONGTrade in shares of Macaus Suncity Group Holdings Ltd. and its unit Summit Ascent Holdings Ltd. were suspended on Thursday, pending a statement in relation to a possible loan default.

Alvin Chau, Suncitys CEO as well as the founder of Macaus biggest operator of junkets that bring in high rollers to play at casinos, was arrested last month over alleged links to cross-border gambling.

Suncity shares were halted pending an announcement in relation to a possible loan default by an associate of the controlling shareholder of the company and possible enforcement of securities charged, Suncity Group said in a statement.

Earlier this month, Chaus junket operations closed all of its VIP gambling rooms in Macau in the wake of his arrest.

Chaus junket operations, also called Suncity, are estimated to have accounted for a quarter of Macaus gambling revenue.

The closure of Chaus gaming rooms is expected to exacerbate pain for casino operators in the gambling hub and is expected to lead to closures in parts of Suncity Group such as restaurants, bars, and hotels.

Macaus gaming regulator has also ordered junket operators in the former Portuguese colony to stop offering credit to customers, according to brokerage firm Bernstein.

With Chaus arrest, Macau and mainland Chinese authorities are adopting a zero-tolerance approach to the promotion of gambling in mainland China where it is illegal.

In tandem, they are seeking to rein in the flow of Chinese gambling-related funds into Macau and other gaming hubsoutflows that China last year deemed a national security risk.

By Donny Kwok
People are seen outside a vaccination clinic at Biddeford High School in Biddeford, Maine, in a file photograph. (Joseph Prezioso/AFP via Getty Images)

Maine Governor Activates National Guard to Help at Hospitals

Maine Gov. Janet Mills on Dec. 8 activated the states National Guard to assist at hospitals after her COVID-19 vaccine mandate caused hundreds of nurses and other health care employees to leave their jobs or be fired.

Mills, a Democrat, said the move was to help alleviate short-term capacity constraints at hospitals and maintain access to inpatient health care services for Maine people amid a sustained surge of COVID-19.

One of the most vaccinated states in the country, Maine has seen COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations increase in recent weeks. Out of 379 hospitalized COVID-19 patients in Maine as of Dec. 8, 117 were in critical care and 60 were on ventilators.

Most arent vaccinated, according to state data.

At the same time, the bulk of inpatient beds wasnt being used for COVID-19 patients, according to data reported to the U.S. government by hospitals.

Dr. Andrew Mueller, CEO of MaineHealth, told reporters in a virtual briefing that hospitalizations for COVID-19 in the health care system are at their highest level. A shortage of workers is affecting facilities, in addition to the rising number of COVID-19 cases and an incredible demand for other, non-COVID services, according to Mueller.

John Porter, a spokesman for the system, told The Epoch Times that approximately 400 workers quit or were fired due to Millss COVID-19 vaccine mandate, which the U.S. Supreme Court declined to block.

Porter said the mandate has helped the facility because its led to fewer workers missing time due to having COVID-19 and that the staffing issues primarily stem from nurses retiring and having difficulty filling open positions.

Attempts to make jobs more attractive by raising wages and providing more benefits have only been partially successful.

The challenge weve got is finding qualified health care workers, because they dont exist. Our nations lost over half a million health care workers who resigned, retired, left the field in the last several months. And so theres a huge workforce crisis across our country, Mueller said.

Maine Gov. Janet Mills, left, is seen during a summit in New York City in 2019. (Timothy A. Clary/AFP via Getty Images)

The National Guard personnel will provide support to facilities and units that get patients who are discharged from hospitals due to being overwhelmed. Theyll also help administer monoclonal antibodies, one of the best-known COVID-19 treatments, in a bid to keep COVID-19 patients from being admitted to hospitals.

Im deploying these National Guard members across the state of Maine to expand our hospitals capacity to treat people with COVID-19 and other serious conditions, Mills told a press conference.

The deployment will start next week and run through the end of January.

As many as 75 members will be sent to assist health care sites.

Millss administration also asked the federal government to send COVID-19 surge response teams to two Maine hospitals. The teams would help workers at Maine Medical Center in Portland and Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston.

Maine Medical Center closed six operating rooms this week to create more space for intensive care units.

Central Maine Medical Center has also seen an increase in patients, including COVID-19 patients.

Any additional resources that can be provided, whether from the state or federal level, during this time when resources are stretched thin for Maine hospitals are greatly appreciated, Steve Littleson, the president and CEO of Central Maine Healthcare, the facilitys parent company, said in a statement.
Mark Meadows Sues Pelosi, Jan. 6 Committee Members as Contempt Case Proceeds

Former Trump chief of staff Mark Meadows on Wednesday sued the House of Representatives panel investigating the Jan. 6 breach of the U.S. Capitol and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.).

The lawsuit, filed in a Washington D.C. federal court, follows a move to hold him in contempt after he said he would not appear for a deposition at the request of the Jan. 6 select committee.

Hours earlier, Committee Chairman Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) said in a letter to Meadows attorney, George Terwilliger, that the House Select Committee is left with no choice but to advance contempt proceedings and recommend that the body in which Mr. Meadows once served refer him for criminal prosecution.

Meadows lawsuit asks a judge to invalidate two subpoenas that he says are overly broad and unduly burdensome. It accuses the committee of overreaching by issuing a subpoena to Verizon for his cell phone records.

Allowing an entirely partisan select committee of Congress to subpoena the personal cell phone data of executive officials would work a massive chilling of current and future Executive Branch officials associational and free speech rights, the lawsuit states.

Meadows could become the third person to face criminal contempt for refusing to cooperate with the House of Representatives panel thats investigating the Jan. 6 breach of the U.S. Capitol.

Steve Bannon, a former Trump adviser, was charged with contempt of Congress after refusing to cooperate with the panel. The panel has also said it is considering similar action against former Justice Department official Jeffrey Clark.

Meanwhile, in a letter dated Dec. 6, the attorney for veteran political operative Roger Stone said his client wont cooperate with the panel and will invoke his Fifth Amendment right to not testify.

Stones attorney, Grant Smith, said that he wont hand over documents to the committee, and he wouldnt appear for a deposition, calling the panels demand for documents overreaching and far too wide-ranging to be deemed anything other than a fishing expedition.

Prior to the panels threat to hold Meadows in contempt, Meadows had planned to appear voluntarily to answer questions about non-privileged matters, his attorney said in a letter.

But he took offense to the panel issuing subpoenas for information from third parties, as well as to Thompsons recent assertion that someone invoking their Fifth Amendment rights was tantamount to an admission of guilt.

As a result of careful and deliberate consideration of these factors, we now must decline the opportunity to appear voluntarily for a deposition, Terwilliger wrote.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Dozens of parents and students rally in response to the statewide school walkout to protest Californias COVID-19 vaccine mandate for schools in front of the Bonita Unified School District building in San Dimas, Calif., on Oct. 18, 2021. (Linda Jiang/The Epoch Times)

Mother Says Son Vaccinated in Exchange for Pizza at LA School Without Her Consent

A mother in Los Angeles says her son was vaccinated at school without her consent and in exchange for pizza.

I should have been involved, Maribel Duarte told NBC 4 News, whose 13-year-old son attends the Barack Obama Global Prep Academy in South Los Angeles.

Duarte also says her son was told to not discuss what happened. The lady that gave him the shot and signed the paper told my son, Please dont say anything. I dont want to get in trouble.'

It hurt to know he got a shot without my permission, without me knowing and without signing any papers for him to get the shot, Duarte said.

A school administrator told NBC the allegations arent true and that more often than not, parents will lie about the whole vaccine issue.

Duarte, who is vaccinated, says she didnt want her son to get the shot because of health issues like asthma and allergies. Regarding my sons health, I am against it, she said.

The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) did not comment on the matter, citing privacy concerns, according to NBC, but did say that prizes are used as incentives to encourage student vaccination.

California was the first, and remains the only state, to mandate vaccination for in-person education of schoolchildren.

The state announced the requirement was expected to apply to grades 7-12 starting on July 1, 2022, but encouraged local jurisdictions to implement the directive ahead of the statewide requirement.

The policy of LAUSD, the second largest school board in the United States, is that all students must be fully vaccinated by Jan. 10. LAUSD is facing lawsuits over its mandate, on the grounds that it lacks legal authority to impose one.

The law is clear and on our side, stated attorney Jessica Barsotti, who represents the plaintiffs Childrens Health Defense (California Chapter) and the Protection of the Educational Rights of Kids. LAUSD is simply not the proper governmental agency to add any new vaccine, including a COVID-19 vaccine, as a condition for in-person education in California.

When California announced the school mandate in October, it said, Thanks to the states bold public health measures, California continues to maintain the lowest case rate in the entire country.
'Dont trust the CCP. ... Take the #NotFromChina pledge to help end the murder for organs in China.'

An Australian education professional who was in disbelief after coming across a petition table about people being killed for their organs by the Chinese regime set out to verify the claims for herself. After studying all available evidence, she not only discovered that it was true, but that state-sanctioned forced organ harvesting was a billion-dollar industry.

Since then, shes worked tirelessly to bring an end to the organ pillaging, including forming a coalition of experts and advocates, helping to initiate a peoples tribunal, and now, leading the launch of the #NotFromChina Pledge, which calls on the worlds people to take a solemn vow to never receive an organ transplant from China.

Moved by the gravity of the issue, former school teacher and College of Teachers Chair Susie Hughes, who resides on the east coast of Australia with her husband, left her career in the education sector and co-founded the International Coalition to End Transplant Abuse in China (ETAC) in 2016a coalition of lawyers, academics, ethicists, medical professionals, researchers, and human rights advocates dedicated to ending forced organ harvesting in China.

As the coalitions executive director, Hughes coordinates more than 75 volunteers and has grown the organization into a well-respected, high-profile international presence.

Susie Hughes, executive director and co-founder of ETAC, speaks at the Policy Forum on Organ Procurement and Extrajudicial Execution in China on Capitol Hill on March 10, 2020. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times)

ETACs #NotFromChina Pledge campaign calls on the worlds people to Take the Pledgea solemn vow to never receive an organ transplant from China. (Courtesy of ETAC)

In 2018, Hughes led efforts to initiate the China Tribunala London-based independent peoples tribunalwhich conducted a rigorous examination of murder-for-organs evidence, including more than 50 witness testimonies. The tribunal released its final judgment in March 2020, stating that its investigations had led to the tribunals unavoidable final conclusion that forced organ harvesting has been committed for years throughout China on a significant scale, and that prisoners of conscience were the primary source of the organs.

Most recently, Hughes led ETACs Dec. 4 launch of the #NotFromChina Pledge, a campaign co-sponsored by China Aid and the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation (VOC) that gives every individual who cares about the issue an opportunity to help stop any further killing of people for their organs by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

Dont trust the CCP, Hughes told The Epoch Times. Sometimes people overlook the crimes the Chinese Communist Party is perpetrating against the Chinese people, and others around the world, because of business interests, or wanting to access something that China has to offer. But none of that is worth turning a blind eye to an atrocity as bad as this. Take the #NotFromChina pledge to help end the murder for organs in China.

Hughes shared that ETAC is currently partnering with VOC to support the Stop Forced Organ Harvesting Act in the United States, legislation that would authorize the U.S. government to deny or revoke passports for people who engage in the illegal purchase of organs and to punish perpetrators through effective sanctions.

Theyve been amazing and a real inspiration, she said, adding that other partners include World Without Genocide, the Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights, Freedom United, Families of the Missing, Stop Uyghur Genocide, the Falun Dafa Information Center, Justice for All, and more.

Im really thankful for this, and we certainly wouldnt be able to achieve as much without their support, she said. Uniting with others is really key in raising awareness and fighting against forced organ harvesting in China.

My First Reaction Was Disbelief

Hughes first came across the issue of forced organ harvesting when visiting a coastal town near Noosa Heads in Australia, but found the information just too hard to believe.

There was a petition table in the park near the beach. When I read the petition, which was about people being killed in China for their organs, I was shocked, Hughes said.

My first reaction was disbeliefsurely this couldnt be happening. I then proceeded to read all that was available on the issue.

Susie Hughes, executive director of ETAC, at the China Tribunal hearings, London, Dec. 8, 2018. (Courtesy of ETAC)

Hughes read through an independent investigative report co-authored by international human rights lawyer David Matas and former Canadian Secretary of State David Kilgour in 2006, which later became the book Bloody Harvest. The evidence presented was enough for her to finally believe the allegations.

I came to the realization that it was true, Hughes said. My next thought was: Why dont people know about this? And why arent the major human rights organizations doing anything about it?

After watching the 2015 documentary Hard to Believe, which Hughes says is an apt name considering the process she had been through herself, she approached the producer and offered to coordinate the Australian premiere of the film, which carried the tagline How doctors became murderers, and how we turned a blind eye. According to the synopsis, the film examines the issue of forced live organ harvesting from Chinese prisoners of conscience, and the responseor lack of itaround the world.

A Coalition Is Formed

Hughes said that, after seeing the documentary, a group of lawyers, academics, ethicists, researchers, medical professionals, and human rights advocates began meeting regularly in Sydney. The meetings were chaired by Hughes and involved discussions about potential legislation and outreach activities that would bring more awareness of the issue to the public and to policymakers.

Meanwhile, Ethan Gutmann, author of the 2014 book The Slaughter, co-authored a 2016 update to the report with Matas and Kilgour titled Bloody Harvest/The Slaughter. The three were then invited to participate in The Coalition Roundtable mini-series in Stockholm, Sweden, in October 2016, which was organized by film director and producer Normann Bjorvand to bring the work of the authors to a wider audience.

With the intent to join forces, Hughes took the opportunity to travel to Stockholm during the roundtable filming and approach the four of them about collaborating on co-founding an international NGO dedicated to ending forced organ harvesting in China, to which they all agreed.

Photo taken during The Coalition Rountable filming week in Stockholm, Sweden, in October 2016. Back Row: Susie Hughes (2nd-L), her husband, Luke Hughes (3rd-L), Normann Bjorvand (5th-L); Front Row: The Coalition Roundtable expert panel, (LR) David Kilgour, Chris Chappell, Anastasia Lin, David Matas, Ethan Gutmann, Matthew Robertson. (Courtesy of Normann Bjorvand)

Taking the lead, Hughes registered ETAC in Australia in 2017 as an independent nonprofit organization and has dedicated herself to its mission ever since.

As ETACs co-founder and executive director, shes spent the past four to five years liaising with key stakeholdersambassadors, government, legal and medical professionals, victim communities, and other nongovernment organizationsin the United States, the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Europe, Korea, and Japan, organizing and hosting various advocacy and community education initiatives, events, and programs globally to bring greater scrutiny and awareness of transplant abuses in China. She said shes received incredible support.

My colleagues at ETAC are really incredible people, Hughes said. A number of them have been with the organization since its inception and give an extraordinary amount of time to ETACs work pro bono.

Im very fortunate to have a husband who is always there to support and who helps ETACs activities in a number of different ways. My friends and family are also very supportive and have shown a lot of interest in the issue.

We also now have a great network of supportive organizations that we partner with on different campaigns and events. Its really fantastic to work with so many motivated and experienced people from these organizations, and its made the world of difference to the issue.

Susie Hughes (R) with ETAC volunteers who helped with logistics at the first China Tribunal hearings in London, in December 2018. (Courtesy of ETAC)

The China Tribunal

One of the most important initiatives by Hughes during her work at ETAC to date has been the 2018 formation of the China Tribunalan independent peoples tribunal to inquire into forced organ harvesting in China.

According to the tribunals website, peoples tribunals have been used before by citizens to investigate a range of human rights abuses, and they typically deal with grave crimes committed during events of mass suffering and killings that official international organizations are unwilling, unable, or too fearful to investigate.

Although multiple reports from credible sources since 2006 had demonstrated evidence of forced organ harvesting, Hughes found that controversy persisted, and governments and organizations werent undertaking investigations.

This has been partly due to the readiness of some governments and international transplant organizations to accept the Chinese governments reform narrative, despite a continued lack of transparency that breaches the international standards promoted by these same organizations, Hughes said.

Therefore, to progress the debate about whether China has been killing innocent people for their organs, ETAC decided to approach distinguished barrister and expert in crimes of mass atrocity Sir Geoffrey Nice QC for an independent legal opinion. Nice had previously led the prosecution of former Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic during his work at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, a United Nations court of law that dealt with war crimes.

In response, Sir Geoffrey Nice recommended that a peoples tribunal be formed, of which he would be willing to act as chair, Hughes said. However, there needed to be a separation between ETAC and the tribunal for it to be truly independent; thus, ETAC was at no stage privy to the tribunals deliberations, Hughes said, and counsel to the tribunal Hamid Sabi acted as a shield between ETAC and the tribunal.

Specifically, the tribunals mandate was to hear and assess evidence to determine whether forced organ harvesting is occurring in China, and if so, what, if any, international crimes have been committed, she said.

The first day of public hearings at the China Tribunal, chaired by Sir Geoffrey Nice QC, at De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms in London on Dec. 8, 2018. (Justin Palmer)

Susie Hughes (R), executive director of ETAC and director of logistics for the China Tribunal, speaks at the press briefing held before the tribunal hearings, with Heather Draper, professor of bioethics at the University of Warwick and member of ETACs UK Committee, in London on Dec. 8, 2018. (Justin Palmer)

The tribunals first public hearings took place in central London at the De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms from Dec. 8 to 10, 2018, where it heard evidence from 30 fact witnesses, investigators, and experts. The tribunal issued an interim judgment at the conclusion of the third day of hearings on Dec. 10, which coincided with Human Rights Day and the 70th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The final judgment was released at an event in London in June 2019 after the second public hearings of 24 more testimonies took place from April 6 to 7, 2019, with the full judgment being released in book form in March 2020.

The tribunals final judgment was that the commission of crimes against humanity against the Falun Gong and Uyghurs has been proved beyond reasonable doubt. It concluded that forced organ harvesting has been committed for years throughout China on a significant scale and that Falun Gong practitioners have been oneand probably the mainsource of organ supply, and that the concerted persecution and medical testing of the Uyghurs is more recent and that evidence of forced organ harvesting of this group may emerge in due course.

Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is a spiritual discipline with meditative exercises and moral teachings based on the principles of truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance. In July 1999, the CCP launched a nationwide persecution campaign to round up adherents and throw them into prisons, labor camps, brainwashing centers, and psychiatric wards in an effort to force them into renouncing their faith. It was in 2006 that allegations of forced organ harvesting from Falun Gong adherents in detention first emerged, which prompted Matas and Kilgours joint investigations soon after.

Doctors killed those innocent people simply because they pursued truthfulness, compassion, and forbearance, in the case of Falun Gong practitioners, Nice said at the China Tribunal Final Judgment event, and lived lives of healthy exercise and meditationthat was seen as dangerous to the interests and objectives of the totalitarian state of the Peoples Republic of China.

The China Tribunal Final Judgment event at the Grand Connaught Rooms, London, June 17, 2019. (Courtesy of ETAC)

Hughes traveled to London for the China Tribunal proceedings, where she managed the logistics and gave a press briefing.

The testimonies from the Falun Gong practitioners and Uyghurs who have been detained in China really impacted me, she said of the tribunal. I couldnt say one more than anotherthey all detailed experiences that most people would not even be able to imagine.

Even though I know this issue so well, and I know the details of what happensthe torture people are subjected to; the inhumane conditions they are forced to live in; the tiny, overcrowded cells; and the forced organ scansseeing the witnesses recall these memories during the China Tribunal hearings and seeing the pain they endured made it very real.

Its beyond what most of us could ever imagine. The injustice is tremendous. The China Tribunal was a step toward justice for these people, which, at the same time, was really very heartening.

Hughes said that seeing the evidentiary picture come together was incredible and that the tribunals judgment attracted a huge amount of media coverage at the time, which was fantastic.

The China Tribunals judgment made it very clear that the multiple lines of evidence presented revealed a picture of systematic, institutionalized, and intentional organ harvesting from innocent people, and of course, that it amounted to crimes against humanity, she said. There was no longer any question that these crimes were being perpetrated by the Chinese state.

Since the tribunals judgment was handed down in June 2019, Hughes has spoken about the findings at several events around the world, including at a side event at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva in September 2019; at the World Uyghur Congress Conference in Brussels in December 2019; and at the policy forum on organ procurement and extrajudicial execution in China on Capitol Hill in Washington in March 2020, which was a VOC event co-sponsored by ETAC.

Susie Hughes (L), executive director of ETAC, and Kristina Olney, VOCs director of government relations, outside Capitol Hill, Washington D.C., where ETAC co-sponsored VOCs Policy Forum on Organ Procurement and Extrajudicial Execution in China, on March 10, 2020. (Courtesy of ETAC)

Susie Hughes, executive director of ETAC, speaks at the World Uyghur Congress Conference in Brussels in December 2019. (Courtesy of ETAC)

Take the Pledge

Though black-market organ trafficking does happen outside of China, Hughes said that state-sanctioned forced organ harvesting is an atrocity unique to the Chinese regime.

Atrocities that arent addressed worsen, she said. While the carrying out of these horrendous acts is most certainly a crime against the individuals who are killed and their families, its also an attack on the sanctity of human life, and a crime against all of humanity.

It is our responsibility as global citizens to do all that we can to stop it. Not only to fulfill our human duty to help others, but also so we dont head toward a future where forced organ harvesting becomes normalized and spreads to other regions. A situation where certain citizens, good people who are deemed enemies of the state, are held captive as a commoditynothing more than a crop of body parts to be harvested.

The #NotFromChina Pledge is a personal commitment not to receive an organ transplant from China should one become ill. The pledge can be taken on the ETAC website, and a personalized I took the pledge card can be chosen to share on social media.

Dr. David McGiffin, professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery and Transplantation at Monash University, Australia, took the #NotFromChina Pledge. (Courtesy of ETAC)

Wendy Rogers, professor of Clinical Ethics at Macquarie University, Australia, and ETACs Advisory Committee Chair, took the #NotFromChina Pledge. (Courtesy of ETAC and J. Stephan/Macquarie University)

Taking the pledge, Hughes said, is a way to demonstrate that this issue matters to you.

It helps mobilize a global movement to expose this abuse, she said. We hope that people from all walks of life will take the pledge and that together we can generate enough interest for this issue to receive the global attention that it deserves.

Stand on the side of justice and freedom, and speak to others about what is going on. Break the silence, support the oppressed, and have hope.

Watch ETACs video about Chinas billion-dollar murder-for-organs industry:
Ghislaine Maxwell hugs her lawyer Bobbi Sternheim during the trial of Maxwell, the Jeffrey Epstein associate accused of sex trafficking, in a courtroom sketch in New York City, N.Y., on Dec. 6, 2021. (Jane Rosenberg/Reuters)

New Witnesses Corroborate Previous Testimony in Ghislaine Maxwell Trial

NEW YORKThe prosecution continued to call witnesses in the Ghislaine Maxwell sex trafficking trial in federal court on Dec. 8, several of whom corroborated the testimony of previous witnesses.

Only identified by his first name, Shawn was a boyfriend of alleged victim Carolyn, who testified on Dec. 7. Shawn dated Carolyn when she was 14 and he was 17.

Many of the facts presented in his testimony were identical to hers, including how his classmate, Virginia Roberts, was instrumental in Carolyns employment with Jeffrey Epstein and how she was hired to give him massages and paid in $100 bills.

Shawn wore a black T-shirt and a black hoodie. He was very polite to prosecuting attorney Maurene Comey, often answering questions with yes, maam and no, maam.

He confirmed a gift of lingerie was delivered from Maxwells New York address to Carolyn in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Shawn disclosed he was convicted in Louisiana for possession of amphetamines and spent three years in prison for illegal possession of a firearm.

Upon cross-examination, defense attorney Jeffrey Pagliuca had Shawn confirm that, as he had stated in previous depositions, a woman who called the cellphone he and Carolyn shared regarding massage appointments for Carolyn had an accent he couldnt identify and it wasnt British.

Other times he referred to it as a proper foreign accent and European, but not French.

Pagliuca pointed out that in a deposition last month, he stated Maxwell made the calls.

Im not sure about that, Shawn said.

He confirmed he never saw or spoke to Maxwell and that some of the cash Carolyn gave him for gas money (he drove her to Epsteins Palm Beach residence) was spent on marijuana, cocaine, and ecstasy.

The next witness, Nicole Hesse, was a part-time employee at the Palm Beach estate.

Her testimony, regarding taking phone messages in the message pads, was identical to Juan Alessis, who testified last week.

Hesse was presented with one of the pads and recognized messages she wrote, but couldnt comment on the ones she hadnt written.

Pagliuca noted that many of them didnt have dates and times, and said she had no personal knowledge of their accuracy.

The ones I wrote were accurate, she said.

David Rodgers was another pilot employed by Epstein. Pilot Lawrence Visoski Jr. testified last week. Their testimonies were nearly identical.

Rodgers spoke about meet-and-greets with passengers and how he kept a flight log and a passenger manifest for each flight. As Visoski also stated, Rodgers said he didnt always know the names of every passenger on each flight. Sometimes, he logged them as PAX (for unknown passenger) or simply male and female.

Unlike Visoski, however, Rodgers kept an additional personal log, which was admitted into evidence.

Under direct examination by Comey, Rodgers testified that Jane, the first alleged victim to testify last week, was a passenger on four flights, and that he met her for the first time in 1996. (This would make Jane a minor at the time.)

Comey went over several entries in Rodgerss flight log, which had flight numbers, dates, cities flown from and flown to, as well as passenger names. The pages shown to the public had the names redacted.

In many cases, Janes actual first name was recorded in the log, but no last name. Only one log had Janes first and last names, but that was in 2001, making her a legal adult at the time.

Rodgers testified that Roberts flew a total of 32 times.

As the defense did with Visoski, attorney Christian Everdell was able to get Rodgers to say he never saw a minor on a flight without a parent or nanny, he never saw sex acts happen on a flight, he never saw evidence of sex after a flight, and he was free to use the lavatory at the rear of the cabin on Epsteins Gulfstream aircraft.

Rodgers also stated that Jane appeared to be 18 when he met her.

Everdell argued that the names in Rodgerss logbook originated from the passenger manifest. Rodgers agreed that his testimony about flights came from his review of his logbook and not from his memory.

Once again, Everdell used the defenses method of finding contradictions in testimony by cross-referencing earlier depositions.

The defense seemed to score a win when Everdell argued that the first name Jane, with no last name, in Rodgerss logbook could easily have been one of Epsteins assistants with the same name. (The defense successfully argued this last week with Visoski.)

But Rodgers replied those flights were circa 1996 and he didnt meet the other Jane until 2003.

Just as Epstein paid for the private high school and college tuitions of Visoskis two daughters, he also paid for the same tuitions of Rodgerss daughter.

Rodgers said he felt comfortable having his daughter around Maxwell and would have never done so if he had any indication there was abuse happening at the residences.

Under redirect, Comey had Rodgers confirm he met Jane in 1996 and only knew two Janes, solidifying his testimony that Jane, the alleged victim, was on a flight in 1996.

The trial was originally expected to last to the end of December, although the prosecution has indicated it may be ready to rest its case sooner than anticipated.
U.S. military medical personnel, including U.S. Army reserve and Connecticut National Guard train with Stamford Hospital staff in Stamford, Conn., on April 24, 2020. (John Moore/Getty Images)

New York National Guard Deploys Troops to Nursing Homes

The New York National Guard is being deployed to bolster some long-term care facilities in New York, it confirmed on Dec. 9.

The Guard will deploy some 120 Army medics and Air Force medical technicians to 12 long-term facilities and nursing homes to ease staffing shortages, according to a news release from the National Guard. Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, ordered the mission at the start of December and cited what she said is a seasonal rise in COVID-19 cases.

According to the Guard statement, the facilities are located from Long Island to Buffalo and north to the Canadian border.

Service members are being sent to facilities in Goshen, Syracuse, Rochester, Albany, Buffalo, Utica, Plattsburgh, Uniondale, Liberty, Vestal, Olean, and Lyons, the Guard confirmed in a statement.

In selecting Soldiers and Airmen for the mission, New York National Guard planners looked for trained medics or medical technicians who were not also working in the health care field in their civilian life, the statement reads.

Monroe County Executive Adam Bello confirmed to WHAM-TV that Guard members arrived at Monroe Community Hospital on Dec. 4 to deal with staffing shortages.

This is how we can help, in the short term, the hospital systems to again turn on that pipeline from hospitals to nursing homes and residents who do not need an acute care bed, who would be better off in a nursing home setting, said Bello.

Earlier this year, thousands of New York-based health care workers were placed on unpaid leave following the implementation of Hochuls COVID-19 vaccine mandate, which caused staffing disruptions. Neither Hochul nor the Guard has mentioned the mandate amid the deployment.

In October, a federal judge, in an injunction, ruled that New York state health care staff can refuse the vaccine after the state failed to adequately explain why workers were denied religious exemptions to a vaccine mandate imposed in August. Days later, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit upheld New Yorks vaccine mandate for health care workers.

Kaleida Health, a hospital in New York state, said in a Dec. 6 statement that it fired 100 unvaccinated staff members who were previously given a religious exemption.

Combined with the previous vaccine mandate deadline in November, approximately 200 personnel have now been separated from the organization, the hospital stated.

In addition, Maine Gov. Janet Mills, also a Democrat, said she activated her states National Guard to deal with staffing shortages caused by her offices vaccine mandate for health care staff.

Mills said the order is designed to help alleviate short-term capacity constraints at hospitals and maintain access to inpatient health care services for Maine people amid a sustained surge of COVID-19.

Hundreds of workers quit or were fired due to Millss COVID-19 vaccine mandate, which the Supreme Court declined to block, Maine hospital systems have told news outlets.

Meanwhile, New Hampshire Gov. Christopher Sununu asked the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the National Guard to help the state deal with a COVID-19 winter surge.

They did indicate to us that theyd be sending a few dozen individuals to New Hampshire to help out, with the first 24-person team arriving as early as this weekend, the governor said on Dec. 8.

Zachary Stieber contributed to this report.
A Grumman Albatross plane lands on the water during the International seaplane show in Biscarrosse, southwestern France, on June 9, 2018. (NICOLAS TUCAT/AFP via Getty Images)

Northern Territory Secures Amphibious Aircraft Construction Deal

The Northern Territory (NT) has beaten New South Wales and Queensland to secure a deal to construct the iconic Albatross amphibious aircraft at Darwin Airport.

This will make the Territory Australias first manufacturer and exporter of the Albatross G-111T, an aircraft capable of taking off from and landing on land, snow, ice, and water, according to a media release on Wednesday.

NT Minister for Mining and Industry Nicole Manison said that the investment is building a brand new industry for Australia.

This means jobs, jobs and more jobs for Territorians, and new opportunities for locals and businesses, she said.

The Northern Territory Government will invest $10 million (approx. US$7.2 million) into Amphibian Aircraft Holdings Pty Ltd (AAH) to construct modern, upgraded versions of the Albatross, creating around 300 jobs.

Although the Albatross hasnt been commercially manufactured since the 1960s, it has an excellent reputation, and evidence from market studies has shown there is significant demand for it to fill a gap in the global aviation market.

Chair of AAH Khoa Hoang said that the Albatross is unparalleled in its class.

The Albatross has unmatched pedigree with battle-proven capabilities in search and rescue, coastal surveillance, narcotics enforcement, medevac, humanitarian assistance, cargo, utility, defence and many more roles, he said.

With the new technologies that Amphibian Aerospace industries will be developing in new variants of the G-111T Albatross, we are confident that a formidable aircraft will be relevant for many decades to come.

Through this venture, the AAH is expected to bring in an annual revenue of over $100 million (US$71.8 million) by 2030, generating considerable value to the NT economy.

Chief Minister Michael Gunner hailed the deal as big for both the Territory and Australia, highlighting that these aircraft will be exported to the rest of the world.

This exciting venture will create hundreds of jobs and upskilling opportunities for Territorians while also injecting millions into our economy, he said. The Territory is taking off, and this is just the beginning.

The AAH is planning to implement a buy local policy, meaning the venture will utilise local industry that meets the necessary standards on a cost-competitive basis. The objective is to develop a fully local workforce and an advanced manufacturing facility that can create and sustain new jobs, as well as provide highly skilled career pathways.

Aboriginal employment will also be a focus of this program, with targeted training and workshops set up to increase the long term and sustainable employment of Indigenous Territorians.

The AAH has chosen Darwin Airport to be their Australian manufacturing base, and they will be working closely with the Airport Development Group within the Darwin Airport business precinct on a construction plan set to be formulated in 2022.

Meanwhile, the modified aircraft is expected to be certified by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority within 18 months, with production underway by 2025.
Police outside Bill de Blasio's residence in Brooklyn, New York, on Dec. 8, 2021. (Enrico Trigoso/The Epoch Times)

NY Mayor de Blasios Residence Vandalized by People Protesting Vaccine Mandate

BROOKLYN, New YorkAbout 25 protesters gathered for three hours outside outgoing Mayor Bill de Blasios Brooklyn residence, a day after he announced that NYC private sector workers must get a COVID-19 vaccine or lose their jobs.

The protesters blocked traffic, and shouted at the top of their voices during the cold night, drawing the attention of neighbors, some of whom called the police.

Protesters outside Bill de Blasios residence in Brooklyn, New York, on Dec. 8, 2021. (Enrico Trigoso/The Epoch Times)

They played drums, tambourines, metal sheets, and used at least four megaphones.

The entry to de Blasios residence is under construction, but it did not stop the vandalization of the outer wooden structure. Protesters wrote [expletive] de Blasio, where is the $ Chirlane? and filled the structure with stickers.

de Blasio was reportedly not at his Brooklyn residence, but the protestors wanted to send a message that they would not let himor his neighborhoodbe at ease as long as the mandates are imposed on them.

Stickers on the entrance outside Bill de Blasios residence in Brooklyn, New York, on Dec. 8, 2021. (Enrico Trigoso/The Epoch Times)

About 20 police officers responded to calls to disperse the crowd.

On one occasion, police used force to remove the protesters from the roadway, only to see them go back and block traffic again.

The police captain said that they just wanted to preserve the peace.

Police getting protesters out of the road outside Bill de Blasios residence in Brooklyn, New York, on Dec. 8, 2021. (Enrico Trigoso/The Epoch Times)

Tensions escalated when protest leaders noticed that a group of police were standing by with plastic handcuffs.

An NYPD officer from the Community Affairs Unit negotiated with the crowd and calmed them down, successfully reaching a deal to allow them to protest for one more hour.

Police getting protesters out of the roadway outside Bill de Blasios residence in Brooklyn, New York, on Dec. 8, 2021. (Enrico Trigoso/The Epoch Times)

The protesters chanted No vaccine mandates, No medical tyranny, [Expletive] Joe Biden, and de Blasio.

Police getting protesters out of the road outside Bill de Blasios residence in Brooklyn, New York, on Dec. 8, 2021. (Enrico Trigoso/The Epoch Times)

Mark Szuszkiewicz, who ran for City Council earlier this year was also at the protest.

We want to put the message out there that Bill de Blasio, aka Warren Wilhelm, is not a dictator. We do not live in a dictatorship. mandates are not laws, Szuszkiewicz said. We have a constitution and were not going to comply.

Police outside Bill de Blasios residence in Brooklyn, New York, on Dec. 8, 2021. (Enrico Trigoso/The Epoch Times)

Not all the protesters favored blocking the traffic.

Also among the crowd was Derrick Gibson, a Republican running for New York governor.

I am here to support my constituents out here fighting back against the illegality of the mandate, Gibson said. De Blasio put out your own yesterday, Gibson said.

The autonomy of anybodys body, the government doesnt have the right to violate, and Im standing up for that and Im against that totally.

The Epoch Times has reached out to the mayors office for comment.
The City of Toledo water intake crib in Lake Erie, is surrounded by algae, Aug. 3, 2014. The intake is about 2.5 miles off the shore of Curtice, Ohio. (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari)

Ohio Gov. DeWine Announces Water Grants Worth More Than $100 million

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine on Dec. 8 announced more than $100 million in grants for municipalities to improve water quality and infrastructure.

The grants total $109 million for 101 drinkingand wastewaterinfrastructure projects across the state, covering all 88 of the Buckeye States counties.

They are part of the H2Ohio initiative that DeWine announced in October, which included $250 million in grants awarded to municipalities for 183 water-related projects.

The funds are to improve and safeguard water quality, and infrastructure, for one of the states most valuable resources.

DeWine announced the third and final round of grants in Marion Countys Waldo Township, north of Delaware.

Covering a wide range of small to large projects, they are expected to help communities facing critical water issues over the next two years.

These include aging water lines struggling to deliver quality water, sewer systems known to back-up or flood, installing new water mains, and dealing with failing wastewater treatment plants.

The funding was made possible through the Ohio General Assembly, as part of House Bill 168.

It was sponsored by State Representatives Mark Fraizer (R-Newark) and Mike Loychik (R-Bazetta), with funding appropriated through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) in 2019. The first two rounds of grants were announced in October and November.

Clean drinking water is part of the foundation for a good quality of life, DeWine said, yet too many communities in Ohio cant be reliably provided with that basic necessity due to crumbling infrastructure that is too expensive to repair.

Waldo Township has a population of 338, according to the 2010 Census, and is receiving a $2.5 million grant to put toward the construction of a public water system. It will replace the current decades-old wells, and help with long-term water supplies.

The project is being carried out by Del-Co Water of Delaware, and construction is expected to begin in June and last nine to 12 months, according to Kris Dye, the companys chief business officer.

The new water system also will alleviate a long-standing safety issue over the lack of fire hydrants and enable the Fort Morrow Dire District better access to water in the event of a fire.

The funds for this project are a godsend, Dye said. Not only will it help improve water delivery, it also will provide a better system for the fire department in the event of a fire and encourage economic development.

Dye went on to say that due to supply chain issues brought on by COVID-19, they may have to wait a little longer for materials, and hoped there wouldnt be any delays in the project.

Ever since weve had COVID dumped in our lap, it has wreaked havoc on our projects, Dye told the Epoch Times. We dont anticipate any delays with this project, and hope the supply chain issues are better when the project is scheduled to move forward.

Waldo is along State Route 23 and is best known as the home of the G & R Tavern, which boasts the best fried bologna sandwich in Ohio.

The 60-year-old establishment sells about 150,000 fried bologna sandwiches a year, and one was delivered to DeWine on Tuesday, G & R Tavern Manager Rick Lathrop told the Epoch Times.

Lathrop, a 25-year resident of Waldo, said that although he has no problems with his well, he supported the new water system.

Were going to roll with it, Lathrop said.

It will be city water, and it will be more purified, which should make it better.

Im in support of it. I believe it will provide a better quality of water, and modernize our system.

Bruce Baker, the Mayor of Waldo for the past 27 years, said the water in citys wells was not the greatest, and plans were under way for a housing development in the northwest part of Waldo, and the project needed water and sewer hook-ups.

Itll all be new, Baker said of the planned water system. The water we have here now is very hard and has a lot of iron in it. The new system shall, and will, be a great asset.

On a much larger scale, there also was $15 million of the ARPA funds set aside to help clean up the algae blooms in Lake Erie, along what often is referred to as Ohios North Coast.

The blue-green toxic algae is an annual problem in the lake, from Toledo east to the islands, Put-in-Bay and Kellys Island, popular summer tourist spots.

The algae turns fresh water into a pea soup-like color, with thick mats of scum that can close beaches, hurt fishing and contaminate drinking water, as it did in Toledo in 2014.

The worst blooms in the past decade have been 2011 and 2015, according to scientists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which monitors the algae problem.

This year, scientists have predicted smaller algal blooms on Lake Erie, but believe they can be more severe, according to the administration.

Since the grant application process started last July, the Ohio Department of Development received more than 1,200 requests for $1.4 billion in funding, according to DeWines office.

My administration is committed to helping our communities address these important water issues, and we look forward to additional discussions with the General Assembly about the potential of expanding this program with additional funds, he said.

We want our children and grandchildren to stay in Ohio, and having clean, safe drinking water is important to our communities for the quality of life.
Oil storage containers are seen, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, in Los Angeles, Calif., on April 7, 2021. (Lucy Nicholson/Reuters)

Oil Slips After Restrictions to Counter Omicron Variant

LONDONOil prices eased after early gains on Thursday after measures by some governments to slow the spread of the Omicron coronavirus variant, though losses were capped by comments from vaccine makers about the efficacy of their jabs.

Brent crude futures fell 47 cents, or 0.6 percent, to $75.35 a barrel by 1004 GMT after touching a peak of $76.70. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures fell 31 cents, or 0.4 percent, to $72.05 after a session high of $73.34.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson imposed tougher COVID-19 restrictions in England on Wednesday, saying people should work from home where possible and wear masks in public places and show COVID-19 vaccine passes for entry to certain events and venues.

Denmark also plans new restrictions, including closure of restaurants, bars, and schools, while China has halted group tourist trips from Guangdong.

Oil demand is thus unlikely to escape completely unscathed, though the effects will probably not be nearly as serious as initially feared, Commerzbank said.

Markets were buoyed by comments from BioNTech and Pfizer that a three-shot course of their COVID-19 vaccine could protect against infection from the Omicron variant.

The Omicron outbreak sparked a 16 percent slump in Brent prices from Nov. 25 to Dec. 1. More than half of the drop has been recouped this week, but analysts say a further recovery could be limited until Omicrons impact is clearer.

U.S. inventory data released on Wednesday also weighed on prices.

Energy Information Administration (EIA) data showed that crude inventories were down by 240,000 barrels last week, much less than analysts in a Reuters poll had expected, with stocks at the Cushing delivery hub in Oklahoma rising by 2.4 million barrels.

Fuel stocks also rose by a combined 6.6 million barrels, the data showed.

By Ahmad Ghaddar
A group of naval vessels from Russia and China conduct a joint maritime military patrol in the waters of the Pacific Ocean, in this still image taken from video released on Oct. 23, 2021. (Russian Defence Ministry/Handout via Reuters)

Pax Americana Unravels at the Feet of China

Beijing and allies erode the peace in East Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and East Asia

News Analysis

The news is coming fast and hard of peace and stability eroding globally in a manner that benefits Beijings attempts at global destabilization to make a path for its increasing control.

As the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) seeks to break apart the American-led order, including that of the United Nations that Washington developed after World War II, Beijing makes the destabilized countriespreviously free, sovereign, and independentmore easily digestible into a new and emerging Chinese-led global order.

The CCP will repurpose, not destroy, the U.N. bureaucracy while disposing of its ideals of freedom, diversity, and democracy. But first it needs to destabilize and reorient the global geography of sovereign states that America spearheaded and protected from the 1940s to the present.

Beijings destabilization of international politics depends upon coordinated action by its allies.

Chinas ally Russia is building troops opposite Ukraine for an invasion. Those troops appear to be growing toward a massive 175,000-person army. This destabilization of East Europe distracts some of the global publics attention from Beijing, which is being freed to more easily attack Taiwan. Analysts predict that Putin could be ready for an invasion by early 2022, but the West is so frequently surprised by authoritarian powers, including Putins invasion of Crimea, that we should prepare ourselves for an even earlier surprise attack.

Iran and its allies, including most importantly China, are stronger relative to the United States and allies than they were in 2015 when the first Iran nuclear non-proliferation pact was agreed. Since then, Beijing increased its influence in Tehran, including by purchasing 700,000 barrels of Iranian oil in 2018 when Washington reimposed sanctions. A friend in need is a friend indeed.

Expect the terms of future Iranian nuclear negotiations to be worse for America and allies, which could lead to no new agreement, or tip Israel into preemptive war against Iran to stop it going nuclear. An Iranian-Israeli war would likely pull in the United States and Saudi Arabia, a major distraction for not only America but our allies. Iran, one of the biggest supporters of global terrorism, would likely increase this asymmetric strategy of terrorism, where it has an advantage, and the Chinese regime could then more easily attack Taiwan without serious repercussions due to the geopolitical confusion that ensues.

North Koreas Kim Jong Un is resisting U.S. and South Korean calls for a formal end to the Korean War, has collapsed nuclear talks with the United States, and refused talks with the South. The latters Roman Catholic leader, Moon Jae-in, is so desperate for peace that he is turning to Pope Francis for help. The chances of the Pope changing Pyongyang, which relentlessly persecutes believers and is ruled by a family that likens itself to gods, is worse than zero. A Papal intervention could make things worse, for example, by Kim using a visit to burnish North Koreas image.

A ballistic missile launched from a submarine in North Korea, on Oct. 19, 2021. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP)

The CCP is leading this rogues gallery of nations and directly threatening war against democratic Taiwan. Xi Jinping is openly planning to take control of the island democracy during his tenure as General Secretary of the CCP. Meanwhile, new Chinese national security and data laws are being implemented that have extraterritorial effect, meaning that laws made in Beijing apply in New York City, for example.

Case in point: the Wall Street Journal got a warning on Dec. 5 from the Hong Kong government that the newspaper was in violation of the National Security Law for an article the Journal wrote about, regarding the breakdown of what little democracy Hong Kong had after Beijings takeover.

But the Chinese military is already operating far afield from East Asia, and seeks new military bases in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the Middle East and Equatorial Guinea on the Atlantic coast of Africa. These will augment its already-existing base in Djibouti. The UAE halted construction when the United States discovered it and confronted the UAE government, but Equatorial Guinea is resisting similar diplomatic overtures. The CCPs plans for an Atlantic naval base in Equatorial Guinea continue.

A Chinese military base on Africas east coast will put it within striking distance of the American East Coast, increasing pressure on Washington to buckle to Chinas military threats in the future. Expect Beijing to seek other military bases, overt and covert, in the 100 commercial ports it has already constructed around Africa. These are a threat to global shipping through the Mediterranean and around the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa, and will put Beijing in greater control of the oil and shipping resources of the Middle East.

The magnitude, quantity, and speed of geopolitical change is so enormous due to Beijings increased economic power, diplomatic assertiveness, and military aggression, that the threat of war is increasing substantially. America and its former world order, wrongly thought to be unipolar after the breakup of the Soviet Union in the 1990s, is at a moment of truth.

We must draw red lines and accept the increased risk of war with not only China, but its allies Russia, Iran, and North Koreaor give into a slow erosion of American and allied democratic power globally. Without the protection of the United States, democracy, freedom, peace, and civilizational diversity could soon be a thing of the past. This dire truth must now be confronted. There is no time to lose, because time is on Beijings side, and Beijings side is that of totalitarianism.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
A new online police simulator tool uses real body-cam footage to educate the public about use-of-force. (File photo-David McNew/Getty Images)

Pro-Police Group Launches Online Simulator to Sensitize Public About Use-of-Force

A police defense organization has launched an online simulator tool which it says is meant to place the participant in the shoes of a law enforcement officer responding to a dangerous situation.

The police simulator called Decision Points is a product of the Law Enforcement Legal Defense Fund (LELDF) and uses body-cam footage captured by officers responding to calls.

The simulation is akin to watching videos of police actions, but at crucial moments the user comes to decision points where he needs to apply his judgement to take the appropriate measure, which can include use of lethal force.

It raises the public consciousness. It raises the need for the public to understand why the officers may have done what they did, LELDF President Jason Johnson told Fox News. [Users] can learn some new information about how officers are trained to respond and why. This, we think, will reduce some of the harmful misunderstandings of law enforcement.

The LELDF is an advocacy group that provides support to police officers who have been charged with crimes while performing their duties.

The group has so far posted two simulations on its website and in a few minutes they demonstrate how difficult it can be to make a split-second life-and-death decision.

How the Simulator Works

In one of the simulations, officers respond to a call about a man who pointed a firearm at someone. After locating the suspect and identifying that he is carrying a gun, the officers start chasing the suspect and ask him to drop the weapon. At one point the suspect holds the gun to his head, which leads to the first decision point.

The participant is asked if the officer should either a) use a taser; b) follow the suspect and continue to talk; or c) wait for the mental health team.

The simulator says the correct answer is to keep following the suspect. He isnt pointing the gun at you, and there is still time to talk him down. Attempt to find cover, explains the simulation.

Additional feedback is available in short videos after the simulations with LELDF police practices expert Sergeant William Gleason discussing various subjects such as the threat posed by knives and why police officers might fire a high number of rounds in a shooting incident.

The Decision Points simulator comes about in the context of anti-law enforcement pressures of recent months, that take shape in movements such as those that want to defund the police or abolish it altogether.

While these have gained traction in the wake of the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis in May 2020, a number of jurisdictions have since had to reverse course in the face of mounting crime.

Those critical of police in general, or of police brutality in particular, point to the number of people killed by police each year in the United States, and say that black people are being targeted disproportionately.

The Mapping Police Violence project says that police have killed 978 people in 2021, with 27 percent of those killed being black despite accounting for 13 percent of the population.

Researchers like Heather Mac Donald counter that the overwhelming majority of police encounters are non-violent and she uses other data to interpret the issue.

That share of black victims is less than what the black crime rate would predict, since police shootings are a function of how often officers encounter armed and violent suspects, Mac Donald wrote in the Wall Street Journal not long after Floyds death.

In 2018, the latest year for which such data have been published, African-Americans made up 53% of known homicide offenders in the U.S. and commit about 60% of robberies, though they are 13% of the population.

On the law enforcement side, a police organization is reporting an increase in the killing and ambushing of officers this year.

The National Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) reported (pdf) early December that 314 officers were shot in the line of duty so far this year, of which 58 were killed by gunfire. Last year a total of 312 were shot and 47 were killed.

The FOP also said officers were caught in 95 ambush-style attacks (a rise of 126 percent from 2020), which led to 119 officers being shot, 28 of which were killed.

There is no doubt that the recent erosion of respect for law enforcement has fueled more aggression towards police officers than what has been seen in previous years, FOP president Patrick Yoes told Fox News.
Jim Farley, CEO of Ford Motor Company, poses with the new all-electric F-150 Lightning performance truck at its reveal at Ford World Headquarters in Dearborn, Michigan on May 19, 2021. (Bill Pugliano/Getty Images)

Production Capacity Needs to Double to Meet Demand for Electric F-150, Says Ford CEO

The Ford Motor Co. is dealing with a massive production backlog for an all-electric version of its iconic F-150 pickup, says the companys CEO.

The 2022 F-150 Lightning has a backlog of almost three years with nearly 200,000 reservations, reported CNBC.

Ford CEO, Jim Farley, told the news channel that the automaker is doing whatever it can to meet the enormous demand for the vehicle which will soon be launched.

Our [production] capacity is about half of what the demand is, Farley said. We have a dedicated team right now just doing one thing: finding a way to double our capacity by finding batteries, whatever it takes, to double our capacity of Lightning.

With the F-150 Lightnings launch, the Dearborn, Michigan-based company aims to become the second-biggest global electric vehicle manufacturer by 2024 with an annual production capacity of nearly 600,000.

CNBC reported that the F-Series has been Americas best-selling vehicle for 40 consecutive years and top-selling truck for the last 45 years, outselling General Motors Chevrolet Silverado and Stellantis Ram pickup.

Now the company is busy hiring new recruits in its three Michigan facilities to meet delivery targets for the electric version.

Farley told CNBC that demand for Mustang Mach-E, the modern electric iteration of the Ford classic, is also twice the companys current production capacity.

Thats why were committing in the next 24 months to get 600,000 units of capacity, but its going to take a lot of work by our team, he said.

According to Lisa Drake, chief operating officer of Ford North America, the automaker is planning on more vertical integrations for its EV components.

Drake told Reuters that Ford was working with five global battery manufacturers for its vehicles, including South Koreas SK On and LG, China-based BYD and CATL, and Japans Panasonic. The company estimates to build 240 gigawatt-hours of production capacity globally.

Ford is experimenting with different battery types such as cobalt-free lithium iron phosphate and cell-to-pack structural batteries in a bid to lower costs.

Drake told Reuters that battery cell costs should be down to $80 per kilowatt-hour before 2030. The current costs for lithium-ion based packs are around $132 per kwh.

There are also plans on developing solid state batteries through a partnership with Colorado-based startup Solid Power.

Based on a survey of over 400 Lightning reservation holders, 25 percent were considering replacing their existing F-150 trucks, 40 percent had owned an electric vehicle previously and 11 percent are Tesla owners, reported electrek.com.
Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi with the President of Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, at Hyderabad House, in New Delhi on December 06, 2021. (Picture courtesy Press Bureau of India)

Putins Brief Visit to New Delhi Brings Greater Meaning to Indo-Russian Relations: Experts

NEW DELHIRussian President Vladimir Putins visit to India on Dec. 6 shows India and Russia consider their foreign policy engagements significant in a changing world order, experts say.

The brief Monday summit between Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi took place hours after the inaugural 2+2 dialogue between the foreign and defense ministers of the two nations. In all, the two countries signed 28 deals that included government-to-government pacts in several areas.

In remarks after the summit, Modi said that there have been fundamental changes at the global level in the last several decades and that many new geopolitical equations have emerged.

But India-Russia friendship has been a constant among all these variables, Modi said. Both the countries have not only cooperated with each other without any hesitation but have also taken special care of each others sensitivities.

Aparna Pande, director of the Initiative on the Future of India and South Asia at the Washington-based Hudson Institute, told The Epoch Times that the talks indicate a significant strategic element.

Indian officials may speak of a historical and close relationship with Russia, but there is a strategic dimension to these ties: India wants to ensure that Russia does not get too close to China, that Russia does not sell high-value military equipment to Pakistan, and that Russia continues to keep Indias interests in mind when it comes to the region.

Harsh V. Pant, director of the strategic studies program of the Delhi-based Observers Research Foundation, told The Epoch Times over the phone that Putins visit to India shows that both India and Russia prefer multipolarity in the evolving world order.

Neither wants to see a single country dominating the indo-pacific or world politics in any significant way, said Pant. They prefer diffusion of power and they prefer multipolarity in a polycentric world order. For that they are willing to work with each other as well as with other countries.

Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi meeting the President of Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, at Hyderabad House, in New Delhi on December 06, 2021. (Picture courtesy Press Bureau of India)

The China Factor

Jagannath Panda, research fellow and center coordinator at East Asia Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defense Studies and Analyses, noted that the Putin-Modi talks happened while Russia is facing new challenges from China.

Xi Jinpings assertive foreign policy is coming as a challenge for many countries including Russia and India, Panda told The Epoch Times in an email. Even though Russias relations with China are relatively stable; still Russia is facing a continuous challenge in dealing with the Chinese economic inroads in Central Asia and in the broader Eurasian region.

Russia and China associate with India through the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, Association of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, and by strengthening its partnership with India at various multilateral platforms, Panda said Moscow wants to counterbalance the Chinese Communist Partys influence and dominance.

Putins visit to India in the post-pandemic period lays the groundwork for this multilateral cooperation, said Panda.

Madhav Nalapat, strategic analyst and vice-chair of the Manipal Advanced Research Group, told The Epoch Times that Putin must maintain Russias self-respect by not accepting Chinese diktat, including its double-talk on terrorism.

It is disappointing that Russia joined China in ensuring that LeT [Lashkar-e-Taiba] and JeM [Jaish-e-Mohammed] were not mentioned in the joint communique of India-China-Russia foreign ministers. China claims it opposes terrorism but strengthens the Pakistan military, which is the nursery of terror, said Nalpat adding that India will stand by an independent Russia but cannot back a satellite Russia which is what Beijing wants Moscow to become.

The Foreign Ministers of India, China, and Russia met online for their 18th trilateral cooperation meeting on Nov. 26. LeT and JeM are international terrorist organizations based in Pakistan.

Putin must ensure that Modis example of strategic autonomy gets followed by him as well. The visit to India will help that process, said Nalapat.

India recently purchased Russias S-400 air defense system while China has already deployed the same system in its airbases in Xinjiang and Nyingchi in Tibet, allegedly to intercept Indias maneuvers and to keep its rival in check.

Pande said Indias purchase of the S-400 system from Russia is heavily tied into the threat it faces from China.

There is a historical context as well: Till the Sino-Soviet split, the Soviet Union while positively disposed to India, supported China, not India (e.g. in the 1962 war). It is only after the split that the Soviet Union became closer to India, she said.

With the rising salami-slicing moves by China along Indias northern border, Chinas presence among all of Indias South Asian neighbors and Chinas penetration into Indias sphere of influence, the Indian Ocean region, Delhi would like to make sure that Russia is either neutral or in Indias camp, if and when any future conflict takes place, said Pande. One way to do that, again, is to purchase more from Russia.

Russian S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems move through Red Square during the Victory Day military parade in Moscow on May 9, 2021. (Kirill Kudryavtsev/AFP via Getty Images)

New Cold War Equations

Putin held talks with U.S. President Joe Biden for two hours in a video conference on Tuesday and Nalapat said that by meeting Putin the day before the Biden-Putin talks, Modi has showcased India as independent of its closest security partner, the United States.

India, the United States, and Russia should understand that they face a common threat from China, said Nalapat.

India can be a bridge between the U.S. and Russia. In the new Cold War, the U.S. must not fight on two fronts, China and Russia, nor must its security partner India, said Nalapat. In Cold War I between the U.S. and Russia, China was on the U.S. side. Biden must focus on the real threat and join India in establishing good relations with Moscow.

Pande said the United States understands Indias concerns but both countries have differing views on Russia.

The U.S. still views Russia as a threat both on the domestic and global front; India believes China is the bigger threat and that Russia can be weaned away from China, said Pande.

India is a close American partner and friend but it is not a military ally of the U.S., unlike many other countries in the Indo Pacific or the other members of the Quad. So India has a lot more leeway to continue with its policy of strategic autonomy and keep relations with countries like Russia, or even Iran, whom the U.S. views as threats.

Panda said that the takeover of Afghanistan by the Taliban has forced Russia to look at the Afghanistan crisis afresh.

Even though Russia in principle would like to see the Taliban holding power in Afghanistan, there is a realization in Moscow that the practical security imperative in Afghanistan and the wider region is not in favor of Russia. Hence, Russia needs Indias partnership to address the new security challenges that the region will be posing, he said, adding that Putins visit to India offers a fresh context to think and plan on how India and Russia can cooperate on the Afghanistan issue.

Pant said that Putins visit shows that Russia wants to keep India high up in its foreign policy engagements and that from Indias side theres also a categorical message that Indias not willing to downgrade Russia in its foreign policy calculus.

Both sides want to move the relationship away from co-dependence on defense engagements because thats been the driving force in the relationship. They want to make it broader. They want to make it more sustainable. They want to bring more stakeholders, they want to focus on economic and trade issues, along with energy, and want to make it more wholesome, where the relationship isnt dependent on a single dimension.

Pande said India should work for a multi-faceted relationship with Russia similar to the one it enjoys with the United States and should continue with its defense and energy purchases.
Since the start of the pandemic, natural supplements have been a bone of contention with researchers, pharmaceutical companies, doctors and health experts. Newly published data again support past research that vitamin D has a significant impact on COVID-19.

Vitamin D was discovered in the early 1900s. Work by Sir Edward Mellanby from Great Britain and Elmer McCollum from the University of Wisconsin demonstrated that vitamin D could cure rickets. In the early 1970s, 25-OH-D3 was identified as scientists focused on the endocrine system, and the function that vitamin D has in the body.

Your body is capable of producing vitamin D with exposure to sunlight. In fact, with adequate exposure, your skin can produce enough vitamin D to support your health. Early research showed that too little vitamin D led to poor calcium homeostasis. In turn, this can lead to osteoporosis, osteomalacia and rickets.

Multiple studies have since demonstrated that a deficiency is associated with increased risk and greater severity of infection, particularly of the respiratory tract. While nearly every study finds a relationship between vitamin D and upper respiratory infections, not all find that vitamin D has the same impact on the infections.

One factor that may influence the varied results is how the researchers measure the intervention and data. In other words, are they measuring the amount of supplementation being given or are they looking at the vitamin D blood levels demonstrating deficiency against the impact on infection?7

Study Shows Vitamin D Shortens COVID and Decreases Mortality

A study published in November 2021 sought to identify if vitamin D may play a role in the treatment of COVID-19. The researchers noted that patients admitted to the intensive care unit had high plasma levels of biomarkers indicating inflammation. They wrote:

Given the natural three-stage clinical course of the disease, inadequate innate immune response in the first stage and immune-mediated damage due to dysregulated immune response in the second stage are considered to be the major determinants of poor outcomes.

Should a supplement or drug be able to support the immune response in the first or second stage, it may help reduce the severity and mortality of the illness. The researchers first gathered retrospective data from 867 patients at the Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa Faculty Hospital.

The patients had a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 but were excluded from the cohort if they had comorbidities associated with vitamin D deficiency, such as cancer, kidney disease, cardiovascular disease or autoimmune diseases. Each of the patients received an antiviral and some received anti-cytokine treatment. Clinical outcomes were measured against serum vitamin D status.

In the retrospective arm of the study, the researchers split the participants into four groups determined by their serum 25OHD level. The data from this arm revealed that the risk of hospitalization longer than eight days was 1.9 times higher in patients in three of the groups.

The second part was designed as a prospective study involving 210 people with confirmed COVID-19. The researchers included 23 healthy individuals. In this group there were 163 participants with serum 25OHD levels less than 30 ng/mL. These individuals received vitamin D3 treatment according to the protocol that was created by reviewing evidence from past literature.

The researchers administered vitamin D3 based on whether patients were an inpatient or in the ICU and which group they were in. The total time the vitamin D was administered ranged from 14 days for inpatients to three days for ICU patients.

Researchers measured peripheral blood samples in all their patients on Days 1 through 3 before treatment and on Day 7 and Day 14 in those who received treatment. Participants in the prospective group were also treated according to the current national guidelines, which at the time did not recommend vitamin D supplementation.

The treatment protocol increased the serum 25OHD level significantly above 30 ng/mL within two weeks in those receiving the intervention. They found that vitamin D treatment shortened the length of hospitalization in those with COVID-19, even when there were comorbidities present. They concluded:10

Having vitamin D treatment decreased the mortality rate by 2.14 times. It has been determined that vitamin D supplementation is effective on various targeted parameters; therefore, it is an important parameter for the course of COVID-19, and serum vitamin D levels and correlation analyses between these parameters confirm this inference.

Top Signs You May Have a Vitamin D Deficiency

The only way to definitively identify a vitamin D deficiency is through blood testing. However, there are some general signs and symptoms that may indicate you should get your vitamin D tested sooner rather than later.

Ongoing musculoskeletal pain or achy bones

Frequent illnesses or infections

Neurological symptoms, including depression

Fatigue and daytime sleepiness

Head sweating

One of the easiest and most cost-effective ways of measuring your vitamin D level is to participate in GrassrootsHealths D*Action, which is a vitamin D intervention population program. The test is done in the convenience of your home and the results are sent directly to you.
Actress Rose McGowan speaks to the media outside the court in New York City on Jan. 6, 2020. (Kena Betancur/Getty Images)

Rose McGowans Lawsuit Against Harvey Weinstein Thrown Out

A federal judge in California has thrown out actress Rose McGowans 2019 lawsuit against disgraced former Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein after she missed a filing deadline this month.

U.S. District Court Judge Otis D. Wright II dismissed the lawsuit on Dec. 6 after McGowanone of the first women to speak publicly about Weinsteinmissed a deadline that had been extended for her. McGowan, who alleges that Weinstein assaulted her during the Sundance Film Festival in 1997, was acting as her own attorney after firing her attorneys in November.

The central claim of the actresss 11-page lawsuit is that Weinstein had violated federal racketeering laws. It was dismissed with prejudice, meaning that it cant be refiled.

The complaint alleges that law firm The Bloom Firm and private intelligence company Black Cube violated multiple federal laws under the Racketeering Influences and Corrupt Organization Act (RICO) by hiring agents to gather information about her 2018 memoir, Brave, which details the alleged assault.

It also alleges that they conspired to defraud, smear, and marginalize McGowan as she was preparing to name Weinstein during the run-up to the explosion of the #MeToo movement late in 2017.

This case is about a diabolical and illegal effort by one of Americas most powerful men and his representatives to silence sexual-assault victims, the lawsuit reads (pdf).

Weinstein spokesman Juda S. Engelmayer said in an email on Dec. 7 that out of the public glare, with proper time, legal work, evidence, and facts, this is the way we believe these suits will ultimately all go.

A chapter is put behind as Mr. Weinstein keeps going forward to demonstrate the truth, Engelmayer said.

McGowan, known for her role in the TV series Charmed, hasnt addressed the dismissal of the lawsuit on social media.

In a different Los Angeles courtroom on Dec. 7, a judge rejected a motion from Weinsteins attorneys to dismiss a criminal indictment of Weinstein for 11 counts of sexual assault. Weinsteins attorneys had argued that an expert in rape trauma syndrome was improperly used by prosecutors in grand jury testimony.

Weinstein has pleaded not guilty to four counts of rape and seven other sexual assault counts. Hes awaiting trial. No date has been set. The 69-year-old former movie mogul is serving a 23-year prison sentence after convictions of rape and sexual assault in New York.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The Royal Navys flagship, HMS Queen Elizabeth pictured before returning to the Portsmouth in the UK on Dec. 9, 2021. (Andrew Matthews/PA)

Royal Navy Flagship Returns Home Without 100M Fighter Jet

Ships from the carrier strike group are set to arrive in Portsmouth following its first operational deployment to the Far East

The Royal Navys flagship is to return home following the first operational deployment of the carrier strike group (CSG), which has been dogged by incidents including the loss of a 100 million fighter jet at sea.

The aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth, with seven warships and a submarine, set off from Portsmouth Naval Base following a visit by the Queen in May for its show-of-force voyage to the Far East.

But the ships and their combined crew of 3,700 sailors faced several incidents, both diplomatic and technical, during the 25,000 nautical mile round trip.

The carrier had originally been expected to return to Portsmouth on Dec. 10, but the arrival was brought forward by a day because of concerns about the weather.

The narrow entrance to Portsmouth Harbour means that the 65,000-tonne warship would not routinely enter during heavy winds.

The crew of the three warships will be welcomed home in time for Christmas by family and friends for a traditional homecoming on the jetty at the naval base.

The most serious incident of the deployment happened in November when an F35B Lightning jet crashed into the Mediterranean after tumbling off the edge of HMS Queen Elizabeths flight deck.

The pilot ejected and was found safe, but the state-of-the-art fighter jet languished at the bottom of the sea and has only recently been recovered.

A member of the 3 billion carriers crew has been arrested on suspicion of leaking video footage of the incident.

The jets are operated by the renowned 617 Squadron, also known as the Dambusters squadron.

A visit to the carrier by the Prince of Wales scheduled for a few days later was cancelled following the incident.

Earlier in the voyage, Type 45 destroyer HMS Defender was involved in a stand-off with the Russian navy after it sailed close to Crimea in June.

The Kremlin claimed warning shots were fired by Russian vessels at the ship as it passed through the contested part of the Black Sea last weekan assertion dismissed by the UK Government, which said only that a routine gunnery exercise took place.

Dramatic eyewitness accounts revealed that Defender, which is also returning to Portsmouth on December 9, was buzzed by Russian military jets and the sound of naval gunfire could be heard as it sailed from Odessa in Ukraine to Georgia.

In July, its sister ship HMS Duncan, also arriving at the Hampshire naval base on Thursday, suffered a mechanical issue with its engine, forcing it to undergo repairs before returning to the CSG six weeks later.

In the same month, a number of ships in the CSG, including the carrier, experienced a Covid-19 outbreak despite all the crew being double-vaccinated.

A sailor on board the Type 23 frigate HMS Kent was also confirmed to have died in July. An investigation has been launched.

The voyage culminated in the carrier taking part in a joint exercise with warships from the US, the Netherlands, Canada and Japan before arriving in Yokosuka.

The exercise was part of efforts to achieve a free and open Indo-Pacific vision led by Washington and Tokyo.
Newly elected German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is sworn-in by Parliament President Baerbel Bas during a session of the German lower house of parliament Bundestag, in Berlin, Germany, on Dec. 8, 2021. (Fabrizio Bensch/Reuters)

Scholz Takes Over as German Chancellor, Ending Merkel Era

BERLINSocial Democrat Olaf Scholz became Germanys chancellor on Wednesday, ending 16 years of conservative rule under Angela Merkel and launching his three-way coalition that has pledged to boost green investment and strengthen European integration.

Scholz, 63, who over the past four years served as vice chancellor and finance minister in coalition with Merkel, won a majority of 395 votes from lawmakers in the lower house of parliament, Bundestag President Baerbel Bas said.

Wearing a black face mask, Scholz waved as he received a standing ovation from lawmakers and accepted bouquets of flowers and a basket of apples from leading members of parliament.

After being formally nominated by President Frank-Walter Steinmeier in the nearby Bellevue Palace, Scholz returned to the historic Reichstag building in the heart of the German capital to take the oath of office in front of lawmakers and become Germanys ninth chancellor since the end of World War Two.

In one of his first interviews as chancellor, Scholz told Welt TV that Russia would have to face consequences if Ukraines borders were violated, but he added that Germany and its allies were doing everything possible to avoid such an escalation.

Concerned by a Russian military build-up near the Ukrainian border, the United States wants Germany to use its pending approval of the nearly finished Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia as leverage in the standoff with Moscow over Ukraine.

In another interview with ZDF television, Scholz skirted questions about whether Germany would join the United States, Australia, and Britain in a diplomatic boycott of the Winter Olympic Games in Beijing.

In parliament, he swore to devote his energies to the welfare of the German peoplebut did not ask for Gods help, a phrase that is usually included in the oath of office and was spoken by Merkel.

Back in Bellevue Palace, the ministers of the new cabinet received their appointment certificates from the president.

Merkel officially handed over the chancellery to Scholz and wished him a steady hand.

In a short speech, Scholz hailed Merkel as a great chancellor and thanked her for a close and trustful relationship over the past years.

I would like to build on the northeast German mentality, if I may say so, that has reigned here so far. Not much will change it this regard, Scholz said in reference to their shared northern roots in the port city of Hamburg.

Scholz will lead an unprecedented tripartite coalition on the federal level with the pro-spending, environmentalist Greens and the fiscally more conservative, libertarian Free Democrats (FDP)unlikely political bedfellows in the past.

Merkel, 67, a lover of opera and hiking in the little spare time she has had in the last 16 years, has given few clues about what she plans to do in retirement.
Selling His Fellow Capitalists the Rope With Which Communist China Will Hang Them

Commentary

Envision a country in which the state runs capitalism to serve the interests of most people and our politicians wont let rich capitalists stand in the way of doing what they believe is best for the most people of the country.

That sounds a lot like Sen. Bernie Sanders or Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez describing their far-left ideal for America. Its not that far removed from the Marxist maxim that predates Karl Marx himself of from each according to his ability, to each according to his needs, and it goes completely against the free-market principles that drive successful investors and entrepreneurs in the Land of the Free, right?

Except that this observation was written earlier this year by the multi-billionaire founder of the worlds largest hedge fund, Ray Dalio, co-chairman and the driving force of Bridgewater Associates based in Westport, Connecticutone of the most trailblazing and innovative money managers in the history of investment finance. And the state-run capitalism to which he referred is that of communist China, which Dalio is more bullish on than anybody.

Dalios drive and talents are legendary, and his life story of launching Bridgewater out of his two-bedroom apartment in New York City two years after graduating Harvard Business School nearly a half-century ago is the stuff of the American Dream.

But recently on CNBC, far from celebrating America, Dalio was all moral equivalency as he analogized Beijings persecution and torture of its own people with our own human rights issues in the United States. He asked rhetorically, Should I not invest in the United States? on the basis of human rights.

What they have is an autocratic system, Dalio said of Beijings rule, and one of the leaders described it, he said that the United States is a country of individuals and individualism, while in China, its an extension of the family and the internal abuses of the Chinese government that disturb Americans are comparable to the discipline of a strict parent, according to the Chinese governmental official Dalio was quoting.

Dalios remarks come after Bridgewater raised $1.25 billion for its largest China fund yet, according to The Wall Street Journal. Its worth noting that nearly 59 percent of Bridgewaters $223 billion in assets belong to non-U.S. clients, according to its required disclosures to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission earlier this year.

Since 2018, Bridgewater has had its own active subsidiary based in Shanghai; the firms only offices, other than its Connecticut base, are located in mainland China. Many of his clients are high-net-worth individuals and institutional investors in China.

Worse still, The Wall Street Journal discovered that Dalios new fund is actually a trust product overseen by state-owned China Resources Trust. No shock there, since for years Dalio has been managing billions owned by Chinese entitiesand even by the Beijing regimein investments outside China.

To say that Dalio is a confirmed Sinophile would be a gross understatement. He has visited mainland China many dozens of times, studied Chinese culture, and modeled some of Bridgewaters business culture after practices encouraged by Mao Zedong during Chinas Cultural Revolution, according to current and former employees. He even had his son, at age 11, spend a year living with a Beijing family after getting special permission from the Chinese government, according to Dalio in a soon-to-be-published autobiography.

Dalio has spoken to the annual China Development Forum, which requires a six-figure donation to the Beijing government to attend, founded the Beijing Dalio Public Welfare Foundation, whose mission is to contribute to a harmonious society, and there is an auditorium named after him within Beijings historic Tsinghua University.

Tsinghua was founded in 1911 at the behest of President Theodore Roosevelt after the suppression of Chinas Boxer Rebellion, originally as a prep school for Chinese students chosen to study in the United States.

Two men ride bikes on the empty grounds of Tsinghua University in Beijing on Feb. 28, 2020. (Greg Baker/AFP via Getty Images)

Dalios deep knowledge and familiarity with the Chinese have paid off big. Bridgewaters China subsidiary has delivered a dazzling 19 percent average annual return over its three years of operation, significantly exceeding the 16.3 percent of mainland Chinas CSI 300 index over the same period. Obviously, there is serious money to be made in the soon-to-be largest economy in the world.

But those mounds of cash are soaked in the blood of many thousands of Chinas own people. The Muslim-dominated far-west region of Xinjiang, after riots in its capital city, Urumqi, in 2009, has been subject to a mass persecution and incarceration without trial of its ethnic Uyghurs. The region is rich in fossil fuel resources and borders several countries strategically important for Beijings expansionist Belt and Road Initiative.

Eyewitnesses have testified extensively to mass detentions, forced labor, coerced sterilizations and abortions, and even genocide as a means of eradicating Uyghur culture and religion. One European scholar calls Beijings forced ethnic assimilation in Xinjiang the countrys most intense campaign of coercive social reengineering since the end of the Cultural Revolution.

The Uyghurs, however, are only the most recent victims of communist Chinese persecution in the 21st century. Blind lawyer and activist Chen Guangcheng, for instance, was incarcerated for years and beaten for engineering a class-action lawsuit on behalf of victims of Beijings infamous one-child policy, finally fleeing with his family to the United States in 2013.

The regime has reneged on its promised one country, two systems approach to Hong Kong, clamping down on political freedoms in the former British colony, and Beijings air forces have been intimidating Taiwan since the weakness displayed by the Biden administration in the bloody Afghan withdrawal debacle. Expert observers now expect the regime to make a move to annex Taiwan sometime after the Beijing Winter Olympics in February 2022.

More importantly for those outside China who wish their children to enjoy the same political and economic liberties that have let them live prosperously, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has been executing global expansionist designs it has made no secret of planning.

As President Donald Trumps 2017 National Security Strategy noted, For decades, U.S. policy was rooted in the belief that support for Chinas rise and for its integration into the post-war international order would liberalize China. Instead, Beijing is building the most capable and well-funded military in the world, after our own. Its nuclear arsenal is growing and diversifying. And much of Chinas military modernization and economic expansion is due to its access to the U.S. innovation economy, including Americas world-class universities.

In 2020, a Pentagon report on China stated that Beijing seeks to develop a military by mid-century that is equal toor in some cases superior tothe U.S. military, or that of any other great power that the PRC [Peoples Republic of China] views as a threat.

A man walks among supersonic cruise missiles at the 13th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition in Zhuhai in Chinas Guangdong province on Sept. 28, 2021. (Noel Celis/AFP via Getty Images)

The Department of Defense pointed out that China is already ahead of the United States in shipbuilding, with the largest navy in the world, with an overall battle force of approximately 350 ships and submarines compared to the U.S. Navys 293 ships as of early 2020; the PRCs more than 1,250 ground-launched ballistic missiles (GLBMs) and ground-launched cruise missiles (GLCMs) with ranges between 500 and 5,500 kilometers outclass the United States one type of conventional GLBM with a range of 70 to 300 kilometers and no GLCMs.

The Wall Street Journal reported on Dec. 5 that according to U.S. intelligence, China plans a permanent military base in Equatorial Guinea, which would be its first presence on the Atlantic coast.

Nearly 20 years ago during a visit to Beijing, President George W. Bush was brimming with optimism as he spoke at Tsinghua University and said: We see a China that is becoming one of the most dynamic and creative societies in the world.  China is on a rising path, and America welcomes the emergence of a strong and peaceful and prosperous China.

As the Trump administration recognized, America was all in on a fallacy that was accepted by most in the free world: that free-market freedoms and U.S. support for Chinas rise would wean it toward political liberty and away from its expansionist designs. It took a long time for the world to wake up to the reality that the CCP has for decades been using an aggressively lawless form of capitalism to spread the global reach of its tyranny.

For one of Americas most famous and gifted capitalists to help Beijing overtake and subjugate America will go down as one of the strangest cases of short selling in history.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) speaks at the start of a Senate Homeland Security Committee hearing on the governments response to the CCP virus outbreak in Washington on March 5, 2020. (Samuel Corum/Getty Images)

Sen. Ron Johnson Blasts Faucis Fear Mongering Track Record on AIDS

Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) took to the Senate floor on Wednesday to blast Dr. Anthony Faucis track record during the outbreak of the AIDS pandemic in the 1980s, saying that Fauci engaged in fear mongering and discouraged against potentially life-saving treatments.

According to Johnson, Dr. Anthony Fauci used his position as director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) to fear monger during the height of the AIDS epidemic and is doing the same in regards to COVID-19.

Johnson began his speech on the Senate floor with a jab at a group he called the COVID gods, including the Dr. Faucis of the world, agency heads in President Joe Bidens administration, mainstream media, and social media corporations.

This weekend, something happened thats not unusual: My words were taken completely out of context, twisted, distorted, and I was relentlessly attacked, Johnson said of various media reports.

Specifically, Johnson was alleged to have criticized Fauci for overhyping the AIDS epidemic of the 1980s.

A slew of mainstream media outlets ran the headline along with Faucis response tagging the claim as preposterous. In fact, this quote was picked up and reported out of context, and Johnson doubled down on the argument, explaining what media reports had left out.

Reading a handful of particularly misleading headlines, Johnson quipped, So what did I say? That sounds horrible!

Well, Johnson explained, what I said was a response to radio talk show host Brian Kilmeades question asking about the omicron variant.

Johnson said that Kilmeade had asked him for his opinion on the new variant.

In response, Johnson noted that the trend for most infectious diseases is to become more contagious in order to continue to replicate, but generally less lethal because it doesnt have replication if [it] kills [its] host.

Now, nothings guaranteed, Johnson continued on the Senate floor, but that would be the general direction of the variants of the coronavirus. Why would we assume anything worse?

But, Johnson said, thats what the COVID gods are doing. Theyre assuming the worst. Theyre using every new variant to keep us in the state of fear that they have created to maintain control over our lives and rob us of our freedom.

Johnson continued, After talking about that state of fear, I went on to say, By the way, Fauci did the exact same thing with AIDS. He overhyped it.'

That is where the news media stopped, Johnson commented, saying that the media left out his next words to make it seem like he was dismissing the AIDS disease.

He rejected this, insisting, I would never downplay the tragedy that is AIDS.

Fauci Suggested AIDS Could Spread By Normal Contact

A microscopic view of the HIV 1 virus on a lymphocyte. Researchers have documented recently, that antibodies produced by the immune systems of certain HIV patients, have been found to neutralize the HIV virus. (AFP/Getty Images)

To set the record straight, Johnson recounted his next words, saying he told Kilmeade that Fauci created all kinds of fear, saying it could effect the entire population when it couldnt.

Hes using the exact same playbook for COVID: ignoring therapy, pushing a vaccine, Johnson argued, instead of pushing for early treatment.

We still havent robustly explored early [COVID] treatment, Johnson contended, and thats a travesty.

Fauci  called this preposterous,' Johnson reported. But lets go back to what he actually said back in May of 1983.

I was alive in 83, Johnson continued. I understand how unsettling this new disease was. I understand the state of fear, the legitimate state of fear.

But, he said, responsible health officials should not have stoked it, and Dr. Fauci did.

Specifically, Johnson cited an article written by Fauci that was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. In that article, Fauci suggested that routine close contact, including normal day-to-day family interactions, may be able to spread AIDS.

Nearly 40 years later, doctors are certain that such an idea is unfounded and incorrect. But at the time, when the disease was only just beginning to be recognized, precious little was known about it.

By the end of 1983, there were a reported 4,700 cases of AIDS and HIV in the United States, and 2,000 deaths from the disease, a far cry from other diseases that do spread by normal person-to-person contact. Thus, despite the dearth of information on the disease, doctors were relatively confident that the disease did not spread like a cold or the flu.

But for Americans living through the early days of AIDS, there was far more uncertainty, leading to the rise of the 1983 AIDS hysteria.

In view of the publics fear, Johnson said, when Fauci wrote his article, he knew what a delicate time we were [in] as the publics awareness of this disease was emerging.

When people were already frightened by what they were hearing, [Fauci] was in a position of authority, Johnson continued.

He knew what he said carried weight and would be disseminated. And, Johnson added, it was.

Immediately after the publication of Faucis article, a series of outlets, including big names like The Associated Press and The New York Times, ran headlines suggesting that normal contact could spread AIDS, further stoking the fears and uncertainty rife at the time.

The effects of this were clearly felt by AIDS patients, Johnson argued, saying that Faucis health advice stigmatized AIDS patients for years with his fearmongering.

Only two months later, Fauci changed tack entirely, calling the idea that AIDS could spread by normal contact, which he had himself suggested, preposterous.

Fauci Reported to Have Discouraged Lifesaving AIDS Preventative Treatment

Johnson is not, as he himself noted on the Senate floor, the first to criticize Fauci for his health advice in the AIDS epidemic.

Sean Strub, an AIDS patient and activist, wrote an article on Faucis role in the AIDS epidemic for the Huffington Post in 2017, long before Fauci became a leadership figure.

In his article, which has since been taken down, Strub wrote that Fauci was whitewashing history to hide his role in delaying the promotion and implementation of a treatment that could have saved the lives of around 17,000 AIDS patients.

A boy holds a plate as pupils queue for lunch in a school for children orphaned by AIDS on March 1, 2012 in the town of Bulembu in Swaziland. Swaziland has the worlds highest rate of HIV infection, with at least one in four adults carrying the virus, and about 120,000 children have been orphaned, comprising more than 10 percent of the total population. (Stephane de Sakutin/AFP/Getty Images)

Specifically, Strub accuses Fauci of withholding Bactrim, an early treatment medication that could have prevented AIDS patients from developing a particularly virulent form of pneumonia that was the most common cause of death for 1980s AIDS patients. In one account related by Strub, Fauci even encouraged an AIDS patient to stop taking Bactrim.

Turning back to COVID-19, Johnson argued, [Fauci] is using the exact same playbook for COVID as he did for AIDS: Ignoring therapy, like Bactrim, or the cornucopia of cheap, generic repurposed drugs that are being used successfully to treat COVID and save lives.

The solution has always been early treatment, Johnson said. But, again, Dr. Fauci is ignoring therapy and pushing a vaccine.

Through refusing to explore early treatment options, Johnson contended, Faucis advice could have contributed to as many as 500,000 lives to be needlessly lost.
Senate Blocks Bidens Vaccine Mandate for Private Businesses

The U.S. Senate on Wednesday narrowly voted to block President Joe Bidens COVID-19 vaccine mandate for the private sector.

In a 52-48 vote, mainly along party lines, the Senate voted to pass a resolution of disapproval (pdf) of the rule submitted by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), which is overseen by the Department of Labor.

All 50 Republicans in the upper chamber joined with Sen. Mike Braun (R-Ind.) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) to challenge the measure under the Congressional Review Act (CRA), which allows Congress to review and, if necessary, overturn new regulations put into place by federal offices such as OSHA.

Two Democrats, Sens. Joe Manchin III of West Virginia and Jon Tester of Montana, joined the Republicans in voting to overturn the vaccine mandate.

Senator Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.) on Capitol Hill in Washington on June 23, 2021. (Sarah Silbiger/Pool/Getty Images)

Addressing the Senate floor ahead of the vote, Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.) laid out his reasoning for voting against the vaccine mandate.

Bidens vaccine mandatelike so many other of the lefts policiesis about power, controlling more aspects of Americans lives, & in so doing, eroding Americans personal autonomy, Hagerty said.

It comes after a U.S. appeals court on Nov. 12 rejected a challenge by the Biden administration and reaffirmed its decision to put on hold OSHA sweeping vaccine mandate, which required that businesses with 100 employees or more ensure that workers either be vaccinated against COVID-19 by Jan. 4, 2022, or be tested weekly and wear a mask.

The U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans stated in an opinion last month that OSHAs mandate is staggeringly overbroad and ordered it to take no steps to implement or enforce the mandate until further court order.

The court had previously issued a temporary halt to the mandate on Nov. 6, pending litigation.

The mandate was introduced in September by Biden, who told the nation that our patience is wearing thin with the millions of Americans who have chosen to not get a vaccine against the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus.

To enact the mandates, Biden asked OSHA to declare an emergency temporary standard. In the past, such standards have been used to guard employees against dangerous chemicals or other similar toxins.

OSHA said in a statement to The Epoch Times at the time that the emergency temporary standard would ensure [that a firms] workforce is fully vaccinated or require any workers who remain unvaccinated to produce a negative test result on at least a weekly basis before coming to work.

In total, Bidens mandate would extend to roughly 100 million Americansnearly a third of all U.S. citizens.

In the federal appeal courts decision on Nov. 12, it stated that the Biden administrations vaccine mandate raises serious constitutional concerns and likely exceeds the federal governments authority.

Medical staff and community members protested vaccine mandates in front of Rady Childrens Hospital. Registered nurse Alicia Fregoso wrote on a sign that she acquired natural immunity to COVID-19 in San Diego, on Oct. 1, 2021. (Jane Yang/The Epoch Times)

OSHA shortly later announced a decision to suspend its implementation and enforcement of the mandate.

Under the CRA procedure, if a rule is overturned, federal administrations are forbidden from issuing the same or a substantially similar rule.

The White House has continued to push the rhetoric that unvaccinated Americans are to blame for slowing down the nations economic recovery.

The White House didnt immediately respond to a request by The Epoch Times for comment. However, Biden administration officials have said that the president would veto such a resolution should it reach his desk.

Joseph Lord contributed to this report.
A screen displays trading information for Didi Global on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York on Dec. 3, 2021. (Brendan McDermid/Reuters)

Some Hedge Funds May Have Lost Millions on Bets on Chinas Didi Global

TORONTOSeveral hedge funds may have been bruised by bets on Didi Global Inc., filings showed after the shares tumbled since the Chinese ride-hailing company announced plans to withdraw from the New York Stock Exchange.

Didis shares have tumbled 56.8 percent from their June 30 IPO price. The slide accelerated after the company said on Friday it planned to delist from the New York Stock Exchange and pursue a listing in Hong Kong, bending to Chinese regulators angered by its U.S. debut.

Hedge funds were invested in 94.4 million shares of Didi at the end of September, down 13.2 million shares from the previous quarter, according to U.S. 13F filings compiled by industry tracker Symmetric.

It is not known if hedge funds had further reduced their investment since that time, but Reuters calculations show the 7.9 percent fall in Didis shares between the end of September and Dec. 7 would have wiped a combined $60.9 million of value from those positions.

As of the end of September, 27 percent of the value of the company was held by institutional investors owned by managers classified as hedge funds by Symmetric.

Symmetric notes that stocks with a high percentage of ownership by hedge funds may be susceptible to liquidations by those funds during stressed periods.

Among hedge funds that bought shares in the third quarter, Bridgewater Associates purchased almost 9 million, according to filings.

Penserra Capital bought 5.4 million in Didis stock while Owl Creek Asset Management purchased 1.7 million and Seven Eight Capital 537,145 shares, the filings showed. They showed that Paulson & Co. added 1.6 million shares at the end of the third quarter while Seven Eight Capital purchased 537,145 shares.

Bridgewater, Penserra, Owl Creek, Paulson, and Seven Eight did not respond to requests for comment.

Tiger Global Management and billionaire George Soros fund also held sizeable stakes in Didi at the end of the third quarter, together accounting for 4.7 million shares in end-September.

Singapores state fund Temasek reduced its position in Didi by 3.6 million shares as of Sept. 30, but maintained a stake of 29.4 million shares.

Tiger and Soros did not respond to requests for comment while Temasek declined to comment on the position.

It is not known if these firms are still invested but an executive at a large U.S.-based hedge fund, which had a small position in Didi that it exited recently, said a lot of people are pulling out even if they plan to possibly get back in later.

There is also a problem that retail investors and even some mutual funds may not be able to easily own Hong Kong-listed shares and will be forced to sell, so there would be more pressure, said the executive.

Among the public pension plans that held shares of Didi were Canada Pension Plan (CPP), Montreal-based Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec, and the California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS).

A spokeswoman for Caisse declined to comment while CPP and CalPERS could not be immediately reached for comment.

By Maiya Keidan
Health staff conduct tests at the COVID-19 testing centre in the Reactivating the Repat Hospital in Adelaide, Australia, on March 11, 2020. (Tracey Nearmy/Getty Images)

South Australian Authorities Close Mandate Loophole for Vaccine Trial Participants

South Australian (SA) authorities will remove vaccine mandate exemptions for individuals participating in vaccine trials from Dec. 8.

The new direction from SA Police will override an existing direction from early November that allowed those taking part in a COVID-19 vaccine trial to be exempt from taking an approved vaccine because it could impact the validity of the trial.

The new direction reads, Taking part in a COVID-19 vaccination trial is no longer a valid reason to be exempt from having a Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) approved COVID-19 vaccine in the above-mentioned directions.

Other existing requirements remain.

Currently SA has mandates for those working in the education, disability services, aged care, transport, and health sectors.

The direction will impact those waiting to trial the experimental COVAX-19, being developed by Vaxine, whose laboratories are based at Flinders University in Adelaide.

Professor Nikolai Petrovsky, who has been administered COVAX-19 and is the primary driver behind its development, was hoping to get his drug approved by the TGA in Australia.

Frank Pangallo, a member of the SA Legislative Council, took part in a COVAX-19 trial last year before going on to have his first AstraZeneca shot, according to the ABC.

Pangallo said he had no adverse effects after getting both COVAX-19 and AstraZeneca.

A GoFundMe campaign online has raised over $770,000, part of which will go towards funding the drugs $300,000 application process through the TGA.

Petrovsky must also contend with being barred from his own university because he does not fulfil the states vaccine mandatewhich requires only TGA-approved vaccines been administered.

Meanwhile, SA is on track to hit the 90 percent vaccination rate for the state, which will prompt the government to begin easing more restrictions.

The state opened its domestic borders last month on Nov. 23 to fully vaccinated travellers for the first time in over 150 days.

Around 43,000 people had applied to enter SA, with travellers now required to use EntryCheck SA, a new online border entry system, to file an application.

Travellers also need to download the HealthCheck SA app to keep abreast of testing and quarantine requirements.
St. Louis County Rescinds Mask Mandate After Court Ruling

The most populous county in Missouri on Thursday rescinded its mask mandate, citing a recent court ruling.

Dr. Faisal Khan, the acting health director for St. Louis County, said in a letter that the mandate is no longer in place, effective immediately. That came after the St. Louis County Council this week opted not to renew the mandate, which it has to do every 30 days, according to state law. It also came after a Missouri judge ruled local COVID-19 orders were illegal and ordered local health officials to rescind them.

Because of the Cole County order and the councils decision not to approve a new face covering order, the Dept. of Public Health director this morning rescinded the prior face covering order. The Health Dept. continues to recommend masks in indoor settings. COVID cases are rising, Sam Page, the executive of the county and a Democrat, said in a statement.

The mandate forced everybody 5 or older to wear masks in indoor public places and on public transportation.

Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt, a Republican who is running for the U.S. Senate, announced last month that he would not challenge the November ruling that deemed such mandates as violative of the state Constitution.

The ending of the mask mandate is a huge win for the people of St. Louis County, Schmitt said on Thursday. Although we have consistently held that St. Louis Countys mask mandates were illegally imposed in the first place, this is the right move and is consistent with the recent judgment.

Schmitt said he expects other jurisdictions to follow suit.

A mask mandate in the city of St. Louis is still in effect, the citys health department said.

The city said in a statement that it was aware of the recent ruling but said the ramifications and ultimate disposition of the case is still being determined.

In the meantime, the city is utilizing distinct local authority, in accordance and consistent with the requirements of state statute to keep in place its mask mandate.

Mask mandates have proven divisive during the pandemic. Little concrete data supports such mandates, some experts say; others say wearing masks can help decrease the spread of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, which causes COVID-19.

St. Louis County has a COVID-19 case rate of 215.5 cases per 100,000 people, a rate that meets the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention definition of high community transmission of the virus. It wasnt clear how many people were hospitalized with the disease.
Starbucks Employees Vote to Form Union, the First in Company History

Starbucks workers in three locations in Buffalo, New York, have voted on Dec. 9 to unionize, the first U.S. stores to be represented by a union in the companys 50-year history.

This comes after the majority of ballots counted by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) from among the 100 Starbucks workers eligible to vote were in favor unionization.

The employees will now join Workers United, an affiliate of the Service Employees International Union.

The unionization push in New York has the potential to encourage similar efforts for about 235,000 employees in 9,000 U.S. locations at the second-biggest chain store in America.

Starbucks attempted to put a halt to the unionization drive, but failed after an NLRB decision on Dec. 7 decided in the workers favor.

A Starbucks in Mesa, Arizona, has filed petitions with the NLRB to form its own union, which will be decided on Dec. 10.

We have no accountability right now. We have no say, Casey Moore, a barista who has been working at one of the Buffalo area Starbucks for around six months, said to AP. With a union, we will actually be able to sit down at the table and say, This is what we want.

Increased use of mobile order apps at Starbucks and other food services has skyrocketed due to the pandemic.

The baristas say that they are organizing in part due to the surging workload created by the companys mobile app, which has left them overworked since the pandemic.

Many Starbucks employees complain that they cannot limit the number of mobile orders per hour, leading to major bottlenecks in orders.

The baristas want more of a say on how the stores are managed and how the technology should be utilized.

Starbucks responded that store managers can simply turn off mobile orders for their locations temporarily, allowing the app to direct customers to other nearby stores that have less overflow.

Technology was made for customers and not for employees, said Moore. Without a union, we havent been able to voice how the technology could also work for us.

The company said it has long offered the most generous benefits in the cafe industry since its humble founding as a small coffee shop in 1971, including health care coverage for part-time workers and college tuition reimbursements.

In a recent filing with the SEC, the chain said that if a significant portion of our employees were to become unionized, our labor costs could increase and our business could be negatively affected by other requirements and expectations that could increase our costs, change our employee culture, decrease our flexibility, and disrupt our business.

The coffee chain says its current average wage in the United States is more than $12 an hour, with more than half of its employees earning more than $15 an hour.

To stave off further discontent during the pandemic, Starbucks has said that it has implemented two wage increases in the past 18 months.

The company announced around Thanksgiving that all of its U.S. workers would earn at least $15 and up to $23 per hour by next summer.
Craig Tamanaha, who was later charged with setting fire to a Christmas tree outside the Fox News headquarters, is detained by police after exposing himself outside the court at the trial of Ghislaine Maxwell in the Manhattan borough of N.Y.C., on Nov. 29, 2021. (Carlo Allegri/Reuters)

Suspect Accused of Setting Ablaze 50-foot Christmas Tree in NYC Released Without Bail

The arsonist suspect who has been accused of setting ablaze a 50-foot Christmas tree outside the Fox News headquarters in midtown Manhattan was released again after his arraignment on Wednesday, according to multiple reports.

Craig Tamanaha, a 49-year-old homeless man, denied being responsible for the early morning arson that caused about $500,000 in damages outside the 44-story office tower called News Corp., which is located at the corner of 6th Avenue and 48th Street, Fox News reported.

Along with arson, the suspect faced a slew of charges, including criminal mischief, reckless endangerment, criminal nuisance, trespassing, tampering, and disorderly conduct.

Tamanaha was set free again less than 24 hours after his arrest due to the charges against him not being eligible for monetary bail under criminal justice reforms enacted in the state last year. The suspect was due back in court in early January.

A worker disassembles a Christmas tree outside Fox News headquarters, in N.Y.C., on Dec. 8, 2021. (Richard Drew/AP Photo)

Under New York law, for arson to qualify as bail, Tamanaha would have to at least be charged with third-degree arson as a hate crime, criminal defense lawyer Mark Bederow told the network.

Youd have to intentionally damage a building or vehicle by starting a fire or explosion as a hate crime, which is an extraordinarily high bar for bail eligibility, Bederow said. Having a personal bias or animus toward Christmas doesnt legally cut it.

Fox & Friends host Brian Kilmeade said on Wednesday that a security officer spotted the suspect walking towards the tree and igniting it.

Thank goodness we have very excellent security, who within two seconds, tackled [the suspect] to the ground, Kilmeade said. The shows co-host, Steve Doocy, said eyewitnesses saw the suspect climbing about halfway up [the tree] because there is a metal superstructure underneath it before setting it ablaze.

A worker disassembles a Christmas tree outside Fox News headquarters, in N.Y.C., on Dec. 8, 2021. (Richard Drew/AP Photo)

The suspect was in possession of a lighter, but it was unclear whether any accelerant was used to start the fire, police said. The cause of the blaze will be determined later by fire officials. No injuries were reported and the investigation remains ongoing.

Tamanahas father told the New York Post that he has a history of destructive stunts and abuses drugs. The man was also arrested last month for exposing himself outside the U.S. Court House in Manhattan while the Ghislaine Maxwell trial was ongoing.

Oh, hes a nut. I cant control him, Richard Tamanaha told the Post. Mentally, hes not all there.

It took workers 21 hours to assemble the 50-foot artificial tree that features 10,000 glass ornaments and 100,000 lights.

New plans were announced to rebuild the networks All-American Christmas Tree by Thursday afternoon, as well as a lighting ceremony live on-air at 4:30 p.m. during the networks channels: The Five, Fox News Media CEO Suzanne Scott told employees in an internal memorandum obtained by The Epoch Times.

From NTD News
The Cayman Islands flagged yacht "Zen" moored in the Bay of Santa Ponsa, on the island of Mallorca, on Oct. 20, 2021. - According to several medias, founder of Alibaba Group Jack Ma is spending time in Spain on the luxury yacht. Ma's presence in Spainfor a "study tour of the agricultural industry and technology related to the environment" was reported by the South China Morning Post, which is owned by Alibaba. (Jaime Reina/AFP via Getty Images)

The Reemergence of Jack Ma and Chinas Agricultural Ambitions

Commentary

When you read the word technology, what images spring to mind?

Smartphones, supercomputers, superfast search engines, self-driving cars, and so on.

Its important to remember that technology is simply the application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes. Its a broad definition, meaning technology comes in many forms.

Take seed technology, as in all the patents, trademarks, applications, trade secrets, and other intellectual property related to seed products, for example. Its a basic tool for a countrys secure food supply.

Right now, in China, there is a mismatch between the supply of grains and the demand for grains. With close to 20 percent of the worlds population, but only 7 percent of the worlds arable land, China is looking to science to boost seed production. In a desperate attempt to keep hungry people fed, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) will go to any length to boost crop production, even if this includes stealing scientific information from other countries, including the United States.

Farmer Jack

In the middle of October, Jack Ma, a man whose public appearances have become rather infrequent, traveled to Spain for an agritech study tour. This trip came shortly after Alibaba, the company Ma helped co-found, pledged to invest heavily in agricultural-related technology and farming practices.

A week after Mas Spanish expedition, he traveled to the Netherlands. Why? To visit research institutions dedicated to the study of agritech and seed science. Ma decided to take a personal trip, were told.

However, theres reason to think otherwise. Alibaba, lest we forget, has very close ties to the CCP. Just a few months ago, Ma mysteriously disappeared. So consumed by his love of painting, he chose to disappear into the shadows. Of course, everyone knows why Ma disappeared. He criticized the CCP.

Now, though, at the same time Beijing is aggressively pursuing all things agri-related, Ma is traveling around Europe, visiting agricultural workshops and research institutes. Is it possible that he has been sent abroad to report back?

Ma appears to be warm and affable, a savvy businessman, very much a social animal. Hes a people person. His style is in stark contrast to the wolf-warrior diplomacy associated with the CCP. If there is one man who can secure a deal, its Jack Ma.

Chinas Crop Crisis

As Reuters previously reported, 40 percent of Chinas arable land has been destroyed by rising levels of pollution and rapid urbanization. To grow enough crops, Beijing is throwing money at the problemlots of it.

The CCPs Digital Agriculture and Rural Area Development Plan 2019 to 2025 seeks to revitalize the country through agricultural development and scientific advancements. One of the ways in which it intends to boost the countrys agricultural sector is through aggressive acquisitions. As the researcher Andrea Durkin has noted, acquisitions have become the quickest way for China to gain access to seed technologies discovered elsewhere.

Farmers harvest cabbage at Huarong county in southern Chinas Hunan Province on March 5, 2020. (Noel Celis/AFP via Getty Images)

In 2016, ChemChina, a CCP-backed agrochemical company, bought Swiss-giant Syngenta, a leading global provider of agricultural science and technology.

In 2019, Johnny Chi, the chairman of COFCO InternationalChinas largest grain, oilseeds, and food companypromised to invest heavily in Brazilian agriculture. The South American country is now considered a fundamental partner in guaranteeing Chinas food security.

This year, Chinese online retailer Pinduoduo, one of the largest agriculture-focused technology platforms in Asia, announced plans to invest in agricultural technologies abroad. The company appears to be answering Beijings call.

The United States is not immune from Chinese investments. Smithfield Foods, based in Smithfield, Virginia is one of the largest pork producers in the world. Its also owned by Chinese Company WH Group (again, close ties to Beijing). Of course, besides acquisitions and alliances, the Chinese regime also engages in acts of economic espionage, including theft of trade secrets.

The CCPs actions are a genuine threat to the United States. In early November, a Chinese intelligence agent was convicted by a federal jury in Cincinnati. According to the Department of Justice, the man in question, Yanjun Xu, was found guilty on all counts, including conspiring to and attempting to commit economic espionage and stealing trade secrets.

As Beijing struggles to avert a crop crisis, expect further acts of economic espionage. The United States is, after all, the world leader in science, including seed science and agritech.

According to FBI Director Christopher Wray, the greatest long-term threat to our nations information and intellectual property, and to our economic vitality, is the counterintelligence and economic espionage threat from China. Its a threat to our economic securityand by extension, to our national security. The CCP is attempting to steal information on everything from military equipment to wind turbines to rice and corn seeds.

American agriculture, as the aforementioned Durkin has noted, is a particularly soft target for IP theft, whether through access to privileged company research, the transfer of information out of university or government research facilities, or by simply digging up seeds in a field.

With Chinas agricultural sector stuttering, expect the digging to continue. Perhaps, once finished in Europe, Jack Ma will make his way to the United States.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Ukrainian President Leonid Kravchuk (L), Belarus's Supreme Soviet Chairman Stanislav Shushkevich (C), and Russian President Boris Yeltsin (R) stand for applause after signing a mutual assistance agreement stating that "the Soviet Union as a geopolitical reality [and] a subject of international law has ceased to exist" on Dec. 8, on 1991. (Novosti/AFP via Getty Images)

This Day in Market History: The Dissolution of the Soviet Union

Each day, Benzinga will take a look back at a notable market-related moment that happened on this date.

What Happened?

On Dec. 8, 1991, the Soviet Union, Americas Cold War rivals for decades, officially dissolved.

Where Was the Market?

The S&P 500 closed the previous week at 379.10, and the Dow closed at 2,886.40.

What Else Was Going On in the World?

U.S. minimum wage was just $4.25 per hour, and the top song of the year was (Everything I Do) I Do It For You by Bryan Adams.

The End of the Cold War

By the time the USSR. officially dissolved in 1991, the writing had been on the wall for years.

The Berlin Wall fell in 1989 amid revolutions throughout the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. The Soviet Communist party tried one last power grab by launching a failed coup against Soviet president Mikhail Gorbachev in August 1991. However, the coup failed thanks to forces led by Russian president Boris Yeltsin.

On Dec. 8, 1991, Yeltsin was among the group that officially signed documents abolishing the 74-year-old Soviet Union and creating a Commonwealth of Independent States, including Ukraine, Byelorussia, and Russia.

U.S. stocks had rallied for months in anticipation of the collapse of the Soviet Union, and traders actually took profits on the rally on the day following the Soviet dissolution, sending the Dow lower by 0.5 percent.

Still, it was a strong year for U.S. stocks overall. The Dow finished the month of December up 9.4 percent and finished 1991 up 20.3 percent on the year.

By Wayne Duggan

 2021 The Epoch Times. The Epoch Times does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
The Department of Water and Power (DWP) San Fernando Valley Generating Station in Sun Valley, Calif., on Dec. 8, 2008. (David McNew/Getty Images)

Top Oil and Gas Executives at World Petroleum Congress Discuss State of Industry and Climate

HOUSTONOil and gas will remain the dominant fuel source for decades to come, the industrys top executives said on Wednesday, making their case not to be under valued as governments seek to reduce carbon emissions to address climate worries.

Executives at this weeks World Petroleum Congress in Houston offered a defense of the industrys efforts to adapt to U.N.-led climate change policies and recommendations, describing government opposition to some new projects as harming society.

Any effort to bar new development is misguided and likely to hurt poorer nations, said OPEC Secretary General Mohammad Barkindo. Oil and gas also can be part of the solution to tackling climate change.

Jim Teague, co-chief executive of energy pipeline operator Enterprise Products Partners, addressed proposals to reimpose a ban on U.S. oil exports. Such proposals ignore there are people that want a better quality of life, and they dont really give a damn about climate change, Teague said.

Developing cleaner fuels were prominent on the agenda of the conference, however. Exxon Mobil Corp and Pioneer Natural Resources pledged to cut greenhouse gas emissions from their shale output. Peru also laid out its plan to hold an auction for renewable energy projects.

Oil refiners that supply motor fuels also are moving to develop more biodiesel from plant and animal byproducts. Future refineries will be more modular, said Ethan Phillips, a partner with consultancy Bain & Co.

Executives largely steered clear of discussions of emissions from the use of their products, called Scope 3. ConocoPhillips CEO Ryan Lance described the largest U.S. independent oil producers approach as focusing on the emissions we create as a business.

Industry advocates said energy consumers can make their own decisions on fuels and how to cut carbon emissions.

For consumers, it is ultimately about choice, said Frank J. Macchiarola, an official with trade group the American Petroleum Institute.

Several executives, including those who have sharply cut spending on new fossil fuel projects, lamented the lack of investment in new oil and gas projects.

They pointed to the soaring prices in Europe and Asia for gas and power as evidence of how a too-rapid embrace of solar, wind and other energy technologies can harm consumers and disrupt energy supplies.

Developing countries cannot afford to allow the energy transition to raise energy prices, said Brazils state-run oil company Petrobras executive Roberto Ardenghy.

We have to be careful not to create energy inequality, he cautioned. We have to be pragmatic.

By Sabrina Valle and Liz Hampton. The Epoch Times contributed to this report.
Trial Begins for Ex-Cop Kim Potter Who Killed Daunte Wright

A former suburban Minneapolis police officer who has said she meant to use a Taser instead of a handgun when she fatally shot Daunte Wright in April went on trial on Wednesday.

Kim Potter, a former Brooklyn Center Police officer was identified in April as responsible for the fatal shooting of 20-year-old Wright, whose death was ruled as homicide by medical examiners.

Potter, 49, is charged with first-degree and second-degree manslaughter and has pleaded not guilty to both charges.

Police bodycam and dashcam footage shown at the start of Potters manslaughter trial showed her collapsing in tears after shooting and killing Wright during a traffic stop near Minneapolis on April 11.

Oh [expletive]! I just shot him, Potter can be heard shouting at the scene just moments after the incident, before crumpling over. I grabbed the wrong [expletive] gun! I shot him. Oh my God. Oh my God. Oh my God. Im going to prison.

A mourner holds a program for the funeral services of Daunte Wright at Shiloh Temple International Ministries in Minneapolis on April 22, 2021. (AP Photo/John Minchillo/Pool)

During opening statements in the Hennepin County Government Center in Minneapolis, Erin Eldridge, a prosecutor with the Minnesota assistant attorney generals office, told the jury that Potter betrayed her badge when she shot Wright.

Eldridge said that Potter should have known she was reaching for her gun, citing its weight. She also said that Potters gun was kept on her right side, while her Taser was worn on her left.

The only weapon she draws with her right hand is her gun, not her Taser, Eldridge told jurors.

Police officers have the responsibility to be mindful and attentive and acutely aware of the weapons that they carry and the risks associated with those weapons, she said.

When it comes to those weapons, they have the responsibility to carry those weapons, and use those weapons appropriately.

Its about the reckless handling of a firearm, and its about the disregard of known risks. Its about an officer who knew she could kill someone if she got it wrong but failed to make sure she got it right, added Eldridge.

Potters defense attorney, Paul Engh, said the former officer mistakenly drew her gun much to her everlasting and unending regret.

She made a mistake. This was an accident. Shes a human being. But she had to do what she had to do to prevent a death to a fellow officer, said Engh.

Potter resigned two days after Wright was killed.

Daunte Wrights mother, left, and other family members mourn for Wright at a vigil near where he was fatally shot by a police officer days before, in Brooklyn Center, Minn., on April 14, 2021. (Nick Pfosi/Reuters)

Wrights mother, Katie Bryant, testified about the moment she saw her son lying in his car after hed been shot. She said she tried to contact him through a video call after losing an earlier phone connection, and a womanpresumably Wrights passenger answered and screamed, They shot him! and pointed the phone toward the drivers seat.

And my son was laying there. He was unresponsive and he looked dead, Bryant said through tears.

He was funny, he was a jokester. He liked to make everybody laugh. He had a smile that lit up a room. He was amazing, she said.

Bryant said her son was very proud to be a father. His son, Daunte Jr., is now 2 years old.

He was an amazing dad, she added.

The charges dont require proof that Potter intended to kill Wright, and prosecutor Erin Eldridge noted as much for the jury.

But Engh also told jurors that Potter would have been justified in shooting Wright even if she had consciously chosen to draw her handgun, arguing that deadly force was warranted to protect her fellow officers. He said police had reason to believe that Wright might have a gun and that one of the officers had reached inside Wrights car and was at risk of being dragged if Wright drove away.

The most serious charge against Potter requires prosecutors to prove recklessness, while the lesser requires them to prove culpable negligence. Minnesotas sentencing guidelines call for a prison term of just over seven years on the first-degree manslaughter count and four years on the second-degree one. Prosecutors have said they will seek a longer sentence.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping speaks during a meeting with Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen (not pictured) at the Diaoyutai state guesthouse in Beijing, on Jan. 21, 2019. (Ng Han Guan/AFP/Getty Images)

US Orders Arms Embargo on Cambodia, Cites Concerns Over Chinese Military Presence

The United States has ordered an arms embargo on Cambodia, citing concerns over the Chinese Communist Partys (CCP) military presence and other activities in the country.

The added restrictions on the exports and imports of defense-related goods and services, issued by the Department of State, are scheduled to be published and take effect on Thursday.

On June 1, 2021, the Department expressed serious concerns about the Peoples Republic of Chinas (PRCs) military presence and other activities in Cambodia and emphasized that a PRC military base in Cambodia would undermine Cambodian sovereignty, threaten regional security, and negatively impact U.S.Cambodia relations, the unpublished rule reads (pdf).

Senior officials at the Departments of State and Defense continue to voice these concerns but Cambodia continues to allow the PRC to expand its military presence and construct exclusive-use facilities on the Gulf of Thailand.

The aim of the embargo, which amends the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), is to ensure that defense articles and defense services that were set to be imported or exported by Cambodia are not done so without prior review and approval by the U.S. government.

Officials cited concerns over credible evidence of corruption, human rights abuses, and an exclusive agreement with the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) on military expansion in Cambodia by the Cambodian government.

The new policy does not apply to conventional weapons destruction and humanitarian demining activities.

The CCPs influence in the Southeast Asia nation is of growing concern to President Joe Bidens administration and comes amid fraying relations between the United States and Cambodia, in light of reports that the countrys ruling party is persecuting its opponents.

Last month, the Treasury Department levied sanctions against two senior members of the Cambodian Ministry of National Defense, Chau Phirun and Tea Vinh, for corruption.

The Treasury in a statement alleged that in 2020 and 2021, Chau conspired with Tea and other Cambodian officials to inflate costs of a construction and updating project at Ream Naval Base facilities, and then planned to use the funds skimmed from the project for their own benefit

U.S. officials are concerned that construction at the Ream Naval Base in Sihanoukville will be used to facilitate a Chinese military presence in Cambodia.

The United States will not stand by while corrupt officials personally benefit at the expense of the Cambodian people, said Office of Foreign Assets Control Director Andrea M. Gacki at the time. This Administration will continue to prioritize anti-corruption efforts and work tirelessly to promote accountability.

In its statement, the Treasury also warned that recent developments in Cambodia, including growing systemic corruption, threatened national security as well as the economic growth and prosperity of Cambodia.

However, China insists that it enjoys an iron-clad friendship with Cambodia and that they are comprehensive strategic partners.

Earlier this month, Chinese regimes State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn in Anji County, Zhejiang Province.

During those discussions, Wang Yi touted both countries as a community with a shared future, who should unite closely more than ever before to safeguard the legitimate and legal rights and interests of the two countries, and maintain regional peace, stability, and development.

The two countries will continue to stand firmly together to jointly safeguard the basic norms governing international relations, and oppose unilateralism and bullying practices, Wang Yi said.
The headquarters of the Conservative Party is pictured in London on March 16, 2017. (Daniel Leal /AFP via Getty Images)

UK Conservative Party Admits Rule-Breaking Party Was Held in HQ Last Year

The UKs ruling Conservative Party has admitted that an unauthorised gathering took place in the partys headquarters in December last year when indoor socialising was banned under COVID-19 restrictions.

The admission has further complicated Prime Minister Boris Johnsons attempt to move on from the crisis sparked by allegations that a lockdown-breaking Christmas party was held in Downing Street on Dec. 18, 2020.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks during Prime Ministers Questions in the House of Commons, London, on Dec. 8, 2021. (House of Commons/PA)

On Wednesday, Johnson ordered Cabinet Secretary Simon Case to conduct an internal investigation into the allegations, and senior aide Allegra Stratton resigned after a video emerged showing her joking about the alleged gathering.

But the damage-control exercise was thrown into further chaos when Thursdays Times of London newspaper reported that another rule-breaking event was held in the same month inside the Conservative Partys headquarters in Westminster.

According to the paper, on Dec. 14, 2020, about 25 people gathered in the basement of the Tory headquarters in Westminster. The raucous party, organised by the campaign team of Shaun Bailey, who was running for mayor of London, was said to have been attended by Number 10 aides and featured dancing and wine-drinking into the early hours.

At the time, London was under the Tier 2 level of restrictions, meaning all socialising indoors between households was banned.

The Conservative Party has confirmed that the party did take place. Senior CCHQ [Conservative Campaign Headquarters] staff became aware of an unauthorised social gathering in the basement of Matthew Parker Street organised by the Bailey campaign on the evening of Dec. 14, a party spokesman said.

Formal disciplinary action was taken against the four CCHQ staff who were seconded to the Bailey campaign.

Health Secretary Sajid Javid said he has no knowledge of that event, but suggested the cabinet secretary could choose to delve into what happened as part of his investigation.

I do know that Simon Case is not just looking at a particular date, Javid told LBC radio on Thursday. He is free to look at whatever dates he wants to consider.

At a press conference on Wednesday, Boris Johnson also appeared to concede that Case would be able to go further than just reviewing the events of Dec. 18 and look at other things.

The Metropolitan Police acknowledged it had received a significant amount of correspondence relating to the alleged breaches in Number 10 but said they do not provide evidence of a breach of CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus rules.

But the force did leave open the possibility of further inquiries by saying it would consider any evidence that emerges in the Case inquiry.

PA contributed to this report.
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss during her speech at the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester, England, on Oct. 3, 2021. (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

UK Foreign Secretary Acknowledges Lessons to Be Learned Following Damning Testimony on Afghan Airlift

There are clearly lessons to be learned from the UKs evacuation of British and Afghan civilians from Kabul, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said on Wednesday.

It comes after a whistleblower said the part of the operation that was overseen by the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO) was poorly equipped and badly coordinated, the prioritisation process was arbitrary and dysfunctional, and the FCDOs Crisis Response structure was inadequate compared to the task.

Parliaments Foreign Affairs Committee questioned three FCDO senior officials on Tuesday over the allegations during an oral evidence session, which committee chair Tom Tugendhat said points to a lack of leadership, urgency, and adequate resourcing in the FCDO.

One of the officials, FCDO Permanent Under-Secretary Sir Philip Barton, was also grilled for taking a holiday on Aug. 9, when then-Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab was also on holiday, and not returning to London until Aug. 25.

Raab has also been heavily criticised for failing to return immediately from his holiday on the Greek island of Crete. He was replaced as foreign secretary in a Cabinet reshuffle two weeks after the crisis.

Speaking at the Chatham House policy institute on Wednesday, Truss said there was a heroic effort to airlift 15,000 people from Afghanistan as Kabul collapsed to the Taliban in August, adding, Clearly there are lessons to be learned.

The permanent secretary is clear that he should have returned from holiday earlier, as was my predecessor, she said.

Truss said she has put a process in place to address any future issues, including better risk monitoring, a better emergency response system, and better processes for deploying staff at speed in the event of a crisis.

Im absolutely confident that we now have those processes in place in the eventin the unfortunate eventof a similar situation, she said.

But the foreign secretary said she doesnt underestimate the challenge her predecessor had faced.

Its worth pointing out though that the situation faced in Afghanistan was the second-largest evacuation that the UK has ever carried out. So I dont underestimate the challenge that the Foreign Office faced at the time.

She added that work had not stopped on bringing eligible people out of Afghanistan to the UK and international cooperation is needed to stop Afghanistan becoming a hotbed of terrorism.

In this handout image provided by the Ministry of Defence, a full flight of 265 people are evacuated out of Kabul by the UK Armed Forces in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Aug. 21, 2021. (Ben Shread/MoD Crown Getty Images)

Raphael Marshall, a former FCDO desk officer who worked on the Afghan Special Cases team between Aug. 21 and Aug. 25, estimated that only 5 percent of the Afghans who applied for evacuation under the UKs Leave Outside the Rules (LOTR) scheme had received any assistance.

In written evidence (pdf) submitted to the Foreign Affairs Committee, Marshall said he believes between 75,000 and 150,000 people (including dependents) had applied for evacuation under the LOTR schemea number that Barton said he didnt recognise.

Marshall said the team was so short-staffed at one point he was the only person monitoring an inbox where pleas for help were directed.

There were usually over 5,000 unread emails in the inbox at any given moment, including many unread emails dating from early in August when he was on the team, he said.

These emails were desperate and urgent. I was struck by many titles including phrases such as please save my children,' he said.

The 25-year-old former desk officer said it was inevitable to leave most of the applicants behind, giving the situation in Kabul and the Aug. 31 deadline to complete the Western withdrawal, but the FCDOs process for selecting the evacuees was not credible and avoidable bureaucratic problems significantly delayed the calling forward of prioritised evacuees to the airport.

Marshall said soldiers on the team didnt receive passwords to their FCDO-issued computers until one day later, and some soldiers were likely using Microsoft Excel or Microsoft Outlook for the first time in a professional context.

He also said the criteria given for selecting evacuees were very unhelpful, leaving junior officers who didnt have any Afghan-related experience sifting through applications with no clear guidance.

The lack of coordination between the FCDO, Ministry of Defence, and the Home Office, and between the UK and other NATO allies, also contributed to the delay, as well as the time Raab took to review the list, Marshall alleged.

Marshall said the FCDOs Crisis Response structure is not capable of satisfactorily responding to a crisis of the urgency, importance, and complexity of the situation in Kabul in Afghanistan.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson told reporters on Tuesday that sometimes decisions took hours longer than we wanted during the evacuation, but you have to be careful about how you do it, it was still an astonishing thing to get 15,000 people airlifted out of Kabul in pretty harrowing circumstances.

PA contributed to this report.
Undated handout photo of British troops in Poland at the border with Belarus, issued by the UK Ministry of Defence on Dec. 9, 2021. (PA)

UK Sends More Troops to Poland, Lithuania Amid Belarus Border Tensions

Britain is sending more troops to Poland and Lithuania to help the Eastern European countries tackle the illegal immigration crisis orchestrated by the Belarusian regime.

In a statement on Thursday, the UKs Ministry of Defence (MoD) said: Poland and Lithuania, along with their Baltic neighbour Latvia, have been under significant pressure from migration originating from Belarus and facilitated by the Lukashenko regime for a number of months.

Soldiers take part in joint military exercises of units of Poland, Britain, United States, and Romania at the military training ground in Bemowo Piskie, Poland, on Nov. 18, 2021. (Janek Skarzynski /AFP via Getty Images)

The ministry said the UK already has 150 personnel based in Poland under NATOs enhanced Forward Presence as part of the U.S.-led battle group in the country.

The MoD said the UK will deploy 140 more military engineers to Poland to provide specialist support in response to the pressures from irregular migration at the Belarus border.

Specialists from the 32 Engineer Regiment, the Royal Engineers, will support Polish troops with specific engineering tasks along the border including infrastructure support and repairing access roads. The deployment will begin at the end of December and is expected to last until April.

Polish soldiers and police watch illegal immigrants at the PolandBelarus border near Kuznica, Poland, in this photograph released by the Territorial Defence Forces, on Nov. 12, 2021. (Irek Dorozanski/DWOT/Handout via Reuters)

In addition, a British reconnaissance team has deployed to Lithuania to explore whether the UK can provide support to the nation which is facing similar pressures on its border.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said: Our commitment to European security is unwavering and we will always offer support to our allies. This non-combat support will assist Polish efforts to protect their border and pass on vital engineering expertise.

A group of illegal immigrants moves along the BelarusianPolish border towards a camp to join those gathered at the spot and aiming to enter EU member Poland, in the Grodno region on Nov. 12, 2021. (Leonid Shcheglov/Belta/AFP via Getty Images)

Thousands of illegal immigrants, mostly from Iraq and Afghanistan, have gathered on the PolandBelarus border in hopes of crossing into the European Union. The EU has accused Minsk of orchestrating the crisis to put pressure on the bloc in an act of revenge for sanctions over a clampdown on Belarusian protests in 2020 against the contested reelection of President Alexander Lukashenko.

The UK government said on Nov. 15 that it stands in solidarity with its European allies over the illegal immigrant crisis on the Belarusian border and said the Lukashenko regime must be held responsible.

PA contributed to this report.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his fiancee Carrie Symonds take part in a doorstep clap in memory of Captain Sir Tom Moore outside 10 Downing Street on Feb. 3, 2021. (Hollie Adams/Getty Images)

UKs Johnson Faces Fresh Questions Over Funding of Flat Renovation

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is facing fresh questions over the refurbishment of his Downing Street flat after a watchdog fined the ruling Conservative Party for failing to report relevant donations properly.

Johnson came under pressure earlier this year to explain how the expensive refurbishment of the 11 Downing Street flat was paid for, after his former chief advisor Dominic Cummings alleged in a blog post in April that the prime minister had planned to have donors secretly pay for the renovation.

In May, the independent adviser on ministers interests, Christopher Geidt, said the prime minister unwisely allowed the refurbishment to proceed without more rigorous regard for how this would be funded. But he cleared Johnson of a conflict of interest or of breaching the ministerial code, saying there was no evidence the prime minister knew where the donation came from.

After investigating the matter, the Electoral Commission, the UKs political spending watchdog, said on Thursday that the Conservative Party had failed to fully report a donation of 67,801.72 ($89,535) from Lord Brownlow, the majority of which was connected to the refurbishment.

The commission found that decisions relating to the handling and recording of the donation reflected serious failings in the partys compliance systems.

The watchdog fined the Conservative Party 17,800 ($23,505) for failing to accurately report a donation and keep a proper accounting record.

But its report raised further questions because it discussed evidence showing Johnson had sent Lord Brownlow a WhatsApp message in November 2020 asking him to authorise further, at that stage unspecified, refurbishment works on the residence, to which he agreed.

The main opposition Labour party accused Johnson of having lied to his standards adviser Geidt by saying he did not know who was behind the payment.

Deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner said: The prime minister must now explain why he lied to the British public saying he didnt know who was behind No 11 flat refurball the while he was WhatsApping the donor asking for more money. Boris Johnson has taken the British public for fools. Hes not only broken the law but made a mockery of the standards we expect from our prime ministers.

She called for a fresh investigation from Lord Geidt and for Parliamentary Standards Commission Kathryn Stone to investigate Johnson, saying he was in flagrant breach of both the MPs code of conduct and the Ministerial Code.

Johnsons official spokesman denied he had lied and insisted he has acted in accordance with the rules at all times and has made all necessary declarations.

Lord Brownlow was the chair of a blind trust and acted in accordance with his experience of managing blind trusts in that way, the prime ministers discussions with Lord Brownlow were done without him knowing the underlying donor of that donation, the spokesman said.

PA contributed to this report.
Qantas announced that Boeing 747 will be sent off in a farewell fit for a queen. (Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Union Open to Challenging Airline Industry Vaccine Mandate Following Landmark Decision

The major decision last week by Australias workplace tribunal to strike down a vaccine mandate by mining giant, BHP, has opened the door for other unions to consider challenging similar orders in their sectors.

The Australian Licenced Aircraft Engineers Association (ALAEA) said it would consider challenging vaccine mandates handed down by national carrier Qantas.

The BHP coal decision was about consultation, not vaccine mandates. A policy decision cannot be made prior to genuine consultation. Qantas has been fined before for telling us a policy decision at the first consultation meeting, Steve Purvinas, federal secretary of the ALAEA, told The Epoch Times in a statement.

In the case of mandatory vaccination, it is worse. We first heard about the decision on live television.

On Dec. 3, the full bench of the Fair Work Commission (FWC) ruled that BHPs vaccine mandate on workers at the Mt Arthur thermal coal mine in the Hunter Valley, New South Wales, was unlawful and unreasonable.

The decision was slated to have ramifications across the country, specifically for vaccine mandates handed down by private businesses and not under government-mandated health orders.

The FWC members found that BHP did not hold proper consultations with its employees before implementing its mandate, a requirement under the unions enterprise agreement.

BHPs health and safety officials also admitted the word consultation was not used in its email on the mandate, nor was the word mandatory present in the companys formal announcement.

Giuseppe Carabetta, a senior lecturer at the Sydney University Business School, said the decision did not spell defeat for employers mandating COVID-19 vaccination.

Indeed, the ruling isnt really about the overall validity of Mt Arthurs vaccine mandate. Its focus is instead managements failure to properly consult with its employees under work health and safety laws, he wrote in The Conversation on Dec. 7.

Carabetta said vaccine mandates needed to be reasonable depending on the nature of the work, established practices, industrial instruments; and consultation requirements.

Purvinas meanwhile, conceded that the BHP decision would not apply to most airport workers, who fall under government mandates, he noted, however, that this is not the case at all airports.

If a member of ours was not covered by a state mandate, we would look to defend their job based on the perfunctory nature of Qantas phony consultation, he said.

The ALAEA does accept that vaccination does contribute to workplace health and safety, but objects to workers losing their positions if they are unvaccinated.

Unvaccinated employees should be able to take leave until they are vaccinated or the threat is otherwise removed through herd immunity.
University of Iowa to Pay $2 Million to Settle Discrimination Lawsuits With Christian Student Groups

The University of Iowa will pay nearly $2 million to settle discrimination lawsuits with two Christian student groups that have been deregistered because of their faith-based practices.

The Iowa State Appeal Board on Dec. 6 unanimously approved a court-ordered settlement to Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, a Washington-based law firm that represented both student groups in their lawsuits against the public university. Most of the money will cover attorney fees for each group.

The first group, Business Leaders in Christ (BLinC), barred a member from serving in a leading position after he came out as gay. In response to a complaint by the student, the university stripped BLinCs status as a registered student organization, effectively denying the groups access to university funding and campus resources.

BLinC sued in 2017, alleging that the university had violated its religious freedom to select only leaders who are aligned with the groups interpretation of biblical teachings. The university, on the other hand, accused BLinC of violating the schools human rights policy and the Iowa Civil Rights Act when it removed a member from his leadership role because of his sexual orientation.

After a federal court sided with BLinC and ordered its reinstatement, the university deregistered 39 student groups it deemed in violation of its human rights policy. Among the casualties of the sweeping action were the Sikh Awareness Club, the Chinese Student Christian Fellowship, the Imam Mahdi Organization, the Latter-day Saint Student Association, and the InterVarsity Graduate Christian Fellowship, which sued the university in 2018 for discrimination.

The lower court rulings in favor of the Christian students were upheld by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit, which found that the university had engaged in viewpoint discrimination when it failed to fairly apply its own non-discrimination policy to all campus groups. The Circuit judges also found that university leaders were personally liable for knowingly violating established constitutional rights.

Under terms of settlements ordered by the U.S. District Court of Southern Iowa, the state of Iowa will pay a total of $1.93 million on behalf of the public university. That includes $1.37 million and $534,000 to Becket for attorney fees and expenses in the BLinC and InterVarsity cases, respectively, $1 for damages from each defendant to The Becket Fund for BLinC, and $20,000 in damages to The Becket Fund for InterVarsity.

Eric Baxter, vice president and senior counsel at Becket, said the university could have avoided the very costly lawsuits.

When university officials target students of faith, it comes at a price, Baxter told The Epoch Times in a statement. The blatant discrimination against religious students at the University of Iowa was entirely preventable. The University of Iowa had several off-ramps early in the case, including direct warnings from the court to stop the religious targeting. Instead, it doubled down with its attacks against Protestant groups by adding Sikhs, Muslims, Latter-day Saints, and others to their target list.

The University has paid the price, and other universities should think twice before treating religious student groups like second-class citizens, he said.
President Joe Biden delivers remarks on the October jobs reports in the State Dining Room at the White House, on Nov. 5, 2021. (Sarah Silbiger/Getty Images)

University Shielding Bidens Records Must Provide More Information Justifying Decision: Court

The Delaware Supreme Court has ruled partly in favor of conservative groups seeking access to documents related to President Joe Bidens time in the U.S. Senate.

Biden donated his senatorial papers to the University of Delaware (UD) in 2012. The gift of the 1,850 boxes of archived records and 415 gigabytes of electronic records from Bidens 36-year career in the Senate came with an agreement that places certain restrictions on the universitys ability to make the documents publicly available.

The Delaware Supreme Court, in response to an appeal filed by Judicial Watch and the Daily Caller News Foundation in January, reversed a lower court decision on Dec. 6, deciding that the university must provide more information justifying its decision to keep Bidens Senate records secret.

We conclude that the University failed to carry its burden of justifying its denial of the Appellants FOIA requests, the court documents read.

The case returns to the Delaware Superior Court, which initially affirmed that the documents werent subject to FOIA.

The Superior Court is granted leave to accept additional evidence or submissions as it deems necessary and appropriate, the ruling reads.

In April 2020, Judicial Watch and The Daily Caller News Foundation submitted requests under the Delaware Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to access the UD documents. The university denied both requests, saying the papers arent subject to FOIA because they arent considered public records.

The Epoch Times reached out to the university for comment but didnt receive a response by press time.

Tara Reade, the woman who accused Biden of sexually assaulting her in 1993 at a Capitol Hill building while she was working as a staff assistant to the then-senator, has said that she believes a workplace discrimination and harassment complaint she filed against Biden at the time may be in the records housed at UD.

Biden has emphatically denied Reades sexual assault allegations, saying it never happened.

In March 2020, MSNBC Morning Joe host Mika Brzezinski repeatedly questioned Biden about whether he would release the documents in response to Tara Reids accusations.

The material in the University of Delaware has no personnel files, said then-presidential candidate Biden. But it does have a lot of confidential conversations that I had with the president about a particular issue, that I had with the heads of state of other places. That that would not be something that would be revealed while I was in public office or while I was seeking public office.
Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) speaks during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing to examine U.S.-Russia policy at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, on Dec. 7, 2021. (Alex Brandon-Pool/Getty Images)

US Needs to Lead the World on Human Rights: Sen. Markey

A senator has called for the United States to lead the world in combating human rights abuses, notably in China.

The United States has a responsibility not just as the economic military leader but as the moral leader of the world to shine a spotlight on human rights violations no matter where they exist on the planet, Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) told NTD, an affiliate of The Epoch Times, on Dec. 9.

He commended the Biden administration for launching a diplomatic boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing in condemnation of the atrocities inflicted on Muslim minorities in Xinjiang.

Through a move like this, the world will pay more attention to what is happening to these oppressed people, Markey said.

Its a statement about American human rights, and how important it is for us to have our voice be heard, he added.

Since the announcement of the U.S diplomatic boycott, Australia, Canada, and Britain have joined suit.

The House on Wednesday passed an act banning all goods from the Xinjiang region due to concerns that the products may be tainted with forced labor, which Markey welcomed as a step to detach the United States from the regimes human rights abuses.

Workers are seen on the production line at a cotton textile factory in Korla, Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region, China, April 1, 2021. (cnsphoto via Reuters)

We are not going to be willing conspirators in this effort in any way to oppress the Uyghurs, Markey said. They should not be persecuted because of their religion, they should not be exploited because of their religion.

An independent peoples tribunal on Thursday also found the Chinese Communist Party to be committing genocide against Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities in the far western Xinjiang region.

Asked whether Beijings state-sanctioned practice of forced organ harvesting has gained enough attention, Markey answered in the negative.

Its important to shine a spotlight on everything that is going on, he said.

The China Tribunal in a 2019 judgment concluded that the Chinese regime has been forcibly harvesting organs from prisoners of conscience for years and on a significant scale, with adherents of spiritual discipline Falun Gong being probably the principal source.

A re-enactment of an organ harvesting operation. (The Epoch Times)

Lawmakers and human rights activists in the United States and around the world have since urged for more action on the issue, with some experts saying Beijings actions also amounts to genocide.

Over the past few months in the United States, over a dozen resolutions aimed at curbing organ transplant tourism to China have passed at levels from county to state.

In Congress, a bipartisan group of lawmakers has introduced legislation designed to identify and sanction organ traffickers.

Its past time to hold Beijing accountable for these heinous acts, said Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) in a statement accompanying the bills introduction in March.
US Regulators Authorize COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Doses for 16- and 17-Year-Olds

U.S. drug regulators on Thursday authorized booster doses of Pfizers COVID-19 vaccine for 16- and 17-year-olds.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cited in its announcement data showing the vaccine becomes significantly less effective over time.

Since we first authorized the vaccine, new evidence indicates that vaccine effectiveness against COVID-19 is waning after the second dose of the vaccine for all adults, Dr. Peter Marks, a top FDA official, said in a statement.

A single booster dose of the vaccine for those vaccinated at least six months prior will help provide continued protection against COVID-19 in this and older age groups, he added.

The decision drew immediate pushback, with experts noting that young, healthy people are at low risk of severe COVID-19 and at elevated risk of heart inflammation following vaccination.

I understand that the third dose will boost their level of neutralizing antibiotics. But if the goal of this vaccine is protection against serious illnesswhich is a reasonable goal and its the goal for every other vaccinetwo doses already do that. So why do we need a third dose? Wheres the evidence that a third dose will protect children to a greater extent against serious illness? Dr. Paul Offit, director of the Vaccine Education Center, professor of pediatrics at Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia, and a member of the FDAs vaccine advisory panel, told The Epoch Times.

And that evidence has to be there because the 16- and 17-year-old is at highest risk of myocarditis, Offit added.

Dr. Mike Saag said he hasnt seen specific data for the age group but that the move makes sense given the waning effectiveness of vaccines.

I think that all individuals, regardless of age, will ultimately receive booster shots 6 months after completion of the initial 2-dose vaccination. The biology and epidemiologic data support this. What remains unknown is how long protective immunity will last after receiving the third shot, Saag, a professor at the University of Alabama at Birminghams Department of Medicine, told The Epoch Times in an email.

Data from approximately 200 people who got a Pfizer booster was used as evidence for the authorization, the FDA said.

Real-world data that has become available on the post-vaccination conditions enabled the FDA to reassess the benefits and risks of the use of the vaccine in a wider population and the agency determined the benefits of a booster outweigh the risks.

The FDA did not immediately provide the data and Offit said he was not aware of such data.

Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla cheered the news. While new variants, including Omicron, emerge across the globe, we believe that the best way to minimize the spread of COVID-19 and any future variants is getting all eligible people fully vaccinated with the first two dose series and a booster dose as recommended, he said in a statement.

The FDA authorized the boosters without input from its vaccine advisory panel. It also avoided convening the panel before authorizing boosters for everybody 18 and older.

There would have been no benefit from soliciting advice from the committee, the FDA said.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) now must decide whether the 16- and 17-year-olds may or should get a third Pfizer dose.

The CDC did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
A Taiwanese Air Force F-16 in foreground flies on the flank of a Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) H-6 bomber as it passes near Taiwan on Feb. 10, 2020. (Republic of China (ROC) Ministry of National Defense via AP)

US Sees Urgent Need to Bolster Taiwans Defenses to Deter Beijing Attack: Official

A leading Pentagon official has said bolstering Taiwans defenses to deter a possible invasion by communist China is an urgent task.

Ely Ratner, assistant secretary of defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs, told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Dec. 8 that the regime in Beijing is engaging in destabilizing and intentionally provocative actions toward the self-ruled island.

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) claims that Taiwan is a province of China and that the island should come under its rule, although the island has its own constitution, military, and liberal democratic political system. In recent months, Beijing has ramped up political and military pressure on Taiwan, including through a show of force in the islands air defense zone.

Without question, bolstering Taiwans self-defenses is an urgent task and an essential feature of deterrence, Ratner told the committee at the hearing, which was attended by a bipartisan group of senators and sought to address escalating tensions between Beijing and Taiwan.

Assistant Defense Secretary for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs Ely Ratner speaks during a hearing with the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in Washington on Dec. 8, 2021. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

This is not a partisan matter. This is a matter thats important to all of us, Sen. James Risch (R-Idaho) said.

Ratner said Beijing is placing the prosperity and security of the region at risk, and that its actions are part of a pattern of PRC [Peoples Republic of China] military coercion and aggression against other U.S. allies and partners in the region, including India, Japan, the Philippines, and Vietnam.

We are seeing countries stepping up their military presence in the region and their willingness to support deterrence in a way that we havent before.

Ratner cited joint military activities with Canada, Japan, and the UK as examples of that increased military presence.

The United States has maintained a decades-long foreign policy known as strategic ambiguity, but, under the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA), its required to provide the self-ruled island with military equipment for its self-defense.

The hearing comes days after U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Washington is resolutely committed to Taiwan if the CCP invades.

We are resolutely committed to Taiwan, to making sure it has the means to defend itself, Blinken said at the Reuters Next Conference on Dec. 2. But here again, I hope that Chinas leaders think very carefully about this and about not precipitating a crisis that would have, I think, terrible consequences for lots of people and one thats in no ones interest, starting with China.

Joseph Wu, Taiwans foreign minister, shared on the ministrys Twitter account that the government will never bow to pressure from the CCP.

Reuters contributed to this report.
Orange County's Veterans Cemetery Breaks Ground in Anaheim, Calif., on Dec. 8, 2021. (Courtesy of the County of Orange)

Veterans Cemetery Breaks Ground in Anaheim

ANAHEIM, Calif.Orange County officials celebrated a groundbreaking for a new veterans cemetery at Gypsum Canyon in Anaheim Hills on Dec. 8 with the planting of a flagpole.

To further advance the project, state Sen. Tom Umberg (D-Santa Ana) amended a Senate bill to order a feasibility study on the Gypsum Canyon site, which is a necessary step in getting the states approval of the project.

The purpose of the bill is to determine the feasibility of a cemetery in Anaheim Hills, and its been my hope and desire all along that we would have a veterans cemetery in Orange County, and this expedites the process, Umberg told City News Service.

It also provides that the funding is expedited. Now we will wait and see what happens. I assume the county will fund the study and well wait and see what the feasibility is.

In July, Anaheim City Council members voted to support the Gypsum Canyon site. Orange County supervisors have committed $20 million for the project.

Orange Countys Veterans Cemetery Breaks Ground in Anaheim, Calif., on Dec. 8, 2021. (Courtesy of the County of Orange)

In October, the Irvine City Council became the final city in the county to back the Anaheim Hills project, which was notable because Irvine City Councilman Larry Agran has been a proponent for years of building a cemetery in his city.

Agran has backed the Amended and Restated Development site, also known as ARDA, at the Great Park in Irvine on the north side at the end of a runway on the old base.

Proposals in Irvine at the former El Toro Marine Corps Air Station and elsewhere have stalled after years of studies and discussions.

The Irvine City Council previously committed to building the Great Park Veterans Cemetery Initiative in May 2020 and designating the ARDA site for the purpose after the state approved over $25 million for the site.

The project came to a standstill on June 22 when the Irvine City Council took no action to construct a Veterans Memorial Park and Cemetery at the Great Park, following long debates paired with mixed opinions from the public.

City News Service contributed to this report.
Holiday reading display at Dolley Madison Library, a branch of Fairfax County Public Libraries, featured two sexually explicit books next to the Bible in McLean, Va., on Dec. 6, 2021. (Twitter @StacyLangton)

Virginia Library Put Sexually Explicit Books Next to Bible on Holiday Reading Display

FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va.Over the weekend, a public library in northern Virginia put on a holiday reading display featuring two sexually explicit books next to the Bible, which was held by a plush dwarf wearing a rainbow-colored hat. Upon patrons complaints, the display was removed on Dec. 7.

The booksGender Queer: A Memoir by Maia Kobabe and Lawn Boy by Jonathan Evisonare among many books containing graphic sexual content that have been banned from school libraries in some states, including Arkansas, Pennsylvania, Iowa, Missouri, Tennessee, and Minnesota.

The Dolley Madison Library holiday reading display was intended to highlight the freedom to read and the fact that many library patrons have more time during the holidays to do so, Fairfax County Public Library (FCPL) Director Jessica Hudson said in a statement on Tuesday. It was not the intention of staff to create a display that could be construed as offensive. The display has been removed.

Holiday reading display at Dolley Madison Library, a branch of Fairfax County Public Libraries, featured two sexually explicit books next to the Bible in McLean, Va., on Dec. 6, 2021. (Twitter @StacyLangton)

Stacy Langton, a mother from Fairfax County who has been fighting for the removal of these two books from school libraries, told The Epoch Times that the display was intentional, outrageous, and an attack on Christianity itself.

It is a blasphemy against Jesus to put pedophilic and pornographic filth such as Gender Queer alongside His Word in the Holy Bible, as though they are equal, she added.

The mother said she received the display pictures from another county resident on Monday afternoon. During her visit to the library the next day, she found out that the display had been removed.

Langton said she spoke over the phone with Nancy Ryan, the FCPL branch coordinator, who told her that the manager of Dolley Madison Library Mary Prisbrey approved the display, an idea of a library staffer. Langton said she learned from Ryan that the display began on Saturday. Ryan declined to comment on The Epoch Times inquiry of the conversation.

On Wednesday, Prisbrey confirmed to The Epoch Times that the display was in the library lobby, now covered by a black curtain. When asked if she was the librarian who approved the display, Prisbrey said the library had several librarians and deferred further questions to the FCPL media relations.

The glass display case in the lobby that featured LGBTQ books and the Bible was covered by a black curtain at Dolley Madison Library in McLean, Va., on Dec. 8, 2021. (Terri Wu/The Epoch Times)

FCPLs Marketing and Communications Director Erin Julius declined to answer questions regarding the decision-making process for such displays and how many complaints the FCPL received.

This controversy comes on the heels of a broader battle between parents and administrators over the display of sexually explicit material in school libraries across Fairfax County.

Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) on Nov. 23 announced a decision to put the two books back to the school libraries. The school board in September pulled the books out of school libraries for review after Langton filed a challenge, citing sexually explicit content and pedophilia references.

At the end of a two-month review process, two committeesmade up of parents, students, and school officialsunanimously recommended that the books be returned to school libraries, saying that they didnt find any pedophilia and obscene material, and that the books serve the needs of LGBTQ+ students in search of diverse reading material they can relate to.

Gender Queer, a graphic novel with cartoon-style pictures, shows an image of a pedophilic act, while Lawn Boy contains an explicit description of a sexual act between two minors.

Both books were chosen to receive the American Library Associations Alex Awards, which are given to 10 books annually with special appeal to young adults ages 12 through 18.

Fairfax County parent Stacy Langton spoke at the school board meeting at Luther Jackson Middle School in Falls Church, Va., on Dec. 2, 2021. (Lisa Fan/The Epoch Times)

At a Dec. 2 school board meeting, Jane Miscavage, an FCPS employee and a trustee of the Fairfax County Public Library who said she spoke in her personal capacity thanked the review committees. Im glad that the committees have found what I did, that these books have the potential to reach marginalized students who may not otherwise see themselves in FCPSs three million book collection, she said.

Thank you for your time, thoughtfulness, and diligence in reading and discussing the appropriateness of the books, she added.

Not everyone, however, found the committee review process fair.

Christopher Henzel, a Fairfax County resident and former U.S. ambassador to Yemen, said at the same meeting, The committees were packed with teachers and administrators who work for the school board and who could be counted on to give the board the answer it wanted.

And sure enough, last week, the committees reported to their bosses on this school board that the two books are just fine. Youre not fooling anyone with your insider committees.

Fairfax County residents protested before a school board meeting outside Luther Jackson Middle School in Falls Church, Va., on Dec. 2, 2021. (Lisa Fan/The Epoch Times)

Lawn Boy is available in the library catalog at Robinson Secondary School, a six-year public school whose student population includes middle and high schoolers, even though the review committees findings didnt address the books appropriateness for middle schoolers. Gender Queer is categorized under adult graphic novels and Lawn Boy under adult fiction in Fairfax County Public Libraries.

FCPS Superintendent Scott Brabrand, at the Dec. 2 school board meeting, reaffirmed the FCPSs commitment to providing diverse reading materials in our libraries that reflect our student population and allow every child an opportunity to see themselves reflected in the library and literary characters.

Langton has organized a protest against holiday hate outside Dolley Madison Library in McLean, Virginia, at noon on Saturday.

A previous version of this article incorrectly described the explicit content in Lawn Boy. The Epoch Times regrets the error.
Visa Launches Global Cryptocurrency Advisory Services

Visa is launching a new global network of consultants and product experts providing advisory services to help its clients navigate and understand the world of cryptocurrencies, the company announced Wednesday.

The digital payments company revealed in a statement that it is launching its Global Crypto Advisory Practice at a time when digital currencies are taking greater hold in the popular consciousness.

Weve seen a material shift in our clients mindset in the last year, from a desire to explore and experiment with crypto, to actually building a strategy and product roadmap, said Carl Rutstein, global head of Visa Consulting & Analytics.

The payments processor said its crypto advisory practice, which is housed within its consulting and analytics division (VCA), is designed to help clients and partners advance their own crypto journey and will provide advice to financial institutions, retailers, and central banks exploring digital currencies.

Through their work with more than 60 crypto platforms, Visas global network of consultants and product experts have deep expertise to help financial institutions evaluate the crypto opportunity, develop concrete strategies, and pilot new user experiences and innovations like crypto rewards programs and CBDC-integrated consumer wallets, Visa said.

The company cited new research showing that awareness and adoption of crypto among consumers is significantly increasing. Meanwhile, economies around the world have been moving to utilize digital currency, with Ukraine in September legalizing cryptocurrency and other digital assets.

El Salvador has also adopted Bitcoin as legal tender alongside the U.S. dollar.

According to Visas own global study, The Crypto Phenomenon: Consumer Attitudes & Usage, conducted in partnership with LRW, a Material Company, universal awareness of cryptocurrency is at 94 percent globally among adults with discretion over their household finances.

The study included nine focus groups and 10 in-depth interviews in the United States, Germany, and Argentina between July 14 to July 26 this year, as well as data collected from 6,430 online survey responses across Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Germany, Hong Kong (SAR), South Africa, the U.S., and the U.K. between Aug. 25 and Sept. 13 this year.

Meanwhile, nearly one in three adults who are aware of cryptocurrency already own or use the digital currency, and 62 percent of them said that they have been using it more within the past year.

Another 18 percent of the global participants said they would be likely or very likely to switch from their primary banking institution to one that offers crypto-related products in the next 12 months.

Crypto represents a technological shift for money movement and digital ownership, said Terry Angelos, SVP, and global head of fintech, Visa. As consumers change their approach to investing, where they bank, and their views on the future of money, every financial institution will need a crypto strategy.

In Wednesdays statement, Visa also named American bank UMB as a client thats already using its crypto advisory services.

We came to Visa to learn more about digital currency and the use cases that are most relevant for various business lines as we serve our customers in the years ahead, said Uma Wilson, executive vice president, chief information and product officer at UMB Bank. VCA helped us begin to explore a roadmap of a strategyfrom product and partner selection to cross-functional considerations such as Technology, Finance, Risk, and Compliance.

The announcement comes shortly after Amazon said it will stop accepting Visa credit cards in the U.K. from January 19, 2022, citing high visa fee charges. Visa said it was disappointed by the decision and accused Amazon of restricting customers choice.

An Amazon spokesperson said in an emailed statement to The Epoch Times: The cost of accepting card payments continues to be an obstacle for businesses striving to provide the best prices for customers. These costs should be going down over time with technological advancements, but instead, they continue to stay high or even rise.

Visa credit cards issued outside of the U.K. will be exempt.
Jussie Smollett arrives with his mother, Janet Smollett (L), at the Leighton Criminal Court Building for his trial on disorderly conduct charges in Chicago on Dec. 6 2021. (Kamil Krzacynski/AFP via Getty Images)

Whore You Gonna Believe? Not the Media

Commentary

The recent revelations arising from the Durham probe into the origins of the Russiagate scandal have made it clearer than ever that, when the media fought back against Donald Trumps charge that they had become the purveyors of fake news, they did so at the cost of having proved him right.

Not that you would know that, if, for some unfathomable reason, you continue to rely on the media themselves for your information. Though The Washington Post has gone back and corrected some details (and omitted some others) in the hundreds of Russiagate stories it ran between 2017 and 2020, it has apologized for or retracted none of them. Nor has any other mainstream media outlet known to me.

There may be a reason for this, apart from simple embarrassment. In fact, they dont appear even to be embarrassed by such a serious mistakewhich suggests that it wasnt really a mistake at all but a deliberate deception from the start.

One thing we can know for sure is that the era of unacknowledged fake news in which we live depends on the medias indulgence of, if not its sharing in, the increasingly popular superstition that mere reality cannot intrude upon the right of everyoneat least of everyone in favor with the mediato his or her own idea of whats true and whats not.

The week of Dec. 6 brought another reminder of this indulgence with the trial of Jussie Smollett in Chicago on six counts of disorderly conduct for staging his own kidnapping by MAGA-hatted Trump supporters in January 2019.

Almost as soon as it happened, it became clear that the alleged racist attack was fake news and that Smollett had paid Abimbola and Olabinjo Osundairo, two Nigerian brothers with whom he was acquainted, $3,500 to masquerade as the lefts idea of Trump supporters, crying this is MAGA country as they allegedly attacked him with bleach, a noose, and homophobic and racist slurs.

The ludicrousness of describing Chicago as MAGA country should have been a tip-off if nothing else was, but Chicagos states attorney Kim Foxx declined to prosecute the authors of the imposture, and a special prosecutor had to be brought into the case in order for Smollett to be charged, as now he has been.

Not altogether surprisingly, he is no more embarrassed at being caught out than the media have been by the fake news of Russiagate. Like them, he claims the privilege of being the ultimate arbiter of his own truth by sticking to his story, even under oath on the witness stand, no matter how absurd it may appear to anyone else, or to the law.

The great thing about fake news for those who have found it useful as a political weapon is that it never really goes away or becomes discredited by mere fact or more accurate information. It will live forever, preserved in amber in the eternal present of the internet. Thats why it seems appropriate that Black Lives Matter remains firmly in Smolletts corner, as that movements originsnot only never disavowed but continually repeated to this daylie in the fake news story of Michael Brown having been shot in the back in August 2014 after crying, Hands up, dont shoot.

As examples of never-corrected fake news in the media continue to multiply, more and more people may be expected to pick and choose from the media smorgasbord only that which they want or need to believe, rather than whats objectively true, something which they have come to believe is unknowable.

That can be the only explanation for something like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortezs declining to believe that the widespread looting in broad daylight of retail merchants in California and elsewhere is really happening.

I believe its a Walgreens in California cited it, she is reported to have said, but the data didnt back it up.

Poor AOC! The data are never going to back up anything she prefers not to believe. The only data that count for her are those that back up her own prejudices.

And she can always get such data from the same supplier used by Dana Milbank of The Washington Postthe man who recently announced on that papers op-ed page and in defiance of the universal opinion of mankind that he had proof that the media treats Biden as badly asor worse thanTrump.

This extraordinary claim inevitably brought to mind President Joe Bidens claim in August that the American withdrawal from Afghanistan had been an extraordinary success. Sure Dana, sure Joe, you can believe that if you want to.

The president and Ocasio-Cortez are hardly alone among politicians in claiming for themselves the medias self-bestowed right to ignore reality in favor of their own political narrative. Thus Stacy Abrams has lately announced that she did not challenge the election she lost to Brian Kemp as governor of Georgia in 2018an election in which she gained national prominence for challenging.

The craze for using the American media as a vehicle for proclaiming as true the most undoubted falsehoods (or as false the most undoubted truths) has even spread internationallyor so it would seem, from The New York Times report on Dec. 8 that Ahead of Bidens Democracy Summit, China Says: Were Also a Democracy.

To its credit, the NY Times reporters on the story, Keith Bradsher and Steven Lee Myers, express a degree of skepticism about this, calling it an improbable claim, though they go on to write that it may carry weight in some countries disillusioned by liberal democracy or by American-led criticism  including in China itself.

There, I think, they are mistaken, possibly even honestly so. For China is the one place on earth where the governments claim to be a democracy is least likely to be believed. Thats because the people there have grown so used to being lied to by government and media that they can no longer believe a word they say, if they ever could.

At this rate, it wont be long before the American people find themselves in the same positionbut by then it will be too late to do anything about it.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Why Gun Storage Laws Would Do More Harm Than Good

Commentary

Shortly after the Oxford High School shooting on Nov. 30, politicians started calling for more gun control.

Michigans laws are woefully inadequate, Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald announced at a press conference. We [Michigan] dont have a safe storage law. Were not legally required to store your weapon in a safe manner. Children are allowed to attend [gun ranges] with their parents.  We dont have strong enough laws.

We all want to do something when tragedies such as this one occur, but more lives will be lost than saved if we mandate that everyone lock up their guns.

Gun storage is primarily designed to prevent accidental gun deaths of children. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Michigan averaged less than two accidental gun deaths a year for those younger than 18 from 2010 to 2019. Thats about half the rate of such deaths nationwide.

This disparity must be a puzzle for gun control advocates, since a significantly larger percentage of Michigan households have guns and the state doesnt have the gun safety laws that other states have enacted.

But now, the media and some politicians believe that gun locks will help prevent mass public shootings by juveniles. Very few shootings have involved guns stolen from parents. In 2012, Adam Lanza stole his mothers gun, even though she kept it in a safe. But he was 20. Similarly, Nikolas Cruz was 19 when he killed 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. So, a new law mandating locks when someone younger than 18 lives in the house would have made no difference in his case.

Since 2000, including Oxford, there have been four U.S. mass public shootings by juvenile killers in any venue. But the Red Lake, Minnesota, attack in 2005 was committed by a 17-year-old who killed his grandfather, who was an Indian reservation police officer, and then took his service weapons. Fifteen-year-old Jaylen Fryberg, who committed the Marysville, Washington, shootings in 2014, stole the gun from his father, whose possession of it was illegal because there was a permanent restraining order against him. Would he have legally stored his illegally possessed gun? Again, it appears unlikely that gun locks would have stopped those attacks.

Unfortunately, mandating gun locks can have unintended consequences.

According to my research, which has been published in the Journal of Law and Economics and elsewhere, such laws make it more difficult for people to defend themselves and their families successfully. As a result, criminals became more emboldened to invade peoples homes. There have been 300 more total murders and 4,000 more rapes occurring each year in states with these laws. Burglaries are also dramatically higher.

If you want to see the importance of deterrence, consider so-called hot burglaries, where residents are at home when criminals strike. The UK not only has twice the burglary rate as the United States, but 59 percent of break-ins there are hot burglaries. By contrast, the United States has a hot burglary rate of 13 percent. Consistent with this, surveys of convicted burglars in the two countries indicate that American criminals spend about twice as much time casing a home before they break in. The reason? They want to ensure that no one is home because it prevents them from getting shot. Similarly, American burglars frequently comment that they avoid late-night break-ins because thats the way to get shot. These are concerns that British burglars dont share, given that nations strict gun laws.

In the same vein, its not surprising that crime rises when governments prevent people from defending themselves. Indeed, every place in the world that has banned guns has seen an increase in murders.

If locking up guns could have prevented all four of the mass shootings committed by people younger than 18 since 2000, there would have been 21 fewer deaths and 19 fewer people wounded. Of course, these killers could have obtained weapons in other ways. But for the sake of argument, lets accept this number. One can add in the annual number of accidental gun deaths and assume that these would also have been prevented. But the final number would still be only a fraction of those who die in a single year because states with mandatory locks kept people from getting to their guns in time.

In truth, gun-lock laws didnt even reduce accidental gun deaths among children or teenagers. Few accidental gunshots occur in law-abiding homes. In fact, most accidental gunshots that result in the deaths of minors are fired by adult males who have criminal histories. Many are drug addicts or alcoholics.

Unless you send your child to play at a violent criminals home, your child is exceedingly unlikely to get shot at a gun owners home. It makes much more sense to check for a criminal history than to learn whether they own guns.

We see news stories about the horrible deaths and injuries from school shootings. And rightly so. But we dont hear about the deaths that occur because people cant readily access a gun to protect themselves and their families. These latter deaths are no less horrific.

The national media rarely covers instances where young children use guns to save someones life. I found 11 cases that got local news coverage where a juvenile used a gun to save someones life. On June 30, a 12-year-old Louisiana boy used a hunting rifle to stop an armed burglar threatening his mothers life during a home invasion. On Feb. 13, after two masked men broke into a North Carolina house and shot a 73-year-old woman in the leg, another 12-year-old shot the intruders in self-defense, causing them to flee. In St. Louis on June 16, a 13-year-old shot his father as he was choking his mother. And the news media also misses the vast majority of defensive gun uses.

Completely absent is a discussion of what will really protect schoolchildren: letting teachers or staff carry guns at school. Twenty states allow this under a variety of rules. Some states have had these rules for decades. The Crime Prevention Research Center, of which I am the president, has released a report looking at school shootings of all types in the United States from 2000 through 2018. Outside of suicides or gang violence, often in the wee hours of the morning, there has not been a single case of someone being wounded or killed from a shooting at any of the schools that have armed teachers.

The attack in Michigan occurred in yet another school where teachers and staff were defenseless. Even when uniformed security officers are present, they have an almost impossible job. These killers can wait for the officer to leave the area before attacking or shoot the officer first. Once the officer is killed, the shooters have free rein to go after everybody else. Having armed teachers carrying concealed firearms takes away that tactical advantage and even makes the officers job much safer as the attacker must worry that another unidentified person might be able to stop him when he shoots the officer.

We need to approve whichever laws save the most lives. What we dont need are any more laws that leave people defenseless.

From RealClearWire

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
China's aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, sailing with other ships holds a "live combat drill" in the East China Sea, in a show of force by Beijing's burgeoning navy in disputed waters that have riled neighbors, on April 23, 2018. (AFP via Getty Images)

Will Chinas String of Pearls Stretch From the South China Sea to the Atlantic?

News Analysis

Fifteen years ago, it was fashionable to speak of Chinas emerging string of pearls: a chain of bases, ports, and other maritime facilities stretching from the South China Sea, through the Singapore-Malacca Straits, across the Indian Ocean, and on to the Red Sea.

If not directly owned or controlled by China, this network-of-access would permit the Peoples Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), the naval arm of the Chinese military, to become a more or less permanent presence in the Indian Ocean. As a result, the PLAN could secure Chinas access to some of its most important sea lanes of communication (SLOCs), safeguarding the critical flow of energy suppliesparticularly crude oilfrom the Middle East, and protecting Chinas trade routes to Europe.

Until quite recently, however, there was no such string of pearls. Indeed, to many, the whole idea was a flight of Western imagination.

It has gotten a lot less imaginary lately. Over the past decade, as part of Beijings Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), China has undertaken a network of maritime projectsdeepwater harbors, container shipping facilities, and other infrastructure developments that are expanding Chinas economic and trade presence in the Indian Ocean. China has funded and built ports in Colombo and Hambantota, in Sri Lanka; in Gwadar and Karachi, in Pakistan; in Sittwe, Burma (Myanmar); and the Seychelles.

Moreover, Chinese companies, particularly the shipping giant Cosco, have stakes in several commercial ports all along the eastern and western coasts of Africa, as well as the Maldives.

This rise of Chinese economic activity in the Indian Ocean has naturally brought in the PLAN. As the PLAs official English-language news website put it, the PLAs responsibilities today have gone beyond the scale of guarding the Chinese territories, requiring it to protect Chinas interests anywhere in the world. Overseas military bases will provide cutting edge support for China to guard its growing overseas interests.

While the PLAN may not yet possess a coherent constellation of bases and places stretching across the Indian Ocean, it is increasing more than ever before its presence and activities in the region. The PLAN maintains surveillance facilities in Pakistan and Burma, while its ships have access to a number of ports and naval bases in the Indian Ocean for resupply.

More importantly, Chinas first overseas base was its naval facility located in Djibouti, a small country on the horn of Africa situated at the southern entrance to the Red Sea. Established around five years ago, this PLAN logistical support facility contains a 1,120-foot-long pier (big enough for Chinas aircraft carriers) and is home to around 1,000 to 2,000 military personnel.

Chinese Peoples Liberation Army personnel attend the opening ceremony of Chinas new military base in Djibouti on Aug. 1, 2017. (STR/AFP via Getty Image)

This base in Djibouti may soon be joined by another PLAN facility on Africas west coast. A recent article in the Wall Street Journal reported that the U.S. intelligence community is increasingly concerned that China intends to establish a naval base at Bata, Equatorial Guinea. Bata already possesses a deepwater port constructed by a Chinese company.

If true, then the PLAN could have its first permanent military presence on the Atlantic Ocean, giving Chinese warships direct access to the United States eastern seaboard.

Given Chinas emphasis not only on expanding international trade and commerce, but on increasing its political clout globally, it is not surprising that Beijing is attempting to strengthen its ability to project sustainable power farther and farther beyond its territory.

According to James Holmes of the U.S. Naval War College, China is increasingly taking its cue from Alfred Thayer Mahan, the pre-eminent sea power theorist of the late 19th century. According to Mahan, sea power rests on three pillars: factories at home and markets abroad; navies and merchant fleets; and naval stations based along important sea lanes to support those fleets. Put in its simplest terms, that amounts to commerce, ships, and bases.

Hence the appeal to China in expanding its control of global trade, as embodied in the BRI and its sea-based subsidiary, the Maritime Silk Road. This strategy also accounts for Chinas interests in expanding and modernizing the PLAN and making it a blue-water navy.

The third element of the Mahanian stratagem requires a string of naval bases, or at least base access. This is why Djibouti is so important. It is strategically located near some of the worlds busiest shipping lanes, controlling access to the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean. It also serves as a key refueling and transshipment center, and is the principal maritime port for imports from and exports to neighboring Ethiopia.

Expanding the PLANs network of port access in friendly countries, along with genuine naval bases on both coasts of Africa, is very much in keeping with 19th century arguments that the fleet follows the flag, that is, that naval forces go forth to protect a nations global commerce and its shipping.

Chinas growing global military footprint initially may have been the result of its expanding international economic and commercial interests. Increasingly, however, geostrategic and great-power aspirations are outstripping economics. Like the United States, China wants to be a global superpower, with a world-girdling presence, and these ambitious are driving its new string-of-pearls basing schemes.

Consequently, one should not be surprised to see China attempt to establish military bases, or at least access agreements, far beyond its shores. This would likely include forts and airfields in Central Asia, and leased or rented naval bases along the Indian Ocean. More critically, the PLA could seek to establish more bases on the African continent or, perhaps, even in Latin America (Venezuela is a likely prospect).

In such cases, economics would not so much lead as it would reinforce Chinas military globalization efforts. A string of pearls would become a chain of iron.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
NORWALK  New cases of COVID-19 have tripled in Norwalk over the last week, city officials said.

Norwalk is now in the highest level of transmission, as is 96 percent of the state, according to the statement. Three weeks ago, 40 percent of the state was in the red and Norwalk was in the lowest level of transmission.

With COVID cases on the rise statewide, city officials are once again reminding residents of the benefits of mask-wearing. But Mayor Harry Rilling has not reinstated a mask mandate.

No mandate as of today but were watching things closely, city spokesperson Josh Morgan said. We know masks are effective, and are optimistic people will do the responsible thing and protect themselves and others by wearing a face covering. We also know whats more effective is getting vaccinated or a booster.

The COVID numbers reported Thursday are the highest since February, and higher than the peak of the delta variant wave. In August, 391 people statewide were hospitalized with COVID-19, according to the citys statement.

The delta variant remains the main driver of COVID-19 transmission in the community.

As the impacts from Thanksgiving holiday travel and gatherings come into focus, cases are on a rapid rise and I am urging all residents  regardless of vaccination status  to wear a face covering when at indoor public places, Rilling said. With the omicron variant spreading, statewide hospitalizations reaching levels we havent seen in months, significant holiday travel expected, and cold weather upon us, now is the critical time to double down on our efforts to slow the spread of this virus.

As of Thursday, the citys test positivity rate was 4.9 percent, compared to 2.7 percent last week, according to the statement.

The recent increase in COVID-19 cases is not unexpected given holiday activities and colder weather bringing people together indoors where the virus is more transmissible, infectious disease specialist at Norwalk Hospital Dr. Paolo Pino said. As hospitalizations from COVID-19 increase across the state including at Norwalk Hospital, we are seeing that a vast majority of patients are unvaccinated. We now have widespread access to COVID-19 vaccines unlike last year at this time when there was a spike in cases.

Pino urged Norwalkers to receive both the COVID-19 vaccine and annual flu shot, if they have not done so already.

These vaccines are safe and effective against severe illness and hospitalization from these viruses for most people, Pino said.

The Department of Public Health reported 576 COVID-19-related hospitalizations Thursday, an increase of 162 since the previous Thursday, according to Gov. Ned Lamonts daily COVID update.

Of the people hospitalized with the coronavirus, about 77 percent are unvaccinated, according to Lamont. Fairfield County has 109 COVID-19 hospitalizations.

As of Thursday, only two cases of the COVID-19 omicron variant were identified in Connecticut.

Under Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and DPH guidelines, based on the rate of transmission in the city, it is recommended face masks be worn indoors, regardless of vaccination status, according to the citys statement.

Masks work in two ways: By reducing the viral contamination in the air exhaled from an infected person and to protect an uninfected person from exposure by filtering the air that one inhales, according to the CDC.

A drive-thru vaccination clinic will be held at Veterans Park on Saturday beginning at 8:30 a.m. No appointment is necessary.

Due to high demand, Norwalk added two pediatric vaccination clinics for children aged 5 to 11. The clinics will be at both the SoNo and main library locations on Dec. 12 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

More information on vaccination clinics in Norwalk can be found at norwalkct.org/vaccine.

abigail.brone@hearstmediact.com
NORWALK  A minor has been charged in connection with three hoax threats directed at Norwalk High School in the past week, police said late Wednesday.

The juvenile has been charged with first- and second-degree threatening, three counts of first-degree falsely reporting an incident, three counts of second-degree breach of peace and three counts of conspiracy.

I am glad this issue has been resolved, Mayor Harry Rilling said in a statement Wednesday night. I hope our community can rest easier knowing that this person will be held accountable.

Police said the juvenile was responsible for a bomb threat on Dec. 1, and reporting a student was armed with a gun on Dec. 3 and on Wednesday. The incidents sent Norwalk High School and other nearby schools into lockdowns while police investigated the threats.

Norwalk Police Lt. Terry Blake said late Wednesday the department was not releasing further information, including the minors age and whether they are a student.

We appreciate the hard work of the Norwalk Police Department and all who were involved in identifying the source of these disruptive threats, Superintendent of Schools Alexandra Estrella said in a statement Wednesday night.

The latest incident occurred Wednesday when police said a threat regarding a gun in Norwalk High was made around 1:30 p.m. Students and staff were told to remain in their classrooms until police determined it was safe for them to be dismissed.

A similar threat was made Friday when police said they received a report of a student with a gun inside the school. After the threat was deemed a hoax, the students were dismissed early.

The series of threats began last Wednesday when a report of a bomb at the school was also found to be a hoax.

I appreciate the outstanding work of the officers that responded to the three incidents at Norwalk High School and commend the thorough and tireless work of the detectives that investigated and solved these crimes, Norwalk Police Chief Thomas Kulhawik said in a statement Wednesday night.

The Norwalk incidents were among a series of threats made at Connecticut high schools in the past week. Juveniles have also been arrested in connection with school threats made in Hamden and New Haven.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP)  Saudi Arabias crown prince visited Qatar on Thursday, his first trip to Doha since the kingdom rallied other Arab states to end their yearslong rift and embargo of the tiny Gulf Arab state.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's visit also marked his third stop in the region this week as the Saudi heir to the throne tours the six U.S.-allied Gulf Arab states that make up the Gulf Cooperation Council. His meetings with Arab rulers are aimed at fortifying the kingdoms alliances as rival Iran resumes nuclear negotiations with world powers.

The visit is particularly significant because last year at this time, the neighboring states were in the midst of a diplomatic standoff that had frayed familial ties in the region, fractured the close-knit GCC and sparked churlish barbs in state-linked media as accusations of hacking and damaging leaks swirled.

Angered over Qatar's support for Islamist groups like the Muslim Brotherhood and its ties with Iran, the four nations of Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt severed ties with Qatar in mid-2017. They sealed their airspace to Qatari flights, shuttered Qatar's only land border and expelled Qatari citizens from the quartet of nations. The move pushed Qatar closer to Turkey and Iran, which rushed to support the tiny-but-wealthy nation as it navigated the diplomatic assault.

The regional standoff concluded earlier this year with an agreement signed by Arab leaders in Saudi Arabia. Ultimately, Qatar did not give into a list of demands the quartet had made, including that it close down its Al Jazeera news channel and hand over wanted Islamists residing in exile.

Rather, Qatar has emerged a powerful mediator in the region. As host to the Mideast's largest U.S. airbase, Qatar played a major role during the U.S.-led evacuation from Afghanistan over the summer and also in facilitating contact with the country's Taliban rulers following the closure of Western embassies in Kabul.

Qatar is also well positioned to play a role in easing tensions between Saudi Arabia and Turkey. Prince Mohammed's visit to Doha comes just days after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was in Qatar for meetings. Relations between the two have been rocky since the 2018 killing of Saudi critic Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul.

Upon his arrival to Qatar late Wednesday, Prince Mohammed was greeted on the tarmac with an embrace from ruling Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

He arrived from the United Arab Emirates, where he shook hands with Abu Dhabi's crown prince and strongman before their meeting. The formality of their greeting  in contrast to the embrace he received in Qatar after stepping off the plane  and the decision to make the UAE his second stop in the tour after visiting Oman spotlights the underlying tensions that have emerged in the Saudi-UAE relationship.

Despite a lengthy joint statement expressing their commitment to economic prosperity and security at the conclusion of the prince's visit in the UAE, the traditional allies have increasingly divergent foreign policy stances and are in a heated competition for foreign investment and regional clout.

From Qatar, the Saudi crown prince later Thursday traveled to Bahrain. He is to conclude his tour with a stop in Kuwait.
Water Sweets Soap Company in Edwardsville has been inducted into the Illinois Made Program, which recognizes unique small businesses around the state.

State Rep. Katie Stuart (D-Edwardsville) recently congratulated the company.

I want to congratulate the Water Sweets Soap Company in Edwardsville on being inducted into the Illinois Made Program," Stuart said. Adding them to the program recognizes their hard work and dedication to our community to provide unique all-natural beauty products that are locally sourced.

The Illinois Office of Tourism recently added 28 new small businesses into their Illinois Made program, which started in 2016.

Water Sweets Company, a family-owned small business, specializes in a line of completely preservative-free and chemical-free products, according to owners Alex Sutterfield and his mother, Lisa Sutterfield. The business opened on North Main Street in December 2016 and moved to its current location at 6108 Shoger Drive, Suite C in 2020.

The honor allows the company to be invited to attend a summit with other Illinois Made Program businesses, according to Alex Sutterfield.

Its pretty cool because after you look at five years of hard work, you know, its something to be recognized by a statewide organization, Sutterfield said. Basically, going from a main street business to more of a mainstream business, its pretty cool. Its definitely rewarding for all your hard work.

The small business is also family-operated, with its brick-and-mortar location in Edwardsville and its factory in Highland. Lisa Sutterfield makes all of the products in the 200-square-foot factory with a small crew of family members that help out, especially around the holidays.

Their natural, hand-crafted products include soaps, moisturizing bath bombs, shower aromatherapy bombs, sugar scrubs, face masks, edible lip balms and more. During the holidays the business also offers several specialty products including gnome holiday gift bags, reindeer bath bombs, ornaments filled with bubble bath soap and customizable gift boxes.

We specialize in finding the most luxury-style product but also making it completely natural, Sutterfield said. The business also offers several specialty items, such as products for people with eczema, psoriasis or acne-prone skin as well as products with essential oil scents for those who are sensitive to fragrances.

Weve always tried to produce the best stuff for everybody in the community, Sutterfield said. Over the years we feel like weve helped a lot of people

Sutterfield said he has had customers with long-term skin issues who have visited dermatologists and tried several different products only to come to Water Sweets Soap Company and find a solution in their oil-based bar soap.

We get so far into consumerism and buying things from Walmart and Target and just all of the big-name products that then we dont even realize sometimes that some of these things that are marked all-natural and organic arent really natural and organic, Sutterfield said. So were trying to bring it back to basics here.

Water Sweets Soap Company is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and until Christmas Eve they have added holiday hours of 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sundays. The business also sells its products online and ships anywhere in the United States. Patrons can shop online at www.watersweetssoap.com or on the business Facebook and Instagram pages.

More information about the Illinois Made Program can be found on enjoyillinois.co
Saudi Arabia authorities have suspended flights from Nigeria into the kingdom no thanks to the outbreak of the new COVID-19 variant Omicron.

There had been speculations in the media earlier that the country was preparing to repatriate Nigerians.

According to Daily Trust, sources in the consulate of Saudi Arabia in Kano state have confirmed that there was an order to restrict flights from Nigeria over Omicron.

But The Guardian cites an official of the Saudi embassy in Nigeria who did not want his name mentioned because he was not authorised to interface with the media, as saying the Kingdom took the decision to prevent the further spread of the new infection.

Saudi recorded her index case of Omiron from a passenger returning from North Africa. Saudi's temporary restriction also came when Nigeria equally confirmed her fifth case of the new variant.

The Guardian further reported that reliable source from the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) confirmed the temporary suspension of passengers coming into the Kingdom from Nigeria.

The source, who disclosed that NAHCON is still expecting official communication from the Saudi authority regarding the new travel restriction, however, insisted the measure would not hamper the commission's preparation for 2022 hajj.

A tour operator in Kano, Abdulrazaq Muslima told The Guardian that information available to him regarding the travel restriction was sketchy.

Abdulrazaq said that it would be too early to act on the available information because two flights including Qatar and Badar airways departed Abuja early Wednesday for Jeddah in Saudi Arabia.

However, another travel agent in Kano, Abdulazeez Sabitu, who also confirmed the development, said the Saudi airline has sent a circular to tour all travel agents in Kano conveying the flight restriction order.
The Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd, Mr. Mele Kyari has said that with some of the initiatives being implemented by the Corporation, Nigeria will become a net exporter of petroleum products by 2023.

Kyari said this in his industry keynote address which was delivered on Wednesday at the Nigerian Day-Energy Forum held at the side-line of the 23rd World Petroleum Congress in Houston, United States.

Kyari who was represented at the event by the Group Executive Director, Upstream, Engr. Adokiye Tombomieye, spoke on the theme, The new realities for the world oil and gas industry.

The event is coming at a time when the world is confronted with multiple challenges such as resurgence of COVID-19 pandemic and the fast-spreading Omicron variant; vaccine hesitancy in some Western capitals and vaccine insufficiencies in some developing countries; climate change on the front burner

and rising geopolitical tensions

These challenges are more manifested in some parts of the world than in others.

But their collective impacts when superimposed on the drive for accelerated energy transition is enough to paint the new reality that confronts the global oil and gas industry.

The GMD said while the COVID-19 pandemic has remained a hurtful experience that shocked the global economy and the oil industry, negative financial position and poor liquidity experienced during the heat of the pandemic has made funding of both existing and new projects impossible as companies cut their spending to survive.

However, he said the success of vaccine development has renewed world confidence to reopen the economy once again.

This reopening, he noted, has increased oil demand with prices surging above pre-pandemic levels after crashing to a single digit due to over supply and demand destruction in 2020.

With the opening of major economies and the rebound of oil demand, Kyari said prices have escalated to three-year high due to disproportionate supply.

As a National Oil Company, Kyari said the NNPC is committed to achieving carbon neutrality using Nigerias abundant natural gas resources as a low carbon alternative that will help improve access to energy to power the Nigerian economy.

In the midst of these growing uncertainties, he told participants at the event that building mutually beneficial partnerships has remained the best choice that stakeholders can make to keep their respective visions alive.

Building on this convergence, the NNPC GMD said Nigeria as a key player in global oil industry has, with the enactment of the Petroleum Industry Act 2021, taken major step to address challenges associated with fiscal, security and cost competitiveness.

On the other hand, he stated that the Nigerian Upstream Cost Optimization Programme (NUCOP) is working with Operators and Service Contractors to challenge cost of operations and increase profitability and growth in the Nigerian oil and gas sector.

He said, Adopting broader viewpoints based on inclusive consensus within policies and policy objectives is therefore paramount to ensuring global energy security and sufficiency as the world transit to cleaner energy.

To avoid introducing shocks to global energy security, transition to clean energy must be gradual and on case-by-case basis. Africa needs an energy transition that factor African development priorities.

With PIA 2021, Nigeria is focused on improving good governance, transparency and accountability in order to create a favourable business climate that will support Investment across the energy value chain.

The PIA has set the ball rolling for the transition of NNPC to a fully commercial limited liability entity. This provides more opportunities for partnership and the growth both locally and internationally.

As an Integrated National Oil Company, NNPC understands that making progress means working together, will continue to build rewarding partnerships and Networks that align with vision and objectives.

We are expanding our natural gas infrastructure footprint to improve domestic utilization of low-carbon fuel, improve power generation and stimulate the growth of gas-based industries.

We therefore invite interested investors to explore the countless investment opportunities in the Nigerias Energy Sector.

 Our expectations include enterprise relationships that will facilitate gradual transition to low-Carbon, by bringing capital and Green Technology to support our aspirations of scaling up oil and gas production to achieve universal access to affordable energy.

We are progressing with various initiatives to achieve domestic sufficiency of petroleum products. Our plan is for Nigeria to become a net exporter of petroleum products by 2023.

He said based on projections from the International Energy Agency, the growth of renewable energy will still be insufficient to keep the world on track to attain net-zero emissions by 2050.

This, he stated, implies that the world is likely to continue to burn fossil fuel beyond the projections of energy experts.

The NNPC Boss said the Corporation is leveraging technology, system optimization and innovation to achieve global excellence.
Lagos, December 9, 2021, 2021: Former President Goodluck Jonathan will be conferred with a special recognition award at the maiden edition of the National Freedom of Information (FOI) Awards ceremony scheduled to take place in Abuja on December 10, 2021 for his patriotic and courageous act of signing the FOI Bill into Law 10 years ago, according to the International Press Centre (IPC) and Media Rights Agenda (MRA), organisers of the event.

In the joint statement in Lagos, signed by Mr. Lanre Arogundade, IPCs Executive Director, and Mr. Edetaen Ojo, Executive Director of MRA, the organisations announced that Ekiti State Governor and Chairman of the Governors Forum (NGF), Dr. Kayode Fayemi, would also be honoured at the ceremony taking place at the Abuja Sheraton Hotel for blazing the trail as the first Governor to facilitate the adoption of an FOI Law at the state level.

The event, which coincides with this years International Human Rights Day, will be chaired by Justice Stella Anukam, a judge of the African Court on Human and Peoples Rights in Arusha, Tanzania. It is being held as part of activities to commemorate the 10th year anniversary of the signing of the FOI Bill into Law by then President Jonathan in 2011.

IPC and MRA said the award ceremony, which will host government officials, former and serving members of the National Assembly, civil society representatives, media practitioners and members of the international community, among others, is intended to recognise and reward individuals, organisations and public institutions that have made significant contributions towards the advancement of the right to information in Nigeria as well as in ensuring the effective implementation of the FOI Act.

They explained that those to be honoured would include individuals and organisations that have made the highest number of requests for information under the FOI Act to public institutions or private entities to which the Act applies, between May 29, 2015 and October 31, 2021 as well as public institutions adjudged to be most responsive to requests for information from members of the public under the FOI Act and that have adopted innovative and access-friendly practices and procedures to ensure public right of access to information in Nigeria.

According to them, award recipients would include former Senate Majority Leader, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba (SAN), former Chairman of the Senate Committee on Information, Senator Ayogu Eze, former member of the House of Representatives and currently Chair of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa; former member of the House of Representatives and former Ambassador to Austria, Ambassador Jerry Ugokwe; and former Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, among others.

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) and the Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN) will also receive recognition awards for their role in facilitating the FOI regime in Nigeria.

Explaining the rationale for the awards, Mr. Arogundade said: The FOI Act is a progressive law enacted to open up government to the people and ensure that government becomes more transparent. It is therefore a privilege to be at the threshold of history bestowing awards on individuals, organisations and institutions that have made valuable contributions towards opening up government for the betterment of the people of Nigeria.

Speaking in the same vein, Mr. Ojo said: In the past, we have sought to name and shame public institutions for impeding the effective implementation of the FOI Act by inducting them into a Hall of Shame. I am very pleased that we are now also able to recognise and honour those making positive contributions. A notable example of this is Governor Fayemi who wasted no time in facilitating the adoption of an FOI Law in Ekiti State while most of his colleagues remained fearful of opening up governance as nearly all the other State governments were busy disavowing the application of the FOI Act to their States and continued to govern in secrecy.

The awards are organised with the support of the European Union through component 4b: Support to Media of the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN) Project.

For further information, please contact:

Olutoyin Ayoade (Ms)

Communications Officer,

International Press Centre (IPC)

E-mail: [email protected]

OR

Idowu Adewale (Mr.)

Communications Officer,

Media Rights Agenda (MRA)

E-mail: [email protected]
Bangladesh-India friendship has established an example for any neighboring countries regarding bilateral ties between neighbors. Sri Lanka can learn from this example. Being a neighboring country, Sri Lanka can follow Bangladeshs footprint. Bangladesh and India are benefitting from this eternal tie despite having some bilateral problems between them. There might have some problems between Sri Lanka and India. But that can be resolved. Ultimately, Sri Lanka can benefit from following the India-Bangladesh Eternal Ties Model.

Bangladesh and India are two neighboring countries of South Asia and these two countries have historically had very close relations. After the partition of India and Pakistan in 1947, present day Bangladesh was part of the Republic of Pakistan as East Pakistan. The people of Bengal will never forget the assistance rendered by the late Prime Minister of India Indira Gandhi and her government when the people of East Bengal under the leadership of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman took part in the war of independence against the West Pakistani military rule. On the other hand, India and Sri Lanka are also neighboring countries. It is possible to make Lanka-India eternal ties in the line of India-Bangladesh eternal ties.

The role that Mrs. Gandhi played in the international arena, including providing shelter and military assistance to nearly one crore East Pakistani refugees, accelerated Bangladesh's independence. The generosity shown by Mrs. Gandhi in withdrawing the Indian Allied forces from independence-North Bangladesh in a very short time at the request of Bangabandhu is rarely seen in the case of the newly independent countries.

The unity between the two countries since independence has continued to this day. However, despite the existence of negative relations between Bangladesh and India for some time, the relations between the two countries have reached a certain height in the last 12 years. Many important problems have been solved in the last 12 years, including the solution of enclave problems. Relations between the two countries have been further strengthened by India's assistance in various projects. The current regime of Sri Lanka can follow the same path of Bangladesh government.

On an annual basis, India's exports to Bangladesh increased by 46 percent. As of January-March 2021, India's total exports to Bangladesh amounted to US 3.16 billion. In other words, during this period, Bangladesh was the fourth largest exporter to India. Bangladesh was preceded by the United States (US 15.40 billion), China (US 5.92 billion) and the UAE (US 5.34 billion). Sri Lanka and India trade ties could be increased if they follow Bangladeshs footprint in this connection.

What is clear from these statistics is that trade between the two countries has greatly improved. However, despite the increase in Indian exports to Bangladesh, the desired target for products exported from Bangladesh has not yet been achieved. However, since 2011, the trade deficit between the two countries has been reduced, albeit to a lesser extent, as a result of the Government of India's decision to allow duty-free trade of Bangladeshi products in the Indian market, except for 25 products. Even then, in order to improve relations, the two heads of government should reach an agreement to reduce the trade deficit.

In the field of culture, very friendly relations exist between the two countries. Just as Bangladeshi cultural groups display their cultural activities in India, so Indian cultural groups often present their activities to the people of Bangladesh. Through this, a strong bridge has been created in the cultural arena of the two countries. It is worth mentioning here that since Bangladesh and India are two states of the subcontinent, there are many similarities between the cultural worlds of the two countries. Cultural ties between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh should be built on this ground. The India-Bangladesh Eternal Ties model shows the way how to conduct it.

The scholarships that the Government of India has introduced for Bangladeshi students in various fields to further enhance the relations between the two countries have had a positive impact on the relations between the two countries. Along with scholarships under the Indian Council for Cultural Relations, the Government of India has introduced scholarships for Bangladeshi students in several other sectors. Among these are the Friendship Scholarship, the Scholarship for the Children of the Freedom Fighters and the Bangabandhu Chair Scholarship on the occasion of Bangabandhu's birth centenary. The fact that a large number of people from Bangladesh travel to India every year for medical treatment sends a positive message to the relations between the two countries.

In addition, the governments of the two countries are seriously considering launching a regional inter-country road link. If this communication starts, there will be huge potential for expansion of trade and commerce between the two countries. It is expected that this will open new doors for Bangladesh's trade not only with India but also with our neighboring countries. Many try to view inter-country road connectivity in a negative light, arguing that Bangladesh would then become India's corridor.

Such an argument is entirely motivated, because if such efforts are successful in the age of globalization, it will bring benefits to both countries. Providing duty-free trade and visa-free travel with this communication will benefit both countries as well as strengthen the people-to-people ties between the two countries as we see in Europe. Many European countries can be entered under Schengen visa.

There is no denying that the governments of Bangladesh and India have reached a consensus on a number of issues since the post-independence period. Important among these were the Padma water sharing agreement, the solution of enclave problems and duty-free access to goods to reduce the trade deficit. However, although the relations between the two countries are very deep, it has not been possible to reach a consensus on a number of issues so far. The most important of these are the Teesta water sharing agreement and the killing at the border.

Although the Indian government has a positive attitude towards the Teesta water treaty, it is not possible to do so due to opposition from the West Bengal government. To complete the contract. If this agreement is reached, it will not only have a positive impact on the relations between the two countries, but will also alleviate the suffering of the people of northern Bangladesh due to the lack of Teesta water.

On the other hand, despite high-level talks between the two countries to reduce the number of killings on the border to zero, such killings have occasionally negatively affected relations between the two countries. The killings should be reduced, especially as the people of Bangladesh may have a negative impact on India.

Bangladesh-India relations are on such a strong foundation that many countries of the world have started envying this relationship. Various leaders are trying to bridge the gap in this relationship. The two heads of government should be aware of this.

We must remember that the relationship between the people of Bangladesh and India stands on a very strong foundation. Thus, the main theme of this year's Friendship Day may be the conviction to move the relationship forward by reaching consensus on the issues on which consensus has not yet been reached.

The relationship between neighbors should be this model. As a neighbors, Sri Lanka must follow Bangladeshs model. Thus, we can say that Bangladesh-India eternal ties can be an ideal model for Sri Lanka as Sri Lanka and India are South Asian neighbors. Then it would be possible to say Sri Lanka-India Eternal Ties. Sri Lanka can gain a lot from following India-Bangladesh Eternal Ties.
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in 19 Northern states and Abuja has condemned in strong terms the gruesome murder of innocent travellers by bandits in Sokoto State and attacks on citizens of Nigeria by bandits.

The association lamented that the activities of bandits have further showed that human life was cheaper than that of chickens today in Nigeria.

A statement personally issued by the Vice Chairman, Rev. John Joseph Hayab called on the Federal Government and Governors in the north, especially north west region, to take proactive measures to stop the evil permanently.

CAN asked, How can people be productive when they are living in fear both at home and anywhere they go?

The statement observed that security of lives and properties was a serious government business, lamenting, but what we are seeing today is how some of our leaders are playing politics with a serious matter that has almost destroyed the peace, joy and hope of the citizens.

CAN appealed to security agencies to stop the unhealthy competition amongst them and work together in unity for the common good of all Nigerians, stressing that the security agencies had all it would take to defeat the bandits.

CAN said that on its part, it would continue to offer its prayers, support and play any role that will help to bring the evil being perpetrated in the society to an end.

CAN Northern States commiserated with families of those who lost their lives and every genuine well wisher and peace lovers.
The news of suspension of flight from Nigeria by Saudi Arabia General authority of civil aviations came as a shock and an unexpected development at this particular period of time. There are many factors being ascribed to the reason for the suspension of flight by the Saudi Aviation authority. The announcement that the new Omicron variants have been found in Nigeria may have creates serious panic in Saudi aviation cycles. This may be justified owing to the fact that Nigerians are among the largest Umrah pilgrims currently in the Kingdom. As at the time of writing this piece, there are over 200 Nigerian Umrah pilgrims in the Kingdom awaiting departure.

For example, announcement of suspension of countries from entering the Kingdom based on health related issues usually emanates from Saudi Ministry of Health and Saudi Ministry of interior while Saudi Arabia Ministry of Hajj and Umrah is saddled with the announcement of countries that can participates in Hajj or Umrah.

However, the suspension of flight from Nigeria was announced via a memo dated 8th December 2021 by the Saudi Arabia General Authority of Civil Aviation  an usual protocol in the Kingdom. It is also instructive to note that neither Saudi Press Agency nor any other media reported the flight suspension hours after the memo was dispatched to all the airlines in the Kingdom. This is a strange move that require more analysis because news or information on previous suspension of flight or lifting of suspension by the Kingdom is usually made available to Saudi Press Agency SPA before any other media.

For example it was the Ministry of Interior that announced the suspension of flight from and to South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Lesotho and Eswatini recently .

Arab News reported that The Ministry of Interior said it had been decided to suspend flights from and to South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Lesotho and Eswatini, based on the continuous follow-up of the epidemiological situation and concerns health authorities in the Kingdom have raised about the emergence of the mutated strain of the virus in a number of countries, Saudi Press Agency reported.

That reason was based on the continuous follow-up of the epidemiological situation and concerns health authorities in the Kingdom have raised about the emergence of the mutated strain of the virus in a number of countries as reported by Saudi Press Agency.

So, did Saudi Arabia General Authority of Civil Aviation give any reason for the suspension? The response is somehow sketchy because the three paragraph memo signed by Assistant President for Economic Policies and Air Transport does not anchor any reasons for the action. Our diplomats in the Kingdom should dialogue with the Kingdom to know the underlying cause of this sudden slamming of door on Nigeria because the Kingdom has never single out Nigeria for suspension even when the Covid 19 reaches alarming stage.

Yes, because aside the closing of its airspace that affects all countries, this is the first time Saudi Arabia is specifically suspending flight from Nigeria since Covid 19 pandemic. In March 2020, the Kingdom suspended all international flights for two weeks having previously banned travel from United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain, Iraq, Iran, and Egypt. Indonesia, Pakistan, Brazil, Vietnam, Egypt and India were also suspended in March 2020 due to increases in cases of Corona virus in those countries.

The ban on Indonesia, Pakistan, Brazil, Vietnam, Egypt and India was lifted last week and flights have started arriving Saudi Arabia from those countries.

Nigeria was not suspended when 20 countries were barred from entering the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during Covid 19. Argentina, Brazil, Egypt, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Lebanon, Pakistan, Portugal, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and United Arab Emirates were once suspended. This is where we need to apply cautious and approach the suspension and apply diplomacy to unravel the cause of the suspension so as to immediately figure out a way out before Hajj operations come calling.

It noteworthy that the Kingdom has not announced ban of flight on a single country since the pandemic arrives.

To flip the coin, there are also strong indications that the suspension may be a way to draws the attention of relevant agencies from Nigeria to compel its travelers to abide by certain health related guidelines in the Kingdom. Yours sincerely has come across such scenarios where some travels prefer to twist and turn the Covid 19 entry protocol in Saudi Arabia.
Bisi Akande, the former interim national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has been described by President Buhari as a perfect public officer with whom he could go into the jungle. President Muhammadu Buhari revealed his assesment of Chief Bisi Akanda at the launch of his book today in Lagos.

Speaking on Thursday at the public presentation of My Participations, the autobiography of Akande, Buhari said the author has retained his inflexible integrity in and out of public office, never accepting or offering bribes.

The president described Akande as a decent, truthful, and friendly person whose leadership qualities made him the unanimous choice as the first national chairman of the APC.

Quoting a famous Hausa saying, Labarin zucciya a tambayi fuska (loosely translated -if you want to know what is in a mans heart watch his face), Buhari said Akande has a permanent smile on his face, and that he is the type I will go into the jungle with.

Buhari also used the occasion to narrate his first meeting with Akande, his passion for Nigeria, and achievements.

My first personal contact with Chief Akande was, if I recall correctly, in 2006 when preliminary consultations were coming to fruition for a grand coalition to unseat the PDP Government, he said.

Those efforts eventually came to nothing. Neither he, nor I, nor many of our friends and associates gave up as, in Chief Akandes words: the country was going down and down under PDP.

Chief Akande was in the thick of further attempts in 2011 and 2014 to fuse together different groups and dislodge PDP from governance.

The key to his thinking which coincides with mine is that Nigeria can only be successfully managed by alliances between major groups.

Although we failed in 2011, but by persistence and knowledge that PDP was driving the country towards disaster, several major parties were able to finally coalesce into APC in 2014.

Throughout the difficult negotiations, I found Akande truthful, steady and always with an eye to the ultimate goal.

In or out of office, he has retained his inflexible integrity. A perfect gentleman. A perfect public officer.

HE SHOWED HIMSELF AS A COMPETENT ADMINISTRATOR

On the political history of the author, Buhari said Akande showed his mettle as a competent and serious administrator when he served as governor of Osun.

He was always in the thick of things through the difficulties and political discontinuities of the 1980s and 90s, the president said.

He emerged as Governor of Osun State in 1999 when the military handed over to the civilians.

Chief Akande had a horrendous baptism as Governor of Osun State with discord from his own party; his State Assembly (including an attempt to impeach him without any reason whatsoever); from the trade unions and from his own deputy Governor!

On top of that, he inherited a deeply indebted Treasury, huge arrears of salary, allowances, and pensions. Enough challenges to overwhelm many aspiring leaders.

Bisi Akande stood four square and faced all the challenges head-on and overcame most of them.

By 2003 Chief Akande had virtually sanitised governance in Osun State having cleared some of the troublemakers from his government and, though reluctant to serve a second term, he was persuaded to run again.

It is common knowledge that Akande was the victim  along with other AD Governors  of a diabolical double-cross which ended his gubernatorial career. Only the steadfast Asiwaju Bola Tinubu escaped the electoral massacre masterminded by President Obasanjo.

Desperately disappointed though he was, and being a good Muslim, he accepted this setback as part of the trials of life. He looked to the future of service to the country.
Nigeria Report is pleased to present this original report from Masara Kim, an independent journalist working on the ground in Nigerias Plateau State, a region where Fulani militia attacks have killed and displaced thousands of people in the last ten years. Mr Kim is one of the most courageous journalists working to bring these atrocities to light, in an often hostile and dangerous reporting environment.

At least ten people were killed in a midnight attack by suspected jihadists on a small Christian town in central Nigerias Plateau State on 26 November, according to local officials.

An unspecified number of assailants armed with AK-47s invaded Taegbe in Bassa local government area (LGA) killing residents and burning houses and food barns, said tribal leader Ezekiel Bini in a telephone interview. Three others were seriously wounded in the attack which affected chiefly women and children, Bini said.

Terrorists attempting to foist a caliphate on the central region were responsible for the attack, according to Rev. Fr. Blaise Agwom, Executive Director of the Dialogue, Reconciliation and Peace (DREP) Center, a non-governmental organization which organized a peace meeting for Fulani Muslims and Christians in Bassa on 21 October.

Leaders of the Fulani tribe at the meeting signed an agreement to cease attacks on Christians. However, on 23 November Fulani militiamen killed two farmers in Ancha village in the same area of Bassa, and survivors of the latest attack say they were attacked by their Fulani neighbours.

Fulani Muslim militias have been blamed for the killing of thousands of Christians in Plateau State.

Read the full report at: nigeria-report.org

Nigeria Report is a project of Christian Solidarity International. Its goal is to spread awareness of, and promote solutions for, the widespread sectarian violence afflicting Nigeria.
If there is any speculation that is being built around the remote cause of Sylvester Oromomis death, it is unarguably the one that has it that his alleged killers were ill-motivated by bad parenting. The speculation which has kept tongue wagging, and shared by not few parents who are presumably dispirited by the gory incident cannot be easily pooh-poohed as myriads of issues confronting Nigeria as a country have been traced to bad parenting.

In fact, the society from all indications is adjudged to be grossly in bad shape. Some scholars contend that we make the society and others hold too that we are products of the society. If our actions jointly help to shape the society it means that a bad society is a product of all our bad actions. In computer jargon we are familiar with the phrase, garbage in garbage out.

Against the foregoing backdrop, this conjecture holds that we have the capacity to shape our environment to the manner we want. In other words we reap what we sow. Almost everyone is concerned about the ills of the society because the consequences are encroaching on all without exemption. By each passing day, and in spite of all the efforts to improve the quality of life, social issues have been our bane.

Without any scintilla of exaggeration, Sociologists are unanimous with the view that it is graceful for every parent to dream of having his or her child grow up into a responsible person. However, even though every parent wishes the best for his or her child, at times bad parenting gets in the way of achieving this as was witnessed at Dowen College. In fact, bad parenting has lots of negative effects in the life of any child. It is therefore important for each and every parent to evaluate his or her parenting skills so as to know the effects of such parenting on the child, particularly as not doing that will pose as danger to the society.

While it is impossible to be an all-round perfect parent, it is never wrong to try and be the best that you can be. Since a parent guides the child, molding him or her into the person they ultimately become and also acts as a role model has been a difficult task, except by the grace of God. In fact, bad parenting can spell destruction for any child; whether from a rich home or poor home. The most common parenting mistakes made include neglecting the child and not correcting him or her. This leads to a number of problems in the children.

At this juncture, it is expedient to say that Sociologists held that most common reasons why youngsters, students in this context, become bullies in schools or colleges is because they lack basic attention from parents at home and lashes out at others for attention. Paramount among these can include neglected children, children of divorced parents, or children with parents under the regular influence of drugs and alcohol.

To buttress the foregoing view, it is germane to say that bullying is what students do if they want to carve a niche among their peers. Although bullying is a habit that can be cultivated from childhood, it comes to be fully matured at a stage a child becomes young adult as witnessed in Dowen College, and which unfortunately resulted to the untimely death of Sylvester. This stage also corresponds to the level of higher education in the higher institutions where undergraduates often suffer from bullying.

Analyzed from the foregoing perspective, it is an established fact that not few parents take the training or upbringing of their children lukewarmly. Indeed many of them do not even know what it takes to train their children. Many have erroneously believed that giving their children all the financial and material needs they ask for is all they need to become good children. Unfortunately, some parents that treated their children this way, particularly by lavishing expensive gifts on them and pandering to their emotions, have ended up being disappointed. What this means is that it takes more than showering your children with gifts and overindulging them to make them wonderful children.

Ostensibly to emphasize on the need for good child upbringing, the UN General Assembly on September 17, 2012, adopted Resolution 66/292 proclaiming June 1 to be the annual Global Day of Parents, dedicated to honoring parents throughout the world for their selfless, life-long dedication to nurturing and protecting their children and helping their full maturation as human beings.

There is no denying the fact that importance of moms and dads, and of their joint commitment in raising the next generation, cannot be overstated as the future of humanity depends on the how well moms and dads do in their mission as teachers in the home school where they form their children in so many essential human values, like socialization, trust, mutual respect and responsibility, education, hard work, affection, compassion, forgiveness, solidarity, and ethical development.

In fact, the views expressed by Akintunde Festus Adeyemo, a legal consultant, based in the USA, in the Punch newspaper edition of December 6, 2021 from its all ramifications attests to the fact that bad parenting ill-motivated the alleged killers of Sylvester Oromomi to exterminate his life.

In fact, the intro to the piece, titled Murder at Dowen College: Thoughts on parenting and legal remedies to my understanding captures the fact that bad parenting is to be blamed for the collective criminal disposition of some younger ones. He wrote, Delinquent children are capable of unbelievable crimes. I was once a counsellor at Eaton County Juvenile Correctional Facilities. When I read their files, I was shocked. Even as their counsellor, and during one-on-one sessions, I was always looking over my shoulders. I worked with these delinquent kids for a couple of months, and one thing was unambiguously clear: Their parents failed them.

To conclude this piece, it suffices to opine that the parent-child relationship is important because it lays the foundation for the childs personality, life choices, and overall behavior. It can also affect the strength of their social, physical, mental, and emotional health.

In fact, children who have a healthy relationship with their parents are more likely to develop positive relationships with other people around them. They can establish secure bonds and friendships with their peers. Thus, the healthy involvement of parents in their childrens day to day life helps ensure that their kids can perform better socially and academically.
The Muslim Students' Society of Nigeria, Lagos State Area Unit has mourned the death of about 10 students who died in Lagos State within four days

The student body regretted the rampant killings among the Nigerian students in recent times in the state.

MSSNLagos recalled that eight Muslim students were found dead in a bus at the Badagry area of Lagos on Saturday.

The organisation also painfully stated that two students were confirmed dead when a truck had an accident on Tuesday around Ojodu-Berger.

Reacting, MSSNLagos Amir, Mallam Miftahudeen Thanni, described the incident as disheartening and shocking.

He said realising that this is happening to underage students, who are future leaders of the country is painful.

He reiterated that students deserve total care and protection from the government, parents, schools, and society at large.

He also added that safety education should be introduced as a compulsory subject in schools.

"We want to unequivocally state that these are avertable and preventable occurrences looking at the circumstances surrounding the tragic incidents claiming the lives of our future leaders

"The first bothers on the allegedly bullied and tortured Dowen Student at Ikoyi. The second tragic incident Is the one that occurred in Badagry where students numbering about eight were found dead in a parked vehicle.

"The last straw that broke the camel's back is the killing of students of Ojodu Grammar School in Ojodu. This dastardly occurrence could have been prevented if law enforcement agents did the needful by enforcing the roadworthiness law by tracking vehicles without break, instead of running after them on roads used by members of the public to the extent that lives of citizens were lost unduly.

"The organisation hereby recommends the installation of CCTV in all dormitories, classrooms, and premises of both day and boarding of private and public schools. This will reveal valuable information about all happenings in the school.

"Law enforcement agents should always patrol secondary schools and their surroundings with special attention on boarding schools.

"Private boarding schools' approval must be minimal and strict, it should be premised on quality, due process, and rule of law."

The student leader also suggested the ban of Vehicle Inspection Officers and other law enforcement agents from arresting near schools.

SIGNED:

Miftahudeen Thanni,

Amir (President),

Muslim Students' Society of Nigeria,

Lagos State Area Unit.

08173291878
The Chairman/Founder, Unubiko Foundation, Chief James Ume, has revealed that the organization has launched a N250m intervention fund to rebuild the Ovukwu-Abam Secondary School, Atan Abam in Abia State.

Ume said this on Thursday in Lagos at the launch of a book titled: Technology and Development  An African Perspective, written by the Business Editor of THE PUNCH, Mr. Everest Amaefule.

Ume who was the Chief Presenter of the book said the launch of the N250m intervention fund is based on his commitment to the development of his people both infrastructural-wise and in capacity.

The Foundation had before now implemented many intervention programmes in Nigeria in areas of skills acquisition in digital technology and other areas, youths and women empowerment, job creation and poverty reduction among others.

Ume called on all eminent Nigerians to join him in building the future of the school in particular and the community.

He said, It is worthwhile to state that in my commitment to the development of our people both infrastructural-wise and in capacity, the Unubiko Foundation has just launched a N250m intervention fund to rebuild the Ovukwu-Abam Secondary School, Atan Abam in Abia State and I invite all of us to be part of the future we are building.

As a measure of his support to the book, and to galvanise the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ume who is also the Publisher of THE WHISTLER bought 10 copies of the book at N2m for the library of the NUJ National Secretariat.

Also, he bought additional 10 copies each for the FCT and Abia Councils of the NUJ for N2m each, and additional 10 copies for Unubiko Foundation for N2m.

Similarly, Ume who was represented at the event by The Deputy Editor, THISDAY, Obinna Chima, purchased another 10 copies of the book for Ovukwu-Abam Secondary School for the same N2 million, bringing his total support for the scholarly publication to N10m.

He applauded the commitment of the Author towards offering insights through his writings on issues that affect Nigeria and the global economy.

He said, In other parts of the world, it is a given for journalists to write books and offer their deep insights into issues that shape and can potentially impact on the course of events in their societies. It is not that common in Nigeria and Africa as a whole.

It is in this wise that when we find journalists such as Mr. Amaefule bringing their wealth of experience garnered over many years in a book form, we should applaud their industry and commitment to better and grow society.

The book comes at a time that Nigeria albeit Africa needs to examine the nexus between technology and development and how it can leverage on the former to achieve the latter especially in the face of global shutdowns owing to the Covid-19 pandemic.

I remain persuaded that this book will add to the existing body of knowledge and be useful not just to academics, but also to journalists and students of development.

Ume said what he finds ennobling is that the author from a humbling beginning has rose through the ranks first as a correspondent to now being a Business Editor and a sought-after voice in business and financial circles as a result of his profound thoughts and unbiased analysis of issues.

I should say that as a journalist myself and an industry consultant, Everest is one of the few minds I trust to take on issues knowing how painstaking he is when dissecting issues of national interest.

This book is a challenge to other journalists not to rest on their oars but to continue to strive to develop themselves and be part of living history by documenting their perspectives on issues of growth, development, politics, economy and security, he added.
Afrifanom Limited, one of Ghanas leading home-grown firms with well-established roots in Information Technology, Content Aggregation and Big Data Management has presented cash prizes to the Best Graduating students of the Computer Science Department of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in the university's just ended 55th congregation.

Nana Osei Afrifa (right) - CEO, Afrifanom Limited presenting the prizes to the award winners.

The two recipients of the award, Miss Susan Tochukwu Anukem - the overall best female graduating student and Mr. Frederick Obah Lateo - the overall best graduating student each received a cash prize of GHC 5000 and one year intensive national service opportunity with the firm.

Commenting on the presentation, The Chief Executive Officer of Afrifanom Limited, Nana Osei Afrifa remarked, At Afrifanom, we believe that education remains the foundation of our society and a catalyst for Ghanas development. It is clear that the countrys future economic development and prosperity is closely linked with our students' success in the technology space as it is the main vehicle for innovation and industrial development in this data-driven world. This is the basis of our focus on supporting young students to strive for academic excellence to become great professionals."

Nana Osei Afrifa, interacting with Miss Susan Tochukwu Anukem and Mr. Frederick Obah Lateo

Congratulating the recipients, Nana Osei Afrifa added that the beneficiaries represent the future and hope of Ghana with the potential to make changes in the future information technology field. He challenged the students to make worthwhile the efforts and investment being made in their future.

Professor Leonard Amekudzi  Provost of College of Sciences at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in a brief remark commended Afrifanom Limited for instituting the award scheme, adding that it is a step in the right direction. He therefore called on corporate bodies to extend internship opportunities to more students to further the cause of bridging the gap between academia and industry.

Nana Osei Afrifa (right) - CEO, Afrifanom Limited presenting the prizes to the award winners.

Head of Computer Science Department of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Professor James Hayfron-Acquah noted that the department is committed to formalising relationships with corporate bodies such as Afrifanom that enhances the quality of education, promotion of inclusion and diversity, and the growth of the information technology industry. He assured Afrifanom that the Computer Science Department is strategically positioned more than ever to be the hub for training of IT professionals in Ghana.

The award scheme is expected to run for the next few years and is aligned with Afrifanoms aim of supporting long-term socio-economic growth of Ghana.

Afrifanom Group is a Pan-African firm made up of 3 subsidiaries with well- established roots in Software Development, Content Aggregation and Agribusiness.
General election could be held as early as mid-2022: Opposition

BANGKOK: The opposition parties believe the next general election could be taking place as early as between March and July next year, as they vow to continue keeping the administration in check.

politics

By National News Bureau of Thailand

Thursday 9 December 2021, 05:52PM

Photo: NNT

After the gathering of the opposition coalition yesterday (Dec 8), opposition MPs issued a joint statement to point out the governments failure in nine aspects which the opposition would discuss in detail at the next general debate to be held in early February next year, reports state news agency NNT.

The coalition comprises Pheu Thai Party, Move Forward Party, Thai Liberal Party, Thai People Power Party, and Puea Chat Party.

The opposition parties speculate that the next general election could be held as early as between March and July 2022, as evident in more frequent visits by coalition parties to key constituent areas, and the efforts to expedite constitutional amendment governing the electoral format.

The next possible timeframe of the election is after August 2022, when the Constitutional Court is expected to deliver its ruling on whether Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha can stay on as prime minister for more than 8 years.

With the next general election in sight, the opposition parties pledge to continue keeping the government in check, while emphasizing the unity of opposition parties where vision and goals are shared, despite some differences.

Meanwhile, government coalition leader Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) yesterday welcomed Pichate Satirachaval as the partys latest member, bringing the number of its MPs to 120.

PPRP leader Gen Prawit Wongsuwan said more well-known names will be joining the party. However, the details have yet to be disclosed.

PPRP Secretary-General Thamanat Prompow has acknowledged the partys plan for the next general election, saying the party now has its list of MP candidates for 350 constituencies.

He then denied rumors about his intent to move to Bhumjaithai Party, together with PPRP deputy leader Wirat Ratanaset.

Mr Thamanat said he would stay with the ruling party and its current leadership until he quits his role in politics.
More incentives for foreign film shoots

BANGKOK: The government looks set to increase incentives and deregulate foreign film shoots in Thailand, aiming to promote shooting and production.

tourismeconomics

By Bangkok Post

Thursday 9 December 2021, 09:30AM

Mr Danucha says a possible new incentive includes a 30% cash rebate for foreign filmmakers who spend B50-B100 million on their production in Thailand. Photo: Bangkok Post

Danucha Pichayanan, secretary-general of the National Economic and Social Development Council, said the Centre for Economic Situation Administration (CESA) ordered related agencies at a meeting on Dec 3 to find fresh ways to lure more foreign film shoots to Thailand, reports the Bangkok Post.

New incentives should be finalised and proposed to CESAs next meeting in January, he said.

According to Mr Danucha, rules and regulations pertaining to foreign film shoots involve various agencies, while work permit procedures are not convenient for film shoots, the import tax for equipment is relatively high and state agencies regulations for use of public areas are unclear.

A major obstacle is some regulations are outdated, such as a requirement that actors take a blood test for syphilis, he said.

In addition, the incentives offered in Thailand are less competitive compared with those promoted by other countries.

However, Mr Danucha said Thailands competitive edge is its host of attractive locations for film shoots and good tourism infrastructure.

Thailand currently offers a cash rebate equivalent to 15% of every B50mn spent on a film shoot.

An extra 5% cash rebate is offered if foreign film studios hire Thai staff, promote Thai culture and shoot in second-tier tourism provinces.

The cash rebate is capped at B75mn.

In Malaysia, international filmmakers who spend a minimum of RM5mn (about B40mn) on production costs, including post-production activities in Malaysia, are entitled to a 30% cash rebate, with a requirement that at least 30% of the production crew must be locals.

Shoots that spend at least RM1.5mn (about B12mn) on post-production activities in Malaysia, or a minimum of RM385,000 (B3.05mn) per hour on TV series, are also entitled to enjoy a 30% cash rebate.

Poland offers a cash rebate of 30% to filmmakers who spend at least B30mn on production costs, while South Africa provides a 25% cash rebate to those who spend B105mn on production and post-production activities, with an additional 5% cash rebate offered if they use local companies.

According to Mr Danucha, CESA also instructed the Creative Economy Agency, the Tourism Department and relevant agencies to propose fresh incentives to attract international film production companies to shoot their films in Thailand.

He said the most likely scenario for the new incentives include a 30% cash rebate for foreign filmmakers who spend B50-100mn on production in Thailand.

In 2020, there were 176 foreign film shoots in Thailand, of which 74 were movies, 33 were series, 28 advertisements and 41 other types.

The average production cost was B100-300mn.
No Omicron in Phuket, assure officials

PHUKET: Phuket Immigration Chief Col Thanet Sukchai and Phuket Vice Governor Pichet Panapong have both assured that the Omicron variant of COVID-19 has not yet been found in Phuket, and that all of the tourist arrivals from Africa still on the island have tested negative for the virus.

COVID-19Coronavirustourismeconomicshealth

By The Phuket News

Thursday 9 December 2021, 03:28PM

Phuket Immigration Chief Col Thanet Sukchai speaking to the press today (Dec 9). Photo: PR phuket

Col Thanet today (Dec 9) pointed out that most of the arrivals from Africa had already passed 14 days without presenting any signs of infection, and that all of the remaining tourists from Africa still in Phuket have tested, with all test results returning negative.

The news was much welcomed, Col Thanet noted.

The people of Phuket are more comfortable, including Thai tourists who want to visit Phuket during this period. They will be able to feel confident that Phuket is safe and can come to travel in Phuket, he said.

Col Thanet today emphasised the need for tourists and local residents to feel safe.

Vice Governor Pichet, after a radio interview yesterday, said, The number of infection cases is decreasing, and most of them are high-risk contacts placed under quarantine for 10 days.

Most new cases identified, more than 90%, were Green patients experiencing slight to no symptoms he said.

Those found to be infected were placed under medical quarantine, either in hospital, at a field hospital, in community isolation (which includes stay-at-home isolation) or at hospitels, depending on the severity of infection, he explained.

The COVID Community Care centres will remain open until at least the end of December, as a precaution in case the number of infections begins to rise again, he said.

V/Gov Pichet also introduced a new acronym used by officials: VUCA

DMHTTA is still an important measure, such as mask wearing, distancing and hand washing. Another measure is VUCA, in which V stands for vaccine, so we should get two shots of vaccine; U stands for Universal Prevention, which means we have to protect ourselves and dont be close to people who have a cough or sneeze; C stands for COVID Free Setting, and this measure is for establishments which have to take care of their customers by cleaning and ensuring customers wear marks before and after eating; and A stands for ATK, which means employees should be tested by ATK every seven days, he said.

Regarding the arrivals from Africa and the measures to restrict visitors from the continent to Thailand, V/Gov Pichet said, I feel sorry for arrivals from Africa, especially those not from the eight countries banned.

You can still come, but must observe quarantine after arriving, he said.

V/Gov Pichet noted that one group among the 130 originally tracked down for fear of Omicron infections had travelled to Chiang Mai.

Phuket health officials had been in contact with health officials there, and the arrivals will be provided an RT-PCR test for free, he said.

Regarding Thai and foreign workers coming to Phuket, V/Gov Pichet said that Thai workers coming from other provinces must be vaccinated.

If they have not been vaccinated they must receive their first vaccination injection within seven days of entering the province, and their second injection within 30 days after that, he said.

V/Gov Pichet warned any employers would face legal action if they are caught with migrant workers not registered and not approved to enter the province.

They must have a work permit. If not, they must be arrested. Employers accepting migrant workers from five risk provinces  Nakhon Sri Thammarat, Songkhla, Yala, Pattani, and Narathiwat  must notify the provincial employment agency in order to conduct thorough screening. This group will have to quarantine for seven days and be retested once the last quarantine day is over, he added.

Migrant workers entering Phuket must also be vaccinated within seven days of arriving, and receive their second injection within 30 days after that, he added.

RISK VENUES

V/Gov Pichet also warned venue operators that plainclothes police and officials will be inspecting venues and public events to ensure compliance with COVID-prevention measures.

There will be district officials and police out of uniform. We will blend in, and if need be, warn the venue or event organiser. Popular tourist areas such as Soi Bangla is the same, he said.

We are trying to control the circumstances, but the operator must regulate himself, partly because the government has no way to monitor them 24 hours a day. The operator must supervise himself. Operators have agreed to follow the measures under the provincial order, and now its getting better, he added.

They control themselves, there is no dancing, or there is already a reduction. There is no girl sitting and drinking, or hostess, because if there is, officers have to punish the operator according to the law, V/Gov Pichet said.
Southern Pines, NC (28387)

Today

Showers early, then partly cloudy for the afternoon. High 57F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

A few passing clouds. Low 33F. Winds light and variable.
Montreal, CA (H4T1V6)

Today

Cloudy with snow showers developing for the afternoon. High 1C. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 40%..

Tonight

Light snow this evening giving way to partly cloudy conditions late. Low around -4C. Winds SSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 80%. Snow accumulations less than one inch.
ALTON  Residents of Alton's 4th Ward will decorate a Christmas Tree at 6 p.m. Thursday at State House Circle at College and Central.

This is the first year for the event. Because the 4th Ward has 94 streets, 94 ornaments will be hung on the 8-foot Christmas tree.
White Hall furniture store to move WHITE HALL  Billy's Bargain Barn, also known as Billy's Furniture, is on the hunt for a...

Alton students head to classrooms ALTON  Students in the Alton school district return to classrooms Wednesday as COVID-19...

Madison man facing charges in two deaths EDWARDSVILLE  A Madison man was charged Tuesday in two separate Metro-East murders. Larry...
EDWARDSVILLE  More than 3,500 people have received free legal services through the Third Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee in 2021.

The committee is made up judges, court staff, legal aid providers and lawyers from a variety of different practice areas who meet quarterly to organize opportunities for continuing education and free or reduced cost legal assistance to the public. The committee is co-chaired by Circuit Judge Sarah Smith and Associate Judge Maureen Schuette.

I am so proud of the large number of attorneys in the Third Judicial Circuit who are willing to provide a key benefit to the community that might otherwise not be available, Smith said. These attorneys willingly give of their time to provide legal and other skills that are in short supply and in great need during these challenging times.

Through the committees partnership with the local bar association and the Public Interest Law Initiative, the committee hosts a Legal Advice Clinic offering appointments to low-income members of the public who do not have attorneys. The committee is proud to have been able to continue to offer these appointments and volunteer opportunities via Zoom over the last year.

We truly appreciate each and every attorney and staff member who graciously donates their time and talent to our Legal Advice Clinic, to our Continuing Legal Education Seminars, and to our pro bono services, Schuette said. You are an amazing asset to the Third Judicial Circuit and we are very thankful for you.

In addition, the Madison County Law Library and Legal Self-Help Center provides general information and resources to the public Monday through Friday, serving just over 3,500 people in the third quarter of 2021. The library and self-help center are in the Madison County Courthouse bsement.

Im proud of the number of litigants we are able to serve each year through the Pro Bono Committee and the work of dedicated attorneys and staff, said Chief Judge William Mudge.
EDWARDSVILLE  The delta variant is still the most common strain of the coronavirus in the United States, but a new variant is rapidly gaining a foothold.

The omicron variant, which was recently listed as a variant of concern by the World Health Organization, was first reported out of South Africa, though its unclear whether it originated there.

As of Wednesday, omicron had been reported in more than three dozen countries worldwide. It has been reported in 19 U.S. states, including Illinois, where the first case of the variant was identified in a Chicago resident and with a known contact from another state who visited. The Chicago resident was fully vaccinated and had received a booster dose; he did not require hospitalization.

Omicron is a whole new coronavirus offshoot compared to the delta variant, said Dr. Loren Hughes, a former healthcare executive from Edwardsville and a member of the Madison County Health Advisory Committee. We were anticipating that the next significant variant would be a mutation of the existing delta variant. This delta-plus variant would have all the characteristics of delta, plus additional mutations which would make it more of a threat to humans.

However, the best theory for the origin of this virus is that it started as the original Wuhan virus in an immunocompromised host in South Africa. Since they lacked adequate immune responsiveness, they lacked the ability to kill it, and it continued to smolder and mutate in the same host for months. Eventually it was passed on to someone else.

The omicron variant has 32 different mutations on the spike protein alone, which is the part that attaches to the ACE-2 receptor in our bodies that acts as the entry point for the infection.

Hughes added that the omicron variant is 500% more contagious than the original virus. For comparison, the delta variant was 70% more contagious than the original.

Its presenting with a much smarter key with these 32 spike protein mutations. A couple of the mutations we have seen before, but most are brand new to this particular virus, Hughes said.

By the time it was identified, it had already started spreading in South Africa, and now its moving across the globe.

The new variant was reported to the World Health Organization on Nov. 24 and was officially named omicron and classified as a variant of concern on Nov. 26.

Its been just two weeks since weve identified it and were getting new data every day, Hughes said. A South African study came out Tuesday that studied neutralizing antibodies and how effective vaccines are against the variant. The study also looked at the effect of natural infection along with immunization. Pfizer released a press release Wednesday morning with a study stating that an additional booster shot is effective in fighting omicron as well.

Because we have been dealing with this pandemic for two years, we have surveillance mechanisms in place, an adequate supply of testing kits, and the gene sequencing tools for easier identification of variants. Add a new sample, and the system is able to analyze it.

Hughes feels that the new variant has been circulating for in the U.S. at low levels for a few weeks but wasnt recognized as different until identified by public health officials in South Africa.

The COVID-19 PCR test is the gold standard of COVID tests. It analyzes the test specimen in three different channels, representing three different parts of the virus, when looking for evidence of the virus in the sample, Hughes said.

In the original COVID and delta infections, you see positive reactions on all three of those channels. Laboratory scientists in South Africa noted a surge of patients two weeks ago who were symptomatic and being evaluated, but on their PCR tests, only two of three channels lit up. Thats what triggered them to say that this looks like a different COVID-19 variant. This difference allows us to diagnose omicron with some confidence.

Hughes noted that the rapid antigen COVID-19 tests are effective in testing for all known COVID-19 viruses. These tests, usually done through saliva or a nasal swab, are not specific however as to whether the patient is infected with omicron, the delta variant, or the original strain of the virus.

Still, Hughes supports self-tests, also referred to as home tests or over the counter (OTC) tests, both for their convenience and for the rapid results they provide.

All the available tests will show you if there is an active COVID infection in your body, but it doesnt tell you which varietal, Hughes said. The benefit of home testing is that if youre sick, you can do a quick home test, and if positive, stay home and self-quarantine to limit exposing others.

Home testing has been suggested prior to holiday gatherings. A negative test on the day of a party by participants indicates a low likelihood of spreading the virus to friends and family at that event. A downside to home testing is that positive results are often not reported to the county health department to ensure proper contact tracing. Immediate self-quarantine and notification of recent contacts should take place in the event of a home positive test. Contacting your personal health care provider should occur to see if you need treatment with monoclonal antibodies or other medications. Public health departments are experts in contact tracing, and I would recommend letting them do the tracing for anyone who tests positive at home.

Hughes said the study this week showed that neutralizing antibodies, which are our bodies first line of defense against viruses, do attack the omicron variant. However, the study showed a 40-times drop in the number of attacking antibodies in patients who had only received the two initial doses of Pfizers COVID-19 vaccine. In comparison, delta showed a five-times drop in neutralizing antibody response in a similar study.

The study from South Africa also looked at people who had received two doses of the vaccine and who had also recovered from a COVID infection in the past, Hughes said. For those patients, it showed there was much less of a drop in the measured neutralizing antibodies in omicron testing. The same positive effect was shown in a Pfizer study this week when a booster immunization was added to the initial series. So, even if youve had the two doses, and youve recovered from a natural COVID infection, there is a benefit by getting that booster.

The ability of the omicron variant to spread rapidly is already manifesting itself in other countries.

In the U.K., which has similar demographics to the U.S., they looked at their testing data one week after omicron was identified, and only 0.01% percent of its cases were diagnosed as the omicron variant, Hughes said. Less than two weeks later, its now 2% of all their COVID-19 cases and climbing, so it went up by 200 times in that short span.

The spike in COVID infections in South Africa is going up at a faster rate than any of the prior peaks that they have seen. Theres no reason to think its not going to do the same in the U.S.

On the positive side, in addition to our established COVID infrastructure, Hughes said, is that most of the early cases of the omicron variant in other countries have not been particularly severe.

There is usually a three-week lag from the start of a spike in the number of cases until the changes in hospitalizations and deaths start to appear, Hughes said. Early studies in South Africa are starting to see a bump in COVID hospitalizations similar to other waves, but the question is, will that translate into more deaths?

Its such a small sample size at this point that its hard to tell. There are anecdotal stories from South African physicians saying that people dont seem to be as sick as they were from Delta or from the Wuhan virus.

On the other hand, Hughes feels its just a matter of time before the omicron variant becomes more prevalent in the U.S and other nations.

With the fact that omicron is so much more contagious, I think its safe to say that omicron will eventually overtake delta as the worlds most dominant strain, Hughes said. We will need to keep an eye on this infection as added information comes out over time. The best preparation for omicron is to stay as healthy as you can and get the vaccination series including the booster.

Other than that, its only common sense. Stay home if youre sick, stay away from sick people, wear a mask when you can to cut down on particle spread, distance as able, and wash your hands frequently.

While variants of the coronavirus will continue, Hughes is hopeful that the pandemic will be over before a strain pops up that is even more troublesome than the omicron or delta variants.

While I am optimistic that we can manage mutations in the future, an epidemiologists biggest fear is that we see a variant like omicron with increased transmission rates and it mutates further to become more deadly to humans, Hughes said. The sooner we can blunt the spread with natural and vaccine-induced immunity, do the everyday things to protect ourselves, the more likely it is that we can avoid that scenario.
EDWARDSVILLE  A Hartford woman faces several felony charges relating to the alleged financial exploitation of an elderly person, according to criminal charges filed Dec. 2 by the Madison County States Attorneys Office.

Melissa M. Tankersley, 47, of Hartford, was charged Dec. 2 with two counts of unlawful financial exploitation of an elderly person, both Class 1 felonies; theft of property over $5,000 by deception from an elderly person, a Class 2 felony; and wire fraud, a Class 3 felony.

The case was presented by the Alton Police Department.

According to court documents, between Jan. 1, 2020 and Feb. 28, 2021 Tankersley allegedly used a position of trust and confidence to obtain control of more than $15,000 belonging to a woman who was 70 years of age or older; and made substantial purchases on the internet using the victims money.

Bail was set at $100,000.

Other felony charges filed recently include:

 David C. Donaldson, 38, of Granite City, was charged Dec. 6 with unlawful possession of anothers debit card, a Class 4 felony. The case was presented by the Madison County Sheriffs Department. On Dec. 3 Donaldson allegedly came into possession of another persons IDES debit card without their permission. Bail was set at $25,000.

 Juan C.S. Cely, 23, of Elsah, was charged Dec. 3 with retail theft over $300, a Class 3 felony. The case was presented by the Madison County Sheriffs Department. On Dec. 2 Cely allegedly took alcohol and liquor valued in excess of $300 from the Godfrey Walmart. Bail was set at $15,000.

 Melissa A. Pena, 30, of Pittsburg, Illinois, was charged Dec. 6 with theft from a person, a Class 3 felony. The case was presented by the Alton Police Department. On Dec. 4 Pena allegedly took a Samsung cellular telephone valued at less than $500 from another person. Bail was set at $15,000.

 Christopher A. Southerland, 30, of Troy, was charged Dec. 2 with theft under $500 (second subsequent offense), a Class 4 felony. The case was presented by the Troy Police Department. On Oct. 28 Southerland allegedly took control of a Samsung Galaxy 89+ cell phone valued at less than $500. It was noted he has a prior conviction for theft of a motor vehicle out of Madison County in 2019. Bail was set at $15,000.

 Jessicae R. Burnett, 31, of Gillespie, was charged Dec. 6 with theft under $500 (second subsequent offense), a Class 4 felony. The case was presented by the Bethalto Police Department. On Dec. 4 Burnett allegedly took less than $500 cash from another person. She has a 2011 conviction for retail theft out of St. Clair County. Bail was set at $13,000.

 Michelle L. Bazzell, 51, listed as homeless out of Granite City, was charged Dec. 6 with theft under $500 (second subsequent offense), a Class 4 felony. The case was presented by the Granite City Police Department. On Oc.t 9 Bazzell allegedly took outdoor decorations valued at less than $500 from another person. Bail was set at $15,000.

 Donntay D. Wallace, 31 of St. Louis, was charged Dec. 6 with retail theft under $300 (second subsequent offense), a Class 4 felony. The case was presented by the Granite City Police Department. On Nov. 29 Wallace allegedly took wireless earbuds valued at less than $300 from the Granite City Walgreens. He has a 2011 conviction for burglary out of St. Louis County. Bail was set at $20,000.

 Aaron B. Stepp, 36, of Alton, was charged Dec. 6 with retail theft under $300 (second subsequent offense), a Class 4 felony. The case was presented by the Wood River Police Department. On Dec. 4 Stepp allegedly took clothing and electronic items valued at less than $300 from the Wood River Walmart. He has a 2007 conviction for theft out of Sangamon County. Bail was set at $15,000.

 Barbara A. Gates, 38, of Alton, was charged Dec. 2 with retail theft under $300 (second subsequent offense), a Class 4 felony. The case was presented by the Alton Police Department. On Nov. 27 Gates allegedly took four six-packs of Coors Lite valued at less than $300. She has a 2017 conviction for retail theft out of Madison County. Bail was set at $15,000.
MOSCOW (AP)  A Japanese billionaire and his producer rocketed to space on Wednesday and reached the International Space Station several hours later, the first visit by self-paying space tourists to the orbiting outpost in more than a decade.

Fashion tycoon Yusaku Maezawa and producer Yozo Hirano, who plans to film his mission, blasted off for the International Space Station in a Russian Soyuz spacecraft along with Russian cosmonaut Alexander Misurkin.

The trio lifted off as scheduled at 12:38 p.m. (0738 GMT) aboard Soyuz MS-20 from the Russia-leased Baikonur launch facility in Kazakhstan and successfully docked at the orbiting outpost almost six hours later.

In several more hours, the crew will be able to open the hatches and move to the space station from the Soyuz.

Maezawa and Hirano are scheduled to spend 12 days in space. The two are the first self-paying tourists to visit the space station since 2009. The price of the trip hasnt been disclosed.

I would like to look at the Earth from space. I would like to experience the opportunity to feel weightlessness, Maezawa said during a pre-flight news conference on Tuesday. And I also have a personal expectation: Im curious how the space will change me, how I will change after this space flight.

A company that organized the flight said Maezawa compiled a list of 100 things to do in space after asking the public for ideas. The list includes simple things about daily life to maybe some other fun activities, to more serious questions as well, Space Adventures President Tom Shelley said.

His intention is to try to share the experience of what it means to be in space with the general public, Shelley told The Associated Press earlier this year.

Maezawa made his fortune in retail fashion, launching Japans largest online fashion mall, Zozotown. Forbes magazine estimated his net worth at $2 billion.

The tycoon has also booked a flyby around the moon aboard Elon Musks Starship that is tentatively scheduled in the next few years. Hell be joined on that trip by eight contest winners.

___

A previous version of this story has been corrected to show that Maezawa and Hirano are believed to be the first self-paying tourists to visit the space station since 2009, not that they were the first self-paying space tourists in more than a decade.
WASHINGTON (AP)  Lawyers for a Maryland woman charged along with her husband in a scheme to sell Navy submarine secrets to a foreign government denied Wednesday that she had contemplated fleeing the United States to avoid arrest. Instead, they said, contempt for then-President Donald Trump was behind the couple's emigration plans.

Prosecutors at an October hearing had cited messages exchanged by the couple  including one in which Diana Toebbe wrote, I cannot believe that the two of us wouldnt be welcomed and rewarded by a foreign govt"  in arguing that the Toebbes had been discussing escaping the U.S. prior to their arrest and were therefore a flight risk if released from custody now.

But Toebbe's defense lawyers say additional messages produced by prosecutors since then make clear that she and her husband were looking to leave the country simply because they were dismayed by Trump.

Obviously, the additional messages paint an entirely different picture as to why Mrs. Toebbe wanted to leave the country, wrote Barry Beck, one of her lawyers. Rather than scheming to escape capture and prosecution for crimes, Mrs. Toebbe was clearly motivated to leave the country for political reasons.

The Toebbes, of Annapolis, Maryland, have been in jail since their October arrest on espionage-related charges.

Jonathan Toebbe, a Navy nuclear engineer, is accused of passing on design information about sophisticated Virginia-class submarines to someone he thought was a representative of a foreign government but who was actually an undercover FBI agent. Diana Toebbe is accused of serving as a lookout during several of the dead-drop exchanges at which sensitive information was deposited. The identity of the country has not been disclosed.

A judge agreed that Diana Toebbe was a flight risk based in part on the messages, and ordered her held as the case moves forward. But defense lawyers asked Wednesday to reopen the detention hearing, citing additional messages recovered from Jonathan Toebbe's phone at the time of his arrest.

The March 7, 2019, messages included in the defense motion show Diana Toebbe venting that the entire system is rigged and telling her husband, We need to get out.

After Jonathan Toebbe tries to reassure her that special counsel Robert Mueller's report into Russian election interference is due to be released soon, and that Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort is facing prison time, his wife responds, Its been too long. Nothing has changed. Hes still in power. She adds, Manafort got a slap on the wrist. Its a signal that the entire system is rigged."

Elsewhere in the conversation, Diana Toebbe, who at the time of her arrest was teaching at a private school in Maryland, muses that she was willing to travel anywhere, including to teach in international schools or to take (French President Emmanuel) Macron up on his offer to harbor scientific refugees.

The defense motion also notes that the messages were exchanged more than a year before Jonathan Toebbe is alleged to have first made contact with the unidentified foreign country, which in turn alerted the FBI.

Thus, to the extent the messages that were introduced at her original detention hearing suggested that she was engaged in illegal activity, the newly disclosed messages dispel that implication entirely, Beck wrote, adding that the reason for her wanting to leave the country no longer exists since Trump lost his reelection bid.

Defense lawyers also said, Mrs. Toebbe has reason to believe that her husband has also informed the Government that she was not involved in his alleged scheme to sell classified information.

Prosecutors have until later this month to respond to the defense motion.

____

Follow Eric Tucker on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/etuckerAP
EDWARDSVILLE  Multiple burglary and auto theft felony charges were filed recently by the Madison County States Attorneys Office.

Felony charges recently filed by the Madison County States Attorneys Office include:

 Wyatt M. Kruse, 27, with a last known address in the 300 block of Greenview, Wood River, was charged Nov. 30 with burglary, a Class 2 felony. The case was presented by the Wood River Police Department. According to court documents, on Nov. 15 Kruse allegedly entered a building in the 300 block of Pershing, Wood River, to commit theft. Bail was set at $45,000.

 Dorian M. Hickerson, 27, of East St. Louis, was charged Nov. 30 with burglary, a Class 2 felony. The case was presented by the Collinsville Police Department. OLn Oct. 11 Hickerson allegedly entered Ms Mart & Grill in Collinsville, to commit theft. Bail was set at $45,000.

 Nathaniel G. Price, 28 of Livingston; Arthur S. Zumwalt, 38, of Livingston; and Zachary J. Ulery, 29, of Staunton, were each charged Nov. 29 with burglary, a Class 2 felony. Ulery was charged with two additional counts of burglary, both Class 2 felonies, and theft over $500, a Class 3 felony. The cases were presented by the Madison County Sheriffs Department. On Nov. 25 the three allegedly entered Crown Castle in New Douglas, to commit theft. In addition, Ulery is accused of entering Crown Castle on Nov. 21 and Lumen Technology in Worden, on Nov. 4 to commit theft and taking copper wire valued in excess of $500 from Crown Castle. Bail was set at $100,000 for Ulery and $50,000 each for Zumwalt and Price.

 Daniel A. Perez, 31, of East Alton, was charged Nov. 29 with offenses relating to motor vehicles, a Class 2 felony, and criminal damage to government supported property and aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer (second subsequent offense), both Class 3 felonies. The case was presented by the Metro East Auto Theft Task Force. On Nov. 24 Perez allegedly was found to have a stolen Dodge Ram, had caused in excess of $500 damage to a Pontoon Beach police vehicle, and was driving the Dodge Ram when he fled form a Pontoon Beach police officer, reaching speeds in excess of 21 miles above the posted speed limit. He has a 2020 conviction for aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer out of Madison County. Bail was set at $60,000.

 James C. Phillips, 38, of Granite City, was charged Nov. 29 with offenses relating to motor vehicles, a Class 2 felony, and unlawful possession of methamphetamine, a Class 3 felony. The case was presented by the Granite City Police Department. On Nov. 24 Phillips allegedly was found to have a stolen Kawasaki Ninja motorcycle and less than five grams of methamphetamine. Bail was set at $50,000.

 Leon Jones, 35, of St. Louis, was charged Nov.29 with offenses relating to motor vehicles, a Class 2 felony; and obstructing justice, a Class 4 felony. The case was presented by the Madison County Sheriffs Department. On Oct. 19 Jones allegedly was found to have a stolen 2011 Chevrolet Equnox and had furnished false information to a Madison County sheriffs deputy. Bail was set at $75,000.

 Tasha N. Thacker, 37, listed as homeless out of OFallon, Illinois, was charged Nov. 29 with offenses relating to motor vehicles, a Class 2 felony. The case was presented by the Granite City Police Department. On Nov. 24 Thacker allegedly had a stolen 1995 Ford CWI van. Bail was set at $40,000.

 Raymond Middleton, 53, of St. Louis, was charged Dec. 1 with unlawful possession of a stolen license plate, a Class 2 felony. The case was presented by the Pontoon Beach Police Department. On July 4 Middleton allegedly was found to have stolen license plate for a 2007 Jeep. Bail was set at $45,000.

 Jeffrey K. Holland, 36, of Godfrey, was charged Nov. 30 with unlawful possession of a stolen license plate, a Class 2 felony. The case was presented by the Madison County Sheriffs Department. On Nov. 29 Holland allegedly was found to be in possession of a stolen license plate for a Nissan Pathfinder. Bail was set at $45,000.
BANGKOK (AP)  Myanmar government troops rounded up villagers, some believed to be children, tied them up and slaughtered them, according to a witness and other reports. An opposition leader said the civilians were burned alive, as repression of resistance to a de facto coup takes an increasingly brutal turn.

A video of the aftermath of Tuesday's assault  apparently retaliation for an attack on a military convoy  showed the charred bodies of 11 people, lying in a circle amid what appeared to be the remains of a hut.

Outrage spread both inside and outside Myanmar as graphic images were shared on social media of the assault, which Human Rights Watch said was similar to other recent attacks  and looked like it was meant to be discovered.

This incident is quite brazen, and it happened in an area that was meant to be found, and seen, to scare people, researcher for the group, Manny Maung, said. Our contacts are saying these were just boys and young people who were villagers who were caught in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Opposition spokesperson, Dr. Sasa, said the attack began after a military convoy  which was raiding villages in the country's northwest  hit a roadside bomb. Troops retaliated first by shelling the village of Done Taw, then rounding up anyone they could capture there.

They were lashed together, tortured, and ultimately burned alive, he said, adding that the victims ranged in age from 14 to 40.

The sheer brutality, savagery, and cruelty of these acts shows a new depth of depravity, and proves that, despite the pretense of the relative detente seen over the last few months, the junta never had any intention of deescalating their campaign of violence, said Sasa, who uses one name and is the spokesperson for Myanmars underground National Unity Government.

That group declared itself the countrys only legitimate leaders in the wake of the military takeover on Feb. 1 that prevented elected lawmakers from taking their seats in parliament. The seizure of power was initially met with nonviolent street protests, but after police and soldiers responded with lethal force, violence escalated as opponents of military rule took up arms. In recent months, fighting has been raging in northwestern areas.

U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric expressed deep concern at the reports of the horrific killing of 11 people and strongly condemned such violence, saying credible reports indicate that five children were among those people killed.

The government has denied that it had any troops in the area. But a witness told The Associated Press that about 50 troops marched into Done Taw at about 11 a.m. Tuesday, seizing anyone who did not manage to flee.

They arrested 11 innocent villagers, said the witness, who described himself as a farmer and an activist and spoke on condition of anonymity because he fears for his safety.

He did not see the moment of their killing but said he believed they were burned alive, as did other people who spoke to Myanmar media.

He later saw the charred remains  and was present when the widely distributed images were taken. The images themselves could not be independently verified.

The witness said that those captured were not members of the locally organized Peoples Defense Force, which sometimes engages the army in combat. He said they were as members of a less formally organized village protection group and did not give a reason for the soldiers' assault.

Other witnesses cited in Myanmar media said the victims were members of a defense force.

Dujarric, of the U.N., reminded Myanmars military authorities of their obligations under international law to ensure the safety and protection of civilians and called for those responsible for this heinous act to be held accountable.

As of Wednesday, he said security forces have killed more than 1,300 unarmed people, including more than 75 children, since the military takeover.

In seizing power, the military claimed there was massive fraud in the 2020 election that saw Aung San Suu Kyis National League for Democracy win in a landslide. The military said that justified the takeover under a constitution that allows it to seize power in emergencies  though independent election observers did not detect any major irregularities in the voting.

On Monday, Suu Kyi was convicted on charges of incitement and violating coronavirus restrictions and sentenced to two years in prison. The court's action was widely criticized as a further effort by military rulers to roll back the democratic gains of recent years.

___

This story has been updated to correct Manny Maung's title to researcher, not spokesperson.
EDWARDSVILLE  For more than 40 years, Southern Illinois Builders Association (SIBA) CEO Donna Richter has been dedicated to the betterment of the construction industry in Southern Illinois.

On Saturday, Dec. 18, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville will present Richter with its Distinguished Service Award.

I am very honored to be selected for this prestigious award, said Richter, who also serves as the administrator of the Southern Illinois Construction Advancement Program (SICAP). By participating in various organizations and institutions, I have been able to see firsthand how many entities work together for the betterment of the construction industry. Hopefully I have helped them achieve their goals.

Richter began working at SIBA, which serves as a trade association for commercial contractors in the southern 39 counties in Illinois, as an administrative assistant in 1981. She was promoted to director of operations, membership director, IT manager and assistant executive director before being appointed chief executive officer in 2015.

"Over the past four decades, Donna has strengthened SIUE's construction program while making an indelible mark on the construction industry in Southern Illinois," said SIUE Chancellor Randy Pembrook. "Her commitment to training the next generation of construction professionals has created valuable educational opportunities for our students."

Over the course of her career, Richter has developed a strong partnership with SIUE and its School of Engineering. She has created numerous opportunities for students in the Department of Construction by funding scholarships, sharing industry connections and supporting advancement initiatives.

Donna is one of the School of Engineerings most valued friends, said Dean Cem Karacal, PhD. The resources SIBA has provided in the form of scholarships, equipment and networking support have been instrumental for our construction program to grow, gain academic strength and reputation, and significantly enrich the educational experience of our students. We are thrilled to see that Donnas outstanding service to the University is recognized through such a prestigious award.

SIBA/SICAP believes supporting SIUE ensures that students are trained with state-of-the-art equipment and in construction-related programs that will prove beneficial in the industry, said Richter, who is a member of the SIUE Construction Leadership Institute Board and the SIUE Construction Advisory Board. It is imperative that SIUE has the resources to retain the faculty necessary to teach and train future generations.

In addition to her partnership with SIUE, Richter is active in numerous other institutions and nonprofit boards, including Leadership Council of Southwestern Illinois Executive Committee and Board of Directors; Cement Masons Local 90 Health, Welfare and Pension Fund trustee; John A. Logan College, Kaskaskia College and Southwestern Illinois College Construction Department Advisory Committees; St. Louis Regional Chamber Leadership Roundtable; and Associated General Contractors of America Executive Leadership Council; among others.

The St. Louis Business Journal recognized Richter for her contributions to the construction industry and the community with its Most Influential Business Women of 2019 distinction. She also received the Construction Forum St. Louis Building Tomorrow Awards.




The National Fire Protection Association reports that more than two of every five home decoration fires occur due to decorations being placed too close to a heat source. More than one-third of home decoration fires are started by candles.

The NFPA also reports that U.S. fire departments responded to an average of 780 home structure fires per year that began with decorations between 2013-2017.

More than half of home decoration fires in December are started by candles. Candle fires peak in December followed closely by January. The top three days for home candle fires are Christmas Day, New Years Day and New Years Eve. Before you head to bed or out for the evening, make sure to extinguish all lit candles, the Illinois Office of the State Fire Marshal wrote in a press release.

"The holidays are here and that means many will be decorating their homes. Hanging up decorations is fun, but keep in mind, holiday decorations can increase your risk for a home fire," Illinois State Fire Marshal Matt Perez said in a statement. "Its important to follow and practice fire safety measures so that you and your family can enjoy a festive and fire-safe holiday season."

This year, OSFM will once again be hosting the Keep the Wreath Red Campaign at offices in Springfield and Chicago, along with at the Quinn Fire Academy in Chicago and the Illinois Fire Service Institute in Champaign. The campaign aims to raise awareness about the importance of fire safety during the holiday season (Dec. 1 through Jan. 2). Unfortunately, OSFM wrote, last year 17 lives were lost in fire-related incidents during the holiday season in Illinois.

The "Keep the Wreath Red" campaign began in 1954 in Naperville to raise awareness about holiday fire safety. Wreaths will be placed and lit with red bulbs outside of the OSFM offices in Springfield and at the Thompson Center in Chicago. White light bulbs will replace the red bulbs when a fire-related death is reported in the state.

"The goal of the campaign is to strive for zero fire-related deaths during the holiday season," Perez said.

With that in mind, here are some tips to stay fire safe when celebrating the holiday season:

 Be careful with holiday decorations. Make sure decorations are either flame retardant or flame resistant.

 Keep lit candles at least 12 inches away from decorations or anything that can catch fire.

 Keep children and pets away from lit candles.

 Extinguish all lit candles before going to bed or leaving the house.

 Check to make sure your lights are rated for indoor or outdoor use or both.

 Replace any light strands that have worn or broken cords. Make sure to read the recommendation for the number of light strings you can string together.

 Turn off all light strings and decorations before leaving home or going to bed.

 If you have a real Christmas tree, make sure to check water levels daily! It is not unusual for a tree to drink two gallons of water the first day it is in the stand.

 Keep real Christmas trees away from a heat source. It can dry out the tree quickly.

Make sure also to clean your oven after Thanksgiving before preparing the next holiday meal. In case of an oven fire, turn off the oven and keep the door closed until it is cool. Clean cooktops often as left-over grease can catch fire. Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires, but Christmas and Christmas Eve follow closely behind, OSFM wrote.

If you are planning to host family and friends during the holidays, make sure they are aware of your fire escape plan. Show them where all the exits are in your home and make sure they are aware of a meeting spot location in case of fire. Illinois residents should continue following the COVID-19 prevention protocols from the Illinois Department of Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
MANILA, Philippines (AP)  The Philippine Supreme Court largely upheld on Thursday the legality of an anti-terrorism law that opponents fear could threaten democracy and muzzle dissent, but struck down a provision preventing street protests, activism and labor strikes from being branded as terrorism by authorities.

The courts decision, only portions of which were released, was generally welcomed by government officials. But left-wing activists and liberals expressed alarm, with a group of leftist lawmakers calling the ruling a devastating blow to human rights and another vowing to stage a protest against it on International Human Rights Day on Friday.

We will march to the streets and amplify our voices against the perils of this terrifying law as well as the resurgence of any form or variant of authoritarianism, said Edre Olalia of the National Union of People's Lawyers.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson, who sponsored the legislation, praised the court decision, which he said generally upheld the legality of the law and would arm the government with a legal weapon in the battle against terrorism.

Many Filipinos remain hypersensitive to any threat to democracy more than three decades after an army-backed people power revolt ousted dictator Ferdinand Marcos in massive pro-democracy protests that became a harbinger of change in authoritarian regimes across the world.

Known as the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020, the law allows the detention of suspects for up to 24 days without charge and empowers a government anti-terrorism council to designate suspects or groups as suspected terrorists who could then be subject to arrest and surveillance. It replaces a 2007 anti-terror law called the Human Security Act which was rarely used, largely because law enforcers feared a provision that imposed a fine of 500,000 pesos ($10,000) for each day they wrongfully detained a terrorism suspect.

Opponents filed 37 petitions asking the court to declare the current law, which was signed by President Rodrigo Duterte in July last year, unconstitutional. But except for at least two provisions, the court declared in a statement that all the other parts of the law which came under legal challenge are not unconstitutional.

Twelve of the 15 justices voted to strike out a line that says public protests, dissent, work stoppages and other exercises of political rights would not be considered as acts of terrorism as long as these are not intended to cause death or serious physical harm ... or to create a serious risk to public safety. They said the qualifying conditions were overbroad and violative of freedom of expression.

Nine justices also declared it was unconstitutional for the anti-terrorism council to be allowed to designate people and groups as terrorists based on the requests of other countries or international organizations.

The human rights group Amnesty International said the law remains deeply flawed and open to abuse by government authorities and renewed a call to the Philippine government to ensure the law is consistent with international human rights law and standards.

Until this happens, the law will continue to pose a threat to human rights defenders, activists ... and others wrongly accused of terrorism by granting the government excessive and unchecked powers, said Butch Olano, the Philippine director of the London-based group.
LONDON (AP)  An independent, unofficial body set up by a prominent British barrister to assess evidence on Chinas alleged rights abuses against the Uyghur people concluded Thursday that the Chinese government committed genocide and crimes against humanity.

The Uyghur Tribunal, made up of lawyers, academics and businesspeople, doesn't have any government backing or powers to sanction or punish China. But organizers hope the process of publicly laying out evidence will compel international action to tackle Beijing's policies against the Uyghurs, a largely Muslim ethnic group.

Tribunal chair Geoffrey Nice said the genocide ruling was based on evidence that the Chinese government's forced birth control and sterilization policies targeting Uyghurs in the far western Xinjiang province were intended to destroy a significant part of the groups population. The abuse was part of comprehensive policies directly linked to President Xi Jinping and the highest levels of the Chinese government, he said.

Nice, a senior lawyer, previously led the prosecution of ex-Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic and has worked with the International Criminal Court.

There has to be an intention to destroy, by the act of interfering with birth, a group, he said. The evidence was that a significant proportion of Uyghurs who would have been born will not be born.

The Chinese Embassy in London condemned the tribunal as a political tool used by a few anti-China and separatist elements to deceive and mislead the public. The embassy also said in a statement that the policies in Xinjiang were aimed at fighting terrorism and preventing radicalization.

The Tribunal and its so-called conclusions are mere clumsy shows staged by anti-China elements for their self-entertainment. Anyone with conscience and reason will not be deceived or fooled, the embassy said.

About 30 witnesses and experts gave evidence to a series of public hearings in central London earlier this year, alleging torture, forced abortions, rape and beatings by authorities while in state detention centers. The hearings also reviewed large amounts of documents detailing other policies including the separation of young children from their families and widespread destruction of mosques.

The tribunal concluded that it was beyond doubt that crimes against humanity were committed. Nice said Xi and other senior officials bear primary responsibility for what has occurred in Xinjiang.

This vast apparatus of state repression could not exist if a plan was not authorized at the highest levels, he said.

An estimated 1 million people or more  most of them Uyghurs  have been confined in reeducation camps in Xinjiang in recent years, according to researchers.

The hearings were the latest attempt to hold China accountable for its policies targeting the Uyghurs and other predominantly Muslim and ethnic Turkic minorities.

A key part of the evidence was drawn from leaked Chinese government documents that Adrian Zenz, an academic specializing in the topic, said showed a direct link from Xi to the sweeping detention of more than a million people belonging to minorities, forced labor programs and forced birth control practices on Uyghur and other minority women.

Zenz wrote in a report that the leaked documents showed that the links between statements and mandates made by Xi and other central government figures and policies that were implemented after 2016 are far more extensive, detailed and significant than previously understood.

In Turkey, Semsinur Gafur, who submitted a video testimony to the London hearings, said she was pleased that the hearings shone a light on what is happening in Xinjiang.

Theyre trying to erase us from the face of the earth and get rid of us completely, she told The AP. The tribunal has shown us the world will do something, that humanity is not dead.

The U.S. government has declared that Beijings policies against the Uyghurs amounted to genocide and crimes against humanity. Legislatures in Britain, Belgium, the Netherlands and Canada have done the same.

British lawmakers urged the government to impose sanctions targeting responsible individuals and businesses as well as examine the countrys supply chain to make sure it is not complicit.

Its really imperative to call upon our government to act now, said Helena Kennedy, a member of Britains House of Lords. The evidence is absolutely clear for anyone to see.

Jo Smith Finley, a Chinese studies expert at Newcastle University, said that while Thursdays findings were not a legal ruling and had no legal teeth, they would still put significant pressure on governments to act.

There is still time to prevent, still time for governments and civil societies to step up, she said.

___

Huizong Wu in Taipei, and Ayse Wieting in Istanbul, contributed to this report.

___

This story was first published on December 9, 2021. It was updated on December 16, 2021 to correct the name of Newcastle University expert. She is Jo Smith Finley, not Jo Finley Smith.


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Britons are being warned about scams involving fake parcel delivery texts if they order gifts online during the festive period.

Roughly four in five of all fraud cases that start with a text message are from scammers imitating delivery firms Royal Mail, DPD and Hermes, according to TSB.

The bank is predicting a surge in these tactics as customers turn to online shopping for their last-minute Christmas gifts.

And there could now be even more people buying presents online, thanks to possible new Covid restrictions and fears about the Omicron variant.

Over the festive period, fraudsters will try to capitalise on the rise of online shopping. Britons are expected to spend 36billion online this Christmas, according to Statista

The average British adult is expected to fork out 548 on Christmas presents this year, according to the comparison site Finder.

TSB found that Royal Mail was the most impersonated delivery company, accounting for 62 per cent of parcel fraud that starts with a scam text message.

This is followed by DPD and Hermes who collectively account for 34 per cent of text message delivery scams.

How to tell if your text message is a scam

These scams typically start when a shopper receives a fake delivery text, often saying that they need to pay a shipping fee for their parcel to be delivered.

Shipping fees on products coming from abroad have become more common since the UK left the European Union, so many customers will be duped into thinking the request is legitimate.

They will be asked to input personal information, which then goes straight to the criminals.

At a later date, the fraudsters will then call them out of the blue claiming to be from a bank's fraud department.

They will often appear to very convincing, as they will use the information they already have on the individual.

The scammer will usually claim that the person's account is under attack, and they must quickly transfer money to a 'safe account' which will be an account held in the fraudster's name.

Fake: The majority of delivery fraud cases that start with a text message are from scammers imitating Royal Mail, DPD and Hermes, according to TSB's research

These so-called safe account scams are rife across the banking sector and make up one in five of all fraud losses, according to UK Finance. The average loss per customer is 4,500.

TSB claims it has refunded 97 per cent of customers that have been on the receiving end of these types of scams.

One such case saw a customer refunded more than 7,000, after they fell victim to a scam text impersonating Royal Mail.

As she was waiting for a real parcel from Australia, the customer thought it was genuine and followed the link to complete the form.

Four days later she received a call from a fraudster who had detailed information on the customer and was able to target her with a convincing safe account scam.

Another customer was defrauded in a similar fashion following a scam text that claimed to be from the courier Hermes.

The message claimed she needed to pay 1.27 for her parcel to be delivered.

Having completed the fraudulent form, she was then targeted with a cold call in the following days, losing almost 4,000.

Other scams to watch out for this Christmas

Scammers may also cold call pretending to be from a company that you might have dealt with recently.

TSB's research revealed that cold callers purporting to be from Amazon and BT are among the most common, with the average loss being 6,700 and 4,900 per victim respectively.

Virgin Media, HMRC and Microsoft are also common targets, with average losses ranging between 1,400 and 3,200 per victim.

Scam texts are sent to harvest sensitive information from victims. Fraudsters then use this to target them with convincing 'safe account' cold-calls at a later date

Paul Davis, director of fraud prevention at TSB, said: 'Fraudsters are changing their methods all the time.

'Clicking on a link in an SMS might seem like a small act, but it could be the beginning of your life savings being stolen from you.

'It's important to remain on guard. Never input personal details into an SMS link, and certainly not your card details.

'Spread the word  don't let a fraudster ruin your Christmas.'

How to avoid losing money to fraud

Scammers take advantage of certain emotions, and anyone is capable of falling foul of one if they are caught in the wrong place, at a difficult time or in a negative mood.

Any unsuspecting victim caught at the wrong time or in the wrong headspace can fall for one of these scams

A moment of panic, absent mindedness, temptation or stress could prove costly.

It can become even more easy to fall prey to a scammer when it seems like you are receiving a text message from a delivery company you may be expecting to hear from.

As well as exercising extreme caution about any text message or email from a delivery company, it is best to assume the worst and to avoid clicking on any links or sharing any personal information in response to a text message.

If you are expecting a parcel, only ever interact with the delivery company via their official app, or by finding their website yourself using an internet search engine.

If you receive a call out of the blue, then the advice is to hang up and call the organisation back via its official number.
Bristol has been named the UK's best city to be a buy-to-let landlord, thanks to its healthy house price growth and high proportion of renters.

Following closely behind Bristol, the prestigious university cities of Oxford and Cambridge were ranked second and third.

This was according to specialist buy-to-let mortgage lender Aldermore's Buy-to-Let City Tracker, which ranks 50 cities based on how desirable they are for buy-to-let investors.

Manchester, which was awarded top spot last year, dropped to fourth due to having more vacant properties than last year, and a fall in the proportion of residents renting.

Number one: Bristol has been named as the best city in the UK to be a buy-to-let landlord. This was according to the bank and mortgage lender Aldermore's Buy-to-Let City Tracker

Factors taken into account in Aldermore's rankings include the average rent, the rental yield, house price growth over the past decade, the number of vacant properties relative to the total housing stock, and the percentage of the city population that rents.

Bristol has 'huge investment potential'

One of Bristol's main selling points for landlords is that it has returned solid house price growth over the past decade.

The average house price in the city has risen from 212,261 in 2010 to 348,543 today, according to Land Registry figures.

This means property prices have grown by 5.1 per cent each year. The only city to perform better in this respect was Luton.

Bristol was also one of the best cities for rental demand, with only 0.6 per cent of its housing stock left vacant on average over the past year. This was equalled only by Oxford.

More than a quarter of Bristol's residents are estimated to be privately renting, creating a large pool of tenants for buy-to-let landlords to pick from.

Aldermore's Buy to let city tracker: The full rankings show Southern towns and cities ranking highly, while Yorkshire, the North East and Wales fall to the bottom

Alexandra Tan, regional lettings manager at Andrews Property Group said: 'The lettings market in Bristol is extremely buoyant at the moment with high demand across the board and this hasn't gone unnoticed by buy to let investors, who see huge investment potential in the city.

'Bristol is appealing to young professionals and families who are relocating from cities such as London. Many are looking to rent short-term while they find somewhere to buy.

Bristol is appealing to young professionals and families who are relocating from cities such as London. Many are looking to rent short-term while they find somewhere to buy Alexandra Tan of estate agent Andrews Property Group

'There is also a huge student population of around 50,000 in the city, which means there is strong demand for quality student properties.'

However, buy-to-let landlords considering Bristol, they may find that the yields on offer are not quite as enticing as other cities.

With the average property price in Bristol at 348,543 and average annual rents at 16,037, the typical yield an investor can expect on their purchase is 4.6 per cent.

The rental yield is the percentage return a landlord can expect to make back on the purchase price each year.

For example, a 5 per cent yield on a 200,000 property would amount to 10,000 per year in rental income.

Southern landlords see value of investments soar

Based on Aldermore's analysis, buy-to-let opportunities in southern cities appear to be more lucrative than elsewhere in the UK.

Over the past 10 years, those who invested in buy-to-let in southern cities have reaped the rewards of considerable house price growth.

For example, second-placed Oxford and third-placed Cambridge have given property investors an annual return of 5 and 4.9 per cent respectively, through house price growth alone.

Both cities also benefit from a very low levels of vacancies (0.6 and 0.7 per cent respectively) combined with a high proportion of residents who rent privately  29 per cent in both cases.

London, which has continued to fall down Aldermore's league table in recent years, still comes in sixth, thanks to the relatively high proportion of private renters in the capital.

The typical cost of a London property has risen from 414,000 in 2010 to 659,000, according to the latest Land Registry figures.

As many as 29 per cent of the city's population rent privately  second only to Bournemouth where 35 per cent of people rent.

However, high house prices mean the yields on offer in most of the top ten cities are comparatively low.

Oxford, Cambridge, London and Brighton offer yields ranging between 3 and 3.6 per cent, which are lower than any other city on the tracker.

For those seeking higher rental yields, Glasgow and Hull are offering average rental yields of 9.4 and 8.9 per cent respectively.

Investors looking for strong yields could be tempted to explore further North. Glasgow offers typical rental yields of 9.4 per cent, for example, and Hull 8.9 per cent

Hull currently has an average house price of 127,344, which means it is also the most affordable city of all the 50 locations included on the tracker.

However, properties with higher yields are often seen as higher risk, as they are commonly in locations where landlords might find it harder to re-let or sell the homes if they needed to.

Other high yielding cities include Stoke, offering a 8.3 per cent yield and Aberdeen offering a 8.1 per cent yield; as well as Dundee and Sunderland offering 7.8 and 7.7 per cent yields respectively.

Capital gains on the rise in Northern cities

Furthermore, there is some indication that property prices in certain cities that have not enjoyed house price growth over the past decade might now be starting to pick up.

Liverpool, which finds itself 33rd on Aldermore's index, has seen 10.6 per cent house price growth in the past year alone, according to Zoopla's latest Hometrack report.

Cities in the North West, East Midlands and Yorkshire and Humber regions have recorded some of the highest property price growth over the past 12 months

Those investing in Liverpool can achieve 7.3 per cent yields, according to Aldermore's analysis.

However, the city has a relatively high long-term vacancy rate of 2.2 per cent, suggesting that investors need to ensure they do their research before buying.

Manchester, which has average yields of 5.9 per cent, saw house prices increase by 8.7 per cent over the past 12 months, according to Zoopla.

And Sheffield and Belfast, which came 46th and 43rd on Aldermore's tracker, have seen house prices grow by 7.9 and 7.7 per cent respectively.

Hamptons' latest four year forecast predicts the the greatest house price growth to take place in Scotland and the North East between 2021 and 2024.

Northern star: Between now and 2024, Hamptons expects house price growth across the UK regions as prices in the North play catch-up with those in the South

It predicts property prices will rise by 20 per cent in Scotland and 21.5 per cent in the North East during the four-year period.

On the other hand, it only predicts London to experience 7 per cent house price growth in that time, whilst the South West and the East of England are set to fare little better with only 11 per cent growth anticipated.

Liverpool, Manchester and Sheffield are the urban hot spots for house price growth at the moment, according to Zoopla's data

However, choosing a buy-to-let investment is not as simple as looking at where it is located on the map.

There is always an element of guess-work when it comes to predicting future house prices, but looking out for planned improvements in cities will help investors to make a more informed decisions.

For example, it could be that the transport network is being improved, major building projects are taking place, or that new retailers are popping up in the town centre.

Michael Cook, national lettings managing director at property company Leaders Romans Group said: 'Buy-to-let investors should focus on the cities benefiting from major infrastructure and transport programmes as well as any regeneration schemes.

'Manchester is a good example, having benefitted from the trans-Pennine rail scheme in recent years.

'Towns and cities fringing the Crossrail route will also prove good options, as the programme is estimated to contribute 42billion to the UK economy.

'This will dramatically improve transport links in London and the South East, as well as driving house-building, supporting wider regeneration and creating jobs and business opportunities.'
Later today, we will learn whether LV, Britains second largest mutual insurer, has succeeded in persuading its 1.2m members to sell out to Bain Capital, a US private equity firm.

Members have been bombarded with figures ostensibly proving they will be best off with Bain. They have not, however, been given proof, only assertions.

Chief executive Mark Hartigan and chairman Alan Cook have been asking members, politicians and the media to take their arguments on trust. Yet trust requires openness and transparency. Both have been lacking.

Lack of proof: LV Members have been bombarded with figures ostensibly proving they will be best off with Bain

It is still not clear why a bid from fellow mutual Royal London was ruled out.

Claims by Hartigan and his advisers that LV members would inevitably lose their mutual rights under Royal London turned out not to be entirely correct.

In fact, Royal London has said it is prepared to consider a deal that would preserve mutual benefits for LV savers, if it re-enters the fray.

This was not the only example of LV chiefs appearing to be economical with the actualite. They also gave the impression a minimum turnout was not needed for the Bain deal to go through.

In reality, they have been trying to gerrymander by asking members to agree to waive a requirement for 50 per cent of members to cast their vote.

One thing on which everyone can agree is that life assurance companies face tough challenges. Post financial crisis, regulators insist they must have bigger capital cushions which is a particular problem for mutuals that have no shareholders to tap.

LV appeared to have dealt with this when it sold its general insurance business to German giant Allianz for a total of 1.1billion in a series of transactions that completed in May 2019.

There has never been a satisfactory explanation of why a sale, which bosses claimed was required because LV was sub-scale with an insufficiently strong capital structure, was deemed necessary so soon after the deal with Allianz.

As well as unanswered questions, inconvenient facts were not volunteered, but had to be truffled out.

These included such salient details as the 43million in fees members will have to pay deal advisers and the interesting point that, under Bain, the business will be owned through a Jersey tax-haven company.

Even the fact that members would have to wait until October to receive their miserly 100 was tucked away in a lengthy document.

LV was reluctant to release the strategic review which set out the rationale for the sale and only published some information very belatedly last month, after political and media pressure.

This kind of behaviour does not inspire confidence in the deal. If it really is so wonderful, why the half-truths, the withholding and the evasion?

Employees have asked members to back Bain because they believe their jobs will be protected. That is not a plea lightly to be dismissed, but Im sorry to say it would be unwise to set much store by warm words from a private equity firm on that front.

This vote is a big moment, but however it goes, uncertainty about LVs future will remain. A favourable result for Bain is by no means sure to take savers to the sunlit uplands.

And despite painting itself as the respectable face of private equity, it may not turn out to be a responsible long-term owner after all, but could sell on in a few years, plunging savers into a fresh round of upheaval.

Even assuming Bain is utterly sincere in its regard for LV staff and policyholders, it will always put its own self-interest and its own profits first: thats the private equity business model.

A No will send LV back to the drawing board. It will amount to a no confidence vote in Hartigan and Cook, so a credible industry heavyweight chairman and chief executive will need to be installed.

Regulators, who have as usual stood on the sidelines, will need to ensure members interests are protected in any subsequent bids.

Because it did not involve a quoted company, the Bain deal was not overseen by the Takeover Panel, which ensures bids for stock market listed firms are conducted according to a set of rules. That is unsatisfactory for such a large mutual.

Voting down the deal will give LV policyholders the satisfaction that they have struck a blow for mutuality.

They will also have given a bloody nose to arrogant bosses and private equity barons, who assumed they could bulldoze members into compliance.

If the vote goes against them, LVs top brass have only themselves to blame.
HS2 has signed a 2billion contract with Hitachi and French manufacturer Alstom to build 54 high-speed trains for the controversial rail line.

The trains, which will travel at 225 mph and be the fastest made on British soil, will be manufactured at the Japanese multinational s plant in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, and finished at Alstoms sites in Crewe and Derby, supporting 2,500 jobs.

Each train will be around 660 ft long with an option to link two together to create a 1300 ft train with up to 1,100 seats.

Hitachi's HS2 trains, which will travel at 225 mph and be the fastest made on British soil, will be manufactured at the Japanese multinational s plant in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham

The first one is expected to roll off the production line in 2027, with the first passengers to be carried between 2029 and 2033.

Built on the technology used in Japans Shinkansen bullet train, the project will aim to create some of the fastest, quietest and most energy-efficient trains in the world, serving destinations including Liverpool, Glasgow, Birmingham, and London.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: This is another landmark step in the delivery of HS2 which will open up new employment and leisure opportunities for millions of people.
The World Food Programme (WFP) has suspended food distribution in Ethiopias Kombolcha and Dessie towns after looting of supplies that staff were unable to stop due to intimidation, including being held at gunpoint, the United Nations said on Wednesday.

U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said a large quantity of humanitarian food supplies, including nutritional items for malnourished children, were stolen and looted in Kombolcha in the Amhara region.

The small-scale theft of food escalated into mass looting of warehouses across Kombolcha in recent days, reportedly by elements of the Tigrayan forces and some members of the local population, Dujarric told reporters.

Such harassment of humanitarian staff by armed forces is unacceptable. It undermines the ability of the United Nations and all of our humanitarian partners to deliver assistance when it is most needed, he added.

Government spokesperson Legesse Tulu and military spokesperson Colonel Getnet Adane did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The looting and intimidation will worsen malnutrition and prolong food insecurity in northern Ethiopia, where an estimated 9.4 million people across the Tigray, Amhara and Afar regions need critical food assistance, Dujarric said.

Three WFP trucks used for humanitarian operations in Amhara were commandeered by military personnel and used for their own purposes this week, Dujarric said. He called for all parties to the conflict to respect and protect humanitarian relief personnel.

U.S. State Department spokesman Ned Price said that the humanitarian catastrophe in northern Ethiopia remains an absolute priority for the United States. Price repeated calls for the parties to engage in negotiations to end the conflict.

On the one hand we are encouraging, but also on the other hand we do have a set of sticks, Price said, referring to punitive measures that can be used, like the sanctions imposed on the Eritrean military last month.

The year-long war between the federal government and the leadership of the northern region of Tigray has killed thousands of civilians and forced millions to flee their homes.

SOURCE: REUTERS
Depositphotos.com

The Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) of EGADE Business School of Tecnologico de Monterrey announced the launch of its new acceleration program under the Search Fund or Search Fund model, an alternative to entrepreneurship by acquisition.

Search Funds offer entrepreneurs the opportunity to become CEO by acquiring a percentage of the share capital of an existing company, traditionally between 20 and 30 percent.
BETHLEHEM - U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is pushing U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg to approve a $29.5 million grant for the Port of Albany's offshore wind turbine tower manufacturing project planned for Glenmont.

The Port of Albany is in the process of getting government approvals for the $350 million project, which will be located on land on the Hudson River known as Beacon Island, just south of Albany.

The project involves three well-known companies in the wind energy sector: Marmen of Quebec, Welcon of Denmark and Equinor of Norway. The three companies are partnering to build the wind turbine tower manufacturing site, to employ 550 people and supply turbines for two offshore wind farms being built in waters off New York state.

Equinor holds the leases on the wind farm projects, and Marmen and Welcon specialize in making wind turbine towers.

Schumer says the $29.5 million federal grant would help offset the financial risks of the project, which can be impacted by the volatility of the renewable energy markets. And it would help make the project sustainable so that it could attract additional manufacturing work on wind energy components in the future.

The New York Democrat sent a letter to Buttigieg and recently made a follow-up call to the transportation secretary, who is now one of the most important people in President Biden's cabinet after passage of the $1 trillion infrastructure bill.

With a little lift from the federal government, the Port of Albany offshore wind manufacturing project can be one of the most significant job creating, renewable-energy economic development projects in the Capital Regions history, Schumer said in a statement.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

Port of Albany CEO Rich Hendrick said Schumer's support for the grant application comes at a "critical time" for the project, which will use union labor.

"This project will contribute to global efforts to manage climate change, national efforts to transform our energy production processes and statewide efforts to reduce harmful emissions and grow a vibrant offshore wind industry," Hendrick said.

The grant would be issued by the U.S. Department of Transportations Maritime Administration.
Zoning plans for a second Amazon facility in Schodack with 400 jobs were approved by the town and site work to clear the 56-acre parcel on Route 150 is underway. The 278,000-square-foot warehouse and truck terminal the company hopes to build is in the midst of a final review by the towns building department.

Gary Ziegler, Schodacks building inspector and code enforcement officer said the department is waiting on a response from engineers and some questions that still need to be answered.

The property was granted a site development permit, according to Nadine Fuda, the towns planning and zoning director, who said a final approval from the building department could take anywhere from two to three weeks depending on how the review goes. However, the site is already being cleared.

The planning department noted Amazon is aiming to finish construction by the fall of 2022 and then hire about 400 people there.

The company's existing fulfillment center employs about 1,000 at full staffing.

Fuda said St. Louis-based general contractor ARCO was chosen to oversee the propertys development, but a local preparation firm was added to the mix. Amazon is leasing the property from Scannell Properties, a private real estate development company headquartered in Indiana. Land records show Scannell Properties bought the tract from the Snook Materials Group LLC for $2.79 million.

Scannell Properties declined to comment about the construction. An Amazon spokesperson said the company could not comment on their prospective plans.

This project marks Amazons second venture in the area. The multinational giant constructed a 1 million square foot distribution center on Route 9 in 2020.

The soon-to-be developed land is situated nearby between routes 9 and 20 across from the Birchwood Estates neighborhood. The neighborhoods homeowner association opposed the first construction but was unsuccessful in stalling it.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

Fuda said she hasnt received any recent complaints from the association or neighbors. Robert Jansing, a member of the Birchwood Association, however, said he and others remain concerned about the coming distribution center.

Noisy land clearing, long-term effects on the towns drinking water and increased traffic and accidents are among the associations concerns over the new facility. Jansing said lost tractor-trailers have made illegal U-turns in the neighborhood, run over lawns, caused property damage and woken up residents from their sleep while loudly going over parking lot speed bumps at night.

No one expected to be living sandwiched between two huge facilities when they bought their homes, Jansing said. Homeowners are the ones that deal with the everyday issues. Constructing another and dealing with construction noise for months is inconvenient, but safety and quality of life should not have to be compromised.

The Association will continue to monitor the situation to ensure conditions of approvals are met and will consult with representation if (the) need arises, he added.
Hudson Valley film and television productions in 2021 generated $57 million for the regional economy, the highest amount since the Woodstock-based Hudson Valley Film Commission started collecting data in 2008.

Following the COVID-19 shutdown of the film and television industry in 2020, the commissions director Laurent Rejto said he is relieved that the Hudson Valley is back in business.

The Mindy Kaling-created series The Sex Lives of College Girls, filmed at Vassar College and just renewed by HBO Max for a second season, added $5 million alone to the areas economy. Filming took place in June and July. Local pre-production lasted about a month.

And while Rejto has yet to receive confirmation that the production will return to the Town of Poughkeepsie campus, he is very optimistic.

My speculation is, yeah, of course theyre going to be back, Rejto said. It just seems impossible to continue without being on campus at least for two weeks, or three weeks.

Vassar spokesperson Gladwyn Lopez said the college has inquired with its Sex Lives contact about plans for filming the second season, but was told there is no news yet.

Lopez said everything went well with filming for the first season and we anticipate that they will be interested in returning and welcome those discussions.

Regarding the possible return of the series to Vassar for filming, a spokesperson for HBO Max told the Times Union that "We are still very much in the early stages on Season 2, but we'll keep you posted."

Optimistic outlook for 2022

Kaling, well-known for starring on television in The Office and The Mindy Project, was on-site at Vassar during production, according to Rejto. In addition to co-creating the show, she co-wrote the first episode of The Sex Lives of College Girls and is a co-executive producer.

Along with his optimism that Kaling and her team will return to Vassar, Rejto is hopeful about the 2022 outlook for the Hudson Valleys booming film and television industry.

Inspiring optimism in the coming year is HBO Maxs Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin, which began filming in the region in August and will continue through April. Based in Saugerties, Pretty Little Liars employs more than 100 people full-time and the production team purchased a former school in Columbia County. Filming is taking place in Columbia, Ulster and Greene counties. Local pre-production began in January 2021.

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And Rejto is working to bring three massive productions to the Hudson Valley. These endeavors involve MGM, Amazon and Showtime.

Still, he added, Im on pins and needles, because every time I read the paper, theres a new strain [of the coronavirus].

As he continues to navigate the uncertainty, Rejto can look back on a recent past that has brought some real star power to the Hudson Valley for productions. The film commission and region are also enjoying growth in their relationship with HBO and HBO Max.

In addition to The Sex Lives of College Girls and Pretty Little Liars, the Hudson Valley has hosted actors Justin Theroux and Woody Harrelson for the filming of the HBO Watergate movie, The White House Plumbers. That movie was filmed in Dutchess, Ulster, Orange and Sullivan counties, as well as in the Capital Region.

HBOs I Know This Much Is True with Mark Ruffalo was filmed in Dutchess and Ulster counties. And HBO filmed part of The Undoing, with Nicole Kidman and Hugh Grant, in Ulster County.

The Hudson Valley seems to have another big player on its hands with The Sex Lives of College Girls. HBO this week in a press release called the 10-episode series that debuted Nov. 18, the biggest Max Original comedy launch on the platform this year.

The final two episodes will air Thursday.
COLONIE  Albany County has taken a number of steps recently to ensure its nursing home has enough staff members.

Like many nursing homes, Shaker Place Rehabilitation and Nursing Center has struggled at times to keep staff during the pandemic. County Legislator Carolyn McLaughlin, who chairs the legislatures Elder Care Committee, said the nursing home was like many other industries, where employees have left for higher pay elsewhere.

Thats the driving force behind it, she said. Thats been a problem for months thats been exacerbated by COVID.

The legislature also approved several measures this past week to boost the nursing homes staffing.

Earlier this week, it approved a new contract with Nurse Connection Staffing to ensure the nursing home meets minimum staffing levels.

The firms existing contract expires at the end of this month. The new $450,000, three-year contract does have a clause for crisis pay. Nursing home director Larry Slatky said that clause comes into effect if Shaker Place needs to use the firms nurses and the firm determines it has a limited number of nurses in the area to pull from, which forces the county to pay a higher rate.

The county is also looking to hire nurses who dont live in the county, a sign that it has become more difficult to find qualified applicants.

Slatky acknowledged the nursing home wasnt able to fill all of its beds because it didnt have the staff.

Were not reaching the staffing we wantwe want to fill the building, he said.

Recently, the state deployed medically trained National Guard members to 11 nursing homes, including Shaker Place, according to the state Health Department. The deployment was to ensure patients in area hospitals could be moved to nursing homes to free up bed capacity in hospitals as they deal with a surge in coronavirus cases.

Part of the nursing home industry's struggle to reach full staffing is that its employees have been going to work for outside nursing agencies, which offer them higher pay but not the same benefits, Slatky said.

To help combat that, the County Legislature approved moving $75,000 from the nursing homes 2022 overtime budget to a retention budget line.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

That money will be used to fund a stipend to push the nursing homes nurses pay closer to that of outside agency nurses, Slatky said.

But the nursing home employees must work all five days of their scheduled workweek to receive it. Slatky said after the retention stipend was put in place for county employees working in units with outside nurses, the average number of sick calls by county employees dropped dramatically.

Slatky credited the staff for its work, even with limited staffing, as well as county leaders.

I think were doing the best we can, he said. None of this happens without us working together.
ALBANY  The FBIs office in Albany is investigating after several area television stations received a letter from someone claiming to be the "Chinese Zodiac Killer."

The field office sent a notice to local media outlets Wednesday night asking them to be on the lookout for more letters, and to not open them in order to preserve any possible DNA evidence. The Times Union has not received one of the letters.

In a statement, the bureau said there is no threat to the community; it would not comment further while the investigation is ongoing.

It is not the first time an Albany media outlet received a letter from someone using a "Zodiac Killer" moniker.

In August 1973, the Times Union received a letter from someone claiming to be the infamous Zodiac Killer, who stalked Northern California in the late 1960s, shortly after the paper ran a short story on him. The cryptic letter, which promised a murder in Albany, came after an extended period in which the Zodiac Killer had not been heard from.

The text of the '73 letter read in part: "YOU Were WRONG I AM NOT DEAD OR IN THE HOSPITAL I AM ALIVE AND WELL AND IM GOING TO START KILLING AGAIN Below is the NAME AND LOCATION OF MY NEXT VICTIM But you had Better hurry because I'm going to kill her August 10th at 5 P.M. when the shifts change. ALBANY is A nice Town."

The Zodiac Killer was blamed for five murders in and around the San Francisco area between December 1968 and October 1969. The killer wrote several coded messages and taunting letters to the press, threatening violence if they were not printed. Though only five deaths have been officially attributed to him, the killer claimed to have killed dozens, and several other cold cases have been considered Zodiac victims. Two other people were attacked but survived.

Albany did have a link to the actual Zodiac murders: One of the victims, Elizabeth Ferrin, previously lived in Albany with her husband, a Times Union employee. A man who was considered a suspect for a period of time, newspaper editor Richard Gaikowski, previously worked at the Knickerbocker News. (He died in 2004.)

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

Last December, the FBI announced that a group of amateur sleuths had cracked a 340-character cypher attributed to the killer. The message sent in November 1969 to the San Francisco Chronicle did not, however, reveal his identity.

The killers identity has been a fascination for amateur sleuths and investigators for decades. A number of men have been identified as possible suspects but no one has ever conclusively identified who committed the crimes.

The FBI and the San Francisco Police Department consider the Zodiac Killer murders open cases.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP)  A white suburban Minneapolis police officer charged with manslaughter in the death of Daunte Wright, a Black man, said she meant to use her Taser to try to stop him from fleeing during an attempted arrest but accidentally grabbed her gun instead.

A jury has been seated and opening statements were Wednesday. Prosecutors are seeking to prove that Kim Potter, who quit the Brooklyn Center police force two days after the shooting, committed first- and second-degree manslaughter when she killed the 20-year-old man during an April 11 traffic stop. Here's a look at the charges and potential penalties:

THE CHARGES

First-degree manslaughter in this case means prosecutors allege that Potter caused Wright's death while committing a misdemeanor  the reckless handling or use of a firearm so as to endanger the safety of another with such force and violence that death or great bodily harm to any person was reasonably foreseeable.

The second-degree manslaughter charge alleges that she caused his death by her culpable negligence," meaning that Potter caused an unreasonable risk and consciously took a chance of causing death or great bodily harm to Wright, while using or possessing a firearm.

Neither charge requires prosecutors to prove Potter intended to kill Wright, and they pointed that out to the jury in opening statements.

Defense attorney Paul Engh seemed to push against that with his opening statement, telling the jury that Potter didn't know she was holding a gun when she fired, adding: It's not just shooting somebody, that's not the crime. It's being consciously aware of some kind of fact.

The attorney generals office added the first-degree manslaughter charge after it took over the case, though it fell short of the murder charge that Wright's family and activists wanted.

POTENTIAL PENALTIES

The maximum for first-degree manslaughter is 15 years; for second-degree, it's 10 years. But Minnesota judges follow sentencing guidelines that normally call for less  just over seven years for first-degree, and four years for second-degree.

But prosecutors have said they will seek a longer sentence due to aggravating factors, which is what they did in former Minneapolis Officer Derek Chauvin's murder trial for killing George Floyd.

The longest sentences that could conceivably stick on appeal are double the top of the guidelines range. But that's more than the statutory maximum of 15 years for first-degree manslaughter, so 15 years would be the cap for Potter if she's convicted. The realistic maximum on the lesser charge would be 9 1/2 years.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

Presuming good behavior, Minnesota offenders typically serve two-thirds of their time in prison and one-third on supervised release.

RECENT PRECEDENTS

The judge in Chauvin's case sentenced him to 22 1/2 years for second-degree unintentional murder. The presumptive sentence was 12 1/2 years. But Judge Peter Cahill found several aggravating factors, including that Chauvin abused his position of authority and treated Floyd with particular cruelty, and that several children witnessed the crime live. He also said Chauvin knew that kneeling on Floyd's neck was dangerous.

More recently, Judge Kathryn Quaintance resentenced former Minneapolis Officer Mohamed Noor to four years and nine months in prison for second-degree manslaughter in the shooting death of Justine Damond Ruszczyk, which was at the top of the guidelines' range. She said she did so because Noor shot across the nose of his partner and endangered others. She couldn't sentence him to more because prosecutors did not request an upward departure from the sentencing guidelines.

Quaintance originally sentenced Noor to 12 1/2 years for third-degree murder, which was what the guidelines called for, but the Minnesota Supreme Court later clarified the definition of third-degree murder and sent the case back for resentencing only on the manslaughter charge.

___

Find the APs full coverage of the Daunte Wright case at: https://apnews.com/hub/death-of-daunte-wright
BALLSTON SPA  Jordan Garafalo, the older of two brothers arrested after the death of a man outside a Saratoga Springs bar, was arraigned on manslaughter charges Thursday in Saratoga County Court.

Garafalo pleaded not guilty to an indictment that charged him with first- and second-degree manslaughter and second-degree assault in the death of Mark French, 56, a former correction officer, outside of Clancys Tavern on Caroline Street.

Jordan and James Garafalo were both charged with manslaughter after they were arrested earlier this year, but the grand jury indicted James Garafalo on lesser charges of felony and misdemeanor assault.

Im surprised it is manslaughter, Jordan Garafalos attorney, George LaMarche, said. But now we will have an opportunity to brief the issue with the judge and argue why it shouldnt be manslaughter.

Saratoga County District Attorney Karen Heggen said Jordan Garafalo's indictment indicates the grand jury alleges he intended to cause serious physical injury and recklessly caused the death of Mark French. First-degree manslaughter carries a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison.

James Garafalo's indictment, she said, alleges he caused physical injury to two people, Mark French and his son Nick French.

"These charges reflect the determination by the grand jury concerning the conduct and alleged culpability of each defendant on Aug. 14-15 on Caroline Street in Saratoga Springs," Heggen said in a statement.

After the arraignment, Jordan Garafalo, 38, made no statement, avoiding reporters as he left the courthouse. He remains free on a $100,000 bond. James Garafalo, 27, was arraigned last week. He is being held in Saratoga County jail.

Kevin Gordon said his friend Mark Frenchs death came after an Aug. 14 celebration at the bar where French had gone to celebrate winning big at Saratoga Race Course.

He said French, who was 6-foot-5 and a pancreatic cancer survivor, and his son, Nick French, called for an Uber to bring them home when one of the brothers came up from behind him and sucker punched Nick French. Mark French saw it and came to his sons rescue, Gordon said, and then Mark French was punched in the back of the head and fell to the ground. He was treated at Albany Medical Center but later died.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

He fell down so hard, he hit his head on the pavement and went into full cardiac arrest, Gordon told the Times Union in August.

In addition to manslaughter, Jordan Garafalo is facing a pending assault charge in Saratoga Springs that his attorney said was part of a domestic dispute.

On Thursday morning, Judge Mark Caruso signed an order of protection that requires Garafalo to stay away from both Nick French and Griffin Clancy.

LaMarche said Jordan Garafalo, who with his brother owns J. Garafalo and Son Asphalt Paving of Wilton, is on track for a jury trial.
ALBANY  Jim Malatras has become the latest career casualty of the scandals that engulfed former Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo: The embattled SUNY chancellor announced his resignation Thursday morning.

The leader of the 64-campus system faced a barrage of criticism in recent weeks about his behavior toward staff as both a member of the former governor's administration and in posts in the state's higher education system.

Malatras, a longtime Cuomo aide prior to moving to the SUNY leadership team, wrote in a letter to SUNY Board of Trustees Chairwoman Merryl Tisch that the recent events surrounding him "have become a distraction over the important work that needs to be accomplished as SUNY emerges from COVID-19.

"I believe deeply in an individual's ability to evolve, change, and grow," he wrote, "but I also believe deeply in SUNY and would never want to be an impediment to its success."

His announcement comes just two days after the Times Union reported on a 2017 episode from Malatras' tenure leading the SUNY Rockefeller Institute in which he berated and insulted an employee, calling her "a misery" and "goddamn impossible."

The Board of Trustees released a statement accepting Malatras' resignation. "We want to thank Dr. Jim Malatras for his extraordinary service to the entire SUNY system," they wrote. His last day will be Jan. 14.

Calls had been growing from lawmakers, SUNY faculty, student leaders and good government groups for the chancellor to resign or be fired.

Text messages of Malatras' that emerged last week as part of the state attorney general's investigation into sexual misconduct claims against the former governor suggested he contributed to a toxic work culture described by former Cuomo aide Lindsey Boylan in May 2019 and sought to antagonize her on Twitter. At the time, Malatras had been tapped to lead SUNY's Empire State College.

In the 2019 messages with Cuomo's inner circle, Malatras recommended releasing Boylan's "cray (crazy) emails" and wrote "Malatras to Boylan: Go f__ yourself."

A year and a half later, in December 2020, Boylan became the first of 11 women to allege sexual misconduct by Cuomo. The governor resigned in August, just weeks after a devastating report on his alleged conduct was released the the attorney general's office.

In a letter to the SUNY community earlier this week, Malatras took responsibility for "failing to live up to the standards that this institution entails."

Many found his statement insufficient, particularly after the audio recordings of Malatras verbally abusing a subordinate at the Rockefeller Institute came to light.

More than 30 members of the Assembly wrote a letter to the SUNY Board of Trustees that was made public Wednesday: "He described his behavior as 'inappropriate, disrespectful and wrong.' Actually his reported comments ... were misogynistic, abusive and irresponsible," it said in reference to Malatras' remarks about Boylan. "The SUNY system, which we all strongly support, deserves better."

Malatras had just three years of experience in academic leadership when he was installed as chancellor by the SUNY Board of Trustees in August 2020.

Breaking with past practice, the SUNY board declined to conduct a national search to find the system's next leader. The move prompted a vote of no confidence in the board by faculty groups.

But Malatras' candidacy was backed by Cuomo loyalists including Larry Schwartz; at the time, both men were serving on the governor's coronavirus task force.

After Cuomo resigned, Gov. Kathy Hochul vowed to purge her administration of many Cuomo-era officials, pledging a more open and transparent state government  but she had no direct power over the chancellor position, which is filled by the trustees.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

Hochul never officially called for Malatras' ouster. On Thursday she confirmed a report from the New York Post that she spoke to Tisch about the situation on Wednesday evening.

"It was an important conversation to have, and it was focused on the future of the SUNY system and how we can ensure that we have the focus that we need, the undistracted attention on making this the world-class university system that it should be," she said at an unrelated press conference. "I won't say more about the conversation, but it was an important one."

Earlier this year, Malatras took heat for his role in the state's report on COVID-19-related nursing home deaths that was edited to make the death toll seem lower. He has denied that he made the decision to tailor the report to burnish the state's image.

Malatras also assisted with the production of the former governor's controversial pandemic memoir in the weeks before he was elevated to the chancellor's post.

The Board has backed Malatras through each scandal, arguing that he is a skilled manager who has successfully navigated the university system through unprecedented challenges of the pandemic.

United University Professions President Frederick E. Kowal had also voiced consistent support for the chancellor despite heated opposition from union membership, which includes SUNY faculty.

On Thursday, Kowal said Malatras' resignation "will allow us to move forward. Despite the turmoil of the last couple of weeks, UUPs focus remains on delivering resources and support for our members, our students, and our patients across New York."

The chancellor also received endorsements from leaders of Public Employees Federation, the union representing nurses in the university system, and the Civil Service Employees Association, which includes support and maintenance staff.

Faculty and legislators on Thursday pressed the Board of Trustees to conduct a nationwide search for a qualified successor.

Mike Goodwin contributed to this article.
COUSHATTA, La. (AP)  A police officer in Louisiana is accused of using a patrol car while off duty to illegally hunt deer at night without a hunting license, authorities said Wednesday.

Javarrea Pouncys three companions included a convicted felon who was illegally carrying a firearm and also didnt have a hunting license, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries said in a news release.

It said wildlife agents heard gunfire while patrolling Sunday night and came upon a vehicle spotlighting for deer in an open field on private property. When the agents got closer, they identified the vehicle as a Coushatta Police Department patrol unit, according to the release.

Coushatta Police Chief Kevin Stafford said Pouncy, 28, of Gloster, is a part-time officer with that agency and that he has been suspended pending completion of the investigation.

All four were cited for hunting without a recreational big game hunting license, and Pouncy and Anthony B. Caldwell are among three accused of doing so without a basic hunting license, according to state wildlife officials.

Caldwell, who had killed a buck, also was charged with being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, authorities said.

There was no immediate response to a text message to a number listed for Pouncy in an online directory. A number listed for Caldwell in an online directory is no longer in service.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

Adam Einck, enforcement spokesman for Wildlife and Fisheries, said he did not know whether any of the men has an attorney.

Caldwell, 31, of Coushatta, was convicted in 2011 of illegal use of weapons, Einck said in an email. He faces a minimum penalty of five years in prison if convicted on the firearms charge, the news release said. The maximum is 20 years and a $5,000 fine.

Agents cited all four men on counts of hunting deer during illegal hours, hunting from a moving vehicle and hunting without a big game license. Sheriff's deputies also cited them with trespassing, authorities said.

Conviction on all of those charge would carry total maximum penalties of $2,000 in fines and 240 days in jail.

The news release said Caldwell may also face civil restitution totaling $2,033 for the buck's value, and one of the other men could be ordered to pay $1,624 for another deer that was taken.
ALBANY  A onetime gang member found carrying a loaded handgun at Albany International Airport last summer pleaded guilty to a federal gun charge in U.S. District Court on Thursday to resolve his case.

Josef Jarvis, 32, who in 2013 pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy charges and admitted being a member of the Uptown/Gunners street gang, cannot legally possess a firearm under a federal law that bans guns for convicted felons.

Jarvis has prior convictions in Albany County for attempted possession of a weapon in 2010 and, in addition to the federal racketeering conspiracy conviction, violated conditions of his supervised release three times, according to a sworn affidavit by an FBI agent in a criminal complaint filed in August.

On Aug. 21, Jarvis was scheduled to fly from Albany to Atlanta when he brought a duffel bag through a Transportation Security Administration checkpoint. When the duffel bag went through X-ray screening, it set off an alarm, the complaint said.

Investigators found a loaded handgun readily capable of firing, as well as a cellphone and $5,895. The gun was purchased in Alabama, the complaint said.

In a sentencing memo in Jarvis 2013 case, a federal prosecutor said Jarvis, known as "Comf," admitted firing a gun at a rival gang member in the spring of 2009 and aimed a gun at a person in 2010. Jarvis also admitted being involved in the sale of more than 28 grams of crack cocaine, the memo said.

Jarvis attorney at the time, Michael Jurena, explained in a memo to Senior U.S. District Judge Thomas McAvoy that when Jarvis was 8 months old, he was placed in the custody of his father because Jarvis' mother was incarcerated and using drugs. She died, the lawyer wrote, when Jarvis was 5.

The lawyer noted that shortly after turning 21, Jarvis was shot on New Year's Eve outside a Schenectady bar, which took a physical and psychological toll on him. Jurena told the judge Jarvis "still has a chance to turn his life around and become a productive,

law-abiding member of society."

At sentencing, Jarvis told the judge: "I just want to let you know, I'm not the same man as I was when I got indicted for this charge,"

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

On Oct. 15, 2013, the judge sentenced Jarvis to 11 years and three months in prison. It was reduced on appeal to 64 months and then 45 1/2 months.

The current case was handled by the FBIs Joint Terrorism Task Force and the Albany County sheriff's office, Jarvis is scheduled to be sentenced April 28 by Chief U.S. District Judge Glenn Suddaby. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Wentworth-Ping.
SOUTHFIELD, Mich. (AP)  The parents of a 17-year-old girl who was shot in the neck at Oxford High School during a mass shooting that left four students dead filed a pair of lawsuits seeking $100 million each against a Michigan school district, saying Thursday that the violence could have been prevented.

The lawsuits were filed in federal court in Detroit and Oakland County Circuit Court by Jeffrey and Brandi Franz on behalf of their daughters, Riley, a senior who was wounded Nov. 30, and her sister Bella, a 14-year-old ninth grader who was next to her at the time she was shot, attorney Geoffrey Fieger said.

The parents attended a news conference Thursday with Fieger in his Southfield offices. Jeffrey Franz appeared stoic, staring ahead as the personal injury lawyer accused school officials and staff at Oxford High of not doing enough to prevent the shooting and protect students.

Brandi Franz sat, often with head bowed. The parents did not address reporters.

The lawsuits are the first known civil suits filed in connection with the shooting. Named in the suits are the Oxford school district, Superintendent Tim Throne, Oxford High School principal Steven Wolf, two counselors, two teachers and a staff member.

The Associated Press sent an email Thursday seeking comment from the district.

Ten students and a teacher were shot at the school in Oxford Township, roughly 30 miles (50 kilometers) north of Detroit.

Ethan Crumbley, a 15-year-old sophomore at the school, was arrested at the school and has been charged as an adult with murder, terrorism and other crimes. His parents, James and Jennifer Crumbley, later were charged with involuntary manslaughter and arrested.

Personal-injury lawyers have expressed doubt that the school district could be successfully sued for letting Crumbley stay in school. Thats because Michigan law sets a high bar to wring liability out of public schools and other arms of government.

You have to show that the administration or faculty members were grossly negligent, meaning they had a reckless disregard for whether an injury was likely to take place, said attorney A. Vince Colella.

Fieger acknowledged Thursday that state law makes it difficult to successfully sue public bodies like school districts. He said a federal lawsuit allows him to subpoena the school district for records and evidence connected to Crumbley and the shooting.

I understand that this is not going to be easy, Fieger said. However, now is the time to do something about it.

The gun used in the shooting was bought days before by James Crumbley and their son had full access to it, prosecutors said.

The morning before the shooting school officials met with Ethan Crumbley and his parents after the school after a teacher found a drawing of a gun, a bullet and a person who appeared to have been shot, along with messages stating My life is useless and The world is dead.

The Crumbleys flatly refused to take their son home, Throne has said.

The Franz family lives in Leonard, just northwest of Oxford. One of the lawsuits criticized school officials for not expelling, disciplining or searching Crumbley prior to the shooting which allowed Crumbley to return to his classroom and carry out his murderous rampage.

The lawsuit alleges civil rights violations under the 14th Amendment and also said the school district knew or should have known that the policies, procedures, training supervision and discipline staff members named in the suit were inadequate for the tasks that each defendant was required to perform.

"Theres a responsibility that our society shares in protecting our children," Fieger said. "There is a responsibility among teachers, counselors and school administrators who could easily have prevented and stopped this slaughter.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

Riley Franz was hospitalized following the shooting. She now is recovering at home, Fieger said.

A 17-year-old student  the remaining victim hospitalized from the shooting  was removed Thursday from an intensive care unit, the Oakland County sheriff's office said.

She was moved to a standard room and was expected to remain in a hospital for the next four to six weeks while undergoing rehabilitation.

On Wednesday, a statement posted on the district's website by Throne said that after all the facts have been obtained and released through the course of the prosecution, he will recommend to the Oxford Board of Education that the district initiate a review of its entire system as other communities have done when facing similar experiences.

Our goal with all of this is to bring together all of the facts of what happened before, during and after this horrific incident, he wrote. We are committed to doing this in a way that allows our community to move forward and does not re-traumatize our community members, who are reeling and suffering from this horrible event.

The criminal cases against Ethan Crumbley and his parents are being overseen by the Oakland County prosecutor's office, and Michigans attorney general said Tuesday her office will review events that occurred before the mass shooting, despite the districts rejection of her offer to be its third-party investigator.

The districts lawyer told the attorney generals office Monday it was fully cooperating with local law enforcement.

___

Williams reported from West Bloomfield, Michigan. Associated Press reporter David Eggert in Lansing, Michigan, contributed to this report.

___

For more of the APs coverage of the Michigan school shooting: https://apnews.com/hub/oxford-high-school-shooting
BOISE, Idaho (AP)  A top Idaho education official said a preliminary injunction blocking President Joe Bidens COVID-19 vaccine mandate for federal contractors will give colleges and universities time to plan a path forward without forcing employees to either be vaccinated or possibly lose their job.

Idaho State Board of Education President Kurt Liebich in a statement Tuesday said the injunction is what the board was hoping for when it joined Republican Gov. Brad Little last month in signing onto a lawsuit filed in Georgia challenging the mandate.

U.S. District Court Judge R. Stan Baker, in Augusta, Georgia, on Tuesday issued a stay to bar enforcement of the mandate nationwide. Baker found that the states are likely to succeed in their claim that Biden exceeded authorization from Congress when he issued the requirement in September.

Since the mandate was issued, our institutions have been struggling to develop plans to comply, and the preliminary injunction gives us breathing room to chart a proper path forward without forcing employees to choose between getting vaccinated or potentially losing their job," Liebich said.

The board voted last month unanimously to ratify the decision to join the lawsuit. In the same vote, the board gave colleges and universities the OK to begin actions necessary to comply with Bidens order.

The board in voting to comply cited unknowns in how long the lawsuit could go on, potentially jeopardizing nearly $90 million in federal research contracts and agreements that typically involve subcontractors on research efforts. Federal research grants arent affected. Those grants can help students go to school and faculty conduct research.

Our colleges and universities continue to offer voluntary vaccinations on each of their campuses and I urge students and employees to get vaccinated, Liebich said.

The order from the federal court in Georgia came in response to a lawsuit from several contractors and seven states  Alabama, Georgia, Idaho, Kansas, South Carolina, Utah and West Virginia. It applies across the U.S. because one of those challenging the order is the trade group Associated Builders and Contractors Inc., whose members do business nationwide.

The Idaho State Board of Education signed on as a plaintiff in its capacity as regents of the University of Idaho, and board of trustees of Boise State University, Idaho State University and Lewis-Clark State College.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

Biden issued an executive order Sept. 9 requiring federal contractors and subcontractors to comply with workplace safety guidelines developed by a federal task force. That task force subsequently issued guidelines that new, renewed or extended contracts include a clause requiring employees to be fully vaccinated by Jan. 18. That meant those receiving a two-dose vaccine must get their second shot by Jan. 4. Limited exceptions were allowed for medical or religious reasons.

Yet another one of President Bidens vaccine mandates have been temporarily shut down because the states  including Idaho  took a stand against his unprecedented government overreach into Americans lives and businesses," Little said in a statement on Tuesday.

All three of Bidens broad vaccine mandates affecting the private sector have now been put on hold by courts. Judges already issued a stay regarding one that applies to businesses with 100 or more employees and another for health care workers across the U.S.
John Flynn, my beloved husband of nearly 52 years, recently passed away. The sadness of his passing was compounded by the sadness of watching him suffer in the final days and weeks of his life.

After living for two and a half years after a cancer diagnosis, John reached the end of his journey when he could no longer eat or drink. John said that he hoped he would go quickly, because he was ready. He fervently wished New York allowed medical aid in dying. He said if that option were available, he would use it.

Sadly, he had to starve for 19 days before he passed away. He tried to be strong for me and our family, but the hunger, the frustration of not being able to eat or drink, the weakness, and the weight loss were hard on him, and on us. We had to watch him fade away and go into a coma.

It is extraordinarily disappointing that the state Legislature ended its 2021 session without passing the Medical Aid in Dying Act. It would simply allow mentally capable adults with a terminal illness and six months or less to live to obtain medication for a peaceful death.

This law could have spared John involuntary starvation and suffering. This must be a top priority when the Legislature returns in 2022. Enough New Yorkers have suffered  many even worse than John did.

Safe, effective, compassionate medical aid in dying has been available to the terminally ill in Oregon for over 20 years. It is legal in the District of Columbia and ten states, including Vermont and New Jersey. By large margins, New Yorkers from all regions and backgrounds, as well as doctors, support giving patients this option. The only reason they dont have it is legislative inaction.

Sign up for The Knick  Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter.

Many lawmakers say that they will vote for it when it comes to the floor. Thats great. However, its not enough. We need legislators to lend their support publicly and help convince colleagues that the time to pass this crucial legislation is now. People need to contact their Assembly member and Senator and urge them to support and co-sponsor the Medical Aid in Dying Act.

Lawmakers, have compassion and co-sponsor the bill in 2022, so that no one else has to suffer like John did.

Gov. Kathy Hochul, sign the bill when it comes to your desk.

Barbara W. Flynn lives in Albany.
Jessica Palden has always loved documentaries. So, when she saw the chance to make one of her own, she jumped at it. And the subject she chose was close to home.

In 2017, Palden, her husband of 16 years and their three children went to Matara, Sri Lanka, on vacation. While there, Palden met Prabhat, who worked as a cook at the Airbnb where they were staying. Sparks flew, and a few months after returning to the United States, she went back to Matara to be with him. He convinced her to buy property in Sri Lanka and run it with him as an Airbnb.

Predators don't choose their prey specifically, Palden said recently in an interview. They know what they're looking for. And when they identify it in a person, they go for it.

Palden invested her lifes savings into buying oceanfront property  bought in his name as foreign citizens cant own property in Sri Lanka  and began to run it with him. But soon their relationship turned abusive, and she found herself the victim of physical, emotional and psychological abuse.

I didnt grow up with this online environment, she said. So now, in retrospect, now that I learned about the cycle of abuse, one of the first red flags is the love bombing, but I didn't know about it at first. Over the course of two months, we were texting all the time. And I believe that I had fallen in love with this Sri Lankan man.

In July 2020, Palden managed to leave him and returned to the United States. A month later she went no-contact. It was a difficult decision, but she had finally realized that the situation she was in was a bad one and she needed to get out.

As Palden healed, she realized that talking about it helped her greatly. She also realized that she wasnt the only one. So, she decided to make a documentary, not just to tell her own story, but to highlight those of people who didnt have another country to escape to or the privilege that she had.

When I finally wasn't pouring all my energy and time into this abuser, I could suddenly focus on myself and what was going to help me thrive, she said. And I realized that as a survivor of abuse, it's the telling of the story, it's the breaking of the silence that is the first step to healing. So, I wanted to give others a chance to do that.

When she returned to America in July 2020, Palden applied for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance along with filing for regular unemployment. But the system was overloaded and for months she relied on help from family which she used to take care of her rent. Then, on a cold day in December, she suddenly received all her payments.

In the winter solstice in the middle of the night, I got like 46 emails - the deposit for every week, she said. $15,000 dropped into my account all in one day. It was amazing.

Palden decided to use that money to make her documentary. In January of this year, she began to do her research and pre-production. While Palden wanted to share her own story, she knew it was important to explain the larger issue of gender-based violence. Since she wasnt Sri Lankan herself, she wanted to do her best to ensure that she was able to represent Sri Lanka properly. And for that, she needed to go back where it all started.

I'm trying to do it gracefully and mindfully and consciously as an ally, as an advocate for women, she said. I'm using it to give a platform to the Sri Lankan women. About 90% of my subjects are Sri Lankan women. I just happened to be the producer, the financer and the director.

She titled her documentary Teardrop on Fire, a nod to Sri Lankas pear shape, which gave it the name teardrop of India.

Palden had a number of pre-production meetings with Sri Lankan-owned and run nonprofits, domestic violence shelters and activists. Through this film, she hoped to educate and empower people to speak up against gender-based violence and to shift the culture away from victim blaming and shame. Finally, she hopes it will inculcate feelings of respect and equality.

Through social media networking, Palden was able to identify and put together a crew to film and edit her documentary. She put out an open call on a few Facebook groups talking about her story and the documentary she was hoping to make. People responded in different ways. A musician whose music videos she had admired put her in touch with her director of photography. Through another group, she met her assistant director and her executive producer.

They work in music  video and commercial  but they were really excited to do something meaningful and personal, she said. And then I got a team of nine amazing millennial young film producers.

In April of this year, she flew back to Sri Lanka to plan her shoots and get her footage. Palden spent the first two weeks in quarantine, working remotely and planning out her schedule. She then spent about a week traveling through Sri Lanka, interviewing survivors. She then returned to the United States, working on post-production remotely with her team. Together they produced a 28-minute-long short film  the core of what will be the finished documentary project  talking about the problem and survivors.

This will be screened at the Madison Theater on Dec. 10, followed by a panel discussion on gender-based violence. The panelists so far are Sarah Caterina, assistant director of counseling and domestic violence prevention at YWCA NorthEastern NY, and Tatijana Gjergji, who founded Noteworthy Resources, an Albany community organization that empowers and offers mental health resources through skateboarding.

"There are many, many women and other genders that are abused every single day," said Gjergji. "So once (they) have these lights of hope, and when we know who is a safe person, and what is a safe program, they can access that support, and hopefully make a change to power themselves."

This is a sentiment echoed by her co-panelist. Through her work at the YWCA, Caterina has had a front seat view of the effects of gender-based violence here in the Capital Region. While Palden's documentary is set in Sri Lanka, Caterina believes it will have an impact here as well.

"I'd like to be able to talk about how it's (gender-based violence) not just happening in developing countries," Caterina said. "It's happening right next door. It's happening right here."

Palden doesnt want to stop at what she has right now. She hopes to go back to Sri Lanka and follow up on the stories of her subjects, something she is currently raising funds for.

We were unable to gain access to shelters due to the lockdown and COVID restrictions," she said. "So, during the next phase of production, we will be filming at shelters and organizations to highlight the life changing work being done in the field. We will interview advocates and allies who are helping women and children leave abusive situations and get them back on their feet again to rebuild their lives.

She and her team will be going to three areas of the island. First, they will go to Galle and Matara in southern Sri Lanka to film the Rosie May Foundation & the Pink Tuk Tuks and the Sambol Foundation & The Sambol Safe Village. They will then go to Colombo, Sri Lankas capital, to film the work being done by Sisters at Law & their shelter, Child Protection Force, and Women in Need. Finally, they will go to Abay to follow up on interviewees there. If funding permits, Palden hopes to go to Jaffna, too.

The above-mentioned organizations are official partners of the film. They work with women and children in Sri Lanka, providing a number of services like shelters, legal help and activities to help break down gender roles and stereotypes and to end discrimination.

In order to achieve these goals, the team will need a minimum of $20,000 to meet production expenses and to also make donations to the partner organizations. So far, Palden has raised $5,000 and has 75% more to go.

This shooting will take place in early 2022. If funding permits, she may stay on for longer to see the film through post-production and editing. She also hopes to try and win back her property from her abuser in court, sell it and use money from the sale to fund the film.

To donate go to https://teardroponfiredoc.com/donate/

To learn more about the partner organizations visit https://teardroponfiredoc.com/engage
New photographs show a planet orbiting around a two-star system, something thought to be impossible until now.

B Centauri  which can be seen with the naked eye  is the hottest and biggest planet-hosting star system found to date.

Some scientists believed planets were not able to orbit stars as hot as B Centauri before the images were caught by the European Southern Observatorys Very Large Telescope (ESOs VLT).

The two-star system is around 325 light years away and has at least six times the mass of the Sun.

Its main star is more than three times as hot as our sun.

The VLT is the flagship facility for European ground-based astronomy and is the worlds most advanced optical telescope.

It includes four unit telescopes which work together to allow astronomers to see up to 25 times finer than with individual telescopes.

It has already witnessed new discoveries, including the orbiting of B Centauri, and has provided the first image of an extrasolar planet, tracked individual stars moving around the supermassive black hole at the centre of the Milky Way and has seen the afterglow of the furthest known Gamma-Ray burst.

The planet was seen orbiting B Centauri at 100 times the distance Jupiter orbits the Sun  and pictures show it at different stages of its orbit around the stars.





Markus Janson, an astronomer at Stockholm University in Sweden, said: Finding a planet around b Centauri was very exciting since it completely changes the picture about massive stars as planet hosts.

B-type stars are generally considered as quite destructive and dangerous environments, so it was believed that it should be exceedingly difficult to form large planets around them.

It will be an intriguing task to try to figure out how it might have formed, which is a mystery at the moment.
An attorney for a Mississippi death row inmate is asking the state Supreme Court to dismiss the inmate's request for an execution date
The Los Angeles Board of Education has chosen the longtime superintendent of Miami-Dade County Public Schools to be the next superintendent of Los Angeles Unified School District, the second largest in the nation
Authorities have identified a man armed with a knife who was shot and killed at the entrance to the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego last month
Atlantic City casino workers are furious that the New Jersey Legislature is moving quickly to pass a bill giving tax breaks to the gambling halls, but not acting on a measure that would permanently ban smoking in the casinos
Despite a recent political distraction and constant fighting amongst political factions; crime statistics offer a bit of clarity and context for a worsening threat confronting Kansas City residents.



Accordingly . . .

KANSAS CITY IS NOW HALFWAY TOWARD ENDURING THE DEADLIEST MONTH IN RECORDED HISTORY!!!



Crime expert and local professor Dr. Ernest Evans was kind enough to share this tragic fact of life with our blog community.



Here's the word . . .



"We have had ten homicides in KCMO in the first eight days of December 2021. To give your faithful readers some perspective on how alarming that stat is, you might want to let them know that in KCMO the record number of homicides for one month is 20 in August 2008."

And so . . .

At the half way point we're hoping that political leaders, clergy and community can do something, anything to relieve the pressure on locals during the holiday season and speak to the desperate need for patience, conflict resolution and understanding of the value of human life.

This blog has lot of fun and laughs at the expense of our betters but raising the alarm about the deadly crime wave hitting Kansas City is a priority for us.

Because journalists bloggers shouldn't be activists we'll stick our thumb in this post in order to provide a #TBT reference point and share a cultural touchstone . . .

This might be the greatest science fiction movie that was ever produced . . .



The Day The Earth Stood Still



There was a reboot in 2008 that was mostly environmentalist garbage but one line stood out and offered a truism . . .

"It's only on the brink that people find the will to change. Only at the precipice do we evolve."



And here we are . . .

There isn't anything as grand as the fate of the world at stake.

On the other hand . . .

The very existence of more than 10 people is at risk in a very real sense and for those unlucky humans that could be on their way to becoming statistics . . . Whether they know it or not, this moment in time presents an existential question.



Curbing killing during the Christmas season shouldn't be such a fanciful notion that it falls upon a dumb-ass blog to express even the slightest, naive bit of hope.

But, again, here we are . . .



Our "leaders" are too busy fighting over power and money to notice the real world implications of the slaughter on local streets.

When THEY take up any cause it's only to gain political capital or expose racial, gender or economic divisions for their own benefit.



We don't hold out much hope for changing hearts and minds on this blog.

And so, we only work to serve as a document for this tragic season of murder for as long as possible as we merely note a horrific milestone approaching and a municipal ruling class far too mired in their own machinations to even try and solve this crisis.

Developing . . .


Often in a drunken stupor and whilst listening to old jazz records, TKC readers have often wondered to aloud to themselves:

Is Grandview the new Raytown???



As always, we don't claim to know anything for certain. But a shooting today, in broad daylight in a neighborhood that really isn't so bad looks like it might provide some clues as the the fate of this exurb.

Here are more deets:



"Officers found the victim at a house in the 12000 block of Smalley Avenue at around noon. He was shot outside and went to the house for help, police said."

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com news links . . .

Man wounded in Wednesday morning shooting in Grandview, Missouri KANSAS CITY, Mo. - One man suffered serious injuries in a shooting on Wednesday in Grandview, Missouri. Officers found the victim at a house in the 12000 block of Smalley Avenue at around noon. He was shot outside and went to the house for help, police said.

One person injured in Wednesday morning Grandview shooting GRANDVIEW, MO (KCTV) -- One person has been hospitalized after a shooting Wednesday morning in Grandview. Police were dispatched to the 12000 block of Smalley Ave. around 11:50 a.m. on a reported shooting. At the scene, officers found a male victim suffering from a gunshot wound.

Developing . . .
For close readers, tonight we share a bit of a life lesson and a glimpse at the future.



Kansas are increasingly giving up on public education.

Optimists might see this as a glorious new age wherein students learn to quickly adapt to rapidly changing environments and leverage tech to their advantage.

OR . . .

This could be one more way that parents predestine their youngsters to a career of servitude for their entire lives . . . Without even enjoying the company of friends.



Either way, the switcheroo is underway . . .



During a normal school year, about 1,400 Kansas families newly register to home school. Last year that number more than tripled  to 5,527  and the trend doesnt seem to be slowing. So far this year, more than 2,250 new families have registered.



Experts say the switch to remote learning during the pandemic persuaded record numbers of families to consider home-schooling long-term. Some want more flexible schedules or greater control over their childrens lessons. Others are disillusioned with the traditional model of education or worried about plummeting test scores.



This increase in homeschooling is something that was ratcheting up for many years prior to the pandemic, but the pandemic has certainly jump-started it and caused it to spike, said Lance Izumi, author of The Homeschool Boom.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com news link . . .
Other than all of the feel good talk going around today, this is news that might actually prove helpful to locals.



Take a look . . .



Jackson County waives online convenience and electronic check fees for property tax payments for second year

KANSAS CITY, Mo.  In a continued effort to provide safe and contactless customer service for their residents, Jackson County is announcing today that it is once again waiving the online convenience and electronic check (ACH) fees for this years property tax payments.



The fees will be waived through December 31, 2021 for those who pay their property taxes online through Countys official portal myJacksonCounty. Residents are strongly encouraged to pay online to avoid long wait times in person due to limited staffing at the downtown County Courthouse and Historic Truman Courthouse in Independence.



With the pandemic ongoing, we still have a responsibility to provide a safe way for residents to conduct business with us, said Jackson County Executive Frank White, Jr. We know that waiving these fees is an effective way to do that and encourage everyone to take advantage of this opportunity by making their payment using our contactless and easy online system.



We have made the decision to waive the $2.00 convenience fee and $1.25 ACH fee within myJacksonCounty to incentivize our residents to pay online, said Whitney Miller, Director of Collection. myJacksonCounty is an incredibly user friendly and secure way to pay your property taxes, all without having to leave the house. Online credit card payments will still incur a 2.75% fee.



How to pay Jackson County property taxes online:



- Visit payments.jacksongov.org

- Create an account or continue as guest

- Link account and search by name, address or property account number

- View and pay your bills

- Print or digitally store your receipts



Other contactless payment options:



Exterior drop boxes for property tax payments are located at the west door of the Jackson County Courthouse in Kansas City (415 E. 12th St.) and at the south door of the Historic Truman Courthouse in Independence (112 W. Lexington).



Taxpayers can also mail their payment to the address on their bill. Payments must be received or USPS postmarked by December 31 to avoid penalty.



As a reminder, all County locations and the online payment vendors offices will be closed on December 31, 2021 in observation of the New Year.

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Developing . . .


A brief bit of political glamour didn't stop the uptick in Kansas City killing.

This is the 5th KCMO homicide recorded so far this week.



Again, unofficially, this is the 148th homicide so far this year compared to 173 at this time last year, 141 the year before that and 124 (138 total) in 2018.

Check the report:

Homicide 2700 block of Bales



Tonight about 7:15pm officers were dispatched to the area of 27th and Askew on a sound of shots call. While officers were on the way, the call was upgraded to a shooting call in the alley between Askew and Bales.



When officers arrived they located the victim, an adult male, unresponsive near the alleyway between Bales and Askew closer to 28th st. Officers summoned EMS to the scene who declared the victim deceased here at the scene.



Detectives are canvassing the area for witnesses and crime scene investigators are processing for evidence.



If anyone has any information and has not been in touch with detectives they are asked to contact the Homicide Unit directly at 816-234-5043 or the TIPS hotline anonymously at 816-474-TIPS, There is a reward of up to $25,000 for information leading to an arrest in this case.

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Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com news links . . .

Kansas City police investigating deadly shooting near 27th and Bales by: Brian Dulle Posted: / Updated: KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Kansas City, Missouri police are investigating after one person was killed in a shooting Wednesday night. The shooting was reported around 7 p.m. in an alley near E. 27th Street and Bales Avenue. No victim or suspect information has been released at this time.

Kansas City police investigate fatal shooting Wednesday near 27th, Bales Police vehicle, lights (file photo) SOURCE: KMBC Kansas City police said they are investigating a fatal shooting Wednesday night near 27th Street and Bales Avenue.Authorities said officers were called about 7:15 p.m. to the area and found one person down in the alley. No other details were released.

KCPD investigating homicide in area of 27th & Bales KANSAS CITY, MO (KCTV) -- The Kansas City Police Department is investigating a homicide that happened on Wednesday night. According to the KCPD, the fatal shooting happened in the 2700 block of Bales. The police shared the information just before 8 p.m. No further information was provided.

Developing . . .
Once again we provide a quick reality check for our most loyal denizens of the discourse . . .

Our KCMO elected leaders have prattled on endless about hiring more cops, lowering the murder count and even creating a more equitable society by way of funds raided from the police budget.

What's the end result of the current "conversation" regarding civic priorities?!?

Rising crime.

And fewer cops.

Of course.

South Plaza area in Kansas City, Missouri, deals with rash of break-ins, thefts KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A homeowner near Loose Park in Kansas City, Missouri, said she was targeted for theft not once, but twice within a week. The thieves didn't care about the home security cameras that got a good look at them.

Kansas City family prepares for first Christmas without mother who was murdered KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The countdown to Christmas day has begun. Trees are up and lit and holiday cheer is flowing throughout the city, but one local family has more on their mind. "It's really hard not having her here," Chaquala Ford, Andrea Dean's Sister, said.

Attorney for millionaire accused of murder alleges Kansas City police planted evidence A defense attorney for David Jungerman, the self-made Kansas City millionaire accused of killing an attorney as an act of revenge, claims in a motion filed recently in Jackson County Circuit Court that detectives planted evidence in his case and another homicide.

Man reportedly impersonating law enforcement in Blue Springs area KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Blue Springs Police Department is warning of a man impersonating law enforcement and pulling over drivers. There is one confirmed case, but police believe there have been at least six cases involving the man around Blue Springs, Grain Valley and other surrounding communities over the past six months.

Ad Hoc anti-crime group working to curb violence in Kansas City after a deadly two weeks There have been 11 homicides in Kansas City since Thanksgiving. Eight people were killed in just one week. "It's very troubling," said Damon Daniel, president of Ad Hoc Group Against Crime.From Westport to South Kansas City to the East Side, the gun violence has been widespread. "There's a lot of hurting people.

'The truth will set me free' prisoner hopes for accountability in old KCK convictions KANSAS CITY, KS (KCTV) -- Ahmon Mann has spent more than 20 years in prison for a murder he swears he did not do. News of a federal grand jury targeting KCK police corruption didn't surprise him. It was first reported by CNN. "To be honest, I think it's way overdue," Mann said.

Kansas City officer who was stabbed honored for stopping suspect Dozens of Kansas City police officers were recognized Tuesday for their courage and compassion. One officer fought through a traumatic injury to prevent others from getting hurt."I really thought I was going to die but I didn't want him to get away and harm anybody else," said Officer Blaine Kennedy.

Accordingly, we share more local crime news as the rate of local violence continues to spike . . . And, of course we try to finish on a hopeful note . . . Here's thecollection . . .

Developing . . .
Tonight's sign of the times and a glimpse of the NEXTGEN indulging in a common adult practice: Sending unreasonable and dangerous ultimatums online.



Check today's reports for those who haven't seen them already . . .



Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com news links . . .

District leaders dealing with recent threats at Kansas City area schools KANSAS CITY, Kan. - There have been at least 19 threats of violence to Kansas City area schools since October, and five just this week in Kansas City, Kansas. For parents it's an inherent fear. "I'm just scared. I mean, I don't know what am I gonna do as a parent," said Camille Brown, whose daughter attends Schlagle High School in KCK.

Lee's Summit middle school latest to receive threat of violence KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A Lee's Summit middle school is the latest area school to receive a threat of violence. Tuesday night, Summit Lakes Middle School families received a letter from the school detailing the incident. A threat was found written in a school bathroom Tuesday.

Developing . . .
Statistically, we're pretty sure that reading is just about one of the safest things a person can do to occupy their time.



Also . . . It's much more rewarding than political arguments over literature that mostly serve as a way to ruin the social media feeds of friends & family.



Here's an example of that axiom AND a glimpse at a recent trend . . .



We are observing an ongoing effort to police the reading materials available to young people in order to affirm a particular view of history and society, says Deborah Caldwell-Stone, director of the American Library Associations Office for Intellectual Freedom..



While book banning has been around since books, the push to remove specific subject matters has risen in the past months. It isnt limited to Kansas Cityschool libraries around the country have seen more and more attempts to pull books from the shelves.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com news link . . .
For what it's worth, we must give PETA credit for crafting some of the most iconic American marketing in their ongoing campaign to save animals.

Of course, their classic collab with Pamela is our fave.



Here's a peek at a holiday effort targeting a popular local pastime . . .



Santa Targets Hunters in Festive PETA Airport Appeal



Kansas City, Mo.  Santa has a message for holiday travelers: You can avoid the naughty list if you put down that hunting rifle. His Yuletide greeting, courtesy of PETA, can be found on banners at the Kansas City International Airport through the end of December. The message comes after Missouri was identified as a top deer-hunting state.







When it comes to feeling pain and fear, loving their families, and valuing their own lives, deer are no different from you and me, says PETA President Ingrid Newkirk. PETAs cheeky cartoon encourages people to stay off the naughty list and give wild animals some peace on Earth by saying no to hunting.



Hunters kill millions of animals every year and injure many others, allowing them to escape only to die slowly and painfully from blood loss or starvation. Orphans of parents killed by hunters are left vulnerable, too. Hunters have contributed to the extinction of species all over the world, including the Tasmanian tiger and the great auk.



PETAwhose motto reads, in part, that animals are not ours to abuse in any wayopposes speciesism, a human-supremacist worldview. For more information, please visit PETA.org or follow the group on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram.



PETAs banners are located along the pedestrian walkways in Terminal B near the Delta and Southwest gates, in Terminal B adjacent to the Southwest security checkpoint, and in Terminal C near ticketing.

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Developing . . .


The Missouri AG is looking for snitches amid the pandemic.



In what might be the most interesting proposal of the day, the Missouri GOP Senate candidate is asking for TIPS.



Sadly, there's no word about a cash reward.

Check the offer for those who haven't seen it already . . .



On Wednesday, Schmitt announced he was specifically asking for parents to contact his office.



"Weve heard from parents that school districts are continuing to enforce mask mandates and quarantine orders, in violation of the recent Cole County order, Schmitt said in a news release.



To enable parents to voice their concerns freely about continued mask mandates and quarantine orders, and ensure that those concerns are heard and investigated properly, we have set up an email inbox, illegalmandates@ago.mo.gov, for parents to communicate directly with the Attorney Generals Office. Parents are sick and tired of the stonewalling from their school districts, and so am I.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com news links . . .

Missouri AG wants parents to report schools enforcing mask mandates ST. LOUIS - Missouri's Attorney General isn't waiting for school districts to re-evaluate their masking policies after a Cole County judge ruled that public health orders related to the COVID pandemic are unconstitutional. Eric Schmitt sent letters to school districts and public health agencies across Missouri saying they must rescind and stop enforcing public health orders like mask mandates and quarantines.

Missouri attorney general asks parents to identify schools that are enforcing mask mandates Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt is asking parents to identify and call out school districts that continue to enforce mask mandates. Schmitt said school districts are continuing to violate a recent Cole County Circuit Court order by requiring masks.

Developing . . .
09/12/2021

Institucional

The deadline for submitting proposals in the second edition of the campaign "Green Challenges: towards a more sustainable campus", organized by the European project UNI-ECO, has been extended until January 2. The initiative is aimed at members of the university community who want to contribute to building tomorrows sustainable university. Participation is very easy: just create a team, choose a challenge among those proposed on the project's website and send a proposal to create a more sustainable campus.

Universities play an important role in the transition of society towards a more sustainable life. The Erasmus+ UNI-ECO interuniversity project resulted from this context, and it proposes to develop practical and collaborative tools for innovation in sustainability at the university. The project involves all the centers that build up the CHARM-EU alliance: the University of Montpellier, which coordinates the initiative in collaboration with the University of Barcelona, the University of Utrecht, Eotvos Lorand University of Budapest and Trinity College Dublin. The UNI-ECO project responds to the need to change our lifestyles and production methods to reduce the negative impact of human activities on the environment.



Participation:

The first step is to create a 2-5 people team. Then, through UNI-ECO's online platform, the team can present a project that will contribute to making their campus more sustainable, within one of the following challenges:

Raise awareness of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and sustainability in general

Design actions to preserve and enhance biodiversity on campus

Move towards a circular economy at the university

Find ways to improve efficiency (resource use water, energy, alternatives to plastic, transportation and mobility, etc.)

Proposals may be submitted through this application form until January 2.

Then, the UB selection committee will meet to choose, among all the received proposals, the five top projects, which will receive institutional support to develop the idea between January and March 2022. Finally, this same committee will meet again at the end of March to select the winning UB project.

In April, the winning team will have the opportunity to present their project at the UNI-ECO Spring School in Utrecht (The Netherlands), a unique opportunity to work in a European context.

More information is available on the UNI-ECO platform.


Over the past 24 hours, Ukrainian military reported six ceasefire violations by the Russian occupation forces in eastern Ukraine.

This was reported on Facebook by the press service of the Joint Forces Operation Headquarters, according to Ukrinform.

The occupiers are reported to have fired grenade launchers of various systems, large-caliber machine guns, and other small arms toward the village of New York.

Near Novo-oleksandrivka, the enemy fired twice, employing grenade launchers, large-caliber machine guns, and other small arms.

In the direction of Svitlodarsk, Russian mercenaries opened fire, also twice, using easel-mounted anti-tank and automatic easel-mounted grenade launchers, as well as small arms.

Close to Luhanske, the enemy engaged Ukrainian defense positions with easel-mounted anti-tank and automatic easel-mounted grenade launchers.

The JFO Command reported no casualties as a result of yesterdays attacks.

Read also: Ukraine calls on Russia to stop escalation and return to negotiating table

Ukrainian troops returned fire and forced the enemy to cease further attacks, the report says.

As of 7:00 Kyiv time on December 9, no new truce breaches were reported across the Joint Forces Operation zone.

Joint Forces keep monitoring the situation along the line of contact and remain ready to repel and deter Russias armed aggression.

im
NATO Chiefs of Defense held a virtual meeting on Monday to discuss the security challenges facing the Alliance, including the situation resulting from Russia's military buildup around Ukraine and the wider implications of such actions.

Thats according to the press service of the Alliance, Ukrinform reports.

"On 6 December 2021, the 30 Allied Chiefs of Defence came together in a virtual meeting of the Military Committee to discuss the security challenges facing the Alliance, in all operational domains and in all geographical areas," the statement said.

NATO defense leaders were briefed by the Supreme Allied Commander Europe and the Assistant Secretary General for Intelligence and Security.

"The Chiefs of Defence exchanged information to obtain a collective understanding in order to bolster the deterrence and defence posture of the Alliance. The goal of the meeting was to promote transparency amongst Allies and to align ongoing national and Allied activities," the statement said.

As an Ukrinform correspondent was told today at the Alliance's headquarters, this was an extraordinary virtual meeting of defense chiefs.

"We usually have a few regular meetings of defense chiefs a year, but this was an extraordinary one. Indeed, they discussed the situation around Ukraine's borders, but not only that. The task was to assess the situation in a broader context. Because if we focus on only one topic of (Russias - ed.) military buildup around Ukraine, we might miss other important details," the source said in a comment to Ukrinform.

According to the source, one of the main tasks was to exchange information and achieve a common understanding of the developments, as well as agree on a common stance and joint actions. Such coordination is important because, in this context, actions and national measures undertaken by any NATO Ally can be seen as the actions of the Alliance as a whole.

Responding to a clarifying question, the NATO official stressed that yesterday's virtual meeting was in no way related to preparations for U.S. President Joe Bidens virtual summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"No, these two issues are not related in any way. The defense chiefs discussed purely military aspects of responding to the security developments in a broader context. Our main task was to exchange information with Allies and to see a general picture of whats happening," the source said.

As reported earlier, the NATO Military Committee is NATO's main military body, which drafts and provides recommendations to the Alliance's and Allies' political leadership on military aspects of a common deterrence and defense policies, to enhance the security and resilience of each member state, and on other issues, as part of the implementation of decisions on NATO-led operations and missions.

Read also: Biden speaks with five European leaders ahead of Putin call

The Military Committee is chaired by Admiral Rob Bauer of the Netherlands, who took over from British Air Marshal Sir Stuart Peach on June 25, 2021.

im
U.S. President Joe Biden plans to call Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday, December 9, to discuss, among other things, the results of his talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said this at a press briefing at the White House on Tuesday, December 7, according to an Ukrinform correspondent.

"President Biden will be speaking with President Zelensky on Thursday, following on yesterday's discussion between President Zelensky and Secretary Blinken," Sullivan said.

At the same time, he stressed that the Biden administration was in daily contact with senior officials in the Ukrainian government.

"Our message to our friends in the Ukrainian government, as our message was today to President Putin, is that the United States supports the Minsk process, wants to see progress made towards a ceasefire, towards confidence-building measures. And that is the best way forward," he said.

He also said that President Biden would be speaking with the leaders of both houses of Congress and talking to them about ways in which the administration and the Congress can work together on a bipartisan basis "to stand up for American interests and values and stand behind our friends and partners."

Sullivan also said that Biden had already held talks with the leaders of France, Germany, Italy and the UK after his talks with Putin to debrief them on the video call and to consult on the way forward. In addition, according to Sullivan, the White House team is debriefing the embassies of NATO members, EU members, and key Indo-Pacific allies on the results of the talks with Putin.

op
Ukraine has opened its honorary consulate in the western Turkish province of Kutahya, the Ukrainian Embassy in Turkey has said on Facebook.

"The functioning of the honorary consulate will help protect the rights and interests of Ukrainian citizens, promote Ukraine, its centuries-old culture and traditions, establish people-to-people contacts between our nations, develop interregional cooperation and direct business contacts between our countries," the statement said.

Businessman Erkan Gural has become Ukraine's honorary consul.

During his visit to the region, Ukraine's Ambassador to Turkey Vasyl Bodnar met with the Governor of Afyonkarahisar Province, Gokmen Cicek. Both parties discussed promising areas of interregional cooperation between Ukraine and Turkey, direct business contacts and increased tourist flows.

Bodnar also met with Mayor of Afyonkarahisar Mehmet Zeybek.

"Establishing twinning relations between Afyonkarahisar and a Ukrainian city will promote the development of human relations and trade relations, as well as the mutual increase of tourist flows," he said.

According to the website of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, Ukraine's honorary consulates in Turkey are also operating in the provinces of Bursa and Canakkale and the district of Dalaman.
At the conclusion of the visit of Prime Minister of Croatia Andrej Plenkovic to Kyiv, five joint documents were signed.

"The Government of Ukraine is committed to building a mutually beneficial partnership with Croatia and will make every effort to further remove barriers in our bilateral relations," Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal stressed, the Government portal informs.

Thus, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky and Prime Minister of Croatia Andrej Plenkovic signed a joint Declaration on Ukraines European Prospects. The Declaration determines priority areas for UkraineCroatia cooperation within the strategic course of our country towards full membership in the European Union.

Moreover, during the 2nd meeting of Joint UkraineCroatia Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation the following documents were concluded:

The Agreement on Cooperation between the State Archival Service of Ukraine and the Croatian State Archives. This document will allow the countries to ensure equal access rights for Ukrainian and Croatian researchers to archival documents. The signing of the agreement will have a positive impact on further intensification and development of professional, scientific, and cultural ties between Ukraine and Croatia.

The Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine and the Ministry of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure of the Republic of Croatia on Cooperation in Railway Transport. The agreement should provide conditions for the unimpeded rail transportation of passengers, goods, and mail between the countries.

The Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Metrology between the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine and the State Office for Standardization and Metrology of the Republic of Croatia. The exchange of information and best practices of Croatia will facilitate Ukraines compliance with the provisions of the Association Agreement regarding technical barriers to trade and preparations for the conclusion of the ACAA.

In addition, the parties signed the Action Plan of UkraineCroatia Working Group for 2022/2023 which, among other things, provides for the exchange of experience with Croatia on the reintegration of the temporarily occupied territories, rehabilitation of veterans and internally displaced persons, mine action, and strengthening national security.

As reported, on December 8, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky met with Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia Andrej Plenkovic. On the same day, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal met with the Prime Minister of Croatia. The parties discussed deepening cooperation in trade, economy, tourism, digitalization, and education.

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The American government has prepared and is ready to send to Ukraine as early as this week the last batch of a $60 million-worth security assistance package President Joe Biden approved in September this year.

Thats according to Pentagon Spokesman John Kirby, Ukrinform's own correspondent reported from Washington.

I think you know President Biden approved a $60 million security assistance package; the final elements of that will be arriving in Ukraine this week, Kirby told a briefing on Wednesday, December 8.

Asked to clarify what the assistance package includes, the Pentagon spokesman said the batch consists of small arms and ammunition.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, the White House announced the allocation of an additional package of defense support for Ukraine during Volodymyr Zelensky's visit to Washington in early September.

In addition, the U.S. and Ukrainian defense chiefs signed a Framework Agreement on the Strategic Foundations of the Defense Partnership.

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President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine has said the United Kingdom will allocate GBP 1 billion in a bid to support the country.

Zelensky broke the news on Twitter, according to Ukrinform.

Great news from London: UK will allocate an additional 1-billion in support for Ukraine. That means new investments, trade, security, President Zelensky wrote on the evening of Wednesday, December 8.

As a result of his negotiations with Boris Johnson held last year, the total volume of British support thus increases to GBP3.5 billion, the tweet adds.

In turn, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Dmytro Kuleba, elaborated on the assistance package.

Concluded our preparatory meeting of the UK-Ukraine Strategic Dialogue in London. Grateful for decisions proving that Kyiv and London are close allies. Additionally allocated resources will enable projects in infrastructure, healthcare and clean energy, Kuleba tweeted.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, late November, Ukraine received from the International Monetary Fund the second tranche of the loan provided under the existing Stand-By Arrangement, worth SDR 500 million (US$699 million).
Members of the British Parliament are ready to stand with Ukraine to deter Russia from further aggression.

Great meeting with the members of Commons & Lords of UK Parliament. Grateful to parliamentarians for their unfaltering support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as readiness to work together on deterring Russia and demotivating it from further aggression, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba posted on Twitter on December 8.

As reported, The Washington Post published the U.S. intelligence data, according to which 70,000 Russian troops are concentrated in three regions near Ukraine's border, as well as in the temporarily occupied Crimea. In total, 50 combat tactical groups, tanks and artillery are currently deployed there.

On December 5, Minister of Defense of Ukraine Oleksiy Reznikov announced on Estonian TV that the number of Russian troops near the Ukrainian border could increase up to 175,000.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Joe Biden said his administration was preparing a series of initiatives aimed at deterring Russian aggression.

On December 7, the U.S. and Russian presidents held talks for over two hours. Joe Biden intends to discuss their results with European allies, as well as with President Volodymyr Zelensky.

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However, prosecutors will start announcing the indictment as early as December 20

The 11th hearing in the case of the 2014 downing over Donbas of the Malaysia Airlines passenger jet, flight MH17 en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, has kicked off at the Schiphol Court in the Netherlands. The court heard an attorney of one of the suspects, Lieutenant Colonel Oleg Pulatov with the GRU military intelligence, who agreed to partake in the trial, lawyers representing the families of the victims, as well as the prosecution side.

In November, Pulatov's attorneys insisted that the court pursue further attempts to interview Sergey Muchkaev, Commander of the Kursk-based 53rd Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade, thus effectively delaying the trial because Russia has been systemically ignoring the relevant inquiries as regards Muchkaev. In December, Russia finally reacted and, of course, turned down the request for the court to interview the senior officer, so far as a witness.

So why did Russia reject the inquiry? When will prosecutors be able to read out the indictment? And what compensation do the victims families demand?

RUSSIA'S REFUSAL

Due to quarantine restrictions in the courthouse, everyone must maintain social distancing at 1.5 meters and wear face masks, of which court staff constantly remind attendees. No one with the mildest cold symptoms is allowed in the courthouse. Following the rules, the victims families gather in a special room with glass walls, located above Hall D, where the hearing takes place. Prosecutors, attorneys, and journalists are down in the courtroom. There is a large screen above Judge Helen Kerstens-Fockens' chair. Due to quarantine restrictions, she will follow the process via videoconference.

As all rise, the judges enter the courtroom, while Judge Kerstens-Fockens appears on the screen. Presiding Judge Hendrik Steenhuis has announced that none of the four defendants have appeared in court, as usual. He notes that the accused GRU Lt.Col. Oleg Pulatov was duly warned about the hearing date in December through his defense attorneys. As for two other Russians, former FSB operative and so-called ex-DPR Defense Minister Igor Girkin, GRU General Sergei Dubinsky (at the time of the MH17 downing he was ranked colonel and served as DPR GRU chief, their summonses were handed over to the Russian Justice Ministry. The court has received no response from the Russians in this regard.

For its part, Ukraine said it was impossible to summon Leonid Kharchenko, a Ukrainian national who fought on the DPR's side because he is believed to be staying in the non-government-controlled territory in eastern Ukraine. The presiding judge later reported that the Russians snubbed the courts request to interview Sergey Muchkaev, Commander of a Russian military unit from Kursk which is thought to have deployed the deadly Buk launcher in Ukraine before it shot down the passenger jet.

Russia has stated that, according to the European Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters, the government has the right to refuse the request for such an interview if it could harm national interests. Russia refers to the fact that Muchkaev could be asked to provide information of a military nature, which could have led to its disclosure, thus harming Russias interests. This implies possible exposure of classified data. It is based on this assumption that Russia refused to allow the court to question Muchkaev. Thus, the investigating judge concluded it was impossible to interview Muchkaev's, so an additional investigation was therefore completed.

As mentioned earlier, in November it was Pulatov's defense that insisted that attempts to interrogate Muchkaev be continued. At the time, Dutch prosecutor Thijs Berger said he saw no point in insisting on interviewing Muchkaev as Russian authorities had consistently ignored previous requests and were adamant about providing any information about the 53rd Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade.

WITNESS S45 AND COMPENSATION

During the court hearing on December 8, the Russian's defense undertook to voice another demand. Sabine ten Doesschate, a Dutch lawyer representing Pulatov, said there were no documents on Witness S45 in the case file and that prosecutors must provide all the information to the defense. Sabine ten Doesschate demanded that the court order that the prosecutors attach documents on S45 to the case file. The prosecution asked the court not to deanonymize the witness as it could affect his safety.

Lawyers for the relatives of the victims are taking the floor. They believe Pulatov's lawyers are trying to make the trial drag by filing endless motions. They emphasize that their clients still cannot get over the loss of their loved ones and require specialized medical treatment.

"These 298 people  they were someones relatives and loved ones, there are thousands of grief-stricken relatives, and this grief wont go anywhere after this generation passes and will never be erased from the DNA of many families," said a lawyer for the families of MH17 victims.

She also recalled the emotional speeches the MH17 victims relatives had voiced in court, in which they called for justice. These include an address by Ria van der Steen, who lost her father and stepmother. During her speech, she quoted Alexander Solzhenitsyn: "They are lying, we know they are lying, and they know that we know that they are lying." She also reminded the court about Pete Ploeg whose brother, daughter-in-law, and nephew all died in the crash. His brothers remains have not yet been identified. And throughout these seven years, the man has hoped for a miracle to be able to bid a worthy farewell

She also recalled intercepted communications of the accused. In one of the calls, they referred to "Buk" as a toy.

"It's striking that they called a toy the Buk, the weapon that killed 298 people. They understood perfectly well that this is not a toy," the lawyer stressed.

Currently, more than 300 relatives of MH17 victims are demanding compensation.

Claims for compensation from the relatives of the victims of MH17 should be considered under Ukrainian law. Relatives of the victims have raised the issue of compensation in criminal court as they dont wish to separate the criminal trial and the compensation case, as well as because the Dutch criminal court enjoys foreign civil jurisdiction. That is, it requires no separate decision of the court because its jurisdiction over compensation claims filed by relatives stems from the criminal nature of the case.

According to the lawyer of the relatives of the victims Arlette Schijns, several decisions of Ukrainian courts have been processed, and the amount of compensation usually ranged from EUR 32,000 to EUR 110,000.

"The sums allocated by Ukrainian courts to the families of the victims ranged from EUR 32,000 to EUR 110,000. We didnt find any cases that would be close to the MH17 tragedy. We decided to divide the compensation into three categories. They range from EUR 50,000 to EUR 40,000," she said.

Arlette Schijns also stressed that money could not return the victims to their families, heal wounds, and make those responsible for the tragedy feel the pain of loss.

So far, relatives of those killed in the MH17 downing have received compensation from Malaysia Airlines, the terms of which are sealed by a non-disclosure agreement.

Relatives have not received compensation under Dutch law, as they are only possible if the crime has been committed in the Netherlands.

INDICTMENT AND ECHR

Dutch prosecutors will start reading out the indictment in the MH17 case on December 20, 2021.

"The next stage is the indictment, which will be read out on December 20," said presiding judge Hendrik Steenhuis, wrapping up the hearing.

The court has provided three days to this end - from December 20 to December 22, 2021.

The court shall also announce its decision on yet another motion Pulatov's defense team as regards Witness S45.

Anton Kotte, a Dutchman who lost his eldest son, daughter-in-law, and six-year-old grandson, told Ukrinform he was looking forward to the next hearing. He also said that the relatives of the victims were very concerned about the postponement of hearings in the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).

"Russia is doing everything possible to postpone the hearing in the European Court of Human Rights. I hope we will hear the decision of the Hague tribunal by January 26," he said.

It should be recalled that the hearing in the European Court of Human Rights was delayed due to the recall of an ad hoc judge appointed on behalf of the Russian Federation.

On November 8, an ad hoc judge appointed in accordance with Rule 29 1 (a) of the Rules of Court of the Russian Federation informed the court that he had refused to take part in the hearing. The President of the Grand Chamber then started searching for another relevant ad hoc judge to take part in the hearing scheduled for November 24, 2021.

On November 12, it became clear that the search remained unsuccessful, so the postponement was inevitable. Thus, the European Court of Human Rights postponed the hearing in the case of Ukraine and the Netherlands v Russia from November 24, 2021, to January 26, 2022.

Iryna Drabok, The Hague

im
When refugees flee, they take time to flourish. At first, they just pick up the pieces of their shattered lives.

Yema Torkani, 18, is doing well with a hairdressing job in Moldova after he and his family came through a nightmare of war in their native Afghanistan.

The Torkani family are from Herat, an ancient and cultured city near the Afghan border with Iran. In 2015, their eldest son Yamen was kidnapped and murdered. Sixteen at the time, he would have been 22 today.

After the killing, the family fled first to the Russian Federation before going on to Moldova. Why Russia? Why Moldova?

Im not quite sure. I was only 12 when it happened, says Yema. But his parents remembered the time when Soviet forces were in Afghanistan and perhaps the fact his father Wahid spoke Russian had something to do with it.

At first, the family lived in a refugee centre but now they have a flat in Chisinau, decorated with a few things they were able to bring from Afghanistan, although nothing as big as a carpet.

Young Yema went to gymnasium (high school) and graduated after the ninth class. After six years in Moldova, he speaks fluent Romanian and Russian, as well as his native Dari.

Teachers noticed Yema was mature for his age, perhaps because of his difficult life experience. He could have gone on to higher education but he chose to get a job to support his family financially.

Back in Afghanistan, father Wahid was a doctor and mother Mahboobe an English teacher. Now Wahid works in a restaurant and Mahboobe has a job in an office. Yemas older brother Ramiz, 19, also works in the restaurant while two little brothers, Benyamin, 9, and Melid, 7, are going to school. There are no girls in the family.

UNHCRs partner, the Charity Centre for Refugees (CCR), helped Yema to get access to vocational training as a hairdresser and the state National Employment agency gave him a grant to study for six months. Then the Covid pandemic struck and hair salons were temporarily closed. Now Yema is working full-time, for a regular salary, at the Gold Master salon, a mens barber shop owned by a Lebanese entrepreneur.

The owner has been kind to me, says Yema. I work with five other people in the shop. I can do everything now, cut and shave. The fashion is to shave the sides of the head and leave a quiff on top. The clients are mostly Moldovans. I like the job and I make them feel good.

Yema is a willing worker and fast learner and we are very glad to have him on the team, says salon owner Hasani Abou nar.

Yema also has a social life, with Moldovan friends he knew at school.

Perhaps there was a time when Yema dreamt of a different future. I might have liked to do something connected with medicine, he says. Perhaps I may still study to do massage or physiotherapy or something like that. But for now, the important thing is to earn a living to help my family.

Yema remembers Herat  the beauty of the old city, the mountains, the winding streets, the bazaars. He and the family worry about relatives  grandparents, aunts and cousins  left behind there.

We talk, he says, now and then, when there is an internet connection.

Moldova is good but Afghanistan is home, says Yema. But he knows the situation in his homeland may get worse before it gets better and it could be years before there is the kind of stability that would allow him to return, even for a visit.

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Tasneem is now enrolled in a vocational training programme in hopes of becoming a part-time dental assistant.

If you managed to survive the explosions, you were lucky to live an extra day, but that does not mean that those explosions did not frighten you to death, Tasneem started off the conversation.

Despite the fact that bombs and airstrikes had become the new norm in Syria, the people living there never got accustomed to them. Tasneem and her family did not imagine that they would pack and leave their home until they were left to suffer for days without electricity and water, and survival was not guaranteed anymore in a country that turned into a big battle zone. At that point, Tasneem and her family had to face the hurtful truth, of having to forcibly leave their home in Damascus.

In May 2013, they arrived in Egypt seeking international protection and a safe place where explosions and shelling are no longer a part of their daily routine. As of September 2021, Egypt hosts more than 267,000 refugees and asylum seekers registered with UNHCR, of whom 50% are from Syria and who were welcomed with open arms and are respected by society since they started arriving in the country. I came to Egypt when I was only 11 years old and I consider it the only home I know, says Tasneem with a smile on her face.

Tasneems family used to have a stable financial situation when they were back in Syria; her mother was a housewife and her father used to own a dairy shop, which provided for his children and helped secure their future. After the ongoing war in Syria, their lives turned upside down and making ends meet in Cairo was not that easy for the family; the father rented a shop where he could sell dairy products, yet he is hardly able to cover the familys basic needs while focusing on investing in his childrens education.

My fathers life is not as stable as it used to be back in Damascus before the war broke out, but at least we are safe here in Cairo, says Tasneem, I wish that one day I can buy him the shop he is renting now, she adds.

Most refugees in Egypt are vulnerable, as seven out of 10 refugees struggle to meet their basic needs. The situation worsened after the COVID-19 pandemic rubbed salt in the wound of Tasneems family, as their monthly income decreased, and it still barely covers the rent of both the shop and the flat they now call home. Transportation expenses and university fees are another challenge the family is currently facing as Tasneem is studying fine arts in Alexandria, where she resides and shares rent with other Syrian girls during university days, while her elder brother had to drop out of the private university he was enrolled in because his father could not afford the fees.

After war broke out in Syria, I had always dreamed that the day would come for me to be back and rebuild my country. But before I do that, I want to repay Egypt and Egyptians for our safety and the hospitality we have been met with, says Tasneem while remembering her grandfather who had recently passed away and was buried in Egypt. It is just another reason for me to feel Egypt is my second home, she adds.

Tasneem is now enrolled in a vocational training programme in hopes of becoming a part-time dental assistant, to be able to save money for her expenses so that she can take the load off her fathers shoulders. With support from UNHCR and its NGO partners, the family receives education grants for the younger siblings, as well as food vouchers from the World Food Programme (WFP).

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Mongera Bahiira, 60, sits in a small patch of shade at the Nyakabande transit centre in Kisoro, Uganda, surrounded by his wife and six of his 13 children. The rest are young adults who remained in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) with their own families.

I am worried about them. I dont know if I will see them again, said Mongera.

He and his family were forced to flee with whatever belongings they could carry after their village in Masisi, in North Kivu provinces Rutshuru Territory was attacked by armed militia in early October. They hitched a ride on a truck that took them to Bunagana town, near the border with Uganda, where they stayed with relatives for about a month.

But when fighting between the armed groups and Congolese armed forces broke out in the villages surrounding the town on 8 November, the Ugandan government opened the border  which has been closed due to COVID-19 restrictions  and allowed those fleeing the violence to enter.

Its the first time I am seeking refuge in Uganda and I hope we will be helped, said Mongera.

If the situation escalates, we shall come back to Uganda.

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, Ugandan authorities and partners provided assistance to 11,000 Congolese who crossed into the country, relocating over 1,000 of them  including Mongeras family  to Nyakabande transit centre.

Mongera Bahiira, 60, rests in the Nyakabande transit centre in Kisoro, Uganda after fleeing violence in eastern DRC.  UNHCR/Esther Ruth Mbabazi

Alivera Nyamakabambelle, 84, rests in the Nyakabande transit centre in Kisoro, Uganda after fleeing violence in eastern DRC.  UNHCR/Esther Ruth Mbabazi

Twaza Enoch leads his family as they walk back towards their home in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.  UNHCR/Esther Ruth Mbabazi

A few days later, some 10,000 people crossed back into the DRC after Ugandan and Congolese security officials informed them that it was safe to return.

Among them was Enoch Twaza, 50, who decided to return to his home in Bunagana, despite his wife Jennifers initial reluctance.

We left a lot of property behind, and we have been assured it is safe to return. If the situation escalates, we shall come back to Uganda, the father of eight explained before his departure.

Jennifer was not convinced that it was safe for them to go home and was in favour of waiting a couple more weeks, but finally agreed and helped lead the familys livestock back across the border.

Joel Boutroue, UNHCRs Representative in Uganda said the sudden movement of Congolese asylum seekers into Uganda is an indicator of how volatile and unpredictable the situation is in eastern DR Congo.

The unstable situation has left Alivera Nyamakabambelle torn between staying and returning home. The 84-year-old fled with her family of seven at night, leaving the sound of bombs and gunshots behind.

If I had my way, I would go back, but my family wants to stay and as I have no one back home to take care of me, I have to stay too, she said dolefully.

Her granddaughter, Tusenge Wema, nodded firmly.

If I had my way, I would go back, but my family wants to stay.

Going back home any time soon is not an option. We shall stay in Uganda and start a life here, said the 23-year-old, who is among the 1,000 or so of the recent arrivals from the DRC who have decided to remain for now.

Many of those who returned told UNHCR staff in DRC that their property was looted while they were gone, including food supplies and livestock, leaving them in a precarious situation and in need of humanitarian assistance.

UNHCRs Boutroue said more resources are also needed to support Uganda, which is the largest refugee-hosting country in Africa with over 1.5 million refugees.

We need more support to expand our emergency preparedness and capacity to receive new arrivals, as the likelihood of renewed violence and forced displacement is very high, he said, noting that the capacity of Nyakabande transit centre will be increased to accommodate up to 10,000 people.

He added that those who choose to stay will be assisted until they are ready to return home.
A group of Venezuelan refugee women living at the Bello Oriente informal settlement in Medellin, Colombia, pictured in March 2021.  UNHCR/Catalina Betancur Sanchez

Geneva  UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) are launching today a US$1.79 billion regional plan to support the increasing needs of refugees and migrants from Venezuela and their host communities across 17 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean.

The number of refugees and migrants from Venezuela worldwide has now topped 6 million, with the vast majority hosted by countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. Most have been displaced for many years outside Venezuela.

Several host countries have established innovative protection and regularization mechanisms to help them access rights and services. However, as this situation prolongs over time, the vulnerabilities and risks that Venezuelans face, as well as the needs of their host communities, have dramatically increased.

Steadfast support from the international community remains crucial to address the most urgent needs of refugees and migrants, and to help host countries ensure their socio-economic integration, said Eduardo Stein, Joint Special Representative of UNHCR and IOM for Refugees and Migrants from Venezuela. Those who have left Venezuela are ready to contribute and give back to the communities that have welcomed them.

The COVID-19 pandemic has worsened the living conditions of the most vulnerable across the region, including refugees and migrants. Growing unemployment and poverty, constraints in accessing education and basic services, as well as serious protection risks arising from their lack of regular status have left many in despair and contributed to onward movements in search of better opportunities.

With land borders largely closed across the region in an effort to contain the spread of COVID-19, Venezuelans have resorted to using informal routes  often on foot  exposing themselves to grave dangers, such as extreme climate conditions, natural hazards, threats from human traffickers or exploitation and abuse by smugglers. In the meantime, outflows from Venezuela persist.

The 2022 Refugee and Migrant Response Plan (RMRP) is being launched today to respond to those urgent needs while supporting longer-term solutions that will allow Venezuelans to resume their lives.

The RMRP aims to further strengthen the national and regional responses, by supporting critical humanitarian services, including health, shelter, food, water, sanitation and hygiene interventions in host countries. In parallel, the RMRP focuses on longer-term integration for those having spent multiple years in host communities and promoting development support to host countries so as to ensure access to education, protection, regularization, the labour market as well as national health and social welfare programs.

Ongoing regularization efforts are a gesture of solidarity and will require a significant financial investment to succeed, said Stein. Greater commitment and more concerted efforts are needed to ensure no-one is left behind.

This years response plan brings together 192 partner organizations involved in the response, including United Nations agencies, international and national non-governmental organizations, civil society, and refugee-led, migrant-led and community-based organizations.

Notes to editors:

The RMRP is the result of a field-driven planning, bringing together 192 appealing organizations, in consultation with host governments, civil society and faith-based organizations, local communities, donors, as well as the refugees and migrants themselves. This year it also incorporates the response of some 23 refugee-led, migrant-led and community-based organizations with the aim to involve affected populations at each stage of the response. The RMRP is implemented in the framework of the Interagency Coordination Platform R4V in 17 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean including Argentina, Aruba, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Curacao, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guyana, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Trinidad Tobago and Uruguay.

To know more about the RMRP 2022, please visit: https://rmrp.r4v.info

Join the launch event at 15:00 CET here.

For photos, click here.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

In Panama,

In Geneva,
Orange the World: End violence against women now!

PESHAWAR: Speakers at an event on Thursday stressed the need for concerted and collective efforts to prevent and address the issues of gender-based violence.

Every year individuals, institutions and organizations across the world plan activities to highlight that violence against women is a breach of human rights, calling for the prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls.

This international campaign 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence runs from 25 November through 10 December. This years theme is Orange the world: End 4 Violence against women now!.

To mark the 16 Days of Activism, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, in collaboration with UN Women and UN Population Fund (UNFPA) organized an event. Head of UNHCRs Sub-Office in Peshawar, Mr. Gayrat Ahmadshoev,

Minister for Labour and Culture Shaukat Yousafzai, chairperson and members of Women Parliamentary Caucus, Social Welfare, Special Education & Women Empowerment Department, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Zulfiqar Ali Shah, Ombudsperson Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Ms. Rakshanda Naz, members of the civil society and other UN and government officials attended the event.

Speaking on the occasion, the provincial minister said that Pakistan has taken measures to prevent gender-based violence. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is the only province that has done a lot when it comes to making legislations and reforms to address this issue, he said.

Provincial Secretary Social Welfare Department, Zulfiqar Ali Shah said that Social Welfare is concerned with the wellbeing and uplift of the community at large and the vulnerable groups. our focus of programmes will be for the neglected, disadvantaged and exploited section of our society including women and children.

Gayrat Ahmadshoev said that UNHCR there is a dire need to mobilize communities around the world to end all forms of violence on the basis of gender. He said that out of the 1.4 million registered Afghan refugees in Pakistan, some 46 per cent are females adding UNHCR Pakistan is striving to support Afghan refugee females from economic dependence to self-reliance. Self-reliance gives women opportunity to contribute to family income and confidence to tackle gender-based violence, he said.

Through Livelihoods interventions in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Mr. Ahmadshoev said that UNHCR in collaboration with different partners and government institutes enhanced the skills of thousands of women and helped in established small businesses by provision of in-kind support.

UNFPA Representative Mahjabeen Qazi, quoting UNFPA Executive Director said that they will continue to mobilize decision-makers, communities and individuals and galvanize advocacy to respond to gender-based violence in all instances. We must unite to disrupt this devastating, destructive trend and ensure that everyone can exercise their absolute right to feel safe and thrive wherever they find themselves, she said.

UN Women representative in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ms. Zainab Qaiser said, women rights advocates have played a major role for reforms in pro women legislations, creating robust mechanisms for women and girls focused service delivery and formulation of policies targeting ending GBV. We will continue our support and efforts in order to achieve of CEDAW milestones.

As part of the UN comprehensive approach, there are several initiatives that the UN system is implementing in support of national priorities to end gender-based violence.

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(Photo : 11 Benefits Of Furnished Apartments For College Students)



(Photo : 11 Benefits Of Furnished Apartments For College Students)

As college students, you may have the desire to live off-campus or independently, away from your family. Although this seems like a fantastic idea at first, it can be hard to find an apartment in your price range or that has all of the amenities you are looking for.

Furnished apartments are one way for college students to get what they want without breaking their budget or sacrificing space.

Here are some reasons why furnished apartments are the perfect solution for college students living independently:

1. The Furnitures Are A Great Deal

For college students on a budget, purchasing furniture for an apartment could not be the wisest decision at the moment. If you rent unfurnished apartments, you may have to wait until after graduation before you can afford a large purchase like a couch or dining room table.

When you rent furnished apartments like the private rooms BYU Idaho, you can get the entire package of furniture and amenities at an affordable price. Some of the common furnishings included in this type of apartment are the following:

Bedroom Furniture

Living Room Furniture

Dining Sets

Coffee Tables

Lamps and Lighting Fixtures

A Computer Desk

With all of these items that come with your apartment, you won't have to spend extra money buying them yourself.

It's especially nice for students who are just beginning their college degree, as it allows them to use their money on food and other essentials instead of furniture.

2. Most Furnished Apartments Have Utilities Included

One of the frustrating aspects of living in an unfurnished apartment is not having utilities included in your rent. When you live off-campus, there is a good chance that you will face an additional electric, water, and gas bill at the end of each month.

In an unfurnished apartment, you may have to pay for utilities separately. It might end up amounting to more than you anticipated.

When you rent furnished apartments, utilities are included in your monthly rental. It might help provide relief for college students as it allows them to plan their budgets with less worry over utility bills.

3. The Amenities Are Handled For You

Furnished apartment complexes are known for having great amenities to offer. As a college student, you may be looking for an apartment that has a study area and wireless internet.

When you rent unfurnished apartments, these are all things that you have to provide for yourself. However, when you rent furnished apartments, you can have many of these things handed to you at a low price.

Some amenities that come with your furnished apartment include:

Wireless Internet Access

Washer and Dryer

Sparkling Pool and Jacuzzi

24 Hour Fitness Center

Study Areas

Community Centers

Computer Labs

With all of these amenities on hand, you will have a lot less to worry about while living in your apartment.

4. They're Usually Located In A Great Area

One of the benefits of living in a furnished apartment is that they are always located conveniently. Many college students have trouble finding off-campus housing that is near their classes or their work.

It's not an issue when you rent furnished apartments because most of them are located close to major highways and attractions. When you live in a furnished apartment, you can get out of bed and walk straight to class without having to go through the hassle of driving. Even if you have a car, it is nice to know that your apartment is close enough for you to walk or bike to if you want.

Most furnished apartments are located in business or retail districts as well. This means that you don't have to go far for a new outfit, groceries, or even a fast-food meal.

5. Management Is Handled For You

When you rent unfurnished apartments, you have to handle basic house management tasks yourself. These may include light housekeeping or taking care of a leaky faucet.

However, when you rent a furnished apartment, these tasks are usually handled by the property management team at your building. It allows you to save money on home maintenance costs, which is especially nice during your college years. Modern management also lets you pay rent online via the resident portal.

So, if you're looking for the perfect off-campus and low-maintenance housing for college students, then furnished apartments may be suitable for you. Having good apartment management provides some perks such as:

Daily or monthly maintenance service

24-hour emergency service

6. Peace Of Mind

One of the best benefits of renting furnished apartments is the sense of security and comfort it gives you.

Imagine coming home to a cold and empty apartment after a long day's work. There are no lights, no furniture, and no sense of warmth. Now picture coming home to a furnished apartment where everything is in its place, and you know that you can relax and take a load off your feet after a long day's work.

A furnished apartment can create a sense of peace for the renter. You will feel homey as soon as you enter the door.

7. Simplify Your Life

Another benefit of renting furnished apartments is that it simplifies your life. With all of the furnishings in place, you don't have to spend time shopping for what you need. If something breaks, you don't need to take a day off work and drive around looking for a repair shop because the management got your back.

All your needs are already accounted for in your furnished apartment so that you can focus your energy on school or work instead. You don't need to be constantly on your guard because everything you need is right in front of you. It's like you have another home away from home without the unnecessary hassles.

8. Less Clutter

You suddenly have much more space when you move out of college dorm rooms into an unfurnished apartment. Unfurnished apartments tend to attract clutter very easily, especially for college students who lack the motivation to organize and clean.

However, when renting furnished apartments, you can avoid having too many things crowding up your living space because they will already be in order when you move in.

It's nice when you can invite your friends to dinner at your place without worrying about cleaning the apartment. Renting furnished apartments gives you that luxury.

9. A More Relaxing Living Experience

Renting furnished apartments gives you the opportunity to enjoy an experience that is similar to living in a dorm room but without all of the rules and restrictions.

When you rent a fully furnished apartment, it allows your mind to relax and focus on more important things. You can focus your energy on being successful in life without worrying about things at home. Your space is already equipped with things you need, so you won't experience the stress of finding other necessities for your living space.

Having a furnished apartment can make life much less complicated during your college years. It makes it easy for you to accomplish your goals and maintain that work-life balance, which is why so many people consider them nowadays.

10. Payment Flexibility

Another benefit of furnished apartments is that they can be rented on a month-to-month basis. This gives students and professionals the ability to adjust their apartment rental costs whenever necessary without losing important ground in their monthly expenses.

Renting unfurnished apartments, which are also known as luxury apartments, usually requires a long-term contract agreement. This can be difficult for freshman college students who are just getting their feet wet in the professional world.

However, if you rent furnished apartments, you will probably have more flexible payment terms that match your budget and needs. You won't have to stress yourself about paying for unfurnished luxury apartment rentals, especially when you have so many other things going on in your life.

11. Quick Move-In

Another benefit of renting furnished apartments is that they are usually quick to move into.

Some moving companies even offer same-day or next-day move-in options for renters who need their rental units as soon as possible. This means you can skip out on the hassle of clearing your old place and getting all of your things moved into your new apartment.

All you have to do is move in and enjoy all of the amenities that come with your new furnished apartment.

Conclusion:

Renting a furnished apartment can give you a long list of benefits. It is a good choice for both college students and young professionals who need a place to live.

A furnished apartment can give you more freedom, independence, and control over your living space without the added hassle of trying to find essentials for your lifestyle. When all of these factors come together, it is easy to see why furnished apartments are the best option for college students on a budget.

If you are looking for a new place to live, you should consider furnished apartments. When you do, be sure to look for a professional real estate agent that will help you find the perfect apartment that meets your budget and needs.
Certain features of the Omicron variant, including its global spread and large number of mutations, suggest it could have a major impact on the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, said the chief of the World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday

GENEVA, Dec. 9 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 9th Dec, 2021 ) --:Certain features of the Omicron variant, including its global spread and large number of mutations, suggest it could have a major impact on the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, said the chief of the World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday.

With the Omicron variant now present in 57 countries, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned at a press briefing that it can spread more rapidly than previous variants.

"We are now starting to see a consistent picture of rapid increase in transmission (rates), although for now the exact rate of increase relative to other variants remains difficult to quantify," he said.

"Emerging data from South Africa suggest increased risk of re-infection with Omicron, but more data are needed to draw firmer conclusions," he added.
ABU DHABI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 09th Dec, 2021) Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA), the UAEs largest healthcare network, is hosting the 14th World Congress of World Association for Psychosocial Rehabilitation (WAPR) and 7th Abu Dhabi International Mental Health Conference (ADIMHC) from 9th to 11th December 2021 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, Abu Dhabi, UAE.

The three-day hybrid conference offers attendees the option to tune in either virtually or in person and will serve as a platform for compelling discussions around mental health.

The theme for this year is "Mental health, rights, equity, recovery and social inclusion in testing times" and will focus on the mental health implications of the pandemic.

The event will be one of the UAEs largest mental health conferences to be held this year with many expert physicians, nurses, social workers, psychologists, physical and occupational therapists from around the world expected to attend.

The high-profile programme is designed to be an international event designed to challenge, inspire, and encourage participants and facilitate discussions.

Globally acclaimed specialists will discuss latest advancements and perspectives on pressing trends in the mental health space.

Key sessions will include Artificial Intelligence in Mental Health Care, Suicide and Self-harm Prevention, Child and Adolescent Mental Health, Strategies and Support for Wellness of Mental Health Workers.

Speaking about the significance of the event, Dr. Nahida Nayaz Ahmed, consultant Psychiatrist and Chair of Behavioral Health Council at SEHA, said, "While we may be on our road to recovery, the toll the pandemic has had on mental health will unfortunately be lasting for years to come. At SEHA, we are committed to providing high quality care for our patients with mental illnesses and promoting awareness about this important topic.

The organising committee has put together a remarkable agenda focusing on latest developments and topical issues in mental health to drive real change. Through hosting this conference, we are also able to showcase the profound contributions that Abu Dhabi is making towards the rehabilitation of people living with mental illnesses."

Dr. Ghanem Ali Al Hassani, Chair of Local Scientific Committee and SEHA's Group education and Research Director, added, "This conference will be a crucial platform for gaining an in-depth understanding of what regions across the world are currently doing to empower patients with mental illnesses, to truly grasp innovative approaches towards implementing better mental health care, and to challenge the status quo to better patient outcomes. By continually updating our own understanding and knowledge of the current mental health landscape, it enables us to elevate mental health care services in the region."

In addition to serving as a knowledge-sharing hub for recent advances in psychosocial rehabilitation, recovery, human rights, and citizenship with service user involvement and debating over current perspectives on mental health, a prime focus area for the conference is to support budding professionals working in this space. The programme will allow ample opportunities for participants to network, collaborate and share ideas to enhance the quality and safety practices for mental care provided globally.

The conference is accredited by the European Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (EACCME) for 24 European CME Credits (ECMECs). All participants will be entitled to e-certificates following the end of the conference.
Washington, Dec 9 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 9th Dec, 2021 ) :President Joe Biden, who took office amid the biggest US political crisis in decades, hosts representatives of more than 100 countries for a democracy summit Thursday that is drawing fire from China and Russia.

The event, held by video link because of the coronavirus pandemic, is billed by the White House as US leadership in an existential struggle between democracies and powerful autocracies or dictatorships.

"Make no mistake, we're at a moment of democratic reckoning," said Uzra Zeya, the Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights.

"It's no secret that democracies around the world are facing increasing challenges from new and novel threats. Countries in virtually every region of the world have experienced degrees of democratic backsliding." The summit, running Thursday and Friday, will feature opening remarks from Biden at the White House and is set to gather representatives from some 100 governments, as well as NGOs, private businesses, philanthropical organizations and legislatures.

But the fact that Biden continues to face a shocking challenge to US democratic norms from Donald Trump and his attempt to overturn the 2020 election provides a troubling backdrop for the summit.

And even before summit attendees could meet, tensions erupted simply over who should be on -- and off -- the list.

China and Russia, which Biden sees as champions of the autocracies camp, were pointedly left out, something they say is stoking an ideological "rift." "No country has the right to judge the world's vast and varied political landscape by a single yardstick," wrote ambassadors Anatoly Antonov of Russia and Qin Gang of China in a joint essay last month.

Further prickling Chinese sensibilities, the Biden administration has invited Taiwan -- the democratically ruled island that mainland China considers part of its territory, albeit not yet under its control.

On Monday, the Biden administration also announced it would not send US government officials to the Beijing Winter Olympics in February in protest at human rights abuses, including "genocide" against the Uyghur ethnic group in Xinjiang.

Australia, Britain and Canada have joined the diplomatic boycott, although the countries' athletes will still compete. Again, Russia joined China in criticizing the decision.

Deciding when other countries should be excluded from the summit for human rights abuses or vote rigging hasn't been any less fraught.

For example, Pakistan and the Philippines are in, while EU member Hungary's nationalist government is out. Brazil's right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro is invited, while the leader of NATO member Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has been shunned.

- Democracy problem at home - The most awkward element to the summit, however, is the fact that Biden is struggling to restore faith in democracy at home, let alone on the other side of the world.

Trump refuses to recognize the results of the 2020 election, in which Biden defeated him.

With the help of sympathetic media outlets, including the powerful Fox news, the former Republican president continues to spread lies about fraud to his tens of millions of supporters.

And with shockwaves from the January 6 storming of Congress by Trump supporters still reverberating, there are growing fears over the 2022 legislative elections and the 2024 presidential vote in which Trump may seek a comeback.

Bruce Jentleson, who teaches political science at Duke University, said the summit was "never a good idea.""Our problems here are much worse than in any other Western democracy. We had our Capitol building attacked, an attempted coup. We haven't seen that happen in Paris, or at the Bundestag, or at the EU headquarters in Brussels," he said.

"If we want to compete, we've got to do our best and that is really more up to us within the country than somehow getting 100 leaders together and saying, 'We like democracy.'"
London, Dec 8 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 9th Dec, 2021 ) :Mark Cavendish said his family were "extremely distressed" after a group of armed burglars assaulted the record holder for Tour de France stage wins and threatened his wife in a raid while his children were in the house.

Four intruders entered Cavendish's home in Essex, south-east England, in what police described as a "targeted incident" in the early hours of November 27, as he was recovering from significant injuries from a crash at a track event in Belgium.

Police said the group assaulted Cavendish, 36, and threatened his wife Peta in the presence of their young children.

None of the family sustained serious injuries and the burglars left, stealing a designer suitcase and two high-value watches.

"As I'm sure you will understand, this incident has left our family extremely distressed - not just myself and Peta but our children as well, who feared for their lives and are now struggling with the after-effects," Cavendish said in a statement as police revealed CCTV footage of the theft on Wednesday.

"No one should have to experience the sort of violence and threats made against us, let alone this happening in a family home - a place where everyone should feel safe.

"The items taken are simply material goods and our priority at the moment is to make sure we all recover from the incident as a family, and we know this is likely to take some time." No arrests have yet been made.

"This was undoubtedly a targeted incident at the home of a celebrated British Olympian, who at the time was recovering from significant injuries resulting from a crash whilst competing, which was well publicised," said Detective Inspector Tony Atkin, the senior investigating officer on the case.

"Mr Cavendish and his wife were assaulted and threatened in their own home, in the presence of their young children, who witnessed these events.

"Thankfully, they are recovering, but the traumatic effect will be long standing."Cavendish won four stages of the 2021 Tour de France to equal Belgian legend Eddy Merckx's record of 34 stage wins.

He suffered two broken ribs and a collapsed lung in a crash at a track event in Ghent less than a week before the burglary.
Copenhagen, Dec 9 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 9th Dec, 2021 ) :A parliamentary commission is to grill Denmark's prime minister Thursday over her government's illegal decision last year to cull all farmed minks nationwide over fears of a new coronavirus strain.

Formerly the world's leading exporter of mink fur, the Scandinavian country in November last year controversially decided to kill all of its 15-17 million minks after studies suggested the variant found in some of the animals could jeopardise the effectiveness of future vaccines.

The commission will be seeking to determine whether Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen was aware that the order had no legal basis -- a fact that emerged soon after the cull was underway and led the country's agriculture minister to resign.

At the time, the government only had the authority to ask mink farmers in the seven municipalities affected by the mutation to cull their minks.

But an agreement was reached retroactively, rendering the government's decision legal, and the nationwide cull went ahead as planned.

Prior to the cull, Denmark was also the world's second largest producer of mink fur after China.

A specially appointed parliamentary commission has since April been scrutinising the government's decision and all documents related to it, as well as questioning witnesses to dissect the decision-making process.

Ultimately, the commission will decide whether or not to recommend that the matter be brought before a special court that judges the actions of cabinet members while in office.

Frederiksen has maintained that she did not know her decision was unlawful, and insisted that it was "based on a very serious risk assessment".

"So far, during the hearings, we have not seen any evidence that the prime minister was aware of the illegality," Frederik Waage, a law professor at the University of Southern Denmark, told AFP.

"As someone who was personally very involved in the handling of the case... it is obviously important to hear her own version of events," Waage stressed.

In October, controversy around the decision was reignited when it was revealed that Frederiksen's text messages from the time had disappeared.

Her office said they had been automatically deleted after 30 days for security reasons.

But many politicians greeted the claim with scepticism. Only two of the 51 ministers and ex-ministers interviewed by public broadcaster DR said they had the same setting installed on their phones while in office.

The commission called on police and intelligence services to help, but they were unable to recover the text messages.

Media and lawmakers have repeatedly questioned Frederiksen on the issue.

According to political commentator Hans Engell, her at times annoyed responses have become a problem of their own, as the opposition has managed to capitalise on the subject and keep it in the headlines.

"It is clear that the government and Mette Frederiksen are very irritated," he wrote in the daily Berlingske.

Unlike the Delta or Omicron variants, the mink mutation has disappeared.

A few weeks after the cull in the North Jutland region in northwestern Denmark, where many mink farms were concentrated, the mutation was declared extinct.

The Danish parliament later passed an emergency law which banned the breeding of the mammals in 2021, which was then extended to 2022, devastating the industry.

Mink is the only animal so far confirmed to be capable of both contracting Covid-19 and recontaminating humans, which is why it has been under special surveillance during the pandemic.

The commission is due to report its findings in April 2022.
(@FahadShabbir)

Washington, Dec 9 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 9th Dec, 2021 ) :Donald Trump's former chief of staff filed suit Wednesday against the congressional committee pursuing him for criminal contempt over his refusal to testify in their probe of the deadly US Capitol assault.

Mark Meadows specifically Names Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic leader of the House of Representatives who launched the investigation alongside all nine members of the panel preparing a report on the January 6 insurrection by thousands of Trump's supporters.

The lawsuit, filed a day after the panel told Meadows it was taking action over his defiance of a subpoena to appear for a deposition on Wednesday, challenges the legality of the "unduly burdensome" summons and asks the Washington district court to strike it down.

Meadows, who initially failed to appear before the congressional panel last month, is seen as a key witness to Trump's role in efforts to overturn the election by subverting the democratic process.

He initially snubbed a subpoena to testify before the committee but later reached an agreement on appearing in person -- before reversing course again.

Reacting to his latest about-face, the panel wrote to Meadows late Tuesday saying it had have "no choice" but to advance criminal contempt proceedings against him.

The letter, released by the committee on Wednesday, added to the public record information from a trove of thousands of items of correspondence and other documents Meadows had already voluntarily turned over.

They included a November 6, 2020, text exchange with a member of Congress in which Meadows reportedly said "I love it" in a discussion about a plan to disenfranchise millions of voters in a bid to overturn Joe Biden's presidential election win.
The Hague, Dec 8 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 8th Dec, 2021 ) :The Rothschild family signed a letter of intent on Wednesday to sell the Dutch government a Rembrandt self-portrait for 150 million Euros ($170 million), the culture ministry said.

The Dutch master's "The Standard-Bearer" will be "in Dutch hands for the first time" if parliament backs the initiative, culture ministry spokesman Michiel Hendrikx told AFP, adding that he is confident of the support of MPs.

"It's a unique opportunity" to acquire a last Rembrandt of such calibre, he added, expressing satisfaction that the Netherlands had "managed to seize it".

Paris had said Tuesday that it would allow a sale on the open market even though the work, which is valued at 165 million euros, is classed as a "national treasure" in France.

If the Dutch parliament approves the 150 million euros of public cash, the Rembrandt Association would add 15 million euros to the pot and the Rijksmuseum fund 10 million.

"'The Standard-Bearer' is one of Rembrandt's absolute masterpieces and inextricably tied to the history of the Netherlands," the culture ministry in The Hague said in a statement.

The work "was in private hands for centuries, including the king of England and since 1844 the Rothschild family," it added.

Rembrandt was 30 when he painted the work in 1636.

"'The Standard-Bearer' is coming home for good after a journey of several centuries," Netherlands culture minister Ingrid van Engelshoven said in the statement.

Taco Dibbits, director of Amsterdam's Rijksmuseum, which hosts 22 of Rembrandt's roughly 340 paintings, said that "we have been dreaming for generations of bringing 'The Standard-Bearer' to our country.""The quality and the fact that this painting marks Rembrandt's breakthrough as an artist make it an unmatched work from the master," he added.
London, Dec 9 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 9th Dec, 2021 ) :Britain's ruling Conservatives was on Thursday fined nearly 18,000 ($24,000, 21,000 Euros) for failing to properly disclose a donation used to redecorate Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Downing Street flat.

The latest development in a scandal dubbed "wallpaper-gate" comes with Johnson embroiled in a series of other high-profile controversies, including claims of lockdown-breaching parties in Downing Street last Christmas.

The Electoral Commission, which regulates political finance, found that the Tories failed to "accurately report the full value" of a 67,801.

72 donation which covered a portion of a lavish Downing Street refurbishment.

"The investigation found that decisions relating to the handling and recording of these transactions reflected serious failings in the party's compliance systems," it said in a statement, announcing two fines totalling 17,800.

"The payment was incorrectly described in internal records and the full value of the donation was not correctly identified and reported," the commission added.
ISLAMABAD, Dec 9 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 9th Dec, 2021 ) :Pakistan on Thursday strongly condemned the extra-judicial killing of another three Kashmiris by Indian occupation forces in Shopian, in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) the earlier day.

The Indian occupation forces have martyred at least 40 Kashmiris in fake encounters and so-called "cordon and search operations" since 1 October 2021.

The Foreign Office in a statement said the military crackdown and the extra-judicial killings in fake encounters and staged operations in IIOJK reflected the extremist anti-Muslim designs of the "Hindutva" inspired extremist BJP-RSS combine in India.

"Persisting with their callous behavior and violations of human rights and international humanitarian law, the Indian occupation forces are also refusing to hand over the mortal remains of the martyred Kashmiris to their families," it said.

The FO termed it "reprehensible" that BJP authorities in IIOJK had denied Kashmiri Muslims their basic religious rights to offer Friday prayers at the historic Jamia Masjid Srinagar for the last several weeks.

It said that Pakistan called upon the international community to take immediate notice of India's state-terrorism in IIOJK.

"India's ongoing, systematic and widespread human rights violations in IIOJK warrant investigation by a UN Commission of Inquiry, as recommended by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in its reports of 2018 and 2019," it said.
Denmark's security service PET said Thursday it had arrested four intelligence employees suspected of leaking confidential documents

Copenhagen, Dec 9 (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 9th Dec, 2021 ) :Denmark's security service PET said Thursday it had arrested four intelligence employees suspected of leaking confidential documents.

The four, whose identities were not disclosed, are current and former employees of the security service PET and the military intelligence service FA, PET said in a statement.

PET has not disclosed to whom the information was given, nor the nature of the documents.

The four risk up to 12 years in prison if convicted of espionage.

They "are accused, among other things, of violating Section 109(1) of the penal code by divulging, without authorisation, highly confidential information from the intelligence services," PET said.

The arrests were made on Wednesday, in collaboration with the police. Raids were also conducted at various undisclosed addresses.

The investigation is still ongoing, PET said, refusing to disclose any further information.
MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 09th December, 2021) The Council of the European Union on Thursday officially adopted regulation establishing the bloc's asylum agency that will build upon the existing European asylum support office (EASO).

"The Council today adopted the regulation establishing the EU asylum agency. This regulation aims to improve the application of asylum policy within the EU, by turning the current European asylum support office (EASO) into a fully-fledged agency," the statement said.

The move aims to improve the functioning of the common European asylum system by strengthening the EASO mandate. As such, the new agency will have the right to deploy experts and technical means to member states that have requested operational support, according to the Council.

The regulation was previously adopted by the European Parliament on November 11.

The European Commission first proposed the EU asylum agency regulations in 2016, its adoption this fall was expedited by the migration crisis on the border with Belarus.

Since summer, Poland, Lithuania and Latvia have reported an influx of migrants crossing over from Belarus. The tensions escalated in November, when several thousand migrants camped on the Polish-Belarusian border in the hope of forcing their way into the EU. The Polish were forced to bolster border security and deploy the military to thwart attempts by illegal migrants to enter the country, resulting in violent clashes. 
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

A man ended a 39-day-long hunger strike outside the Swiss parliament on Thursday, declaring "Victory!" after the MPs agreed to be briefed by scientists on the latest climate change research

Geneva, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 9th Dec, 2021 ) :A man ended a 39-day-long hunger strike outside the Swiss parliament on Thursday, declaring "Victory!" after the MPs agreed to be briefed by scientists on the latest climate change research.

Guillermo Fernandez, who says he has lost 20 kilos since launching his hunger strike on November 1 to push for Swiss MPs to take climate change seriously, ended his fast by gingerly eating a banana outside the parliament building.

"Victory!!!!" he announced on Twitter under the hashtag: "PapaNoLongerOnHungerStrike!!".

"Finally the parliament will be confronted with the truth!" His announcement came after the president of the lower house of parliament Irene Kalin, of the Green Party, announced that scientists had been invited to brief MPs on May 2, 2022 about the latest research from the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change (IPCC).

When he launched his hunger strike 39 days ago, Fernandez declared that he was terrified for his three children's future after seeing the IPCC's bombshell "code red" report last August warning the Earth is on a pathway towards catastrophic warming.

Last month, Fernandez declared on Twitter that he was on "hunger strike for my children's climate. I ardently desire to live, but I am willing to die if it can protect them." Since then, he has been sitting bundled up in the cold outside the Swiss parliament building in Bern refusing to eat.

Dozens of scientists had come out in support of his strike.

But some parliamentarians interviewed by the Tribune de Geneve daily voiced unease on Thursday at his methods, and insisted they were already well-informed about the climate crisis.

"I wouldn't use the term blackmail, but it is similar," Vincent Maitre of the Centre Party said.

"Here, were are debating the climate challenges, but the democratic process takes time. It is not as easy as flipping a switch," said Pierre-Andre Page of the populist rightwing Swiss People's Party, Switzerland's largest party.

Adele Thorens of the Greens however insisted that if Fernandez had seen his demands met, "it was because those demands were reasonable," she told the paper.
MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 09th December, 2021) Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis said on Thursday that he is ready to resign over the scandal with the ongoing transit of Belaruskali fertilizers via the Baltic country.

"Last night I told the prime minister that I was ready to resign and waiting for the decision ... I understand that there is reputational damage to Lithuania," Landsbergis told reporters, as quoted by the LRT broadcaster.
ATHENS (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 09th December, 2021) Russia is ready to supply Turkey, an "old friend of Greece", with the second batch of S-400 air defense systems, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in an interview with the Greek tv channel ANT1.

"You know, your old friend Turkey, although it is a NATO member, has very developed relations, for example, militarily and technically with our country. We are planning bilateral projects with them, because they are so sovereign that they make decisions despite their NATO membership," Peskov said.

"We have specific agreements with our Turkish partners, and we hope so. Yes," the spokesman answered when asked whether Russia would supply the second batch of the air defense systems.
(UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 09th December, 2021) The US authorities issued a statement that they have charged Michigan resident Tim Boughner with assaulting law enforcement with a dangerous weapon during the events at the US Capitol on January 6.

"Video footage depicts Tim Levon Boughner among a crowd of rioters at the Capitol," the statement said. "At approximately 2:33 p.m., he used a chemical spray against the officers. Around this time, people in the crowd were throwing objects and deploying multiple chemical sprays against law enforcement officers who were attempting to secure the building. One minute later, Boughner again used the chemical spray against the officers."

Boughner then went on social media to discuss what he did, saying he "started spraying" at the Capitol Police officers.

In another post on February 17 he said: "I have to share. My life has not been the same since this day ... I still don't know how I ended up on the Capitol steps having a pepper spray fight with the Capitol Police."

Boughner was arrested on December 7 in Michigan and made his initial court appearance on Wednesday in the Eastern District of Michigan. He remains in detention pending a December 9 hearing.

The US authorities have arrested more than 700 men and women in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the US Capitol on January 6.
Caritas Senegal is constantly called upon to respond to emergencies in the Sahel region. The emergencies range from drought to migrants, the prevention of infectious diseases in mainly Muslim communities.

Stanislas Kambashi, SJ - Vatican City

From ecological issues, migration, health and ecumenism -Caritas Senegal is the face of the Catholic Church in its social ministry. In an interview with Vatican News, Father Alphonse Seck, Secretary-General of Caritas Senegal and Vice President of Caritas Africa, spoke about the work of Caritas in his country.

Drought, access to water and agriculture

Senegal is a Sahelian country, often confronted with drought. A significant area of Caritas Senegals intervention is responding to food insecurity.

Another problem in the Sahel zone is access to water. Since the 1970s, a year of great drought, Caritas Senegal has been very active in the area of access to drinking water and access to water for agriculture.

We are in the process of setting up a water service public observatory, which is due to start in January 2022. Through this, we hope to advocate for access to drinking water for all, especially rural populations. This will also allow these populations to improve their harvests. Caritas Senegal, as you know, also works in the agricultural sector, in the supervision of groups and associations of farmers, to enable them exploit the land responsibly. At the same time, we try to ensure adequate living conditions for those whose lives depend on farming, said Father Alphonse Seck.

Migration, climate change and health

Migration is also another area of action for Caritas Senegal. The country is an intersection and a central hub of departures, transit and reception of migrants. This explains why the Senegalese Bishops recently published a Pastoral Letter on this issue, said Father Seck.

In addition, to all these interventions, there is the organisations engagement with climate change. Caritas Senegal encourages populations to return to old and tried methods that respect nature, especially in the field of agriculture.

Like other countries in Africa, Senegal has had challenges with rapid urbanisation. This has led to an increase in levels and types of waste.

Caritas works with the population and communities in the management of waste, particularly household waste," said the Caritas Senegal Director.

Strategies to prevent Covid-19, Ebola

Another area of operation is disease prevention and protection against infectious diseases. Since the deadly 2014 - 2016 Ebola outbreak in West Africa, particularly in Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia, Caritas Senegal has run a successful prevention programme. The prevention programme now has more than 107 schools on its cards.

Suffice it to say that the Covid-19 pandemic has been added to the Caritas Senegal's portfolio as a new area concern requiring action.

Mostly non-Christian beneficiaries

Senegal is a country that is 95% Muslim. For Father Alphonse Seck, the interventions of Caritas in the country are essential because they are a way for the Church to provide strong and credible witness. The majority of the beneficiaries of the Churchs (social) interventions are non-Christians. What is essential is to respond not to the religion to which one belongs, but to the human person in a vulnerable situation. The areas where Caritas' water programmes have been carried out, for example, are almost entirely Muslim.

It is gratifying that Caritas Senegals work is well received, and that the beneficiaries appreciate the services rendered, said Father Seck.
Memorial in front of the former Kamloops Indian Residential School in Canada, where remains of more than 200 children were discovered earlier this year (Dennis Owen)

The indigenous delegation due to Visit the Vatican and meet with the Pope from 17-20 December is postponed due to Covid-19

By Vatican News staff writer

The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops has announced that due to the worsening Covid-19 crisis, a First Nations delegation set to visit the Vatican next week has postponed its trip.

The delegation of indigenous people was due to travel to the Vatican between 17-20 December to meet with Pope Francis and to discuss the tragedies that took place in the country's Church-run residential schools.

What happened?

The residential schools were government-sponsored schools, many of them run by Christian organizations, that were established to assimilate Indigenous children into Euro-Canadian culture. They operated from the 1880s into the closing decades of the 20th century and aimed to educate and convert Indigenous youth and to assimilate them into mainstream Canadian society. The system forcibly separated children from their families for extended periods of time and forbade them to acknowledge their Indigenous heritage and culture or to speak their own languages. Former students tell of extensive and systemic abuse within the system.

Reason for rescheduling

In a statement published on their website, the bishops write that "after careful assessment of the uncertainty and potential health risks surrounding international travel amid the recent spread of the Omicron variant, the Canadian Bishops, Assembly of First Nations, Metis National Council, and Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami have jointly decided to reschedule a delegation to the Vatican in December 2021 to the earliest opportunity in 2022".

The bishops explain that the decision was "a heartbreaking one" but that it was made after "careful consultation with delegates, family members, community leaders, public health officials and the leadership of each of the three National Indigenous Organizations". They explained that special consideration was given to the situation of elderly delegates as well as those who live in remote communities, for whom " the risk of infection and the fluid nature of the evolving global situation presents too great a threat at this time".

The statement goes on to read that the bishops take "comfort in the desire, conveyed to us by the Holy See, that the safety of the delegation should inform any decision to move forward".

Postponed and not cancelled

They emphasized that the delegation's meeting with the Pope in Rome has been "postponed and not cancelled".

As more information becomes available on the current Omicron variant, the bishops stress that they will continue to assess the feasibility of future travel plans, based on guidance from the Canadian government and relevant international authorities.

Concluding their statement, the bishops express that their "shared commitment to walking together towards healing and reconciliation remains strong". Finally, they say, "we understand that the Holy See is very much committed to rescheduling this visit in the new year and we look forward to the opportunity for Indigenous Elders, knowledge keepers, residential school survivors, and youth to participate in private meetings with Pope Francis".
As Chinas military prowess grows, the communist regime also seeks to expand its presence internationally via overseas military bases. Africa is a critical piece of Beijings plan to develop a global military network. Recent reports suggest that the Chinese regime is particularly interested in building a base on the continents Atlantic coast.

According to a WSJ report reviewing classified American intelligence reports, China wants to set up a military base in the Central African nation of Equatorial Guinea. Located on the west coast of Africa, Equatorial Guinea is a small nation with an area of 11,000 square miles and a population of under 1.5 million.

If China can pull off the arrangement, it would allow Chinese warships to refit and rearm opposite to the American East Coast, which is a significant threat to the United States.

In October, Jon Finer, the U.S. National Security Advisor, visited Equatorial Guinea. He went to persuade the countrys president and vice president, who is the presidents son, to dismiss communist Chinas proposal of a military base.

As part of our diplomacy to address maritime-security issues, we have made clear to Equatorial Guinea that certain potential steps involving [Chinese] activity there would raise national-security concerns, a senior Biden official stated.

After Finers visit, the Equatorial Guinea vice president soon announced that the White House named him the No. 1 interlocutor in relations between our two countries. He also tweeted a thank you video with a gift he received from Finers delegation.

A few days later, Equatorial Guineas president spoke with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Beijings follow-up statement insisted that Equatorial Guinea has always regarded China as its most important strategic partner.

The Equatorial Guinean police are trained and armed by Beijing. China specifically has its eye on the city of Bata which already hosts a Chinese-built deep-water commercial port on the Gulf of Guinea.

Bata has good highway connectivity with the interior regions of Central Africa and the city of Gabon. The Bata port was upgraded by Chinese state-owned enterprise China Road & Bridge Co. between 2009 and 2014. At present, there are no major construction activities at Bata.

In May, U.S. General Stephen Townsend had warned about Chinas naval ambitions in the African West Coast. Beijing had approached several countries like Namibia and Mauritania to establish a naval facility.

Theyre looking for a place where they can rearm and repair warships That becomes militarily useful in conflict. Theyre a long way toward establishing that in Djibouti Now they are casting their gaze to the Atlantic coast and wanting to get such a base there, Townsend said.

He warned that China is outmaneuvering the United States in select African nations. By investing in Africas infrastructure and other projects, the communist regime will gain greater access in the future, the general said.

China already has a naval base in Africa in the nation of Djibouti. Beijing has posted around 2,000 military personnel at the base, which includes hundreds of marines. The base is equipped with armored combat vehicles, arms, and munitions.

Beijing also wants to establish a military base in the Pacific, targeting a small 3.6-mile island called Canton that belongs to the Republic of Kiribati. In May, the island nations parliament disclosed that the CCP had explored a plan to transform the abandoned airstrip and bridge at Canton into a base as well as restore what was once an American military base. If the airstrip is repaired and upgraded, it would meet the requirements of large transport aircraft and combat aircraft.
New Zealand has vowed to make the country tobacco-free by implementing a new regulation that forbids people born after 2008 from ever obtaining cigarettes legally.

The law still needs to pass several legislative rounds but since the ruling Labor Party holds a single-party majority in parliament the new law will probably take effect by next year.

The New Zealand Ministry of Health estimates that smoking generates around 4,500 to 5,000 casualties per year or 15 percent of all deaths in New Zealand.

New Zealand strategy plan

Smoking is still the leading cause of preventable death in New Zealand and causes 1 in 4 cancers, Dr. Ayesha Verrall, New Zealands Food Safety Minister and sponsor of the law argued adding that, Smoking-related harm is particularly prevalent in our Maori, Pacific, and low-income communities, the Washington Examiner reported.

Per The @guardian, the legal smoking age will increase every year to do this, said health minister Dr. Ayesha Verrall. | By @gitanjalipoonia https://t.co/YLv3hr1hXO  Deseret News (@DeseretNews) December 9, 2021

You meet, every day, someone facing the misery caused by tobacco, Verrall told The Associated Press (AP). The most horrible ways people die. Being short of breath, caused by tobacco.

But not for long according to Varrell, who explained that the age barrier will be raised each year by one year, theoretically eradicating tobacco from New Zealand eighty years from now.

We want to make sure young people never start smoking so we will make it an offense to sell or supply smoked tobacco products to new cohorts of youth. People aged 14 when the law comes into effect will never be able to legally purchase tobacco, Verrall told Deseret News. But first, the goal is to reduce the number of smokers to 5 percent of New Zealands population by 2025.

Mixed feelings

The proposed bill was met with applause and booing alike. It will help people quit or switch to less harmful products, and make it much less likely that young people get addicted to nicotine, said Prof Janet Hook from the University of Otago.

I reckon its a good move, really, one man told Reuters news agency. Because right now theres a lot of young kids walking around with smokes in their mouth. Public is asking how theyre getting these smokes, the man said. And its also good for myself too because I can save more money.

The number of retailers licensed to sell tobacco and associated wares will also be drastically downsized to under 500 from the current number of roughly 8,000, administrators say. Furthermore, those cigarettes that remain available will have extremely low nicotine dosages.

READ MORE: Green-Orange-Red: New Zealand PM Advocates Discrimination Based on Vaccination Status

We all want a smoke-free New Zealand, but this is going to hugely impact small businesses, said Sunny Kaushal, chairman of the Dairy and Business Owners Group, a lobby group for local convenience stores. It should not be done so it is destroying dairies, lives, and families in the process. Its not the way. Kaushal said, according to the Associated Press, adding that he thought that, this is being driven by academics.

This is all 100% theory and 0% substance, Kaushal told New Zealands Stuff news site. Pointing out that a prohibition will lead to the erection of mafia-style businesses. Theres going to be a crime wave. Gangs and criminals will fill the gap, the BBC reported.

Indeed, New Zealand officials acknowledged that customs will need more resources to enforce border control.

Minister Dr. Ayesha Verrall speaks during a media opportunity at Mainfreight on October 14, 2021, in Wellington, New Zealand. Verrall has vowed to ban the sale of tobacco to the next generation in an attempt to phase out smoking eventually. (Image: HAGEN HOPKINS/Getty Images)

Minister Dr. Ayesha Verrall speaks during a media opportunity at Mainfreight on October 14, 2021, in Wellington, New Zealand. Verrall has vowed to ban the sale of tobacco to the next generation in an attempt to phase out smoking eventually. (Image: HAGEN HOPKINS/Getty Images)

We dont think tax increases will have any further impact, Dr. Verrall explained. Its really hard to quit, and we feel if we did that, wed be punishing those people who are addicted to cigarettes even more.

The minister is probably referring to Maori communities where smoking is still a way of life for almost a third of the adult population.

Although vaping as an alternative to cigarettes is not entirely harmless, the government still considers it less lethal, and vaping might provide a gateway to quitting smoking. Vaping is therefore still legal albeit only accessible for people aged 18 and up.
With the Taliban's swift takeover in Afghanistan, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari this week warned that the "war on terror" is not over but is shifting to Africa. Writing in the Financial Times newspaper, Buhari said Africa needs more than U.S. military assistance to defeat terrorism  it needs investment.



The Nigerian president warned in his opinion piece that the U.S. departure from Afghanistan did not mean the so-called war on terror was winding down. He said said the threat is merely shifting to a new frontline - in Africa.



He cited the rising threat of terrorist groups in Africa, from Boko Haram in Nigeria and the Sahel region to al-Shabab in Somalia and a rising insurgency in Mozambique.



But Buhari lamented that Western allies, bruised by their Middle East and Afghan experiences, were not prioritizing Africa.



The president's spokespeople could not be immediately reached for comment.



But expert Kabiru Adamu of Beacon Security agrees with the president's opinion.



"It is very likely that the developments in Afghanistan could definitely spur terrorist groups within Africa. It will embolden them, it will make them look at the bigger picture, which is the fact that resilience and a continuation of their efforts could lead to victory," Adamu said.



But while Buhari praised U.S. airstrikes in July against al-Shabab in Somalia, he emphasized that U.S. military forces on the ground in Africa is not what is needed.

He said what Africa needs most is U.S. investment in infrastructure to help provide jobs and economic opportunities for the rapidly growing population.



The Nigerian president said that Africas population has nearly doubled since 2001, the start of the U.S.-led war on terror.

And he conceded that Nigerias own home-grown terror group, Boko Haram, was first agitated by lack of opportunities.



Buhari also noted the recent attacks in Mozambiques Cabo Delgado region are centered around a profitable natural gas project that provided few jobs for locals.



But founder of the Global Sentinel security magazine, Senator Iroegbu, says that Africas terrorist groups are not driven by economics alone.



"You know, there's a subtle competition among these jihadist groups to outdo each other. Since Taliban has recorded this success, other like the al-Qaida, ISIS, may try to also show their own hands," Iroegbu said.



In his opinion piece, Buhari wrote if Afghanistan taught us a lesson, it was that although sheer force can blunt terror, removal of that force can cause the threat to return.



Nigeria has been fighting Boko Haram since 2009, with the conflict spilling into neighboring Cameroon, Chad, and Niger.

More than 30,000 people are estimated to have been killed and millions displaced in the conflict.



African nations have been working together more to fight insurgents, from the G-5 Sahel to the Southern African Development Communitys troops sent, for the first time in July, to Mozambique.



But ultimately, wrote Buhari, Africans need not swords but plowshares to defeat terror.



The boots they need on the ground, he said, are those of constructors, not the military.
U.S. President Joe Biden acknowledged his own countrys vulnerabilities as he hosted a virtual Summit for Democracy that brings together world leaders, civil society and the private sector to "set forth an affirmative agenda for democratic renewal and to tackle the greatest threats faced by democracies today through collective action."

"In the face of sustained and alarming challenges to democracy, universal human rights and all around the world, democracy needs champions, Biden said Thursday during his opening remarks at the start of the two-day event. And I wanted to host this summit because here in the United States, we know as well as anyone that renewing our democracy and strengthening our democratic institutions requires constant effort."

For the first time, the U.S. was labeled a "backsliding democracy" in a 2021 report released in November by the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, mainly because of a challenge to the 2020 elections results, which culminated in the storming of the U.S. Capitol building on January 6 by supporters of former president Donald Trump.

Biden did not mention the former president nor the insurrection attempt but said that American democracy is an ongoing struggle "to live up to our highest ideals and to heal our divisions and recommit ourselves to the founding idea of our nation captured in our Declaration of Independence."

The Biden team is approaching the summit with a "lot of humility," recognizing that the U.S. has its own problems they need to work on, said Steven Feldstein, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. "I think that's a really important tone they are setting."

Initiative for Democratic Renewal

Biden announced the establishment of the Presidential Initiative for Democratic Renewal, a series of foreign assistance initiatives of up to $424.4 million in the coming year, subject to Congressional approval.

The initiatives include funds to support independent media; back anti-corruption efforts; empower reformers, labor unions and marginalized groups; advance technology that supports democracy; and defend free and fair elections.

Leaders are encouraged to announce pledges in line with the summit's pillars of strengthening democracy, defending against authoritarianism, addressing corruption and promoting human rights, but the pledges will not be legally binding. The summit is not expected to result in a communique or any kind of joint declaration.

"We see the summit as really a launch of the work that's to come, and so we didn't want to get ahead of ourselves," said a senior administration official in a briefing to reporters.

Still, human rights observers applaud the fact that the summit is being held.

"Labor rights is one area where the administration has begun to translate its strong domestic position in support of worker organizing to increased support for labor rights around the world," said Marti Flacks, director and senior fellow of the Human Rights Initiative at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

The summit is part of Biden's campaign pledge to strengthen democracy around the world at a time when autocratic governments are on the rise  a point the president made in his speech.

"They seek to advance their own power, export and expand their influence around the world and justify the repressive policies and practices as a more efficient way to address today's challenges," Biden said.

Notably, 2020 marks the 15th consecutive year of global freedom and retreat, according to a recent report by the policy research group Freedom House.

"As a lethal pandemic, economic and physical insecurity, and violent conflict ravaged the world in 2020, democracys defenders sustained heavy new losses in their struggle against authoritarian foes, shifting the international balance in favor of tyranny," the report said.

Christopher Walker, vice president for studies and analysis at the National Endowment for Democracy, said now is the time to bolster global democratic renewal. "Its more important than ever under tougher conditions to fortify and defend democracy when its under such clear duress."

Not everyone invited came

More than 100 countries are attending the summit, including liberal democracies, weaker democracies and even several states with authoritarian characteristics.

On Wednesday, a day before the summit, a senior Pakistani official, who declined to speak on the record, confirmed to VOA that Islamabad will not be attending. The official said Pakistan "firmly" supports a "One-China Policy" and Taiwans participation at the democracy summit is not in line with Islamabads long-standing stance.

Islamabads decision to back out is unsurprising and is motivated by its own political calculations, said Michael Kugelman, senior associate for South Asia at the Wilson Center. With the backdrop of an economic crisis and other domestic woes, the decision to snub the event would play well in a county with high anti-American sentiments.

"There's unhappiness in Islamabad that Biden has not been willing to have a phone call with Prime Minister (Imran) Khan," Kugelman said. "By backing out of this democracy summit, the Pakistani government can derive some political benefits and conclude that it has nothing to lose by not participating."

While the summit does not specifically mention China or Russia, it is widely seen as the Biden administrations effort to mobilize support against what it sees as increasing authoritarian influence from both leaders Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin.

Beijing has countered with its own hastily arranged summit called the "International Forum on Democracy: The Shared Human Values" in early December, with topics including "pluralistic origins of democracy" and "China's view of democracy."

This week the U.S. announced a diplomatic boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, citing China's human rights "atrocities." Australia, Canada, and the UK have joined the boycott, which Beijing calls a "smear campaign" and "political posturing."

VOA's Ayaz Gul and Lin Yang contributed to this story.
Health officials in the United States, Israel and other nations have for months been pushing for COVID-19 booster shots among older populations, and those calls are now growing worldwide. The issue was discussed at an extraordinary meeting at World Health Organization in Geneva convened by SAGE, the 15-member Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on vaccination.

Current data show that vaccines against COVID-19 provide a robust level of protection against severe forms of disease. However, emerging evidence indicates vaccines begin to lose their effectiveness about six months after they have been administered. This puts older adults and people with underlying conditions at particular risk.

Chair of SAGE, Alejandro Cravioto, says the group of experts agrees a booster shot would provide a greater level of protection for people at risk. However, he notes vaccines are in short supply in many parts of the world. He says the wide administration of booster doses risks exacerbating inequities in vaccine access.

He notes most current infections are among unvaccinated people, the majority of whom live in poor, developing countries. He says SAGE believes they should receive these life-saving vaccines instead of further doses being provided to people who already are fully inoculated against the coronavirus.

For the time being, we continue to support  one, the need for equity in the distribution and allocation of vaccines and, two, the use of third doses only on those that we have previously recommended. Those that have received inactivated vaccines and those that are immuno-compromised, which are the two groups that we feel should be protected further by a third dose of the primary process, he said.

Cravioto said meeting participants also discussed the feasibility of mixing and matching different vaccines, such as those developed by Pfizer and Moderna to achieve full immunity against COVID.

WHO supports a flexible approach to homologous or a single platform versus a heterologous mix and match schedules. We still believe that the best approach is to use the same vaccine for the two primary doses, Cravioto said.

For national immunization programs, however, he said a different vaccine can be used for an additional third dose. This, if the vaccine used for the two primary shots is in short supply and unavailable.
China has condemned Australia's diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics as "political posturing." China's treatment of its Uyghur minority spurred Australia's decision, which followed a similar U.S. move.

Australia's boycott of the Winter Games in China includes politicians and diplomats.

It comes as friction between the two countries intensifies over human rights, trade, and allegations of Chinese interference in Australia's domestic affairs. Canberra's call last year for an inquiry into the origins of COVID-19 also infuriated Beijing, which took it as criticism of its handling of the virus. Disputes over Hong Kong's democracy movement and China's military ambitions in the South China Sea have also contributed to the tension.

"It is not surprising that Australian government officials would therefore not be going to China for those Games, said Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison. Australian athletes will, though. Australia is a great sporting nation. I very much separate the issues of sport and these other political issues, and I would like to see those issues resolved, but they are not resolved, and Australia will not step back from the strong position we have standing up for Australia's interests."

China has said that tensions in the bilateral relationship lie "squarely on the Australian side."

China is Australia's biggest trading partner. Political disputes in recent years have seen China impose tariffs and restrictions on a range of Australian imports, including coal, wine, barley and lobsters.

Caitlin Byrne, director of the Griffith Asia Institute at Griffith University in Queensland, said Australia's diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics could cause China to retaliate.

"Will it achieve any significant outcome? Possibly not and, in fact, it does bring risks as well, she said. China has already said in response to the United States statement of the diplomatic boycott and in response to Australia that there will be countermeasures, and we are likely to see some kind of response. It is not clear what that will be."

Australia's diplomatic boycott follows a similar move earlier this week by the United States and Britain. On Thursday, Canada said it, too, would not send officials to the Winter Olympics, which start Feb. 4 in the Chinese capital.
A gunman shot and killed a journalist who was watching TV at a store in a central Philippine city, in a brazen attack in what has long been regarded as one of the worlds most dangerous countries for journalists.

Jesus Malabanan, a 58-year-old provincial correspondent for the Manila Standard newspaper, died while being transported to a hospital after being shot once in the head by one of two motorcycle-riding men Wednesday night at a family store he was tending in Calbayog city in Samar province, police and officials said Thursday.

The suspects escaped and a police investigation is under way to identify them and a motive for the attack.

Media watchdog groups condemned the killing, including Malabanans colleagues in Pampanga, a province north of Manila where he was based and worked for years as a news correspondent and as a stringer for Reuters.

A media protection body created by President Rodrigo Duterte strongly condemned the killing and vowed to arrest the killers. But Duterte himself has long been in the crosshairs of media watchdogs and human rights groups, which have repeatedly condemned him for fostering impunity among the police forces that have enforced his crackdown against illegal drugs and left thousands of mostly petty suspects dead.

Dozens of journalists have been killed or come under attack under Duterte and his predecessors. In 2009, members of a powerful political clan and their associates gunned down 58 people, including 32 media workers, in a brazen execution-style attack in southern Maguindanao province that horrified the world.

While the mass killing was later linked to a violent electoral rivalry common in many rural areas, it also showcased the threats faced by journalists in the Philippines. A surfeit of unlicensed guns and private armies controlled by powerful clans and weak law enforcement in rural regions are among the security concerns journalists face in the poverty-stricken Southeast Asian country.

Thirty-two of those gunned down in Maguindanaos Ampatuan town were local reporters and media workers. It was the deadliest single attack on journalists in recent history, media watchdogs say.

A Philippine court found key members of the Ampatuan family guilty of the mass killings in 2019 but many more suspects remain at large.
Officials from the Kurdistan Regional Government and the Iraqi Central Government are working on a plan to combat an upsurge in attacks by the Islamic State insurgency. VOA's Dilshad Anwar visited the Peshmerga forces during their joint operation with Iraqi forces against IS extremists. He filed this report narrated by Rikar Hussein. Camera: Dilshad Anwar Produced by: Dilshad Anwar
More than one thousand people, many of them young children, are living in a makeshift refugee camp amid freezing temperatures in eastern Belarus, a humanitarian crisis that critics say is political. Europe nations accuse the disputed president Alexander Lukashenko of using migrants as a weapon against Poland. For VOA, Jamie Dettmer narrates this report from Ricardo Marquina in Belarus.
To mark International Anti-Corruption Day, the Biden administration announced a raft of sanctions Thursday on 15 foreign government officials and companies it says are involved in corruption.

The announcement of sanctions covering people and companies in Central America, Africa and Europe came as Biden opened a virtual democracy summit.

Among those targeted by the U.S. Treasury Department measures are officials from El Salvador and Guatemala whom the Biden administration accuses of corruption in the procurement of COVID-19-related medical supplies.

It said Salvadoran Chief of Cabinet Martha Carolina Recinos De Bernal allegedly was involved in suspicious procurements of medical supplies. A Guatemalan official, Manuel Victor Martinez Olivet, was accused of misappropriation, fraud, and abuse of authority regarding contracts.

Corrupt acts take resources from citizens, undermine public trust, and threaten the progress of those who fight for democracy, U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said in a statement.

Sanctions were also levied on two South Sudanese construction companies for allegedly receiving preferential treatment by officials.

Additionally, sanctions were imposed on Ukrainian Andriy Portnov, the former deputy head of the Ukrainian presidential administration under former President Viktor Yanukovych. Portnov is accused of buying influence in Ukraines court system.

Also sanctioned were former Angolan officials accused of embezzling billions of dollars.

Some information in this report came from Reuters.
An outlawed militant alliance waging terrorist attacks in Pakistan has decided against extending a 30-day cease-fire with the government, accusing the other side of not honoring the terms of the deal.

The so-called Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), commonly known as the Pakistani Taliban, made the announcement Thursday, hours before the temporary pact was to officially end after taking effect on November 9.

The understanding was aimed at paving the way for future talks between the two adversaries, and it was mediated by the new Taliban government in neighboring Afghanistan, where TTP leaders and operatives have long taken refuge. Both sides at the time had agreed to extend the cease-fire depending on the progress in direct negotiations.

But a spokesman for the militant group, Muhammad Khurasani, said in a statement that the government never sent its negotiating team to further the dialogue, nor did it keep its promise of releasing 102 TTP prisoners.

Moreover, Khurasani alleged that Pakistani state security institutions had conducted raids against TTP members despite the truce. "It is not possible for us to extend the cease-fire under the current circumstances, he concluded.

There was no immediate reaction from the Pakistani government to the militants accusations.

Pakistani officials privy to the initial meetings with TTP had insisted the talks were initiated to determine whether the militants were willing to surrender" to the countrys constitution and lay down their arms.



Pakistans national security adviser, Moeed Yusuf, had said late last month in a media interview that the aim of the 30-day cease-fire was to see whether the TTP was serious about engaging in a peace process in line with conditions set by the government.

"The red lines are very much clear; no one would be allowed to challenge the Pakistani constitution, impose their own system of governance or law and resume violent activities," Yusuf stressed.

TTP has claimed responsibility for carrying out suicide bombings and other terrorist attacks over the past many years, killing tens of thousands of Pakistanis, including security forces.

The violence, however, has significantly decreased in recent years because of sustained Pakistani security operations against TTP bases in areas near the Afghan border, killing thousands of militants and forcing others to flee to Afghanistan.

The United States and the United Nations have designated TTP as a global terrorist organization.

Since regaining power in Afghanistan in August after the withdrawal of foreign troops, Taliban rulers have repeatedly assured neighboring countries and the world at large that no terrorist groups would be allowed to operate and threaten others from Afghan soil.

The counterterrorism pledge is part of a set of international demands the Taliban have to meet to claim much-needed diplomatic recognition for their nascent government in Kabul.

The Taliban have publicly acknowledged they were mediating the talks between TTP and Pakistani government negotiators, saying they have told the militant group that regardless of whether it reaches a deal, it would not be allowed to use Afghanistan's soil to threaten the neighboring country.

The TTP is known to have given shelter and provided fighters to the Afghan Taliban while they were waging a deadly insurgency against U.S.-led international forces for nearly 20 years. That cooperation, skeptics say, will likely discourage the Afghan Taliban from forcefully evicting TTP operatives if requested to do so by Pakistan.
Pakistan has detected its first case of the omicron variant of the coronavirus.

Official said Thursday the infection was found in a 57-year-old unvaccinated woman in Karachi, the countrys largest city and capital of the southern Sindh province.

Local media reported the patient, who was isolating at home after being discharged from the hospital a day earlier, did not have a travel history and contact tracing was under way.

We have not yet concluded the genomic study of the patients sample but the way the virus is behaving, it seems like it is omicron, provincial Health Minister Azra Fazal Pechuno said in a video statement.

Pechuno said people need not panic and urged them to get fully vaccinated against the coronavirus.

Omicron is highly transmissible, but deaths or serious illnesses have not been seen in reports from South Africa, where the variant was first detected, she added.

In a statement Thursday, the federal government-run National Institute of Health in Islamabad said it was premature to draw any conclusions whether the patient in Karachi was infected with omicron.

To clarify, the sample is not yet confirmed to be omicron via whole-genome sequencing, which is to be performed after obtaining the sample, the statement said. However, in the light of global situation, the public is strongly urged to get vaccinated at the earliest.

Late last month, Pakistan placed a complete ban on travel from six African countries, including South Africa, Lesotho, Eswatini  formerly known as Swaziland, Mozambique, Botswana and Namibia, and Hong Kong after the discovery of omicron.

Authorities later extended the ban to nine more countries, including Croatia, Hungary, Netherlands, Ukraine, Ireland, Slovenia, Vietnam, Poland and Zimbabwe, and tightened monitoring of passengers arriving from several other nations.

Pakistan, a country of about 220 million people, has reported close to 1.3 million coronavirus cases, including more than 28,800 deaths.

As of Thursday, officials said more than 24% of the total population and 35% of the eligible population had been vaccinated against the pandemic.


The Pentagon said Thursday that officials will discuss shared concerns about Iran with visiting Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz later Thursday, but it declined to comment on a Reuters report about discussions on possible Iran-focused military drills.

Reuters exclusively reported Wednesday, citing a senior U.S. official, that U.S.-Israeli discussions would include possible military exercises to prepare for a worst-case scenario to destroy Iran's nuclear facilities should diplomacy fail and if their nations' leaders request it.

"I know there's interest in a certain Reuters report," Pentagon spokesman John Kirby told a news briefing.



"I will tell you this: We routinely conduct exercises and training with our Israeli counterparts, and I have nothing to announce to or speak to or point to or speculate about today."
Fearing deadly consequences, human rights groups in the Philippines have expressed dismay after the Supreme Court upheld most provisions of the anti-terror law, which they say is detrimental to the countrys democracy as it threatens human rights.

Cristina Palabay, secretary-general of human rights group Karapatan, a petitioner against the law, said the much-anticipated decision is a partial win but also a huge disappointment as it reinforces the climate of fear shrouding the country.

We fear that this decision upholding the large degree, the draconian provisions of the law and character of the law will spur more human rights violations and more violations [against] the exercise of civil liberties, Palabay told VOA after the decision was handed down.

This affects everyone, she added.

Last year, the Philippines joined the growing list of Asian countries and territories such as Hong Kong, Singapore, and Thailand that passed laws aimed at cracking down on dissent and activism.

The Philippines has been dealing with terrorism in the countrys south, which has been a hotbed for local and international terrorist activities, according to authorities.

The law was passed in record time in the middle of the pandemic and was signed by President Rodrigo Duterte in July last year, when protests were barred under the countrys quarantine.

The Supreme Court handed down its decision on the controversial law, one of the most contested in recent history with 36 petitions Wednesday, just before the December 10 celebration of International Human Rights Day.

It's a big insult, I mean, this is the last International Human Rights Day under Duterte. It added more salt to wounds that we're already experiencing, to the wounds that were already enduring, Palabay said.

In a statement, the court said it struck down as unconstitutional a provision making protest a crime if it has the intent of causing harm for being overbroad and violative of freedom of expression.

It also declared unconstitutional a provision that allows an anti-terror council appointed by the president to adopt requests from entities, including international organizations, to designate an individual as a terrorist.

The court upheld most of the provisions, however, including a hotly contested clause that gives the state security forces the power to arrest suspected terrorists and detain them for up to 24 days. Rights observers say this provision is prone to abuse and can be used to target government critics.

The court has yet to release its full decision.

Because the law is arbitrary, then the law is so vague and overbroad. That's precisely the reason why now this law is dangerous. We can only expect worse attacks against human rights workers, Palabay added.

For the rights group In Defense of Human Rights and Dignity Movement, the ruling has deadly consequences on legitimate activists who continue to defend human rights.

As part of President Dutertes authoritarian apparatus the law serves as the grim reaper of the freedom of expression and association in the country, the group said in a statement.

A spokesperson for Duterte said his office will refrain from commenting until they have the chance to study the law, but Duterte himself defended the heavily contested law in a speech to the United Nations General Assembly last year.

Presidential aspirant and Senator Panfilo Lacson, who authored the law, said he would respect and graciously accept the decision before it was announced.

Still, legal scholars hailed the decision as a "small victory."

The striking down of these unconstitutional provisions is a victory for human rights and civil liberties," a group of law professors from the Far Eastern University Institute of Law said in a statement.

"This guarantees the protection to the peoples continued exercise of free speech, expression, assembly, including academic freedom, especially in voicing dissent against government shortcomings and excesses, the group of law professors said.

But Palabay with human rights group Karapatan cautioned that next Mays elections will be a test for the controversial law when the voters and the candidates will voice criticism of the Duterte administration.

It will be a litmus test on how this law will be misused by those in power right now in silencing dissent of those who are considered members of the opposition or ordinary Filipinos and the voting public, Palabay said.

Various human rights groups said they will continue to challenge the law, even after the court decision, saying bills that seek to amend the laws will be refiled in the next Congress after the elections.

Bearing photos of those killed during the Duterte administration, activists asked the Supreme Court to condemn the decision. More protests are expected Friday to celebrate International Human Rights Day.
The number of journalists around the world imprisoned by governments seeking to stifle critical reporting reached its highest level ever in 2021, according to an annual report compiled by the Committee to Protect Journalists.

CPJ found that as of December 1, 293 journalists were imprisoned in 37 different countries, up from 280 in 2020. China was far and away the worst offender, holding 50 journalists prisoner. Other countries jailing large numbers of journalists included Myanmar, Egypt, Vietnam and Belarus.

Gypsy Guillen Kaiser, CPJs advocacy and communications director, told VOA there is a common theme across countries jailing journalists.

There's been a demise in democracy and democratic principles globally pretty much in every area, not just press freedom, she said. In particular, authoritarian governments are portraying journalists as unfair liars and criminals. That narrative serves political polarization plaguing the world and is also a critical component in erosion of trust in the free and independent media worldwide.

Kaiser said that authoritarian regimes have worked to pass new laws that allow them to target journalists, such as section 505A, a provision added to the penal code in Myanmar that prohibits vague acts like causing fear.

The CPJ census is meant to provide a snapshot in time. The count is of journalists in detention as of 12:01 a.m. on December 1. It does not account for journalists held for part of 2021 but released in advance of the census date.

Democracy summit

CPJ released the report a day before the White House hosted a Democracy Summit, a virtual gathering of more than 100 nations that are, ostensibly, committed to the principles of democracy.

However, seven of the countries listed by the State Department as attendees are currently holding at least one journalist prisoner, according to CPJ. They are Brazil, the Democratic Republic of Congo, India, Iraq, Israel, Nigeria and the Philippines.

We think that it's important to engage in dialogue with countries that are engaged in repressive behavior, Kaiser said. She pointed out, however, that one of the key issues the Biden administration expects to address in the summit is the sustainability of a free and independent media. This puts the seven countries in direct conflict with one of the summits key objectives.

If journalists are not able to report freely and independently, the sustainability of media is not a reachable goal, Kaiser said.

Notable changes

This year is the first in which Hong Kong-based journalists are on the list, following the imposition of Chinas new national security law in response to pro-democracy protests last year. The 50 journalists imprisoned in China include eight from Hong Kong, among them Jimmy Lai, founder of the Apple Daily newspaper and Next Digital. Lai won CPJs 2021 Gwen Ifill Press Freedom Award.

On Tuesday, Reporters Without Borders (RSF), published its own estimate of the number of Chinese journalists currently imprisoned by Beijing, putting the number much higher at 127. One factor contributing to the difference is that RSF counts non-professional journalists among the imprisoned.

Myanmar went from one imprisoned journalist in 2020 to 26 this year, according to CPJ. The sudden surge came after a military junta displaced the countrys democratically elected government in February. CPJ said its count significantly understates the extent of the repression of independent journalism in the country because a large number were released before the census date.

The civil war in Ethiopia has coincided with a large spike in the number of reporters jailed by the regime of Abiy Ahmed, the one-time political reformer. Ahmeds government was holding nine journalists, making it the second-largest jailer of reporters in Africa, behind Eritrea, which held 16.

Brazen action by Belarus

One of the most brazen acts of repressing a journalist in years happened in 2021, when Belarusian President Aleksander Lukashenko scrambled fighter jets to force down a commercial airliner traveling through his countrys airspace.

His target was Raman Pratasevich, editor of the NEXTA-Live Telegram channel, who was on the flight and was arrested when the plane landed in Minsk. Pratasevich, whose outlet has millions of subscribers, had actively reported on protests after Lukashenko claimed victory in a disputed presidential election, and had testified about repression in his home country.

Belarus nearly doubled the number of journalists it held in prison, with CPJ counting 19 this year, up from 10 in 2020.

With repression, an exodus

Some countries that had been near the top of the list in recent years have reduced the absolute number of journalists in jail, including Turkey, where the number of imprisoned reporters fell to 18 from 38 in 2020. Likewise, Saudi Arabia, after releasing 10 jailed journalists, had 14 in custody.

However, CPJ warned that the decline in the prison population in countries such as Turkey and Saudi Arabia is not unadulterated good news.

The extraordinary repression visited on journalists in both countries, including the 2018 murder and dismemberment of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi, allegedly conducted at the behest of the Saudi government, has driven many journalists into exile or out of the business altogether, making it unnecessary to jail them.

Dangers in America

The CPJ data doesnt list any journalists in prison in the United States, Canada or Mexico. But information gathered by the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker, a project of the Freedom of the Press Foundation, found that 57 journalists have been arrested or detained in the United States since the beginning of the year.

This years number is far below the 142 arrested last year, mostly during a summer of large Black Lives Matter protests that followed the killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer.

Kirstin McCudden, managing editor of the Press Freedom Tracker, said the 2021 figure remained far above the norm for the years prior to 2020. Most of the arrests, she said, take place in the context of protests, typical when police kettle large numbers of people in order to conduct mass arrests.

Protests have always been dangerous places for journalists, she said. That's where you see kettles from law enforcement  and they're more dangerous, certainly, for assaults, be they targeted or not.

VOA emailed the International Association of Chiefs of Police for comment but received no reply.

The tracker also documented 141 assaults on journalists in the U.S. this year.
The Senate narrowly approved a resolution Wednesday to nullify the Biden administration's requirement that businesses with 100 or more workers have their employees be vaccinated against the coronavirus or submit to weekly testing.

The vote was 52-48. The measure now goes to the Democratic-led House, which is unlikely to take up the measure, which means the mandate would stand, though courts have put it on hold for now. Still, the vote gave senators a chance to voice opposition to a policy that they say has sparked fears back home from businesses and from unvaccinated constituents who worry about losing their jobs should the rule go into effect.

"Every so often Washington, D.C., does something that lights up the phone lines. This is one of these moments," said Sen. Steve Daines, a Montana Republican. At home, he said, "this issue is what I hear about. This issue is a top-of-mind issue."

Lawmakers can invalidate certain federal agency regulations if a joint resolution is approved by both houses of Congress and signed by the president, or if Congress overrides a presidential veto. That's unlikely to happen in this case.

Under the rule, private-sector companies with 100 or more workers must require their employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or be tested for the virus weekly and wear masks on the job. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration said it would work with companies on compliance but would fine them up to more than $13,000 for each violation, though implementation and enforcement is suspended as the litigation unfolds.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said Americans who have refused to get vaccinated are the biggest impediment to ending the pandemic. He implied that some of the resistance to mandated vaccines is based on politics.

Schumer said social media has played a role in spreading falsehoods about the vaccine, and "so has the far right." He urged senators to vote against the resolution, sponsored by Sen. Mike Braun, R-Ind.

Republicans said they are supportive of the vaccine, but that the mandate amounts to government overreach.

"His mandates are under fire in the courts. Main Street job creators are complaining against it, and tonight, the U.S. Senate must send a clear message: back off this bad idea," Braun said.

In the end, two Democratic lawmakers voted with 50 Republicans to void the mandate, Sens. Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Jon Tester of Montana. Manchin had said in a tweet that he does not support any federal vaccine mandate for private businesses. Tester's office said his opposition is based on conversations with Montana businesses who "expressed deep concerns about the negative effect on their bottom lines and our state's economy during this fragile recovery period."

Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., sided with the Biden administration, noting that the pandemic is still raging and that deaths are overwhelmingly among the unvaccinated.

"How on earth does it make sense right now to undercut one of the strongest tools that we have to get people vaccinated and stop this virus?" Murray said. "In what world is that a good idea?"
As cases of COVID-19 caused by the omicron variant soar in South Africa, hospital officials monitoring the outbreak say patient reports offer compelling evidence the variant causes illness that is less severe than previous forms of the disease.

Most of the people were seeing are having mild or moderate form of COVID-19, and not the severe form that requires hospitalization and may lead to death, said Dr. Richard Friedland, the chief executive of Netcare, one of South Africas largest private hospital groups, based in Johannesburg.

Patients present with mild to moderate flu-like symptoms, a scratchy or sore throat, a headache, or a runny or blocked nose, he said.

Similar symptoms are being reported nationwide as hospitals monitor patients.

World health authorities caution that the patient information is preliminary, and they say it is not known how omicron will behave as it spreads more widely.

The World Health Organization says the variant has been found in more than 50 countries. Anecdotal information from countries including the United States so far indicates less severe symptoms than exhibited in previous variants, echoing findings in South Africa hospitals.

We certainly have information from South Africa that many of the patients that are identified with omicron have a milder course of disease, but it does take time for people to go through the full course of their infection, said Maria Van Kerkhove, WHOs technical lead for COVID-19.

South Africas National Institute for Communicable Diseases reported 20,000 new COVID-19 cases and 36 COVID-19 related deaths Wednesday, the highest numbers since the omicron variant was first detected.

NetCares Dr. Friedland said the companys hospitals are seeing far fewer admissions, however, than in the nations earlier phases of COVID-19 and most patients are not suffering enough to need oxygen.

Ninety percent of the patients we have in the hospital now need no oxygen at all, he said. Theyre on room air. All they have is mild upper respiratory tract infections.

"So, its a very, very different clinical picture," he said. "That contrasts to 100% of patients that we admitted during the first, the second and the third wave, who were very sick, and all required oxygen therapy."

Most omicron-positive people in NetCare's hospitals are what Friedland called incidental COVID-19 patients, who come to the hospital because of other emergencies, or to have a surgical procedure, and are subsequently diagnosed with coronavirus.

Roughly 75% of people in NetCare hospitals diagnosed with COVID-19 are unvaccinated, Dr. Friedland said. He added that patient admission data appears to be clear evidence that current vaccines offer some protection against omicron.

Some 36% of South Africans are fully vaccinated and the government is strongly urging citizens to get the shots.

Some information in this report came from Reuters.
TRANSCRIPT

The Inside Story: Omicrons Ominous Outlook

Episode 17  December 9, 2021

Show Opening Graphic:

Voice of CAROLYN PRESUTTI, VOA Correspondent:

Travel restrictions are back as OMICRON is the latest variant testing the worlds defenses against the coronavirus.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, Chief Medical Adviser to the President:

We needed to buy some time to be able to prepare, understand what's going on. What is the nature of this infection.

CAROLYN PRESUTTI:

As Omicron spreads, find out how to protect you and your family.

And go inside the effectiveness of vaccines on The Inside Story: Omicrons Ominous Outlook.

The Inside Story:

CAROLYN PRESUTTI:

Hi, Im Carolyn Presutti reporting from Washington.

As most of the northern hemisphere heads inside for the winter months, a new coronavirus variant is threatening to extend a pandemic that is nearing the two-year mark.

First identified three weeks ago by scientists in South Africa, the World Health Organization named the variant Omicron ---continuing through the Greek alphabet to identify the variants of the virus. More on that a bit later in the show.

But this variant is now showing up all over the world, including the United States.

As public health officials gather data about Omicrons impact and transmission, travel restrictions and testing requirements are being re-introduced. All, just in time for another holiday travel season.

Lets go inside the US response with VOA White House Bureau Chief Patsy Widakuswara.

PATSY WIDAKUSWARA, VOA White House Bureau Chief:

Planning to visit the United States? Be prepared to follow more stringent COVID-19 protocols.

In addition to being fully vaccinated, starting next week inbound travelers, regardless of nationality, must show a negative test within one day of departure, instead of three days under the previous rule.

U.S. President Joe Biden:

This tighter testing timetable provides an additional degree of protection as scientists continue to study the omicron variant. And we are extending the requirement to wear masks for travel on aircraft, trains, public transportation through the winter months.

PATSY WIDAKUSWARA:

President Joe Biden announced the measures Thursday, together with plans to increase vaccine and booster outreach for seniors and children and making COVID tests free and more widely available  a multipronged strategy to deal with the new omicron variant and avoid lockdowns.

An individual who traveled from South Africa tested positive in California on Wednesday; the first omicron case detected in the U.S. The Biden administration has restricted travel from nine African countries including South Africa, where the variant was first detected.

In the next 100 days, the U.S. will also send an additional 200 million doses of COVID vaccine abroad.

U.S. President Joe Biden:

I'll always make sure that our people are protected first. But vaccinating the world is not just a moral tool, a moral obligation that we have, in my view  it's how we protect Americans as we're seeing with this new variant.

PATSY WIDAKUSWARA:

Doses will also be sent to conflict zones and other humanitarian settings such as refugee camps, part of a deal brokered by the administration between Johnson and Johnson and the international vaccine sharing mechanism COVAX, to immunize people not reached by government programs.

Jen Psaki, White House Press Secretary:

We work through trusted global health partners like the United Nations, other NGOs that are trusted who can get humanitarian assistance and aid, including vaccine doses into communities.

PATSY WIDAKUSWARA:

A recent Duke University analysis said that to reach the U.N.s year-end goal of vaccinating at least 40 percent of the worlds population, low and lower middle-income countries need an additional 650 million doses beyond what they are scheduled to receive from COVAX.

Krishna Udayakumar, Duke Global Health Innovation Center:

That might seem like a lot, but we have also projected that high income countries  so members of the G-7 and the European Union  will likely have more than 800 million excess doses available that they can reallocate after taking care of domestic needs, after taking care of boosters.

PATSY WIDAKUSWARA:

While equitable distribution of doses remains an issue, in many parts of the world the bigger problem may be skepticism that COVID vaccines are safe and effective. The Biden administration says it is also helping other countries overcome vaccine hesitancy in their population. Patsy Widakuswara, VOA News, at the White House.

CAROLYN PRESUTTI:

Global travel being the way it is, scientists will always be several days behind a new variants spread.

As of our taping, more than 30 countries have started travel restrictions since the discovery of Omicron.

And more than 30 countries have reported COVID cases of the Omicron variant.

Which raises the question: How effective ARE travel bans and restrictions?

Well VOAs Saqeb Ul Islam goes INSIDE --- traveling through COVID.

SAQIB UL ISLAM, VOA Reporter:

American Portia Steele with halfway to Kruger National Park outside Johannesburg when she heard about new U.S. travel restrictions targeting South Africa, where the Omicron variant of the coronavirus was first detected.

Portia Steele, American Traveler:

I was getting text messages from my friends and family about how they were restricting travel in the UK, expecting maybe that they would restrict travel back to the US.

SAQIB UL ISLAM:

Steele shortened her first ever trip to South Africa from ten to only two days and booked four different flights back to U.S. before the restrictions took hold.

Portia Steele  American Traveler:

There were a lot of U.S. citizens tearful at the United counter, at the Delta counter, at the KLM counter, trying to figure out ways to get home.

SAQIB UL ISLAM:

Steele was required to have a vaccination card, a negative COVID test, and a negative rapid test at the airport to board a flight from Johannesburg. In the U.S., she was greeted by officials with the Centers for Disease Control, given a self-testing kit, and then went into self-quarantine.

Portia Steele , American Traveler:

Traveling during the COVID era is knowing that things can change at any given moment and that people have to be malleable, So I just caution to anybody just be flexible because you never know what's going to happen if you're abroad.

SAQIB UL ISLAM:

But nearly two years into the pandemic, some are questioning it the sudden travel restrictions are effective.

Dr. Patrick Jackson, Infectious Disease Researcher:

I think the travel restrictions really are not helping us at all and are probably counterproductive.

SAQIB UL ISLAM:

Dr. Patrick Jackson is an infectious disease researcher at University of Virginia.

He says it's almost certain the world will see more coronavirus variants in areas with low vaccination rates, like South Africa. Hes calling on countries to focus more on getting people vaccinated than on restricting travel.

Dr. Patrick Jackson, Infectious Disease Researcher:

One of the major failures of our pandemic policy so far has been not giving vaccines to the developing world and ensuring that the global population can get vaccinated.

SAQIB UL ISLAM:

Dr. Anthony Fauci is the countrys leading infectious disease expert and the presidents chief medical adviser. After the first U.S. Omicron case was detected days ago, Fauci renewed calls for people to get vaccinated and defended the new White House travel restrictions.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, Chief Medical Adviser to the President:

No one feels, I certainly don't think, a travel ban is going to prevent people who are infected from coming to the United States. But we needed to buy some time to be able to prepare, understand what's going on. What is the nature of this infection, what is the nature of transmissibility?

SAQIB UL ISLAM:

More than thirty countries have closed their borders and more have imposed stricter measures in response to Omicron. As researchers try to learn more about this latest variant, officials say its imperative that more people around the world get vaccinated.

Saqib Ul Islam, VOA News, Washington.

CAROLYN PRESUTTI:

More than 5 million people worldwide have died from COVID-19 -----FIVE million -- and the number keeps rising.

Experts agree: the vaccines represent your best defense against this virus.

But if you are confused about the science of vaccines  the steps and methods involved in producing them  you are not alone.

In fact, scientists often manipulate one virus to protect another when making a vaccine.

But dont worry --- VOAs Carol Pearson can explain. She shows us how one approach in making a vaccine has been effective against polio, measles, Ebola and a host of other viruses.

CAROL PEARSON, VOA Correspondent:

People can get COVD-19 even though they have been fully vaccinated, but that does not mean the vaccine has failed.

Those who are fully vaccinated against this virus are, so far, much less likely to end up in a hospital or on a ventilator.

Dr. Andrea Cox, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine:

The goal of vaccination is to reduce the severity of disease in almost all vaccines in use, and not to prevent infection entirely.

CAROL PEARSON:

The oldest method to make a vaccine uses either a live virus that is too weak to reproduce -- scientists call it a live attenuated virus -- or a dead virus that, because it is dead, can't reproduce, but can still cause an immune response.

Polio vaccines have used both dead and weakened live polioviruses as vectors with great success.

Many countries are now polio-free. In 2021, only two children in the entire world contracted the wild polio virus.

Three COVID-19 vaccines use weakened adenoviruses  benign viruses that cause colds  as their vectors. Vectors are simply delivery systems used to introduce a more dangerous virus, either a weakened live virus or a dead one.

The Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine uses a weakened chimpanzee adenovirus that does not infect humans. Sputnik V and the Johnson & Johnson vaccines use weakened human adenoviruses.

With all three vaccines, scientists remove a gene from the coronavirus' spike protein and put it into the adenoviruses.

Once injected, the viruses enter the cells and start to produce the spike protein. Then, the body mounts an attack. Remember, the spike protein is only a part of the coronavirus and doesn't cause COVID-19. So, there's no danger of getting the illness from the vaccine.

Dr. Andrea Cox, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine:

You don't just mount an immune response to the adenovirus, but you also mount an immune response to the protein that it encodes, the spike protein that is part of the virus causing COVID.

CAROL PEARSON:

The World Health Organization has authorized use of the AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson vaccines but not Sputnik V. The WHO says it needs more data from the Sputnik trials.

Cox says of the three vaccines that use an adenovirus, scientists favor the AstraZeneca and the Johnson & Johnson vaccines.

Dr. Andrea Cox, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine:

We know the most about the AstraZeneca and the Johnson and Johnson vaccines because they have been given to tens of millions, if not 100 million people worldwide. So, we know the most about their side-effect profiles and their immune responses. We have far less data on the Sputnik vaccine just because it has been used far less frequently and there are simply fewer international studies that have assessed it.

CAROL PEARSON:

While some people choose not to get a vaccine, others are willing to travel long distances to get one. Hondurans are willing to cross a river to get the vaccine in neighboring Nicaragua.

The pandemic is far from over. Some scientists expect COVID to be with us for 3 to 4 years.

And even with the best scientists in the world working on vaccines and treatments, doctors are concerned that as the virus continues to infect unvaccinated people and mutate, at some point, the vaccines we have now won't be able to offer full protection against COVID-19. Carol Pearson, VOA News.

Voice of Unidentified Narrator:

Early in the pandemic, herd immunity was often referred to as the long-term goal in the fight against COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. Epidemiologists refer to herd immunity as the tipping point, when enough people are protected from the virus that the community can return to routine life. But variants of the virus and low vaccination rates have prolonged that goal.

Herd immunity is when a significant portion of a community is immune to an infectious disease, making it harder for the disease to spread.

Herd immunity offers the entire community protection and can be achieved either through recovery from a previous infection or through vaccination.

Once people gain protection from an infectious disease such as COVID-19, it makes it more difficult for the disease to spread within the community, even to those unable to get vaccinated due to serious allergic reactions to the vaccines.

Public health officials say it is unknown how long herd immunity may last.

It is currently unknown how many people need to be vaccinated for COVID-19 to gain herd immunity, which is complicated by individual vaccine hesitancy, and uneven rollout and access to the vaccines.

CAROLYN PRESUTTI:

While doctors are working to learn more about the Omicron variants transmissibility, there is still much that is unknown.

Dr. Neil Vora is a Pandemic Prevention Fellow at Conservation International.

Since the discovery of the coronavirus in early 20-20, Dr. Vora has helped develop and lead New York City's COVID-19 contact tracing program.

In his own words, he takes us inside --- and tells us what we know and what we yet don't yet know about the Omicron variant --- and how we can protect ourselves.

Dr. Neil Vora, Conservation International, Columbia University:

There's a lot of questions around omicron in terms of how transmissible is

it, how dangerous is it. And these are questions that scientists are very actively trying

to answer right now because of the very important public health implications that Omicron

has.



My name is Neil Vlora. I'm a physician with Conservation International. I worked on

viruses from Ebola to Zika. And most recently my last assignment with CDC was to lead New

York City's covid contact tracing program. Currently I now work for Conservation International,

where I focus on addressing the upstream drivers that lead viruses to jump from animals into

people.

If you look back since the 1940s at least the number of new infectious diseases that have

emerged has. Over time and most of those new infectious diseases have originated from

animals, particularly wildlife. And the reason why these new infectious diseases are increasingly

emerging is because of human activities that place humans in closer contact to wildlife.

In particular Its the clearing of tropical rainforests, because by doing that, people are coming

into close contact with the displaced wildlife that no longer have a home. Reason number two

is because of the trade in wildlife both legal and illegal around the world. When people move

animals around for food or for pets or for whatever the reason, there are opportunities for the viruses that that circulate in those wildlife to move along with those animals and then jump

over and infect people. And reason number three is. Of poor infection control practices during

the raising of livestock that creates opportunities for viruses to jump species.

And so, for those three reasons we are seeing animal viruses increasingly infect humans.

The findings in the mutations that this virus has that would suggest that the protein that the

virus uses to attach to cells has changed. And so that might lead to changes in how effective thevaccines are.

The bottom line you know regardless of all of the uncertainty in terms of transmissibility of Omicron, how severe the illness is that American causes is that we still have preventative measures available at our fingertips. Right now, that is wearing masks, keeping social distancing, and getting vaccinated. And, you know, the data that we have available suggests that all of

those preventative measures are still applicable to Omicron. So everyone should still take thoseprecautions so that they can reduce their chances of getting sick and reduce the chances of

spreading the virus to other people.

CAROLYN PRESUTTI:

Earlier, I said the World Health Organization uses Greek letters to identify COVID variants.

Well, Omicron is the 15th letter of the Greek alphabet; but its only the 5th designated as a higher variant of concern. Plus, its the first with that classification since the Delta variant was discovered in early April.

So, why use the Greek alphabet? To avoid the stigma of connecting a variant with the country where it was first discovered and its people.

But its detection can still negatively affect a region. South Africa was dealt a financial blow when travel to and from the country paused after the discovery of Omicron.

From inside Johannesburg, VOAs Linda Givetash says the South African economy was already struggling.

LINDA GIVETASH, VOA Reporter:

This historical site and museum at the center of the Apartheid struggle in South Africa is normally bustling with tourists.

Since the discovery of the omicron coronavirus variant last week, foreign visitors have vanished. The United Kingdom was the first to halt flights to South Africa, with the United States and other countries quickly following suit.

People working in the tourism industry say panic over the new variant is decimating business, just as travel was starting to pick up over the past two months.

Wayne Barnes, MoAfrika Tours Sales Manager:

When the U.K. actually opened up and took us off the red list, we started seeing an increase [in] numbers [of] travelers from all around the world started to support us again. So, their decisions are definitely affecting, you know, everybody around the world on their decisions.

LINDA GIVETASH:

And the decision blindsided many.

Barnes says his company lost over $30,000 to refunds in just one day for canceled December bookings.

Tour guides went from leading groups of over 40 people last week to no one today.

Thabang Moleya, Tour Guide:

Im very hurt at the moment, namely, because things were starting to look like we were starting to be working normally, that which will remind us of life before COVID.

LINDA GIVETASH:

Its not just the tourism industry thats hurting.

From vehicle suppliers to website developers, the collapse of travel is having a domino effect across the economy.

Nearly 47% of South Africans were jobless last quarter, according to government statistics released this week.

Its a bleak landscape for parents and breadwinners like Thabang Moleya who are again facing layoffs.

Thabang Moleya, Tour Guide:

At some point, I wanted to come up with an idea of what one can do. Also, it was not easy for one to find any job. Im just hoping and believing that one day one would work again, the world would travel again.

LINDA GIVETASH:

But economists say recovery is years away. And locking down will only slow that recovery and make life harder for the poorest.

Dawie Roodt, Economist:

The biggest killer out there is not a virus or TB, or AIDS or anything, the biggest killer out there is poverty. It might be necessary to prevent larger crowds to get together and things like that. But it's not necessarily necessary to stop airlines from flying and to necessarily stop people from going, stay at home [and] not go to work, or stay at home and not go to the factory and things like that.

LINDA GIVETASH:

For those who have managed to cling to their jobs, the situation still feels demoralizing.

Mbali Ngema, Johannesburg Tourism Ambassador:

Before, you used to have that thing of waking up in the morning to say I'm going to work, I'm going to see new people, I'm going to meet new people. But due to this, you just wake up and you sit and you do nothing.

LINDA GIVETASH:

Until scientists better understand the omicron variant and politicians change their views on travel, South Africans will have to continue waiting for normal life to return. Linda Givetash, for VOA News, Johannesburg.

CAROLYN PRESUTTI:

In our press freedom spotlight this week -

Journalists from Belarus, Guatemala, and beyond were honored at this years International Press Freedom Awards.

The awards are presented annually by the nonprofit Committee to Protect Journalists. They are given to winners who are reporting under increasingly hostile conditions.

VOAs Julie Taboh introduces us to several of the honorees in this weeks Press Freedom spotlight.

JULIE TABOH, VOA Correspondent:

Aye Chan Naing is executive director and chief editor of the Voice of Burma, or DVB.

His independent news outlet suffered in the aftermath of Myanmars military coup when the junta seized power and started cracking down on media.

Naing has been in exile in Norway where DVB now broadcasts via satellite, into Burma ((also known as Myanmar.))

Aye Chan Naing, Democratic Voice of Burma Executive Director:

The military have arrested over 100 journalists after the coup in February 2021. And still about 50 people are still being detained in prison.

JULIE TABOH:

Including more than a dozen of his own journalists.

Naing is one of the recipients of the Committee to Protect Journalists 2021 International Press Freedom Awards.

Aye Chan Naing, Democratic Voice of Burma Executive Director:

I think this award will highlight the plight of our journalists on the ground, who are in prison, but also who are still struggling to report, risking their life, risking their future.

JULIE TABOH:

Also honored are journalists from Belarus, Guatemala, and Mozambique for their reporting at a time of dire conditions for media in their respective countries.

Joel Simon, Committee to Protect Journalists Executive Director:

I think that our honorees recognize, and we recognize, that the environment for independent journalism has changed everywhere, including in the United States. The challenges are greater, that period of profound optimism that existed when I started this job 25 years ago, unfortunately, that's no longer the case.

JULIE TABOH:

Anastasia Mejia knows first-hand.

The Guatemalan journalist was the only reporter covering a protest in her hometown of Joyabaj in August of 2020. She was later detained.

Anastasia Mejia, Guatemalan Journalist:

I was deprived of my liberty for 36 days; the hearings were postponed in order to delay the process.

JULIE TABOH:

A judge ruled that she was not guilty. But Mejia is still afraid.

Anastasia Mejia, Guatemalan Journalist:

If I keep talking, they will kill me, they will destroy my family.

JULIE TABOH:

Joel Simon says that while he feels guardedly optimistic about the future of journalism, he is also a realist.

Joel Simon, Committee to Protect Journalists Executive Director:

Press freedom or freedom of expression is the battle of the information age, and we must prevail, and we must know that we're in a really difficult and prolonged struggle.

JULIE TABOH:

As for Aye Chan Naing, he also remains in the struggle for press freedom.

Aye Chan Naing, Democratic Voice of Burma Executive Director:

I think its a really bright future; now, almost more than 10 months after the coup, the military [[is]] never really able to silence the country and silence the people, and we're getting tons of information from around the country.

The first time when I left Burma in 1988, it took 20 years before I could go back to Burma. And my hope is this time around, it won't take that long.

JULIE TABOH:

Julie Taboh, VOA News.

CAROLYN PRESUTTI:

Thats all for now.

Im Carolyn Presutti.

Follow me on Twitter at CarolynVOA.

Connect with us on Instagram and Facebook at VOANews.

And stay up to date any time of the day online at VOANews.com.

For all of those behind the scenes who brought you todays show, thanks for joining us and stay safe out there.

Well see you again next week for The Inside Story.

###
The United Nations marked the day of remembrance of victims of genocide with a warning that the crime has not been relegated to the history books but remains a threat today.

The U.N. set the tone for its observance of the International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide and of the Prevention of this Crime with a video of scenes of violence and devastation in Rwanda, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Iraq  countries that have experienced the horrors of genocide. The video also contained scenes of reconciliation and the voices of young people calling for a peaceful and inclusive world.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told a virtual global audience that history tends to repeat itself. He urged people to remain vigilant and to understand the early warning signs of genocide.

"Today, we face the highest number of violent conflicts since 1945," he said. "They are lasting longer and are increasingly complex. Impunity is rife, and human rights and the rule of law are regularly ignored. Identity-based hate speech, incitement and discrimination continue to spread and are increasingly being used for political manipulation and gain."

The U.N. chief said these are alarming warning signs that should prompt action.

U.N. experts and human rights organizations have produced numerous reports of gross violations, many amounting to war crimes and crimes against humanity in Syria, Yemen, South Sudan, Afghanistan and elsewhere. Some reports allege genocide is being committed in Myanmar, China and Ethiopia, among other nations.

The president of the 76th session of the General Assembly, Abdulla Shahid, said the body has a responsibility to protect populations from genocide, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity.

"Genocide does not happen overnight or without warning. It is preceded by a buildup of human rights violations, bigotry, hatred and division," Shahid said. "It culminates in bloodshed.  That is why we must always meet the forces of bigotry and hatred with tolerance and inclusion. That is why we must celebrate diversity."

Genocide is a term used to describe violence against members of a national, ethnic, racial or religious group with the intent to destroy the entire group.

In 1948, three years after the end of World War II when the full extent of the Holocaust was revealed, the United Nations declared genocide to be an international crime. The term was coined in recognition of the massive crimes committed by the Nazis, who killed 6 million European Jews and also targeted Roma people and sexual minorities.

The International Day of Commemoration honors the memories of the millions of victims killed in targeted genocide and presses for action to prevent future genocide from occurring.
The United States is launching a virtual summit for democracy on Thursday, hosting more than 100 world leaders, civil society activists and journalists in what it says is the largest gathering of its kind ever held. As VOAs Senior Diplomatic Correspondent Cindy Saine reports, the State Department says America is approaching the global attack on democracy with humility and confidence.
The responsibility for leading the fight against the Islamic State terror group in Iraq has now shifted from the United States and its coalition allies to Iraqi security forces.

Iraqi officials made the announcement early Thursday, saying U.S. and coalition forces would remain only to provide support as needed.

"Cooperation will continue between Iraqi security forces and the international coalition on an advisory and support level," Major General Saad Maan, head of Iraq's Security and Media Cell, told reporters.

In a statement issued by the U.S.-led Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve, the deputy commander of the Joint Operations Command for Iraq, Lieutenant General Abdul Amir al-Shammari, said the timing was right.

"Our soldiers have demonstrated their ability to maintain the defeat of Daesh," al-Shammari said. "We look toward the future with hope, providing stability, security, and prosperity for the men and women of Iraq."

Plans for the U.S. to end its combat operations in Iraq were first announced following a meeting between Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi and U.S. President Joe Biden at the White House this past July.

The agreement called for the U.S. to end combat operations in Iraq by the end of the year, though U.S. officials said at the time that the change would not signal the end of the threat from the Islamic State group, also known as ISIS and Daesh.

"Nobody is going to declare 'mission accomplished,'" a senior U.S. official said at the time. "We recognize you have to keep pressure on these networks as they seek to reconstitute, but the role for U.S. forces and coalition forces can very much recede."

Major General Frank McKenzie, the top U.S. commander in the Middle East, said in an Associated Press interview, that despite a U.S. drawdown from Iraqi bases, the Iraqis still want to retain the U.S. presence and engagement within the country.

So as long as they want it, and we can mutually agree thats the case  were going to be there, McKenzie said.

On Thursday, U.S. military officials expressed confidence that the new arrangement will keep IS on its heels.

"We are confident that the fruits of our strong partnership will ensure Daesh will not reconstitute," the commander of the U.S.-led coalition in Iraq, Major General John Brennan, aid in a statement. "We will remain here to advise, assist, and enable the ISF [Iraqi Security Forces], at the invitation of Republic of Iraq."

Despite the announcement, U.S. military officials have said the current state of anti-IS operations in Iraq is unlikely to change.

Pentagon press secretary John Kirby told reporters Thursday that the approximately 2,500 U.S. troops currently in Iraq are staying, at least for now.

"This is a change in mission, not a change in physical posture," Kirby said. "There won't be a dramatic shift from yesterday to tomorrow."

"The vast majority of what they've been doing for a while has been advise, assist and train," he said, adding those forces will retain the right to defend themselves if they are attacked.

Recent data from the U.S.-led coalition appears to support Kirby's claims, showing a dramatic decrease in the number of U.S. and coalition airstrikes against IS targets  with just three such strikes in the three months period from June to August, compared to 31 strikes over the previous five months.

U.S. and Western officials also note that Iraqi forces have managed some major successes, including the capture of one of IS's most senior leaders, Sami Jasim Muhammad al-Jaburi, also known as Hajji Hamid, this past October.

But some recent reports have also cast doubt on the ability of Iraqi forces to lead the fight against IS.

"The Iraqi Security Forces continued to demonstrate poor operational security, a lack of reliable information on operations against ISIS, complacency, and poor tactical control and coordination of strike assets," acting Defense Department Inspector General Sean O'Donnell wrote in a report released last month.

The report further quoted the U.S.-led coalition as saying that Iraqi forces made "no significant achievement," when carrying out anti-IS operations without coalition assistance.

VOA's Steve Herman and Carla Babb contributed to this report. Some information came from Reuters.
Tanzanians this week are marking the 60th anniversary of independence from Britain, and a long journey toward the goal of building their own, democratic nation. But despite forming a multiparty system, Tanzania has always been dominated by one party, the Party of the Revolution.
On Dec. 9-10, U.S. President Joe Biden will host a virtual Summit for Democracy that will bring together world leaders, civil society and the private sector to "set forth an affirmative agenda for democratic renewal and to tackle the greatest threats faced by democracies today through collective action."

The summit is part of Biden's campaign pledge to strengthen democracy around the world at a time when autocratic governments are on the rise.

Here's what we know about the event.

What is the goal?

The summit's goals are to strengthen democracy, defend against authoritarianism, address corruption and promote human rights.

According to the Biden administration, leaders will be encouraged to announce "specific actions and commitments to meaningful internal reforms" in line with those goals.

It's unclear how many attendees' commitments will translate into action. While their pledges will not be legally binding, governments will still need their constituents' support and resources to turn them into something beyond lip service.

"If you look at the agenda, it's really abstract," said Stacie Goddard, the Mildred Lane Kemper professor of political science at Wellesley College. Goddard told VOA she wants to see a more practical approach, such as working groups on election security.

Steven Feldstein, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, said the meeting shows a pretty significant break from the [former U.S. President Donald] Trump administration, so that's important. And I think the kind of subsequent year of action that the Biden administration has announced will really be the proof of concept.

Christopher Walker, vice president for studies and analysis at the National Endowment for Democracy, struck a similar chord.

"The mobilization and the awareness raising and the focusing of the collective mind on these important democracy issues has already been a very salutary step taken by the administration," he said.

Walker said part of the summit's goal is to implement cooperation between governments and civil society, including on issues such as transnational corruption.

An early result may be more targeted actions by a smaller group of countries. In a briefing to reporters last week, senior administration officials said they were set to disclose a list of countries that had pledged to work together to curb exports of technology that could be used by repressive governments and others to violate human rights.

The administration said there would be follow up consultations in the so-called "year of action." Biden will host an in-person summit in about a year to "take stock of the progress made and forge a common path ahead."

Who is coming?

More than 100 countries have been invited, including liberal democracies, weaker democracies and even several states with authoritarian characteristics.

According to Freedom House's Democracy Index, 77 invited countries rank as "free" or fully democratic; 31, "partly free"; and three, "not free."

"There's a very large tent in terms of how the Biden administration chose to organize the summit," Feldstein told VOA. He pointed to the three of those invited categorized as "not free" by Freedom House: Iraq, Angola and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The guest list has raised questions  for example, why certain countries were invited and not others. Bosnia-Herzegovina, which scored 53 in Freedom House's index, was not invited, but Kosovo, score 54, was invited alongside the nine other Balkan countries. Pakistan, which had a score of 37, made the list, while Sri Lanka, score 56, did not.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki told VOA that an invitation does not mean a U.S. stamp of approval.

"Every democracy is a work in progress. And it doesn't mean that we are giving the opposite of a stamp of approval or a negative stamp to people who are not invited. This is just meant to be  to include and invite a diverse set of voices, countries who can speak to our global effort to protect democracy," Psaki said.

Several factors play a role in determining the guest lists, Feldstein said, such as regional dynamics and U.S. strategic interests, including using the summit to encourage a country's movement toward democracy.

The administration is also inviting very small states. Around 30 countries with populations under 1 million will be attending.

Is it meant to rally the world against Russia and China?

While the summit is not solely about rallying the world against Russia and China, it is an opportunity for Biden to mobilize support against what he sees as increasing Russian and Chinese authoritarian influence, Goddard said.

"It's a soft version of 'you're with us or you're against us,'" she said. "Bringing together democracies is in many ways is a strategy that's designed to draw a line between the United States and its allies and Russia and China and really try to call on those states to choose a little bit."

Goddard said this approach is making some states uncomfortable, including South Korea and Germany which depend on China for their economic prosperity. Taiwan's invitation is a particular source of frustration to China, which considers the self-governing island a breakaway province.

On Wednesday, a day before the summit, a senior Pakistani official who declined to speak on the record confirmed to VOA that Islamabad will not be attending. The official said Pakistan firmly supports the One-China Policy and Taiwans participation at the democracy summit is not in line with Islamabads long-standing stance.

We will continue engaging with summit participants and non-participants alike to address ways to strengthen democracy, promote respect for human rights, and fight corruption, whether that work occurs within or outside of the summit framework, a senior Biden administration official told VOA in response to the snub from Pakistan.

Last week, two ambassadors to the United States, Anatoly Antonov of Russia and Qin Gang of China published a rare joint opinion article assailing the summit as "an evident product of its Cold-War mentality" that would "stoke up ideological confrontation and a rift in the world, creating new 'dividing lines.'"

Responding to criticism that the summit is divisive, Psaki said the United States will always continue working to strengthen democracy around the world.

"That's nothing we're going to apologize for," she said.

China has countered with its own hastily arranged summit called the International Forum on Democracy: The Shared Human Values in early December, with topics including pluralistic origins of democracy and China's view of democracy.

According to the state-backed China.org.cn, the forum brought together more than 500 participants from more than 120 countries. A closer search on Chinese state media found no list of who the attendees are other than these numbers.

Doesn't the U.S. have its own issues with democracy?

For the first time, the U.S. was labeled a "backsliding democracy" in the 2021 report released in November by the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance.

The European think tank moved the U.S. down on the democratic scale, noting that the historic turning point came when Trump baselessly questioned the results of the 2020 elections, which culminated in the storming of the U.S. Capitol building on Jan. 6 by supporters of the former president.

Similar pessimism on American democracy is reflected in a new poll by the Harvard University Kennedy School's Institute of Politics. According to the poll, 52% of young people in the U.S. believe that the country's democracy is either "in trouble" or "failed." Only 7% said that it is "healthy."

Some have questioned whether the U.S. has moral standing to host the summit.

"The U.S. record of democracy is anything but glorious. The storming of the Capitol is still fresh in everybody's memory," said Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Le Yucheng.

The administration says it is precisely the ability to acknowledge imperfections and confront them transparently  a strength which is unique to democracies  that the summit is meant to showcase.
Bill Murray once said that everybody gets a year and half to be an asshole when they first get famous. After that, they have to figure it out. Well, Ursula Corbero can officially enter her asshole era if she so chooses, cuz Madonna is a fan. Yes, that Madonna. While doing her late-night TV debut on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Corbero explained how Madonna approached her during a layover in London. Apparently, Madonna started tying her shoe in Corberos lap (!!!), explaining that she was a fan of the Netflix show, and that Tokyo is her favorite character. The woman was too stunned to speak, as the TikTok sound goes. Madonna said Do you know who I am? To which Corbero responded, Youre fucking Madonna. The two exchanged numbers, and Madonna immediately sent a follow-up text: Darling, you forgot your passport in your seat. The stewardess has it.

Related
Photo: Philippe Bosse/Netflix

Not too long ago, LGBTQ+ people who wanted to see themselves represented in holiday movies could either (a) pretend or (b) settle for a second-rate film with a queer character who had very few lines, ambition, or development.

Early in the contemporary holiday queer canon, The Family Stone, which stars gay icon Sarah Jessica Parker as a (shocker) snobby New Yorker spending the holidays at her boyfriends family home, became queer canon for its B-plot gay couple with ambitions to adopt a baby. And while the film is still worth an annual watch, so much more has happened in seasonal cinema since SJPs iconic spilled-strata scene with matriarch Diane Keaton. That is, queer holiday films actually center queer people now  same-sex holiday revelers crush and fall in love, break up, regain romance, and just live the same celebratory December existence every heterosexual (or closeted) character has gotten for, well, ever.

Now if we could just get a smart, well-written, celebrity-cast lesbian Hanukkah rom-com.

Under the Christmas Tree (2021)

Lifetimes new and first-ever lesbian Christmas movie is a legitimately good queer film in which the main character, Alma (Elise Bauman), is not only accepted by her Maine-based, small-Christmas-business-owner parents for being a lesbian but also encouraged to fall in love with out-of-town stranger Charlie (Tattiawna Jones). Cheesy as it is, the premise is as sweet as it is predictable with plenty of fun, memorable scenes and unexpected moments thrown in. And perhaps against all odds, theres at least one decent queer-sex joke in this PG-rated made-for-TV seasonal flick, which definitely has annual-watch potential.

Where to watch: Lifetime

Christmas at the Ranch (2021)

Corporate city girl returns back home to her small town to save the family business and fall in love with the family ranch hand? Classic trope, except this time, the meet-cute is between two women. Haley (Laur Allen) and Kate (Amanda Righetti) have an irresistibly adorable chemistry from their first few dating-app messages. The plot is, again, predictable from the first few minutes, and the cheesiness is palpable, but thats part of the charm.

Where to watch: Tello Films

Single All the Way (2021)

A hyperfamiliar, perhaps way-too-overdone heteronormative plot flipped to be gay? So! Here! For! It! Netflixs first true gay Christmas movie (2019s Let It Snow has a cute queer-teen subplot) follows plant daddy Peter (Michael Urie) as he heads home to New Hampshire with his best friend and pretend boyfriend, Nick (Philemon Chambers), to avoid his moms (Kathy Najimy) nagging about his perpetual single status. A Christmas-loving mom who cant wait for her wholesome son to meet a nice man? So much so that she gives him a blind date with a hot guy as an early gift? Too cute. The friends-to-pretend-lovers-to-actual-lovers plot is only sweetened by the lovely appearance of Jennifer Coolidge as the cool, sex-positive aunt.

Where to watch: Netflix

Happiest Season (2020)

Perhaps the most highly anticipated lesbian rom-com ever (oh, wait, there are only like, well, zero), Kristen Stewarts not-home-for-the-holidays Hulu debut was the quar must-watch of 2020. Dont be fooled, this holiday flick is neither rom nor com (though it was billed as such), but it certainly is heartwarming with plenty of subplots to debate during an annual rewatch. Should Stewart really end up with Aubrey Plazas character instead of the girlfriend she celebrates Christmas with (Mackenzie Davis)? Discuss.

Where to watch: Hulu

The Christmas Setup (2020)

Lifetimes first gay Christmas movie is a love story between (surprise!) two cis, white, pretty fit men (who are husbands in real life!), but it still has its merits. Manhattan lawyer Hugo (Ben Lewis) returns home to Milwaukee with his quirky best friend, Madelyn (Ellen Wong), to hang with his pushy mom, (Fran Drescher), for a very festive week leading up to Christmas. Naturally, Hugo runs into his teenage crush, Patrick (Blake Lee), now a tech billionaire who spends his time volunteering. With some nudging from his mom, Hugo catches feelings for Patrick while trying to save his neighborhoods historic train station. Formulaic in the best sense, this 90-minute film proved that the holiday rom-com is without a doubt queer friendly and that its just necessary to tell heartwarming same-sex love stories in the same format as decades of heteronormative romances.

Where to watch: Lifetime

Season of Love (2019)

Truly the first lesbian holiday rom-com (looked over because it didnt have big-name celebrities starring in or directing it), this ensemble-based Christmas movie is like Love, Actually minus all the creepy, sad stuff. The escapist film follows three lesbian couples, all joyful during the most wonderful time of year, and is full of queer in-jokes but can be widely enjoyed by all.

Where to watch: Tello Films

Carol (2015)

Based on Patricia Highsmiths lesbian pulp novel The Price of Salt, Carol became queer canon before it even hit theaters thanks to Cate Blanchett and Rooney Maras star power and palpable onscreen sparks. Set in the 1950s, Carol tells the love story of Therese Belivet (Mara), a 20-something aspiring New York City photographer and department-store clerk, and suburban mom Carol Aird (Blanchett), who remains best friends with her former lover Abby (Sarah Paulson). Set at Christmastime, Therese and Carols meet-cute begins when the sophisticated shopper forgets her winter gloves at the toy counter where Therese works and Therese takes it upon herself to return them to their sultry owner.

Where to watch: Tubi or Pluto
Given that governments and corporations have outsourced so much of their network management, and given how the internet has become as essential as other necessities such as water and electricity, it would be useful to think of cloud services as a public utility of sorts  with all of the requisite disclosure and supervision that comes with that.After all, its hazardous out there. Microsoft said on Monday that a federal court gave it the go-ahead to seize 42 websites from Chinese hackers who had been on intelligence-gathering sprees targeting government agencies, think tanks, universities and human rights organizations. Last week, a rural electric utility in Colorado serving 34,000 customers disclosed that a recent hack of its network led to 90% of internal controls and systems becoming corrupted, broken or disabled. It also said that a majority of historical data dating back more than 20 years was lost.
Nonetheless, offering NATO consultations and renewed U.S. attention on the Minsk process is itself a concession to Putin. To start, it pretends that Russia has been a good-faith actor in peace talks for the last seven years. But Ben Hodges, the former commander of the U.S. Army in Europe and the Pershing fellow at the Center for European Policy Analysis, said Russia has undermined the agreement in recent years by thwarting European attempts to monitor flashpoints in the Ukrainian war. To this day, Russia denies its forces are in Luhansk and Donetsk and says it cannot withdraw troops that are not there.
Johnson is hoping a resignation and an investigation will draw a line under matters, and it might for a time. Over the last year, I suspect many people have bent the rules. But Christmas 2020 was a grim national moment. Many families couldnt see loved ones or even visit the dying in hospitals. NHS doctors and nurses were working around the clock, many of them falling ill with Covid, too. Some 170,000 death certificates have Covid-19 listed on them, the majority after last November.
Under the 2015 accord, in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions imposed because of suspicions around its nuclear program, Iran agreed that for 15 years it would not enrich uranium beyond 3.7% -- the concentration of the fissile isotope uranium-235 needed for nuclear power plants. Iran also pledged to limit its enriched-uranium stockpile to 300 kilograms (661 pounds), or about 3% of the amount it held before the deal was struck. But starting a year after the U.S. left the accord and reimposed sanctions that have denied Iran the economic benefits the deal promised, it began to ramp its program back up. Iran has accumulated enough enriched uranium to construct several bombs should its leaders choose to purify the heavy metal to the 90% level typically used in weapons. Moreover, it has not only returned to enriching to 20% but has for the first time gone to 60%, a level of purity the International Atomic Energy Agency says is technically indistinguishable from weapons-grade fuel. International inspectors reported that as of Nov. 6, Iran had stockpiled about 2,180 kilograms of uranium enriched from 2% to 5%, 114 kilograms of the material enriched to 20% purity, and 18 kilograms enriched to 60%.
Studies published in September 2020 focused on the role of an immune substance called interferon that helps orchestrate the bodys defenses. The research found that people with low levels of the substance do poorly in fighting off the coronavirus, suggesting that interferon treatments could help in the early stages of the infection and perhaps prevent life-threatening illness. However, interferon therapy didnt help hospitalized patients in a study reported in October 2021. A number of Covid treatments have lost favor. The WHO in December advised against treating Covid patients with convalescent plasma, a basic version of antibody therapy that involves collecting plasma, the liquid part of blood, from people whove recovered from Covid and developed antibodies to the coronavirus, and transfusing it into those who are still sick. The WHO said the treatment, while costly, doesnt improve survival or reduce the need for mechanical ventilation. U.S. regulators in March 2020 authorized the use of the malaria drugs chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine to treat Covid, and the next June reversed themselves after determining the drugs were unlikely to work against the coronavirus and could have dangerous side effects.
Labor advocates worry that creating an intermediate category would make it easier for companies that currently classify workers as full employees to shove their staff into that bucket instead. Following the passage of Prop 22, the grocery giant Albertsons Cos. announced it would replace drivers, who were classified as employees, with gig workers, reinforcing unions fears that the contract model will spread. A proposed compromise in Connecticut to create a system of gig worker sectoral bargaining over recommended industrywide rules, without making the workers employees, took fire from some companies and labor groups. It was opposed by Uber in part because it didnt specifically designate the workers as contractors, and then was shelved after the AFL-CIO weighed in privately with concerns about how it could affect the groups nationwide advocacy. A similar proposal in New York fizzled in June after some labor advocates objected to draft language restricting strikes and pre-empting existing protections, but its sponsor said she planned to work with the critics and develop a new version.
IsZo, meanwhile, can now focus on executing the business strategy that it hopes will unlock the $40-per-share intrinsic value it has estimated for Nam Tai. Its been a wild ride already. The shares rose almost fivefold between the start of IsZos campaign and June, when they reached $36.90. As of Wednesdays close, they stood at $11.03. The road back may take a while. Be careful what you wish for, as the saying goes: You may just get it.
There may well be a post-pandemic economic recovery under way and India could play a larger part in global value chains, but its clear women wont benefit from this shift. They were badly affected by pandemic job losses and, unlike their male counterparts whove mostly gone back to work, women account for half of all those forced out, and kept out. Thats despite the fact that they were less than a quarter of the pre-pandemic work force, according to the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy. We should look at these numbers and weep, Bhattacharya said, and yet there are no protests in the street pressing for change. Yes, the percentage of women turning out to vote in state and federal elections has increased and is now on par with mens, but it hasnt moved the needle either inside or outside the home.So where does Shah Rukh Khan fit in?
The program, formally known as the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP) and referred to as the Remain in Mexico policy, was reinstated after the Biden administration and Mexican government reached a deal earlier this month. Border-crossing migrants from countries in the Western Hemisphere can now begin the legal process for asylum in the United States but must return to Mexico while they await the adjudication of their claims, which can take months.
At the equivalent of $6.25 for a standard 750-milliliter bottle, this box  and several Ive recommended over the past few years  would be a great economical choice to serve at a holiday party. The wine is cabernet sauvignon with 10 percent Pais, the Chilean name for the Mission grape brought to South America by the Spanish colonists. So not only are you tasting what modern Chile does best (inexpensive cabernet), but youre also tasting history. The wine is certified sustainable, and the empty container weighs just 220 grams, about half the weight of a light standard bottle. Thats a considerable savings in terms of carbon footprint for shipping the wine, considering four 450-gram bottles would weigh 1,800 grams, or more than eight times the weight of the bag-in-box format. An economist could probably put that in better perspective, in terms of carbon savings to the planet, as well as money savings to the producer and to us. Alcohol by volume: 13 percent.
Today, Hildreth trims two trees: one for his front porch and one for his living room. The outdoor tree is nature-themed, although it has needed some adjustments over the years. He started by using pine cones, peanut butter and birdseed to draw in birds, but his porch devolved into woodland chaos, he said. Every squirrel in the region was trying to get in. Now, he uses an array of plastic fruit ornaments from American Plant that he swears look real.
But nerves quickly arose ahead of the evening, and India reached out to friends for advice. They told her to not be attached to any kind of outcome and to just be yourself. After putting on makeup and a simple black dress, she left her apartment. But she was so nervous that she walked out in her slippers. She made it a few feet into the hallway before noticing that something was off. She went back, put on appropriate shoes and headed for the Metro to get to the Gatsby restaurant in Navy Yard.
When he came over to talk to us, he acted as though he was just one of the fellows. He didnt come into the space and try to take it over. Instead, he made us feel like he was one of us.
A few years later, he was accepted into a prestigious leadership-development program in the State Department. But he told the Philadelphia Inquirer that he could not believe it when his name was proposed soon after for an ambassadorship. People from my area of specialization, administration, dont get many opportunities for envoy jobs, he said, adding that he saw the possibility as a metaphor of hope for the underclass in the United States.
7 U.N. peacekeepers killed in Mali: The United Nations said seven U.N. peacekeepers were killed and three injured when their vehicle hit an explosive device in Mali. U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said it was one of the highest death tolls in attacks on U.N. peacekeepers in Mali. He said the vehicle was carrying peacekeepers from Togo. Attacks on the army by groups linked to al-Qaeda began in 2015. Insecurity has worsened with attacks on civilians and U.N. peacekeepers.
After his comorbidity-laden encounter with covid-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, survived only because of the extraordinary medical intervention his position afforded him, Mr. Trump did not rush to apologize to the Gold Star families hed exposed to the disease. No. Instead, he went on Fox News to blame those very families for infecting him, though he knew hed tested positive before gathering with them.
Ms. Marcus commented on New York State Pistol & Rifle Association v. Bruen and the Second Amendment by writing, After all, the amendments text speaks of the right to bear arms. Why did she stop there? The right to bear arms is based on A well regulated Militia being necessary to the security of a free state. Do we need a well regulated Militia nowadays? Why do gun rights activists neglect to read the intent of the Second Amendment, but rather interpret it as ones right to bring a loaded weapon to school and kill four students?
Under the program, jurisdictions in rural areas too sparsely populated to support public schools of their own can arrange to have nearby schools teach their school-age children. Or the state will pay tuition to parents to send their kids to private schools. But those schools must be nonsectarian, meaning they cannot promote a faith or belief system or teach through the lens of this faith, in the words of the states department of education
James has requested to take Trumps testimony on Jan. 7 at her New York office as part of a civil investigation into whether his company committed financial fraud in the valuations of properties to different entities, people familiar with the matter told The Washington Post.
Pedestrians, some wearing protective face masks to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, walk in street market in Paris on Dec. 31. (AP)

The potential tightening of Frances vaccine passport system has sparked protest from anti-vaccination activists and extremist politicians, though polls suggest a majority of the country supports such passes.
We certainly could suddenly wake up and see something similar to that, given the logic of the unfolding events, Ryabkov said, according to Russian state news agency RIA Novosti. That will be a failure of diplomacy. But there is still time to try to come to an agreement on a sensible basis.
Its a rather simple surgery in theory, but public hospitals will almost always turn patients away because we are aware of the risks involved in doing something thats not explicitly okayed by the government, said Yang, the director of a hospital in Jingzhou city, Hubei province, who gave only part of his name for fear of punishment for speaking to foreign media. The fundamental policy is that China needs more childbirths.
The prime ministers former top aide, Dominic Cummings, has charged that Carrie plays an oversized role in the inner circle, with great influence over both policy and personnel. Carries defenders have told the British press her role is appropriate  and that the charges by Cummings and others are smears designed to undermine political spouses.
Macron has not officially declared his reelection bid  and he refused to say anything about it Thursday  but he is widely expected to run. The E.U. presidency could give him a way to present himself as Europes de facto leader in the final campaign stretch. It is also possible that he may no longer be the French president by the time the E.U. term ends.
The security situation in Iraq has deteriorated since the U.S. drone strike on Soleimanis convoy. Also killed that night was Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, who commanded Iraqs militia groups, many of them allied with Iran. In the almost two years since his death, that network has fractured, leaving some to pursue their own agendas with increasing independence, and no single leader has been able to bring the factions to heel.
This approach enabled Iran to accumulate a lot more material, work on advanced centrifuges, and maybe other things that we dont know about, all which brought Iran closer than ever before to acquiring a nuclear bomb, said Yoel Guzansky, former head of the Iran desk at Israels National Security Council and a senior fellow at the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS). The nuclear deal was flawed, but at least it put a lid on Irans advancement, which we dont have now.
The chief executive of the mortgage lender Better.com has apologised for the way he laid off about 900 employees over Zoom last week, saying that he blundered the execution.

In a letter to employees dated on Tuesday (US time), the executive, Vishal Garg, wrote that he failed to show the appropriate amount of respect and appreciation for those who were laid off. In doing so, I embarrassed you, he wrote in the letter, which was published on Better.coms website.

Vishal Garg, chief executive and founder of Better.com, a mortgage lending company backed by SoftBank. Credit:Fred R. Conrad/ The New York Times

Last week, Garg announced over a Zoom call that about 9 per cent of the staff would be laid off.

This is the second time in my career Im doing this and I do not  do not want to do this, he said in the call, recordings of which were widely shared online. The last time I did it, I cried. This time I hope to be stronger.
For six days on the stand as the ultimate witness at her own criminal trial, Elizabeth Holmes deflected blame, regretted mistakes and lamented that she suffered years of abuse at the hands of her second-in-command at Theranos who was also her boyfriend.

The 37-year-old entrepreneur will soon learn whether her bold gambit to address the jury in person keeps her out of prison.

Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes is facing multiple conspiracy and fraud charges. Credit:Bloomberg

As Holmes reached the final stage of testifying this week, a federal prosecutor continued to chip at her credibility, while she alternated between making uncomfortable admissions, failing to recall certain events and denying others.

When her lawyer got a chance to change the subject, Holmes returned to the earlier defence theme of blaming others. She took particular aim at Theranos President Ramesh Sunny Balwani, her former romantic partner, for the rosy forecasts about the companys financial prospects and its blood-testing technology that are the basis of the fraud charges against the pair.
Nurse Lydia Joyce was two days away from starting a new job when she had her second miscarriage.

I thought, who is going to hire someone that has to go on leave straight away? I thought it was better to tell them I had gastro rather than tell them the truth, Ms Joyce, 37, from Clyde, says.

Nurse Lydia Joyce said that we need to normalise conversations around pregnancy and the workplace. Credit:Luis Enrique Ascui

Worried about the stigma around pregnancy and miscarriage, she didnt tell anyone what she was going through and started work a few days later.

A survey conducted by hiring platform Indeed found that employees and employers are out of sync when it comes to recruitment. The Job Seeking and Recruiting Dilemmas survey has shown that employers and prospective employees have conflicting ideas when it comes to disclosing personal information about pregnancy, and interview expectations.
Less than one month ago I returned from COP26  one of the most critical global climate meetings in a generation. The Fijian delegation went to Glasgow with the interests of the Pacific and Small Island Developing States at the centre of our approach. We knew from experience that we were involved in a long-term process.

But we also knew that COP26 needed to resolve, as a matter of urgency, a number of issues that were holding up progress on both mitigation of climate change and adaptation to its impacts.

Some Fijians are already retreating to higher ground. Credit:Tourism Fiji

While we were pleased that the parties agreed to stay on track to keep warming to under 1.5 degrees, we are deeply concerned that the pledges made so far will not take us there. It is also clear that many, including Australia, have placed far too much emphasis on net zero by 2050, given that the best hope for limiting temperature rise to below 1.5 degrees is contingent on what we do between now and 2030.

The agreement in the Glasgow climate pact to review and upgrade 2030 targets by 2022 was therefore one of the most welcome outcomes of COP26. All signatory parties will have to bring greater ambition and more robust policies to COP27 next year, particularly the largest emitters  and Australia is in the top 20 of global emitters. We encourage Australia to reconsider its recent comments that it will not revisit its 2030 targets. The opportunity to contest this vital tenet of the pact was during COP26, not after it.
Victorian health authorities are investigating another two suspected cases of the Omicron variant in the community, but are not aiming to wipe it out.

The cases are in addition to two detected on Wednesday, which authorities said were still under investigation.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews during a visit to the Angliss Restaurant in Melbourne on Thursday. Credit:AAP

However, Premier Daniel Andrews said it was unlikely the government would tighten restrictions to guard against the Omicron strain. Mr Andrews said Victorias high vaccination rate (91 per cent of those aged 12 and over) meant it had greater protection than some other communities, such as Britain.

We are not chasing an Omicron-zero strategy  that is not a smart thing to do, that will not be achieved, he said on Thursday.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison says he understands and respects why Gladys Berejiklian wants to go in a different direction rather than enter federal politics, ahead of an announcement expected on Friday by the former NSW premier about her future.

Mr Morrison made public appeals to Ms Berejiklian over the past week to consider running as the Liberal candidate in the federal seat of Warringah, where the party faces an uphill battle against the incumbent independent MP, Zali Steggall.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison and then NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian at a press conference in February. Credit:Kate Geraghty

Ms Berejiklian made no comment throughout the week of speculation but is expected to make a statement on Friday. Several people close to the former premier - who was a Commonwealth Bank general manager before entering politics - indicated she had received numerous approaches from the corporate sector since resigning.

The Herald reported on Thursday that Ms Berejiklian would rule herself out of the race by the end of the week.
Gladys Berejiklian is expected to rule herself out of running for the federal seat of Warringah amid mounting pressure to make her position known, while her successor as NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet criticised federal colleagues for undermining public confidence in the corruption watchdog.

As Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he suspected Ms Berejiklian would not nominate, on Wednesday night a federal government source told the Herald: She is a professional politician who knows not to let the speculation go for much longer.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he suspected Gladys Berejiklian would not run for the seat of Warringah. Credit:Dylan Coker

Ms Berejiklian has not commented on the Warringah proposition, but sources close to her noted she was not responsible for the conjecture nor had she voiced an interest in federal politics. Other Liberal sources also said the former premier was increasingly unlikely to run and had told people as much in recent days.

Two days after publicly campaigning for Ms Berejiklian to pursue federal politics, Mr Morrison on Wednesday played down the chances of it happening.
London: Boris Johnson has apologised over a secret Downing Street Christmas party allegedly held at the height of last years lockdown as he announced tougher COVID-19 restrictions including working from home and vaccine passports.

The British Prime Minister came under sustained attack by the opposition and his own MPs as he attempted to distance himself from the alleged gathering held at his official residence last year.

Allegra Stratton, the Prime Ministers then spokeswoman who was caught joking on camera about the contentious Christmas party, wept as she delivered a statement to journalists outside her home before resigning from her job as an adviser.

My remarks seemed to make light of the rules, rules that people were doing everything to obey; that was never my intention, she said.
Historical Images of Ogden Highlighted in New Book by Weber State Special Collections

December 9, 2021

OGDEN, Utah  The Head of Special Collections at Weber State Universitys Stewart Library has authored a new book highlighting historical images of Ogden, taken by one prolific photographer at the turn of the 20th century.

Sarah Langsdon curated the photos and wrote the text for Images of America: Ogden: The Charles Maccarthy Images. The book features rare photos taken by Charles Maccarthy from 1890 to the 1940s. Mccarthy moved to Ogden in the 1870s, and was a railroad worker and photographer who took his camera everywhere, often stopping people on the street to ask if he could take their picture. Throughout his lifetime, Maccarthy took thousands of images, all of which he kept. His family preserved these photographs and shared them with Weber States Special Collections.

I loved going to the family home and spending hours digging through trunks that held cigar boxes full of negatives and prints, Langsdon said. Each image transported me back to a different time in Ogdens history and quite often gave me photographic evidence of events that I never knew happened.

Besides taking images of his family, Maccarthy photographed parades in Ogden that seemed to happen for every occasion. The events he photographed ranged from the arrival of the circus, to the Fish and Wildlife Federation of Utah, to the impromptu parade to celebrate the end of World War I. Maccarthy even captured the 50th anniversary of the completion of the transcontinental railroad. Langsdons book includes 220 of these images, many which have never been seen by the public.

I was fascinated by the images that showed all the different parades and events that occurred in Ogden, including images of circus elephants advertising local businesses or Woodrow Wilson coming through Ogden on his whistle stop tour to advocate for the United Nations, Langsdon said.

Images of America: Ogden: The Charles Maccarthy Images is organized into chapters that focus on family, city life, events, railroad, Ogden Canyon and images from his vacations. There are photographs of Saltair long before its destruction, which depict rides, roller coasters and swimming on the Great Salt Lake. Readers also get to experience the early days of Lagoon amusement park and the splendor of Ogden Canyon.

"I am so excited to finally be able to publish this book. I have worked with the family for years to discover these images, Langsdon said. It is so wonderful to be able to share them with Ogden as a whole.

The book is available online and in local stores. Langsdon has written four other books highlighting Ogden and its citizens as well as life during World War II in Weber County as part of Arcadia publishers focus on local history.

For photos, visit this link.

Visit weber.edu/wsutoday for more news about Weber State University.
NEW YORK (AP)  The sex-abuse trial of Ghislaine Maxwell was paused Thursday after it was announced that an attorney on the case had gotten sick.

U.S. District Judge Alison Nathan told the jury in Manhattan federal court that an attorney was ill and has to get care. She did not identify the attorney, but said there was no reason to believe the illness was related to the coronavirus.
GREENWICH  Greenwich Hospital reported its first cases of the omicron variant of COVID-19, but officials said Wednesday that both cases were mild and did not require hospitalizations.

Both cases were identified at the hospitals testing site Tuesday, Greenwich Hospital President Diane Kelly said. One patient is from Fairfield County and the other is from Westchester County, N.Y., she said.

My understanding is they were fully vaccinated, said Dana Marnane, vice president of public relations at Greenwich Hospital. But it was not clear whether they had received booster shots, she said.

One patient showed no symptoms, and one had very mild symptoms, Kelly said. Neither of those patients are being treated in the hospital.

It is too soon to draw conclusions about any potential dangers from the new omicron variant, she said. We all have to wait and see, Kelly said.

She also stressed the importance of everyone age 5 and up receiving the COVID-19 vaccine as well as the booster.

Given we are seeing some breakthrough cases and we are seeing a surge, people should do everything they can to protect their own health as well as those in their world that they love and care for as well as the general community, Kelly said..

I dont think this is the time for people to be applying their own medical expertise. We really need to follow the experts and theyre recommending the vaccination and the booster shot, she said.

A Hartford County man in his 60s was diagnosed with Connecticuts first confirmed case of the omicron variant, state officials said over the weekend, but he appears to have not developed serious symptoms.

Little is yet known about omicron, which was discovered less than a month ago in South Africa, aside from it having a number of mutations  34 on the spike gene. Researchers globally are working quickly to determine what characteristics this strain possesses. Health officials at the local, state and federal levels are concerned whether this variant can spread more rapidly or evade immunity even among those vaccinated.

First Selectman Fred Camillo advised residents not to change their habits, but said everyone should continue to take precautions against COVID-19, including wearing masks and getting vaccinated.

We will get through it, Camillo said Wednesday.

Number of cases

Overall in Greenwich, there have been 6,222 diagnosed cases of COVID-19 since the pandemic began in March 2020. That is a jump of 98 patients since Nov. 30, town officials said Wednesday. Of those cases, 98 are considered active by the town Department of Health.

As of Wednesday, there were 10 patients at Greenwich Hospital diagnosed with COVID-19, with one in the intensive care unit, Kelly said. Of those 10 patients, only one had been vaccinated, she said.

The Yale New Haven Health System had 145 COVID-positive patients on Wednesday, Kelly said, an increase of 61 patients over the last two weeks. But at this time in 2020, there were 39 COVID patients in just Greenwich Hospital, which shows the progress that has been made over the last year, she said.

Thats a pretty significant change, Kelly said. We definitely have been making progress. We all believed in the winter months we would start to see a slight increase. And we just have to hope that increase stays low and that it doesnt spike.

A total of 98 town residents diagnosed with COVID-19 have died since the pandemic began, the town reported.

Vaccination numbers

According to the town, 38.84 percent of town residents ages 5 to 11 are now partially vaccinated, with 4.4 percent fully vaccinated in that age cohort. The COVID-19 vaccine was made available in November to that pediatric group.

Also according to the town:

*In the 12 to 17 age group in town, 97.23 percent of residents are partially vaccinated and 88.29 percent are fully vaccinated;

*In the 18 to 24 age group, 94.95 percent are partially vaccinated and 81.17 percent are fully vaccinated;

*In the 45 to 64 age group, 88.98 percent are partially vaccinated and 81.54 percent are fully vaccinated; and

*In the 65 and older age group, 100 percent are partially vaccinated and 90.95 percent are fully vaccinated.

The vaccine rates continue to lag behind in the 25- to 44-year-old age group, but the town said there are signs of improvement. In that group, 76.38 percent of residents are partially vaccinated and 66.76 percent are fully vaccinated. Two weeks ago, 74.94 percent were partially vaccinated.

In total for the entire town, 84.22 percent of eligible residents are partially vaccinated and 71.94 percent are fully vaccinated.

Kelly said she believes the message is getting through about the importance of getting a vaccine for COVID-19.

Please get your vaccine if you havent yet, she said.

Vaccine clinics

Greenwich Hospital is now administering second vaccination doses to pediatric patients ages 5 to 11, Kelly said. In January, the Yale New Haven Health System will resume offering booster shots to all patients as well as providing pediatric vaccines to new patients in January.

She said Greenwich Hospital will be providing boosters of the Pfizer vaccines, which can be administered to all people eligible for boosters regardless of which vaccine they initially received. The hospital is not yet taking appointments for its January booster shots, but Kelly said that would be up on the hospitals website soon.

Our plan has always been to look and see what the community needs and when we see that we think theres an uptick in the need then we put our operations in place, Kelly said.

Booster shots and vaccines are also available at some area pharmacies.

kborsuk@greenwichtime.com
A 29-year-old Evansville man pleaded "guilty as charged" on Wednesday morning to charges stemming from an incident that happened back in 2020, according to the Vanderburgh County Prosecutor's Office.

Andrew Houchin of Evansville pleaded guilty to charges of Criminal Confinement and Battery Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury on Wednesday morning in the Vanderburgh Superior Court. He also pleaded guilty to a Habitual Offender Enhancement.

The charges follow an incident that happened at an apartment on East Michigan Street in November of 2020, where the man who lived there was tied to a chair and hit repeatedly.

The victim told authorities that Houchin had come to his apartment and tied him to a chair. The prosecutor's office says the victim sustained several serious facial injuries during that altercation.

After Houchin ran away, the victim was able to break free from the restraints and call 911.

Deputy Prosecutor Joshua Hutcheson sifted through the defendants social media accounts to locate extremely valuable evidence for this case, explained Vanderburgh County Prosecutor Nick Hermann. Mr. Houchin will now be held responsible for his actions that day.

Houchin's sentencing has been set for Dec. 15 at 10:00 a.m.
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Protocol Assistant, Pretoria, South Africa

Organization: World Health Organization (WHO)

Country: South Africa

City: Pretoria

Office: WHO in Pretoria, South Africa

Grade: G-6

Closing date: Wednesday, 22 December 2021

Protocol Assistant

( 2106452 )

Grade : G6

Contractual Arrangement : Fixed-term appointment

Contract Duration (Years, Months, Days) : 2 years

Job Posting: Dec 2, 2021, 7:23:20 AM

The Country Management Support Units (CSUs) have been established in the organizational structure to provide support for Managers and staff to fully assume their responsibilities in the GSM environment and to secure compliance with organizational policies, procedures, rules and regulations on all administrative and financial matters and transactions in the context of an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

1.Under direct supervision of the Operation Officer, the Protocol/Logistics Assistant provides support to both managers and staff members at the country and GMC offices located in Pretoria in performing Protocol and logistics transactions as follows:2.Provide logistics Assistance to international staff with importation, purchasing and registration of their private vehicles and personal effects,3.Prepare letters, submitting and follow up on the issuance of Visa, collection from Embassies, High Commissions for staff and consultants travelling on official missions,4.Update the calendar reminder for accreditation expiry dates and share with concerned staff at least 60 days prior to the expiry date,5.Receive, record passports and ensure that all documents are attached and delivered within 24 hours to the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), for processing the diplomatic cards,6.Follow up with DIRCO after the stipulated period, if the process has not been completed and inform the concerned staff,7.Ensure the collection and recording of passports in a register before hand over them to staff and within 24 hours of receiving them from DIRCO, Embassies, Consulates,8.Assist the staff to obtain International Driving license from the Transportation Department9.Conduct regular briefings for staff members on requirements for accreditation of staff members and their dependents 10.Coordinates with the support of senior drivers the movement of all WCO drivers and assign any driver for any official trip,11.Participate in the meetings of other agencies on protocol, travel matters pertaining to common cost and management and feedback managers;12.Liaise and negotiate with airlines for price cost/price of tickets13.Follow up the process of annual inspection and insurance policy for all WCO vehicles;14.Manage vehicles fleet daily (Fueling, small maintenance receipts, etc....) and produces a monthly report to the Operations Officer for decision making;15.Collaborates with the Vehicles Disposal Committee after declassification of vehicles.16. Perform any other related duties/responsibilities as required.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: Completion of secondary school with training of general administrative practices with focus on Protocol, Logistics, Procurement and travel practices, theories and procedures. Training in Protocol, fleet management.

Desirable: Training on Protocol practices, Fleet management.

Experience

Essential: 8 years of experience in administrative positions preferably in the field of protocols, travel and logistics.

Desirable: Experience in the UN with sound knowledge of its rules, regulations, procedures and practices as related to the work.

Skills

Work requires maintaining up to date knowledge on any changes to the standard operating procedures. The incumbent is also expected to maintain computer skills including skills on Global Management System, to the standard of the Organization by self-study or in-house training. Knowledge of WHO Rules, regulations, policies and practices would be an asset.

WHO Competencies

Teamwork

Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences

Communication

Producing results

Moving forward in a changing environment

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English.

Desirable: REMUNERATION

WHO offers staff in the General Services category an attractive remuneration package, which for the above position includes an annual net base salary starting at ZAR 382,742 (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance, as applicable) and 30 days of annual leave.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

This vacancy notice may be used to fill other similar positions at the same grade level

Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.

A written test may be used as a form of screening.

In the event that your candidature is retained for an interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.

Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to WHO Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and Manual. c0chmfR Dh7qKS

Staff members in other duty stations are encouraged to apply.

For information on WHOs operations please visit: http://www.who.int.

WHO is committed to workforce diversity.

WHO prides itself on a workforce that adheres to the highest ethical and professional standards and that is committed to put the WHO Values Charter into practice.

WHO has zero tolerance towards sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct (i.e., discrimination, abuse of authority and harassment). All members of the WHO workforce have a role to play in promoting a safe and respectful workplace and should report to WHO any actual or suspected cases of SEA, sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct. To ensure that individuals with a substantiated history of SEA, sexual harassment or other types of abusive conduct are not hired by the Organization, WHO will conduct a background verification of final candidates.

WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.

This post is subject to local recruitment and will be filled by persons recruited in the local commuting area of the duty station.

Link to the organizations job offer: https://unjobs.org/vacancies/1638467253859
BRATISLAVA, SLovakia (AP)  Slovakias government has proposed a plan to give people 60 and older a 500-euro ($568) bonus if they get vaccinated against COVID-19, the finance minister said Wednesday.

A No Entry sign is placed inside a toy store, now serving takeaway, at a shopping center in Bratislava, Slovakia, Thursday, Nov. 25, 2021. The Slovak government approved a two-week national lockdown amid a record surge of coronavirus infections. Prime Minister Eduard Heger said the measures, effective from Thursday, will target all, both unvaccinated and vaccinated. (Pavol Zachar/TASR via AP)

BRATISLAVA, SLovakia (AP)  Slovakias government has proposed a plan to give people 60 and older a 500-euro ($568) bonus if they get vaccinated against COVID-19, the finance minister said Wednesday.

The measure, announced by Finance Minister Igor Matovic, should boost inoculations in the European Union country with one of the bloc's lowest vaccination rates. So far, only 46.1% of the nations 5.5 million people have been fully vaccinated.

The current four-party ruling coalition in Slovakia has been split over the issue. The pro-business Freedom and Solidarity opposed it, saying it was ready to support a 150-euro ($170) bonus only. But the party didnt veto it, making the approval possible.

The bill will now go to Parliament. It would need some opposition support to be approved.

The bonus would be a voucher that could be used in restaurants, cafes, hotels or to buy tickets for sports, theater, cinema, exhibitions or concerts. It could be also used to pay hairdressers or fitness centers.

Matovic said the money from the state will also mean hundreds million euros of extra help for the sectors that are the hardest hit by the pandemic due to government restrictions.

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A total of 1.2 million people who reach 60 this year and older could be eligible. The Finance Ministry expects the measure would cost about 500 million euros ($568 million).

Slovakia entered a two-week nationwide lockdown last Thursday as coronavirus infections reached record levels. Under the lockdown, people can leave their homes only for specific reasons while unvaccinated people are required to get tested to go to work if they have not recovered from COVID-19.

A total of 3,380 COVID-19 patients in Slovakia needed hospital treatment on Tuesday, which is well above the 3,000-bed level considered critical by Slovakias Health Ministry. Almost 85% of them havent been fully vaccinated, the ministry said.

Overall, Slovakia has registered almost 700,000 infected people with 14,503 deaths.

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Follow all AP stories on the pandemic at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic
COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP)  Denmark's government has decided that students up to the 10th grade must study remotely for the last few days before Christmas break and ordered nightclubs, bars and restaurants to close at midnight as part of efforts to counter an uptick in COVID-19 cases.

FILE - People wait in front of La Boucherie on Vestergade in Copenhagen on the night between Thursday, Sept. 2 and Friday, Sept. 3, 2021. Denmark's government has ordered nightclubs, bars and restaurants to close at midnight in an attempt to counter an uptick in COVID-19 cases it was announced on Thursday, Dec. 9, 2021. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said students up to the 10th grade must study remotely for the last few days before Christmas break and banned concerts where the audiences have more than 50 people standing. (Olafur Steinar Gestsson/Ritzau Scanpix via AP, File)

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP)  Denmark's government has decided that students up to the 10th grade must study remotely for the last few days before Christmas break and ordered nightclubs, bars and restaurants to close at midnight as part of efforts to counter an uptick in COVID-19 cases.

Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen also banned concerts where audiences have more than 50 people standing and required restaurant patrons to wear face masks when they aren't seated. She recommended Wednesday that people work from home.

The measures take effect Friday and are set to last for four weeks. The virtual teaching starts on Dec. 15. In Denmark, schools go on Christmas break on Dec. 20.

Speaking of the omicron variant, Frederiksen said that it's expected that the omicron variant "will mean more infected, more sick and thus potentially more hospitalized patients.

Thus, the new variant also entails a significant risk of critically overloading the health service, and that is why we now have to do more, Frederiksen said.

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Norway on Tuesday introduced a 10-person limit for gatherings at private homes, although the number will be increased to 20 on Christmas Eve and New Years Eve. It also is capping attendance at public events without assigned seating at 50. In addition, the government says its advising people to work from home when possible and reintroducing a social distancing requirement for restaurants.

Neighboring Sweden also has recommended that employers give their workers the opportunity to work from home, and face masks are required on public transportation when crowding cant be avoided.

___

Follow all of APs pandemic coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic

___

This story has been corrected to show that Denmarks prime minister is a woman, not a man.
LONDON (AP)  A new European Union plan to improve conditions for the growing number of gig economy workers could mean millions more of them are classified as employees entitled to benefits, the latest setback for digital platforms that rely on independent contractors to deliver food and offer rides.

FILE - A gig economy ridersfor app-based meal delivery platform Deliveroo takes part in a demonstration, near the company headquarters in London, Wednesday, April 7, 2021. The European Union unveiled plans to improve conditions for the growing number of gig economy workers that could reclassify some as employees who must earn benefits, the latest setback for digital platforms that rely on independent contractors to deliver food and offer rides. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, File)

LONDON (AP)  A new European Union plan to improve conditions for the growing number of gig economy workers could mean millions more of them are classified as employees entitled to benefits, the latest setback for digital platforms that rely on independent contractors to deliver food and offer rides.

The draft rules outlined Thursday aim to clarify the labor status of people employed by app-based companies like ride-hailing service Uber and food delivery business Deliveroo and would add oversight for the algorithms they use to manage workers.

Gig economy workers and platforms have fallen between the cracks of existing employment legislation, and the measures being considered by the 27-nation bloc, which would take years to come into force, are aimed at clearing up those gray areas.

App-based gig work platforms have boomed in the digital economy, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic when demand for food delivery services mushroomed. While the apps provide short-term work for millions of people, their rampant growth has upended traditional labor and business models, resulting in showdowns between companies and regulators worldwide. Gig work's flexibility is a selling point for many, but workers also complain that they end up making less than minimum wage after expenses or waiting time are accounted for.

Under the EU rules, which still need approval by the European Parliament, a platform that meets at least two criteria will be deemed an employer" and people working for that company will be reclassified as workers" with the right to a minimum wage, paid vacation, pensions and unemployment and sickness benefits.

The criteria include whether an app decides pay levels; electronically supervises work performance; restricts a worker's freedom to choose work hours, accept jobs or use subcontractors; dictates a worker's appearance and conduct with customers; or limits the possibility for workers to build their own client bases or work for anyone else.

Uber says it's committed to improving work conditions but worries about the EU proposal putting thousands of jobs at risk, crippling small businesses in the wake of the pandemic and damaging vital services that consumers across Europe rely on."

Any EU-wide rules should allow drivers and couriers to retain the flexibility we know they value most, while allowing platforms to introduce more protections and benefits, a statement from the ride-hailing service said.

Amsterdam-based Just Eat Takeaway, which operates in 25 countries and owns brands including GrubHub, said it welcomes and fully supports the proposals and hopes they will provide companies across Europe with clarity and a level playing field. Unlike other food delivery platforms, the company's riders are employed as staff, which it says proves that providing flexibility doesnt have to come at the expense of workers rights.

The European Commission, the EU's executive branch, estimates some 28 million people on the continent are self-employed on digital platforms, rising to 43 million by 2025, but predicts as many as 4.1 million could be reclassified as employees under the rules. The EU has taken a leading global role in cracking down on tech companies to ensure everything from workers' rights to online safety.

Platforms can challenge the classification, but the burden will be on them to prove they are not employers, the commission said.

No one is trying to kill, to stop or to hamper this growth of the platform economy, EU Jobs and Social Rights Commissioner Nicolas Schmit said at a press briefing in Brussels. But it comes down to ensuring that these jobs are quality jobs. ... We don't want this new economy just giving low quality or precarious jobs.

The proposed EU rules are another blow for gig economy companies in Europe. New laws or recent court rulings in Spain, the Netherlands and Britain require food delivery riders and ride-service drivers to be given employee status rather than classified as self-employed freelancers.

There have been more than 100 court decisions across Europe on the issue, with most judges ruling that independent contractors are employees  something the commission took into account as it drafted its directive.

In contrast, Uber and other app-based services avoided an attempt in California to classify workers as employees, though the battle continues in the courts.

The European Commission also wants to force gig work platforms to be more transparent about the algorithms used to manage workers so they can better understand how jobs are assigned and pay is set. People should oversee the algorithms and workers should be able to appeal any automated decisions, it said.

In Spain, gig worker Sebastian Honorato, who makes deliveries by motorbike, said a new national law introduced this year hasn't resulted in the benefits the government promised. He said it's unfair because it only regulates food delivery riders, while others like Amazon package delivery drivers aren't covered.

And instead of hiring gig workers directly, foreign tech platforms in Spain resorted to temporary staffing agencies. Honorata, a spokesman for the Association of Freelance Riders, said he used to bring in over 1,600 euros ($1,800) a month after paying his social security costs but now makes 900 euros in a good month.

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Honorata, who lives in the southern Spanish city of Granada, said delivery workers should be regulated the same way across Europe but worried Brussels' approach could produce results similar to Spain's model.

What we wanted was not to be an employee, nor completely freelancers. We wanted an intermediate model, like they have in California," Honorata said. Before the Spanish law, gig work was an economically viable model, even if it it had a murky legal status. We wanted to give it a legal framework, but not lose any of its viability. Now, it is a disaster.

___

Associated Press writer Joseph Wilson in Barcelona contributed to this report. Follow Kelvin Chan on Twitter.

___

See all of APs tech coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/technology.
U.S. health authorities again expanded the nation's booster campaign Thursday, opening extra doses of Pfizers COVID-19 vaccine to several million 16- and 17-year-olds.

FILE - A medical staff member prepares the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at Tudor Ranch in Mecca, Calif. on Jan. 21, 2021. In the early days of 2021, television screens were filled with images of people across the country getting shots of the new COVID-19 vaccine. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)

U.S. health authorities again expanded the nation's booster campaign Thursday, opening extra doses of Pfizers COVID-19 vaccine to several million 16- and 17-year-olds.

The U.S. and many other nations already were urging adults to get booster shots to pump up immunity that can wane months after vaccination, calls that intensified with the discovery of the worrisome new omicron variant.

On Thursday, the Food and Drug Administration gave emergency authorization for 16- and 17-year-olds to get a third dose of the vaccine made by Pfizer and its partner BioNTech  once they're six months past their last dose. And hours later, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lifted the last barrier as Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the agency's director, issued a statement strongly encouraging those teens to get their booster as soon as it's time.

Ariel Quero, 16, left, a student at Lehman High School, reacts after getting the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine from Katrina Taormina, right, July 27, 2021, in New York. The U.S. is expanding COVID-19 boosters, ruling that 16- and 17-year-olds can get a third dose of Pfizers vaccine. The U.S. and many other nations already were urging adults to get booster shots to pump up immunity that can wane months after vaccination, calls that intensified with the discovery of the worrisome new omicron variant. On Thursday, Dec. 9, 2021 the FDA gave emergency authorization for 16- and 17-year-olds to get a third dose of the vaccine made by Pfizer and its partner BioNTech -- if its been six months since their last shot. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, file)

Boosters are important considering that protection against infection wanes over time and were facing a variant that has the potential to require more immunity to be protected," Walensky told The Associated Press.

About 200 million Americans are fully vaccinated, including about 4.7 million 16- and 17-year-olds, many of whom got their first shots in the spring and would be eligible for a booster.

Vaccination and getting a booster when eligible, along with other preventive measures like masking and avoiding large crowds and poorly ventilated spaces, remain our most effective methods for fighting COVID-19, Dr. Janet Woodcock, acting FDA commissioner, said in a statement.

The Pfizer vaccine is the only option in the U.S. for anyone younger than 18, either for initial vaccination or for use as a booster. Its not yet clear if or when teens younger than 16 might need a third Pfizer dose. But Walensky said the CDC and FDA would closely watch data on 12- to 15-year-olds because if they eventually need boosters, we again will want to act swiftly.

Dr. Rochelle Walensky, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) speaks during an interview with the Associated Press on Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2021, in Atlanta. The U.S. is expanding COVID-19 boosters, opening a third dose of Pfizer's vaccine to people as young as age 16. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Vaccinations for children as young as 5 just began last month, using special low-dose Pfizer shots. By this week, about 5 million 5- to 11-year-olds had gotten a first dose.

The extra-contagious delta variant is causing nearly all COVID-19 infections in the U.S., and in much of the world. Its not yet clear how vaccines will hold up against the new and markedly different omicron mutant. But theres strong evidence that boosters offer a jump in protection against delta-caused infections, currently the biggest threat.

The booster vaccination increases the level of immunity and dramatically improves protection against COVID-19 in all age groups studied so far, BioNTech CEO Ugur Sahin said in a statement.

Complicating the decision to extend boosters to 16- and 17-year-olds is that the Pfizer shot  and a similar vaccine made by Moderna  have been linked to a rare side effect. Called myocarditis, its a type of heart inflammation seen mostly in younger men and teen boys.

The FDA said rising COVID-19 cases in the U.S. mean the benefits of boosters greatly outweighed the potential risk from the rare side effect, especially as the coronavirus itself can cause more serious heart inflammation.

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Health officials in Israel, which already gives boosters to teens, have said the side effect continues to be rare with third doses.

A U.S. study this week offered additional reassurance. Researchers from childrens hospitals around the country checked medical records and found the rare side effect usually is mild and people recover quickly. The research was published Monday in the journal Circulation.

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Associated Press reporter Matthew Perrone contributed to this report.

___

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
One of Canada's biggest food retailers says the pandemic is having a lasting impact on food consumption as consumers continue to spend more at grocery stores and cook at home rather than return to restaurants.

Empire Company Limited announces their Olympic Partnership at their Sobey's office in Mississauga, Ont. on Monday, October 7, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Tijana Martin

One of Canada's biggest food retailers says the pandemic is having a lasting impact on food consumption as consumers continue to spend more at grocery stores and cook at home rather than return to restaurants.

Michael Medline, president and CEO of Empire Co. Ltd. and its subsidiary Sobeys Inc., said the shift appears to be permanent.

"We are seeing a structural change in consumption of food at home," Medline said during a conference call with analysts on Thursday to discuss Empire's second quarter results.

"Customers have seen and experienced the affordability and convenience of eating at home with their families," he said. "We believe there is permanence in this shift."

One of the most notable changes in grocery shopping habits is an ongoing elevated basket size, indicating that consumers are buying more food with each shop.

"We're seeing basket sizes remain at elevated levels," Medline said, adding that in conjunction with the grocer's other data on shopping habits there is evidence of a "permanent shift."

Empire, which owns multiple food retailers including Sobeys, Safeway, IGA, Foodland and FreshCo, earned $175.4 million in its latest quarter, up from $161.4 million in the same quarter last year, helped by a nearly five per cent increase in sales.

Its profit amounted to 66 cents per diluted share for the 13-week period ended Oct. 30, up from 60 cents per diluted share a year earlier.

Sales in what was the company's second quarter totalled $7.32 billion, up from $6.98 billion.

Yet Empire noted that its sales are affected by fluctuations in inflation, with higher prices starting to shape what products shoppers buy.

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"Inflation is unusually high right now," Medline said. "Where we've had unavoidable price increases, we see customers sometimes substituting products within their basket."

Meanwhile, Empire said its sales growth was due to its acquisition of the Longo's supermarket chain earlier this year and higher fuel sales, as well as the expansion of its Farm Boy banner and Voila online grocery service in Ontario and its FreshCo banner in Western Canada.

The gains were offset by a stabilization of shopper behaviour as COVID-19 restrictions were eased across the country.

Same-store sales grew 0.4 per cent compared with a year ago, while same-store sales, excluding fuel, fell 1.3 per cent.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 9, 2021.

Companies in this story: (TSX:EMP.A)
LONDON (AP)  Tech tools like digital contact tracing apps and artificial intelligence that European governments rolled out to combat COVID-19 failed to play a key role in solving the pandemic and now threaten to make such monitoring widely accepted, a new report shows.

A view of an iphone showing the new NHS COVID-19 mobile phone application after the app went live on Thursday morning in London, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2020. A new report group says digital contact tracing apps, artificial intelligence and other tech tools that European governments rolled out to combat COVID-19 failed to play a key role in solving the pandemic and now threaten to make such monitoring widely accepted. The nonprofit research group AlgorithmWatch said Thursday, Dec. 9, 2021 that the health surveillance technologies many countries deployed were often adopted without enough transparency, safeguards or democratic debate. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein, File)

LONDON (AP)  Tech tools like digital contact tracing apps and artificial intelligence that European governments rolled out to combat COVID-19 failed to play a key role in solving the pandemic and now threaten to make such monitoring widely accepted, a new report shows.

The health surveillance technologies that many European countries deployed after the coronavirus pandemic erupted last year were often adopted without enough transparency, safeguards or democratic debate, according to a report released Thursday by AlgorithmWatch, a nonprofit research group that tracks the impact of AI systems.

Authorities scrambled to develop new technologies or use existing ones to combat the virus's spread. They built digital contact tracing apps to track who infected people had been around and later developed vaccine passports to verify people had received COVID-19 shots in order to travel or get into concerts, restaurants and other businesses. Some used drones and devices to enforce social distancing rules.

Many of these systems used automated decision-making technology, which reduced the complex social challenges posed by COVID-19 to a set of technology issues in need of tech solutions, the Berlin-based nonprofit said.

AlgorithmWatch acknowledged that technology played a role in helping save some lives during the pandemic, such as through the use of artificial intelligence to efficiently distribute vaccines.

But the report's authors said the most worrying trend was how the pandemic was used to further entrench and normalize the surveillance, monitoring, measuring and prediction of an increasing number of daily activities  now essentially including public and personal health purposes."

That's an even larger problem considering the bugs, fakery, data leaks" the group says are present in such tools, and the growing number of uses for information from COVID-fighting tech around the world.

Among the group's recommendations: use an evidence based" approach when rolling out automated decision-making technology and clearly limit its use to avoid mass opaque deployments" that are bad for democracy.

The report documented the false starts and pitfalls that came with rushing out new and untested technology, focusing mainly on European countries.

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In the early days of an initial 2020 lockdown, Belgian police planned to use drones to monitor social distancing but dropped the idea after a backlash. There was also a move to use security cameras originally installed to fight serious crime and terrorism in an example of function creep"  where technology is used for a different purpose than originally intended. That brought an expanded risk of a surveillance society," the report said.

Contact tracing apps flourished. Most are based on technology jointly developed by Apple and Google and use Bluetooth signals to anonymously log any smartphones that have been in close, extended contact with a phone belonging to someone who has tested positive.

But uptake was spotty. For example, there's evidence the Cyprus government's tracing app was not widely adopted," the report said.

The Dutch government's CoronaCheck vaccination status app was plagued with glitches. Because of the decentralized and privacy sensitive design, its QR code couldn't be revoked if a user tested positive, allowing continued access to places that required proof of vaccination or a negative test result. It was also possible to manipulate the app to get a fake test result, the report said.

An Estonian chatbot used on a number of public websites gave incorrect information about COVID-19. In one instance in October, it reported there was no vaccination available against the virus.

Poland's government developed an algorithm to verify the tax residence of entrepreneurs so they could qualify for pandemic financial assistance, but it came under fire for not disclosing details about the algorithm that could be used to assess its effectiveness.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP)  West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice has lost another costly court ruling over his coal companies' environmental violations.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP)  West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice has lost another costly court ruling over his coal companies' environmental violations.

A federal judge in Virginia ruled Southern Coal Corp. and two dozen other Justice-owned companies must pay $2.5 million in penalties and clean up mining sites in Tennessee.

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Justice has long battled taxes, fines and court penalties in several states.

A joint filing by the U.S. Department of Justice, Alabama and Tennessee said the company violated a 2016 agreement for environment clean up, the Charleston Gazette-Mail reported.

The agreement, known as a consent decree, required Southern Coal Corp. and two-dozen other companies to pay a $900,000 civil penalty to resolve more than 23,000 water pollution violations.

Chief U.S. District Judge Michael Urbanski ruled Tuesday that the companies failed to maintain water pollution control permits in Alabama and Tennessee and failed to complete mine stabilization work at three Tennessee sites.

Were disappointed in the ruling and are considering our options going forward, certainly including an appeal, Steven Ruby, an attorney for the Justice companies, told the newspaper.

Justice lost another case last month in Kentucky when a judge ordered him and his son, Jay Justice, to pay $2.9 million in fines for cleanup violations in eastern Kentucky.
CALGARY - Premier Jason Kenney used his first address to the Calgary Chamber of Commerce since the start of the pandemic to tout the recovery of Alberta's economy amid high energy prices.

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney speaks after the UCP annual meeting in Calgary on Sunday, Nov. 21, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Larry MacDougal

CALGARY - Premier Jason Kenney used his first address to the Calgary Chamber of Commerce since the start of the pandemic to tout the recovery of Alberta's economy amid high energy prices.

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Saying that 'Alberta is back', he noted that in the first quarter next year the provincial GDP is expected to finally surpass the level it was in 2014 before a crash in oil prices pushed the province into recession.

He says that is a sharp turnaround from the early days of the pandemic when unemployment hit 25 per cent and for close to 10 weeks the province was unable to sell an Alberta government bond.

Kenney says the recovery has been helped by an increase in demand for oil and gas, but argues that it's not part of a roller-coaster in commodities because rising prices show the continued importance of energy.

He used the address to emphasize his United Conservative government's strategy of low taxes to attract investment, noting that the province accelerated its corporate tax cut to make it the lowest in Canada.

Kenney also says his government is focused on attracting more people to the province to boost its labour pool through initiatives like rapid certification programs.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 8, 2021.
NEW YORK (AP)  The Metropolitan Museum of Art is dropping the Sackler name from seven exhibition spaces amid growing outrage over the role the family may have played in the opioid crisis.

FILE - A sign with the Sackler name is displayed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, Thursday, Jan. 17, 2019. The Metropolitan Museum of Art is dropping the Sackler name from seven exhibition spaces amid growing outrage over the role the family may have played in the opioid crisis. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)

NEW YORK (AP)  The Metropolitan Museum of Art is dropping the Sackler name from seven exhibition spaces amid growing outrage over the role the family may have played in the opioid crisis.

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The New York museum and the Sackler family jointly announced on Thursday that the institution and their once-deep-pocketed benefactors would part ways, removing the Sackler name from the iconic building, including the wing that houses the Temple of Dendur. The wing is named after brothers Arthur, Mortimer and Raymond Sackler, who donated $3.5 million for it in the 1970s.

Our families have always strongly supported The Met, and we believe this to be in the best interest of the Museum and the important mission that it serves, Sackler descendants said in a statement.

Arthur, Mortimer and Raymond Sackler have all died, but descendants of Mortimer and Raymond Sackler currently are principal owners of Purdue Pharma, the company that developed OxyContin, a widely prescribed and widely abused painkiller.

In September, a bankruptcy judge conditionally approved a settlement in which the Sacklers agreed to pay $4.5 billion and give up ownership of Purdue Pharma, which would be reorganized. They would in turn receive immunity from future lawsuits. Victims' families and a group of states criticized the deal. Purdue Pharma pleaded guilty to criminal charges in late 2020.

Foundations run by members of the Sackler family have given tens of millions of dollars to museums, including the Guggenheim in New York and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, and funded work at Oxford and Yale.

In recent years, the Guggenheim, the Louvre in Paris, the Tate in London and the Jewish Museum in Berlin have all distanced themselves from the family. In 2019, the Met itself announced it would stop taking monetary gifts from Sacklers connected to Purdue Pharma.
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP)  New Zealand's government believes it has come up with a unique plan to end tobacco smoking  a lifetime ban for those aged 14 or younger.

New Zealand Associate Health Minister Dr. Ayesha Verrall sits in her office in Wellington, New Zealand, Thursday, Dec. 9, 2021. New Zealand's government believes it has come up with a unique plan, that Verrall drafted, to end tobacco smoking  a lifetime ban for those aged 14 and under. (AP Photo/Nick Perry)

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP)  New Zealand's government believes it has come up with a unique plan to end tobacco smoking  a lifetime ban for those aged 14 or younger.

Under a new law the government announced Thursday and plans to pass next year, the minimum age to buy cigarettes would keep rising year after year.

That means, in theory at least, 65 years after the law takes effect, shoppers could still buy cigarettes  but only if they could prove they were at least 80 years old.

In practice, officials hope smoking will fade away decades before then. Indeed, the plan sets a goal of having fewer than 5% of New Zealanders smoking by 2025.

A man sits while smoking on a street in Auckland, New Zealand, Thursday, Dec. 9, 2021. New Zealand's government believes it has come up with a unique plan to end tobacco smoking, a lifetime ban for those aged 14 and under. (AP Photo/David Rowland)

Other parts of the plan include allowing only the sale of tobacco products with very low nicotine levels and slashing the number of stores that can sell them. The changes would be brought in over time to help retailers adjust.

Because the current minimum age to buy cigarettes in New Zealand is 18, the lifetime smoking ban for youth wouldn't have an impact for a few years.

In an interview with The Associated Press, New Zealand's Associate Health Minister Dr. Ayesha Verrall, who is spearheading the plan, said her work at a public hospital in Wellington involved telling several smokers they had developed cancer.

You meet, every day, someone facing the misery caused by tobacco, Verrall said. The most horrible ways people die. Being short of breath, caused by tobacco."

Smoking rates have steadily fallen in New Zealand for years, with only about 11% of adults now smoking and 9% smoking every day. The daily rate among Indigenous Maori remains much higher at 22%. Under the government's plan, a taskforce would be created to help reduce smoking among Maori.

A man smokes a cigarette in Aotea Square in Auckland, New Zealand, Thursday, Dec. 9, 2021. New Zealand's government believes it has come up with a unique plan to end tobacco smoking, a lifetime ban for those aged 14 and under. (AP Photo/David Rowland)

Big tax increases have already been imposed on cigarettes in recent years and some question why they aren't hiked even higher.

We dont think tax increases will have any further impact," Verrall said. "Its really hard to quit and we feel if we did that, we'd be punishing those people who are addicted to cigarettes even more.

And she said the tax measures tend to place a higher burden on lower-income people, who are more likely to smoke.

The new law wouldn't impact vaping. Verrall said that tobacco smoking is far more harmful and remains a leading cause of preventable deaths in New Zealand, killing up to 5,000 people each year.

We think vaping's a really appropriate quit tool, she said.

A sign indicates that the University of Aukland campus is smoke-free in Auckland, New Zealand, Thursday, Dec. 9, 2021. New Zealand's government believes it has come up with a unique plan to end tobacco smoking, a lifetime ban for those aged 14 and under. (AP Photo/David Rowland)

The sale of vaping products is already restricted to those aged 18 and over in New Zealand and vaping is banned in schools. Verrall said there was some evidence of a rise in youth vaping, a trend she is following really closely.

New Zealand's approach to ban the next generation from tobacco smoking hasn't been tried elsewhere, she said.

But she said studies have shown youth sales decrease when minimum ages are raised. In the U.S., the federal minimum age to buy tobacco products was raised from 18 to 21 two years ago.

While public health experts have generally welcomed the New Zealand plan, not everybody is happy.

Sunny Kaushal said some stores could be put out of business. Kaushal chairs the Dairy and Business Owners Group, which represents nearly 5,000 corner stores  often called dairies in New Zealand  and gas stations.

We all want a smoke-free New Zealand, he said. But this is going to hugely impact small businesses. It should not be done so it is destroying dairies, lives and families in the process. It's not the way.

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Kaushal said the tax increases on tobacco had already created a black market that was being exploited by gangs, and the problem would only get worse. He said smoking was already in its twilight in New Zealand and would die away of its own accord.

This is being driven by academics, he said, adding that stakeholders hadn't been consulted.

But Verrall said she didn't believe the government was overreaching because statistics showed the vast majority of smokers wanted to quit anyway, and the new policies would only help them achieve their goal.

She said the pandemic had helped people gain a new appreciation for the benefits of public health measures and rallying communities, and that perhaps that energy could be harnessed not only to tackle smoking but also diseases like diabetes.

Verrall said she had never smoked herself but her late grandmother did, and it likely compromised her health.

It's a really cruel product, Verrall said.
You might be thinking of adding a furry friend to the family during the holidays. And youll be in good company: 70% of U.S. households have a pet, according to the 2021-2022 American Pet Products Association National Pet Owners Survey.

FILE - A woman plays with her dog at sunset, Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021, at a park in Kansas City, Mo. New pet owners need to prepare for the cost of medical care. Each year, dog owners spend an average of $242 on routine visits to a veterinarian and $458 on surgical visits, and cat owners spend slightly less, according to the American Pet Products Association. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)

You might be thinking of adding a furry friend to the family during the holidays. And youll be in good company: 70% of U.S. households have a pet, according to the 2021-2022 American Pet Products Association National Pet Owners Survey.

As cute as pets are, theyre a financial commitment. Americans spent $103.6 billion on their pets in 2020 alone, APPA says.

Some expenses, like food and shelter, are predictable. But if your new puppy or kitten gets sick or injured, an unexpected medical bill can derail your budget. For a growing number of Americans, pet insurance provides peace of mind.

THE COST OF VETERINARY CARE

Medical issues are almost inevitable for pets, and costs are likely to rise, says Kristen Lynch, executive director of the North American Pet Health Insurance Association, or NAPHIA.

The fact that theres continued innovation in the medical care of pets  just like there is for humans  means that the cost of those innovations will continue to go up.

Dog owners spend an average of $242 on routine visits and $458 on surgical visits each year, according to APPA. The cost for cat owners is slightly lower, at $178 for routine visits and $201 for surgical visits.

Id say at least half of the clients I come in contact with have money concerns, Dr. TB Thompson, a Phoenix-based veterinarian at Natural Pets HQ, said in an email. When pets get into complicated, life-threatening medical trouble, costs add up fast.

HOW PET INSURANCE CAN REDUCE SURPRISE BILLS

Pet insurance wont reimburse you for every penny you spend at the vet, but it can help prevent you from being slapped with an expensive bill.

A policy will typically pay 70% to 90% of your costs after you pay a deductible, which can range from $0 to $1,000 or more.

Consider buying pet insurance unless you can easily fund treating a pet emergency that costs $2,500 and up, Thompson says.

There are a few types of pet insurance plans. Comprehensive plans, the most robust, help cover the cost of care due to accidents, illnesses and surgeries, as well as vaccinations and diagnostic tests. Accident and illness coverage helps pay for emergency care, surgeries, hospitalizations and prescription medications, while accident-only policies help cover expenses after an accident. Some insurers also offer wellness plans, which take care of certain tests, exams, vaccinations and preventive treatments.

GETTING THE BEST DEAL ON PET INSURANCE

While pet insurance can stop you from dipping into your savings to pay a vet bill, it is an added cost.

The average cost of an accident and illness policy is $594 per year for dogs and $342 for cats, according to NAPHIA. For an accident-only policy, you could pay $218 for dogs and $134 for cats.

Premiums are based on a range of factors, including:

 Where you live. The cost of veterinary care varies by region.

 Species. Dogs are more expensive to insure than cats, for example. Coverage for other types of animals is rare.

 Breed. Some breeds are predisposed to medical conditions, which can increase the cost of coverage.

 Age. As pets age, theyre more likely to be ill or become injured, Lynch says. Keep this in mind if you plan to adopt an older pet from a shelter this holiday season.

As a new pet owner, many of these factors are out of your control. But there are a few things you can do to score a lower premium.

LOOK AT THE FINE PRINT. Consider choosing a higher deductible and lower reimbursement level.

CHECK FOR DISCOUNTS. Some companies offer discounts for insuring multiple pets or for military service.

SHOP AROUND. There are around 20 pet insurers in the U.S. competing for your business, so let them. Compare quotes from three insurers for the same amount of coverage, and go with the best pet insurance company for your budget.

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In Lynchs view, some pet insurance is better than none.

People avoid taking their pets to the vet because theyre afraid of what those costs will be, she says. I like to think pet insurance gives us the ability to say yes to those decisions at a time when were emotional, stressed and financially strapped about other things.

_______________________________

This article was provided to The Associated Press by the personal finance website NerdWallet. Katia Iervasi is a writer at NerdWallet. Email: kiervasi@nerdwallet.com.

RELATED LINKS:

NerdWallet: How to Find the Best Pet Insurance https://bit.ly/nerdwallet-best-pet-insurance-companies
Three ocean drones were launched from Rhode Island Thursday and will travel along the Gulf Stream, collecting data in tough winter conditions that would be challenging for traditional ships with crews.

Saildrone Explorer un-crewed surface vehicles, or ocean drones, are prepared for launch at a dock, in Newport, R.I., Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2021. Three of the drones are to be launched Thursday, Dec. 9, 2021, and are expected to travel along the Gulf Stream, collecting data in tough winter conditions that would be challenging for traditional ships with crews. Saildrone, headquartered in Alameda, Calif., makes autonomous surface vehicles powered by the wind and sun to measure climate quality data and do mapping in remote oceans for scientists worldwide. (Susan Ryan/Saildrone via AP)

Three ocean drones were launched from Rhode Island Thursday and will travel along the Gulf Stream, collecting data in tough winter conditions that would be challenging for traditional ships with crews.

Saildrone, headquartered in Alameda, California, makes autonomous surface vehicles powered by the wind and sun to measure climate quality data and do mapping in remote oceans for scientists worldwide. The company launched the drones from Newport, Rhode Island, on a mission to sail the strong ocean currents in the North Atlantic for six months.

The goal is to gather information that's needed to improve medium and long-range weather forecasting, and to account for how much human-produced carbon dioxide the Gulf Stream can absorb. The carbon data could help improve the models that others use to hold countries accountable for their goals for lowering emissions, said Susan Ryan, a vice president at Saildrone.

Scientists from the University of Rhode Island and the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts are leading the mission. The work is paid for with a roughly $1 million grant from the philanthropic arm of Google, Google.org, and its Impact Challenge on Climate.

Collecting data along the Gulf Stream is extremely challenging in the winter because of the strong currents and fierce storms, Ryan said.

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The carbon budget released at the COP26 climate talks in Glasgow uses ocean carbon uptake estimates generated by models and statistical methods that fill in gaps when there is no data from the site, but that can yield a variety of results and uncertainty, Ryan added.

Philip Browne, a research scientist at ECMWF, said the Gulf Stream also has a big impact on weather forecasts and climate predictions, and they're excited to use the drones to collect data from the physically and scientifically challenging region.

Saildrone vehicles with modified wings captured the first live drone video this fall inside a category 4 hurricane, Hurricane Sam, and completed the first unmanned circumnavigation of Antarctica in 2019, according to the company. The company's first science mission was to the Arctic in 2015.

One of their drones operated along the Gulf Stream in 2019 for about 18 days.

In that short period, we collected as many ocean CO2 measurements in the Gulf Stream for the month of February as had ever been recorded in the entire history of oceanography, Jaime Palter, a URI carbon scientist and a co-principal investigator of the mission, said in a statement.

The three drones are expected to be retrieved in Newport next year. Data will be sent back to the scientists via satellite as the drones traverse the Gulf Stream.
LONDON (AP)  U.K. authorities reported an unprecedented jump in early season cases of avian flu in both domestic and wild birds, triggering tight restrictions on poultry farmers across the country.

LONDON (AP)  U.K. authorities reported an unprecedented jump in early season cases of avian flu in both domestic and wild birds, triggering tight restrictions on poultry farmers across the country.

The government has confirmed 40 outbreaks of avian flu among poultry and other captive birds this year, resulting in the culling of about 500,000 birds, Chief Veterinary Officer Christine Middlemiss said Thursday. There were 24 outbreaks during the entire 2020-21 bird flu season, which ran through the spring.

"Im very concerned about whats happening," Middlemiss told the BBC. "Thats a really high number for the time of year for anything weve experienced before, and thats because of the high level of infection in the migratory wild birds. So its really, really concerning because those birds will stay with us over the winter until early spring and the risk of infection remains."

U.K. authorities keep a close eye on avian flu cases around the world because it is spread by migrating birds and can be devastating to poultry producers. Experts estimate that outbreaks during the 2014-15 and 2016-17 seasons cost U.K. poultry producers about 125 million pounds ($165 million).

While the risk to humans is low, bird flu can affect people in rare cases.

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To control the spread of the disease, poultry producers must kill all birds at sites where infections are confirmed. In addition, they have been ordered to keep all birds inside or under nets to stop them from coming in contact with wild fowl, and to implement strict hygiene measures.

While the number of birds culled so far this season sounds large, it is relatively small compared with the number of birds on U.K. poultry farms. Between the beginning of August and the end of October, poultry producers slaughtered about 20 million birds a week, according to the latest government statistics.

"In terms of food supply impact, its actually a relatively small number," Middlemiss said of flu-related culling.

The situation in Britain is part of a larger trend across Europe, where authorities are seeing more frequent outbreaks of avian flu, Middlemiss said.

Although researchers dont know the reasons for the trend, one theory is that climate change has altered the migration patterns of wild birds, she said.

"The birds migrate to the north of Russia over the summer and mix with other birds and other global flight pathways there and they exchange the viruses, so its quite plausible that with climate change and change in pathways different mixing is going on," Middlemiss said. "But that hasnt been fully investigated yet."
MORSHYN, Ukraine (AP)  A small spa town in western Ukraine is standing out in a European country where only 29% of the people have received COVID-19 vaccine shots, and locals credit their community spirit for fending off the worst of the pandemic.

An aerial view, with the spa sanatorium in the background, of Morshyn, Ukraine, Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2021. In Morshyn, a scenic town nestled at the Carparthian foothills in the Lviv region, 74% of 3,439 residents have been fully vaccinated. A small spa town in western Ukraine stands out in a country where just under a quarter of the population has received coronavirus vaccines. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)

MORSHYN, Ukraine (AP)  A small spa town in western Ukraine is standing out in a European country where only 29% of the people have received COVID-19 vaccine shots, and locals credit their community spirit for fending off the worst of the pandemic.

In Morshyn, a scenic town nestled at the Carpathian foothills in the Lviv region, 74% of its 3,439 residents had been fully vaccinated as of late November.

While Ukrainian authorities have imposed new restrictions amid a surge of infections and deaths blamed on a slow pace of vaccination and designated the region around Morshyn as a red zone where most public places have been shut down, the wellness centers in Morshyn have remained fully open.

Morshyns mineral water has made it a European attraction since the 19th century, when it was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Over 2,800 of its residents are currently employed by 10 different spas, which only accept guests with certificates proving vaccination, recovery from a past COVID-19 illness or a negative test.

I was making plans to travel somewhere this year and I chose Morshyn when I learned that many people here were vaccinated, said Valentyna Panchuk, a retiree visiting the town.

A resident takes an anti-coronavirus vaccine in Morshyn, Ukraine, Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2021. In Morshyn, a scenic town nestled at the Carparthian foothills in the Lviv region, 74% of 3,439 residents have been fully vaccinated. A small spa town in western Ukraine stands out in a country where just under a quarter of the population has received coronavirus vaccines. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)

A united, broad-based approach seems to be going a long way in protecting the residents of Morshyn. Locals have embraced a host of public health measures that have proven effective against the spread of the disease: they wear masks, observe social distancing and vaccine uptake is high. The town's low density also helps too  with houses spread out amid parks and squares.

All these factors work toward the goal of keeping the town humming and people working.

After mass vaccinations in Morshyn, there have been no gravely ill coronavirus patients there anymore, said Ukrainian Health Minister Viktor Lyashko. There was a report about just one hospitalization, and that person wasnt vaccinated.

Morshyn, which hasnt seen any COVID-19 deaths over the past six months, has been touted by Ukrainian officials as a model for the rest of the country.

Four coronavirus vaccines are available in Ukraine  Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca and Sinovac  but only 29% of its 41 million people are fully vaccinated. The Ministry of Health reports that 96% of patients with severe COVID-19 werent immunized.

Doctors blame the public hesitancy in Ukraine on a distrust of government and on vaccine falsehoods about shots containing microchips or causing infertility. They say residents in Morshyn do get infected with COVID-19, but those who are vaccinated have mild cases that don't require hospitalization.

A medical nurse takes an anti-coronavirus vaccine with a syringe in a vaccination center in Morshyn, Ukraine, Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2021. In Morshyn, a scenic town nestled at the Carparthian foothills in the Lviv region, 74% of 3,439 residents have been fully vaccinated. A small spa town in western Ukraine stands out in a country where just under a quarter of the population has received coronavirus vaccines. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)

Not just immunization of two-thirds of the population, but long distances allow people to not get infected, said Dr. Gennady Yukshinsky, chief doctor of Morshyns hospital. Testing is widespread, and if a COVID-19 infection is detected, the (infected) person voluntarily self-isolates, understanding the responsibility to other residents.

According to Yukshinsky, there were 14 active COVID-19 cases in Morshyn as of late November, all of them mild.

The Ukrainian government has required teachers, doctors, government employees and other workers to be fully vaccinated by Dec. 1. It has also begun to require proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test for travel on planes, trains and long-distance buses.

The decision has sparked protests in the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, where thousands have rallied to protest the restrictions.

In Morshyn, the mass vaccinations have saved its residents from potentially losing their jobs amid the autumn surge of new infections.

Morshyn Mayor Ruslan Ilnytsky was among the first to get a vaccine. He said during a nationwide lockdown in the spring, the town sustained a heavy economic blow when all of its spas were shut down. He said he realized then that Morshyn would probably not survive another lockdown and spearheaded a vaccination campaign last summer in anticipation of a new surge of infections as cold weather forced people indoors.

We initiated a pilot project for simultaneous immunization of the entire adult population, Ilnytsky told The Associated Press. Family doctors were calling residents, personally inviting them to get the vaccine and offering assurances of safety. I think it played a big role.

Yukshinsky, the Morshyn hospital chief, also emphasized the importance of the personalized approach, adding that it had a big effect, and people got immunized en masse.

That sharply differs from the rest of Ukraine.

A nationwide survey conducted last month by the Rating polling firm showed that 43% of respondents dont want to get vaccinated. The poll of 2,500 had a margin of error of no more than 2 percentage points.

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Murat Sahin, UNICEF representative in Ukraine, said that fake theories about COVID-19 are posing a growing threat to the country's collective health during the pandemic.

The risks of misinformation about vaccinations have never been higher  nor have the stakes, Sahin said. This is why in 2021 we need a stronger and more robust effort to address rumors, fake news and misinformation than ever.

___

Karmanau reported from Kyiv, Ukraine. Yefrem Lukatsky in Morshyn, Ukraine, contributed to this report.

___

Follow all AP stories on the pandemic at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic.
BRANDON  The trial of a man accused of killed his wife before blowing up their Brandon house in 2019 will go to closing arguments this morning.

BRANDON  The trial of a man accused of killed his wife before blowing up their Brandon house in 2019 will go to closing arguments this morning.

Lawyer Saul Simmonds closed the defences case Wednesday in the second-degree murder trial of Robert Hughes, 65.

He has pleaded not guilty to killing his wife, Betty Hughes, 63.

A jury of 13 people heard from various witnesses over six days of trial, including city firefighters, police officers, neighbours, a pathologist and Hughes himself.

On Oct. 22, 2019, firefighters responded to the residence on Queens Avenue East house following reports of an explosion. When crews arrived, they found the walls of the home were blown out. Manitoba Hydro workers had to turn off natural gas line access to the property.

Brandon Police Service Const. Travis Foster said on the first day of the trial Betty was found inside the destroyed house with a multitude of cuts and lying in a pool of blood.

Firefighters found Hughes with a noose around his neck, court heard. He was transported to Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg, where he was later arrested by Brandon police Oct. 25.

Pathologist Dr. Dennis Rhee testified Betty had more than a dozen injuries when she died. He told court the ultimate cause of death was blood loss from an 11.7-centimetre wound that extended from her eyebrow across her temple and into her ear.

Rhee estimated Betty would have died of blood loss minutes after the cut. However, he was unable to tell where the person who inflicted the wound was standing or how it happened, just that it was caused by a "weapon."

Hughes took the witness stand in his own defence Tuesday. He alleged there was a prolonged struggle with his wife in the kitchen. At the time, the two were in a strained relationship and allegedly already agreed to sell the property.

He said Betty grabbed a knife at one point and he was trying to control her arms. Eventually, the two ended up on the kitchen floor and Betty was dead.

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Hughes told Crown attorney Christian Vanderhooft he didnt call 911 because he believed Betty had already died after the "all-out battle."

Hughes testified he then wanted to take his own life, so he tampered with a natural gas line in the basement, with the intention to breathe it in and die. However, gas filled the room and exploded after catching on a pilot light.

Both the Crown and defence are expected to deliver closing statements to the jury this morning.

Justice Scott Abel said the jurys deliberations could begin this afternoon or Friday morning.

The trial was originally scheduled to last three weeks, until Dec. 17, but evidence only lasted six days.

 Brandon Sun
Customers at Cafe Carlo are satisfied  so satisfied, in fact, that their positive feedback has helped push the local Italian eatery into a list of the Top 100 Restaurants in Canada.

Customers at Cafe Carlo are satisfied  so satisfied, in fact, that their positive feedback has helped push the local Italian eatery into a list of the Top 100 Restaurants in Canada.

On Tuesday, OpenTable, an online dining reservation service, published its list of the top restaurants in the country based on user reviews collected over the last year.

Cafe Carlo owner Joel Boulet was surprised by the news and chalks the accolade up to high-quality service.

"I do think we give (diners) a pretty good experience overall; we try to be as attentive as possible," he says. "That part Im not surprised about because I fully believe in the people that Ive been working with over the last many, many years so its a great credit to them more than anything."

Boulet has worked at the Corydon Village restaurant for 30 years, first as a server and later as an owner. During his tenure, the rise of online, diner-submitted reviews has changed the landscape considerably. While public forums can provide important feedback, they also create a lot of stress and anxiety for staff.

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"A negative review can be a bit hard to take," he says. "But even consistently good reviews cause a lot of anxiety, because once you set the bar somewhere, its really hard to maintain that."

Where other platforms allow anyone and everyone to comment, Boulet has more faith in the reviews on OpenTable because only verified customers are given the opportunity to weigh in. At press time, Cafe Carlo had more than 1,800 reviews on the website and an overall rating of 4.8 stars out of five.

The restaurant is the only Manitoba establishment featured in this years Top 100 list. Since reopening following public health restrictions, Cafe Carlo has been as busy as ever. While Boulet is happy for the recognition, hes focused on keeping staff and customers satisfied.

"Its always nice to hear nice things and Im sure it will put a smile on everyones faces and remind (staff) that what theyre doing has value," he says. "And hopefully we can stay busy right through the winter months, keep doing what were doing and look for ways to improve."

eva.wasney@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @evawasney
Manitoba Hydro says it has launched its first public survey to assess future electricity use, but critics say it hints at a practice known as surge pricing.

Manitoba Hydro says it has launched its first public survey to assess future electricity use, but critics say it hints at a practice known as surge pricing.

Ratepayers are asked whether they expect to buy electrical cars, put solar panels on their roof, or would rather use their dryers or dishwashers at night if it meant their hydro bill would be lower.

We encourage our customers to take a few minutes to complete the survey so we can hear what they think and begin an open discussion on our energy future, said utility spokesman Bruce Owen on Wednesday.

This is just a part of our planning as we look at what we provide and how we will do it better.

Owen said since the survey began Nov. 1, the Crown corporation has received responses from more than 8,500 Manitobans as well as 40,000 comments. He said it takes 15 minutes to complete. The survey ends Dec. 17.

NDP Leader Wab Kinew worries the survey could help the utility approve measures Manitobans should be concerned about.

Kinew said he is opposed to time-varying rates  so-called surge pricing  in which electrical rates go up during the day and down in off hours.

As it turns out, I took the survey this morning, he said on Wednesday. It seemed to be heavily focused on surge pricing.

If youre the average family, you will use electricity at peak times so your bill will go up. Its also seasonal. You want to turn on the A/C in the summer, it will cost you more with surge pricing.

Kinew said Manitoba electricity rates are already among the cheapest in North America so he doesnt believe time varying rates are needed here.

Thats why we have a public utility, to keep it affordable and keep it low.

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Byron Williams, who represents a coalition of consumer groups during proceedings before the Public Utilities Board, said the idea of having time-varying rates came up the PUB about a decade ago.

But what has been missing for Manitobans to make an informed decision is what is the cost of the infrastructure necessary to implement these rates, said Williams.

Are we talking $300 million, $500 million, or more? And can the potential benefits of going to time-varying rates outweigh the significant costs of infrastructure? These are important threshold questions given the challenges that other jurisdictions have had in building infrastructure and implementing these rates for residential customers.

Our clients are always open to evidence-based discussions on improving services to consumers but you cannot discuss the issue in theory without discussing the issue in economic reality.

The survey can be accessed at hydro.mb.ca/future

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca
PRINCETON, B.C.  Mennonite volunteers are pitching in to clean up the muck and debris in the aftermath of flooding in Princeton, B.C.

PRINCETON, B.C.  Mennonite volunteers are pitching in to clean up the muck and debris in the aftermath of flooding in Princeton, B.C.

Spencer Coyne, mayor of the town a three-hour drive east of Vancouver, said help from the Mennonite Disaster Service Canada is more than welcome.

"When I see the MDS trucks driving around town, I smile," Coyne said.

People in the town "are so exhausted," he said. But now when he talks to people, "I see a glimmer of hope in their eyes."

The community in the Southern Interior was hard-hit by a wall of flooding in mid-November.

The first 16 Mennonite volunteers from Manitoba, B.C., and Alberta arrived on Dec. 5. They are spending a week helping residents pump out water, muck out basements, dispose of damaged items and prepare homes for rebuilding.

The group included three volunteers from Manitoba: Alvin Klassen, Denis Sabourin and Denis Jobin.

Klassen, who retired from the Winnipeg Fire and Paramedic Service five years ago, said serving with the service is a chance to help others and see other parts of the country.

"I did (this) in Texas in 2019 and had such a good time," the member of Kilcona Alliance Church said. "I told myself Id do it again if the opportunity came along."

As a bonus, "I get to go to interesting places and meet other volunteers and homeowners," Klassen 63, said.

Jobin, 67, is a self-employed painter who attends the Meeting Place, a Mennonite Brethren congregation in downtown Winnipeg.

Due to COVID, the longtime volunteer couldnt serve because most of the projects in Canada were shut down. Canadians also couldnt get into the U.S. to serve.

"I had a pent-up need to do something," Jobin said of why he decided to go to Princeton.

Sabourin, 66, said its his 15th time with the disaster service.

"Ive always loved giving back," said the semi-retired cartographer, who is facilities manager at the Meeting Place.

Through the disaster service, "I found what I was looking for in helping people, plus an opportunity to travel."

Sitting in his office, Coyne, 43, lists the challenges in the town: the water is still unsafe to drink, the sewage system isnt fully working, they are still working on the natural gas supply, and snow clearing is slow since the town lost some of its equipment to the water.

"Im trying to help keep peoples spirits high," he said, "theres a long road to recovery ahead."

Hes grateful for the work of Princeton Baptist Church, which has become the hub for recovery efforts.

"Weve leaned on them pretty hard," said Coyne. "Honest to God, I dont know where wed be without that church."

For pastor Kyle Nichols, 36, its just what a church is supposed to do.

"We told the town we would do whatever we could do to help," he said.

Today his church is the towns main food bank, used clothing depot, firewood distribution centre and volunteer clearing house.

Its also the place to go for clean water; a water truck and pallets of bottled water are stationed in the parking lot.

"Lots of the people who use the food bank were affected by the flooding," Nichols said.

The church, located on a hill above the town, is the only one thats still fully operational in Princeton.

The combined United/Anglican Church closed in summer, and the Roman Catholic and the Living Water Four Square churches were both flooded.

The towns Pentecostal church didnt flood, but its pastor died of COVID-19 a week ago.

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"We are just happy to help," said Nichols of his congregation, part of the Fellowship Baptist Church denomination. "This is a time for the church to come alongside the community and serve them and give a message of hope."

The church is also home base for the Mennonite Disaster Service, a Winnipeg-based organization that uses volunteers to help people recover from natural disasters in North America.

Coyne knows a lot of work must be done.

"Theres a long road to rebuilding," he said. "We are a small town, we know each other, we help each other. At the end of the day, we are all family. And any volunteers who come can be part of our family, too."

People interested in volunteering or donating can visit www.mds.org.

faith@freepress.mb.ca
The Winnipeg School Division  in which there are nearly 170 student ethnicities and almost 7,000 immigrant and refugee learners  will have the provinces first education equity office.

The Winnipeg School Division  in which there are nearly 170 student ethnicities and almost 7,000 immigrant and refugee learners  will have the provinces first education equity office.

Earlier this week, trustees unanimously voted to establish a first-of-its-kind branch that will oversee anti-racism initiatives and collect data on diversity demographics in its 78 schools.

"The stars are aligning," said Crystal Laborero, co-chairwoman of Equity Matters, a coalition dedicated to boosting outcomes for students who are Indigenous, newcomers, and members of other racialized groups. "There is an impetus happening in our community to say, We know we need to do something different."

There is an impetus happening in our community to say, We know we need to do something different.  Crystal Laborero, co-chairwoman of Equity Matters

The coalition launched a campaign last month to call on the province and divisions to create offices dedicated to addressing barriers for marginalized students.

Upwards of 80 community organizations have endorsed its calls to action, including the Manitoba School Boards Association and Winnipeg, Louis Riel, St. James-Assiniboia and Pembina Trails divisions.

The WSD board has since agreed to create an advisory council to develop an action plan, including a proposed mandate, structure, transition plan and budget to launch its education equity office by Aug. 1, 2022. It has also committed to hiring an external organization to conduct an audit on employment equity.

MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Betty Edel, chairwoman of the Winnipeg School Divisions board of trustees.

Chairwoman Betty Edel, who proposed the board establish the unit, said these actions will build on the divisions "good intentions" on this file.

"This moves us from words to actions," said the trustee.

Edel added the office will allow WSD to analyze everything from staff demographics to overall factors that limit racialized students success at school.

Equity Matters pitch is that creating separate entities in charge of collecting annual data on student demographics, such as race, gender, and sexual orientation, and outcomes will allow educators to pinpoint key gaps, set goals and implement training and other initiatives to address those gaps.

"Unless staff are trained and have the skills and necessary tools, they are not going to be able to move this forward. Thats why anti-racist, anti-oppression, anti-colonialism training is important," said Suni Matthews, co-chairwoman of the coalition, who is a retired principal in WSD.

Both Matthews and Laborero noted transparency is critical when it comes to setting up these offices so the public can hold divisions to account on their objectives, be they about improving student absenteeism or increasing staff diversity.

JESSICA LEE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Suni Matthews, co-chair of the Equity Matters coalition.

As far as trustee Jennifer Chen is concerned, creating an organizational structure to address systemic racism is urgent.

"Working with the newcomer community, I often hear feedback that policy is important, but implementing policy is even more important. I hope that the equity office has the power it is supposed to have," said Chen.

Equity Matters has long called attention to Ontarios education equity offices as an example of how such entities could operate in Manitoba.

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The coalition will host a virtual event with Patrick Case, who oversees the education equity secretariat in Ontarios education department, as a keynote speaker to discuss the role of equity offices in his province on Thursday.

maggie.macintosh@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @macintoshmaggie
British Prime Minister Boris Johnsons wife, Carrie, has given birth to their second child  a girl  in a London hospital.

Bob Doles casket will lie in state in the U.S. Capitol today. Dole, the former Republican presidential and vice-presidential nominee and Second World War veteran, served in Congress for 36 years.

The Winnipeg Jets havent been great this season, but at least theyre not being threatened with eviction . The City of Glendale says it will lock the Phoenix Coyotes  the NHLs first Winnipeg Jets franchise  out of their arena later this month if outstanding debts arent paid. The city recently announced the team would not be playing out of Gila River Arena after this season.
THE Winnipeg School Division, the provinces largest, is cutting its full-day kindergarten pilot program. Academic evidence showed, early on, that students benefited from more time in class, but according to Celia Caetano-Gomes, the divisions superintendent of education, this didnt extend to academic performance in later years and showed no sustained growth improvements.

Opinion

THE Winnipeg School Division, the provinces largest, is cutting its full-day kindergarten pilot program. Academic evidence showed, early on, that students benefited from more time in class, but according to Celia Caetano-Gomes, the divisions superintendent of education, this didnt extend to academic performance in later years and showed no sustained growth improvements.

It resulted in a benefit at the beginning of Grade 1, she said, but not continued academic growth. The pilot program didnt study economic or social benefits to full-day kindergarten.

Critical thinkers might question this. Those who choose full-day kindergarten may not start academically at the same place as those who chose half-day kindergarten. Some kids need more time and educational support to show school-readiness. Their parents may struggle with poverty or lack other supports. Perhaps more single parents, economically disadvantaged people, newcomers to Canada, minorities, or those with generational trauma might choose full-day kindergarten. It would be a great outcome if these children were better ready at the start of Grade 1, but all children could benefit from increased support.

Also, what happened in Grades 1 and 2? Did the full-day kindergarten students actively fall behind in their academic growth and performance during these years, while the half-day kindergarteners caught up? Its puzzling that the benefits dont remain at the end of Grade 2.

Perhaps teachers spent time reinforcing basics for those who only had half-day kindergarten. Further, if the pilot study concluded full-day kindergarten benefits arent long-term, but all students are on equal footing at the end of Grade 2, this is a positive result. Without full-day kindergarten, these children might not demonstrate the same school readiness as a child from a more privileged background in their preschool years.

Some kids need extra help to get to the finish line. Schools could provide full-day programming at the beginning to get better literacy outcomes, but WSD has just cut that. If kids arent prepared, WSD seems willing to accept a mediocre outcome in later test scores and graduation rates.

Manitoba also has a huge child-care deficit, with many more kids needing care than there are spaces available. When I finally found child care, I kept my kids there through kindergarten because it provided all-day kindergarten. This boosted their school readiness.

I also needed work time, but this isnt about us; its about that social and economic component of all-day kindergarten thats missing from WSDs pilot program study and decision.

Children will need help with social skills impacted by the pandemic. Parents want a normal work environment, for the good of their finances and mental health. Without adequate childcare, this isnt possible. Kindergarten is also more meaningful academically than the average daycare placement.

Parents struggle with the logistics of getting kids to a short half day of kindergarten and then to daycare placements, if they are available. This can affect the whole familys social and economic well-being, not just the childs school academic readiness. But he WSD pilot didnt consider the economic or social impacts in its study.

With regard to the economics, look at the pandemics effects on parents (particularly womens) work productivity. When parents must manage child care while working, its a challenge. Unreasonable expectations during the pandemic forced many women out of the workplace. Adequate child care and educational opportunities for kids enable parents (mostly women) to return to full-time work.

Society loses out when women cant work. Our communities cant function when up to half the workforce leaves the workplace. Better educational options and child care mean more taxable income for government coffers.

In most North American schools, parents arent responsible for lunchtime child care. In Winnipeg, however, theres an assumption parents will wait at the schoolyard to pick up elementary school children, including kindergarteners, walk home for lunch, and then return the older kids to school for the afternoon.

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Most parents cant do this, instead paying additional school lunch fees to provide supervision.

If were serious about improving educational outcomes and ending poverty, we lose out by cancelling full-time kindergarten. A full-time schedule, without this outdated parental lunch-hour obligation, would also allow schools to introduce long-overdue school nutrition programs.

There are multiple ways to provide breakfast, snacks and lunch for all at school, and those who can afford it should pay for it. However, imagine if every child might learn on an equal footing. Full stomachs could offer the ability to play, think and learn without disadvantage.

WSD is losing an opportunity to offer students a chance at school readiness, boost health outcomes and give parents a chance to rejoin the workforce. Theres a possibility of boosting academic outcomes simply by educating children for longer and feeding them.

We know, from decades of research, that school readiness, hunger and poverty are the real issues. Ending full-day kindergarten is a step backward for women and childrens well-being. This choice works against the provinces best economic interests; lets stop pretending otherwise.

Joanne Seiff is a Winnipeg writer and parent with two graduate degrees, including a masters degree in education.
PRIME Minister Justin Trudeau continues to describe the Canadian economy in glowing terms, notably how its roaring back from the pandemic. While we dont dispute the prime ministers genuine intention for his governments policies to result in a strong economy, nobodys entitled to their own economic facts.

Opinion

PRIME Minister Justin Trudeau continues to describe the Canadian economy in glowing terms, notably how its roaring back from the pandemic. While we dont dispute the prime ministers genuine intention for his governments policies to result in a strong economy, nobodys entitled to their own economic facts.

In reality, the Canadian economy was weak prior to the pandemic, performed poorly compared to other industrialized countries during the pandemic, and is expected to continue to be comparatively weak.

Its important to recall the Trudeau governments dramatic departure from the consensus that existed in Canada since the early-to-mid-1990s. Specifically, to varying degrees, the principles of balanced budgets, prioritized government spending, competitive taxes and reasonable regulations were the dominant and consensus views of most political parties and governments of all political stripes, in Ottawa and among most provinces.

Beginning in 2015, the Trudeau government rejected this consensus and moved the country in the opposite direction, with broader and higher levels of government spending financed by higher taxes and much higher levels of borrowing. Trudeaus Ottawa also became much more directly involved in the economy through regulations.

The results, as history predicts, have been slower economic growth, a weaker labour market and a generally less prosperous economy for Canadians and their families.

According to recent research, Canadas economic performance (measured by economic growth, private-sector job creation and business investment) was weaker between 2015 and 2019 than during the previous five pre-recessionary periods going back to prime minister Brian Mulroney. And a recent study by Philip Cross, former chief analyst at Statistics Canada, concluded economic growth over the last decade was the weakest since the 1930s.

Moreover, according to data from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Canada ranked 30th of 38 industrial countries for its average rate of economic growth from 2015 to 2019, and 24th in economic growth in 2020 with a 5.4 per cent contraction. Our ranking for unemployment in 2020 was worse, at 32nd.

Canadas performance is even more damning when one considers that we had the third-highest fiscal deficit (of the 26 countries where data is available for 2020), which includes national, provincial and local government. And data for 2020 indicate that Canada had the fifth-highest level of total government debt as a share of the economy (GDP) among 29 industrialized countries (where data is available), with only Japan, Italy, Portugal and the United States having higher indebtedness.

Put simply, the historical levels of borrowed money that governments in Canada  particularly Ottawa  threw at the COVID-induced recession in 2020 did not result in stronger comparative economic performance; indeed, it was the opposite.

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Finally, contrary to Trudeaus wishful rhetoric, most forecasters  including the OECD  expect Canada to continue to suffer from weak economic growth. In 2022, the OECD forecasts Canadas economic growth will rank 21st of 38 countries despite significant ongoing stimulative spending by Ottawa.

If the recent throne speech is reflective of the Trudeau governments priorities, as its supposed to be, Canadians are in for a prolonged period of economic stagnation. The speech didnt mention entrepreneurship once, and the single mention of businesses and investment was about the governments role in providing emergency funding during the pandemic.

Trudeaus Ottawa is focused on yet more massive spending financed by borrowing, with politicians and bureaucrats taking an ever-large role in the economy.

Such a combination has not resulted in economic prosperity, but rather the opposite. The reality of Canadas economy is that growth has declined, private-sector job creation has been relatively weak, entrepreneurship has continued to decline, and business investment has collapsed.

Unless the Trudeau government dramatically changes policy direction, these dismal results will continue.

Jason Clemens, Milagros Palacios and Niels Veldhuis are economists with the Fraser Institute.
Dont look now, but Health Minister Audrey Gordon is going to try to pull a rabbit out of her hat.

Dont look now, but Health Minister Audrey Gordon is going to try to pull a rabbit out of her hat.

On Wednesday, Gordon kept her promise to make a major announcement about surgical and diagnostic backlogs but failed profoundly and repeatedly during that announcement to provide anything that even remotely looked like an urgent response.

We need to make sure we get this right: surgery backlog task force arrives with no timeline Click to Expand Daniel Crump / Winnipeg Free Press. Health and Seniors Care Minister Audrey Gordon speaks at an announcement in the rotunda at the Manitoba legislative building in Winnipeg. December 8, 2021. Posted: 12:50 PM Dec. 8, 2021 Members of a new provincial task force say no stone will be left unturned in expediting care for an estimated 30,000 people whose surgeries have been delayed owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. They could not, however, provide a timeline for clearing the massive backlog. Read Full Story

Gordon launched a task force of health-care professionals to advise government on "innovative solutions" to the chronic backlog of important medical procedures. However, in terms of specific and immediate action on what has become a health-care emergency, there was almost nothing.

No specific pledges to provide additional financial resources to remove the cap on certain procedures. No specifics on whether Manitobans will be compensated if they choose to pursue surgical procedures in other jurisdictions. And perhaps most importantly, no deadline for returning the wait lists to pre-pandemic levels.

Gordon actually spent the first 10 minutes of the news conference celebrating the modest steps her government took last year to contract out small numbers of surgical and diagnostic procedures to a handful of private-sector providers. "While good progress has been achieved, there is more work to do," she said.

We in the news media know that Gordon knows that governments initial response to the pandemic-related procedure backlog has been a spectacular failure, largely because we remind her at almost every news conference. It certainly helps our efforts that Doctors Manitoba is providing weekly updates of the backlog in surgery and diagnostics that has grown to more than 150,000 procedures.

More evidence of the triumph of public relations over action plan? Gordon outlined a "five-point" strategy that includes the creation of a centralized information management system to track wait-list information, efforts to include physicians to do as many procedures as possible within the scope of their practices, monthly updates from the task force and identifying patients who are healthy enough to travel to seek treatment out of province.

There is a limit to what private clinics can do, given that there are limited numbers of nurses and other healthcare professionals necessary to perform these procedures.

Stuff that should have  could have  been done years ago.

Gordon also promised to look for private-sector partners to take up the slack from the public system. It is on this point that Gordons task force will find its greatest challenge.

Outpatient surgical procedures have been performed at private clinics for many years now to augment what is done in the public system. However, there is a limit to what private clinics can do, given that there are limited numbers of nurses and other health-care professionals necessary to perform these procedures.

Shifting procedures to private clinics could, in theory, start to drain nurses and other staff away from the public system. The bottom line would see a lot more business shifted to private clinics without a meaningful increase in the total number of procedures performed.

The trick will be to see how quickly the task force can adjust the approach we take to each procedure in the hope that we can do more with existing staffing and for roughly the same amount of money. It has been done before.

Daniel Crump / Winnipeg Free Press Health and Seniors Care Minister Audrey Gordon failed to provide anything that even remotely looked like an urgent response.

Over the years, the province has used facilities such as the Pan Am Clinic to stress test the cost per procedure of certain priority surgeries. Efficiencies were identified, allowing the system to squeeze more procedures out of the same total amount of funding.

Whether that can be done now  on a larger scale while still navigating the teeth of a pandemic  is anyones guess. But the performance of this government on the health-care file over the past five years is not a cause for optimism.

Manitoba has boxed itself into a very tight corner during the pandemic and its not clear that we can squeeze more capacity out of a system that has itself been squeezed fiscally over the last five years.

Poorly delivered reforms (ER closures in Winnipeg) along with a tight rein on annual funding increases have left the health-care system chronically short-staffed and bereft of innovations to do more for less or the same. Combine pre-pandemic mismanagement with an alarmingly lax response to the fourth wave of the crisis, and you have the conditions for a public-health catastrophe.

We are, in some ways, better prepared now than in previous waves thanks to governments insistence on maintaining the indoor mask mandate and requiring full vaccination status to visit certain places and engage in certain activities. The Tory government also deserves credit for its vaccination effort which, outside of one region, has been successful.

Our salvation can come only from a twopronged approach: unleash an urgent plan to reduce surgical and diagnostic backlogs while concurrently introducing aggressive measures to control the spread of the virus through mostly unvaccinated populations.

Now, however, as the fourth wave is starting to erode the effectiveness of those positive measures, the government is loath to take any aggressive steps to protect the health-care system.

All that puts the province right about where it should be: caught between a rock and a hard, ugly pandemic prognosis.

Our salvation can come only from a two-pronged approach: unleash an urgent plan to reduce surgical and diagnostic backlogs while concurrently introducing aggressive measures to control the spread of the virus through mostly unvaccinated populations.

Trying to do one without the other is as pointless as it is impossible, a point that Gordon needs to acknowledge.

The health minister in an awful situation.

She is searching desperately in the dark recesses of her top hat for that magic rabbit, seemingly unaware the budget for rabbits was cut some time ago.

dan.lett@winnipegfreepress.com
OTTAWA - Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland says the need for MPs to approve a new round of pandemic aid has become more important amid fears related to the Omicron variant of COVID-19.

Minister of Finance and Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland makes her way to the West Block on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Thursday, Dec. 2, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

OTTAWA - Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland says the need for MPs to approve a new round of pandemic aid has become more important amid fears related to the Omicron variant of COVID-19.

Speaking to the House of Commons finance committee, Freeland says the variant has injected renewed uncertainty into the economy, in arguing for the government's latest benefits package.

The Liberals are proposing to extend pandemic aid until early May to still-hurting businesses and provide a $300-a-week benefit to workers subject to a lockdown as part of a $7.4 billion aid bill before the House of Commons.

The Liberals want the bill, known as C-2, to get approval before parliamentarians go on their winter break at the end of next week.

Freeland said the lockdown support contained in the bill would act as an economic insurance policy if there is another surge in the virus or new variants of concern.

"I don't want to give Canadians the impression that I think our work is finished or that I think there are no concerns left with Omicron," she told the committee.

"These are real challenges."

Cabinet gets to decide what regions are in a lockdown to qualify under the terms of the bill. Freeland said the government would be open regions asking for the help, but wasn't aware of any requests since the measures were announced last month.

Under questioning from NDP finance critic Daniel Blaikie, Freeland said she hoped the lockdown support wouldn't be needed. She later added that officials were making "some additional calculations" on costs for the benefit in light of the variant, which would be outlined in a budget update next week.

Signals coming out of the Finance Department suggest that Tuesday's economic and fiscal update won't contain a bevvy of new spending measures, but will rather be limited in scope.

The Canadian Chamber of Commerce on Thursday called on Freeland to provide more than a cursory update and unveil a plan to boost economic growth above the anemic expectations from economists.

"Unless we can achieve sustained growth at a much higher level than we experienced prior to the pandemic, we wont be building back better, but failing forward," chamber president Perrin Beatty said in a statement.

"Without significant growth to pay for our social and climate ambitions, we will find ourselves on a path of ill-timed increased taxes for Canadian families and business owners."

The parliamentary budget officer has estimated that four measures contained in C-2 combined would cost almost $7.1 billion.

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Budget officer Yves Giroux's office has previously estimated that extending the rent subsidy will cost $676 million, and adding extra weeks to the sickness and caregiving benefits would cost $373.8 million and $554 million.

On Thursday, his office estimated a wage subsidy extension would cost over $5.4 billion. The majority, about $4.8 billion, in subsidies flowing to businesses that continue to see a steep, and persistent drop in revenues, and the remaining $666 million going out under a program targeting hard-hit companies in the tourism and hospitality sector.

Thursday's report said the federal government's plan to extend its wage subsidy will push the overall price for the program to almost $106.7 billion.

Speaking to a Senate committee in the morning, Giroux noted the government was asking Parliament to approve $8.7 billion in extra spending for this fiscal year. He said total proposed federal spending this fiscal year is just under $400 billion.

"I have concerns, however, with the fact that the government is seeking Parliament's approval of this additional spending without yet revealing what was spent the year prior," Giroux told senators, adding he saw no reason for the delay in releasing the accounting documents.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 9, 2021.
Booster COVID-19 vaccines are a popular choice in Winona County currently, as Winona County works to administer as many shots as they can to help prevent further spread.

Melanie Tatge, Winona County Health and Human Services supervisor, shared that many people are visiting county vaccine clinics with an interest in receiving their boosters.

The countys medical partners are also experiencing similar interest, she said.

Between Oct. 1 and Nov. 22, the countys health department administered 1,933 booster doses of COVID-19 vaccines.

The county, Tatge shared, is also seeing about 100 to 200 people at each clinic they host.

I would say the majority of them are boosters and then if theyre not boosters, theyre individuals under the age of 12 who are seeking out their first dose, Tatge said.

For those nervous about receiving their booster or who have questions about it, Tatge said, I would encourage any individual who has questions about whether or not they should receive a booster to contact their medical providers, they can help direct them in the right direction of what would be best for their health.

Other than individuals own medical providers, they can also visit reliable websites such as those of Winona County, the Minnesota Department of Health or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Tatge said about the vaccines, I think its really important to note that what research has shown is that the vaccine efficacy has waned and we want to make sure that people have the highest risk protection out there.

She said getting the booster after six months will help raise the vaccines protection back to 95%, which will help protect not just the vaccinated individual but also the people around them.

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This story originally appeared on Dec. 19, 1951, in the Winona Republican-Herald, a predecessor of the Winona Daily News.

Release of names of American soldiers held as Red army prisoners in Korea brought the best Christmas present ever to families of three Winona and three area men this morning.

Included in the list of men named as prisoners is the areas first casually  Sergeant First Glass Henry G. Leerkamp, son of Mrs. Ebba Leerkamp, Minnesota City.

Two Winonans  Private First Class Richard Reed and Corporal Jolm Lubinski  and a former Winonan  Corporal Vernon Henning  are among those listed by the Communists as prisoners of war oh the file turned over to Allies Tuesday at Panmunjom.

The other area men  Corporal Roger L. Shaw, Preston, and Master Sergeant Donald Caturia, Arkansaw, Wis.  are also among the 3,198 Americans listed as being Red prisoners.

There are 22 other area men who have been reported missing or prisoners in the Korean war who have not yet been named on the Communist list.

Private Reed is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Harold Reed, 56 Fairfax St., and Corporal Lubinskis parents are Mr. and Mrs. Felix Lubinski, 611 East Wabasha St.

Corporal Hennings parents, Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Henning, live in St. Cloud, but the soldier formerly lived here. His brother, Wilfred Henning, lives at 519 Wall St.

The Preston soldier, Corporal Shaw, is the son of Mrs. Faye Shaw, who is spending the winter in Clarksville, Iowa. Sergeant Caturias wife is Mrs. Dorothy Caturia, Arkansaw.

Two Sources at OnceNews of Corporal Shaws name appearing on the Communist list came on a noon radio broadcast as a Republican-Herald reporter was talking with Mrs. James Henke, Preston, Shaws sister, by telephone.

Her brother has been missing since July 16, 1950, she said. The family has had no word of him since and had not received any government telegram by noon today.

He had previously been named today on a 6 a.m. radio broadcast, Mrs. Henke said. The 24-year-old soldier served with the 24th Infantry Division and has been in the army nearly three years. His brother. Private First Class Lavern Shaw, who has been wounded in action is still serving in Korea.

Leerkamp First CasualtySergeant Leerkamp was the Winona areas first casualty in the Korean war. His mother, Mrs. Edda Leerkamp received word July 21, 1950, that her son had been missing in action since July 8, the fifth day in which American forces were in combat.

Exactly one month later, the Minnesota City widow received official notification from the Department of Defense that Sergeant Leerkamp was a prisoner of war. Word of his capture was secured through the Red Cross and was never amplified by additional information.

Twenty-nine years old when he was captured. Sergeant Leerkamp enlisted in the Army November 17, 1939, and 28 days after the attack on Pearl Harbor he was manning a machine gun on a merchant marine ship in the Pacific.

Late in 1942, he was assigned to an Air Corps air-sea rescue unit at Hamilton Field, Calif.

He was awarded the Purple Heart and two battle stars during service in the European theater with the 65th Infantry division during World War II and after the cessation of hostilities was on occupation duty in Japan for 18 months. He returned to the United States in 1948 and received his next overseas assignment in April, 1950.

Paper Tells Lubinskis

First word on the listing of Corporal Lubinski as one of the Red prisoners, was received by his parents this morning when The Republican-Herald called to inquire whether the family had received an official notification by telegram.

At noon today, the Lubinskis had not been informed by the government that their son was listed. They, too, stayed up most of the night, with neighbors gathered with them at their home, to listen for their sons name.

Corporal Lubinski has been missing in action since April 27. A member of the 24th division, he had fought in Korea since early in the summer of 1950. He served during World War II in Europe and was sent to Japan in 1949 on his third period of enlistment.

Henning ListedCorporal Henning had previously been listed as a POW by the Red China radio. Word from him was received by his parents Saturday through a Minneapolis radio station which informed them that they had been notified that he sent Christmas greetings to them via short wave broadcast.

Red China radio at Peking said that he was one of seven prisoners to send greetings to relatives in the States. His parents have received letters from American soldiers in South Korea who have heard the Minnesotan on the Chinese radio.

This is the first information the family has had abour him in months. In April he was named as a prisoner by a broadcast of the Chinese propaganda station. He has been missing since November 27, 1950.

The Christmas-greeting broadcast was picked up Saturday by short wave in San Francisco, according to The Associated Press.

Corporal Hennings brother and sister-in-law here said today, Were so happy. This is the best Christmas present ever. We rather expected him to be listed because we had heard indirectly from him before. Last night we heard his name given on the radio about 11 oclock. The news is wonderful.

Henning, a member of the Second Infantry Division, is located at Pyok-Dong, Korea.

Wife Hears RadioThe naming of Sergeant Caturia on the radio Tuesday night was the first word Mrs. Caturia had had of her husband since he was reported missing in action November 30, 1950.

She received a government telegram today, telling her that her husband had been listed but that the report is unverified. Sergeant Caturia is said to be held at Pyok-Dong, Korea, also.

Its the best news Ive heard since the last war was over, she exclaimed. Ifs my best Christmas present, but I dont want to count on it as it will be too disappointing If its not true.

Letters she has sent to her husband have not been returned which gave her some hope that they might have been delivered, she said today.

Sergeant and Mrs. Caturia have three children, one of whom he has never seen. The sergeant, 28 years old, served in the Army from December, 1940, to September, 1945, and re-enlisted in January, 1949. He was sent to Korea in August, 1950, as a member of the Second division combat engineers.

Reeds Listen to RadioMr. and Mrs. Reed maintained a night-long vigil at their radio to receive notification that their son is a prisoner of war.

I never knew the alphabet was that long, Mrs. Reed said this morning after listening throughout the night to a relayed broadcast direct from Tokyo, Japan, listing the names of prisoners of war furnished by the Communists.

They gave all of the names in alphabetical order and It wasnt until 5:30 this morning that they reached Raymonds name, Mrs, Reed explained.

As yet, the Reeds, who have another son, 19-year-old Richard, in service overseas, have not received an official telegram from the Department of Defense informing them of the change in their sons classification from missing in action to prisoner of war.

This early morning radio broadcast merely confirmed Mrs. Reeds long conviction that her son was a prisoner of war.

Soon after receiving word that her son was missing in action since November 30, 1950, Mrs. Reed has had several unofficial notifications which indicated that Raymond was a prisoner of the Reds.

Sergeant CallsLast September a sergeant home on rotation called and said that the day after the action in which Raymond was found missing, an observation plane was sent over the area and found no evidence of persons on the ground, Mrs. Reed said, That seemed to indicate that members of his outfit were taken prisoner.

There were several reports which told of broadcasts made by her son from radio stations in Communist-held territory.

Most of these turned out to be from a Raymond Reid who lived in Meron, Ind., Mrs. Reed explained. We found that out when we checked the serial number listed for the soldier on the broadcast.

The Reeds have written to their son regularly for the past year. They, however, have received no letter from him since last December 5. This letter was written by Raymond on November 25, the day that his unit was scheduled to move up to the front.

Others Missing, PrisonersOther area men who have been listed as prisoners previously or as missing in action by the Department of Defense are: Corporal Merlin L. Cattell, husband of Mrs. Rosemary Cattell, 827 East Mark St., missing since November 28, 1950.

Corporal Glen E Foss. son of Mr. and Mrs. George Foss, Houston, missing since September 1, 1950.

Corporal John Eide, son of Mrs. Ida M. Eide, Kellogg, missing since November 2, 1950.

Corporal George Finstad, son of Mr. and Mrs. Carl Finstad, missing since September 6, 1950.

Corporal Vernon Johnson, son of Nels Johnson, Alma Center.

Corporal Harold F. Diekman, son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Diekman, Minnesota City, missing since November 27, 1950.

Private Glenn A. Hovey. husband of Mrs. Beulah D. Hovey, Spring Valley.

Private First Class Francis E. Stutlien, son of Mr. and Mrs. Palmer Stutlien, Blair missing since February 12, 1951.

Sergeant First Class Ervin M. Johnson, son of Mrs. Grace Johnson, Strum, prisoner since February IS, 1951.

Private First Class Ferdinand Blechinger, son of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Blechinger, La Crescent.

Private First Class Donald L Dupont, son of Mrs. Tetia Dupont. Alma Center, missing July 16, 1950.

Private John L. Bolster, Chatfield, missing since July, 1950.

Two area men who were prisoners and who were released previously are Private First Class Carl Henningsen. son of Mrs. Lou Henningsen, 555 West Mill St., and Private First Class Merlin E. Lidtke, son of Emil Lidtke, Weaver. Henningsen was missing 28 days and Lidtke about two weeks.

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In November 2018, Russian coast guard ships opened fire on three Ukrainian ships near the strait and then seized them. Ukraine insisted the vessels were in international waters when Russia intercepted them.

U.S. President Joe Biden warned his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in a video call Tuesday that the West would respond with bruising economic sanctions that would inflict acute pain on Moscow if it invades Ukraine. At the same time, Biden made it clear Wednesday that U.S. troops wouldn't be sent to Ukraine to confront the Russians, and announced future talks between the U.S., its top NATO allies and Russia to address some of Moscow's security concerns.

Russia has rejected Ukrainian and Western claims of plotting an attack and described them as a cover-up for a possible attempt by Ukraine to retake the rebel-held areas. Ukraine has denied such plans.

On Thursday, Gerasimov reinforced Moscow's warning to Ukraine not to try to use force to reclaim control of the east, saying that any provocations by Ukrainian authorities to settle the Donbas problems by force will be suppressed.
The DNR estimates the total cost to businesses and local governments would be about $5.6 million in the first year and about $3.9 million per year going forward. Nine municipal water systems are expected to exceed the limits, requiring treatment systems that could together cost about $3.7 million per year over two decades.

But the agency says cleaner water could save Wisconsin residents at least $100 million a year in medical bills.

The proposed drinking water standards are similar to those adopted by Illinois but less restrictive than those in Minnesota and Michigan.

More analysis

While the EPA has said its safe to drink water with PFOS and PFOA concentrations up to 70 ppt, the agency now says there may be health risks at levels below just 1 ppt. An analysis of hundreds of new studies must now be reviewed by outside scientists before the agency sets standards based on what it determines is economically feasible.
Coffee beans for the 18 Ball Coffee come from Life Beans and are roasted in Pardeeville. Life Beans is owned by the Smith family and the baked goods come from a company owned by Jeremy Smiths mother. Juliettes Patisserie supplies baked goods and pastries every day.

They are all made from scratch, Jeremy Smith said.

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Life Beans are available for purchase at 18 Ball Coffee and Smith said they are used at Two Rivers in Portage and at The Crooked Branch Coffeehouse in Pardeeville along with a number of other coffee shops across the region.

Smith said he often starts work at 5 a.m. He makes a wide variety of drinks from cappuccino and other espresso drinks as well as standard brewed coffee.

On Wednesday morning he spoke with one customer interested in buying an espresso machine.

You like regular brewed coffee? Have you ever tried pour over instead of a drip machine? Smith asked while preparing an order Wednesday morning.

Shop hours run into early evening, different from many coffee shops, and 18 Ball Coffee is working with Door Dash for delivery options.
The bipartisan Wisconsin Elections Commission on Wednesday threw out challenges against private grant funding provided to the states largest cities, including Madison, to help administer last years election during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The complaints were filed earlier this year by Erick Kaardal, a Republican attorney for the conservative Thomas More Society and former secretary and treasurer for the Republican Party of Minnesota, and alleged that officials in Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay, Kenosha and Racine broke state election laws when they accepted funding from the Chicago-based Center for Tech and Civic Life (CTCL), which is funded by Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg.

Lawyers with Madisons DeWitt law firm, who were retained as special counsel to the commission, dismissed the complaints against the five cities, saying they dont raise probable cause to believe that a violation of law or abuse of discretion has occurred, according to documents provided Thursday.

The Commission will not conduct its own investigation of the circumstances and factual allegations asserted in the Complaint and will not issue an order with the declarations Complainants have requested, the documents state.
Yamahiro said he wanted special prosecutors with reputations for "honesty and integrity" and found them in Hansen and Gruenke. He especially wanted someone who wasn't a career prosecutor who could give the case a "fresh look," he said.

"These are not a couple of guys with big egos," Yamahiro said. "They are people who focus on the facts, on the law, and understanding the total situation and I'm comfortable that's what they're going to do in this case."

Hansen works for the Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren law firm in Milwaukee. According to the firm's website, he focuses primarily on business disputes and commercial law. The Milwaukee Bar Association named him Lawyer of the Year in 2018. He holds law and economics degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Yamahiro said Hansen will be paid $40 an hour and $50 for every hour spent in court.

Gruenke, a Democrat, has been a prosecutor for 25 years and the district attorney in La Crosse for 13 years. Yamahiro said he was named prosecutor of the year twice by the Wisconsin Association of Homicide Investigators.
Quantum entanglement: Why physicists want to harness it

Quantum entanglement is one of several plot devices that crops up in modern sci-fi movies.

Fans of the Marvel superhero movies, for instance, will be familiar with the idea of different timelines merging and intersecting, or characters destinies becoming intertwined through seemingly magical means.

But quantum entanglement isnt just a sci-fi buzzword. Its a very real, perplexing and useful phenomenon. Entanglement is one aspect of the broader collection of ideas in physics known as quantum mechanics, which is a theory that describes the behaviour of nature at the atomic, and even subatomic, level.

Understanding and harnessing entanglement is key to creating many cutting-edge technologies. These include quantum computers, which can solve certain problems far faster than ordinary computers, and quantum communication devices, which would allow us to communicate with one another without the slightest possibility of an eavesdropper listening in.

But what exactly is quantum entanglement? Two particles in quantum mechanics are said to be entangled when one of the particles cannot be perfectly described without including all of the information about the other one: the particles are connected in such a way that they are not independent of one another. While this sort of idea may seem to make sense at first glance, it is a difficult concept to grasp  and physicists are still learning more about it.

Quantum dice

Suppose that I give you and your friend, Thandi, each a small, opaque black box. Each box contains an ordinary six-sided die. You are both told to lightly shake your boxes to jumble the dice around. Then you part ways. Thandi goes home to one South African city, Cape Town; you return to another, Durban. You dont communicate with each other during the process. When you get home, you each open your box and look at the upward-facing number on your die.

Ordinarily, there would be no correlation between the numbers you and Thandi see. She would be equally likely to observe any number between 1 and 6, as would you; importantly, the number she sees on her die would have no bearing whatsoever on the number you see on yours.

This is unsurprising  indeed, its how the world normally works. However, if we could make this example quantum, it could behave quite differently. Suppose that I now tell Thandi and you to first lightly tap your boxes together, before then separately shaking them and heading your separate ways.

In a quantum mechanics analogy, this action of tapping the boxes against one another would enchant the dice and link  or entangle  them in a mysterious fashion: once you each arrive home, open your boxes and look at the numbers, your number and Thandis are guaranteed to be perfectly correlated. If you see a 4 in Durban, you know that Thandi in Cape Town is guaranteed to measure a 4 on her die too; if you happen to see a 6, so will she.

In this analogy, the dice represent individual particles (like atoms or particles of light called photons) and the magic act of tapping the boxes together physically is what entangles them, so that measuring one die gives us information about the other.

Making better entanglement

As far as we know, theres no magical box-tapping action to enchant a pair of dice or other objects on our human, macroscopic scale (if there were, we would be able to experience quantum mechanics in our everyday life and it would probably not be such a foreign, perplexing concept). For now, scientists have to be content with using things on the microscopic level, where it is much easier to observe quantum effects, like charged atoms called ions or special superconducting devices called transmons.

This is the kind of work carried out in the University of the Witwatersrands Structured Light Laboratory, in South Africa. Instead of ions or transmons, however, researchers in the lab use particles of light, called photons, to better understand quantum mechanics and its implications. We are interested in using the quantum nature of light for a variety of purposes: from designing efficient communication systems which are completely unhackable by a malevolent third party, to creating methods of imaging sensitive biological samples without damaging them.

Studies like this often require us to start with specially created states of entangled photons. But its not as simple as putting two dice in separate boxes and tapping them together. The processes used to create entangled photons in a real laboratory are constrained by many experimental variables. These include the shape of laser beams used in experiments and the sizes of small crystals where the entangled photons are created. These can give subpar outputs  or unideal states  that require researchers to selectively throw away some measurements once an experiment is done. This is not an optimal situation: photons are discarded and so energy is wasted.

A group of researchers from the lab, myself among them, recently took a step towards solving this problem. In a journal article, we mathematically calculated what the optimal laser shape needs to be in order to, as best as possible, create the entangled state that an experimenter would want to start their experiment with. The method proposes changing the input laser beam shape at the beginning of an experiment to maximise the entangled photon creation process later in the experiment. This will mean more photons available to perform your experiment the way you want to, and fewer stray ones.

Improving the efficiency of the entanglement creation and manipulation process, using techniques such as the one proposed, will be important to optimise the efficiency of a number of other quantum technologies, like quantum cryptography systems and the other technologies already mentioned. This is especially important as the fourth industrial revolution moves ahead globally and technologies with quantum mechanics at their cores undoubtedly become more commonplace.

Nicholas Bornman, PhD student, University of the Witwatersrand. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Bidens summit for democracy

Africa can make important contributions to the issues on the agenda: defending against authoritarianism; fighting corruption; and respect for human rights.

Seventeen African countries have been invited by US president Joe Biden to join nearly 100 other invitees for a virtual Summit for Democracy due to take place this week. A second summit, in person, is planned for next year.

There are three issues on the agenda: defending against authoritarianism; addressing and fighting corruption; and promoting respect for human rights.

Africans have a great deal to contribute. Its also an opportunity for them to advance their interests  as individual countries as well as collectively.

The US claims it has already consulted widely with non-governmental actors. This means that the views of African media, scholars and other stakeholders should weigh in.

Taken together, the summits three topics all beg for greater specificity plus realistic action plans and resources. Africa can  and must  be seen as offering vital and affordable opportunities to design, test and scale collective efforts. On each of the three broad topics they can make important contributions.

The democracy question

It remains a US bureaucratic mystery how the host selected invitees. Of the 113 countries chosen, an estimated 69% are regarded by a Carnegie Endowment study to be Free; 28% are Partly Free and 3% Not Free.

Among the African invitees are Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Even the host country, America, has been deemed in recent global surveys by Freedom House and the Swedish NGO International IDEA to have shown authoritarian characteristics. Its democracy ranking has been lowered. Europe too struggles with illiberalism.

Meanwhile, all 54 member states of the African Union have ratified an inclusive Constitutive Act that implicitly condemns authoritarianism and explicitly affirms democratic goals. These are given operational meaning with the later adoption of the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance.

All African governments are obligated to hold periodic elections, subject to international observation. These are deficient in many ways. Nevertheless they constitute practical expression of a new norm in intra-African relations: the principle of non-indifference. This refers to the commitment to no longer tolerate internal abuses of domestic power. The pro-democracy practice has been praised as path-breaking globally by International IDEA.

Beyond formal commitments to defend against authoritarianism, there is also persistent popular support for democracy throughout the continent. This is despite many often volatile democratic deficiencies.

Africans can also constructively disagree with the US host and engage others on two big issues related to tensions between illiberal and liberal democracies.

One is to seek constructive ways to engage all other nations, even in only limited ways, rather than to try to ostracise or penalise them. Today virtually all nations claim to be democratic, even the most autocratic. If the 2022 summit is to be credible then better ways must be found than for the US alone to decide who should participate and how.

A second issue where Africans can set a good example is their pragmatic but principled engagement of China. For African countries, the goal is a productive relationship with both China and the west. This point was made by Cyril Ramaphosa as the lone African guest at the last G7 Summit.

This would advance Africas development as well as lower tensions between China and the US.

Its an outcome that deserves urgent attention from the other attendees at the democracy summit.

The corruption question

Corruption is a pervasive problem throughout Africa. It is abetted by the complicity, or at least lax regulations, of many non-African governments that will be attending the summit, especially the US.

This was a key conclusion of the High-Level Panel on Illicit Financial Flows from Africa, chaired by Thabo Mbeki and commissioned by the African Union and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa. The panel focuses on driving the issue onto the agendas of African governments, and will meet again virtually on 12 December.

Recent revelations by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, the FinCEN Files and Pandora Papers show the scale and extent of corrupt practices that rob African countries of vital tax revenues. The founding president of the NGO Global Financial Integrity, Raymond W Baker, and a member of the high level panel, told me in an email that:

This is so serious as to be what is now probably the major driver of economic inequality and the key reason for the weakness of democracy. Aggressively addressing threats to democracy while inadequately addressing threats to economic and financial integrity will continue to bolster the global drift to authoritarianism.

Given Africas poverty and inequality, exacerbated by COVID-19 and climate change, pressing for necessary political resolve and institutional capabilities to redress this issue must and can become a global priority.

Last week the US government released a new Strategy on Countering Corruption. It could serve as a reference for the African High Level Panel to test US resolve to cooperate with Africans in this vital area.

The human rights question

On this, too, Africa can make a vital global contribution.

Human rights are not just a moral imperative. In Africas international relations the emphasis is pragmatic. Todays human rights abuses are tomorrows refugees has become a politically salient cliche in a continent struggling to mitigate and prevent forced migration and all the human suffering and instabilities, nationally and regionally, the phrase implies.

Human rights abuses are early warning signs of conflict that have given political impetus to the principle of non-indifference. Preventing unregulated mass migrations to the European countries that comprise the biggest contingent  39  invited to the Summit for Democracy should ensure a rapt audience for African ideas about what can and should be done cooperatively to address this problem.

In fact, most of the forced migration occurs among African countries. But ways and means to address this key human rights problem have global implications, with Africa the vanguard.

African agency

African leaders and publics can  and must  set their own agendas on the issues to be raised at the summit. This is because they must shoulder the primary responsibilities for the issues on the agenda  defending against authoritarianism, addressing and fighting corruption, and promoting respect for human rights  from two perspectives.

Firstly, they must deal with the consequences of these big challenges.

Secondly, they must implement policies to achieve the objectives of plans to tackle them.

The credibility of African governments is at stake at the summit. So is the possibility for building mutually beneficial partnerships that can become more inclusive.

Currently, wealthier democracies have not been reliable partners with African nations in their common battle against the global pandemic. Unless the summit can lead to real partnerships with African countries striving to sustain democracy, African countries invited to the 2022 summit would be justified in declining to attend.

John J Stremlau, Honorary Professor of International Relations, University of the Witwatersrand. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Ten National Guard medics arrived in Utica Monday to work as certified nursing assistants at the MVHS Rehabilitation and Nursing Center.

While they wont be working inside the actual hospitals - St. Lukes or St. Elizabeth Medical Center  their impact will be felt.

Acting administrator at MVHS Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, Amy Bowerman, said, Last week we received a call from the State Department of Health asking us in our long-term care facility would like some assistance because our two hospitals were identified as over-capacity, and there have been shortages as well for staffing within the long-term care facility.

Bowerman said the immediate answer was, yes.

The National Guard medics started training Monday and are already at patients bedsides in the long-term care facility. She also confirmed that capacity at the Rehabilitation and Nursing Center is up.

Our capacity has been about 145, so with the assistance of the National Guard, we are hoping to be able to open right back up to 162 beds, Bowerman said. This will assist the two hospitals with discharges.

MVHS Vice President of Marketing and Communications Caitlin McCann explained how the National Guard medics are helping alleviate some of the strain on the hospitals.

When there is not a long-term bed for a patient, they stay in the hospital because when they need to go to long-term care, that means they are not well enough to go home, but they're well enough to not be in the hospital anymore," she said. "They're basically in the hospital bed that is a higher level of care than they necessarily need.

There is no doubt the states vaccine mandate impacted staffing in the hospital, but it also had an impact on long-term care.

The vaccination mandate definitely impacted our staffing, Bowerman said. We did lose some staff in the long-term care piece.

The medics came from around the state, from Buffalo to Brooklyn and have been a welcome helping hand.

They were excited to be onsite, Bowerman said. They are looking forward to their assignment.

The medics are in Utica through Jan. 15, 2022.

At that point, their assignment will be re-evaluated to determine if it will be extended based on need.
Two lawsuits seeking $100 million each have been filed against a Michigan school district, its superintendent and others after four students were fatally shot and others wounded at Oxford High School.

Attorney Geoffrey Fieger says the lawsuits were filed in Detroit federal by Jeffrey and Brandi Franz on behalf of their daughters, Riley, a 17-year-old senior who was shot in the neck Nov. 30, and her sister Bella, a 14-year-old ninth grader who was next to her.

Named in the suits are the Oxford Community School District, Superintendent Timothy Throne, Oxford High's principal and others. The Associated Press sent an email seeking comment from the district.

Ethan Crumbley, a 15-year-old sophomore, was arrested and is charged as an adult with murder, terrorism and other crimes.
CLINTON COUNTY, Ind. (WLFI)  A bridge near Frankfort now bears the name of a 101-year-old World War II veteran and local historian.

The recently renamed LeRoy D. Good Bridge spans the Wildcat Creek on Gas Line Road.

Good grew up and still lives in the area. He said he has fond memories of growing up and playing near the bridge as a child.

"This was our playground," he said. "We'd go run up and down this road and play in the road. Of course, the bridge was always the fun part of it."

He was drafted into the Army 80 years ago yesterday after the Pearl Harbor attack.

"Of course, I'll never forget that day but we still, us kids, were running and playing and having dates," he said. "It didn't really mean anything to us because we didn't think anything was going to happen. Us boys just became men, I guess, real quick."

Good served on the front lines in Italy from April until the end of the war in Europe May 1945.

He became a well-known local historian upon his return to Frankfort from the front lines.

At 101 years old, he said he takes every day as it comes.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP)  Indiana hospitals are seeing their highest-ever overall patient counts amid a month-long COVID-19 surge and the states largest hospital system announced Thursday it had enlisted National Guard assistance.

Indiana University Health said it sought the support of the six-person National Guard teams for most of its 16 hospitals across the state because the strain on its team members, nurses and providers has never been greater.

The IU Health system isnt alone as the number of COVID-19 patients in Indiana hospitals has more than doubled in the past month, with about 2,750 such patients as of Wednesday as about 30 people a day are dying from the illness, according to state health department tracking.

That has contributed to the states total hospitalized patient count reaching its highest-ever level by topping 11,500 this week, said Brian Tabor, president of the Indiana Hospital Association.

Indianas total patient count is some 500 more than a year ago when the state was in the midst of its worst COVID-19 surge and about 3,400 people were hospitalized with the disease. Tabor said the current surge might not peak for another month and that hospitals are also seeing more patients with other serious illnesses at a time when they also face a crunch of health care workers.

Were viewing this as an extremely serious situation inside the walls of hospitals, but its not just a COVID issue, Tabor said. What COVID is doing is kind of taking up the slack thats built into the system.

The Indiana National Guard began offering the six-person teams that include two medics and four support staffers to hospitals earlier this year, with teams being dispatched in September to hospitals in Indianapolis, Evansville, Jeffersonville, Gary and Merrillville.

Indianas COVID-19 hospitalizations are now higher than Indianas summer surge that peaked in September and are approaching the pandemic peak reached in late 2020. The surge has also pushed up Indianas average of COVID-19 deaths to more than 30 per day after it was below five a day in July.
LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI)  The three remaining penguins at the Columbian Park Zoo in Lafayette are still in critical condition.

The zoo suspects six of the nine African penguins were killed by Avian Malaria last week, and they think the other three are suffering from the same thing.

Zoo assistant director Caitlyn Laffery said they can't be certain because they haven't seen the parasite which causes the disease in blood samples,

But, a positive PCR test confirmed an exposure event. The anti-malarial medication administered to the penguins could have cleared the parasites from their blood.

"This means there are wild birds in that area that the mosquito bit and transferred the parasite to the penguins," TED speaker Dyan deNapoli told News 18.

She helped rescue countless African penguins from the Treasure oil spill in 2000. She shared her penguin expertise with News 18 to weigh in on the penguin deaths at Columbian Park Zoo.

"There does seem to be an increase in Avian Malaria in general," she said. "And so one of the theories is that because of this warming climate, it's giving that parasite an opportunity to spread further and wider."

The Columbian Park penguins were treated with anti-malarial medication and brought indoors at night in attempt to avoid mosquito exposure. But in this case, it wasn't enough.

"We are looking futuristically to make sure we are even more prepared next time," Laffery said.

However, in the midst of treating the remaining birds, the zoo has not made any plans for bringing in new penguins.

"It's hard to separate yourself from work when you have such immense passion and care so greatly for these animals," Laffery said. "So these deaths have really hit hard for us."
Rigzin Dolma 21 uses Master in Laws degree in service to her Tibetan community

Determined graduate: Rigzin Dolma, a May 2021 graduate of the LL.M. program, pursued her graduate degree at William & Mary online while global pandemic conditions made in-person classes impossible. Different time zones meant she had to sign in to Zoom at night and remain online for classes until early morning. Courtesy photo Photo - of - Hide Caption

The concept of dharma can be difficult to define. Encompassing duty, learning, and discovering ones correct life path, it is a guiding principle in Tibetan Buddhism. For Rigzin Dolma, who earned her Master of Laws degree (LL.M.) from William & Mary Law School in May 2021, the opportunity to earn a graduate degree at the school represented an unexpected waypost in her dharma.

As a child of 13 in India studying at the Tibetan Childrens Village School in Leh, Ladakh, Dolma had already experienced discrimination and the impact of the uncertain legal status of Tibetans living in exile in India. Whenever disputes between Tibetans and Indians arose in her village, Tibetans always lost. Her sense of powerlessness only grew as she got older.

Dolma is the third of four daughters in a family of yak herders. The family lives in the tiny village of Sumdho, located on the desolate border between India and China. Despite uncertain circumstances and no clear vision of the familys future, education was prized in her home. Her mother, who did not have the benefit of a primary school education, worked two jobs to save for her daughters education.

When Dolma came across the work of Indian jurist Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar (1891-1956) in the eighth grade, she saw her future. Ambedkar, born into the untouchable Dalit class, is regarded as the father of the 1949 Indian Constitution. As a believer in social reform, he campaigned throughout his life against discrimination toward untouchables. He earned doctorates in economics from Columbia University and the London School of Economics and served as chair of the constitutional drafting committee. Dolma now had a role model.



She had never heard of law or lawyers, but she knew she wanted to follow in Ambedkars footsteps. After taking every policy, economics, and social science course available at the Tibetan Childrens School, she moved to Dharamsala to attend secondary school, ultimately earning a scholarship to Mysore University. There, she finally found her niche and graduated with an LL.B. degree in 2018. After clerking for the District and Session Court in Leh and then for a senior Supreme Court litigator, she was hired as a legal assistant to the Tibetan Supreme Justice Commission  the Supreme Court of the Tibetan Government in Exile.

An opportunity at William & Mary

Her improbable (and virtual) journey to Williamsburg began when she met Professor Christie Warren in February 2020 during Warrens visit to the Tibetan Supreme Justice Commission. Warren is Professor of International and Comparative Law and Director of the Center for Comparative Legal Studies and Post-Conflict Peacebuilding. After meeting Warren, Dolma applied to and was accepted into William & Mary Law Schools LL.M. program. Her studies were made possible by a scholarship from the law school and generous funding from Nora Lavori and David Sterling through the Lavori Sterling Foundation, Inc.

When I first met Professor Warren in my office and she promised to help me further my education, I felt that I had nothing to contribute except my personal story and my resume, Dolma said. When she introduced me to David and Nora, I was filled with unimaginable new hope. Without Professor Warrens belief in me and David and Noras unwavering support, I never would have dared to dream of the possibility of receiving a degree from a world-class law school like William & Mary. The opportunity they have given me has changed my life.



Dolma's LL.M. year was fraught with challenges. Because the global pandemic forced classes to be held virtually at universities across the United States in fall 2020 and spring 2021, she had to take all her courses online from her home in Dharamsala. Different time zones meant that she had to sign on to Zoom at 9 p.m. at night and remain online until early morning, attending classes in Constitutional Law, Civil Procedure, Torts, Administrative Law, Comparative Constitutional Systems and Legal Research and Writing. She never missed a class.



Rigzin was one of the most hardworking and determined students I have taught in the LL.M. program, says Jennifer Stevenson, Associate Dean for Graduate Programs, Director of the LL.M. Program, and Professor of the Practice of Law. She realized the great value of this opportunity and never took it for granted.



Dolma continued to work full time during her LL.M. studies and provided legal guidance to the Tibetan Supreme Justice Commission during an especially turbulent year when several commissioners were impeached by the Tibetan Parliament. The Dalai Lama ultimately resolved the dispute.



Her capstone thesis during her studies compared the Constitution of India and the Charter of the Tibetans in Exile. She received her LL.M. degree and a Deans Certificate in May 2021 at the age of 26.



Warren says that Dolma's talents and commitment to her community were immediately apparent when she first met her. She had a deep intensity about her, rare in anyone her age but even less common among young refugee women growing up in marginalized communities in which opportunities for women are limited, Warren said. It was clear as soon as I met her that she had an important path ahead of her. David Sterling and Nora Lavori made that path a reality.



Sonam Norbu Dagpo, Chief Justice of the Tibetan Supreme Justice Commission, agreed. Rigzins LL.M degree from William & Mary is an immense contribution not only to her, but also to the Tibetan justice system, he said. It has already increased her competence and confidence and promises to benefit the greater Tibetan community throughout her career.
A seamstress draws wax paintings used in the dyeing process of Miao embroidery and batik in Zhijin County, Southwest China's Guizhou Province, on April 11, 2018. [For chinadaily.com.cn/Chen Wei]

More than 1,000 women from Zhijin County in southwestern China's Guizhou Province who are proficient in embroidery and batik making have received training to better promote the local arts and earn more income since 2012.

Local women often learn embroidery and batik making, the traditional handicrafts of the Miao ethnic group, when they are young.

Miao embroidery and batik are important parts of Chinese intangible cultural heritage, but many of the women making the delicate handicrafts lived in poverty because they did not know how to sell their work at a good price.

The training, supported by the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, is part of a campaign it launched to support the county's rural vitalization.

Zhijin County, which has a population of 1.25 million, was lifted out of poverty last year, but the assistance relationship has continued.

By August, 318 enterprises had established paired assistance relationships with 332 villages in Zhijin.

Companies stepped in to help promote the handicrafts, with "seamstresses in Zhijin County" becoming a calling card that has helped increase local incomes. Many women from Zhijin have begun selling their works on livestreamed social platforms.

Guizhou's rural vitalization commission said since a paired assistance relationship was established between the federation and Zhijin 27 years ago, 175 million yuan ($27 million) has been invested in the county. More than 60 projects have been carried out to reduce poverty, benefiting over 50,000 local residents.

A poverty alleviation program carried out by the federation from the end of 2018 donated an acacia tree, a pig and a cow to each poor family and also helped the family dig a well and renovate their house if needed. The 53 million yuan program helped build 1,890 cisterns to assist 1,890 households, with over 8,000 residents gaining access to clean drinking water.

Some villagers previously had to carry water from remote areas, with a round trip taking an entire morning.

Villagers from Tianba Village in Zhijin gained access to tap water thanks to the program.

In a letter they wrote to the federation in 2019, they said: "According to an old Chinese saying, 'people who drink water should never forget who dug the well'... we are very grateful and will make a better life out of it."

A total of 679 houses have been renovated, benefiting more than 2,900 residents.

The program also made donations to help build village sewers and install street lamps, as well as buying medicine and down jackets for people in need. Students in high schools and vocational schools also received financial assistance from it.

Fifteen training projects have been carried out since 2012 for grassroots village officials and business operators. The federation has also collaborated with big technology firms to carry out e-commerce training to help villagers open and operate online stores to sell local products.

(Source: China Daily)
BEIJING, Dec. 8 (Xinhua)  Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday urged new progress in China-Iceland relations on the basis of mutual respect, mutual benefit and win-win outcomes.

Xi and President of Iceland Gudni Johannesson exchanged congratulatory messages, celebrating the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, which the Chinese president said is a new starting point of bilateral ties.

Since they forged diplomatic ties 50 years ago, China and Iceland have achieved positive results in pragmatic cooperation which has benefited the people of the two countries, Xi said.

Xi said he attaches great importance to the development of China-Iceland relations and stands ready to jointly advance the bilateral ties with Johannesson.

For his part, Johannesson said Iceland and China enjoy profound friendship and close cooperation in various fields such as trade, tourism, culture, education and scientific research.

He said he hopes that the two sides will maintain dialogue and communication, and work together to build a prosperous, happy and safe future for both countries, Johannesson said.

On the same day, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Prime Minister of Iceland Katrin Jakobsdottir exchanged congratulatory messages.

Li said that the Chinese government attaches great importance to developing relations with Iceland, and he is ready to work with Jakobsdottir to take the anniversary as an opportunity to push for greater development of bilateral relations and pragmatic cooperation in various fields.

In her message, Jakobsdottir said the implementation of the Iceland-China free trade agreement and the growth of bilateral trade have not only promoted mutual understanding, but also brought the people of the two countries closer.

The Beijing Winter Olympics will provide new opportunities for Iceland and China to deepen bilateral relations, Jakobsdottir said, adding that she hopes the two sides will continue to deepen cooperation and create a better future for both countries.

(Source: Xinhua)
Shen Yueyue, Vice-Chairperson of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress and President of the All-China Women's Federation, attends a work conference to promote the building of family, family education and family traditions on November 28. [China Women's News/Yang Rui]

A work conference to promote the building of family, family education and family traditions was held by the Publicity Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), the Office of the Spiritual Civilization Development Steering Commission of the CPC Central Committee and the All-China Women's Federation (ACWF) in Jiaxing, East China's Zhejiang Province, on November 28.

Shen Yueyue, Vice-Chairperson of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress and President of the ACWF, delivered a speech at the meeting.

Shen stressed further studying General Secretary Xi Jinping's important instructions on the building of family, family education and family traditions and implementing the spirit of General Secretary Xi's important instructions in every dimension of women's federations' work.

More targeted and concrete measures should be taken to promote the Family Happiness and Well-Being Campaign and the high-quality development of family, family education and family traditions, Shen said.

Shen urged promoting revolutionary traditions, building the family traditions of honesty and uprightness, transforming outdated customs, and cultivating civilized habits and consciousness of the rule of law.

Shen also called for efforts to strengthen the building of civilized families, guide parents to shoulder the responsibility of educating children, establish a system of family education guidance services in urban and rural areas, do practical work for women, and make new achievements in the building of family, family education and family traditions.

Huang Xiaowei, Secretary of the Leading Party Members' Group and Vice-President and First Member of the Secretariat of the ACWF, presided over the meeting.

Recipients of family role model awards pose for a group photo. [China Women's News/Yang Rui]

A total of 999 families were named as National Most Beautiful Family in 2021 at the meeting. Representatives of national civilized families and most beautiful families shared their stories.

(Source: China Women's News/Translated and edited by Women of China)
Weather Alert

...Accumulating Snow on Thursday... A system will spread light to moderate accumulating snow across the region Thursday. Temperatures are expected to range from the upper teens along the Interstate 64 corridor to mid 20s elsewhere, so the snow should quickly accumulate. This will likely impact travel across the region. Confidence in placement and strength of the snow band continues to increase. Highest amounts are expected across western Kentucky where amounts of 1 to 3 inches are possible. Amounts are expected to decrease north of the Ohio River and back into southeast Missouri. Snow quickly develops during the morning, with peak intensity occurring during the late morning and early afternoon. The snow should taper off during the mid to late afternoon. Behind this system, the coldest air of the season is set to arrive Thursday night. Wind chills into the single digits to just below zero are forecast by Friday morning. Stay tuned to later forecasts as this event nears.
Capital of Culture bid could prove a catalyst for Wrexham says Minister

Wrexhams Capital of Culture bid could prove a catalyst for investment into the county, Members of the Senedd have been told.

Welsh Government Economy Minister Vaughan Gething said he fully supported Wrexhams campaign, which has made the final shortlist of eight for the coveted title in 2025.

The Ministers comments came last week in response to a question from Clwyd South MS Ken Skates, who asked how the Welsh Government is supporting major events in North Wales and what benefits a successful Capital of Culture bid could bring to Wrexham county borough.

Clwyd South MS Ken Skates was putting questions to his Welsh Labour colleague Vaughan Gething MS, who was taking questions as Minister of the Economy. Mr Gething told the Senedd: Wales has a good track record of not just attracting but gaining real benefit from major events, and there is real credit to the Member for his time in Government in helping to move that forward.

We see the events that we help to fund having a return on the investment of around about 10:1, so it does provide significant economic benefit. But also, as we said, cultural and social.

After a short discussion on a range of events in North Wales, Ken Skates asked, Minister, whats your assessment of how a successful City of Culture bid by Wrexham Country Borough Council would help the entire county borough attract more major events and inward investment to the area?

The Minister replied, I am enthusiastic about Wrexhams bid for the UK City of Culture; theyre the only Welsh entrant still left in the race. And weve seen from other UK cities of culture that it can be a catalyst for more investment and a greater understanding of that city and its near neighbours, and what that can do in terms of attracting more investment from both inward investors in business terms, as well as looking to build on a record of a sustainable visitor economy.

So, I think its a really positive aspect, and my officials will be happy to explore opportunities to collaborate to showcase events for 2025, should Wrexham be successful.

And I hope that every Member in the Chambernorth, south, east and westwill wish Wrexham well in their bid to be the UK City of Culture in just a few years time.

Mr Skates and Wrexham MS Lesley Griffiths have both declared their support for the 2025 bid.

Mr Skates later said: We have some wonderful annual events that the Welsh Government supports in North Wales, including the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, which Im a proud vice-president of, in my constituency. We know that major events have the potential to hugely transform communities for the better, and I echo what the Minister said.

Im proud that the Welsh Government is supporting Wrexhams 2025 Capital of Culture bid and hope that people from other parts of Wales will get behind it too.

Mrs Griffiths added: I think everyone in Wrexham would be delighted if our town became the first Welsh Capital of Culture. Previous winners have shown securing the title can provide greater opportunities, create local jobs and boost investment, and the positivity generated could leave a lasting legacy on our town and region.

The other seven areas on the Capital of Culture 2025 shortlist are Armagh City, Bradford, Cornwall, Derby, Southampton, County Durham and Stirling.
Over half of all secondary school pupils in Wales have been sexually harassed by fellow pupils, new report finds

Wales Education Minister has said a report published on school childrens experience of sexual harassment by other pupils makes for difficult reading.

Over half of all secondary school pupils say they have had personal experience of sexual harassment from fellow pupils.

Schools inspectorate Estyn found that twice as many girls than boys said they had been subject to either face-to-face or online harassment, including being criticised for their appearance or asked to share nude photos.

LGBTQ+ pupils have substantial personal experiences of verbal homophobic harassment, with many saying that homophobic bullying is happening all the time and that this is the most common type of harassment in their school.

The school inspectorate ran focus groups with 1,300 pupils aged between 12 and 18 from schools across Wales.

Estyn found that young people felt that peer-on-peer sexual harassment has become normalised and almost expected.

The most common forms of harassment during the school day are pupils catcalling and making hurtful comments, making homophobic comments  mainly towards boys  and comments about appearance.

A minority of boys speak about being personally involved in sexually harassing their peers, including pressurising girls to send nude photographs, the report says.

Many boys say that sharing nude photographs of girls amongst their friends and boasting about the number of nude photographs they have in their possession is commonplace.

Behaviours and attitudes are significantly influenced by what they see happening on social media the report states.

It found that children and young people turn more to the internet for support and guidance rather than talking with parents or other adults.

Generally, pupils do not tell teachers when they experience sexual harassment.

This is because it happens so regularly, they often either only tell a friend or keep it to themselves.

They feel that it has become normalised behaviour and say that teachers are not aware of the extent of the problem, the report says.

Pupils said teachers often dismiss incidences as trivial or encourage pupils to ignore them.

In most schools, leaders, teachers and support staff are unaware of the high prevalence of peer-on-peer sexual harassment amongst young people because pupils do not systematically tell them about it.

Sexual harassment is a societal problem that is not exclusive to education settings and schools often deal with problems that originate from outside of school.

Overall, schools do not provide enough opportunities for pupils to talk about peer-on-peer sexual harassment openly, the report says.

The report was written in response to a request from the Education Minister Jeremy Miles in June after 91 schools in Wales were named in testimonies on the website Everyones Invited.

At the time he said he was deeply concerned by recent reports of sexual harassment and abuse in schools.

Any form of sexual harassment or abuse is totally unacceptable and should not be tolerated.

Estyn found that secondary schools in Wales need to engage more effectively with pupils to recognise and proactively prevent sexual harassment from happening between pupils.

Schools generally deal well with serious incidences, but because pupils often dont feel able to report instances to school staff, this limits their understanding of the extent of the issue. The report said.

Claire Morgan, Estyn Chief Inspector, said: Every single pupil who shared their experiences with our inspectors took a huge step forward in bringing these issues to light.

I want to thank them for their openness and bravery in engaging in difficult conversations.

Im extremely concerned by our findings, and I know that teachers, parents and pupils will also be worried

Theres a lot to do  more staff training, adopting a preventative approach across all schools and tackling issues on a national level.

The report will be particularly important to schools as they prepare for the Health and Wellbeing aspects of Curriculum for Wales and, in particular relationships and sexuality education.

Inspectors heard that pupils value well-delivered personal and social education (PSE) lessons but dont have enough opportunities to discuss sexuality and healthy relationships.

The report also found that the most effective schools promote a strong ethos of respect and celebrate diversity across all areas.

Leaders in these schools proactively create a whole-school approach to prevent negative and harmful peer-on-peer behaviour and make it easier for young people to report negative experiences, Estyn said.

Dismayed.

Education minister Jeremy Miles said the report makes for difficult reading. It highlights the uncomfortable truth about the prevalence of peer on peer sexual harassment in our schools with children often choosing to share their experiences with friends rather than their teachers.

He added: We are dismayed to learn that our LGBTQ+ pupils have substantial personal experiences of verbal homophobic harassment, and that this is the most common type of harassment in many schools.

Any form of bullying is completely unacceptable, including harassment and bullying due to a persons sexuality or gender identity, and we remain committed in our support for LGBTQ+ young people.

The prevalence of peer on peer sexual harassment taking place online or outside of school is also acknowledged within the report and we are in no doubt of the vital role education must have in tacking this behaviour. Educating children and young people about the importance of respectful behaviour and attitudes is crucial online.

Mr Miles said: It is essential that schools are equipped to respond to any reports considerately and effectively.

It is important to recognise some of the good work that is happening in our schools to keep our learners safe.

The report sets out: how effective schools develop and maintain a strong safeguarding culture that promotes respect and the importance of healthy, positive relationships; and how strong leadership and proactive approaches encourage and empower pupils to trust their teachers, stand up to their peers, and report all forms of sexual harassment. He added.

Union reaction.

Eithne Hughes, Director of ASCL Cymru, said schools will find the criticism levelled at them in Estyns report both frustrating and unfair as they put huge effort into placing the wellbeing of their students at the very heart of everything they do. The central issue here is that many young people regard this kind of abhorrent behaviour as normal, with around half of those taking part in this study having had personal experience of peer-on-peer sexual harassment and a disturbing 82 per cent of female learners being aware of other students experiencing it. The report highlights the vicious circle that schools find themselves caught in, with young people wanting them to be more proactive and take preventative steps to crack down on sexual harassment but teachers and leaders being unaware of the extent of the problem because students do not report incidents to them. That is exacerbated by the fact many of the incidents take place outside of school settings, with students feeling it is inappropriate to involve their school in dealing with it. Schools clearly have a role to play in helping break down the barriers that currently prevent learners from reporting incidents of sexual harassment through the delivery of effective and consistent personal and social education, but they cannot be expected to do so alone. It is totally unreasonable for Estyn to imply this is a problem only schools should have to deal with. They are a microcosm of society and the important issues raised in this report can only be dealt with by there being an open and wide-ranging national discussion that involves not only teachers and leaders, but parents, the social media platforms where so much of the abuse takes place, the Welsh government and, most importantly, young people.

Commenting on the report, Welsh Conservative Shadow Minister for Education, Laura Anne Jones MS said: Sexual abuse in any form is completely unacceptable and young person should feel that this is a normal part of their daily lives  schools are places of safety, not harmful behaviours that are tolerated instead of tackled.

This report is hugely distressing and highlights the tragic situation students find themselves in with the prevalence of peer-on-peer sexual harassment in our schools.

Students are far more likely to confide in their peers rather than teachers, and this can lead to schools being blind to the scale of harassment occurring in classrooms and on school yards.

There are clearly wider societal issues at play but working with parents we need to develop a whole-school approach to tackle these issues so we can create the safe and secure environments that our young people deserve.
It has been a month-and-a-half since Democratic Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer issued a state of emergency in response to lead contamination of Benton Harbor, Michigan's water system. It took almost three years for the state to order residents of the city to stop drinking from their poisoned taps, from the time testing revealed a general lead contamination level of 22 parts-per-billion (ppb) in the city (well above the 15 ppb federal action level) to October this year. The city of approximately 10,000 sits on the eastern shore of Lake Michigan, the fourth largest source of freshwater in the world.

Until September, the city pursued a two-decades-long plan to replace the disintegrating lead pipe infrastructure responsible for the contamination, shrinking to five years that month and 18 months following Whitmer's emergency declaration and expedition. To this day, the city has only replaced a few hundred of the thousands of lead pipes in the city-owned plumbing system. Concretely, only the bidding process has begun, in which the city will choose a company to replace the pipes in the 18-month time frame outlined by Governor Whitmer. There are no plans to address the widespread existence of lead piping in home plumbing, which caused some homes to test as high as 800 ppb and above.

Main Street in Downtown Benton Harbor (Wikimedia)

In early November, the Michigan Senate Oversight Committee opened a legislative investigation into the state response to the Benton Harbor crisis. The committee received 11,000 pages of internal documents from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE), including emails and an accompanying letter from Liesl Clark, director of EGLE. Much of the text of these documents contained back-and-forth finger-pointing between state and city officials, with scientific discussion and organized planning for response efforts pushed aside.

While Clarks letter aimed to divert attention away from EGLE, which she claimed went beyond legal requirements with their response efforts, the magnitude of the crisis still remains. Regarding EGLE's communication efforts, Clark admitted, despite what she called significant communication over the past three years, many residents continued to drink and use lead-contaminated water. This usage continued up to the state government's official direction to stop using tap waterincluding filtered tap waterand use provided bottled water.

Even though bottled water is now freely distributed for Benton Harbor residents regularly, the distribution sites are overwhelmed. As the winter arrives, residents visiting these sites spend hours in line, facing the added cost of gasoline as they wait in their cars to stay warm. The logistical inefficiencies, financial costs, lack of communication of the dangers of lead poisoning to residents, and a lengthy timetable for completely fixing the lead issue will result in many residents continuing to use poisoned tap water.

The internal emails between EGLE and Michael O'Malley, the city employee overseeing Benton Harbor's water system, reveal far more than communication problems and, in fact, downright criminal neglect and cover-up. Local officials never initiated promised bottled water and tap water filter distributions early in the crisis. Local officials also failed to efficiently communicate the threat of elevated lead levels to residents after their discovery, as they are mandated to do by law.

The documents revealed that O'Malley bucked initial orders to increase corrosion-control chemicals, believing them premature. In emails on this point, O'Malley said state officials were jumping to conclusions based upon Lead Action Levels only. Thus, for city officials, contamination levels of a well known neurotoxin, dangerous in any amount of ingestion, sometimes measuring dozens of times the emergency action level were not enough cause for concern to enact the less-than-minimal actions called for by the state.

Though Clarks letter attempts to shift all blame for the crisis onto city officials, who rightfully deserve blame, the Michigan state government facilitated the exacerbation of the crisis and the failings of local officials. At best, EGLE's efforts were below minimal. EGLE ordered city officials to increase corrosion chemical potency in the water system, holding two town halls in Benton Harbor to communicate the issue to residents, and founding a local water outreach task force.

On November 2, state and federal regulators ordered Benton Harbor officials to fix flaws with the management of their water system. Since at least 2018, Benton Harbor's water system's main intake line in Lake Michigan has been disintegrating while the water treatment plant's roof has been caving in. More recently, the city's water main ruptured in October, cutting off water for 24 hours.

Clarks letter characterized the negligence in the crisis surrounding Benton Harbor as a tool to serve as an important point of reflection and discussion for officials and stakeholders at all levels of government, presumably for the next crisis. Of course, that crisis is already here, simultaneously unfolding alongside Benton Harbor's.

As previously noted, just over a dozen water systems, including Benton Harbors and Hamtramcks, have recorded elevated lead levels above the emergency action level. These levels began appearing around the second half of 2018, likely found through updated lead testing requirements instituted around the same time.

The 15 ppb action level means that 90 percent of all samples must be lower than that. Benton Harbor's average lead contamination level of 22 ppb translates to 90 percent of households being below that level, and more than 10 percent are at least 22 ppb or higher. The insufficiency of these testing methods appears in the fact that any level of lead consumption can spawn a host of irreversible physical and mental side effects, especially among children and pregnant women. In adult men as well, lead poisoning can lead to myriad health complications.

Many Michigan political leaders hailed the state's updated water system instituted by former Republican Governor Rick Snyder's administration as the strictest in the nation at the time of its inception in 2018. Yet, loopholes allow officials to keep poisoned water systems legally operating and their status obscured.

One largely side-stepped requirement states officials must test lead pipes if initial testing shows signs of high lead contamination. Another will lower official state action levels to 12 ppb in 2025, an empty move that continues to overlook lead contamination lower than 12 ppb, which remains highly dangerous.

The lack of oversight appears even starker when one factors in that state records show some municipalities do not know what material composes 90 percent of their service lines. Lead was the material of choice for decades leading up to its banning in plumbing in 1986 (eight years after the US government banned its usage in paints). Most homes and city plumbing infrastructure built before 1986 are very likely to be lead.

Studies only seem to confirm the scale of this ticking infrastructural and health time-bomb. The Natural Resource Defense Council's report on lead piping infrastructure in the United States estimated the nation has between 9.2 and 12.7 million pipes containing lead, with Michigan among the highest lead pipe usage level.

Beyond the crises already publicly unfolding, a general health crisis could be unfolding undetected across Michigan. A JAMA Pediatrics study published in September found 78 percent of Michigan children tested in the study had detectable levels of lead in their blood.

Unlike the notorious case of the Flint water crisiswhere a criminal switch to untreated water corroded pipesthe catastrophes in Benton Harbor, Hamtramck and elsewhere are the advanced expressions of deteriorating infrastructure on its last legs. Between underfunding, aging public infrastructure and the resulting unmitigated deterioration, poor water systems face almost inevitable rising lead contamination if pipe replacement does not occur promptly. Thus, the crisis in Benton Harbor is only the first link in a chain of crises already rearing its head in water systems across Michigan and the US, putting countless residents at risk.

Within hours of the internal EGLE document's release, Governor Whitmer attempted to further redirect blame from the state government by ordering the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to begin a comprehensive review of the state's water safety oversight and communication protocols. Meanwhile, Republican officials began flinging blame at the Whitmer administrations response to the Benton Harbor crisis, deflecting from the fact that both capitalist political parties are implicated in the lead poisoning disaster.

More recently, Michigan state officials have pushed plans to utilize the roughly $1.3 billion in funding allotted to pipe replacement provided by federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the final form of which shrunk drastically compared to its original proposal. It is currently unknown what the scale and intensity of the pipe replacement will be across the state. Hamtramck and Benton Harbor are some of the only primary targets so far identified.

Opposition to the states actions has found initial expression in a lawsuit against the state. The suit, filed by Benton Harbor residents on November 10, alleges the state government violated their constitutional rights in responding to the city's lead poisoning crisis.

One of the lead plaintiffs, Doretha Braziel, stated her children and grandson consumed the lead tainted water up to this October. Water testing this year exposed her house had 886 ppb lead contamination levels, 59 times the federal action level.
The Committee for Public Education (CFPE) invites educators, students and working people in Australia and internationally to participate in an online meeting on Saturday, December 11, at 2 p.m. (AEDT). The event will assess the impact of the rushed reopening of the schools in New South Wales (NSW) and Victoria, and discuss the need to build a movement to suspend face-to-face classroom teaching amid the escalating spread of the Omicron variant.

Among the confirmed Omicron cases in Sydney, 20 are linked to two schools, Regents Park Christian School and St Peter Chanel Catholic Primary School, both in Regents Park, a working class western suburb.

Scientists are still determining the extent to which the Omicron variant is more infectious and potentially more dangerous than previous iterations of the virus. Initial reports from southern Africa, however, are alarming, including on the potential impact on young children. South African authorities have noted a higher rate of hospitalisation of children, including those under 5 years of age, than at any other stage of the global pandemic.

The situation is an indictment of the entire Australian political establishmentLiberal, Labor, and Greens. The Liberal-National state government in NSW and Labor state government in Victoria rushed to reopen the schools, including in Sydney and Melbourne, in early October. This was a central aspect of the ruling elites drive to permanently junk lockdown measures and other health restrictions impinging on the interests of big business and finance capital.

The teacher unions are actively collaborating with this agenda. The Australian Education Union (AEU) and NSW Teachers Federation (NSWTF) have covered up data on school closures and infection rates and have blocked every effort of teachers and school workers to defend their safety and that of their students in the face of efforts to keep classrooms open. A strike in NSW involving 50,000 teachers, the first in the state in a decade, reflected mounting anger over stagnant wages amid a soaring cost of living and increasingly unbearable working conditions. Yet the NSWTF bureaucracy did not once mention COVID-19 at the rally in central Sydney.

The Omicron variant has now spread to at least 49 countries around the world. The emergency measures taken at the start of the pandemic in China and other Asia-Pacific countries must be advanced by the international working class today in order to stop the spread of the Delta and Omicron variants and save millions of lives. These include the temporary closure of schools and non-essential workplaces with full income protection for affected workers, combined with comprehensive testing, contact tracing, the isolation of infected patients, mask wearing and more.

Rank-and-file safety committees need to be formed in every school, independent of the unions, to organise the widest discussion on the necessary steps going forward to take up the fight for emergency school shutdowns, as part of a global fight for the elimination of the virus.

Register in advance and promote the meeting among educators, students, colleagues and friends!

Details: Saturday, December 11 at 2 p.m. (AEST), register here.
Last weeks decision by the Democratic Socialists of Americas (DSA) National Political Committee (NPC) not to expel New York Democratic congressman and DSA member Jamaal Bowman does not mark a break from DSA tradition. On the contrary, it marks a continuation of the organizations long history of support for US imperialisms military aid to Israel.

For over 50 years, the DSA and its predecessor organization, the Democratic Socialist Organizing Committee (DSOC), have served as a faction of the capitalist foreign policy establishment, providing pseudo-humanitarian justifications for American imperialisms machinations abroad, with particular support for Israels military funding. Bowmans vote to support billions in funding for the Israeli military, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortezs vote of present, as well as Bowmans participation in a propaganda visit to boost the right-wing government of Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, are the outgrowth of this history.

Jamaal Bowman (2nd from right) with Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett (center) (source: twitter)

Michael Harrington, Israel and the origins of the DSA

Michael Harrington, the founder of DSOC and longtime leader of the DSA, was an acolyte of ex-Trotskyist Max Shachtman, who, upon splitting from the Socialist Workers Party in 1940, drifted to the right and became a proponent of the US wars in Korea and Vietnam.

Though less naked in his support for the interests of American imperialism in Vietnam than Shachtman, Harrington opposed calls for a withdrawal of US troops until 1970. He directed substantial attention to attacking the Viet Cong and the National Liberation Front as communist and authoritarian along the same lines as the Johnson administration, which Harrington had served as a member of a domestic task force. In 1965 Harrington said, I am anti-communist on principle because I am pro-freedom.

In June 1967, after the Israeli military launched preemptive airstrikes against Egypt, Harrington signed an advertisement in the New York Times demanding that Lyndon Johnson enforce the opening of the Straits of Tiran, which had been under Egyptian blockade.

We call upon the President of the United States  to act now with courage and conviction, with nerve and firmness of intent, to maintain free passage through the Straits of Tiran, the advertisement read. Alongside Harrington, signatories included Milton Friedman and Daniel Patrick Moynihan as well as fellow future DSOC founder Irving Howe. After six days of fighting, Israel captured the West Bank from Jordan, the Sinai Peninsula from Egypt, and parts of the Golan Heights from Syria.

June 1967 advertisement calling for stronger US intervention in defense of Israel signed by Harrington, Milton Friedman and others.

The 1967 war marked a turning point in the development of Israeli-US relations. Israel proved itself capable of suppressing the colonial movement of the Palestinian people, militarily defeating the Arab nations backed by the Soviet Union, and thereby came to serve as Americas policeman of the Middle East. While the US provided just $50 million a year to Israel in 1967, that figure rose to $3 billion by 1986.

Over this critical period, Harringtons position mirrored that of the US military-intelligence apparatus, advocating increased support for Israel. Carrying over the same anti-communist tactic Harrington used against opponents of the Vietnam War, he denounced student protesters who supported the PLO, writing in 1970 that they are activists who were so isolated in their homeland that they could not change the course of events and therefore romanticized a distant, noble third world which was to save them from their own irrelevance.

Author Michael Fischbach writes in The Movement and the Middle East: How the Arab-Israeli Conflict Divided the American Left that when Harrington left the Socialist Party, he worked to form a new democratic socialist organization in October 1973 called the Democratic Socialist Organizing Committee which continued the old SPAs strong backing for Israel.

The same month as the founding of DSOC, Egyptian soldiers crossed the ceasefire line in the Suez Canal, and war with Israel broke out again. Fischbach writes, One of the first resolutions adopted by DSOC at its founding convention called for strong American support for embattled Israel, then in the midst of the October 1973 Arab-Israeli War. Fischbach cites a DSOC publication as noting, Support for Israel runs deep in the organization.

To Harrington, opposition to the colonial movement was bound up with anti-communism. Harrington argued that the Soviet Unions military support for the Arab nations obliged the United States to arm Israel.

In a November 1973 article in Democratic Left entitled The Middle East: Is Peace Possible? Harrington wrote, If the United States had not intervened to give military aid to Israel when the Russians were re-supplying the Arab powers, then the very existence, the very survival of Israel would have been menaced. For that reason I supported that aid.

He demagogically sought to tie anti-communism with opposition to the influence of oil companies and to thereby cover support for imperialist war with pseudo-left phraseology: The oil industry has been running the Middle East for several generations. But whatever the United States does, it is both a moral and pragmatic outrage if we line up with the Arab haves and become an avowedly counterrevolutionary and imperialist power. That will not help us, it will harm Israel, and it will help either the Russians or the Chinese or perhaps both.

Michael Harrington (2nd from left) with US Senator Edward Kennedy (right)

In a 1975 interview with Mitchell Cohen, Harrington further laid out DSOCs foundational position of supporting US imperialist aid for the Israeli military and supporting the possibility of US military involvement in defense of the Israeli state.

First, the US should support Israel with the necessities for defending itself, Harrington said. Second, the US does have a peacekeeping role. He continued to present Israel as a victim of a conspiracy of the oil companies: It is clear from the evidence and the workings of American capitalism in general that American imperialism is pro-Arab. It has been political struggle in favor of Israel that has offset the forces of oil, the State Department and Defense Department.

DSOC merger with New America Movement

In the early 1980s, DSOC initiated merger discussions with the New America Movement (NAM), comprised of ex-Stalinists and former members of Students for a Democratic Society. In the merger, DSOCs representatives brought immense pressure to bear on NAM to repudiate its past statements of support for the Palestinian anti-colonial movement.

In The Movement and the Middle East, Fischbach explains that The two groups different stances on the Arab-Israeli conflict proved to be one of the most difficult points of disagreement during the merger talks. DSOC representatives took exception to the fact that the NAM had previously called for the US government to recognize the PLO as a viable negotiator in any peace talks with Israel.

At a meeting of DSOC in New York City on June 21, 1980, over 70 DSOC members issued a letter opposing the merger on the grounds that NAMs position is explicitly pro-PLO.

As merger discussions continued, Harrington led a DSOC delegation to attend the congress of the Second International in Madrid at which the Israel-Palestine conflict was subject to debate, with Harrington and DSOC supporting the Israeli Labor Party on the congresss right wing.

In January 1981, Harrington reported on the congress for Democratic Left and referenced DSOCs support for a statement signed by former (and future) Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres calling upon all neighboring parties and especially Jordan to shoulder their responsibilities and to enter into constructive negotiations with Israel.

In the same report, Harrington also made clear the organizations opposition to a rival resolution by the Spanish PSOE and Italian Socialist Party which instead called for negotiations between Israel and the PLO. Harrington explains that this resolution did not, however, insist that the PLO recognize Israels right to exist prior to such negotiations, a fatal flaw in the opinion of the DSOC delegation. Harrington notes that after a lengthy debate in the Bureau of the International, the congress approved the resolution supported by DSOC which deliberately did not mention the PLO.

Soon thereafter, the NAM and DSOC reached an agreement on the merger, which went into effect in 1982. Fischbach writes:

The compromise unity position on the Middle East finally ended up saying, We support the right to self-determination expressed in the Jewish state of Israeland the right of self-determination of the Palestinian people, a statement that pointedly referred to a state for the Israelis but mere self-determination for the Palestinians. The compromise also asserted that there could be no peace in the Middle East if Israels neighbors did not recognize its right to exist, or if the Palestinians right to self-determination was not guaranteed.

Harrington later acknowledged that every word and comma of the merger agreement was subjected to careful scrutiny. DSOC put forward an amendment to the merger resolution stating, DSOC reaffirms its commitment to Israel as the only democratic state in the Middle East. The amendment passed 158 votes to 3, with 30 abstentions.

Critically, the 1981 document securing the merger made clear the new organizations support for military aid to Israel. The US should continue to provide such aid as is necessary to guarantee Israels secure existence, the statement read.

DSAs position on Israel following the merger

In June 1982, weeks after the formal founding of the Democratic Socialists of America, Israel invaded Lebanon and launched a war that was to kill an estimated 20,000 civilians. The invasion was a conscious attempt to derail the peace plan sponsored by Saudi Arabias then-prince Fahd ibn Abdelaziz which would have mandated Israeli withdrawal from the territories occupied in 1967.

Israels military aim, as then-Defense Minister Arial Sharon later acknowledged, was to solve the problem of Lebanon once and for all by destroying the PLO in the country. Lebanon had served as the political headquarters of the PLO since 1976, six years after the organization was expelled from Jordan by King Hussein.

A resolution published by the DSAs National Executive Committee on June 20, 1982 called for an end to the war, but condemned both sides in equal terms. We condemn both the massive bombing of civilian population centers in Lebanon by the Israeli forces and the continual reckless use of the civilian population as shelter by the Palestinian combatants. It called for the withdrawal of Palestinian and Israeli forces from Lebanon and conditioned opposition to the war on the grounds that it made clear the right of Israel to a secure existence.

On September 18, 1982, the IDF surrounded the Sabra and Shatila refugee camp in Southern Lebanon and stood guard as fascists from the Lebanese Phalange carried out a massacre that killed 3,500 people. Democratic Left does not contain a reference to Sabra or Shatila until 1986, and its first reference to the war in Lebanon after the massacre praised a film for making the Moslim fighters seem as fascist as the Christians [i.e. the Lebanese Phalange].

The Israeli invasion of Lebanon did not spur any shift in the DSAs policy toward Israel. In a March 1983 interview with DSA leader Jo-Ann Mort in Democratic Left, Israeli politician Elazar Granot of the Mapam political party was asked, In the US there has been increasing talk of cutting off military aid to Israel in response to the invasion of Lebanon. What is Mapams position on this question?

Granot replied: Mapam is against any economic pressure being placed on the government of Israel from outside The fact that the [right-wing Prime Minister Menachem] Begin government uses the money the way that it does doesnt mean that we dont need the money. We still have objective problems of existence  we cant say that Israel doesnt need aid.

Elsewhere, Granot declared, without critical comment from his DSA interlocutor, that Israel has got real security problems. As long as the Arabs dont recognize our existence and as long as the Palestinian Covenant calls for the destruction of Israel, we must be part of every war We on the left cant give the reactionary forces in Israel any claim to the responsibility of security. When Israel launched the war in Lebanon, Mapams representative in the Knesset refused to oppose the war motion and abstained from the vote instead.

The meaning of Bowman and AOCs votes

Following the two mass uprisings of Palestinian youth in the occupied territories, the DSA position evolved slightly, but not in terms of substance, as Bowmans and Ocasio-Cortezs votes show.

In the aftermath of the brutal 2012 Israeli bombing campaign of Gaza, an NPC statement of December 21, 2012 called for pressuring the United States to adopt a balanced Middle East approach, including an end to military aid to Israel that is used for occupation purposes. A January 2, 2017 NPC statement praising the Obama administration for opposing Israeli settlements used the same language by calling for an end to all forms of military assistance to Israel that aids the inhumane occupation. (Emphasis added in both instances).

Israeli Defense Forces bomb building in Gaza Strip during 2021 offensive

This language was carefully written to allow US military aid to support Israels Iron Dome program, which was functional by 2012. The language is meaningless in terms of its impact, since any resources Israel receives from the US to fund the Iron Dome frees up equal resources to support the occupation and the commission of criminal bombardments.

The past 30 years have seen a massive expansion of Israeli settlements and a powerful growth of the far-right within Israel. The Labor Party has been reduced to a rump. It has become ideologically impossible to present Israel as democratic. For this reason, the 2017 statement also called for a boycott of companies benefiting from the occupation. In 2019, the DSA then supported a full boycott amid widespread popular revulsion over the repeated crimes of the Israeli state against the people of Palestine.

But the decision by the NPC to reject calls for expelling Bowman and Ocasio-Cortez establishes that the recent resolutions are simply for show and have no binding character. They only serve to prop up the DSAs left bona fides while its congressional representatives in the imperialist Democratic Party vote yes or present to arm the IDF and prepare for the next round of war crimes.

The NPC statement announcing that Bowman will not face expulsion is an apology for the New York congressman, calling him a Black socialist who has continued to criticize the Israeli government and claiming that he can advance the cause for Palestinian rights and anti-imperialist struggle at the federal level, i.e., from the US federal government, the cockpit of world imperialism itself!

The reality is obvious. The DSA is true to its roots as a critical part of the imperialist foreign policy establishment. Michael Harrington declared that the DSA would play a pro-American, Cold War, State Department kind of role, and that is exactly the role it is playing.
UK secondary school teacher Kathleen Monroe (a pseudonym) has been off work with Long COVID since March 18, 2020. She faces the prospect of losing her income, career and pension, for catching a disease through no fault of her own. Because she is unfit to return to work, her employer is looking to terminate her contract in January, while refusing to accept she caught COVID at work.

Kathleen is a member of Facebook groups which support education staff with Long COVID, as well as Twitter group Long Covid Kids. She also supports the Educators Rank-and-File Committee (UK) and signed up to assist with the Global Workers Inquest into COVID-19.

She explained to the World Socialist Web Site (WSWS) how she is coping with the illness.

The 12-week Nuffield rehabilitation programme was really helpful because it allows me to know what I can do, to stop me from overdoing it. If I overdo it that has an impact, my insomnias terrible, Im overfatigued, it knocks you back for days so its important to stay within your energy level. Its like having a battery in a caryou cant run it out, you have to keep in credit all the time to keep that energy going. Each day I need to make sure Ive still got energy to be able to function and if you overdo it then you literally have to rest to jump start your body again.

Some days I feel like Im brain damaged. I feel like Ive got dementia. Just talking to you on the phone, Im getting abnormal heart rates detected on my watch, and my oxygen levels have gone down to 92.

Kathleen pointed to recent research into Long COVID led by doctor Beatte Jaeger in Germany. They believe its all down to micro clots in the blood and there are people going to Germany to have treatment called HELP Apheresis. This is a transfusion system where it takes out the fibron in the blood.

Dr. Beatte Jaeger (Credit: https://beatejaeger.com)

All these trials are very experimental, and people are paying tens of thousands of pounds to do it. Theres a massive waiting list.

Kathleen strongly condemned the response of Prime Minister Boris Johnsons UK government to the pandemic. I was reading some of the comments in the teachers Facebook group pages this week and one lady said, I feel so bitter. Long Covid ruined my life and has taken away my career prospects. If I could sue the government I would. I feel the same. Lots of us in the groups are beginning to get really angry.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, the government along with the education unions and opposition Labour Party have been fully committed to keeping schools open, which has contributed to the uncontrollable spread of the virus. Despite the emergence of the new variant Omicron, which appears to disproportionately affect the very young, the government is determined to keep schools open with the prospect of a Christmas profits bonanza in sight.

Because theres money to be made, thats capitalism, thats their driving force, and the other parties are all included. Theyre going to ruin the world, its greed and money, said Kathleen.

Kathleen shared a poll taken on November 11, 2021 by Facebook groups Teachers with Covid UK, and Long Covid teachers and Support Staff UK. More than 47 percent who responded said they were considering leaving teaching because of COVID issues (safety, illness), while 30 percent said they had already left for the same reasons. Only 26 percent intend to remain in the profession despite the difficulties.

The Teachers With Covid Facebook page

The governments whole strategy is they dont care how many people are dying, its about survival of the fittest, continued Kathleen.

In relation to victimised London bus driver David OSullivan, sacked for fighting for COVID safety on London transport, Kathleen said, He was doing his best for the community, and to be sacked for doing the right thing, its incredible. Its all these key workers being affected and theres not enough thought about their safety. Its about keeping the economy going and not about peoples lives. The government think if people die or become ill, theres got to be something wrong with them, you got what you deserve. They want to reduce what they think is a burden on society. Its been their strategy to reduce the burden on the NHS.

Fearful of the dangers schoolchildren face every time they go into class, with virtually no mitigations in place, Kathleen said, It frightens me to death every time my daughter May goes to school.

I'm actually in the Long Covid Kids group because my niece Anne, 13, got Long COVID. She caught it on her first day back in Year 8 and hasnt been back since. Shes tried to go back a couple times; the school keeps pushing her and of course she cant manage it. Schools dont understand the condition, they dont understand the issues with concentration, the difficulty trying to focus, the extreme lethargy where you literally feel like a lead weight, and every movement is like youre really old. Children dont understand how much they are suffering.

The more transmission there is, the more variants were going to get, the longer this is going to go on.

These children have got their whole lives ahead. Are they going to be permanently damaged? My niece was the brightest in the class. She spent every weekend travelling around the country in competitions and now literally all she can do is just sit on the sofa. She cant even follow her passion for reading. She had her best friend over last week, just for a couple of hours and they sat just watching telly together and after that she spent three days in bed just from the concentration of having a friend there and watching TV.

I think childrens mental health is going to be horrendous if they have Long COVID because this is so isolating. Their friends will be carrying on having a wonderful time, theyll see things on social media. Luckily, Annes mum works part time so she can look after her a lot of the time at home, and she can prepare healthy foods and shes really on it in terms of supplements and taking her to private health doctors and having acupuncture.

Other children wont have that. They may have what Annes got and just be shoved to school. Theyll spend the whole day in torturous pain trying to concentrate, theyll probably not produce anything. Thats if they can manage to get to school not just be stuck at home.

I think with the transmissions rates among children, schools should be shut.

I feel like Im living in a parallel universe. How has this all happened? How is it the unions are behaving like this? What makes them think that they dont need to protect their members anymore? What is the point of them?

I think there will be a lot of teachers that will want to participate in the global inquest into the pandemic. On Facebook recently theres been lots of threads where people ask what can we do? Do we write to our MPs? Thats not going to work at all, is it? They need direction to your organisation.

Teachers, theyre so angry now, they dont know what to do. Teachers are coming to the Long COVID groups who have been double jabbed. Theres a flood coming through from the beginning of September. It could be down to the high viral load in the classroom.

I absolutely support a global workers inquest. Its the only way to get out of this mess without causing more death and more comorbidities in the working class and children in state schools, where weve got high class numbers, and you cant be socially distanced.
Reports continue to emerge of the Omicron variants spread in states scattered across India. At least 30 cases had been identified as of December 7, with government officials acknowledging that some of them have no connection to travel. Given Indias notoriously poor record of mass testing, this strongly indicates that community transmission of the potentially more infectious and virulent variant has already begun.

With initial data from South Africa suggesting that children are at greater risk of being infected and sickened by the new variant, the Indian ruling elites continued drive to reopen schools threatens to produce mass infection, compounding an already dire social crisis facing children and families that has been decades in the making.

There is widespread public apprehension about the Omicron variant in a country that has already experienced two devastating waves of COVID-19 that, according to studies of excess mortality have left at least 4 million and most likely 5 million Indians dead. But Indias far-right Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) central government and state governments, whether led by the BJP or the Congress and various other opposition parties, are determined to prioritize profits over lives. Reopening schools is seen as a vital element in forcing Indians to learn to live with the virus.

Students wear face masks and wait outside a school on the day schools partially reopened after they were closed due to the coronavirus pandemic in Kolkata, India, Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2021. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

The reopening of schools for in-person learning has taken place across the country this fall. In Kerala, the Stalinist Communist Party of India (Marxist) or CPM-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) government reopened higher educational institutions from October 4 and schools from November 1.

The DMK-led Tamil Nadu government reopened schools for Classes 1 to 8 from November 1. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led Delhi government ordered in-person classes for all grades to recommence November 1. In Madhya Pradesh, the state government resumed physical classes for students of primary and senior classes from September 21. In Karnataka, in-person classes for Classes 1 to 5 began October 25. Schools, colleges and universities in West Bengal were reopened for physical classes on November 16.

Meanwhile, the University Grants Commission (UGC), which is part of the Ministry of Education, released a circular on November 4 claiming that higher educational institutions can restart physical classes with 50 percent attendance in areas outside containment zones. All colleges affiliated with Delhi University partially reopened on September 15.

Although Indias current 7-day average of COVID-19 daily cases is around 10,000, representing a decline from the figure reported in early September, i.e., above 40,000, these numbers are highly undercounted, due to a lack of reporting and testing. With the arrival of the Omicron variant, a new COVID-19 surge among the countrys large, overwhelmingly unvaccinated population of children and young people threatens to occur.

Numerous infections related to schools have already been reported. More than 400 school students and nearly 50 teachers tested positive for COVID-19 in Himachal Pradeshs Kangra district last month. A 13-year-old girl student from Uttar Pradeshs Hamirpur district died of COVID-19 on October 21. Meanwhile, the northeastern state of Sikkim had to shut all schools and colleges within a week of reopening on September 6 due to the high number of positive tests. During the last week of October, 32 students tested positive for COVID-19 at a residential school in the Kodagu district of Karnataka. At least 30 students and teachers have tested positive for COVID-19 since the reopening of schools in Tamil Nadu.

A study conducted by the World Health Organisation (WHO) found high COVID-19 rates among the 0-19 age group in India. Using viral genomic sequences from 9,500 COVID-19 patients, the study found an increased number of infections among younger age groups (0-19 years) and women, a lower mean age for infection and symptomatic illness/hospitalisation, higher mortality and more frequent incidences of post-vaccination infections with Delta variant compared to the non-VOC (B.1) variant, the WHO update said.

Doctors have warned that school reopenings will lead to the spread of the virus. Children can be potential reservoirs of the Sars-CoV-2 and vaccinating them becomes a public health imperative, commented Indian virologist Dr. T Jacob John. We have underestimated the epidemic among children as they are not falling sick so much, but we must think of children as a reservoir of the virus.

India currently has no vaccination program for children and adolescents. Since the late spring, the Modi government has claimed to offer free vaccinations to all adults, but it insists on distributing 25 percent of vaccines through private hospitals who charge fees that represent well over a days wage per shot for hundreds of millions of workers and toilers.

Only 29.4 percent of Indias population is fully vaccinated. This means that broad layers of workers as well as school-aged youth are highly vulnerable to contracting the disease.

Children and adolescents who contract COVID-19 are at risk not only of dying but of developing Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C), which attacks multiple organs and creates other possibly permanent illnesses. Already, 4 children have died and over 300 were infected by MIS-C, a post-COVID complication, in Kerala in the last five months, according to the state health ministry. Twenty-nine MIS-C cases were reported in neighbouring Karnataka and 14 in Tamil Nadu in the last six months.

The Union and state governments have cynically seized on the dire social conditions confronting children and their families across India to legitimise their school reopening push. The horrendous levels of poverty and misery that exist in the countrys teeming slums and rural areasthe product of the ruling elites refusal to adequately fund social services and education for decadesleft the vast majority of children deprived of any schooling whatsoever during the period of pandemic-related school closures.

The results of a recent survey on School Childrens Online and Offline Learning (SCHOOL), carried out in 15 states and Union territories and prepared by a coordination team that included Indian economists Jean Dreze and Reetika Khera, points to a massive educational crisis. Titled LOCKED OUT: Emergency Report on School Education, it found that a lack of access to the proper tools required for online learning was one of the main impediments to childrens participation in any kind of education during the period of school closures. The report found that only 51 percent of rural households surveyed had even one smartphoneand only 8 percent of children in rural areas had attended regular online classes.

According to a report released by the United Nations Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF), merely 8.5 percent of students in India have access to the internet. The overall availability of computing devices (desktops or laptops) in school is 22 percent for all India, with rural areas seeing much lower provisioning (18 percent) than urban areas (43 percent).

A recent report titled A Future at StakeGuidelines and Principles to Resume and Renew Education prepared by the National Coalition on the Education Emergency, a group of academics and educationists, revealed that the overwhelming majority of Indias 250 million children had no structured learning opportunities during the pandemic, leading to an education emergency of incalculable proportions. The report highlighted the loss of the most basic language and mathematics skills among children of the rural and urban poor, and migrant labourers.

If Indias fabulously wealthy super-rich and the political establishment that does their bidding were so concerned about the educational development of the countrys hundreds of millions of young people, why have they permitted the disastrous social conditions documented in the reports on childhood education to develop and fester? The lack of access to basic necessities of life for the vast majority of Indias population was not a phenomenon that emerged overnight with the adoption of lockdowns, but the product of decades of underfunding of critical social services to pay for Indias ever-expanding military and the enrichment of its billionaires. The Union government spends a pathetic 3.1 percent of GDP, while providing Indias military with the third-largest military budget in the world, behind only the United States and China.

According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organizations (UNESCO) 2021 State of the Education Report (SOER) for India, entitled No Teacher, No Class, there are as many as 110,971 single-teacher schools in the country and 89 percent of such schools are in rural areas. The UNESCO report noted that the country is short of 1.1 million skilled teachers, with the rural areas accounting for the lions share of the deficit. Teacher vacancies in schools in some rural areas reach as high as 69 percent.

Across the country, over 200,000 schools (16 percent) do not have a library facility, 900,000 schools do not have functional computer facilities for the students (28.55 percent), and over 1.1 million schools do not have internet facilities, states the Unified District Information System for Education Plus report. According to official estimates, 10 percent of schools do not have hand wash facilities, leading to unhygienic conditions for the students. A total of 29,967 schools do not have drinking water facilities within the school premises and over 6,000 schools across India do not have a building. A recent official report by the Parliamentary panel on education stated that only 56 percent of schools have electricity and almost 40 percent of schools do not have boundary walls.
With Washington deliberately stoking tensions that could trigger all-out military clashes with both Russia and China, there is every indication that it is simultaneously seeking to blow up Iranian nuclear talks, setting the stage for a dangerous new escalation of conflict in the Middle East.

On the eve of the resumption of talks in Vienna between Iran and the P4+1 (the four permanent members of the UN Security Council still nominally party to the agreement plus Germany), along with indirect talks between Tehran and Washington, the Biden administration has carried out a series of flagrant provocations.

On Tuesday, the US Treasury and State Departments piled on a set of new sanctions against Iranian government entities and officials on the grounds of alleged human rights abuses. These come on top of the maximum pressure sanctions campaign imposed by the Trump administration in 2018 after it unilaterally abrogated the 2015 Iran nuclear accord.

Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGCN) vessels cross the path of US warships in Persian Gulf.

The US sanctions regime amounts to an economic blockade of Iran, targeting countries and companies daring to do business with the nation of over 85 million people and resulting in deepening poverty for the Iranian masses, while severely hindering the countrys response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has inflicted over 130,000 recorded deaths.

The Biden administration has maintained Trumps maximum pressure campaign in place, continuing actions against Iran that are tantamount to a state of war.

On Wednesday, the US Justice Department announced that it had carried out the successful forfeiture of 1.1 million barrels of Iranian petroleum products seized by the US Navy from four tankers bound for Venezuela. Seized in separate acts of US piracy in the Arabian Sea were Iranian weapons, including surface-to-air and anti-tank weapons, allegedly bound for Yemen to aid Houthi rebels in their protracted struggle against the US-backed forces of the Saudi monarchy.

The proceeds from the forfeiturescourt orders allowing the government to sell seized goodsamounted to nearly $27 million, according to the DOJ.

Meanwhile, the Pentagon announced that US Defense Secretary Gen. Lloyd Austin (ret.) will meet with his Israeli counterpart Benny Gantz today to discuss the United States commitment to Israels security and shared concerns regarding Irans nuclear provocations and destabilizing actions in the region.

Mossad chief David Barnea is also in Washington for meetings with US intelligence chiefs on Iran. The Israeli officials are pushing for a joint military campaign with the United States. No doubt they presented their American counterparts with a menu of options ranging from an escalation of Tel Avivs assassination campaign against Irans scientists and sabotage of its facilities, to strikes against Iranian interests elsewhere in the Middle East and all the way to an all-out war.

Senior Israeli military officials visited the Pentagons Central Command headquarters in Florida at the end of last month for detailed discussions on Iran. The Israel Defense Forces reported that the two sides deepened their operational preparedness and strategic discussions.

Israel has engaged in increasingly bellicose threats and actions against Iran in apparent coordination with Washingtons provocations. Early Tuesday morning, Israeli warplanes carried out missile strikes against Syrias Mediterranean port of Latakia, blowing up containers in a cargo area and igniting a blaze. Israeli officials claimed the containers held weapons destined for Iranian-backed militias in Syria and Iraq. The Latakia port is Syrias main lifeline to the outside world and is used by both Iranian and Russian vessels.

Israel is preparing exercises over the Mediterranean in the coming spring designed to rehearse a major bombing campaign against Irans nuclear program, the Kan broadcasting network reported. The drill would include dozens of warplanes, including F-15s, F-35s and F-16s, as well as spy planes and refueling jets, flying 1,000 kilometers to simulate the distance to Iran.

Earlier this year, Tel Aviv publicly announced a $1.5 billion program to prepare for an attack on Iran and obtain weapons, including bunker-busting bombs, to destroy Iranian underground nuclear facilities.

Amid US-Israeli talks on confronting the Iranian nuclear threat, the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution Monday calling for a nuclear-free zone in the Middle East by a vote of 178-1. Israel cast the sole opposing vote, with the US and Cameroon abstaining. Iran was among those voting in favor.

While Israel maintains a nuclear arsenal and has rejected all international nuclear treaties and inspection regimes, CIA Director William Burns, speaking on Monday before the Wall Street Journals annual CEO Council, acknowledged that the agency doesnt see any evidence that Iran  has made a decision to weaponize its nuclear program.

In advance of Thursdays talks in Vienna, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken declared that the runway is getting very, very short for achieving a negotiated settlement with Iran. Blinken has repeatedly threatened that all options are on the table if a deal is not struck.

In an interview with Reuters last Friday, Blinken charged that Iran does not seem to be serious about doing whats necessary to return to compliance with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA, as the 2015 agreement is known.

This imperialist arrogance turns reality on its head. It was not Iran that sabotaged the JCPOA, but rather Washington. When the Trump administration tore up the agreement in 2018, Tehran remained in full compliance with the agreements demands that it curtail up to 80 percent of its civilian nuclear program and submit to an unprecedentedly intrusive international inspections regime.

This was despite the fact that the US never offered any significant sanctions relief. Tehran continued to maintain its strict observance of the agreements terms for another year after the US abrogation, taking steps to increase its levels of uranium enrichment and stockpiles only after it had become clear that the Western European signatories to the JCPOA would do nothing to challenge Washingtons maximum pressure campaign.

The Iranian governments position is clear. Washington deserted the agreement, not Tehran. It must return to compliance by lifting sanctions, and then Iran will roll back its nuclear activities.

The Biden administration, however, has sought to put the onus on Iran, demanding even further concessions in return for the US returning to the accord. Blinken has stated US demands for an accord that is stronger and longer. This would include both Irans scrapping its missile program and ceding its influence in the Middle East to Washingtons continued drive to assert US hegemony over the oil-rich region.

Tehran has also called for the US to provide guarantees that it will not pull out of the deal once again, given a shift in the political winds in Washington. The Biden administrations ability to push a binding treaty through the US Senate is virtually nil.

Given the scant prospect of genuine sanctions relief from Washington, Tehran has little motivation for accepting new concessions.

While the pivot to Asia initiated under the Obama administration was supposedly a shift of US military might from the decades of wars in the Middle East toward confronting China, every region of the globe, and the Middle East in particular, remains a battlefield.

Under the impact of the US economic blockade and Western Europes complicity, Tehran has forged closer ties to Beijing, signing an agreement earlier this year that guarantees China discounted oil exports for the next 25 years in exchange for some $400 billion in investment under the Belt and Road initiative.

Whatever the motivation advanced by the Biden administration for military confrontation with Iran, it will be bound up with the drive toward global war with China.

Confronted with growing class struggle within the United States, amid unprecedented levels of social inequality that have deepened as the ruling elite has enriched itself amid the mass death of the COVID-19 pandemic, the US ruling class is driven toward war. It provides a means for diverting the irrepressible contradictions of US capitalism outward in an explosion of military violence, in the Middle East, the Asia Pacific and internationally.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced a move to the governments pandemic Plan B in order to deal with the rapidly escalating spread of the Omicron variant.

He made the announcement after Health Secretary Sajid Javid told Parliament that Omicron is significantly more transmissible than Delta. Delta cases had doubled every seven days but for Omicron its between 2.5 and three days.

He warned, The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) estimates that the number of infections are approximately 20 times higher than the number of confirmed cases, and so the current number of [Omicron] infections is probably closer to 10,000.

UKHSA also estimate that at the current observed doubling rate of between two and a half and three days, by the end of this month, infections could exceed 1 million.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson chairs a press conference on the Covid-19 variant Omicron in Downing Street with Chief Scientific Adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance and Chief Medical Officer, Professor Chris Whitty. (Picture by Andrew Parsons/No 10 Downing Street/FlickR)

Having ruled out any more lockdowns months ago in order to protect the profits of the corporations, the Plan B measures are extremely limited, inadequate, and, as always, way behind the times.

Insisting It is not a lockdown, with everything to remain open, Johnson declared masks will become mandatory in most indoor venues, including theatres and cinemas but not pubs, clubs and restaurants, from Friday. A vaccine pass or proof of a negative test will be required to enter nightclubs and other venues where large groups of people can continue to gather, including at outside venues with more than 10,000 people.

Johnson said that those who can will be encouraged to work from home from next week, but insisted that schools, the main vectors of COVID spread, must remain open until the Christmas break and that face-to-face learning continue in the universities.

We dont want children to be taken out of school before the end of term, not that there is long to go now, we dont want nativity plays to be cancelled, he said.

Johnson had no choice but to impose a few more restrictions given that he has been warned, according to leaked minutes of a meeting of the governments scientific advisers held on Tuesday, that hospital admissions from the Omicron variant could reach 1,000 a day in England by the end of the year without extra restrictions put in place, possibly peaking above 2,000 a day.

But he also announced the measures under conditions in which he and his government are reeling due to a series of explosive leaks.

For nearly a week the government has been fending off criticisms that a Christmas Party was held in Downing Street on December 18 last year, attended by 40-50 people in contravention of COVID safety restrictions.

The month before, London had been part of a national four-week lockdown with indoor socialising prohibited. The capital was then placed under Tier 2 restrictions which prohibited households from mixing indoors. By December 16, two days before the party, London was recording the highest COVID case rates in the country and was moved to Tier 3, meaning all indoor mixing was prohibited except in household bubbles.

Number 10 Downing Street is the headquarters and London residence of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. (Wikimedia)

The government attempted to ride out the scandal, denying that a party had taken place or insisting that no rules were broken. On Tuesday, these claims fell apart when ITV News published a video leaked to one of its journalists showing Downing Street officials, including Johnsons then Press Secretary Allegra Stratton and No10s head of digital Ed Oldfield, joking about the Christmas party as they rehearsed a televised briefing in the press room.

As part of the Q&A session, Oldfield asked Stratton, Ive just seen reports on Twitter that there was a Downing Street Christmas party on Friday night, do you recognise those reports?

She replied, giggling, I went home hold on, hold on, erm, err  Whats the answer?

This fictional party was a business meeting, she continued, laughing.

The leaks provoked widespread public disgust, with the video already viewed around 10 million times. The government was brazenly flouting its own COVID laws, even as the country was about the enter the deadliest phase of the pandemic. The Downing Street party took place took place on a day when 514 people died from COVID and the Downing Street press video was shot four days later as another 641 were reported killed by the disease. At least 167,000 are now dead from COVID.

Yesterday, during Prime Ministers Questions, Johnson was forced to apologise for the offence it [the video] has caused up and down the country and the impression it gives Stratton, who had already stepped down as his press secretary last April, resigned as a government adviser.

The event took place less than two months after Johnson blurted out in Downing Street, after being forced to agree to a second truncated lockdown late last year: No more fucking lockdownslet the bodies pile high in their thousands!

The leaks to the media are widely believed to have come from the prime ministers far-right former chief adviser, Dominic Cummings. Indeed, every major embarrassing leak aimed at destabilising Johnson over the last year, including the let the bodies pile high statement, came from him.

Cummings was forced to resign last November after it was revealed he drove hundreds of miles from London to Barnard Castle in the north of England, flouting national lockdown restrictions. His exposure and exit was part of a power struggle in Downing Street in which Johnsons partner Carrie Symonds played a significant role.

After Cummings was forced out, Stratton, a close friend of Symonds, was among those brought into the governments inner circle. Before he left government, Cummings was instrumental in setting up the 2.6 million Downing Street media briefing room in which Stratton mocked COVID regulations.

In June this year another leak, of images taken from CCTV footage showing then Health Minister Matt Hancock kissing an aide in his Whitehall office, quickly led to Hancocks resignation. The previous month, Cummings had told a parliamentary committee that Hancock should have been fired for at least 15 to 20 thingsincluding lying to everybody on multiple occasions during the pandemic.

On Monday, Cummings warned that it would be very unwise for No 10 to lie about social events that occurred in Downing Street during last years Christmas lockdown. On Wednesday, he tweeted, after Johnson authorised an investigation into the December 18 party, Will the [Cabinet Secretary] also be asked to investigate the *flat* party on Fri 13 Nov, the other flat parties, and the flats bubble policy. Cummings should know what happened in Downing Street that day, as it was the day he was sacked as chief adviser.

Another Cummings tweet yesterday, Fish rots from the head. #Regimechange, made his agenda clear.

The implications of these machinations in the most right-wing sections of the ruling elite must be understood by the working class.

Johnson was only able to take office because he was handed a massive parliamentary majority in a betrayal of a mass movement for social change by former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. Corbyn took the Labour leadership in 2015 after winning a landslide against his Blairite opponents fuelled by hundreds of thousands of Labour members and supporters who wanted an end to Tory rule based on a socialist agenda.

Having lost to Johnson in the 2019 General Election, Corbyn then handed the party back to the Blairites when Sir Keir Starmer took the reins of the party in April 2020, operating in a de facto coalition with the Tories ever since.

The damaging leaks undermining Johnson are evidence that the most right-wing sections of the Tories are planning ahead. Large sections of the parliamentary party and their business backers were content with using Johnson as their figurehead against Corbyn, but do not consider him capable of steering British imperialism through the stormy waters ahead as Omicron threatens to spread out of control and with multiple indications of an upsurge in the class struggle.

As difficult as it will be for many workers to believe, the moves afoot to replace Johnson would see a sharp lurch to the right. Cummings is a fascist who has made clear his wish for a strong man to run the country.

Among those being touted for taking over as prime minister are the multi-hundred millionaire Chancellor Rishi Sunak or multi-millionaire health minister Javid. Both oppose any further COVID restrictions as an intolerable threat to big business.

Johnson must be removed, along with his government, but this must be the result of the independent struggle of the working class fighting on a socialist programme. This demands a break by workers from the stranglehold of the Labour Party and trade unions, whose only role is to sabotage the struggles of workers on behalf of the capitalist class.
New South Wales (NSW) train drivers held a limited 24-hour strike on Tuesday, as part of ongoing industrial action over bargaining for a new enterprise agreement (EA).

Rail workers refused to operate privately built rolling stock, reducing the capacity of the network by around 70 percent. The ban prevented the use of all trains built in the last two decades, including the so-called Waratah, Millennium and Oscar sets.

This follows a similar action by NSW rail workers on October 20, a four-hour strike on September 28 and a range of limited work bans over the past three months.

A Tangara train operating on the Sydney rail network (Photo: Wikipedia)

On October 23, in a post titled Union members win first battle as Transport folds, the Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) announced that most industrial action would be temporarily suspended after an assurance from Transport for NSW (TfNSW) that union bureaucrats would be able to negotiate with senior officers from the agency and the chief executives of Sydney Trains and NSW Trains.

The union reported that TfNSW had also agreed to scrap its 0.3 percent pay rise offer, although the revised offer of 2.5 percent in fact comprised a 2.04 percent pay increase and a 0.5 percent superannuation bump.

The RTBU is asking for a 3.5 percent annual pay rise. Even if this meagre increase, not enough to cover the rapidly rising cost of living in Sydney, is granted, the union will enforce cuts to ensure the overall wage bill of Sydney Trains and NSW Trains does not increase by more than 2.5 percent, as it did under the previous 2018 EA.

Under the NSW Labour Expenses Cap, introduced by the Labor government in 2008, public sector wage increases are capped at 2.5 percent unless savings are made elsewhere in the organisation.

Workers key demands in this dispute are over job security, particularly the use of casual and labour-hire workers and contractors, as well as the ever-present threat of privatisation. With the privatisation of Sydneys bus network almost complete, rail is the last mode of public transport that (mostly) remains in public hands.

The opening of the Sydney Metro Northwest rapid transit line in 2019 and the current construction of the Sydney Metro City and Southwest line make clear that future expansion of the citys rail network will involve privately-owned and operated driverless trains and a major assault on jobs.

Workers are also concerned about the introduction of the New Intercity Fleet, a set of trains explicitly designed for driver-only operation, which will allow the role of guards to be eliminated. The introduction of this fleet is currently being prevented by drivers who refuse to man the trains because of their concerns over safety and job security. In the current negotiations, TfNSW has sought to remove clauses in the current EA that have so far prevented the agency from pressing the fleet into service despite the objection of drivers.

The changes TfNSW is seeking in the new EA, and their response to the workers log of claims, make clear that the current negotiations are intended to prepare the way for sweeping restructuring and privatisation.

The employer has rejected demands for a guarantee in the new EA that workers base conditions will be retained if they are transferred to a private company, permanent conversion for contractors after three months service, and a demand that: Any employee affected by a restructure or workplace change will be given priority for positions in the new structure. TfNSW is also seeking to slash redundancy payments from a maximum of 64 weeks pay to 12 weeks.

Tuesdays industrial action took place at the same time as a strike by around 50,000 NSW public school teacherstheir first walkout in 10 yearsas well as the second of two consecutive 24-hour stoppages by Sydney bus drivers, in the inner west on Monday and the southwest on Tuesday.

This reflects mounting anger among workers, especially those classified as essential frontline workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. While these workers have been publicly praised for their service over the past 20 months, continuing to work despite the risk to their health and lives, their efforts have been rewarded with attacks on their pay and conditions.

Throughout the pandemic, the unions have played a leading role in enforcing the demands of corporations and government for business and profit-making to carry on as usual, and public transport workers, as well as teachers, have found themselves at the centre of this back-to-work drive.

Genuine concerns of workers over the danger of COVID-19 have been repeatedly suppressed by the unions. In August last year, the RTBU called off a planned strike of drivers in three Sydney regions against overcrowded buses and the absence of a requirement for passengers to wear masks.

In September last year, the RTBU opposed the introduction of mandatory COVID-19 vaccination of transport workers, arguing that regular PCR tests for workers who lived in hotspots was sufficient and stating: Ultimately, the decision of when to be vaccinated is a personal one, and the beliefs that underpin that decision are also personal.

The concurrent strike of Sydney train and bus drivers on Tuesday increased the impact of the actions, especially with the inner west light rail network currently suspended due to a manufacturing defect. However, this effect was minimised by the decision of the RTBU, which represents most bus drivers in Region 6, for workers there to strike on Monday, meaning only the smaller Region 3, where workers are represented by the Transport Workers Union (TWU), was on strike on Tuesday.

While the RTBU postures as an opponent of privatisation, it has actively collaborated, along with the Labor Party, in the decimation of the NSW public transport sector over the last decade. Both Labor and the unions have falsely claimed that privatisation is an ideological obsession held only by Liberal-National governments, when in fact it is the product of a pro-business program shared by Labor.

In fact, between 1995 and 2011, the NSW Labor government spearheaded the corporatisation of rail assets, the closure of maintenance workshops and the slashing of thousands of jobs. In addition, Labor was responsible for the sell-off of the states electricity distribution network.

Rail workers can defend their basic rights only through a break with the RTBU, and the establishment of new organisations of struggle, including independent rank-and-file committees.

The present debacle around Sydneys light rail and ferry services makes clear that the endless cost-cutting and privatisation agenda of Labor and Liberal-National governments alike is not just an assault on workers whose jobs are directly affected, but on the entire working class, which, in the interest of corporate profits, is being denied a reliable, safe and efficient public transport system.

As such, rail and bus drivers, and workers throughout the transport industry, must fight for a broader mobilisation of the working class based on a socialist program, including the genuine public ownership and workers control of mass transit and its operation to meet social need, not private profit and government austerity demands.
On December 1, eight months after nine activists were gunned down and six arrested in simultaneous police raids on March 7, the Philippine justice department announced that a special investigating team had recommended the filing of murder charges against 17 police officers for one of the killings, that of labour leader Emmanuel Asuncion.

The horrifying events became known as Bloody Sunday. The killing of Asuncion was part of a crackdown on legal political and activist organizations staged by the police just two days after President Rodrigo Duterte delivered a speech in the city of Cagayan de Oro in a meeting of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELAC).

Speaking of communist terrorists to an audience of military and police officials, Duterte declared, If theres an encounter and you see them armed, kill! Kill them! Dont mind human rights! I will be the one to go to prison, I dont have any qualms. He continued, make sure you really kill them, and finish them off if they are alive.

Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte (Presidential Communications Operations Office/Wikipedia)

Asuncion was gunned down in his office in Dasmarinas City in the province of Cavite. Police separated him from his wife, who they sent to another room, and then shot him repeatedly. According to the Onenews.ph website, Asuncion was shot three times in the front and three times more in the back.

The eight other activists were roused from their beds in the early morning, separated from their families and killed. Ariel and Anna Marie Evangelista were killed outside their bamboo hut in Batangas province while their 10-year-old son hid under his bed. Both were leaders of an environmental organization, composed largely of poor fishermen in their community, opposing mining, land-grabbing and climate change.

Melvin Dasigao, Marklee Bacasno, Abner and Edward Esto were leaders and members of an urban poor organization fighting for decent housing in Kasiglahan, Rizal province. They were gunned down in their homes as their families were herded outside into the cold dawn. Bascanos killing was particularly merciless. He was shot seven times.

Their urban poor organization, San Isidro Kasiglahan, Kapatiran at Damayan para sa Kabuhayan, Katarungan at Kapayapaan (SIKKAD-K3), had previously been labelled a communist front group by the military. According to the human rights organization, Karapatan, the four slain activists were publicly portrayed by the government as members or former members of the New Peoples Army (NPA), the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).

Puroy dela Cruz and his cousin Randy dela Cruz, farmers and members of the Dumagat indigenous group in Rizal Province, suffered similar horrendous fates. They were shot repeatedly as the police held their families outside their homes.

Out of all of these horrifying crimes, murder charges have only been filed in one. Even that case is likely to be dragged out interminably. Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra told the press that Philippine judicial procedures dictate that the actual prosecution will depend on the preliminary investigation by the Dasmarinas city prosecutor who has reportedly invited the accused police to file their counter affidavits.

Guevarra also announced that the special investigation teams for the killing of the Evangelista couple, Dasigao, Bacasno, Abner and Edward Esto were still conducting their investigations. The killings of Puroy and Randy dela Cruz were not included, he stated, as he claimed that no connection to any cause-oriented or activist group had been established. The murders of these two farmers did not fall within the remit of the special investigation teams established under a 2012 order of then President Benigno Aquino to investigate the extrajudicial killing of members of cause-oriented organizations, advocates of political, environmental, agrarian, labor, or similar causes and journalists.

In the wake of the justice department announcement, police officials insisted that the killings were the outcome of legitimate police operations servicing search warrants for loose firearms and explosives. All of the victims they claimed resisted arrest, nanlaban. Nanlaban, is a semi-official term popularized under the Duterte administration for fighting back against authorities and any case in which nanlaban is reported is widely understood to be a police rub-out, or extra-judicial execution.

Extrajudicial killings, massacres, illegal detention and torture are the pillars of bourgeois rule in the Philippines. In the decades since the military-backed ouster of the dictator Ferdinand Marcos, only one of the many known torturers and killers of that dictatorial regime and of the administrations that succeeded it has been prosecuted. Two leading torturers and killers, former Police General Panfilo Lacson and former special forces commandant Gregorio Honasan, were made Senators. Lacson is now running for president and Honasan is again running for Senate on a shared slate with Duterte.

The Bloody Sunday massacre demonstrates that the ruling elite will use mass murder to protect its interests in confrontations with the working class who are being driven into struggle by soaring prices, abysmally low wages, and the social weight of the pandemic.

Last year, Philippine congress passed an Anti-Terror Law, which was signed into effect by Duterte. The law grants the government the power to arrest anyone without warrant on the basis of unsubstantiated allegations of terrorism. The Anti-Money Laundering Commission announced that it would freeze the bank accounts of any organization accused of supporting terrorism. The Foreign Affairs Department has requested that the European Union stop all funding and donations from Europe to any cause-oriented organization labelled by the government as a communist front.

Under the Anti-Terror Law, government allegations of communism are now sufficient evidence to shut down organizations, freeze their funding, and arrest their membership. If, in the process of arrest, the police claim that the suspects nanlaban, the law is sufficient pretext for murder.

The lives of grass-roots activists and of the broader working class have been gravely endangered. Political responsibility for this peril rests with the leadership of the Stalinist Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).

Under the ideological leadership of Jose Maria Sison, the CPP and the numerous organizations that follow its political line, supported Dutertes bloody rule as mayor of the southern city of Davao, where he oversaw a notorious apparatus of death squads. The CPP endorsed the rise of Duterte to the presidency in 2016 and selected members to serve in his cabinet. Relations with Duterte soured in 2017 as a result of the intervention of the Philippine military, which threatened to carry out a coup detat should Dutertes ties with the CPP persist.

Only when all possibility of cultivating profitable relations with Duterte had ended did Sison and the CPP leadership begin denouncing him as a fascist.

Following the Bloody Sunday massacre, CPP chief information officer, Marco Valbuena, published a statement that the targets of Dutertes state terrorism can be absorbed by NPA units or provided safe haven within the NPAs guerrilla base areas.

In other words, the CPP had no intention of organizing the working class and oppressed masses to defend their democratic rights in a fight for socialism. The party, rather, is attempting to channel and isolate all political dissent into the countryside, while its leaders forge ties with a new section of the ruling class.

Preparations for dictatorial rule in the Philippines are far advanced. The mass murder of workers and the poor and the silencing of political dissent are being codified into the laws of the land. Sison and the CPP have made this possible.
The recent detection of the highly transmissible Omicron COVID-19 variant in at least two Sydney schools underscores the growing danger of the virus spreading in the schools.

Authorities yesterday reported a total of 34 Omicron cases have been detected. The real number is undoubtedly higher. Health officials are concerned that as many as 140 people attending a boat party on Sydney Harbour may have been infected in the potentially first super spreader Omicron event in the country.

Among the confirmed cases, 20 are linked to two Sydney schools, Regents Park Christian School and St Peter Chanel Catholic Primary School, both in Regents Park, a working class western suburb.

Scientists are still determining the extent to which the Omicron variant is more infectious and potentially more dangerous. Initial reports from southern Africa, however, are alarming, including on the potential impact on young children. South African authorities have tallied a higher rate of hospitalisation of children, including those under 5 years of age, than at any other stage of the global pandemic.

NSW school closures (Image: CFPE)

The situation is an indictment of the entire Australian political establishmentLiberal, Labor, and Greens. The Liberal-National state government in New South Wales (NSW) and Labor state government in Victoria rushed to reopen the schools in Sydney and Melbourne in early October. This was a central aspect of the ruling elites drive to permanently junk lockdown measures and other health restrictions impinging on the interests of big business and finance capital.

Despite the spread of Omicron in Sydney, and potentially in other cities, state governments are keeping the schools open with less than two weeks before the scheduled end of term. This includes the Victorian capital, Mebourne, where two suspected Omicron cases contacted in the community were reported this morning. Only private schools, including the Catholic sector and some elite institutions, have moved to end face-to-face teaching this year, leaving the largely working class student body in the public school system at risk in the coming days.

This decision has a provocative character, making clear the bipartisan determination to proceed with the reopening plan regardless of the dangers inflicted on ordinary people.

A critical role is being played by the teacher unions. The Australian Education Union (AEU), Independent Education Union (IEU) and NSW Teachers Federation (NSWTF) have consciously covered up the data on school closures and infection rates and have blocked every effort of teachers and school workers to defend their safety and that of their students in the face of efforts to keep classrooms open.

NSWTF president Angelo Gavrielatos recently admitted that he knew of at least 500 schools in NSW that have had infections. Carol Matthews from the Independent Education Union (IEU) admitted that she knew of a cluster of 80 cases associated with an early learning centre in NSW. At the same time, both unions have refused to publish the full data they have access to.

At a strike rally held last Tuesday when 50,000 teachers stopped work to demand adequate wages and conditions, none of the union bureaucrats once mentioned COVID.

Likewise in Victoria, the AEU bureaucracy has collaborated with the schools reopening. Daily case numbers in the state are above 1,000 and each day sees around 8-12 deaths, with the media barely reporting this toll any more. Last month, a child under 10 died of the virus in the state. This tragedy represents the youngest death from COVID to occur in Australia and the third of three under-20 year olds killed since the outbreak of the Delta variant began last June.

Educational settings far outstrip any other sector in Victoria as the source of COVID clusters (where there are more than 10 connected cases) of infection. More than 140 educational settings have been listed as clusters, associated with almost 3,000 cases. The worst cluster so far reported was at Morwell Park Primary School, in the regional working class centre of Latrobe Valley, which has 400 students. The school registered 80 COVID cases among teachers and staff.

With vaccination not yet available in Australia for children under 12, the number of cases in this age group continues to grow, both numerically and as a proportion of total infections. Since the beginning of November, children under 10 have represented more than a quarter of all new cases.

In Australia just under 30,000 children under the age of 10 have been diagnosed with COVID-19 and another just over 30,000 aged between 10 and 19. This represents 30 percent of all cases. Currently between 5 and 6 percent of children in Australia with COVID-19 are hospitalised. Early last month there had been ten children under 10 years of age, and another 28 between the ages of 10-19, admitted to intensive care in NSW. An age breakdown of hospitalisations in Victoria has not been made readily available.

Modelling for NSW by OzSAGE, a group of epidemiologists and medical experts, predicts a ten-fold increase in infections in NSW by June 2022 if mitigation strategies are dropped and under 12s are not vaccinated.

Both the NSW and Victorian government have instituted measures that deliberately conceal the real impact of the pandemic on children. Mitigations, including contract tracing and isolation, are being watered down in order to keep schools open despite the obvious risks. The responsibility for contact tracing in schools is no longer conducted by the relevant health departments but by the schools themselves.

The national cabinet is using dubious Doherty Institute modelling to adopt a test to stay strategy that ensures children remain in schools, while accepting a high probability of significant clusters resulting from a single case in a school. The Doherty modelling predicts clusters of more than 50 infections from one infection in a school 20 percent of the time, confirming international evidence that schools act as vectors for the virus, with unvaccinated children spreading the disease into their families and communities.

The Victorian governments test to stay regime means that contacts with an infected person in an educational environment only have to isolate until they receive a negative PCR test result before returning to school. Rapid antigen testing is then supposed to be conducted daily by parents for the following week and results reported to the school. The families and households of an education contact do not need to isolate at all. The same guidelines have now been implemented by the NSW government.

Both states are also using partial closures, where only those in a single year or class group are classified as contacts and the rest of the school remains operational. In practice this means schools will see repeated infections taking place. Even with the stronger measures that were in place during October and early November, more than 500 schools have closed in NSW and more than 800 in Victoria.

One-third of the school closures in NSW have occurred in the seven most impoverished local government areas in Sydney and almost half of school closures have been in working class regional areas, including those with a high indigenous population.

In Ivanhoe, a small town in far west NSW, the local school was closed for two weeks, with more than 5 percent of the community recorded as active cases and almost all of the population in isolation. In the regional town of Albury, there have been at least 25 school closures due to COVID in the last five weeks of the school term.

The federal and state governments, as well as the media and the unions, are consciously concealing the real impact of COVID on children and schools.

There is clear medical evidence on the risks posed to children including the long term effects on their health. International experiences confirm that children die from COVID-19 and thousands of children suffer long term effects. In the United States, 636 children have died, in the United Kingdom, 110.

Parents and teachers, and the entire working class, need to take up the fight against the murderous policy of herd immunity and living with the virus. What is needed is a global movement of workers and young people, parents and teachers fighting for a scientific response aimed at ending the pandemic by eliminating the virus.

This perspective is fought for by the Committee for Public Education. It is holding an online public meeting this Saturday at 2 p.m. (AEDT), titled COVID-19 spreads through Australian schools: Lives before profit! Stop the pandemic! Register in advance here.
In a much-anticipated press release yesterday, Pfizer/BioNTech explained that in preliminary laboratory studies the antibodies from individuals recently vaccinated with two doses of the Pfizer vaccine showed significantly reduced effectiveness against the Omicron variant of COVID-19. People fully vaccinated could not mount the same level of antibodies (called neutralization titers), needed to prevent breakthrough infections, as they did against previous variants.

The manufacturers of the vaccine wrote, Sera from individuals who received two doses of the current COVID-19 vaccine did exhibit, on average, more than a 25-fold reduction in neutralization titers against the Omicron variants compared to wild-type [original ancestor], indicating that two doses of BNT162b2 may not be sufficient to protect against infection with the Omicron variant.

Puseletso Lesofi prepares to sequence COVID-19 omicron samples at the Ndlovu Research Center in Elandsdoorn, South Africa Wednesday Dec. 8, 2021. The centre ls part of the Network for Genomic Surveillance in South Africa, which discovered the omicron variant. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

The press statement noted that the third dose, better known as a booster, appeared to increase effectiveness against the Omicron variant enormously: A more robust protection may be achieved by a third dose as data from additional studies of the companies indicate that a booster with the current COVID-19 vaccine from Pfizer and BioNTech increases the antibody titers by 25-fold.

Additionally, they remarked that T-cell immunity did not appear to be impacted by the mutations in the Omicron variant, meaning that the vaccines may continue to protect people from severe disease even if the risk of breakthrough infection is considerable.

The implication here is that in an Omicron-dominant pandemic, fully vaccinated will now mean that three doses are required. That would mean that the 3.33 billion people (42.6 percent) on the planet who have received only two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine are only partially vaccinated. Currently, only 217 million people, or close to 3 percent of the worlds population, have received a booster and therefore can be considered fully vaccinated. Hypothetically, such a distinction would have immense implications on the movement of people, air travel, and, more specifically, criteria for return to work and school.

In a new study released in preprint form by South African scientists, the Omicron variant caused a 41-fold decline in neutralization titers for someone who received two doses of the Pfizer vaccine, compared to the D614G variant first identified in Wuhan, China.

Corroborating the Pfizer data, the principal author of the study, virologist Dr. Alex Sigal, Ph.D., who is leading the team of researchers that first identified Omicron, remarked that the variants ability to escape was incomplete, meaning that people previously infected or vaccinated could still mount a response against infection with the new strain, but he recommended vaccination and boosters to protect against severe disease.

A report by German virologist Dr. Sandra Ciesek from University Hospital Frankfurt analyzed the serum of individuals who had received three doses of Pfizers vaccine (boosted), comparing the impact of the Delta and Omicron variants. She found a 37-fold reduction in neutralization in the Omicron group, a far worse result than Pfizers own test.

Figure 1 Neutralization of Omicron versus ancestral virus in participants previously vaccinated with the Pfizer vaccine

When she looked at the serum of individuals who had received only two doses of Pfizer, Moderna, or a mix with AstraZeneca six months previously, there was no measurable neutralization at all. In other words, the older vaccines had become completely ineffective against Omicron.

Dr. Zoe Hyde, an epidemiologist and biostatistician in Perth, Western Australia, responding to Dr. Cieseks Tweet, wrote, I wont sugar-coat things. This is a disaster. People vaccinated with two doses of the Pfizer-BNT vaccine likely have no protection against infection with the Omicron strain. Protection after three doses has likely taken a big hit as well.

Immunologist Dr. Anthony Leonardi explained that the breakthrough infections would mean that there will be little control of transmission of Omicron from the vaccines. He added, Vulnerable people who did not respond well to vaccination could be infected by another person even if all parties were vaccinated, and this is in the context of the current recommendations by Dr. Anthony Fauci and the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Protection) about lax mask policies for the vaccinated and the oft-repeated statements about knowing so much about this virus.

Barely a month into the beginning of the Omicron pandemic, the Financial Times reported on Tuesday that an offshoot [designated BA.2] of the Omicron coronavirus variant could be more difficult to distinguish from other strains with routine PCR tests, making it harder to track the global spread of the heavily mutated virus.

As Dr. Sarah Otto, a professor in evolutionary biology at the University of British Columbia, had explained, The S-gene dropout, which helped researchers and public health officials track Omicron in the early days and verify its higher spread than Delta, is not being picked up in the BA.2 offshoot. Without sequencing, it will be hard to track Omicron cases instead of Delta or other variants.

Despite assurances that these new subtypes are of no immediate concern, they do not pose the immediate critical questions: What qualities will the next strain of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, after Omicron, possess? And when will it emerge?

Dr. Leonardi said that it would be highly essential to continue emphasizing air quality, ventilation and respirators as the US goes into an unprecedented surge of Omicron and Delta outbreaks across the country.

On the news of these recent concerning findings, Pfizer Chairman and CEO Albert Bourla, speaking on CNBCs Squawk Box, admitted, When we see real-world data, [it] will determine if the Omicron is well covered by the third dose and for how long. And the second point, I think we will need a fourth dose  [and] with Omicron, we need to wait and see because we have very little information. We may need it faster. The faster refers to projections he had made that a fourth shot would be needed a year after the boosters.

Figure 2 Weekly hospital admissions in Gauteng

Despite these alarming reports, many public health officials and media pundits have suggested that Omicron will cause only mild disease and advocated allowing the new variant to rapidly infect everyone across the globe regardless of their vaccine status, in the hopes that such a horrific maneuver could quicken the exit out of the pandemic.

Dr. Ashish Jha, the dean of Public Health at Brown University and vocal critic of the idea that COVID-19 supposedly does not impact children, Tweeted, First, we have plenty of evidence that Omicron will spread easily, quickly, and far. We should expect, globally, relatively large waves of infections. How will people fare? It depends on who you are. In group one, the unvaccinated and not recently infected, how will they fare, he asks. They are likely to get infected with Omicron at very, very high rates. Many of them will get sick. I hope, but doubt, that the virus will be mild for them. This includes 4.45 billion people across the globe that are awaiting their turn for these life-saving measures.

In his usual cavalier attitude, speaking on Good Morning America, Dr. Jha offered this unsavory advice, Omicron is not going to be dominant in the US probably until January. Its just in small numbers still. For most Americans, if youre fully vaccinated, especially if youre boosted, I think travel is pretty reasonable, pretty safe. And he made this public health message in the face of a seven-day average of more than 120,000 daily infections and a daily average death rate of 1,300. Daily hospitalizations for COVID-19 are now back up to 62,500.

As for the severity of the disease with the Omicron variant, hospitalizations in Gauteng province in South Africa, where the Omicron epidemic continues to surge, have seen new admissions doubling every five days and have already reached 31 percent of the previous peak, belying claims that the variant is less dangerous than Delta. Cambridge University Professor Ridhwaan Suliman explained that hospitalizations lag cases by up to three weeks, and reporting delays need to wait a week to understand actual hospital admissions for the previous week.

The active promotion of the spread of Omicron is Trumps malign neglect on steroidssocial murder on an unprecedented scale. Far from an end to the pandemic, spreading the infection will only ignite further variants that have repeatedly been selected for their ability to improve on their capacity to evade immunity. Vaccine makers are now beginning to closely study Omicron in case an escape variant emergesa new strain that can completely evade immunity from current vaccines and previous infections.
It's now been over 90 days since Hurricane Ida made landfall in southern Louisiana. That storm, which hit on the 16th anniversary of Katrina, caused some 33 deaths in the state and at least 80 deaths nationwide as the storm moved across the Northeastern US.

Thousands were left without homes in several towns across southern Louisiana, especially in hard hit Terrebonne Parish. Just outside downtown Houma, an encampment of FEMA trailers, temporary housing units provided by the federal and state governments to shelter those who lost their homes in the storm, is still full after months and hundreds more are still without permanent housing.

The demand for trailers has far exceeded the current availability. Hundreds of people are currently awaiting temporary housing in Houma where units are slowly being added by FEMA to the campsite on Scott Street where nearly 200 people are already being housed.

Jerilyn Collins returns to her destroyed home with the assistance of a Louisiana National Guard high-water vehicle to retrieve medicine for herself and her father, and a few possessions, after she evacuated from rising floodwater in the aftermath of Hurricane Ida in LaPlace, La., Monday, Aug. 30, 2021. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

We are 90 days [since landfall] now and people dont have homes. Thats unacceptable, parish president Gordon Dove told WVUE.

According to Dove nearly half of the homes in Terrebonne Parish received roof damage with the state government providing 625 temporary housing trailers and FEMA sending in only about 15. We believe we will need 2600 when its all said and done, Dove noted.

Melissa Champagne had her home destroyed by Ida and was awaiting shelter aid as of late October. Im staying at my cousins house right now, with my two kids and my mother, Champagne told Eyewitness News (WWL). She had applied weeks earlier for a temporary trailer with no results after months without a home of her own. We can't even find rental places, Champagne explained, Theres nothing available.

The director of planning and zoning for Terrebonne Parish, Chris Pulask told WWL that getting people into these temporary homes should take about 7-10 days but has taken much longer in the aftermath of Ida due to lack of local contractors and the bureaucratic red tape from FEMA. Thats sort of the frustrating part that we have going on right now, Pulaski noted. At the end of the day there are federal guidelines to follow and steps to follow because thats how FEMA requires and operates.

David Livas was also still awaiting a housing assignment as of late October after months of staying with friends. If it wouldnt have been for her, letting me stay with her, I dont know where I would be right now, Lavis told WWL, People aint got nowhere to go.

As of now Terrebonne Parish has only two temporary housing facilities. As the need for more housing continues to grow in the area, parish officials say, there will be plans for more facilities to be built in multiple parishes with Houma being used as a staging area for FEMA trailers and housing camps.

Ethel Dardar from Pointe-aux-Chenes, an unincorporated area of Terrebonne Parish, told the Houma Courier that FEMA officials investigated her deeply damaged home and property only to deny her a housing trailer weeks later citing the fact that her home was in a flood zone. She appealed this decision and was eventually granted a trailer that she has yet to receive.

Dardar was given a woefully inadequate $14,000 in relief aid by FEMA to cover damages to her home. It is not near enough, Dardar said.

Of the over 600 trailer units FEMA deployed to the region, parish officials claim that only about 369 are occupied as the process for approval and assignment has been dreadfully slow.

Lafourche Parish president Archie Chaisson spoke to the Courier about the frustrations and difficulties in coordinating state housing programs with federal programs. Both programs have been really slow,' Chaisson said. 'We continue to bang their head against the wall trying to get them to move these programs faster and acquire more units and work out the issues whether it be energy or utilities to try to get things hooked up faster and licensed in faster.

Alongside the housing crisis, levee officials are working to repair $5 million in floodgate damage from the storm. For the most part parishes rely almost entirely on state funds to maintain levees and floodgates.

According to officials the flooding was barely contained, Had Ida made landfall farther west we wouldve had major overtopping, Terrebonne Parish Levee District executive director Reggie Dupre reported. The parish levee system was pummeled during the storm by wind speeds up to 180 mph according to monitors.
On Wednesday, four witnesses corroborated several accounts by others who testified earlier, including those of three Jeffrey Epstein sexual abuse victims, in the trial of the deceased billionaires collaborator and former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell.

The eighth day of the Maxwell trial began with testimony from Janine Gill, the human resources director at Mar-a-Lago, the Palm Beach resort owned by former president Donald Trump. Ms. Gill testified that the father of Virginia Roberts, an Epstein victim who is not involved in the current case, had worked on the maintenance staff at Mar-a-Lago beginning in April 2000.

The confirmation of the employment of Mr. Roberts is important because it substantiates a statement made by Epsteins former house manager, Juan Alessi, during the trial that Maxwell picked up Roberts, who was 16 at the time, at Trumps resort and frequently brought the teenager to Epsteins mansion in Palm Beach.

This courtroom sketch shows defense attorney Jeffrey Pagliuca,left, as he cross examines victim, "Carolyn" in Ghislaine Maxwell's sex-abuse trial, Tuesday Dec. 7, 2021 in New York. (Elizabeth Williams via AP)

Donald Trump has been mentioned numerous times during the Maxwell trial along with other billionaires and politically connected individuals, including former president Bill Clinton, the late Democratic Senator John Glenn of Ohio, and Britains Prince Andrew, who were part of the elite circle that Jeffrey Epstein frequently entertained.

The convicted sex offender organized exclusive gatherings that included the abuse of underage girls on his private jet and at his residences in Palm Beach, Manhattan, Paris, New Mexico and his private island in the US Virgin Islands, over two decades and were repeatedly covered up and protected from prosecution by the US courts and criminal justice system. Maxwell was an integral part of setting up these sexual soirees for the rich and famous.

There is widespread suspicion that the sudden death of Epstein in his New York City jail cell on August 10, 2019, while he was awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges, was not a suicide as declared by the medical examiner, but a murder ordered by powerful associates. With dozens of men known to have participated in Epsteins gatherings, there is plenty of justification for suspicion that the billionaire was silenced before he had the opportunity to spill the beans on everyone in open court.

Maxwell, 59, is on trial in the Southern District Court of New York after being charged with numerous counts of enticement of minors and sex trafficking of underage girls in connection with Epstein. If she is convicted on all charges by the 12-person jury, Maxwell could be sentenced by US District Judge Allison Nathan to as many as 80 years in prison.

Maxwell has been held in the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York since April 2021 and her requests for bail have been repeatedly denied by the judge, going back to her arrest on July 2, 2020, in New Hampshire. Given that she attempted to conceal her whereabouts at the time of her arrest, and the fact that she has at least $20 million and citizenship in the US, UK and France, she is considered a flight risk.

One of the charges against Maxwell is that she perjured herself during a deposition in a defamation lawsuit filed against her by Virginia Roberts, now known as Virginia Giuffre, that was previously settled out of court for an undisclosed sum of money.

The second witness on Wednesday was Shawn, the former boyfriend of another of Epsteins accusers known in the Maxwell trial as Carolyn. Shawn told the jury that he had driven Carolyn, as well as two other teenage girls he had been dating, to Epsteins house in Palm Beach numerous times between 2002 and 2004.

Shawn said each time he picked up Carolyn she would leave Epsteins mansion with hundreds of dollars in cash and that she told him about Maxwell and her role in arranging these visits.

When Carolyn testified on Tuesday, she gave detailed descriptions of the abuse she endured as a 14-year-old that began with massages of Epstein arranged by Maxwell and developed into sexual activity with the billionaire as well as group encounters.

A third witness, Nicole Hesse, testified that she worked part-time at Epsteins Palm Beach house for a year between 2003 and 2004 and had taken messages on a pad near the telephone which included calls from Carolyn.

The fourth witness was David Rogers, a former pilot on Epsteins private jet, who confirmed that Maxwell was a passenger on many trips between the convicted sex offenders properties. Rogers said that Maxwell was on the plane along with Virginia Roberts and another Epstein victim, Jane, between 1996 and 2001.

Jane was the first of the Epstein accusers to testify in the Maxwell trial last week. Although she lived in Palm Beach, Florida, Jane originally met Epstein and Maxwell while she was an eighth grader attending Interlochen music camp in Michigan in 1994. Jane said that Maxwell cultivated the relationship with her and groomed her for eventual sexual contact with Epstein in exchange for expensive gifts and promises to meet some of the famous people that they were friends with.

Kate, the second Epstein accuser, testified on Monday and said she also met Maxwell as a teenager in London. Kate said of Maxwell, I felt that I had found a new connection that could be really meaningful to me. I was really happy that we had connected, and she seemed as excited as I was to have a new friend.

Shortly thereafter, Kate was introduced to Epstein as a philanthropist who helped young people. She encountered Epstein for the first time in a dimly lit room in Maxwells house in the Belgravia neighborhood of the UK city. What started with Maxwell suggested that Kate give Epstein a foot massage quickly transitioned into sexual relations. Kate testified, I didnt know how to say no. She followed Maxwells instructions saying she did not know what the consequences would be if she refused.

As with the previous witness testimony, Maxwells defense attorneys attempted to undermine the credibility of Kate by insinuating that she had an ulterior motive for the sexual contact with Epstein. The defense lawyers also tried to smear the witness by referring to Kates history of alcohol, cocaine and sleeping pills, to which the witness said she was not under the influence of any drugs or alcohol when she was around Epstein and Maxwell and that she had no problem remembering exactly what happened to her.
The US Department of Justice launched a lawsuit alleging violations of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 on Monday against the state of Texas and the Texas Secretary of State. The suit charges that the Republican-controlled redistricting of Texas congressional districts, based on the 2020 US census, discriminated against minority voters.

The DOJs press release on Monday stated that the redistricting plan violates Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act because it has the discriminatory purpose of denying or abridging the right to vote on account of race, color or membership in a language minority group in that it deliberately minimizes the voting strength of minority communities.

One such example cited by the DOJ is a bizarre seahorse shaped Dallas-area district which preserves seats for Republicans as a result. This is a clear case of gerrymandering. (The terms origins lie in the redrawing of an electoral district in Massachusetts in 1812 to favor candidates of then Governor Elbridge Gerry of the Democratic-Republican party over those of the Federalists, with the resulting district resembling a salamander.)

Attorney General Merrick Garland (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

Districts such as the contested District 23 in West Texas had areas removed to lower the share of Latino voters by 9 percent. Six of the 10 districts in Houston are majority white, while white voters make up barely one-quarter of the total population of the region, and Hispanic voters comprise nearly half.

Texas has grown significantly, particularly among minority populations, which account for 95 percent of that growth. But of the two districts being added as a result, one will have a white majority despite this.

US Attorney General Merrick Garland and Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta held a press conference Monday on the DOJ lawsuit, with Gupta alleging the states districts were drawn with discriminatory intent in a rushed process ... with an overall disregard for the massive minority population growth over the last decade, despite increases in minority population, stating the newly enacted redistricting plans will not allow minority voters an equal opportunity to elect representatives of their choice.

Garland stated, The complaint weve filed today alleges that Texas has violated section two by creating redistricting plans that deny or abridge the rights of Latino or Black voters to vote on account of their race, color, or membership in a language minority group.

This is the first redistricting cycle since 1960 to be done without pre-clearance, a provision of the Voting Rights Act which required Texas and other Southern states, which have a long history of racial discrimination against minority voters stretching back to the Jim Crow era, to have their voting districts certified by the DOJ before being approved. Predictably, the Texas Republicans, who control both the governorship and the state legislature, seized on this opportunity to enforce a redistricting policy favoring the election of Republican candidates.

The DOJ complaint asks the court to prohibit Texas from conducting elections under the challenged plans, that the court order Texas to come up with and implement new plans complying with Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, and for the court to establish interim plans pending a lawful state redistricting.

In a news conference Monday, Garland urged the reinstatement of the preclearance protections provisions of the Voting Rights Act which the Supreme Court eliminated in a 2013 ruling, stating that the lawsuit would not have had to have taken place had preclearance been still in effect.

As the WSWS wrote following the ruling: By a 5-4 margin, the court effectively abrogated one of the most important pieces of civil rights legislation in American history. The Voting Rights Act remains on the books, but its enforcement mechanism has been declared unconstitutional and struck down.

In response to the DOJs lawsuit, Texas state Attorney General Ken Paxton, who assisted in laying the pseudo-legal justifications used to whip up the fascistic elements in US president Donald Trumps fascist January 6 coup, stated, The Department of Justices absurd lawsuit against our state is the Biden Administrations latest ploy to control Texas voters. I am confident that our legislatures redistricting decisions will be proven lawful, and this preposterous attempt to sway democracy will fail.

The lawsuit comes just weeks after DOJ sued Texas for its anti-democratic Senate Bill 1 (SB 1) restricting access to the ballot before and on election day. SB 1 was passed after the Biden administration rejected appeals from Texas House Democrats to weaken the filibuster so as to enable passage of the Democrats voting rights bills without Republican support, thereby overriding Texas SB 1.

Weeks before its passage, President Biden called attacks on voting rights by Republican lawmakers the greatest threat to American democracy since the Civil War. Afterwards, barely a note was made by Biden on the passage of the anti-democratic law, with Democrats largely ignoring it.

The Democrats made no attempt to mobilize opposition to what the WSWS has rightfully called one of the greatest assaults on voting rights since the dismantling of Jim Crow in the 1960s, instead promoting illusions in the courts and Congress.

Since then, the Democrats have dropped their of defense of voting rights, refusing to challenge the Senate filibuster, thereby ensuring any legislation against the blatant infringement on democratic rights by Republicans fails, as it would require the perpetrators themselves to vote for the bill to meet the 60-vote threshold against a filibuster.

Democrats effectively abandoned their For the People Act which would expand ballot access and ban partisan gerrymandering, with their more narrow John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act having little chance of passing, the core of which would restore pre-clearance enforcement.

The DOJ lawsuit appears to be an effort to counter the widespread disillusionment among Democratic voters, particularly minority voters, provoked by the collapse of the effort to pass a voting rights bill through the Senate, with a show of opposition to the attacks on voting rights in Texas.

It is unlikely to be more than a legal fiction, however, since the Supreme Court has drastically undercut the basis of such lawsuits by shifting the burden of proof. Under the Voting Rights Act, every action of states subject to pre-clearance had to pass muster with the federal Department of Justice.

Under the regime in effect since 2013, the DOJ must prove a deliberate racial animus in the actions of state governments, something which is very difficult to do, especially when the high court has declared that discrimination based on political affiliation is legal, even while discrimination based on race is not. It is thus legal for the Republicans to create a handful of districts that are 90 percent Democratic, so that a majority of districts will be 60 percent Republican, guaranteeing a Republican majority, as long as they do not openly admit that this involves racial considerations.
Steven Spielbergs highly anticipated new film version of Leonard Bernsteins West Side Story is set to open on December 10. The movies screenplay, by Tony Kushner, was developed in close collaboration with the last surviving member of the West Side Story creative team of 1957, lyricist Stephen Sondheim, who died just two weeks ago.

Leonard Bernstein provided for the lyrics of Steven Sondheim a musical score of astonishing depth and beauty. Before contemporary race-obsessed academics and ethnic nationalists targeted the work, discussions of Bernsteins score were often about whether the composition should be defined as a musical or an opera. It combines the best elements of both genres. With the exception of Gershwins Porgy and Bess, no other work by an American composer has so brilliantly managed to close the gap between popular and classical music. Its songsthey could also be called arias, such as Who Knows, Tonight, Maria, I Feel Pretty, America and Somewherebelong both to the American Songbook and classical music literature. In purely musical terms, West Side Story is a work of genius that will still be performed a century from nowand perhaps longer.

West Side Story (2021)

Beyond its glorious music, unforgettable lyrics and the brilliant choreography of Jerome Robbins, a fundamental reason for the enduring legacy and popularity of West Side Story is the power of its evocation of youthful love and human solidarity. The tragic story is a powerful denunciation of racial and national bigotry. Bernstein and Sondheim transposed Shakespeares Romeo and Juliet to a working-class neighborhood in New York. Veronas feuding Montagues and Capulets in the Italian Renaissance became rival youth gangsthe newly arrived Puerto Rican Sharks and the descendants of earlier immigrants, the Jets.

West Side Story was produced just a few years after the height of McCarthyism, the anti-communist witchhunt in which both Bernstein and Arthur Laurents, the author of the musical play, were victimized. It arrived during a time of substantial migration to New York, both by Puerto Ricans and by African Americans from the US South. The stirrings of what would become the mass civil rights movement had also begun.

The show presented a left-wing and progressive opposition to prejudice and the whipping up of ethnic divisions, as well as to poverty and social ills. Moreover, like the original, the musical evinced hostility toward all the social forces and institutions, and prejudices, that work to destroy the possibility of human intimacy and happiness.

Original Broadway production of West Side Story (1957) (Photo creditFred Fehl)

It remains to be seen how successfully the remake of the cinematic version of West Side Story realizes Bernsteins artistic vision. Even before the films release, however, the musical is under attack. The New York Times published a two-page feature, entitled West Side Story: The Great Debate, only days before the premiere. The participants included Times chief theatre critic, Jesse Green; Misha Berson, the critic for the Seattle Times and the author of a book on the impact of West Side Story on US culture; and Carina del Valle Schorske, a contributing writer to the Times and a viciously ignorant critic of Bernsteins masterpiece.

What is this debate, an argument that the Times goes so far as to call a great debate, all about? The 1957 stage production and 1961 film version met with widespread critical as well as popular acclaim. Of course, great works are the subjects of recurring analysis and reappraisal. The interest they inspire testifies to their greatness.

The Broadway show was nominated for six Tony awards and won three, and the film won 10 Academy Awards. In the ensuing decades there have been literally thousands of high school productions, as well as many major revivals, productions throughout the US and also internationally, as far away as Hong Kong, Australia, Germany and Russia.

Despite all the acclaim and popularity, attacks on West Side Story have grown increasingly vehement in recent decades. This process reflects the impact of the reactionary political and intellectual climate, of which the obsession with racial, ethnic, gender and sexual identity is an expression.

Ilda Mason, Ariana DeBose and Ana Isabelle in West Side Story (2021)

The trumped up charges include the claim that the musical stereotypes Puerto Ricans as violent gang members and that it lacks authenticity. At its core, this boils down to the racist demand, increasingly promoted by ruling class circles and above all by the New York Times itself, that creative artists should stay in their own lane. That four white men should have dared to address issues facing Puerto Ricans is attacked as a violation of cultural and racial border lines. Even more, their audacity is a form of impertinence and arrogance, another form of white privilege.

Several participants in the Times debate attack West Side Story along these lines. There is reference to micro-aggressions, such as the outrage that someone was once mistaken for a Dominican in high schoolsomehow or other West Side Story is held responsible for this insignificant incident. The main mark against the show is that it does not highlight Puerto Rican identity.

In fact, West Side Story does not highlight any form of ethnic or racial identity. The whole point of the work is the call for the transcendence of all forms of racial and ethnic divisions. But this is precisely what its racialist critics find so objectionable.

Del Valle previously spelled out her denunciation of the show, in a column published by the Times almost two years ago, entitled, Let West Side Story and Its Stereotypes Die. This piece, dripping with disdain and sarcasm about Bernsteins and Sondheims alleged ignorance of Puerto Rican culture, is obsessed with things like distinctively Nuyorican ways of moving.

This is an attempt to reduce artistic imagination to a truly vulgar form of ethnic anthropology.

Shakespeare set his play in Verona, which he had never visited.

Del Valle entirely ignores the hostility to the cops that is expressed by the youth in West Side Story. The reason is clear: She is hostile to the theme itself, to the concept of unity across racial and ethnic boundaries, and to the fight against poverty and inequality. She scornfully dismisses last years statement by Jamie Bernstein, Leonard Bernsteins daughter, that West Side Story is more timely than ever, a reference to the racism and anti-immigrant prejudice being whipped up today.

West Side Story (1961)

Nationalists like del Valle magnify racial and ethnic divisionsand make a living from them. They seek to make the divisions permanent. Del Valle advances the demand for new narratives, which ultimately require new distributions of power. This sums up the social agenda behind the insistence on tribalism and the stoking of divisions within the working class. New distributions of powerthe opportunity for an upper-middle-class layer to grab its piece of the pie, the demand for parity in sharing the fruits of exploitation, not for an end to poverty and inequality.

Jesse Green stupidly wonders whether classics like West Side Story have become the equivalent of Confederate statues that need to come down. Del Valle reluctantly concedes that the show might not be a Confederate monument, but it is a monument to the authority of white Americans to dominate the conversation about who Puerto Ricans are. This is an echo of the recent decision of the New York City Council to remove the statue of Thomas Jefferson from City Hall. According to the racialist Democratic politicians, Jefferson might not be a Confederate, but he still has to come down. Im not advocating the wholesale erasure of West Side Story , states Del Valle. But then she adds: Im saying, lets stop pouring literally hundreds of millions of dollars into propping up its relevance

Such is the right-wing racialist and nationalist agenda promoted by the Times. The newspaper pretends to hear both sides, and its own theater critic points out some of the flaws in the racialist argument. The editors make their own agenda quite clear, however, in giving the opponents of West Side Story a megaphone. The features very first paragraph reads, Since its Broadway premiere in 1957, West Side Story a musical based on Romeo and Juliet and created by four white menhas been at once beloved and vexed. And the very last words in this debate are given to Del Valle, who venomously declares, in anticipation of Spielbergs film version of the musical, I want it to flop so we can move on.

Move on to where? Bernstein is not the only musical giant under attack. In fact, he is in good company. Professor Philip A. Ewell of Hunter College in New York is calling for an end of a white racial frame that unjustly privileges the only average music of Beethoven.

But notwithstanding the objections of the racial and ethnic nationalists, West Side Story will endure. Unless there is some fundamental flaw in Spielbergs work, one can safely predict that his new cinematic interpretation will attract a large audience. West Side Story was embraced by a world audience decades ago, which even after 60 years has not changed its mind.
Fallout 76 Free Play Week and 'Spooky Scorched' Halloween Event Available Now to Celebrate 'Bombs Drop Day'
With travel opening up and booking websites reporting significant increases in searches for international flights, people are once again packing their bags and heading to faraway destinations. And though spending a week or two basking in the sun in a beach resort in a foreign country is certainly a welcome reprieve from the past couple of years, investing in a vacation home abroad guarantees you a welcoming place to stay in your favorite destination overseas. So if you are in the market for a vacation property in a sunny corner of the world, the UK-based price comparison website Compare the Market just released a list of the 10 best places to purchase a holiday home. The company looked into factors such as things to do, affordability, crime rate, and the local weather to rank the best holiday hot spots worldwide.

Gondola along Grand Canal in Venice

Gary Yeowell/Getty Images

Unsurprisingly, the first spot is occupied by one of Italy's most-visited cities: Venice. The Floating City, built on more than 100 small islands on the picturesque shores of the Adriatic, is the best destination in both the survey's Restaurants and Things to Do categories. But you also have to pay handsomely if you'd like to call Venice your second home, as the city has the most expensive real estate market in Italy, with an average property price per square meter (or about 10.8 square feet) reaching $4,930.

View of a port in Kyrenia/Girne during a sunny summer day, Cyprus

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The second spot on Compare the Market's list goes to the ancient Cypriot city of Paphos. With an average year-round temperature of 67 F and plenty of historical sites to explore (not to mention delicious eateries offering fresh seafood), Paphos is the ultimate warm-weather European destination. The city's real estate market is also a lot more affordable than Venice, with an average property price per square meter of $1,837, and the average monthly cost of living for a family of four at a little over $2,500.

Jet ski running across the water in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Zhaoyang Lu/EyeEm/Getty Images

Abu Dhabi received the lowest crime score of all destinations and ranks third on the list of best places to buy a vacation home abroad. The Persian Gulf city also benefits from high average temperatures (82 F) and low rainfall. The average price per square meter is $2,836, while a family of four should expect to pay about $2,865 monthly, on average.

The other two spots in the top five are occupied by Dubai and Funchal in Madeira, Portugal. Spain dominates the second half of the list with Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, and Marbella ranking seventh, eighth, and 10th respectively, while the sixth and ninth spots are for the Greek island of Corfu and Cyprus' capital Larnaca.
Nearly 10 years after a gunman killed six people at the Sikh temple in Oak Creek, local Sikh community members have raised $14,000 for the victims and families of the Waukesha parade tragedy.

Nearly 40 members of the Sikh community gathered in Veteran's Park on Dec. 5 to pray for the parade victims and their families. They stood outside in the rain to do so.

"We prayed to God. God give strength to the families. God give them encouragement to make peace in their home. God give them strength to feel that pain. God bless them," said Inderjeet Dhillon, Wisconsin Secretary of the Sikh Temple of Oak Creek.

Members of the Sikh community gathered Dec. 5 at Veteran's Park to pray for Waukesha parade victims and their families

After hearing about the tragedy, the Oak Creek and Brookfield-based Sikh communities asked members to donate money to help victims and their families. Donors from both communities raised about $7,000 each. The money will be donated to the United for Waukesha Community Fund.

RELATED: More than $3 million has been raised for the United for Waukesha Community Fund. Next, a committee will decide how to distribute the money

More: What we know about the Waukesha Christmas Parade attack

"We understand what it feels like to have a senseless act take away your loved ones," said Anup Singh, outreach coordinator for Gurduara Brookfield-Wisconsin.

In August 2012, a gunman fatally shot six people at the Oak Creek temple and wounded four others, one of whom died from his injuries in 2020.

"We wanted to show our condolences to the families," said Gurduara Brookfield-Wisconsin member Kuldip Ahjua. "The Sikh community went through that almost 10 years ago, so we can relate to what the families are going through."

Members of the Oak Creek and Brookfield Sikh community raised $14,000 for Waukesha parade victims and their families. Funds will be donated to the United for Waukesha Community Fund

The Sikh community has been involved with vigils and community support efforts after other tragedies in southeastern Wisconsin. In this latest effort to reach out to others who suffered violence, the Oak Creek community teamed up with the Brookfield temple, which is the closest Sikh place of worship to Waukesha.

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The goal, Singh said, was to pay their respects to the victims and offer support to their families.

"Maybe by coming together we can promote this message of brotherhood and convey that, hey, we are all human beings," he said.

The fundraiser and prayer service aligned with core values of the Sikh faith, including equality, compassion and sharing one's fortune with others, Singh said.

The prayer the group recited at Veterans Memorial park on Sunday asked God to "keep everyone in their good graces and provide his blessings to everyone equally," Singh said.

"It is what we can do to help the folks who are battling or dealing with this terrible tragedy," Singh added. "It will not make things right, but hopefully it can help to move on."

RELATED: Pardeep Singh Kaleka, son of Oak Creek Sikh temple founder and shooting victim, will help community heal as Interfaith leader

Contact Alex Groth at agroth@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter at @grothalexandria.

Our subscribers make this reporting possible. Please consider supporting local journalism by subscribing to the Journal Sentinel at jsonline.com/deal.

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Waukesha parade victims find support in Sikh temple shooting survivors
With an eye to making Florida a leader in cyanobacteria response, the states Blue-Green Algae Task Force met Wednesday at Fort Pierces Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute.

The theme of the day was "Data Collection and Predictive Modeling." In plainer language, members focused on understanding algae research in order to forecast future blooms.

Before launching into a wide-ranging discussion, the five-scientist panel heard from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on how it uses satellite imagery to model blooms in freshwater bodies, a program several Western states are already using. Next, the South Florida Water Management District gave a rundown of how it collects data on harmful algae blooms.

In SWFL: Health department warns about cyanobacteria in the Caloosahatchee

Nanobubbles to the rescue? California company installs oxygen generators to fight blue-green algae outbreaks

Created as part of a sweeping water quality executive order issued by Gov. Ron DeSantis shortly after he took office, the task force is headed by the Floridas Chief Science Officer, Mark Rains, a University of South Florida professor who directs USF's School of Geosciences.

Members represent some of the states leading water scientists, including Florida Gulf Coast University Marine Sciences Professor Mike Parsons, who directs the Coastal Watershed Institute and Vester Field Station in Bonita Springs.

FGCU's Mike Parsons gets ready to talk about his algae toxin sampling research.

Harmful algae blooms can devastate natural systems and can cause short- and long-term health problems. Though they've been much in the news in Florida, following several seasons of blooms, they're a global plague.

Western lakes like Lake Tahoe as well as the Great Lakes struggle with them, as do waterbodies in China, Africa and Australia.

Task force members pointed out that though cross-institute collaboration already is happening informally, there needs to be more of it.

Parsons often speaks with other scientific colleagues nationally, including at Kentuckys Bowling Green State Universitys Oceans and Human Health Center. Scientists there research Lake Erie blooms in partnership with government officials and other academics, he said. So were looking for ways to collaborate across projects (and) I think it would be a good idea to have some contact with the Great Lakes group  see what theyve learned so far, see what are the hurdles, see what tools they find promising.

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Given such discussions are already happening, and given Florida's expertise and experience, the state ought to step up, Rains said.

A lot of these collaborations are kind of already in place, but nothings been formalized yet, he said, and I do believe Florida  can and should be the leader.

Members discussed creating a working group or a holding a symposium to catalog whats already known and what have proven to be effective remedies.

Evelyn Gaiser, executive director of the School of Environment, Arts and Society and professor of biology at Florida International University in Miami, thinks it would be a mistake to move forward without some international input as well.

Graphing the big picture has proven to be a challenge, Rains said. Whos in charge? he asked. I guess its me, he answered with a laugh.

So before launching, Florida needs to have its own needs sorted out, he said, maybe with a one- or two-day workshop ... Where is everybody? Where is the science right now? Whos using what? What research direction is everyone going in, just to get a sense of what Florida is (doing) before we go out nationally or internationally and say were going to lead this.

"We have to have a good sense of ourself first.

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Florida could be a world leader in fighting blue-green algae
Gorilla glue woman

Tessica Brown/Instagram Tessica Brown

Tessica Brown, also known as "Gorilla Glue girl, has undergone stem cell therapy after a botched dye job led to chunks of the Louisiana native's hair falling out.

Brown, 39, went viral this year after using Gorilla Glue in place of hairspray.

"I am just praying that it works," Brown told the New York Post which reported that the stem cell therapy treatment took place Wednesday at the La Fue Hair Clinic in Pasadena, California.

Brown needed the therapy after using dye to hide gray hairs, but ended up burning her scalp and losing her hair, according to the outlet.

She discussed her latest hair debacle in a recent TikTok video that garnered nearly 3 million views.

"Me thinking that my hair was strong enough to take chemicals, dude, no it was not," Brown said in the video while showing that her hair was actually falling out in clumps as she combed through it.

Brown's manager Gina Rodriguez told the NYP that chemicals used to help repair Brown's hair interacted badly with the dye.

Brown had been using a line of haircare she developed called Forever Hair.

As the hair started to grow in, Brown thought it was ready to be color-treated. But when she attempted to dye it, chunks started to fall out, PEOPLE reported.

RELATED: Tessica Brown Shares New Hair Trauma After Gorilla Glue Ordeal Earlier This Year

In February, the mother of five underwent surgery due to the Gorilla Glue incident.

The surgery was performed by Beverly Hills plastic surgeon Dr. Michael Obeng, who reached out to Rodriguez after hearing about Brown's story, PEOPLE previously reported.

Dr. Obeng offered to fix Brown's hair for free.

"As a chemistry major, I knew that this was a possibility," Obeng told PEOPLE at the time.

"So I had to look at the ingredients, the main components of Gorilla Glue. We mixed the different components just to make sure that it will work, and also not harm the skin. You know, a lot of people can take out glue, but the question is, how can you safely take out glue, and not break skin. And as somebody with extensive background in reconstruction, I was very well versed in that."

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RELATED: Woman Who Used Gorilla Glue in Her Hair Says Her Surgeon Is a 'Miracle Worker'

For now, Brown is hopeful that the stem cell therapy  which can cost up to $6,000  will work.

"Nothing that's gonna happen overnight, but the shedding should stop real soon," said Brown to the New York Post.
Business The Hill

President Biden's disapproval rating reached a new high in December, according to a new CNBC-Change Research poll. Overall, the survey showed 56 percent of voters disapproved of Biden's performance in office, an uptick from 54 percent in September and 49 percent in April. His approval rating now stands at 44 percent.Biden was particularly hard hit when it came to the public's opinion of his handling of the economy and the COVID-19 pandemic....
Randolph County has seen a 244% increase in COVID-19 cases in the past week, according to the Center for Disease Control on Dec. 7

The CDC reported the county has seen 365 cases and three deaths in the latest week. A week earlier, it had reported 106 cases and three deaths. Throughout the pandemic it has reported 22,864 cases and 330 deaths.

Want to know more about what is happening in Randolph County? Support local journalism, subscribe to The Courier-Tribune.

According to a report from the CDC on Dec. 7, Randolph County is under the red category for community transmission, meaning there is a high percentage of spreading the virus from person to person.

New coronavirus cases leaped in North Carolina in the week ending Sunday, rising 122.5% as 20,466 cases were reported. The previous week had 9,199 new cases of the virus that causes COVID-19.

There are several factors which may impact these cases, including the spread of the newest version of the virus, the Omicron variant which is highly transmissible. The Omicron variant was first discovered in South Africa two weeks ago and according to the World Health Organization is likely to quickly spread around the globe and could result in "severe consequences".

The WHO said there is currently no information to suggest symptoms connected with omicron differ from those associated with other variants. However, it said preliminary evidence raises the possibility the variant has mutations that could help it both evade an immune-system response and make it more transmissible.

Related story: Double whammy: Health officials urge flu shots in addition to COVID-19 vaccinations to ensure protection from serious illness

The United States joined the European Union and several other countries in instituting travel restrictions on visitors from southern Africa.

Also, Thanksgiving significantly disrupted who got tested, how many people got tested, what labs operated and what government agencies reported on time. Some governments reported three days of data for Thanksgiving week; some reported none.

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The reporting of many cases and deaths were shifted from Thanksgiving's week into last week, making Thanksgiving week artificially low and the latest week artificially high, skewing the week-to-week comparison. These numbers are unreliable even as they're accurate to what states reported.

According to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, 41% of the population in Randolph County are fully vaccinated and 44% have had at least one dose of the vaccine, as of Dec. 6.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention considers someone fully vaccinated two weeks after they've been given a single-dose shot (Johnson & Johnson) or a second shot (either Pfizer or Moderna).

The five counties with the highest percentage of their population fully vaccinated in North Carolina as of Nov. 30 are Dare County (72%), Orange County (72%), Wake County (69%), Durham County (67%) and Brunswick County (64%).

North Carolina ranked 20th among states in share of people receiving at least one shot, with 68.1% of its residents at least partially vaccinated. The national rate is 68.8%, a USA TODAY analysis of CDC data shows.

For a county-by-county look at the vaccination rollout, see our COVID-19 vaccine tracker, which is updated daily.

Hospitals in 33 states reported more COVID-19 patients than a week earlier, while hospitals in 28 states had more COVID-19 patients in intensive-care beds. Hospitals in 45 states admitted more COVID-19 patients in the latest week than a week prior, the USA TODAY analysis of U.S. Health and Human Services data shows.

Randolph County is in the Triad Healthcare Preparedness Coalition with Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Caldwell, Catawba, Davie, Davidson, Forsyth, Guilford, Iredell, Rockingham, Rowan, Stokes, Surry, Watauga, Wilkes, and Yadkin counties.

On Dec. 7 there were people 396 in the THPC hospitalized due to COVID-19. Out of these 107 were ICU patients, which is 26% of all patients hospitalized for COVID.

According to the NCDHH hospitalization tracker, there are currently 458 ICU beds in use and only 68 beds left out of all the hospitals in the group. Out of the 572 ventilators available, 246 are currently in use.

General news reporter Sharon Myers can be reached at sharon.myers@the-dispatch.com. Follow her on Twitter @LexDispatchSM.

This article originally appeared on The Courier-Tribune: Randolph County see 244% increase in COVID-19 cases in past seven days
Norma Gonzales, the housekeeping supervisor of Amistad Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, walks with Ursula Sinko, a resident of the facility, on April 1, 2021.

Ronald Payne was on the verge of carrying out companywide furloughs this week at the nursing home chain he runs in Texas, letting go of anyone on staff who had not gotten at least one shot of the COVID-19 vaccine, as mandated by the federal government.

That might have meant well over 100 people at Southwest LTC Management Services17 Texas nursing homes, he said.

Instead, his facilities, along with most of the other 1,200 nursing homes in the state, were able to continue business as usual after a federal judge last week blocked the Biden administrations COVID-19 vaccination mandate for health care workers.

The new rule, announced in August, required that all eligible employees of health care facilities that participate in Medicare and Medicaid programs get at least one dose by Monday, Dec. 6.

Read more: Nursing homes, assisted-living centers received funding they requested from COVID package

Facilities that did not comply could receive civil money penalties or lose their access to that Medicaid and Medicare funding, which is used by as many as 85% of the residents in Texas nursing facilities.

Last weeks decision by U.S. Judge Terry Doughty of Louisiana is a temporary reprieve. But it allows Texas nursing facilities that rely on that funding  and most do  to keep pushing for more vaccinations of their employees.

This is key in a state that lags behind more than half the nation in getting nursing home employees vaccinated. Current numbers indicate that Texas could see the exodus of tens of thousands of skilled nursing staff if the mandate were to go into effect. As of late November, Texas nursing homes reported that about 72% of their employees had gotten at least one shot, according to state and federal statistics.

Lets just say that it had gone into effect this week, said Payne, CEO of Southwest LTC Management Services. Id be down 20% of my staff.

At a time when nursing homes are already experiencing a staffing shortage, it was an especially frightening prospect.

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Texas responded to the new rule by filing its own lawsuit, with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton calling the mandate an unprecedented federal vaccine decree on health care workers.

The federal requirement that all health care workers be vaccinated came at a time when the nation was in the throes of a record-breaking, deadly delta COVID-19 surge. As cases were climbing in nursing homes, political tensions increased over mask mandates and vaccine politics, and the nations vaccine effort lagged due in large part to vaccine hesitancy.

More than 72,000 Texans have died from COVID-19, which killed about 10% of the states nursing home residents in its first year. As of Dec. 1, 2021, some 9,644 nursing home residents had died due to COVID-19, according to the Texas Health and Human Services Commission.

Hints that there would be vaccine requirements for health care workers began to surface during the spring, when efforts to inoculate groups that worked with aging populations  such as those in nursing homes and in home health  slowed.

Workers who have decided not to get the vaccine argued that they could keep themselves and their residents safe with current protocols or that they feared potential vaccine side effects.

Some facility administrators have said that COVID-19 was being brought into facilities largely by visitors, not the employees, and that the mandate wouldnt solve the issue of cases popping up in nursing facilities.

The addition of vaccination mandates for nursing home workers is seen by many as one more burden for a struggling industry already squeezed by a shrinking workforce during this pandemic.

Read more: Texas lawmakers consider ban on vaccine mandates for private employers

According to recent surveys by the Texas Health Care Association and LeadingAge Texas, two nursing home industry groups in Texas, facilities across the state have seen a 12% decrease in their workforce in the last year. At least one-third of survey respondents are turning away new admissions due to staffing shortages, the survey says.

Staffing shortages mean higher costs for overtime and an inability to grow or maintain patient population levels. Facility operators are also facing a pressing need for higher salaries and more money for recruiting tools, industry advocates said.

In addition to all that, the potential for a sudden drop in staffing due to the mandate would be disastrous for some facilities, said Kevin Warren, head of the Texas Health Care Association, the states largest group of long-term care facilities.

In some cases, residents would need to be transferred so that those remaining could get adequate care from the much smaller staff, he said. In others, stopping admissions altogether may be the only way to meet staff shortage, he said.

Based upon where in the state you are and what a provider's current staffing issues are, if you have significant resistance to the vaccination and people who are not able to work anymore as a result of the mandate, it can be devastating, Warren said.

While some nursing homes are reporting vaccine rates as high as 100%, others have less than half of their staff who have had at least one dose of the vaccine, which was what the mandate would have required for employees by Monday.

One nursing home in Harris County shows only 35% of its staff as having at least one dose, according to the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The facility is limiting visitation after it reported on its website last week that two residents have COVID-19, which also infected some staff members.

State health officials have renewed their ongoing push to increase Texas overall vaccination rate as the holiday season arrives amid an increase in cases and positivity rates in some areas of the state  which currently is blamed on the delta variant of the virus. More than 55% of Texans have been fully vaccinated.

Theres been a renewed intensity to that vaccine and booster shot effort, especially after the omicron variant of the virus arrived in the United States last week.

The first case of the omicron variant in Texas was reported on Monday, and it is presumed by scientists to be at least as contagious as delta, which is still considered the most powerful COVID-19 strain so far. But omicrons severity and hospitalization rates are largely unknown.

Long-term care facilities have been trying for a year to convince their employees to get vaccinated, as they care for the population that is most vulnerable to COVID-19  the sick and the aging  for a year. Theyve hosted on-site clinics and offered incentives like more paid time off and vaccine bonuses.

From the governor: Abbott slams Biden administration over vaccine mandate for employers

A couple weeks ago, Payne, the nursing home chain CEO, said only about 45% of the employees across the 22 facilities that Southwest runs in Texas and Oklahoma had gotten at least one shot of the vaccine.

As of last Friday, that number had climbed to about 78%, he said. One rural facility in Southeast Texas, he said, recently had only about 20% of its employees vaccinated. Then, a nurse at the facility called the local health department to set up a vaccination clinic at the facility. As of last week, more than 88% of its staff had gotten at least one dose, according to federal numbers.

That facilitys vaccination rate was one of the lowest in the state, he said. I dont know if it was because the local health department was involved or what it was, but that was extremely successful.

Statewide, the trend is the same. On Oct. 1, nursing homes in Texas, which employ about 100,000 people statewide, were reporting an average vaccination rate of 60%. By last week, that number was up to 69%.

Paynes facilities wont do the furloughs as long as the mandates are kept at bay, but they will go forward with plans to start requiring unvaccinated employees  who include those granted religious exemptions allowed by the new rule  to take extra precautions.

And they will keep up their efforts to get most or all of their employees vaccinated, Payne said.

Payne supports vaccination, but doesnt believe it should be mandatory. But the new rule has had its silver lining, he said.

The mandate, or the cloud of the mandate, I think has encouraged a lot of people to get the vaccine, he said. Weve had a lot of people get vaccinated in the last couple of weeks.

Disclosure: LeadingAge Texas and Texas Health Care Association have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here.

This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune at https://www.texastribune.org/2021/12/07/texas-nursing-homes-vaccine-mandate/.

The Texas Tribune is a member-supported, nonpartisan newsroom informing and engaging Texans on state politics and policy. Learn more at texastribune.org.

This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: With vaccine mandate halted, Texas nursing homes dodge furloughs
Finland Prime Minister Sanna Marin, one of the world's youngest elected leaders, apologized this week after facing backlash for spending a night out in Helsinki after she was exposed to COVID-19.

Marin explained in a Facebook post on Monday that she was told Saturday that Foreign Affairs Minister Pekka Haavisto had tested positive after being in close contact with her. But she said she was told ministers were not asked to quarantine as long as they had two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine.

So, Marin and her husband met with friends and went for dinner that night. The 36-year-old prime minister wrote on Facebook that she left her work phone at home and didn't immediately receive further guidance recommending she avoid contact with others.

"I should have used better consideration on Saturday night ... Im really sorry," she said in the post, as translated in multiple reports. She added that she tested negative for the virus on Sunday.

170 hospital staff went to a Christmas party: Then 68 tested positive for COVID-19

Stay open 'as long as possible': Europe's Christmas markets warily open as COVID cases rise

A gossip magazine published photos of Marin in a nightclub on Saturday and reported that she was dancing until 4 a.m., according to the BBC.

Critics of the leader asked why she did not isolate until she tested negative for COVID-19.

Finlands pandemic guidelines say people who are fully vaccinated do not need to isolate after coming into contact with someone who tests positive. However, the guidelines urge people to avoid coming into contact with others if they are waiting for a test, according to the BBC.

Finland Prime Minister Sanna Marin addresses media representatives as she arrives on the second day of a European Union summit at The European Council Building in Brussels on Oct. 22, 2021.

Guidelines for government ministers and employees do recommend limiting contact after an exposure.

Finland has reported 194,638 COVID-19 cases since the start of the pandemic, according to a count from Johns Hopkins. They have documented 1,383 deaths.

When elected in 2019, Marin became the world's youngest prime minister, a title she yielded a year later when Sebastian Kurz, 33, was elected to lead Austria in 2020.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Finland PM Sanna Marin apologizes for clubbing after exposure to COVID
The taxpayer-funded public health agency serving the Lebanon area's 35,000 residents announced on Thursday morning that in order to comply with a letter by Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt sent earlier this week to Missouri's local public health agencies, Laclede County would stop providing "all COVID-19 related work at the current time."

That means no more contact tracing, case investigations, quarantine orders, public announcements of data related to COVID-19 cases and deaths, along with the end of other measures, the Laclede County Health Department said.

The department said it was awaiting guidance from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, "but we have no timeline or expectations that this ruling will be changed."

Laclede County health officials also said, "While our agency remains determined to protect the health of our county residents, it should be understood that this ruling greatly affects how we will be able to proceed with ALL highly communicable diseases in the future."

On Dec. 9, 2021, the health department for the Lebanon, Mo. area stopped "all" activities to limit the spread of COVID-19, including contact tracing and data announcements on cases and deaths, following a letter sent by Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt.

More: First presumed omicron variant COVID-19 case found in Missouri; Delta remains prominent strain

Missouri judge's order affects local health departments, schools

The letter follows a Nov. 23 decision by Cole County Judge Daniel Green that struck down Missouri local health officials' power to impose public health orders such as quarantines and public masking mandates. Judge Green wrote that the local health authorities' existing orders were "null and void" because they ran afoul of the authority held by legislative bodies elected by voters.

Laclede County Health Department director Charla Baker was not immediately available for an interview Thursday morning, but a representative of the health department answering the telephone said the department has a small staff and that other rural health departments may take similar measures to comply with Schmitt's letter.

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Schmitt sent a similar letter to Missouri public school districts this week ordering them to cease mask mandates and "any such orders immediately," citing Judge Green's ruling.

As the News-Leader reported Thursday, Springfield school authorities rejected Schmitt's order and said masking among students would continue to be mandated until January, to give the youngest students an opportunity to vaccinate. FDA recently gave emergency approval for kids ages 5 to 11 to get the Pfizer vaccine.

More: Springfield officials anticipating COVID-19 uptick with cold weather, flu season underway

Schmitt's office declined to make Schmitt available for a News-Leader interview or directly respond to written questions but offered a statement Thursday afternoon:

"As we state in our letter ... the Cole County Circuit Court order requires local public health authorities and school districts to stop enforcing any mask mandates, quarantine orders, or any other public health orders that are null and void under the judgment. Were grateful that the Laclede County Health Department has ceased their COVID-19 public health orders like their quarantine order. Any further decisions beyond ceasing quarantine orders or similar public health orders should be directed to them."

Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt, with a bipartisan group of state attorneys general, speaks to reporters in front of the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, Monday, Sept. 9, 2019.

Schmitt, others vie for U.S. Senate seat held by Blunt

Schmitt is running in a crowded Republican primary to replace retiring U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt, with several rivals including former Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens, U.S. Rep. Vicky Hartzler (R-Harrisonville) and U.S. Rep. Billy Long (R-Springfield), all of them seeking endorsement by former President Donald Trump.

Schmitt is currently neck-and-neck leading the race with Greitens, according to a recent Missouri Scout poll reported by Politico, with 19 percent of likely Republican primary voters undecided.

Laclede County vaccination, case rates

Laclede County's population is just 34.8 percent fully vaccinated against COVID-19, according to the USA TODAY Network data tracker. Only 39.8 percent of residents have initiated vaccination.

The county has had 149 residents die due to coronavirus over the course of the pandemic, according to the tracker, with more than 5,600 cases to date. Sixteen have died in the past week, according to the CDC.

The CDC considers the county an area of high COVID-19 transmission, like Missouri in general. Laclede's COVID test positivity rate is more than 9 percent, a "red zone" figure, with a high case rate of 243.54 per 100,000 people.

Reach News-Leader reporter Gregory Holman by emailing gholman@gannett.com. Please consider subscribing to support vital local journalism.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Rural Missouri health department stops 'all' activity to fight COVID
Former US Defence Secretary Mark Esper. AFP via Getty Images

Mark Meadows, Trump's former WH Chief of Staff, addresses leaks in his new book.

He describes the Trump White House as "worse than the whispers and leaks had suggested."

Meadows accuses former Defense Secretary Mark Esper as "the culprit" behind major leaks.

In his new book, former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows accuses former Defense Secretary Mark Esper as the source of several major leaks from inside the administration.

"In the months to come, I would find out that the situation in the White House was worse than the whispers and leaks had suggested," Meadows writes in "The Chief's Chief," released on Tuesday. "There was covert insubordination and a stunning lack of coordinationnot to mention that every few hours, there seemed to be a major leak to the press."

Meadows  who has described revelations in his own book regarding Trump's COVID diagnosis as "fake news"  writes at length about his distrust of top military officials, and describes Esper as a leaker shortly after introducing him in the early stages.

"No matter what anyone said, generals were politicians at heart, and the generals around President Trump were clearly swinging toward the radical left," Meadows writes. "I had been in several meetings where secret details had leaked to the press, and it was clear that Mark Esper was the culprit."

Meadows does not specify what kind of "secret" information he believes Esper leaked, or if it was classified. He also doesn't present any evidence to back up his claims.

Under the Espionage Act 0f 1917, leaking classified information is punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

Representatives for Epirus, an aerospace technology company where Esper is a board member, did not return Insider's request for comment ahead of publication.

Instead of elaborating on Esper's alleged leaking or providing any further details, Meadows uses his introduction of Esper and other top military officials for a segue on "woke" generals.

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"But there was another battle coming between President Trump and his newly 'woke' military advisors, and it had nothing to do with funding," Meadows writes, alluding to the military operating as a so-called deep state thwarting Trump's will.

Esper, for his part, also wrote a tell-all book about his time in the Trump administration. In it, he recounts preventing Trump from sending the National Guard "with rifles and bayonets" from cracking down on anti-racism protests across the country in the summer of 2020.

Read the original article on Business Insider
A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-7H4 jet taxis to the gate. KAMIL KRZACZYNSKI/AFP via Getty Images

Southwest Airlines is adding 3 new and 12 returning routes with a focus on summer destinations.

The schedule includes resumed flights to Havana, Cuba, which the company already serves from Tampa.

The airline is anticipating a busy 2022 and profitable quarter four as travel demand increases.

Southwest Airlines is offering customers the "gift of travel" with 15 new and returning routes as part of its extended flight schedule.

Travelers will have more flight options come spring as Southwest expands its robust network with three new and 12 resuming routes, the Dallas-based carrier announced Wednesday. The airline is focused on summer travel as well as bringing back its service to Havana, Cuba that was halted in March following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The route to Cuba will complement the daily flight to the country from Tampa, Florida, which restarted on December 5.

The announcement comes as the Omicron variant threatens the airline industry, though domestic demand is not expected to be impacted as much as international, according to CNBC. Despite the looming effect of the variant, CNBC reported Southwest expects a profitable quarter four, with a 2% growth in capacity for 2022 as travel demand increases.

In addition to the company's revenue confidence, the airline has also implemented an aggressive hiring strategy to bring on 8,000 new employees in 2022, which is in addition to the 5,000 it hopes to hire by the end of this year. The added workers will be necessary to keep Southwest's enhanced network going to avoid the meltdown that occurred over Columbus Day weekend this year, which was caused, in part, by staffing shortages.

Here is a closer look at Southwest's 3 new and 12 returning routes.

Between Austin, Texas, and Tulsa, Oklahoma

Tulsa, Oklahoma. Walter Bibikow/Getty Images

Southwest will start a new daily service between Austin and Tulsa beginning April 25. The airline will face competition from Allegiant and Amerian on the route.

Between San Antonio, Texas, and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

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Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Walter Bibikow/Getty Images

Southwest will start a new four times weekly service between San Antonio and Oklahoma City on Sundays, Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays beginning April 25. The airline will be the route's sole operator.

Between Syracuse, New York, and Tampa, Florida

Tampa, Florida Sean Pavone/Shutterstock

Southwest will start a new Saturday service between Syracuse and Tampa beginning April 25. The airline will compete with Frontier and JetBlue.

Between Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and Havana, Cuba

Havana, Cuba. Getty

Southwest will return daily service between Fort Lauderdale and Havana beginning February 17. JetBlue will be the route's only competition.

Between San Antonio, Texas, and Los Angeles, California

Los Angeles, California. Chones/Shutterstock

Southwest will return daily service between San Antonio and Los Angeles beginning April 25. The airline will face competition from Delta and American on the route.

Between Dallas, Texas, and Louisville, Kentucky

Louisville, Kentucky. Davel5957/Getty Images

Southwest will return six times weekly service between Dallas and Louisville on Sundays through Fridays beginning April 25. The airline will compete with American.

Between Houston, Texas, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Walter Bibikow/Getty Images

Southwest will return six times weekly service between Houston and Milwaukee on Sundays through Fridays beginning April 25. United will be the airline's only competitor.

Between Nashville, Tennessee, and San Jose, California

San Jose, California. Steve Proehl/Getty Images

Southwest will return four times weekly service between Nashville and San Jose on Sundays, Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays beginning April 25. The airline will face competition from United on the route.

Between Dallas, Texas, and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Sean Rayford/Getty Images

Southwest will return Saturday service between Dallas and Myrtle Beach beginning April 30. The airline will have no direct competitors out of Dallas Love Field but will compete with American out of Dallas/Fort Worth.

Between Dallas, Texas, and Norfolk, Virginia

Norfolk, Virginia Roberto Galan/Shutterstock

Southwest will return Saturday service between Dallas and Norfolk beginning April 30. The airline will have no direct competitors out of Dallas Love Field but will compete with American out of Dallas/Fort Worth.

Between Kansas City, Missouri, and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

Kansas City, Missouri. Edwin Remsberg/Getty Images

Southwest will return Saturday service between Kansas City and Myrtle Beach beginning April 30. The airline will be the route's sole operator.

Between Kansas City, Missouri, and Pensacola, Florida

Pensacola, Florida. Bown Media/Shutterstock

Southwest will return Saturday service between Kansas City and Pensacola beginning April 30. The airline will compete with Spirit.

Between Kansas City, Missouri, and Destin/Fort Walton Beach, Florida

Destin, Florida. Education Images/Universal Images Group/Getty

Southwest will return Saturday service between Kansas City and Destin/Fort Walton Beach beginning April 30. The airline will face competition from Allegiant.

Between Nashville, Tennessee, and Seattle, Washington

Seattle, Washington. Donald Miralle/Getty Images for Rock'n'Roll Marathon

Southwest will return Saturday service between Nashville and Seattle beginning April 30. Alaska and Delta will be the airline's competition on the route.

Between Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Andrea Evangelo-Giamou / EyeEm

Southwest will return Saturday service between Pittsburgh and Myrtle Beach beginning April 30. The airline will compete with Spirit.

Read the original article on Business Insider
DETROIT  A student shot in the neck during the Oxford High School shooting and her family have filed a lawsuit against the school district, claiming school officials did not do enough to protect its students.

The federal suit on behalf of Riley Franz, 17, and her family is seeking $100 million. Attorney Geoffrey Fieger said in a news release that he intends to file two suits on Thursday morning.

Oxford Community Schools did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Thursday morning.

Riley and her younger sister Bella, 14, also named as a plaintiff in the suit, are experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder, according to the claim. Bella "narrowly escaped the bullets" and watched her sister get shot.

The suit follows one of the deadliest school shootings in the United States since 2018. Fifteen-year-old Ethan Crumbley is charged with tearing through Oxford High School with a handgun on Nov. 30, killing four students and wounding seven others in the school, including a teacher. Crumbley is in the Oakland County Jail.

Parents and community members have asked why the district did not remove Crumbley from the school when he began to display troubling behavior.

Michigan high school shooting: Oxford district declined offer to launch independent review into school shooting, Michigan AG says

Whats in the suit?

Defendants in the suit include the Oxford Community School District and school officials, including two unnamed counselors, one unnamed staff member and two unnamed teachers.

The pending litigation argues that the two students are protected under the 14th Amendment, specifically that they have the right to be free from danger created or increased by those named in the suit.

Over two days, Crumbley met with Oxford counselors twice, according to the Oakland County Prosecutor. The first time, a teacher spotted the 15-year-old peering at images of ammunition on his cellphone, according to Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard.

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The second time, a teacher spotted a note apparently belonging to Crumbley, which depicted a semiautomatic handgun with the words, "The thoughts won't stop. Help me," and a sketch of someone bleeding.

Crumbley explained the drawing was a part of a video game design, Oxford Superintendent Tim Throne has said. Officials insisted the student seek counseling. His parents refused to take him home for the day, wrote the superintendent in a letter to the community. And counselors did not "believe the student might harm others based on his behavior, responses and demeanor."

Counselors sent him back to the classroom, according to Throne.

The lawsuit claims school officials could have taken action to remove Crumbley from school after an educator spotted him searching for ammunition, and again after finding the gruesome note. The lawsuit also indicates school officials did not reach out to a school liaison officer regarding the incidents.

It also details concerns parents had about social media posts in the weeks before the shooting. However, the Oakland County Sherriff's office has said those rumors have not been linked to the Nov. 30 attack.

Similar suits have been filed following mass shootings in other states, with mixed success.

After a shooter killed 17 people in Parkland, Florida, in 2018 at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School, the school district paid out $25 million to the families of 52 people affected by the shooting, settling in October of this year.

In 2018, a judge threw out a case against the town of Newtown, Conn., and the town's school district over the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary shootings, which left 26 people dead. The school was protected by government immunity, the judge ruled.

Immunity may also serve as a defense for Oxford school district officials. Michigan law grants immunity from civil liability to government agencies and employees.

But immunity is not a "blanket protection," said Stephen Drew, an attorney based in Michigan who represented more than 100 sexual abuse victims of Larry Nassar in a civil suit against Michigan State University. Individuals can still be held liable for gross negligence, which is defined in the law as "Conduct so reckless as to demonstrate a substantial lack of concern for whether an injury results."

Oxford school shooting: Suspect's parents retain former Larry Nassar lawyer while son gets court-appointed counsel

Read the lawsuit

Oxford Lawsuit by Detroit Free Press

This story is developing.

Follow Lily Altavena on Twitter: @LilyAlta.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Oxford shooting: Victim Riley Franz, family to sue school district
Former President Donald Trump. Win McNamee/Getty Images

Trump released a lie-filled statement about Omar in the wake of Boebert's Islamophobic comments.

"Ilhan Omar should apologize ... for essentially abandoning her former country," he wrote.

Boebert could face censure by the House of Representatives after a phone call with Omar went awry.

Former President Donald Trump released a lie-filled statement on Tuesday demanding that Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota apologize for "abandoning her former country."

"Congresswoman Ilhan Omar should apologize for marrying her brother, committing large-scale immigration and election fraud, wishing death to Israel, and for essentially abandoning her former country, which doesn't even have a government  Exactly what she'd like to see for the United States," Trump said in his statement.

The Minnesota congress member, a Somali American refugee, was born in Somalia in 1982. Omar, along with her father and her siblings, secured asylum in the US in 1995, when she was a child.

In a July 2019 tweet, Trump told Omar and three of her fellow Democratic congresswomen to "go back and fix the broken and crime-infested places from which they came"  even though all four are US citizens and Omar is the only one who was born outside the US.

The unsubstantiated rumors that Omar's ex-husband Ahmed Nur Said Elmi, a British national, is her brother and that she married him to help him get a green card circulated around the internet and right-wing blogs for years before the former president brought them up Tuesday.

Omar has called the rumors "absurd and offensive" and released a lengthy statement and timeline of her marriage history in 2016.

Outlets including Minneapolis' Star Tribune and the Washington Examiner have uncovered public records and documents that point to Omar living with her other ex-husband, Ahmed Hirsi, while she was legally married to Elmi. But no evidence, like a birth certificate, has ever surfaced to suggest that Elmi is her brother.

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The theory is also undercut by the fact that all of Omar's siblings received refugee status in the US, and siblings can sponsor one another for residency status and a green card (which negates the need for a fraudulent marriage). Elmi left the US and went back to England just two years after his marriage to Omar.

There is also no record of Omar ever wishing "death to Israel," as Trump claimed in his statement, and there is no evidence of her involvement in any kind of "large-scale" immigration or election fraud.

Trump's statement came amid the fallout from Islamophobic comments GOP Rep. Lauren Boebert recently made about Omar. Boebert called Omar, who is Muslim, part of a "Jihad Squad" and said a Capitol Police officer had "fret all over his face" when he stepped into an elevator with Boebert and Omar.

The Colorado congress member said she told the officer, "Well, she doesn't have a backpack. We should be fine." The comment implied that Omar could be a terrorist.

She told a similar Islamophobic story about Omar at a September event in New York, CNN reported.

Boebert issued a statement on Friday apologizing "to anyone in the Muslim community I offended with my comment about Rep. Omar."

Omar and Boebert had a tense call on Monday, which prompted Omar to end the conversation and Boebert to say in an Instagram video that she had been hung up on.

In response to Boebert's initial comments, Omar called on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy to "take appropriate action," adding: "Normalizing this bigotry not only endangers my life but the lives of all Muslims."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Two months after its seed round announcement, Singapore-based startup Upmesh has raised a $7.5 million pre-Series A round led by Monk's Hill Ventures. The new funding brings its total raised so far to $10.5 million.

Upmesh will use the pre-Series A funding to expand its regional presence in Southeast Asia and launch its first Instagram live selling app and back-end automation features like logistics automation. It also plans to double down on its live commerce products.

Since its seed round, Upmesh has nearly doubled its online merchants in less than three months with a growing merchant base by 30% month on month. In October, Upmesh was used by almost 300 live commerce merchants in Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines, with an annualized gross merchandise value of $40 million.

Upmeshs tool helps merchants grow sales through analytics to identify their best-selling product items and patterns in buying behaviors. Its tool also provides e-commerce functions that automatically capture orders made in livestream comments and send a checkout link to buyers. At the same time, sellers go live on social media platforms like Facebook Live and Instagram Live.

Upmesh competes with e-commerce platforms like Shopee and Lazada and SaaS tools, including Shopline, but the company offers live commerce on social media that attracts more buyers and audience and provides automation to help customers grow their business, said Wong Zi Yang, CEO and co-founder of Upmesh.

Upmesh also tailors its order capturing tools to meet the expectations of sellers and buyers in different Southeast Asia countries unlike other companies that provide order-capturing tools for live commerce like CommentSold and Dibsly, Wong said in October.

Upmesh

Image Credits: Upmesh

Upmesh users range from mom-and-pop street shops selling on livestreams to supplement foot traffic to specialized live commerce sellers moving thousands of stock-keeping units (SKUs).

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Live commerce is transforming e-commerce and shaping the buying behavior of the digital consumer in Southeast Asia. While Upmesh provides a full technology and service stack to enable live commerce, it is even more critical that the company is enabling small and medium online sellers at scale. Small and medium sellers form the fastest-growing segment in e-commerce and their needs are largely unmet. Upmesh is focused on meeting their needs, said Kuo-Yi Lim, co-founder and managing partner of Monk's Hill Ventures.

We are glad to join forces with Monks Hill Ventures in our mission to transform e-commerce. We are united in our shared belief that community is the next frontier for e-commerce, and live commerce is the ideal medium for bringing community and commerce together, said Wong.
camel botox

FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP via Getty

It wasn't a happy Hump Day for some camel breeders in Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported Wednesday that more than 40 camels were disqualified from a beauty contest at the King Abdulaziz Camel Festival for receiving Botox injections and other artificial physical enhancements ahead of the event, according to The Associated Press.

Saudi authorities told the state-run news agency that the bust was the biggest of its kind.

"The club is keen to halt all acts of tampering and deception in the beautification of camels," said the SPA report, which noted that organizers would "impose strict penalties on manipulators," per The AP.

RELATED: 12 Contestants Disqualified from Saudi Arabia's Camel Beauty Contest for Using Botox

Botox injections, which were applied to camels' heads and lips, were just one of several violations discovered by judges at this year's festival, The AP reports.

Some breeders used fillers for facial relaxation and hormones to exaggerate muscles on their camels. Other violations included stretching out the lips and noses of some camels and embellishing certain body parts with rubber bands.

Camel

Getty Images

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Each year, camel breeders are invited to compete at the festival for $66 million in prize money, the report states. Jurors determine a winner by judging camel contestants on the shape of their head, neck, and hump, as well as their dress and posture.

The SPA reported that judges at the festival, which began this month in the desert northeast of the Saudi capital, Riyadh, are cracking down on the artificial enhancements by utilizing "specialized and advanced" technology.

Botox was deemed an illegal advantage after an incident in 2018, where contest officials discovered a dozen camels had received Botox injections to enhance their appearance.

"The camel is a symbol of Saudi Arabia," the show's chief judge, Fawzan al-Madi, said to Reuters at the time. "We used to preserve it out of necessity, now we preserve it as a pastime."
More than 275,000 people have signed a petition demanding marriage equality in Thailand, one of the few countries in Asia that boasts being a warm safe haven for the LGBTQ plus community.



Driving the news: The petition came in response to a Nov. 17 ruling by the Thai Constitutional Court, which determined that Section 1448 of the Civil and Commercial Code  the law defining marriage as between a man and a woman  does not violate the nations constitution.



The 12-page ruling was the outcome of a hearing initiated at the request of the Central Juvenile and Family Court, which received a petition from a same-sex couple whose request for a marriage registration was rejected on the basis of Section 1448, according to the Bangkok Post.

The ruling upheld that marriage is forwhen a man and a woman are willing to live together, to build a husband and wife relationship to reproduce their offspring, under the morals, traditions, religion and the laws of each society, according to Thai PBS.

Still, the Constitutional Court urged parliament, the cabinet and other government organizations to draft laws that ensure the equal protection of rights of all people, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation.







Love does not discriminate. To us,denying people the right to marry just because they are of the same sex equals denying someone one of their most basic rights. The world is changing;and it's time for us to move forward and embrace that change  # pic.twitter.com/y0QVeYkm0j

 jy  (@jaoyinggx) November 17, 2021







Fighting back: Proponents of LGBTQ plus rights have since accused the ruling of being homophobic, sexist and dehumanizing, especially for its parts that likened LGBTQ plus people to animals with strange features or behaviors.



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If science discovers more details that some animal species exhibit strange biological behaviors or characteristics, they will be grouped separately for further study, the judges wrote, according to Qnews.

When prejudiced feelings or beliefs move into the realm of behavior, the result is discrimination, which denies to individuals or groups of people equality of treatment, human rights lawyer Busayapa Srispompong tweeted, according to Thai PBS. #TheConstitutionalCourtIsSexist is clear evidence of institutionalized discrimination.

Human rights activist Guts Thorngrop Rodsavas told Pink News: In the ruling, there [are] a lot of homophobic tropes and transphobic arguments. I feel like, coming from the court, this could make conservatives who hold these points of view think that their views are legitimate.

A petition for a bill that would make way for marriage equality has garnered over 275,000 signatures as of this writing. At least 10,000 signatures are needed to advance the bill to parliament.



Featured Image via Bangkok Post





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lil troy

ABC 13 Houston/ youtube Lil' Troy

Lil' Troy, a Houston-area rapper known for his 1999 hit "Wanna Be a Baller," escaped from a massive fire that engulfed a truck he was driving this week.

The musician, who traded in his rap career and now owns Birklett Trucking Company, according to the Houston Chronicle, spotted smoke rising from underneath the hood of his 18-wheeler while driving on a Texas highway, he told ABC 13.

Lil' Troy explained that he was driving home from Arkansas when he noticed the smoke. He pulled over and exited his vehicle just in time.

"Right before I got ready to exit, I started to see fire and flames coming up from the hood. I was like, 'Oh, I got to get out this truck.' You know what I'm saying? It's fire!" Lil' Troy told ABC 13.

RELATED: A N.J. Truck Driver Notches 'Stunning' Election Win After Spending $153 on His Campaign

He added, "It took them a while to put the fire out. While they were there, it went 'boom' again! So, I thank God for the fire department," Lil' Troy said. "They came and made sure nobody else got injured at the same time."

While no one was hurt in the fire, Lil' Troy said in the interview that his belongings were destroyed, with the exception of his glasses, keys and phone.

The truck that Lil' Troy had been driving was purchased just two months ago for his company, he told ABC 13. The outlet reported that Investigators are determining the cause of the fire, and Lil' Troy is now working to replace the truck with the help of his insurance company.

RELATED: San Diego Freeway Covered in Loose Dollar Bills After Armored Truck's Door Bursts Open

The rapper told ABC 13 that his frightening experience made him reflect on his priorities, explaining, "I started thinking about my family and worrying about how they need me. It's not my time to go right now."

He also quoted a line from his famous song, telling ABC 13, "If you notice, 'I hit the highway, making money the fly way.' You know what I'm saying? Truck driving is the new way."

Lil' Troy posted footage of the fire to Instagram. In a Tuesday post, he shared a clip of his truck surrounded by flames, plus photos of the smoky aftermath, including the burnt-out front of the truck.

"Yesterday I had the scare of my life and the Blessing of my life," he began. "My truck caught on fire while I was driving on the freeway and I was bless that I was able to get out of traffic and pull over and get out the truck with no nobody getting hurt GOD IS good."
Robotic Research, a self-driving technology company that has spent the last two decades developing on and off-road autonomous vehicles for the Department of Defense, raised a $228 million Series A round. The company will use the investment, which was led by SoftBank Vision Fund 2 and Enlightenment Capital, to build out the commercial side of its business.

Crescent Cove Advisors, Henry Crown and Company and Luminar, a lidar company, also participated in the investment.

RR.AI, as the company has branded its commercial arm, currently has its vehicle-agnostic autonomy kits, called AutoDrive, in about 150 heavy-duty transit buses, Class 8 trucks and yard trucks operating on roads across the United States, Canada, Australia, Europe and Saudi Arabia, according to Alberto Lacaze, CEO of Robotic Research. Now, it's just a matter of scaling.

Robotic Research has historically automated trucks for the U.S. Army and Navy, operating in areas that aren't mapped and don't have GPS, good communications or lined roads. The company's autonomy stack also adds sensors that commercial autonomous vehicles usually don't use, such as stereo and structure for motion, a range imaging technique for estimating 3D structures from 2D image sequences, says Lacaze. As a result, RR thinks it has a leg up on competition that's still afraid to operate self-driving trucks on roads with inclement weather.

"Most people think robotics is some magic piece of software," Lacaze told TechCrunch. "The reality is that robotics is more like a stamp collection. You have to collect all these different edge cases where you need to be able to run on slippery roads and with dust and without being able to see the lines and so forth. We have collected lots and lots of stamps. To a certain degree, a common day for a military application is the edge case for a commercial application."

RR.AI has already deployed its technology broadly, so this funding is specifically geared toward expanding and industrializing commercial applications, says Lacaze.

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Last year, Robotic Research won a contract with the Connecticut Department of Transportation that would see three 40-foot electric buses automated and running on the CTfastrak corridor. The plan would be to scale that to an automated bus rapid transit line, bus platooning and precision docking. The buses operate at Level 4 capabilities, says Lacaze, but they will have human operators on board for safety. (SAE defines Level 4 autonomy as a system that does not require a human to intervene but can only operate under specific conditions.)

On the trucking side, RR.AI is working with sawmills in Canada to move logs, and says it will have a big U.S.-related announcement coming soon. The company will also be announcing an agriculture partnership in the coming months.

RR.AI's go-to-market strategy is to focus on the "low-hanging fruits," says Lacaze, or the areas where there are few regulations or easy regulations to work around.

"We're very interested in working in areas where we can produce with the sensors at the cost they are now, and where we can generate profit," said Lacaze, noting that sensors needed for self-driving operations like cameras, lidar and radar are still very expensive, so it makes sense to put them on larger, heavy-duty, longer-lasting vehicles so the cost of the sensors can amortize over time.

"We are probably the only company in autonomy that has been profitable since inception. And the reason we were able to do that is we have concentrated on smaller markets but in the meantime, they have provided revenue right now. We don't have to wait until 2025 to deploy trucks, and that allows us to grow faster and collect miles faster."

Operating in robotaxis in the future is not out of the question for RR.AI, says Lacaze. The company's strategy is to wait for the regulatory environment to improve and the cost of sensors to decrease before pivoting into new verticals. But as RR.AI attempts to scale in its comfort industries, it might find that there simply aren't enough vehicles on the market to work with.

"We are kind of dependent on the vehicle manufacturers to produce since we don't produce our own vehicles," said Lacaze. "We are very carefully turning every stone over to find vehicles that are available in areas where it makes sense from a regulatory standpoint to deploy right now."
From left, Katrina Smith snaps a photo of herself and Ryne Smith during their recoveries after surgery. Both University of Alabama law school students decided to become kidney donors. [Photo by Katrina Smith]

Three University of Alabama law school students are using this holiday season as a reason to share information about a gift they gave that had life-saving implications for their recipients.

Angelica Mamani, Katrina Smith and Ryne Smith recently donated kidneys to people they had previously never met.

"I've always felt that if I have an opportunity to do something for someone else, and I can, then I should," Mamani said during a Thursday news conference at UA's School of Law.

All three students decided separately to become organ donors and discovered the UAB Kidney Center's non-directed donor program to help them fulfill their plans. According to the kidney center, more than 2,200 Alabamians are in need of a kidney transplant.

UNDER CONSTRUCTION: Second phase of west Tuscaloosa road improvement project set for early 2022

Mamani, 32 was in her first year of law school at UA when she began considering organ donation. She previously registered as a "Be the Match" bone marrow donor, but never had the opportunity to donate. She then became interested in kidney donation and began the candidacy process at UAB Kidney Center. The process requires a rigorous series of medical testing and screening.

In January 2020, Mamani received a call to begin the donation process. She was approved in the summer of 2020 and matched with her recipient, Lakiesha Stubbs of Birmingham. On Aug. 6, 2020, Mamani donated her left kidney to Stubbs and they met for the first time after surgery.

Angelica Mamani, a student at the University of Alabama's School of Law, takes a selfie during one of her testing appointments before being approved to be a kidney donor. [Submitted photo]

Though the recovery process was far from easy, according to Mamani, the now third-year law student said she would redo the donation process "in a heartbeat."

It is possibly the most profound experience of your life, Mamani said. Even without getting to know my recipient beforehand, it has made me a better person in so many ways. Its opened up opportunities for growth and positive impact in the world.

Katrina Smith, 25 and Ryne Smith, 30 began considering kidney donation during the same summer that Mamani donated her kidney. The Smiths, who met while in school, were inspired by an audiobook, "Against Empathy" by Paul Bloom, which discusses effective altruism. The book aims to identify the most effective ways to improve the world.

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Katrina Smith and Ryne Smith, both third-year law students, began researching their options and discovered the UAB Kidney Center. Similar to Mamani, the pair had to undergo a series of tests and screenings before being approved for the kidney donation.

In May 2021, the Smiths went into surgery one day apart from each other.

For privacy reasons, the entire process is anonymous until after the surgery. But in the end, all three UA law students met their kidney recipients.

FIVE THINGS TO DO: Here's how to make this weekend merry and bright in Tuscaloosa

Ryne Smith donated his left kidney to Sarita Whitney, who had been waiting on for a transplant since January.

Ryne Smith said he decided to go through with the donation after learning more about how many people need kidneys and realizing that he could potentially save a life.

"Based on the amount of effort that I would have to go through in order to change that person's life, I've considered it a no-brainer. I made that decision right then and there that if, if I was able to do that I would," Ryne Smith said.

Katrina Smith donated her right kidney to Kim Gilmore. The two often stay in touch and tell their experiences on Facebook.

University of Alabama law school student Katrina Smith, right, sits with her kidney donor recipient, Kim Gilmore. [Submitted photo]

"I think that I'm most proud to be the kind of person who would see that I can give up two weeks of my life to extend someone else's life 10 to 27 years. That's the kind of person I wanted to be ever since I was little," Katrina Smith said.

All three students are expected to graduate in May 2022 from UA's School of Law and are now preparing for finals.

There are several ways to become an organ donor, including joining a states organ donor list or registering when obtaining a drivers license. For more information about organ donation, got the federal organ donation website at www.organdonor.gov/sign-up.

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: University of Alabama law school students donate kidneys
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A judge granted bond to the Titusville foster mom facing a first-degree murder charge in connection with the death of a 4-year-old girl in her care.

Lakeisha Mitchell, 42, is charged with killing Joy King-Castro who was with her for just under three months. The medical examiner said the cause of death was blunt force bodily injuries with strangulation.

Mitchell's bond was set by Judge Samuel Bookhardt III at $135,000.

Mitchell has pleaded not guilty. Mitchell's lawyer has focused on Joy's behavioral issues, suggesting that Joy might have caused harm to herself.

Lakeisha Mitchell, 42, facing multiple charges, including first-degree murder in the death of 4-year-old Joy King Castro, was in the Viera courtroom of Judge Samuel Bookhardt for the second part of her bond hearing.

The judge outlined that under the Florida constitution, defendants are allowed pre-trail release under reasonable conditions except in cases of capital offenses or an offense punishable by life imprisonment, and if if the proof of guilt is "evident or the presumption is great."

The court found that "proof is evident or the presumption is great for the charged offense," according to the order to grant bond.

However, Bookhardt noted he was exercising his judgement to grant bond because of Mitchell's family ties, lack of a criminal history and ownership of a home in Titusville, saying "the Court finds that she is not a danger to the community nor is she a flight risk."

The document detailed Joy's reported behavioral issues and Mitchell's account of the tantrum she threw that day. It also recounted how Joy's teachers and workers at her daycare had not witnessed any injuries that day.

"The child may very well have had issues," the order states. "However, the fact remains that the Defendant picked up the child at daycare and the child was fine. The only person to have contact with the child, after the child left daycare that day, was the Defendant. Within a very short time after that pick up the child was taken from the house by ambulance and died a few days later."

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The state attorney's office expressed their concern and strongly disagreed with the decision saying in a statement that along with their law enforcement partners they would be "monitoring Mitchell's supervision very carefully." Any violation of her pretrial release conditions could result in the revocation of Mitchell's bond and her being held in custody until the completion of her trial.

Bond hearing: Brevard Medical examiner describes injuries he found on 4-year-old Joy King-Castro

Who was Joy? 'Joy wasn't worth it': How did a 4-year-old foster child, bounced from 5 different homes, end up dead?

Mitchell will be placed on community supervision, according to the order. She must observe a 24-hour curfew and is subject to the control and directions of her community supervision officer. She is allowed to leave for work, church, medical appointments and other "essential activities only."

Mitchell is prohibited from living in a home with children under the age of 18 and may not have contact with Joy's family or witnesses in this case, the order said. She will also be required to wear an ankle monitor.

Joy was pulled unresponsive from Mitchell's bathtub on Aug. 23. She died two days later. The medical examiner, Dr. Sajid Qaiser, told the court during a bond hearing Monday that he counted at least 11 isolated bruises, or contusions, on Joy's head, seven on her face, three on her torso and at least six on other parts of her body.

Joy King-Castro had been in the foster care system since January 2021. She died Aug. 25.

Joy came to live with Mitchell in June. It was at least the fifth home she'd been placed in since January when she was removed from her mother's care amid Department of Children and Families concerns over her mother's boyfriend. Two months before Joy was placed with Mitchell, two other foster children were removed from Mitchell's home amid allegations of abuse. Those children were returned to their biological mom. Mitchell was never charged.

The way Joy's case was handled caused her case manager to resign this fall and send a whistleblower letter to the governor.

Jason Wandner, Mitchell's attorney, questioned the medical examiner's findings during Monday's bond hearing, and argued that Joy's reported history of behavioral problems could have contributed to her death. He also argued that Mitchell was "not a flight risk" and was a "decorated veteran."

Finch Walker is a Breaking News Reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Walker at 321-290-4744 or elwalker@floridatoday.com. Twitter: @_finchwalker

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This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Joy King-Castro: Foster mom Lakeisha Mitchell granted bond in murder case
The UKs Global Screen Fund, which was created to fill the void left by the absence of funding from Creative Europes MEDIA program post-Brexit, has awarded a further 1.32M ($1.75M) in grants spread across nine film and TV projects.

The 7M ($9.25M) fund, which is administered by the British Film Institute on behalf of the government department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), is being overseen by former All3Media and Endemol Shine exec Denitsa Yordanova.

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The nine projects, all of which are international co-productions, are as follows: UK-Ireland co-pro The Miracle Club; UK-Germany co-pro The Tutor; UK-Ireland TV animation Ghastly Ghoul; UK-France co-pro Drift; UK-Chile-Argentina-France-Denmark co-pro The Settlers; UK-Germany-Denmark co-pro Merkel; UK-Canada Elephant Mother; UK-South Africa co-pro Stolen; UK-Belgium-Ireland co-pro Bring Them Down.

Full details of each title are at the bottom of this article.

The grants follow previously backed projects My Happy Ending (UK-Israel) and The Coop Troop (UK-China France).

Also today, DCMS unveiled research commissioned by the Global Screen Fund that shows 70% of international audiences view British film and TV as high quality. The research also evidenced that two-thirds of tourists to the UK are influenced by locations and landmarks from British screen content, the orgs added.

We are helping to create skilled jobs and boosting the UKs international influence, which has a positive knock-on impact on tourism and the wider economy, said Julia Lopez, Minister for the Creative Industries, on the report.

Supported projects:

The Miracle Club, an Ireland/UK co-production starring Maggie Smith, Kathy Bates and Laura Linney. The feature film is produced by Chris Curling/Zephyr Films with Irish producer ShinAwil Limited and funding from Screen Ireland. It is being Executive Produced by Embankment Films.

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The Tutor, a Germany/UK co-production directed by acclaimed British television director Alice Troughton in her feature film debut. The film is produced by Camille Gatin/Poison Chef and Cassandra Sigsgaard/Jeva Films with German producer Judy Tossell / Egoli Tossell Pictures and funding from German regional funds, in association with Film Constellation.

Drift, a UK/France co-production by Fortyninesixty Films and La Cinefacture with Greek producer Heretic Films participating as a third party co-producer, as well as Cor Cordium in the US. It will be directed by Anthony Chen and will start principal photography in the UK in March 2022.

The Ghastly Ghoul, co-produced by UK producer Lupus Films and Irish producer Dream Logic Animation Studios. This animated Halloween special is written by Emma Hogan and based on a story by Kealan O Rourke. It will be directed by Kealan ORourke and Maurizio Parimbelli with assistant director Corinne Ladeinde. It will start principal animation at the end of January 2022.

The Settlers, produced by Quiddity Films/Emily Morgan in the UK, is a co-production with Quijote Films in Chile, Rei Cine in Argentina, Cine-Sud in France and Snowglobe in Denmark. The feature film has funding secured from INCAA, CNCA and CNC Cinema Du Monde, and is also supported by IBERMEDIA and the Torino Film Lab. The project, directed by Felipe Galvez, is joined by casting director Jessie Frost and will be sold by MK2 Films.

Merkel, a co-production between the UK, Germany, and Denmark. The UK producers are Passion Pictures, Odd Girl Out Productions and the Scottish production company Sonja Henrici Creates. The German producer is LOOKSfilm and the Danish producer is Sigrid Jonsson Dyekjr p.g.a.. This feature documentary about the outgoing German chancellor Angela Merkel is directed by Eva Weber.

Elephant Mother, a documentary co-production between the UK and Canada. Bungalow Town Productions is the majority co-producer with Canadian Inigo Films.

Stolen, a co-production between the UK and South Africa. The feature film is co-produced by the UK producer Shantelle Rochester of Ida Rose with South African Uzanenkosi Mahlungu of Ants Multimedia. Michael Landes and Marsha Thomason are attached for the lead roles and it will be directed by Sheridan De Myers. The film is in receipt of funding from the South African fund Kwazulu Natal Film Commission.

Bring them Down, a co-production between the UK, Belgium and Ireland. The feature film is co-produced by Stray Bear Productions, Frakas and Tailored and will be directed by Chris Andrews. MUBI, Screen Ireland and BAI (Broadcasting Authority Ireland) are all contributing to the finance of the film.

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Solution introduces an affordable Cloud Object Storage backup for Office 365 data as cloud demand surges

TOKYO, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Wasabi Technologies , the hot cloud storage company , today announced validated interoperability with Veeam Backup for Microsoft Office 365 with full support now available across the Asia-Pacific region. Veeam is the leader in backup, recovery and data management solutions that deliver modern data protection. Veeam Backup for Microsoft Office 365 is a comprehensive solution that allows organizations to back up and restore Microsoft Office 365 data, including Microsoft Exchange, Microsoft SharePoint, Microsoft OneDrive for Business and Microsoft Teams. The solution supports Object Storage, allowing Veeam partners and customers to leverage hot cloud storage from Wasabi, making backup more affordable while empowering businesses to scale backups infinitely.

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Backing up to Wasabi offers enhanced cost benefits as users can expect savings of up to 80% over AWS S3 , with no fees for egress or API requests. The combined technology empowers enterprises to store more data for less, reducing IT budgets and ensuring that data is always available and protected with encryption for Office 365 data in Wasabi hot cloud storage.

This new support in Japan expands the reach of solutions that Wasabi offers as a Veeam Technology Alliance partner, which also includes support for Veeam Backup & Replication (v9.5.4, v10, v11) and Wasabi's hot cloud storage with Object Lock for backup immutability. Wasabi completed Veeam Ready Object storage testing last year, which confirms both feature compatibility and performance levels according to Veeam's partner testing program standards. The solution marks the latest expansion of service offerings from Wasabi as it aggressively scales to meet the soaring demand of cloud storage in the region. IDC states cloud revenue in APJ grew faster than any other global region in 2020, according to its Worldwide Public Cloud Infrastructure as a Service Market Shares, 2020 Report, (Doc #US47350821, July 2021).

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The company officially opened its Japan headquarters in Tokyo in June 2021, followed by an additional storage region in Osaka in October. "Office 365 data has no protection against deletion from the users' end whether it is accidental, intentional, via malware or ransomware, it's essential for all businesses to backup their Office 365 data," said David Friend, CEO of Wasabi. "Wasabi and Veeam deliver an ideal solution for businesses in Japan as Cloud adoption increases. It offers the peace of mind of knowing that their data is safe and that they will never run out of space, all at an affordable cost."

For more information, please visit our website and our Japan landing page.

About Wasabi Technologies

Wasabi provides simple, predictable and affordable hot cloud storage for businesses all over the world. It enables organizations to store and instantly access an unlimited amount of data at 1/5th the price of the competition with no complex tiers or unpredictable egress fees. Trusted by tens of thousands of customers worldwide, Wasabi has been recognized as one of technology's fastest-growing and most visionary companies. Created by Carbonite co-founders and cloud storage pioneers David Friend and Jeff Flowers, Wasabi has secured nearly $275 million in funding to date and is a privately held company based in Boston.

Follow and connect with Wasabi on Twitter , Facebook , Instagram , and our blog .

Wasabi PR Contact:

J-Spin for Wasabi

david@jspin.co.jp

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On Monday, nearly 41% of students were absent. On Tuesday, almost 37% were absent, the district reported.

Baugh said officials are considering all options moving forward, but officials are hopeful they can keep the school open.

We and the board feel strongly about keeping the school open, she said.

Learning is still happening, and the kids who are still there appear to be well, she said. Final exams are scheduled for the week after next, she said.

Were going to keep tracking the numbers and see where we are (Thursday) and Friday, she said.

Baugh said that as of Wednesday the districts middle and elementary schools had not experienced a spike in absences. The district was not seeing unusually high absences among teachers at the high school, she said.

Masks are recommended but not required at the high school.

Saunders, in his note, said that in-person learning is the best way for our staff to be most effective.

He encouraged ill students to stay home and rest up.
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP)  Starbucks workers at a store in Buffalo, New York, voted to unionize on Thursday, a first for the 50-year-old coffee retailer in the U.S. and the latest sign that the labor movement is stirring after decades of decline.

The National Labor Relations Board said Thursday that workers voted 19-8 in favor of a union at the Elmwood Avenue location, one of three stores in Buffalo where elections were being held. A second store rejected the union in a vote of 12-8, but the union said it might challenge that result because it wasn't confident all of the eligible votes had been counted. The results of a third store could not be determined because both sides challenged seven separate votes.

Starbucks and Workers United, the union vying to represent the workers, have five business days to submit their objections to the election results, the labor board said. If objections are filed, there could be a series of hearings and appeals that delay certification of the votes. If no objections are filed, the results could be certified as early as Dec. 16.
NEW YORK (AP)  A former federal judge was appointed Wednesday to ensure no First Amendment protections or attorney-client privileges are violated in the review of materials seized by U.S. law enforcement authorities from individuals connected with the conservative group Project Veritas.

U.S. District Judge Analisa Torres in Manhattan said she was appointing Barbara Jones to oversee the separation of privileged materials found during recent raids connected to a criminal probe into how the group received a diary purported to belong to President Joe Bidens daughter.

Torres said it was important to let a neutral party decide privilege issues for the items seized from current and former employees of the group rather than leaving it solely up to individual prosecutors who are separate from the criminal team working on the case.

James O'Keefe, the founder of the group that calls itself a news organization, said previously that agents had searched his home, and the homes of two others, in connection with the diary investigation.
Tuesday was our annual holiday pilgrimage to our favorite Nebraska bakery . . . Sehnerts Bakery in McCook. A record number of orders for both stollen and cinnamon breads came back with us in the back of Sue Anns vehicle. A total of 114 loaves of freshly baked goodies were boxed and loaded by the Sehnerts Crew for transport and deliver to my York office.

We made our usual rounds after coffee and rolls to Knowle & Yates, the amazing kitchen shop, to the cemetery to leave an arrangement on the graves of our parents and sister, Macs Drive-Inn for a lunch of pizza burgers and onion rings (the very same exact order for over 50 years!), a drive down Santa Claus Lane and a quick stop at the Methodist Ladies Second Hand Shop for gag Christmas gifts. (Gail Nordlund, be very, very careful!)

We did have the opportunity to have coffee with Kristi Korf Clapp, who is one of my very good friends from grade school through high school. Sister Susan and brother-in-law Tom rented their first little house in McCook from Kristis parents, who lived right next door. We spent at least an hour or more just catching up on the last few years and visiting about her and her husbands retirement, grandkids and sharing all of our pet stories . . . good and bad! Kristi, I am so glad that we were able to connect this time. Plan on doing it again next trip back, too.
The sudden and untimely passing away of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat in a military helicopter crash near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu has raised the big question about how the crash happened. Officers from the Indian Air Force are at the crash site collecting all relevant data and material to ascertain the cause of the crash that led to death of multiple armed forces officers including Gen Rawat.

The emphasis of the technical team from the IAF would be to find the Black Box (if it hasn't been retrieved till now), a vital electronic device, also known as Flight Data Recorder that records 88 vital parameters about a flight including, airspeed, altitude, cockpit conversations, and air pressure among others. When a crash happens, the black box is located on a priority basis to understand what actually caused the crash. Here is how the process works.

What is a Black Box?

A Black Box is neither black in colour, nor box in shape, but is actually a compressor shaped device made in high-visibility orange colour. Experts disagree how the nickname originated, but many historians attribute their invention to Australian scientist David Warren in the 1950s. A Black Box is mandatory for all commercial airliner and armed forces to preserve clues from cockpit sounds and data to help prevent future accidents.

Also read: All you need to know about IAF's Mi-17V-5 helicopter

What's inside a Black Box?

A typical Black Box weighs about 10 pounds (4.5 kilos) and contain four main parts:

- A chassis or interface designed to fix the device and facilitate recording and playback

- An underwater locator beacon

- The core housing or 'Crash Survivable Memory Unit' made of stainless steel or titanium

- Inside there, the precious finger-nail sized recording chips on circuit boards

There are two recorders: a Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) for pilot voices or cockpit sounds and a Flight Data Recorder (FDR). The BEA released a photo of the FDR from the Ethiopian jet appearing to show that the chip's crucial housing is intact while the replaceable chassis is crushed.

How is recording sourced?

Technicians peel away protective material and carefully clean connections to make sure they do not accidentally erase data. The audio or data file must be downloaded and copied. The data itself means nothing at first. It must be decoded from raw files before being turned into graphs. Investigators sometimes use "spectral analysis" - a way of examining sounds that allows the scientists to pick out barely audible alarms or the first fleeting crack of an explosion.

How is data processed?

There's a listening room like a recording studio with audio mixing and playback equipment linked to a screen showing synchronized data. Four channels separate voices and ambient noise. Only the main investigator and a handful of people hear most tapes, which are then sealed. A technician will first prepare the recording to ensure it is intact. In France, Trauma counselling is available for staff hearing tapes.

When will the result come?

Investigators prefer to work methodically, but public and media pressure can be intense. Depending on any damage to the boxes and type of accident, some investigators acknowledge they can get a very basic idea in days or even hours. But they stress this is not always the case and rarely the whole story. Interim reports are published over a month after the black box is retrieved, but are often sparse. Deeper investigations take a year or more to complete. A Lebanese investigation into an Ethiopian Airlines crash in 2010, took two years.

Modern day Black Box

While the older models used to record on wire, foil or reels of magnetic tape, modern versions use computer chips housed inside "crash-survivable" containers able to withstand g-forces 3,400 times the feeling of gravity. Since the crash and the unresolved disappearance in 2014 of Malaysian Airlines MH370, there has been intense debate about whether black boxes should stream live data back to the ground, which involves high cost and manpower.

With inputs from Reuters

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Patna: A local court has issued a non-bailable warrant against Bhojpuri superstar Khesari Lal Yadav in a case of cheque bounce.

Yadav had purchased a piece of land from Mritunjay Nath Pandey, a resident of Asahani village under Rashulpur police station in the district in June 2019 and its registry was done on June 4, 2019.

"The land was sold at a cost of Rs 22.07 lakh to Khesari Lal Yadav. He had given me a cheque for Rs 18 lakh which I deposited in my bank account on June 20, 2019. That cheque was returned from bank on June 24, 2019. I deposited the same again on June 27, 2019, and it bounced again," Pandey said.

"When my repeated attempts to sort things out with Yadav failed, I had no option but to file a complaint of forgery against him in Rashulpur police station. The hearing of the case started in district court Chapra in Saran district," Pandey said.

The district court summoned him on January 22, 2021, but he failed to respond. The court then issued a warrant under bailable sections on February 25, 2021, which was not responded to.

As Yadav failed to appear before the court several times, the court of Justice Sanjay Kumar Saroj (First Class) issued a non-bailable warrant against him.
Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Karnataka have emerged as top three states in terms of registration of electric vehicles in India, the government said on Wednesday. In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha, Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said that 870,141 electric vehicles have been registered in India. Uttar Pradesh (255,700) has the highest registered electric vehicles, followed by Delhi (125,347) and Karnataka (72,544) come in that order. The fourth and fifth spots are grabbed by Bihar (58,014) and Maharashtra (52,506).

Gadkari said the Ministry of Heavy Industries formulated a scheme namely Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid &) Electric Vehicles in India (FAME India) Scheme in 2015 to promote adoption of electric and hybrid vehicles in the country with an aim to reduce dependency on fossil fuels.

At present, Phase-II of FAME India scheme is being implemented for a period of five years with effect from April 1, 2019 with a total budgetary support of Rs 10,000 crore, he added.

GST on electric vehicles has been reduced from 12 per cent to 5 per cent; GST on chargers/ charging stations for electric vehicles has been reduced from 18 per cent to 5 per cent. Replying to a separate question, Gadkari said at present, all fee plazas on National Highways are equipped with FASTag Facility. Around 35 banks (including public and private sector banks) have been engaged as issuer banks to issue FASTag to road users and 14 acquirer banks are also engaged to process transactions at toll plazas.

Also read: Elon Musk's double standard on EVs

"As on December 4, 2021, 4.21 crore FASTags have been issued and approx 97 per cent of total user fee is collected through FASTag," he said. Replying to another question, he said the road ministry is primarily responsible for development and maintenance of National Highways (NHs).

"Apart from this, the ministry also allocates funds for state governments / Union Territories (UTs) for development and maintenance of state roads under the Central Road & Infrastructure Fund (CRIF) and Economic Importance & Interstate Connectivity (EI&ISC) schemes," Gadkari said.

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New Delhi: Seems like Katrina Kaif and Vicky Kaushal's fans have to wait a little longer to see the dreamy wedding pictures of their favourite stars, and here's why!

All eyes are currently on Mumbai: Katrina and Vicky who have tied the knot on Thursday at Six Senses Fort Bawara, Rajasthan.

The big fat wedding has been kept away from public eyes and major steps have been taken so that no visuals from the special occasion get leaked.

Earlier reports said that the guests were even requested to sign an NDA (Non-Disclosure Agreement) form so that the couple could maintain confidentiality about the wedding visuals.

Social media was flooded with funny memes about the strange arrangements, but now the recent rumours can clear out the reason behind the secrecy of the star couple`s wedding.

The recent rumours say that the couple has agreed to sell exclusive pictures of their dreamy wedding to the Hindi edition of an international magazine and that too for a whopping amount!

Earlier a report made headlines all over media portals that the couple has sold their wedding telecast rights to an OTT platform for reportedly a whopping amount of INR 80 crore. This means fans will be able to see the whole wedding visuals like a show on the OTT platform.

This reminds me of the same news that surfaced over the internet in 2018 when one of the most loved celebrity couples Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas got married.

The wedding footage of their intimate Jaisalmer wedding was exclusively sold to People magazine for a whopping price tag of USD 2.5 million, and also some photos to Hello magazine.

People magazine also acquired the rights of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie`s 2014 secret wedding ceremony. Wedding footage of several other stars like Kim Kardashian-Kris Humphries, Demi Moore-Ashton Kutcher, Priety Zinta-Gene Goodenough, and George Clooney-Amal Alamuddin among others was also sold to tabloids, and that too for millions of dollars.

The rumours of Vicky and Katrina taking the same route are still fresh, however, a confirmation from close sources on the same is yet awaited.

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New Delhi: The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) on Thursday said that the farmers will call off their ongoing agitation after carefully deliberating the new draft proposal sent by the Union government.

The new draft proposal received from the Govt will be discussed in the meeting of Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) today. Accordingly, the SKM will take a decision (regarding withdrawing the agitation), Ashok Dhawale, a member of SKM's five-member committee, said.

The new draft proposal received from the Govt will be discussed in the meeting of Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) today. Accordingly, the SKM will take a decision (regarding withdrawing the agitation): Ashok Dhawale, a member of SKM's five-member committee pic.twitter.com/5Xghlz1vNy  ANI (@ANI) December 9, 2021

Ahead of the announcement, farmers have started removing tents from the protest site at Singhu on Delhi-Haryana border. "We are preparing to leave for our homes, but the final decision will be taken by Samyukt Kisan Morcha," a farmer said.

Farmers start removing tents from their protest site in Singhu on Delhi-Haryana "We are preparing to leave for our homes, but the final decision will be taken by Samyukt Kisan Morcha," a farmer says pic.twitter.com/rzRjPkPfE1  ANI (@ANI) December 9, 2021

The SKM had earlier said that a consensus has been reached over a revised draft proposal of the Centre on their pending demands. The apex body of farmers said that it will meet on Thursday to decide the future course of the movement, even as its leaders demanded a formal communication on government letterhead.

Sources in the farmers' umbrella body indicated that once unions receive a formal communication from the government on the agreed fresh draft proposal, the farmers' agitation, which had started at the three Delhi border points - Singhu, Ghazipur and Tikri - on November 26 last year, will be ended soon.

Farmer leader and SKM core committee member Gurnam Singh Chaduni said that the earlier draft from the central government on pending demands was not acceptable to them following which a fresh proposal was received from the Centre on Wednesday.

According to the SKM sources, the fresh proposal sent clarified that the government will include SKM members in the committee on MSP and that governments of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Haryana have agreed to withdraw cases against farmers with immediate effect.

Cases registered against farmers in Delhi will also be withdrawn. "Consensus has reached on government's fresh proposal. Now, a formal communication signed on the government's letterhead is awaited. SKM will meet again tomorrow at 12 noon, at Singhu Border, to take a formal decision thereafter to lift the morchas, the SKM said in a statement after a meeting of its core committee.

At a press conference, Chaduni said no decision has been taken yet on calling off agitation and they will decide about suspending the agitation after the meeting on Thursday. The SKM had formed a five-member panel for a dialogue with the Centre regarding pending demands of farmers including legal guarantee on MSP, withdrawal of cases against farmers registered during the movement and compensation to kins of farmers who died during the agitation.

On Tuesday, the SKM had demanded clarification on certain points in the government's proposal, including on the precondition set for the withdrawal of "fake" cases against farmers. SKM sources said that the fresh proposal sent by the Centre also clarified that procurement of crops on MSP from states will not be reduced.

Farmer leaders said that in the proposal, the Centre has informed them that Haryana and Uttar Pradesh have agreed to provide compensation to kin of family members of farmers who died during the agitation.

According to the SKM sources, it also clarified that Electricity Amendment Bill will not be tabled in Parliament until government discusses provisions impacting farmers with SKM. Stubble burning has already been decriminalised, the Centre informed farmers.

At the SKM meeting on Wednesday, the participants observed a two-minute silence to pay homage to Chief of Defence Staff Bipin Rawat and others who were killed in a helicopter crash in Coonoor.

The day started with an emergency huddle by the SKM's five-member empowered committee to deliberate upon pending demands of farmers and on a fresh draft proposal of the Centre sent to farmers' body appealing them to end the protest.

Farmers from Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh have been protesting at the borders of the national capital since November 26 last year to demand repeal of the three farm laws. On November 29, a bill was passed in Parliament to repeal the three contentious farm laws, one of the main demands of the protesting farmers.

But the stalemate continued with the protesters demanding that the government fulfil their other demands that included a legal guarantee on MSP and withdrawal of cases against farmers.

(With Agency Inputs)

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New Delhi: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday said that the last rites of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Gen Bipin Rawat and others killed in Mi-17 chopper crash near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu will be performed with full military honours.

Singh said this while briefing the Parliament about the unfortunate chopper crash in Tamil Nadu in which CDS Bipin Rawat, his wife and 11 other defence personnel died. The last rites of CDS General Bipin Rawat will be performed with full military honours. The last rites of other military personnel will be performed with appropriate military honour, Rajnath Singh said.
Kolkata: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested Vikas Mishra on Thursday (December 9) in connection with the agencys ongoing investigation into the coal case.

According to sources in the agency, Vikas was arrested from a city-based private hospital after his bail was rejected by the CBI Special Court, Asansol yesterday. CBI had moved the court seeking cancellation of the bail granted to Vikas.

Vikas was earlier arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) probing the Coal case. However, he was granted bail by the court on health grounds.

Vikas is the brother of Vinay Mishra  the TMC Youth Wing general secretary and his role is presently being probed by the CBI in connection with coal case.

Vinay Mishra continues to remain at large. CBI has issued a lookout notice for him.

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New Delhi: IAF Group Captain Varun Singh, the lone survivor of the helicopter crash that killed Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat and 12 others, is being shifted to Bengaluru from the Army hospital at Wellington in Tamil Nadu, his father said on Thursday (December 9).

The crash took place near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu on Wednesday. Talking to PTI over the phone, Group Captain Varun Singh's father Colonel KP Singh (retired), who is a resident of Bhopal, said, "He is being shifted to Bengaluru. I have reached Wellington." Asked about his son's condition, he said, "I can't say anything about that...I am not sure."

Group Captain Varun Singh was conferred with the Shaurya Chakra in August for averting a possible mid-air accident after his Tejas light combat aircraft suffered a major technical glitch last year. Singh is now battling for life at a military hospital in Wellington.

Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat, his wife Madhulika and 11 armed forces personnel were killed in the Mi-17V5 helicopter crash in one of the biggest air accidents involving top military officials. "Group Captain Varun Singh is on life support in the military hospital at Wellington and all efforts are being made to save his life," Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said while apprising Parliament on the crash.

Group Captain Singh was on board the Russian-made chopper as the liaison officer for the visit of Gen Rawat, India's senior-most military officer, to the Defence Services Staff College in Wellington. He is currently serving as an instructor at the prestigious institute.

Group Captain Singh received Gen Rawat at the Sulur airbase from where the entourage was heading towards Wellington in the chopper. His father, Colonel (retd) KP Singh had served in the Army Air Defence (AAD). Group Captain Singh was conferred with the Shaurya Chakra for displaying exemplary composure and skill when his Tejas aircraft developed the technical snag on October 12 last year.

Also read: Who is Group Captain Varun Singh? Know about only survivor of IAF chopper crash

"Despite being in extreme physical and mental stress in an extremely life-threatening situation, he maintained exemplary composure and recovered the aircraft, thereby exhibiting exceptional flying skill," this award citation said.

Officials said his aircraft experienced a total loss of control with vicious manoeuvring and under such a scenario, the pilot was at liberty to abandon the aircraft. They said he evaluated the gravity of the situation and decided to bring back the aircraft safely. "Faced with a potential hazard to his own life, he displayed extraordinary courage and skill to control and safely land the fighter aircraft saving hundreds of crore," the award citation said. "The pilot went beyond the call of duty and landed the aircraft taking calculated risks. This allowed an accurate analysis of fault on the indigenously designed fighter and further institution of preventive measures against recurrence," it said.

Singh's family originally hails from Ghazipur in Uttar Pradesh.

(With PTI inputs)
New Delhi: The cremation of Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat who were among the 13 killed in the military helicopter crash near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu will be conducted in Delhi Cantonment on Friday (December 8).

According to news agency ANI, the mortal remains of the CDS and his wife will arrive in Delhi on a military plane on Thursday evening. The bodies would be brought to Rawats house in the national capital on Friday where people would be allowed to pay their last respect from 11 am to 2 pm.

After 2 pm, a funeral procession will start from Kamraj Marg to Brar Square crematorium in Delhi Cantonment.

The bodies would be brought to his house on Friday and people would be allowed to pay last respect from 11 am to 2 pm, followed by a funeral procession which will start from Kamraj Marg to Brar Square crematorium in Delhi Cantonment.  ANI (@ANI) December 8, 2021

Who all died in IAF chopper crash

Those who died in the IAF chopper crash included Military Adviser to the Chief of Defence Staff Brig LS Lidder, staff officer Lt Col Harjinder Singh, Wg Cdr PS Chauhan, Sqn Ldr K Singh, JWO Das, JWO Pradeep A, Havildar Satpal, Naik Gursewak Singh, Naik Jitender Kumar, Lance Naik Vivek Kumar and Lance Naik Sai Teja.

The lone survivor Group Captain Varun Singh is currently admitted at the military hospital in Wellington, IAF informed earlier.

IAF's Mi17V5 chopper, with Rawat, his wife and 12 defence personnel onboard, departed from Sulur airbase around 11.45 am for Defence Services Staff College in Wellington and met an accident near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu around 12.20 pm. General Rawat was on his way to the Defence Services Staff College in Wellington to address the faculty and student officers of the Staff Course.

Nation griefs death of CDS, his wife and 11 others

Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the nation in paying tributes to CDS General Rawat and others killed in the crash. "I am deeply anguished by the helicopter crash in Tamil Nadu in which we have lost Gen Bipin Rawat, his wife and other personnel of the Armed Forces. They served India with utmost diligence. My thoughts are with the bereaved families," the PM tweeted.

Rajnath Singh to brief Parliament on chopper crash today

Meanwhile, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh would brief the Parliament on the crash of the military chopper which was carrying Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat and 13 other persons on Friday. The Defence Minister visited CDS Rawat`s residence here after the IAF helicopter carrying him along with some senior defence officers crashed near Coonor in Tamil Nadu on Thursday.

CDS Rawat was accompanied by his wife. The Defence Minister has briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the incident. IAF has ordered an inquiry into the accident.

(With agency inputs)

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New Delhi: The government is set to begin the process soon to appoint the next Chief of Defence Staff with Army Chief Gen MM Naravane emerging as the front-runner for the top post that fell vacant following the demise of Gen Bipin Rawat in a tragic helicopter crash.

The move by the government comes even as a number of retired military commanders said it will be prudent to appoint Gen Naravane to the top military post as he is retiring as the Chief of Army Staff in five months.

People familiar with the development on Thursday said the government will draw up a small panel comprising senior commanders from the Army, the Navy and the Air Force.

The panel will be finalised based on recommendations from the three services in the next two to three days and then it will be sent to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh for approval.

Following the approval by the defence minister, the names will be sent for consideration by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet that will take the final decision on India's next Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), those familiar with the development said.

They said the Chief Of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman Chiefs Of Staff Committee (CISC) is likely to coordinate the process of drawing up the panel of prospective candidates for the post of the Chief of Defence Staff.

Explaining the process, they said the government will follow the same protocol for the appointment of the CDS that is laid down for appointing the service chiefs.

The CDS is the chairman of the powerful Chiefs of Staff Committee (COSC) that also comprises the three service chiefs.

It is learnt that the possibility of appointing Gen Naravane to the top post is high considering his overall performance as well as the handling of the eastern Ladakh standoff.

The Army Chief is due to retire in April.

Gen Naravane is the senior-most among the three service chiefs.

IAF chief Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari and Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar had taken over their respective positions on September 30 and November 30.

On January 1 last year, Gen Rawat took charge as India's first CDS with a mandate to bring in convergence in the functioning of the Army, the Navy and the Indian Air Force and bolster the country's overall military prowess.

Another key mandate of the CDS was to facilitate the restructuring of military commands for optimal utilization of resources by bringing about jointness in operations, including through the establishment of theatre commands.

A high-level committee set up to examine the gaps in India's security system in the wake of the Kargil war in 1999 had recommended the appointment of the CDS as a single-point military adviser to the defence minister.

In the last two years, Gen Rawat carried out extensive groundwork to roll out tri-services reforms.

The tenure of Gen Rawat as the CDS was till March 2023. The retirement age for the CDS is 65 years while the service chiefs have a tenure till they are 62 or for three years, whichever is earlier.

The CDS is also the Secretary of the Department of Military Affairs (DMA) in the Defence Ministry and the Principal Advisor to the Defence Minister.

"It is highly likely that Gen Naravane is made the next Chief of Defence Staff and it will be a wise decision," said a former high-ranking military commander.

There has been a view among an influential section of the military planners that the Chief of Defence Staff should be from the Army, at least till the ambitious theaterisation process is completed under the ambitions higher defence reforms.

If Gen Naravane is appointed the CDS, then the government will also simultaneously have to look for his replacement.

In that case, Vice Chief of Army Lt Gen CP Mohanty and Northern Army Commander Lt Gen Y K Joshi will be the front-runner for the Army Chief's post, Lt Gen Mohanty and Lt Gen Joshi are from the same batch and are the senior-most commanders after Gen Naravane.

However, as Vice Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Mohanty, with extensive experience of serving extensively, in formations along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), has a much better chance of succeeding Gen Naravane if he is appointed the CDS.

The experts said it is legitimate for the government to take some time to decide on the next CDS as keeping the post vacant for a few days will not impact military preparedness or operational aspects.

"The CDS does not have an operational role. Even if the government takes little more time, it will not affect operational issues," said another former military commander on condition of anonymity.

As the CDS, Gen Rawat emphasised advancing jointness and integration across the board so as to develop trust amongst the rank and file and shape congruent perception to jointly operate among the three services.

He had consistently maintained that India's aspiration of becoming a regional power cannot rely on "borrowed strengths" and that the country will have to win its wars with 'Indian solutions.'

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New Delhi: Indian Air Force (IAF) chief, Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari, on Thursday (December 9) morning reached the site of the chopper crash, that claimed the life of 13 people including Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat and his wife.

According to reports, Air Chief Marshal reached the crash site near Coonoor in the Nilgiris district of Tamil Nadu along with state DGP C Sylendra Babu.

The news of CDS Rawat`s demise was confirmed by Indian Air Force on Wednesday through their Twitter handle that read: "With deep regret, it has now been ascertained that Gen Bipin Rawat, Mrs Madhulika Rawat, and 11 other persons on board have died in the unfortunate accident."

The IAF has already ordered an inquiry into the accident. Air Marshal Manvendra Singh is heading the tri-services inquiry into the IAF Mi-17 that crashed yesterday. Singh is Commander of Indian Air Forces training command and a helicopter pilot himself said ANI report citing IAF Officials.

Critical equipment of IAF Mi-17 that crashed near Coonoor near Tamil Nadu recovered by Air Force officials from the spot pic.twitter.com/4AD3NEHBdZ  ANI (@ANI) December 9, 2021

Meanwhile, Vice Chief of the Army Staff (VCOAS) Lieutenant General Chandi Prasad Mohanty has cut short his visit to Qatar and is returning to Delhi, said an ANI report citing sources.

The Army Vice Chief proceeded on his two-day visit to Qatar on Wednesday, the Ministry of Defence had reportedly informed.

In his scheduled visit, the Vice Chief was to take forward the excellent defence cooperation between the State of Qatar and India through multiple meetings with senior functionaries of the Qatari security establishment.

IMA cancels Commandant's Parade in Dehradun

The Indian Military Academy in Dehradun has cancelled the Commandant`s Parade, final rehearsal parade scheduled to be held on Thursday, ahead of the final passing out parade, Academy`s Public Relations Officer Col Himani Pant told ANI on Thursday.

Col Pant is quoted as saying, "IMA, Dehradun has cancelled Commandant`s Parade (final rehearsal parade ahead of final passing out parade) that was scheduled to take place today. The decision regarding holding passing out parade will be taken after receiving instructions from the Army Headquarters."

The announcement came after Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat on Wednesday died in a helicopter accident along with his wife Madhulika Rawat and 11 other army personnel who were on board the IAF Mi-17V5 helicopter.

General Rawat was travelling from Sulur to Wellington when his helicopter crashed near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu on Wednesday afternoon. General Rawat, India`s first CDS, was on a visit to the Defence Services Staff College in Wellington to address the faculty and student officers of the Staff Course when his chopper crashed.

General Rawat was appointed as India`s first Chief of Defense Staff on December 31, 2019. He previously served as Chief of the Army Staff from January 2017 to December 2019. He was commissioned into the Indian Army in December 1978.

A veteran of counterinsurgency warfare, CDS Rawat served in the most difficult terrains including Northern and Eastern commands.

(With Agency Inputs)

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New Delhi: The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) is likely to call off their 14-month agitation on Thursday (December 9, 2021) at 12 pm, after receiving the final copy of the Union governments revised proposal which has accepted their demands.

SKM on Wednesday had said that a consensus has been reached over a revised draft proposal of the Centre on their pending demands and the future course of the movement will be decided today, even as its leaders demanded a formal communication on government letterhead.

Gurnam Singh Chaduni, Farmer leader and SKM core committee member stated that the earlier draft from the Centre on pending demands was not acceptable to them following which a fresh proposal was received from the government on Wednesday.

"We are in agreement with the government regarding our demands. We will decide about suspending the agitation after the meeting tomorrow. No decision has been taken yet on calling off agitation. Another meeting of SKM will be to be held tomorrow (Thursday) at 12 noon," Chaduni said at a press conference after a meeting of the SKM core committee.

"Consensus has reached on government's fresh proposal. Now, a formal communication signed on the government's letterhead is awaited. SKM will meet again tomorrow at twelve noon, at Singhu Border, to take a formal decision thereafter to lift the morchas, the SKM said in a statement.

Additionally, a five-member panel has also been formed for a dialogue with the Centre regarding pending demands of farmers including legal guarantee on MSP, withdrawal of cases against farmers registered during the movement and compensation to kins of farmers died during the agitation.

Another farmer leader and SKM's five-member committee member, Yudhvir Singh said, The ball is now in the government's court and a final decision will be taken tomorrow (Thursday).

On Tuesday, the SKM had demanded clarification on certain points in the government's proposal, including on the precondition set for the withdrawal of "fake" cases against farmers.

On November 29, a bill was passed in Parliament to repeal the three contentious farm laws, one of the main demands of the protesting farmers.

But the stalemate continues with the protesters demanding that the government fulfil their other demands that included a legal guarantee on MSP and withdrawal of cases against farmers.

(With PTI inputs)

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New Delhi: After over a year, farmers will end their protest against the controversial farm laws and MSP issue and vacate the border sides in Delhi on December 11, announced farmers leader Darshan Pal Singh on Thursday.

Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) leader Gurnam Singh Charuni further said that the farmers will resume their agitation if their demands are not met.

A review meeting on the matter will be held on January 15.

We have decided to suspend our agitation. We will hold a review meeting on Jan 15. If Govt doesn't fulfil its promises, we could resume our agitation, ANI quoted Charuni as saying.

Meanwhile, farmers leader Balbir Singh Rajewal announced that the protesters will carry out a victory march to their homes on December 11 to celebrate the end of the struggle and celebrate the repeal of all the farm laws.

The announcement came after the Centre in a letter to protesting farmers promised of forming a committee on MSP and other demands like withdrawal of criminal cases against farm protesters.

Protesting farmers receive a letter from Govt of India, with promises of forming a committee on MSP and withdrawing cases against them immediately "As far as the matter of compensation is concerned, UP and Haryana have given in-principle consent," it reads pic.twitter.com/CpIEJGFY4p  ANI (@ANI) December 9, 2021

"As far as the matter of compensation is concerned, UP and Haryana have given in-principle consent," it reads

On November 19, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the repeal of all the three contentious farm laws that triggered the farmers protest at various border sites in the national capital.

The Farm Laws Repeal Bill was later tabled and passed in both the houses of the parliament.

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The last rites of CDS General Bipin Rawat, who along with his wife and 11 others, died in a chopper crash on Wednesday, will take place in Delhi on Friday (December 10). Civilians and armed personnel can also pay tribute to the late General tomorrow.

ANI tweeted, Civilians can pay tribute to CDS Gen. Bipin Rawat from 1100-1230 hours at CDS Karaj marg residence tomorrow. Military personnel can pay respects between 1230-1330 hours. Thereafter, the mortal remains will be taken in a gun carriage for funeral in Delhi Cantt Brar Square.

The last rites of Brig LS Lidder, who too passed away in the military chopper crash, will also be held at 0915 hours at Delhi Cantt tomorrow.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday told Parliament that a tri-services inquiry led by Air Marshal Manavendra Singh has started investigation into the helicopter crash that killed India's first Chief of Defence Staff Gen Rawat, his wife and 11 others.

Delhi | Civilians can pay tribute to CDS Gen. Bipin Rawat from 1100-1230 hours at CDS Karaj marg residence tomorrow. Military personnel can pay respects between 1230-1330 hours. Thereafter, the mortal remains will be taken in a gun carriage for funeral in Delhi Cantt Brar Square.  ANI (@ANI) December 9, 2021

Singh said in a statement in the Lok Sabha that all efforts were being made to save Group Captain Varun Singh, who was on life support at the military hospital in Wellington.

READ | Ambulance carrying mortal remains met with minor accident

The black box of the military helicopter that crashed was retrieved on Thursday, a critical piece of evidence in the investigation by a tri-services inquiry announced by Singh in Parliament.

As the minister said in a statement that the inquiry would be headed by Air Marshal Manavendra Singh and the lone survivor was on life support, in Wellington, about six kilometres from the crash site, bugles sounded the last post in honour of those who had been killed.

(With inputs from agencies)

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New Delhi: General Bipin Rawat's tragic death in a chopper crash has left the country shocked. Amid the untimely demise of India's first Chief of Defence Staff, Congress' interim President Sonia Gandhi has decided not to celebrate her birthday today (December 9).

A day earlier, Party General Secretary, Organisation, KC Venugopal had said, "Congress President has decided not to celebrate her birthday, tomorrow, the 9th December. Urging party workers and supporters to strictly avoid any celebrations."

Sonia Gandhi, born on December 9, 1946, is one of the longest-serving chiefs of the party - she has held the post from March 1998 to December 2017, and has been credited with bringing back the party into power in 2004. After stepping down as party chief in December 2017 in favour of her son and party Vice President Rahul Gandhi, she was appointed interim chief in August 2019 after he resigned following the party's debacle in the 2019 general elections.

Also read: CDS Bipin Rawat's life, illustrious career and tragic death - in Pics

According to the sources, the preparations were on to celebrate the birthday in the Congress headquarters, but those were stopped following Sonia's appeal.

Gen Bipin Rawat, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) was on a visit to Defence Services Staff College, Wellington (Nilgiri Hills) to address the faculty and student officers of the Staff Course on December 8. General Rawat had taken off from Sulur Airbase for Wellington and was accompanied by his wife Madhulika Rawat, his DA Brigadier LS Lidder, SO Lieutenant Colonel Harjinder Singh, among other defence officials. "Around noon today, an IAF Mi 17 V5 helicopter with a crew of 4 members carrying the CDS and 9 other passengers met with a tragic accident near Coonoor, TN," the Indian Air Force said in a tweet. Group Captain Varun Singh, SC, Directing Staff at DSSC, the sole survivor of the crash, is undergoing treatment for his injuries at Military Hospital in Wellington.

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New Delhi: Ahead of the upcoming Goa Assembly elections next year, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will visit the state to launch the poll campaign in the state on December 10.

As per ANI sources, Vadra will address a public meeting and will interact with various groups. As per the itinerary, the Congress leader will visit Assolna where she will lay a wreath at the Martyrs` Memorial, interact and dine with tribal women at Morpirla in Quepem taluka, and meet `Amchem Mollem` student activists at MCC hall, Margao.

Vadra is also likely to address a women`s convention `Priyadarshani` at the Costa ground, Aquem. She will also interact with Mahila Congress office bearers and functionaries. A convention of party workers of Mormugao will be held at Chicalim ground where prominent activists will join Congress.

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is currently busy with campaigns in Uttar Pradesh, which will also witness polls in 2022.

On Wednesday, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut, after his meeting with Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in Delhi, hinted at a pre-poll alliance with the Congress in Uttar Pradesh and Goa. Speaking on the meeting, Raut had told ANI, "It was a positive meeting. We are thinking of working together in Uttar Pradesh and Goa. Along with the discussion on the politics of the country, there were talks about the assembly elections to be held in Uttar Pradesh and Goa elections. If possible, Shiv Sena and Congress will fight the assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh and Goa together."

Meanwhile, Goa Forward Party (GFP) has formed a coalition with Congress for the 2022 polls to 40-member House.

(With agency inputs)

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NEW DELHI: The sudden and untimely passing away of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat in a military helicopter crash near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu has raised the big question about who will be his likely successor.

Since the strategically important post cant be kept vacant for long, the government is mulling to appoint a new CDS soon. According to sources, the post of the Chief of Defence Staff will be filled in next seven to ten days. As per the rules, any Commanding officers or flag officers of the armed forces are eligible for the position.

Since there is no precedent in appointing the Chief of Defence Staff as General Bipin Rawat was the first occupant of the post, the government will have to consider certain points before making the key appointment. In government matters, precedent is extremely important and several aspects will have to be taken into consideration while appointing a new officer as the next CDS.

General Bipin Rawat was appointed the 26th Chief of Army Staff on December 31, 2016. He superseded two Army officers - Lieutenant Generals Praveen Bakshi and PM Hariz - to take charge of the Indian Army. While his appointment as the Indian Army Chief by superseding two officers was unusual, but it is also the prerogative of the government to make such appointments.

The officers who are eligible to become the CDS should be a four-star General or its equivalent ranks in the Indian Air Force (Air Chief Marshal) and the Indian Navy (Admiral). The person can also be a three-star officer in the Indian Army, Indian Air Force or Indian Navy but eligible to become a four-star officer in the respective services. So all the Army, IAF and Navy commanders are eligible.

In the case of Indias only tri-services command  The Andaman and Nicobar Command  the officer heading it is rotated among the three services. Similarly, in the case of the CDS, too, the same can be done, but this is up to the government how it decides to go about it.

General Rawat was also an advocate of integrated commands by bringing in the Army, IAF and Navy commands under one umbrella. But his untimely death, brings back the question of precedence once again into play. As he was the first appointee to the post of CDS, it is now up to the government to find an officer who can take charge of the crucial post.

While General Rawat was appointed the CDS based on his vast military experience, the government can choose any eligible officer based on his expertise and political acuity.

It may be noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) was briefed on Wednesday about the military helicopter crash that led to the death of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat and other defence personnel near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu.

Besides Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the meeting was attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, official sources said.

National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister PK Misra and Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba also attended the meeting, in which the CCS members were briefed about the tragic incident.

The sources said the top cabinet brass expressed condolences on the death of General Rawat. It is believed that the appointment of new CDS also came up for discussion during the CCS meet.

Separately, Chief of Army Staff General MM Naravane briefed the Defence Minister about the crash and related issues. The Defence Minister also visited General Rawat's residence and spoke to his daughter.

The CDS was on his way to the Defence Staff College in Wellington when the helicopter crashed near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu. The Indian Air Force (IAF) said a Court of Inquiry has been ordered into the accident.

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Srinagar: Uhkoo village in Kashmir's Pulwama district, popularly known as India's 'Pencil Village' is facing huge losses due to a shift in education towards online learning owing to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The village supplies 90% of the wood used for pencils in the country, is facing a loss of demand by 70% with almost 50% of employees losing their jobs.

Before the covid epidemic, in the Pulwama district, 17 pencil factories were employing more than 4000 people and the industry was supporting around 300 families. But the drastic drop in raw metrical demand which is about 70% drop. and factory owners were too forced to reduce their workforce by more than half, which had devastating effects on business and employment.

Manzoor Ahmed Alahi, the factory owner said, Covid created big problems and effected our business badly, suppose we had one crore turnover before covid, today we have 30 lakhs turnover we lost 70% of orders. Actually, covid was not in one state but was in the whole world. Schools were closed all over the world, because of that, our business changed a lot. Before covid, we had 150 workers, now today we have only 30 per cent, now there is hope that schools will open But we suffered a lot because of covid.

This has not happened only with Manzoor Ahmed, but of all 17 pencil slate factories operating in Pulwama only have 30% work.

Manzoor Ahmed Alahi added, The condition of everyone is the same because this covid affected everyone since I have started this work, its the first time am facing this kind of difficulty.

Pick up a pencil anywhere across India and it is likely to be made of trees of Ukhoo village. This village, about 25 km from the city of Srinagar in the Pulwama district of Kashmir, is known as the pencil village of India. Supplies more than 90% of the wood used by the Indian pencil making factories I supplied from here and pencils are exported to over 83 countries of the world.

Manzoor Ahmed Alahi, says, 90 per cent of the raw material goes from Kashmir, which is considered to be top-class and is used by the top brand of pencil makers like Apsara, Natraj, it goes from here and then our companies make pencils and go to all over India and 83 countries of the world. Earlier it used to come from China but now all go from here

About 40% of the non-local technical staff used to work in these factories and most of them have returned to their homes and even local workers are also now less than half. There are many young people who are employees in those factories who are afraid that their employment may be snatched, they pray that this epidemic ends and schools reopen again.

Mehraj-Ud-Din Dar supervisor said, It is clearly visible that our production which was earlier being above three bags, now we are making only one bag and when it comes to labour, now instead of 200-250 labourers only 50-60 are working here. it shows that there has been a lot of impact on employment. And if unemployment is to be eradicated. He added I have done PG, I tried a lot for a government job but nothing happened, then I got a chance in this company. I can say that even educated youth can earn livelihood in those companies.

Our company is still facing the impact of covid, our work depends on schools, the schools are still closed, our production will not increase until the schools are fully opened. He added.

This "pencil village" had also caught the attention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Last year in his monthly radio program Mann Ki Baat, he had said that the district was an example of how to reduce the country's dependence on imports.

Modi said, "Once upon a time we used to import wood for pencils from abroad but now our Pulwama is making the country self-reliant in the field of pencil making."

After those words of the prime minister, there was a lot of enthusiasm among these businessmen and they started feeling proud and wanted to accelerate their work so that the name of their village and Pulwama would be illuminated.

Manzoor said I feel very proud since the time Prime Minister Modi talked about us first the name of the district has changed, secondly, our village got the new tag of pencil village since then I want to do more hard work so that our village feel more proud

A recent report by the Ministry of Home Affairs had said that the village would be developed as a "special village" for production. "Now the entire country will be supplied with ready-made pencils, which will be completely manufactured in Pulwama," the report said. But due to the pandemic, a product that could have made the country self-sufficient in pencil is facing a storm of problems. Now this village and its people are eagerly waiting for the schools and market to resume.

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New Delhi: Lok Sabha on Thursday passed two bills to fix the tenures of directors of the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Enforcement Directorate to a maximum of five years, with the government rejecting the opposition charge that the move will rob the investigative agencies of their "autonomy".

The fixed tenure granted to the head of investigative agencies would help in speedy disposal of cases and bring down pendency, Minister of Personnel Jitendra Singh said in his reply to a debate on the Central Vigilance Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2021, and the Delhi Special Police Establishment (Amendment) Bill, 2021.

The two bills, which seek to replace the ordinances issued last month, were later passed separately by voice vote in Lok Sabha. The amendments moved by opposition members were rejected.

During the course of the debate, opposition members demanded that the bills be withdrawn, contending that the move would make the two agencies "sub-ordinate" to the government.

Singh said the term of the CBI and the ED directors has not been extended but fixed for a maximum of five years and minimum of two years to ensure that the position is not misused, he said.

He added that the changes have been made to ensure that investigation of the cases remains "stable" under their leadership.

"There will be continuity, stability. Certain information which is confidential with the head of an investigation agency will remain with him till the conclusion of the cases. This is going to address this (pendency of cases) issue," Singh said.

The minister said the Federal Criminal Police Office of Germany had an average tenure of 6-10 years but no fixed term, the Australian Federal Police has a tenure of seven years with a clause for extension, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police has no fixed term but the average is 4-10 years.

Responding to questions on bringing ordinances, Singh said there were uncertainties about the functioning of Parliament as the last session was a washout.

"We had to move on. We could not wait for the protest to settle down because this is the provision that is going to reflect India's image at the international forum. So that is the urgency for the country," he said.

He said the change in the two laws were necessary as India needed to meet global standards.

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has suggested that some of the countries should look into upgrading their capabilities, and law enforcement authorities maintain high professional standards, Singh said.

"If we have to meet the global standard and reach the global pedestal which India is already at the threshold of, we have to be more progressive and forward-looking," he said.

He also rejected the opposition's charge that the move will reduce transparency in the functioning of the investigative agencies, saying that the head of the CBI is appointed by a high-level committee comprising the Prime Minister, Leader of Opposition (or leader of the largest opposition party in Lok Sabha) and the Chief Justice of India.

The opposition protested the government's move, alleging it was "arbitrary" and without any logic.

"We have taken one small step to address all these issues and we will be taking more and expect support on those also," Singh said while addressing concerns raised by Supriya Sule of the NCP.

Earlier, moving a statutory resolution for disapproval of the ordinances, Congress member Manish Tewari said those were "arbitrary, capricious", and an "exercise of power".

"Any democracy is as strong or as weak as the institutions that support it... Unfortunately, over the last seven-and-half years, this government has made every attempt to dismantle the system of checks and balances which are intrinsic to our constitutional scheme," he alleged.

Before the two ordinances were promulgated, the directors of the CBI and the ED enjoyed a fixed tenure of two years from the date of their appointment in the wake of directives of the Supreme Court in the famous Vineet Narain case.

The ED director is appointed by the central government on the recommendation of a committee chaired by the Central Vigilance Commissioner and members comprising of Vigilance Commissioners, Home Secretary, Secretary DoPT and Revenue Secretary.

The fixed term of two years was aimed at ensuring the chiefs of CBI and ED work free from government interference without worrying about any adverse action for the probes carried out by them

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India's maiden human space mission "Gaganyaan" will be launched in 2023, said Union of State (Independent Charge) Science and Technology, Jitendra Singh, on Thursday.

In reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha, the Minister said, with this launch, India will become the fourth nation in the world to launch a Human Spaceflight Mission after USA, Russia and China. "The major missions viz., Test vehicle flight for the validation of Crew Escape System performance and the 1st Uncrewed mission of Gaganyaan (G1) are scheduled during the beginning of second half of 2022. This will be followed by the second uncrewed mission at the end of 2022 carrying "Vyommitra" a spacefaring human-robot developed by ISRO and finally the first crewed Gaganyaanmission in 2023," he said."

Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Independence Day address in 2018, wherein he said that an Indian astronaut, be it a man or a woman, will go on a space odyssey by 2022 onboard 'Gaganyaan', Singh said that the program got slightly delayed due to COVID restrictions, but preparations are now in full swing to achieve the mission by 2023.

He said that the objective of the Gaganyaan programme is to demonstrate the capability to send humans to low earth orbit (LEO) onboard on Indian Launch Vehicle and bring them back to earth safely.

Singh said that more than 500 industries are involved in the launch of Gaganyaan with several research modules including the indigenous health research module.

The Union Minister said that this was made possible as, for the first time in 70 years, the sector has been unlocked for private participation to make India a competitive Space market.

The minister informed that this is the most ambitious space programme undertaken by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) till date and it will give a big boost to the Science and Technology development within the country, besides inspiring the Youth and Start-ups to take up bigger challenges and enhance the prestige of the country. For the Gaganyaan programme, the astronaut training facility is getting established at Bengaluru and is in an advanced stage of completion. Basic Aeromedical training and flying practise completed as part of the Indian leg of training.

READ | SpaceX launches Inspiration 4 - mission to take civilians to Earth's Orbit

The design of all systems of Gaganyaan has been completed. The realisation of various systems are in different stages of progress. Ground qualification tests of human-rated launch vehicle propulsion stages have been already commenced and successfully progressing.

The configuration and design of ground infrastructure have been completed and modifications needed are being implemented.

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I remember meeting Mrs Madhulika Rawat on a sunny day with cold, pleasant air flowing dimly. It was not a normal day for humid Delhi afternoons during monsoons. She had just arrived at the India International Center in August 2019 for the launch of Love Story of a Commando, my second book which was just acquired by Westland Amazon.

I was still the young naive writer who was new to the world of publishing and I never hoped that she would accept to launch my book. She was then ex officio President AWWA (Army Wife Welfare Association) as the wife of the then Indian Army Chief General Bipin Rawat. As the first lady of our glorious fraternity where bonhomie and camaraderie prevail as dominant ethos, her role was immense. She kept on travelling from one part of the country to another in quest of establishing the right balance between the personal and professional life of faujis and their families. Her job would be to look after the millions of fauji families scattered all across the nation along with looking after the Veer Naris who lived as women left behind by our killed in action soldiers. She was especially sensitive about this issue and worked day and night to rehabilitate them. Then the disabled children of fauji families, Asha Schools were also close to her heart. I did not imagine she would find time to attend and launch the book of a newbie writer on the block who was just out with her fiction.

But I ignored one fact about me too, that I was an army wife; a woman married to a man in olive greens and she considered it her great responsibility to encourage and support all the Army wives. So security clearances took me some time but there she was standing and smiling before me with all her warmth in solidarity with the endeavour of a young Army Wife. It was a rare privilege and I would be forever grateful. I dont know how many people men, women and children interacted with her that day some even discussed their personal problems which she listened intently but never for once did she stop smiling, hugging, patting and more. She was extremely warm, a peoples person just like her husband General Bipin Rawat had been.

When she talked, she talked like feathers; sweetly, lightly and affectionately. No wonder the same warmth flowed through the entire chain of command in an organization known strictly for its hierarchy. It is everything here bring one person who is not good enough at the top at any level in the Army and watch out how the entire structure crumbles but they as the first couple by General Bipin Rawat first being as Chief of Army Staff and then as first Chief of Defense Staff of India ensured that only right spirits, bonhomie and values flew throughout the organization.

READ | PM Modi, Rajnath Singh pay tribute to Gen Bipin Rawat, other deceased in Delhi

Now that she is gone too soon, too suddenly words are at loss. We have mourned and cried as one fraternity. It is a huge loss to all the Armed Forces Wives to lose her like this. But we are proud too. We are a fraternity of braves and she went epitomizing being an Armed Forces Wife. She went bravely along with her soldier who she had vowed to walk beside in thick and thin.

On the fateful unfortunate day of 8 December 2021 she was accompanying General Bipin Rawat on his way to Staff College Wellington in an official capacity as President DWWA (Defense Wives Welfare Association) while General Rawat was to deliver a lecture to the bright future leaders from all the arms of Armed Forces; Army, Navy and Airforce who were soon to assume commands to brief them about his visions of synergy among all the three forces so that right ethos and conduct flow unanimously throughout the chain of command.

Mrs Madhulika Rawat was to play the equal role as President DWWA. It was her job to tell all the wives who were soon to join their husbands during their commands of various smaller units where these young wives were to play an important job it was onto them to maintain an environment of peace and amiability in their respective units so that soldiers could work with complete ease and focus. Her vision and ideas were to shape the future environment of various important structures and also synergize various welfare programs that various arms run for the betterment of their armed forces wives, widows and children.

This is what she had done all her life throughout the illustrious career of General Bipin Rawat.

If he was one of the finest generals of all the time and best of recent times it was Mrs Madhulika Rawats immense support that shaped his career and she did it at her cost. She was an accomplished woman, born on 7th February 1963 in Shahdol Madhya Pradesh as the daughter of late politician Mrigendra Singh she had been an alumnus of prestigious Scindia Kanya Vidyalaya Gwalior who eventually graduated from Delhi University. She could have done anything and be anyone but she chose to be the The Force behind the Forces She chose to support her soldier unconditionally because he served her mother nation and no job was greater than this. And she did it with utmost devotion serving the families of armed forces fraternity throughout her life providing peace of mind and also strength to the glorious General who reached the top where no one has reached ever.

Both of them contributed immensely to the nation and served it selflessly. It is a huge loss not just to the armed forces fraternity but also to the entire nation. We can see how citizens all across the nation are crying at this untimely unfortunate demise. It was uncalled for but there are some facts we can not change.

We, as defence force personnel wives, mourn her loss immensely. The loss of both their daughters is even more heartwrenching who are now without both their parents. The same goes for all the families who have lost their loved ones in this tragic crash of the IAF Mi 17 V helicopter in Tamilnadu. Their grief can not be imagined. I pray to God that they get the strength to move on and carry forward the legacies of their loved ones. Rest in Peace Dear All. Nation will never forget you. Jai Hind!

The author of this piece, Swapnil Pandey, is an army wife and a popular defence writer with a wide audience base. Her latest book "Force Behind The Forces" has released this month. It is a collection of seven true stories of eternal love, courage and sacrifice.

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New Delhi: At least one person was injured in a blast that was reported at the Rohini Court in Delhi on Thursday (December 9, 2021), a fire department official said.

According to the official, a call was received at 10.40 a.m. regarding the mysterious explosion inside Chamber no 102 after which the Fire Department rushed at least 7 fire tenders to the spot.

"The blast was of low intensity and the injured person was rushed to a nearby hospital even before the fire tenders reached the spot," the official said, adding there were no casualties in the incident.

Meanwhile, a lawyer told IANS that all proceedings have been stopped at the court following the incident.

Sources said that the blast was possibly in a laptop, however, officials are yet to confirm about its nature.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Rohini) Pranav Tayal could also be seen at the spot assessing the situation.

There was fear and panic among the people, however, sources said the situation is now under control.

The incident has refreshed memories of the dramatic Rohini Courtroom firing incident in which a top Delhi gangster, Jitender Singh Mann, alias Gogi, was shot dead in a courtroom on September 24 by two assailants dressed in lawyers` garb.

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New Delhi: A federation of resident doctors association, which has been spearheading a nationwide protest over the delay in NEET-PG 2021 counselling since November 27, on Thursday said the stir has been "suspended for a week".

In a statement, the Federation of Resident Doctors' Association (FORDA) said the decision has been taken in view of the developments in the last few days in connection with the issue, and the death of Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat and others in a helicopter crash on Wednesday.

FORDA has decided to "hold the agitation for a period of one week" after discussing with state RDAs in a virtual meeting held on Thursday, it said.

"We express our sincere gratitude to all resident doctors of the nation who came forward & joined the agitation called by FORDA. We are resuming all services with immediate effect. In case the issue is not addressed by 16th December, 2021, we will be forced to call for complete shutdown of all services except COVID areas in healthcare institutions," the statement said.

While FORDA president Dr Manish claimed all RDAs have aligned with FORDA's decision, Dr Akash Yadav, vice-president of resident doctors association of Delhi government-run Maulana Azad Medical College, said, "MAMC RDA is yet to take any decision on it".

Beginning Thursday morning, MAMC resident doctors have boycotted all routine and emergency services as part of the nationwide protests over the delay in NEET-PG counselling that has affected patient care at three facilities attached to it.

Lok Nayak Jai Prakash (LNJP) Hospital, G B Pant Hospital and Guru Nanak Eye Centre are attached with MAMC. LNJP is the biggest facility in the city run by the Delhi government, and has been the nerve centre of its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a statement issued late night on Tuesday, the MAMC RDA had said, "Even after boycott by many institutions of Delhi, we continued to run emergency services, but apathy of government and plight of overburdened residents have brought us to do total boycott of all services including OPD, OT, Ward and Emergency services from 09/12/21 (Thursday)".

"Functioning of ICU and Covid wards will not be affected to safeguard the interests of critically ill patients," it had said.

Meanwhile, general secretary of RDA of Safdarjung Hospital, Dr Anuj Aggarwal, on Thursday said, "Yes, we support the decision of FORDA for holding the protest for one week, hoping for the urgent intervention by Government of India to fast-track the process".

However, the stand taken by RDAs of other hospitals was not known yet.

Resident doctors of Centre-run Ram Manohar Lohia, Safdarjung and Lady Hardinge hospitals have been boycotting all routine and emergency services for over three consecutive days as part of the nationwide protest.

As part of the agitation, the RDA members of Lady Hardinge Medical College and Hospital on Wednesday had taken out a protest march in the streets around the hospital campus, demanding expediting of the counselling process.

Scores of doctors held placards and raised slogans as they marched on roads near Connaught Place, the heart of the city, on Wednesday.

The Indian Medical Association (IMA) had earlier sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi's intervention to ensure that post-graduate admissions are done on a war-footing.

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New Delhi: An 18-year-old man was apprehended by the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) at a Delhi Metro station in neighbouring Noida on Thursday (December 9) for allegedly carrying a country-made pistol and a bullet in his luggage, officials said.

The passenger, a resident of Aligarh district in Uttar Pradesh, was intercepted during a security check at the Electronic City station around 11.50 am.

Carrying arms and ammunition is banned inside the metro network and the man could not furnish a government authorisation for carrying the pistol and bullet.

The man, who is a truck driver, was handed over to the Noida police for investigation, they said.

The CISF is tasked to secure and provide counter-terrorist cover to the Delhi Metro network in the national capital region
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday (December 9) met the family members of CDS General Bipin Rawat and other defence personnel, who were killed in an IAF chopper crash the other day in Tamil Nadus Coonoor, reported ANI.

The mortal remains of General Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat and 11 other defence personnel were brought to New Delhis Palam airbase from Tamil Nadu this evening.

Both the leaders paid their respects to the mortal warriors.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi pays last respects to CDS General Bipin Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat and other 11 Armed Forces personnel who lost their lives in the #TamilNaduChopperCrash yesterday. pic.twitter.com/QT3JHKTedq  ANI (@ANI) December 9, 2021

Delhi | Defence Minister Rajnath Singh meets families of CDS General Bipin Rawat and other Armed Forces personnel who lost their lives in Tamil Nadu chopper crash yesterday, at Palam airbase pic.twitter.com/vPhALuWWHD

The last rites of all the victims of the crash will be performed in New Delhis Cantt on Friday whereas civilians can pay tribute to CDS Gen. Bipin Rawat from 11 am to 12:30 pm at CDS Karaj marg residence on Friday.

Indias first Chief of Defence General Bipin Rawat, who has an illustrious career in defence, was killed in a helicopter crash on Wednesday on his way to Wellington. He was onboard a Mi series chopper.

The reason for the crash is yet unknown, however, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh while addressing the parliament on the matter said that a probe will be conducted on the incident.

The minister said in a statement that the inquiry would be headed by Air Marshal Manavendra Singh and the lone survivor was on life support, in Wellington, about six kilometres from the crash site, bugles sounded the last post in honour of those who had been killed.

(With ANI inputs)

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Varanasi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Varanasi on December 13 to inaugurate Kashi-Vishwanath Corridor. Ahead of the Prime Minister`s visit to the holy city, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has planned to hold a plethora of cultural programmes, said BJP`s National General Secretary Tarun Chugh in a recently held press conference with Union Culture Minister G Kishan Reddy.

Sharing the outline of upcoming programmes, Reddy said, "This is a step towards fulfilling Prime Minister Narendra Modi`s dream. Since childhood, we all have been hearing that Kashi is a Mokshadayini city. We want to present its beautiful picture in front of everyone so that people can sit anywhere and see the cultural city of Kashi."

Tarun Chugh said, "It has been almost 100 years since repair and reconstruction work of Kashi Vishwanath temple was undertaken. Every devotee who visits Kashi wonders how the cultural city of India would have been. When Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited here, he took a pledge to rebuild it."

"Today`s Kashi is an example of great work done by our Prime Minister keeping in mind the grandeur of culture, heritage, prayer and dialogue with the people," said Chugh, adding "Prime Minister will inaugurate Kashi-Vishwanath Corridor on December 13 which will be attended by CM Yogi and 3000 saints and dignitaries. This program will be shown live in 51,000 places, mostly the Mandal unit of Bharatiya Janata Party. It will also be shown in big famous temples, monasteries, and educational institutions."

Sharing details of scheduled programmes, Chugh said, "It has been planned to show this program in at least one district centre of every district of the country. Chief Ministers and Deputy Chief Minister of BJP ruled states will come to attend the programme on December 13, 14 and 15. A meeting will be held where Chief Ministers will discuss the welfare schemes for the poor which will be attended by PM Modi, JP Nadda, Organization Minister BL Santosh."

He said, "A programme will be organised every day after December 14. On December 17, a conference of mayors from all over the country will be held in Kashi," adding "On December 23, a huge program will be held on organic farming which will be attended by farmers and scientists from all over the country. January 12 is the birthday of Swami Vivekananda. On that day there will be a Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha Youth Conference in Kashi, in which thousands of youth will gather."

According to the BJP leader, "On December 10 and 11, workers of Bharatiya Janata Party will conduct a cleanliness drive in all temples and monasteries across the country. From tomorrow (Dec 8) there will be dialogue programs which will go on till December 12 and for this, Bhajan Mandals will come up in thousands."

Accordingly, a dialogue programme that initiated from Wednesday will go on till December 12. Bhajan Mandlis will tour the city to energise the environment.

He said, "Entire Kashi will be decorated so that December 12 looks like Diwali. Light and sound show and other programmes will go till December 14," adding "After December 13, the work dedicated to Lord Vishwanath ji Dham will start. History books will be distributed in the form of `prasad` in every household. A separate committee has been formed which will look after the program organised till December 14."

"A separate committee for Kashi has also been formed by BJP UP. We have also formed a dedicated committee under the aegis of Divya Kashi Bhavya Kashi so that we reach each and every household. This program will be shown live in 27,000 places of UP. The temple of Sarnath has also been added in it. Through this festival, we will connect the grandeur of Kashi, the divinity, the mythological history of Kashi, with the digital medium," the BJP leader added.

(With Agency Inputs)

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NEW DELHI: A video shot just a few seconds before the IAFs Mi-17 chopper crash that killed Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Bipin Rawat and 13 others near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu has surfaced on Thursday.

The 20-second video shows the Mi-17 chopper roaring into the skies and heading towards Wellington just seconds before it crashed. In the video, a group of locals passing through the forest at the same time can be seen wondering over the loud sound of the chopper that crashed just a few seconds later. Twitter users claimed that this is the same Mi-17 chopper that was carrying CDS Rawat, however, there is no official confirmation yet on this video.

#WATCH | Final moments of Mi-17 chopper carrying CDS Bipin Rawat and 13 others before it crashed near Coonoor, Tamil Nadu yesterday (Video Source: Locals present near accident spot) pic.twitter.com/jzdf0lGU5L  ANI (@ANI) December 9, 2021

Gen Bipin Rawat, India's first Chief of Defence Staff, his wife Madhulika and 11 other armed forces personnel died on Wednesday after the military helicopter they were travelling in crashed near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu.

The lone survivor, Group Captain Varun Singh, is currently under treatment at a military hospital in Wellington, it said. The Chief of Defence Staff had left the Palam airbase in an IAF Embraer aircraft at 8:47 am and landed at Sulur airbase at 11:34 am. He took off from Sulur in a Mi-17V5 chopper at around 1148 am for Wellington, official sources said.

The chopper crashed around 12.22 pm, they said. Rawat had survived a helicopter crash six years ago, in 2015, when he was a Lt General.

The Chief of Defence Staff was scheduled to deliver a lecture at Defence Services Staff College in Wellington. Those who were killed in the crash included Brig LS Lidder, the military adviser to the Chief of Defence Staff, and staff officer Lt Col Harjinder Singh.

The other personnel killed are Wing Commander PS Chauhan, Squadron Leader K Singh, JWO Das, JWO Pradeep A, Havildar Satpal, Naik Gursewak Singh, Naik Jitender Kumar, Lance Naik Vivek Kumar and Lance Naik Sai Teja.

Meanwhile, the bodies of those who died in the military chopper crash had been brought to Madras Regimental Centre from Military Hospital, Wellington in Nilgiris district.

#WATCH | Tamil Nadu: Bodies of those who died in the military chopper crash brought to Madras Regimental Centre from Military Hospital, Wellington in Nilgiris district pic.twitter.com/IaqlYwE3EX  ANI (@ANI) December 9, 2021

CDS Rawat and his wife will be cremated at Delhi Cantt on Friday.

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New Delhi: Amid Omicron variant threat, the Karnataka government on Thursday (December 9) decided to focus on cluster management and issue new guidelines to hostels.

Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, as quoted by PTI, said, "Regarding COVID, our Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) head Dr M K Sudarshan has informed about the current situation, he has shared details about the Omicron variant. According to him, looking at the current figures and the positivity rate, there is no need for any major concern or worry.

In order to avoid a hasty decision, the state government will take a call regarding strict COVID-19 curbs like night curfew and restrictions on Christmas and New Year celebrations after observing the situation for a week.

The new guidelines for hostels and management include sanitising, letting people for food in a staggered way, restricting visitors, double dose vaccination for all staff, and setting up a separate isolation room, PTI reported.

"We have already given similar guidelines for cluster management and have said that if there are more than three positive cases in a place it will be declared clusters, and such measures will continue," the Karnataka CM said. The state will also organise a special vaccination drive.

The decision was taken in a cabinet meeting held on Thursday in the wake of COVID-19 clusters that have emerged mostly at educational institutions and hostels in several places like Bengaluru, Dharwad, Mysuru, Hassan, Mangaluru, among others. Karnataka has so far reported two cases of the new Omicron variant.

On Wednesday, Karnataka logged 399 new coronavirus cases and 6 deaths, which pushed the total tally to 29,99,098 and death toll to 38,249. There are presently 7,255 active COVID-19 cases in the state.

(With agency inputs)

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New Delhi: Data Patterns (India) Ltd, which supplies electronic systems to defence and aerospace sector, on Thursday said it has fixed a price band of Rs 555-585 a share for its Rs 588 crore initial public offering.

The initial share-sale will open for public subscription from December 14-16. The bidding for anchor investors will open on December 13, according to the company.

The public issue comprises a fresh issue of shares worth Rs 240 crore and an offer for sale (OFS) of 59.52 lakh equity shares by promoters and individual selling

shareholders.

The OFS includes sale of up to 19.67 lakh shares each by Srnivasagopalan Rangarajan and Rekha Murthy Rangarajan, up to 75,000 by Sudhir Nathan, up to 4.15 lakh equity shares by G.K. Vasundhara and up to 15.28 lakh equity shares by other existing shareholders.

The initial public offering (IPO) is expected to fetch Rs 588.22 crore at the upper end of the price band.

The company intends to utilise net proceeds from the fresh issue for repayment of debt, funding its working capital and upgradation and expansion of its existing facilities besides general corporate purposes.

Half of the issue size has been reserved for qualified institutional investors, 35 per cent for retail investors, and the remaining 15 per cent for non-institutional investors.

Investors can bid for a minimum of 25 equity shares and in multiples of 25 thereafter.

Data Patterns is backed by former Blackstone head Matthew Cyriac via Florintree Capital Partners LLP which holds 12.8 per cent stake in the company.

Founded by Srinivasagopalan Rangarajan and Rekha Murthy Rangarajan, Data Patterns is a vertically integrated defence and aerospace electronics solutions provider that caters to requirements across space, air, land and the sea.

Its core competencies include design and development across electronic hardware, software, firmware, mechanical, product prototype besides its testing, validation and verification.

Its involvement has been found across radars, underwater electronics/communication, electronic warfare suites, avionics, small satellites, automated test equipment, and programmes catering to Tejas light combat aircraft, light utility helicopter, BrahMos and other communication and electronic intelligence systems.

It had developed the first nano satellite "NiUSAT" which was deployed in 2017. In addition, two more satellites are in progress, the draft papers noted.

Data Patterns works closely with the defence PSUs such as Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd and Bharat Electronics Ltd as well as government organisations involved in defence and space research like DRDO.

The company's order book has grown at a CAGR (compound annual growth rate) of 40.72 per cent over the last four years and as of July 2021 stood at Rs 582.30 crore.

For FY21, the company's revenue from operations was at Rs 226.55 crore against Rs 160.19 crore in the preceding fiscal year. Its net profit for the period stood at Rs 55.57 crore as compared to Rs 21.05 crore in 2019-20. Also Read: Twitter Update: Soon you will be able to add content warnings to posts

IIFL Securities and JM Financial are the book running lead managers to the issue. Also Read: Bank Holidays in December: Banks to remain shut for 4 days next week, check important dates

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New Delhi: The initial public offer of C.E. Info Systems Ltd, the parent of digital mapping company MapmyIndia, got subscribed more than two times on the first day of the offering on Thursday.

The company, popularly known through its brand MapmyIndia, is backed by global wireless technologies company Qualcomm and Japanese digital mapping Zenrin. It provides advanced digital maps, geospatial software and location-based IoT technologies. Among others, it powers Apple maps.

Latest data with the BSE showed that the Initial Public Offer (IPO) got subscribed 2.02 times with as many as 1,42,31,406 bids coming in for 70,44,762 shares on offer.

The portion for Retail Individual Investors (RIIs) was subscribed 3.28 times. For 35,22,381 shares on offer, a total of 1,15,38,380 bids were received.

The Qualified Institutional Buyers (QIBs) category got subscribed 46 per cent and the portion for non-institutional investors was subscribed 1.17 times. In the latter segment, there are 15,09,592 shares on offer and 17,59,870 bids were received, as per the data.

On Wednesday, the company raised Rs 312 crore from anchor investors.

The IPO is entirely an offer for sale of up to 10,063,945 equity shares by existing shareholders and promoters. The price band for the issue is Rs 1,000-1,033 a share. Also Read: Indian economy likely to grow 9% next fiscal: Credit Suisse

The issue is expected to fetch Rs 1,039.6 crore at the upper end of the price band. Also Read: Booking LPG cylinder? Use THIS method to get bumper cashback on buying cooking gas

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NEW DELHI: Actress Jacqueline Fernandez, who was all set to join Salman Khan for his Da-bangg tour in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, will not be travelling for the show. The actress is being probed by the Enforcement Directorate for her alleged connection to a money laundering case. The ED is investigating Jacqueline over her ties with conman Sukesh Chandrasekhar in connection with a Rs 200 crore extortion case.

Jacqueline Fernandez appeared before the Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday (Dec 8). The actress was summoned by the federal probe agency in connection with the money laundering case. The ED suspects that a huge sum of money, extorted by conman Sukesh Chandraskhar from a businessmans wife, was diverted to Jacqueline Fernandez.

The actress was recently stopped by immigration officials at the international airport of Mumbai from flying out of the country. A Look Out Circular was issued by the Enforcement Directorate against the actress. She was detained briefly by the officials before she was allowed to go. According to Indian Express, the actress was travelling to Dubai on December 5 when she was stopped at the airport. As per authorities, the agency will not let Jacqueline leave India till the probe is on.

The ED had recently filed a chargesheet against conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar and others in connection with the Rs 200-crore money laundering case. According to the allegation, Sukesh, while serving a sentence at Tihar jail, had extorted money from the wife of a businessman. Jacqueline's name surfaced with regard to the EDs earlier allegation that the actress had unearthed monetary transactions with Sukesh. The ED had further said that Jacqueline was also given several expensive gifts by Sukesh. Apart from Jacqueline, ED also summoned and questioned actress-dancer Nora Fatehi to join the probe.

Meanwhile, it appears that since Jacqueline has been barred from leaving the country till the probe is on, she is unlikely to travel with Salman Khan and other actors for the 'Da-Bangg: The Tour Reloaded'.

The event will take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on December 10. There is a buzz that Salman Khan's 'Jai Ho' co-star Daisy Shah has replaced her. However, there is no confirmation on it as of yet.

Jacqueline was last seen in horror-comedy 'Bhoot Police' co-starring Saif Ali Khan, Arjun Kapoor and Yami Gautam. She has projects like 'Bachchan Pandey', 'Attack', 'Cirkus', 'Ram Setu', Telugu film 'Hari Hara Veera Mallu', and a cameo in Kannada film 'Vikrant Rona'.

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Jaipur: The guests attending the celebrity wedding of Bollywood stars Vicky Kaushal and Katrina Kaif at the Six Senses Fort Barwara hotel in Sawai Madhopur district are savouring Rajasthani and Gujarati delicacies prepared by a local sweet shop.

Janta Jodhpur Sweet Home, a shop located in Sawai Madhopur, sent 10 varieties of sweets to the Six Senses hotel where the star couple will tie the knot on Thursday. The Sangeet ceremony was held on Tuesday, followed by the Haldi ceremony on Wednesday.

Arjun Upadhyay from the Janta Jodhpur Sweet Home said, "The guests are delighted with the taste of Jodhpur's famous dish 'Mawa Kachori' and Bikaner's 'Gond Pak'. Gujarati 'Dhokla' has also been served in the breakfast. 'Samosa', 'Kachori' and 'Dhokla' were been sent to the hotel for the Haldi ceremony."

Ten varieties of sweets weighing around 80 kg were sent to the wedding venue, including 'Moong Daal Barfi', 'Gujarati Bakhlaya', 'Kaju Pan' and 'Choco Byte', among others.

On Thursday, 100 pieces each of Samosa and Dhokla shall be sent to the venue, apart from sweets.
Hyderabad: Telugu star Ram Charan had to skip the 'RRR' trailer launch in Mumbai on Thursday as he had to attend a family wedding.

SS Rajamouli's 'RRR' has got a thumping response for the theatrical trailer which was released earlier on Thursday. The makers had arranged for a screening of the trailer in the Telugu states.

Also, the movie's cast and crew, who flew to Mumbai, had interactive sessions with the Bollywood media. 'RRR' hero Jr NTR was also present at the event, while Ram Charan had to skip the media interaction as he was attending a family wedding.

Ram Charan and Upasana had to be at Upasana's sister Anushapala Kamineni's wedding. So Ram Charan had to call off the schedule where he was supposed to interact with the media.

Well, Ram Charan, who missed the show, will be soon kickstarting the promotional activities, as the 'RRR' team will travel to important cities, promoting the epic film.

Starring Alia Bhatt, Ajay Devgn, Shriya Saran, and others in important roles, 'RRR' is a pan-India movie which is releasing in multiple languages across the country on January 7.
New Delhi: Aadhaar issuing body UIDAI allows people to update their name, gender, DoB, address, mobile number and email using the online SSUP portal.

Though for all the above changes on Aadhaar card you can change the details online by visiting https://ssup.uidai.gov.in/web/guest/ssup-home website, for changing the mobile number you need to visit the nearest enrollment centre to update your mobile number. No additional documents are required for this.

Your Aadhaar card update request can be rejected due to one of the following 7 reasons

1. Wrong PoA/PoI document uploaded

2. PoA/PoI document is not self-attested

3. Transliteration error

4. Supporting documents not self attested by the resident

5. Document uploaded through online SSUP portal are not found to be scanned copies of original documents

6. Mobile and Aadhaar shared in the form is incorrect

7. Supporting documents are not in the name of the resident

Once the updates have been processed, you will receive an SMS saying that your update has been processed successfully. You can check the update status from https://ssup.uidai.gov.in/web/guest/check-status by providing your update details.

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New Delhi: If youre a bank customer and have lined up some important work for next week, then you need to check bank holidays next week before stepping out of your home. In December, public and private banks in India will remain shut for several days on the occasion of gazetted holidays or Saturday/Sunday leaves.

In the coming weeks, banks will remain closed for a total of 4 days. The reason for such a long break without any gazetted holiday in between is a two-day strike called by bank unions to protest against the proposed privatisation of state-owned banks.

All major public and private are expected to remain closed for two days, December 16 (Thursday) and December 17 (Friday) due to bank strikes. On December 18 (Saturday), banks will remain closed only in Shillong on the occasion of the death anniversary of U SoSo Tham.

Moreover, banks will remain closed on December 19 because of the Sunday weekly off. So, in total, banks will be shut for 4 days in the coming week.

Heres the list of bank holidays next week:

1. December 16- Bank union strike

2. December 17- Bank union strike

3. December 18- Death Anniversary of U SoSo Tham (in Shillong)

4. December 19- Sunday

During the four days, bank customers can use online banking services to wrap up their crucial work. You can use net-banking or mobile app of your bank to complete important transactions.

Why are banks going on strike?

The Indian government is currently planning to privatise two public sector banks to meet its disinvestment target for the ongoing financial year. The decision, however, has led to a backlash from banking employees that have now called for a two-day strike. Also Read: CBDT issues refunds worth over Rs 1,32,381 crore to 1.19 crore taxpayers

Sanjay Das, general secretary of All India Bank Officers Confederation (AIBOC), said that besides the two-day strike, a series of other agitational programmes will be held if the government does not give up the idea of privatisation of the banks, PTI reported. Also Read: Twitter Update: Soon you will be able to add content warnings to posts

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New Delhi: Collectors of old coins nowadays are making a fortune by selling their old coins at a hefty price. So, if youre also in possession of rare and collectable coins, you can also rake in thousands of rupees by selling them online.

In one such case, you can sell your old 10 paisa coin released between 1957 to 1963 to earn thousands of rupees. The 10 paisa coins were the first coins to be released in the Republic of India.

In 1957, India had introduced a decimal system. So, a few 10 paisa coins had decimals inscribed on them. However, after 1963, the government had decided to withdraw the system and only paise were being written on coins.

Moreover, the special 10 paisa coin that were talking about was made from copper-nickel metal, which makes it special from other coins released around that time period.

The coin weighs about 5 grams and has a diameter of 23 mm. The government had minted the special 10 paisa coins at its three facilities - Bombay, Calcutta and Hyderabad.

Ashoka Pillar is inscribed on one side of the coin while on the other side, you can see 10 Naye paise written in Devnagri script with Rupaye ka dasvan bhag minted on it. At the bottom of the coin inscribed the year of minting with the mintmark.

If you have the special, you can also sell it online for about Rs 1000, according to media reports. The coin is reportedly selling at the above-mentioned price on online classifieds platforms and other websites that let buyers connect with sellers. Also Read: Better.coms top executives resign after CEO Vishal Garg relentlessly fired 900 on Zoom call: Report

You need to create a new account or log in to the portal and list your coin along with the selling price and photos to make the listing more genuine. Once you have uploaded the listing, potential buyers will soon contact you to buy the coin. Also Read: Centre approves 8 companies under PLI scheme for manufacturing medical devices

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New Delhi: The Central government is all set to release the 10th instalment under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana in the coming days. Reports suggest that farmers could receive the benefits as part of the 10th instalment between 15 to 25 December, ahead of Christmas.

As part of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana, farmers receive three instalments of Rs 2000 each in a year. In total, farmers receive Rs 6000 annually directly in their bank accounts.

Introduced in December 2018, the PM Kisan scheme aims to provide financial support to marginalised farmers in the country. In 2020, the government had passed on the monetary benefits to farmers on December 25.

So far, the government has credited 9 instalments of Rs 2000 each directly to the bank accounts of crores of eligible farmers. To date, the government has transferred more than Rs 1.58 lakh crore directly into the bank accounts of more than 11.37 crore eligible farmers.

The government is expected to transfer the funds for the 10th instalment in December 2021. Moreover, this time, farmers, who didnt receive the benefits of the 9th instalment, could receive Rs 4000 instead of Rs 2000 in their bank accounts. This means that the farmers will receive the monetary benefit of the 9th and 10th instalments in the coming days.

How to check name in the PM Kisan Yojana list

Step 1: Visit the official website of PM Kisan which is https://pmkisan.gov.in.

Step 2: Select the Farmers Corner available on the left side of the home page.

Step 3: After clicking on the Farmers Corner, select Beneficiaries List.

Step 4: Now enter the details of your state, district, sub-district, block and village.

Step 5: Click on Get Report. Also Read: SBI customers alert! Get free insurance cover of upto Rs 2 lakh, check details here

Step 5: Here you will get the list of beneficiaries, in which you can check your name. Also Read: MapmyIndia IPO opens for subscriptions: Check price band, latest GMP

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New Delhi: State Bank of India provides a big security cover for Jan Dhan account holders. If you have a Jan Dhan account or are planning to open it, you can apply for 'SBI RuPay Jan Dhan Card', for which you will get accident insurance cover up to Rs 2 lakh.

Users can get accidental insurance cover of Rs 2 lakh provided they swipe the SBI RuPay Jandhan card once in 90 days.

Documents required to get Rs 2 lakh insurance claim

To get the claim, you will have to first fill the claim form. Along with this, the original death certificate or certified copy will have to be attached. Also a certified copy of the FIR has to be attached. You will also be needing the post mortem report and FSL report. An Aadhar card copy will also be required.

Affidavit of having RuPay card with the cardholder will have to be given on the bank stamp paper and all the documents have to be submitted within 90 days. The name and bank details of the nominee will have to be submitted along with the copy of the passbook.

RuPay PMJDY Card

The RuPay PMJDY (Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana) card is issued to people who have opened accounts under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMDJY) - a National Mission for Financial Inclusion that was developed to provide people access to financial services like banking, savings/deposit accounts, remittance, credit insurance, and pension, in an affordable way. The card allows the user to make transactions at all ATMs, POS terminals, and e-commerce websites. It also comes with a Personal Accidental death and total disability coverage of up to Rs 2 lakh.

Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) - National Mission for Financial Inclusion

PMJDY was announced by Prime Minister Modi in his Independence Day address on 15th August 2014. PMJDY is National Mission for Financial Inclusion to ensure access to financial services, namely, Banking/ Savings & Deposit Accounts, Remittance, Credit, Insurance, Pension in an affordable manner.

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New Delhi: As the spotlight remains on the most talked about wedding of Bollywood super stars Vicky Kaushal and Katrina Kaif at the Six Senses Fort Barwara, the state of Rajasthan has bagged the 'best wedding, tourism destination' awards.

"We are happy to announce that Rajasthan has won the Best State in India and the Best Wedding Destination in India awards at the Travel + Leisure Indias Best Awards 2021,'' Rajasthan Tourism Department said in a tweet.

We are happy to announce that Rajasthan has won the Best State in India and the Best Wedding Destination in India awards at the Travel + Leisure Indias Best Awards 2021. Padharo Mhare Desh

.@TNLIndia

.#RajasthanTourism #Rajasthan #IncredibleIndia pic.twitter.com/lw1btaOA6t  Rajasthan Tourism (@my_rajasthan) December 8, 2021

According to a press release by Rajasthan`s Tourism Department, the state has emerged as the Best State and `Best Wedding Destination` at the recently declared travel and leisure India`s Best Awards 2021.

In the 10th edition of India`s Best Award, the winners were decided upon the ratings extended by readers in various categories. Rajasthan while standing simply the best among wedding destinations, its excellence in other categories resulted in the award of Best State, added the press release.

"Along with Rajasthan`s traditional advantage as a tourist destination, the awards under present circumstances also reflect upon the confidence that the state tourism department and hospitality service providers have inspired among aspiring travellers. Rajasthan continues to be a preferred tourist destination among domestic as well as international tourists," said Nishant Jain, IAS and Director Rajasthan Tourism.

Rajasthan is a land of rich and colourful heritage that for centuries has charmed travellers. The recent developments in infrastructure and modern hospitality have further contributed to making it one of the worlds most preferred tourist destinations, according to the statement.

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New Delhi: Meta Platforms Inc's cryptocurrency wallet, Novi, will allow users to send and receive money through the social media giant`s messaging app, WhatsApp.

The pilot program is open to a limited number of people in the United States, Novi head Stephane Kasriel said in a tweet late on Wednesday.

There's a new way to try the @Novi digital wallet. Starting today, a limited number of people in the US will be able to send and receive money using Novi on @WhatsApp, making sending money to family and friends as easy as sending a message. pic.twitter.com/dGz3lejri7  Stephane Kasriel (@skasriel) December 8, 2021

Using Novi does not change the privacy of WhatsApp personal messages and calls, he said. Also Read: Centre approves 8 companies under PLI scheme for manufacturing medical devices

Meta Platforms, formerly Facebook, has been working on the wallet app for several months, while scaling back its global plans for rolling out a digital currency called Diem on regulatory concerns. Also Read: Got special 10 paisa coin? Sell online to make thousands of rupees in a snap; check process

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Buying Instagram to kickstart the growth of your online business has now become the most reliable source. So now you must be thinking if thats the solution to skyrocket social media marketing campaigns, then there must be the best site to buy Instagram followers from Canada.

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Follow this guide, try their services and let us know what you loved the most about their services.

(Brand Desk Content)
Islamabad (Pakistan): Omicron variant of COVID-19 has made its way to Pakistan now as India's neighbour reported its first case of the variant in a 65-year-old female patient in Karachi. A private hospital in the city has confirmed the case in Sindh province.

The Sindh health department said that the patient had arrived in the country from abroad, as per Geo News which reported the case citing the provincial health department. The patient, who is unvaccinated, has no symptoms of the virus. Qasim Siraj Soomro, Sindh Parliamentary Health Secretary, told Geo Pakistan that it was imminent that Omicron would reach Pakistan.

"At the international level, several PCR tests were not positive in patients who were later diagnosed with Omicron infection. The new virus is highly mutated." This development comes as Omicron has been reported in 57 countries, and World Health Organization (WHO) expects the number to continue growing.

Features of the new COVID-19 variant Omicron, including the extent to which it will spread, and the sheer number of mutations, suggest that it could have a major impact on the course of the pandemic, according to WHO. During Wednesday's (Dec 8) latest weekly briefing in Geneva, WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus highlighted "a consistent picture of the rapid increase in transmission" but said that the exact rate of increase relative to other variants remains difficult to quantify.

Despite some data from South Africa suggesting an increased risk of re-infection with Omicron, more data is needed, UN News reported. Experts believe that the variant might also cause milder disease than Delta, but there is no definitive answer yet.

(With ANI inputs)

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